Medlin-Cowley-Stewart Relationships

 Trying to figure out the relationships between the Medlin, Cowley, Leaver, and Stewart families (Tennessee) was more than a little confusing.  The diagram below helps while working on these families and their relationships to each other.  Harrison Stewart and Samuel Medlin are direct ancestors in our family.  Both the Medlin and Stewart families were originally from the Putnam County, Tennessee area.  Our branch of the Medlin family moved to the Nashville area in the 1840s.

 Corrections and additions welcomed. 🙂

Murder in the Family

Murder mysteries seem to be very popular on TV and in books, but finding a murder within the family can be a little scary!  Happy Halloween👻💀🎃

Murder of Fred Kibbe

Fred Kibbe (our relative) and Albert Hilpot were found murdered on September 17, 1910 at an abandoned stage station on the Fort Apache road.  Kibbe, 22 years old, was a businessman from Globe, Arizona, where he owned a grocery store.  He had married in 1908 to Martha Whalley and they had a year old baby daughter.
On Monday September 12, Kibbie and Hilpot left Globe on a deer hunting trip into the White Mountains in Arizona.  They found shelter at Montano, a stage station which had recently been abandoned on the Fort Apache road.  On September 17, their bodies were found by a teamster hauling passengers from Fort Apache to Rice.  Kibbe and Hilpot had been shot in the head and robbed of all their possessions, including their horses.

Arizona Republic, Saturday, 17 Sep 1910, page 1.

Two ex-cavalry men, James Steele (whose real name was John Goodwin) and William Stewart, from Fort Apache were suspected. The fugitives were pursued by Globe Sheriff Thompson, several deputies, hounds, and Indian trackers.  After a six-day chase and many miles from the scene of the killing, Steele and Steward were apprehended.

Most Cold-Blooded Murder in Eastern Arizona

Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona) - 28 Sep 1910 - Page 5

Steele and Steward confessed to the killing but said it was self-defense.  Later they blamed each other for the killing.  After years of court cases, both men were finally hanged for the murder of Kibbe and Hilpot.
Fred Kibbe was the son of William A Kibbe and Laura Jackman.  Laura Jackman was the daughter of W H Jackman and Sarah McNeil (sister of our ancestor, William S McNeil).

Updated information on the Fred Kibbe murder can be found in a news article about the murder published in 1945, click here.

Another family member was murdered in the Arizona mountains - Thomas Box was murdered in the Dos Cabezas Mountains in 1883.  To read, click here.

Murder of Fred H Baldwin

World War II Veteran

Fred Harmon Baldwin, born 26 September 1898 in Throckmorton, Texas, was the son of C. R. Baldwin and Della Choate.  When he was 27 years old, Fred married Geneva Estella Tyer.  She died the same year after giving birth to their daughter, Geneva Estella Baldwin.   Fred and his new baby daughter moved in with his parents.  Fred joined the Army Air Forces during WWII and after he was discharged in 1944, he got a job as a security guard at the South Plains Army Air Field in Lubbock County.  On December 15, 1946, Fred stopped at a steak house to get some dinner after leaving work.  He had a half-month's salary in his wallet, along with $50 his mother had given him.  After leaving the restaurant, Fred was attacked and robbed.  His death was caused by blunt force upon the head, and his empty wallet was found next to his body.

Lubbock Evening Journal, Monday, December 16, 1946

Fred H Baldwin was the son of C R Baldwin and the grandson of Francis Marion Baldwin.

Murder of Riley C Medlin

One night five days before Christmas 1932, two men entered a small grocery in Nashville owned by Riley C Medlin.  Medlin was in the back room off the grocery, eating with his family.  One of the men called him to come forward into the grocery.  Medlin picked up his shot gun and walked forward.  Upon seeing the shotgun, one of the men raised a pistol and shot Riley Medlin in the center of his forehead while his wife looked on.  The men who entered the grocery ran away. It is not known if they were ever apprehended and charged with the murder.
Riley C Medlin (1873-1932) was the son of Isaac Pinkney Medlin and Mary Evaline Leaver, and the grandson of Samuel Medlin and Rebecca Morgan.  He married Mamie Lillian Randalls and they were the parents of seven children.  The youngest two daughters, Pearl and Ruth, were at the back of the grocery when their father was murdered.

