Wabash Valley Tapscotts - A Brick Wall Demolished

Remember Wesley Tabscott/Tapscott? He was that illiterate fellow who lived in Clark County, Illinois, the last half of the 19th century and whose origins were completely unknown (postings 6/7/2015 and 8/6/2015). We knew his birth date and place, death date and place, military record, land holdings, varied name spellings, all sorts of things. Most everything, in fact, except who his parents were. Was he an unknown child of Henry Tapscott, the Traveler, who founded the Wabash Valley Tapscotts? Or a child of Henry's father, William the Preacher? Or perhaps a descendant of William's second cousin Raleigh Tapscott, who lived in Kentucky near William, a descendant who tagged along with Henry when he traveled to Clark County. Perhaps he was really James W. Tapscott, a son of Henry about whom we knew little, though this seemed highly unlikely. James was believed to be literate. Or perhaps he was was not a Tapscott at all, a product of an NPE, non-paternal event - a name change, an illegitimate birth, an adoption. But the brick wall remained ... until Wed 27 Dec 2017, at precisely 2 PM, when it fell with a resounding crash.

At that date and time, while visiting my son, Michael, in Phoenix, and looking through copies of old Clark County deeds, I saw something surprising. On 19 Feb 1877 for $600 Wesley Tapscott had purchased Lots 2, 3, 8, 9, Block 19, in the town of Auburn (today, Clark Center). A few months shy of three years later, on 2 Dec 1879, those exact lots at that same price were sold to a Susan Tapscott (presumably James's mother) by James W. Tapscott, son of Henry the Traveler and Susan (Bass) Tapscott. Between the two sales dates, no record is found showing the sale of land by Wesley to James. Moreover, the latter deed of sale was signed with a mark. Like Wesley, James was illiterate! Suddenly, everything fell into place. James W. Tapscott and Wesley Tabscott were one and the same, presumably James Wesley Tapscott.

The 1850 and 1870 Clark County, Illinois, censuses showed the name “James W.” or just "James," because that is how his family knew him and he was living with his mother and father (Henry and Susan Tapscott) at the time. The name “James W. Tapscott” was entered for his mark in the deed of sale to Susan Tapscott because the justice of the peace acknowledging the signature was James’s brother William Tapscott, who, like the rest of his immediate family, used that name. The occupation “at home” shown for James in the 1870 census is that which was often shown in censuses for nonworking invalids or near-invalids, as Wesley certainly was. Early records, 1852 and 1853 Federal land purchase documents, show the name "James W.," but he became "Wesley" in the military and continued using his middle name throughout his life. At last, the mystery of Wesley is solved. And from knowing little of James W. Tapscott, we now know a lot.

Wesley's War

Tapscotts played minor roles in the Civil War. Among those with Tapscott surnames, more fought for the Confederacy than for the Union, and among the Wabash Valley Tapscotts, only Wesley “Tabscott” (see posts of 7 Jun 2015, 6 Aug 2015), a private in the Union Army, saw active service. Enlisting for two terms with Indiana regiments, Wesley served in northern Alabama, where he could have battled his relatives. The Alabama Tapscotts (post 16 Jun 2015), were, of course, Confederates.

Ruins of Nashville & Chattanooga RR bridge and construction of  temporary
pontoon bridge, 1864 (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Online Catalog).

Wesley first joined the 133rd Indiana Infantry, Co. E, mustering in at Terre Haute on 17 May 1864. His regiment was sent to Bridgeport, Alabama, where they were charged with guarding the railroad bridge across the Tennessee River. After 100 days’ service, the regiment mustered out 5 Sep 1864.

The following year Wesley joined the 149th Indiana Infantry, Co. H, mustering in 2 Mar 1865, again in Terre Haute. The regiment was sent to Decatur, Alabama, a strategic site at the junction of two railroads. Just a month later, on 9 Apr 1865, Lee surrendered at Appomattox, signaling the beginning of the end of the War. While serving in Decatur in June 1865, Wesley was taken ill and was hospitalized at Huntsville, Alabama, where he was discharged 11 Jun 1865. He was among the lucky ones. Forty-three soldiers of the 149^th died of disease. (Another twenty-seven deserted).

During our recent steamboat trip, Mary Frances and I traveled on the Tennessee River, docking at Decatur and passing by Bridgeport.

All genealogical data reported in these posts are from primary and/or reputable secondary sources, or reliable transcriptions thereof, and never from unsourced online trees. Contact the author to request sources, which have been omitted here to improve readability. Permission is granted to use any posted material for any purpose as long as the source is cited: Robert E. Tapscott, title of posting, Tapscott Family History, Blogspot.com, date of posting.

Wesley's Wall

The blog of 7 Jun 2015 promised that investigation of the mysterious Wesley Tapscott would continue during our June trip to Missouri and Illinois, in hopes of demolishing or at least fracturing the “brick wall” separating us from knowledge of Wesley’s parentage. Here are the new things found (with just a little repetition for continuity).

On 29 Nov 1889 Wesley purchased 20 acres of land in Anderson Twp from Clark H. Hammond and his wife, Roxana, for $100, an amount higher than what Wesley would be expected to have had. A plat map shows that by 1892, Wesley had acquired an adjacent 20 acres from an unknown source. Most of Wesley Tapscott’s 40 acres was considerably flatter than the neighboring 80 acres owned by Henry the Traveler’s oldest son William Tapscott (my great grandfather). Cut through by the Auburn Branch of Mill Creek, William’s farm was an assembly of ravines with scarcely any cultivatable land. Wesley had acquired some acceptable farm land. But he was probably too sick to make much use of it.

 

Tapscott lands in Anderson and Auburn Townships. Mill Creek Reservoir is a modern addition.

On 16 Aug 1893, sensing the end, Wesley wrote his last will and testimony:

   I Wesley Tapscott of Anderson Township County of Clark and State of Illinois do make this my last will and testament.

   First it is my will that any just debts against me be paid out of my estate.

    I then give and bequeath all of the residue of my personal property of whatever kind and moneys, also a debt due me from David Birchfield of ten dollars for which I have no note to Joseph Shade and his heirs.

   I hereby appoint and make Joseph Shade executor of this my last will and testament.

   Signed and sealed the sixteenth day of August A. D. 1893.

       Wesley {his X mark} Tapscott

 Witnesses

James L Coon [?]

John N. Washburn

John M Coons

          The will shows the last name “Tapscott,” rather than “Tabscott,” the spelling used on most of Wesley’s documents. But being illiterate, Wesley had no idea how his name was spelled or should be spelled. Spelling was left to those doing the writing. The Army thought his name was spelled “Tabscott,” and that was the name used in Wesley’s numerous military, medical, and Soldier and Sailor Home records. Most others used the customary spelling “Tapscott,” and that is the name found on all but two of his probate records and on his grave marker.

Two of the will’s witnesses were “John Washburn, a 33-year-old railroad worker living in Clark County’s Wabash Twp., and John Coons, a merchant living in Auburn Twp. The name of the other witness appears to be “James L. Coon,” a young laborer living in Martinsville Twp. Their connection with Wesley is unknown. Joseph Shade, the will’s only beneficiary, was the son-in-law of Sarah Ann Tapscott, one of the Traveler’s five daughters.

Soldiers and Sailors Home brick “cottage” (2015).

The following year Wesley went to the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home in Quincy, Illinois, listing his next-door neighbor in Clark County, William Tapscott, as his contact. Mary Frances and I visited the institution. The facility is still used (though the name has been changed to the “Illinois Veterans Home”) and many of the early buildings still stand. Residents were housed in two-story brick buildings termed “cottages” to bring a feeling of “Home” to the facility. The Home was built in 1886 and the first resident was admitted on 3 Mar 1887, just seven years before Wesley’s arrival on 30 May 1894. Lying on the Mississippi River, Quincy was a stop on the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy (CB&Q) railway, which had a depot on the northern edge of the home, and this may be how Wesley arrived.

