Saturday NIght Genealogy Fun - Ancestor Name Roulette!

I was on a mini-vacation on Saturday when Randy Seaver of GeneaMusings posted another Ancestor Name Roulette challenge for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun! These challenges are the ones I really like, so I’m doing it today.

Here is the challenge as Randy presented it:

1) What year was one of your great-grandmothers born?  Divide this number by 90 and round the number off to a whole number. This is your "roulette number."

2) Use your pedigree charts or your family tree genealogy software program to find the person with that number in your ancestral name list (some people call it an "ahnentafel" - your software will create this - use the "Ahnentafel List" option, or similar). Who is that person, and what are his/her vital information?

3) Tell us three facts about that person in your ancestral name list with the "roulette number."

4) Write about it in a blog post on your own blog, in a Facebook status or a Google Stream post, or as a comment on this blog post.

5) If you do not have a person's name for your "roulette number" then spin the wheel again - pick a great-grandmother, a grandfather, a parent, a favorite aunt or cousin, yourself, or even your children!

My great-grandmother Dialtha Jane (Owens) Spurlock was born in 1847; dividing by 90 results in 20.52222. (It didn’t matter which great-grandmother I used, the result was the same!) Round up for my roulette number of 21!

Ancestor #21 is Mary Elizabeth Eaton, one of my paternal 2^nd great-grandmothers. The daughter of Absolem and Sarah (Reeves) Eaton, Mary was born in Missouri about 1817.[1] She married H. B. Martindale on 9 August 1838 in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri.[2] She died on 11 January 1873 and is buried in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri.[3]

Other than the vital statistics information, I don’t have any other information about Mary, except for the names of her nine children:

William C. Martindale (1839[4]-1863[5])

Lucinda J. Martindale (1841[6]-bef 1880)

Ambrose B. Martindale (1844[7]-1918[8]) – my great-grandfather

Permelia A. Martindale (1846[9]-1888[10])

Sarah V. Martindale (1849[11]-1900[12])

Howell B. Martindale (1852[13]-1889[14])

Missouri Elizabeth Martindale (1853[15]-1943[16])

James Austin Martindale (1856[17]-1892[18])

Randolph B. Martindale (1859[19]-?)

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[1] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwelling 525, family 525, H. B. Martindale; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Feb 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 421.

[2] "Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002," database and online images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Aug 2011), entry for Martindale and Eaton, 8 August 1838; citing Marriage Book A: 162.

[3] Queen, Nedra, email dated 7/26/2002.

[4] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwelling 525, family 525, H. B. Martindale; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Feb 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 421.

[5] Compiled service record, William C. Martindale, Co. G, 2 Mounted Rifles; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas, Civil War; 109; digital images, "Civil War Service Records," Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 28 Jan 2011).

[6] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[7] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[8] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 41191 (1918), A. B. Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 20 Apr 2010).

[9] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[10] "Washington County, MO Cemetery Burials," online transcription, Hopewell Cemetery, Washington Co., Missouri (http://www.mogenweb.org/washington/cemetery/wccem.html).

[11] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[12] "Washington County, MO Cemetery Burials".

[13] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

[14] "Washington County, MO Cemetery Burials".

[15] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

[16] St. Francois, Missouri, death certificate no. 35818 (1943), Missouri Elizabeth Jones; digital image, Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates (http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/ : accessed 14 Jul 2010).

[17] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

[18] Wayne County, Missouri Cemeteries (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Genealogical Society, n.d.), 26.

[19] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #21 – Mary Elizabeth Eaton

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 2^nd great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth Eaton was born about 1817 in Missouri,[1] probably Washington County. Her parents were Absolem D. Eaton and Sarah Reeves.

On 9 August 1838, she married Howell B. Martindale in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri.[2] The couple had nine, perhaps ten, children. The nine children for whom I have found records are: 

• William C. Martindale (1839[3]-1863[4])
• Lucinda J. Martindale (1841[5]-bef 1880)
• Ambrose B. Martindale (1844[6]-1918[7]) – my great-grandfather
• Permelia A. Martindale (1846[8]-1888[9])
• Sarah V. Martindale (1849[10]-1900[11])
• Howell B. Martindale (1852[12]-1889[13])
• Missouri Elizabeth Martindale (1853[14]-1943[15])
• James Austin Martindale (1856[16]-1892[17])
• Randolph B. Martindale (1859[18]-?)

In 2002, I received an email from Nedra Eaton Queen who said there was another son, Bridges Bruce Martindale, who was born about 1838. However, I have found no other evidence of this child.

According to a pedigree chart prepared by my aunt, Dorothy Belle (Spurlock) Magee, her husband died in 1866 near Waldron, in Scott County, Arkansas. I have been unable to locate a burial location or any other documentation regarding his death.

