DeWitt Clinton Van Wey (1834 - 1906)

Great Grandfather Maternal Side

DeWitt Clinton Van Wey was born in Athens County, Ohio about 1834 (exact date is unknown but it is believed to be any where from October through December) to Richard Stuphin and Catherine Lord Van Wey. His family moved to Panola Couty, Texas before the 1850 U.S. Census. He and his siblings attended school there. By 1855, the family had moved to a small town northwest, called Rosalie in Red River County.

Red River County Voter's Registration 1867-1869 states that he resided in county for 18 years.

D.C. was educated as he signed several legal documents during his stay in Rusk & Panola Counties. According to census records, he was a farmer.

In June, 1861 he enlisted in the Rosalie Guards as a Private, 8th Brigade of the Texas Calvary. D.C. was discharged on March 7, 1862.

Rosalie Guards, Red River County

This History of Clarksville

From March until October 1871, during Reconstruction, he is listed as a Private in the State Police.

Pay stub for State Police Force

From what I can gather, he lived with his parents during this entire time. While his father was ill, D.C. was the Deputy Post Master.

Around 1879 at the age of 44, D.C. married Anna Jane Goldberg who was 24. I can not find a marriage license for them. She was the daughter of Rev. Charles A. and Mary Ann Doe Goldberg. Together they had the following children:

1. Claudia P. Van Way (1880-1947); married George Robert Thomasson
2. Charles Rufus Vanwey (1884-1930); married Vona F. Minshew
3. Sullivan Ross Vanway (1886-1963); married Geneva Lansyone
4. Lydia Kate Vanway (1888-1977); married Fred Wadsley
5. Allie May Vanway (1892-1964); married Loyad M. Sullivan
6. Cora Cornelia "Pearl" Van Wey (1894-1937); married William Ralphus Hutsen

It might seem like D.C. was the unlucky sort. He is mentioned several times having a law suit brought against him. The first incident was against his father, though D.C. was collecting on Promissory Notes in his father's name. The case was eventually settled by the Supreme Court of Texas - Casey v. March.

Texas Supreme Court Ruling

Another incident was Amos Morrill vs D.C. Van Wey, et al., where the judgment was in D.C.'s favor. I could not find what this case was about.

The last that I have found happened in September, 1902 where D.C did not file his application to purchase 85.88 acres of agricultural land at $2.00 per acre. His address was still listed as Rosalie, Texas.

DeWitt Clinton Van Wey died on June 29, 1906 about 5:00 am near Rosalie of Pericarditis caused by Rheumatic Fever. His death certificate listed his age at 79 years 9 months. He is thought to be buried in Cuthand Cemetery but he is not listed. 

D.C. Van Wey Death Certificate

Sources:

1. Texas, Voter Registration Lists, 1867-1869; Ancestry.com
2. Texas Muster Rolls Index 1838-1900; Ancestry.com
3. http://www.rosstexascavalrybrigade.com/27thtexascavalryregiment/27tcrf.mht
4. The History of Clarksville & Old Red River County by Pat B. Clark; Mathis, Van Nort & Co.; Dallas, Texas; 1937; Page 154
5. http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth28543/.
6. Texas Death Certificates, 1903-1982; Ancestry

Nancy Blackwood 1829-1895

2nd Great Grandmother - Paternal Side

This post may seem light on facts, but the women aren't exactly easy to find. Most of what I know about this family was stated in a previous post about her husband. Note: My DNA shows that I match the other 8 members of her DNA Circle on Ancestry. Pretty impressive but then I should match them. Wish the others were so easy.


Nancy Blackwood was born April 27, 1829 in Blount County, Alabama to Isaac and Mary Jones Blackwood on their farm. She grew up next door to the Cornelius Clan and on June 4, 1845 she married Cargil Cornelius (See earlier blog post). Together they had the following children:

1. "Zion" B. Cornelius (1845 -1916); married Lucinda J. Keen
2. "Isaac" R. Cornelius (1848-1886); married Margrett Barbara Speegle
3. Ellender "Ellen" Cornelius (1851-1900); married Eldridge Berry
4. "William" Cargill Cornelius (1852-1908); married Mary Elizabeth Patrick
5. Seaborn Cornelius (1855-1915); married Rebecca Adeline McGuire
6. Rufus J. Cornelius "R.J." (1857-1926); married Nancy Melcina McGuire
7. Mary Malinda "Lyddia" Cornelius (1860-1928); married George "Washington" Brown
8. Manerva "Nerva"Eliza Cornelius (1862-1939); married George "Corup" Dailey
9. James "Elbert" Cornelius (1863-1920); married Nancy R. Latta
10. "John" Sherman Cornelius (1864-1928); married Susan Virginia "Jennie" Copeland
11. "Emily" Caroline Cornelius (1867-1948); married David "Lee" Brown
12. Margett "Louiza" Cornelius (1869-1961); married Joseph C. Bentley

On March 14, 1887 Nancy began collecting a Widow's Pension for her husband's service.

