FAMILY OF JONATHAN BLACK

JONATHAN BLACK, JUNIOR was born 1803 in Tennessee, and died 1863 in Jefferson County, Arkansas. He married MELANIA WHETTON (WHEATON), daughter of CHARLES WHEATON (WHETTON). She was born 1802 in Tennessee, and died December 25, 1850 in Jasper, Jasper County, Texas.

Notes for JONATHAN BLACK, JUNIOR:

Jonathan is listed on the October 15, 1850 Jasper County, Texas census p. 1166, number 168. His occupation at that time was listed as a farmer. As of 1850, they had four children: R.E. Augustus Black, 20, born in Arkansas; Melania E. Black, 13, born in Arkansas; Edwin L. Black, 12, born in Arkansas; and Sarah E. Black, 9, born in Arkansas.

Notes for MELANIA WHETTON (WHEATON):

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS SENT TO ME BY THE HEMPSTEAD COUNTY ARKANSAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY SEPTEMBER 1994.

FAMILY GROUP PAGE PREPARED FROM: Hempstead County Arkansas Will Book A, p. 127; 1830-Union County Arkansas, p. 143; 1840 Hempstead County Arkansas p. 169 (Mary); Arkansas Gazette June 7, 1836; Hempstead Circuit Court, July 1828, p. 238

WATSON REED: 1830-Hempstead County, Arkansas, p. 131

1840-Union County Arkansas p. 224, Jackson

1850-Union County Arkansas, p. 611, Van Buren Township

1860-Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, p. 647

FROM A LETTER WRITTEN TO THOMAS REED FROM A DAUGHTER OF FAY DURHAM GRIFFIN

Dear Mr. Reed,

My mother, Fay Durham Griffin, asked me to write to you about our family on the Merrell side.

As you probably know, Grandma Merrell was born in 1841 in Hempstead County, Arkansas, in a little town called Washington. She and her family left there when she was small and moved to Union County, Arkansas, and then to Jasper County, Texas in 1847.

The small village in Arkansas when Grandma Merrell was born is now a State Park, Old Washington Historic State Park. It is an interesting place to visit, even if we did not have family connections there. I am enclosing a brochure, hoping that you will have a chance to visit there. If you are interested in belonging, the membership fee for the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation is only about $15 a year. My daughter and I belong, and this helps them with things like paying the light bill for the church to continue services.

Grandma Merrell was the daughter of Jonathan Black, Junior and Melina Wheaton Black. Jonathan Black's brother, James Black, was the Presbyterian preacher in Washington. The Presbyterian Church is still there and they were still having services last year (1991). The present building was built in 1889 to replace the original that burned.

Melina Wheaton's family went to Arkansas from Tennessee. The Wheatons had 55,000 acres of land in Tennessee that they sold off and divided among the children. They had a very large family. The Wheatons came from North Carolina and were given the land for John L. Wheaton (or his father) serving in the Revolutionary War. North Carolina gave land in Tennessee to their soldiers instead of paying them. The land did not belong to North Carolina. It belonged to the Indians. Andy Jackson then made the Indians get off their land so the white people could have it.

Davy Crockett went from Tennessee to Washington, Arkansas on his way to Texas. A Crockett family lived next to the Wheatons. It is probably the same family. Davy ran for Congress. He said if he lost, Tennessee could go to hell and he would go to Texas. He lost. He then left for Texas. Sam Houston spent time in Washington, Arkansas planning the War with Mexico for Texas' Independence. The first Bowie knife was made in Washington by the blacksmith, James Black. I was told that the blacksmith (James Black) is a different James Black from the Presbyterian preacher in our family line. The blacksmith shop has been restored.

There is a place to eat in the park at lunchtime (not a continuous serving restaurant).

I hope that members of the family will feel that it is worth $15 a year to belong to the group that is preserving this historic place. I felt it was something we could do in honor of Grandma Merrell that is better than a flower on the grave now and then.

