My Passage Through Time

Elijah Albert Gupton

Carolina Gupton that married Doctor Buck Pearce on the West family branch is one connection that we have to the Guptons.

Elijah Albert Gupton and Mary Ann Aycock were the parents of Carolina. Elijah was born 1 Nov 1824 in the Gupton Community in Franklin County, North Carolina. His birth date appears on census records, death certificate and headstone. In the North Carolina, Marriage Records 1741-2011 database there is a marriage bond for Elijah and Mary.

In the 1850 Federal Census enumerated on the 9th of Sept 1850, Elijah was 26 years old and his occupation was listed as sheriff. Mary was 22 years old. The 19 year old farmer Joshua Yarbourgh was living in the household. Next door was Elijah's mother, Frances Gupton, who was 50 years old. Elijah's father is believed to have passed away in 1845.

Elijah is found in records as E.A. Gupton.

In The North Carolina Standard - Wednesday - May 23, 1855 we find that E.A. is active in community government.

By the 1860 Federal Census E.A. and Mary had five children; Sidney 9, Amanda 7, Carolina 5, Nancy 3, and Elijah 1.

Then in the 1870 Federal Census four more children are listed; Doctor E. Mary, Ida and Edward.

E.A.'s occupation, Sheriff, created records for him.

Results of the election are found in The Semi Weekly Standard, Aug 13, 1862 edition.

Semi Weekly Standard Aug 13, 1862

Having the job as sheriff had drawbacks as we find a disgruntled citizen in The Semi Weekly Standard July 14, 1863.

In 1863 E.A. is found in the records of the Freemasons Lodge No. 185

When I look through the members' names I find many that I recognize.

Although E.A. did not serve during the Civil War as a soldier, he was active as sheriff and filed claims with the confederate army for his services.

Next post - after the war.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie

William Henry Leonard

William Henry Leonard, son of Larkin, is our direct ancestor in the Leonard family. William was born 19 Jul 1838 in Franklin County. He is the only son of Larkin that lived to have a family. His father was 37 years old and Cynthia was 31 when he was born.

To see the earlier Post about William and Seraphna (click here)

William was 22 when the Civil War began. He and his brother, Peyton, enlisted 20 May 1861, in the Confederate Army; 15^th Infantry - Company G .

Most of the records I have found on Fold3 are faint and hard to read. However, the records that are readable tell us that he was captured and spent time in the hospital during the war. He entered the war as a private and was promoted to Sergeant by the end of the war. He was mustered out at Appomattox.

William was captured at South Mountain on 14 Sep 1862 and sent to Fort Delaware and later exchanged.

Sadly William's brother, Peyton, did not survive the war.

After returning home to Franklin County, William married the widow Seraphna Collins Murphy on January 29, 1868.

Collins Connection

Seraphna is our branch on the family tree that connects us to the Collins family. Her father was James T. Collins and her mother was Mariah Cope. Seraphna was the oldest of eleven children, born 28 Feb 1842.

James T. Collins’ father was Peter Collins. Peter was the son of James Collins and Priscilla Smart.

Priscilla’s father was Peter Smart, he immigrated from Edinburgh Scotland and settled in North Carolina. It is through Peter Smart’s son, Laban, that we are supposed to have ties to Daniel Boone.

James Collins was from Kingsale, Isle of Wight, Virginia. He was a member of the North Carolina Militia and fought during the American Revolutionary War.

For James Collins earlier post click here

The Civil War changed life in the southern states forever.

On April 15, 1865 the town commissioners of Louisburg passed a resolution formally surrendering the town to Sherman and asking for protection. A letter was written and delivered by Jones Fuller and Dr. Ellis Malone. The letter is currently in the National Archives in Washington D.C.

Rumors suggest that when Sherman received the letter he asked, "Where the heck is Louisburg" and went in search of a map.

At the time Sherman did not intend to move his troops through Louisburg and replied to the letter saying such.

However, after the war ended things changed. Thousands of troops moved through the county on their way to Richmond and Washington D.C.

On May 1, 1865 approximately 12,000 - 15,000 troops camped in the grooves near the male academy in Louisburg. They stored so much grain in the academy that the floor collapsed.

Between April 29 and July 8, Sherman's troops occupied the town of Louisburg.

In the Cecil W. Robbins Library at Louisburg College the diary of Anna Long Thomas Fuller can be found. In her diary she enters her observations and concerns.

On April 29th she wrote:

"A squad of Yankee cavalry entered the town and stopped in front of our house. They came to tell of the approach of the Army, a large portion of which will pass through here Monday and Tuesday. Tonight, a guard is appointed to protect the town from the "Bummers", a set of lawless men who come before, and follow the army, to plunder and destroy everything in their way..."

On May 4th she wrote:

"Yesterday was very quiet, and we hoped we had seen the last Yankees, but not so - about dusk ... we saw riding up the street, very rapidly, a squad of Yankee Cavalry. We thought they were the "Bummers" and fled to our houses frightened, but they proceeded a Regiment, who have come here to maintain order, and execute orders issued at headquarters a few days ago freeing all the slaves, and requiring their owners pay them wages...."

Franklin County had lost approximately 400 men during the war. Almost 50 men were from the Gold Mine Township. Rebuilding was a slow process. No family was left untouched by the war. Morale was low but life went on.