Andrew Welford White [Parents] was born in 1816 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co., TN. He died on Jul 17 1846 in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX. He was buried in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX. He married Sophia Woodward Murphree on Feb 22 1841 in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX.
September the 24th 1871
Morgans Creek Benton County Tennessee
To Mistress Martha Tom Mary
Stockton and Jennie Virginia WhiteMy dear grandchildren. I yet live by the help of the allwise Creator with the oportunity of answering your letter that I received a few days ago which I do not suppose you do not imagine the pleasure it affords me in my old age to hear that you was well and doing well. I had heard that your parents was dead but could not tell what had become of you. I am now about 82 years old in July past and very infirm. I have had seventeen children in all-but eight living all married and gone but one my youngest son stays with me yet. Some of them in Missouri, some in Arkansas and some in Kentucky, the balance in Tennessee. I have in all 54 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and they are all well as common. I Received a letter a long time ago from some of your relations that your father made some entry of land away up the St. Antone but had not obtained grants for the same. The time I have never heard from it since. You will please let me know about it when you write me again. The general weather of the country is tolorably good. I had a good chance of property when the war came up consisting in negroes which was set at liberty. Only four of them staid with me.
Martha Fry your father's sisters child that I had not mentioned she is living in two miles of me and doing well. Her husband having a part in two stores. The produce is going down in value. Corn is a short crop. Wheat not a half. Bacon 12 1/2 cts pr lb. Cotton 3 cts. Peanuts has opened at 1.50 cts. per bushel. Cattle low. Horses and mules 15 per cent lower. So no more this time. I can't think of all I want to write to you but I want you to write soon and often.
James White
NB I send my portrait though a bad one according to your request. If I had a better one I would send it to you. This is the best I can do at the time. Your Grand Father until death
James White
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Note: Periods were added in the translation for clarification. They do not appear in the original letter.
Corrections added from renamc@bcni.net
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Andrew came to Texas from Tennessee as a young man during the days of the Republic. He married his sweetheart from Tennessee, Sophia Woodward Murphree, and lived in Victoria. Both Andrew and Sophia died tragically young and left three daughters to be cared for by relatives.
Sophia Woodward Murphree [Parents] was born on Apr 5 1821 in Bedford Co., TN. She died on Nov 27 1848 in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX. She married Andrew Welford White on Feb 22 1841 in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX.
They had the following children:
F i Mary Elizabeth White was born on Nov 3 1842. She died on May 16 1916. F ii Martha R. White died . F iii Virginia White died .
Twin of Jane.
September the 24th 1871
Morgans Creek Benton County Tennessee
To Mistress Martha Tom Mary
Stockton and Jennie Virginia White
My dear grandchildren. I yet live by the help of the allwise Creator with the oportunity of answering your letter that I received a few days ago which I do not suppose you do not imagine the pleasure it affords me in my old age to hear that you was well and doing well. I had heard that your parents was dead but could not tell what had become of you. I am now about 82 years old in July past and very infirm. I have had seventeen children in all-but eight living all married and gone but one my youngest son stays with me yet. Some of them in Missouri, some in Arkansas and some in Kentucky, the balance in Tennessee. I have in all 54 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and they are all well as common. I Received a letter a long time ago from some of your relations that your father made some entry of land away up the St. Antone but had not obtained grants for the same. The time I have never heard from it since. You will please let me know about it when you write me again. The general weather of the country is tolorably good. I had a good chance of property when the war came up consisting in negroes which was set at liberty. Only four of them staid with me.
Martha Fry your father's sisters child that I had not mentioned she is living in two miles of me and doing well. Her husband having a part in two stores. The produce is going down in value. Corn is a short crop. Wheat not a half. Bacon 12 1/2 cts pr lb. Cotton 3 cts. Peanuts has opened at 1.50 cts. per bushel. Cattle low. Horses and mules 15 per cent lower. So no more this time. I can't think of all I want to write to you but I want you to write soon and often.
James White
NB I send my portrait though a bad one according to your request. If I had a better one I would send it to you. This is the best I can do at the time. Your Grand Father until death
James White
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Note: Periods were added in the translation for clarification. They do not appear in the original letter.
Corrections added from renamc@bcni.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------F iv Jane White died . The cause of death was Died very young..
