Re: James Foster & Octava Birdsong Foster
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In reply to:
Re: James Foster & Octava Birdsong Foster
Pam Trombley 7/16/06
First, don't jump to conclusions, you don't know that she "farmed them out."Times were harsh after the Civil War and we don't know what our ancestors may have been going through just to survive.I have copy of a letter written by my third gr grandfather in AL to sons in TX.It breaks your heart to hear how deplorable conditions were in DeKalb Co, AL at that time.
You didn't mention anything about the children being in AR in 1870, no wonder I couldn't find them on the 1870 census in TX.
Why do those three Birdsong youngsters own land?I would be looking at land and probate records for Crawford Co, AR.Did they inherit from a grandparent?Since all three are minors there should be guardianship records, even if Martha was alive.The court would appoint a guardian simply to report back to the court if any of the "estate" was sold, to protect interests of minor children.Since all three have land I'm guessing they had to have inherited it.Maybe Martha died.Or, did Martha move back to AR and remarry in AR?I did the search in Bosque Co, TX, because that was where Wilson and Octava were living in 1880.
You say William's younger sister Mariah married a Johnson, who is William?Is Mariah married to an "unknown" Johnson in AR or TX in 1870?
Crawford Co, AR GenWeb site shows a marriage 8 Oct 1881 of Julia Birdsong to A.G. Avery, wonder who she is???
Sure curious about the tie to AR for the Birdsong family.
1850 census Madison Co, AL:
Birdsong, William 21, b AL - wagon maker
" Marthy F., 22, b VA
There are a couple of other Birdsongs on that census, also wagon makers.Probably a family trade.
I just did a quick look at Rootsweb WorldConnect to see if I could find anyone else working on the same line for you and see you already have information I took time to dig out for you, sure wish you had posted some of that.But, you might go back in and straighten up Martha's name, you have it Sivley, Martha.
Happy Hunting
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Re: James Foster & Octava Birdsong Foster
Pam Trombley 7/17/06