Moses Spencer

My 5th great-grandfather Moses Spencer was born on 03 Jan 1763 in Virginia [1, 2]. Nothing is known of his parentage or ancestry. As a young man he served as a private in the American Revolution in the Captain Charles Patterson Company (4 months) and in the Captain William Anderson Company (3 months) in the Virginia militia [3, 4, 5, 6]. During his second tour he worker as a prison guard.

After the War he returned to Buckingham County, Virginia. He married Judith Ayres there on 05 Jan 1786 [2, 3, 6, 7, 8]. Although the original record has been lost, an affidavit from 11 Oct 1841 in the Revolutionary War Pension file for Moses Spencer contains a direct reading of the marriage record by the clerk of Buckingham County [3].

Judith was born on 01 Oct 1768 in Buckingham County, Virginia to Nathan Ayres, Sr. and Mary Leake [1, 2, 8, 9, 10]. She is the one who applied for a pension on 11 Oct 1841 [3] based on Moses' service in the War after his death on 30 Aug 1834 in Buckingham County [2, 3].

Judith lived in Buckingham County for the remainder of her life [10, 11]. She died about 1853 [2]. The locations of the graves of Moses and Judith are not known.

Children of Moses Spencer and Judith Ayres

1) John Spencer [1] was born on 28 Sep 1786 [1]. He married Elizabeth W. Price on 03 Aug 1809 [7].

2) Nathan Spencer [1] was born on 20 Jun 1788 [1]. He married Judith D. Fuqua on 14 Nov 1815 [7].

3) Mary "Polly" Spencer [1, 8] was born on 24 Mar 1790 in Buckingham County, Virginia [1, 12]. She married Charles Guerrant on 13 Jul 1806 in Buckingham County [7, 8, 13]. She died in 1868 in Walker County, Texas and was buried at Ebenezer Cemetery [12].

4) Barkesdale Spencer [1] was born on 26 Aug 1793 [1]. He married a woman named Polley.

5) Samuel A. Spencer [1] was born on 08 Jan 1797 [1]. He married Mary A. Moseley in May 1819 [7].

6) Elizabeth H. Spencer [1] was born on 18 Nov 1799 [1].

7) James Spencer [1] was born on 18 Apr 1802 [1].

8) Moses Ayres Spencer [1] was born on 21 May 1805 [1]. He married Ann Bradley in Nov 1830 [7].

9) Martha A. Spencer [1] was born on 15 Jun 1808 [1]. She married Isham Gilliam in Dec 1832 [7].

10) Judith H. Spencer [1] was born on 14 Sep 1811 [1]. She married Tandy Holman in Nov 1831 [7].

References

[1] Moses Spencer Family Bible, 1815. Births page.

[2] Mayo, Mary E., Sixteen Hundred Lines To Pilgrims, Lineage Book III, National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Genealogical Publishing Co. Page 631.

[3] Records of the U. S. National Archives and Records Admin: Revolutionary War Pension Files. File #W6155, Moses Spencer. Declaration of Judith Spencer, 11 Oct 1841. Page 1 Page 2

[4] Ibid. Affidavit of William Thombill, 07 Jul 1841.

[5] Ibid. Affidavit of James Falwell, 30 Sep 1841.

[6] Rosen, Carl Coleman, Revolutionary Patriots of Buckingham County, Virginia, Willow Bend Book, Westminster, Maryland, 2002. Pages 142-143.

[7] Moses Spencer Family Bible, 1815. Marriages page.

[8] Kidd, Randy and Jeanne Stinson, Lost Marriages of Buckingham County, Virginia, Iberian Publishing Co., Atlanta, Georgia. Page 84.

[9] Nathan Ayres Family Bible. Partial transcription of Ayres genealogy data, The Library of Virginia, Archives and Manuscripts, Ayres family Bible record, 1768-1814.

[10] 1850 United States Census. Buckingham County, Virginia, Page 387 B.

[11] 1840 United States Census. Buckingham County, Virginia, Page 371 A.

[12] Walker County, Texas Cemeteries, Volume 2, North Walker County, Walker County Genealogical Society, Huntsville, TX, 2004. Page 37, Ebenezer Cemetery.

[13] The Huguenot, No. 5, The Huguenot Society, 1931. Page 90.

Francis Coleman, Sr.

Francis Coleman, Sr. (Baldwin line) was born on 16 Aug 1744 in Caroline County, Virginia[1]. He married Margaret Daniel about 1767 [1]. Since their first children were reportedly born in North Carolina, I would assume this is where they were married.

After coming to Georgia around 1760, Francis served in the American Revolution under Col. Elijah Clarke [1, 2]. He was given a bounty land grant in Georgia of 250 acres as per a certificate from Elijah Clarke, Col. From this time, little is known about Francis except that he eventually resided in Washington County, Alabama from at least 1816 [3] until his death on 13 Aug 1825. Many of his children were reported to have been born in Fairfield County, South Carolina, so he seems to have lived there for a good while.

There is considerable evidence to the effect that Margaret Coleman, wife of Francis, was the daughter of James Daniel of Amelia County, later Prince Edward when it was formed of Amelia. His will was probated 19 Apr 1763, in which he mentions his daughter, Margaret, wife of Francis Coleman.

Children of Francis Coleman, Sr. and Margaret Daniel:

1) Isaac Coleman [1] was born on 25 Sep 1768 in North Carolina [1]. He died in 1841.

2) William Coleman [1] was born on 13 May 1770 in North Carolina [1]. He married Nancy Dean. He died in 1847 in Perry County, Alabama.

3) Francis Coleman, Jr. [1] was born on 08 Jun 1772 in Fairfield County, South Carolina [1]. He married Mary Womack.

4) Margaret Coleman [1] was born on 06 Jan 1774 in Fairfield County, South Carolina. She married Robert Tillman on 05 May 1793 in Jefferson County, Alabama. She died on 25 Aug 1838.

5) John Coleman [1] was born on 03 Jan 1776 in Fairfield County, South Carolina [1].

6) Benjamin Stephen Coleman [1] was born on 29 Apr 1778 in Fairfield County, South Carolina [1]. He died on 24 Dec 1816 [1].

7) Frances Coleman [1, 4] was born on 14 Feb 1781 in Fairfield County, South Carolina [1, 4, 5, 6]. She married John N. Womack, Sr. She died on 29 Dec 1852 in Grimes County, Texas and was buried at Baker Family Cemetery near Plantersville, Texas [5, 6].

8) Abner Coleman [1] was born on 17 Jan 1783 in Fairfield County, South Carolina. He died on 10 Apr 1787.

9) Elias Coleman [1] was born on 09 Dec 1784 in Fairfield County, South Carolina [1]. He died 09 Oct 1786.

10) Vashti Coleman [1] was born on 19 Dec 1786 in Fairfield County, South Carolina [1]. She married 1st John Williamson and 2nd Matthew Shaw.

11) Robert Coleman [1] was born on 09 Mar 1789 in Fairfield County, South Carolina. He died on 01 Oct 1789.

12) Daniel Coleman [1] was born on 05 Sep 1792 Fairfield County, South Carolina [1]. He married Sarah Hawkins.

References:

[1] McCall, Mrs. Howard H., Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume 1, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. Page 210.

[2] Alabama Historical Quarterly, Winter 1944, Alabama State Department of Archives and History. Page 546.

[3] Waddell, Barbara and Doris Brown, Records of Washington County, Alabama, 1988. Page 9, Washington County, Mississippi Territory 1816 Census.

[4] McCall, Mrs. Howard H., Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume III, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Page 249.

[5] National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. XVII, No. 3, September 1929, The National Genealogical Society, Washington, D.C., 1929. Page 49, Transcription of Baker-Womack Family Bible Record.

[6] Maxwell, John R., Grimes County Cemeteries, Book Three (Southern), Grimes County Historical Commission, 1998. Page 1, Baker Family Cemetery.

Richard Comfort, Sr.

Richard Comfort, Sr. (Erickson line) was born on 15 Aug 1745 in Fishkill, Dutchess, New York [1, 2]. He married a woman named Charity whose surname is believed to have been either Young or Perkins. Charity was born on 22 May 1748 [1, 2]. Richard and Charity are my 5th great-grandparents.

During the American Revolution, Richard served as a private in the Captain Thomas Storm Company of the Colonel Abraham Brinkerhoff Regiment (Second Regiment), Duchess County, NY militia [3]. He is also listed in the Ulster County Militia for the 3rd Regiment [4].

Richard signed a will on 20 Jan 1815 in Tioga County, New York [5]. He died on 06 Mar 1824 in Southport, Chemung, New York [1, 2] and was buried in the Wellsburg Baptist Church Cemetery in Wellsburg, Chemung, New York [1]. Charity died soon after on 11 Jul 1815 in Tioga County, New York [1, 2]. She was buried next to her husband [1].

Richard's estate was in probate on 13 Mar 1824 in Tioga County, New York [5].

