Donald Courts

Other Events and Attributes:

• Other-Begin: 30 Sep 1952, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves
• Other-Begin: 10 Aug 1961, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves

Notes:

Other-Begin:

Court Cause No. 16107
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al

Court Cause No. 18399
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Robert S. Frugia, et al


Court Cause No. 20324
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr. et al
vs.
Coy V. Courts, et al (Sr.)

On this 10th day of August 1961, came on to be heard the application of the plaintiffs in the above entitled and numbered cause for an order of the court showing that the plaintiffs have complied with the judgments previously entered in said cause and further showing that the plaintiffs or their successors in interest are entitled to the free and unrestricted use of the land hereinafter described, as set forth in plaintiff's petition in the above entitled and numbered causes...
(pgs 10-13 of attached pdf)

Died:
d.c. - address: 540 Pipkin
1 yr old, father unknown.
mother Emma Courts
informant, Homer Courts, Emma's brother.
cause of death: neglect.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 23 Jun 1870, Sparks and River Settlement, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 12 Jun 1880, Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Residence: 1904, 1 blk w of 747 South Grand Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Other-Begin: 30 Sep 1952, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves
• Other-Begin: 10 Aug 1961, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves

Notes:

1880: James, age 15
1910 Jeff Co, Census: all members present in household


According to Daisy Courts Runnels, his niece, he was found dead on the railroad tracks. It is not known when or how he died.

Census:
Residence 77
Coats (Courts) J.M. 40 1830 Louisiana 400, 2,000 farmer
Julia 34 1836 Tennessee
Mary 18 1852 Texas
Clifton 16 1854 Texas
Nasthentha 14 1856 Texas
William 12 1858 Texas
Madison E. 10 1860 Texas
ekner 8 1862 Texas
James 5 1865 Texas
Anna 3 1867 Texas
Lisa 8 1862 Texas

residence 78
Sparks M (Melinda) 51 1819 at home Tennessee widow
James 17 1853 Texas farm laborer
Worthy 14 1856 Texas
John 27 1843 Texas farmer

residence 79
Spark, C (Caroline) 50 1820 SC keeping house widow
Edwin 23 1847 Louisiana
Joseph 16 1854 Texas
Oscar 14 Texas
Court T.J. 27 1843 Texas (Thomas Jefferson - bro of James Court)

residence 80
Brewton W.P. 33 1837 Tennessee
Sarah (Sparks) 22 1848 Texas (Dau of Melinda)
Grace 5 1865 TX
Silas F. 8/12 1869 TX

residence 81
Lee, Samuel 52 1818 farmer 1580 Denmark
Jane E. 27 1843 Texas
Emma 3 1867 Texas


residence 82
Smith. T.J. 34 farmer 500 Indiana (Later would marry Mary Ellen Courts
Sarah 25 Texas
Electra 3/12 Texas


Census:
12 Jun 1880 Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas

210 Court, William 21 work at saw mill TX - TX
Darinda, 22 wife Texas Georgia Texas
Danie 3 dau TX
Benton 1 son TX


211
J.M. COURT Self M Male W 50 LA Wagoning ENGLAND LA
Julia A. COURT Wife M Female W 43 TN Keeping House NC AL
Helma (Helmer) COURT Son S Male W 18 TX Wagoner LA TN
James COURT Son S Male W 15 TX At Home LA TN
Annie COURT Dau S Female W 12 TX At Home LA TN
Lillian COURT Dau S Female W 8 TX At Home LA TN
Fannie COURT Dau S Female W 5 TX At Home LA TN
Emmet COURT Son S Male W 3 TX At Home LA TN
Viola COURT Dau S Female W 11M TX At Home LA TN

213
Court, Clifton 25 1855 raftsman TX LA TN
Fannie 26 1854 TX TN TN
Ella M. 3 1877 TX


(Peter Stockholm & Pierre Frugia in this community. No Sparks or Blocks or Burrrells. Must be Beaumont proper.)


Residence:
Court, Edgar B., wks United Lbr & Export Co, h. James F. Court.
Court, Emmett, wks United Lbr & Export Co., r. 1 blk w of same.
Court, Homer, wks United Lbr & Export Co. h. James F. Court
Court, H. Clifton, watchman mill, A, Kirby Lumber Co., r 747 South Grand ave, Cartwright add. 8
Court, James F., wks United Lbr & Export Co., r 1 blk w of same. 4
Court, Julia A. (wid James), h. Emmett Court
Court, S. Helmer, carp r 350 Jackson ave, 5
(five children - Bea, age 8; Hal age 6; Gladys age 3; abt 2; Lillian born 22 Jan 1904)

Other-Begin:
Court Cause No. 16107
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al

Court Cause No. 18399
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Robert S. Frugia, et al


Court Cause No. 20324
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr. et al
vs.
Coy V. Courts, et al (Sr.)

On this 10th day of August 1961, came on to be heard the application of the plaintiffs in the above entitled and numbered cause for an order of the court showing that the plaintiffs have complied with the judgments previously entered in said cause and further showing that the plaintiffs or their successors in interest are entitled to the free and unrestricted use of the land hereinafter described, as set forth in plaintiff's petition in the above entitled and numbered causes...
(pgs 10-13 of attached pdf)


Died:
d.c. informant E. (?) Court
age 46, carpenter
no birth date given
death date given "about Nov 9, 1910"
father's name: James M. Courts Texas
mother's name: Julia Ann Sparks Miss

cause of death almost illegible:
accidental death by being run over by a
**** of the *** E Texas RR osa
(it was a train)

James married Matilda Grace Gibson on 3 Aug 1887 in Jefferson Co, Texas. Matilda (daughter of Benjamin "Berry" Johnson and Matilda Myers, daughter of Robert Gibson and Mrs. Ann (..) Gibson) was born on 10 Nov 1866 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 26 Oct 1925 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Magnolia Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Residence: 1920, 540 Pipkin, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Research Notes: 11 Sep 2013, parentage

Notes:

1880 census shows her living with Matilda Myers Johnson, a widow and 2nd wife of Benjamin Johnson. Matilda indicated her as adopted daughter. She is not living with Ben and Matilda in 1870,so adoption was between 1870 and 1880.

-------------------------
1914 Bmt city directory:
Matilda Court (wid James) res 540 Pipkin
Jerold H Court labs rms 540 Pipkin
Homer T Court pipe liner rms 540 Pipkin
Emma L Court (Miss) rms 540 Pipkin
1918 Bmt city directory: Matilda Courts (widow James F) res 540 Pipkin
1920 Bmt city directory: Matilda Courts (wid James F) r 540 Pipkin
1920 census head, age 54, stated her parents b in England. (Court - w/o S)
1921-1922 Bmt city directory: Matilda Courts (wid Jas F) r 540 Pipkin

Subj: Re: Gentz and Sparks families.
Date: 3/15/02 1:02:58 PM Central Standard Time
From: sscottintrs@ghg.net (Sandra Scott Interiors)
Reply-to: sscottintrs@ghg.net (Sandra Scott Interiors)
To: Lumoto@aol.com

Hello Sherry...Earl Gentz lived right around the corner from my dad (Jennings Bryan Nobles and my mom Ethel Mae Lane Nobles)...Although I never met them...possibly gone by the time I would remember them..they nontheless were very close to their nephew...At one time my dad and mom right after they married I am told lived with Uncle Earl Gentz and wife and my brother Jennings Bryan Nobles, Jr. "Buster" was born in their home...Right after that our house 544 Pipkin came up for sale with Dad and mom buying the little house...where all of us lived and where my mom died. I tried to look the Matthew Nobles X Helen Maude Gentz Nobles family up on the 1900 and 1910 census but had no luck in locating them...any advice????

Census:
Matilda Johnson 45 1835 self
Isaac Johnson 27 stepson
A. C. Johnson 25 1855 dau-in-law
Hays Johnson 4 1876 grandson
Sarah Johnson 2 1878 granddau
Ruben Johnson 6m 1870 grandson
Matilda Gibson 15 1865 daughter
M. Chambless 14 1866 niece


Research Notes:
From: "Sherry"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 8:03 AM
Subject: Re: Comments (Matilda Grace Gibson b. 10 Nov 1866 Sabine Pass,
Jefferson Co, Texas d. 26 Oct 1925 Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas)

Hi, Stephanie -- Thanks for the added info.

As far as proof of Matilda Grace's parents - looking thru notes - not sure, but just going on what I have written down - which could have been given to me(?) - don't remember; but it looks like a process of elimination. If you look at 1860 census (before she's born) Robert & Ann Gibson had one child, Jesse, less than a year old. (see Robert Gibson's page)

In 1860 Matilda Myers was living in Berry Johnson's household, though he was a widower with several children. They were in residence 364 and Robert Gibson was in residence 362.
1861 Matilda & Berry married Matilda Gibson b 1866
1868 Feb Ann remarried to William Allen
1868 Nov Emma born
1870 shows Ann and Wm Allen and Jesse and Emma
living with her and she had Emma right away
Matilda not listed in 1870; however in 1870 Berry and Matilda have an E. Gibson living with them! She was 78 (1792) b in Mississippi. Could she be Robert's mother? age fits, but he was b Eng? - there's a connection. Robert
b 1830;
1880 by now 15 and had been adopted by Berry and Matilda.
1880 Jesse Gibson was living with Anna Garner McCall wid of James McCall but next door to her mother Ann Gibson & Wm Allen. Anna Garner McCall was cousin and niece to Matilda Myers and gr-niece to Berry.

Just noticed, William Allen also from England, as was Robert Gibson - bet they were connected somehow.

I'll be willing to bet Ann (b 1842 LA) was either a Johnson, Myers, Garner or Hayes. probably had another name along with Ann just to throw us off. lol

All that and the obvious - there were no other Gibsons for her to belong to.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephanie Hamiter"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 9:45 PM
Subject: Comments (Matilda Grace Gibson b. 10 Nov 1866 Sabine Pass,
Jefferson Co, Texas d. 26 Oct 1925 Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas)


> Comments (Matilda Grace Gibson b. 10 Nov 1866 Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co,
> Texas d. 26 Oct 1925 Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas): I believe Matilda
> Gibson to my great grandmother. I have been researching her and have come
> to the same basic conclusions that I find on your website. (Wish I had
> found you sooner!) I am wondering if you have ever found documented proof
> that Robert and Ann Gibson are her birth parents?
>
> Her daughter Opal Courts Speer (my grandmother) had 5 sons. I see you
> have two listed: Homer Jesse Speer (1931-2006) and Edmond James Speer.
> The other three are Ralph Gerald Speer (1932-2002), Calvin Owen Speer
> (called "Pete" by friends and family, born 1934), and my father Garland
> Wayman Speer (born 1944)
>
> Any additional information or advice you have concerning Matilda Gibson
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
> stephanie
>
> Stephanie Hamiter
> sdhamiter@hotmail.com


Died:
Name: Matilda Courts
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 26 Oct 1925
Event Place: Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, United States
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Widowed
Birth Date: 10 Nov 1866
Birthplace: , Texas
Father's Name:
Mother's Name: Gibbson
Certificate Number: 36598
GS Film number: 2113978
Digital Folder Number: 005145130
Image Number: 00986

Notes:

Married:
Name: James F. Courts
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 3 Aug 1887

Spouse: Matilda Gibson

Marriage City: Jefferson
Marriage State: Texas

Source: Texas Marriages, 1851-1900

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Abt 1831, Lavaca Bay Region, Texas
• Residence: Between 1836 and 1845, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; Republic of Texas
• Residence: Feb 1836, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 24 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 12 Jul 1860, Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Residence: Between 1861 and 1865, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; Texas Confederate States
• Military: 28 May 1862, enlisted Company B (gunboat "Uncle Ben")
• Census: 23 Jun 1870, Sparks and River Settlement, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 12 Jun 1880, Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Other-Begin: 30 Sep 1952, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves
• Other-Begin: 10 Aug 1961, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves

Notes:

1865 listed in Confederate Indigent Families Lists of Texas 1863-1865 by Linda Mearse (avail thru Interlibrary loan)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Cloud"
The book "The Story of Beaumont" is on-line in html (web page)format with an index and list of illustrations that were created for it (it had neither). Published in 1925/26, it is a valuable reference for early East Texas researchers. The index has the actual page numbers where the reference is found to make citations more precise.

The table of contents can be found here:
http://www.mykindred.com/wiess/st-o-b/index.htm

It can be a lengthy download if on a dial-up connection, so it is also available without the graphics at:
http://www.mykindred.com/wiess/st-o-b/toc-old.html

There were numerous typographical errors and some grammatical errors. No corrections were made to the document. It is, so far as I can determine, true to the original.

If you find an error or want to make a suggestion, please
contact me at cloud@peaches.ph.utexas.edu.

"G. W. Hargraves, who was captain of a little Beaumont company of militia in August, 1835, had sixty-two men under him, twenty of whom took part in the battle of the Alamo. He also was at the head of twenty-one volunteers who started to join ston to stop the advance of Santa Anna, but the battle of San Jacinto was fought before they reached that place, and they were ordered to rout some hostile Indians north of the town. Men Mr. Hargraves could remember years after who were in his company, were;

William Clark, ____ Clark, John Coale, ____ Coale, Bill Ashworth, Aaron Ashworth, Tapler Ashworth, Luke Ashworth, Charles Cronier, Elisha Stephenson, Lige Stephenson, Tom Berwick, Batiste Pevito, Dave Harmon, George Medgar, William Beckham, d Garner, Isaac Garner, Jim McCall, John Allen, ____ Allen, Joe Linsicomb, Jake Hays, Jim Jett, ____ Jett, Clark Beach, ____ Powers, Archie Richie, Wash Tevis, Jack Tevis, ____ Williams, Tom Yoakum, Jim Foreman and Ben Johnson, and Jim Courts."

http://www.mykindred.com/wiess/st-o-b/16-Beaumont-in-the-Wars.html#457030
"The Story of Beaumont" on-line

(note: Jim Courts was born 1829; so, he would have been 6 yrs old.
_____________
Lived with John Sparks right after marriage (1850 Census - census date 24 Oct; marriage date, Oct 15), but must not have stayed there very long. They are also listed in 1850 living with James Eaves, a laborer, and his wife Eliza (ages 37), with the Eaves' children, Rachel, 8; Lazil, 5; and Joseph, 2, all from Louisiana except Joseph who was born in Texas. Julia was only 14. Listed as a farmer.
_____________
The marriage of James Courts, son of Thomas and Ann Johnson Court, and Julia Ann Sparks, 13 year old daughter of John Sidney and Melinda Jones Sparks, brought together two of the founding families of lower East Texas. Thomas and Ann, with James as a baby, came to Sabine Pass about 1829/30. The historical marker in Sabine Pass Lion's Club Parks states that our Court Family and another family named McGaffey were here "as early" as 1832. Not only were they in Texas before it became a state, they were here during the time that it was part of Mexico, and in 1836, when it became a Republic in its own right. Our family can truly say we are mutli-generation Texans.

The Sparks arrived in Texas, traveling by covered wagon from Tennessee, in 1838, when Julia Ann was just two. They settled on Pavel's Island first, then came ashore at Sabine Lake and became the first permanent anglo inhabitants of what was called "Aurora", and which eventually became Port Arthur.

The Pioneer Spirit prevailed as both families withstood early life on the Gulf Coast. Yellow Fever, mosquitos, hurricanes and tropical storms, alligators and other wild creatues combined to make life harrowing and an adventure at the same time. Some of those stories will be included in other history items.

James and Julia began their married life in Aurora, and eventually built their own cabin. Julia's brothers, sisters, and some cousins married and remained in the area of Aurora. James' siblings stayed in the area of Sabine Pass and Port Arthur as well, although several moved away after they reached adulthood.

James and Julia had 13 children, most of who have descendents still living here in the Golden Triangle. We have located descendents of the other children as well.

James and Julia are featured in the Museum of the Gulf Coast in the section on "Aurora." Pictures of both of them and several other family members (Sparks) are on display.

_____________________________
Transcript of a land transfer:
James M Court : The State of Texas : 18 April 1856
To Transfer : County of Jefferson : (vol A pg 113-114)
Wm Burgett :

Know All Men by these presents:
That I, James Madison Court, eldest son of Thomas Court, deceased, of Orange County State of Texas for and in consideration of Seventy-Eight dollars paid to me by William Burgett of the County of Jefferson and State of Texas, have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain, sell, and convey unto the said William Burgett all the right, title, and interest which I have and hold in the headright League of Land Granted to Thomas Court, my Father now deceased whch Land is located on the waters of the Palo Pinto a tributary of the Brazos River, my interest being one seventh there being seven children of us of my Father's interest. The said William Burgett to have and to hold said interest in said land hereby conveyed to the said William Burgett his heirs and assigns forever for further description of said Land reference may be had to the field notes and Patent in testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal scrawl for seal this 18th day of April A.D. 1856.
In the Presence of Otis McGaffy (Notary Public)
_______________
1869

From: Debbie & Bryan Spurgeon
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 21:40:42
To: Sherry
Subject: Digging at the Orange Library


Hey Sherry,
I went digging at the Orange Library this evening. Actually came up with a book from the SE Texas Historical Society that showed some listings of civil cases filed in Beaumont in 1874/75.

James Courts and other family members were listed in several of them.

The files are in the Sam Houston Regional Library. They are:

File 106 - Case #517
Wesley Garner, administrator of Estate of Holland C.V. Edmondson vs. James Court - 1869

File 107 -
Wesley garner, administrator of Estate of Holland C.V. Edmondson vs. Lewis King (Lewis was Sarah Ann Court's husband) - 1869

File 108
same as above vs Sam Lee (Sam was married to Julia Ann's sister) -1869

Box 6
File #3 - Case 609
James Courts, C.C. Gientze vs. Charles W. Winn - 1874 - Postal Service (this one has me intriqued)

Case 610 has same infomration as Case 609

File # 51
Case #626
William Allison vs. James M. Court - 1875
______________

1865 listed in Confederate Indigent Families Lists of Texas 1863-1865 by Linda Mearse (avail thru Interlibrary loan)

______________

Civil War vet....he was a marksman in Speight's batallion Company B who served on the war-converted cotton boat steamer "Uncle Ben" and was involved in at least one Sabine Pass battle. (Frank Courts)

1870 Sparks and River Settlement:
res 95/77 val of real estate val of personal estate
Coats, Jim 40 Farmer, b. LA, 400, 2000
Julia, 34 keeping house TN
Mary, 18, at home TX
Clifton 16, mail rider
Nastebenthia 14 at home
William, 12, laborer
Madison 10, at home
Helmer 8, at home
Anne 3, at home
Lisa 8 at home TX

______________

1875 - listed in newspaper that he made a loan at a merchandise store in Beaumont so that he could farm that year and raise crops
______________

1880 census lists himself as wagoning age 50, from LA, father from Eng, mother from Louisiana. Household 211/220, next door to Clifton Court, his son. The children listed still living at home are Helmer, James, Anna, Lillian, Fannie, Emmet, and Viola.
____________

1890s, moved from Aurora upriver to around DuPont area. The family founded what became South Park ISD.
____________

Texas Revolution Page 2 p 9
listed: Courts, Jim Private, Captain Logans 3rd Company M.R. 43
____________

(Note from Kirby Courts:)
James "Jim" was one of the first Pony Express Riders in Texas. He carried mail from Sabine Pass to Harrisburg (Houston), Texas. He was also a farmer and cattleman. During the Texas Battle for Independence in 1836, James was on the muster Roll for Jefferson Co. George Hargraves organized the company. They were known as "Capt. Chessire's Company Volunteers." (Jefferson Co Historical Commission Veterans, Pt 1). The Book "Pioneer Remimscences of Jefferson County" by T.J. Russell, p 34, states in Sabine Pass "Thomas Courts and son, James Courts, were there with John McGaffey at an early day. Both are dead. Several children of James Courts are now in this county."
_________
To: archinfo@tsl.state.tx.us
8/19/98
Court, James M. 02271
Claimant: Court, James M.
Pension Number: 02271
County: Jefferson

Application approved Oct 7, 1899
Q. What is your name? Answer: James M. Courts
Q. What is your age? Answer: 69
Q. In what County do you reside? Answer: Jefferson
Q. How long have you resided in said County and what is your post office address?
Answer: 60 years, Beaumont.
Q. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate Pension law heretofore, and been rejected? If so, state when and where. Answer: No sir
Q. What is your occupation if able to engage in one: Answer: Farmer when able
Q. What is your physical condition: Answer: Bad
Q. If your physical condition is such that you are unable by your own labor to earn a support, state what caused such disability. Answer: broken leg, rupture
Q. State in what company and regiment you enlisted in the Confederate army, and the time of your service. Answer: Company "B" Speight's Battalion,
first called Liberman Batal.
Q. State whether or not you have received any pension or veteran donation land certificate under any previous law, and if you answer in the affirmative, state what pension or veteran donation land certificate you have received. Answer: No sir
Q. What real and personal property do you now own, and what is the present value of such property? Give list of such property and value. Answer: Five horses, $50.00 value of
them all, bring with on range.
Q. What property, and what was the value thereof have you sold or conveyed within two years prior to the date of this application? Answer: none
Q. What income, if any, do you receive? Answer: none
Q. Are you in indigent circumstances; that is, are you in actual want, and destitute of property and means of substistence? Answer: Yes sir
Q. Are you unable by your labor to earn a support? Answer: Yes sir
Q. Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? Answer: No sir
Q. Did you ever desert the Confederacy? Answer: No sir
Q. Have you been continuously since the first day of January, 1880, a bona fide resident citizen of this State? Answer: Yes sir
Wherefore your petitioner prays that his application be approved and that such other proceedings be had in the premises as are required by law.
(Signature of Applicant) J.M. (X) Court
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28 day of July A.D. 1899.
George O'Brien
County Judge, Jefferson County, Texas
(Signature of Witness) C. E. Hillebrandt
(Signature of Witness) Pierce (X) Fuige

Affidavit of Physician (abbreviated)
Dr. J.W. Cruse, practicing physician of this County, duly sworn, examined James M. Court and finds him laboring under the following disabilities which render him unable to labor at any work or calling sufficient to earn a support for himself: Broken leg in the ankle, can't use his foot., inguinal hernia which is very severe. Sworn 15 day of Aug 1899

Certificate of County Commissioners: signed 15 Aug 1899
(commissioners signed: A. Jroard (?) Pnct #1; H.T. Bist 2nd Pnct; B.J. Johnson Pnct 3; S. Landrum 4th Pnct)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to Ruth McVey, Pierre Fruge (Pierce Fuige) Confederate App was witnessed the day before James', on July 27, and was witnessed by Hillebrandt & James; also Judge O'Brien.
________________________________________
From Frank Courts: I also checked the article on the removal of graves from the private cemetery where Dupont is now located on Port Arthur Road in the 60's. It states that James M. And Julia were both found there and moved to Forest Lawn. It also lists the other graves, 22 in all, including a James F. (as you stated) and a James C. Court as being moved from there. I dont know why your list is different. I have been to Forest Lawn and have seen the moved graves. The remains were grouped under four headstones which say "T. F. Smith Homestead Tract Cemetery" or something similar. Forest Lawn does have the names listed, and Carroll Wallace funeral home has other records of the move, which they coordinated. T. F. Smith was somehow connected with the Sparks, I believe.
________________________________________
From: mac@lcc.net (Ruth A McVey)
To: lumoto@aol.com (Sherry Sharp)
Hi Sherry,
I received this info from a friend who "lives" genealogy and has been very helpful to me. His name is James A. Johnson age 75 who lives in Bellaire but doesn't have a computer. He sent the following:

1850 St. Landry #1996-2361 #455-455

Vigel Frozia 45 Farmer $800 Pers. LA (1850 Fruge 40)
Mary 46 (35) LA
Artimese 14 LA (17 Pierre, 10 Louisa, Artimese 8)
Susan 12 (6) LA
Uzenie 10 (1) LA (Eugene)
Useph 8 LA (Joseph?)
Phitestine 5 LA (Celestine?)
Alzemah 7/12 TX (Azema?)

#456-456

Pier Frozia 23 farm laborer LA (#1996-2361 1850 St Landry age 17)
Elizabeth 17 H.K. LA (b. TX)

Sherry I've written the above just as Mr. Johnson wrote it to me. Hope it's not to confusing. Artemeas/Artimese and Susan were sisters of Pierre but I don't find Denise. Could she have been born later?

I know that my GGF Pierre Frugia (Fruge) married a second time and had a son Lyman Frugia and a dgt. named Goldie. Lyman Frugia, Jr. and his wife Doris Ann live in Vidor and I've written to her twice sending her my data in hopes she would share but she hasn't.

From marriage books for Jefferson County I have Pier Fruge m. Julia Courta 14 Jul 1897 and Pierre Fruge m. Mrs. Lidia Cuniff 31 Aug 1891. I know that my GGF Pierre called his son Pierre "Peter" but I have nothing else. So I don't know who married whom.

You can say I'm still a novice when it comes to genealogy but I'm learning. Do you know if copies of Successions from LA can be ordered by mail? I found several Fruge's listed in Imperial Calcasieu and St. Landry Parish. Also listed were some Hayes. There is a book written by Shirley Burwell of Lake Charles I presume listing all the successions.

Any tips or suggestions are most welcome. Keep in touch.

Ruth

_________________________________

Residence:
according to Historical marker, his father arrived in Sabine Pass in 1832, arriving from the Lavaca Bay region.

Residence:
his sister Sara Court said to be the first white child born in Aurora under the Mexican Flag

Census:
24 Oct 1850 Sabine Pass

residence 215:
Milton H Bloodworth 25 1825 Louisiana
Nancy (Holt) Bloodworth 18 1832 Texas
Benjamin P Bloodworth 2 1848 Louisiana
William Bloodworth 1 1849 Louisiana
Benjamin Holt 55 1795 Mississippi
Thomas C Holt 50 1800 Mississippi
Thomas D Holt 4 1846 Louisiana
William Holt 53 1797 Mississippi
Mary Ann Holt 17 1833 Texas
Thomas R Holt 26 1824 Louisiana
Charles Holt 28 1822 Louisiana
William C Holt 15 1835 Louisiana
Richard Holt 13 1837 Louisiana

Residence 216
Stockholm, Peter D. 31 1819 New York carpenter
Mary 17 1833 Louisiana
William 2 1848 Texas
Elizabeth 0 1850 Texas

Residence 217
Brewer, William 23 1827 Louisiana
Brewer, Caroline 22 1828 Louisiana

Residence 218
Solomon Sparks 30 1820 Tennessee
Martha C Sparks 30 1829 South Carolina
Lucy Ann Sparks 8 1842 Tennessee
John L Sparks 6 1844 Tennessee
James E Sparks 3 1847 Louisiana
Mary Susan Sparks 1 1849 Texas
Jacob Sparks 22 1828 Tennessee

Residence 219
John S. Sparks 39 1811 North Carolina
Melinda Sparks 29 1821 Tennessee
Albert Sparks 9 1841 Texas
Eliza J. Sparks 7 1843 Texas
John F. Sparks 4 1846 Texas
Sarah C. Sparks 1 1849 Texas
James Court 22 1828 Louisiana
Julia Ann (Sparks) Courts 14 1836 Tennessee



Census:
12 Jul 1860 Precinct No. 5 Sabine Pass
residence 378
James Court 30 mail carrier 500 Louisiana
Julia 24 TN 1856 Tennessee
Mary E 8 1852 Texas
Henry C 6 1854 Texas
Julia A 4 1856 Texas
William F 2 1858 Texas
Elias M 6/12 1859 Texas

residence 379
John Sparks 49 1811 North Carolina farmer 320 2100
Malinda Sparks 41 1819 Tennessee
Albert Sparks 19 1841 Texas
John F Sparks 14 1856 Texas
Sarah C Sparks 11 1849 Texas
Arabella H Sparks 8 1852 Texas
James C Sparks 6 1854 Texas
Worthey C Sparks 4 1856 Texas
Henry E L Sparks 8/12 1859 Texas

residence 380
Samuel Lee 38 1822 Denmark stock raiser 4,000
Eliza 16 1844 Texas


Military:
Name: J M Courts
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Texas
Service Record: Enlisted in Company B, Texas 11th Cavalry Battalion.

Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records
--
Name: J M Courts
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Texas
Service Record: Enlisted in Company I, Texas 13th Infantry Regiment.

Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records



Census:
Residence 77
Coats (Courts) J.M. 40 1830 Louisiana 400, 2,000 farmer
Julia 34 1836 Tennessee
Mary 18 1852 Texas
Clifton 16 1854 Texas
Nasthentha 14 1856 Texas
William 12 1858 Texas
Madison E. 10 1860 Texas
ekner 8 1862 Texas
James 5 1865 Texas
Anna 3 1867 Texas
Lisa 8 1862 Texas

residence 78
Sparks M (Melinda) 51 1819 at home Tennessee widow
James 17 1853 Texas farm laborer
Worthy 14 1856 Texas
John 27 1843 Texas farmer

residence 79
Spark, C (Caroline) 50 1820 SC keeping house widow
Edwin 23 1847 Louisiana
Joseph 16 1854 Texas
Oscar 14 Texas
Court T.J. 27 1843 Texas (Thomas Jefferson - bro of James Court)

residence 80
Brewton W.P. 33 1837 Tennessee
Sarah (Sparks) 22 1848 Texas (Dau of Melinda)
Grace 5 1865 TX
Silas F. 8/12 1869 TX

residence 81
Lee, Samuel 52 1818 farmer 1580 Denmark
Jane E. 27 1843 Texas
Emma 3 1867 Texas


residence 82
Smith. T.J. 34 farmer 500 Indiana (Later would marry Mary Ellen Courts
Sarah 25 Texas
Electra 3/12 Texas


Census:
12 Jun 1880 Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas

210 Court, William 21 work at saw mill TX - TX
Darinda, 22 wife Texas Georgia Texas
Danie 3 dau TX
Benton 1 son TX


211
J.M. COURT Self M Male W 50 LA Wagoning ENGLAND LA
Julia A. COURT Wife M Female W 43 TN Keeping House NC AL
Helma (Helmer) COURT Son S Male W 18 TX Wagoner LA TN
James COURT Son S Male W 15 TX At Home LA TN
Annie COURT Dau S Female W 12 TX At Home LA TN
Lillian COURT Dau S Female W 8 TX At Home LA TN
Fannie COURT Dau S Female W 5 TX At Home LA TN
Emmet COURT Son S Male W 3 TX At Home LA TN
Viola COURT Dau S Female W 11M TX At Home LA TN

213
Court, Clifton 25 1855 raftsman TX LA TN
Fannie 26 1854 TX TN TN
Ella M. 3 1877 TX


(Peter Stockholm & Pierre Frugia in this community. No Sparks or Blocks or Burrrells. Must be Beaumont proper.)



Other-Begin:
Court Cause No. 16107
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al

Court Cause No. 18399
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Robert S. Frugia, et al


Court Cause No. 20324
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr. et al
vs.
Coy V. Courts, et al (Sr.)

On this 10th day of August 1961, came on to be heard the application of the plaintiffs in the above entitled and numbered cause for an order of the court showing that the plaintiffs have complied with the judgments previously entered in said cause and further showing that the plaintiffs or their successors in interest are entitled to the free and unrestricted use of the land hereinafter described, as set forth in plaintiff's petition in the above entitled and numbered causes...
(pgs 10-13 of attached pdf)

James* married Julia* Ann Sparks on 15 Oct 1850 in Jefferson Co, Texas. Julia* (daughter of John Sidney* Sparks and Melinda* Jones, (maybe dau?)) was born on 13 Oct 1836 in Franklin Co, Tennessee; died on 25 Jan 1925 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried on 26 Jan 1925 in McFaddin, TF Smith Homestead, Forest Lawn Cem, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 24 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 12 Jul 1860, Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 23 Jun 1870, Sparks and River Settlement, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 12 Jun 1880, Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Residence: 1904, 1 blk w of 747 South Grand Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 23 May 1910, Beaumont (Precinct 6), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Residence: Between 1913 and 1925, 1598 Cartright, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; D.C.
• Other-Begin: 22 Mar 1936, Port Arthur News, Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Other-Begin: 30 Sep 1952, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves
• Other-Begin: 10 Aug 1961, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas; court case: Smith graves

Notes:

1910 Julia Courts, age 73; b TN; living w/
514/537 Thomas F. Smith 51 head
Mary E 57 wife TX father TX mother TN
Brewer Belle D - step-dau 26 TX LA TX
Smith James T son 22
Ella V dau 16
Court Julia A mother in law - 73
Sparks William E cousin 59

515/538 Courts Matt E head 49
Mary E wife 49
Coy G son 15
Emma S dau 8
Emmet M bro 34
_____________________
(Notes of Kirby Courts:)
Julia was the daughter of John and Melinda Sparks, who came to Texas from North Carolina in the 1850s. Julia was probably born in Tennessee in about 1836. She lived to be 89 years old and spent most of her life in Jefferson Co, Texas. Shried James M. Court when she was 13 years old. They lived in Sabine Pass, Texas, during their first years of marriage. The older family members state that they remained there until the late 1880s. Severe hurricanes at this time destroyed the settlement on a number of occasions. The family moved to the Nederland-Port Neches area, away from the beach area. They remained there till their deaths and were buried in the old Sparks Cemetry. The cemetery is the present site of the DuPont Chemical plant. In 1952 all the bodies were reburied at Magnolia (sic) Cemetery. -- they were reburied in Forest Lawn

To: archinfo@tsl.state.tx.us
8/19/98
Court, Julia Ann 11498
Claimant: Court, Julia Ann
Pension Number: 11498
County: Jefferson

Approved March 6, 1925
The State of Texas
County of Jefferson

To the Honorable County Judge of Jefferson County, Texas,
Your petition, Mrs. Julia Ann Court, respectfully represents that she is a resident citizen of Jefferson County, in the State of Texas; that she is the widow of Jas M Court, deceased, who was a Confederate soldier (or sailor), and that she ms this application for the purpose of obtaining a pension as the widow of said James M. Court, deceased...
Q. What is your name? Answer: Julia Ann Court
Q. What is your age? Answer: I will be 69 years old October
Q. In what County do you reside? Answer: Jefferson
Q. How long have you resided in said County and what is your post office address?
Answer: About 65 years. P.O. Beaumont, Texas
Q. Have you applied for a pension under the Confederate pension Law heretofore, and been rejected? If so, state when and where. Answer: No.
Q. What is your occupation if able to engage in one? Answer: Have ironed, unable to work Q. What is your physical condition? Answer: Enfebled by age
Q. What was the name of your deceased husband? Answer: James M Court
Q. Were you married to him anterior to March 1, 1866? Answer: I was married to my
husband in 1860 Orange Co, Tex
Q. What was the date of his death? Answer: He died in February 1891
Q. Are you unmarried, and have you so remained unmarried since the death of your said husband for whose services you claim a pension? Answer: Yes.
Q. In what State was your husband's command originally organized?
Answer: in Jefferson Co, Texas
Q. How long did your husband serve? Give date of enlistment and discharge.
Answer: about 4 years. He
enlisted about June 1961.
Q. What was the name or letter of your husband's company and name or number of his regiment? Answer: Don't know letter of Co.
Capt Keith's Co (Griffith?)
Q. State whether he served in the infantry, artillery, cavalry, or the navy.
Answer: infantry
Q. State wither or not you have received any pension or veteran donation land certificate under any previous law, and if you answer in the affirmative state what pension or veteran donation land certificate you hae received. Answer: None at all - my husband
drew a Confederate pension in his life time.
Q. What real and personal property do you now own, and what is the present value of such property? Give list of such property and value. Answer: Don't own any property.
Q. What property, and what was the value thereof, have you sold or conveyed within two years prior to the date of this application? Answer: None
Q. What income, if any, do you receive? Answer: Nothing
Q. Are you in indigent circumstances; that is, are you in actual want, and destitute of property and means of subsistence? Answer: Yes.
Q. Are you unable by your labor to earn a support? Answer: Yes.
Q. Have you transferred to others any property of value of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law? Answer: No.
Q. Did your husband for whose services you claim a pension, ever desert the Confederacy?
Answer: No.
Q. Have you been continuously since the first day of March, 1880, a bona fide resident citizen of this State? Answer: Yes.
(Signature of Applicant) Julia Ann Court
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of August, A.D. 1905
D.P. Wheat, County Judge, Jefferson Co, TX
Affidavit of Witnesses:
B.J. Johnson and R.D. Kent
sworn to 10 October 1905

Certificate of County Judge, D.P. Wheat, issued October 10, 1905.

Affidavit sworn to by C.E. Hillebrandt 10th day Oct, 1905
The State of Texas } Before me D.P.
County of Jefferson } Wheat, County Judge
Jefferson County Texas on this day personally appeared C.E. Hillebrandt known to me, who being by me duly sworn says that he was personally acquainted with James Court who is an applicant for a confederate pension, that he knew James Court for more than 50 years, that he served in the confederate army with James Court in the same company viz Capt. Keith's Company, Speight's Batallion, does not recollect letter of company, but he served with him in the years 1862-1863 when he was transferred to Capt. O'Brien's Company and he remained in Keith's Company where he served until the end of war and was finally discharged. He said that he never deserted and was finally discharged, and he had reputation of being fine soldier. He was in one of the battles of Sabine Pass, can't recollect, which, I know his wife is feeble and in indigent circumstances.
(signed) C.E. Hillebrandt
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 10th day October, 1905.
(signed) D.P. Wheat, County Judge

Certificate of County Commissioners: Issued 13 November 1905.
(commissioners who signed: Mally Eastham, H.F. Bist, B.J. Johnson, S.C. Bigham)

Comptroller's Department, State of Texas, Austin Febry 12, 1906
To the Military Secretary, War Department, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I have the honor to request the military record of James M. Court who was reported to have enlisted in Company Keith's 15 Regiment, Texas Infantry in the service of the Confederate States army.
Purpose: The widow of the person above named is an applicant for a Confederate pension granted by this State, and I desire to verify his proof of service.
Very respectfully,
J.W. Stephens, Comptroller

from: War Department,
The Military Secretary's Office,
Washington,
Feb. 17, 1906
1101576

Respectfully returned to
The Comptroller, State of Texas, Austin,

The name of James Court has not been found on the rolls, on file in this office, of the 15th Regiment Texas Infantry, C.S.A.
The records show, however, that one J.M. Court, private, Captain Keith's Company (B), Spaight's Battalion Texas Infantry, C.S.A. (subsequently designated Keith's Company (I), 13th Texas infantry, C.S.A.), enlisted May 28, 1862, at Sabine. On the company muster roll for May and June, 1863, he is reported absent, detailed on gunboat "Uncle Ben," January 10, 1863; and on the company muster roll for January and February, 1864, the next and last roll on file, he is reported "absent without leave." No record of his capture or parole has been found.
(signed) The Military Secretary
______
Application for Mortuary Warrant:
Submitted by Mrs. Mary E. Smith (daughter) 1598 Cartwright Avenue, P.O. Box 864, Beaumont, Texas, sworn to 11th day of March, 1925, stating she was "person to whom is entrusted the paying of the accounts and indebtedness of the late Mrs. Julia A. Court, who was a petitioner of the State of Texas, and whose file number was 11498, and whose original county was Jefferson.
"The said pensioner died in the home of Mrs. Mary E. Smith who was related to the pensioner as Daughter.

Certificate of Undertaker:
C.M. Saunders, undertaker, Beaumont, had charge of body of Julia Ann Court, who died 25 January 1925, Pipkin & Brulin Co, Undertakers.

Certificate of Physician:
Joe Record, M.D., "attended Mrs. Julia Ann Court in her last illness, and am of the opinion that her ailments were gangrenous appendicitis."
______
Death Certificate: (Registered No.: 45)
Mrs. Julia Ann Court 1598 Cartwright, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas Resident 12 years.
Personal:
Female, White, widow
Occupation: None
Date of Birth 13 Oct 1837.
Age: 88 yrs 3 mons, 11 days.
Birthplace: Tenn.
Name of Father: John Sparks, birthplace unknown
Maiden name of Mother: Melinda Jones, birth place Tenn.
Informant: Miss Vivian Smith, Beaumont, Tx.
Medical:
Date of Death: Jan 25, 1925
"I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Jan 21, 1925 to Jan 25, 1925, that I last saw her alive on Jan 25, 1925 and that death occurred on the date stated above at 12:45 pm." The cause of death was: Ruptured Chronic Appendicitis, duon 3 years.
Operation precede death: No.
Autopsy: No
Test confirmed diagnosis: Clinical
Signed: Joe Record, M.D. 1/26/1925
Place of Burial: McFaddin Cemetery 1/26/1925; Undertaker Pipkin & Brulin, Beaumont, Tx.

Census:
24 Oct 1850 Sabine Pass

residence 215:
Milton H Bloodworth 25 1825 Louisiana
Nancy (Holt) Bloodworth 18 1832 Texas
Benjamin P Bloodworth 2 1848 Louisiana
William Bloodworth 1 1849 Louisiana
Benjamin Holt 55 1795 Mississippi
Thomas C Holt 50 1800 Mississippi
Thomas D Holt 4 1846 Louisiana
William Holt 53 1797 Mississippi
Mary Ann Holt 17 1833 Texas
Thomas R Holt 26 1824 Louisiana
Charles Holt 28 1822 Louisiana
William C Holt 15 1835 Louisiana
Richard Holt 13 1837 Louisiana

Residence 216
Stockholm, Peter D. 31 1819 New York carpenter
Mary 17 1833 Louisiana
William 2 1848 Texas
Elizabeth 0 1850 Texas

Residence 217
Brewer, William 23 1827 Louisiana
Brewer, Caroline 22 1828 Louisiana

Residence 218
Solomon Sparks 30 1820 Tennessee
Martha C Sparks 30 1829 South Carolina
Lucy Ann Sparks 8 1842 Tennessee
John L Sparks 6 1844 Tennessee
James E Sparks 3 1847 Louisiana
Mary Susan Sparks 1 1849 Texas
Jacob Sparks 22 1828 Tennessee

Residence 219
John S. Sparks 39 1811 North Carolina
Melinda Sparks 29 1821 Tennessee
Albert Sparks 9 1841 Texas
Eliza J. Sparks 7 1843 Texas
John F. Sparks 4 1846 Texas
Sarah C. Sparks 1 1849 Texas
James Court 22 1828 Louisiana
Julia Ann (Sparks) Courts 14 1836 Tennessee



Census:
12 Jul 1860 Precinct No. 5 Sabine Pass
residence 378
James Court 30 mail carrier 500 Louisiana
Julia 24 TN 1856 Tennessee
Mary E 8 1852 Texas
Henry C 6 1854 Texas
Julia A 4 1856 Texas
William F 2 1858 Texas
Elias M 6/12 1859 Texas

residence 379
John Sparks 49 1811 North Carolina farmer 320 2100
Malinda Sparks 41 1819 Tennessee
Albert Sparks 19 1841 Texas
John F Sparks 14 1856 Texas
Sarah C Sparks 11 1849 Texas
Arabella H Sparks 8 1852 Texas
James C Sparks 6 1854 Texas
Worthey C Sparks 4 1856 Texas
Henry E L Sparks 8/12 1859 Texas

residence 380
Samuel Lee 38 1822 Denmark stock raiser 4,000
Eliza 16 1844 Texas


Census:
77 Coats (Courts) J.M. 40 1830 Louisiana 400, 2,000 farmer
Julia 34 1836 Tennessee
Mary 18 1852 Texas
Clifton 16 1854 Texas
Nasthentha 14 1856 Texas
William 12 1858 Texas
Madison E. 10 1860 Texas
Helmer 8 1862 Texas <<<
James 5 1865 Texas
Anna 3 1867 Texas
Lisa 8 1862 Texas

residence 78
Sparks M (Melinda) 51 1819 at home Tennessee widow
James 17 1853 Texas farm laborer
Worthy 14 1856 Texas
John 27 1843 Texas farmer

residence 79
Spark, C (Caroline) 50 1820 SC keeping house widow
Edwin 23 1847 Louisiana
Joseph 16 1854 Texas
Oscar 14 Texas
Court T.J. 27 1843 Texas (Thomas Jefferson - bro of James Court)

residence 80
Brewton W.P. 33 1837 Tennessee
Sarah (Sparks) 22 1848 Texas (Dau of Melinda)
Grace 5 1865 TX
Silas F. 8/12 1869 TX

residence 81
Lee, Samuel 52 1818 farmer 1580 Denmark
Jane E. 27 1843 Texas
Emma 3 1867 Texas


residence 82
Smith. T.J. 34 farmer 500 Indiana (Later would marry Mary Ellen Courts
Sarah 25 Texas
Electra 3/12 Texas


Census:
12 Jun 1880 Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas

210 Court, William 21 work at saw mill TX - TX
Darinda, 22 wife Texas Georgia Texas
Danie 3 dau TX
Benton 1 son TX


211
J.M. COURT Self M Male W 50 LA Wagoning ENGLAND LA
Julia A. COURT Wife M Female W 43 TN Keeping House NC AL
Helma (Helmer) COURT Son S Male W 18 TX Wagoner LA TN
James COURT Son S Male W 15 TX At Home LA TN
Annie COURT Dau S Female W 12 TX At Home LA TN
Lillian COURT Dau S Female W 8 TX At Home LA TN
Fannie COURT Dau S Female W 5 TX At Home LA TN
Emmet COURT Son S Male W 3 TX At Home LA TN
Viola COURT Dau S Female W 11M TX At Home LA TN

213
Court, Clifton 25 1855 raftsman TX LA TN
Fannie 26 1854 TX TN TN
Ella M. 3 1877 TX


(Peter Stockholm & Pierre Frugia in this community. No Sparks or Blocks or Burrrells. Must be Beaumont proper.)


Residence:
Court, Edgar B., wks United Lbr & Export Co, h. James F. Court.
Court, Emmett, wks United Lbr & Export Co., r. 1 blk w of same.
Court, Homer, wks United Lbr & Export Co. h. James F. Court
Court, H. Clifton, watchman mill, A, Kirby Lumber Co., r 747 South Grand ave, Cartwright add. 8
Court, James F., wks United Lbr & Export Co., r 1 blk w of same. 4
Court, Julia A. (wid James), h. Emmett Court
Court, S. Helmer, carp r 350 Jackson ave, 5
(five children - Bea, age 8; Hal age 6; Gladys age 3; abt 2; Lillian born 22 Jan 1904)

Census:
(Near McFaddin)
residence 537
Smith, Thomas F. 51 1859 Texas USA USA m1 23 yrs farmer truck and corn
Mary E. wife 57 57 1853 Texas m2 7 births 6 living
Brewer, Bella D. stepdaughter 26 1884 single
Smith, James T. son 22 1888 Texas laborer oil fields
Smith Ella V. daughter 16 1894 Texas
Courts Julia A. mother-in-law 73 1837 widow TN USA USA
Sparks, William E. cousin 59 1851 single Texas Texas Texas
laborer truck farm

residence 538
Courts Matte E. 49 1861 Texas Texas Texas m2 21 yrs farmer truck farm
Mary E. wife 49 1861 m2 10 births 8 living Texas NY Texas
Coy G. son 16 1894 Texas
Emma S. daughter 8 1902 Texas
Emmet M. brother 34 1876 single Texas Texas Texas farmer truck farm


Other-Begin:
Court Cause No. 16107
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Unknown Heirs of Caroline Sparks, et al

Court Cause No. 18399
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr., et al
vs
Robert S. Frugia, et al

Court Cause No. 20324
W.P.H. McFaddin, Jr. et al
vs.
Coy V. Courts, et al (Sr.)

On this 10th day of August 1961, came on to be heard the application of the plaintiffs in the above entitled and numbered cause for an order of the court showing that the plaintiffs have complied with the judgments previously entered in said cause and further showing that the plaintiffs or their successors in interest are entitled to the free and unrestricted use of the land hereinafter described, as set forth in plaintiff's petition in the above entitled and numbered causes...
(pgs 10-13 of attached pdf)


Buried:
d.c. widowed, res 1598 Cartwright
residence there 12 yrs.
88 yr. 3 mos 11 days
birthplace, TN, Father: John Sparks, birthplace unk;
mother Melinda Jones, birthplace, Tenn.
cause of death, ruptured chronic appendicitis
died at 12:45 p.m.
informant, Miss Vivian Smith


Died:
Mrs. Julia Ann Court.

Funeral services for Julia Ann (Sparks) Court, 88, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Smith, 1598 Cartwright, at 12:45 p.m. Sunday. Services were held at the late residence at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon with Rev. J. W. Goodwin of the Roberts Avenue Methodist church officiating. Burial was in McFaddin cemetery at Port Arthur under direction of Pipkin & Burlin Company. (Note - Should have been called Sparks Cemetery as it was a Sparks Cemetery first) Mrs. Court was a pioneer Beaumonter, and had lived here 86 years. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Messie Brewton of Beaumont and Mrs. Jane Lee of Port Neches; one brother, W. C. Sparks Beaumont; three daughter Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. J. L Sparks and Mrs. Annie Willis all of Beaumont, and 57 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

I'm sure Solomon Sparks and a number of other kinfolks or buried in the Sparks's Cemetery. Do not know for sure when the Sparks's Cemetery was closed.
(cemetery was exhumed and moved to Forest Lawn, see Cemeteries section)

shared by James Willis Sparks29 -- author?

Notes:

Married:
Name: James Courts
Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1850

Spouse: Julia Ann Sparks

Marriage County: Jefferson
Marriage State: Texas

Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1311466


license 12th day of October 1850 by I.K. Robertsosn, county clerk
marriage 15th day of October 1850 by William Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1832, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Property: Bef 1 May 1838, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 23 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 11 Jul 1860, Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 1870, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas

Notes:

Texas State Historical Association
(a digital Gateway to Texas History)


JOHNSON, BENJAMIN

JOHNSON, BENJAMIN (1815?1872). Benjamin Johnson, soldier, early settler, and son of Moses Johnson and Mary Ann Roberts was born on June 8, 1815, near Edgerly (in present-day Calcasieu Parish), Louisiana. He moved to Texas in 1832 and settled at Jefferson Municipality (present-day Bridge City in Orange County) on Cow Bayou.

Johnson volunteered to fight in the Texas Revolution and enlisted in the Texas Army on November 12, 1835, under Capt. Willis H. Landrum?s Company. He participated in the Grass Fight and the siege of Bexar later that year. Johnson was given an honorable discharge on January 1, 1836, at the Alamo. After learning of the fall of the Alamo, he re-enlisted in Capt. James Gillaspie?s Company, in the Second Regiment of Texas Volunteers under Col. Sidney Sherman?s command. On April 21, Sherman formed part of the regiment of the left wing and fought in the battle of San Jacinto. On June 30, Johnson served a third enlistment as second sergeant in Capt. John G. W. Pierson?s Company at Washington. He received an honorable discharge on September 30, 1836.

After service, Johnson received a donation of 320 acres of land for having served in the army. He returned to Jefferson, where on January 24, 1838, he received a 1,440-acre headright from the Jefferson County Board of Land Commissioners.

On April 24, 1838, Johnson married Rachel Garner, daughter of Bradley Garner, Sr., and Sarah Rachel Harmon. Rachel was from a family of military service. Her father fought in the Battle of New Orleans, and her brothers David, Isaac, and Jacob Garner fought at the Grass Fight and the Siege of Bexar. Her brother-in-law Claiborne West was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Soon after marriage Johnson and his new wife settled in Sabine Pass on a farm of his sister-in-law Sarah Garner McGaffey. Records show that Benjamin and Rachel Johnson were one of the earliest settlers in Sabine Pass along with John McGaffey, Thomas Courts, and Jacob Garner. Johnson then appeared before the land commissioners and received an additional headright of 3,000 acres, granted to married men. He and Rachel became the parents of at least eight sons and two daughters.

On July 7, 1838, Johnson was granted an additional 640 acres of donation land for having fought at the battle of San Jacinto. That same year, he was certified as one of fifty-seven jurors to serve in the Jefferson County courts. He was elected a county commissioner on December 2, 1852. He and his family were charter members of the second Baptist Church of Jefferson County.

Rachel Johnson died in 1856. On July 4, 1861, Johnson married Matilda Myers, whom he had employed as his housekeeper. Later that year in August, Benjamin Johnson joined his three sons, Bradley, John, and Uriah Johnson, and served under Ben McCulloch in the Confederate Army. In addition to his military and public service, Johnson was a farmer, stockman, and patriarch. Benjamin Johnson died at the age of fifty-seven at Sabine Pass on October 13, 1872, and was buried at the Johnson family plot at the Sabine Pass Cemetery in Jefferson County. A Texas Historical Marker was erected in his honor in 1972.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Herbert C. Banks II, ed., Daughters of the Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album (Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2001). W.T. Block, ?Benjamin Johnson: Veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto?

(http;//www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/BenjaminJohnson.htm), accessed July 1, 2010. W. T. Block, A History of Jefferson County, Texas, from Wilderness to Reconstruction (M.A. thesis, Lamar University, 1974; Nederland, Texas: Nederland Publishing, 1976). Historical Marker Files, Texas Historical Commission, Austin. Republic of Texas Claims, Archives and Manuscripts Division, Texas State Library and Archives, Austin.
Jimmy Johnson

The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article.
Jimmy Johnson, "JOHNSON, BENJAMIN," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fjoda), accessed February 07, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fjoda

---------
Benjamin Johnson - Sabine Pass, Jefferson County, Texas
Address:
Directions: Sabine Pass Cemetery, off SH 870
Marker #: 5245010538
Year Dedicated: 1972
Size, type: 24" x 18"
Last reported condition: Fair
Benjamin Johnson - (1815-1872) Born in Louisiana; settled in Texas in 1832. Fought in victorious Texas Army at Bexar, Dec. 1835; in Capt. James Gillaspie's company, 2nd Regiment, Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. Married (1) 1838, Rachel Garner, who died 1856; (2) 1861, Matilda Myers. Esteemed and respected, he was a farmer, stockman, patriarch.
Decimal degrees: N 29.717963 W -93.904609
Degrees, minutes: N 29 43.078 W 093 54.277
UTM: Zone 15, Easting 412505, Northing 3287876



http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5245010538#


Sabine Pass Cemetery - The oldest continually used cemetery in Jefferson County, This graveyard has served the citizens of the Sabine Pass area since the 1840s. The earliest documented grave is that of a 12-year-old John A. Dashiell, son of William V.C. and Mary Dashiell, who died on August 27, 1847. The large site now known as Sabine Pass Cemetery represents a combination of five formerly distinct burial grounds. Included in what was once called "The Colored Peoples Cemetery" is the unmarked grave of 108-year-old Louis Williams. Born a slave in Mississippi in 1813, Williams died on June 23, 1921. Among the burials in this historic graveyard are those of many distinguished military veterans. Able Coffin (1792-1862) and Burwell Jackson (1783-1864) fought in the War of 1812. Jacob Harmon Garner (1814-1887), Benjamin Johnson (1815-1872) and Niles F. Smith (1800-1858) were Texas Revolution veterans. Soldiers and sailors from both the Union and Confederate forces of the Civil War also are interred here. The two Union sailors Patrick Ferlin and Albert W. Marshall, died of wounds sustained during the offshore naval encounter on January 21, 1863, while serving on the ship Morning Light. A number of Confederate veterans rest in the cemetery, as does Kate Dorman, dubbed "the heroine of Sabine Pass" for her assistance of the southern troops. A number of graves have been specially marked with military or state historical markers. Maintained by Jefferson County and cared for by local volunteer organizations, the Sabine Pass Cemetery remains in use by citizens of the area. Its historic gravestones and monuments provide a unique component of the cultural history of Jefferson County. (1999)

http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5245011949

First Settlers of Jefferson Co, Texas by Gifford White
Land Grants in Texas: 45th Applicant: Benjamin Johnson took and Subscribed to the oath required by the 12th Secretary of Land Law that he emigrated to Texas in 1832. It was proven that he was a citizen of Texas at the date of the Declaration of Independence by the oath of Bradley Garner and Jacob Garner.
166th Applicant: (returns for more since he married 24 Apr 1838, which increased his entitlement)
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Texas Revolution Page 9 p 16
Jefferson County Heroes of San Jacinto
Johnson, Benjamin: Benjamin Johnson enlisted as a private in Captain James Gillaspie's Company, Second Regiment. Texas Volunteers, Sixth Company, Infantry.
Benjamin Johnson, born June 8, 1815, died October 13, 1872, is buried in Sabine Pass Cemetery, Jefferson County. He has received a Texas Historical Commission marker. (see also Yellowed Pages, Vol II, No. 6-10 for biographical data by W.Tck - MSW)"
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1850 Census, also living in his household were John Hill, 23 (b 1827) a carpenter from England; and William Harris 36 (b 1814), a cabinet maker, also from England, and RACHEL COURT, age 13 (b 1837). Rachel's father THOMAS COURT had recently drowned.
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The 1860 Sabine Pass census listed Benjamin Johnson with his 8 children.
Also listed in the household was MATILDA MYERS 28 House Keeper
and George White 25 Laborer LA.
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1870 Census - Sabine Pass, also living in his household was E. Gibson age 78 born MS (brother)
(this is prob Uriah Gibson, bro-in law)
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Listed: Sabine Pass Cemetery, page 4
Johnson, Benjamin, Historical marker erected Oct 14, 1972, original stone stolen "1815-1872 Born in Louisiana; settled in Texas in 1832. Fought in victorious Texas Army at Bexar, Dec. 1835; In Capt. James Gillaspie's Company, 2nd Regiment, Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. Married (1) 1838, Rachel Garner, who died 1856; (2) 1861, Matilda Myers. Esteemed and respected, he was a farmer, stockman, Patriarch. recorded - 1972."

Matilda applied for as a widow for Benjamin's Confederate Pension.

Property:
Benjamin Johnson two thirds of league and Labor
immigrated to Texas in 1832

Census:
res 210 Jacob H Garner 36 LA
Matilda (Hayes) Garner 22 LA
Anna Garner 10 1840 TX
Martha Ann Garner 8 1842 TX
Leonard Garner 3 1947 TX
Mary Ann Garner 6 1844 TX
Sally Ann Garner 0 1850 TX
Sarah Ann Court 16 1834 TX Sarah and Matilda 1st cousis. Their mothers were sisters. Sarah and Rachel were sisters.

res 208
Johnson Berry 35 1815 LA
Rachel 33 1817 LA
Wesley 10 1840 TX
Bradley 9 1841 TX
John 7 1843 TX
Uriah 4 1846 TX
Joseph 2 1848 TX
Berry Amin 1 1849 TX
Court, Rachel 13 1813 niece, her mother was Berry's sister.


Census:
11 Jul 1860 Sabine Pass (Precinct 5) page 60
Residence 355
Heminway Edward P 1808 Massachusetts engineer
Heminway Mary N 43 1817 Massachusetts
Heminway Sarah L 15 1845 South Carolina
Heminway William H 10 1850 Texas
Heminway Franklin T 7 1853 Texas
Heminway Charles A 4 1856 Texas
Heminway Eustace 1 1859 Texas

Residence 356
Stockholmn Peter D 45 1815 New York pilot steamboat 2500, 300
Stockholmn Mary 27 1833 Louisiana
Stockholmn William 12 1848 Texas
Stockholmn Elisabeth 10 1850 Texas
Stockholmn Peter D 8 1852 Texas
Stockholmn George W 5 1855 Texas
Stockholmn Mary E 6/12 1859 Texas
Miller Wm 25 1835 New York carpenter
Keith Ellen 15 1845 Texas student

Residence 357
Mass William 40 1820 Germany farmer 1,000; 2,000
Mass Charlottie 27 1833 Germany
Mass Sellenah 13 1847 Louisiana
Mass Almina 11 1849 F Texas
Mass Charles 8 1852 Texas
Mass Henry 6 1854 Me Texas
Mass Roadolph 4 1856 Texas
Mass Martha 2 1858 Texas
Mass Jessee 11/12 1859 Texas } twins
Mass Sarah 11/12 1859 Texas }
Cha Patrick 18 1842 Ireland laborer

Residence 358
Mccall James 29 1831 Illinois laborer 400; 1,000
Mccall Anny 20 1840 Texas
Mccall Theresah 3 1857 Texas
Mccall Jacob 1 1859 Texas
Hayes Nancy 8 1852 Texas <
Johnson John 17 1843 Louisiana laborer

Residence 359
Garner Jacob 46 1814 Louisiana farmer 3,000; 4,000
Garner Matilda 43 1817 Louisiana
Garner Mary A 15 1845 Texas
Garner Leonard 13 1847 Texas
Garner Sally A 10 1850 Texas
Garner Millon 7 1853 Texas
Garner Alliee 5 1855 Texas

next page, Page 61
residence 359 cont.
Garner, Bradley 10/12 1859 Texas
Hayes, Matilda* 10 1850 Texas <


residence 361
McCall John 27 1833 Illinois laborer 200; 1,000
Hayes, Alzina 12 1848 Texas <
Hayes, Mary 6 1854 Texas <
Gallier, Mary* 64 1796 Louisiana midwife

residence 362
Robert Gibson 30 steam boating England 200
Ann 18 Louisiana
Jesse E. 8/12 Texas

residence: 363
Morgan, Alvin 21 1839 Louisiana stock minder
Eliza 17 1843 Texas
Almond 2 1858
Leonard 3/12 1860
Myers, Malissa 15 1845 Texas spinster
Gallier, Frances 65 1795 Louisiana laborer

residence 364
Johnson, Benjamin 1815 Louisiana farmer 200
Bradley 20 1840 Texas laborer 600; 6,000
John 17 1843 Texas
Uriah 14 1846 Texas
Joseph 13 1847 Texas
Benjamin 11 1849 Texas
Isaac 9 1851 Texas
Elizabeth 7 1853 Texas
Rachel 5 1855 Texas
Myers, Matilda 28 1832 Louisiana
White, George 25 1835 Louisiana laborer

residence 365
McGaffey, Neal Jr. 22 farmer 5690; 1,000
Rachel J. 17
John W. 1/12
Sarah McGaffey 57 "lady of Leashure" 2,000; 5,400 Louisiana


Census:
1870
B (Benjamin) Johnson 54 farmer Louisiana 1600 1200
Matilda Johnson 37 Louisiana
Elizabeth Johnson 17 Texas
Rachel Johnson 15 Texas
E Gibson 78 female boarding 500, Mississippi (1792)
Simantha Peroto 4 Louisiana
A Dowden 22 laborer Louisiana
Charles Revia 16 laborer Texas

next door on either side:
Uriah and Lucinda Johnson
and W.I. McGaffey and wife Rachel T.

Benjamin married Matilda Myers on 4 Jul 1861 in Jefferson Co, Texas. Matilda (daughter of Benjamin Myers and Amelia "Milly" Hayes) was born on 22 Jan 1831 in Louisiana; died in 1896 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Sabine Pass Cem, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 1833; headstone
• Census: 11 Jul 1860, Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
• Census: 1880, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas

Notes:

Birth:
Mathilda MAYER b. 22 Jan 1831, GC Ch. v. 2, p, 20
(Hebert's SWLR v. 3, p. 453)

Census:
11 Jul 1860 Sabine Pass (Precinct 5) page 60
Residence 355
Heminway Edward P 1808 Massachusetts engineer
Heminway Mary N 43 1817 Massachusetts
Heminway Sarah L 15 1845 South Carolina
Heminway William H 10 1850 Texas
Heminway Franklin T 7 1853 Texas
Heminway Charles A 4 1856 Texas
Heminway Eustace 1 1859 Texas

Residence 356
Stockholmn Peter D 45 1815 New York pilot steamboat 2500, 300
Stockholmn Mary 27 1833 Louisiana
Stockholmn William 12 1848 Texas
Stockholmn Elisabeth 10 1850 Texas
Stockholmn Peter D 8 1852 Texas
Stockholmn George W 5 1855 Texas
Stockholmn Mary E 6/12 1859 Texas
Miller Wm 25 1835 New York carpenter
Keith Ellen 15 1845 Texas student

Residence 357
Mass William 40 1820 Germany farmer 1,000; 2,000
Mass Charlottie 27 1833 Germany
Mass Sellenah 13 1847 Louisiana
Mass Almina 11 1849 F Texas
Mass Charles 8 1852 Texas
Mass Henry 6 1854 Me Texas
Mass Roadolph 4 1856 Texas
Mass Martha 2 1858 Texas
Mass Jessee 11/12 1859 Texas } twins
Mass Sarah 11/12 1859 Texas }
Cha Patrick 18 1842 Ireland laborer

Residence 358
Mccall James 29 1831 Illinois laborer 400; 1,000
Mccall Anny 20 1840 Texas
Mccall Theresah 3 1857 Texas
Mccall Jacob 1 1859 Texas
Hayes Nancy 8 1852 Texas <
Johnson John 17 1843 Louisiana laborer

Residence 359
Garner Jacob 46 1814 Louisiana farmer 3,000; 4,000
Garner Matilda 43 1817 Louisiana
Garner Mary A 15 1845 Texas
Garner Leonard 13 1847 Texas
Garner Sally A 10 1850 Texas
Garner Millon 7 1853 Texas
Garner Alliee 5 1855 Texas

next page, Page 61
residence 359 cont.
Garner, Bradley 10/12 1859 Texas
Hayes, Matilda* 10 1850 Texas <


residence 361
McCall John 27 1833 Illinois laborer 200; 1,000
Hayes, Alzina 12 1848 Texas <
Hayes, Mary 6 1854 Texas <
Gallier, Mary* 64 1796 Louisiana midwife

residence 362
Robert Gibson 30 steam boating England 200
Ann 18 Louisiana
Jesse E. 8/12 Texas

residence: 363
Morgan, Alvin 21 1839 Louisiana stock minder
Eliza 17 1843 Texas
Almond 2 1858
Leonard 3/12 1860
Myers, Malissa 15 1845 Texas spinster
Gallier, Frances 65 1795 Louisiana laborer

residence 364
Johnson, Benjamin 1815 Louisiana farmer 200
Bradley 20 1840 Texas laborer 600; 6,000
John 17 1843 Texas
Uriah 14 1846 Texas
Joseph 13 1847 Texas
Benjamin 11 1849 Texas
Isaac 9 1851 Texas
Elizabeth 7 1853 Texas
Rachel 5 1855 Texas
Myers, Matilda 28 1832 Louisiana
White, George 25 1835 Louisiana laborer

residence 365
McGaffey, Neal Jr. 22 farmer 5690; 1,000
Rachel J. 17
John W. 1/12
Sarah McGaffey 57 "lady of Leashure" 2,000; 5,400 Louisiana


Census:
1880 Sabine Pass Census
Matilda Johnson widow 45 LA LA LA 1835
Isaac Johnson s/son 27 TX LA LA
A.C. Johnson dau-in-law 25 TX LA LA
Hays Johnson g/son 4 TX
Sarah Johnson g/dau 2 TX
Ruben Johnson g/son 6/12 TX Nov
Matilda Gibson adopt dau 15 TX ENG LA 1865
M. Chambless niece 14 TX TX LA (dau of James Chambers & Melissa Ann Myers)