Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Newman and Nelson- Alphabetical and Descendant Ties

When you are researching ancestors that died before the 1850 census, you are presented with an ancestor puzzle with many missing pieces.  Prior to 1850, our puzzle pieces include census, tax lists, land, probate and host of other records that often get ignored.  Such is the case with two of my ancestors, William Newman and Moses Nelson:

William Newman
1763–1840
BIRTH BEF. 1763 • St Marys Church, Burlington, New Jersey, United States
DEATH 1840 • Nicholas County, Kentucky, USA
5th great-grandfather

Moses Nelson
1758–1833
BIRTH 10 MAR 1758 • Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA
DEATH 12 JUN 1833 • Bath County, Kentucky, USA
5th great-grandfather

My intent was to research William Newman but I kept finding Moses Nelson in the same records.  Their names are both found in the "Ne" portion of the indexes.  They appear to be contemporaries but not necessarily associates.  Their descendants were joined together by the marriage of William Thomas Newman and Louisa Joyce Fowler, three generations later as shown in the pedigree for their daughter and my great grandmother, Julia Ann Newman:


I was interested in finding information about William Newman because I was intrigued by the fact that he freed his slaves in his will.  Here is what I found:

William Newman Research Log- July 2018 by Nick Cimino

William Newman was born in 1763 by some accounts in Burlington, New Jersey. He married Cassandra Tippet in 1780 in Charles, Maryland. They had five children in 11 years. He died in 1840 in Nicholas, Kentucky.

The 1780 marriage of William Newman to Cassandra Tippet is supported by the biography of their son-in-law, David Wilson:
David Wilson ... married, in Bourbon County, in 1815, Sarah, daughter of William and Cassander (Tippet) Newman
SOURCE: History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed. by William Henry Perrin, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882. p. 800.

The 1790 census shows a William Newman in Charles County, Maryland:
Name: William Newman
Home in 1790 (City, County, State): Charles, Maryland
Number of All Other Free Persons: 4
Number of Household Members: 4

This census would indicate that William and Cassandra had two children prior to 1790.  This is slightly inconsistent with the known family information which shows three children born prior to 1790:

  • Birth of Daughter Eleanor Newman Bond Fugate (1783–1875) 6 Aug 1783 • Maryland
  • Birth of Daughter Sophia Newman Harden (1787–1857) Abt. 1787 • Maryland, USA
  • Birth of Son Thomas David Newman(1788–1848) 22 Feb 1788 • Charles County, Maryland, USA
By 1800 the William Newman Household had grown considerably. We appear to be missing one child in our records as there are only two children shown as born between 1790 and 1800:

  • Birth of Son Augusta Newman (1794–1861) ABT 1794 • Maryland
  • Birth of Daughter Sarah Newman Wilson (1795–1872) 4 Feb 1795 • Maryland
We have knowledge of three daughters and two sons but as shown below there was another boy under 10 recorded in the 1800 census. In addition there is a white male 45 and over that is a subject of speculation.  There are two females 10 through  15 shown in the 1800 census but Eleanor Newman would have been about 17 and Sophia Newman would have been about 13 which is a slight mismatch.
Name: William Newman
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Port Tobacco Parish, Charles, Maryland
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2   (Augusta Newman, age 6 and ??)
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15: 1   (Thomas David Newman, age 12)
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1   (William Newman, age 37)
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1   (unknown older male)
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1   (Sarah Newman, age 5)
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2   (Eleanor, age 17 and Sophia age 13)
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1   (Cassandra about 35)
Number of Slaves: 1 (Perhaps there is a deed or a will which shows this name.)
Number of Household Members Under 16: 6
Number of Household Members Over 25: 3
Number of Household Members: 10
The 1810 census shows the following: 

Name: William Newman
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Charles, Maryland
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Number of All Other Free Persons: 1
Numbers of Slaves: 4
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 9
The earliest event that I have found so far involving the Newmans in Kentucky was 7 Aug 1813 in Bourbon County, Kentucky, Thomas David Newman was married to Nancy Johnson.

In 1814 the marriage of Sarah Newman to David Wilson occurred on 16 Jun 1814 in Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA.

Shortly thereafter, Agusta Newman, son of William Newman and Cassandra Tippet enlisted for War of 1812 service on 10 September 1814.

Agusta Newman and Melinda Sledd were married in Bourbon County on the 3rd of November of 1815.

In 1819 Agusta Newman was a Grantor to Benjamin Boardman, Grantee, Book E, Page 367 and in - 1827 Agusta Newman was Grantor to William Sledd, Grantee, Book G, Page 560 both deeds in Bourbon County.

The 1820 Census shows William Newman as follows:
 Name:  William Newman
Home in 1820 (City, County, State):         Nicholas, Kentucky
Enumeration Date:          August 7, 1820 
 Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:  1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:            1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over :       1
Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25:           1
Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44:      1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture:       1
Free White Persons - Under 16:  1
Free White Persons - Over 25:     2
Total Free White Persons:            3
Total Slaves:       2
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:               5

William Newman (1765 – 1840 • Family Search ID# LX7G-9WB) in Nicholas County, Kentucky Tax books 1800-1841 (Missing 1828, 1832, 1837); Family History Library United States & Canada Film # 8185, DGS # 7834493
·         Total Images: 1430; Years are shown with large block numbers; Used 1820 as a starting point which begins on Image #571 and ends on Image #611. 611-571=40 images
·         Names are alphabetical.  In 1820, William Newman is on image 598 of 1430. The following shows the column headings and the entries for William Newman:
o   Person’s name chargeable with Tax: William Newman
o   No. of Acres of Land and land rating 1st, 2nd or 3rd:  None
o   District and Regiment in which the person resides: 4th Dist.
o   County in which the land resides: Nicholas
o   Water Course on which the land lies: None
o   In whose named entered: None
o   In whose named surveyed: None
o   In whose named patented: None
o   White males over 21: 1
o   Blacks over 16: 1 (Note that the 1820 census says two blacks and tax records show two blacks beginning in 1822)
o   Total blacks: 1
o   Horses, mares etc: 1
o   Steed horses: None
o   Rates pr. Season (sp?): None
o   Tavern license: None
o   Retail stores: None
o   Wheel carriages: None
o   Billiard Tables: None
o   Value of Land per Acre:
o   Total Value Except Steed Horses: $789
·         1819 William Newman was not listed
·         1821 (Image 639) William Newman is in 4th district of Nicholas County. Again, there is one male over 21, 1 black over 16 and 1 total black with one horse. Total value is $530.
·         1822 (Image 684) William Newman listed on Image 684.  He had no land. It appears that he is in the 4th district of Nicholas County. He is still the only white male over 21. There are now two total blacks both over age 16 and two horses with total value of $710.
·         1823 (Image 727) William Newman is in 4th District of Nicholas County. There is one voter, one white male over 21, two blacks over 16, two total blacks, and two horses. Total value is $780.
·         1824 (Image 767) William Newman is in 4th District of Nicholas County. There is one white male over 21, two blacks over 16, two total blacks, and two horses. Total value is $710.
·         1825 (Image 816) William Newman is in 4th District of Nicholas County. There is one white male over 21, three blacks over 16, three total blacks, and two horses. Total value is $1600.
o   On the next page is Moses Nelson with 66 acres of 2nd class land in Shelby Company, original entry by Abercromby (sic), one male over 21, one total slave and three horses
·         1827 (Image 891) William Newman is in Nicholas County. There is one voter, one white male over 21, three blacks over 16, three total blacks, and two horses. Total value is $950.
·         1828 is missing
·         1829 (Image 939) William Newman is in Nicholas County. There is one white male over 21, three blacks over 16, three total blacks, and three horses. Total value is $940. Also notable are the other Newmans including:
o   John with 93 acres in 2nd District on the Licking with original entry by Fowler with one male over 21 and two horses
o   Thomas no land in 3rd District, one male over 21, one slave over 16, one total slave and one horse
o   Augusta no land in 3rd District, one male over 21 and three horses.
o   Also, of note in 1829 is Moses Nelson whose family in later generations intermarries with Newman with 80 acres in 2nd District of Bath and Nicholas County, watercourse L. Flatt, original entry by Smith.
·        • 1830 census of Bourbon County, Kentucky shows William Newman as follows:
 Name: William Newman Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Bourbon, Kentucky Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69: 1 Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 1 Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 1 Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99: 1 Free White Persons - Under 20: 1 Total Free White Persons: 3 Total Slaves: 3 Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 6 The white female 60 thru 69 is presumably the wife of William Newman, Cassandra Tippett. The birth of William and his wife Cassandra would have occurred between 1761 and 1770. • 1831 (Image 1025) William Newman is in Nicholas County. There is one voter, one tithe-able white male over 21, four blacks over 16, five total blacks, and two horses. Total value is $1400. o Also, in 1831 is John Newman with 92 ¾ acres, 3rd rate, on the Licking, entered etc. by Fowler, one voter, one tithe-able white male over 21, no blacks, and four horses. Total value is $500. o Also, in 1831 is Moses Nelson with 142 ¾ acres, 2nd rate, on the Little Flatt, entered etc. by Fowler, one voter, one tithe-able white male over 21, one black over 16, one total black, and seven horses. Total value is $2100. • 1832 is missing. • 1833 (Image 1069) William Newman is in Nicholas County. There is one tithe-able white male over 21, three blacks over 16, four total blacks, and two horses. Total value is $1000. o Also, in 1833 is Thomas Newman one tithe-able white male over 21, one black over 16, one total black, and four horses. Total value is $550. o Moses Nelson and Thomas Nelson are next to each other without land. Moses has 1,1,1,6 valued at $650 and Thomas has no personal property. • 1834 (Image 1116) William Newman is in Nicholas County. There is one tithe-able white male over 21, three blacks over 16, five total blacks, and two horses. Total value is $1080. o On the line above William there is Thomas Newman with one tithe-able white male over 21, one black over 16, one total black, and six horses. Total value is $700. • 1835 (Image 1168) William Newman is in Nicholas County. There is one voter, one tithe-able white male over 21, three blacks over 16, six total blacks, and four horses. Total value is $1050. William Newman is the only Newman family member on this tax list. • 1836 (Image 1219 and 1220) No Newmans appear on the Nicholas County tax list. • 1837 is missing • 1838 (Image 1270) No Newmans appear on the Nicholas County tax list. These records provide evidence of the residence of William Newman in Nicholas County, Kentucky from 1820 to 1835. and a description of his property and its value. • 1840 Wm Newman in the 1840 United States Federal Census Name: Wm Newman Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Bath, Kentucky Free White Persons - Males - 70 thru 79: 1 Slaves - Males - Under 10: 2 Slaves - Females - Under 10: 3 Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54: 1 Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99: 1 Total Free White Persons: 1 Total Slaves: 7 Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 8 Source Citation Year: 1840; Census Place: Bath, Kentucky; Page: 196 Since there is no white female in this household, we can presume that Cassandra Newman died after 1830 and before 1840. She is also not mentioned in the 1836 will so that puts the range for her death date as 1830-1836. • 1840 Will Recorded in Bath County, Kentucky William NEWMAN signed a will in October 30, 1836 in Nicholas County, Kentucky. BATH County Kentucky Wills page 116 Recorded in Bath County, on Dec. 14, 1840. In the name of God Amen October twentieth in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty six, I William Newman of Nicholas county and state of Kentucky being ill of body but of sound mind and memory and calling to 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 testament, that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it and as for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian and decent manner ------discretion of my executor and as for property that it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I leave as follows.: My Negro man Sam I give him his freedom and and as my negro woman Hannah I give her her freedom, one ten gallon kettle a large oven a pair of smoothing irons and a tea kettle and a sifter and a table . My negro woman Mary I give her her freedom and ten gallon kettle one small kettle and a linnen wheel. I give also Mary's children their freedom Martha, Sam, Milly and Hannah with all her increase forever. I also will Thomas Newman my son one dollar. My daughter Eleanor Fergate one dollar my daughter Sophia Hardin one dollar my son Augusta Newman one dollar the balance of my property I will to my daughter Sarah Wilson after my just debts are paid. I constitute and appoint David Wilson my son in law My Executor of this my last will and testament utterly revoking any other will made rattifing and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness where of I have here affirmed and afixed my seal the day and date above named David Wilson Executor Signed Sealed and pronounced in the presence of Witnesses   
             his William x Newman Seal   
           mark Witness Hezekiah B Hon John Beck   
               her Mary ann x Beck   
             Mark Bath County December Court 18th DECEMBER 1840 This Instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and Testament of William Newman Deceased was produced and proven in open court by the oaths of John Beck and affionation of Hezekiah B. Hon witnessess thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded whereupon the same hath been duly admited to . The will of William Newman dated 1836 Nicholas Co. Ky. He lists the following heirs: Thomas, Eleanor Fugate, Sophia Harden, Augusta (son), Sarah Willson, Sarah's husband David as executor.

