James C. Glennon & Anna Mariah Atkins - Need help finding Birth or Death Certificates!

Question

James Calvin Glennon (1816-1860) was born in either Leon or St. Augustine, Florida and died in Drew County, Arkansas. He was married to a woman named Anna Mariah Atkins (1831-1913) who was born in either Georgia, Alabama, or Oklahoma according to several different censuses. James was one of the only doctors in Drew County and him and his wife had several children: Louisa T. or S., Franklin P., Julius Hernandez, and Frederick. Only Julius (my 2x great-grandfather) lived to adulthood,though. I've never known James or Anna's parentage. Although there was a family story that Anna had been a Creek Native American woman on the Trail of Tears and that that's how her and James met. Although according to censuses, her father was born in Virginia and her mother in either North or South Carolina - I'm not sure if any Creek Native Americans were living in those areas at the time or not, though. James on the other hand, was supposedly either full-blooded Irish or half-Irish. There's a family story about him, too. His father was one of 6 brothers who came over from Ireland and all of his brothers died on the trip to America. His father was the only survivor of the 6. Another thing I've been a bit hazy on is why their son, Julius, had the middle name, Hernandez, when I've never known of any Spanish ancestry on my father's side where all this comes from. Although, I know there's a possibility it's just a coincidence - after all, my 3x great-grandmother on my mother's side was Mexican with a French name. Ha! :-D

 

I've never been able to find anything much for either of them except a couple of censuses and one mortality schedule for James. Some help would be much appreciated!

 

Sharon

Comments

This is as far as i have been able to make it to.  I found on another site he married her in Oklahoma. If you find anything else, please email me

Answer 1

Civil birth and death records are scarce in this time period in general, and simply do not exist for some areas. Church records can be useful, but they can be hard to find as well, especially for the rural areas. Other sources such as gravestones, obituaries, county histories (so-called "mug books") are worth looking for.

If Anna was a Creek, the Native American sources are worth a look, especially if she maintained a connection with the tribe.

Comments

Hm, you know, I actually never thought about that but that's worth a look to see if maybe I can find some NA sources to  find her! Thanks for the tip!

Answer 2

"Administrators' Bonds & Letters, 1858-1926," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8638/007116882_00051?pid=163798 : accessed 28 Sep 2017), bond for James C Glennon, died intestate; citing Drew County (Arkansas). Clerk of the Circuit Court; Probate Place: Drew, Arkansas.

The State of Arkansas
County of Drew
The State of Arkansas, To all Persons to whom these Presents, shall come -- Greeting:
Know Ye, That whereas James C Glennon of the County of Drew died intestate, as it is said on or about the 19th day of February A.D. 1860, having at the time of his death personal property in this State, which may be lost, destroyed, or diminished in value if speedy care be not taken of the same.

To the end Therefore, that the said property may be collected, preserved, and disposed of according to the law, we do hereby appoint Dudley D Daniel of the County of Drew Administrator of all and singular the Goods and Chattels, Rights and credits, which were of the said James C Glennon at the time of his death, with full power and authority to secure and dispose of the said property according to law, and collect all moneys due said deceased, and in general to do and perform all other acts and things which are, or hereafter may be, required of him by law.

In Testimony Whereof, I, Samuel J Matheus Clerk of
the Circuit Court, and ex-officio, Clerk of the Court of Probate, in
and for the County of Drew aforesaid, have
hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court, at office
this 2nd day of March A.D. 1860
S J Manteus, Clerk

Sharon - the three men on the bond put up a bond of ten thousand dollars (as opposed to the one thousand for the person before, and three thousand for the person after). With such an estate, if the county doesn't research estate settlements, I would try the historical society:

Drew County Historical Society

404 S Main St
Monticello, AR 71655

(870) 367-7446 

http://backwardbranch.com/ardrew/index.html

For the Trail of Tears - there is a wonderful article on https://www.americanindiancoc.org/the-trail-of-tears-the-lust-for-gold-comes-to-georgia/ 

If you go to Part two you can see where the trail crossed Arkansas. 

Best of luck on your family search!

Comments

Wow, I've actually never seen this!  Thanks for finding it. Well, unfortunately, there was a fire a while back at the county courthouse so a lot of records have now been lost thanks to that. So I'm not 100% sure if there would be any of him or not although it is worth a look to see if there are still some left.

 

Oh thank you, I'll check that out! Thanks again!