Originally uploaded by
In 1891, Miss Mable Pendleton won a gold medal from the Baylor Historical Society for her essay dealing with the history of Bell County, Texas . . . the following statement is an excerpt from that essay . . .
On July 30th, 1850, Mrs. Matilda F. Allen, nee Connell, conveyed to Bell County out of the Connell League, one hundred and twenty acres of land on which was to be located the permanent county seat of Bell County. It is in this land that Belton is now built. Mrs. Allen was the mother of Mr. John Connell.
This Matilda Connell Allen Allen nee Roberts (1808-1879) is an older sister of Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts . . . who is a 3rd-great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . Matilda's name is mentioned on the above historical marker which is located near the Bell County Courthouse in Belton, Texas . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 27th day of June . . . in the year 1885 . . . Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts dies on the Hall Plantation in Houston County, Texas . . . this Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma of the Keeper of this family history blog. . . .
Mahala Lee Roberts was born in Washington Parish, Louisiana on 3rd November 1816, the 7th of nine children born to Elisha Roberts (1774-1844) and Martha "Patsy" Gill (1781-1845), who had moved from Kentucky to Louisiana ca. 1811.
By the time Mahala was 10 years of age her family was living in the Ayish Bayou area of Coahuila y Tejas, where Mahala would grow up in a house that fronted on the public highway (El Camino Real / King's Highway) coming into Texas. The Elisha Roberts home was frequented by many overland travelers, and while known far and wide for its hospitality, there is also a record of a murder or two on Elisha's property -- ca. 1826 or 1827 -- when a Matthias Yokum and his brother-in-law, James Collier, were killed by a man reported to be named Charles Chandler.
During Mahala's teenage years, her father was elected as Alcalde of Ayish Bayou (1831), as well as being a delegate to the 1833 convention at San Felipe de Austin. During the Texas Revolution, this household furnished provisions, lodging and transportation for the revolutionary cause. Mahala was 19 years old at the time of the Battle of the Alamo (1836), and when Gen. Sam Houston was wounded at the Battle of San Jacinto shortly thereafter, he spent a part of his recovery period in the household of our Elisha.
On 22nd March 1838, a 21-year-old Mahala became the wife of John M. Sharp (age & further info unknown at this time). Their son -- Samuel Houston Sharp (1839-1885) -- was born the following year, followed by a daughter in 1840, and sometime after that birth, our John M. Sharp disappears from all records we have been able to research.
In 1844, Mahala's father dies, followed by the death of her sister, Elizabeth, in May of 1845, and then her Mother, Patsy, the following December -- just 9 days before Texas is annexed as the 28th state of the Union. In 1846, Mahala is listed on the tax list for San Augustine County, indicating she is head-of-household. In 1847 her sister, Anna, dies in Austin County.
On the 1850 Census for San Augustine County, Mahala is enumerated as living next door to Lt. Governor John A. Greer. In February of 1851, Mahala marries a much older Joshua James Hall, and they set up housekeeping on the Hall Plantation in Houston County, Texas.
. . . In 1850, he (J. J. Hall) married his third wife, Mahala Roberts Sharp, a widow who came to Houston County before 1835. She was the daughter of Elisha Roberts, an early Spanish Alcalde, of San Augustine, Texas. To this union were born two children, a daughter Roberta, born 25 May 1852, and a son, Horace was born 22 Sep 1854. Both of these children were born on the Elkhart Creek Plantation. Horace was called 'Toby' by the slaves. He was very close to these people and he always included them as his friends. Joshua and Mahala were very fond of dancing. They went into Crockett to dancing school. At their Plantation, they had balls for the benefit of the Confederacy. They were active Methodists in the early Methodist church of Crockett. . . . by Esther M. Biggers nee Hall (great-granddaughter of Joshua & Mahala)
Mahala's life between 1860 and 1866 is documented on a sometimes daily basis in the Civil War-era journal of her stepson and son-in-law, James Madison Hall (1819-1866), who had married Mahala and John's daughter, Margaret Sharp, in 1859. Mahala's son and my 2nd great-grandpa, Sam, marries Mary Alexandrien Lemaire in 1861, who dies in 1876. Mahala's 2nd husband dies sometime after the 1870 census, and her daughter, Margaret, dies ca. 1878.
Mahala is enumerated as the head-of-household on the Hall Plantation at the time of the 1880 census. Other family members in the household are her widowed son, Sam, and his 6 surviving children, including my great-grandma, Berta Mary (1873-1955). It is said that Sam as well as his youngest daughter, Willie, died ca. 1885, which is the same year Mahala died.
The deceased family members listed in the last two paragraphs are buried in the Hall Cemetery in Houston County, Texas, which has been designated by the State of Texas as an official historical cemetery.
FYI . . . I created the collage image of our Mahala by starting with a background paper designed by Robyn Gough. I then used Picasa to select that backround page, plus Mahala's photo, plus a brown backer for the photo, and created a new image using the collage feature. I then used Picasa to add Mahala's name as well as the floral frame (dingbat font) around Mahala's face.
On this date in our family history . . . the 24th day of May . . . in the year 1843 . . . Mary Alexandrien Lemaire is born in Liberty County, the Republic of Texas . . . aka Nellie . . . aka Alex . . . this baby girl grew up to marry Samuel Houston Sharp . . . and they had several children . . . one of whom was the great-grandma of the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
A Texas Historical Marker at the Hall Cemetery in Houston County, Texas indicates that the earliest marked grave is that of this Mary A. Sharp (1843-1876) . . . the historical marker is located on FM 229, 10.9 miles NW of Crockett . . . although the fact that our Nellie had a tombstone is documented on this historical marker, as well as in a 1962 deposition given by one of Nellie's daughters, no evidence has been found of the location of her grave . . .
Hall Cemetery. Joshua James Hall (1790-1871) gave a portion of his land on this site about a mile from his homestead to be used as a burial ground. Hall Cemetery was already in use when freedmen French Taylor (1842-1937), Bob Denby, & Alf Warfield petitioned Hall for permission to bury their dead in the graveyard. Hall agreed, & the cemetery was used by both Anglo & African American Settlers. The earliest marked grave is that of MARY A. SHARP (1843-1876). Hall Cemetery had several owners during the 20th century. A 1997 count revealed 29 marked & more than 105 unmarked graves. Descendants of early settlers continue to care for & maintain the land. (1998).
Sketchy family lore says that Nellie's father was a French gentleman by the name of Mr. Lemaire . . . sometimes written as Lamar (see further discussion below) . . .
Nellie's mother, Elizabeth A. Lemaire Beale nee Waring, was born ca.1824-1827 in Maryland . . . she is the daughter of Edward Gantt Waring and his wife (and 2nd cousin), Catherine Ann (Kitty) Waring nee Waring . . .
- On the 1850 census, Nellie's mother is enumerated as E.A. Lemarre with the head of household being Kitty Waring (mother of E.A. Lemarre)
- In 1860 Nellie's mother is indexed as Elizabeth Beale
- Throughout 1865 and 1866, Nellie's mother is mentioned frequently in the Civil War-era journal of James Madison Hall (1819-1866) . . . always referred to as Mrs. Beale
- In 1870 Nellie's mother is enumerated as Elizabeth A. Beale
- 10 June 1871 :: Deed from C. L. Cleveland to Elizabeth A. Beale . . . this is the last known mention found of her name . . . her date and place of death is unknown
The story passed down through the generations indicated that it was believed that Nellie's father died under suspicious circumstances on a voyage to or from France . . . is he the Alexander Lemaire mentioned below? . . . the few details I have found on the following Alexander tend to "fit" with the few details we have on Nellie's father . . .
France is the first European power to recognize the independence of the Texas Republic. A treaty is proclaimed between France and the Republic of Texas in 1840, and continues until 1846. A French chargé or minister is sent to the Republic, and plans are made for sending French colonists to Texas.
- Google Books. The Living Age (1845). Shipwreck of the Delphine. Regarding the captain of the ship that A. LEMAIRE last sailed on . . . translated from the French. . . . We sailed from Havre for Valparaiso on the 30th March, 1840, in the ship Delphine, CAPTAIN COISY, with a crew of sixteen sailors and four passengers. . . . Those on board of her were not strangers; they were CAPTAIN COISY, Lieutenant Lepine, our sailors and companions, who came to deliver us and bring us provisions. . . .
