Family Search's Experimental Search Tool - Benajah and Hannah Brown

   ©  Kathy Duncan, 2023

In the later part of July, researchers on Facebook started sharing a link to Family Search's United States Wills and Deeds Experiment Search tool. Family Search's experimental prototypetext tool came with the warning that they made no guarantees regarding the availability of the tool. I think we all took that as a warning that it would be short-lived.  

While it lasted, it was phenomenal, and I am looking forward to it being re-released in its "final" form. The beauty of the search tool was that it ran an every-name search so that it went well beyond the principal parties in a record. It found records that were in unindexed county record books. Most importantly, it shortened the length of time required to wade through records county by county. 

My ancestor, Nathaniel Holcomb's wife, serves as a prime example. Up until now, I could only theorize that her name was probably Hannah. I knew that whatever her name was, she had married Benajah Brown of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri as her second husband after Nathaniel Holcomb died - which was by 1814.

My previous research indicated that the woman, who was Benajah Brown's wife and Nathaniel Holcomb's widow, was old enough to be the mother of all of Nathaniel Holcomb's children, but I don't know that for a fact.

The experimental search tool pulled up a deed in Ste. Genevieve County from Benajah and Hannah Brown to James Skaggs, the husband of Nathaniel Holcomb's daughter Hannah Holcomb. Hannah Brown is named in the deed and released her dower rights before Robert Jameson, the husband of Nathaniel Holcomb's eldest daughter Esther. This indicates that Hannah was still alive as of 1834 and that she could not write her own name. Of most interest is that it provides the location of their land: the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of sec 29 Twp 39 N Range 7E. 

Click to Enlarge

The next deed record that the experiment search tool located was from Benejah Brown of Newton County, Missouri to John C. Brickey of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri in 1843. Hannah Brown was not included, which is an indication that she was deceased by 1843. This deed confirmed my theory that Benajah Brown was the elderly man living with his son James Brown in Newton County, Missouri in 1840. This land was located at SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Sec 29, Twp 39N, Range 7E in Ste Genevieve County.

Click to Enlarge

This 1930 Plat Map Book of Ste. Genevieve provides the location Sec 29 Twp 39N Range 7E:

Benajah Brown's land was roughly here:

Caroline (Jamison) McNeil Death Notice, 1906

  ©  Kathy Duncan, 2020

By the time Caroline (Jamison) O'Neil died in 1906, her nephew R.W. McMullin had been deceased for three years. However, because of that connection, the Jefferson Democrat published this death notice for her:

R W McMullin Goes West, 1894

 ©  Kathy Duncan, 2020

My suspicions about R.W. McMullin and his connection to his extended family in California have been born out. In 1894 he traveled to California to visit aunts and uncles there, and published his experience in his paper.

This begins with the second installment. I will have to look for the first part later.

We left San Francisco Friday, the 16th, at nine o'clock, and crossed the bay at Oakland ferry, a boat ride of six miles. The train left Oakland at ten. The road runs along by the bay for over thirty-five miles and then branches to the right up the San Joaquin valley. The distance from San Francisco to Fresno is 210 miles, and the road traverses one of the finest agricultural portions of the state. It is a good deal like riding through Illinois praries, finely cultivated farms all the way. The towns along the way all look prosperous, but one does not have to make inquiries to learn that the people are thinking anything but prosperous. Hard times are felt here everywhere much more so than they are in Missouri. Fresno is one of the fruit centers of the state and there are several large packing houses. Packing house here means a place for grapes, oranges, etc., are packed for shipment. There are enormous vineyards around the city and the raisin business is one of the big industries. This is one of the points we started out for as it is the house of our Aunt Margaret Pool, while Aunt Caroline McNeil and Uncle Jasper Jameson out in the country near by. These relatives we have not seen for over forty-eight years, and it was the desire to see them which brought us hither. Here we met our daughter, Laura, who has been on a visit to our relatives.

Our introduction to the City of Fresno was not very pleasant. A high wind has prevailed for two days, and the clouds of dust and sand are so dense that sometimes one can not see an object a hundred yards distant. Everybody prophecies a change by to-morrow and we may yet get to see something of the city and the surrounding orchards and vineyards.

March 17, 1894

After spending four days visiting relatives in this vicinity we have almost forgotten what we have written home, but are sure we omitted mentioning one peculiarity of the City of San Francisco. The business portion on the bay, is laid out on the plan of a crazy work patch quilt, and is unlike any place we have ever seen. Wedge shaped blocks are the rule rather than the exception and the short streets run in every direction. Fresno is quite a respectable city, laid out in well shaped squares. The streets running north and south are named for the counties of the state, while the cross streets are named for the letters of the alphabet. It has some good buildings, business blocks, churches, schoolhouses, residences, etc., but the majority are small wooden cottages. It is one of the fruit centres of the state and the citizens here think it one of the best. Of this we are not able to judge yet, but it is certainly a grand view to ride through the immense vineyards and orchards. Seedless grapes and seedless oranges are a specialty here, but wine grapes and common oranges are also plentiful, as are apricots, prunes, apples, peaches, pears, figs, etc.

Our uncles, W. McNeil and Jasper Jameson, live up on the San Joaquin river, fifteen miles from Fresno. We went out there Sunday morning and staid with them till Tuesday morning, when Uncle Jasper brought us back to town. He is an old bachelor, and we found in a 120 acre field "summer fallowing." He uses a team or six horses and a gang plow which turns a yard of ground each time and leaves it pulverized like a garden spot. Uncle McNeil has his fruit ranch rented out. He spends his time attending to his chickens, while Aunt Carrie is generally busy with her flowers.

Fresno, Cal., March 20, 1894.

