Is Robert Melton (d. 1759) wife Mary Farrar?

This lineage has been hotly debated for years and I wanted to pass along my research notes that I think definitely answer the question -- No!

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I have worked on the theory that Robert Melton's wife was Marry Farrar, daughter of Thomas Farrar and Katherine Perrin. Even though atDNA seemed to suggest and supported that conclusion, original records, and other facts do not. The atDNA was just to far back, in my opinion, to be conclusive and override the written record presented below.

From Adventurers of Purse and Person V1, Page 934

Mary Farrar, daughter of Thomas Farrar and Katherine Perrin probably married Joseph Watkins who died before 1 March 1734/5 when his estate was inventoried in Goochland Co. They had one child Mary Watkins. Thomas Farrar in his will names his granddaughter as Mary Watkins. Since Mary Farrar was still married to Watkins in 1734/5 in Goochland Co she could not have been married to Robert Melton in NC with that family. Time to see who Robert Melton's wife really was.

There is this from Boots Farrar (Genealogy.com Farrar GenForum) October 4, 2010:

Sorry, but there is no Mary Farrar descended from Councillor William Farrar and his wife Cecily widow of Samuel Jordan, who married a Robert Melton. In fact, there is a claim by the Meltons that she had a sister Elizabeth (O.) Farrar who married William James Melton, both claim that these girls were daughters of Thomas Farrar and Katherine Perrin, but for a number of reasons that is impossible.

1. Thomas and Katherine did not have a daughter named Elizabeth.
2. Mary and Elizabeth were born in New Kent County, Va 1700

Thomas and Katherine were living on Farrar's Island, Henrico Co, Va in 1700, in fact, Thomas sold Farrar's Island to Thomas Randolph in 1727.

3. I am heavy into research in all branches of the Farrar family and have not found any Farrar living in New Kent Co, VA

I suspect that these Mary and Elizabeth Farrar's are actually Farrows or Farris even Farr's. Many researchers make the mistake of shoehorning Farrows, Farris and Farr's into the Farrar family, if they can carry it off, then they can join some social clubs like Ancient Planters.

Some Farrows are indeed Farrar's, maybe some Farris are indeed Farrar's (but I've yet to see evidence of that), however, most Farrows are actually Farrows, and not all Farrar's are Farrar's some are Farrows or Farr's. (could it be Furr?-LVH)

One thing can clear up the question, and that is to have a male Farrar join the Farrar DNA project at http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/farrar. Science can settle questions that until settled by science are merely myths.

For my Witt family cousins, I thought I would share this post from the Witt Surname board at Ancestry. My 6th great grandfather Rev War Capt Elijah Witt is buried in the Witt Baptist Churchyard. Guess I will have to make that journey across the mountain at some point.

Witt Foundry Historical site
Donald Blaylock

The Witt foundry Historical site location pinpoint is now live on google maps. I added the Witt foundry location as well as the Witt Baptist church cemetery onto google maps today 8 Apr 2019. The location of the foundry was 100% confirmed by Mr. Jack F. , Jack grew up next to the foundry at a house directly across the train tracks from the site and the current Witt Baptist Church and Cemetery. Mr. Jack F. is also a deacon. At the Witt Baptist Church and he is currently being displaced from his home due to his property being taken for a new expansion of the industrial park in Hamblen County TN. , A new bus building Company from Holland is needing his land along Witt Road. According to Mr. Jack F. , The only remaining sections of the original foundry is a few concrete Piers which stand southwest from the adjacent railroad tracks between the creek bed and the R.R.tracks and across the road from Witt Baptist Church / Cemetery and that area. There is also a small wooden bridge that spans the creek but it was or is not safe to cross it. The creek banks are very much overgrown and approximately six feet deep, bottom line, access would be best taken by walking down the railroad tracks, if you get permission to park at a small automotive repair shop and/or a hardware lumber store that currently occupy that area north of the tracks.

Best regards
Don Blaylock
A descendant of Anna Witt Russell family

Rev War Capt Elijah Witt marker. He is my 6th great grandfather. Find A Grave Memorial 79562831

Private Jesse Neville, a true American Patriot

Author Larry Van Horn visits with Jesse and Margaret McCarter-Neville in Walhalla, SC in 2013.

Jesse Neville, my 5th great grandfather, was born Jul 5, 1759, in Fauquier County, Colonial Virginia. His father was Captain William Neville and mother was Winifred Oldham. He married Margaret McCarter (her third husband) ca 1778 in South Carolina. She was the daughter of Alexander McCarter (mother is still unknown).

Jesse died March 4, 1842, in Walhalla, Oconee County, South Carolina, and was buried on their land on a hill in what was then the family cemetery next to Margaret. She died in Oct 1838. Their Find A Grave numbers are  33282250 and 33281836 respectively.

Based on a variety of source I believe that Jesse and Margaret had eight children. Margaret had four other children from her first two husbands: William Motley and John Lynch.

Jesse and Margaret's children:

1. Ester Neville (b. ca 1785) married John Hurt. Both John and Ester died before Jesse and Margaret and had moved away from SC to Lincoln County, TN. Neither are mentioned in probate records. Based on the wedding gift Margaret gave the couple in 1806 and atDNA evidence we are able to tie Ester to Jesse and Margaret. They are my 4th great grandparents.

2. William Neville (b. 1787, d. 1877)
3. Rebecca Neville  (b. 1788, d. 1879) m William Price (both died in Rabun Co GA)
4. James Neville (b. 1789)
5. Elizabeth Neville (b.1790, d. 1879) m General Edward Coffee
6. Winiford Neville (b. 1792, d. 1849) m Solomon Beck
7. Alexander McCarter Neville (b. 1796, d. 1880) m Nancy Jones
8. James B. Neville (b. 1797, d. 1877) m Elizabeth Burns

Jesse's claim to fame was his service during the
Revolutionary War and commitment to the American patriotic cause. Jesse Neville was a Private who participate at Kings Mountain and many skirmishes during seven different enlistments during the American Revolutionary War. He truly was a Rev War Patriot.

While residing in Tyron (later Rutherford) County, North Carolina, Jesse Neville, entered the service as a volunteer on July 6, 1776, the day after his 17th birthday, under the following officers, General Rutherford, Colonel Graham, Captain George Paris. He took up arms in Rutherford, North Carolina, and assisted with building the fort at the head of White Oath Creek in Rutherford, then a part of Tryon County, where he then resided. He was actively engaged in scouting about the mountains after Indians and remained in active service during his first enlistment for a total of six months.

He next entered the service in South Carolina under Captain John Earle and was stationed at Jamison's Fort on the South Pacolet River for some time. His unit then marched to Seneca station in Pendleton South Carolina, and was under General Williamson, Captain Tutt and Colonel Williamson. This service under militia Captain Earle was where he and his unit engaged Indians on the frontier. The Indians finally made some treaties, and Jesse was in the service this time for four months. He was discharged in 1777.

His third enlistment started in 1778. He entered the service this time in North Carolina at Mills Gap, Rutherford or Tryon, under Captain Porter and Colonel Graham. He was engaged in scouting and even caught some Tories. This tour lasted seven months.

Next, he entered the service, for a fourth time, at Francis Williams under the following officers, Colonel Brenan [sic, Thomas Brandon?] who it is believed was under General Sumter, and Captain Wood. While garrisoned at Williams, Jesse was engaged in keeping down the Tories. His unit marched into North Carolina and captured 30 Tories (among them Colonel Mills). They took the Tories to Salisbury, North Carolina. He remained in the service this time for three months.

Jesse entered the service for a fifth time as a volunteer, as before, under Captain Carruth who was under Colonel McLain and Lt. Colonel Hampton. He was engaged this time in ranging and scouting the country for Indians and Tories. During one engagement with the Indians, eight men from his unit beat off 55 Indians at Mills Gap and killed some. He was in the service this time for three months.

Jesse's sixth time as a volunteer was under Captain Edward Hampton, Colonel Branan, and General Sumter. His unit was in an engagement with Tories and British at the head of North Pacolet River. They killed a good many and chained them down to Princes. He remained in service this time for four months.

