Survey Map Trinity County Texas showing landowners and creeks

Survey map of Trinity County Texas showing landowners and creeks

Trinity County Landowners


Womacks and Franklins

AJ Womack (and Rebecca Franklin) 2 separate parcels
David Womack (and Jane Franklin)
William McClendon (and Jemima Franklin)
John S. Chapman (and Frances Franklin)

Womacks and Franklins


Taylors

RR Taylor (and Jane "Jennie" Ainsworth)
AJ West (and Matilda Tayor- eldest daughter of RR and Jennie, sister of Nancy Frances Taylor)

Ainsworths

L. Ainsworth (Levin Ainsworth) (father of Jennie Ainsworth)
JL Ainsworth
JG Ainsworth

Taylors and Ainsworths

Source:

Trinity Co., map, 1905; Austin, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth493110/m1/1/: accessed June 5, 2017),University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.

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

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.

Family History Writing Challenge- incorporate- the birth of Abe and his brothers

Who was Abe’s mother? Why was her name never passed down for anyone to remember? Where did she come from and who was her family? Where did she go? These are questions we may never know.

Her three sons were born in one of the most turbulent periods of our history. She began her family in the midst of uncertainty and conflict. All around her, battles raged. Her husband, his family, and their male neighbors were engaged in constant conflict. She and the women lived in a state of ever present danger and uncertainty. Bearing children always took great courage; raising them amidst these conditions had to be frightening. Small children, as always, were often blissfully unaware of the danger; their mothers were not. It took brave women to survive these times. Their very existence and that of their community was teetering on the brink of uncertainty.

The first child, Richard Jr., was born just as their world began to erupt, in 1812.  Jesse W.  was born in 1813, and Abraham James was born in 1814.  Now the young couple had three babies to care for and protect from the ravages of the increasingly unfriendly world about them.

Her sister-in-law, Frances Coleman Womack, had even more children to care for. She had lost several babies early on, but now had a large a thriving family at their prosperous plantation at Womack Hill, about 10 miles up the Tombigbee, adjacent to her parents plantation. John Jr. had been born there in 1799, followed by Vashti b 1802, Aurelia b 1804, Mary Virtuous 1806, Jesse 1807, Daniel 1809, Elizabeth 1812, and Francis b 1815. Two more babies, Caroline and Abner, would be born later. We can only imagine what these pioneer women went through during these births, generally without even a doctor present. The women of the family had to help each other through these dangerous times within each family, as the men dealt with the dangerous times within the community.

The Tombigbee and Tensaw settlements were perilously perched between the Spanish to the south in Mobile and Pensacola, and the increasingly warlike Creeks to the east. Both the Spanish and Creeks were showing signs of aggression against the small pioneer settlements. The goal of each was to drive Americans from this region and reclaim the land for their own people. They would support each other in this endeavor, and the attack could come from both sides.

The Womack’s and their neighbors had a tenuous grasp on their homes and their lands. Their families and their future were in danger. Richard and his brothers, Frank, Jesse Jr., and John, had joined other male leaders of the community by signing petitions to the Territorial Governor and to the United States Congress, to send them support. The Spanish had seized guns and ammunition headed up the rivers toward the settlements; their only hope of securing weapons necessary for protection had to come from overland- which took time. They didn’t have much time to spare.

The situation of Spanish taxation and control had long been intolerable. Prices for even basic necessities were exorbitant. Their position was not only physically dangerous, it was becoming financially impossible. They would have to change things, or leave their plantations and move on. There were a few early glimmers of hope that things might change.

In September, 1807, a road was cut between St. Stephens, which was now a proper small town with square lots, and Natchez, 200 miles away on the western border of the Mississippi Territory. This improved communication between the two towns, with an impact which was soon apparent. (1)

1- Pickett's History of Alabama-  chapt XXXIV