The Life of Marcellus Pipkins, Sr. {1884-1972}

Marcellus Pipkins was born on February 17, 1884, to the late William and Ella (Parker) Pipkins in Panola County, Texas. Aunt Mary Lee, daughter of Marcellus, relayed that her father mentioned that his mother Ella was part Choctaw Indian, and she died when he was a child. Through research, I found that Ella was born in Missouri around 1857 and brought to Caddo Parish, Louisiana in the early 1860s along with her mother and stepfather, Jane and Thomas Wells. 

Marcellus told his children that his father William was the son or grandson of the slave owner. Records indicate that William was born around 1857 in Keatchie, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana to slaves John (Dark complexion) and Mary (Mulatto complexion) on the farm of Matilda Collins, widow of Moses Collins, who died on October 4, 1855. It was common for children to have different fathers during slavery if the husband was sold or through other circumstances. John, Mary, and most of their children remained intact as a family unit throughout slavery, which is why I believe that John, not a slave owner, is the father of William . Y-DNA testing of a direct male descendant (my mom's half-brother) revealed that his haplogroup is E-M2, shorthand for E1B1A, which is African. It seems that William's mother, Mary, descends from the White Collins family, who held her and her family during slavery, as her maiden name on several documents is listed as Collins. She is listed as "Mulatto" and sometimes "Griff" in the slave transactions. 

UPDATE (5/2/2016): Autosomal DNA reveals that Mary is most likely the daughter of Moses Collins as I have several DNA matches to his descendants.

1900 U.S. Census
Locality		Justice Precinct 4, Panola County, Texas
ED, Sheet, Line		Enumeration District 69, Sheet 11A, Line 09
Enum Date		14 June 1900
House	Family	Name	Birth Date	Relationship	Occupation	Birth Place
						Self	Fath	Moth
176	179	William Pipkins	Apr 1853	Head	Farmer	LA	MS	MS
		Ellen Pipkins	Mar 1855	Wife		LA	TN	TN
		Arthur Pipkins	Nov 1883	Son	Farm Laborer	TX	LA	MO
		Marcelus Pipkins	Feb 1886	Son	Farm Laborer	TX	LA	MO
		Easter Pipkins	Oct 1896	Daughter		TX	LA	LA
		Mattie Johnson	Feb 1892	Step Daughter		LA	LA	LA
		Alonzo Johnson	Aug 1894	Step Son		LA	LA	LA

According to Aunt Mary, Marcellus did not have any formal schooling, but he learned to read and write by studying the Bible. She remembers her father as "a Holy Ghost-filled man who knew the word." At the time of his death, Marcellus had been a deacon at Antioch Baptist Church for 45 years, which is accurate according to the church history. He was ordained as a deacon in 1927 under the leadership of Reverend A.R. Richardson.   

Photo of Marcellus Pipkins, Sr. that
I received in 2007 from Pastor Roger
Jackson of Antioch Baptist Church 
in De Berry, TX

On December 4, 1910, he united in holy matrimony to Roberta Perkins, daughter of Jim Perkins and Mandy Golden. Oral history states that Marcellus and Roberta briefly lived in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and  one family member told me the story about the time Marcellus went to rescue his nephew, Jim, and his niece, Lillie, from someone in the area.

After several years of marriage, Marcellus and Roberta had three children together: Tharner James Pipkins, Marcellus Pipkins, Jr, and John Pipkins, who died as an infant or a young boy. The death of the child drove Roberta into a deep depression, and some relatives have claimed that she was "crazy." According to Marcellus, she had lost her will to live and just gave up. She passed away in 1930, and her husband went on to marry Lois Allen on October 28, 1930. Lois was the daughter of Frone and Mattie (Scott) Allen and granddaughter of Bettie (Cook) Scott, who was stated to have been a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. My DNA reveals a possible family connection between Roberta Pipkins and Lois Pipkins, which I have yet to determine at this time.

