Henry Franklin's Letter to AJ Womack-clues to migration

Background 1850- before the migration to Texas- 

In 1850, Henry Franklin was 64 years old, living in Rankin County, Mississippi. He is shown to be a farmer, with $1000 in real estate. With him are sons James, 26, a teacher (whom the letter tells us is running for public office) and Hilton, 24, a laborer (whom the letter tells us is studying with a doctor.)

Living next to Henry is the family of his daughter, Rebecca, age 27, and her husband, A.J. Womack, age 36. A.J. is a farmer, born in Alabama, no land value is listed. The family has 6 children, all born in Mississippi; Mary 11, Frances 10, Sarah 9, Richard 7, George 3, and James, who is 7 months old.

Some time after the 1850 census, and before 1854, the Womack family joined a group heading to Texas. Henry wrote this letter to A.J. after they reached Town Bluff, a ferry crossing on the Neches River, in Tyler County, Texas. They had traveled over 300 miles from their home in Mississipppi.

This letter was typed, and I need to find its origin!

May 28, 1858
(This must be a transcription error- Henry died in 1852, and the Womack's were already settled in Trinity County, Texas by 1853.)

Address:

A.J. Womack
Town Bluff, Tyler Co. Tx

(Town Bluff was one of the earliest settlements in Tyler County and at that time was the county seat. It sat on the edge of what today is "The Big Thicket." There was a ferry located there so that settlers to cross the Neches River. The ferryman would charge 3 cents each for swimming cattle and horses across the river.  By the 1840's, steamboats docked at Town Bluff - called "Natchez on the Neches" in order to travel the navigable river which ran south to the Gulf through what is today Beaumont Tx. (In order to travel north along the Neches, flatboats would be used. (4) This lies about 30 miles south of the San Antonio Trail/el Camino Real- making me wonder what trail was used to get to Town Bluff from Mississippi, and 30 miles NW to Apple Springs, where the Womack family finally settled.)

The letter continues:

"Mr. A.J. Womack,

     Sir we are well except Jane and she is still mending sololey. It has been four weeks since I was down there but I hear from them every week."
 (Jane Franklin was 27 years old in 1852, married to 37 year old David Womack. They had 6 children; Henry 12, Sarah 10, Alice 8, Lucy 6, Francis 2,(5)  and a new baby, Cassie, born in 1852. Either Jane was ill, or was recuperating from the birth of her latest child. This family lived in Rankin County, and in 1852, Henry Womack was living in Polkville, Smith County, where he was a member of the Willis Masonic Lodge (6)

"The last time I was there I was at a meeting in Salam (Salem is a community near Cato, in Rankin County) and saw nearly all the old neighbors, they was generly well  and I believe doing tolerable well." 

(Salem cemetery shows Chapmans and Martins, Cato Dents, Kennedys, Ponders, Russells, and Sarah Womack)

"This is a hard year for those that has provisions to buy and good for those that has it to sell. Corn is worth one dollar per bushel and scairse at that. Bacon is worth $12.50 for clear side and other meet is proportion. The average price of flour in Brandon is 65 cents per barel. "

It appears that there are economic problems in Mississippi in 1852 and food prices are high.

"I have seen several leters from Texas but have not seen any that you have sent though heard you had sent some. I received a leter from Wm. McClendon dated April the 7th at Town Bluff and was glad to hear you was all well and doing as well as could be expected. He appears to like the country very well, but he is like the rest that goes to a new country thinks the good country is still ahead."

William McClendon was the husband of Henry's daughter, Jemima Franklin (sister of Rebecca.) In 1850, William was 37, a farmer with land valued at 400 dollars. Jemima was 36, and they had 7 children, all born in Mississippi; Millage 15 (m) Henry 12, Thomas 9, William 7, Mary and Rebecca- 5 year old twins, and Lewis, 5 months old.

 They lived in Rankin County next to another of Henry's daughters, Frances Franklin, 29, and her husband John Chapman, 26, a farmer with land valued at 200 dollars. This family had 6 children; Linny 7, Mary 6, Allen 5, Sarah 4, Mimi 2, and Rebecca 2 months.

So- we know that Rebecca Franklin Womack and her sister, Jemima Franklin McClendon, have both made the trip to Texas, and are staying at Town Bluff....for now. Their destination is uncertain, but it sounds like they are still seeking better land.