Finally, for the seventh time, he enlisted under Capt. Miller whom he was with from his beginning as an Ensign until he was a General. He entered in service at Rutherford North Carolina, was stationed there some time, was attacked and bore upon by the British under Colonel Ferguson. His unit retreated into Burke [County] where they joined General McDowell, then marched down again into Rutherford and met the British and was beaten in engagement with Ferguson. They then marched to Watauga and remained there till Colonel Campbell, Colonel Sevier and Colonel Shelby raised forces and joined with them. Those forces then set upon the British and gained the Battle at King's Mountain. Miller was promoted to a Colonel, and Jesse said his Captain was now Musick. While under Captain Musick they marched into the Indian nation on Eastatoe and Tennessee, killed and took a good many Indians under Big Acorn Chief. His service this time was for 12 months. In total,  Jesse Neville served his country and the cause as a soldier for 40 months.

Private Jesse Neville was allowed pension, his application executed 2 October 1832, while residing in Pickens District, South Carolina. FPA S21899, PL. Here is a transcribed copy of his Rev War pension from the Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Statements and Rosters website at http://revwarapps.org/.

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements - Pension application of Jesse Nevill (Neville) S21899 fn36NC. Transcribed by Will Graves received 30 Jan 2009.

[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation, and grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original.]
[fn p. 34]

State of South Carolina Pickens District
On this the 2nd day of October in the year 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable Richard Gantt, in the Superior Court of Sessions and Common Pleas, now sitting at Pickens Court House, Jesse Nevill a resident of the State and District aforesaid, aged 73 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832.

To wit: That he entered the service as a volunteer on the 6th July 1776, was 17 years old on 5th July 1776, under the following officers, General Rutherford, Col. Graham, Capt. George Paris. Took up arms in Rutherford NC and assisted to build the Fort at the head of White Oath Creek, Rutherford, then a part of Tryon County, where he then resided, was engaged in scouting about the mountains after Indians. Remained in active service this time for 6 months. Next, entered the service in South Carolina under Capt. John Earle, was stationed at __ or Jamison's Fort on the South Pacolet River some time, then marched to Seneca station in Pendleton SC was under General Williamson (thinks also Col. Wood) Capt. Tutt was the regular Capt., though I entered the service under a militia Capt. Earle was engaged against the Indians on the frontier. The Indians made some treaties, was in the service this time 4 months and was discharged: this was in 1777. Next, in 1778 he entered the service the 3rd time in North Carolina at Mills, Rutherford or Tryon, under Capt. Porter and Col. Graham as I believe, was engaged in scouting and caught some Tories, remained in service this time 7 months. Next entered the service, the 4th time, at Francis Williams under the following officers, Col. Brenan [sic, Thomas Brandon?] who I believe was under General Sumter and Capt. Wood. Kept a Garrison at Williams was engaged in keeping down the Tories, marched to North Carolina and carried 30 Tories taken in North Carolina to (among them Col. Mills) Salisbury NC remained in the service this time 3 months and was disbanded as before, the service being done for the time. Next for the 5th time, entered the service as a volunteer as before, under Capt. Carruth who was under Col. McLain & Lieut. Col. Hampton, was engaged this time in ranging and scouting the country for Indians & Tories, was in an engagement with the Indians, and with 8 men who beat off 55 Indians at Mills Gap, and killed some, was in the service this time 3 months. Next entered the service the 6th time as a volunteer under Capt. Edward Hampton, Col. Branan & General Sumter, was in an engagement with Tories & British at the head of North Pacolet, killed a good many & chained them down to Princes, remained at this time 4 months in the service. Next for the 7th time, and enlisted under Capt. Miller whom I was with from his being Ensign until he was a General, entered in Rutherford NC, was stationed there some time, was attacked & bore upon by the British under Col. Ferguson. Retreated up into Burke [County] joined General McDowell, then marched down again into Rutherford and met the British and was beaten in engagement with Ferguson. Then marched to Watauga and remained there till Col. Campbell, Col. Sevier and Col. Shelby raised forces and joined us. The whole forces then set upon the British and gained the Battle at King's Mountain. Miller was now promoted to a Colonelcy, and my Capt. was now Musick, while under Capt. Musick marched into the Indian nation on Eastatoe & Tennessee, killed & took a good many Indians under Big Acorn Chief, this time the deponent remained 12 months in the service. The whole number of months served as an actual soldier in the cause of America was 40 months and now resides in Pickens District South Carolina. And hereby releases every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court S/ William L. Keith, Clerk S/ Jesse Nevill [Jacob Lewis, a clergyman, and John C. Kilpatrick gave the standard supporting affidavit