After thoroughly taking in Fresno and visiting all the relatives there and at Reedley and Selma, we left Fresno at half past one this morning and came to Los Angeles to see our brother, Os, and his wife. When daylight came this morning we were traversing a beautiful country, similar to that we had been seeing for the past few days, but at 8 o'clock we struck the Mojave desert and for three hours the view was about as dismal as one could imagine. Sage brush and cacti are the only vegetation to be seen in the desert and the cactus is a peculiar species we had not met with before. It resembles sawed off pine trees more than anything else we can think of. The stems appear to be about a foot in diameter and average twelve feet in height, and tops and branches are all of the stubby or sawed off looks and with long, plue-shaped leaves in branches at the end. The route across the desert, judging from the time it took, is about sixty or seventy miles. It is mostly a level plain bordered by ugly, barren hills. We judged the plain to be about twenty miles wide on the average, but by California estimates it may be all the way from fifty to five hundred miles. In the midst of this desert stands the little town of Mojave, not a spear of vegetation near, and here we partook of the finest meal we ever saw served at a railroad hotel. They have a fine, large dining room, handsomely decorated with evergreens, and the tables were filled with meats, fruits, vegetables, etc., and the guests are given twenty-five minutes in which to eat. By each plate was a goblet of Muscatel wine, one of the brag sweet sines of California. They charge seventy-five cents for meals, but this is not an unusual price, and anyone who crosses the Mojave desert without taking a meal at the Mojave hotel misses one of the big features of the trip. We are well pleased with the little view we have had of Los Angeles and will see more of it before we leave.

Los Angeles, Cal., March 22, 1894.

Notes of our trip will doubtless appear very rambling and unsatisfactory but we can not take time to even frame an apology. Too many things to see and too little time in which to see them. We find the people here much like the people at home;  names familiar, such as Wilsons, Williams', Sheltons, etc., and habits just about the same. Coming over from Fresno our car was one of twelve crowded coaches. There was room for a toilet room for ladies in one end, but no convenience of that sort for gents, and as there was no chance for us to wash and comb we had time to be amused at the efforts of the ladies to get the dust from their faces and their hair done up, not that we could see them at work, but at watching them waiting for turn. Each lady acted as if she were the only one on the train, and when she got into the toilet room took her time in getting out. We timed a couple of them. One occupied thirty-six minutes and the other forty-five, so it is not surprising that when we reached the eating station at nine o'clock some of them had to appear at the table with faces as dirty as mens. Telegraph service is about as rapid here as at home. One afternoon at Selma we had occasion to send a telegram to Fresno, sixteen miles distant. Half an hour later we hired a rig and drove into Fresno and only beat the telegram one hour. We were pleased with the grand orchards and immense vineyards of Fresno and Tulare counties, and surprised to see ranchmen feeding raisins to their horses. We also admired the miles of growing grain, wheat, barley, etc., but we will have to vote Los Angeles the boss place after all. No other place that we have seen yet can be compared to it. Trees loaded down with oranges can be seen everywhere, and there are various other trees which bear tropical fruits, such as lemons, figs, olives, dates, English walnuts, almonds, etc., which are not now fruiting; while the flower, on trees, vines, shrubs and plants, are beyond description. Flowers abound everywhere, and every variety of them can be grown here in great profusion and at little expense, has to be protected, but a little protection from the cold March winds helps very materially.  Editor

Los Angles, Cal., March 23, 1894.

Fatima C. (Jameson) England's Missouri Death Notice

 ©  Kathy Duncan, 2020

My hunch is paying off. R.W. McMullin, the editor of the Jefferson Democrat in Hillsboro, Missouri, was publishing tidbits about his extended family.

This death notice is for his aunt Fatima Charlotte (Jameson) England who died in San Benito County, California. This makes me wonder to what extent family correspondence was taking place and where that correspondence is now.

Nathaniel Holcomb Explores the Amazon, 1872

  ©  Kathy Duncan, 2020

Well, be still my heart. Continued poking around has turned up another letter written by Nathaniel Holcomb in 1872, detailing his trip to the Amazon and the conditions there. It was picked up and republished in the Jefferson Democrat of Hillsboro, Missouri, on 21 February 1873 because someone associated with the paper was a relative of Nathaniel's. The question, of course, is who. A quick check of the editorial page reveals that the editor at that time was R.W. McMullin. He was Richard Watson McMullin, the son of John T. and Elizabeth Mariah (Jamison) McMullin. His mother was the daughter of Esther (Holcomb) Jamison, and a niece of the letter writer, Nathaniel Holcomb. It is, of course, convenient for me that R.W. McMullin edited a newspaper. Maybe more family information will come to the surface through that source. 

What I find important about the publication of Nathaniel Holcomb's letter in this Missouri newspaper, is that it reveals that editor R.W. McMullin knew who his relations were and took an interest in them. The letter itself reveals that Nathaniel Holcomb was well educated for his generation. That hints at the educational level of his parents and the possibility that he attended school. 

It is a long letter, so I am going to just clip the beginning and end of it, and then transcribe it below.

October 10th, 1872

Dear Sir: This is the first opportunity I have had of fulfilling my promise.

I left San Francisco the twenty-sixth of December, 1866, and landed in Callao, March 27th, 1867; thence I went to Tacna, from Tacna to Cochambamba. I arrived at Cochambamba the 16th of June, 1867. I have examined the country from the town of Oruro to Pelechuco--distance about 120 leagues. This is a mineral country; gold, silver, copper and other metals abound.

I entered upon the headwaters of the Tipuany, the last of August 1867. We prospected all the way to its mouth--distance 40 leagues. We found gold at every place, (it is on this river where so much mining has been done). The Tipuany, Chiana and Coereco flow into the Mapiri, within half a league of Each-other, and the town of Guany is situated on the Mapiri at the mouth of the Tipuany. Wherever they have succeeded in getting to the ledge they have always found it very rich and mostly coarse. It is about the same in the Chyena and also in the Coereco. It is in these rivers and the mountains drained by them, where so much mining has been done, and are known as the Surata mines.

The Surata mountains rise in the neighborhood of Bochambamba and extend north to the Amazon. They are gold-bearing for the entire distance, and it has been found in many places immensely rich. They also contain much silver and copper, as well as other metals.

I remained in this vicinity from the 13th of September, 1867, till the 15th of August, 1869. I examined the country, the timber, the soil, the products, the rivers, the climate, the health of the people, the capacity of the rivers for navigation. The Tipuany, the Chyana, and the Coereco can be navigated with boats of six to twelve tons, for a distance of eight to twelve leagues. The Mapiri is sufficient for steamboats, from 80 to 100 tons. The mountains drained by these rivers contain gold, and in many places are very rich. When these mines are worked as they work the California mines, immense fortunes will be realized.

On the 15th of August, 1869, we had our canoe ready and started down the Mapiri. We examined it to its confluence with the Urigus--distance about forty leagues. There is but one place in that stream boats cannot pass, that place is called Petarna. This obstruction consists of five large boulders, that have broken from a precipice just above and fallen into the river, and there is not room for a steamboat to pass between them, but small boats can. From the confluence of these rivers we passed down to the town of San Buenaventuro, at which place we arrived September 5th, 1869. This place is situated in the great valley of the Beni, just at the foot of the mountain, where the river passes through a deep canon. The valley of the Beni is about two hundred miles in width and the length is not known. It is an immense plain, covered with an immense forest of the finest timber that is to be found upon the whole earth. It is interspersed with prairies. The climate is generally healthy, the thermometer ranging from 60 to 90. The lands of the Beni and its tributaries are the most fertile of any country I have ever seen; its timber of the best quality, suitable for any purpose that man requires; its products are the richest and of the most value, to-wit: coffee, sugar, cotton, rice, tobacco, chocolate, all kinds of fruits, corn, wheat, barley and oats, vegetables, potatoes, cabbage, onions, beans, peas, melons; in fact, I know of nothing that is useful to man, either for food or raiment, but what can be produced in the valley of the Beni and its tributaries, in luxuriant abundance, and of the best quality, and I am perfectly astonished to see such country as this, situated in the centre of the commercial world, an uninhabited wilderness, for that is just what it is, as the present incumbents are a perfect nuisance. That is the only word that can be used to describe them correctly.

This country will be settled, and I think the time is not far distant with an industrious, energetic and a scientific people, and they will soon make it the garden spot of the world--the paradise of the earth. And why not come to it? I know of no reason why men should not avail themselves of the present advantage.

The best and surest way to get into the country is to come up the Amazon and thence up the Madeira, the end of the railroad is now in construction; thence make their way to the mouth of the Beni, and if there is no steamboat on the Beni, they can soon build small boats and make their way into the country and bring all their baggage. Colonel Church assures us that the company will render the immigration all the assistance their circumstances will allow, to facilitate their progress.

Yours truly, as ever,

Nathaniel Holcomb

Nathaniel Holcomb Died 1814

 ©  Kathy Duncan, 2020

I have been able to determine that Thomas Maddin of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri did file a lawsuit against Nathaniel Holcomb and his wife Hannah in 1814. That suit, however, was not about land as I had previously guessed.

Thomas Maddin charged Nathaniel and Hannah Holcomb with trespassing onto his land on 13 January 1814 and destroying his sugar camp. He claimed that they destroyed two kettles and one pot, and then set fire to his trees. He requested that Enoch Holcomb and Robert Jameson testify on his behalf. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a record of their depositions. It is still impossible to be sure if Enoch Holcomb was Nathaniel's son Enoch or another Enoch Holcomb.

A quick google search reveals that early settlers were engaged in making sugar from sugar trees in the Ste. Genevieve, Missouri area.

 During the course of the suit, Nathaniel Holcomb died, so Maddin filed against Hannah, holding her responsible for the damages to the tune of about $30. Titus Strickland acted as attorney on her behalf. At one point Hannah claimed that she should not be held solely responsible for Nathaniel's actions and refused to participate in the process. She possibly lost the suit by default.

Later in the year, Thomas Maddin brought suit against Robert Jameson for trespassing, destroying his sugar trees, and stealing lumber earlier in the year. The suit against Robert Jameson reveals that Maddin's land was on the Saline River. 

All of these records can be found on Family Search in the Justice of the Peace Loose Papers, 1810 - 1820.

This is one of the key documents from this lawsuit:

In executing a subpoena on the Holcombs, it was found that Nathaniel Holcomb was found to be dead on 31 March 1814. 

This document indicates that Nathaniel Holcomb had died shortly before 31 March 1814 if not on 31 March and that Hannah was his wife. 

Holcombs in Newton County, Missouri

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

There's nothing quite like opening an online book and finding the usual suspects. In this case, it is the assemblage of the Holcomb brothers Enoch, Nathaniel, and Azariah with their brother-in-law James Skaggs and probably their half-brother James Brown. There is an outside chance that brother-in-law Robert Jamison, who died in Jasper County, Missouri in 1848 is also included. All of this information comes from NewtonCounty, Missouri Records, Vol. 1 by Mrs. John Vineyard, which can be found among the books on FamilySearch.

On the surface, this information is about as interesting as watching paint dry, but it indicates that at least Azariah Holcomb and brother Enoch Holcomb were reasonably settled in Newton County, Missouri from 1840 until at least 1848. By 1850, Azariah Holcomb was in McDonald County, Missouri, Enoch Holcomb was in Navarro County, Texas; and brother Nathaniel Holcomb had probably lit out for California. What happened between  1848 and 1850 that prompted them all to leave?

Newton County, Missouri:

1840, February Term, 2^nd day, p. 49:

Committee to view road to Sennaca Mills by Whitaker Crabtree’s: Azariah Holcomb; James Skaggs and Isaac H. Hatlman.

February 10, 1840, p. 41:

Petition by citizens that road from Grand Falls on Shoal Creek to South West Corner of State be marked out. Court appointed Alfred Oliver, Nathaniel Holcomb, and Andrew Sparlin to view route and report.

May Term, 1840, p. 53:

Report of group appointed to lay out road to Senneca Mills names Whitaker Crabtree’s land, farms of James G. Crabtree, Simon Price, Campbell Price, James Beamond, A. Holcome, James Brown, D. Adams, Moses Crow.

p. 55 Simon Price made road overseer near Sennaca Mills; Azariah Holcome, a Justice of the Peace of Elk River Township, “to allot to said overseer the hands subject to work on said road.”

May Term, 1840, p. 56:

Azariah Holcomb, Esq., a Justice of the Peace, allowed $14.00 for holding inquest on body of an (un-named) Indian.

Court Session, February 8, 1841, p. 79:

Nathaniel Holcomb and Andrew Sparlin, appointed viewers for road from Grand Falls on Shoal Creek to southwest corner of the State, made report which mentions Vanslyke, A. Holcomb, N. Holcomb, John F. Wheeler, Matthew Blevins near Cowskin River. Report made by James Keel, John Mayfield, Ishom H. Harris on road from Neosho to Wallace’s Mill.

August Term 1841:

Pursuant to order of Court made by the Court in August 1841…road from H.G. Joplin’s farm, Wm. Sherer’s house, Andrew Sparlin’s, Noakes’ Tanyard, Plummer’s cabin on Swan’s Prairie, Squire Holcomb’s on Buffalo Creek, to A. Oliver’s Mill on Patterson Creek, to the Cowskin River at Matthew Blevin’s field, Thomas Neil’s, McGee’s, across Honey Creek…to southwest corner of the county.

August Term 1841:

Road viewers “down Buffalo Creek by Jas. Scaggs’ farm” to be Geo. W. Nutting, James Beamans, Andrew J. Grant.

John M. Richardson and James Nichols (appointed to survey Newton – Jasper County line) – made report: “Line crosses Jenkins Creek near Samuel Spence’s dwelling, leaving said house in Jasper Co…on by Jones Creek, Daniel Spences’s house (in Newton Co.), Mr. Johnson’s (Turkey Creek), Mr. Hickman’s (a citizen of Blytheville), Clisby Roberson’s by the southeast corner of his kitchen leaving his dwelling in Newton Co. by 10 – 12 feel, by Mr. Scott’s, Mr. Jamison, Bachealon’s prairie, Mr. Fullbright’s, Harris G. Joplin’s, Mr. Cornelius and Mr. Smith.”

November Term of Court – 1841, p. 124:

Andrew J. Grant, George W. Nutting, and James Bean appointed to view the road, beginning near Bean’s on Buffalo…a small black jack tree near James Beaman’s, down by house of Daniel Stockton…house of Isaac Hatman…near James Scaggs’, to be opened and repaired to a width of 20 feet…

May 10, 1842, p. 141:

Nathaniel Holcomb made overseer to Seneca line.

November Term – 1842 p. 156:

Overseers appointed [for roadwork]: - Wm. Severs, Alfred Oliver, Azariah Holcomb

May 1846 – Court Session:

Oliver M. Hickcox made magistrate of Shoal Creek District; Azariah Holcomb appointed J. P. in place of Wm. Bradford

April Term of Court – 1847:

Enumerators of school-aged children –

8. Azariah Holcomb – Elk River Twp.

Court Session – February 1848, p. 318:

Road viewers: John Stafford, Rob’t Pucket

Accounts allowed: Enoch Holcomb, Thos. Skaggs, Wm. Pickerd

June Session – 1848

Account of Enoch Holcomb accepted, for burying Amelia Lea, insane poor person.

Andrew E. Poole, Son of Andrew J. and Margaret (Jamison) Poole

© Kathy Duncan, 2018

Andrew Edmond Pool was the son of Andrew Jackson and Margaret (Jamison) Pool. He was born 3 July 1864 and died 15 September 1912. Those dates appear in Andrew Jackson Pool's bible. The 1900 census and his tombstone give his name as Andrew J. Poole rather than Andrew E. Poole. That may suggest, but does not prove, that his name was Andrew Jackson Edmond Poole.

Andrew Edmond Pool married Josephine (Haner?) in about 1897 or 1898. The voter registration book for San Francisco County, California of 1898 notes that he was a blacksmith, standing 5 feet 9 inches with gray eyes and brown hair, and missing four fingers on his right hand.

1 June 1900, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA:
1325 Pierce St.
16-24
Pool, Andrew J Head W M July 1864 35 M 2 b. CA fb. MO mb. MO blacksmith
----- Josephine Wife W F Mar 1873 27 M 2 2-0 b. MO fb. Ger mb. IN
Haner, Mary m-i-l W F Dec 1843 56 W b. IN fb. Eng mb. GA

Andrew and Josephine have just been married for two years, and during that time she gave birth to two children, of whom none survived. Four years later, Andrew had left Josephine, and she filed for divorce.

By 1910, Andrew E. Poole had married Francis G. Gies in October 1907. The census confirms that this is a second marriage for Andrew and a first marriage for Francis. Francis was working at her husband's leather goods shop.

4 May 1910, San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA:
1204 Potrero Rd.
160-175
Poole, Andrew E. Head M W 45 M-2 2 b. CA fb. MO fb. MO manufacturer, Leather Goods
-----, Francis G. Wife W F 41 M-1 2 0-0 b. Mich fb. Ger mb. Ger helper office husband

Two months after the census was taken, Andrew hand wrote his will on a piece of business stationery. When he died two years later, it was filed by Josephine in San Francisco County, California.

Andrew Edmond Poole died two years later on 15 September 1915 in San Francisco, California. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Fresno, California. Like the 1900 census, his tombstone provides the name Andrew J. Poole rather than Andrew E. Poole.

Nathaniel Holcomb's Wife, Hanah?

© Kathy Duncan, 2018

Last night I continued scrolling backward on LDS film # 008114991 on FamilySearch, which are the Court  Records, 1815-1819 for Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. It turns out that there are records in that group that are dated previous to 1815. Just something to keep in mind as you browse through the records in FamilySearch's catalog.

I was on a mission to find more records about Nathaniel Holcomb or his heirs after having found the guardianship for four of Nathaniel's children (Isaac, Nathaniel, Phebe, and Hannah) that was granted to Titus Strickland on 10 October 1817. I thought that I might find other references to this record or that I might find the older children (Enoch, Esther, Azariah) requesting their own guardians. It is important to remember that I knew Titus Strickland was a guardian to Nathaniel Holcomb's heirs because of this newspaper notice, which appeared in the National Intelligencer in Washington DC on Saturday, 3 January 1818:

It is likely that Titus Strickland became the children's guardian for the sole purpose of representing their land claim. 

