Cox 6th Generation
|
Generation No. 6
32. Marson Cox6 Smithson (Mary5 Cox, John4, Bartholomew3, John2, William1 Coxe) was born March 07, 1762 in Lunenburg Co., Va., and died Bef. September 06, 1830 in Greenville Dist., So. Carolina. He married Phoebe Carter White December 27, 1782 in Lunenburg Co., Va.. She was born Aft. 1761 in Lunenburg Co., Va., and died Unknown.
Notes for Marson Cox Smithson:
Marsden Smithson is on the list of tithes for Lunenburg Co., 1783 -page 416.
Marson Smithson is recorded on 1810 Census for Pickens, Anderson, Oconee Co., South Carolina, Film #M252 061 page 142. No family members counted. No twp. recorded. On same page is father, Micajah Smithson, on page 143 is brother Bartlett.
More About Marson Smithson and Phoebe White:
Marriage: December 27, 1782, Lunenburg Co., Va.
Children of Marson Smithson and Phoebe White are:
74 i. Jonathan7 Smithson, born Abt. 1784 in Greenville Co., South Carolina; died Aft. 1830.
75 ii. Sally Smithson, born 1786 in Greenville Co., So. Carolina; died Aft. 1830.
76 iii. William Smithson, born March 17, 1788 in Greenville Dist. So. Carolina; died 1844 in Bastrop, Texas. He married Sarah Worthington March 26, 1820 in Jefferson Co., Alabama; born 1802; died 1858 in Bastrop, Texas.
More About William Smithson and Sarah Worthington:
Marriage: March 26, 1820, Jefferson Co., Alabama
77 iv. Nancy Smithson, born Abt. 1790 in Greenville Co., So. Carolina; died Unknown. She married James Jolly; born Unknown; died Unknown.
78 v. Mary Smithson, born 1792 in Greenville Co., So. Carolina; died Unknown. She married Benjamin Leatherwood Leathers; died Unknown.
79 vi. Anson Anderson Smithson, born April 07, 1794 in Greenville So., Carolina; died February 28, 1867 in Jefferson Co., Alabama. He married (1) Rhoda Worthington July 08, 1819 in Jefferson Co., Alabama; born February 12, 1803; died October 11, 1848 in Jonesboro, Jefferson Co., Alabama. He married (2) Ann Eliza Harmon Bef. 1856; born March 25, 1831 in Shelby Co., Alabama; died March 1866.
More About Anson Smithson and Rhoda Worthington:
Marriage: July 08, 1819, Jefferson Co., Alabama
More About Anson Smithson and Ann Harmon:
Marriage: Bef. 1856
34. Albert Francis6 Smithson (Mary5 Cox, John4, Bartholomew3, John2, William1 Coxe) was born October 10, 1764 in Pendleton, Va., and died 1833 in Pendleton Co., Va.. He married Lina Neville. She died Unknown.
Children of Albert Smithson and Lina Neville are:
80 i. John Big John7 Smithson, died Unknown in Short Mountain, Cannon, Tennessee. He married Margaret Hudgins; died Unknown.
81 ii. Albert Francis Smithson II, born November 26, 1826; died August 12, 1863. He married Polly Lance August 13, 1843 in Warren, Tenessee; born Abt. 1827; died 1906.
More About Albert Smithson and Polly Lance:
Marriage: August 13, 1843, Warren, Tenessee
35. Bartlett6 Smithson (Mary5 Cox, John4, Bartholomew3, John2, William1 Coxe) was born January 26, 1767 in Lunenberg Co. Va., and died December 09, 1838 in Monroe Co., Mississippi. He married Sarah Weatherford December 03, 1799 in Lunenberg Co., Va., daughter of William Weatherford and Mary Blanks. She was born Abt. 1780 in Lunenberg Co., Va., and died January 27, 1866 in Monroe County, Mississippi.
Notes for Bartlett Smithson:
There is much information abut Bartlett/Bartley Smithson yet to be found. One unusual factor in his life is that his marriage to Sarah Weatherford took place in December, 1799, when he was 34 years, a rather advanced age, given the custom of the time. He may have been born in Mechlenburg, Va.
Bartley Smithson is found on theCensus for Pendleton Dist., South Carolina, as are his brother Marson Cox Smithson, and his father, Micajah Smithson, for the years 1800 and 1810. Ony his brother Marson and his father Micajah appear in 1820. It is estimated that he moved to Mississippi about 1817, as his son Allen Freeman, b.1816 was born in South Carolina. It is unknown where daughter Susan, b. 1818, and Parmelia, b. 1820 were born.
B. Smithson is found on the 1830 Monroe County, Mississippi census, page 137, line 3 as follows:
2 males - five years and under 10
1 male 10 and under 15
2 males 15 and under 20
2 males 20 and under 30
1 male 60 and under 70
1 female 10 and under 15
2 females 15 and under 20
1 female 20 and under 30
1 female 40 and under 50
No entry for Bartley Smithson has been found in either South Carolina or Mississippi in 1820.
Verification of the parentage of Bartley Smithson cannot be made by Micajah Smithson's Will as Bartley is not therein named. Note: Daughters Kesiah and Mary were not mentioned, nor was son Anson. Micajah's property was willed to Asa. Marson Cox, given $100, Albert Francis and Basil to receive $57 and $100 respectively, "If to be found." Micajah was 92 years old in 1822 when he made his Will. The mortgage on his land in Lunenburg Co., Va., 1790 and the subsequent sale of his land there in 1798 left him with only three parcels of land in Alabama He took only his slaves and stock. No transfer of land between Micajah and his son, Bartley has been found.
A family bible, said by some descendants to have been in the possession of a Mrs. Davis of Alabama was cited by Rulon Smithson, descendant of Allan Freeman Smithson, in his records compiled for the Mormon church. It is unknown where the bible is today (1999)
Verification of parentage is made on the basis of original entries made by William Cox Smithson for the Mormon Church in 1877 which declared his grandfather was Micajah Smithson. Micajah died in 1823 and his son Bartley died in 1838. William Cox was born in 1804. Declarations of children alive during the lifetimes of their ancestors has usually been accepted as proof of parentage.
Bartlett Smithson is recorded in 1810 Census for Pickens, Anderson and Oconee Counties, South Carolina, microfilm #M252 061, page 143. No family members are listed, no Twp. recorded.
Bartley Smithson died intestate on December 9, 1838. He left two minor sons, James Albert and Marion Pinckney. James and Marion petitioned the Court for appointment of Sarah, their mother, as legal guardian, which was so ordered. Sarah was granted dower rights to the usual 1/3 of Bartley's estate, including the dwelling house and all buildings. The petition to the court for dower was signed by James Dillingham, James Springfield, Joshua Dillingham, and James Harman, on July 15, 1842.
Monday, October 7th, 1839, John Smithson and William C. Smithson were appointed administrators of the estate of Bartlett Smithson, after "giving Bond in the penal sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, took the oath prescribed as the law directs."
Thursday, October 8th,1839, James A. Sullivan, Jacob McKown and Joseph Blair were appointed appraisers for Bartlett Smithson's estate, and the Court gave leave to the administrators to sell his personal property. John Smithson, as Administrator of the estate of Bartlett Smithson, was ordered by the court to sell the real estate, in January, 1843. (William C. Smithson's name was not mentioned).
All other recorded estate papers, including acounting of sale, inventory, disposition of slaves, if any, and final accounting are missing from the estate file (Sept. 1999). A copy of the sale of land at Public Auction on either side of the 1/3 Dower rights to Sarah Smithson is to be found under Notes for Sarah Smithson.
The Probate Judge was Richard Dilworth, Mary Ann Smithson's brother-in-law.
Florence's Note: Descendants say that Bartley Smithson and his wife, Sarah Weatherford, lived apart for the last 6 or 7 years of his life. Supportive evidence has not been found. It is possible that there are more records pertaining to the probate of his estate which might be found in files for the State of Alabama, since his land holdings were on the border between Alabama and Mississippi, around the hamlet of Gattman/Gatman, and the border was not permanently defined until sometime after the date of purchase. The demand for $10,000 "Penal" bond from the Administrators of his estate, (His sons John and William) certainly was excessive, and suggests that there was something unusual about the probate process. Bartlett's absence from his home cannot be explained by any activity on behalf of the Mormon Church, because the first missionaries were found in that area only in about 1841, after his death.
No B.L.M. land records have been found for Bartley, either in Alabama or Mississippi. It also is possible that Bartley was among the Cherokee during the 6 or 7 years when he was away from his family from 1830 until his death.
