Martha Williams Bobbitt, Patsy

Patsy was named after the sister of her mother.

Martha Steagall, age 53, was living with her son Henry at the time of the 1850 Weakley County Tennessee census. According to the family record, she was born August 5, 1795 in Franklin Co. NC. Martha W. Steagall died 19 June 1876 at 6:30 a.m. and is also buried at Campo Cemetery in Brazil. Edward Steagall was born bef. 1798 in Halifax Co. VA or NC. and died between 1821 and 1832. MarthaSteagall was listed as a widow in the 1840 North Carolina census of Franklin Co, NC. Martha was married prior to Edward and had two daughters by that marriage.

Martha Bobbitt Steagall's First Marriage:

Patsy Bobbitt married William Blacknall in Franklin Co. NC 23 Sept 1813.

Vines Turner sale of property 9 Aug and 5 Sept 1811 (14) Franklin Co. NC... Anna Turner admrx. Buyers were Allen Bobbitt, Green Bobbitt, Turner Bobbitt, William Blacknell, William Thomasson, Nathaniel Hight, Ann Turner, Samuel Hight. The March Court 1812 Inventory presented by Anna Turner admrx Included 8 negroes , Accounts & notes on: Jno Blacknall, Wm Bobbitt, Frankin A. Hight, Susannah Hight, Wm Blacknall, Barbary Hight, James H. Hight, Willie Hight, Brittain Bobbitt, Mrs. Mary Hight, Jno Bobbitt, Francis A. Hight, Rebecca Hight, Lemuel Rice. 19 April 1817 Sale of Slaves by Anna Turner: Anna Turner purchased 6 slaves and Allen Bobbitt purchased one. March Court 1829... Account for Archibald Turner, orphan of Vines Turner by gdn Anna Turner.

Inventory of estate of Vines Turner by Anna Turner admrx... Franklin Co NC WB C p.51 March Court 1812... Persons listed William Blacknall, Fanny Hight, James H. Hight, Jno Bobbitt, Rebecca Hight, JnoBlacknall, Willie Hight, Barbara Hight, , Wm Bobbitt, Brittain Bobbitt, Lemuel Rice, Franklin A. Hight, Mrs. Mary Hight, Wm Bobbitt.

Inventory and sale of property..William Blacknall.. 14 March 1816 and 15 April 1816 Franklin County NC. Turner Bobbitt with Gidion Glenn and James Maxwell securities, apptd admr. Buyers at sale of property included Mrs. Patsy Blacknall, John B. Bobbitt, Turner Bobbitt, Thomas Blacknall Jr. Green Bobbitt, John Bobbitt, Jonathan Hight. Inventory was presented by Turner Bobbitt June Court 1816... 5 slaves... Sale of property of Willian Blacknell dec'd 15 April 1816. Buyers were: Green Bobbet, John Bobbet, John B. Bobbet, Mrs. Patsey Blacknell, Jonathan Hight, Turner Bobbet, Thomas Blacknall Jr., Nathaniel Thomason...(15 - Will Book E) Account of estate filed June Court 1818 also lists George Blacknall

Allotment of provisions to Patsy Blacknell, widow of William Blacknell. Family was composed of 2 male slaves, the widow and two children. 13 April 1816. (15 - Will Book E)

Steagall Family Letters (Auburn University) refer to "uncle Tom Pierce", "your Aunt Peggy: a letter to Henry Farrar Steagall says "your sister, Mrs. Pierce gave me your address"... Steagall family letters written in 1862 say "Grandma (Martha Steagall) thinks of going to Washington Co. (TX) to see Aunt Sallie Ragsdale"

It appears that Martha Bobbitt Blacknall's children were: Margaret Blacknall who married Thomas M. Pearce 24 June 1834.. Franklin County NC and Elizabeth A. Blacknall who married Richard Jones 12 May 1834. Thomas M. Pearce/Pierce is found on both the Weakley County, TN 1850 (96-325) and 1860 (59-813) Censuses.

From Steagall Family Letters (Auburn University) we learn that The Pearce lived at Pierce's Station Willie Pierce and his sister Mattie Spath were living at the Willis Place in Gonzolas Co. TX c.1868. (Dr. Spath had died) Herman Henry also went to Texas and had written back to his mother in Tennessee. A letter to Henry Steagall written in 1887 by Jesse Whitesell of Fulton County, KY states your sister, Mrs. Pierce gave me your address. Mrs. Pierce was living in Dresden in 1887 feeble and not in good health. Mr. Pierce was in good health. Devereaux Pierce was going well and he and Jim Brittin, Cullin Britton's son had a business together. Rice Pierce was practing law at "the University". (Note: apparently Henry Steagall and Jim Thomason, brother of Jacob Thomason of Dresden had lived or worked near Jessee Whitesell )

Martha Williams Bobbitt Blacknell Steagal's Second Marriage:

Martha Williams Bobbitt Blacnell married Edward Steagall about 1819. No record of this marriage has yet been found. However, we have the following documentation: Franklin Co. NC Deed Book 28, p.365.. Jno B. Bobbitt deed to his sister, Martha Steagall and to her sons, Thomas Steagall and Henry Steagall, July 23, 1842.

Edward Steagall and Martha Williams Bobbitt sold land adjacent to my other Steagall's land in Brunswick Co., Va. December 20th, 1820 (Deed Book 25 - pages 123 and 124),

Edward Steagall's death was probably bef. 1832 when Elizabeth Bobbitt wrote her will. Otherwise, Patsey Stagal would have been given her $1 and in the above deed, Martha Steagall's land would have been deeded to Edward Steagall and Wife.

Edward Steagall does apear on Franklin tax list about 1821 as Edward Stugall