Brown Family Research - Maternal Ancestors - Segment 7

 

Major Pearson and Susannah

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Early Life

Major Pearson was born in Greenville Co., South Carolina, probably in late 1795. At this time nothing specific is known of his parents, though almost certainly Major was descended from the Pearsons who were among the first dozen or so white families to settle in what was to become Greenville Co.[1] They had come in the 1750s, when the French and Indians were spreading terror in the frontier settlements of PA, VA and MD.[2] Their small band of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians moved southward along the Appalachians to find safety amongst friends and relatives who had gone before them. About a generation later, in the late 1790's or early 1800's, the Pearsons moved to the part of TN which in 1806 became White Co.[3]

An event which must have been significant in Major's youth in White Co. was the earthquake of December 1811. According to one account, it had been raining steadily for three months so that the ground was saturated and the rivers were brown with mud. Late one night, the smell of sulfur appeared in the air. This was shortly followed by a roll of the ground, a loud roar and a terrifying crackling sound. Residents claimed that mud and steam shot up out of the ground to treetop height through faults large enough "to receive a tree". Six to eight aftershocks were felt almost every day for the next six months. Since the quake was accompanied by the largest aurora borealis ever known in this part of the country and a large 'shooting star', the people were certain that a great calamity was about to befall them.

Nothing else is known of those early days except that Major seems not to have attended school, since the surviving documents of his later life are all signed with an 'X'.

War of 1812

When the War of 1812 broke out, Major was too young to serve and continued to work the farm. On September 10, 1814, now 19 years old, he joined the army.[4] The 5' 5-1/2", blue-

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[1] History of Greenville County, South Carolina, James M. Richardson, The Reprint Company Publishers, Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1980, pages 25-27. It is interesting to note that in 1835 there was an Abel Pearson in White Co., TN, who was a Revolutionary War pensioner (one of only two Pearsons in the State). He had been a Private in the VA Militia, drew $66.22 annually, and had drawn $189.99 to date (he first received his pension payment on June 26, 1833, when he was 70). More than half of White Co., TN, was said to have been granted to Revolutionary War veterans.

[2] The timing of the relocation of the Pearsons to SC is based on the Richardson book and a review of the First Census of the United States, 1790, Heads of Families, SC. In the portion of the '96 District' which came to be known Greenville Co., page 65, there is a Henry Pearson, with 1 male over 16 yrs, 5 males under 16 years, and 2 females. On page 69, there is a William Pearson, 1 male over 16 years, 2 males under 16 years, and 3 females. By the 1800 census of Greenville Co., SC, the Pearson clan has grown. Page 246, George Pierson, 3000110010. Page 257, Henry Pierson, 32101310110. Page 260, William Pierson, 00100 00100. However, by the 1810 census of Greenville Co., SC, an exodus appears to have occurred. Only C. Pearson appears on page 122.

[3] History of White Co., TN, Monroe Seals, 1935; pages 16-17 and 96. Copy available in the Chattanooga Public Library.

[4] Military record: Private Major Pearson, War of 1812, US Army Register of Enlistment, Entry 2557, page 203 (two 8.5 x 11 sheets), volume 1920. The document lists him as Pearson, Pierson, Person (with no explanation), 5’5-1/2”, blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 19 years of age, occupation: laborer/farmer, born in Greenville Co., SC; enlisted Sept 10 or 14, 1814, at the town of Monroe in Overton Co., TN, by Lt Kennedy. He signed up for a period of 5 years.

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eyed, light-haired, fair-complexioned youth enlisted in Monroe in Overton Co., TN, for a term of five years. Private Major Pearson and his fellow soldiers were mustered into the 24^th Regiment, US Infantry at Nashville that same month.[5] One can only speculate about the confusion and humor which may have resulted from the presence of a "Private Major".