Wesley stayed in the Home only a few months, returning to Marshall, Illinois, where he died on 21 Nov 1894, willing all his personal property to Joseph Shade, who likely ended up with nothing but a headache. Wesley left more debts than assets. What happened to his 40 acres is still undetermined, but the land was likely sold before his death.

Thus after searching for hours in the Clark County Courthouse, the Clark County Genealogy Library, and the Marshall Public Library and visiting the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home, we still know little about Wesley’s origins. We know from where he came, but not from who. And, though he came from Green County, Kentucky, the home of William the Preacher, perhaps he is not a Tapscott after all, or at least not the son of a male Tapscott. His name may have come from an NPE, a non-paternal event - a name change, an illegitimate birth, an adoption, The brick wall remains.

Samuel Tapscott

At times, here and elsewhere, I have mentioned Samuel Tapscott, my great great uncle and the last-born of Henry and Susan (Bass) Tapscott's twelve known children. Samuel was a cad and a miscreant.

His known misadventures began at age 22 when, on Wed 22 Feb 1871, in Terre Haute, Indiana, he viciously slashed the face of Alexander Thompson with a spade. Exactly two weeks later, on 8 Mar 1871, Alexander succumbed to his wounds, and the slashing and subsequent trial made newspapers as far away as Wheeling, West Virginia. During our recent trip to the Midwest, Mary Frances and I were able to uncover a number of newspaper articles describing the incident in much more detail than we have had in the past.

The day of the attack, Sam had gone to Terre Haute to visit his sister and brother-in-law Frances Ann and Samuel Lockard and his sister-in-law Mary Ann (Lockard) Tapscott, widow of Samuel’s brother Jacob, who had been killed a couple of years earlier in a Crawford County, Illinois, incident (28 May 2013 blog). Mary Ann Lockard and Samuel Lockard were brother and sister and had married a Tapscott brother and sister. On that fateful day, Samuel Tapscott went out in his sister's yard, which faced an alley, and encountered a neighbor, Alexander Thompson (“Alex”), who had gone out to his stable to milk his cow. Although the two had apparently never met before, they became involved in a heated argument, yelling according to observers, “What the hell are you doing here?” “None of your damned business.” “Get out of the alley you drunken scamp.” “I won't do it, and I don't want any of your jaw.” “Let me kill the damn son of a bitch.” “Let me go; I will kill any God damn man that calls me a damn son of a bitch, or strikes me, or strikes at me first.” But witnesses, several of whom were relatives of Alexander and Samuel, were unable or unwilling to say who said what to whom or who started the row. The argument ended violently with a single blow to Alexander's head and face with a spade. At that point, Samuel and possibly others, ran down the alley. One cannot help but wonder whether Samuel's brother-in-law was involved, though this was never suggested.

About 10 o’clock that night Samuel Tapscott was arrested attempting to leave town on a west-bound train. Former Terre Haute Chief of Police Daniel Crowe, who made the arrest, asked Samuel if his name was “Tapscott.” Samuel responded “No.” Daniel replied, “You are probably the man I want.” Samuel was jailed in Terre Haute with a bail of $2000, which was raised to $5000 a couple of weeks later. And then Alexander did the unthinkable, he died. On 14 Mar 1871 a Vigo County grand jury brought in an indictment against Samuel Tapscott of first degree murder.

Samuel languished in jail while continuances and postponements pushed dates for hearings further and further into the future. Month after month local newspapers announced trial dates, only to have the notices retracted. On 1 Nov 1871, the Terre Haute Weekly Express declared “The question is often asked when will Tapscott be tried for the murder of Alex. Thompson? He has now lain in jail eight months, at a heavy expense to the county.” On 4 Nov 1871 the Terre Haute Saturday Evening Mail covered all bases by announcing “We have positive assurance that Tapscott will be tried next week, unless the case is again postponed. This can be relied upon.” The case was postponed. Finally, on Thu 23 Nov, trial commenced.

The Vigo County Courthouse in Terre Haute, site of the

 Tapscott trial (Judson McCranie, Wikimedia Commons).

The proceedings were muddled. Members of both the Tapscott and Thompson families were near, possibly at, the crime scene, as were some neighbors, but nobody seemed certain of what happened. Everything indicated that Samuel, who did not take the stand, struck the fatal blow. Samuel Tapscott's sister said it "seemed" to her that Alexander had a long stick in his hand. Others mentioned that a rock was picked up by someone, but whether or not it was one of the combatants was unknown. The defense consisted solely of character witnesses from Clark County with such weak statements as “I know his general character. It is good as far as I know.” “I never heard his character questioned one way or the other.” “I never heard anything about his character.” With no defense other than damning by faint praise, one wonders how a jury could possibly vote for acquittal. But around 11 pm on Fri 24 Nov, after a lone hold-out juror finally voted with the majority (either because he wanted to go home or because he felt browbeaten by other jurors, depending on which version one hears), the jury decided for acquittal.

Samuel’s mother, Susan, attended the trial. Samuel's father, who may have been too infirm to travel, is never mentioned. Afterwards a Terre Haute newspaper stated that “We insist that the real sufferers are Mrs. Thompson [Alexander’s wife] and Mrs. Tapscott [Samuel’s mother].” A Clark County newspaper reported “from what we can learn, [Tapscott] bears a very fair character.” In view of his later adventures, which included horse theft and robbery, the description “fair character” seems inappropriate.

If you would like transcriptions of the newspaper articles about the murder of Alexander Thompson, let me know and I will email them. There are some Samuel Tapscott articles on the Hoosier State Chronicles website and on the Vigo County Public Library's Newspaper Archive site, but several of the articles I found appear (at present) on no internet site.

Wesley

Wesley Tapscott grave marker, Auburn Cemeter

Most family history books have a good mystery, what some call a “brick wall.” With my last book, Henry the Immigrant, Robert Francis Tapscott provided the mystery (see posts of 26 Jul 2014 and 15 Jan 2015). For the book now in writing, Henry the Traveler, The Tapscotts of the Wabash Valley, it is Wesley Tabscott, of unknown parentage (see blog of 16 Nov 2014).

I now have copies of Wesley’s 12-page probate file from the Clark County, Illinois, courthouse, his 63-page Civil War pension file from the National Archives and Records Administration, and his 4-page Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home file from the Illinois State Archives. It is amazing that these 79 pages of documents provide no smoking gun. Let me summarize the findings from these and Wesley's very few other records.



Sailors and Soldiers Home Application provides Birth information.

Except on his grave marker, Wesley’s name was always spelled “Tabscott,” likely because he was totally illiterate. He claimed to have been born on 28 Sep 1829 in Green County, Kentucky, and is known to have died 21 Nov 1894 in Marshall, Illinois. Of course a birth date given by an illiterate person is questionable, In fact his age on a Civil War muster role indicates a birth year of 1840 rather than 1829.  Wesley appears in not a single census, at least with that name, despite the fact that according to his medical records, excluding time in the military and in the Soldier;s home he was living in or near Anderson Township in Clark County as early as 1856 (about the year that Henry and Susan (Bass) Tapscott arrived from Darwin Twp. in Clark County). He served two stints in the Civil War as a Union Army private with the 133^rd Indiana Infantry (17 May 1864 to 5 Sep 1864) and with the 149^th Indiana Infantry (2 Mar 1865 to 11 Jul 1865), enlisting both times at Terre Haute, Indiana. He took sick at the end of his last enlistment at Decatur Alabama, ending up in a hospital in Huntsville Alabama, where he was discharged from the Army. Extensive medical records show that he lived the rest of his life primarily in Clark County as a near invalid with an assortment of nasty physical conditions. He resided in the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home (an institution for disabled, ill, and elderly military personal in Quincy Illinois) 30 May 1894 to 30 Oct 1894. He then discharged himself and returned to Marshall, where he died less than a month later, apparently in poverty. At his death he had personal property consisting of household goods and horse and buggy with a total value of $100, but with debts of $211.65, much of it for care during his final days.