"As soon as I hear you are settled and satisfied I shall go on to where you are. I want you all to be properly satisfied by next winter. Any place will do me if you are all satisfied to stay- I do not want to move after I get there. When I get there I want to put a little store near the head of navigation on some of the rivers wher the country is backed out with good land. Not pertickler that I think keeping store is better than doing other things I think farming and raising stock in that country is as good a thing as a man can do but I am too old for that. If I was young and able to farm and rais stock I believe I would rather do it than inything I could do. I think it is the best for health and the shurest way to make a living."

Here we see that Henry, now 66 years old, is feeling his age. He suggests that farming and stock raising offer the best living for the young people, but wants a store for himself. He is mentioning some important things to the young people; settle before winter, near a navigable river, and on good quality farmland.

"I want to wind up here as soon after January as I can. I think I will be there in February or March at the furtherest. David Womack will start about the first of November and I want to send a wagon and little things by him. When I start I expect to go by water and land at Galveston."

This tells us two important things; the young people are going by land with wagons, although there is an alternative water route via the Gulf of Mexico; likely steamboat down the Mississippi to New Orleans, from there to Galveston, Texas, and then upriver by steamboat.

Also- Henry's daughter Jane Franklin and husband David Womack are planning to come in about 6 months with their 6 children (including a new baby)  although this would have them traveling in winter, if they begin the journey in November.

Henry goes on with some business matters-

" I do not know whether me and Reynolds is doing well or not. We will sell good enough at a fair percent but the most is on  a created until the first of November. We made them due then in order to try to buy coton or take it in payment for goods. If we make a good collection we shall do well and if we do not we shall do a slow business. I like to live at Polkville the people is very friendly in every respect."

It looks like Henry is in business with Mr. Reynolds in Polkville. Things are a little unclear here; but perhaps the bills are due in November when they can take payment in cotton, or are able to buy cotton to sell. Business is uncertain right now.

" I have not heard any certain news from Wm. Springs people since you left. I write to them but have not received a letter."

William Spring is the husband of Henry's eldest daughter, Mary Franklin. Mary was the only one of Henry's children who did not come with the family to Mississippi. In 1850, they were living in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. William was a 50 year old  farmer with land valued at $2500. Mary was 42. They had 12 children; George, a 24 yr. old schoolteacher, Feraby 22, Henry F. 21, a laborer, John 20, William 18, Jerry 14, Sally 12, James 10, Elizabeth 8, Hilton 6, and Thomas 1.

This comment gives us a very good clue about when the Womack (and Chapman) family left for Texas. It is now May, 1852. We know that in January 1851, William Spring, resident of St. Tammany, appeared at the courthouse in Greensburg, St. Helena Parish, La. to sell a family of slaves to Maston Newsom. He was contracted to do so by Henry Franklin. This was one of the most heartbreaking documents which I found at that courthouse; the family consisted of 40 yr old Jenny and her five children; Nan abt. 8, John 4 or 5, Joe 2, and twin infants. Their cost was $1500- five hundred to be paid in cash, and the balance to be paid to William Spring by the following January. The document ends with a statement by Henry Franklin that these slaves are his property; dated  December 23, 1850, filed July 1851.

We assume Henry was in communication with William Spring at this time; so it was likely that the Womack's and Chapman's left after July 1851, arriving in Town Bluff by May 1852. How long would such a trip take? The distance would take about 20 days by a healthy person walking 6 hours a day. But driving heavy wagons hauled by slow oxen, dealing with rough terrain, fording rivers, and possibly driving livestock, it would be difficult for these families  to travel 300 miles in that time. It likely took them a month or more to make the trip.

"People has got tollerable fair prospects of crops in this country but they are small for the time of year but ginneralaly clean it has been a cold dry spring and it is vary dry this time people has generally got good stands."

Since Henry is telling them about the spring weather, we know the families were gone well before spring.

