Notes for Joshua Horn: Joshua Horn is my Great Great Great Grandfather. There is family lore that Joshua decided to settle in Horn's Valley when he saw a turkey roost on the property. Dad is unsure where the original house for Joshua and Dolly was in Horn's Valley but he does recall where the James M Horn property was located. There is no house there at present. Dad also says that part of an existing house was built out of logs and this was the Elijah Horn house originally. The James Madison Horn house was just inside the Clay County line on the right side of the road as you are driving into Horn's Valley.
We have no information about the parents or siblings of Joshua Horn. A major problem is that he was unable to read and write making a paper trail virtually impossible to trace. We do know he applied for and received a pension for his service in the War of 1812 and that Dolly applied for and received a pension for his service after Joshua died. We also have a remarkable document from November 20, 1863 where he petitions the Probate Court to grant him guardianship of his two orphan grandchildren, Andrew Lee Kirkpatrick and Washington Kirkpatrick after their father was killed in the Civil War and the mother Sarah Horn had died prior to this. We also have the will of Joshua Horn where he signs his name with an X. Cary Horn believes that Joshua was orphaned and was living with the Waits family as they seem to be moving around the country in tandem.
Joshua and Dolly marry in Conecuh County in 1819 prior to the formation of the State of Alabama in December 1819. Because of this I was able to nominate Joshua Horn and Dorothy Ann Waits as a First Family by the Alabama Genealogical Society.
The 1880 census lists Joshua then his name is crossed out. He had died on June 10th of that year. Dollie died on May 24, 1881 according to the pension records.
Little else is known about Joshua and Dolly but you can see where they are moving around in the Census. 1820 they are in Conecuh, 1830 and 1840 they are in Troup Ga, and 1850 and beyond they are in Alabama. In the Alabama Census' you will find they are listed in Randolph Co, Al in 1850 and 1860, then Clay in 1870 and 1880. My brother Stan says that prior to the formation of Clay County, Al in 1867, they lived in Randolph Co, Al near Lineville (thus the name of the town that separated the 2 counties - LINEVILLE) then moved to the present site of HORN's VALLEY.
Someone who gave my brother some information on the Horns states that Joshua was born in Orange Co., NC. From the census we know that he was born in the Carolinas (usually listed as NC) but I have never seen evidence of a more precise place of birth. I see in the 1800 census there are Horns in Orange county, William, Thomas, James, and Joshua and 3 of them - William, Thomas, and Joshua have boys in the house that are the right ages to be our Joshua. These Horn's could easily be brothers and are all living next to each other in Hillsborough. I also see they are in the 1790 census but for some reason I am unable to view those images. In 1810 in Hillsborough there are now 7 Horns but Thomas is missing. William, James, and Joshua are there as well as A, J, and Joseph and Jesse.
The area where Joshua was living in 1850 was a very interesting community. The names are not indexed properly so finding some of these people can be difficult but some of the interesting people in the area are my Great Great Grandfather on my mothers side - John Thomas Phillips who fought and was killed in the Civil War. Several doors down from John Thomas Phillips and Joshua Horn there is the Lemuel Phillips family. Lemuel is 61 yo and may possibly be the father of John Thomas Phillips. Also in the area are several EASTS of which the Horn family marries into by various means including Zealous East, James East, and Amos East. Another family in the area is Absolom Nixon aged 53 who may possibly be the father of my Great Great Grandfather James Edward Lowry Nixon.
On May 12, 2007 I recieved a package of information about the Horn Clan from Joyce Duncan who is a direct descendant of Jackson Lee Kirkkpatrick, son of Jackson Kirkpatrick who married Sarah Horn and she included the following information originated from Lowell Horn and I will quote as follows:
JOSHUA AND DOLLIE HORN
Without benefit of birth records Joshua's exact age is hard to fix. His age varies from cencus (sic) to census, but the most frequent dates would indicate he was born in North Carolina about 1796. He died in Clay County, Alabama on June 10, 1880. Joshua married Dorothy Ann (Dollie) Waits on September 1, 1819 in Conecuh County, Alabama. There is no official record since the court house burned on November 6, 1886, and all records were lost. However, there is a sworn statement by a Lavina Dunlap that she was present at the wedding. Dollie was born about 1800 in Newberry District, South Carolina- She died in Clay County on May 24, 1881. Both Joshua and Dollie are buried in Horn Memorial Baptist Church Cemetary in Clay County.
Dollies' parents were Samuel Waits and Susan Tidmore of Newberry District, South Carolina. They were married in Newberry in 1797. Samuel was born in South Carolina about 1756 and died on April 18, 1836 in Troup County, Georgia. Susan was born in South Carolina and died on June 10, 1844 in Troup County. Samuel served in the U. S. Militia during the Revolutionary War - entering service in 1780 as a Private and served for two terms for a total of seven months.
Joshua served in the Georgia Militia during the War of 1812. He served as a Private in Captain Charles Crawford' Company, 8th U.S. Infantry- enterting service on Februrary (sic) 8, 1813, and was discharged on August 7, 1814 at Camp Jack, 20 miles from Savannah, Georgia. At the time of his enlistment he was living in Laurens County, Ga. He was described as being 17 years old, born in North Carolina, 5ft. 6 inches tall, black hair and dark complexion. Joshua filed an Application for a survivior's pension on July 5, 1871. He received 8 dollars per month by way of certificate No. 19107, beginning on Feburary (sic) 14, 1874. Dollie filed an Application for a widows pension on January 13, 1881.
At the time the 1820 census was taken, Joshua and Dollie were living in Conecuh County, Alabama with no children. They later moved breifly (sic) to Jasper County, Georgia, and then to Henry County, Georgia for about five years.
In Henry County in January of 1827, Joshua witnessed a land sale between Henry Waits (Dollie's brother) and Aaron Brooks. This was a 50 acre parcel of lot 180 in the decond district on the waters of Indian Creek.
On September 8, 1827, in Henry County, Joshua sold 202 1/2 acres of land lot 189 of district 2 to John Waid for $850.00. The deed was recorded on September 21, 1827 on page 350 of deed book A & B. This land was refered to as "a plantation owned by the Horn family" according to an article written in 1911 on Johsua's son, Larry B. Horn. The land was located on what is present day Griffin, Georgia. After the land sale, the Horn family moved to Troup County, Georgia.
On December 20, 1828 in Troup County, Georgia, Joshua witnessed a land sale of lot 75 in District 12. At the time of the 1830 census (sic), Joshua and Dollie were living in Troup County near Lagrange, Georgia. Only head of households were listed by name in the 1830 census (sic), all others were listed by sex and age grouping. Living with them at the time probably were their children, Andrew J, Green L, Larry B,. and Elijah L.
In the Georgia land lottery of 1832 Joshua was awarded lot 53 in the 10th district, near the Choestoey River, of Union County. This is near the North Carolina State line. Joshua was living in Troup County at the time, and it was not necessary that he live on the land he was awarded. This was the first of two lotteries held in 1832 for the land acquired from the Cherokee Indians.
On March 8, 1834 Joshua sold part of land lot 119 to a Mr. Harry Phillips. Although he did not receive these lots in the original lottery, it is not know at this time how he receive (sic) title to them.
In 1836 Joshua served in Captain McGehee's General Militia number 673 in Harrisonville District of Troup County. This was at the time of the uprising of the Seminole Indians in Florida.
On March 14, 1839 Joshua sold two acres of land to the Primitive Baptist Church in Troup County for a meeting house. The deed was not recorded until Jule 22, 1841. This parcel was part of land lot 181 of the 1827 Georgia land lottery. The balance of land lot 181 was sold to a Mr. Pleasnat H. Whitaker on January 4, 1841.
In 1840 Joshua and Dollie were still living in Troup County. Only head of households (sic) were listed by name in the census (sic) records. There were twelve people listed in the household. At least nine children are believe (sic) to have been born by this time.
In 1850 at the time the cesus (sic) was taken on November 29, Joshua and Dollie were living in Randolph County, Alabama with six children living with them: Elizabeth, Rebecca, Lucinda, James M., Sarah and Joshua Jr. Their sons, Andrew, Green, Larry, and Elijah, had married at this time. Andrew and Larry were listed in the 1850 census (sic) in Randolph County. The courthouse of Randolph County in Wedowee later burned to the ground and all records of their stay there were destroyed.
In 1860 Joshua and Dollie were living in Talladega County, Alabama, Chandler Springs District. He received title to land by warrant 3104 in Talladega County in what came to be known as Horn's Valley. This land became a part of Clay County on December 7, 1866 when the state created Clay County from parts of Randolph and Talladega Counties. There were no Horns in the are until Joshua and Dollie settle here in the 1850's. Their sons also received land grants in the area.
All six of Joshua and Dollie's sons fought in the Civil War in the same Confederate Division, four in the smae Company. Andrew served in the 20th Alabama Regiment, and Green Lee in the 17th Regiment. Larry B., Elijah L., James M., and Joshua Jr. in the 30th Alabama Regiment. It is known that Andrew was wounded at New hope, Georgia on May 22, 1862 resulting in the amputation of his left leg. Elijah L. was captured in 1863 at Fort Gibson, Mississippi shortly before the battle of Vicksburg. Joshua Jr. was killed on May 22, 1863 at Vicksburg. James M was captured at Vicksburg in 1863.
In 1870 Joshua and Dollie were living in Horn's Valley at the time the census was taken. Their property was valued at $300.00 Real Estate and $557.00 Personal. Living with them were two children, Elizabeth and Lucinda along with two children of their daughter Sarah, Andrew and Jackson Kirkpatrick. Also living with them at the time was a nephew William Seaborn Horn, son of Andrew Horn (note that he is really a grandchild, I am unclear what he means by nephew). Elizabeth was married to Jarrett Tifton Cox on July 15, 1873. (note that he makes no mention of the Phillips children in the household then).
Joshua's will was written on November 30, 1875 and witness (sic) by Baptist J. McCain and George McCain. The Will was filed in Clay County on June 19, 1880 and recorded in book A of wills on July 12, 1880. He left $20.00 each to his children Green Lee, Larry B, Elijah L, Elizabeth Cox, Rebecca McCreight, and James M. He left $1.00 to John T. Horn, son of Andrew Horn. The balance of the estate, after the death of his wife, Dolly Ann, was to go to his daughter, Lucinda, with specific bequests to two sons of his daughter, Sarah Kirkpatrick, who was living with them at the time. Three children, Andrew, Sarah, and Joshua Jr. had died.
When the 1880 census was taken on June 12, Joshua has just died. Lucinda was living with them at the time. After Joshua's death, Dollie and Lucinda lived with James Madison Horn. Lucinda married Marvin Butler (note this is really Marion Butler) on June 2, 1881, shortly after Dollie died. Marvin and Lucinda were living in Clay County in 1900.
Many of Joshua and Dollie's descendents are buried in Clay County at Horn Memorial, Clairmont Springs, Spring Hill, Concord, Ashland, Lineville, Millerville, Sardis, Bethlehem, Hatchett Creek, Marvin's Chapel, Rock Springs, and probaby other Cemetaries in the County.
Lowell S Horn Ashland, Ala.
Also included in this extraordinary collection of papers is the following:
Horn, Joshua War of 1812 Conecuh/Randolph/Clay Counties
Dollie Horn was on 1883 list of pensioners, #31,576
Outside fold: Mar. 5, 1872 - Capt. Charles Crawford's Company Rolls show Joshua Horn served from 8 Feb 1813 to 7 August 1814 when honorably discharged - 8th US Infantry Militia
And this:
State of Alabama, County of Clay. On the 5th day of November 1850 , before John Reavis, JP, came Joshua Horn, aged 52, a resident of Randolph County in the state of Alabama swears he was a regular soldier in the company commanded by Capt. Charles Crawford in the Eighth Regiment of the Georgia Regular Volunteers, commanded by Col., Jack in the War of 1812; that he enlisted at Dublin, Lawrence (Laurens) Co., Ga on or about 6 February 1813 for 18 mos. and continued for 18 mos; discharged at Camp Jack Aug 6 1814. He received a written discharge but the same has been lost by losing his Pocket Book shortly after he was discharged.
Joshua Horn X (signed with an X)
And this:
State of Alabama, County of Clay. On this the 29 day of April 1871 personally appeared before W J Pricket, JP, Joshua Horn, aged 75, a resident of Clay Co., Ala. and declares that he is marriade that his wife's name was Dorothy Ann Waits to whom he was marriade in the county of Conecuh State of Alabama on the 1st day of September 1818 (repeats his service in the War if 1812).
And this:
State of Alabama, County of Clay, On 8 day of March 1872, personally appeared before me, Jeff R Stockdate, Clerk of Circuit Court, Joshua Horn, aged 76, a resident of Clay Co., Ala who says he is married; that his wife's name was Dorothy Waits to whom he was married in Connecuh County, Ala. on 1 day of Sept 18--, that he served the full period of 60 days in the War of 1812; that he enlisted in Capt. Charles Crawfor's Co. 8th Ga Regiment. Col. Jacks coommanding, Newman's Brigade, Pnkney Division at Dublin, Laurens Co., Aug 1814. That he was on duty at Fort Hawkins, Camp Pinkney, Point Peter, Savannah, and Camp Jack, Ga. that he participated in no battle or skirmish of historical importance. That he received a Land Warrant No-- that he supported the US during the Civil War, Etc.
Joshua Horn (signed with an X)
Colin Campbel and G L Horn saw him make his mark, etc.
And this:
War of 1812, Claim of Widow for Service Pension
State of Alabama, County of Clay. On 13 January 1880, personally appeared Dollie Horn, aged 89, a resident of Clay Co., Ala who declares that she is the widow of Joshua Horn, deceased, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Charles Crawford, in 8th US Infantry, War of 1812; he volunteered for 18 months and served till the close of the war. Description of her husband at the time of enlistment: 17 years of age; a farmer; born in ? county NC., 5ft 6 inches high, eyes blue, hair black, complexion dark. She married Joshua Horn in Conecuh County, Alabama on 1 Sept 1819 by one Spears, Esq. J.P. He name before her said marriage was Dollie Waits. Neither herself nor her husband had been previously married. Joshua Horn died at his home in Alabam on 10 June 1880.(Note the date above is 6 months previous to this so must be a misprint). Places of residence since discharge: Connecuh County 6 or 7 years: Jasper Co., Ga one month, Henry Co., Ga 5 years, Troup Co., Ga about 10 years; Randolph Co., Ala 8 years, Clay Co., Ala 30 years.
Dollie Horn (signed with an X)
Baptist J. McCaine, aged 67 and Simpson Russel, aged 75, both of Clay Co., Ala. say they have known her for 30 and 60 years respectively, have lived neighbors to her those years.
I now have the complete NARA archive files for his service in the War of 1812 and the above documents are only a few of them. There are 46 pages in all.
Timothy Horn
November 2, 2007
Here is what the name HORN means:
1. English, Scottish, German, and Dutch: from Middle English, Middle High German, Middle Dutch horn ‘horn’, applied in a variety of senses: as a metonymic occupational name for someone who made small articles, such as combs, spoons, and window lights, out of horn; as a metonymic occupational name for someone who played a musical instrument made from the horn of an animal; as a topographic name for someone who lived by a horn-shaped spur of a hill or tongue of land in a bend of a river, or a habitational name from any of the places named with this element (for example, in England, Horne in Surrey on a spur of a hill and Horn in Rutland in a bend of a river); as a nickname, perhaps referring to some feature of a person’s physical appearance, or denoting a cuckolded husband. 2. Norwegian: habitational name from any of several farmsteads so named, from Old Norse horn ‘horn’, ‘spur of land’. 3. Swedish: ornamental or topographic name from horn ‘horn’, ‘spur of land’. 4. Jewish (Ashkenazic): presumably from German Horn ‘horn’, adopted as a surname for reasons that are not clear. It may be purely ornamental, or it may refer to the ram’s horn (Hebrew shofar) blown in the Synagogue during various ceremonies
More About Joshua Horn: Date born 2: 1796, Orange, North Carolina, USA.116 Burial: Unknown, Horn's Memorial Baptist Church Cemetary. Died 2: June 10, 1880, Horns Valley, Clay, Alabama, USA.116
More About Joshua Horn and Dorothy Waits: Marriage: September 01, 1819, Conecuh County Georgia.
Joshua Horn (b. 1796, d. June 10, 1880)
Notes for Joshua Horn: