Comments on: Unionists at War in the N.C. Quaker Belt

By: Southerners Against Slavery: Wesleyan Methodists in Montgomery County, North Carolina « Renegade South

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:47:31 +0000

[...] of Wesleyan Methodism in their community. Battle lines would be redrawn during the Civil War, in a brutal inner war that would pit the same Sheriff Aaron Sanders against the same community of [...]

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:35:24 +0000

Joyce,

What fascinating background history and connections you provide for the Moores of Kentucky and North Carolina! I’m sure my Montgomery County readers will agree.

Thanks so much,
Vikki

By: Joyce Reeves

Joyce Reeves — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:08:55 +0000

Hey all,
Can a cousin from Kentucky sneak into these conversations ?? I am very interested in the Moore, Beaman and Hulin families of Montgomery County. My 3rd gr grandmother was yet another Effarilla Moore, b 1765. We, her descendants, believe her to have been an older sister of Valentine Moore. This Effarilla was never married, but had a son, Allen Moore, who’s father was a “Mr. Morris”. Allen Moore, my 2nd gr grandfather was born July 1800, Montgomery County NC, and before 1820, he and his mother show up in Clay County KY, area now Breathitt County, where they remained the rest of their lives. It is believed his father was John Haton Morris. DNA evidence suggests that John Haton Morris may have been an Owen, or Owens. The dna does not match with other Morrises from Montgomery County. Family tradition handed down from Effarilla, to Allen, and to his children, says her immigrant ancestor was Sterling Moore, who sailed his own ship, “the Effarilla”, to the shores of NC (or VA), and that afterwards, the first baby born to him and his wife (no name given) was named Effarilla, for the ship that had brought them safely to America. My ggg granny may have been this baby, or a yet older generation (my personal belief). When Effarilla/Effie Moore died 1855 Breathitt County KY, her death certificate said her parents were William and Anna Moore. I would like to correspond with my new found kinfolk who’ve posted to this site. My email address is joycehousereeve@webtv.net I am also descended from the Bradley family of Randolph County NC, and the Crowder family of Guilford County NC. My gr grandfather, Jeremiah Davidson (son-in-law of Allen Moore), was conscripted into the CSA in KY, deserted and joined the Union Army. It’s a miracle he lived to tell about it. Thank you for writing about the war in Montgomery County.
Joyce

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:47:12 +0000

Kelly,

How great that you and Amanda talked with Rev. Haynes. It does indeed appear that James Atkins is likely buried at Lovejoy.

I know that Hiram Hulin is buried there, too; I remember seeing his grave. There was some confusion in the death dates on the headstones of one or both of his two wives, Nancy and Candis, it seems to me. but it’s been so long since I was there (1983 I believe), that I am only sure that I saw those graves.

I checked, and I have old notes in my files in which Buck Mountain is referred to as Dark Mountain.

I have also heard the story of the blood stains on the church floor. I believe that is contained in the memoirs of Thoburn Freeman, which are now in the possession of Elaine Reynolds, who inherited the Hulin family records. She is the person who provided me with the photo of the Hulin family posted here. She lives right there, so you might want to contact her.

William (Bill) Auman wrote an article for the North Carolina Historical Review back in the 1980s that has information on the Hulin brothers, and also a photo of their mass grave (my understanding was also that they were all buried together in the same grave). I believe Bill lives nearby in Randolph County.

I would be happy to share information with Rev. Haynes if he would care to contact me. Meanwhile, I will continue to scour my notes for information. And I haven’t forgotten about posting the John Beaman letter–it’s coming up.

Vikki

By: kellyatkinshinson

kellyatkinshinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:26:51 +0000

vikki,
I forgot to ask, did you hear about the stains on the old church floor being visible until it burned in the 1920′s? Apparently the bloodstains remained on the wooden floor for many years where the Hulins, & James were placed following their execution. Of course, again hearsay…but when that’s all you’ve got to go on! And, usually there some truth in these old stories, even if embellished over the years. I think I’ll be going to the Montgomery County Court House next week, in search of more.
Kelly

By: kellyatkinshinson

kellyatkinshinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:10:45 +0000

Vikki,
Amanda and I went to Lovejoy today. We talked to the Pastor there, Rev. Tommy Haynes, who is researching to write a church history. He has been looking in the Duke papers, mainly about Francis Asbury’s tours of the area churchs…it seems he preached there several times. He says he has always been told that the Hulin’s cousin was killed and buried with them in a mass grave, which we saw and took pictures of, of course. (And there is an empty space next to the stone marking the Hulin grave.) But as he described it, they were all buried in ONE grave. Also, he says the locals there call Buck mountain, Dark mountain. Have you heard that? He says he will look in the Duke Archives for any proof or other details about James Atkins burial with the Hulins. He also told us there is an elderly lady in Lovejoy who he will ask about it, too. He knew nothing about where the first stone went when it was replaced. We gave him your name and told him about your work researching several of the prominent families of his church, which he expressed interest in contacting you about info for his history. So far, we still only have word of mouth that James Atkins is buried with the Hulins, (but that word is pretty reliable!!) And of course, we do know he was killed with them for fact in Hiram Hulin’s letter. BTW do you know where Hiram Hulin is buried? He was not at Lovejoy, that we could find. In answer to the above, yes, A.J. Beaman’s wife was Mary Ann, and John Armstrong Beaman’s wife was Malinda Cranford, both daughters of James and Rutha Riley Cranford…and just realized Candes Beaman is A.J. & Johns sister, she is an ancestor of Amanda’s, so we are, after all, related! Actually, the suprise would have been if we were NOT related, with all the intermarrying these families did. If we find out any more, we’ll let you know. Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Kelly A. Hinson

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:50:06 +0000

You are so right, Kelly, about how quickly our history can be buried (these puns are hard to avoid!). I am interested in any new information you can find.

