Category Archives: Gen-South

Andrew Smiley (1790-1874) and Elizabeth Bennett (1800-?)

Posted on by
Reply

(Me-M-M-M-M-M-Them)

Census

In 1820, Andrew Smiley is found in the Jefferson County, Mississippi census on page 59. He is listed with a wife, 3 male children 9 years and under as well as 2 white females 9 years and under. His first wife is unknown to me as is one of his female children. His other daughter is Lucinda Smiley, born around 1812, who married Zacharaih Zeigler. His sons were Samuel James Smiley, b. 1813, John Andrew Smiley, b. 23 September 1819. The third son is unknown. He did have a later son with this same wife, Benjamin Smiley, b. 1827.

In 1830, he is still listed in the Jefferson County, Mississippi census on page 28. He has 2 male children under 5, 1 under between 5 and 10, 1 under between 10 and 15, and 1 between 15 and 20. On the female side, he has living with him 1 female child under five years of age, 2 between 5 and 10, 1 between 10 and 15, and 2 between 15 and 20. I can only assume that it is wife listed between 20 and 30. This is his 2nd wife, Martha Foreman, whom he married on 16 August, 1828. They had one known child – Joseph Crunkleton Smiley, the Crunkleton name given for Andrew’s step-father. This makes sense as Andrew had five male children listed. I do not know who the 5 other female children are besides the already mentioned Lucinda.

In the 1840 census, Andrew Smiley is listed as living in Franklin County, Mississippi. Living with him now, he has 1 male child of five and under, 2 of 10 and under 15, 1 between 15 and 20. Andrew is now between 50 and 60. His wife is now between 30 and 40. She is his 3rd wife, Elizabeth Bennett, the widow of William G. Nix. Nix died in 1827 leaving her with several children. These were Samuel (Abt. 1824), Martha Ann (Abt. 1825), and Mary Catherine Nix (Abt. 1826). Elizabeth Bennett and Andrew Smiley married 20 May 1835. On female children, Andrew had living with him 2 children under 5 years of age, 1 between 10 and 15, and 2 between 15 and 20.

In 1850, Andrew is now living in Livingston Parish, LA. He (aged 60) and Elizabeth (50) are listed as the 329th household. Both of them are listed as illiterate. Andrew is listed as having a real estate value of $2710 and states that he was born in Mississippi. His wife lists her birthplace as Georgia. All of the children listed with him were born in Mississippi. These children were Sarah (14), Joseph (22), Elizabeth (12), and Oren (10). Oren is actually Ora and is my 3rd great-grandmother. Andrew is listed as a farmer and Joseph states that he is a laborer. Sarah, Elizabeth and Ora state that they attended school in the last year.

By 1860, Andrew is living with his son Andrew and wife, Catherine née Davidson. Andrew is listed as John and is now 71 years old. He is mistakenly listed as having been born in Louisiana. He does not have an occupation listed, no doubt due to advanced age. His son John has 3 children living with him – Andrew (5), George (4) and Sarah (2). He is listed as a farmer with a real estate value of $1000 and personal estate of $504.

In his last census, 1870, Andrew has moved to the home of his other son, Joseph. John lives very close, however, only several households down. He is now 80 years old and correctly stating that his birthplace as Mississippi. His son’s wife appears deceased and he has 3 daughters and 1 son living with him. Joseph’s daughters are Eliza (12), Catherine (11), and Elizabeth (5). His son is Frank (6). His real estate value is $400 and his personal estate is $300. Both he and Andrew are listed as US citizens, meaning that they have taken the oath of loyalty. Both Eliza and Catherine state that they cannot read. Andrew either learned to read and write or it was not recorded. Andrew later dies during this decade.

Michael Milton (1794-1863) and Martha Elizabeth Clark (1807-?), Part III

Posted on by
Reply

(Me-M-F-F-F-Them)

Military Pension Application

*Louisiana State Archives, War of 1812 Pension Applications, Cabinet 314, Drawer #7, Reel #4.

             

Page 1

The State of Louisiana >    6th Judicial Dist.
Parish of Livingston           Court Clerks Office

Personally appeared before me, clerk of the district and parish aforesaid Mrs. Martha E. Milton former wife of Michael Milton and now his widow, who lived and died in the Parish of Livingston and State of Louisiana. Who being duly sworn did depose and say on oath, that she is the widow of Michael Milton who was regularly in the military service of the United States – in the years 1814 and 1815 and in that capacity was at the siege of New Orleans in December 1814 and January 1815 – that the said Milton is now dead. That she knows the name of his Captain was Thompson – that she does not recollect the letter of his Company – nor does she recollect to what Regiment or Division he belonged. That he was honorably discharged from said service and that he obtained from the government of the United States a Bounty of Land Warrant No. 39213 for eighty acres of land.

her
Martha X E. Milton
mark

attest.
H. Davidson

Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 14th day of Augst 1869
Dan J. Settoon Clerk of Court

Page 2

The State of Louisiana >     6th Judicial Dist.
Parish of Livingston              Court Clerks Office

Personally appeared before me the undersigned Clerk of the aforesaid Court Mr. Ezra Hill and John Underwood. Who reside in the State and Parish aforesaid. Who being duly sworn did depose on oath that they were well acquainted with Michael Milton for more than twenty years. That he always had the reputation of having been at the siege of New Orleans and a veteran of 1814 and 1815 and that they are well acquainted for more than twenty years with the present applicant and know her to be the widow of the veteran Michael Milton – that the widow now and always has resided in the Parish of Livingston and State of Louisiana and since the death of Michael Milton she has always borne the reputation of being the widow of a man who had been regularly in the service of the United States and a veteran . Who had been present at the siege of New Orleans – in December 1814 and January 1815.

attest.                                                                                                     Ezra Hill
H. Davidson                                                                                     John J. Underwood

Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 14th day of Augst 1869
Dan J. Settoon Clerk of Court

I, Daniel J. Settoon Clerk of the aforesaid Court do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the subscribing witnesses

Page 3

to the above affidavit and that I saw Mrs. Martha E. Milton, the applicant and the witnesses sign this application and affidavit and the warrants forwarded herewith and I […] then certify she is the person she represents herself to be and that she as well as the subscribing witnesses are persons of credibility. […] my hand and seal of office this 14th day of August AD 1869.

Dan J. Settoon Clerk

Michael Milton (1794-1863) and Martha Elizabeth Clark (1807-?), Part I

Posted on by
1

(Me-M-F-F-F-Them)

Bible Record*

             

Michael Milton was the son of Michael Milton and Mary Unk. He was born in what was the Mississippi Territory in 1794, now Baldwin Co., Alabama. He was the third of 3 sons and also had 2 sisters. He fought in the War of 1812. Sometime in the 1820’s, he moved to Louisiana. He married Martha Elizabeth Clark around 1830. She was formerly the wife of John Wilkins and had two daughters, Robina and Mary Ellen, with him. She was born in 1807, either in South Carolina or Mississippi.

People Listed in this Bible Record
Joseph Clark and Martha
-Martha Elizabeth Clark

Children of John Wilkins & Martha Clark
-Mary Ellen Wilkins
-Hester Robina Wilkins

Michael Milton & Martha Clark
Children of:
-Joseph A. Milton
-Andrew Jackson Milton
-James Washington Milton
-Michael Milton
-John D. Milton
-William Milton
-George C. Milton
-Sarah Ann E. Milton

George & Mary Jane Milton (had more, but only 1 listed)
Children of:
-Elliot M. Milton

Elliot M. & Angeline Stafford Milton
Children of:
-Angie Milton
-Rosa Jane Milton
-Ida Isabella Milton
-Hiram Clark Milton
-Gracie Carry Milton
-Oscar Boyd Milton

Not listed Nelson Milton (1907-1908)

*I received this Bible information from my uncle, George Milton, in July or August 2010.

Michael Milton (1794-1863) and Martha Elizabeth Clark (1807-?), Part II

Posted on by
Reply

(Me-M-F-F-F-Them)

Census*

1840 – There are 2 male children under 5, 2 male children between 5 and 10, 1 male child between 10 and 15 years old, and Michael himself as the only male adult from 40-50. On the female side, there is 1 female child between 5 and 10 and 1 female child between 10 and 15. Martha is the only female adult, listed between the ages of 30 and 40.

The known children born before 1840 would have been Joseph Milton (c. 1834), James Milton (c. 1836) and the 2 girls who were from Martha’s previous marriage – Mary Ellen Wilkinson (c. 1828) and Robina Wilkinson (c. 1833). One of the boys may have been William and the 4th one is unknown.

The 1840 Census shows Michael Milton owning 5 slaves. One was a male child under 10 years of age. One was a female child in the same age range. 2 were females between 10 and 24 years old. 1 was a female with an age between 24 and 36. Of the 14 people living in the Milton household (including the family), 5 were engaged in agricultural work.

At the time, Michael Milton’s neighbors were Jefie Hill and Patrick Sullivan. This Jefie may have been related to Ezra Hill, who was Mike’s brother-in-law by marriage. Ezra Hill was married to Martha Elizabeth Clark Milton’s sister, Hester Clark.

1850 – In the 1850 Census, Michael Milton and his wife, Martha (now 55 and 43, respectively), are living with her daughter, Robina Wilkinson, now age 17. Joseph is 16, James 14, William listed as 7, and George 1. Robina, Joseph, James, and William are noted as having had attended school in the last year. Also in the same household, Mary Ellen Wilkinson had recently married within the last year to Robert Collins. She is 22 and he 23. A 19 year old laborer, Joshua Williamson, is staying with them as well. I have no information to whether he is a relation or just hired. Joseph, due to being 16 and over, is also listed as employed as a laborer on his father’s farm. Michael lists his birthplace as Alabama and Martha’s as Mississippi. The rest of the household are native to Louisiana.

Among his immediate neighbors, Michael is rather well off. He has a real estate value of $2,550. He lives in between James Allen, from South Carolina with $3,350 and George Harrell, originally from North Carolina with $225.

According to the 1850 Slave Census, Michael has 7 slaves. They are listed as a 37 yearold Black female, a 26 year old Black female, a 18 year old Black female, a 16 year old Black male, a 14 year old Black female, a 6 year old Mulatto female, and a 4 year old Black female.

1860 – Mike Milton (66) and Martha (48) now live with a smaller household. According to the census, 3 of their boys, Joseph, William and George live in an adjacent household. Robina and Mary Ellen have moved off. According to family lore, James has died from gangrene after an accidental gunshot wound.

Michael now lives between the Roberts family and the Ligan family, both of which are Louisiana natives. His wealth has increased, with a declared real estate value of $2,850 and personal wealth of $12,955. He still lists his birthplace as Alabama and Martha’s as Mississippi.

This increase in wealth coincides with the number of slaves, which increased to 11. According to the 1860 Slave Schedule, they are listed as a 47 year old female, a 26 year old female, a 34 year old female, a 22 year old female, a 14 year old female, a 26 year old female, a 26 year old male, a 4 year old female, a 3 year old male, another 3 year old male, and a 1 year old male. He is also listed as having 4 slave cabins on his property. Some of them may have actually been mulattoes, but the enumerator, G.W. Hatch, listed almost all slaves as Black.

1870 – In this Census, Martha is shown living with Robina and her two children. Michael had passed away in 1863. Two doors down her daughter Mary Ellen is now listed as a Pendarvis, having married Mercer Pendarvis. Her closest neighbors are Epsa Pendarvis Hartman and Hiram Sand. According to family lore, Epsa Pendarvis Hartman’s husband, Joseph, was shot over a dispute by her brother, Mercer Pendarvis. Epsa’s daughter, Mary Jane, would later marry George Milton, the half-brother to Mary Ellen Wilkinson Pendarvis.

This census lists further information about Martha. She is listed now as having been born in South Carolina. Her real estate value is now $1,200 and her personal estate is now $100. This decrease in wealth was no doubt common after the destruction of the Civil War and the liberation of the slaves, in addition to the death of her husband. She lists her occupation as Keeping House. I have not been able to find her listed in a census after this one.

*I transcribed these censuses, so any errors are mine.