Perry Family – Digging Up Your Family

Freeland, McQueen, and Perry

I have spent so much time attempting to find where Elizabeth Freeland (McQueen, Perry) lived in 1870 that I nearly gave up. I had been searching for her under the name Elizabeth Perry, and I had been searching for her husband as Claiborne/Claiborn/Clayborn/Clayburn Perry. I just kept coming up empty-handed. I assumed that after the Civil War they both must have died prior to the 1870 census. Well, I was wrong. They didn’t both die. I will do a short (haha, yeah right) recap here of previous records and posts as a reminder/new information for old and new readers alike. I won’t go into way too much info, especially since I have written extensively on Elizabeth’s first marriage (which you can find under the Freeland and McQueen family tabs in the left hand column). So, just to sum it all up and bring it all back around to today’s information:

Elizabeth Freeland was born about 1804, location still unknown but narrowed down. In 1820 she married Peter McQueen in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. By 1827 the family had moved to Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Peter had sold off all of their belongings, then took two slaves and skipped town. In 1837 he shows back, kidnaps the two oldest daughters and disappears again. Elizabeth was granted a divorce in 1839 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. In 1840 she married Claiborne Perry (from here on out in this post he will be referred to as CP since I have no idea how his name is actually spelled) in Lauderdale County. By early 1846 Elizabeth and CP moved to Crittenden County, Arkansas.

Elizabeth’s children with Peter McQueen:

Louisa and Melissa McQueen were the two daughters that were kidnapped. Louisa lived until 1903, however Melissa died in 1851 in Marshall County, Mississippi.

Caroline McQueen married Edmund Richards in 1846 in Crittenden County, Arkansas and she died sometime between 1856 and 1860, though I am not certain if she died in Arkansas or Texas.

Elizabeth’s children with CP:

CP, Jr joined the Confederate Army in September 1861 and died in a Fredericksburg, Virginia hospital in February 1862.

Nathaniel Perry joined the Union Army with his father in November 1863 and died in the hospital at De Vall’s Bluff, Arkansas in January 1865.

Ok, this is where it gets a little hairy. There is about to be some interesting information that I can’t quite wrap my mind around.

In 1850 the Perry family was living in Jasper, Crittenden County, Arkansas. The family members listed are:

Charles Perry, age 36 years, born in Arkansas (this is CP)

Elizabeth Perry, age 37 years, born in Alabama (this age is off by about 10 years)

Claiborne Perry, age 8 years, born in Alabama

Nathaniel Perry, age 5 years, born in Arkansas

Mary McQueen (1), age 37 years, born in Louisiana, also the only one listed as over the age of 20 who cannot read or write (remember this name and age; age may be off, also, as will be explained later)

In 1850 daughter Caroline and her family were living in Tyrongee, Crittenden County, Arkansas. The family members are listed as:

Edward Richards, age 25 years, born in Arkansas (this is Edmund)

Catharina Richards, age 22 years, born in Mississippi (this is Caroline)

George Richards, age 3 years, born in Mississippi (his obit says he was born in Crittenden County, Arkansas, though)

Lucy Richards, age 2 years, born in Arkansas

Mary Edwards (4), age 14 years, born in Tennessee (remember this name)

Mary McQueen (2), age 18 years, born in Mississippi (remember this name)

In 1860 the Perry family was living in Union, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The family members are listed:

Claghurn Perry, age 46 years, born in Alabama (this is CP)

Elisabeth Perry, age 56 years, born in Louisiana

Sarah McQueen (3), age 25 years, born in Alabama (who is this? she is listed in the order to assume she is Elizabeth’s daughter)

Claborn Perry, age 18 years, born in Mississippi

Nathan Perry, age 13 years, born in Arkansas

So, we are back to the mystery people:

1. Mary McQueen, born about 1813 (or 1823, as will be explained later) in Louisiana

2. Mary McQueen, born about 1832-34 in Mississippi

3. Sarah McQueen, born about 1835 in Alabama

4. Mary Edwards, born about 1836 in Tennessee

Let’s break it down where these people went (I promise, there is a reason for this concerning the Perry death).

