#52ancestors: Post One - 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.

Today, I joined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge and this week’s prompt is to "start." I joined this challenge in 2014 and wrote 52 posts about John L. Hairston, his family, and possible ancestors. The above chart shows the family members I researched. 

I plan to focus on the Hairston family during this challenge as well, however; my format will change as this year Amy has writing prompts which will have me looking harder at my research.  

I am excited about this challenge as I have more Hairston family who still need their stories told and new information to add to those I researched previously. 

Today's post is a timeline of what I have learned about the life of my great-great-grandfather, John Lewis Hairston. This is a repeat of my post dated December 31, 2014, with only a few added facts. New information, documenting his time in Hinds County, is followed by an asterisk (*). 

1812 - #52 John Lewis Hairston was born about 1812 in South Carolina. If his parents are #11 Hugh Brown Hairston and #29 Sarah McElhaney, he was probably born in Abbeville. 

1820 - Hugh B. Hairston and family were thought to be living in Elbert County, Georgia in 1820 as H. B. Hearston was found on that county's 1820 United States census record. Those thought to be the children of Hugh B. Hairston and Sarah McElhaney are #26 James McElhaney, John Lewis, #22 Robert, #25 Vinson (also seen as Vincent), #12 Sam (also seen as Samuel), #18 Rebecca, #15 Jane, and #14 Mary.

A true return of the children of the 19th
Company District between the ages of 8 and 18
whose parents have not paid a tax of fifty cents
May 19, 1823

1823 - In 1823, John L. Hairston was found on a list of students whose parents had not paid a school tax in Elbert County, Georgia.  Listed with John L. was a James M. Hairston and a Rebecca A. Hairston also thought to be the children of Hugh Brown Hairston. #27 William T. Hairston was unknown prior to this record.

1832 - John L. Hairston, along with Hugh Brown Hairston, of Butts County, were granted land in the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery. 

1835 -  J. L. Hairston and H. B. Hairston shared a note due to be paid on the estate of Sterling Camp, of Butts County, on July 1, 1835.

1836 - J. L. Hairston and H. B. Hairston shared a note due to be paid on the estate of Sterling Camp on December 25, 1836.

1838 - In Meriwether County, Georgia, John L. Hairston sold land situated in Butts County, Georgia to his said to be brother, James M. Hairston of Meriwether County, on November 8, 1838.  

1839 - Hugh Brown Hairston owned the north-east half of Lot 81 in the 1st District of Butts County while John L. Hairston owned the adjoining South-West half of Lot 81. In May of 1839, this land was auctioned to pay debts owed to John Hall and others. 

1840 - Daughter, #20 Mary Hairston was born between 1840 and 1842 in Arkansas.

1843 - Daughter, Permelia Hairston was born on March 15, 1843, in Bradley County, Arkansas.

1845 - Daughter, #9 Sarah Jane Hairston was born in Arkansas.

1846 - Son, #8 William Hairston was born in about 1846. He is only found, at age four, on the 1850 census of Hinds County, Mississippi. 

From the Hinds County Tax Rolls - 1848

1847 John L. Hairston and said to be brothers, Vinson and Robert Hairston, paid taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. Robert and Vinson paid the $.50 required of each male. John paid the $.50 and tax of $1.20 on "two slaves under the age of sixty."

1848  John L. Hairston and said to be brothers Vinson and Robert Hairston paid taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. They owned no property, but males between the ages of 20 and 50 were taxed $.50. 

1849 - Daughter, # 10 Adeline Hairston, was born about 1849 in Mississippi. She is last found on the 1860 census with her family in Hinds County. 

1850 - John L. Hairston appeared with family on the 1850 United States census record in Hinds County, Mississippi. His wife was named as Eliza (#51).

Phillip A. Hairston with wife,
Lodema Criswell and daughter, Myrtie
about 1892

1852 - Son, #7 Phillip A. Hairston was born May 17, 1852, in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

1855 - On December 8, 1855, John L. Hairston purchased land in Hinds County for $300 from Dudley D. Williams – both parties were residents of Hinds County. 

The land consisted of 79 and 96/100s acres described as the west half of the NE quarter of section 17, township 3 and range 3 in Hinds County. This plus the adjacent land purchased in 1857 gave John L. Hairston approximately 120 acres of land which he sold to George W. Prince in 1865.*

1856 - As reported in the Hinds County Gazette (Raymond, Mississippi), John L. Hairston had five stray sheep that were to be sold at an auction at the Court House in the town of Raymond.*

1857 - Land was purchased from Thomas Mount on January 10, 1857 and a final payment to Clementine Mount (widow of Thomas Mount) on Feb. 2, 1857. Described as 40 acres at South half of the east half of the northeast quarter 17 township 3 range 3 west.*

1858 - Daughter, #34 Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hairston was born on August 2, 1858.

