Jane Freeman, b. abt 1834 is the daughter of Jesse Freeman and his wife, Sarah Jane Davis.[2]
Ben Brock and Jane Freeman were married about 1854. Both Ben and Jane were single and living with their respective parents in the 1850 Census for Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
Then my research led me to the birth of their son James Brock whose death occurred on September 8, 1856 and is recorded in "St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, Parish Register 1819-1924"[3]
Burials:
September 8, 1856, at the residents of the Parents in Cheraw, & in the Yard at St. David’s Church, James [BROCK], infant son of Benjamin & Jane BROCK, aged 1 year.
The suggested marriage year (1854) is based on the 1850 Census (where the two are single) and the death notice which suggests that son, James Brock was 1 year old thus born on or before 8 Sept 1855.
The 1860 census[4] shows that in the same year that son James Brock passed away that Ben and Jane had a daughter they named Jane Brock, age 4. No Census Record for Ben & Jane has been found after the 1850 Census. I do know that Ben and Jane has 3 children.
- James Brock , b. 1855
- Jane Brock, b. 1856 (living with grandparents Jesse & Sarah Freeman in 1860) [5]
- Tempy A. Brock, b. 10 August 1858 (no record found in 1860)
The “Complaint for Relief” is published in its entirety here:
http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/03/who-was-temple-par.html
“One granddaughter named Temple Par, daughter of Jane Freeman who married Benjamin Brock, predeceased her said father, Jesse Freeman”
Another confirmation of the marriage and a lead to the married surname of Ben and Jane third child, Tempy.
Following this major breakthrough some of the brick wall came tumbling down.
The “Complaint for Relief” also states that Jane, his daughter predeceased her Father, Jesse Freeman. So we know that Jane Freeman Brock is deceased and that she died sometime before July 1881.
Then in Summer 2003 this article appeared in the Darlington Flag, the newsletter for the “Old Darlington District Chapter of The South Carolina Genealogical Society.
TOWN COUNTY AND STATE NEWS- MURDER - On Sunday morning last, the body of a free colored man, named Michael Knight, was found near Sandy Plains Church, in this county, under circumstances that lead to believe that he had been foully dealt with. He was entirely nude, excepting socks upon his feet and his body was horribly mangled, having been badly beaten with a stick and his neck dislocated. Coroner A. Niven held an inquest on Monday before whom evidence was brought to light pointing to two white men as the perpetrators of the deed. The evidence however is wholly circumstantial. We suppress the names of the accused for the present understanding warrants are in the hands of the proper officers for their arrest. So far as we understand there are no extenuating circumstances for the perpetration of this horrible deed...
[ARGUS (Anson County, NC), 16 February 1860, page 3]
TOWN COUNTY AND STATE NEWS- THE MURDERS OF KNIGHT- So far as can we learn, the murderers of Knight, are still at large. The probability is they have left the State. The two men charged with the crime, Robert Lewis and Ben Brock, are somewhat noted characters. The former it will be recollected was tried in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, last summer for homicide - it was said for causing the death of a man in Cheraw by striking him on the head with a bottle and the latter it is understood is a refugee from the State of Mississippi for causing or very near causing the death of a man by cutting him with a knife. It is presumed if the parties have left the State, the State authorities will take early and energetic measures to have them arrested and brought to justice. The majesty of the laws must be maintained and their strong arm should be felt no matter where the perpetrator of crime should seek to hide himself. We understand that parties in South Carolina say that the offer of sufficient reward they will produce one or both of the parties. Probability is they are hiding just over the State line and these parties know where they are hiding...
[ARGUS (Anson County, NC), 23 February 1860, page 3]
[DARLINGTON FLAG, VOLUME XV, 2003; No. 3, Summer, 2003-Murder of Michael Knight Free Man of Color][6]
So far, this is just a name. I haven’t found a single document proving that this is Ben Brock, born in 1834, husband of Jane Freeman and Father of James, Jane and Tempy.
What I do know is that James, their son, died in 1856, Jane Brock, their daughter is living with her Freeman Grandparents and no record has been found for Ben, his wife Jane and daughter Tempy Brock were found prior to Winter 2002.
There’s still a lot of unanswered question about this family.
1. Where are Ben, Jane and Tempy in 1860-1870-1880? One of the murder report infers that Ben Brock "is a refugee from the State of Mississippi for causing or very near causing the death of a man by cutting him with a knife.". Ben Brock had relatives living in Rankin County area of Mississippi.
2. When did Jane Freeman Brock die? We know it was before July 1881?
3. What happen to daughter Jane Brock living with her grandparents in 1860?
4. Did Ben leave Chesterfield and relocate in a western state? Is the 1900 Census for Tempy Parr[7] a clue to their relocation? Tempy S. PARR, Wife, age 41, Born Aug 1858 in Alabama, parents born in SC; married 27 years [1873], 9 children, 6 living? Did Ben leave because he was involved with the murder mentioned above?
5. Ben was of proper age to serve in the Civil War; did he serve from another State?
[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 126B; Line 18, Dwelling 438, Family 438, Household of Benjamin Brock; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed March 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[2] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 134B/135A; Line 33, Dwelling 560, Family 560, Household of Jesse FREEMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 12 June 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[3] Brent H. Holcomb C.A.L.S., St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832,: Parish Register 1819-1924 (Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1991), page 120.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 173B; Line 27, Dwelling 1123, Family 1122, Household of Jesse FREEMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Old Darlington District Chapter S.C.G.S., "Anson County, NC – Darlington District, SC Connections;," Darlington Flag, Vol. XV, No. 3 (Summer 2003): Murder of Michael Knight Free Man of Color.
[7] 1900 U. S. Census, Sumter County, South Carolina, population schedule, Bishopville Township, Sumter County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #103, Page 11A, Line 2, Dwelling 199, Family 202, Household of Samuel PARR; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 2002); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_Roll: 1542.
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