Hetty (Unknown) Evans (abt. 1749 - abt. 1863)

Descendants

Died about 1863 at about age 114 in Perry, Alabama, United States [uncertain]

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Hetty (Unknown) Evans was a centenarian, living to age 114.

Biography

Research Notes

RESEARCH NOTES: JOAN EVANS

HETTY'S BIRTH NAME IS UNKNOWN. If she is the mother of Joseph Evans, she must have been born 1750-1760. Since several of Robert’s descendants have daughters/granddaughters named HETTY, HETTIE, HETTEN, HESTER, she was either the mother of Robert’s children or a very much loved step-mother. “Family Stories” say that Hetty lived to be 114 years old and was baptised at Hopewell Baptist Church in Perry AL at the age of 110. It is also said that she walked to the church, a distance of several miles, because it tired her to ride in the wagon.

Hetty made only two records that have been found. She is named in Robert’s Estate Papers as his widow and she is the Head of an 1830, Perry AL, Household, which appears to include her daughter SARAH and her granddaughter, LOUISA.

The 1840 Perry AL census for Joseph Evans, Sr. shows a 100+ female living in his household. When he moved most of his family to Texas c1848, he left Joseph, Jr. and his family on the “Old Home Place” in Perry County. It is said that this was so that Hetty could remain “at home.” Whether this was because the trip to Texas was considered to much for a woman of her age** or whether it was because Hetty simply did not want to leave her home is unknown.

• • [It is said that Joseph traveled to Texas via Arkansas because travel across Louisiana was considered too dangerous for the families.]

Regardless of the reason Hetty remained in Alabama, and there are many descendants who will “STATE AS FACT” that Hetty moved to Jefferson AL to live with her daughter, Ruth, and is buried in the Reed-Riddle Cemetery, but a letter, dated November 1, 1914, D. R. Craig writes to Cousin Nannie:

“Cousin Marion says that “Granny’s” name was Sarah. He remembers having seen “Granny” and also her husband Robert Evans. He also told me that Robert Evans served in the American Revolution. My mother knew her name to be Sarah. Granny was living when my mother left Alabama in the Autumn of 1850. When that monument was put up in the Evans grave-yard near Marion, she was still living. She died about the commencement of th Civil War. I have often heard Mother speak of Grandmother Evans living to be 114. Our Uncle Joe Evans (Walter’s Father) was living on the old Evans homestead west of Marion then. Granny was living with him. There is a church six miles west of Marion on the Marion and Greesboro road named “Hopewell” Our Uncle Joe went to Hopewell to Church one Sunday, and while at church someone came after him stating that “Granny” had died since he left to go to church. Cousin Walter (Uncle Joe’s son) tells me that his father our Uncle Joe is buried at Hopewell Church. It may be that “Granny” was put there too. But Cousin Marion and Walter both tell me that they know, almost know that Granny was buried in the Evans graveyard with her husband Robert. Of course this would have been after the monument was placed there.”

Of course, this is how “Hetty’s” name got changed to “Sarah.” I think that a couple of things need to be considered:

The Granny who had lived with Cousin Marion’s family WAS Sarah or “Sally,” the mother of Louisa Humphrys. And perhaps “Cousin D. R.,” who was another generation removed from Robert and Hetty did not clearly understand the “Grannys” or Cousin Marion’s explanation.

In a letter from Francis Marion to Nan Roberts Lane, April 22, 1913:

“I had three grandmas on my father’s side and on my mother’s side[sic] and one great grandma. She lived with my father until we left Alabama and came to Louisiana. One of my grandmas came with us. The other one was dead, Grandpa Joseph’s wife, so he married again for the third time”……………………… “As to my great- grandfather I never saw him and I do not know what my great- grandmother’s maiden name was, his name was Robert Evans. He was 101 years when he died and his wife my great-grand- mother was 110 when she died.”…………………..“I made a mistake about my grandmothers, I have five grandmas, 3 on my father’s side and two on my mother’s side.”

Francis Marion was the child of 1st cousins; Joseph’s son, JOHN, and Sally’s daughter, LOUISA Humphreys. I think the three grandmas on Dad’s side would have been Joseph’s three wives and the two on Mom’s side would have been his grandmother, Sarah, and his great-grandmother, Hetty.

