Charles Wesley Porter

Family/Spouse: Laura Caledonia Hammond. Laura was born on 17 Feb 1870 in Alabama; died on 2 Dec 1936 in Alabama; was buried in Portertown Cemetery, Lexington, Lauderdale County, Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1866 TAX LIST ? Copyright 1993, 1999, Pat M. Mahan This book is actually entitled "Assessment of Taxes on Real Estate and Personal Property In the County of Lauderdale for the Year 1866," and measures 17 inches by 23 inches CLOSED. It is in very bad shape. The front cover is missing, and so are some of the pages. It is also possible that some of the precincts are missing. The pages are not numbered, so it was not possible to determine if this were the case. The first two pages are torn, but there are no names on them. There are 83 columns, stretching across two sheets. Personal property is divided into several categories, which included libraries over $300; vehicles not exclusively used for agricultural purposes; jewelry plate and silverware; pianos and other musical instruments. Each Beat or Precinct is in alpha order. The A through G names in the Florence Beat are missing. And any "H" names, prior to Mrs. H. G. Hardy are missing. The remaining Beats or precincts that are listed appear to be complete. The initials "F. M." following a name appear to stand for Free Man. The four columns presented here are:
(1) - Lands, Number of acres
(2) - Town Properties, Number of lots
(3) - Total tax on Real Estate
(4) - Number of Male Inhabitants between 18 and 50 years of age
at $2.00 tax per number.

Porter, Chas. W.33.181 Porter, Andrew80.14 Porter, John F.68.351 Porter, James G.65.35 Porter, W. R.58.35 Porter, A. S.55012.80 Porter, Wm. D.1

Charles married Margaret Emily McGuire. Margaret (daughter of William D. McGwier and Margaret Elizabeth Guill) was born on 14 Feb 1826 in Tennessee; died on 3 Dec 1890; was buried in Portertown Cemetery, Lexington, Lauderdale County, Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The people named Porter were in Lauderdale County, Alabama as early as 1807. In August of that year, one Oliver Porter was listed on the indenture between Cherokee Indian Chief DOUBLEHEAD and John CHISOLM. Also, on December 20, 1807, on Oliver Porter's recommendation, a passport was issued for three men to pass through the Creek Indian nation. In March of 1809, a passport for David Porter and family was issued and signed. However, it was between the years 1825 and 1830 that brought Hugh Porter, his wife Sarah Bowie Porter, and children from South Carolina as well as Austin Porter, his wife and two boys, and Charles B. Porter and four children into Lauderdale County. They entered and purchased land in and near what is now the city of Rogersville. Hugh entered 158 acres on Weavers Branch, and he and his family lived there until 1840. In the 1830's other members of their family also moved from South Carolina. They procured land mostly along Snake Road northeast of Rogersville.

Brothers and sisters of Hugh Porter were Charles B. Porter, William R. Porter, Andrew Springer Porter, Mary Porter, Rebecca Frances Porter HOWIE, Cynthia Porter Howard, and Ann E. Porter FORBES. Brothers John Porter and Samuel Norwood Porter died in South Carolina.

In 1840, Hugh Porter purchased land northeast of Lexington on Second Creek. Being not only a farmer but a miller as well, he built a grist mill on the creek. Some of his brothers and sisters soon followed him to Lexington. Charles B. Porter moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee. He was a farmer and a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. Andrew Springer Porter was postmaster at Lexington from 1856 to 1867 and a justice of the peace. William R. Porter ran a store and was a justice of the peace. Andrew W. Porter owned a store and his son, George Washington Porter, was the circuit court clerk for Lauderdale County. His grandson, Irvine Craig Porter, Jr., became a prominent attorney in Birmingham.

