New nuggets on John P. McKinney

John P. McKinney was married to Mary Ann Green, Britta Green's aunt or sister or cousin or mother.

In most censuses John is listed as a carpenter or laborer ("works in wagon shop"), so I wondered why he was in Shelby County with neighbors like David McClanahan and Abemiluk Brasher. McClanahan was a lawyer and owned a hotel. Well, now I know.

He was a farmer, too, and raised crops.

The first time we see John is in the 1850 Census:

In the 1850 US Census for AL, John McKinnie is in Shelby County. He is born about 1811, 39, a carpenter, born SC. Cannot read or write. Also in the household are  Mary Ann (Green), 28, born NC, Isabella, 9, Mary, 8, Josephean (girl), 6, Jane, 4, Abraham, 1. All the children are born AL. Also Nancy Greene, 56, NC, and Beauty Ann McKinnie, 16, born AL. Neighbors include David McClanahan, his wife Carolyn Reeves, Sarah Elliott, a midwife; Berry Rea (possible kin to James Rea in 1860 Jeff Co, neighbors to the McGuires), Edmon Crumpton (who married Matilda Williams whose in-laws include Greens), Abemiluk Brasher, Samuel Brasher, Parnell, John Gardner, William Porter, Gooch, Holcomb, Roper, Logan, Horton, Morgan, Allen, Johnson, Nelson, Weaver, Nabors, McCormick, Lawley.

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=8054&iid=4191539-00660&fn=John+P&ln=McKinnie&st=d&ssrc=&pid=16778612

In August 2013 when I visited the Bibb County Courthouse, I found the following:

"The State of Alabama @ Shelby County. Whereas I am indebted to B. J. Pope (Pape??) and John McClanahan one hundred dollars at three and six months from this date secured by two promissory notes at fifty dollars each which said debt I am anxious to secure, therefore and in consideration of the of the premises as well as and in consideration of one dollar to me to me in hand paid by William G. Bowdon, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain and sell to said Bowdon in trust my present growing crop — consisting of corn and cotton, to have and to hold the same in trust until default be made in the payment of the sums aforesaid; then upon the application of the same Pope and McClanahan or either of them the said Bowdon shall seize and sell the crop aforesaid giving ten days' notice of the time and place of said sale and apply a sufficiency of the proceeds thereof to the payment of the debts aforesaid; but should the same be punctually paid then this obligation to be void. Witnesseth my hand and seal 21st June 1847. John P. McKinney {Seal}"

Man, that is one long, run-on sentence!

John McClanahan was BMOC lawyer in Shelby County. William G. Bowdon was a probate judge in Shelby County. I have no idea who B. J. Pope is.

In addition, if you look at the 1850 Agriculture Schedule  in Ancestry's database Selected U.S. Federal Non-Population Schedules 1850 - 1880, you'll find John McKinney on Page 32 of 42. The entry looks like "John P. McKinsy," but it's clearly him. His entry corresponds to the "McKinnie" placement in the 1850 Population Schedule near David McClanahan, Elliot, Grady, Morrison, Brasher, etc.

So he's farming. His entry lists 40 unimproved acres worth $50, $10 of farm implements, three horses, four cows, two cattle, 36 pigs, 175 bushels of corn, 60 bushels of oats, and so on.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/1276/32786_1220706416_0028-00655?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d1276%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=32786_1220706416_0028-00686

New information, better understanding of the life he led. Which may lead me to Britta!!!!

Mrs. Nancy Smitherman Garner Green

These are the facts that outline Nancy's life:

1. Nancy was the daughter of Thomas Smitherman, Sr., of Randolph County, NC. Margie Smitherman says, "To my knowledge the only heirs of THOMAS SMITHERMAN SR. were: John Smitherman, William Smitherman, Thomas Smitherman, Samuel W Smitherman, Andrew Smitherman, Jesse Smitherman, Sarah Smitherman Bolling wife of George Bolling, Nancy Smitherman Garner wife of Andrew Garner and Elizabeth Smitherman. These heirs were listed in the deed where the heirs of Thomas Smitherman of Randolph Co., NC sold property to John George Poindexter and wife Mary Carr Poindexter of Surry Co., NC."

http://boards.ancestrylibrary.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=1&p=surnames.smotherman

2. Nancy married Andrew Garner in Randolph County, NC, on August 9, 1814. Thomas Smitherman was the bondsman, Jesse Harper was the witness. 

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=ncmarr1741&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsln=smitherman&dbOnly=_F00076FC%7c_F00076FC_x%2c_F00076FD%7c_F00076FD_x%2c_F00076FE%7c_F00076FE_x%2c_F00076FF%7c_F00076FF_x%2c_F0007701%7c_F0007701_x&uidh=000&mssns0=garner&pcat=34&fh=0&h=1140896&recoff=7+27&ml_rpos=1

3. She had a son named William with Andrew. William was born about 1816 in North Carolina. 

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1850usfedcenancestry&h=17073923&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt&ssrc=pt_t18691802_p1302924686_kpidz0q3d1302924686z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid

4. In the 1830 U.S. Census for NC, Andrew Garner lives in Bibb County. In the household is one male 10 - 15 (Andrew), one male 30 - 40 (Andrew), and one female 30 - 40 (Nancy). Neighbors: Oakley, Fryer, Johnson, David Ward, Leath, Claybaugh, Davis, Johnson, Brown, Walker, Wilson, Carleton, Henson, Barnett, Fancher. 

http://interactive.ancestry.com/8058/4410702_00306/1822370?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fMS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3d1830usfedcenancestry%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln%3dgarner%26gsln_x%3d1%26msrpn__ftp%3dAlabama%252c%2bUSA%26msrpn%3d3%26msrpn_PInfo%3d5-%257c0%257c1652393%257c0%257c2%257c3246%257c3%257c0%257c0%257c0%257c0%257c%26msrpn_x%3dXO%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD5%257c_F0006BD5_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD6%257c_F0006BD6_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD7%257c_F0006BD7_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD4%257c_F0006BD4_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BD3%257c_F0006BD3_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006BC0%257c_F0006BC0_x%26uidh%3dwy5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

5. Andrew Garner died in 1837 and left everything to his widow Nancy and son William. Nancy was the administratrix. The will was dated and signed July 14, 1837. Joseph Lawley, James Samples, John Tanner, attestors. 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-23189-23237-76?cc=1978117&wc=M93Q-ML7:n1265025749

and 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-23189-23246-79?cc=1978117&wc=M93Q-ML7:n1265025749

6. On September 21, 1837, Nancy married Joseph Green of Bibb County. Joseph Lawley was the bondsman. 

https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/show#uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.familysearch.org%2Frecords%2Fpal%3A%2FMM9.3.1%2FTH-1-9821-31620-59%3Fcc%3D1743384

7. On October 21, 1837,  Nancy and Olive Garner renounced their dower rights to a piece of land in Bibb County sold by Joseph Green and William Garner to Chamblin Davis. Document from Bibb County Courthouse. William Chastain attested.

Digression: Boy, that was fast! Nancy became Andrew Garner's widow in July, married Joseph Green, a man barely 1/2 her age in September, and sold a piece of land in October. What impression does this give you about NancySGG???

8. In the 1840 US Cenus for AL, Joseph Green is in Bibb County. In the household are two males 20 - 30 (Joseph & ?) and one female 5 -10, one female 40 - 50 (Nancy), and one 50 - 60. Next door to William Garner. Sarah Smitherman Lawrence and Branson Lawrence are next page over. This would make Joseph’s birth year 1810 - 1820. And Nancy's birth year 1790 - 1800. 

So in other words, Nancy was a cougar. Yowza!

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=8057&iid=4409668_00209&fn=William&ln=Garner&st=r&ssrc=&pid=1241647

9. After the 1840 Census there are no additional records for Nancy S. G. Green I can find. 

But....

There IS a Nancy Greene in Shelby County in 1850 living in the household of John P. McKinnie (McKinney) and Mary Ann Green McKinney. It is possible that this is Nancy Smitherman Garner Green. Here are the supporting data:

• The names are the same.

• Nancy Greene in Shelby County was born about 1794. NSGG was born 1790 - 1800 (1849 Census)

• Nancy Greene was born in NC (1850 Census). NSGG was born in NC (various family trees).

• In the 1840 Census, there is a female 6 - 10 in Joseph Green's household. This child could be Beauty/Britty Ann Greene, 16, who follows Nancy Greene in the 1850 Census enumeration. 

Could it be? 

Could the Nancy Smitherman Garner who married Joseph Green be the same as Nancy Greene living with Britta Ann Greene in the 1850 Census????? 

It could!

Is it?

Who knows?

Stay tuned!

The Greens and Smithermans of Bibb County, Part II

Part I is here:

http://alroots3.blogspot.com/2013/10/green-and-smitherman-families-of-bibb.html

This blog entry is about Joseph Green of Bibb County. Joseph may be the brother of Thomas Green and related to Selenea Green. 

JOSEPH'S RECORDS:

1. On September 18, 1837, Joseph Green and Joseph Lawley were bondsmen for Green's marriage to Nancy Garner.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9821-31240-15?cc=1743384&wc=MMLN-K8Z:1838767814

2. Joseph Green married Nancy Garner, widow of Andrew Garner, on September 21, 1837. Judge John W. Suttle performed the ceremony.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/show#uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.familysearch.org%2Frecords%2Fpal%3A%2FMM9.3.1%2FTH-1-9821-31620-59%3Fcc%3D1743384

3. He was listed as a customer in Morrison's General Store ledger in the Randolph area of Bibb County for 1838 and 1839, as was Thomas. Maybe Thomas was his brother??

http://www.algw.org/bibb/business/morrisonledger.htm

4.  In the 1840 US Cenus for AL, Joseph Green is in Bibb County. In the household are two males 20 - 30 (Joseph & Thomas?), one female 5 - 10, one female 40 - 50 (Nancy) and one 50 - 60. He is next door to William Garner, Nancy's son from her first marriage. Sarah Smitherman Lawrence and Branson Lawrence are next page over. This would make Joseph’s birth year 1810 - 1820. And Nancy's birth year 1790 - 1800. 

So in other words, Nancy was a cougar. Yowza!

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=8057&iid=4409668_00209&fn=William&ln=Garner&st=r&ssrc=&pid=1241647

5. In 1841 Joseph and William Garner appeared in a legal document selling land to Chamblin Davis. Their wives Nancy Green and Olif (Olive) Lathem Garner signed a document giving up their dower rights. I found this document at the Bibb County Court House Annex in August this year. 

Chamblin Davis had been/was married to Delilah Smitherman in 1831. 

6. Here are notes from the Bibb County Court Minutes 1841 at the Al GenWeb:

"Compiled in July 1993 and submitted by Jacquelyn Cox Otts. I hope these notes will provide clues as to the location of these people during this period of time. I have attempted to keep the spelling of the names as I saw them in the records."

"'Martha Rea, for the use of Elijah C. Wallace, vs William Garner and Joseph Green - p. 108.

Defendant made default. Plaintiff to recover $137.96 (promissory note) and costs incurred.'"

Note the connection to Martha Rea/Ray/Wrea.

http://www.algw.org/bibb/court/1841minutes.htm

7. Joseph Green was bondsman for Samuel Smitherman's marriage to Nancy Ferguson on August 28, 1941. Nancy was previously married to Johnson Ferguson, who died. Andrew Garner, Nancy Smitherman Garner's first husband, was bondsman on that marriage. 

It's likely that Nancy Garner Ferguson was Andrew Garner's sister. They were certainly related. 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9820-36363-42?cc=1743384&wc=MMLN-K8J:n2073500804

It's possible and even likely that Joseph died after 1841. Doesn't it make sense that such an ambitious man who marries a rich widow the same age as his business partner would continue to make deals and thus show up in public records? But Joseph has disappeared from the Bibb records as far as I have looked. (Never fear, I'll look again!)

