52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #31 Robert Hairston Married Sarah Lang

The solid lines indicate that the connection to the family is documented while
the dotted lines indicate that direct evidence has not yet been found to
make the connection. Click on the family tree to see a larger image.

No Story Too Small

I am a little behind in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. This is post #31 and by Wednesday, I hope to be caught up with post #33. 

Since my last post about John Hairston of Alabama (NOT my great-great-grandfather), three distant relatives mentioned Robert Hairston and Sarah Lang in their email. So, as usual, I had to know more. 

The Hairston History and many Public Trees at Ancestry.com state that John and Ann Robertson are the parents of Hugh Brown Hairston, Robert Hairston and several others. However, no sources were given to verify this information. 

So, I don't know if Robert Hairston and Hugh Brown Hairston were brothers or even the sons of John Hairston and Ann Robertson, but my DNA matches indicate that they were probably related in some way. Note, on my family tree, dotted lines indicate that no direct evidence has been found to make the connection. 

In a 1981 publication of the Texas State Genealogical Society, Maxine Alcorn submitted a transcription of Robert Hairston's family Bible which gives a record of Robert Hairston, his wives, and his children.  Click on this link to The Portal to Texas History to see the two page transcription. 

The will of Ann Robertson Hairston, as found in The Hairston History, gives everything to Sarah Ann Hairston, a granddaughter. According to Robert Hairston's Bible, he had a child named Sarah Ann.  So, what do we know about Sarah Ann? Can this Sarah Ann can be definitively linked to Ann Robertson Hairston?  

Diana

© 2014

Sources 

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

Hairston, Victor , and Edward Bregenzer. The Hairston History.  1998. Print.

Texas State Genealogical Society. Stirpes, Volume 21, Number 3, September 1981, Christine Knox Wood, editor, Journal/Magazine/Newsletter, September 1981; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth29528/ : accessed August 15, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Genealogical Society, Tyler, Texas.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: # 30 NOT MY John L. Hairston

The solid lines indicate that the connection to the family is documented while
the dotted lines indicate that direct evidence has not yet been found to
make the connection. Click on the family tree to see a larger image.

John is a common name in the Hairston family.  My great-great-grandfather, John Lewis Hairston, born about 1812 in South Carolina, is easily confused with a few other John Hairstons of the same generation.

No Story Too Small

My focus today is John Hairston who was born March 22, 1811 in South Carolina. He is frequently confused with my great-great-grandfather, John L. Hairston, and some part of his life often shows up in John L.’s online family trees.  Ed Bregenzer, one of the compilers of The Hairston History, contacted me in February of 2000 as he thought that I was a descendant of this John Hairston (#30).  

I am referring to this John Hairston as (#30) as this is the 30th week of my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge and this will help distinguish him from my great-great-grandfather who I will refer to as John L. 

Three similarities found in the table below show why these two John Hairstons are so easily confused.

According to The Hairston History, this John Hairston (#30) is the son of Robert Hairston and Sarah Lang.  If this is correct, he may be the nephew of Hugh Brown Hairston as both Hugh and Robert are thought to be sons of John Hairston and Anne Mary Robertson.  And, if he is the nephew of Hugh Brown Hairston, then he may very well be the first cousin of my great-great-grandfather, John L. Hairston.

Click see a larger image

John Hairston (#30 with no known middle initial) married Syrene Thompson on October 5, 1835 in Montgomery County, Alabama.  By the 1840s, he was serving as a Justice of the Peace in Macon County, Alabama. 

In 1850 and 1860, John Hairston (#30) was living in Macon County, Alabama with his wife Syrene and children. As Justice of the Peace, he took a statement from Sarah McElhaney Hairston (probable mother of my John L. Hairston) for a pension request in the year 1854.  

In 1870 and 1880, John Hairston (#30) and his wife were living in Lowndes County, Alabama with or near several of their children.  John died on September 18, 1890 and is buried at the Myrtlewood Cemetery in Fort Deposit, Lowndes County with his wife Syrene and some of their children. His will and probate records can be found at FamilySearch. 

It should now be obvious that the John Hairston (#30) of Macon and Lowndes Counties in Alabama and my great-great-grandfather, John L. Hairston, are not one in the same. However, until this year, I believed that this John Hairston (#30) also had a

middle initial of “L.”  Only in online family trees do you see this “L.” On all court, census, and other records found, his name is simply “John Hairston.”

If you have a John Hairston in your family tree at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, or some other site, check your tree to determine if you have combined facts from more than one John Hairston. It is easy to do.  If #30 is YOUR John Hairston, please contact me. I have more to share. 

