Leeds today

If you are looking for information about Leeds today, you'll be interested in the following list of URLs.

1. The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce. In a lovely coincidence, the head of the Chamber is Sandra McGuire!

http://www.leedsareachamber.com

2. Demographics of Leeds today:

http://www.leedsareachamber.com/demographics

3. Historic tourism in Leeds:

http://www.leedsscenicbyway.org

4. The Leeds Historical Society:

http://www.leedshistoricalsociety.org/page0.html

5. The Leeds News:

http://www.theleedsnews.net/

6. City of Leeds

http://www.leedsalabama.gov/

Now you know.

Davidson's neighbors and land in Leeds, AL

Leeds, Her Story has a nifty map "showing location of early settlers and date title received on land grants from the United States Government by Edward Lee Goodson and Bryant Whitmire." (To give credit where credit is due.) The base map was created in 1959 and revised in 1970. The overlay shows who lived where and when they bought their land. You can find L:HS at many AL libraries including the Shelby County Historical Society and the Huntsville Public Library.

About the neighbors:

To the north within a few miles Davidson's neighbors included William Perkins and Edward Sims (assignees of Trion/Tryon Fuller), John Oliver, Hezekiah Balch Moor, and William Neal. To the north and east were Greenberry Armstrong and Elbert Armstrong. South was Hezekiah Balch Moor. Southwest were Amos Hutchinson, Joseph Ray, James Hamilton, Mitchell Pool, Henry Little, Daniel McLaughlin, Joe (Job??) Mason, Lewis W. Herring, John Scott, Stafford Scott, John Wallace, and William P. Herrin. Moving up west were Ben Lockhart, J. W. (Jonathan Washington) Bass and Thomas Rowan. Toward the north west were Samuel McGuire, John McLaughlin, Alexander McLaughlin, William McLaughlin. Finishing up the circle were A. B. Moor and Joseph Moor. This brings us back full circle to our northern starting point.

Biggest land owners were William Perkins and Edward Sims, assignees of Trion/Tryon Fuller; John Oliver, Thomas Rowan, Henry Little, Mitchell Pool, and H. B. Moor.

Abutters whose land touched Davidson's were H.B. Moor, Amos Hutchinson, Alexander McLaughlin, Perkins/Sims/Trion/Tryon Fuller. Despite the fact that they were abutters, in 1850 William Perkins and the only Sims family in Jefferson County, Elijah Sims, were on the Truss Beat of District 32, while Davidson was on the Cahawba Valley Beat of District 32.

Exploring a little further, we find some family connections among the neighbors:

• Greenberry Armstrong was Davidson's brother-in-law; he married Margaret Kelley McGuire's sister Nancy (Charles Kelley Bible). Elbert Armstrong was Greenberry's brother.

• H. B. Moor's daughter Sarah married Isaac McGuire, a cousin.

• Alexander, John, and William McLaughlin are all related. William McLaughlin married Mary Jane McGuire, Joseph McLaughlin married Axy/Alsy/Alice McLaughlin.

• And on and on.

About the land:

Davidson McGuire purchased his 39.95 acres in 1836. You can find the description, location, and a JPG of the document here:

http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/Detail.asp?PatentDocClassCode=STA&Accession=AL2640%5F%5F%2E341&Index=1&QryID=82587%2E55&DetailTab=1

The land lies about one mile southwest of the 1970 Leeds High School. To see a satellite picture of the land, use the following link to Google Maps, enter "Leeds High School, Leeds, AL," then pan about a mile southwest and look at the land.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

The photo shows 11th St. running near it. The satellite picture shows a gravel pit or dug out area or mine area. Not farmed at all anymore. This is the location for the Lehigh Portland Cement Company of Leeds, AL. The company uses the rich lime deposits in the making of its cement. Nearby Calera in Shelby County, AL, used to be known as Lime Kilns. Pretty raw. But there is a need for good cement, so I guess the eradication of my ancestral homesite is to be expected. It is what it is.

Davidson would surely agree, I think.

Copyright June 2010 by ALRoots.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.

Flotsam and jetsam

"Flotsam and jetsam" is short stuff that people have told me (or I have discovered) that seem true and probably are true. Or are definitely true. For example:

Definitely true

• Some parents named two children with the same name while both were living. Davidson and Margaret had two girls both of whom went by the name of Jane. Elizabeth Jane and Mary Jane.

• The name "Eliza" is sometimes a nickname for Elizabeth and sometimes a separate, distinct name and sometimes combined with Elizabeth. Elizabeth Eliza Wilson McGuire, wife of Timothy, buried as E. E. McGuire. Eliza Helton and Elizabeth Helton, sisters.

• According to Jim McGuire, sometimes the initial in a name was just that: an initial. For example, John L. McGuire.

• Leeds, AL, started out in Shelby County, but the county line changed after 1830, and now it is in Jefferson County.

• Occasionally but not often white people were enumerated as black people or mulattos. Abreham Green, 1870, St. Clair County, listed as mulatto though clearly white from earlier censuses.

Probably true

• Sometimes "loose" or scandalous women were not counted in the census. Jeanne Tipton says this is the case with Mary Polly Dennis (maybe) Pinson Voglin Peters.

• Sometimes a child would take a portion of his inheritance early. I believe this, though I have yet to prove it with a document. It would explain why neither James, Charles, or John McGuire were mentioned in Davidson's will.

Copyright July 2010 by ALRoots.Blogspot.com. All rights reserved.

The other Davidsons

Jim McGuire, a distant relative and researcher whose work I respect immensely, points out that several collateral relatives have children named Davidson or David.

For example, there's Davidson G. B. McGuire, b. 1859, son of Thomas McGuire and Mary Webb. This would have been our DM's first cousin twice removed. In 1860 he's listed as David G. B. in Marion County, AL. I haven't found him in 1870, but according to many family trees he died in 1876. In TX?

Our Davidson's sister Mary Polly married Timothy McGuire in Shelby County, AL, in 1819. They had a son named David, possibly Davidson, b. about 1829 in AL. This would be our DM's nephew. In the 1850 US Census for MO, David Maggaire (reads as "Magguire") is 21, born Ill (could be AL), a laborer, no money in Cooper County. Also in the household are Matilda, 18, and a cousin, Isaac Hard (reads as "Hurd"). According to some McGuire family trees, he died in 1851, but again, I have no documentary proof of this.

I stand by my original statement:

As far as anyone has proved, in a family where names are passed down from generation to generation, there are many Margarets. But no one in Davidson and Margaret's "family of origin" named a child or grandchild after Davidson.

I still think it's sad.

Copyright June 2010 by ALRoots.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.

The elusive James McGuire

Who was James McGuire?

Good question.

There's very little information available about him. Here's what we can prove:

There are two males born 1825 - 1830 who show up in Davidson McGuire's household in both the 1830 and 1840 US Censuses for AL. We've already established that Charles McGuire, born about 1828, was one. So James is the other. See Fact 7 below.

First fact: James was born between 1825 and 1830.

Fact 2: James was born in Alabama, as Davidson and Margaret McGuire never left AL. To be clear, both Davidson and Margaret were born in GA (1850 Census), but once in AL, there is no record of their ever having left.

Fact 3: James was not in the Davidson and Margaret's household in either the 1850 US or State Census for AL. So he had already left home.

Fact 4: He was still in the area in 1851 because in September of that year Moses and Alphonso Johnson are summoned to court as defendants for assault and battery on James and John Maguire (McGuire) in Shelby County. The summons is on file at the Shelby County Historical Society in Columbiana, AL.

Fact 5: This James McGuire is not the same as James H. McGuire, son of Ebenezer McGuire. Yes, James H. was born in AL, but in the 1850 US Census for MS, he is 11, in Chickasaw with his family. And he stays in MS until at least 1870.

Fact 6: James is not named in the 1867 partial settlement of Davidson McGuire's will on file in the Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham. I don't see this as a problem. Children often took their portions of the estate early, before the parent's death. Neither Charles or John L. McGuire were listed in the partial settlement, and there is plenty of evidence that they are the sons of Davidson and Margaret Kelley. There is plenty of evidence that James was a son of DM and MK.

Fact 7: James is named several times in 1884 court papers related to the division of Davidson's assets. These are also on file at the Jefferson County Court House in Birmingham.

That's the documentary evidence.

Questions that remain:

Where was James in the 1850 Census?

Where did he go after the 1851 fight with Moses and Alonzo Johnson?

Did he marry? Have children?

When did he die?

More research is needed. What fun!

Copyright June 2010 by ALRoots.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.

Various family photos. OK, one so far...

I really like it when people posts pictures of their ancestors. It gives me a visual sense of continuity. Here is a photo of a distant relative that I have recently found.

This is a picture of William Spencer McGuire and his wife Lydia Catherine Acton. He is the son of Timothy M. McGuire and Eliza Wilson, and the grandson of Davidson McGuire and Margaret Kelley.

Thanks to

j1235460

at Ancestry.com, who posted the original.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/1960854/person/-1874571311/media/2?pg=32814

Text copyright June 2010 by ALRoots.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.

The life of Davidson McGuire

These are the facts of Davidson's life.

