The Tragic Death of Thomas Franklin Huneycutt

Thomas Franklin Huneycutt was born 7 September 1836, a son of  Andrew Jackson “Andy” Huneycutt and Mary Ann “Polly” Crayton. He was their 4th borne child and had the privilege to become their first-borne son.

Thomas Franklin Huneycutt  married Elizabeth Jane “Betsy” Dry on 3 February 1856 in Union County, North Carolina. Elizabeth Jane was borne 19 December 1833 in Montgomery County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Charles Andrew Dry and his wife Esther Misenheimer. She was the youngest of their six children.

Thomas and Mary Ann made their home in the Big Lick community of Stanly County, North Carolina. Their first child, a son, Charles Albert, arrived on 1 June 1857. Then a string of three daughters, Sarah A., in April 1860, Mary F. in December 1861 and  Margaret in 1866.

Their second son, Thomas Sylvester arrived in February 1869 followed by a sister, Jane Alice or Alice Jane in October 1871. 

By now Thomas and Mary Ann had a family of six with 2 sons and 4 daughters. Life was good with one exception. Thomas Franklin had a bad habit – the consumption of Alcohol.

When he left home the night of 10 or 11 January 1875; his wife, Mary Ann was 6 months pregnant with their 7th child. I can imagined the grief in her heart and her begging him to please stay home. I certain that with all her anxiety she had no idea that he would never return home. 

Mr. Thos. Huneycutt
Monroe Enquirer: We learn that Mr. Thos. Huneycutt, of Stanly county, froze to death on the night of the 11th inst. The particulars, as we hear them, are as follows; Mr. Huneycutt was at the house of Mr. Ezekiel Brooks, in a very intoxicated condition, but started for his own home some two miles distant. Failing to reach home that night, search was made for him the next morning and he was found dead frozen to death on the road, Mr. H. leaves wife and several children to mourn his very untimely death.  He was said to be a very hard working and well-to-do citizen-- with but the one failing of too ardent a love for liquor. Another great temperance lecture.

Note: His tombstone shows he died on the 10th of January 1875; but, the newspaper say he died on the 11th January 1875.

Their 7th child, John Adam Huneycut was borne 24 April 1875. He would never know his father. 

Thomas Franklin Huneycutt is my 3rd Cousin 2X Removed

Elizabeth Jane “Betsy” Dry is my 2nd Cousin 4X Removed

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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 6 February 2016); Memorial page for Thomas F. Honeycutt; (7 September 1836–10 January 1875); Find a Grave memorial # 33290876, Citing Brooks-Hill Cemetery; Stanfield, Stanly County, North Carolina, USA.

2. 1850 Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, population schedule, Furrs, Stanly County, North Carolina, Page: 40A(stamped); Line 30, Family 563, Household 566, Household of Andrew HONEYCUTT; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 14 November 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 645.

3. 1860 U. S. Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) Stanly County, North Carolina, Page: 12 (stamped); Line 5, Dwelling 144, Family 144, Household of Thos. HONEYCUTT; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 6 February 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 914.

4. Land Deed - Power of Attorney; 5 November 1861; Deed Book #6; Page(s) 81; Register of Deeds; Monroe, Union County, North Carolina; 11 January 2020.

5. Matthew Brown Editor, BOOK: NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS:1861-1865: A Roster (Raleigh, NC 27699-4622: Historical Publications Section, 1997), Thomas F HUNEYCUTT, Private, Volume 10, page 270.

6. "Mr. Thos. Huneycutt," Death Notice, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, North Carolina, 21 January 1875, Page 2, Column 3; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/: viewed circa 12 September 2020).

7. "North Carolina, Marriages Record, 1741-2011," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 6 February 2014), Marriage: Thomas F Huneycutt & Elizabeth Dry.

8. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Elizabeth J Huneycutt (19 December 1833–24 May 1888), Memorial # 81457283.

9. 1850 Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Union County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) Union County, North Carolina, Page: 86/(stamped); Line 3, Dwelling 1253, Family 1253, Household of Charles Dry; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 2 February 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 647.

10. 1870 U S Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, Population Schedule, Big Lick, Stanly, North Carolina, Page: 32B (stamped); Line 20, Dwelling 52, Family 52, Thomas HONEYCUTT.

11. 1880 U. S. Census, Stanly County, North Carolina, population schedule, Big Lick, Stanly, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 206, Page: 310A(stamped); Line 37, Dwelling 79, Family 79, Household of Betsey HUNEYCUTT; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 6 February 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 0982.