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Third Generation
12. Francis
Marion "Frank" DURHAM was born on 5 Feb 1837 in Pickens County, South
Carolina.1,2,3,7,10,11 He died on 15 Jun 1913 in South Carolina.8 Information from Jack Garves:
http://community.ancestry.com/messages/view.aspx?id=11594553&fId=0&rid=
Hello fellow researchers of Francis Marion Dutham and his wife, Sarah Catherine
Albertson,
I am a great-grandson of Francis Marion and Sarah. Their daughter, Ida Rose Annie
Durham (1883-1968), was my grandmother. For the first 8 years of my life (1936-1944),
my parents, siblings and I lived with her. During the 1960s she lived with us.
So, we heard a lot of stories about her life and her family when she was younger.
I recently posted a partial family tree on Ancestry.com, which exposed me to
others who are also doing research on our ancestors. I noticed that almost all
other researchers had identical data, including the date of Francis Marion's
death as being in 1919. This may have ben based on an assumption by one person
because Sarah made application for his pension in 1919. He actually died in 1913,
but the pension was not applied for until 1919 because the pension program was
not authorized by the government until 1919. What I don't understand is why everyone
but me thinks he died in 1919.
I have some questions on whether sarah's surname was Albertson or Elberson. I
printed all of the US Censuses that I could find on Albertson and Elberson in
the Pickens/Oconee area, from 1830 to 1860. The first census on which the parents
and all of the children (at the time) were shown is the Elberson family in the
1850 census of Western Division, Pickens, SC. The Elberson name is shown on the
1830, 1850 an 1860 censuses, but not on the 1840 census. The Albertson family
is shown only on the 1840 census. The parents names are consistently shown as
Samuel and Cynthia, although the spelling varies. Their ages increase by about
10 years for each subsequent census. Samuel and Cynthia and all of the other
family members above the age of 19 were born in North Carolina, and the remainder
were born in South Carolina. I am almost convinced that the Albertson family
and the Elberson family are one and the same, and that the misspelling of the
name was limited to censuses, and that their surnames will appear on other legal
records as Albertson.. They probably didn't know that their name had been spelled
wrong because the results of U. S. censuses are sealed from public scrutiny for
70 years.
I decided that rather than trying to contact each of you I would send all of
you a copy of the results of my research, for you to accept or reject as you
wish. I will welcome contact by anyone wishing to collaborate on this research.
I can be reached by email at jackannegarves@sc.rr.com, or by telephone at 843-270-4445.
Data on Francis Marion Durham from the database of great-grandson John F. M.
Garves Jr.
---Conflict in death date exists: wife stated June 12th on pension application,
obituary stated June 13th, and record in the Durham/Garves Bible stated June
14th. The 13th is used in this genealogical database because the pension application
and the bible record were recorded years after his death.
---A conflict in birth date exists. Calculation of birth date from obituary is
Feb. 5, 1835. Calculation from Militia Enrollment is 1835. Calculation from 1880
census of Tugaloo township is 1835. The Durham/Garves family Bible states Feb.
5th, 1835. 1900 US Census states 1837.
---A conflict exists in the date of her marriage to F. M. Durham.. His wife,
Sarah, stated it was 1861 on her application for his pension, submitted September
30, 1919, but this is thought to be incorrect because her first child, Lizzie,
fathered by first husband ? Rice, was born March 31, 1862 (now thought to have
been 1861), as recorded in the Durham/Garves family Bible. She stated on the
1900 US Census that she had been married to F. M. Durham for 33 years,which calculates
to 1867, but this date also does not conveniently fit with the birth of her first
child by Francis Marion Durham, James who was born February 24th, 1866. The marriage
date was more likely in 1865, shortly after F.M. was paroled from the Confederate
Army after the surrender at Appamattox. Civil war records indicate that Francis
Marion was furloughed only twice during the war, once for a stay in Manchester
Hospital, for illness, during which his brother, Isaac Gatlin Durham died, and
again from August 25, 1864 to September 30, 1864 for a stay at Jackson Hospital
in Richmond due to sickness. He was away from home for the remainder of the period
between March 20, 1862 when he enlisted to April 9, 1865, when General Lee surrendered.
---1835 He was born in 1835 in Pickens County, SC per his obituary. His birth
date was calculated from his obituary in The Keowee Courier June 15th, 1913,
and verified by the Durham/Garves family Bible owned by Joanne Elliott Moreno
(#835) in 2010. Obituary stated he was 78 years, 4 months and 8 days old at death.
---1860 US Census for Regiment 5, Pickens County, SC lists him as a 24 year old
living with Isaac and Frances Durham, whom, it is assumed, were his parents.
---1861-1865. Civil War years. He was 25 at the beginning and 30 when it ended.
---1861 He enlisted in the Confederate Army. Enlisted in Company C, Orr's Regiment
on July 21, 1861, On December 10, 1861 his Company, along with Companies A through
F were organized as the 5th (Moore's) Batallion. Company G was added in January
1862, and the Batallion was reorganized as the 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Rifles,
in which he was a private in Company B. The Regiment fought under Gregg's Brigade,
and was discharged (Paroled) after the surrender by General Lee at Appamatox
on April 9, 1865. Source: Application to Oconee Pension board for pension by
his widow, and muster rolls dating from March 1862 to April 9, 1865. The book
"The History of a Brigade of South Carolinians, Known First as "Gregg's"
and Subsequently as "McGowan's Brigade." by J. F. J. Caldwell documents,
in great detail, every battle in which Orr's Regiment of Rifles fought. Mr. Caldwell
has even described the atmosphere of the surrender site and the return of the
troops to South Carolina. He spent 2 months (July1 to Aug 31, 1862) in Manchester
Hospital in Richmond due to illness, then was furloughed until October 31st.
His brother Isaac Gatlin Durham was also hospitalized during this time, and died
in Manchester Hospital August 5, 1862. It is unknown whether Francis Marion returned
to Walhalla during his recuperation. His pay for the period of May 1 to August
31 was $63.13. He returned to his unit and fought in every battle until August
26, 1864 when he was admitted to Jackson Hospital in Richmond until September
30, 1864 for Diarrhea and fever, when he was again furloughed for 30 days. He
received new clothing on 29 September and returned to his unit, where he was
again paid $63.13 for the months of May, June, July and August. He again fought
in every battle until the surrender April 9, 1865. The Union soldiers returned
to their homes in trains and the Confederate soldiers walked home.
---1865 Married Sarah Cathron Albertson. See note above.
---1866-1877 Reconstruction years. He was 30 at the beginning and 42 when the
democratic (then conservative) government was again in power. During the Reconstruction
years, anyone who had held office before the war was banned from holding office
or voting. It is unknown how he was affected.
---1868 Oconee County formed from theWestern portion of Pickens County.
-1869 The Militia Enrollment of Men Between the ages of 30 and 45 dated 1869
listed his residence as Easley. His age was 34. This list also included Frank
Durham, age 38 (a brother?) www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/thumbnails.aspx?recordId=309666.
-1880 US Census for Oconee County, Tugaloo Township provided the following information:
Name is Francis Durham, Head of household, white, male, 45 years old, married,
farm laborer?, unemployed two months in 1880, he and his parents were born in
South Carolina, a white male 20 year old farm laborer who cannot read or write
and a white 18 year old female servant (Max and Mary E. Hammonds) lived at his
residence.
---1900 A Frank Durham was shown on the US Census for Oconee County, Wagoner
Township in 1900. It provided the following information: Name is Frank Durham,
head of household, white, male, born in 1837, 63 years old in 1900, he and both
parents were born in SC,, was unemployed 2 months in 1900, could read, write
and speak English, was renting farm property. This person may not be Francis
Marion Durham, son of Isaac and Fanny Durham, as the Militia Enrollment of men
between the ages of 30 and 45 listed both Frank and Francis Marion.
---1902 Bought half interest in land on Six Mile Creek in Pickens County, SC
Nov. 17, 1902 from J. T. Ates. The co-owner was W. E. Pinson. Title reads: The
State of South Carolina, County of Pickens, J. T. Ates to W.E. Pinson and F.