In 1870, Mary Elizabeth Martindale was enumerated in Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri.[19] Living with her were all her children except William (died during the Civil War) and Lucinda (married and living with her husband Samuel/Sampson Blankenship[20]. Also enumerated with the family was John Thompson, husband of daughter Sarah. Mary’s occupation was listed as keeping house; no values were given for either real or personal property. Her two oldest sons Ambrose and Howell (enumerated as Hart) worked in the zinc mines. The younger children (Missouri, James and Randolph) had attended school within the year. She was enumerated just two visits away from the family of James Forshee (another of my 2^nd great-grandparents); James’s daughter Sarah Belle would marry Ambrose Martindale in 1879.

According to email correspondent Nedra Eaton Queen, Mary died 11 January 1873 and is buried in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri. I have been unable to verify this information.

Although I will continue to look for information about Mary, it is unlikely that there will be much to find in official records since it appears she did not own property. Perhaps newspapers from the area will provide further information. Or someday I will find a distant cousin who can tell me more about Mary Elizabeth Eaton Martindale and her life.

---

[1] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwelling 525, family 525, H. B. Martindale; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Feb 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 421.

[2] "Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002," database and online images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Aug 2011), entry for Martindale and Eaton, 8 August 1838; citing Marriage Book A: 162.

[3] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwelling 525, family 525, H. B. Martindale; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Feb 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 421.

[4] Compiled service record, William C. Martindale, Co. G, 2 Mounted Rifles; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas, Civil War; 109; digital images, "Civil War Service Records," Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 28 Jan 2011).

[5] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[6] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[7] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 41191 (1918), A. B. Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 20 Apr 2010).

[8] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[9] "Washington County, MO Cemetery Burials," online transcription, Hopewell Cemetery, Washington Co., Missouri (http://www.mogenweb.org/washington/cemetery/wccem.html).

[10] 1850 U.S. census, pop. sch., Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 126 (stamped), dwell. 525, fam. 525, H. B. Martindale.

[11] "Washington County, MO Cemetery Burials".

[12] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

[13] "Washington County, MO Cemetery Burials".

[14] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

[15] St. Francois, Missouri, death certificate no. 35818 (1943), Missouri Elizabeth Jones; digital image, Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates (http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/ : accessed 14 Jul 2010).

[16] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

[17] Wayne County, Missouri Cemeteries (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Genealogical Society, n.d.), 26.

[18] 1860 U.S. census, pop. sch., Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwell. 850, fam. 854, Howell B. Martindale.

[19] 1870 U.S. census, Washington, Missouri, population schedule, Concord Township, p. 67, dwelling 171, family 173, household of Mary E. Martindale; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll M593_825

[20] 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri, p. 11 (penned), dwelling 73, family 73, Sampson Blankenship; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Jul 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 825.

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: November 27

1768: Samuel Hall, my 6^th great-grandfather, gave consent for a license to be issued for the marriage of his daughter Phoebe to my 5^th great-grandfather Isaac Eaton. Here is my transcription along with a copy of his consent:

“Mr. John froohek liveing in North Carolina in Roan ^County

I send these few lines to you to testify you

that I am satisfied that the [?] hear of

Isaac Eaton shall have my dater faby

hall to wed [?] that [?] and if you will

[?] grant him lisons for the same you will

a blige [oblige] me Samuel Hall

  Deted [Dated] November 27 1768”

A typed transcript of the Rowan County, North Carolina, marriage bonds appears below:

These documents provide the documentation for the typed transcript:

[Source: North Carolina, Rowan County, marriage records; "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979" digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 Nov 2011).]

No actual marriage record for Isaac and Phoebe has been found.

Isaac and Phoebe (Hall) Eaton were the parents of six known sons: William, Abraham (from whom I descend), Samuel, Daniel, Isaac, Jr., and Joseph. I do not know at this time whether they had any daughters.



© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Will of John Eaton - 1775

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.


This week I have transcribed the will of my 6th great-grandfather John Eaton of Rowan County, North Carolina; the will is dated 6 April 1775.

In the Name of God Amen, I John Eaton of

the County of Roan in the province of North

Carolina planter being very sick and weak of

body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be

given unto God calling into mind the

mortality of my body and knowing that it

is appointed for all men once to die do

make and ordain this my last will and Testa

ment that is to say principally & first of all

I give and recommend my soul into the hand

of God that gave it and my body I recommind

to the earth to be buried in decent christian

burial at the discretion of my Executors,

nothing doubting but at the Resurrection

I shall receive the same again by the mighty

power of God and as touching such worldly

estate whewith it hath pleased God to bless

me with in this life I give devise[?] & dispose

of the same in following manner and form

First I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my dear

-ly beloved wife one feather bed and furniture

one cow and the third part of the incomes of

the place to dispose of at her discretion and a

room in the house as long as she lives.

