52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #13 James Hairston Who Died in Falls County, Texas on March 25, 1905

No Story Too Small

James Hairston isn't of any particular interest to me as I really don't believe that he was part of my direct family line. However, because he died in Falls County, Texas, where my Hairston family once lived, he shows up in Public Member Trees at Ancestry.com (and other sites on the web) as a son of my great-great-grandfather, John L. Hairston. I feel a need to prove or disprove this theory. 

The Report of Death states that James Hairston died near Durango in Falls County, Texas on March 25, 1905. His age was recorded as 36 giving him a birth year of 1868 or 1869. 

In 1900, a James W. Hairston, age 31, is living in Falls County with his wife, Laura, and several children. James was born in Alabama in October 1868. His parents were both born in Georgia. J. W. Hairston married Laura Lemly on June 19, 1890 in Bell County, Texas. This appears to be the same family as by 1910, Laura Hairston, a widow, and these same children were living in Bell County very near James T. Lemly, her brother. 

I do find the assumption that James Hairston was the son of John L. Hairston very unlikely. Most records point to John L. Hairston as being born in South Carolina, not Georgia. And, by 1868, John L. Hairston was paying taxes in Falls County, Texas. 

A few people have pointed to the questionable James in the 1880 census record of John L. Hairston's family in Falls County. I believe that the entry that looks like James is actually Jane. Even if it is a James, it cannot be the James who died in Falls County in 1905. This James/Jane was 34 years old and the James who died in Falls County would have been only 12 years old in 1880. 

John L. Hairston had a son, William, born in 1846. Some trees indicate that William and this James could be one in the same. Again, the ages don't match.



In 1883 it is assumed* that John L. Hairston died. His son, Phillip Hairston, his two daughters, and their families sold land and moved from Falls County to Erath County, Texas. Around that same time, Hairstons from Alabama moved to Falls County, Texas. 

Edd and Jesse Hairston, sons of Samuel B. Hairston of Alabama were counted in the 1900 census of Falls County. Samuel's daughter, Ella Simonton, lived in nearby Bell County and his youngest son, Peter, lived in Fort Worth. 

Samuel B. Hairston also had a son, James "Jim" Hairston, born about 1868 or 1869. Jim is found, with this family, on the Chambers County, Alabama census records at age 2 in 1870 and age 12 in 1880.  This James W. Hairston in the 1900 census matches young Jim in age as well as his birthplace.

I believe that James Hairston, who died in Falls County, Texas on March 25, 1905, is the son of Samuel B. Hairston, not the son of John L. Hairston, my great-great-grandfather. John L. and Samuel B. Hairston are both said to be the sons of Hugh Brown Hairston. So, if this is true and James is the son of Samuel, then James W. Hairston would be John L. Hairston's nephew. 

I cannot definitively prove this with the information that I have; however, I do feel that I have enough persuasive evidence that points in this direction. Further research, both in Alabama and Texas, might need to be focused on land and probate records. 

Diana

© 2014  

 * No one really knows when or where John Hairston died and is buried. 1883 was the year that Phillip and the rest of the family moved to Erath county, but it's also the year that Phillip's mother-in-law died leaving her daughter land and possibly money. John might have died, but he might also have moved to Erath County with the family and might even be in an unmarked grave in the Bethel Cemetery. Just another theory . . . 

Sources

"80 Year Old Temple Resident." E. V. "Ed" Hairston. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txfalls/Obits/obitHAIRSTONev12311937.htm>

1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Falls County, Texas, Phil Hairston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 27 Feb. 2014).

Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data:  Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas Death Certificates, 1903–1982. Archives, Orem, Utah.

Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006.

Quinn, Diana. "Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog." : 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #8 William Hairston. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-8-william.html>.

Quinn, Diana. "Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog." : 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #9 Sarah Jane Hairston and a Challenging Census Record. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-9-sarah-jane.html>.

Quinn, Diana. "Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog." : 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #12 Samuel B. Hairston of Georgia and Alabama. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-12-samuel-b.html>.

"Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-13722-27228-79?cc=1827575 : accessed 30 Mar 2014), Falls county > 1868 > image 33 of 92; citing State Archives, Austin.

"Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch 
(https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FX38-6JT : accessed 28 Mar 2014), J. W. Hairston and Laura Lemly, 19 Jun 1890; citing , Bell, Texas, , reference 2:TMX5RP; FHL microfilm 981036.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Fredonia, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: M593_6; Page: 87A; Image: 176; Family History Library Film: 545505.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Bloomingdale, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: 5; Family History Film: 1254005; Page: 240D; Enumeration District: 178.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 5, Bell, Texas; Roll: 1290; Family History Film: 1255290; Page: 386B; Enumeration District: 005.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 4, Bell, Texas; Roll: 1610; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 1241610.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 4, Falls, Texas; Roll: 1632; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0022; FHL microfilm: 1241632.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 4, Bell, Texas; Roll: T624_1530; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 1375543.

Friday's Photo: William Joseph Quinn III

William Joseph Quinn
April 2, 1930 - December 8, 2005

This is an undated school photo of my father-in-law, William Joseph Quinn. It's one of only a few photographs of him as a young boy. It was probably taken in the late 1930s or early 1940s as he is wearing the uniform from St. Catherine's Academy in New York City. He graduated from St. Catherine's in 1944. 

Diana

© 2014

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #12 Samuel B. Hairston of Georgia and Alabama

No Story Too Small

Samuel B. Hairston was said to be the son of Hugh Brown Hairston and Sarah McElhaney. Census records indicate that he was born sometime between 1826 and 1830 in Georgia.  

My first sighting of Samuel B. Hairston was his marriage record, in Troup County, dated August 7, 1851. I couldn't find Samuel in the 1850 census; however, his future wife, Matilda S. Glasgow, was found on the same census page with his older brother, James M. Hairston and family, in Troup County. 

In 1860, Samuel, a farmer, and Matilda Hairston were living with their children Ella, Sara and Mary (twins), Edward, and Jesse in Randolph County, Alabama. All of the children were reported to have been born in Georgia.
 
There were several Samuel Hairstons with many spelling variations (Hurston, Hearston, Harriston, etc.) who served in the Civil War. Four records were found for Samuel Hairstons serving from Alabama or Georgia. Two of those four, a confederate record and a union record,  could very well be this Samuel B. Hairston. 

Samuel B. Hairston, age 30 years, enrolled in the Confederate Army in Troup County, Georgia on July 9, 1861 for the duration of the war and joined Company F, Regiment 21 of the Georgia Infantry in Richmond, Virginia that same month. 

Nothing significant was noted in his record until February 2, 1862 where it was reported that he was "absent on sick 30 days" and in Troup County, Georgia. From April 1862 to October 1862 he was in hospitals in Richmond and Danville Virginia. Diseases were written as convalescent, debility, debilitas, and rubeola. 

On March 12, 1863, Samuel B. Hairston was on detached service - provost guard. No other papers for that year were found in his record until the summer of 1863 when he was found on a register of Prisoners of War at Fort Delaware - captured at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. On another roll of of prisoners and deserters being transferred from Harrisburg, PA to Philadelphia he was described as a "rebel deserter." On the last page of the confederate record, dated August 30, 1863, Samuel B. Hairston was found on a roll of prisoners at Fort Delaware who were "desirous of entering the service of the United States." 

Samuel B. Hairston enlisted in the United States Army, for a period of three years, on September 10, 1863 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a farmer, born in Jasper County, Georgia, described as 5 feet 10 inches tall with dark skin, hair, and eyes.  On one page his age is given as 24 years and on the next page his age is 34 years. I believe 34 years is the approximate age as in his confederate record his age is given as 30 in 1861.

He didn't stay with the United States Army for more than a few months. On December 4, 1863 Samuel "deserted from a steamer while leaving Baltimore." 

Samuel's whereabouts from the time that he left Baltimore until the end of the war are unknown to this writer. He signed, with his mark, his oath of allegiance to the United States on August 5, 1867. This, found in the Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869, places Samuel B. Hairston in Troup County, GA along with brother James M. and numerous other Hairstons, Herstons, Hastons, and Houstons.

The Samuel B. Hairston family was living in Chambers County, Alabama in 1870 and 1880. Ella, Sara and Mary (twins), Edward, Jesse, and James were the children living in the home in 1870. In 1880, Edd (Edward), Jim (James), and Peter were living in the home. 

Samuel's death date is unknown. Researcher, Carl Greenway, wrote that Samuel and his wife were said to have lived on a plantation near Wedowee in Randolph County, Alabama where they are buried, but the actual place and date not known.

Diana

© 2014

Sources

Ancestry.com. Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia. Original data from: The National Archives

Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State Of Maryland. Original data from: The National Archives

Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp.. Georgia Marriages, 1851-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
Original data: See Description for original data sources listed by county.

