The image at the top of this page is one portion of a Bible record naming the earliest known ancestors or lineage for a particular individual. Scripted in the same hand, and by use of modern ink pen, the entire record had to be written more recently than the entry marking the most current event. This means the information was recorded at some point after a marriage dated ___ ___ ___. Knowing the earliest named family lived a hundred years prior to this documentation, should we view the writing as proof? The answer is no. But believing it was written with love and care, the record offers a glance back, allowing us to bench mark our understanding against that of earlier generations.

Traditional Love family histories fail to mention Mary “Polly” Love. But during the past few years, family descendant Dorothy White has made it her mission to correct this omission. Armed with the above mentioned Bible record graciously given her by Carrie Brown of South Carolina, and as is confirmed in earlier marriage records, Dorothy has won her campaign. There indeed once lived a person named Mary Love. And though no record can be found stating the connection as fact, we strongly believe she is the daughter of Thomas and Susannah Polk Love. This page is dedicated to that assumption. So born ca. 1805, Mary was named for her grandmother Mary Ingram Love. And from other records, we know that Mary was also known as Mary “Farley” Love. Dorothy believes she may have been born Mary Pherabee Love. This is likely true.

Based on the birth dates of her children, we believe Mary married William Honeycutt ca. 1820. The following is one line from the baptismal records for the congregation at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cabarrus County:

The above record is one of many in a list and has three obvious parts. The first is titled “Infant.” It reads: Wilhelm born 2 June 1793 baptized 9 Sept 1798. The middle section names the parents. There is a short string of letters “uxor” between Demsi and Ruth signifying she is his wife. The last section is titled “Coparent” or Sponsor. In this case, William was baptized at the home of his spnsor or Godfather, Jacob Mueller. As basis of proof that William is the son of Dempsey Honeycutt, my friend John B. Hagler provided the following concerning the church and entire family baptism record:

Rev. Adam Nicholas Marcard pastor of St. John`s Lutheran (the one near Mount Pleasant) recorded the baptisms of the children of Dempsey and wife Ruth Honeycutt September 9, 1798. They were baptized at John and Magdalene Krebs who were sponsors of some as were George Gobel, Conrad Udi, Sybilla Springer and Jacob Mueller. (Find where the sponsors lived and you will then know about where the baptisms took place.) Elias (Eli) August 31, 1787 Joseph March 22, 1789 Mary May 15, 1791 William June 2, 1793 Lybaj (Libby?) December 25, 1798 Ruth February 23, 1798 Ruben May 2, 1798

As per the 1830 census, William Honeycutt was living in the area of Grassy Creek in then Anson County NC. The family was enumerated as 1m5-, 1m30-40 // 2f5-, 2f5-10, 1f20-30. This was in the uppermost northwest corner of Anson County near the line with Mecklenburg to the west. Thomas Love was known to have owned land in the same vicinity. And dated 12 Apr 12 1830, Thomas Love and son John sold to William Honeycutt 100 acres (Y-169, Anson County NC) situated on Grassy Creek. This land adjoined that owned by Thomas Love, Green, and Anderson. Filed in court in April 1832, Robertson Rogers and Charles Taylor Junior witnessed the transaction. Following this transaction on the same page in the deed book, dated 6 Mar 1832, William Honeycutt sold household goods to David Simpson. For $400, David purchased ”one bay mare, a sorrel mare, seventeen head of cattle, forty head of hogs, eight head of geese, one grindstone, one saddle, one bureau, four tables, one shelf furniture, one loom and gears, 4 pails, 3 pots. 2 ovens, all my corn and fodder and rye straw four beds and furniture.” This was not a mortgage or trust. Recorded at the same time as his purchase from Thomas Love, William Honeycutt saw need to sell household and farm supplies to David Simpson. Later in the same year, dated 8 Nov 1832, Thomas Love and William Honeycutt jointly sold the lands (Y-451, Anson County NC) William had purchased earlier. Being 100 acres situated on Grassy Creek, this time the land was sold to Adam Long. Recorded Oct 1833, Thomas Long and Benja (X) Pinyon witnessed the transaction.

In 1840, the William and Mary Love Honeycutt family were enumerated in eastern Mecklenburg County. The family is listed as: 2m10-15, 1m15-20, 1m30-40 // 1f5-10, 1f10-15, 1f30-40. Note that William is 10 years too young in this entry. And then in 1842, Union County was created from the western portion of Anson County and the eastern portion of Mecklenburg County. Though not appearing often in records of Union County, William does appear on early tax lists. From 1845-1848, he is taxed each year for 200 acres situated in Grassy Creek area valued at $300-$325. And then in 1849, the name William falls from the tax list. But in the same year, his nephew Andrew Honeycutt is taxed for the same lands. Finding no other indications of an estate settlement, we believe this record marks the death of William Honeycutt. Andrew Honeycutt may very well have been the administrator of the estate of William Honeycutt. And in 1850, the census is supports the belief that William has passed in that Mary [Love] Honeycutt is now enumerated as head of household:

1850 Union County 43 Mary Honeycutt 21 Sarah 20 Wm. 18 Dempsy 10 Elizabeth 08 Jane 06 Susanna

Mary Honeycutt appears in the Union County census through 1870. It is believed she died some point in the 1870’s. The children of William and Mary F. Love Honeycutt are:

A. Serena Honeycutt

B. William M. Honeycutt

Born ca. 1825, William first appears in the 1850 census as 20 years of age and living in the home of his mother Mary. Dated 16 Aug 1853 in Union County, William Honeycutt married Phebe Medlin. Born ca. 1832, Phebe is the daughter of William D. and Phoebe Helms Medlin. In 1860, William Hunnicut, wife F. C., and family are enumerated living in eastern Mecklenburg County. Dated 29 Mar 1862, the 32 year-old William M. Honeycutt enlisted for service in CSA Co. I. 48th Reg. NC. Stating he was born in Union County, he was present until being hospitalized for bronchitis at Richmond VA 6 Dec 1862. He was wounded in the shoulder 14 Oct 1863 at Bristoe Station VA. He reported absent wounded in Nov-Dec 1863. Returning to duty he last reported 30 Nov 1864. Note this same Company included many Hagler and Love family.

