Margaret Montgomery Edmiston1

b. 7 March 1804, d. circa 1866
FatherThomas Edmiston2,3,1 b. 4 Aug 1773, d. 25 Oct 1822
MotherMargaret Buchanan2 b. 29 Dec 1778, d. 19 Feb 1853
Birth7 Mar 1804 Margaret Montgomery Edmiston was born on 7 Mar 1804 in Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia.4,5 
Name Other  At the time of Margaret's birth and marriage, the family surname was spelled Edmiston. By the mid 1800s most members of the family used Edmondson. 
Devisee19 Nov 1822 Margaret's father died in 1822, leaving her a tract of land known as the Mitchell tract. She also received Negroes named David and Polly, a horse and saddle, 3 cows, two beds and necessary furniture.1 
Ward21 Sep 1824  Two years later, probably to facilitate the distribution of their father's estate (and because Margaret was not of legal age to marry), she and her younger sisters were appointed wards of their 22 year old brother Robert.3 
Marriage28 Sep 1824 Margaret and Jeremiah Caleb Gardner, son of Caleb Boudish Gardner and Elizabeth Graham, were married by Rev. Alexander McEwan on 28 Sep 1824 in Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia.6,7 
28 Sep 1824 She was 20 and he was 24. 
  Jeremiah and Margaret probably started their married life on the land left to Margaret in her father's will. It sat northwest of present day Glade Spring at the foot of the south side of Walker Mountain.1 
Cens-18301830  Jeremiah's 1830 census indicates a household consisting of 2 men aged 30-39, 1 female 20-29, 3 children under 5 and 1 male age 10-14. Since Jeremiah and Margaret married in 1824 the teenaged male was not their child. The second adult male was probably Jeremiah's brother Clark Gardner.8 
Land-Buy27 Aug 1831  On June 18th, 1830 Jeremiah successfully bid on a tract of land that had belonged to Christina Weir, and Dudley and Mary Piper. It sat northwest of present day Emory and Henry College and due west of Margaret's brother Robert Edmondson.9 
  Jeremiah was not listed on the Washington Co. personal property tax rolls for 1832 or 1833. 
Land-SellJan 1834  The family was probably living in adjacent Smyth County as Jeremiah was noted to be "of Smyth County, Virginia" in Jan. 1834 when Richard Williams paid Jeremiah $650 for the 148 acres in Washington Co. devised to Margaret in her father's will.10 
  When the family returned to Washington Co. they appear to have settled on a large tract of land that fronted the old Stage Road immediately west of the present day community of Cedarville. Cedar Creek snaked across the eastern boundary of the property. Jeremiah may have provided horses for the travelers who used the road, as his personal property tax entries during these years show him with a large number of horses (33 in 1836, 29 in 1837). He also owned a barouche [a fashionable horse drawn carriage used primarily for leisure]. In 1838 Jeremiah held a license for an "ordinary or house of private entertainment" [a tavern providing food and overnight lodging for travelers]. Many land holders along the old Stage or "Great" Rd. used their homes in this manner from time to time.11 
Land-Buy4 Jun 1839  In 1839 Jeremiah acquired additional land including 261 acres on the south side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River which he purchased from William Gilmore of Russell County. For reasons lost to history Jeremiah bought the land on June 4, 1839 and sold it 7 weeks (20 Jul 1839) later to Moore Robinson for $1,275 (the purchase price was not recorded when Jeremiah bought the land).12,13 
Land-Buy5 Aug 1839  In Aug. 1839 Jeremiah purchased 5 tracts of land which had originally belonged to John Goode. The land (over 600 acres in all) sat on the north side of Walker's Mountain in the vicinity of what was then known as Wallace/Wallis Creek.

