Sunday, December 28, 2014

Elizabeth Eddins, born 1777, Part 2

Remember that Christmas present I wanted to help me with Elizabeth's genealogy? My generous husband got it for me, and now I can report on the tidbit it provided about Elizabeth.

To understand this, though, you have to read my first blog post about Elizabeth. It's here:

http://alroots2.blogspot.com/2014/12/who-was-elizabeth-eddins-born-ca-1777.html

The Christmas present in question was the book Memorialized Records of Lexington District, S.C., 1814 - 1825 by Brent H. Holcomb, G.R.S., Southern Historical Press, 1978. In it on Page 126, I found the following:

" {To} Mary Wingard and Sarah Wingard from Elizabeth Brown, {Deed of} Gift, {no consideration listed}, 30 acres, on the Broad River, (When Executed) 20th March 1822, (Proved) 20th March 1822; (Recorded) 3rd April 1822."

This legal document establishes a connection between Elizabeth Brown, Mary Wingard, and Sarah Wingard.

That's the most I can prove: that Elizabeth Brown was connected both to the Wingards and to John and Zilpha Edins.

But it's still pretty cool.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Who was Elizabeth Eddins, born ca. 1777?

I think she was Elizabeth Eddins, born about 1777, first married Benjamin Wingard; widowed; then married Unknown Brown; and widowed again; died after 1830.

I think. Haven't proved it yet, but working on it big time.

Thanks to a spark lit by a possible DNA match through her, I have reviewed my data about Elizabeth Eddins, daughter of John & Zilpha, and found that there were several big—nay, HUGE— discrepancies between family trees and sources. For example:

• Most internet family trees show Elizabeth's Eddins/Eddings birth about 1780, marriage to Benjamin Wingard about 1796, and death in 1796. Specifically, March 30, 1796. Not to pick on any one tree, but here is an example:

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/22718135/person/1288436348

• Then the trees list her children as Albert, Jacob, Jobe, Joseph, Mary, William, and Samuel.  William born 1795—before her marriage. The rest born after 1796—after her death!!!!

http://records.ancestry.com/elizabeth_eddins_records.ashx?pid=4551354

As if those weren't enough, when you compare them to one of the few primary sources, there's a huge anomaly:

• In 1828 Zilpha Edins ran an ad naming an Elizabeth Brown as an heir of  John Edins. Please note—Elizabeth Brown, not Elizabeth Wingard. Be sure to see my post about Zilpha's ad, because I refer to it a lot in this blog post.

http://alroots2.blogspot.com/2013/04/zilpha-edinss-ad.html

OK, so LOTS of mystery surrounding EEWmaybeB.

Let's start with information from Bob Eddings. I accept Bob's statements as mostly true. As mentioned before, anytime I've investigated independently, facts have born out his assertions 99% of the time. He may not have as much detail as I've ferreted out, but the basic facts are correct. So let's assume he's right and proceed.

Bob says:

"Regarding Elizabeth Eddings who married Benjamin Wingard, I don’t know much. I looked at the World Connect project on the Internet to see what others had posted about them, and the info I found was almost useless. One poster showed their daughter Mary being born before her mother.

Here is what little I have on them. Elizabeth was born circa 1777. About 1794-95 she married Benjamin Wingard and apparently their first child was William, born 12/10/1795. Their other children were: Mary, Jacob, Samuel, Albert, and Jobe. I estimate they all were born during the period circa 1798-1807. Due to Benjamin's young age, he might have lived with his parents for a while.

Elizabeth's father was John Eddings, but I have never been able to determine if Zilpha (Silvia) was his first, second, or only wife. She was born circa 1754. I don’t know John's parents, but he first showed up on the 1790 census. I estimate John was born circa 1750 and died circa 1795."

http://genforum.genealogy.com/eddins/messages/741.html

The only datum that's off in Bob's message is William Wingard's birth date, which is listed as 12/10/1799 at Findagrave. Close enough.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=wingard&GSfn=william&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=3&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=5977292&df=all&

What do the censuses have to say?

• In the 1790 US census for SC, John Edings is living in Orangeburgh (late Lexington) District. There are one male 16 + (John), three males under 16 (Blakely, born abt 1798; John S., born abt 1782; and Ephraim, born about 1786), and six free white females (wife Zilpha, born about 1756; Elizabeth, born about 1777; Phereby, born about 1784; Anna Obedience, born 1789; Martha and Mary, whose ages are unknown). A birth year range of 1777 - 1780 would make Elizabeth 10 - 13. 

http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=5058&path=South+Carolina.Orangeburgh.Not+Stated.22&fn=John&ln=Edings&st=d&pid=389148&rc=&zp=75

I don't know the source for the very specific marriage date of March 30, 1796, but let's assume it's correct. Elizabeth would have been 16 - 19—well within the realm of possibility. William's birth date fits. Let's also assume that Elizabeth didn't die before giving birth to all her children—also well within the realm of possibility.   ;-)

