by Jim Farmer – January 1, 2020
Email: jims-email@hotmail.com,
Ancestry.com tree: PioneersAlongSouthernTrails
The Battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina –1781.
(Wikipedia)
First Generation: Emanuel Cumbo and Joan
This is the history of Stephen Cumbo, a Revolutionary War
soldier and patriot from Edgefield County, South Carolina. But it begins in
Colonial Virginia near Jamestown in 1619 when his ancestors Emanuel and Joan Cumbo,
having been captured in Angola, eventually arrived in Virginia where they were
purchased from English privateers by the London Company’s Cape Merchant, Abraham
Piersey. After years of servitude, the Cumbo family eventually settled in James
City County, near present-day Williamsburg. Emanuel Cumbo received 50 acres in
James City County.
EMMANUEL CAMBOW, Negro, [received] 50
acres in James City County, 18 April 1667, [being] part of a greater quantity
granted to Will.
Second Generation: Stephen Cumbo
Unfortunately, since the James City County records have been
lost or destroyed, there is little to confirm the next generation in Stephen’s
lineage. One son was named Richard. He settled in New Kent County and left
records there. Another son was most likely named Stephen, like himself. The only
mention of this Stephen is found in a Virginia land patent entered in 1651. In
the patent Stephen is listed as a headright for George Ludlow along with other
Negroes and a woman named Joane.
GEORGE LUDLOW, Esqr., one of his
Majestie's Councill of State, 1,000 acs. in Rappa. Riv. on the S. side, beg. on
the Swd. side of the mouth of Sandy Point Cr., adj. land of Randall Camblett
& James Arrock. 22 May 1651, p. 315. Trans, of 20 pers: … & 7 Negroes:
Robin, Stephen, James, Will, Mall, Susan & Joane. (Nugent, 1934, p. 214 (Patent Book No. 2))
Headrights for George Lodlow. Seven Negroes Robin,
Stephen, James, Will, Mall, Susan, and Joane
(LVA Digital
Archives)
Here in this patent, Stephen and the others were returning
from a trip abroad, presumably having gone to see London. Often Virginians born
in the colony did this as a part of growing up. The headright system offering
land for their return more than compensated for the cost of their passage and
expenses.
Since the name Stephen has been passed down through many of
the Cumbo lines, including Richard’s family in New Kent, this is the only other
clue that suggests Emanuel and Joan had a son who resided in James City County.
Since he does not appear in the New Kent records, he presumably remained in James
City County where the records are sparse. This hole in the records that prevents
us from knowing more about Emanuel’s son Stephen is all that points to him as
the next generation in our own Stephen’s lineage.
Third Generation: Gideon Cumbo
Looking ahead to the next generation, records show three Cumbos
that were most likely grandsons of Emanuel and Joan Cumbo and most likely sons
of Stephen. These three were John, Gideon, and William. Unlike Richard Cumbo’s
family that settled in New Kent County, just north of James City County, these
three Cumbos moved south of the James River, eventually going to North Carolina.
Records do show that Gideon and John moved south to Brunswick County, Virginia first.
Presumably William did to. From there, the Cumbo family soon settled further
south in North Carolina. But it is Gideon that is Stephen’s ancestor.
Gideon, himself, can be tracked first in Blisland Parish which
served parts of both James City County and New Kent County. From there Gideon
went across the James River to Brunswick County before ending up in Cumberland
County, North Carolina, with his son William. [See Paul Heinegg’s extensive work on the
Cumbo family. The following comes from his research. (Heinegg, 2001, pp. 285-286)]
1723: Gideon Cumbo was a delinquent taxpayer reported at the vestry held for Blisland Parish , Virginia , on 11 October 1723 (Chamberlayne, Vestry Book of Blisland Parish, 7).
1748: Gideon Cumbo was in Brunswick County, Virginia when a petition he brought in court against William Person was continued. The matter "was dismissed on hearing both parties" a year later on 28 June 1749. (Orders 1743-49, pp. 391, 427, 501)
1758, 20 October: Gideon Cumbo was called "Gibeon Cumbo a
Mallato" when he was sued for a debt in Cumberland County, NC. His attorney, Mr. Furnell, asked for but was
denied the right to claim insolvency. (Minutes 1755-59. pp. 39, 41)
1759, 21 July: Gideon Cumbo was sued for debt by James Wright
in Cumberland County, NC. (Minutes 1755-59, pp. 53, 60)
Note
that the first name “Gideon” was often used by those families who were members
of the free African community in and around James City County. Those first
having the name include Gideon Bunch, Gideon Gibson, and Gideon Cumbo. All three
of these individuals were born about the same time, 1690-1700. The most likely source
for their name was probably Gideon Macon, the Burgess for New Kent County at
the time and an attorney general for the colony. The role he played in their lives
may have been very important and may have been related to their constant need
for representation in front of the Virginia Assembly in their efforts to
maintain their freedom.
Fourth Generation: William Cumbo
In the records of colonial North Carolina there are numerous
members of the Cumbo family living and paying taxes throughout the eastern
counties. Like Emanuel Cumbo before them, they were landowners. In their case
they were carving out a life in the unsettled wilderness for themselves and
their families.
North Carolina Tax Lists
1755 Cumberland County- William Comboe
1755 New
1762, 1763, 1767 New Hanover County Solomon Combow
1762 New
1768, 1770 Bladen County– Cannon
Cumbo
1769, 1772 Brunswick County- Stephen
Cumbo, with 1 slave
1770
1772
The list shows that there were two William Cumbos, the older
one having settled in New Hanover County. The younger William is shown in the
Cumberland County Tax List of 1755. Only
because Gideon and William are both found in Cumberland County about the same
time, is Gideon Cumbo considered to be the father of this younger William. The Cumberland
County 1755 tax list is also important because it shows William living near Gilbert
Gibson, one of the many Gibsons who would take their family to South Carolina.
1755
Cumberland County North Carolina Tax List
Alphabetical order
Col. 1 Cumboe, Wm 2
[white]
Col 2. Gilbert Gibson 2
[white
Lockaleer, Major 1
[mulato]
Lockal^r, John & wife 2
[Treasurers Comptrollers Tax Lists Box 1 Cumberland 1755-001, North
Carolina Digital Collections, State Library of North Carolina, accessed at http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll33/id/2622]
Stephen Cumbo Arrives in South Carolina
The Stephen Cumbo of our story is the only member of the Cumbo
family to settle in Edgefield District, South Carolina. At the time he was born,
Stephen was one of four Cumbos named Stephen. Records for the other three
Stephens confirm that they remained in North Carolina. Stephen Cumbo of
Edgefield District was no doubt born in North Carolina but since he arrived in
South Carolina at an early age, no record has been found tying him directly to his
place of birth. He is, however, most likely the son of William Cumbo and grandson
of Gideon, who settled in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Besides
eliminating the other Stephens as possibilities, the best proof comes from tracing
William Cumbo’s Gibson neighbors of Cumberland County, North Carolina. They also
went to South Carolina and settled close to Edgefield County. Stephen most
likely went to South Carolina with the Gibson family either because his mother
was a Gibson. A man named Gibson Cumbo, born about the same time may be proof
that William Cumbo married a Gibson. (Gibson Cumbo received pay for serving in
the Bladen County militia in 1785 [see Haun, North Carolina Revolutionary
Army Accounts, Journal A, I:9, VII: 931]. “Gibby” Cumbo was then found in the Robeson
County censuses from 1790-1810.)
The first Gibson to be found living close to Edgefield District
where Stephen would eventually end up was John Gibson. He petitioned for land
in the Saxe Gotha Township in 1736 but acquired land in the Congaree Township.
Judging from his neighbors they were all there to provide trade with the Cherokee
Nation. A deed shows that he later sold this land to William Brown, an early
Indian trader.
South Carolina Deeds, Book R-3 pp. 45-53
12 & 18 Jun 1770
Richard
Brown, Indian Trader, of SC to Benjamin Farrar, of St. Mathews Parish, Berkeley
Co., inherited from his father William Brown & his uncles Thomas and
Patrick Brown 300 a. in the Township of the Congarees (now Saxe Gotha Township,
Berkeley Co.) bounding NW on Jacob Coleman; SW on vacant land, SE on John Jacob
Rodolph & Herman Christopher Perdrink. NE on Congaree River; granted 8 Mar
1743/4 to John Gibson; also lot #34 ...
But it is doubtful John remained there at this time. Cherokee
raids against the settlements continued throughout the Backcountry of South
Carolina and a smallpox pandemic in 1738 tore through South Carolina, both in
Charles Town and in the Cherokee Nation, making the situation in the
Backcountry worse. In 1744 a treaty was drawn up between the colony and the
natives establishing peace, but it did not broker peace for very long.
By 1744, Gilbert Gibson attempted a move to South Carolina.
He acquired land in what today is Richland County, along the Santee River and across
from the Saxe Gotha Township. John Gibson, however, continued to acquire land even
closer to the Cherokee Indians along the Cherokee Path on Eighteen Mile Creek.
This was done in 1749. Eighteen Mile Creek falls in Lexington County now, not
far from where Stephen eventually lived all of his adult life.
Gibson, John
Plat For 200 Acres On Eighteen Mile Creek.
Date: 3/21/1749
(South Caroline Plat Books, Series: S213184 Volume: 0005 Page: 00132 Item:
02)
John Gibson’s 200-acre
plat situated “on Eighteen Mile Creek or a branch above the Congarees on a the
Road leading to the Cherokees.”
(South Carolina
Plats.)
The Cherokee Path was the
main trading route between Charleston and the Cherokee Nation to the north. But
a year after John Gibson’s patent, the Cherokee and Creeks again began raiding
the settlements that were encroaching on their hunting lands. James Adair
reported it in his history: (James Adair, History of the American Indians,
1980, p 372.)
This
was in the beginning of May 1750: and in our Indian trading way, we say that,
when the heat of the new year enables the snakes to crawl out of their lurking
holes, the savages are equally moved to turn to mischief.
No doubt, once again, Gilbert
Gibson and others fled north back to North Carolina to be safe from attack and to
raise a crop without worrying about raids from the warring natives. This is no
doubt why Gilbert was listed back in Cumberland County in 1755. Stephen Cumbo
would be born four years later in 1759. So it is unclear when he, himself, removed
to South Carolina. But the presumption is, he went with the Gibsons on their
return.
(Eighteen Mile Creek, not shown, is between Twelve Mile Creek and Beaver Creek. Lexington District will be on the right side of the vertical district line. Edgefield District will be left. Stephen’s early location was near Little Rocky Creek and Waters Ferry.)
(1778 Map of South Carolina by )
Stephen Cumbo at the Battle for Savannah
The first account of Stephen in Edgefield District, South
Carolina, comes from his military service records. But he must have been there
well before the Revolutionary War started. By 1779 the British took Savannah,
Georgia, which lay a few hundred miles to the south of Edgefield. A call for
support went out across the
Plan of the Siege of Savannah – 1779. (http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/savannah.htm)
While the records show that Stephen Cumbo himself enlisted
under Colonel Williamson’s Brigade, it is not clear where he enlisted. The most
likely scenario is that he joined in one of the many Backcountry militias,
possibly one raised by Leroy Hammond or his nephew Samuel Hammond. These men formed
a southern militia under Benjamin Lincoln that joined the French allies led by
d’Estaing. From the 16th of September to the 10th of
October, these forces laid siege to the city of
The wounding of
Pulaski at the Siege of Savannah. (Wikipedia)
The mission of the Pulaski Legion was to
follow in behind the French infantry and break down the enemy's line of
defense. But the French got caught in a cross fire, and d'Estaing himself was
wounded. Awaiting the proper moment for his cavalry to enter the battle,
Pulaski could see the infantry breaking ranks under heavy fire. To try to save
the situation, he charged forward into the battle only to be grievously wounded
himself. Carried from the battlefield, he was put on a ship to be taken back to
(Casimir Pulaski 1747-1779: A Short
Biography, John J. Kulczycki, Professor of History, University of Illinois at
Chicago, Polish Museum of America, Chicago)
The American patriots under Williamson and d’Estaing failed
in their quest to reclaim Savannah and eventually retreated back to Charleston.
Shortly afterwards,
Eventually, when Samuel Hammond returned to South Carolina
to raise a troop of state dragoons, Stephen returned as well where he reenlisted
this time, we know for certain, under Hammond. His Captain was Thomas Harvey.
In 1779, in the South Carolina “Lists of Jurymen,” Thomas Harvey was listed
living near Cuffeetown Creek and Turkey Creek, in what later would become Edgefield
District, so it is certain that Stephen was back in Edgefield County for his
enlistment. Stephen is not on the Jury Lists, but only landholders would be
included on it. Stephen was still a young man with no estate and no tax
obligation.
According to his later obituary and pension records, Stephen
fought in many of the battles raging throughout the South. He again re-enlisted.
After his first term of service expired, he re-enlisted under Capt. Jesse
Johnson, also an Edgefield resident. At some time during the Revolution his
militia fought in
Letter of accommodation attached
to his petition for pension
Columbia So Carolina 5th
March
I
do hereby Certify that Stephen Cumbo was an enlisted soldier in Captn Thomas Harvey’s
Company of State Troops belonging to a Regiment Raised under the Order of Governor
Rutledge & Commanded by me, that he was enlisted for ten months &
served that time faithfully and Received his discharge after its separation, he
was in the battle of Eutaw and in the expedition Carried against the Cherokee Indians
by Genl Pickens in the Latter part of the Revolutionary War, date not now remembered,
his name will be found in the Payroll of that Regiment attached to the Company
Commanded by Capt. Jesse Johnson, if there are yet personnel of Record. Given
under my hand this 6th
March
1827 S Hammond
In September of 1781, Stephen Cumbo fought in the bloodiest
battle of the Revolution, the Battle of Eutaw Springs. It was the last battle
in South Carolina before the War for Independence ended in 1783.
Stephen Cumbo Starts a Family
The first record for Stephen Cumbo after the war was on a
tax list in Winton District in 1788. Now called Barnwell County, Winton
District sat just below Edgefield along the Savannah River near Augusta,
Georgia. In the tax list, Stephen is listed with 150 acres. This is probably
land he received for service in the Revolution. He would have received the land
through the efforts of the
South Carolina Tax Returns 1783-1800
Stephen Cumbee, a taxable on 150
acres in
(Heinegg, 2001, p. 288.)
Choosing land in Winton District (now part of Barnwell County),
Stephen took the opportunity to settle down and start a family. About this time
Stephen Cumbo married.
Stephen Cumbo’s wife was a daughter of a British soldier, Colonel
Thomas Waters, and a mixed-blood Cherokee wife. Thomas Waters had been an Indian
trader among the Cherokee from 1764-1778 in Georgia. He took as his consort the
daughter of a mixed-blood Cherokee named John Vann. Long before the beginning
of the war, Thomas Waters was a lieutenant for the Georgia Rangers located at
Augusta. As the war began, he fought as a British soldier leading a troop of
Loyalist rangers in Georgia against the American patriots. Later he raised another
militia and worked with the Cherokee to harass the Georgia frontiersmen. By 1783,
with the close of the war and after eluding Andrew Pickens and Elijah Clarke in
a flight across the Georgia backlands, Thomas Waters became a refugee in British
Florida. He later attempted to settle in the Bahamas, but presumably returned
to America sometime after he was pardoned by the state of Georgia. Many of his children,
both those white and those part Cherokee, remained under the care of his brother
Philemon Waters in Newberry District next to Edgefield. Thomas Waters had originally
owned thousands of acres on both the Savannah and Saluda Rivers along the
Ninety-Six Road (the old Cherokee Trail) coming north from Charleston. Most of
his land was in
According to the 1790 census, two years after being on the
Winton District tax list, Stephen Cumbo was living in neighboring Edgefield
District. Stephen Cumbo’s home in 1790 in the Edgefield District was at Indian
Creek, a branch of Clouds Creek, on the road to the Ninety-Six Trading Fort.
The road ran along what was called the Ridge and eventually branched off to the
west going to Augusta, Georgia. Later on, the community was called Wards. The
community included many families that would become involved in the Cumbo family
as the years went by, such as the Warrens, Padgetts, and Funderbergs. The most
important family for Stephen, that is the Waters, also lived nearby, but just across
the Saluda River via the Waters Ferry.
Edgefield District
Map showing Stephen’s landmarks: Waters Ferry at Rocky Creek,
Clouds Creek, and
Indian Branch near Ridge Spring.
(Mills South Carolina Atlas)
Since many of those listed in the neighborhood can also be
found in Edgefield County deeds of the same period, the layout of the
neighborhood can be pieced together. All of this is shown in the 1790 census.
Most importantly, the census shows that in 1790, Stephen Cumbo had two sons
under the age of 16 and his wife.
1790 SC Census Edgefield
District
Warren, William [daughter Mary married one of Stephen’s son]
[9 away …]
Combo, Steven 1 male over 16; 2 under; 1 female; no slaves
Fortner, John
Arrington, Ben
Martin, Elijah
Thunderburgh, Anthony [Funderberg]
Thunderburgh, Isaac
[9 away …]
Padget, Job
[4
away …]
Padget, Josiah
Notice that in this census Stephen Cumbo was listed as white.
There was probably no reason for him to be listed otherwise. He was an accepted
member of the community. This will change soon. (Also notice that Stephen lived
next door to Elijah Martin and the Funderbergs. These names helps locate him
later.)
There is no deed showing Stephen’s actual homestead at this
time, so he may not have owned property. Instead, only records of his neighbors
pinpoint his location. Since Benjamin Arrington
was listed as a neighbor along with Arthur Watson and both are found in deeds living
on the Ridge Road near Indian Creek, presumably this was Stephen’s location. Indian
Creek itself was at the head of Clouds Creek and near Mine Creek and Dry Creek.
Other deeds confirm that the other neighbors near these locations include the
Padgetts, Fortners, Eidsons, and Benjamin Partin. Many deeds help describe the
neighborhood.
Abner Watson to Arthur Watson.
Deed, 29 February 1796, L2, 200 acres on Injin Creek on road from ridge to
Ninety-Six, original grant to Abner Watston; adjacent Arthur Watson, James
Edson, Benjamin Arrinton, James Daniel. Wit. John Eidson, John Heron [sic],
Britain Partain. /s/ Abner Watson. Proved 16 August 1796 by John Hearn.
[Edgefield Deed Bk 13 page 225-226]
A critical deed suggests why Stephen lived in the area. It shows
that Thomas Waters held land there. Water’s land was northeast of Arthur Watson.
This indicates that Stephen and his family were living on Thomas Water’s land. As
will be shown, this is the first of the many times Stephen is associated with the
Waters family.
23 Jul 1790. Arthur Watson to
Thomas Fortner., both of Edgefield Co. for 10 pounds, sold 157 acres on Peters
Creek of Cloud Creek adjacent North James Daniels, SE Robert Pringles, due W
Robert Stark, Arthur Middleton, NE Thomas Waters.
[Edgefield
Deed Bk 10 page 20-24]
There is one record that also suggests Stephen tried to receive
property about 1795 but failed. There is no reason given why he didn’t complete
the purchase. He had 211 acres surveyed but did not complete the transaction.
The location was not far away. Eventually the survey was granted to John Gosset,
instead.
South Carolina Land Grants
I do hereby Certify for John Gosset
a tract of land containing two hundred and Eleven acres. Surveyed for him
Stephen Cumbie the 10th of January 1795. Situate in Ninety six
District on branches of Clouds Creek of Saluda River. And hath such form marks
buttings & boundings as the above plat Represents. Given under my hand this
10 Feb 1796.
Wm Wright, Dept Surveyor.
Lines include: Land called Mozecks, Wm Deshargoes, Nathan Boddies,
and Allan Boddies Land
(South
Caroline Plat Books, Series: S213190 Volume: 0003 Page: 00286 Item: 002)
In 1800, ten years later, when the next census was taken,
Stephen Cumbo is not found listed anywhere. The only possible clue to Stephen’s
whereabouts comes from a listing showing Isaac “Come.” He is shown at what
appears to be the same location where Stephen had been ten years earlier. Isaac
is next to Elijah Martin and not far from the Funderburg family. Other
neighbors from 1790 are also near by. This is presumably Stephen’s family, with
his oldest son listed as the head of the household.
South Carolina 1800 Census – Edgefield
District
Age brackets: 0-10,-16,-26,-45,-etc= all others except Indians not taxed =
slaves
page 155
Isaac Funderburg
[6 away…]
William Warren
[13 away …]
William McCarty
Isaac Come 1-0-1-1-0=1-0-0-1;
Elijah Watson
Elijah Martin [age over 45]
[12 away …]
Siah Padgett
Anthony Funderburgh, Jr.
The family under Isaac seems to include Stephen, even if he
is not named:
Isaac Come 1 male age 0-10 [Leroy
1 male 16-26 [Isaac
1 male 26-45 [Stephen,
age 41
1 female age 0-10 [Elizabeth
1 female over
26-45 [Stephen’s wife
Why would Isaac’s name be listed and not Stephen’s. The
answer may be tied to the ethnic origins of the Cumbo family but more likely it
was simply that Isaac could write his name for the census taker.
In a short while Stephen moved to a
new location. Records do not show exactly where he was living next, but it must
have been on the south side of Clouds Creek closer to the Saluda River. He no doubt
lived there shortly before his daughter Elizabeth married John Whitman, a son
of their neighbor Christopher. By 1810 it is believed, John Whitman had married
Elizabeth Cumbo and they can be found living next door to Stephen. While there is
no specific record to show the Whitman-Cumbo marriage, family information and
DNA connections have confirmed it.
South Carolina 1810 Census –
Edgefield District
Next to the last column="all other except Indians not taxed"
page 78
George Roiser
Christopher Whiteman
…
James Johnston
John Whitman
Stephen Cumbo ----=----- =7=0
Caty Whitman [widow of Samuel Whitman?]
