Margaret Ramsour 1733-1789 (1000011)

This 1776 Map shows the location of Clarks Creek (highlighted above), where the Ramsours lived,  in what is now Lincoln County, North Carolina. This was the site of the famous Revolutionary War Battle of Ramsours Mill, named for the mill owned and operated by Margaret's father Derrick Ramsour. 

Margaret Ramsour was born about 1733 in Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Derrick & Catherine Ramsour who were pioneers in Lincoln County North Carolina. Her family moved to Tryon County North Carolina, to Clark's Creek on the Catawba River, about 1752. Lincoln County later formed (1779) from the part of Tryon County in which they lived.


Her connection to her father, and her marriage to Johann Sebastian "Bostian" Klein is confirmed by the fact that her father deeded land to his two sons-in-law on the same day:

pp 281-283 26 & 27 Sept 1770, Derrick Ramsoeur of Tryon Co., to Bostian Cline of same, for (lease s5, release L 50 proc. money)…land on S fork Cataba, part of a larger tract, granted to Peter Broyal, 3 Sept 1753, conveyed to sd. Ramseur by sd. Broyal, 3 Jun 1758, estimated 200 A…Derrick Ramsour (X) (Seal), Wit: Will Reed, Jacob Ramseur, James Huston. Proven Oct. term 1770.

pp 283-285: 26 & 27 Sept 1770, Derrick Ramseur of Tryon Co., to Jacob Carpenter of same, (lease s5, release L 50 proc. money)…land on S fork Cataba, granted to Peter Broyal, 3 Sept 1753…Derick Ramseur (X) (Seal), Wit: Jacob Ramseour, Will Reed, James Huston. Rec. Oct term 1770

[Deed Abstracts of Tryon, Lincoln * Rutherford Counties NC 1769-1786 Tryon County Wills and Estates. Abstracted by Brent Holcomb]

The site of Derrick Ramsour's property, where the Battle of
Ramsour's Mill was fought during the Revolutionary War.
Margaret lived for the greater part of her life on this land, and
this is where she raised her family after her husband
deserted her.

Margaret married Johann Sebastian Klein Jr. sometime before their first child was born (by 1765).

Margaret Ramsour and Bostian Klein had the following children:
1) Samuel Klein b. bet 1760-1765 Rowan, NC; d. 1789 Lincoln, NC
2) Katherine Klein b. 1768 Rowan, NC; d. 10 Jun 1820 Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC
3) Daniel Klein b. 1770 Rowan, NC; d. 1794 Lincoln, NC
4) William Klein b. 1775 Rowan, NC; d. Aft. 1850 Macon, NC
5) David Klein b. 1776 Rowan, NC; d. 20 Dec 1828 Cleveland, NC

Shortly after their fifth child was born, Bostian Klein ran off to Georgia Provence with Hannah (Fry) Burns, a wife of one of their neighbors. There is evidence that he may have served in the Georgia militia during the Revolutionary War, in order to support his family there. He and Hannah had two illegitimate children before his death about 1787. Hannah then returned to Lincoln County with her children.

These facts were revealed through court records in which Hannah's husband had gone to court to bring the full force of the law against Bostian Klein for his criminal actions. In 1775, Conrad Burns appeared in court, testifying against Bostian for running off with wife and taking his "goods and chattels" [slaves] with him:
"To the worship Court belonging to Tryon County. Hoping you will be serious spectators and judge the character of Bostian Cline, Jr., of Rowan County. Where we the undersigned subscribers will with much veracity endeavor to inform you as if thou were upon qualifications, whereas divers oathes and information hath made to Captain Blackburn when he was in the commission of the peace, setting forth, that the said Bostian Cline, Jr., a vagrant Lude fellow, several times feloniously took away and seduced the wife of Conrad Burns from him, the lawfull wedded husband, and with her, carried off divers goods and chattalls, the property of said Burns. The said Cline, himself, has a lawfull wedded wife and a family of small children. There is no stop or premade in reguard to their malignant carried practices, but still hankering after that lewde woman, said Burns wife, and makes no industry for a living to support his small comers at home. Said Cline has run off with Burns' wife into Georgia Province and left his own poor distressed family to vindicate their own course as well as they could, and staying with said lewde woman between one and two years. During that time she became pregnant with child, which he, the said Cline, had one Bastard child with her before he had the instigation or motive of breaking the bonds of matrimony between Burns and his wife and himself and his wife. We humble petition, Gentlemen, that you will circumspect students in relation to the whole above written for such practice and carrying on must of consequince be pernidious and malignant in the sight of God, and you yourselves may be the judge what it is in the sight of man. Given under our hands this 10th day of October 1775. Witness Ch. Beckman, Peter Moll, Frances Palmer, [unreadable signature] and Rudolph Conrad.
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All of this must have been devastating to poor Margaret, who was left to raise their young family alone. She would have depended on her extended family, especially her two surviving brothers, until her children were old enough to help with farm work.

On 20 Jun 1780, the Revolutionary War came very literally to Margaret's backyard. The Battle of Ramsour's Mill was fought on her father's property. Her children were just ten to seventeen years of age. She had no husband around to protect her, and her children. It would have been a morning of sheer terror, trying to lay low until the shooting was over.

It must have been a hard life, and Margaret died at an early age of just fifty-five years, on 5 Jan 1789. She was probably buried on her father's farm in the Ramsour family graveyard.

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Notes:

Much information about the Klein family comes from Cicero Cline's book "Klein or Cline History" by Cicero Cline 1915, though much of the information about Margaret and Bastian Klein Jr. has been found to be false. This is the foundation upon which all recent researcher's have built, and Cicero Cline's contribution must be acknowledged. He has Margaret married to Bostian's brother Christopher. It is possible that Christopher helped to support Margaret's children, or even married her after she was divorced. However, this has yet to be proven.

It is believed that Cicero Cline placed Christopher Klein as the father of these children, because he was the only male old enough to have fathered them left in the Lincoln County North Carolina area. However, he did not have access to the information that modern researchers have uncovered about Bostian Klein Jr. so could not have known who the real father was. See notes under Johann Sebastian Klein Jr. for more detailed information.

Information about her parentage, as well as birth and death dates, comes from the following posting:
"Boston Jr's wife, Margaret, is most likely the daughter of Derrick Ramsour. On the same date that Derrick deeds the 200 acres to Boston Cline Jr, husband of Margaret, Derrick also deeds 200 acres to Jacob Carpenter, the husband of his daughter Catherine Ramsour. Lorena Eaker (GSP) states that Margaret Ramsour Cline is born 1740-1744 and dies on January 5, 1789 in Lincoln county. This is consistent with the fact that she does not appear in the 1790 North Carolina census." [From a genweb site posted by Derick S. Hartshorn, III <mailto:DerickH@charter.net> ]

According to Eaker, Margaret died 5 Jan 1789 [German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in NC 1750-1800 by Lorena Shell Eaker].

Elizabeth Hearn 1781-1840 (100011)

Elizabeth Hearn was born about 1781 in Brunswick County, Virginia. Her father, John Hearn, is identified on her marriage record. She grew up in Brunswick County, and that is where she met and married Jesse Day on 29 Mar 1798.


Elizabeth & Jesse Day can be found with their young family in the 1810 Census still living near Meherrin, in Brunswick County, Virginia.

In 1810 Elizabeth was merely a blip in the household of her husband Jesse Day in Brunswick County, Virginia.

By 1813, they had relocated to Rutherford County, Tennessee. There they settled and lived for nearly twenty years. They can be found there in 1820:

In 1820, Elizabeth and Jesse were in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

By 1838, Jesse and Elizabeth had relocated with their children to Lauderdale County, Tennessee, where Jesse appeared in deed records. He moved to Fayette County before the 1840 Census. Elizabeth does not appear in this census record, so she must have died sometime after 1830. She may be buried on family land somewhere in Lauderdale County, Tennessee.

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Factual Proof:

Elizabeth's maiden name is listed on her marriage record from Brunswick County Virginia. Her birth date is estimated from Census Records. She disappears sometime before the 1840 Census. According to the 1820 Census, she was born between 1776-1794. However, she must have been born along the earlier end of the range in order to have married in 1798. So, probably born around 1780-1782.

Her marriage date is also proven by her marriage record:
Virginia Marriages to 1800 Virginia Marriages to 1800:
Spouse 1:        Day, Jesse   
Spouse 2:        Hearn, Elizabeth   
Marriage Date:        29 Mar 1798   
Marriage Location:        Virginia Brunswick County

Minerva T. Day 1806-1868 (10001)

Brunswick County, Virginia

Minerva T. Day was the daughter of Jesse Day and Elizabeth Hearn of Brunswick County Virginia. She was born about 1806 in Brunswick County, and grew up there. She relocated with her family to Rutherford County, Tennessee about 1813. There she met her future husband, John Henry Sumerow, who had recently moved to Rutherford County from Lincoln County, North Carolina.

Rutherford County, Tennessee

They were married in Rutherford County:

Rutherford County, TN Marriage Record for 1820
Summerraw, Henry    &   Day, Minerva        Sept 9, 1820


Minerva and John Henry Sumerow had the following children:
1) James H. Sumerow b. 1822 Rutherford, TN; d. 27 Dec 1852 Lauderdale, TN; m. Sarah E. Wright
2) Mary E. Sumerow b. 13 Jul 1824 Rutherford, TN; d. 8 Jun 1895 Lauderdale, TN; m. James C. Alsobrook
3) Jesse M. Sumerow b. 1826 Rutherford, TN; d. 2 Nov 1875 Lauderdale, TN; m. Sarah Sumerow (his brother's widow)
4) Henry Thomas Sumrow b. 1829 Rutherford, TN; d. 9 Sep 1884 Lauderdale, TN; m. 1st Ellen Smith, 2nd Missouri Jackson
5) George Henry Sumrow b. 28 Jul 1830 Rutherford, TN; d. 4 Mar 1913 Merit, Hunt, TX
6) William C. Sumerow b. 1833 Rutherford, TN; d. Bef. 1870 Lauderdale, TN; m. Matilda Rucker
7) Benjamin Franklin Sumerow b. 1837 Lauderdale, TN; d. Bef 7 May 1879 Lauderdale, TN; m. Nancy Elizabeth Brandon
8) Martha Emma Sumerow b. 1838 Lauderdale, TN; d. Aft. 1870; m. 1st John Rucker, 2nd Benjamin M. Hall; 3rd W. H. Flippin
9) Robert W. Sumerow b. 1848 Lauderdale, TN; d. Abt. 1891 TN; m. Nancy Warren

Shortly after their marriage, the westernmost part of Tennessee opened for settlement. By about 1835, Minerva and her family moved to Lauderdale County, just a few miles east of the Mississippi River. There they were able to obtain a grant of over 1500 acres of land, and there they raised their large family and helped to build the community of Double Bridges.

The Sumerow family settled on land adjacent to the Mississippi River, which is the meandering western border of the state of Tennessee. Their property was at the north-western part of the county, near the border of Dyer County.

The following children were named on the back of Henry's grave marker, as children of Henry and Minerva who had preceded them in death:
1) Eleanor C. Sumerow
2) Robert P. Sumerow
3) Predonia Sumerow
4) Virginia Sumerow
5) Eugenia Sumerow

Considering the ten year gap between Martha b. 1838 and Robert b. 1848, we can imagine that most of these children were born in that interval. They even named another son Robert after the one that they had lost. It is difficult to imagine the kinds of sorrows the family suffered to have lost so many children at a tender age. We can only sympathize with what they must have endured, and the strength it must have taken to continue to carry on in their wilderness home.

They would have had much work to clear the land of cypress, and other trees that dominated the area, before the land could be used for farmland. As they cleared the land, the first priority would have been to grow food crops and farm animals to feed their family. As more land was cleared, they began to grow cotton as a cash crop.

This picture was taken some miles north of the Sumerow family land. This shows the type of cypress forest that dominated the coast of the Mississippi River when the Sumerows arrived in Lauderdale County.   

In 1852, Minerva lost her eldest son, and just two short years later, in 1854, she lost her husband. Her other children rallied around her, and she was able to make it through those tough times. Then the Civil War came. Most of her sons enlisted for service with the confederate army, and worked to protect the Mississippi coast line. However, the Union army soon succeeded in invading the western shores of Tennessee, and ravaged the farmland to support their own troops. It must have been devastating for the entire community to have their stock and the produce that they depended upon to feed their families stolen away from them.

Minerva is living with her daughter Martha Rucker, her son Robert (who is 12), and Martha's daughter Elenora in the 1860 Census, which is after her husband's death. There is also a slave schedule for Minerva which shows her with 13 slaves. This is unfortunate proof that the family had slaves, but also shows that they were well to do at the time. During the war, they must have suffered greatly, since the Union soldiers came into Tennessee from the Mississippi River. Their close proximity to the river would mean that they were among the first to be invaded.

Minerva was not a young woman any more, and the stress of that time took its toll. She survived long enough to see the end of the war, but did not live long enough to see her community rebuilt and recover from their losses. She passed away in 1868. On 3 Feb 1868, her second son, Jesse, applied to be the administrator on her estate, and distributed the landholdings among the surviving children.

I'm uncertain where she is buried. Henry's tombstone was partitioned with two sections. His information is on the right hand side. The left side was obviously set aside for his wife, but that side was blank. She was either buried elsewhere, or they never got around to adding her information to the tombstone. Henry was buried on land that was originally part of their property, and at the foot of his grave is the grave of his daughter Mary Alsobrook and her husband.

