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First, above all else and with sincere appreciation, my sister, Harriet
Russell McGonagill and I genuinely thank Wayne Easter, Meige Bronson Easter,
Martha Easter, Judy Russell and Ella Oehme. Without all of their efforts, we
would have little or no hope of ever finding out more about our
GGGrandmother, Delphia Majers Easter Russell. I guess a more positive way to
say it is that with their continued help and maybe some from other Easter
family members, we now have some hope.
Although there are many indicators, please understand that we do not have any
proof that William Easter who died in Yazoo City, MS. (most feel around 1829)
is William Thompson Easter. Neither can we prove the marriage of Delphia
Majers to any Easter. All of the Russell Family records and her tombstone
indicate her name to be as initially indicated above. Supposedly she and my
GGGrandfather, Arnold Russell, had only one child together, a son, William
Houston Russell. Many years ago a professional genealogist indicated, in
part, that Arnold married Delphia Easter (a widow) and that she had a
daughter by a former marriage. This daughter was identified as Terinda Moore
Easter, born 7 October 1823, died 31 August 1832 and supposedly buried near
Phoenix, Mississippi. Delphia and Arnold are both buried in a small church
cemetery in Phoenix, MS. Indicated, in part, on her side of the tombstone are
the words "Our Mother." On Arnold's side, in part, only "Father" is
indicated. This is a very old cemetery in which we have not been able to
locate a grave site for Terinda. The "Our Mother" inscription poses other
questions. How could it apply to Terinda if Terinda died in 1832,
approximately forty years prior to Delphia's death on 25 December 1872? Could
Delphia have had another child still living at her death? We do not know but
all of the above peaked our curiosity and launched a quest to find out more.
According to Easter Family records there was an ALLISON E., MADISON JONES and
OSCAR M. that were kin to WILLIAM THOMPSON. All of these Easters came to MS
about the same time. There was a land patent to a WILLIAM EASTER in Warren
County, MS. There were four(4) land patents to ALSON E., three(3) to a
MADISON J. and two(2) to a OSCO F. Note name alterations. We feel these are
the same persons.
All of these patents were in Monroe County, MS. The land patented to WILLIAM
EASTER in Warren County joins land patented a short time later by Arnold
Russell. The William Easter land consisting only of the 71 acres more or less
in was left to Terinda Easter. Arnold was Terinda's guardian and the
administrator of WILLIAM EASTER'S estate. Warren and Yazoo Counties join each
other. Arnold had extensive holdings in both and other counties. There is a
CHAMPION and WILLIAM EASTER on the 1823 Tax List for Yazoo County. WILLIAM is
also on it for 1825 but CHAMPION is not. What these Yazoo County holdings
consisted of, we do not know.
It seems that I may be getting ahead of myself and rambling somewhat. If so,
that can only confuse you. My intent thus far was to indicate why we feel
compelled to find out more. The following in a quasi timeline format should
be clearer. It may be totally wrong as it assumes WILLIAM THOMPSON EASTER,
born about 1761 in VA is the same person as the WILLIAM EASTER who appears in
Yazoo and Warren County, MS records about 1817-1823.
27 August 1789-Marries Martha Jane Pettus in Wilkes County. GA. He is about
age 28.
28 September 1795-Delphia Majers is born supposedly in SC. William is about
age 34.
1809-William goes to Madison County, AL: with wife, Martha. He is about age
48. Delphia is now about age 14.
20 January 1816-William barred, commanded and compelled Martha to abandon his
house. He is about age 55. Delphia is about age 21.
18 February 1817-William is put under $5000 bond per his divorce from Martha.
William is about age 56. Delphia is about age 22.
2d Monday in May 1817-Martha does not wish to further prosecute William. He
disappears from records in the AL area.
NOTE!! EXCEPT AS PERTAINS TO DELPHIA, ALL OF THE ABOVE WAS OBTAINED PER AN
E-MAIL QUERY INITIATED BY MY SISTER TO WAYNE EASTER WHO FORWARDED IT TO MEIGE
BRONSON EASTER WHO RESPONDED TO MY SISTER WHO FURNISHED ME A COPY.
7 October 1823-Terinda Moore Easter is born to Delphia Easter. This per
Edythe Rucker Whitley Collection compiled and written 1928-1929. William is
about age 62. Delphia is about age 28.
