Confederate Solider: John Warren Cawthorn

John W. Cawthorn, enhanced version of Tin Plate, by K. Stevens

John Warren CAWTHORN was born 3 Oct 1843 in North Carolina to parents Archibald Lewis CAWTHORN and Elizabeth Ann NIPPER. He lived in Granville County for most of his life.

In 1861, at the age of 17, John took up service in "The Granvile Rangers", Company G, 30th Regiment NC, of the Confederacy.  He was taken as a prisoner of war the 22nd of Sept 1864 and released 24th June 1865 after taking an Oath of Allegiance. Upon his release he was physically described as standing 5 feet 8 inches, with a "florid" complexion, red hair, and hazel eyes.

John was married to Cornelia ALLEN, daughter of David B. ALLEN and Mary "Polly" Ann Allen on 25 Oct 1868 by J.L. Purefoy. John Warren CAWTHORN worked as a farmer and in 1886 owned 147 acres in Granville county. By the 1900 census, John and his family had moved to Nash county, NC where he continued to work as a farmer.

John and Cornelia ALLEN had ten children: Walter L. (b. 1869, d.1916), Charles Brent (b.1871), Pattie Elliot (b. 1875, d. 1937), Lucy B. (b. about 1876, d. before 1937), Lillan V. (b. about 1878, d. 1882), Mary Ellen (b. 1879, d. 1947), Annie C. (b. about 1882, d. 1966). David Allen (b. 1883, d. 1884), Bertha J. (b. 1885, d. 1976), and Allen L. (b. 1888, d. 1933). 

John died 14 March 1901. 

Mary Ann Montague Allen

This is another picture I found in Uriel's collection.

It shows Mary "Polly" Ann MONTAGUE who was born around 1825 to parents William MONTAGUE and Barbara COOK.

Mary married David Brent ALLEN on the 24 Dec 1844 in Granville, North Carolina (marriage bond 17 Dec 1844). Mary had at least six children with David Allen before he died in 1862: Cornelia Elliot ALLEN (b. 1847, d.1919), Mary ALLEN (b.1849, d.1912), Alice ALLEN (b.about 1853), Martha ALLEN (b.about 1856), Pattie Elizabeth ALLEN (b.1856, d.1931), and Anna Baker ALLEN (b.1860, d. 1949).

Mary continued to live in Granville County as head of household after her husband died.

David Brent Allen

Among the collection of my great-grand-uncle Uriel's photos and scraps of research, I have found several pictures of people from the 1800s. Some have names written on the back, others have no indicating marks at all. I will begin by posting those photos that Uriel had identified.

This is a picture of David Brent ALLEN who was born 28 June 1820 in Virginia. David was about 9 years old when his father Edward C. ALLEN died. His mother was Julia A. BRENT, and his siblings names were James E., Elizabeth C., Emeline H., Charles P., William N., Benjamin, Mary C., and Martha A. ALLEN.

David B. Allen lived in Granville, North Carolina for most of his life with his wife Mary Ann MONTAGUE. Their marriage bond was made 17 Dec 1844, and the ALLEN/CAWTHORN marriage record shows they were married 24 Dec 1844; he would have been 24 years old. In the 1850 census David is listed as a farmer but by 1860 he is listed as a carpenter.

David B. Allen died 31 Jan 1862.

Will of Jacob Stroup

I found this digital copy of the will of Jacob Stroup while I was writing a paper in college about the migration of the Stroup family. This transcription was made by  Ethel Belle Stroupe of California, so much thanks to her for having this available online.

