Joseph Cyrus Aldridge

1840 census, Limestone CO, AL

1850 census, Limestone Co, AL: Joseph ALDRIDGE 36 M farmer $1700 SC Lydia Ann 32 F SC Sarah Ann 14 F AL James S. 11 M AL Harriet C. 9 F AL George W. 5 M AL Martha C. 4 F AL Joseph C 1/2 M AL Levin C. Gray 21 M teacher AL Margaret 16 F AL Martha 14 F AL Sarah H. 56 F NC

slave schedule 50 Male Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 45 Female Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 40 Male Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 35 Female Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 33 Female Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 30 Male Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 19 Female Mulatto Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 18 Female Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 12 Male Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 12 Male Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 6 Male Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 3 Male Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 0 Female Black Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama 0 Male Mulatto Joseph Aldridge District 4, Limestone, Alabama

The following information was researched and contributed by Mary Jane Arledge Murray:

JOSEPH CYRUS and LYDIA ANN SLAUGHTER ARLEDGE

    JOSEPH CYRUS ARLEDGE, b. 10-19-1812, Chester County, SC, was the son of Cyrus and Lucy Featherstone Arledge. His family moved to Limestone County, AL between 1814-1818. He married Lydia Ann Slaughter on September 29, 1833. He was 21, she was only 15. Their first child was born the next year. After the middle of 1850, probably between 1851-1853, they moved to Fannin County, TX. It is not known if all their connected families moved to TX at the same time. Youngest brother, John, moved to Crockett, Houston County, TX in 1853. Closest brother, William, moved to Fannin County, TX, after the birth of his youngest daughter who is listed as born in Limestone County, AL in 1857. Their aged mother also moved to TX in those years. (See John Arledge)

Joseph and William farmed the bottom blackland south of Bonham and south of Bois d'Arc Creek. William was married to Lydia's sister, Mary W. Slaughter, and they had eleven children. They lived on what was called Arledge Ridge, where they had a cotton gin, a store, and there were a church, a school, a blacksmith shop, and later a cemetery. Farther north, on William's land was a slave cemetery. Neither was listed in censuses as having slaves, but they did have hired hands, probably black, who probably took their name, as there were later listed Arleges and Arlidges living in Fannin County. There is still a cemetery and a church on Arledge Ridge on Hwy. 78, four miles south of Bonham.
Joseph Cyrus was a trustee in the First Baptist church of Bonham. He died on January 27, 1855. Lydia was 35 and her oldest boy almost 16. Joseph is buried in the Arledge Ridge Cemetery.
LYDIA ANN SLAUGHTER, b. April 24, 1818, NC, evidently managed the family farm all right with her oldest children. In the 1860 census she was listed as head of household and worth $8000 in land and $1000 in property. Her oldest son was married and on his own. In 1870 she lived in Bonham with her yougest son, a daughter and son-in-law. Her house was worth $2500. The oldest son was probably on the farm, or part of it. Lydia died March 16, 1871, and is buried on Arledge Ridge Cemetery beside her husband.
Children:

1. Mary Jane, b. July 30,1834, Limestone County, AL, m. October 26, 1850 Andrew M. Weatherford, in AL. 2. Sarah Ann, b. August 17, 1836, Limestone County, AL, m. February 8, 1853 Jas. M. Cole in AL (Moved to Bonham, Fannin County, TX) 3. JAMES CYRUS, b. February 16, 1839, Limestone County, AL. 4. Harriett Caroline, b. April 4, 1841, Limestone County, AL, m. March 19, 1857 Calvin W. Stepheson, in Bonham, TX. 5. George Wade, b. July 8, 1845, Limestone County, AL. 6. Martha Eleanor, b. June 19, 1847, Limestone County, AL. 7. Joseph Clinton, b. May 17, 1850, Limestone County, AL.

He was married to Lydia Ann SLAUGHTER on 26 Sep 1833 in Limestone County, AL. Lydia Ann SLAUGHTER was born on 24 Apr 1818 in North Carolina. She died on 16 Mar 1871 in Fannin County, TX (Buried in Arledge Ridge Cemetery, Fannin County, TX). Lydia Ann is the sister to Mary W. Slaughter. Her step-father's surname is Levin Gray. Upon the death of her father, Andrew J. Edmondson was appointed her guardian (Source: "Gray, Powers and Interrelated Families", Ames, 1992, p. 94.) Joseph Arledge was appointed guardian of his wife's half sister, Margaret Gray, a minor child. (Source: "Gray, Powers and Interrelated Families", Ames, 1992, p. 94.)

Limestone Co, AL Marriage Book, 1832-1862, p. 33

Bond authorizing rites of matrimony between Joseph Arledge and Lydia Ann Slaughter given 25 September 1883 by Robert Austin Jr, Clerk C.C., with the rites of matrimony solemnized between Joseph Arledge and Judith Ann Slaughter [yes, that's the name given--PW] the 26th September 1883, by Jeremiah Tucker, an ordained minister.

