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Abel Upchurch Sr. and his Family
 
            A.  A Brief Review of the Life of Abel Upchurch, Sr.
 
            Abel Upchurch was born about 1775, most likely in Franklin County, NC and died in December 1846 in Greene County, AL. His probable father Richard Upchurch II (ca. 1725-1798) had moved to North Carolina from Virginia about 1755.  His grandfather James Upchurch was born in Virginia and died there in 1765.  His great grandfather Richard Upchurch was born ca. 1658 and died in 1700.  His great great grandfather Michael Upchurch (ca. 1624-1681) was the original American Upchurch immigrant who came to America about 1638. 
 
            Abel was the brother of Nathan, Richard Jr, Moses, Charles, James, Jubal, and Benjamin. A 1790 Federal Census record for Richard Upchurch II in Franklin County, NC lists four white males between the age of 0 – 16.  One of these slots could logically be filled by 15 year old Abel. In the 1800 Federal Census, Abel appears as the head of household, age 26 – 44, while his wife, Bethenia “Theny” fits nicely into a 16 – 25 year old free white female slot. Abel’s wife Bethenia “Theny” would live in to her eighties, outliving her husband by at least 15 years.
 
In 1810, there is no listing for Abel in either a Franklin County or a Wake County federal census record.  However there is a listing for Abel in the tax rolls for the Little River District in Wake County, NC.  Abel is shown with 375 acres of land in this document.  As indicated by deed records and court minutes from Wake County, North Carolina, Abel was active in the first years of the nineteenth century purchasing and selling land and other items. The land purchased by Abel was near Moccasin Creek in the Little River District area of Wake County.
 
            There is no census available for Wake County, NC for 1820.  Nevertheless, Abel Sr. is presumed to still be in the Little River District.
 
            For the year 1830, one cannot find a listing for Abel Sr. in either the Wake County, NC census or in Greene County, AL census records.  It appears however that Abel and his children migrated to Greene County around the year 1825. Therefore it is thought that Abel should be in Greene County, as his children in 1830 had their own households in this county.
 
            The last listing for Abel is in the 1840 Greene County AL federal census.  Here he is listed as head of household filling a slot for a white male age 60 – 70 years.  His wife Bethenia also would fill the slot for a white female age 60 – 70 years. Abel Sr. would pass away in December of 1846.
 
            Abel’s wife Bethenia, age 71, would appear in the 1850 census living in the home of her son Abel Jr.  In 1860, Bethenia, would be listed as being 83 years of age, in the home of her son John. 
 
 
B. A Presentation of Abel Upchurch Sr., his Children, and Grandchildren

                                                                           Generation 1

Abel Upchurch (born ca. 1775 and died 1846) married Bethenia “Theny” in 1800 in Wake County, NC.  Bethenia was born in 1779 in North Carolina and would die circa 1863 in Greene County, AL.  It is most likely that they had 9 children, Bartley, Nancy, Benjamin J., Dolly, James Laton, Mary, Lynia, John, and Abel Jr.

                                                                            Generation 2
 
1. Bartley Upchurch (19 Dec 1800 – 24 Oct 1879) would marry Penelope A. Williams. They would have the following children:
  1. William Haywood Sr. (1824 – 1852)
  2. Harriet “Hattie” (1826 – 1904)
  3. Calvin aka Calvin William (1828 – 1902)
  4. Alison Calvin “Allie” (1831 – 1891)
  5. Nathan (1833 – 1856)
  6. John “Jack” Upchurch (1835 – 1906)
  7. Burton (1836 – 1895)
  8. Sarah Frances “Fannie” (1842 – 1930)
 
2. Nancy*, born about 1801, would marry John Walker.  Their children were
  1. Priah Elias “Elijah” “Elisha” (born 1827)
  2. Elizabeth “Betsy” (born 1830) married Charlie King
  3. Rachel “Racheal” (born 1831)
  4. Daniel Columbus (1833 – 1913)
  5. Lucinda “Cindy” (born 1836) married Jim Bell.
  6. Polly (born 1838)
  7. Amos Jackson (1841 – 1862)
 
* Nancy is a recent discovery, or addition to the Abel Sr. family.  Confusion over Nancy occurs because she seems to make her first appearance in Greene County, AL records.  More research may need to be undertaken to fully understand her place in the Abel Sr. family.
 
