Pope Family Documents Name Granville Co. NC and Williamson Co. TN Enslaved

Osborn Pope, born before 1755 if we believe his age from the 1800 US Federal Census of Granville, wrote his will on 3 April 1811.  His will was recorded in Granville Co North Carolina in the February term of 1812. In the Index for Granville Records under Jane Nicholson's entry, it is listed as being recorded Feb 1818 however, the record itself shows that it was recorded in February Term of 1812--another reason to seek out earlier and original sources. Within the will are the names of some enslaved with details on what should happen  after his death. See will at the site listed in the citation below.

"Granville, North Carolina, United States records," Osborne Pope Will, Feb. Court 1812, Will book Vol 7, p 229;  images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GW-Y9C5-R : accessed Mar 29, 2024), image 245 of 710; IGN 007639740.

In addition to the will recorded in Granville County, North Carolina there was also a case filed in  Williamson Co Tennessee which focused on that probate file in the years 1825 & 1826.  If you have worked in Williamson Co TN Probate you know there was an attempt to index and contain files in folders with a listing on index cards which was meant to be somewhat of a summary of the folders contents.  While this was done with the best of intentions, it is still necessary to examine each document.  There are at least 2 cases I know of in my own research where persons of the same name have been combined into one folder without any notation which makes it appear that the documents were all for ONE person. I would caution researchers when they use this set to exam each document with this in mind.  I have contacted the archives clerk and asked them to include a notation when I found this had occurred once I sorted out which documents belonged to each of the same named persons.  That said, this Osborne Pope file is a full of information for anyone researching persons enslaved by the Granville Co NC Pope Family.  It mentions the names and ages of the children of the enslaved that have been born between the time period of 1812 and 1825.

"Tennessee Probate Court Files, 1795-1955," Probate Folder Osborne Pope(of Granville Co., NC), images, FamilySearch

(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-2F3C-G2 : accessed 29 March 2024), Williamson > County Court, Probate, divorce & family records > 1800-1899 > Pewitt, Joel - Potts, Mary Ann > image 2340 of 2960; IGN # 004727159.

Union Ridge Baptist Church--Bedford Co TN Deeds

Image created using DALL-E3

I discovered a deed on which W C Cook(my 2nd Gr Grpa) was a witness.  It had to do with lands for the Union Ridge Church.  Record loss for the period of 1850ish to the early 1860s makes that era difficult to research, so anytime I find something covering that time period it really helps.  There was an attempt made to record lost deeds in a notebook by the county clerk.  Another great help is a book published on that effort by Helen and Tim Marsh. 

Marsh, Helen C., and Tim R. Marsh. "The Burned Deed Index of Bedford County, Tennessee 1852-1861". Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1999. 

The deed book entry(Deed Book NNN pg 69) on which I found W C Cook as witness is written in very faint ink but it appears that it is an attempt to make sure that the original bargain of 1854 is on record.  I've listed notes below on the dates and persons mentioned.

Thomason & John Jordan  

To 

Deacons of Union Ridge:

Wm Elmore and R A Gantt 

Original Bargained on 7 Oct 1854

Witnessed on 6 Nov 1854 by
William C Cook

D A Elmore 

William Floyd

Signed:

W T Thomason

John Jordan

Noted on 7 Nov 1854 in Notebook #2 pg 32
Recorded the same day in Book VV pg 404-405
Act of 1865 Ch 28
Registered 28 April 1877
Recorded 30 April 1877

Source:  

"Bedford, Tennessee, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-K92B-L : accessed Mar 24, 2024), image 61 of 638; IGN 008567899; citing, Bedford Co. TN Deed Book NNN, p 69, Deed from W T Thomason & John Jordan to Wm Elmore  &  R. A Gantt-- Deacons of Union Ridge Baptist Church part of the Duck River Association

 

Sarah Louise Cook Kester(1910-1981)

 

Sarah is a descendant of William Clifford & Elizabeth Putman Cook thru their son Jefferson Gideon Cook and his wife Martha Ann Hale.  There was an incredible amount of information contained in her obituaries.  

• Age: 70
• Died: 30 Mar 1981
• Funeral: Wed 1 Apr 1981 Foglesong Funeral Home at 2p.m.
• Memorial: Tues 31 Mar 1981 By Eastern Star at Funeral Home 7:30 p.m.
• Cremated interment in Oak Lawn Cemetery
• Born 15 Aug 1910 in Chicago
• Resident of Sturgis MI since 1972
• Former Resident of Riverdale IL
• Married 10 March 1934

Survivors:

• Husband: Clarence M Kester
• Daughters:

Ms Doris Ann Fortier of Berwyn, Illinois

Mrs James (Ellen L) Grummell of Lakeville, Indiana

• Son:

James Allen Kester of Sturgis

• Six Grandchildren
• Niece

Preceded in death by

• Parents:   Jefferson G & Sarah L Seat Cook,
• Two brothers

• Retired in 1971
• Employed with Brunswick Corp as Ins. agent for 10 yrs

Memberships:  

• First United Methodist Church where she was also involved with the Prayer Fellowship Group & Afternoon Friendship Circle
• Olive Branch Chapter 2 Order of the Eastern Star
• Past Matron of Olive Branch Chapter of Eastern Star in Chicago

Sources:

“Mrs Sarah Louise Kester,” The South Bend Tribune, 31 March 1981, p. 10, col. 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 12 March 2024).

“Kester,” Chicago Tribune, 2 April 1981, p. 47, col. 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 12 March 2024).

Callen and Hight Land-Bedford Co TN Deed Book LL pg 8-9

From Bedford Co TN Deed Book LL pg 8

Deed from Thomas Callen to West C Callen

The following is a transcription of a deed transferring land from Thomas Callen to West C Callen.  Immediately following this registration of deed is a transfer of the same exact land from West C Callen to Wm G Hight(#13).   Both are registered the same day--August 24 1841.

# 12    

I Thomas Callen have this day bargained & sold and do hereby transfer
and convey to West C Callen & his heirs for the consideration of six hundred dollars to me paid a tract of land in the state of Tennessee Bedford County in District No 9 lying between Amos West & W G Height containing by estimation one hundred acres & bounded as follows. Beginning at a post oak in the North E corner of a two hundred acre tract, granted by Newton Cannon to Thos Callen running South with Heights line supposed one hundred and thirty five poles to a stake in the Middleton Road thence West with said road to a stake making 95 / 2 poles thence North Cross the two hundred acre tract & a seventy four acre tract to a stake in the North Boundary of said tracts in all 235 poles so as to cut off one hundred acres off the two tracts thence east 32 /2 poles to a sweet gum and maple the NE Corner of the 74 acre tract thence south with J. Leather's line to the North Boundary line of a 25 acre tract belonging to W G Hight 32 poles thence west with said line to the Corner 3 poles thence South 68 poles to a stake in the North Boundary line of said two hundred acre tract thence East with said line to the beginning to have and to hold the same to the said W C Callen his heirs and assignees forever I do further covenant and bind myself my heirs and representatives to warrant and defend the title to the said land and every part thereof to the said W C Callen his heirs and assignees against the lawful claims of all persons whatever executed and delivered in our presence this the first day of May eighteen hundred forty one

Amos West
Jno Macgowen
Fletcher Taylor                               Signed Thomas Callen

Registered August 24 1841 by Andrew Vannoy Register B C 

See earlier post of land from Thomas Callen to Jackson Lile.

Source: 

"Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966,"  deed, Thomas Callen to West C Callen, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CST3-19RB-L : accessed  10 March 2024) DGS # 008322880, image 26 of 739; citing Bedford County TN Deed Book LL page 7-8.

The Estate of William McCoy--Williamson Co TN

In September of 2022 I wrote an article about the estate of Wm McCoy of Williamson Co TN which you can find at https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2022/09/probate-records-of-william-mccoy.html.  It had listed a William Cook and several other known associates and in-laws of my Wm C Cook.  Today I found the final probate papers for Wm McCoy's estate.and this particular listing shows him as William C Cook which is further evidence that it was my 2nd Great Grandfather.  It took over 10 years to settle this estate.  Below is a transcription and re-creation of the estate's balance sheet from the probate papers. 

Date	The Estate of William McCoy
1838 Feby 14	To cash paid John W Miller	1.68	1840 Mar 29	By Cash recd for land sold	320.00
1839 Apr 27	To cash paid J Ransom J?	52.30		By Interest to 1 Jany 1849	168.16
1839 Apr 29	To cash paid Noah Putman	13.12
1839 Jun 12	To cash paid William C Cook	14.07
1839 May 11	To cash paid William Jackson	8.66
1839 May 20	To cash paid Hiram Putman	12.00
1839 Jun 5	To cash paid John Creek	8.73
1839 May 20	To cash paid Hiram Putman	28.50
1839 Aug 30	To cash paid John Landrum	5.62
1840 Jun 17	To cash paid W R Ransom	8.14
1840 Feby 8	To cash paid Blacky Thompson	19.93
1841 July 18	To cash paid Thomas Taylor	3.75
1840 Sept 23	To cash paid J. Ransome Jr.	8.34
1840 Feby 8	To cash paid James Thompson	12.94
1840 Jany 8	To cash paid W T. Baskett	5.94
1839 Sept 23	To cash paid Elizabeth Haynes	1.00
1839 May 7	To cash paid B C Ransom	21.41
1839 Apr 10	To cash paid John W Simpson	8.00
1840 Apr 30	To cash paid B C Ransom	6.75
1848 Dec 8	To cash paid M L Andrews	24.25
1848 Dec 8	To cash paid John Marshall	25.00
	To Balance due Adr. Settlement this day	24.46
	To interest upon Payment & balance	159.94
	To allowance to Administrator	25.00
	To Clerks Fees Making & Recording settlements	2.50
	Bal Due Estate 1 Jany 1849	95.13
		488.16			488.16

I find a balance in the hands of Samuel B Robison as administrator of William McCoy
deceased on the first day of January instant of ninety five dollars and thirteen cents

Witness my hand at office this 18 day of January 1849 L B McCormick


Sources:
"Minute Books(Civil & State) 1810-1965," Williamson Co TN Minute Book 1837-1845
v 9 p 172, imaged at FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-V3TH-7 : accessed 8 March 2024), IGN 8150669. Image 109 of 833.

"Tennessee Probate Court Files, 1795-1955,"  Williamson Co TN Probate and family records 1800-1899 McConnica, Mary-McLaughlin Dick, loose documents, Settlement of Estate of William McCoy; imaged at FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-8T4W-G?i=309 : accessed 8 March 2024), IGN 4750409, Image 310 of 2910.

Dekalb Co TN Deed--District 7--David Pitman, witness

Dist 7  Dekalb Co TN Deed Recorded--David Pitman & John Linton Witnesses

Starky Cotton deed to Two Hundred and one half acres of land in Civil District No. 7 Dekalb County TN to John P Titsworth proven by the oaths of John Linden and David Pitman 21st June 1860

                                                                                                M G Martin Clk

Source:
Dekalb County, Tennessee, deeds, Feb 1857-Feb 1872, p. 106, Deed, Starky Cotton to John P Titsworth, Witnesses John Linden & David Pitman, 21 June 1860, imaged at FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-2RT4-S9 : accessed 4 Mar 2024), IGN 004776221, image 343 of 540; citing Dekalb County Court Clerk, Smithville, Tennessee.