Writer's note: I have quoted more in this piece from various county histories and family write-ups than I usually do. However I hope to have clearly indicated those unverified quoted sections. The other dated facts are from original records or transcriptions of original records.
Dennis Carroll was born about 1793 in Chester County, South Carolina where his parents, Dennis Carroll and Sarah Eliza Stone, had settled in about 1771. Dennis Carroll, the elder, and family moved to Rutherford County, North Carolina by March of 1800 and were located near Puzzle Creek on the Sandy Run, a branch of the Second Broad River. Nancy Waggoner was the daughter of Isaac Waggoner and Emsey Holyfield who were also of Chester County, South Carolina; however, Nancy was born after the family had moved to Rutherford, North Carolina settling on Ashworth Creek by 1794.
Dennis and Nancy married in Rutherford on 23 December 1814, the bondsman was Jason Johnson. Records have not shown much about their lives in North Carolina, but their first four children were born there: Celia b. 1816-1820, Sarah b. 1820-1825, Jacob b.1823, and Drury D. b. 1829. This last son was probably Drury Dobbin Carroll named after the preacher who baptized Dennis Carroll in 1820 (according to Dennis' obituary). It appears from census records that other people lived with them at various times, of course probably relatives. Dennis Carroll and family are shown in the 1830 census for Rutherford County, North Carolina, but there seem to be serious errors in the ages:
1 male 20-29 (Dennis, actually 37)
1 female 30-39 (Nancy 30-34)
1 male 15-19 (?)
1 female 20-29 (?'s wife?, or another sibling of Dennis or Nancy?, my speculation only)
1 female 10-14 (Celia 10-14)
1 female 5-9 (Sarah 5-9)
1 male 5-9 (Jacob 7)
2 males under 5 (Drury under 1, and ?the child of ?above?, my speculation)
The slaves listed are 1 male 24-36, 1 female 10-24, a male under 10, 1 female under 10. The last three may still be the ones enumerated with the Carrolls in 1840.
There is a chance the other couple is David Carroll who appears in the 1840 census very near Dennis and Nancy in Murray County, Georgia; the ages are right, but the young child of 1830 is not with them. This can't be a son of Dennis and Nancy; if he is a brother to one of them he is a much younger sibling.
28 September 1836, Alfred H. Hudson a white man and Susanah Hudson his wife late Susanah Buffington a quarter blood, [lists his properties, possessions and certificates]; Certificate #11 - "I further certify that said Alfred H. Hudson was dispossessed of the whole of his improvement on red bank creek in said county by Dennis Carroll in the early part of 1835.", by L. J. Hudson [the evaluator]. Jacob Carroll also certified that Alfred Hudson was dispossessed of a section of his property in the early part of the year 1835. The certificate doesn't indicate that Jacob Carroll took over the land or whether he is verifying someone else's certificate, but it falls in line with other certificates and suggests that he did assume the land.
Cherokee County was formed in 1831 and Forsyth was cut out of it in 1832. Dennis Carroll does not appear on the listing of the 1831 Oaths of Allegiance to the State of Georgia, permitting signers "to continue residence in that part of the State at present occupied by Cherokee Indians". The only Carrolls on the list are Stephen and William, both listed as single farmers. There is a voters' list from an election on 6 February 1832 in Cherokee, but Dennis is not listed. However, Dennis Carroll was called on 22 June 1833 to serve on the Grand Jury in Forsyth Superior Court for the August 1833 term. This is found on p. 4 of the Cherokee County Superior Court Minutes.
NOTE: The information below about the forming of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church was originally found at the now defunct http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/atl/w/c/wcollin8 - I found a book for sale that may be the same (or the source of the below information), but I'm not sure, it's at Stepping Out on Faith.
According to the History of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church on Thursday August 22, 1833, Rev. Reeves and Manning (along with Rev. George Lumpkin), assisted in constituting Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, the first church constituted in Forsyth County. There were 10 charter members, most from Rutherford NC or Greenville SC. Dennis and Nancy Carroll were among the charter members as well as their 13 year old daughter, Sarah. The pioneer biography given for Dennis and Nancy says, "Dennis probably lived somewhere along the Red Bank Creek (Bannister Creek) near where it joins the Etowah River. Red Bank Creek is located between Mt. Tabor and Nicholson Road." [Note that the Hudson property that Dennis assumed was located on Red Bank River.] The church history also indicate that the church was constituted at Dennis and Nancy's home. The constitution of the church reads:
Constitution of the Baptist Church of Christ at Mount Tabor Meeting House.
Forsyth County, Georgia, August 22nd 1833.
At a meeting appointed by Brothers Jeremiah Reeves and William Manning at Brother Dennis Carroll's. Notice also being given that all brethren who felt a desire to be constituted into a Church was requested to attend, and after divine service by Brothers Manning, George Lumpkin, and Reeves, a Conference was formed. Brother Reeves acted as Moderator and Brother Lumpkin as Secretary. It was moved that such brethren as were desirous to be constituted into a church should hand in their names and Letters. When brothers and sisters Dennis Carroll, Nancy Carroll, Alexander Redmon, Maryann Redmon, letters not present, Daniel Martin, Celia Martin (Colored), John Howell, Jesse Hendrix, Martha Hendrix, Sarah Carroll, letters absent, to whom the following Constitution was read and subscribed.
