It’s Family Time~Mark and Catherine Hancock Rivers

Irena Catherine Hancock was born in Jan 1822 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Her parents are unknown.

Irena Catherine Hancock and Mark S. Rivers were married in Feb 1840 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Mark S. Rivers, son of Mark Rivers and Annie Parker, was born about 1808 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

They had no children. Shortly after their marriage in February 1840, they decided to move to Mississippi joining Mark’s Sister Amelia ‘Milly’ Rivers and her husband Moses Holifield who had also recently moved to from Chesterfield.

Then sometime in the 1850’s Mark and Millie’s brother Luke Rivers moved his wife and family to Jones County, Mississippi.

1860 CENSUS: Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi, 17 Oct 1860, Roll M653_584; Image: 127; Family History Library Film: 803584; Page 705, Line 7, Dwelling #303, Family #303; Luke RIVERS, age 45, Farmer, born in SC (1815); Saline RIVERS, age 32, born in SC (1828); Sarah C. RIVERS, age 15, born in SC (1845); John RIVERS; age 13, born in SC (1847).



Trouble be-seized the family and on 1 January 1859, Mark Rivers filed a complaint in Open Court for a divorce accusing Catherine Rivers, his wife, of adultery.

The State of Mississippi
Jones County
Pleas before the Honorable William M. Hancock Judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit Court
District of said State while presiding in Chancery.
Be it remembered that a regular term of the Chancery Court was begun and held in and for said County at the courthouse thereof in the Town of Ellisville on the 3rd Monday of April  A.D. 1859 it being the time and place designated by law for holding said court.  Present the Honorable Wm M. Hancock Judge and Chancellor of the County E. M. Duvall Sheriff of said county.  D. M. Shows clerk of said Court.
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 divorce was granted on 19 April 1959. Yet, Mark and Catherine continued to live together as husband and wife.

1860 CENSUS: Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi; Roll: M653_584;  Image: 127;  Family History Library Film: 803584, 17 Oct 1860, Page 705, Line 11; Dwelling 304, Family 304; Mark RIVERS, age 52, Farmer, born in SC (1808); Arena C. RIVERS, age 46, born in SC (1814); J. H. DRIMAN, age 17, born in MS (1843).


On 5 January 1868, Mark Rivers petitioned the court to have 3 destitute Holifiled children apprentice to him for care. These Holifield children were the grandchildren of Mark’s sister Milly and her husband Moses Holifield.

This day came Mr. Rivers who is a resident of said County and brought with him Milly Holifield Ranson Holifield aged twelve years Ransom Holifield aged ten years and Miles Holifield aged eight years and makes known to the County, that they orphans and destitute of the necessary means of support and makes application to the Court to have the, apprenticed to him until they respectively attain full age of twenty one years and the said Rivers consenting to taker the said Milly, Ransom, & Miles Holifield…

Even though Mark had divorced Catherine back in 1859 he became very benevolent in 1878. I believe that Mark knew he was dying because on 22 Mar 1878, he made a Deed of Gift to Catherine Rivers for 198 acres of land in Choctaw County, Alabama. (DB “N”, pages 381-382).

I believe Mark Rivers died sometime before 8 September 1879. On 8 Sep 1879, Irena Catherine Hancock and George S. Fagan were married in Choctaw County, Alabama.

George S. Fagan, son of Patsy Fagan, was born about 1807 in SC. George died before 1900. Catherine lived a few more years and is believed to have passed away before 1903.

George S. Fagan and Irena Catherine Hancock reared the following child:
i. Amanda J. Fagan was born about 1860.

George S. Fagan and Irena Catherine Hancock Rivers are beleived to be the biological parents of Amanda J. Fagan.

Mark S. Rivers is my 4th Great Grand Uncle.







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1. 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.
2. 1853, Jones County, Mississippi, Mississippi state and territorial census collection, 1792-1866, Jones County, Mississippi, Mark Rivers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.om : viewed 11 June 2011); Microfilm V229. 3 rolls. Heritage Quest .Roll : v229_2.
3. 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.
4. 1880 U. S. Census, Choctaw County, Alabama, population schedule, Beat 7, Choctaw County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) 014, Page 154A, Line 14, Dwelling 225, Family 125, Household of George S. FAGAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 June 2011); citiing NARA publication T9, Roll: 006.
5. Land Deed - Catherine Fagan to J. N. Dryman; 24 March 1880; Deed Book #Deed Book "N"; Page(s) page 533; Register of Deeds; Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama; 13 September 2015.
6. 1900 U. S. Census, Robertson County, Texas, Justice Precinct #6, population schedule, Robertson County, Texas, Justice Precinct #6, enumeration district (ED) 121, Page 247B/6B, Line 85, Dwelling 116, Family 116, Household of Jasper N. DRYMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 June 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 166.
7. 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.
14. 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.
8. 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.
9. Land Deed - Mark Rivers to Catherine Rivers, Deed of Gift; 14 August 1878; Deed Book # Vol . N.; page(s)381-382.
10. 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.

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Bibliography:
Alabama. Choctaw County. Marriage Licensee. Probate Court, Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama.
Alabama. Choctaw County. Volume 1 page 31-35. Clerk of Probate. Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama.
Land Deed - Register of Deeds; Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama.
Mississippi. Jones County. Volume 1 page 31-35. Circuit Court Chancery. Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi.
United states.  Mississippi. Jones County. 1853, Mississippi state and territorial census collection, 1792-1866. Digital images. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.om : 2011.
United States. Alabama. Choctaw County. 1870 U. S. Census, population schedule. Digital images. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2011.
United States. Alabama. Choctaw County. 1880 U. S. Census, population schedule. Digital images. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2011.
United States. Justice Precinct #6. Texas. Robertson County. 1900 U. S. Census, population schedule. Digital images. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2011.
United States. Mississippi. Jones County. 1850 Census, population schedule. Online database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2011.
United States. Mississippi. Jones County. 1860 Census, population schedule. Online database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2009.

Treasure Chest Thursday~Marriage, George S. Fagan and Catherine Rivers

Transcription:
THE STATE OF ALABAMA,} To any of the State Judges, or to any Ordained Minister of the Gospel,
515 CHOCTAW COUNTY.} or to any Justice of the Peace of said County—Greetings:
Know Ye, That you are hereby authorized and Licensed to join together in the bonds of Matrimony Geo. Fagan, Sr. with Mrs. Catherine Rivers
Given under my hand, this 2^nd day of September 1879.
                                                                     B. H. Warren, Probate Judge


THE STATE OF ALABAMA,}
CHOCTAW COUNTY.} To the Judge of Probate of said County:
I Hereby Certify, That I this day solemnized the rites of Matrimony between Mr. George Fagan Sr. and Mrs. Catherine Rivers who are within named, at Jasper Dryman do in said County.
Witness my hand this, the 8^th day of September 1879.
G. W. Fagan, L. D.
Recorded this 15^th day of October 1879.
                                                                 B. H. Warren, Judge of Probate

Irena Catherine Hancock married Mark S. Rivers in February 1840, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Shortly after their marriage, Mark and Catherine migrated to  Jones County, Mississippi to join with his sisters  Ameilia  and Elizabeth and their husbands Moses Holyfield and John Dryman.
Jones County, Mississippi Court records shows that Mark and Catherine were divorced on 19 Apr 1859. yet, in 1860, Mark and Catherine were found in the Censuses still living together in the same house.

1860 CENSUS: Ellisville, Jones County, Mississippi; Roll: M653_584; Image: 127; Family History Library Film: 803584, 17 Oct 1860, Page 705, Line 11; Dwelling 304, Family 304; Mark RIVERS, age 52, Farmer, born in SC (1808); Arena C. RIVERS, age 46, born in SC (1814); J. H. DRIMAN, age 17, born in MS (1843).

Then on  5 Jan 1868 we find the apprenticeship of  Milly Holifield, aged twelve years; Ransom Holifield aged ten years and Miles Holifield aged eight years to Mark Rivers and his wife Catherine.

January the 5th 1868
The state of Ala Chtaw County
To all hoom [whom] this may concern wee the Signed have bound ourselves to Mark Rivers and his wife Catherine Rivers two of our children Elie and Miley until thay ar [they are] 21 years of age the sade [said] Rivers and his wife Dus [does] agree to furnish the children clothing and provishion [provisions] and 12 month scooling [schooling] and the Sade [Said] Rivers and his Wife Dus [does] further agree when the children is free to give then a starte as same as if tha [they] was than [their] on childring [children]. [Spelling kept as found in Court Records].

Then in 1870, just 2 short years later, we find this entry in the Census whom I believe is Mark/Martin Rivers but no Catherine in the household.

1870 CENSUS: Township 10, Choctaw, Alabama; Roll: M593_7;  Image: 363;  Family History Library Film: 545506; Page: 412B; Line 27, Dwelling 162, Family 163; Martin RIVERS, age 60, born in NC; Amanda RIVERS, age 47, born in NC; S. HOLIFIELD, Female, age 19, born in Mississippi; M. [Mary C.] HOLIFIELD, Female, age 13, born in Mississippi; Robt. HOLIFIELD, Male, age 10, born in Mississippi and Monroe HOLIFIELD, Male, age 08, born in Mississippi; three houses away Page: 413A; Line 1, Dwelling 165, Family 166; we find Jno. [Jasper] DRYMAN, age 25, born in Mississippi; Laura DRYMAN, age 22, born in Mississippi; John DRYMAN, age 4, born in Alabama; Eliza DRYMAN, age 4, born in Alabama and James DRYMAN, age 5/12, born in Alabama.

The next surprise was the marriage above of Catherine Rivers to George S. Fagan on 08 Sep 1879 in Choctaw County, Alabama. 

Mark and Catherine were divorced in April 1859; but, it obvious from available records that they remained friends and cohabitated up until January 1868.


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[1] Choctaw County, Alabama, Marriage Licensee, Book 1, Page 263, FHL Film #1788198, George S Fagan and Catherine Rivers, 8 September 1879; Probate Court, Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama.

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.