Date: Sat, 27 Apr 1996 07:46:54 -0400 (EDT) From: NCreed To: 102125.3126@compuserve.com, 103450.3521@compuserve.com, 72650.74@compuserve.com, ahunter@freenet.vcu.edu, ALABAMA233@aol.com, BLACK@globe.com, burnett@kaizen.net, cdorian@accessone.com, cgaunt@umich.edu, Chick.Flet@aol.com, chlamy@acpub.duke.edu, CHRISTIEFC@aol.com, connie.spaw@CBIS.COM, CW1210@smtp1.erols.com, davidcon@microsoft.com, dfullam@albany.net, dmonreal@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us, DP6195@aol.com, ekirkman@swva.net, hoffman@gate.net, IRXP500@INDYVAX.IUPUI.EDU, jlampkin@selu.edu, JMarieCox@aol.com, Knights5@aol.com, lrd@ornl.gov, Majie@sava.gulfnet.com, marockem@minot.ndak.net, marockem@minot.ndak.net, mcclaran@ionet.net, mlsaps@mcn.net, N4JED@aol.com, ncreed@pop.erols.com, Pat-Chesney@easy.com, PWhetzel@aol.com, rhobson@sdcoe.k12.ca.us, ross@interramp.com, rsimms@math.clemson.edu, shauck@d.umn.edu, turner@mind.net, waddiesalmon@usa.pipeline.com, Witt.Bates@aol.com, wjarrell@phoenix.phoenix.net Subject: Compilation #11 - TURNER, BURNETT, VIA, ROSS, ETC/ETC 27 Apr 1997 Hello to Everyone. Again, there's at least one or two new folks on our list. A special welcome to each of you. I hope there's some information in this issue that will be of specific interest to someone. I an enjoying all the information that is being shared on our mutual surnames. I am sending our eleventh compilation by a local provider (Erols) that I'm using now. If there's a problem reading it, just let me know. I still have the AOL account, but am trying to phase it out. Nyla Creed DePauk Vienna VA =============================================== Subj: Terisha Turner and family Date: 96-04-14 02:21:08 EDT From: Pat-Chesney@easy.com (Pat Chesney) To: NCreed@aol.com Hi, Nyla, My sister called me last night long distance very happy to report she had found out our William S. Turner was really William Suddarth Turner and she was finding lots of info about his family line. I went to the library today and discovered more and have been writing to Jo who has more along this line but has not gotten back with me yet. She is going to mail some things to me. But I wanted to post what I have found to the Turner newsletter. Hope everyone isn't tired of me. But I am real excited to have some break throughs after a year of searching! Terisha Turner married Sarah Wimpey - I'll put her family line first. Wimpeys John Wimpey and wife Mary (found in 1718 in Essex Co. Records and in Caroline Co. Records in 1741-46, found in 1750 in Lunenburg Co - bought land there) John Wimpey (d. 1761) and wife Mary (d. between 1756-61) children 1)David 2) John Jr. (d. 1752) mar Eleanor Byrom - daughter of James Byrom of Essex Co. 1) Henry Wimpey 2) Elizabeth Wimpey 3) Sarah mar Terisha Turner (no records of his parents or place of birth or date of b.-it is suggested maybe he came from Caroline Co because the Wimpeys did and he might have met his wife there.) Terisha Turner and Sarah Wimpey children 1) Mary Turner mar James London (1740-1827) 2) James Turner mar Rebecca Hamner - daughter of William Hamner and Elizabeth Henley James died in 1806 leaving a large family (for more info see Jo Thiesen) jogt@aol.com 1) James mar Lucy Ham (James died in Sumner Co. Tenn) 1) Elizabeth Turner mar Simpson Payne 1) Lucy Ham Payne 3) Stephen Turner mar Sarah Hamner (sister of Rebecca H.) recieves land from his father in will in Granville Co. NC 4)JOHN TURNER mar MILDRED SUDDARTH - daughter of James and Patience Suddarth of Albermarle Co. early settler there along with his brother William Suddarth. Had two other children besides Mildred - William and James Suddarth. John Turner had 519 acres on Fry branch of Amhurst Co. and later moved to Ky. 1) Terisha mar Polly Dalton 2) William Suddarth Turner mar Elizabeth P. Smith (see below) 3) John 4) Sally mar William Caffery (over phone didn't get spelling right I'm sure) 5) Betsey mar Moses Turner (another case of Turner mar Turner -happened a lot in Turner family) 5) Henry - lived on Porrage Creek in Amhurst co. Some of Henry's children moved to Ky 6) William b. 1760 Albermale Co. 7) Sarah mar Stovall move to Ky 8) George William Suddarth Turner born in Virginia in 1790 married Elizabeth P. Smith children 1) William Turner 2) Calvin Smith Turner (born 1826 in Tenn, age 24 in 1850 Texas census) 3) Lucinda Turner 4) Issac Hardin Turner 5) John Preston Turner (age 17 yrs in 1850 census) 6) Mary Mildred Turner 7) George Turner ? (Age 5 yrs in their household in 1850 census) neither of the girls appeared in any census my sister Jeanne looked at. Not possitive on birth order - esp guessing on girls and guessing George is William and Elizabeth's son because he is in the household in 1850 census. Could be an older childs son too I guess. I descend from Calvin Smith Turner who mar Amanda Tucker daughter of Eziekel and Ashbel Tucker. Calvin's daughter Annie Turner mar Gustave West Edmund Clark. Their daughter Marguarite Clark mar Martin Duck Morris. Their daughter Mildred Morris mar Hollis Bertchell Smith. Their son Morris Bertchell Smith mar Frankie Jean Rhodes. Their daughter me Terri Smith mar Pat Chesney and we have five children. Terisha Turner is my 6th great grandfather! If anyone can help with any of these family lines I'm going for the next generation! And especially if anyone can help me find this family's connection with James Turner governor of NC. I found that James Turner's family was from Maryland before going to Virginia. Thanks for any help in advance. Take care and God bless you! Terri Chesney Pat and Terri Chesney Rt. 5 Box 895 E Waco, Texas 76705 fax: (817)-829-0251 phone: (817)-829-0153 ======================================== Subj: Some TURNER bits & pieces.. Date: 96-04-15 09:40:47 EDT From: BLACK@globe.com (TERRI x2759) To: NCreed@aol.com CC: Pat-Chesney@easy.com Nyla & Terri, I'm sending this to both of you (so Nyla can throw these tidbits out to the group & so Terri knows that I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth in the past couple of weeks!) I was finally able to steal a chunk of time from my work-kids-&everybody else & make it to the National Archives for a couple of hours last week. To fill the 'group' in, Terri & I (yes I'm a Terri, too) both have Hardin Turners that are giving us a tough go of it. We lose one in Tx & one in Tn, and believe they both came from NC, but have yet to verify that. Someone was kind enough to send me the following from the 1860 census index CD: Hardin Turner is listed in Henry Co, VA; Martinsville P.O., page 60. I found him on reel #1354 of the 1860 census. This Hardin Turner is 4 years old in 1860, listed as being Mulatto, and is enumerated with either a STULTS or STALTS family (the writing was tough to read). In case this rings a bell with anyone else out there, here's the rest of that family: STULTS, Thomas 60 white M, farmer " , Mary 45 " , George 25 " ", Laborer " , Achilles 23 " " " , Thomas 20 " " " , Susan 17 Turner, Hardin 4 mulatto M Hardin Turner is listed in Rockingham Co. NC Grogansville PO, p. 207. I know it is 1860 census reel 912. Most of the pages for Rockingham Co, NC on the reel of microfilm that I had were completely washed out. There was absolutely no way to read anything on this page!! I know that there has to be a copy out there somewhere that someone can read (otherwise, none of this info would've made it to the census cd). If anyone has acces to a better copy of this info & gets a chance to check on it, please let Terri & I know!! Hardy B. Turner is listed in Lenoir Co. NC, Pinkhill PO, p. 24. This is 1860 census reel #904. Here is the info from that page: NUN, James 54 white M born NC TURNER, Hardy B. 28 white M born NC NOBLE, Elizabeth 31 white F born NC NUN, Piercy A. 46 white F born NC ", Joseph H 23 white M ", Benj. F 22 " " ", Jake J. 17 " " ", Henry 16 " " ", Nannie 14 " F ", John 13 " M ", William 11 " " ", James 10 " " (all born in NC) Needless to say I was a bit disappointed as none of the above yielded any answers to my questions. I spent about an hour longer (until they kicked me out at closing time), looking through the 1870 Marshall Co Tn microfilm. I believe that's where my Hardin Turner was in 1870. I made it as far as page 85 & here are the tidbits that I found: TURNER, R E 43 white M born Tn ", Mary 38 white F ", Belle 18 ", L?? 14 white M ", Sarah 11 ", James 9 ", Robert E. 3 ", Mollie 4/12 GANT, R B 53 white M, Farmer TURNER C. ?. 