Notes for Sarah Weatherford:
When Sarah Weatherford Smithson's husband died in December 1838, Sarah was left with two minor sons, James Albert, and Marion Pinckney. Her youngest daughter, Parmelia Carolyn, was 18 years old. Allen Freeman and Elizabeth were not yet married. James and Marion petitioned the Court for appointment of Sarah, their mother, as legal guardian, which was so ordered. Sarah was granted dower rights to the usual 1/3 of her deceased spouse's estate, including the dwelling house and all buildings. The petition to the court for dower was signed by James Dillingham, James Springfield, Joshua Dillingham, and James Harman on July 15, 1842. Sarah signed her documents as 'Sarah Smithson'. After the Mormon Exodus in 1846, only John, the oldest son, and James, the youngest, were in Mississippi. Those who did not go to Utah were in Alabama. Son John died in 1854. It is probable that widow Sarah Weatherford Smithson, who lived until 1866, stayed with James Albert, her youngest son.
This indenture is included here beacause at this date no original deed has been found for the lands owned by Bartley Smithson in Monroe County, Mississippi. This record of the sale of two parcels of land by John and William Cox Smithson, admins. for their father's estate, to their mother, Sarah Smithson, identifies the parcels. From Deed Book 10, P. 158, bottom:
This Indenture was made and entered into this the Twenty sixth day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Three, between John and Wm. C. Smithson, Administrators of the Estate of Bartley Smithson, deceased of Monroe County, State of Mississippi, of the first part, and Sarah Smithson Widow of the said deceased of the aforesaid County & State of the second part, Witnesseth that whereas the said party party of the first part did offer the following described land at public sale agreeable to an order from the Orphans Court of the aforesaid County and State; and that the said party of the second part, being the highest and best bidder, it was knocked off to her for the sum of One Hundred and Sixty one dollars and fifty Cents. - Now . for, and in consideration of the sum of One Hundred and Sixty one Dollars and fifty Cents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained, sold conveyed, confirmed and delivered, and by these presents doth bargan, sell, convey, confirm and deliver, unto her the said party of the Second part to her heirs and assigns forever, all that Tract or parcel of land, lying, being and situated on the waters of the Buttahatchey in the County of Monroe and State of Mississippi. it being the two thirds of the South half of the South West quarter and also the two thirds of the East half of the North West quarter, it being the balance after taking off one third off of each half quarter for the widows Dower which said Dower takes one third of each half quarter which is taken off of either side of the line dividing the two half quarters North and South lying in Section Twenty, Township fourteen, Range Sixteen West containing in all One Hundred and Sixty Acres, more or less, together wih all and singular the heriditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining and the revision and revisions and the remainder and remainders, rents, (a___)?, and profits thereof and also all the Estate right Title and interest claim and demand whatsoever of them the said Administrators, either in law or Equity of, in, and to, the above barganed premises and every part and parcel thereof, to have and to hold to the said Sarah Smithson and her Heirs and Assigns to the sole and only purpose use benefit and behoof of her the said Sarah Smithson, her heirs and assigns forever. _A We the said Administrators doth further covenant and agree, with the said Sarah Smithson that we will forever warrant and defend the above described land and barganed for (ever) unto the said Sarah Smithson, her heirs Executors Administrators of Assigns against the right title interest or Claim of ourselves, our heirs, executors, administators or assigns and of all and every other person or persons whomsoever or whatsoever. In Testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year avove written.
John Smithson (seal)
Wm. C. Smithson (seal)
Test this 7th Oct. 1843, Joshua Dillingham, H. M. Dillingham.
The State of Mississippi, Monroe County, Personally appeared before me James Dillingham, an acting Judge of Police in and for said County, John Smithson and William C. Smithson, Administrators of the Estate of Bartley Smithson deceased who acknowleded that they signed, sealed and delivered the within and foregoing Deed of Conveyance on the day and year therein written and for the purposed therein mentioned and exp(__?__) as their own act and deeed. Given under my hand and seal this 7th Oct. 1843. Jas. Dillingham (seal) Judge of Police.
Marriage Notes for Bartlett Smithson and Sarah Weatherford:
Marriage Bond found in Mecklenburg Co. Records, 1765-1810, pg. 47, dated 30, November 1799. Security was Freeman Weatherford, Sarah's brother. Note from Sarah's father, William Weatherford.
They were married Dec. 4, 1799, signed Matthew Dance, Clerk of Mecklenburg Co. on Dec. 7, 1799.
More About Bartlett Smithson and Sarah Weatherford:
Marriage: December 03, 1799, Lunenberg Co., Va.
Children of Bartlett Smithson and Sarah Weatherford are:
82 i. John7 Smithson, born October 13, 1801 in Pendleton, Anderson, So. Carolina; died August 16, 1854 in Monroe Co., Mississippi. He married Susan Alsup July 09, 1834 in Lowndes Co., Mississippi; died Unknown.
More About John Smithson and Susan Alsup:
Marriage 1: July 09, 1834, Lowndes Co., Mississippi
Marriage 2: July 09, 1834, Book 1834-1852 pg. 2
83 ii. William Cox Smithson, born March 30, 1804 in Pendleton, So. Carolina; died March 02, 1899 in Washington, Utah. He married Lucinda Wilson February 16, 1841; born Unknown; died Unknown.
Notes for William Cox Smithson:
William Cox Smithson did original LDS Temple work for his grandfather Micajah, grandmother Mary Cox, his father Bartley, his mother, Sarah, and his father's siblings in 1877, naming them and giving their dates of birth. Since he was an adult (43 years) when he left them, it is assumed he knew who they were.
When William C. Smithson was making preparations to join the Mormon's on their trek to Salt Lake city he sold his land holdings to William L. Neeley, or Luke W. Neeley, his brother-in-law, husband to Permellia Carolyn Smithson Below, from Deed Book 13, Monroe County, Mississippi, Page 713, is the conveyance. Note, the Parmellia Carolyn is his sister, born 1820, not his daughter, Parmellia Carolyn, born 1848.
This indenture made and entered into this 14th dy of March, AD 1846 between William C. Smithson and Luke W. Neeley of the second part - Witnesseth - That the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred Dollars to them in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have this day granted bargained sold and conveyed, and by these presents do grant bargain sell and convey unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns the following described tracts or parcels of land lying and being in Monroe County, State of Mississippi to wit the North East qtr. of the South West qtr. and the North West qtr. of the North East quarter of Section Thirty Six and the South West qtr. of the South East qtr. of Section Twenty five, all in Township fourteen of Range Seventeen West, containing by estimation one hundred and twenty acres more or less, together with the tenements hereditaments and appertenances to the said premesis belonging - To have and to hold the said premises with their appurtenances unto the said Party of the second Part his heirs and assigns in fee simple forever.
And the said party of the first part for themselves and their heirs - the title to said premises with their appurtenances unto the said part of the second part his heirs and assigns will warrant and by these presents forever defend against the claim of all claimants whomsoever.
In Witness Whereof the Party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals this day and year.
W. C. Smithson (seal)
Lucinda (x) her mark Smithson (seal)
The State of Mississippi, Monroe County, Personally appeared before me I. W. Cook an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County Lucinda Smithson wife of the within named W. C. Smithson whose names are assigned to the within and foregoing Deed who acknowleged that she signed sealed and delivered the within and foregoing Deed on the day and year therein mentioned for the purposed therein mentioned and she being separate and apart from the said husband further acknowledged that she relinquishes all her right of Dower in and to the within described land and bargained premises to Luke W. Neeley, freely of her own accord without any fear threats or compulsion from her said husband.
Given under my hand and seal this 16th March, 1846, I.W. Cook, (seal) Justice of the Peace.
The foregoing is a true Record of the Orginal Deed and the Certificates therein, filed in my office and Recorded this 16th April, 1849. T. W. Williams, Clk.
More About William Smithson and Lucinda Wilson:
Marriage: February 16, 1841
84 iii. Charles Colburn Smithson, born August 15, 1806 in Pendleton So. Carolina; died June 24, 1824.
85 iv. Mary Ann Blanks Smithson, born December 25, 1808 in Pendleton, So. Carolina; died January 25, 1897 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. She married James Harman December 25, 1828 in Pendleton, Anderson, So. Carolina; born September 29, 1801 in Boonsborough, Ky; died September 14, 1851 in Auburn, Ca..
Notes for Mary Ann Blanks Smithson:
A great deal has already been written about Mary Ann Smithson Harman. Mary Ann, her husband James Harman, and four of her five children left Aberdeen, Monroe County Mississippi with a group of about 150 other individuals for the LDS emigration in 1846. They wintered in Fort Pueblo, Colorado where Mary Ann gave birth to her youngest son, John Taylor Harman in Spring of 1847. They arrived in Salt Lake City in July, 1847, a few days after Brigham Young and the main contingent of emigres. Her youngest son was not more that three months old. She and her husband, James Harman, along with Dimick Huntington, set up a blacksmith shop near what is now Temple Square in Salt Lake City. According to Kenneth Davies, in his book, Mormon Gold, Mary Ann and her family left for the California gold fields in 1849. They settled in Long Valley just inside what is now the city limits of Auburn California. Mary Ann opened a Hotel called Homestead House or Harman House near other Mormon Argonauts, the Matthews, Threllkills and Crows. The area also was sometimes called Crooks Ravine. James mined for gold. James returned to Mississippi, in 1851, to fetch his oldest daughter, Mary Eliza, who had remained there when the family left in 1846, and to help settle the estate of his father, Stephen Harman, who had died in February, 1850. He returned to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, where he became ill. He survived until September 8th. He was buried in Auburn. Ca.
