William Polk Gean - a working timeline

William Polk Gean — A working timeline... (links in blue) backed up from the Gean-ealogy.com forums
(Albert Gean ((Jean) - Cynthia Harmon)
Orange / Chatham counties NC; Lafayette / Marshall counties MS

**From Melinda Mathis: "...(Rank) Private - Resided in Orange County where he enlisted at age 25, September 2, 1861. Present or accounted for through February, 1865." That is from "North Carolina Troops 1861-1865 A Roster" compiled by Weymouth T. Jordan Jr. Their company was known as the "Guards of Independence".

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07/06/06 Camp Fisher/Salem references updated.
07/20/06 Entries for 1858...minor corrections.
07/31/06 Entry for 1860 Orange Co.
08/04/06 Info re: Gulf Road property in Chatham County (1858-1874)
09/17/06 Info re: Civil War Years
10/22/06 Additional Entries for 1851 and 1865
12/31/06 Just couldn't resist inserting THE CANNONBALL, that infamous toe masher of our childhood years in the Sparks Family...
08/06/07 updating, property et.al.

Nailed down a bit more on Camp Fisher... see original posting above:
Images are linked to larger sizes

Which places the camp somewhere in this area of High Point:

Guilford NC map extract: Camp Fisher location

Which now locates William Polk Gean, in 1861,
almost exactly between whichever Salem
that Lucretia may have been "born near"
(17 miles, more or less, each way!)

High Point map cutout: High Point related to 2 Salems...

No, this doesn't prove he met her then,
but maybe this narrows the search area for Lucretia Catherine (Yates, Bales, or ?)

"Well, J. B. Mansfield had moved up to a place he had bargained to buy,
where brother William built on, as he could not get any land adjoining.
He rented my place for five years, he and family moving there.
He died ere the five years were out, but he made good while he was there."

Ref: http://www.ourspecial.net/geanmisc/jeanchatdeeds.htm

1858 Apr 26 William "buys" the land from Albert Gean for $600."Pays"(?) $340
1858 Apr 26 William takes out a loan From Isaac T. Brooks for $260. ( Brooks was a JP in Chatham Co. )
1858 Jul 9 The sale/transfer is "proven".
1858 Jul 11 The mortgage is "proven'.

Now, time travel to 1868:

1868 Apr 15 William "sells" the land to his sister -- Lucy Jane Gean -- for $600.

BUT... it isn't until

1874 Sept 5 that the transfer is "proven" in probate court. http://www.ourspecial.net/geanmisc/jeanchatdeeds.htm#1874probate

Now, Lucy's statement seems clearer to me, at least. JB Mansfield died Oct 23, 1883. Mansfield and family probably were living in William Polk Gean's house, renting the property, with perhaps an "agreement to purchase", from Lucy, the current owner, from 1878 until his death. Lucy does not say specifically how long Ann and family remained there, until they moved to Durham. Lucy goes on to say, that her sister Sally (Sarah Gean -- widow of James Johnson) and four boys moved into the house.

August 5, 2007 The Chatham Property Updating and speculating from new information (and insight)...

1865- July Lucy's last note regarding Mt. Zion prior to being "out of NC" from 1866??? Note that Civil War troops just returning???

1865 July(?)-1866 July(?) William living with his sister Lucy Jane Gean (Jean) while Lucy taught at Moore's Schoolhouse http://www.ourspecial.net/moll/pages/p26.htm

maybe living there while he was building his house? House completed in 1866???

1866 - 1868 Apr 1 (?) Lucy Jane Gean (Williams) out of N.C.? http://ourspecial.net/zion/pages/page31.htm

1868 Apr 15 William "sells" the property to Lucy for $600.

1868-1869 Lucy teaching in Moore County http://ourspecial.net/zion/pages/page29.htm

1874 Sept 5 Transfer of Gulf-Road property to Lucy is "proven" in probate court. Albert makes sure Lucy has the property put in her name...Witnesses were Baxter and Abner Johnson- http://www.ourspecial.net/moll/pages/p26.htm

1877 April 5 Albert Jean dies...

below from http://ourspecial.net/moll/pages/p16.htm

1878- J. B. Mansfield, Ann, and family were living "in the house that brother William built?" with "?an option to buy?"

1880- James Johnson (Sally Gean's husband) dies.

1880- Lucy living with sister Lydia M. (Gean) Crutchfield... Sister "Maggie"

1881- Sally and 4 boys living in the Spring House

1881- 1st and only mention of Savannah and Emily Williams** in the Mt. Zion history http://ourspecial.net/zion/pages/page33.htm

1881- Christmas- approximately the last Sunday School entry by Lucy, for the Mt. Zion History....hmmm.

1883 Oct 23 J. B. Mansfield dies. No sale.

1884- Ann and family stay on awhile.

1884- (?) Thomas W. Mansfield (JB/Ann's son) given license to preach http://ourspecial.net/zion/pages/page29.htm

Sister Ann and remaining family move to Durham? http://ourspecial.net/moll/pages/p16.htm

Sister Sally and boys move to the Mansfield (William P. Gean) house.

So... what's going on in the Spring House in 1884, after Sally's family moves to Wm's?

John Williams appears on deed sheets...Williams had at least 2 daughters** ....http://ourspecial.net/moll/pages/p30.htm

1884 November 14 John L. and Lucy J. Williams take out a 1 year mortgage note from George W. Wynne. $65 Chatham County

1888 April 24 John L. and Lucy J. Williams take second one year note on property from C. H. Belvin (Beloir?) in Wake. $50

1888 April 26 The 1884 Wynne Note paid in full.

1888 April 26? Lucy was "examined" separated and apart from John, by W. E. Haywood, J.P. in Wake County.

1889 April 24- Belvin (Beloir?) note is due....When is the Belvin note paid????

John Williams vanishes into oblivion after April 26 1888?