Jacob Carroll was also a member but was excommunicated 11 April 1843. York and Jack, slaves of Jacob Carroll, are also listed as members who received letters in 1843. As well Sarah Carroll was still a member in 1842, indicating she left sometime after her parents had moved to Murray county. This information was found at 1800's Membership Lists of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church.
The county formations were all happening right at this time, so much of the new Forsyth records are in Cherokee books. However, land records of Cherokee County Georgia show in Book D, p. 256, an entry labeled for Forsyth and dated 18 Mar 1835, recorded 19 March 1839, from Hosea Cole of Fayette to Dennis Carroll of Cherokee, for $40, 160 acres, lot 136 in the 4th District, 2nd Section. The deed was signed by Hosea Cole's attorney in fact, Clark T. Cockburn and witnessed by Russell Cockburn and James Wasdin. It was sworn to in Forsyth by James Wasdin on 3 November 1835.
Dennis Carroll sold this same property on 6 Aug 1835 (recorded 19 November 1839 in Cherokee Deed Book D, p. 524). He is named as Dennis Carroll of Forsyth and sold it to Young Potts of Greenville District, South Carolina. It was signed by Dennis Carroll and witnessed by Russell Cockburn and E. Pinson, sworn in Forsyth County on 3 September 1836 by Russell Cockburn before C. O. Cockburn, J.P. I suspect this was actually C. T. Cockburn. The Carrolls and Cockburns migrated together through Georgia and on to Arkansas, and Dennis and Nancy's daughters married Clark T. and Russell Cockburn. Russell Cockburn was commissioned a JP for Forsyth in Militia District or Section 835 on 27 August 1833 and he married Celia Carroll in Forsyth on 26 October 1834 (Forsyth Marriage Book A, p. 7). Clark T. Cockburn was commissioned a JP in the same district on 23 February 1836.
Land records show Dennis to have moved to Murray County, Georgia. Murray was cut from Cherokee, but these next land entries are today in northeastern Cherokee County:
Book E, p. 294, written 23 December 1836, recorded 27 October 1840, Samuel Hymer of Franklin county to Dennis Carroll of Murray county, for $250, 160 acres, land lot 131 in the 4th District 2nd Section. Witnesses: William May, John Cockburn, and Jabez Bowers, JP [the county where this was executed is not named.]
Book E, p. 295, written 23 January 1837, recorded 19 October 1840, Dennis Carroll of Murray to Young Pots of Cherokee, for $500, 160 acres, land lot 131 4th District 2nd Section. Witnesses C. J. Cockburn, Russell Cockburn. Sworn to in Lumpkin county 26 January 1837 by C. J. Cockburn before Caleb Herndon, JP [again, I think this is probably a transcription error for C. J. Cockburn and that it is probably C. T. Cockburn, I need to check these records directly.]
Dennis and Nancy were definitely in Murray by 17 January 1837 when Dennis served on the Grand Jury. He served again in the court of 1 March 1839, along with more of his in-laws and lateral relations, current and future; the list includes: Samuel Miller, John Cockburn, Jacob Hollifield, David Carroll, Levi Miller, Clark T. Cockburn, and Russell Cockburn. Dennis and Nancy had two more children, William H. b. 1836, and Mary b. 1840, born in Murray.
The 1840 census for Murray County shows:
1 male age 40-49 (Dennis age 46)
1 female 40-49 (Nancy 40-44)
1 male 30-39 (?)
1 male 20-29 (?)
1 male 15-19 (Jacob)
1 male 10-14 (Drury D.)
1 female 5-9 (Martha M. 8)
1 male under 5 (William H. age 4)
1 female under 5 (Mary, an infant).
The slaves enumerated for this family are 1 male 10-24, 1 female 24-36, 1 female under 10.
Near this family is David Carroll age 30-39 and 1 female age 30-39 and 1 female under 5. Also here are Levi and Sally (Love) Miller, the parents of Martha M. Carroll's future husband, James Levi Miller.
Write-ups of the Cockburn family say that the two families, Cockburn and Carroll, "were established along the old Federal Road in what is now Cisco in northern Murray County." [from the Murray County Heritage, 1987]. When Sharon Academy was established in 1841 Dennis Carroll was one of the trustees according to the same book. There is also a mention of a Mr. Carroll's house at Sumach, which is a bit southwest of Cisco, so I don't know if this refers to our Dennis. Their son Jacob married Mahala Williamson on 8 March 1841 in Murray.
Dennis appears many times in the court records of Murray County. In order to maintain this writing in chronological order, I have put all the entries from several court books in order by date. I am also including other lateral names, although I was by no means consistent in taking notes on them. I have not indicated here which court [I may have to fix this later!], but the facts that follow are taken from these books that I read in the Murray County courthouse at Chatsworth in July 1999 [glorious fun, better than reading films, but long days!]:
One thing I was struck by in reading all these records: here, as elsewhere, everybody is suing everybody all the time. However, it usually evens out in terms of people being plaintiffs and defendants. Dennis Carroll only shows up one time suing someone on his own account!
Goodspeed's Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas, 1891, gives Dennis Carroll and Lewis Carrol as prominent early settlers of Caddo Cove municipal township in the southern part of county. Dennis Carroll doesn't show up in the records until 1847, but we can more accurately date their arrival by his son Jacob who was a viewer of a road in July of 1846. Also Jacob's son Thomas was born between mid-1845 and mid-1846 according to the census.
