Samuel Ussery, Jr. was born ca. 1780-1785 in Lunenburg Co., VA and died bef 1835 in San Augustine, TX. He was the son of Samuel Ussery and the grandson of John and Mary Ussery . On Feb. 11, 1801, he married Nancy Mary Stokes Hurt in Lunenburg Co., VA. She was born between 1779 and 1786 in Lunenburg Co., VA and died after 1841. Samuel and Nancy traveled quite a bit before settling in Texas. From Lunenburg they went to Clairborne Co., MS (ca 1824), then to Louisiana, possibly in Winn Parish or Natchidosis Parish, then settling in Texas. Michael Ussery, a descendant, believes Samuel and Nancy brought their family from Chicot Co., Ark to Texas around 1832.
They settled in what is known as "the redlands", in far East Texas. The family had land near San Augustin, which is on the Camino Real -- "The Royal Road" - that went from Florida, through Louisiana, to San Antonio, TX. This area was known as being a very "rough" area to live in, and they were not referring to the land. Many of the early leaders of Texas, including Gen. Sam Houston, leader of the Texas revolutionary army, lived there at the same time. (Info provided by Michael Ussery ussery@airmail.net)
The Chicot Co., AR 1830 records show the following:
Census Samuel Ussery males- 1 10-15; 1 15-20; 1 20-30; 1 50-60 females 1 10-15; 1 15-20; 1 50-60
Tax Records
1829- None 1830- Martin Ussery, John Ussery, Peter Ussery 1831-John Ursery, Martin Ursery 1832-John Ussery 1833- S. Ussery, John Ussery 1834- Saml. Ussery More information on their lives while living in Arkansas is needed!
It is likely that before this family migrated from Arkansas to Texas, they first lived in Claiborne, MS as seen by the following records:
Lunenburg Co., VA - Deed Book 27 252 31 Jan 1827 to Nancy Ussery from Abolom Hurt Deed of Gift : Absalom hurt of Lunenburg County, VA gives one negro man named EDMOND to his daughter Nancy Ussery of Claiborne Co., Mississippi, and a woman named TINNY Witness: Mastain S. Ussery (Editors note: This is an important deed, because it discloses that Nancy Ussery nee Hurt and presumably her husband and family, migrated from Lunenburg Co., VA to Claiborne Co., MS. Usry Bul #7 pg 12) Texas Records: Character Certificates of Texas Republic: Ussery, John A #2874 San Augustine Co. August 1835 #122 Native of VA emigrated 1832 married w/family of four persons Ussery, Nancy #3310 May 27, 1835 #49 Native of USA widow w/family of 4 persons
"The First Census of Texas, 1829-1836, (from printed book) Teneha District Ulsey, Widow.............50 John............................25 Meriwether Hurt........18 Sarah Ann................ 20 Nancy........................16
February 1, 1838- File 622-General Land Office- Headright certificate to Nancy Ussery. Shelby Corzine assignee of Nancy Ussery appeared before Board of Land Commissioners and proved that Nancy arrived in Republic previous to the Declaration of Independence-she is a widow entitled to one league of land. Same file contains survey made by Wm Roardk, depurty surveyor for Shelby Corzine.
February 10, 1838-GLO File #1391- Certificate #236- Nancy S. Ussery, PP Rains assignee, appeared to make proof of citizenship-an emigrant of 1833. Survey authorized. Done in Shelbyville.
November 20, 1838-File 1-622 GLO- Field notes of survey Shelby Corzine make for Nancy Ussery. On waters of the Angellina about 7 mile from Nacogdoches.
October 5, 1841- Harrison Co TX Deed D, pg 113-114- Nancy S Ussery from County of Panola sold Sarah Ann M Rains (daughter) for $1000 her right to one league and labor of land. Witnessed by David Hill, John D. Rains
October 7, 1841- Harrison Co., Tx Deed D pg 111- Nancy S. Usery appointed Sarah Ann M Rains her attorney to locate land for Nancy. Same witnesses as above.
August 6, 1850- GLO File 622 Patent No. 524 issued to Shelvy Corzine assignee of Nancy Ussery- Sixteen labors by virture of Cert #98 on waters of Angelina near Nacogdoches.
July 1, 1858 Thomas W Clark, administrator of estate of Sarah Ann M. Rains dec'd advertising for Nancy S Ussery's lost Certificate #236
Samuel and Nancy participated in many deed transactions in Lunenburg Co., VA
Samuel and Nancy had the following children:
1. Samuel J. Ussery b: Abt 1801 in Lunenburg Co., VA mar. Malinda Cooper on Jan 3, 1836 in Mississippi 2. Mastain Stephens Ussery b: Dec 15, 1803 in Lunenburg Co., Virginia d: Oct 6, 1876 in Hunt Co., TX mar 1st: Olivia J. in Hunt Co., TX; 2nd: Lucinda Magby Turner Wallace b: Feb 22, 1817 in Kentucky d: Jan 4, 1871 in Hunt Co., TX Camp Ground Cemetery m: Feb 15, 1838 in San Augustine Co., Republic of Texas; R.W. Caldwell, J.P.
3. Elizabeth C. Ussery b: Abt 1808 in Lunenburg Co., VA d: Aft 1850 mar. Bennett R. Truly on Jun 24, 1824 in Claiborne, MS by J. Cram, JP
4. male Ussery b: Abt 1809 in VA
5. John A. Ussery b: Abt 1810 in Lunenburg Co., VA? d: Jan 31, 1839 in San Augustine, TX mar. Nancy Clark
6. Nancy Ussery b: Abt 1813
7. Sarah Ann Ussery b: Abt 1815 d: Nov 24, 1847 in Texas Mr. Clark; 2nd Husband: Preston Presley Rains d: Abt 1845 in Harrison Co. TX m: Jan 17, 1842
Merriwether Hurt Ussery Meriwether Hurt Ussery was born to Samuel Ussery about 1817 in Tenn or Lunenburg, VA. He died after 1872 in Texas. By his first wife Mary Elizabeth Reel was born about 1820 in Alabama and died Apr 3, 1909 in Coryell Co., TX. They were married May 24, 1840 in Harrison, TX. They had the following chidlren:
Susan Josephine Ussery b: Dec 1842 in Texas d: Sep 14, 1937 in Mills Co., TX Hurst Ranch Cemetery mar. John Joseph Roe b: Abt. 1842 in Talladega Co., AL d: Dec 30, 1915 in Mills Co., TX Hurst Ranch Cemetery [Featured in Ussery Photo Gallery] Susan's first husband was John Hadler/Hatley. They were married 14 Jan 1864 possibly in Kaufman Co., TX. If you have any info on this marriage please contact "PATRICIA QUINN" patty719@msn.com Thomas Ussery b: Abt. 1845 in Texas Mary Ussery b: Abt. 1846 in Texas His second wife was Mrs. Sarah Murray, who he married on 1 Jan 1849. This marriage is documented in Book G, pg 25 of Madison Co., MS. Evidently, this marriage took place without benefit of a divorce. They had the following children:
Martha Ussery b: Abt. 1851 in Mississippi Melvina A. Ussery b: Abt. 1853 in Mississippi Andrew J. Ussery b: Abt. 1855 in Mississippi Nancy J. Ussery b: Abt. 1856 in Mississippi George W. Ussery b: Abt. 1859 in Winston Co., MS
Later, a Merryweather Ursere is located in Perry Co., Ark with four children but no wife. Character Certificates in General Land Office of Texas edited by Gifford White : #2984 San Augustine September 1, 1835 ; #232 Marryweather Ussery native USA emigrated 1832 single .
Texas State Archives: "This is to certify that Merrywither Ussery jointed my volunteer Co. on the 17th day of Oct 1835 and joined the main army near Bexar on the 4th day of November and has faithfully discharged his duty and is hereby honorably discharged. John M. Bradly, Capt. by order of Edward Burleson, Comdr. in chief.
April 6 1837- General Land Office File: San-Aug 1-14 (Copy of org file) Maryweather (his mark) Ussery, County of San Augustine to William M. Loyd for $1000 1/3 third league of land measuring fourteen hundred and seventy acres lying in San Augustine County four miles northeast of San Augustine- the land where he now resides.
April 7, 1838-Petiton from Shelby Co., TX to Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas. Copied from printed material. Mereyawehter Ussery and John A. Ussery among petitioners to form a new county.
June 21, 1838- San Augustine Co. Wm Loyd appeared for Merewether Ussery. He is a single man and is entitled to 1/3 league of land. Will have to pay $7 per labor or irrigable land and $5 per labor of arable land and $2.40 for each labor of pasture land. He received No. 618 for 855 acres of land. Land is bounded by John Wright and others 4 mi NE from the tow of San Augustine.
December 9, 1838- Merewether furnished two hogs at $20 each to the Texas Militia for Col. Landrum
Jan 11, 1839- IOU owed Ussery for the two hogs was transferred to David Stinson.
Jul 30, 1839- GLO File 1-14. Wm Loyd swore he surveyed 855 acres in San Augustine Co. for Merewether by virtue of Cert #618.
May 24, 1840- Harrison Co., Vol 1, pg 17- Merewether married Elizabeth Reel at Greensboro, TX.
1840- Report of Traveling Board to audit land claims. Copied from printed material. Merrywethers Ussery listed on audit.
March 4, 1841- Texas State Archives- Meriwether (his mark) Ussery of Harrison County appointed David Ferguson his attorney to present a receipt to Republic of Texas to collect forty dollars.
1842- Daughter Susan Josephine Ussery born to Merewether and Elizabeth
Dec 28, 1842- Elizabeth's father, Daniel Reel is deceased. Mereweather and his brothers-in-law, Redin Mason and Hezekia George, contest his will on behalf of their wives.
1845- Son Thomas is born
1846- Daughter Mary is born
Merewether left, taking the children with him. Family tradition has it that Elizabeth in later years would cry about a husband and children who disappeared. She thought Indians had gotten them.
December 15, 1849- This is the date that Mary Reel (Mary Elizabeth) Ussery said her husband died near Greenville (Greensborough) in her application for bounty land for men in Mexican War service.
On January 23, 1851 Mrs. Elizabeth Ussery married William Inch
January 1, 1850- Harrison Co Deed H, pg 229-230- William Inch bought 160 acres of land from Redin & Unity Mason. (Unity Reel Mason was also a daughter of Daniel Reel and sister to Mary Elizabeth Reel Ussery. Land is situated in Hallsville, Harrison Co., TX.
August 28, 1857- Texas State Archives- payment claims..David Stinson seeking pay of an account for $40 due Merriweather Ussery for provision furnished Texas Militia December 9, 1838.
October 5, 1860- File from National Archives, Washington, DC-application for bounty land for Mexican War. Meriwether H Ussery made application from Winston Co Mississippi. He said his discharge had been lost in a house fire.
His daughter Susan is back in Texas by 1866-67 but it isn't known if Mereweather came back also. His certificate #207 was surveyed October 1, 1872, and on December 16, 1872 land patent is issued for the last at Lake Soda on the south bank 17 1/2 mi NE of Marshall containing 1.384.944 sq varas-all arable.
October 29, 1860- Winston Co., Miss Deed R, pg 120 Merriweather H. Ussery to George B. Cooper 39 & 82/100 acres sold
1860 Winston Co., Miss Census-Copy from Federal Archives-Ft Worth pg 74,75
MH Ussery 40 TN SA 33 AL S(Susan) 18 TX (dau by Elizabeth Reel) Thomas 15 TX (son by Elizabeth Reel) Mary 14 TX (dau. by Elizabeth Reel) Martha 9 MS MA f 7 MS AJ m 5 MS NR f 4 MS GW m 1 MS E Murray f 16 MS Irena Murray 18 MS
Could these be his step-children?
October 1, 1872- HARRISON COUNTY- Deed B, pg 328 Survey #269 and field notes by virture of Cert #207 issued to Merriweather Ussery. Located 17 1/2 miles from Marshall on Lake Soda (Caddo Lake later) September 5, 1874-MARIAN COUNTY: (Usry Bul 123 pg 2) 376 - Granted to Merriweather Ussery, No. 207; patented to Merriweather H. Ussery, September 5, 1874, No. 339, Vol. 20; 803.7 acres in Harrison 1st, No. 161 377- Granted to Merriweather H. Ussery, No. 207; patented to Merriweather H. Ussery, Dec. 5, 1861, No. 453, Vol. 15; 1179.47 acres in Harrison 1st 153 Copy of Patent File No 708-S GLO Vol 19, pg 153 Patent issued by virtue of Cert #207 issued to Marewither H. Ussery, his heirs or assigns. Patent does say to him and is not filed for record until March 31, 1942.