Greenway, Carl (New York, New York) to "Dear Bill" [William H. Hairston, Jr.]. Letter. 22 November 1965. Formby Family Genealogical Collection [Manuscript]. Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia.

"Map of Georgia & Alabama. / Burr, David H., 1803-1875 / 1839." Map of Georgia & Alabama. / Burr, David H., 1803-1875 / 1839. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. <http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~1620~140007:Map-of-Georgia-&-Alabama-Exhibiting?cic=RUMSEY~8~1&widgetType=detail&nsip=1>.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Southern Division, Randolph, Alabama; Roll: M653_22; Page: 683; Image: 289; Family History Library Film: 803022.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Fredonia, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: M593_6; Page: 87A; Image: 176; Family History Library Film: 545505.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Bloomingdale, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: 5; Family History Film: 1254005; Page: 240D; Enumeration District: 178.

Friday's Photo: Do You Have This Photo?

This is a photograph that belonged to my aunts in Texas. If these are family members, they are either Bryan, Criswell, or Hairston descendants. The photograph was taken by Tilton's Studio in Oakland, California. Any ideas?

Note: This photo has been identified. Click here to see the story. 

Diana

© 2014

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #11 Hugh Brown Hairston - Is He My Great-Great-Great-Grandfather?

According to the Hairston Family History, Hugh Brown Hairston was the son of John Hairston and Ann Mary Robertson. He was born in South Carolina and authors, Ed Bregenzer and Victor Hairston, suggested that he was my great-great-great-grandfather. The more that I find, the more that I believe that Ed and Vic may have been correct. As much as I want to, I cannot definitely say that Hugh Brown Hairston is the father of my great-great-grandfather, John Lewis Hairston. So, on my tree above, note the dotted line from Hugh to John.

No Story Too Small

Mary Lee Anderson wrote in her manuscript, TheWHITAKERS and Related Families, that Hugh Brown Hairston married Sarah McElhaney (sometimes seen as McElhenny) and had children, James McElhaney, John Lewis, Robert, Vinson (also seen as Vincent), Sam (also seen as Samuel), Rebecca, Jane, and Mary. I would love to have her source - maybe a family bible with answers to many of my questions.

A Passport to Ireland

William Joseph Quinn with daughters, Patricia "Patsy" (age 1) and Kathleen "Kitty" (5 months) 

Happy St. Patrick's Day to my Irish family connections! 

This passport was issued to William Joseph Quinn, my husband's grandfather, in 1928. This was a family passport. However, several photos were removed. This passport was used in 1928 and 1932. It is not known if the family made other trips to Ireland.

Diana

© 2014

Friday's Photo: Cecelia Linnane Murray

Cecelia Linnane Murray

Cecelia (also seen as Celia) Linnane, my husband's great-grandmother was married to James Murray and lived in County Clare where they had 11 children. A few weeks ago, Ancestry.co.uk was free for the weekend so I took advantage of this and spent a little time looking for some new information about the Murray family. 

The Murray children were Mary, Thomas, Bridget, Sarah, Catherine, Martin, Patrick, Peter, Ellen (Helen), Julia, and Susanna (Susan). More information about these children can be found on my web page. 

New information found at Ancestry.co.uk included a death date for Peter who died in 1890 at age three and death dates as well as ages at death for both James and Cecelia. 

James Murray died at age 84 in 1935 and Cecelia Linnane Murray died at age 85 in 1943. 

Diana

© 2014

Sources

Photograph of Cecelia Linnane from the Quinn family photograph collection currently held by Diana Bryan Quinn. 

Ancestry.com. Ireland, Civil Registration Deaths Index, 1864-1958 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Ancestry.com. Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #10 Adeline Hairston - Another Missing Person

#10 Adeline Hairston

No Story Too Small

Add another missing person to the Hairston family tree. Adeline Hairston, born about 1849 in Mississippi was the 5th child of John L. and Eliza Hairston. Adeline can be found with her family at one year of age on the 1850 census of Hinds County, Mississippi and again in 1860 at age 11.  

1850

Searching records, online and in print, give no clues as to what may have happened to Adeline after 1860. 

I cannot find the Hairston family in 1870 and Adeline was not found with the Hairston family in 1880. 

1860

Unlike her brother, William, I am not going to assume that Adeline Hairston died after age 11. She could have married and become easily invisible to Hairston researchers. I will continue to look for Adeline and for Hairston family members, if you have any clues, please share!

Diana

© 2014

Sources

1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Hinds County, Mississippi, family 714, J. Harston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 16 Feb. 2014).

1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Hinds County, Mississippi, family 616, Phillip A. Hairston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 27 Feb. 2014).

1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Falls County, Texas, Phil Hairston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 27 Feb. 2014).

Friday's Photo: A Family and Their Automobile

My not so distant cousin, Jane, sent me this photo a few weeks ago. Jane is a descendant of my grandfather's sister Dollie who married Thomas Wylie so it makes sense that this could be a photo of Bryan family members. My Bryan/Hammett cousin, Sharon, noted the ears of the young men - often prominent in the Bryan family. 

However, the people in this photo reminded me of a photo that I have of the Oscar Noah family - especially the young men. The Noah's were cousins to my grandmother's Hairston family. 

I know that these families have come together for funerals and possibly other family events. Some even kept in touch through letters. It would not an impossible notion that the Wylie family had this photo. 

So to my Bryan and Hairston cousins - tell me what you think. Does anyone else have this family with the automobile? Do you think that this family, with their automobile, could be the Noah family? 

Click here to see larger views of these photos or to download. 

Diana

© 2014

Sources
Photograph of the Oscar Edward Noah family from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

Photograph of the unknown family used with permission. From the collection of Jane F. Aebersold.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #9 Sarah Jane Hairston and a Challenging Census Record

The Hairston Family - 1880 U.S. Census Falls County, Texas

No Story Too Small

I first found my Hairston family in the 1880 U.S. Census of Falls County, Texas. It was a challenging record.  A black mark over some of the names left me guessing. No one is named as "head"of the family and none of the dwellings were marked so I don't know if the Hairston family lived together in one home or if there were several homes. 

Most of my Hairston family members in the 1880 census could be identified. Phillip, my great-grandfather, appeared to be the head with his wife, Lodema, and two Gilbert children (children of his sister Mary).  John L. Hairston, Phillip's father, was listed as a boarder and Permelia Noah, another sister of Phillip, was there with her two sons, Willie and Oscar. Martha (Mattie), the youngest sister, was listed with her husband, James Chisum, and children, Walter and Stella. 

The last Hairston on that page is the biggest challenge. This 34 year old was first recorded as a daughter and then son was written on top of daughter.  Gender was first F and written over as M. The name looks like James, but I believe it is Jane. 

Census records can be far from perfect. Remember that we are probably not looking at the original record. Did the transcriber have difficulty reading the census taker's handwriting.  Information can be incorrect or omitted. Who was the informant for this family? 

Some researchers surmise that it is James. AND, because the birth year is 1846, that James is actually William Hairston, the son of John L. Hairston who was born in 1846. 

I will continue to believe that this is Sarah Jane Hairston, not James.  A James is not mentioned in earlier census records. Two other census records indicate that Sarah Jane was born in 1845 while this 1880 census gives her a birth year of 1846. A difference of a year is not a deal breaker for me as I have seen far too many errors on census records to change my mind. 

Sarah Jane Hairston - 1850 U.S. Census Hinds County, Mississippi

Sarah Jane Hairston - 1860 U.S. Census Hinds County, Mississippi - Note the age indicates 1846 for year of birth. 

Sarah Jane Hairston - 1900 U.S. Census Erath County, Texas

So, what happened to Sarah Jane? I can't find a death record or record of her on later census records. She was single in 1900. Did she marry? 

I do have one clue. On a visit to Texas, in 2001, a Thompson descendant shared some photos with me. On the back of a baby picture/postcard of one of Floyd Thompson's sons, Floyd wrote to his mother (Sarah Jane's sister, Martha) about the baby and briefly about life in Baylor County. At the end of the message, he wrote something like"tell me about Aunt Jane." I know that Floyd's sons were born between 1912 and 1916 which means Sarah Jane was living after 1912. I just wish that I had taken more time to document this information during that Texas trip!  

#9 Sarah Jane Hairston

Diana

© 2014

Sources

1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Hinds County, Mississippi, family 714, J. Harston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 16 Feb. 2014).

1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Hinds County, Mississippi, family 616, Phillip A. Hairston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 27 Feb. 2014).

1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Falls County, Texas, Phil Hairston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 27 Feb. 2014).

1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Erath County, Texas, family 616, Phillip A. Hairston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 27 Feb. 2014).