CHILDREN

1840 CENSUS--HENRY CO., GA (489th District, page 329, line 7): 

The household of SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT's father (W. O. BECKETT) was listed.  It consisted of 1 male under age 5, 2 males age 5-9, 1 male age 10-14, 1 male age 30-39, 1 female under age 5, and 1 female age 30-39.  There were no slaves.  Three people were employed in agriculture.  (Note:  At this time, SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT and his brother MARION BECKETT would have been between the ages of 5-9, which is consistent with the report.  Their brother GEORGE MADISON BECKETT would have been under age 5, and ADRIEN BECKETT would have been age 10-14.  ELIZABETH BECKETT would have been age 6.  Both their father and their mother would have been age 30-39.  The known ages are consistent with the census report.

1850 CENSUS--TALLAPOOSA CO., AL  (Township 23, taken 3 Jun 1850, by ELI P. POUNCEY):  

Living in Dwelling 1558 (page 106) was the family of SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT's father, W. O. BECKETT.  WILSON BECKETT was still living at home, at this time, and he was 17 years old.  The household included his father W. O. BECKETT, who was age 43 (a farmer, with real estate valued at $1200, born in NC) and his 7 children--(1) JAMES A. BECKETT (age 23, a farmer, born in NC), (2) WILLIAM M. BECKETT (age 20, a farmer, born in NC), (3) SAMUEL W. BECKETT (age 17, a farmer, born in NC), (4) GEORGE M. BECKETT  (age 13, farmer, born in NC), (5) ELLURDES L. BECKETT (female, age 15, born in NC), (6) JOHNATHAN Z. BECKETT (age 9, born in GA), and  (7) QILLY/GILLY A. S. BECKETT (misspelled by the census taker, for QUILLY, female, age 4, born in GA).  (WILSON BECKETT's mother ANN BECKETT is not on this listing, and I have not been able to locate her name, elsewhere in the census reports.  She might been overlooked, or her name inadvertently omitted, by the census taker.  According to divorce records, filed in 1868, she could have been in frail health at this time, perhaps living with another family who were caring for her.  Need to prove.  The sixth child, a daughter, was Ellen Elizabeth or Elizabeth Ellen.  See note under her birth date, on family group record for William O. Beckett, 8/23/1834.) 

(NOTE:  According to the 1850 Slave Schedule for Tallapoosa County, AL, page 691, taken 3 Oct 1850, by ELI T. POUNCEY, WILLIAM O. BECKETT owned 3 Black slaves, at this time--1 female age 38, 1 female age 4, and 1 female listed as "fugitive from the state.") 

Living in Dwelling 1560 (page 106-106B) was the family of HENRY PENNINGER.  He was age 57, a farmer, with real estate valued at  $800, born in NC.  His wife JANE PENNINGER was age 53, born in NC.  Living in their household were five individuals--(1) JAMES  PENNINGER  (age 28, a farmer, with real estate valued at $300), (2) MARGARETTE M. PENNINGER (age 25), (3) DRUCILLA PENNINGER  (age 20), (4) RACHELL P. PENNINGER (age 19), (5) HENRY N. PENNINGER (male, age 17), and (6) PETER W. PENNINGER (age 13).  They were all born in NC.  The two youngest children--Henry and Peter--were attending school, in the year.  (Note:  Jane Penninger was the sister of William O. Beckett.)

Living in the next dwelling was the household of JAMES BECKETT, who was age 77, born in Ireland.  Also living in his household was ELIZABETH BECKETT (age 75, born in NC).  No real estate value was given.

Living in Dwelling 1587 (page 108) was living the family of another of his aunts--MARGARETT WOOLF and her husband JOHNATHAN G. WOOLF (name spelled as in record).   JOHNATHAN G. WOOLF was age 41, a farmer, owning real estate valued at $1000).  MARGARET S. WOOLF was age 47.  They listed 5 children--(1) JANE E. WOOLF (age 18), (2) SARAH E. WOOLF (age 14), (3) JACOB H. WOOLF (age 17),  (4) MARGARETTE A. WOOLF (age 10), and (5) MARY I. WOOLF (age 6).  For further information regarding the BECKETT family in this census, see the family group records (supplementary notes) for WILLIAM O. BECKETT and JAMES BECKETT.  (Note:  For more details from this census, see family group record and supplementary information for WILLIAM O. BECKETT.  See also the printed copy of the entire 1850 Federal Census report for Tallapoosa Co., AL, owned by CCM.)