WILL OF JACOB STROUP, MARCH 27, 1800: Lincoln Co., N. C.--In the name of God Amen.---I, Jacob Stroup, of the County of Lincoln and State of North Carolina being of Sound Memory and understanding do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament and so to making my worldly Estate desire to dispose of in manner and form following.---Viz. First I Give and bequeath to my Son Adam Stroup five Shillings. Item: I Give to my Grandson John Stroup five Shillings. Item: I Give to my Daughter Betsy one Shilling. Item: I give to my daughter Fanny one Shilling. Item: I give to my daughter Mary one Shilling. Item: I give to my Son Philip five Shillings. Item: I give to my Daughter Barbara one Shilling.----Item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth twenty-four pounds of pewter and dresser, six knives and forks, one large pot, one small one, and one 'fryang' pan and two Chairs, one washing tub, two pickling tubs, one 'Scimmer' and one Ladle.----Item: I give to my Daughter Hannah one Shilling. Item: I give to my son George five Shillings. Item: I give to my Son John five Shillings and forty Acres of Land out of the Old Tract. Item: I give to my Son Daniel five Shillings.---Item: I give to my Son Michael one bay Mare, two plows, two pair Chains, three hoes, one Wind Mill and one Culling Box.----Lastly, I give to my Wife, Nancy, two cows, one bed and bed 'sted', one Chest and forty Dollars, and I do Ratify and Confirm this to be my Last will & Testament, 'disannuling' all Wills and testaments herefore by me Made, and I do appoint Martin Friday & Jacob Hoffman to be Executors of this Will & Testament.----Witness my hand and seal this 27th day of March 1800. ---(Signed) Jacob Stroup -- Jo. Abernathy, Testate---Lincoln County Court, January Session 1805. The within will was proved in open Court by oath of Joseph Abernathy & Recorded.---Witness: Leon Henderson.

(NOTE) The original of this will is in the N. C. State Archives in Raleigh. It consists of two pages, in the very large, very round hand writing of Joseph Abernathy, a paralegal scribe who wrote many of the wills in this area. Joseph Stroup signing his name to his will very clearly, and in English script, not German.

Image and transcription from Jacob Straub/Stroup Genealogy

Skidmore Family Portrait

This news article shows a picture of members of the Skidmore family from Mecklenburg County, NC in the early 1900s. 

Front Row, from left

Mattie Elizabeth (Martha) Skidmore (1877)

Katherine "Polly" Skidmore (1837)

William Washington Skidmore Sr. (1836), husband of Katherine Skidmore

Margaret Caldwell Flowers (1841), sister of William Skidmore

James Monroe Skidmore (1855)

Back Row

Thomas Patrick Skidmore (1865)

Emmett Franklin Skidmore (1874)

Joseph Turner Skidmore (1875)

William Washington Skidmore Jr. (1871)

Marcus Lafayette Skidmore (1863)

Sidney Jeremiah “Jack” Skidmore (1857)

Lines Sacred to the memory of David Allen Cawthorn

As my first post I thought it would be best to share a poem I found in my great grand uncle's genealogy research. It was his original documents and research that got me interested in genealogy, and now I have been researching  for over 8 years. I don't know if the document I have is original or if it had been recopied by my great grand uncle Uriel.

Transcribed by K. Stevens, 2011.
Lines sacred to the memory of David Allen Cawthorn infant son of John W Cawthorn and Cornelia E Cawthorn who was born Sept. the 7^th 1883 and died September the 14^th 1884.

“I have a son, a third sweet son; his age I cannot tell

For they reckon not by years and months; where he is gone to dwell.

To us for twelve anxious months his infant smiles were given;

And then he bid farewell to earth; and went to live in heaven.

I cannot tell what form is his, what looks he weareth now,

Nor guess how bright a glory crowns his shining seraph brow,

The thoughts that fill his sinless soul, the bliss which he doth feel,

Are membered with the secret things, which God will not reveal.

But I know for God hath told me this that he is now at rest

Where other blessed infants be, on their Savior’s loving breast;

I know his spirit feels no more this weary load of flesh

But his sleep is blessed with endless dreams of joy forever fresh.

I know the angels fold him close beneath their glittering wings,

And soothe him with a song that breathes of heaven’s divinest things

I know that we shall meet our babe (his loved ones here below)

Where God for aye shall wipe away all tears forever more.

What e’er befalls his brethern twain, his bliss can never cease;

Their lot may here be grief and fear; but his is certain peace.

It may be that the tempters wiles their souls from bliss may sever

But if our own poor faith fail not, he must be our’s forever.

When we think of what our darling is and what he still must be;

We muse on that world’s perfect bliss and this world’s misery

When we groan beneath this load of sin and feel this grief and pain,

O we’d rather live without him here than have him back again.”

-Cornelia E.  Cawthorn   June 7^th 1885

Page 1

Page 2