Going backward on LDS film # 008114991, image 440,  I first found a reference to three lawsuits, which are repeated in image 437.

Thomas Maddin brought these three lawsuits--two against Hanah Holcomb and one against Robert Jamison, which were filed in the Court of Common Pleas on 16 July 1814. Thomas Maddin was a surveyor and one of the wealthiest men in Ste. Genevieve County. He frequently brought suits against those who could not afford to pay his surveyor fees. These lawsuits may be indicative of land that belonged to Nathaniel Holcomb's estate. Robert Jamison may have been married to Esther Holcomb by this time. The Hanah Holcomb in these suits is too old to be Nathaniel Holcomb's daughter Hannah, who would have only been a small child at this time. This Hanah Holcomb is probably Nathaniel Holcomb's widow. (Another Hannah!!) It may be that Nathaniel Holcomb had arranged to have his land surveyed, and then died before paying for it. That would mean that he was deceased by 1814.

The next record of interest that I found was for an Enoch Holcomb:

This suit filed by the United States against Enoch Holcomb in 1814 also involves Thomas Maddin. However, my best estimate is that Enoch Holcomb, born about 1799, would only have been 15 years old in 1814. Would a fifteen-year-old be sued in that time period? Or is this another Enoch Holcomb??

The last item that I found was apparently a summons for Enoch Holcomb to give evidence before the grand jury in 1813. I do not think there were any age limitations for testifying. There is no indication what this testimony was about.

The only conclusion I can come to at this point is that this Hanah Holcomb is likely the mother of  Phebe Holcomb, Hanah Holcomb, and James Brown. There is no way to know at this point if she is also the mother of the older Holcomb siblings.

Nathaniel Holcomb of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri

© Kathy Duncan, 2018

At long last, I've found documentation that Nathaniel Holcomb was the father of the Holcomb siblings. Early research revealed that Titus Strickland was acting as the guardian of the heirs of Nathaniel Holcomb, but those heirs were not named in any of the records to which I had access.

This evening, I was exploring Ste. Genevieve County in the FamilySearch catalog. Specifically, I went into the Court Records for 1815 - 1819. I knew that Strickland was acting as the guardian of Nathaniel Holcomb's children by 1818, so I located the end of 1818 and started scrolling backward. Since these records are not indexed, and I don't want to wait until they are indexed, there was no other option. I found the record in the October Term of 1817. Four of Nathaniel Holcomb's children were listed in the record: Isaac, Nathaniel, Phebe, Hannah. This is exactly what I needed--a configuration of some of the Holcomb sibling's names. All four of these names are a fit.

These four Holcomb children are Enoch Holcomb's siblings as are Azariah Holcomb and Esther Jamison. My conclusion is that all of these Holcomb siblings are the children of Nathaniel Holcomb.

Now I will have to start referring to them as Nathaniel Holcomb's children.

"On application the Court have and do hereby approved Titus Strickland Guardian for Isaac, Nathaniel, Phebe & Hannah Holcomb orphan children of Nathaniel Holcomb of the County of Ste Genevieve dec'd and the said children being under the age of fourteen years."

While this document refers to the children of Nathaniel Holcomb as orphans, that does not mean that they had lost both parents. In the legal sense, an orphan was a child who had lost at least one parent, usually the father. A guardian was appointed to oversee the child's inheritance not to assume custody. The appointment of a guardian might even signal the remarriage of the widow. Courts did not name step-fathers as guardians because they might not have the best interest of the child in mind. Titus Strickland is either a neighbor willing to take on the responsibility of looking after the Holcomb children's interests, or he is a relative of some sort.

This record can be found in LDS film #008114991, image 543. I stopped at this image, and I am looking forward to finding what else might be on this film.

Revised July 4, 2019.

The Two Azariah Holcombs

© Kathy Duncan, 2017

The two Azariah Holcombs were very likely first cousins, born only a couple of years apart. The only similarity between them is their name. However, many descendants in my line insist on confusing them, merging them, and muddling them up in a variety of ways.

Normally, confusion of this sort results when two men of the same name live in the same place in the same time period. Sorting them out requires the usual tools of genealogy research: documents, math-- sometimes a calculator comes in handy, maps--or just a basic sense of U.S. geography, and logic—an ability to connect the dots. Presently, DNA test results are used, but more of that later. The one tool that you won’t find on my list or in my toolbox is a sledge hammer. I know a lot of researchers resort to a sledge hammer when the dots don’t connect; they just pound that square peg into a round hole until wedges into place. Why? Probably because it seems to eliminate uncertainty. Maybe because it nets them a “desirable” lineage. Ultimately, the sledge hammer method is, at its worst, unethical and, at its best, sloppy and lazy.

Now, to the two Azariah Holcombs. I am going to refer to them here as “the other Azariah Holcomb” or “the New York Azariah Holcomb” because he was born in New York as opposed to “my Azariah Holcomb” or “the Missouri Azariah Holcomb” because he was born in Missouri.

First up, the other Azariah Holcomb, who was born in Sand Lake, New York and died in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania. His tombstone, which can be viewed on his Findagrave memorial states that his birth date was May 8, 1802, and his death date was May 9, 1889. He shares his tombstone with his wife Mary Ann, who was born Feb. 1, 1812 and died Sept. 12, 1903. They are buried in the Wesleyan Cemetery in Sugar Grove, Warren County, Pennsylvania.

This Azariah Holcomb’s birth date exactly matches the birthdate of the son of Azariah Holcomb Sr. and his wife Christina Shephard as provided in Azariah Holcomb Sr’s Revolutionary War pension file.

Notice the long list of siblings for Azariah Holcomb Jr. that are provided here. They include Melita Holcomb, Junia or Junius Holcomb, Michal Holcomb (a daughter), Lunia Holcomb, Azariah Holcomb, Marianne Holcomb, Aretus Lyman Holcomb, Christina Holcomb, Gilson Holcomb, John S. Holcomb, and Lamira Holcomb. 

Note there is also a Mary Ann P. Cole or Cale born whose birth date is only a few days different from the birthdate of Azariah Jr.’s wife Mary Ann, who shares a tombstone with him. Evidently, Azariah and Christina Holcomb’s bible also contains the birth records of some of their children’s spouses.

Azariah Holcomb Sr.’s Revolutionary War Pension file is also important because it contains his statement of where he resided after the war:

Note that Azariah Holcomb Sr. states he was born in Simsbury, Connecticut, and after the war he moved to Vermont, where he lived for three years. Unfortunately, he does not state how soon after the war he moved to Vermont. Then he moved to Sand Lake, New York where he lived continuously for the next forty years or so. Since his deposition was given in 1832, we can count backward from 1832.  That would mean he was in Sand Lake, New York from roughly 1792 to 1832, possibly earlier. That means that he was not living in Missouri during those years. Therefore, the children listed in his bible were born in New York. Also, since he married Christina Shephard in 1789 and she survived him, Christina is the mother of all of his children.

My conclusion:  Azariah and Christina (Shephard) Holcomb of Sand Lake, New York had a son named Azariah Holcomb Jr., born on May 8, 1802. Azariah Holcomb Jr. married Mary Ann P. Cole or Cale and moved to Sugar Grove, Warren County, Pennsylvania.  Based on census records, Azariah and Mary Ann lived in Warren County from at least 1850 until his death in 1889.

Warren Co., PA, 31 July 1850:

Azariah Holcomb  50 NY

Marian ----- 38 NY

Sylvester ------ 18 PA

Philander ------ 16 PA

Sherman ------ 14 PA

Almira ------ 10 F PA

Russelburgh, Warren Co., PA, 20 July 1860:

Ezeriah Holcomb  64 NY

Mary ----- 54 NY

Sherman ----- 25 PA

Norman ------ 3 PA

Warren Co., PA 25 July 1870:

Holcomb, Azariah  68 NY

-----, Mary 58 NY

-----, Norman 14 PA

Warren Co., PA 16&17 June 1880:

Holcomb, Azariah 78 NY fb. CT mb. NY

-----Mary A. 68 NY fb. NY mb. NY

Note that the other Azariah gives his father’s birth place as Connecticut and his mother’s as New York.

Next up, my Missouri Azariah Holcomb, who was a very different person from the other Azariah Holcomb of Warren County, Pennsylvania. While he is a very different person, it takes much more effort to connect his dots.

My Azariah Holcomb, according to his bible record, was born in 1800:

According to the 1850 and 1860 census records, he was born in Missouri.

14 Nov 1850 McDonald Co., MO, 53rd Dist, p. 116:

341-351:

Azariah Holcomb 50 MO

Susan   54 KY

Minerva  18 MO

Azariah Oliver 15 MO

Hulda   11 MO

1 June 1860 McDonald Co., MO, Rutledge Twp:

3-3

Azariah Holcomb 59 M Farmer $200-$20 b. MO

Susan Holcomb 63 F b. MO

A.O. Holcomb 25 M Miner b. Seneca Nation

Elizabeth Nelson 4 F b. MO

[Elizabeth Nelson was the daughter of Azariah and Susan Holcomb's daughter Minerva (Holcomb) Crook Nelson]

Azariah's birthplace is also consistently reported as being Missouri by his children who survived to 1880. However, there was no Missouri in 1800. Instead, there was a Louisiana Territory. My guess is that he was identifying his birth place as being in the area that later became Missouri.

In 1833, Azariah Holcomb is living and working at the Seneca Sub-Agency in what is now Delaware County, Oklahoma. He was hired because he was James Pool's brother-in-law. James Pool married Azariah’s sister Phoebe Holcomb in the home of Benajah Brown of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri in 1824.

Phoebe Holcomb had a half-brother named James Brown. It is likely that Benajah Brown was Phoebe’s step-father and James Brown’s father. That would mean that her mother had married Brown after the death of her Holcomb father. Therefore, her father was deceased by 1824.

Phoebe Pool and Azariah Holcomb are named as the siblings of Enoch Holcomb in his probate. 

Specifically, the siblings of Enoch Holcomb are listed as being:

-Isaac Holcomb brother of decd who resides in St. Louis County

-Nathaniel Holcomb brother of decd who resides in California

-Azariah Holcomb

-Hannah wife of James Scagg

-The children of Esther Jameson who was a sister of dec who reside in the Southwestern part of the state of Missouri

-The children of Phoebe Pool whose residence is unknown

The birth order of these Holcomb siblings is roughly this:

Esther Holcomb b.c. 1796 in Tennessee

Enoch Holcomb b.c. 1799 in Missouri

Azariah Holcomb b.c. 1800 in Missouri

Isaac Holcomb b.c. 1803 in Missouri

Nathaniel Holcomb b.c. 1805 in Missouri

Phoebe Holcomb's exact birth year cannot be determined because she died prior to the 1850 census. On the 1840 census she is 30 - 39 years old, which places her birth between 1801 and 1809. Since Phoebe married James Pool in 1824, her birth date would be closer to 1801, making her anywhere from 23 to 14 at the time of her marriage. Since there is no consent given for her, she was likely of age.

Hannah Holcomb b.c. 1812 in Missouri

James Brown  b.c. 1818 in Missouri

Since Enoch’s probate does not name a brother James Brown, that suggests that Enoch Holcomb and James Brown do not share the same mother. Given the range of these children’s births, 1796 to 1818, it is possible that their father had two wives. However, the fact that the Browns only seem to have had one child suggests a woman at the end of her child bearing years, so all of these children may have had the same mother, and James Brown’s omission from Enoch Holcomb’s estate settlement may be an oversight.  

More importantly, note that none of these children was born in New York. Their father is deceased by 1817, and their mother has remarried a Brown. Their mother cannot be Christina (Shephard) Holcomb, whose husband Azariah is still living in New York in 1818 when James Brown was born in Missouri.