Also I give to my well beloved son Samuel Ea-

-ton one hundred acres of Land at the upper

or north end next to Ab[?] Wood. Also I give to

my well beloved son Daniel Eaton all the remainder

of my land with the improvements that is on it, and

he is to give to his mother the third part of the income

of the place as long as she liveth. Also I give to my

dearly beloved wife Elizabeth two cows & one horse

one mear for her property to dispose of as she pleas

-es, the remainder of the Stocs and waggin to be sold att

publick vandue[venue?] and the debts paid of. the rest of

the money divided equal among other children &

the mony that I have now by me is to pay of the

quits in land office. I likewise constitute make &

ordain David Jones and Isaac Eaton sole Executors

of this my last will & Testment, and I do hereby

utterly disalow revoke and disannual all and

any other former Testament Wills Legaces bequests

and Executors by me in any way before named

willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirm-

ing this and no other to be my last will and

Testament. It witness where I have hereunto

set my hand & seal this six day of April in

the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun-

dred and seventy five.              his

                                       John  X  Eaton

                                               mark

Syned sealed published pronounced

and declared by the said John Eaton as his last will

and Testament in presence of us

John Reed, Samuel Reed, Ebenezer Fairchild

[Source: "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 9 Aug 2011); John Eaton, will dated 6 April 1775; citing Probate Records, Rowan, Wills, 1780-1807, Vol. C, page 16, image 27 of 65.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Will of George Eaton (Easton) 1797

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.


This week I am posting a transcription and image of the 1797 will of George Eaton (Easton?) of Rowan County, North Carolina.  I believe that George may be a brother to my 6th great-grandfather John Eaton.

In the name of God Amen! I George Eaton of the County

of Rowan & State of N^o. Carolina, being of perfect health

of body & perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for it, &

calling to mind the mortality of my body, & knowing that it

is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain

this my last will & test: that is to say principally & first

of all I give & recomend my soul to God who gave it & my

body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in a christian

burial, at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but

at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by

the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly

estate wherewith it had pleased God to bless me in this life

I give devise & dispose of the same in the following form

[?]I desire that my Land & plantation, whereon I now live

should be sold & the money equally divided between my four

children viz. John, Sarah, David & Elizabeth Eaton. I give

all the rest of my moveable property to my three youngest

Children Sarah, David & Elizabeth.

I likewise, constitute make & ordain my beloved brother Daniel

Easton & neighbour Laz^s Whitehead executors of this my

last will & test: all & singular the above mentioned legacey

to my heirs to be freely enjoyed & possessed by them for ever

This I desire should be considered as my last will & test:

whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 18^th

day of February 1797.

Signed sealed, published, in presence

of:

E. Jones                                  George Easton {seal}

               his

Abraham X Hall [?}

              mark

[Source: "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970."  images,  FamilySearch  (www.familysearch.org : accessd 9 Aug 2011);  George Eaton, will dated 18 Sep 1897; citing Probate Records, Rown, Wills, 1780-1803, Vol. C, image 229.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Ahnentafel Roulette - #42 Absolem Eaton

Here is the weekly challenge from Randy Seavers of GeneaMusings:

1) How old is your great-grandfather now, or how old would he be if he had lived? Divide this number by 4 and round the number off to a whole number. This is your "roulette number."
2) Use your pedigree charts or your family tree genealogy software program to find the person with that number in your ahnentafel (ancestor name list). Who is that person?
3) Tell us three facts about that person with the "roulette number."
4) Write about it in a blog post on your own blog, in a Facebook or Google Plus note or comment, or as a comment on this blog post.
5) If you do not have a person's name for your "roulette number" then spin the wheel again - pick a grandparent, a parent, a favorite aunt or cousin, or even your children!

Spinning......

After doing all the math, I am ready to go! My maternal great-grandfather Michael H. Yawman was born in 1842 and would be 168 years old if he were alive. Dividing by 4 gave me a nice whole number of 42 (no fractions here, yay!). Number 42 on my ahnentafel list is Absolem D. Eaton, one of my paternal 3rd great-grandfathers. Here is what it says about him:

42. Absolem D. Eaton, son of Abraham Eaton and Mary, was born 11 Jan 1793 in Rowan Co., NC, died on 20 Nov 1859, and was buried in Bismarck, St. Francois, Missouri.

Here are three facts about Absolem:

• He married Sarah Reaves (daughter of James) on 21 March 1815 in Haywood County, North Carolina. [Source: "North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004," online database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Mar 2011), Absolam Eaton and Sarah Reaves; citing County Court Records at Waynesville, NC and FHL # 0418147 item 2.]

• In 1825, Absolem purchased 80 acres of public land in Washington County, Missouri; here is a copy of the patent:

Bureau of Land Management, "General Land Office Records,"
online database and images (www.glorecords.blm.gov : accessed 3 Sep 2011),
 entry for Absalom Eaton, Accession Nr. MO0570.565.

• In the 1850 U.S. census, Absolem, his wife Sarah, and youngest daughter Martha, were enumerated in Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri. Absolem, a farmer, owned real estate valued at $500. This was the last census on which he was enumerated. [Source: 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Concord, Washington, Missouri, p. 125A, family 508, household of Absalom Eaton; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Jan 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll M432_421.]

Completing this challenge, I discovered I have much less information than I thought regarding my Eaton ancestors. I need to develop a research plan for this family!



© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Thriller Thursday - Death Threats in Southeast Missouri

During the Civil War, Missouri was a hotbed of Confederate guerilla activity. Bands of guerillas often retaliated against pro-Union citizens when one of their number was killed as a result of the fighting.

The following news article, published in the September 23, 1864, edition of the St. Louis Union[1], reports an incident of such activity and the death threat that was discovered afterward.

BUSHWHACKERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY—UNION MEN SPOTTED

Washington, County, September 20, 1864
To the Editor of the St. Louis Daily Union:

The guerrillas are still at work in Washington county. On last Thursday morning two of these armed villains attacked the house of Mr. Fred Will, whilst he was at breakfast with his family. One of them entered the house by the front door, and stepping, unperceived by the family, to the door of the dining room, asked Mr. Will to step into the hall. This done, he demanded Will's arms, stating that he was a United States detective, and that his captain was at the door waiting for him. Mrs. Will immediately ran into the hall and boldly told Mr. Detective that that game was played out; they succeeded in getting the villain out of the house, when his captain rose from behind a chicken coop with revolver in hand, evidently with the intention of shooting Mr. Will, so soon as they got him to the door, but they were foiled in their attempt at murder, and forthwith made a hasty retreat to their horses, which were tied in the brush, not more than one hundred and fifty yards from the house. They next visited the house of Thos. Blakewell, stole his rifle and put out. The neighborhood was soon aroused and gave chase to them, but owing to the dust in the roads and the woods being so very dry, they were unable to track them successfully. They next went to the house of Mr. Patterson and stole a rifle and revolver, and also some money and jewelry. When they decamped from Patterson's, they went to the house of Mr. M.A. Todd, late Sheriff of Washington county; they robbed him of a shot-gun, a revolver, money and jewelry. From Mr. Todd's they went to the farm of Mr. Nicholson and stole a fine horse belonging to George Towl, of Potosi. The troops in Potosi were soon out in pursuit of the thieves, and pressed them so hard that Mr. Towl's horse and one other were recovered from them; but the rascals made good their escape.

The country is full of bands of guerrillas. No Union man's life or property is safe, while rebels and rebel sympathizers feel perfectly safe and secure from any guerrilla depredation. They are fed and harbored by their friends, and get all the information they want from sneaking sympathisers who are permitted to live in our midst unmolested. Had Order No. 107 been faithfully carried out, and two full companies put into active service, I venture to say that guerrillas would be scarce.

On last Sunday morning a son of Rev. S. Brown found a dropped letter on the road, between Potosi and Hopewell, signed, O.A.K. It was evidently written by these desperadoes with a view to alarm Union men. The contents of the letter was a direct threat to have the lives of thirteen Union men in retaliation for their late chieftain, old John Hiley.

They commenced the work by the killing of Lieutenant H.C. Beckett; Captain Fred Will was to be the next victim, and there is no doubt but they intend to carry out their threat, unless they are speedily arrested in their career. The men whom they have selected as their victims are all unconditional Union men, now and forever. I give you a list of doomed: old John Evans, young John Evans, James Thompson, Elbert Thompson, F.R. Boyd, Captain W.H. Evans, Captain Fred Will, Lieut. John Hewey, old John Forshee, Marshall Ronjey, Captain A.R. Eaton, Captain John Jamison, Lieut. Wesley Yeargan. Lieut. H.C. Beckett, killed.

Signed,

INDEX.

Two of the men on that list—old John Forshee and A. R. Eaton—were members of my paternal ancestral families. Old John was brother to James Forshee, my 2nd great grandfather; A. R. Eaton was the younger brother of Mary Elizabeth (Eaton) Martindale, my 2nd great-grandmother. It must have been a terrifying experience to have received such threats.

[1] Ross, Kirby, "Retaliatory death list for killing of John Highley," posted at The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board, 12 February 2011 (http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/mocwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=16501#Responses : accessed 12 July 2011).

© 2011 Denise Spurlock