- Google Books. Annual Report of the American Historical Association (1911) . . . 26 April 1842. A. de Saligny, Legation de France au Texas, to Hon. Anson Jones, Secretary of State. [Announcing the appointment of ALEXANDER LEMAIRE consular agent of France at Liberty, and asking orders for his recognition by the Texan authorities.] . . . 2 June 1842. Hon. Anson Jones, Secretary of State to Saligny. [Transmitting exequatur of ALEXANDER LAMAR, consular agent of France for "Liberty County," and of F. Guilbeau, consular agent of France for San Antonio.]
- Google Books. The French Legation in Texas (1971). Vol. 1* contains chiefly the diplomatic and private correspondence, between 1839 and 1842, of A. Dubois de Saligny, Chargé d'affaires of the French Legation in Texas. . . . MR. ALEXANDER LEMAIRE, former student at the Agricultural Institute at . . . with necessary information on events taking place in various parts of Texas . . . and ALEXANDER LEMAIRE for the new agencies at San Antonio, Matagorda . . . Ten or eleven months ago MR. LEMAIRE, who had been named for the post at Liberty on the Trinity, embarked at Galveston on the brig Amanda (under CAPTAIN COISY from Havre) for France to look after his affairs. It was learned that the Amanda was forced to put into port at Bermuda for repairs. However, since she put to sea again she has not . . . [*If you have access to this book, I would love to know what the entire text says about Lemaire. I am only able to view a few brief clips at Google Books.]
- Found online . . . regarding the ship that A. LEMAIRE last sailed on . . . Google Books. History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine . . . Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost. John 6,12. (1865) . . . Nathan Robinson, lost at sea in BRIG AMANDA, 1843.
- Found online . . . regarding the ship that A. LEMAIRE last sailed on . . . Google Books. Annals of the Town of Warren; With the Early History of St. George's, Broad Bay, and the Neighboring Settlements on the Waldo Patent. (1851). The town of Warren, in the county of Lincoln, State of Maine, . . . Capt. William James Lermond, b. July 18, 1813; sailed in THE BRIG AMANDA from N.O., in March, 1843, and with his vessel was never heard from. . . .
- Google Books. The French in Texas: History, Migration and Culture . . . Upon the death of LEMAIRE, the French consul of the town of Liberty, Cramayel chose not to replace him, declaring: "Liberty is only a hamlet in the interior of a region that has no direct commerce with foreign countries. In the surrounding area there are only about thirty French residents, widely scattered, & living in a situation close to destitution." . . .
- 1840 :: there is a Samuel F. Lunier on the Liberty County tax list . . . is he some kin to Alexander?
- 24 May 1843 :: Mary Alexandrien Lemaire is born in Liberty County, Texas
- 1846 :: there is a Lamiel (Samuel?) Lanier on the Liberty County tax list
- 27 March 1848 :: there is a Samuel Laimer (b. 1826) who arrives in New York from Le Havre, France
- 1850 :: Mr. (Alexander?) Lemaire is NOT listed on the Liberty County, Census with his wife and daughter
- ca. 1852 :: The "widow" Lemaire marries John S. Beale . . . according to family lore, there was speculation that this Mr. Beale might have had some involvement in Mr. Lemaire's disappearance . . . but ongoing research is indicating that he actually disappeared at sea along with an entire shipload of people
- 1850 Liberty County Census :: looks like Mary A. Lemarre (indexed as Lamane)
- 1860 Liberty County Census :: enumerated as Mary A. Lamire
- 11 July 1861 :: listed as Mary Alexandrien Lamier in the Journal of James Madison Hall when he writes about her marriage to his step-brother / brother-in-law, Samuel H. Sharp
- 13 March 1862 :: JMH refers to her as Alexandrien
- 20 & 22 March 1862 :: JMH refers to her as Alex
- 17 & 30 April 1862 & thereafter :: JMH refers to her as Nellie
- 7 October 1862 :: Nellie Sharp is a witness for the will of J. M. Hall
- 15 January 1863 :: JMH refers to her as Mary A. Sharp familiarally called Nellie . . . thereafter he calls her simply Nellie
- 1870 Houston County Census :: enumerated as Mary A. Sharp
- 10 October 1876 :: Mary A. Sharp dies, and is buried in the Hall Cemetery in Houston County, Texas . . . she is survived by her mother, her husband and six children, and her mother-in-law, Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts
Lamarre :: French: habitational name from any of the places in Normandy called La Mare, from Old Northern French mare ‘pool’, ‘pond’ (Old Norse marr).
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
F
Mary Alexandrien Lemaire
Lamane (on census /index)/
Mary A. /Lamaire/
LaMire /LaMar/, Lemarre, LeMire
Mary A. /Lamar/
Mary Alexandrien /Lamar/
Nellie /Lamar/
Mary Alexandrien /Lamier/
Nellie /Lamier/
Mary A. /Lamire/
Alex /LeMire/
Mary Alexandrien /LeMire/
Mary A. /Sharp/
- Born on 24 May 1843 - Liberty County, Texas
- Died on 10 October 1876 - Houston County, Texas
- Buried after 10 October 1876 - Hall Family Cemetery, Houston County, Texas
- Age at death: 33 years old
Parents
- Alexander ? Lemaire +ca 1843
- Elizabeth A. Waring ca 1824-1871/
Marriage and children
- Married on 11 July 1861, Liberty, Liberty County, Texas, to Samuel Houston Sharp ca 1839-ca 1885, with
- James Hall 1863-1936
- Infant 1864-1864
- Samuel Houston 1867-1921
- Margaret Elizabeth 1869-1935
- Ida Mae 1871-1964
- Berta Mary 1873-1955
- Willie /1876-ca 1885
Notes -- as per Aunt Ida (Sharp) Halyard . . . My mother, Mary Alexandren Lamar Sharp, was born in France [sic] & was of French extraction, but I know nothing about her family history, except that she owned land on the Robeson Survey, Liberty County, Texas, & I still own my inherited interest in this land. My mother died when I was four years old, & is buried in the Hall Cemetery on the old Hall Plantation on Elkhart Creek, where I was born. There is a marker at her grave.
From 28th September 1840 until 18th November 1851, Nicholas Adolphus Sterne kept a diary of his daily activities, which is a valuable source of information on the period of the Republic of Texas . . . the names of some of our kith 'n kin are scattered through these pages . . . and regarding this date in our family history . . . the 20th day of May . . . here are the words Sterne penned in his diary in the year 1843 . . .
Saturday the 20th May [1843] fine weather for traveling -- left after Breakfast, called to see my old friends ELISHA ROBERTS and his wife, arrived at Sabine Town at 5 P. m. stopped at the House of Judge Hotchkiss, met with Mr Pemberton, Mr Peck, and Mr Austin, was introduced to Mr Clapp partner of Austin, they appear to do good Business they have the only Store in the place, wrote a letter home to be send in the mail to morrow morning --
This Elisha Roberts, an early Texas alcalde, is a 4th great-grandpa to the keeper of this family history blog . . . Elisha lived until the 3rd of October 1844 . . . and his wife, Patsy, died on the 18th of December 1845 . . . both were buried near their home in San Augustine County, Texas . . . in 1936 a Texas Centennial marker was erected at the site . . .
The grave marker reads --
HUSBAND
SAM H. SHARP
1867 - 1921
AT REST
aka Samuel Houston Sharp, Jr.
08 November 1867 ~ 14 May 1921
son of
Samuel Houston Sharp, Sr.
and
Mary Alexandrien (Nellie) Lemaire
Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . and this Sam, Jr. is a great-grand-uncle . . . following is a newsclipping regarding his death . . .
Taylor Daily Press. Taylor, Texas. Saturday Afternoon, May 14, 1921.
Sam Sharp Dies in Taylor Today. Body Will Be Shipped to Former Home in Lovelady for Burial.
Sam H. Sharp, age about 60 years, died this morning at the home of his son-in-law, T. A. Newton, 807 ? West Seventh Street, following a brief illness. Mr. Sharp has been a resident of Taylor for only a short time and was employed as bookkeeper for the Tip Top Milling Company. The body was turned over to the Forwood Undertaking Company to prepare for shipment to his former home in Lovelady, where burial will take place tomorrow. Short services will be held at the Newton home. The deceased is survived by several children.
