Denise's Life in the Past Lane: Owens

Showing posts with label Owens. Show all posts

Monday, January 14, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - Kilpatrick-Owens Indenture 1888

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.

Today I'm publishing the transcription of an indenture between Emily C. Kilpatrick and H.T. Owens (one of my paternal 2nd great-grandfathers) recorded in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, in 1888. The seller, Emily Coleman (Morgan) Kilpatrick was the mother of William Thomas Kilpatrick, husband of my paternal great-grand-aunt Mary Ann Spurlock.

The actual date of the sale of this property is unclear. The indenture says it was sold 22 December 1888, but the clerk's statement at the bottom says it was recorded 15 October 1888. Perhaps it was sold in December 1887 and not recorded until October of the following year. There is no way to know when the sale took place without having the actual original deed.

“State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

This Indenter [sic] maid [sic] and entered into on this the 22nd day of December one thousand Eight hundred and eighty eight between Emily C. Kilpatrick of the first part and H. T. Owens of the second part in witness whereof I the said Emily C. Kilpatrick for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred and fifty Dollars the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged before the sealing and signing of these presents I the said Emily C. Kilpatrick has this day bargained and sold unto the [said] H. T. Owens, all my rights, titles and interest in and unto the following described lands to wit. The South West qua[r]ter of the South East qua[r]ter and the North East qua[r]ter of the South West qua[r]ter and the west half of the North West qua[r]ter of the south east qua[r]ter Section five Township No. Eighteen of Range No. five West containing one hundred acres more or less to have and to hold the ab[?] bargained premises and I the said Emily C. Kilpatrick do warrant and forever defend [?] titles and claims from myself my heirs executors administrators and all other persons unto the said H.T. Owens his heirs, executors and administrators to have and to hold the above bargained premises with all [?] teniments {?] and appartainances In witness whair [sic] of I do hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of these witnesses.

Emily C. Kilpatrick

Attest Isaac Miller H. T. Owens

M. A. Miller

I hereby certify the above and foregoing is a true and correct record of original deed This Oct 15^th 1888.

J C Thuss

Dy CDC & Ex Of Recorder[?]”

Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, AA: 704, Kilpatrick-Owens indenture, 15 Oct 1888; FHL microfilm 266,016.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #18 – Houston T. Owens

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-grandfather Houston T. Owens was born 24 March 1816[1] probably in Tennessee.[2] His middle initial may stand for Thomas or Taylor. His parents are unknown.

Houston married Sherreldia Jane Hammontree on 29 December 1841 in Talladega County, Alabama.[3] They had fifteen children:

Andrew J. Owens (1841-?)[4]
Nancy C. Owens (1843-1930)[5]
Missouri Ann Owens (1845-1927)[6]
Dialtha Jane Owens (1847-1893)[7] – my great-grandmother
Rachel B. Owens (1849-1851)
Hughes R. Owens (1851-1916)[8]
Rebecca Ursula Owens (1852-1928)[9]
Thomas Alexander Owens (1855-1919)[10]
Gabriel Houston Owens (1858-1928)[11]
Sarah A. Owens (1861-1947)[12]
Steward S. Owens (1864-1937)[13]
Sarilda Angeline Owens (1866-1906)[14]
John Darius Owens (1868-1951)[15]
Charles Taylor Owens (1870-1945)[16]
Belzora Owens (1872-died young)[17]

Because Houston reportedly married in Talladega County, Alabama, in 1841, I looked for him there in the 1840 census. Although he is not enumerated by name, there are two families in which he may be enumerated. The families of Bird Owens and Thomas Owens both have males in the 20-30 age group and either might be his family of origin. More research is needed, but for the moment I believe he may be the son of Thomas Owens.

I have found a land patent issued to Houston T. Owens on 1 September 1849 for the purchase of just under 40 acres of land in Randolph County, Alabama.[18] At that time, Talladega and Randolph counties were right next to each other.

However, just a year later, Houston is enumerated in the 1850 federal census for Bienville Parish, Louisiana, where he is living two visits away from his father-in-law Hugh Hammontree.[19] Although the census date was 1 June 1850, the date of the visitation to the Owens’ family was 18 November 1850.

I haven’t yet found Houston’s original land purchase in Louisiana. In 1860, he was enumerated in Claiborne Parish,[20] but in 1870[21] and 1880,[22] he was enumerated in Bienville Parish.

I have located several deeds in Bienville Parish records naming Houston as grantor, but the most significant is one recorded 14 June 1900, in which his heirs sold his property to R. W. Caskey.

Houston died 15 September 1895 and is buried at Hurricane Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.[23]

The areas of research on which I most want to focus are:

Property transactions in Alabama and Louisiana to which Houston was a party.
Identifying his parents.
Any anecdotal information that might be available from other descendants.

[1] Kelly Christian Priestly, "Hurricane Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/claiborne/cemeteries/hurrican.txt : accessed 2 May 2011), Houston T. Owens. Birthdate is calculated based on age at death of 79 years, 5 months, 22 days.

[2] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Western District, Bienville, Louisiana, p. 288A, family 559, household of Huston T. Owens; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 Jan 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 230.

[3] Houston T. and Sarilda Owens Photograph, unknown date; digital image, privately held by Theressa Horton, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] . 2010. Marriage date and plate were written on the bottom of the photograph by Theressa Horton’s mother, Sunshine Lowrey Horton, 2^nd great-granddaughter of Houston Owens.

[4] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Western District, Bienville, Louisiana, p. 288A, family 559, household of Huston T. Owens; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 Jan 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 230.

[5] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Nancy C. Owens, Memorial #15477081, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 23 Aug 2006.

[6] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Missouri Anne Owens Spurlock, Memorial #15541349, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 28 August 2006.

[7] Dialtha Owens Spurlock Photograph of grave marker, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, Callifornia. 2012.

[8] Charles I. Caskey, Descendants of Houston T. Owens.

[9] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Rebecca Ursula Owens Sims, Memorial #21341670, created by Terri Carter, 3 September 2007.

[10] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Thomas Alexander Owens, Memorial #15541142, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 28 August 2006.

[11] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Gabriel Houston Owens, Memorial #15541182, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 28 August 2006.

[12] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Sarah Ann Owens, Memorial #15477146, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 23 August 2006.

[13] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Steward S. Owens, Memorial #15477194, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 23 August 2006.

[14] Charles I. Caskey, Descendants of Houston T. Owens.

[15] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), John Darius Owens, Memorial #54034110, created by Debbra, 23 Jun 2010.

[16] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Charles Taylor Owens, Memorial #15477291, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 23 August 2006.

[17] Find A Grave, online database (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jun 2012), Belzora Owens Owens, Memorial #15541105, created by Foster L. Spurlock, 28 August 2006.

[18] Accession No. AL3170_.077, Certificate No. 10129, Houston T. Owens, dated 1 Sep 1849, Monroe, Louisiana, General Land Office; Cash entry files; 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).

[19] 1850 U.S. census, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Western District, p. 288A, family 559, household of Huston T. Owens; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 Jan 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 230.

[20] 1860 U.S. census, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Ward 6, p. 728, dwelling 1094, family 1094, household of H. T. Owens; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 Mar 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll 410.

[21] 1870 U.S. census, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Ward 1, p. 17A, dwelling 240, family 240, Houston Owins; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Jan 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 507.

[22] 1880 U.S. census, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, 1st Ward, enumeration district (ED) 6, p. 36 (penned), dwelling 313, family 313, Houston Owens; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Jan 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 448.

[23] Huston T. Owens gravestone photograph, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, California. 2011.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #9 – Dialtha Jane OWENS

My paternal great-grandmother Dialtha Jane OWENS was born about 1847 in Alabama, the fourth child of Houston T. and Sherreldia J. (HAMMONTREE) OWENS.[1]

While she was a young child, the Owens family moved from Alabama to northwestern Louisiana, settling in Bienville Parish. The Owens family were near neighbors of the Spurlocks in the 1850s and probably stayed close throughout the years. Dialtha’s sister, Missouri Ann, married M. D. L. Spurlock in 1860.[2]

Dialtha married John F. Spurlock about 1875[3] and they had six children:

Jasper Jackson (1876-1940)[4]
William Martin (1878-1973)[5]
Era (1880-1961)[6]
Lucy Jane (1882-1912)[7]
John Thomas (1887-1969)[8]
Sarah Elizabeth (1890-1970)[9]
Jefferson Owens[10]

Dialtha died in 1893 and is buried in Hurricane Cemetery in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.[11] She was only 46 years old when she died; I heard from someone that she had some kind of blood disease (leukemia, perhaps?).

It is said that I have so little information about Dialtha and her life. Here are some of the things than I plan to do to try to learn more:

I have searched the marriage records of Bienville, Claiborne and Jackson parishes for a record of Dialtha’s marriage to John Spurlock but have been unable to locate one.
I will attempt to locate digitized images of historical newspapers to see if I can find any reference to her death; if digital copies cannot be found, I will add it to the list of things to research when, and if, I have the opportunity to visit the area again.
I will try to find living descendants of her children and see if any has any artifacts or information about Dialtha’s life. Foster Spurlock, a descendant of Dialtha’s sister, may have some additional information.

[1] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Western District, Bienville, Louisiana, p. 288A, family 559, household of Huston T. Owens; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 Jan 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 230.

[2] Spurlock Family Association, database, family group sheet dated 23 Jul 1996.

[3] 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, 6th Ward, Claiborne, Louisiana, enumeration district (ED) 14, p. 30B, dwelling 266, family 301, household of J. F. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 451.

[4] Los Angeles, California, death certificate no. 19-442238 (1996), Jasper Jackson Spurlock; County of Los Angeles, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

[5] Texas, death certificate no. 23575 (1973), William Martin Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[6] Maxine Morgan, "Driskill Cemetery," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/bienville/cemeteries/driskillcem.txt : accessed 21 Apr 2010), entry for Era S. Crawley. Eva (Spurlock) Crawley Photograph of tombstone, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, California. 2012.

[7] Descendants of Bartholemew Ranson Spurlock (Received Aug 2000 via email from Sandra Childs Haynie - schaynie@aol.com).

[8] Texas, death certificate no. 95183 (1969), John Thomas Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 21 Apr 2010).

[9] Maxine Morgan, "Driskill Cemetery," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/bienville/cemeteries/driskillcem.txt : accessed 21 Apr 2010), entry for Sarah S. Conville.

[10] Descendants of Bartholemew Ranson Spurlock (Received Aug 2000 via email from Sandra Childs Haynie - schaynie@aol.com).

[11] Dialtha Owens Spurlock Photograph of grave marker, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, Callifornia. 2012.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Amanuensis Monday - 1900 Deed - Owens Heirs to R. W. Caskey

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.

My 2^nd great-grandfather Houston T. Owens died 15 September 1895; his wife Sherreldia J. (Hammontree) Owens died on 31 December 1896. In the following deed, their children, as heirs, convey the parcel of land owned in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, to R. W. Caskey. I am not sure of the relationship of R. W. Caskey to the heirs, but the Caskey, Hammontree and Owens families in the area were closely related. Two of Houston and Sherreldia’s known children predeceased them and are not represented in the succession: Andrew J. Owens, who died during the Civil War, and Dialtha Jane (Owens) Spurlock, my great-grandmother, who died in 1893.

"State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Know all men by these presents that we the following named parties Hugh R. Owens, Sarah A. Owens, Rebecca U Sims ~~wife~~ nee, Owens wife of Geo. Sims who aids, authorizes, joins his wife herein, Gabral H. Owens, Stewart S. Owens, Sarilda Angeline Owens, Charles T. Owens, John D. Owens, Nancy C. Owens, each owning an undivided one twelfth interest in & to the following described tract or parcel of land lying & situated in Bienville parish Louisiana, viz N E [?] of Sec ³ & Sw ⁴ of SE ² Section 5 & NW⁴ Section 8 less ten acres off of the Sw⁴ of NW⁴ Section 8 Tp 18N Range 5W together with all & singular the appurtinances & improvements thereto belonging, said tract of land belonging to the succession of our deceased father & mother, H. T. & S. J. Owens & Geo. W. Sims who owns two twelfths interest in said land having bought the one undivided twelfth interest of T. A. Owens & Missouri A. Spurlock nee, Owens, both also children of the said H. T. & S. J. Owens, deceased have this day & do by these presents for & in consideration of the price & sum of thirty five dollars for one undivided twelfth of said land to each of us paid cash in hand, the receipt of which is by each of us is hereby acknowledged, granted, bargained sold & delivered with full guaranty unto R. W. Caskey each of us our above mentioned undivided interest in said tract of land to have & to hold to his own use & benefit & his hiers & assigns forever, thus done & signed on this the 4 day of Jan. A.D. 1900.

Attest: J. D. Owens

C. Emery Tooke C. P. Owens

H. N. Upton _her

Sarah A X Owens

^mark

S. A. Owens

G. W. Sims

S. S. Owens

_her

Nancy C. X Owens

^mark

_his

R. N. X Sims

^mark

G. W. Sims

_his

G. H. X Owens

^mark

E. G. Owens

_his

H. R. X Owens

^mark

State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Personally came & appeared before me the undersigned authority H. N. Upton, who on oath says he saw E. G. Owens & H. R. Owens sign the within deed for the purposes therein expressed & now recognizes all the signatures to be genuine.

H. N. Upton

Sworn to & subscribed before me on this 19 day of May 1900

C. E. Tooke Dy clk

& Ex. off. Not. Pub.

State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Personally came before me C. E. Tooke who on oath says he saw all the parties to the foregoing deed except E. G. Owens & H. R. Owens sign it for the purposes therein expressed & now recognizes all the signatures to be true.

C. E. Tooke

Sworn to & subscribed before me on this 19 day of May 1900

J. W. Tooke clk D.C.

& Ex off. Not Pub.

Attest a true record of original this 14^h day of June 1900

C. E. Tooke Dy. Clk.

& Ex Officio Recorder for

Bienville Parish

Louisiana"

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, GG: 530, Heirs of H. T. and S. J. Owens deed to R. W. Caskey, 14 June 1900; FHL microfilm 266,022.]

Monday, January 30, 2012

Amanuensis Monday - 1889 Tax Sale - H.T. Owens

Times must have been hard for my 2^nd great-grandfather, H. T. Owens, in 1888 and 1889. The following deed represents the sale of property for delinquent taxes for 1888 and costs associated with the sale by the parish sheriff and tax collector.

“State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Be it known that this day before me J W Tooke Clerk & Ex officio Recorder & Notary Public in and for said Parish duly qualified came and appeared J A Mays Sheriff and Ex officio Tax collector of State and Parish taxes in & for said Parish, acting herein by virtue of the authority visited him by the constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana in such case made and provided and in the name of the State of Louisiana who declared that he does by these presents sell convey and deliver unto Southern land and improvement company the following described property assessed to H. T. Owens upon the tablet of taxes in & for said Parish for the year 1888 to wit. North West qua[r]ter of section Eight (8) south West qua[r]ter of south East qua[r]ter and North East qua[r]ter of South West qua[r]ter of Section Five (5) Township Eight (18) Range Five (5) The said property was advertised in the Louisiana Advance, a news paper published in said Parish from the 17^th day of May 1889 to the 22^nd day of June 1889 making full thirty ^[?] days from the date of first mention to the day of sale, announcing said sale to take place at the front door of the civil District court house of said Parish within the legal hours of sale on the 22^nd day of June 1889.

When on said sale day between the said legal hours of sale and at said ^courthouse ~~front~~ door after first having read the advertisement announcing the amount of Taxes interest and cost due on said property for the year 1888 he proceeded to offer said described property for sale for cash without appraisment[?] in legal tender money of the United States to pay and satisfy said taxes interest and cost.

When at said offering the said Southern Land and improvement company having big the sum of sixteen & ³⁰/₁₀₀ Dollars for said property they became the purchasers thereof for that price subject to redemption as provided by law.

This sale is therefore made for the consideration of sixteen & ³⁰/₁₀₀ Dollars cash in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the said sale being for

taxes 8.14

Interest .97

Advertising 3.50

Cost 3.74

Making said sum of 16.35

Done and passed in said Parish of Bienville in the presence of the attesting competent witnesses, on this the 31^st day of July AD 1889.

Attest. J. A. Mays

F. L. Mayfield Shff & Tax Coll

J. C. Thens

J. W. Tooke

CDC & Ex Of NP

Attest: a true record this August 2^nd 1889.

J. C. Thens Dy CDC

& Ex Of Recorder”

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, BB: 323, State of Louisiana (H.T. Owens) deed to Southern Land and Improvement Company, tax sale, 2 August 1889; FHL microfilm 266,017.]