William Nelson Allbright (abt. 1840 - 1921)

Born about 1840 in Franklin, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Freedonia Elizabeth Murf — married 12 Feb 1871 in Caldwell, Texas, United States

Died 1921 at about age 81 in Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Robert Albright [send private message]

Biography

William Nelson was born about 1840 in Franklin, County Georgia. He was the son of Jacob Allbright and Tempy Caroline Austin. Sometime prior to 1864, he moved to Tennessee, and then to Texas. In 1864 at age 24, he enlisted in Terry’s Texas Rangers as a Private, in Bastrop, Texas. After the Civil War, he returned to Tennessee then drove a wagon to Texas where he settled near Staples and married Freedonia Murf. He passed away in 1879.

Reseach Notes

William Nelson Allbright Death Certificate ( June1840 - 29 March 1821) Lists his parents as Jacob Allbright and Caroline Allbright and his place of birth as Franklin County, Georgia.

"Texas Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6TL-D24 : 14 April 2023), Caroline Austin in entry for W. N. Albright Sr., 1921.

A statement from William Ireland Allbright (1908) (William Nelson’s grandson) follows:

“My grandfather (W. N. Allbright) age 24 from Tennessee, enlisted in Terry’s Texas Rangers, Private, September 1861, Bastrop, Texas. When the Civil War was over—He got his discharge and went back to Tennessee. Then he came back to Texas in a wagon and settled at Staples near the San Marcos river. He then married Fredonia Murf and raised his family there” (notes of Lee Lance Allbright).

Sam H. Johnson Jr., of Longview, Texas made the following statement:

“I made a trip to San Marcos, Texas (Hays County) and found quite a few Allbright living and buried there. The first one there was W.N. Allbright who was a veteran of the Civil War. He said that his father was Jacob Allbright and his mother was Caroline Austin. W.N.’s dates were June 1840–March 29,1921. The death record said that he had been born in Franklin County, Georgia (notes of Lee Lance Allbright)”.

Notes of Lee Lance Allbright, database - RootsWeb https://www.myheritage.com/person-30027900_196131791_196131791/jacob-albright

The 1850 Census for Franklin County, Ga. lists a William Allbright, age 12, living next door to a Jacob and Caroline Allbright. However, Claribel Albright McCain assigns the children of this marriage (she does not mention William) to Jacob Albright (1795-1860, son of Jacob Albright Sr.) and Caroline last name unknown.

Shannon Dowdy Allbright (“The Allbright’s”) lists the children as belonging to Jacob Albright (1800-1860, son of John Albright) and Caroline Sewell. He also does not list a William Allbright.

Additionally, neither researcher lists William Nelson’s grandfather, William Allbright, as the son of his great grandfather, John Allbright Sr. They also do not list William Nelson’s father, Jacob Allbright (1810-1880), or his Uncle, William Isley Allbright, in their research.

Only two references list William Nelson’s grandfather, William Allbright. They are “Threads of Ancestors” by Mize and Mize, and the notes of Lee Lance Allbright.

The 1850 Census District 32 Franklin, Georgia lists:

Caroline (Albright?) Arnold May be Tempy Caroline Austin if she remarried Absalom W. Arnold after Jacob’s death. However, Jacob’s death would have to have been earlier than 1880.Caroline Arnold is listed on the 1860 and 1870 Census as being born in South Carolina and is roughly the correct age to be the Caroline married to Jacob Allbright/Albright.

Comparing ages in the 1860 and 1870 Census, one is definitely wrong (most likely a transposition error), if she was the Caroline married to Jacob Allbright she was most likely 36 or 38 in the 1860 Census. In 1860 she is listed as age  ; in 1870 Caroline is listed as age 48.

The children listed on the 1860 Census, have the last name Albright, but do not have the same names as McCain and Albright's lists, with the exception of Mary. The Mary listed in the 1850 Census is close to the same age as the Mary in the 1860 Census (transposition error?). There would be a 2 year difference in age if this is the same person.

It appears that by 1866 Absalom Arnold has passed away, as he is not listed on the 1866 Alabama Census or the 1870 US Census. There is record of a will for Absalom W. Arnold for 1866 in Shelby, Tennessee. This supports the story of William Nelson moving to Tennessee from Georgia.

The listing of S.C Albright on the 1870 Census could be another error as this person would be the same age as Johnson Albright who was listed in the 1860 Census, but is not listed in the 1870 Census.

The 1860 Census, Milton, Georgia lists:

The Alabama State Census 1866 lists:

The 1870 Census East half, Blount, Alabama lists:

DNA Matches

Children of Caroline Arnold and Polly Dixon and Descendants with DNA Matches to Robert Albright

Sources

Census Information Jacob Allbright and Caroline (Sewell or Unknown) "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYG-VW4 : Mon Jul 17 19:53:42 UTC 2023), Entry for Jacob Albright and Caroline Albright, 1850.

Census Information Caroline Arnold: "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMF-J5N : Mon Jul 17 22:29:37 UTC 2023), Entry for Absalom Arnold and Caroline Arnold, 1860.

"Alabama State Census, 1866", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6PG-FDG : Thu Jul 20 16:54:14 UTC 2023), Entry for Caroline Arnold, 1866.

"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVP-L78 : 28 May 2021), Caroline Arnold, 1870.

William Nelson Allbright Death Certificate

"Texas Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6TL-D24 : 14 April 2023), Caroline Austin in entry for W. N. Albright Sr., 1921.

William Nelson Allbright Census Information:

"United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3GJ-7XN : Thu Aug 03 18:46:24 UTC 2023), Entry for William Allbright and Donia Allbright, 1900.