Georgio Julius Montagna of Italy #52Ancestors #36

I know very little about Georgio Montagna. He was born in Italy by my estimate about 1850.
Update 22 April 2018:
I have located documents naming him

Giorgio Giuseppe Geremia Montagna

He was born 1 October 1853 in Mirandola, Modena, Italy to Domenico Montagna and Teresa Ceretti.

Map of unification of Italy, 1815-70. Public Domain

He was married to Elizabetta Rosa Bonini. This is the official record of the marriage in 1896, but probably married about 1876 by the Church.

Marriage of Giorgio Montagna and Elisa Rosa Bonini in Rome

After doing some reading in the excellent resource, "Italian Genealogical Records" by Trafford R Cole, Psy.D., I found the reason for two marriages.

Beginning in 1866, the town officials were responsible for recording all births, marriages, and deaths. The child had to be personally presented to the town official to register the birth.
After the Kingdom of Italy was formed, Pope Pius IX was totally against the new country. He had controlled the city of Rome and the central portion of the country know as the Papal States. The Church lost the battle (literally). The Pope did not give in quietly, and prohibited all faithful Catholics from participating in the political system.
A power struggle arose between the Officials and the Church. Many people were married by the Church, but did not register the marriage with the city officials. The town would not recognize the marriage and would record all of the children resulting from these marriages as illegitimate. The couple would finally be forced to remarry in a civil ceremony and recognize their "illegitimate" children. From 1865 to about 1880 there are many cases of the marriage being recorded after the couple had several children.

He is named in the marriage of his daughter Juilia to Bernardino Fratoddi in Manhattan, New York:
Name: Bernardino Fratoddi
Spouse's Name: Juilia Montagna
Event Date: 09 May 1905
Event Place: Manhattan, New York, New York
Father's Name: Giuseppe
Mother's Name: Flavia Salirae
Spouse's Father's Name: Georgio
Spouse's Mother's Name: Elizabeth Bonnine

He is given as Juilia's father on her death certificate as Julius:
Name: Julia M. Fratoddi
Death date: 08 Dec 1957
Death place: Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama
Gender: Female
Age at death: 78y
Estimated birth year: 1879
Father's name: Julius Montagna
Mother's name: Rose

Giorgio and Rosa had at least three children, all born in Bologna:
Edgardo born 13 August 1877
My great grandmother Giulia 10 October 1879
Italio born 6 March 1886
I'm sure there were other children but I haven't found them yet.

I will continue to search for more records. If you have any info on this family I would love to hear from you.

Richardson Johnson 1820-1885 #52Ancestors #35

Richardson "Dick" Johnson is what I consider to be one of the most interesting ancestors on my husband's side of the family. He was born about 1820 in Alabama or Georgia. He had three wives and at least 14 children. Descendants of this family would be prime candidates for DNA testing!

He first appears in the 1840 census in Conecuh County, Alabama. This would have been with his first wife, Effa or Effie:

1840   ALABAMA  CONECUH   NO TWP LISTED
Series: M704 Roll: 2 Page: 276
Richardson Johnston
Males
Under 5 0
5-10 0
10-15 0
15-20 0
20-30 1 (Richardson)
Females
Under 5 1 (Agey)
5-10
10-15
15-20
20-30 1 (Effa)
 No slaves
Occupation agriculture

Richardson is not found in the Alabama 1850 census, but Effa and his children are still in Conecuh County:

Effie Johnson F 33 Georgia
Agey Johnson F 12 Alabama
Olley Johnson F 8 Alabama
Christopher Johnson M 10 Alabama
Richardson Johnson M 1 Alabama*
*Hard to determine. This is either a child named Richardson that died young, or Abram. If I'd have been Effa, I would have changed his name too.

So where is Richardson? It turns out he has disappeared with soon to be wife number two, who apparently he has been having an affair with for the last few years per the ages of their children on later censuses. He is not found in the 1855 Census either, but there is a possibility:

1855 Baldwin County, Alabama State Census:
Richardson, John 1 male over 21, 2 males less than 21, 1 female over 21, 1 female less than 21, total 5
 Effa is found with her children in the Mobile, Alabama 1855 State Census.
1855 Mobile County, Alabama State Census:
Johnston, Effa
2 males less than 21,
1 female over 21,
1 female less than 21,
Total 4, 3 children 8-16, 2 males 5-18, 1 female 5-18. Agey has either married or died.

Effa is not found again in the census. It is presumed that she died before 1860.

Richardson in the meantime married the "other woman", Mrs. Malinday Sorrels, on March 17, 1853 in Baldwin County, Alabama.

Note the Mrs. before Malinday

The note written on the side for those of you who dislike standing on their heads

In the 1860 census, Richardson is found in the Baldwin County Census with both Effa and Malinday's children:

1860 Baldwin County, Alabama Federal Census Stockton PO:
Johnson, Richardson – 36, male, GA, Occupation Overseer, Can't Read and write
Johnson, M. J. – 31, female AL, Can't Read and write
Johnson, Christopher – 16, male AL
Johnson, Olive – 14, female AL
Johnson, Mary – 13, female AL
Johnson, Abbe* – 11, female AL
Johnson, James – 10, male MS
Johnson, Monroe – 9, male AR
Johnson, Thomas – 5, male AL
Johnson, Catherine – 3, female AL
Johnson, Anette – 2, female AL
*Abe, Abram actually a male

As you can see from the birthplaces of the children, Richardson and Malinday had traveled at least as far west as Arkansas. Oral family history says that Richardson was wanted in Orange, Texas for cattle rustling before he came back to Alabama. Malinday appears to have died shortly after the 1860 census.

Once again relying on family stories, while Richardson was married to Malinday, a "wild Indian girl" came riding up on horseback to Blakeley. This is not exactly out of the realm of possibility, as the area nearby contained (and still does) many Creek Indian families. The Poarch Creek Tribe is nearby. The Indian girl's name was Mary Ann LaBonte. Richardson and Malinday took her in and finished raising her as their own child, but when Malinday died, Richardson married Mary Ann.

On April 5, 1863 Richardson married Mary Ann LaBonte at his home by C. W. Wilkins, Judge of Probate. Mary is the "wild Indian girl" of family legend. She was either the daughter or wife of Augustus Labonte of Canada. She is found in his household in the 1850 census:

1850 Baldwin County Alabama Census, Division 2, 91B, Household 174
Lebonte, Augustus 38 M Carpenter 200 England (1860 and 1870 have Canada)
Lebonte, Mary A 17 F Ala
Interesting (to me at least) is a marriage for "Augustus La Bontee" and Miss Mary Ann Toler dated December 25, 1847 in Baldwin County. If this is the same Mary Ann, she would have only been 15.

Richardson fought for the Confederacy in the Rives' Supporting Force, 9th Congressional District, Alabama. 

Richardson is found in the 1866 Alabama State Census with Mary Ann:
1866 Baldwin County, AL State Census:
Johnson, Richardson – 54, male
Johnson, Mary Ann – 36, female
Johnson, Christopher – 21, male
Johnson, Abraham – 18, male
Johnson, Monroe – 16, male
Johnson, Thomas – 14, male
Johnson, Catherine – 12, female
Johnson, Joel – 4, male

1870 Baldwin County, AL Federal Census:
Johnson, Richard – 52, male AL, Occupation Wood Chopper
Johnson, Maryan – 35, female AL
Johnson, Thomas – 15, male AL
Johnson, Catharine – 13, female AL
Johnson, Joel – 6, male AL
Johnson, Willis – 2, male AL
Nextdoor:
Johnson, Christopher – 27, male AL
Johnson, Hannah – 18, male AL
Johnson, Monroe – 20, male AL


1880 Baldwin County, AL Federal Census, Sibleys Mill, Baldwin County:
Johnson, Richardson – 60, male AL, GA, NC
Johnson, Marion – 46, female, wife, AL, AL, AL
Johnson, Joel – 16, male, son, AL, AL, AL
Johnson, Willis – 12, male, son, AL, AL, AL
Johnson, Richardson Jr. – 8, male, son, AL, AL, AL
Johnson, Mary E. – 4, female, daughter, AL, AL, AL

This is from a taped conversation in 1984 by Candy Rider Johnson:

"I have a faint remembrance of that old man. I don't ever remember talking to him because I was always scared of him. He was blind and wore dark glasses and a big old black hat and used a walking stick. Walter's people lived at the Mixon place, up above the [Johnson] cemetery where the Murphy's live now. We use to come to visit Mama's family in Bromley and I would get Papa to stop there on the way to get some water from the bored well that belonged to Walter's family. I would pretend that I wanted water. They had crepe myrtle trees there that were in bloom and I was always crazy about flowers. I would want a bouquet of those flowers and Walter's mama [Mary Jane Curry Johnson] would always tell one of the boys to go up a tree and get me some flowers, and they would. I can remember him [Walter's grandpa] sitting on that porch. He was a big old man, not fat, but strong. He was blind and some say he dressed like an Indian.
I think he had about three wives. He married an Indian girl. They said she was wild and he caught her. That was Walter's grandmother...They said he hid buttermilk in a jug and drank it like water and he hung it up in a tree where the Johnson Cemetery is. You know he owned all that land, from that creek down there nearly back to Bay Minette. That's how all them Johnson's got their tracts of land, it was left to them by him...They said he went meet the boat down here for a bale of flour and they made a mistake and gave him sugar instead. He put it over his shoulders and walked back to Whitehouse. When he got home he discovered it was sugar, not flour, so he put it back over his shoulders and took it all the way back to the boat. They say he was a mighty man and strong."

This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain.

In the same conversation, her husband Ralph Johnson says, "I can't remember if Papa [John Richardson Johnson] told me this or not, but somebody told me that Grandpa Dick Johnson was a cow rustler over about Orange, Texas. The law got after him and he had to run so he came down here to Old Blakeley. I went to see Howard Henderson and he said he had heard that also."

As well as I and other Johnson researchers can determine, these are Richardson's children by his three wives:

By Effa – born about 1817 GA; died 1855-1860 probably Mobile, AL:

1. Agey – born about 1838 AL; died unknown
2. Christopher – born June 17, 1841 Gravella, Conecuh County, AL; died April 27, 1919 Bromley, Baldwin County, AL; married Hannah D Miller
3. Olive – born about 1845 AL; died 1880-1900 probably Baldwin County, AL; married John Andrew Price
4. Abram "Abe"/Richardson– born about 1849 AL; died Dec. 26, 1881 Sibley’s Mill, Baldwin County, AL; married Alice Hardee. (Abe could possibly be the son of Maliday)

By Mandilou/Mandilen/Malinday White Sorrels – born about 1829 AL; died 1860-1863 probably Baldwin County, AL:

1. Mary Frances – born June 6, 1847 AL; died January 2, 1914 Rawls Springs, Forrest County, MS; married Isaac Newton Purvis. (It is also possible Mary Francis was the daughter of Malinday's husband Sorrels)
2. James – born about 1850 MS; died 1860-1866 probably Baldwin County, AL
3. William Monroe "Roe" – born about 1851 Arkansas; died February 24, 1908 White House Fork, Baldwin County, AL; married Tempy Johnson
4. Thomas Edward "Eddie"– born September 1855 AL ; died November 5, 1942 Bay Minette, Baldwin County, AL; married Emmaline Wright and Lillie Weaver
5. Mary Catherine – born May 9, 1857 Baldwin County, AL ; died March 3, 1924 Bromley, Baldwin County, AL; married Thomas Archie Quinley
6. Anette – born 1858 AL ; died 1860-1866 probably Baldwin County, AL

By Mary Ann Labonte – born about 1833 AL; died before 1900 probably Baldwin County, AL:

1. Joel M. "Piggy"– born August 10, 1864 Baldwin County, AL; died March 6, 1924 Bay Minette, Baldwin County, AL; married Sarah Annis Allen and Isabel "Belle" Douglas
2. Willis Norman "Buddy"– born July 17, 1868 Baldwin County, AL ; died October 12, 1926 Gulfport, Harrison County, MS; married Anna Braxton
3. John Richardson "Pid" – born May 10, 1872 Baldwin County, AL ; died April 7, 1953 Crossroads, Baldwin County, AL; married Mary Jane Curry
4. Mary Aline "Lena" – born August 16, 1875 Baldwin County, AL; died December 21, 1942 Rabun, Baldwin County, AL; married Andrew Wiley Wilson**my husband's great grandmother**

Death certificates of the children were not a lot of help sorting these out. There were a lot of "don't know" entries for parents. Two of them give interesting clues though.
Mary Frances – parents given as Richard Johnson & Mandilou White (the missing maiden name for Malinday)
Willis – parents given as Richard Johnson & Mary Ann Tolle (Toler was the maiden name of the Mary Ann that married Augustus LaBonte)

Richardson is responsible for a large part of the Johnson population of Baldwin County, Alabama. He is buried in the Johnson Cemetery, White House Fork, Baldwin County, Alabama.

Killed by a Washpot Fire - Leila Janet Wilson 1904-1916 #52Ancestors #34

Sometimes people call out to you for their story to be written. Leila is one of those. She is no one's ancestor...she didn't live long enough.

