Nashville History

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Monday, November 10, 2014

Miscellaneous Davidson County folks, places, etc.

I have made a lot of posts on rootsweb over the years, but can no longer log in on that site.  In case the posts disappear, I am going to copy them over to this blog.  It will be a hodgepodge but should be indexed for searches by google. 

Posted by: Debie Cox Date: December 05, 2001 at 12:35:44
  of 5957

Thought this might be helpful to someone....not my line, just ran across it.

Davidson County, Tennessee
Deed Book Z, page 118
Deed of Release

18 September 1836


Eli E. Bass                                                        Of
John M. & Melvina C. Bass

I, Eli E. Bass of the State of Missouri and County of Boone, for and in consideration of my brother, John M. Bass of the State of Tennessee and County of Davidson, jointly with his wife, Melvina C. Bass, executed to me a release for such part of the real and personal property of our deceased father, Peter Bass, as upon a division between us made by mutual consent was set apart to me accompanied by a covenant on their part that in case any part of said property were lost … now therefore I assign all my interest to the following ~ Griffin, Judah and her two children Elizabeth & Eliza, Carter, Aleck, Soloman. The seven negroes having belonged to the firm of Martin, Miller & Co. of Huntsville, of which firm said Peter Bass was a partner at the time of his death. Dennis, Hal or Harry & Charlotte, having belonged to the firm of Bass & Spence of Nashville of which firm said Peter Bass was a partner at the time of his death; Lindsley, belonging to the individual estate of decedent. 8 June 1832 Eli E. Bass In the presence of Orville Ewing, Henry Ewing
State of Tennessee Davidson County Circuit Court May Term 1832
Deed of Release from Eli E. Bass of the one part and John M. Bass of the other part was acknowledged in open court by the said Eli E. Bass to be his act and deed and ordered to be registered.
Test: Jacob McGavock Clerk of said Court [pp118/119]
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 Daniel Binkley died intestate, he did not have a will. G. W. Charlton was appointed administrator of his estate and the sale of inventory of Daniel Binkley is recorded in Will Book 8, p. 460, stating the sale was held on Feb. 5th 1825.

The following heirs of Daniel Binkley are identified in his land division. Davidson Co., TN will book 9, p. 73, 74. Daniel Binkley, Decd. Land Divided Recorded Dec. 28, 1826 Surveyed on the 31st of July, 1826, 150 acres of land.
Lot # 1-drawn by Ann Strong, Lot # 2-drawn by Anthony Binkley, Lot # 3-drawn by Franklin Binkley, Lot # 4-drawn by Almeada Binkley, Lot # 5-drawn by Isaac Binkley, Lot # 6-drawn by Mary Earhart, Lot # 7-drawn by John Binkley, Lot # 8-drawn by William Binkley, Lot # 9-drawn by Mahala Binkley, Lot # 10-drawn by Nelly Binkley, Lot # 11-drawn by Martha Binkley.

Daniel lived in Robertson Co. TN until shortly before his death. He purchased property in July of 1824 on Stones River near his brother Frederick. After Daniel's death his widow Catherine married Edward Elam. She died about 1839.
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Regarding Elizabeth Bennett Durat
 January 1787: "Elizabeth Hinslar for having a bastard child. Witness, Wm Wills."

April 1787: "State vs. Elizabeth Hinslar for having a bastard child which charge her attorney confesses; fined 25/ which he paid."

July 1788: "Eanos Hooper swears that some time after the death of James Ireson he recd from Elizabeth Hanslar...."

"This indenture made 7 July 1791 between Timothy Demumbre of one part and Elizabeth Bennett commonly [illegible] of the town and county aforesaid..."

"This indenture made 8 July 1791 between Timothy Demumbre of Davidson County of one part and Philis Theodore Bennett, son of Elizabeth Bennett, commonly called Hinslar..."

"This indenture made 8 July 1791 between Timothy Demumbre of Davidson County of the one part and Polly, daughter of Elizabeth Bennett, commonly called Himslar..."

OCTOBER 1791: Deed, Timothy Demmumbre to Elizabeth Bennett proven by B. Searcy.."

"This indenture made 1 June 1793 between Joseph Durrett and Elizabeth his wife otherwise called Elizabeth Bennett of Davidson County..."

July 1793: "Deed Joseph Durratt to Timothy Demumbre proven..."

This indenture made 14 Mar 1797 between Timothy Demunbrun of Davidson County of the one part and Elizabeth Derrett, wife of Joseph Derrett..."

October 1797: "Deed Timothy Demumbre to Elizabeth Durrett wife of [not legible] Durrett ackd"

"This indenture made __ of __ 1798 between James Bryant of Davidson County of the one part and Elizabeth Derratt..."

"This indenture made 24 Mar 1802 between Joseph and Elizabeth Deratt.... Joseph and Elizabeth Derratt conveyed unto William Smith..."

Her legal name was Elizabeth Bennett. I don't know if that was her maiden name. The phrase "commonly called Hinslar" is like "commom law". It is a name that she was known by but it was not her legal name. Just the same as in a common law marriage a couple was thought of as married but they were not legally married.

Timothy Demonbreun Jr.
It was not one arrest. Timothy III was charged a number of times between 1845 and 1856, most of the time for gaming but also for counterfitting. His brother William R. Demonbreun was also charged many times during this period with gaming. William was also charged with retailing. Not sure what that meant but it was a common charge, maybe selling without a license? The first volume of Criminal Court Minutes is missing so there are no records before 1845.

In the records Timothy is usually referred to as Tim or Timothy Demonbreun. One time he is referred to as Timothy Demonbreun Jr. and his father as Timothy Sr. His father was signing as security for him.

I stated in an earlier post that counterfiting did not necessarily mean phony money...but as you will see from the following Timothy was charged as dealing in phony money. His trial resulted in mistrial and he was not prosecuted again on this charge.


"October Term 1846
The Grand Jury returned into court a Bill of Indictment which is in the words and figures following to wit: Timothy Demonbreun (Jr.) late of the county aforesaid (Davidson)….on the tenth day of September 1846 did feloniously and fraudulently have and keep in his possession twenty pieces of base and adulterated coin made to imitate and resemble a genuine coin …and with intent fraudulently to impose the same upon the community."

 Felix Demonbreun
I read a post from a few months ago wondering about Felix being named Timothy. There is no factual evidence that I have ever seen Felix was called Timothy and no record that I have seen where Felix gave his name as Timothy. Is there anyone who has any source (primary)that this was so? Kathryn De Monbreun Whitefort was a descendant of Felix. When she searched the baptismal records for Felix and found no child by that name, she just made him into Timothy, born in 1770. This baptismal record does not give Timothy's name as Felix.

From all that I have seen Felix Demonbreun was not that old. In the 1850 Edmondson Co., KY census Felix's age is given as 61. He would have been born about 1789. I believe the child of Elizabeth named in this deed abstract is Felix: On Aug. 16 1793, Timothy Demonbreun deeded to Philix Theodore Bennett son of Elizabeth Bennett a one acre town lot in Nashville...Davidson Co. Deed Book C:188-89 He also deeded a lot to her daughter Polly Bennett.



Does anyone have a copy of Felix Demonbreun 1812 penison file? This brief abstract is all I have seen. It would hopefully give some information on where he lived at different time periods, his age, other data. Apparently it does give his date of marriage to Mary Ann Cagle in Robertson County, a record that no longer exists. Some of these files contains certified copies of the marriage.


Posted by: Debie Cox Date: July 08, 2001 at 13:17:19
In Reply to: Felix Demonbreun by Sherry of 603

You are dealing with two different men here and have combined them into one. There was a Timothy born in 1770 and baptized in Kaskaskia. No one knows for certain what happened to him, one would assume he died as a second son born in 1788 and also baptized at Kaskaskia was named Timothy.

Felix Demonbreun was a son of Elizabeth Bennett. He was born almost 20 years after the first Timothy. He moved from TN to KY and was a Baptist preacher. On July 8, 1791, Timothy Demonbreun deeded to Philix Theodore Bennett, son of Elizabeth Bennett, commonly called Hensler, a one acre town lot in Nashville...DCDB C:188-89. On the same date he also deeded a lot to Polly Bennett, daughter of Elizabeth Bennett, commonly called Hensler. The phrase "commonly called Hensler" would indicate that she was known by and used the name but that it was not her legal name.

Felix Demonbreun did not, to my knowledge, use the name Timothy or Timothy Felix. I have not in 20 years plus of research seen him called any thing but Felix in any primary record. DAR records are unreliable, as secondary sources have been accepted to show proof of age and parentage of an ancestor. Often these are published sources that make untrue claims with no valid source for the information.

