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The Little Affidavit Transcribed By: G.D. Buckley, Jr. March 17, 2000 (Transcribed from a photocopy from Martha Little, original document on file with the North Carolina State Archives, Charles E. Shelby Collection, R#214, F#427) |
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AFFIDAVIT OF J. E. Little, in Regard to REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES OF CAPTAIN CHARLES POLK, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AS SHOWN BY RECORDS U.S. PENSION OFFICE, WASHINGTON D. C. Personally appeared before the undersigned Officer authorized to administer oaths J E. Little who first being duly sworn deposes and says: that he personally searched the Records in the U.S. Pension Office, Washington D. C., and made his own Memoranda therefrom, and that said Memoranda is herewith incorporated in the foregoing Affidavit, the exact quotations herein set out being taken from the WIDOW ‘S FILE NO.5571, REVOLUTIONARY WAR SECTION, UNITED STATES PENSION OFFICE, WASHINGTON D. C., relative to the military services of Captain Charles Polk, during the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, and said Records disclose the following facts: "That Captain Charles Polk, who was born July 9.1732, resided in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and was appointed Lieutenant of the Militia, in the Province of North Carolina by Colonel William Tryon, His Majesty's Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in the FOURTH Year of His Majesty's reign. That In 1777, Charles Polk was Captain in the Army, and served under Lieutenant-Colonel William Polk in the North Carolina Troops. General Sumter’s Brigade, was in the battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, and other battles not specified. Charles Polk first married in March 1732, Mary Clark, born In June 1744 and died October 8, 1776; his second wife was Philipina (Phebe) Helms, born June 10, 1764, married February 5,1782, died January 12, 1849 Captain Charles Polk was a brother of General Thomas Polk, John Polk and Ezekiel Polk. Captain Charles Polk served five months as Lieutenant of the Cavalry, nine months and nineteen days as Captain of Infantry, and nine months as Captain of Cavalry, North Carolina troops, In the Revolutionary War. Children of Charles Polk and Mary Clark Polk. Peggy, born December 25, 1764 married William Freeman, who was born June24,1765. John, born November 7, 1766, married Esther Pool. Deborah, born December 10, 1768, married Gideon Freeman who was born July12.1759. Thomas, born February 28, 1771, married Mary Shelby who was born February 18, 1763. Michael, born June 20, 1774, married Susannah Pyron, who was born March 26, 1774. Mary, born September 24, 1776, married John Brooks. And, as to the contents of said Records, furthur your AFFIANT saith NOT. Your Affiant further states, on oath, that he is a great-grand son of Thomas Polk and Mary Shelby, and from what he has heard his mother, Rena Little, say and from the Records of the Little Family Bible, and from the toombs of his grand-father Aaron Little and his grand-mother Mary Polk Little, he says of his own knowledge, information, and belief, that Thomas Polk and Mary Shelby had a daughter, MARY Polk, born January 9, 1810, married Aaron Little in 1825, and died August 9,1862; that Aaron Little was born Feb, 1800 and died April 23, 1870. Page Two Children of Charles Polk and Philipina Polk Charles Polk, born March 15, 1784 William, born April 30, 1786 Susanna, born June 10, 1788 Ezekiel W. born June 9, 1791 Martha, born May 4, 1794 George W. born Sept. 10, 1799 married Margaret Garmon, Dec. 4, 1823 who was born May 10, 1804. Eleanor born Jan. 10, 1804 Children of George W. Polk & Margaret Garmon Martha born Oct. 1824 Pheby born June 10, 1826 Chas. It. born Apr. 23, 1828 Mary 3. born March 2, 1830 John P. born May 12, 1832 Tabitha born Feb. 20, 1834 Wm. S. born Feb. 18, 1836 James born Jan. 17 1838 (Furr) Henry M. born Dec. 22, 1840 Geo. W. born Spt. 27, 1841 d. 6-6-51 Margaret born June 3, 1843 m. John Henry Long d. 