Notes for Martha Ann Daniel: Martha Ann Daniel, or possibly Margaret Ann Daniel, was born April 1, 1837 in Mississippi, the fourth of six children. Martha's parents, Thomas Daniel and Mary were born in Scotland and married there before they immigrated to the United States.
At age 17, Martha married William Malone Pruitt 23, son of Tillman Dixon Pruitt and Diannah Hillsman Farrar, in Mississippi on July 12, 1854. Their first child, a son named James, died in infancy. William, known as "Red Bill" and Martha had two more children born in Choctaw Co. Mississippi. Daughter Frances Caroline born in 1856, and son Thomas Jefferson born in 1858. William and Martha farmed in Mississippi for three years, but William had a plan for new opportunies further west.
After William had gathered his crop in December 1857, he left Martha, and only child at that time, Caroline 1 1/2, to get some land in Texas. He bought land about a half mile west of what later became Simpsonville, Texas. He built a log cabin, a barn, some animal sheds and cleared some timber land. He planted cotton, corn, and a garden, and had everything ready for his family to join him. Martha had been pregnant with their son Thomas Jefferson Pruitt, when William left Mississippi (It is not known if either of them knew about the pregnancy before he left) and she had to wait til after the birth to travel.
Some neighbors were also traveling to Texas and Martha 21, Caroline 2, and newborn Thomas joined their party for the early fall of 1858 trip to join William. Martha had one ox for a two-wheel cart in which she loaded all she could in needed household furnishings. There was no room in the two-wheel cart for Caroline and Thomas so they rode in other traveler's wagons, while Martha walked, to lead or drive the ox, most of the way to Texas.
William, Martha and the children settled into their new home and another daughter, Mary L., was born in April 1861. When the Civil War began Martha's husband and father served the Confederacy. At age 31, William enlisted for service in the CSA in Pittsburg, Texas on July 26, 1862. Martha was pregnant when he left and gave birth in his absence to a son she named William Malone Pruitt, Jr. on March 8, 1863. William served for a period of three years and made a very good soldier in Company F 14th Clark's Regiment, Texas Infantry. He would not see his new son til after the boy was over two years old. Martha's father, Thomas Daniel, was killed in the war in 1865.
After the war William returned to Martha and family in east Texas. Martha's mother Mary Daniel, and William's mother Diannah, and all his siblings eventually settled in Texas too. Martha and William added one more child to their family, son Jesse Franklin born in 1866. One year later, just after baby Jesse's first birthday, Martha Ann Pruitt died on March 15, 1867, just two weeks before her 30th birthday, leaving William with their five children to raise. Martha was also survived by her mother, Mary Daniel, who lived to be 88 years old and died near Cleborne, Texas. Martha Ann Daniel-Pruitt was buried in a cemetery near Perryville, behind the Hester farm, which after more than one hundred years has grown up in huge tall pines with cattle roaming over the area. All that remains of the old grave yard are pieces of broken headstones.
CONFLICTING INFORMATION: Martha's birthdate is written in William Malone Pruitt's family bible as April 1, 1837. In Haskell Pruett's book her birthdate is given as May 1, 1838 and also as 1837 (page 93).
Sources: Book; The Pruett Pruitt Family by Haskell Pruett Ph.D Tillman Dixon Pruitt & Diannah Hillsman Farrar Their Ancestors and Descendants, by Donna Duckworth. Photos and bible records, and family history from the collection of Virginia Beckham Carroll.
Census: 1860 Census Upshur Co. Texas, page 47, Family #271. Listed as "Martha Prewit" 22, born MS.
More About Martha Ann Daniel: Burial: unmarked grave, on farm south of Perryville, Texas. Nickname: "Martha," but given name may be "Margaret".
More About Martha Ann Daniel and William Malone Pruitt: Marriage: July 12, 1854, Mississippi.
Children of Martha Ann Daniel and William Malone Pruitt are:
James Pruitt, b. 1855, Choctaw Co. Mississippi, d. Abt. 1855, Choctaw Co. Mississippi.
+Frances Caroline Pruitt, b. May 15, 1856, Choctaw Co. Mississippi, d. February 03, 1897, Pittsburg, Camp Co. Texas.
Martha Ann Daniel (b. April 01, 1837, d. March 15, 1867)
Notes for Martha Ann Daniel: