Sarah Cunningham (1796 - 1863)

Born 12 Apr 1796 in Tennessee, United States

Wife of Aaron Trice Castleberry — married 12 Aug 1820 in Saint Clair, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 5 Jul 1863 at age 67 in Van Zandt, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carol Rancourt [send private message]

Biography

Sarah Cunningham Castleberry b. 12 Apr 1795, East Tennessee d. 5 Jul 1863, Van Zandt County, Texas Buried: Cox Cemetery, Van Zandt County, Texas

Husband: Aaron Trice Castleberry 1st

Father: James Cunningham, d. 1844, Bastrop, Texas

Mother: Margaret Cunningham

Siblings:

• J. A. Cunningham (residing 1840 Shelby Cty TX) • Leander Calvin Cunningham (10 Jul 1810-24 Dec 1896, Sequin, TX, m. Ann Slone) • Mary Ann Cunningham (d. 1860, Shelby Cty, TX, m. James Jefferson Cravens) • Andrew P. Cunningham (d. abt 1838, • David A. Cunningham (d. Mar, 1838, Austin Colony, Bastrop, TX)

Texas lands are maintained by the State, a deed transfer required a complete chain of ownership for many years and contains valuable information as in Castleberry v Bussey, brought before the District Court of Shelby County, Texas, 1838 to 1914, containing TX GLO field surveys, probate records and testimony. The Court accepted & recorded evidence (as fact) the names and relationships of Sarah’s parents, siblings and in-laws.

'“…James J. Cravens died in 1860, leaving a wife and one child, named William J. Cravens. The wife died within a few days after the death of the husband, and the child died in a few days after the death of the mother. James J. Cravens left a large community estate in lands, and the inheritance in respect thereto, by reason of the death of the wife and child, was cast upon collateral kindred, consisting of two brothers and one sister of Mrs. Cravens, and one brother and one sister of James J. Cravens. J. A. and L. C. Cunningham and Sarah A. Castleberry, mother of the appellant, were the brothers and sister of Mrs. Mary A. Cravens, and Wm. Cravens and Mary Choate were the brother and sister of James J. Cravens.”

TX GLO File 455 lists David A. Cunningham heirs: "John A Cunningham, Leander C Cunningham, Sarah C Castleberry, Mary Ann Cravens and James J Cravens her husband"

David Anderson Cunningham filed at Sabine County Courthouse on 9 April 1838, naming Sarah C Castleberry family members: "... as the heir of said David and the said Leander having produced to the court satisfactory evidence that the mother of said decedent was not living at the time of his death, and that James Cunningham was the father of decedent also that John A. Cunningham was the brother and Sarah C. Castleberry and Mary Ann Cunningham were the sisters and that they were all of age and neither of said sisters were a fence covert and that he left no others sisters or brothers except said Leander and the said Leander C. Cunningham having exhibited to this court an instrument of writing dated the 9th day of April 1838 and executed by the said James Cunningham, Sarah C. Cunningham, Mary A. Cunningham and John A. Cunningham..."

• ”fence covert” feme couvert = legally, a husband and wife are one person and that person is the husband

The Champion, Center, Texas published a 'Citation By Publication' on 22 Jan 1922 in which all the heirs of Aaron Trice Castleberry 1st were listed (though relationships and dates were not included).

Sarah “Salley” Cunningham was the second wife of Aaron Trice Castleberry I, their marriage recorded on 12 August 1820 in St Clair County, Alabama.

Aaron was born in Georgia abt 1783, his birth is calculated on the earliest located document, an 1805 Wilkes County, GA Tax List (Only men over age 21 could own land, so 1805-21=1784-time of year=1783). Aaron Trice Castleberry 1st was married ony twice, first to an unknown woman who died between 1817 and 1820, their children were: • William H. (1803, GA-1848, Harrison Cty, TX, m. Mary; immigrated at San Augustine, TX with his family of 7 on 23 May 1835 alongside his father’s family of 11 • Amelia Ann (19 Dec 1805, GA -13 Jun 1851, Pine Tree, Gregg, TX, m. 3 Jan 1822, St Clair Cty, AL to John David Rodden s/o Abner Rodden and Mary Agnes Brandon/Brannon) • Mary Elizabeth "Polly" (abt 1809, GA – abt 1880, Caldwell Cty, TX, m. Benjamin F. Fuller on 27 Dec 1827, St Clair Cty, AL) • Stephen H (abt 1812, GA – 28 Aug 1898, Kaufman, TX, m. Malinda Huntsman on 5 Oct 1830, St Clair Cty, AL) • Aaron Trice II (1816, GA – 11 Sep 1890, Pine Tree, Gregg Cty, TX, m. Elmira Pierce, d/o Aaron Pierce; “…Wm H. Castleberry appointed guardian of Elmira Pierce a minor of heir of Aaron Pierce deceased.” Orphan’s Court, 2 Aug 1833) * this is the ‘ATC’ who fought in the Civil War • Anna (b. abt 1817 & d. TX, m1 to James Davis, m2 to Walter H. Payne)

Aaron Trice Castleberry’s second wife was Sarah Cunningham (her one and only marriage) their children were: • James C (b. 1822, AL & d. TX, m. Mary Tredwell) • David Anderson (8 Jun 1823, AL-14 Apr 1883,TX, m. Mary Adeline Cunningham McKnight) • Edward (1 Nov 1824, AL-Aug 1876, Van Zandt Cty, TX, m. 1 Jul 1858, Van Zandt Cty, TX to Drucilla Angelina “Lucy” Johnson • Richard Aaron (6 Dec 1827, St Clair Cty, AL-24 Nov 1909, Van Zandt Cty,TX, m. 24Jul1851 to Mary Lenna Doran Kirkpatrick d/o Hiram Anderson Kirkpatrick & Ann Adeline Duncan) • Andrew P. (d. 30 Dec 1863, Millikens Bend, LA, m. 30 Dec 1856, Burleson, TX to Sarah Ann Loden) • Sarah Ann (8 O Oct 1830, St Clair Cty, Ala-7 Jul 1884, Martins Mill, Van Zandt Cty,TX; Cox cemetery, Van Zandt Cty, TX, NVM) • Angelina (b. 1832, AL, m. 22 Jan 1884, Van Zandt Cty, TX to W.K. McLemore) • Amanda Melvina (17 Sep 1835, Shelby Cty, TX – 23 Jan 1906, Albany, Gentry, MO, m. 9 Jul 1855, Burleson, TX to Jessie Miller)

Sarah crossed the border into Texas with her family on the morning of 5 May 1835 settling abt 15 miles outside of Shelbyville. Aaron died 7 Feb 1837, he was buried at home, Lewis Watkins was executor of his estate. Their land and, presumably, Aaron’s grave is now part of the Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Sarah was on the 1840 Tax List Index in Shelby County, Texas and remained there through the 1850 Federal Census, shown as Sary C. Castlebury, b. 1796 in TN. Richard Aaron Castleberry, Sarah’s son, writes he returned from serving in the Mexican War to marry Mary Lenna Doran Kirkpatrick 24 Jul 1851 in Van Zandt and the family moved to Van Zandt County in Dec 1851. Confirming the 1860 Federal Census in which Sarah C. Castleberry, b. 1797, TN is listed as a resident of Canton, Van Zandt County, TX.

Sarah died 5 Jul 1863 and is buried in Cox Cemetery, Van Zandt County, Texas, her daughter, Sarah Ann.

Note: No evidence suggests Sarah Cunningham Castleberry’s middle name was Cornelia however a granddaughter born 1858 to Richard Aaron & Mary L.D. (Kirkpatrick) Castleberry was named Sarah Cornelia.