Elene

R.E./H.A. AUGUSTUS BLACK was born August 26, 1828 in Hempstead or Union County, Arkansas, and died November 28, 1916 in Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas. He is buried in the Knight-Glendale Cemetery, Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas. He married SARAH ELIZABETH ARMSTRONG September 11, 1851 in Jasper, Jasper County, Texas, daughter of JAMES ARMSTRONG and MARY MAY. She was born October 15, 1833 in Alabama, and died January 12, 1913 in Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas. She is buried in the Knight-Glendale Cemetery, Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas.

Notes for R.E./H.A. AUGUSTUS BLACK:

On 1850 Jasper County, Texas census. On 1860 Japser County, Texas census, Newton PO, p. 388, household 45-45. On 1870 Shelby County, Texas census, Pct 2, Shelbyville PO, p. 149B, household 47-47. On 1900 Cherokee County, Texas census, Pct 1, SD 7, ED 17, sheet 21A, p. 79, household 373-376 - listed as living with them is Sarah S. Slaughter, born October 1894, granddaughter. On 1910 Angelina County, Texas census, Pct 1 (Lufkin and Alto Road #1), SD 2, ED 2, sheet 24B, p. 98 - they are living with James Beck and family.

Per National Archives Texas C.S.A. service records, H.A. (Augustus) served in 25th Texas Cavalry and then through consolidation in Company B, 17th Texas Dismounted Cavalry. From field organizations of men who formerly served in the 15, 17, 18, 24 and 25 Texas Cavalry, and 6 and 10 Texas Infantry.

On Co. B, 17th Texas Dis. Cavalry record, H.A. is a private, Co. B, 17 Consol. Regiment Texas Cavalry and Infantry. Appears on a Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Jan. & Feb. 1864. He enlisted June? 20, 1862 at Panola, Texas, by Capt. Stovall for 3 years. He was last paid by Capt. J. T/P Ford through Aug. 31, 1863. He was present on this muster roll. (No record of him was found on 25th Tex. Cavalry records/rolls.)

FROM H.A. BLACK'S CONFEDERATE PENSION #A-13197

Lived Angelina County, Lufkin Post office. Pension approved March 21, 1908. His age at the time was 77 years. Was living in Angelina County and had resided for 6 years in Lufkin, Texas. He was a farmer but unable to work due to bad physical condition. He had kidney trouble due to old age. He stated he joined in Texas and served 1862 to 1865 in the 25th Regiment Infantry. His pension was signed 02 Nov. 1907 in front of County Judge T.W. Jordan, Angelina County.

Affidavits were given as follows:

The State of Texas, County of Angelina. Before me, on this day personally appeared D.M. Stovall known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed below and after being duly sworn says that he is personally acquainted with H.A. Black and that he personally knows that the said H.A. Black served as a private in the confederate service and that the said H.A. Black served in the army with him the witness and in the same Company with affidavit for more than 3 months. Signed D.M. Stovall, Capt. Co. C. 25 Tex Cavalry. Subscribed and sworn to before me on this the 6th day of November 1907.

T.W. Jordan, County Judge, Angelina County, Texas.

The State of Texas, County of Angelina. Before me, T.W. Jordan, County Judge of Angelina County, Texas, on this day personally appeared John Parker who is personally known to me to be a credible citizen who being duly sworn on his oath states that he personally knows H.A. Black and knows that the said H.A. Black served in the confederate army for a longer period that three months, as affiant was in the adjoining Company to the said H.A. Black and was with him often while in the army. Signed John Parker. Subscribed and sworn to before me on this the 6th day of November A.D. 1907. T.W. Jordan, County Judge, Angelina County, Texas.

STATEMENT OF H.A. BLACK AND HIS SERVICE

Lufkin, Texas, March 9th, 1908.

