Mary Emma Cordray

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3DC-9JQ
name: Mary Emma Mcgown
event: Death
event date: 15 Oct 1973
event place: Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, United States
gender: Female
marital status: Widowed
birth date: 07 Dec 1885
birthplace: Geneva, Texas
father's name: John L Cordray
mother's name: Mary Payne
certificate number: 78696
film number: 2242914
digital folder number: 005145841
image number: 03277
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Mary Emma Mcgown, 1973

On the Williams-McNaughten Tree at Ancestry.com, she is shown as a niece of Daniel C. Cordray (1834-1905), also of Sabine County, her father John Lawrence Cordray also being a son of Jonathan Cordray and Elizabeth Tomlinson. The transcription of the San Augustine City Cemetery also shows that John Randolph Cordray (1884-1968) was a son of John Cordray and Mary Payne, therefore a brother of Mary Cordray McGown.

Family/Spouse: Houston Everett McGown. Houston (son of Samuel Houston "House" McGown and Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Conn) was born on 15 Jul 1881 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 5 Jan 1958 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in McMahan's Chapel Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Ralph Edward McGown was born on 15 Dec 1904 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 31 Aug 1973 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in McMahan's Chapel Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
2. Leonard Everett McGown was born on 13 Sep 1906 in Texas; died on 17 Jun 1909 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Payne-Williams (Payne-Cordray-Williams-Gray) Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
3. Novie Laura McGown was born on 16 Jan 1909 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 16 Jan 1909 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Payne-Williams (Payne-Cordray-Williams-Gray) Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
4. Clarissa Lucille McGown was born on 12 Sep 1910 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 8 Dec 1987 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in McMahan's Chapel Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
5. William Leroy McGown, Sr. was born on 20 Sep 1912 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 6 Sep 1987 in Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas.
6. Mary Ann McGown was born on 17 Oct 1914 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas; died on 9 Jan 2005 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.
7. Dicy Faye McGown was born on 12 Mar 1917 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas; died on 27 Apr 1975 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in McMahan's Chapel Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.

Notes:

On the Williams-McNaughten Tree at Ancestry.com, he is shown as a son of Jonathan Cordray and Elizabeth Tomlinson


(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Fifth Precinct
Enumerated 25 and 26 Jun 1880
Page 17A SD 1 ED 86 Stamp 245
143-143
Cordray, John J W M 25 Farmer Ga Ga Ga
Cordray, Mary W F 21 Wf Keeping House Tx Ga La
Cordray, William E W M 3 Son Tx Ga Tx
Cordray, Ben W W M 1 Son Tx Ga Tx

John married Mary "Mollie" E. Payne. Mary (daughter of Benjamin William Payne and Ursa Ann Roberts) was born in Nov 1859 in Texas; died on 9 Apr 1921; was buried in Payne-Williams (Payne-Cordray-Williams-Gray) Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Middle name shown as both Emma or Elizabeth. She appears to have married second a McGown, as she is listed as Mollie McGown, widowed and age 60, at the time of the 1920 Census enumeration. She was living with her son William Benjamin Cordray in JP 8, Sabine County at the time.

(Research):

Census Listings:


1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. 8
Enumerated 5 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 5B
Cordray, Mollie Head Hd W F Nov 1859 41 Wd 7/7 Tx --- ---
Cordray, William E Son W M Nov 1876 23 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Cordray, John R Son W M Mar 1883 16 3 Tx Ga Tx
Cordray, Florence Dtr W F Mar 1882 18 S Tx Ga Tx
Cordray, Emma M Dtr W F Dec 1885 14 S Tx Ga Tx
Cordray, Annie E Dtr W F Dec 1889 10 S Tx Ga Tx
Cordray, Lowrey Son W M Dec 1891 8 S Tx Ga Tx

Notes:

Married:
Their double tombstone at the Payne-Williams Cemetery is inscribed "Having finished life's duty They now sweetly rest."

