Green Leander Doster (abt. 1822 - 1881)

Born about 20 Sep 1822 in Buford Township, Union, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Syrena (Secrest) Doster — married 15 Oct 1845 in Monroe, Union, North Carolina, United States

Husband of Ella Cora (Aycock) Doster — married 28 Sep 1874 in Union County, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 18 Oct 1881 at about age 59 in Union County, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sidney Vowell [send private message] and Peg Wienke [send private message]

Biography

GREEN L. AND (1) SYRENA (SECREST) AND (2) ELLA CORA (AYCOCK) OF NC, MS AND NC

Ancestral History and Travels

DOSTER history in North Carolina was well researched, published in 1945 and followed in 1994 with an update, which for our subject's descendants, remained inconclusive in the 70+ years hence. ^[1]

Research pre and post internet is time-consuming and costly but necessary to untangle the family tradition coming from various branches of one family. By genealogical standards, hard copy of original documents is imperative. If indirect information is used, it should be stated and explained. Every attempt has been made to follow those two ideals. The following marriage bond application by Green L. Doster attests to the standard and corrects the middle initial “C.” This review is directed primarily towards new information on Obediah, his son, Green L. Doster and their later generations.

Families who had prior generations in America could usually expect the estate of a landed Immigrant Ancestor (Ours is Thomas Doster via his son James Doster) and then Obediah Doster) to have dwindled upon the reaching the 3rd or 4th generation. The right of primogeniture gave precedence, usually, to the first born son, although others heirs may have been previously provided for. Additionally, if an older father married a second time and begat a family, those younger children (and possibly younger wife) needed provision and often at the expense of older half-siblings, especially if they were already managing their own families.

Variations of the process occurred in each family but typically, later generations likely inherited smaller sections of the real estate and had to work harder to acquire more. Only four sons were named in father James DOSTER’s Will, a man who married twice and apparently had nine sons, three daus and one stepson. Green's father, Obediah , was the fifth child.

The death of the father was often an inspiration for sons to move west and find less populated and cheaper land by purchase or land patent. Eleventh son of James, Absolem, did just that and obtained patents in 1852 AL, eventually acquiring a large plantation and leaving many descendants.

Our Green moved, definitely several times but kept returning to Union county and died there. The Doster book indicates he had gone to Alcorn Co., MS with his brother James Madison, returned to NC for the war but came back to MS when it ended. Generally correct but with glitches. In 1860, Green and Serena lived in Union Co., in the Walkersville community next door to brother James Madison. They had eight children and were to have one more, Thomas W., in 1863. Green L. did not own slaves although he was a farmer with a real estate value of $400.00 and left an estate recorded in 1907 Union County deed books.

Census

1. 1850 NC Union Co., p42, hh#742
2. 1860 NC Union Co., p51b, hh443
3. 1870 MS Marshall Co., p7, hh#387
4. 1880 NC Union Co., ED210, p82, hh754.
5. 1880 MS Alcorn Co., Dist 4., Ira Doster 27, wife Bettie 23, chn Thomas, William and mother-i-l Lucinda Earthman and brother O. Doster, 25.

Military

Two years later in April 1862, Green L. Doster of Union County, NC enlisted at Camp Mangum with the 48th NC Volunteer Infantry [State Troops], Co. E, at age thirty eight. He served as a Pvt. and Cpl. under Capt. John W. Walden. It was said he was in the Sharpshooters but no record was found. He was wounded once at Sharpsburg on 17 Sept 1862 and again, more seriously, in 1864. In Feb 1865, he received $126.00 pay for service from 30 June 1864 to 31 Jan 1865.

Sharpsburg is to Southerners what Northerners call Antietam. It was the first and bloodiest battle of the war, commencing on 17 Sept 1864 and resulted in 22,717 dead, wounded and missing. Green was with Cooke’s Brigade on that day when he was first wounded. The best history to date of the Petersburg arena was written in 1981 entitled Richmond Redeemed – The Siege at Petersburg, by Richard J. Sommers. Since 1970, Sommers was Archivist/Historian at the U.S. Army Military History Institute at the War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA. On page 216, he assesses brigade leaders and their units. “One was a fine North Carolina brigade that had won its place in the main theater of the war after arriving late. Led satisfactorily when under Johnston Pettigrew and then William Kirkland, it rose to excellence under its present commander William MacRae, who tempered it on the drill field and tested it on the battlefield until it became one of the best assault units in the army.”