This is to certify that I, H.A. Black, enlisted in the Civil War in the 25th Texas Regiment under Captain D.M. Stovall-Carter's Brigade-and remained in this Company until the Fall of the Arkansas Post. After that I served in Captain Singnletaire's (M.M.) - of the 17th consolidated regiment commanded by Col. Taylor-Polonac's Brigade. We were honorably discharged by Col. Tucker at Richmond, Texas. Signed J.W. Bond, Affidavit. Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 9th day of March A.D. 1908 H.A. Black, Clerk County Court, Angelina County, Texas.

REQUEST FOR MILITARY RECORD

To the Military Secretary, War Department, Washington D.C.

Dear Sir: I have the honor to request the military record of H.A. Black who is reported to have enlisted in Company C, 25th Regiment Texas Cavalry in the services of the Confederate States army.

Purpose: The person above named is an applicant for a Confederate pension granted by this State, and I desire to verify his proof of service. Very respectfully, J.W. Stephens, Comptroller.

REPLY

War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, March 16, 1908. Respectfully returned to the Comptroller, State of Texas, Austin. The name H.A. Black has not been found on the rolls, on file in this office, of Company C., 25th Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., nor has any record been found of the capture or parole of a man of this name and organization.

CERTIFICATE OF COUNTY PHYSICIAN FOR PENSION APPLICANT

...carefully and thoroughly examined H.A. Black, applicant for a pension and finds him laboring under the following disabilities which render him unable to labor at any work or calling sufficient to earn a support for himself - hernia, double inguinal, defects in sight and hearing, chronic cough, nervousness and general disability from old age. Signed W.B. Treadwell, M.D. 2 Nov. 1907.

MELANIA E. BLACK was born 1835 in Arkansas. Her death date/place is unknown. There is a marker at Salem Irene Cemetery, Irene, Hill County, Texas. She married HANSON H. HOUGH February 20, 1851 in Jasper, Jasper County, Texas, son of SAMUEL HOUGH. He was born about 1822 in Virginia. Hanson died about 1865 probably in Woodville, Tyler County, Texas.

Is it possible Melania came to Hill County, Texas with the Merrells as there is a marker (no dates) at the Salem Irene Cemetery where her sister Sarah E. Black Merrell is buried. The marker reads Melania Huff.

Found on the following census records as living in Woodville, Tyler County, Texas.

1860 - household 34-34, page 346 - Hanson and Melania with children L.J., age 9 and O. Eddy, age 3.

1870 - household 34-34 - Melania and father in law, Samuel Hough with children - E.O. - age 12, H.H. age 6 - she is obviously a widow by this time

1900 - Pct. 1, household 166-166, SD 8, ED 101, sheet 9A - Clinton Y. Hyde and wife Josephine J. - children Mary n, Celia, Charlie B., Levesy? L. - Melania is listed as aunt

1910 - Pct. 1 - household 64-64, SD 2, ED 158, Sheet 44 - Clinton Y. Hyde and family. She states she had 5 children - 1 living

1920 - Melania is not found on this census but Clinton Hyde is still living in the same place.

THIS FROM A BLACK RESEARCHER - SHERRY SUMMERLIN:

Federal Census - TEXAS, Tyler County, Woodsville, Page 378, H# 308, F# 309, Lines 21-29,
ROBERTS, M.E. 44 W/F w H K House AR TN TN
HOUGH, Hanson? 16 W/M s S Laborer TX VA AR This name could be Henry.
GERALD, Laura J. 29 W/F w D TX VA AR
Lilly E 12 W/F s GD TX MS TX
William K 10 W/M s GS TX MS TX
Sam. J. 8 W/M s GS TX MS TX
Elizabeth 6 W/F s GD TX MS TX
George W 3 W/M s GS TX MS TX
Robert? Sarah 1 W/F s GD TX MS TX
* Melvina/Melanie (BLACK) HOUGH remarried and was widowed between 1870 and 1880?
** Laura J. HOUGH married circa 1868 to ------ GERALD, who died circa 1878.
*** O. Eddy HOUGH married or died between 1870 and 1880. Need to check the 1870 census.