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Minerva's Parents:

Jesse Day has been determined to be her father for several reasons.
1) He is the only Day listed in Rutherford County in 1820, where Minerva was living at the time of her marriage.
2) Minerva was born in Virginia. Jesse lived in VA during the 1810 Census, and had a daughter the right age to be Minerva.
3) Jesse moved from Virginia to Rutherford County TN about 1813, when he sold his land in Brunswick County, Virginia. He appears in the 1820 Census in Rutherford County, and still has a female the correct age to be Minerva.
4) Jesse also relocated to Lauderdale County TN at the same time that Minerva moved there with her husband.

Jesse Day 1775-1840 (100010)

Jesse Day was probably born in Brunswick County Virginia about 1775. It is probable that his father was Oliver Day who owned land on Rattlesnake Creek, which is a tributary of Lick Branch (and the same watercourse on which John Hearne lived, who was father to Jesse's wife). The deeds to the land on which Jesse Day lived listed the same neighbors as Oliver Day's land.

Map showing how Brunswick VA
& Northampton NC share a border.

The watercourses on which Jesse's family lived meander along the border between Brunswick County, Virginia, and Northampton County, North Carolina. Deed records confirm that Jesse Day's extended family owned land in both counties (and states). Analysis of associated families also suggests a relationship with the Days of Southampton County, Virginia.

Jesse's birthdate is taken from careful analysis of the records: In the 1820 Census Jesse is listed as between 26 and 45, so born between 1775 and 1794. In the 1810 Census he is 26-44, so born between 1766-1784. Given that he must have been 21 when he first appeared in the 1796 tax list, his birth date must be about 1775.

1796-1798--Jesse Day shows up in Brunswick County VA Personal Tax lists from 1796-1798 (1798 is when the microfilm ended). There were no other Days listed during these years, or before (going back to 1782 when the list began). To be over 21 in 1796, Jesse would have to have been born by 1775. This fits with the census data for him as well.

1798--Jesse married Elizabeth Hearn in Brunswick County VA, on 29 Mar 1798, according to a Brunswick County marriage record:

Virginia Marriages to 1800 Virginia Marriages to 1800:

Spouse 1:        Day, Jesse        

Spouse 2:        Hearn, Elizabeth        

Marriage Date:        29 Mar 1798        

Marriage Location:        Virginia Brunswick County

They had the following children:

1) James Day b. abt 1799 Brunswick VA, d. aft 16 Jul 1864 Fayette TN

2) Minerva T. Day b. abt 1806 Brunswick VA, d. bef 3 Feb 1868 Lauderdale TN m. John Henry Summerow 9 Sep 1820 Rutherford TN

3) Willey Green Day b. 5 Aug 1808 Brunswick VA, d. unknown, m. Judith F. Lee 25 Jan 1846 Shelby TN

4) Ellen G. Day b. 1809 Brunswick VA, d. after 1860, m. unknown Montague

5) John Lewis Day b. 1812 Brunswick VA, d. abt 1860 Fayette TN

In April of 1799, Jesse purchased land on Lick Branch in Brunswick County from James Huskey:

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Brunswick County VA Deed Book 17, p. 284 Huskey to Day:

This Indenture made this nineteenth day of April one Thousand seven hundred & ninety nine between James Huskey of the County of Brunswick & State of Virginia of the one part and Jessee Day of the same State and County aforesaid, witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of fifty eight pounds fifteen shillings to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and therefore doth release acquit & discharge, the said Jessee Day, his Heirs, Exors, Admtors or assigns, firmly by these presents, he the said James Huskey has granted bargained, sold, alliened, and confirmed & by these presents, doth grant, bargain, sell, alien & confirm unto the said Jesse Day his heirs & assigns a certain Tract or Parcel of Land situated, lying and being in the State & County aforesaid on the East side of lick Branch containing by estimation ninety-four Acres be the same more or less & bounded as follows: Beginning at Owen M. Fletcher's Line, at a scrub white oak. Thence along the Line of William Jones dec'd to the Lick Branch, thence up the meanders of the said Branch To be bounded by the same unto John Williamson's Line, thence along the said Williamson's Line to a corner Pine on Owen M. Fletcher's Line, thence along the said Fletcher's Line to the Beginning. It being the Land where on John Huskey formerly lived. And all Houses, Buildings, waters, water courses, Orchards, profits, commodities, hiredcliments? & appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises hereby granted or any part thereof belonging or in any wise coppertaining & the adversion? & reversions, Remainders, rents, Issues & profits thereof and also all the estate right, Title, Interest, use, Trust, property, Claims & demand whatsoever of him the said James Huskey of, in & to the sd premises & all deeds, evidences& Writings, toughching or in any wise concerning the same. And the said James Huskey, doth covenant, promise & grant to & with the sd Jessee Day his heirs, Execs, admtors or assigns, that he has good Powers lawful & absolute Authrity to grant & convey the same unto the said Jesse Day his heirs & assigns in manner & form aforesaid, And the said premises now are forever here after shall remain & be clear, free of & from all former, Bargains, sales, dowers, Rights & Title of dowers, Judgments, Executions, Titles, Rents, charges & Hindrances whatsoever made done committed or suffered by the Said Huskey or any person or person whatsoever with the apputenancy unto the said Jesse Day his Heirs & assigns, against him the said Huskey, his heirs & assigns, all & any person or persons, shall warrant & forever defend by these presents. In witness hereof the said James Huskey has here unto set his hand & seal this twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine --

James Huskey

Signed, sealed & Delivered]

In the Presence of us]

[No witness signatures]

Brunswick County Court of April 22nd, 1799. This Indention & Bargain & Sale was acknowledged by James Huskey to be his act and Deed as and or here to be record.

Teste, Herbert Hill CBC

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Brunswick County, Virginia, Deed Book 17, page 284

Brunswick County, Virginia, Deed Book 17, page 285

In 1803, Jesse Day was listed as a buyer at the estate sale of Harmon Read (5 Jan 1803) in Brunswick County, Virginia [Brunswick Co VA Will Books 1804-1812 975.5575 P2br Vol 5].

In 1809 he purchased more land in Brunswick County [Day, Jesse from George Clayborne  1809 Bk 20 p. 454].

Day-Claiborne Deed 1809 Brunswick Deed Book 

This Indenture made this twenty Sixth day of June in the year of our lord one thousand Eight hundred nine between George N Claiborne of the county of Warren & State of North Caarolina of the one part and Jesse Day of the County of Brunswick & State of Virginia on the other part, Witnesseth that the said George N Claiborn for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars lawful money of Virginia to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted & sold alient and delivered and by these presents doth bargain sell alien & deliver unto the said Jesse Day his certain attorney her heirs Executors administrators and assigns one certain tract or parcel  of land situate lying and being in the county of Brunswick aforesaid. Bounded as follows (viz) Beginning at a Hickory on Edward Throwers line N 2 E 62 Poles to a corner white oak thence along

p. 455

Said Throwers line N 50 E 29 Poles to a corner sassafras bush thence S 80 W at 98 Crossing Parrington Road 128 poles to the Edge of an old field and corner at a rotten stump thence N 80 W 56 poles To a bunch of Sassaphras Bushes on a small branch thence down said Branch as it meanders to a large Hollow Poplar on Little Jinito Creek thence up the said creek as it meanders to a small sweet gumm on John Drummonds line thence along said Drummonds line to the old ford of Huskey's Creek where Throwers line crosses the said Creek thence along Throwers line to the Beginning Containing by survey Two hundred and thirty four acres be they some more or less to have and to hold the said Bargains & premises together with all mines minerals metals woods underwood waters and water courses Houses Barns and whatsoever may legally appertain thereunto In as full and complete assurances as I myself have held the same unto him the said Jesse Day his heirs testators administrators  and assigns forever and do hereby warrant and defend  forever the title of the said Bargained premises unto him the said Jesse Day his heirs Executors administrators or assigns against the claim Title or Interest of all and every other person or person Whatsoever In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first above written. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of 

Teste                                 George N Claiborne

James J Harrison

John Chamblys

Rubin B. Huke

Brunswick County Court June 25 1809 This indenture of bargain  & sale was acknowledged by George N Claiborne party  thereto to be his act & Deed & ordered to be recorded 

Teste H Hill Clerk

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In 1810, Jesse could be found with his young family in Meherrin, Brunswick County, Virginia for the federal census:

Lucy Day 1 f under 10, 1 f 16-25 [21 Oct 1821 Math Daniel married Lucy Day in Brunswick VA]

Polly Day 1 m under 10, 1 f 10-15, 1 f 26-44 [This is undoubtedly Polly Lanier Day who married Lewis Day in 1794.]

Jessee Day 1 m under 10 [Wiley G.], 1 m 10-15 [James], 1 m 26-44 [Jesse], 1 f under 10 [Minerva], 1 f 10-15 [Ellen G.], 1 f 26-44 [Elizabeth], 11 slaves

Jesse Day in the 1810 Census, Brunswick County, Virginia

In 1813, Jesse sold his land in Brunswick County VA:

Day, Jesse to Willie Harrison  1813 Bk 22 p. 202, 321

Day to Harrison

This Indenture made this 28th day of April in the year of our lord eighteen hundred and thirteen between Jesse Day and Elizabeth Day his wife of the County of Brunswick and state of Virginia of the one part and Willis Harrison of the said County and state of the other part Witnesseth that the said Jesse Day and Elizabeth his wife for and in Consideration of the sum of five hundred thirty dollars lawful money of Virginia to them in hand paid the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained sold aliened and delivered and by these presents doth bargain sell alien and deliver unto the said Willis Harrison his certain attorney his heirs executor admin. or assigns one certain tract or parcel or land situate lying and being in the County of Brunswick and bounded as follows (Vizt) Beginning at a hicory on Edward Thrower’s line No 2 East 62 pole to a corner white oak thence along said Thrower’s line No 50 degrees E 29 pole to a corner sausaphras bunch thence So 80 West at 98 poles crossing Pennington’s road 187 pole to the edge of an old field and corner a rotten stump thence No 83 W 46 poles to a bunch of sausaphras bushes on a small branch thence down the said branch as it meanders to its mouth in little Jenito Creek thence up the said Creek as it meanders to a sweet gum in John Drummond’s line thence by said Drummond’s line to the old ford of Stick’s Creek where Thrower’s line crosses the said Creek thence along the said Thrower’s line ot the beginning. Containing by survey two hundred and thirty four acres be the same more or less. To have and to hold the said granted land and premises with all its rights members and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to the said granted land to teh only quiet use and possession of law the said Willis Harrison his heirs and assigns forever will covenant and forever defend by these presents. In witness whereof we have hereunto sett our hands and affixed our own seals the day and date above written —

Jesse (his  l  mark) Day

Witness  

Jeff Hardaway

C Cirdle

Richard R Brown

Brunswick County Court November 22, 1813. This Indenture of bargain and sale was acknowledged by Jesse Day party thereto by to be his act and ordered to be recorded. 

Teste   Herbert Hill CBC

The Commonwealth of Virginia To Alexander Walker George W. Claiborne and William Rice gentlemen Justices of the County of Brunswick greeting whereas Jesse Day Elizabeth Day his wife  his wife [sic] by their certain Indenture of bargain & sale bearing date the 28th day of April 1813 have sold & conveyed unto Willis harrison the fee simple estate of 234 acres of land with the appurtenances lying and being in the County of Brunswick and whereas the said Elizabeth Day cannot conveniently travel to our Court of our said County of Brunswick to make acknowledgement of the said Indenture wherefore we do give unto you or any two or more of you power to receive the acknowledgement which the said Elizabeth Day shall be willing to make before you of the conveyance aforesaid contained in the said Indenture and which is hereunto annexed, and we do therefore command you that you do personally go to the said Elizabeth and receive her acknowledgement of the same and examine her privately and apart from the said Jesse Day her husband, whether she doth the same freely & Voluntarily without his persuasions or threats and whether she be willing that the same should be recorded in the County Court of Brunswick aforesaid. And when you have received her acknowledgement and examined her as aforesaid that you do testify plainly and openly Certify us thereof in our said Court under your hands and seals witnessing them there the said Indenture and the said Witness Herbert Hill Clerk of our said Court this 19th day of April 1814 and in the 38th year of our Independence. H. Hill

By Virtue of the within Commission to us directed We the Subscribers have freely examined Elizabeth Day wife of the within named Jesse Day in manner and fource as the said Commission requires and have received her acknowledgement of the Indenture hereunto annexed which said Indenture she acknowledged freely and Voluntarily without his persuasions or threats and that she was willing the same should be recorded in the County Court of Brunswick aforesaid Certifyed and in our hands and seals this 19th day of April 1814. 

A Walker

Geo R Claiborne

Brunswick County Court August 1814

This Commission was witnessed unto Court together with a certificate of the execution thereof and ordered to be recorded. 

Teste  Herbert Hill CBC

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It is unknown what precipitated the grand move, but Jesse must have felt the draw of the frontier. There were wide open spaces, and lots of land at bargain prices in the new state of Tennessee. Jesse moved his family to Tennessee about 1813, when he sold his land in Brunswick.

There are no less than three Jesse Days in TN in 1820 (one in Rhea, one in Bledsoe and one in Rutherford County). Our Jesse is the one in Rutherford County, where his daughter Minerva T. Day married John Henry Sumerow on 9 Sep 1820.

In 1820 the family can be found in the US Federal Census in Rutherford, Rutherford County, TN:

Jesse Day 2 m under10 [John L., and unidentified son], 1 m 10-16 [Wiley G.], 1 m 16-26 [James], 1 m 26-45 [Jesse], 1 f 10-16 [Minerva], 1 f 45+ [Elizabeth], 4 persons engaged in agriculture, 1 person engaged in manufacture, Slaves 2 m to 14, 1 m 45+, 2 f to 14, 2 f to 45, 1 f 45+

Jesse Day in the 1820 Census, in Rutherford County, Tennessee

Jesse was involved in several land transactions in Rutherford County TN. The Henry Sumerow listed is his son-in-law, husband of Minerva T. Day:

Rutherford County TN Jesse Day Deeds

Grantor Jesse Day

Grantee:

Thos. Montague  Deed of Trust  M 540

B. Blankenship  Deed  N 256

B. Blankenship  Deed  N 253

Samuel Jones  Deed  O 159

Gurnsey G. Brown  Deed  R 183

Charles Puckett  Deed   R 255

Solomon Beasley  DOT  R 272

Henry D. Jamison  Mortgage  S 78 1838

Henry Sumerow  Deed  S  250

The name Jesse Day cannot be found in the 1830 Census for Rutherford County TN. However, there is a John listed in Rutherford County who is the right age to be Jesse. Though it is uncertain if it is him, it is possible that Jesse was a middle name:

1830 Census Rutherford County TN  Jno Day 1 m under 5, 1 m 5-10, 1 m 20-25, 1 m 50-60, 1 f under 5, 1 f 10-15, 1 f 40-50

"Jon Day" may be Jesse. He appeared in Rutherford County, Tennessee for the 1830 Census.

About 1836, he moved his family to Lauderdale County Tennessee to the far reaches of the western frontier of the day. He purchased land just a few miles east of the Mississippi River, part of the alluvial plane that consisted of pristine cypress forestland. It must have been hard work to clear the land, but the soil was moist and fruitful once the hard work was completed.

In June of 1838, Jesse can be found in several deed records in Lauderdale County TN, where his daughter Minerva and her husband lived. So, he relocated with them to western Tennessee. Two of Jesse's sons can be found in neighboring Dyer County TN in 1830--James and Wiley G. Day.

Lauderdale County TN Jesse Day Deeds

Grantor Jesse Day

Grantee:

John Halliburton   Deed  125a  A 402

Edmund P. Lea  Deed  150a A 235

Jno Halliburton  Deed  125a  A 402

These took place in June of 1838

Shortly thereafter, he moved again, to Fayette County Tennessee, some distance to the east. There he can be found in the 1840 Census:

Jesse Day 1 m 20-29 [this is John Lewis Day.], 1 m 60-69 [This is Jesse]; Slaves 2 m 10-23, 1 f under 10, 1 f 36-54, 1 f 55-99; 6 persons employed in Agriculture

Jesse Day in the 1840 Census in Fayette County, Tennessee

He must have died intestate, or moved yet again, because there are no Days listed in Fayette County Will books 1836-1854, nor did he appear in the 1850 Federal Census. It is assumed that he probably died in Fayette County Tennessee, but his final place of rest has yet to be discovered.

Johan Sebastian Klein 1716-1791 (10000100)

Johann Sebastian "Bostian" Klein Sr. was the son of Moritz (Mauritius) Klein and Anna Catherina Martloff. He was baptised on 17 Jun 1716 in Postorff, Alsace, Germany at Hirschland Parish. His sponsors were Johann Nickel Stroh and Sebastian Gangloff of Postorff, and Maria Christina Cucian of Schallbach. He was confirmed on 4 Jun 1730 at the same church. Since he was born into a family of the Lutheran faith, he was probably born shortly before his baptismal date. He was the third of eight children. His flawless German writing, as demonstrated in his will, shows that he was well educated for that time, so his parents must have taken some pains to educate their children.

Hirschland is located at the red dot.

Bostian Klein and Susannah Christine Elizabeth Bieber were probably married in Postorff in the late 1730s. They had their first child in Germany, before sailing to America to begin their new life, where the rest of their children were born.

Bostian and his small family came to America on the ship "Robert and Alice," with 217 passengers. They set sail from Rotterdam, and stopped in Plymouth, Devon, England to sign a fidelity oath to the King, then sailed to America. They arrived in Philadelphia, PA on 3 Sep 1739.

1739 Robert & Alice
[List 71 A] Robert & Alice of Dublin
Captain: Walter Goodman
From: Rotterdam
By Way of: Plymouth
Arrival: Philadelphia, 3 Sep 1739
List of male Palatines age of 16 years and upwards being 78 men. Total passengers 218.
[Note: Just before him on the list is a Lorenz Bieber, who was son of Theobald. I believe Lorenz was Susannah's brother.]

Boston and Elizabeth had the following children:
1) Sebastian (Boston) Cline Jr, born about 1739.
2) Christopher Cline, born 1740-1745.
3) Mary Cline, possible daughter, born about 1740-1745.
4) Christina Cline, probable daughter, born 1745-1750.
5) Otilla (Utilly) Cline , born about 1750-1755.
6) John Cline, born 1750-1755.
7) Elizabeth Cline , probable daughter, born 1755-1760.
8) Michael Cline , born November 16, 1761.
9) Jacob Cline, born 1765.

They settled first in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There he became acquainted with other Germans who were struggling to get by in a place where land prices had become steep, and their growing children couldn't afford a farm of their own to raise a family. Plans were already in the works to move into the affordable western part of the colonies. There they would have opportunities to pioneer and build a community of their own with room to expand.

The community finally settled on a move to North Carolina, to the Catawba River Valley. The area had been explored, but not yet settled. There was rich land there ripe for development into farmland. Bostian gathered up his resources, and followed in the train of this migrating group. It is not known exactly when they arrived, since they were too busy scrabbling for survival to keep records. However, we can estimate that it was sometime around 1750.

There are deed records from 1755 that show that they had succeeded in making a home for themselves in the wilderness, and now cared enough to secure their interest by obtaining a legal deed to the land. He obtained 640 acres, in what was then Anson County, North Carolina. His land was located on the west side of the Catawba River on a small creek called Elks Creek, above Lookout Shoals. The deed is dated 28 Feb 1755. In 1758, he purchased land on Clark's Creek, jointly with Matthias Beiber, who may have been either Elizabeth's father or (more probable) her brother.

That same year, 1755, Bostian Sr. and his son Bostian Jr. were naturalized as citizens in what was then Rowan County NC. Bostian must have been well respected, because on 7 Feb 1772 he was appointed Constable in Rowan County.