1823-Tax List for Yazoo County, MS indicates William and Champion Easter.
1825-Tax List for Yazoo County, MS indicates only William.
20 July 1826-U.S. Government, Bureau of Land Management, issues certificate
for 71 acres, more or less, of Warren County Lands to William. This is a Land
Patent which means he bought the lands. The issue date of these certificates
cannot be correlated to indicate actual purchase date or physical presence in
a local Government Land Office. It was common for them to be issued as much
as three(3) years after the fact. Thus, this date cannot be used to prove
that William was living as of the date of issue.
6 May 1827-Delphia marries Arnold. Delphia is about age 32. If still living,
William would have been about age 66.
24 September 1827-Arnold writes Court of Probates stating there is nothing
but some debts and 71 acres comprising the estate of Wm Easter of which, he
is the Administrator. Arnold requests authority to dispose of land and to
settle debts of the estate. Obviously William is deceased.
December 1828 Term of Yazoo County Orphan's Court- Court gives Arnold a space
of twelve(12) months to hire all Negroes of T.M. Easter and to sell old
Tyhrion(sp), his wife and four children in one lot and the rest one by one to
the highest bidder and to take bond and security for the same.
NOTE!! "T.M." NOT LUCINDA EASTER.
17 May 1828-Arnold sells land to Barnabas M. Allen of Davidson County, TN.
1 January 1829-Per annotation on December 1828 Court Order indicated above,
Arnold hired/sold Negroes.
20 February 1829-Yazoo County Orphan's Court orders Sheriff to cite Arnold
and have him send true account of his actings and doings as guardian of
person and property of Terinda M. Easter.
NOTE! "TERINDA" NOT LUCINDA EASTER.
NOTE!! ALL OF THE ABOVE AS PERTAINS TO COURT OF PROBATES AND YAZOO COUNTY
ORPHAN'S COURT WAS EXTRACTED FROM APPLICABLE COURT DOCUMENTS FURNISHED ME BY
MARTHA EASTER.
31 August 1832-Terinda Moore Easter dies. Age 8 years, 10 months and 24 days.
Buried near Phoenix, MS. Delphia is about age 37 and has been married to
Arnold for about four (4) years.
NOTE!! THIS PER WHITLEY COLLECTION
>From the above, there are a couple of things that we feel need further
consideration.
1. The name Lucinda. The only places we have ever seen "Lucinda" are within
the writings of Meige Brandon Easter as she references Yazoo City/County
records and within the listing of William Easter descendants. The Whitley
Collection, Arnold's writings and court records received from Martha Easter
all indicate either "T.M. Easter," "Terinda Easter" or "Terinda Moore Easter."
2. The date of William Thompson Easter's death. Most that we have seen
indicate an approximate death year of 1829. If this is the same William for
which Arnold was Administrator of Estate (We believe him to be), his death
had to be prior to 24 September 1827, the date Arnold first wrote the Court
of Probate. He could have been deceased for some time prior to that date. We
believe he actually was as Delphia married Arnold on 6 May 1827 and she is
referred to a a widow when she married Arnold. If William married to Delphia,
he had to be either deceased or divorced by 6 May 1827. We further feel the
1829 year of death comes about from the delay in settlement of the estate.
There is no indication that there was any effort to do so until September
1827 and even then, it took until 1829, the year most feel William died.
To summarize our feelings, not proof, we feel William Thompson Easter is the
same person as William Easter which appears in various MS records and who
died in Yazoo City, MS
sometime after his marriage to Delphia Majers and the birth of their
daughter, Terinda M. Easter on 7 October 1823; that the year of his death was
prior 6 May 1827 when his widow, Delphia married Arnold Russell; that there
was a close personal relationship between William, Arnold and Delphia and
further that Arnold felt no rush to settle William's estate as Delphia was
Terinda's mother.
Well, that about covers where we are now. We realize that what we feel,
imagine or wish for mean nothing without proof. That is why we are searching
so hard. We also know that none of this means much to you. Hopefully, you
will find it interesting enough to keep us in mind as you delve further into
the ancestry of what must really be a very proud Easter Family.
We will continue on and keep you advised of anything felt to warrant your
interest.
Sincerely,
Lee V. Russell
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