52 Ancestor's Challenge - Week 16 - Eva Sabrina Porter...Daughter of French Nobility and Ex-Fiance of President James K. Polk???

This week for the 52 Ancestor's Challenge, I'm going to focus on my 3rd great grandmother, Eva Sabrina Porter.  Here is a perfect example of double checking your sources, and double checking your sources sources.

There is a book called The Holcombes, Nation Builders...Their Biographies, Genealogies, and Pedigrees, by Hannah Elizabeth Weir McPhereson, published in 1947.  It is a wonderful book with thousands of names and tons of stories about the genealogy of the Holcomb(e) family.  You can view a copy of it online, for free, at Familysearch.org.  Just put the title in the search box and you can download it to your computer.  Or, if you have an Ancestry.com subscription, you can view it there.  I find it easier to view on Ancestry.com.

My line of Holcombs are listed in the book.  My grandfather, Benton Rogers Holcomb and his wife Mamie Locke are mentioned in it (nothing more then their names).  Benton's father Thomas William Holcomb and his wife Jane Coburn are shown too, and listed with their children.  Then you come to Thomas' parents, William Alfred Holcomb and Eva Sabrina Porter.  This is where things get interesting!!  It states the following on page 350:

"This Porter family was of the French nobility, who escaped extermination by fleeing from France across the English Channel en route to N. America, bringing only such property as could hastily convert into money and jewels and carry on their persons."

"Eva Sabrina (Porter) Holcombe's parents knew they were marked to be beheaded as part of the nobility. This Porter family entered N. America through the port of New Orleans, La.; took boat up Mississippi River; then traveled inland. They bought and equipped a plantation on the old Post Road between Columbia and Nashville, Tenn. , -in Maury Co., Tenn., and there had as neighbors families named Payne, Pillar, Post.  The Polk families of Tenn. were their warm friends."

The story goes on to say the following about Eva:

"As a young lady Eva Sebrina Porter 'spent her summers on the home plantation and winters in Washington, D.C. where she entertained and was entertained in diplomatic circles and at the White House. She was engaged to marry President, James Knox Polk and led many grand marches at balls with him. They quarrelled and their former relations were not restored.'". 

The quote from the book is in quotation marks which leads me to believe it was taken from one of the sources the writer corresponded to.  She lists the sources for William Alfred Holcomb and Eva Sabrina Porter as:

• Family Records of Alfred and Sabrina Porter Holcomb
• Their granddaughter, Nancy Sabrina Holcomb Carpenter (1869-1955). 
• Mrs. R.H. (Lillie Cater) Creitzberg
• T.K. Jones of Lubbock
• Mrs. Arthur G. (Bob Holcombe Carter) Watson
• Mrs. Oscar Waldo (Gaynell Martin) Williams

I recognize Nancy Sabrina Holcomb Carpenter, but not the other names.  Could these have been stories passed down??  A brief look into the life of Eva through records seems to contradict some of this.

What The Records State...

French Nobility??
First, lets deal with the issue of "French Nobility."  We know from probate records that Eva was not the daughter of James Porter, as the book suggested.  That may have been a guess on the part of the author.  A will dated May 6, 1841 for William Porter** of Maury County, TN, lists one of his daughters as Sabrina Holcomb.  Looking into his probate papers (which can be seen on Page 1852 on familysearch.org, TN Probate Court Files 1795-1927, Maury Co., Pigg, George W. - Reams, Joshua Henry), we can see an Alfred Holcomb purchasing several items from the sale of the estate.  This William Porter was the husband of Sabrina, or Sebra, Goodrum.  Sebra Goodrum Porter is living next door to Alfred and Sebrina Holcomb on the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, in District 11, Maury County, TN.  I'm fairly certain that this William Porter is Eva's father.

Gravestone of William Porter found in Porter Family Cemetery, Maury County, TN
Photo found on Findagrave.com
 

But who is William Porter?  Was he the "French Nobility" they were speaking of??  He certainly owned a large plantation in Maury County at his death.  The story says her parents emigrated during the French Revolution, which would have been sometime around 1789.  According to his gravestone, he was born October 15, 1766, so he would have been about 23.  But his wife is said to have been Sebra Goodrum, daughter of Revolutionary War vet Thomas Goodrum.  She would have been born in South Carolina, so they couldn't have traveled together.

Only 3 of William Porter and Sebra Goodrum's 8 children lived until the 1880 Federal census, which is where, for the first time, people were asked about their parents birth.  Two of them list their father's birthplace as North Carolina, and the other lists it as South Carolina.  Many other individuals who have researched this line suggest William is the son of Hugh Porter from North Carolina, who died in Abbeville, South Carolina in 1808.  The will of Hugh Porter does name a son William.  However, there were several William Porters at this time, it's hard to say it is our William.

It's my belief, our Eva Sabrina Porter is not from parents of "French nobility" who escaped during the French Revolution.  I believe her parents were born in the United States.  However, there is a line of Porters who descend from Thomas Porter (1685-1767) of Manakin Town, Goochland County, VA.  He is listed on the "Registered Lineage list" as a "founder of the Huguenot colony at Manakin or Huguenots settling in early colonial Virginia."  This is found on the website for The Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia.

Thomas Porter himself was not a Huguenot, but was married to Elizabeth Dutoy (or Dutois), who is said to have been born to parents who were French Huguenots.  The book To be Useful to the World, Women in Revolutionary America 1740-1790, by Joan R. Gundersen, 2006, can be found on Google Books.  On page 18, it relays the story of how Elizabeth Dutoy's mother, Barbara de Bonnet Dutoy escaped France with her parents and sister:   

"...travels began as an infant when her parents hid Barbara and her sister in saddlebags to cross the French border.  One of the children was wounded when a soldier thrust a sword into the bags.  The de Bonnetts were among the 200,000 Huguenots who chose to leave France rather than convert to Catholicism after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.  In 1700/01 the de Bonnetts joined an organized, publicly financed expedition of Huguenots who had received a grant of land in Virginia from the English Crown."

This is all speculation, but, could Eva's story originally been similar to the story above, about Barbara?  Maybe Eva's story that was told to Hannah Elizabeth Weir McPhereson was one that was altered through the generations?  It could have been about the Porter family, or maybe another relation to Eva.  This is something I'm currently researching, but as of now, don't have the answers.  Maybe in the future I'll have another post about this subject.  But until then, lets look at the other interesting comment about Eva.

Engaged To A Future President?
Did Eva really spend her winters in Washington DC?  Entertaining in the political circle?  Her father did have a large plantation in Maury County, TN, but I'm not sure how much he was involved with politics.  What would take him to D.C. anyway?  The Polk family did live in Maury County the same time as Eva's family.  I do find it possible that the Porters and the Polks could have been acquainted, however, I haven't seen any hard proof that they were family friends.

According to http://www.whitehouse.gov, James K. Polk married Sarah Childress on New Years Day, 1824.  That would have put Eva at a very young age.  According to my records, Eva was born March 1, 1815, however, 1850 federal census says she was born in 1812, and the 1860 federal census says she was born in 1814.  Either way, if we assume she was born in 1812 (the earliest date per our documents), then she would have been only 12 years old in 1824.  I know women back in the early 1800s married young, but to be entertaining people at the young age of 12, or younger...I find that a bit hard to believe.

It would be more plausible that one of Eva's older sisters was engaged to President Polk.  Or possibly a friend of the family.  But I do not believe that she was the one who was. 

Overall, I believe these are great stories that were probably altered in some form from generation to generation.  People could have been changed and dates could have been altered unknowingly, making the facts a little skewed.  Still, it was fun to read that we may be descendants of the French elite, even if it may not be true!

Timeline for Eva Sabrina Porter's Life
Here is just a brief timeline of the facts I have in my files on Eva Sabrina Porter.

• 1815 - March 1 - born in Tennessee to William Porter and Sebra/Sebrina Goodrum (information provided to me by a family source).
• She was the youngest of 8 children.  Her siblings were:
• Delphia Porter Hall (1792-1859)
• James R. Porter (1794-1857)
• Elizabeth Porter Helms (1797-1880)
• Nancy Porter Eddleman Turner (1798-after 1880)
• William Wesley Porter (1800-1872)
• Sarah Porter Bogard (1803-????)
• John Nelson Porter (1810-1896)
• 1831 - February 12 - Eva marries William Alfred Holcomb in Maury County, Tennessee.  William Alfred Holcomb is the son of Kinchen Holcomb and Nancy ?? (Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002, found on Ancestry.com).
• 1832 - June 27 - son John William Porter Holcomb was born in Tennessee (birth information on all of the children was provided to me by a family source).
• 1834 - September 24 - son Nelson Holcomb was born in Tennessee.
• 1835 - April 11 - son Nelson Holcomb died in Tennessee.
• 1836 - October 27 - daughter Parolee S. Holcomb was born in Mississippi (birthplace according to 1850 Federal Census).
• 1839 - October 18 - son James Alfred Holcomb was born in Tennessee.
• 1840 - Family living in Maury County, Tennessee (1840 Federal Census), next to Eva's father and mother.
• 1841 - May 26 - Eva Holcomb listed on the Last Will and Testament of William Porter.
• 1842 - September 11 - daughter Nancy Evaline was born in Tennessee.
• 1845 - April 14 - son Francis Newton Holcomb was born in Maury County, Tennessee.
• 1846 - October 6 - son Thomas William Holcomb was born in Tennessee (my great, great grandfather).
• 1850 - January 17 - Wesley Houston Holcomb was born in Tennessee.
• 1850 - Family living in District 11, Maury County, Tennessee (1850 Federal Census), next to Eva's brother John, her mother Sebra, and her brother James' son James W. Porter.
• 1851 - July 30 - Eva's mother Sebra Goodrum Porter died and was buried in Porter Family Cemetery near her husband.
• 1852 - August 15 - daughter Roxyanna/Roxanna Holcomb was born in Tennessee.
• 1854 - January 26 - daughter Roxyanna/Roxanna Holcomb died in Tennessee, and is buried in Porter Family Cemetery, in Maury County, TN (gravestone found on findagrave.com).
• 1860 - Family living in Bell County, Texas (1860 Federal Census).
• 1869 - March 17 - Eva Sabrina Porter Holcomb died and is said to have been buried in Carpenter's Cemetery, also known as Eulogy Cemetery in Temple, Bell County, Texas.
• 1869 - June 16 - Eva's husband William Alfred Holcomb died and is said to have been buried near Eva.

If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!

**Side Note
Doing research on other southern families, I've noticed the first male child is usually named after the wife's father as a sign of respect.  William Alfred Holcomb and Eva Sabrina Porter's first son was named John William Porter Holcomb.  I'm wondering if Eva's father was not just William Porter, but John William Porter?  It seems many people in this line went by their middle names, and not their first names.

52 Ancestors Challenge - Week 9 - John H.M. Vines - 34th Alabama Infantry - Civil War

JOHN H.M. VINES

 

Is this the picture of John H.M. Vines??  We will probably never know for sure.  It was found in some of my great grandmother, Mamie's, things.  We believe it might be John H.M. Vines, her grandfather.  We can not be 100% sure of this, but the resemblance to his sister Lucinda, and his daughter Nancy Elizabeth are strong.  It is a small tin-type photo.  Also in her belongings, was a handwritten letter from John to his wife, Elizabeth Miles Vines that he wrote while away during the Civil War.  It was dated July 11, 1862, just 10 days before he died.

John H.M. Vines was born about 1829 in, or around, Abbeville, South Carolina.  He was the youngest son of John "Jabez" Vines and Nancy Mattison.  He had at least 2 sisters and 2 brothers that we know of:

• Mary "Pollie" Ann - born 1822, died 1846
• Benjamin J. "B.J." - born 1824, died 1910
• George Washington - born 1828
• Lucinda Purcilla - born 1832, died 1913

1830 Federal census we find a "Jabish" Vines living in Abbeville District, South Carolina.  There are additional children living in the household, besides the 4 we know they had: 2 older male children and 3 older female children.  So there is a possibility that John could have had additional siblings.

1840, we find the family has moved to Tallapoosa County, Alabama.  In the household are children the ages of John, B.J., George, and Lucinda.  Pollie was married by then to George M. Berry, and also living in Tallapoosa County.

Then, on February 13, 1849, we find the marriage record of John H.M. Vines and Elizabeth Miles.  Elizabeth was the oldest daughter of Robert P. Miles and Palmira Jackson.  She was born October 5, 1834 in Georgia, probably near Meriwether County.  We can see the couple living next to John's father Jabez, in Township 22, Tallapoosa County, Alabama on the 1850 census.

Together, the couple had 7 children:

• Mary Ann Melvina 1850-1897
• Nancy Elizabeth 1851-1920
• Lucinda Jane 1853-1915
• Susan Margarett 1854-????
• Robert Javis 1856-1934
• Matilda Estella 1859-1924
• George Washington 1861-????

1860 Federal census we see John, Elizabeth and their 6 older children living in Western Division (Beat 2), Tallapoosa County, Alabama.  John's occupation is shown as "farmer."  There was also a "Non-Population Schedule" done for the year of 1860.  In it, we can see he owned a farm of 320 acres, 30 improved and 290 unimproved, with a cash value of $700.  On this farm, he had 5 horses, 5 milk cows, 2 working oxen, 2 other cattle, and 16 pigs (or swine as it states).  This livestock had a value of $590.  On this schedule you can see the majority of crops raised in the area were of Indian corn and cotton.  John's farm had 30 bushels of Indian corn and 9 bales of ginned cotton (bales were of 400lbs each).  Comparing John's farm to those of his father and siblings, you see his farm was much lower in value.  Comparing acres you see he had more acres then his siblings, but less of those acres were improved.  He also had less livestock.  His siblings and father lived near each other in Beat No. 13 in Tallapoosa County, but John lived in Beat No. 2.

Then, in 1861 came the Civil War.  Its hard to read the index cards on Fold3.com, however, you find John H.M. Vines age 30 enlisting as a Private in Company D of the 34th Alabama Infantry.  His brother George Washington Vines also enlisted and served in the same company.  In the book Soldiers of the Southern Cross, The Confederate Soldiers of Tallapoosa County, Alabama, by William Gregory Wilson, "the 34th Alabama Regiment was organized at Loachapoka in Macon County, Alabama on April 15, 1862."  The company was brought together at Loachapoka, but was ordered, in June, to report to Tupelo, Mississippi.  According to Mr. Wilson's book, not only was there a lot of sickness and disease within the troops, water was scarce in Tupelo too.  The men had to "dig deep wells in search of potable water."  Because of the lack of water, and the heat of summer, Mr. Wilson believes some camps moved east of Tupelo.  We see this move shown in a letter from John H.M. Vines to his wife Elizabeth (except his camp moved north about 8 miles, not east).

Itawamba Cty, Saltillo Miss

July 11th 1862

 

Dear Wife I seat my self this morning to reply to your kind letter that I received yesterday and was proud to hear from you and that you was all well.  Beffy I must say to you that I haven't seen a well day since I have been hear with the exception of one week though I have been up all the time except four days and I was very bad of(f) then.  I could not walk a step with out help it was mumps that got me so lo.  I am doing tollerable well now but not able to do duty.  Beffy a soldiers life is a hard life you need not dout it.  Some of the doctors says it is my liver that is wat is the mater with me now and some of them says it is plurisy.  Ever since I have got up from the mumps I have had a sever misery in my left side and a sever cough which hurts me very much but I am a great deal better than I have been.  Beffy George holds up fine he is as lively as you pleas and has been all the time.  Beffy we have moved from Tupelo up to Saltillo about eight miles.  Walking up here worsted me mighty.  You must still direct your letters to Tupelo a while longer we will still keep marching toward Tenesee I recon some thinks we will go to Tenesee.  Beffy as you want to go to your Paps you are at liberty to go when ever you want to go.  Beffy I am more than to gratify you in any respect that you wish so I want you to go when ever you get ready.  God bless your sweet soul.  I wish I could be with you but it is out of my power at this time.  Beffy I wrote to you in a letter that I sent by Elias Berry what & how I wanted you to manage when you left for your Paps.  Beffy you no it is my wish for you to go.  Beffy you wrote for me to try to do better.  I have quit swaring entirely and have been ever since I have been here.  I will close with you and reply to Melly.  I remain your affectionate husband until death.  J.H.M. Vines

 

My dear daughter I am proud that you can write to your Pa.  Melly I want you to be good girl bless your sweet little soul and all of the rest of my children.  I wish I could be with you all.  Melly kiss Til and Budy for me.  I want to see you all so bad.  Melly when you all go to your grand Paps be sweet children.  I hope I will be with you all before long.  Melly write to me you and your ma as soon as you get this.  Farewell your loving Pa whose love shal never fail.

J.H.M. Vines

 



Such a sweet letter, and he must have been really ill.  On a widow's pension filed by Elizabeth in 1892, she put down as his date of death, July 21st, 1862.  Only 10 days later.  Whether he was still in Saltillo, MS, I'm not sure.  Towards the end of July, the 34th Alabama went by "rail roundabout through Mobile to Chattanooga in preparation for a Confederate offensive into central Kentucky."  This is according to Mr. Wilson's book.  It is certain that John did not have to see, or fight, in any battle in the war.  The 34th didn't see their first battle until December 31, 1862 at the Battle of Murfreesboro.

Where John would have died, and is buried, is a mystery.  If he could have made the journey to Tennessee, I've been told he may have died at Tyner's Station, Tennessee or camp Recovery.  However, since the 34th didn't move until late July, its quite possible he died prior to the journey, or could have been too sick to make the journey.  No, I believe he probably didn't make the trip and died somewhere near Saltillo, or Tupelo, Mississippi.  There is an unknown Confederate soldier buried in a plot next to Elizabeth's parents in Fayette County, Alabama, where Elizabeth was wanting to move per the letter from John shown above.  I'm not sure they would have brought the body back to the family.  Seems like there wouldn't have been the time or money for that.  He was probably buried with the many other men who died of disease in the area of Tupelo at that time.

Elizabeth did indeed move back with her parents.  You can find her and the 7 children in the 1870 Federal census living next door to her parents, Robert and Palmira Miles, in Fayette County, Alabama.  In fact, the 1866 Alabama state census shows Robert Miles household.  In that household is him and his wife, their remaining children living at home, and the added number of Elizabeth and her 7 children.  This particular census is interesting because it asks about the Civil War soldiers who would have been living in the household.  Where it says "died of sickness" we see they marked "2."  One would have been Elizabeth's brother Absalom Jackson Miles who died of sickness near Richmond, Virginia, and the other was probably her husband, John H.M. Vines.

It would have been interesting to hear what stories John's granddaughter, Mamie, would have heard about him.  I assume Mamie's mother, Nancy Elizabeth, must have mentioned her father at some point.  We do know his wife Elizabeth was around when Mamie was a young girl too.  So its safe to assume Elizabeth might have mentioned him to Mamie as well.  I don't think anyone asked Mamie, or even knew about this man or the letter she carried with her.

If you have any questions, or concerns, about any of the information listed above, please leave a comment.  I'd be happy to provide any additional information.  Thanks for reading!!