7-27-41 Alphonso b. Jul. 11, 1845 (Drawn by Theophilus Letter - October 18, 1790) WIDOW'S CLAIM — FILE # 5, 571 Captain Charles Polk Revolutionary War Section, United States Pension Office Capt. Charles Polk was born July 19, 1732 and died March 10, 1821. He was married (1) to Mary Clark, March 1762. She died Oct. 8, 1776. She was born June 6, 1744. The second marriage was to Philipina Helms, Feb. 5, 1782, who was born June 10, 1764 and died Jan. 12, 1849. THOMAS POLK OF ANSON COUNTY WAS A SON OF CAPT. CHARLES POLK OF MECKLENBURG CO. Your affiant further states of his own knowledge, information and belief that the Hon. William L. Polk, distinguished author of "Polk Family and Kinsmen" was mistaken in saying that Thomas Polk was the oldest son of William Polk by his first wife" (see p. 95). However, he is correct in saying that Thomas Polk married Mary Shelby, and that he lived and died at Polk Mountain on Richardson's Creek in Anson County, N.C., now Union County. And the said author has given the names of all the children of Thomas Polk and Mary Shelby correctly, and whom they married, among them being Mary Polk who married Aaron Little (see pp. 95, 98, 99) Your affiant, J.E. Little, is also corroborated by the record of U. S. Pension Office Washingon, D.C. "Widow's claim File No. 5571" which gives the name of Thomas Polk of Anson County N.C. and the son Of Capt. Charles Polk of Mecklenburg Co., N.C. Page Three
The will of Capt. Charles Polk recorded in Mecklenburg County, IT. C in Book 1, page 300 also mentions the name of his son, Thomas. Your affiant further says, on oath, that Capt. Charles Polk lived and died on Clear Creek, Mecklenburg County, N.C. where the Monroe and Concord Road crosses said Clear Creek. and that this old homestead has a marker placed there by the D.A.R.'s. and that Capt. Charles Polk owned land on Clear Creek, Goose Creek, Duck Creek, Crooked Creek, Richardson's Creek, and Rocky River, as shown by the Public Records of Mecklenburg County, N.C. all of which territory is familiar to your affiant. That Reese Shelby and Thomas Shelby also owned land on Clear Creek, adjoining Capt. Charles Polk. And the records also show that Capt. Chas. Polk gave the land he owned on Richardson's Creek to his sons, Michael and Thomas. Beyond all reasonable doubt, Hon. William H. Polk, noted author or "Polk Family and Kinsman" was in error in stating that our Thomas Polk of Anson Co. N. C., who married Mary Shelby, was the "eldest son of William Polk by his first wife." (see p. 95) William Polk and Margaret Taylor who moved from Carlisle Penn. and settled in Mecklenburg County, N.C. became the progenitors of the Southern Branch of the Polk Family, and had the following children: William, Thomas, Charles, John, Ezekiel, Margaret, Susan and Debora. According to the letter of Mrs.Susan Smart, which the author (l849 incorporated in his book, p. 195, "William married a woman whose name I do not remember. They removed to Tenn. many years ago.") And this appears to be the same William referred to by the author on page 95, which is in error. Mrs. Smart was no doubt correct in saying this William (brother to Thomas, Charles, John and Ezekiel), "moved to Tenn. many years ago." The Public Records of Mecklenburg Co., N. C. appear to corroborate her in this statement as your affiant is unable to find any record in Mecklenburg County, N.C. after diligent search, showing that this William Polk, (brother, to Thos. Charles John and Ezekiel) or any of his children, ever became permanent residents of Mecklenburg Co, N.C. Evidently they moved to Tenn., as Mrs. Susan Smart says. All these facts would indicate that this William Polk, brother of Capt. Chas. Polk could not have been the father of Thomas Polk of Anson Co., N.C. All the records, family bibles, tombs, and knowledge and recollections of personal acquaintances, as well as the Records of the U. S. Pension office, Washington, D.C. show that our Thomas Polk of Anson County, was the son of Capt. Chs. Polk of Mecklenburg Co., and William left no descendants in Mecklenburg or Anson. Col. Thomas Polk of Mecklenburg Declaration fame had a son William, who lived and died in Raleigh, N.C.. This William was a first cousin of Thomas of Anson County, N.C. Col. Thos. Polk of Mecklenburg also had a son named Thomas, who was killed in the Battle of Eutaw Springs, S.C. He was also a first cousin of our
Page Four Thomas of Anson County, N.C. - - - - - - -- The foregoing Record of marriage of Thomas Polk is incorrect. Your affiant further deposes and says that the foregoing record in the U.S. Pension Office, Washington, D.C. as to the marriage of Thomas Polk is incorrect. That Thomas Polk first married Mary Shelby, and by her had the following children: Shelby, Andrew, Thomas, Jobe, Hannah, Dicey, Patsy, Mary, and Elizabeth (see p. 95 of Book). That his second marriage was to Keziah Tarlton and no issue was born of this union. That the information, as appears of Record in the U.S. Pension Office, Washington, D.C. relative to the marriage of Thomas Polk, son Capt. Charles Polk, is based on the affidavit of Geo. W. Polk, bearing date of April 24, 1855 and he was then 55 years old. That George W. was the youngest son of Capt. Charles Polk by his second wife Philipina (Phebe) Helms, and a half brother to the said Thomas Polk, second son of Capt. Charles Polk by his first wife, Mary Clark. That the said George W. Polk lived on Clear Creek, Mecklenburg, County (now Cabarrus), N.C. some twelve or fourteen miles from his half-brother, Thomas Polk, who lived and died on Richardson's Creek, Anson County, (now Union) N.C. That roads were rough, travel difficult, and visits very infrequent, and that George W. Polk, evidently did not know much about his older half-brother, Thomas, except what his mother Phebe Helms, had related to him, and that she had been dead some six years when he made the affidavit for the Pension Office and that the said George W. Polk really did not know that the first wife of Thomas Polk was Mary Shelby and he was honestly mistaken in saying that his half-brother, Thomas Polk, married Keziah Pyron, that he confused the name of Keziah Pyron with that of Keziah Tarlton, the second wife of Thomas Polk, by whom he had no children; that Michael Polk, brother of Thomas, did marry Susan Pyron, and that the said George W. Polk confused the name of Keziah Pyron with that of Keziah Tarlton, 2nd wife of Thomas Polk. Your affiant avers that he has often heard his mother, Serena M. Little, say that grandmother, Mary Polk Little, told her we were related to the Shelbys; that she had a brother, Shelby Polk; that her father was Thomas Polk and her mother was Mary Shelby. That affiant has also heard his mother, Serena M. Little, speak of her Uncle Shelby Polk, Uncle Andrew Polk, Jeff Polk and Lee Polk, cousins; Aunt Hannah Long, Aunt Dicey Colbourn (Coburn), Aunt Patsy Crittendon, and Aunt Elizabeth McManus. And that Grandmother, Mary Polk Little, was very much displeased and disappointed when her father, Thomas Polk, married Keziah Tarlton, a Tory, for his second wife. Page Five According to the Records in U.S. Pension Office "widow's Claim File No. 5571" and according to the Records of Mecklenburg and Anson Counties, and all available information obtainable from Family history, relatives and acquaintances, who knew Capt. Charles Polk of Mecklenburg County and Thomas Polk of Anson County. Your affiant who is a great grandson of Thomas Polk, born on Rocky River POSITIVELY AFFIRMS from all the records obtainable, and from his own knowledge, recollection and information and personal acquaintance of relatives, that Thomas Polk of Anson County, N.C. was, without doubt, the son of Capt. Charles Polk of Mecklenburg Co., N.C. and not the son of William Polk, as stated by the noted author, whose book was published in 1912. And that the said Thomas Polk was first married to Mary Shelby and from this union nine chldren were born: Shelby, Polk; 2. Andrew Polk; 3. Thomas Polk, Jr.; 4. Jobe Polk, 5. Hannah Long; 6. Dicey Colbourn (Coburn) 7. Patsy Crittenden; 8. Mary Little; and 9. Elizabeth McManus. That Thomas Polk was married a second time to Keziah Tarlton(and not Keziah Pyron) and no children were born of this marriage. Children 1. Shelby Polk, who married Winifred Colbourn (Coburn). They moved to Tenn. 1813. He died 1847. 