Andrew Jackson Taylor, 5th Child of John & Eliza

Andrew Jackson Taylor was the fifth child born to John and Eliza (Cagle) Taylor.  His place of birth is documented as Walker County, Alabama.  However, in the year of his birth (1858) this northern area of the county became known as Winston.  His name first appears on the 1850 Hancock County, Alabama federal census as Andrew, age 12.  Hancock county was the early name for this same area of Winston.

In 1860 Andrew is enumerated on the federal census as a single man living alone in Eldridge district of Winston County.   The value of his real estate was listed as $200.  His personal estate value was $500.  Andrew's neighbor was Andrew Jackson Ingle, a well-to-do merchant, who is credited with being the founder of Double Springs.

On October 3, 1861, Andrew Taylor married Martha (Ingle) Tittle.  Martha's first husband, Peter Tittle, had died in 1859. In the Union pension file for Andrew, an affidavit by Elijah Sutherland, husband of Andrew's sister, was submitted stating Elijah was present at the marriage of Andrew and Martha.  The marriage was performed by John Gamble, a local Methodist preacher. 

Andrew and Martha had five known children:

• Georgeann
• Andrew J.
• Sarah E., married Millard Fillmore Riddle
• Eliza J.
• Abraham Franklin Taylor, married Priscilla V. Riddle

On September 25, 1863, Andrew Jackson Taylor enlisted in the Union forces of the 1st Alabama Calvary, Company L, commanded by Samuel Trammel.  He was 25 years old.  His brother, Charles, also joined this same company of soldiers.

A deposition in the Union pension file for Andrew gives another glimpse into his life. 

Submitted by his brother, James Knox Polk Taylor:

DEPOSITION

Case of Martha A. Taylor, No 328770
On this 9th day of August 1901, at Ash Ridge, county of Winston State of Ala, before me, N. Smith, a special examiner of the Bureau of Pensions, personally appeared James K. P. Taylor, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this special examination of aforesaid claim for pension, deposes and says: age 56 P. O. address as above occupation farmer.

The pensioner Martha J. Taylor is my sister-in-law. Andrew J. Taylor her late husband was my brother. In the fall of 1863 Andrew went to Glendale Miss and enlisted in the Federal army. After serving about three month he came home on recruiting service and never returned to the Federal army. After lying out awhile he joined Capt. White's mail guard Co. Confederate Army. I do not know if he was regularly enlisted and sworn in or not but he rode with the company guarding the mail for four or five months in the Spring and Summer of 1864 I served with Andrew in the same Co. but I was never sworn in No sir, Andrew was not forced to serve in this Co. No one was forced to serve, The service was voluntary.

This was an independent Co. made up in Winston, Co. for the purpose of guarding the confederate mails. The Co. was known as White's mail guard or homeguard. The Co. was a legal organization under Gen. Roddy's command that is Genl. Roddy authorized the making up of this Co. for the purpose of guarding the mails.

Andrew was never in any other service in the Confederate Army except in this mail guard Co. No he never deserted this Co.

The reason he did not return to the Federal army was because he could not get back through the lines. He tried it twice and was cut off both times.
My answers are correctly recorded.
J K P Taylor (signature)
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of August 1901 and I certify that the contents were full made known to deponent before signing.
N Smith (signature)
Special Examiner

Andrew's life was cut short in a tragic event that is chronicled in The Cullman Alabama Tribune, October 22, 1891 (article submitted by Robin Sterling, http://www.freestateofwinston.org/).

Distressing Accident in Winston. Double Springs Herald. This community was greatly shocked to hear of the sad and unexpected death of our County Commissioner, A.J. Taylor. We learn that he was in a small tree gathering grapes and Millard Berry a neighbor came up with a gun and after passing a few words with Mr. Taylor started off and after going a short distance, his gun caught in a vine and went off, the load taking effect in Mr. Taylor’s side killing him almost instantly. He spoke but a few words, saying to his friend who had shot him. “You have killed me,” lapsed into unconsciousness, and soon after died.

Grave of Andrew Jackson Taylor, at William Carroll Taylor Cemetery,
formerly Taylor Historical Cemetery (near Rabbitown, Winston, Alabama)

Caroline Elizabeth Taylor, 1st Child of John & Eliza

Caroline Elizabeth Taylor, first known child of John and Eliza (Cagle) Taylor, was born in August 1829.  Her place of birth is listed as three different states on various federal census records (North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee).   However, North Carolina was listed twice (on 1860 and 1880 census records).

Her name first appears on the 1850 census record as a married woman, Caroline Simmons.  She and her husband, Giles A. Simmons, were living in the Northern District, Hancock County, Alabama (later known as Winston County).  In their household were their first two children--Jane and Eliza. 

Caroline's husband, born in Tennessee in 1817, applied for a United States Federal Land Grant in 1859.  The grant was for approximately 120 acres in Township 10 S, Range 9 W, Section 1. 

Caroline and Giles were the parents of 13 children, according to her entry on the 1900 census. Known names of their children are as follows:

• Mickey Jane, married Henry Aldridge 
• Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ellen, married David Hamby Henderson, buried Fairview Cemetery in Double Springs, Alabama
• Mary
• John (twin), married Susan Avery, buried in Liberty Grove Baptist cemetery, Ashridge, Winston
• William Washington (twin), married Lunettie Morphew, buried in Pike County, Arkansas, died from accidentally falling from a wagon; wife died from malaria
• Andrew Jackson, married Margaret Juliana Henderson
• Matilda
• James Monroe, married Cyrena Jackson
• Charles W., married Rhoda Pittman
• Louisa P., married George Naylor
• Charlotta Ada, married Mr. Tingle

Her husband Giles died on March 24, 1900.  His Alabama death record indicates he is buried at Gum Pond.   Caroline and Giles are buried at Rock Creek Cemetery, Winston County.  Their tombstones worn with age have been marked again by descendants.  Giles' middle initial appears as "O." on his tombstone, but other records indicate it was "A."

Rock Creek Baptist Cemetery, Winston County, Alabama

Rock Creek Baptist Cemetery, Winston, Alabama

Mary Mollie Taylor, 4th Child of John & Eliza

Mary "Mollie" Taylor, born to John & Eliza (Cagle) Taylor in May 1836, was the fourth child in the family and the second daughter.  Her name first appears on the 1850 Federal Census as Mary Taylor, age 14. 

By 1860, Mary had married Thomas Pinkney Curtis, son of Solomon and Charlotte (Heaton) Curtis.  The couple had three children:  Charles Franklin, Mary Jane and Malissa.  Mollie's sister, Eliza Jane Taylor, also married a Curtis brother--Benjamin Franklin Curtis.  So the connection between the Taylor and Curtis families extended to two marriages....two Taylor sisters married two Curtis brothers.

On March 1, 1858, Thomas P. Curtis applied for a United States Land Grant in Hancock County (later known as Winston) for 120 acres.  The land was located in Township 11S, Range 8W, Section 20. 

Mollie's husband, known as "Tom Pink," was Winston County's Probate Judge from May 1862 until his death in 1864.  He was murdered by a Confederate raiding party on January 19, 1864 during a turbulent period of time in Winston County's history.  A letter transcribed by Joann Holdbooks and Peter J. Gossett from the Governor T.H. Watts, Correspondence, SG24872, Reel 20 and Alabama Governors Correspondence, 1821-1865 (Letterheads), SG24884, Reel 4., details the tragedy:

Executive Department of Alabama,
Montgomery, February 6th, 1864.

Lieut. Col. Lockhart, Talladega;

Dear Sir; I have received information, that a Capt. Whatley (who, I believe, is under your command) with a portion of his command, sometime about the 20th of January, went to Houston, the county-site of Winston Co. Ala, and arrested the Judge of Probate of that County, T.P. Curtis and carried him off, in the direction of Jasper, Walker Co. and murdered him. His body has been since found, shewing evidence of gun shot wounds. The body was found in an out-of-way place, concealed from view. It is further said that, after having arrested Judge Curtis, they forced his wife to give up the keys of the Jail, in which the salt sent there, by the State to be distributed among indigent families, was stored, that this salt was taken - and sold - and the proceeds, appropriated to the use of the men in Capt. Whatley's command. If these things are true, no punishment is too great for such men. Such conduct will do more injury to our cause, than a Yankee Raid. I write you this, believing that you will have the matter properly investigated, and, if the facts justify it, have the proper punishment inflicted for such conduct.

Very Resp. Yrs.
(signed) Thos H. Watts Gov of Ala.

Captain Whatley mentioned in the above letter was attributed to belong to Confederates in Roddy's Command.

Mollie's husband "Tom Pink" was not the only Curtis brother to be killed by the hands of the Confederates.  George Washington "Wash" Curtis was the first murdered in 1862.  Slightly more than a year later, his brother Joel Jackson Curtis was killed in December of 1863. 

After the death of her first husband, Mollie married James D. "J. D." Smith on June 27, 1865. Their marriage was performed by Mollie's brother, Francis Marion Taylor who was Justice of the Peace.  A document in the Union pension file for J.D. reveals the date and place of the wedding.  Their marriage  took place at the home of the bride's father, John Taylor. 

The Smith family had other connections to the Taylors.  J.D.'s sister, Elizabeth Smith, married Francis Marion Taylor. 

James Smith was a sergeant in the 1st Alabama Calvary, Union.   He filed a pension for an indigent claim before his death.  Mollie also made a claim after his death in 1909.

Mollie and J. D. had two children:  Sarah and Roxanna.  The family continued to live in Beat 2, Winston County through June of 1880.  J.D. was the father of 8 children by his step-daughter, Mary Jane Curtis (daughter of Mary Mollie and Tom Pink Curtis). These children assumed the surname of Curtis for the most part. 

J. D. Smith
Bethel Cemetery

By the next federal census in 1900, the family had moved to Thaxton, Pontotoc County, Mississippi. Nine years later, J. D. died.  He is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Union County, Mississippi. A tombstone was erected.

Mollie died at the age of 78 on March 11, 1915 at the home of her grandson, Mark K. Smith. According to pension documents filed by Mark for reimbursement of funeral expenses, her cause of death was "bronchitis and old age."  Mollie is buried in Bethel Cemetery, according to the documents. However, a tombstone for Mollie has not been found.  There is a blank area located between the tombstones of J.D. and his son, F. M. Curtis, that is believed to be the burial place for Mollie.

From Pension File of James D. Smith, shared by Joann Holdbrooks

Children of Mary "Mollie" Taylor Curtis Smith:

• Charles Franklin Curtis married Elizabeth Henson. He married Mary Alred in 1911.  In 1920, Charles Franklin and Mary were living in Lawrence County, Tennessee.  Charles Franklin, who died in 1926, is buried in St. Truitt Cemetery in Liberty Grove, Lawrence, Tennessee.

• Mary Jane Curtis was the mother of 8 children: Frances Martha "Fannie", Charles, Thomas Jefferson "Jeff", Franklin, Walter Thomas, Jessie Daniel, F. Marion and Mark K. Curtis. A memorial has been erected in her honor in Curtis Cemetery, Winston County.  Alabama death records show she died in July 15, 1890 and is buried in Sardis Church Cemetery.
• Malissa married (1) Samuel Estes and (2) Edd Logan.
• Sarah
• Roxanna

Mary Jane Curtis, Daughter of Mary Mollie Taylor and Tom Pink Curtis
Memorial erected by a descendant in Curtis Cemetery, Winston, Alabama