I41470: Barham F. BOBO (28 Mar 1776

Notes

"Signed will in Union County on 12 September 1829 "...my estate should be appraised by five freeholders chosen by my executors; my plantation business in general to continue for three years and employ Samuel Peckring my present overseer; to my wife Frances Bobo, the plantation and lands annexed thereto where I now live called the Cross Key place, also 10 negroes of her choice, at the time my son Fincher Gist comes of age; to my son Barrum Bobo, when he shall come of age, three negroes such as I have before given to my children and such other property as his mother shall think fit; to my daughter Eliza M. Bobo, when she shall come of age or marry, three negroes; my younger children be supported and educated, to do equal justice to my my eight children Wm J., Spencer A., Jane L., Sarah, Barrum, Eliza M., Fincher Gist and Louisa; my wife Frances Bobo and Robert Martin and John T. Murrell my son in laws exrs., 12 September 1829. B. Bobo (LS), Wit: John Ray, Joseph H. Dogan, Frances Ray (X). Proven and recorded 3 October 1829" (Union County Will Book B, pp. 152-156)

SCMAR, Vol. II, Winter 1974, No. 1, p.34
Died in Union District, on the 20th inst., after a long and severe illness, at his residence the Cross-Keys, Capt. Barram Bobo, in the fifty-fourth year of his age (ibid.).

The Cross Keys House
The Cross Keys House

The Cross Keys House was built by Barham (Barram) Bobo and was originally three stories, with original lands of thousands of acres. Barham Bobo built the house from 1812 to 1814 and in 1952 it was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wilburn, descendants of the Whitmire Family - related to the Bobos. The house is large, with two chimneys at each end of the house. Between each chimney at the top of the house is a white stone approximately 18 inches square. The stone on the west side of the house has the two crossed keys, the date 1812, and the initials W. B., supposedly those of the contractor. On the east side of the house is the same kind of stone, the same crossed keys and the initials B. B. for Barham Bobo, and the date 1814.
The original woodwork of the mantels and walls is still intact and was all done by slaves with penknives. In the main sitting room, the original fireplaces are still in use. Among the many patterns of dishes, etc., and in good condition, are two beautiful purple vases belonging to Mary Bobo. These vases are original Steigal glass and ring clear and true to the touch of a finger. They are always handed down to a daughter named Mary. The original candlesticks are in use on the mantle. Among the many treasured items are Barham's toddy pitcher, meat platters, whisky decanters and wine glasses. Jefferson Davis passed through Cross Keys on his retreat from Richmond and stopped at Barham's place for dinner. The platter, from which he carved a leg of lamb, is still in use, as is a knife and the table from which he ate. He did not reveal his identity until he was ready to leave. There is also a sword with which a southerner killed a Yankee for insulting a lady, which had dried, rusted blood stains, still, where it cut the man's head. Among the valuable pieces of furniture are these; a sugar chest of walnut, and an old carved trunk, which "came over" in the Baltimore Colony.
The house has only a small entrance porch. There is a wide porch at the rear across the entire length of the house. Branching off in an L shape is the kitchen. There is a large hall in the center of the house, downstairs and upstairs, on each side of which are four rooms - two upstairs - two downstairs. The main sitting room and dining room are on the left. Above these are two nursery rooms - one for boys - one for girls. A small stairway leads to these rooms from the dining room so the children would not have to use the large stairway in the hall. There is also a stairway leading from the nursery rooms to the attic, where the children played. Each child had a slave to watch over it.
At the entrance of the house are two gardenia bushes which were set out at the time the house was built. At each end of the house are three cedar trees which were imported from Porto Rica. They were set out at the time the house was built.
Barham later sold the house to a Whitmire family, and moved to Mississippi. At his death, his wife, Mary married Jessie Whitmire. She died in Mississippi and her body was brought back by train to Knoxville, Tennessee and by wagon to Cross Keys.
"Bobo Cousins by the Dozens" by Herbert Moses Newell, 1978.

