Chapter 7: John (b. c. 1794) and Winnifred Harrell, 3^rd Generation

  

According to Winborne’s history of the county, John Harrell (b. c. 1794) was the grandson of Lt. John Harrell (John Esquire). Winborne provided an unusual amount of information about this Harrell family—he speaks of John’s wife, Winnifred Bell; of some of their children; and of John’s grandfather, John Esquire.[1] Unfortunately, he fails to mention the missing link between John Esquire and John (b. c. 1794). I have indicated above that I feel Nathan was probably one of John Esquire’s sons, and I have further suggested that John (b. c. 1794) was probably a son of Nathan Harrell. Nathan is the weak link in this three generation line. I am confident of the grandfather/grandson relationship between the Johns, but Nathan is, at best, a probable link. Because Nathan died in 1802, it was more difficult than usual to trace his younger children to adulthood. When Nathan’s widow married George Gordon the tracking process became even more complicated. Nonetheless, from among John (b. c. 1794) Harrell’s possible fathers in Hertford County, I believe Nathan was his most probable father.

 

The slot I have proposed for John (b. c. 1794) can be seen in Nathan and Elizabeth’s 1800 census entry, we can see the places for all their known as well as probable children.

 

1800 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

*I have inserted the names of their known children, and then used parentheses to mark their probable children: John, Josiah, and Elizabeth are only probably children of Nathan and Elizabeth.

 

            Nathan and Elizabeth had two sons in the age group zero to ten—I think it is very probable that John (b. 1794) was the older of the two at age six. This would make John, Nathan and Elizabeth’s second son if it is true. After Nathan died in 1802, John was probably with his mother, Elizabeth, who had married George Gordon by 1810.

 

In addition, it is relatively easy to say that Nathan and Elizabeth were the only 2^nd Generation Hertford Harrells with enough wealth to give John (b. c. 1794) a start in economic life almost comparable to Starkey Sharp Harrell’s. Soon after John set up his household in 1815, he had $1,220 worth of land and possessed 6 slaves (Table 15, page 128). These factors make Nathan and Elizabeth the most probable parents for John.

 [page 206]

John (b. c. 1794) and Winnifred Harrell

 

In addition to making a substantial appearance in the 1815 Tax List (Table 15, page 128), John (b. c. 1794) and his wife, Winnifred, looked very established by 1820. According to a genealogy compiled recently by Mrs. Mary Britton of St. Johns, Hertford County, for some of John’s descendants still in the area, John (b. 1794) married Winnifred Bell on January 4, 1814.[2] Winborne also identified Winnifred as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bell of Enfield (which is in Halifax County, just over 30 miles west of St. Johns). This was confirmed in the Biblical record cited by Mrs. Mary Britton. John and Winnifred appeared in their own household for the first time in 1820.                             

 

1820 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

In 1820, John Harrell (b. c. 1794) was in his own household, and he possessed about the number of slaves that his mother, Elizabeth Gordon’s household was reduced by between 1810 and 1820. John was about 26 years old at the time of the 1820 census—I think his age was more than likely just recorded in the wrong “column” on the census page (they used paper without columns lines). According to the 1820 census, John and Winnifred  Harrell had five children under the age of 10, by that time

 

            John Harrell (b. c. 1794) died before April 1, 1830. On that date, the sale of the property in his estate took place. It seems not much property was sold at that time, the only Harrells to make purchases were John Jr., and Winniford. John Jr. was probably John W. Harrell, John (b. c. 1794) and Winnifred’s 16 year old son. The Winnefred at the sale was undoubtedly John’s (b. c. 1794) widow. The accounting for the bulk of John’s estate took place and was recorded at the February Court of Pleas &c 1832. This accounting shows cash was paid on accounts to several Harrells: namely Elisha, David, Abner, John T., and Winneford.[3]

 

            There were cash payments made from John’s (b. c. 1794) estate on May 18, 1831 to John’s widow, Winneford, for her year’s provision with interest, totaling $339.32. She was also reimbursed for the costs of keeping their slaves—an additional $32.25. Then again on February 27, 1832 the administrators listed a payment going to John Harrell’s widow (named Winneford) on May 18, 1832 in the amount of $324.20 for a years provisions.

 

John died when his children were young, but Winnifred was with their family for the 1830 and 1840 censuses. With Winnifred as the head of household in the census entry for 1830, their family had the following look about it.

  [page 207]

1830 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            In 1820, Winnifred Bell Harrell was between 16 and 25 years of age. The 1830 census shows her as 20-30 years old at that time. Her age, then, was probably from 26 to 30 years (b. 1801-1804). Also, according to the 1830 census, it appears Winafred managed to keep the household pretty much intact. As mentioned above, she participated in the estate sale of her late husband, John, on December 22, 1830, and bought most of the items on sale including the slaves. She also apparently kept her children with her.

 

            By 1840, many of Winnifred’s children were still at home, and it appears that she may have been with-child when John (b. c. 1794) died in early 1830, because she had a son under the age of ten with her in 1840.

 

1840 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

John (b. c. 1794) and Winnifred’s Children

 

            By 1830, it appeared John and Winnifred had about ten children—about ten children in 20 years is almost a “text book” child rearing pattern. What is surprising is that Winnifred survived the period, and was able to manage her large farm and raise many of their children on her own—with the help of several servants, of course. In any event, with the help of Winborne’s history, and the genealogy compiled by Mrs. Mary Britton, it seems John and Winnefred’s family was composed of the following:

           

                John Whitmell Harrell                         b. December 1, 1814            & was 16 years old in 1830

                Henry Francis Harrell                          b. May 1, 1816                     he died January 1, 1826

                Evaline Mary Harrell                           b. March 15, 1818               & was 12 years old in 1830

                Olivia Young Harrell                            b. April 29, 1820                  & was 10 years old in 1830

                Catherine Amanda Harrell                  b. February 21, 1822            & was 8 years old in 1830

                Jarret Norfleet Harrell                          b. January 24, 1824              & was 6 years old in 1830

                William Joseph Harrell                        b. January 10, 1826              & was 4 years old in 1830

                Marmaduke Wesley Harrell               b. February 23, 1827             & was 2 years old in 1830

                Andrew Jackson Harrell                     b. September 21, 1829          & was 1 year old in 1830

[page 208] 

 

Winnifred received some help in raising her young family from William B. Wynns, who was probably related. According to the historian, Winborne, William B. Wynns took John W., and at a later date Jarret Norfleet Harrell, under his wing and taught them the mercantile business. Mr. Wynns was living in Barfields at the time and took the boys to live with him, and work in his large mercantile business there. John W. was made a clerk in Wynns’ store, and when he came of age he was made a partner in the business. When Jarret N. came of age he was made a clerk in the same store. Soon after John W. and Jarret N. moved to Murfreesboro and started a mercantile business under the name of “J. W. Harrell & Bro.”—it was very successful.[4]  

[page 209] 

            The information I have on John (b. c. 1794) and Winnifred Harrell’s children is presented in the following sections.

 

John Whitmell Harrell (b. 1814)—4^th Generation

 

            After his successful apprenticeship and partnership with William B. Wynns in Barfields, John W. relocated to Murfreesboro in Hertford County. By the time he appears in the 1850 census, he had been married to Martha Pipkin Montgomery—the widow of George Montgomery.

 

1850 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            John W. and his wife, Martha, had their two daughters, Sarah “Sallie” M. and “Florie” (Florence) by 1850. They also had two of John’s brothers living with them at that time—Jarret Norfleet and Andrew Jackson Harrell.

 

            Just before the 1850 census was taken, John W. and his family went through a rough time. One of the most notable historians of Hertford County was writing a series of articles for the Murfreesboro Inquirer in 1877 and 1878. One of his accounts focused on a small pox outbreak in April of 1849 that took place in the family of John W. Harrell of Murfreesboro. The historian reporting the event was concerned with the “great calamity” that hit the new Baptist Seminary in Murfreesboro causing it to be closed, and noting that because of such precautions the disease did not spread beyond the Harrell household. Fortunately for most, the small pox outbreak was confined to John W. Harrell’s house, but it is not known what impact it had within the family. The article goes on to point out that “Mr. Harrell was as excellent man and a prosperous merchant of the village contracted the disease in some unknown way while purchasing his Spring goods in the Northern cities.”[5]

 

            By 1860, John W. and Martha were living with their two daughters. Sallie and Florie were much closer in age in 1860 than they had been in 1850—the age difference would change again by 1870. As in many families, a young woman’s age is not a matter of consistency.

[page 210] 

 

1860 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            The 1860 census confirms what we knew about the county of birth for John W. Harrell—he was born in Hertford County and so was his wife, Martha and their two daughters. The most obvious change in the make up of John W. and Martha’s household was the absence of any of John’s brothers. (Jarret had moved next door.)

 

            It clearly had been a prosperous decade for John W. Harrell. The value of his real estate more than doubled to $8,000 in 1860, and his personal wealth was very significant. He was primarily a merchant, which meant a good deal of his personal wealth had been in the form of goods and merchandise rather than slaves. Consequently, while his wealth did diminish from 1860 to 1870, it was not as profound a decrease as the wealthy planters experienced. In 1860 his real estate holdings had a value of $8,000, he still had over $5,000 worth in 1870. His loss of personal wealth reflected both the loss of slaves and of merchandise during the War—from a pre-war level of $31,000 to $5,000 by 1870.

 

A good deal of his reduced wealth in real estate, however, came from post-war sales. For instance, on October 9, 1866, John W. sold 130 acres to Nancy Best. It was bounded by James A. Riddick, Langly Taylor and William M. Montgomery decd.. It was the land Nancy Best was then living on, “The Tom Handcock Place.” Witnessed by Henry D. Harrell, David Harrell.[6]

 

Less than three years later, on March 10, 1869, John W. and Martha sold William E. and James E. Britt 187 acres for $390.00. The parcel was near the land sold in 1866. It was adjoining the lands of William M. Montgomery, Henry Baker, Langley Taylor, and others. John and Martha were assigned this land from F. W. Bond in Bankruptcy of December 1868.[7] In 1867, John W. Harrell was the administrator for the estate of his brother-in-law, William M. Montgomery—Amanda C. Harrell Montgomery’s husband.

 

1870 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            In 1870, he identified his occupation as a retired merchant; that designation probably reflected his mood more than his activities because he continued to be active in business with his brothers and then nephews for some time to come.

 

By 1870, John and Martha’s family was still intact—they had no sons to lose in the War. Their two daughters, however, were still at home in 1870. Daughter Sallie M. married Job R. Hall later in the year—on December 15, 1870. They also had George N. Harrell living with them. George was still living and working with them in 1880, and was identified then as a nephew. He was in fact Joseph (William Joseph) Harrell’s son from Northampton—he was there undoubtedly to learn the way of business from the master, uncle John W. Harrell.

 [page 211]

            John W. continued to sell his real estate holdings during the 1870s. On January 1, 1873, John W. sold 23 acres to James T. Elliott for $230.00. It adjoined the land of Louis Griffith, and was one half of the parcel of land John W. had bought from John J. Parker on August 27, 1866. The document was witnessed by his brother, J. N. Harrell.[8] Around 1875, John W. sold 4 acres to Levi Brown for $132.00. The land was next to that of W. Turner, R. Rayner, James M. Wynns, etc.. It was part of the old Askew Tract.[9] John W. and Martha Harrell sold another 19 acres to Abner J. Holloman for $76.00 on June 1, 1877. The land was bounded by the land of A. J. Holloman, the Hot House Branch, etc., and was part of the tract purchased by John W. Harrell from John Burthall on the north side of Hot House Branch. Just twenty days later John W. and Martha sold $336.00 worth of the same parcel to Samuel J. Holloman.[10]

 

            John W. met his community responsibilities in a number of ways. For instance, he was a Justice of the Peace in the 1840s; and he was a member and Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners from 1868 to 1870.

 

            By 1880, John Whitmell and Martha Harrell’s household had the following look.

 

1880 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            John W. and Martha Harrell continue to appear busy at 65 years of age. John W. no longer listed himself as a retired merchant, but as an active merchant in dry-goods. John’s nephew, George N. Harrell (son of Joseph), had been living with John and Martha for more than 10 years by 1880 and was probably running the business.

 

            John W. Harrell was the oldest son of John (b. c. 1794) and Winnifred Harrell, yet he out-lived all of his brothers. He was, in Winborne’s words “... widely known as a most excellent business man and leading Methodist, and a hospitable gentleman.”[11] John W. Harrell’s will was written on January 7, 1887, and a codicil was added after his brother, Jarret, died in 1892. The will was found and submitted to the Court on October 1, 1894—his will provided for an interesting mix of people:[12]

 

John H. Hall                          his grandson from Sarah M.

