Correct marriage date for Robert S. Bullard and Margaret Grimes
I have a subscription to Fold3, and yesterday I looked at Margaret Bullard's pension application for her husband's service in the War of 1812. The Feds, in this pension file, say they can find no record whatsoever of Robert's service, bounty land given, etc., though it seems they do make an effort at trying to find mention of him in the records in their possession.
Margaret provides information in her application, and the sworn testimony of John Kelley (who served with Robert), as to when Robert enlisted, and under whom he served. In the "Claim of Widow for Service Pension," Robert S. Bullard served as a private, in the Co. commanded by "Capt. Bush, who was soon after promoted to Maj. in the Regiment commanded by Col. John Bates [not Bales, as I've seen in other genealogies]in the War of 1812." Robert S. Bullard was "drafted at Marion Dist. S.C. on or about the 1st day of October A.D. 1814 for the term of six months and continued in actual service in said war fro the term of two months & 24 days and whose service terminated, by reason of honorable discharge at Buford [sic] Island, SC on the 21st day of December A.D. 1814, or about there." Margaret gives a description of her husband at the time of his enlistment, "aged about 27 years. Farmer. Birthplace S.C. 5. 6 in high. Black hair & eyes. Complexion dark."
"She further states that she was married to the said Robert S. Bullard in the county of Walton, and in the State of Georgia on the nineteenth day of October A.D. 1826 by one Robert M. Echols who was a Justice of the Peace and that her name before her marriage was Margaret Grimes." Margaret is required to prove this. There is a sworn affidavit in the pension package by one Thomas Giles, Ordinary of Walton Co., GA, dated 18 Feb 1879, stating that the document he's copied and has included in this letter is a true copy or transcript from the Registry of Marriage for Walton Co., GA: "Georgia, Walton County} To any Judge, Justice of the Peace or Minister of the Gospel - You are hereby authorized to join in holy state of matrimony Robert S. Bullard and Margaret Grimes according to the constitution and laws of this state and for so doing this shall be your sufficient licence. Given under my hand and seal this 16 day of October A.D. 1826. V. [I think this is a V.] Haralson for Job smith Clk CO. [and then, right below this paragraph....] Solemnized the within the 19th October 1826, Robert M. Echols, JP. Recorded this 10 May AD 1827. Job Smith, Clk OD."
"She further states that her husband the soldier had been previously married and the name of the former wife was Cythna [sic] Allen, who died in Walton County, Aug. 4, 1825, and that her said husband Robert S. Bullard died in the county of Cobb in the State of Georgia on the 15th day of May A.D. 1845; and she further declares that the following have been the places of residence of herself and her said husband since the date of their marriage in the county of Walton , State aforesaid to Decr. 1837 - and in the county of Cobb to the date of his death and she has resided there ever since."
"And she further declares that she has heretofore made no application for Bounty Land or Pension previous to this time, and that her residence is in the county of Cobb, State of Georgia, and that her post office address is Powder Springs, Ga."
C.D. Moon [Cicero D. Moon], age 55, and Ann E. Bullard, aged 67, both residents of Cobb Co., GA, attest and certify that they've known Margaret Bullard for 40 years and 50 years respectively, and they can identify her as the person who was the wife of Robert S. Bullard...."that they knew them to live together as husband & wife all the time they knew them & said Ann Bullard saw them married."
This application was dated 24 July 1878, and signed by H. M. Hammett, Ordinary.
First of all, considering the various dates I've seen for the marriage of Robert and Margaret, I think we now have conclusive proof that 19 Oct 1826 is the correct date.
Also, re: Ann E. Bullard, aged 67 in the year 1878, and a witness to the wedding of Robert S. Bullard and Margaret Grimes - my records show that Robert and Sethany/Cyntha Bullard had a daughter born abt. 1811, Elizabeth Ann.....but that Elizabeth Ann married Larkin Decatur Cathcart and/or Jefferson Reynolds. Can anyone supply any further info about this? Why is Ann E. Bullard going by her maiden name in 1878?
I descend from Robert and Margaret's son William M. Bullard and his wife, Lucy Ellen Moon, through their daughter Harriet Ivanonah Katurrah Bullard, who married Wilburn Braselton Petree. The latter are my great grandparents.
Having a subscription to ancestry.com, I thought I'd take a look at what other genealogies had to say about Robert and Margaret Bullard, and was not surprised to find at least several dates given for their marriage. Groan!!! Since I saw mention of Robert's service in the War of 1812, I thought I'd look at Fold3 and see if I could find anything. Fortunately, I was lucky, because pension applications for the War of 1812, the state of South Carolina, only A-C had been uploaded!
There's obviously a lot more work to do in order to get this family better documented. I've been guilty of lax genealogical standards, but am trying to correct this as I grow older so that future generations can have some viable, and documented, information to work with.
Best wishes to you!