The Death of Tobias A. Huneycutt

The exact death date of Tobias A. Huneycutt is unknown. On-line trees would have you to believed that Tobias died 26 June 1874. There are many on-line trees that have this date but none of the trees have a source for the date. Chances are they don’t know the source because it was copied from another tree. Those that I have contacted searching for a source have no idea where the date originated. 

Tobias A. Huneycutt was born about 1824 in Montgomery County, North Carolina. He was the 2nd born son of  Marcus “Mark” I. Huneycutt and his wife Charity Dry. He had an older brother John Wiley and 6 other brothers and sisters. 

On 7 November 1852, Tobias A. Huneycutt married Elizabeth Mariam “Mary Ann” Huneycutt. Elizabeth Mariam Huneycutt was born 16 November 1832, a daughter of Andrew Jackson Huneycutt and his wife  Mary Ann “Polly” Crayton. Tobias and Elizabeth had their first 4 children living in Stanly County, North Carolina. Then between 1857 and 1860 they moved their family to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina where their last 3 children were born.

The children of Tobias A. Huneycutt and Elizabeth Mariam Huneycutt are:

        i.    Rufus Franklin Huneycutt, born 24 Dec 1850, Stanly County, North Carolina; married Sarah R. George; died 8 Sep 1915, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina.
         ii.    Andrew Jackson Huneycutt, born 14 Aug 1853, Stanly County, North Carolina; married Mary Ann Kendrick, 27 Jun 1878, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; married Sarah E. Graham, 27 Feb 1884, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; died 22 Sep 1920.
         iii.    Mary A. C. Huneycutt, born 1855, Stanly County, North Carolina; married John Robinson Rigler, 14 Dec 1872, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; died bef Oct 1880.
         iv.    Sarah Jane Huneycutt, born abt 1857, Stanly County, North Carolina; married John Wiseman Clontz, 4 Jul 1881, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; died 12 Sep 1904, Buncombe County, North Carolina.
         v.    Susan Frances Huneycutt, born Jun 1860, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; married James Garibaldi, 19 Dec 1878; married Robert Franklin Kindle; died bef 11 Nov 1908, Union County, North Carolina.
         vi.    Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Huneycutt, born 25 Jun 1862, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; married Edward Walter Rigler; died 15 May 1927, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina.
         vii.    Tabitha Lenora Huneycutt, born 20 Aug 1868, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; married William Henry Oxenham, 26 Dec 1893, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; died 28 Dec 1934, Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.

As stated in the beginning paragraph, the exact death date of Tobias A. Huneycutt is UNKNOWN. In our initial research, we learned of his presence in the 1870 Census for Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina.

Then in 1880, we find Elizabeth, widow, alone, with her 3 youngest daughters. So, with this Census, we know that her husband, Tobias A. Huneycutt died between July 1870 and June 1880. While we have narrowed his death to a 10-year span its still a long ways from an exact date of 26 June 1874 as found in on-line trees.

After further research, we find Tobias and Elizabeth alive and able to execute documents in the Court system on 24 May 1874. So now we have narrowed Tobias’ death date to between 24 May 1874 and  June 1880 still a six years span.

On 24 May 1874 Tobias, his wife Elizabeth and son, Andrew Jackson executed a Land Deed to Edwards & Moody for the lot on which Tobias A. Huneycutt now lived.   

Beginning at a Stake a Corner of the J. A. Fore property on First Street and runs East to Myers Street Lot 148 feet, thence with Myers line S. E. 30 feet Thence with Hunnycuts line to First Street 148 feet thence with First Street to the beginning 30 feet containing a fraction of an Acre. Being a fraction of an Acre being part lot now occupied by T. A. Hunnycut south of the depot of C.C. & A. Rail Road. ¹

I still have not found an exact death date for Tobias A. Huneycutt. We know that on 24 May 1874 he was able to execute a Land Deed and that by 1880 he was deceased. The search continues.

Tobias A. Huneycutt is my 2nd Great GrandUncle.

Added Comments: 

• 27 June 1878 – Andrew Jackson Huneycutt, brother to Tobias, married Mary Ann Kendrick in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. On the application for Marriage, Andrew Jackson Huneycutt reports that his Father is Dead and his Mother is living.

This narrows Tobias' death date to between 24 May 1874 and 27 June 1878. 

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[1] Land Deed - T.A. Huneycutt Land Sale; 24 May 1874; Deed Book #10; Page(s) 394; Register of Deeds; Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; 22 July 2020.