Matthews / Conner / Covey / Salts [Solt] Family History - Person Sheet
Matthews / Conner / Covey / Salts [Solt] Family History - Person Sheet
NameUnknown McGINNIS, M
Death Datebef 1825
Death PlaceJonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee
Spouses
Birth Datebetween 1795 - 1805
Birth PlaceTennessee
Memobet 1795-1800 or 1809
Death Datebtwn 10 Aug 1870 and October 8, 1871942 Age: 75
Death PlaceJonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee
OccupationSeamstress
ChildrenMary Jane , F (1824-1855)
Notes for Unknown McGINNIS
In a letter written by Fannie Triplett Boone (granddaughter of Mary Jane McGinnis Salts through her daughter Elmira Virginia "Ella" Salts Triplett), Fannie stated that all she knew of her McGinnis people was that they originally came from the Philadelphia, PA area. However, she did not know if they had ever lived in any other places before they migrated to the Washington Co., Tennessee area.
It is not known if this McGinnis man even existed, or if Hannah was a McGinnis by birth. Most or all of the McGinnis marriage for the late 1700s and early 1800s have been identified, and no records have been found for a McGinnis man being married to a woman named Hannah during that time (other than Hannah Wolfe, but she has been ruled out and can be found recorded in documents for many years in Grainger Co., TN). However, when looking at the earlier censuses, one needs to be very careful studying the McGinnis entries. A great number of McGinnis people migrated to Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri around the first part of the 1800's, which makes it more difficult to link this unknown McGinnis man and Hannah to a McGinnis family of eastern Tennessee.
It is also unclear how Hannah ended up with her own farm. Questions are endless in trying to decide if she was left the land and house by a possible McGinnis husband who died around the time of Hannah's first child's birth. But no early transactions have been found in her name.
My family's story passed down from Hannah's daughter, Mary Jane McGinnis, is as follows: Mary Jane's father died shortly after her birth, or if not right before (sometime in and around 1824). After the death of this McGinnis man, Hannah soon remarried and had more children. However, recent research has shown that Hannah McGinnis may have had two more partners -and that she never married her second and third partners. There have been no records showing that Hannah ever remarried after the death of "the McGinnis man." There are, however, several documents linking her to Richard D. Smith -the father of her last five children. No records have been found documenting the father of Hannah's second child, Amanda Melvina McGinnis.
With this recently gained knowledge, it puts a completely different light on the possibility of this McGinnis man ever existed. From the living researchers of Hannah's lines that have been evaluating her history, we are all, still of two minds regarding the possibility of this unknown McGinnis man. And there are two theories that everyone seems to accept.
Theory 1) Is that Hannah could have probably been a McGinnis by birth. And when the McGinnis people migrated to other parts of the States leaving the Washington Co., TN area, Hannah was left behind. This could have been due to the possibility that Mary Jane, her first daughter, could have been born out of wedlock -which is to date, a complete assumption. If this theory was true, then it looks like Hannah would have been given the property she owned by her parents or a relative, choosing to, or being forced to stay behind.
Theory 2) Is that Hannah did marry a McGinnis man and was left the property that she owned and lived in. Then she stayed on behind to live near her own parents. This theory would account for her being listed as the head of the household in 1830. However, the 1820 listings for the McGinnis people of that time doesn't show a clear enough picture to even assume who her husband could have been. There are a few McGinnis men of that area who died around 1823 - 25, but nothing solid enough to go on.
On the gravestone of Mary Jane McGinnis Salts, she is listed as Mary J.T.P. Salts. Howard McGinnis, a McGinnis researcher, states that the initials along with Mary Jane's name on her tombstone could be initials of her mother and grandmother's surnames, or could possibly be Mary Jane's own initials. It was very common for an Irish person to have several middle names.
It is not known if this McGinnis man even existed, or if Hannah was a McGinnis by birth. Most or all of the McGinnis marriage for the late 1700s and early 1800s have been identified, and no records have been found for a McGinnis man being married to a woman named Hannah during that time (other than Hannah Wolfe, but she has been ruled out and can be found recorded in documents for many years in Grainger Co., TN). However, when looking at the earlier censuses, one needs to be very careful studying the McGinnis entries. A great number of McGinnis people migrated to Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri around the first part of the 1800's, which makes it more difficult to link this unknown McGinnis man and Hannah to a McGinnis family of eastern Tennessee.
It is also unclear how Hannah ended up with her own farm. Questions are endless in trying to decide if she was left the land and house by a possible McGinnis husband who died around the time of Hannah's first child's birth. But no early transactions have been found in her name.
My family's story passed down from Hannah's daughter, Mary Jane McGinnis, is as follows: Mary Jane's father died shortly after her birth, or if not right before (sometime in and around 1824). After the death of this McGinnis man, Hannah soon remarried and had more children. However, recent research has shown that Hannah McGinnis may have had two more partners -and that she never married her second and third partners. There have been no records showing that Hannah ever remarried after the death of "the McGinnis man." There are, however, several documents linking her to Richard D. Smith -the father of her last five children. No records have been found documenting the father of Hannah's second child, Amanda Melvina McGinnis.
With this recently gained knowledge, it puts a completely different light on the possibility of this McGinnis man ever existed. From the living researchers of Hannah's lines that have been evaluating her history, we are all, still of two minds regarding the possibility of this unknown McGinnis man. And there are two theories that everyone seems to accept.
Theory 1) Is that Hannah could have probably been a McGinnis by birth. And when the McGinnis people migrated to other parts of the States leaving the Washington Co., TN area, Hannah was left behind. This could have been due to the possibility that Mary Jane, her first daughter, could have been born out of wedlock -which is to date, a complete assumption. If this theory was true, then it looks like Hannah would have been given the property she owned by her parents or a relative, choosing to, or being forced to stay behind.
Theory 2) Is that Hannah did marry a McGinnis man and was left the property that she owned and lived in. Then she stayed on behind to live near her own parents. This theory would account for her being listed as the head of the household in 1830. However, the 1820 listings for the McGinnis people of that time doesn't show a clear enough picture to even assume who her husband could have been. There are a few McGinnis men of that area who died around 1823 - 25, but nothing solid enough to go on.
On the gravestone of Mary Jane McGinnis Salts, she is listed as Mary J.T.P. Salts. Howard McGinnis, a McGinnis researcher, states that the initials along with Mary Jane's name on her tombstone could be initials of her mother and grandmother's surnames, or could possibly be Mary Jane's own initials. It was very common for an Irish person to have several middle names.
Notes for Hannah (Spouse 1)
Hannah's date of birth:
When looking through the documents for Hannah McGinnis, the following was found in relationship to her year of birth.
Washington County, TN census years
1820 - No findings
1830 - category of 20 to 30, which would place her birth between 1800 and 1810
1840 - category of 50 to 60, which would place her birth born between 1780 and 1790
1850 - 51 years old from census, which would place her birth year as 1799
1860 - 65 years old from census, which would place her birth year as 1795
1870 - 65 years old from census, which would place her birth year as 1805
1880 - No findings
Known Facts for Hannah McGinnis (in chronological order):
From Hannah's birth to the birth of her first child in 1824 - It is not known if Hannah was born a McGinnis or married a McGinnis man sometime before 1824. There are no marriage records in or around the Washington County, TN area showing a woman with the first name of Hannah being married to a McGinnis man (other than Hannah Wolfe, who has been ruled out. They are not the same).
1830 - On the 1830 census for Washington Co., TN., Hannah is listed as head of the household with the following children:
1 male under five
1 female between 5 and 10
1 female between 20 to 30. (part 3 Stamped no: 238)
1833, March 29 - On the 29th of March in 1833 -when her children, Ruthie (about 4), Arthur (around 3 yrs & 5 m), and Elmirah (who was just a baby)- there was a land transaction between the three children with Conrad and Elizabeth Ball Brown for $30. There was no mention of any adults representing the three children.
1840 - United States Federal Census - Washington County, Tennessee.
Hannah is not listed on the 1840 census in Washington Co. as Head of the House. She is living with Richard D. Smith, or rather, he is living with her. All of the children are accounted for and the ages match up perfectly to the Hannah’s children.943
1 boy between the ages of 5 & 10
1 man aged 40 to 50
2 female between the ages of 0 to 5
1 female between the age of 5 to 10
1 female between the age of 10 to 15
1 female between the age of 15 to 20
1 female between the age of 30 to 40
1850, December 12 - United States Federal Census - Subdivision 4, East District, Washington County, Tennessee: Swinneys, Jonesboro Post Office
McGINNIS, Hannah McGinnis 41 f TN
McGINNIS, Elmirah V. 18 f TN
McGINNIS, Martha A. 16 f TN
McGINNIS, Saraphina 12 f TN
McGINNIS, Arther 21 m TN tailor944
and listed as head of the household. She is listed with four of her seven children in this order: Elmirah V. age 18, Martha A. age 16, Saraphina age 12 and Arthur J. age 21. All of the children have been listed with the surname of McGinnis. Also, it should be noted that Arthur J., the eldest child, has been listed last.
