Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc.

P.O. BOX 817, Sparta, N.C. 28675

President: Mildred Torney			
Vice President: Pauline Jolly
Secretary-Treasurer:  Elvira Crouse

Vol. 13, No.2	 	           		 June 1991			BULLETIN NO. 46

From the President:

	According to the calender, the lazy, hazy days of summer are here (although we know they have been here since the heat wave began in early May).  We are outdoors more, and traveling more, and probably giving more thought to our blessings and our heritage.

	We are not alone in this.  Many families with roots in Alleghany County are coming here to trace their ancestry or simply to see where their families used to live.

	Let us make these people welcome and help them all we can.  But let us also keep in sight the goal of a Historical Museum and work to make it reality as soon as possible.

									Mildred Torney

A PERFECT DAY

When you come to the end of a perfect day
And you sit alone with your thought,
While the chimes ring out with a carol gay,
For the joy that the day has brought,
Do you think what the end of a perfect day
Can mean to a tired heart,
When the sun goes down with a flaming ray
And the dear friends have to part.

Well this is the end of a perfect day,
Near the end of a journey too,
But it leaves a thought that is big and strong,
With a wish that is kind and true,
For mem'ry has painted this perfect day
With colors that never fade,
And we find at the end of a perfect day,
The soul of a friend we've made.
						Carrie Jacobs-Bond

JAMES SMITH WILL

	In the name of God, Amen.

	I, James Smith, of Wilkes County in the state of North Carolina, being at the present time sound in mind although very weak in body, do declare this to be my last will and testament.  

	I hereby give, bequeath and devise to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Hutchins Smith, all my household and kitchen furniture, also all the stock I possess of all kinds with my shop tools of all descriptions and my family utensils for her own separate use and maintenance.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of August 1841.

										James Smith

In the presence of David Hanks
		      Charles Harris

North Carolina)
Wilkes County) was duly proven February term 1842.

	The execution of the within will in open court by the oath of 

Charles Harris, one of the subscribing witnesses 

Theredo and ordered to be recorded.

									Wm. Mater, clerk

	The above will was submitted by Pauline Meals and she adds the following note:

	This will was written by my grandfather's grandfather on my Mother's side.  My grandfather's name was James Ralph Smith.  His father's name was James A. Smith and his grandfather's name was James Smith.  We do not know his middle name or if he had one.  He lived in what is now Alleghany County, but I believe it was at the time Wilkes County.

	Elizabeth Hutchens Smith, at that time, was the only child still at home and had been caring of her Father while he was sick.  When he died, she married, took everything that she had inherited, loaded them on a wagon, and headed West somewhere.  As far as I know, she was not heard from since!

DEEDS, GRAYSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Book 3 p 59	This Indenture made this 15th day of November 1811 between Jesse Reeves, Wm Reeves, Joseph Doughton and Polly his wife, Bartholomew Austin and Anne his wife, William Toliver and Susanna his wife, David Cox and Lucy his wife, Samuel Phipps and Elizabeth his wife, Andrew Cox and Prudence his wife, Zachariah Osborne and Charity his wife of the one part and John Reeves of the other part.  Wit that the above named persons being heirs of George Reeves Sr. deceased have for and in consideration of a desire to fulfill the wishes of the said George Reeves Sr/dec. Which have been made manifest unto them, have sold and conveyed unto the said John Reeves and his heirs forever their respective shares of one certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Grayson on the West side of New river containing 384 acres including the improvement whereon the said George Reeves Sr. formerly lived...Signed by all except Wm Toliver

Book 3 p 89	8 June 1812 To John Reeves 100 acres on North side of New River Signed as above

Book 4 p 73	23 July 1818 To Spencer Isom 191 acres $140 Collins Branch of New River Signed by Samuel & Elizabeth Phipps, Jesse & Mary Reeves, William & Anne Reeves, Joseph & Polly Doughton, David Jr. & Lucy Cox, Andrew & Prudence Cox, Zach & Charity Osborne, John & Phebe Reeves, Bart & Ann Austin, Jane Reeves, Sucky Tolliver, heirs of George Reeves.

Book 4 p 129	26 October 1818 To John Reeves 200 acres $140 Water of New River Signed as above (except Susanna Toliver)

Book 9 p 474	12 August 1819 To Jesse Austin 160 acres $200 N. side New River
Book 9 p 475 	12 August 1819 To Jesse Austin 280 acres $250 Mou Brush Cr. N side New R.  Signed Samuel Phipps, Jesse Reeves, William Reeves, Joseph Doughton, David Edwards, Andrew Cox, David Cox, Zach. Osborne, John Reeves, Susanna Tolliver, Bartholomew Austin, heirs of George Reeves 
 			(Davide Edwards was 2nd husband of Jane Reeves, wid George Jr. - EW)

Book 4 p 312	27 May 1820 To William Sexton 50 acres $50 N. side of New River Signed by all above, except Samuel Phipps.

Book 6 p 468	3 December 1822 to Susannah Tolliver 200 acres $400 Waters of Brush Cr. Between the legatees of George Reeves Sr. dec. as shall hereafter be named, being born and raised in the County of Grayson State of Virginia....Signed by Jesse, William & John Reeves, Polly Doughton, Samuel & Elizabeth Phipps, Zach & Charity Osborne, David & Lucy Cox, Bart & Anne Austin, Andrew & Prudence Cox, Jane Edwards.

Book 6 p 469	8 October 1832 To Andrew Cox of Ashe Co NC 300 a. $150 adjoining State line Between heirs of George Reeves dec. and living in Ashe Co NC and different Counties and States...
	Signed by David & Lucy Cox, Polly Doughton, Samuel & Elizabeth Phipps, William, Jesse & John Reeves, Bartholomew & Ann Austin, Jane Edwards, Susannah Toliver

										Esther L. Williams
										Anacortes, WA

ALLEGHANY COUNTY
96TH REGIMENT 24TH BRIGADE
North Carolina Militia 1861 – 1865

 	COLONEL						COMMANDING OFFICER

MCMILLAN, FIELDS J.

 	LIEUTENANT COLONEL

JOINS, JOHN W.							2ND IN COMMAND

 	MAJOR

HANKS, HUGH							3RD IN COMMAND

 	CAPTAIN

EDWARDS, THOMAS						Area – GAPCIVIL  
HIGGINS, ISSAC							Area – CRAB CREEK
HOPPERS, FRANKLIN J.						Area – UNION 
ROBERTS, AMBROSE J.						Area – GLADE CREEK
STAMPER, SOLOMON						Area – CRANBURY 
WILLIAMS, HENRY J.						Area – PINEY CREEK

	1ST LIEUTENANT

CARSON, ANDREW B.						Area – GLADE CREEK
EDWRDS, SENTER							Area – GAP CIVIL
HALSEY, WILLIAM B.						Area – PINEY CREEK
HIGGINS, TALLIFARD S.						Area – CRAB CREEK
RICHARDSON, CANADA B.					Area – CRANBURY 
WAGONER, JAMES A.						Area – UNION

	2nd LIEUTENANT

BELLINGS, ELI H.							Area – GLAD CREEK
BLACK, DAVID							Area – GAP CIVIL
BLACK, JOHN							Area – PINEY CREEK
CAUDILL, LAMUEL D.						Area – UNION
CHEEK, MEREDITH						Area – CRAB CREEK
GAMBLE, JAMES M.						Area – GAP CIVIL
HIGGINS, PLEASANT C.						Area – CRAB CREEK
JONES, LOUIE? 							Area – UNION
LONG, W.H.								Area – CRANBURY
NORMAN, MARTIN V.B.						Area – GLADE CREEK
PRUETT, JOHN							Area – CRANBURY
SAMPER, HARRISON						Area – CRANBURY
YOUNG, JOESPH L.						Area – PINEY CREEK

	END ALLEGHANY COUNTY MILITIA OFFICER LISTING

-Page 148-
	
	This document was submitted by Joy McKnight who obtained it from the Achieves of Surry Community College.

AN INDIAN

	There was a very good old Christian Indian who lived many years ago in Alleghany County in the area of Roaring Gap.  My grandfather, James Ralph Smith, a Methodist preacher, had the privilege of knowing this fine man.  He told me that he was such a good Christian, that when he was buried, there was never anything that grew over his grave.  I know exactly where that grave is and it is true.  It is located on the property which used to be owned by his grandson.  This property adjoins property that used to be owned by my grandfather, but is now owned by my sister, Cynthia Swisher McMillan and myself, Pauline Swisher Meals.