“Yet (italics mine) even it does not rank as high as its fellow North Carolinians of COOKE’s superb brigade, renowned veterans of all Lee’s campaigns except for Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. These hard-fighting soldiers, too, owed their meritorious record to their outstanding commander. “Cooke’s brigade I found in excellent order, as it always is . . .” reported the Assistant Inspector General of the army.”

Migrations of Green Doster and Family

Early on, migration west had become a common occurrence. The 1870 census divulged Green and family had moved to Marshall Co., MS with the same children, sans Sarah Adaline who had md, and some new ones – two censuses, same family, same names. The son Doctor F., 14 yrs, is actually Franklin, 3 yrs, in 1860. Note the two ages, very close and acceptable within census guidelines. Also, note his birthplace of AL, written specifically which could indicate a family visit to uncles in AL in 1857. Perhaps they tried AL for a while, returned home, as the war was pending, and later moved to MS where they are found in 1870.

Adam's Branch, Monroe, Union Co., NC.

At some point Green acquired a tract of land in Buford Twp land along a waterway called Adam’s Branch, part of which had been adjacent to the Estate lands of his father, perhaps an inheritance. Serena died in Mar 1875 by all accounts (without documents) and the place may have been AL, giving an impetus for Green to return to NC. Contradictorily, in 1870 Leah is not listed with Green. At any rate, Green and children were back in NC by 1876 to stay. Finally, he had settled permanently.

Children of Green L. and Serena Secrest Doster

1. John Harvey (c 1847 UCNC – 1894 MS) c 1870 married first cousin Mary J. DOSTER, dau of Uncle James Madison Doster and Nancy HARGETT. Mary appears to have married John close to 1870 since they are both enumerated in Green’s household then. Their chn were William (c1870 MS – 1870 MS), Robert F. (8 Aug 1873 - ) md Winnie Snell and went to Paris, TX and Charles Alexander (12 Feb 1876 MS -) who md Elizabeth Ann Gafford of Durant, MS and lived in MS.
2. Ellison C. (14 Feb 1848 UCNC – 20 Apr 1923 Weakly Co., TN) married and had seven chn. Said to have served “Co C, CSA Sharpshooters “Hampton’s Legion,” no Regiment noted and no record found. He md Mary E. Hamlin of MS
3. Sarah Adeline (7 Jan 1850 near Altan, UCNC - 17 Aug 1913 Windom, TX) abt 1867 in Union Co. md John Newton YARBROUGH (- 11 Jun 1921 Windom, TX) and moved to Alcorn Co., MS abt 1873 and Texas in 1883. Both are bur at Windom Cem.
4. Ira P. (c 1853 UCNC - ) is shown in 1860 and 1870 but The Doster Genealogy shows 'no details'. He is also on the 1880 census with wife Bettie, 23 and chn: Thomas (c1875 MS), William 8 mo “Sept. within the year.” Also residing are mother-in-law Lucinda EARTHMAN, and brother O. Doster, 25 yrs (cc1855)
5. Doctor Franklin (c 1857 AL – 27 Jan 1904 TX) md (1) Susie LANEY and (2) Alice HAYES. See the chapter on Frank.
6. Obediah L. (8 Nov 1953 NC – 24 Mar 1896 UCNC) 16 years in 1870 and is listed in the Doster book without details. He is living with brother Ira and family in Alcorn Co., MS in 1880 showing age 25 years (1855). He md Queen E. BELK on 27 Mar 1895 in Union County. ^[2] He is memorialized on Findagrave with a photo of his marker at Prospect United Meth. Church Cem. in Monroe. He died young and Queen is single with her son Obed in 1900. His wife was very ill after the childbirth and O. L. subsequently committed suicide over his sorrow, although she apparently survived. ^[3] [[1]]
7. Abram (c Oct 1860 UCNC - ) shows on 16 Jul 1860 at 9mos, and likely died young. He is not in the Doster book.
8. Thomas William (20 Jul 1863 UCNC - ) md Amelia LIENEMAN. They are found in Boston, Suffolk Co., MA in 1900 [Boston Ward 10, ED1292, pg 6b] as lodgers in the hh of E. LIENEMAN. She as Millie DOSTER (b July 1871 MA - ) married 8 years with 2 chn, 2 living. The daus were Marie (Feb 1896 MA - ) and Alice (Jul 1898 MA - ). Thomas, 36 was born NC of NC parents and was a mail carrier. Marie md Hugh CRAIG and lived in Charlotte in 1945. Alice md M. Lehman WOOD.
9. Robert Lee ( - ) an unconfirmed child given by family historians in the Doster book.
10. possibly Carrie ( - ) a second unconfirmed child given by family historians in the Doster book.