3. Benjamin J. (1805 – 8 Feb 1863), would marry Cinderilla Tant.  Records suggest that they had eight children.
  1. Parthenia Upchurch (1823 – 1880)
  2. Unknown Female (1825 – 1830)
  3. William Churchwell (1828 – 1879)
  4. William Edward (1830 – 1880)
  5. Frances E. (1834 – 1850)
  6. Noah P. (1836 – 1862)
  7. Anna Charlotte (Amma) “Lottie” (1838 - )
  8. Benjamin Newton (1841 – 1883)
           
4. Dolly (born 1806), married Pullum Carter in 1826.  There is no known list of children available for this couple.

5. James Laton (1807 – 1860) would marry Nancy T. Coleman and they would have the following children:
  1. Mary Ann (1831 – 1860)
  2. John C. (1833 – 1875)
  3. Charles B. (1835 – 1900)
  4. Abel (1837 – 1839)
  5. Elizabeth (1839 – 1841)
  6. Robert J. (1841 – 1862)
  7. Joseph (1843 – 1845)
  8. William A. (1845 – 1893)
  9. Francis H (born abt 1846)
  10. James Laton Jr. (1849 – 1852)
  11. Samuel P. (1852 – 1922)
 
6. Mary “Polly” (born abt 1810), married Clemmons Martin and they had the following children:
  1. Winney (1832 - 1850+).
  2. John B.  (1841 - 1861)
  3. Linna G.  (1845 - 1855) 
  4. Benjamine Franklin ( 1849 - 1925)
 
7. Lynia “Linny” (1812 – 1845), married Joseph J. Rich.  Joseph J. Rich and Lynia "Linny" Upchurch had the following children:
  1. William  (1836 - 1860+).
  2. Zachariah (1839 -1900+).
  3. John B. (1841 - 1860+)
 
8. John (22 Apr 1814 – 25 Jun 1871) had children by two wives.  His first wife was Jane Wilder (1819 – 1840).  There were two children born of this union.
  1. Mary Jane (1838 – 1875)
  2. John Wilder (1840 – 1865)
John would later marry Armenia Jane Hicks and they would have the following children:
  1. James Franklin (1844 – 1852)
  2. Elizabeth F. (1846 – 1896)
  3. Robert Burton “Bob” (1848 – 1905)
  4. Tillman Perry (1851 – 1919)
  5. Martha Elvira (1853 – 1942)
  6. Abel Jimeson (1854 – 1929)
  7. Sarah Isabelle (1857 – 1910) married Alonza A. Bradner
  8. Nancy D. (1859 – 1868)
  9. Virginia Darius (born 1861)
  10. Alice V. (1863 – 1893)
  11. Mary Catherine “Kate” (1866 – 1955)
  12. William Hicks (1868 – 1907)
  13. Joseph Benjamin (1871 – 1950)
​
9. Abel Jr. (1821 – 6 Dec 1858) would marry Sarah Porter and they would have the following:
  1. Emily D. (b. 1847)
  2. Catherine (b. 1848) married George Cook
  3. Martha (b. 1850) married Frederick Schumpherd
  4. Sarah E. (b. 1850) married Joel Springer
  5. William Abel (1855 – 1940)
 
                                                                                             Generation 3
10. William Hayward Upchurch Sr (Bartley2, Abel1 Sr.) He married Reutha Sarah Barham.
William Hayward Upchurch Sr and Reutha Sarah Barham had the following child:
  1. William Hayward Upchurch Jr. (1853 - 1926) 

11. Harriet Upchurch (Bartley2, Abel1 Sr.) married Redmond Jones. 

12. Calvin aka Calvin William (1828 - 1902) PVT CSA (Bartley2, Abel1 Sr.) married Sarah "Sallie" Jane Childers. They had the following children:
  1. Penelope Estell (1870 - 1954) 
  2. Sarah Eugenia (1872 - 1938) 
  3. Frances Ophelia "Fannie" (1875 - 1912)was born on 29 Oct 1875 in Alabama, USA. She died on 07 Dec 1912 in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
  4. Calvin Edgar (1877 - 1959) 