M. Durham. Know all men by these presents that I, J. T. Ates in the state aforesaid
for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred and sixty dollars to me in
hand at and before the sealing of these presents by W. E. Pinson and F. M. Durham
(the result thereof is hereby acknowledged) have granted, bargained, sold and
released, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and release unto the
said W. E. Pinson and F. M. Durham all that piece, parcel, plantation, or tract
of land lying and being situate in the state and county aforesaid on waters of
Six Mile Creek and join lands on the East by N. R. Kennemore, on the North by
J. E. Hagoods, on the West by Margie L. Hendricks, on the South by D. B. Jones
and others and containing one hundred (100) acres more or less. It being the
same tract of land conveyed to me by M.D. Farmer on the 13th day of January 1902,
and recorded in RMC Office, Pickens County, South Carolina in Book X at page
167. Together with all and singular Rights, Members, Hereditaments, and Appertenences
to the said premises belonging, or in anywise incident or appertaining. To have
and to hold all and singular the said premises before mentioned, unto the said
W. E. Pinson and F. M. Durham, their heirs, and assigns forever. And I do hereby
bind myself and my Heirs, Executors and Administrators to warrant and forever
defend all and singular the sid premisies unto the said W. E. Pinson and F. M.
Durham, their heirs and Assigns, against me and my Heirs, and against every person
whomsoever lawfully claiming, or to claim the same or any part thereof. Witness
my hand and seal this 29th day of Nov. in the year of our lord one thousand nine
hundred and two, and in the one hundred and 27th year of the Sovereignity and
Independence of the United States of America. J.I. Yates (Seal) Signed, Seale
and Delivered in the presence of E. Foster Keith and A. J. Boggs.
---1913 Died 13 June, 1913.
---1913 Buried 14 June 1913 in God's Acre Cemetery, on the high road near the
Newry Cotton Mill (Courtney Manufacturing Co. 1893-1934/ Cannon Mill 1934-1939
/ Abney Mill 1939-1975).
---1913 Obituary was published in the Keowee Courier, 25 June, 1913. Obituary
reads: Death of an old soldier. Clemson College, June 23.---Special: The many
friends of F. M. Durham will be grieved to learn of his death, which occurred
at his home near Clemson. He was stricken with paralysis on Sunday Jume 1st and
lived until June 13th at 11 o'clock. Mr. Durham was an old soldier--age 78 years,
4 months and 8 days. He was born in Pickens County, but had lived in Oconee for
a number of years. He is survived by an aged wife and three children--John Durham,
of Anderson; Mrs. Eliza Galloway, of Greenville; Mrs. Annie Garves, of Charleston,
and a step-daughter, Miss Lizzie Rice of Clemson College. His body was laid to
rest in the Newry Cemetery on June 14th. Funeral services were conducted by Rev.
W. H. Mills, of Clemson, and Rev. Henderson, of Newry. He leaves a number of
friends and relatives to mourn his death.
---Had ties to Newry at the time of his death (6/15/1913), as Rev. Henderson
of Newry was one of the ministers who preached his funeral. Rev. W. H. Mills
of Clemson was the other minister. He is thought to have worked at the Newry
Mill, as the Newry Cemetery was established for mill employees and their families.
---Was born in Pickens County, and lived many years in Oconee County per his
obituary. (Note- Oconee County was formed from the western half of Pickens County
in 1868, when he was 33 years old).
---He lived through the Civil War and the reconstruction years as a middle-aged
man.
Data on Sarah Catherine Albertson from database of great-grandson John F. M.
Garves Jr.
---Her children called her "Ma", per letter from Julia (#849) to Annie
(#601).
---A conflict exists in the number of children. She states in the 1900 census
that she was the mother of three children, all iving in 1900, but the1880 census
lists six children. The Durham/Garves family Bible records 9 children, 1 by ?
Rice, and 8 by F. M. Durham
-Some confusion exists on maiden name. Maiden name was thought to be Albertson
per Joann Elliott, (#835) in database. The application for her husband's pension
required her to "Give full Christian name and Christian name of husband".
