The Other Henderson Dowell

[This is a continuation of a series of posts I have been writing over the last month about the interaction of White Dowells (my family) and Black Dowells who lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina in the 19th century. Many of their descendants continue to live in this area today.]

The Henderson Dowell (Black) who lived his entire life in Wilkes County, North Carolina, is often confused in pedigree charts with a man of the same name who may have lived his entire life in Tennessee even though he had Wilkes County roots. This other (White) Henderson Dowell was Priscilla Dowell’s first cousin-once removed on her father’s side and a first cousin-twice removed on her mother’s side of the family. The White Henderson, having been born about 1838, was about four years older than the Black Henderson (who was enslaved by Priscilla). Indications are that the family of the White Henderson Dowell had moved to Campbell County, Tennessee, prior to or soon after his birth. He appeared there as the 12 year old son of James and Nancy Dowell in the 1850 Census. In the 1860 Census he was enumerated in the same county with his mother and stepfather, William Ingram.

On January 20, 1861 the White Henderson married Hester Ann Lovett. The next year, on February 5^th they had their only child—James F. Dowell. A year later he enlisted at Flat Lick, Kentucky in the 3^rd Tennessee Infantry for a term of 3 years:

He was not to complete that tour of duty. He died in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on March 27, 1863: 

His widow, Hester applied for a widow's pension on June 29, 1867. That was not unexpected. However, where did the grandchild H. L. Wheeler come from who applied on December 8, 1868 for a minor dependent's pension based on Henderson's military service?

Additions and corrections are always most welcome to these posts. This is one of the main ways I learn new things.

Priscilla Dowell's Former Slaves Become Citizens

This is the fifth in a series of posts about the close interaction between the European-American family of Priscilla Dowell and the descendants of African Americans who were enslaved by her at the beginning of the Civil War. Priscilla was my first cousin—five times removed. Previous posts during November may be viewed by clicking on these links:

·  Pricilla Dowell's Slaves

·  Priscilla Dowell's Slaves: Part 2

·  Priscilla Dowell's Family--Part 1

·  Priscilla Dowell's Family--Part 2

I have yet to see documentation about what happened to Priscilla Dowell’s two one-time slaves Henderson and Payton immediately after she died. They would have been about 21 and 19 at the time her estate was probated in early 1863. Were they purchased by James GWYN/GUYN as was suggested as a possibility by Priscilla in her 1859 will? Circumstantial evidence suggests that might have been the case. Seven years later Henderson was enumerated as a “day laborer” living on one side of James Gwyn and Payton was listed as a “tenant” living on the other side in the 1870 US Census:

Remarkably all three gentlemen were listed as “Male citizens of the U. S. 21 years of age and upwards.” No one in their neighborhood was listed as being a “Male Citizen of U.S. of 21 years of age and upward whose rights to vote is denied on other grounds than rebellion or other crime.”

While the FamilySearch Wiki claims that “Only 15% of freed slaves used the family name of the former owner”, the former slaves in this corner of Wilkes County seemed to buck the trend. Henderson and Payton took the name “Dowel” in the 1870 census and “Dowell” in the 1880 census. This ambivalence about the correct number of “l”s at the end of this surname was common in records about the Whites of that name as well as the Blacks. Since oral communication was much more important than written, it seemed to depend on which record keeper wrote it down.

Literacy was becoming more wide spread, but it still had a long way to go to become universal. Henderson, Payton and their spouses were listed as not being able to read or write. All the adult members of the James Gwyn family were listed as being able to read and write. Could this be because the school teacher was boarding with them? I guess it could have been the other way around. Priscilla Dowell’s grand-niece Harriet Rogers, who at age 12 in 1860 was listed as attending school, was listed in 1870 as being able to read but not write. Her parents could neither read nor write.

Both Henderson’s bride Nancy (Hickerson) and Payton’s wife Malissa (Gwyn) also shared surnames with local White families. This may have indicated that for a combination of reasons slave owners and those who had been enslaved had more personal relations than in other parts of the South where plantation owners owned larger numbers of slaves.

Five years after the war, two of Priscilla’s five former slaves can be accounted for. But what about the other three? It would appear that the “Negro Girl by the name of Juda” who Priscilla inherited from her father in his 1823 will was the “Jude” aged 46 in Priscilla’s will and in the 1860 Slave Census. If that latter age is correct, “Juda” would have been about 9 years old at the time she was given to Priscilla. Could she have been the mother of Henderson, Payton, Eloisa and Jo? If so did Priscilla come to own them as “the Heirs of Juda’s Body” as stated in her father’s will? Family tradition says that Henderson and Payton were brothers. They both have descendants who can be traced down to the present. Were they full brothers or half-brothers? Were Eloisa and Jo also their siblings? Has anyone seen evidence as to what happened to Jude, Eloisa or Jo after the Civil War?

To be continued.

Pricilla Dowell's Slaves

I am in the process of transcribing the will of a first cousin – five times removed that she wrote on the eve of the US Civil War. It was probated at the height of the war in January 1863 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. When this will is combined with other contemporary documents, an interesting story begins to emerge. Part of it I will share today. I plan to add more as I am able to uncover and organize it.

It would appear that Priscilla Dowell was an unmarried woman of about 70 years of age. She is often reported to have been born in Maryland.  This birth location would be correct for her older siblings. However, if she was born about 1790, it is likely that she was born soon after her family arrived in North Carolina. Her grandparents and several uncles and aunts moved from Maryland right after the Revolutionary War. They were drawn there in part because of land grants being offered to soldiers in partial compensation for their service.

   

Apparently Priscilla was concerned about providing for her slaves because she took up their disposition right after she had directed that her just debts be paid. Bequests to her family members came later in the document. She seemed to have the best interest of her slaves in mind. While she stopped short of offering them their freedom, she appeared to be seeking a humane environment for them.

Item 2^nd   In order to secure a good home in this neighborhood for my negro woman Jude and her child Jo also the increase of said negro woman I will and desire that my Executor hereafter appointed permit said woman to select a home for herself and child or children and provided said person selected will pay two thirds of the valuation of said negroes at trader’s prices then my Executer to execute Bill of Sale and should it not suit the person selected by said negro woman to purchase or pay said prices, them  my Executor to select a home himself for said negro woman and child or children, provided nevertheless that it is my will and desire that said woman and child or children be sold for two thirds of the valuation of said woman and ___ children.

Item 3^rd I will and desire that my Executer sell my two negro boys Henderson and Peyton and my negro Girl, Eloisa to James Guyn for the rates of two thirds of their valuation at trading prices, and should it not ___ said James Guyn to take said negroes Henderson Peyton and Eloisa at said rates; then I desire my Executor hereafter appointed to select good homes in this neighborhood at a place or places when said sales of two thirds of traders prices can be obtained.

I will add information from census records that expand on this will in a subsequent post. I will leave you to judge whether Priscilla's views about her slaves were enlightened for her era. She was apparently illiterate as she signed her will with "her mark". 

I am in touch with descendants of Henderson, above, who took the surname Dowell. Some of them still live in the Wilkes County area and their family has used several given names down to the present generation that parallel the given names used by Priscilla's family. This challenges genealogists as they attempt to properly record these two families who share a surname as well as a history.