Diana

© 2014

Sources:

"Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQ8G-P92 : accessed 02 Aug 2014), John Hearston and Syrene Thompson, 05 Oct 1835; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1492030.


"Alabama, Probate Records, 1809-1985," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25316-19407-71?cc=1925446&wc=M6DJ-MM3:220031401,220031402 : accessed 02 Aug 2014), Lowndes > Administration records 1870-1892 vol A > image 42 of 333.

"Alabama, Probate Records, 1809-1985," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25316-18186-63?cc=1925446&wc=M6DJ-MM3:220031401,220031402 : accessed 02 Aug 2014), Lowndes > Administration records 1870-1892 vol A > image 306 of 333.

"Alabama, Probate Records, 1809-1985," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-25313-10602-69?cc=1925446&wc=M6DV-TN5:220031401,220226501 : accessed 02 Aug 2014), Lowndes > Minutes 1870-1938 vol A-B > image 217 of 463.


"Alabama, Probate Records, 1809-1985," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-25313-8034-39?cc=1925446&wc=M6DK-D66:220031401,220386501 : accessed 02 Aug 2014), Lowndes > Wills 1830-1936 > image 394 of 428.

Ancestry.com. Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Ancestry.com. Alabama, Select Marriages, 1816-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2014.

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

Compiled Military Service Record, Phillip R. Hairston, Pvt., Co. G, 21 Alabama Infantry; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama; Record Group 109: Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1762 – 1984; National Archives, Washington, D.C.; digital images, Phillip R. Hairston's file, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 28 July 2014)

Compiled Military Service Record, Richard L. Hairston, Pvt., Co. G, 12 Alabama Infantry; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama; Record Group 109: Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1762 – 1984; National Archives, Washington, D.C.; digital images, Richard L. Hairston's file, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 28 July 2014)

"Find A Grave: Myrtlewood Cemetery." Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials.. Web. 2 Aug. 2014. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSln=Black&GSiman=1&GScid=24840&CRid=24840&pt=Myrtlewood%20Cemetery&>.

"Find A Grave: Pilgrims Rest Cemetery." Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials. Web. 2 Aug. 2014. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSln=hairston&GSiman=1&GScid=25406&CRid=25406&pt=Pilgrims%20Rest%20Cemetery&>.

Hairston, Victor , and Edward Bregenzer. The Hairston History.  1998. Print.

McElheney, William., no. R. 6697; Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, microfilm publication M804 (Washington, D.C. National Archives and Records Service, 1974); digital images, Fold3 (http://www.Fold3.com : accessed 20 July 2014).

"Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-21745-68357-35?cc=1919687&wc=MMYG-KNQ:n1410068766 : accessed 24 Dec 2013), Hinds > County tax rolls 1831-1848, Box 3655 > image 286 of 319.

"Texas Items." Galveston Tri-Weekly News.  13 Apr. 1870, 97 ed.: 1. GenealogyBank.com.

Year: 1850; Census Place: Hinds, Mississippi; Roll: M432_372; Page: 165A; Image: 336.

Year: 1850; Census Place: District 21, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M432_9; Page: 241A; Image: 101.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Hinds, Mississippi; Roll: M653_582; Page: 674; Image: 206; Family History Library Film: 803582. 

Year: 1860; Census Place: Southern Division, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M653_14; Page: 786; Image: 305; Family History Library Film: 803014.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Calhoun, Lowndes, Alabama; Roll: M593_25; Page: 437A; Image: 497; Family History Library Film: 545524.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Falls, Texas; Roll: 1302; Family History Film: 1255302; Page: 190B; Enumeration District: 038.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Fort Deposit, Lowndes, Alabama; Roll: 20; Family History Film: 1254020; Page: 117A; Enumeration District: 106; Image: 0536.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Parkers and Brenton, Escambia, Alabama; Roll: 12; Family History Film: 1254012; Page: 191B; Enumeration District: 076.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Fort Deposit, Lowndes, Alabama; Roll: 26; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0077; FHL microfilm: 1240026.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Sandy Ridge, Lowndes, Alabama; Roll: 27; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0080; FHL microfilm: 1240027.

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.

Will My Real Great-Great-Grandfather Please Stand Up!

Sometimes I feel like I am playing that old game show "To Tell the Truth" when looking for my great-great grandfather, John L. Hairston. Three or more John L. Hairstons claim to be my great-great-grandfather and a panel (myself and other Hairston researchers) ask questions and vote as to which one is my great-great-grandfather. Once the votes are cast, the host asks, "Will Diana's real great-great-grandfather please stand up?" 

