Dated 25 Mar 1862, John J. Love enlisted in CSA Co. H, 42nd Reg. NC. At enlistment, John provided that his place of residence was “Stanly County.” He was promoted to Sergeant on 28 Apr 1863. Dated 25 May 1863, John J. Love of Stanly County NC purchased land (10-446, Union County NC) in Union County from Wm. A. Parker and R. Broadaway of Anson and Henry Baucom and Wm. Curlee of Union County. Being 161 acres situated on Susco Branch adjoining the Camden Road and lands owned by R. H. Griffin. Recorded 17 Apr 1877, J. E. W. Smith, J. S. Baucom, and A. H. Griffin witnessed the transaction. John J. Love was at war. He was raised in ranks just prior to purchasing the above lands. And then on 1 Jun 1863, the combined military record indicates he was reduced in ranks. John J. Love was captured near Wise’s forks VA on 10 Mar 1865. He was released at Point Lookout Prison, Maryland on 28 Jun 1865.

Also serving in the same company as John were Jonah Askew Love, John E. Love, Michael Garmon Love, Postell P. Love, and John C. Love. We know well that Michael and Postell died during the war. And my ancestor Jonah A. Love lost his arm in battle. But John C. and John J. Love are true mysteries. Not stating his place of residence, John C. Love enlisted in Petersburg VA at the same time as Jonah Love. He later fled and turned himself over to the enemy at Bermuda 100 in Virginia. The last entry on the military record states clearly that he was “sent to Philadelphia.” This happened at the time of his release. There was only one other mention of a John C. Love in court records of Stanly County. But after the war, a John C. Love of Philadelphia PA purchased and later sold lands around Reed gold mine in Cabarrus County.

Knowing that John J. Love resided in Stanly County at time of his 1862 enlistment, I looked first for him in the 1860 census. Even though he should appear as married with children, John avoids mention in the 1860 state census. Nor does he appear in the 1850 census. And searching court minutes for Cabarus, Stanly and Union Counties, I found no mention of John J. Love prior to the war.

A state whose laws proudly reflect an early form of rural county government, North Carolina has never legally sanctioned the “homesteading of lands within its border. This term is foreign and would never be used by the most knowledgeable North Carolinian. Unlike the west, where expansion meant homesteading federal lands identified using a grid system, our land laws were built upon grants of land issued early by the lord proprietors and later by authority of the Secretary of State. But following the civil war, and accompanying reconstruction, federal laws and terminology trickled down and were put to use within our own state. So many men returned home sick, injured and deeply in debt. During the mid-1860’s, a string of “Homestead Exemption” laws became enacted. The laws limited the amount of land that could be seized and sold in order to satisfy debt. Seeking to protect citizens’ livelihoods, tools of trade and necessary household implements were also “exempt.” Dated 26 Jan 1869, John J. Love, Wm. G. Thomas, and Even Smith as freeholders living in Union County, were appointed to lay-off and allot to Jonathan Swink lands and property (6-683, Union County NC) exempt from seizure.

In 1870 Union County, the following families are enumerated side by side:

1870 Union County 53 John J. Love 41 Caroline 15 Henry 8 General B.

1870 Union County 26 Adam J. Love 21 Sarah J. 3 James 1 John C 9 Anna George (black)

From the above, we know that John J. Love married Caroline ca. 1843. Note that all the above were enumerated as being born in North Carolina. They have to relate to our Love family!

There are few records for the John J. Love family in the 1870’s. Looking back through the marriage books, we know that John and Caroline’s son “James Adam Love” married in 1866 Union County Sarah Jane Griffin. And son Joseph Henry Love married a daughter of John H. Harrington in 1872 Stanly County. In 1880 all members of the Love family were living in New Salem, Union County. Adam is enumerated as head of a sizable family. Married to Sarah Jane Griffin, the family is living beside that of Joseph Griffin. And younger brother Joseph Love appears for the first time as head of household. J. J. Love is listed as 56, his wife M. C. is 55, and his son B. G. is 18 years of age and living at home in Union County. Shortly after the census, G. B. Love married in Stanly County the daughter of William M. and Mary Hinson.

