Isaac Rutledge and ? | William Rutledge and Chloe Johnson | James Rutledge Sr. & Frances Skaggs | George Rutledge and Rose Boyer | James Bernard Rutledge and Nancy Estes | James William Rutledge and Rubina Wright | Wilson Alvin, Sr. and Jessie Mae Wright (Wilson's WWII page)
Daughters of the Revolutionary War lineage:
Nancy Estes's parents (John D. Estes and Catherine Jane Kirkpatrick) (John's parents unknown)
Catherine Kirkpatrick's parents (Joseph Marion Kirkpatrick and Martha Patsy Ross)
Martha Patsy Ross's parents William Ross and Eliza Jane Allen | William Hugh Ross, Jr. and Mary Griffin
Other Ancestors:
Frances Skaggs parents: James Skaggs and Frances Beeler |
Joseph Kirkpatrick's parents ( David Sevier Kirkpatrick and Catherine White) | John Hugh Kirkpatrick and Margaret "Jane" Wilkins (possible Revoluntary War; there are 2 John Hugh Kirkpatricks)
Catherine White's parents (Joseph White and Janet Mebane)
Rutledge DNA Connection: Edward Gent Rutledge | James Enos Rutledge | William Richard Rutledge | Richard William Rutledge | Harry Milton Rutledge | Edgar Rutledge Taylor | (This line is connected by DNA, but we have not yet put together the puzzle pieces)
THIS IS MY WORKING GENEALOGY BIOGRAPHIES, PLEASE DO NOT COPY AS FACT. Some photos are personal and are not to be copied and republished; other images are okay. Documentation I collected as proof to support facts (i.e. dates, relationships, etc.) are available for your use. I share freely, but please do not abuse copyright or perpetuate any information without supporting facts that may or may not be in error. I try to mark in red my questions or documents I need to look for, so your assistance in making this a complete collection is always appreciated.
William Ross was born January 17, 1758, in Frederickville, Tyrell County, Virginia, to William Ross and Mary Griffin.
(Note: find source of birthdate, birth location, and connection to parents.)
Elizabeth Jane Allen. (Note: find source of birth information. On Family Search I see both 1763 in Missouri, and January 1766 in Newton Township, Faulkner, Arkansas.; Who are her parents? What is the source of her last name of Allen? Where do people get the shortened name of Eliza?)
1762: France cedes the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi to Spain.
(Note: When and where did William and Jane marry?)
In 1795, William and Jane have a son, Enoch Ross, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (Note: what is the source of his birth and birth place; online trees have his death before October 27, 1823 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, why?)
On March 17, 1800, William and Jame have a son, John Ross, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (Note: what is the source of his birth and birth place;) He would marrie Annis Mae Galloway and have a lot of children, and die in Hempstead, Arkansas on April 7, 1872.
William and Jane may have had a second son, John Ross, because William's Will lists John's name twice in one sentence. Other genealogists must have wondered the same thing because tree suggestions had another son in my tree, but I removed it because he clearly had other parents in the area with the name Ross.
William and Eliza have a daughter, Mary Ross. Her name is found in William's Will. (Note: At first I thought Margerat was mentioned twice in the will and that her name may have been Mary Margeret, but the 1803 census lists two younger females, so Mary must have been born before Bethany. Therefore her birth date could range from 1793 to 1801. )
In 1802, William and Eliza have a daughter, Bethany Ross, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
(Note, what is the source of her date of birth and location? Trees with Bethany marrying John Burris/Burrow give her a birth date of 1793 rather than 1802, and a name of Bethina Catherine Ross, so there must be records with that spelling. Where do either date come from? If she was born in 1793, she could have been born in North Carolina or Virginia. When did she die? Suggestions are that she had at least 8 children. One child, Amelia, is shown to be born May 19, 1815 in Cape Jerde, Missouri. Where did they get that spelling? The daugher moves to Arkansas with her spouse and then California.)
October 1800: Spain secretly agrees to return the Louisiana Territory to France under the Treaty of San Ildefonso. Spain controlled the Territory until October 1800 when it went back to France.
1802: Spain formally transfers the Louisiana Territory to France. Spain closes the port of New Orleans to Americans, sparking crisis.
January 1803: President Jefferson sends James Monroe to join Robert Livingston in Paris to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans.
April 30, 1803: The Louisiana Purchase Treaty is signed in Paris by Livingston and Monroe.
July 4, 1803: The purchase is publicly announced in the United States.
October 20, 1803: The U.S. Senate ratifies the treaty.
In the November 1, 1803 Missouri Territorial Census, taken of the Louisiana Territory by France. This census is found in the 1888 Goodspeed's History of Southeast Missouri, page 266,
and the
1909 Houck's Spanish Regime, Volume 2, Page 407 and a footnote on page 412.
William Ross's household had 2 first class white males (his sons Enoch and John), 2 second class white males (himself
and one other), 2 first class females (Daughters Bethany & Mary), and 1 second class white female (his wife Jane).
Daughter Martha was born June 4, 1804.
The household had no slaves. Who was the other adult male? Was it another son? Maybe a border to help him farm.
