My ancestor is Culliver Clements. And so, as many Clements researchers in this
family should know from firsthand experience…that is where Culliver Clements
line ends. Connecting Clements families
in the 1700s and 1800s has been difficult, to put it mildly. Sure there are genealogies on the internet
that claim to have the parents of Culliver Clements. But the truth is, I have seen no proof of
anything. About the best we can hope for
is location and name association.
For Culliver Clements, we know he was in Pickens County,
Alabama in the 1820s (land records). We
also know he was in Georgia because his daughter Martha and was born there in
about 1803. And, he had son Jesse who
was born in South Carolina in about 1800.
We also have some excerpts from books and other unknown sources that
have influenced much of what we think we know of Culliver
Clements. Below are several of those
excerpts, sources, and related information:
Excerpt from a short
biography of Dr. B. F. Wilson in Smith’s History of Pickens County, 1856, pp
241-242 - His (Dr. B. F. Wilson) maternal
grandfather, Culliver Clements, came from Georgia to Tuscaloosa in 1818 and to
Pickens County the next year – settled in the place where now lives John L
Guyton, and subsequently removed to the present residence of Dudley Pruitt,
where he died in 1840. Jesse Clements
was his son. Both the ancestors
(grandfather Wilson and grandfather Clements) were soldier of the Revolution –
Wilson was at Guilford Courthouse battle – Clements was a South Carolina
partisan soldier – in the trying times of Marion and his Whig comrades. The descent is said to be Scotch-Irish on
both sides.
Excerpt from a list of
Revolutionary War Soldiers who Later Lived in Pickens County in McGuire’s
Records of Pickens County, Alabama, evidently the information was extracted
from Smith’s History of Pickens County. South Carolina low country Patriot
Partisans were apparently fighting as guerillas under the direction of General
Francis Marion - Culliver Clements
was a partisan soldier under General Marion in South Carolina. Came to Tuscaloosa in 1818 then to Pickens
County in 1819. Had a son, Jesse
Clements. He died in 1840. Was the maternal grandfather of Dr. B. F. Wilson of
Pickens County.
Record in a 1911
Alabama database collected from a variety of sources, including newspaper
obituaries, the Revolutionary Pension Roll of 1833-34, the Census of Pensioners
of 1840, tombstone inscriptions, published family histories, and the manuscript
Pension Book kept by the State Branch Bank at Mobile - Culliver Clements – The place and date of birth of Culliver Clements is
unknown. He died on November 1 1843 in Jackson County, Mississippi and is
buried in that county. Service: An
article in the Montgomery Advertiser dated May 18 1902 stated “He was a
partisan soldier in South Carolina under Francis Marion and his Whig comrades.
Julich, in ‘The Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots in Alabama’
stated - at the beginning of the Revolution, he moved to Rutherford County,
South Carolina. While in 96 District
South Carolina, he enlisted and served three tours in SC troops. When very young, he served in Captain Thomas
Brandon’s company, Colonel William Farr’s Regiment. He was at the Battle of Brier Creek, Georgia.
Residences: He returned to Rutherford County, South Carolina after the war and
lived there for five years. He moved to
Jackson County, Georgia about 1803. From there he came to the Mississippi
Territory (Pickens County, Alabama) where he lived for 16 years. He moved to Jefferson County, Alabama in
1836. He moved to Jackson County, Mississippi in April 1842 where he died on
November 1 1843. Family: The name of his
wife is unknown. Two children are known. Children. (1) Jesse Clements (2) Martha
Clements was born in Jackson County, Georgia in 1803. She married William
Wilson in 1819 in Pickens County, Alabama.
from Revolutionary War
Patriots Who Once Lived in Alabama http://www.bwrcsar.us/Alabama_Revolutionary_War_Soldiers.htm, likely derived from an earlier source that
is unknown, a “Partisan” was an armed patriot who fought guerilla warfare in
groups or bands unofficially against the British regular army. They often took British soldiers in the
countryside of South Carolina by surprise in hit and run ambushes - Culliver Clements of Pickens County,
Alabama died 1 November 1843 in Jackson County, Mississippi. He was buried in Jackson County,
Mississippi. His service was as a South
Carolina partisan soldier.
information from
Roster of Patriot Soldiers at the Battles of Ninety Six 1775 and 1781 http://www.nps.gov/nisi/learn/historyculture/upload/Roster%20of%20Patriot%20Soldiers%20at%20the%20Battles%20of%20Ninety%20Six.doc, there are four sources for this
roster. The one titled “papers” states
“see field in blue folders-copies of pension, etc.” A “Partisan” was an armed patriot who fought
guerilla warfare in groups or bands unofficially against the British regular
army. They often took British soldiers
in the countryside of South Carolina by surprise in hit and run ambushes - Culliver Clements is listed as a South
Carolina partisan soldier who enlisted in Ninety Six District. The information comes from “papers” and does
not mention a battle.
Unknown source, likely compiled from other sources included in this
review - Culliver Clements served as
a South Carolina partisan soldier. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War,
he moved to Rutherford County, South Carolina. While in 96 District, South Carolina, he enlisted and served 3 tours in
South Carolina troops. When very young,
he served in Captain Thomas Brandon’s company of Colonel William Farr’s
Regiment and was at the Battle of
Brier Creek, Georgia. In South Carolina, then Georgia, and Pickens County,
Alabama and in 1836 moved to Jefferson County, Alabama where he lived until April 1842.
Then moved to Jackson County, Mississippi where he died November 1 1843.
Father of 2 known children, son Jesse Clements and daughter Martha Clements who
married William Wilson and 2nd James M. Gunter and lived in Pickens County,
Alabama. Comments – Rutherford Co SC
certainly refers to Rutherford Co NC. William Farr was a captain in Colonel
John Thomas’s SC militia Spartan Regiment 1776-1778 and a lieutenant colonel in
Colonel Thomas Brandon’s SC militia 2nd Spartan Regiment 1778-1781. The Brier Creek, GA battle in March 1779 involved
about 1700 American troops under NC militia General John Ashe, who was the
leader of about 1400 NC militia with 200 added light infantry. The move to Jackson Co AL is questionable as
he was listed in the 1840 Pickens County, Alabama census. There is no known connection to Jackson Co
AL.
This information is both incredibly revealing and concerning,
at the same time. Some of the
information conflicts other information.
For example, did Culliver Clements move from Pickens County later in his
life or did he stay? Did he pass away in
1840 Alabama or did he live until 1843 in Mississippi? Well, we can either dwell on the differences
or…we can just move on and attempt to find additional information that will
supplement and possibly confirm or negate the biographical information in the
previous excerpts. So, we undergo a search
for associated Clements families, the name Culliver Clements, and the county or
state locations where he is purported to have lived.
Culliver Clements (or a variation of that name) is first
found in the written record on a deed in 1789.
The location was Pendleton County, South Carolina and he served as a
witness to a deed with a Jesse Clements. They were witnesses to a sale of 133
acres on Broadway Creek, a branch of Rocky River, in Pendleton County between
Moses Shelby (of Greene County, Georgia) and Charles Clements. An epic document which leads me to believe
there must be a familial tie between Culliver Clements, Jesse Clements, and
Charles Clements. Over the next 21 years (until at least 1800), Culliver
Clements was involved or associated with several Clements men in Pendleton,
South Carolina, including Jesse and Charles.
Pendleton County began as a new county (formed from Indian lands) in the
Ninety Six District in 1789, then became a county in newly formed Washington
District in 1791, and later a district of its own between 1798 and 1800. Neither Pendleton District nor County exist in
present day South Carolina. The area
formerly known as Pendleton now makes up Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee Counties.
Pendleton County, SC was formed from Indian
lands in 1789. The area where the Clements settled in the 1790s is located in
present-day Anderson County between Belton and Williamston. Pendleton County was in the Washington
District in 1791 and then Pendleton became a district in 1800. Throughout these years, Pendleton bordered
Indian lands.
The Clements men (and one woman) that Culliver Clements
connects to through the Pendleton County association are included below. The birth date estimation is from the 1800 Pendleton
County, South Carolina census.
Benjamin Clements, born before 1755
Reuben Clements, born before 1755
Jesse Clements, died 1795
Culliver Clements, born 1755-1774
James Clements, born 1755-1774
Charles Clements, born 1755-1774
Elizabeth Clements, born 1755-1774
Strangely, most of these Clements are not represented in the
1790 census. Where they should be in
1790 Pendleton County, South Carolina census, there are only two Clements
families – Charles Clements and Eleoner Clements (both spelled Clemmons). In Charles Clements home, there were 3 males
over 16 and 1 female while in Eleonor Clements’ home also lived 3 males (1over
16, 2 under) and 1 female. In the 1790 North
Carolina census, Reuben Clements is found in Cumberland County and appears
married with 5 children and 1 slave. The
only other associated Clements found in North Carolina was James Clements who was
in Burke County, North Carolina and appears married with 3 children (likely
unrelated). Surprisingly, most of the
Clements men from the 1789-1800 Pendleton records were not found – Benjamin,
Jesse, Culliver, and possibly James.
Three of them could be accounted for in the Pendleton Clements records –
2 additional in Charles home and 1 in the home of Eleonor (the 2 males under 16
in her house would not have been any of the Pendleton County, SC men in the
early 1790s as they would not have been 21).
Young men were commonly living with other families (e.g., in-laws,
sisters, and friends) during these days (e.g., as apprentices, farm laborers,
and general laborers) so the absence of some of the Clements men is not unusual.
What is interesting is the location of Reuben Clements in
Cumberland, North Carolina. No other
Reuben Clements, or any variation, is known to have lived in this region and so
this Reuben is highly likely to be the Reuben that appeared in Pendleton, South
Carolina by 1792 with the other Clements men.
Not to mention, Reuben Clements married Elizabeth Stewart and Cumberland
County, North Carolina was the home of his Stewart in-laws (Charles and
Johannah Stewart). This Stewart family actually moved to Pendleton, South
Carolina as well. Therefore, the next
area that deserves analysis is North Carolina, and most likely the western
portion of the state. Additionally,
Reuben Clements was reportedly born in or around 1756 in North Carolina (1911
Alabama database, no known original source).
From a review of all currently available North Carolina
records (more records exist), Charles Clements, James Clements, and Benjamin
Clements were in Johnston County, North Carolina 1782 to 1787. Prior to that time, between approximately
1776 until at least 1779, Benjamin Clements and James Clements were in Wake
County, North Carolina. And before that,
Benjamin Clements was found in several counties within that area. After careful examination of all records in
North Carolina that are associated with this family (included at the end of this website), I believe this Clements
family was arranged in the following format:
Benjamin Clements (born 1720-1729, died after 1779), married
Hannah (unknown surname – listed as wife in 1774-1776 records) and then
possibly Eleonor (unknown surname – listed as widow in 1790 census), children
speculated through locality, proximity, and record association include:
1.
Benjamin Clements (born 1746-1752) first
identified in 1767 Cumberland Co NC, born before 1755 in 1800 census, of
militia muster age un 1772
2.
Reuben Clements (born 1750-1755) first
identified in 1771 Chatham Co NC, , born before 1755 in 1800 census, of militia
muster age un 1772
3.
James Clements (born 1757-1758), first
identified in 1776 Chatham Co NC, born after 1755 in 1800 census, not of
militia muster age in 1772
4.
Elizabeth Clements (born 1752-1759),
speculation based on estimated age of husband Charles Stewart by descendants,
and birth dates of children beginning in 1777
5.
Charles Clements (born 1760-1765), first
identified in 1783 Johnston Co NC, not of militia muster age in 1772, born
after 1755 in 1800 census, born 1760 to 1770 in 1830 and 1840 census
6.
Culliver Clements (born 1760-1764), first
identified in 1781 Rev War battle list, born after 1755 in 1800 census, not of
militia muster age in 1772, born 1760 to 1770 in 1840 census
7.
Jesse Clements (born 1765-1770), first
identified in 1789 Pendleton SC, died in 1795
The records below form a timeline for Benjamin Clements
after his move into western North Carolina (these records from the larger list of records at the end of this website):
1749 - Benjamin Clements was
on Walnut Br of New Hope Ck (Haw R), Johnston Co NC (patent 400 acres)
1750 - Benjamin Clements was
on Walnut Br of New Hope Ck (Haw R), Johnston Co NC (grant 400 acres)
1755 – Benjamin Clements was
at New Hope & Bush Ck (Haw R), Orange Co NC (purchase 210 acres)
1756 – Benjamin Clements was at
New Hope & Bush Ck (Haw R), Orange Co NC (sold 105 acres)
1756 – Benjamin Clements was
at New Hope & Bush Ck (Haw R), Orange Co NC (sold 105 acres)
1758 – Benjamin Clements was
at Haw River, Orange Co NC (purchase 486 acres)
1759 – Benjamin Clements was
at Haw River, Orange Co NC (sold 80 acres)
1759 – Benjamin Clements was
at Haw River, Orange Co NC (sold 408 acres)
1760 – Benjamin Clements held
land at Great Bush Ck (Haw R), Orange Co NC
1761 – Benjamin Clements of
Orange Co NC land on Middle Ck, Neuse R, Johnston Co NC (purchase 334 acres)
1761 – Benjamin Clements held
land at Bush Ck (Haw R), Orange Co NC
1762 – Benjamin Clements
bought land at ?? (purchased
?? acres)
1762 – Benjamin Clements held
land at Haw R, Orange Co NC
1765 – Benjamin Clements
lived in Orange Co NC
1767 – Benjamin Clements on
Cumberland Co NC tax list
1771 – Benjamin Clements in
Chatham Co NC
1772 – Benjamin Clements in
Chatham Co NC on militia muster
1773 – Benjamin Clements in
Wake Co NC bought land at
??in Cumberland Co NC (purchase
?? acres)
1774 – Benjamin Clements in
Wake Co NC sold land New Hope Ck (Haw R), Chatham Co NC (sold 108 acres)
1775 – Benjamin Clements in
Wake Co NC is mentioned in Chatham Co NC
1775 – Benjamin Clements in
Wake Co NC bought land Swift Ck, Neuse R, Johnston Co NC (purchase 150 acres)
1776 – Benjamin Clements in
Wake Co NC sold land Haw R, Chatham Co NC (sold 243 acres of 486)
1776 – Benjamin Clements in
Wake Co NC sold land Swift Ck, Neuse R, Johnston Co NC (sold 150 acres)
1779 – Benjamin Clements in
Wake Co NC sold land in ??
Cumberland Co NC (sold ??
acres)