Dated 8 Apr 1884, John J. and C. M. Love of Union County purchased land (20-572, Union County NC) from “R. C. Curlee (trustee of Rebecca Curlee) and F. J. Curlee his wife of the County of Stanly.” For $65, John and wife purchased land on “Richardson Creek known as the one fourth undivided interest of N. C. Curlee of home lands of William Curlee dec’d adjoining the lands of W. N. Parker, Thos. Carpenter and James Moore and others supposed to contain two hundred & five acres more or less.” Arising from a deed of trust executed to N. C. Curlee by Rebecca Curlee of Stanly County, the land was sold to J. J. Love at public auction on 7 Apr 1884. And John J. Love’s son James A[dam] Love witnessed the transaction. And then on the same day, in the same deed book, and on the next page, it is recorded that J. J. Love and wife C. M. Love sold for $65 the very same land back to N. C. Curlee. And again, son James A. Love witnessed the transaction. Not yet fully understanding what I am reading, it appears that John J. Love’s wife may be somehow related to N. C. Curlee. Could she be his sister?

Land records are so much fun!

Just as John J. Love once served as freeholder in laying off a homestead exemption for Jonathan Swink, it is now time for the same services be offered to John J. Love. Dated 12 Jan 1894, and arising from debts owed to A. H. Crowell and Son, a group of freeholders were assembled to lay off a “homestead and personal property exemption” (24-306, Union County NC) for J. J. Love of New Salem. The report is as follows:

”WE have reviewed and appraised the Homestead of the said J. J. Love and the dwelling and buildings thereon, owned and occupied by the said J. J. Love as a homestead to be four-hundred dollars, and that the tract bounded as follows: on the North by lands of Harley Griffin, on the East by the lands of James Austin, on the South by lands of Bunyan Greene, containing one hundred & thirty-three (133) is therefore exempted from sale under execution according to law. At the same time and place, viewed and appraised at the values annexed, the following articles of personal property selected by said – no personal property- which we declare to be a fair valuation and that the said articles are exempted under said execution.”

There are no further land records for John J. Love in Union County. In 1900, he appears as follows in census living in Crab Orchard Township, Mecklenburg County NC.

1900 Mecklenburg County(Jan 1824) John J. Love (Dec 1824) Mary C. Love (Apr 1883) James W. Love – Grandson (Aug 1885) John D. Love Grandson (Sep 1882) Eliz. Braswell (Granddaughter)

Dated 28 May 1901, J. J. Love applied for a civil war pension claim. At age 78 and residing at Cluster branch post-office, he declared his service in “Co. B, 42nd Reg. NC. And in 1863, while in service at Seven Pines VA, he “received wound in left arm below elbow also on right leg.” Marking the death of John J. Love, dated 22 Jul 1904, 79 year-old Mary C. Love applied for widow’s pension while living in Rt. 2 Charlotte NC. She properly identifies her husband’s unit as Co. H, 42nd. Reg. NC. E. M. and Minnie Spoon witnessed on behalf of Mary’s claim.

The children of John J. and Caroline Love are believed to be:

A. James Adam Love

Born ca. 1844, “James A. Love” married 23 Sep 1866 in Union County to Sarah J[ane] Griffin. In 1870, as appears above, the young “Adam J. Love” family is enumerated as living next to John J. Love. Note one son was named James and the other “John C. Love.” During the civil war, John J. Love served with a John C. Love. In 1880 Union County, the family of Adam Love appears living next to Joseph Griffin:

1880 Union County 36 Adam Love 31 Sarah 13 James 11 Johnnie 09 Elizabeth 07 Rufus 05 Ashley 02 Margaret

Adam and family do not appear in the 1900 census. But from information found on his children’s marriage licenses, we know that John J. Love died ca. 1900. It appears Nancy lived into the 1900’s. The children of James Adam and Nancy Jane Griffin Love are:

A. James T. Love Born ca. 1867, James is enumerated in the Union County census through 1880. Dated 30 Sep 1894, he married in Cabarrus County Ida G. Fink. Born ca. 1875, she is the daughter of Aaron and Mary Yost Fink.
B. John C. Love Born ca. 1869, John C. is also enumerated through 1880.
C. Elizabeth Love Born ca. 1871, she is enumerated in the 1880 census.
D. Rufus C. Love Born ca. 1873, the 22 year-old R. C. Love married 12 Sep 1896 Maggie Clark in Mecklenburg County. Born ca. 1869, Maggie is the daughter of James and Mary Clark. At the time of this marriage, Rufus stated that both parents were living.
E. Ashley Love Born ca. 1875, Ashley appears in the 1880 Union County census.
F. Margaret Love Born ca. 1878, Margaret appears in the 1880 Union County census. G. Doctor Franklin Love Born ca. 1882, a marriage record dated 4 Jun 1904 in Mecklenburg identifies the parents of Doctor Love as (Adam and Jane). His father was dead and his mother living. He married Cora Clontz, the daughter of Ellis and Jane Clontz. She was born ca. 1883.

B. Vicey Catherine Love

Born ca. 1851, Catherine first appears when married 24 Mar 1867. Occurring in Union County, and according to the marriage bond, Catherine married Churchwell G. Braswell, the son of Culwell and Aquilla Baucom Braswell. During the closing days of the Civil War, Churchwell enlisted for service in CSA Co. F, 27th Reg. NC. In 1870, the census enumerates Churchwell and family next to the James Adam Love family who is enumerated next to John J. Love. It appears Churchwell and wife may have died prior to 1900 as in that year Braswell grandchildren are enumerated living with their grandparents John J. and Mary C. Love. The children of Churchwell and Catherine Love Braswell are:

A. Mary C. Braswell Born ca. 1868, she is named for her grandmother.
B. Julia A. “Emeline” Braswell Born 1869.
C. Adam C. Braswell Born 1876.
D. Son (twin) Born 1880
E. Son (twin) Born 1880
F. Minora Elizer Braswell Born 1882, she married Wm. H. Rushing

C. Joseph Henry Love

Born ca. 1855, it must be noted that this is the first “Joseph” I have ever seen in this area. It is not a traditional name revered and used by other families. This may be a hint as to the identity of Joseph’s mother’s maiden name. Dated 28 Feb 1874, Joseph Love married in Union County to N. J. Harrington. She is the daughter of Henry and Mary Harrington.
There are very few land records for Joseph. Dated 25 Jun 1875, Joseph Love mortgaged 5 acres of corn on John Morgan’s land (10-163, Stanly County NC). And on 14 Sep 1877, J. H. Love “of Stanly County” was indebted to Jacob W. Harrington. As written in the mortgage record (11-579, Stanly County NC), Joseph H. Love was ordered to sell “my little one year old bay mare.” In 1880, the Joseph Love family is enumerated as follows in New London, Union County NC:

1880 Union County23 Joseph Love 24 Nancy J. 07 Minta 02 Jonah

The above is valuable in that Joseph is shown with a child named Jonah. Is the name in honor of the prominent citizen, or does this indicate familial relationship? Note that Joseph and Nancy died prior to the 1903 marriage of their son Jonah.

The children of Joseph Henry and Nancy Jane Harrington Love are:

A. Minta Love Born ca. 1878, Minta appears in the 1880 census.
B. Jonah T. Love Born ca. 1877, Jonah T. Love married 10 Oct 1903 in Mecklenburg County. On the marriage license he stated that both parents were dead. At the home of E. M. Spoon, he married Mary F. Nantz. Note that E. M. and Minnie Spoon witnessed the civil war pension request filed by Jonah’s grandmother Mary C. Love. Could Minnie be Minta, the sister of Jonah T. Love? Born ca. 1772, Mary F. Nantz above is the daughter of Hugh and Eliza Faulkner. It appears she married first Mr. Nance.

D. General or “Gustavus” B. Love

Born 5 Feb 1865, G. B. Love married 15 May 1882 Malinda Hinson. Born ca. 1864, she is the daughter of William. M and Mary Hinson. “As appears on his death certificate, “Gustavus B. Love” died 6 Feb 1915. At that time living in South Albemarle in Stanly County, the certificate indicates his remains were carried to Charlotte for burial. I suspect we will find him buried near his parents. The informant is P. J. Huneycutt. He stated that Gustavus was the son of J. J. Love. The mother’s name is listed as “Hunneycutt.” All are born in Stanly County NC.