THE

STOCKMAN FAMILY

NEWSLETTER

16 McKinley Street

Silver City, NM 88061

Table of Contents

Stockman Family Newsletter

Volume 18 Number 3

Family Reunion 2006

The Family of Harriet Stockman

Francis Columbus Jacobs

Dora A Jacobs

Hiram W Jacobs

John M Jacobs

Benjamin Arnett Portwood

Ben Ivan Portwood

Harrison Reed (M) Portwood

Lee Portwood

Thomas Louis Portwood

Howard R Portwood

Wesley D Brown 1918 – 2005

Kenneth Lee Gilmore 1932-2006

Melvin Wesley Ellis 1932 – 2006

More on the Stockmans of Early New Jersey

Benjamin Stockman

William Stockman

Editor Speaks

  THE

STOCKMAN FAMILY

  NEWSLETTER

Volume 18, Number 3                               © Lee Stockman                                                   March 2006

Family Reunion 2006

            The tenth Stockman Family Reunion to be held in Silver City will commence on 14 July followed by Saturday events and the traditional Sunday Picnic. This year the theme of the Reunion will be Guess who this was way back when !! The rules are simple, the game complex. All family members should send a photo of themselves, and/or some family member they want to get even with, taken when they were a toddler or babe in arms. These photos will be arranged so that all family members may view them. That is the simple part. The complex part begins when the viewers are asked to identify those in the photos. Humor and laughter in the identifying will be tolerated, indeed, encouraged!

            Friday, gather at Lee and Judy’s early pm for a get acquainted meeting.

            Saturday, a trip to one of the historical family locations here in Grant County is planned, followed by the traditional auction, designed to raise funds to cover the cost of the reunion. Family members are urged to bring items, crafts, home made goods, etc for the auction. Rumor has it that a family quilt may be part of the auction this year.

            Sunday, the picnic gathering which is a welcome tradition will gather at the Little Walnut Picnic Area.

            Great care will be taken to protect the precious photos. Mail them or scan and e-mail the file to Leet@signalpeak.net We would prefer the file in the jpg format.

The Family of Harriet Stockman

            Mary Harriet Stockman was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, on 22 Jan 1831 the second daughter of Henry Stockman and Dorcas Trebite. She is listed in the 1832, 1833, and 1834 Census Records of Nacogdoches . In 1835 she was living with her parents in Williams Settlement in what is now Rusk County She married Meshack Jacobs 28 Feb 1850 in Rusk County, TX. Her name on the licence was written Mauretta or Hauretta but there is no doubt that this is the daughter Mary Harriet because Meshack Jacobs is found as one of the heirs to the estate of Henry Stockman.

             Meshack and Harriet have not been found in the 1850 census.

            In 1860 they were living in Cherokee County, TX. They received their mail at the Rusk Postoffice.

            Meshack was born in 1828 and died on 2 Jun 1862 in Richmond, Va while serving in the Confederate army.

            Harriet married for a second time to STJ (Thomas Jackson) Portwood on 29 Mar 1868 in Cherokee County, TX. He was often called “Little”. They were enumerated in the 1880 census in Cherokee County, TX. No record of Harriet in the 1870 census has been found.

            The children of Mary Harriet and Portwood are those enumerated in the 1880 census.

Francis Columbus Jacobs

            Mary Harriet’s son Francis Columbus Jacobs was enumerated in the 1880 census of Cherokee County, TX.

            In the 1900 census of Cherokee County, He is recorded as Frank Jacobs.

            This census has month and year of birth for all who were enumerated. Frank was born Jan 1851, Mary J was born Apr 1855, Nancy H was born Jul 1880, Robert Lee was born ? 1884, Minnie was born ? 1886, Mattie was born Mar 1892, and Lottie O was born Oct 1896. Frank and Mary J had been married 28 years and seven of their eight children were still living.

            Francis Columbus Jacobs was born 3 Jan 1851 in Texas and died 10 Jan 1923 in Dallas, TX. He and Mary J Reynolds were married 14 Jan 1872 in Cherokee Co, TX. She was born 15 Apr 1855 in Cherokee County, TX and died 13 Mar 1930 in Dallas. Their children were:

            Hiram A Jacobs was born 28 Sep 1872.

            George Monroe Jacobs was born 22 Nov 1874 and is said to have married Mattie Thompson.

