The last years of Nancy Ann Hendricks Edins/Eddins

Yessity, yessity, yes yes yessir!!!!

In an earlier post I proved that Nancy Ann Hendricks Edins/Eddins was not the same person as the Nancy Hendricks who died in Monroe County in 1870. I said that she lived until at least 1880 and showed up in the Census. Proof that the N. Edins in Lee County was the same as Nancy Ann Hendricks Edins was convoluted. 

Until now...

Please bear with me while I review the old, convoluted proof. 

James A. and Nancy Ann Hendricks Edins had several children, one of whom was Zilpha Eleanor Emily, named after James A.'s delightful mother. Please refer to my earlier post on Zilpha for the proof of her identity. The 1880 Census lists N. Edins as the mother of the head-of-household. Once you accept that Z. A. Freeman is the same person as Zilpha Eddins/Edins, then you have to accept that N. Edins is her mother Nancy Ann Hendricks Eddins/Edins.

But wait. 

Now there's independent confirmation, thanks to my wonderful cousin. 

Yessity, yessity, yes yes yessir!!!!

The War of 1812 Index to Pension Application Files, 1812 - 1910 at FamilySearch.org shows the index card for the application of James A. Edins. 

Soldier's name: Edins, James A.

Widow: Edins, Nancy

Service: Pvt Capt. John Quattlebaum's Company, SC MIL

Enlisted: Sept. 30, 1814

Discharged: October 27, 1814

Bounty land: 28998 160 58

Residence of soldier: 1855 Tallapoosa County ALA

Residence of widow: 1875 - 1878 Opelika, Lee County, ALA

Maiden name of widow: Nancy Hendricks

Marriage of soldier and widow: November 9, 1813, Lexington Dist, SC

Death of soldier: January 27, 1858, Tallassee, Tallapoosa County, ALA

So there is more documentary proof that Nancy Ann Hendricks Eddins/Edins lived beyond 1870. 

To sum up her final years:

Husband James A. died in 1858. In 1860 she was living with son Joseph F. Eddings in Tallapoosa County. By 1870 she was living with daughter Zilpha in Oak Bowers, Chambers County. By 1875 the family had moved to Opelika, Lee County, where they lived long enough to be counted in the 1880 Census. 

Chances are that Nancy Ann and Zilpha died before 1900 and are buried in Lee County. They don't show in the household of Zilpha's children Martha, William, and Francis Marion in that year's census. 

I'm going to AL soon. I hope to bring back the name of the cemetery where these two lovely women are buried. And thanks to my lovely cousin for sending me the info about the index, which confirmed my claim and provided so many juicy new details.

Yessity, yessity, yes yes yessir!!!!

The children of John and Zilpha Eddins

I don't think I have seen the names of all of the children of John and Ziplha Eddins of Lexington/Orangeburgh County, SC, together in one place. So here they are, to the best of my knowledge:

Elizabeth, born 1777 - 1780, married Benjamin Wingard

Blakley, born about 1780, married Mary Austin (?), died about 1838 in Pulaski County, GA

John S., born about 1784, married Louisa Swearingen, died either 1831 or 1839

Ephraim, born about 1786, died 1826 -1828, Richland, SC

Catherine, born about 1789

William D., born about 1791, died after 1859, married ?

James A., born about 1792 or 3, married Nancy Ann Hendricks, died January 27, 1858

Unknown female

Unknown female

A lot of my information is from Bob Eddings, who runs the Eddins forum at Genforum.com. Several posts there say that John and Zilpha had 11 children total, but I have never been able to find more than these.

Can anybody fill in the missing names???

Nancy Hendricks vs. Nancy Hendricks vs. Nancy Hendricks

One of the best things that my aunt drilled into me as a genealogist is to PROVE IT, PROVE IT, PROVE IT!


Several family trees out there list Nancy Ann Hendricks Eddins as having died in 1870 in Monroe County. There IS a Nancy Hendricks (maybe even a Nancy Ann) who died on June 12, 1870, in Monroe County. There is also apparently a Nancy Hendricks who married James Corley and died in Mobile about 1840. However, the NH of this blog--wife to James A. Eddins, mother of Blakely and Ann Susannah Eddins--lived until at least 1880. Indeed, she shows up in the Census!!!

For the sake of clarity, let's call the wife of James A. Eddins NH#1 and the other versions NH#2. 

The basics: NAH#1 is probably the daughter of Peter Hendricks and Elizabeth Gibson. She was born between 1796 and 1800 (various censuses). See my earlier blog for my theory on her parents. 


NAH#2 was definitely born in SC, the daughter of Henry Hendricks, granddaughter of Tobias Hendrix and Margaret Sprenkels.  Those are the major facts in agreement. 


And there are lots of similarities between the two (three?). They were born in the 1790's in South Carolina, probably in the Lexington/Orangeburgh area, and maybe in the Saluda area where the many descendants of Albertus Hendrickson settled. They were undoubtedly cousins and probably knew each other. 


After that, there is disagreement as to birth year (1788, 1791, 1792, or 1805?) and mother (Hannah MNU or Isabel Luckey) and husband (Jacob Corley or Michael/Andrew Frye). 


We can easily discount the Nancy Hendricks who married Jacob Corley and died in 1840 as Nancy Ann Hendricks Eddins. NH#1 shows up in the 1850 US Census for AL with James A. Eddins in Tallapoosa County as Ann Eddins. 


Let's look at the other Nancy Hendricks, whose mother has been listed as either Isabel Luckey or Hannah.  Some show her birth as early as 1792, and some as late as 1805. Some say she married first Michael Frye at age 10 and second Andrew Frye at age 15. 


Stipulating that she married Michael, then Andrew Frye, consider this: the 1850 US Census for AL shows Andrew and Nancy Frye in Monroe County near sister Rosannah and (maybe) mother Hannah. Nancy is 57, born SC, giving a birth year of 1793. Her presence here and (Nancy) Ann's presence in the household of  James A. Eddins in Tallapoosa County are enough proof that they are two separate people.  


The same thing applies in 1860: 


The 1860 US Census for AL shows Nancy Frye in Burnt Corn, Monroe County. She is 69, which would make her birth year 1791 in SC. The 1860 shows Ann Eddings, 64, in the household of James F. Eddings of Tallapoosa.


So neither the Nancy Hendricks who married Jacob Corley nor the Nancy Hendricks who married Michael/Andrew Frye/Frey is the same person as Nancy Ann Hendricks who married James A. Eddins. 


As final proof, in the 1870 US Census for AL, Nancy Eddins is listed in the household of grandson F(rancis) M(arion) Pope in Oak Bowery, Chambers County, AL, along with daughter Z(ilpha) E(leanor) Freeman. Please see my earlier post for the proof of Zilpha as Pope's mother and Nancy Ann's daughter. The census date is September 2, 1870, and the Nancy Hendricks who died in Monroe County died on June 12, 1870.



Nancy also shows up in the 1880 US Census for AL as N. Edins in the household of daughter Z. A. Freeman on Beat 2, Opelika, Lee County.


So there you have it: Nancy Ann Hendricks Eddins lived until at least 1880. With proof. 

Zilpha Emily Eleanor Eddins Pope Freeman

So many names! So many birthdates! Just two of the reasons she's so hard to find.

Zilpha is the daughter of James A. and Nancy Ann Hendricks Eddins/Edins. She's probably the fourth daughter and seventh child. She was named after her delightful grandmother Zilpha Eddins, widow of John, who married a much younger man late in life. Her birth year is confusing: she was born in

• 1821 according to the 1850 Census for AL

• 1826 according to Bob Eddings, moderator of the Eddings list at Genforum.com.

• 1829 in the 1860 Census

• 1830 in the 1880 Census

• 1835 in the 1870 Census

In the 1830 Census for AL, she is probably one of the under 5 females enumerated in the household of James A. Edens of Wilcox County, AL. In the 1840 Census she is probably one of the females 10 - 15 enumerated in the household of J. A. Eddings in Tallapoosa County, AL. The 1840 Census is important because so many of the neighbors show up in the later lives of the Eddins.

In Zilpha's case, one important neighbor may be Jacob Rope, AKA Jacob Rape or Reeb. Jacob's daughter Matilda married Daniel Beaver/Beavis in Tallapoosa County before 1850. In the 1850 Tallapoosa Census Emily Rope who is living in the household of Daniel Beaver may be the same person as Zilpha Eddins. Emily Rope's daughter Martha, age 3, would then be Martha Jane Pope, whose birthdates are also confusing!

In 1849 Francis M. Freeman married Ellender Pope. Here's the source:

http://files.usgwarchives.org/al/tallapoosa/vitals/marriages/groomd-h.txt

That's where my knowledge of the name Eleanor comes from. Also, several censuses list Zylpha as Z. E. Freeman. For example, in the 1860 US Census for AL, Francis M. Freema is living in Beat 8, Realtown P.O., Western Division, Tallapoosa County. He is 28, a mechanic, born GA, $300. Next is listed Zylpha E. Freema. She is 39, born AL. Also in the household is Martha T., 23, Francis M(arion)., 21, a farmer, and William H, 19, all born AL. They are living next door to Zilpha's sister Ann Susannah Eddins Rice (Rix) and family. Up the street is Freeman's relative Elijah Freeman & family, Zilpha's nephew Peter Eddens with Henry J. Rise (Rix), Harrison, Echols, Martha (Helton) Freeman, Nancy Freeman, 70, Tabitha Baird, Susan Freeman, 70, with Joseph Davis, 17--all relatives or people who are familiar in Zilpha's life.