The Circuit Court records show that in August 1847 Dennis Carroll was called for Grand Jury but didn't have to serve. At this time juries were not called ahead of time, but rather by: "The following persons were selected from the bystanders to wit..... and to serve as --jurors for and during the present term of 16 good and lawful men house-holders or free holders of the County of Montgomery." On 7 February 1848 Dennis Carroll was summoned for the Grand Jury and sworn in..."The said Dennis Carroll as foreman and the others as other members of the grand jury...." This court seems to have met on Sunday, as the next day's entries are dated Monday, 8 February (and Dennis Carroll was still serving).
There is an error in the County Court book: the index shows that on 11 March 1847?, $2.00 was paid to Dennis Carroll for Grand Jury duty. The page is shown as 122 and that's what the page is about, but Dennis isn't on it, and also this page is for the year 1848. Next in the County Court on Wednesday 5 July 1848, at 9am, it was ordered by the court that "....Dennis Carroll of Gap Township [and others] are appointed as Judges of election at the next general election." Later that year, Dennis and Nancy's daughter, Martha married James L. Miller on 10 Dec 1848. James was 23 and from Polk County, Martha was 16. They were married by Wiley Rogers, a Minister of the Gospel.
The Montgomery Tax Records exist for 1849 -1867 [N.B. Tax records were almost always for the year before]. The 1849 list shows:
Carrold [sic], Jacob 1 poll, 1 horse/mare $35, 3 Neat Cattle $24, total $54, state tax $0.13, county tax $0.13
Carroll Denes, 1 poll, 334a $1572, 3 town lots $15, 4 slaves >5<60 $1600, 2 horse/mare $80, 1 mule $40, 9 Neat cattle $75, total value of property [this is hard to figure, it crosses two columns, but does it for everybody, so I think it's...] $3482 [something's off by $100], state tax 8.70, county 8.70
The Cockburns and James L. Miller (Dennis and Nancy's other son-in-law) are also on all these lists. I'm not giving all their information except in some cases where it mentions Dennis.
Dennis was next called on 2 April 1849 to serve the next term on a County Court Grand Jury. At the end of 1849 he entered various land patents with the state. These were entered on the 1st of November of 1849 and are as follows:
AR1210.365, Doc #5351, Cash Entry; SWNW, Secton 33, Township 4S, Range 25W, 37.370 acres;
AR1210.366, Doc #5352, Cash Entry; NESE, Secton 32, Township 4S, Range 25W, 40.000 acres;
AR1210.367, Doc #5353, Cash Entry; NWSE, Secton 32, Township 4S, Range 25W, 40.000 acres;
AR1210.368, Doc #5354, Cash Entry; SWNE, Secton 32, Township 4S, Range 25W, 40.000 acres;
There is a Plat Book "B" for Montgomery County labeled as "1840s". The plat for the western half of Township 4 South shows these and other of Dennis Carroll's lands marked with his name. I have put a red dot on areas where his and other related names show up; the green dot is where Hopper is located on road 240. Township 4 South is on the southern boundary of Montgomery County, Norman is one mile to the north of the limits and Caddo Gap is on its northeastern boundary. Currently I leave it to the reader to interpret and locate the quarter section descriptions of the above patents and other land transactions that are described later in this write-up! The image is 120k and may take a bit to download (about 25 seconds at a 50k connection speed); you may want to open it in a new window, size and move it to where you can flip back and forth more easily. If you wish to see this map in a new window, Click Here. There are also some pictures of Sections 31 and 32 in this area.
Later that month, on 24 November 1849 John Hopper sold to Dennis Carroll, for $15, Lots 3, 4, 5, Block or Square 3 in the town of Montgomery in the county of Montgomery, "said lots were located by the commissioners 15 May 1844, confirmed 8 July 1845; said town of Montgomery is laid off on the sw1/4 of nw1/4 of sec 24 in twp 2 south of range 25 west of the third principle mareadian [sic] entered by Robert McConnell 12 April 1845 at the land office in Washintgon in Hempsted co. This entry is 40 acres: 50 [?ft] wide in front of the public square running back 117 feet as shown by town plat made 28 May 1844 and recorded in BkA25." This deed was recorded 4 October 1854 in Book C, p. 316.
Dennis and Nancy deeded on 11 February 1850 to Clark T. Cockburn for $120, 40 acres, the NW1/4 of SE1/4 sec 32 twp 25 west of the fifth principle Medridian [sic]; 37.37 acres, the SW1/4 of NW1/4 of sec 23 in twp 4 of range 25 west; 40 acres, the SE1/4 of SE1/4 of sec32 in twp4 south of range 25 west; 40 acres, the SW1/4 of NE1/4 of sec 32 in twp4 south of range 25 west lying on the south fork of the Caddo supposed to be 90a. Nancy relinquished her dower rights in this deed and it was recorded 29 November 1850 in Book C, p. 19. [I took the land entries from a transcribed source and no doubt made my own errors in abstracting the original deed books, so some of the lots correspond, some don't. Dennis may have entered others that aren't recorded as well.]