1860 - John L. Hairston appeared with family on the 1860 United States census record in Hinds County, Mississippi.

1861 - John Lewis Hairston paid taxes on 120 acres of land valued at $480 in Hinds County.

1863 - The Hairston family lived in an area where heavy fighting occurred during the Civil War. Newspapers describe destitution and suffering. After one occurrence of fighting in May, it was said over 900 were wounded in the town of Raymond. No mention of casualties.*

The location of the Hairston family's home in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

1864 - Mary Hairston married # 21 Thomas B. Gilbert in Hinds County on September 19, 1864.

1865 - Permelia Hairston married Joseph Sidney Noah on June 11, 1865, in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

On October 10, 1865, John L. Hairston and his wife Louiza of Hinds County sold land to George W. Prince, also of Hinds County, for $600. 

1867 - On June 3, land in Hinds County, belonging to J. L. Hairston, was sold at a Sheriff Sale to satisfy a debt.* 

Clearly written as Hairston - November 3, 1870

1868 - John L. Hairston married Cynthia H. Moffitt on Sept. 21, 1868, in Falls County, TX. In a transcription of the faded ink in the courthouse marriage book, John L. Hairston was written as John L. Houston. His name, along with his wife Cynthia, in later land records confirmed that John L. Houston was indeed John L. Hairston. 

February 13, 1869

1869 – Cynthia Hairston sold land to Harris Kay at Blue Ridge in Falls County, TX on February 13, 1869.  John L. Hairston signed the deed.  

The Houston Telegraph, April 14, 1870

1870 – On April 2, 1870, the Hairston home was consumed by fire. John L. Hairston, Phillip A. Hairston, Mattie Hairston, and the Noah family cannot be found on the 1870 census. John's daughter, Mary Gilbert, and her husband and children were living near Marlin and his wife, Cynthia, was living in Marlin. 

1872 - According to his obituary, Phillip A. Hairston was married to #17 Lodema Walker Criswell on January 3, 1872, in Falls County, Texas. 

1873 - Permelia Hairston Noah reported on her application for a Confederate pension that her husband, Joseph Sidney Noah, died in 1873 in Falls County. It is said by family that Joseph Sidney was kicked in the head by a mule, resulting in his death. 

1875 - Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hairston married #44 James C. Chisum on November 4, 1875, in Falls County.

The Hairston Family in 1880

1880 – The 1880 U. S. Census showed John L. Hairston living with son, Philip Hairston, and other family members in Falls County. Cynthia Hairston (spelled Houston) was living with or near her son.

1881 - A release of land on the waters of Bushy Creek, to John L. Hairston on November 1, 1881, was found in the Falls County Courthouse. This was not filed until 1887.

1883 - Phillip A. Hairston and wife, Lodema, sold land to L. Jeeks of Limestone County, TX on September 5, 1883. This land was on Bushy Creek in Falls County. Phillip, Permelia, Mattie, their families, and probably Sarah Jane moved to Erath County at the end of the year. 

No record was found indicating that John L. Hairston had died, remained in Falls County, or moved to Erath with his family.  

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

1820 U S Census; Census Place: Talom, Elbert, Georgia; Page: 182; NARA Roll: M33_8; Image: 127.

1830 US Census; Census Place:  Butts, Georgia; Page: 163; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 16; Family History Film: 0007036. 

1840 US Census Place: Meriwether, Georgia; Roll: 46; Page: 138; Image: 866; Family History Library Film: 0007045.

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. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

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.

Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

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

"Butts Sheriff's Sales." Macon Weekly Telegraph.  Macon, Georgia. 16Apr. 1839, 29 issue: 4. GenealogyBank.com.

Deed of Sale from John L. Hairston and Luiza Hairston to Geo. W. Prince, 10 Oct. 1865. (filed 15 Nov. 1865), Hinds County, Mississippi, Deed Book 28, page 697. Chancery Clerk's Office, Raymond, Mississippi.

Deed of Sale from John Lewis Hairston to James M. Hairston, 8 Nov. 1838. Meriwether County, Georgia. Copy of the original deed obtained from Billy G. Hairston on July 28, 2000. 

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn. 

First Landowners Project (HistoryGeo.com). Web. 8 Jan. 2018. <http://www.historygeo.com>

"Georgia, Elbert County Records, 1790-2002," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-22905-22001-61?cc=2071974&wc=M77F-9P6:355761601,355829101 : accessed 07 Jul 2014), Court records > Court records-poor schools box 5 1802-1950 > image 49 of 511.

