The Wilson family of Abbeville County, South Carolina was originally from Ireland as evidenced by census records and a Book of Common Prayer brought with the family to South Carolina. The Wilson Book of Common Prayer was examined by a professional genealogist named Beiman Otis Prince¹ who recorded relevant information from it. The Book itself was last owned by Mrs. Josephine Ruth Paine of Athens, Georgia according to a letter by another genealogist. Mrs. Paine died in 2016. Although the family did not seem to be aware of the Book of Common Prayer, two photocopies from it were found at her estate sale.

The Book of Common Prayer was published in Ireland according to the use of the Church of Ireland. Although we don’t know the publication date of this particular Book of Common Prayer, other examples of similar books published by the particular booksellers named on the cover range from 1715 to 1734. The Wilson Book of Common Prayer contained two known sets of inscriptions. The first appears to be from the inside cover and reads: “The Gift of Wm Wilson to his wife Grizell Willson The Month of May One Thous Seven Hund’d and Fifty Eight.”

Although no photocopy of the back page of inscriptions was found, Beiman Otis Prince stated that the following was recorded in the back of the prayer book, noting that all nine of these appear to be in the same handwriting:

i. Elizabeth Wilson, Was Born Sunday November ye 7th, 1777
ii. Grizelle Wilson, Was Born Tuesday, January the 19th, 1779
iii. Ann Wilson, Was Born Friday July the 7th, 1780
iv. William Wilson was Born June the 25th 1782
v. Jane Wilson was born Fryday Evening, October the 15th, 1784
_________________This dividing line is in the prayer book ________
vi. Jane Wilson was born September the 27th, 1787
vii. Robert Wilson, born March 25, the morning, 1789
viii. Allen Wilson Born April ye 10th, 1791 on evening
ix. Anna Wilson was Born, no date, (Probably 1792)

While it would at first seem natural to conclude that these were the children of William Wilson and his wife Grizell from the first inscription, this is not the case. The first inscription indicates that William and Grizell were married by 1758. This could have been a gift from their wedding or sometime much later. Either way, it would be extremely unlikely for them to only begin having children in 1777, nineteen years later. Furthermore, Abbeville County records indicate these individuals were children of Mrs. Nancy Wilson who died in 1825. Additionally, census records for several of them indicate that those listed above the dividing line (1-5) were born in Ireland while those below (6-9) were born in South Carolina.

Mrs. Nancy Wilson

Mrs. Nancy Wilson of Abbeville County died in 1825. She left a will dated 16 Jan 1825 which was proved on April 30th of the same year.² She mentioned the following children: Robert C. Wilson, Samuel A. Wilson, Grizzilla Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Elizabeth Wilson, and Jane McKinley Wilson. Her son and daughter Samuel A. and Nancy were appointed executor and executrix of the will. Her three daughters Elizabeth, Nancy and Jane were to receive the land she was living on at the time. Additionally, there was a tract of land in Pendleton District (later Anderson County) which she desired be sold and the proceeds split amongst her children. In 1827, “Samuel Allen Wilson Executor of the last Will of Nancy Wilson Decd of the district of Abbeville” sold the land in Anderson District.³ The deed describes it as one hundred and thirty six acres of land in Pendleton District on the head branches of Little River and mentions Corner Creek. Corner Creek is located in the northeast of Abbeville County and southeast of Pendleton County on the border between the two counties.

The three younger daughters mentioned in the will were listed together in the same household in the 1850 census, presumably still on the land they had inherited from their month.⁴ It states that Elizabeth (age 70) and Nancy (age 65) were born in Ireland while Jane (age 62) was born in South Carolina. It would appear that these ages are estimates. Nancy was a nickname used for the name Ann, so it appears she was the elder Ann, born 7 July 1780. Robert C. Wilson was listed in Abbeville County with his family.⁵ He was age 60, born in South Carolina. Samuel A. Wilson, age 59, born in South Carolina was also listed in Abbeville along with his family.⁶ These ages match the listings for Allen and Robert in the prayer book. Jane left a will dated 19 Jul 1860 which mentions her brother Robert C., sisters Elizabeth and Nancy, and a number of nieces and nephews. Elizabeth wrote her will 28 Dec 1847, leaving “my interest and estate in the tract of land whereon I and my two sisters live” to “my brother Samuel Allen Wilson.” Nancy C. Wilson wrote her will on 19 Jul, but the year uncertain. She mentions brothers Robert C. and Samuel A. Wilson. Several nieces and nephews are mentioned including Samuel’s two sons William and Frank. She also directed that her brother Robert who was the executor “erect decent head stones to the graves of my mother Nancy Wilson and my sister Anna.” The sisters wills were all included together in one probate file along with a copy of their mother’s will.⁷

Nancy Wilson appears in Abbeville County census records from 1800 through 1820.⁸,⁹,¹⁰ Comparing the Wilson households listed in the 1790 and 1800 census, the primary candidate for her husband is Samuel Wilson who appears in 1790 but not in 1800.¹¹ His household included two males under 16 (presumably William and Robert) and five females. Further indication that Nancy’s husband was Samuel is supplied by land records. There is a plat which Samuel Wilson received for 230 acres of land on the branches of Corner and Barkers Creek, branches of Little River in the Ninety-Six District on 25 Feb 1790.¹² The 1827 deed from after Nancy’s death in which Samuel Allen Wilson sold 130 acres of land on head branches of Little River, mentioning Corner Creek, could very well be part of this same land. Thus the best candidate so far for the husband of Nancy and son of William and Grizell Wilson is this Samuel Wilson who appears to have died between 1790 and 1800.

Nancy mentions her daughter Grizella Wilson in her will, so she was still living at the time as well. It appears she married John Wilson whose estate was administered in 1815. Grizilla Wilson and Robert C. Wilson were granted administration on 15 May 1815.¹³ Samuel A. Wilson, Nancy Wilson and Robert C. Wilson were buyers at the estate, indicating a close connection. Furthermore, Grizella Wilson’s household is listed between Nancy Wilson and Samuel A. Wilson in 1820. She left a will dated 29 Oct 1847 which mentions her children Elijah N. Wilson, Nancy C. Richey, Edward B. Wilson, Jane E. Wilson, Lewis J. Wilson and Elizabeth Ann Wilson.¹⁴ The will of Nancy C. Wilson, already mentioned above, names these children as nieces and nephews, solidifying the connection.

Samuel Allen Wilson

Samuel Allen Wilson was born on the evening of 10 Apr 1791 according to the Wilson Book of Common Prayer, which refers to him as Allen Wilson. The census states he was born in South Carolina. He was listed next door to his sister “Grisella” Wilson and two doors down from his mother Nancy in 1820. At the time, the census indicates he had a wife and one son under ten years old. His wife’s name was Nancy and she is believed to have had the maiden name Shillito. In 1830¹⁵ and 1840,¹⁶ Samuel’s household was listed close to Andrew W. Shillito, possibly her brother.

Samuel received a plat for thirteen acres surveyed for him on 10 Dec 1830.¹⁷ The land was located on a branch of Armstrong’s Creek on Little River. Andrew W. Shillito was the surveyor for Abbeville District and his name appears on the plat. However, clues to where Samuel actually lived point to an area just west of the village of Abbeville. An 1846 announcement of land to be sold from the estate of John Allen mentions S. A. Wilson’s land bordering Allen’s land “three miles west of Abbeville Village on waters of Calhoun Creek.”

Another item published in 1868 after his death mentions land along Calhoun’s Mill Road, three miles from Abbeville Village as bordering lands belonging to Samuel’s estate.

This puts Samuel Allen Wilson’s land around Calhoun’s Mills Rd (currently called Island Ford Bridge Rd.) near Calhoun Creek. A nearby church is Lebanon Presbyterian Church. Mr. Larry Pursley, Abbeville’s foremost historian, suggests the Wilsons may have been members of Lebanon. He said that there used to be old membership books, but they seem to have disappeared. Lebanon was founded by Hopewell Church around 1821. In the 1880s, Lebanon founded Warrenton, of which Samuel’s son Francis A. was a charter member. There was also a church breakup at Lebanon about 1850 and some of the members went to Long Cane.

According to the notes from the genealogist Beiman Otis Prince, Samuel and Nancy’s children include Samuel, William, Francis, Ezra, Dionysius, and two children who died young: Andrew White Wilson and Sarah Wilson. These notes are the only information found to date on the two children who died young. In 1850, Samuel’s household includes Samuel (b. c1821), “Dionicious” A. (b. c1829), and Ezra A. (b. c1833).¹⁸ Samuel’s will, dated November 1863 only mentions his wife Nancy and “my two sons William Wilson and Francis Wilson.”¹⁹

The elder son Samuel died in 1856 and a rather lengthy obituary was published for him.

Dionysius A. Wilson served in the 2nd SC Rifles in Company A during the Civil War.²⁰ He enrolled 22 Oct 1861 at Abbeville Court House to serve for three years or the total of the war. He was elected a 3rd Lieutenant from 3rd Sergeant on 17 May 1862. He was wounded at Manassas and died at Warrenton on 8 Oct 1862 from the wound received at the Second Battle of Manassas on the 30th of August. At his death, he was due $390.39 for his service, which was paid in December 1863 to “Samuel A. Wilson, father of D. A. Wilson.” His father appeared in court and stated that Dionysius “was unmarried, and left neither wife, child or children.”

Ezra A. Wilson was still living in Abbeville, apparently unmarried, in 1860.²¹ He is believed to have moved west. William and Francis both remained in Abbeville and left descendants there.

The will of Samuel Allen Wilson was proved 6 Feb 1865, so he died sometime after November 1863 and before March 1865. The inventory of his estate was taken 9 Mar 1865. An auction was held for his estate a year and a half later on 20 Nov 1866.

Francis Albert Wilson

Francis, who went by Frank, was born 2 Dec 1825 and lived his whole life in Abbeville County.²² He was married twice, first to Eliza A. Whitten by whom he had one son George, and second Sarah Amanda Boyd, with whom he had 13 children, one of whom died as an infant. Their daughter Ellie Talula wrote down the names and dates from this family on an old bill of sale paper with heading printed for the company S. A. Allen & Bros. The information is as follows:

Francis A Wilson born Eliza A. Whitten F. A. W. & Eliza Whitten married George Shillito born Eliza A. Wilson died Francis A. Wilson & Sarah A. Boyd married —- Sarah A. Boyd born James Allen Wilson born Susan Ann Wilson born Infant daughter born Frances Elizabeth born Francis Marion Wilson born Joseph Brown Wilson born Janie Ada Wilson born Ellie Talula Wilson born Willie Boyd born Alice Ione born A. Rosa born Lucia A. born Wade born

Dec 2 1825 May 15 1826 Aug 17 1848 Nov 20 1850 Jan 6 1851 Sept 30 1851/1852 —- Aug 7 1833 Oct 9 1853 Feb 23 1855 Aug 30 1854 Sept 18 1857 Mch 29 1860 Feb 5 1862 Mch 28 1864 July 5 1866 July 3 1868 Oct 6 1870 July 25 1872 June 16 1875 Mch 29 1877

In 1880, Frank was listed on the census as a farmer.²³ Sons James A. (age 26), Frank M. (20), and Joseph B. (18) were listed in the household as farm hands. Janie (16), Ella (15), and William (11) were attending school, with the youngest four not yet in home.

Warrenton Presbyterian Church was organized in 1884. Charter members from this family included Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Wilson, Janie A. Wilson, and James A. Wilson.²⁴

Various news items reveal some of Frank’s involvement in the community, church, and local politics. An item from 1867 stated that F. A. Wilson among several others had freight remaining at the depot to be claimed.²⁵ On 16 Oct 1872, an item appeared in the Press and Banner recommending candidates for supervisors of election precincts. Frank A. Wilson was recommended for Warrenton.²⁶ It seems that the news was late in publishing this recommendation as a different article on that same date states that they had already been appointed, listing Frank A. Wilson as a Democrat, appointed as supervisor for Warrenton.

In 1881, a man by the name of Green Ramsey was shot and eventually died. Frank gave testimony during the Coroner’s inquest as he was present around the event.

In 1900, not long before his death, a brief notice appeared in the news that he was ill, followed by his obituary two weeks later.

James Allen Wilson

James was born 9 Oct 1853 according to the list made by his sister and his headstone. There is however some discrepancy in the records on his name. His middle name was likely Allen as that his what his sister wrote in the list. However, his daughter Fannie submitted an application for a delayed birth certificate in 1956, using a family Bible for proof. That application gives her father’s name as James Albert Wilson.²⁷ It’s not clear if that middle name was present in the Bible record or just her birth date. James did name a son Albert so this name was present in the family.

James was married to Bettie Miller in 1881. They had eight known children: Sadie, Holly, Lawrence, Albert, Robert, James Hawkins, Fannie, and Alma. Alma, the youngest, died at age 1 year and 1 month in May 1897.²⁸

Their eldest daughter Sadie apparently died around 1908, the only mention of which is found in her sisters obituary several years later. Holly married William E. Finley. In June 1910, the news noted that Mrs. Wilson had been spending time with Holly on account of the illness of her child. Fannie later went to visit her as well.²⁹ But then Holly herself passed away on 1 August, just a couple months later.

James died in November 1914. Oddly, there was no obituary published in the Abbeville newspaper. Instead, the Greenville News carried an announcement.

There is a discrepancy in his date of death in addition to his name. The obituary states he died on the 11th while the headstone erected for him and his wife Betty states he died on the 10th. They were buried in the Sharon Methodist Church Cemetery.³⁰

James and Betty’s son Hawkins appears to have been a rather rowdy character and somewhat of a mystery later in life. In 1919, at around age 25, Hawkins and a friend named Julian Wilkinson went on a drunken rampage around the Square and were arrested after causing much damage, including $400 worth of smashed plate glass.

The article further states that Hawkins plead guilty to drunk and disorderly and resisting an officer and was fined by Mayor Mars $400 or 120 days, half of which was suspended on condition of good behavior. Hawkins later moved to Florida and the family lost contact with him, several court records even indicating the family could not find him. His full name was James Hawkins Wilson and according to the 1940 census, he was living in Dade County, Florida with a wife Della and three children: Robert, James, and Betty.³¹

Lawrence Franklin Wilson

“Pa Pa” Wilson, as the grandchildren called him, was born 28 Apr 1886.³² He was known as a very honest and religious man. He was the music director for many years at Abbeville First Baptist Church and ran a store called Wilson’s Wholesale.