At the April term 1850 of the County Court Dennis Carroll and Clark T. Cockburn were called as Grand jurors at next term. Then on the 16th of September 1850, 3rd Monday, at the Circuit Court at Salem, among the Grand Jurors was "Dennis Carroll, who was sworn as foreman of said Grand Jury". Clark T. Cockburn was on this same jury. The 1850 census for Montgomery County, Gap Township, p. 388, Dwelling and Family #17 shows:
Dennis Carroll, 56, a farmer, real estate valued at $1500, b. SC [this is a provable error]
Nancy Carroll, 50, b. NC
Drury Carroll, 21, b. NC
William, 14, b. GA
Mary, 10, b. GA
Samuel Kizer, 20, a mason, b. TN
They are living 2 families away from their daughter and son-in-law Martha and James L. Miller and their first child, Arthur William 9 months old, and about 17 families away from their son Jacob, his wife Mahala and their children. The 1850 Slave Schedules for Gap Twp show Dennis Carroll with 1 black female-50, 1 black male-50, 1 black male-22, 1 mulatto female-17. C. T. Cockburn is listed with 1 black female-20, 1 mulatto female-6, 1 mulatto male-4. Russell Cockburn is shown with 1 black female-21, 1 black female-2/12
Again on the tax lists of 1850 is:
Carrold [sic] Denis 1 poll, E1/s NW 31 4S 25W $74.56, W1/2 SW 30 4S 25W $103.36, total val of land and improvements $1000, 3 town lots $60, 4 slaves >5<60 $1700, 1 distillery $150, 2 horse/mare over 2 yrs $100, 8 neat cattle over 2 yrs $87, total val of property $3097, state tax $7.75, county tax 7.75
Cockburn, C. T. [Denis Carrold is in 1st column as original owners of lands taxed], the lands are SW-- NE 32 4S 25W and SW-- NW 33 4S 25W [doesn't say if it's 1/4 or 1/2]
There is no tax list for 1851, but the 1852 list shows:
Carroll Dennis 1 poll, NE SE 32 4S 25W 40a $400, 1 town lot $20, 4 slaves >5<60 $2000, 1 horse/mare over 2 $50, 7 neat cattle over 2 $100, total $1570, state 5.14, county 7.43
Carroll William 1 poll, W1/4 SW 31 4S 25W 100a $500, 1 town lot $20, 1 horse/mare over 2 $30, 1 mule $60, total $610, state 1.22, county 2.53
William Carroll wasn't 21 yet, so it's not clear why he's polled, these lists aren't like the older days when county taxes started at 16 and state at 21. Even though he owned land he shouldn't be listed as a poll. This is done correctly in the 1853 taxes below, so it just must have been an error.
Miller James [1st column - original owner is Dennis Carroll], 1 poll, SE SE 31 4S 25W 40a $120, 1 horse/mare $65, 4 neat cattle $32, total $217, state $0.44, county $1.55
Montgomery County, Our Heritage has a listing of store accounts that shows in1851 Drury D. Carroll owed 25 cents for a vial of fragrance. We also know from the marriage books that Drury D. Carroll at age 21 was married in Montgomery by Thos Farr, JP, on 13 February 1851 to E. C. Fleming, age 16. I wish the date was more specific on the purchase, was it part of the courtship or a wedding present?!?! Dennis and Nancy's other children were also married in Montgomery. William H. Carroll, age 18 (by consent of his parents), married Lucy Ann McDonald, age 18, on 20 Mar 1853. C. H. Smith, JP married them. Mary Carroll, age 14, married William Boyel, age 23 from Polk County. They were married 22 October 1854 by William F. Bates, a Minister of the Gospel. William and Lucy Ann had a son Drury sometime in late 1854, early 1855. Again in the store accounts mentioned, in 1856 Wm. H. Carroll paid 75 cents for infant shoes.
The 1853 tax lists show:
Carroll William, no poll, W1/4 SW 31 4S 25W 100a $500, 1 town lot $20, 1 mule $90, 2 neat cattle $20, total 630, state and county 1.575 [1.57 1/2]
Carroll Dennis, no poll, NE SE 32 4S 25W 40a $400, 1 town lot $20, 4 slaves >5<60 $2000, 2 horse/mare $150, 8 neat cattle $110, total$2680, state and county each $6.70
This helps date Dennis' birth, he is no longer a poll at age 60. However, Drury D. Carroll doesn't show up in these lists; family information says he died in the mid 1850s, but I haven't confirmed it.
Carroll Jacob, 1 poll, SE SW 25 4S 26W 40a $400, 1 horse/mare $35, 5 neat cattle $50, total $485, state 1.21 1/4, county 2.21 1/4
Miller J. L. (original owner was Dennis Carroll), 1 poll, SE SE 31 4S 25W 40a $120, 2 horse/mare $100, 3 neat cattle $20, total $240, state $0.60, county $1.60
Some ten months after William H. Carroll married, his parents deeded to him for $450, 80 acres, the E1/2 of NW1/4 of section 31 in twp 4 south of range 25. Nancy relinquished her dower rights. This deed was executed before Clark T. Cockburn, J.P. It was written on 14 January 1854 and recorded 13 September 1854 in Book C, p. 311.
The next recorded land transaction is in Book C, p. 321, written 1 November 1854 and recorded 2 November 1854. Elizabeth Eplin and other heirs of Louis Eplin, a person of unsound mind, sold to Dennis Carroll for $1000, 40 acres, the SW1/4 of SW1/4 of sec 26 in twp 2 south of range 25 west; and 40 acres, the SE1/4 of SE1/4 of sec 27 in twp 2 south of range 25 west. There is described tons of quitclaim by the heirs for $5 each. [Note: the first of these plots is described in Dennis' will.]