By now the war was in its final stages. Peace would be declared on December 24, 1814, though its final major battle would come near New Orleans some two weeks later owing to the slow communications typical of the era. As a consequence, though he served under the Generals (Andrew Jackson and Edmund P. Gaines) who led the heaviest fighting in the South, Major was never engaged in hostilities. In mid-February 1815, Major seems to have been transferred to the 2nd Rifle Regiment (what we would now call artillery) under Captain Silas Stephens.[6] By April 1815, the 24^th had moved to Camp Russell.[7] In June, they moved deep into what had been Creek territory at Fort Jackson.[8] Major spent his time there performing routine guard duty.

In late 1815, with hostilities at an end, the 24^th was disbanded, with the remaining soldiers becoming part of a reorganized 7^th Infantry. Major was placed under Major D. E. Twiggs in Lt. George Birch's company.[9] On July 15, 1816, Major transferred to Captain J. S. Allison's. At some point during this flurry of consolidation and transferring, Major was sent to Fort Crawford.[10] It was from here on September 26, 1816, that Major was discharged by Colonel McDonald. Though he had signed up for a five-year stint, Major seems to have wanted out of the service with peace now in the land. Perhaps he had longed for the "glory" of combat and, finding himself without prospects, wanted out of the tedium of guard duty and the construction of a new fort. In any case, he was discharged on the basis that he was a "minor" at the time of his enlistment. It may have been that this loophole was dredged up at his convenience.

Wild Oats and Family Life

Major returned home to White Co., TN around age 21, probably ready to start a family and return to farming to generate the necessary income. Sometime in the early to mid-1810s, Major married a native of South Carolina named Susannah. Though the wedding most likely occurred in White Co., no record has yet been located.[11] Susannah was born in about 1796. Using the clues from the existing census data, it appears that the young couple had a

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[5] The 24^th Infantry Regiment was created in June 1812 at the outset of the war.

[6] The 2^nd Rifle Regiment was created in February 1814.

[7] The location of Camp Russell is not clear. A Google search reveals that a Camp Russell (later Fort Russell) was located on the IL side of the Mississippi River, just north and east of St. Louis near the present-day town of Edwardsville. The state had built a string of forts along the Mississippi to guard the IL frontier. Russell was one of the largest and southernmost. 

[8] Fort Jackson was located southwest of present-day Wetumpka, AL, on US 231 (north of Montgomery). The Fort was built on the site of the 1751 French-built stockade, Fort Toulouse, at the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. For more information and photos of the reconstruction, see info at FortWiki.com.

[9] David Emmanuel Twiggs, 1790-1862, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_E._Twiggs. Also see, A Documentary History of Fort Crawford, Mrs. Annie C. Waters, July 7, 1975, http://eastbrewton.org/uploads/3/1/7/4/3174364/a_documentary_history_of_ft._crawford.docx

[10] Major Twiggs had been sent to establish Fort Crawford. Located near present-day East Brewton, AL, very close to the AL-FL state line.

[11] Researchers have noted that many early White Co., TN records have been lost. 

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daughter between 1810 and 1815 and then a son between 1815 and 1820.

Having seen no combat in the army, Major seems to have returned to White Co. and engaged in more than his share despite his slight stature. On October 12, 1820, he is accused of assault and battery "on the body of Alexander Eden". The next day, the Grand Jury brought an indictment against Major on the charge. Shortly thereafter, the Grand Jury indicted Major, Henry, Phillip, and Ussery Pearson jointly. On January 21, 1821, Major and Thomas Hewitt were indicted for engaging in “an affray”.[12] On the 19th, Major was found guilty in a jury trial and fined $2.50. Later, in what appears to have been another indictment, he was found not guilty, but ordered to pay court costs. In April of 1821, Major was certified as being insolvent and unable to pay his fines. In October of 1821, he seems to have been the subject of two other trials by jury, being found innocent on one charge and guilty on the other. Either his conviction (or his insolvency or both) led to his assignment in January 1822 to Singleton Copland, the Overseer of the Co. road gang. Major was to work on, "...the road where the iron ore road crosses the road leading from White Plains to Rock Island to the Carthage Rd". Major was not alone in his problems with the law. Review of the Co. Court minutes from 1810 to 1823 reveals that about 20 other Pearsons or Piersons had ended up in Court due to assault and battery, affray, bastardy, or debt. Whatever the cause, the experience seems to have gotten the need for combat out of him, and Major does not appear before the Court after 1822.[13]