Her Death Notice appears on Thursday, July 11, 1895 in the "Blount County News and Dispatch" and states as follows:
"Near Cleveland, Ala., July 4th, 1895, suddenly, of heart disease, Mrs. Nancy Cornelius, aged about 70 years. For the past 25 years she had been a consistent member of the Primitive Baptist church."

She was buried alongside her husband in Daily's Chapel Cemetery in Rosa, Blount County, Alabama.

Fredrick Patrick 1822-1902

2nd Great Grandfather - Paternal Side

Before I get to the subject this week let me just say how amazing it has been to learn about these ancestors. It has given me an insight as to what they were going through in life and a deep appreciation for American History.

Fredrick Patrick was born on October 22, 1822 in Walton County, Georgia to Paul and Lucy Thompson Patrick. He was the middle child, youngest and last son of their 9 children. Fredrick apparently attended school as he was able to read and write. He married Francis A. Austin on December 7, 1851, when he was 27.

Walton County Georgia, Marriage Book D, 1835-1857

They lived in the same district so they no doubt knew each other from social events although I can't say which ones. Fredrick was taking care of his mother and the farm during this time since his father had died some 9 years earlier.  Together the couple had 10 children:

1. Albert Webster Patrick (1852-1928); married Martha Elizabeth Ketchum
2. William Taylor Patrick (1854-1930); married Ella Lee Brown
3. Mary Elizabeth Patrick (1855-1918); married William Cargil Cornelius
4. Martha Francone Patrick (1857-1930); married Forrest Lee Culbreath
5. Lucy Nancy Patrick (1859-1945); married Thomas Jeff Van Horn
6. John Fredrick Patrick (1862-1901); married Lydia McAbee
7. Sarah Alice Patrick (1866-1937); married Christopher Columbus Ketchum
8. James Lee Patrick (1868-1946); married Magnolia Manley
9. Jane Patrick (1870-before 1880)
10. Susan Mildred Patrick (1873-1972); married Joe Will Smith

In the 1860 U.S. Census, Fredrick was a day laborer and owned $100 in Personal Estate. He and Lucy already had 5 children.

1860 U.S. Census

Fredrick signed an Oath of Allegiance (See Source 1) in Gwinnett County, Georgia dated July 17, 1861 and two days later he enlisted in the Confederate Army. He was in the 16th Infantry Regiment, Company F, Georgia which fought with the Army of Northern Virginia. He was elected as 2nd Lieutenant. Fredrick was wounded at Crampton's Gap, Maryland on September 14, 1862  and was granted a furlough for 60 days. His only requisition during 1862 was for 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of drawers, 2 pairs of shoes, and 1 hammock. After returning to service, on December 13, 1862 he was wounded at Fredricksburg, Virginia from which he lost sight in one eye. Also wounded on that day was Charles J. Austin, no doubt a relative of Francis.

Service Record

Fredrick's requisition in 1863 is mostly illegible but of the 4 items I could make out that one was a blanket. He was probably at the Battle of Gettysburg and other battles in Virginia throughout the next year and a half. He was captured at Gaines Farm, Virginia on June 1, 1864 and released from Fort Delaware Prison Camp which stands on Pea Patch Island, Delaware on June 17, 1865. His service records list him as a Prisoner of War. Upon Fredrick's release as a POW, he had to sign an Oath which also states his physical characteristics - he had a dark complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, and was 5'9" tall. (See Sources 2-5)

In 1870, he was still living in Gwinnett County with his 9 children on a farm. He employed 2 workers, and owned 120 acres that was worth $150. (See Sources 6 & 7) Before the 1880 Census, the family had relocated to Blount County, Alabama (See Source 8) where his older children would marry into the local families. The families moved to Texas some time between 1885 & 1886. By the 1900 Census (See Source 9), Fredrick was living in Roxton with his son John and Francis was living with their son William. I suspect their living apart was due to ill health since Fredrick died November 21, 1902 and was buried along side his son, who had died the year before, in Denton Cemetery, located in Roxton, Texas. The cause of his death was not recorded.

I would have to say that Fredrick was well traveled but for the wrong reasons. While the majority of my ancestors stayed in one place for generations, Fredrick left for war, moved to 2 different states no doubt to better his family.

Sources:

1. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=AE6A8EC1-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
2. Oath of Allegiance Book B, page 374.
3. American Civil War Soldiers, Historical Data Systems, comp., Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.Original data - Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA form the following list of works. Copyright 1997-2000 Historical Data Systems, Inc. PO Box 35 Duxbury.Ori
4. APA Citation: Georgia. State Division of Confederate Pensions and Records., . (19591964). Roster of the Confederate soldiers of Georgia, 1861-1865. Hapeville, Ga.: Longina & Porter.
5. Civil War Soldiers - Confederate - GA at Fold3.com
6. Year: 1870; Census Place: , Gwinnett, Georgia; Roll: M593_; Page: ; Image: ., Ancestry.com
7. Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1893, Ancestry.com
8. Year: 1880; Census Place: Beat 5, Blount, Alabama; Roll: 2; Family History Film: 1254002; Page: 442B; Enumeration District: 006; Image: .Ancestry.com
9. 1900 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com