Hugh Porter was born June 12, 1791. His wife, Sarah C. BOWIE, was born August 22, 1793. They were married September 19, 1814. Their children were James Glen, who married Elizabeth JOHNSTON, first, and E.A. Bettie DAVIS, second; Rebecca Burney, who married Green B. DAVIS; Andrew Eli, who married Frances A. DAVIS; Katherine Eliza, who married John H. BELEW; Jane Ann, who married James T. DAVIS; Charles Wesley, who married Margaret Emily McGWIER, John Fletcher, who married Nancy J. DAVIS; and Simathy E., who married Francis H. McGWIER. Hugh Porter and family belonged to the Methodist Church. They attended Asbury Church, which was just across the Alabama state line in Tennessee which was just off what is now Highway 101. Most of their descendants are devout Christians attend various churches. In the obituary of their son Charles Wesley, we find his devotion to the Lord. "Even though his mind was so affected in the last few years of his life that he did not know his own children, yet he never forgot to read his Bible and pray."

James Glen Porter was a blacksmith and wagon maker. His brother, John Fletcher, was a miller and he also made tombstones from limestone taken from the bluffs of Second Creek. Andrew Eli worked as a plantation overseer until the War Between the States. Charles Wesley made his living farming.

Two members of Hugh Porter's family lost their lives as members of the Confederate forces during the Civil War. Andrew Eli joined the 16th Alabama Infantry on August 6, 1861, which was under General Zollikoffer's command. He either died of exposure, disease, or was killed in battle. Hugh's grandson, John F.M. Porter, whose father was James Glen, was killed in the Second Battle of Manassas on August 30, 1862. He was a member of Company I of the 9th Alabama Infantry Regiment. There may have been others who served as well. Many of the descendants of Hugh and Sarah served with honor and distinction in our country's armed forces during World War I and II, and Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. During World War II, Walter, son of James W. Porter, was killed in France.

The Porter family was always interested in education. Many of the Porters' descendants have college degrees and have pursued professional occupations. There was a school erected on the Porters' property before 1900 and served the community for many years. The first Portertown school was a one room log building with grades one through six. It was on the west side of Second Creek near a road which at that time ran from the Charlie Porter home place to past the Portertown Cemetery then on to Tennessee. The second school was on a rise just west of what is now the Royce and Alma WILLIAMS' home. The third school was on the east side of Second Creek on the property given by Samuel WILLIAMS.

(The article above was written by Charles Wesley Porter, Sr., son of Odus Vernon Porter, and great-great grandson of Hugh Porter. Sent by Janie Porter Gomillion, July 2001)

On a visit to the Portertown Cemetery one will find the tombstones of a lot of the early settlers and not just Porters. It is a well kept cemetery that is used by many descendants of those early settlers as well as others. Hugh Porter died October 12, 1855 and Sarah Bowie Porter died May 9, 1862. They were survived by their eight children and 34 grandchildren.

Porter Town was also north of Lexington and near Dugout. It was named for several Porter families who settled here from Abbeville, South Carolina, during the 1820s. Hugh and Sarah Bowie Porter were born in the early 1790s. Their son, James Gleen Porter, established a grist mill and blacksmith shop in this community. Hugh's nephew, Washington Porter, was also here as well as a widow, Rebecca Porter, who was born in 1790 in North Carolina. Her son, Andrew was a native of South Carolina.

From William Lindsey McDonald, "A Walk Through the Past - People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama"; Florence, Alabama, Country Lane Printing, 1997 (pp 147-148).


In the 1830 Lauderdale Co census Anderson Porter was listed as follow: 2m 20-30, 1m 60-70; 1f 15-20, 3f 20-30, 1f 60-70, 1 slave.

Walter Palmore noted that Hugh Porter was listed in the 1840 Lauderdale Co Al census on page 116 (43) as follow: 0201101-0111101. Andrew Porter was list as follow in the 1840 census 0001010001-0000001001.

A transcription of the 1850 Lauderdale County, Alabama census shows the following:

#340/340 Hugh Porter60 M Frmr $1,200 S.C. Sarah " 50 FS.C. Rebecca "28 F S.C. Wesley"22 M LaborerS.C. John"17 M " S.C. Cynthia"14 F S.C.

#341/341 Andrew Porter27 M " S.C. Francis "28 F Sarah 5 F Ala. Martha 3 F Ala. Mary11/12 Ala.