Google Maps. 32°06'06.1"N 90°31'13.4" Web. 8 Jan. 2018. <https://www.google.com/maps/place/32%C2%B006'06.1%22N+90%C2%B031'13.4%22W/@32.2121475,-90.7785702,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d32.1016987!4d-90.5203915

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

Houston, John L. and Moffitt, Cynthia, Falls County Marriages, County Clerk's Office, Marlin, Texas.

"Latest from Jackson." 19 May 1863, Page 1 - Richmond Dispatch at Newspapers.com. Web. 8 Jan. 2018. <https://www.newspapers.com/image/79768439/?terms=wounded>

Lucas, S. Emmett, and Edward E. Schaick. Some Georgia county records, Vol. 3. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1977-2000. Print.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission; Austin, Texas; Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975; Collection #: CPA16526; Roll #: 183; Roll Description: Pension File Nos. 41391 to 41425, Application Years 1921 to 1925.

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: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 2, Falls, Texas; Roll: M593_1584; Page: 27A; Image: 57; Family History Library Film: 553083

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #52 John Lewis Hairston - A Timeline

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

1812 - #52 John Lewis Hairston was born about 1812 in South Carolina. If his parents are said to be #11 Hugh Brown Hairston and #29 Sarah McElhaney, he was probably born in Abbeville. 

1820 - Hugh B. Hairston and family were thought to be living in Elbert County, Georgia in 1820 as H. B. Hearston was found on that county's 1820 United States census record. Those thought to be the children of Hugh B. Hairston and Sarah McElhaney are #26 James McElhaney, John Lewis, #22 Robert, #25 Vinson (also seen as Vincent), #12 Sam (also seen as Samuel), #18 Rebecca, #15 Jane, and #14 Mary.

A true return of the children of the 19th
Company District between the ages of 8 and 18
whose parents have not paid a tax of fifty cents
May 19, 1823

1823 - In 1823, John L. Hairston was found on a list of students whose parents had not paid a school tax in Elbert County, Georgia.  Listed with John L. was a James M. Hairston and a Rebecca A. Hairston also thought to be the children of Hugh Brown Hairston. #27 William T. Hairston was unknown prior to this record.

1832 - John L. Hairston, along with Hugh Brown Hairston, of Butts County, were granted land in the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery. 

1835 -  J. L. Hairston and H. B. Hairston shared a note due to be paid on the estate of Sterling Camp, of Butts County, on July 1, 1835.

1836 - J. L. Hairston and H. B. Hairston shared a note due to be paid on the estate of Sterling Camp on December 25, 1836.

1838 - In Meriwether County, Georgia, John L. Hairston sold land situated in Butts County, Georgia to his said to be brother, James M. Hairston of Meriwether County, on November 8, 1938.  

1839 - Hugh Brown Hairston owned the north-east half of Lot 81 in the 1st District of Butts County while John L. Hairston owned the adjoining South-West half of Lot 81. In May of 1839 this land was auctioned to pay debts owed to John Hall and others. 

1840 - Daughter, #20 Mary Hairston was born between 1840 and 1842 in Arkansas.

1843 - Daughter, Permelia Hairston was born on March 15, 1843 in Bradley County, Arkansas.

1845 - Daughter, #9 Sarah Jane Hairston was born in Arkansas.

1846 - Son, #8 William Hairston was born in about 1846. He is only found, at age four, on the 1850 census of Hinds County, Mississippi. 

From the Hinds County Tax Rolls - 1848

1847 John L. Hairston and said to be brothers, Vinson and Robert Hairston, paid taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. Robert and Vinson paid the $.50 required of each male. John paid the $.50 and tax of $1.20 on "two slaves under the age of sixty."

1848  John L. Hairston and said to be brothers Vinson and Robert Hairston paid taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. They owned no property, but males between the ages of 20 and 50 were taxed $.50. 

1849 - Daughter, # 10 Adeline Hairston, was born about 1849 in Mississippi. She is last found on the 1860 census with her family in Hinds County. 

1850 - John L. Hairston appeared with family on the 1850 United States census record in Hinds County, Mississippi. His wife was named as Eliza (#51).

Phillip A. Hairston with wife,
Lodema Criswell and daughter, Myrtie
about 1892

1852 - Son, #7 Phillip A. Hairston was born May 17, 1852 in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

1855 - On December 8, 1855, John L. Hairston purchased land in Hinds County for $300 from Dudley D. Williams – both parties were residents of Hinds County.

1858 - Daughter, #34 Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hairston was born on August 2, 1858.

1860 - John L. Hairston appeared with family on the 1860 United States census record in Hinds County, Mississippi.

1861 - John Lewis Hairston paid taxes on 120 acres of land valued at $480 in Hinds County.

1864 - Mary Hairston married # 21 Thomas B. Gilbert in Hinds County on September 19, 1864.