Dora A Jacobs

            Dora A Jacobs was born 1 Nov 1877, died 24 Oct 1946. She married James Ware. In 1900 they were living in Cherokee County, TX

            Dora and James had been married one year, no children. James was born Jan 1878 and Dora born Nov 1877

            by 1910 James and his family had moved to Anderson County, Texas.

            Nancy H Jacobs was born 5 Jul 1880, died in 1965 and is reported to have married Lee Prichert.

            Robert E Lee Jacobs was born 9 Dec 1882and died 25 Nov 1890.

            Minnie Ophelia Jacobs was born 28 Nov 1884, died 10 Mar 1938 and is reported to have married Joe Auremingleam.

            Martha Jane Jacobs was born 8 Mary 1892, died 7 Aug 1979 in Bexar County, TX. She was married twice, first to Gerome Goodale and secondly to James Andrew Stewart..

            Lottie Loreing Jacobs born 13 Oct 1896, died 1969 in Dallas, TX, married Charles Golden.

Hiram W Jacobs

            Hiram W Jacobs married Nancy A Reynolds 18 Dec 1876 in Cherokee County, TX. She is probably the sister of Mary Reynolds who married Hiram’s brother, Francis Columbus.

            In 1900 Hiram W Jacobs was enumerated in Cherokee County, TX.

            This census tells us that Hiram W was born Dec 1851, Nancy A was born Jun 1862, Hiram B was born Jun 1882, Mack was born ? 1888, Rosa B was born Jun 1889, Ira F was born May 1893 and Dan was born ?1897. Hiram and Nancy had been married 24 years and six of their eleven children were still living.

John M Jacobs

            We have not been able to verify that John M Jacobs was the one enumerated in Johnson County, TX in 1910 census. More research is needed.

Benjamin Arnett Portwood

            Benjamin Arnett Portwood was enumerated in Smith County, TX in 1900:

            Arnett was born Jul 1869, Lula was born Jun 1869, Benjamin was born Aug 1892, Ellis was born May 1894, Reid was born Sep 1896, and Addie was born Sep 1898.

            In 1903 Bennie Portwood was Pastor of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Smith County, TX.

            In 1910 Benjamin was still living in Smith County.

            In 1920 Ben is still in Smith County.

            In 1930 Ben’s son Lee is married and living near his father in Smith County.

            Benjamin Arnett Portwood was born 1 Jul 1869 in Cherokee County, TX and died 20 Jun 1940 in Smith County, TX. He first married Mary L MCAnally12 Dec 1891 in Cherokee County, TX Mary known as Lula was born 20 Jun 1869 and died in Smith County, TX 28 Jan 1908. The two of them are buried in the Bullard Cemetery, Bullard, Smith County, TX.

            Now let us look at the children of Benjamin Arnett Portwood.

Ben Ivan Portwood

            Son Ben Ivan Portwood was born 5 Aug 1892 and died 11 Sep 1985 in White house, Smith County, TX and married Mary Gladys Tipps. They had at least one daughter, Frances Sue Portwood born 7 Feb 1933.

Harrison Reed (M) Portwood

            Harrison M Portwood per his headstone transcription and Harrison Reed per birth record of his son, born 4 Nov 1896 died 3 Apr 1969 in Troup, Smith County, TX. He Married 21 Dec 1923 Annie Gail Agnew born 16 Dec 1898, died 11 May 1995 in White house, Smith County, TX. They had at least two sons, Harold Reed Portwood was born 5 May 1931 and Billie Lee Portwood was born 24 Jul 1940 both in Smith County. Son Harold Reed Portwood married Dorothy Maybell Carl and they had at least one child, Mona Gail Portwood born 24 Nov 1952. Mona Gail married James Thedford Odom III. Harold Reed Portwood and Dorothy Maybell were married 9 Jun 1952 and divorced 10 Nov 1975.

Lee Portwood

            Is he Arnett L Portwood who married Ethel M LNU 30 Nov 1929 and divorced 30 April 1984?

Thomas Louis Portwood

            Thomas Louis Portwood was born 4 May 1909 and died 29 Mar 1967 in Galveston County, TX. His death record shows he was single at the time of his death. He married Winnie Lou Pickle and they had at least one son, Larry Michael Portwood born 7 Jul 1942 in Harris County. His wife’s name is recorded several different ways in the Texas records. On 25 Jul 1933, Louis Portwood and Vennie Leal Horton had a son, William Edwin Portwood, born in Smith County. They also had a daughter, Mary Virginia Portwood, born 14 Aug 1931 in Smith county, the mother’s name recorded as Vernice Leal Horton.