1855 Feb 24:  SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT was granted license to marry A. E. STOWE (AMY ELIZABETH STOWE), in Tallapoosa Co., AL, per Tallapoosa County, Alabama Marriage Records, Book 3, page 223.  The marriage ceremony was performed by M. C. LANE, Judge of Probate, in March 1855 (exact day of the month not indicated in the record).  (Courthouse record copied by C. MILLER.)  For further information regarding SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT and AMY ELIZABETH STOWE, see the family group record for his father WILLIAM O. BECKETT and for her father ABRAHAM ROBINSON STOWE.

1856 June 6:  The first child of SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT and his wife AMY ELIZABETH (STOWE) BECKETT was born in Tallapoosa Co., AL. They named her FRANCIS ANN BECKETT (later also called "FANNIE" or "FRANNIE").

1859 Apr 27:  The second child of WILSON and AMY ELIZABETH (STOWE) BECKETT was born (WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT), at Tallapoosa County, Alabama.

1860 FEDERAL CENSUS—DADEVILLE (TALLAPOOSA), ALABAMA (Beat 14, taken by J. Crittenden on 3 Sep 1860, page 135):

Living in Dwelling 1040 (Family 953) was the household of JOHN ROSS, who was age 42, a farmer, with no real estate value given, and with personal property valued at $200, born in GA.  Listed in his household was MARTHA ROSS (age 36, born in SC) and 4 children—(1) JAMES L. ROSS (age 19, born in GA), (2) JOHN W. ROSS (age 11, born in GA), (3) ALEXANDER L. ROSS (age 8, born in GA), and (4) ANGUISH L. ROSS (age 6, born in AL).  (Do not know whether these were cousins of SWB, through his mother.)

1860 FEDERAL CENSUS—EAGLE HILL (TALLAPOOSA), ALABAMA (taken 23 Aug 1860 by J. Crittenden, page 109):

Living in Dwelling 916  (Family 842) was the household of WILEY HOPSON, age 60.  He was an “overseer,” by occupation, with personal property valued at $100, no real estate value given, born in GA.  Living in his household was ANN HOPSON, age 58, also born in GA.  (Note:  I believe this was probably the father of Alexander Hopson, who later married Francis Ann Beckett, but need to prove.)

Living in Dwelling 917 (Family 843) was the household of J. F. FLOURNOY, who was age 37, a farmer, with real estate valued at $1000 and personal property valued at $2540, born in GA.  Living in his household was JULIA A. FLOURNOY, who was age 53, born in GA.  (Note:  The widow of Samuel Wilson Beckett married this man in 1865, one year after her husband was killed at the Battle of Jonesboro.  See note under that date.)  According to the 1860 Slave Schedule for Tallapoosa County, AL (page 35), he owned two slaves, at this time--a female, age 26 and a male, age 22.

1860 FEDERAL CENSUS--PINKNEYVILLE (TALLAPOOSA), ALABAMA ((Western Division, Beat 10, taken 28-29 Aug 1860 by S. T. STRICKLAND, Roll M653_25):

Living in Dwelling 1058 (Family 1058, page 350) was the household of JONATHAN G. WOLF, who was listed as age 37, a farmer, with real estate valued at $1920 and personal property valued at $5000.  He was born in NC.  MARGARET WOLF was age 36, born in NC.  They listed 3 children living in their household, all born in NC--(1) JACOB WOLF (age 21), (2) MARGARET A. WOLF (age 18), and (3) MARY S. WOLF (age 16).  (Note:  According to the 1860 Census Slave Schedule for Tallapoosa County, Western Division, taken 24 Jul 1860 by S. T. Strickland, page 18/300, JONATHAN G. WOLF owned 5 slaves--a female age 30, a male age 29, a male age 7, a female age 2, and a female age 4.  He owned one slave house.) See BECKETT file, for copies of census and slave schedule images. 

Living in Dwelling 1097 (Family 1097, page 357) was the household of HENRY PENNAGER (name spelled this way on the record), who was listed as age 61, a farmer, with real estate valued at $900 and personal property valued at $1800, born in NC.  JANE PENNAGER was age 63.  Only one child was living in their household, at this time--RACHEL PENNAGER, who was age 25. (According to the 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Tallapoosa Co., AL, taken 24 Jul 1860 by S. T. Strickland, page 301, HENRY PENAGER owned one slave, a Black male, age 21.)  See BECKETT file, for census microfilm images from the regular and slave censuses

Living in Dwelling 1098 (Family 1098, page 357), was the family of JAMES PENNAGER, age 33, a farmer, with real estate valued at $800 and personal property valued at $695.  They had 3 children--(1) BILL PENNAGER (age 7), (2) JOHN PENNAGER (age 3), and  (3) JOSHUA PENNAGER (age 10 months).  See BECKETT file, for copy of image taken from the census microfilm.

Living in Dwelling 1159 (Family 1159, page 365) was the household of SAMUEL BECKETT (name spelled this way), who was age 30, born in NC, and a farmer with real estate valued at $2000 and personal estate valued at $8000.  THERSY BECKETT (name spelled this way) was age 47, born in NC.  They listed 6 children—(1) ELIZABETH BECKETT (born in GA), (2) ZACHARIAH BECKETT (born in GA, attending school), (3) THERSY BECKETT (age 12, born in AL, attending school), (4) SAMUEL BECKETT (born in AL, attending school), (5)             MARTHA BECKETT (born in AL, not yet attending school), and (6) DOLLY BECKETT (born in AL).  According to the 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule, recorded by Solomon T. Strickland on 1 Sep 1860, page 309, SAMUEL BECKETT owned 5 slaves, at this time--a male age 27, two females age 20, a male age 14, a male age 11; and he owned one  slave house.  This was the son of JAMES and ELIZABETH BECKETT.  See BECKETT file, for copies of images taken from census microfilm, for both the regular census and the slave schedule.

Living in Dwelling 1162 (Family 1162, page 365) was the household of WILLIAM BECKETT.  He was age 54, born in NC, a farmer with real estate valued at $3000 and personal estate valued at $7000.  ANN B. BECKETT was age 52, born in NC.  They listed 4 children living in the home—(1) ELIZABETH BECKETT (born in NC, age 22), (2) GEORGE M. BECKETT (age 21, born in NC), (3) JOHN BECKETT (age 19, born in GA, attending school), and (4) QUILLA BECKETT (age 14, born in GA, attending school).  ).  According to the 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, reported by Solomon T. Strickland, 30 Aug 1860, page 35/308--WILLIAM BECKETT owned 7 slaves, at this time--4 Black females (ages 47, 23, 14, and 4), 1 Mulatto female (age 12), and 2 Black males (ages 17 and 3).  He had one slave house.)  .  This was the son of JAMES and ELIZABETH BECKETT.  See BECKETT file, for copies of images taken from census microfilm, for both the regular census and the slave schedule.  NOTE:  I have not been able to locate William and Annie Beckett’s son JAMES ADRIAN BECKETT, in this census.  He probably was living in the area, since he enlisted in the Confederate Cavalry at Youngville (Tallapoosa), AL, in 1863.  According to family tradition, passed down through the descendants of WILLIAM MARION BECKETT, in Arkansas, JAMES ADRIAN BECKETT and his father "had a falling out" at some point, and JAMES was "run off." 

Living in Dwelling 1163 (Family 1163, page 365-366) was the household of WILSON BECKETT.  He was age 24, born in NC, a farmer with personal estate valued at $300.  No value was given for real estate, so he was probably farming some of his father’s land.  ELIZABETH BECKETT was age 24, born in AL.  They listed two children, both born in AL—(1) FRANCES BECKETT (age 4) and (2) WILLIAM BECKETT (age 1).  ).  They did not own any slaves.  This was the son of WILLIAM and ANN BECKETT.  See BECKETT file, for copy of census microfilm image and worksheet.

Living in Dwelling 1164 (Family 1164, page 366) was the household of W. M. BECKETT, who was age 30, born in NC, a farmer with personal estate valued at $100.  There was no real estate value given.  He probably was helping to farm his father’s land.  LUCINDA BECKETT was age 24, born in GA.  They listed 3 children, all born in AL—(1) WILLIAM BECKETT (born in AL), (2) JACKSON BECKETT (age 2), and (3) JAMES W. BECKETT (age 4 months).  They did not own any slaves.  This was the son of WILLIAM and ANN BECKETT.  See BECKETT file, for copy of census microfilm image and worksheet.

NOTE:  There were several ROSS households listed in Tallapoosa County, this census, but I have not been able to prove a connection with our BECKETT family.  ISAAC ROSS was listed in the 1860 Federal Slave Schedule as having owned 62 slaves (living in Tallapoosa County, Western Division, this information taken 24 July 1860,by S. T. Strickland).  There were several other ROSS, PENNINGER, OSBORN families listed in the slave schedules.  See BECKETT file, for details, copied from microfilm by CCM.

1860 FEDERAL CENSUS—STOWE’S FERRY (TALLAPOOSA), ALABAMA (Beat 14, taken 7 Sep 1860, by J. Crittenden, page 149):

Living in Dwelling 1154 (Family 1048) was the household of WILLIAM OSBORNE, who was age 30, a carpenter, with real estate valued at $600 and personal property valued at $100, born in GA.  Living with him was MARTHA OSBORNE, age 22, born in GA, and one child—GEORGIA A. OSBORNE (age 10 months, born in AL).  (This was probably a cousin of SWB, but need to prove.)

1860 Sep 6:  ELIZABETH C. BECKETT married JOSHUA T. FLYNT at Tallapoosa Co., AL, per Tallapoosa County Alabama Marriage Records.

1861 Jan 10:  SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT bought land in Coosa Co., AL (Section 2, Township 24, Range 18), his residence being Coosa Co., AL, per Old Montgomery Land Office Records and Military Warrants 1834-1869, taken from the REGISTER OF CERTIFICATES 1856-1860, Certificate No. 15342.  It is not clear whether he was granted this land or purchased it, as he was listed as "purchaser," yet was under the category "WAR."  (Need to check Coosa Co., AL, land records.)

1862 Apr-Jun:  On Apr 15, the 34th Regiment, Alabama Infantry was organized at Loachapoka (Tallapoosa), AL.  This is the regiment in which both SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT and WILLIAM MARION BECKETT served; however, it appears that MARION BECKETT did not enlist at this time.   It is not known whether WILSON BECKETT enlisted at this time, as his military record does not specify.  In any case, this regiment then went to Tupelo, MS, to join GEN. BRAGG's army; and they were attached to MANIGAULT's brigade, along with the 24th and 28th Alabama Regiments, from then until the end of the war.  On June 30th, the regiment was encamped at Tupelo, in GEN. MANIGAULT's brigade, WITHERS's division, Army of the Mississippi.  According to CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY, VOL. VIII, ALABAMA, the 34th Alabama proceeded with the army into Kentucky but did little fighting, being "on the reserve."  Meantime, back home in Alabama, WILSON BECKETT's only son (WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT) celebrated his third birthday, on April 27th; and his daughter FANNIE/FRANNIE BECKETT celebrated her 6th birthday, on June 6th.  On June 20th, a third child was born to WILSON and AMY ELIZABETH BECKETT--a daughter, who was named LENORA ALICE ALABAMA BECKETT.  

1862 Dec 31-Jan 2:  The first battle experience for the 34th Alabama was described as "a bitter one"--the battle of Murfreesboro, in KY.  There were 11 men killed and 77 men wounded.  By this time, they were part of the Army of the Tennessee.  According to official war records, GEN. MANIGAULT commended the men of the 34th AL for their bravery.  Military records of WILSON and MARION BECKETT do not specify whether they were present for duty. 

1863 Mar 20:  A son was born to WILLIAM MARION BECKETT and his wife LUCINDA.  According to family tradition, passed down among the descendants of MARION BECKETT, in Arkansas (and related by MILES DELL BECKETT to LEROY BECKETT, in 1960), MARION BECKETT never saw this infant son, as he was on the battlefield, at the time.  This would indicate that WILSON and MARION BECKETT were probably with the 34th Alabama, when this regiment went "in early spring, to East Tennessee" (this movement per CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY, VOL. VIII, ALABAMA).  In fact, according to WILLIAM MARION BECKETT's Confederate military pension application (No. 4440, filed in Arkansas, 1902), he had served with the 34th Alabama Infantry from 1863-1865. 

1863 September:  On Sep 19-20, the 34th Alabama Infantry was engaged in the fighting at Chicamauga, Tennessee.  Their military records do not specify whether the BECKETT brothers were present.  The 34th Alabama was in MANIGAULT's brigade, left wing, with GENERAL LONGSTREET, with MAJ. JOHN N. SLAUGHTER commanding.  According to official war records, GEN. MANIGAULT commended the regiment and highly commended MAJ. SLAUGHTER.

1863 November 25:  The regiment of MARION and WILSON BECKETT (34th Alabama) was at Missionary Ridge, where many of the command were made prisoners.  Their military records do not indicate whether they were present.  Their regiment remained in this area, into the month of December.  According to Confederate Military History, COLONEL MITCHELL was in command of the regiment, as of Dec 10th, and a total of 388 men were present, on Dec 14th.  CAPT. R. G. WELCH commanded the regiment.  In the winter of 1863 to 1864, the regiment recruited at Dalton and was then in all the major engagements from there to Atlanta.  On January 20th, 1864, CAPT. J. C. CARTER commanded the regiment.

1864 Mar 17:  SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT was ill with "remittant fever," to the extent that he could not appear for duty with his military unit.  A letter from his physician states, "This is to certify that S. W. BECKETT private in Co. B, 34th Regiment, Ala Vol., is unable to report to an army surgeon from remitent fever and would actually endanger his life to do so.  I therefore recommend an extention of his furlough fifteen days this March 17th, 1864.  W. L. Banks, M. D."  He did, in fact, report for duty at Dalton, on April 5.  (See BECKETT file, for copy of this record.)

1864 Apr 5:  WILLIAM MARION BECKETT and his brother SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT both reported for duty near Dalton, Georgia, at the outset of the Battles for Atlanta, per muster rolls in each of their military records.  Both were serving in the 34th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, with MARION in Co. I, and WILSON in Co. B.  Their regiment was in all the major engagements from there to Atlanta, according to CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY, vol. VIII.

1864 Jul:  On July 9-10, GEN. JOHNSTON's army crossed the W/A railroad, to Atlanta.  From July 20-28, the 34th AL Infantry in which MARION and WILSON were serving, were fighting in Atlanta, in CLEBURNE's division.  On July 20, they fought at the Battle of Peachtree Creek, under GEN. HOOD, against GEN. SHERMAN, and on Thursday, the 21st, a truce was called, to bury the thousands of dead from that battle.  That night, they were on the march.  The next day, they participated in Hood's 1st sortie, at Atlanta,  (July 22) and at Ezra Church, on the 28th.  Their regiment was mentioned in GEN. MANIGAULT's report of the Battle at Ezra Church (July 28).  Losses were heavy.  Their commanding officer, J. N. SLAUGHTER, in his report of operations of July 28, spoke with great admiration and highest appreciation of the conduct of his regiment, saying, "We labored under great difficulties.  The regiment was nearly without water, not having time to fill their canteens before going into action.  They had marched two or three miles without resting.  In this, as in most other engagements, the regiment has suffered from rapid movements, just before going under fire."  He further stated in his report that it would probably not be his lot to again command this regiment, which had "conducted itself so well on all occasions and under all emergencies, that it has only to be known that it was engaged to know that it has done well."  He expressed the hope that their next commander would find them as faithful and gallant as he had.  According to war records, the 34th Alabama was, on July 31st, under command of Manigault's brigade, Lee’s corps., Army of Tennessee, GEN. HOOD, with CAPT. HENRY J. RIX commanding the regiment.  

1864 August:  This must have been a terrible month for the BECKETT family, with one son already slain, and another, Jonathan Z. fighting in Virginia. (He had already been wounded.)  The remaining 3 sons (Samuel Wilson, Adrian, and William Marion) were all three fighting with their regiments, in the battles for Atlanta (according to their military records).  The regiments in Atlanta were reported to be plagued with fatigue, battle-weary, lacking adequate water and food.  The family may have received only sketchy reports, if any at all, during this period.  By the 3rd week of August, the struggle for the city was at a stalemate, and they were engaged in trench warfare.  In Virginia, J. Z. BECKETT's regiment (14th Alabama) fought at Weldon R. R., Aug 18-20, then at Ream’s Station, on Aug 25. 

1864 Aug 31:  SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT was killed at the Battle of Jonesboro, at Jonesboro (Clayton), GA.  MAJ. J. N. SLAUGHTER was the commanding officer of the regiment, that day, per war records.  According to BECKETT family tradition, SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT's brother WILLIAM MARION witnessed his death; his head was reportedly shot off by a minnie ball.  FAYE OLMSTEAD, of Arkansas (the granddaughter of his sister ELIZABETH BECKETT BAILEY), said that her grandmother had told her that WILSON's "head was shot off by a minnie ball in the Civil War."  This tradition was also passed down through the SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT line that had settled in Mississippi—through the son of Samuel W. Beckett.   As the Confederate soldiers were in retreat, there was not time to bury their dead on the field, that hot August day.  Therefore, throughout that night, most of the bodies lay where they had fallen that afternoon--among them, WILSON BECKETT.  The next day, Union soldiers buried the dead in two common graves, on the battlefield.  Several years later, the bodies were removed from this field to the present-day Patrick R.  Cleburne Confederate Cemetery, which is situated on part of the original battlefield, in Jonesboro.  Circumstantial evidence points to this being the final resting place of our WILSON BECKETT.  

1864 Sep-Dec:  After the defeat at Jonesboro, MARION BECKETT apparently proceeded, with his regiment, northward, into Tennessee,  where they did not take part in the worst of the fighting at Franklin, TN, but were almost annihilated at Nashville, TN, on  December 15th and 16th.  On the 23rd of December, just four months after WILSON BECKETT's death on the battlefield, his youngest daughter, LENORA ALICE ALABAMA BECKETT, died, at two and one-half years of age, at home in Tallapoosa Co., AL.  The cause of death is not known.

1865 Jan-Apr:  WILSON and MARION BECKETT's regiment (the 34th Alabama) continued into the Carolinas, fighting at Kinston, NC, on Mar 14th, and at Bentonville, on Mar 19th.  They were consolidated with the 24th and 28th Alabama regiments and were surrendered at High Point, NC, on  Apr 9th, with no more than 100 men left of the 34th Alabama (per CONFEDERATE MILITARY  HISTORY).  For more information on the movements of the 34th Alabama, after the Battle of Jonesboro, until the end of the war, see supplementary notes to family group record for WILLIAM O. BECKETT.

1865 Nov 16:  AMY ELIZABETH (STOWE) BECKETT remarried, one year after WILSON BECKETT's death, to JOHN F. FLOURNOY, at Tallapoosa County, AL, per Tallapoosa County Alabama Marriage Records, Book 6, page 264 (license dated 15 Nov 1865), with F. M. SANDERS as bondsman and ceremony performed by WILLIAM ROGERS, Justice of the Peace.  (See BECKETT file, for photocopy).  For more information about the family of JOHN FLOURNOY and AMY BECKETT FLOURNOY, see the family group records for ABRAHAM ROBINSON STOWE and WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT.  According to research done by Lee Roy Beckett and Frederick E. Beckett, AMY and JOHN FLOURNOY had 5 children by their marriage, so that W. W. BECKETT and FRANCIS BECKETT grew up with other siblings-- (1) CORNELIUS FRANKLIN FLOURNOY (born 29 Aug 1866 in AL, d. 13 Feb 1905 in Calhoun Co., MS), (2) JOEL MANSON FLOURNOY (born 29 Jun 1868, d. 20 Feb 1880), (3) SARA HELEN ELIZABETH FLOURNOY (born 21 Apr 1871), (4) VIRGINIA BELL FLOURNOY (born 8 Sep 1874), and (5) PRUET STOWE FLOURNOY (female, born 28 Apr 1878, d. County Home, Webster Co., MS, 2 Dec 1957).  This information is consistent with the 1870 census information, below.  (See also the 1860 Federal Census note, above, regarding J. F. FLOURNOY.)  (LEE ROY BECKETT referred to his "AUNT PRUET" and "AUNT BELL,” in correspondence written about 1960.)  JOHN FLOURNOY died in Calhoun Co., MS, probably in or near Slate Springs, MS, where they lived.  He was buried in Crossroads Cemetery in Slate Springs (Calhoun), MS, per tombstone inscription.

1868 Apr 7:  ANN BROWN ROSS BECKETT (grandmother of SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT) filed for divorce from WILLIAM O. BECKETT.  It was granted, on May 29th.  For details, see supplementary information attached to the family group record for WILLIAM O. BECKETT.

1868 Jul 8:  WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT's grandfather, WILLIAM O. BECKETT, died, this date.

1868 Jul-1870:  The estate of WILLIAM O. BECKETT was in probate, several records mentioning WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT and his sister FRANCIS A. BECKETT.  For details, see supplementary section of family group record for WILLIAM O. BECKETT.

1870 FEDERAL CENSUS—NEWTONVILLE (FAYETTE), ALABAMA (Township 17, Range 12, taken 12 Jul 1870 by Jno. P. Moore), page 448B (lines 26-32): 

Living in Dwelling 26 (Family 26) was the household of J. F. FLORNEY (actually should be Flournoy).  He was 46 years old, a farmer, with real estate valued at $800 and personal estate valued at $500. He was born in GA.  M. E. FLORNEY was age 34, “keeping house,” and born in Alabama.  (This was actually “Amy,” not “M. E.”)  They listed 4 children, all born in AL—(1) F. A. BRAKETT (actually, Francis Ann BECKETT, age 14, occupation given as “attending,” meaning “attending school”), (2) W. W. BRAKETT (actually W. W. BECKETT, age 14, occupation given as “attending,” meaning “attending school,” indicated that he could not read and write), (3) C. F. FLORNEY (this actually being CORNELIUS FRANKLIN FLOURNOY, age 4, “at home”), and (5) J. M. FLORNEY (actually being JOEL MANSON FLOURNOY, age 2).  Also living with the family was AL HOPSON, age 28, a farmer, born in Georgia, could not read or write.  Copy of census microfilm image and worksheet on file. 

