Mahala C. Wolfe1,2

b. 5 May 1817, d. 4 February 1899
FatherMartin Wolfe3
Birth5 May 1817 Mahala C. Wolfe was born on 5 May 1817.2 
Marriage3 Apr 1843 or 6 Apr 1843 She married Samuel Robinson, son of Alexander Robinson and Mary (?), on 3 Apr 1843 or 6 Apr 1843 in Smyth County, Virginia.4,1 
  Samuel's father died in 1844. His will, written that May, left the land in Virginia, on which the family lived, to Samuel and his brothers William and James. The men were not to divide the land until after their mother's death. 
Land-Buy19 Nov 1845  The following year, in November 1845, William sold his interest to Samuel and James. The deed described the land as 178 acres known as the Todd Place. It sat on the south side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River.5 
Cens-18606 Aug 1860  Judging by the 1860 census in which Samuel and Mahala were enumerated as immediate neighbors to James and his family, as well as to the men's mother, it appears they all resided on the "Todd Place" land. Their neighbors included other families, such as the Kellys whose property bordered the Todd lands for many years. Samuel's 1860 household included 32 year old Samuel, and Mahala (34), Rachel (16), Mary (14), James (12), William (10), Susan (8), Sampson (6) and Marian (3).6 
Widowed5 Jan 1862  Samuel enlisted in the Confederate Army in the Fall of 1861. However he became ill and died the following January. 
  The couple's daughter Mary died in the fall of 1865. Mahala's mother-in-law, Mary Robinson, died in late 1865 as well. 
Court RecordAug 1866  With the elder Mary Robinson's death, Samuel's father's land was free to be divided between Samuel's brother James and Samuel's children. Since Samuel was deceased his children required legal representation to inherit their half of the approximately 178 acres. This was accomplished by James Robinson filing a suit in Washington Co. Chancery Court in Aug. 1866. The children were appointed guardians to represent their interest and Commissioners were appointed to evaluate the land and make a division. When deeds were recorded in 1868 Samuel's heirs received 78 acres and James Robinson received 88 acres. The northern boundary of the children's share fronted on the south side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River. Mahala held a dower right to the property during her lifetime.7 
Cens-187023 Sep 1870  Two years later Mahala and her brother-in-law James Robinson were again enumerated as neighbors. Both indicated they owned land worth $800.8 
Cens-188012 Jun 1880  By 1880 only Mahala's youngest daughter Marion [Mariam?] still lived at home. Oddly she was enumerated as Mary. A., the name of her younger sister who died in 1865. The enumerator must have heard "Marian" and assumed the name was Mary Ann.9 
  Mahala's youngest son Sampson and his wife Paulina were Mahala's immediate neighbors. It would be reasonable to assume that Sampson, who was a farmer, was tending the land on which Mahala was living. Mahala's daughter Susan and her husband Moses McKee also lived close by. Although Mahala held a dower interest in the land from the time of Samuel's death, the land belonged to her children.10,11 
Death4 Feb 1899 Mahala died on 4 Feb 1899 at age 81.2 
Burial She was buried at Friendship Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 

Family

Samuel Robinson b. abt 1819, d. 5 Jan 1862
Children
  • Rachel E. Robinson12 (circa 1844 - )
  • Mary A. Robinson13 (2 Sep 1845 - 12 Oct 1865)
  • James M. Robinson12 (circa 1848 - )
  • William E. Robinson12 (circa 1849 - )
  • Susan Emeline Robinson12 (6 Feb 1853 - 19 Sep 1908)
  • Sampson H. Robinson12 (14 Jul 1855 - )
  • Marian Robinson12 (circa 1859 - )
Last Edited5 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S45] John Vogt and William Kethley Jr., Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1832-50, p. 38. Samuel Robinson & Mahala Wolfe; 3 Apr 1843.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 202. Stone reported to read: Mahala C. Robinson, 5 May 1817-4 Feb. 1899.
  3. [S2902] Smyth Co., Virginia Deed Book 8: pp 40-41. Deed dated 17 Oct. 1859 from Rachel Wolfe, Edward Hutton and Elizabeth, his wife, Nathaniel W. Jines [Jones], and Dicey I., his wife, Samuel Robinson, and Mahala, his wife, James H. Snider, and Sarah C., his wife, Drury S. Bishop, and Ruth C., his wife, Caleb Sherwood, and Susan E., his wife, Silas H. Wolfe, and Elizabeth, his wife, James D. Wolfe, and Mary A., his wife, Sampson H. Wolfe to Martin R. Wolfe, all their interest in 75 acres on the waters of the Middle Fork of the Holston River in Smyth Co., VA conveyed to Martin Wolfe by Harvey DeBord 21 Sept. 1841.
  4. [S917] State of Virginia, "Confederate Pension Rolls, Veterans and Widows", digital images with index, The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us). Mahala Robinson application, dated 26 Apr 1888. Mahala reported her marriage date as Apr. 6, 1843.
  5. [S3056] "Deed dated 18 Nov. 1845 between William and S. Elizabeth Robinson and James Robinson and Samuel Robinson of the other part", James Robinson vs heirs of Samuel Robinson, Washington Co., Virginia Ended Chancery Causes 1869-15, reel 117, Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia. William sold his 1/3 interest in the land devised to he and his brothers James and Samuel in the will of their father, Alexander Robinson. The land was described as 178 acres known as the Todd Place on the south side of the Middle Fork of the Holston River. The deed also noticed that Alexander Robinson had purchased the land from Maj. John Jameson.
  6. [S234] Samuel Robertson household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 163 (original script), dwelling 1219, family 1169, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2013. Household includes: Samuel Robertson [sic], 32, farmer, owns land worth $500; Mahala 34; Rachel, 16; Mary 14; James 12; William, 10; Susan, 8; Sampson, 6; Marian, 3 all b. VA.
  7. [S3056] "Decree dated 6 Sept. 1867", James Robinson vs heirs of Samuel Robinson, Washington Co., Virginia Ended Chancery Causes 1869-15, reel 117, Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia.
  8. [S635] Mahala Robinson household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 16 (original script), dwelling 143, family 149, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2013. Household includes: Mahala Robinson, 53, owns land worth $800 and personal prop of $300; R.E. (f), 25; Emeline, 17; William 20; Samson, 15; Miriam, 11; all b. VA.
  9. [S163] Mahala Robinson household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 100, p. 23C (p. 252 stamped), dwelling 194, family 194. Feb. 2012. Household includes: Mahala Robinson, 64, b. VA/VA/VA; Mary A., 22, dau, b. VA/VA/VA.
  10. [S163] S.H. Robinson household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 100, p. 23C (p. 252 stamped), dwelling 195, family 195. Feb. 2012. Household includes: S.H. Robinson, 24, farmer, b. VA/VA/VA; Paulina, 25, wife, b. VA/VA/VA.
  11. [S163] Moses S. McKee household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 10, p. 22B, dwelling 188, family 188. March 2012. Enumeration includes: Moses S. McKee, 29, farmer; Susan, 27, wife; Ollie, 6, dau; Mary, 5, dau; Elizabeth, 3, dau; Minnie, 1, dau; all b. VA/VA/VA.
  12. [S3056] "Summons", James Robinson vs heirs of Samuel Robinson, Washington Co., Virginia Ended Chancery Causes 1869-15, reel 117, Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia. The summons, issued 25 July 1886 by the Washington Co. Court, named Rachel, James M., William, Emiline, Sampson and Marian Robinson as well as James Crow, guardian ad litem for the last 4 named children.
  13. [S367] Samuel Robertson household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., District 67, p. 139 (stamped), dwelling 1032, family 1032, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2013. Household includes: Samuel Robertson [sic], 31, farmer; Mahala 32; Rachel E. 6; Mary A. 4; James M. 2; William A. 8/12; all b. VA.