1851, March 31 - On the 31st of March in 1851, a deed was written by John Ryland acknowledging the sale and transaction of several acres of land that Ryland sold to Richard D. Smith on the 6th of September in 1839. The land is described as a track of land Ryland "previously purchased from Charles Bacon, land known as the 'Ferguson Place -excluding fifteen acres' that Bacon had sold to John Allison". Ryland further acknowledged that Richard D. Smith had transferred this same track of land to Hannah McGinnis on the 4th of November in 1841.
1853, March 7 - On the 7th of March in 1853 Hannah McGinnis purchased eighty acres in Washington County from Robert J. McKinney (who was living in Greene County, TN) for $300. The land purchased was in Washington County and described to be the same land that was inherited by Samuel Greer from John Green on the 11th of September in 1841. It also said that upon Green's death the land was sold in public auction through a Jonesboro Chancery Court on the 28th of June in 1849 to Robert J. McKinney. Richard D. Smith witnessed this document.
1856, June 6 — Hannah is mentioned in the will of her neighbor, Joseph Beals. She is only listed as a reference for the land he is giving his daughter..."to have my farm adjoining Hannah McGinnes & Michael Ashor..."
1858, June 13 - On June 13th in 1858, Hannah McGinnis transferred 90 acres (known as the Greer Farm) to her children -providing that “they take care of her as she gets old”. She lists her children as Arthur J. Smith, Almyra V. McGinnis, Martha Ann Campbell and Saraphine Dukes. Another daughter is also mentioned, Adeline Collins. Hannah states that Adeline will only be included in the division of her property if Adeline "...will join in and help my four children above named to support and provide for me..."
1860, June 22 - Hannah is listed in the United States, Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedule for 1860 for Washington County, Tennessee, Schedule Type: Agriculture.945
1860, August 4th - United States Federal Census - Tennessee, Washington County, Swinney’s District #7, Jonesboro Post Office, dwelling #724, family #724 taken on the 4th of August in 1860
MCGINNIS, Hannah 65 f seamstress TN
SALLS [Salts], Daniel 7 m IL946
1866, April 18 - On the 18th of April in 1866, Hannah McGinnis and her son, A. J. Smith were sworn witnesses for Saraphina E. McGinnis Duke's Civil War Widow's Application.942
1870, August 10th - United States Federal Census - Washington County, TN
MAGINNIS, Hannah 65 f w keeping house 300 [real est. value] Tenn [b.p.] -- boxes checked in both col's 16 & 17: cannot read / cannot write; also checked in col. 18 (whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic). From this, it is inferred that Hannah was indeed infirm in some way, but she was still living alone own. Her given age of 65 is the same age she gave 10 years earlier, in 1860.947
Responses to the above documents:
1830 - On the 1830 census the ages of the children match up for Mary Jane who would have been around 6 (5-10 category), Ruthey Adeline who would have been around 2 (0-5 category), and Arthur Jackson, the only boy born to Hannah and who would have been around 1 (0-5). Hannah's second child, Amanda Melvina McGinnis was not listed on this census. Amanda was adopted out to the Mercer family. And going by this census, it could mean that Amanda's adoption took place shortly after her birth in 1826, or sometime before the 1830 census was taken. Details of Amanda's adoption have never been found in any documents -only in the will of her adopted stepfather, John Wallace.
1833 - Washington Co., Tn Ct Minutes 1832-1833 p 264 Monday April 15, 1833 - Deed of conveyance from Conrod Brown and Elizabeth his wife dated 29 May 1833 to Ruthey Adaline McGinnis, Arthur Jackson McGinnis and Elmery McGinnis for 10 acres of land and acknowledged in open court by the said Elizabeth Brown who being examined by the court separate and apart from her husband Conrod Brown acknowledges she signed the same of her own free will and without the threat coercion or pursuance of her said husband which was ordered to be certified.
Arthur Jackson McGinnis-Smith married a Harriette M. Brown. Also, Conrad Brown was an uncle to Leland Salts who married Mary Jane McGinnis -the eldest daughter of Hannah Mcginnis. Also, Elizabeth Ball Brown, wife of Conrad, was an aunt to Leland Saults (his mother was Rebecca, sister of Elizabeth Ball). This land was bought at the time when Conrad and Elizabeth Ball Brown were separated.
Other names mentioned in the deed of 1833 were: William Thompson and Abraham Brown who had adjoining farms next to the land being sold to the three children. Abraham Brown has been identified as a brother to Conrad. And William Thompson could be related to the David A. Thompson who married Hannah's second daughter Amanda (who was raised by John Wallace under the name of Amanda Mercer). So from information gathered from this document alone, the land purchased by the three children seems to have been surrounded by present or future relatives.948
1840 - Hannah was not listed on the 1840 census, but there is a listing for a man named Richard D. Smith, which creates an identical picture of what Hannah's household. At this point in her life, she and Richard were living together under one roof. There are five children living with them that all match up with the dates of the years of Hannah’s children. Hannah is listed as being between 30-40 years old.
1841 - This is the year that relates to the document of 1851 where Richard D. Smith supposedly transferred his land to Hannah. However, this transfer was not recorded in any documents. It has only been identified on the documents that was written on the 31st of March in 1851. However, this ties in with the 1840 census, showing that relations were active between Hannah and Richard D. Smith -hence, Hannah being found under Richard in the 1840 census.
1850 - It is also known that Arthur Jackson "A.J." Smith (son of Richard D. Smith and Hannah McGinnis) was married on Sept 13, 1850 -before the census was taken in October. However, Arthur's wife, Harriette M. Brown Smith, is not listed with him. She can be found in the house of her father.
1851 - When reading this document, it leaves the reader to believe that Richard D. Smith had died and it was written after his death for the benefit of Hannah to legally claim ownership of his land. But Richard D. Smith shows up on another document relating to Hannah McGinnis on the 11th of February in 1853. The 1853 document recorded Hannah selling a track of land to John Allison. From the description of the land, it was a strip of Hannah's land that ran along her farm between Isaac Kyser and John Stuart's farms. Hannah sold the land for $275. The deed describes the land as forty acres.
1853 - On the document dated the 11th of February 1853, Richard D. Smith witnessed with his signature as Hannah purchased property from John Allison.
1860 - It is known that the Daniel Salts (shown to be born in Illinois, who is listed with Hannah on the 1860 Washington Co., TN census )was her grandson -a son of her first daughter, Mary Jane McGinnis Salts. Finding Daniel with Hannah McGinnis matches with the Missouri McGinnis-Saults family story that has been passed down through the generations. All four of the children were returned to Tennessee when their mother, Mary Jane McGinnis Saults, died in Illinois on August 24, 1855.
All of Mary Jane McGinnis' children have been found on the 1860 census to date: Daniel with his Grandmother McGinnis, Ella in the household of David Stuart, and Davis B. Salts in the household of Ephriam S. Rising, Elmira Virginia "Ella" as Tennessee "E.V." Salts with her grandfather, Daniel Salts and Fanny as Fannie has been found on the 1860 census for Tennessee under the name of Mary V. Sutts age 13. She is living in Lawrence County as a servant -dwelling number 76, family number 405.
Daniel was the only child who was recorded as being bound out. He was given to William Harvey Britton on the 1st of October in 1860. The Britton family is also connected to Hannah McGinnis through her daughter, Saraphina McGinnis Dukes. Sarahpina can be found on the 1850 census with Hannah, as well as being listed in Hannah's living will / deed.
Saraphina’s husband, Alexander Dukes, was a son of James B. and Jane Britton Dukes. Daniel was bound out to Harvey Britton through his brother Daniel Britton as security on October 1, 1860. They are both sons of Jane's brother - and all of the Brittons named above are grandchildren of a Dukes woman, as well.
1862, June 7 - Hannah can be found in the United States IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918. She had 90 acres. It was valued at $992. She was charged $3.48.949
1866 - From this document we learn that Hannah was still alive when Daniel was bound out. Therefore, the Missouri Saults story of Daniel being bound out due to Hannah's death was not how the history happened. The four Salts children were bound out or given to family and friends while Hannah was still alive and before 1860.
1870 - Since Hannah was found on the 1870 census, it is thought that she died sometime between 1870 and October of 1871. It was at that time when her son, Arthur Jackson Smith relocated his family to Texas. From the data gathered from previous censuses, it is known that Hannah's son, Arthur Jackson Smith, was living in a house close or next to Hannah's house when they were living in Washington County, Tennessee.
Current Conclusion
• It is not known if Hannah every married any of the three men who fathered her seven children. It is known that she kept her first child, Mary Jane McGinnis, who continued living with Hannah until she married, John Leland Arthur Salts in 1842.
• It is now known that Hannah had a second child, Amanda, had a different father from her elder sister, Mary Jane.
• Amanda was adopted out to a Mercer family, however, no records have been found indicating the time or year that this adoption took place. It can only be assumed from the existing census data, that this adoption took place sometime before Amanda turned 4 (she was not listed on the 1830 census with her other siblings).
• Amanda married under the adopted name of Mercer, even though her stepmother's second husband was John Wallace. It is not known if there was a relationship between Elizabeth Wallace Mercer and John Wallace -Elizabeth's second husband. It is only known that Amanda became a strong family member in John Wallace's home and was mentioned in his will when she was given $500. It is known however, that Elizabeth (the step-mother) was born a Wallace. So, she was born a Wallace, married a Mercer (had children who kept their father's name and she adopted Amanda), then she married John Wallace (She was really, Elizabeth Wallace Mercer Wallace).
• Hannah's lineage or parents are not known. However, the facts gathered from the Bradley Co., TN Salts granddaughter of Mary Jane McGinnis, said that the McGinnis people came from PA. They knew nothing else of their McGinnis people, but did know that Amanda (the second daughter of Hannah) was from a different marriage and was a half-sister to the first child of Hannah, Mary Jane.
• Hannah's death date is not known. But, since Hannah has been found in the 1870 census, it is now assumed that Hannah died sometime after the 1870 census was taken on August the 10th. However, more research needs to be conducted on her during this time period. Also, it is known that Arthur J. Smith migrated to Texas around 1872. Further research has now identified that Arhur and his family arrived in Texas on October 8, 1871. This exact date is know because it was his son's 19th birthday.
• Further support of this finding can be seen in all of the documents and deeds relating to Hannah McGinnis and Richard D. Smith. A great deal of effort was given to identifying Hannah's children and their relationship with their mother. Though the documents found for Hannah and Richard D. Smith, it seems that try to make sure that all of the children were cared for. However, Mary Jane and Amanda are never mentioned in any of the documents, which leave the reader assuming that they were not directly related to Richard D. Smith, or, when Hannah left her living-will in the deed transaction of 1858 to her children, she named only the five -because Amanda had been adopted and cared for and Mary Jane was dead.
At the time when this living will was made, Mary Jane was in fact dead. And, Amanda, had already been given $500, which she inherited from John Wallace. It is assumed that Hannah wanted to leave her estate to the five children who needed the most help. Hence, Amanda was left out of her will, as was Mary Jane. Also, Arthur J. Smith (Hannah's only son) was in fact living next to her by 1860.
• Hannah's gravesite has never been found.
"The Missouri McGinnis / Saults Family Story"
At the death of Mary Jane McGinnis Salts in 1855, her four children were taken back to Washington Co., TN to be raised by their McGinnis grandmother, other family members and friends. It was thought that these children lived with their Grandmother McGinnis until her death. But finding the 1860 census shows that three of the children were possibly sent to live with other families and friends shortly after they arrived at Hannah’s, which could have been any time between mid 1855 and before the 1860 census was taken. Daniel was the only child shown living with Hannah on the 1860 census.
When looking through the documents for Hannah McGinnis, the following was found in relationship to her year of birth.
Washington County, TN census years
1820 - No findings
1830 - category of 20 to 30, which would place her birth between 1800 and 1810
1840 - category of 50 to 60, which would place her birth born between 1780 and 1790
1850 - 51 years old from census, which would place her birth year as 1799
1860 - 65 years old from census, which would place her birth year as 1795
1870 - 65 years old from census, which would place her birth year as 1805
1880 - No findings
Known Facts for Hannah McGinnis (in chronological order):
From Hannah's birth to the birth of her first child in 1824 - It is not known if Hannah was born a McGinnis or married a McGinnis man sometime before 1824. There are no marriage records in or around the Washington County, TN area showing a woman with the first name of Hannah being married to a McGinnis man (other than Hannah Wolfe, who has been ruled out. They are not the same).
1830 - On the 1830 census for Washington Co., TN., Hannah is listed as head of the household with the following children:
1 male under five
1 female between 5 and 10
1 female between 20 to 30. (part 3 Stamped no: 238)
1833, March 29 - On the 29th of March in 1833 -when her children, Ruthie (about 4), Arthur (around 3 yrs & 5 m), and Elmirah (who was just a baby)- there was a land transaction between the three children with Conrad and Elizabeth Ball Brown for $30. There was no mention of any adults representing the three children.
1840 - United States Federal Census - Washington County, Tennessee.
Hannah is not listed on the 1840 census in Washington Co. as Head of the House. She is living with Richard D. Smith, or rather, he is living with her. All of the children are accounted for and the ages match up perfectly to the Hannah’s children.943
1 boy between the ages of 5 & 10
1 man aged 40 to 50
2 female between the ages of 0 to 5
1 female between the age of 5 to 10
1 female between the age of 10 to 15
1 female between the age of 15 to 20
1 female between the age of 30 to 40
1850, December 12 - United States Federal Census - Subdivision 4, East District, Washington County, Tennessee: Swinneys, Jonesboro Post Office
McGINNIS, Hannah McGinnis 41 f TN
McGINNIS, Elmirah V. 18 f TN
McGINNIS, Martha A. 16 f TN
McGINNIS, Saraphina 12 f TN
McGINNIS, Arther 21 m TN tailor944
and listed as head of the household. She is listed with four of her seven children in this order: Elmirah V. age 18, Martha A. age 16, Saraphina age 12 and Arthur J. age 21. All of the children have been listed with the surname of McGinnis. Also, it should be noted that Arthur J., the eldest child, has been listed last.
1851, March 31 - On the 31st of March in 1851, a deed was written by John Ryland acknowledging the sale and transaction of several acres of land that Ryland sold to Richard D. Smith on the 6th of September in 1839. The land is described as a track of land Ryland "previously purchased from Charles Bacon, land known as the 'Ferguson Place -excluding fifteen acres' that Bacon had sold to John Allison". Ryland further acknowledged that Richard D. Smith had transferred this same track of land to Hannah McGinnis on the 4th of November in 1841.
1853, March 7 - On the 7th of March in 1853 Hannah McGinnis purchased eighty acres in Washington County from Robert J. McKinney (who was living in Greene County, TN) for $300. The land purchased was in Washington County and described to be the same land that was inherited by Samuel Greer from John Green on the 11th of September in 1841. It also said that upon Green's death the land was sold in public auction through a Jonesboro Chancery Court on the 28th of June in 1849 to Robert J. McKinney. Richard D. Smith witnessed this document.
1856, June 6 — Hannah is mentioned in the will of her neighbor, Joseph Beals. She is only listed as a reference for the land he is giving his daughter..."to have my farm adjoining Hannah McGinnes & Michael Ashor..."
1858, June 13 - On June 13th in 1858, Hannah McGinnis transferred 90 acres (known as the Greer Farm) to her children -providing that “they take care of her as she gets old”. She lists her children as Arthur J. Smith, Almyra V. McGinnis, Martha Ann Campbell and Saraphine Dukes. Another daughter is also mentioned, Adeline Collins. Hannah states that Adeline will only be included in the division of her property if Adeline "...will join in and help my four children above named to support and provide for me..."
1860, June 22 - Hannah is listed in the United States, Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedule for 1860 for Washington County, Tennessee, Schedule Type: Agriculture.945
1860, August 4th - United States Federal Census - Tennessee, Washington County, Swinney’s District #7, Jonesboro Post Office, dwelling #724, family #724 taken on the 4th of August in 1860
MCGINNIS, Hannah 65 f seamstress TN
SALLS [Salts], Daniel 7 m IL946
1866, April 18 - On the 18th of April in 1866, Hannah McGinnis and her son, A. J. Smith were sworn witnesses for Saraphina E. McGinnis Duke's Civil War Widow's Application.942
1870, August 10th - United States Federal Census - Washington County, TN
MAGINNIS, Hannah 65 f w keeping house 300 [real est. value] Tenn [b.p.] -- boxes checked in both col's 16 & 17: cannot read / cannot write; also checked in col. 18 (whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic). From this, it is inferred that Hannah was indeed infirm in some way, but she was still living alone own. Her given age of 65 is the same age she gave 10 years earlier, in 1860.947
Responses to the above documents:
1830 - On the 1830 census the ages of the children match up for Mary Jane who would have been around 6 (5-10 category), Ruthey Adeline who would have been around 2 (0-5 category), and Arthur Jackson, the only boy born to Hannah and who would have been around 1 (0-5). Hannah's second child, Amanda Melvina McGinnis was not listed on this census. Amanda was adopted out to the Mercer family. And going by this census, it could mean that Amanda's adoption took place shortly after her birth in 1826, or sometime before the 1830 census was taken. Details of Amanda's adoption have never been found in any documents -only in the will of her adopted stepfather, John Wallace.
1833 - Washington Co., Tn Ct Minutes 1832-1833 p 264 Monday April 15, 1833 - Deed of conveyance from Conrod Brown and Elizabeth his wife dated 29 May 1833 to Ruthey Adaline McGinnis, Arthur Jackson McGinnis and Elmery McGinnis for 10 acres of land and acknowledged in open court by the said Elizabeth Brown who being examined by the court separate and apart from her husband Conrod Brown acknowledges she signed the same of her own free will and without the threat coercion or pursuance of her said husband which was ordered to be certified.
Arthur Jackson McGinnis-Smith married a Harriette M. Brown. Also, Conrad Brown was an uncle to Leland Salts who married Mary Jane McGinnis -the eldest daughter of Hannah Mcginnis. Also, Elizabeth Ball Brown, wife of Conrad, was an aunt to Leland Saults (his mother was Rebecca, sister of Elizabeth Ball). This land was bought at the time when Conrad and Elizabeth Ball Brown were separated.
Other names mentioned in the deed of 1833 were: William Thompson and Abraham Brown who had adjoining farms next to the land being sold to the three children. Abraham Brown has been identified as a brother to Conrad. And William Thompson could be related to the David A. Thompson who married Hannah's second daughter Amanda (who was raised by John Wallace under the name of Amanda Mercer). So from information gathered from this document alone, the land purchased by the three children seems to have been surrounded by present or future relatives.948
1840 - Hannah was not listed on the 1840 census, but there is a listing for a man named Richard D. Smith, which creates an identical picture of what Hannah's household. At this point in her life, she and Richard were living together under one roof. There are five children living with them that all match up with the dates of the years of Hannah’s children. Hannah is listed as being between 30-40 years old.
1841 - This is the year that relates to the document of 1851 where Richard D. Smith supposedly transferred his land to Hannah. However, this transfer was not recorded in any documents. It has only been identified on the documents that was written on the 31st of March in 1851. However, this ties in with the 1840 census, showing that relations were active between Hannah and Richard D. Smith -hence, Hannah being found under Richard in the 1840 census.
1850 - It is also known that Arthur Jackson "A.J." Smith (son of Richard D. Smith and Hannah McGinnis) was married on Sept 13, 1850 -before the census was taken in October. However, Arthur's wife, Harriette M. Brown Smith, is not listed with him. She can be found in the house of her father.
1851 - When reading this document, it leaves the reader to believe that Richard D. Smith had died and it was written after his death for the benefit of Hannah to legally claim ownership of his land. But Richard D. Smith shows up on another document relating to Hannah McGinnis on the 11th of February in 1853. The 1853 document recorded Hannah selling a track of land to John Allison. From the description of the land, it was a strip of Hannah's land that ran along her farm between Isaac Kyser and John Stuart's farms. Hannah sold the land for $275. The deed describes the land as forty acres.
1853 - On the document dated the 11th of February 1853, Richard D. Smith witnessed with his signature as Hannah purchased property from John Allison.
1860 - It is known that the Daniel Salts (shown to be born in Illinois, who is listed with Hannah on the 1860 Washington Co., TN census )was her grandson -a son of her first daughter, Mary Jane McGinnis Salts. Finding Daniel with Hannah McGinnis matches with the Missouri McGinnis-Saults family story that has been passed down through the generations. All four of the children were returned to Tennessee when their mother, Mary Jane McGinnis Saults, died in Illinois on August 24, 1855.
All of Mary Jane McGinnis' children have been found on the 1860 census to date: Daniel with his Grandmother McGinnis, Ella in the household of David Stuart, and Davis B. Salts in the household of Ephriam S. Rising, Elmira Virginia "Ella" as Tennessee "E.V." Salts with her grandfather, Daniel Salts and Fanny as Fannie has been found on the 1860 census for Tennessee under the name of Mary V. Sutts age 13. She is living in Lawrence County as a servant -dwelling number 76, family number 405.
Daniel was the only child who was recorded as being bound out. He was given to William Harvey Britton on the 1st of October in 1860. The Britton family is also connected to Hannah McGinnis through her daughter, Saraphina McGinnis Dukes. Sarahpina can be found on the 1850 census with Hannah, as well as being listed in Hannah's living will / deed.
Saraphina’s husband, Alexander Dukes, was a son of James B. and Jane Britton Dukes. Daniel was bound out to Harvey Britton through his brother Daniel Britton as security on October 1, 1860. They are both sons of Jane's brother - and all of the Brittons named above are grandchildren of a Dukes woman, as well.
1862, June 7 - Hannah can be found in the United States IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918. She had 90 acres. It was valued at $992. She was charged $3.48.949
1866 - From this document we learn that Hannah was still alive when Daniel was bound out. Therefore, the Missouri Saults story of Daniel being bound out due to Hannah's death was not how the history happened. The four Salts children were bound out or given to family and friends while Hannah was still alive and before 1860.
1870 - Since Hannah was found on the 1870 census, it is thought that she died sometime between 1870 and October of 1871. It was at that time when her son, Arthur Jackson Smith relocated his family to Texas. From the data gathered from previous censuses, it is known that Hannah's son, Arthur Jackson Smith, was living in a house close or next to Hannah's house when they were living in Washington County, Tennessee.
Current Conclusion
• It is not known if Hannah every married any of the three men who fathered her seven children. It is known that she kept her first child, Mary Jane McGinnis, who continued living with Hannah until she married, John Leland Arthur Salts in 1842.
• It is now known that Hannah had a second child, Amanda, had a different father from her elder sister, Mary Jane.
• Amanda was adopted out to a Mercer family, however, no records have been found indicating the time or year that this adoption took place. It can only be assumed from the existing census data, that this adoption took place sometime before Amanda turned 4 (she was not listed on the 1830 census with her other siblings).
• Amanda married under the adopted name of Mercer, even though her stepmother's second husband was John Wallace. It is not known if there was a relationship between Elizabeth Wallace Mercer and John Wallace -Elizabeth's second husband. It is only known that Amanda became a strong family member in John Wallace's home and was mentioned in his will when she was given $500. It is known however, that Elizabeth (the step-mother) was born a Wallace. So, she was born a Wallace, married a Mercer (had children who kept their father's name and she adopted Amanda), then she married John Wallace (She was really, Elizabeth Wallace Mercer Wallace).
• Hannah's lineage or parents are not known. However, the facts gathered from the Bradley Co., TN Salts granddaughter of Mary Jane McGinnis, said that the McGinnis people came from PA. They knew nothing else of their McGinnis people, but did know that Amanda (the second daughter of Hannah) was from a different marriage and was a half-sister to the first child of Hannah, Mary Jane.
• Hannah's death date is not known. But, since Hannah has been found in the 1870 census, it is now assumed that Hannah died sometime after the 1870 census was taken on August the 10th. However, more research needs to be conducted on her during this time period. Also, it is known that Arthur J. Smith migrated to Texas around 1872. Further research has now identified that Arhur and his family arrived in Texas on October 8, 1871. This exact date is know because it was his son's 19th birthday.
• Further support of this finding can be seen in all of the documents and deeds relating to Hannah McGinnis and Richard D. Smith. A great deal of effort was given to identifying Hannah's children and their relationship with their mother. Though the documents found for Hannah and Richard D. Smith, it seems that try to make sure that all of the children were cared for. However, Mary Jane and Amanda are never mentioned in any of the documents, which leave the reader assuming that they were not directly related to Richard D. Smith, or, when Hannah left her living-will in the deed transaction of 1858 to her children, she named only the five -because Amanda had been adopted and cared for and Mary Jane was dead.
At the time when this living will was made, Mary Jane was in fact dead. And, Amanda, had already been given $500, which she inherited from John Wallace. It is assumed that Hannah wanted to leave her estate to the five children who needed the most help. Hence, Amanda was left out of her will, as was Mary Jane. Also, Arthur J. Smith (Hannah's only son) was in fact living next to her by 1860.
• Hannah's gravesite has never been found.
"The Missouri McGinnis / Saults Family Story"
At the death of Mary Jane McGinnis Salts in 1855, her four children were taken back to Washington Co., TN to be raised by their McGinnis grandmother, other family members and friends. It was thought that these children lived with their Grandmother McGinnis until her death. But finding the 1860 census shows that three of the children were possibly sent to live with other families and friends shortly after they arrived at Hannah’s, which could have been any time between mid 1855 and before the 1860 census was taken. Daniel was the only child shown living with Hannah on the 1860 census.