John Russell and his descendents

Virginia to Missouri to Kansas to the West

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Pix of men

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Henry A H Russell - Generation 2

Henry A H2 Russell (John1) was born about 1789 in Washington County, Virginia. He died 16 Mar 1835 in Polk County, Missouri. He married 1 Mar 1818 in St Charles County, Missouri, Sabrina Jane Clay who was born 25 Jan 1803 in St Charles County, Missouri and died 26 Oct 1877 in Butteville, Clackamas Cty, Oregon. She was the daughter of James Clay and Sarah (Hancock) Clay.

Early Years

Henry A H Russell was born about 1789 in Washington County, Virginia. Probate records for his father, John, include a list of John's children in birth order. The estimates of birth years for Henry and his siblings were based on the order of birth, a few census records, and property and land tax records showing the years in which John's older sons appear on the tax lists.1 His parents were:

Henry is John's third son, fourth child. Henry's parentage is supported by the evidence. A son, Henry, is listed in John's probate record, a name that is not very common, although not rare.2 In addition, Henry appears in the 1817 Missouri Territorial census at the same time as his father, John, his brother, Patterson, and his sister, Barsheba.3

Marriage and Children

Henry married Sobrina Jane Clay on 1 Mar 1818 in St. Charles County, Missouri.4 Some sources have suggested that Sobrina was related to Henry Clay, but this is not verified at this time. Sobrina's father may have been James Clay. James Clay is found living very close to Henry in the 1830 census in St. Charles County.5 He is listed as 50-59, an age to be Sobrina's father. In addition, Henry and Sabrina named their third son James Clay.

Henry's estate documents include information about his heirs, including their ages because most of them were under-age when Henry died and guardians were appointed for them.6 Information from the probate file, plus other information about the children, including census data, was used to produce the following list of Henry and Sobrina's eight children:

  1. John B. L., born about 1819 in Missouri. ( Family Group Sheet (pdf) )
    1. married Rebecca Gridden 22 May 1838 in Polk County, Missouri.7
  2. Sarah Merchant, born 14 Dec 1820 in Franklin County, Missouri.8 ( Family Group Sheet (pdf) )
    1. married John Hancock Zumwalt 2 May 1838 in Polk County, Missouri.9
  3. Erasmus Darwin, born about 1820 in Missouri.
  4. Joseph K, born about 1825 in Missouri.
  5. James Clay, born about 1826 in Missouri. ( Family Group Sheet (pdf) )
    1. married Elizabeth Twitty Steele 31 Dec 1847 in Polk County, Missouri.10
  6. Marshall, born about 1829 in Missouri.
  7. Barsheba D, born about 1831 in Missouri. ( Family Group Sheet (pdf) )
    1. married William H Roach 15 Feb 1850 in Jackson County, Missouri.11
  8. Henrietta A H, born about 1835 in Missouri.

Several of Henry's children emigrated to the west. Sarah Merchant Russell married John Hancock Zumwalt. They traveled with four children to Oregon in 1850.12 In 1852, John bought and operated the little Hoosier, the first steamboat on the Willamette River. It traveled from Linn City to Dayton and Lafayette. His travels left Sarah to take care of the home alone, which included providing food, clothing, and handling indian threats.

Marshall is found in Oregon in 1850 living with Sarah and John Zumwalt.13 This suggests that he traveled with them in the wagon train. Marshall is found in northwestern California, on the Oregon border, in 1875 and 1877.14,15 His whereabouts are unknown after 1877.

James Clay Russell and his family also traveled west in 1850. They are found in El Dorado, California in the 1850 census, where he was a miner.16 Barsheba married William Roach. They are found in the census in Missouri until 1870 and in Kansas in the 1875 Kansas census, but by 1880 they are found in Colorado.17 John was in Missouri until 1860, so he also did not travel west with his siblings in 1850.18 However, he hasn't been documented definitely after 1860, so his residence is unknown. The rest of the children have not been documented, so their residence is unknown.

Henry's wife, Sabrina, also emigrated to Oregon after Henry's death. She didn't travel to Oregon with Sarah and John because she is found living in Missouri in 1860 with her daughter Barsheba Russell Roach.19 She is also found living with Barsheba's family in a boarding house in 1870 in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is a seamstress.20 And she is found with Barsheba and her family in Oxford, Johnson County, Kansas in a Kansas state census dated 1 Mar 1875.21 However, she traveled to Oregon after the Kansas census. In 1876, Sabrina filed an application for a widow's pension in which her residence is Butteville, Clackamas County, Oregon.22 She died there in 1877.23

In Virginia

Henry was born and raised in Washington County, Virginia, on the north fork of the Holston River.24 In 1815, the part of Washington County where they lived was included in the newly created Scott County. Henry was documented for the first time in the 1816 Virginia personal property tax list.25 This list shows Henry Russell with one titheable, along with his father John Russell with 2 tithables and his brother Joseph Russell with one. The second male documented for John is probably Patterson.

Henry served in the War of 1812. His military records have not been found, but a pension application submitted by his widow shows his service in the War of 1812.26 He served in Capt A Fulkerson's Company. Although not mentioned in the pension application, research shows that this is a company in the Virginia Militia commanded by Capt Abram Fulkerson Sr, in Colonel David Sanders' Regiment, 4th Brigade, Norfolk Division of Gen. Peter B. Porter.27

By 1817, Henry, with his father, his brother Patterson, and his sister Barsheba had moved to Missouri.

In Missouri

Henry is found on the 1817 Missouri territorial census in Femme Osage Township, St. Charles County, Missouri.28 Femme Osage is on the eastern side of Missouri, about 50 miles from the eastern border. Femme Osage is the town where Daniel Boone spent the last years of his life and died in 1820.Henry's father, his brother, Patterson, and his sister, Barsheba, are also found in Femme Osage in this census.

Sep 24, 1821 Henry paid for 160 acres in St. Charles County, Missouri.29

In the 1830 US census, Henry is found in St. Charles County.30 He is very close to his brother, Patterson, on the same census page with only one name between them, George Allen. At this time, in addition to himself and his wife, Henry had one male 10-14, 2 males and one female 5-9 and two males under five in his household. These were his six oldest children.

In 1833, Henry was sued by William J Sampson for slander.31 Henry was arrested on 2 Feb 1833 in St. Charles County and immediately posted $500 bond. Sampson charged that Henry had called him a thief in public and thereby damaged his good name and reputation, causing him damages in the amount of $5000. Subpoenas were also issued for several witnesses. The file does not contain records showing the outcome of this case.

Death

Henry died 16 Mar 1835 in Polk County, Missouri.32 He died intestate. Guardians were appointed for his children who were underage.

No grave has been found.

His wife, Sabrina, never remarried. She died in 1877 in Oregon.33 Her obituary reads as follows:

Died October 24, at the residence of her son-in-law, John ZUMWALT, in Clackamas County, Mrs Sabrina RUSSELL, aged 74 years, 9 months and 1 day.

Sabrina is buried at Pleasant View Cemetery with several members of her family.34

Notes

  1. See the Web page for John Russell on this Web site (http://johnrussell-fromvirginia.com).
  2. See the Web page for John Russell on this Web site.
  3. 1817 Missouri Territorial Census, Femme Osage Township, St. Charles County, Missouri, Henry Russell (alphabetical). Online Index. The History and Genealogy of Callaway County, Missouri, St. Charles County, Femme Osage Township Index (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/callaway/Census/1817StCharles/FmOsageIndex.html : accessed 10 Jan 2013).
  4. St Charles County, Missouri, Marriage Book, Henry Russell-Sabrina Clay, 1 Mar 1818; digital images. Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com " accessed 13 Apr 2013), source: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.
  5. 1830 U.S. census, St Charles County, Missouri, p. 268, line 10, Image 5, James Clay; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 23 Mar 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm NARA Series: M19, Roll Number: 72.
  6. Russell, Henry A. H., estate file in Box 205, 3rd Folder, total pages 171, MF#C7294, Polk County, Missouri, paper copies via US mail from Missouri State Archives, Secretary of State Office, Jefferson City, MO.
  7. Polk County, Missouri, Marriage Book, John Russell-Rebecca Griden, 22 May 1838; digital record. Hunting For Bears, comp.. Missouri Marriages, 1766-1983, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com " accessed 13 Apr 2013), source: Missouri marriage information taken from county courthouse records. Many of these records were extracted from copies of the original records in microfilm, microfiche, or book format, located at the Family History Library.
  8. Lee, Bill and LaVonte, Compilers. "Grandma Zumwalt", obituary, Zumwalt in Oregon, published by compilers (1989), page 4, Authors found this in the Oregon State Historical Society in Portland, OR. It was also found in the Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma, WA. The article was in a scrapbook and the name of the newspaper was not included. An approximate date was determined from the context of the obit.
  9. Polk County, Missouri, Marriage Book, John Zumwalt-Sarah M Russell, 2 May 1838; digital image, Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com " accessed 13 Apr 2013), source: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.
  10. Polk County, Missouri, Marriage Book, James Russell-Elizabeth Steal, 31 Dec 1847; digital image, Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com " accessed 13 Apr 2013), source: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.
  11. Jackson County, Missouri, Marriage Book, William H Roack-Bathsheba Russell, 31 Dec 1847; digital image, Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com " accessed 13 Apr 2013), source: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.
  12. Lee, Bill and LaVonte, Compilers. "Grandma Zumwalt", obituary, Zumwalt in Oregon, published by compilers (1989), page 4.
  13. 1850 U.S. census, Washington County, Oregon Territory, line 18, image 3, Marshall Russell; digital image, Ancestry.com(http://ancestry.com : accessed 23 Mar 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm Roll M432_742, Page 123A, Image 234.
  14. Siskiyou County, California, Great Register, p 16, Marshall Russell, 1875; digital image, Voters Registers 1866-1898, Ancestry.com(http://ancestry.com : accessed 16 Apr 2013); citing California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898, Collection Number: 4 - 2A, CSL Roll Number 129.
  15. Del Norte County, California, Great Register, p 11, Marshall Russell, 1877; digital image, Voters Registers 1866-1898, Ancestry.com(http://ancestry.com : accessed 16 Apr 2013); citing California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898, Collection Number: 4 - 2A, CSL Roll Number 11.
  16. 1850 U.S. census, El Dorado County, California, line 19, image 15, James C Russell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 23 Mar 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm Roll M432_34, Page 273B, Image 52.
  17. 1880 U.S. census, Lake County, Colorado, line 33, image 7, Bursheba D Roach; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 23 Mar 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm Roll 91.
  18. 1850 U.S. census, Cass County, Missouri, p 177 line 14, image 9, Jno B L Russell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 16 Apr 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm Roll M653_612, Page 880, Image 395.
  19. 1860 U.S. census, Jackson County, Missouri, p 199 line 36, image 63, Sebina Russell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 16 Apr 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm Roll M653_625, Page 199, Image 199.
  20. 1870 U.S. census, Jackson County, Missouri, p 68 line 9, image 68, Sabrina Russell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 16 Apr 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm Roll M593_782, Page 668B, Image 746.
  21. 1875 Kansas census, Johnson County, Kansas, p. 87, line 24, image 14, Sabrina Russell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 21 Apr 2013); citing Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 [database on-line].
  22. Sabrina Russell, widow's pension application no 11.807 (Rejected), for service of Henry A. H. Russell (Capt A Fulkerson's Co) War of 1812, (Washington, D.C. National Archives).
  23. "Sabrina Russell" obituary Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 1 November, 1877.
  24. See the Web page for John Russell on this Web site (http://johnrussell-fromvirginia.com).
  25. Virginia, Scott County. ScottCoVA Personal Property Tax Lists, 1815-1845, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, Microfilm 313.
  26. Sabrina Russell, widow's pension application no 11.807 (Rejected), for service of Henry A. H. Russell (Capt A Fulkerson's Co) War of 1812, (Washington, D.C. National Archives).
  27. "Abram Fulkerson" [son of Capt Abram Fulkerson of the War of 1812], Wikipedia entry, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abram_Fulkerson : accessed 16 Apr 2013).
  28. 1817 Missouri Territorial Census, Femme Osage Township, St. Charles County, Missouri, Henry Russell (alphabetical). Online Index. The History and Genealogy of Callaway County, Missouri, St. Charles County, Femme Osage Township Index (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/callaway/Census/1817StCharles/FmOsageIndex.html : accessed 10 Jan 2013).
  29. Bureau of Land Management."Land Patent Search", database, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search : accessed 16 Apr 2013), entry for Henry A H Russell, St Charles County, Missouri, document no. 43.
  30. 1830 U.S. census, St Charles County, Missouri, p. 268, line 10, image 5, Henry Russell; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 16 Apr 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm NARA Series: M19, Roll Number: 72.
  31. Sampson, William J vs Russell, Henry A. H., May 1833, Case Files Civil, box 49, folder 1, St. Charles County Circuit Court, on-line pdf files, Missouri Judicial Records, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri (http://sos.mo.gov/archives/mojudicial/#judsearch : accessed 16 Apr 2013).
  32. Russell, Henry A. H., estate file in Box 205, 3rd Folder, total pages 171, MF#C7294, Polk County, Missouri, paper copies via US mail from Missouri State Archives, Secretary of State Office, Jefferson City, MO.
  33. "Sabrina Russell" obituary Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 1 November, 1877.
  34. Find A Grave Memorial, database on-line, Sabrina J Russell, Pleasant View Cemetery, Clackamas County, Oregon. (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=47729253 : accessed 16 Apr 2013).