I guess I can understand HOW and WHY Nan Roberts Lane became confused about Hetty. The three letters in my possession are copied below under “sources.”

The surname MAY is another story. Cousin Nannie apparently misinterpreted the 1830 census listing for Hetty. I understand that the "t"s are not crossed but a pair of uncrossed "t"s cannot magically turn into a capital "M."

Hetty is listed near the bottom of page 82 (written and stamped) and looking at the other "M"s on the page:

Shadrack Martin Michael Carmack James Mason Oliver Martin George Mezsenger

and on the following page 83

Darling Massey Richard Massey JABERRY EVANS! Wm Miller Mathew Underwood And several others

None of these "M"s looks like TWO UNCROSSED "T"s. This is an ERROR that has become FACT. Surely we must be more careful in what we accept as PROOF.

Hetty’s date of death. As seen in the D. R. Craig letters it was thought in 1914, that Hetty died somewhere near the beginning of the War. It is posted “everywhere that she died in either 1836 or in 1863.

1836: Nan Roberts Lane’s DAR papers. (Shown only as Sarah, 1749-1836.)

1863: Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC) Archives: Obituary Index

The Archives maintains an index of obituaries that have appeared in the Methodist Conference newspaper, the Southern Christian Advocate, since its inception in 1837, and in its successor newspaper, the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate. The Advocate covered South Carolina and Georgia until about 1887, and the southern part of North Carolina until about 1870.

Entry for SARAH MAY - OD: 12/12/1863, v26, #57, p28, c3

The Southern Christian Advocate, Augusta, GA/Macon, Georgia/Charleston, SC began weekly with v. 1 on June 24, 1837, and ceased publication with v. 112 in 1948.

THIS IS A METHODIST NEWPAPER FOR GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. Alabama Baptists are probably not included!

Robert is found in North Carolina records c1768: 1768—April 28—Patent Book 23, No. 6658 Crown to Robert Evans…………75 acres in Mecklenburgh on the W. side of Catawba river.

Joseph is the eldest child to have survived (or had issue;) the 1850 census shows him to be b. 1773, North Carolina; the 1860 census shows him to have been b. 1774, North Carolina.

It is possible/probabable that Robert and Hetty married in the Mecklenburg/Tryon area of NC.

Robert's estate names, in addition to his widow, Hetty; four sons, Joseph, William, Jabez and Solomon; and four daughters, Ruth Reed, Mary Clements, Margaret Clements and Sarah "Sally" Evans.

END JOAN EVANS RESEARCH NOTES

Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents PICTURES PHOTO: Hopewell Baptist Church Marion Perry County Alabama CATEGORY: Other

DESCRIPTION: This church was attended by members of Robert Evans Family. Joseph Evans was one of the first members... ATTACHED TO: Hetty Unknown (1749-1863)."

Sources

See also:

• "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #52085051 : accessed 15 February 2024), Memorial page for Hettie May Evans (1749-1863), citing Reed Cemetery, Grayson Valley, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Jimmy (contributor 47190976).

Estate of Robert Evans, 1830, Perry County Alabama, names widow HETTY.

1830 Census of Perry County AL, lists HETTY EVANS. The "t"s are not crossed and this listing was mis-read by Nan Roberts Lane c1920, when she was applying for membership in DAR and reported as "H. May Evans;" this error has virtually become fact.

The 1840 Perry County Census listing for Joseph Evans, Sr. shows a female, age 100+.

Robert bought and sold land from 1768 to c1820, but no wife has been found to have signed any deeds.

These letters are from the files of J. W. Moore. They are, all three, typewritten and I think were typed from hand written originals. The letters are addressed to Nan Roberts Lane who provided the incorrect information on her DAR application. I understand that she discovered her mistakes before her death but was unable to get DAR to correct the record. je.

Copy of a letter from Francis Marion Evans to Mrs. James H. (Nan Roberts) Lane:

April 22, 1913

Dear Cousin,

I will answer your letter which came to hand sometime since and will try and give you all the information I can. I had three grandmas on my father’s side and on my mother’s side and one great grandma. She lived with my father until we left Alabama and came to Louisiana. One of my grandmas came with us. Ther other one was dead, Grandpa Joseph’s wife, so he married again for the third time and I saw Uncle Jim Evans the other day, he said he was going to write you about that inscription on the tombstone at the grave. As to my great- grandfather I never saw him and I do not know what my great- grandmother’s maiden name was, his name was Robert Evans. He was 101 years when he died and his wife my great-grand- mother was 110 when she died. My grandpa Joe was 90 when he died, his children is all dead except the children of his last wife and they are getting old.

I made a mistake about my grandmothers, I have five grandmas, 3 on my father’s side and two on my mother’s side. I don’t know if you can get anything out of this or not, I hope you will.

Well my hand is getting tired so I will close.

Your Cousin

As ever

F. M. Evans

P. S. I will soon be 79 years old.

Jewett, Texas October 24, 1914

Mrs. Nannie Lane, Sylacauga, Ala.

Dear Cousin;

Sometime in the summer you wrote to my brother C. D. Craig, for some information about the Evans and Morrises. I went down to see him the first of Sept. He showed me your letter and asked me if I would have the time to get up any information and answer your letter. I agreed to do my best.

I first went over to our great grand-father Joseph Evans grave. He is buried in Concord Cemetery, ten miles west of Centerville, County site of Leon County. It is stated on his monument that he was born in Virginia May 5th. 1768 and died August 25th, 1861. My father sat up at nights and waited on him a great deal the last two or three months of his life. Our great grandfather Joseph Evans married Amelia Hawkins first and there were born unto this marriage eight children, named as follows: Evan Evans, Edward Evans, John Evans, Margaret Evans, Millie (Amelia) Evans, Sallie Evans, William Evans and Joseph Evans.

Evan Evans married Nancy Selman, they settled in Cherokee County in East Texas, a great many years ago. Ed Evans married Isabella Simpson, came to Texas before the Civil War and settled four miles west of Centerville in Leon Co. My home town, Jewett has quite a number of grand- children and great-grand children of Ed Evans and Isabella Evans. John Evans married Louise Evans. Louise was the daughter of Sarah, the old maid you spoke of. A man by the name of John Humphreys won the love and con- fidence of Sarah Evans, then ruined her and ran away. John Evans and Louise Evans (or Louise Humphreys) was the father and mother of Cousin Marion Evans who lives here in Jewett. Margaret Evans married John Reed. A large family of children was born to them. John Reed died and his widow married a Mr. Goodman. Millie Evans married Jim Reed brother to above John Reed. Jim Reed and Millie settled about ten miles south west of Centerville in Leon County, Jim died after three children were born. Jim and Millie are buried (I Think) at Leona, a little town in the southern part of Leon County.

Sallie Evans married William Green Morris. William Evans married Rebecca Walker. They had a large family of children. Several living in this county. William Evans settled half-mile from Ed Evans four miles west of Center- ville. Joe Evans married Lidia Reed. They never did come to Texas. Walter Evans who lives here in Jewett, is a son of Joe and Lydia.

When Amelia Hawkins died our great grand-father Joseph Evans then married Jincia Young. She lived a little over one year. One child was born to them. His name was Jefferson Evans. Jincia died in Alabama. Joseph Evans then married Cynthia Young, a sister to Jincia Young. Four children were born to them as follows: James Evans, Willis Evans, Malinda Evans and John Evans. John Evans was thrown by a horse and died a few hours later. This accident occurred at their home eight miles south of here, Jewett, and seven miles west of Centerville. When Joseph Evans and Cynthia Young married they came to Texas and settled on this plantation described just above on this page. James Evans and Malinda Evans (now Malinda Eddins) live on part of this old Joseph Evans home. Willis Evans lives here in Jewett.

My father C. J. Craig and mother Margaret Ameila Morris Craig settled one mile south of the old Joseph Evans home. My mother was named for Amelia Hawkins and Margaret Morris. Sarah Evans the old maid, came with her daughter Louise Evans (Humphreys) and son-in-law John Evans to Louisiana at an early day. John Evans died in Louisiana. Then Louise and her mother Sarah, the old maid, came on to Leon County, Texas. Louise and her children and her mother (Sarah) settled 11 miles west of Centerville in Leon County. Our Cousin Marion who lives here was the oldest boy of Louise. He was 80 years old last month. Cousin Marion cleared up a little field there and they struggled along through many hardships. The old maid, Sarah, took sick here. Marion and Louise were unable to care for her. So Ed Evans and Isabella who lived just 4 miles west of Centerille came and took her to his house. She died at Ed Evans and I am told she was buried in the Cemetery at Centerville.

Granny our great, Great grand Mother was left in Alabama, with Joe Evans the youngest son of our great grandfather Joseph Evans and Amelia Hawkins. Cousin Marion tells me that they stopped to see the old William Evans on their way to Louisiana. It was somewhere in Mississippi, but he can’t remember the name of the place.

Ed Evans wife Isabella Evans, William Evans and wife Rebecca (Walker) Evans, our great grandfather Joseph Evans and his last wife Cynthia Young, my father and mother are all buried in the Concord Cemetery.

Well as I have been writing a good while I will close. When you read this I would be glad that you would write me and let me know if I have written anything that has been of real information. If so, I will then try to write you a little about the Morris side.

With kind regard, I am, Your Cousin D. R. Craig Jewett, Texas R. F. D.#2.

Jewett, Texas Nov. 1st 1914

Mrs. Nannie Lane Sylacauga, Alabama.

Dear Cousin,

I received your letter yesterday. It has been quite a while since I read a letter with as much interest and pleasure as I read yours. Since reading both your letters and since inquiring about our ancesters it has become interesting to me. I will write you a short letter today as I want you to get it while Uncle Joe is there. Be sure to remember me to Uncle Joe as he is the only one of my mother’s (brothers and sisters) that I have ever seen. He came to see Mother in 1902 as he was on his way to Dallas, Texas to attend the General Conference. He will remember me as the one who wrote to him about mother’s death. Also kindly remember me to the other relatives who are there.

I will write you a little more about the Evanses. Cousin Marion says that “Granny’s” name was Sarah. He remembers having seen “Granny” and also her husband Robert Evans. He also told me that Robert Evans served in the American Revolution. My mother knew her name to be Sarah. Granny was living when my mother left Alabama in the Autumn of 1850. When that monument was put up in the Evans grave-yard near Marion, she was still living. She died about the comencement of th Civil War. I have often heard Mother speak of Grandmother Evans living to be 114. Our Uncle Joe Evans (Walter’s Father) was living on the old Evans homestead west of Marion then. Granny was living with him. There is a church six miles west of Marion on the Marion and Greesboro road named “Hopewell” Our Uncle Joe went to Hopewell to Church one Sunday, and while at church someone came after him stating that “Granny” had died since he left to go to church. Cousin Walter (Uncle Joe’s son) tells me that his father our Uncle Joe is buried at Hopewell Church. It may be that “Granny” was put there too. But Cousin Marion and Walter both tell me that they know, almost know that Granny was buried in the Evans graveyard with her husband Robert. Of course this would have been after the monument was placed there. I never heard mother say anything about Joe Evans the brother of Robert.

Walter tells me that his brother E. E. Evans lives at Sheffield, Alabama and he says he thinks that his brother has our Uncle Joe’s family Bible or record.

I will give you a line or two about myself and close for this time. I have the (dis)honor of being classed with those who are called teachers, receiving my education and professional training in the Sam Houston State Normal College at Huntsville, Texas. I have taught school ever since. I left College, except 1898 to 1908[?] during which period I served the people in the County Clerk’s office of Leon County. I am teaching at Jewett now. Have been very busy in my school for nearly two months.

Yes the Evanses are all Baptist. But Mother’s children are all Methodist. Mother was such a sweet christian – s shouting Methodist. The Judge C. D. Craig has recently moved to Centerville. He occupies the same the same residence that I lived in for 10 years. Cousin Nannie, I will be very busy in my school now but I will write you about the Morrisses soon as I can. I may not be able to give you much there. Will try to answer all of your questions a best I know, however when Conference is over I would be glad to hear from you and all the relatives whom you saw.

With best wishes I am

Your Cousin

D. R. Craig

Jewett,

R. F. D. # 2. Texas

I found a grave index about Hetty May as well as find a grave, "Hettie May Evans in the Web: Alabama, Find A Grave Index, 1755-2012." Hettie May Evans in the Web: Alabama, Find A Grave Index, 1755-2012. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2022. [1]. [2] From Cheyenne H.

The Findagrave information is based on incorrect information. Findagrave is not a verifiable source. The only factual information is posted above. No record regarding Hetty’s parents has been found. No record regarding Hetty’s marriage has been found. Hetty is shown to be Robert’s widow and she is listed on the 1830 Perry AL census. Je