The Regulator-Moderator War

The Castleberry, Cunningham and Craven families had significant roles on both sides of the Regulator-Moderator War. Leander Calvin Cunningham, J.A. Cunningham and David Anderson Cunningham were lawyers but Texans since 1833 from Shelby Colony and Austin Colony, Bastrop County. Colonel L.C. Cunningham had fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. Facing the extreme violence in East Texas, Sarah may have employed her brother’s assistance with more than just legal actions:

“Anxious to lift Regulator morale with a successful move, Moorman dispatched John Middleton to the home of John Choate, where two wounded Moderators had been taken, The injured Moderators, Whetstone and Castleberry – a son of Peter Whetstone from Marshall and a brother of two Regulators, Stephen and Aaron Castleberry – were casualties of the Battle of Church Hill. Word arrived at the Choate cabin of the approach of a Regulator posse. Castleberry, who had recovered part of his strength, ran into an orchard behind the cabin just as the Regulators rode up. They shot at him, but Castleberry disappeared unscathed into the forest. Meanwhile, women in the house had concealed the seriously injured Whetstone under the floor. The Regulators searched indoors and outside for Whetstone, but Middleton finally let his men back toward camp.”

“Sixty-five Moderators assembled under Colonel Jeff Cravens. He sent a detachment of fifteen men to reconnoiter the Regulator position. Cravens instructed the scouts that if they encountered “any member of the proscribing committee to shoot them without warning.” The home of Lewis Watkins, a member of the proscribing committee, stood along the path of the scouts, who were grimly eager to encounter this active Regulator.” Watkins was shot but survived.

The death of 60 guests in 1847 by arsenic at the ‘poisoned wedding’ including “…two Castleberrys, one of the Daughters and his wife, died… her husband was a member of the posse” paints a dark image of East Texas life. Neither the article nor research has yet to identify exactly which Castleberry’s were killed nor who was in the posse.

Sources

1. Castleberry, Carole Mills. 1981. Castleberry Families: The Texas Connection. Title No. 3326906. Ogden Utah: FamilySearch International. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books.

2. “Public Member Trees,” database with images. Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), “Castleberry, Gallegos and Floyd” family tree by C J Gallegos, profiles for Sarah Cunningham (1795-1863), Aaron Trice Castleberry (abt 1783-1837).

3. “Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967,” database and digital images. Ancestry.com (Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Lehi, UT, USA: 2016), Salley Cunningham and Aaron Castlebury, 12 Aug 1820, St Clair County, Alabama, FHL Film 001035441, Image 305 (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/176932402/person/162297971170/facts).

4. Certified Certificate of Marriage (from County Records) for Salley Cunningham and Aaron Trice Castlebury, St Clair County, Alabama; Marriage Book, #1 1819 – 1858, page 9; filed 12 Aug 1820; Certified 23 Nov 1982 by Wallace Wyatt, Judge of Probate, St Clair County, AL. (digital image available https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/29431352).

5. Castleberry v. Bussey, 166 S.W. 14, 15-17 (Texas Civ. App. 1914). [Digital image] https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28900334?h=789524.

6. First Class Headrights, survey notes, conveyance and court records, David A. Cunningham heirs, Certificate 329, Shelby 1st, February, 1838, Case File 455, Texas Land Grant Records, Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX. https://s3.glo.texas.gov/glo/history/archives/land-grants/landgrants.cfm?intID=43605

7. Castleberry, 1981, Probate Record: David A. Cunningham, p.30.

8. First Class Headrights, survey notes, conveyance and court records, David A. Cunningham heirs, Certificate 329, Shelby 1st, February, 1838, Case File 455, Texas Land Grant Records, Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX. https://s3.glo.texas.gov/glo/history/archives/land-grants/landgrants.cfm?intID=43605

9. #403 John A. Cunningham, Leander C. Cunningham, Sarah C. Castleberry, Mary Ann Cravens, assignees of Thomas Williams vs. State of Texas, Board of Land Commissioners, Folder: 69. San Augustine County Records, RHRD-7. East Texas Research Center.