Not a single word appears in any record about Wesley’s parents; however, many documents give the following Clark County Tapscotts and their relatives as Wesley's witnesses and contacts, but without mentioning their connection with him --- William Riley Tapscott, William Sanders (widower of Sarah Ann Tapscott), William Sanders's daughter Susan Shade, and William Sander’s son-in-law Joseph Shade. Joseph Shade was named Wesley’s executor. That Wesley was born in Green County Kentucky shows that he was almost certainly a descendent of the Tapscotts of Virginia, but there are four possibilities.

1. He was an unknown child of Henry the Traveler, coming with Henry and Susan during their trip from Kentucky to Clark County, but not appearing in the 1850 census, which has been thought to list all of Henry’s children. If born in 1929, Wesley would have been around age 21 at the time and could have easily been away from home when the census was taken. But all of Henry’s children were literate, why would Wesley have been illiterate? Moreover, Henry and his wife, Susan, had a child, John, born 9 Mar 1829, a date conflicting with Wesley’s birth date of 28 Sep 1829. Of course birthdates are often incorrect.

2. He was actually James W. (“Wesley”?) Tapscott, a child of Henry the Traveler, born around 1830 or 1831 and dying sometime after 1870. We have very little information about James who appears in 1850 and 1870 censuses for Clark County. James, like Wesley, never married (as far as we know). But the two censuses do not indicate that James was illiterate. And if Wesley were James, why would be appear as “Wesley Tabscott” in everything militarily connected, but nowhere else? Moreover, Wesley is known to have been alive when the estate Henry the Traveler's son John was being settled in 1872, but, unlike most (but not all) of John's siblings, was not mentioned as an heir.

3. He could have been a child of William the Preacher, born late in William’s life. That might explain Wesley’s illiteracy. None of William the Preacher’s sons were literate. (Note, however, that Wesley was very young at the time of William's death and the Preacher's apparent lack of belief in education for his children should have had little effect on Wesley.) He might have been a son of William’s wife, (believed to be) Winifred Cobb. Winifred, were she still living, would have been around age 50 give or take a few years at the time of Wesley’s birth, unlikely but not impossible. Wesley could, in fact, have been the cause of the demise of Winifred, who was dead by 1830. And he could be a product of another relationship. It is interesting that William the Preacher’s household in the 1830 census contains one child, whom we cannot identify, aged under 5 (Wesley?), and also a woman aged 20 to 30 (a new consort?). The census also shows other unidentifiable household members. Wesley would have been only seven years old when William the Preacher died and could have accompanied his older brother Henry the Traveler to Clark County.

4. And Wesley could have been a descendant of Raleigh and Judith (Stanton) Tapscott, who were living in Barren County Kentucky, essentially next door to Green County) at the time of Wesley’s birth. Raleigh, William the Preacher’s 2^nd cousin, had a massive number of known Kentucky-born grandkids and undoubtedly many others never unidentified.

Right now I am leaning toward possibility 3. In another week I will be in Illinois researching Tapscotts, one of them Wesley. Perhaps land records will help. I might note that Pamela Loos-Noji at Kinwork Connections, Email: kin1889@me.com, www.kinworkconnections.com, did an outstanding and very reasonably priced job of getting Wesley’s pension files. She has worked for me in the past and is always thorough, efficient, and highly knowledgeable. I recommend her highly for genealogical research. If anyone would like digital copies of the contents of Wesley’s Pension, Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home, and Probate files, I’ll be glad to email them to you.