His wife was Lula Pearl Cromer of Newberry, whom he married around 1908. In 1910, they were living in Ware Shoals in Greenwood County with their son Homer, who was born in 1909.³³ Lawrence was working as a weaver in a cotton mill. They were living in Long Cane Township in Abbeville County in 1920 with Lawrence listed as a farmer.³⁴ By 1930, he appears to have begun his work in the grocery business. His occupation was listed as retail merchant in the meat market. He was living on South Main Street.³⁵ In 1940 and 1950, he was listed as the operator of a wholesale grocery store.³⁶,³⁷

Lawrence died at 5pm at his store on 11 Sep 1952 and was buried at Long Cane Cemetery.

Homer Franklin Wilson

Daddy Wilson was born in Ware Shoals on 19 Jun 1909. As a child, he was very smart but shy. The family lived in Newberry for a time during his childhood until they moved to Abbeville where his father was from. The lynching of Anthony Crawford occurred in Abbeville on 21 Oct 1916 when a mob abducted him from the jail where he was being held. Daddy Wilson witnessed the lynching when he was seven years old. They were living on Cherry St. at the time and the jail was within eyesight.

He married Rose Etta Campbell on 4 Apr 1933, but it was kept secret for a time because she was in nursing school and students were not permitted to be married.³⁸ However, it was announced in the news shortly after.

Daddy Wilson worked as a merchant and ran a grocery store on S. Main St. about the early 1940s. For a time he worked at the wholesale store that his father ran. He later ran a gas and groceries station on Hwy 72 and the bypass out towards Calhoun Falls. Later he was a purchasing agent for the county and finally Clerk of Court.

Daddy Wilson enjoyed reading and educating himself. He was very knowledgeable of the Bible and Shakespeare and enjoyed reading Greek. He passed away on 10 Jan 1999 and was buried at Long Cane Cemetery.

---

1. THE WILSON FAMILY by Beiman Otis Prince, Genealogist. This is a Personalized Manuscript Copy prepared for Davis Wilson Sloan, Junior. ↩︎
2. Abbeville County, South Carolina Probate Box 94, Pkg 2336, Nancy Wilson, 1825, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-FZ8X-H) ↩︎
3. Anderson County, South Carolina Deed Book S, p85, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-19MY-Y) ↩︎
4. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-75M : Sat Jan 18 00:49:04 UTC 2025), Entry for Elizabeth Wilson and Nancy Wilson, 1850. ↩︎
5. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-HNP : Wed Jan 22 17:08:59 UTC 2025), Entry for Robert C Wilson and Lucy W Wilson, 1850. ↩︎
6. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-Q6W : Sun Jan 12 05:32:52 UTC 2025), Entry for Samuel A Wilson and Nancy Wilson, 1850. ↩︎
7. Abbeville County, South Carolina Probate Box 179, Pkg 4750, Jane Wilson, 1869, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-F89F-SS) ↩︎
8. “United States, Census, 1800”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRH-VLF : Tue Aug 05 19:34:48 UTC 2025), Entry for Nancey Wilson, 1800. ↩︎
9. “United States, Census, 1810”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2S-H33 : Sun Mar 10 16:22:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Nancy Wilson, 1810. ↩︎
10. “United States, Census, 1820”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLQ-T3K : Sun Mar 10 17:40:51 UTC 2024), Entry for Nancy Wilson, 1820. ↩︎
11. “United States, Census, 1790”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-KX3 : Tue Jan 21 22:39:21 UTC 2025), Entry for Saml Wilson, 1790.
    ↩︎
12. SC Archives ID: Series S213190, Volume 0027, Page 00212, Item 01 ↩︎
13. Abbeville County, South Carolina Probate Box 97, Pkg 2381, John Wilson, 1815, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-FZ99-ZJ) ↩︎
14. Abbeville County, South Carolina Probate Box 122, Pkg 3688, Grizzella Wilson, 1847, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-F893-T) ↩︎
15. “United States, Census, 1830”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5S-H46 : Sat Jan 18 10:32:11 UTC 2025), Entry for Samuel A Willson, 1830. ↩︎
16. “United States, Census, 1840”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHY1-9CV : Thu Mar 07 08:20:08 UTC 2024), Entry for S A Wilson, 1840. ↩︎
17. SC Archives ID: Series: S213192 Volume: 0049 Page: 00316 Item: 001 ↩︎
18. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-Q6W : Sun Jan 12 05:32:52 UTC 2025), Entry for Samuel A Wilson and Nancy Wilson, 1850. ↩︎
19. Abbeville County, South Carolina Probate Box 173, Pkg 4637, Samuel A. Wilson, 1865, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YY-NS8L-S) ↩︎
20. Civil War Service Record, Confederate, ”D A Wilson”, Second SC Rifles, Co. A (Fold3) ↩︎
21. “United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZTW-74L : Mon Jul 08 21:51:46 UTC 2024), Entry for Ezra A Wilson, 1860.
    ↩︎
22. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73164421/francis_albert-wilson: accessed August 8, 2025), memorial page for Francis Albert “Frank” Wilson (2 Dec 1825–12 Jun 1900), Find a Grave Memorial ID 73164421, citing Upper Long Cane Cemetery, Abbeville, Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Dwight Brooks (contributor 47546427). ↩︎
23. “United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M69G-L4B : Fri Jan 17 22:53:31 UTC 2025), Entry for Frank A. Wilson and Sarah A. Wilson, 1880. ↩︎
24. J. Greg Carroll. (1979). Abbeville County Family History, p37 ↩︎
25. The Abbeville Press and Banner, 26 Apr 1867 ↩︎
26. The Abbeville Press and Banner, 16 Oct 1872 ↩︎
27. “South Carolina, Delayed Birth Certificates, 1766-1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2R8-1SK9 : Tue Mar 11 07:30:15 UTC 2025), Entry for Fannie Kathleen Wilson and James Albert Wilson, 1894. ↩︎
28. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86134658/alma-wilson: accessed August 8, 2025), memorial page for Alma Wilson (14 Apr 1896–22 May 1897), Find a Grave Memorial ID 86134658, citing Sharon United Methodist Church Cemetery, Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Record Hunter (contributor 47130288). ↩︎
29. The Abbeville Press and Banner, 8 Jun 1910 ↩︎
30. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22853509/james_a-wilson: accessed August 8, 2025), memorial page for James A. Wilson (9 Oct 1853–10 Nov 1914), Find a Grave Memorial ID 22853509, citing Sharon United Methodist Church Cemetery, Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Jonathan Reeves (contributor 46928429). ↩︎
31. “United States, Census, 1940”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTHC-5MR : Fri Mar 08 19:17:43 UTC 2024), Entry for James H Wilson and Della Wilson, 1940. ↩︎
32. “United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W8G1-TFT2 : Thu Jul 24 12:46:26 UTC 2025), Entry for Laurence Franklin Wilson and Lula Pearl Wilson, 28 April 1918. ↩︎
33. “United States, Census, 1910”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M56X-BFS : Sun Mar 10 19:09:53 UTC 2024), Entry for Lawerence Wilson and Lula Wilson, 1910. ↩︎
34. “United States, Census, 1920”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6ZH-BZX : Wed Jan 22 00:06:31 UTC 2025), Entry for L F Wilson and Lula Wilson, 1920. ↩︎
35. “United States, Census, 1930”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPH8-GM3 : Sat Mar 09 16:34:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Larence F Wilson and Lula P Wilson, 1930. ↩︎
36. “United States, Census, 1940”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K48Q-NVG : Fri Jan 17 05:33:51 UTC 2025), Entry for Lawrence Wilson and Lula Wilson, 1940. ↩︎
37. “United States, Census, 1950”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F7H-RMWB : Fri Oct 06 06:45:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Lawrence F Wilson and Luly C Wilson, 5 April 1950. ↩︎
38. “McCormick County, South Carolina marriage licenses,1916-1950”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91X-WSWJ-6) ↩︎

Unless otherwise noted, all of this information comes from notes made by Sarah Ola Crimminger Nettles and Buena Crimminger Feeney based on information related to them by their father Willie Crimminger, son of Mary Jane Catoe Crimminger.¹,²

Mr. Catoe

Catoe (or Cato) is the surname chosen by (or for) an orphan boy who would later be the father of Mary Jane Catoe Crimminger. Given that he was the father of Mary Jane Cato(e) who was born in 1824, it’s likely that Mr. Cato was born around the 1790s. According to both tradition and the place of birth for her father given in the 1880 census entry for Mary Jane,³ Mr. Cato was from England.

The story, as related to Grandpa (Willie) Crimminger by his mother Mary Jane Cato(e) Crimminger, goes as follows: “As a very small boy, her father was lured aboard a boat coming to the United States from England and was brought eventually to the Camden District area. When asked his name, each time he replied only with ‘Cat,’ thus this was given him as a surname. He made his home with a family by the name of Thompson, and at a suitable age became an apprentice to Mr. Thompson as a saddlemaker. In later years he was married and his wife expected their first child, at which time his friends teased him severely, asking ‘when is your wife going to have her kitten?’ Being a sensitive person he became so incensed that he applied to the Legislature to have his named changed to ‘Cato.'”

Further notes from an interview of Grandpa Crimminger state that “He was abducted as a very small child by sailors from a wharf in England. They took him away from his nurse, put him on the ship and brought him to America. All he could say was “Cat”, so that is what he was called.” More sensational versions passed down the family claim he was abducted by pirates and brought to Charleston.

Grandpa Crimminger stated that his parents, Robert and Mary Jane, were first cousins. Their mothers were both daughters of Samuel Love.

Mr. Catoe’s wife was always in poor health. The family traveled for her health. Grandpa Crimminger related his mother’s memories of traveling as a child in a covered wagon through North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and of seeing the Mississippi river. Mr. Cato would skin the bark off a pole and use it to catch prairie chickens. He would disturb the roost and they would fly or settle along the pole and slide into a sack on the other end. They eventually returned to the Camden area. Following Mrs. Catoe’s death, Mr. Cato returned to Tennessee, leaving Mary Jane with a family named Carpenter who were shroud makers. Mr. Cato remarried in Tennessee and Mary Jane eventually lost contact with him.

Mary Jane Catoe

Mary Jane Catoe was born 14 Feb 1824.⁴ When her father left for Tennessee after her mother’s death, Mary Jane stayed with a family named Carpenter who were shroud makers. Grandpa Crimminger related the story that one Saturday they had a shroud to finish by the next day. Midnight came and they had not finished. So they shut the windows and closed the shutters to keep out the light of Sunday and worked on until they finished. Mary Jane was a member at Salem Methodist Church, as were the Thompsons, the family her father had grown up with.

Mary Jane’s name appears in a list of letters left at the Camden post office in 1840.

Grandpa Crimminger’s claim that Mary Jane and Robert were first cousins appears to be substantiated by an 1845 deed in which the children of Samuel Love and Mary Jane Cato sold some land together.⁵ This would imply that she was an heir of the Love family as well.

According to the Family Bible, she married Robert Crimminger on 3 Feb 1846.⁶ She had her fortune told before her marriage. The fortune teller told her she would marry a man who would always have plenty. She and Robert had ten children.

Mary Jane was sick for about the last ten or fifteen years of her life. Her doctor was Dr. Columbus Cauthen, whom she trusted greatly. He told her one day she would die the next day at twelve o-clock. But the next day, she took a turn for the better at precisely that time.

In contrast to her husband, Mary Jane was a very religious person who read and studied the Bible and taught it to her children.

Oscar and Mary Reeves stayed with Mary Jane for a brief period, apparently after Robert had passed. Later, she moved in with Grandpa (Willie) Crimminger. However, Grandpa Crimminger also reported that she died sitting in a chair in the south door of the second Love house, which was where Robert and Mary Jane had lived. The obituary reported she died at Grandpa Crimminger’s home. There seems to be some confusion on this point. After her death, Robert and Mary Jane’s home was burned down by some children who were playing in the fire and accidentally set the mantle cloth on fire.

1. Crimminger Family Tree written by Sarah Ola Crimminger Nettles with help from Earle Reeves ↩︎
2. Interview of Willie Crimminger by daughter Buena Crimminger Feeney with additional notes ↩︎
3. “United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6SJ-XXD : Sun Jan 19 02:55:14 UTC 2025), Entry for Robert A. Criminger and Mary J. Criminger, 1880. ↩︎
4. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75142100/mary_jane-crimminger: accessed June 30, 2025), memorial page for Mary Jane Catoe Crimminger (14 Feb 1824–18 Jan 1904), Find a Grave Memorial ID 75142100, citing Salem Cemetery, Heath Springs, Lancaster County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Boyce M. Lawton, III (contributor 47916517). ↩︎
5. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book P, p94, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS6L-9?cat=472451&i=566) ↩︎
6. DAR Supporting Documentation for Application of Ola Crimminger Nettles #659002, Patriot Frederick Grimminger #A048570 ↩︎

The Krimminger/Crimminger family was probably German Lutheran. Frederick Krimminger Sr.’s father-in-law Johann Christoph Layrle was a member of the Organ Church in Rowan County where Reformed and Lutherans worshipped. In his will, Layrle refers to the “the chest, with all the linen, and the clothes that I brought along from Germany.”¹ They first appear in Rowan County in the 1770s where the records use the spelling Grimminger or Griminger.

Frederick Krimminger Sr’s mother was named Catherine. She had remarried to a Mr. Kelion/Killian Erenhart (also spelled Ehrenhardt or Earnhardt) but was described as a widow in her nuncupative will dated 9 Jan 1798. She stated: “It is my will that Adam Teem shall sell all my personall property – and forty pounds thereof shall be paid to my sons Frederick Grimmingers decd two sons Christopher and Frederick, and the ballance of all shall be paid to Kelion Erenhart Junior.”² It is not known how long Catherine was married to Killian Erenhart, but it appears he was formerly in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and his family were of German origin as well.

One possible clue as to Frederick Krimminger/Grimminger Sr’s father comes from the German ship lists to Pennsylvania. Frederick’s future father-in-law Johann Christoph Layrle came to Philadelphia on the ship Richard and Mary which arrived 30 Sep 1754.  “The Foreigners whose names are underwritten imported on the ship Richard & Mary John Moore Master from Rotterdam and last from Cowes? Inhabitants of the Dukedom of Wertenberg did this day take the usual oaths and declarations.” Among the passengers of this same ship was a “Friderick Raminger.” The name “Raminger” doesn’t seem to appear in records after this, so it’s likely this was a misspelling of another name and could therefore be another Frederick Griminger/Grimminger and candidate for Frederick Sr.’s father.³

Frederick Krimminger Sr.

