Book: "CAIN" by Margaret and Mildred Ezell - Cain and Associated
Families of Amite County Mississippi.
Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mildred and Margaret Ezell
<me2atl@aol.com>
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THE MS CAINS
There is another Cain family that was in Amite Co. that I want to mention
briefly. It was the Archibald W. Cain family. He seems to have been a
part of the Wilkinson Co. Cains, but could very well be kinfolks.
He married first in Wilkinson Co. to Sarah Ann Logan on 3 Jan 1828
(Wilkinson C-55). He had a son, William S. by her in c1828. He m 2nd on 7
Apr 1831 (Amite 2-384) by Van Houton J.P., Henry C. Cox bondsman) Julian
(Or Julia Ann) Cox, dau of David and Sabrina (Brinay) Cox. David Cox was
a wealthy man owning 46 slaves in 1830. He left his will 18 Dec 1847,
proved 1 Feb 1848, recorded Amite Vol.1, p.331, naming wife Brinay Cox;
son Henry C. Cox and daus Margaret M. Lucas, Nancy C. Causey, Julian
Cane, and Lucinthy Causey. Wits Lemuel Reamer, Randolph Reeves, Wm.
C. Hammock.
1840 Amite p.44 Cain, A.W. M 2(under 5) 1(10-15) 1(30-40) F 1(20-30)
1845 Amite state census: Archibald W. Cain M 5; female 1
1850 Amite Co. p.71 #284 Archibald W. Cain 49 m GA; Julia A. 35 f Amite
Co.; William S. 22 Wilkinson Co.; Franklin F. 15 m; Fountain F. Cain
12; Lemuel L. Cain 9 m; Letha Cain 6 f; Carlton C. Cain 3 m Amite Co.
There are a number of deeds for him, the more important ones:
Brina Cox to Julia Ann Cox for $500 E/2 of NE/4 sec 40 T2 R3, 80 ac, Lot
2 & 8 Sec 40 T2 R3E 160 ac NE/2 lot 11 Sec 40 T2 R3E 29 ac, also 10 ac of
Lot #10, in all 279 ac 20 Jan 1851. /s/ Brina Cox. Amite deed 8-641.
Archibald W. Cain and wife Julia A. to Brina Cox 23 Sep 1856 for $780,
279 ac described as above except. corner of tract for graveyard where one
child is buried in center of sd lot. /s/ Archibald W. Cain, J.A. Cain.
Amite 9-485.
We, Henry C. Cox, Margaret M. Lucas, Nancy C. Causey and Alexander S.
Causey her husband, Julia Ann Cain and husband to George W. Smith 1 Oct
1851 for $632, all right, etc at law and in equity NE & NW/4 of school
sec T1 R3E, it being same as deed from B.W. Smith, clerk of probate court
to Henry C. Cox exr of will of David Cox decd 27 Mch 1851. /s/ Henry C.
Cox Exr, M.M. Lucas, Nancy C. Causey, A.S. Causey, Julia Cain, Archibald
W. Cain, Lucinthy Causey, S.T. Causey. Amite 10-229.
Archibald and Juliann Cain, David and Sabrina Cox were on the rolls of
New Providence Church in Amite Co., the rolls beginning in the year 1838,
and showed as:
David Cox 1836 - 1847 died
Sabrina Cox 1838 - 1857 died
Archibald Cain 1838 - 1856 dismissed by letter.
Juliann Cain 1838 - 1856 dismissed by letter. Dismissed by letter usually
meant they were moving and had requested a letter of recommendation as to
good character-and standing in the church.
As none of this family has showed on the records of Amite County after
this date, it is believed they moved away, though I do not know where to.
Hardy Cain is the last Cain of MS I wish to discuss. He is the ancestor
of this writer, Mildred Ezell. Earlier records for him will be discussed
later.
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THE MS CAINS
Because it helps to establish the date of Hardy's arrival into MS, the
following Georgia record is given from a list of passports issued by
governors of Georgia 1785-1820, by Mrs. Mary G. Bryan. These were
published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the
following record showed on p.222 of their vol. 45.
Page 3 - Saturday 11th November 1809.
On recommendation
ORDERED
That a passport be prepared for Hardy Cain to travel through the Creek
Nation of Indians -- which was presented and signed.
He is on the 1810 Franklin Co. MS census: Hardy Cain males 1(over 21)
2(under 21) females 1(over 21) 1 (under 21) 5 slaves He nor his widow
showed on a census 1816 or 1820.
See beginning p.291 for xerox of the papers as recorded of his estate.
His will is dated 1 July 1814, proved 17 Oct 1814, recorded in Amite Will
Bk. 1, p.142 and reads:
The last will and testament of Hardy Cain, deceased recorded. In the name
of God Amen. I Hardy Cain of the County of Amite, in the Mifsifsippi
Territory, being very sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and
memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is
appointed for all men once to die, do make, ordain and constitute this my
last will and testament, that is to say, principally and first of all I
resign my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, to receive its
Sentence, and my body to be laid in the grave to be entered in a decent
Christian manner, at the discretion of my Executors and as touching such
worldly goods or property wherewith it has pleased God to blefs me I do
hereby bequeath, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner
and form,
1st. I give and bequeath unto my beloved and youngest son William Cain
his heirs or afsigns one Negro boy slave known by the name of Esau, being
about five years of age.
2nd. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mary Cain, her heirs or
Afsigns, one Negro girl slave, about (two? on edge of page) years of age,
and known by the name of Jean.
3rd. I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Mary Cain, during
the lifetime of her widowhood, all the balance of my Estate, of whatever
kind Species description whereof I am now pofsefsed, with the condition
and exception following viz That should there come an increase of Negro
slave children into the estate, hereby bequeathed to the said Mary Cain.
and should that ifsue or increase spring from a certain negro woman named
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THE MS CAINS
Maria, then and in that case the said increase, ifsue or children, I do
hereby give and bequeath to my two eldest and loving sons, James Cain and
Isaiah Cain my equal division to their heirs, afsigns &e - the balance of
estate and property as aforesaid to be freely and fully enjoyed by my
said beloved wife Mary Cain, so long as she may live and remain a widow,
and at the time of her decease, or death, or in case she the said Mary
Cain should intermarry with any person, then the said estate or property
herein and hereby bequeathed to her the said Mary Cain, with the
condition and exception before named, is hereby bequeathed and given to
my four loving children viz, James Cain, Isaiah Cain, Mary Cain and
William Cain, by equal division giving a fourth part to each one to be
enjoyed, inherited and pofsefsed by them the said James, Isaiah, Mary and
William their heirs, afsigns &c. So soon as the lifetime of my said
wife's widowhood shall cease, and not till then. And I do hereby make,
ordain, constitute and appoint my said beloved wife Mary Cain and my
loving son aforesaid James Cain Executor and Executrix of this my last
will and Testament. I do also hereby disannul, reject and revoke all
former wills Testaments, Legacies or bequests that I may heretofore have
made, ordained or bequeathed, either in word, writing or otherwise,
confirming, ordering and establishing, this and none other my last will
and testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal
this first day of July in the thirty eighth year of the Independence of
the United States of America, and in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fourteen.
Signed Sealed pronounced and )
declared by the said Hardy Cain ) /s/ Hardy Cain (L.S.)
as his last will & testament )
in the presence of us
Angus Wilkinson
Isaiah Cain
William Cain
Mifsifsippi Territory ) Personally appeared in open court Angus
Amite County ) Wilkinson and William Cain who being duly sworn
saith that they saw Hardy Cain sign Seal and
acknowledge the within will - and that they subscribed their names
thereto as witnefses in the presence of the Testator and in the presence
of each other.
Sworn to and subscribed in open ) /s/ Angus Wilkinson
Court 17th Oct. 1.814 ) /s/ William Cain
Tho Batchelow Reg. H.A.C. )
Mifsifsippi Territory ) Know all Men by these presents that we
Amite County ) Mary Cain, James Harrell and David Day are held
and firmly bound unto Micajah Davis Esquire,
Chief Justice of the Orphans Court and his succefsors in office, in the
penal sum of six thousand dollars, which payment will and truly to be
made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly
and severally by these presents, Sealed with our Seals and dated the 7th
day of November 1814. The condition of this obligation is such that if
the above bound Mary Cain Executrix of the last will and Testament of
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THE MS CAINS
Hardy Cain, deceased, do make or cause to be made, a true and perfect
inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights, and credits of
the said Testator which shall come to the hands, pofsefsion or knowledge
of the said Executrix or unto the hands or pofsefsion of any other person
or persons for the said Executrix and the same so made, do exhibit, or
cause to be exhibited unto the Registers Office of the Orphans Court of
the County aforesaid at or before the expiration of six calender months
from the date of the above written obligation, and the same goods,
chattels and credits of the said deceased, at the time of his death,
which any time after come to the hands or pofsefsion of the said
Executrix do well and truly administer according to Law, and the said
last will and testament do well and truly execute agreeable to its tenor
and true intent and meaning of the said testator, and render a Just and
true account thereof, when thereunto duly required, then the above
obligation to be void, otherwise remain in full force and virture.
Signed, Sealed and acknowledge ) /s/ Mary x Cain (L.S.)
in the presence of ) /s/ James Harrell
Tho. Batchelor ) /s/ David Day
Mifsifsippi Territory ) Agreeably to a warrant to us directed
Amite County ) by the Court of Ordinarys for said County, we
have appraised all the goods and chattels of the
estate of Hardy Cain, deceased that to us was shown, by Mary Cain
Executrix of said estate, viz:
Twenty two head of cattle 120.00
Sixty head of Hogs 90.00
One Sorrel Mare 80.00
One Filly, a bay colour 80.00
One Sorrel horse 90.00
One lot of hoes, plows and gears 28.25
One lot of old Iron 5.25
Four axes 8.00
Two Iron wedges 2.00
One lot of tools 13.00
One Rifle gun 15.00
One cherry chest 10.00
One small trunk 1.00
Four beds, bedsteads and furniture 180.00 722.75
--------------------
One Lot of Books 4.00
Ten chairs 8.00
One Table and furniture thereto belonging 32.87 & 1/2
One pair smoothing Irons 2.50
Three Bottles .37 & 1/2
One Demijohn 2.50
One Lot of Pot mittle 15.00
Two spinning wheels 6.00
One set of Candle moles 1.00
Six water vessels 5.25
A set of Irons, of a riding chair 11.00
One Negro man by the name of Bud 500.00
One Negro woman by the name of Buk 350.00
One negro woman by the name of Silvey 325.00
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THE MS CAINS
One negro woman by the name of Mariah 400.00
One negro boy by the name of Esau 225.00
One negro girl by the name of Jean 175.00
One grind stone 2.00 $2065
-------------------------
2788
we the appraisors do certify that the above appraisement is just and
true, done this 14th of April 1815.
/s/ Thomas Swearingen
/s/ Charles Rhodes
/s/ Robert Day Senr.
I do hereby certify that the above appraisers are qualified agreeably to
Law. Sworn to before this 14th of April 1815.
/s/ Aron Butler J.P.
Mifsifsippi Territory )
Amite County ) Personally appeared before Thomas Batchelor
Register of the Orphans Court for the County
aforesaid James Cain, one of the Executors of the last will and testament
of Hardy Cain decd who being duly sworn sayeth that the within will of
appraisement contains all the property belonging to the decd which have
come to the hands of the said Executor to the best of his knowledge.
Sworn to and subscribed )
this 17th April 1815 ) /s/ Jas. Cain
Tho. Batchelor Reg. OC )
This concluded the court action at this time and it appears that Mary did
not remarry but was busy with the operation of the farm and the care of
her family. Some new court action was about to take place and a new
administrative bond was required in 1825, as well as a guardianship bond
for the minor son William F. Cain.
The administration of the Estate of Hardy Cain decd.
State of Mifsifsippi ) Know all men by these presents that we:
Amite County ) Mary Cain, Isaiah Cain, Stephen Heard
and Jabez Butler are held firmly bound
unto John Phillips Esquire Judge of Probate of said County in the sum of
six Thousand Dollars to be paid to the said Judge of Probate or his
succefsors in Office or their certain attorney or afsigns, to which
payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and every of us, our
heirs, executors and administrators, for the whole and in the whole,
jointly and Severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our Seals
and dated this 26th day of Sept. 1825.
The condition of the above obligation is that whereas the above bound
Mary Cain Executrice of the estate of Hardy Cain deceased hath heretofore
executed a bond payable to Micajah Davis and Conditioned for the
discharge of her duties as executrix aforesaid which said bond bears date
the seventh day of Sept 1814 and whereas by an order of the Court made on
the 25th day of Sept 1825 another bond and security hath been required of
the said Mary Cain, now therefore if the said Mary Cain shall well and
truly have kept and performed, and shall well and truly keep and perform
the condition of the bond aforesaid and shall in all respects have
performed, and shall continue to perform the duties of her office
aforesaid, then this obligation to be void otherwise it shall remain in
full force and virtue.
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THE MS CAINS
Signed, Sealed and ) /s/ Mary X Cain (Seal)
delivered in presence of ) /s/ Isaiah Cain ..
W. H. Dillingham ) /s/ Stephen Heard ..
Amite Probate Record /s/ Jabez Butler ..
V. 3, p.281
The Guardianship of William F. Cain a minor To the Orphans Court of Amite
County The petition of William Cain a minor over fourteen years of age
Sheweth:
That your petitioner is a minor over fourteen years of age and rendered
incapable in law of transacting businifs in his Own name, he therefore
prays that his mother Mary Cain be appointed guardian of his person and
estate.
Amite County 26 June 1826
/s/ William F. Cain
Adknowledged before me this 26 June 1826 J. Phillips J. probate
State of Mifsifsippi ) Know all men by these presents that we
Amite County ) Mary Cain and Asa L. Mercer and Isaiah
Cain are held and firmly bound unto John
Phillips Judge of Probate in and for said county or his succefsors in
office in the just and full sum of Eight Hundred Dollars, for which
payment well and truly to be made to the said Judge of Probate aforesaid
and his succefsors in office, we bind ourselves our heirs, executors and
administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents, Sealed
with our Seals and dated this twenty sixth day of June 1826.
The condition of the above obligation is such that if the said Mary Cain
as guardian to William Cain of Amite County shall well and truly account
with the orphans court of Amite County as directed by Law for the
management of the property and estate of the said orphan under her care
and shall also deliver up the said property agreably to the order of the
said court or the directors of Law and shall in all respects perform the
duty of guardian according to law, then the above obligation shall
cease, it shall otherwise remain in full force and virtue in Law.
Signed, Sealed, delivered ) /s/ Mary X Cain (Seal)
and ackd in presence of ) /s/ A. L. Mercer (Seal)
W.H. Dillingham Reg Prob.) /s/ Isaiah Cain (Seal)
Amite Probate Record Vol. 3, p.293.
The Administration Account of Mary Cain Executrix of the last will
and Testament of Hardy Cain decd.
The Executrix charges herself with the amt of the Inventory with
the exception of a negro woman Sylvia (appraised at #325.00)
Amt recd for negrefs Sylvia Sold to pay for the land $390.00
She prays allowance for this sum paid in the US land office
being bal due for the land $313.29
paid note to James Cain Senior 12.00
Paid a/c to Bartlett Smith 2.00
paid Orphans Court fees 6.50 333.79
-----------------------
Bal on hand $ 56.21
The executrix states that the negrefs Beck appraised at $350.00 and a bay
mare appraised at $80.00 have deceased Since the inventory was rendered,
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THE MS CAINS
that the negrefs Jane has been delivered to Mary Cain according to the
will, that the stock of cattle and hogs have increased since the
inventory was rendered and that the other property mentioned in the
inventory except such as has been destroyed by time and use remain in her
hands.
State of Mifsifsippi )
Amite County ) Personally came before the undersigned Judge of
Probate of Said county Mary Cain and made oath
that the above account is correct and presents a true account of her
administration of the estate of Hardy Cain. Sworn to & Subscribed before
me this 26th June 1826 ) /s/ Mary x Cain
J. Phillips J.Probate )
Amite Probate Record Vol. 3, p.394.
Inventory of the estate of William Cain a minor
One negro boy about 17 years of age valued at $450.00
State of Mifsifsippi )
Amite County ) Personally came in open court Mary Cain
Guardian of the person and estate of Wm. Cain, a minor and made oath that
the foregoing is a correct Inventory of all the property belonging to
said minor which has come into her hands or pofsefsion or into the hands
or pofsefsion of any other person or persons to her.
Sworn in open court )
this 25th Sept 1826 ) /s/ Mary X Cain
W. H. Dillingham R.P. Ibid, p.410
It seems that Mary Cain, wife of Hardy, was dead before the deed below
was made on 21 Aug 1838. As seen below, she signed a paper on 10 Mar
1837, so that her date of death could be narrowed, and probably occurred
sometime during the year 1838.
Amite Co. deed Bk. 4, p.327, 21 Aug 1838.
Isaiah Cain et al to William F. Cain
Recd to be recorded 24th Aug 1838.
State of Mississippi )
Amite County ) Know all men by these presents that for and
in consideration of the sum of five hundred dollars paid to Isaiah Cain,
his wife, John Moore and Mary formerly Mary Cain his wife and Anny Cain
widow of James Cain of the first part and William F. Cain of the second
part. The said parties of the first part legatees and heirs of Hardy
Cain late of Amite County hath and by these presents doth grant bargain
sell and deliver to the said W. F. Cain all our right title claim and
interest in and to the South East quarter of Section Eighteen Township
four in Range four East lying and being in Amite county originally
entered and paid for by Hardy Cain late of Amite Co. To have and to hold
all our right title claim & interest with relinquishment of Dower to him
the said William F. Cain together with all and singular the testaments
and hereditiments and to his heirs forever and we do hereby covenant to
defend said right title and claim to him the said William F. Cain his
heirs and afsigns forever. In testimony whereof the parties of the first
part hath hereunto set their hands and Seals the 21st day of August
1838.
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THE MS CAINS
Attest ) /s/ Isaiah Cain (Seal)
James McDowell J.P. ) /s/ Mary Cain (Seal)
Elisha Cain ) /s/ John Moore (Seal)
/s/ Mary Moore (Seal)
/s/ Anny Cain (Seal)
State of Mississippi )
Amite County ) Personally came before me James McDonald a
Justice of the Peace for this county
aforesaid, the within named Mary Cain, wife of the said Isaiah Cain, Mary
Moore, formerly Mary Cain and wife of the said John Moore, Anny Cain wife
of James Cain deceased, the persons described in and who have Executed
the above and foregoing deed acknowledged that they severally signed
Sealed and delivered the above and foregoing deed for the uses and
purposes mentioned therein and the said Mary Cain as aforesaid and Mary
Moore as aforesaid being by me Examined by me seperate and apart from
their husbands acknowledged that they severally Executed the said Deed
and also relinquished all their right and claim of Dower in and to the
within and above described land and premises And the said Anny Cain wife
of as aforesaid relinquished all her right and claim of Dower to the
above described Land and premises and the two former ladies acknowledged
that they Executed said Deed and relinquished their right and claim of
Dower freely without any fear of threats or compulsion of her said
husband. All which I do accordingly certify according to the statutes in
such cases made and provided given under my hand and seal this 4th day of
August 1838. /s/ James McDowell J.P. (Seal)
State of Mississippi ) Personally came before me Griffin P.
Amite County ) Claughton Esq. a justice of Peace in and for the
County aforesaid Isaiah Cain whose signature
appears to the foregoing Deed and acknowledged that he signed sealed and
Delivered the within and foregoing Instrument on the Day therein
contained for the uses and purposes therein mentioned as his free act and
deed. Given under my hand and seal this 23d day of August 1838.
/s/ Griffin P. Claughton J.P. (Seal)
State of Mississippi ) Personally came before me a Justice of
Amite County ) the Peace in and for said County John Moore who
acknowledged that he signed sealed and delivered
the foregoing Deed on the Day and year mentioned in the same and for the
uses and purposes therein Exprefsed. Given under my hand and seal this
20th Day of August 1838. /s/ John Walker J.P. (Seal)
Duplicate Receivers Office at Washington MS
No. 4539 24th August 1836
Recd. from Mary Cain of Amite County Mifsifsippi the sum of one hundred
and five dollars and forty one cents being in full payment for the North
half of the North East quarter of section No. twenty four in township No.
five of Range No. three East containing 84 33/100 acres at one dollar and
twenty five cents per acre.
$105.41 /s/ A.W. Rabb Receiver NOTE: This land is today
located in Franklin Co., MS.
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THE MS CAINS
Know all men by these presents that I Mary Cain in consideration of one
hundred dollars to me paid by Wm. F. Cain do hereby assign set over and
convey to the said Cain all my right title interest and claim in and to
the within duplicate and in and to the land therein mentioned In
testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 10th March
1837.
Attest
D.C. Short /s/ Mary X Cain (Seal)
State of Mississippi )
Amite County ) Personally came before the undersigned
Judge of Probate for said county Don C. Short
subscribing witness to the above transfer and made oath that he saw Mary
Cain sign seal and deliver the same to William F. Cain on the day and
year therein named for the purpose mentioned therein.
Sworn to and subscribed before )
me this 28th Day of July 1838 ) /s/ D.C. Short
J. Walker Judge Probate (Seal)
End of the deed record that began in Amite Bk 4, p.327.
The genealogy of Hardy Cain:
Hardy Cain, b c.1768 in N.C., d 1814 Amite Co., MS; m probably in Nash
Co. N.C. Mary Foreman, who d c.1838 Amite Co., MS, dau of Benjamin
Foreman who d 1795, Chatham Co., N.C. They had issue:
m 1) James Cain, b c.1793 Chatham Co., N.C., d 1834 Fr.Co., MS; m 19 Nov
1811 (Amite 1-098) William Cain bondsman, no return) Anna Johnson,
b c.1793, d 17 Aug 1849 Fr.Co., dau of Caleb Johnson and Frances
(we believe Waggonman but no hard proof) Anna m 2nd 17 Feb 1846
(Fr.Co. by James M. Jones, Wm. M. Porter bondsman) Josiah Powell.
m 2) Isaiah Cain, b c.1795 Chatham Co., N.C., d 3 Jan 1855 Amite Co.; m
13 Jan 1820 (Amite 1-375) Asa J. Mercer J.P., Jabes Butler
bondsman) Mary (Polly) Butler, dau of Aaron Butler and Mary Day.
f 3) Mary Cain, b c.1808 Hancock Co., GA; m 17 Nov 1823 (Amite 2-60) by
Edmond Smith J.P., Jabez Butler bondsman) John W. Moore, son of
Samuel and Elizabeth (Lane?) Moore of Amite Co.
m 4) William Foreman Cain (General), b 15 May 1810 Franklin Co., MS, d
29 May 1876, bur Woodlawn Cemetery, Summit, MS; m 1st 2 June 1836
(Amite 2B-210) by Joseph M. Ford Judge Probate, George B. Landrum
bondsman) Hulday Sojourner, widow of Paul W. Wroten, dau of John
Sojourner; m 2nd Minerva Caroline Quin, b 6 May 1816, d 26 Apr
1890, dau of Henry and Elizabeth (Graham) Quin, widow of Ledford
Garner.
***
***
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THE MS CAINS
James Cain, son of Hardy and Mary (Foreman) Cain, with his brother Isaiah
Cain were soldiers of the War of 1812 in Major Thomas Hinds Battalion of
Cavalry, MS Militia. See Casey V. 3, p. 474.
James received a grant of land 21 Oct 1816 in Amite Co. of 162 acres, the
SW/4 T4N R4E, Sec 17.
On 7 Sep 1818 he was one of the workers on the road in Amite Co. from the
ford of the river near Samuel Moors ginn that intersects the Natchez road
near the county line..from Samuel Moore down the river to William
Gibson's, thence a direct course to James Cain's, then a direct course to
the place where the road intersects the Franklin road, thence with said
road to Franklin Co. line, thence along the said line to James Smith's.
Amite Orphans Court Record 1, p.103.
On 4 Dec 1826 James Cain and his wife Anna of Amite sold to John
Montgomery for $320, 161 acres (his grant land) SW/4 Sec 7 T4 R4E. /s/
James Cain, Anna X Cain. Wit. William Mathews, John Rountree. Anna ackn.
her signature 5 Dec 1826. Amite Deed 2-197.
This could be when they purchased land in Franklin Co. The deeds of this
period burned in Franklin but the deed index book, which was saved, gives
no indication that James ever recorded any land bought or sold in
Franklin Co.
James Cain was a Baptist minister. He was received into the Zion Hill
Baptist Church, Amite Co. by letter July 1812. On 4 May 1820 Bro. Cain
was considered for exercising his gift in public exercises in the
ministry of the gospel and was given a license. On 5 May the clerk
presented the license to the church for inspection in order to liberate
Bro. James Cain to go out and exercise his gift as he thinks the Lord may
direct him which was approved. Minutes of Zion Hill Baptist Church.
He was on numerous occasions a delegate to the Baptist Association and
other meetings from Zion Hill Baptist Church but in 1827, he was a
delegate from Mars Hill Baptist Church. Mars Hill Baptist Church is in
the Mars Hill Community in the NE corner of Amite Co. Minutes of the
Baptist Association, published by Casey, V.2.
1828 and 1829 he was a delegate to the MS Baptist State Convention. Ibid.
The treasurer made a financial report in 1828 and showed that on November
1 of that year $8.00 cash was paid to James Cain for missionary activity.
J.L. Boyd's A POPULAR HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN MISSISSIPPI.
A Bible (pocket sized, leather bound, and about 1 1/2 inches thick) which
has the name "JAMES CAIN" in the front is now (c.1955) in the possession
of Mrs. W. H. Cain, Magnolia, MS. It was given to her late husband by
his father (William R. Cain) who had gotten it from his father, Hardy
Cain, son of James Cain. The Bible shows water marks which are possibly
explained by the fact that early preachers had to ford streams while
traveling about to preach. (Also from getting soaked in the woods while
travelling during down pours).
Early Tax Digests for Franklin Co. (found at the MS State Archives) show
the following:
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THE MS CAINS
1828 - James Cain, no land, 4 slaves. This is not our James
Cain. He is probably son of James who died c. 1811.
1829 James Cain Jr. 160 ac Magee Creek 1 poll 1 slave (Ours. The name
Jr. here does not mean he was son of James Cain Sr. It probably means
there was an older James Cain then in the county.)
1830 James Cain 160 ac Magee Cr. 1 poll 1 slave
1831 James Cain 160 ac Magee Cr. 1 slave
1832 James Cain 160 ac Magee Cr. 1 poll 1 slave Not all the old digests
survived to today.
1835 Anna Cain 160 ac Magee Cr. C This shows that James was dead.)
1836 Anna Cain 200 ac Magee Cr. 2 si 0 poll (There was no male in her
household old enough to pay a poll.)
1837 Anna Cain 160 ac Magee Cr. 2 51
1838 Anna Cain 120 ac Magee Cr. 2 Si
1839 Anna Cain 280 ac Magee Cr. 2 Si
1840 Ann Cain 200 ac Morgan's Fork 2 51
1841 Anna Cain 200 ac 2 sl
1842 Anna Cain 1 sl
The minutes of the Mississippi Baptist Association show that the
following resolution was passed in 1834: "The Association laments her
loss in the death of Bro. James Cain. His opportunities in the ministry
had always been limited, but in soundness of faith and a gospel walk
there are few that excel him. In his perfect senses he met death in
triumph leaving a lonely wife and a large family of children to mourn
their loss while he entered into the joys of his Lord."
After James Cain's death, a six volume set of Gill's BIBLE COMMENTARIES,
published in 1817, was sold at a sale of his personal property as was the
custom of the time. This set of books was bought by William Cain, his
younger brother. Later William gave them to Isaiah Cain, a first cousin
(it should have been brother) of Amite County, Mississippi. Aunt Polly,
widow of Isaiah Cain, gave them to John P. Hemby, who wrote in them the
following which is dated November 1, 1937: "Purchased by James Cain, a
pioneer Baptist preacher in South Mississippi, who resided in southeast
portion of Franklin County. He came with his family from North Carolina
during early settlement of Mississippi and settled in southeastern part
and is buried not far from Mt. Zion Church." Miss Laura Hemby, daughter
of John P. Hemby, now (1955) owns this set of Bible commentaries. Irene
Morris in her Hardy Cain family write up.
Anna Cain, widow of James, m 2nd 17 Feb 1846 (Fr.Co. by James M. Jones,
Wm. M. Porter bondsman) Josiah Powell. Their marriage was brief because
they were both dead before 1850.
Josiah was an elder in the Pisgah Presbyterian Church, located then in
the Tangipahoa Dist of Amite Co., but the church later moved to Pike Co.
MS. In 1846 it was reported by this church in their minutes that Josiah
Powell was married to Mrs. Anna Cain. His former wife was shown in the
minutes to be Jane Powell.
Casey in his volume 3 gives much history of the Powell family. Josiah was
son of John Powell Jr. and Margaret, dau of Capt. Michael Holt of Orange
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THE MS CAINS
Co. N.C., b 30 Dec 1775, d 28 Dec 1848. He was thrown from a horse and
killed near Natchez, MS; bur on his homestead in the Powell-Wicker
burying ground with others of his family. He was appointed officer in 204
Dist Militia, Elbert Co. GA 13 Apr 1810, 1st Lieut. in Capt. John Ware's
Co. of Infantry, 1st Reg., (Harris) GA Militia Aug 25, 1813 to Mch 11,
1814. He m 1804 Janet Brixey, dau of John Brixey (b. Ireland) and Rachel
Mackie. Janet was b 1780, d 6 Oct 1843, bur with her husband Josiah
Powell in Pike Co. Twelve children are given for them in this reference.
From the limited. Pisgah Church minutes available, the baptism of their
youngest daughter Frances can be found as published by Casey in V. 2,
AMITE CO., MS .
Miss Frances Powell Otken in a letter to Irene Morris, 11 Sep 1953 wrote:
"Josiah Powell was my great grandfather. He was a First Lieutenant in
the War of 1812 with the Georgia Troops. This (the Cain marriage) was his
second marriage and was not a happy one for him or his family. It was of
short duration, and he died in December 1846, while on a trip to Natchez.
He rode a very spirited young horse, over the protest of his sons, and
the horse was frightened by some object he saw on the roadside and
plunged, throwing Josiah Powell to the ground and injuring him fatally.
My grandmother never talked about this second marriage, so we know almost
nothing about Mrs. Cain."
No stones have been found for James Cain or Anna, his wife. Her death
date was found through the efforts of Ann Randall in the Bible of Thomas
James Wells of Hamburg, AR, both descendants of James Cain. As stated
above, they are buried near the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Franklin Co.
Mogan in their FRANKLIN CO. MS CEMETERIES, p.132 states the church is
located about 10 miles SE of Meadville (follow Hwy 98, then 4 miles N on
Forest Rts 147 & 146, follow signs to the church). It is in Sec 12 T4
R4. See map p. 307. The church was received by the MS Baptist
Association 1820. Note that Cain Mill Creek cuts through this section.
It has been said that Cain (James?) donated the land for the Church.
Joseph R. Cotton applied for incorporation of Mt. Zion Church.
The early wills and probate records of Franklin Co. are missing, but one
Book of Letters beginning in the 1840s has been found in which the
administration bond for the estate of Anna Powell has been found and
reads:
State of Mississippi ) By the Probate Court of said county where
Franklin County ) as Anna Powell deceased late of said county died
intestate as we are informed having whilst she
lived and at the time of her death divers goods debts rights and credits
within the state aforesaid and we desiring that the said goods rights and
credits may be well and truly administered converted and disposed of do
hereby grant unto Dempsey B. Cain and Hardy Cain full power by the tenor
of these presents to administer the goods chattels right and credits of
said deceased which to her in her lifetime and at the time of her death
did belong and to ackn levy recover and receive the same and pay the
debts in which the deceased stood bound so far as her said goods rights
credits lands tenements and hereditaments will extend according to their
worth and the order of the law to make a perfect and just inventory of
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THE MS CAINS
said goods chattels rights and credits and the same to exhibit in the
office of the clerk of court at or before the expiration of three months
from the date hereof and to render a just account of the said
administration when thereunto legally required and the said Dempsey B.
Cain and Hardy Cain are hereby ordained administrators of all and
singular the goods and chattels rights and credits moneys and effects of
the said deceased.
Witness James M. Jones Esquire Judge of Probate of said County at the
court house of said county the second monday in September in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine. Issued the 14th day
of September AD 1849 /s/ Jno P. Stewart Clerk. Recorded 13th Oct AD 1849
/s/ Jno P. Stewart Clerk. Bk. B, p.85.
In Amite Probate Record 13, p.690 in Dec. 1849 Dempsey B. Cain stated
that Mary Cain who had married William Harkness was a sister to him the
sd Dempsey, that Mary died sometime in the year 184_ (sic) in Franklin
Co., leaving two children Joseph Dewitt Harkness and Mary Jane Harkness,
.. minor children under the age of 14 .. they are heirs at law and
entitled to the share of their deceased mother and to the estate of Anna
Powell decd, late of Fr.Co. the petition was granted.
In all the estate papers of Caleb Johnson who died in Amite Co., MS 26
Feb 1850, the heirs of "Anna Cain" are cited as heirs of Caleb. It is
interesting also to note that in all the papers on the estate of Caleb
Johnson, never in the listing of the heirs of Anna Cain, were all the
heirs named. However a deed in Franklin Co. names them and is reproduced
here. (Fr.Co. MS Deed D-513, 514, and 515). The deed is a quit claim
deed, which means it was an agreement by which the heirs gave the rights
they had in the property to another, in this case to Rebecca Cain.
Rebecca here is the wife of Dempsey Cain and it is interesting to note
that in less than a year she had died. The deed reads:
State of Mississippi ) Know all with whom it may concern that we
Franklin County ) Hardy Cain, Daniel D. Rollins and Sarah Rollins
his wife, Franklin Young and Elizabeth Young his
wife of the first part do covenat and agree with Rebecca Cain of the
second part to release and quit claim Deed unto her all our right title
and interest either in equity and Law now and hereafter forever in and to
a certain lot or tract of land lying and being in the County of Franklin
being the same on which D.B. Cain and said Rebecca now reside -- known
and designated as the north west quarter of Section seven Township five
Range five containing one hundred and fifty three & 1/2 acres to have and
to hold said premises forever free from us and our heirs. It being the
same tract of Land Sold by Dempsey B. Cain administrator of James Cain
and purchased by Anna Cain at said sale. This consideration for which we
deed said Land and premises is that the said Land was sold as the estate
of James Cain and we have received from the administrator as aforesaid
our distributive shares of the proceeds as heirs at Law of James Cain
decd. In Witnefs of which we have set our hands and seals on this the
17th of Jany 1852.
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THE MS CAINS
Witnesses /s/ Hardy Cain (Seal)
S. M. Jones /s/ D. D. Rollins (Seal)
Rufsil Jones /s/ Sarah X Rollins (Seal)
/s/ Elizabeth x Young (Seal)
/s/ Franklin Young (Seal)
State of Mississippi ) Personally came before me Hardy Cain,
Franklin County ) David D. Rollins, Sarah Rollins and
Elizabeth Young and severally acknowledged
that they signed Sealed and delivered the within and foregoing quit claim
Deed on the day and Year therein named for the purposes and uses therein
specified.
Given under my hand and Seal on this the 17th day of January 1852 /s/
James M. Jones J. Peace
The State of Mississippi ) Know all men to whom it may concern that we
Franklin County ) Elisha Cain, James I. Cain, James W. Rhodes
and Rhebeca Rhodes his wife, Dennis Hemby and
Leonora L. Hemby his wife, Edward Byrd and Anna V. Byrd his wife, William
Harknefs guardian of Joseph Dewitt and Mary Jane Harknefs infant children
of Mary Harkness heirs and distributees of James Cain late of the county
of Franklin have this day for and in consideration of the sum of Ten
dollars to each of us in hand paid or second to be paid by Rebecca Cain
wife of Dempsy B. Cain sold conveyed and hereby forever Quit Claim deed
unto the said Rebecca Cain and her heir s and afsigns all our right title
and interest as heirs at Law of James Cain deceased as aforesaid in and
to a certain tract or parcel of land known and designated as the North
West quarter of Section 7 of Township 5 of Range 5 east containing one
hundred and fifty three and a half acres together with all the right
title and interest we have in said land to the reversion of the Dower of
Anna Cain late Anna Powell widdow of James Cain decd to have and to hold
the same in fee simple from us our heirs and afsigns.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set out hands and affixed our Seals
on this the 27th day of January One thousand eight hundred and fifty two.
P.S. the words reversion of the interlined before the signing Sealing and
delivering of this deed.
Signed Sealed & delivered) /s/ Elisha Cain (Seal)
in the presence of the ) /s/ Jos W. Rhodes (Seal)
undersigned witnesses ) /s/ Rebecca Rhodes (Seal)
Wm. S. Cassedy ) /s/ Dennis Hemby (Seal)
James M. James ) /s/ Lenorah Hemby (Seal)
Witness to the Signature ) /s/ Edward Byrd (Seal)
James S. Cain ) /s/ Anna V. Byrd (Seal)
James M. Jones ) /s/ William K Harknefs (Seal)
Blewit Wactor ) /s/ James S. K Cain (Seal)
State of Mississippi ) Personally appeared before me an acting
Franklin County ) Justice of the Peace Elisha Cain, James
W. Rhodes and Rebecca Rhodes, Dennis Hemby
and Leonora Hemby, Edward Byrd and Anny V. Byrd and William Harknefs and
severally acknowledged that they signed Sealed and delivered the
foregoing deed on the day and date thereof for the purposes and uses
thereon expressed.
Given under my hand and seal on this the 29th day of January 1852.
/s/ James M. Jones J.Peace
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THE MS CAINS
State of Mississippi ) Personally before me James M. Jones acting
Franklin County ) Justice of the Peace James S. Cain and
acknowledged that he Signed Sealed and
delivered the foregoing Deed as his voluntary act for the purposes and
uses therein named.
Given under my hand and seal on this the 29th day of Feby 1852. /s/ James
M. Jones J. Peace
Also see later for Deed O-110.
Census readings for James and Anna (Johnson) Cain:
1816 Amite Co. James Cain M 2(over 21) 7(under 21) f 2(over 21) 1(under
21) total 12 5 sl. This is not our James Cain.
1816 Wilkinson Co. M 2(over 21) 1(under 21) F 1(over 21) 1(under 21 Total
4 0 Sl. Not ours
1816 Amite Co. James Cain - Apparently missed by the census taker.
1820 Amite Co. p.26 James Cain M 3(under 10) 1(26-45) F 2(under 10) 1(16-
26)
1830 Fr.Co. p.159 James Cain M 1(under 5) 1(5-10) 1(10-15) 1(15-20) 1(30-
40) F 2(under 5) 1(5-10) 1(10-15) 2 (20-30) 1 slave
1840 Fr.Co. p.164 Anna Cain M 1(15-20) 1(20-30) F 1(5-10) 2(10-15) 1(15-
20) 1(40-50)
1841 Fr.Co. State census Ann Cain 2 males 6 females
Some of the material above and much of the material in all this section
was taken from Irene Morris, HARDY CAIN; also from Tempe Fenn Crosby,
Marcelis... These references will be referred to extensively in the
descendants of Hardy Cain.
Descendants of James and Anna (Johnson) Cain:
m 1) Dempsey Benton Cain, b 31 Mar 1813, Amite Co. MS, d 15 Nov. 1885
Fr.Co., bur Old Cain Cem. located 1.6 miles NW of Little Springs
MS; married four times, his children all by his second wife,
Rebecca Holloway.
He m 1st 25 Dec 1832 (Fr. 1-35 by D.A. Stewart J.P., Hugh Magee
bondsman) Sarah W. McCall, b 1813 Fr.Co., d 17 June 1833, age 20,
bur Mt. Zion Church Cem., Franklin. Co., MS. He m 2nd 27 May 1835
(Fr. Co 1-112) Reddin Byrd bondsman) Rebecca Holloway, b 26 June
1816 LA, d 1 Oct 1852, bur Old Cain Cemetery, dau of Robert A.
Holloway and Rebecca Wells. She is the mother of all of Dempsey B.
Cain's children. Rebecca Wells was the dau of John Wells and Jane
Duhart of St. George Parish, GA and Burke Co., GA. He with his
second wife Susannah (Young?) Boykin lived for awhile in Adams Co.
MS in an area that later became Fr.Co. before moving to St.
Helena Parish, LA where his two wives and 17 children are named in
the probation of his estate. Robert Holloway, b 17 Jan 1776(4?), d
17 June 1846 Fr.Co., was son of John Holloway and Elizabeth. He m
2nd 13 Dec 1835 Sarah Porter; 3rd 13 Oct 1845 Mariah McFate, b 20
Mar 1811. See Crosby, p.868.
Dempsey Benton Cain m 3rd between 1852 and 1859 (in Pike Co. where
the early records are lost?) Tempy Dillon, widow of Jilson Seale of
Pike Co., b 10 May 1816, d 12 Mar 1880 Fr.Co., bur Old Cain
Cemetery.
1850 Pike Co. MS #17 Seale, Jilson. G.. 38 MS; Temperance 31 MS; Lavinia
65 SC; Nancy A. ElIzey 6 MS
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THE MS CAINS
Mrs. Irene Morris wrote in 1954 that she had been told Tempy Dillon was
sister of Liza Dillon who m Thomas Parsons, and Adeline Dillon who m John
P. Jones. See SEAB FAMILY OF ROXIE, MS by Ezell (1975) p.33 and 34 which
states John Paul Jones, b 9 Sep 1832 Amite Co. d 8 Aug 1894 Little
Springs, MS, bur Mt. Zion Cemetery was son of Phillip Jones and his wife
Margaret Johnson (dau of Caleb); m 1st 17 Nov. 1854 Amite Co. Adeline
Dillon, b 5 Feb 1822. Fr.Co. d 20 Apr 1822 Little Springs, bur Mt.
Zion, dau of Clarkson Dillon and Sarah. Therefore, it seems safe to say
that Tempy Dillon who m Dempsey Benton Cain was dau of Clarkson Dillon.
Tempy Dillon m 1st Jilson Seale of Pike Co.
Dempsey Benton Cain m 4th after 1880 and before 1883 Mary E. - one source
says White who was a widow of Meredith and was a sister of Drusella White
and Minnie White Jones; another source says she was a Creighton, who m
1st Graves, 2nd Gilbert, 3rd Meredith and 4th Dempsey Cain.
The following records could help to evaluate the problem:
Fr.Co. 2-41 Henry C. Meredith m Harriet Furness 28 Nov 1839 by Thos
Bennett J.P.
Fr.Co 7-386 C.C. Jones m Minnie C. Davis 7 Dec 1881 by J.H. McGehee, W.D.
Hunt bondsman
Fr.Co.4-49 Marmaduke P. Davis m Drucilla E. Creighton 27 Jan 1857, Henry
C. Meridith bondsman
Fr.Co. 3-59 William J. Graves m Mary E. Craton 15 July 1847 by S.L.
Guice, Wm. McKinney bondsman
Fr.Co. 3-143 William B. Gilbert m Mrs. Mary E. Graves 27 Dec 1849 by A.J.
Guice J.P., Wiley F. Higdon bondsman
Fr.Co. 4-51 Henry L. Meridith m Mary E. Gilbert 6 Mar 1857 by F.J.
Whitley J.P., Wm Calvit bondsman
Fr.Co. 4-15 James C. White to Lucille Davis 24 Nov 1868, Arthur Rawls
bondsman, no return.
1850 Fr.Co. #136 William B. Gilbert 28 m MS; Mary E. 20 MS; Eliza Cratin
47 f; Lucilla 11 f MS; James Gilbert 8 MS
1850 Fr.Co. p.13 #200 Henry C. Meredith 34 m MS; Harriet 45 S.C.; Mary L.
10 f MS; William 8 m; Robert 8; Frances A. 6 f; Thomas J. 5 m; Adaline
3 f; Benjamin J. Furniss 15; Felix W. Furniss 12 m (next door was
Mariah Dillon and children, the youngest age 9, all b Ireland.
1860 Fr.Co. p.244 #35 Henry C? Meredith 43 m MS; Mary E. 30 f MS; Robert
17 m; Adeline 14 f MS; Thomas 1 m; Gertrude A. Gilbert 8 f; Eliza E.R.
Creyton 30 f MS. Very dim film.
1870 Fr.Co. p.10 #126 Meridith, H.G. 54 MS blind; Mary 39 f; Hannah E. 9
f; Crayton, Eliza E.R. 63 f MS
Mt. Zion Cem. Drucilla E. Creighton White, wife of James G. b 22 Jan
1839, d 6 Feb 1911 (m 1st Marmaduke P. Davis 24 Jan 1857; m 2nd James
C. White 24 Nov 1868, double marker with Eliza R. Lockman Creighton)
Mt. Zion Cem. Eliza R. Lockman Creighton, wife of Robert, b 19 Jan 1808,
d 29 Jan 1902 (mother of Drucilla White).
Ebenezer Meth. Church (about 6 miles south of McCall Creek) Mrs. M.E.
Creighton, wife of D.B. Cain, b 23 June 1829, d 21 July 1899, 70y 20d.
See Crosby p.886.
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THE MS CAINS
Of note is that the records of the 3rd and 4th marriages have not been
found. It seems from the above records that the 4th wife was a
Creighton.
Census records of interest:
1840 Fr.Co. Robert Holloway M 2(under 5) 1(40-50) 1(60-70) F 1(under 5)
1(20-30)
1840 Fr.Co. p.155 D.B. Caine M 1(under 5) 1(20-30) F 2(under
5) 1(20-30)
1850 Fr.Co. #304 Dempsey B. Cain 37 blacksmith MS. Rebecca 33 LA;
Elizabeth 13 MS; Isaiah 12; Mary 11; Hardy 9; Virginia 5; Virgil Holloway
12; Gustin Holloway 8; Elizabeth Byrd 32; James Byrd 14; George Byrd 12;
Charles Byrd 8 AR; Wilson Byrd 4 AR; Phredonia 10/12 Tx; Micajah Jones 23
MS
1860 - Dempsey Benton Cain, not found
1870 - Dempsey Benton Cain, not found
1880 Fr.Co. Beat 5, Cain's Dist., E.D. 146-13, #106 Cain, D.B. 67
blacksmith MS MS MS; Byrd, George W. 40 son in law MS MS MS; Virginia
Byrd 34 dau childbed MS MS MS; Charles H. Gambill 12 grandson; Tempy C.
Gambell 9 granddau; Byrd, George D. 4 grandson; Redden B. Byrd 2
grandson; Imes, Lemuel J. 20 grandson MS MD MS; James H. Imes 18 grandson
MS MD MS
The Franklin Co. Bk of original Entries shows Dempsey B. Cain took up
much virgin land, all of it in T5 R4 1858. The early deeds burned in
Fr.Co. but the index was saved which showed him purchasing land 17 Aug
1836 from Adam Caraway and wife in Sec 7 T6 R4 (Deed C-326), on 28 Sep
1837 he purchased from Reddin Byrd and wife land in Sec 7 T6 R4 (C-388);
and he and wife sold to Thomas M. Scott land on 30 Dec 1837 in Sec 7 T6
R4 (C-387)
There were many deeds for him in Franklin Co. On 25 Nov. 1843 he
purchased from William Porter 265 ac on Homochitto River (D-100). In Mar
1859 he and wife Tempy sold land to Hiram Cassidy for $1400, land which
had been allotted to William M. Porter by commissioners who were dividing
the land of John Porter, decd, Lot #4, 265 ac bounded N by Mary Cassidy
and Homochitto River, W by sd river and Sutton Byrd, S by U.S. lands, E
by U.S. and Mary Cassidy, wife of sd Hiram and deeded by Wm. M. Porter to
Cain on 25 Nov 1843. /s/ D.B. Cain, Tempy Cain. Deed F-64?
He purchased on 18 Mch 1854 from James M. Jones and his wife
Mary (widow of Elijah Cain, son of John) for $200, 160 ac on
McGenty Creek SW/4 Sec 6 T5 R5E where George G. Stuart formerly
lived.
on 9 Jan 1883 for $38 he deeded to Virginia Byrd 200 ac, the NE/4 NE/4 of
SE/4 Sec 7 T5 R5E. On 29 Dec 1883 he and wife Mary E. Cain sold for $250
to Edward Byrd 80 ac E/2 of SW/4 Sec 12 T5 R4E. (Fr. Co. Deeds O-476 and
P.153)
Tempy Cain sold land in Fr.Co., in 1879 to Mrs. E.C. Young; on 31 Jan
1880 to Anna V. Byrd. (Fr.Co. Deeds P-124 and N-565).
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THE MS CAINS
Dempsey Benton Cain's will is recorded in Franklin Co., MS Will Book A,
page 7 and reads:
State of Mississippi )
County of Franklin ) Knowing that life is uncertain and that death is
certain and desiring to dispose of my property during my life and while
in a sound and disposing mind in the presence of Almighty God and these
witnesses, I make and publish this my last will and testament.
1st I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Mary E. Cain, that part of my
real estate known and described as follows to wit: the N/2 of the NW/4 of
Section 6, Township 5, Range 5E containing 80 acres more or less with all
the appurtenances and improvements belonging thereunto. Also I give and
bequeath to my beloved wife Mary E. Cain the following described personal
property, one brown mule named Kit. Also my buggy and harness and one
cherry wardrobe and one cooking stove and utensils. Also the table
crockery and 75 bushels of corn to be taken out of my corn or interest in
any crop of corn I may have. Also 200 pounds bacon, 50 pound sugar and 50
pound coffee and one sow and pigs. Also one bed and bedstead with all its
covering. One wash stand and bowl and pitcher belonging to my room. Also
one sewing machine and one set of chairs. Also one washing machine and
one wash pot.
2nd I will, give and bequeath to the heirs of my son J. I. Cain the
following described land to wit, the SE/4 of the NW/4 and the E/2 of the
SW/4, Section 5, Township 5, Range 5E containing one hundred twenty acres
more or less.
3rd I will, give and bequeath to my grandsons D. B. Imes, L. J. Imes and
J. H. Imes the following described tract of land to wit, the SW/4 of the
NW/4 and the W/2 of the SW/4, Section 6, Township 5, Range 5E, containing
one hundred twenty acres more or less.
4th I will, give and bequeath to my granddaughter Rebecca Chambers, the
wife of Ed Chambers, the following described tract of land to wit, the
S/2 of the SE/4, Section 2, Township 5, Range 4E, containing 80 acres
more or less.
5th. I will, give and bequeath to my daughter Virginia Byrd, the wife of
George Byrd the following described tract or parcel of land to wit, the
SE/4 of Section 1, Township 5, Range 4, containing one hundred and sixty
acres more or less.
6th I will, give and bequeath to my granddaughter Tempy Gammill one curly
maple bedstead.
7th. I will, give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Hunt one marble slab
bureau and glass.
8th. I will, give and bequeath to my grandson Hiram C. Cain my secretary
and my rifle gun.
9th. I will, give and bequeath to my grandson Lemuel J. Imes my Bay mare
and saddle.
10th. I will, give and bequeath to my grandson D. B. Cain my Gold watch
and that John G. King shall take charge of the said watch and keep it
until the said Grandson shall arrive to the age of 20 years of age and
then deliver said Gold watch to the said D. B. Cain.
11th. I will, give and bequeath to my little granddaughter Lizie Cain,
the daughter of J. I. Cain, deceased, one bedstead and bedding.
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THE MS CAINS
12th. I Will and bequeath that all the balance of my estate both real and
personal be sold by my executor and the proceeds first go to the payment
of my debts. Second that my executor shall take enough of the proceeds
to put a suitable monument at my grave and the balance of the proceeds be
given to my beloved wife Mary E. Cain.
13th. I appoint W. R. Cain am my executor (without bond) and desire that
he should execute this my will as soon as my decease and place each party
in possession of their part and make every sale and execute every deed
and convey all my and the heirs interest in whatever property he is
authorized to sell.
14th. That he proceed to execute this my will without administration if
possible. And now having fully disposed of all my property in a way
perfectly satisfactory to myself I hope the same may equally be
satisfactory to my heirs.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of
the undersigned witness and they have signed the same in my presence.
This 7th day of October A.D. 1885.
Attest G. M. Cain /s/ D. B. Cain
J. H. McGehee
J. W. Gammill
Filed December 7, 1885. Probated January 8, 1886, W.M. Wentworth, Clerk.
Morris and Crosby both wrote of the life of Dempsey B. Cain and these are
reproduced here (See Crosby p.881):
"Dempsey Benton Cain lived at Little Springs, Franklin Co., MS on what
was called 'the old home place' and owned hundreds of acres near this
home. The house faced north and stood on top of a sharp hill. As few
were in those days, it was painted white. A mounting block was in front
of the house. The road to Meadville passed from east to west in front of
the house then back past the barn to the family cemetery. The garden was
to the east of the house; the orchard to the south.
"The fire room (the term used for the parlor or living room) was on the
front directly behind the front porch; it was the same width as the
company bedroom and the dining room combined. In the fire room was a
beautiful desk-bookcase combination. Against the dining room wall, there
were stairs leading to the attic. The closet under these stairs held
peanuts, pecans, walnuts and hickory nuts which were brought out on rainy
days along with the sons' books and slates on which examples were worked.
The boys' bedroom was to the right of the front porch. An immense clock,
about 2-1/2 feet high and 18 or 20 inches wide, was on the mantel over
the fireplace in the bedroom behind the boys' room. The girls' bedroom
was on the back of the house to the right of the dining room. The beds
in these rooms were all handmade--some of them were poster beds.
"The dining room in the main part of the house was reserved for company.
Ordinarily, the family ate in the kitchen located about a block behind
the house and reached by a covered platform. A row of mimosa trees was
east of this walkway. A large store room adjoined the kitchen. Iron
pots hung over the fire were used for cooking, and water was drawn by
rope and windlass up the steep hill.
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THE MS CAINS
To the left of the walkway to the kitchen, and quite a distance from the
house, was a building which stood on legs about waist high, known as the
'dairy'. This building was about two feet by four feet in size and had
several shelves which held milk and butter; it was situated under a large
tree so its shade would help keep the building as cool as possible. The
cook's house, now known as servant's house, was situated south of the
dairy. A large pear tree (still standing in 1951) stood near. There were
pecan, mimosa and English walnut trees about the yard. "Dempsey Cain's
blacksmith shop was used as a voting place during elections. The
precinct is still known as Cain's voting precinct although the voting
place has been moved.
'To the north and west of the shop was a store which was run for a time
by Richard Haley. Born in Ireland in 1817, he came as a boy to Franklin
Co. A carpenter by trade he worked in Natchez a good deal. He loved to
attend the horse races in Natchez and was there once during a cyclone. He
said that he was sitting at the dinner table in a hotel, and the last he
remembered he was blown through a window. He was injured, and it was days
before he got over it. Richard Haley lived with the Cain family until
shortly after Dempsey Cain's death when he took his trunk and moved to
the John P. Jones' house. John P. Jones wife was a sister of Tempy
Dillon Cain. He had enough money to bury him and to put a marker on his
grave. He gave the five Jones children a little money to be used for
their education before he died May 14, 1897, age 80. He had no relatives
in this country.
"Dempsey Cain owned a tanning vat to cure leather and made shoes. He
worked with wood and made such things as water buckets, wagons, beds,
coffins, etc. In his blacksmith shop he did welding and made wheels for
wagons. Frequent trips were made to Natchez, and on one occasion, which
is recorded in his business record book of
1852-1856, he charged $15.00 for hauling a wagon load of supplies to
Natchez. This book is now owned by Flavia Goza James. It was used by
his daughter Virginia Cain for a scrap book during the War Between the
States, and she pasted its pages with poems and recipes. Flavia James
also has a pair of eye glasses, with case, which were worn by Dempsey
Cain and also Virginia Cain's Bible."
"Virginia Cain wrote in her diary: 'I faintly remember my sweet mother
(Rebecca Holloway Cain who died 1 Oct 1852); only one thing I can
remember. The woods was on fire. Father had all the hands to fight the
fire to keep it from the fields. So Mother saddled her riding horse,
named Mingo, taken me behind her and went to the fire. She got off and
set me in the saddle, and Mingo shook himself as horses do when they are
warm. I fell off, and that is all that I can remember of her...
"In the spring of 1853, an epidemic of flu affected all the members of
the Dempsey Cain family and household; it claimed the lives of a daughter
and three of the Negro slaves. No crops could be made that year so
Dempsey Cain was 'broken financially', but due to the kindness of Judge
Hiram Cassidy, who loaned him $600.00 in gold without note or interest,
he was able to again 'get back on his feet'.
"All the family sewing was done by hand because except for men's fine
clothing there were no ready-to-wear clothes, and the women were kept
busy making clothes and quilts for the white family and for the Negro
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THE MS CAINS
families as well. In 1858, Dempsey Cain purchased the first Singer
sewing machine in Fr.Co. MS, paying $150.00 in gold for it. "In 1853,
the citizens of Liberty, MS established the Amite Female Seminary. The
following year, the school was tendered to MS Baptists. It flourished
for a number of years and ceased to exist when its fine school property
was burned to the ground by Federal troops during the War for Southern
Independence. Jesse Laney Boyd, A POPULAR HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST IN MS,
p.136." Morris wrote: "Dempsey Benton Cain willed the house to his
daughter, Virginia Cain, and she sold it when she moved to McComb. About
1885, Dr. Isaiah Cain bought all the heir's interest in the Cain
plantation except the part where the residence stood. About two years
later he mortgaged the property to I. Moyese & Sons of Summit, MS
and lost it.
"In September, 1951, when we visited the site of Dempsey Cain's
plantation, it was necessary to leave the car near the bridge on Cain's
Mill Creek. From this bridge, the rectangular outline of Dempsey Cain's
water-powered mill could still be seen under the water. The wood has not
decayed because it is completely submerged in running water. The road
leading from the bridge up to the house has been worn down by weather and
years of service until it is now a deep cut, eight to ten feet deep in
some places, and we walked with difficulty about one-half mile to find
the original site of the house now marked by only a few fence posts,
bricks, pear and mimosa trees."
Dempsey Cain's gravestone marker is in the Cain Cemetery, Franklin Co.,
is a marble shaft 24 inches square at the base and is about 5-1/2 feet
high. His name is on one side of the square column and on the adjacent
sides are the names of Rebecca Holloway, mother of his children, and
Tempy Cain, beloved stepmother of Virginia Cain Gammill for whom her
daughter Tempie Cain Gammill Fenn was named. Crosby, p.886.
Descendants of Dempsey Benton Cain and Rebecca Holloway:
A) Elizabeth Rebecca Cain, b 1836, d 1853 of flux.
B) James Isaiah Cain, b 26 Oct 1837 Fr.Co.; d 30 Apr 1883 Fr.Co., 45y
6m 4d; m 1st 21 Dec 1859 (Amite 5-191 William R. Jones bondsman, no
return) Sarah Franklin Herrington, b 14 Dec 1841, d 5 Oct 1879
Fr.Co. 37y 9m 20d, both bur Cain Cem. (S22 T5 R5) located 2 miles
North of hwy 98 from Oak Grove Church, visible on west side of road
near Harold Cowart's place). This cemetery is enclosed in a
concrete wall placed there by Hiram Calvin Cain of Houston, TX. It
is said she is a twin sister to Frances who m Calvin Jones.
James Isaiah Cain m 2nd 30 June 1880 (Fr. Co. 7-335 Joseph Buckels
M.G., A.Q. Porter bondsman) Adaline Virginia Godbold, dau of John
Foster Godbold and Caroline Cloy, b 22 July 1845, d 24 Oct 1906,
Fr.Co., bur Concord Baptist Church Cem. located 6 miles south
McCall Creek, 1 mile east of Jordan Store on farm road.
1850 Fr.Co. #30 John F. Godbold 33 MS; Caroline 28 MS; Frances 10 f MS;
Jefferson 8 m; Mary E. 6 f; Adaline 3 f; Thomas 2 m; Laura 1 f MS
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THE MS CAINS
1860 - J.I. Cain not found
1870 Fr.Co. p.29 #353 Jas. I. Cain 32 MS; S.F. 28; H.O. 9 m; Jas I. 7
m; F.R. 5 f; H. 3 m; D.B. 1 m.
1880 Fr.Co. #25 Beat 5 Cain, J.I. 42 MS MS MS; Hiram C. 18 son MS MS
MS; J.I. Jr. 17 son; Frances C. 15 dau; H.H. 13 son; Dempsey B. 10
son; Sarah D. 8 dau; Elizabeth C. 5 dau; Minerva M. 8/12 dau; Mary
A. Hunt 41 sister widowed MS MS MS Sarah Herrington Cain died
following the birth of her dau Minerva.
The post office at Zion Hill (Amite Co.) was established June 11, 1851
with Isaiah Cain Postmaster; discontinued January 30, 1867. WPA Records,
Amite Co., MS.
Isaiah Cain farmed for a while on Dempsey Cain's home place; he was a
mill wright. He served as private in the 4th Miss. Cavalry, CSA; his son
J.I. Cain says he was a bridge builder during the War.
In 1883 he was killed in his blacksmith shop by Amos Bailey, a Negro who
worked for him. When reproached for failing to obey instructions, Amos
hit Isaiah Cain with a 2x4 and killed him. Amos was hanged and buried
beneath the cedar tree located (1951) behind Jordan's store in Fr.Co.
a) Hiram Calvin Cain, b 30 Dec 1860, d 3 Mar 1940; m
He attended MS A&M College. He owned several oil wells,
lived in Houston, TX.
1/ Winnie Mae Cain, b Nov 1889; m Culberson Reed
2/ Alva Cain, b Oct 1892; m John Conway
3/ Fannie Bell Cain, b 16 July 1894, d 1932 (flu); m Thomas Holland
4/ Carrie Anita Cain, b 1899; m John S. Woods who d 1954
5/ Virgil Hiram Cain, m Clara Allen
A/ Bill Cain, d of polio. He is mentioned p.101 & 220 in CORDUROY
ROAD--STORY OF GLEN MCCARTHY by Wallace Davis.
b) (Dr.) James Isaiah Cain Jr., b 10 June 1862 Fr.Co. MS, d 28 May
1959, bur Union Baptist Church Cem., located 5 miles south-
southwest of Roxie on Forest Rt. 178. It is said he m 3 times. One
wife was Annie B., apparently Holmes, dau of G.E. Holmes of Pike
Co., MS and she seems to be the mother of his children. He m 3rd 12
Dec 1915 (Fr. Co. 5-55 by J.A. Barnhill M. G.) Emma Seale, b 12
Jan 1873 Fr.Co. MS, d 17 Nov 1961, bur beside husband, dau of
Jasper J. Seale and Mary Jane Smylie. See p.112 of this writeup.
A letter written 1951 by J.I. Cain Jr. to Irene Morris:
"My father was a millwright and very ingenious. He went over the
country putting up machinery. We boys did the work at home. We
usually got four months schooling unless we were needed to help
with the crops. Daddy was farming on the old home place. Hiram had
gone to A. & M. College. I went to Zion Hill School in Amite
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THE MS CAINS
County for two sessions. There was no road tax and every man over
18 was required to work on the road or to put a hand in their
place. The principal asked that my road duty be close by the
school so that I could go on Saturdays and work it. He helped to
get mules and plows, axes and spades and by 10 o'clock of one day
they had my road worked. After I asked my father for the land, the
mule and plow to make cotton to pay my way for school he agreed to
let me go. After I was married and had two or three children I
took a course at Tulane in medicine for $150. The next year I went
to Louisville, Kentucky, to the Memphis Hospital for one year for
$50 and so saved 100 dollars - 1904. First lived in McCall's Creek
on the highway. After the depot was built, I bought on the
railroad tract and built a store. Have had general store for
thirty years and was the first station master for the Mississippi
Central Railroad here. I practiced for seven years; after the
operation performed by Dr. Matas (about 1911) I was not able to
practice but surprised the doctors by living at all...
I bought the heirs interest in the Dempsey Cain old place except
part where residence stood; Aunt Jennie inherited it. This was
about 1885. In about two years I mortgaged my part to I. Moyese &
Son, Summit, MS, and lost it." Aunt Jennie - Virginia Cain Gammill
Byrd.
1880 G.E. Holmes not found in MS
1900 Pike Co. Beat 4 E.D. 111-1, Cain, James I. June 1864, 35 MS;
Annie B. wife Sep 1870, 29 MS; Maud dau Jan 1890, 10 MS; Eunice dau
Jan 1892, 8 MS; Ethel dau Feb 1894, 6 MS; Hollis son Sep 1895, 4
MS; Herbert son July 1897, 2 MS
1900 Pike Co. Beat 4 E.D. 111-16, Holmes, Garife July 1846, 53, LA,
Bennie son Jan 1869, 31 MS; John son Jan 1874, 26; Bessie dau Nov
1877, 22; James son Mch 1879, 21; Lewis son Feb 1881, 19
1900 Fr.Co. Beat 1 E.D. 49-16 Seale, Jasper J. Dec 1843, 56, MS; Mary
J. wife Dec 1845, 54 MS; Robert J. son Feb 1876 24; Sarah A. dau
Oct 1874, 26; Ema M. dau Jan 1875, 25; Eva dau Sep 1883, 16; Lesla
R. son Feb 1887, 13 MS
1910 Pike Co. E.D. 104-20 Holmes, G.E. w 63 MS; and Cains: Maud grdau
20; Eunice/18; Ethel/16; Hollis B / 14; Herbert 1 12. (/ = not
given on census.)
1/ Maud Cain, b Jan 1890 MS, lived Clarksdale, MS
2/ Eunice Cain, b Jan 1892 MS, lived McComb, MS
3/ Ethel Cain, b Feb 1894 MS, lived McComb, MS
4/ Hollis B. Cain, b Sep 1895, lived Chicago, IL
5/ Herbert Cain, b July 1897, lived Homewood, IL.
c) Frances Rebecca Cain, b 2 Jan 1865, d 15 April 1918; m 12 June 1884
(Fr. Co. 1-42 by John F. Porter MBS, J.I. Godbold bondsman)
Kirkland Lambright, b c.1863, son of Timothy S. Lambright and
Martha J. Middleton.
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THE MS CAINS
1880 Fr.Co. Beat 4 McCalls, p.89 #316 E.D. 146-39, Lambright, T.S. 47
MS MS TN; M.E. wife 37 MS MS MS; Kay?Kendall? son 17; W.W. son 8;
F.R. son 1 MS. The 17 yr old son here should be Kirkland.
1900 and 1910 Kirkland Lambright not found on soundex.
1/ Sadie Lambright, b 1886, d 1889
2/ Minnie Lambright, b 1888, d 1896
3/ Vera Lambright, b c.1900
4/ Gladys Lambright, b c.1902
5/ Louis Lambright, b c.1904
6/ Ruby Lambright, b c.1906
d) Hezekiah Hinds Cain, b 25 May 1867, d 20 June 1943; bur Oliver lot,
Rosehill Cem., Brookhaven MS; m 1st Fannie Oliver; 2nd Cora Grice;
3rd Loretta Taylor. 1910 MS Soundex E.D. 53-10 Lincoln Co.,
Brookhaven, Cain, H.H. 42 a roomer.
Issue by first wife;
1/ Samuel Benton Cain; m Edie Thompson
A/ Dorothy Cain; m Ralph Franklin
B/ Benton Edmund Cain; m Lorene Thornton, has Cain Lithographers,
Jackson, MS
C/ & D/ Names not known
2/ Rena Cain
3/ Felix Cain
4/ Ollie Cain, d about age 12
Issue by second wife:
5/ Verna Cain; m Clower Smith
6/ Fendrick Cain; m lives Bogue Chitto, MS
Third wife, issue not known.
e) Dempsey Benton Cain, b 6 July 1869, lived Edna, TX m 7 Nov. 1894
Emily Denson Bostick of Houston, TX.
1/ Edgar Allen Cain
2/ Lester Dempsey Cain
3/ Arthur Benton Cain See p. 161 for further
4/ Earl Cain, d 1961 data on this family.
f) Sarah Delia Cain, b 12 Dec 1871, d 28 July 1889; m 27 Nov 1887 (Fr.
co. 1-224 by J.B. Wroten J.P., K.L. Lambright, bondsman) S. David
Cowart, son of Elijah and Mary Elizabeth (Keen) Coward Fr.Co.
Marriage 4-227 Elijah Coward to Mary Elizabeth Keen, 18 Dec 1861 by
T.B. Godbold J.P., T.W. Wilkinson bondsman
1880 Fr.Co. Beat 4 #266 Cowart, Elijah 56 MS NC SC; M.E. 40 wife MS MS
MS; R.S. 15 son; David. 5. 13 son
1/ Floyd Cowart; m 11 Dec 1910 (Fr.Co. 4-119 by A.C. Lewis M.G.) Ada
Laird
g) Elizabeth Christian Cain, b 19 Aug 1874, d 16 Nov 1967; m J.E..
Laird of Natchez, MS.
h) Anna Florence Cain, b 2 Mar 1877, d 29 Apr 1878, bur Old Cain
Cemetery.
i) Minnie Minerva Cain, b 5 Oct 1879, d autumn, 1882
j) Arie Caroline Cain, child of James Isaiah Cain and his 2nd wife
Adaline Virginia Godbold, b 9 July 1882; m 29 Jan 1899 (Fr.Co.
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THE MS CAINS
2-413 by Rev J.O. Lowe) Jefferson H. Cotton, b 9 Nov 1874, son of
Asa Bluit Cotton and Mary Elizabeth Cloy.
1900 Fr.Co. Beat 4 E.D. 52-2 Cotten, Jefferson b 9 Nov 1874, 25, m 1
yr, MS MS MS; Aria wife 9 July 1882 17, m 1 yr MS MS MS; Velma dau
25 Nov 1899 8/12; Adda Cain, mother in law 22 July 1845, 54 wd 2
children 1 living MS MS MS; Hubbert Hughs, cousin, 3 July 1871,
28 MS
1910 Fr.Co. E.D. 67-11 J.H. Cotton 35 MS; Arie wife 29; Eva dau 8;
Audry dau 7; Lizzie dau 4; Leslie son 1 3/12; Mrs. F.J. Hughes aunt
69 MS
1880 Fr.Co. #200 Beat S Asa B. Cotten 28 MS SC MS; M.E. 25 wife MS MS
MS; J.H. 6 son; F.E. 4 dau; A.H. 2 son; Lilly 4/12 Feb dau; Dasy
4/12 Feb dau.
C) Mary A. Cain, dau of Dempsey B. Cain and Rebecca Holloway, b c.1839,
lived Chatawa, MS; m 1st 30 Apr 1854 (Fr. Co. 3-254 by James M.
Jones, Henry S. Anderson bondsman) George W. Imes, b c.1832, d at
Murphesboro, TN, CSA.; m 2nd 22 Feb 1865 (Fr. Co. 4-347 by T.B.
Godbold, C.C. Temple bondsman) William Hunt.
Flavia Goza James wrote to Irene Morris c.1953 "I remember hearing
my grandmother tell of her sister Mary running away from home to be
married while still quite young, and I also remember that her sister
Mary did visit with us while I was quite small. She lived in Texas
at that time and I know that she had some children, but how many I
do not know. I do know that she was the grandmother of Birney Imes
who as a newspaper man in North Mississippi and I believe the Birney
Imes who is a newspaper man now in Columbus (I think this is right)
is her son.. "Virginia Imes Baker (Mrs. J. Frank) of Knoxville, TN
wrote to Mrs. Morris on 17 June 1961: "..I know my father Lemuel
Jackson Imes (Nogions) has two brothers and a half sister who
married a Mr. Lee, and they lived in Memphis for a while. We called
her Aunt Jinny. .. My father's two brothers were Pat and Dempsey,
and I know my Grandfather Imes was killed along side of my mother's
Uncle Napoleon Whittington. My mother's oldest brother in the Civil
War, but I understand he was killed near Vicksburg. My grandmother
Imes name was Mary Cain, and we have some Cain relatives in Houston,
Texas. I visited them some years ago before I was married, but I've
lost tract of them long since. Virginia, my name, came from a friend
of my mother's. Also from McComb two beautiful girls visited us at
Columbus when I was in my teens. They were Cains too. I can't
recall my Grandfather, but I have a faint recollection that his name
was George. I believe my grandmother married a Hunt after her
husband was killed some years later and lived in Grandview, Texas.
Of course, my mother was Melliunun Whittington. Also there's a
faint recall of a Byrd on my father's side. You know the Imes
(Ijams) come from Maryland, and there's a town named after the Imes
family there (Ijamsville, Md.) My father's people later moved to
Texas and then some to Mississippi in or near Franklin Co. and Amite
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THE MS CAINS
Co. We have a colored woman who lived at Columbus. She looked after
my invalid sister for thirty-five years and lived in our home.
Since my sister's death we built her a home and she's living
there..She knows a lot about the family history."
1860 Pike Co., Holmesville, MS #42 George W. Imes 28 m Engineer IN;
Mary A. 21 MS; Dempsey B. 3; William M. 2; Lemuel J. 2/12 MS
1860 Pike #43 Hunt, D.W. 30 carpenter LA; Winnie 2; A.D. Rodgers 20 m
LA, Thurza A. Rodgers 16 f MS It is not known if this is the Hunt of
the second marriage or not.
1870 Fr.Co. William Hunt. .46 m MS; M.A. 31 f MS; L.A. 12 m LA; G.M. 10
m LA; D.R. 4 f MS; S.J. 1 m MS
1880 See above for census of J.I. Cain in whose home is Mary A. Hunt,
41 widow sister.
a) Dempsey (Demps) B. Imes, b c.1857 MS
b) William M. Imes, b c.1858, probably d young.
c) Lemuel Jackson (Nogions) Imes, b Apr 1860; was in the home of his
grandfather Dempsey Cain 1880; m 9 Dec. 1886 (1-175 Fr.Co. by G.A.
Bilbo J.P., 0. Fenn bondsman) Mellinum E. Whittington, b c.1862 MS,
dau of Wm. J. and Eviline Whittington. She was widow of David F.
Stormont (Fr.Co. 1-87 5 Mar 1885 by J.H. McGehee, Walter W.
Whittington bondsman). M.M. Wilkinson in WILKINSON AND KINDRED
FAMILIES p.395 shows that William J. Whittington and Evelyn Bolin
of Amite and Franklin Co MS had a dau b in Amite Co. who m an
Imes.
1880 Fr.Co. p.77 #131 Whittington, Wm. J. 62 MS GA GA; Eviline 58 wife
MS SC SC; Walter W. 27 son MS MS MS; Thomas 21 son; Malinium 19 dau
1910 Lowndes Co., Columbus E.D. 39-7 Imes, Lennie J. 49; Mellie E. wife
48; Neva E. dau 22; V.Bimey son 21; Grady H. son 19; Virgie E. dau
18; Hollis L. son 13 MS.
1/ Invalid sister, probably Neva E. Imes, b c.1888, d before 1961.
See Mrs. Baker's letter above.
2/ Burney Imes, b 18 Feb 1889, d 18 June 1947; m 1912 in New Orleans,
Eunice Tarver, dau of J.W. and Eola Tarver. He was editor 1922-
1947 of COMMERCIAL DISPATCH, Columbus, MS, President, MS Press
Assoc. 1924, Columbus, MS. Fred Sullen wrote two columns in the
Jackson paper at death of Burney Imes, Sr.
A/ Burney Imes, Jr.
a/ Burney Imes III, b 1951
3/ Grady H. Imes, b c.1891
4/ Virginia E. Imes, b c.1892; m J. Frank Baker
5/ Hollis L. Imes, b c.1897
d) James H. (Pat) Imes, b c. 1862 MS. He was in the home of his
grandfather Dempsey B. Cain, 1880.