The Cross Keys House still stands today, 2002, in Union County, South Carolina, off Highway 49 just east of Cross Keys. The house, now privately owned, proudly stands as a testament to the quality and workmanship that Barham Bobo built into his family estate. Although the gardenia bushes are long gone, a large cedar tree still stands in front of the house having provided almost two hundred years of shade to guests and passers-by.
Along side the highway, in front of the house, is a marker placed there by the Cherokee District Daughters of the Confederacy that reads, "Cross Keys House, On April 30, 1865, during the retreat from Richmond, Virginia, Jefferson Davis passed through Cross Keys, S. C. accompanied by the Confederate cabinet and his military escort of five brigades. Mrs. Mary Whitmire Davis who owned the Cross Keys House at that time afterwards related to her descendants the story of President Davis's luncheon at the house."
The small entrance porch, with its large white colonial columns, stands ready to greet anyone who enters, just as it did centuries ago. Large transom topped double doors mark the entryway to the interior of the house. This formidable red brick structure, with its white-washed windows and stately green shutters, will continue to stand as a monument to the history and legacy of the Bobo family for years to come.
Dennis C. Wilson, 2002"

FTW Children:
2 Lewis BOBO b: ABT. 1798 d: WFT Est. 1799-1888
2 William Johnson BOBO b: 2 FEB 1800 d: 13 MAY 1863 + Margaret Lucinda BOYCE b: 29 AUG 1808 d: 21 MAY 1860
2 Spencer Absolom BOBO b: 4 MAY 1801 d: 18 SEP 1856 + Louisia SIMS b: 1803 d: 1870
2 Janie L. BOBO b: ABT. 1803 d: WFT Est. 1804-1897
2 Sara Frances BOBO b: ABT. 1805 d: WFT Est. 1806-1899
2 Frances Louisa BOBO b: ABT. 1807 d: WFT Est. 1808-1901
2 Hiram BOBO b: 15 OCT 1809 d: WFT Est. 1810-1899
2 Barham BOBO b: 20 APR 1811 d: WFT Est. 1812-1901
2 Fincher Gist BOBO b: 28 OCT 1815 d: 7 SEP 1856 + Sara EAGER b: ABT. 1818 d: WFT Est. 1844-1912
2 Eliza M. BOBO b: ABT. 1816 d: WFT Est. 1817-1910

Some relations?

^[S2682]

Notes

Dau Thomas Fermo, of 1st Earl of Pomfret. 428. PENN, Lady Juliana Fermor (husband proprietor of Pa.)

^[S349]

Notes

Robert b 1779 d. 1860 of Barren Co. KY m. Nancy Payne.
4. M Robert HARRISON (AFN:1KDX-J8P) Born: 15 Feb 1779 Amherst, Virginia
Children:
Seth HARRISON b. 1816 in Barren Co., KY m. Amanda Buxh
Reuben H. HARRISON b. 1817 in Barren Co., KY
Robert HARRISON b. 1821
Benjamin HARRISON b. 1823

Notes

Samuel Travers rec'd confirmation 1691-2 of pat. to his father, William Travers, of land willed him by Giles Hussey, 1668, which land was on Farnham Cr'k, North Farnham parish, within the present Co. of Richmond.

Notes

2 Roger Quarles b: 1695 d: 12 APR 1751 + Jane Tunstall b: 1700

My Southern Family

Barham F. BOBO

28 Mar 1776 - 20 Sep 1829

ID Number: I41470

Notes

Sources

Lady JULIANA FERMO

1729 - 1801

ID Number: I24950

Notes

Sources

Sue FLOYD

Robert HARRISON

15 Feb 1779 - 6 May 1860

ID Number: I31299

Notes

Sources

Giles? HUSSEY

ABT 1620 - ____

ID Number: I85533

Notes

Sources

William MARTIN

William "Buck" MERIWETHER

2 Sep 1792 - ____

ID Number: I104803

Sources

Kimberly Ann MORGAN

Louisa H. SWARTZ

7 Mar 1857 - 12 Aug 1858

ID Number: I37554

Sources

Jane TUNSTALL

ABT 1700 - ____

ID Number: I62758

Notes

Sources

Amanda Gail WALDEN