35 white F TURNER, W. L. white M Farmer ", ? E. 27 white F (oops W. L. above was 24) ", ? 2 white F ", ? 1/12 white F TURNER, H (or M) 22 white M, farmer ", Jane 20 white F ROBINSON, L.D. 26 white M, farmer Again all of these were from Marshall Co, TN 1870 census. I apologize for all of the ?, but some of the handwriting just had my eyes popping out of my head!! I hope this helps someone out there. I'll try to get back to the archives again this week & pickup where I left off. Terri black@globe.com ======================================= Subj: ABRAHAM TURNER/LEWIS Date: 96-04-15 14:34:16 EDT From: mcclaran@ionet.net (McClaran) To: NCreed@aol.com Hello! I received some pages of the "Pioneer Lewis Families" by Michael Cook and found it to contain some TURNER names & info. VOL. IV: It is probably this John LEWIS who was the head right of Col. George READE in a patent dated March 3, 1657/58 for land in Westmoreland County (now Stafford), South side of the Potomac River, adjoining Col. Sam MATTHEWS and the Quantecot (Quantico) River, being land granted to Capt. Nicholas MARTEAU on Oct. 25, 1654 and deserted for want of seating. In York County records (Wills-Deeds-Orders 1657-59, p. 46A) a certificate of this landpatent was granted READE and also mentions John LEWIS as head right. Note above that Samuel MATTHEWS an Col. George READE had been Justices on York County. It is probably also the same man as the John LEWIS who was head right for Thomas WILKINSON "above the head of Potoamc Creek, beg. Westernmost corner of land of Mr. MERRIWETHER now in the posession of Nicholas RUSSELL" on June 10, 1658, and the head right of Henry CORBIN on Sept. 15, 1658 (N.E. side of Mattaponi River about 25 miles up the great swamp). Thus by Sept. 1658 he was back almost in the area from which he had started in March. The names of Mitchell and TURNER are pertinent in future LEWIS activities. One MITCHELL-TURNER-LEWIS relationship by proximity can be shown in the York County Court Order (VA) of July 25, 1646: "The Court doth order according to an Act of Assembly that John HANDSFORD and Robert LEWIS for Hampton Parish, Samuel SALLES and Jeffery POWER for Yorke p'ish (note that the patent for John LEWIS [9L001] on Poropotanke Creek was adjoining land there of Samuel SOLLACE in 1653); Edward MITCHELL and Abraham TURNER for Poquoson Parish, shall take a perfect list of all the tytheable p'spms in ye s'd sev'rall p'ish, as alsoe of all cows of three years old, horses, mares and geldingsof three years old & upwards, sheep, goates, and that ye p'form ye smae and deliver ye s'd list to ye sherriffe, by ye 25 of this June, and that everyman's name be taken p'ticularly." Abraham TURNER is believed to have been the father of James TURNER, and if not the father of Nicholas TURNER and Zachary TURNER, of some relation, possibly brothers of Abraham. Araham TURNER is found in a patent dated October 10, 1642 when he acquired 200 acres on Mockjack Bay, N.E. side of the Ware River, adjoining Debnam, Creedle, and Turner's Creek, in Gloucester County. He was deceased by 1649 in York County. If we follow John LEWIS's progress by means of the land patents in which he was a head of right, we see that he was first from York County, to an area south of the Potomac River and near Quantico Creek (Stafford County now), and then returned to the New Kent (now King & Queen) County area, closely following the path of Major William LEWIS and at aout the same times. In a patent dated November 8, 1658, John LEWIS and James TURNER were granted 1000 acres of "sunken land and marsh called Lewis Island" in New Kent County (now Hanover), bounded by the Pamunkey River and south by Pouncey's Creek, the creek being the dividing line between this land and the land of John POUNCEY. Again John LEWIS has followed Major William LEWIS, why by this date had acquired Chemokins from Col. John WEST and was most probably living there; this would have been very