Samuel Crabtree, son of Irvin Crabtree and Sarah Faggard

Samuel Thomas CRABTREE was born 30 Dec. 1838 at 28 Mile Bluff, AL. He died 17 June 1923 at about 85 and is buried at Indian Springs Cemetery at Eight Mile, AL, where his tombstone reads that he was born 1838 and died in 1923. Amie Akerman notes that both Phelan B. Crabtree, son of Sam Sr., gave Samuel T. as being born in 1838.

On 10 March 1859, at Mobile, AL., Samuel, 21, married Margaret OVERSTREET, daughter of Jacob OVERSTREET and Elizabeth DAVIS. Margaret (perhaps Margaret Mary) was born 14 March 1840 in GA and died 1872 at 32. She is buried at Indian Springs Cem., at Eight Mile, AL.

Amie Akerman notes:

“Her (Margaret’s) parents WERE Jacob and Elizabeth Davis Overstreet, this is from the 1840 Census of Wayne Co Ms…Jacob and Elizabeth’s names were given to me by James Ervin Crabtree (still living in Moss Point, Ms,) grandson of Samuel T. Jr., son of Sam and Margaret, also, Harry Keenan (still living), grandson of Vina E. Crabtree Stringfellow daughter of Sam T. Jr., son of Sam T. Sr. and Margaret Overstreet Crabtree.”

Amie continues,

“John Overstreet son of Henry, father of Jacob is on Page 2, #4. John’s son James is on Page #13. b.15 Feb 1807 d.18 Mar 1883. Jacob is on Page 5 #14 b. 1810 d 1845.

“Jacob and his family are listed in the 1849 Wayne Co, Ms census with Elizabeth and his children. Jefferson b. 1832, Sarah b.1835, Ferba b. 1837, *Margaret (my ggrandmother) b. 1839, Brazil b. 6 Aug 1842, and Rosier R. b.1844.

“James Ervin (of Moss Point, Ms) in a conversation with me, claims Elizabeth Davis Overstreet was full blooded Choctaw, making Margaret and her siblings half Choctaw. Jacob is NOT shown in 1850 census, he died in 1845. Elizabeth IS shown with her children in the 1860 census, page 3.”

Amie Akerman supplies the following history and dates for Samuel Thomas CRABTREE:

“I believe GGrandpa Sam was married 4 times.The dates of his children tend to prove this. A story told me, by his son Phelan B. CRABTREE and my Aunt Sarah Beatrice Crabtree PARNELL, is that, and I quote them, ‘By the time he was 17 Grandpa Sam was married had three children and served in the army.’

“Samuel Thomas CRABTREE b.12/30/1838 d. 6/17/1923 Birthplace 28 Mile Bluff, AL. Buried Indian Springs Cem. Eight Mile AL. Son of Ervin and Sarah Ann Faggard CRABTREE.

Samuel m. Wife #1 unknown.
Children of Samuel and wife #1:
(1) Herbert b. d.
(2) Matthew b. d.
(3) Littleton b. d.

“Samuel m Wife #2 Marguerite/Margaret OVERSTREET 3/10/1858 (Mobile Co Bk 17 Pg 51). Marguerite b. unknown, d. 1872. Buried at Indian Springs Cem., Eight Mile AL. Children of Samuel and Marguerite/Margaret:
(4) Jarvis b. d.
(5) Samuel Thomas, Jr b.9/7/1862 d 3/9/1936
(6) Theodore b.1866 d.
(7) Thomas Jefferson b. 7/1/1870 d.5/18/1918. Marguerite died 1872. Thomas was two yrs old.

(8) Eliza Ann b.1876 d.1924 WHO WAS ELIZA’S MOTHER? She would have to be Wife #3.

“Samuel m. Wife #4 Nancy Francis HEVELSTON 3/5/1880 (Mobile Co Bk2 Pg 340). Nancy HEVELSTON was b.4/1/1858 at Semmes; d. 3/1/1944. Buried at Indian Springs Cemetery Eight Mile AL. Children of Samuel and Nancy after 1880:
(9) Mary Francis b.1883 d.1964
(10) Virginia Belle b. d.
(11) Ruth Erette b. d.
(12) Rosa Lee b.7/17/1890 d.
(13) Phelan Britton b.5/30/1895 d.6/22/1990 (Met Him)
(14) Laura b.3/26/1898 d.11/4/1983 (Met Her)
(15) Sarah Ann (Sally) b.8/9/1902 d.
(16) Jane b. d. Died at birth
(17) Amos McMalore b.7/26/1871 d.8/26/1942