            Velma Lou Portwood is buried next to Thomas Louis Portwood in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Smith County and is surely his wife, she was born 5 Oct 1908 and died 8 May 1984 in Rosharon, Brazoria County, TX. Her Social Security number was issued in PA prior to 1951.

Howard R Portwood

            Howard R Portwood married Eudora Marie Johns. Eudora Marie Portwood died 3 Dec 1989 in Smith County, TX.

            Two children are know for them, Howard Douglas Portwood was born 12 Sep 1954 and Robin Denise Portwood was born 9 Nov 1956 both in Smith County. Eudora Marie Johns had a son by Billy Bob Martin who was raised by Howard as his son. In the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Smith County is burial for Bobby Jack Martin, 1 Nov 1945 died 2 Feb 1967 Stone has his photo and says, son of Howard and Marie Portwood.

            Addie D Portwood was born 11 Jan 1888 and died 11 Oct 1980. She is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, Smith County, TX.

He married for a second time to Addie Durham and their children were:

Mary Harriet is reported to have died from burns suffered when she backed into a fire in her home about 1903.-//-

Wesley D Brown 1918 – 2005

Kenneth Lee Gilmore 1932-2006

Melvin Wesley Ellis 1932 – 2006

More on the Stockmans of Early New Jersey

            Benjamin Stockman and William Stockman were Revolutionary War Soldiers who enlisted from the Colony of New Jersey. Their Revolutionary War Pension Applications tell us a little about them.

Benjamin Stockman

            Benjamin Stockman applied for his Revolutionary War Pension on 24 Nov 1832 from Cayuga County, New York

State of New York\On this 24^th day of November AD

Cayuga County/1832 personally appeared before me a Judge of the Court of Common

Pleas in and for the county of Cayuga & State of News York Benjamin Stockman of Sennett in said County Aged eighty one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7^th 1832.

That he entered the service and served under the following named officers as here in stated. That he was born in the town of Newark in the County of Essex & state of New Jersey AD 1751 as he believes that his father kept a record of his children’s ages in a large bible whilst living, that his, the said Benjamin Stockman’s name was entered in said bible and also the time of his birth, that his father died when he was about eight years old soon after which time the Bible containing the said record was destroyed - from that time he has had no record of his age - that he continued to reside in said county until the commencement of the Revolutionary War - that in the month of March AD 1776 he entered the service of the United States a volunteer in the company of New Jersey State Troops commanded by Capt. Robert Dinsmore & Lieut. Henry Squire & Sergeant Isaac Freeman for a term of one month in the regiment or battalion commanded by Adjutant Hayes that he marched with said company to Long Island through New York City to a place called Flatbush where said regiment held its first quarters during said month. That he was employed during said time in building a fort near Brooklyn on Long Island - that the British Troops at this time lay in the City of Boston, as he was informed - that he continued to serve during said month when he was discharged and returned home. He further says that from the month of April following (the time of the expedition of said month) until the moth of March AD 1777 he continued to serve in the country of Essex, aforesaid as a minute man in which service he was constantly engaged. That he attended to no kind of business except that of a Soldier during said term - that before the British troops came into New York he was engaged in guarding the inhabitants against the Tories who were accustomed to commit depredations upon their persons and property - that from the time that the enemy entered New York they were in the constant habit of sending out parties to forage and to plunder the inhabitants - that owing to said frequent incursions the country and neighborhood was kept in a constant state of excitement and alarm and the men constantly on the alert to guard against them and drive them back to New York - that he was in the battle of Springfield during said time - that he was frequently engaged in scouting parties in search of Tories during said time - that his whole time of service as he verily believes was not less than one year.

That about the month of March or April Ad 1777 he removed to the town of New market in the State of New Hampshire where he continued to reside thirteen years - when he returned to Newark in the state of New Jersey at and near where he continued to reside until about the year 1814 when he moved to the town of Williamson in the County of Ontario in the state of New York in which county he continued to reside until about two years ago, when he came to the town of Sennett in the County of Cayuga aforesaid where he has resided ever since and where he now resides - that he is now very old and infirm, and his memory very much impaired - that he has no property or means of subsistence but is supported by charity as one of the County poor of said county of Cayuga, that he never received a written discharge from said service and has no documentary proof, neither the testimony of any living witness to said services and cannot procure it.

That his captain during said time that he served as a minute was named Samuel Parsons, his Lieut. Was Benjamin Baldwin - but that he was frequently in service under other officers whose names he does not now remember - that he reason of his not entering service whilst in New Hampshire was a lameness in one of his legs which lameness was contracted during said years service and has continued in some degree ever since that he never served with any continental regiment or under any continental officers during said time of service - that he was once taken prisoner by the Hessians whilst in said years service and was detained bout four days when he was released. That he has no acquaintance with any clergyman in his present neighborhood - that Hollibert Wilcox, keeper of the county poor house of the said county of Cayuga and Sylvester Willard physician to said poor house are well acquainted with him & can testify as to his character for truth & varsity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.

He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of any state or territory.

Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Daniel Sennett Judge

Cayuga County CourtBenjamin Stockman

            Benjamin Stockman supplemented his application for his Revolutionary War Pension on the 3^rd day of June 1833 from Cayuga County, New York.

State of New York\Personally appeared before me the

Cayuga County/subscriber, a Justice of the peace in & for said county Benjamin

Stockman who being duly sworn says that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the length of his services but according to the best recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grade. For one year I served as a private soldier and for such service I claim a pension.

That previous to the commencement of hostilities in the Spring of 1776 he was a Soldier in the company (called the “Governors Life Guard”) commanded by Capt. Samuel Parsons and volunteered from said company in the month of March 1776 “to serve against the King” as was said at that time - and that he was the first man who volunteered into said company of Capt Truman and did so among the threats of the Torys and against the counsel and advice of some pretended friends.

The battle Springfield, mentioned in said declaration was not the celebrated battle known in history as “The Battle of Springfield”. It was a skirmish of our militia of the neighborhood against a party of the enemy who came to that place from near Elizabeth Town in which fifty two Hessians were taken prisoner and one dragoon of the enemy was killed.

I have not the testimony of any living witness to said services and cannot procure it because I know of no person now living who has any knowledge of my services. During my said term of service I was not engaged in any civil employment but was constantly in service.

Sworn & subscribed the 3^rd day of June 1833 before me

                                  Howard Jacobs Justice

                                       Benjamin Stockman

William Stockman

            Nancy Stockman, widow of William Stockman made her application for pension because of the service of her husband in the Revolutionary War from Essex County, New Jersey.

State of New Jersey \

County of Essex/

    On this eleventh day of July 1837 personally appeared before the Court of Common Please Nancy Stockman, a resident of Clinton in the County of Essex and state of New Jersey, aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836. That she is the widow of William Stockman deceased who was a Revolutionary soldier. Commissioned in the service of his country in the year seventeen hundred and seventy three or four and served as a volunteer & monthly soldier until peace was proclaimed. He served three months a volunteer soldier under Cap John Peak at flat bush, Long Island in the state of New York in the Spring and summer of the year seventeen hundred and seventy six. Was in the battle at Springfield, New Jersey----thinks he served under Capt Enoch Little. Was also in the battle of Monmont New Jersey---- Where he received a slight wound on the top of his head and was in what was termed the monthly service subsequent to our marriage when called upon until the war ceased. Can’t recollect the names of only two captains. Capt. Crani?? And Capt. Robert Wichaky both of whom were stationed at Newark Essex County, New Jersey.

    She further declares that she was married to Said William Stockman on the eighth day of October in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, that her husband, the aforesaid William Stockman died on the 11^th day of March eighteen hundred and fifteen and tht she has remained a widow ever since. That ??? as call more fully appears by reference? To the proof herein annexed?

    Sworn to and Subscribed on the day

    and year above written beforeHer

     E Van Arsdale clerkNancy X Stockman

                                            Mark

            As supplemental proof of the service of William Stockman in the Revolutionary War David Lyon made the following statement as part of the Pension Application of Nancy Stockman. David Lyon also applied for a Revolutionary War Pension.

State of New Jersey \

County of Essex / ss

On the fourth day of September A D Eighteen Hundred and thirty seven personally appeared before me Stephen C Day one of the justices of the Peace in and for the county of Essex State of New Jersey, David Lyon resident of Orange County and State aforesaid aged eighty years the seventh day of last August who being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in the matter of Nancy Stockman widow of William Stockman deceased, claimant for the pension for the services of her Husband William Stockman in the Revolutionary War. That he marched to Flatbush on Long Island in the State of New York in the fore part of the summer of the year seventeen Hundred and seventy six with said? William Stockman under Capt. Peck commanded by Maj. David Condit? Cannot recollect precisely the day of the march but is was at the time of the arrival of the British Fleet at the Hook? Near New York. Remained there a number of days from thence marched to Bergen Hill County at Bergen in the State of New Jersey from thence to Elizabeth town point, Essex County, New Jersey. In all that time he served two months with s’d William Stockman under the above names officers, that s’d Stockman marched from there to Newark, New Jersey that deponent remained in Elizabeth town Point cannot say whether s’d Stockman was a drafted or volunteer soldier at that time but is under the impression that he was a volunteer for the time of three months as he continued in that ?????? a service about that length of time. That himself and s’d Stockman were both engaged in the battle at what was then called second river in Essex County. ???? September Seventeen hundred and seventy seven commanded by Maj. Samuel Kays and General Wines that next day after the battle they marched to Aquainnac Essex County, from hence they marched to the height near Hackensack in Bergen county at which time general Wines ordered out a party of aout three hundred drove a part y of the British into the fort near Hackensack that s’d Stockman and himself were in that party side by side both taking an active part in skirmish with the British in which they succeeded in driving them into the fort. Thinks s’d Stockman was at that time a drafted militia man, does not know for how long but recollects that deponent was with him in that tour about seventeen days. Thence they returned to Newark, N J under the command Mjr. Hays leaving general Wines at Aquacamock. That he also served one month with s’d William Stockman in the fall of the year of Seventeen hundred and seventy seven at Newark, NJ under Capt. Robert Nichols commanded by Maj. Hays and Col. Ward or Col. Cortland in not positive which, Recollects the marriage of s’d Stockman to Nancy Lindsley his widow in this case distinctly, from the circumstance of his having to pay a treat? Some of his fellow soldiers in consequence of the Marriage who wre there drafted out with him. Just after the wedding took place. That it was well known s’d Stockman was in the Battle of Monmouth, NJ in June seventeen hundred and seventy eight. Deponent was not there himself but saw s’d Stockman soon after he returned and heard him state many incidents that occurred during the Battle. Viz how much he suffered from heat thirst, etc. That he received a slight wound from a ball grazing the top of his head. That he saw s’d Stockman in the militia at Newark, NJ under Capt. Huntington some time in the summer soon after the battle of Monmouth and heard him say he was drafted at that time for one month doesn’t recollect what superior officers were in command there then. Deponent cannot recollect distinctly any particular periods of s’d Stockmans service subsequently. But knows that he was in the service at different periods until the colse of the war. That he frequently volunteered as a substitute in the place of his Brother when he as drafted for the monthly tours. That s’d Stockman’s residence was in the town now called Orange, Essex New Jersey during the revolutionary war. That he was knowing of the death of s’d Stockman which took place in the spring of the year eighteen hundred and fifteen.... That he has had an opportunity of knowing that his widow Nancy Stockman has remained a widow ever since that period. That Deponent cheerfully says that s’d Stockman was a good Soldier always ready to perform his duty according to orders and further that he known that his widow is in needy circumstances and deserving of relief.

Sworn to and subscribed

on the day and year aboveDavid Lyon

Written fore me

Stephen C Day

            These two Revolutionary War Pension Applications give us a pretty good hint that Benjamin and William were brothers. Both served from the same locality in the expedition from New Jersey to Flat Bush, New York and in the application by Nancy Stockman is mentioned, although not by name, a brother of William Stockman who he performed service for.

            The International Genealogical Index (IGI), compiled b y the LDS Church tells us that John Stockman and Abigail Freeman were the parents of Benjamin Stockman. Another listing in the IGI shows John Stockman and Abigail Freeman to be the parents of William Stockman. The source of this information is not disclosed in either listing.

            Using his Revolutionary war pension as a guide we can find a census record of Benjamin Stockman. In 1820 a Benjamin Stockman was enumerated in Ontario County, New York. The age for the eldest member of the family does not seem to agree with what we would expect for the Revolutionary War Soldier.

 Two were engaged in Agriculture

            This information makes us question some ancestry of the Stockmans from this family who were living in Ohio after 1850.

            We may need to reevaluate whether they are descended from Benjamin or William Stockman but more information is needed before this can e done.-//-

Editor Speaks

Reunion

2006

        Kenneth

         Gilmore

        Melvin

         Ellis

            Cousins Kenneth Gilmore and Melvin Ellis were two quite different fellows, but they had a great deal in common, a grand sense of humor permeated all things that they did. Their ability to laugh at themselves and to return jest for jest made being with them a pleasure. The world is a sadder place without them.-//-