	My grandfather and Mack and Mollie Roberts were very good neighbors all through the years, and Mack knew the Indian also.  His name was Wellborn Waters and I guess there is no longer a marker of any kind at the gravesite.  He wrote the following Hymn, and my grandfather used to sing it to me when I was a child.  I loved it!

CLIMBING UP ZION'S HILL

If you don't mind fathers
	You'll be too late,
	You'll be too late,
	You'll be too late,
If you don't' mind fathers
	You'll be too late
A climbing up Zion's Hill.

We're almost there
We're almost there, My Lord,
We're almost there
A climbing up Zion's Hill.

The Heavens bells are ringing
	And I'm going home,
	And I'm going home,
	And I'm going home.
The Heaven bells are ringing
	And I'm going home, 
A climbing up Zion's Hill.

	Additional verses were: If you don't mind Mothers.....
						         Brothers.....
						         Sisters.....
						         Christians....
						         Sinners....
						         Neighbors....  etc.

INQUIRIES:

	Genealogy Bug, Hilda Neff Felts, Sparta, NC is looking for ancestors of WILLIAM E. FELTS and ALCIE ANSLEY.  Sumter Co., GA Census, 1850:

FELTS, George 30 or 36, NC					FELTS, George G. 40, farmer, NC
	  Lucretia 32						Rebecca H. 26
	  James 9					          *William 15 farm laborer	
	  Frances 7 F						Elizabeth 14
	*William 5						George Ann 12
	   Sarah 4						Angeline C. 10
	   Georgia 2						Mary E. 8

Not listed in the 1840 (the first Census) of Sumter County.

 Roster of Sumter Flying Artillery (11th Batt. Ga. Artillery)
FELTS, William E., Pvt. Enlisted 15 May 1862, Americus, Ga.
Captured Petersburg, Va. Apr. 1865.  Released 27 June 1865.

Marriage Records, Sumter Co., Ga.
FELTS, William E. - ANSLEY, Alice 1-16-66.

Cemetery Records of Sumter Co., Ga.
C.A. Ansley, wife of Wm. Felts, Oct 9, 1846 – Feb 17, 1869

Alice Ansley's father or grandfather may have been Asa Ansley.

William E. Felts and Alice Ansley Felts were my husband's grandparents.  My husband was James Whitaker Felts.  His father was James Alonzo Felts.  ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED!!!

	Gloria Spanger, Edwardsport, IN is researching JOHN LONG, SR. born about 1750 NC, died Ashe Co. Nov 1836.  Need name of wife and date of marriage.  Could she have been a Vannoy?

	Also, Gloria Spanger, address above, is researching JESSE LONG, born 5 July 1789 NC Ashe County?  Died Owen County, IN 1866.  Need name of first wife and date of marriage.  May have been Levina.  WILL REFUND POSTAGE.

	Murray Isaac HOLLOWAY b 13 Sept 1891, Whitehead, Alleghany Co., NC.  (100th Birthday Celebration June 16-17 in Sacramento- send greetings to him at Orangevale, CA) is descended from Wm. Eli, son of Daniel and Sarah Jane (BROOKS), son of John and Elizabeth (BAUGUES), son of Daniel and Mary “Polly” (WOODRUFF, dau. John Allen), son of John and Mary (ROSE, dau of Emanuel and Mary (HAMPTON son of Stephany HOLWAY (HOLLOWAY)p, first on Roaring River in Wilkes Co., in 1800 in Ashe Co. This last John is a brother of James of Ashe and Nancy, who married Adam WAGGONER.  If you would like to exchange info, write Orella (HOLLOWAY) Chadwick, Tillamook, OR.

	OUR TIME ON EARTH....Our time is really not our own..No matter who we are...Because the life we live on earth...Is just a passing star..We all are brothers who should strive...To help each other out..And draw aside the darkness of...Discouragement and doubt..Our time belongs to everyone..We meet along the way...Especially the kindly souls...Who share our work and play...And even more especially....The children young and fair...Who look to us for guidance and....Who need our loving care...However long or famously....We pause upon this sod....Our time is really not our own...But it belongs to God.

								James J. Metcalfe