Any evidence supporting this theory? Yes, there is:

• In the 1800 US Census for SC, Benjamin Wingard is living in the Saluda, Rocky Creek area of Orangeburgh District, Lexington County. In the household are one male under 10, one male 16 - 26, and one female 16 - 26. These are most likely Benjamin, about 16 - 26 (born 1774 - 1784), William, one-ish (born 1790 - 1800), and Elizabeth, 16 - 26 (born 1774 - 1784). And just look at the names of people we know are associated with Eddinses: Wingard, Lee or See, Gibson, Hendricks, Taylor, Gartman.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/7590/4440836_00154/494726?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1800usfedcenancestry%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d0%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%26gsln%3dwingard%26msrpn__ftp%3dSouth%2bCarolina%252c%2bUSA%26msrpn%3d43%26msrpn_PInfo%3d5-%257c0%257c1652393%257c0%257c2%257c3245%257c43%257c0%257c0%257c0%257c0%257c%26dbOnly%3d_F0005140%257c_F0005140_x%252c_F0005107%257c_F0005107_x%252c_F0005106%257c_F0005106_x%252c_F0002915%257c_F0002915_x%26uidh%3d000&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

Benjamin supposedly died on December 19, 1801. But look at the birth years of his acknowledged children from the 1850 Census:

William in Pike, AL, born 1798
Jacob, in Lexington, SC, born 1806

Clearly Benjamin was living until at least 1807. So did he make it to 1810? Probably not. No Benjamin Wingard in the 1810 Census for SC. No plats listed for Benjamin Wingard at the SC Archives. No grave at Findagrave.com. No evidence that he's alive in any source I currently have access to. (But there's a book about Lexington, SC, coming for Christmas, so maybe I'll revise this once I open this present. ;-))

Which means that Elizabeth, if still living, was a widow after 1806ish.

Any records of Elizabeth Wingard after 1806-7? Not that I have found.

HOWEVER, looky here:

In the 1810 US Census for Lexington County, there is a Widow Brown is living in Lexington District. In the household are two females 16 - 26 (born 1784 - 1794) and one female over 45 (born before 1765). Any of the women could be Elizabeth. Neighbors: Williams, Simmons, Ward, Burgess, Gibson, Daniel, Geige, Taylor, Oswalt, Reisinger, Corely. Gibson, Risinger and Corley were around John Edins in 1790. Oswalt married Elizabeth's daughter.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/7613/4433429_00127/582275?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fMS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3d1810usfedcenancestry%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%26gsfn_x%3dXO%26gsln%3dbrown%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msrpn__ftp%3dLexington%2bCounty%252c%2bSouth%2bCarolina%252c%2bUSA%26msrpn%3d1751%26msrpn_PInfo%3d7-%257c0%257c1652393%257c0%257c2%257c3245%257c43%257c0%257c1751%257c0%257c0%257c%26msrpn_x%3dXO%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26dbOnly%3d_F0005108%257c_F0005108_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005107%257c_F0005107_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005106%257c_F0005106_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005104%257c_F0005104_x%26uidh%3dwy5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

In the 1820 US Census for SC, Elizabeth Brown is in Lexington County. In the household are one male 26 - 44 (born 1776 - 1784), two females 10 - 15 (born 1805 - 1810, probably Mary, born 1807 & ?), and one female 26 - 44 (Elizabeth, born 1776 - 1784). Neighbors include Griffen, Cattles Greg, Taylor, Oswalt, Rice or Rix, Reisinger, King, Johnson, Bickley, Metze, Hendricks, Stagner, Corley, Lee, Busby, Minick, Frie (Frye), Boatwright. A few pages over: Quattlebaum. E's son married a Bickley.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/7734/4433457_00088/981570?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fMS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3d1820usfedcenancestry%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dangs-d%26gsfn%3delizabeth%26gsfn_x%3dXO%26gsln%3dbrown%26gsln_x%3dNS%26dbOnly%3d_F0005355%257c_F0005355_x%252c_F0005354%257c_F0005354_x%252c_F0005321%257c_F0005321_x%252c_F0005353%257c_F0005353_x%252c_F0005352%257c_F0005352_x%252c_F0005351%257c_F0005351_x%26uidh%3dwy5%26gl%3d%26gst%3d%26hc%3d50%26fh%3d50%26fsk%3dBEELPyAIgAAeNgACJXA-61-&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

