Marriage of Lillie Mae Sellers

Lillie Mae Sellers was borne about 1872 in Henderson County, Tennessee. Her Mother, Arminda Bell (Starns) Sellers, second wife of James Calhoun Sellers, died shortly after her birth. James Calhoun Sellers married for a 3rd time to Elizabeth Jane Manley. About this same time, the father of Arminda Bell (Starns) Sellers and Lillie Mae’s grandfather also passed away. His death resulted in the following Madison County Court Document transcribed here:

To the County Court of Madison County, Tenn.

Your petitioner would respectfully represent that his daughter L. M. [Lillie Mae] Sellers aged about 8 years and John Starns a Stepson of your Petitioner aged over 20 years are entitled to a legacy from the estate of James Montgomery dec’d amounting to about the sum of $12.50 each which to reduce to <illegible> render it necessary that Said minor children have a Guardian appointed for them. Your petitioner therefore prays the Court to appoint him their Guardian and he will ever pray &c. this 1^st Aug 1881.

Sworn to Subscribed}                                            J. C. Sellers

Before me Aug 1st 1881}

E. A. Clark}

Clk}

By the Court

August 1st 1881

A. L. Rogers

Note: This document and the 1880 Census are the only documents found proving the age of Lillie Mae Sellers.

Sometime after this action, James Calhoun Sellers moved his family to Fannin County, Texas. There on 21 October 1894, Lillie Mae Sellers, age 22, married William M. Witt, age unknown. This marriage is the end of the line for information on William M. Witt and Lillie Mae Sellers with one exception. On 8 November 1899,  L. M. Witt was named in a Land Deed forcing the sale of  48 acres of Land. (Deed Book 70, Page 573-575).

Partial Transcript

    Know all men by these presents, that whereas, by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued out of the District Court of the County of Fannin in favor of Wills and Smith vs M. A. Sellers and L. M. Witt on certain Judgment and Decree of Sale, rendered on the 15th day of August 1899, and directed and delivered to me as Sheriff of Fannin County, commanding me to seize and sell the premises described in said Order of Sale, I, W. W. Ridling, Sheriff as aforesaid, did, upon the 6th day of  October 1899...

Marriage Licensee for Mr. Wm. M. Witt to Miss Lillie Sellers

NO RECORD beyond this 8 November 1899 Land Deed has been found for William M. Witt or his wife Lillie Mae Sellers.

There are over 100 trees on-line saying that the 8 children borne to William Wayne Witt/Whitt and his wife Lillie Lee WHITE are the children of William M. WITT and Lillie Mae SELLERS. REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU COPY INFORMATION FROM ON-LINE. 

If you have information about Lillie Mae Sellers Witt I would love to hear from you.

Lillie Mae Sellers is the Granddaughter of Noah Sellers and Timney Ellen Parsons.  

Lillie Mae Sellers Witt is my 2nd Cousin 2X Removed.

______________

Special thanks to Lou P. and Deborah K. for their assistance in obtaining information contain within this blog post.

[1] 1880 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 14, Madison County, Tennessee, enumeration district (ED) 098, Page: 308D (stamped); Line 1, Dwelling NL, Family 263, Household of Noah SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_Roll 1270.

[2] Land Deed - Forced Sale of Land -- Fannin County, Texas 1899; 8 November 1899; Deed Book #70; Page(s) 573-574; Register of Deeds; Bonham, Fannin County, Texas; 21 April 2014.  

[3] "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FX3R-DB7 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), William M. Witt and Lillie Sellars, 21 Oct 1894; citing , Fannin, Texas, , reference 2:2CMKK2G; FHL microfilm 1293831.

Proof Noah Sellers Married Timney Parsons

In most of the Sothern States finding proof of marriage before the 1900’s can be a daunting task. Over the years I have resorted to browsing and reading Land Deeds, in many cases, to try to determine who an individual married. Case in point is a North Carolina Land Deed between Noah Sellers and Roderick Shaw.

This particular land deed contains this very informative sentence:

...It being the undivided distributive share of Timney the wife of the said Noah Sellers in and of all the Lands of which her Father Abbington Parsons died seized and possessed Situate lying and being as aforesaid in Anson County in the State of North Carolina...

Noah Sellers & Wife to Roderick Shaw & S. Ricketts

This Indenture made this ____ day of September in the year of our Lord 1846 Between Noah sellers & Timney his wife of the one part and  Roderick Shaw of the other part all of the sate of South Carolina in Chesterfield district. Witnesseth that the said Noah sellers & Timney his wife for and in consideration of the sum of twenty five dollars to them in hand paid by the said  Roderick Shaw before the Signing and Sealing of these presents the receipts and payments whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained sold conveyed and confirmed and by these presents do bargain sell convey and confirm to the said  Roderick Shaw his heirs and afsigns a certain piece or parcel of Land lying and being in the County of Anson in the State of North Carolina adjoining the South Carolina line and adjoining the Lands of James Parsons and others, it being the undivided distributive share of Timney the wife of the said Noah Sellers in and of all the Lands of which her Father Abbington Parsons died seized and possessed Situate lying and being as aforesaid in Anson County in the State of North Carolina which distributive share is supposed to be about 30 acres more or less  to have and to hold unto the said Roderick Shaw his heirs, Administrators Executors & afsigns forever & the said Noah Sellers & his wife Timney Sellers doth hereby convent and agree to and with the said Roderick Shaw his heirs and afsigned and doth warrant Secure and forever defend the rights, title, Interest and claim in of & to said Land unto the said Roderick Shaw his heirs and afsigns against themselves their heirs Executors Administrators and afsignd also against the lawful claim or claims of any and all persons whomsoever. In witnefs whereof the said Noah Sellers & his wife Timney have hereunto set their hands and Seals the year and date first above written Signed Sealed  and delivered in presence of us
James R. Tindle                      Noah Sellers {Seal}
Richmond White                    Timney Sellers {Seal}

State of North Carolina} July Term 1851 Then the Execution of this Deed was duly proven
Anson County}  in open court by James R. Tindle and ordered to be Registered.
                                               N. D. Boggan
I afsign my interest in the within Title to Mifs Sarah Ricketts.
                                              R. Shaw

Noah and Timney Parson Sellers are my 2nd Great Grand Uncle and Aunt. 

__________________

[1] Land Deed - Noah Sellers & Wife to Roderick Shaw & To S. Ricketts; September 1846; Deed Book #13; Page(s) 465; Register of Deeds; Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina; 3 October 2021.

Amanuensis Monday~Forced Land Sale

 
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 a Fannin County, Texas 1899 Forced Land Sale.¹

 









Forced Sale of Land -- Fannin County, Texas 1899
M. A. Sellers & L. M. Witt}
By Sheriff} The State of Texas}
? { Dud} Fannin County} 
J. R. Mayfield. } Know all men by these presents, that whereas, by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued out of the District Court of the County of Fannin in favor of Wills and Smith vs M. A. Sellers and L. M. Witt on certain Judgement and Decree of Sale, rendered on the 15th day of August 1899, and directed and delivered to me as Sheriff of Fannin County, commanding me to seize and sell the premises described in said Order of Sale, I, W.W. Ridling, Sheriff as aforesaid, did, upon the 6th day of October 1899, levy upon and advertise for sale the said premises as described in said Order of Sale, by giving public notice of the time and place of sale by causing an advertisement thereof to be posted at three public places in the County aforesaid, one of which was the Court House door of said County, for twenty days successively next before the day of said sale, and by Defendant's having waived Notice of Sale. Defendants having no attorney of record and on the first Tuesday in November A.D. 1899, within the hours prescribed by law, sold said property at public venue in the County of Fannin, at the Court House door thereof, and the premises hereinafter described are struck off to J. R. Mayfield for the sum of Three Hundred and One Dollars, he being the highest bidder there for and that being the highest bid for same.
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the premises aforesaid, and of the payment of the sum of Three Hundred and One (301) Dollars, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I, W. W. Ridling, Sheriff as aforesaid, have Granted, Sold and Conveyed, and by these presents do Grant, Sell and Convey, unto the said J. R. Mayfield all of the estate, right, title and interest which the said M. A. Sellers, L. M. Witt, Mrs. Tina Sellers, J. C. Sellers, A. J. Sellers and W. A. Sellers had on the 15th day of August 1899 or at any time afterwards, in and to the following named premises, as described in the order of sale Viz; 48 Acres out of the J. Swagerty survey, in said Fannin County about 21 miles Northeast from Bonham and being the same land conveyed by C. E. Edwards, J. C. and S. A. Denton, H.C. and S. J. Lock and C. M. and M. L. Harrison to S. A. and M. A. Sellers and L. M. Sellers (now Witt) by deed bearing date of November 29th 1893, reference is hereby made to said deed for better description, as against M. A. Sellers, L. M. Witt, Mrs. T. Sellers, J. C. Sellers, A. J. Sellers and W. A. Sellers.
To have and to hold the above described premises, unto the said J. R. Mayfield, his heirs and assigns, forever, as fully and absolutely as I, Sheriff as aforesaid can convey by virtue of said Order of Sale.
In testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 8th day of November A.D. 1899, W.W. Ridling, Sheriff
Fannin County, Texas 

 
[Actual Deed obtained by Lou Poole and mailed/E-mailed to Charles L. Purvis on 21 April 2014 at which time Deed was transcribed in it entirely and published here. Deed located in Fannin County Deed Book # 70, pp. 573-575.]

 
The Sellers involved in this lawsuit are all descendants of Noah Sellers and Timmey Parsons. 
 
Noah Sellers - son of of William Sellers and brother to my 2nd Great Grandfather William Eddins Sellers. Noah was born in Chesterfield County, SC; died in Tennessee.
M. A. Sellers - Mary Annettie Sellers, daughter of Noah & Timmey.
L. M. Sellers – Lillie May Sellers, daughter of John Calhoun Sellers. Grand daughter of Noah Sellers. Later known as L. M. Witt. (Lillie May Sellers married William M. Witt 21 October 1894, Fannin County, Texas).
Mrs. T[ina]  Sellers - Christina Caledonia, daughter of Andrew Jackson Sellers; She married James Henry Sellers, James Calhoun's oldest son by first marriage ²
J. C. Sellers - James Calhoun Sellers, son of Noah Sellers
A. J. Sellers - Andrew Jackson Sellers, son of Noah Sellers
W. A. Sellers – William A. Sellers, Sr., son of Noah Sellers

My next plan of action is attempting to secure a copy of the “Order of Sale issued out of the District Court of the County of Fannin” to see how and why my ancestors lost their land.



___________________________
[1] Land Deed - Forced Sale of Land -- Fannin County, Texas 1899; 8 November 1899; Deed Book #70; Page(s) 573-574; Register of Deeds; Bonham, Fannin County, Texas; 21 April 2014.
[2] "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FX3R-DB7 : accessed 25 Apr 2014), William M. Witt and Lillie Sellars, 21 Oct 1894; citing , Fannin, Texas, , reference 2:2CMKK2G; FHL microfilm 1293831.

Tombstone Tuesday~Timmie Parsons Sellers

Timmie Parsons Sellers

b. Sept. 2, 1817

d. Dec. 24, 1899

bu. Milford Cemetery

Ellis Co., Texas

Tombstone Photo Courtesy of Angie Knott

Timmie Parsons was the daughter of Abington Parsons and his wife Mary. Timmie married Noah Sellers, son of William Sellers and Gilly Eddins sometime after 1 June 1840 in Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^1-2

By 1846 Noah & Timmie had 4 young sons in the family. The youngest, Andrew J. was born in 1846. Their next child, a daughter named Susannah was born in 1848 in Carroll County, Tennessee.³ 

After the birth of Susannah, Noah and Timmie were to add another daughter and two sons with one of the sons dying very young at age 3. ⁴ 

On October 24, 1861, Noah enlisted with Company I. 27th Tennessee Volunteers to serve in the Civil War. He survived the Civil War to return home to his family. ⁵

No proven verifiable death date has been found for Noah but most indicates he died sometime around 1890 in Madison County, Tennessee. 

By 1890 most of the 7 living children with the exception of Thomas E. Sellers had moved to Ellis &  Fannin County, Texas. Young Andrew J. had moved to Fannin  County sometime shortly after the War. Around 1871, he returned from Texas to Madison County, Tennessee to marry Sarah Amanda Alexander on 19 January 1871.  After their marriage, Andrew and Sarah stayed on in Carroll County with his Mother and Father, Noah and Timmie Sellers. ^6-7

As stated earlier, Noah died sometime around 1890  and Andrew, his wife Sarah along with his mother Timmie moved to Ellis County, Texas where Timmie was to stay with her son William A. Sellers and his wife Eppie Irene Young. 

On 24 December 1899, Timmie Parsons Sellers, at age 80, died in Ellis County, Texas. She was laid to rest in the Milford Cemetery, Milford, Ellis County, Texas.⁸




Note: Special Thanks to Angie Knott who took time over the holidays to provide the tombstone photo of Timmie Sellers grave marker. Thank you, Angie.

____________________________
[1] 1830 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 260; Line 3, Household of Mary Parsons; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M19_Roll 172.
[2] 1840 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 260; Line 3, Household of Mary Parsons; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M704_Roll 510.
[3] 1850 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 12, Carroll County, Tennessee, Page: 104B(stamped); Line 39, Dwelling 1386, Family 1386, Household of Noah SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Henderson County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 2, Henderson County, Tennessee, Page: 197; Line 12, Dwelling 172, Family 179, Household of Noah SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M653 Roll 1256.
[5] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 2 January 2014), entry for Noah SELLARS, Private; Company I, Twenty-seventh Infantry; Confederate.
[6] Andrew J. Sellers and Sarah Amanda Alexander, (19 January 1871), Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002: page 187; Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm, Nashville, TN, Tennessee.
[7] 1880 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 14, Madison County, Tennessee, enumeration district (ED) 098, Page: 308D (stamped); Line 1, Dwelling NL, Family 263, Household of Noah SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_Roll 1270.
[8] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 30 December 2013); Headstone for Timmie Sellers; (2 September 1817–24 December 1899); Records of the Milford Cemetery, Plot: 6C; Milford, Ellis County, Texas, USA.

1871 Sellers-Alexander Marriage

Andrew J. Sellers is the son of Noah Sellers and his wife Timmie Ellen Parsons. In the late 1840’s between 1846 and 1848 Noah and his Brother William Eddins who were married to sisters (Timmie & Elizabeth Parsons) moved their families from Chesterfield, South Carolina to Tennessee. ^1-2

About 1854, William Eddins Sellers was killed while raising a roof on a local church (family folklore) and Elizabeth took herself and the children back to Chesterfield County, South Carolina.³

Then sometime in the early 1870, Charles White, a Sellers descendant, reports that Andrew J. Sellers came to Texas and then returned to Madison County to married Sarah Amanda Alexander. They were married on 18 January 1871. ⁴ 

Next the oldest son James Calhoun moved his family to Fannin County, Texas. It was here in Fannin County that James Calhoun married Mary Lee Moore on 27 October 1887. ⁵ 

After the marriage of Andrew and Sarah they stayed on for a while in Madison County most likely until the death of Andrew’s father Noah Sellers. There are various reports that Noah died in 1894; none have been confirmed. At that time, he brought his Mother, Timmie Parsons Sellers, to Ellis County, Texas to live with his brother, William A. Sellers and his wife Eppie Irene Young.⁶

On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1899, Timmie Parsons Sellers died in Ellis County, Texas In 1900, Andrew and Sarah were living in Fannin County, Texas.⁷ A short time later they moved to Sulphur, McCurtain County, Oklahoma.

There are reports that Sarah Amanda Alexander Sellers died on 28 July 1901 and that Andrew J. Sellers died  on 12 February 1905 and both are buried in Sulphur, McCurtain County, Oklahoma..

I have not been able to confirm either of these two dates. In 1880, Andrew and Sarah are listed in the Madison County, TN census and in 1900, they are listed in the Fannin County, TX  Census. If you have evidence that can confirmed either of these two dates, please contact me. No tombstone has been found for Andrew or Sarah Sellers.

Andrew J. Sellers is my 1st cousin 3 times removed. 





__________________
[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Carroll County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 12, Carroll County, Tennessee, Page: 104B(stamped); Line 39, Dwelling 1386, Family 1386, Household of Noah SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
[2] 1850 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 10, Madison County, Tennessee, Page 305B; Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244, Household of Wm. E. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
[3] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 130B; Line 28, Dwelling 0522, Family 0521, Household of Elizabeth SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[4] Andrew J. Sellers and Sarah Amanda Alexander, (19 January 1871), Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002: page 187; Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm, Nashville, TN, Tennessee.
[5] Marriage: Fannin County, Texas, 30 Oct. 1887; J. C. Sellers and M. L. Moore. ,
[6] 1900 U. S. Census, Ellis County, Texas, population schedule, Italy, Ellis County, Texas, enumeration district (ED) 0034, Page: 4A/257(stamped); Line 50, Dwelling 54, Family 55, Household of William SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1630.
[7] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 30 December 2013); Headstone for Timmie Sellers; (2 September 1817–24 December 1899); Records of the Milford Cemetery, Plot: 6C; Milford, Ellis County, Texas, USA.