Regarding Richard's vital statistics, the Bible record or its transcription incorrectly has Richard Sr.'s birth date listed as his son Richard, Jr.'s. It also states his death date as 17 Jan. I have assumed the grave marker and the cemetery book transcription are correct.

Children of Richard Comfort, Sr. and Charity Young:

1) Edward Comfort [2] was born on 17 Nov 1770 [2]. He died on 06 Jan 1852 [2].

2) Robert Comfort [2] was born on 16 Aug 1772 [2].

3) Elizabeth Comfort [2] was born on 11 Aug 1773 [2]. She died on 17 Jan 1852 [2].

4) Jacob Comfort [2] was born on 08 Jan 1775 [1, 2]. He married Lydia Owens. He died on 21 Sep 1812 and was buried at Wellsburg Baptist Cemetery in Wellsburg, Chemung, New York [1, 2].

5) John Comfort [2] was born on 21 Oct 1776 [2]. He died in Apr 1851 [2].

6) Sarah Comfort [2] was born on 02 Aug 1778 [2]. She married Philip Depuy. She died on 05 Oct 1837.

7) Mary Comfort [2] was born on 10 Sep 1780 [2].

8) Hannah Comfort [2] was born on 29 Aug 1782 in New York [1, 2, 6, 7]. She married Jeremiah Coleman, III about 1803. She died on 22 Apr 1857 in Chemung County, New York and was buried at Wellsburg Baptist Cemetery in Wellsburg, Chemung, New York [1].

9) Benjamin Comfort [2] was born on 21 Oct 1784 [2]. He died in Apr 1851.

10) Richard Comfort, Jr. [2] was born on 17 Apr 1787 [1, 2]. He married Hannah DeVad on 12 Aug 1807 [2]. He died on 13 Nov 1840 and was buried at Wellsburg Baptist Cemetery in Wellsburg, Chemung, New York [1].

11) Charity Comfort [2] was born on 31 Jan 1789 [2].

12) Mercy Comfort [2] was born on 07 Dec 1790 [2].

13) Thomas Comfort [2] was born on 30 Apr 1794 [2]. He married Abigail Davids.

References:

[1] Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy and History. Cemetery Record for Wellsburg or Baptist Church Cemetery, Chemung County, Page 2.

[2] Ibid. Comfort "Bible" Record.

[3] Roberts, James A., New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Second Edition, Press of Brandow Printing Company, 1898. Page 136, Dutchess County Militia - Second Regiment.

[4] Ibid. Page 195, Ulster County Militia - Third Regiment.

[5] Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy and History. Tioga County, NY Wills for early Chemung Residents.

[6] Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy and History. Miller-Coleman Bible Record.

[7] 1850 United States Census. Chemung County, New York, Page 327 A.

Jonathan Covell

Jonathan Covell (Erickson line) was born on 14 Feb 1748/9 in Dover, Norfolk, Massachusetts to James Covell and Sarah Grover. He was christened on 26 Feb 1749/50 at the South Killingly Congregational Church in Killingly, Connecticut. He married Mary Pickens in 1773 in Dover, Dutchess, New York, USA. Jonathan and Mary are my 5th great-grandparents.

Mary was born about 1747 in Massachusetts [1]. Nothing is known of her parentage or ancestry.

During the American Revolution, Jonathan served as a private in the Captain Samuel Hodges Company, Colonel Lewis Van Woert's Regiment (16th Regiment), Albany County Militia [2]. He is also listed in the Albany County Militia Land Bounty Rights for the 14th Regiment [3]. After the war he settled in Washington County, New York and according to census records lived there the rest of his life.

Mary died on 22 Aug 1816 in Hartford, Washington, New York [1]. She was buried in the Old Hartford Cemetery [1].

After Mary's death, Jonathan remarried to Patience Mercer on 21 Jun 1817 in Troy, Rensselaer, New York.

Jonathan signed a will on 30 May 1829 [4] and died on 24 Jul 1831 in Hartford, Washington, New York [1]. He was buried next to his first wife Mary in the Old Hartford Cemetery [1]. In Aug 2008, a grave marker for Jonathan could not be located. Only a marker for Mary was found. His estate is in probate on 15 Oct 1831 in Washington County, New York [5, 6].

Children of Jonathan Covell and Mary Pickens:

1) Sally Covell [4] was born in 1774 in Hartford, Washington, New York. She married John Cummins. She died before 1860 in Ridgebury, Bradford, Pennsylvania.

2) James Covell, Sr. was born on 08 Mar 1777 in Washington County, New York [7]. He married 1st Rebecca B. Pierce about 1797 and 2nd Hannah Scribner Courtwright after 1848. He died on 21 Mar 1865 in Bentley Creek, Bradford, Pennsylvania and was buried at Ashland Cemetery in Wellsburg, Chemung, New York [7].