Coming home from war, in 1870, William was enumerated with wife and extended family near the home of his mother Mary living in Union County. Living with William and “Orphelia” is Phebe’s sister [Martha] Patsy Medlin and what appears to be her daughter Mary. Dated 24 Aug 1874, William M. and wife Phebe of then “Mecklenburg County” sold their share in three tracts of land (10-9, Union County NC) to Alfred J. Austin. The first piece of land is identified as Phebe’s interest in “the certain tract of land known as the lands of William Medlin deceased.” The second tract known as the Jenkins place adjoined lands owned by M. M. Austin and Sherod L. Mullis. And the third piece of land known as the J. L. Griffin tract adjoined Joab Griffin lands.

William and family are enumerated in 1880 living on the Rocky River in Cabarrus County NC. His wife Phebe died earlier as she does not appear. The children of William M. and Phebe Medlin Honeycutt are:

A. Mary Jane Honeycutt Born ca. 1855.
B. Sarah Emeline Honeycutt Born ca. 1857.
C. Martha M. Honeycutt Born ca. 1858, “Mat” Honeycutt married 9 May 1885 R. Q. Dulin in Cabarrus County. Born ca. 1855, R. Q. is the son of Sugar and Elizabeth Dulin.
D. William M. Honeycutt Jr. Born 12 Jun 1859, William Jr. married 26 Feb 1881 in Mecklenburg County Eva. Hagler. Born ca. 1860, she is the Great Granddaughter of Mary Love Hagler and daughter of James G. and Polly Eudy Hagler. Living in Clear Creek Section of Mecklenburg County, William died 20 Feb 1932. His death certificate states his father is William M. Honeycutt. It also states that he was buried at Willgrove Church. The children of William and Eve are: A.) James A. b. Oct 1886 (twin); B.) Mary H. b. Oct 1886 (twin); C.) Carrie E. b. Nov 1882; D.) Julius K. b. Jan 1892; E.) Virgie L. b. Jun 1894; F.) Henry b. Apr 1893; G.) Wilson B. b. Feb 1897.
E. Frances L. B. Honeycutt Born ca. 1867
F. Ida Lutish Honeycutt Born ca. 1873

Following the death of Phebe, dated 15 Mar 1882, William M. Honeycutt married second Martha Medlin. Born ca. 1843, she is Phebe’s younger sister who was enumerated in the household in 1870. While William’s first marriage was legally recorded by means of marriage bond, this second marriage was authorized by way of marriage license. And as written on this newer format, William M. Honeycutt identified his parents as William and Mary Honeycutt.

William M. Honeycutt outlived most of his friends and neighbors. In 1920 Union County, he is enumerated as 95 years of age and a servant. I have yet to find his wife Martha. While in all other census records, he is enumerated as white, now William is listed as “MU” for Mulatto. Dated 5 Jul 1920, William Hunnicutt applied for a pension while living in Monroe, Union County. “Claims to be 105 years old,” William stated he served in Co. 35, 35 Reg. NC. “He was wounded in left right hand, on forehead and ball cut him across the small of the back.” There is no mention in Combined military records of a William Honeycutt servin in any company of the 35th Reg. NC. A few years later, and while living at the County Home in Monroe, the 98 year-old William Huneycutt died on 13 Nov 1924. His death certificate indicates he was buried at the Union Co. Home. And as provided by informant J. R. Wolf, the naming of parents for William provides yet another twist in this story. It was sated that William’s father was unknown and “Indian.” And his mother was unknown and a “white woman.” If this is William M. Honeycutt, his ethnicity was likely recorded in error. In all earlier census records, William is identified as white.

William’s widow Martha filed application for a widow’s pension dated 14 Feb 1929. She stated her husband enlisted 29 Mar 1862 in CSA Co. I. 48th Reg. NC. That she married him in 1866 and that he died 1902 in Cabarrus County. Statements from this application cannot be confirmed in other information known about William M. Honeycutt. Either we have mixed up records for two men named William Honeycutt, or Martha did not present the facts as they happened. More work is needed.

C. Dempsey Honeycutt

Born ca. 1839, Dempsy appears in the 1850 Union County census living in the home of his mother. Provided to me by John B. Hagler, a miscellaneous court record tells the story of the death of young Dempsey Honeycutt. Dated 18 Apr 1853, the coroner William H. Simpson met with twelve men and offered the following written statement:

. . . we find upon our own examination of the dead body of Dempsy Honeycut and the Testimony of Elisha James & A. G. Price that the aforesaid Dempsy Honeycut came to his death by a lick struck on the left side of said Honeycutt’s head just above the ear with a common siz’d hand spoke which lick or blow was struck by one John E. Presley in said county of Union.

D. Elizabeth Honeycutt

E. Martha Jane Honeycutt

F. