Amos Deason Home, site of Maj. Amos McLemore’s murder, Ellisville, MS. Photo by Victoria Bynum
There’s an interesting new blog, Across and Back, written by “Red,” a descendant of Amos McLemore who recently made an odyssey to her ancestral home of Jones County, Mississippi, to learn more about the fate of her kinfolk.
The murder of Confederate Major Amos McLemore on October 5, 1863, allegedly by Newt Knight and two of his accomplices, is famous for being the opening shot—literally—for an insurrection against the Confederacy led by a band of Confederate deserters and Mississippi Unionists. Major McLemore was visiting the home of Confederate Rep. Amos Deason when intruders entered the home and shot him dead. The reason? McLemore’s efforts to round up local deserters left them vulnerable to arrest and execution on grounds of treason to the new government. Shortly after Major McLemore’s murder, on October 13, 1863, the Knight Company was formed, with Newt Knight elected its captain.
That story has been repeated over and over, but the story of what happened to the McLemores after his murder has never been told–hence, Red’s trip back home to try and recover that hazy past. Give Across and Back a visit—you might see someone you know!
Vikki Bynum
Categories: Mississippi, The Free State of Jones
Could you give me directions to the Amos Deason house. I tried to find it a couple of weeks ago but had no luck.
Tim,
The Amos Deason home is located on the corner of Deason and Anderson Streets in Ellisville. Deason St. runs parallel with both U. S. HWY 11 and Interstate 59. Anderson Street may be reached from Hwy. 11.
Vikki
Its right beside South Jones High School.
my great great great grandfather was amos but i did not know this story
Dennis,
Thanks for visiting Renegade South. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a family’s history may be buried, particularly if murder and mayhem are involved. The murder of Amos McLemore is one of many tragic deaths caused by the Civil War.
The murder is described in several books that you may want to read: Rudy Leverett’s Legend of the Free State of Jones, Ethel Knight’s Echo of the Black Horn, and my own Free State of Jones.
Best,
Vikki
yes i just downloaded your book from auidble.com am so anticpating listening to it i wanted to ask you how to get a hold of the bio of amos thank you
Dennis,
I am certain there is a copy of Rudy Leverett’s bio of Amos McLemore (who was Rudy’s great-grandfather) at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, which holds Rudy’s papers.
There was a copy of the bio at the Lauren Rogers Museum and Archives, Laurel, back in 1994 when I was conducting research, and I’m pretty sure that the Laurel Public Library would have a copy too.
I would think any one of those places would provide you with a copy for a fee if you contact them.
Good luck, and let me know whether you’re able to obtain a copy.
Vikki
Is there a list of resident’s, occupants, who lived in the house?
Roger, the 1860 federal manuscript census records the following occupants: Amos Deason, age 54, merchant, Eleanor, age 50, Sylvanus McManus, age 22, and Nancy H. McManus, age 17.
Vikki
I was reading somewhere where it was stated that the home was turned over to the Anderson’s. So, I was wondering what Anderson’s lived in the house, after the Deason’s, Amos Deason.
Being more specific, I am wondering if Richmond Anderson ever lived in the house. I know that he did mary a daughter of Amos Deason.