10. Land Survey & Field Notes, Sarah C. Castleberry Grant, 21 Apr 1838 -19 Jul 1848, Shelby-1- 000247, Cert. 423, Republic and State Collections, Texas Land Grant Records, Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX (https://s3.glo.texas.gov/ncu/SCANDOCS/archives_webfiles/arcmaps/webfiles/landgrants/PDFs/5/3/3/533919.pdf).

11. Land Survey & Field Notes, Sarah C. Castleberry, 2 Jul 1838, Shelby-1-000423, Republic and State Collections, File 247, Texas Land Grant Records, Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX. https://s3.glo.texas.gov/glo/history/archives/land-grants/landgrants.cfm?intID=43222.

12. Decree: John A. Cunninham et al, 13 May 1857-25 Aug 1868, Shelby-1st, Abstract 103, Patent 558, File 461, Republic and State Collections, Texas Land Grant Records, Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX. https://s3.glo.texas.gov/glo/history/archives/land-grants/landgrants.cfm?intID=42800.

13. Land Survey & Field Notes: David A. Cunningham (Heirs), 15 Feb 1838- 8 Apr 1873, Shelby-1-000329, Abstract 907, File 455, Republic and State Collections, Texas Land Grant Records, Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX (https://s3.glo.texas.gov/glo/history/archives/land-grants/landgrants.cfm?intID=43605).

14. Castleberry, 1981, Land Conveyance, p. 34.

15. “Citation by Publication,” (Center, Tex.), database with images, The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu (accessed 16 Mar 2024) Sarah C. Castleberry, immediate and extended family, University of North Texas Libraries, Center, Texas; Citing: The Champion, Vol. 52, No. 4, Ed. 1, Shelby County, Texas; 23 Jan 1929. The Champion (Center, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 4, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 23, 1929 - Page 6 of 8 - The Portal to Texas History (unt.edu).

16. Castleberry, 1981, 1840 Tax Rolls, p. 36.

17. “Texas, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1820-1890.” Database. Ancestry.com (Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Provo, UT, USA: 1999) Sarah Castleberry, Shelby County, Texas, 1840 (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/176932402/person/162297971170/facts).

18. “1850 U.S. Federal Census.” Sary C Castleberry, Shelby County, Texas, USA, p. 38, Dwell. 543, Family 543; 1-15 Nov 1850, p.38.

19. “1860 U.S. Federal Census.” Sary C Castleberry, Shelby County, Texas, USA, p. 38, Dwell. 543, Family 543; 1-15 Nov 1850, p.38.

20. Castleberry, 1981, Rev Richard Castleberry, p.12.

21. “1860 U.S. Federal Census.” database and digital images. Ancestry.com (Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Lehi, UT, USA: 2009), Sarah C Castleberry, Canton Beat, Van Zandt County, Texas, USA, p. 13, Dwell. 87, Family 88; 13 Jun 1860. Cited: Records of the Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860, U.S. Washington, D.C.; FHL film: 805307, NARA/Roll M653_1307Roll (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/35319776:7667?ssrc=pt&tid=176932402&pid=162297971170).

22. Castleberry, 1981, LWT: Sarah C. Castleberry, p. 28-29.

23. Castleberry, 1981, L.C. Cunningham, p.31.

24. O.Neal, Bill. 2006. War In East Texas Regulators vs. Moderators. Lufkin, TX: The Best of East Texas Publishers, p.134-135.

25. Castleberry, 1981, Regulator & Moderator War, p. 6.

26. “The Poisoned Wedding Supper,” Niles Register, May 22, 1847, transcribed by Reba James For Shelby County Historical Society & Museum, Shelby County, Texas, (http://shelbycountytexashistory.net/poisonwedding.htm)