I have written about several family stories or Legends in the past and have been able to authenticate some of the "facts", but still unable to "prove" everything! This week, I will share another great story called "The Legend of the Pitts Family".
This story, or Legend, was shared by a fellow researcher and cousin, Helen West Bass in 2001. We corresponded for a while and shared information to help each other's research. I am very grateful that she shared this story with me, along with lots more genealogical information and many photos of her family. I am glad to have called her "friend"! Helen passed away in 2014 at the age of 88.
According to the DNA website,
https://pittsdnaproject.neocities.org/Patriarchs.htm, Section 7, updated June 25, 2019, here is the earliest information we know about this particular Pitts family:
In this excerpt from the Pitts DNA Project, one of the "sons", Josiah, is the father of the James in Helen's Legend. Here is the earliest mention of James I have found:
In this 1850 census, we see Josiah age 48, born in Kentucky, and Sarah, age 30, born in Tennessee, with their 2 children, James, age 4 and Elizabeth, age 2, both born in Tennessee. Confirmation of the marriage of Josiah Pitts and Sarah Merriman is found in the Tennessee Marriage Records:
[Note: the Merriman name is one that returns several times to the Spurlock family (my connection to the Pitts of Tennessee)]. By the 1860 census, Josiah and Sarah are living in Warren County, Tennessee and have another daughter, Catherine (Cath or Calf above in the Legend).
There is a Marriage License for James and Emiline Spurlock on October 17, 1862 in Cannon County, Tennessee. In the column where the marriage is solemnized and recorded, there is no information, but that, apparently, is not all that unusual. [According to the Legend, they were married in 1866. And as far as the Spurlock family being on the same wagon train as the Pitts family - well, that's still to be proven].
James and Emiline had their first child about 1864 and 3 more children were born before the 1870 census was taken.
In this 1870 census, James is 22, Emiline is 23, Julia A. E. is 6, Mary J. is 5, Thomas is 3 and Francis (a girl) is 1. They are living in Cannon Co., Tennessee. We have not found the family in the 1880 census, but the Legend was correct that they did have 5 daughters and 7 sons. In support of their last child, Wiley, being born and dieing in 1888, there is a grave marker and another Legend!
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| From Helen Bass, fellow Spurlock-Pitts Researcher sent to me in 2001. |
This story, or Legend, was shared by a fellow researcher and cousin, Helen West Bass in 2001. We corresponded for a while and shared information to help each other's research. I am very grateful that she shared this story with me, along with lots more genealogical information and many photos of her family. I am glad to have called her "friend"! Helen passed away in 2014 at the age of 88.
According to the DNA website,
https://pittsdnaproject.neocities.org/Patriarchs.htm, Section 7, updated June 25, 2019, here is the earliest information we know about this particular Pitts family:
The earliest known ancestor for this group is John Pitts, born about 1776 in Maryland. He married Sarah Hawkins in Aug of 1796 in Madison Co KY. Between 1810-1812 John and Sarah migrated to Tennessee and he is first found on the 1812 tax list in Warren Co, TN. It is unknown what happened to John. Sarah Pitts is listed as head of household in 1830. Both sons, John and Josiah, were born in KY but lived the majority of their lives in Middle Tennessee in the areas of Cannon, Dekalb, and Warren Counties.So, in the Legend shared by Helen Bass, we don't have any "proof" earlier than Maryland in 1776. As always, it is very possible the connection to Pennsylvania in 1685 is correct, but we're still working on that!
In this excerpt from the Pitts DNA Project, one of the "sons", Josiah, is the father of the James in Helen's Legend. Here is the earliest mention of James I have found:
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| Year: 1850; Census Place: District 9, Cannon, Tennessee; Roll: M432_872; Page: 385A; Image: 219. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Accessed 06/29/2019. |
In this 1850 census, we see Josiah age 48, born in Kentucky, and Sarah, age 30, born in Tennessee, with their 2 children, James, age 4 and Elizabeth, age 2, both born in Tennessee. Confirmation of the marriage of Josiah Pitts and Sarah Merriman is found in the Tennessee Marriage Records:
 |
| Marriage Record for Josiah Pitts and Sarah Merriman. Description: Year: Mar 1838 - Oct 1898: Marriages A-C. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Marriage Records, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm. Accessed 6/29/2019. |
[Note: the Merriman name is one that returns several times to the Spurlock family (my connection to the Pitts of Tennessee)]. By the 1860 census, Josiah and Sarah are living in Warren County, Tennessee and have another daughter, Catherine (Cath or Calf above in the Legend).
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| 1860 Census for Josiah and Sarah Pitts. Year: 1860; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1274; Page: 437;Family History Library Film: 805274. Description: City: Not Stated. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Accessed 06/29/2019. |
There is a Marriage License for James and Emiline Spurlock on October 17, 1862 in Cannon County, Tennessee. In the column where the marriage is solemnized and recorded, there is no information, but that, apparently, is not all that unusual. [According to the Legend, they were married in 1866. And as far as the Spurlock family being on the same wagon train as the Pitts family - well, that's still to be proven].
 |
| Marriage Record for James Pitts and Emiline Spurlock. Description: Year: Mar 1838 - Oct 1898: Marriages A-C. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Marriage Records, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm. Accessed 06/29/2019 |
James and Emiline had their first child about 1864 and 3 more children were born before the 1870 census was taken.
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| 1870 census for James and Emiline Pitts. Year: 1870; Census Place: District 7, Cannon, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1516; Page: 188A; Family History Library Film: 553015. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Accecssed 06/29/2019 |
In this 1870 census, James is 22, Emiline is 23, Julia A. E. is 6, Mary J. is 5, Thomas is 3 and Francis (a girl) is 1. They are living in Cannon Co., Tennessee. We have not found the family in the 1880 census, but the Legend was correct that they did have 5 daughters and 7 sons. In support of their last child, Wiley, being born and dieing in 1888, there is a grave marker and another Legend!
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| This stone was found in Woodbury Tn. in 2004 on Property in Dist 7 of Cannon Co. near Rock house creek. Wiley's Mother, Emiline Spurlock Pitts is buried in the same area but only the base of her marker has been found. The family legend is that Emiline died the day of or shortly after the birth of Wiley. The name Wiley was given to Emiline's Grandson Wiley Pitts (B. 1905 D. 1986) of Anna, IL... from the Ancestry.com public tree of Wiley1905, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/3992786 |
You can read more of James and Emiline's story on Wiley's page,
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/3992786/person/-1664390526/media/3cc2c835-fabf-47df-a323-de22f4ce3a1c?_phsrc=SYk101&usePUBJs=true.
In the Pitts Family Legend shared by Helen Bass, there is mentioned a son of James and Emiline named Thomas. She mentions that he "decided to leave and one day he told his family he was going to Dallas, Texas. He took his wife and children and left and was never heard from again." Well, that's part of my Spurlock-Pitts connection, so I know what happened to him. You can read, The Rest of the Story" here:
https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2019/01/challenge-who-was-cousin-donzie.html.
The Legend states that James died in Anna, Union County, Illinois, and is buried next to his wife and infant son in Casper Cemetery. But, according to the above photo, Emiline and Wiley are buried in Cannon County, Tennessee.
James is buried in Casper Cemetery and here is a photo of his grave marker in Anna, Illinois.
Much of the Legend I was sent apparently is true and has been "proven". And some of the information has been disproved. BUT, the story, passed down by several generations to today, has provided a HUGE number of leads and given us a wonderful story to share. "Thank You" to Helen and all of the others who have shared their stories and research to make this great family LEGEND come alive!
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/3992786/person/-1664390526/media/3cc2c835-fabf-47df-a323-de22f4ce3a1c?_phsrc=SYk101&usePUBJs=true.
In the Pitts Family Legend shared by Helen Bass, there is mentioned a son of James and Emiline named Thomas. She mentions that he "decided to leave and one day he told his family he was going to Dallas, Texas. He took his wife and children and left and was never heard from again." Well, that's part of my Spurlock-Pitts connection, so I know what happened to him. You can read, The Rest of the Story" here:
https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2019/01/challenge-who-was-cousin-donzie.html.
The Legend states that James died in Anna, Union County, Illinois, and is buried next to his wife and infant son in Casper Cemetery. But, according to the above photo, Emiline and Wiley are buried in Cannon County, Tennessee.
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| James "Pap" Pitts. Sent to me by Wiley Pitts |
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| https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77189784/james-pitts |
Much of the Legend I was sent apparently is true and has been "proven". And some of the information has been disproved. BUT, the story, passed down by several generations to today, has provided a HUGE number of leads and given us a wonderful story to share. "Thank You" to Helen and all of the others who have shared their stories and research to make this great family LEGEND come alive!
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
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