In the 1830 US Census for SC, Elizabeth Brown is living in Lexington District. In the household is one female 50 - 60 (born 1770 - 1780). Her next door neighbor is John (S) Eddings, son of John and Zilpha. Her brother?? Other neighbors include Lee or See, David King (who measured several land plats for Zilpha to sell), John Quattlebaum (James A. Eddins served in Q's unit in War of 1812), William Newman, Ruff, Cook Thompson, and Levi Oswalt.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/8058/4410695_00718/661013?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fMS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3d1830usfedcenancestry%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%26gsfn_x%3dXO%26gsln%3dbrown%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msrpn__ftp%3dLexington%2bCounty%252c%2bSouth%2bCarolina%252c%2bUSA%26msrpn%3d1751%26msrpn_PInfo%3d7-%257c0%257c1652393%257c0%257c2%257c3245%257c43%257c0%257c1751%257c0%257c0%257c%26msrpn_x%3dXO%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD7%257c_F0006BD7_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD6%257c_F0006BD6_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD5%257c_F0006BD5_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD4%257c_F0006BD4_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD3%257c_F0006BD3_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BC0%257c_F0006BC0_x%26uidh%3dwy5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults#?imageId=4410695_00718

Elizabeth Brown does not appear in the 1840 that I have yet found.

Digression: There is a Widow Brown in Lexington County, SC, in 1810. This household has one woman 45 and older, and two women 16 - 26. This doesn't seem to be Elizabeth, but I'm reserving judgement.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/7613/4433429_00127/582275?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fMS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3d1810usfedcenancestry%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%26gsfn_x%3dNP%26gsln%3dbrown%26gsln_x%3dNS%26msrpn__ftp%3dLexington%2bCounty%252c%2bSouth%2bCarolina%252c%2bUSA%26msrpn%3d1751%26msrpn_PInfo%3d7-%257c0%257c1652393%257c0%257c2%257c3245%257c43%257c0%257c1751%257c0%257c0%257c%26msrpn_x%3dXO%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26dbOnly%3d_F0005108%257c_F0005108_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005107%257c_F0005107_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005106%257c_F0005106_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005104%257c_F0005104_x%26uidh%3dwy5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

Back to the evidence:

Now let's look at Zilpha Edins's ad: "Elizabeth Brown" is named as one of John Edins's heirs. She's listed first. Since we know for sure that John S. was one of the oldest children, and William and James A. were the two youngest,  Elizabeth's place in the listing makes it likely she was the oldest heir. Since the other females are listed as "wife of," we can tell she was possibly an adopted daughter; but most likely a widow of Unknown Brown. Since the ad states that the other children are living out of state except for John and Elizabeth, we know she was a resident of South Carolina in 1828.  Most likely scenario: oldest child, widowed, living in SC in 1828.

A comparison of the two women under discussion shows these details:

• Elizabeth Eddins, born about 1777, married Benjamin Wingard about 1794, first child William born about 1798, other children Mary born about 1807, Jacob born about 1806, Samuel, Albert, and Jobe. Living in Lexington, SC, whenever we see her. Disappears around 1807.

• Elizabeth Brown, widowed, born between 1776 & 1780, shows up in the 1820 & 1830 Censuses, living alone in Lexington, SC, next door to John Eddings, Jr., (Eddins) and with some of the same neighbors as John & Zilpha Eddins. Mentioned in 1828 ad as living in state (SC) and as an heir to John Eddins, by Zilpha Edins, now Winchell.

So there's the basis for my theory that Elizabeth Eddins is the same as Elizabeth Wingard and the same as Elizabeth Brown.

When I find more proof one way or the other, I'll let you know!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Martha Feaster Colvin is not Mattie Colvin Helton

A lot of people confuse Martha Feaster Colvin (MFC) and Martha "Mattie" Colvin (MCH). The names are the same, but as soon as you look at the evidence, it's clear that Joseph Helton married Mattie Colvin, not Martha Feaster Colvin.

Much of the evidence that people use as proof comes from the Sons of the American Revolution application of Ainsley Colvin Terrell. You'll find that application here:

http://interactive.ancestry.com/2204/32596_242269-00101/620908?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dSARMemberApps%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%26gsfn%3dmartha%26gsln%3dfeaster%26dbOnly%3d_F0006399%257c_F0006399_x%26uidh%3dwy5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults#?imageId=32596_242269-00102

If you read the application, it's clear that Terrell is the fifth "great-grandson of William Colvin, born 1762, died 1835, and his wife, Martha Feaster, born 1766, died 1866, married 1783...." Terrell is also sixth "great-grandson of Andrew Feaster, born 1735, died 1821, and his wife, Margaret Fry Cooper, born 1728, died 1823, married 1756...."

• First of all, "Feaster" was MFC's maiden name, as her father was Andrew Feaster. Mattie's maiden name was Colvin.

• Secondly, MFC died in 1866, while census records prove that MC lived until at least 1880.

• Thirdly, Mattie's War of 1812 pension application states that she married in 1811, not 1783 as Terrell's application claims.

The discrepancies go on and on.

Please check your facts, people.