2022 01 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week #4 Curiosity
Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't know. I don't have any answers to those questions. I don't know what's over there around the corner. But I want to find out. ---- Gene Cernan
Hardy Hopkins m. Mary L. Carpenter
Joseph Carpenter Hopkins m. Sarah Mumford
Mary Elizabeth Hopkins m. John Wilburn Leavelle
Hardie Duncan Leavelle m. Nettie Ida Godley
Evalyn Ruth Leavelle (my grandmother)
Nettie Lynda Lindbeck Mohney Davis
Donna Evalyn Mohney
I have always been curious- about everything... but frequently feel intrusive asking. With family history though, it's different. I can ask the questions and then go out and find the answers. A lover of books from childhood, it's no wonder that research is something I so enjoy. Over the past 40 years, I've learned volumes about the world, all through family tree research. But one of the questions that I would love to learn the answer to is still unanswered.
My paternal family has all been firmly settled in the American North- from Massachusetts down to Pennsylvania since the 1830s. The Rodgers and McCameys were the late comers, settling in Pennsylvania in the early to mid 1830s. All the others were here well before 1800.
My maternal family, on the other hand, is fully southern. Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana. My maternal grandmother's family has been in America for many generations. Her parents were Hardie Duncan Leavelle and Nettie Ida Godley.
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| Hardie and Nettie Ida (Godley) LEavelle |
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| Hardie Duncan Leavelle |
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| Hardy Duncan Leavelle |
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| Hardie Duncan Leavelle and Nettie Ida Godley Marriage License |
And Hardie's parents were John Wilburn Leavelle and Mary Elizabeth Hopkins. My questions are about Mary Elizabeth Hopkins and her ancestors.
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| John Wilburn Leavelle |
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| John Wilburn Leavelle and Mary Elizabeth Hopkins Marriage license |
Born 2 April 1857 somewhere in Alabama, Mollie, as Mary Elizabeth was known, died 15 August 1887 in West Greene, Greene County, Alabama and was buried in the Sardis Cemetery there. The information about Mollie comes mainly from the 1860 and 1870 census records.
1860 United States Federal Census
Name: M E Hopkins (Mary Elizabeth)
Age: 9 Birth Year: abt 1851 Gender: Female Birth Place: Alabama
Home in 1860: Mount Hebron, Greene, Alabama Post Office: Mount Hebron Family #: 385
Household Members: Name Age
M M Hales 24
S M Hales 35 Mollie's mother, Sarah M. Mumford or Mulford)
H T Hopkins 12 Her brother, Hardy Thomas Hopkins
J W Hopkins 11 Her brother, John W. Hopkins
M E Hopkins 9 Mary Elizabeth (Mollie)
W M Hales 1
In 1870, she is living with an Eastman/Eatman family. (At least, this appears to be her.)
1870 Census of Clinton Precinct, Greene County, Alabama
Mary Hopkins 17 at home born Alabama
With Eastman family- Wm. T. Eatman 52 farmer $3650 1500 NC Citizen
Thomas J. 20 school Ala
John C. 19 school Ala
E. Jeptha 14 Ala school
George 12 Ala school
Jeff 10 at home can't read/write Ala
On 7 May 1874, Mollie marries John Wilburn Leavelle.
They have 5 children, William McKenzie, Emma Hales, Margaret F., Hardie Duncan, and Joseph Wilburn before Mollie's death. I know a little more about John Wilburn, as he married Carrie Taylor and lived until 1920. But Mollie's life remains a mystery.
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| Tombstone of John Wilburn Leavelle |
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| Tombstone of Carrie Taylor Leavelle |
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| Death Certificate of Hardie Duncan Leavelle |
Her parents are also mysteries. Joseph Carpenter Hopkins was born in 1826 and died in 1859. The only evidence of his life is the 1850 Census. (And a will that is supposed to be located in Greene County, Alabama but I haven't located as yet. Book A, 1840-1864, 070)
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| Will of Joseph Carpenter Hopkins, part 1 and 2. |
1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Joseph C Hopkins
Age: 24 Birth Year: abt 1826 Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1850: Greene, Alabama, USA Gender: Male
Family Number: 503
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph C Hopkins 24
Sarah M Hopkins 27
Hardy T Hopkins 3
John W Hopkins 1
As seen in the 1860 census above, Mollie's mother quickly remarried a Wiley Hales.
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| Sarah Mumford Hopkins married Wiley Hales |
Sarah M. Mumford (some records list her as a Mulford) By the 1860 census, Sarah and Wiley were married and there is a one year old in the family. I don't know if that child was Sarah's or not. - That's a major part of my curiousity! Sarah's story stops there. No history of her parents, siblings, etc.
Joseph Carpenter Hopkins' parents are known. His father was Hardy Hopkins and his mother was Mary L. Carpenter. They were married on 10 December 1821 in Franklin County, North Carolina.
Mary was known as Polly, daughter of Elizabeth Upchurch and John Carpenter. In 1835, Polly purchased 39 acres of land in Alabama in her name. Hardy had served as a private from the Mississippi Territory in the War of 1812 according to the Roll of Mississippi Commands. He had 76 acres of land in Greene County, Alabama by 1825. His will is also on file in Greene County, Alabama. (Book B, 1817- 1841 054)
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| Hardy Hopkins' Land 1826 |
After Hardy's death, Polly Carpenter Hopkins married James Harvey Rainey. She died in 1879 in Newton County, Mississippi.
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| Mary Carpenter Hopkins and James Harvey Rainey's Marriage license |
John and Elizabeth (Upchurch) Carpenter's first daughter, Elizabeth, married William B. Rainey and lived near her mother and stepfather on the 1850 Census.
I guess more than one questions remains. Here are a few!
Why don't I find land records for Joseph C?
What is in that mysterious will? I found this as well and it is above.
Is that child Sarah's?
Where did she and Wiley go?
Who were Sarah's parents?
Where is Joseph Carpenter Hopkins buried?
What is in Hardy's will? I did find this! and it is above. He left everything to his "Beloved" wife, Mary as long as she lived and remained a widow. At her remarriage or death, everything was to go to his 3 children: Alexander, Joseph, and Mary Elizabeth, and the child with whom Mary was currently pregnant.
Where is Hardy buried?
Where is Mary Elizabeth Hopkins Leavelle buried?
And after writing this, I'm off on a search (Online) to satisfy my curiosity about this line of my family!
Donna Evalyn Mohney
28 January 2022
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