On October 20, 1767 Bostian filed for a deed for 350 acres on Lyles Creek (which was formerly known as Elk Creek) in Rowan County. This deed was filed in Mecklenburg County, because Rowan County did not have a functioning court at the time.

Lookout Shoals Lake

Bostian is listed as a DAR Patriot (#A065969 Bostian Kline) for rendering material aid to the troops in North Carolina. His donations to sustain the troops show that he was in favor of the cause of freedom from British rule.

"Michal Kline" has 2 males over 16 in his household.

In 1790, Bostian and Elizabeth are found in the household of their son, Michael Klein. They had grown too feeble with age to support themselves. The Last Will and Testament of Bostian Cline of Lincoln County, NC was written 27 Dec 1791, and read as follows:

State of North-Carolina Lincoln County. The twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety one. In the name of God, Amen.

I, Bostian Cline of Lincoln County and State aforesaid, being very weak of body, but of sound mind and memory, thanks be to almighty God. Therefore, calling into mind the mortality of my body, and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this, my last will and Testament that is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of my God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting, that I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And, as touching such worldly estate where in has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same, in the following manner and form. I give to Elizabeth, my beloved wife, all my household furniture and my husbandry, goods and Still and furniture thereto belonging, and one Mare, and all my cash, and my outstanding Debts, for her use during her lifetime of aforesaid estate, it is equally shared by all my children. And to my son Christopher, my Executor must pay out of my estate within three months, the sum of twenty shillings. Likewise, my daughter Utillity, wife of George Heffner, her part of my estate, I give unto my grand children, Henry Heffner and Catherine Huard.

I constitute, and appoint and ordain me beloved wife Elizabeth Executrix, like wise, my son Michael Cline Executor, of my last Will and testament. And, I do hereby disallow and revoke, and disannul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, and bequests and legacies and Executors by me before named, Willed and bequeathed, rectifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and pronounced and declared by the said Bostain Cline in the presence of us the subscribers.

BOSTAIN CLINE (SEAL)
John Deitz
Witnesses
Samuel Killian

The will was probated in April of 1792, so he must have died earlier that same year. He was buried in Old St. Paul's Church Cemetery. No marker has been located for his grave, but later generations put up a marker in the cemetery to commemorate their pioneering ancestor. It gives 1712 as his birth year and 1792 as the year of his death.

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Notes:

From "The Heritage of Catawba County, NC Volume I - 1986" by Lucille M. Fulbright, Editor:
"Sebastian (Bostian) came from the Palatinate in Germany on the ship 'Robert and Alice', arriving in Philadelphia, PA on 3 Sept. 1739. On board were 223 Palatines including 78 men, 57 women and 88 children. Sebastian journeyed to Lancaster County, PA. He came to NC to what is now Catawba County between 1740-50 and secured a deed of about 900 acres of land in what was then Anson County, located on a small creek called Elks Creek and on the west side of the Catawba River and above the lookout Shoals. This deed is dated 28 Feb. 1755. He was a tanner by profession. His handwritten will in flawless German indicates that his education was above average for the time. He became a naturalized citizen on 16 July 1755 [According to one source, in Rowan County NC], and was appointed constable 7 Feb. 1772. He and his father-in-law, Mathias Beaver, entered a land claim jointly in 1758, and settled on Clark's Creek. Because of Indian troubles, they were forced to abandon their homestead, and fled to their Elk Creek farm, for safety. When Indian troubles subsided, Sebastian moved his family back to Cline's Creek in 1770, where his family lived in peace for generations."
[Note: The Mathias Beaver mentioned in the above account may be Elizabeth's brother, not father. See her notes for more detail.]

Per Ray Yount: "Sebastian Cline was in current Catawba County (or at least had land there) by 1755. On 1 Mar 1755, Robert Simonton received a Granville Grant on Clark's Creek adjacent to Bostian Cline. On 28 Feb 1755, Bostin Cline received a Granville Grant for 640 acres on Elk Creek, proved April Court 1762. Granville only had the right to give grants north of "the Granville line", Current
Cabarrus County was south of "the Granville line".

"In the North Carolina 1790 census, Boston Cline does not appear by name as a head of household, but the entry for his son Michael Cline shows an adult couple living with Michael and his wife. They are probably Michael's parents, Boston and Elizabeth Cline. It appears that Michael and his recent bride, Fanny Killian Cline, are probably living on his parents' 190-acre home place to care for Michael's elderly mother and father. Michael is named as an executor in the will of his father Boston Cline, dated December 27, 1791. Boston's widow Elizabeth is also named as an executor. The will is probated in April 1792, indicating that Boston dies in February or March 1792, between the January quarterly court session and the April session."  [German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in NC 1750-1800 by Lorena Shell Eaker]

Johan Sabastian Klein 1743-1788 (1000010)

Johan Sebastian "Bostian" Klein Jr. was the son of Johan Sebastian Klein Sr. and Susan Christina Elizabeth Bieber of Postroff, Alsace, Germany. He was naturalized as an American citizen with his father on 16 Jul 1755 in North Carolina, which suggests that he was probably born before his parents came to America in 1739, though probably only shortly before. So, he was born in Postroff and migrated with his family to Pennsylvania. Since he was the only child needing to be naturalized, he must have been the eldest child of his parents.

Bastian and his family traveled from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Lincoln County, North Carolina.

Bostian grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. When he was a young teen, he relocated with his family to Lincoln County, North Carolina. They would have made the trek on foot, with their belongings in a wagon pulled by oxen. Since much of their community relocated with them, they would have had help along the way to clear any sections of road that could not accommodate a wagon. The road through Virginia would have been well trodden by the time they traveled it, but much of the North Carolina road would have had to be created as they traveled, since they were the first settlers to arrive in the Catawba River valley. Before their arrival, only trappers and Native Americans had traveled through the area.

When he was in his early twenties (about 1760), Bostian married Margaret Ramsauer, a daughter of Derrick Ramsauer and Kadrina Heil, in what was then Rowan County, North Carolina.