The 1810s and 1820s were still dangerous years in rural TN. Many Indian tribes were still in the area and remained in the Appalachians and just south in present-day GA, AL, and MS until they were removed in 1837 during the so-called Trail of Tears. Thus, each county continued to be organized in terms of militia units for mutual defense. Major and several other 'Pearsons' appear in various units through the 1820s. Undoubtedly, his two years of experience in the Regular Army would have been valuable in such an outfit.[14]

Major and his family most likely moved to KY in the late 1820s. They are clearly in Ohio Co. by the time of the 1830 census.[15] Like other census records of that day, the 1830 enumeration records the name of the head of the household and tallies the numbers of other individuals into age groups and their gender. and 1830.  The family appears in the Hartford district. There are five individuals in the family, 3 male and 2 female. The head of the household was between 30 and 39. This corresponds to Major’s age. There was a male of 10 years but less than 15, and one who was less than 5 years. This latter boy could be Jordan, later described as a stepson. He was born October 3, 1827, in TN.[16] There was one female, likely 

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[12] An affray was defined in the law as public fighting by two or more people.

[13] Records of White County, TN, County Court Minutes, 1820-1823, Historical Records Survey, Tennessee, pages 18, 24, 27, 48, 54, 91, 97, 100, 103, 229, 298 and 356. The precise number of cases is difficult to decipher, and the above narrative is an attempt to sort it all out. Major does not appear in the White Co. Court records again before his departure to Ohio Co., KY, sometime late in the late 1820s or early in the 1830s. In reviewing those records, it appears that there is another individual named Major Passons (he seems to have been a law-abiding citizen). Given the lack of consistent spelling, it is difficult to be certain.

[14] Because of the confusion of names, this data is tentative at best. White Co., TN tax rolls: 1822, (Major Parson) page 64, $1.18-and-three-quarters tax. He is listed as being in Captain John Marham's Company. 1825, (Major Peason) sheet 13, Captain Cook's Company. 1826, page 18, $0.87 and a half tax. 1827, page 54, $0.84 tax, Captain Yeager's Co. 1829, (Major Parson) page 260, $1.38 tax, Captain Gann's Co.

[15] Index of deeds, White Co., TN 1809-1877. A search of White Co. records around this time found no deed transfers that might narrow the timeframe of their departure to KY.

[16] Jordan, a stepson (see Major’s will), was born on October 3, 1827, in White Co., TN. The location of his birth is per the ‘Descriptive Card’ in his muster roll file. It could be that Jordan was born a Pearson, perhaps to one of Major’s brothers. He also may have been a son of Susannah’s by a previous marriage who Major adopted as his own. This will require more research. Jordan later married Sarah Ann Shultz, she was five years his senior when the 1850 census was taken. By 1860, Jordan's wife is listed as Sallie M. and is seven years his senior. In 1880, Sallie is 8 years younger than Jordan. Some characteristics about women and their admitted age never change. Jordan Pearson joined the 12^th KY Cavalry, Company H, February 12, 1863, and mustered out August 23, 1865. At enlistment, he was 6’1”, with blue eyes and dark hair. His service records (as ‘Jordan’ and ‘Jourdon’ it seems inconceivable that there is one of each in the same regiment and company) indicate that he was a POW for a time and that he spent part of the war in an Army hospital in Louisville. At this point, it is assumed that the capture and incarceration led to the need for hospitalization. He filed for and received a pension in 1879 (certificate 339186) and died in 1900. His wife, Sarah, received a Widows Pension (certificate 501455). There was also a Jordan who served as a Private in the Home Guard, per the booklet War Comes to Butler County, Richard J. Reid, Sandefur Offset Printing, Fordsville, KY. This booklet contains the muster roll for the Ohio Co. Home Guards (page 24). This will need to be reviewed to see if it represents Jordan’s service before joining the 12^th KY.

