Cordelia E. Morris

Cordelia married James Dickerson on 17 Jul 1887 in Sabine County, Texas. James was born on 16 Apr 1866 in Texas; died on 31 May 1922; was buried in Centerview Cemetery, Pineland, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Emily Texanna Dickerson was born on 15 Sep 1889 in Bronson, Sabine County, Texas; and died.
2. Beulah Bell Dickerson was born on 14 Jul 1890 in Bronson, Sabine County, Texas; and died.
3. Lena Dickerson was born in Oct 1893 in Texas; and died.
4. Maggie M. Dickerson was born in Mar 1896 in Texas; and died.
5. Minton F. Dickerson was born on 25 Apr 1898 in Texas; died in Jun 1978 in Bronson, Sabine County, Texas.
6. James Dickerson was born about 1902 in Texas; and died.
7. Rebecca L. Dickerson was born about 1904 in Texas.
8. Lottie Lee Dickerson was born on 20 Oct 1905 in Texas; died on 27 Nov 1970 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in Centerview Cemetery, Pineland, Sabine County, Texas.
9. Gordon Roosevelt Dickerson was born on 11 Apr 1909 in Sabine County, Texas; and died.

Notes:

Virgie Speights, in OLDTIMES OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS wrote that "On Sunday, October 13, 1963 at Martin's Chapel cemetery, dedication services were held for two of Sabine County's illustrous Confederate Veterans, Moses Aiken Morris and his son Jacob Dickens Morris...the family moved to Sabine County in 1853. The father and son enlisting into the C.S.A. together on July 2, 1862. She also noted that Jacob and his wife, Theodocia White, raised a total of nine children, two of whom were still living (as of October, 1963)."

In her annotated transcription of the Martin's Chapel Cemetery, Kay Parker McCary notes that he has a military marker: Texas Pvt Co D First Texas Hv Arty Conferderate States of America

She adds that his wife, Theodocia "Docia" J. White is buried in the Halbert Cemetery

Jacob married Theodocia J. White between 1866 and 1868 in Sabine County, Texas. Theodocia (daughter of James White and Drucilla C. Watkins) was born in Apr 1849 in Louisiana; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Census Listings:

Household:

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Beat 3
Enumerated 1 August 1870
Page 5, Stamped 21
533-533
Morris, Jacob 25 M W Farmer Ky
Morris, Doshia 20 F W Keeping House La
Morris, Mary J 4 F W Tx
Morris, Cordelia 2 F W Tx

1880 Census
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc
cupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Jacob MORRIS Self M Male W 35 KY Farmer KY KY
Theodosia MORRIS Wife M Female W 31 LA MS GA
Cordilia MORRIS Dau S Female W 11 TX KY LA
Charls Th. MORRIS Son S Male W 9 TX KY LA
George MORRIS Son S Male W 6 TX KY LA
Martha E. MORRIS Dau S Female W 4 TX KY LA
Wm. A. MORRIS Son S Male W 3 TX KY LA
Aron B. MORRIS Son S Male W 1 TX KY LA
Felix REAGAN Other S Male W 21 LA Wks On Farm GA MS

Source Information:
Census Place Sabine, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255325 NA Film Number T9-1325 Page Number 218A

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct No. 8
Enumerated 5 June 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 5A Stamped 145
62-62
Morris, Theodocia Hd W F Apr 1849 51 Wd 11/9 La Miss NC Farmer
Morris, William A Son W M Jun 1876 23 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer
Morris, Aaron B. Son W M May 1879 21 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer
Morris, Fountain L Son W M Apr 1885 15 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer
Morris, Van J. Son W M Feb 1887 12 S Tx Ky La Farm Laborer

Notes:

Presumably the trailblazer in the family. He was the only family member living in Sabine County in 1850. All the other family members migrated from Mississippi at a later date. His two oldest daughters were born in Louisiana circa 1848 and 1849, so he had not been in Texas long. His middle initial is sometimes shown as C and other times as E.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County
Enumerated 20 Nov 1850
Stamped 327
257-257
Morris, Amon P 25 M Farmer Miss
Morris, Mary A 21 F La
Morris, Mary C. F. 3 F La
Morris, Alfred W 1 m La
Watkins, Mary 45 F NC*
258-258
White, John C 24 M Farmer Miss
White, Drucilla C 21 F Tx
White, Mary E 2 F La
White, Theodotia 1 F La
White, Drucilla 1/12 F Tx
(Courtesy of Scott Watkins)

*Schluter and Toole, in their annotated transcription of the 1850 Sabine County, Texas census, show her as "dau of John and Mary Smith and widow of ---- Watkins." Scott Watkins points out that she is actually Mary Kemp Watkins, mother of Mary Morris and Drucilla White. A daughter of John and Mary Smith, namely Elizabeth, was married to Green Berry Watkins, thus causing the confusion.

James married Drucilla C. Watkins on 29 Oct 1846 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Drucilla (daughter of Alfred L. Watkins and Mary Drucilla Kemp) was born on 30 Jul 1829 in Ayish Bayou, Texas And Coahuila, Mexico; died after Jun 1860. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Joseph William Watkins was born in Georgia and died in Sabine County ca 1838. He and his wife Drucilla were the parents of Drucilla Watkins, b 30 July 1829, in Coahuila-Texas and d after 1860, m James E. White ca 1847. (White and Toole, p 67). However, Scott Watkins doesn't think this is correct. In December, 2010 he emailed that:

"Green Berry's younger brother Alfred L, only had two daughters and no sons. The oldest daughter was Mary Ann, who married Amon P. Morris and her younger sister Drucilla Cordelia who married 1) White and 2) Partin. Both Mary Ann(s) are used back in forth between the family lines as well as William W. and Nancy. I started out to prove I was a descendant of Alfred L., only to find out I belong with Green Berry instead."

The 1840 Natchitoches Parish census shows:
J. B. Watkins 0111001000000 222001000000 1 3 1
A. L. Watkins 0000010000000 002001000000
The J. is a G. (census writers?) Both brothers are on the same page, just 10 lines apart. J. B. has 4 males and 7 females. A. L. has 1 male and 3 females. Later census shows Alfred with the same numbers and Green Berry with another daughter.

Notes:

There is an Ed White in Pike County, Mississippi in 1820. This may or may not be the same Edward White that is located in Amite County, Mississippi 10 years later. The family composition is 3 males under the age of 10, 1 male between 10-16, two males between 26 and 45, two females under the age of 10, and one female age 26 to 45.

On the 1830 Amite County, Mississippi census, Edward White and wife had 3 boys & 3 girls, 0-9, 1 boy and 1 girl 10-19. He was between the ages of 40 to 60 and his wife was between 20 and 40.

He was still in Amite County in 1840, on page 52. The microfilm at the San Antonio Public Library was faded and difficult to read. It appeared to show the following, however< Edward White Males 1-0-2-0-0-0-0-1 Females0-2-0-2-0-0-1-0 He appears to have held at least two female slaves, one under the age of five, and the other between five and ten. The number of male slaves is difficult to read. It is probably just one.

Edward White, his wife Elizabeth, and several of his children can be found in Amite County, Mississippi on the 1850 census as well. Sometime after this enumeration, they moved to Sabine County, Texas.

In White and Toole's book, Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records it was noted hat "Later that year (ca. 1843-sic), the Edward White family...and many of their friends and relatives came to Sabine County. Some forty or fifty covered wagons, some of them drawn by oxen, travelled together." From "Sabine County Historical Sketches And Genealogical Records."