The State of South Carolina, Pickens District
Personally appeared Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace &c Jesse Neville who being duly sworn Deposeth and Saith that he did not know it necessary to state that he had no documentary evidence of his Services, but he has none now. That he knows of no person now living who served with him during all his services, but there are now as he is informed & believes several persons living who were a part of the time with him, he served one tour each he is informed that Captain John McLean [sic, John McClain]1 lives in Rayburn County Georgia and Burt Moore,2 Samuel Earle3 and Col. John Kilpatrick of this Pickens District S. C. with each of them he served one tour, and Stephen Fuller4 either of Anderson or Pickens & he this deponent believes there were many others yet living who were in the Service with him at some time during the Revolutionary War. This deponent is unable by the disease to go to procure the testimony of these men, but will get some friend if possible to procure the testimony of two of them --

1. This deponent saith he was born on the 5th July 1759 in Fauquier County Virginia, he was informed.

2. His age was set down or recorded in his Father's Family Bible which he took with him to Kentucky.

3. When called into service he lived in Tryon County N. C. which was afterward divided & that part was called Rutherford, on Green River - after the Revolutionary War he lived there till he moved to Pendleton Districts S. C. which has been divided & he has lived in that part now called Pickens where he has lived near 43 years & for the last 38 years at the place he now lives.

7. He does not know any man who would refuse to testify to his character for veracity, but the most noted or influential are General Earle the Adjutant General of the Militia. General Joseph Whitner Brigadier General Colonel McKinney who commands this Regiment he lives in---Col Grisham, Col Anderson, Col Kilpatrick who has known him from infancy and Samuel Earle who has also been acquainted with him from childhood and could name many others but thinks it unnecessary. Sworn & subscribed to this 23rd day of May 1833 before me. S/ S. C. Miller, JP S/ Jesse Nevill SEAL [fn p. 27]

State of South Carolina

1 John McClain (McLean)(McLain) S31853
2 Burt Moore W2155
3 Samuel Earle S21174
4 Stephen Fuller S37949

Before me personally came Burt Moore of Pickens District & made Oath, That he was well acquainted with Jesse Nevill during the War of the Revolution -- Nevill lived in Rutherford County, NC and Deponent lived in Spartanburg County South Carolina about 10 miles apart -- Deponent was often at William Nevel's Mill the Father of Jesse Nevill & with whom he lived on White Oak Creek or Green River the plantation was on to River. The said Nevill was with this deponent had several skirmishes, one at Hampton's in Rutherford -- at the Iron Works on Lawson's Fork with Col. Cruger in which Cruger was driven back to the Main Army -- They were together with each other against the Indians & did much spoil in their Country -- By breaking up towns & driving the Indians -- This deponent does know that Jesse Nevill was one of the most active -- Efficient, bold & useful men in the upper part of the Carolinas and there is no man deserves more of his Country. This deponent has known the said Jesse Nevill since the War there is no more worthy or respectable Citizen, his word is unimpeachable.

Sworn to 5th of October 1835
S/ Joseph Grisham, Not. Public S/ Burt Moore, X his mark

State of South Carolina
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Quorum for Pickens District in the State aforesaid Col. John C. Kilpatrick and Stephen Fuller persons to me well-known & residents in the neighborhood, who being duly sworn duly depose and say that is to say the said J C Kilpatrick saith that he is now in the 70th year of his age, that he was raised & resident in Spartanburg District about the time of the Revolutionary War, that from the time he was 12 or 15 years of age he was acquainted with Jesse Neville, the son of Capt. William Neville of Rutherford County in North Carolina a part of the time he lived in South Carolina & afterward he lived 20 or 25 miles distant, but after Mr. Neville moved; We began in a few years to take part in the War of the Revolution. The said John C. Kilpatrick was intimately & well acquainted with Jesse Neville & his Family & connections who were all true, zealous & active friends to the American cause & The said Jesse Neville was much out in fact he was generally out in the Service; He was on the frontier and active against the Indians & Tories & he was ready & willing at every call, which was frequent. This deponent was in the service with the said Jesse Neville one tour he went with him under Capt. Parson, down on a scout near Ninety Six during the siege And afterward, they went into the Cherokee Nation went to the Indian towns, Estatoe, Jocapee &c &c and the said Jesse Neville himself took the Big Acorn a prisoner at Estatoe. The said J C Kilpatrick does know that the said Jesse Neville was one of Bravest most active & efficient soldiers on the frontiers of South & North Carolina. And he this deponent does know from the common report as well as his own knowledge that the said Jesse Neville was a man who rendered many services to the Country. That he has always supported the character of Honesty & Industry as has the good opinion of his neighbors & acquaintances. The said John C. Kilpatrick cannot state the dates & times of the services from the great length of time & loss of memory &c.