3) John Covell was born in 1779 in New York. He died after 22 Feb 1804.

4) Mary Covell [4] was born on 02 Sep 1781 in Bennington, Bennington, Vermont. She married Calvin Townsend. She died on 31 May 1867.

5) William Covell [4] was born on 26 Feb 1783 in Westfield, Washington, New York. He married Elizabeth Pickens. He died on 24 Sep 1843 in South Hartford, Washington, New York and was buried at Old Hartford Cemetery [1].

References

[1] Cemetery Records, The Town of Hartford, Washington County, New York, Historical Data Services, Queensbury, NY. Page 58, Old Hartford Cemetery.

[2] Roberts, James A., New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Second Edition, Press of Brandow Printing Company, 1898. Page 131, Albany County Militia - Sixteenth Regiment.

[3] Ibid. Page 235, Albany County Militia Land Bounty Rights - Fourteenth Regiment.

[4] Probate Court Records of Washington County, New York. Will Book A1, page 270.

[5] Ibid. Will Book A1, pages 271 and 272.

[6] Ibid. Will Book A2, page 158.

[7] Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy and History. Cemetery Record for Ashland Cemetery, Chemung County, Page 4 (Comstock to Dean). 

Zachariah Landrum

Tracing my ancestry to Zachariah Landrum is quite interesting. Upon discovering him, it quickly became apparent that my mother's parents were 4th cousins. It was also quickly apparent that my grandmother would have been horrified had she known!

Signature of Zachariah Landrum [1]

Zachariah Landrum was born about 1766 in Warren County, Georgia to Joseph and Mary Landrum [1, 2]. As a young man, Zachariah supported the American Revolution in Georgia. Based on his support, Zachariah applied for and was granted land 250 acres of land on 23 Jul 1784 in Franklin County, Georgia Col. Jas. Jackson (warrant No. 6) [7, 8, 9, 10].

Some time after the War, probably about 1797, Zachariah married Letitia Tine. Letitia was born about 1776 in Georgia [1, 2]. Her father is believed to have been a Henry Tine who deserted the British army during the Revolution and joined the American Revolution.

Not many years after the War, Zachariah removed to the Mississippi Territoty. He is first seen there in 1804 when he claims a right of pre-emption and is granted 114 acres of land on the west side of the Tombigbee River on the waters of Laura's creek, Washington County, Mississippi Territory (later to become Alabama) [11]. Zachariah remained in the area until 1830 [12, 13, 14, 15, 16].

At this point, one of the great stories I have heard in the family begins. In very late 1829, Zachariah leads a large migration of families, belongings, and cattle from Washington County, Alabama to the Mexican province of Texas. It is told that this was quite a sight. At least three of Zachariah's children accompanied them (Catherine at least did not come at that time) including daughter Sarah and her husband William Marshall Rankin, Sr. The caravan arrived in Texas in Jan 1830 [1, 2]. Zachariah and William applied to enter Stephen F. Austin's colony in the Town of Austin on 27 May 1830 [1]. Zachariah states that he is 64 years old, his wife is Lettuce who is 54 years old, and he arrived in Texas 20 Jan 1830. He is granted one league of land on 10 Apr 1831 in what would later become Montgomery County, Texas [17, 18, 20].

Zachariah signed a will on 11 Jul 1833 in Montgomery County, Texas [3, 19]. He states that he is sick, and indeed he died only 8 days later on 19 Jul 1833. He was buried in a red brick tomb built by his slaves on his land in what is now called Springer-Landrum cemetery [6]. The cemetery is on private land, two miles south of Montgomery, Texas on F. M. 149, and one mile or so to the west of the highway. The cemetery has also been called Linten or Linton Cemetery. The cemetery had been lost until the 1960s when it was rediscovered by descendants doing genealogy research in the family. The tomb has long since collapsed leaving a heap of worn bricks to mark Zachariah's grave. The new grave marker for Zachariah has the incorrect birth year as his application to enter Austin's Colony had not yet been found in the Texas State Archives.

Letitia lived for a number of years after Zachariah's death. As a head of household in the Republic of Texas, she was granted one labor land on 02 Feb 1838 (Montgomery County, 1st Class, certificate #18) [21]. Letitia also registered a cattle brand of 'ZL' (obviously in honor of her deceased husband) on 23 Apr 1838 [22].

Letitia signed a will on 06 Jun 1846 in Montgomery County, Texas [4]. She died there in Aug 1848 and was buried with Zachariah [6].

