SAMUEL WOODBURN: A Search for His Ancestry
This paper grows out of an effort to determine if there was a possible kinship between Samuel Woodburn (1802-1860), a native of Ireland, who lived for a number of years in Chester District, SC, before moving to Pontotoc County, Mississippi, and James Lilley/Lilly (1776-1863), who emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1798 and resided in Chester District from at least 1806 to about 1846.1 James Lilley/Lilly, along with other relatives, left Chester District in about 1856 and traveled westward almost a thousand miles to establish a new home in northeast Mississippi, an area that had only recently been ceded to the United States by the Chickasaw Indians, following the Treaty of Pontotoc Creek. These settlers from Chester District named their new community in Pontotoc County – “Chesterville”- after the town of Chester, South Carolina, which was formerly known as Chesterville. Samuel Woodburn was to follow them to Pontotoc County, Mississippi, in about 1858. (Also see Heritage Land Plats of the Fishing Creek area with Samuel Woodburn’s title.)
Samuel Woodburn was born in Ireland in 1802 and immigrated to the United States in 1820, settling first in Fairfield District, South Carolina, then moving to adjacent Chester District and later to Pontotoc County in northeast Mississippi, where he died in 1860. The search for a connection between Samuel Woodburn and James Lilley/Lilly stems from an examination of a small number of documents passed down among descendants of James Lilley/Lilly, including: (1) pages copied from an old Lilly family Bible containing entries pertaining to Samuel Woodburn and his daughter, Elizabeth Agnes: (2) a letter to Samuel Woodburn at Youngsville, SC, dated August 7, 1833 from his uncle, James McQuillan, of Lakeview near the town of Antrim in County Antrim, Ireland, and (3&4) two certificates issued by Masonic Order Lodge No. 487 of Ahoghill, County Antrim, concerning Samuel’s membership in that Lodge.
At this point there is insufficient evidence to draw a conclusion that Samuel Woodburn and James Lilley/Lilly were related, and the ancestors of Samuel Woodburn have not been found. However, some records have been found, including those mentioned, which provide us with a small glimpse into the life of Samuel Woodburn and his family. The surname of Woodburn does not appear often in extant records of County Antrim. The Poll Book for County Antrim’s General Election of 1776 lists a Samuel Woodburn whose freehold and residence was in Ballymarlagh townland and civil parish of Ballyclug, County Antrim,6 which is near the town of Ahoghill. Also, in 1825, a Samuel Woodburn resided in the parish of Ballyclug, County Antrim. From James McQuillan’s August 7, 1833 letter to Samuel Woodburn, we learn that at some point after Samuel came to South Carolina, his parents lived in Ballyminister. From there, they moved to a farm at Craigbilly, County Antrim, where Samuel’s sister “took a disease in her leg” and later died. Samuel’s mother “from fatigue & grief lingered about two years after her & died”. According to James McQuillan, Samuel’s mother died about six years prior to his letter, or, in about 1827. Samuel’s father subsequently moved to Ballymena and presumably died there. In his letter, James McQuillan also mentions Samuel Woodburn’s uncle, Robert Woodburn. A Robert Woodburn resided in Ballymarlow townland, Ballyclug parish, in 1825. This may have been Samuel’s uncle Robert Woodburn.
Samuel Woodburn was born on February 12, 1802 in Ireland. On March 23, 1818, at the age of 16, he was admitted to Masonic Lodge No. 487 in Ahoghill, County Antrim, Ireland, and, on August 30, 1819, he was issued a certificate under seal by the Master Wardens of Lodge No. 487, certifying that he was a regular, registered Master Mason of the Lodge 14 and another certificate certifying that he had been dubbed a Knight of the Order. Samuel Woodburn presumably requested the certificates for use in his plan to immigrate to the U. S. He apparently delayed his departure for the United States until the fall of 1820, leaving from the port of Belfast on the ship Robert Fulton, and arriving at the port of Charleston, SC, November 3, 1820 Although he was only 18 at the time, his age was listed as 21 and occupation that of “farmer.” Upon his arrival in Charleston, SC, Samuel Woodburn appears to have wasted no time in going to Fairfield District, South Carolina, where he met and married Elizabeth Lowry, daughter of William Lowry/Lowery (b. June 12, 1747- d Sept. 12, 1804) and Agness Strong (b abt 1751- d July 16,1819) Elizabeth Lowry was the widow of a William Lowry, deceased, who had died prior prior to May 6, 1819 William and Elisabeth Lowry had a son, James Alexander Lowry, who was born October 21, 1818, but died on July 21, 1820, and was buried in the Lowry Family Burying Ground in Fairfield District. Elizabeth Lowery is listed in the 1820 U. S. Census of Fairfield District, SC, as living alone and being between the ages of 16 to 26. James G. Lowry, a son of William and Agnes Lowry of Fairfield District., and brother of Elizabeth, was one of the earliest settlers of Lowrys, formerly called Lowryville, in the northern section of Chester District. *** James G. Lowry serve as Lowrysville PO Postmaster from 1852 – 1855. (Harvey Teal, 1989)
He came from Fairfield District in the 1820’s and gave the community its name Samuel and Elizabeth Woodburn had a daughter, Elizabeth Agness Woodburn, who was born on November 26, 1822 In April 1823, Samuel Woodburn was admitted, upon examination, as a communicant in the Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church in Chester County. On April 27, 1823, Elizabeth Agnes Woodburn was baptized in the Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church S. Woodburn and A. Woodburn were dismissed from Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church during the period April 1824-1825. One possible reason for their remaining at Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church for such a short time might have been the long distance they had to travel to attend services. On November 15, 1826, Samuel Woodburn reported to the Court of Common Pleas at Winnsboro, Fairfield District SC, and gave notice that it was his intention to become a U.S. citizen, stating that he had resided in Fairfield District since his arrival in the United States. Samuel Woodburn is listed in the 1829 local census of Fairfield District, SC, as head of a household of four persons. In the 1830 Federal Census of Fairfield District, he is listed as head a household (age 40-50), with one female (age 5 to 10), one female (age 20 to 30), and one female (age 40 to 50). Samuel Woodburn was only 28 years old in 1830, so the census data as to his age is incorrect. His daughter, Elizabeth Agnes, was eight in 1830, and was the female child, age 5 to 10.
One would presume that the female age 20 to 30 was Samuel’s wife, but this is open to question, as there was another female listed as between the ages of 40 to 50, and the date of birth of Samuel’s wife is not known. On January 24, 1835, Samuel Woodburn and his wife, who was identified as Agness Woodburn, of Fairfield District, in consideration of $525.00, conveyed 150 acres located in the district to John Young. After selling the property in Fairfield District, Samuel Woodburn and his family apparently moved to Chester District, because on November 7, 1835, he purchased from David Boyd and his wife, Martha N. Boyd, in consideration of the sum of $1300.00, 185 % acres, more or less, situated on a small branch of the South Fork of Fishing Creek, being adjacent to the lands of the Estate of Charles Boyd, deceased, Wilmot Gibbes, James Drennan, Colonel George Gill and David Boyd. The land conveyed was part of a tract originally granted to William McClure. A plat of the land conveyed to Samuel Woodburn by David Boyd was recorded in the land records of Chester District and depicted the property as actually consisting of 190 acres. The 1840 U.S. Census for Chester District, SC., listed Samuel Woodburn as head of family (age 40 and under 50), with two females (age 15 & under 20), and one female (age 40 & under 50).36 Samuel and Elisabeth Woodburn’s daughter, Elizabeth Agness Woodburn, died on February 16,1841, 37 at the age of 18. The location of her burial is unknown. Samuel Woodburn made his application for U.S. Citizenship on April 4, 1848, in Chester District, South Carolina. In his application, Samuel Woodburn stated that he arrived in the United States at Charleston, South Carolina, in mid-December 1819 and was at that time about eighteen years of age. He said that he had since then resided in Fairfield District, South Carolina.
On October 20, 1849, upon examination, Samuel Woodburn was once again received into the membership of Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church. In the following year, the 1850 U.S. Census for Chester District, SC, listed Samuel Woodburn (age 48) as head of household No. 840, farmer, value of real estate owned $2820.00, born in Ireland. Also listed in the household were Agnes Woodburn, Age 70, born in Ireland, and female M.C. Boyd, age 16, born in South Carolina. The census entry for Agnes Woodburn raises a question as to whether she was the same person as Samuel Woodburn’s wife, Elisabeth Lowry, because of the age listed for Agnes Woodburn (age 70, thus being 22 years older than Samuel) and the place of her birth being Ireland. Elisabeth Lowry’s father, William Lowry, had fought for the United States in the Revolutionary War and Elisabeth Lowry was presumably born after the war, in the United States. On July 1, 1854, Samuel Woodburn was elected a deacon in the Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church. At a Session meeting of the church held on January 17, 1857, it was noted that Samuel Woodburn applied for a certificate of membership for himself and his wife, who was not named. The certificate was granted as to Mrs. Woodburn, but declined as to Mr. Woodburn, due to a rumor charging him with certain unchristian conduct, until he should appear and have the charges investigated. On March 18, 1857, Mr. Woodburn’s case was called up before the Session, and “owing to his leaving our bounds with a view to a return this fall,” the Session deemed it “best to defer it until his return for investigation.”
On January 9, 1858, the Session met, and it was recorded that ”Mr. Woodburn having returned to our bounds a communication was received from him stating his inability to meet the Session today and that he wished to return West soon asked a dismission, confessing that he had drank more than he should have done, asked forgiveness, professing repentance, denying the truth of other rumors. Session having no evidence against him to substantiate the reports charged, on motion granted a certificate to join the church in whose bounds he might have his future home. Samuel Woodburn apparently left South Carolina during or after January 1858 and moved to Chesterville, Pontotoc County, Mississippi.
Samuel Woodburn died on February 7, 1860 and is buried in the Chesterville Cemetery in Pontotoc County, located west of Tupelo, Mississippi, near the Lee-Pontotoc County line.
(Reprint courtesy of the CDGHS – Bulletin)
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