Bob Arledge wrote about the dual wive's names:

Pam,

   It is my theory that this is some type of transcribing error. I believe Sophia A., who is listed as 32 years old, is actually Lydia Ann Judith Slaughter Arledge.  Sometimes a manuscript S and L are confused. I am not sure about the "o", perhaps the "p" was a "y", and perhaps the "h" was a "d". Now the reason I came to this conclusion is that the S.C. Gray (21 year old male, born in AL) is most likely "Levin Covey Gray" (age about right).  He is the older brother of Margaret (16 F AL) and Martha (14 F AL) and the son of Sarah (56 F NC).  My records show them living next door with Joseph Cyrus Arledge as a guardian.  The census taker also transcribed Joseph Cyrus Arledge's name as Joseph Cyrus Aldridge, which had clearly been Arledge well before this time. (Also, is it possible that Sophia could be a nickname for Lydia?) Below is what I have in my database for Sarah H.(olden) Wade and Levin Gray (Her first husband was James Slaughter and she shortly married an older man, Levin Gray.):

Descendants of Levin Gray

       1       Levin Gray ..              +Sarah H. Wade  b: 1795 m: in Athens, AL        d: April 25, 1873 in ? (Buried in Arledge Ridge Cemetery, Fannin County, TX)      Father: Holden Wade Mother: Lydia .....   2       Levin Covey Gray        b: Bef. 1830  .........               +Ellen Crenshaw         m: September 16, 1856 in Fannin County, TX .....   2       Sarah Matilda Gray      b: Bef. 1830  .........               +Clinton C. Jones               m: Abt. 1847 in Limestone County, AL .....   2       George Wade Gray        b: Abt. 1833            d: Bef. October 24, 1865 .........               +Margaret Smith         m: September 20, 1853  .....   2       Margaret Gray   b: Abt. 1834            d: Bet. 1860 - 1889 .........               +Alfred B. M. Jones             m: September 03, 1851 in Limestone County, AL .....           *2nd Husband of Margaret Gray:  .........               +E. D. Kennedy          m: May 01, 1855 in Fannin County, TX .....   2       Martha Gray     b: February 17, 1836            d: March 30, 1906 in ? (Buried in Antioch Cemetery, Elkmont, AL) .........               +Andrew Legg            m: September 08, 1853 in Limestone County, AL

Below is some additional information I found pertaining not to Lydia Ann Judith Slaughter or "Sophia" (transcribe error probably), but of her mother's remarriage, death of her second husband Levin Gray, and subsequent guardianship of children, etc. This information was researched by my cousin, Mary Jane Arledge Murray. Bob Arledge

<< It would appear that Sarah H. Wade Slaughter married Levin Gray very soon after James Slaughter's death in 1827, as their son, Levin Covey Gray, was born in Jan., 1828.  However, inventory and sale of James Slaughter's estate listed Levin Gray as administrator and Sarah Slaughter as executrix on March 5, 1829; then on Dec. 28, 1829, they filed final settlement of the estate as husband and wife.  Levin Gray was thirty years older than Sarah. Levin Gray died intestate in 1836.  Sarah was allotted one third of his estate.  The remainder went to his son, Thomas, by his first marriage, and the five children Sarah bore him.  Joseph Cyrus Arledge was appointed guardian of Margaret Gray, William Arledge was appointed guardian of Martha Gray, Cyrus Arledge was appointed guardian of Sarah Matilda Gray, and Howell Featherston was appointed guardian of Levin Covey Gray and George Wade Gray. The 1840 census of Limestone County, AL, showed Sarah H. Gray as head of household with five children living with her. The 1850 census of Limestone County, AL, showed her living with son, Levin Covey Gray, next door to Joseph Cyrus Arledge's home. A letter to her sister, Mary W. Hendricks of Athens, AL, and dated December 2, 1862 from Bonham, Nolan County, TX with daughter Mary Slaughter Arledge. Sarah died in Fannin County, TX and is buried in the Arledge Ridge Cemetery, near Mary's and Lydia's graves. >>

** DAR References: GRC series 2, v254

p. 12 ARLEDGE RIDGE CEMETERY. Background: This cemetery in Fannin County 8 miles south of Bonham, Texas on State Highway 11, has a Texas Historical Commission Marker which reads:

ARLEDGE RIDGE CEMETERY

Among the early settlers of this area were Joseph and William Arledge, brothers, who arrived from Alabama in the 1850s. Both established successful farms in the area, and the growing settlement became known as Arledge Ridge. Joseph Arledge operated one of the earliest freight lines in Fannin County with regular routes to the port city of Jefferson. William Arledge established a cotton gin in the central part of the county and later sold an acre of land to be used for a community school and church.

A tract of land, deeded by William Arledge in 1876, was designated as a community burial ground. According to local tradition, burials may have taken place in the cemetery as early as the 1850's but the oldest documented grave is that of Joseph Arledge who died in 1855.

