Winnifred Carter (Asbury) Seale (1824 - 1919)

Born 30 Sep 1824 in Georgia

Ancestors

Wife of Wyatt Stark Seale — married 26 Oct 1845 in Sumter co. AL

Descendants

Died 8 Nov 1919 at age 95 in Leon co. TX

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Robert Seale [send private message] and Brian Martin [send private message]

Biography

Winnifred Carter Asbury (“Winnie”) was born in Greene co., Georgia^[1] 30 Sep 1824^[2] She is named for Winnifreds on both sides of her parents’ families. Her mother Judith (Carter) had an aunt Winifred and father Jesse had both a sister and an aunt Winifred. This Winnifred (usually with 2 n’s) moved with her family to Sumter co. Alabama in about 1840.

She married Wyatt S Seale 26 Nov 1845 in Sumter county, Alabama^[3]. The family was still in Sumter co. Alabama, because we know daughter Julia Ann was born there Jan 1, 1849. By 1850 they were in Johnson Twp, Union co., Arkansas ^[4]. Winnie’s father Jesse Asbury was nearby, her sister Mary Coody was there also. Winnie stated the family arrived in Texas in 1851. She became a charter member of the Clear Creek Baptist Church in Marquez, Texas in 1852 or 1853 and spent the rest of her life living in Leon County.

At the celebration of her 90th birthday, in 1914, a newspaper article quotes:^[5]

“Mrs. Seale is the only survivor of three sisters and two brothers by 43 years, and a husband by 14 years. There are 8 children living, the oldest 67 years, the youngest 51; 43 grandchildren, 79 great grandchildren, 8 sons and daughters-in-law, 29 grandsons and daughters-in-law, making a family of 167 living. Mrs. Seale has lived within 6 miles of Marquez for 62 years. All her children can be reached within three hours drive. Excepting about six, the grandchildren can likewise be reached in three hours. …[She] has been a member of some Baptist Church for 74 years. Aunt Winnie, as she is affectionately called, is rather active at present for her age, and is satisfied only when doing something for some one else. She has lived more for the aid of humanity than for herself. Always enjoying the friendship of all those who know her personally or by reputation and loved most by those who know her best.”

Cousin Louise Seale (granddaughter of Winnie) added: “I have watched her card the bats. She took cotton which had been picked in the field and she pulled it apart with the cards, two outfits with wire bristles, I think. She would get the seeds out and make the cotton soft and fluffy. I remember the day she was buried. It rained all day.” ^[6]

"Winnie took care of her sisters Betsy and Mary Coody, for years"^[7]

Death

Winnie died at age 95, 8 Nov 1919.^[8][9] Her death certificate says the cause was “mitral insufficiency” and was signed by her physician son, Wyatt Henry Seale MD^[10] Winnie is buried in the Seale Cemetery^[11]

Winnie's daughter Mary Melissa (Powell) recalls: “She made cotton bats for quilts. She was a tiny lady. We called her “little grandma”. She was buried on a terribly rainy day at the White Cemetery. I think her casket had to be carried by wagon over the red clay roads.”^[12]

Transcription and Uploaded Image of Winfred Seale Obituary

Obituary

"Sister Winfred Seale, nee "Asbury" was born in Alabama Sept 30, 1824. She professed faith in Christ at the age of 18 years and united with the Missionary Baptist Church and was the last charter member of Clear Creek church, Leon county, Texas. Her husband, Brother Wyatt S. Seale, was a deacon and a very useful leader in church affairs, a man of sterling qualities and in every sense of the word an estimable Christian gentleman who lived to the ripe old age of 79 years, 3 months and 3 days. Brother Seale was called up higher Sept. 30, 1900. There was born unto them 5 sons and 3 daughters, viz: James M. Seale, who preceeded his mother to the land of light and glory, Sister Julia Vestal who resides near Marquez, Brothers John K, J. Walter, Albert Seale; Sisters Paralee Perkins and Melissa Powell, Dr. W Henry Seale, all of whom live in and near Marquez except Sister Perkins who is residing in Hall county, Texas. Sister Seale was an earnest, zealous and consecrated Christian and was loved and esteemed by all who knew her. She was a dear lover of the Lord and His church and esteemed her pastors and all ministers very highly for their work's sake and up to a few hours before God called her she was talking things concerning "the kingdom." She was kind and affectionate to all and had the credit given to her of being the most potent christian in the community in which she had resided since 1850. "She hath done what she could" and is now basking in the sunlight of a glorious Savior's love. She went to Heaven on the morning of Nov 8th 1919, age 95 years, 1 month and 9 days. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." On the morning of the 9th past it was the privilege of the writer to officiate over all that was mortal of Sister Seale and I shall always feel that it was an honor conferred on such an unworthy man as myself. She leaves four sons, 3 daughters, 40 grandchildren, 93 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and a host of friends to mourn her loss. But their loss is her eternal gain and some sweet day we hope to meet her in the home eternal. Fraternally,

J W Stephens,

Her Former Pastor

Franklin, Texas, Nov. 23, 1919"

Timeline

1850 Federal Census, Johnson Two, Union County, Arkansas. ^[13]

Wyatt S "Seal", 29, farmer, born Alabama

Wineford, age 27, born Georgia

James M, age 3, born Alabama

Julia A, age 1, born Alabama

1853, August, "Wineford" Seale joined the Clear Creek Baptist Church^[14]

1860 Federal Census, Leon Division, Leon county, Texas^[15]

W S Seale, 39, farmer, born Alabama

W C Seale, 37, born Georgia

Jas. M, 13, born Alabama

Julia, 11, born Alabama

Jon K, 9, born Texas

Walter, 6, born Texas

R P, 4, born Texas

Albert, 2, born Texas

M E Coody, 18, female, born Alabama

Mary A Coody, 17, born Alabama

1870 Federal Census, Beat 5, Post office Boling, Leon county, Texas, USA^[16]

Wyat S Seale, 49, farmer, born Alabama

W, age 47, born Georgia

John K, 19, born Texas

Walter, 16, born Texas

Paralee, 14, born Texas

Albert, 12, born Texas

Malissa, 10, born Texas

W Henry, 7, born Texas

Jack Peck, 14, black, laborer

1872, 19 Feb. As part of Jesse Asbury's estate his heirs sold his Leon county land to James Seale. Parties included Martha E and Mary A Watson, grandchildren of Jesse, R C Asbury, E T Watts, Winafred Seale his children and Nancy Irwin, formerly married to Jesse's son V T Asbury. All of Texas, except E[lizabeth] T Watts, of Alabama. (This was the 320 acre parcel originally granted to Jesse Asbury in 1853, on the waters of Clear Creek, formerly known as Forky Deer Creek)^[17]

1880 Federal Census, Pct 5, Leon county, Texas, USA^[18]

Wyatt S, age 59, farmer, born Alabama, both parents born South Carolina

Winnefred C, age 57, born Georgia, father vote Virginia, mother born Georgia

Albert T, 21, works on farm, born Texas

Wyatt H, 16, works on farm, born Texas.

1900 Federal Census, Pct 5, Leon, Texas, ^[19]

Wyatt S Seale, born June 1821, age 78, married 55 years, born Alabama, both parents born South Carolina

Winnie Seale, born Sept 1824, age 75, 9 children, 8 living, born Georgia, both parents born Georgia

1910 Federal Census, Pct 5, Leon county, Texas^[20]
Winnie Seale, widowed, age 85, living with her son Albert T Seale and her family

Sources

1. ↑ State from several census records
2. ↑ Jesse Asbury Bible Record
3. ↑ Sumter co. AL marriage license 25 Oct 1845, solemnized 26 Nov 1845, by William J Calloway, J K Ryan, Bondsman Jesse Asbury Family Bible Record states 26 Nov 1845 while Wyatt S Bible Record states 26 Nov 1846
4. ↑ Federal Census, 1850 Union Co, Johnson Twp, Arkansas, p283, family #393 (Jesse is family#384, WH Coody family #382). Winnie’s sister Mary Anthony Asbury, b. 19 Aug 1820, m. William H Coody. See also on Wikitree: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:1850_Johnson_Township_Union_County_Arkansas_Census_Index
5. ↑ "The Chronicle" 1 Oct 1914, locale not stated, copy in collection of RHSeale
6. ↑ as told by Louise Seale to RHSeale|1989,
7. ↑ Melissa Perkins told to niece Louise Seale, to RHSeale|Oct 1989
8. ↑ Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
9. ↑ Leon County Clerk records, copy obtained RHSeale|Jun 1974
10. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch : 22 July 2014), Death certificates > 1919 > Vol 063-069, certificates 031079-034300, Nov-Dec, Anderson-Bexar counties > image 1992 of 3384; State Registrar Office, Austin.
11. ↑ Also known as the White/Seale cemetery. There are at least 6 Seales buried there including Winnie and Wyatt S Seale. There are also 9 unmarked graves. This is a cemetery close to disappearing. When you go there, better use your GPS and dial in: 31.18890, -96.18560. This is on county road 427 that goes SE from Marquez towards Flynn, Leon, TX.
12. ↑ as told to Louise Seale
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch : 9 April 2016), Arkansas > Union > Johnson > image 2 of 21; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
14. ↑ Clear Creek Church Records from Leon County Historical Society, , 1989
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch : 24 March 2017), Texas > Leon > Leon Division > image 19 of 105; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
16. ↑ ref>"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch : 11 June 2019), Texas > Leon > Beat 5 > image 28 of 60; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
17. ↑ Leon county Texas deeds K:335
18. ↑ ref>"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch : 24 December 2015), Texas > Leon > Precinct 5 > ED 90 > image 25 of 35; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.)
19. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch : 5 August 2014), Texas > Leon > ED 47 Justice Precinct 5 > image 2 of 46; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
20. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch : 24 June 2017), Texas > Leon > Justice Precinct 5 > ED 128 > image 15 of 42; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

See also:

• Jesse Asbury Family Bible Record