Matthew T. Pullen (abt. 1816 - bef. 1858)

Born about 1816 in Wake County, North Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Julia (Watkins) Pullen — married 14 Nov 1849 in Cross Roads District, Wake County, North Carolina, USA

Descendants

Died before 3 Mar 1858 before about age 42 in Nash County, North Carolina, USA

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Biography

Matthew T. Pullen was born about 1816 in Wake County, North Carolina, United States, based on the 1850 census. ^[1] His parents were John W. and Martha (Justice) Pullen. ^[2]

Matthew married Nancy Earp 3 January 1838 in Johnston County, North Carolina. ^[3] Johnston is adjacent to Wake County. Nancy died between 1843 and 1849, when Matthew married again. ^[1]

In 1840, Matthew was living in Johnston County with Nancy and a female child. He also held four slaves. He and Nancy were said to be illiterate. ^[4]

Matthew and Nancy had children:

• Sarah Pullen, born about 1841;^[1]
• John Pullen, born about 1842;^[1]
• William G. Pullen, born about 1843.^[1]

Apparently, Matthew and Nancy divorced -- either legally or otherwise -- before 1849, when Matthew married again. On 14 Nov 1849, Matthew T. Pullen executed a bond in Wake County to marry 22-year-old Julia Watkins and their wedding was held shortly after. ^[5]

Nancy did not die, as might be expected when a wife disappears and the husband marries again. She was found living in Cass County [now Bartow County], Georgia in 1850. She either was using her maiden name or married again to someone also named Earp. She did not have a husband in the house. (See Research Notes below.) ^[6]

Apparently Nancy left some or all of her children with Matthew. (See Research Notes below.)

On 28 Aug 1850 Matthew and Julia were living in Cross Roads district, Wake County with children Sarah, John, William G., and James. Since Matthew and Julia had been married less than a year and the oldest of the children was nine, apparently the three oldest children were from Matthew's marriage with Nancy. Nearby were living many of Julia's siblings and her mother Mourning. ^[1]

Matthew and Julia had children:

• James Pullen, born about 1849;^[1]
• Rebecca, born 8 March 1854.^[7][8]

In September 1852, Matthew's father John wrote his will, naming "my son Matthew T. Pullen" as executor.

John's will included:

"Item 2. I give to my son Matthew T. Pullen the tract of land whereon he now lives, sixty five acres; also one thousand dollars in money out of my notes that are due me. I also give to him the said Matthew T. Pullen two negroes by the names of Samuel & Mary, to him and his bodily heirs forever."

Sometime between 1850 and 1858, Matthew's family moved to western Nash County.

Matthew died intestate shortly before 3 March 1858, when his estate was probated in Nash County. At that time the court found that Matthew's estate included about 315 acres on the Tar River adjacent to John W. Perry and Zadock Strickland. His widow Julia claimed dower rights on 105 acres. All five children were under the age of 21 and were assigned guardians. The remainder of the land was divided among the children in 1862, when it was found to be 181 acres. ^[7]

Slaves

Matthew's estate also included one negro slave, Ephraim, probably the one formerly owned by Matthew's father and bequeathed to Matthew's brother Henry Burton Pullen. It is not known how Matthew came to possess Ephraim. As part of Matthew's estate settlement, Ephraim was sold to John W. Perry for $676. [Estate file, page 18] ^[7]

The estate did not include the slaves Samuel and Mary, who his father bequeathed to Matthew; so, they may have been sold between 1852 and 1858.

The 1840 Census shows Matthew held four unnamed slaves, before he received any from his father's estate in 1852. ^[4] Matthew is not found in the 1850 Census Slave Schedule; so, apparently he sold them before 1850.

Research Notes

The 1850 census and probate papers list five children, the oldest born about 1841, but Matthew and Julia were not married until 1849. Both were born in Wake County and a marriage bond was executed there. Note that the marriage document found at FamilySearch is mis-indexed. The index information states the marriage occurred in Perquimans County, North Carolina, but the document image clearly shows Wake County. ^[9]

The Nancy Earp found in Georgia in 1850 is thought to be Matthew's wife because:^[6]

• Nancy is found with her maiden name, is the right age, was born in North Carolina, and no other likely candidate is found in North Carolina.
• Matthew's brother Josiah Pullen was in the household, probably visiting. He is the right age, was born in North Carolina, and appears to be the only Josiah Pullen in the census that year for the entire country.
• Matthew's brother John Pullen was in the household, probably visiting. He is the right age, was born in North Carolina, and does not appear that year in North Carolina.
• There were four children in Nancy's household and the two oldest, Sarah and John, seem also to be in Matthew's household for the census that year. That seems unlikely but is possible; the census for Nancy's household in Georgia and Matthew's in North Carolina were enumerated two weeks apart. There was railroad service in the sourtheast by 1850.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4B2-628 : 12 April 2016), Mathew Pullen, Cross Roads, Wake, North Carolina, United States; 28 Aug 1850; citing family 690, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJQ-HG16 : Wed Oct 18 04:36:06 UTC 2023), Entry for John W Pullen and Martha Justice, 25 Oct 1813. Bondsman: Harrison Terrell, witness: B.S. King.
3. ↑ Marriage: "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XF9V-FQJ : Wed Oct 18 03:59:39 UTC 2023), Entry for Matthew T Pulley and Nancy Earp, 03 Jan 1838. Bondsman: James Wm. Wilder; witness: Wm. H. Watson.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1840", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTV-3H1 : Thu Oct 05 21:04:08 UTC 2023), Entry for Matthew Pulley, 1840.
5. ↑ Marriage: "North Carolina, Civil Marriages, 1763-1868", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29D-BY6B : 11 May 2018), Mathew T. Pullen and Julia Watkins, 1849. Name: Mathew T. Pullen; Event Date: 14 Nov 1849; Event Place: Wake County, North Carolina, United States; Spouse's Name: Julia Watkins.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYJ-P44 : Thu Oct 05 01:37:17 UTC 2023), Entry for Nancy ?arp and John H ?arp, 15 Aug 1850.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Probate: "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKBP-RPTD : 16 March 2018), Matthew T Pullin, 1858; citing Nash County, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 2,056,763.
8. ↑ Headstone, Henry R. Whitley Cemetery, Nash County, North Carolina, USA (35.884627, -78.147827)
   Transcription:
   REBECCA
   PULLEN
   Wife of Henry R. Whitley
   Mar. 8, 1854
   Jan. 5, 1929
   A tender mother and a faithful friend
9. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZQ-HQQ7 : 28 November 2018), Mathew T Pullen and Julia Watkins, 14 Nov 1849; citing Perquimans, North Carolina, United States, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 833,353.