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: #29 Sarah McElhaney Hairston might be my Great-Great-Great-Grandmother.

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

According to Mary Lee Anderson's manuscript, Volume II The WHITAKER and Related Families, Sarah McElhaney (also spelled McElheney, McIlheney, and McElhenney) was the wife of Hugh Brown Hairston. Many of their said to be children were born in South Carolina so it would be safe to assume that they married in South Carolina. However, on-line sources, many rolls of microfilm, and numerous volumes at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City failed to reveal this marriage in South Carolina or Georgia.

Although I have never seen Sarah McElhany Hairston paired with Hugh Brown Hairston on any record, I believe that I found her in two census records living with some of those said to be Hairston children. 

• In 1850, Sarah Hurston is living in Macon County, Alabama with Venceant (probably #25 Vinson/Vincent Hurston) and Robert Hurston (#22). Mary Stallings (#14) was found just below Sarah and her sons. Sarah, born in South Carolina, was 53 years old giving her a birth year of 1797. 

• In 1870, Sarah Harston was 80 years old and living in Lee County, Alabama. This time, the birth year was 1790. Sarah was again reported to have been born in South Carolina. She was living with V. Hairston (maybe #25) and three Stolling children (could that be Stalling?). 

Sarah can't be found in the 1860 census. Sons Robert and Vinson continued to live in Macon County.  In 1854, Sarah was in Macon County when she gave information to Justice of the Peace John Hairston (NOT my great-great-grandfather, John L. Hairston) about her parents.  This document is transcribed below.

Georgia

State Alabama

Macon County

Personally before one John Hierston a Justice of the Peace for said County came Sarah Hurston who being sworn says she knew  William McElhany and his wife Rebecca (whose maiden name was Rebecca Coleman) as far back as the year seventeen hundred and ninety five That she always understood they were legally married in the State of Georgia sometime in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty seven and they til their death lived together as man and wife.  That the said William McElhaney died in the year Eighteen hundred and forty and was reported to be a soldier of the revolution and filed his application for pension therefore and his wife died the 15th of April Eighteen hundred and fifty three {ink blot – might be “and maintained”} a family of many children while living as man and wife.

Sarah Hairston {her signature}

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30^th day of September 1854.

John Hairston J.P. {his signature}

If William and Rebecca were her parents, Sarah was entitled to the pension if it could be proved that her father was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. As both parents were deceased, was this her request for the pension? I may never know the answer to this question, but I do know that I should look into the McElhaney/McElhenney/McElheney family. If Sarah McElhaney Hairston is my great-great-great-grandmother, then maybe, William McElhaney and Rebecca Coleman are my great-great-great-great-grandparents.

Diana

© 2014

Sources:
Anderson, Mary Lee. Volume II The WHITAKER and Related Families. Date unknown. Print and online. 

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).

Year: 1850; Census Place: District 21, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M432_9; Page: 276B; Image: 173.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Northern Division, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M653_14; Page: 842; Image: 361; Family History Library Film: 803014.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Loachapoka, Lee, Alabama; Roll: M593_23; Page: 305A; Image: 184; Family History Library Film: 545522.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #25 Vinson Hairston

My current theory is that the Hugh Brown Hairston family moved from Butts County, Georgia to Meriwether County, Georgia by 1840. Hugh Brown Hairston might have died in the 1840s and his wife and children may have moved to Hinds County, Mississippi where possible older son, John L. Hairston was living. Or maybe Hugh Brown died in Hinds County. By 1850 some of the family moved back to Alabama and mother, Sarah McElhaney Hairston, remained there until her death between 1870 and 1880. 

Note that this is just a theory and not entirely factual.  However, the key to this theory is #25 of my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Vinson Hairston. He was said to be the son of Hugh Brown Hairston and Sarah McElhaney and is consistently found with said to be Hugh Brown Hairston family members. 

No Story Too Small

Vinson Hairston has been found as Vince, Vincent, Vinceton, and V. This less than common Hairston family name has been extremely helpful in the sea of John, Robert, and Mary Hairstons.

A Vincient Herston was living in Meriwether County with six other family members in 1840. At 16, he would have been the oldest male child living at home. There was one male over 50 living in the household. Was that his father? Other family members also lived in Meriwether County.  I know that John L., my great-great-grandfather, sold land to his brother James M. in Meriwether County. And, a John and a James M. were living in that same county in 1840.

1848 Tax Rolls - Hinds County, MS

In 1847, John L. Hirston, Robert Hirston, V Hirston, and Alexander M. Hirston paid county taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. The only Hairstons listed on the 1848 tax rolls of Hinds County were John L., Vincent, and Robert. 

John L. Hairston lived in Hinds County with his wife and children in 1850 while Robert, Vinson, Sarah (their mother), and sister Mary's family lived in Macon, Alabama. A Vince Hairston, along with a Robert Hairston, were farmers, living together in Macon County in 1860. 

In 1870, a V. Hairston was living with three Stallings children (probably the children of sister Mary) and his mother, Sarah, in Lee County, Alabama. 

A 60 year old Vince Hurston was living with Tim and Amy Roberts and daughter, Amanda on the 1880 census of  Tallapoosa, Alabama. Also in that household were Jane Cook (sister to Vinson) and Henry Stallings (his nephew).

That 1880 census is the last mention that I find of Vinson Hairston. However, according to census records, he and/or other family members owned land. I will be researching the land records in July so I am sure that this is not the last that you will see of Vinson Hairston. 

  

Diana

© 2014

Sources "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.

Year: 1850; Census Place: District 21, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M432_9; Page: 276B; Image: 173.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Northern Division, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M653_14; Page: 842; Image: 361; Family History Library Film: 803014.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Loachapoka, Lee, Alabama; Roll: M593_23; Page: 305A; Image: 184; Family History Library Film: 545522.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Kinderhook, Tallapoosa, Alabama; Roll: 33; Family History Film: 1254033; Page: 419A; Enumeration District: 146; Image: 0445.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #22 Robert Hairston of Alabama

No Story Too Small

According to Mary Lee Anderson's The WHITAKERS and Related Families, Robert Hairston is one of five boys born to Hugh Brown Hairston and Sarah McElhaney.  If my math is correct, Robert was born about 1827 and U. S. census records indicate that he was born in Georgia or South Carolina.

It is difficult to pinpoint a Robert as this Robert Hairston without him being with family. There a number of Robert Houstons, Hustons, Hurstons, Herstons, Hairstones, Hirstons, and Hairstons living in the south. 

Robert Hirston {Hairston} was first found in a 1847 list of taxpayers in Hinds County, Mississippi along with John L., V., and Alexander M. Hirston.  John L. and V. are thought to be his brothers.

In 1850, 23 year old Robert is in Macon County, Alabama with 53 year old Sarah (probably his mother) and 26 year old Vinceant Hurston {Vinson Hairston}. 

In 1860 Robert Huston was living in Macon County along with Vincton Huston {Vinson Hairston} and W. W. Hudson. Robert was listed as the head of the family and as a land owner. 

Robert is not found after 1860. Did he serve in the Civil War? Did he remain in Alabama? Did he marry? All of these questions require much more research. Land and probate records for Macon were searched several years ago. They might need a second look. Other county records, both Macon and surrounding counties, are on my research list. 

Diana

© 2014

Sources:
Anderson, Mary Lee. Volume II The WHITAKER and Related Families. Date unknown. Print and online. 

"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.

Year: 1850; Census Place: District 21, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M432_9; Page: 276B; Image: 173.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Northern Division, Macon, Alabama; Roll: M653_14; Page: 842; Image: 361; Family History Library Film: 803014.