The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Wednesday, December 21, 1932

Murder Strikes Again in the Medlin Family

45 years Later

Riley Medlin's son, Elliot Columbus Medlin,  owner of the Happy Grill in Nashville was killed by a shotgun blast to the back of his head during a robbery at the restaurant.  A Tennessee State Prison escapee and two other men were charged with the murder.

Murder of Willie Cowley

Sometimes murder is committed by a family member which makes it even more horrific.  And, sometimes murder can be self defense.  Willie Cowley died after being hit over the head with an axe by his brother-in-law, John Heflin.  John Heflin was arrested and charged with murder.  But Heflin's father-in-law (and the father of the victim) posted bond.  Apparently, Cowley and Heflin became engaged in an argument over the division of crop money.  Cowley made several lunges at Heflin with his fists and then pulled out his knife to attack, whereupon Heflin snatched an axe from the ground and struck out in self-defense.  Members of the family said that Cowley had been hauling his and Heflin's crops to Nasville, selling them and spending most of the money on drinking.  When Heflin insisted on a fair division of the money an argument followed which resulted in Cowley's death.

Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Thursday, October 22, 1931 - Page 1 

Whistle While You Work

Robert H "Babe" Cowley

Whistled While He Worked

Cowley's Ferry was on the Cumberland River 15 miles above Nashville, located at the mouth of Stones River.  The ferry was started in the 1850's by John B Cowley.  The early ferry was pulled by oars.  After John retired, his son, Robert H "Babe" Cowley operated the ferry.

In 1948, when Babe Cowley turned 85 years old, his daughter-in-law submitted the following tribute to the "Top O'the Mornin' " section of the Nashville Tennessean Newspaper. 

The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Friday, March 19, 1948 

The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Friday, March 19, 1948, page 8

Abstract of above article:

"From Mrs. Lee Cowley, Old Hickory, Tenn... I want to tell you about R H (Uncle Babe) Cowley who is celebrating his 85th birthday.  Many readers will recall Uncle Babe.  He operated the old horse boat at the mouth of Stones river.  Later the gasoline ferry, which was known as the Stone's Ferry.

Thousands have crossed with Uncle Babe.  He whistled while he worked and it never got too hot, too cold or the water too high for him to work -- or whistle.  He owned the first radio in his neighborhood and on Saturday night folks would come from miles away to listen to the Grand Ole Opry programs.  Back then only Judge Hay and Uncle Jimmy Thompson were the cast.

Uncle Babe is my father-in-law -- and though retired, still whistles."

Robert Howell "Babe" Cowley Obituary

The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Friday, March 11, 1949

Robert H Cowley is related to us through  our Stewart and Medlin families.

Henry R Stewart Civil War Pension II

For part 1, see previous post: Henry R Stewart Civil War Pension 

Henry's health declined to the point that in 1912, Henry left Oklahoma and traveled to the Army Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  He died in the Army Hospital on 19 September 1912. Henry R. Stewart is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Henry's widow, Bettie Medlin Stewart, applied for a Widow's pension.  The papers Bettie had to provide in order to receive her pension are rich in clues and/or information about her early life.  Bettie had told her grandchildren and great-grandchildren that she was an orphan and did not know anything about her family.  But, she provided the pension board just enough information that her family was found.  Blog posts about Bettie can be found here and here.

Widow's Pension 

Widow's Pension 

Widow's Pension 

Widow's pension 

Widow's Pension 

Widow's Pension 

Below is an affidavit by Bettie's brother-in-law,  J M Stewart.

Widow's Pension - JM Stewart Letter1

Widow's Pension - JM Stewart Letter2

Bettie stated that in 1870 she was living with "William Brown his wife Emma Brown and their children names were Clerry Jane Brown, Permela Brown and Smith Brown in Putnam Co., Tenn."  William A. Brown wrote a letter that is included in the pension file.

Widow's Pension - WA Brown Letter1

Widow's Pension - WA Brown Letter2

Britton Medlin Update

This is an update to the previous post about Britton Medlin's War of 1812 Pension,  The pension papers filled out by Britton's widow, Margaret Medlin, left some question as to the correct spelling of her maiden name -- McDole or McDowell.  A McDowell descendant has recently contacted me and Margaret's maiden name is McDowell.