"James is a candidate for cleark for the probate court and ther is three more candidates namely Drew Fitzhugh, Joseph Fergenson, and Dr. Russell. It is unserton how they will make it but it is generly thought if they all continue to run James will be elected. Hilton is boarding at Dr. Holmes and is reading and studying. Alice and Feraby is well and I beleve is doing well. I never hear James and Hilton say anything about going to Texas though I expect Hilton will go with me when I start. "

 Hilton may be studying medicine, since he is boarding with a doctor and "reading and studying."  Henry Franklin was a justice of the peace in Rankin County, and it sounds as if his son James, a teacher in 1850, also has law training, as he running for probate court clerk. Henry's youngest daughter, Alice, is 22 years old and is married to 26 year old LE Russell, a farmer living in Rankin County. They have a son William age 3, and a baby daughter, Sarah Victoria, born in March of 1852. The only Feraby I have seen is Mary Franklin Spring's 22 year old daughter.

"There is abundance of the people talks moving to Texas next fall but there is abundance that talk of moving that will not go. I.W. Crook, that lives at Polkville talks of moving with David Womack and I expect he will go he wants to get to the best kind of range and rais cattle he says he would like to be in the settlement you all are in. When you write to me put a few lines for I.W. Crook and say to him the chance of raising stock in that country as stock is his principle object. Crook is a very good nabor I would like for him to be in that country "

Again, stock raising and fall travel plans....


"when you write always fill three sides of the paper." 

This seems to be a tradition at the time to save money on paper; reading these letters with writing going all around is very difficult; I saw this with Henry's great niece Mary Anna's letters!

"Give my kindes respects to all my relation not forgeting Laurence Lorenzo and famley. Write about all my acquaintances."  

I haven't been able to find anything on Laurence Lorenzo.

Henry Franklin
Polkville, Smith Co., Miss








4-(Handbook of Texas Online , Megan Biesele, "Town Bluff, TX," accessed August 31, 2016, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnt27 . )

5- 1850 United States Federal Census Year: 1850; Census Place: , Rankin, Mississippi; Roll: M432_380; Page: 217B; Image: .
6- Willis Lodge, Polkville, Smith County- Masonic membership

Franklin relatives in Louisiana 1852

The tide of migration took place in waves, with groups of families traveling together and often settling near each other. Before the Franklin sisters began their journey, other relatives had already left Rankin County, Mississippi to head westward.

Three Franklin relatives had crossed the Mississippi in the 1840's and settled in Louisiana. It is certain that Henry Franklin, the eldest brother in the Franklin family (and only remaining patriarch,)  had letters from these families, who had also been his neighbors in Rankin County before leaving. Henry would have surely shared these letters with the remaining relatives in Rankin County. The letters would have talked about the journeys west, the quality of the land, success with planting crops, local towns and commerce, and of course their growing families.

The land near the Mississippi River was generally flat and fertile. Land too close to the river was subject to flooding, but allowed for easy transport of crops to New Orleans. Land farther west tended to be rolling, and covered in pine forests-trees had to be removed to allow for fields to be planted. Most of the families who left Rankin County would continue planting cotton, and cotton was doing very well in Louisiana at this time.

Map of Franklin/Womack relatives in Louisiana 1850

One of those who had already left for Louisiana was Henry's eldest son, William Plummer Franklin, the younger brother of Jemima, Rebecca, and Frances. William was only 8 years old in 1830, when their mother died, so it is likely that the eldest sister, Jemima, had helped to raise him. In 1843, 21 year old William had married Lovina Waters in Rankin County. Their first child, Amanda Caroline, "Mandy," was born there in 1846. William and his young family soon set off for Louisiana.  They settled in Caldwell Parish, about 60 miles west of the Mississippi River. The capitol of the Parish, Columbia, was situated on the scenic Ouachita River. To the east of the river lay rich delta farmlands as well as swampy wetlands while to the west, where William lived, there were piney woodlands and gently rolling hills. Steamboats docked at Columbia to pick up both cotton and lumber. In 1850 William and Lovina owned a farm in Caldwell Parish valued at $400. They had three children; Mandy, Maranda, and Dawson. By 1851 another son, Wesley, would be born. William Plummer Franklin and his family would move to Trinity County, Texas by 1860.