1. As of right now, Mary McQueen (1813/23) does not exist outside of the 1850 census.

2. Mary McQueen, aged 23 years (1833-1834), married 1) John Lewis, aged 44 years, on January 5, 1857 in Crittenden County, Arkansas. They had at least two children: John Lewis (abt 1857) and Alice Lewis (1870); Mary McQueen (Lewis), aged 36 years (1832-1834), married 2) Galutice (or Galucia) Spencer Chapin, aged 54 years, on September 7, 1870 in Hot Spring County, Arkansas. As of now I am unable to locate any further whereabouts after the 1870 census. See #3 for possible relationship to Elizabeth.

3. I cannot even guess what may have happened to Sarah (1835). I am making a total guess that she is a child of Elizabeth, and if so then she had to be either a) Peter’s child IF he returned prior to the kidnapping (which goes against the divorce papers), OR b) Elizabeth has a “thing” going on with another man. Then there is c) she is not a child of Elizabeth, in which case: who is she and why is she listed in the order as a child?

4. Lastly, Mary Edwards (1836). She, too, is difficult. She has a pretty common name. I don’t know how she is related to the family, if at all.

note (mainly to myself): Mary could also be Polly, Marie, Molly, etc. Sarah could also be Sallie, Sarie, etc.

Ok, so back to the death. While searching on FamilySearch for Elizabeth and CP I came across an interesting marriage record. It is terribly transcribed and I really want to see the original because I know it is for whom I am searching, I’m just not sure of the spouse’s actual name.

Clabourn Perry married Man A Mcgabba on January 20, 1865 in Pulaski County, Arkansas. And I can’t find a copy of the original online. It’s driving me insane because if…not if, when I order it I will have to wait about two more weeks until I can see the actual record. And that’s only if they can still find the record (you’d think it would be easy, but remember when I ordered the marriage certificate of Leah/Sarah DeMumbrie and Henry Hodges and Tunica County, Mississippi couldn’t find what happened to the book after it had been scanned for FamilySearch?).

Well, a quick search of the Civil War pension index led me to another card filed (I had posted an incomplete one here).

This one has that his widow’s name is Mary A Perry. The “Mcgabba” is throwing me off. I can only guess it is McQueen, based on previous information. Sigh.

However, this does tell me some information I have been searching for: Elizabeth died sometime between the enumeration of the 1860 census and January 20, 1865. Saying how she died would only be a guess, considering disease and war, or even old age (for that time). I’d like to think that she didn’t have to see all of her children die. Of the children I know were definitely hers, the only two that did not pass before her were Louisa and Nathaniel (Nathaniel based on his death date between January 3rd and 17th, burial on the 18th, CP’s marriage on the 20th). Seeing that she did not have an easy life at all, this does comfort me a little.

Looking around a little more I found CP on the 1870 census with his wife in Union, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The family members were listed:

Clayton Perry, age 58 years, born in Alabama (this is CP)

Mary A Perry, age 47 years, born in Tennessee (this puts her birth in about 1823…so it is possible that she is the 1850 Mary McQueen with the Perry family and that census had her birth off by about 10 years, the same as Elizabeth…also, you have to take into account that rarely were the same birthplaces listed per census).

Interestingly, living next door to the Perry family in 1870 was the household of:

Galucia Chapin, age 54 years, born in Ohio

Mary Lewis, age 35, born in Mississippi (they had not yet married)

John Lewis, age 12 years, born in Arkansas

Alice Lewis, age I month, born in Arkansas

Scott Wyatt, age 20 years, born in Arkansas (most likely just a boarder)

I am unable to locate CP and Mary A Perry after this census, with the exception of the pension card. I will have to order that file from NARA. If I am reading it correctly then it is telling me that CP applied for invalid pension on July 8, 1885 in Arkansas. His wife then applied for widow’s pension on July 11, 1892 in Indian Territory. So exactly when and where he died, I’m just not sure yet. I’m sure the actual file will tell me, though.