The tax lists for 1854 show:
Carroll Dennis no poll, NE SE 32 4S 25W 40a $300,1 town lot $25, 3 slave $2000, 1 distillery $100, 1 horse/mare $50, 9 neat cattle $110, total $2585, state and county $6.46 1/4 each.
Carroll Wm no poll, [I didn't take all his information, he has 3 land entries].
Again on 1 March 1855, Dennis Carroll patented two more lots with the state:
AR1230.132, Doc #6168, Cash Entry; SWSW, Section 20, Township 4S, Range 25W, 40.000 acres;
Jacob Carroll also entered this patent on the same date:
AR1230.133, Doc #6169, Cash Entry; SESW, Section 25, Township 4S, Range 25W, 40.000 acres;
Drury D. Carroll also entered this patent on the same date:
AR1220.313, Doc #5803, Cash Entry; SENW, Section 33, Township 4S, Range 25W, 37.390 acres;
Recorded in Book C, page 456 is a deed written 6 July 1855 from Dennis and Nancy to Druallen Wallace for $100, 40 acres SW [left out 1/4] of SW1/4 of sec 20 in twp 4 south of range 25. Nancy relinquished her dower rights. This is recorded by Clark T. Cockburn and in the proof and relinquishment he says it is "Jacob" and "Mohala" in the absence of her husband. This deed was recorded 7 July 1855. The next deed, p. 457 is a correction, this time with Dennis and Nancy proving and relinquishing the deed.
On the same day 7 July 1855 Dennis Carroll as guardian of William H. Carroll, a minor, appointed by Probate Court 5 July 1855, sold to Druallen Wallace for $450 due on 25 December 1855 and $150 due on 25 December 1856 and $150 due on 25 December 1857, 80 acres, the E1/2 of NW1/4 of section 31 in twp 4 south of range 25; and 40 acres, the NW1/4 of NE1/4 of [section] 31 in twp 4 south of range 25 west. Lucy Ann Carroll, wife of William H. Carroll, relinquished her dower. This was recorded 7 July 1855 in Book C, p. 459. [William had married at 17 and was 19 here. I have not found him being granted or patenting the second lot in this deed, I think if it were Lucy Ann's the deed would explain the chain of title.]
The 1855 tax lists show:
Carroll W. H. 1 poll, no land descr but 100a $830, no livestock, total $830, state $2.12 1/2, county $3.12 1/2
Jacob Carroll [didn't get info]
Dennis Carroll is not on this list. This is right around the time when they are moving from Township 4 in the south of the county to Township 2 near Mt. Ida.
Dennis Carroll next sold to D. A. Wallace for $400, 80 acres, the W1/2 of SSW1/4 [sic SSW] of sec 30 in twp 4 south of range 25 west. Nancy relinquished. This was written on 22 March 1856 and recorded in Book C, p. 571 [I missed noting the recording date?]
The next deed is Book C, p. 639, written on 15 July 1856, from James R. Stall to Dennis Carroll for $650, the ne1/4 of sw1/4 of sec 23 and the s1/2 of the nw1/4 of sec 23 of twp 2 south of range 25 west, reserving and excepting all that portion of said se1/4 of nw1/4 of sec 23 of twp 2 south of range 25 west commencing at the North East corner of said tract thence ---ing west 24 rods to a stake thence south 44 rods to the south fork of the Ouachita river, thence down said river 24 rods to a stake, thence North 44 rods to the beginning as exhibited by a deed executed by the said James A. Stall to John Cook dated 27 Jan 1855; Stall also conveys to Dennis Carroll 7 acres, the sw1/4 of the ne1/4 of sec 23 twp 2 south of range 25 west that lies on the south side of the south fork of the Ouahcita River, reserving and excepting the channel of said River for the purposes and privelige [sic] of a mill Pond which reserve dose [sic] extend through all of the afore-granted preises. Eliza Stall relinquishes. This was recorded on 16 August 1856.
The tax lists for 1856 list:
Carroll Wm, 2 entries, 0 poll
Carroll Dennis no poll, SE SE sec27 twp2 rng28 40a, NW NW 35 2 28 [this must be my error they are in Range 25 west] 40a, SW SE 25? 2 28 40a, another with no description, but 37a, all valued $2600, 2? slaves $2400, 2 mules $200, 8 neat cattle $121, total 5321, state and county each 10.80
The last deed I have found for Dennis and Nancy in Montgomery County is in Book D, p. 51. Dennis sold the above two pieces of land to his son, William H. Carroll on 3 February 1857. This deed was executed at the township of Sulphur Springs, whereas the previous ones were at Mt. Ida. The cost was $800 and the total acreage is given as 166 acres. Nancy relinquished her dower rights and the witnesses were D. A. Woolard, John Voils. This deed was recorded on 24 February 1857 at 9 o'clock in the morning.
The 1857 tax lists show:
Carroll William 3 entries, 1 poll... [William has now turned 21]
Carroll J. C. 1 poll....
