The Death of Mrs. Matt Musgrove

Widow Matthew Mugrove, Mico.
Special to The Times-Democrat.
Mico, Miss., June 5. Mrs. Matt Musgrove, aged about fifty years, dropped dead a few mile south of here while preparing dinner yesterday, from heart disease. No one was expecting her death. Mrs. Musgrove was the wife of Matthew Musgrove, who was killed in Laurel five years ago by G. W. Cowley, in a street fight. She was a devoted Christian and had a multitude of friends. She was buried to-day from Sharon Church.

Mrs. Matt Musgrove was born abt 1840 in Chesterfield County, SC a daughter of Luke Rivers and Mary Selina John. She was the firstborn child to this couple and given the name Flavelia Clarilla Levinia Rivers. In the late 1850s, Luke and Mary Selina moved from Chesterfield County to Jones County, Mississippi joining his two sisters and a brother who had migrated to that area in the 1830s and 1840s.

There Flavella married John Madison “Matt” Musgrove about 1858/59. John Madison and Flavella’s uncle Mark Rivers were close associates and Flavella obviously met Matt through her Uncle Mark Rivers. It also possible she was introduced by her Aunt Millie Rivers or Milly’s husband Moses Holifield.

Matt and Flavella raise a family of 10 children before he was killed on 12 November 1887. Their youngest, another Flavella, was born 12 April 1885. The death of Matt left his widow with 10 children ranging in age from  2 to 27.

Flavella Rivers Musgrove died on 1 June 1896 in Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi and is buried in Sharon Cemetery, Sharon, Jones County, Mississippi.

____________________________

[1] The Times-Democrat, New Orleans, Louisiana, 06 Jun 1896, Sat., Page 1

[2] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 August 2020); Memorial page for Flavelia Clarilla Levinia Rivers Musgrove; (1840–1 June 1896); Find a Grave memorial # 77628528, Citing Sharon Cemetery; Sharon, Jones County, Mississippi.

It’s Family Time~Amelia Emily "Milly" Rivers

Amelia Emily "Milly" Rivers was born about 1800 in Chesterfield, SC to Mark Rivers and one of his three wives. Milly married, about 1817-1818, Moses Holifield of Anson County, North Carolina. Shortly after 1830, Milly and her sister Elizabeth who married John Dryman migrated to Jones County, Mississippi.

A few years later, her brother Mark and his wife Irena Catherine Hancock joined the Holifield's and Dryman's in Mississippi. Then in late 1850, abt 1857, their brother Luke Rivers and his wife Mary Selena Johns also migrated from Chesterfield to Jones county, Mississippi.

Moses Holifield and his wife Milly raised a family of eight children; seven sons and a daughter.

Children of Moses Holifield Sr. and Amelia Emily "Milly" Rivers are:

i. Joshua Holifield was born 15 MAR 1818 in Chesterfield District, SC, and died 29 JAN 1894 in Jones Co, MS.

ii. Bay or Ray Holifield was born bet 1819-1825 in Chesterfield District, SC.

iii. Charlotte Holifield was born 4 Mar 1826 in Chesterfield District, SC, and died 14 JUN 1902.

iv. John C. Holifield was born 1827 in Chesterfield District, SC.

v. Mark Holifield was born ABT 1830 in AL.

vi. Jonathan Holifield was born ABT 1833 in Green Co, AL, and died in Jones Co, MS.

vii. James Holifield was born 1835 in Green Co, AL.

viii. Moses Holifield Jr. was born 1837 in Jones Co, MS, and died BEF 1872.

Recently while networking and corresponding with a fellow researcher I came across this photo of Milly Rivers Holifield and obtained permission from the owner to use the photo (made from a tintype) in one of my blog posts. I want to congratulate and thank “tholifield” for the use of this photo. Mr. Holifield inherited the Tintype from his great grandfather Bart Bradford Holifield.

Photo Courtesy of tholifield

Based on this notice that I found back in January 2017, I’m pretty certain that Samuel Rivers, brother to Milly, Elizabeth, Luke, and Mark Rivers was out of State may have been in Mississippi though I have not yet found him. 

Transcription:

SOUTH CAROLINA,

Chesterfield District.

John B. Rivers applicant vs Ann Rivers (Widow), Wm. Rivers and wife Elizabeth, Moses Holifield and wife Amelia, Matthew Rivers, John Dryman and wife Elizabeth, Mark Rivers, Luke Rives and Samuel Rivers Defendants.

It appearing to my satisfaction that Ann Rivers, Moses Holifield and wife Amellia, Matthew Rivers, John Dryman and wife Elizabeth, Mark Rivers, Luke Rivers and Samuel Rivers reside without this State, it is ordered that they do appear and object to the division or sale of the Real Estate of Mark Rivers deceased on or before the 12th day of April next or their consent, will be entered off record.

T. Bryan

O.C.D.

January 27, 1831

[Farmer Gazette and Cheraw Advertiser, February 03, 1841, page 47, image 3]

Milly Rivers Holifield died about 1865/1867; an exact date has not been found.

After the death of Milly, Moses married  Nancy M. Sumrall (nee McCary). She was the widow of J. Elisha Sumrall. Moses and Nancy had three children; two sons and a daughter.

Moses Holifield, Sr died sometime after 3 August 1872. His Widow, Nancy McCary Sumrall Holifield, re-married on 23 September 1883.

Amelia Emily "Milly" Rivers Holifield is a distant cousin.

_____________________

[1] Land Deed - Moses Holifield to Mrs. Kitty Sumrall; 3 August 1872; Deed Book #A1; Page(s) 571; The Chancery Clerk's Office; Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi; 3 September 2020.

[2] Chronicling America website - http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
[Farmer Gazette and Cheraw Advertiser, February 03, 1841, page 47, image 3]
[Farmers’ Gazette, and Cheraw Advertiser, May 26, 1841, Page 112, Image 4]

[3] Special Thanks to my fellow researcher “tholifield” for the use of this proto of his Great Great GrandMother passed to him by his grandfather (Bart Holifield). After his death (Bart) the tin type was lost. 

It’s Family Time~Siblings in Mississippi

On 22 January 2012, I wrote a blog post entitled “Is Milly Holyfield the Sister of Luke & Mark Rivers? that can be read here:
http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/01/is-milly-holyfield-sister-of-luke-mark.html

Today I am able to answer that question and the answer is that they are proven siblings; children of Mark Rivers and Annie Parker.



Mark S. Rivers, the brother of Amelia “Milly” Holifield married Irena Catherine Hancock in February 1840 and shortly thereafter moved to Jones County, Mississippi to join his sister Milly and brother–in-law, Moses Holifiled. 

MIllie and Mark’s brother Luke and his family remained in Chesterfield, South Carolina until  sometime between 1850 and 1860.

Luke Rivers, born about 1810 was a farmer and part time miner. Luke married Mary Selina John about 1840 and to this union were born 4 children; three daughters and a son.

The children of Luke Rivers and Mary Selina John are:
i. Flavelia Clarilla Levinia Rivers, born 1840, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married John Mattison Musgrove, abt 1858; died 1 Jun 1896, Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi.
ii. Nancy Elizabeth Rivers, born 6 Jun 1845, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Moses Holifield Jr., abt 1859, Jones County, Mississippi; married John J. Holifield, abt 1873, Jones County, Mississippi; died 26 Mar 1913, Jones County, Mississippi.
iii. Sarah Catharine Rivers, born 1844, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married James M. Holifield, abt 1862, Jones County, Mississippi; died 1884.
iv. John C. Rivers, born 1848, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Elizabeth Holifield, abt 1870, MS; married Amanda J. Hill, 21 May 1895, Jones County, Mississippi; died aft 1895, MS.

The exact year that Luke and Mary migrated to Jones County, Mississippi is not yet known. In 1850, Luke and Mary were enumerated in the 1850 census for Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

1850 census, Chesterfield Co., SC

In 1860, Luke and Mary were enumerated in the 1860 census for Jones County, Mississippi. Three of their 4 children married Holifield men and women and the first born married a Musgrove. All were married in Jones County, Mississippi.

1860 Census, Jones co., Mississippi

Mark S. Rivers, the brother of Millie and Luke, was born abt 1808 in Chesterfield, South Carolina. He married in Feb 1840  Irena Catherine Hancock, b. Jan. 1822 in Chesterfield, South Carolina. No children were born of this union. 

Another sibling Elizabeth moved with her brother and sister to Mississippi. Elizabeth was married to John Dryman/Driman. I haven't determined what or when but something happened to them and the children were taken in by the Rivers and Holifield families as evidence in the above 1860 in the Mark Rivers household.

Elizabeth Rivers Dryman, Amelia ‘Milly’ Rivers Holifield, Mark S. Rivers and Luke Rivers are my 4th Great Grand Uncles and Aunts.

Till Death Do Us Part

Flavelia Clarilla Levinia Rivers, born 1840 in Chesterfield County, SC, was the first born child of Luke Rivers and Mary Selina John. Between 1850 and 1858 Luke Rivers moved his family from Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Jones County, Mississippi.

I don’t profess to know why Luke moved his family but I’m sure that the fact that his sister, Milly Rivers and her husband Moses Holifield and his brother Mark Rivers and wife Irena Catherine Hancock Rivers presence in the county played a significant role in his decision.

In 1858, Luke’s daughter Flavelia Clarilla married a young man by the name of John Madison “Mat” Musgrove. She was 18 and he was 27 years old. Their first child, a son they called Luke, was born 13 February 1860. John Madison “Mat” Musgrove was well acquainted with Mark Rivers and Irena Catherine Hancock Rivers. This family interaction between Mark Rivers and his brother Luke Rivers is the most obvious means that John Madison became acquainted with Mark Rivers niece, Flavelia Clarilla Levinia Rivers.

Not only did John Madison Musgrove have eyes for Flavelia and took her as his wife; he also had eyes on Irena Catherine Hancock Rivers the wife of Mark Rivers.

On the 1st of January 1859, Mark Rivers filed for divorce from Catherine Rivers charging her with adultery. So who was the perpetrator, none other than John Madison “Mat” Musgrove, the husband of Flavelia Clarilla Levinia Rivers, the niece of Mark Rivers. Divorce was granted 19 April 1859. ¹
 

Mark Rivers
vs.     Divorce
Catherine Rivers

Be it remembered that the plaintiff in the above stated case did on the first day of January A.D. 1859 file his bill of complaint in the clerks office of said court which is in the words and figures following to wit

The State of Mississippi
Jones County

Circuit Court Chancery  Bill of the Docket  April Term AD 1858 (sic)

To the Honorable Wm M. Hancock Chancelor of  Said County
Humbly Complaining therewith unto your honor your orator Mark Rivers.  That your orator and Catherine Rivers late Catherine Hancock intermarried in the State of South Carolina about the     day of February 1840 that your orator faithfully discharged all the duties of a kind and affectionate husband to the said Catherine and spared no pains to render her happy that your orator and the said Catherine continued to live and cohabit together until about the 15th day of November AD 1858 when to the astonishment of your orator he discovered that the said Catherine had violated her marriage vows by committing adultery with divers persons.  That your orator is advised and believes and so charges the truth to be that the said Catherine did commit adultery with John M. Musgrove on or about the 15th day of November AD 1858.  That upon the discovery of said incontinence your orator ceased to cohabit with the said Catherine as his wife that your orator has since heard that the said Catherine has long been unfaithful to his bed. Your orator and the said Catherine are and have been citizens of the County of Jones and State aforesaid for many years.
 
Life goes on and John Madison and Flavelia continue living together and continued to have children. Between 1860 and 1885 they would conceive 10 children; 5 daughters and 5 sons.² 
 
This was not the only act of infidelity for John Madison “Mat” Musgrove and you can read about one case here. ³
 
On 12 November 1887 John Madison “Mat” Musgrove was shot and killed. ⁴

Flavelia Clarilla Levinia Rivers Musgrove lived another 9 years and died on June 1^st, 1896. She is buried in Sharon Cemetery, Sharon, Jones County, Mississippi.


_______________________
[1] "Mississippi, Probate Records, 1781-1930," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-31002-3604-24?cc=2036959&wc=MMY2-7RS:280569769 : accessed 04 Jul 2014), Jones > Final records 1857-1890 > image 22 of 310.
[2] "Mississippi, Probate Records, 1781-1930," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-31002-3928-78?cc=2036959&wc=M7MJ-H3D:344546601,344603201 : accessed 04 Jul 2014), Jones > Final records 1857-1890 > image 296 of 310.
[3] http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/sondra-yvonne-bivins-on-the-family-line-of-harriet-carter-ward/
[4] "Mississippi, Probate Records, 1781-1930," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-31002-3928-78?cc=2036959&wc=M7MJ-H3D:344546601,344603201 : accessed 04 Jul 2014), Jones > Final records 1857-1890 > image 296 of 310.

Tombstone Tuesday~Elizabeth Rivers Holifield

In the 1850 Census¹ for Chesterfield County, SC, Elizabeth is listed as a 5 year old female (daughter) in the household of Luke and Selina Rivers.

A few years earlier, her Aunt Emily Holifield and Uncle Mark Rivers had migrated to Jones County, Mississippi.^{2 3}

It almost certain that Emily and Mark were encouraging their brother Luke to move his young family to Mississippi. 

Sometime in the mid-1850’s, Luke, Selina and the children, Clarilla, Elizabeth, Catherine and John C. Rivers made the move to Mississippi.

We know that Luke was in Mississippi prior to 1859 because he was a witness at his brother’s Mark divorce proceeding against his wife Irena Catherine Hancock Rivers.⁴
In 1860, Luke and his family has settled down in Jones County and daughter Elizabeth was married to Moses Holyfield, Jr. ⁵

Moses Holifield, Jr. was the son of Moses Holifield, Sr. and his wife Emily Rivers, the sister of Luke Rivers. So Elizabeth Rivers and Moses Holifield, Jr were first cousins. Over the next ten (10) years, Moses and Elizabeth had 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters. Tragedy struck the family in Aug 1870 and their Father and provider was stricken and died of Hepatitis.⁶

The young Mother, Elizabeth then married John J. Holifield  about 1873. To this union, 4 sons and a daughter was born.⁷

Elizabeth Rivers Holified had fourteen (14) children with two husbands. She died on 26 March 1913. She was was 67 years old. The birth date on her tombstone is recorded as 6 June 1836. This date is wrong. Elizabeth was a mere 5 year old in the 1850 Census. She was either born in 1845 or 1846. In 1900, the Census taker was told that she was born in 1845 and the mother of 14 children with 9 living. Elizabeth is buried in Springhill Cemetery, Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi.⁸

Elizabeth’s father Luke and his siblings, Emily and Mark were the children of Mark Rivers and Annie Parker of Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Elizabeth Rivers Holifield

b. 6 June 1845*

d. 26 March 1913

Photo Courtesy of William Tatum, Jr.

Note: Variant Spelling - Holifield, Holyfield, Hollifield
_________________
[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 168A, Line 6, Family #1065, Dwelling #1065, Household of Luke Rivers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2000); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[2] 1850 Census, Jones County, Mississippi, population schedule, Jones County, Mississippi, Page 128A; Line 1, Dwelling 186, Family 186, Household of Moses HOLYFIELD; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 374.
[3] 1850 Census, Jones County, Mississippi, population schedule, Jones County, Mississippi, Page 129B, Line 13, Dwelling 3194, Family #194, Household of Mark RIVERS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 374.
[4] Jones County, Mississippi, Volume 1 page 31-35 , Mark Rivers vs. Catherine Rivers, Divorce Case, April Term, 1858; Circuit Court Chancery, Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi.
[6] 1860 U. S. Census, Jones County, Mississippi, population schedule, Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi, Page 705, Line 7, Dwelling #303, Family #303, Household of Luke RIVERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2000); citing National Archives Microfilm M653 Roll 584.
[6] 1870 U. S. Census, Jones County, Mississippi, mortality schedule, Jones County, Mississippi, Moses Holyfield; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 January 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm.
[7] 1880, Jones County, Mississippi, population schedule, Pinelville, Jones County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) 126, Page: 313D (stamped); Line 41, Dwelling 98, Family 98, Household of J. J. HOLIFIELD; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 January 2013); citing NARA publication T9, Roll: 651.
[8] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 18 November 2013); Headstone for Elizabeth Holifield; (6 June 1836*-Mar. 26, 1913); Records of the Springhill Cemetery; Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, USA.
*Note: Birth year on tombstone is not correct. Elizabeth was born in 1845 based on 1850 and 1900 census listings.
Special thanks to William Tatum, Jr. for supplying the tombstone photo for Elizabeth’s burial in Springhill Cemetery. 

Census Sunday~Mark/Martin Rivers, 1870, Choctaw, Alabama

Mark Rivers was born in Chesterfield, SC about 1808 to Mark Rivers and Annie Parker. He married Irena Catherine Hancock in February 1840¹ in Chesterfield County, SC.

Shortly, thereafter Mark and Catherine migrated to Jones County, Mississippi² joining his sister Emilia Rivers Holified and his brother-in-law Moses Holifield.

On 19 April 1859, Catherine and Mark were divorced after Mark charged her with adultery.<sup>3 

By 1860, Mark’s brother Like and his wife Selina had also moved from Chesterfield County to Jones County, Mississippi.</sup>

In 1860, Mark and Catherine can be found living together even though divorced in April 1859. Also in the household is a young lad named J. H. Driman/Dryman. [The “H” is really an  “N”. Jasper Newton Driman/Dryman].⁴

In 1870 Catherine is out of the household and replaced with Amanda. I have not found Catherine in the 1870 census. However, this could be Catherine using a different name.



Also in the household with Martin and Amanda are 4 children – S. Holyfield, female, age 19; M. Holyfield, female, age 13; Robt. Holyfield, male, age 10 and Monroe Holyfield, male, age 8.



A look at Alabama Apprenticeship Records shows that three of these children were;  Milley  Holifield, Ranson Holifield and Miles Holifield . The Apprenticeship action took place on 5 January 1868

January the 5th 1868
The State of Ala Chtaw County
To all hoom this may concern wee the Signed have bound ourselves to have bound to Mark Rivers and his wife Catherine Rivers two of our children Elie and Miley until thay ar 21 years of age the sade Rivers and his wife Dus agree to fernish the children clothing and provishion and 12 month scooling and the Sade Rivers and his Wife Dus further agree when the children is free to give then a starte as same as if tha was than on childring.⁶

Mark or Martin is not found after 1870. It’s the opinion of this author and researcher that even though divorced Mark/Martin and Catherine/Amanda lived together until his death sometime around mid to late 1879.

No death date, obituary or tombstone has been found for Mark/Martin Rivers.

On 8 September 1879, Irena Catherine Hancock Rivers married George S. Fagan in Choctaw County, Alabama.⁷

___________________
[1] Jones County, Mississippi, Volume 1 page 31-35 , Mark Rivers vs. Catherine Rivers, Divorce Case, April Term, 1858; Circuit Court Chancery, Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi.
[2] 1850 Census, Jones County, Mississippi, population schedule, Jones County, Mississippi, Page 129B, Line 13, Dwelling 3194, Family #194, Household of Mark RIVERS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:viewed 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 374.
[3] Jones County, Mississippi, Volume 1 page 31-35 , Mark Rivers vs. Catherine Rivers, Divorce Case, April Term, 1858; Circuit Court Chancery, Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi.
[4] 1860 Census, Jones County, Mississippi, population schedule, Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi, Page 705, Line 11, Dwelling 304, Family 304, Household of Mark RIVERS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 584.
[5] 1870 U. S. Census, Choctaw County, Alabama, population schedule, Township 10, Choctaw, Alabama, Page: 412B; Line 27, Dwelling 162, Family 163, Household of Martin RIVERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 June 2011); citing NARA publication M593_7.
[6] Choctaw County, Alabama, Volume 1 page 31-35 Roll# S2005-0347, "Apprenticeship Records (1823-1924), Index - Adams, Judge - Young, Mattie", Minors for Apprenticeship-Milley, Ransom, Miles Holifield, 5 January 1868; Clerk of Probate, Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama.
[7] Choctaw County, Alabama, Marriage Licensee, Book 1, Page 263, FHL Film #1788198., George S Fagan & Catherine Rivers, 8 September 1879; Probate Court, Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama.