Monday’s Mystery~Who are Elvey Ann and Sarah R. Johns?

Elvey Ann Johns is a real mystery. First, is Johns her married surname  or maiden surname? She only appears once in the census as Elvey Johns and that census is the 1880 Census shown here:



In this census she give her age as 40 years and states that she and her parents were born in NC. Ancestry on their website shows her as a widower; yet, the census does not she he as a widow nor does it shows her with children.

In Chesterfield County, SC Deed Book 5, pages 683 and 684 we find this deed.



Elvey A. Johns to Robert Tucker
South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Know all men by these presents that I Elvey Ann Johns of the County and state aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars to me in hand paid by Robert Tucker of the same county and State, have granted bargained sold and released and by these presents do grant bargain sell and release unto the said Robert Tucker my entire interest in the personal Estate of my deceased daughter, Sarah R. Johns now in possession of said Robert Tucker Guardian of the said Sarah R. Johns, deceased. To have and to Hold all and singular the said property unto the said Robert Tucker his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eleventh day of December A.D. One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.             Elvey X her mark Johns {seal}
Signed, Sealed and delivered}
In the presence of}
Test R. F. M. Hancock}
J. H. Tucker}

The State of South Carolina}
County of Chesterfield}
             Personally appeared before me J. H. Tucker and made oath that he saw the within named Elvey A. Johns sign seal and as her act and deed deliver the within instrument for the uses and purposes therein set forth and that he and R. F. M. Hancock witnefsed the Execution thereof.
Sworn to before me 22 Dec 1879}                    J. H. Tucker
Thomas F. Mulloy}
Clk}

This Deed states that Elvey Ann Johns had a daughter (deceased) named Sarah R. Johns. Other than this Land Deed I can find no record of a Sarah R. Johns. This deed is dated 11 December 1879 and states that Sarah R. Johns is deceased; so, this indicates Sarah died before 11 Dec. 1879.
There is a probate folder #438 – Johns, Smiley, Matilda et al that mentions Sarah R. Johns but not her relationship to the within named individuals.

The four minor children of Eli Johns, a son of David Johns, are requesting a Guardian to “receive whatever may be due us from the Est. of David Johns.”



To: W. J. Hanna Judge of Probate
We respectfully ask that Robt. Tucker be appointed as Guardian to receive whatever may be due us from the Est. of David Johns.
Witness                                                   Martha A. John
                                                               Eliza Emily John
                                                               Smily John
                                                               Matilda John
We see that there is no mention of a Sarah R. Johns in this request. Yet, within the Probate Folder (#438) Image 1110 names Sarah R. Johns and Robert Tucker as her Guardian.
The 4 named children above are the children of Eli Johns and his wife Charity Johnson. They are parties to their Grandfather David Estate because their Father passed away a few years earlier before 1867.


The probate folder of David Johns Estate shows that he died 25 May 1872.
DEATH: Probate Records, Court of Probate, The petition of Robert Tucker sheweth that David JOHN late of said County, departed this life on the 19th day of May 1872...........Petition dated May 25th 1872. Signed Robert Tucker.

Obviously, Sarah R. Johns was alive and well on the day of his death as indicated by the image (1110) above.

But, again we have no knowledge of the relationship of Sarah R. and Elvey Ann Johns to David Johns but we do know both are descendants of David Johns.

Another image (1111) within the Probate Folder states “Cash paid Elvey Johns the only Heir of Sarah R. Johns.”



If you have any information on Sarah R. Johns and/or Elvey Ann Johns; please contact me  by E-mail.




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[1] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZS6-9J?cc=1911928&wc=MPP1-PTL%3A190567401%2C190561002%2C190567402%2C190970801 : 21 May 2014), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0384-0469 > image 1105 of 1665; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.