Carroll Dennis no poll: SW SW 26 2 25, NW SW 26 2 25
NE SE 27 2 25 120a, SW SW 26 2 25 40a, SE SE 27 2 25 40a, SE SE 25 2 25 40a, NW NE 26 2 25 40a, NW NW 25 2 25 40a, total land $2500, 3 slaves >5<60 $2800, the 120a has 1 distiller $200, 2 horse/mare $120, 2 mules $170, 12 neat cattle $132, total $587, state 9.085, county 3.522, the SE SE 25 2 25 has 1 distillery no value written, 1 horse/mare $100, 6 neat cattle $55, total 109 1/6, state 2.63 3/4, county 6.55
Dennis and Nancy's son-in-law, Clark T. Cockburn, husband to Sarah Carroll, died on 26 June 1856. He left no will and Sarah Cockburn and her father Dennis were granted administration of the estate on 7 July 1856. The probate of the estate is quite extensive and Dennis Carroll signed several of the various papers. Some of the highlights include:
---Dennis allotted $150 widow's allowance to Sarah Cockburn on 20 August 1856.
---There is then a sale bill of 30 August 1856; in many of the sales bills Dennis assumed the notes for several Cockburns and Carrolls. These sales were generally called "crying sales" in the papers.
---Dennis himself bought: 1 Grind Stone for $1.50, 4 bulls for $10.00, $15.00, $7.50, $6.00; 1 Jenny for $50.00, 1 lot Fodder for $0.50, 150 Bushels Wheat at $1.00 for $150.00.
---15 Sep 1858 Sarah Cockburn admrx and Dennis Carroll admr of Clark T. Cockburn deceased Plffs vs. Stephen H. Coldin, John Coleman and John H. Wagoner Defts. Trespass on premises. This day came John Coleman and Stephen H. Coldin two of the defendants herein by Attorney and on Case of the Court had files [sic] their seprate [sic] pleas herein.
---Another suit by Sarah (Carroll) Cockburn and Dennis Carroll against Goldin is for a defective mare, the court found in favor of Goldin, calling the "concealment not a legal fraud".
---15 September 1858, Sarah and Dennis as plaintiffs....."judged by the Court that said Plaintiffs have an interlocutory Judgement against said John H. Wagoner and this cause is continued."
---Fri 8am 17 Sep 1858 - Sarah and Dennis again - in list of cases, #39
---Fri 8am 17 Sep 1858 - in list of cases, #56: James M. Anderson Plff vs. Dennis Carroll Deft. Appeal from J.P. [I could not determine if this was still part of the Cockburn probate.]
---Dennis Carroll had given Sarah some slaves and there was action to keep them out of her husband's probate. The following slaves were listed in the estate and only one (Kiz) is named by Dennis in his will to Sarah so I don't know if the others were given by her father or not: one negro woman, one negro boy called Joseph, one negro girl called Jane. In later parts, the slaves are listed as Kiz, age about 28, Jane about 16, boy Jo about 14 [this latter listing in an 1861 page]. But these correspond to the slaves listed in the 1860 schedules for Sarah Cockburn [Sarah Cockburn, South Fork Township: 1 black female age 29, 1 mulatto female age 15, 1 mulatto male age 12].
In the 1858 tax lists are listed:
Carroll Dennis no poll, SW NW 27 2 25, W SW 27 2 25, NE SE 27 2 25 120a, SE SE 27 2 25, NW NW 25 2 25 40a, SW SW 26? 2 25 40a, total land $2000, the last entry has 3 slaves >5<60 $2400, 1 horse/mare $60, 1 mule $125, 18 neat cattle $170, total $4755, state 11.88 3/4, county 7.92 3/6
W. H. Carroll, Jacob Carroll, estate of C. T. Cockburn, Russell Cockburn are all there
Then the 1859 tax lists (for 1858) show: Carroll Dennis no poll , no description but 240a $3000, 1 horse/mare $30, 2 mules $200, 12 neat cattle $150, total $6400, state 16.00, county 10.66 4/6
The following year, 1859, Dennis Carroll died, on 25 July. He was reported as having been ill for 69 days, which would indicate he fell sick in the middle of May. William F. Bates reported in the Southern Baptist Messenger of his death, saying he was born in North Carolina in 1793, was baptized by Drury Dobbin in 1820, served as a deacon in Georgia, was age 66 and residing in Montgomery at the time of his death, leaving a widow and children. The 1860 Arkansas Mortality Schedule also reported that he was age 66, but born in South Carolina, and that he died of a congestive chill.
Dennis left a will which he had written on 26 April 1858. It was examined and proved and recorded at the October 1859 term of court in Probate Book A, pp. 107-111. The witnesses to the will, David Woolard and John M. Simpson, attested to the will in court. I have also inserted a map from 1841 marked with the lands described and an excursus about the errors therein. The will reads:
In the name of God amen I Dennis Carroll of the County of Montgomery in the State of Arkansas, Farmer, being in good bodily health, and of sound an disposing mind and memory, calling to mind the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs and directing how the estate with which it has pleased god [sic] to bless me with shall be disposed of after my decease which I have strength and capacity so to do Make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other wills and Testaments by me heretofore made, and hereby specially revoking and making null and void a will and testament made by me on the 6th day of October AD 1854 witnessed by James H. may and William B. Maddox and a will and testament made by me on the twenty sixth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six witnessed by Franville Whittington and Wm. F. Bates. A first I commend my immortal being to Him who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried by my Executrix hereinafter named. And as to my worldly estate and all the property real, personal and mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed or to which I shallbe entitled at the time of my death [crossed out] decease. I devise bequeath and dispose of thereof in the manner following to wit:Dennis' name still appears after his death on a few more actions in the court books, some to do with the continuing probate of Clark T. Cockburns' estate.
Imprimis - My will is that my just debts and funeral charges shall be paid by my executrix herein after named out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall by her be found convenient. - Item I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Nancy Carroll the use improvement and income and benefit of the remainder and residue of my estate real personal and mixed whatsoever and wheresoever of what nature kind and quality [--] the same may be after the payment of all my just debts funeral charges and legasies [sic] or bequests payable in money hereinafter bequeathed to have and to hold the same to her for and during her natural life. The said Nancy Carroll to use and dispose of the same (however, specially excepting from being alienated by her the said slaves and real estate herein after named described devised and bequeathed in any manner whatever) in such way and manner as she may think proper for the advancement of the estate and for her support and comfort without any disturbance [--] hindrance or control of any of my [--] or of any person whatsoever. And what remains undisposed of at the time of her death I do hereby will and devise and bequeath as hereinafter directed to wit -
Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Celia now the wife of Russell Cockburn the sum of five dollars which with the gift of a female slave named Lind heretofore made by me to her (and which said gift including the children borne by said Slave) i now confirm to her absolutely (and other -- -- heretofore made by me to her, I declare and hereby will to be her equitable share of my estate.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah now the widow of Clark T. Cockburn deceased the sum of Five dollars which with the gift of a female slave named Kiz heretofore made by me to her (and which said gift including the children borne by said slave I now confirm to her absolutley) and other -- -- heretofore made by me to here, I declare to be her equitable share of my estate.
Item - I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Drury Ann Carroll the sum of Five dolars and the reversion or remainder of one third of my house hold and kitchen furniture and other articles of used [sic] in house keeping that may remain undisposed at the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll to have and to hold the said house hold furniture and other articles used in house keeping from and after the death of my wife Nancy Carroll to her the said Drury Ann Carroll to her use and benefit forever.
Item - I give devise and bequeath to my sons Jacob C. Carroll and William H. Carroll the reversion or remainder of my real estate situate in the county of Montgomery in the state of Arkansas, to wit - the south west quarter of the south west quarter, the south west quarter of the North west quarter And the North west quarter of the south west quarter of section number twenty six - The South East [sic, quarter not written] of the south west quarter and the North east quarter of the south east quarter of section number Twenty seven; and the North west quarter of section number Thirty five all situate in Township number Two South of Range number twenty five west and containing together Two hundred and forty acres of land as exhibited by the Survey plats of the United States land, and the appurtenances thereto belonging and all the proffits [sic] income and advantage that may result therefrom from and after the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll; to have and to hold the same to the said Jacob Carroll and William H. Carroll to their use and behoof forever. And I also give devise and bequeath to my said sons Jacob C. Carroll and William H. Carroll the reversion or remainder of my three Male Slaves named Jake, David and Fredrik and all the profits income and advantages that may result therefrom and after the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll to have and to hold the same to the said Jacob C. Carroll and William H. Carroll their heirs and assigns from and after the death [decease written above] of my wife Nancy Carroll to their use and behoof forever.
-------
MY INSERTION: This map is not in the will, it is from Plat Book B of Montgomery County; the book is labeled "1840s" and this plat was recorded 30 September 1841. I have put red dots at the centers of the 40 acre plots described, with a larger one on the quarter section given. This land is written as being 240 acres in the will, but what is described is 360 acres. I haven't found any records of any problems or corrections made about this, nor have I traced the titles to find the actual land that Jacob C. and William H. Carroll eventually owned. The only deed I have found for any of this land is the Eplin deed of 1854 in Book C, p. 321: it covers the Southwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of section 26. The dotted road in the map is very close to what is today road 27 going down to Norman. Mt. Ida town limits have grown into including the Northeast quarter of section 26.
-------BACK TO THE WILL AS RECORDED
Item - I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Martha now the wife of James L. Miller the reversion or remainder of my female Slave named Eliza and also the reversion or remainder of one third of my house hold furniture and other articles used in house keeping that may remain undisposed of at the time of the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll and all the profits income and advantage that may result therefrom from and after the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll to have and to hold the same to the said Martha Miller her heirs and assigns from and after the death [crossed out] decease of my wife Wife [sic] Nancy Carroll.
Item - I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Mary now the wife of William Voyles the reversion or remainder of my female Slave named Manda and also the reversin or remainder of one third of my house hold furniture and other articles used in house keeping that may remain undisposed of at the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll and all the profits income and advantage that may result therefrom from and after the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll to have and to hold the same to the said Mary Voials [sic] her heirs and assigns from and after the decease of my wife Nancy Carroll to her use and behoof forever.
Item - And all the rest and residur of my estate real personal or mixed or Whatever of nature or kind Whatsoever not herein hertofore given devised or bequeather of which I shall die seized or possessed of which I shall be entitled at the time of my death i give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Nancy Carroll absolutely in addition to what I have herein heretofor [sic] given devised and bequeathed to her to be disposed of by her according to her own free will and pleasure. And I hereby declare that the devises and bequests herein heretofore made to my wife Nancy Carroll are intended to be and are so made to her in full satisfaction and recompence of and for her dower and thirds and all other allowances made to widows in which or can or in any wise claim or demand out of my estate Viz -- of or under the laws of the State of Arkansas or those of any other state or Country.
