Source
Source for: Mary Elizabeth Mattix, 13 Apr 1837 -
Index
General Source: S721Page: p. 19
Text: ...In 1966, Mrs. Clifford Smith Calvert of Jonesboro, a schoolteacher herself, wrote in a letter to me: "I recalled hearing my grandmother, who was born Mary Mattix in 1837, say that her first schoolteacher was Mr. Jesse Thorn. Grandma Nisbitt (Mary Mattix) said they lived on Maumelle Prairie and that Mr. Thorn was her first teacher. She said that at that time children all studied out loud and that you could hear the hum of their voices away down the road from the house." This kind of school was called a blab school. With memory drill the prevalent educational theory, Teachers felt that if a student studied aloud, the student learned effectively.
Note that Mrs. Calvert mentioned the school being on Maumelle Prairie. The Goodspeed article did not mention an exact location or year. It was Harry Lee Williams who gave the year of 1850 in "Maumelle Township" (page 254). Charles A. Stuck in The Story of Craighead County stated that the school was "on Maumelle Prairie, about 4 miles south of Oldtown (present-day Lake City" (sic)) (page 210. Maumelle Prairie, in the East Bottoms, is roughly between the St. Francis River and the Big Bay Slough but not reaching the slough. Today the area does not seem recognizable from the once wooded terrain around it. Lloyd McCracken in his book, Early Craighead County Schools, feels that the location of the Thorn School was very near the much later Maumelle Prairie School in School District No. 28, organized in 1881, also called Prairie School until its consolidation with Lake City Schools in 1948.
Date: Oct 2004
General Source: S714Page: Vol. 3, No. 3
Text: ...Edward Mattix II married Charity Robertson and moved to Crowley about the time several of their neighbors did. Charley Robertson (Charirity's brother) had married Peggy Crowley, Captain Benjamin Crowleys (sic) daughter. Abraham Pevehouse married Peggy's sister Polly. . .Some time after this, (1830 census) Edward II came to Crowley and built the house we now wish to have preserved for future generations to see. He also built a stockage and cabins for his slaves. My great grandmother Mary (Mattix) Nesbitt was born in this house on April 13, 1837. She was the first white girl to be born on Crowleys Ridge. Also William Pevehouse was the first white boy born there. In 1839 or 1840, Edward Mattix sold this house to Wiley Crowley. After the death of Wiley Crowley his widow married Dr. melon, who is credited with making various improvements in the house. It breaks my heart to see how it has deteriorated the last few years, as can be seen by the picture on the first Greene County Historical Mgazine and on a recently published issue.
Date: 1967
Source
Source for: Daniel Howell, ABT 1660 - 28 Sep 1739
Index
General Source: S414Page: p. 144-145.
Note: The deed was not recorded until 1st June, 1775, when Francis Mason, one of the subscribing witnesses, made oath to its execution by Daniel Howell, before Hugh Hughes, one of the judges of the court of common please of Sussex county, New Jersey. (Sussex County Deeds, A, 174-7.)
Text: 2. Daniel Howell2 (Thomas 1) was born in England about 1660, and died in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, September, 1739. He came with his father to America, in the "Welcome" in 1682, and settled on the plantation given to him by his father, situated on Cooper's creek, Gloucester (now Camden) county, New Jersey. This estate, called "Livewell," and containing two hundred and fifty acres, he sold unto his brother Mordecai Howell in 1687. His landed interests were large and valuable. As the eldest son and heir-at-law he inherited the proprietary interest of his father in West New Jersey, portions of which interest he disposed of in his life time to various persons. In 1690 he removed to Philadelphia, where he served on the grand jury in 1701. The fact of such removal is shown in a deed of 29 September, 1690, in which he is styled as "of Philadelphia, son and heir of Thomas Howell of Gloucester County, deceased." Later he removed to Solebury Township, Bucks County, and there resided until his death. By deed of 10 June, 1734, he conveyed unto his granddaughter Elizabeth Howell two hundred acres of his proprietary rights in New Jersey. A portion of this deed, by reason of its value in establishing the connection with the Howells of Amwell, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, is here given:
"This Indenture Made the tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty four Between Daniel Howell of the County of Bucks in Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, of the one part, and Elizabeth Howell eldest daughter of Daniel Howell, late of the township of Amwell in the County of Hunterdon and western Division of the Province of New Jersey yeo : dec'd of the part Witnesseth that the said Daniel Howell as well for and in Consideratin of the natural love and affection which he hath and beareth towards the said Elizabeth Howell his Grand Daughter as also for the sum of..."
Page: p. 145.
Note: The will was proved 28 Sep 1739 by Daniel Howell and Edward Milnor, and recorded in Bucks County, Will Book I, 270-2.
Text: "In the Name of God Amen the fourteenth day of April Anno Dom : One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty nine. I Daniel Howell of Solebury County of Bucks and province of Pennsylvania yeoman being sick in body but of good and perfect Memory...
"Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my son Benjamin Howell five shillings to be paid by my Executors after my decease
"Item I give and bequeath unto William Rittenhuysen of Amwell and Joseph Howell of Bethlehem County of Hunterdon and Western Division of the Province of New Jersey yeomen All my Estate both real and personal in every ways belonging unto me excepting an eight part of a propritary Right belonging unto and purchased by my father Thomas Howell I will that the said Joseph Howell have it.
"Lastly I nominate & appoint the above sd William Rittenhousen an(d) the above sd Joseph Howell to be executors of this my Last will & Testament... Daniel Howell. Witnessed by Daniel Howell, Edward Milnor, and Chris Search.