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THE MS CAINS
Issue by the second husband, William Hunt
e) Delila Rebecca Hunt, b c.1866; m 21 Jan 1885 (Fr.Co. 1-78 by J.H.
McGehee, Member Board Supervisors (M.B.S.) Charlie C. Cole
bondsman) Edward T. Chambers. (One source says she m _____ Toups of
Lake Charles, LA; another that she m _____ Lee, lived Memphis, TN),
Nothing has been proved on this line. The record below is given
for further study.
1880 Fr.Co. p.25 #402 Chambers John 46 MS MS MS; Amanda wife 42; John
C. 11 son; T.J. 8 son; G.P. 6 son; Edward 21 nephew. Amanda is
dau of Wright Seale. See earlier.
1900 Fr.Co. 49-13 Chambers, John Aug 1836 64 MS; Amanda wife Feb 1838
62 MS; George P. son Mar 1874 26 MS
Edward Chambers was searched for but not found.
f) Isaiah Hunt, b c.1869
g) Dau Hunt, d infant with flux.
D) Hardy H. Cain, son of Dempsey Benton Cain and Rebecca Holloway, b
1841, d June 1863 (Casey, AMITE CO. MS, V. 2, p.341), bur Cold
Creek, AL; m 19 Feb 1863 (Fr. Co. 4-259 by James M. Jones, Judge;
Joseph B. Wilkinson bondsman) Ann Eliza Parsons of Pike Co., b 1846
MS, d 1886, bur Woodlawn Cem., Summit, Pike Co., MS, dau of William
R. Parsons. She m 2nd 10 Apr 1866 (Fr.Co. 4-421 by D.B. Cain, W.S.
Cassidy bondsman) Thomas C. Ryan, b 1836 Ireland, d 1884, bur.
Woodlawn Cem., Summit, Pike Co., MS.
D.B. Cain wrote the following note of consent which is a loose paper
in Fr.Co. Marriage Bk.4 and reads "11 Feb. 1863 My son Hardy wishes
to get marriage license for himself and Miss Elizer Parsons. Her
parents live in Pike County. You will isue the same and I will
vouce that ___ is right. Plese not mention his geting the license
as I do not want it known till after the marriage which will by
Thursday next with due respect. Yours truly, D.B. Cain.
Hardy H. Cain was in Company A., 7th Mississippi Regiment, C.S.A.
Wounded at Shiloh, he returned home on crutches and married Eliza
Parsons. He returned to the front, was killed in Alabama and buried
in Cold Creek. Dr. Isaiah Cain says: "He was killed accidentally in
camp while unstacking arms. One gun had been stacked without being
unloaded and in the process of unstacking, its load Killed." While
they were in the hospital during the Civil War, Thomas C. Ryan
promised Hardy Cain that he would take care of his wife. Thomas
Ryan and Eliza Parsons Cain lived in the large white house north of
the Summit Cemetery.
1860 Pike Co. Holmesville p.400 #543 Parsons, William R. 45 m LA; Ann
E. 13 f MS
1870 Pike T4 R7E Summit p.78 #193 Ryan, Thos E. 34 brickmason Ireland;
Anna E. 23 f MS; Thos. J. 3 m; John K. 1 m; Cain, Alice H. 6 f;
Jones, Mary 16 f servant; Toofey, Mahia? 17 laborer (written in
lightly "bro.") Ireland.
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THE MS CAINS
1880 Pike Co. Beat 4 Summit, E.D. 40-22, Ryan T.C. 44 Ire; Ann Eliza
wife 34 MS; Thomas son 13 MS; John son 11; Charley 9; Anna dau 7;
Celia dau 5; Mary dau 3; Lola dau 1; King, Alice, stepdau 16 MS;
Clarkson, James adopted 13 MS
Note: The name King here is an error on the soundex. It should be
Cain.
Issue of Ann Eliza (Parsons) Cain-Ryan.
1/ Alice Cain, b 1863 after the death of her father; m 2 Feb 1883
(Pike Co. A-150) Bernard M. Campbell. She attended school at
Chatawa, MS. She and Bernard died at Crabapple, TX.
2/ Thomas J. Ryan, b c.1867 MS.
3/ John Howard Ryan, b c. 1869; m 28 May 1895 (Pike E-169) Belle T.
Foltz
1900 Pike Beat 4 E.D. 113-9 Ryan John H. Nov 1869, 30, MS; boarder at
Frank Haynes
1910 Pike, Summit E.D. 107-11 Ryan, John H. Sr. 40 MS; Bell F. wife
38 MS; John H. Jr. 8 MS
A/ John Howard Ryan, b 1902, d 1969, bur Woodlawn Cem., Summit, was
an architect.
4/ Charles F. Ryan b c.1871. He was not located on 1900 or 1910
censuses. He could have married 13 Mar 1907 Annie Cassidy (Pike
K-541), but this needs confirming.
5/ Anna Ryan, b 16 Nov 1872 Pike Co., MS, d 25 Jan 1932 McComb, MS; m
14 Dec 1893 (Pike D-432) William Walter Andrews, b 28 July 1864, d
12 Feb 1948, bur Hollywood Cem., McComb, son of William Andrews
Jr. and Martha Huffman. Most of this information from the
tombstones.
1910 Pike Co. E.D. 104-9 Andrews, W.W. 43 MS; Annie wife 35; Cyril
son 15; Anita dau 9; Walter son 4.
6/ Celia Ryan, b c.1875 Pike Co., MS
7/ Mary Ryan, b c.1877 Pike Co., MS
8/ Lola A. Ryan, b 1879, d 1955, bur Hollywood Cem., McComb; m 26 Nov
1901 Jeorge J. Sleppy (Pike Co. 1-92), b 1876, d 1917, bur
Hollywood Cem. beside Lola. She m 2nd 13 Apr 1920 James McIntyre
(Pike V-182). In Hollywood cem also was Milly Sleppy Terrell 19
Nov 1887, 28 Nov 1971, wife of Robert P. Terrell, b 13 Jan 1877, d
10 June 1953.
1910 MS Pike Co., McComb E.D. 106-21 Sleppy, George J. 32 Ohio, Lola
wife 34, Belva dau .7.
9/ Tempy Dillon Ryan, m Silas Simmons, 1 dau.
E) Virginia Cain, dau of Dempsey B. Cain and Rebecca Holloway, b 19 Apr
1846 Fr.Co. MS, d 4 June 1929; m 1st 24 Jan 1866 (Fr. Co.4-398 by
Zach. Reeves, G.P. Hunt bondsman) Charles H. Gammill, son of
Gammill of Itawamba and/or Harrison Co., MS; m 2nd 17 Nov 1874 (Fr.
Co. 6-76 by J.G. King MBS, S.A. McManus bondsman) George W. Byrd,
son of Redden Byrd and Elizabeth C. Cain, dau of James Cain and Anna
Johnson. See later for more of Elizabeth C. Cain.
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THE MS CAINS
Tempe Fenn Crosby's manuscript entitled MARSELIS/MARSALIS/ MARCELISSE
(four volumes), copies of which are located in the Mississippi Department
of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi and the Pike-Amite-Walthall
Library system, McComb, MS, is the primary source of Cain, Fenn and
Gammill family information and stories found from pages 143 through 159.
Mrs. Crosby's material was developed with the help of numerous others,
but the information herein included was developed primarily as a joint
effort of Mrs. Crosby with Irene Reid (Mrs. J.P.) Morris, Jr., Kentwood,
LA. The material is reprinted with their permission.
The known siblings of Charles H. Gammill are given because other Cain
family intermarried with them.
(1) Charles H. Gammill, b .24 Jan 1842, d 10 Aug 1873; m 4 Jan 1866
Virginia Cain.
(2) James Wilson Gammill, b 4 Nov 1844, d 20 Aug 1928; m c. 1864 Mary
Lott, b 27 Mar 1846, d 17 Aug 1921, both bur Mt. Zion Church Cem.,
Fr.Co. MS.
(3) Margarette (Margaret, Maggie) Lucinda Gammill, b 24 May 1848, d 21
Jan 1897; m 4 Oct 1871 David Dixon Rollins, b 3 Jan 1850, d 19 Mar
1923, both bur Mulkey Cem. 1.1 miles E of Midway Cem., Fr.Co. MS.
Rollins is son of Sarah Cain Wells Rollins. See Later.
1880 Fr.Co. Beat 5 #195 Gambell, J.W. 35 MS MS MS; Mary E. 33 wife MS
MS MS; M. Adaline 13 dau; Charlie F. 11 son; Minia E. 9 dau; Cumin 7
dau; Willie 5 son; Ruphord 3 son; Ernest 1 son.
1900 Fr.Co. Beat 5 #394 Gammell, Wilson Nov 1844, 55 m 35 yrs MS MS MS;
Mary wife May 1846, 541 m 35 yrs 12 children 11 living MS MS MS;
Ruford son Feb 1877, 23; Ella dau Apr 1889, 18; Callie dau Mar 1886,
14; Clarence son Oct 1867, 12; Rena dau Feb 1891, 9.
James Wilson Gammill and his wife, Mary Ellen Lott together with
his sister Maggie Gammill came to Franklin Co., MS by oxwagon from
Harrison Co., MS from near McHenry. (Reference H.P. Porter). A
carpenter, locksmith, blacksmith and gunsmith, James Wilson Gammill
also worked with clocks and sewing machines. He worked in the
Dempsey Cain shop with his brother Charles H. Gammill until this
shop was discontinued. He then built a shop on his land. James W.
Gammill and his family are included in the household of Charles H.
Gammill in the 1870 census of Fr. Co., MS.
Page 149
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THE MS CAINS
The Bible of James Wilson Gammill shows the following entries:
J.W. Gammill 4 November 1844
M.E. Gammill 27 March 1846
M.A. Gammill 20 September 1866
C.F. Gammill 28 August 1868
M.E. Gammill 15 May 1870
Alas C. Gammill 22 July 1872
Willey Wilson Gammill 11 August 1874
Thomas Ruthford Gammill 10 April 1877
Ernest Ivy Gammill 10 February 1879
David Aaron Gammill 13 December 1880
Mary Eller Gammill 17 April 1883
Callie Gammill 11 July 1885
Clarence Gammill 15 August 1887
Rene Gammill 6 February 1890
Descendants of James Wilson and Mary Ellen (Lott) Gammill:
(A) Maranda A. Gammill, b 20 Sep 1866; m 5 Jan 1887 (Fr. Co. 1-183 by
Rowan Temple MBS, J.H. Holland bondsman) F.L. Mullins.
(B) Charlie F. Gammill, b 28 August 1868.; m 18 Jan 1893 Morna McManus,
he age 22, she 19, by J.M.McGehee President Board of Supervisors
(PBS), J.H. Cloy bondsman.
1900 Fr.Co. Beat 5 p.132 #158 Gammill, Charlie Aug 1867 32 md 7 yrs MS
MS MS; Mown? wife Sept 1878 4 children 2 living; Ethel dau Feb
1894, 6; Ray son Nov 1896 4 MS
Page 150
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