Edward White is shown on various internet trees, most unsourced, as either the son of William White and Mary Matilda Mason of Mecklenberg, Virginia or as the son of Edward White and Pembrook Singleton of Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. In neither case has documentary evidence been shown. Mildred Bell Landers emailed that she had "heard from a ggg grandson of Edward White (through his daughter who married Cannon Travis), and he asked if I had ever heard that Edward was an Indian named Whitecloud or Whitefeather, like his father, William. I had never heard this, and in Sabine County the past is closer than elsewhere. Nor had I heard that Edward White's father was William. One of my other gg grandfathers was part Indian, and this seems to be known in Sabine County, at least by descendants. Ever heard of any of this? There was a picture of an Edward White, Civil War veteran, in an issue of the Sabine County Reporter (maybe a son or grandson) and he did not appear to be part Indian. In my mother's family, some of them had characteristics that could be considered Indian."

Jack Hutchins White emailed, in August 2013, that his White ancestor was "Cajabeth White, who was living in Bute Co, NC with his brother, William, as early as 1766. He had two sons, John and Robert. John White inherited land from a man named John Seagrove, whose will names John White as his nephew. It seems likely that Cajabeth's wife, Frances, was a Seagrove, but this is not proven. The 1771 tax list for Bute Co shows that Young McLemore....had an overseer named John Seagrove, who appears on a number of documents with members of the McLemore family before they migrated out of Bute (later Warren) Co. I have been trying for a couple of years to piece together precisely how the Seagrove, McLemore and White families may have interacted with one another, but the Seagrove family history is as complicated as that of the Whites.

The thing that interests me about your website is that Cajabeth White was frequently referred to in court documents as Cade, and I see in your website that two sons of Edward White (b. 1781 in Mecklenburg Co, VA) each had sons they named Cade.

I believe it is likely that the Edward White in your website is the son of William White Sr. of Mecklenburg Co, VA. The personal property tax lists for that county show a son of William named Edward who is first listed as a taxable adult in the household of his father in 1797 and as head of his own household in 1800. He is gone from the county by 1801.




I am researching the possibility that William White Sr. was the brother of Cajabeth "Cade" White named in the 1766 tax rolls for Bute Co. The fact that the name Cade appears twice among the grandchildren of Edward White seems to support this theory.

I am still a bit fuzzy on when this White line intermarries with the Strong and McLemore families. I am hoping one of your family researchers would be willing to collaborate with me on the foregoing topics. I have copied Lisa Lisson, a White family descendant, who is assisting in this research."

(Research):
Census Listings:

CENSUS YR: 1850
STATE or TERRITORY: MS
COUNTY: Amite REEL NO: M432-368
PAGE NO: 93A
REFERENCE: Enumerated 12 Dec 1850 by Henry Flowe
23 615 615 White Edward 69 M Farmer 750 Va
24 615 615 White Elizabeth 55 F Geo 25
615 615 White Jane E. 25 F Amite Co Miss (Widow of J.H. Wente---I believe she is actually listed as Went on the microfilm)
26 615 615 White S. P. 17 F Amite Co Miss
27 615 615 White Wm. T. 12 M Amite Co Miss
28 615 615 Went Elizabeth 7 F Amite Co Miss
29 615 615 Went John E. 6 M Amite Co Miss
30 615 615 Went Jane E. 4 F Amite Co Miss
31 615 615 Went James T. 1 M Amite Co Miss

On the 1860 Sabine County, Texas census, Edward and Elizabeth (age 79 and 66) were living with 11 year old L.E. White, a female born in Texas. Edward's real property was valued at $500 and he had personal property valued at $7,943. I speculate that L.E. White might actually be M.E. White, Mary Elizabeth Sophronia White, the oldest daughter of James and Drucilla White. James died prior to 1860, and his wife remarried John C. Partin. James and Drucilla's two younger daughters are listed with Drucilla and her new husband, but their oldest daughter, born circa 1848/1849, has disappeared. It could be that this oldest daughter died. Or it could be that the oldest daughter went to live with and/or care for her elderly grandparents. Additionally, the 11 year old L.E. White does not seem to fit into any other of the White families shown on the 1850 census, nor can she be found after 1860.

