Mitchell Wesley Pafford1

b. 7 August 1837, d. 3 October 1911
FatherJesse Pafford1 b. abt 1810, d. 28 May 1874
MotherRachel Robinson1 b. 1 Mar 1807, d. bef Oct 1869
Birth7 Aug 1837 Mitchell Wesley Pafford was born on 7 Aug 1837 in Washington County, Virginia.2,1 
Marriage6 Dec 1860 He married Martha Ann Kelly, daughter of Claibourne Kelly and Jane K. Edmondson, on 6 Dec 1860 in Washington County.3,1 
Military8 Sep 1861 Mitchell enlisted as a private in Co. F of the 37th Virginia Infantry on Sept. 8, 1861 at Glade Spring, Virginia. He appears to have served until the end of the war although he was captured on several occasions and spent time at Old Capitol Prison in Washington DC as well as Ft. Monroe, Virginia. On May 12, 1864 Mitchell was captured during the fighting at Spotsylvania Courthouse. He was transferred to the Union prison at Ft. Delaware where he remained until June 7, 1865. Paperwork generated during that time described Mitchell as 5ft, 10 inches tall with brown hair and grey eyes.4 
Cens-187027 Sep 1870  Mitchell and Martha lived in Glade Spring township in Washington County After the war Mitchell worked as a carpenter in the Glade Spring district of Washington County. He also owned land valued at $1,500.5 
  Although the couple were the parents of 5 children by 1870, only their oldest child, Walter, was recorded in the 1870 household. Their 3 youngest children, Mary, Rachel and baby Samuel were all enumerated in the household of Mary Robinson who lived nearby. A daughter Amanda died in 1865.6 
MigrationNov 1872 Mitchell and Martha migrated to Collin County, Texas, in Nov 1872. Mitchell's brother James migrated to Collin County as well after having lived in Missouri for several years.7 
Land-Sell18 Sep 1872  Before leaving they sold 88 acres of land on the Middle Fork of the Holston River in Washington Co. to Isabella Smyth for $1,175. William H. Price and James Clark were identified as neighbors.8 
  The land included the 10 acres left to Mitchell by his grandfather, Mitchell Robinson. However it also included land left to Jane Robinson. I have not determined how Mitchell and Martha acquired the balance of the 88 acres. 
Widowed14 Jan 1886  Martha died in Jan 1886. 
Marriage5 Jun 1892 Mitchell married second Eula Maxwell on 5 Jun 1892 in Collin County, Texas. Mitchell was 54; Eula was 25.9 
  Mitchell and Eula farmed land on Weston and Pilot Point Rd. in Collin County. They had 2 children together, a daughter May and a son Frank.10,11 
Death3 Oct 1911 Mitchell died on 3 Oct 1911 at age 74, probably in Collin County, Texas.2  
Burial He was buried at Cottage Hill Cemetery in Celina, Collin County, Texas.2 

Related Links and Images:

Mitchell and Martha migrated to Texas, settling in Collin County. See the Texas map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).

Family 1

Martha Ann Kelly b. 23 Feb 1839, d. 14 Jan 1886
Children
  • Walter Fulkerson Pafford7 (13 Nov 1861 - 21 Mar 1932)
  • Amanda E. Pafford12 (1863 - 3 Mar 1865)
  • Mary V. Pafford13 (circa 1866 - )
  • Rachel J. Pafford13 (24 Nov 1867 - 23 Dec 1891)
  • Samuel Kelly Pafford14,13 (20 Dec 1869 - 7 Oct 1936)
  • Joseph Luck Pafford13 (10 Oct 1871 - 3 Aug 1953)
  • John B. Pafford13 (circa 1874 - )
  • Robert G. Pafford13 (circa 1876 - )
  • Lawrence B. Pafford13 (31 Mar 1878 - 4 Sep 1924)
  • Nannie Pafford13 (Nov 1879 - 3 Aug 1884)