She signed it "Sarah Cathron Durham". Her son stated her middle name
was Catherine on her death certificate. It is now thought that she spelled her
middle name "Cathron". Official documents in Pickens County Probate
court now make it clear that her maiden name was Albertson.
-Source of birth place is 1880 census records. A conflict exists: North Carolina
is stated on her death certificate. South Carolina is used on this group sheet
because the census information was likely provided by her, while the informant
on the death certificate is her son, John M. Durham. Her daughter, Lizzie Rice,
listed her birthplace as Georgia on the 1930 US Census of Tugaloo Township.
---She stated that she had lived in South Carolina for 30 years prior to filing
application for her husband's pension on September 30, 1919. Source: application
for pension. This indicates that she entered the state in 1889. This appears
to be an error, as she is shown in the 1880 Tugaloo Census, in which she stated
that she and both parents were born in South Carolina.
---A conflict exists in the date of her marriage to F. M. Durham.. She stated
it was 1861 on her application for his pension, submitted September 30, 1919,
but this is thought to be incorrect because her first child, Lizzie, fathered
by ? Rice, was born March 31, 1862 (now thought to have been 1861), as recorded
in the Durham/Garves family Bible. She stated on the 1900 US Census that she
had been married to F. M. Durham for 33 years,which calculates to 1867, but this
date also does not conveniently fit with the birth of her first child by Francis
Marion Durham, James who was born February 24th, 1866. The marriage date was
more likely in 1865, shortly after F.M. was paroled from the Confederate Army
after the surrender at Appamattox. Civil war records indicate that Francis Marion
was furloughed only twice during the war, once from for a stay in Manchester
Hospital, for illness, during which his brother, Isaac Gatlin Durham, died, and
again from August 25, 1864 to September 30, 1864 for a stay at Jackson Hospital
in Richmond due to sickness. He was away from home for the remainder of the period
between March 20, 1862 when he enlisted to April 9, 1865, when General Lee surrendered.
---Other errors in the application, such as incorrect information of the unit
to which he was assigned when he was paroled, and the incorrect spelling of her
middle name indicate that the application may have been filled out by someone
else. Sarah was sick in 1919 and died in 1920.
Timeline of Events
---1841: Born November 11, 1841. Source: application for her husband's pension
in 1919 (See 1919 below), her death certificate. (See 1920 below), and an entry
in the Durham/Garves family Bible which reads: S. C. Durham Born Nov. 11, 1841.
---1865: Thought to be the date she Married Francis Marion Durham, despite the
date she gave on her application for his pension in 1919. (See 1919 below).
---1880 US Census for Oconee County, Tugaloo Township provided the following
information: Name is Sarah C. Durham, white, female, 40 years old in census year,
wife, keeping house, she and both parents were born in South Carolina.
-1900 US Census for Oconee County, Wagoner Township provided the following information:
Name is Sarah C. Durham, white, female, had been married 38 years in 1900, was
the mother of three children, all living in 1900, she and both parents were born
in SC, could read, write and speak English, was renting farm property.
---1919: Filed application to claim her husband's Civil War Military pension
with the Oconee Pension Board Sept. 30, 1919. There was a 6 year delay between
her husband's death and her application for his pension because the act which
authorized pensions for Civil War veterans was not passed until 1919, per the
application form.
---Lived in Walhalla at time of pension application.
---Was 78 years old at time of pension application. This indicates that she was
born in 1841. Verified by an entry in the Durham/Garves family Bible, owned by
Joanne Elliott Moreno in 2010, which states that she was born November 11, 1841.
---1920 US Census lists a 73 year old Sarah Durham boarding in the home of Thomas
Johnestock. Also boarding was 5 year old John Galloway. 50 year old Lizzie Rice
was also living there as a housekeeper. A conflict in her age on this census
exists, as her death certificate states that she was born in 1841, which would
make her 79 in 1920.