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Susannah, age 30 to 39, and a second female, age 15-19. Nothing is yet known of this girl. If the female was Major’s daughter by birth, then he likely was married before he joined the army.

A second daughter, Susan, was born in 1834 in Ohio Co., KY.[17] The couple’s third daughter, and last known child, Martha, was born in 1840, also in Ohio Co.[18] The 1840 census shows one male at home between 10 and 15 yrs (probably Jordan), one male and one female between 20 and 30, and one male and one female between 40 and 50 yrs (Major and Susannah). Martha’s absence may be the result of her simply having been born in 1840 after the census was taken. Susan’s absence cannot be explained.[19]

The 1850 census provides meager insight into the family. Stepson, Jordan, had married and taken up residence on an adjacent farm. Susan (16) and Martha (13) are still at home with Major and Susanna.[20] As the decade began, Major had a 93-acre farm valued at $600. His farm implements were valued at $12. He had 2 horses, 1 milk cow, 3 other cattle, 13 sheep, and 20 swine. The total value of the livestock was set at $75. During the last year, the farm had produced 200 bushels of Indian corn, 10 pounds of wool, 5 bushels of peas and beans, and 40 bushels of barley, 100 pounds of butter, and 25 pounds of flax. Homemade manufactured goods were valued at $50, and the estimated values of slaughtered animals were set at $20. His stepson, Jordan, occupied the adjacent 12-acre farm (valued at $75). Compared to nearby farms, Major’s operation was average in size and productivity.[21]

It appears that his farm was sufficient to enable the 55-year-old veteran to get by, especially if the work was partly shared with Jordan. Likely unknown to Major, his prospects were about to improve. Just before the War of 1812 broke out, Congress had passed a series of laws intended to induce men to join the service and stay for long periods. The laws provided for the relief of disabled men and for the survivors of those who died while serving their country. Pensions were restricted to those suffering serious injury or the heirs of those killed. This limitation was not due to any lack of compassion but rather recognition of a lack of cash. Most 

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[17] Nothing else is currently known of Susan.

[18] Martha A., born about 1840 in Ohio Co., KY. Martha married Thomas Caja Crowder, a native of Ohio Co. on August 28, 1858. Crowder served in the 17^th KY Infantry Regiment, Union Army briefly before being discharged on account of his health. He never fully recovered and died in 1883 of complications, leaving Martha with four children under 16 still at home. Martha died on January 1, 1884, in Ohio Co., KY.

[19] Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1840, page 126. No district, community, or post office is identified. The total population of the county was reported as 6,592.

[20] Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1850, district 1, page 27, Major and Susannah were both age 54 and were born in SC. Both children were born in KY. Neither Susanna nor Martha can read or write.

[21] U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880. Data for Major Pearson for the year 1850, Ohio Co., KY, microfilm image 27. 

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of the other men who served received land, of which the country had an abundance. These provisions were supplemented by acts passed during and after the war which provided that every noncommissioned officer, soldier, or surviving heir could receive land in Illinois, Missouri, or Arkansas, provided that the soldier had been honorably discharged. The grant was known as Bounty Land. The size of the grant seems to have been a function of one's rank. In 1842, an act was passed which permitted qualified veterans to receive their grant in any state where public land was available. Acts in 1850 and 1855 further reduced eligibility requirements and made further provisions for the soldier. As a result, Major seems to have applied for a grant under the 1850 act and received 40 acres under warrant number 57,483.[22] Being of an advanced age and perhaps unwilling to leave his children and go to the frontier, Major sold the land (as did many other veterans) almost immediately. After the 1855 act, another application was made, and 120 acres were granted under warrant 36,403-120-55. As before, Major chose to sell the land rather than move.[23]

The 1860 Ohio Co. census provides another look at the family, as both husband and wife are in their 60s.[24] The couple lives alone on their own farm, with the comfort of Jordan and his growing family next door. Major apparently is renting his land, as he reported no real estate worth. He estimated his personal worth at $125. Further details can be gleaned from the 1860 agricultural census.[25] There, Major again noted that he owned no land (improved or unimproved). His farm implements are valued at just $5, the lowest of any farm around. Major has one horse, one milk cow, one other cow, and nine hogs. His livestock are valued at $159. During the last year, his rented farm produced 15 bushels of wheat, 100 bushels of Indian corn, 800 pounds of tobacco, 12 bushels of Irish potatoes, $7 of orchard produce, 150 pounds of butter, 2 tons of hay, 45 gallons of molasses, and 100 pounds of honey. During the same period, livestock valued at $75 were slaughtered. Clearly, Major’s farm operation was one of the smallest around.   

In addition to the regular census and agricultural census data, Major’s financial condition can be gleaned from Ohio Co. tax records beginning in 1846.[26] From 1846 through 1849, Major’s assessed value was $0.[27] In 1850 and 1851, his assessed value was still $0, though he also had

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[22] At least two five-digit numbers appear in his bounty land file. Either could be a warrant number. In theory, the 1850 and 1855 files should have been combined (though this has not proven to be the case for several other veterans). Confusion is also expressed in the meager data which does appear regarding the 1850 warrant. The government indicates that the warrant was for 160 acres, whereas Major and those assisting him in the filing swear that it was for 40 and offer to submit affidavits to that effect. One sheet in the file is marked "56447" while another refers to "57483" (with the last digit somewhat in question due to the poor handwriting). Thus, the full warrant number would likely be 57-483-40-50. The first five digits are the warrant number, the next series being the size of the warrant in acres, and the last two digits indicating the act under which it was issued. This needs to be pursued with the National Archives. He sold this land to a William S. Barrett of Ohio County. It is not yet clear if Barrett settled the frontier land or was merely acting as a warrant broker.

[23] Bounty land warrant case file 36, 403-120-55. Bureau of Land Management (Record Group 49). Seven pages. The 1855 grant was sold to John Binyon, on May 28, 1856. Binyon redeemed it at the Fort Dodge Land Office in Franklin Co., Iowa, to obtain 153.73 acres.

[24] Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1860, page 87, Cromwell district. His personal worth is stated as $125. Susannah is shown as 'Susana'. Both are listed as unable to read or write. Jordan, Sallie, and their family of five children under 11 live on the next property.

[25] U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, data for the year 1860, Ohio Co., KY.

[26] Tax records from the following years: 1853-1856, 1858, and 1862 are missing. Major no longer appeared after 1863.

[27] Ohio Co., KY tax data. 1846, p. 27, $0 assessed value, 1847, p. 26, $0 assessed value, 1848, p. 27, $0 assessed value, 1849, p. 30, $0 assessed value,1850, p. 32, 3 cattle (< $50), $0 assessed value. Jordan's assessed value is $310, 1851, p. 29, 4 cattle (< $50), $0 assessed value. Jordan's worth is given at $440, 1852, p. 30, $0 assessed value. Jordan is down to $310.

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3 and 4 cattle, respectively, that were valued at less than $50. In 1852, his assessed value once again is $0, with no cattle listed. Tax records are missing from 1853-1856.

Beginning in the second half of the 1850s, Major entered a short period of increased production and tax assessment.[28] By 1857, Major had 1 horse valued at $50, 2 cattle (< $50), and 2 hogs, for a total assessed value of $ 50. The year 1859 would see a further increase. That record showed 2 cattle (< $50), 9 hogs older than six months, and 300 pounds of tobacco (no total assessment was recorded). Stepson Jordan is said to be worth $900.

The 1860s would see a decline in his fortunes, commensurate with the decline in his health. In 1860, Major had 1 horse valued at $50, 1 cow, 800 pounds of tobacco, 100 bushels of corn, 20 bushels of wheat, all for a total assessed value of $ 50. Inexplicably, stepson Jordan was also down to an assessed value of $50. The year 1861 saw the trend continue. He had 1 horse valued at $40, 2 hogs older than 6 months, and a $40 assessed value. Jordan is back at $525. Finally, in 1863, the record shows him farming 50 acres on Lewis Creek valued at $200.[29] He has 1 horse valued at $15, 7 hogs older than 6 months, 100 bushels of corn, total assessed value $215. Jordan is at $325.

Decline and Death

Sometime between 1860 and 1870, Susannah passed away. Major's health must also have been in a fairly serious decline, for in January 1863 the Ohio Co. Court excused him from paying taxes.[30] By 1870, Major was no longer able or willing to live on his own and so moved in with his stepson, Jordan, and his family.[31]

In 1871, Congress finally passed an act which granted a pension to the survivors or heirs of those who died in service, provided they had served for at least 60 days (given that almost all soldiers in the war were born by 1795, they would have been at least 76 years old when the act was passed. Major, having joined in September 1814, barely qualified. On February 14, 1871, he began to draw his pension of $8 per month. This continued until his death.[32]

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[28] 1857, p. 36, 1 horse valued at $50, 2 cattle (< $50), 2 hogs, total $50 assessed value, 1858 records are missing. 1859, p. 41, 2 cattle (< $50), 9 hogs older than six months, 300 pounds of tobacco. Jordan is said to be worth $900, 1860, p. 43, 1 horse valued at $50, 1 cow, 800 pounds of tobacco, 100 bushels of corn, 20 bushels of wheat, $50 assessed value. Jordan is down to an assessed value of $50 also, 1861, p. 44, 1 horse valued at $40, 2 hogs older than 6 months, $40 assessed value. Jordan is back at $525, 1863, p. 45, 50 acres on Lewis Creek valued at $200, 1 horse valued at $15, 7 hogs older than 6 months, 100 bushels of corn, total assessed value $215. Jordan is at $325.

[29] Lewis Creek begins near the junction of US 231 and the Western KY Parkway. It flows almost due west and feeds the Green River just above Rockport, KY.

[30] Ohio Co. Court Orders, Volume 9, page 506, January 5, 1863. "Ordered that the following old and infirmed persons of this County be released from paying County levy: Jonas Tichenor, Wm. Keown, S. J. Tichenor, John Pattis, David Park, John B. Haynes, Nathan Keown, Wm. Ashby Sr., John B. ???, Henry Stevens Sr., Wm. Ralph, Archibald Setcher, Major Pierson, Saml. Ambross, Holland Morris, Fred Shrader, Hedgman Simpson and Wm. Cotton".

[31] Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1870, page 408, Cromwell district. Major, now 75, is living with Jordan and his wife Sallie (Sarah A. Albin) and her 75-year-old mother.

[32] Combined pension and bounty land file, 36,403-120-55; Survivors original file, SO-16505, and survivors certificate file, SC13654, Major Pearson, 23 pages. Where pensions were paid, the government required periodic contact with the recipient to ensure that payments were promptly stopped upon their death and files should contain what is known as a "Drop Card". This card was the official acknowledgement that the veteran (or his surviving spouse) had died, or his surviving minor had reached 16 years of age. A March 19, 1993, reply from the National Archives stated that no records of payment (and thus no Drop Card) could be found. I suspect that the records exist but will take further research. The entire process was somewhat delayed since Major said he was in a unit commanded by Captain Canaday. The War Department responded that they had no record of any such unit commander in the War of 1812. His Captain’s actual last name was Kennedy. The inability to spell was causing him serious problems. 

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By the time the 1880 census was taken, Major was still living with Jordan and his family in the Stewartsville community.[33] At 87, he was simply listed as ‘at home’ and blind. In addition to Major, Jordan’s mother-in-law lived with them along with an 8-year-old grandson, Thomas Goodman.

The first notice of his passing appeared in the Personals section of the January 26, 1881, edition of the Hartford Herald.[34] It simply stated that he died “last week” (i.e., January 16-22) and placed his age at 88. Subsequently, two separate community articles appeared on the front page of the February 9, 1881, edition of the Hartford Herald.[35] Both made note of his passing, his advanced age, and his service in the War of 1812. The Cromwell article refers to Major as “Uncle Major Pearson” while the Stewartsville article indicates incorrectly that he fought in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (March 27, 1814).[36]

On February 7, 1881, Tomas Shultz and W. M. James presented Major’s will to the Court. They were two of the three men who had witnessed Major’s signing of the document was examined and approved by the Court and ordered to be recorded in the County Will Books.[37] His will directed that all his debts and funeral expenses first be paid. He then bequeathed the balance of his estate to his stepson Jordan, whom he described as his 'friend' and 'benefactor'.[38] That document read as follows:

Be it known that I Major Pierson of the County of Ohio and State of KY, being at this time old and feeble, but of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make and publish this writing of my true last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former will or wills by me heretofore made - In the first place I desire all of my just debts and funeral expenses paid.

2nd I hereby will and bequeath to my step-son, friend and benefactor, Jordan Pierson all of my estate, both real, personal and mixed, that I may die possessed of, absolutely and forever.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 5th day of February A.D. 1879.

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[33] Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1880, page 579, Stewartsville district. This census shows Major as being KY-born (incorrect), his father born in TN (very likely incorrect), and his mother in VA.

[34] Personals, page 3 of the January 26th edition of the Hartford Herald. If he was 88 as indicated, this would place his year of birth as approximately 1792. A quick glance at the inferred birth year claimed in various census data will show that it varied widely.

[35] Two community articles (the Cromwell Crudities and the Stewartsville News, both dated January 28th) appeared on the front page of the February 9, 1881, edition of the Hartford Herald.

[36] On this point the writer erred, as Major did not enlist until September of 1814.

[37] Ohio Co., KY, Court Orders, Vol. 15, 1879-1882, page 335, February 7, 1881.

[38] Ohio Co, KY, Will Book D, pages 170-171. 

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Major Pearson
        X
his mark

Witnesses
Geo. D. Malone
W. M. James
Thomas B. Shultz

I Sam R. Cox Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, certify that this last will and testament of Major Peirson dec'd was at this term of said Court filed for probate: and thereupon the same was duly proven by the separate oaths of Thomas B. Shultz and W. M. James, two of the subscribing witnesses to the same as prescibed by law; and the same being examined and approved by the Court is ordered to be recorded which has been done in my said office together with this certificate - Given under my hand, this 7th day of Feby 1881.

Sam. K. Cox, Clk

 

Notes and References

1. War of 1812, Benson Lossing, pages _____________
2. War of 1812 Genealogy, Dr. George K. Schweitzer.
3. The 1820 Census data, White Co., TN. White Co. had a population of only 8,700 in 1820. One would thus expect that identifying a Pearson family would be easy. But as shown in Major’s 1814 enlistment record, he was uncertain how to even spell his last name. So, to avoid future issues, the recruiter enrolled him as Major Pearson, Pierson, Person. In the truly remote community that White Co. must have been, many could not read, write or even spell their names. With the similarity of many names and frequent misspellings by both the census taker and the citizen, it is impossible to draw conclusions. Later census takers will face some of the same issues, but far more personal data was collected after 1840. That additional data facilitated positive identification. Several examples from the 1820 White Co. record will show the difficulty imposed by such practices. There is a Richard A. Person family on page 13. Page 832 has both a Mary Piercen family and a Sarah Percen family. The Sarah Percen family does contain a male and a female of the correct ages to be Major and Susannah, as well as several young children. Finally, there is a Majer Passins family on page 372, but he is the wrong age for our Major Pearson. This person is likely the Major Passons of later White Co. records. At this stage, we know that our Major is in the county but cannot identify him in the record.
4. 1830 census data, Ohio Co., KY, Hartford district. Note the inferred year of birth for Major Pearson from the various records through the 1880 census.

Head of House	Sex	Age	Inferred Birth
Major Pierson	Male	30 but less than 40 yrs	1791-1800
/	Female	30 but less than 40 yrs	1791-1800
/	Female	Fifteen but less than 20 yrs	1811-1815
/	Male	Ten but less than 15 yrs	1816-1820
/	Male	Less than 5 yrs	1826-1830

5. 1840 census data, Ohio Co., KY

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Head of House	Sex	Age	Inferred Birth
/	Male	40 but less than 50 yrs	1791-1800
/	Female	40 but less than 50 yrs	1791-1800
/	Male	20 but less than 30 yrs	1811-1820
/	Female	20 but less than 30 yrs	1811-1820
/	Male	10 but less than 15 yrs	1826-1830

6. 1850 census data, Ohio Co., KY. Son-in-law, Jordan, lives next door with his wife, 2 yr old child, and 81 yr old father-in-law. Jordan claims $600 in real estate while his father-in-law claims $0.

Name	Age	Sex	Born	Comments	Inferred Birth
Major Pearson	54	Male	SC	Farmer, real estate value $0	1796
Susanna	54	Female	SC	Cannot read or write	1796
Susan	16	Female	KY		1834
Martha	13	Female	KY	Cannot read or write	1837

7. 1860 census data, Ohio Co., KY, Cromwell community. As before, Jordan and his wife and five children live next door. His real estate holdings have grown to $1,000, and his personal estate is valued at $340. He is a farmer, born in TN, and cannot read or write.

Name	Age	Sex	Born	Comments	Inferred Birth
Major Pearson	64	Male	SC	$0 real estate, $125 personal estate, farmer, cannot read or write	1796
Susana	62	Female	SC	Cannot read or write	1798

8. 1870 census data, Ohio Co., KY, Cromwell community. Jordan’s nineteen-year-old son, Samuel S. J. Pearson, and his wife live next door.

Name	Age	Sex	Born	Comments	Inferred Birth
Jordan Pearson	42	Male	KY	Farmer	1828
Sarah Ann	46	Female	KY	Keeping house	1824
Edinkererillis	17	Female	KY	At home, cannot read or write	1853
Idella	15	Female	KY	At home, cannot read or write	1855
Charles T.	12	Male	KY	At home, cannot read or write	1858
Major Pearson	75	Male	SC	At home	1795
Ann Shultz	75	Female	KY	At home	1795

9. 1880 census data, Ohio Co., KY, page 579, Stewartsville district. This census shows Major as being KY born, his father born in TN and his mother in VA.

Name	Age	Notes	Self/Dad/Mom	Inferred Birth
Jordan Pearson	53	farmer	KY/KY/KY	1827
Sallie	45		TN/TN/SC	1835
Charles	22	Works on farm		1858
Major	87	at home, widowed, blind	KY/TN/VA	1793
Annie Shultz	87	mother-in-law	KY/VA/VA	1793
Thomas Goodman	8	grandson, at home	KY/KY/KY	1872

 

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Areas for Further Exploration

The story of Major and Susannah Pearson is far from complete. What follows is a listing of a few areas for future research which may lead to additional data.

1. Look up marriages in Ohio Co. of Pearsons in the 40's for the older son or daughter. why ---------
2. Look at the 1850 census in Ohio Co for the son and daughter in case they haven’t gotten married yet. why ---------
3. Look for White Co. TN wills for his dad or mom through 1840.
4. Look at 1820 White Co. census for Major's mom or dad and even siblings.
5. Get a copy of the BLW awarded in 57,483-40-50 (number could be wrong) 1850 for 40 acres and a copy of the application file.
6. Since this was a US regiment, would West Point have military history? Check The United States Army in the War of 1812: concise biographies of commanders and operational histories of regiments, with bibliographies of published and primary resources, John C. Fredriksen, Publisher: Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co.,2009.
7. Get tax data from Ohio Co, pre-1846.
8. Check Ohio Co. real estate records.
9. Check Ohio Co. court records to see if he settled down any.
10. See Schweitzer's book for pension payment record info.