Category Archives: Douthit

Douthit, Stoehr

Elizabeth & Catherine Starr, Daughters of Caspar Stoehr/Starr (c1731-1814)

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Caspar and Catherine Starr were the parents of ten children, but they outlived three of their daughters, each of whom married and left a family.

Elizabeth Starr, born c1764, is believed to be the eldest child, but her place of birth is a mystery at the moment. It’s possible that she was born in Frederick County, Maryland, as one Caspar Starr owned land there by 1760.

Elizabeth married twice in her short life. On 17 December 1785, she married (1) Adam Call in Surry County, North Carolina. Adam reportedly died by 23 June 1788 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

It is reasonable to believe that Adam and Elizabeth had at least one child and possibly as many as three children if the youngest was born after the death of its father. More on this in a bit.

Although I have found no source for Adam Call’s date of death, Elizabeth married (2) Lewis Little, 27 February 1790, again in Surry County, North Carolina. He was likely also born c1764 or a bit earlier.

Only one marriage record is found for Lewis Little in that time period anywhere in North Carolina and that is his marriage to Elizabeth. Unless he had an unknown first wife who died soon, then Elizabeth was it. I mention this for a specific reason.

The 1790 census of Rowan County, North Carolina [Census day was 2 August 1790] includes an enumeration of the family of Lewis Little. At home are one male over 16, one male under 16 and three females. One of the females is surely his wife, Elizabeth.

That leaves open the question of the identities of the boy and two girls also in the household. It seems likely that Elizabeth had at least two daughters with Adam Call and maybe a son, too. Another researcher states that Elizabeth “had at least one daughter, Rachel, who married Samuel Jobe” in 1806. That marriage is found in the records, but others have attributed her as a daughter of Henry Call. For what it’s worth, while Samuel and Rachel had about eleven children, there were no sons named Adam or Henry. Rachel’s parentage is an issue I leave for others to resolve.

Likewise, Elizabeth’s death date is unknown. It appears that she died before her father’s 1808 will as Lewis Little is given a small bequest as his share of Caspar’s estate and Caspar specifically directs that the remainder of his estate not already discussed was to be equally divided among his seven children, who he named. Elizabeth was not one of them.

Lewis Little and Elizabeth were the parents of six children:

  1. Jasper, born 13 December 1791 [Moravian Church Records: baptized 21 April 1792], Rowan County, North Carolina; died 9 August 1860, Stockton, San Joaquin, California; married Anne Bidwell, 6 October 1813, Wayne County, Indiana.
  2. Sarah, born c1796, North Carolina; died after 1830, possibly Crawford County, Illinois; married Bryant Seany, 18 April 1817, Wayne County, Indiana. Bryant died in 1836 in Crawford County, Illinois. His gravestone is still legible. Sarah apparently predeceased him sometime after 1830.
  3. James, born c1797, North Carolina; died before 1860, probably Crawford County, Illinois; married Susanna Seany, 19 October 1814, Wayne County, Indiana
  4. Nancy, born c1801, North Carolina; married James Crews, 15 January 1822, Crawford County, Illinois. Both died before 1850, probably in Illinois.
  5. Elizabeth, born 2 October 1802, North Carolina; died 21 April 1876, Palestine, Crawford, Illinois; married William Long, 30 October 1827, Crawford County, Illinois
  6. Mary, born c1806, North Carolina; died 1856, Coles County, Illinois; married James Porter, 10 July 1828, Crawford County, Illinois

Continuing to follow the descendants of Elizabeth (Starr) (Call) Little will take some effort because her children moved often with their families.

Catherine Stoehr/Starr, born c1765, is believed to be the second child of Caspar and Catherine. She married Abraham Douthit, c1785. Although the Douthit family also lived in Rowan County, no marriage record has been found for this couple.

However, married they were as Abraham is named as the husband of Caspar Starr’s deceased daughter Catherine in Caspar’s 1808 will. Abraham outlived all three of his wives. Catherine died before 26 August 1805, as Abraham married (2) Mary Beroth on that day in Stokes County, North Carolina. Mary died by 1818 and Abraham married (3) Nancy Jarvis, 6 August 1818, Rowan County, North Carolina.

Abraham Douthit died between 16 April 1828 and 30 August 1828, Davidson County, North Carolina.

Children of Abraham and Catherine (Starr) Douthit:

  1. Mary, born 3 December 1787, North Carolina; died after August 1828 when she is called “Douthet” in her father’s will
  2. Anne, born 8 December 1789, North Carolina; died after August 1828 when she is called “Douthet” in her father’s will
  3. Jacob, born c1790, North Carolina; died after August 1828 when he received a legacy of 50 cents in his father’s will; married Sarah Flemmons, 9 October 1813, Rowan County, North Carolina
  4. Sarah, born c1792, North Carolina; married Basil Flemmons, c1815. This couple had two daughters under 10 in the 1820 census. Basil received a bequest of 50 cents “and no more” in Abraham’s 1828 will. It seems that Sarah might already have died and Basil hasn’t been found in any records after the 1828 will.
  5. Solomon, born 9 April 1792, Rowan County, North Carolina; died young; not in Abraham’s will
  6. Catherine, born 25 February 1793, Rowan County, North Carolina; died after August 1828 when she was called “Douthet” in her father’s will
  7. Abraham, born 24 April 1797, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 17 February 1863, Newton County, Missouri; married Valinda Jarvis, 29 December 1816, Rowan County, North Carolina

Abraham also named son Henry Douthit in his will. Henry was born c1807 to Abraham’s second wife, Mary Beroth and married Clarissa Peake, 3 November 1834, Davidson County, North Carolina. He died in Newton County, Missouri in 1874.

Abraham also mentioned daughters Eunice, Linny and Rebecca, in that order. All appear to have been unmarried at the time, but no further record is found for them. The name of their mother/s is unknown.

This completes the family sketches for Caspar’s and Catherine’s first two children, daughters Elizabeth and Catherine.

Alberty, Douthit

Thomas Douthit & Sarah Alberty of NC and AR

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Today’s family sketch will conclude the stories of the children and grandchildren of Henry Alberty and Rebecca (MNU). John S. Alberty who married Susannah Douthit is the next child in birth order, but their story has already been told, as that is my husband’s direct line.

Therefore, today we will finish with Sarah Alberty, the 8th of nine children born to Henry and Rebecca Alberty. Note that the 9th child, Mary, born c1826, lived to adulthood, but apparently never married and has no descendants.

Sarah Alberty was born 11 April 1824 in North Carolina. As a young girl, she traveled with her family first to Indiana and then to Arkansas. Many of her family members married and left Arkansas for Newton County, Missouri.

However, Sarah apparently never left Arkansas as all her children were born there and she died in Evansville, Washington, Arkansas on 12 May 1899.

Sarah Alberty married Thomas Douthit about 1844 when she was about 19 or 20 years old. Thomas, like the other Albertys and Douthits, was a small farmer and, for whatever reason, this couple chose not to leave with so many of their other kinfolk when they migrated to Missouri.

Children (all born in Washington County, Arkansas):

  1. Mary Elizabeth, born about 23 October 1845; died 6 August 1910, Hulbert, Cherokee, Oklahoma; married William Virgil Jobe, 1866
  2. Henry Abraham, born 20 August 1846; died 1 March 1930, Ardmore, Carter, Oklahoma; married Candace Rebecca Dobson, 28 June 1868, Washington County, Arkansas
  3. William Andrew, born 5 November 1848; died 21 May 1917, Muskogee County, Oklahoma; married Isabel Bowden, 12 November 1872, Pope County, Arkansas
  4. Nancy Valinda, born 16 September 1852; died 27 June 1934, Muskogee County, Oklahoma; married Jerome Felix Jobe, 11 October 1868, Washington County, Arkansas
  5. John Thomas, born 11 November 1853; died 9 December 1913, Newton County, Missouri; married Eliza Alberty, 23 November 1869, Newton County, Missouri
  6. George Nathaniel, born 2 January 1856; died 21 August 1924, Siloam Springs, Benton, Arkansas; married Mary Elizabeth Fields, 1877
  7. James, born c1858; died between 1850-1860

Thomas and Sarah (Alberty) Douthit have many descendants today.

This concludes the series on the children and grandchildren of John Henry Alberty and Rebecca (MNU). If you are related to this family and can add to this information, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment.

Douthit, Jarvis

Abraham Douthit (1797-1863) Updated + Burton Family Name Clues: 12 for ’22

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So far this year, each my 12 for ’22 deep dives into long-ignored branches on my family tree has resulted in the discovery of interesting tidbits and new leads for further research.

My previous one-month dives have all related to people in my own family tree. Today, it’s time to look at my hubby’s tree.

Abraham Douthit, born 11 April 1797, probably in Rowan County, North Carolina, died on 17 February 1863 in Newton County, Missouri.

These dates are known from his gravestone, which still stands in the Van Buren town cemetery.

Abraham Douthit married Valinda Jarvis on 29 December 1816 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

Much less is known about Valinda, aside from her unusual given name, as she died sometime after the birth of her youngest known child, a son born 1836-1840, probably in Arkansas.

Valinda was the daughter of Zadock Jarvis, born c1750, possibly in Montgomery County, Maryland and who died after 1830, probably in Indiana. The names of her mother – both given and maiden names – are currently unknown, but I’ll be talking about my theory in this post.

Abraham and Valinda were the parents of nine children, although before my recent visit to this family, I only had knew of seven children.

Children:

1. Valinda, born c1817, probably Rowan County, North Carolina; died between 1840-1850, probably Washington County, Arkansas; married Daniel Alberty, 17 March 1834, Davidson County, North Carolina
2. Thomas, born 29 October 1819, North Carolina; died 7 January 1897, Washington County, Arkansas; married Sarah Alberty, c1841
3. Susannah, born 3 July 1821, Rowan County, North Carolina; died 19 October 1883, Newton County, Missouri; married (1) John S. Alberty, c1840 (2) Isaac Sturgell, 30 September 1867, Newton County, Missouri
4. Henry Burton, born 25 January 1823, North Carolina; died 12 November 1882, Newton County, Missouri; married Matilda A. Clark, c1848, probably Newton County, Missouri
5. Amos, born c1825, North Carolina; died before 19 September 1865, probably Newton County, Missouri; married Unknown, c1852
6. Elizabeth, born February 1827, North Carolina; died after 1900, possibly in Barry County, Missouri, where she lived with her daughter Lou Hartley’s family; married Jesse Adams, 27 May 1846, Newton County, Missouri
7. Andrew, born 29 March 1829, North Carolina; died 13 August 1916, Newton County, Missouri; married Mary Reynolds, 22 January 1852, Newton County, Missouri
8. Zadock, born 19 January 1831, Davidson County, North Carolina; died 4 January 1895, newton County, Missouri; married Thirza Mariah Hancock, 30 September 1866, Newton County, Missouri
9. Son, born 1836-1840; died before 1850

What new information have I learned about Abraham and his family?

Two books on the Douthit family were published in the early 1980s. I glanced through at least one of them at the Family History Library years ago and took notes. However, I was mostly interested in my husband’s direct line, which is through Abraham and Valinda’s daughter, Susannah, so I didn’t delve much into collateral lines.

Here are some of the new details I’ve been able to document:

I never really looked into how Abraham’s residence in Rowan County, North Carolina became Davidson County, North Carolina. Nor did I look into exactly when the Douthits and extended family left North Carolina and settled in Washington County, Arkansas before making the final move to Newton County, Missouri.

First, Davidson County, North Carolina was formed from Rowan County, North Carolina in 1822. There is no evidence that Abraham Douthit lived in what remained of Rowan County – he just lived in the portion that became Davidson.

A quick search of Davidson County land deeds turned up two transactions in which “Abram” Douthit sold his land. The first sale was dated 14 April 1828 to Ransom Ellis. The second one is dated 1 October 1834 to Mulican Lewis. However, both deeds were registered in 1835 – the first on 11 December and the second on 18 April.

That may well indicate that the Douthits left North Carolina, probably in the spring of 1835, and the new land owners wanted to make sure their deeds were filed with the county clerk.

The 1840 census of Washington County, Arkansas shows Abram Douthit in Vineyard Township. Valinda is not in the census, but there is a son, born 1836-1840. His name is unknown, as he is not found at home in 1850 and likely died young.

There are seven children at home, which supports the facts that daughter Valinda was already married and daughter Susannah married John Alberty, c1840. John is enumerated, also in Vineyard Township, with a female aged 15-20, which fits with Susannah’s birth year of 1821.

Further, the 1830 census in Davidson County, North Carolina confirms children in the home matching the ages of their first seven children. The wife’s birth year is 1791-1799. Given that Abraham was born in 1797, it is reasonable to believe that Valinda was born c1799.

Next, son Henry B. married Matilda, whose maiden name was unknown to me. In 1880, Henry is called Burton Douthit, which will become important in this sketch.

There is a marriage record for Henry’s and Matilda’s son, James, in Logan County, Oklahoma dated 14 May 1896. His parents’ names are recorded as H.B. Douthit and M.A. Clark.

Next, I previously had a death date of Amos Douthit in 1865, with no other details. Further digging found Amos, unmarried, living in Newton County, Missouri in 1850 with brother Henry’s family.

The 1860 census brought a surprise! Amos was living with John and Susannah Alberty, but with him was 7 year old Thomas Douthit. Amos apparently married c1852 to an unknown woman who seems to have died before 1860. Newton County, Missouri had a courthouse fire in 1862 and lost many records. Thomas, later called Thomas Burton Douthit, died by 31 March 1874, still a minor, when Henry Burton Douthit administered his estate.

While searching for Thomas Burton Douthit, a second Thomas Burton Douthit popped up – the two were first cousins and the younger Thomas Burton, born 1858, was the son of Andrew Alberty and Mary Reynolds.

Finding three members of Abraham Douthit’s family who bore the middle name of BURTON gave me pause.

Why was Henry Douthitt given the middle name of BURTON? None of his siblings have middle names and he was the fourth born child. There must be a reason why a middle child, out of the blue, is the only one of nine children to have a middle name.

Furthermore, not Henry, but Amos and Andrew, continued to use BURTON, naming their sons Thomas Burton Douthit.

There is one commonality here – Henry, Amos and Andrew were brothers. Could Henry have been named BURTON in honor of a grandparent and did Amos and Andrew continue the tradition by giving their sons the same middle name of BURTON?

Abraham Douthit was the son of Abraham Douthit and Catherine Stoehr and the Burton name doesn’t appear in those families.

Valinda Jarvis was the daughter of Zadock Jarvis and an unknown mother. Might Burton be her mother’s maiden name?

What is known about Zadock Jarvis? Some details are sketchy, but Zadock, born c1750, served in the Montgomery County, Maryland militia in 1776.  He is said to be the son of one James Jarvis, who died in the 1770s.

If Zadock’s wife was a Burton, are there any Burtons to be found in Rowan County, North Carolina or in Montgomery County, Maryland?

A quick check of the 1790 census of Rowan County showed only one Burton. That was Isaac Burton, who continued to appear in the Rowan County censuses through 1820. His birth year is uncertain, but he was probably born c1750.

Online information shows him to be the son of William Eller Burton; one of his siblings was Basil Burton, who fought in the American Revolution. Now for the big question – where did this Burton family live during the war??? MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND and they served in the same militia unit as Zadock Jarvis.

William Eller Burton left a will filed in Frederick County, Maryland, which named sons and one daughter, Drusilla. However, he died in 1762, long before Zadock Jarvis married.

Could Drusilla Burton have later become the wife of Zadock Jarvis? I think it’s a definite possibility. Zadock’s birth year of c1750 is just an estimate. He wasn’t born any later than that, but he easily could have been born in the 1740s, as was Drusilla.

Drusilla did inherit some land from her father, but Maryland records are locked on FamilySearch. This is definitely on my “to do” list when I get to a family history center in person. Perhaps she maintained ownership of the property until she married and, when sold, identified her by her married name.

I’ve seen unsourced comments that his wife was a Burch from Montgomery County, Maryland, but that sounds suspiciously like Burton, so more research is needed. Given that Burton was used in the Jarvis family, I’m more inclined to believe that her name was indeed Burton.

This clue of BURTON is the best I’ve found for the Jarvis family, ever. No one seems to have ever found any documents that give even the slightest hint of the name of Zadock Jarvis’s wife!