“I Was told by Uncle Phelan, Aunt Sarah Beatrice PARNELL and Rena Crabtree BOOTHE (the ggGranddaughter of Theodore) that Amos was the son of Nancy HEVELSTON. He was either adopted by Samuel Sr. or just took the name of CRABTREE. His last name was FOSTER. There is more to this story, told me by Uncle Phelan. There was a murder committed in Mobile Co. area, and shortly after that, Theodore and Amos left the area and, in his words, ‘high tailed it to the Richburg and Hattisburg, MS area’. Theodore was married to an Indian woman (unknown to me). They did meet two sisters Catherine and Hattie HARTFIELD and married them. Theodore married Catherine and Amos married Hattie. They are all buried in Richburg Cem. I met Amos’ children on a visit to Hattisburg in 1984.

“The rest of Sam’s story: He was father to 17 children, the last fathered at age 72. Just think how many he would have had if Viagra was around then. Hope you can enjoy this story of a grandpa I never met, but wish I had…”
Amie Akerman

I asked Amie how in the world Sam could afford 17 children. What he did for a living. She replied, “It has been said that Sam was a butcher but I would imagine he would have probably worked at job to feed his kids…I know some of the (Crabtree) men worked in saw mills, my grandpa Tom worked in Chickasaw AL setting off dynamite to clear land. Some worked on boats…others in ship yards. Uncle Phelan, drove oxen…”

FamilySearch, Internet Genealogy Service, in an August 21, 1999 site search gives Samuel “Sam” as being born 1850 in Georgia and that there were these other siblings to Samuel Thomas and Adam Bell, but the dates are very far off from what Amie Akerman sites: iii. Littleton “Lit” born 1848, Gainsville, Hall Co. AL. Married Nancy.
iv. Jacob “Jake” born 1852, GA. Married Jane Miller, born 1852.

Amie Akerman writes: “There are six (6) Littleton CRABTREES in Littleton and Rebecca’s line. Also two of the Littletons married Nancy’s, one a BUSBY and one a BROWNING. One month apart 3 Mar 1858 and the other 5 Feb 1858. Think they are trying to confuse us.”

The 1860 census shows Samuel CRABTREE living in the same area as the KEARNS. Irvin CRABTREE, his brother, was father of Adam Bell CRABTREE, father of Susie CRABTREE who married Rhett Goode KEARNS.

1860 ALABAMA MOBILE CENSUS, Mobile Township pg. 98
861/669 Geo F. BOONE and family
862/670 Saml CRABTREE 22 Butcher RE value: 500. personal value: $200 b. AL
Margaret 21 b. MS
Louise V. 3/12 b. AL
Thos. BUSH 28 Labourer b. England
863/670 Rebecca FARRLER 60 RE value: 111,000(?) Personal value 40,000 b. AL
Helen E. BULLOCH 35 b. AL
864/670
865/672 John J. MERRMAN and family
866
867/673 Hourg L. MERRBOLD (?) and family
868/674 Dennis GREEN 28 gardener b. Ireland RE value: 1100 Personal value: 500
Sarah 27 b. Ireland
Mary 1 b. AL
Ellen QUINN 13 b. Ireland
Patrick SWEENY 20 Laborer b. Ireland
869/675 Michael MCDONALD 35 gardener RE value: 2200 Personal value: 500 b. Ireland
Mary 40 b. Ireland
Ann 30 b. Ireland
Michael MCNAIL 20 laborer b. Ireland
Terence OLAUGHLIN 22 b. Ireland
879/676 Jas. STEWART 45 personal value: 300 b. Ireland
Ann 48 RE value: 1500 b. Ireland
Mary J. 13 b. Alabama
James H. 12 b. Alabama
Margaret A. 10 b. AL
870/627 Patrick MCNULTY 30 Gardener RE value: 400 personal value: 500 b. Ireland
Elisa 32 b. Ireland
(pg. 99)
Mary A. 8 b. AL
Daniel KELLY 30 Laborer b. Ireland
871/678 KEARNS John 39 Gardener RE Value: 1400 Personal value: 400 b. Ireland
Catherine 31 b. Ireland
Eliza A. 8 b. AL
Micahel 4 b. AL
Timothy 1 b. AL
Frank ROMAN or RENAN(?) 45 Laborer b. Ireland
872/678 Thomas FINCH 40 gardener b. Ireland
? 35 b. Ireland
Ellen 2 b. AL Mary 1 b. AL Mary (?) 63 b. Ireland
873/680 Peter KEEGAN 50 Laborer b. Ireland
Michael FINCH 24 Gardener b. Ireland
Sarah 60 b. Ireland
Mary 19 b. Ireland
Ellen 17 b. Ireland
874/681 Edward RENE 38 shoemaker b. Saxony…

Death certificate of son Thomas Jefferson gives Samuel’s birth place as AL, Mobile Co.

Following are Samuel’s marriage licenses to Margaret Overstreet and Nancy Francis Helveston.

Right click on images to view larger.

Irvin Crabtree and Sarah Ann Faggard

Irvin (or Ervin, Irving, Erving, even Ewin) CRABTREE is reported to have been born 11 Nov. 1814 in Hall County, GA., the eldest son and one of 9 children born to Littleton CRABTREE and Rebecca COX.

Amie Akerman notes that the division of Jackson Co. GA created 1801 Clarke Co.; 1811 Madison Co., and in 1818 Hall, Gwinette and Walton Co. Irvin, who was born in 1814, would have been born in one of these earlier counties.

On 19 Jan 1834 (bond date was 15 Jan 1843) (Source: Amie Ackerman) Irvin married Sarah Ann FAGGARD (FAGGERT/FAGGETT) daughter of Daniel FAGGARD and Martha. Irvin was about 20 and Sarah, born 6 Dec. 1819, was about 15.

Between 1835 and 1846 Irvin and Sarah are known to have had at least 4 children. A fifth child, Jacob, is found in the 1860 Alabama Mobile census:

  • Littleton CRABTREE b. 26 Jan 1835, died 25 May 1887 at about 52. Married Nancy BROWNING. Littleton is buried at Whistler Cemetery, Whistler, AL., the same cemetery as Adam Bell and Alice Virginia RANAGIER CRABTREE. Sources: Amie Akerman, who further notes: Littleton-age 45 notary public, b. Al, father born in “Illinois?” Nancy A. (Browning ) 49, Warren 18, Hubbard 13. After comparing the signature of the Littleton Crabtree’s in the family – –here are 6 Littleton Crabtree,’s–the Littleton in this census is the son of Ervin and Sarah. Littleton Jr, s/o Littleton and Rebecca. Littleton Jr. married Nancy Busby; 1858 signed his license to marry, Nancy Busby,”Littleton, Jr. ” Also have copies of both marriage license. Littleton Crabtree, son of Ervin and Sarah, husband of Nancy Browning, is buried in Old Whistler in a plot next to the Browning family. I was told at one time Nancy Browning was married to a “Warren, surname unknown”.
  • Samuel Thomas CRABTREE was born 30 Dec. 1838 at 28 Mile Bluff, AL. He died 17 June 1923 at about 85 and is buried at Indian Springs Cemetery at Eight Mile, AL, where his tombstone reads that he was born 1838 and died in 1923. He married Margaret OVERSTREET. (NOTE that according to the 1850 Alabama Mobile census he is born about 1846 as his age is given as 14. Amie Akerman notes that both Phelan B. Crabtree, son of Sam Sr., gave Samuel T. as being born in 1838.)
  • Eleander (Ellen) CRABTREE was born about 1840 according to the 1850 Alabama Mobile census. Amie Akerman writes that she was born 10 March 1840 and married Needham CRANE on 19 May 1859 at Mobile Co. AL. The marriage bond is signed by Ervin and Littleton as JP. The marriage took place in the home of the bride’s father.
  • Adam Bell CRABTREE was born 5 Feb. 1846. His daughter, Susie gave him as born at Gainsville, Hall Co. GA. The 1850 and 1860 Alabama Mobile censuses however give him as born abt. 1848 in AL. Married Alice Virginia Ranager.
  • Jacob CRABTREE is given as 7 years of age, born about 1853, in the 1860 Alabama Mobile census. Amie Akerman notes: “Jacob Crabtree, (son of Ervin) Adam Bell’s brother, b.Jan 1850 d.? married Melissa Jane TEW, (M.J) Listed with Jacob, 23 Dec 1870, d/o of John TEW & ?”

Irvin was described by Susie Crabtree Kearns DRUMMOND, his granddaughter, as coming from Hall County, GA.

Susie wrote: “My grandfather was born in Hall Co. Ga. He was married to a girl (or lady) named Ann. I don’t know her last name. His name was Irvin Crabtree. His wife, Ann. They had several sons. They were English and French. The Crabtree name originated in England.”

Beverly Melvin, another Crabtree descendant, gives Irvin as perhaps also written as Irving or Erving. “…Thomas Jefferson Crabtree, Samuel Thomas Crabtree and Irving (Erving) Crabtree…They are my ggrfather, gggrfather & ggggrfather. I have names of siblings to T.J. They may have moved from GA to AL, and from there, some moved to south LA.”

FamilySearch, Internet Genealogy Service. Submitter: HENRIETTA G. EDWARDS ALBUQUERQUE NM USA 87111 Submission: AF85-002035 in an August 21st, 1999 site search gives the birth date of “Ervin” Crabtree, and also the marriage date. It also sites Sarah Ann Faggert as having been born 6 Sep 1817. It gives Irvin’s date of death as being 1861 when instead it is 1863 according to his tombstone (this data from Amie Akerman).

Beverly Melvin has found Ervin and Sarah Ann listed in a marriage registry. She writes: “I found Ervin & Sarah Ann Faggart listed in a marriage registry. The date was Jan. 15, 1834, in Mobile Co. AL. I also have her dob as 9/6/1819 & dod as 2/16/1861 in Citronelle, AL. I have found several cousins who have supplied much of the info I have. From somewhere that I can’t recall, I have a wife listed for Adam as Georgia Tucker, married Jan. 2, 1848. Is that another Adam? Do you know anything about that?…”

Ervin CRABTREE is seen as Evin or Ewin in the 1840 Mississippi Newton County Census. He appears to be living next door to his father, Littleton. Two more houses down is Daniel OVERSTREET, and further down is a James OVERSTREET. Mary OVERSTREET, who married Samuel Thomas CRABTREE, had as a father Jacob OVERSTREET b. 1810 GA, d. 1845 in Wayne Co., MS. Jacob is a nick for James, so this James may be Margaret’s father.

1840 MISSISSIPPI NEWTON COUNTY CENSUS pg. 145
JOHNSTON Peter
CRABTREE Evin 1 1 – – – 1 – – – – – – – | – – – – 1
(1 male under 5 would be Samuel Thomas b. 1838, 1 male 5 to 10 would be Littleton b. 1835, 1 male 30 to 40 would be Irvin b. 1814, 1 female 20 to 30 would be Sarah Ann b. 1819)
CRABTREE Littleton 1 1 2 1 1 – – 1 – – – – – | 1 – 2 – – – 1
1 male under 5 would be ?, 1 male 5 to 10 might be Murphy b. 1831), 2 males 10 to 15 would include Haynes b. 1829, 1 male 15 to 20 would be either Alfred R. or Littleton Jr. both given as born 1822 by Amie, so one of these must be the missing male in the 10 to 15 category, 1 male 20 to 30 would be perhaps Jackson b. 1817, 1 male 50 to 60 would be Littleton b. 1790, 1 female under 5, 2 females 10 to 15, 1 female 40 to 50 would be Rebecca COX.
BLACKELY John
Lee Jacob
OVERSTREET Daniel M. (James OVERSTREET further down page).

In the 1850 Alabama Mobile census, Irvin gives himself as 36, so born 1814. NOTE that Saran Ann gives herself here as 34, born about 1815 rather than 1819.

1850 ALABAMA MOBILE CENSUS, Mobile Township
pg. 441
NICOLAS CLement C.
MARSH Alex M.
NICOLAS Clarisa
DICKERSON Florentine
26/26 CRABTREE Erwin 36 wheelwright b. GA
Sarah Ann 34 b. MS
Littleton 16 b. MS
Samuel 14 b. AL
Eleander 10 b. AL
Adam 2. b. AL
27/27 GILLON Sam
NICOLAS William S.

1860 ALABAMA MOBILE CENSUS, Mobile Township
pg. 110
PAINE William
PLATT Peter
KOSTER Hearman
966/761 CRABTREE Ervin 46 wheelwright b. GA
Sarah A. 44 b. GA
Adam 12 b. AL
Jacob 7 b. AL
PARISH William R. 28 carpenter b. TN
CRANE Ellen 20 seamstress b. MS
967/762 Matilda JOHNSON

The 1870 Alabama Mobile census shows a Lewis who is given as 36, thus born about 1834, but is about the age to be Littleton CRABTREE, and he is married to a Nancy. In the next household is a Jacob CRABTREE who is given born about 1850 so would almost match Littleton’s youngest brother, Jacob. But there may be no relationship. For who is Andrew CRABTREE, age 21?

1870 ALABAMA MOBILE CENSUS, Mobile Township
pg. 309
363/363 CRABTREE Lewis 36 carpenter b. GA
Nancy 40 b. AL
Matilda 12 b. AL
Warren 9 b. AL
Herbert 4 b. AL
264/264 CRABTREE Andrew 21 Tinner b. AL
Georgia 20 b. AL
Jake 20 b. AL

Irvin CRABTREE died 12 May 1863 at about 49. He was preceded by Sarah who died 16 Feb. 1861 at Citronelle, Mobile Co. AL.

Marriage certificate of Irvin Crabtree and Sarah Ann Faggard.