Sallie M. Hall                        his only surviving child

J. R. Hall                                 may be a grandson born to Sarah after 1880

George Pipkin                       Pipkin was his wife’s maiden name

Susan M. Frank                    maybe a married daughter of Sarah M. Hall

 [page 212]

John W. & Martha Harrell’s Descendants

 

            Their daughter Flora was still living with her parents in 1880 at the age of 33. She died at a relatively young age, and not much is known about her.

Sarah M. “Sallie” Harrell Hall (b. 1846)—5^th Generation

 

            John W. and Martha’s daughter, Sallie M., and her husband, Job R. Hall, had established their household since their wedding in December of 1870. Job was from Ahoskie, and he was a farmer living alone when the 1870 census was taken—he owned $300 worth of real estate and $100 of personal property. Sallie and Job moved to Murfreesboro after they married—certainly the opportunities for an aspiring merchant would be greater in Murfreesboro at the time.

 

1880 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            Job R. and family lived one dwelling from and between Sarah’s father, John W. Harrell, and her uncle, Colonel Jarret N. Harrell. The Harrell brothers were very influential people in the County, and I am sure Job behaved himself, most of the time. Job’s occupation was listed as a merchant in groceries. 

 

Sarah M. Harrell & Job R. Hall’s Children

 

            Sarah and Job Hall’s daughter, Florie, died at a young age. Their sons all moved from the county.[13] These three boys were John W. and Martha Harrell’s only grandchildren, and one would have thought the economic incentives to stay in Murfreesboro would have been extraordinary, but apparently they were not.

 

John H. Hall (b. 1872)—6^th Generation

 

According to Winborne, John H. married and was doing well as of the early 1900s. He lived in Baltimore.

Charles E. Hall (b. 1873)—6^th Generation

 

Charles E. had married and was living in Norfolk, according to Winborne.

 [page 213]

 

Marvin Hall (b. 1874)—6^th Generation

 

Marvin was also married and doing well. He moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Henry Francis Harrell (b. 1816)—4^th Generation

 

John (b. c. 1794) and Winnefred Harrell’s second son, Henry, was born May 1, 1816, and he was living with his parents for the 1820 census at the age of four. He died January 1, 1826.

 

Evaline Mary Harrell Pruden (b. 1818)—4^th Generation

 

            John (b. c. 1794) and Winnefred’s first daughter, Evaline, was born on March 15, 1818, and was married to John Lewis Pruden. They were not in the North Carolina censuses from 1850-1880.

 

Olivia Young Harrell Montgomery (b. 1820)—4^th Generation

 

Olivia was born on April 29, 1820. She married William Meredith Montgomery around 1839. There is a good possibility she had one daughter named Francis who was born in 1840. The young Francis is in William M. Montgomery’s household in 1850 at the age of ten—they were with William’s new wife, Olivia’s sister, Catherine Amanda Harrell. Olivia died around 1840.

 

Catherine Amanda Harrell Montgomery (b. 1822)—4^th Generation

 

Catherine Amanda was John (b. c. 1794) and Winnefred’s fifth child. In some reports Catherine was referred to as Amanda C. Harrell, or just Manda. Regardless of her name preference at any given time, we know that she replaced her sister as William Meredith Montgomery’s wife sometime around 1841.

 

William and Amanda Montgomery’s household was complex in 1850—Francis age 10, was probably Amanda’s niece and step-daughter; the other three children were probably her own.

 

1850 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            I am certain, that M. Harrell was Marmaduke W. Harrell, Catherine Amanda’s brother. I have no idea who the 25 year old Nancy Harrell is in the 1850 census. Marmaduke and Catherine did not have a sister named Nancy as far as I can determine. Nancy may have been Marmaduke's first wife, who perhaps did not live until the 1860 census, or she may have been a cousin.

 [page 214]

            By 1860, C. Amanda’s brother, Marmaduke, was in his own household, and she and William had four additional children.

 

1860 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            The 1870 census reveals that William was gone by then, and they had one addition to their family since the 1860 census.

 

1870 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.

 

            Amanda’s husband, William M. Montgomery, died in 1864, and in 1870 Amanda and her son, William P., were running the family farm which, according to the Agricultural Schedule, was very productive—and consisted of 200 improved acres and 300 unimproved. Amanda and her sons, William P. and then Robert, continued to run their farm beyond the coming decade. Amanda C. Harrell Montgomery was still head of her household in 1880 and still living in St. Johns.

 

1880 census entry, Hertford Co., N. C.