13. Alison Calvin "Allie" (Bartley2, Abel1 Sr.) married Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hickman. They had the following children:
  1. William Calvin (1859 - 1924) 
  2. George Joseph (1861 - 1909)
  3. Jim (1863 - bef 1870)
  4. Alison J. (1866 - 1912)
  5. Lula Irene (1868 - 1891) 
  6. Robert Hickman (1871 - 1934)
  7. Bejlah Jane (1876 - 1939)

14. John "Jack" Upchurch Capt. CSA (Bartley2, Abel1 Sr.) married Sara Melissa Hanson.  They had the following children:
  1. John William "Willie (1868 - 1946)
  2. Harvey Burton MD (1869 - 1924)
  3. Frances Alice "Fannie" (1871 - 1872) 
  4. Muggie M. (1873 - 1874) 
  5. Virgil "Vergie" (1876 - 1876)
  6. Edgar Erle "E.E." (1877 - 1951) 
  7. Guy Hanson (1880 - 1930) 
  8. James E. "Jim" (1880 - 1921)
  9. Samuel M. (1888 - 1904)

15. Burton Upchurch Capt CSA (Bartley2, Abel1 Sr.) married Emily Teresa Hanson.  They had the following children:   
  1. Julia Minnett "Minnie" (1869 - 1937)
  2. Sam Nathaniel (1870 - 1874)
  3. John Burton (1871 -1936) 
  4. William Howard Sr (1876 - 1930) 
  5. Margaret Harriett "Hattie" (1878 - 1970) 
  6. Edward Gray (1880 - 1938)
  7. Emily Theresa "Emily" (1885 - 1937) 

​16. Sarah Frances "Fannie Upchurch (Bartley2, Abel1 Sr.) married (1) Hicks "Hix" B. Chappell.  She married (2) James Ramsey Fullerton. Sarah and James Ramsey Fullerton had the following children:
  1. William James"Jim" (1869 - 1929)
  2. Jennie Estelle (1872 - 1957)

17. Daniel Columbus Walker I (Nancy2, Abel1 Sr.) married Zilpha Dianne Crosby. They had the following children:
  1. Nancy E (1857 - 1929)
  2. John Richard (1859 - 1932)
  3. Christopher Columbus "Hun" (1861 - 1926)
  4. Treacy Ann (1862 - ?)
  5. Samuel (1866 - early 1900s)
  6. Sarah C (1868 - 1927)
  7. James William "Bill" (1871 - 1949)
  8. George M. (1873 - 1880)
  9. Emma V. (1874 - 1921)
  10. Lula (1879 - 1970)

18. Parthenia Upchurch (Benjamin J.2, Abel1 Sr.) married John Haywood (1823/26 - 1863).  They had the following children:
  1. Elizabeth Bains (1845 - 1919)
  2. Frances L (1850 - 1923)
  3. Sidney Jane (1856 - 1923)

19. William Churchwell Upchurch (Benjamin J.2, Abel1 Sr.) married Mary Elizabeth McGraw.  They had the following children: 
  1. Retta (1862 - 1890)
  2. John Benjamin (1865 - 1939)
  3. George Edward (1874 - 1915)
  4. Richard (1875 - aft 1880)
  5. Lonnie (1878 - aft1880)

​20. Noah P. Upchurch (Benjamin J.2, Abel1 Sr.) married Mary Susan Bass. They had the following child:
  1.   Rowena Samantha (1859 – 1940)

21.   Anna Charlotte (Amma) “Lottie(Benjamin J.2, Abel1 Sr.) had the following child:
  1.   Alice Alla (1862 – aft 1880)

22.   Benjamin Newton Upchurch (Benjamin J.2, Abel1 Sr.) married (1) Hannah J. McGraw and (2) Almedia (Almeda) James Johnson. 

Benjamin Newton Upchurch and Hannah J. McGraw had the following children:
  1. Worby (1856 - aft1870)
  2. Lizzie McGraw (1861 - aft 1880)
  3. Lucinda (Centhy) Upchurch (1866 - aft 1880)

Benjamin Newton Upchurch and Almedia (Almeda) James Johnson had the following children:​
  1. William Edward "Eddie" Upchurch Sr (1878 - 1935)

23.   Mary Ann Upchurch (James Laton2 Sr, Abel1 Sr.) married Charles A. Spencer. They had the following child:
  1. Mary A. E. Spencer (1852 - 1867)

24.   John C Upchurch (James Laton2 Sr, Abel1 Sr.) married Nancy Brown.  They had the following children:
  1. Mary Ann (1858 - 1910)
  2. Laton S. "Bud" (1860 - 1912)
  3. John C (1863 - 1919)
  4. James Madison "Mack" (1866 - 1935)
  5. William Dennis (1869 - 1934)
  6. Thomas Clark "Tommie ( 1871 - 1937)
  7. Charlie Bell (1875 - 1959)

25.   Charles Burton Upchurch (James Laton2 Sr, Abel1 Sr.) married Cornelia A Summerlin.
Charles Burton Uphcurch had the following:
  1.   W. L. Upchurch (1859 - aft 1860)

Charles Burton Upchurch and Cornelia A Summerlin had the following children:
  1.   Sallie Ann (1860 - 1943)
  2.   Charles Burton (1862 - 1924)

26. William A. Upchurch (James Laton2 Sr, Abel1 Sr.)   married Seleta A Brown.  They had the following children:
  1.  Lena Rivers (1871 - 1965)
  2.  Anna (1875 - abt 1907)
  3.  Robert William "Bob" (1881 - aft 1930)

27.  Samuel Pirese Upchurch (James Laton2 Sr, Abel1 Sr)  married Sarah Jane Hayles on 27 Feb 1873. 
Samuel Pirese Upchurch and Sarah Jane Hayles had the following children:
  1. Nancy Serena "Nannie" (1874 - 1944) 
  2. Mary Clark (1876 - 1947)
  3. Uleious A (1877 - aft 1900) 
  4. Laton Francis (1882 - 1943) 
  5. Louis Henry (1886 - ?)
  6. Deanie (1887 - 1887)
  7. Queen Elizabeth "Bessie" (1888 -1980).
  8. Hampton Fant (1891 - 1944) 
  9. William Floyd (1893 - 1964) 

28. Benjamine Franklin Martin (Mary "Polly"2 Upchurch, Abel1 Upchurch Sr) married Mary Elizabeth Withers. They had the following children:
  1.  Mary Virginia (1873 - 1923)
  2.  Alonzo Franklin Martin (1880 - 1974)
  3.  Luveina (1883 - ?)
  4.  John Henry (1890 - 1959)
  5.  Bob Lacy (1893 - 1962)
  6.  Louella E (1897 - 1959)

29 . Mary Jane Upchurch (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr.) married (1) Isaac Leonard Cottles. She married (2) Binam G. Colvin

Isaac Leonard Cottles and Mary Jane Upchurch had the following children:
  1. John William (1857 - 1921)
  2. James B (1859 - abt 1900)
  3. Leonard (1863 - aft 1870)

Binam G. Colvin and Mary Jane Upchurch Cottles had the following children:
  1. Frances Alice "Fannie" (1866 - 1921)
  2. Edward Perry (1869 - 1944)
  3. Binam (1871 - abt 1898)
  4. Tillman Upchurch (1875 - 1956)
  5. James Feaster (1878 - 1939)

30.  Elizabeth F (Bettie) Upchurch (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr.) married Wiley Johnston Coleman CSA.  They had the following children:
  1.   Mary L (1867 - 1924)
  2.   John Gordon "Jack" (1869 - 1944)
  3.   Wilson Henry (1872 -1925)
  4.   P. J. (1874 - aft 1880)
  5.   Charles Clay (1876 - 1941)
  6.   Wiley Frank (1881 - 1930)
  7.   Laura Luella (1883 - 1932)

31.  Robert Burton "Bob" Upchurch Sr (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr.) married Eliza Elizabeth "Ida" Pendergrass. They had the following children: 
  1. Infant (1872  - 1872)
  2. Armenia Elvire "Minnie (1873 - 1894)
  3. Elizabeth Ridgeway 'Bessie" (1875 - 1936)
  4. John Stephens (1877 - 1948)
  5. Joseph Oscar (1879 - 1952)
  6. Leona Eleanor (1882 - 1962)
  7. Robert Burton (1884 - 1966)
  8. Egbert Meaders (1887 - 1971)
  9. Mary Belle (1889 - 1890)
  10. Mayfred Carrie (1891 - 1980)
  11. Infant (1894 - bef 1900)

32. Tillman Perry Upchurch (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr.) married Sarah Ann 'Sallie' Spencer.  They had the following children:
  1. John Edgar (1881 - 1970)
  2. Dora Jane (1883 - 1977)
  3. Katie Bell (1886 - 1977)

33. Martha Elvira Uphcurch  (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr.) married Simmeon Alexander Wilson.  They had the following children: 
  1. Nancy Drusilla (1876 - 1856)
  2. Annie Jane (1878 - 1893)
  3. Emma Janet (1881 - 1897)
  4. Vicie Elizabeth (1883 - 1985)
  5. Willliam Thomas ( 1886 - 1970)
  6. Allie Florence (1889 - 1909)  

34. Abel Jamison Uphcurch (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr) married Nancy Ann Lee. They had the following children:
  1.  Lela Mertice (1876 - 1959)  Armenia Jane "Minnie" (1881 - 1905)
  2.  James Thomas  (1884 - 1966)
  3.  Frank Anderson WWI (1884 - 1966)
  4.  Anna Mary "Annie" "Gussie" (1890 - 1972)
  5.  Rebecca Adaline (1893 - 1982)  

35. Virginia Davis "Virginia Ann" (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr) married James Buchanan "Buck' Wilson.  They had the following children:
  1. Florence Gertrude (1892 - 1948)
  2. Grover Cleveland (1885 - 1975)
  3. James Lonnie (1887 - 1955)
  4. John Rezie (1894 - 1987)
  5. Alfred Burnard (1897 - 1983)

36. Mary Catherine "Kate" (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr) married George W. Nelson.  They had the following children:
  1.  William Webster (1889 - 1977)
  2.  Mary Armenia "Mamie" (1891 -1940)
  3.  George Moore (1894 - 1918)
  4.  Frances Elizabeth (1896 - 1965)
  5.  Alvin Maurice (1899 - 1920)
  6.  John Paul (1900 - 1983)
  7.  Luther Wallace (1906 - 1910)
  8.  Gladys (1909 - 1972)

37. William Hicks Upchurch (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr) married Carrie Alma Nelson.  They had the following children:
  1. Robert Burton (1891 - 1973)
  2. Bessie Iva "Iva" (1896 - 1969)
  3. Alma Isabelle (1897 - 1920)
  4. Bethel Elizabeth (1899 - 1973)
  5. William Clarence (1901 - 1975)
  6. Gladys Aleen (1904 1986)

38. Joseph Benjamin "Joe"  (John "Jack"2, Abel1 Sr) married Frances Elizabeth "Fannie Mae" Wilson.  They had the following children:
  1. Edna Eulaya (1895 - 1972)
  2. Addie (1897 - 1901)
  3. John Sidney (1899 - 1932)
  4. Joseph William "Joe Willie" (1901 - 1932)
  5. Mary Frances "Mamie" (1903 - 1988)
  6. Allen Harvey (1907 - 1989)
  7. Charlie Smith (1909 - 1984)
  8. ​Avis C (1913 - 1988)

39. Emily A.D. Upchurch (Abel2 Jr, Abel1 Sr.) married Matthew T. Doigg.  They had the following children:
  1. Sarah Emily "Sallie" (1869 - 1945)
  2. William Matthew (1872 - 1941)
  3. Martha C. (1873 - 1878)
  4. John Abel (1877 - 1964)
  5. Joseph Cleveland (1884 - 1965)

40. Catherine Adeline Upchurch (Abel2 Jr, Abel1Sr.) married George Washington Coker.  They had the following children:
  1.  Robert C (1868 - aft1880)
  2.  Willie Anna (1870 - 1960)
  3.  Ida (1875 - 1891)

41. William Abel Upchurch (Abel2 Jr, Abel1Sr.) married Maggie Cunningham. Together they had the following child:
  1. William R. Upchurch (1893)