Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Henry C. DeCourtney

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Descendants of Henry C. DeCourtney

Generation No. 1

1. HENRY C.¹ DECOURTNEY was born August 22, 1826 in Morgan, Virginia, and died December 16, 1898 in Pickens Co., Oklahoma Indian Territory. He married MARY ANN WILLIAMS May 06, 1850 in Fort Kearney, Nebraska, daughter of JENKIN WILLIAMS and ANGELINE GHOLSON. She was born March 06, 1824 in near Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, and died June 13, 1911 in Davis ,Oklahoma.

Notes for HENRY C. DECOURTNEY:
From Henry's Mexican War records and Mary Ann's widow pension records, WZ-15258, Aug 29, 1899 and SC-19027.

Henry states that he was born in Morgan, Virginia 8-22-1826. He enlisted in Cleveland, Ohio 6-1-1845 for five years and was discharged 6-1-1850 at Fort Kearney, Nebraska (also listed in another document as Oregon). It states that after his discharge, he lived at Fort Smith, Ark some 3 or 4 years, at Fort Towson, Choctaw Nation about 2 or 3 years, at Fort Washita IT one year, at Fort Cobb in Commanche Country
then in the Chickasaw Nation Ind Terr. He married Mary Williams 5-6-1850 at Fort Kearney by William Vaux, minister. There is an letter from the minsiter stating the date and Vaux as minister of the P.E. Church and Chaplin U (or W) P A stating "I hereby certify that I this day united in the bands of holy matrimony Henry Courtney and Mary Williams." This is dated Fort Kearney, O.R. Mary 6th, 1950. Henry had not been married before. Mary had been previously married to William Vredenburg who was drowned about the year 1848. Mary was born 3-6-1824 near Little Rock, Ark. The paperwork states that May had been disabled since 1894 by "red ague (?) and rheumatism and partial loss of sight".

Henry received his pension of $8 6-3-1890 and died 12-16-1898 at Courtney, IT. After Henry died, Mary Ann applied for her widow's pension 4-27-1899. At that time, she states that she lived at the County of Pickens, Ind Terr and her post office is Hennepin (?) Ind Terr. A.B. Roff also appeared on her behalf. He was from Ardmore, Ind Terr. He stated "I have known both deceased H D Courtney and MAry A COURTNEY for 35 years and they lived together as man and wife and he always recognized her as such. As we have heard Courtney was dead and know his estate is now being administered."

In Henry's pension papers, he states that he served under the name Henry COURTNEY as a sargent in Capt. Walker's 6th Infantry, commanded by Cal-Loomus. He enlisted 6-1-1845. Henry stated in a paper called General Affidavit "That he claims pension from date of passage of the Act of Jan. 29, 1887 granting such pension. That he is disabled by reason of rheumatisn with which he has been afflicted for about nine years past and which requires the employment of hands to work his farm. That said disability was not contracted while aiding or abetting the late rebellion. That he has never rendered military or naval service to the U.S. Govt other than in the war with Mexico." This is dated 5-19-1890. His signature is on it as Henry D Courtney.

Another Genral Affidavit date 5-14-1889 in a claim for service pension states "Affidavit states that he is personally well acquainted with Henry DeCourtney who under the name of Henry Courtney served in Co 6th U.S. Infantry and was discharged at Fort Kearney Nebraska in the year 1851 or about that time. Affidavit known this to be him from the fact that he aff(?) served in Co 6th U.S. Infantry and was stationed at Fort Kearney (with the claimant and he has been personnaly acquainted with said Courtney or Decourtney was since his discharge from the army." This is signed at Fort Smith, Ark by Anton Neiz (?)

Another General Affidavit dated 5-19-1890 in Texas, County of Coosces (I can't read this well). G L Ryan states "I have known Henry DeCourtneyfor about 6 years. I have been his Physician for about 6 years. I have treated him a number of times for Rhumatisn. He is not able to do manual labor and has not been since I have known him. I am a Reg ? Practicing Physician of Pickins County, IT." Ryan says that his post office address is Leon IT.

Another General Affidavit dated 7-29-1901 in the County of Pickins, Indian Terr: "That we were present at the death of Mr. Henry DeCourtney on the 16 day of Dec 1898 and that we were present at his burial and we state without the least doubt as to Mr. Henry DeCourtney having died on the above date." This was notorized for E C (or G) Denney (?), 34 years residing at Courtney, Pickens Co Ind Terr and L E Hudson, age 40 years, residing at Courtney in Pickens Co. Ind Terr.

Anotehr General Affidavit, notorized 10-22-1900 at Chickasaw Nation Ind Terr states that Mary A. Courtney, J T Morton residing at Hermefin (?) Chickasaw Ind Terr and Aora (?) Pruitt age 24 years residing at Hernefin (?) Chickasaw Ind Terr came before the notory. The statement "That I J.T. Morton am personnaly acquainted with Mary A. Courtney and that she has not remarried since the death of Henry D Courtney and that I believe she is the identical person she claims herself to be and I further state
that I have known Mary A Courtney for about six years." "That I Nora Pruitt sister (?) I have known Mrs. Mary A Courtney for about twelve years and that she is the identical person she claims herself to be and
that she has not remarried since the death of Henry D Courtney on or about Dec 16-98." Signed Nora Pruitt. Mary A. Courtney signs the bottom of the affidavit.

Last affidavit dated 1-8-1902 states that Mary A Courtney, age 77 years residing at Hennepin, Chickasaw NA of Ind Terr and Martha Williams, age 58 years residing at Hermefin Chickasaw Na Ind Terr. "I have been acquainted with the claimant Mary A. Courtney about thirty years and that to her and Henry Courtney lived together as man and wife about five years after my acquaintance with them but I don't know why they ever separated only from her say in the neighborhood. That I was on account of Henry D Courtney During afther their women and I further know they lived apart about twenty-five years but that he said Mary A Courtney always ? the said Henry D Courtney as her husband and that the said Henry D. Courtney never remarried anytime after they began living apart but that he ? after ? Mary A Courtney visits and cout? to d? after the him his death." This was is signed by both Mary A. Courtney and Martha
Williams.

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According to an interview with Rose PRATER GREGORY in about 1965, she states that Gramdpa COURTNEY was in the service and came from Virginia. She said that he had been a soldier when the Indians were giving everyone problems. She said that he was shot once and that this shot glazed the side of his cheek and went through his nose. She said that he just had a little scar on his cheek and that it didn't look bad.

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He made at least two trips to Fort Smith to go before the judge for having liquor in the Indian Territory. On 12-25-1881, Henry was charged with "Introducing Spiritous Liquors into Indian Country." He appears that he either had to post a bond or pay $250.

On 10-20-1882, he had his trial. "James LONG, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I reside in Montaque o., Texas and know the defendant in this cause knows nothing whatever of the case. Martin D. SANDEFUR, I live above the mouth of Mud Creek in the Chickasaw Nation. The only time I know anything about deff. having any liquor in the Nation was about 3 years ago, just after he was shot, the doctor gave him a bottle of bitters. Timothy INGRAM sworn, says I know nothing about the case." A note at the botton says "Deff. discharged."

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From a letter from Oklahoma Historical Society to Lee Manning dated January 19, 1967:

I have scattered information about Henry and Mary Courtney and Courtney Flat in the Indian Archives Division.

According to Oklahoma Place Names by George H. Shirk, it was formerly called Watkins and is located in the southwestern corner of Love County Oklahoma, and is known locally as Courtney Flat, and was named for H. D. Courtney, a prominent early day resident.

In Chickasaw Vol. 53, page 338, there is a record on June 3, 1872 Henry D. Courtney was employed by M. Johnson for one year from June 3, 1872. It was signed by Wm. F. Worthington, Clk, Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.

On page 335, of said Chickasaw Vol. 53, there is a record that Mary Courtney and Don Courtney were employed one year by Munford Johnson from June 11, 1872.

In Vol. 73, p. 209, Indian-Pioneer History, being interviews with old-timers, Charles H. Todd in 1937 stated: "I knew old man Courtney, the town was named after him. He came there when the Buffalos were plentiful. He found an Indian boy who was shot in the leg and he cared for him until he was well... Mr. Courtney was a white man. An Indian shot him in the temple in front of his ears, the bullet went through his head yet he lived. It left a shallow hole or dent in each temple but healed nicely....

In Vol. 46, p. 453, Indian-Pioneer History, in 1937 a Mrs. Ida Gilkey stated: In 1885 my father moved to the Chickasaw Nation and settled at Courtney Flat which was just a little settlement on a farm owned by a white man called Dad Courtney. He had a right in the Territory on account of his wife being an Indian..... We crossed Red River on a cable drawn ferry boat as there was a great deal of water in the river. Dad Courtney ran the ferry boat...

In Vol. 12, p. 471, Indian-Pioneer History, in 1937 Peter B. Arthur was interviewed and stated: Courtney Flat was founded by Henry DeCortney. THe year Arthur came to the Leon settlement DeCortney was shot through the face. He was at the supper table eating supper, and someone fired from the kitchen window. The bullet went all the way through his face. He lived for 25 years after that and the wound never healed. His wife and three of the boys stayed at Fort Arbuckle.... Mr. DeCortney visited his family at Ft. Arbuckle, and they visited him. Three of the Courtney boys later established a ranch west of the Fort.

In Vol. 19, p. 183, in an interview in 1937 with Andrew Camp it is stated: A family named Courtney lived northwest of Arbuckle. The old man and a part of the family moved to what is now known as Courtney Flat, in Love County, while the old lady with three of the boys, two of which were Bob and Tom, remained at the first location.

In Vo. 3, p. 162, Tom Dorsett in an interview in 1937 stated: I came to Cortney Flat in a covered wagon in 1876... Cortney Flats was a flat abotu 2 miles wide and 8 miles long in the bend of Red River and just above the mouth of Mud Creek.

There are some Courtneys on the Final Rolls of 1902 of the Chickasaw Indians, but they were all listed as Full blooded Chickasaws, so it is doubtful if they are descendants of Henry D. Courtney as he seems to have been a white man married to a Chickasaw. I will list the heads of the three families:

Notes for MARY ANN WILLIAMS:
Per newspaper obit," Mary Ann Courtney, who lived one and a half miles west of Arbuckle, died Jan. 13, 1911. She was buried in Walnut cemetery. Mrs. Courtney was one of the pioneer settlers of this country, coming here from Arkansas in 1840. She would have been 80 years old in March, was a widow 38 years and blind 14 years. She was the mother of eleven children and raised them all to be grown."

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On the 1900 Census, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory:
222-2 Courtney, Mary, head, white, female, born March l824 in ARK,76 years old, widow, father born in VA, mother in TN, (ll-5 children)
222-1 Brittenbury (this is what transcriber wrote, but I feel it could be Brittenberg since he is right next to Mary Courtney) James, servant, Indian, male, Sep l884, l5 years old, born in Indian Territory,
father in AR, mother in Ind Terr, farm labor

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From Emory Ann Courtney's census information, Mary Ann would have been Chickasaw.

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Mary Ann had to visit the judge in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1871 for Contempt. She wrote a note to the judge, date August 18, 1871. "Sir I was summoned to appear before you which I failed im so uaing (?) on the account of sickness i was ready to starte when I was taken sick I still remain unfit or unable to take a trip like that respectfully yours Mary A Courtney"

There is also a note from Louis C. Noppler (?), "I certify that Mrs. Mary A. Courtney is Physically unable to travel; caused by Paralysis of the left leg, with wich she was taken only yesterday the 7th insit, and will not be able; in my opinion in at least thirty (30) days Fort Arbuckle P.C. Ind Terry. August 8th, 1871."

