George's Time at Eastern State and Western State Penitentiary

I haven't written about George Solifelt in awhile as I've been focused on the Cook research with my new discoveries but I did want to update with the information about the time period in which he was an inmate at Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania.

Date/Time Served:  29th Jun 1870 thru 12th Jan 1872

Eastern State Penitentiary:   29th Jun 1870 to  13th Jun 1871 (Prisoner # 6718) The following image is from the Warden's Daily Journal on the day he was received at Eastern State.

George and 26 other prisoners were transferred June 13th 1871 "by virtue of an act of assembly"  The Eastern State Penitentiary Warden's Daily Journal for that date says that they were sent under the charge of Michael J Cassidy and five other of our officers without carrying with them pistols or other fire arms.

The entry for the 14th says they received a telegram at 1:20pm announcing the safe arrival of the prisoners at Pittsburg.

Western State Penitentiary: 14 Jun 1871 to 12th Jan 1872 (Prisoner # 4026)The following image is from the Warden's Daily Journal on the day he was released from Western State.

Part of the Intake process requires that they log descriptions of the inmates

The description of George's tattoo 

Western State Penitentiary: Descriptive Register (Roll 412)

Image 208 of 268

Sources:

Eastern State Penitentiary of Pennsylvania,. “Eastern State Penitentiary Warden's Daily Journals_Image00001”. Eastern State Penitentiary: Wardens’ Daily Journals (Roll 6608), Warden's Daily Journals (PA) 1829-1961, 01856. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/psa/islandora/object/psa%3Awdjpa_2630.

State Penitentiary for the Western District of Pennsylvania,. “Western State Penitentiary: Warden’S Daily Journals (Roll 7788)”, Wardens Daily Journals (PA) 1869-1875, 1875. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/psa/islandora/object/psa%3Awdjpa1860_521.

State Penitentiary for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Western State Penitentiary: Descriptive Register (Roll 412)”, Descriptive Register (PA) 1826-1876, 1826. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/psa/islandora/object/psa%3A537669.

North Carolina Baptist Historical Collection

After Elvira's sister, Abigail Allen made the statement about the length of the prayer given by the minister at Elvira and William's marriage ceremony(1786) I had to go looking to see what I could find about him.  His name was Jacob Crocker and as she mentioned he was a Baptist preacher.  Wake Forrest has a great NC Baptist Historical Collection  So far I've searched the NC Baptist Biographical Files Collection.  In it I found not only Jacob Crocker, but some family information within his file which showed interaction with the Winston family(they are connected to the Shem Cooke descendants).  There was also a card for Roland Cooke within that collection with a notation of Records and an additional item to check.  

In addition to the previously mentioned NC Baptist Biographical Files Collection you can also find:

• Baptist Newspapers 
• Baptist State Convention of NC Digital Collection
• Books & Pamphlets
• NC Baptist Church Records & Association Files
• Religion in NC Project

If your family was of the Baptist faith in the area around the Carolinas it wouldn't hurt to check out this collection.  There is a good bit available online. Visit this page to check out the library catalog, finding aids and more.

"U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900," database with images, Ancestry(https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/26266:1995?tid=77121678 : accessed 12 February 2023), H > Harris, William - Hawley, James > Harrison, Sarah - Harsin, Garret > image 381-473 of 1112: citing NARA microfilm publication M804, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.[Image is from the portion of the War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application File of Elvira Harrison which includes a sworn statement by her sister Abigail Allen who lived one county to the west of Elvira at the time of her application.  Abigail was in attendance at the wedding of her sister to Wm Harrison and detailed her memories of the ceremony]

Elvira Harrison's Bounty Land Warrant File

From the Bounty Land Warrant file of Elvira Harrison, widow of William Harrison

(There are lots more tidbits of information within the pages but these are some of the highlights.)