Children of Johann Sabastian Klein Jr. and Margaret Ramsauer:

1) Samuel Klein b. bet 1760-1765 Rowan, NC; d. 1789 Lincoln, NC

2) Katherine Klein b. 1768 Rowan, NC; d. 10 Jun 1820 Lincolnton, Lincoln, NC

3) Daniel Klein b. 1770 Rowan, NC; d. 1794 Lincoln, NC

4) William Klein b. 1775 Rowan, NC; d. Aft. 1840 Lincoln, NC

5) David Klein b. 1776 Rowan, NC; d. 20 Dec 1828 Cleveland, NC

Bostian Cline Jr. appears in the 1768 Rowan County tax list with his father, Bostian Cline Sr., and his brothers Christopher and John Cline. He participated in road projects in 1767, 1769 and 1771 in Rowan County. In September of 1770 Derrick Ramsour deeded 200 acres of land in Tryon County,  in an area that would later become Lincoln County NC, to Bostian Kline. This was the same day that Derrick Ramsour deeded land to his other son-in-law, Jacob Carpenter.

pp 281-283 26 & 27 Sept 1770, Derrick Ramsoeur of Tryon Co., to Bostian Cline of same, for (lease s5, release L 50 proc. money)…land on S fork Cataba, part of a larger tract, granted to Peter Broyal, 3 Sept 1753, conveyed to sd. Ramseur by sd. Broyal, 3 Jun 1758, estimated 200 A…Derrick Ramsour (X) (Seal), Wit: Will Reed, Jacob Ramseur, James Huston. Proven Oct. term 1770.

pp 283-285: 26 & 27 Sept 1770, Derrick Ramseur of Tryon Co., to Jacob Carpenter of same, (lease s5, release L 50 proc. money)…land on S fork Cataba, granted to Peter Broyal, 3 Sept 1753…Derick Ramseur (X) (Seal), Wit: Jacob Ramseour, Will Reed, James Huston. Rec. Oct term 1770

Less than a year later, Bostian and his wife Margaret sold the 200 acres to Jacob Carpenter. I suspect that they were having money difficulties. This may be the cause of the marriage troubles that led to Bostian's undoing. About the year 1773, Sebastian abandoned his young family, and ran away to Georgia with Hannah Fry Burns, a married woman with children of her own.

Bostian ran off to Richmond, Georgia where he probably served in the Revolutionary War.

Court records document the anger of those left behind to pick up the pieces of two broken families:

"To the worship Court belonging to Tryon County. Hoping you will be serious spectators and judge the character of Bostian Cline, Jr., of Rowan County. Where we the undersigned subscribers will with much veracity endeavors to inform you as if thou were upon qualifications, whereas divers oathes and information hath made to Captain Blackburn when he was in the commission of the peace, setting forth, that the said Bostian Cline, Jr., a vagrant Jude [Lude] fellow, several times feloniously took away and seduced the wife of Conrad Burns from him, the lawfull wedded husband, and with her, carried off divers goods and chattalls, the property of said Burns. The said Cline, himself, has a lawfull wedded wife and a family of small children. There is no stop or premade in reguard to their malignant carried practices, but still hankering after that lewde woman, said Burns wife, and makes no industry for a living to support his small comers at home. Said Cline has run off with Burns' wife into Georgia Province and left his own poor distressed family to vindicate their own course as well as they could, and staying with said lewde woman between one and two years. During that time she became pregnant with child, which he, the said Cline, had one Bastard child with her before he had the instigation or motive of breaking the bonds of matrimony between Burns and his wife and himself and his wife. We humble petition, Gentlemen, that you will circumspect students in relation to the whole above written for such practice and carrying on must of consequince be pernidious and malignant in the sight of God, and you yourselves may be the judge what it is in the sight of man. Given under our hands this 10th day of October 1775. Witness Ch. Beckman, Peter Moll, Frances Palmer, [illegible German name] and Rudolph Conrad." [Pasted from <http://carolinagenealogy.org/all/pafg2379.htm> ]

It is likely that Bostian enlisted to serve in the Revolutionary War. He signed a petition in Georgia to the Continental Congress seeking removal of a General Mcintosh as an incompetent officer. Since General Mcintosh was from Savannah Georgia, it is likely that this is where Bostian was staying. This shows that Bostian had gone to Georgia, and that he enlisted there to serve in the war.  Perhaps he joined the military in order to support his new family.

Hannah returned to NC in 1787 with a ten year old son, and some believe a toddler daughter as well, but no Bostian. He probably died about this time, because no subsequent records have been discovered for him.  

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Notes:

John Olphant's List of Taxables Rowan County, NC, NC 1768: Bostian Cline and John, 2 tithables; Stuffle Cline 1 tithe; Bostian Cline Jr. 1 tithe.

"Boston Jr. also appears in several court records as he is assigned to road projects in 1767, 1769 and 1771 in Rowan county. Boston Cline Jr is deeded 200 acres on Clarks Creek by Derrick Ramsour in September 1770 in Tryon county during the brief period that it existed (1769 to 1779) and included the area that would become Lincoln county. On June 6, 1771, this 200 acres is sold to Jacob Carpenter by Boston Cline Jr. and his wife Margaret. Boston Jr. is appointed as a local constable in 1772.

"Boston Jr's wife, Margaret, is most likely the daughter of Derrick Ramsour. On the same date that Derrick deeds the 200 acres to Boston Cline Jr, husband of Margaret, Derrick also deeds 200 acres to Jacob Carpenter, the husband of his daughter Catherine Ramsour. Lorena Eaker (GSP) states that Margaret Ramsour Cline is born 1740-1744 and dies on January 5, 1789 in Lincoln county. This is consistent with the fact that she does not appear in the 1790 North Carolina census." [From Derick S. Hartshorn III website on the Cline family: http://www.ncgenweb.us/catawba/Cline/b355.htm]

"Rowan County NC Court Records show that Sebastian Cline [? Sr.] naturalized 16 Jul. 1755 and Sebastian Cline, Jr. is naturalized 16 Jul. 1775 [This is probably a typo, since other sources give this date as the same as his father's], lending strength to the theory that Sebastian m. in Alsace and that Sebastian, Jr. was born there or on the way to America. He is the only apparent child of Sebastian to appear in naturalization records." [German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in NC 1750-1800 by Lorena Shell Eaker]

"'Boston [Sr.] receives another Granville deed on May 10, 1762 for 598 acres on Clarks Creek, in current day Catawba county. This land is adjacent to a 693-acre grant of same date to Mathias Beaver (Bieber, in German), Boston's brother-in-law (or father-in-law according to some researchers). On March 29, 1764 Boston [Sr.] and his wife Elizabeth sell half of their Elk Creek land to George Smith with the deed witnessed by their son Boston Cline Jr. The other half of this Elk Creek land is sold to George Pope in November 1771." [German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in NC 1750-1800 by Lorena Shell Eaker]

Derick Hartshorn gives the following information on Bostian's removal to Georgia:

"A court petition filed in October 1774 against Boston Cline Jr. reveals that he has abandoned his wife and family of small children and has "run off to Georgia" with Hannah Fry Burns, wife of Conrad Burns. One record is found in Richmond county, Georgia in 1777, wherein Boston Jr. signs a petition to the Continental Congress seeking removal of a General Mcintosh as an incompetent officer.

Nothing further of Boston Jr's life and death in Georgia has yet been found. However, Lincoln county court records in 1787 and 1788 document Hannah Fry Burns' return to Lincoln county with a son Jacob Cline Burns, born in 1777. GSP notes that Boston Jr and Hannah Fry Burns also have a daughter Elizabeth, born 1785-1786. Elizabeth's subsequent fate is unknown.