Three months later, on December 11, 1851, Mary Ann's daughter, Paralee America Harman, born 1835 in Monroe County, Mississippi, was married to one Samuel Garn, who signed the below pre-emptive Homestead Claim on the 320 acres near Auburn. It is probable that Paralee America stayed with her mother and siblings until a later date, as her first child was born in Utah, in 1860.
.
On February 26, 1852, there was recorded a premptive homestead claim for Harman and Garn, on 320 acres located near the Sacramento City Road. The record for the claim is listed in Book A., page 45, for Land Claims, Placer County, 1852. It is on page 143 of the index. The Deed Book A., is missing from the Placer County Archives.
In Book C. pps 345, 346, for September 16, 1857, Mary A. Harman Widow of the late James Harman, deceased, grantor, transfers her 320 acres recorded above, to Perry Kelly and William Duncan for the sum of $1500.00. The description of the property refers to the pre-emptive claim above, and includes mention of a boundary stake for a pre-emptive claim of Robert Crow and George Thrailkill. (Thus, they were neighbors). This second, Grantor deed, states that the pre-emptive claim of 1852 was in the names of Mary A. Harman and Samuel Garn, surveyed February 25, 1852 by James Stratton. The land was sold together with all hereditaments, apppurtenances, rents, issue and profits, estate right, title, interest claim, and demand whatsoever. The sale was made without the signature of Samuel Garn, so it might be assumed that Mary Ann and her son-in-law Samuel Garn settled their mutual interests before 1857, although such a record cannot be found. The original document of this transaction may be in a manner of a marriage contract as was customary in both Harman and Smithson families.
Mary Ann Harman was assessed as follows:
1853 - $2,000 House and Stock
1854 - $2500, state tax $15.00, county tax, $20.00.
April 3, 1955 - assessment $1000, Homestead, Old Sac City Road.
1857 - Mrs. Mary Harman - near Auburn, Homestead, $790 total value of property, $1,000 exempt. Total $2790 = exempted by statute $2,000.
Entry below Mary Ann was Mary Eliza Harman - near Auburn $590.00, stock.
The above exemption was most likely the Statutory allowance for the first five years of homesteading, as she filed in 1852.
Mary Ann remained at Homestead House until September, 1857, when she went to Genoa, Nevada, (Carson Valley). There she raised cattle, as well as various vegetables, and made butter and cheese which were sold to those who were passing across the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the Emigrant Trail into California. According to the article about her grandson, Ira Winters, she occupied the home and lands being vacated by "Jim Garns" who being one of the original settlers of the valley, was returning to Utah at the call of Brigham Young. Possible relationship between Samuel Garns, whose name appears on the original homestead claim, along with Mary Ann, and Jim Garns, whose home she occupied later in Carson Valley, Nevada, and who married her daughter, Paralee America Harman may be that of father and son or it may be the same individual.
Thompson and West in their History of Nevada, 1881, list Mrs. Harmon, her sons, John and James, and her daughters Sarah, Eliza and Josephine as some of the first permanent settlers in Ormsby County, 1857. See page 531
Additional information to ponder: Other "first settlers" at Mormon Station, renamed Genoa, later Franktown, and surrounding area, Eagle Valley, Washoe Valley, Carson Valley, came mostly from Davis County, in Utah, under the leadership of Orson Hyde, were Aaron Cherry (from Centerville), Chester Loveland (who later became first mayor of Brigham City), Christopher Laton (later Layton, Utah), William Jennings (Mormon Battalion, later Bishop of Kaysville, director of Z.C.M.I.) This is significant only inasmuch as it explains why both the Harmans and the Evanses, when they reached Utah, settled in Davis County. It is possible that Jonathan Benner Evans met Josephine Smithson Harman in Carson Valley when Zacharias Cheney (another Mormon Battalion member) and Amanda Miller Evans Cheney with her mother and siblings, left San Francisco for Utah in 1857. They left Carson Valley in the company of families who had already established homes in Davis County.
In 1859, after the marriages of her three oldest daughters, she returned to Utah, where she bought land in Centerville, Davis County, and homesteaded until her death in 1897. She made several trips to Nevada and California to visit her daughters there. On one occasion she visited the Winters family at Knights Landing, California, where she arranged to have fruit and nut trees, grapes, and a variety of other plants shipped from the Winters farm to her home in Centerville.