Jeremiah held this land until Feb. 18, 1847 when he sold 200 acres to William Maiden and 440 acres to John Maiden. The Creek is known today as Maiden Creek.14,15,16,17 [I do not know if Jeremiah and his family ever lived on this land] 
Land-Buy15 Jan 1842  On Jan. 15, 1842 Jeremiah formally purchased the land on the Great Rd. at Cedar Creek on which he appears to have been living for some time. Archibald and Ann Meek of Wythe Co. sold Jeremiah the 219 acres for $3,285. Interestingly, Jeremiah had executed a deed selling 37.5 acres from the west end of the tract to George Winniford in June 1840 for $750. That deed described the parcel as part of the land sold and conveyed by Meek to Gardner, suggesting Jeremiah and the Meeks had an unrecorded agreement that predated the 1842 deed.18,19 
Land-Sell8 Jul 1846  Jeremiah and Margaret sold additional acreage [135 acres] on the south side of the stage road to John Gibson on 8 Jul 1846 for $2,500.20,21 
Cens-185023 Aug 1850  Following these land sales, Jeremiah and Margaret spent a few years in Smyth County. There they were enumerated in the summer of 1850 when the first census to record all members of a household by name was taken. The family included: Jeremiah (50), Margaret (42) with Mary E. (24), Thomas (22), Margaret (20), Sallie (18), Susan (16), Caleb (14), India (11), Virginia (9) and Jeremiah (4) [Walter?].22 
Land-SellOct 1854  The Smyth County deed books contain no reference to Jeremiah and Margaret buying or selling land in the county, but they were indicated as "of Smyth County" as late as October 1854 when they sold the 176 acres in Washington County known as the Piper Place to Margaret's brother Robert Edmondson (see "Land-Buy 1831 above).23 
Migration  Sometime after this sale, probably in late 1854 or early 1855, Margaret and Jeremiah, along with their 6 youngest children, left Virginia and migrated to Texas, The couple were both in their early to mid-50s.24,25 
  They settled first in Lamar County, Texas, in the northeast part of the state. Jeremiah appears on the tax assesment lists for Lamar Co. in 1855 and 1856 during which years he owned 4 Negroes and 7 or 8 horses. The couple's daughter Sallie married Alexander McCamant in Lamar Co. in Dec. 1855.26,27 
  Jeremiah's first step towards land acquisition in Texas came in March 1857 when he purchased the unused balance of a 640 acre Texas land grant certificate from James McCamant [brother to Alexander] for $120. The certificate had originally been granted to Robert McGahee. Jeremiah used the certificate to acquire 240 acres northeast of Greenville in Hunt County for which the General Land Office issued a patent in Dec. 1857. Jeremiah did not own the land long but apparently sold it to Alexander McCamant who then sold it to E. Head for $480 in March 1858. On April 3, 1860 Jeremiah acquired a second land grant certificate, this one having been originally granted to one Francis Leonard for 640 acres.28,29,30,31 
Cens-186025 Jul 1860  The 1860 census for Hunt County enumerated Jeremiah and Margaret (with Susan, "Gray", Virginia and Walter) in a residence shared with Sarah and Alexander McCamant (and children Margaret and William). Jeremiah reported that he owned land valued at $3,000. Alexander owned land worth $1,000.32,33 
  The Gardner and McCamant famiies were closely intertwined as Jeremiah and Margaret's daughter India married John McCamant in 1858, and their daughter Susan married William McCamant in 1861. The men were brothers to Alexander McCamant, hence 3 brothers married 3 sisters. 
  Jeremiah executed several interesting deeds during his years in Hunt County. On Feb. 1, 1860 he executed a deed to Margaret selling her 4 Negros, 30 head of cattle, horses, a wagon and a buggy, and various household items for $5,000. Then, in Feb. 1861 he sold Margaret 2 tracts of land and additional farm animals for $15.34,35 
LandApr 1861  To further confuse the issue, J.D. and India McCamant sold Margaret Gardner land in the town of Greenville on April 13, 1861 for $2,000. However Jeremiah and Margaret sold it back to India McCamant 9 days later for the same amount.36  
  By the mid 1860s Jeremiah and Margaret lived further southwest in Tarrant County. Two family weddings took place in the county: Virginia Gardner married Henry Johnson on 14 Nov. 1865 and Caleb Gardner married Olivia Smith on 24 May 1866. Although no record has been found to-date, tradition states that Margaret died in Tarrant County around 1866. 