1892 Lucy’s lonesome letter to Wm P Gean in MS.

1902 November 20 Lucy deeds land to Henry and Wilbur Mansfield... reserves 20 acres including the "Spring House" for herself...

Original thoughts in 2006:
Some thoughts / speculation that came to mind:
1. Sarah was living 'by the spring'... on the same land that Lucy had acquired.
2. ? Did William Polk Gean move to Lafayette/Marshall Co. Mississippi in last half of 1868? At least out of NC?

August 2006:
3. Is this when he hooked up with Lucretia... hmmm. Maybe Her connections/family were the reason for the move? Maybe we're looking in the wrong state for her?
4. Lucy has her maiden name on the 1868 property transfer. Implication is she married John Williams after 1868.
5. ? William had this on a 10 year note, and it was due, and he didn't have the money, so he sold it to Lucy, and she took it over?? (April 15/16 -- 10 yr time span) "refinancing" it for 5 years, and having it cleared in 1874? Would that be a "Probate" issue?
6. The sale was 'proven in probate court' in 1874...
7. ? My first thought is that this was because a debt was still owed to to Isaac T. Brooks on the mortgage from 10 years previous, and this was his estate probate... but I cannot find a date for his death. (The middle initial is probably "Terrill")
8. ? A second, more interesting thought, is that this may have had to do with John Williams...
- - If Lucy married him between 1868-1874, did he die in 1873-4? and this was his estate in probate? (Her property, vrs his).
- - Or may hint that she married Williams after 1874....
9. What other estate would have been in Probate, in 1874, that this could relate to????

E. Fudd, “Be veawy veawy qwiute! We ah hunting wabbits!”

Michael Gean Sparks 2007

Addenda resources:

From email -Melinda Mathis; July 9, 2007:

...here are a couple of things you can add to the working timeline (just more info on Lucy) -

She married her husband between the 1880 census and Nov 1884. In 1880, she is living in Chatham Co., NC and her brother-in-law Henry Crutchfield is listed as the head of the household (she is living with her sister Lydia Margaret "Maggie"...who she appears with in most other census until her death, although Lucy is listed as the head of household after 1880).

I found the following information in Chatham Co., NC Deed Records -

Deed Book BI, pg 358 - 359, 14 Nov 1884, Chatham Co., NC - John L. Williams and Lucy Williams, nee Lucy Gean his wife, as parties of the first part and Geo W. Wynne as party of the 2nd part - the parties of the first part are justly indebted to said party of the second part for the sum of $65.00, with 8% interest per annum, and due payable on 14 Nov 1885. - mortgage for a certain tract of land lying in Chatham Co. in Pittsboro TWP, beginning at a stake on the Gulf road, near David Clegg's corner, running west, then north to a post oak on S.W. Cotten's (Cotton?) corner, then east to a pine on the Gulf road then south to the first station, containing 120 acres more or less. - signed John L. Williams & Lucy J. Williams - wit: W. C. McMackin - deed is marked "this mortgage has been this day paid in full & is hereby canceled this April 26th 1888" (could be 1885?) - followed by statement of W.D. Haywood, JP of Wake Co., NC who states that John L. Williams & Lucy J. Williams his wife did personally appear before him and acknowledge the execution of this deed of mortgage, and that Lucy was examined separated and apart from her said husband. 18 Nov 1884 - recorded in Chatham Co., NC at 11 o'clock a.m. 20
Deed book BY, pg 300 - 302, 24 Apr 1888, Wake Co., NC - John L. Williams & Lucy J. Williams of the first part and C. H. Belvin (?Beloir?) of the second part - whereas the parties of the first part are justly indebted to the party of the second part in the sum of $50, with 8% interest per annum and due payable on the 24 day of April 1889 - mortgage for a tract of land lying in Chatham Co., NC , beginning at a stake on the Gulf Road running west to a post oak at James H. Harman's corner, then east to a pine on the Gulf road, then south with the said road to the beginning - containing 120 acres more or less and being the land conveyed to the said Lucy J. Williams by deed from Wm. P. Jeans recorded in the R.O.D. of Chatham Co., NC - signed John L. Williams & Lucy J. Williams - followed by the statement of Chas. D. Upchurch CC of Wake Co., NC acknowledging the execution of the deed of mortgage. (Lucy's husband is referred to here as Jno. D. Williams) dated 25 Apr 1888
Deed book DP, pg 366, 20 Nov 1902, Chatham Co., NC - Mrs. Lucy J. Williams of Chatham Co., NC deeded the land to Henry L. & John Wilbur Mansfield of Durham Co., NC for the sum of $165 (paid for and to be owned jointly) - a certain tract of land lying in Chatham Co. in Pittsboro TWP, beginning at a stake on the Gulf road, near David Clegg's corner, running west, then north to a post oak on S.W. Cottons corner, then east to a pine on the Gulf road then south to the first station, containing 120 acres more or less. Be it understood that the said Lucy J. Williams has reserved for herself 20 acres of the above land laying on the south side of the place, and including the little house near the Spring South of the dwelling. signed Lucy J. Williams - wit: W. E. Brooks - filed and for record 21 Nov 1902 at 2 o'clock p.m.

So, it looks like maybe her husband was from Wake Co., NC - it is going to be hard to figure him out, since he married her after 1880 & was deceased by the next available census in 1900, I don't even have any idea how old he was...and there are probably about 50 John Williams' in the Chatham/Wake/Moore county area.

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