Marcellus and Lois had four children together: Maggie Lee Pipkins, David Pipkins, Hosea Pipkins, and Mary Lee Pipkins. Together, they reared six children in Bethany, Louisiana—a small community on the Louisiana and Texas state line. Research indicates that Marcellus was a farmer who worked for G.N. Brummel in Bethany, Louisiana. He also owned property located near Antioch Baptist Church.

Marcellus died on March 3, 1972, at the age of 88, and he is buried at the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery in DeBerry, Texas. He was loved by many, many people; there are several people living today who either knew him personally or heard of him from various friends and family. He was affectionately known as "Paw-Paw" by his grandchildren and "Cousin Cellus" by other relatives.

Marcellus and Lois Pipkins

Death Certificate of Marcellus Pipkins, Sr.

Terrence A. Garnett
[December 27, 2013]

---

 Source Citations:

1. Succession of Moses Collins; DeSoto Parish Clerk of Court; Volume E, p. 474-499
2. Succession of Matilda Collins; DeSoto Parish Clerk of Court; Volume F, p. 242-249
3. "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3PB-GG7 : accessed 28 Dec 2013), Willaim Pipkins Household, Justice Precinct 4, Panola, Texas, United States; citing sheet , family 179, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241663.
4. Oral History Interviews [2006, 2007, 2009, 2010] with Aunt Mary, Uncle David, and Uncle Hosea [deceased].
5. Pipkins, Marcellus: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3FC-XPH : accessed 28 Dec 2013), Marcellus Pipkins, 03 Mar 1972; citing certificate number 22556, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2223766.
6. Pipkins, Wm & Ellen Parker [February 2, 1877]: Caddo Parish Marriages; Clerk of Court, Shreveport, Louisiana.
7. Pipkin, Bill & Ellin Johnson [ September 21, 1899]: Panola County Marriages; Volume F: Page 559, County Clerk’s Office, Carthage, Texas.
8. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txpanola/history_of_antioch_bc_deberry.htm [History of Antioch Baptist Church in De Berry, Texas]

Luel Carr Passed Away in Terrell, Texas

LUEL PIPKINS CARR

Posted: Wednesday, October 30, 2013; 1:15 pm
Funeral Home: C. A. DuBose
Mrs. Carr, one of 14 children, was born March 12, 1921 and departed this life, October 27, 2013. Public viewing is from 2:00 to 6:00 Friday, Nov. 1, 2013 at the C. A. DuBose Memorial Chapel. Funeral services are 1:00 Saturday at Union Valley Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the New Oakwood Cemetery. All services are entrusted to the DuBose Funeral Home.

     Source: http://www.terrelltribune.com/obituaries/article_486999a4-418f-11e3-8126-001a4bcf887a.html

In 2007, my mother and I traveled to Terrell, Texas to meet with an older cousin and other Pipkins relatives. This cousin and I had spoken over the phone for quite sometime as she told me stories and gave me information concerning her grandparents Owens Pipkins, Sr & Littie Rolley Pipkins. At that time she informed me that her Aunt Luel was still living [she was the last living 1st cousin of my great-grandfather Marcellus Pipkins, Sr] and resided in Terrell in a nursing home. Cousin Luel was one of the younger children of Owens and his wife so she did not have the opportunity to meet or know any of her grandparents who were former slaves [John & Mary Pipkins and Beth & Lugendy Rolley]. In early November of this year while doing a google search I came across the obituary of cousin Luel and learned she passed away in October. Though I've visited Terrell, Texas several times over the past few years I never had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Carr.

Cousin Luel Pipkins Carr - From the Photo collection of Marian Davis

Information from my research

Owens Pipkins, Sr---Spouses: (1st) Adaline Adams and (2nd) Littie Rolley, daughter of Beth & Lugendy Rolley]

Children:

1. John A. “Johnny” Pipkins (Spouse: Bunnie V. Wynn, daughter of Willie Wynn & Alice “Allie” Golden)
2. David Pipkins (Spouse: Effie Mae Johnson, daughter of George Johnson and Rosetta Bell)
3. Clotie Pipkins Adams
4. Dailey Pipkins (Spouse: Ruby)
5. Mittie Pipkins Williams (Spouse: Emmitt Williams)
6. Lenzy Pipkins, Sr. (Spouse: Geneva Sheppard, daughter of Grant Sheppard & Dona Hardy)
7. Annie Lee Pipkins (Spouse: Tom Davis, son of Levi Davis & Harriet Akins)
8. Lorraine Pipkins
9. Cliffer Pipkins (Spouse: Rhoda)
10. Owens Pipkins, Jr.
11. Lillie Lee Pipkins Anderson (Spouse: Calvin Anderson)
12. Luel Pipkins Carr
13. Litha Ann Pipkins Britton (Mother: Hannah Perkins, daughter of Hiram Perkins & Julia Ann Lynch; Spouse: Zebedee Britton, son of Samuel Britton & Susan Jackson)
14. Dennis Pipkins (Mother: Hannah Perkins, daughter of Hiram Perkins & Julia Ann Lynch; Spouse: Minnie Lee Davis, daughter Sam Davis & Julie Ann King)

Terrence A. Garnett

Veterans Day 2013: Tharner James Pipkins [WWII]

My grandfather, Tharner James Pipkins, was a World War II veteran. Friends and family called him Buddy and James, but I knew him as Paw-Paw. He was born on April 6, 1924, to Marcellus and Roberta (Perkins) Pipkins in Bethany, Louisiana. After the death of his mother, Roberta, in 1930, his father Marcellus remarried later that year to Lois Allen. Grandpa attended grammar school at the Cornelius Springs Colored School in East, Texas where he completed seven years of school.

At the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the Navy where he served from June 12, 1943, to February 17, 1946. After leaving the Navy, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served from April 4, 1946, to December 9, 1946, receiving an honorable discharge.  The rumor is my grandfather joined the Navy because he did not get along with his stepmother Lois. A document I received from the National Archives on his service in the Navy revealed that my grandfather was married at the time he enlisted. I asked my grandfather's sister, Aunt Mary Lee, about it, and she told me, "My brother James's first wife was Grady Mae. I don't know her maiden name, but they used to argue and fight a lot. They didn't have any children together. I believe they got married in Shreveport." Sure enough, Caddo Parish marriage records show that Tharner J. Pipkins married Grattie Mae Lewis on January 30, 1946 (Vol: 114, pg. 395). The couple would eventually divorce.

Tharner as Associate Pastor of GTVMBC in the 1950s

Paw-Paw eventually moved to Houston, Texas in the early 1950s and united with Greater True Vine Missionary Baptist Church where he served as one of two associate pastors under Rev. B.J. Collins.

While a member of the church, my grandpa James met my grandmother Shirley Jean Johnson who was the church pianist. They were married on November 21, 1954, by associate Pastor S. Hubbard. My grandparents raised four children, one who was from my grandmother's previous relationship. They eventually separated when my mother was a baby, and my grandpa stepped down as an associate pastor and left Greater True Vine. He would later unite with Macedonia Baptist Church and Israel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. A.A. McCardell, Jr.

My grandpa went on to meet "Living wife", and they raised four children together, two of which were from her previous relationship. Growing up, my grandfather rarely spoke about his experience in the war, at least not with his grandchildren. The little I overheard let me know that the war had really affected him.

In my 2010 interview with my grandfather's sister Mary Lee, she mentioned the following: "Mama [Lois] took care of James after he came home from the war; he was shaken up by what he had seen. He would have nightmares about it."

Grandpa worked at a corner store down the street from his house, and when my cousins,  my siblings, and I would visit, he would tell us to get whatever type of candy and drinks we wanted in the store. He died on April 1, 2001, after a lengthy stay at the Michael E. DeBakey VA hospital. He is buried at the Houston National Cemetery. I will always remember his jokes and laughter.

Paw-Paw in his latter years

Headstone

Source Citations:

1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

REPOST {June 25, 2010}: Roberta's death

A repost [with revisions] from my previous blog: tgarnett.posterous.com

For a few years now I have been trying to find out what happened to my great-grandmother Roberta Pipkins.  I first learned of her name when reading the obituary of my grandfather who passed away in 2001 and that "Mama Lois" [who I thought was my grandfather's mother] was his step-mother by whom my great-grandfather, Marcellus had four children with.  According to my Aunt Mary [grandfather's half-sister] she knew a few of Roberta's siblings Columbus Stephens [married Lois's sister Minnie Allen], Harmon Brown and Roberta's Aunt Jennie Tony. She mentioned that Roberta's mother, Mandy had died early on in life and her children were raised by various relatives. All of Roberta's siblings had different fathers and took on the surnames of their respective father's. Roberta met and married Marcellus Pipkins, but it would be years before they would finally have children. My grandfather's obituary stated that his mother died when he and his brother were just children and they were later reared by Marcellus & Lois Pipkins.

Marcellus Pipkins married Roberta Perkins on December 4, 1910 in Panola County, Texas.
They had the following children:
1) Tharnar James Pipkins (b. April 6, 1924 - d. April 1, 2001) - My grandfather "Buddy/James"
2) Marcellus Pipkins, Jr (b. May 6, 1925 - d. July 4, 1993) - Uncle Junior 

Roberta was last seen on the 1930 U.S. Federal Census in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. She appears to have passed on sometime after the Census was taken because later that year her husband, Marcellus Pipkins married Lois Allen on October 28, 1930 in Panola County, Texas.

[1930 U.S. Federal Census,  Police Jury Ward 7,  Caddo Parish,  Louisiana; Enumerated: April 3, 1930; Dwelling #42, Family # 43, Roll 788; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 70; Image:  208]. 

The family lived next door to Henderson Wynn [Roberta's first cousin] and Mariah Golden [Roberta's Aunt]

INTERVIEWS

From: C. Esther (Cousin) 
Date: March 21, 2007
Communication: Email

"Terrence,
You may come upon resistance in getting information about Roberta. It is said by some family members, 
that Roberta was "crazy".  Don't know exactly what that means, but that is the gossip. All of the folks that I've spoken with only give brief information on Roberta."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Person Interviewed: Mary K. (Great Aunt, grandfather's half-sister)
Date: March 2007
Communication: By phone and in person

"Roberta and Marcellus had lost a son in child birth or when he was just a little boy and she was never the same

after that. Daddy said it was if she had lost the will to live, she stopped taking care of herself and eventually she just died."

Aunt Mary said she believes the child was named John Pipkins.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Person Interviewed: Alma Golden Jones (Cousin) 

Date: October 16, 2007

Communication: By phone

Cousin Alma lived in Deberry, Panola County, Texas at the time of our conversation.
She is the granddaughter of Jennie Tony, Roberta's Aunt. Alma was born on August  04, 1923 in Panola County, Texas and died January 31, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. 

She mentioned that she knew "Cuzin Cellus and Berta". Based on her year of birth Alma would have been around 7 years old when Roberta died.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Person Interviewed: Lillie Mae Stephens Webster (My grandfather's 1st cousin & Roberta's niece)

Date: January 10, 2008

Communication: By phone

Lillie Mae was born on March 10, 1923 in Panola County, Texas and died on March 23, 2009 in Houston, Texas.