close, if not adjoining, the Chemokins plantation. (In 1653, Major William LEWIS was granted land of John POUNCEY and N.W. to Chohoake (Cohoke) Creek, near or adjacent to land that Col. William CLAIBORNE acquired which was 5000 acres at Pamunkey River on N.S. of freshes of York River bounded East by Mattadecum Creek and on South side of York River and the marshes and on the West side with Cohoake Creek also in 1653; note that Chemokins was later divided by a parish line which separated St. Pauls Parish and St. Peters Parish, the sameline used later to divide the newly formed Hanover County form New Kent County, and the line followed the Mattadecum Creek). In a patent dated January 15, 1662, John LEWIS and Thomas MITCHELL were granted 1680 acres, New Kent County, beginning at Mitchell's line, thence to Col. GOOCH's, by the Westover path. This tract, south of Chemokins area, was later relinquished by LEWIS to MITCHELL on February 28, 1672, as evidenced by a patent to MITCHELL dated Feb. 28, 1682/83 "eginning at Mr. Robert JARRETT by Westover path, by an Indian field, to tree in county line (apparently boundary between New Kent and Henricho County), near a branch of Skimino, by Lancelot BATHURST's fence, by Towwink Swamp, part of sd. land granted to him January 15, 1662 and the other part to John LEWIS and LEWIS sold his title to MITCHELL and acknowledged same in county court of New Kent, Feb. 28, 1672." It is interesting to note that on Mar. 14, 1664 James TURNER is shown on the southside of freshes of Pamunkey River adjoining Captain Anthony LANGSTONE in the main swamp of Totopotomoy Creek, with Richard LITTLEPAGE, and also on Mar. 24, 1663 in grant chich mentions Mattadecum Creek. Note the proximity to Totopotomoy Creek to Major LEWIS's Chemokins plantation; this was property later occupied by David CRAWFORD and was most probably adjoining Chemokins. [note form Karen: the LITTLEPAGE family is intermarried with the LEWIS family according to Hayden's "Virginia Genealogies"] To furhter identify the land that John LEWIS and James TURNER patented in 1658, we need to take a close look at the activity of James TURNER. In the area we are discussing, James TURNER acquired 800 acres on S.side of York River, in the Narrows, adjoining lands of Mr. Joseph CROSHAW, John BUTLER, and "Mackadequin Creek" in July 17, 1653, for transportation of 16 persons. On Nov. 6, 1658, TURNER was partner with John LEWIS, as stated, on land that bounded with John POUNCEY. On Mar. 14, 1663/64, James TURNER in partnership with Richard LITTLEPAGE, was granted the 400 acres mentioned adjoining Capt. LANGSTONE in the main swamp of Totopotomoy Creek. On Mar. 24, 1663/64, Richard LITTLEPAGE and James TURNER acquired another 1143 acres, New Kent County, on south side freshes of the Pamunkey River, beginning at "an ancient development of sd. TURNER and Capt. Anthony LANGSTONE's path, Whitings Swamp, and Matterdam (Mattadecum) Creek, for transporting 23 persons. On June 7, 1666, Cornelious DABNEY was granted 640 acres of land on hte lower side of Totopotomoys Creek, beginning at upper line of land of Mr. LITTLEPAGE adn James TURNER. On Mar. 29, 1666 Charles LOVEING acquired 350 acres adjacent to Richard LITTLEPAGE and James TURNER, Capt. LANGSTONE's back line, in New Kent Co. And on June 17, 1670, James TURNER patented 786 acres in New Kent Co. on both sides of the Horse Path to Matrexem (Mattadecum) and upon upper side of Whyting's Branch. On Oct. 8, 1672, David CRAFFORD (CRAWFORD) patented 1000 acres on branches of Mattadecum Creek, adjacent to John POUNCEY's land, crossing Little Creek. (Note: this would have been adjoining the Chemokins plantation; David CRAWFORD called his plantation "Asequin" or "Esoquan" in various patents, an adapation of the Indian name "Asiskewincke". Note that Major William LEWIS had land next to Asiskewincke.) John POUNCEY acquired 800 acres on lower side of Mattadecum Creek and by land of John GETAWAY on June 9, 1666 (among those transported as head rights were Abraham IVERSON and William ADDISON; Abraham IVERSON was earlier shown on the S.W. side of North River in Mockjack Bay, Gloucester Co., dividing land from land of Thomas CHAPMAN and George LEVITT, June 10, 1651). This land was later desrted and regranted to William WINSTON and John ENGELBRECHT on April 28, 1691. On Sept. 28, 1681, John LANGSTONE(e) acquired 1316 acres in New Kent beginning at mouth of a small swampo on S. side of York River, dividing this from land of Sir Philip HONEYWOOD; corner to Moses DAVIS, near the Horse Road, below the mountains, adjoining John FLEMING, Thomas GLASS and James TURNER. John LANGSTON assigned to William TAYLO (TAYLOE) on Oct. 28, 1681 this tract, who assigned July 28, 1682 to David CRAWFORD. David CRAWFORD patented this land as "Esoquan Plantation". (Note:the will of Moses DAVIS is in the Brock Collection of the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA., in which one of the legatees is Margaret CRAWFORD, his daughter. Land on "Tattapotomoy" Creek is devised to his wife and to daughter Pheobe. Richard LITTLEPAGE was named as one of the overseers of the will, dated Feb. 2, 1687/88 in New Kent Co. and probated Aug. 2, 1688.) Note that the land acquired by John LEWIS with James TURNER, and the lands acquired by Major William LEWIS (Chemokins, and smaller tracts), are THE ONLY LAND GRANTS TO ANY LEWIS that would fall within present Hanover Co. until well after 1700. The St. Paul's Parish Records, (printed, p.215), state, for Mar. 14, 1708/09, thus: "The lands of David CRAWFORD, Gent., Maj. Nicholas MERIWETHER, Thomas ANDERSON, John HILL, Edward CHAMBERS, John LEWIS, and Margaret ARISS, lying adjacent to each other, being made one precinct. of ehich the sadi David CRAWFORD and Nicholas MERIWETHER were appointedoverseers." (This would be David CRAWFORD, JR. and Councilor John LEWIS, in 1709.) The exact date of death of Major William LEWIS cannot be setermined, but there is little doubt that Major John LEWIS was the beneficiary of his estate. Chemokins palntation would, thus, be in his possession, although there is nothing to suggest that he resided there as a permanent resident; there seems no doubt that he maintained it in an absentee-landlord ...basis, operating this plantation by means of overseers and managers, and a gang of slave labor. Karen K. Hogue McClaran of Oklahoma mcclaran@ionet.net or kmcclar@okstate.edu Coordinating Editor of the Lewis/Collins Email Group Sharing my surname information freely, otherwise available for hire *McClaran Tree Climbers* ??? Thomas Campbell JEFFERSON: born 1806 Campbell Co, VA., died in Arkadelphia, ALA. HELP!!! ====================================================== Subj: Turner family research Date: 96-04-19 20:50:58 EDT From: Pat-Chesney@easy.com (Pat Chesney) To: NCreed@aol.com Hi, Nyla, In your last letter you asked about the information you sent earlier. At first I was puzzled and looked back at my in mail and found one of your first letters. It had lots of wonderful information about my Turners who at that time didn't think were mine but I had forgotten about your letter. Thank you so much for trying to help me - you had the answer I just had to find the right middle name to recieve it as mine! By the way - have you sent out the 11 compilation? I haven't gotten it if you have. Would really like to have it. The following you can add to the next Turner newsletter - Here is other information I have received to pass on to the Turner newsletter in hopes it helps -Somehow this Jack E. Turner is related to my William Suddarth Turner but at this point I don't know how. Maj Jack E. Turner was native of NC mar Merina Bryan of NC they had three children 1) William K. Turner - the late Judge Turner of Nashville 2) Mrs. George W. Cheatham of Nashville 3) Mrs. Emily Oultaw (Outlaw?) after Merina Bryan died Major Jack remarried to Wealthy S. Bryan daughter of James H. Bryan of Robertson Co. 1 child Jack E. Turner b. 1822 mar Emily Darden a daughter of Jesse and Amelia (Polk )Darden they had one child Jesse J. Turner in 1850 This information was given to me by the comptroller of Tenn- Anthony Turner, who may be related to my Turners there in Sumner Co. He sent me the land transactions of Turners