And the said Stephen Fuller saith on his Oath, that in the year 1779 or 1780 after the first siege of Augusta Georgia he this deponent went with Col. afterwards General Clark [sic, Elijah Clarke], into Rutherford County in North Carolina, where this deponent got acquainted with Jesse Neville and from September till May they the said Neville and Fuller were much of the time in the service of the Country in Scouting parties. This deponent did duty under Clarke & went with him back to the 2nd siege of Augusta. After the 2nd siege of Augusta in June or July after the capture of the Works, Storm of Grayson's Fort [sic, Fort Grierson] this deponent went back to North Carolina where he engaged again against the Tories, Indians &c and was there well acquainted with Jesse Neville who was one of the bravest & most efficient men of the frontiers, as all his connections was true to the cause of America. This deponent cannot state the particular Officers or dates of the Services when Neville & deponent were in the Services. The great length of time his age (80 years) & consequent loss of memory prevents his stating as many facts & occurrences as he otherwise would do.

Sworn to first of June 1833 Before me
S/ William May, J. Q. S/ J. C. Kilpatrick
S/ Stephen Fuller

Neville Family Cemetery looking towards hill where Jesse and Margaret Neville are buried

Martha Ann Rachel Witt-Hill

Normally I would post this on my family blog (http://larry-family-history.blogspot.com/), but this one has an interesting backstory about how it was discovered.

Martha Ann Rachel Witt-Hill (1846-1934) is my 3rd cousin, 5x removed. She married a Francis Patterson Hill in Alabama in 1865. She is buried in the Old Perry Cemetery in Moody, McLennan County, Texas (Find A Grave 33566368). Her obituary is a wonderful work of prose about her life. I have seen others like it during that same era. It reads:

Mrs. F.P. Hill Passes Away At Her Home in Hamilton.

On Thursday morning, November 22, at ten o'clock impressive rites were said at First Baptist church in Hamilton for Mrs. Rachel Hill, who passed away at the family home there on Wednesday morning at 11:30 o'clock. Services were conducted by Rev. Vernon Shaw, her pastor. Rev. John D. West, Rev M. Phelan of Hamilton and assisted by Rev. Odell Jameson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of this city. A great company of sorrowing relatives and friends passed by the bier at the alter following the services to bid farewell to this lovely aged woman, whose influence on earth, ever lifting the hearts of others to the Great Creator, Who she worshipped in thought, word and deed.

Grandsons of Mrs. Hill were privileged to act as pallbearers/ They were W/ Oscar Lewis, Emmett F. Hill, Roy Lewis, Frank Monroe, Ray McCauley, Truett Allen, Bill Hill and Hill Monroe.
Masses of beautiful flowers banked the altar and covered the casket, creating a fit setting for the sweet, frail form that slept so peacefully in the calm and rest of death. The flower bearers were Miss Lois Allen, Miss Roberta Allen, Mrs. Emmett Hill, Mrs. Oscar Lewis, granddaughters of Mrs. Hill; Mrs. Lillian Grimm, Miss Mae Harris.

Following the funeral services there the cortege left the church and proceded here where internment was made in Old Perry Cemetery, with rev. West and Moody friends in charge.
Mrs. Rachel Hill had made her home in Hamilton with her daughter, Mrs. Cleveland H. Martin, and husband since 1919.

