Treasure Chest Thursday~Marriage-Wm. L. Douglas and Mary Sellers

I don’t have the full story of how William L. Douglas and Mary Sellers two young adults who grew up in Chesterfield County, SC came together and married each other in Covington County, Alabama.

But, I think it started in April 1896 when Mary’s father Phillip Albert Sellers passed away leaving his widow Annie Jane Douglas with several teenage and younger children among them being Mary, the youngest at age 11.

In 1910, we find Anna Jane Douglas Sellers, mother of Mary with her daughter Sarah Jane Sellers and son-in law Benjamin J. Hilton in Covington County, Alabama. .

Click to enlarge

It is not known at present exactly when The Hilton, Douglas and Sellers left Chesterfield County and moved to Covington County, Alabama but it was definitely before Mary Sellers and William L. Douglas were married on 25 July 1907 as indicated on the certificate below. 






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[1] https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/61365/TH-1942-34743-1630-11?pid=901669206&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3DFSMarriageAlabama%26h%3D901669206%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_vc%3DRecord:OtherRecord%26rhSource%3D60000&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

Treasure Chest Thursday~Eye Witness Account of the Death of John Sellers

John Sellers was born about 1825, the last born child of Philip Sellers (1774-abt 1834) and Mary LNU (1774-bef 1850). John married Mary LNU before 1850 and in their short marriage had 3 children; one son and two daughters. On Sept. 8. 1863, John enlisted into Co. "B", 31st Regiment, also known as the O-K BOYS. Eight month later, on 14 May 1864, John was killed in action during a skirmish at Drewry’s Bluff, Virginia.

In 1883, Mary his wife submitted necessary paperwork for a “widow” pension for the service of her husband John Sellers to his country. Mary Sellers pension is on file in the NC state Archive in Raleigh, NC. The information below is a transcription of 3 of these page from her 5 page pension application.¹



North Carolina}
Anson County}
Mary Sellers being duly sworn says on oath that she is the widow of John Sellers, who served as a private in Co. B. 31^st Regiment North Carolina Troops, and that her husband according to information derived from his comrades at or about that time, was killed in battle at or near Drewry’s Bluff in the month of May 1864.
Sworn to and Subscribed }                                                               Mary her X mark Sellers
Before me Sept. 7^th 1883}
John C. McLanchlin}
Clerk of Superior Court}

North Carolina}
Anson County}
Benjamin P. Liles being duly sworn says on his oath that he served as a private on Co. B 31^st Regiment, N. C. Troops that on the ___day of May 1864 the said company was engaged as skirmishes near Drewry’s Bluff in Virginia and that while so engages John Sellers was a few paces to the right of this affiant, we were firing upon the enemy and receiving as very destructive fire from them, in the midst of which John Sellers was shot in the head and killed instantly. We were lying down loading and firing and this affiant distinctly heard the thud of the ball when it struck Sellers. We advanced, drove the enemy from our front and afterwards fell back over the same ground, and while so doing this affiant saw the dead body of John Sellers lying upon the spot where he heard the thud of the ball which stuck him.
Sworn and Subscribed}                                                                             B. P. Liles
Before me Sept. 7^th 1883}
John C. McLanchlin}
Clerk of Superior Court}

North Carolina}
Anson County}
James T. Bradley being duly sworn says on his oath that he was captain of Co. B 31^st N. C. Troops from May 1863 until the close of the War, that on or about the 14^th day of May 1864, said company he being in command of is, was engaged as skirmishes near Drewry’s Bluff in Virginia and exposed to a destructive fire from the enemy during the engagement this affiant was himself wounded, and came off the field, while being carried off the field or soon thereafter he was informed of the casualties that occurred in his company and among others that John Sellers was killed. Saw John Sellers enlisted in this company some time in the year 1863, and sworn in as a private up to the day of his death.
Sworn and Subscribed}                                                                             J. T. Bradley
Before me Sept. 7^th 1883}
John C. McLanchlin}
Clerk of Superior Court}

North Carolina}
Anson County} I, John C. McLanchlin, Clerk of Superior Court for said county of Anson hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Benj. P. Liles and James T. Bradley the above named affiants and know them to be men of good character and entirely trustworthy, and that they have no interest in this claim. Witness my hand and official seal.
At office in Wadesborough, this the 8^th day of September 1885.
John C. McLanchlin
Clerk of Superior Court

John Sellers is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.






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[1] State Archives of North Carolina .., NC Manuscript and Archives Reference System (http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/ : viewed 2 August 2014), digital Image of Pension Application, "Pension Bureau: Act of 1885 Pension Applications - John Sellers," MARS Id: 5.21.49.61 (Folder); Call Number: Box 6:162.

Amanuensis Monday~1808 Land Deed-Phillip Sellers to James Ratliff

 
Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.
 
His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today’s subject is an 1808 Land Deed between Phillip Sellers and James Ratliff.¹

In 1808 Phillip SELLERS sells a tract of land of 140 acres to James RATLIFF. This land was lying on southwest side of the Pee Dee River, at the head of a spring branch of Rushing's Creek, which was a branch of Thompson's Creek. Phillip's wife Mary SELLERS signed (with her mark) this deed also. The deed states that the land had been patented to George McKAY in 1775, indicating by her signature that Mary may have been the daughter of George McKAY (a very slim possibility). Other possibilities are that she may be either a Gulledge or Huntley. No Will or Land Division has been found for George McKAY.

This is the only known document that names the wife of Phillip Sellers (b. 1774, d. abt 1834), son of Hardy Sellers and Mary Cook. The last name of Phillip’s wife Mary is INKNOWN.

There are many trees on Ancestry that shows Phillips wife listed as Mary Rebecca. As stated above, this Land Deed is the only known document that lists his wife's name and it is signed as Mary X Sellers. Nowhere in the deed can you find the name Rebecca. 



If you have information on Phillip & Mary Sellers, I would love to share information with you.
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[1] North Carolina, Deed Book: Deed Book M, page 214, Phillip Sellers to James Ratliff, M:214; Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.