Lastly - I do hereby appoint my wife the said Nancy Carroll to be executrix of this my last will and Testament and I will and ordain that my said executrix shall pay the [?monied] legacies herein bequeathed and the said legatees as soon as She conveniently can after my decease and I do also will and ordain and expressly declare and devise that my said executrix shall not be required to give Bond and security for the execution of the trust hereby repose in and conferred on her and I do hereby expressly exempt her therefrom. And I further will and ordain that my said executrix Shall not be charged or be chargable or made accountable as such executrix with other than my just debts funeral charges and monied bequests herein before by me made or with or for any loss or waste which shall hapen of my said estate of which I shall die seized or possessed other than the said debts funeral charges and monied bequests herein before named and the slaves and real estate as herein Devised and bequeathed in remainder to the said Jacob C. Carroll, William H. Carroll, Martha Miller and Mary Voials.
In testimony whereof I the said Dennis Carroll have to this my last will and testament contained on four pages of paper and to ever [sic] page thereof subscribed my name and to this the last page thereof I have subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 26th [crossed out] twenty sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & fifty eight. Dennis Carroll {seal}
Later on Wednesday, the 8th of November 1859, there was filed: "Estate of Dennis Carroll Deceased - On this day came the clerk of this Court and presented the claim of F. Thompson against said estate for the sum of one hundred and thirty one dollars and seventy cents for allowance and classification which said claim on examination was allowed and classed in the first class of claims."
On the 7th of March 1860, case #56, James M. Amerson [sic] vs. Nancy Carrol as excx of Dennis Carroll decd. Appeal. This day came the parties by their respective attorneys and on motion of said plaintiff this cause is continued at his cost for want of the testimony of Matthew Harbin.
Again on the same day, case #56, same parties, "Came the parties by their respective attorneys and by consent the continuance heretofore granted herein is set aside and both parties announced themselves ready for trial herein and by consent this cause ws submitted to the court and the court after hearing the evidence and argument of counsel, found for said defendant. - It is therefore considered by the court that said defendant have and recover of said plaintiff all her cost in and about this suit in this behalf expended."
There is no tax list for 1860, but Nancy Carroll was in South Fork Township for the 1860 census, on p. 14, dwelling #113, family #97:
Nancy Carroll, age 64, Keeps House, real estate valued $2500, personal property valued at $1469, b. North Carolina
Also in the household was William Arrington, age 68, Farm Lab[orer], born North Carolina
The Slave Schedule for Nancy Carroll show 1 black male age 32, 1 mulatto female age 26, 1 mulatto female age 6, 1 mulatto male age 1.
Nancy's sons Jacob and William H. Carroll and their families are living very close by and are enumerated on the same page. Both have sons named Drury, so the granddaughter of Dennis' will, Drury Ann Carroll, must be the daughter of Drury Carroll who had died in the mid-1850s.
Nancy is now listed in the tax lists of 1861:
Carroll Nancy, no poll, SW NW 26 2 25, NW SW 26 2 25, NE SE 27 2 25 120a, NW NW 35 2 25 40a, Se SW 26 2 25 40a, Se SW 27 2 25 40a, last entry has total land value $2000, 4 slaves>5<60 $2800, 2 mules $250, 11 neat cattle $160, total $5210, state 8.68, county $13.02, [both taxes have superscript 2, other numbers in other entries]
next is W. H. and J. C. Carroll
The tax lists are again missing until 1865, which is a shame, those years would help date when Nancy either died or left the county. In 1865 there is listed only J. C. Carroll, there is no list for 1866, and in 1867 there is only Jacob Carroll. This does indicate that William H. Carroll may have left the county by by 1864 (he's not in the list of 1865). The 1865 listing for Jacob Carroll shows:
Carroll J. C. 1 poll, SW SW 26 2 25, NW SW 26 2 23 [sic, but?], NE SE 27 2 25 120a, NW SW 25 2 25 40a, SE SW 26 2 25 40a, SE SW 27 2 25 40a, total land $720, 2 horses $100, 2 mules $150, 8 cattle $80, total $1050, state $10.50, no county listed on anybody
[I believe there must be a transcription error, because it would appear that Jacob C. Carroll is taxed for all the land left in Dennis' will, although the descriptions are a little off. This also suggests that William H. Carroll has left the area. This also gives us an almost certain death date for Nancy Carroll of 1861-64, unless she left the area. Again, what a shame about those missing tax lists!
There is much more information about Dennis and Nancy's children in the records, but two things are of especial interest. Between September of 1859 and January of 1862 William H. Carroll was charged 4 times with Assault and Battery. He pleaded guilty to the first three counts and was fined; he pleaded not guilty to the fourth and was found not guilty by the court. And Jacob C. Carroll signed the Amnesty Oath on 7 October 1865. [There is only a recorded copy and it has too much bleed through to be readably scanned. It says: "I Jacob C. Carroll of Montgomery County State of Arkansas do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God that I will henceforth faithfully support Protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of States thereunder and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the Existing Rebellion with Reference to Slaves So help me God." By late that year individual oaths were not recorded, but lists of those who took it were recorded. Dennis and Nancy's sons-in-law and other in-laws also took the oath: A. W. Miller on the 14th of December, James L. Miller and S. P. Miller on the 22nd, and Russell Cogburn on the 29th of January 1866.
Nancy Carroll is not in the 1870 census for Arkansas and I don't have any evidence to suggest she had moved out of the state. I have not found any record of the graves of Dennis or Nancy Carroll in Montgomery and can only determine that Nancy probably died sometime between late 1860 and late 1864.
Go to Dennis Carroll and Nancy Waggoner's family group sheet.
Go to the Table of Contents.
){kind=link}