She said she didn't know who Roberta's father was, but she said Marcellus and Roberta lived in Oklahoma and then moved back to Texas where she died. I asked her if Roberta went insane or was crazy, she said "oh no honey I ain't never heard of my aunt Berta being crazy".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No death record has ever been found on Roberta Pipkins in Texas, Louisiana, or Oklahoma. Based on the information my Aunt Mary gave [told to her by her father Marcellus Sr] it appears that Roberta suffered from major depression and depending on her actions could have been mistaken or viewed as insanity during that time period.

Terrence A. Garnett
[October 28, 2013]

---

 Source Citations:

1. Pipkins, Marcellus & Rhoberta Perkins: Panola County Marriages; Volume I: Page 260, County Clerk’s Office, Carthage, Texas.
2. Pipkins, Marcellus & Lois Allen: Panola County Marriages; Volume N: Page 134, County Clerk’s Office, Carthage, Texas.
3. Pipkins Jr, Marcellus C: "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V3ZK-5TL : accessed 28 Oct 2013), Marcellus Pipkin Jr, 7 July 1993; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
4. Pipkins, Tharner James: "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JTMD-YPR : accessed 28 Oct 2013), Tharner J Pipkins, 1 April 2001; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
5. "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XMT1-G1J : accessed 28 Oct 2013), Marselles Pipkins, Police Jury Ward 7, Caddo, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0070, sheet , family 43, NARA microfilm publication.
6. Webster, Lillie Mae: "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VMC9-TTR : accessed 28 Oct 2013), Lillie Mae Webster, 23 March 2009; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
7. Jones, Alma: "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VSS2-KZK : accessed 28 Oct 2013), Alma Jones, 31 January 2008; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing)

Court Case from the Southwestern Reporter [J.Brooks - Appeal]

BROOKS J. Appellant was convicted of assault with Intent to murder Henry Pipkins and his punishment assessed at confinement in the penitentiary for a term of two years hence this appeal.

Appellant and Will Wilson came to the house of Margaret Pipkins on September 25 1898, riding. 

At the time of their arrival the injured party, Henry Pipkins was tussling over the possession of a mule with one Elzle Scroggins. Wilson said to Pipkins "Turn the mule loose," and grabbed Pipkins by the arm, tearing his shirt sleeve.

Appellant then said to Wilson "Take this pistol and make him turn loose, for I know you will use it," whereupon Wilson took the pistol from appellant and shot at Pipkins. Pipkins turned the mule loose,c and ran In the house, which was about 30 or 40 steps away. 

Wilson then went around to the back of the house, his pistol In hand, and came Into the house through the back door. Pipkins ran out and went home. 

Various witnesses for the state testify to these facts, and this theory Is denied by appellant. After a very careful scrutiny of the court's charge, we are constrained to say that It is admirably drawn, and covers every legitimate issue raised by the evidence. 

Martin v State, 35 Tex. App 576, 8 S. W. 682. Appellant, in his motion for new trial, attached thereto the affidavit of his attorney, WR Anderson; setting up what purports to be a statement of how said attorney understood the witnesses to state the facts prior to the trial, and during the course of the trial the witnesses named In said affidavit swore to a converse statement to that which the affiant says they made to him. 

After said witnesses had testified, appellant's attorney was placed upon the stand, and testified to the facts as he understood the same had been detailed to him by said witnesses. 

There is nothing in the record to show that he asked the court to postpone the trial on the ground of surprise in order that he might obtain other witnesses; and while It Is true he says that some witnesses testified in another trial, the companion case to this the contrary of what said witnesses testified in this trial yet he fails to disclose the name of such witnesses or by whom he expected to contradict said witnesses. 

There are none of the elements of surprise, as contemplated by the statute and decisions of this state authorizing a new trial. No error appearing in the record, the judgment Is affirmed.

The Southwestern Reporter can be viewed through Google Books.

Henry Pipkins- is the older brother of my great-grandfather, the late Marcellus Pipkins, Sr (1884-1972).

Henry died in 1918, according to my Great Aunts & Uncles their father, Marcellus mentioned Henry frequently when they were growing up. My grandfather and his siblings were close to Henry's son Jim Pipkins.

2014 Ancestor Challenge

TERRENCE GARNETT: To Locate the slave owner & parents of Ellen & Elsie Stanley.

Challenge: To determine if Ellen & Elise were owned by James I. Neely, Rebecca D. Stanton Neely Reagan, and Thomas Jefferson Reagan. To find out the names of Ellen & Elsie's parents.

Ancestor(s): 3rd Great Grandmother Ellen Stanley
Others: Elsie Stanley Hughlon, James I. Neely, Rebecca D. Stanton Neely Reagan, & Dr. Thomas Jefferson Reagan.

Years: 1840-1865

Tribes: Texas - Panola County
             Louisiana - Caddo Parish
 
Summary:
Written: November 6, 2011
By: Terrence A. Garnett

It was the summer of 2006, a month after I graduated from High school when I began this quest to unearth my family history. By the end of the year I was able to locate several ancestors, thanks to the oral history and other information given to me by my elderly relatives. The stories and information enabled me to trace my family lines back to the 5th and 6th generation; one person in particular was Ellen Stanley found in the 1880-1920 Census living in Panola County, Texas near the Texas/Louisiana state line. Based on the various census years, Ellen was born in either Louisiana or Texas sometime between 1851 -1858. According to family members all of Ellen’s children had different father’s one of those children was Mandy (my 2nd great-grandmother) who was said to be the outside child of Ellen & James “Jim” Golden. Mandy's marriage record & the death records of her children confirmed her maiden name was indeed, Golden (DNA has since confirmed this). Unable to locate Ellen living in Louisiana or Texas in 1870 under her surname, I had given up hope of finding anything more about her.

Earlier this week I was reviewing some notes on my fourth (4th) Great-grandparents, Nelson & Agnes Golden of Panola County, Texas. I decided to revisit the 1870 Census to take a look at their neighbors and immediately noticed a sixteen (16) year old Ellen Ragan in the household of Alsey Ragan living next door to the Golden's. I thought to myself could this be my ancestor Ellen Stanley?

I recalled that in 1880, Ellen was living in the household of John Huland in Panola County, Texas. Unfortunately no relationships were stated for anyone living in the household. I surmised there was some type of connection between them based on the birthplaces listed for John, Ellen, and Elsie parents and the similar family names among the Stanley & Huland/Hughlon children and grandchildren.

In an effort to find out more I went to Familysearch.org to look at the “Texas Deaths Records, 1890-1976” and “Louisiana Deaths Index, 1894-1954”. My search revealed the death of a Josephine McKinney who died on December 12, 1937 in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

Name: Josephine McKinney

Death Date: 12 December 1937

Death Place: Lachute, Caddo, Louisiana

Gender: Female

Race: Black

Age: 66

Est. Birth Year: 1871

Birth Place: Deberry, Texas

Marital Status: Married

Spouse’s Name: Si McKinney

Father’s Name: John Hughlan

Mother’s Name: Elsie Standley 

Certificate No.: 15884 (Vol. 37)

Josephine’s death records confirmed the relationship between Ellen & Elsie. I believe that Elsie & her sister Ellen may have been owned by Thomas J. Reagan a Doctor in Panola County, Texas. T.J. Reagan married Rebecca D. Stanton Neely, widow of James I. Neely.

QUESTIONS:

1. Who were Ellen & Elsie's parents? 

2. Did they have any other relatives in the area?
3. In 1870, the sister's are listed under the surname Ragan, could they have been previously owned by Dr. Thomas Jefferson Reagan?