William Ross had no wheat, 800 bushels of corn, no tobacco, 100 lbs. of flax and hemp, 1,000 lbs. of cotton, 50 lbs. of
maple sugar, 10 horned cattle, and no horses.
The footnote #96 on page 412 states "William Ross settled at what is now known as "Gray's Point," but at first known as a"Cape la Cruz," and then as "Ross's Point." Rev. John Mason Peck stopped here when he came up the river and delivered a sermon."
November 30, 1803: Spain officially transfers colonial control of Louisiana Territory to France.
December 20, 1803: Just twenty days later, France formally transfers the Louisiana Territory to the United States. A census was taken in December of that year.
March 10, 1804: Official transfer ceremony of Louisiana Territory to U.S. takes place in St. Louis.
1804–1806: The Lewis and Clark Expedition explores the new territory.
On June 4, 1804, William and Eliza have a daughter, Martha Patsy Ross. She would marry Joseph Marion Kirkpatrick and die in about 1848 in Washington County, Missouri. (Note: What is the source of Martha's birth date?)
In December 1816, William Ross paid a territorial tax imposed on the first Monday in December for the amount of $5 for a ferry license, as found in the December 2019 Collage of Cape County. I believe this to be a ferry across the Mississippi River.
William Ross died in May 25, 1820, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. According to his Will & probate file, he has one wife, Jane, and five children, John, Enoch, Bethany, Martha, and Mary. Since John is listed twice in the same sentence, he may have had a sixth child. His Will was signed on May 24, 1820, and was proved & filed on on May 26, 1820. It would seem he signed his Will on his death bed, so likely died on the 25th between the two dates. Of special interest to me, I note Joseph Kirkpatrick, Martha's husband-to-be bought one steer from the estate at the cost of $12.50. also, see page 44 of my transcription for some interesting facts on Judge Steinbeck.
(Note: Where is he buried?)
Eliza Jane Allen Ross died in 1840 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
(Note: What is the source of this death date and place? Where is she buried?)
In the March 1985 Collage of Cape County are excerpts about William Ross written by James Ross from The Life and Times of Elder Reuben Ross. The entire book is here on Google as well as the East Carolina Digital University Collectionand the Internet Archive.
William Ross, as a Baptist, was the delegate representing the Tywappity Church for a Bethany Association. Apple Creek and Bethel Church were also a part of the Association. There is an Apple Creek Presbyterian Church just east of Pocahontas, Missouri, which is an inactive congregation, but descendants periodically have events at the church building. The founders were a number of families from North Carolina. This is not to be confused with Apple Creek Baptist Church that was just about a mile east of Oak Ridge, Missouri. The cemetery is still there, but has lost its original name, which technically should be Apple Creek Baptist Church. It is called Wilson Cemetery for the African American family that still uses the cemetery, or Concord Cemetery, which is for an unincorporated African American community that used to be just south of the location.
You will often see mentions of the Baptist church in regional records, but I don’t think it survived Civil War times as an active congregation. I have never seen any indication the church minutes or other records survived.
_________________________
In the information found on William ROSS of Cape Girardeau it is learned that our William having been a soldier in the Revolutionary War went back to North Carolina but did not stay. Not being married he walked with his rifle to what was Louisiana Territory, which is now Missouri. He did marry and by land sales must have been married twice. The first marriage was to an Elizabeth and the second Jane. Jane is in his Will.
In John Mason Peck's Memoirs he reports visiting and preaching there. William was an active Baptist in the Bethany Association and named a daughter Bethany.
In the History of Scott County, Missouri up to the early 1880 by Edison Shrum on page 28: William ROSS original Spanish land grant Survey No. 226; 356 acres, year about 1796. Publication Ciitizens of Missouri, 1787-1810 Vol. 1 by Frances Ingmire, page 13 William ROSS claiming 420 arpens of land situated on the Mississippi District Cape Girardeau, produces to a board of concession from Zenon Trudeau, Lt. Governor, dated 5 January 1798 a plat of survey dated 7 December 1798 certified 5 January 1800.
The following testimony in the foregoing claim taken by Frederick Bates, Commissioner by authority from the Board at Cape Girardeau, 2 June 1808.
Andrew Ramsay, Sr. duly sworn says claimant settled in the spring of 1797, lived in a camp and in the following year, cleared, enclosed and cultivated premises inhabited and cultivated by or for claimant to the present day. Upwards of 20 acres now in cultivation, an orchard planted some years ago. The board confirmed to William ROSS 420 aprens of land as described in a plat survey certified 5 January 1800 and found on record in Book A page 197 of the recorders office (Certificiate No. 226).
From the land records we find William adding to his land. For the sum of $200.00 he purchased 240 arpens of land on the bank of the Mississippi river from Peter Godaine. Recorded 13 August 1805 Book A and B page 22 and 23.
In American State Papers volumne 2 Land Claims in Missouri Territory, page 571 the land commissioners confirmed the Spanish Territorial Grant to William ROSS 1 May 1809 No. 226 of 420 arpens on the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau District.
SPANISH LAND GRANTS
To get a land grand the following had to be done: clear part of the land, build a house, plant crops and swear loyalty to the King of Spain within a year and a day from the time the grant was received. To complete the title the claim had to be surveyed and the claim approved by the Governor General of the province, who was in New Orleans, This was a difficult matter in those days and only 13 had been completed from 1808 to 1833 the U. S. Land Commission Boards tried to untangle the mess. A few remained in doubt until 1835.
Giving special attention to the following we find in Deed Book C page 134 18 January 1810 William ROSS and Elizabeth, his wife, to Steven Stilley. For diverse good causes, ___ acres in Tywappity Twp; begining at William ROSS upper corner on the bank of the Mississippi River, and bounded by the river. Signed William ROSS, Elizabeth ROSS. Witness Joseph Mosby, John Mosby, Edmond Hogan (Justice of the Peace). Recorded 25 January 1810.
In Carter's Territorial Papers William is in the lists Cape Girardeau residents who signed petitions
1806 Petition to Congress to inhabitants of the territory 9 September 1811 William's son Enoch also signed. A Noah ROSS signed also. Pages 389 and 471.
Goodspeed History of Southwest Missouri embracing a Historical Account of ____ is Cape Girardeau. At this time Tywappity was in Cape Girardeau County. Now is Scott County page 550.
MORE LAND RECORDS
Several land records list William land location, such as bounded on the South of William ROSS land. These are not listed here. Two that might be of interest to other people are the following: 1 September 1813 Edmond Hogan and Tatsey, wife, of Stuart County, Tennessee selling Cape Girardeau, Missouri land 31 September 1817 Deed Book D Stephen Stilley, late of Cape Girardeau County. The following most important to us is:
Deed Book E page 536, 20 November 1819 Stephen Stilley and Elizabeth, wife of Polk County, Illinois to William ROSS and Jane, wife, for the sum of $300 for ___ arpens in Tywappity Twp on the Mississippi River, beginning at the NE corner of William ROSS's survey. Signed Stephen Stilley, Elizabeth Stilley. Witness Edward Kew, John Baldwin, A.G. Young, Justice of the Peace in Gallatin County, Illinois, William Kelso Justice of the Peace. Recorded 17 November 1820. Stephen had given William $400.00 in 1817 for this land.
NOTE: Here we have Jane as William ROSS wife and is not the first wife in land transaction bottom of preceeding page named Elizabeth. Source of land records in Collage of Cape County volume 23 number 2 pages 20 and 21.
OLD APPLE CREEK CHURCH
On the second sabbath in June 1816 the organization of Bethel Association met at Bethel Church and was opened by prayer by Thomas Donohue. A serman was delivered by Elder James Edwards, after which an organization was effected. William ROSS was one of the delegates represented with Tywappit Church. Apple Creek Church was first known as an arm of Bethel Church and was given a second organization about 1820
Apple Creek church near Pocahontas, Cape Girardeau, County, Missouri was a Presbyterian church. Anniversaries were celebrated in May of each year from 1871 to 1921. May was also the month of the annula meetings. In 1996 the Collage of Cape County printed an address by John A. Hope, Sunday May 22, 1926 titled Old Apple Creek Church and its Early Membership.
It was organized in 1821. Wilis Knox Sketch of Apple Creek Church publised 1911, the following persons met here on 21 May 1821 and organized this church. Not long after the organization of the church the name ROSS was in the congretation and member of the church. Zenas ROSS farm was on the road to Pocahontas to Neilley's Landing. Zenas Ross was bonr 12 March 1802 and died 20 September 1862.
William ROSS has a Spanish Grant near the present Thebes Bridge. The place was then called Ross Point. He had a son, John Ross and Hannah Harris his wife.
William ROSS was living on the river just below Cape Girardeau that Oliver Harris whose sister married a ROSS, and Oliver Harris on coming to Missouri would naturally have selected a place on the river near his sister. Oliver Harris father was Robert Harris and grandfather James Harris. Every name has an interesting background. Ancestors of each of them figure bravely, honorable and conspicuously in the history of the struggles of the Scottch in Ireland for civil and religous liberty in our colonial and revoluntionary annals, giving a history of the beginning would be like giving a history of the Presbyertian faith. It would be the story of the Scotch Irish from the time, early in the homes in Ireland and settled in what was then the frontiers of Pennsylvania. We would have to trace the family to the individual under discussion, through the Valley of Virginia, into the Carolinas, and Tennessee and on to Missouri on the frontier, founding homes, churches, communties, counties and commonwealths; building first, where ever the family settled a Presbyertian church and beside it a school house.
The North Carolina Settlement in Cape Girardeau County which centered around this church was an important event in the founding and development of the state. It may not be amiss to note the condition of this section of the country at the time our forefathers settled here. This entire northeast corner of the country was a wilderness. The Shawnee Indians had a village on Indian Creek, west was a big town of Shawnee and Delaware Indians near the mouth of Apple Creek. The nearest inhabitants, other than the Indians, was the Byrd family on Byrd Creek near Jackson; John Hays, first sheriff of the county and Register of the Land Office, who then lived on the river at the place now known as Lovejoy; John Logan and General Henry Seibert on Apple Creek at the place later known as Wlkerson.
From the Collage of Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, General Quarterly June 1966.