My great-grandfather, Phillip A. Hairston

I know that John L. Hairston was my great-great-grandfather as I found him as the father of my great-grandfather, Phillip A. Hairston, in the 1880 census of Falls County, Texas. My John L. Hairston was one of at least three John L. Hairstons living during his lifespan. 

From my great-grandfather, Phillip A. Hairston's, obituary, I knew that the John L. Hairston family lived in Hinds County, Mississippi prior to moving to Falls County. I found my John L. Hairston in Hinds County in both 1850 and 1860. However, I was unable to identify his parents. 

After posting a query on a Hairston message board in the late 1990s, I was contacted by Ed Bregenzer.  He was a Hairston family researcher (but not a Hairston) and he and Victor Hairston had compiled The Hairston History. Ed knew all about my John L. Hairston. He believed that my John L. Hairston was the son of Robert Hairston and Sarah Lang who married Syrene Thompson. This John L. Hairston also had a son, Phillip. 

Well, my John L. and Ed's John L. were both born in South Carolina in about 1811 or 1812, but they were not one in the same as Ed's John L. remained in Alabama until at least 1880. 

Weeks later, Ed again contacted me. He and Vic had conferred and thought that I should look at John Lewis Hairston, son of Hugh Brown Hairston.  

In The Hairston History, the following was written about John Lewis Hairston, son of Hugh Brown Hairston.

 "Note: ! We think, November 2000, that this is the John L. Hairston that first left Georgia, most likely went into Alabama and from there traveled to Arkansas for a short period of time and at least by 1853 was in Hinds County Mississippi. Later, from there he went into Texas. 

No exact proof that this is the correct John L. Hairston, but it is the last John L. Hairston that we haven't eliminated as being the correct person."

I have not been able to prove that my John L. Hairston is the son of Hugh Brown Hairston and neither did Ed or Vic. However, more than 50 Public Member trees at Ancestry.com say that it is so. J

If John L. Hairston is the son of Hugh Brown Hairston, his grandfather is also John L. Hairston. John L. would have had several cousins and an uncle named John; at least one was John L. 

So, if I were one of the panelists on that game show, here are ten questions that I would ask the contestants.  

1. Who were your parents? 

2. Was your son Phillip A. Hairston (and what was Phillip's middle name)?

3. Who were your wives? 

4. Was one of your wives Native American?

5. Were you the John L. Hairston who received land in the Georgia Cherokee Land Lottery of 1832? Or, was that your grandfather?

6. Were you the Lewis Hairston who was arrested, in Butts County, with James M. Hairston (son of Hugh B. Hairston) for gambling in the dance house in 1831?

7. What became of your children?

 8. Was anyone hurt in the house fire in 1870?

9. When and where did your parents die? 

10. Who was the James Hairston who died, at age 36, in Falls County in 1905?

I have more questions and some, including many of the above, can never be answered. On a positive note, autosomal DNA results and some new clues found by browsing tax records at FamilySearch.org lead me to believe that I should continue looking at the Hugh Brown Hairston family. 

Meanwhile, will Diana's real great-great-grandfather please stand up? OR, at least stand out!

Diana

© 2013
_________________________________________________________________

Sources:

Ancestry.com. Georgia Cherokee Land Lottery, 1832 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

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

Georgia. Inferior Court (Butts County). Inferior court minutes 1826-1850, Butts County, Georgia. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1958. Microfilm.

"Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-21745-68357-35?cc=1919687&wc=MMYG-KNQ:n1410068766 : accessed 24 Dec 2013), Hinds > County tax rolls 1831-1848, Box 3655 > image 286 of 319.

Hairston, James, Report of Death no. 26188 (1905), County Clerk, Texas, Falls County. 

Hairston, Victor , and Edward Bregenzer. The Hairston History.  1998. Print.

"Texas Items." Galveston Tri-Weekly News.  13 Apr. 1870, 97 ed.: 1. GenealogyBank.com.

Year: 1850; Census Place: Hinds, Mississippi; Roll: M432_372; Page: 165A; Image: 336.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Hinds, Mississippi; Roll: M653_582; Page: 674; Image: 206; Family History Library Film: 803582.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Fort Deposit, Lowndes, Alabama; Roll: 20; Family History Film: 1254020; Page: 117A; Enumeration District: 106; Image: 0536.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Falls, Texas; Roll: 1302; Family History Film: 1255302; Page: 190B; Enumeration District: 038.