"The Free Lance" Issue: October 14, 1904 DID HE POISON HIS WIFE Union, Oct. 7-Four weeks ago next Sunday Bert GREGORY and Miss Bee WHITE were happily married, it was thought, but now the bride lies at the point of death, and her husband was taken to jail yesterday afternoon on the charge of having poisoned her. On September 11 Miss WHITE was married to GREGORY at the residence of J. A. GOING, superintendent of Aetna Mills, where she was boarding, and the couple have been living near Monarch Mills, where GREGORY worked, their married life, so far as the neighbors knew, being quite happy. Sunday night GREGORY went to the home of Dr. O.L.P. JACKSON, a practicing physician here, and asked for three doses of calomel for himself and three for his wife, which were given to him. Tuesday night, Dr. JACKSON was summoned by the husband, who said his wife was not well, and immediately on seeing the patient, the physician exclaimed she had been poisoned. Mrs. GREGORY replied that she had taken no medicine except from her husband, but had noticed that while the first two doses of calomel tasted as usual, the third had been very bitter. Suspicion at once settled on the husband as having poisoned her, and an empty bottle of strychnine on the table nearby added to the suspicion though the man said he had been using the strychnine on a sore foot at the suggestion of a Negro. As it became more and more evident that the woman had been poisoned, her body and eyes being greatly swollen the man was carried to jail yesterday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff VINSON. The woman's condition is almost hopeless. MRS. GREGORY DEAD Union, Oct. 10-Mrs. Bert Gregory, the bride of but four weeks to a day, who was poisoned last Tuesday night by taking strychnine with Calomel, whether accidental or intentional on the part of her husband remaining to be proved, died yesterday. At the inquest now adjourned until next week strong evidence was introduced against the husband, though he still maintains his innocence. The young woman, who thought she was taking a dose of calomel and afterwards was seized with convulsions Tuesday night, never regained consciousness and the only statement she made was that to the physician when he first arrived. GREGORY was arrested Thursday afternoon on a warrant sworn out by the bride's brother and was released Friday afternoon on a $500 bond. It was thought Saturday that the woman would recover, but she gradually grew worse. At the coroner's inquest yesterday afternoon, some sensational testimony was brought out. Boyd HARRIS, with whom the couple had been living since their marriage, testifying that Tuesday night the young husband insisted that his wife should take the medicine which he had brought out from their room, and which after some persuasion, protesting against not needing it, she took it. H. H. HICKS, who works in the reller room of Monarch Mills, testified that GREGORY had spoken to him before the poisoning occurred, mentioning that he was using some strychnine on a sore foot, it having been suggested by a Negro, who it was reported had killed his wife with strychnine. HIX saying that GREGORY asked him if his wife should accidentally take any of the strychnine, would he likely be prosecuted. H. E. GRIFFIN, who also works at Monarch Mills corroborated HIX's statement, W. T. LEVISTER on the stand said that then days before the poisoning, GREGORY had spoken to him about some of his wife's troubles and intimated that he didn't think she could live long. Henry M. HOLMES, a well known pharmacist, testified to having sold GREGORY some strychnine, which he said was for his sore foot, but which he {HOLMES} had never heard of such a thing being used. GREGORY in his own behalf swore that the poisoning was purely accidental; that the strychnine which he used on his foot was next to the calomel and it might have been accidentally knocked over and become mixed; that his married life had been happy, and he would not have killed his wife for anything. The autopsy was performed by prominent local physicians, who carefully examined the woman's brains, lungs, bowels and stomach in accordance with instructions received from Solicitor SEASE, of this circuit, the stomach being sent to Charleston for examination by experts. The woman poisoned was born in Darlington, S.C., twenty-three years ago. She had been living here for sixteen months and was an orphan. GREGORY is not twenty0five years old. He was born and raised in the Adamsburg section of this county, and in size is a physical giant, though of phlegmatic temperament. He has the reputation of always having been a good fellow, and while there is some strong evidence that he is guilty of his wife's death, still many things point to his innocence. The funeral of Mrs. GREGORY's remains was conducted at 10 o'clock this morning and was attended by a large concourse of friends. George WILKES, who cut Wilkes STEVENSON in a fight some time ago at Lockhart was yesterday sentenced to three months on the county gang or a fine of $100. Lawrence SARTOR; the Negro who killed Henry BOOKER near Coldwell on Sept. 18 was sentenced to four years, while Henry MOSS, who killed Geo. McCULLUM at a game of horse shoes last fall near Mt. Tabor, was convicted of manslaughter and given three years on the gang. UNION: Mr. HAYNES or HAYLES, father of Mrs. William ANDERSON, was stricken with paralysis at 1 a.m., Friday, and Mrs. ANDERSON left the same day for Greenville. News has been received that there is scarcely any hope of his recovery. H. M. HOLMES, until recently pharmacist at Duke's Drug Store, is now connected with the Union Times. J. M. JOHNSON, formerly of Spartanburg, has rented the Haile cottage from the library committee, and will move in a few days. WAS FINED $100 Constable Gideon has returned from Carlisle where he attended the trial of J.W. DAWKINS, charged with storing and keeping. The defendant was found guilty by the magistrate's court and a fine of one hundred dollars was imposed. DAWKINS at last accounts was endeavoring to get an appeal to the city council which it is said, would scarce be granted. Building House for Mrs. A.B. EARLE Chas. C. KIRBY is having a comfortable dwelling built on West Henry street on the lot adjoining Major KIRBY's home place. The new place will be occupied by Mrs. A. B. EARLE and children who will move here from Camden. P.H. FOSTER Visiting Here P. H. FOSTER, a civil engineer in the employ of the United States Geological Survey is in the city, where he will spend the winter with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. FOSTER, on Branch street. Mr. FOSTER has been in Kentucky during the past year, serving as a member of a corps of engineers who have been engaged in extensive work in that state. free post Lisa

I am searching for the parents of Theophus Billings b 1848 and was married to Christina E. Sumner b 1848 in the Bogansville areas of Union, SC. They are both buried in the Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Union, SC Mike Lawson JAX,FL

Surnames I am researching: Kendrick Palmer Draper Spears Scissum or Scisson With allied lines to Foster Steen Bailey Cudd Pridmore McWhorter Jasper McKissick Mullinex Going Garner Wood Savage Moorehead Hames These families appear to be concentrated in the Skull Shoals area Union Co. on the Cherokee Co., line. Elizabeth Palmer daut. Of William Palmer and Martha "Patsy" Spears, m. William Kendrick, probable son of Turner Kendrick who was closely associated with Abel, John, Palmor. And Obediah Kendrick. Turner Kendrick removed to Lincoln/Casey Co., Ky about 1804. William B. Spears m Polly Jasper, daut. of Nicholas Jasper and Elizabeth Wyatt and John Jasper son of Nicholas and Elizabeth m. Rebeckah Hames daut. of Charles Hames and Catharine Krugg. These latter families settled in Pulaski co., KY, adjoining Casey Co. where the Kendricks had settled. I am not positive who the parents of William Palmer was but am sure he was of the line of Parmenas Palmer and Mary Ann Draper because William Kendrick and Elizabeth Palmer named their second son Joshua Draper Palmer Kendrick and Tyrrel and Richard were names of other sons. Christie Russell

All Union County SC families: BROWN, GREGORY, HUCKABY, NIX, JOHNSON Will appreciate any information. Willing to share. Thanks, Delta Rat __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com

My ancestors from Union County carried the surnames Danner, Bobo, Mayes, and Boyce. They went to Panola County, Mississippi during the 1840s and 1850s. Melvin Collier

Hello All- Researching: John Head / Sarah Waters Henry Huff / Rasannah Head John Gore / Jane Dodd Joshua Gore / Frances Huff John Huff / Hannah Jane Gore 1750s-1830s Jane jshimanek@aol.com

PRIDMORE- John (c1763-1841)-father of Thomas (1794-bef 1880)- NJ to Union Co JASPER- John (1722-1799 - Union County VA to Union Co. HERNDON-Mary (c1726-1811) wife-John Jasper-Prob VA to Union Co. GEORGE- John (c1730-1791) Union County -VA to Union Co BYARS- Drury (c1805-1845) married Matilda ? - NC to Union Co. JONES- Simuel Seymour (c1799-?) married Mary "Polly" ? - unknown ancestry BROWN- John (c1770-1819)- g-father of Jane (c1832-?) MD to Union Co KENT- Elizabeth (c1775-1851) wife of John Brown, daughter of Mark KENT Here are my three mystery women: Nancy (1802-bef 1870) married Thomas PRIDMORE (1794-1878). Her father's first name could be Jacob Mary "Polly" (1800-1843) married Simuel Seymour JONES (1799-1883) Matilda (c1807-1855) wife of Drury BYARS who died 5-1-1845 Any new information and/or connections to these families would be appreciated. Susan -- -- Susan C. Johanson, Springfield VA http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=johanson http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/j/o/h/Susan-C-Johanson/ ...Searching for footprints in the sands of time...

I'm researching the family of John Williams, b. 1762, who married Margaret McCorkle, b. 1768, in NC. Their son John, b. 1791 NC, married Mary Jones in Union Co., SC and moved to IL through KY with sons, Lemuel Rhodes Williams and Patrick McCorkle Williams, among other children. I would appreciate any contact with Williams or Jones descendants. Sally Williams

Victoria, Do you know of any connection between John B. Bailey and John & Sarah Fielder Inman? A land transaction from Bailey to Inman shows for "love and affection". An additional note: John and Sarah Inman's son John married Winnie Going, granddaughter of Isaac and Rebecca Palmer Going. Rebecca was apparently a daughter of John and Patsy Williams Palmer. This is information from a cousin, I've not personally researched the Going/Palmer line yet. Terry Jackson "Victoria L. German" wrote: > Researching the John Bailey/Susannah Strong line with these associated > families:: > Palmer > Lackey > Wood/s > Glass > Ekhart > > Victoria > > ==== SCUNION Mailing List ==== > Union Co. Historical Foundation > P.O. Box 220 > Union, SC 29379 > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Lavina Hamilton was born in Union District, SC abt 1800 daughter of John Hamilton. She died in 1857 in Marshall County, MS and her tombstone says she was born Newcom district, SC. Anybody know where Newcom is/was? LeRoy Hamilton Longview, Texas LeRoyH@cablelynx.com E- mail checked by Norton

We are looking for a family connection of Col JAMES M. GADBERRY/GODBURY, who was one of the early secession 'fire eaters.' He was a tin smith, a state legislator, and a delegate to the SECESSION CONVENTION in December 1860. He signed THE S. C. ORDINANCE OF SECESSION. His sister, Miss UNKNOWN GADBERRY was married to a JOHN SMITH (!). All of these people lived in Union, Spartanburg, and Laurens Counties. They all originated somewhere in NC. Any scrap of information will be appreciated. H. Fisher

Well, while I'm at it: I am also interested in Joshua Palmer who also served in the Revolutionary War from Union County where he settled just prior to the outbreak of the war. Joshua was born on March 12, 1747 in Virginia to Parmenas and Mary Ann (Draper) Palmer. He died in 1835 in Union District and is buried at Scull Shoals cemetery. The reason that I am interested in this Joshua is because supposedly he is the father of my ancestor Dale Palmer of Abbeville District, South Carolina. I am not convinced of this relationship because there is no apparent proof that I can identify. Dale was born in 1773 in Northumberland County, Virginia and then Joshua appears in Union County by 1775 when he enlisted in Colonel John Thomas' regiment. There is also no evidence that Dale ever lived in Union District where his father lived, and in fact, Dale continues to live in Northumberland County, Virginia where he lived and owned land and married Mary Jane Hayes in 1796. Not long afterwards, Dale migrated with his brother George to Abbeville County, South Carolina. Thanks for any help you can provide. Most Sincerely, Robert M. Wilbanks IV Scottsdale, Arizona

Hello all, In response to the Roll Call, I wanted to remind you of my interest in all the Wilbanks and Willbanks families of Union County. I am also interested in the neighbors of William and Abarilla (Gostwick) Woolbanks-Wilbanks, and any of the families of Padgett's Creek Baptist Church that may have had a strong association with this Wilbanks family. William, a Revolutionary War veteran of Col. Thomas Brandon's regiment, was a founding member of the church. He appears to have owned land near this church and near Cross Keys, possibly along branches of either the Tyger or Enoree Rivers. The reason that I am interested in the neighboring families of William is because his son, Shadrack Wilbanks, who was born circa 1785 in Union County, married his first wife circa 1803 in Union District, but we cannot identify who this woman was and I am guessing and assuming that she was related to one of these neighboring families associated with Padgett's Creek Baptist Church. She was born circa 1784-1794 (according to the 1810 and 1820 census). The 1880 census shows her children indicating that their mother was born in South Carolina. It appears that Shadrack lost his first wife and then married secondly a woman named Jane sometime between 1820 and 1830. We can show that Shadrack was married secondly to a woman named Jane as her name is clearly recorded in the 1850 and 1860 census and identifies her as born in South Carolina in 1799/1800. This is supported by the 1830 and 1840 census where the oldest female is found too young to be Shadrack's first wife, but is just the right age to be Jane. Therefore, it appears that Shadrack lost his first wife and then married Jane sometime between 1820 and 1830. With a birth date of 1800, Jane cannot be the same woman identified in the 1810 and 1820 census, and she is far too young to be the mother of most of Shadrack's children. Shadrack's known children by one or both wives are as follows: James (b.1810), Hezekiah (b.1817), Thomas (b.1813), John W. (b.1818-1821), Elizabeth (b.1816), Lucinda (b.1815-1820), Mary "Polly" (b.1815-1820), Margaret (b.1820-1825), Mahalia (b.1820-1825), and William James. I would particularly be interested in any neighboring families of William, who were members of Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, who later migrated to Pendleton or Anderson Districts. Shadrack lived in Union District, South Carolina from his birth in 1785 until just before 1820. It is possible that Shadrack and his first wife migrated from Union District to Pendleton District, South Carolina as early as 1811/1812. He owned land along Six and Twenty Creek. In 1826 the portion of Pendleton District that Shadrack lived in became Anderson District. Remember, it was sometime in the 1820s that Shadrack lost his first wife and married Jane as his second wife. These events could have taken place in Pendleton/Anderson, unless Shadrack met Jane on a trip back to Union. Shadrack Wilbanks was a licensed minister when he represented the Hopewell Baptist Church in Anderson County on various occasions from 1829 through 1858. In about 1859 Shadrack took his family to Sand Mountain, in Marshall and Dekalb Counties, Alabama. Shadrack lived in Marshall County, right on the line with Dekalb County, where his sons James and John lived. Shadrack's family were very active members of the "Old" Macedonia Baptist Church in Dekalb County. Jane died between 1860 and 1870 and was buried in this church's cemetery, as were Shadrack and several others of his children and grandchildren. Shadrack died in early 1879. Again, I am desperate to identify who these women were that Shadrack married. In more than 50 years of extensive research of the Wil(l)banks family, including the last 25 years by me, and a number of other individuals, no records clearly identify Shadrack's wives. The clue may appear in records of his neighbors and associates. You may be a descendant of these neighbors and associates and so may have some helpful information. I will greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you, Robert M. Wilbanks IV Scottsdale, Arizona

Researching the John Bailey/Susannah Strong line with these associated families:: Palmer Lackey Wood/s Glass Ekhart Victoria

William Lawson (~1740-~1828) m unknown Sion Lawson (~1770-1841) m Priscilla Duke (~1767-~1850) William Lawson (~1804-1874) m Margarett Knight (1802-1879) Berry Mitchell Lawson (1832-1900) m Mary Bobo (1852-1922) I've found relatives and leads about each family except the Knights! I suspect that Margarett is the daughter of Berryman Knight but I can't prove it. Can anyone help me with anything about the Knight family? Thanks! Jane Hurd Union Co, SC: Boatman, Bobo, Dodd, Duke, Humphries, Lawson, Knight, Sparks

Surnames CRENSHAW 1870 Quinshaw 1880 Crenshaw Kershaw Any information regarding the surnames would be appreciated. Thank You, Jackie San Francisco Bay Area

Hardin\en, Ross, Kimbrell, edens BBarkes barkesms@webtv.net bbarkesms@hotmail.com hardin91159@webtv.net clay co ms

Vincent Davis was born in Union Co., SC ca 1790. Sold his property there in 1835 and moved to York Co., SC. where he died in 1854. He had Catherine (mar. McSwain), Sarah (mar. Scoggins), Martha (mar. Adams), Joseph Gist Davis (mar. Mary Rippy Woods)- moved to Texas, Elizabeth, Mary and Benjamin F. Davis mar. Lucretia Frances Plaxico. Any info on any of the Davises will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Nancy Davis Lambert

Hi All, Researching all Sinclairs in Union Co. Also these Union Co. names: Adams Haney Morris Pucket Golding Scales Tracy Lisa

I am still trying to figure our why William WOFFORD (the "Rich Tory") deeded land to my ancestor, Thomas WRIGHT in Union in 1785 saying it was land that WOFFORD had intended to be WRIGHT's inheritance. Obviously, there was some sort of blood relationship, but what. Was WOFFORD the father of Lillie, the wife of Thomas WRIGHT? Or her grandfather? We think she was born about 1758 so that means he could have been either. Or, perhaps, was he the grandfather of Thomas? How sure are you WOFFORD descendants that you have all his descendants? I am also researching the BRIGGS family who, in the late 1700s and early 1800s, lived in the area where Laurens, Spartanburg and Union come together. They have records in all three Counties. How did I ever get so lucky?? Your list mom, Mickey Mildred "Mickey" Fournier PO Box 1967, Lake City, FL 32056 mailto:mfournier@atlantic.net