Van Zandt Co., TX - Bio - William H. McBee ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Elnora Frances Cook-Wyrick USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM H MCBEE 1800/02 - 1852 Chronological History--William H McBee: 1800/1802: Born in (North Carolina which was reported on 1850 US Census for Kaufman Co., TX) birth state also shown as KY and TN by children in later Census. Please remember that State and County Boundaries were changed several times before they became what they are today. He was the son of Obediah McBee (who served in the war of 1812 from Montgomery Co., TN) and died in Hardeman Co., TN in 1826, and his mother was Catherine Fann who's family also helped settle this great land. 1820/23: William H. McBee married Wife #1 Name Unknown in (? TN). Using the naming pattern often used in that time period we consider both the names "Garvin & Newton" as two surnames with high possibilities for His first wife's maiden name. Wm. H. named his first son "John Garvin" and his 2nd son "William Newton", and William H.'s oldest daughter Rebecca (McBee) Karber Roberts named her 2nd son, "Jasper Newton" Karber. William H. McBee's second wife was Elizabeth Adaline Corgan-in TX-nothing else known of her parents or sibling. 1826-27: Lived in Hardeman Co., TN. where William H McBee and a Barney Chambers witnessed the Will of "Obediah McBee"". **Received letter back from Hardeman Co., TN, Deputy Clerk states that there are no additional County records that can be located, for either William H. or Obediah McBee. 1830: William is found on 1830 Census for Hardeman Co., TN page 341a; Head of Household, William McBee; 1 male under 5 yrs;-------1825-30------John Garvin McBee (oldest son); 1 male 20-30 yrs,----------1800-10-----William H McBee; 1 female under 5 yrs,---------1825-30----Nancy McBee (2nd daughter); 1 female of 5 yrs under 10 yrs,-------1820-25----Rebecca McBee----(oldest daughter); 2 females of 20 yrs under 30 yrs, ---1800-10;-----Wife of Wm H McBee and Unknown woman; A copy of this census is in my possession. 1832; Birth of Son William Newton McBee in the State of Tennessee; 1834: Arrived in Texas as a married man, to the area of Fannin Co.,TX. Immigration date supplied by Land Grant Certificate #51. 1837: Birth of Son Silas P. McBee in the State of Texas. 1838: Applied for Land Grant (in Fannin County) from commission set up by newly organized government of Texas. Date supplied by Land Grant Certificate #51. He received a First Class Headright Land Grant as a married man. ** A First Class Headright** Issued to those who arrived before March 2, 1836. Heads of Families received: one league=4,428 acres, and one labor=177.1 acres =( Total 4605.1 acres) while single men received 1/3 league (1,476.1 acres).****Please see "Some History of Van Zandt Co., by Wentworth Manning-page 158/159", and "History of Van Zandt Co., by W.S. Mills-page 42/43." 1844: Moved onto land he hoped to file his Land Grant Certificate #51 for, which at the time was, Henderson Co. (Parent County,) **as recorded in "Some History of Van Zandt Co., by Wentworth Manning-page 158/159", and "History of Van Zandt Co., by W.S. Mills-page 42/43." 1847: Some time between 1837 & 1847 William H McBee's First Wife died- no family history or documentation to pinpoint date, location or cause exactly. On the December 30, 1847, Wm H. married Elisabeth A Corgan age 19 from South Carolina, in Henderson County. Per marriage License issued by Henderson Co., TX. (a copy of original in my possession). William H. & Elizabeth A. (Corgan) McBee had 1 son, Robert (?B) McBee, b. April 13 1847-Oct 22 1847 Cattle Brands and Marks, Page 167, Book A- 1847-1849. Henderson Co., TX, as shown on the GenWeb TX Archives Page. William H. McBee, Filed 13 April 1847- Recorded 22 October 1847. I have no picture or description of the exact Brand. 1848: Kaufman and Van Zandt Counties became organized counties, from land originally located in Henderson Co., and parent County of Nacogdoches, and the County Line divided the land (almost evenly) that William H. had chosen for his land grant, which he was living on at the time. His residence was located in Van Zandt County. Received from Researcher in Kaufman Co., TX, 14 Mar 1999: "William H McBee -Commissioner" From a Book, "A Part of the Lord's Big Garden-Kaufman County's Early Years" by DR Horace P Flatt, page 48; "...Cedar grove was the largest and most prosperous town in the county and furnished Kaufman County its first sheriff & clerk. It was the first part of the county settled. In 1848, I believe it was, Captain Moore, the father of Hardin & John Moore, settled on Duck Creek near here, and the same year William H McBee, Adam Sullivan & William Gibbard located their Headright certificate here & laid out the town of Cedar grove. There was at that time a large grove of tall cedars inside what is now Gibbard's field, which gave the name to the town. But like the Cedars of Lebanon they have long ago disappeared. There was at that time a dozen or more families this side of the Sabine. River. The first store house ever erected in the county was built by William McBee....and Mr. McBee was one of the first county commissioners.". *William H McBee was a Miller by trade and had the first Grist Mill in Van Zandt County, TX. Kaufman SUN-Newspaper, 26 Feb 1885: *Minutes of Commissioner's Court, Kaufman County, Book A, pp.1-2 *and from page 73 "The first meeting of the county was not held until 19 Feb 1849. The Chief Justice, A M Morrow, and the Sheriff, Silas Estes, were present at the 10 a.m. meeting. The County Clerk, A P Sullivan, and the four Commissioners, John Clardy, G W Davis, Cary Cobb & William H McBee, were present."* ****William H McBee lost his position as commissioner of Kaufman Co., as he made his home in Van Zandt County. **** 1850: Appears on 1850 Kaufman Co., Census; HH#225/226: 9 October, 1850, Enumerator, James M Harrison, Marshall; McBee, William, age 48, in NC (Miller) Elizabeth A, age 19, in SC Silas P, age 13, in TX Robert, age 5/12, in TX (5 months old) Smith, J.J., age 23, in GA . (Merchant) *************** Copy of Original Headright Land Grant Certificate #51, dated 25 October 1850: Letter of Patent for William H. McBee Certificate No. 51, Kaufman and Van Zandt Co., TX Shown at; Top Left Corner is: No. 75 William H. McBee Eighteen 773.913/1000000 Labors ˝ Kaufman 78 ˝ Van Zandt 78 Signed: Geo. W. Smyth, Commissioner of the Gen. Land Office; P.H. Bell, Governor; **I have a Plat Map for this property— Elnora Frances Cook-Wyrick: ********************************* 1852-17 February** From, "Some History of Van Zandt Co., by Wentworth Manning-page 158/159", and "History of Van Zandt Co., by W.S. Mills-page 42/43." William H. McBee died February 17th 1852, in Van Zandt Co., TX. Buried at the "Old Cedar Grove Cemetery", at or near the town of Wills Point, TX. Old Cedar Grove Cemetery is located in Kaufman County; according to Atlas of the State of Texas, and "Bobby Pearce's Field Guide to Historical Sites in Van Zandt County". More than likely he is buried in the Family Burial site noted below. (as recorded in Deeds Bk; O, pages 736-737; Henry L Karber to Nancy J Scroggins [1869] and Bk; 27, pages 431-432, D.W. & Nancy J Scroggins to F.M. Burke [ 1879] ): These deeds describe location to be a 1 acre tract of land known as the "McBee Graveyard", north of McBee Creek, located on the tract left to heirs of Rebecca Roberts in Land Division and Distribution of Property, made in 1857; belonging to Silas McBee who died "Intestate". ************** McBee Graveyard, Van Zandt County, Texas A field Survey; May 10, 2000 The McBee Family Graveyard was field surveyed on May 10, 2000 by Fran Allen, Cheryl Vaughn, Linda Harwell and Elvis Allen. The graveyard is in the woods on the north bank of an arm of the McBee Creek, which runs east through a 30-acre farm whose current owner will not be named, but we are much indebted to them for access and information concerning the location. This is the old Homesite of William H. McBee who was buried in the graveyard in 1852. The farm is located approximately four miles west, northwest of Wills Point, Texas on County Road #3804. We then proceeded to map each of the 32 graves, which are marked with native (?) Rocks. We used the creek to the south as a reference point. On the north bank of McBee creek is a cedar tree 16 inches in diameter, Twenty-four paces magnetic north of it is an oak 26 inches in diameter at about 12 feet high, this oak forks. This oak is the starting reference point of our survey. (GPS Rending; 32 degrees 39.48 N. 96 degrees 03.03 W) Elevation 408 There are 32 field stones, many still standing, no Inscriptions located. Some history of this being property owned by the McBee Family and this burial site was passed down from the current owners’ Father, as the land has been in the Current Owner's family a number of years. A copy of the Field Survey, Platt map and 2 old Deeds for the land where it is located in my Possession along with pictures of the site, and the Creek. ********************************************************************* 1852: 27 December 1852, According to the Marriage Records for Kaufman Co., TX: The young widow of William H. McBee, Elizabeth A (Corgan) McBee married, **Levi Panis **correct spelling should read Levi Pavey, 1853; Deed Book F, pages 270, 271; 21 September 1853: Elizabeth Adaline (Corgan) McBee-Pavey; Widow, to Heirs of William H McBee: Deed: The State of Texas] County of Van Zandt] Know all men by these present that I, Elizabeth A Pavey, the surviving Wife of W.H. McBee, Decd., of the above County & State have this day for and in consideration of the sum of Eighty dollars ($80.00) in hand paid and the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. Sold, transferred and alienated to the Heirs being the children of the Said Wm. H McBee Decd., all my Right, Title and Interest in the Real Estate of the Said Wm. H. McBee Decd., which I may be entitled to as the Surviving Wife of Said W. McBee Decd., and the Chief Justice of the above county of Van Zandt has hereby authorized , when an Order for partitioning of Said Real Estate among the Heirs of Said Wm. H McBee Decd. In granting to Order the Distribution amongst said Heirs of all and any Interest which I the Surviving Wife might be entitled to have in consideration of the Sum above mentioned, I relinquish now and forever to Said Heirs my Interests above Stated. In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and Scroll for Seal this 21st day of September AD 1853. Attest; Henry Scroggins. Signed: Elizabeth (her "c" mark) A. Pavey (Seal); Attest; Levi Pavey (Seal) and I.P. Newton ** Proof of an Estate Division and Partition or Will, for William H McBee done in Kaufman or Van Zandt County, Texas, which at this date can not be found. 1857: Probate records dated 1857, for a "Silas P McBee", of V.Z. Co., TX, for the Partition and Distribution of his property (which states was part of the original Land Grant of William H McBee",) and based on the amount of funds and land distributed to each, I believe to be his Full Brother, "John G. McBee", [200 acres + $312 .4/7 cents] his Half Brother, "Robert McBee",[100 acres+$156. 2/7cents] and his two Full Sisters, "Nancy J Scroggins, [200 acres+$312. 4/7cents] and the heirs of Rebecca Roberts", [200 acres+$312. 4/7cents]. Brother William Newton McBee is not mentioned in this distribution-nor is Silas P McBee mentioned in Wm N. McBee's probate records-it is my belief they died very close to the same time. Names of Children of William H McBee were taken from Deeds filed for record in Van Zandt & Kaufman Counties, TX. All deeds can be seen on Ancestry McBee Deed Boards or on the Van Zandt and Kaufman Counties, TX Archives and I can provide transcribed copies. ******************************************************* Descendants of William H McBee and Wife #One Her name is unknown, she would have been born Abt. 1802 in Tennessee or Alabama and they were married Bet. 1820-23, possibly in Perry or Hardeman Co., TN, she died before 1847 in Texas. Oldest daughter Rebecca McBee, was born between 1821-1823 in Perry or Hardeman Co., TN, and according to probate records for her children, Henry L & Jasper Newton Karber, she died before 24 October 1854 in Kaufman Or Van Zandt Co., TX. Rebecca first married Peter Karber, about 1846 –location unknown. He was born in 1781 in NY and died before 1853 in Kaufman Co., TX. Peter was about 40 years older than Rebecca and had left his first wife and family in Arkansas. Peter Karber held an original land grant League Section #403 Abs #268 in Kaufman Co., TX assigned by William H. McBee, his land was in Kaufman County, several miles west of the Van Zandt County Line and was retained by his sons for many years after his and Rebecca's death. Rebecca and Peter had 2 sons. Henry L Karber and Jasper Newton Karber. Henry L Karber was born about 1846 in Kaufman Co., TX. Henry moved on to Parker County, TX for a while then moved into Indian Territory in the late 1800's, with his wife "Sarah E Unknown" she was born in Iowa in 1853, they both died in the Carter Co., OK area. Their children #1.daughter, Nettie Karber, who married LC Gray, #2. son, John Peter Karber, who married #1.B. Bedford and #2 Myrtle May Bean, their next child #3. A daughter Minnie Karber who married B.H. Phillips and next #4. son Charlie B Karber who married a woman who's name I cannot read on the census. Their descendants could be found in that area for many years. Rebecca and Peter's second son Jasper Newton Karber apparently died before 1870, his older brother John Karber from his Father's 1st family in Arkansas settled his final inherited land and holdings in Kaufman and Van Zandt counties TX, as his next of Kin. Rebecca McBee Karber's second marriage to James Roberts, 29 September 1853 in Kaufman Co., TX did not last long, he apparently died soon after she did as he is not mentioned in her Probate records. Nothing more is know about him. **************************************************** Oldest son John Garvin McBee, born 19 March 1826 in Tennessee and died 05 March 1905 in Milo IT., Carter Co., OK burial location is unknown. He was married at least 3 times and possibly 4 times. Reported by his oldest son John Andrew Jackson McBee he left twin sons in California- I have never been able to find them or their Mother so this could possibly be wrong. His first marriage was to Elisabeth O. Reeves, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth (Unknown) Reeves. She was born 15 August 1826 in TN. They were married 07 July 1846 in Nacogdoches Co., TX , and she died 18 September 1902 in Cain, Dallas Co., TX- she was buried in the Johnson Station Cemetery, Tarrant Co., TX. They had one daughter Narcissa Jane McBee, born 1 December 1848 in Kaufman Co., TX and died 30 December 1901, she married Edward William (Bill) Cameron, 25 November 1869 in Dallas County, TX. Edward William (Bill) Cameron was born 1841 in Missouri and died 1902 in Dallas Co., TX. Son of David Roger CAMERON Mother: Susannah WILBORN. Bill & Narcissa are also buried in the Johnson Station Cemetery in Tarrant Co., TX. Narcissa and Bill Cameron had 8 children, all born in Dallas Co., TX. 1.John David Cameron, b.1871, d: 1945 in Shasta Co., CA.. 2 William Edward Cameron, b: 1873, d. unknown; 3.Robert Lee Cameron, b: 1878, d: 15 July 1881. 4.Mattie J Cameron- Warner- Lewis, b: 1879, d: 1959 in Tulsa Co., Oklahoma 5.Mollie May Cameron- Grider-Byers- McKissick, b: 1881, d: 1971 in Yakima Co., WA. 6. Robert F. Cameron b: 1884 in Dallas Co., TX, d: 1953 in Texas 7. Fannie Elizabeth Cameron-Berry, b: 1887, d: 1976 in Kern Co., CA. 8. Charles Henry Cameron, b: 1890, d: 952 in Tulsa Co., OK John Garvin McBee deserted his first wife Elizabeth and small daughter Narcissa Jane in early 1851 in search of Gold in California- Elizabeth divorced him in 1861 in Kaufman Co., TX, she never remarried, living with their daughter Narcissa Jane the rest of her life in fact she lived one year after her daughter's death. He married Wife #2. Amanda Melvina Dawson, 07 December 1865 in Amador Co., CA . She was a widow. She was b: 15 December 1824 in GA and d: 03 March 1899 in La Plancha, Amador Co., California Amanda published a notice in the Newspaper, Amador Dispatch, Jan 19, 1867 Vol. 8 #18, - I hereby notify the public that J.G. McBee, my husband, has left my bed and board without any provocation and I fore-warn any and all person from purchasing any property of any character whatever from my said husband; the property consisting of stock, cattle, hogs, horses, etc., being my separate property which I had before my marriage with said J.G. McBee. Signed: Amanda McBee. No issue from this union, I have been unable to find a divorce for this marriage. (He did not get Rich from Gold-in California so he went home)! John Garvin McBee is found back in Van Zandt Co., TX on the 1870 census, living with his sister Nancy Jane (McBee) Ballard Scroggins. He married wife #3, Margaret Francis White, on 28 January 1877, in Van Zandt Co., TX. She was b. 22 October 1852 in AL, d. 22 August 1936 in Skellytown, Carson Co., TX. She is buried in the Whitedeer Cemetery, Carson Co., TX, she was the daughter of Thomas & Sarah Ann (Pyle) White. John G & Margaret Francis had 6 children all born in Jack Co., TX. 1. John Andrew Jackson McBee, b: 13 October 1877 in Jack Co. TX. d: 14 October 1973 in CA., He married Emma Akins (Lee) Luster, m: 25 December 1901 in Milo-Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, she was b: 1879 in TX, d: 1954 CA. Father: John William LEE Mother: Rachel Jane MOODY/KEETON 2 Sarah Ann McBee b: 02 December 1879 in Jack Co. TX. d: 13 January 1967 in OK. Her first Husband was (Unknown) Downey m: Abt. 1896 in Indian Territory, her 2nd Husband was George Washington Christian, b: 22 January 1868 in Shelby Co, MO, m: 11 July 1897 in Keller-Graham, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, He d: 13 December 1932 in OK. Father: Francis Marion CHRISTIAN Mother: Margaret Elvira WHITE 3. Margaret Eudora McBee b: 02 December 1880 in Jack Co. TX. d: 23 May 1971 in CA., her first husband was John Thomas Anderson b: Abt. 1870 in Carter Co., OK. m: 19 July 1896 in Graham, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory . d: Bet. January 1898 - 1900 in OK. 2nd Husband of Margaret Eudora McBee, was James Madison McCurley b: 06 February 1881 in Montague Co., TX. m: 17 May 1903 in Fox-Graham, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory d: 22 June 1947 in CA. Father: Jonas Brown MCCURLEY Mother: Susan Ann SWAGER 4. Dona Luella McBee b: 12 December 1882 in Jack Co., TX. d: 31 March 1965 in OK. She married Robert Nicholas Wright, b: Abt. 26 June 1880 in Unknown m: 06 April 1898 in Graham, Chickasaw Indian Territory d: 16 October 1916 in OK. 5. Roy Luther McBee b: 17 May 1885 in Jack Co. TX., d: 07 May 1978 in Carter Co., OK. He married Ada Trissie Stephenson, b: 10 October 1888 in Cooke Co., TX. m: 27 October 1907 in Elk City, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory d: 05 May 1967 in Co., CA. Father: John F STEPHENSON Mother: Martha (Mattie) Demilla THOMAS 6. Raleigh Dee Garvin McBee, b: 16 December 1888 in Jack Co., TX. d: 28 November 1981 in AR. He married Zetta McAlvie McElroy b: 15 March 1897 in TX. m: 02 July 1916 in Van Zandt Co., TX. d: 30 December 1980 in AR., Father: William Void MCELROY Mother: Emma Lucinda (Blackley (?) HICKS) *************************************************************** Second daughter; Nancy Jane McBee, b: 04 March 1828 in TN, she d: 26 November 1895 in Terrell, Kaufman Co., TX. She first married Nicholas Gillentine Ballard, 18 June 1844 in Red River Co., TX, he was b: 21 April 1821/22 in McNairy Co., TN d: 13 January 1849 in Henderson Co., TX when he was murdered by a man named Hillburn on the Old Sabine Bridge in Nacogdoches County. The man had a quarrel with him over money & evidently intended to rob him. They had 2 children a Son John M Ballard, b. 1845-d. 1849. Mary J Ballard, b. 1847- d. before 1860. Cattle Brands and Marks, Page 167, Book A- 1847-1849. Henderson Co., TX, as shown on the GenWeb TX Archives Page. Nicholas G Ballard, Filed and Recorded 16 November 1848-. I have no picture or description of the exact Brand. Widow's Pension Application Nancy J. Scroggins (maiden name McBee) Nicholas Gillentine Ballard son of B.M. Ballard County of Kaufman, State of Texas On this the 19th day of October 1854, personally appeared before me Wm. Gibbard a Notary Public of said county and State: Nancy (J.) Scroggins a resident of the county aforesaid and to me well known who being duly sworn says that she is the surviving wife of N. G. Ballard Dec'd. who was a private in the Regiment of Mounted Volunteers which served against the Indians in the Year 1841 under Gen. E. H. Tarrant and that she is the only surviving adult heir of said N. G. Ballard dead. She makes the above declaration for the purpose of drawing the amount due said Ballard Dec'd. for said services by the State of Texas or the Late Republic of Texas. Signed with her mark (x) Nancy Scroggins Sworn and subscribed before the undersigned the day and date above written in witness where of I have set my hand with seal of office this 19th day of October 1854. Wm. Gibbard 2nd Husband of Nancy Jane McBee was Daniel W Scroggins b: 08 February 1828 in Ill, they m: 09 March 1851 in Van Zandt Co., TX, he d: 30 March 1900 in St Louis, (?), Son of Henry & Mary (Pierce) Scroggins. They had 5 children: 1. Mary J Molly Scroggins b: September 1855 in Kaufman Co., TX d: Aft. 1930 in (?) Dallas Co., TX, she married James J Hinton b: October 1838 in TN m: 07 April 1875 in Van Zandt Co., Texas d: Aft. 1920 in (?) Dallas Co., TX 2 Louisa Emma Scroggins b: Abt. 1861 in Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., TX, she married #1. James Madison Johnson b: 1844 in Dayton, Ohio m: 09 November 1876 in Cedar Grove, Kaufman Co., TX d: 12 August 1923 in Ft Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co., KS She married #2. Jim Slater m: Aft. 1888. She married #3. Jake Kossman m: Aft. 1889. 3. Dora J. Scroggins b: October 1863 in Van Zandt Co., TX, she married (?) Charles W Owens b: May 1847 in Alabama m: Abt. 1898 in (?) Kaufman Co., TX 4. Orcueth Marshall Scroggins b: August 1866 in Van Zandt Co., TX, no death date, location or marriage record found for him. 5. Elizabeth Ellen Scroggins b: Abt. 1870 in Van Zandt Co., TX. Nothing more is known; ************************************************** Second Son; William Newton McBee b: Abt. 1832 in TN d: Bef. 18 April 1854 in Kaufman Co., TX- No marriage records have been found for Wm. Newton McBee: Third Son; Silas P McBee b: Abt. 1837 in Texas d: Bef. 1854 in Van Zandt Co., TX No marriage records have been found for Silas P. McBee: ******************************************* *2nd Wife of William H McBee: Elizabeth Adaline Corgan; b: June 1825 in TX, m: 30 December 1847 in Henderson Co., TX. She d. after 1900, probably in Llano Co., TX. Nothing more is known about her parents or siblings. Fourth Son, Robert (?B) McBee; b: 1850 in Kaufman Co., Texas d: 31 August 1880 in Huntsville, Walker Co., TX. He married Mahala Morris, 01 November 1868 in Van Zandt Co., TX, b: Abt. 1844 in Louisiana there was no Issue of that marriage. 1860 Census, Burnet Co, TX, p179 Dwell/Fam 351/351: Levi Pavey, age 33 yrs, M, Farmer, value of property --$150, b. in Indiana, Elizabeth Pavey age 30 yrs, F, b. in Georgia; Levi J., age 5 yrs, M, b. in Texas; John M., age 3 yrs, M, b. in Texas; William M. age 1 yr, M, b. in Texas; Robt McBee, age 10 yrs, M, b. in Texas; 1870 Census, Llano Co., Llano Town, Page 4, Line #1, HH# 26/26, 5 August 1870; Peavy, Elisabeth 40, WF, Cattle raiser, b. AR Robert, 20, WF, at home, b. TX; John, 19, WM, at home, b. TX; (Jac?) 15, WM, at home, b. TX; M.B., 11, WM, at home, b. TX; Jessey, 9, WM, at home, b. TX; This may/may not be our Elizabeth, not sure?? Robert is not listed as "McBee", but, the names of Elizabeth Corgan Pavey's sons are the same as other census. Robert McBee is also found on 1870 Census in Lampasas Co, living with the Horrell Family. He is listed as a Farm Hand- there is no wife with him. Later Mahala is found living with her sister and brother in-law. The date of the Lampasas Co., TX census is 20 days later than the one with his mother, so he could have been counted twice, once in both places; I believe he was counted twice. Robert sold the land left to him by his father William H. McBee in Van Zandt Co., TX., in 1871 and 1876. Robert McBee appeared to have several problems with the Law- none of the charges are completely clear as I could not find the actual circumstances of the crime charged, (Attempted Murder) which he was accused of in the Court records I did find. Robert was named in, "The Horrell-Higgins Feud, Lampasas, Texas", as a part of the Horrell Family group. The records are not completely clear as to exactly what part he played in that Feud but apparently it was a part of his arrest and imprisonment. Robert was arrested and sent to Huntsville State Penitentiary. Information received from the Texas State Archives and Information Services Division http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ Year: 1880 Convict number: 8719 Name: Bob McBee County: Lampasas His crime appears to be "Assault to Murder". The handwriting is rather difficult to read. I checked the distribution of offenses in the Biennial Report of the Texas State Penitentiary for 1880-1882, and this seems to be the closest match. There also seems to be two counts of this offense. His sentence was four years, of which he served about three months, as he was killed while trying to escape. His physical description reads, age 30, 5- 2/4 ft, weight as 135lbs, complexion as Dark, eyes as Blue, hair as Brown, no physical marks, use of Tobacco as yes, habits as (Intemperate or in other words heavy drinker). A very sad end to a short troubled life. Robert's Mother Elizabeth Adaline (Corgan) McBee, married Levi Pavey after William H. McBee died and went on to have 3 sons with him. She remarried a (? Campbell) after Levi died about 1870, and she was still living with her son Levi J. Pavey in Llano Co., TX on the 1900 census, Llano Co., TX. ********************************** Descendants of William H. McBee and his first Wife, (as of this date there are 10 generations), migrated all over the United States, Alaska and Hawaii. Many leading exemplary lives in the professions of Teaching, Law, Medicine, Areo-Space, and sundry other more common but very necessary fields. Although William did not live to a ripe old age, dying when he was approximately only 50 yrs old, he left his mark on Van Zandt County, TX, helping to settle the new land and set up the County governments of both Kaufman and Van Zandt Counties, leaving his name on the McBee Creek, a neighborhood school and reportedly had the first "Grist Mill" in Van Zandt County. And although we do not have documented proof of his final resting place, we presume that he is buried in the McBee Family Graveyard located on his original Homesite in Van Zandt County as we also assume his first Wife and sons William Newton and Silas P., are also buried there. There are reportedly 32 unmarked stones laying in what appears to be an arrangements of graves, we have no idea who is buried in the other graves. Prepared by Elnora Frances Cook-Wyrick; ejwaa@sbcglobal.net For pictures and more information on this family see our Home Page- John & Elnora Cook-Wyrick Families; http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/w/y/r/Elnora--F-Wyrick/