2. Andrew Polk, b. 1792, died 1850; first married a Miss Caraway. Settled on Brown Creek, Polkton, N.C. and had three children by his first wife; Thos. J., James K., and Marshall Jas. K. moved to Texas and died there. Marshall and Thos. Jeff. Remained in Anson Co. Andrew married Lorena Autry for his second wife and by her had one child, Col. L.L. Polk, Raleigh, N.C. Col. Leonidas L. married Sarah Gaddy and they had five children: Mary who m. a Browder, Jaunite who m. J.W. Denmark, Lula who m. Jay Harris; Carrie who m. a Browder, Ina and Leonidas, Jr. who died in infancy. 3. Thomas Polk, Jr., who married Sarah Brooks. He inherited the old Tom Polk Homestead and lived there 4. Jobe Polk - never married 5. Hannah Polk who first married a Sides and had one child by him, Hannah, who m. Mark Austin, For her second husband, Hannah m. Adam Long, Sr. She had three sons, Thomas, Adam, and Henry, and daughters. Adam Long, Jr. married Nancy Green, and they had four sons, William G., Jesse, John F., and Thomas. Page Six William G. Long m. Sarah Ellen Austin and they had the following children: James, Mark, Hugh, Lula, Robert, Edward, Lilly ______________, Wilma, Samuel, Annie, Ocie. John S. Long married Delphia Love and had four children; Martha Jane, Charles, Curtis, Minnie. Jesse married Hester Love. Had several children. Moved to Montgomery Co. Lizzie, Frances, Johah. Thomas married Frances._______. Had several children - moved to Texas. 6. Dicey Polk who m. Francis Colbourn (Coburn). They moved to Tenn. 7. Patsy Polk, who married William Crittenden. They also moved to Tenn. 8. Mary Polk married Aaron Little. They lived and died on Rocky River in the northern part of Union Co., N. C. and had 10 children.
1. Armstead Little m. Polly Love. He was killed at battle of Sharpsburg, Md. 1862 He left a widow and several children. 2. James Laban Little m. Elizabeth Green. They had several children: Ellen m. John Griffin, Moved to Tenn Asa m. Wm. Biggers Julius C. m. Rettie Tuker Thos. Aaron 1st m. a Miss Long. No. ch. Survived. m. 2nd Minnie Price, and had several ch. by her. Jo. Alonzo m. Ida Turner of Stanley, Co. N.C. He is now clerk of Sup. Ct. Albemarle, N.C. Bunyan m. Fanny Love, Moved to Lakeland, Fla. Have several ch. Geo. F. died in infancy. Rettie m. Tellinger Honeycutt, Stanly Co. Watt m. a Tarlton. Had sev. ch. and lives at old Jas. Little homestead. 3. Thos. Bunyan Little m. Adeline Tolson and moved to Cleveland Co., Ark. Before the Civil War. Children whose names I recall: Eli, Dougal, Geo., Carey, Walter and Lizzie Roebuck. Thos. B. Little was a Baptist minister. Page Seven 4. Martha Little m. Tilliman Green. They had sev. ch. Bunyan Green. m. Maggie Bost and they live at Midland, Cabarrus Co. Ephriam m. Mary Ann. Bess Martha m. Martin Tucker; Legeette m. Martha Hinson. 5. Sophia Little who m. Noah Barbee
6. Sophia m. Jabez Williams 7. Betsey, m. Archibald Helms. They had one dau. Mary who m. Thos. Love. 8. Mary Emeline m. Alfred J. Austin - Children: Hortense m. Wm. Baucom Dr. Jas. A. m. Wilma Duncan A. David m. Dora Helms Rufus E. m. Patsey Ross Daniel W. m. Minnie Hinson A. Bunyon m. Daisy Brooks Emeline m. Isaac Duncan Alice m. Jno. Biggers Daisy m. Vernon Brooks
9. Rosanna Penelope Little m. Wm. A Austin children:
Henry W. Austin m. Rosa Trull Mary Lavenia m. U.A. Davis Belinda Victoria m. Jacob C.Griffin Francis Penelope m.Emanuel Helms John Aaron m. Hattie Austin James C. m. Sallie Davis Alex Tildon m. Virgie Stewart Sarah Charlotte m. Thos. King Ida Serena m. 1. John Stewart 2. L.S. Williams Daisy H. m. Thos. Griffin 10. Serena Minerva m. James H. Little
8. children: Jennie L. Little m. Isaac R. Duncan Judge E. Little m. Asa Taulbee Zebulon H. m. Tiny Griffin Samuel L. never married Thos. Jefferson m. Mary Bivens Florence B. m. Claudo Hamilton Rosa L. m. Robt. H. McManus James H. Jr. never married 9. Elizabeth M. (dau of Thos. Polk and Mary Shelby) {End Version 1.}
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