Frederick first appears in the records of North Carolina in March 1779 when he had a record of his land made in the Rowan County Land Entries book under the name “Griminger.” It was described as “300 acres of land in Rowan County on the big south fork of Crane Creek joining Nathan Morgan, Simeon Mayer, and George Tucker including the improvement made by Michael Cook.”⁴

According to a statement by his son Frederick Jr. in the Revolutionary War Pension Application, Frederick Krimminger was married to Catherine Layrle in 1782 in Rowan County, North Carolina.⁵ Jacob Shupins, a younger cousin of Catherine Layrle who testified for the pension application about Frederick, stated that “he recollects the time of his marriage from the fact that he acquired a whipping on that day from his father for crying to go with him & my mother to the weding.” The Pension record states that Frederick served both in the militia and continental army. It alludes briefly to his involvement in the siege of Charleston which took place in 1780, where he was captured and later paroled. He went home and joined the army under Gen. Greene under whom he fought at the battles of Camden in August 1780 and Guilford Courthouse in March 1781. He apparently alluded capture after these battles, but some of his countryman were not so lucky. After the battle of Camden, Lord Cornwallis discovered that their prisoners included some of the same men he had paroled after the siege of Charleston and had them hanged. However, Frederick was captured at Guilford Courthouse. The book Krimmingers of Cabarrus cites a list of captured soldiers from Guilford Courthouse where Frederick’s name appears.⁶ Cornwallis apparently paroled them all as he was in need of supplies and couldn’t support more prisoners. Frederick’s next service began in 1781, when he “volunteered and was chosen Captain of a Company which he commanded during a three Months Campaign to Wilmington, North Carolina, which was Commanded by Gen. Rutherford.” Finally, Frederick Jr. stated that he “heard his father often say he was at Yorktown when Lord Cornwallis surrendered & was detached to accompany him to the Ship which was to carry him off.”

On 8 May 1782, Rowan County Court minutes reported that an orphan named Phillip Rouch had been apprenticed to Frederick “Griminger” to learn shoemaking.⁷ In 1787 after Frederick’s death, Phillip was bound out to Phillip “Aaronhart,” possibly a relative of Killian Erenhart, to learn blacksmithing.⁸

Frederick and Catherine had two sons, Christopher, born in 1783,⁹ and Frederick, born in 1785.¹⁰ They were named as Frederick Sr.’s children in the will of their grandmother Catherine Erenhart mentioned above.

Frederick “Greminger” appears in the 1784 tax lists for Rowan County. One of the tax districts was the Greminger district that year, possibly meaning that he helped with the tax collection.¹¹ He died sometime from 1784 to 1786, since administration of his estate was granted in May 1786 to John Rantleman and Conrad Kyger.¹²

In May 1792, the court reported that Frederick’s orphaned son Christopher had chosen Adam Team as his guardian. Adam Team was also appointed by the court as guardian for the other son Frederick, who was still a minor at the time.¹³

Frederick Jr. noted in the Revolutionary War Pension Record for his father that the widow Catherine died 17 July 1843, but almost nothing is known of her life after Frederick’s death.

Frederick Krimminger Jr.

While this family’s name was generally spelled Griminger or Krimminger in North Carolina, records in South Carolina generally use the spelling Criminger or Crimminger.

Frederick Jr. moved to the area of Heath Springs in Lancaster County, South Carolina about the year 1815. The name Frederick Criminger appears in a list of letters remaining for pick up in the Camden post office dated 1 July 1816.¹⁴ He appears to be the Frederick “Scrimgerger” listed on the 1820 census in Lancaster County¹⁵ and is also listed on the census in 1830¹⁶ and 1840.¹⁷ In 1840, he was listed next to John Reeves and two doors down from Mrs. Marjory Love. His neighbors indicate that he lived in the general area of Heath Springs to Hanging Rock.

Although the Krimmingers had been Lutheran, Frederick Jr. appears to have been associated with the Methodists in Lancaster County. This may be how he met the Love family. An item in the Camden Gazette announced his marriage to Mary Love of Hanging Rock in 1816.

Frederick bought 166 acres from William Ingram in 1818¹⁸ and 519 acres from Robert Mehaffey in 1819.¹⁹ This land was just to the north of present day Heath Springs. According to notes compiled after interviewing his grandson Willie Crimminger, Frederick owned a general store just to the north of present day Heath Springs where a water tower later stood.²⁰ This matches the Mills Map for Lancaster County which gives the name “Crimeger’s” just above the curve in the road where Heath Springs is located (current day Main St. which turns into Flat Rock Rd.).

According to further information from Grandpa Willie Crimminger, Frederick owned turkeys on some of his land and would invite folks to hunt there with him. According to his grandson, he never owned slaves and never farmed, instead making his living from the general store he operated.²¹ However, the 1830 census reports that there were two slaves living with him, a man or boy age 10-24 and a woman age 24-36.

In 1838, Frederick deeded 3 1/2 acres of land to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church for use as a church.²² The land was located on the other side of the street not to far from where Frederick’s place was marked on the 1820 Mill’s Map. This site was known as Salem campground where revivalist services were held, known as camp meetings. The original Salem Methodist Church was organized before 1820, but built a building on the land Frederick gave them in 1840. This building was used until 1897. Viola Caston Floyd reported in her book Lancaster County Tours that the this church building stood just to the west of the tombstone of Robert Crimminger.²³ Although he gave the land for the Salem Methodist Church, Grandpa Crimminger stated that Frederick and Mary attended the Hanging Rock Methodist Church.

According to the family, there were consecutive years of crop failure while Frederick lived in Heath Springs. This lead to farmers being unable to repay their debts to Frederick’s store and he went bankrupt and lost everything to Jack Adams who held the mortgages. The records indicate a slightly different story. There are a number of mortgage records and sales involving Frederick Crimminger, his mother-in-law Margaret Love and sherriff John Adams. Margaret Love was the one who actually declared bankruptcy in 1842, but Frederick was involved in the deeds mortgaging Love land and other goods that year. It may be that his business was tied to his mother-in-law’s farm. (See Analysis of Love Land and Property for a listing of these deeds.)

Frederick moved back to North Carolina around 1843. He left his son Robert to take care of his aging mother-in-law Margaret Love. She died within a couple years, but Robert decided to stay in Lancaster County rather than move up to where his father was.

Frederick ad Mary lived in Cabarrus County on a farm until they passed away. The house was an L-shaped log house with large rooms. There was a separate building that served as a kitchen in the rear. According to a 1982 interview with Pierson Shinn who later owned the farm Frederick lived on, Frederick died while in South Carolina. The date was 25 May 1861.²⁴ He may have been visiting his son Robert. His body was placed on a wagon and taken back to North Carolina with a team of four horses. They arrived late at night and the casket was left on the wagon until the morning. He was buried that next day in the family graveyard next to his wife Mary.²⁵

Robert Adam Crimminger

Robert was born 18 Jul 1820.²⁶ When his father Frederick moved back to North Carolina, he was left behind to take care of his aging grandmother Margaret Love. She died by early 1846, but Robert decided to stay in Heath Springs and lived the rest of his life there.

Robert attended school at Heath Springs. His teachers were named Dr. Morrison, Mr. Allen Croxton, and Mr. Spence. Dr Morrison took some kind of medicine which turned his face green. Robert was good in arithmetic and wrote a beautiful hand. He was an impatient man and was rather hard on his wife and children. And although of the Methodist persuasion he never attended church and disliked his children attending. He was a drinker.

Robert married Mary Jane Cato(e) 3 Feb 1846. According to their son Grandpa Willie Crimminger, they were first cousins. Their mothers were both Loves, children of Samuel and Margaret Love, although the names of Mary Jane’s parents are unknown. Robert and Mary Jane had ten children.

Aunt Ola Crimminger Nettle’s DAR application includes a copy of the information from Robert Crimminger’s Family Bible which lists the information on their entire family as follows:²⁷

Robert A. Crimminger was Born July 18th 1820
Mary Jane Cato was Born Feb 14th 1824
Margaret M. Crimminger was Born Aug 20th 1847
Columbus Crimminger was Born May 16th 1849
Catherine C. Crimminger was Born July 30th 185(1?)
Samuel P. Crimminger was Born Sept 21, 1853
Mary S. Crimminger was Born Nov 25th 1854
Jane A. Crimminger was Born Feb 17th 1856
Susannah T. Crimminger was Born April 18, 1857
Laura Ann Crimminger was Born May 29(?) 1859
Robert F. Crimminger was Born Apr 13th 186(0?)
William L. Crimminger was Born Feb 3rd 1864

Childrens Death’s
Mary Serena Crimminger Died May 31st 1855
Jane Adline Crimminger Died June 8th 1856
Susannah Tempaton Crimminger Died Oct 2nd 1857

Father & Mothers Deaths
Robert A. Crimminger Died July 11 1902
Mary Jane C Died Jan 19th 1904

Marriage
Robert A. Crimminger and Mary Jane Catoe was married Feb 3rd 1846

Robert was a farmer and owned around 400 acres of land. However, he did not believe in slavery and owned none. Instead he had several black families who lived and worked on his farm in later years including the family of John Frasier.

Robert appears to have been involved in the Civil War under two different companies at different times, although he didn’t believe in slavery or the war. He said “Boots and broadcloth made the war and copper britches had to fight it.” He said he short red hot bullets all night in Charleston. First, he served as a private in Co. B, 4th Regiment South Carolina State Troops, enlisting 3 Sep 1863 until Feb 1864.²⁸ Next, he enlisted 5 Nov 1864 as a private in Co. C, 12th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. He was captured at Five Forks on 3 Apr 1865 and was kept prisoner at Hart’s Island, New York until being released 16 Jun 1865.²⁹ Once released, he came to Charleston by boat, then rode the train to Orangeburg and walked home from there. By the time he got home, Mary Jane had sold the previous years cotton and had a new crop already started.

While away during the war, some Yankees under General Sherman came to steal corn and grain from the barn. Mary Jane sent two of the younger children, Laura and Frank, to beg the Yankees to save them something to eat. One of them said, “Listen men, it is time to stop when the children beg us to leave them something to eat.” They took several of the animals including a horse named Ball and several mules. Grandpa Crimminger was in his cradle in the yard when the soldiers came. The commanding officer threatened to make his horse step over the cradle, presumably a threat to obtain supplies. Mary Jane said “If you do, I will report you to your higher officer,” and so the officer refrained.

Robert would make trips in covered wagon in the fall and spring to Monroe and Camden to buy supplies and sell cotton, corn and other items. In later years, grain was grown and carried to Monroe where it was ground into flour. The farm had large fruit orchards and a cider cellar to make cider from the apple trees. At various times, he raised wheat, oats, sweet and Irish potatoes, corn, cotton and chufas for his dogs.

Robert was rather hard on his children and whipped them often. Once when Grandpa (Willie) Crimminger was supposed to be clearing some ground and piling up brush and roots, his father got frustrated with him, took him over to the spot and said “You ought to be killed and thrown over in there.”

Robert died on 11 Jul 1902 and his wife a couple years later. They were buried in Salem Cemetery in Heath Springs.

William Leslie Crimminger

Grandpa Crimminger was born 3 Feb 1864 according to the Family Bible record mentioned above. According to his daughters, he married Lorena Jane Lyles 6 Dec 1883. She went by Jane. They rode horseback from their home to the home of Rev. John Croxton, about four miles from her house, to be married. They were attended by Willie’s sister Laura, Jane’s sister Sallie, a friend Wesley Mackey, and a cousin of Jane’s named Baxter Blackmon. Afterwards they went back to the Lyles house for a wedding meal.

His daughter Buena related the following concerning Grandpa Crimminger: “Dad became a Christian on the first Sunday in April in 1884. He used to go to the Dispensary in Kershaw and get whiskey for Grandpa. He would drink about a gallon a week. Many people thought he never got drunk, but Dad saw him stagger into the hog pen many a time with a basket of corn to feed the hogs – drunk. When Dad was converted the sermon was preached about the parable of the talents. The preacher said if one had only one talent and did not use for the Lord it was buried. Dad thought about it all the way home. When he went to feed the mules he got down on his knees and prayed; he promised to live a Christian life all the rest of his days.”

Grandpa and Grandma Crimminger (sometimes spelled Criminger by the family) were charter members at Flint Ridge Baptist Church near Heath Springs which was organized in 1903. “Uncle Willie,” as he was called by many in the community was a pillar of the church.

Grandpa Criminger worked long hours on his farm, usually from daylight to dark. He was a nervous man, impatient and serious and showed little affection for his children. When surprised or upset, he was would use expressions such as “dear me,” “bless my time,” “my time and life,” and “my starnes and life” (my stars alive). He enjoyed reading and often would read the Bible and study religious literature. He had an almost photographic memory and retained much of what he read.

Willie and Jane had a farm where they grew fruits such as apples, peaches, plums, figs, cherries, concord grapes and strawberries. Blueberries, black muscadines, black berries and strawberries grew wild in the fields and some cultivated in the garden. They had a house with five rooms, a porch and three fireplaces. Grandpa Criminger planted three huge water oak trees in the front and side yards in 1903 which stood for many decades. His daughter Buena related that he would take corn every Saturday to Mr. Jesse Mobley’s mill on Hanging Rock Creek to get it ground. After that, he would go to Pleasant Hill to get the mail. In later years, he would go to the mill village in Lancaster to sell his produce once a week. Each season, he would save the best of the crop for next year’s planting.

Willie remarried to Mrs. Gertrude Williams Truesdale in 1938. Willie died in 1946 and Gertrude two years later. Willie, his first wife Jane, and daughter Bertha were buried in the Flint Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.³⁰

Mary Gertrude Crimminger

Willie and Jane’s eldest child, Mary Gertrude, was born 17 Sep 1884. She married Henry Oscar Reeves in 1901 and was the mother of twelve children.

While she could read, her husband Oscar could not. Every night, she would read from the scriptures. Oscar had an excellent memory and thus learned much scripture through her reading and could quote it at length. She passed away in 1957, her husband Oscar outliving her by nine years.

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The Layrle family were German Lutheran immigrants who are thought to have come from Konstanz, Germany, near the border of Switzerland. Although our earliest documented Layrle ancestor is Johann Christoph Layrle who arrived in Philadelphia in 1754, family lore indicates his father may have been a Soloman Layrle, born in Konstanz in 1681. Family legend indicates there were Layrle’s as far back as the early 1500s and that some were involved with Martin Luther in the Protestant Reformation. Muh of the family records from 1517-1681 were apparently lost or destroyed in 1904. The name has been found spelled numerous different ways including Leierle, Leyerle, Lierle, Lyarly, Lyerley, etc.¹

Johann Christoph Layrle

According to family tradition, Johann had come earlier in 1736 as a missionary and school teacher to a German speaking colony near Charleston, South Carolina. He returned to Germany before arriving back in Philadelphia in 1754. What is known for sure is that Johann was a passenger on the ship Richard and Mary which arrived on 30th September 1754, where he appears on a list of passengers who took the oath that day. The title of the list reads: “The Foreigners whose names are underwritten imported on the ship Richard & Mary John Moore Master from Rotterdam and last from Cowes? Inhabitants of the Dukedom of Wertenberg did this day take the usual oaths and declarations.”² Württemberg is in the southern part of Germany.

Liley-Lyerly and Related Families claims that Johann was married three times, first to Christina, then to Barbara, then to Anna Maria Christina. It furthermore claims that Johann married Christina in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia where he lived for a brief time. So far, any record of this first marriage or his residence there has yet to be found.

In his Revolutionary War Pension Record, his son Zechariah stated “that he was born in Culpeper County State of Virginia as well as he recollects, having no record of his age on the 2d day of June in the year 1755 – that he continued to live in said County & State until he was 8 or 10 years of age when his parents removed to Rowan County North Carolina.”³ This indicates that Johann lived in Culpeper County as early as 1755 and moved around 1764-1766. In 1763, the Culpeper County Court appointed Christopher “Lyrle” administrator of Christian Reapman.⁴ In 1765, Christopher Layrle and his wife Barbara sold 100 acres of land to Mumford Stevens in Culpeper County.⁵ This may represent their move from Virginia to North Carolina.

Johann Christoph Layrle was a member of the Organ Church in Rowan County where Reformed and Lutherans worshipped. In 1771, being in need of teachers and helpers for the churches in the area, they, along with other churches asked Governor William Tryon that Christopher “Layrele” and Christopher “Reintelmann” be allowed to go to England to solicit for aid. The records from St. Luke’s Church include resolutions and information on their petitions and travels. The records state “that two of their members namely Christopher Layrle and Christopher Reintelmann are deputed by them humbly to beg of the protestant brethren and other friends to the Kingdom of Christ in England Holland Germany their benevolence and charity to enable them in supporting a learned and orthodox protestant minister, in order that the means of grace may be duly administered and the Kingdom of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ be likewise established and propagated among them.”⁶ In 1772, the two men traveled down to Charleston, South Carolina and from there sailed to Europe and traveled several countries asking for aid. They returned to North Carolina in the fall of 1773 with Rev. Adolph Nussmann (1732-1794) and a teacher named Johann Gottfried Arends (Arndt) (1740-1807) who was later ordained as a Lutheran minister. Rev. Nusmann became the founder of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina. His second wife was Barbara Lyerly, daughter of Johann Christoph Layrle.

In 1780, Christopher “Lyarly” bought 398 acres “on both sides of the Mill Branch of Dutch Second Creek” in Rowan County.”⁷

Johann Christoph Layrle wrote his will on 12 Oct 1784. It was written in German. He mentions his wife Anna Maria Catherine and his children Zachariah, Peter, Christopher, Jacob, Margaret, Barbara, and Catherine. Interestingly he refers to his son Christopher as “a natural son of his mother” which could indicate he was not Johann Christoph’s biological son. Johann gave to his wife “the chest, with all the linen, and the clothes that I brought along from Germany.” Although the available transcription of his will erroneously states “As executor of this my will, I appoint and authorize Conrad Friedrich,” there are actually clearly two names given in the executors statement in the original. The first is Conrad Keiker. The second appears to read Friederich Grimmice, which would be Frederick Grimminger.⁸

Catherine Lyerly

In 1852, Frederick Krimminger Jr. gave testimony in court about his father Frederick Sr.’s service in the Revolutionary War. He stated that “Fred: left a widow (Cath:) who died 17th July 1843. Fred: & Cath: married in N. C. in 1782. Children left: Dept & Christopher.” Later in the record he gives further details: “That said Frederick Kriminger Senr left a widow whose name was Catherine and that said widow died on the 17th day of July in the year 1843 which has been fully proven to the satisfaction of said court that Fredrick Kriminger and Catherine were married in the county of Rowan and State of North Carolina. That they were married in the year 1782 – that her name before her marriage was Catherine Lyerly. And that when the said widow died she left two children Christopher Kriminger aged 66 years and myself, this applicant.” Jacob Shuping gave testimony that he “recollects well when Fred Kriminger was married which was in the year 1782 that he married a woman by the name of Catherine Lyerlie who was a cousin of his (sd J. Shupines) he further states that he recollects the time of his marriage from the fact that he received a whipping on that day from his father for crying to go with him & my mother to the weding.”⁹ The family of Johann Christoph Layrle appear to be the only ones by that surname in Rowan County at this time, so this must be Johann’s daughter Catherine. The family may have lived with her brother Jacob after Frederick Sr.’s death around 1786. In the 1790 census, Jacob is listed with two boys under 16 along with two females in the household.¹⁰ Jacob is thought to have only just married about 1790, so the extra female and two boys in the household could very well be Catherine Krimminger and her two sons.

See the Krimminger family for more of this line.

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1. Liley, Howard B. & Amalie H. (1988). Liley-Lyerly and Related Families, pp. 19, 21, 25 ↩︎
2. Strassburger, Ralph Beaver. (1934). Pennsylvania German Pioneers; a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, pp. 703-704 ↩︎
3. Revolutionary War Pension Record, Zachariah Lierly, North Carolina, S. 32389 ↩︎
4. Prichard, A. M. (1930). Abstracts from the County Court Minute Book, 1763-1764, Culpeper County, Virginia: Culpeper. Court Minutes 1763–1764, p16, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZX-BS14-P) ↩︎
5. Culpepper County, Virginia Deed Book E, p124, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-G8W7) ↩︎
6. State Records of North Carolina, Vol. VIII, p630 ↩︎
7. Rowan County, North Carolina Deed Book 9, p282, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9DH-26MQ) ↩︎
8. Rowan County, North Carolina Will Book E, p129, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:SQWX-HQN4-9), transcription (with apparent errors) available at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZR-8SGR-P ↩︎
9. Revolutionary War Pension Record, Frederick Krimminger, R. 6063 ↩︎
10. “United States, Census, 1790”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHK1-BYB : Wed Jan 15 19:54:59 UTC 2025), Entry for Jacob Lierly, 1790. ↩︎

The Love family appears to have come to Pennsylvania as part of the Scotch-Irish migrations from around the 1730s. Tradition indicates that there were three brothers, Alexander, James and Robert, who all migrated down from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. Albert Cook Myers, in his book
Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania states concerning Alexander Love and his wife Margaret Cook: “After living some years in York County they removed to near the present town of Yorkville, South Carolina, where Alexander became a prominent citizen, serving as a member of the Provincial Congress of S. C.”¹ Alexander died in 1784 and was buried at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in York County.² James Love, who styled himself as a Weaver of Craven County, South Carolina in his will, died in 1760.³ Robert, from whom we descend, appeared in South Carolina before 1762 when he was granted 163 acres in what was described as Anson County, North Carolina, but states that the land was “on Both Sides of Hanging Rock Creek Including his own Improvements,” which would be current day Lancaster County, South Carolina.⁴

Robert Love

In a deed dated the 11th year of the reign of George III (1771), Robert Love of Craven County, South Carolina, and his wife Violet, sold some land to Samuel Barnet of Tyrone County, North Carolina. The deed was registered in Lincoln County, North Carolina, but describes land on Bullocks Creek and Broad River which would be current day York County, South Carolina.⁵ In addition to the 163 acres he obtained in 1762, Robert received numerous acres of land laid out to him between 1768 and 1774. There are plats for most of these available at the South Carolina State Archives (see article Analysis of Love Land and Property for a list of these). Much of the land is in and around present day Hanging Rock, which is also where the original 1762 grant was.

Most of what is known of Robert’s family is supplied by the Revolutionary War Pension Records of his sons Hezekiah, William and Samuel. Hezekiah’s pension application file includes a family bible which appears to list Robert and Violet’s family. It includes in the marriage section that “Robert Love was Married to Vilet Wilson in Chester County at the forks of brandy wine in pensulvania about 1738.” This serves to provide evidence that he may have been connected to Alexander Love who also had been in Pennsylvania earlier in the 1700s as previously stated. The first section of births listed in the bible includes Hezekiah and appears to be the children of Robert and Violet. The children were: James, Margaret, Robert, “Vilet,” John, Mary, Hezekiah (b. 1751), William, Joel, and Samuel.⁷

The pension record indicates that Hezekiah Love lived in Chester County, South Carolina at the time he enlisted in the Revolutionary War. It also states he was born in Chester in 1752. Oddly, the Bible states he was born in 1751 and he stated in his pension record he had no record of his age. This likely indicates the year 1751 was a later addition to the Bible record. He stated in Oct 1832 that he moved to Tennessee sometime after the war, then to Alabama, then back to Tennessee “February last.” Hezekiah lived in Roane County, Tennessee and died 11 Jun 1833.

Rachel Love of Smith County, Tennessee, widow of William Love, testified in 1839 and following years about her husband’s service in the Revolution.⁸ Her husband had “enlisted as a regular soldier at the hanging Rock in South Carolina his residence was near Camden in that State.” She additionally stated “She did not know who were officers in the regular Army of South Carolina. Her own Brother was out at different times and Hezikiah Love a Brother to William Love, was out also the first a Captain of a Militia Company and the latter a Lieutenant under him but these were not in the Continental line but were called upon by General Sumpter.” This proves this William is the son of Robert and Violet because of the reference to Hezekiah as a brother. Rachel stated that she married William in Dec 1787 and that he died 18 Feb 1821. Arthur Brandon of Smith County testified that “he was acquainted with William Love husband of Mrs Rachel Love formerly Rachel McCool.” John Brandon testified that William and Rachel were married in Union County or district, South Carolina on the banks of the broad River, and that they lived in Chester County.

James Love, the eldest son and heir of Robert, is known as James Love of Grannies Quarters, a location in Kershaw County. He is identified primarily by a deed from 1786 in which he is referred to as “James Love heir at Law son of Robert Love deceased.” It describes the land as “three hundred acres more or less the land offby grant to Robert Love bearing date April the tenth one thousand seven hundred and seventy five.” In a second deed from 1787 he sold more of the granted land stating that it was granted “to Robert Love Father of the said James Love and the said James Love being heir at Law to the Estate of the said Robert Love Decd.” These deeds indicate that Robert had died before late 1786. James’s wife Margaret is listed on the deeds with him.⁹ In 1790, James was living in Chester County when he gave two acres of land in Lancaster County to what would become known as the Hanging Rock Presbyterian Church. The deed states: “unto the Decenting Presbyterian Society of the Hanging Rock to the trustees to be hereafter appointed who have associated themselves together with others by the name of Decenting Presbyterian Society for Religious purposes and having divine service performed (at a place on the waters of Hanging Rock Creek in late Lancaster County and State of South Carolina aforesaid known by the name of James Love old place whereon stands a Meeting house)…hath freely & voluntarily by these presents bound himself to make good and sufficient titles in law to two acres of land which shall include the land or lots whereon the present meeting now stands as also including the spring to the Westward of said house…that it be to and for the use of the said Decenting Presbyterian Society to be applied to the use and support of a Meeting house of Public Worship and for no other use intents or purpose whatsoever.” John Love, presumably his brother, witnessed the deed. Many of the Scots-Irish were Presbyterians. It appears the Loves were no exception. Given that this was the only Presbyterian Church in that area of Lancaster County, it’s likely many of the Love family who stayed in Lancaster County were buried there, although very few graves remain marked to this day. Kershaw County Equity Bills of Partition from 1823 state that James Love “departed this life intestate sometime in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and … leaving considerable real estate situated on the waters of Granneys Quarter Creek…leaving Margaret Love his widow – Robert Love, and James Love together with your orator and oratrixes aforesaid his children & his heirs at law.” The orators included John and Margaret McKain, William Love, Nathan and Mary Campbell and John Love.¹⁰

Samuel Love

Samuel Love, son of Robert and Violet, was listed in Lancaster County in the census records from 1790 through 1830. Wilson Love, presumably his son S. W. Love, was listed next door in 1830.¹¹ They are listed nearby some Ingram, Horton and Cauthen families, surnames that are associated with the Hanging Rock area.

Samuel, like several of his brothers, fought in the Revolutionary War. In 1832, he testified in open court of his service in the war for his pension, a record which yields a number of interesting details of his life.¹² He stated that he was born in Lancaster County, but did not recollect the year of his birth and did not have a record of his age. However, he did state that he was 73 or 74 years old, which would place his birth around 1759. His brother Hezekiah was born in 1752 in Chester County according to his own testimony. If both of these are correct, it would likely indicate that the parents Robert and Violet Wilson moved from Chester County to Lancaster between 1752 and 1759. These locations are retroactive references as these counties did not come into existence until 1785.

Samuel was living on Beaver Creek in Kershaw County in fall or winter 1777 when he entered service in the Revolution. He additionally stated his location of residence as Camden and stated that he joined as a substitute for James Russell in Capt. Thomas Creighton’s company under Col. Kershaw. His first service lasted three months. He also served for three months in 1778 under Capt. Creighton, two months in 1779 under Capt. John McCool, seven or eight months including summer of 1779 under Capt. James Read, three months in the summer of 1780 under Capt. Dowell, and eight or nine months in the winter of 1780 under Capt. Jones. He engaged in the battles of Hanging Rock, Camden Ferry and McDonald’s Ferry. During his time under James Read who was under Gen. Thomas Sumter, he engaged in the Battle of Hanging Rock which took place near where his family lived on 6 Aug 1780.

In 1790, Samuel was listed in Lancaster County on the census with only one woman in the household besides himself, presumably his wife. One of his daughters was born in 1797 and it appears the rest of his children were born late 1790s or early 1800s. Samuel’s wife was named Margaret according to several deeds, including one from 1817 in which they sold one hundred acres “lying on the head Branches of Lynches Creek.”¹³ She appears as Marjory on the 1840 census after Samuel’s death.¹⁴

A great-grandson Willie Crimminger (1864 – 1946) was interviewed by one of his daughters and recorded a number of interesting items he related pertaining to the Love family. According to her notes, “Great-great-grand-father Love had at least three children. One of them followed the others across a foot log when he was very tiny, about a year and a half old, fell in and was drowned. The others, coming back, found him in the creek.”