The following message was sent to me:
"Margaret is a daughter of Andrew McDowell and his second wife, Mary McKean, McKeown or McKane. They were from Winnsboro, Fairfield Co., SC. Andrew was a surveyor in SC, and came to White Co. to work between 1805 and 1810. Mary's father was Alexander McKean, and he and Andrew McDowell can be seen on jury lists in Fairfield Co. Mary had died before her father died. In his estate quibbles it is mentioned that she was the wife of Andrew McDowell and had 2 daughters named Margaret and Jane. In 1820 Andrew and the 2 daughters are in the census in White County."

The Elizabeth McDowell Elrod, whose sons K Harrison Elrod and John Elrod were witnesses for Margaret Medlin, may be the daughter of Margaret's older half-brother, John McDowell.  That would explain the close relationship and the reason K Harrison Elrod and John Elrod were chosen to be witnesses for Margaret Medlin in the widow's pension.

K Harrison and John Elrod - Witnesses for Margaret Medlin

To find out more about the McDowell family, go to the blog:

McDowell Family of White County, Tennessee  

War of 1812 - Britton Medlin

In honor of Veteran’s Day, I’d like to share the War of 1812 Pension File for Britton Medlin.  Britton Medlin is on our Baldwin/Stewart line.

Several years ago, the Federation of Genealogical Societies started the War of 1812 Pension Digitization Project.  Their goal is to raise money to digitize all of the Pension Records from the War of 1812.  Please consider donating to help preserve this important part of history.  The records will be free to the public and can be found on Fold3.com.

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain and lasted from 1812 to 1815. The United States declared war for several reasons, including trade restrictions brought about by the British war with France.  Most of us remember the War of 1812 for the burning of the White House, penning of our nation’s national anthem "The Star Spangled Banner", and the “Battle of New Orleans.”

This past month while doing some research on my Medlin line, I found the War of 1812 Pension file for Britton Medlin.  Britton Medlin is thought to be the father (or perhaps a much older brother) of our Samuel Medlin and grandfather of Bettie Medlin Stewart.   Note that the Medlin name is often listed as Medley in census and other records.

The earliest record found for Britton Medlin shows him as a 16-25 year old male head of household living with a 16-25 year old female in the 1800 Census for Franklin County, North Carolina.  Britton appears to be a young newlywed with no children yet in the home.  The name of this first wife is unknown.  His probable children by this first marriage are Martha (Patsey) Medlin Richardson, Riley Medlin, and Samuel Medlin.  Sometime around 1804 the Britton Medlin family moved from North Carolina to Tennessee.

Britton Medley was listed on the 1811 White County, Tennessee tax list.  Also on the list were Samuel Medley, Richard Medley, John Medley, and John Medley Jr.

From the pension papers, we learn that Britton joined the Volunteers of the Tennessee Militia on 13 Dec 1812 at Sparta, Tennessee.  He served under Captain William J Smith in the 2^nd Regiment of the Tennessee Volunteers commanded by Colonel Thomas Benton.   He served until the 20 April 1813.  

In the pension papers, there is a small piece of yellowed paper that is an honorable discharge by Andrew Jackson stating: "I certify that Britton Medlin enroled himself as a volunteer under the acts of Congress...under my command on a tower to the Natchez country from the 10^th of December 1812 to the 20 April 1813 and is hereby discharged.  Andrew Jackson, Major Genl". 

Britton Medlin Discharge

Britton's first wife would have died sometime before 1823, when he was married to Margaret McDole(McDowell) on 18 Nov 1823.  The marriage was performed by Wm J Smith in White County, Tennessee. 

The Britton Medlin family is enumerated in the 1840 Census for DeKalb, Tennessee.  Riley Medly is shown as living next to Britton Medlin.

In April 1844, while working in his fields, Britton Medlin died when a tree limb fell on him.  Riley Medlin's son, John H. Medlin, was working in the field with Britton when the accident happened.  A Nashville newspaper carried the following death notice: 

Republican Banner; Nashville, TN; Monday, April 14, 1845

In January 1851, Britton’s widow, Margaret Medlin, applied for Bounty Land based on Britton’s service in the War of 1812.  She received 40 acres.  In the 1851 application, Margaret said she was married to Britton Medlin by William J Smith on 18 Nov 1823 in Sparta, White County, Tennessee.  She stated that Britton died on 4^th of April 1844.

1851 Bounty Land Application

Again in 1855 when the government passed another bounty land act, Margaret applied for more land.