from 1803-1838. I found some very interesting things among the names of people buying and selling land to Turners. The most exciting was a note at the end of the computer list - a Hust family and an Issac Preston and wife and Alexander Smith and wife Jane bought or sold some land to a Turner there in Sumner Co. My William and Elizabeth Smith Turner named their sons Issac Hardin Turner and John Preston Turner probably after relatives for their other two sons obviously were named after he and his wife -William Suddarth Turner Jr.and Calvin Smith Turner. If anyone has Turners in Tenn -Anthony said he is researching Turners in the middle part of Tenn and has a list of 600 from I guess land transactions. He was willing to send it to me. I wasn't going to ask for it but if it would help you'll maybe I'd better. I have the list for Turners in Sumner Co if anyone has Turners there they want to look for. The more unusual Turner names there include a Frederick Turner, Lemuel Turner, Yancy Turner, Seaton H. Turner, Nelson Turner and Martin Turner. ====================================================== Subj: TURNER Family Date: 96-04-23 10:50:59 EDT From: dmonreal@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us (Dianne Monreal) To: ncreed@aol.com Dear Nyla: I just received an e-mail from Pat Chesney suggesting that I send you my information on my Turner family. Here goes: William Turner is my oldest Turner ancestor. He was born in VA and dissapeared enroute to KY in 1794. His spouse is not known to me. His son was Thomas Turner. Thomas was born on Nov. 16, 1792 in Harpers Ferry, VA and died Jan. 30, 1884 in Huntsville, Butler Co., KY. Thomas married Hannah Carsen (b. Nov. 5, 1797 in VA and d. Oct. 2, 1844 in Huntsville, Butler Co., KY). They had the following children: Carsen; John Smith; James William (b. 1828/9, m. Elizabeth J. ___); Edward Carroll (b. Sept 29, 1831 in KY; m. Mary McMillan and Margaret Susan Mansfield; d. Nov. 5, 1896 in Pine Island, Jefferson Co., TX); Hamilton Bate (b. 1831/2; m. Mary C. _____); Susan (b. 1831/2); Henry (b. {834/5); Mary (b. 1836/7) and Elizabeth (b. 1841/2). Thomas remarried Rachel Porter Cook. I will continue this later. Dianne Monreal ========================================================= Subj: Re: TURNER Family Date: 96-04-23 20:09:36 EDT From: dmonreal@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us (Dianne Monreal) To: NCreed@aol.com Here is part 2 of my Turner family. Edward Carroll Turner married Mary McMillan (or Martha L. McMillan) who was born in KY. Their only child was Benjamin Franklin Turner who was born either June 9, 1852 or April 11, 1852. He was born in either Queensboro (possibly Owensboro) or Logan Co., KY. He married Ruth Reeks in 1890/91. (Ruth Reeks was the daughter of James and Indiana Reeks.) Benjamin died on July 8, 1908 in China, Jefferson Co., TX. Edward Carroll Turner remarried. His second wife was Margaret Susan Mansfield who was born on June 15, 1836 in KY. They had the following children: Thomas Granville (b. 1854/5 in KY); Mary Louisa (b.1856/7 in KY); Virginia Francis (b. 1858/9 in KY; m. William F. Flener on Oct. 21, 1880); David Carsen (b. 1861/2 in KY); Anna Eilizabeth (b. 1862/3 in KY; m. Obediah Beller on July 4, 1878); Martha Isabel (b. 1864/5 in KY); Sherman (d. infant); Ternesia (b. 1868/9 in KY); James (b. 1870/1 in KY); Samuel (b.1872/3 in KY); ____ E. (a boy) (b. 1873/4 in KY); William (b. 1875/6 in KY) and Ida O. (b. 1877/8 in KY. Benjamin Franklin Turner and Ruth Reeks had the following children: Marvin Everett (b. May 29, 1893 in Fairmont, KS; m. Katie Bell Inman; d. Dec. 25, 1959); Gladys Irene (b. Nov. 9, 1899 in China, Jefferson Co., TX; m. (1) Bert Nelson and (2) Fred Lee Sifford on Jan. 16, 1919; d. Sept. 21, 1981 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co., TX); and Shirley Virgil (b. Sept. 28, 1902 in China, Jefferson Co., TX; m. Rose Tortorige). I hope that this is useful. Sincerely, Dianne Monreal ===================================================== Subj: Turner Newsletter Date: 96-04-27 03:03:17 EDT From: Pat-Chesney@easy.com (Pat Chesney) To:NCreed@aol.com