Part two of two continued with page 44. ====================== Trusting that this information will answer your query as to William Sumter being a Justice of the Peace in Rowan County, N. C., before 1775, I am, Yours very truly, JOSEPH SCHAFER w Superintendent. COPY. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison. May 4, 1922. Mr. C. K. Hill, Harriman, Tenn. Dear Mr. Hill: The name we sent you in the last letter of Capt. William Sumter's wife was taken from an interview with a grandson, and he says nothing about the Randall family. He says (8VV287) that the marriage occurred in Albemarle County, Va., about 1754 since John the eldest son was born in 1755. This grandson tells a romantic story about his great grandfather Sumter, the redemptioner. He says he belonged to a wealthy family of England, but ran away and his services were sold to pay his passage (8VV283, 285). His relatives afterwards sent him presents when he was married. James says that his great grandfather's wife was named Elizabeth and that she was related to the Franklin family (8VV283). He also gives interesting data on Capt. William Sumter's conflicts with the Tories of Burke County, N. C. There is some material on the Franklin family connected with that of Col. Benjamin Cleveland. (Draper Mss. 1ONN134-135; 5DD13(11), 14, 16, 30(5), 32, 34; This is probably the same family as that of Sumter's mother; but I no where find the connection definitely established. Yours very truly, JOSEPH SCHAFER, w Superintendent. (Draper Mas. 18VV142) Lenoir, Caidwell Co., N. C. 25th Sept. 1873. Lyman C. Draper Esq. Dr Sir Yours of the 20th recd this P-M. Please accept my thanks for the two parcels of interesting documents as I also owe to yr courtesy--I enclose brief statement of Mr. Nathaniel Coffey 'a "talk" about the Sumters, followed by a few other particulars since picked up. There is no sister of Dan Boone living here, there are descendants of either himself or a brother living about here--but as to old Hannah Coffey's being a sister, it is, as you remark, impossible. While in the little County Town of Boone, in Watauga Co.--2 miles N.W. of this place, I have seen a rude pile of rocks, which tradition points out as the debris of Danl Boone's chimney to his hunting camp. He did once camp there for a season or two; & the town was therefore called after him. I can send you a bit of the rock if you wish it/ I will inquire about Clifton Coffey's family--It is and uncommon name her--There is Clifton Coffey in Watauga Co. I will keep yr. inquiries about the Sumters in mind, & advise you as soon as I can of what I can find out. Respy C. A. CILLEY. (18VV142) Nathanial Coffey is 78-- I lived with Henry Sumter in Burke, now Caldwell Co. ===========================(End of page 44)====================== N. C. for 12 years. Think he came from Va. He often got letters from his brothers and sisters in Ky-Was over 80 years when he died; & (Wm. Sumter) died 45 or 50 yrs ago. He was a cousin of Genl Wm Sumter, who lived (after the Revolution) & died on the waters of Mulberry Creek, on land now owned by Jas. M. Millan, in this (Caldwell) Co. He (Wm Sumter) died about 45 or 50 years ago, aged over 80. He had a son shot at & killed or wounded by the Tories on his way home from the Revolutionary War, in revenge for this he raised a Company & shot or hung men named Baldwin, Clark, & Herring--Genl McDowell of Burke, his superior officer sent him word to quit or he would come down and attend to him. (Genl. Wm. Sumter was probably a Captain or Major; military titles grow rapidly after a war) He owned and carried on a grist mill-Hi. 2 daughters married, one a Buckner, & moved to Ky. One a Randall & lived in Burke Co. N. C. He & Henry both were cousins & Henry claimed to be a cousin of Genl. Thos. Sumter of S. C. There was a John Sumter*(*Not a son of Gen. Thos. Sumter, but of Capt. John Sumter, & grandson of Capt. Wm. Sumter; See E. J. Houston's letter July 19, 1874. L. C. D.) a son of Genl Thomas Sumter of S. C. who came up here, a drinking man, & married old Parson Millers daughter, & had a son Robert--a tanner, & a daughter Caroline, who married a Hagler, & a daughter Mary who married a Powell, then John wandered off & died, & his widow married a Puett. So much for old Nat. Coffey. I learned from many sources the following; John, said to be a son of Genl Thos. Sumter, of S. C. came here many years ago, married Sarah Emily Miller, had Robert O--Caroline & Mary--their children. He took to drinking, & in an absence from home died in the front yard of Mrs. Moore of Gaston Co. N. C. under a cedar tree. She had him buried. His son Robert 0. was a tanner, is well recollected by many of our citizens, worked a while for Jasper Harper, uncle to Hon. J. C. Harper. He went to Georgia--Caroline is the wife of A. E. Hagler of this County-& has several grown sons & daughters. She is now away from home, will be back in 2 or 3 weeks. I will then see her and find out what she knows. As she is a lady of great pride, I have no doubt she will be well advised on her descent from the stout old partisan. Mary married Nelson A. Powell, bore him 3 children & died 20 years or more ago. He still resides here. A Thomas Sumter, known as Gentleman Tom, a cabinet maker, specimens of whose craft are in many old mansions in the county, was said to be a brother of John & Son of the Gen.--He lived 3/4 mile above Mr. Harper's house on the Yadkin river, near Patterson, & thence went to Georgia or some where thereabouts. Mrs. Puett (nee Miller) died 13 months ago. As to the Sumter., my wife says she heard that many years ago an old citizen of this county received a letter from Genl Thomas Sumter of S. C., asking about "Gentleman Tom" & answered that he was poor, but honest & hard working--The Genl replied, he wd rather learn that than to hear he was rich & a rascal. -- Ananias Allen, who died last year aged 94, told his son, who told me, that Gentle man Tom was Genl Thomas Sumter's son, & that John was also his son. -- (Draper Ms.. 18VV146) Taken in Oct 1873 Henry Sumter, son of John Sumter Sr. & according to Mrs. Jane Sumter, nephew of Genl Thos. Sumter, lived many years in Burke, now Caldwell Co. & died about 1860 leaving no issue. He came from Va., & had a brother & some sisters in Ky.-- He died aged over 80- Genl William Sumter, a cousin* (*This is a mistake as Genl Wm was brother to Genl Thos Sumter, L. C. D.) to above, & nephew of Genl Thos. Sumter, lived in Burke, now Caldwell Co., on the waters of Mulberry Creek, from the close of the Revolution until his death, about 1825 or 1830--His son having been shot by Tories when coming home from the war, he raised a command & in revenge began to shoot ====================(End of page 45)================== & hang suspected Tories here. When had disposed of three, Gen. Charles McDowell, his senior, caused him to desist. One of his daughters married a Mr Buckner of Ky--another married a Mr Randall of Burke. He died aged over 80--was a low chunky man. John Sumter brother to Henry S. son of (see above & not son of Genl T. L. C. D.) Genl Thos. Sumter, came to Burke, now Caidwell County-- 5O or 6O year. ago & married Sarah Emily Miller (whose nephew still resides here). By her he had 3 children, Robert 0. Sumter, who was a tanner & who moved to Missouri--Caroline who is the wife of Albert E. Hagler of this County; & Mary who married N. A. Powell of this county & died, leaving 3 children, John soon after went to Lincoln, now Gaston Co. & died at Mr. Moore's house, 1 mile from Brevard Station on the R.R. from Charlotte to Lincolnton. He must have died nearly 50 years ago--His widow was afterwards married to Joseph Puett, & has herself died, about 13 months ago, at a great age. Further intelligence can be had about the descent & descendants of Genl. Thos. Sumter, as soon as Mrs. Hagler can be seen. She is now absent on a visit.-- The above information is given by Nathaniel Coffey, aged 78, who lived with Henry Sumter 12 years. (Draper Mus. 2VV232.) Lenoir, N.C. July 5, 1875. Mr. L. C. Draper Dr Sir Your letter of may 11th came to hand in due time. I would have written sooner but have been quite unwell & unable to collect much information about the Sumter Enclosed you will find some information which I got from a relation in So Ca in his own hand--Capt. Billey Sumter brother to Gen. Thos. Sumter, had six sons William, John, Thomas, James, Fielding & Livingston--Three daughters Amelia, Elizabeth & Judith. They came to N. C. from Va--Capt Billys son John was shot in the hand by Tories. His father was so enraged, that he ordered every Tory shot-- Isaac Baldwin & Jerry Clark were captured & brought to Capt. Billy Sumter & he had them shot.-- There is a little circumstance which took place in Len-- between one Elisha Baldwin & a party of disguised men. he, Baldwin, had stolen a cow bell & concealed it The disguised men got after him & ran him to the river he hollowing--the flat the flat-- and the flat hapened to be on the side that Baldwin was on. he ran into & through the flat into the river & swam across--this is a different Baldwin & happened long since the Revolution-- he was a native of this county-- This has often been related in connection with the killing of the Tory Isac Baldwin I am not able to say whether Gen Thos Sumter had a brother John or not perhaps you might get that information by writing to Lynchburg, V.a. Capt. Billy Sumter was a large fine looking man & died about 8 miles above Lenoir on the watters of Mulberry creek. have not got his age nor when he died but will try to get it as soon as I can--my Father, John Sumter died when I was very young and I have not been with my Sumter relations much an(d) consequently do not know a great deal about them an old jentleman living near Lenoir says that my Grand Fathers name was John a son of Capt Billey Sumter and married Ann a daughter of Capt. Robert Alexander of the Revolution, who married a sister of Capt. Jack of Va.-- This is about all the information I can give you at present but I am trying to get some of the old family records and if I succeed I can perhaps give you more--I have a Photograph of Gen Thomas Sumter if you have not got one I will send it to you-- Yours truly C. A. HAIGLER. ==================(End of page 46)===================== COPY. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison. April 19, 1922. Mr. C. K. Hill, Harriman, Tenn. Dear Mr. Hill -Miss A. A. Nunns is away on a vacation. The research associate of our Society asks me to report a. follows concerning your letter of April 10th. She has examined carefully Vols 3 and 18 of the Sumter Papers and has concluded Dr. Draper found nothing reliable about Sumter's ancestors. 18VV33 gives Dr. Draper's conclusions in 1872 concerning his birthplace. After that he corresponded with a family named Cave (2VV17) for their traditions; amd other. who pointed out Sumter's boyhood home (2VV34) gives a map locating this. Nothing seems to go back of Sumter'. mother who was a widow when recollections begin. Dr. Draper located the descendants of Sumter's two brother; Edmund and William, and of his sister Patience, whose second husband was named Suddarth. Some of the latter had family traditions that Mrs. Sumter belonged to a noble family, and married Sumter's father against her father's wishes. (18VV20, 31); but no one could give "Granny" Sumter's maiden name. Her daughter Patience seems to have been born on the ocean when migrating to America. In 2VV103 is a list of the English Sumter's; but De Lage Sumter, Thomas Sumter's grandson wrote Dr. Draper that the family in America had never been able to prove connection. Part of 2VV is taken up with accounts of Sumter's trip to England in 1762 to accompany the Cherokee Chiefs. Any thing we can do for you we will be glad to do. The photostating of all of 2VV would be very expensive and certainly unsatisfactory as to Sumter's ancestors. Yours very truly, JOSEPH SCHAFER w Superintendent. =======(End of SUMTER discussion on page 47)=======