Rachel Witt, aged 88 years, 16 days, was born in Randolph county, Alabama, November 5, 1846, and was converted in early life and joined the Missionary Baptist Church living true to the faith to the day of her death.

Mrs. Hill was the daughter and granddaughter of Baptist ministers who were pioneers of Christianity in Texas, Her father, Rev. W.C. Witt had part in the organization of what is now the First Baptist Church of Temple.

She, with her husband, F.P. Hill who met an accidental death in 1913 were charter members of Stampede Baptist Church, contributing libera;;y to the building and support of that church as long as they lived in that community. In her native state she was married to Francis P. Hill on Nov. 2, 1865. Seven years later the family moved to Texas and settled in Cass county, where they changed their residence to Bell county. Mr. Hill was summoned to his reward in 1913, and in 1919 Mrs. Hill moved to Hamilton to reside. Mrs. Hill was the mother of eleven children, ten of whom lived to maturity. The nine surviving children are J.F. Hill, Hamilton; W.F. Hill, Eddy; E.I. Hill; Tahoks; Dr. J.A. Hill, Canyon; Mrs. Belle Allen, Waco; Mrs. C.H. Martin, Hamilton; Mrs. E.R. McCauley, Moody; Miss Mary Hill, Alpine; Mrs. S.J. Munroe, Hamilton, all of whom, except Dr. J.A. Hill, of Canyon, were at the bedside when the end came. She is mourned by twenty-six grandchildren, also a brother and sister, W.C. Witt, of Bailey county, Texas, and Mrs. John Womack, of Ontario, California.

Out-of-town people besides near relatives here for the funeral were Rev. Shaw, Mr. Williams, Paul Colson, Misses Mae Harris and Katie Kinseym Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Amsler, Mrs. Marion Witt, Mcgregorl Dr. J.R. Knight, Miss Kathryn Knight, Wayne Bateman, Eddy.

"May we, upon whom her mantle falls, hold high the banner of Christ that we too may have an abundant entrance to that House not made of hands, eternal in the Heavens".

Beautiful obit for sure. Now for the really neat part. While adding some additional information on this family, I stumbled across the Ancestry tree of  Patrinka51 in Sheffield, AL. 
She had this absolutely fabulous picture taken of Martha. The back story of how it was found is even more interesting. "Photo found by Beth Garland at Mary's Flea Market, Midwest City, Oklahoma."

A flea market in Oklahoma? Unbelievable! It pays sometimes to dig around other folks trees and it places you would not normally look for family heirlooms and photographs.

My best advice is to leave no family stone unturned. You never know what family treasures you will uncover.  Oh, yea, and the picture. It speaks for itself.

Another Redus Hell Raiser - The Bluett Sanders Redus Update

This post on Bluett was originally published on Friday, May 29, 2009, and updated October 29, 2018.

I am deeply grateful to Reed Bender, son-in-law of the late Patrick Thompson, who was an old and respected Redus family researcher, for the information and photo presented below. Thank you again Reed for sharing this with the family and all your wife's cousins.

Update: Private Bluett Sanders Redus was my second cousin 4 times removed. In researching him and his family, I was fascinated in documenting one of his more notorious exploits mentioned below. Since my initial report on this event, I have found some additional newspaper accounts which fill in some more of the story. So read on Redus cousins about an adventure of Bleutt Sanders "Tex" Redus and the Ouray, Colorado murder of Dan McDonald.

Some of my Redus kin are quite frankly, interesting! Elsewhere on this blog I have the story of Roscoe Redus (see http://larry-family-history.blogspot.com/2009/05/life-and-times-of-roscoe-redus.html).

Now I have another story about a Redus cousin, Bluett Sanders Redus, who was born 3 May 1842 in Mississippi. Bluett was the son of Wesley Reed Redus and Elizabeth Craig Astin.

Blewitt served in the Civil War in the 14th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry, Company C

14th Infantry Regiment [also called Beauregard Rifles] was organized at Jackson, Mississippi, in October 1861. The men were from the counties of Clarke, Oktibbeha, Lauderdale, Winston, Lowndes, Monroe, and Tishomingo. Sent to Kentucky then Tennessee, it was captured at Fort Donelson in February 1862. After being exchanged, it was attached to Tilghman's and Gregg's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The regiment saw action at Coffeeville and in various conflicts around Vicksburg . A detachment was captured when that city fell in July 1863. Later it was attached to J. Adams' and Lowrey's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 14th was active in the Atlanta Campaign, Hood's Tennessee operations, and the fight at Bentonville. It was organized with 1,034 officers and men, had 650 effectives in February 1862, and had 24 officers and 287 men fit for duty in April 1863. The unit surrendered with no officers and 40 men. Its commanders were Colonels George W. Abert, William E. Baldwin, and Washington L. Doss, and Lieutenant Colonels Robert J. Lawrence and M.E. Norris.

He enlisted on 30 May 1861 in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi and served the entire war until he was paroled on 13 May 1865 in Sumter County, Alabama.

Here is his Civil War Timeline taken for his consolidated military file at the National Archives. He was listed on various muster rolls as Blewitt S. Redus, Bluit S. Redus, B.S. Readus, B.L. Redus

Served as a private in the 14th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, Company C and age 19 on muster-in roll. Roll indicated that he had traveled 100 miles and was enlisted by A. J. Maxwell for 12 months.

May 30, 1861: Enlisted Corinth, MS
May 30-Jun 30, 1861: Company Muster Roll
July 1-Dec 31, 1861: Company Muster Roll - Present
Feb 16, 1862: Roll of Prisoner of War - Captured at Donelson
Sep 2, 1862: Roll of Prisoner of War - Sent from Camp Douglas IL to Vicksburg MS for exchange.
Sept 23, 1862: Company Muster Roll - Present and paid
Oct 31-Nov 30, 1862: Company Muster Roll - Absent, sent to general hospital in Jackson, dated Oct 31, 1862
Nov-Dec 1862: Company Muster Roll - Absent, sent to general hospital in Jackson, Dec 15, 1862
Jan-Feb 1863: Company Muster Roll - Present
Jan 1-Jul 1, 1863: Pay Voucher 6 months at $11 per month for $66.00 total, received on 10 Nov 1863 in Columbus, MS
May-Jun 1863: Company Muster Roll - Present
Jul-Aug 1863: Company Muster Roll - Absent, Wounded at Jackson, sent to general hospital July 11, 1863
Jul 1-Oct 31, 1863: Pay Voucher No. 221 for $44.00
Sep-Oct 1863: Company Muster Roll - Absent, on sick furlough for 20 days from 29 Oct 1863.
Nov-Dec 1863: Company Muster Roll - Absent, on sick furlough for 20 days from 20 oct 1863. By order of General Johnston.
Mar-Apr 1864: Company Muster Roll - Absent, detailed by Medical Board of examiners Demopolis, Ala April 4, 1864 to report at Westpoint, Miss.
April 1, 1864: Bounty Roll - Present
April 2, 1864: Medical Examiner Board he was found unfit for field duty due to a gunshot wound in the left wrist/hand. recommended that he be detailed to the Commissary Dept.
Jul-Aug 1864: Company Muster Roll - Absent, detailed in Q.M. Dept by order of Secy War.
May 13, 1865: Roll of Prisoner of War - Gainesville, Ala (unit surrender on May 4, 1865), Residence listed as Cedar Bluff, Mississippi



In 1869 he married Martha Glasscock (b. 1851 and d. 1881) in Perry County, Alabama. This couple has four children:

1. Romeo Reed Redus b. 12 Jul 1873, Grayson County, Texas (Find A Grave 16487453)
2. Juliett Melvina Redus b. 1874 Texas (Find A Grave 164975723)
3. Elgenna Eagon Redus b. 9 Jan 1876 Grayson County, Texas (Find A Grave 148385325)
4. Charles H. Redus b. Dec 1879 Denver County, Colorado (Find A Grave 19203828)

After his wife's death is where we pick up his claim to fame from The Western Gazette newspaper:

MURDER -- Donald McDonald Stabbed Unto Death by Blewett Redus --

Sunday morning about eight o'clock Ouray was shocked by the announcement that Dan McDonald had been stabbed by Blewett Redus. All over an argument as to whether McDonald was to join Blewett in a drink--at the latter's insistence. McDonald, feeling breakfast time was too early, refused. He was there upon put upon by Blewett who used his knife with effectiveness. Blewett Redus now rests in jail pending advisor and help from his lawyer, McDonald's in the morgue.

The moral here is, when in doubt, drink.

While one source listed this event as occurring in 1896, I know that Donald McDonald's estate was probated in Ouray County in 1885. I have also verified that Bluett did do hard-time in the Colorado state pen.

From the Colorado State Penitentiary Index 1871 - 1973
Redus, Buett -- Inmate number 1219

That inmate number was issued between 13 Jun 1871 to 3 Oct 1891. My best guess is this deed was done around 1885 and not in 1896 as implied in the Western Gazette.


A mountain view of the Colorado State Pen in 1905.

Bluett (there are several different spellings of his first name through the years) died 10 Aug 1915 in Sinton, San Patricio County, Texas and is buried there. (Find A Grave 40697124)

A Bluett Sanders Redus Update

After Reed Bender contacted me with new information he had received from the State of Colorado,  I started digging into newspapers of that era and here is what I found. As previously mentioned the first story of the incident cited above was from the Western Gazette in an article published in 1896, after Bluett was released from prison.

I now have two different accounts of the story from two different Colorado newspapers published shortly after the event.

From the Delta Chief newspaper published on 15 April 1885.

Well, we now know the weapon, who was killed and where. If this account is to be believed, McDonald was the aggressor.

From the Rocky Mountain News dated 15 April 1885.

We know learn that Bluett's nickname was "Tex," he was employed in Ouray as a freighter. The stabbing occurred on 5 April 1885 and McDonald died two days later on 7 April. He had been stabbed between two lower ribs. This account says the fracas grew out of a gambling game and resulted in a drunken brawl.

On May 13, 1885, Bluett was indicted for his crime by the grand jury in Ouray:

On June 11, 1885, a jury convicted Bluett of the crime of murder and sentenced him to 14 years in the Colorado State Penitentiary system.

There was at least one attempt that I could find in records to appeal his sentence in 1887, but that was denied in a Montrose County, Colorado District Court.

According to prison records, Bluett was released on 1 January 1892.

Here is a physical description of Bluett that was part of his Colorado State Penitentiary record that was sent to us by Reed Bender.

And finally, from Reed Bender, the mugshot he obtained of Bluett from the State of Colorado Prison archives.

Notice that his pen convict number (#1219) is written on the picture.

While I surely do not approve or endorse murder, I now may have enough doubt that maybe old Bluett might have been suffering from PTSD or may even have been provoked into the fight between him and Dan McDonald. Any way you cut it, Bluett was another Redus family hell raiser.

So here is a six-gun salute to Cousin Bluett Sanders Redus, another true hell raising Texan.

The insanity that is Elizabeth Faulk-Brazeal-Carr

This genealogy has been a mess since the first day I started researching my Aaron Carr -> Elizabeth A. Carr-Meredith-Smith line. 

I am very close to publishing the truth, but the tree shown below illustrates the problem and lack of understand about Aaron Carr's first and subsequent wive. Yes, he did have two and NO they are not the same regardless of what some researchers claim. Wife two he married in 1851 could not and was not the mother of the children he fathered in 1825-1835. That I am almost entirely confident was Elizabeth Faulk, the daughter of James Faulk and Sarah (possibly Needham) who was born in 1807 and died sometime around 1835. She did not live until 1906 as claimed by some including the Find-A-Grave memorial for her online. That was his second wife he married in 1851 that lived until 1906. Two completely different women.

But don't take my word for it. Click to enlarge the document below and you will see that the claims by some Carr/Faulk family researchers are absurd. 

If you have this line up in your tree, I'm sorry but it is wrong. More on the Carr-Faulk family very soon. I have a few more details to iron out before I can call that lineage complete.

Goodspeed’s Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana: Van Horn and Hundley Families

In one of my recent weekly syndicated newspaper columns, I wrote about using County and State History Books in genealogical research. I was lucky early in my Van Horn family research to discover articles about them and the Hundley families in Goodspeed’s Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana published in 1892. 

Below are screen grabs of those original articles that I found over 35 years ago in the New Orleans Public Library that helped me kick start my family history research. (Click on images to enlarge)