(It should be carefully noted that the research of Frances Punchard McCullough in the 1960s confused two men named Zachariah Landrum. She thought the Revolutionary War Veteran buried in Montgomery County, Texas was the grandson of Thomas Landrum and Mary Taliaferro and the son of Samuel Landrum and Hannah Hawkins. That Zachariah Landrum was actually born about 1811 and died 02 May 1852 in Marengo County, Alabama. As described above, it appears our Zachariah Landrum was the son of Joseph Landrum, Sr. of Warren County, Georgia. This information came from Jack Landrum of Marietta, Georgia in 2007.)

The children of Zachariah Landrum and Letitia Tine:

1) Sarah Landrum [3, 4] was born about 1798 in Georgia [23]. She married William Marshall Rankin, Sr. about 1815. She died after 1860 in Texas [24].

2) Catherine Landrum [3, 4, 5] was born on 23 Sep 1799 in Georgia [5]. She married Jeremiah Worsham on 05 Feb 1815 in Washington County, Mississippi Territory [5]. She died in 1851 in Montgomery County, Texas [25].

3) John Landrum [3, 4] was born about 1801 in Georgia. He died about 1860 in Texas.

4) William Landrum [3, 4] was born about 1804 or 1805. He died on 15 Oct 1846 in Texas.

5) Elizabeth Landrum [3, 4] was born about 1810. She married John May Springer. She died on 22 Mar 1865 in Texas.

References

[1] Texas State Archives: Records of the Texas General Land Office. Spanish Collection. Zachariah Landrum Request for Admission to Austin's Colony, Box 26, Folder 64. Page 1 Page 2.

[2] Texas State Archives: Austin's Register of Families, 1830. Volume 1, Pages 73 and 74.

[3] Minutes of the Probate Court of Montgomery County, Texas. Book A, Pages 222 and 223 (Zachariah Landrum will/probate).

[4] Ibid. Book 5, Pages 279, 280, 281, and 282 (Letitia Landrum will).

[5] Jeremiah Worsham Family Bible. Transcription of family record.

[6] Montgomery County, Texas Cemeteries, Volume 6. Page 149.

[7] Georgia State Archives. Petition of Zachariah Landrum for land grant.

[8] Ibid. Land grant to Zachariah Landrum.

[9] Knight, Lucian Lamar, Georgia's Roster of the Revolution, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967. Page 114.

[10] O'Kelley, Nicole M. and Mary Bondurant Warren, Georgia Revolutionary Bounty Land Records, 1783-1785, Heritage Papers, 1992. Pages 160 and 234.

[11] American State Papers, Volume 1, Gales and Seaton, Washington, 1832. Pages 733, 734, and 797.

[12] Carter, Clarence Edwin, The Territorial Papers of the United States, Volume V, Mississippi Territory, 1798-1817, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1937. Pages 442 and 443.

[13] Carter, Clarence Edwin, The Territorial Papers of the United States, Volume XVIII, Alabama Territory, 1817-1819, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1952. Pages 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, and 198.

[14] Waddell, Barbara and Doris Brown, Records of Washington County, Alabama, 1988. Page 3, Washington County, Mississippi Territory 1808 Census.

[15] Ibid. Page 4, Washington County, Mississippi Territory 1810 Census.

[16] Ibid. Page 10, Washington County, Mississippi Territory 1816 Census.

[17] Texas State Archives: Records of the Texas General Land Office. Spanish Collection. Zachariah Landrum Land Title, Box 9, Folder 19. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4.

[18] Montgomery County, Texas Deed Records. Volume C, Pages 155, 156, and 157.

[19] Montgomery County, Texas Probate Records, Black Box Documents, 1867-1885, Volume 4, Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc., Conroe, Texas, 1988. Pages 51 and 52.

[20] Texas State Archives: Records of the Texas General Land Office. Spanish Collection. Zachariah Landrum Land Survey, Field Notes Book 6, Page 408.

[21] Texas State Archives: Records of the Texas General Land Office. File 568, Red River, 1st Class, Letitia Landrum. Unconditional Certificate (#18). Front Back.

[22] Montgomery County, Texas Cattle Brands 1838-1902, Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society. Page 62.

[23] 1850 United States Census. Montgomery County, Texas, Page 40 A.

[24] 1860 United States Census. Montgomery County, Texas, Page 92 B.

[25] Montgomery County, Texas Probate Records, Black Box Documents, 1849-1857, Volume 2, Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc., Conroe, Texas, 1988. Pages 54, 55, and 56.