1870 FEDERAL CENSUS--HACKNEYVILLE (TALLAPOOSA), ALABAMA (taken 16 Aug 1870, by JAMES M. HOLLEY), page 30:

Living in Dwelling 213 (Family 213) was the family of MARION BECKETT.  He was age 40, a "farmer," with real estate valued at $700 and personal property valued at $600, born in NC.  Living in his household was his wife LUCINDA BECKETT (age 36, "keeping house," born in GA).  They listed five children--(1) ROBERT BECKETT (age 14), (2) ROSS BECKETT (age 12), (3) JAMES BECKETT (age 10), (4) MILES BECKETT (age 4), (5) ANNA BECKETT (age 1).  The oldest 3 children had attended school, in the year.

1870 September:  Administrators of the estate of WILLIAM O. BECKETT--J. Z. BECKETT and WILLIAM M. BECKETT--petitioned the court to allow them to sell the land of WILLIAM O. BECKETT, in order to pay debts, the sale of all his personal property not having been sufficient to do so.  In this petition, they mentioned SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT's children as heirs to his share of the estate.   "There are also the two grandchildren, the children of S. W. BECKETT deceased, who are minors under 14 years of age, and named FRANCES A. and WALTER BECKETT, who live with and are under the control of their mother AMY BECKETT who was the widow of said S. W. BECKETT, who has since intermarried with JOHN FLORNOY, the said AMY and JOHN being over 21 years and who reside near Davis Creek Post Office in Fayette County, Alabama.  The said S. W. BECKETT having died before the said WM. O. BECKETT to wit,  in AD 1864."  (See family group record for WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT, for more details.)

1872 Aug 21:  FRANCIS A. BECKETT married ALEXANDER HOPSON, the young man who had been living with her family in Fayette Co., Alabama, in August 1870, at the time of the census.  (See that census note, above.)   Her name was written as FRANCIS M. BUKETT, on the marriage record; and his name was written ALEXR. HOPSON.  They were married at the home of WILLIAM PRICE, by W. F. PRATER, J. P.  (This information copied from Marriages of Jones and Sanford Counties, 1867-1877, Volume One (compiled by Ann Cantrell, who found the information in Sanford County and Lamar County Marriages 1870-1877,page 211.  In the latter record, Sanford County is marked through in 1877, and Lamar County is handwritten in the record.) The next month, a court record (see Sep 1870 note, above) indicated that FRANCES A. BECKETT was still living in the household of her mother and stepfather.  She apparently married between that time and three years later, for the August 1873 court record stated that she was the wife of ALEXANDER HOPSON (see note below).  ALEXANDER HOPSON apparently deceased by 1877, because the 1910 Federal Census (Calhoun Co., MS--see details from that census, on family group record for C. C. DOSS) indicated that she had married C. C. DOSS in 1877.  (The report stated that they had been married for 33 years.)   (Note:  See also related notes below and family group record for C. C. DOSS.)

1873 Aug 6:  ALEXANDER HOPSON and wife FRANCIS A. HOPSON, of Sanford County, Alabama, gave Power of Attorney to JOHN SCOTT, of Tallapoosa County, Alabama, to recover monies due her from the estate of her grandfather WILLIAM O. BECKETT.  ALEXANDER HOPSON was FANNIE's first husband.  A. L. STOWE, the uncle of FRANCIS BECKETT, and J. B. WILLIAMS attested to the signatures.  Certified 31 Jan 1874, in Sanford Co., AL.   JOHN SCOTT was the brother-in-law of AMY E. BECKETT (married to her sister).  (See BECKETT file, for photocopy of the record.)

1874 February 19:   "FRANCES A. and ALEXANDER HOPSON received through JOHN SCOTT the sum of $140.00, as their part of the estate of WILLIAM O. BECKETT.  JOHN SCOTT also had been appointed to be guardian of WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT's share of the estate.  He was the uncle of FANNIE and WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT, married to POLLY STOWE, who was the sister of their mother AMY.   (See family group record on ABRAHAM ROBISON STOWE, for more information on him.)  See BECKETT file, for more information.)

1874 Apr 2:  JOHN W. SCOTT petitioned the Court of Probate, Tallapoosa Co., AL, to appoint him Guardian of the estate of WALTER BECKETT (worth about $140), a minor under 14 years, who was living in Sanford Co., AL.  He stated that he was the uncle of WALTER BECKETT.  TALLAPOOSA COUNTY ALABAMA PROBATE COURT RECORDS.  (NOTE:  A new guardian had to be appointed to represent the interests of WILLIAM WALTER and FRANCIS BECKETT in their grandfather's estate, because MARION BECKETT had already moved away, and JONATHAN ZEPHANIAH BECKETT was preparing to also move to Arkansas, soon.  See family group record for WILLIAM O. BECKETT, under "1873 Dec 28."  JOHN SCOTT was the husband of POLLY STOWE, who was sister of AMY ELIZABETH (STOWE) (BECKETT) FLOURNOY—the uncle of W. W. BECKETT.

1877:  Sometime during this year, C. C. DOSS married FRANCIS ANN (BECKETT) HOPSON.  This is according to the 1910 Federal Census for Calhoun Co., MS, in which they reported they had been married for 33 years.  I have not seen a marriage record, to verify the date and place of marriage.  However, according to GRADY DOSS (the grandson of C. C. DOSS, son of ELBERT DOSS), his grandfather had moved to Mississippi from Alabama in about 1876.  Therefore, they may have married in Mississippi.  Need to prove.

1880 FEDERAL CENSUS--ALABAMA: 

No FLOURNOY household was listed as living in Alabama, by this time.  They may have already moved to Mississippi, where W. W. BECKETT married LOUISA MONGREELEY DOSS, this year, also where his sister was reported living with her husband C. C. DOSS, in Calhoun County.  (See census note, below.)  Also by this year, the surviving two brothers of the BECKETT family--WILLIAM MARION BECKETT and JONATHAN ZEPHANIAH BECKETT--had already made their move, by covered wagon, to Arkansas.   (See supplementary note under WILLIAM O. BECKETT)

1880 FEDERAL CENSUS--CALHOUN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI (Supervisor’s District 1, Enumeration District 16, taken 3 & 5 Jul 1880 by John M. Dunn), T9_642, page 612A (lines 29-34):

Living in Dwelling 194 (Family 194) was the household of CISERO C. DOSS, who was age 34, a farmer, born in AL (his father born in GA, his mother’s birth place left blank).  His wife FRANCIS A. DOSS was agae 24, born in AL (as were both her parents).  Her occupation was listed as “Keeping.”  They listed four children, all born in AL—(1) LOUISA M. DOSS (daughter, age 14, “assisting in housework”), (2) JAMES E. DOSS (son, age 13, “working on farm”), (3) SARRAH R. DOSS (daughter, age 11, “assisting in houseword”), and (4) MARY H. DOSS (daughter, age 8).  Copy of census microfilm image and worksheet on file.

1880 Dec 23:  WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT, son of SAMUEL WILSON BECKETT and AMY ELIZABETH STOWE BECKETT, married LOUISA MONGREELY DOSS daughter of CISCERO C. DOSS and CHARLOTTE ("LOTTIE") GOINS/GOING.  LOUISA's mother LOTTIE had died sometime after 1870, and LOUISA's father (C. C. DOSS) subsequently had remarried, to W. W. BECKETT's sister, FRANCIS A. BECKETT HOPSON, in 1877 (per 1910 FEDERAL CENSUS).  (She was probably a widow, her husband ALEXANDER HOPSON apparently having deceased sometime after 1874. See Feb 1874 note, above.)  For further information regarding their marriage and descendants, see family group record for WILLIAM WALTER BECKETT, supplementary section.

1885 Sep 8:  AMY ELIZABETH (STOWE)(BECKETT) FLOURNOY died and was buried in the Crossroads Cemetery, located at Slate Springs (Calhoun), MS (about 10 miles southeast of Calhoun City, Calhoun Co., MS).  Her tombstone reads, “A. E. Flournoy, wife of J. F. Flournoy/ born 9/9/1835/ d. 9/9/1885.”  She is buried beside J. F. Flournoy, who died 2/17/1888.  Read by CCM, July 2000.

1888 Feb 17:  JOHN F. FLOURNOY died and was buried at Crossroads Cemetery, Slate Springs (Calhoun), MS, beside his wife A. E. STOWE BECKETT FLOURNOY.

 

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Information on this page was last updated on 1/28/2010 10:00:16 AM