Family 2

Eula Maxwell b. May 1867
Children
  • May Ellen Pafford10 (May 1893 - )
  • Frank Pafford11
Last Edited10 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 273. Mitchell Wesley Pafford, 23, sgl, b. & resid WCV, s/o Jesse & Rachel Pafford marr Martha Ann Kelly, 21, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Clairborne & Jane C. Kelly; 6 Dec. 1860.
  2. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : viewed Feb. 2012). M.W. Pafford entry, Cottage Hill Cemetery, Celina, Collin Co., TX (entry includes photo of stone: M.W. Pafford, Born Aug. 7, 1837, Died Oct. 3, 1911).
  3. [S1784] Letter from Samuel Kelly at Glade Springs VA to Redmond Cole, mailed Sept. 1930, "K" Misc. File (folder #54), The Redmond S. and Mary Cole Collection, Family History Library.
  4. [S2729] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : viewed Feb. 2012); Mitchell W. Pafford, private, Co. F., 37th Virginia Infantry.
  5. [S635] N.[sic]W. Pafford household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 71 (stamped), dwelling 250, family 256, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2012. Household includes: N.[sic]W. Pafford, 33, carpenter, owns land worth $1,500, pers. prop. of $200; M.A., 32; W.F., (m), 9; all b. VA.
  6. [S635] Mary Robinson household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 32 (original script), dwelling 258, family 264, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2012. Household includes: Mary Robinson, 50, keeping house, $2520/$350; H.S, 29, male, farmer; M. V. Pafford, 5; R. J., 3, female; Samuel, 1; Martha Widener, 28, housekeeper.
  7. [S3034] History of Texas, Volume III (Chicago and New York: Paddock, Capt. Buckley B, Lewis Publishing Co, 1922), p. 249-50; biographical entry for Walter Fulkerson Pafford.
  8. [S3033] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 30: 103.
  9. [S2983] "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", index, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed Nov. 2012). Entry indexed as M.W. Pafford and Ada E. Maxwell, 5 June 1892, Collin Co., TX. Note: Eula's name may have been misread as Ada or it is possible the "E" stood for Eula. In 1920 Eula and her son Frank were enumerated on the farm in Collin County. James P. Maxwell, identified as Eula's brother (age 50, single) was part of the household.
  10. [S2880] Mitchell Pafford household, 1900 U.S. cens., Collin Co., Texas, pop. sched., Precinct 4, ED 14, sheet 17A (p. 50 stamped), dwelling 314, family 314, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2012. Household includes: Mitchell Pafford, 62, b. Aug 1837, marr 8 yrs, b. VA, farmer, owns farm; Ula L., wife, 33, b. May 1867, marr 8 yrs, mother of 1 child, is living, b. NC; May Ellen, dau, 7, b. May 1893, b. TX.
  11. [S3035] M.W. Pafford household, 1910 U.S. cens., Collin Co., Texas, pop. sched., Precinct 4, ED 19, sheet 19A (p. 42 stamped), dwelling 324, family 324, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2012. Household includes: M.W. Pafford, 72, marr #2, marr 27 yrs [sic], b. VA, farmer, owns farm; Eula L., wife, 43, marr #1, marr 27 yrs, mother of 2 children, both are living; May E., dau, 16, b. TX; Frank, son, 6, b. TX.
  12. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; Mr. Colley cites the Washington Co. death register entry for Amanda E. Pafford: d. 03 Mar 1865, age 2y, fever, d/o M. & Martha Pafford, reported by father.
  13. [S2863] Michell W. Pafford household, 1880 U.S. cens., Collin Co., Texas, pop sched., Justice Precinct No. 4, ED 23, page 59C (p. 182 stamped), dwelling 350, family 352, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2012. Household includes: Mitchell Pafford, 42, farmer, b. VA; Martha A., 41, wife, b. VA; Mary V., 14, dau, b. VA; Rachel J., 12, dau, b. VA; Samuel K., 10, b. VA; Joseph L., 8, son, b. VA; John B., 6, son, b. TX; Robert G., 4, son, b. TX; Lawrence B., 2, son, b. IL; unnamed daughter, 7/12, b. TX.
  14. [S2250] "Texas State Death Certificates", database with digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed Sept. 2011). Samuel Kelly Pafford certificate #48637 (digital image); family information provided by Mrs. Donna Pace (dau) of Celena, TX.