Deathcirca 1866 Margaret probably died circa 1866, possibly in Tarrant County, Texas.37 
  Margaret's date of death and burial location are not known. An article in Somervell History and Families (published 2001) states Margaret and Jeremiah both died in 1866 in Hood County. The information is not sourced. Voter registration records created by Hood County document that Jeremiah was alive as of Nov. 1869 and had only lived in the county 1 year, suggesting at least the year of death for Jeremiah, and the location of death for Margaret as provided in the book, were not accurate.

Mr. Robert Gardner, who has researched the Gardner and McCamant families for many years believes Margaret died in 1865 or 1866, possibly in Tarrant County. Many years ago he was told Margaret was buried on a branch of the Trinity River near Ft. Worth, but that her grave had never been found.38,37 
Find Lamar County on the Texas map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page). It appears to have been Jeremiah and Gardner's first home in Texas.
By 1860 they were in Hunt County which you can also locate on the map. Also look for Tarrant County and Hood County.

Family

Jeremiah Caleb Gardner b. 1 Nov 1799, d. abt 1872
Children
Last Edited13 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S858] Thomas Edmiston will (recorded 1822), Washington Co., VA Will Book 5: 70. The will was dated 23 Oct. 1822 and recorded on the 19th of November. Witnesses were Samuel Logan, Nickerson Snead and Samuel Dunn; Andrew Edmiston and Robert Buchanan took the oath of executors with a bond in the amount of $20,000.
  2. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 8.
  3. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 20. Robert B. Edmiston named guardian of Jane B.R., Elizabeth Edmiston and Margaret M. Edmiston, orphans of Thomas Edmiston, deceased. Bond $6,000. Sureties: Mathew Ryburn, Beatie Ryburn, and James Clark.
  4. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The Bible included a page with family information apparently copied from other sources. The entries include: "Margaret Montgomery Edmondson March 7, 1804 Washington Co., Virginia." [the 7 is not clear and might also be interpreted as a "1" or a "9"]
  5. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 373.
  6. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 24. Jeremiah C. Gardner & Margaret M. Edmiston; 28 Sept 1824, minister: Alexander McEwen.
  7. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. Entry on family data page titled "Marriages": Jeremiah Caleb Gardner & Margaret Montgomery Edmondson was married September 28, 1824 Glade Spring, Washington Co.
  8. [S578] Jeramiah C. Gardner household, 1830 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 247, line 4, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2012. Household includes: 1 male under 5; 1 male 10-14; 2 males 30-39; 2 females under 5; 1 female 20-29; 6 slaves; 1 free colored person.
  9. [S2153] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 11, 1831-1834, abstracting page 133 in Deed Book 11.
  10. [S2153] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 11, 1831-1834, abstracting page 434 in Deed Book 11.
  11. [S2723] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1831-1840.
  12. [S2136] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 14: 125-6. Deed, 20 Jul 1839 between Jeremiah C. Gardner & Margaret, wife, WCV, to Moore Robinson, WCV, for $1,200, sell 261 acres, part of a tract conveyed by Samuel Edmondson's heirs to William Gilmore 120 acres of which is called the Hagerty tract, the other part the old Sam'l Edmondson tract.
  13. [S2136] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 14: 203-4. Deed, 4 Jun 1839 between William Gilmore of Russell Co., VA to Jeremiah C. Gardner, WCV, (purchase price blank), sell 261 acres, part of a tract conveyed by to William Gilmore by Samuel Edmondson 120 acres of which is called the Hagerty tract. The deed was recorded 23 June 1840.
  14. [S1043] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 14: 39-40. Deed dated 5 Aug. 1839, John Good & Margaret, wife, executed deed of trust 21 June 1838 to Charles Gibson who on 25 Feb. 1839 sold the following lands to Jeremiah Gardner: 2 tracts (90 and 138 acres) Goode purchased from John Apperson on Wallis' Branch; 182 acres (adjacent to the previous 138 acres) sold to Goode by William & Sally Harley; 200 acres on the south side of the North Fork of the Holston River sold to Goode by Wm Harley and wife; 5 acres granted to Goode by VA.
