Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Orneriness, Stubbornness, Bullheadedness--Is there a Theme here?
A story about GGGG Grandpa Leonard Coker in Boone Co. Arkansas:
"Len Coker who lived at the mouth of Bear Creek, went up the creek looking for a live buffalo calf to capture and take home with him. He found a sizable herd but the cow was not happy with him taking her calf. The calf kicked and bleated. The mother came charging and snorting. She scattered the dogs and Coker rolled into a hole under the roots of a large sycamore tree. He finally had to turn loose of the calf and when he did its mother soon left with her offspring."
[Cephas is not one of the Bell cousins but a Costner cousin]
Cousin Cephas Bell, CSA, grandson of Uncle Thomas Costner, King's Mountain patriot
Cousin L. M. Hoffman tells this story about Cephas Bell, a Confederate soldier in the 28th North Carolina Regiment:
“His comrades say of him that he was not unusually bright but that he was unusually brave. On one occasion his command was ordered to charge the enemy entrenched on a hill. The Federals scattered in confusion and Bell leading in the rush did not notice that his command had halted in the enemy’s abandoned position but went on after an officer in the rear of the rout. He overtook his man and ordered him to surrender. The officer said he couldn’t surrender except to an officer. Bell swore at him and said he’d blow out his d----d brains if he didn’t surrender quick . . . . He took his prisoner back and meeting some officers as he approached headquarters they told him they’d take the prisoner. He said, ‘No you won’t; if you want to go get you one, there’s plenty of them over there [pointing in the direction the enemy had gone]. You shall not have mine.’”
Cousin Ed Tucker's Orneriness after the Civil War
Edward Tucker . . . was called upon by Chief McCurtain and his Lighthorse and told to pay or get out. To this demand Tucker replied,"You take your d--n Lighthorse and get away from here. I will not be run over any more by you. You robbed me of all I had during the War, and you are not going to rob me again. I had rather you would kill me, if you must, than to submit to your authority. If you are determined to put me out or kill me, I only ask that you kill me right here in the front yard where I can be decently buried."
"Len Coker who lived at the mouth of Bear Creek, went up the creek looking for a live buffalo calf to capture and take home with him. He found a sizable herd but the cow was not happy with him taking her calf. The calf kicked and bleated. The mother came charging and snorting. She scattered the dogs and Coker rolled into a hole under the roots of a large sycamore tree. He finally had to turn loose of the calf and when he did its mother soon left with her offspring."
[Cephas is not one of the Bell cousins but a Costner cousin]
Cousin Cephas Bell, CSA, grandson of Uncle Thomas Costner, King's Mountain patriot
Cousin L. M. Hoffman tells this story about Cephas Bell, a Confederate soldier in the 28th North Carolina Regiment:
“His comrades say of him that he was not unusually bright but that he was unusually brave. On one occasion his command was ordered to charge the enemy entrenched on a hill. The Federals scattered in confusion and Bell leading in the rush did not notice that his command had halted in the enemy’s abandoned position but went on after an officer in the rear of the rout. He overtook his man and ordered him to surrender. The officer said he couldn’t surrender except to an officer. Bell swore at him and said he’d blow out his d----d brains if he didn’t surrender quick . . . . He took his prisoner back and meeting some officers as he approached headquarters they told him they’d take the prisoner. He said, ‘No you won’t; if you want to go get you one, there’s plenty of them over there [pointing in the direction the enemy had gone]. You shall not have mine.’”
Cousin Ed Tucker's Orneriness after the Civil War
Edward Tucker . . . was called upon by Chief McCurtain and his Lighthorse and told to pay or get out. To this demand Tucker replied,"You take your d--n Lighthorse and get away from here. I will not be run over any more by you. You robbed me of all I had during the War, and you are not going to rob me again. I had rather you would kill me, if you must, than to submit to your authority. If you are determined to put me out or kill me, I only ask that you kill me right here in the front yard where I can be decently buried."