1855 Application

Then, in 1878 Margaret applied for a Widow's pension.  In this application she gave a different date for her marriage and a different date for her husband’s death.  In the 1878 application, she said she was married in 1814 and that her husband, Britton, died in 1838.  This information differed from the previous 1851 and 1855 applications for bounty land.  

Also in 1878, Britton’s widow, Margaret Medlin, gave the following description of Britton as she thought he looked like when he enlisted.  Make note that she did not marry him until ten years after he had enlisted and served in the war, and did not give the description until 1878, over 30 years after he died.  Supposedly, Britton was 5’10” tall, fair complexion, and had blue or grey eyes.  She thought he was twenty years old at the time he enlisted and that he had been born in North Carolina.  She said he was a farmer.  

The pension board did not like the conflicting information in the different applications.  As an explanation for the mistakes Margaret made in filling out this 1878 application, John H Elrod stated in a separate affidavit that Margaret was "old and forgetful" (in 1878) when she filled out this application.  Of course, since she could not read or write, someone else filled out the application and Margaret just signed her "X".

1878 Application

Because of the discrepancy in the dates Margaret gave for her marriage and death of her husband, she was required to give additional information in the form of affidavits from several witnesses.  John H. Medlin, son of Riley Medlin and most likely grandson of Britton, told of being with Britton Medlin at the time of his death.  And, the clerk of White County, Tennessee submitted an affidavit of the White County marriage record, as shown below:

Marriage Record

Below is John H. Medlin’s January 1880 affidavit and his account of the death of Britton Medlin.  John stated that the "discrepancy of the date of death" by Margaret in the 1878 application was caused by her forgetfulness, and "she being at the time of her application very old and forgetful."  As to Britton's death, John said he was helping to plow the fields when a tree limb fell and killed Britton.  He describes himself as a "good size plowboy" who was 12 years old at the time of Britton's death.  

(Transcription below)

John H Meldin Affidavit - 1

John H Meldin Affidavit - 2

John H Meldin Affidavit - 3

Transcription of above:

State of Tennessee Putnam County, Tennessee On this 12 day of January 1880, before me M J Isbell Clerk County Court of said County, personally appeared Granville C Maxwell, aged 49 years old and John H Medlin aged 48 years old, whose P.O. address is Cookeville, Tenn, are being first sworn depose and say, that they affiants have both been indirectly acquainted with Margaret Medlin, widow of Britton Medlin, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, and have lived near neighbors to her ever since the death of Britton Medlin and they know that she has never remarried that if she had re----marriage, this fact would have become known to affiants. Affiant John H Medlin further states that he was born on the 22 day of May 1831. And was plowing in the field with said Britton Medlin when he was killed by the falling of a tree. That the affiant was at the time of said Britton Medlin’s death 12 year old, was 13 years old on 22 May 1844 after his said Britton Medlin’s death which affiant thinks occurred in April 1844. Affiant thinks that the discrepancy of the date of his death was caused by forgetfulness of Margaret Medlin, she being at the time of her application very old and forgetful. The above is the true state of fact and the true date of his death according to the best recollections of affiant. He knows that he was just a good size plowboy at the time and was 12 years old and the date of his birth as above given. ---that the time is nearly correct and that he Brittan Medlin died about 1844. Affiants both state that they have no interest what so ever in the of said Margaret Medlin’s claim for Pension and that they are not interested in it. G C Maxwell J H Medlin Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 12th day of January 1880 

Margaret Medlin’s Maiden Name

In all of the records, Margaret Medlin gave her maiden name as Margaret McDole. She signed her name with an "X", meaning she did not write and most likely could not read. 

Her name given on the marriage record by the county clerk is Margaret McDowell (see below).  On one paper, McDole was corrected to McDowl. 

"Britton Medlin and Margaret McDowell" written by White County Clerk

After looking at all the records, I believe that although Margaret's maiden name may be McDole, it is most likely McDowell.  There were both McDole and McDowell families in the vicinity where the Medlin's lived and they all seem to use both spellings interchangeably in census records and official records.   One of the main reasons I believe Margaret to be a McDowell, is that I believe she may be the sister or close relative of Elizabeth McDowell who married James Elrod.  Both, K Harrison Elrod and John Elrod, sons of Elizabeth McDowell and James Elrod, were witnesses for Margaret Medlin in the pension papers.  That would make both of them nephews to Margaret and explain why they were both witnesses.