After I get caught up on some others tasks, I will post the John Beaman letter on Renegade South. I’ve been reading it to my students whenever we study the Civil War for years! that and the letter written by Martha Sheets, who was kin to John’s wife, Malinda Cranford.

The Cranfords were also very important in these pro-Union kinship networks. I think both John and A.J. married Cranford women.

Vikki

By: kellyatkinshinson

kellyatkinshinson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:24:23 +0000

Vikki,
Actually, no, I wasn’t aware of the Beaman brothers involvement in the protests of the Wesleyan sect in Lovejoy…wow, they also joined the outlyers in the mountains! I have no “memories” of this side of my family, nothing was really passed down, a very elderly grandfather, and no ties to his extended family, until the last few years. I have been researching my tree and was told about James Atkins but not about the Beamans. These two brothers (John A. & Abram Jackson Beaman ) both have Confederate markers at Shiloh Methodist Church (also in Troy), and neither has a “deserter” listing in the rosters that I have seen. Can you give us a “preview” of the letter he wrote? Now, I really must thoroughly read “Unruly Women”….had only read excerpts of it years ago. So, in my research on my family tree I am learning alot that has been forgotten, or somewhat swept under the rug. I am always interested in learning more, esp about this subject. Btw, someone mistakenly named A.J., “Andrew”Jackson Beaman for his Confederate stone, and I had planned on having it replaced with one with his real name, although I’m not sure he would want it now that his stance against the CSA is known to me. Funny how the true feelings some had about the Confederacy are replaced with moonlight & magnolia sentiment these 150 yrs later, or were even at the turn of the 20th century. But, even knowing, I guess he should have a stone with the appropriate name on it, and he did serve the Confederacy, if the roster is factual, so he is entitled to recognition that he was in the military, albeit the Confederacy. At any rate,I plan on a trip to Lovejoy this weekend, maybe there is some record at the church there. I will try to dig up (no pun intended) the final resting place of James Atkins, here in Montgomery County. Maybe the Court House is my next destination. (Interestingly, another of my ancestors burned it down in 1843, so research beyond that year is difficult. I have found some real wild branches in my Tree!) I would love to know more…please share any further info you can.
Thanks, Kelly

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:13:37 +0000

Hello Kelly, Thanks so much for coming on Renegade South and providing information that clearly places James Atkins within the Wesleyan Methodist community of Montgomery County. I did not know that the Atkins family intermarried with the Beamans. It now seems likelier than ever that James might indeed be buried with the Hulin brothers. I am very familiar with the Beaman family, and included a genealogy table on the connections between the Hulins, Moores, Hurleys, Beamans in my first book, Unruly Women (published by University of N.C. Press, 1992). As you probably already know, both John A. and Abram Jackson Beaman joined the Hulins and James Atkins in the woods during the war. During the war, John Beaman wrote a wonderful letter protesting unfair Confederate policies to Gov. Vance that I quote from in Unruly Women, and again in my forthcoming book, Long Shadow of the Civil War. Yes, Sallie Atkins clearly had an awful time during the war. There she is, a widow farming her land, no doubt dependent on help from her older children while still caring for little ones as well. Then comes the war, with conscript officers drafting her sons into service. Those were just terrible times. Thank you so much for adding to the story. The struggles of these families have long fascinated me, and I want to know more. Vikki

By: kellyatkinshinson

kellyatkinshinson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:56:51 +0000

Hi Ms. Bynum,
I am the Atkins descendent in search of James’ Burial place. Amanda has been diligently searching to find the solution to my mystery. I was told by John Callicutt, now deceased, that James was buried with the Hulins at Lovejoy. There is no record of his burial in the cemetery survey of Montgomery County. I live here in Montgomery and also am a g-g-grandaughter of AJ Beaman, …George T. Atkins(my g-grandfather) m. Malinda Beaman, AJ’s daughter. George is James’ brother, born in 1859, the yr his father died. Don’t you know Sallie Atkins had it hard? Anyway, wondering if you know any further on James, & the Beamans and their part in the inner war in Montgomery Co. I look forward to reading your new book, & going to the library to reread parts of Unruly Women. If I recall, Caroline Moore (A. J. Beaman’s first cousin-his mother, Effarilla Moore, was her father, Valentine’s, sister) plays a part in your commentary on those “unruly” ones. Thanks for any insight into these kinfolk of mine.
Kelly Atkins Hinson