A Word About Family Lore (with examples)

For the past several days I have been going through a lot of stuff trying to figure out what to write next about Timothy Demonbreun. However, putting all of the information together is kind of difficult. There is the problem of trying to separate fact from fiction, along with having to accept some things as definite fact, even though I cannot see the documentation (I am assuming that others who have written about him have seen it, so that’s where trust comes in on matters such as that). There are so many fantastic stories about Timothy’s life, and I will share them all…along with letting my readers know which stories I do not have sources for and what stories have been passed down through the Demonbreun descendants for about two centuries now (my hope, as always, is that someone will present a source, a document, anything!). I do, however, want to point out that most stories started somehow. Here are a few family stories I have heard about my ancestors, either stories passed down or stories I have read online…along with the facts:

1. Lore: Spencer DeMumbrie was from France. Fact: Spencer DeMumbrie was born in Tennessee. This one is kind of amusing because I can only speculate as to where this story came from. On the death certificate for Minnie DeMumbrie, Spencer’s daughter, it has him as having been born in France. Since Minnie’s son was the informant I can only assume that Minnie had told people her father was French, rather than descended from French-Canadians. My Granddaddy even referred to her as his “French grandmother” (even though, in reality, he could have called both grandmothers French…his other grandmother Annie Bondurant was descended from the French Huguenot Jean Pierre Bondurant).

2. Lore: James Anderson Proctor’s first wife Paralee was a gypsy. Fact: James Anderson Proctor, the husband of my 3rd great-grandmother Amanda Summers, was married first to a woman named Paralee. However, when I found the marriage record I also found that Paralee’s full maiden name was Delilah Paralee Duffel. This means that Paralee was Amanda’s aunt through her mother Emily Jane Duffel. And now, if anyone ever decides to start searching for Paralee again (I think everyone kind of gave up trying to find her when she “disappeared” after the 1850 census), they will now know what happened to her. And it also answers everyone’s question as to where JA’s wife came from (because no one could figure out her maiden name, I guess).

3. Lore: The Para family had their surname changed to Para when they arrived at Ellis Island from Italy. Fact: That never happened. What is known is that if their name was changed once they arrived in America, they would have done it themselves, and it would have been well after they arrived. And there is still no proof that it was ever anything different. Prior to boarding the ship in Italy their information and documentation would have been checked by Italian officials. Once they arrived they would have had to present the documentation to officials that were either from Italy themselves, or fluent in Italian. The records and names would have to match up, otherwise they wouldn’t be permitted to enter the country. When filing for citizenship they would have had the option to change their last name if they so chose. So far, I know they wouldn’t have come through Ellis Island, anyway. The patriarch of the family Giacomo Para (Anglicized to Jacob Para) arrived in America about 1876 or 1877, sixteen or seventeen years prior to the opening of Ellis Island. Before that he would have arrived through Castle Gardens in New York, if that’s even where he entered the country. There is no record of him at Castle Gardens, either. So there is no telling what location he came through. I haven’t found his wife and children yet, either. So back to the name: If the surname was changed then I don’t have a clue what it was originally. And apparently no one else does, either. While I did find record of a Giacomo Para entering through California, he was much too young, he immigrated much too late and he stayed in California.

4. Lore: Elizabeth Bennett was 115/116 years of age when she died. Fact: Um, no one really knows the truth here. She is another mystery that everyone hopes to someday unravel. She will be getting her own post, but you will meet her soon anyway, as she is a key player in the story of Timothy Demonbreun. Anyway, if you are to believe her headstone, erected by her son Jean Baptiste, she was born July 24, 1740 and died February 7, 1856. In 1850 she claimed her age as 105, putting her birth year about 1745. However, she gave birth to her last child in 1795, making her age at this birth either 50 or 55. Sigh. I’m not saying it’s impossible. Just improbable

5. Lore: There really is no lore for this particular example, about Elizabeth Freeland. Just a jumble of information about her. Fact: In 1850, the first time Elizabeth shows up on a census record, Elizabeth is shown as being 37 years of age, born about 1813 in Alabama. In 1860, however, she is 56 years of age, having been born in 1804 in Louisiana. I do know that she married Peter McQueen in 1820 in Louisiana, so I greatly doubt she was born in 1813. I mean, her first child Louisa was born in 1821, which would have meant that Elizabeth was a mere 8-years-old. Unfortunately, her marriage records to Peter McQueen and Claiborn Perry don’t mention her age, or her place of birth, for that matter. I know her brother was residing in Alabama when he died, but he also had land in Mississippi (which is where she was living when she divorced Peter and married Claiborn).

These are just a few examples of family stories and misinformation. I just felt it was important to get this out there prior to continuing Timothy Demonbreun’s story. Because, as you’ll see, his life was pretty wacky.

Elizabeth Freeland and Claiborn Perry Marriage Record

I have been waiting on this and finally received it! The marriage record between Elizabeth Freeland and Claiborn Perry (Claiborn spelled according to his Civil War records). Elizabeth married Claiborn a year after her divorce from Peter McQueen was granted.

The State of Mississippi

Lauderdale County

Issued a License authorizing the solemnization of the rites of matrimony between Claburn Perry and Elizabeth McQueen this 29th Day of August AD 1840

James Ray clerk

Nathaniel A Perry

My relationship to Nathaniel Perry:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (great-grandmother)

Jerome Edward Richards (2nd great-grandfather)

Caroline McQueen (3rd great-grandmother)

Nathaniel Perry (Caroline McQueen's half-brother, my 3rd great-grand-uncle)

(note: this is kind of a Part One for Nathaniel Perry. there are a lot of Civil War records that won’t be in this post, but are saved for future posts!)

Nathaniel A Perry was born about 1846 in Crittenden County, Arkansas to parents Claiborn Perry, Sr (about 1814-?) and Elizabeth Freeland (about 1804-?). He, like his brother, had a very short life.

The first record I have found of Nathaniel is the 1850 census. He is listed as 5 years of age and living in Jasper Township, Crittenden County, Arkansas with his family: Claiborn (listed as Charles, father, age 36 years), Elizabeth (mother, age listed incorrectly as 37 years) and Claiborn (brother, age 8 years). Also on this census is the mysterious Mary McQueen (age 37 years).

The next record of Nathaniel is the 1860 census. This is also the last census record of him. He is listed as Nathan, 13 years of age and living in Hot Spring County, Arkansas with his family: Claiborn (listed as Clayborn, father, age 46 years), Elizabeth (listed as Elisabeth, age 56 years), a mystery Sarah McQueen (possibly Elizabeth’s daughter due to placement of name on list, age 25 years) and Claiborn (listed as Claiborne, brother, age 18 years).

On November 20, 1863 Nathaniel, his father Claiborn and his brother-in-law Edmund Richards voluntarily enlisted in the Union Army at Benton, Saline County, Arkansas. Nathaniel’s muster-in and descriptive roll have him listed as Nathan A Perry, age 18 years, mustered in on April 6, 1864 at Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas as Private in Company F, 4th Regiment Arkansas Calvary. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, black hair, black eyes and fair complexion.

Less than a year later, on January 15, 1865 Nathaniel died in the post hospital at the Calvary Depot in Devall’s Bluff (De Valls Bluff), Prairie County, Arkansas. The cause of death was typhoid pneumonia.

Some records say that he died on January 16, but his belongings were handed over to his father on January 15, 1865. These belongings consisted of: one great coat, one pair of trousers, one pair of boots, one woolen blanket and one poncho.

NOTE:

I was just about to post this when I noticed that Ancestry had a “Historical Record” concerning his death and grave. According to the record U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006 Nathaniel died on January 3, 1865 and was also interred that same day.

This is very different from what the actual Civil War records have. I called the Little Rock Memorial Cemetery where Nathaniel is buried and was told that they only have that date for him. They don’t actually have an interment date. Little Rock Memorial Cemetery, I was told, did not become a national cemetery until 1868, so the records prior to 1868 were given to them. Since Nathaniel died in Devall’s Bluff then he had originally been buried in Devall’s Bluff. When Little Rock Memorial Cemetery became a national cemetery the bodies of about 3000 soldiers’ bodies were moved from Devall’s Bluff and reinterred in Little Rock Memorial Cemetery. I can’t even guess as to why the death date is different from the actual Civil War records to the records the cemetery has, but at least it’s known that he died in January 1865.