1865 - Permelia Hairston married Joseph Sidney Noah on June 11, 1865 in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

On October 10, 1865, John L. Hairston and his wife Louiza of Hinds County sold land to George W. Prince, also of Hinds County, for $600. 

Clearly written as Hairston - November 3, 1870

1868 - John L. Hairston married Cynthia H. Moffitt on Sept. 21, 1868 in Falls County, TX. In a transcription of the faded ink in the courthouse marriage book, John L. Hairston was written as John L. Houston. His name, along with his wife Cynthia, in later land records confirmed that John L. Houston was indeed John L. Hairston. 

February 13, 1869

1869 – Cynthia Hairston sold land to Harris Kay at Blue Ridge in Falls County, TX on February 13, 1869.  John L. Hairston signed the deed.  

The Houston Telegraph, April 14, 1870

1870 – On April 2, 1870, the Hairston home was consumed by fire. John L. Hairston, Phillip A. Hairston, Mattie Hairston, and the Noah family cannot be found on the 1870 census. John's daughter, Mary Gilbert, and her husband and children were living near Marlin and his wife, Cynthia, was living in Marlin. 

1872 - According to his obituary, Phillip A. Hairston was married to #17 Lodema Walker Criswell on January 3, 1872 in Falls County, Texas. 

1873 - Permelia Hairston Noah reported on her application for a Confederate pension that her husband, Joseph Sidney Noah, died in 1873 in Falls County. It is said by family that Joseph Sidney was kicked in the head by a mule, resulting in his death. 

1875 - Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hairston married #44 James C. Chisum on November 4, 1875 in Falls County.

The Hairston Family in 1880

1880 – The 1880 U. S. Census showed John L. Hairston living with son, Philip Hairston, and other family members in Falls County. Cynthia Hairston (spelled Houston) was living with or near her son.

1881 - A release of land on the waters of Bushy Creek, to John L. Hairston on November 1, 1881, was found in the Falls County Courthouse. This was not not filed until 1887.

1883 - Phillip A. Hairston and wife, Lodema, sold land to L. Jeeks of Limestone County, TX on September 5, 1883. This land was on Bushy Creek in Falls County. Phillip, Permelia, Mattie, their families, and probably Sarah Jane moved to Erath County at the end of the year. 

No record was found indicating that John L. Hairston had died, remained in Falls County, or moved to Erath with his family.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By participating in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, my goal was to prove or disprove the theory that Hugh B. Hairston was the father of John L. Hairston. I have not done so, but know that I have enough indirect evidence to see that there is a definite connection between the two.  

This is not all of the information that I have collected about John L. Hairston.  I know that I will find even more and will add to this timeline in later posts. 

These Hairston posts will continue beyond the 52 ancestors.  Check out my next post, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: I Completed the Challenge!!

Diana

© 2014

Sources

1820 U S Census; Census Place: Talom, Elbert, Georgia; Page: 182; NARA Roll: M33_8; Image: 127.

1830 US Census; Census Place:  Butts, Georgia; Page: 163; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 16; Family History Film: 0007036. 

1840 US Census Place: Meriwether, Georgia; Roll: 46; Page: 138; Image: 866; Family History Library Film: 0007045.

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. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

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.

Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

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

"Butts Sheriff's Sales." Macon Weekly Telegraph.  Macon, Georgia. 16Apr. 1839, 29 issue: 4. GenealogyBank.com.

Deed of Sale from John L. Hairston and Luiza Hairston to Geo. W. Prince, 10 Oct. 1865. (filed 15 Nov. 1865), Hinds County, Mississippi, Deed Book 28, page 697. Chancery Clerk's Office, Raymond, Mississippi.

Deed of Sale from John Lewis Hairston to James M. Hairston, 8 Nov. 1838. Meriwether County, Georgia . Copy of the original deed obtained from Billy G. Hairston on July 28, 2000. 

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn. 

"Georgia, Elbert County Records, 1790-2002," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-22905-22001-61?cc=2071974&wc=M77F-9P6:355761601,355829101 : accessed 07 Jul 2014), Court records > Court records-poor schools box 5 1802-1950 > image 49 of 511.

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

Houston, John L. and Moffitt, Cynthia, Falls County Marriages, County Clerk's Office, Marlin, Texas.

Lucas, S. Emmett, and Edward E. Schaick. Some Georgia county records, Vol. 3. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1977-2000. Print.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission; Austin, Texas; Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975; Collection #: CPA16526; Roll #: 183; Roll Description: Pension File Nos. 41391 to 41425, Application Years 1921 to 1925.

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: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 2, Falls, Texas; Roll: M593_1584; Page: 27A; Image: 57; Family History Library Film: 553083

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.