She appears in the Census for June, 1880, Centerville Precinct, Davis County, Utah, living in the household of her daughter and son-in-law, Jonathan Benner Evans. She is 71 years old. She is listed as a weaver.
She died in 1897 a few weeks short of age 90. Two of her daughters, Paralee and Sarah Elizabeth preceeded her.
Petition filed in Administration of her estate, April 16, 1901
Notes for James Harman:
BLM records, document Nos. 31290, 88, 28025. James Harman purchased 40 acres sole owner, and 80 acres in common with Jonathan T. (Taylor) Harman, next to Stephen Harman's property in Monroe Co., Mississippi on February 27, 1841. He purchased an additional 80 acres there on September 10, 1844. His brothers-in-law John Smithson and William C. Smithson purchased as neighbors to James as well. The Harman property in Aberdeen, Mississippi was on near Chicasaw lands, and about 25 miles from Sulligent, Alabama where the Smithson family apparently lived.
James Harman appears in the 1840 Census for Monroe County. Total 4 persons,(1 in agriculture). Two females under the age of 10.
James joined the Mormon Church, probably in 184l. In the years between 1843 and 1846 he made several trips to Nauvoo, Illinois, to work on the building of the Mormon temple there. He was "Washed and Annointed" December 16, 1845. Some of this time verified (by John Brown's diary) from March 14, 1845, returned to Mississippi, June 3, 1845. An account with Nauvoo House for 63 days work between July 1st and September 16, verifies additional time there. He purchased shirting, India Rubbers, melons, shoes, molasses, satinette and thread, buttons and lining, for $6.32 between August 12 and October 9th 1845. The Journal of Louisa Barnes Pratt, wife of Addison Pratt, (Vol. 8, pg 233) states that when Addison Pratt had been sent from Nauvoo on a mission, leaving Louisa and her four children destitute, James Harmon, a southern brother, in passing by her door, gave her a silver dollar, saying "I am going across the river to be gone several days; something may prevent my return. Keep that in remembrance of me.....I went to the store and purchased the articles I very much needed."
On April 8, 1846 he left Mississippi, with his wife and four of his five children, along with others of the same faith, including three Smithson brothers-in-law and under the leadership of another brother-in-law, William Crosby married to his sister Sarah), to join the larger contingent of Mormons gathering to move west . Still other members of that group were four sisters of William Crosby, married to John Brown, (the missionary who converted them to Mormonism), William Harvey Lay, Daniel Porter and John Bankhead.
He arrived in Fort Pueblo, Colorado on August 7, 1846 with the other "Mississippi Saints." Not more than two weeks later word came from Bent's Fort, 80 miles below Pueblo on the Arkansas River, that Brigadier General Stephen W. Kearney's army, who were en route to New Mexico to wrest that area from Mexican forces, were in need of a blacksmith. William Kartchner and James Harmon were sent. It is not known how long James stayed at Fort Bent before returning to Pueblo. He was a gunsmith as well as a blacksmith, and was particularly known for his hunting skills. He must have been a man of unusually large stature, because he was known as 'long legs' in recogntion of his appearance on horseback. He was known as a 'superb' horseman.
A sixth child, John Taylor Harman, was born in Pueblo on April 6, 1847 Less than two months later the family began the walk to Salt Lake City, arriving on July 29, 1847.
It is possible that at this time he became acquainted with Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, son of Sacajawea, and Toussaint Charbonneau, guide to Lewis and Clark, who had been hired as a guide for the forces under General Kearney, and was at Bent's Fort at that time. Later, when James Harman and his wife established their gold claim and Homestead House in Auburn, California, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau lived at an Inn at Murder's Bar, some five miles from the Harman home, which was owned (see Kenneth Davies, Mormon Gold pps. 115 - 120) by Orrin Porter Rockwell, sometimes reputed to be bodyguard to Brigham Young. Charbonneau served as deputy surveyor for Placer County in 1851,52, and later was Manager of several hotels in and around Auburn, finally leaving the area in 1866.
Upon arrival in Utah the Harmans stayed at Pioneer Square (present-day Temple Square, Salt Lake City) where James set up a blacksmith shop with Dimick Huntington.