…
Widow Britt [of Hugh Britt?]
Who were the seven members in Stephen’s family in 1810? If
two of the seven were for Stephen and his wife, it is likely that his household
also included his son Isaac Cumbo and his family. Isaac living there is also
confirmed because James Johnston was listed as a neighbor. When Johnston wrote
his will the following year, Isaac witnessed it by signing his name as “I.T.
Cumbo.”
Edgefield District Wills
18 Feb 1811 –
James Johnson – my former
son-in-laws Alexd. Calhoun, and James Brown; my granddaughter Catherine Calhoun;
affectionate friend Catherine C. Hutton of Abbeville; my dtr. Margaret Johnston
[sic]; I appoint Margaret Johnston, Cornelius Tobin & Joseph Hutton
executors. Joseph Hutton to be guardian for Catherine Calhoun. Witness David Coalters,
Jacob Baker, & I.T. Cumbo. Proved 5 March 1818.
[Edgefield District Wills, Book B.
Page 399]
In addition to this will, deeds written
for the Whitmans further clarify the location as lying between Clabbords Creek
and the Saluda River. Spring Creek was nearby.
Edgefield
District Deeds
Book 18 page 203-206.
William
Mobley and wife Elizabeth to Christopher Whitmon. Deed 21 November 1799.
L20 … situated on a branch of Clouds Creek known as Claboards Branch. …
Book 29 page 373
William Dunkin
to Samuel Whitman, Deed of Conveyance, 15 April 1808 Two hundred Dollars,
fifty acres on Clouds Creek of Little Saluda it being part of tract conveyed
from John Williams to William Dunkin adj line of Dunkin, Humphrey Frier, Christopher
Whitman, Lawrence Hair. …
Book 28 page 179
John Kinard,
planter, to Laurence Hair of Newberry District Deed 28 April 1806, $135, 135
acres on Clouds Creek of Little Saluda ...the 35 acres is situated on Spring
Creek of Little Saluda River and joins the 100 acres. Catrine Kinard wife of
John Kinard relinquishes dower. rights.
The 1810 census for Edgefield District also shows Stephen’s
other son Leroy living back at the old home place near Indian Creek on the
Ridge. The old neighbors or their children can be found located near him.
South Carolina 1810 Census - Edgefield
District
Next to last column="all other except Indians not taxed"
page 68
Burrel Arrenton [Burris Arrington]
Leroy Cumbo ----=----- =6=0
[6 away]…
Snoden Kirkland
Arthur Watson
Joseph Whittle
Stephen Cumbo Acquires an Indian Reservation
An important anomaly of the 1810 census is that both Stephen
and Leroy Cumbo have been listed under the category “all others except Indians
not taxed.” The reason behind this came about because of the Turkey Town Treaty
that was still being negotiated between the U.S. government and the Cherokee Nation.
Negotiations had started in 1806 and the working text of the treaty was being passed
around throughout the Cherokee population. According to the treaty’s terms under
discussion, anyone who was a member of the Cherokee Nation could receive a land
grant of 644 acres when they gave up their territory in Georgia. The only condition
was that they had to first enroll in the federal government’s census. Stephen
Cumbo and others hoped that the US 1810 census was that census. Ultimately,
they were wrong and no census was ever actually taken, but because Stephen and
others made sure that they were listed as “others” in the 1810 census, this has
left a record of their intent to claim membership in the Cherokee Nation.
The next major event in Stephen Cumbo’s life was the death
of his father-in-law Thomas Waters. Thomas may have actually been in England at
the time or he may have been in British-owned Bermuda or Florida. Some records
suggest he may have even been back in
South Carolina Land Grants
1 Aug 1814 for 475 acres
Stephen Cumbow …the state of South
Carolina granting the lands now vacant by act of 1791 …475 acres surveyed 23
Feb 1814 situate in Lexington District Branch of Saluda bounded NE on James
Richardson, SE on James Lankford, SW on Jacob Crout all others vacant.
[Book 59, page 187]
The acquisition of this property was soon overshadowed by another
important event for Stephen Cumbo. The Turkey Town Treaty in 1817 was finally
passed. For the Cherokee Indian Nation this offered them lands in Arkansas if
they were willing to give up some of their land in the East . For Stephen,
Article 8 offered his own family an opportunity for their own “reservation.”
ARTICLE 8. And to each and every head of any Indian
family residing on the east side of the Mississippi river, on the lands that
are now, or may hereafter be, surrendered to the United States, who may wish to
become citizens of the United States, the United States do agree to give a
reservation of six hundred and forty acres of land, in a square, to include
their improvements, which are to be as near the centre thereof as practicable,
in which they will have a life estate, with a reversion in fee simple to their
children, reserving to the widow her dower, the register of whose names is to
be filed in the office of the Cherokee agent, which shall be kept open until
the census is taken as stipulated in the third article of this treaty.
Provided, That if any of the heads of families, for whom reservations may be
made, should remove therefrom, then, in that case, the right to revert to the
United States.
So, in the name of his wife and as a head of a Cherokee
family, Stephen chose to receive a land grant of 644 acres in South Carolina. With
the help of his powerful Waters in-laws, he was able to receive a reservation close
to his own land and close to Thomas Waters’ original patents on the Saluda River.
South Carolina Land Grants
South Carolina
__
for Stephen Cumbo, a tract of Land containing 644 acres, surveyed the 8th
March 1819 Situated in Edgefield District on the Big & Little Rocky Creek
waters of
Received in the S. G. Office 8 Sep
1819.
Survey shows it on both sides of
the
(South Caroline Plat Books)
Another grant for Adam Shealy explains more about the location
and how close it was to the Edgefield and
South Carolina Land Grants
South Carolina
I do certify for Adam Shealy a tract
of land containing Two Hundred and Thirty acres Surveyed 21 __ 1819 Situate in
Lexington District and Edgefield District on Rocky creek waters of Saluda River
bounded by a line running SE by lands Surveyed for Stephen Cumbo SW by land held
by Wm Forter NW & NE by land held by Adam Shealy and hath such form &
marks as the above plat represents. Wilkes
(South
Caroline Plat Books)
As hoped for, a grant of a 644-acre reservation was given to
Stephen because of his wife’s Cherokee roots. It does not specify that this was
part of the Indian Reservation Treaty of 1817, but a few other families with a Cherokee
relationship received land in South Carolina at the same time. Fortunately for
Stephen, Wilkes Berry Waters, a state surveyor, was the nephew of Colonel Thomas
Waters. The Waters family obviously had enough clout in the community to get
this done, but they also probably had included some of Thomas Waters’ original land.
The location was next to Waters’ Ferry where Philemon (or Ferry Phil) Waters, the
son of Colonel Thomas Waters, owned land. He and the other Waters actually
lived across the river in Newberry District. Additionally, Stephen’s nearest
neighbor was John Griffin, Junior, a young man of twenty. John Griffin’s mother
was a sister of Stephen’s Cherokee wife.
As part of the agreement for Stephen to hold the reservation
of 644 acres, he was required by law to live on the property. (In addition, he would
not be allowed to retain the property. His ownership would end with his death,
reverting the land back to the state.) Presumably for this reason, he sold his
1814 grant on the Saluda River and moved to the new acquisition. As expected,
he sold his land to the Waters family. This is one of the few
Lexington District Memorials
Stephen Cumbo to Wilkes B. Watters
[sic] deed $1000 475 acres waters of Big
(Memorialized
Records of Lexington District 1814-1825, Brent Holcomb)
Three years later, in the next census for the year 1820,
Stephen should have been listed living on his Cherokee Reservation next to John
Griffin. He was not listed anywhere in the census, but since he was now living
on nontaxable property, he may have been intentionally left off the census. Indians
not taxed were not included in the census. Another reason he may have been
missed is because he lived on the district line between Edgefield and
Lexington. John Griffin was in one county and his father was in the other, but nothing
shows where Stephen and his family lived.
South Carolina 1820 Census - Edgefield
County
page 74a
Stephen Laurence
John Griffin [Junior]
South
Carolina 1820 Census - Lexington County
John
Griffin [Senior]
Adam Shealy [a neighbor of Stephen Cumbo]
Jacob
Crout, Jr [also a neighbor]
Back on Indian Creek where the original home place had been lived
Mary Cumbo (nee Warren), the widow of Isaac Cumbo. The ages of the children
show that she was a widow and the mother of a young family. She was living in
Leroy’s former residence, so some of the children may be Leroy’s from his first
wife. Leroy had been in the US Army from 1813-1818.
South Carolina 1820 Census - Edgefield County
Edgefield County
[0-10,-16,-18,-26,-45,-99 = Slaves = Free Colored
page 88
line 9- Jeremiah Burnett
line 28-Mary Cumbo 3.2.0.0.0=1.1.0.1
.0 *has two in agriculture
neighbor: Saml Funderburg,
Two years later, presumably with the money he received from
the sale of his first grant of 475 acres, Stephen Cumbo purchased additional
property.
South Carolina Land Grants
South Carolina
I do hereby certify for Stephen
Cumbo a tract of land containing four hundred and forty eight acres surveyed
for him the 13th of Feby 1822, Situate in Edgefield District on the
heads of the branches of Clouds Creek waters of Saluda river bounded by a line running
SE and S by land surveyed for Wm Prescoate NW and NE by land surveyed for Saml
Brooks, NW by land Surveyed for Adam Shealey SW by land surveyed for Lyporal
Byerly S W by land surveyed for Humphrey Phryer and hath such form and marks as
the above plat represents. Received in the S.[Surveyor] G.[General’s ] Office
20th August 1822. Abner Nelson, D.S.
Lines also include at a corner
Thos. Holley John Griffin C.C.
(South
Caroline Plat Books)
In a few years, according to the following deed, Stephen Cumbo
sold this parcel of land. He sold it to Robert Boyce, a son-in-law of Col.
Thomas Waters.
Edgefield District Deed
Stephen Cumbo to Robert Boyce -
Stephen Cumbo SC his mark
Witness: Thomas Waters, Benjamin Lindsey.
Thos Waters came before me and made present and did see Stephen Cumbo sign
seal and deliberate...6 January 1826.
Recorded 9 Jan 1826.
(Edgefield
Dist. Deed Bk 41 page 302)
Stephen Cumbo Receives a Pension
The purpose of Stephen selling this property may have been
to allow him to reduce his estate, and provide some inheritance to children. It
also may have been done to allow Stephen to apply for a military pension. In
the following year he filed for his pension and began to receive a $60 payment.
South Carolina Accounts Audits of
claims growing out of the Rev. War.
Stephen Cumbo, pension applied 28 Nov
1827
Stephen Cumbo’s Petition for
Pension
To the Honble the Genl. Afsembley
of the State of
The
petition of the undersigned at present ___ inhabited of the District of
Edgefield, respectfully ___ that your petitioner was a Soldier of the revolutionary
War, that he faithfully served his country under various officers from an Early
Period of that War, to the Happy Conclusion thereof—that he served as a
Volunteer at the Siege of Savannah in Genl. William’s Brigade that on the fall
of Charleston in [blank] he joined the friends of the Country, & went with
them to North Carolina & continued in
service as a Volunteer, until Colo. Samuel Hammond was authorized to
Raise a Regiment of Regular State Dragoons. When he enlisted in that Regiment,
in which he served to the Expiration of that term & was honorably
Discharged--& was again immediately signed to serve for three years or
During the War in a new Regiment of Horse ordered to be raised in his State to
be Commanded by Colo. S. Hammond, but which was discharged shortly after,
inconsequence of Peace being made—Your Petitioner received Several Slight
wounds in these Services, but not Such as __r, While young, So suffering
injurious as to induce him to apply for a petition as others more Severely afflicted
were induced to do, but now that he is Old & Otherwise infirm &
helpless & with all Very poor, he is constrained to ask for some pecuniary
and for his Support Humbly Considers that he may appoint Your honorable body in
confidence, believing that his appeal is Supported by Justice, & flatters
himself will be so considered Various the f__ here in set forth, are in possession
of your Petitioner and will be handed to those to whom your honorable Body may
think proper to direct in hopes than that your Honors will order __ relief by
placing me on the list of official Pensions for the Short time I may be
permitted to Sojourn amongst you. Shall ___ bound shall every pray.
Novr 25, 1829 Stephen--his S mark--Cumbo
Test
Edmund Gee
Statement of worth
South Carolina
Richland District
Personally appeared Stephen Cumbo
and __ his oath that the following is all the property both real and personal
that he is worth viz. Has possession of one hundred acres of pine land, the
title of which is doubtful, one ox two years old, two pots, one dutch oven,
half dozen earthen plates, one dish & one Bowl, two beds with furniture,
all quite indifferent, three small axes, one small shovel plough. Defendant further
swears that he has eight persons in family besides himself, five of them are unable
to support themselves. Sworn to before me.
28 Novr 1827—Stephen his S mark
Cumbo
Ben Rawls
(File #1684A, SC Dept of Archives
and History Micro Film record 0014.003.0029.00440.00)
The statement may have been accurate in specifying that he only
owned 100 acres of land. The amount may also have referred to his original home
place located on the Ridge near Indian Creek. If his wife was dead, his rights
to the 644 acres “reservation” on the
A few years later Stephen was listed appropriately in the US census of 1830. His location was still on the Saluda where the new purchase and his 644-acre reservation had been located. John Holley, the husband of Rosanna Waters who was a daughter of Colonel Thomas Waters, was Stephen’s neighbor and he would eventually become the owner of Waters Ferry, which thus became known as Hollys Ferry. John Griffin, Junior and his father, John Senior, were also listed still living near by. Back on the Ridge was David Cumbo, a son of Isaac and Mary.
South Carolina 1830 Census – Edgefield District
([5,10,15,20,30,40,50,60,70)
page 154
Stephen Cumbow 0-2-1-0-0-1=2-1-0-0-0-1
John Holley
Abner Nelson
John McNary
John Griffin 1-1-0-0-1-1=0-1-0-0-0-1
John Griffin 1[60-70]=0-0-0-2-0-0-0-1
Mathias Sheley
page 160
David Cumbo 0-0-0-1=0-0-0-1
near by
Saml Funderburg
Arthur Pagget
Honoring Stephen Cumbo, Another Brave Soldier
Gone
Six years later, at the age of 77, Stephen Cumbo died. His
obituary reported his death in the October 28th issue of the Southern Times and State Gazette. It
also described his service in the Revolutionary war and No doubt these were two
items that made him and his family proud of their Cumbo name. As the poem says,
“You, for your country, fought and bled.”
Stephen Cumbo’s Obituary
"The Southern Times and State Gazette"
October 28, 1836 issue
Stephen Cumbo Obituary
Another brave Soldier gone.
Died at his residence in Edgefield District,
on the 7th instant. Mr.
Stephen Cumbo, in the
77th year of his age. He
was a soldier under
Col. Hammond in the Revolution, and
was in
most of the battles of the south.
He was en-
gaged at the brilliant and
successful action of
Eutaw Springs; also, at the Siege of
Savannah,
in the front of the hottest battle
at the time, and
near the fatal spot where the brave
Pulaski fell
and was an eye witness to that
awful scene.—
But brave soldier, farewell, the
storm of your
last battle has long ago ceased on
the field, and
the time will soon be here when no
trace will
remain to show that you ever lived,
as it is pre-
sumed no sculptured warrior will mourn
at your
low laid head.
But fame is your’s and future
days
On pillar’d brass shall tell
your praise
When cold neglect is dead:
You, for your country, fought and
bled.
The obituary leaves no better tribute to Stephen Cumbo, a Friend of America and an American Patriot.
Stephen Cumbo’s Descendants
1.
Isaac T. Cumbo, Son
of Stephen and FNU Waters
Born 1774-1790 Edgefield District, South Carolina
Died before 1820 Edgefield District, South Carolina
Married to Mary Warren, daughter of William Warren
Isaac was listed in the 1800 census, but at his age, he should
not have been head of household.
South Carolina 1800 Census - Edgefield
District
0-10,-16,-26,-45,-etc= all others
except Indians not taxed = slaves
page 155
Isaac Come? 1-0-1-1-0=1-0-0-1
In 1810, Isaac T. Cumbo could have been in his father’s
household:
South Carolina 1810 Census - Edgefield
District
Edgefield County next to last column="all other except Indians not taxed"
Pg 78
James Johnson 10010-21110 (four
names from Stephen Cumbo
John Whitman
Stephen Cumbo ----=----- =7=0
A year later, Isaac was a witness for neighbor James Johnston.
This is the only other record mentioning him and giving his middle initial, T.
(Note that Isaac could sign his name. This may have been why his name appeared
on the 1800 census.)
Edgefield District Wills
Book B. Page 399 18 Feb 1811 –
James Johnson – my former son-in-laws
Alexd. Calhoun, and James Brown; my granddaughter Catherine Calhoun; affectionate
friend Catherine C. Hutton of Abbeville; my dtr. Margaret Johnston [sic]; I appoint
Margaret Johnston, Cornelius Tobin & Joseph Hutton executors. Joseph Hutton
to be guardian for Catherine Calhoun. Witness David Coalters, Jacob Baker,
& I.T. Cumbo. Proved 5 March 1818.
Since Mary Cumbo appears as a widow with five sons and two
daughters ten years later in the 1820 census, she is believed to be I.T.’s
wife. The location appears to be near
the home place on the Ridge. Note that Leroy was not found in this census.
South Carolina 1820 Census - Edgefield
District
[0-10,-16,-18,-26,-45,-99 = Slaves = Free Colored
page 88
line 9- Jeremiah Burnett
line 28-Mary Cumbo 3.2.0.0.0=1.1.0.1 .0 *has two in agriculture
neighbor: Saml Funderburg,
The children listed in Mary’s household may have included
children from Leroy’s first family. His wife died early and Leroy joined the
Army by 1813. Mary herself may have gone to Georgia later on. A widow Mary
Cumba was in
1832 Gold Lottery for Georgia
Mary Cumba (widow) in Richmond
(Winners must have been in Ga since 1829
to be allowed to draw lot)
The Warren Connection
The wife of I.T. Cumbo may have been Mary Warren. The family
name was given to Warren Hammond Cumbo, and the first name Elbert or Welbert was
used by both families. Presumably Mary’s father was William Warren, but that
has not been proven. Since the
Genforum
James Warren Jr. was a Baptist Minister;
he was born in Albemarle Co.,
1.1 David Cumbee, Child
of Isaac Cumbo and Mary Warren
Born: 1812 in Edgefield Co., SC.
Married: 1) just before 1830 in Edgefield Co., wife’s name
unknown, 2) married about 1841 to Sarah LNU.
Died: after 1883 in Crawford Co., GA.
South Carolina 1830 Census - Edgefield
District
page 160
David Cumbo 1 male 15-20 and 1
female 15-20
South Carolina 1840 Census - Edgefield
District
page 139
Nathan McCarty
David Cumbo 0-0-0-0-1=2-1-1-0-1
Elbert Cumbo 1-0-0-0-1=0-0-0-0-1
Samuel Funderburg
Crawford County Courthouse, built in 1832.
Most of his children were born in Edgefield, but by 1860
David had moved to Crawford County, Georgia. The 1860 census lists his entire
known family.
Georgia 1860 Census – Crawford County
David Cumbee 48 born in SC
Sarah A 35 SC
Sarah 18 SC
Nancy 15 SC
David 14 [not
marked]
Leander 10 “
Dicy 6 “
David is also found in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of
Crawford County, Georgia. He is last mentioned in a 1883 tax record for the
county. His son and daughters married as follows:
Sarah married
Owen Hobbs 28 Dec 1865 Macon, GA.
Nancy married
Silas J Barker 16 Nov 1865 Macon, GA.
David
married Nancy Cumby 1866 Taylor County, GA.
Leander
married Edward W Wiggins 25 Dec 1865 Macon, GA.
Dicey married Owen Hobbs 19 Apr 1885
Crawford Co GA.
1.2 Welbert Cumbee,
Child of Isaac Cumbo and Mary Warren
Born: 1812 in
Edgefield Co., SC.
Married: 1) Alfa J. Padgett before 1840 Edgefield Co., SC.
2) married Martha Brewer 8 Mar 1855 in Hillsborough Co., FL.
Died: 1905 at the Cumbee Settlement, Plk Co., FL.
Welbert Cumbee is mentioned in the estate records of James Whittle. He and his wife are also listed in deed releasing their right to his wife's claim to her inheritance. By the time of the 1850 census, his wife Alpha had passed away.
Edgefield Co. SC Probate Records
(Apt.)
Estate of James Whittle, decd;
Joseph Whittle, Admin. (FHL film 162,264)
List of notes returned by Joseph Whittle admr. of estate of James Whittle decd,
26 March 1844 ... (frame 15) Account current, filed 8 Jan. 1846, Lucretia Whitten,
Amrx.
Payments - Jan. 4, 1845, paid Lawson
Ryorden for carrying chain, same to Wilbert Cambo;
Edgefield Deeds
Bk CCC page 251
Release - Welbert Combo & Wife to A. J. Padget.
South Carolina Edgefield District. Wilbert Cumbo and Alpha Cumbo his wife
for and consideration of one dollar paid by Arthur J. Padget have released
and conveyed to the said Arthur J. all our claim to the money now in the
hands of James Terry Esq. Commissioners in Equity for said district or to be
collected by him from the sales of two tracts of land lately belonging to
Mark Padgett, deceased viz. one tract of 240 acres more or less called the
Smith tract our interest in which was also conveyed to said Arthur J. on 7
March 1838 and one other tract of 150 acres more or less on Waters of Moores
Creek waters of Clouds Creek being part of a tract granted to Thos Warren
and our interest in which was also conveyed to said Arthur J. 7 April 7 1838
and we do hereby authorize said Terry to pay said money to the Said Arthur
J. ... 31 January 1843. Signed Welbert (his mark) Cumbo, Alfey (her mark)
Cumbo
Witneess Eliga Boddie, Bluet Padget.
South Carolina 1840 Census - Edgefield
District
Page 139
Nathan McCarty
David Cumbo 0-0-0-0-1=2-1-1-0-1
Elbert Cumbo 1-0-0-0-1=0-0-0-0-1
Samuel Funderburg
South Carolina 1850 Census - Edgefield District
Page 181B
Welbert Cumbeau 37
Hammond Cumbeau 10
Polly Cumbeau 7
Sally Cumbeau 5
David Cumbeau 8
After 1850, Welbert removed to Polk County, Florida. He married his second wife there, Martha Ann
Brewer on 8 Mar 1855. The 1860 census shows his son Hammond and a daughter next
door:
Florida 1860 Census – Polk County
Household No. 188
Hammon Combe 20
Sarah 15
Sally Combe 15
Household No. 189
Wilbert Combe 40 [sic, s/b 50]
Martha 30
Mary 10
May
9
Martha 7
Matilda 1
Welbert served in the Seminole Indian Wars under Sparkman’s
Independent. Co. Florida Mounted Volunteers. The date is unknown, but Sparkman reported
scouting for Indians in the Big Cypress Swamp in southeast Florida in 1858.
The 1880 census includes names of other children:
Florida 1880 Census – Polk County
Wilbord Cumbee 70
Martha Cumbee 50
Elizabeth Brewer 30
Winnie Cumbee 17
Joseph Cumbee 16
Artemus Cumbee 12
David Cumbee 8
Three other children not listed were William N., Jimmie, Martha,
Welbert’s children married the following spouses:
Hampton married
Sarah A. Tach 27 Oct 1859 Hillsborough Co., FL.
Mary married
James Miley 18 Dec 1856 Hillsborough Co., FL.
Wessie married
Lorance M. K. Grimes 12 Jan 1876 Polk Co., FL.
Winnie
married W. F. Reynolds 24 Oct 1884 Polk Co., FL.
Joseph married Alice Acru 27 Aug
1892 Polk Co., FL.
Artemus married Emilia Lewis 14 Jun
1891 Polk Co., FL
David C. married Osceola Roberts 5
Jan 1896 Polk Co., FL.
Martha J. married J. J. Judy 23 Mar
1898 Polk Co., FL.
1.3 Warren Hammond
Cumbo, Child of Isaac Cumbo and Mary Warren
Born: 1816 in Edgefield Co., SC.
Married: Mary Scott about 1839 in Edgefield Co., SC.
Died: 6 Mar 1869, Edgefield Co., SC.
Warren Cumbo and his wife are first located in the 1840 Census for Edgefield District. Warren’s wife’s name, Mary or Polly, is given in the distribution of her father’s property.
South Carolina 1840 Census - Edgefield District
Hammond
Cumbo
1 male
under 5
1 male 20-29
1 female
20-29
Edgefield County, S. C. Records [compiled by Janie Revill, copyright, 1984]
Scott, William--Dec'd.
R. E. Sold 1841/2 Edgefield Rec. B.
B-53
Distribution:
Thomas Hanshaw and wife 1/3 $62.62
Elias McCarty -w- Anna
Allen Creed -w- Sally
Hammond Cumbo -w- Polly
Elisha Barker -w- Susan
Henry, John and Rebecca Scott
Alpha Scott [-m- Bartlett Franklin before 4 Jan 1847]
Page 55--Shows another tract--same heirs.
The 2/3 remaining in this distribution was 1/8 of 2/3 to each--$15.65
The next mention for Hammond is the 1850 census. He is listed in the same household as William Howard.
South Carolina 1850 Census - Edgefield District
William Howard 28 blacksmith
Elizabeth Howard 18
John Howard 1
Hammon Cumbs 34 farmer
Mary Cumbs 20
John H Cumbs 11
Narcissa Cumbs 9
Frances P Cumbs 7
Martha Cumbs 4
Mary A Cumbs 2
Hammond sold land to Jesse Salcher in December of 1855. Z.P. Claxton was a witness. At the top of the deed it said “Thomas Cumbo” to Jesse Salcher. Later Hammond Cumbo bought land from Jeptha Couch and Elizabeth Couch.
South Carolina 1860 Census - Edgefield
District
Harmon
Cumbo 45
Mary 35
John 20
Paulina 16
Margaret 12
Warren 10
Riley 8
Melissey 6
David 10/12
[
]ie Dye 14 [male]
Hammond was in the Civil war where
his name is recorded as Warier H Cumbee. He joined the 5th Regiment, South
Carolina Reserves for 90 days in 1862-1863 at age 48. His civil war records
show:
-
Pvt. Co. 2nd
Regiment South Carolina Troopers. Dates August 1st, 1863 to February 2nd 1864.
-
Pvt. Co.K.5th regiment of South Carolina Reserves November
10th 1862 to February 10, 1862.
A GenForum source provided Hammond’s death date: W. Hammond died 6 Mar 1869, Edgefield Co. S.C. Mary (Polly) Scott? died 1 Apr 1879, Edgefield Co. S.C.
Their children married as follows:
John
married Almeta Jane Kirkland about 1860 Edgefield Co., SC.
Narcissa married Zachariah P.
Claxton 22 April 1860 Edgefield Co., SC.
Francis
Paulina unmarried
Margaret Mary married William
Taylor Loftin 16 Apr 1879 Troup Co., GA.
Warren
Hammond married Flora Ables abt 1885 Carrol Co., GA.
William Riley
married Emma 27 Dec 1877 Spradling Troup Co., GA
Malissa status
unknown
David H. married Martha Cato 24 Oct
1888 Troup Co., GA.
2.
Leroy Roan Cumby,
Son of Stephen and FNU Waters
Born: 1783 Edgefield Co., SC.
Married: unknown before 1810, 2nd Nancy Fulgam 2
August 1821, 3rd Sarah LNU before 1860
Died: aft 1860 in Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., GA.
Leroy Cumby, Stephen’s youngest son, is listed on the 1810 Edgefield
Census living near the original home place on the Ridge. The head count of 6 would
include him, his wife, and at least a daughter mentioned later. That leaves three
head count not known. This suggests that he also had other children born about
this time and could easily have had others born soon after. Therefore, it is possible
that some of the younger Cumbos found in Mary’s 1820 census listing in Edgefield
County are his sons, not I.T.’s.
South Carolina 1810 Census - Edgefield
District
page 68
Leroy Cumbo ----=----- =6=0
Joseph Whittle
Leroy Cumbo joined the Army while living in Edgefield District.
U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments,
1798-1914 (Ancestry.com)
4128- Cumbo Leroy [also] Cumbow 18
US Infy
[Height] 5’10 ½ “
[Eyes] Blue
[Hair] Black
[Complexion] Fair
[Born] Edgefield, Orangeburg District
SC
[Enlisted] Aug 19 1813, Edgefield SC,
[by] Ens. Wartley, [to] Aug 18 1818.
[Served in] King’s Co, Charleston
Line. Hooks Co. Discharged Aug 18, 1819. Term expired.
After his release from the army, Leroy married his second wife, Nancy Fulgum.
Georgia Marriages, 1699-1944
Leroy Roan Cumbo
Nancy Fulgum
2 Aug 1821 Hancock, Georgia
Due to his service in the army, Leroy received land in Arkansas.
U.S. General Land Office
Records, 1776-2015 (Ancestry.com
John Quincy Adams President of the United States
…Leroy Cumbow having deposited in the General Land Office a Warrant
in his favor numbered 26000 there is granted unto the said Leroy Cumbow late a
private in Hooks Compy of the 45th Regt of Infy and to his heirs a
certain Tract of Land containing one hundred sixty acres NW of Section
Twenty-one of Township Eighteen North Range nine West. In tracts appropriated
for Military Bounties In the Territory of Arkansas…. Fifth day of March
Eighteen hundred and twenty seven and of the Independence of the United States
fifty first.
About 1830, undelivered letters, addressed to Baldwin Co, Georgia, were advertised for
both Leroy and Nancy.
Georgia 1830 Census - Washington
County
page
271A/B line 15
Cumby Leroy
1
male 40-50
2
female 5-10
1
female 15-20 [Martha
1
female 40-50 [Nancy
5 total
1832 Gold Lottery for Georgia
Leroy Cumba in Washington County
(Winners must have been in Ga since 1829
to be allowed to draw lot)
In the
1840 census, Leroy Cumbo’s name is indexed as Levy Comby, but in the original
it looks like Leroy Cumby.
Georgia 1840 Census - Bibb County
Levy
Comby
1
male age 50-60 [Leroy Comby
1
female age 0-5 [Mary A. A.
1
female age 5-10 [Caroline
1
female age 10 -15 [Mary E, dau
of Martha
1
female age 30-40 [Martha
1
female age 50-60. [Nancy or Sarah,
wife
Milledgeville, capital of Georgia
from 1804 to 1868.
(GSU Library Special Collection.)
The
last record for Leroy is in 1860, but it suggests that he might have had a daughter
named Martha.
Georgia1860 Census – Baldwin County
- Milledgeville
Household #239
William Boutwell 30
born in GA Peddler
Martha Cumby 54 born in GA
Household #242
Leroy L Cumby 77 [no occupation] born in SC
Sarah Cumby 65 born in
VA
Mary A A Lanham 26
William T Bickle 19
Martha Cumby, who lived close to Leroy in 1860, may have been
his daughter. Martha Cumby is found again in Wilkinson County in the 1870
census with Mary E. Floyd, age 38, and William Floyd, age 10. Her name is
spelled “Crumbie.” She is found later back in Baldwin County in the 1880 census
listed again with Mary Floyd, age 40 [sic], and, as “grandmother” of William
Floyd, age 19.
William W. Boutwell, listed with Martha Cumby in 1860, married
another daughter of Leroy, Caroline Cumby. They married 2 Oct 1855 in Baldwin
County. William was the son of Chappel Boutwell, mayor of Milledgeville during
the Civil War.
In the 1880 Baldwin census, William Floyd’s household with
mother Mary and grandmother Martha Cumby was next door to James Boutwell, a
carpenter age 40, with wife Elizabeth, age 35, and William Lanham, age 17, listed
as his stepson. The earlier 1870 census for Bartow County shows William Lanham,
age 3, with father William Lanham, age 30, and mother Mary E., age 29. It is
not clear if the Mary A. A. Lanham in Leroy Cumby’s 1860 household was related to
Mary E. Lanham or Elizabeth Lanham found later in these censuses.
3.
Elizabeth Cumbo, Daughter
of Stephen and FNU Waters
Born 1790-1794 in Edgefield Co., SC.
Married John Whitman before 1807 in Edgefield Co., SC.
Died after 1840 in Edgefield Co., SC.
The marriage of Elizabeth Cumbo to John Whitman is based on
the fact that John’s family recalls that they were part Cherokee. Since John
was German but lived next to Stephen Cumbo when he first married, it is assumed
he married the daughter of Stephen. Later on, in the 1840 census, Elizabeth
Whitman is the widow who most likely was John’s wife. DNA has confirmed the connection
of between Stephen’s family and the Whitmans.
The 1810 census shows John Whitman living next to Stephen
with his father Christopher nearby. A deed made shortly afterwards confirms the
relationship between John and Christopher.
South Carolina 1810 Census - Edgefield
District
Christopher Whiteman males: one
under 10, one 16-26;
females: two under 10, two 10-16, 1 16-25,
one over 45. [five away]
John Whitman males: one under 10, one 26-45; females: two under 10, one 16-26.
Stephen Cumbo 7 free persons except Indians not taxed.
Caty Whitman males: two under 10;
females: one under 10, one 26-45.
Edgefield District
Deeds
Book 32 page 111
Christopher Witman
to Mary Rickerd, Deed of Gift, 18 March 1814, Love & affection, after
paying my debts, plantation I now live on and after her decease to Joseph
Rickerd to raise the children, and as they marry and leave her I leave it in her
power to give to each as much as she shall see fit to help them. Wit William
Fortner, George Deen Senr./s/Christopher (W) Witman. Be it remembered that I
gave to my son John Witman as much as I intend, only one shilling sterling to
remember me, to Sarah Witman one shilling to remember me, to Francis Witman I
gave her as much as I intended only one shilling sterling to remember me, to
Catherine Witman I have given her as much as I intended only one shilling sterling
to remember me. Wit. William Fortner, George Deed Jr. Sampson Pope J. Q. Rec 15
Novr 1814.
The same location in 1830 offers no clue as to where John Whitman
or his wife Elizabeth resided. But the Griffins and Cumbos were still there in
the same place. The location on the Saluda River was once known as Waters Ferry,
and owned by Colonel Thomas Water’s son Ferry Phil. It was now called Holley’s
Ferry, Col. Water’s son-in-law. Griffins, another family connected to the Waters
and Whitmans, also lived nearby
South Carolina 1830 Census –
Edgefield County
Stephen Cumbow
John Holley
4 away
John Griffin
John Griffin
10 years later the Cumbos, Whitmans and Griffins all appear
as neighbors. Emanuel Cumbo, a son of John Whitman and Elizabeth Cumbo was
there. He and his brothers will travel with the Griffins to Tallapoosa County,
Alabama.
South Carolina 1840 Census - Edgefield
District
page
137
Catey Whitman 1 male under 5, 1 15-20, 1 female 10-15, 1 20-30, 1 60-70
Emanuel Whitman 1 male under 5, 1 20-30, 1 female under 5 1 20-30.
page
138
1 John Griffin Junr 1
male 20-30
2 John Griffin Senr 1
male under 5, 1 40-50, 1 female under
5, 1 15-20, 1 20-30
14 Mary Whitman 1 female 10-15, 1 15-20, 60-70
15 William Fortner
16 Elizabeth Whitmore [sic] 1 male 5-10, 1 10-15, 3 females 15-20, 1 40-50
Page 139
David Cumbo
Elbert Cumbo
Page 140
Levi Whiteman 1 male 20-30, 1 female 30-40
Although the censuses suggest many other children for John
and Elizabeth, the only ones known by name are the following:
Mary Magdalene Whitman married John
W. Griffin by 1836 in Edgefield Co., SC.
Gabriel Whitman married Demarious LNU
before 1837 in Edgefield Co., SC.
Emanuel Cumbo Whitman married Martha
Jane Duke 19 Sep 1842 Fayette Co., GA.
George W. Whitman married Mary A.
Griffin 23 Apr 1843 Jasper Co., GA.
Edgefield
County Square and Courthouse built 1839.
[Edgefield Country Historical Society]
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