Henry's brother, Ralph, was also living in Louisiana. Ralph had moved with his mother Jemima and her family from South Carolina to St. Tammany Parish, and at the age of 16 had fought to protect New Orleans from the British invasion. By 1819 he, like Henry, was living in St. Helena Parish. When the Franklin clan moved northward to Rankin County by 1830, Ralph was with them. Ralph had been unlucky in wives; the first had died in childbirth when they were newly married, the second died in Rankin County 1836. Left with eight children, 38 year old Ralph quickly remarried. He and his new wife moved westward to Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Family histories tell us that he had a plantation near Olla, Louisiana (now in LaSalle Parish). Then known as Castor Sulfur Springs, the town was in the piney woods in the hill country, and had a post office, general store, hotel, and spa which was popular at the time for treating ailments. There was also a cotton storage facility here, and a steamboat landing at the town provided for shipment of cotton via the Red and Ouachita Rivers.
In 1850, Ralph was 53 years old. (The census erroneously puts him at 63.) His wife, Sarah was 50, and while several children were still at home, others (William, Isaiah, and Thomas) had established their own plantations nearby. The valued land ($850) is listed under William's name.

Henry's sister, Mary Rosa, had died in Rankin county at about the same time as his wife, Sarah. Her husband, Beasley Campbell, and Henry remained close friends and neighbors, with Henry officiating at Beasley's second marriage in 1832. Beasley's eldest daughter, Elizabeth Rose, lost her husband in Rankin County in 1836 and in 1839 married Joseph Miller, whose family lived in Natchez and neighboring Concordia Parish, which sat on the west bank of the Mississippi River across from Natchez. Elizabeth and her two children had inherited wealth from her first husband, and she used this to buy land and establish a plantation called "Flowery Mound" on fine flat delta land on the Black River in Concordia Parish. In 1850, Flowery Mound was a prosperous plantation, with land valued at $28,000 and over 30 slaves. Elizabeth was only 37 years old, living with two of her younger children, 10 year old Robert and 5 year old Joseph. She was a devout follower of the Disciples of Christ, and had sent her older children, Mary Anna and William Purvis to join her brothers Thomas Franklin Campbell and Fountain Campbell at the Disciples colleges in Bethany, Virginia.

Beasley's son, 24 year old physician William Preston Campbell, also had land on the Black River, valued at $1600. His wife, Sarah Womack was the daughter of David Womack and Sarah Norris, whose family would populate the next wave to Texas. Their son, Eugene, was 5 years old in 1850.

It is thought that Beasley Campbell moved to Concordia Parish  between 1848 and 1850, as his son Alexander was born in Rankin County in 1848 and his son Louis in Concordia in 1850. Beasley built a plantation known as "The Hedges" next to Flowery Mound.

We will never know which of these relatives the Franklin sisters stopped at on their way to Town Bluff. After two weeks on the road, the weary families would have welcomed a place to stop and rest and enjoy the luxury of a bath. They would have enjoyed having a number of days to visit with relatives, and enjoy home cooked meals. They needed to rest and feed the stock- horses, oxen, and cattle. They needed to replenish supplies and get fresh water.

Although modern roads do not show it, the old maps show roads from Flowery Mound at Monterey which led west toward Alexandria- making this the most convenient stopping place of the three relatives mentioned. Elizabeth and Jemima were the same age, and had grown up together as cousins on nearby farms in Rankin County. They were married just two weeks apart in 1832. It is likely they were close friends. We know that Beasley and Henry were close friends and would have kept in touch. Surely Elizabeth's beautiful Flowery Mound plantation offered the epitome of the dream of cotton planters- a dream that they hoped to realize in Texas.




Sources:
Year: 1850; Census Place: Western District, Caldwell, Louisiana; Roll: M432_230; Page: 7A; Image: 333
Year: 1850; Census Place: Catahoula, Louisiana; Roll: M432_230; Page: 77B; Image: 476
Year: 1850; Census Place: Western District, Concordia, Louisiana; Roll: M432_230; Page: 154B; Image: .

1852- possible routes to Texas

We don't know for sure which route our ancestors took from Rankin County, Mississippi to East Texas.

Today the shortest route would take them from Cato along route 28 westward to Natchez- just over 100 miles.

1845 Map of Mississippi

1852 Map of Mississippi

If they took this route, they would have stopped to say goodbye to relatives along the way in Rankin and Simpson county, many of whom were planning to follow them to Texas in the months to come.

At Westville, in Simpson County, they would have headed west, along what is now highway 28.  They would have forded the Strong River just outside of Westville.

Westville to Georgetown 14 miles- crossing the Pearl River at mile 12 and entering Copiah County.