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
American Lives--an Ireland-born King's Mountain veteran who went with Lewis and Clark
REMARKABLE LIFE--A veteran of King's Mountain who went with Lewis and Clark. On the Wide Missouri, did he tell about the death of Ferguson? How many of the King's Mountain men who survived to collect the 1832 pensions had remarkable afterlives, after that 60 minutes in October 1780 which changed the course of the Revolution?
State of Missouri, County of Miller
On this the 29th day of February 1838, personally appeared in open court before
the circuit court of the County of Miller now sitting, John Scott, a resident of the county
aforesaid State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress
passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
This applicant states that he volunteered as a private soldier in the militia in the
year 1776 in Fairfield District South Carolina; that he was commanded by Francis
Marion, as colonel, John James, major, and Peter Horry, Captain. That he marched from
Winnsboro in Fairfield District South Carolina to Sullivan's Island (between 12 and 15
miles from Charleston) and was engaged in the battle that was fought in June, 1776,
under the command of William Moultrie. The British were commanded by Sir Peter
Parker, and this applicant thinks the fleet consisted of 26 or 28 vessels. He remained
there two or three weeks and returned to Charleston, where the troops commenced
scouring the country between the Pee Dee [Pedee] and Santee [Rivers], cutting off the
Tory parties. The applicant remained under Captain Horry until Horry was promoted in
which he thinks was the year 1778 or 1779. In 1779 or 1780, this applicant was elected
Lieutenant of a volunteer rifle Corps -- there was no Captain, the company consisting of
only 30 or 32 men. His commission was signed by the Colonel. This applicant marched
with his men to Purysburg and they are joined General Lincoln's Army [Benjamin
Lincoln] and proceeded thence to Savannah in the year 1780 or 1781. They there made
the attack on the port of Savannah in possession of the British; the South Carolina militia under Lincoln and the French fleet commanded by D'Estaing; the Americans were
defeated and retreated to South Carolina. Thence continued scouring the country,
keeping the Tories and refugees under. The general rendezvous was at Snow Island --
sullied out frequently from that place, and among their excursions followed Colonel
Watson, under the command of Marion -- got to Sand Pit Bridge of about 20 miles from
Georgetown. They are this applicant was stationed with 32 rifleman, near the bridge,
with orders to fire up when the enemy advanced, but retreated, being outflanked. The
next general battle which this applicant was present at was at Eutaw Springs, where he
commanded his riflemen on the extreme right of Lee's Legion. The British commander
was Stewart. General Greene commanded the Americans. After that battle, part of our
officers went on to Georgetown. This applicant under command of Colonel James
Williams[went]to King's Mountain. Col. Lacey William Campbell commanded the Americans—forgot the day but recollects that Col. Williams[James Williams]was killed & Col. Ferguson[Patrick Ferguson]. After that battle, the applicant marched between thePeeDee and Santee [Rivers] to Snow's Island and theyare remained scouring the countrywith short furloughs not exceeding several days. Several skirmishes took place, until spring of 1783, when this applicant was discharged. This applicant had thus served six years during about threeof which he acted as Lieutenant.
This applicant further states, in reply to interrogatories propounded by the court,
that he was born in Antrim County, Ireland in the That he landed in Charleston
South Carolina in the year 1770, and lived in Fairfield District South Carolina until he volunteered. After the close of the war this applicant lived in Williamsburg and Fairfield districts in South Carolina until the year 1791 when he removed to Baldwin County Georgia where he lived 10 ears. Thence he removed to Carver County Tennessee, and lived there about two years. Thence he moved to Wythe County Virginia where he lived about three years, and thence to Botetourt County Virginia where he lived 14 years. From Botetourt County Virginia he joined Lewis and Clarke and accompanied them and theyare expedition across the Rocky Mountains where he was about over two years and returned to Botetourt. After this he removed to Highland County in Ohio, where he lived about a year and a half and moved to Illinois and from thence went to Texas in 1832 and returned a year ago. He now lives in Miller County Missouri.
This applicant further states that he received a commission from Colonel Francis Marion, but took no care of it and has lost it. He further states that he has no documentary evidence and those of no person who can prove his having been in the service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ John Scott
[Andrew Bilyen,a clergyman, and Jacob Wimmar gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 56]
An Amended Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832
State of Illinois County of White: SSOn this 21st day of October 1841 personally appeared before me James Ratcliff Probate
Justice of the peace in andfor the County aforesaid John Scott aged eighty-six or seven years and made oath in due form of law that in addition to the services rendered by him in
the Revolutionary Waras set forth in a declaration made by him in Miller County Missouri in May 1837 or 1838 he served 449 days in Captain Brown's Company General Marion's Brigade from the 1st of December 1780to the 16th of December 1782
alternately and he also served as a private horseman 40 days in Captain Green's Troop
General Marion's Brigade in 1782 and further this deponent sayeth not except that he
served from first to last in the Revolutionary War six years or more under many different
officers – and he gives as a reason why his service under the above captains was not set
forth in his former declaration that it was written in the midst of much confusion being
done in a store house where there was fiddling and dancing going on in the house and
quarreling and fighting out of doors so that much may have been omitted in that
declaration which might have been of service to him if set forth.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.
S/ John Scott
[fn pp 16 and 17: certificate from the South Carolina Comptroller showing indents
playable to a John Scott and for militia service one as a private horseman in the militia in
1782; another for 40 days duty as a private horseman in Captain Green's Troop of general
Marion's brigade in 1782; another for 449 days service as a private in Captain Brown's
company of general Marion's brigade from December 1, 1780 to December 16 1782.]
State of Missouri, County of Miller
On this the 29th day of February 1838, personally appeared in open court before
the circuit court of the County of Miller now sitting, John Scott, a resident of the county
aforesaid State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress
passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
This applicant states that he volunteered as a private soldier in the militia in the
year 1776 in Fairfield District South Carolina; that he was commanded by Francis
Marion, as colonel, John James, major, and Peter Horry, Captain. That he marched from
Winnsboro in Fairfield District South Carolina to Sullivan's Island (between 12 and 15
miles from Charleston) and was engaged in the battle that was fought in June, 1776,
under the command of William Moultrie. The British were commanded by Sir Peter
Parker, and this applicant thinks the fleet consisted of 26 or 28 vessels. He remained
there two or three weeks and returned to Charleston, where the troops commenced
scouring the country between the Pee Dee [Pedee] and Santee [Rivers], cutting off the
Tory parties. The applicant remained under Captain Horry until Horry was promoted in
which he thinks was the year 1778 or 1779. In 1779 or 1780, this applicant was elected
Lieutenant of a volunteer rifle Corps -- there was no Captain, the company consisting of
only 30 or 32 men. His commission was signed by the Colonel. This applicant marched
with his men to Purysburg and they are joined General Lincoln's Army [Benjamin
Lincoln] and proceeded thence to Savannah in the year 1780 or 1781. They there made
the attack on the port of Savannah in possession of the British; the South Carolina militia under Lincoln and the French fleet commanded by D'Estaing; the Americans were
defeated and retreated to South Carolina. Thence continued scouring the country,
keeping the Tories and refugees under. The general rendezvous was at Snow Island --
sullied out frequently from that place, and among their excursions followed Colonel
Watson, under the command of Marion -- got to Sand Pit Bridge of about 20 miles from
Georgetown. They are this applicant was stationed with 32 rifleman, near the bridge,
with orders to fire up when the enemy advanced, but retreated, being outflanked. The
next general battle which this applicant was present at was at Eutaw Springs, where he
commanded his riflemen on the extreme right of Lee's Legion. The British commander
was Stewart. General Greene commanded the Americans. After that battle, part of our
officers went on to Georgetown. This applicant under command of Colonel James
Williams[went]to King's Mountain. Col. Lacey William Campbell commanded the Americans—forgot the day but recollects that Col. Williams[James Williams]was killed & Col. Ferguson[Patrick Ferguson]. After that battle, the applicant marched between thePeeDee and Santee [Rivers] to Snow's Island and theyare remained scouring the countrywith short furloughs not exceeding several days. Several skirmishes took place, until spring of 1783, when this applicant was discharged. This applicant had thus served six years during about threeof which he acted as Lieutenant.