Sabine County, Texas Affidavit of B. R. Payne, sworn on August 25, 1927 and witnessed by Edna Whitehead, Notary Public. B. R. Payne was age 74 at that time, and a livelong resident of Sabine County, living about two miles south of Geneva. He was also a grandson of William Roberts, He showed his youngest sibling, Mollie E. Payne was the wife of J. L. Cordray. She was only married once...(and) has been dead about tens years, She laft the following children.

a) Emmett Cordray, near Bronson, Texas
b) Ben W. Cordray, near San Augustine, Texas
c) Emma (Cordray) McGown, wife of E. H. McGown, Geneva.
d) Florence (Cordray) Gray, wife of L. C. Gray, Geneva.
e) J. R. Cordray (Jack)
f) Lowery Cordray
g) Annie (Cordray) Ford, wife of Laurie Ford, at San Augustine.

Notes:

Mortality Schedule for 1860 Sabine County "Benjamin W. Payne, farmer, age 42, male born in Georgia, died July 1859 of drunkness, sick 42 days" No dates are inscribed on his tombstone.

Sabine County, Texas Affidavit of B. R. Payne, sworn on August 25, 1927 and witnessed by Edna Whitehead, Notary Public. B. R. Payne was age 74 at that time, and a livelong resident of Sabine County, living about two miles south of Geneva. He was also a grandson of William Roberts, and son of B. W. Payne. He stated his father died in the early sixties.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 11 and 12 Oct 1850
Stamped 316
87-87
Margaret Payne 62 F $400 NC
Scott Ganntt 49 M Ga
88-88
Louisa Holoway and family
89-89
Benjamin W Payne 32 M Farmer Ga
Ursa Ann Payne 27 F La
Amanda Payne 5 F Tx
Epps Payne 3 M Tx
Sarah Agnes Payne 1 F Tx

Benjamin married Ursa Ann Roberts. Ursa (daughter of William Roberts and Sarah) was born on 20 Apr 1824 in Louisiana; died on 18 Feb 1895; was buried in Payne-Williams (Payne-Cordray-Williams-Gray) Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Gravestone inscribed with "Remember youth as you pass by. As you are now so once was I, As I am now so you must be, Prepare for death and follow me, Come to see Mammy."

On the annotated transcription of the Payne-Williams cemetery she is shown as a daughter of Willam and Sarah Roberts. It was also shown that she had been married three times, first to Benjamin William Payne, second to Judson M. Meador, and last to John N. Lowery.

Sabine County, Texas Affidavit of B. R. Payne, sworn on August 25, 1927 and witnessed by Edna Whitehead, Notary Public. B. R. Payne was age 74 at that time, and a livelong resident of Sabine County, living about two miles south of Geneva. He was also a grandson of William Roberts, and son of Ursa Ann. He also indicated that his mother later married J. N. Lowery by whom she had no children. He added that Lowery survived his mother by several years, and he did not know who his heirs were. B. R. Payne did not report the marriage to Judson M. Meador noted on the Payne-Williams Cemetery transcription.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Redland Beat, PO Milam
Enumerated 30 Jun 1860
Page 23
167-167
UA Payne 36 F Farmer 7500 15782 La
Margaret A Payne 15 F Tx
Sarah A Payne 10 F Tx
Benjamin R Payne 6 M Tx
William E Payne 5 M Tx
Mary R Payne 2 F Tx
G B Batchtlor 18 M Overseer Ga

Notes:

Married:
On the Williams-McNaughten Tree at Ancestry.com, they are shown as the grandparents of Mary Emma Cordray McGown, a daughter of their daughter, Mary "Molly" Payne and John Cordray. The transcription of the San Augustine City Cemetery also shows that John Randolph Cordray (1884-1968) was a son of John Cordray and Mary Payne.


https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3DC-9JQ
name: Mary Emma Mcgown
event: Death
event date: 15 Oct 1973
event place: Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, United States
gender: Female
marital status: Widowed
birth date: 07 Dec 1885
birthplace: Geneva, Texas
father's name: John L Cordray
mother's name: Mary Payne
certificate number: 78696
film number: 2242914
digital folder number: 005145841
image number: 03277
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Mary Emma Mcgown, 1973

Notes:

A veteran of the war of 1812. He moved with his family to Texas sometime before 1835 and settled on land originally granted by the Spanish in 1794 to Juan Ignacio Perfirmo. After Texas Independence, John became a judge and the first justice of the peace in Sabine County. In 1837, President Sam Houston came to San Augustine and in a speech lauded the Payne family for their support and participation in the Texas Revolution. Payne served as a representative to the Third Congress of the Republic and with two of his sons, served on a committee to draft a resolution for annexation that met on March 31, 1845. (San Augustine Tribune, Thursday, March 17, 2005, p 3)

f you want to see the lineage of the John M. Payne and Epperson Duke Payne line, go to Payne Family DNA Project, click on, then click on Results Chart of DNA Testing. This line is Lineage # 6, the Flayle Payne line. I am participant # 12585. I match DNA with this line, but I am a branch from it. Participants # 4677 and # 9667 are more closely related than I am.

Kind Regards,
William "Billy" C. Payne
Author of "Flayl Payne of Maryland Descendants 1706 to 1986"
tollard15@bellsouth.net

The annotated transcription of the Payne-Williams cemetery in Sabine County indicates there are three separate markers at his gravesite. One is a military marker indicating he served in the Second Ga Militia, War of 1812, as well as being a Soldier in the Service of the Republic of Texas

John married Margaret Rush Williams on 21 Mar 1805 in Georgia. Margaret was born about 1788 in North Carolina; died about 1857. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 11 and 12 Oct 1850
Stamped 316
87-87
Margaret Payne 62 F $400 NC
Scott Ganntt 49 M Ga
88-88
Louisa Holoway and family
89-89
Benjamin W Payne 32 M Farmer Ga
Ursa Ann Payne 27 F La
Amanda Payne 5 F Tx
Epps Payne 3 M Tx
Sarah Agnes Payne 1 F Tx

Notes:

Married:
He moved to Bibbs County, Georgia in the early 1800's and married Margaret Rush Williams on March 21, 1805 in Monticello. (San Augustine Tribune, Thursday, March 17, 2005, p 3)

Notes:

(Research):Possibly from this line?

GEORGE SR. ROBERTS (GEORGE1) was born Abt. 1745 in North Carolina?, and died 1809 in Washington Parish, Louisiana. He married "RHODA" PAYNE, daughter of JOHN PAYNE. (family lore says she is the sister of [Payne-1949 | Dolly Todd- Madison]) She was born Bet. 1749 - 1768 in Pittsylvannia County, Virginia, and died Bet. 1780 - 1781 in Pittsylvannia County, Virginia.[1] His family settle on the Bogue Chitto River north of Franklinton LA.[2]

Head rights on the Bogue Chitto River North of Franklinton ? James Gwin ? Isaac and William Roberts ? Jacob Alford ? Elisha Roberts ? Woody Jones ? Tom Bickham ? Edmund Hunt ? Jonathan Magee ? William Carter.[3]

The children of George Roberts Sr. and Rhoda, his wife as named in the will of 19 November 1805 and apparently in the order of their birth were:

Anned Roberts Lee
George Roberts,(land grant in wife's name in St Tammany)
John Roberts
William Roberts (land grant in St Tammany)
Elisha Roberts (land grant in St Tammany)
Samuel Roberts
Milla (Amelia) Roberts Shim (Chisum?)
Isaac Roberts (land grant in St Tammany)
Thomas Roberts
Abasolom Roberts
James Roberts
George Roberts Sr. did not die in Tennessee, or enroute to Spanish West Florida. The fact that the will was deposited with the Commandant of the district is evidence that he did die in the Florida Parishes

American State Papers Public Lands Vol. III, page 72

Abstract containing a list of the actual settlers on land in that part of Louisiana which lies east of the Mississippi River and Island of New Orleans and west of the Pearl River, who bore no claims thereto derived from the French, British, or Spanish governments. Parish of St. Tammany

Thomas Roberts Dec. 1810 (1) Thomas Roberts was the eldest son of George Roberts, Junior, deceased, and of his wife Susanna Roberts. Thomas Roberts was born ca. 1792 and would have been age 18 in 1810 and therefore able to settle land in his own name.
Susannah Roberts Oct. 1807 (2) Susannah Roberts was the widow of George Roberts, Junior, deceased, and mother of the above Thomas Roberts.
Elisha Roberts Sep. 1810 (3) Elisha Roberts was a brother of the above George Roberts, Junior, deceased
Isaac Roberts May 1809 (4) Isaac Roberts was another brother of the above George Roberts, deceased
Wm. Roberts Dec. 1809 (5)Wm. Roberts was a brother of George, Elisha, and Isaac Roberts.
Succession records of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, 1804-1854