REFERENCES:

• https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXG4-34B (1870 U.S. Census)
• https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MFJ7-T9B (1880 U.S. Census)
  
• Transcribed 1870 U.S. Census: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txpanola/census/1870ipg302.html
• Information on Thomas J. Reagan & Wife: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/panola/history/tmsjregnmdrords.txt
• Find-A-Grave (Rebecca Reagan): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6273888
• Find-A-Grave (T.J. Reagan): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6273893

 References Needed for Review & Analysis:

• Review Probate minutes for James I. Neely
• Panola County Final Estate (Probate) Records of James I. Neely (I apparently never got around to ordering this on microfilm according to my 2011 notes).
• Property Records (Deeds) for James Neely, Rebecca Neely Reagan, and Thomas J. Reagan.
• Texas (Panola County) Tax Records for James Neely & Thomas J. Reagan.

The 2014 Ancestor Challenge officially began on October 1, 2013 and ends on April 1, 2014.

Click the link to view my current progress: TG_SAC2014

Heirs of Ellen Stanley & Elsie Hughlon: Stanley Descendants

Slaves of James Neely

The Will of James I. Neely
Microfilm #: 1004551
Final Estate #: 229
Volume: C (1855-1862), Pages 490-500
County and State: Panola County, Texas
Will Filed: March 8, 1856

The State of Texas || I James I. Neely being of sound mind and memory
County of Panola    || hereby make and publish this my last will and testament.
First} after my decease it is my request and desire that my remains should be conveyed to the town of Vienna, County of Dooley in the state of Georgia where my mother and sister reside for interment.

Second} I  give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Rebecca D. Neely the use, improvements and income of the land on which I reside with the opportunity thereof the land to be divided and one half sold for the payment of my just debts. My wife to have and to hold the remainder of said property for and during the term of her natural life.

Third} I also give and bequeath to my wife , Rebecca D. Neely the following described negro property to wit:

• Tom, Negro of Yellow Complexion, age 43 years.
• Unity, Negress of Yellow Complexion, age 45 years.
• Augustus, Negro of Yellow Complexion,  age 18 years.
• Blackshire, Negro of Yellow Complexion, age 14 years.
• Hector, Negro of Dark Complexion, age 30 years.
• Sam, Negro of Dark Complexion, age 21 years.
• Reubin, Negro of Dark Complexion, age 19 years.
• Mary, Negress of Dark Complexion, age 17 years and her child age 11 or 15 months.
  
• Jane (Jenny), Negress of Dark Complexion, age 29 years also Louisa her child of Yellow Complexion, age 8 years.
• Jack, Negro of Dark Complexion, age 54 years
• Also my interest in the Negress Milly (Emeline) and her child Laura with her increase.
  
  

 My said wife to have and to hold said negro property for her use and benefit during the term of her natural life.

Fourth} It is my will and desire that the following negro property to wit:

• Jim, Negro of Dark Complexion, age 45 years.
• Betsey, Negress of Dark Complexion, age 37 years
• Judy (Judah), Negress of Dark Complexion, age 18 years with her two (2) children: Georgia, Negress, age 2 years and her infant Charles
  

After my decease be sold and the proceeds applied to the payment of my just debts. The balance that may remain to be appropriated for the use and benefit of my said wife Rebecca D. Neely.

[Pgs.490-491]

Many of James Neely's slaves took on the Neely/Neily/Nealy surname after emancipation according to Census and marriage records. Hector, Sam, Reubin, Milly, Laura, Judy, and Georgia.

Terrence A. Garnett

My Grandfather's family...

Lately, my Panola County, Texas ancestors have been the focus of my research efforts. Although I've been researching my family history since June of 2006, I've come to realize that there is so much more to uncover about my Panola County roots.

My Maternal Grandfather, the late Tharner James Pipkins (1924-2001) was born and raised in the community of Bethany near DeBerry, Texas (located on the Texas & Louisiana state lines). My main focus is to share what I have found over the course of my research concerning his Paternal & Maternal ancestors some of whom have been in Panola county since it's formation in 1846. I also plan to document other African-American families from the area.

The family of Marcellus Pipkins Sr. 

   (photo from the collection of Linda Golden)