I agree with Sherry, there is no factual basis to say that Timothy b. 1770 and Felix are the same person. There are enough legitimate primary sources to prove that Felix is a son of Elizabeth.

Demonbreun, Felix or Felix Demunbrun, Mary Ann (Cagley) WC-5747, m 24 May 1809 Robinson Cty TN, sd 5 Oct 1868 Hurt Cty KY, wd 6 May 1876, srv
Frederick Stump's TN Mil, lived Edmonson Cty KY & wid also lived Metcalfe Cty KY

On Aug. 16 1793, Timothy Demonbreun deeded to Polly Bennett daughter of Elizabeth Bennett a one acre town lot in Nashville. The record is in Davidson County deed book C, page 189.
-----------------------
Robert Russell
Will of Robert Russell, written September 19, 1888, presented for probate September 1888, presented for probate September 27, 1888 and recorded September Term 1888 in Davidson Co. Will Book 30, page 17. witnessed by R. R. Freeman and W. F. Glenn, Excutor Andrew J. Caldwell.

Directs executor to sell lot no. 145 on Summer St. in the City of Nashville “immediately adjoining my new residence & upon which the old residence is situated… and apply the proceeds or so much there of as may be necessary to the payment of the debt for purchase money due thereon to the Nashville & Chattanooga Railway Co.

Directs executor to sell lot “in Hardings addition to Nashville on Short St. in North Nashville if he should think it best to do so.”

Directs executor to sell personal property “all or so much as he may think necessary”

“I direct that all of my property of every kind and description to go to my son Thomas Osborn Summers Russell, to be vested in him absolutely. I desire my son Thomas Osborn Summers Russell to be supported and educated out of the income of my property, and in the event the income should not prove sufficient for that purpose I hereby authorize empower & direct my Executor to use so much of the Corpus of the estate as may be necessary.”

“I hereby appoint Andrew J. Caldwell, Esquire attorney at law as my Executor of my last will and testament and as guardian of my son Thomas Osborn Summers Russell…”

The name Thomas Osborn Summers Russell is listed several times and the second name is always Osborn. Andrew J. Caldwell, Caldwell was a Tennessee State Representative (1880 and 1882). He was then elected as a US Representative from Tennessee, serving from 1883 to 1887.

Dr. Robert Russell was the founder of the "dental department of the College of Nashville, which college has been adopted by the University of Tennessee."

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McFerrin
according to, "John B. McFerrin, A Biography", written in 1889 by O. P. Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was a friend of McFerrin and the copyright for the book was filed by McFerrin's son.

The Minister John B. McFerrn was born 15 Jun 1807 in Rutherford Co., TN. His was James McFerrin, son of William and Jane Laughlin McFerrin. His mother was Jane Campbell Berry. He was named for his mother's father, John Berry.

While Agnes had a son named James McFerrin, he was not the father of the noted Methodist Minister. Archibald Buchanan died before John Berry McFerrin was born, so could not have been his guardian.
 --------------------------------------------
Buchanan
Major John Buchanan of Buchanan's Station and Archibald Buchanan were cousins of some sort. Possibly Archibald and Major John's father were first cousins. All of the early TN Buchanan's were related some more closely than others. There were so many at the same time with the same first names that it is hard to tell who belongs to who. For example there were several adult Samuel Buchanan's in Davidson Co., late 1700's, early 1800's. Very confusing and requires very careful examination of the county records.
 -------------------------------------
For anyone interested in the Fontaine family of Middle Tennessee, this site will be helpful. Fontaine

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Kissinger
I was given information on the family of Mathias Kissinger and his wife Sarah Ryland Cox years ago by Eugene Luckey. Mathias born about 1800 in VA, was supposedly son of Andrew born 1756 in PA. Sarah Ryland Cox was born about 1805 in Knox Co., TN, daughter of Samuel and Caty Bruce Cox. Mathias and Sarah were married in Knox Co., TN December 24, 1821. I am not sure how accurate the info, is but I am happy to share so someone can follow up on it. Children were:
              WILLIAM KISSINGER Abt. 1823
              RACHEL KISSINGER 3-27-1824
              JOHN KISSINGER 12-15-1825
              MARY KISSINGER Abt. 1828
              SUSAN KISSINGER Abt. 1832
              ANDREW KISSINGER Abt. 1834
Mathias married second Mrs. Elizabeth Carden and had issue:

CYNTHIA ANN KISSINGER
SARAH JANE KISSINGER
TILLMAN KISSINGER
------------------------------------
quimby
Ran across this and thought it might be helpful to someone. This is just a brief abstract.

Davidson Co., TN Circuit Court, Sept. Term 1838, p. 45

Susan Quimby v. Burrel Quimby Petition for Divorce and Final Decree.

Plaintiff was born and lived her whole life in State of TN, married defendant about 30 years ago. Mother of 12 children, 10 now living. Defendant had been absent for some years when plaintiff's father [John Rains] died in March of 1834. He came home but left when he learned complainant had filed bill to secure her inheritance to herself and children. He has been gone since September 1835.

Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: September 27, 2003 at 17:13:03
In Reply to: Quimby-Demonbreun by Pat Lundy of 844

Barbara Quimby was a daughter of Burwell and Susannah Rains Quimby. Her father was born in ca. 1784 Wayne Co. NC and her mother was born in ca. 1784 Davidson Co. TN. Burwell and Susannah were married in Davidson Co., TN August 09, 1806. Barbara was married to her first cousin John Rains Demonbreun May 28, 1846 in Davidson Co. TN. and later lived in Robertson Co. TN.
-----------------------------------
Tribble

The following is very hard to follow, it's from a letter written by Felix W. Magee of Kose, TX in 1890, to one of his Allen cousins in Mississippi.

"Polly Allen married Spillbury Tribble. They had five girls and a son, Franklin Tribble. Franklin Tribble died in 1873 and had two children by his first wife. She died and he moved to Texas in 1843. Spilbury Tribble died in 1843. They had five girls and a son, Franklin Tribble and they had two children by his first wife and she died and he moved to Texas in 1843.

His daughter married a Mr. Touchstone and they moved to Shanghi, Arkansas and took with them her brother Augustus. He married a beautiful woman. he was a soldier and never heard of after the Battle of Oak Hills. Elizabeth Tribble married Dr. Pearson and had several children. He died and she was living with her son Thos. W. Pearson, in Victoria, Texas in 1784. Annie Tribble married Mr. Gordon and had one son. Both are dead. Hulda Tribble married A. Ervin. She died in 1847. Two daughters, both married and lived a short time. Cynthis (a?) Tribble married a Mr. Derdan, left one child. Both are dead. Emaline Tribble married Granson Harris Mar. 24 1836. They had one child. Harrid died and she married the second time Richard F. McKee. He accidently shot himself in 1849. She had two children by McKee. The son James Franklin McKee. On the 20th day of May Emaline married a third time a Mr. Owen Lucas. They had two children. He died in 1874. Emaline was keeping a hotel in Baldwin, Miss. in 1874. James F. and sister were living with her at that time."

Polly/Mary Allen was probably living with her parents in Montgomery Co., in Tennessee at the time that she married Spilsby Tribble. There were probably married sometime around 1795/1800. Spilsby recieved 820 acres in Dickson Co., TN in 1811. There is a Spillesbee Tribble in the 1820 census for Pike Co., Mississippi.
--------------------------------------
 Brinkley

This family is often confused with the neighboring Binkley families and are often found as Binkley's in the records including census.

Eli Brinkley died in March of 1856. He was married to Catherine Swigart in Davidson Co. TN in 1830. His widow Catherine later married John B. Demonbreun. His children are identified in a Davidson County Chancery Court File # 1663 at Metro Archives of Nashville and Davidson Co., TN.

1. William L. Brinkley
2. Eli Jackson, died after age 2, unmarried, without issue.
3. Elizabeth, m. Thomas J. Feltz
4. Sarah C., m. an Osborne
5. Margaret, m. Henry Carney, she died 7 Dec. 1857, left one child who died soon after.
6. Hardy Washington
7. Willie (Wiley)
8. Walton H.
9. Josephine
10. Samuel
11. Tennessee (Lettitia)
12. Susan Jane
13. James Alexander (Sandy)
14. Georgetta

Note: Not in the chancery file, Georgetta Brinkley married Meyer Cohen. She gave a building to Peabody College in Nashville in honor of her husband.
----------------------------
B. W. Smith of Wilson County
Nashville Union & American Sunday April 11, 1869

B. W. Smith one of the earliest settlers in Wilson Co., died at his residence in Statesville on the the 24th ult. Mr. Smith emigrated to Tennessee from Virginia in 1809 and settled in Wilson County. He died at the ripe old age of 79.

I have no further info, just ran across this and hoped it would help someone.
-----------------------------------------------
Capps
I am interested in Eliza Capps born about 1811, who married Thomas Jefferson Harmon September 10, 1829 in Davidson Co. She may be the daughter of Benjamin Capps who died in Davidson Co. in 1832. In 1850 a Sally Smith aged 65, is living in the h/h of Eliza Harmon. Possibly Sally Smith is the mother of Eliza.

Sally Harris married James Mouldings Sept. 22, 1806 in Davidson Co. This many be the same Sally Moulton who married Benjamin Capps in 1810, Davidson Co. Benjamin and Sally were later divorced. In 1835 a Sally Capps married John Smith in Davidson Co.

Interested in any information on Benjamin Capps and/or his son John Capps. Benjamin also had two other sons by Sally, possibly named Robert and Caleb Capps. Benjamin was married again to Nancy (Nancy Scurlock? Williamson Co. TN 1824)and left her widowed when he died in 1832. In 1850 Nancy is living in Davidson Co. with her son Joseph Capps aged 18.

Posted by: John Coffey (ID *****6192) Date: September 05, 2006 at 20:09:27
In Reply to: Capps Nashville Davidson Co. TN by Debie Cox of 4131

Debi,

I can add one other Capps to the confusion:

JAMES ALLEN CAPPS, born in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN, 13 Oct. 1825; married, 20 June 1852, MARY ESTHER GARDNER (1830-1869) of Washington, St. Landry Parish, LA. By profession he was a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi. Ten children known:

MARY ANN PAGE CAPPS, b. 1853 [my ancestor]
JOHN DAVIS CAPPS, b. ca. 1855
LUCY CAPPS, b. 1856
ALINE EMILY CAPPS, b. 1858
ORAMEL HINCKLEY CAPPS, b. 1860
JAMES ALLEN CAPPS, JR., b. ca. 1863
THOMAS CAPPS, b. ca. 1864
CHARLES CAPPS, b. ca. 1866
ANNA MARIA CAPPS, b. unk.
MATTIE CAPPS, b. unk.

JAMES ALLEN CAPPS, SR. died on 16 Nov. 1870 and was buried in Washington, LA.

Apart from his birth in Nashville, I have no information on his ancestry, though the circumstances tilt towards Benjamin Capps as his father. My line of reasoning follows: Benjamin is the only Capps in Davidson Co. in the early censuses. His marriage to Mary Moulton in 1810 is the first such notice. (I didn't know of their divorce). The next recorded marriages in the Capps family come a full generation later:Eliza Capps to Jefferson Harman, 1829; Caleb Capps to Tabitha Fowler, 1832; John Capps to America Casbear, 1833; Sally Capps to John Smith, 1835; Robert Capps to Lydia Bess, 1836; Robert Capps (same?) to Sarah Fudge, 1841; and Joseph Capps to Martha Castleman, 1852. Weighing the options, I have adopted the working theory that Benjamin fathered Eliza, Caleb, John, Sally, Robert, Joseph, AND James Allen.

I propose the hypothesis that BENJAMIN CAPPS is the son (or grandson) of either WILLIAM or JAMES CAPPS, both of whom received large grants of land in Davidson Co. "in consideration of [their] bravery and zeal" as soldiers in the Continental Army, or JAMES CAPPS [see "Land Deed Genealogy of Davidson County, Tennessee," vol. 1: 1783-1792, pp.65, 154.]. However, resolution of these problems will only come from dogged research in the archives and records of Nashville.

Anyone up to the challenge?

Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: January 04, 2007 at 08:29:28
In Reply to: Re: Capps Nashville Davidson Co. TN by John Coffey of 4131

There are documents concerning the heirs of Nancy Capps recorded in Davidson County Minute Book N, pages 507 -512. The case was first filed in Cabell County West Virginia where some of heirs were living at the time of filing.

p. 511
State of West Virginia, Cabell County
Julius W. McCullough being duly sworn says that he intermarried with Mary A. Capps one of the heirs of Nancy Capps decd. late of St. Landry Parrish Louisiana on the 5th day of March 1872, and that his said wife who is now living, is the only one of said heirs who is over the age of twenty one years; and that he is guardian for A. M. Capps, E. A. Capps, Oramel Capps, Jas A. Capps, Thos. G. Capps, Chas. G. Capps and Mattie Capps who are the infant heirs of said Nancy Capps decd.
Taken sworn to and subscribed before me this 2nd day of July 1874.

There are several pages in the minute book covering the matter but they just repeat the basic info over and over, giving the names of the above Capps heirs, but not their relationship to Nancy or any additional information on Nancy other than that she was late of St. Landry Parrish.

You can order copies of the pages from Metro Archives if you wish. The cost for the document is $3. Just give book and page numbers (Davidson County Minute Book N, pages 507 -512) if you order.
You can email me if you have questions.

John, there were Harman's in Nashville that seemed to be connected to Thomas Jefferson Harmon, husband of Eliza Capps, who were riverboat people. I haven't figured out how they are related. These other Harmans married into the Parrish family who were also riverboat folks.


Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: September 07, 2006 at 18:57:29
In Reply to: Re: Capps Nashville Davidson Co. TN by John Coffey of 4131

In 1840 Nancy Capps (Benjamin's widow) has 2 young males in her househole, one 10-15 and one 5-10. The younger one is Joseph H., still living with Nancy in 1850. The older one fits with the under 5 male in Benjamin's h/h on the 1830 census. Could this be your James Allen? Sounds reasonable to me, but I don't know that it can be proven. Nancy is living near Robert Capps, the one that is purportedly a son of Benjamin. There was another Robert Capps born about 1828 in England that came to Nashville around 1852.

Sally Capps who married John Smith was probably the ex-wife of Benjamin. Sally Smith is living in the h/h of Eliza Harman and family in 1850.

I thought Caleb was a son, based on some family info but now I think the person who passed this on was just guessing. Caleb was born in NC a couple of years before Benjamin married Sally. A bio on Caleb's grandson, Sterling Capps/Caps indicates the father of Caleb was Obediah Capps of NC.

As for the James or William Capps being father to Benjamin, I think that's doubtful. At the time that James and William Capps received grants in Middle Tennessee, Davidson County covered most of the area. The grant to
William Capps, a private in the North Carolina Continental Line was for 400 acres in Davidson Co., on the east side of Tennessee River below Mark Creek. I'm not sure where that is located today but it would not be in or near boundaries of the Davidson County in which Benjamin Capps lived and died. A map will show you the path of the Tennessee River at its closest point to Davidson Co. William Capps sold his grant to John Gray Blount and Thomas Blount and the Blount's filed a deed to the land
in 1788. William Capps likely never came to Tennessee. The grant to James Capps, a corporal in the North Carolina Continental Line, was for 1000 acres in Davidson County on the south side of the Cumberland River about three miles below the Cross Creeks. This also would have fallen outside the boundaries of Davidson County by the time Benjamin came along. This grant was sold by the heirs of James Capps before March 1786, to William Wicuff and Lardner Clark. James Capps also probably never came to Tennessee. There is no compelling reason to believe that either of these men was the father of Benjamin Capps.

osted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: December 11, 2006 at 18:08:26
In Reply to: Re: Capps Nashville Davidson Co. TN--Williamson Co, TN by Helen of 4131

I don't have absolute proof that it is my Benjamin who married Nancy Scurlock but the evidence points that way. Benjamin was divorced from his first wife in the early 1820's. We know from family information, census records and estate records that our Benjamin did marry again. A Benjamin Capps married Nancy Scurlock in Williamson Co., in 1824. Benjamin died in Davidson County in 1832 and the widow Capps was among the buyers at his sale. On the 1840 census for Davidson County, there is a Nancy Capps aged 30-40 and she has in her house a male aged 8 - 10 and a male aged 10 -15. In 1850 Nancy Capps aged 47 and Joseph Capps aged 16 are living in the house of John Eakin in Davidson Co. In 1860 Nancy is still living with the family of John Eakin but Joseph is gone. In 1870 Joseph is living in Nashville, Ward 7: Joseph 35 fisherman; M. J. 35; Benjamin 16; Amanda 12; James 8; Minnie 6. Joseph's wife was Martha J. Castleman and this family was connected to the family of Benjamin Capps. Nancy Capps died in Davidson Co., in 1873. - James Allen Capps may have been the older male child in the 1840 household of Nancy Capps. According to descendant John Coffey, James Allen Capps was born in Nashville in 1825.


Posted by: John Coffey (ID *****6192) Date: January 12, 2008 at 09:25:54
In Reply to: Re: Capps Nashville Davidson Co. TN--Williamson Co, TN by Debie Cox of 4131

Just a small correction on the biographical information on NANCY SCURLOCK CAPPS. Debie Cox's previous post of 4 Jan. quotes from documents filed in Davidson County to settle the estate of Nancy Capps. The excerpt clearly states that Nancy died on 5 March 1872 in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. This makes perfect sense as one of Nancy's known sons was James Allen Capps of Washington, St. Landry, LA. James had predeceased his mother in 1870 and the court documents describe his children as Nancy's heirs.

Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: January 12, 2008 at 12:18:19
In Reply to: Re: Capps Nashville Davidson Co. TN--Williamson Co, TN by John Coffey of 4131

John

The March 5, 1872 date is the date of marriage for Julius McCullough to Mary A. Capps - there should be a comma's where I have idicated but as they were not in the original document I left them out as well.

"Julius W. McCullough being duly sworn says that he intermarried with Mary A. Capps(,) one of the heirs of Nancy Capps decd. late of St. Landry Parrish Louisiana(,) on the 5th day of March 1872, and that his said wife who is now living, is the only one of said heirs who is over the age of twenty one years."


Nancy Capps died before Apr. 27, 1871 when an inventory was recorded in Davidson Co., Will Book 21, page 692, by the administrator of her estate, W. C. Turner. There are subsequent entries in Davidson Co., Will Book 22, page 537 and Will Book 22 page 544. The latter was the settlement of the estate of Nancy Scurlock filed in Decemeber 1873 by administrator W. C. Turner.

Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: January 12, 2008 at 19:12:52
In Reply to: Re: Capps Nashville Davidson Co. TN--Williamson Co, TN by John Coffey of 4131

They don't really say where she died. The words "late of St. Landry" can simply mean recently of, so she could have gone elsewhere before she died. As she still had property and probably son Joseph in Nashville, she may well have died here in Nashville.

Well I sure missed this one, just did a search
http://0www.library.nashville.org.waldo.library.nashville.
org/cemetery_graves/search
She is buried at Nashville City Cemetery,
Volume 5-1870 -Number 262 -Date October 3, 1870
-Name Capps, Nancy M. -Age 66 -Sex F -Race W
-Residence City -Disease Flux -Ave Oak -Lot lot
-Remarks on Parkmans lot --------------------------
 Dowlen


osted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: October 16, 2005 at 17:49:26
In Reply to: Dowlen 5 generations posted 1748–early 1900’s by Sheryl of 19

I believe the theory that this Dowlen family was in the Waxhaw District came from The Dowland family tree by C. Reid Dowland. There doesn't seem to be any evidence of that. Look in Warren Co. NC records and Bute Co. before Warren was formed. Did not find a Whitmill Dowlen connected with the Dowlen's in NC. although Harris Dowlen did have a son named Whitmell.

Harris Dowlen was likely a child of James Dowlen/Dowlin/Dulin who died in Warren Co. NC in 1793.

James Dowlin first mentioned in Bute Co. NC records 1771. Bute became Warren Co. James is mentioned numerous times in Warren Co. records.

Census 1784-86
James Duling, Warren Co., NC
1 white male 21-60, 2 white males under 20 or over 60, 8 white females all ages, 11 blacks under 12 over 50

Harris born about 1779, probably in Warren Co. NC

Warren County NC, Will Book 7 page 25, 26 Sept. 1793. Nov. Court, 1793.
Sale of the Estate of James Dowlin, deceased. Lucy Dowlin, Adminix.
Among buyers at the sale were: Lucy Dowlin, Amos Dowlin, Antony Dowlin, Selah Dowlin, Harris Dowlin and Martha Dowlin.

(A Celia (Selah?) Dowlin married Shadrack Jones in Davidson Co., TN on April 4, 1803.)

(An Amos Dowlen age 75 is living in Blount Co., TN in 1850- TN Census, Bl-90-715)

The age for Amos (b. ca 1775)is either wrong or he is not the same Amos Dowtin (don't know if the Dowtin spelling is a mistake or is it is a different name altogether)who married Ann Marshall in Warren Co. NC in 1787 as he would have been only 12 years old.

Harris Dowlen married Susan Hargrove in 1799 Davidson Co., TN. She was a daughter of John Hargrove who died in Davidson Co. in 1798. John Hargrove was a son of William Hargrove of Halifax Co., NC.

More on Hargrove family: http://geocities.com/genealogicalsearch/hargrove.html

The Hargroves were connected to the Harris, Duke and Green families as were the Dowlen's.

Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: October 23, 2005 at 16:14:49
In Reply to: Re: Harris Dowlen ancestry by Sheryl of 19

Hi Sheryl

Oh don't we all wish for more time! I could easily make family research into a full time job, if I didn't already have one. But it is so much fun when I do find time.

Many of the Warren Co. NC records are on line such as Will Book 7: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncwarren/will-abs/wc-wb7.htm
Scroll down to the abstract for page 25.
Lucy, Amos, Selah, Harris, Martha Dowlen and Anto. Dowten are listed as buyers at the sale of James Dowlen in Sept. of 1793. James is found in area records all the way back to 1771. Harris later married in Davidson Co. TN as did Selah/Celia.

And the marriage for Amos Dowtin[?]to Ann Marshall is here: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncwarren/marriages/wcmb/gr-d.htm

Lots of other record abstracts on the Warren Co. site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncwarren/data-idx.htm

So many of the Warren County families settled in Middle Tennessee counties of Davidson, Robertson and Cheatham where Dowlens also settled.

These abstracts are very helpful. I live near the Tennessee State Library and Archives which is a big plus when I find time for research. One of these days I am going to make a research trip to NC.

Nice to make your acquaintance.

Debie

My husband is descended from Harris Dowlin. Anyone have any idea who the rest of these Dowlin's are?

Warren County NC, Will Book 7 page 25, 26 Sept. 1793. Nov. Court, 1793.
Sale of the Estate of James Dowlin, deceased. Lucy Dowlin, Adminix.
Among buyers at the sale were: Lucy Dowlin, Amos Dowlin, Anto. (?) Dowlin, Selah Dowlin, Harris Dowlin and Martha Dowlin.

(A Celia (Selah?) Dowlin married Shadrack Jones in Davidson Co., TN on April 4, 1803.)

(An Amos Dowlen age 75 is living in Blount Co., TN in 1850- TN Census, Bl-90-715)



Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: November 21, 2002 at 20:42:23
In Reply to: Re: Harrison Dowlin, 1811 TN by terry davis of 103

Hi Terry, thanks for the email.

A note for the researchers who are descended from Harris (b c1780) or Amos (b c1775) Dowlin/Dowlen. These two lived in Warren Co. NC in 1793. I have found no records that suggest they ever lived in the Waxhaw district of NC/SC.

Harris and Amos were likely sons of James who lived in Bute, then Warren Co. NC as early as 1772. James died 1793 in Warren Co. He was associated with Duke, Green, Bobbitt, Jones and Harris families and others. Other Dowlins mentioned in estate records for James were Lucy, Harris, Amos, Martha and Selah (Celia). Harris Dowlin married in 1799 in Davidson Co. TN, to Susan Hargrove. Celia was married in Davidson Co. TN to Shadrack Jones in 1803.

In 1775 James Dowlin was witness to the will of Joseph Green. Green named in his will a grandson Josiah Green Duke. Josiah Green Duke was married in Davidson Co. TN in 1798 to Sally Hargrove, supposedly a sister of Susan Hargrove Dowlin. I have not seen any record of Amos Dowlin in Davidson Co. Edythe Rucker Whitley wrote in her book, Red River settlers : records of the settlers of Northern Montgomery, Robertson, and Sumner Counties, Tennessee, that Amos came to TN with Harris from the Waxhaw district, but I suspect she copied that information from Reid Dowland's book.

Debie Cox
Nashville
---------------------

Not my line, just thought this might be of help to someone.

Will of Isaac Earthman recorded 1835 Davidson Co., TN will book 10, p. 459. Will was written Jan. 19, 1833 and a codicil was written Aug. 13, 1833.

to my two grandchildren William Earthman and Mary Earthman children of my son Isaac Earthman...to Polly Davice (sic)...to the children of my son John Earthman...to the children of my son Lewis Earthman...to my son Henry Earthman...to the children of my daughter Betsy...to my daughter Polly Cooks children...to the children of my daughter Sally Sims...to the children of my Nancy...to my daughter Nellys children...to my son Isaac...to the children of my son James Earthman
My trusty friend James Marshall and my son Isaac Earthman - my executors, witnesses Hardy S. Bryan and Chl. Lanier.

Codicil reinforces legacy to grandchildren William Earthman and Mary Earthman and revokes appointment of James Marshall and Isaac Earthman as executors. Appoints Danl. Buie and Jonathan Garret as executors, witnessed by Ephraim H. Foster and Wm. Lytle.
  Following is a list of marriage records issued for the surname Earthman taken from the original marriage bonds of Davidson Co., TN, 1789-1810.

Data is given in this order: the name of the groom, the name of the bride, the date of issue and the name of the bondsman.

Morris, Andrew to Elizabeth Earthman 12/24/1799 Wright Williams             

Earthman, John to Polly Cooke       8/7/1803 Obed Davis      

Cook, William to Polly Earthman       1/21/1806 Christopher Stump

Pinkley, George to Nelly Earthman 5/16/1807 Henry Crommer                           
Earthman, James to Elizabeth Drake 7/6/1807 Thomas White
      
Lenier, Buchanan to Nancy Earthman 3/13/1810 Willie Harris

Horn, Richard to Sally Earthman 9/15/1810 James McCarter

Earthman, Lewis to Judith Holt       9/17/1810 Christopher Elmore      

Sims, James to Sally Earthman       10/25/1810 Lewis Earthman      
----------------
Nathan Fry
Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: July 08, 2009 at 14:51:34
  of 3978

I work at Metro Nashville Archives and ran across a file on a Nathan Fry who died in Nashville, Tennessee about 1878.

There are only a few pages in the file but they give a lot of family information. There is a deposition in the file of John Fry of Licking County Ohio, dated Septemeber 30, 1880. John states that Nathan was the only child and heir of Elizabeth Fry who died March 16, 1839 unmarried and goes on to say that Elizabeth had never been married and that Nathan took her name. Nathan's mother Elizabeth had three brothers, 1. Lodwick Fry born 1797 died April 1854, 2. George Fry born March 1, 1799 and died April 24 1822 and 3. Thomas Fry born July 5, 1801 and still living [1880]. Lodwick and George Fry both died in Licking County, Ohio.
Nathan's mother Elizabeth had five sisters, 1. Margaret Fry died Dec. 1st, 1820, 2. Mary Fry died Oct. 7, 1835, 3. Susan Miley died July 8, 1861, 4. Sarah Pitzer, "namely second Husband her first Husbands name Effinger died June 23 1860.", 5. Nancy Quick and still living. All of Nathan's mother Elizabeth, that are dead, died leaving children. When Nathan Fry died in Nashville, Tennessee there were living only one brother of his mother, Thomas Fry and only one sister, Nancy Quick & still living in Vandalia, Montgomery County, Ohio.

There is no other information on the family in the file and I have no knowledge of them. Just wanted to pass this on in case someone is looking for this family.
------------------
Gower
Posted by: Debie Cox (ID *****9051) Date: June 28, 2011 at 10:10:41
  of 1336

Probate records for Gideon Harris, Davidson County, TN. Two of his daughter married G. W. L. Gower in Davidson Co., TN.
The heirs of Gideon Harris, from the will and county court probate records:

The will was written on October 20, 1853 and presented for probate on August 25, 1866, recorded will book 20, page 366, Davidson Co. TN. The widow is not named only the mention of "my wife." Children named in the will were: Eli, Eliza Ann, Sally, Patsy, Polly and Louisa. A deceased son, Wyatt Harris was also mentioned. A son Wesley Blunt Harris is named separately from the other children, with a bequest of on dollar, with the admonition, "it is all of my estate that I desire him to have." The rest of the estate, real estate and personal property was to be sold and equally divided among the widow and surviving children. He mentions a sum of money, $55.25, left by his deceased son Wyatt, which was to be divided among the other children, as was the wish of Wyatt. Elias Simpkins was named as executor. The will was proven to the court by one of the witnesses, Lewis Williams, who stated he and J. E. Manlove had witnessed the will at the request of Gideon Harris and that he believed that Harris was of sound mind at the time of the signing of the will. Elias Simpkins declined the Executorship and the court appointed Elias Simpkins and Henry Holt, Jr. as Administrators of the estate of Gideon Harris, deceased. The court ordered the will be admitted and the will and inventory wasrecorded in will book 366 and 367.

Additional records found in Davidson County Court minute book J and Davidson County marriage records:
Names heirs: widow, Ailsey Harris, [Her name was given as Elsey McGinnis on the original marriage bond issued to Gideon Harris, 8/31/1829 in Davidson County, TN.]
Children: 1. Louisa Holt, wife of Henry Holt, Jr. [Louisa Harris to Henry Holt, Jr., 9/24/1836]

2. Sallie Simpkins [Sarah to Elias R. Simpkins, 1/9/1844]

3. Eliza Ann Simpkins [Eliza Ann Harris to Joseph Simpkins, 3/25/1848]

4. Eli Harris

5. Polly Gower, wife of G. W. Gower [Polly Harris to G. W. Gower, 3/10/1856]

6. Patsy Gower, deceased, first wife of G. W. Gower [Patsy Harris to G. W. L. Gower, 3/5/1849].
Patsy's children and heirs at law were William C. Gower, James W. Gower, and Martha Anne Gower. G. W. Gower, his wife, Polly Harris Gower, and the children of his first wife Patsy; William C., James W. and Martha Anne Gower were all residents of Johnson County, Illinois in 1866.
---------------------------




Thomas J. Steele

Thomas J. Steele son of James and Judidiah Wood Steele, grandson of Samuel and Patience Shane Steele. Tom and Terressa had two children.       Sarah Anna Elisabeth Steele was born in January 1855 and Amanda Rosa Isabel Steele was born in October 1857. Tom died in 1860. The above information came from a Davidson County, TN Chancery Court case, James Baker vs W. B. Binkley.

James Steele died in 1849 in New Orleans, LA while there on business. His widow Judidiah was listed on the Wilson Co., TN census in 1850. James' father, Samuel Steele was a son of Andrew Steele and Martha Buchanan Steele. Patience Shane's father was Morris Shane a pioneer settler of Davidson Co. who came to the settlement in 1780. Patience's mother was Phoebe Castleman. The Castleman's were pioneer settler's in middle Tennessee. Terressa "Essie" Easter Wright Steele was a daughter of John Wright and Lear Dicus who married in Rutherford Co., TN in 1810.

Copying my old posts from rootweb forums.

The Three Husbands of Silvia Chambliss.

Harris, Hargrove, Whitehead

The Three Husbands of Silvia Chambliss.
 
Genealogical Abstracts of Wills 1758 through 1824: Halifax County, North Carolina abstracted by Margaret M. Hofmann
Will Book 3
Page 156 ELIAS HARRIS 16 Oct 1788 Nov Ct 1788
Daughters SALLEY POPE and LUCY BLANTON and son ASA HARRIS 20 shillings each son ABNER HARRIS 20 shillings etc. My 4 daughters FRANCES HARRIS, CATHARINE HARRIS, PHEBE HARRIS and MARY HARRIS and sons HUGH HARRIS and ARTHUR HARRIS horse, bridle etc. each when they are 21 lend wife SILVIA HARRIS residue of estate for her life
Wit: ROE(?) HARRIS x his mark, WILLIAM ALLEN, HENRY SOUTHALL
Extrs: my brothers ISAAC HARRIS and HOWELL HARRIS and my wife and son ABNER


The Deeds of Halifax County, North Carolina 1796-1802 abstracted by Dr. Stephen E. Bradley, Jr.
Proof Silvia Chambliss Harris married John Hargrove
 Deed Book 18
Page 231
Articles of Agreement.  Elias Harris left his will dated 16 Oct 1785.  After his decease, his widow Silvia married Colo. John Hargrove "who is now about to remove himself & family to the Western Country".  Now Isaac Harris & Abner Harris, executor of sd will, in behalf of the orphans of sd Elias Harris, sell the residue of the estate for the support of sd widow & sd orphans until they marry or come of age.  Sd John & Silvia Hargrove agree to the arrangement.  2 Sept 1797.  John (x) Hargrove, Silvia (x) Hargrove, Isaac Harris, Abner Harris.  Wit:  Thos. Turner, Jas. Phips, Wm. Hargrove.  Nov Ct 1797  L. Long, CCT

John Hargrove moved with Silvia, his children, some of her Harris children to Davidson Tennessee where he died late in the year of 1798. He died after Sept 21, 1798, on which date he wrote a letter of consent for his daughter Sally to marry Josiah Green Duke. He did not leave a will.
His widow Silvia married Benjamin Whitehead in Davidson Co., TN on September 16, 1800.

John Hargove's heirs in 1801 were:
1. John D. Hargrove, 2. Josiah Green Duke (married Sally Hargrove, about September 21, 1798 at Davidson Co. TN), 3. Lucy M. Hargrove, 4. Benjamin Whitehead (married Silvy Hargrove about September 16, 1800 at Davidson Co. TN. Her name was written as Sally in the marriage book but is Silvy on the original marriage bond.), 5. Harris Dowlin (married Susannah Hargrove in 1799 at Davidson Co. TN), 6. Thomas Hargrove, 7. William Hargrove. Silvy was his widow.  Sivia Chambliss Harris Hargrove Whitehead.


The Deeds of Halifax County, North Carolina 1796-1802 abstracted by Dr. Stephen E. Bradley, Jr.
Proof Silvia Chambliss Harris Hargrove married Benjamin Whitehead
Deed Book 19
Page 445
Benjamin Whitehead & his wife Silvia (x) to Thomas Turner.  25 Jun 1804.  Elias Harriss late of Halifax Co., who was the former husband of sd Silvia, willed to her a life estate to land on Marsh Swamp, joining Isaac Harriss & others, being the land where sd Elias Harriss died.  Sd Silvia later married John Hargrove.  On 2 Sept 1797, she & sd Hargrove made an agreement with Isaac Harriss & Abner Harriss executors of sd Elias Harriss; now sd land to be sold in conformity with the agreement.  This deed to make legal the transfer to sd Thomas Turner.  5 shillings.   Wit:  BenjaminWilliams, William Killingsworth.
Sd Silvia was a resident of Montgomery Co. Tennessee & her consent was obtained there.
Feb Ct 1805.  CC:  L. Long

Deed Book 21
Page 294
Abner Harris of Montgomery Co Tennessee, surviving executor of Elias Harris dec'd to James & B. Harris executors of Isaac Harris dec'd who was executor of Elias Harris dec'd.  26 Aug 1808.  Received  819L 2s 11p; also received was 16L 4s 8p due from the estate of Elias Harris to Benj Whitehead & wife; also received from James & Benj Harris executors a receipt from Oliver Fitts 17 Apr 1808 for 407L 11s 2; to discharge a judgment obtained by Benj Whitehead & wife against the executors of Elias Harris dec'd.  Wit: John Patrick, William Williams.  May Ct 1809.  Rich H. Long CC

Three Husbands

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Oeser and Davis families






My paternal grandparents were Ernest Granville Oeser and Ruth Ann Davis Oeser. This is a photo history of sorts for the Oeser and Davis families.  It is not complete as I don't have photos for all the family members. Putting these up to share with others.

Pharaba Ann Tennessee Elizabeth Allen (Grandma Davis) was born in 1834 at her family home near River Road, in what is now Cheatham Co., TN.   Her parents were James Russell Allen  and Mary Patterson Allen.  In February, 1849 at the age of 14, (a few weeks before her 15th birthday) she was married to Milton Stokley Davis.  Her first child, Susanna, was born in February of 1850, when she was 15 years old. 
 
Pharaba Ann Tennessee Elizabeth Allen Davis.  This photo courtesy of Brenda Harper Palmer.
Pharaba Ann Tennessee Elizabeth Allen Davis.  Collection of Debie Oeser Cox.

Pharaba and Milton had children.  Her son, George Koen Davis, was my great grandfather.

Pharaba Allen Davis, Virginia Olinger Vick Davis, Paul Koen Hicks and George Koen Davis. 

George Koen Davis (Grandpap) was born in 1858 at Pond Creek, Cheatham Co. TN.  In 1896, the 38 year old bachelor married Virginia Olinger Vick (Granny Davis), a widow, with four minor children.


Virginia Olinger Vick Davis and her husband George Koen Davis, Pond Creek. Collection of Debie Oeser Cox.

In 1897, their only child, Ruth Ann Davis (Mama Oeser) was born.  Ruth was my grandmother. 


Ruth Ann Davis. Collection of Debie Oeser Cox.
 Ruth was married in 1916 to Ernest Oeser (Papa Oeser) of Nashville.  They rented a house from Mr. C. E. White, at 1915 Cephas Street in North Nashville.  My Daddy, Ernest G. Oeser, Jr. was born at the Cephas Street house in 1917.

Ruth Ann Davis Oeser and Ernest G. Oeser soon after their marriage in 1916.


My Daddy, Ernest G. Oeser, Jr. was born at the Cephas Street house in 1917. 


Ernest George Oeser born July 15, 1917.
 Mr. White put the house up for sale and my grandparents decided to buy a house across the river.   Papa Oeser's sister Minnie, was selling her house at 1022 Pennock Ave.  Papa and Mama Oeser bought the house and moved in late summer of 1918.


All of their ten children, with the exception of my Daddy, were born in the house on Pennock Avenue.

Ruth Ann Davis Oeser. Collection of Debie Oeser Cox.

Ruth Ann Davis Oeser and Virginia Olinger Vick Davis. Collection of Debie Oeser Cox.



Oeser Family


August F. Oeser came to the United States in 1855 from Germany aboard the ship Mimi.
Passenger list of the Mimi.
We don't know when he arrived in Nashville but he stated in his application for citizenship in 1861, that he had resided here for more that five years.  August purchased a house on Stevenson Street in April of 1858.


Davidson County Deed Book 28, page 272
He made a declaration of intent to become a citizen in September of 1858 in the Davidson County courts.  In 1859, and several years after, he is listed in the city directory and was working for Mr. Gunter a wagon maker.  His name is spelled Easer, Eser and Eiser is some of the early records.  He was literate, but may have had limited English language skills.  He signed his name as Oeser.

In this record his surname is spelled Easer.
August Oeser also purchased property on 8th Avenue South and he bought a farm in Antioch.  I have no photographs of August.  He died in 1884 and is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.




Charles Stier lot, Mt Olivet Cemetery, Davidson County, Tenn front


Charles Stier lot, Mt Olivet Cemetery, Davidson County, Tenn. back

Charles Stier purchased lot 4, in section 11, of Mt. Olivet, on November 7, 1884. On that day the remains of George P. Campbell were moved from lot 9, section 2.  He had originally benn buried on Oct. 26, 1874.

Others buried there:

Louie Frederick Oeser, May 5, 1949
Harriett Olivia Rieves Oeser, August 7, 1943
Ernest Louie Oeser, June 9. 1897
Mrs. Minnie Oeser, January 9, 1898
August Frederick Oeser, November 16, 1884.
Child of W. E. Black, July 12, 1886 *
Charles W. Black, September 15, 1886
W. E. Black, April 25, 1908
Minnie Campbell Black, July 14, 1946
William F. Campbell, December 23, 1900
Oliver P. Campbell, April 9, 1907
Birdie Stier Harrison, January 10, 1944
Ernest W. Harrison, October 18, 1941
Frank Campbell, January 30, 1935
Charles H. Stier, August 10, 1919
Ada Oeser Stier, September 10, 1915
Loraine Black Stone, July 18, 1934

Nashville Birth Records W. E. and Minnie Black had a child born July 12, 1896.  I think this is the child and the year is wrong on the card.


 Most of those buried in the lot are family members of Ada Oeser, wife of Charles Stier.



























Saturday, October 4, 2014

Our Grand Tour - London At Last.

London, August 23, 2014, Saturday

The flight to London was quick, about an hour and 40 minutes.  My seat mates were two young men from Poland, who spoke very little English.  Ann had the luck to sit next to a pilot from Amsterdam who gave her some advice on what to see in London.  We arrived at Heathrow for the second time in our journey.


Because we gained an hour, it was only about 4:30 when we landed.  We went through security and customs, claimed our checked bags and headed outside to find a taxi.


We gave the driver the address of our hotel, 27 Devonshire Terrace and started off.  There were very dark clouds and it started to rain.  Our driver said he was a native of London, and that the area we were headed for, was in a good neighborhood and an easy place, from which, to travel around London.  Most of the ride was along a highway, but we could see houses and buildings.  The rooftops had Mary Poppins chimneys.

Mary Poppins rooftops

Finally we were on the city streets and our driver pointed out Hyde Park and told us that our hotel would be in walking distance.


BW Shaftesbury Paddington Court
When we got to the hotel, our bags were carried in by staff while we paid the driver. We think he must have taken us for more of a ride than necessary.  Our fare was £64 and we had read it would be about £50-55 but what can you do?  Ann checked in for our first two nights.  
 
Hotel Lobby


We had an additional reservation that started on the 25th and went through the 1st. We thought it best to see what our room was like before we committed to a longer stay.  Two young men took us, and our bags, to our room on the first floor.  It was a twin club room with a window that looked out over the street.   


We had read that hotel rooms in London were small so we were not surprised that our did not have a lot of extra space. We were pleased that it was clean.  We explored the room and hotel and then went out for a walk around the neighborhood.  We walked around the block and found that we were at the edge of a residential area. Block after block of four story townhouses, most divided into several apartments on every street we took.  We have discovered that Charles Dickens, once lived across the street from our hotel.  It is so amazing to walk the streets, knee deep in history.  We were just around the corner from Craven Road.  

 
Craven Road

We walked the few blocks up Craven Road to Paddington (tube) Station. We went inside and asked about how to get an oyster card.  An employee walked us through the process at one kiosks and we put £30 each on our cards.  Lots of restaurants, markets, hotels, and shops near Paddington Station.  

 
Paddington Station

There were a lot of people out on the streets.  We were both in awe,of the fact, that we were walking the streets of London.  Most of the restaurants had menus posted out front and we stopped to look at couple.  We stopped in front of Bizzarro's, an Italian restaurant about 3 blocks from our hotel. 

 
Bizzarro, Craven Road

The maitre de convinced us to go inside.  We were tired and hungry.  I ordered Petto di Pollo ai Funghi Porcini which was a roasted chicken breast served with a very tasty mushroom sauce.  Ann had Petto di Pollo con Ricotta, Spinici e Salsa al Funghetto which was a roasted chicken breast stuff with ricotta and spinach and mushroom sauce.  The food and the service was very good. 



We left for our hotel, full and ready to settle in for the night. 



London, August 24, 2014, Sunday
I slept very well and woke up hungry, about 7.  We got ready for the day and headed to the dining room, which was in the basement.  There we found a buffet, with scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, beans, roasted tomatoes, roasted potatoes, croissants, hard rolls, and chocolate pastries.  


There was cold cereal, milk, orange and apple juice, cold cuts of cheese and ham, and sliced fruit, melon or pineapple.  A choice of coffee or tea was offered.  
We fueled up and headed out for the Notting Hill Carnival.  


Notting Hill Carnival


Notting Hill Carnival


The carnival is a yearly event held the weekend of the August Bank Holiday, which occurs on the last Monday of August.  It began in 1964 and with more than a million attendees in recent years is one of the largest street fairs in the world.  


Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival
  
 We saw people, lots of people.  


Notting Hill Carnival


There was music and food 


Notting Hill Carnival


and more people.  


Notting Hill Carnival


We spent some time just walking and exploring the Notting Hill area.  It was here that the movie Notting Hill was filmed. 


Notting Hill

Notting Hill

Notting Hill


 We walked back to Bayswater Road when we left the carnival and headed back along the route we came on.  We stopped to make a photo of Cafe Diana.  

Cafe Diana, Bayswater Road

Just across the street were several armed officers guarding the entrance of a road.  We crossed over and asked if we could walk through.  


Entrance to Kensington Park Gardens

An officer told us that it was a private road, named Kensington Park Gardens, and we would be allowed to walk through.  

Kensington Park Gardens

He warned us to put away our cameras as no photos were allowed.  I managed to find a few photos online.  The road was lined with mansions, closed in behind walls, fences and gates.  

 
Kensington Park Gardens

Armed guards stood outside some of the gates.  Some houses were identified by plaques, as embassies of various countries or homes of foreign ambassadors.  

Russian Embassy

We have found out since, that the road is called Billionaire's Row and is the most expensive road in London.  We came to an entrance for Kensington Palace and went through. We walked through the gardens and made photos of the palace. 
Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace

We went inside to get information and decided to become members of Historic Royal Palaces.  Our membership card will admit us to several places, including the Tower of London, without having to wait in line. 

Kensington Palace and Gardens
The oldest part of Kensington Palace dates to 1605 and it was once known as Nottingham House.

Kensington Palace


Kensington Palace

If there is a family tree around you know I will find it.

Kensington Palace

Over the centuries the palace was expanded and has been home to many members of the Royal Family.  Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace and spent her early years there.







Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth lived at Kensington Palace for many years. This was the palace where Princess Diana lived when she was first married to Prince Charles.  She kept her home here, after she was divorced and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry were raised here.  Prince William and Kate and their little son Prince George live at Kensington Palace today.  Prince Harry also has an apartment in the Palace. 

There was a special exhibit of dresses worn by Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana. 


Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth


Queen Elizabeth
Princess Margaret

Princess Diana

We left Kensington Palace and walked back to Kensington Park Gardens Road, and continued to the end, at Kensington High Street.  This was a great street, very busy, with lots of shops, stores and restaurants.  

Kensington High Street



Kensington High Street

Kensington High Street



About a block down we came to St. Mary Abbotts and walked through the church yard which was paved with grave stones.  

St Mary Abbots Church

St Mary Abbots Church


St Mary Abbots Church

St Mary Abbots Church

St Mary Abbots Church

There were many great old buildings along Kensington High Street and down the side streets.  We went into a few stores.  One was TK Maxx, which we had also seen in Berlin.  I asked why it was called T K instead of T J.   A clerk told me there was a chain of stores in Europe called T J Hughes and so as not to cause confusion the name TK Maxx is used there.

Kensington High Street

Kensington High Street

It was getting late in the day and we stopped at a restaurant, the Spaghetti House, to eat. We had an appetizer of Nocellara del Belice olives on ice. We both ordered Lasagne bolognese pasticciata and bread for our meal.  I was quickly learning, when I ordered water, that I needed to ask for still water.  Otherwise I would be served sparkling or carbonated water.  Preferred by Europeans, it tastes terrible to me, a bit like drinking vinegar.

After dinner we found that Kensington Park Gardens Road was closed.  We walked back through Kensington Park, along the Broad Walk, past Kensington Palace.  We saw the larger than life, marble statue of a young Queen Victoria, created by her daughter, Princess Louise.


We also passed the Diana Memorial Playground.  We left the park at Bayswater Road, just across from Queensway Tube Station.   We walked east on Bayswater, turned north at Craven Hill Terrace and back to our hotel.

London, August 25, 2014, Monday

We had our breakfast at the hotel and then started out for the day. It had to happen, rain in London.  We were prepared with umbrellas and rain jackets.   Our destination was 84 Charing Cross Road, in London's famous West End.  We walked to Paddington and took the tube to Tottenham Court Road Station on Oxford Street.  Charing Cross Road was nearby.  We walked along Charing Cross Road, passing lots of theaters, restaurants and pubs.  In 1970 I went to Zibart's Book Store on Church Street and purchased the book, 84 Charing Cross Road.


I had read an excerpt of the book and fell in love with it.  The story took place, in part, in a bookstore, Marks & Co, located at 84 Charing Cross Road in London.



The book store is no longer there but a plaque on the outside wall commemorates Marks & Co. and the book by Helen Hanff. In 2014 there is a Belgium restaurant at the location, Léon de Bruxelles.



Leon de Brussels

I never imagined I would stand there on that spot. Something to cross off my bucket list. Just across the square which was actually sort of round in shape and called Cambridge Circus, was the Palace Theater.  The Palace Theater was built in 1891, and was originally the Royal English Opera House.


The Palace Theater

I looked up the definition of circus as it applies to areas in London.  It simply means, a rounded area where several streets meet.  I guess we have our own Five Points Circus in Nashville, haha.    As you take a turn to look at the buildings around the square, they all appear to be late 19th century.  The Cambridge, a pub built in 1887, is across Charing Cross Road. A building in the opposite direction with 1889, over the door is home to a Pizza Hut.  There were a number of book stores in the area.  We didn't take a lot of photos because of the rain.  We walked around the area, just looking at the architecture and shops of all sorts.

Cambridge Circus

Many book stores in the West End.  Still in Cambridge circus at the corner of Shaftesbury Ave.was a sign pointing toward the Picadilly Theater where Jersey Boys was playing and just across was the The Ape & Bird pub.

Ape & Bird Pub

 The buildings are amazing and there are red double decker buses everywhere.  There were also a couple of adult shops, Harmony and Soho Original Books.




We had not yet gone into a pub but passed many, such as the Montagu Pyke, formerly the Marquee Club.




We traveled along Shaftesbury Ave toward Great Russell Street to the British Museum.

British Museum
It had been raining all morning and we were happy to go inside.  The place is huge and very old.  We went into the Enlightenment Gallery where there were artifacts, books and sculpture from many cultures and countries.



 There was a marble sculpture of Paris of Greek and Roman mythology, holding the fabled golden apple, which dates to the 2nd century.


A bust of the Roman goddess Minerva, found in Rome in the 18th century, was also from the 2nd century.  It would take days to see and read about everything in this room.


There was jewelry carved from stone.  Weapons from the Bronze age, on display, thought to be about 4,000 years old, were found in peat bogs in 1741.  We saw 16th century maiolica pottery and dishes from Italy.


We both wanted to see the Parthenon Gallery and the Elgin Marbles.  Nashville's Parthenon houses replicas of the Elgin Marbles, made from casts of those in the British Museum.

British Museum - Elgin Marlbles


British Museum - Elgin Marlbles


We also wanted to see the Rosetta Stone.  We went through many of the 95 galleries.  It was overwhelming to see so much in such a short time.

Rosetta Stone

We left the museum and found our way to Oxford Street.  We walked to the Oxford Circus tube station and headed back toward Paddington Station.  It had rained all day and my thin rain jacket was wet all the way through.


Did I mention it rained?
We went to our room and put on dry clothes.  The rain had nearly stopped so we walked to back to Paddington station and went to Garfunkels for supper.   Ann and I both had meat pies and shared a pot of tea.  Mine was chicken leek and ham pie with mashed potato, broccoli and and carrots.  It was good, warm, comfort food. 

London, August 26, 2014, Tuesday

August 26, 2014, Tuesday - Our Route

Started out in the rain again this morning but lighter than yesterday. Londoners are used to the rain, I guess.  Saw many folks with bare heads and no umbrella.  Guess you just have to deal with what life gives you. We walked to Paddington Station and took the Bakerloo line all the way to Charing Cross Road tube station.   We got off at the opposite end of Charing Cross Road from where we were yesterday.


Charing Cross Underground Station

Most of the time we were babes in the wood, until we would come up on one of the handy street corner maps and get our bearings. We should have invested in a guide book for London.  We missed so much that was near the areas we visited.  You learn as you go, maybe we will go back someday.  We were at Tralfagar Square, but had no idea.  We did see Nelson's Column, figured it out later with the internet.  The giant blue rooster could not be missed.  Wish we had known more about where we were at the moment.  We wandered around the square, trying to take it all in and at the same time keeping our heads low because of the rain.  We headed off down Whitehall Street, our destination being the Banqueting House.  As we walked, we passed Great Scotland Yard, the original location of the London Police Department.


Scotland Yard (Old)

The area is covered with government buildings.  We had purchased a membership to the Historic Royal Palaces when we were at Kensington Palace and the Banqueting House was included.  We arrived a little early, and stood in line for a few minutes, as the doors did not open until 10 am.


Banqueting House
The Banqueting House, constructed in 1622, is all that remains of the Palace of Whitehall, which was destroyed by fire in 1698.

Banqueting House and Palace of Whitehall

It was here that King Charles I was executed.  He stepped through a window, onto a scaffold, and was beheaded. (Charles I)

King Charles I

At his death, the monarchy was abolished and a republic called the Commonwealth of England was declared.  The monarchy was restored in 1660 to Charles's son, Charles II.

The hall, within the house, was used not only for banqueting but royal receptions, ceremonies, and the performance of masques,which involved music and dancing, singing and acting.  The entertainment given here would have been among the finest in Europe, for during this period England was considered the leading musical country of Europe. (Banqueting Hall)

Banqueting Hall

The ceiling of the hall is adorned with huge paintings by Sir Peter Paul Rubens.  The paintings, on canvass, were installed on the ceiling in 1636.  (Ruben's ceiling)  There was an interesting film to watch detailing the history of the building and an audio guide is included with admission.

Banqueting Hall - Rubens ceiling

The final stop on the tour is the basement level or the Undercroft. This area was designed as a drinking den for James I and his friends. 

Undercroft - Banqueting House

On our visit there was a small cafe located in the Undercroft which open only in the summer months.  We didn't stop but it appeared they served breads, pastries and tea and soft drinks.  The hall is used for events of all sorts and has been visited by many heads of state.  President George Bush and wife Laura were here in 2003.  

It was still raining when we went back out to the street.  We continued down Whitehall and passed Downing Street.  We didn't take the short walk down to number 10, to view the Prime Minister's residence.

Downing Street

I suppose the rain kept us moving.  Richmond House, the headquarters for the Department of Health was on our way.  As we walked, Big Ben came into view.

Big Ben

We arrived at Bridge Street and were just across from the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Parliament

Westminster Abbey

We circled Parliament Square and found another of the street post maps that give locations of tube station and bus stops.  We found the maps also point the way to area landmarks.  This one directed us down Great George Street towards Buckingham Palace.  We soon found ourselves on Birdcage Walk, at the edge of St James Park.  We walked through St James Park, which has an interesting history.

Chinese Bridge - St James Park

It was once very marshy land and was the site of lepers hospital in the 16th century.  After the hospital was closed, King James I opened a menagerie here, where he kept all sorts of exotic animals and birds, hence Birdcage Walk. 

St James Park - Eurasian Coot

In the 17th century, King Charles the II, had the park transformed into formal gardens, in the style of the gardens at Versailles and opened the park to the public. (St James)
 
Flower Beds - St James Park

We came out of St James Park, back onto Birdcage Walk and had our first real view of Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace

It is huge, has 775 rooms.  We looked for the flag on top of the palace and saw it was the British Flag which indicates Her Majesty was not at home.  We walked around the east front of the palace, peering though the fence and making a few photos.


Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace
The rain must have soaked into our brains.  I don't think either of us thought about getting tickets to go inside.


Buckingham Palace
Out in front is the Victoria Memorial, dedicated to Queen Victoria in 1911.

Victoria Memorial

Across from the palace is another royal park, Green Park.

Green Park Gates

It has 19 acres and lies between St James Park and Hyde Park.


Green Park
You can literally walk for miles through the adjoining parks, from St. James Park at Whitehall to Kensington Gardens at Notting Hill. We crossed to the Victoria Memorial, and went to the other side and over to Green Park.  Walking around the edge of the park we came to the Mall which is a busy roadway.  The Mall is closed to traffic on Sundays and holidays.  It is a beautiful tree lined road with wide walkways on both sides.  We passed by the Stable Yard Road and stopped to make a photo of the guards there.

Guard at Stable Yard Road

Guard at Stable Yard Road

 This gated road leads to Clarence House, the London residence of Charles, Prince of Wales.  His grandmother, the Queen Mother, lived at Clarence House until her death in 2002.  We continued on until we passed under the Admiralty Arch, which looks like a monument, but is an office block with rooms inside. It was commissioned by King Edward VII to commemorate the death of Queen Victoria.


Admiralty Arch near Buckingham Palace

The inscription along the top reads ANNO DECIMO EDWARDI SEPTIMI REGIS VICTORIÆ REGINÆ CIVES GRATISSIMI MDCCCCX, which is Latin for In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen Victoria, from most grateful citizens, 1910.


DAVID ILIFF - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Admiralty_Arch,_London,_England_-_June_2009.jpg
We were back at Trafalgar Square and we were hungry.  There were several restaurants and they all looked very busy.  We settled on Little Frankie's on Whitehall.  It was a diner, decorated with autographed photos of celebrities.

Little Frankie's

We both ordered soup, that was served with garlic dough balls floating in the bowl.  I had a cheeseburger and lemonade.

Ann - Little Frankie's in London

The food was not memorable, but the soup was warm and welcome after walking in the rain.  We left the restaurant and went towards St Martin's Theater, walking about a half mile.

St. Martin's Theater

There was a matinee at 3 pm of The Mousetrap.  The Mousetrap has been showing in London since 1952 and has been playing at St Martin's since 1974.  The theater was wonderful, just what you want to find inside an old theater.There was dark polished woodwork and paneling.  The wallpaper was red and gold as was the carpet.  The seats were upholstered in red velvet.

St. Martin's interior

We were in the dress circle and had a great view of the stage.  The play was wonderful and it is one of my best memories of London.

Mousetrap

The rain had almost stopped when we came out of the theater. It was after five and we wanted to go back to Oxford Street and find Selfridge & Co.  We walked through Litchfield Street to Charing Cross Road and over to Oxford Street.  We walked along Oxford Street, passing Oxford Circus tube station.  The buildings are not as old here, as in some other areas we have walked in.  There appears to be a lot of 19th century and some 20th century structures along the street.  This is a very busy shopping district.  We reach Bond Street tube station and Selfridge's is just ahead.  Ann watched the Mr. Selfridge, Masterpiece Theater series on PBS and seeing the store up close was something she wanted to do.  We went inside and walked through for a few minutes and then exited back on Oxford Street.



We took the tube back to Paddington and walked to our hotel.   Later we went around the corner from the hotel to Chelsea Deli. We were not very hungry and did not want a full meal. I ordered something that was labeled, potato chicken.  It was chicken with potatoes, flavorful enough and Ann got a different chicken dish.   The price was fair and we left satisfied.  The rain was gone and we walked around the neighborhood awhile, before going back to the hotel. 

London (2)

London (3)

Our Grand Tour - Berlin