Edward married Elizabeth Strickland after 1809 in Elbert County, Georgia. Elizabeth (daughter of Henry Strickland and Ruth Thompson) was born about 1795 in Elbert County, Georgia; died on 25 Dec 1864 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Travis Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the JERUSALEM CHURCH CHURCH BOOK, Mississippi Territory of Amite, 29 Feb 1812

This church was located near the present town of Gillsburg. Organized 29 Feb 1812, when Mississippi was Indian Territory. The transcription is courtesy of Mrs. Alva McEwen, McComb, Mississippi.

Nov 1836: Received by experience, Elizabeth White Oct 1837: Elizabeth White, Pernecia Travis baptized Apr 1842: Members included: Elizabeth White, Emily and Patsy Strickland, Rutha White, Henry Strickland, Elizabeth White (dec'd), Polly (Mary) Travis, William Travis, Nancy Travis, John Travis, John Travis, Sr., Nancy Travis, Mary Travis

Elizabeth Strickland White and 10 others founded the regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ on the banks of the Housen Bayou on May 29, 1858. This later became known as the First Baptist Church of Hemphill. Elizabeth joined by letter from the Jerusalem Church in Amite County, Mississippi. The other founding members were Richard and Ruth Travis, Henry S and Mary Etta White, Simon and Mary Ann Beckcom, John and Sophronia Everett, and Cannon and Sophronia Travis.

Elizabeth's husband, Edward, did not become a member of this church, founded by his wife and several of his children, until over six years had passed. He then joined on a profession of faith and Baptism in June 1864. According to the minutes of June 25, 1864, "Confarence was adjorned for the Church to meete at Father E Whites at 4 oclock for the purpos of hearing what the Lord had don for his precious sole, after hearing of his Experiance it was moved that Father E White be Received in Christian fellowship."

This experience must have caused him to evangelize, because on July 23d, 1865, "after preching, the privelege of the Church was Extended when too Servint Girls came forward, Amy belongin to Edward White & Charitee also belonging to Edward White. after hearing ther Experience was Received the church and then adjorned to the water" By September, 1865, Father E. White was Moderator of the Conference, though it appears he gave up this reponsibility quickly. He was replaced by Pastor John L Mills in October of 1865. His faith apparently never wavered as it was noted that he "Dyed Jan 13th 1871 in the Faith."

Notes:

Married:
Bears and Panthers and Sabine County Women

This story from the 1800s, as told by the master storyteller, J.Frank Dobie, gives another reason not to mess with Sabine County women:

"One winter day the White family on Bear Creek in Sabine County killed a hog, cut it up, put the meat in a wooden tub, and set it in a corner of the cabin, to be salted down and smoked on the morrow.

Then the man went off with his dogs to join the neighbor on a hunt.

That night while Mrs. White was chunking up the fire in the fireplace, the children covered up in bed and a quilt wrapped around herself to shut out the cold norther blowing through the chinks in the log walls, she heard a panther scream.

She knew it had smelled the fresh meat. It prowled under the puncheon floor and then leaped up on the roof, every once in a while letting out a scream. Then it went to clawing on the logs and finally got a paw through a crack near the tub of meat and took out a piece.

At this, Mrs. White threw her quilt over the tub, seized an axe standing just inside the door, and waited.

In a little while the panther put its paw back through the crack for another piece of meat. She had the axe raised and now she came down with it, cutting the paw clean off.
That panther did not bother around the cabin any more that night."

----- J. Frank Dobie, "Tales of Old-Time Texas"

Posted by Ronad Barlow on his Facebook group, Farm Road 1 - From one end to the other. It is not known which Mrs. White this story relates to.

Alfred married Mary Drucilla Kemp before 1828. Mary was born about 1805 in North Carolina; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1850 Sabine County Census, she was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Amon Morris. Next door was daughter Drucilla with her husband, James White.

Notes:

Married:
Dale Rubel shows that he married Mary Drucilla KEMP, daughter of John Bradford CAMP/KEMP and Mary Drucilla CAMPBELL.