So who is my Azariah Holcomb’s father? My favorite candidate is a Nathaniel Holcomb who was living in Ste. Genevieve, Louisiana Territory [now Missouri] in 1805 and 1806 when he was sued by William Cochran's estate for a debt of about $50.

Signature from William Cochran dec'd lawsuit

In 1806, he signed a petition in Ste Genevieve in the Louisiana Territory.

He was deceased by 1818 when Titus Strickland, acting as guardian to his heirs, was trying to clear up the title for land in Missouri. Strickland's efforts continued through 1820. To date, the names of the heirs of Nathaniel Holcomb are unknown.

My final conclusion is that only one of the two Azariah Holcomb’s can be the son of Azariah and Christina (Shephard) Holcomb, and that their son was the other Azariah Holcomb—the one who married Mary Ann and died in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania.

If my Azariah Holcomb's father is Nathaniel Holcomb, then who was Nathaniel connected to and how could the two Azariah’s be cousins?? Nathaniel Holcomb was likely the missing Nathaniel Holcomb VI, son of Nathaniel Holcomb V and Hannah Holcomb, and a brother to the Azariah Holcomb who married Christina Shephard. Obviously, a lot more research needs to be done to establish who Azariah Holcomb's father was and what his connection was to the Holcombs of Connecticut. 

Eliza Mariah (Jameson) McMullin

© Kathy Duncan, 2017

On May 12, 1867, Jasper N. Jameson sat himself down to write a letter to his nephew R. W. McMullin. When he did, he created documentation that he had an additional sister, Eliza Mariah (Jameson) McMullin, who has been unaccounted for by Holcomb/Jameson researchers until now. He also inadvertently created documentation that his father was Robert Jameson, a “pioneer” of Jefferson County, Missouri. Evidently, Esther (Holcomb) and Robert Jameson lived in Jefferson County, Missouri prior to their move to Jasper County, Missouri.

The letter auctioned on ebay. By the time I found it, it had been archived on a website called WorthPoint. The image for the letter was no longer available, but fortunately the seller had transcribed the letter and included some speculation about it.

The seller’s notations:

“Up for auction today is a 2 ½ page handwritten letter that was written by a Jasper N. Jameson who was living in Salt Spring Valley California at the time he wrote this letter back in 1867. I had a difficult time finding this particular place and I believe it's in Calaveras County / but I also found a Salt Spring Valley in Glenn County, California. Either way, I don't think it ever was or is a very large town; might quite possibly be a ghost town right now. I would love to know any more information if any one has any. I did find a great web site that talked about a Salt Spring Valley California , some of the families and the mining operations going on back in the 1860's. You can view that site at;

/copper_history/chapter6.htm

As far as the letter goes, it's written to "Watson W. McMullin". W Watson lives, I'm not sure because the letter didn't come with its original envelope. I also want to note that Jasper seems to be staying with Watson's uncle, Volney Brooks.”

The seller’s partial transcription of the letter, which offers a tantalizing glimpse into the life of the Jamesons in California:

"Salt Spring Valley Cal

May 12 th , 1867

Dear Watson,

I recived your kind letter of the 7 th April yesterday which gave us much pleasure to hear from you and to learn that you were all well. We are all well except your aunt Amanda. She is very unwell. She has been sick for along time. She is just able to walk acros the house and has ben so for some time. I don't kno whether she is mending or not some times I think she is and then I think she is not. It is hard to tell tho she is under the treatment of a good doctor. He thinks he can cuer her. The rest of your Aunts, Uncles, cousins are all well.......Times are dul Money scace, provisions tolerable high. The people generly live prety well. Nearly all kinds of bisness is dull. People think they are doing well if they make but little more than a living. I have been so bissy that I have had no time to work my quortz to prove it but it is still thare and I still think it will give me a lift as soon as I can get to work it and if so as soon as I mak it I will get maried, that is if I can. I don't know how that will be for I am so insultingly ugly that my face insults nearly every young lady that I get acquainted with but if I should make a rase I ma look better for money goes a long ways with them in this country.......Thare is erbs groing in that country that dos not gro One of them is the butten snakeroot which I wish if you pleas and can by any means send me 2 or 3 ounceses of the root. You can dry the root and pulverize it and seal it up in a bottle or a paper and send it by the male or express and if you haf to pay for the carige of it thare, I will return you the money as soon as I learn the amount and send me some of the seed of the butten snakeroot.........At this time but remain yours until death, write soon so good by. Jasper N. Jameson to R. W. McMullin."

A search of the census in Missouri eventually turned up this promising household:

16 Oct. 1850, District No. 42, Jefferson County, Missiouri:

891-891

John T McMullin 37 M W Farmer $500 b. MO

Eliza M  30 F W b. MO

Jane C 13 F W b. MO

Joseph C. 10 M W b. MO

Richard W. 8 M W b. MO

Mary C. 1 F W b. MO

The same household in 1860:

13 Oct. 1860, Plattin Twp., Jefferson County, Missouri:

72-72

John McMullin 48 M Farmer $?500-$1,200 b. MO

Eliza 40 F b. MO

Joseph 18 M Farmer b. MO

Ritchard 18 M Farmer b. MO

Mary 11 F b. MO

Thomas McMullin 8 M b. MO

IdA A. 4 F b. MO

James 2 M b. MO

A search for Richard W. McMullin turned up the following Goodspeed biography:

R. W. McMullin is the present treasurer of Jefferson County, and is the editor of the "Jefferson Democrat".  In the family of his parents, John T. and Eliza M. (Jamison) McMullin, were ten children, four of whom are living.  R. W. the third child, and the eldest now living, was born in Jefferson County, June 2, 1842.  John T. McMullin is a son of Samuel McMullin who was a native of Ireland, and settled in Jefferson County, near Valle Mines, in the latter part of the eighteenth century.  Eliza M. McMullin was a daughter of Robert Jamison, who was also one of the pioneers of Jefferson County.  The parents were married about 1837, and settled on a farm on Plattin Creek; the father was born in 1812, and was three times elected assessor of Jefferson County, performing the duties of that office to the satisfaction of all.  R. W. was educated in the common schools, and in the winters of 1860 and 1863 taught a district school.  In August, 1862, he enlisted for three years in the Thirty-first Regiment Missouri Volunteers, but was discharged at the expiration of three months on account of throat and lung diseases contracted in the service.  February 1, 1863, he was appointed deputy county clerk under Samuel A. Reppy, in which capacity he served until May, 1865, being then appointed county clerk by Gov. Fletcher, retaining the latter office until November, 1866, when he was elected to the same position on the Radical ticket, and performed the duties of the office to the satisfaction of all and to his own credit.  In June, 1871 Mr. McMullin purchased the "Jefferson Democrat," a paper in which he had been interested for some time previously.  He still owns and conducts the paper, which is the most newsy and firmly established paper in Jefferson County.  Mr. McMullin was elected county treasurer of the county in 1884, being elected to the same position in 1886.  In March, 1864, occurred his marriage to Miss Mary E., daughter of B. S. Reppy, who died in 1865.  The following year he married Miss Mary E., daughter of E. F. Honey, and to their union have been born four sons and four daughters.  Mr. McMullin is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to Joachim Lodge, No. 164, A. F. & A. M., and also to Cape Stone R. A. C., No. 33.  He has taken great interest in Masonic matters and has served as D. D. G. M. of his Masonic district.

[Source: History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and Gasconade Counties, Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888.]

Jefferson County, Missouri marriage records reveal that Richard Watson McMullin married Mary E. Honey on 24 November 1866.

Additionally, there is this biography of Richard Watson McMullin from Missouri History Encyclopedia:

McMullin, Richard Watson, was born in Jefferson County, Missouri, June 2, 1842, son of John Thompson and Eliza M. McMullin. Both his parents were native Missourians, his father having been born in Jefferson County in 1812, and his mother in the same county in 1817. His father died at the age of seventy-six and his mother at the age of forty years. His paternal grandfather and grandmother came from the north of Ireland in 1808 and his maternal grandparents, Robert Jameson and wife, from Scotland in 1806. Richard W. McMullin was reared on a farm, receiving a common school education, and in 1862 espoused the Union cause and enlisted in the Thirty-first Missouri Infantry Volunteers, but after serving several months was discharged, disabled after a severe attack of illness. Several years later he had the misfortune to have both his arms badly crippled. Nevertheless an active and enterprising spirit compensated in a large measure for his physical disadvantages, and he has been a diligent and useful man of affairs in his county. In 1865, he assisted to establish the "Jefferson Democrat," and on the 1st of January, 1900, he purchased and took entire charge of the paper, which he has made on e of the most valuable and useful local journals in the State. He has served in various public capacities, county clerk, county treasurer, probate judge and deputy collector. He has been a zealous and influential Freemason, joining the lodge in 1866, and holding all the offices of honor and trust, and having an equally honorable official connection with other recognized secret orders. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party and he enjoys the full confidence of his copartisans, as is proved by the fact that he has served as a member of the Jefferson County Democratic committee, and of the State Democratic central committee, and was president of the convention in 1878 which gave to Honorable M.L. Clardy his first nomination for Congress. Mr. McMullin was married November 25, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Honey, daughter of E.F. Honey, clerk of the circuit court, and a member of one of the oldest and best families of Jefferson county. He is an exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church and has held the position of superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-five years.

[Source: Missouri History Encyclopedia, 1901; Vol. 4; Section M; p. 279]

Thus, Richard Watson McMullin of Jefferson County, Missouri was the nephew, R.W. “Watson” McMullin, who Jasper N. Jameson was writing a letter to in 1867.

Additionally, Jefferson County, Missouri records revealed the date of John T. McMullin and Eliza Mariah Jameson’s marriage:

John F. McMullin and Eliza Mariah Jamison married on 21 April 1835 by Wm. G. Walker at Jefferson Co., Mo. the hand written index has John T. McMullin and Eliza Mariah Jameson

[Source:   Jefferson Commissions and Marriages 1826 – 1838, p. 102]

John Thompson McMullin’s obituary appeared on 1 August 1888 in the Jefferson Democrat:

“DIED – At De Soto, July 29, 1888, John Thompson McMullin, in his 77th year. While in the discharge of his duties as Deputy Assessor, on the 16th, he was caught in a rain storm, which produced chills and fever; the fever assumed typhoid form and there was also inflammation of the bowels. During his last 21 hours he could neither see, hear, speak nor swallow, but con-tinued to breathe, almost once for every second of time.

He was buried on Monday, at his home on the Plattin. Mr. McMullin was of Irish parentage, and was born in Washington County, Missouri February 14, 1818, and was brought to this county before he was two years of age and resided here ever since. Of the early history of this county, he knew more than any one now living. His was an active and efficient particular in the pioneer struggles for the advancement of civilization, education, morality and religion.

As a county official, school teacher or minister of the Gospel, his influence always was for progress in what was right and good. In the neighborhood he was an ever-ready counsellor and guide; to those in sickness and distress, a minister of peace and consolation – while his hospitality, generosity and charity were only bounded by his means. His life was a struggle with poverty, but cheerfully borne. Twice comfortable homes were sacrificed by his having stood security for the contracts of others; but he never gave up the battle and would at once strike out to prepare another home for his family.

His first wife was Eliza M. Jameson, daughter of Robert Jameson, mother of the pioneer settlers of this county. To them were given nine children. Some of them died at an early age – two after having arrived at maturity. There are now but four living. He was married four times, his second wife living but a year or two, and his third but a month or two. His fourth, now left a widow for the second time, is a daughter of the late James Gowan of De Soto.”

Eliza Mariah (Jameson) McMullin died on 11 March 1861 and is buried in the McMullin Cemetery in Plattin, Jefferson County, Missouri

John Thompson McMullin died 29 July 1888 and is also buried in the McMullin Cemetery in Plattin, Jefferson County, Missouri.