In the 1870 US Census for AL, Z. E. Freeman is living in Oak Bowery, Chambers County, AL. She is 45, female, keeping house, living in the household of F. M. Poke or Pope, a farmer, $550, born AL. Also in the household are Ann Edwin, 20, born AL, at home; Martha Poke or Pope, 20, born AL, and Nancy Eddins, 70, at home, born AL. Black neighbors: Blosengame, Moore, Prince, Dowdeth; Wilson; white neighbors: Kelly, Waldrop, Jeter.

In the 1880 US Census for Al, Z. A. Freeman is living in Opelika, Lee County, AL. She is 50 born AL, parents born SC, has rheumatism, can read & write. Also in the household are M(artha) J(ane) Pope, 25, parents born SC., son F(rancis) M(arion) Pope, 23, clerk in a junk shop, N(ancy) Edins, 84, widowed, born SC, parents born SC; sister-in-law A. M. Edins, 30 or 38, sewing, born SC, father born SC, mother born KY; and Neil Gilmore, laborer & servant, born AL, parents born AL. Neighbors: Wilkerson, Smith, Harris, Hightower, Tucker, Slaughter, Moore, Simms, Frazier.

Right place, right time, because Opelika, Lee County, is just "up the street" from Reeltown and Walnut Hill in Tallapoosa County.

Zilpha seems to disappear after the 1880 Census. She may have remarried, but she probably died and is buried in Opelika, Lee County, or Chambers or Tallapoosa County. Haven't found her on Findagrave.com, but will look for her next time I go to AL. She is definitely not in the household in 1900, where we find Martha Jane, Marian, and William living in Opelika, Lee County. Martha Jane and Marian are still together in 1910 in Opelika, but William H. is not in the household. He's probably the William H. Pope, born 1840, buried in Rosemere Cemetery in Opelika; maybe he died between 1900 and 1910.

The final version of Zilpha's name comes from Martha Jane's death certificate:

According to Ancestry’s Alabama Death & Burial Index, 1881 - 1974, Martha Jane Pope was born about 1838, died 1917, father’s name William H. Pope, mother’s name Ellen Edine. Death place Opelika, Lee County, AL.

Zilpha.

Ellender Pope.

Possibly Emily Rope.

Zylpha E. Freema.

Z. E. Freeman.

Z. A. Freeman.

Ellen Edine.

One woman. Many names and dates. I bet she would have been a hoot to know!

Happy connections

What fun!

Another descendant of the McGuire/Edins line has contacted me. Jane is my third cousin once removed as far as I can tell. Her grandmother and my great-grandmother were sisters. Their parents were Simmin and Mary Drusilla McGuire Edins.

Looking forward to making new discoveries with you, Jane!

Flotsam and jetsam

Middle initials:

Simmin A. Eddins, son.

Blakely A. Eddins, father.

James A. Eddins, grandfather.

All have the middle initial "A." But what does it stand for? The only one we know for sure is Simmin. It's Simmin Aaron Eddins/Edins. The other men's middle names are a mystery.

We know for sure that Blakely's middle intial is "A" because it's on his grave marker. (Thanks, Cuz, for the confirmation.) But what it stands for? Could be "Aaron," just like his son's. But no clues and no proof.

There are several theories as to what the "A" in James A. Eddins stands for. Linda Robertson says that it stands for "Allen." (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~everyoneged/ourancestry.html#John%20Eddins) My dear cuz thinks that it could stand for "Aaron," just like Simmon. My own theory is that it stands for "Albert" or "Albertus" for a Hendrix/Hendricks/Hendrex ancestor.

Anybody have any proof?

Next:

It's a challenge to look for Eddins relatives because the name has been spelled so many ways. For example:

Eddins

Edins

Edens

Eddings

Edings

Edinger

Don't get me started on the Hendrixes:

Hendrix

Hendricks

Hendrickx

Hendrex

Hendrick

Headon

Where they lived

There's a website with new material that I will follow with interest:

http://gsofea.org/

That's the Genealogical Society of East Alabama, covering the counties of Chambers, Lee, Macon, Russell, and Tallapoosa Counties. They are now publishing material on line that's previously been printed in their Tap Roots magazine, mostly marriage and cemetery information. For instance, Tallapoosa, Lee, and Chambers Counties' marriage books. They also have handy dandy links to maps of the counties. These maps are helpful in looking at where my family lived.

For example, in 1860 James T/F Eddings (son) and (Nancy) Ann Eddings (mother) lived in Tallapoosa County, Beat 6, Wynn Creek P.O. Assuming it's the same as "Wind Creek," we find it near Alexander City:

http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/tallapoosa.pdf

In 1870 Nancy and Z(iplha) E(leanor Eddins) Freeman are living on Beat 11, Oak Bowery near Chambers Court House in Chambers County. See here:

http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/chambers.pdf

In 1880 Z.A. Freeman and N. Edins are living in Opelika, Beat 2, Lee County. See here:

http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/lee.pdf

All of these places are close together, some 10 miles, some about an hour.

Really kewl.