Wallace Palmore [WEPALM@lorettotel.net], in an email dated 13 July 2001 writes that in "The Heritage of Lauderdale County, Alabama," on page 391, it has that Simathy E Porter was the daughter of Hugh Porter and Sarah C Bowie. It also states that she married Francis (sic) H McGwier.... he added that F H and Cynthia E McGuire are buried in the Portertown Cemetery. Also buried in this cemetery is H Porter 12 June 1791-12 Feb 1855 and Sarah Porter 22 Aug 1793- 9 May 1869. Also buried in this cemetery is one of Wm R McGuire's son and some of my Johnston family.

Hugh married Sarah C. Bowie on 19 Sep 1814. Sarah was born on 22 Aug 1793 in South Carolina; died on 9 May 1869 in Rogersville, Lauderdale County, Alabama; was buried in Portertown Cemetery, Lexington, Lauderdale County, Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

FindAGrave shows that the father William, John, Frederick and Margaret McGrew of Lauderdale County, Alabama, was William D. McGwier. It is also noted that he served in the Civil War, Third Regiments, Georgia Infantry, C.S.A.

Wallace Palmore [WEPALM@lorettotel.net], in an email dated 12 July 2001, wrote "I believe Charles was the only McGuire listed in the 1820 White Co TN censu-- but both a Charles and and an Isaac McGuire were in the 1811 tax list for White Co." He therefore concluded that "Charles and Margaret McGuire were the parent of the McGuire in Lauderdale Co AL but I may be off base here. I do believe Wm R, John W, Fred H and Margaret McGuire (the younger) were brothers and sister."

William married Margaret Elizabeth Guill. Margaret was born between 1786 and 1796 in Georgia; died about 1860 in Lauderdale County, Alabama; was buried in Allen Cemetery, Lauderdale County, Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source for maiden name not cited.

She was living in the Lauderdale County, Alabama home of her youngest son, Frederick Hugh McGwier, at the time of both the 1850 and 1860 census

Notes:

Box 71 Pack 1754, Probate Judge Office, Abbeville, SC. I, John Porter, being of sound and disposing mind and memory. I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid. I order that my plantation in Winston County, Orangeburge Dist. near the white pond lying on pond branch and Yarrow branch, containing 661 acres be sold. My desire is my family stay together on the plantation which they now live as long as they can in peace and quietness. I will the moveable property to be sold to the highest bidder. My wife Elizabeth to get her third part, with the remainder divided between my three sons, Samuel Norwood Porter, Hugh Porter, John Porter. I appoint my friend James Watts executor with my wife Elizabeth executrix. Dated 27 Dec. 1798. Wit: James Jones, Benjamin X Simpson, Thomas X Winn. Signed John Porter. Recorded 20 Dec. 1803. Est. appraised on 25 Jan. 1804, by Thomas Edwards, George Conner, James Pettus.

Some internet trees also show him as the father of Andrew Springer Porter, William R. Porter and Ann Elizabeth Forbes (nee Porter), all of who were born after this date.

(Copied from Rootsweb World Connect Project Family Tree of Bill Norwood Bill Norwood --original not viewed)

Abstracts of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville District Wills and Bonds?b?
?/b?Compiled by Willie Pauline Young
Liberty, SC
Copyright 1950 by Pauline Young & Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr. , Reprinted 2004
Southern Historical Press, Greenville SC

On page 243 of the above referenced book, it is indicated that Box 71, Pack 1754 has the Wills of two separate John Porters in the same pack. The first John Porter had a wife, Mary, and brothers Hugh and Capt. Daniel Norwood Porter. His will was dated 19 Sept 1824, and prov. 6 Dec 1824.

John married Elizabeth "Betsey" Norwood. Elizabeth (daughter of Samuel Norwood and Elizabeth ???) was born after 1761; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Norwood notes her DOD as 1798. I think this is in error:

1) Some sources show her as married in Oct. 1790, and that she was the mother of 10 children prior to her death. This would be more than a child a year. She may have been married earlier than 1790, however.

2) Her youngest three sons, and one daughter, were born in or after 1798 according to census records.

3) Her brother, John Norwood, died in 1798. Perhaps their records were confused.