William Harrison(1750-22 Jan 1833)
Appointed & commissioned a Lieutenant of Capt. John Macon's Company of the continental army of the US during the Rev War in Nov 1776 of the NC continental line in the 7th Reg commanded by Col James Hogan.  He served for 15 months.  Was at Brandywine and Germantown both battles were won by British

Included is a statement from Capt. Macon 17 Jan 1820 from Maury Co TN

Elvira States they were married 14 of February 1786 at Cannon Cooper's home.  The signed statements from Charles Allen & Abigail Allen indicate that they can't remember the year(they gave a date range.) Charles said he was not at the wedding but knew them to be married.  Abigail was at the wedding which she said was in Warren Co NC.  She recalled that Wm and Elvira were married by a Baptist preacher named Jacob Crocker.  According to Abigail, Elvira wore her bonnet and the preacher made such a long prayer during the ceremony that she told him that when she was married she would not get him to perform the ceremony.

Records show the Marriage bond in Granville Co NC was made Jan 4th 1786.

Elvira includes a list of her children and their dates of birth but says "the first Sarah Harrison was born May 17th in the year seventeen hundred & eighty seven.  The original record from which this list was taken was in an old Dictionary which was sold to one Stephen Lynch and the record afterward destroyed."

April 18th 1843 when Elvira files for increase  Hiram Putman and Anny G Putman(wife of Wm Putman) are witnesses.  Hiram is Elvira's son in law and Anny(if she is the sister of Wm C Cook) is the granddaughter of Elvira.

Elvira was living with grandson William G Hight (son of  Nancy) during her later years and he is appointed the admin of her estate and as such files to claim to get an increase she was due at the time of her death.

Sources:  

"United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WB-Q54R?cc=2069831&wc=MXMQ-529%3A355665101 : accessed 12 February 2023), 1-vol A Revolutionary War pensioners > image 528 of 593; citing NARA microfilm publication T718 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1962).

"U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900," database with images, Ancestry(https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/26266:1995?tid=77121678 : accessed 12 February 2023), H  > Harris, William - Hawley, James > Harrison, Sarah - Harsin, Garret > image 381-473 of 1112: citing NARA microfilm publication  M804, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-RYSP-JL?i=1030 : 13 February 2023), Granville > Marriage bonds, 1758-1868, box 1-5 > image 1031 of 1370; North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History.

Wilson Lightfoot Deeds--Dyer Co TN

There were 3 entries for Wilson Lightfoot in the survey books of Dyer Co. Tennessee. I'm interested in him because I have a cluster of DNA matches(and so do several of my Cook / Putman cousins) that are all descendants of him.  The connection has to be further back(in my Cook / Putman ancestry) because of the way the age groups fall in known relationships from that side.  You can check out the deeds at the links below. Several of the entries mention the Occupant law of 1840. I've not studied the land of West TN because most of my ancestors were concentrated in the Middle Tennessee area.  This was an attempt by TN to get it's western land settled. 

Wilson Lightfoot entry--Dyer Co TN Land Survey Book pg 77 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5W-BSF7-L?i=56&cat=277549

Wilson Lightfoot entry--Dyer Co TN Land Survey Book pg 109
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5W-BSF2-C?i=72&cat=277549

Wilson Lightfoot entry--Dyer Co TN Survey Entry Book Vol 1  pg 140

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39N-NNCC?i=103&cat=277549

I wonder if that law might have been part of the reason that Wm C Cook was in Dyer Co TN.

I didn't find him in the deed or survey book other than his mention in J B Harrison's Deed.    There is a Wm  C Coop in Dyer County at the same time but even with the poor writing in some parts it's still fairly easy to distinguish between my Wm C Cook and the Wm C Coop just by looking at the folks with which they associated.

Sources:

"Land surveys, 1827-1860; survey entries, 1820-1911," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5W-BSF7-L?i=56&cat=277549 : accessed 10 February 2023), Entry of Wilson Lightfoot No 128; citing Dyer Co., Tennessee, USA, Land Surveys, Book A, p 77; county courthouse, Tennessee; FHL microfilm 833247.

"Land surveys, 1827-1860; survey entries, 1820-1911," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5W-BSF2-C?i=72&cat=277549 : accessed 10 February 2023), Entry of Wilson Lightfoot No 232; citing Dyer Co., Tennessee, USA, Land Surveys, Book A, p 109; county courthouse, Tennessee; FHL microfilm 833247.

"Land surveys, 1827-1860; survey entries, 1820-1911," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39N-NNCC?i=103&cat=277549 :  accessed 10 February 2023), Entry of Wilson Lightfoot No 51; citing Dyer Co., Tennessee, USA, Register of Deeds, Survey Book 1, p 140; county courthouse, Tennessee; FHL microfilm 833248.  

Harrison Deed Mentions Transferred Note

Now that Wm C Cook's mother & family have been identified, I'm working in Dyer County Tennessee Deeds looking at Harrison deeds and found one mentioning "note made payable to Wm C Cook" it continues on down the page and on to page 74 of Dyer County, Deed Book E.  John B Harrison is the J B Harrison listed with Wm C Cook and Noah Putman in the 1840 US Federal Census of Dyer County Tennessee. He's the Brother In Law of Wm C Cook's Brother In Law(Hiram Putman) and also Wm C Cook's maternal uncle.  The image below is not the full images but it contains the portion about the note.  To see the full images click the link above or the one in the Source section below.

Source

"Deeds, 1824-1882; deed index, 1822-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5W-B3S3-5?i=472&cat=278884 : accessed 9 February 2023), Deed by John B Harrison to E.A. McCorkle Registered 5 Apr 1841; citing Dyer Co., Tennessee, USA, Deed Book E, p 73; county courthouse, Tennessee; FHL microfilm 833238.

Bella, formerly the slave of Gen Thomas Clark & late of John Waddell & John Lord

Found Bella's will while looking for another record.  It starts out...

In the name of God Amen,  I, Bella Clark
(a coloured woman formerly the slave of General 
Thomas Clark & late of John Waddell & John 
Lord, but liberated as will appear by the records of the
county court of New Hanover....

Also mentions "present Husband a coloured man, by the name of John Lillington(?) alias

McAuslans John now a slave of Mr. John McAuslan"

Full will is at:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-VW9L-6V?i=200

Source:

"North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-VW9L-6V?cc=1867501&wc=32LK-7MS%3A169769101%2C170219401 : 5 Jan 2023), New Hanover > Wills, 1732-1864, Vol. 01 > image 201 of 244; county courthouses, North Carolina.

Other links that might contain information about some of those named.

• Record of slaves and free persons of color, New Hanover County, North Carolina, 1786-1888
• Digital Library on American Slavery
• New Hanover NC Slave Deed Project 

The Importance of Revisiting

It's important to revisit sites(online or in person) which are actively adding resources or databases.  Once you have new information such as surnames or specific locations, reviewing helps.  Sure you  have checked the county books for the surnames you were researching in 2005, but have you checked them armed with the knowledge of the discoveries you've made since then?  It does make a difference.

Surnames are not the only thing you should check.  Make sure that you keep up with what is available for the areas.  How do I know?  Yesterday I noticed that a court record index was available that hadn't been accessible from home the last time I'd visited the online records available for a specific area of interest. While reading thru the index, I located a divorce record from 1886.  Given that information I was able to seek out the County Court Records book and find the page on which the case was recorded.  This record answered my question about what happened to the 1st husband of Tennessee Ferguson and why she was using her maiden name when she married husband #2(Henry F Hill.)  I'd suspected a divorce but couldn't locate court records from the time period.  I'd also searched for records on another case from the same general time period in that area and didn't find the years needed available.  Not sure if I just missed it or if it was added.  Just happy to have found it.  The FamilySearch Research Wiki is great for pulling together a locality resources guide.  

Revisit PERSI for those surnames and areas too.  There are many area resources which were published in Genealogy quarterlies that are helpful.  I found one this morning which contained a lot of Dyer Co TN resources.  it was the July 1972 issue of Ansearchin' News(from TN Genealogical Society).  You can access issues of Ansearchin' News which are older than 10 years thru the TN Genealogical Society's website.  The more recent quarterlies are behind the member paywall.  If you have ancestors who were in Tennessee check out the society's website and consider joining.  

Franklin Co. Arkansas: Cook, Lamb, and Hight Folks

In the 1870 US Federal Census,  Joseph Knox Cook is living pretty much surrounded by his Lamb brother in laws(who are also his maternal cousins) in District 10 of Rutherford County Tennessee.  He went out to Franklin Co Arkansas after the 1880 census as did his brother James Polk Cook.  Joe's brother in law, Nelson Hiram Lamb was already out in Franklin Co AR prior to them arriving in Arkansas. In the 1880 US Federal Census Hiram Nelson was living in the Ivy District.  Joe didn't stay in Arkansas very long(see blog post). 

William G Hight's probate in Franklin Co. Arkansas was mentioned in several previous posts but today the itemized admin settlement was located.  It provides very good detail of the process and in very good penmanship too.  It begins on page 200 and then skips and continues on page 246. 

Sources:  

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8M-DVM : 4 February 2023), Joseph Cook, 1870.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDQ2-FFZ : 4 February 2023), Joseph K. Cook, District 10, Bedford County, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district 10, sheet 275C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,244.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNW7-S8T : 4 February 2023), N. H. Lamb, Ivy Township, Franklin, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district 60, sheet 753B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm  1,254,044.

Franklin County, Arkansas, "Administrators and guardians Settlements, 1876-1904," entry for W G Hight's estate p. 200(1881); digitized image 191 of 797, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B7-RJVY?i=190&cat=616228 : accessed 4 February 2023); FHL microfilm 1,027,670.

Franklin County, Arkansas, "Administrators and guardians Settlements, 1876-1904," continuation of entry for W G Hight's estate p. 246(1881); digitized image 216 of 797, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B7-RJGF?i=215&cat=616228 : accessed 4 February 2023); FHL microfilm 1,027,670.

More Pieces of the Puzzle: Cook and Harrison

While continuing to work on the paper trail to identify Elizabeth Harrison's Cook husband, I went ahead and connected her as Wm C. Cook's mother. I also attached the census data, the link to my blog post(s) with the reasoning, and a note in the Suffix field of her profile.  

I revisited the YDNA matches of my brother for the COOK(E) Project and went over my notes and corresponded with one of the project admins.  While we do match a group of Pattersons as close as we match Cooks, the Pattersons lived near the GA & NC Cooks that descend from the Shem Cooke and there seems to be a connection to his line.  If our connection is thru Wm Pope Cooke that married Betsy Harrison, then we would likely connect all the way back to Shem Cooke thru a line of men with the given name of William. Prior to the BigY testing the 37, 67, and 111 marker tests were all we had.  There is representation more so from Shem's son James thru his children  Roland(d. 1842 West TN) and Shem(d.1862 Carroll Co GA)  There is one tester who descends thru the elder Shem Cooke(d. 1796)'s son William but he only tested at 37 markers.  His result contains no differing mutations with my brother at that level so he is an exact match at 37 markers.  This is an older test so I'm unsure if an update is possible but I am trying to make contact with others from that line who might be interested to see if we can come up with a way to compare.  At the same time I'm working further on his paper trail to see if it crosses with ours.  When my brother's test came in, I worked the matches trees to figure out exactly how they all were the connected.  Many of them didn't have trees...so I had to do a lot of sleuthing to figure it out but for the most part I have a very good picture of how they connect.  

I have access to AncestryDNA match lists of several descendants of the Shem Cooke(Carroll Co GA) and I have been looking at their closer matches to see if I could find an intersection with our clusters of unknowns which are likely Cook/Harrison related.   I did find one where I started noticing surnames that were familiar among those matches and have now identified more Harrison matches.

After having Elizabeth Harrison Cook connected for 2 days I am now seeing matches that descend from her siblings.  The great thing is that those matches are not all thru Rebecca Harrison who would match with the Cook Putmans because of their connection to Hiram Putman(Elizabeth Putman Cook's brother).  There are descendants of Nancy Harrison Hight, Gideon V Harrison, Edward Cannon Harrison and Martha Harrison Smith.  I think too somewhere back in there is another HIGHT connection or a connection to the Nichols(wife of a Hight).  The relationships of those matches are mostly 5C & 5C1R and are all well in range for those relationships.  Checking the shared matches is helpful as well to make sure none of them matched her(they didn't.)  

It should be noted that Thrulines® is a Tool that works using our DNA match list along with the trees on Ancestry.  It's still up to us to document and prove our conclusions so that our research is solid.