Military Monday- CSA SC Soldiers

I am always looking for newly digitized records and just found a extremely special one. In 2012, the Dead Librarian reported that she found a ledger of CSA Soldiers for the entire state of South Carolina. This book has been digitized and can now be found online! You can read the post on the Dead Librarian’s blog here:
http://thedeadlibrarian.blogspot.com/2012/05/sc-confederate-rolls-newly-discovered.html


I was specifically looking for “Roll of Company E, Hampton Legion, South Carolina Volunteers, in the Confederate States Provisional Army.” I found the first page of this group on page 325 and it can be seen here: 
http://digital.tcl.sc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/confedrolls/id/705/show/475/rec/7

This page includes the following names:
Bozeman, T.L.
Adams, T.S.
Arnold, R.B.
Davenport, W.A.B.
Nesbitt, C.D.
Thompson, M.W.
Huff, J.R.
Howard, C.P.
Stenhouse, J.T.
Baker, T.P.
Copes, Joel
Hammond, J.S.
Parler, L.E.
Thompson, J.P.
Pinson, J.D.
Peden, D.T.
Babb, T.D.
Austin, F.M.
Bagwell, W.A.
Fowler, J. Wilson
Kirby, W.V.
Peden, A.M.
Harrison, J.L.
Godfrey, J.R.
Meeks, James
Allison, R.B.
Anderson, S.L.
Austin, W.T.
Austin, Chisolm
Austin, T.W.
Austin, D.M.
Aughtry, Robert
Aughtry, W.M.
Allison, James
Acker, E.H.
Acker, Newton
Bozeman, J.J.
Babb, Martin
Bookhart, J.T.
Baker, T.
Harvey Boyd, J.S.
Berry, A.J.
Blythe, J.W.
Coker, H.S.
Coker, Marshall
Coker, Wilson
Coker, Robert
Coker, Thurman
Chapman, J.T.
Chapman, Ira C.
Chapman, J.W.
Chapman, Elias
Chapman, Soloman
Cely, H.W.
Chandler, J.M.
Chandler, P.L.
Carson, Joseph
Davenport, John
Davenport, C.J.
Davenport, Joseph
Davenport, W.P.
Davenport, Berry
 Davenport, Martin
Davenport, Willis
Davenport, Ira C.
Davis, William
Davis, G.W.
Dawson, Stephen
Dorroh, P.C.
Emmons, Austin
Estes, James
Eskew, Y.D.
Eskew, S.A.
Eskew, J.R.
Eskew, Simeon
Fowler, R.A.
Fowler, J.W.
Fowler, J.J.
Fowler, M.T.
Felder, J.D.
Farmer, R.H.
Fuller, W.S.
Fernandes, H.F.
Goldsmith, J.W.
Gambrell, Norman
Gunnells, Robert
Guinn, John
Guthrie, William
Huff, John H.
Howard, J.D.
Hiett, J.S.
Holliday, J.J.
Hineman,
Jones, J.L.
Jenkins, J.H.
Jackson, B.E.
Johnston, W.H.
Kirby, J.P.
Kisler, John
Kisler, Andrew
Livington, W.O.
Livingston, A.P.
Livingston, Thomas
McCoy, Ira C.
Marshall, W.L.
Mattison, L.W.
Mattison, T.S.
Meares, Wyatt
Meares, S.M.
Myers, Jeremiah
McCollough, James

I've found more information about the following soldiers:

Pinckney Lafayette Chandler: This is my 2x great-grandfather.  He was born 29 Dec 1842/ died 25 Dec 1868; son of Willis Chandler and his wife, Leanna Campbell; husband of Susan Elliotte Vance Chandler Davenport; father of Dr. William Vance Chandler

Francis Marion Austin: born 17 Oct 1837/ died 7 June 1916; brother in law of  Pinckney Lafayette Chandler (married to his sister Sarah Ann “Annie” Chandler); son of Vincent Austin and his wife, Mary Kerby

Chisolm Austin: brother to soldier Francis Marion Austin

Thomas W. Austin: also brother to soldier Francis Marion Austin

Captain William Arthur Bolling Davenport: son of Isaac Davenport; postmaster of Horse Creek

Treasure Chest Thursday- An Unusual Namesake is still a Welcome Namesake

My daughter was 4 years old this Christmas of 2009 when Santa Claus brought her a Madame Alexander doll. She immediately called her "My own twin doll" because they both have blond hair and blue eyes. She carried her around all morning. Later in the morning on Christmas, I asked her "What are you going to name that baby?" Her answer completely shocked me. I'm glad my husband was there because he would have never believed she came up with this name without any help from me. So why was I so shocked?


She said "I am going to name her "Susan Elliotte Vance Chandler" and call her "Elliotte."" The reason I was speechless was that this was the full name of my great-great-grandmother and her great-great-great-grandmother. Susan Elliotte Vance Chandler was born 26 March 1846 and lived in Greenville County, South Carolina. The 4th child of William Gilmer Vance and Sisaly Devenport, Elliotte married Pinckney Lafayette Chandler (possibly around 1866). Pinckney was the son of Willis C. Chandler and Leanna Campbell.  Together they had one child, William Vance Chandler, on 13 July 1867. Her husband Pinckney died on Christmas Day in 1868 at the young age of 25. Later the young widow remarried Ira William Davenport and had a large family with him. She also died young on 3 September 1882 at the young age of 36.


I have often wondered how horrible that Christmas Day must have been for her- losing her husband so suddenly and being left alone to care for a 17 month old child. Who would have thought that one Christmas morning 141 years later someone would pay tribute to her in such a special way? I can't imagine anything more wonderful than to be remembered. I think that’s all our ancestors want. But to hear her great-great-great-grandbaby call out her name 127 years after her death? I know she was proud.


So how did my daughter even remember this name? I had told her this name in passing weeks before. I think that in itself is remarkable for a 4 year old girl to remember. But maybe she had some help. Maybe someone special whispered it in her ear. Regardless of how she remembered the name, I am so proud she did. It made my day and I know it made a group of people in heaven very happy too.

Tombstone Tuesday: “Almost” Buried Together

Pinckney Lafayette Chandler and Susan Elliotte Vance Chandler Davenport

My great-great-grandparents are “almost” buried together at Oak Hill Methodist Church Cemetery in Greenville County, South Carolina.

Pinckney Lafayette Chandler was the 3rd child of Willis C. Chandler and his wife, Leanna Campbell Chandler. Longtime residents of Greenville County, all three were members of Fork Shoals Baptist Church in Pelzer, Greenville County, South Carolina. Pinckney was born 29 December 1842. At the age of 18, on 19 June 1861 (the day I was born many years later), he joined for duty and enrolled in Hamptons Legion, Company E of the South Carolina Volunteers, CSA. This was one of the companies that fought at the First Battle of Manassas, Virginia on 21 July 1861 and was the battle that Thomas J. Jackson stood his ground and earned the nickname “Stonewall” Jackson. Pinckney is listed on a Surgeon’s Certificate at Camp Butler on 24 October 1861 and later appears on a list of sick and wounded on 27 October 1861 with what appears to say “Bronchitis Chron.” which I assume means Chronic Bronchitis.

He married a neighbor, Susan Elliotte Vance (daughter of William Gilmer Vance and Sisaly Devenport Vance) probably around the summer of 1866- based on the birth of their son. Susan was born on 26 March 1846. He would have been about 23 and she was about 20 years old. Their only child (my great-grandfather), Dr. William Vance Chandler was born the next year on 13 July 1867 in Greenville County, South Carolina near the area at that time called Chandler, South Carolina. Dr. Chandler later said his father took a fever (some thought they remember it being from a mosquito, others say it may have been from the measles). Regardless of the cause, they wrapped him in a cold, wet sheet hoping to break the fever and he took pneumonia and died on Christmas Day in 1868 a few days before his 26th birthday. His son was only 17 months old. Pinckney was buried at Oak Hill Methodist Church with Susan’s family.

Susan Elliotte Vance Chandler became a widow at the age of 22. She remarried on 11 January 1870 at the home of her mother, Sisaly Vance. Susan’s father had died 6 weeks after her husband, Pinckney. She married Ira William Davenport who was born on 7 December 1847. They had many children before Susan died 3 September 1882 at the young age of 36. She was buried beside Pinckney at Oak Hill Methodist Church Cemetery.

The reason I say they were “almost” buried together is because, although they were buried side by side for years, when her second husband died in 1924, the family had a wall installed in the cemetery to in close Susan together with her new husband, blocking Pinckney outside the wall. I think it is very sad.

Charles Terry to Willis Chandler- Land Deed dated 7 January 1845 in Greenville County, South Carolina

Charles Terry to Willis Chandler

Deed 200 Acres

South Carolina

Greenville District

Know all men by these presents that I, Charles Terry of the State and Dist. aforesaid in consideration of the sum of thousand Dollars to me in hand paid by Willis Chandler of the State and District aforesaid have Granted Bargained Sold and released and by these present do grant bargain sell and release unto the said Willis Chandler part of a Tract of Land that was originally granted to Mary Burns for 315 Acres bearing date the 3 of October 1785 Conveyed to George Brooks and from him to Daniel Ford and now from Charles Terry to Willis Chandler Situate in the State and District aforesaid on the waters of Reedy River Beginning in a Read oak 3x thence N. 60? W. on to T.C. Bolling's line 28 chs. to a Read oak 3x thence S. 35 W 50 chs. to a stake 3x thence N. 75 E 19chs 50 to a stake 3x thence S. 55 E. 38 chs. 50 to a rock in the field 3x thence S. 46 E. 22 chs. across Fords spring Branch to a Read oak 3x thence N. 55 E. 19 50 chs to an Ash on the Ceder Shoal Branch thence up said branch about 50 chs to a Ash 3x thence N. 3 W. 21 chs to the Beginning Red oak 3x Including Two Hundred Acres of land more or less together with all and singular the rights members hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wide incident or appertaining to have and to hold all and singular the premises before mentioned unto the said Willis Chandler his heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby bind myself my heirs Executors and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises unto the said Willis Chandler his heirs and assigns against myself and my heirs and against every person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part there of witness my hand and seal this the 7 day of January 1845.

Charles Terry, LS

Signed Sealed and

Delivered in presence of

Allen Chandler

Tully Campbell

South Carolina

Greenville District Allen Chandler personally appeared before me and made matter? that he saw Charles Terry sign seal and deliver the within Deed of Conveyance to Willis Chandler for the use and purpose therein mentioned; and that Tully Campbell was a subscribing witness with himself.

Sworn to and subscribed this 7th day of January, 1845.

Before me                                                             Allen Chandler

Henry Smith, MGP

The State of South Carolina

Greenville District

I, Henry Smith

Desperately Seeking Willis

I am searching for any information that could help me shed light on the parents of Willis C. Chandler born 28 December 1807. South Carolina Census records say that he was born in South Carolina. The first record that I have found shows Willis signing as a witness to a Codicil added to the will of William Devenport (also an ancestor of mine) between January 1840 and July 1842. The Codicil states that Devenport purchased a tract of land from John Kirby and his children were to divide said land equaling among themselves. The 3 witnesses were listed as Lewis H. Shumate, Nimrod Donaldson and Willis Chandler.

On 12 October 1845, he and his wife Leanna Campbell Chandler joined the Fork Shoals Baptist Church in Greenville County, SC. They are listed as “RWD” in the church minutes, which means “received without detail.” No children are mentioned in the church minutes. Leanna Campbell is the daughter of John Richard Campbell and Virginia Jane Barnett.

Willis and Leanna had 3 children. Mary Jane (26 April 1837- 19 May 1884) married Mark L. Davis. Sarah Ann “Annie” (23 April 1841- 1 April 1874) married Frank M. Austin and is buried at Fork Shoals Baptist Church. My great-great-grandfather, Pinckney Lafayette Chandler was born in 29 December 1842 and married Susan Elliotte Vance (granddaughter of the William Devenport I mentioned earlier). Pinckney died on Christmas Day 1868. His only child, my great-grandfather William Vance Chandler was 17 months old.

Willis remained in Greenville County until his death 13 February 1887. He and his wife Leanna are buried at Fork Shoals Baptist Church. She died 15 January 1876. He was active in the church and served a many committees. He appeared as head of household in the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 South Carolina censuses (in the Oaklawn Township) as well as the 1860 Slave Schedule. His name appears in the Greenville County newspaper “The Southern Enterprise” on 8 September 1869 when serving on the grand jury. He appears in the 1843-1844 Greenville City Directory, as a land owner in the Fork Shoals area.

I have been unable to find him in the 1840 census or at any time before witnessing Devenport’s will between 1840 and 1842. I have been in contact with a few of his daughters’ descendants and they have no information on his parents. I have been told that he may be the son (along with Allen, Josiah and sister Rachel) of Henry Chandler, grandson of William Hampton Chandler of Greenville County, SC but have found no proof for my Willis or the others. I have long suspected that he and Allen Chandler may be brothers or first cousins but have no definite proof of that either.  ***I finally found the proof that Willis & Allen are brothers.  A family member had a letter that identifies them as such!  1Oct2014

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have in determining a family for my Willis. Thank you in advance for your help.