Twin of Virginia.
Warren Fay Carothers was born on Jan 22 1872 in Evergreen, Lee Co., Texas. He died on Feb 12 1953 in Houston, Texas. He was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. He married Emily Priscilla Stockton on Jun 5 1894 in Bell County, Texas.
Letter from Warren F. Carothers, US Commissioner in Houston, Texas:
United States Commissioner
Southern District of Texas
Houston Division
406 Sterling Building
Houston 2, TexasWarren F. Carothers
(written in; 2728 Beatty St.)
Dear Friends, All February 18, 1951 - 3 PM
The Chain Letter came yesterday after noon. I am glad cousins Mary Penn & Annie Stockton came into the chain and have been so well received. Also glad sister Leila has returned to civilization near enough to join the "Big Letter. The Lord sent her by our home some recent year and to have her spend the night & relieve Emily staying up to get a good rest from waiting on me. The medicines prescribed for me by the doctor went into reverse, making me delirious until about midnight when I came to. Sister Leila was sitting up near by. I said "who are you" & she replied "I am Leila" I said "who am I," - she said "You are cousin Fay." I said "I used to be called Cousin Fay where am I" she said "You are in your own home" and then I recognized the room & quited down. Have often wished for an oppurtunity to tell her how much she helped us all that night. And now all our folks in Houston are telling us what fine daughters she has raised and they are in Austin, which bids fair to become the capital of the Stockton family. Cousin Annie is carrying out the family traditions in Giddings and taken over the Big Letter there. As Cousins Annie Faris and Cousin Mootie Cherry grow more and more infirm. Grandpa Stockton used to say "there is no place like Giddings for real oldfashion hospitality" When Emily and I came to Houston 56 years ago we found no Kinfolks living here Except Great uncle Tom Murphree, brother to the wonderful Murphree women mothers of both of our familys. Their mother was Rebecca Brooks, born in Tennessee Jan. 28, 1790. She first married Drury Ledbetter and Uncle Hamilton Ledbetter of LaGrange Tex was their son. After the death of Drury Ledbetter she married Stephen Murphree and they moved to Victoria Tex. (from Ten.)
(list of children.. see below)
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I do not believe a finer family ever lived than Murphrees.
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I do not just now recall how the Stribblings came in but Emily often
spoke of "Cousin John S"
But now Emil & I have scores of kin in Houston & I assure you it is a mighty pleasant feeling to know they are here.
Joe Trussel is called to sing the gospel as much as preachers are called. And his wife is strikingly beautiful and consecrated
I may enclose some pictures & if so please get them back to me especially that of Emil & I no chance to replace it if lost.
When Irene & Orville came to live with me they brought 25 of about the prettiest R.I. chicks I ever saw and they grew up fine. One night something got in the chicken house (supposedly 'Possum" proof, & kiled two of their fine pullets That fired Orvilles hunting spirit and next day he brought from their home his fine automatic 20 gauge shotgun & declared war on the all enemies of the barn yard. In a night not long after I spied some visitors up in our persimmon tree and came back & told Orville. He went out with his gun , shot five times and brought down two coons and three 'Possums. Irene gave a colored neighbor the carcuses of all for the hides of the two coons which she carried to a Taxidermist to be made into a rug. Orville declared he will enjoy stepping on the rugs. Says he had many times gone hunting long distances with no such a harvest. We live on the bank of quite a creek and I have killed about a hundred 'Possums and nearly 50 hawks since we moved here.
Jim the new Freeway has been complete and opened to traffic past our Addition and that has reduced the Telephone road traffic 2/3. So you can sleep better here.
We have had a Stone made by a LaGrange firm for Emily & my grave and they wanted to put in place and we wanted to be there but the late cold snap has delayed. Irene could hardly make the trip yet. She suffers nearly all the time with her hip & she is pretty blue. I am surely enjoying having Orville here. Hope you all enjoy this long Epistle.
Best of love,
Fay
This letter may quite possibly be the only solid evidence that exists proving that Rebecca first married Drury Ledbetter. And it also lays out the entire family of Stephen Murphree and Rebecca Brooks.
Rebecca dies 16 Nov 1853 in Fayette Co, TX where Hamilton and Jane had lived for many years. She and Hamilton's family are buried in the Old Evergreen Cemetery there.
Emily Priscilla Stockton [Parents] was born on Feb 14 1873 in Bell County, Texas. She died on Aug 9 1950. She was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. She married Warren Fay Carothers on Jun 5 1894 in Bell County, Texas.
Headstone says "1873" for birth year, not 1874.
They had the following children:
F i Irene Carothers was born on Sep 15 1895. She died in Jan 1977. M ii James Leo Carothers was born on Sep 5 1897. He died in 1899. He was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX.
Benjamin Stockton [Parents] was born in 1775/1776 in Rowan Co., NC. He died on May 7 1849 in Jackson Co., Georgia. He married Elizabeth Smith.
Other marriages:Williams, Sarah
Information provided by great, great, grandson, James T. Lord: "On Benjamin Stockton many researchers have him being married to both Elizabeth Smith and Sarah Williams at the same time, he came down into Jackson County, Georgia where he met and married Sarah Williams and had children with her, his first wife Elizabeth Smith finally found out what he had done and divorced him, but he and Elizabeth had two more children before she discovered his secret.
In Jackson County, Georgia the same area where I grew up, Benjamin had a large Plantation consisting of lots of land."
Elizabeth Smith [Parents] was born in 1778 in NC. She died in 1830 in Lawrence, TN. She married Benjamin Stockton.
They had the following children:
M i David Stockton was born in 1798 in Prob Union Co., South Carolina. He died . M ii Douglas Hayden Stockton was born on Jul 26 1800. He died on Apr 4 1836. M iii William Stockton was born in 1802. He died . M iv Josiah Smith Stockton was born in 1804. He died in 1883. F v Margaret Lee Stockton was born in 1806 in Prob Jackson Co., Georgia. She died . F vi Lucinda Stockton was born in 1808 in Prob Jackson Co., Georgia. She died . M vii Vines Smith Stockton was born in 1810. He died in 1860.
Dr. James Madison Bumpas [Parents] was born in 1769 in Orange Co., North Carolina. He died in 1836 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He married Sarah Franks.
Sarah Franks [Parents] was born in 1776 in Laurens Co., South Carolina. She died in 1865 in Chappell Hill, Texas. She married Dr. James Madison Bumpas.
They had the following children:
M i Hartwell Jones Bumpas was born in 1796. He died . F ii Emily Bumpas was born on Jun 26 1802. She died on Dec 13 1882.
Benjamin Stockton [Parents] was born in 1775/1776 in Rowan Co., NC. He died on May 7 1849 in Jackson Co., Georgia. He married Sarah Williams.
Other marriages:Smith, Elizabeth
Information provided by great, great, grandson, James T. Lord: "On Benjamin Stockton many researchers have him being married to both Elizabeth Smith and Sarah Williams at the same time, he came down into Jackson County, Georgia where he met and married Sarah Williams and had children with her, his first wife Elizabeth Smith finally found out what he had done and divorced him, but he and Elizabeth had two more children before she discovered his secret.
In Jackson County, Georgia the same area where I grew up, Benjamin had a large Plantation consisting of lots of land."
Sarah Williams was born in 1781 in Reportedly South Carolina. She died in 1878 in GA. She married Benjamin Stockton.
They had the following children:
M i James M. Stockton was born in 1814. He died .
Rev. David Stockton [Parents] was born in 1744/1750 in Albemarle Co., VA. He died in 1791/1792 in Union Co., SC. He married Margaret Lee Hayden(Haden?) in 1774 in Rowan Co., NC.
Revolutionary War Patriot.
Margaret Lee Hayden(Haden?) [Parents] was born on Jan 1 1755 in Goochland Co, Virginia. She died on Sep 11 1818 in Giles Co., TN. She married Rev. David Stockton in 1774 in Rowan Co., NC.
They had the following children:
M i Benjamin Stockton was born in 1775/1776. He died on May 7 1849.
William Smith [Parents] was born on Apr 22 1754 in VA. He died on Jan 26 1836. He married Elizabeth Vines.
Elizabeth Vines [Parents] was born in 1753 in VA. She died . She married William Smith.
They had the following children:
F i Elizabeth Smith was born in 1778. She died in 1830.
Edward Martin Perry was born in 1853. He died in 1921. He was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. He married Augusta Mable Stockton in 1880.
Augusta Mable Stockton [Parents] was born on Jul 27 1862 in Evergreen, TX. She died on Oct 13 1891 in Milam Co., TX. She married Edward Martin Perry in 1880.
She died at an early age and her children went to live with the large Stockton family. One of her son Guy's sayings was "it's mean to tease".
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Salado P.O. June 15th 1874
Mrs. Mattie Tom[1]Dear Aunt I received your kind letter some time ago, and would have answered it before now, but we were all sick just after it came to hand. We all went to Salado to church the third Sunday in last month it was tolerably cool going up there as we started just after sun up we went to church Saturday morning there was eight joined the church five by letter and three by experience. We had a very pleasant trip coming back home. Grandma[2] come home with us.
I expect to start to Evergreen next week with Grandma as she is going down there. We are needing rain very bad. It is so dry that some of our neighbors cotton has not come up yet. Some of the corn is dieing for want of rain. Pa has laid his corn by. It has begin to silk and tassal. Some say that has the best crop they have seen this year. Mr. Johnson has sold his interest in the crops to Pa and Mr. Layne.
Pa went to Austin about two months ago to lay in a supply of goods and while he was there he saw Uncle Hamilton[3] and Cousin Olivia was there but he did not get to see her. I am sorry to say that we have quit school although we were not learning anything but mischief. Cousin John Darby[4] will commence halling Pals lumber this week to build his house. Mat[5] has been reading nearly all day long. She now the "Southern Generals their lives and Campaigns." Pa bought a book from Aunt Sarah[6] and she read it through in two days. The name of it was Seven and Nine Years among the Comanches and Apaches."
She is learning how to milk and cook. She gets supper every night. She is knitting Pa a pair of socks. I have just finished a pair for him. There is a methodist minister preaching here for us this year. His name is Addison. I hope you will excuse this badly written letter. My hand is trembling so that I can hardly write. I cannot think of any interesting news so I will close. Aunt Mat I want you to have yours and Jenny's[7] picture taken and send them to me. We have not had ours taken yet. Tell Aunt Jennie that she must write to me. You must write soon believe me
Dear Aunt as ever Your affectionate Niece
Augusta M. Stockton
Mrs. Mattie R. Tom
Anagna(?) P.O. Victoria
Texas
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NOTES
1. This letter was written by Augusta Mable Stockton to Aunt Mattie Tom, the sister of her mother Mary Elizabeth (Molly) White Stockton. Martha (Mattie) White married Bill Tom.
2. Grandma was Emily Bumpas Stockton, who moved to Texas from Tennessee with her large family after the death of her husband Douglas Hayden Stockton I. Their nine children were Gabriel, Sophia, Maximillian, Adaline, Emily, Sarah, James, Augustine and Douglas.
3. Hamilton Ledbetter was the son of Rebecca Brooks and Drury Ledbetter. Rebecca Brooks Ledbetter married secondly Stephen Murphree and was the mother of Sophia Murphree. Sophia Murphree married Andrew W. White and was the mother of Mary Elizabeth White. Mary White married Douglas Hayden Stockton II.
4. John Darby was the son of Pickens Darby and Adeline Stockton, a sister of Douglas Hayden Stockton II.
5. Mat was Martha White Stockton, the second child of Mary Elizabeth White and Douglas Hayden Stockton II. She married James Henry Ford.
6. Aunt Sarah was Sarah Elizabeth Stockton, a sister of Douglas Hayden Stockton II. She married James Austin Clemmons and was the grandmother of Mary Dulce Clemmons. Mary Clemmons married her cousin Douglas Hayden Perry, a son of Augusta M. Stockton and Edward Martin Perry.
7. Jennie was Virginia White, the sister of Mary Elizabeth White Stockton and Mattie White Tom. Her twin sister Jane died very young.
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Salado, Texas
July 13, 1876Mrs. Mattie Tom[1]
Dear Aunt I recon you think that I am a long time about answering your letter but I never got it until about the last of June. It was missent to Goliad Texas.
Aunt Mat it affords me so much pleasure to let you know that I am not blind and that they are better than they ever was before.
Grandma[2] is with us now. Aunt Sophie and Uncle Gilbert Buchanon[3] have been here for several days but left for home this morning. We are expecting Uncle Auguston[4] and family in a few days.
Papa is having a new house put up and I don't think we are getting it any too soon as there are only nine of us children.[5] The two youngest are boys. The oldest of the twos name is Simeon Charothers. The baby is just three months old and the fattest little thing you ever saw. It only weighed 13 lbs when it was born. His name is Douglas Haden. Mat is at Salado now and will not be at until Saturday. She and I went to school at home this spring. We went at Salado last year.Gimmie and Dee are large enough to plow. They have been plowing all this year. They are the best two boys to work that I ever saw. Gimmie is ten years old and Dee will be nine in November. Papa is hauling lumber. He has made a splendid corn crop this year and cotton looks very well. His wheat however did not turn out very well, only 6 bu per acre. But we will have plenty to do as his oats are very good. He bought a reaper this summer but most too late, as nearly everybody's grain was cut. It is the Champion. our grain is all threshed, and we are about through with our push(?).
Aunt Mat Rob and Ead[6] are still with us. Rob sometimes talks of leaving but when the time comes he has no notions of leaving. Ead talks as much or more than she used too.
we are milking 12 cows this year and you may know we are making plenty of butter if the cows are milked and that is always done for ? milk myself we have put away several lbs.
Ma has raised a good many chickens this spring.
Aunt Mat as it is getting late I will have to close. I wish I could see you all but I have no hopes of ever getting that from home if you possibly can come and see US. The family join me in love to you and all the family. Tell Aunt Jennie[7] I would like to see her. Good bye for the present and write soon to your affectionate Niece. Augusta Stockton
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NOTES
1. This letter was written by Augusta Mable Stockton (1862-1891) to her Aunt Martha (Mattie) White Tom. Augusta was the oldest child of Mary Elizabeth (Molly) White and Douglas Hayden Stockton II. She married Edward Martin Perry in 1880.
2. Grandma was Emily Bumpas Stockton
3. Sophia Stockton, a sister of Douglas Hayden Stockton II, married Gilbert Buchanon.
4. Augustine Partnership Stockton was a brother of Douglas Hayden Stockton II.
5. The 14 children of Douglas Hayden Stockton II and Mary Elizabeth White were: Augusta, Martha (Matt), James, Dee, Andrew, Sophia, Emily, Simion, Douglas, Sarah Thermutheus (Mootie), Mary Belle, Welborn (Web), Hugh, and Ada.
6. Rob was a Mexican hired man. Ead White was Mary Elizabeth White's slave. She was a nurse to the children and was buried in the Stockton family cemetery in Bartlett, Texas. "She muttered and talked to herself all the time--and I do mean all the time! We were all so used to the low constant sound, we never even heard her, like a soft radio going in the room." Irene Carothers Loy, The Fabulous Family.
7. Jennie was Virginia White, the sister of Mary Elizabeth White Stockton and Mattie White Tom.
They had the following children:
F i Mary (R.P.) Balle Perry was born in 1882. She died in 1891. She was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. F ii Edna Mable Perry was born on Dec 19 1885. She died . M iii Guy Stockton Perry was born in 1887. He died in 1939. M iv Milton Gladstone Perry was born in 1889. He died in 1959. He was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. M v Douglas Hayden Perry was born in 1890. He died in 1963. F vi Mary Dulce Perry was born in 1894. She died . She was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX.
James Henry Ford was born in 1855. He died in 1915. He was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. He married Martha White Stockton.
Martha White Stockton [Parents] was born on Jun 8 1864 in Evergreen, TX. She died on Oct 17 1947. She was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. She married James Henry Ford.
James Andrew Stockton [Parents] was born on Feb 6 1866 in Evergreen, TX. He died on Mar 17 1899. He was buried 1 in Stockton Cemetery, Bell Co., TX. He married Permillia T. West on Sep 17 1857.
Permillia T. West [Parents] was born on Feb 8 1838 in TN. She died on Nov 15 1930. She married James Andrew Stockton on Sep 17 1857.
They had the following children:
M i Jack Stockton died . F ii Annie Stockton died .