If the testimony of Ira Winters, son of James's daughter, Sarah, is accepted, after a little more than a year, in 1849, (James left Utah), and traversed the Mojave Desert with a group of Mississippi Saints who were settled in Cottonwood (later Holladay) comprised of the Smithsons and Holladays and their families, those who were part of the "Mississippi Saints". They had been been sent to San Bernardino, to establish a colony there. See article by Mrs. Thurlow Douglas for Nevada State Journal, December 28, 1941. From San Bernardino, the Harmans left the Smithsons and traveled up the Central Valley of California to Auburn, California, where he mined a gold claim and his wife ran a hotel, known as Homestead House or Harman House on Harman Hill also known as Crooks Ravine. Or: (another version) somewhere in California they met with Jean Baptist Charbonneau, whom James had met in Fort Bent, and he traveled to Auburn in the company of this man, (see above). There the Threlkills and Crows and Matthews, also Mississippi Saints from Monroe County, Mississippi, were their neighbors at a nearby hotel and mining claim in Long Valley. This residence is presently (1999) owned and occupied by a Rhodes family. The cemetery there was the burial place for Threlkills, Crows, Van Ripers (Mormon Battalion) and Levi Runyan (Mormon Battalion), and nine infants.
Descendants of Allen Freeman Smithson have written that Allen did not leave Salt Lake City for San Bernardino settlement until March 11, 1851, with Jefferson Hunt as leader. If this date is correct then James Harman left well before the San Berdardino settlement and against the orders of Brigham Young, with the purpose of of mining for gold, not settling a Mormon community in California. The date 1849, as stated by Ira Winters, is probably correct, but James must have left Utah with the Threlkills and Crows, and not with the Smithsons, as the Smithsons left in March, 1851.
There is no verified evidence that James brought slaves with him to Utah or to California, but in the 1850 Census of miners in the Auburn California area, there is a 19-year old black man called 'Harman' (no other name) who had a mining claim near James' claim. According to Joannette Black, great great grand
daughter of James Harman, letters and reports of Mormon missionaries, now in the church archives, mention that the Harman household at Auburn included two negroes, a man who was called Harman and a small boy. These two individuals were not the two who were bequeathed to James by his father's estate, as his father died in February, 1850, and James would not have had them until a later date. They may have belonged to Mary Ann Smithson Harman.
In 1851, following the death of his father Stephen, he returned to Mississippi to settle business affairs and to fetch his oldest daughter, who had been left there with relatives since 1846. He signed receipt for his share of partial distribution of his father's estate in April 15th, 1851. The receipt was for two negro slaves: l boy, Sam, valued at $500.00 and 1 boy, Nathan, valued at $1000.00. Since the total for these two individuals was $1500.00 and couldn't be divided, and was $52.51 more than the total valuation of one ninth of all 22 slaves ( in the estate of his father, Stephen) he paid in cash $52.75 to the Administrator, his brother, Stephen A. Harman. These two men had been sold, along with Stephen Harman's other slaves, at public auction authorized by the court, on January 30, 1851, at the home of the former owner. See Probate Packet 431, Aberdeen Court House, Monroe Co., Mississippi.
Another note here may be of interest: When James' mother, Lucy Joslin Harman died in 1866, after the Civil War, inventory of her estate showed $70.00 in gold as a part of her personal estate.
On his return trip, he crossed the Isthmus of Panama, where he contracted a fever, possibly Yellow Fever, which was particularly severe that year. He returned to California in August of 1851. On September 8, 1851, he died of that fever. He was buried on his home property. There is a photograph of his tombstone in the Archives Collection at the Placer County Museum, in Auburn California. The photograph was taken in 1962. At that time some remnants of Harman House were still visible at Harman Hill. The notation with the photograph indicates that there were three additional graves; two unmarked, and one for John Smith, died Aug 4, 1851. The graves were destroyed and the markers removed before 1998 by which time a subdivision called Vintage Oaks was built at that site.
This has nothing to do with genealogy - When I visited the area during the Winter of 1999, in order to get a picture of the place where James Harman's home was built, I was informed that a small park recently had been built in the area where there earlier had been a pear orchard planted. I took a picture of the English Walnut, the Fig Tree, and the Lilacs which had been there since it was homesteaded, then headed toward the pear orchard - park. A few yards down the rather overgrown trail I encountered a sign saying "Warning! Mountain Lion Habitat - Proceed at your own risk". I had only a camera which doesn't make much noise, and since I remembered that it was very close to there that a runner recently met her demise, when she was attacked and chewed by a Mountain Lion, I decided to explore the old pear orchard another time.
More About James Harman and Mary Smithson:
Marriage: December 25, 1828, Pendleton, Anderson, So. Carolina
86 v. Martha Smithson, born May 01, 1811 in Pendleton, So. Carolina; died January 10, 1881 in Sulligent, Lamar co., Alabama. She married Daniel Holladay October 18, 1835 in Lowndes Co., Mississippi; born August 03, 1811 in Richmond Co. SC; died November 13, 1866 in Sulligent, Lamar Co., AL.
More About Daniel Holladay and Martha Smithson:
Marriage: October 18, 1835, Lowndes Co., Mississippi
87 vi. Elizabeth Harrison Smithson, born November 05, 1813 in Pendleton, So. Carolina; died September 17, 1898 in Sulligent, Lamar Alabama. She married (1) Albert Barton Abt. 1843; born Unknown; died Unknown. She married (2) Joseph Holladay Abt. 1844; born July 08, 1816 in Richland Co., SC; died April 21, 1885 in Sulligent, Lamar, Alabama.
More About Albert Barton and Elizabeth Smithson:
Marriage: Abt. 1843
More About Joseph Holladay and Elizabeth Smithson:
Marriage: Abt. 1844
88 vii. Allen Freeman Smithson, born February 11, 1816 in Pendleton,Anderson Co., So. Carolina; died September 27, 1877 in Pahreah, Kane, Utah. He married (1) Luticia Hollis Holladay April 09, 1840 in Marion Co., Alabama; born November 28, 1824 in Marion, Alabama; died August 16, 1849 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He married (2) Jeannette Burton Taylor December 16, 1849 in Salt Lake City, Utah; born May 02, 1826 in Darlington, So. Carolina; died May 29, 1912 in Layton, Utah.
Notes for Allen Freeman Smithson:
This notation appears in almost all records for Allen Freeman Smithson. I have been unable to find the original source- who has actually seen the note, or has possession of it. It is said that Allen Freeman Smithson carried this note in his wallet during his life time.
"My grate grand Mother Amy Freeman, My grate grand Mother was Amy Blanks, My grand Mother Mary Wetherford, Mother was Sarah Wetherford
More About Allen Smithson and Luticia Holladay:
Marriage: April 09, 1840, Marion Co., Alabama
More About Allen Smithson and Jeannette Taylor:
Marriage: December 16, 1849, Salt Lake City, Utah
89 viii. Susan Smithson, born August 12, 1818 in Pendleton Dist. Ancerson, So. Carolina; died September 20, 1827 in Monroe Co., Mississippi.
90 ix. Parmellia Carolyn Smithson, born August 31, 1820 in unknown; died October 14, 1890. She married William L. Nealy January 03, 1842 in Lowndes Co., Mississippi; born August 31, 1820 in Monroe, Miss.; died Unknown.
More About William Nealy and Parmellia Smithson:
Marriage: January 03, 1842, Lowndes Co., Mississippi
91 x. Marion Pinkney Smithson, born December 25, 1822 in Monroe, Miss.; died March 15, 1912 in Milford, Beaver, Utah. He married Olivia Holliday Abt. 1844; born June 05, 1828 in Marion, Alabama; died May 16, 1893 in Milford, Beaver, Utah.
Notes for Marion Pinkney Smithson:
He was just 15 years old when his father died. Married Olivia Holliday and lived in Alabama until about 2 years after his mother Sarah Weatherford Smithson died. According to family records his first 9 children were born in Alabama. In 1869, following the end of the Civil War in which he served, and following the freeing of slaves, essential to his cotton growing operation, he moved to Utah, settling at Centerville, Davis County, where his older sister, Mary Ann Harman and many cousins lived. Later - date unknown, he moved again to Santaquin, Utah where he following stock raising and mining. A copper strike at Eureka, Utah took him there. He established the Smithson Hotel at Milford. See A History of Beaver County, Martha Sonntag Bradley, 1999, pg. 162. He died at age 93
More About Marion Smithson and Olivia Holliday:
Marriage: Abt. 1844
92 xi. James Albert Smithson, born June 10, 1825 in Monroe, Miss.; died March 11, 1892. He married Mary Adeline Tomerson; born Unknown; died Unknown.
Notes for James Albert Smithson:
From: Our Pioneer Heritage, DUP, Mississippi Saints, Volume No 2, pp. 454-455. James Albert Smithson went to Pueblo with the Mormons, spent the winter of 46-47 in Pueblo, but never went to Utah.
A Deed recorded in the Monroe County Deed Book, record 23, dated March 14, 1864, describes the transfer of a parcel of 200 acres in Monroe County to J.M. Sims. His wife signed away her dower rights. Her signature reads L.F. or S.F. Smithson. It can in no way be interpreted as Mary Adeline (Tomerson)
|