This applicant further states, in reply to interrogatories propounded by the court,
that he was born in Antrim County, Ireland in the That he landed in Charleston
South Carolina in the year 1770, and lived in Fairfield District South Carolina until he volunteered. After the close of the war this applicant lived in Williamsburg and Fairfield districts in South Carolina until the year 1791 when he removed to Baldwin County Georgia where he lived 10 ears. Thence he removed to Carver County Tennessee, and lived there about two years. Thence he moved to Wythe County Virginia where he lived about three years, and thence to Botetourt County Virginia where he lived 14 years. From Botetourt County Virginia he joined Lewis and Clarke and accompanied them and theyare expedition across the Rocky Mountains where he was about over two years and returned to Botetourt. After this he removed to Highland County in Ohio, where he lived about a year and a half and moved to Illinois and from thence went to Texas in 1832 and returned a year ago. He now lives in Miller County Missouri.
This applicant further states that he received a commission from Colonel Francis Marion, but took no care of it and has lost it. He further states that he has no documentary evidence and those of no person who can prove his having been in the service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
S/ John Scott
[Andrew Bilyen,a clergyman, and Jacob Wimmar gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 56]
An Amended Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832
State of Illinois County of White: SSOn this 21st day of October 1841 personally appeared before me James Ratcliff Probate
Justice of the peace in andfor the County aforesaid John Scott aged eighty-six or seven years and made oath in due form of law that in addition to the services rendered by him in
the Revolutionary Waras set forth in a declaration made by him in Miller County Missouri in May 1837 or 1838 he served 449 days in Captain Brown's Company General Marion's Brigade from the 1st of December 1780to the 16th of December 1782
alternately and he also served as a private horseman 40 days in Captain Green's Troop
General Marion's Brigade in 1782 and further this deponent sayeth not except that he
served from first to last in the Revolutionary War six years or more under many different
officers – and he gives as a reason why his service under the above captains was not set
forth in his former declaration that it was written in the midst of much confusion being
done in a store house where there was fiddling and dancing going on in the house and
quarreling and fighting out of doors so that much may have been omitted in that
declaration which might have been of service to him if set forth.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.
S/ John Scott
[fn pp 16 and 17: certificate from the South Carolina Comptroller showing indents
playable to a John Scott and for militia service one as a private horseman in the militia in
1782; another for 40 days duty as a private horseman in Captain Green's Troop of general
Marion's brigade in 1782; another for 449 days service as a private in Captain Brown's
company of general Marion's brigade from December 1, 1780 to December 16 1782.]
Outlaws remembered by one of the Glenn-Tucker cousins in the Choctaw Nation about 1887
I went to school as did others in a shirt that reached below the knees. The length of it did away with the need of trousers to go over it. When I was about ten years of age, our family was at dinner one day; we heard someone hail us from our yard. We went to the door. There on horses that had fancy saddles with trimmings, dressed very neat and nice, sat Jesse and Frank James and the Younger boys. They needed corn. Father asked 50 cents a bushel for the corn. The outlaws paid him $1.00 a bushel. The South Canadian ferry happened to be out at that time; the stream was quite swollen, however, this didn't slow the outlaws down any.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Call for photos of descendants of John Andrew Jackson Costner and Nancy Ann Stewart Costner
I was so struck by the picture of John Mathis, a second cousin I had not heard of, that I want to keep a running file of pictures of descendants, divided by generations. James Head has photos of all the Costner-Stewart children and I trust will let me have copies.
Known cousins, unknown Internet cousins, please respond by comments on this blog.
Known cousins, unknown Internet cousins, please respond by comments on this blog.
2nd Cousin John Mathis, grandson of Ada Costner Mathis
This photo is contributed by a previously unknown second cousin once removed, daughter of John Mathis.
Clay Costner is a grandson of Ada's brother, Edgar Lugene Costner.
Clay Costner and I are first cousins and both are 2nd cousin of John Mathis; so is Bill Costner. How many more 2nd cousins, great grandsons of John Andrew Jackson Costner?
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