Claiborn Perry, Jr

(note: the spelling of the name Claiborn is how it is most often spelled on records. Also, military information was found on Fold3)

My relationship to Claiborn Perry, Jr:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (great-grandmother)

Jerome Edward Richards (2nd great-grandfather)

Caroline McQueen (3rd great-grandmother)

Claiborn Perry, Jr (Caroline McQueen's half-brother, my 3rd great-grand-uncle)

My 3rd great-grand-uncle Claiborn Perry, Jr had a very short life. Though the date and place of his death is known, I still do not know how he died.

Claiborn Perry, Jr was born about 1842 in either Alabama or Mississippi to parents Claiborn Perry, Sr (1814/1818-?) and Elizabeth Freeland (about 1804-?).

The 1850 US Census enumerated in Crittenden County, Arkansas is the first record of Claiborn, Jr (spelled “Claiborne”), 8 years of age, having been born in Alabama. He is found living with his parents, listed as “Charles” Perry, a farmer, and Elizabeth. Also in the household is his younger brother Nathaniel (age 5 years) and a woman named Mary McQueen (age 37 years) who is somehow related to Elizabeth.

Between 1850 and 1860 the family moved to Hot Spring County, Arkansas. They are found on the 1850 US Census enumerated in Union Township, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. Claiborn, Jr is listed as “Claborn”, is shown as 18 years of age, a farmer and having been born in Mississippi. His parents are listed as “Clayborn” (though it kind of looks like Claghorn) and Elisabeth. His brother Nathaniel is listed as “Nathan” (age 13 years). Also in the household is a woman named Sarah McQueen (age 25 years) who I believe, due to her placement on the list, is a daughter of Elizabeth.

Claiborn, Jr enlisted in the Confederate Army as a Private in Company A, 2nd Battalion Arkansas Infantry on September 17, 1861 in Hot Spring County, Arkansas for a period of twelve months.

He did not live out those twelve months, however.

According to the Company Muster Roll for October 31-December 31, 1861 he was not present due to being sick in a hospital in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

The Company Muster Roll for January 1-February 28, 1862 has the remarks:

“Died in Hospital at Fredericksburg Va February 9, 1862”

No cause of death is given and no other records have been found.

Elizabeth Freeland 2.0

Since I wrote the first post about Elizabeth Freeland (you can read it here), I have done more research and found out more about her. I am not done (I will never be done, I don’t think), but here is what I have found since the first post.

After Elizabeth was granted a divorce from Peter McQueen in 1839 she remarried. I am awaiting the arrival of the actual record, but on August 29, 1840 Elizabeth married Claburn (Clayborn, Claiborne, Claiborn, Claborn) Perry in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. And then things get crazy.

Ok, I need to backtrack for a second here. Remember how Elizabeth had claimed that Peter kidnapped her two oldest daughters Louisa and Melissa? And remember how she was left infirm, alone with her daughter Caroline to raise? Ok, I remember that, too. So by all accounts when Elizabeth married CP (that’s what we’ll call Claburn, since I’m not certain which spelling of his name is actually correct) she had one daughter with her. Now, I don’t know if CP was married before or had previous children. So I can only present to you what I have found. Ok, onward.

Ok, so Elizabeth married CP in 1840 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

In 1840 two CPs are found on the US Census in Mississippi. One is in Lauderdale County, one is in Kemper County, which is just north of Lauderdale County.

1840 Lauderdale County CP is listed as Claibord Perry. There are only two people living in the household: one male 30-39 and one female 30-39. This doesn’t match up with later records that say CP was born between 1814 and 1818, nor does it match up with Elizabeth having Caroline with her.

1840 Kemper County CP is listed as Claiborne Perry. There are six people living in the household: one male 10-14, one male 20-29, two females 5-9, one female 10-14 and one female 30-39. This fits better with ages for both CP and Elizabeth and the female 10-14 would be Caroline. But what about the other three children, you ask? Well, I am getting to that!

So by the process of elimination we can pretty much mark the CP from Lauderdale County off the list of possibilities.

In 1841 and 1845 CP is listed on the Mississippi State Census in Kemper County. On both state census indexes he is listed as Claiborne Perry.

About 1842 Elizabeth gave birth to a son she named Claiborn (as it is spelled most often on Civil War records), more than likely in Mississippi, though the first census he appears on says he was born in Alabama.

In 1845 the family moved to Crittenden County, Arkansas. Elizabeth gave birth to another son she named Nathaniel in the same year. In March of 1846 Caroline married Edmund Richards in Crittenden County, Arkansas.

The 1850 census enumerated October 11, 1850 in Crittenden County, Arkansas lists the Perry family with an interesting addition. The members of the household were:

Charles Perry (this is CP), age 36 years (est. birth 1814), farmer, born in Arkansas

Elizabeth Perry, age 37 years (her age is actually off by about 10 years), born in Alabama

Claiborne Perry, age 8 years, born in Alabama (like I already mentioned, I think he was born in Mississippi, unless Elizabeth was visiting family/friends in Alabama at his birth)

Nathaniel Perry, age 5 years, born in Arkansas

Mary McQueen, age 37 years (not sure who this is!), born in Louisiana

Who is this mysterious Mary McQueen? And if you will remember from the post about Caroline there is another mystery Mary McQueen. I will refresh your memory. From the 1850 census enumerated October 26, 1850 in Crittenden County, Arkansas for the Richards family:

Edward Richards (Edmund), age 25 years, farmer, born in North Carolina

Catherina Richards (Caroline), age 22 years, born in Mississippi

George Richards, age 3 years, born in Mississippi (odd, but ok…I figured he would have been born in Arkansas)

Lucy Richards, age 2 years, born in Arkansas

Mary Edwards (still not a clue who this person is), age 14 years, born in Tennessee

Mary McQueen, age 18 years, born in Mississippi

So who are these Mary McQueens? Is at least one of them one of the girls from the 1840 Kemper County, Mississippi census in the 5-9 category? I bet she is! But who is the other one?

The family is found once again in the 1860 census enumerated in Union Township, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. With some considerable changes and a brand new person!

Clayborn Perry (CP), age 46 years, farmer, born in Alabama

Elisabeth Perry (Elizabeth, of course), age 56 years years (she got all of those years back!), housekeeper, born in Louisiana (no longer Alabama)

Sarah McQueen (who is this? a daughter judging by her placement by age), age 25 years, born in Alabama

Claborn Perry (Claiborn), age 18, farmer, born in Mississippi (now not born in Alabama)

Nathan Perry (Nathaniel), age 14, born in Arkansas

So, this Sarah McQueen? Could she be the other duaghter on the 1840 census in the 5-9 age range? I BET SO!

There is still a question of the 37-year-old Mary McQueen on the 1850 census, though.

So anyway, by 1860 Elizabeth had already lost quite a bit. She had her two oldest daughters kidnapped from her. The youngest of those two, Melissa, died in 1851 in Mississippi. I wonder if Elizabeth ever had the chance to see her again before she died? Caroline died sometime between 1856, the year her youngest son Jerome was born, and 1860 when the census was enumerated. Elizabeth’s oldest (known) son Claiborn joined the Confederate Army September 12 or 17, 1861. He died in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the hospital on February 9, 1862. I can’t find the cause of death. On November 20, 1863 Elizabeth’s husband CP along with her youngest son Nathan (Nathaniel) joined the Union Army. Also with them at enlistment for the Union was Caroline’s husband Edmund, who apparently returned from Eastland, Texas (where he had been living with the children on the 1860 census) and enrolled in Benton, Arkansas. Though Elizabeth’s husband and son-in-law made it out of the war alive, her son Nathan did not. Nathan died in the hospital January 15 or 16, 1865. His cause of death was typhoid pneumonia.

I have not yet found any other records for Elizabeth and/or CP. There are two cards dated July 8, 1885 listing her husband as dead. I’m not sure what the cards are for, but it has application numbers for “invalid” and “widow”. Maybe it’s an application for a widow’s pension?

Mysteries:

when, where and how did Elizabeth die?

who is the boy 10-14 years of age listed on the 1840 census?

who is the 37 year old Mary McQueen listed on the 1850 census with the Perry family?

when, where and how did Caroline die?

if Sarah McQueen on the 1860 census was Elizabeth’s daughter, then where was she on the 1850 census?

did Elizabeth ever get the chance to see her two oldest daughters after Peter took them?

Category: Perry Family