Nancy Jane (Kuykendall) Stracener (1820 - 1862)

Born 29 Jan 1820 in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Benjamin Franklin Stracener — married 5 Nov 1837 in San Augustine, Republic of Texas

Descendants

Died 10 May 1862 at age 42 in Dublin, Erath County, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patricia Stracener [send private message]

This profile is part of the Van Kuykendall Name Study.

Biography

Nancy Jane Kuykendall

Nancy was the daughter of Abraham and Mary (Lindley) Kuykendall. She was born January 29, 1820 in Franklin Co. Tennessee.

When Nancy was 14 years old her family moved to Nacogdoches County, Mexican Texas. Her father Abraham Kuykendall received a Headright Land Grant of 2,700 acres lying on the waters of the Angelina River. It is believed that the family lived near the settlement of Douglas.

About 1835 Benjamin F. Stracener left his home in Alabama and moved to Texas. As a single man he received a land grant of 1,200 acres which was also located on or near the Angelina River.

At the age of 17, Nancy J. Kuykendall married Benjamin F. Stracener on Nov. 5, 1837.

Their first two children, William Henry (b.1839) and Mary Ann (b.1842) were born in Nacogdoches Co. Texas.

Benjamin Franklin and Nancy J. Stracener were members of the, Hopewell, Primitive Baptist Church located near Douglass.

The Hopewell Primitive Baptist church is the oldest Baptist Church in Texas. It was founded in Douglass, Nacogdoches Co. Texas on April 5, 1834.

A church letter dated Sept 24, 1844 from the Hopewell Baptist Church, Nacogdoches County Republic of Texas and signed by Nancy’s father, Abram Kuykendall, Church Clerk, says that Benjamin and Nancy are leaving the area.

They left Nacogdoches County and moved to Smith Co. TX. Their third child, Ellen was born in Smith County in 1847.

Next, we find them in Van Zandt Co. Texas. Their fourth child, Martha was born there in 1849. Benjamin and Nancy appear in the 1850 Van Zandt County census. They moved from Van Zandt County to Bell Co. TX.

Exactly when they moved to Bell County is unknown. However, an Election Notice from Bell County Texas states, "There will be an election held at the dwelling house of Benjamin Stracener on Saturday the 2nd day of September 1854 for the election of three Trustees for School District No. 14 in said county".

Their final destination was Erath Co. TX, We know that they had to be in Erath Co. by Jan. of 1858. The Poll Book of election held in precinct No.2 County of Erath on the 25th day of January A.D. 1858 for District Judge and District Attorney, listed both Benjamin Stracener and W.H. Stracener as Election Judges

A Certificate from the County of Erath dated November 3, 1858, states that Benjamin Stracener was elected on August 2,1858 to the office of County Commissioner of Erath County, Texas. They appear in the 1860 Erath County Texas census.

Benjamin died April 1, 1862. Nancy died on May 10, 1862. This was just one month and nine days after Benjamin’s death. It is the contention of the family that there was some type of epidemic which took the lives of both Benjamin F., Nancy and several of their children all within a matter of months in 1861-1862.

Both Benjamin and Nancy are buried in the Barbee Cemetery, Edna Hill, Erath Co. Texas.

Many of their descendants still live in the Erath County Texas area.

Sources

• ancestry.com, Tutt Family Tree, Nancy Jane Kuykendall Profile and Facts

http://person.ancestry.com/tree/25568071/person/1676259698/facts

• 1850 U.S. Fed. Census Van Zandt Co. Texas, Dwelling #74 Family #74
• 1860 U.S. Fed. Erath Census (living in home of B.F. Stracener)
• Gravestone in Barbee Cemetery, Erath Co. Texas
• Copy of an Article written by Benjamin Stracener Kuykendall, son of James H. Kuykendall. Article written in 1931 for Seamore, Texas Newspaper.

http://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Space:James_H._Kuykendall_Family&public=1

• Marriage Lic. (BFS & NJK) Republic of Texas

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Letters_and_Documents_of_Benjamin_Franklin_Stracener

• GLO Certificate #36 San Augustine Ca. 1841

Texas GLO Certificate #36 San Augustine Ca. 1841

Benjamin Stracener Benjamin is #36 (1280acres)

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