Hanging Rock is located about two miles south of current day Heath Springs. Before Heath Springs was formed, that entire areas was known as Hanging Rock and the springs were known as the Hanging Rock Mineral Springs. The Love family lived somewhere in the Heath Springs to Hanging Rock area and owned large amounts of land there. The springs were quite popular and there was an Inn that existed for a time for visitors to stay. Tradition indicates that there was a race track that ran around a field by the Inn.¹⁵

The information from Willie Crimminger indicates that the Love house was burned and rebuilt and eventually was lived in by Oscar and Mary Reeves for a time.¹⁶ It states: “When the Love home was burned the first time a new house was built above it. This one was the one Mary and Oscar Reeves lived in and which was burned by children playing in the fire. The chimney was built in 1885 for another house.” Willie gave some further details about the Love house and property: “The Love farm had apple orchard and peach orchard. There were about three acres in fruit trees. There were many apples. They used to make cider. When Grandpa took over the Love farm, he planted the orchard in cane and the trees died. There were also plum trees.” (Grandpa is a reference to Willie’s father Robert Crimminger). He further described the chain of custody of the property, stating: “Sam Emmons for some reason owned the Love farm and Grandpa bought it from him.” Willie also described the Love home (either the original or rebuilt one) as follows: “Their house had two rooms, one upstairs and ono downstairs. Curtains were hung about to divide it into rooms. The kitchen was a separate building and was reached by a boardwalk, possibly with a shelter.” Additionally, he stated: “There was a spring on the Love place. Stables were this side of the first Love home. When it burned, the new home was built 300 or so yards nearer the stables. Grandpa used the same stables. Once they were torn down and rebuilt, the rotten logs being replaced.”

The above comments from Grandpa Crimminger appear to indicate that the Love home was burned twice. Other records fill out more details on the first fire. In his 1832 testimony for his pension for service in the Revolutionary War, Samuel stated “when he left the service he received a discharge signed by Col. Kershaw, but the same was destroyed some five or six years passed when his house and all his possessions burned.” This would indicate the house burned around 1826 or 1827. More exact details come from a petition to the General Assembly dated 22 Nov 1826 asking for restitution for a slave who was executed for “house burning.” The petition states that “on the 27 day of March 1826 a certain negro man slave the property of your petioner (sic) named Moses was tried by a court of magistrates & freeholders in the District aforesaid for house burning that the said Court found said slave guilty of the charge & passed sentance (sic) of deth (sic) upon him which sentence was been executed…the said court & freeholders appraised & valued the said negro man Moses at one Hundred and twenty two Dollars – your petioner (sic) therefore humbly prays that your honourable body may direct that the above sum of money be paid over to him.”¹⁷

This was not the end of Samuel’s trouble with slaves. According to family tradition, he was killed in 1835 or 1836 by a disgruntled slave. A more exact date is supplied from his Revolutionary War Pension Record. Across one of the cover pages is written: “Died Apr 16 1835.” The record also contains a letter written to the Commissioner of Pensions from the Planters & Mechanics Bank of South Carolina in Charleston, dated 11 Dec 1835, which states that Samuel Love “died pr certificate 16 April 1835.”

Samuel Love had accumulated a rather large amount of land before he died. (See article Analysis of Love Land and Property for further details) Margaret Love was left a widow with a rather large amount of land. Some of the deeds help identify the heirs of Samuel Love and show that Margaret was left with some financial difficulties. Samuel apparently left a will, but this doesn’t appear to be extant due to the loss of most Lancaster County probate records during the Civil War. In 1835, Samuel W. Love transferred “my distributive share of my Father Samuel Love estate agreeably to his last Will and Testament” to “Frederic” Criminger.¹⁸ In 1839, Frederick Crimminger sold his “distribution share of Samuel Loves estate agreeably to his last Will and Testament” to David H. Reddin.¹⁹ Later in a mortgage concerning four slaves in which Frederick Crimminger and Margaret Love were mortgagers, Frederick specifies he was mortgaging “all the right title or interest I may have in or be entitled to under the will of my wife’s father Saml Love decd as well as by purchase from Saml W Love.” What appears to be a complete list of the heirs of Samuel and Margaret is provided in an 1845 deed after her death, in which S. W., Sarah, Joel, and Abigail Love, Frederick and Mary Crimminger, and Mary Jane Catoe sold some land to Evan Rollings. The deed was for 75 acres “refering to a resurvey for a particular discription resurveyed by Wm McDonald 11 day of May 1830.”²⁰ An earlier 1833 deed reveals that Samuel W. Love’s wife was named Sarah.²¹ There was also a declaration from a private examination of Abigail Love giving her consent for the 1845 deed which was recorded later in the same deed book which states she was the wife of Joel Love.²² In fact, an abstract of various early Camden newspapers cites an announcement from 10 May 1828 from the Camden Journal which reported on the marriage of Joel Love to Miss Abigail “Healton” (Hilton), both of Lancaster District, on 23 April.²³

Margaret Love declared bankruptcy in late 1842 according to a news item in the Southern Patriot. A hearing was to be held on 16 Jan 1843 in Charleston. Deed records indicate probable financial troubles in previous years leading up to this. Joel Love appears to have had some troubles in 1839. There was a court case of some sort that resulted in Sheriff Leroy Secrest putting all the “goods & chattels, lands & tenements of Joel Love” up for public sale to the highest bidder. Hagans, Tuttle, & Samuel B. Emmons were the highest bidder and so bought the land. The deed states it was at least 100 acres on which Joel Love lived, as well as his interest in 500 acres “whereon Mrs. Love lives.”²⁴ In 1842, Frederick Crimminger and Margaret Love began jointly mortgaging various parts of her estate, including four slaves and 1000 acres which is specified by Margaret as “the plantation whereon I now live.”²⁵,²⁶,²⁷ The land was mortgaged to Sheriff John Adams and it appears they lost this land. In 1846, Sheriff John Adams sold to Samuel B. Emmons the 1000 acre tract “whereon Margaret Love decd lately resided.”²⁸ When Margaret had mortgaged the land in 1842, it mentions land adjoining this property was owned by William Ingram, Widow Horton, Evan Rollins, John & James Reeves and Susanna Caston. The 1846 deed from Sheriff Adams to Samuel B. Emmons is dated 17 Jan 1846 and mentions neighbors Jeff Horton, Evan Rollins, (blank) Reaves, and “others.” There are three deeds from Samuel B. Emmons, two of which are dated 7 Feb 1846, and one undated although probably made at the same time, which may involve much of this Love land. The first is for 179 acres on both side of Little Lynches Creek to William Bowers, bordering Robert Criminger, estate lands of Samuel Caston, and James Reeves. Robert A. Criminger and Evan Rollins witnessed the deed.²⁹ The second deed is to Evan Rollins for an unspecified amount of land on Little Lynches Creek bordering William Bowers, James Reaves, Evan Rollins, and Robert Bowers. Robert A. Criminger and William Bowers witnessed this deed.³⁰ The final one is to Robert A. Criminger in which he bought 268 acres on the north side of Little Lynches Creek, bordered by Lucy Ingram and estate lands of Samuel Caston.³¹ Although it does not state the source of this land, it would appear that this is how Robert Criminger came to own the original Love home and part of the property, as his son Willie indicated was the case in the interview previously cited. While most of the land described in deeds as belonging to Robert, John, and James Love was on Hanging Rock Creek which is just south of modern day Heath Springs, most of the Love property belonging to Samuel and Margaret appears to be on and around Little Lynches Creek. Robert’s portion is specified as on the north side of Little Lynches Creek, which would appear to be north-east of current day Heath Springs.

Children of Samuel Love

As already mentioned, the heirs of Samuel and Margaret Love as specified in an 1845 deed were S(amuel) W., Sarah, Joel, and Abigail Love, Frederick and Mary Crimminger, and Mary Jane Catoe. Based on deeds and other records, we know that Sarah was Samuel W.’s wife and Abigail was Joel’s wife. According to some notes by Grandpa Willie Crimminger’s daughter Sarah Ola Crimminger Nettles, she reports “my father said his mother, Mary Jane, and father, Robert Adam were first cousins.”³² Robert was a son of Frederick Crimminger and Mary Love as already inferred from the above discussion. And Mary Jane is the Mary Jane Cato who was one of the apparent heirs as appears in the 1845 deed just mentioned. This would indicate that Mary Jane Cato’s mother was indeed a Love, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret, as Grandpa Crimminger indicated.

Mary Love Crimminger/Krimminger

Mary Love, daughter of Samuel and Margaret, was born 8 Apr 1797 according to her headstone. Not much is known of her life. An item in the Camden Gazette announced her marriage to Frederick “Criminger” in 1816.

The Crimminger family generally spelled the name with a “C” in South Carolina, while many of the records appearing in North Carolina use the “K” spelling. Her husband Frederick owned a store on the outskirts of current day Heath Springs. Due to crop failure, he had to close the store and they moved to Cabarrus County, North Carolina, probably about 1845. When they moved they left their son Robert Adam Crimminger behind to take care of the aging grandmother Margaret Love. According to the deeds, she was deceased by early 1846, so he likely was managing her affairs for only a short period. Mary died on 29 Jan 1855 and her husband Frederick in 1861. They are buried in a family graveyard in Cabarrus County, where her headstone refers to her as “Mary Wife of Fredk. Krimminger.”³³

Mother Love

In the mid-1900s, Buena Crimminger Feeney, a daughter of Grandpa Willie Crimminger, wrote a story entitled “Mother Love” telling the story of the Krimminger/Crimminger and Love families, along with the mysterious Mr. Cato, the father of Mary Jane Cato. The book is historical fiction and makes fascinating reading. While it includes a number of changes to names or other details, and includes many episodes which were probably entirely made up, it does incorporate most of the stories and details provided by Willie Crimminger and other records about the family. The story begins around the 1790s and ends in 1846 when Robert Crimminger and Mary Jane Cato were married, subsequent to “Mother Love’s” (Margaret’s) passing. Although never published, the original type-written version has been scanned and converted to text and is available here.

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1. Myers, Albert Cook. (1902) Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, p349 ↩︎
2. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13831408/alexander-love: accessed January 25, 2025), memorial page for Alexander Love (15 Jan 1718–3 Mar 1784), Find a Grave Memorial ID 13831408, citing Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery, York, York County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Hope (contributor 46790939). ↩︎
3. Charleston County, South Carolina Will Book 8, p479, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-J819-T) ↩︎
4. Charleston County, South Carolina Deed Book R3, p460 ↩︎
5. Lincoln County, North Carolina Real Estate Conveyance Records Book 1, p100, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998W-7WZ1) ↩︎
6. SC Archives ID: Series: S213184 Volume: 0016 Page: 00417 Item: 02 ↩︎
7. Revolutionary War Pension Record, Hezekiah Love, South Carolina, W. 12148 ↩︎
8. Revolutionary War Pension Record, William Love, South Carolina, W. 956 ↩︎
9. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book A, pp. 188, 189 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-JGY9) ↩︎
10. Kershaw County, South Carolina Equity Court Roll 202, Jno McKain & wife et al vs James Love et al – Bill for Partition ↩︎
11. “United States, Census, 1830”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGY-7J4 : Sat Mar 09 14:41:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Saml Love, 1830. ↩︎
12. Revolutionary War Pension Record, Samuel Love, South Carolina, S. 9376 ↩︎
13. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book I, p44, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLV-59L5) ↩︎
14. “United States, Census, 1840”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYL-CBW : Thu Mar 07 11:33:41 UTC 2024), Entry for Marjory Love, 1840. ↩︎
15. Floyd, Viola Caston. (1956). Lancaster County Tours, pp. 101-107 ↩︎
16. Interview of Willie Crimminger by daughter Buena Crimminger Feeney with additional notes ↩︎
17. SC Archives ID: Series: S165015 Year: 1826 Item: 00073 ignore: 000 ↩︎
18. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book N, p205, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NSXF-L?cat=472451&i=117) ↩︎
19. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book O, p183, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS61-V?cat=472451&i=344) ↩︎
20. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book P, p94, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS6L-9?cat=472451&i=566) ↩︎
21. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book N, p168, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NSXJ-1?cat=472451&i=98) ↩︎
22. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book P, p117, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS62-5) ↩︎
23. Marriages and death notices abstracted from newspapers published in Camden, South Carolina, 1822-1842, p18, FamilySearch ↩︎
24. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book N, p452, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NSX4-H?cat=472451&i=189) ↩︎
25. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book O, p194, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS61-S?cat=472451&i=350) ↩︎
26. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book O, p195, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS61-S?cat=472451&i=350) ↩︎
27. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book O, p196, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS6Y-1?cat=472451&i=351) ↩︎
28. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book P, p162, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS6J-W?cat=472451&i=602) ↩︎
29. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book P, p149, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS6L-C?cat=472451&i=595) ↩︎
30. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book P, p150, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS6N-W?cat=472451&i=596) ↩︎
31. Lancaster County, SC Deed Book P, p150 FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-NS6N-W?cat=472451&i=596) ↩︎
32. Crimminger Family Tree written by Sarah Ola Crimminger Nettles with help from Earle Reeves ↩︎
33. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23053454/mary-krimminger: accessed February 17, 2025), memorial page for Mary Love Krimminger (8 Apr 1797–29 Jan 1855), Find a Grave Memorial ID 23053454, citing Krimminger Family Graveyard, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Terenda Curtis Wyant (contributor 47333875). ↩︎

Most of what we know about the early Barrett family comes from their connection to the Joyner family. Frederick Joyner Sr. mentioned “my daughter Ruth Barret” in his will from 1818.¹ “Ruthy” Barrett is listed in the 1830 census in Lancaster County.² There appears to be a Will Barrett (although it may be Barnett) listed next to Frederick Joiner in 1800.³ This is the only Barrett other than Rutha in the early census records. He may be the William Barrett living in Kershaw County in 1820. It therefore appears likely that this was the husband of Rutha and he had died before the 1830 census.

From various records pertaining to the estate of Frederick Joyner Jr. (see the Joyner article for details), Rutha is known to have had six children: Joyner D. Barrett, Wesley Barrett, Jasper Frederick Barrett, Emily Barrett Auten, Newton D. Barrett, and Sarah C. Barrett Kendrick.

The family had moved to Alabama by 1840 and is found listed in the census in Covington County.⁴ Some of the children are listed there as customers of a store operated by James B. Parker in the Rose Hill area of the County known at the time as Cauleysville.⁵

Rutha probably died before 1850 in Covington County as she is not listed on the 1850 census. Most of the children had moved to Tennessee and some back to South Carolina afterwards, all before 1850. Wesley is the only one who appears to have stayed later in Alabama. He appears in 1850 in Chambers County, Alabama living with a Martha, born about 1785 in North Carolina, and three children, William age 18, born in North Carolina, Thomas age 15, born in South Carolina, and Frances age 12, born in South Carolina.⁶ Given the age difference between him and Martha, perhaps this was a deceased sibling or relative’s family or perhaps Martha was a widow with children when he married her. Also, based on the list of customers of the store in Covington in the 1830s, Wesley was there during that time, but these Barretts were born in North Carolina and South Carolina during that same time. There is a Prestly Barrett living near the Barretts in 1840. The ages of the children match the ones living with Wesley in 1850, so this is either Wesley or a brother who died between 1840 and 1850.

Meanwhile, Newton, Jasper, Sarah Kendrick, and Emily Auten had all moved to Stewart County, Tennessee by 1844 when they appear in a criminal court case.⁷ The State charged Newton Barrett, James P. Kendrick and Jasper Barrett with falsifying bills of sale in order to help slaves run away. Newton appeared to be the main culprit. He was let out on bond put up by Wilie/Wiley Barrett, but then after the first part of the trial escaped custody and eluded capture.⁸ Rewards were offered but he was not apprehended. The court did not make Willie pay the bond. Newton and his family were living in Lancaster County in 1850,⁹ so it’s likely he traveled directly back to South Carolina. Jasper followed him back eventually, and they were both living in nearby Union County, North Carolina in 1860.¹⁰ Joyner D. Barrett was listed in Stewart County, Tennessee in 1860.¹¹ It’s likely his family and the family of his sister Sarah Auten remained there. Sarah C. Kendrick eventually moved down to Georgia,¹² where her husband James died in 1895.¹³

Clues to Early Barrett Family

The post 1870 census records include the birth state for each parent for every individual listed (but not the name). These census records for Wesley and Jasper who both lived long enough to appear in these records list that the father was born in North Carolina and the mother in South Carolina. This fits with the mother Rutha being being in South Carolina as the Joyners lived in Lancaster County at the time she would have been born. This also indicates that the father, William Barrett, was probably born in North Carolina. Interestingly the family cemetery where Newton and Jasper are buried is located in Union County, North Carolina, just across the border from Lancaster County. It is not known how they came to acquire that land or how far back it goes.

Another clue is the association with Wilie/Wiley Barrett in Tennessee. His name is spelled Wilie Barrett in the court record in which he held bond for Newton Barrett during the trial. Other records give his name as Wiley Barrett. He was listed as Wiley Barrett in the 1860 census,¹⁴ living in Stewart County, Tennessee, the same county the court cases are from. He is listed as 86 years old (thus born c1774) and born in North Carolina. Given the comparable age and birth state, this could be a brother of William Barrett.

Another clue has been provided by YDNA testing. A descendant of Wesley Barrett has participated in the Barrett YDNA Project (Kit #971664) and some of the closest matches descend from a George Allen Barrett (13 Apr 1776 – 30 Aug 1836) who is buried in the Bethsaida Cemetery Posey County, Indiana.¹⁵ Very little is currently known about George, but he is thought to have been from South Carolina and had connections to Virginia.

Newton D. Barrett

Newton was born 3 Sep 1820 in South Carolina, probably the next to youngest of the Barrett children. His appearance in the court records of Stewart County, Tennessee has already been mentioned.

It appears that we have Newton’s signature, which appears with very similar style, in both the receipt where he acted as attorney for Joyner D. Barrett in receiving the portion of his uncle Frederick Joyner Jr.’s estate, and also in the court record from Stewart County, Tennessee.

A page from his family Bible was shared on Ancestry by Paul Dean McDonald, a descendant of Newton by his first wife, and by comparison with these signatures it appears he probably wrote at least the entry for his birth date and wife’s birth date.

Newton was married twice. First to Mary E. Barnett by whom he had children: William Jackson Barrett, Eliza Jane Barrett, Robert Angas Barrett, Newton Franklin Barrett, Mary Matilda Barrett, and Martha Alice Barrett. A number of these children died in infancy and are buried along with Newton and Mary in the Barrett Family Cemetery.¹⁶

As mentioned earlier, Newton was living in Lancaster County in 1850, but had moved to Union County by 1860. According to family knowledge recorded by Mr. William Barrett, Newton and Mary lived on or near the Charles Yarbrough Farm near Monroe in Union County.¹⁷

Newton’s first wife Mary died 10 Nov 1862.¹⁸ He remarried to Mary Catherine Blackmon, probably in 1864 or 1865. She was much younger, around twenty years old at the time, while he was about forty-five.

Newton was part of Company D, 1st (Butler’s) South Carolina Infantry during the Civil War. He enlisted on 19 Oct 1863 in Lancaster under Capt Billings and is marked as present in later rolls.¹⁹

The story of Newton’s death is one that has been passed down the family and apparently verified at times in the past with those who had first hand knowledge of the situation. He died 6 Oct 1865. Here is the story as recorded in the Hinson book:

“The following comes from an interview with Brady Green, an elderly neighbor, who lives near the scene of Newton D. Barrett’s accidental death…In Reconstruction days a Mr. McCain owned land and had corn planted on a large area between the Green family farm and the present Hwy. #522. They received a report that some of the Negroes were stealing a lot of his corn at night. A posse was formed to catch them. In the darkness two men were spotted coming out of the corn field. Two shots were hastily fired and, later, they learned they had accidently killed Newton Barrett, a posse member. They agreed that Alex Nesbit’s shot had killed him. (Nesbit was a neighbor and friend.)”²⁰

However, the local newspaper at the time had a different story to tell, one that makes Newton to be the culprit:

Newton’s young wife Mary Catherine was pregnant with their first child when Newton was killed. Newton’s children by his first wife Mary Barnett were raised by Newton’s brother Jasper F. Barrett who lived in Union County, just above Lancaster County. Jasper died in 1904, and he and his wife Elizabeth were buried in the Barrett family cemetery where Newton and his first wife Mary were buried. Jasper is not believed to have had any children.

The widow Mary Catherine remarried to William Estridge on 24 Oct 1875, about ten years after Newton’s death, and her son Albert Newton Barrett grew up in the Estridge household.

Mary Catherine died on 12 Nov 1926 and was buried in the Shamrock Baptist Church Cemetery in neighboring Kershaw County.

Albert Newton Barrett

Grandpa Barrett as he was called by the older generation was born 13 May 1866 which was about seven months after his father was killed. He grew up in the Estridge household after his mother remarried and is listed with them in the 1880 census as “Albert Barret.”²¹

Albert worked at a cotton mill in Rock Hill at one point. Later, the family operated a farm.²² He married Lauran Ann Crimminger, daughter of Robert Adam and Mary Jane Crimminger, around 1886. They had five children: Mamie, Theodicia, Ben, Robert, and Carrie.

According to his daughter Edna, Albert was given 67 acres around 1887 by his father-in-law Robert Crimminger. Albert build the house on the property about 1898 and added a bedroom and rebuilt the chimney around 1902-1904.

Laura passed away in 1900 and left Albert with five young children, the youngest two years of age. Albert remarried to Mary Jane Vincent the next year. Together they had nine children, the first of whom, Martha, died as an infant. The other children were Katie, John, Chapman, Eva Mae, Ernest, Edna, Daisy, and Fred.

Grandpa Barrett enjoyed photography. An item in the newspaper from 1901 reporting on a reunion of the Jefferson J. Reeves family in the Primus section stated that “Mr. A. N. Barrett took a photograph of the group.”²³

The local newspaper was often a way to share items of interest in the community and advertise local business and family news. The Lancaster News carried the following item in 1906:

A grandson, William Barrett, reported that Grandpa Barrett always had a car. He had a Ford Model-T and later a 1930’s era Chevy. The boys would sometimes sneak the car out at night and role it down to the creek before cranking it to go see their girlfriends. When they returned, they would shut it off at the top of the hill and coast down into the shed.²⁴

The Barrett family began having reunions yearly around the time of Grandpa Barrett’s birthday mid-May and later moved it to the beginning of June. Reunions were held at the old family place and later often at nearby Oakhurst Baptist Church.

Grandpa and Grandma Barrett lived in the house until 1951 when Grandma Barrett died. Afterwards Grandpa stayed with Uncle Chapman. In 1954, Grandpa went out one day to get the mail while Chapman was away. On his way back into the house, he was reading the newspaper and stumbled over a chair and broke his hip in the fall. While in the hospital, he contracted pneumonia and passed away.²⁵

Edna Dixon Barrett Reeves

Grandmama Reeves, as our family called here, was born 22 Dec 1915.²⁶ She grew up, along with all her siblings, at the house her father had built on Barrett Rd. She and Stanley “Granddaddy” Reeves were married 4 Nov 1933.²⁷ They moved several times, eventually settling on some property on East St. in Heath Springs where they raised their family.

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1. Kershaw County, South Carolina Equity Roll 243. [Original], [Transcript]  ↩︎
2. “United States Census, 1830”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGY-766 : Fri Mar 08 14:29:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Rthy Barrett, 1830. ↩︎
3. “United States Census, 1800”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRH-BK9 : Wed Mar 06 16:42:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Will Barnet, 1800. ↩︎
4. “United States Census, 1840”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT8-DVR : Thu Jul 18 01:40:06 UTC 2024), Entry for Rutha Barret, 1840.  ↩︎
5. Tracking Your Roots – Excerpt of article “How Did Rose Hill Get It’s Name?”, The Opp News, 18 Oct 1973. ↩︎
6. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHPT-K6Q : Tue Dec 03 21:27:00 UTC 2024), Entry for Wesley Barrett and Martha Barrett, 1850. ↩︎
7. “State vs. Newton Barrett, James P. Kendrick, Jasper Barrett – Falsifying bills of sale to
   assist slaves in running away from John James and Daniel Luton” – Stewart Co., Tennessee Court Case, 1846 [Original] ↩︎
8. “State vs. Wilie Barrett – Forfeited recognizance bond in the state case vs. Newton Barrett” –
   Stewart Co., Tennessee Court Case, 1846 [Original] ↩︎
9. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8QJ-SPT : Tue Dec 03 21:51:33 UTC 2024), Entry for D N Barret and M E Barret, 1850. ↩︎
10. “United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDD5-KC6 : Mon Jul 08 16:34:22 UTC 2024), Entry for Newton D Barrott and Mary Barrott, 1860. ↩︎
11. “United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8T2-9VW : Mon Jul 08 22:28:46 UTC 2024), Entry for Joiner Barret and Martha Barret, 1860. ↩︎
12. “United States, Census, 1870”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC3R-2ZF : Tue Mar 05 01:34:54 UTC 2024), Entry for Jas P Kendrick and Sarah Kendrick, 1870. ↩︎
13. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25680313/j_p-kendrick: accessed December 3, 2024), memorial page for J P Kendrick (13 Nov 1809–20 Feb 1895), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25680313, citing Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Sarah Locklin Taylor (contributor 46921363). ↩︎
14. “United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8T2-7WL : Mon Jul 08 22:37:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Wiley Barrett and Eliza Hardison, 1860. ↩︎
15. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34301349/george-barrett: accessed December 5, 2024), memorial page for George Barrett (13 Apr 1776–30 Aug 1836), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34301349, citing Bethsaida Cemetery, Posey County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by New England Family (contributor 47735816). ↩︎
16. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54628330/newton_d-barrett: accessed December 5, 2024), memorial page for Newton D Barrett (3 Sep 1820–6 Oct 1865), Find a Grave Memorial ID 54628330, citing Barrett Cemetery, Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Paul McDonald (contributor 46977293). ↩︎
17. Barrett, William Alexander. (2005) Our Barrett Family History, p26 ↩︎
18. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63746744/mary_e-barrett: accessed December 5, 2024), memorial page for Mary E. Barnett Barrett (28 Jul 1830–10 Nov 1862), Find a Grave Memorial ID 63746744, citing Barrett Cemetery, Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Paul McDonald (contributor 46977293). ↩︎
19. Fold3.com. US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Confederate – South Carolina, 1861-1865 ↩︎
20. Whitaker, Mary Hinson. Our Hinson Heritage in N.C. and S.C., p192 ↩︎
21. “United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6SJ-392 : Sun Mar 10 22:22:30 UTC 2024), Entry for William Estridge and Mary C. Estridge, 1880. ↩︎
22. Barrett, William Alexander. (2005) Our Barrett Family History, p33 (Interview with Edna Barrett Reeves, 1996) ↩︎
23. Lancaster Enterprise, 20 Mar 1901 ↩︎
24. Barrett, William Alexander. (2005) Our Barrett Family History, p35 ↩︎
25. Barrett, William Alexander. (2005) Our Barrett Family History, p35 ↩︎
26. South Carolina Electronic Records Archive – Edna Dixon Barrett Birth Certificate ↩︎
27. “South Carolina, County Marriage Licenses, 1911-1951”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z4SX-DQ2M : Sat Mar 09 05:42:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Stanley Boyd Reeves and Edna Dixon Barrett, 4 Nov 1933. ↩︎

Our earliest proven Joyner ancestor is Frederick Joyner who lived in Lancaster County, South Carolina, in the late 1700s and early 1800s. There were other Joyners who also settled there around that time, but evidence shows that Frederick is the ancestor of any Joyners living in Lancaster County after about 1790. Early records indicate the Joyners settled near the area called Hanging Rock. Later, Frederick and his family appear to have lived near the Camp Creek area of Lancaster County. According to the 1825 Mills map, they lived about four or five miles northwest of present day Heath Springs, where some of Frederick’s descendants still live.

Early Joyner Family

Among the other Joyners in the area were Jeremiah, Nehemiah, and Joseph Joiner. These men served under Col. Richard Richardson in the Cherokee Expedition which took place 1759-1760.¹ They were all from Camden District of Craven County at the time, an area which includes present day Lancaster County. A Lancaster deed from 1789 mentions that John Cornelius was married to Charity Joiner in March of 1776 by Rev. Thomas Stringer (or Stinger) of the Church of England, although it does not say where.² Another deed from 1788 reports that Jeremiah Joiner of Lancaster County sold a “negroe wench Phillis about 40 years of age” to Charles Barber.³ In an earlier Lancaster deed from 1778, there is mention of Nehemiah Joiner Jr. who had previously owned a piece of land in Craven county on the north side of Wateree River adjacent to Wateree River.⁴ Frederick and Jeremiah are the only Joiners on the 1790 census in Lancaster County, and only Frederick and the members of his family appear thereafter.⁵ Jeremiah does not appear in Lancaster deeds after 1791. At this time, it is not known how these other Joyners are related to Frederick, although Nehemiah is suspected by some to be the father of Frederick as there is at least one record directly associating them.

There is a deed dated 18 Feb 1762 from Edgecombe County, North Carolina from Nehemiah Joyner Jr. to John Dew for some land in Edgecombe County.⁶ The deed states that Nehemiah was of Craven County, South Carolina. Craven County was one of the original Proprietary counties of South Carolina established in 1664. Although its boundaries were not well defined in includes much of the northern part of South Carolina including what would later be Lancaster County.

He appears to have had dealings in South Carolina much earlier. A notice in the Virginia Gazette from 1746 lists him among other deserted soldiers from Capt. Robert Hodgson’s Independent Company. It states that he was 22 years of age, born in Virginia (thus born circa 1724).

The notice also states that he was thought to be “somewhere near one Cornelius’s, who lives either in Caroline or Goochland County.” It’s likely this is the same Cornelius family mentioned later in Lancaster County records. It has already been mentioned that a Charity Joiner married a John Cornelius in 1776 according to a later Lancaster deed. It’s likely therefore that this Charity was a daughter of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah Joyner Sr. was present in Edgecombe County, North Carolina by 1733 when he bought some land from John Scot.⁷ He was from the Isle of Wight County Virginia where a deed from 1729 gives his wife’s name as Elizabeth.⁸ The will of Thomas Joyner of the Isle of Wight, dated 21 Apr 1708, names Nehemiah as his son.⁹ This Thomas was the son of an elder Thomas who probably immigrated from England, appearing in Isle of Wight, Virginia by 1665, and died around 1695. The younger Thomas was the administrator for his estate.¹⁰

Although the records indicate a strong connection back to Thomas Joyner from Isle of Wight County, Virginia, YDNA testing from two of Frederick’s descendants reveal they are not connected to the family of Thomas Joyner from the Isle of Wight. Instead Frederick’s descendants show matches to men with surname Palmer and Tedder. This indicates that somewhere between Frederick and Thomas there was a break in the line due to adoption or illegitimacy.

Frederick Joyner Sr.

The earliest known record mentioning Frederick Joyner is a case entitled “The King Vs. Frederick Joiner and Nehemiah Joiner, Dismissed, Bonded, and Bound Over” from 1770.¹¹ Frederick Joiner also had an Account Audited of Claims Growing out of the Revolution.¹² These were accounts that allowed those who helped the war effort to received payment from the treasury. Frederick, listed under Camden District, claimed nine pounds, eight pence and six shillings for one black mare. The earliest record from Lancaster is his appearing on the bond along with Bailey Fleming for Glass Caston being appointed administrator on the estate of Andrew Walker, late of Hanging Rock Settlement in 1787, a Camden District record.¹³

Although Lancaster County probate records were destroyed during the Civil War, a certified copy of Frederick’s will survives in an equity case from Lancaster District that was filed in Kershaw District.¹⁴ The case was filed in 1825. The will, in which he spells his name “Frederic Joiner” was dated 28 Aug 1818. He mentions his wife Ruth and children Middleton, Daniel, Frederic, Green, William, “the legal heirs of my son John Joiner,” “the legal heirs of my daughter Sarah Hide,” “the legal heirs of Rebecca Wallis,” and “my daughter Ruth Barret.” He also mentions “my son in law James Wallis” and “my daughter-in-law Phebe Joiner.”

In addition to the connection to John Cornelius, Frederick may be closely related to the House and McDonald families. John Cornelius and Charity Joiner had a son named Roger Cornelius. In 1804, John and Thomas House brought suit against the minor heirs of John Cornelius.¹⁵ Witnesses in the case included Rebecca Wallace and Ruth Joiner, and one of the witnesses for the Cornelius children was Frederick Joiner (19). Ruth was Frederick’s wife and Rebecca Wallace was his daughter. The Cornelius family were some of the earliest of the Camp Creek settlers. The guardian of the Cornelius children was a George Wade (Jr.). The wife of George Wade Sr. was a Sarah McDonald (b. 1772), daughter of a Middleton McDonald and Elizabeth Reeves or Rives. This is interesting, given that one of Frederick’s children was named Middleton.

Rutha Joyner Barrett

Frederick mentions “Ruth Barret” as a daughter in his will. Her name in other records appears as Rutha Barrett. She may have been one of the eldest of Frederick’s children. “Ruthy” Barrett is listed in the 1830 census in Lancaster County.¹⁶ There appears to be a Will Barrett (although it may be Barnett) listed next to Frederick Joiner in 1800.¹⁷ This is the only Barrett other than Rutha in the early census records. He may be the William Barrett living in Kershaw County in 1820. It therefore appears likely that this was the husband of Rutha.

Rutha had moved to Covington County, Alabama by 1840. She was listed next to Joyner Barrett and “Prestly” Barrett in the census.¹⁸ The name “Prestly” is probably a mistaken misrecording of Wesley Barrett’s name. They apparently lived in the Rose Hill section of Covington County and near what at the time was known as Cauleysville. James B. Parker operated a store there on old Three Notch Rd in the 1830’s.¹⁹ A list of some of the customers with accounts at the store include the following:

• Martha Barret
• Barrett D. Joyner
• Paul Auten
• Wesley Barrett
• Sarah C. Barrett
• Daniel Barrett
• F.J. Barrett

When Frederick Joyner Jr. died, he left no children and his siblings and their children were the heirs. The court had to put out a notice asking the heirs residing outside South Carolina to appear and answer the court concerning the division of Frederick’s Jr.’s real estate. Among the heirs listed are Wesley Barrett, Joyner D. Barrett, Emily Auten and husband Hall (sic) Auten, Jas. P. Hendrick (sic) and wife Sarah C. The individuals appear to be grouped in the list according to each family of the children of Frederick Sr. Together with the record from Parker’s store and later court records, Wesley, Joyner, Emily, and Sarah appear to the be the children and heirs of Rutha Barrett.

Further clues are provided from the receipt records for the sale of real estate of Frederick Joyner. These records are scattered throughout the book and are receipts for money received at various times by the heirs for a tract of land sold to Simon Bennett on 4 Feb 1850. It makes clear that the deceased Frederick Joyner had eight brothers and sisters and left a widow who received half of the amount from the sale. There are five relevant entries, a summary of which is provided here:²⁰

• February 21, 1855 – $16.48 – Received By Hiram Joyner as a 1/6 of 1/8 of ½ as one of 6 children of Middleton Joyner, a deceased brother of Frederick Joyner
• February 21, 1855 – $32.96 – Received share of Rhoda Summerville as a 1/3 of 1/8 of ½ as one of 3 children of Green Joyner, a deceased brother of Frederick Joyner – John M. Joyner (Received under Power of Attorney dated January 24, 1853)
• May 12, 1855 – $16.70 – Received By Johnathan Wallace as a 1/6 of 1/8 of ½ as one of 6 children of Rebecca Wallace, a sister of Frederick Joyner
• June 7, 1856 – $16.00 – Received share of Joyner D. Barrett as a 1/6 of 1/8 of ½ – Newton D. Barrett, Attorney (Received under Power of Attorney dated May 5, 1856)
• September 8, 1857 – $29.00 – Received share of Wm. J. Joyner as a 1/3 of 1/8 of ½ – Samuel J. Caston, Attorney in fact (Received under Power of Attorney dated August 22, 1857)

The numbers indicate that Joyner received 1/6th of 1/8th of 1/2 share. The half was divided between the eight siblings. This implies that six heirs of Rutha received a share. The Returns book contains more details on the amounts allotted to each siblings families. Among the half given to the siblings, it states “6 Children of Rutha Barrett sister 4.72 5/8 gives Each – 78 2/3.”²¹ Since Newton D. Barrett received Joyner’s share as his attorney, this is strong indication that he was one of the children. Jasper F. Barrett who lived in Union County, North Carolina near Newton and who was buried in the same family cemetery is known to be a brother by family knowledge. Thus the complete list of Rutha’s children is: Joyner D. Barrett, Wesley Barrett, Jasper F. Barrett, Emily Barrett Auten, Newton D. Barrett, and Sarah C. Barrett Kendrick.

See the Barrett family for more of this line.

---

1. Genealogy Trails Article “South Carolina Colonial Soldiers and Patriots”, excerpts from “South Carolina Colonial Soldiers & Patriots” (1952) by Leonardo Andrea ↩︎
2. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book C&E, p24, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-JP87?cat=472451&i=314) ↩︎
3. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book B, p60, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-JGVL?cat=472451&i=154) ↩︎
4. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book B, p71, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-JGDB?cat=472451&i=159) ↩︎
5. “United States Census, 1790”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-CVK : Sun Mar 10 16:45:07 UTC 2024), Entry for Fed Joiner, 1790. ↩︎
6. Edgecombe County, North Carolina Deed Book 1, p426, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G983-FQ5Z?cat=306915&i=459) ↩︎
7. Edgecombe County, North Carolina Deed Book 1732-1741, p67, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8983-NG4Y?i=81) ↩︎
8. Isle of Wight County, Virginia Deed Book 4 (1729-1736), p148, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P6-3W27?i=102) ↩︎
9. Isle of Wight County, Virginia Mixed Probate Records Book Vol. 2, Pt. 1 (1661-1719), p486, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-97K4?cat=416816&i=243) ↩︎
10. Isle of Wight County, Virginia Deed Book 1, 1688-1704, p76, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-33Y7?i=276) ↩︎
11. SC Archives Series: Criminal Journals (S145002), Volume [1st Year]: 1769, Page: 00046, Item: 02A ↩︎
12. SC Archives Series: Accounts Audited of Claims Growing Out of the Revolution (S108092) Reel: 0080 Frame: 00055 (https://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/ArchivesImages/S108092/S108092008000055000/images/S108092008000055000.pdf) ↩︎
13. Holcomb, Brent H. (1978). Camden District, S. C. Wills & Administrations 1781-1787, p61 (Apt. 71, Pkg. 2518) ↩︎
14. Kershaw County, South Carolina Equity Roll 243. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
15. Lancaster County, South Carolina Equity Roll 164. [Original] ↩︎
16. “United States Census, 1830”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGY-766 : Fri Mar 08 14:29:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Rthy Barrett, 1830. ↩︎
17. “United States Census, 1800”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRH-BK9 : Wed Mar 06 16:42:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Will Barnet, 1800. ↩︎
18. “United States Census, 1840”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT8-DVR : Thu Jul 18 01:40:06 UTC 2024), Entry for Rutha Barret, 1840. ↩︎
19. Tracking Your Roots – Excerpt of article “How Did Rose Hill Get It’s Name?”, The Opp News, 18 Oct 1973. ↩︎
20. Lancaster County, South Carolina Court of the Ordinary Receipt Book 1854-1860 (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/391290) ↩︎
21. Lancaster County, South Carolina Probate Court Returns Book 1847-1854, pp. 237-238. ↩︎

Our earliest proven Reeves ancestor is James Reeves Sr. (c1780s – 1844) who lived in the Rich Hill area of Lancaster County, South Carolina. Since early high-school, I’ve spent countless hours tracing out his descendants and researching other Reeves families he appears to connect to. A tree containing numerous descendants of James Reeves is available here.

Early History of the Reeve(s) Family

Y-DNA testing and research with The Reeves Project has revealed that James is closely related to an early Virginia Reeve family which includes brothers George and John who appear in the Northern Neck area (Northumberland County) in the early 1700s but settled in Prince William County by the mid-1730s. These brothers may be sons of an earlier Thomas Reeve(s) who was present in the Northern Neck in the early 1700s and probably migrated to Virginia from England as an indentured servant.

Two of George’s sons, John and Moses, appear in South Carolina in the Chester County area by the late 1770s. Information contained in the Revolutionary War Pension Record of John’s son Daniel indicates they were living in Chester County during part of the Revolutionary War. His cousin Jesse testified in the record and is known to be the son of Moses since he was given administration of Moses’s estate in Kershaw County. John appears to have moved into Lancaster County by 1790 where he is listed on the census and Moses moved into Kershaw County. Most of Moses’s family appear to have moved to Alabama and Tennessee. Two of John’s children, Daniel and William are known for certain, and both moved to Tennessee.

In addition to our James Reeves Sr. being confirmed as a relative of the Prince William County, VA family through my YDNA test, descendants of Reuben Reeves/Rieves of Maury Co., TN, William Reeves of Bedford Co., TN, and James B. Reeves (aka Asa Reeves) of Jackson Co., TN, all of whom moved from upper SC to TN in the early 1800s, are also known through YDNA testing of descendants to be related to the Prince William County, VA families of George and John Reeve(s). Since George’s sons John and Moses are the only ones from this family to appear in upper South Carolina for any length of time, it’s likely all of these are children of either John or Moses.

John appears in the 1790 census in Lancaster County.¹ It’s possible he died there. However, there was a John who appears afterwards in Chesterfield County. Given that Reuben Reeves was also present in that area around the same time, it’s possible some of this family moved on to Chesterfield from Lancaster.

John’s son William owned some land in Lancaster County previous to moving to Tennessee. Since all of Moses’s family appears to have been associated with Kershaw County and moved on from there, it’s more likely that the Reeves who lived and remained in Lancaster County descend from John. There was an Elisha Reeves who also appeared in Lancaster County in the 1790 census with a young man under 16 in the household and disappears afterwards.² Our James Reeves Sr. is thought to perhaps be either a son or a grandson of John and perhaps the son of this Elisha, with Elisha being a son of John. It is of note that Elisha appears several doors down from several of the Blackmon households in the 1790 census. The Blackmon family and our James Reeves’s families were continually neighbors and intertwined by marriage from the early 1800s forward.

For more information on these early Reeves families and their connection through YDNA, see YDNA Group 10 Homepage and associated FamilyOf pages on The Reeves Project website.

James Reeves Sr.

James Reeves Sr. was born in the 1780s based on available census records. His eldest known child, John, was born around 1805, so it appears he married his first wife Betsy Garris before then. She was the daughter of Revolutionary War soldier Bedford Garris, whom she predeceased. The only known mention of her is in her father Bedford Garris’s probate record from 1835 which lists: “Elisha Reeves, James Reeves, John Reeves, Winny wife of W. P. Richardson and Jane wife of Amos Blackmon the children of a deceased daughter Betsy Reeves.”³ Bedford bought some land in Lancaster County in 1805. His pension record implies that he lived in South Carolina for about ten appears, approximately 1803-1813.⁴ Therefore James and Betsey likely married 1803-1805.

Betsey must have died between early 1815 when her youngest child Jane was born and 1825 when the eldest child of James by his second wife Bethenia Williams was born. Bethenia is believed to be the daughter of David Williams and Elizabeth Reeves. According to the Perry Belle Hough Papers, notes collected through various interviews and family information from older generations of Lancaster County residents, Elizabeth’s full name was Nannie Elizabeth Reeves.⁵ Historical records identify Mrs. Williams only as Nancy, not Elizabeth. She was born 1775-1778 and died 28 Feb 1865.⁶ Based on her age, it is thought she could have been a daughter of the John Reeves who moved from Prince William County to Lancaster County.

Not much is known about James himself. He owned land in several parts of Lancaster County, but lived in the area of the Rich Hill Crossroads. His will mentions the land he resided on as including “the dwelling house, mill house, gin and screw and all the other buildings on the said tract of land.”⁷ He also mentioned the “Mike Horton tract of land.” Equity and deed records list four tracts of land sold after his death: the Mike Horton tract of 525 acres bought by his son John Reeves, land by the Blackmon and Baskin families of 78 acres bought by Thomas Fleming, land by the Blackmons and Baskins of 200 acres bought by his son-in-law James A. Blackmon, and land by D. Haile, Susannah Baskin et al of 201 acres bought by John Taylor.⁸ The mortgage of John Taylor to Commissoner James H. Witherspoon refers to the deed and plat from the sale by Witherspoon to Taylor and states “the plat shows the 20 acres laid off to James C. McMullan the tract being known as the James Reeves old place.”⁹ The plat shows these 20 acres as being situated right below Primus Crossroads between Flat Creek Rd and Rocky River Rd, along Flat Creek Rd, approximately between current address number 4280 and 4338 Flat Creek Rd.¹⁰ There are two deeds from 1813¹¹ and 1814¹² in which James bought land along Rocky River Road from James Blackmon and David Miers which may have included this land.

Robert Mills, the famous designer of the Washington Monument and many other public buildings, published an Atlas of South Carolina in 1825 which included surveys of each county. The surnames of prominent residential households were often included on the map along with other locations of interest like mills and taverns. The map for Lancaster County was surveyed by J. Boykin in 1820.¹³ “Reeves” appears marked on the map just to east of Rocky River Road, perhaps about where Daisy Couch Rd connects to Rocky River Road today. Either the plat or Mill’s Map was just an estimate, or James must have moved up the road a bit, and possibly to the Flat Creek side of the property, by the time of his death. It is interesting to note that the map shows a mill located along Bear Creek about two miles west from the Reeves place where there is a fork in the creek. Notably his will mentions a “mill house, gin and screw,” although at the time this was apparently on the same piece of land as his house.

On 7 July 1831, the Weekly Raleigh Register reported that James was offering a reward for three slaves named Frederick, Poll and Dolly who had run away, possibly taken by his son John to Georgia. It seems to imply John could have stolen them. The age of John given in this advertisement is off by about seven years based on later census records, which is surprising.

James Reeves Sr. died on 29 Jan 1844 according to his son-in-law James A. Blackmon’s Family Bible.¹⁴ In addition to his will, there are a number of equity court papers and deeds which name all of his children. Although it is not known where he was buried, his family seems to be consistently associated with Fork Hill Baptist Church, about two miles from where he lived. Three of his children, James Jr., Elizabeth H., and Melissa Caroline, along with a number of other Reeves, were baptized there during a famous Great Revival which took place there in 1839.¹⁵ No family cemetery has been located for the Reeves family. Therefore it’s likely James and most of his family were buried at Fork Hill.

James Brady Reeves Jr.

Although a middle name has not been found in records for James Sr., multiple records give his son’s name as Brady Reeves¹⁶ and he appears as James B. Reeves in numerous records. He was born around 1812 according to the census¹⁷ and lived his entire life in Lancaster County, listed as a farmer. His wife was named Frankey H. Reeves, and a court case concerning the estate of Ervin Sims includes “Franky H. Reeves, wife of James B. Reeves” as one of Ervin’s children.¹⁸ Interestingly, a “Hawkins Reaves” is listed next to James Jr. on the 1839 list of baptisms from the revival at Fork Hill. In addition, the Death Certificate for their son James Calvin Reeves appears to list the mother as Hawkins Reeves.¹⁹ This therefore may have been her middle name.

His grandson James A. Reeves’s wife, “Tish” Robertson Reeves, said he always wore a suit and white shirt, information that has been passed down the family.²⁰ The old minutes book of Fork Hill Baptist Church lists him as a member.²¹ A Common Pleas case states that James B. Reeves died intestate on or about the 11th day of March 1894 and lists the heirs as “Thomas C Reeves, Elizabeth Ellis, J J Reeves, James C Reeves and William D Reeves, and Jane Gardner, who has since died intestate.” Jane Gardner was the wife of Henry J. Gardner.²²

Dora Reeves, a researcher in James A. Reeves’s family, was able to record some information from an old family Bible which now appears to be lost. Although she didn’t make an actual transcription, a family group sheet lists the names and birth dates of the children of James Jr.. and states “As recorded in the old Reeves Bible Cecile (Kinnet) has – the Bible belonged to Aunt Beulah, Grandpa Jim and may have been Johns Bible.”²³ It appears at least the names and birth dates on the family group sheet are from the Bible and are listed by Dora as follows:

• Thomas Columbus Reeves b. 5 May 1840
• Mary Elizabeth Reeves b. 14 Nov 1843
• John Garret Reeves b. 23 Feb 1845
• Sarah Jane Reeves b. 22 Apr 1847
• James Calvin Reeves b. 23 Apr 1849
• William Darling Reeves b. 31 Dec 1850
• Dorcas Missouri Reeves b. 21 July 1854

John Jarrett Reeves

According to Dora Reeves, the family Bible lists his name as originally John Garret Reeves. It’s likely he was originally named for his uncle Garrett Sims. But later records consistently give his name as John J. Reeves. The information from the family Bible states he was born 23 Feb 1845. Notably his death certificate gives a wrong date of 8 April.²⁴ The 1900 census agrees with the information reported from the Bible, stating Feb. 1845 as his birth month and year.²⁵

John enlisted as a private in Company H of the 2nd Regiment of the South Carolina Infantry, known as the Lancaster Invincibles, on 17 Feb 1863.²⁶ The record states he “was only 17 years old when enlisted, is entitled to bounty.” It was six days before his 18th birthday. His older brother Thomas Columbus Reeves, was mustered into this same company the day it was originally mustered, 22 May 1861.²⁷

According to Jim Boyd, a descendant of John’s son Erasmus, he was wounded once at Gettysburg in the heel.²⁸ The family would always tease him, saying that he must have been running from the Yankees to get shot in the back of the foot. He would get mad and say that he was chasing a Yankee around a barn when the Yankee slipped behind and shot at him. Reports from the Battle of Gettysburg reproduced in Jeffcoat’s Confederate Records book do indeed show that he was slightly wounded at Gettysburg.²⁹ John went through the war in the same company as his brother T. C. Reeves. T. C.’s obituary describes some of his own experience of the war: “He was wounded twice, once at Chicamauga, and received his second wound at Little Charlestown, Va. He belonged to the colorguard. The color sergeant was killed in battle and he caught up the colors and the staff was shot off just above his hand. He caught the colors before they fell and received a severe wound in his side. He delivered the colors to Colonel Wallace and was carried off the battle field. He has suffered a great deal since from the wound.”³⁰

According to family information from Dora Reeves, John and Becky lived in a house in the right hand corner where Barrett Road connects with Rob Neal Road close to where Mr. Otis Reeves later lived. John always enjoyed gathering with his fellow men in arms after the war, and continued to attend reunions until his death. After Grandma Becky died in 1909, Grandpa John would walk regularly to Kershaw and meet with his friends at a Café owned by some black people. He’d spend the night with one of his daughters, then walk back home afterwards, a one way trip of over four and a half miles.

Henry Oscar Reeves

According to a grandson, Oscar, as he was called, trained fox-hounds and bird-dogs when he was young. The game caught was sometimes his dinner. Oscar never learned to read. Overall, he had about a 3rd grade education. This did not cripple him though. He memorized long passages of scripture and would sometimes recite them in church.

He and his wife Mary owned a small farm. Once on this farm there were two roosters: the red rooster and the white rooster. The white rooster was a bully and always got to be with the chickens because the red one could never beat the white rooster. So once, when Mary was away, Oscar poured molasses all over the white rooster and put ashes from the fire on him. When the roosters met, the red one fought and won against this new “grey” rooster, not recognizing him as the old white one.

Every night, Mary would read from the scriptures since Oscar couldn’t. Thus, he was able to remember and quote it at length. Oscar is said to have been a very strong man. The story is told that a man once bet him he could carry a cotton bale. They went down to the loading dock, and there Oscar carried one of the bales. Once, he got annoyed with his horse, hit at it, and missed, pealing his hand open. He paid no mind to it, continuing to work with the horse. Oscar loved to play catcher in baseball. Although his hands would swell after every game, he played without a glove. Later in life, Oscar worked at a box factory, cutting wood for the boxes. And although he could remember things read to him, he remained illiterate his entire life.

Stanley Boyd Reeves

As a young boy, Stanley went to the Flint Ridge School. Later, he went to the Heath Springs School. Stan lived next to (or with) his Grandpa Willie Crimminger during some of his teenage years, helping him with the farm. Kids would tie an inner tube from a tire to the fence, making a sling-shot, and shoot rocks at Grandpa Willie’s Cows. Stan’s father, Oscar wanted him to work in the fields instead of going to school. The school offered to let him skip a grade so that he would be with the kids his age after being out of school. Once, when Stan decided he was big enough to go to a party, Oscar told him, “If you’re big enough to go to the party tonight, you’re big enough to go to the field tomorrow.” He went to the party and the very next day was taken out of school. Once, Stan had to deliver Grandpa Willie’s produce to costumers in Lancaster while Grandpa Willie was sick. The horse that he used was accustomed to the trip and guided Stan to each of the costumer’s houses without Stan knowing who they were. Any time he went alone to Lancaster, Stan was afraid that the train might spook the horse.

By 17 years, Stan had moved in with his brother Bill and was working in the mill. About six months later, in November of 1933, he married Edna Barrett. Previous to their marriage, Stan would visit Edna any time he could, even though the distance was a long walk. After their marriage, they moved into the Rob Neal place in Flint Ridge. From age 17-20, Stan moved several times. The family finally settled on a property just on the limits of Heath Springs.

Stan’s farm was not doing well, so he got a job at a mill in Kershaw. He went to Loom School and later became a Loom Fixer. He began teaching loom school after 20 years in the mill. The teaching sessions would last for 8 weeks, the classes taking several hours in the morning. He did this whenever the mill needed more loom fixers. Stan went from loom fixer to assistant overseer to style change coordinator. He worked a total of 42 years at the mill, retiring at 62 in 1978.

Stanley Jackson Reeves, Sr.

As a child, Jack lived in Kershaw. His family moved about 11 times in 13 years. Mary White was a housekeeper of the Stanley B. Reeves house. Jack and his siblings would tag along wherever she went. Mary remained a favorite of the family until her death. Jack graduated from Heath Springs Elementary and Highschool, then headed off to college at Clemson. Jack married Wilma Wilson in 1957. He lived in Abbeville, where he worked at a mill. Jack died on 13 Jun 1972 in Abbeville, South Carolina, from a heart attack. The family moved into a newly completed house soon after.

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1. “United States Census, 1790”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-Z76 : Fri Mar 08 00:28:36 UTC 2024), Entry for Jno Reeves, 1790. ↩︎
2. “United States Census, 1790”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-CGB : Sat Mar 09 12:16:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Elisha Reeves, 1790. ↩︎
3. “North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFSW-WW8 : Fri Mar 08 04:34:51 UTC 2024), Entry for Bedford Garris, 1835. (See image 1679 for Reeves references) ↩︎
4. Revolutionary War Pension Record, Bedford Garris, North Carolina, S. 6876 ↩︎
5. Lancaster County, South Carolina Library, Perry Belle Bennett Hough Collection, Folder “30-311 WILLIAMS-TURLEY-LOWERY-PERRY-CLYBURN-HILTON” ↩︎
6. Headstone of Nancy Williams,
   Pleasant Plain Baptist Church Cemetery, Lancaster Co., SC,
   Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51525877/elizabeth-nancy-williams) ↩︎
7. Will of James Reeves, Lancaster County, South Carolina Will Book A, p329. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
8. Lancaster County, South Carolina Sales Book of the Master, 1834-1859, p12. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
9. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book P, p39. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
10. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book P, p23. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
11. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book H, p155. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
12. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book H, p155. [Transcript] ↩︎
13. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, G3913.L2 1820 .M5 (Published version of entire atlas available on Amazon) ↩︎
14. Transcript of the James A Blackmon Bible from the Perry Belle Bennett Hough Collection Folder “8-58 BLACKMON” ↩︎
15. Story of the Great Revival at Fork Hill, from The Lancaster News, 2 May 1939 ↩︎
16. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book R, p18. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
17. “United States Census, 1860”,, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZT8-XTM : Mon Jul 08 22:36:19 UTC 2024), Entry for J B Reves and Francis H Reves, 1860. ↩︎
18. Lancaster County, South Carolina Court of Probate, Samuel B. Sims vs. J. A. P. Blackmon & Heirs at Law of Ervin Sims Deceased, 1871 ↩︎
19. “South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1973”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9NC-JHS : Mon May 06 19:48:34 UTC 2024), Entry for J. C. Reaves, 22 Jun 1927. ↩︎
20. Family information from Dora Reeves, wife of Walter Reeves, a grandson of James A. Reeves ↩︎
21. Viewed the membership book in the church office ↩︎
22. Lancaster County, South Carolina Common Pleas Pleadings and Judgments Book C, p521. [Original], [Transcript] ↩︎
23. Family Group Sheet from Dora Reeves with information from the Reeves Family Bible ↩︎
24. “South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1973”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N963-G5W : Mon May 06 19:55:06 UTC 2024), Entry for John Reeves and Brady Reeves, 20 Nov 1916. ↩︎
25. “United States Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3TW-G92 : Thu Apr 11 20:50:25 UTC 2024), Entry for J J Reaves and R J Reaves, 1900. ↩︎
26. Civil War Service Record, John J. Reeves, Co. H, 2 South Carolina Infantry (2 Palmetto Regiment) ↩︎
27. Civil War Service Record, T. C. Reeves, Co. H, 2 South Carolina Infantry (2 Palmetto Regiment) ↩︎
28. Phone conversation with Jim Boyd ↩︎
29. Jeffcoat, Frances Reeves. (1986). Confederate Records Lancaster District, South Carolina, p110 ↩︎
30. Lancaster Enterprise, 31 May 1899 ↩︎