St. Helena Parish, Louisiana Successions, Drawer R-4

Will of George Roberts, Senior

In the name of God a men I George Roberts of Hawkins county State of Tennice Being in perfect health and memory at present thanks be to god for it calling unto mind and mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed once for man to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say

principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of the almighty god and give it and my Body I recommend to the earth to be Buried in a decent christian manner at the discretion of my Executors hoping at the general resurection I shall receive the same again By the almighty power of ---------p

And as touching such worldy estate where with it hath pleased God to blefs me with I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form- first I give to my dearly Beloved wife Rhoda Roberts the land and plantation where I now live with all the moveables there to and stock of horse s cattle hogs and sheep during her widowhood and if she should mary then let her be put to her thirds and if the children Should mary then I give them some things to Begin to keep house with and keep accopmt of such things

my daughter Anned Lee I give to her one dollar
my son George Roberts I give him also one dollar
my son John Roberts I give him likewise one dollar
my son William Roberts I give him one dollar
my son Elisha Roberts I give him one dollar
my son Samuel Roberts I give him one dollar
my daughter Milla Schim one dollar
I give to my son Isaac Roberts one hundred and twenty five acres of land it being the place where he now lives and the rest of the land to be devided between Thomas Roberts and Absolom Roberts and James Roberts an Equal division Between them three so the same and Equal division of the whole at their mothers death and as for my negro woman lettis and her child Catherine to Belong to my wife as long as she lives and at her death Both to be free

If my wife should dy before the child is twenty seven years of age she may give it to one of the children to have tel she is of that age and to be free. I have not left the other children one dollar for anything I have against them I have given to them their part Before

ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of november in the year of our lord one thousand Eight hundred and five.

Samuel Smith George Roberts (Seal) Wm. Paine

On back Estate of George Roberts Last Will of George Roberts Bogue Chitto Will of George Roberts

The following two documents were folded within the will:

Whereas William Roberts left a will in the Hands of the Comandant that George Roberts Snr. made in his lifetime, we have By our Consent agreed to Recawl the sd. will Back in to our pofeesion as we have Come on the termes, and agreed to Settle in Regard to the Estate amongst our Selves

Given under our hand this 29th day of Septembr 1809 Thomas Roberts James Roberts Isaac Roberts her Milla Chisum mark

This compilation will refute many of the assertions found in a book by Emily Griffin Roberts of Terrell, Texas - "Ancestral Study of Four Families, Roberts, Griffin, Cartwright & Simpson". (1937) Mrs. Roberts believed that one, William Roberts was the father of the brothers who settled in Spanish West Florida before 1810 which is incorrect as George Roberts Sr. who made his will in 1805, was their father. Her list of brothers and sisters is also found to be incorrect. The above will had not been discovered at the time she made these assertions.[4]

William married Sarah. Sarah was born before 1795; died before 1865. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Sabine County, Texas Affidavit of B. R. Payne, sworn on August 25, 1927 and witnessed by Edna Whitehead, Notary Public. B. R. Payne was age 74 at that time, and a livelong resident of Sabine County, living about two miles south of Geneva. He was also a grandson of William Roberts "who once owned a league of land lying partly in Sabine and partly in San Augustine Counties, near the town of Tebo. From family history I understand that William Roberts died about 1836, in San Augustine County. His wife was Sarah Roberts, my grandmother. After my Grandfather's death my Grandmother married a man by the name of Tanner who lived with her a few years and then, I understand, abandoned her. My Grandmother and Tanner had no children. So far as I know, my grandfather William Roberts was never married but the once and my Grandmother was married only twice as set out above. My Grandmother, Sarah Roberts, died before I can remember, sometime before the Civil War." At the end of his affidavit, he stated his information was given partly by actual knowledge and the remainder from family history.

He went on to state that "The children of William Roberts and his wife, Sarah, were four in number:

1) Talitha Stevenson, who married James Stevenson.
2) Neriza Goodloe, who married Dr. R.K. Goodloe.
3) Urza Ann Payne, who married B. W. Payne, my father.
4) W. P. Roberts