Davidson McGuire was born between 1802 and 1804 in Georgia, probably Elberton, though I have seen no proof of this. His parents were probably Timothy McGuire, Sr., and Fanny (Frances) MNU (Maiden name unknown). By the 1820 US Census for AL the McGuires were living in Shelby County surrounded by family and soon-to-be family like the Kelleys and the Howards.

According to the Charles Kelley Bible, Davidson married Margaret Kelley in December 1822, when he was 18 - 20 and she was 14. Davidson may have been married previously because his first son Timothy's birthdate is most often given as January 1822. No matter. Margaret was the wife and mother who lasted.

In the 1830 US Census for AL, Davidson McQuire is listed in unknown townships in Shelby County. In the household are 2 males under 5 (James and Charles), 1 male 5 - 10 (Timothy), and one male 20 - 30 (Davidson, about 28). There are also two females 0 - 5 (Mary Jane and Elizabeth) and 1 female 15 - 20 (must be an error--Margaret Kelley would have been 22).

In April 1835 Davidson and Margaret joined the Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Leeds, AL, "by letter," indicating that they had previously been members of another church. This information comes from the Hebron Church minutes stored at Samford Unversity in Birmingham, AL. Davidson was about 33.

In 1839 at age 37 Davidson bought 39.95 acres of land in Leeds, Jefferson County, formerly Shelby County; the county line had changed. It was a small though normal sized lot, and apparently the only one he ever bought. You'll find a copy of the original deed of sale at this website:

http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/Image.asp?PatentDocClassCode=STA&Accession=AL2640%5F%5F%2E341&Format=SmallGIF&Page=1&Index=1&QryID=72625%2E25

In 1840 Davidson had a run-in with the morals of the church. In December he was expelled for intoxication. The record reads: "Took up the case of Bro. McGuire and excluded him for drinking to (sic) much spirits." He was about 38.

In the 1840 US Census for AL Davidson Mc(space) Guire lived in an unnamed township in Jefferson County. In the household are seven males and 6 females. Males: two under 5 (Hiram K. and Robert), one 5 to 10 (John L.), three 10 - 15 (Charles, James, Timothy), one 30-40 (Davidson). Females: 2 under 5 (Alsy and Sarah), three 5-10 (Mary Jane, Elizabeth Jane, and Mahala), one 20-30 (Margaret Kelley).

In October 1849 Davidson rejoined the Hebron church and was "received by experience; Davidson McGuire, restored." Apparently this one took because he never left the church again. Margaret must have been pleased. He was about 47.

In the 1850 US Census for AL, Davison is 48, a farmer, has $500, born in GA. In his household are wife Margaret, 42, daughters Mahaly, 18, Sarah A, 15, Alsy, 13, Emily, 10, Amanda, 8, and Martha, 6. Also listed were sons John, 17, Robert, 12, Hiram, 11, and William, 3. Davison and wife are born in GA, all ten children in AL. In the 1850 State Census for AL, Davidson McGuire is listed in Jefferson County. In the household are 4 males under 21 (John, Robert, Hiram, William), one male over 21, one male over 45 (Davidson), six females under 21 (Mahala, Sarah, Alsy, Emily, Amnada, Martha), one female over 21 (Margaret). Total in the household is 12. No slaves, no insane.

In 1854 Davidson wrote a note to Judge Bagley of the Probate Court giving permission for son John to wed Britta Ann Green. The note proves that Davidson could write and sign his signature rather than a mark. In part it reads: "All is willing to it (the marriage)."

According to the 1860 Jefferson County, AL, Mortality Schedules, Margaret died in September 1859 of typhoid fever at age 51.

In the 1860 Census for AL, Davidson, 58, lived in the Cahaba Valley Precinct with Martha, 13, William 11, Thomas, 9, Robert F, 22, Hyrum (Hiram) K, 20, Emely 18, and Manda M., 16, Martha, 13, William H., 11, and Thomas, 9. He is a farmer with real estate valued at $900 and personal estate valued at $700.

Davidson died in 1861, about two years after Margaret.Of a broken heart?

A partial settlement of Davidson's will is mentioned in the Partial Settlement Records of Probate Court, Book A on LDS film #1064858, beginning in 1870. Jefferson County final record of estate 1866 - 1873 Index: Davidson McGuire, dec'd, p. 281-232 (should this be 281-282 or 231-232??) Found on Jefferson County website:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~aljeffer/jeffco/records.html.

In it his administrator W. H. McLaughlin, husband of daughter Mary Jane, lists all the heirs who are still entitled to portions of Davidson's estate. Later in 1884, James McLaughlin, brother of W.H., husband of Axey/Alsy/Ailsie/Alice, notifies all possible heirs of another matter related to Davidson's estate.

Davidson lived a long fruitful life with lots of children. He named his children after family and friends. But not one of his children named a child after him. How sad.

Copyright June 2010 by ALRoots.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.