Georgetown to Gallatin 18 miles

At Gallatin they had two choices;

a) either head northwest on the Old Port Gibson road to Port Gibson and the ferry at Rodney, which crossed to St. Joseph Louisiana or

b) head southwest (staying on what is now 28) and the steam ferry at Natchez, which crossed to Vidalia, Louisiana.

Gallatin to Union Church 25 miles
Union Church to Fayette 18 miles
Fayette to Washington 18 miles
Washington to Natchez 7 miles
Steam ferry from Natchez to Vidalia

At Vidalia they were just 30 miles from the plantation of their Campbell cousins at Flowery Mound, on the Black River. Uncle Beasley Campbell lived here, next to the prosperous plantation of his daughter Elizabeth Rose Campbell (now married to Joseph Miller) and the plantation of his son, William Preston Campbell, who was now married to Sarah Womack, the daughter of David Womack and Sarah Norris.

 Uncle Beasley and the cousins could have easily traveled by steamboat up to visit

Vidalia to Flowery Mound 30 miles
Vidalia to Frogmore Plantation 16 miles
Frogmore to Flowery Mound Plantation  16 miles
Frogmore to Jonesville- 9 miles, crossing the Black River just before Jonesville


They would have traveled about 12 miles per day- their pace set by the slow moving oxen that pulled the wagons.

They forded many streams, but would have crossed five major rivers.
Only 30 miles- two days journey from Cato- they would have crossed the Pearl River.

Next, they would have faced one of the greatest moments in their journey; taking a ferry across the Mississippi River. There would have been ferries at Vicksburg, Rodney (near the Windsor Ruins and crossing to St. Joseph La., Grand Gulf, and Natchez.

Cato to Rodney- 85 miles due west, ferry to St. Joseph,
St. Joseph to Olla, La. (Ralph Franklin in 1850) 80 miles
Olla to Alexandria 45 miles

Cato to Natchez- 100 miles SW, ferry to Vidalia (Campbell cousins)
Vidalia to Flowry Mound 30 miles
Flowry Mound to Alexandria 65 miles

Cato to Vicksburg- 70 miles
Vicksburg to Natchez- 70 miles, ferry to Vidalia
Natchez to Olla- 65 miles
Olla to Alexandria 45 miles

In Alexandria, they would have crossed the Red River.

An exciting time would have been when they finally crossed over the border into Texas- crossing the Sabine River, likely at Burr's Ferry.

Finally, nearing the end of their journey, they crossed the Neches at Town Bluff.


St. Joseph and Waterproof lay between Natchez and Grand Gulf, on the Louisiana side of the river.

What was the relationship between Abraham James Womack and the other Womack's that went to Texas?

Why did these two different Womack branches migrate together to the same place? 

The quick and easy answer is that both AJ Womack and David Womack married Franklin sisters- and all but two of the Franklin sisters emigrated to Texas.

Were they related? YES!

AJ Womack and David Womack and his siblings were also related on the Womack side. They certainly used the same given names again and again, so we must clarify who is who with birthdates to begin to keep them straight!

We are fairly certain that their grandfathers were brothers- AJ's grandfather was Jesse born abt 1739 and David's grandfather was David, born abt 1735.

So- their fathers were first cousins- AJ's father, Richard Womack born abt 1784 and David's father, David Womack, born about 1774.

So- AJ born 1814 in the Mississippi Territory (now Alabama) and David born abt 1820 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana-were first cousins once removed? I always get confused on that part.

These two Womack branches had traveled distant paths, but surely kept touch with letters and visits.

The grandfathers

Jesse and David were both born in Henrico County, Virginia, where the Womack's had lived since the 1600's. Their parents were Richard Womack (1710-1785) and Ann "Nancy" Childers. Following the migrational patterns of the time, Richard and Nancy left Henrico/now Chesterfield County to move southward and westward during colonial times. We see them in Amelia County and Lunenburg County, Virginia, and in Orange County/Caswell/Person County NC (county boundaries changed.) Eventually, we find them in Burke County, Georgia, where Nancy died in 1747 and Richard died in 1785.

David moved from Virginia, to Orange/Caswell/Person County NC and then on to St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, where he died in 1804.


