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Henderson County Heritage Website

Noted Henderson Co NC historian Jennie Jones Giles has developed an informative and enjoyable website which is a must for anyone interested in the history of Henderson County.  Jennie was a reporter for the Hendersonville Times News and wrote many articles regarding the history of the county.  One of these was an in-depth study of the cemeteries of Henderson County, both private and church, which is invaluable for all researchers.  She is responsible for bringing awareness of the cemetery conditions and is undoubtedly the reason many were preserved.

Jennie teaches Henderson County history classes at Blue Ridge Community College and conducts field trips to different county communities in conjunction with the classes.  Jennie is an excellent and knowledgable researcher.  Her research has helped clear up several history mistakes with documented fact.

The first semester of the class concentrates on prehistory, native American, Revolutionary War and the geography of the county up to the Civil War.  The second semester picks up with the Civil War, Reconstruction Era, the arrival of rail transportation and telegraph/telephone communication up to present day Henderson County.

The website, http://hendersonheritage.com , includes the following:

History and Heritage – the history of the formation of the county, it’s people, religion, geography and the role of the first settlers in the Revolutionary War,  industry, mining, slavery, tourism and much more.

Historic Cemeteries – A work in progress, this section includes at present Mills River and Mountain Page cemeteries as well the burial sites of Revolutionary War soldiers.  Check back often for new additions

Communities – currently includes Mills River and Mountain Page, more will be added

Unsolved Triple Murder –  In 1966 three people, two of them prominent Hendersonville residents, were viciously murdered.  The crime was never officially solved.  In 2006 Jennie Jones Giles wrote a continuing newspaper articles recounting the crime and follow up investigations.  A fascinating account, anyone connected with Henderson County during that time will find this insightful and thought provoking.

http://hendersonheritage.com

 

 

 

 

Cantrell, John (Civil War)

Cantrell, John  Civil War Pension

ACT JUNE 27,1890

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Pensions

Washington, D.C.,January 15,1898

Sir,

In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this circular to him with replies to the questions below.

FIRST;Are you married?If so please state your wifes full name and her maiden name.

Answer_yes    Ellen Cantrell maiden Mints(sic)

Second : When, where and by whom were you married?

Answer:   In N.C. by Samuel Sentelle, trial justice in year 1873

What record of marriage exists?

Answer:  Living together as man and wife.

Were you previously married?If  so please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.

Answer: Yes  1st wifes name July(Julia)Hamilton married in year 1845 Death occurred in year 1872

Fifth:  Have you any living children?If so please state their names and the date of their birth.

Answer:  Names of children of 1st wife.

Volney C. V. born 1845

Joseph born 1857

Solomon born 1853

Mary A. born 1855

William P. born 1856

 

2nd wife

Susan 1877

Charles 1879

Dovie 1880

Easter 1882

Fait 1884

Calvin 1887

Taylor 1891

Date of reply   May 7 1898                                                               JOHN CANTRELL

Cohabitation records, Buncombe Co (1866)

COHABITATION RECORDS BUNCOMBE COUNTY NC

 

Cohabitation records are post slavery recording of marriages of former slaves and freedmen.  Most of these have not survived.  There are none for Henderson or Transylvania County.  There is a small number in Buncombe.  These are located at NC State Archives in the “Road Docket” for Buncombe, in the back of the book, upside down. The dates are recording dates, not marriage dates.
Austin Smith was married to Frances Williams       June 1863
Sam Jones to Louisa Murphy       22 May 1866
Hardy McDaniel and wife Jane (freedman) married 35 years      25 Apr 1866
Kitt Stepp & Sarah (freedman) married 28 years        28 Ap 1866
Buttler Burgin & Ruth married 15 years     2 June 1866
Robert Gash & Nancy married 36 years     30 Aug 1866