"It is assumed that Boston Jr. dies in Georgia prior to 1790, since he does not appear in any of the surviving 1790 Georgia tax lists. Perhaps Hannah Burns returned to Lincoln county in 1787, due to Boston Jr's death. Hannah Burns is found in Lincoln county court records in 1795 with an abuse complaint against her brother's wife for abusing her son Jacob Burns, and in 1799 contesting being disowned in her father's 1784 will.

"Sebastian, Jr. appears in the records many times. Nicholas Fry disinherits his daughter, Hannah Fry Burns, for deserting her husband Conrad Burns and going to Georgia with Sebastian Cline, Jr.

"Hannah returns to Lincoln County, NC ca 1788 with her two illegitimate children, Jacob b. 1777 and Elizabeth b. 1785-6 and they appear in Lincoln County, NC records. Jacob is often referred to as Jacob Burns/alias Cline. What happened to Elizabeth is not known but Hannah, d. ca 1818, in Lincoln County.

"It must be noted that in the Sebastian Cline family history, Ciscero Cline does not recognize the existence of Boston Cline Jr. and attributes his wife Margaret, as well as his children, to be those of Boston Jr's brother, Christopher Cline. It is certainly understandable that the remaining Sebastian Cline family and descendants would not treasure the memory of this Boston Jr who abandoned his family and that they would not speak of him to the younger and succeeding generations. Therefore, by the time that Ciscero Cline is writing (1910-1915), he and his family of history contributors have no recollection of Boston Jr. They probably remembered only Boston Jr's abandoned children and had come to believe that they belonged to Christopher Cline. This association is natural because Christopher was the only other son of Boston Cline old enough to have fathered these children."

Pasted from <http://www.ncgenweb.us/catawba/Cline/b355.htm>

Katherine Klein 1768-1820 (100001)

Catherine Summerour Grave Marker

Katherine Klein, also often rendered Catherine Cline, was born about 1769 in (then) Catawba County, NC (now Lincoln County), as the second child of Johan Sabastian "Bostian" Klein Jr. and Margaret Ramsauer [See note below]. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on 26 Oct 1783, receiving her first communion from Rev. Arends at Warlich settlement in Lincoln County. 

Katherine's father abandoned his family when she was still a small child, and her parents divorced in 1774, at a time when divorce was nearly unheard of. It must have caused a great deal of hardship for the family. Yet, they persevered with help from extended family.

Katherine married Michael Summerow about 1789 in Lincoln County NC, where they were both born and raised. This date is only an estimate based on the fact that their first child was born after the Federal Census of 1790, and that Michael and Katherine were enumerated together in that census.

They had the following children:

1) John Summerow b. 1790 Lincoln, NC, d. 1857 Iredell, NC; m. Nancy MNU

2) John Henry Summerow b. 1794 Lincoln, NC, d. 5 Nov 1854 Lauderdale, TN; m. Minerva T. Day 9 Sep 1820 Rutherford, TN

3) Michael Summerow b. abt 1795 Lincoln, NC, d. 5 May 1870 Travis, TX; m. Electra MNU MO

4)Jacob Summerow b. 15 Jul 1797 Lincoln, NC, d. 2 Nov 1889 Mitchell, NC; m. Rachel Zelpha Turner 25 Sep 1830 Tyron, Polk, NC

5) Andrew Summerow b. 1800 Lincoln, NC, d. 1831 Iredell, NC; m. Charlotte MNU bef 1822

6) Elizabeth Summerow b. 3 Aug 1801 Lincoln, NC, d. 13 Jul 1861 Lincoln, NC; never married

7) David Summerow b. 16 Sep 1804 Lincoln, NC, d. 23 Jun 1879 Lincoln, NC; m. Susan Rudisill 7 Jun 1828 NC

8) Peter Summerow b. 11 Dec 1808 Lincoln, NC, d. 2 Nov 1841 Lincoln, NC; m. Elmyra R. Ramsauer 16 Mar 1840 Lincoln, NC

9) Sarah "Sally" Summerow b. 12 Jan 1814 Lincoln, NC, d. 22 Oct 1841 Lincoln, NC; never married

The Summerow-Summerour family lived in Lincoln County, North Carolina (shown here in red). They lived near the Catawba River, which forms the eastern border of the county, on Clark's Creek.

Catherine was enumerated in her husband's household for the 1790 and 1810 Federal Census, living in Lincoln County, North Carolina. By the time they were married Michael had already accumulated 286 acres of land on Clark's Creek near the Catawba River in Lincoln County, North Carolina. [See Michael's listing for much more information.]

Catherine died on the 10th of June 1820. According to a survey of Old White Church Cemetery, Catherine was buried next to her husband. The tombstone gives her age as 51 years, which gives us a birth year of about 1769. 

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Survey for Old White Church Cemetery lists:

      Summerour, Henry No Dates

      Summerour, Elizabeth 63 years October 21, 1827

      Summerour, Michael No Dates

      Summerour, Catherine 51 years June 10, 1820

      Summerour, Henry 70 years December 1, 1722

      Summerour, Mary 72 years October 25, 1722

[Old White Church Cemetery - Lincoln County, NC - Cemeteries Submitted to the USGenWeb Project by W.D. Floyd (wdfloyd@rfci.net) Copyright, 1997 W.D. Floyd]

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A note on Katherine's parentage:

Much of the information on the Klein family comes from the book The Cline Families of North Carolina 1750-1860 And Their European Ancestry, 1580-1750, by George B. Cline Jr.. This is the source for Katherine's maiden name, Klein. More research is needed to substantiate this claim. The Cline Family book has much useful information; however, like all books of the kind, there are also many mistakes. As new information has been uncovered, some of what George Cline wrote has been proven incorrect. This is particularly true where he relied largely on the contribution of family memories rather than documentation; and, it would seem, Katherine Cline/Klein has been the locus of much misinformation, including who her father was.   

One researcher has this to say:

"Cicero Cline [in his book: the Klein or Cline Family, published in 1915] identifies a Catherine Cline, who marries Michael Sumner (Sumrow or Summerow), as a daughter of Christopher Cline's son Henry (1.4.2.1). However, the discussion of Henry's children in his section of this chapter shows that he does not have such a daughter Catherine. The only Michael Sumrow found in the Lincoln county 1820 and 1830 census is a widower, born 1750-1760, with five children, born 1795-1810, in his household. It is speculated that the Catherine Cline who marries Michael Sumrow, as recalled in Cicero Cline's account, is really this Catharina Cline, daughter of Boston Cline Jr." [Derick S. Hartshorn III, from his Cline website:  http://www.ncgenweb.us/catawba/Cline/b355.htm]