If anyone has additional information on this family, please share.  It would be interesting to see if the descendants of Margaret and Britton Medlin share DNA with the descendants of Elizabeth (McDowell) and James Elrod.

See UPDATE for correct spelling of Margaret Medlin's maiden name and information on her parents.  Click below: 

Britton Medlin Pension Update

Riley Medlin - Confederate Veteran & Fisherman

Riley Medlin was the brother of our great-grandma, Bettie Medlin Stewart.

William Riley Medlin, the son of Samuel Medlin and Rebecca Morgan, was born on March 14, 1843 in Wilson county, Tennessee.  In 1850, Riley was living with his parents and siblings in Wilson County, Tennessee.  

1850 Federal Census, Wilson County, TN, family #207

In the summer of 1854, an outbreak of cholera hit the area around Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee where the Medlin family was living.  Many people around Lebanon left their homes temporarily when they heard of cholera in the area, but the Medlin family remained.  Riley's mother, Rebecca, came down with cholera and died in July 1854.  After Rebecca's death, some of the Medlin children were sent to live with extended relatives and others were old enough to be on their own.  Riley would have been about eleven years old at the time his mother died.  Riley's father remarried in 1855, but it appears none of the children stayed with him.  Riley has not been found in the 1860 census.  But, he was probably living in the Nashville area, because a year later while living in Nashville, he enlisted in the Confederate Army.

In 1861, Riley enlisted in the Confederate Army - 20th Tennessee Infantry Regiment.  Company I, of the Twentieth Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A., was raised at and near the Hermitage, in the Fourth Civil District of Davidson County and was called the Hermitage Guards. Company I was mustered into State service for one year from June1,1861, on Front Street, near Broad, in the city of Nashville, and was put on the cars of the L&N Railroad and carried to Camp Trousdale, and there was incorporate in the Twentieth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment as Company 1, and known as the boys from the home of Old Hickory.  William Riley Medlin is not listed in the roster of this Company.  But, his pension application is witnessed and signed by John Hays & R.T. Moore, who were included on the roster.(http://www.tngenweb.org/civilwar/crosters/inf/inf20/coi.html)  
While serving in the Confederate army, Riley engaged in the Wildcat and Fishing Creek battles.  In April of 1863, Riley was captured by Union forces while on retreat from the Fishing Creek battle.   He gave his Oath of Allegiance to the United State Government to keep out of prison.

On 17 Jan 1865, Riley married Kate Reed, sister of his brother-in-law, John Reed.  Catherine Reed (called Kate) was born on March 9th, 1843 in Tennessee.  Her parents were Joel and Elizabeth Reed.

After their marriage, Riley and Kate continued to live in Nashville.  Riley made a living by fishing.  In most census records and on the pension application, Riley's occupation is listed as a fisherman.   He stated in his pension application that he was a fisherman and made a scant living.  Below is an 1880 map of Davidson County, Tennessee.  The Cumberland River is where Riley would have spent his time fishing for a living.

In the 1880 Federal Census, Riley is enumerated on the same page as brother, Pink Medlin, and his sister, Mandy (Amanda) Reed and several other extended relatives.  Riley stated his occupation was a fisherman. 

1880 Federal Census, Dist 19, Davidson, TN, pg 305

Riley and Kate never had their own children, but  raised their niece's son, Bealey Samuel Cowley.  In the 1900 Federal Census, Bealey is listed as their adopted son.  In 1900, both Riley and Bealey list their occupations as Teamsters.

1900 Federal Census, Nashville Ward 14, Davidson, TN

Riley died 5 Jul 1923 at the age of  80 years.  He is buried in the Donelson Church of Christ Cemetery in Davidson County, Tennessee.

Died of Cholera

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Tennessee.  One of my stops in Nashville was the Tennessee State Library and Archives.  The Library has onsite access to a historic Nashville Newspaper database:  The Nashville Tennessean (1812-1922).

I searched "Nashville Tennessean" newspaper database using only the "Medlin" family surname, which resulted in 7 or so pages with 20 hits on each page.  After going through a couple of pages, I was beginning to think that I would not find anything of great value.  Then I clicked open an 1854 article titled, "Health of Lebanon."  Lebanon is the county seat for Wilson County, Tennessee.  In 1850, our Samuel Medlin family lived in Wilson County.  The article was about an outbreak of cholera and listed some of the residents who had died of the disease.  One of the persons mentioned who had died of the disease was my 3rd great-grandmother, "Mrs. Sam'l Medlin" (Rebecca Morgan Medlin.)  Rebecca was the mother of my 2nd great-grandmother, Bettie Medlin Stewart.  Grandma Bettie had always referred to herself as an orphan, because her mother, Rebecca, had died when she was an infant.  Since Bettie did not even know her own date of birth, I had to guess at Bettie's birth date from the few times she gave her age to the census taker.  So, that meant I also had to guess at an "about death date" of 1852-1855 for her mother, Rebecca, who supposedly died when Bettie was an infant.  Rebecca's widowed husband, Samuel Medlin, remarried on 26 Dec 1855, so I knew that Rebecca had died before that date.

Below is a copy of the newspaper article reporting the death of Rebecca Morgan Medlin:

After reading the newspaper article, I just sat there a little stunned and a lot sad.  Poor Rebecca.  Did others in her family also suffer from the disease and recover?  Perhaps Rebecca wore herself out caring for others in the family and then succumbed to the disease herself?  We will probably never know the complete story. Several of the older daughters in the family - Caroline, Nancy, Eliza - also disappear from records after the 1850 census.  Did they also get the disease during this 1854 cholera outbreak in Wilson County, Tennessee?  Or, did they get married and move away?  Or, did they die from another disease?

In Memory of Our 3rd Great-Grandmother
May you never be forgotten

Rebecca Morgan Medlin

Born about 1817 in Tennessee

Died July 1854 in Wilson County, Tennessee

Other posts mentioning Rebecca:
Maiden name of Rebecca, wife of Samuel Medlin
Meet for Lunch?
Bettie Medlin - Little Orphan Girl

Meet for Lunch?

Last week on a late night talk show, the question was asked: "If you could have lunch with any three people in history, who would you pick?"  That got me to thinking, and I bet most of you know exactly what it was I was thinking... 

"If I could have lunch with any three of my ancestors, who would I pick?" 

It was hard for me to choose just three, because I would love to hold a big banquet with many, many more in attendance.  But, I finally made a list --  then changed it, then changed it again.  So, after a week of thinking about it and changing my mind, here's my list of three:

1.  My first choice would be Susan Evaline West Leffel.  Susan Evaline West, daughter of Michael West and Susannah McKee, was born 3 Jun 1817 in Kentucky. Susan married David Miller Leffel on 3 May 1837 in Springfield, Clark, Ohio.  Susan and David moved to Texas around 1858, when she inherited land from her father, Michael West.   The Leffel's move to Texas would set in motion events that would eventually lead to David's death.  Susan's husband, David Miller Leffel, was one of forty Union sympathizing citizens of North Texas who were charged with disloyalty and treason against the Confederacy by a “Citizens Court” in Gainesville, Cooke County in October 1862 and then hanged in what is called the Great Hanging at Gainesville. 
After much study into the Gainesville Hangings on my part, I would like to talk to Susan about what she and her family really went through and what really happened.  I would like to know if David was buried in the mass grave with many other victims of the Hanging, or if he is buried somewhere else.  Why did she stay in Texas after the end of the Civil War?  I would also like to know what happened to some of her siblings and their families.  So many questions...

2.  Second choice would be Rebecca Morgan Medlin.  She is my 3rd great-grandmother and the mother of my 2nd great-grandma, Bettie Medlin Stewart.  Rebecca died of Cholera when Bettie was still an infant, so even Bettie did not know her mother.  Rebecca is shadowy figure in my family history, shrouded in mystery and family legend.  There are stories passed down about her being a Cherokee Indian and hiding out in the mountains when the Cherokee were driven out of Tennessee.  Supposedly she was good with herbs and making her own medicines.  Rebecca's mother may have been Indian and her father white.  One story states that other Indians may have killed her parents because her Indian mother married a white man.  Do these stories have any truth to them?  I have no idea.  Was she related to the Morgans and Elrods in Putnam County, Tennessee?  Where did she meet her husband and where were they married?  So many unknowns in her life. Yes, I would definitely like to spend some time with great-grandma Rebecca.

3.  My third choice would be Jane Baldwin, my third great-grandmother.  She has tugged at my heart for years!!  Not only can I NOT find enough records to know all the "who, what and why" of her life, but my heart cries for her.  Jane experienced so much loss during her lifetime -- her husband and many of her thirteen children.  By 1870 when Jane was about 65 years old, only TWO of her thirteen children are known to still be living: James M. and Francis Marion. Jane's other eleven children were already deceased or their whereabouts completely unknown. Texas was definitely not kind to the Baldwin family!  But through it all, Jane did not lose faith in God -- In 1854, she was a founding member of  the "Little Flock Baptist Church." 
There are so, so many questions I would really like to ask Jane.  What happened to this child or that child?  Where did she grow up?  What is her maiden name? Who were her parents and grandparents?  Where did she meet her husband and where were they married? Were they happy and did they have a good marriage?  What was it like living in Texas in those early days?  The list could go on and on and on.

If you could pick three ancestors to have lunch with, who would you pick? 
Do you even know who three of your ancestors are? 

Now is the best time in history to get involved in genealogy and family history, so many records are accessible right from your own computer.  My family trees, along with all the research and records, are on Ancestry.com.  And, many records are free -- FamilySearch.org adds free records daily to the billions of records they already have!  Get started and have fun!  Find those three ancestors you would love to meet for lunch.


**Descendants (male and female) of these ancestors are encouraged to participate in DNA testing!!

Happy Birthday to Bettie Medlin Stewart

Bettie Medlin, born about 1853, was the youngest child born to Samuel and Rebecca (Morgan) Medlin.  In the summer of 1854, an outbreak of cholera hit the area around Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee where the Medlin family was living.  Bettie's mother, Rebecca (Beckie), came down with cholera and died in July 1854.  After Rebecca's death, some of the Medlin children were sent to live with extended relatives and other children were old enough to be on their own.  Bettie's father, Samuel, being unable to care for an infant daughter gave her away to be raised by the Barnett Richardson family.  (For more information on Bettie's life and her relationship to the Richardson family, go to a previous post about Bettie.)

Somehow with the death of her mother and being taken in by others to be raised, Bettie's birth was never recorded or remembered .  Bettie, herself, stated in a letter included in her husband's Civil War Pension Records that she did NOT KNOW her birth date or how old she actually was.  Her birth information is missing from the family bible.  Also, she usually did not give a birth year or age to the census taker. BUT, in about 1933, Bettie told her great-granddaughter, Ethel Baldwin, that her BIRTHDAY was on Febuary 14, Valentine's Day.  I feel that she personally picked Valentine's Day for her birthday since she did not know her real birthday.  So, that is the birth date I think she should have and I have given it to her.

For years, I have listed Bettie's death date as 13 Feb 1939.  I got that date from her death certificate, or, so I thought.  But recently, Cousin Rod informed me of my error.  I had actually written down the date from the second line down, which was the date the doctor had last seen Bettie.  Bettie died at 4:00 am on Valentine's Day, 14 Feb 1939.  Is it a coincidence or fate or what, that Bettie died on the very date that she had privately picked for her special day and birth date?

For the little girl who never had a real birthday,
who became the fiesty grandma most of the family remembers, 

let's all wish her a  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY & HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

on this day Bettie picked for her remembrance.

Maiden Name for Rebecca, wife of Samuel Medlin

The Medlin family is on the Baldwin family line.  2nd great-grandpa Henry Stewart married Bettie Medlin.  This is about Bettie's mother, Rebecca.

After years of searching, I recently found the maiden name for Rebecca, the wife of Samuel Medlin of Wilson County and Davidson County, Tennessee.  To say I was excited would be a gross understatement.

Previously, the only official record researchers had of Rebecca was the 1850 Federal Census of Wilson County, Tennessee.  The 1850 census showed the Samuel and Rebecca family with the following children: Caroline, Emily, Nancy, Amanda, Eliza, Paralee, Riley, and Pinkney.  Our great-grandma, Bettie, was born a few years after the 1850 census was taken. 