---1920. Died December 6, 1920. Death certificate provided the following information:
Place of death is Wagener Township (A County division of 36 square miles), near
Coneross Church, Oconee County. Informant is her son, John M. Durham, full name
is Sarah Catherine Durham, female, white, widowed, DOB Nov. 11, 1841, occupation
None, birthplace is North Carolina (thought to be an error, as she stated on
Censuses that she was born in South Carolina), death date is Dec 8, 1920, cause
of death is Cirrhosis of liver, Date of burial is Dec. 9, 1920, buried in Baptist
Cemetery in Walhalla, SC, undertaker was J. J. Auld of Walhalla, registrar filed
the death certificate December 10, 1920.
---1920-Obituary appeared in the Keowee Courier December 15, 1920, pg. 6, column
F. Death of Mrs. F. M. Durham. Mrs. F. M. Durham died at her home near Coneross
Church on the 8th of this month, last Wednesday, at 6 o'clock in the morning,
at the age of 79 years. The funeral was conducted at the home by Rev. L. M. Lyda,
after which the remains were brought to the First Baptist Church Cemetery in
Walhalla and laid to rest. Mrs. Durham was a member of the First Baptist Church
at the time of her death. She was a true and devout Christian, a staunch friend
and a loving mother. She leaves to mourn her death one son, J. M. Durham, of
Walhalla, and two daughters, Mrs. Annie Garvis of Charleston, and Miss Elizabeth
Rice, a daughter by a former marriage. There are many who will join with us in
extending to the bereaved ones sympathy in their sorrow. Another obituary, published
in an unknown newspaper, and found in the Durham/Garves family bible reads: "Death
of Mrs. S. C. Durham--Esteemed Lady Passes To Reward--Age of Eighty Years---
Coneross, Dec. 16--Delayed--On Wednesday Dec. 6th, Mrs Sarah C. Durham, who was
a resident of this community, passed peacefully from this life to the great beyond.
Her death was not a surprise, as her health had been gradually failing, and she
had been a constant sufferer for several weeks before her death. Before the end
came she talked and consoled her loved ones by saying that she was ready to meet
her saviour, and begged them to be ready for a reunion in that home the saviour
has gone to prepare, and when all that loving hands and medical ais could do
to stay the disease was in vain, the angels came to relieve the patient sufferer
and carry her spirit to God. Mrs Durham was a member of Walhalla Baptist Church.
She spent the most of her life in this county, and her life was a long and useful
one. She was nearing her 80th year. She was first married to Mr. Rice, and after
his death she married F. M. Durham, who died in 1912. He was a confederate sol;dier.
She is survived by three children- Miss Lizzie Rice, of this community; Mrs B.
D. Garvis, of Charleston, and John M. Durham, of Walhalla, all of whom were at
the besdside for the past two weeks. Funeral services were conducted at the home
by Rev. L. M. Lyda, and her remains were laid to rest in the Baptist Cemetery
at walhalla at 3 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 7th, the services being
concluded at the grave. May the comforter sustain the bereaved ones and guide
them to the Father's home in Heaven, where separation is no more."
---Source of the following information is Lowry Wilson, 205 Dana Drive, Easley,
SC 29642-9340, tel 864-269-6608, email sclowry@hotmail.com, in 2009:
---Probate Judge Office in Pickens District on 7 MAY 1866 Book 3 page 5. Sarah
C Albertson Durham heir of Samuel Albertson, Sr. Widow was Cynthia Albertson.
---Sarah applied for a Civil War Pension per SC Archives
DurhamResearch-AncestryResearchers.rtf Nov. 3, 2010
Francis Marion "Frank" DURHAM and Sarah Catherine ALBERTSON were married about
1865 in South Carolina.3,8 Sarah Catherine ALBERTSON
(daughter of Samuel ALBERTSON and Cynthia (UNKNOWN)) was born on 11 Nov 1841
in North Carolina.3,10,11,12 She died Cirrhosis of Liver on 9 Dec 1920 in Wagner,
Oconee County, South Carolina.12,13 Buried in Baptist Cemetery.
Informant at death listed as "John M. Durham" of Walhalla, South Carolina.
(Parents listed as "Unknown" on death certificate). Francis Marion
"Frank" DURHAM and Sarah Catherine ALBERTSON had the following children:
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