  15. [S3022] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 18, 1846-1848, abstracting page 167 in Deed Book 18: 11 Jan. 1847 John Gibson, father & heir of Charles Gibson to Jeremiah Gardner. Charles Gibson died leaving an infant son John as his heir who also died leaving Charles' father, John Gibson, holding legal title to the 5 tracts of land Charles Gibson sold to Jeremiah Gardner on 25 Feb. 1839 (same 5 tracts John Goode sold to Gibson in trust on 21 June, 1838). John Gibson therefore for $2,963 to Charles Gibson and his executors paid and for an additional $1 grants title to 5 tracts to Gardner; deed recorded 13 Jan. 1847.
  16. [S1986] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 18: 365. 18 Feb. 1847, Jeremiah and Margaret Gardner to William Maiden, 200 acres cor John Maiden (purchase price blank); recorded 1 Nov. 1847.
  17. [S1986] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 18: 366. 18 Feb. 1847, Jeremiah and Margaret Gardner to John Maiden, 3 tracts on Wallis Branch, a south branch of the North Fork of the Holston River, 228, 207 and 5 acres, for $2,300; recorded 12 Jan. 1848.
  18. [S1048] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 15: 253. Research of Bob Ford: 15 Jan 1842 Archibald Meek & Ann, wife, Wythe Co., VA to Jeremiah Gardner, WCV for $3,285, 219 acres on Cedar Creek (corner calls reference: edge of Cedar Creek, main road, top of ridge, etc.); deed recorded 17 Jan. 1842.
  19. [S2136] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 14: 259-60. Deed dated 22 Jun 1840 and recorded 23 Jun 1840 between Jeremiah Gardner and George Winniford, for $750, abt 37.5 acres on both sides of the Great Rd. being part of a tract sold and conveyed by Archibald Meek to said Gardner... piece of land being part of the tract sold but not conveyed to said Winniford because the purchase money is not paid, it is to be understood that the balance of said tract not conveyed is to be held subject to Gardner's lien for whatever balance of the purchase money remain due. But it is hereby expressly understood that the above described piece is exempt from all lien for any balance of the purchase money yet due.
  20. [S1986] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 18: 20. Deed from Jeremiah and Margaret Gardner to John Gibson; both "of Washington County."
  21. [S16] Also see Washington Co. VA DB 20: 102. 1 Sept. 1850 John D. Gibson and Jane Ann, his wife to Joseph W. Davis & Ephraime E. Wiley for $4,000, 135 acres on south side Main Rd; also WCV DB 21: 293 28 Feb. 1853 Joseph W. & Lucy Davis to Jesse J. James for $5,000, 135 acres known as Cedarville; also WCV DB 21: 428 2 Jul 1853 Jesse J. & Sarah M. James of Hamilton Co., TN to James Orr for $4,000, 135 acres lying on Cedar Creek.
  22. [S465] Jeremiah C. Gardner household, 1850 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sched., District 60, p. 199 stamped (following), dwelling 573, family 580, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 88 of 169. Enumeration reads: Jeremiah C. Gardner, 50, b. NY, farmer; Margaret, 42; Mary E., 24; Thomas E. 22; Margaret J., 20; Sallie L., 18; Susan W., 16; Caleb G., 14; India C., 11; Virginia, 9; Jeremiah W., 4; all b. VA.
  23. [S1987] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 22: 207. Oct. __ [blank] 1854: Jeremiah C. Gardner & Margaret, wife, of Smyth Co. VA to Robert B. Edmondson of Washington Co., VA, 176 acres in WCV known as the Piper Place for $275; recorded 21 Oct. 1854.
  24. [S1655] "Deposition of C.G. Gardener", Walter C. Gardner - Texas Confederate soldier's pension application no. 17837, Texas State Archives, Austin, Texas. The deposition states that he [Caleb] knew [Walter] as an infant in Virginia and in Texas since he was about 8 years old. [Walter was born in 1846, which suggests the family could have moved to Texas as early as 1852 although Washington County deed records suggest it was a few years later]
  25. [S3036] Texas Voter Registration Lists, Hood County 1867-1869, digital image (www.ancestry.com: Nov. 2012). J.C. Gardner entry: registered 17 Nov. 1869, resident precinct 1, TX resident 15 years, Hood Co. resident 1 year.
  26. [S3051] Lamar Co. Texas Marriage Records 1842-1858: 163, microfilm no. 1,293,614, Family History Library. A.S. McCamant and Sallie Gardner married 19 Dec. 1855 by W.A. Provine, a Minister of the Gospel.
  27. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address ; Mr. Gardner cites the Tax Assessment Rolls for Lamar Co., TX for the years 1855 and 1856. Jeremiah was no taxed on land during those years, but was taxed for personal property owned.
  28. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address ; Mr. Gardner cites Marriage records of Lamar Co., TX.
  29. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address ; Mr. Gardner cites records of the Texas General Land Office which provide the following information for land grant Fannin 2nd District file 515, certificate 27 issued to Grantee Robert McGehee for 630 [640] acres on 2 Aug. 1841. McGahee assigned the certificate to H. Husband for $120 on 10 Oct. 1856. Husband sold it to James McCamant for $120 on 25 Feb. 1857. J. M. McCamant sold the right to 240 acres to Jeremiah C. Gardner on 18 March 1857.
  30. [S3044] "Land Grant Search", database, Texas General Land Office (http://www.glo.texas.gov/cf/land-grant-search/index.cfm : accessed Dec. 2012), entry for Robert McGahee grantee: Fannin 2nd District, file 515, certificate 27; patentee: Jeremiah C. Gardner, 240 acres patented 16 Dec. 1857, abstract #662, Vol. 3, patent #1022.
  31. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address ; Mr. Gardner cites records of the Texas General Land Office which provide the following information for land grant Milam Donation District file 576 which in 1854 granted Francis Leonard the right to 640 acres based on his participation in the "storming of Bexar". Leonard assigned the certificate to Robert Taylor (1865) who assigned it to Harmond Husband (1859). Husband assigned certificate 576 to Jeremiah Gardner on 3 April 1860. Gardner patented two tracts under this certificate (96.4 acres in Fannin Co. surveyed 17 April 1861, and 118 acres in Hunt Co. surveyed in Jul 1861). The remaining land credit of 425.6 acres was assigned to a new certificate #16/355 which Gardner used to claim two tracts in Hood Co. Both tracts are part of file #1476. The larger tract, for 279.6 acres was recorded in Vol. 3 as patent #542, abstract 329. The smaller tract, for 146 acres, was recorded in Vol. 3 as patent 543, abstract 330. These two patents were formally issued on 3 Jan. 1874. [by which time Jeremiah was deceased]
  32. [S1551] Jerima C. Gardner household, 1860 U.S. census, Hunt Co., Texas, pop. sched., Beat 4, p. 315 stamped (next page after), dwelling 354, family 354, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 28 of 35. Enumeration includes: Jerima C. Gardner, 60, b. NY, farmer, owns land val $3,000; Margaret, 58; Suasun [sic], 24; Gray, 21, farmer, owns land val at $80; Virginia, 17, Walter, 14; all b. VA.
  33. [S1551] Alexander S. McCamant household, 1860 U.S. census, Hunt Co., Texas, pop. sched., Beat 4, p. 315 stamped (next page after), dwelling 354, family 353, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 28 of 35. Enumeration includes: Alexander S. McCamant, 31, b. VA, farmer, owns real estate $1,000, pers. prop $1,000; Sarah, 26, b. VA; Margaret, 3, b. TX; William E., 2. b. TX.
  34. [S3199] Hunt Co., Texas Deed Book G: 562.
  35. [S3198] Hunt Co., Texas Deed Book H: 286-7.
  36. [S3198] Hunt Co., Texas Deed Book H: 373-374.
  37. [S2941] Robert Gardner, "Misc. Notes," e-mail to D. Powell, 17 Nov. 2012.
  38. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 373. This source states that Margaret and Jeremiah died in 1866 at Acton in Hood County, TX.
  39. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. Birth data for Caleb Boudish Gardner and Elizabeth Graham, as well as for Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmondson was recorded in the 1859 Lansdown-Gardner Bible. A list of children followed under the title: "Children and grandchildren of the above". The list included (surname Gardner): Mary Elizabeth Graham, Thomas Edmondson, Margaret Jane Buchanan, Sallie Lizalier Lucinda Beach, Susan Wells Sanders, Caleb Graham, India Campbell, Hattie Virginia Montgomery and Jeremiah Walter Clark.