Hi, Nyla, Here's an obituary for the Turner newsletter for John Preston Turner the son of William Suddarth Turner and wife Elizabeth Smith the son of John Turner and wife Mildred Suddarth son of Terisha Turner and wife Sarah Wimpey. Haven't gotten the 11th newsletter yet. Have you sent it out? Take care. Terri Chesney We hear with much sorrow of the death of another Guad. Co. oldest settlers, one of that pioneer type which are fast disappearing. "Uncle John Turner, who has passed from your midst after a continous residence of seventy years in Texas. This aged citizen was bound to the writer by the stongest ties of nature and friendship and we deeply and sincerely mourn his death. During the long years of his residence in Texas, he faithfully did his part in his humble way in redeeming this great commonwealth from the wilderness and savage and would not willingly see him pass away--forgotten and unnoticed. And yielding to a kind and friendly request and moved by our affection for the dead, we will here attempt to record some poor tribute to his memory and virtues. Reared from his tender childhood in the wilds of Tx. he was to a great extent deprived of the advantages of that character of education which is derived from books and was but little acquainted with the social and business usages of the world, but his long life close to Nature and Natures God--coupled with the far away influence of his gentle birth gave a polish to his nature that appealed strangely to all who knew him well. John Preston Turner, was born in Nashville, Tennessee about 1830 (we regret that we have lost the record of his birth which we once had) He was born of a family distinguished in the civil and military annuals of their country. A family which furnished many eminent lawyers, soldiers and statesmen and a Governor of one of the States.(No. Carolina) His father, Maj. William S. Turner was a native of Summer County, Tenn. He won distinction as a soldier under Andrew Jackson in the Indian Wars and in the war of 1812. He was noted for his great personal courage and was known throughout Tenn. for his fearless and daring contests with the outlaws who infested the country from the mountains to the Gulf in the day and the time when he was the only sheriff west of the Alleghaney Mountains. He was the friend and near neighbor of Gen. Jackson, was a Major on his staff in the Tenn. Militia and espoused his cause against the Bentons, "as brave as Bill Turner" was a saying with Jackson. Such, briefly, was the father of John P. Turner. His mother, prior to her marriage with Maj. Turner, was Elizabeth Smith, a lady of gentle birth whose family was one of great respectability in Jackson, Tenn., where she was reared. In 1836 Maj. Turner having suffered financial losses which deprived him of land and slaves, emigrated to the young Republic of Texas. Stopping on his way for a time at New Orleans where he and his family were lavishly entertained by his nephew, Mr. Sumpter Turner, for many weeks. Maj. Turner had aided in the establishment of his nephew in business many years before and he had become on e of the wealthiest merchants of the city where his decendants still live. Taking a steamer the family proceeded to Texas, reaching Columbia on the Brazos, where the subject of this sketch first placed foot on Texas sil late in the spring of 1837. Here the family were kindly received by their kinsman, Mr. Isaac Kinsley and his family, where they remained for a while and then proceeded to their wilderness home on the Guadalupe. Here the older sons of Maj. Turner, William, Calvin and Hardin soon ranked among the best marksmen and the most expert horsemen of the country and were constantly in the service as scouts and rangers, serving under Hays, the McCulloch's, Gillispie and Callahan. John being of tender age and the youngest of the family was not so much engaged in distant campaigns against the Indians, but being a born woodsman, a gifted hunter and a good horseman did valuable service to the lonely settlements as a vidette not only in time of need, furnishing supplies of venison and buffalo meat, but keeping watch and ward, hanging upon the tail of blood- thirsty war parties of Indians, accertaining their course of march and by hard and fearless riding give timely warning to the settlers of their approach, all this was his employment when he was a lad in the 15th year of his age. At the beginning of the war with Mexico in 1846 John was but 16 years of age. His brothers were constantly absent and we do not think he did any service in that war as an enlisted soldier, his services being required at home. He told us in the days gone by many long and interesting stories of his adventures in the wilderness, he often alluded to being in camp with Ad Gillispie, Kit Acklin, Curtis Caldwell, Arch Gibson and other well known Indian fighters of that day and time, but what actual field service he performed we regret we are unable to record. During the Civil War his infirm health exempted him from military service but his devoted attention to and care of families of his neighbors who were absent in the Confederate service is a matter which can be testified to by many yet living. The night was never too dark and tempestuous or the road too long for him to go to the relief of any who were in want, sickness or distress. In his early manhood he was united in marriage to Rachel, the only daughter of William A. Sowell who lost his life at Gonzales in the early days. They lived together in great harmony and happiness and prospered. His devotion to his wife was one of the beautiful sentiments that characterized him, his affection for her was boundless and when she passed out of his life it was as if the mainspring of his existence was broken. When the writer was a boy Uncle John was one of the well known stockmen of the country, owning a ranch and cattle on the range from the forks of the river to the mountains. He kept an open house for the cattlemen of his range and the wayfaring man could always find food and shelter under his roof without money and without price. The death of his wife, way back in the seventies, was a blow from which he never fully recovered, the sad event changed the trend of his existence. He sold his cattle and ranch and removed to the southside of the Guadalupe where he has lived in comparitive seclusion for the past 25 or 30 years of his life. His mind dwelt so constantly on his loss that many thought his reason was giving way at times, but the writer who visited him often in his loneliness, knew that he had only fallen into a gentle melancholy and nursed with a kind of sad pleasure affectionate recollections of her with whom so many prosperous years of his life had been spent and when we heard him, with his subdued and gentle voice, pronounce her name, "Rachel," we were not surprised that he spoke as if he stood in her visible presence. A thought of this departed loved one, his other self, was ever present with him and to us it was no sign of failing mind that he saw her form in the gathering shadows of evening and heard her voice in the whispering winds of the night. We have never known in life a kinder or more gentle spirit that that which dwelt in his bosom, always ready to aid and comfort those in want and distress. Poor himself, he gave of his poverty to his more needy neighbors, and was ever ready to serve them no matter at what personal sacrifice to himself. While he was quick to resent mistreatment, directed towards himself or those near and dear to him, and while smarting under wrongs, real or imaginary, he knew not the sentiment of fear. Yet his heart was ever open to overtures of peace and quick to forgive and forget. No one knew his good and gentle heart better than he who pens these lines. We knew his abiding faith and belief in a life beyond the grave, and we trust and hope that his por maimed, bent and crippled mortal body has taken on that immortality in which he believed and that in that great beyond the reach of sorrow and suffering he has found his Rachel agian and with her dwells in everlasting peace. Pat and Terri Chesney Rt. 5 Box 895 E Waco, Texas 76705 fax: (817)-829-0251 phone: (817)-829-0153 ===================== The End.