Interred in the Arledge Ridge Cemetery are many early settlers, as well as a number of Civil War veterans. Additional land acquisitions in 1893, 1948, and 1969 enlarged the cemetery tract. The Arledge Ridge Cemetery Association, organized in 1948 maintains the historic graveyard and sponsors an annual homecoming event.

Another source: Letter and Family Group Sheets from Mary Bradford Russell Rovetta of Tallahassee, FL, dated Jan. 5, 1999.

________________ From Claire Younkin (from Hattie Belle Arledge Milburn papers) <csyounkn@flash.net>:

Letter dated July 10, 1854 from Joseph Arledge to John Fisher Arledge

Copied from original handwritten letter. Some of the paper has disintegrated at the folds. I did not correct spelling, punctuation, etc. Did put in a few spaces for clarity.

The "envelope" consists of a folded piece of paper with address: Mr. J.F.Arledge, Crockit,Tex With a stamped [!] postmark : Bonham Texas Jul 14

                                                           Fanen Tex July the 10, 1854

Dere brother, I reseved your leter this morning since I came to town and now I take this

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this leaves us all well and in fine with this part of the country. John, I have a fine crop of corn and coten and everything I had planted came well tho we are sufering for rain very much now, and if we do not get rain sune our crops will be cut short. John, you grumbled at the narrow corn blades when you was here if you was to see them you would thinke quite diferent . we have mesured some 7 inches browd you can't beat that bad John I reseaved fine leters for our frends last Munday morning one from Brice one from Milt one from Cole legg, George and Leve Gray. They are all well but Salley Cole her brest has risen since the Birth of ther little Boy and she has bin under the Docter for three munth they all speake of coming if they can sell the Brice Townsen acres there land has all washt away and they have none to sell Wimberlys and Bills espesuly, Miss Weatherford's Mother, her Br Tyson [?} is all that could get here this yeaare Ithinke. Jjjohn you sed you looked over our settlement after you got home and found a mistake of one hundred dollars in ading up tho you never said in hoose faver tho I suppose it isn't mine as I did not make it as much

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John if you would rather have your muney in trust than to have it in the River land let me no it if not let me no also John this is a good county ssure beter than I thout it was if I can get another rain I shal make the best corn I ever saw in my life after so bad a prospect in the Spring I am in beter health than I ever enjoied in my life and all is fat and saucy. Mrs Gray is injoying perfect health and has bin for 4 or 5 munths the water has maid her sound and well She can eat everything and it a grease with her So no more at present only give my love to your famly and all of Sister Ann famly. Joseph Arledge.

Limestone Co AL records:

ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ANIMAL TAKE-UP BOOK 1324-1853 1017

Wednesday, May 26, 1999.............................................Page 2 of 4

Description Book Name

        Page ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 ANIMAL TAKE-UP BOOK 1824-53      1059 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 ANIMAL TAKE-UP BOOK 1824-53      1089 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 ANIMAL TAKE-UP BOOK 1824-53  1150 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 CASH FEE BOOK 1826-1846              101 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 CASH FEE BOOK 1846-1870              30 Arledge, Joseph                         Circuit Court Minutes 1850-54 

145 Arledge, Joseph                     Circuit Court Minutes 1850-54  159 Arledge, Joseph                         Circuit Court Minutes 1850-54 

230 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 Commissioners Ct Order Bk 1841-58    213 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 Commissioners Ct Order Bk 1841-58    89 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 County Commission Record 1854-60     2 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 COUNTY COURT MINUTES 1830-49     270 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 COUNTY COURT MINUTES 1830-49     379 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 COUNTY COURT MINUTES 1838-43     85 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 05 1835-40 606 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 06 1840-44 448 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 06 1840-44 548 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH             DEEDS VOL 06 1840-44                 594 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 07 1844-48                 550 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH             DEEDS VOL 07 1844-48                 554 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 08 1849-52                 153 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 08 1849-52                 29 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 08 1849-52                 304 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 08 1849-52                 32 ARLEDGE. JOSEPH                 DEEDS VOL 09 1852-57                 201 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH             DEEDS VOL 09 1852-57                 58

• ARLEDGE, JOSEPH MARRIAGE BOOK 1832-62 33 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1835-43 16 ARLEDGE. JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1835-43 190 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1835-43 192 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1835-43 202 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1835-43 258 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1835-43 90 ARLEDGE. JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 198 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 203 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 314 ARLEDGE. JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 327 ARLEDGE. JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 328 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 354 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 397 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 398 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1843-47 88 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1643-47 9 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1847-50 10 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1847-50 101 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1847-50 34 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1847-50 49 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1847-50 64 ARLEDGE, JOSEPH COUNTY COURT MINUTES 1830-49 348
• ARLEDGE, JOSEPH ORPHAN COURT MINUTES 1847-50 236

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• Updated from RootsWeb's WorldConnect via Lydia Ann Slaughter by SmartCopy: Mar 8 2015, 2:18:04 UTC