There is also an affidavit before C.J. Brooks Esq., United States vs Mary Courtney:

"The defendent Mary Courtney states that she was summoned to appear as a witness before the commissioner of the Unites States for the Western District of Ark to testify in a case before said Comr wherein the US was plpp (?) & Sidney Johnson deff. She says that the Marshall who summoned hergave her four da to prepare for the trip to this place during which she made preparations to come & was ready & anxious to come & on the third day after she was summoned she was taken sick & confined in bed & was wholly unable to atten at the time she was wanted to attend before the Comm. She says she was confined in bed for some two weeks, during which time she was wholly unable to travel.

She says that during her illness she called in Doctor Happy (?) who upon examination certified that she was unable to travel & that she would not be able to travel for thirty days thereafter. This certificate was made & forwarded to Commissioner Churchill in a day or two after she was taken sick. She supposing that the case in which she was summoned was preciding before Mr. Churchill. She says that she sstarted on her way to this place in abidence to the subpoena as soon as she was advised by her physician that she was able to travel without endangering her life. She says she appeared here on yesterday the 27th of Sept 1871 & reported at once to the Marshall Mr. Williard who summoned her. She says most hasitively that she is not nor never was intentionally in contempt of the authority of the Commissioner in any manner whatsoever that her failure to come at the time she was summoned was & is not attributable to any motive of disobedience, or contempt of the court's authrorty, nor to any carelessness or neglegence of her own. She says that she has made her appearance here as soon after being summoned as she could with safety to her self. She therefore ask the Comm to discharge her. Wherefore she prays (?) Mary Courtney, sowrn before me by Mary Courtney this the 28th day of Sept 1871. (unable to read signature)."

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According to an interview with Rose PRATER GREGORY about 1965, she said that grandma (Mary Ann COURTNEY) had twin children, about 12-15 years old. They were living at Fort Arbuckle and had been assured that the Indians had all been taken care of. The children were playing outside the Fort by a creek and the boy was on the high side of the bank when 2-3 Indians grabbed him. The little girl was on the other side of the creek and heard the boy screaming and saw the Indians and she ran. Rose states that the boy was killed and the Indians eventually caught, but it took a while to catch up with them. She went on to talk about how they shuld have just let the Indians keep their land and find some place else to put the white people. She said it was a shame that the little one had to pay with his life.

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Much thanks to Joe Dempsey and his sister, "Kim" for recent information on Mary Ann's first husband and the fact that Don A. was actually from this marriage and not the DECOURTNEY marriage. Although we have just began comparing notes, we have discovered some additional family ties that are probably here with family intermarriages.

More About MARY ANN WILLIAMS:
Fact 1: Buried at Walnut Cemetary near Davis, OK.
Medical Information: She was blind in her later years, probably occurred at about 65 years old.

Children of HENRY DECOURTNEY and MARY WILLIAMS are:

	i.		HENRY HILL² COURTNEY, b. March 31, 1851.
	ii.		JOSEPH ALEXANDER COURTNEY, b. February 11, 1854.

Notes for JOSEPH ALEXANDER COURTNEY:
According to Rose Linberg PRATER, Joseph was killed by by Indians. According to an interview with Mary Angeline COURTNEY he was killed by Commanche's.

2.	iii.	JOSEPHINA ELIZA COURTNEY, b. February 11, 1854, Central Arkansas; d. Abt. 1893.
	iv.	JINKIN WILLIAM COURTNEY, b. February 05, 1856.
	v.	SAMUEL GOLSON COURTNEY, b. April 02, 1857.
3.	vi.	EMORY ANN COURTNEY, b. March 09, 1859, Fort Cobb I.T., Arbuckle; d. July 12, 1925, Davis, Indian Territory, Oklahoma.
	vii.	ROBERT E. LEE COURTNEY, b. November 04, 1861; m. SOHRONIA E. REID, January 19, 1888, Cooke Co., TX.
4.	viii.	WADE HAMPTON COURTNEY, b. September 24, 1863, Courtney Flats, Indian Territory, OK; d. April 1907, Courtney Flats, Indian Territory, OK.
5.	ix.	MARY ANGELINE COURTNEY, b. June 13, 1866, Oklahoma; d. May 11, 1947, Davis, Murray Co., Oklahoma.

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