Leila was the daughter of Andrew Wiley Wilson and his wife Mary Aline "Lena" Johnson. She was born December 1904 in Blacksher, Baldwin County, Alabama. She is only found in one census record:
1910 ALABAMA BALDWIN BLACKSHER

Series: T624 Roll: 1 Page: 1

Wilson, Andrew A 38 M W AL , Turpentine Distiller, both parents AL, reads & writes
Wilson, Lena, 37, married 19 years, 7 children, 6 living, born AL, Father NC, Mother AL, reads & writes
Wilson, Veta, daughter, 17, reads & writes
Wilson, Hollis, 15, odd jobs, reads & writes, did not attend school
Wilson, Carele [Carrie], 13, reads & writes, did not attend school
Wilson, Wiley, 8, read-write is blank, did not attend school
Wilson, Lela, 6, read-write is blank, did not attend school
Wilson, Cally, 0

Leila died Monday, June 19, 1916 in Little River, Baldwin County. She was 11 years and 1 month old. Her dress caught fire from the fire around the washpot, and she died ten hours later. I can only hope that she was unconscious for most if not all of that time.

Leila was buried in the Blacksher School Cemetery which was lost to time.

The photo is of the schoolhouse we believe was located on present day Earle property, which at the turn of the century was the heart of the community. It was located just east of a large green barn that still stands. Helena Rost Wilson, schoolteacher in circa 1914-1917, told her daughter, Dorothy Wilson Kempton, about the children buried beside it. About the little girl (Leila Janet) burned in a washpot fire who "belonged" to Andrew Wilson. We now call this small wrought iron fenced-in cemetery the Blacksher Cemetery due to the fact there are several little cemeteries in and around the Blacksher area. It was just rediscovered in Feb. 2007. The Charles Y. Wilson family is buried inside the fence and others with unmarked graves and two marked graves around the outside. It has basically been reclaimed by the timberland. --Carolyn Hastings Dickinson

Thanks to the efforts of the descendants of the Wilson family, Leila now has a memorial in the Wilson Cemetery located on Highway 59 in Blacksher.

Photo by Carolyn Hastings Dickinson

Wow! I Got an Award!!

I received a bit of a shock and a wonderful surprise. I was nominated for the "One Lovely Blog Award" by Valerie Hughes and Bernita Allen.

Valerie writes a wonderful blog over at Genealogy With Valerie. It's one of my can't miss blogs. Bernita writes a great blog too - Voices Inside My Head.

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to that blog 
2. Share Seven things about yourself 
3. Nominate 15 bloggers you admire (or as many as you can think of!) 
4. Contact your bloggers to let them know that you’ve tagged them for the One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you Valerie. I am truly honored to be in such great company!!

Seven things about me

1. I'm in charge of the care and feeding of two teenagers
2. I need prayers...see above
3. I am named Beverly after my grandfather, Beverly Clinton Tidwell
4. I'm a hoarder, especially books
5. I'm the oldest of three children, and the only daughter
6. My favorite food is caramel (yeah, it's a food)
7. I work full time for the phone company

15 Bloggers I Admire

This part is really hard. There are so many blogs that I love. I hate to leave any out, but decided to include a few you may not know about. Here goes (in no particular order)

1. Geneabloggers by Thomas MacEntee
2. Opening Doors in Brick Walls by Cathy Meder-Dempsey
3. One of my favorite food blogs, Plain Chicken by Stephanie Parker
4. Maybe Someone Should Write That Down by Kassie Ritman
5. Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog by Jana Last
6. The Legal Genealogist by Judy Russell
7. No Story Too Small by Amy Johnson Crow
8. Genealogy Circle by Cindy Freed
9. Conference Keeper and Ancestral Breezes by Jen Baldwin
10. Strange Alabama by Beverly Crider
11. GeneaDictionary and GeniAus by Jill Ball 
12. Branching Out Through the Years by Fran Ellsworth
13. Parallax View by Tony Proctor
14. Dispatches from the LP-OP by Lee Peacock
15. A Southern Sleuth by Michelle Ganus Taggart
16. (bonus) Worldwide Genealogy by a collaboration of authors
17. There is also a blog roll further down the page of blogs I'm following

Contact Bloggers
I'll be contacting the fifteen bloggers above, unless they happen to be reading and contact me first.

Thank you again Valerie Hughes and Bernita Allen!!  

Josiah Tidwell 1789-1862 #52Ancestors #33

Josiah Tidwell was probably the son of Revolutionary War Soldier Edmund Tidwell and Anna Gladden Hollis. He was born about 1789 in Fairfield, South Carolina. I have found no document showing his parents, but I do have a DNA connection to the Hollis line of Anna Gladden Hollis.

Josiah's family moved to Dickson County, Tennessee in the 1790s, where he married Louvenia "Louvice" Roden. They had eight children:
Harriett born about 1811; married George W Cowden
John Roden born about 1813; married Celia Huffstutler and Sarah Beavers
Orlena Arrena born June 11, 1816; married Rev. Deforrest F. Allgood
Rowan born about 1818; married Cynthia Ann "Cincianna" Cornelius
Kesterson born February 1819; married Nancy Huffstutler and Louisa Elizabeth Brown
Sheba born about 1828
Gazzam born about 1829; married Sarah J Montgomery
Vienna born about 1831

The first three children were all born in Tennessee. Josiah's growing family moved to Blount County Alabama between 1816 and 1818.

Josiah is enumerated in the Blount County census in 1830.

Josiah purchased land in Blount County, Alabama in 1833

and again in 1858

The 1850 Blount County census: 

Josiah Tidwell, 62, farmer, SC, can't read and write
Louvice, 60, SC, can't read and write
Sheba, 23, AL, can't read and write
Ghasm, 21, farmer, AL
Vianna, 19, AL

The 1860 census in Blount County:
Tidwell, Josiah 71 M W SC Farm Laborer, Personal Property 1500
 Lovisa 71 SC
Shelba 30 F AL
Vienna 25 F AL

Per the September 26, 1870 estate papers found at familysearch.org, Josiah died in "1864 or 5". The property mentioned above was in the possession of of the family of B. C. Allgood, who married the widow of Gazzam Tidwell.

The heirs of Josiah are listed:

There is no final disposition listed with these estate papers, but it appears it may have been resolved years later in the estate of Gazzam.

Josiah's final resting place is unknown

Rowan aka Ryan Tidwell 1819-1873 #52Ancestors #31

Rowan Tidwell, also known as Ryan Tidwell, was the son of Josiah and Louvenia "Louvice" Roden Tidwell. He was born about 1818 in Allgood, Blount County, Alabama.

Rowan married Cynthia Ann Cornelius October 16, 1842 in Blount County.