Jean Stewart in 2000 stated one of her husband’s ancestors, from the 1994 book, might have md a “Miss AYCOTH” which has been confirmed as Ella Cora AYCOCK. The southern accent may b the reason for the Elcorah spelling in documents.

On 3 Sep 1876 Green L. Doster as married to Elcorah Broome (Aug 6 1841Darlington, SC - 11 Dec 1917 Union Co., NC), dau of Charles AYCOCK and Eliza HILL. Not seen on the 1907 Buford Twp. map but slightly NE is the homestead of Charles AYCOCK. Also not seen and slightly SW of Obediah’s Estate lands (from the 1907 deed) Aycock Rd crosses. Richardson Rd. ^{[4] [5]} Ella's death record also confirms her parents and spouse, Green. ^[6] She was buried at Monroe City Cemetery.

Children of Green L. and Ella Cora Aycock Doster

In 1880 Monroe Twp., Union county, Greenbury, 58 and wife Elcora Doster, 38 live in Monroe Twp., Union county, all members born in NC except Elcorah in SC. Their hh includes the following children:

1. Ida Broom (c1865 NC-
2. Darling Broom (c1870 NC-
3. Lillie Broom (c1872 NC-
4. John Broom (c1874 NC-
5. Pearl Doster (c1877 NC- Family tradition of a dau Pearl was obviously correct, it only lacked the right mother. Pearl Doster (25 Jun 1877 UCNC – 06 Mar 1967 Monroe, NC) is shown in in the 1945 edition as “Girl Doster” (1846) md McCorkle, as dau of Green Leander and Leah. Pearl’s death record naming Ella as mother, confirms she was not the Pearl of 1846 in the Doster Genealogy. McCorkle historians confirm her husband was Walter Gaines McCorkle, son of Thomas B. and grandson of Elias.

We can identify the eight confirmed children of Leah and two unconfirmed by family tradition.

The total family history states Green had 2 marriages and 15 children. To balance the equation, remove Pearl from Leah and add her to Ella, accept family tradition of two unconfirmed children, add the four BROOME children – the sum of children for the two families of Green Doster is, in fact, fifteen.

Death and Legacy

26 Oct 1881 Wednesday The Biblical Records, Raleigh, North Carolina Mr. Green L. Doster, the mail carrier between Monroe and Lancaster was killed by a runaway horse on Tuesday, the 18th inst. The horse took fright and either Mr. D. jumped or was thrown out of his sulky and his head became entangled in the wheels of his vehicle and he was dragged until the frightened animal stopped of his own accord. Mr. Doster was taken up in an unconscious condition and soon after died. The deceased was about 60 years of age

Obituary of Green L. Doster

See the story of Thomas Edwin Doster, I to know that these families took care of each other.

Sources

• Union County North Carolina Sesquicentennial 1842-1992 Numerous profiles of local families including Dosters and Winchesters; pub 1993 Carolinas Genealogical Society of Union Co., NC, LOC#93-71499, an excellent county history.
• NC Union Co., Marriage and Death records.
• NC Union Co., Buford Twp. homestead map.
• Fold3, subscription website: a military genealogical history documenting wartime data and images, in concern with the National Archives and Records Administration of Washington, D.C>
• pp 216-7, etal: Sommers, Richard J., Richmond Redeemed, The Siege at Petersburg, pub 1981, Doubleday, New York
• Roesch, Barbara Breece, Doster Genealogy unpub., 1 Aug 2013 including descendants associated with Hough and McManus.
• Fact: Residence (1850) Union county, part of, Union, North Carolina, United States
• Fact: Residence (1860) , Union, North Carolina, United States
• Fact: Residence (1870) Mississippi, United States
• Fact: Residence (1880) Monroe, Union, North Carolina, United States

Sources

1. ↑ Doster, Elizabeth Ann Middleton Doster, Wadsworth Doster, The Doster Genealogy, 1945 Williamsburg Press, Richmond, VA; updated 1994
2. ↑ NC Marriage Index Bk. 5 p. 26
3. ↑ 1896 Mar 25 NC Charlotte Observer
4. ↑ Union Co., NC Marriage Index; Book 3, Page 31
5. ↑ 18 Sept 1876 issue Monroe Journal
6. ↑ NC, Union Co., Monroe, Death Cert#67

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 25 November 2020, 03:43), entry for Greenbury C Leander Doster(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KHYM-RHX); contributed by various users.