Joel Pinson (1786 - 1852)

Born 21 Feb 1786 in Surry, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 9 Apr 1852 at age 66 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States

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Biography

From WPA History of Pontotoc County: When Judge Joel Pinson came to Pontotoc in 1833 and made his home at STONY LONESOME, he was the father of nine living children, six daughters and three sons. After he secured vast acres of land from the Indians and his wealth had accumulated from year to year, Judge Pinson settled large tracts of farming land on his sons. Sam Pinson, his oldest son, was deeded a plantation situated about three miles south of Pontotoc on what is now called the Okolona and Pontotoc Road, where he built what was considered in those days a comfortable residence. It was situated in the heart of the wilderness and the fact of its isolation probably accounted for the designation of "Stony Lonesome" as the name. The house was built in 1849, just three years before Judge Pinson died. In contrast with the houses of today, all timbers in it were heavy and massive, and there was no makeshift in any of its structure. The foundation is of hewn timber sixteen inches thick. The joists are twelve inches wide and four inches thick. The walls, ceiling, and floors are made out of such timbers. The walls have been ceiled in late years, but upon close investigation some of the original plaster is shown to be sticking. Laths were about two inches wide and were close together. The flooring is of six inch heart pine cut from the surrounding forest and planed by hand. All door and window facings are plain but attractive and give evidence of having been made by competent hand. The doors and mantels are of skillful workmanship and are in an excellent state of preservation. Windows are wide and tall. They contain twelve panes to the window, each pane 18 x 12 inches, and thus afford comfortable light. The architecture used was the plain substantial type commonly called a plantation home. The house is two stories with four rooms, 20 x 20 feet. The kitchen and dining room join the parlor on the south side, There are four bedrooms, some of which were no doubt occupied by guests for weeks at a time during the early eighties. The wide, two story gallery extends across the entire front of the house. Large pillars or columns originally supported the roof, but these have been replaced by small posts on a gallery of only one story in height. It was here that Sam Pinson brought the bride, Mary Jane Franklin, of Bolivar, Tennessee. She came to him with money and slaves. A peculiar and interesting facts about the slaves of this family is that when the bride came from Tennessee she brought with her old "Uncle Henty and Aunt Ruthie", who remained at "Stony Lonesome" until the surrender; even then they refused to leave the plantation. Mrs. Sam Pinson only lived a few years and left a young son, Bernard, and a daughter, Sallie. Mr. Pinson remained in the home after his wife died, and relatives assisted him in the rearing of his motherless children. He enlisted at once when the War between the States broke out but lived through it and for a few years afterward. At his death the two children inherited his property and the daughter, who became Mrs. Ike Bell, fell heir to this part of the estate. Mrs. Bell later sold it to M. B. Pitts, who in turn sold it to W. T. Stegall. It was later transferred to R. B. Calloway, the present owner. Tradition named the place "Stony Lonesome" because the building was rather drab in appearance and was surrounded by almost impenetrable forests. The historical background of this place has not extended further than that of the original pioneer builder, Joel Pinson, and his son, Sam. Tenants who have lived on the plantation have done so purely to cultivate the fertile soil. After the death of Joel Pinson, his widow, Elizabeth Dobbins Pinson, and her son Richard Alexander Pinson made their home at Stony Lonesome. Richard A. Pinson later attained great eminence as a business man in Memphis (see chap. 22, Professional and Civic Leaders).

Notes for Maacah Williams: Judge Joel Pinson of Pontotoc County, MS, wrote an undated letter to Lyman C. Draper (indexed by he Wisconsin Historical Society) in which he said Wright Williams was his uncle. Wright Williams had a sister named Maacah, according to family Bible records, which also show, among other siblings, a brother Sampson, who appears later in this account. b. Maacah is a rare name -- I've never seen it anywhere else -- and was the name of the wife of Richard Pinson of Surry County, NC, according to William Wade

Hinshaw, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY, Vol. 1 North Carolina, Baltimore: Genealogy Publishing Company, 1936. Hinshaw lists Richard and Maacah's children and their birthdays on p. 124 as: Mary b. 9-22-1774 Abijah b. 2-2-1776 Obediah b. 10-27-1778 Sarah b. 1-18-1781 Nathan b. 7-3-1782 Bowater b. 3-20-1784 Joel b. 2-21-1786 There are various other mentions of them in the book, as well, including references on Aug. 10, 1811, to Nathan being disowned (living in the west boundary of Tennessee) and Sept. 11, 1819, Obediah, disowned. Both may simply have to do with them living in Tennessee at the time and not attending the local Quaker meeting. 2. The record seems strong that this Joel, Nathan and Obediah -- sons of Richard and Maacah, that is -- did indeed go to Tennessee, to Lincoln County, where Maacah's brothers Wright and Sampson Williams lived.

Slaves

Jos was recorded in a slave schedule in 1850 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States as a slave owner of 4 enslaved people.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Slave Schedule: "1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
   The National Archive in Washington Dc; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8055 #91176058 (accessed 16 November 2023)
   Jos J Pinson, slave owner of 4 enslaved people, in 1850 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, USA.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11787232/joel-pinson
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LF-H3V : 22 December 2020), Joel Pinson in household of Samuel D Pinson, Pontotoc, Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).