Rowan Tidwell married Caney Anny Cornelius, Oct 16, 1842, Rowan and Centerson (probably his brother Kesterson) Tidwell, bondsmen, p. 944, Book C, 1838-1844, Blount Co., Ala.
Married by John H Box, JP

Rowan and Cynthia had seven known children:
Louisiana "Sis" born 1844, married Benjamin Jerome Munkus
Phelan born 1847, married Sarah Elizabeth McCullough
Harriett born 1851, married E Holdridge Moncus (brother of the above Benjamin Munkus)
Beverly Cornelius born 1853, married Eva Sarah Locke
Hampton Clinton born 1855, married Palestine Gibson
Rowan B "Ryan" born 1859, married Zimmie Tubb
Brecusie born about 1861, died young

I thought I had found Rowan in the 1850 census. This Rowan is found in the household of Nelson Word, a farmer in Blount County. IHe was listed as a student instead of a farm laborer.

If this is my Rowan, where were Cynthia and the children they had by 1850?

They show up in the state census in 1855 in Blount County:
Rowan Tidwell     Head of Family:
Males < 21= 2;
Males > 21 = 1;
Females < 21 = 2;
Females > 21 = 1

The family is found living in Village Springs in Blount County in 1860:
Rowan Tidwell 40 M W Farmer Value of personal estate 50 AL
Cinciana 41 F AL
Louisia 14 F AL
Fielding 12 M AL
Harriet 10 F AL
Beverly 8 M AL
Hampton 5 M AL
Rowan 7/12 M AL

The Civil War was soon upon them, and Rowan enlisted in Company I, 49th Alabama Infantry.
The 1862 Confederate Census of Blount County says it all:

"Tidwell, Rowan; has a wife and six children; Lousanna, 16 years old; Filding, 14 years old; Hariett, 12 years old; Beverly, 9 years old; Houston, 6 years old; Rowan, 2 years old; has 150 pounds; no corn nor anything else; in Captain Crump's Company; January 17, 1862; Beat No. 14; $75.00"

The documents I have found for Rowan's service:

Paid January 9 1863 for service from July 1 to December 31 1862

Paid November 16 1863 for service from January 1 to August 31 1863

Captured July 9 1863 at Port Hudson, Louisiana (exchanged after three months)

Payment for Clothing...with a signature!!!!

Here's a bit about the 49th Alabama from the Alabama Archives:
This regiment was orgnized at Nashville, in January 1862, and attached to the Kentucky brigade of Gen. Breckinridge. It took part in the battle of Shiloh, where it lost 113 killed and wounded. A few weeks later, the Forty-ninth was sent to Vicksburg, with Breckinridge's brigade, and was engaged in the defense of the place when bombarded in 1862. Aug. 6, the regiment fought at Baton Rouge with a loss of 45 killed and wounded. Joining the army of Gen. Van Dorn, the Forty-ninth was engaged in the assault on Corinth, and suffered very severely there. Ordered to Port Hudson, the regiment passed the winter in that quarter, and was brigaded with the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-fifth Alabama, and two Mississippi regiments under Gen. Buford, who was soon succeeded by Gen. Beall. The Forty-ninth shared the dangers and hardships of the 42 days siege of Port Hudson, losing 55 men killed and wounded, and the reminder captured. Exchanged three months later, the Forty-ninth re-organized at Cahaba, and was attached to the brigade of Gen. Scott of Louisiana, with the Twelth Louisiana, and Twenty-seventh, Thirty-fifth, Fifty-fifth, and Fifty-seventh Alabama regiments. Joining the main army at Dalton, the brigade was assigned to Loring's division, Stewart's corps. Having wintered at Dalton, the Forty-ninth participated in the Dalton-Atlanta campaign, doing much arduous service, but losing inconsiderably. Around Atlanta it was again fully engaged, and suffered severely. It moved with Gen. Hood into Tennessee, and came out of the battles of Franklin, and Nashville with a long list of casualties, and captured men. Transferred to the Carolinas, the Forty-ninth took part in the operations there. Reduced to a skeleton, it was surrendered at Greensboro, N. C.

Rowan survived the Civil War and in 1870 was found in Marion, Perry County, Alabama:

Tidwell Rion 50 M W AL Farm Laborer can't read & write
Sincina F can't make out age Keeping house AL can't read & write
Fielding 22 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Beverly 17 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Hampton 14 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Rowin 10 M AL Attended school within the year can't write
Brecusie 8 M AL Attended school within the year

Rowan was mentioned in the estate file of his father in 1870

Rowan sold property in January 1873:
Perry Co., AL Deed Book "Y", pages 136, 137, 141, & 142:
Tidwell, Rowan & C. - Grantor
Dunkin, Elias - Grantee
Jan., 1873; T20 R8

Unfortunately, Rowan died later that year. In Cynthia's Confederate Widows
Pension Application she states Ryan Tidwell died Nov. 11, 1873 near Jericho, Perry County.

The Southern Argus (Selma, AL)
November 28, 1873
"Died in Perry Co., recently, Mr. Tidwell"

No grave site has been found.

Phelan Tidwell 1847-1933 #52Ancestors #30

Phelan was born September 27, 1847 in Blountsville, Blount County, Alabama. He was the son of Rowan and Cynthia Ann "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell. He was the second of seven children.

I have been unable to find the family on the 1850 census. In 1860 they were living in Village Springs, Blount County:
Rowan Tidwell 40 M W Farmer Value of personal estate 50
Cinciana 41 F
Louisia 14 F
Fielding 12 M [Phelan]
Harriet 10 F
Beverly 8 M
Hampton 5 M
Rowan 7/12 M

The Civil War began, and Phelan's father Rowan went to war. He served July 01, 1862 - August 31, 1863 in Co. I, 49th Alabama Infantry.

Phelan ran away from home to join the fight per his daughter Ella. He enlisted at Blue Mountain in Blount County September 9, 1862.  He would have been almost 15. He joined the 19th Alabama Infantry, Company B, 7th Regiment. It was later attached to Hood's Battallion.

The 19th Alabama saw some heavy combat. Just a few months before Phelan joined they were in the Battle of Shiloh and lost 219 killed and wounded.

Phelan would have been in the battles at Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge in Tennessee, and then in Georgia at Dalton, Resaca, Cassville, Kenesaw, Peachtree Creek, the battle on the Decatur road, Ezra Chapel, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy's Station. The regiment went with General Hood into Tennessee, and fought at Franklin, Nashville, and also at Bentonville, North Carolina.

Phelan was discharged in April of 1865.

Phelan rejoined his family and they moved to Marion in Perry County, Alabama. Here they are in 1870:
TIDWELL RION 50 M W AL Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Sincina? F can't make out age Keeping house AL can't read & write
Fielding 22 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write [Phelan]
Beverly 17 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Hampton 14 M Farm Laborer AL can't read & write
Rowin 10 M Attended school within the year can't write
Brecusie 8 M Attended school within the year

In 1880 Phelan was working as a farm laborer for his uncle, Benton Cornelius in Chepultepec, Blount County:
Benton Cornelius 42 Farmer AL, both parents born SC
Elisabeth Cornelius 32 Keeping house, she & both parents born AL
Guye H. Cornelius 13 son
John L. Cornelius 10 son
Emartta Cornelius 6 daughter {looks more like Cinthella in orig. image}
Bennarick Cornelius 5 son
Tiny E. Cornelius 2 daughter
Pheba Cornelius 65 Mother
Phelan Tidwell 35 Farm Laborer

Phelan married Sarah Elizabeth "Bettie" McCullough of Perry County September 13, 1881 in Jefferson County, Alabama.

The T's weren't crossed on the marriage certificate for Bettie

They raised nine children:
McKesterson "Kess" born July 9, 1882
Zada Belle born December 1883
Zola Mae born March 1885
Martha Jane "Mattie" born August 1886
Beverly Clinton born October 8, 1888
Ella Debaugh born September 22, 1890
Madeline Virginia born 1891
Phelon Thomas Young born July 22, 1894
Deforest born July 25, 1898

Tidwell family about 1891
From left: Zada, Phelan, Ella, Kess, Beverly, Sarah, Mattie, Cynthia "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell, and Zola

I got lucky and have the 1890 census! Perry County has some of the only remaining census fragments.  The family was living in Perryville, Perry County in 1890:

Tidwell, Phelan, Head, Age 44, Born AL, Farmer, can read & write
Elizabeth 33, 5 children born, 5 living, Born AL, can read & write
McKetron (McKesterson) , son, age 9, born AL
Zada, daughter, age 7
Zola, daughter, age 5
Martha J, age 4, daughter, born AL
Beverly C, age 2, son, born AL

In 1900, they were still in Perry County, living at Oldtown. The census taker had the last name as Phelon:
Phelon, Tidwell 53 M W AL Sept 1847, 57, Married 19 years, Farmer
Phelon, Sarah E, Dec 1857, 42, 9 children, 8 living, born AL, Father TN, Mother AL
Phelon, Kessie, July 1882, 17, Farm Laborer
Phelon, Zada B, Dec 1883, 16
Phelon, Zola M, Mar 1885, 15
Phelon, Mattie J, Aug 1886, 13
Phelon, Bevley C, Oct 1888, 11
Phelon, Ella D, Sept 1890, 9
Phelon, Phelon, July 1894, 5
Phelon, D. Forest, July 1899, 11/12

In 1910, they had moved to Kingdom in Bibb County, Alabama:
Philan Tidwell 64
Bettie Tidwell 53
Clinton Tidwell 21
Ella D Tidwell 19
Phelen Tidwell Jr. 15
Forrest Tidwell 10
Married 30 years, 9 children, 8 alive
Indicates Civil War service

Bibb County, Alabama

Phelan Tidwell 1920s?

Phelon's wife Bettie died in 1913. I'm not sure where he was in 1920, as I can't find him in the census.
In 1930, Phelan was living with his granddaughter in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama:
Bentley, Lucille B, Head, Rents, $40, Divorced, AL, parents AL, Occupation none
Bentley, Harlow B, son, 6, AL, parents AL
Tidwell, B. Clint, uncle, 39, single, AL, parents AL, contractor house, WW veteran
Tidwell, Phelan, Gr Father, 83, widowed, odd jobs, CW veteran

I was told Phelan went door to door and sharpened knives in Bessemer, Alabama

Phelan and his son Beverly Clinton, Bessemer, Alabama

Phelan died September 6, 1933 at Hillman Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama (now UAB Medical Center)

He is buried at Mt Carmel Cemetery, West Blockton, Bibb, Alabama in an unmarked grave.

Thomas Kendrell Carter 1845-1881 #52Ancestors #29

Thomas Kendrell Carter was born October 21, 1845 in DeKalb County, Georgia. He was the son of Samuel M and Agnes Coursey Carter. This is his family in the 1850 census:
Samuel Carter M 34y
Agnus A Carter F 38y
Wm J Carter M 14y
Isabella Carter F 12y
James H Carter M 11y
Samuel M Carter M 8y
Mary A Carter F 6y
Amanda Carter F 5y
Thos Kendrall M 3y
Not named 3m (Hiram)
(Thomas and Amanda's ages are switched)

In 1860 the family was living in Stones District, Fulton County:
CARTER SAML 43 M W SC GA FULTON STONES DIST 1860 Laborer
Carter, Agnes J, 50, SC
Carter, James H, 20, GA
Carter, Samuel M, 18, GA
Carter, Mary A, 16, GA
Carter, Thomas K, 14, GA
Carter, Amanda, 13, GA
Carter, Hiram, 11, GA

In 1870, Thomas was still at home with his parents. They lived in Buchanan, Haralson County:
CARTER SAMUEL 61 M W SC
Occupation Farming, Value of Real Estate 1000, personal 500
Agnes 60 born SC
Thomas 23 Farm Laborer, born GA
Hiram 19 Working on farm, born GA

December 14, 1873 Thomas married Artemesia "Artie" Wheat of Campbell County.

I have been unable to locate the family in the 1880 census

Thomas died at the age of 36 December 21, 1881 leaving Artie widowed with five children, the youngest being only 18 days old, and the oldest being six.
Their children were:
Mary Agnes Frances born February 18, 1875, married Walter Millwood;
Lela Ann born April 19, 1876, married James Benjamin Blackwell;
Samuel Thomas born July 13, 1877, married Mary Alice Warnick;
Augustus Felton born November 7, 1878, married Mary Ella Franklin;
William Jackson "Jack" born December 3, 1881, married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Salter.

Artie moved to Alabama with her children, and never remarried.

I do not know where Thomas is buried.

Samuel M Carter 1816-1882 #52Ancestors #28

Samuel M Carter was born in South Carolina to parents currently unknown. He married Agnes Coursey, also from South Carolina. They were living in Georgia by 1836 where their first child was born.

There is a Samuel Carter found in DeKalb county in 1840, and the 1850 census shows the family in Black Hall, DeKalb County:
Samuel Carter M 34y
Agnus A Carter F 38y
Wm J Carter M 14y
Isabella Carter F 12y
James H Carter M 11y
Samuel M Carter M 8y
Mary A Carter F 6y
Amanda Carter F 5y
Thos Kendrall M 3y
not named M 3m (Hiram)

In 1860 the family is found in the Stones District of Fulton County:
CARTER SAML 43 M W SC Laborer
Agnes J, 50, born SC
James H, 20, born GA
Samuel M, 18, born GA
Mary A, 16, born GA
Thomas K, 14, born GA
Amanda, 13, born GA
Hiram, 11, born GA

In 1870 the family had moved to Buchanan in Haralson County, where Sam and Agnes would remain the rest of their lives:
CARTER SAMUEL 61 M W SC
Occupation Farming, Value of Real Estate 1000, personal 500
Agnes 60 born SC
Thomas 23 Farm Laborer, born GA
Hiram 19 Working on farm, born GA

Buchanan GA
By Seth Ilys at en.wikipedia [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia Commons

The 1880 census finds Sam and Agnes in the 1077 Militia District in Waldrup, Haralson County:
Carter, Samuel, 65, Farmer, unemployed during the year, SC, Parents SC?
Carter, Agnes, 69, wife, keeping house, born SC, Father SC, Mother ?

Samuel died three months after Agnes, in November of 1882. They are buried in the Brooks Cemetery in Haralson County, Georgia.

Photo by Stacey Bland on findagrave.com. Used with permission

Agnes Coursey Carter 1811-1882 #52Ancestors #27

Agnes Coursey is believed to be the daughter of Charles and Isabella Anderson Coursey. She was born January 13, 1811 in South Carolina.

Agnes married Samuel M Carter, either in South Carolina or Georgia. Their first child, William J, was born 1836 in Georgia. Other children were Isabella born 1838, James H in 1840, Samuel M in 1842, Mary A in 1844, Thomas Kendrell in 1845, Amanda in 1847, and Hiram in 1850.
There is a Samuel Carter in DeKalb County in 1840, and the family is found there in 1850.

In 1860, the family is found in Stones District, Fulton County. By 1870, the family had moved to Haralson County where Agnes and Samuel would live the rest of their lives.

Agnes died at the age of 71 on August 15, 1882, and Samuel died in November of 1882. They are buried near their daughter Amanda Carter Brooks in the Brooks Cemetery, Haralson County, Georgia.

Photo by Stacey Bland on findagrave.com. Used with permission

She's Her Own Ma-Jane McKenzie McNamara- #52Ancestors #32

I've been searching for some time for information on Jane McKinzie McNamara. I first learned of her from her daughter Lizzie's death certificate. Lizzie was my great grandmother, wife of Patrick McGowan. Lizzie was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1864, so her parents had to be there. Somehow they have managed to remain well hidden in the census records.
I had found another daughter, Rose, from her marriage to John Hogan, listing her parents.

I estimated Jane's birthdate to be about 1840, give or take a few years, and I knew she was born in Ireland. I knew her husband Daniel McNamara was born in 1841, and had died in 1904 leaving Jane a widow. The 1910 census had several Jane McNamara's in Pennsylvania.

Finally, paydirt!  Sort of. I did find a death certificate for Jane McKinzie McNamara. With great excitement I slowly read the information. Date of birth March 17, 1842..St Patrick's day! Awesome! Widowed is correct since Dan was already deceased.  Date of death November 30, 1922..Slowly scrolling down...parents!! Yes!  Oh No!!

Father is Daniel McNamara (her husband)...and she's her own mother. Surely the informant had to be a son in law, but no, it turns out he was the undertaker. He must have spoken to one of the children, and asked Father? Mother? Understandably distraught, they gave their own parents instead of Jane's.

Oh well, still glad to have found this much.
Using the birthdate and location, I was also able to find Jane in the 1920 census, and a previously unknown daughter Anna.

Name: Jane Mc Namara
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1920
Event Place: Penn Hills, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
District: 307
Gender: Female
Age: 78
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Can Read: No
Can Write: No
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Own or Rent: Own
Birth Year (Estimated): 1842
Birthplace: Ireland
Immigration Year: 1869
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Sheet Number and Letter: 18A
Household ID: 283
Line Number: 49
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T625
GS Film number: 1821516
Digital Folder Number: 004384985
Image Number: 00629

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Jane Mc Namara Head F 78 Ireland
Anna Mc Namara Daughter F 32 Pennsylvania
William Daugherty Boarder M 23 Kentucky

Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6B2-WTT : accessed 13 Aug 2014), Jane Mc Namara, Penn Hills, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing sheet 18A, family 283, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821516.

Shortly after finding the above, I ran across another daughter, Mary, from her death certificate. At least she had the correct parents listed.

Update March 29, 2015
I found two McKenzie connections through AncestryDNA, and together we've been able to find more pieces of the puzzle. Jane had a brother, George Patrick McKenzie. HIS death certificate listed parents as Archibald McKenzie and Elizabeth Brown. Together we've been working on the McKenzie family. We were able to find the following:

Jane and her family were living in Upper Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1861.

Notice the last entry in the family. The boarder is none other than Dan McNamara!

This led to a further search for him, where I was surprised to find an entry in the marriage records. 

Daniel McNamara marriage

Keep in mind that the UK marriage records have individual entries for the bride and groom, with the only link being the date. A bit more searching and I found this:

Jane McKenzie marriage

Sooo, it appears that Jane McKenzie married Daniel McNamara the second quarter (April-May-June) 1861.

June 23, 1864

I have to wonder if the marriage was secret, because I also found the record of Jane's immigration with her family. Her father, brother Murdock, and Daniel McNamara were not on the same ship.

This states Jane McKenzie, spinster

 It turns out Her father, brother, and husband had already made their way to Pennsylvania.

I'd love to hear from you if you have any more info on these families.

John T Meigs or Meggs 1760-1844 #52Ancestors #25

John T Meggs or Meigs was born about 1760. Tradition says he was born in Virginia, but the only census records I have found show him in North Carolina.
Supposedly he moved to North Carolina when he was about 16.
Tradition and online trees state that John served in the North Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War at about age 16. There is a record of A John Meggs.

NC State Archives Revolutionary Army Accounts, Reel: S.115.45 Vol. C, pg 64 John Meggs Hillsborough District. The United States of America For Sundries furnished and cash paid the militia of North Carolina Virginia and South Carolina as allowed by the auditors of Hillsborough District in Augst 1782 as p report No82 To amount brought forward (highlighted in yellow) 2027 To John Meggs--574--3.18 Specie. (fromAncestry.com member plrolison)

He also was said to have fought in the War of 1812. I haven't followed up on that yet.

A John Meggs Sr. was issued a Land Grant of 300 acres in Anson Co., NC on December 12, 1816. Grant # 2386, Book 130, Page 426, File #6261.

plrolison originally shared this to Ancestry.com

John married Miss Polly Gordon. They had at least eight children, all born in North Carolina:
Martha Margaret born 1788, never married, died 1843
James born 1789, married Sarah Elizabeth Thomas, died 1821
John born 1790, married Charity Lassiter, died 1854
Stephen Strider born 1792, married Lucinda Adeline Johnson, died 1867
Isaac born 1794, married Anna Balkin, died 1900
William born 1799, married Mary Tubbs and Caroline Goodman, died 1880
Thomas born 1807, married Karonhappuc Tubbs (sister of Mary Tubbs), died 1880
David born 1813, married Nancy, died 1881

Many online trees cite the John Meggs found 1810 in Anson, North Carolina as the same John Meggs.
1810  NORTH CAROLINA  ANSON  NO TWP LISTED
Series: M252 Roll: 38 Page: 25
Jno Meggs
Males
Under 10 2
10 to 15 2
16 to 25 2
26 to 44 1
45 up 0
Females
Under 10 1
10 to 15 0
16 to 25 0
26 to 44 1
45 up 0

The dates are not quite matching up, John and Polly both would have been 45 up, 4 sons would have been 16-25, 1 son 10-16, and 1 son under 10.

The family moved to Hall County Georgia by 1820. In 1830 and 1840 they are in Campbell County, Georgia. Dates still not completely matched up.
1830 Campbell Co., Georgia
1 male 10-15=David about 18
1 male 15-20=Thomas about 23
1 male 60-70=John about 70
1 female 60-70=Polly about 70

On July 1, 1843 John was granted 202 acres of land in Carroll county from the Georgia land Lottery. It is not known if he ever moved there. He died in 1844.

Eleanor Nelly Morris Mills 1739-1833 #52Ancestors #24

Eleanor Morris, known as Nelly, was the daughter of William Morris and his wife, Esther Phalby. She was born 1739 in James River, Williamsburg, Virginia.

She married William Mills October 12, 1765.

I found a very interesting account of her life in the book Chronology of North Carolina, showing when the most remarkable events connected with her history took place, from the year 1584 to the present time, with explanatory notes

"William Mills emigrated to the " block house" on the Catawba, and thence to Green River, now Rutherford County, in 1766. He was of English descent, and was born on James' River, Va., the 10th of November, 1746. At an early age he married Miss Eleanor Morris, of South Carolina, and together they journeyed happily through life for sixty-nine years. They were surrounded by Indians several times, and twice driven from their homes, having their houses and all their contents pillaged and burned. At one time he returned home from hunting, and found his house robbed, his wife gone, and everything laid desolate, which set him perfectly wild ; he commenced moaning and tearing out his hair, when, like an angel, his wife suddenly appeared unharmed. As the Indians entered the house she crept out at a small window in the garret, and down the chimney, making her escape to a swamp near by where she lay concealed till she heard her husband's voice. At another time she escaped in a similar way, and when a whole troop of Indians were ripping up feather beds and yelling over their plunder she raised a shout solitary and alone- in a swamp near the house — " Hurra for King George and his army,'' with such rapidity and vehemence, that the whole horde of savages took to their heels, and she gained a bloodless victory, and saved most of her property. She was not only bold, but a most exemplary woman and Christian, having been a member of the Methodist Church for over fifty years previous to her death, which occurred in the spring of 1833, at the age of ninety-four years, beloved and lamented by all who knew her."

What a remarkably brave woman!

Eleanor Morris Mills is buried in the Mills Cemetery in Henderson County, North Carolina.

Mourning Stone Mills #52Ancestors #22

Mourning Stone was the daughter of Thomas Stone and his wife Alexandra Brown. She was born about 1725 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

She married Ambrose Mills about 1745. They first settled on the James River in Virginia. They had several children, the oldest being William.

The family moved to the wild frontier of South Carolina at some point.

Mourning and all their children except William were killed at Pine Tree Hill, Camden, South Carolina by Cherokee Indians during the French and Indian war of 1755-61. William was with his father at the time.

Hung as a Tory-Colonel Ambrose Mills 1722-1780 #52Ancestors #26

Kings Mountain Death of Ferguson

Ambrose Mills was born in Derbyshire England. He was the son of William Mills and Mary "Marty" Walton. Tradition says that he came as a baby with his family to Maryland. He became a farmer in Virginia where he lived on the banks of the James River.

Ambrose married Mourning Stone about 1745 in Augusta, Virginia. They had several children, one of which was William. The family moved to the area of Wateree, South Carolina at some point. At the time this was wild frontier land.

Mourning and all their children except William were killed at Pine Tree Hill, Camden, South Carolina by Cherokee Indians during the Indian war of 1755-61. William was with his father at the time.

Ambrose married Anne Brown and they had six children who were mentioned in his estate: "Thomas Mills, John Mills, Ambrose Mills, Milly Mills, Polly Twitty, Pamilea Mills, Anna Mills the youngest." About 1765 they settled on the Green River in North Carolina. Ambrose was issued a land grant of 600 acres filed December 16, 1766 in Craven County.

From findagrave.com:
"In 1770, he bought a tract of land containing 640 acres in Old Tryon County from Thomas Reynolds for 100 pounds on both sides of Green River, including the mouth of Walnut Creek. Reynolds had bought the property in 1760 and there was a cabin on it called Powell's cabin.
He established a trading post and a sawmill by a spring. It is said the basin was hewn from solid rock. (Jackson tradition is that it was either Gabriel Sr. or David Sr. who carved the basin for Mills). It was called Mills Spring."

Ambrose was a loyalist, as was his son William. Military actions included actions against the Cherokee Indians in 1776, in ignorance (or defiance) of the alliance between the Cherokees and the British.

From THE JOURNAL OF ALEXANDER CHESNEY:
"In 1778, Ambrose Mills and Colonel David Fanning raised a corps of 500 loyalists for the purpose of joining the royal standard at St. Augustine in East Florida, but this scheme was frustrated by the treachery of a traitor in the camp betraying their plans to the enemy. Colonel Mills and sixteen others were apprehended and taken to Salisbury jail.
One of the first engagements of Colonel Ambrose Mills after his liberation was the action at Baylis Earle's ford on the North Pacolet river, North Carolina, when he surprised and attacked the American camp of Colonel Charles McDowell on the night of 15 July, 1780.
Ambrose Mills  commanded the North Carolina loyal militia in the memorable battle of King's Mountain and was taken prisoner. The subsequent severity of his treatment as a prisoner and his execution has been the subject of hostile criticism. Lord Cornwallis in his protest against his execution describes him as "always a fair and open enemy," a verdict which was endorsed by his opponents. (Correspondence of Lord Cornwallis, Vol. I, p. 67).
The memorable battle of King's Mountain was fought October 7, 1780, between the Americans under the command of Colonels Campbell, Shelby, Cleveland, Sevier, and Williams, and the loyalists commanded by Major Patrick Ferguson, composed of detachments from the King's American regiment, the Queen's Rangers, the New Jersey Volunteers, and South Carolina loyal militia, and :was one of the most desperately fought battles in the Southern Colonies.
...the combatants on both sides fought with unsurpassed courage and determination. The exploit of the Americans deserves all the praise bestowed upon it as one of the finest examples of the application of Washington's disregarded advice to Braddock to seek cover behind trees, and of the splendid marksmanship of the Americans.
...the battle of King's Mountain may be regarded as the turn of the tide in the South, leading to the heartening and the re-organization of the American forces in South Carolina for the final triumph in the war of Independence."

From This Day in History:
"Major Ferguson's Tory force, made up mostly of American Loyalists from South Carolina and elsewhere, was the western wing of General Lord Cornwallis' North Carolina invasion force. One thousand American frontiersmen under Colonel Campbell of Virginia gathered in the backcountry to resist Ferguson's advance. Pursued by the Patriots, Ferguson positioned his Tory force in defense of a rocky, treeless ridge named King's Mountain. The Patriots charged the hillside multiple times, demonstrating lethal marksmanship against the surrounded Loyalists.

Unwilling to surrender to a "band of banditti," Ferguson led a suicidal charge down the mountain and was cut down in a hail of bullets. After his death, some of his men tried to surrender, but they were slaughtered in cold blood by the frontiersmen, who were bitter over British excesses in the Carolinas. The Tories suffered 157 killed, 163 wounded, and 698 captured. Colonel Campbell's force suffered just 28 killed and 60 wounded."

The battle of King's Mountain was a decisive victory for the Patriots. The Loyalists were used to fighting in a line, while the Patriots had learned the best way to fight was to use trees for cover and they were able to shoot as they came up the mountain. The Loyalists had camped at the top of the mountain thinking they could easily defend it..

There are some good youtube videos on the subject. A good one that was shown on A&E can be found with part 1 here and part 2 here.

From King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain:
"Under the law as cited by Colonel Shelby, while the tribunal was, no doubt, practically, a court-martial, it was nominally, at least, a civil court, with two presiding justices. There was no difficulty on this point, for most of the North Carolina officers were magistrates at home — Colonel Cleveland, and four or five others, of the Wilkes regiment alone filling that position. The jury was composed of twelve officers — Lieutenant Allaire, in his Diary, denouncing it as " an infamous mock jury." " Under this law," says Shelby, "thirty-six men were tried, and found guilty of breaking open houses, killing the men, turning the women and children out of doors, and burning the houses. The trial was concluded late at night; and the execution of the
law was as summary as the trial."

How much of the evidence, hurriedly adduced, was one-sided and prejudiced, it is not possible at this late day to determine. Colonel Ambrose Mills, the principal person of those condemned, was a man of fair reputation, and must have been regarded chiefly in the light of being a proper and prominent character upon whom to exercise retaliatory measures ; and yet it was necessary to make some specific charge against him — the only one coming down to us, is that related by Silas McBee, one of the King's Mountain men under Colonel Williams, that Mills had, on some former occasion, instigated the Cherokees to desolate the frontier of South Carolina, which was very likely without foundation.

Photo by Holt Felmet, used by permission

Early in the evening, the trials having been brought to a conclusion, a suitable oak was selected, upon a projecting limb of which the executions were to take place. It was by the road side, near the camp, and is yet standing, known in all that region as the Gallows Oak. Torch-lights were procured, the condemned brought out, around whom the troops formed four deep. It was a singular and interesting night scene, the dark old woods illuminated with the wild glare of hundreds of pine-knot torches ; and quite a number of the Loyalist leaders of the Carolinas about to be launched into eternity. The names of the condemned Tories were —
Colonel Ambrose Mills, Captain James Chitwood, Captain Wilson, Captain Walter Gilkey, Captain Grimes, Lieutenant LafFerty, John McFall, John Bibby, and Augustine Hobbs. They were swung off three at a time, and left suspended at the place of execution. According to Lieutenant Allaire's account, they died like soldiers — like martyrs, in their own and friends' estimation. " These brave but unfortunate Loyalists," says Allaire, " with their latest breath expressed their unutterable detestation of the Rebels, and of their base and infamous proceedings ; and, as they were being turned off, extolled their King and the British Government. Mills, Wilson and Chitwood died like Romans."

Legend says that Martha Biggerstaff and a slave buried the nine excecuted men in a common grave on Biggerstaff's farm near Gilbert Town, Rutherford County, NC.

Ambrose's son William also fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain. Lucky for him (and me), he was left for dead. From King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain:
"... William Mills, was born on James River, Virginia, November tenth, 1746. He was very popular, and served in 1776 against the Indians. He acted as Major under his father at King's Mountain, where he was badly wounded, and left for dead ; and was subsequently saved from being executed by the interference of leading Whigs who knew his worth and goodness. In after years, he settled in the mountain region of the south-western portion of North Carolina on Clear Creek, in now Cleveland County. Mills' River and Mills' Gap, in that section, were named afler him. He married early in life Eleanor Morris, by whom he had two sons and five daughters. He was a handsome, noble, generous man. He died, in consequence of a fall from his horse on his birthday, November tenth, 1834, at the age of eighty--eight years. He had lived a happy married life of sixty-nine years — his venerable companion surviving him."

I have seen a lot of references to Tory lands being seized by the Patriots. Apparently this didn't happen to Ambrose's land. Ambrose's estate is found in Rutherford Co, NC Wills & Miscellaneous Records 1783 – 1868

P 76.  15 Apr 1797.  Proved April Term 1797.  Whereas Ambrose Mills, decd died intestate in the year 17?? Leaving a widow Anna Mills and seven children to wit:  William Mills, Thomas Mills, John Mills, Ambrose Mills, Milly Mills, Polly Twitty, Pamilea Mills, Anna Mills the youngest.  Col James Miller in the year 1782 administered on the estate.  The said Anna Mills, the widow, intermarriaged with John Carrick in Feb 1790.  Such proceeding have been had and such management with the estate as appeared in the copy annexed and certified.  Richard Lewis Esq & William Mills has been appointed guardian of Ambrose, Milly & Anna Mills, one petition is to require bond and security for the estate and action of debts, in part of the second sale of a negro, a wagon, a note on McCaffenty, horses, cattle.  Bond to be on Admnr James Miller, John Carrick & Anna his wife.  This indenture witnesses that William Mills & John Carrick have agreed to settle their suit in law, and other disputes about the estate of the decd.  The widow to have her dower in the old home place, William Mills to pay court cost, attorney fees.  John Carrick shall not claim any more of the personal estate of the decd than he had or left at the old home place when he went to Cumberland.  Wit:  Waightsill Avery, John McKinney, John Goodbread.  Signed:  William Mills & John Carrick

Legend says that Martha Biggerstaff and a slave cut down the bodies and buried the nine executed men in a common grave. Martha's husband, Captain Aaron Biggerstaff , a Tory, was mortally wounded in the battle.