The fathers

In the end, the cousins (Richard b 1784 and David b 1774) both ended emigrating to Mississippi about the same time, living in Simpson County. We know that Richard died in Simpson or Rankin County before 1850 (when the Rankin County census shows just his 2nd wife, Sarah, and children) and David died in 1854 in Simpson County.

1852- Trails, Ferries and river crossings

The Sabine River marked the border between Louisiana and Texas. Pioneers crossed the river along established trails at four main points.

The "Upper Route" came into Texas from Shreveport (Red River)
The "Lower Route" came in from Opelousas (New Columbia ferry)
The El Camino Real came into Texas from Natchitoches. (Bevil's/Haddon's Ferry)
The "Old Beef Trail" came in from Alexandria (Burr's Ferry)

It is likely that our ancestors used the "Old Beef Trail" from Alexandria. This trail had been used to drive cattle to Alexandria (which were then shipped to New Orleans via the Red River) as early as 1830 and was an important route in the 1840's. The trail followed the Nolan Trace from Leesville, Louisiana, along what is now Louisiana Hwy. 8- also known as the Nolan Trace Parkway.

This 1882 railroad map shows a route that likely followed the Old Beef Trail from Alexandria, showing the branching of the trail at Burkeville.

Railroad likely following the Old Beef Trail

The Trail forked near Burkeville, with one fork going northwest to Bevil's (Hadden's) Ferry at Toledo Bend and the other going southwest to Burr's Ferry in order to cross the Sabine River. The trail followed through what is now Zavalla and Jasper to Burkeville. According to the "History of Angelina County," the trail then went north of Jasper, crossed the Angelina River, and headed northwest just south of Zavalla.

After crossing the Sabine River, the Old Beef Trail went westward through Jasper. We know that from Jasper, our ancestors would have continued westward to cross the Neches River at Town Bluff, where they stayed for some time.

After their stay in Town Bluff, they would have likely rejoined the Old Beef Trail, now heading north to Zavalla before the trail turned westward passing north of Diboll and continuing westward north of Apple Springs- where we know that they crossed the river and found their land.


Burr's Ferry
The ferry and town were named for Dr. Timothy Burr, a second cousin of the vice president Aaron Burr. His family operated the ferry from the 1840's.  There was a cotton gin as well as warehouses and goods could be shipped from here west to Burkeville Texas or east to Leesville, Louisiana.

Sources:

The History of the Old Beef Trail

Burr's Ferry on the Louisiana border

Burr's Ferry

Franklin Sisters on the way to Texas- 1852

James Cornelius Womack 

My grandmother's father was just a toddler in 1852, when his family emigrated to Texas from Rankin County, Mississippi.

His parents were Abraham James Womack and Rebecca Franklin. James had three older sisters along on the trip; 13 year old Mary, 12 year old Frances, and 11 year old Sarah. His two older brothers were Richard, age 9, and his closest sibling- five year old George. All of the children except James and George would have been old enough to walk alongside the ox drawn wagon that carried their household goods to Texas. The older girls may have taken turns riding horseback along with the wagon train. Richard was old enough to ride alongside his father, and hunt for small game along the way. But little James and George would have likely traveled in the bumpy wagon, with an older sister looking out for them while their mother helped drive the oxen along the way.

There were plenty of other children making the trip; cousins that had been friends for years in Rankin County.

Aunt Fannie (Frances Franklin) and Uncle John Chapman and their family comprised yet another wagon on the train. Theirs was the youngest family of the group. The two oldest girls were Allace "Linny"  and Mary, ages 9 and 8. The only boy in the family was 7 year old Allen. There were three little girls; 6 year old Sarah Elizabeth, 4 year old Jemima  "Mimy" and the baby- two year old Susan.

Aunt Mima (Jemima Franklin) and Uncle William McClendon had a wagon with  seven children. The eldest boy, Milledge Livingston, was 17- able to do the work of a grown man. Henry was 14 and Thomas 11- both old enough to ride, help herd what cattle came with them, and hunt for game along the way. William McClelland was 9- the same age as his cousin, Richard Womack. Mary was 7- probably old enough to be expected to look after her younger sister Rebecca, age 5, and two year old Lewis.

 It may be that the aunts grouped the babies together during the day in order to share childcare duties while everyone was busy on the road. Two year olds- James Womack, Susan Chapman, and Lewis McClendon might have played in a wagon during the day, under the watchful eye of one of their sisters.

But for the most part, everyone walked. Someone had to walk alongside the team of oxen, coaxing them along the route. The gentle, lumbering beasts were strong but slow- walking only about 3 miles per hour. This matched the pace for those family members walking alongside the wagon.

The wagons were too bumpy and heavily laden to accommodate anyone but the youngest during those long, dusty days of travel. A treat would have been to spend some time on horseback along the trail, although this was likely primarily the realm of the heads of the families- Abe Womack, John Chapman, and William McClendon. They would scout ahead for sources of water, small game, and places to rest at noon and in the evening.

There may have been other families that traveled with them- but these three seem to have traveled together- the three Franklin sisters and their husbands, and 19 children.

We can imagine the cousins working and playing along the way. The Womack sisters- Mary, Frances and Sarah- were the oldest girls- pre-teens capable of helping the women with most adult chores, including cooking and cleaning up, and possibly even driving the oxen who pulled the wagons during the day.

The teen-aged McClelland brothers- Livingston (17) and Henry (14) were certainly old enough to help the three men with their duties.

A group of younger boys- Thomas (11) and William (9) McClelland and Richard Womack (9) were likely good buddies along the way, with 7 year old Allen Chapman following along. It is easy to imagine a group of mischevious boys on such a journey- darting off to search for berries, wading in creeks, and playing along the way.

A group of younger girls would have been playmates-Allace (9) and the two Mary's- Mary Chapman (8), and Mary McClelland (7.) Old enough to be responsible, this group could help with simple chores and care-taking of the younger cousins, yet they surely skipped and talked together along the way.

The youngest group on foot would have been- George Womack (5), Sarah Elizabeth (6) and Mimy (4) Chapman and Rebecca (5) McClendon. Although Sarah may have managed to fit in to the slightly older girls, this younger group would have needed watching to make sure they didn't wander off along the way, or fall behind. Their little legs would have grown weary with walking before the day was through, and they likely spent some time resting in the wagons with the toddlers.

There is likely one other group that traveled with them. All of these families were slave owners. Looking at the ages of John Chapmans slaves in 1850 and 1860 it appears that two of his slaves made the trip to Texas with the family- boys aged 16 and 14 in 1852. Considering that John and Fannie Chapman had no teen-aged children of their own to help along the way, these boys would have been a huge help to the family on this trip- able to help with driving the wagon and with herding any cattle that came with them from Mississippi.

photo- Ox-drawn farm wagon, Hendersonville, N.C." (P0650), Jody Barber Photographic Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville 28804

Franklin Relatives in Town Bluff, Texas 1852

                          


When the Womack, Chapman, and McClendon families arrived in the booming town of Town Bluff, a settlement on the navigable Neches River, they would have been warmly greeted by relatives.

Their uncle, James B. Franklin, and his wife, Mary Chapman, seem to have been the first members of the Franklin clan to move out of Rankin County and on to Texas. Their son Benjamin "Bud" was born in Rankin County on the 5th of December 1845, just before Texas attained statehood. The next child, "Babe," was born in Texas in February 1848.

Aunt Alicy Franklin and her husband Thomas Cryer probably moved with them. Their youngest child, William, had been born in Rankin County in 1844.

There was surely a great deal of talk about starting a new life in Texas during these tough times in Mississippi. Letters from family who had made the move would have greatly influenced those considering following that path. James and Ailcy surely sent letters on to their eldest brother, Henry, about their experiences along the way, and the new land they had settled on in Tyler County, Texas, which sat just across the Neches River from Louisiana.

By 1850, James was 43, and Mary ten years younger. They had a thriving family; William Plummer 13, Thomas Harrison 11, Sarah 9, Benjamin "Bud" 6, Robert Baker "Babe" 3, and a baby, Eliza.

Thomas Cryer was 54 and Aunt Ailcy Franklin was 42. Their family consisted of Francis 23, Emanuel 22, Wade 16, Marshall 14, Henry 12, Lucinda 10, Fanny 8, and William 6.

There would have been quite a celebration when the Franklin, Cryer, Womack, Chapman and McClendon families were reunited in Town Bluff.


Sources:
Year: 1850; Census Place: Tyler, Texas; Roll: M432_915; Page: 170B; Image: 322

More information:

Town Bluff, Texas - a plan for a "Natchez on the Neches"