Research at FamilySearch.org and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City has failed to reveal any further references to William Newman in Bourbon, Nicholas or Bath counties.  

I composed emails to my colleagues in the Association of Professional Genealogists and I was especially pleased to receive the following response:

from:Cynthia Maharrey 
to:Nick Cimino
date:Aug 5, 2018, 4:50 PM
subject:RE: William Newman Freed His Slaves in 1840
As a rule in the state of Kentucky, manumissions were recorded in deed books or in county court orders books. That should be where you would find Sam, Hannah, Mary and her children’s manumissions.

Bath County had a courthouse disaster in 1864. Union troops were occupying it when a Confederate attack was waged on Owingsville. They abandoned it leaving a stove burning which caught the building on fire. While not everything was lost, some months later during another raid, some of the remaining  records were pulled into the street and burned. So, although deeds and court order books for Bath County exist from 1811, the legibility and availability of the records contained therein may be hit-or-miss.

Nicholas County suffered no such disasters and those manumissions, if William Newman’s wishes were carried out, should be in the deed or court orders books.

Many of the early Kentucky courthouse records are now housed in the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort. Many of those records are available online through FamilySearch.org. If you can’t find what you seek through them, I’d be happy to work up a proposal for you.

One more thing, Kentucky also recorded free blacks on the tax lists, so they might appear there as well!

Best,

Cynthia


Cynthia Maharrey has provided me with some good suggestions which might help me find what happened to the slaves that were freed by William Newman. Wish me luck!

Here is the profile for Cynthia Maharrey at the the Association of Professional Genealogists:


Here is mine: