The Death of Moses Holifield, Sr.

There are 474 on-line trees for Moses Holifield, Sr. born about 1795 in Chesterfield County, SC. Moses married into my lineage when he married Emily Rivers about 1817 in Chesterfield, South Carolina. Moses, Emily and many other Chesterfield families moved from Chesterfield to Jones County, Mississippi after 1830.

It is not known exactly when Moses died but most of the unsourced trees on Ancestry has him passing away on these dates with the majority showing Aug 1870. As far as I can ascertain they are all wrong. Like I said they are unsourced and having a source doesn’t seem to be a criteria for entering a date. 

I looked at about half the trees and these seem to be the prevailing death dates.

• Death    Aug 1870 Jones, Mississippi, USA
  Death    1870 Jones, Mississippi, USA
  Death    1860 Jones, Mississippi, USA
  Death    Aug 1875 Jones, Mississippi, USA
  Death    1875 Jones, Mississippi, USA

I have researched this family for 40 plus years without finding a death date, an obituary or a tombstone. I did once upon the past run across a posting that said “The obituary of Moses Holifield stated he was buried "next to Thomas Lyons." I have not found an obituary for Moses Holifield or Thomas Lyons.

• I do know that Moses Holifield was alive and well on the date that the 1870 Federal census for Jones County, Mississippi was enumerated - 29 July 1870.

I do know that Moses Holifield was alive and well on 3 August 1872 when he appeared before T. C. Bryant an acting Justice of the Peace for Jones County, Mississippi.

Transcription:

The State of Mississippi Jones County}
Know all men by these presents that this Deed of Conveyance was made and entered into on this 3rd day of August A. D. 1872 between Moses Holifield of the first part and Mrs. Kitty Sumrall of the 2nd part all citizens of the County and State aforesaid.
Witnesseth that the party of the first part do for the sum of one hundred Dollars the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have bargained granted and sold do by these presents sell the following described tract or parcel of Land lying and being in the County of Jones and sate of Mississippi and designated as follows to wit the NW 1/4 of NE 1/4 and twenty acres of SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 all of Section 11 Township 8 Range 12 west containing Sixty acres subject for correction together with all and singular the rights privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining to have and to hold all and singular the premises above mentioned unto the party of the second part her heirs and assigns forever all and I bind my self my heirs Executors and Administrators to warrant and forever defend the right titles and interest in and to the premises aforesaid from the claim or claims of any person or persons whomsoever Lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Witness my hand and seal this the 3rd day of August AD 1872. 
                                                               Moses X (his mark) Holifield

            The State of Mississippi Jones County}
On this the 3rd day of August AD 1872 personally came before me T. C. Bryant an acting Justice of the peace for said County and State Moses Holifield and has acknowledged that he signed sealed and delivered the foregoing deed as his act and deed on the day and date therein mentioned for the express purpose therein contained.
Witness my hand and seal this the 3rd day of August AD 1872.
                                                                  T. C. Bryant J.P. (Seal)
I certify that the above is a true and correct copy as appears of record in Deed Book "D" page 736 of the record of Jones County, Mississippi.
Witness my signature this July 21st. 1914 W.H. Bumpkin
Transcriber & Clerk of the Chancery Court

Image 538 of 1254 LDS Film #2131647
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QT-W92T-R?cat=821514

Moses Holifield also appeared on the 1872 Tax List for Jones County, Mississippi. The execution of Land Deed, Deed Book A1, page 571, dated 3 August 1872 is the last known date that Moses appears in any official record to the best of my knowledge. Still, I have no idea when he died; just, that it was after 3 August 1872.

Related Article:

https://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/part-4-ed-payne-on-jones-county-civil-war-widows/

Millie Rivers, 1st wife of Moses Holifield, is a distant cousin.

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