One of my goals for
2012 is to use the Surname Saturday blogging prompt as a way to assure that I
spend some time researching each of my family lines and that I have appropriate
source citations for the genealogical facts related to my ancestors. I’ve
decided to use my ahnentafel report and work back through the generations
starting with my grandparents, writing a summary of each ancestor. If you
discovered this post through a search engine and find one of your ancestors
listed here, please leave a comment to let me know.
My paternal 2nd great-grandfather Ransom Spurlock was born 25
October 1807, in Washington County, Georgia.[1] His
parents are unknown.
Ransom married Ellender Vickers on 20 April 1836 in Barbour
County, Alabama.[2] They had
ten children:
- Frances Elizabeth (1837-1932)[3]
- William Green (1838-1862)[4]
- Sarah Frances (1839-1931)[5],[6]
- Marcus D. Lafayette Spurlock (1842-1922)[7]
- George Marion (1844-1880)[8]
- Mary Ann (1846-1888)[9]
- Elizabeth Rebecca (1848-before 1900)[10],[11]
- John Fedrick (1850-1945)[12] – my great-grandfather
- James Joshua (1853-1889)[13],[14]
- Jasper Newton (1856-1858)[15]
I have been unable to locate any records of Ransom prior to
adulthood.
He first appears in a transcription of the 1833 Alabama
state census.[16] He is
next found as a private in the 42nd
Alabama militia during the Creek Indian wars of 1836-1837.[17]
He first appears on a U.S. federal census in Hinds County,
Mississippi, in 1840.[18]
He appears on Mississippi state censuses in 1841[19] and
1845.[20] On
the 1845 tax list for Hinds County, he is noted as being “not found.”[21]
In 1850, he is enumerated in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.[22]
Although the 1860 census for Bienville Parish is lost, he was likely still
there as he was not enumerated in Claiborne Parish where he appears in 1870.[23] In
1881, he received the patent to his
homestead in Claiborne Parish.[24]
Ransom died 2 October 1896 and is buried at Hurricane
Cemetery in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.[25]
When I visited the cemetery in 1999, the original grave marker was broken; my
cousin Ernie Spurlock had a new marker made to replace it.
I have accumulated many records and documents related to
Ransom’s life, including military and pension records, various deeds, and his
homestead file. My brick wall is his parents. It has been hypothesized that he
is a son of John Spurlock and Sallie Avent and some evidence is available to
support that conclusion. One of my male Spurlock cousins has had his DNA tested
and has submitted the results to the Spurlock DNA project. However, I have not
yet analyzed all the available evidence to reach my own conclusion. This is one
of my goals for this year, but it seems a daunting task.
I need to start tracking down some of the Spurlock
descendants who still live in Claiborne Parish to see if anyone has copies of
documents that I have not been able to find (such as Ransom and Ellender’s
marriage certificate or perhaps a family Bible). It would also be great if
someone has photos of the old home place and perhaps of Ransom himself!
[1] Ransom Spurlock, Indian Wars Pension Application No.
445, Declaration of Survivor, dated 12 Aug 1892; National Archives, Washington.
[2] Ibid. [No
marriage record was found in Barbour County, Alabama.]
[3] Mt. Zion (Driskill) Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Cemetery (Bienville Parish, Louisiana), Francis Miller marker, personally read
and photographed, 2009.
[4] William G. Spurlock; War Department Collection of
Confederate Records; Record Group 109; digital images, "Compiled Service
Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Louisiana,"
Footnote (www.footnote.com : accessed 17 May 2011).
[5] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Western
District, Bienville, Louisiana, p. 287B, dwelling 553, family 553, household of
Ramsun Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com :
accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration
microfilm M432, roll 230.
[6] Mt. Zion (Driskill) Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Cemetery (Bienville Parish, Louisiana; 2009), Sallie Duncan marker, personally
read and photographed, 2009.
[7] findagrave.com,
digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 Apr 2012), Marcus DeLafayette
Spurlock, Memorial #15472736, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 23 August 2006.
[9] findagrave.com,
digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 Apr 2012), Mary Ann Spurlock
Kilpatrick, Memorial #15474030, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 23 August 2006.
[10] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Western District,
Bienville, Louisiana, p. 287B, dwell. 553, fam. 553, household of Ramsun
Spurlock.
[11] 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Police Jury Ward
6, Claiborne, Louisiana, enumeration district (ED) 22, p. 4A, dwelling 57,
family 57, household of Ellendor Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com
: accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration
microfilm T623, roll 562.
[12] Louisiana State Department of Health, death certificate
519 68 (1945), John Fred Spurlock; Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge.
[13] 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Ward 5,
Claiborne, Louisiana, p. 149B, dwelling 73, household of R. Spurlock (continued
from previous page); digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com :
accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration
microfilm M593, roll 510.
[14] "Volentine school house Dots.," Homer
Guardian, 25 Jan 1889, p. 2, col. 4; digital images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
: accessed 17 Feb 2012).
[16] Foley, Helen S, 1833 State Census for Barbour
County, Alabama (Greenville, SC; Southern Historical Press; reprinted
1992), page 21.
[17] Compiled service record, muster rolls dated 20
September 1836 and 26 June 1837; Indian Wars; National Archives, Washington.
[18] 1840 U.S. census, Hinds, Mississippi, p. 206, line 29,
household of Ransum Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com
: accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration
microfilm M704, roll 214.
[19] "Mississippi Census, 1805-90," online
database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010), entry
for Ransum Spurlock; MS 1841 State Census Index.
[20] "Mississippi Census, 1805-90," online
database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010), entry
for Ransum Spurlock; MS 1845 State Census Index.
[21] Hinds County, Mississippi, United States, "Hinds
County Assessment Roll 1843," image 168, R. Spurlock; digital images, FamilySearch(www.familysearch.org
: accessed 21 Sep 2011); citing Mississippi State Archives, Hinds County tax
rolls, 1842-1846, Box 10333.
[22] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Western District,
Bienville, Louisiana, p. 287B, dwell. 553, fam. 553, household of Ramsun
Spurlock.
[23] 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Ward 5,
Claiborne, Louisiana, p. 149A, dwelling 73, household of R. Spurlock; digital
images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing
National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 510.
[24] Accession No. LA0800_.381, Homestead Certificate No.
409, Ransom Spurlock, 1 Nov 1881, Natchitoches, Louisiana, General Land Office;
Records of the Bureau of Land Management; digital images, U. S. Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (www.glorecords.blm.gov
: accessed 7 Oct 2011).
© 2012 Denise Spurlock
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