According to family stories, Rebecca died shortly after Bettie (her youngest daughter) was born in about 1854.  After Rebecca's death, it appears that the older Medlin children married or were on their own and the younger Medlin children were raised by extended family or friends. Bettie Medlin was raised by the Barnett Richardson (his brother Caleb was married to Patsey Medlin) family in Putnam County, TN.  Rebecca's son, Isaac Pinkney was living with the Riley Medlin family in Putnam County, Tennessee in 1860.  Twenty-one year old daughter, Amanda was living with her older married sister, Emily Rogers, in 1860.  Records indicate that Samuel Medlin married again after the death of his wife Rebecca, but it does not appear that any of the children lived with him in his new marriage.

Several of the children ended up living in the Nashville area: Emily Medlin Rogers, Amanda Medlin Reed, William Riley Medlin and Isaac Pinkney Medlin.  I have never been able to find information concerning Caroline, Nancy or Eliza.

The Tennessee death certificates have just recently been placed online by FamilySearch.org.   The only place that the maiden name for Rebecca has been found is on the Death Certificates for her sons, Isaac Pink Medlin and William Riley Medlin. 

Rebecca's maiden name as written on the death certificates for her sons is Morgan.  Did I mention that I was excited about this find? :)

Isaac Pinkney died at the age of 96.  The parent's names given on Pink's death certificate are:
Father - Sam Medlin b. Tennessee
Mother - Miss Morgan b. Tennessee
The informant listed on the death certificate was Pink's son, Morgan David Medlin

Riley died at age 80.  The parent's names given on Riley's death certificate are:
Father - Sam Medlen b. Tennessee,
Mother - Beckie Morgan b. Tennessee
The informant listed on the death certificate was Mrs. W. R. Medlin (Riley's wife, Kate).

Many thanks to the volunteer indexers of FamilySearch.org who made this possible.  The death certificates can be found on FamilySearch.org.  If you would like to help volunteer and index records, please go to Worldwide Indexing.  The records that are indexed by volunteers are free and available to everyone.  Volunteering to index is easy and fun to do!

Can't tell you how much money I had previously sent to the Tennessee State Archives, trying to locate and obtain these death certificates without success.  At that time, I was charged a $10 fee for a 3 year (timespan) search, where I would give them the year to search from.  I certainly did not think that Pinkney would live to be 96 years old!  Now these records are free on FamilySearch.org.  Yea!!  I think that I mentioned before that I was really excited to find the Tennessee Death Records online!:)

Some "Family Stories or Traditions" concerning Rebecca Morgan
 -- Remember these are not proven.
Some descendants recall stories about an Indian Grandma.  Was Rebecca Morgan a Cherokee Indian??
In a 2002 telephone conversation with Henry Reed Jr. of Madison, TN (descendant of Rebecca's daughter, Amanda Medlin Reed), Henry said that his great-grandmother was Cherokee Indian. He said that she (Rebecca) was born before the Indian removal.  Supposedly when the Cherokee's were driven out of Tennessee on the "Trail of Tears", Rebecca hid out in the mountains. The mountains were in the southern part of Tennessee -- one was called Lookout Mountain. Henry said he saw a picture of his grandmother Rebecca when he was a boy and she looked Indian. Henry also said that "Rebecca" was not her real name, it was a name given to her when she was christened and her real Indian name is lost to anyone's memory. He also recalled stories handed down in the family of how Rebecca would teach her children how to gather herbs and make traditional Native American medicines. 

Bettie Medlin Stewart also passed down stories about her mother being a Native American.  A great-grandson, Joe Baldwin, recalled stories Bettie told about her Indian mother and white father being attacked by Indians who were mad because her Indian mother had married a white man.  Bettie said that her father was scalped by the attacking Indians and her mother left for dead.  Could these stories be about her grandparents instead of parents?!?  Probably so.  Research shows that her father, Samuel, lived years after her mother died, so this story can't be about him. Since her mother died of Cholera when Bettie was an infant, Bettie never knew her mother and was raised by extended family.  She may have confused the stories she heard as a child, thinking they were of her mother instead of her grandmother.  My feeling is that these stories may be about her mother's parents.  As more records become available, perhaps we can solve this mystery about Rebecca's parents.

Questions that still need to be answered about Rebecca Morgan Medlin:

Who are Rebecca's parents?

Where was she born?

Did she have siblings?

Was her mother a Native American?

When and where did Rebecca get married to Samuel Medlin?

If anyone has any information concerning Rebecca Morgan, please leave a comment.
Also, all descendants of Samuel Medlin and Rebecca Morgan are encouraged to participate in DNA testing.

See post about the death of Rebecca Morgan Medlin.