These are the only facts I have been able to discover about Joseph.  I certainly haven't found him anywhere in Bibb after that. There are two Joseph Greens in Shelby County in 1850, but one is too old, and one is too young. There is a Joseph Green of the right age in Marion County, but his wife's name is Martha and she's not the same age as Nancy. Same folks live in Marion County in 1860. Could be Joseph, but...eh. A good family tree for them is here:

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8695172/person/392067345

I need another trip to the Bibb County Court House to get more data. 

Ah, Joseph, Joseph. Do you hold the key to the gate in my brick wall????

Green and Smitherman Families of Bibb County, Part I

There seem to be at least two Green families in Bibb County, AL, from the 1820's through the 1850's. Squire John Green's family is the most prominent and best documented. But the Greens that I've focused on recently are  Thomas, Selenea, and Joseph Green, who I believe are siblings or at least related.

For simplicity I'm going to break this discussion into two parts because there's a lot of info here. Plus, Joseph may have special meaning for me. So this post is about Thomas and Selenea Green and their connections to the Smithermans.


THOMAS'S RECORDS:

1. He was listed as a customer in Morrison's General Store ledger in the Randolph area of Bibb County for 1838 and 1839, as was Joseph.

http://www.algw.org/bibb/business/morrisonledger.htm

2. According to various family trees, he was born between 1823 and 1830. Here's one:

http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=klumpds&id=I3646

3. Thomas Green and Jackson Gardner were bondsmen on the note for Thomas to marry Margaret Lawrence. William Caddell, Clerk, attested. January 25, 1841. Margaret was the daughter of Edward Lawrence and Sally (Sarah) Smitherman. Jackson Gardner later became Judge of Probate.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9821-31137-19?cc=1743384&wc=M9WB-HFR:n9930421

4. John R. Fulgham, J.P, celebrated the marriage on the 28th of January, 1841. J. R. was married to a Sarah Smitherman.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9821-31515-57?cc=1743384&wc=M9WB-HFR:n9930421

5. Thomas is not mentioned in any census from 1820 - 1850.

6. There is a Thomas Green with land records in Bibb County, but this is from 1858, by which time our Thomas was dead.

http://algw.org/bibb/court/landg.htm

7. Thomas and Margaret Green had three children: Nancy Armenda Green, b. 1841, d. 1931; Sylvenia Jane Green, b. 1843, d. 1932; and William Jackson Green, b. 1847, d. 1919. Two good family trees are located here:

http://www.lawrencefamhis.com/ashton-o/p2803.htm#i70051

and here:

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/18691802/person/1803345744?ssrc=

8. Thomas probably died between 1847 and 1849. Youngest child William's birthdate was December 22, 1847, which gives a conception date around April 1847. Margaret remarried James Monroe Wright on December 3, 1849.

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&MS_AdvCB=1&db=ALmarriages_ga&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsfn_x=1&gsln=green&gsln_x=1&uidh=wy5&mssns0=wright&mssns0_x=1&pcat=34&fh=0&h=30095&recoff=7+24&ml_rpos=1

9. According to his children's U.S. Census entries from 1880 onward, Thomas was born in either Alabama or North Carolina. The majority of entries list his birthplace as AL.

10. In summary: Thomas Green was born between 1823 and 1830, probably in AL. In 1846 in Bibb County he married Margaret Lawrence, daughter of Edward and Sally Smitherman Lawrence. He had three children: Nancy, Sylvenia, and William Jackson. He died between 1847 and 1849.



SELENEA'S RECORDS:

1. According to the 1850 U.S. Census for MI, Selenea or Silina or other spellings was born about 1828 in AL.

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=8054&iid=4195938-00329&fn=Selana&ln=Smithman&st=d&ssrc=&pid=3343196

2. On April 25, 1846, William Smitherman and R(euben) H. Oakley (married to Susannah Smitherman) obtained a bond in Bibb County so that Smitherman could marry Selenea Green. John Suttle was the clerk. 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9820-36142-69?cc=1743384&wc=M9WB-HNS:n1722260297

3. Selenea and William were married in Bibb County on April 28, 1846, by Johns Lathem, J. P. 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9820-36427-43?cc=1743384&wc=M9WB-HNS:n1722260297

4. Selena's stepfather W. W. Bradley signed a permission slip allowing them to marry. 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9820-36368-17?cc=1743384&wc=M9WB-HNS:n1722260297

5. The next time we see Selenea is the 1850 US Census for Mississippi, where William Smithman is living in Twp 16 R6E. He is 32, born, TN, no money, a farmer. Also in the household are Selana, 22, born AL, and John, born MS. Neighbors: Ruff, Milton Bradley (Selenea’s step-dad?? See #7 below). They must have moved to MS about 1846-7 because baby John was born then. 

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=8054&iid=4195938-00329&fn=Selana&ln=Smithman&st=d&ssrc=&pid=3343196

6. In the 1860 U.S. Census for MS, William Smitherman is living in Twp 15, Range 8, Attala, Maltona Springs P.O.  He is 40, born AL, laborer on farm, $50. Also in the household are John 12, Mary, 10, and Ann, 8. All born MS. Selenea is not in the household; the assumption is that she died between 1852 and 1860. Neighbors: Poe, Kimbrough, Stone, Mathis.

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7667&iid=4233360_00320&fn=John&ln=Sautherman&st=d&ssrc=&pid=38594453

7. Remember that "W.W. Bradley" signed the permission slip for Selenea, "his daughter," to marry. 

Digressing slightly (or should it be "regressing" or "going back in time"), in 1830 W. W. Bradley is in Capt. Buckhannon’s District, Autauga County, AL. In the household are one male 0 - 5 (may be James), one male 20 - 30 (Melton W. W.). Also in the household are three females 0 - 5 (Selenea plus two unknown females) and one female 20 - 30 (Martha). Neighbors: Peterson, Putt, Temple, Turner, Lewis, Norres, Rogers, Robins, Morris, Chandler, Crumpler, Martin, Turner, Chancellor, Myrick, Nelson. 

http://interactive.ancestry.com/8058/4409667_00240/1014379?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

8. Following this line: in the 1840 U.S. Census for AL, W. W. Bradley is in Nixburg, Coosa County. In the household are one male 5 - 10 (James?), one male 30 - 40 (Melton W.W.). Also two females 0 - 5, two females 5 - 10 (Ann & Sarah), one female 15 - 20 (Selenea), and one female 30 - 40 (Martha). Neighbors: Suttles, Lea, Coker, Benson, Harrell, Griffin, Ray, Robertson, Cobbins, Crumpler, Smith, Cato, Robinson. Note the age gap between the young females. 

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=8057&iid=4409668_00602&fn=W+W&ln=Bradley&st=r&ssrc=&pid=1427230

9. Let's look at the person who may be Selenea's stepfather in the 1850 U.S. Census for MS.

In the 1850 U.S. Census for MS, Melton Bradley is 51, a farmer, born VA, $300. Also in the household are Martha, 48, born NC; and children James, 21, born AL; Ann, 13; Sarah, 11; Miles, 9, and Frances, 4. All children are born AL, which indicates that the family moved there around 1845 - 1847—just the same as Selenea's family. 

Note that there's an age gap of 8 years between James and Ann. 

10. In summary: Selenea was born in AL about 1828. Her stepfather was W. W. Bradley; it's possible her mother was Martha MNU (Maiden Name Unknow) Bradley, born 1802 in NC. In 1846 in Bibb County, AL, Selenea married William Smitherman. Reuben H. Oakely, married to a Smitherman, was on the marriage bond. Johns Lathem performed the ceremony. She and William had three children: John, Mary, and Ann. Selenea probably died between 1842 and 1850. 

So Thomas and Selenea shared the surname "Green," both were probably born in AL in the 1820s, and both married Smithermans and had lots of Smitherman connections.

In addition, they share those connections with Joseph. But there are some facts about Joseph that make him even more interesting than these two. What facts??

Read Part II!!!!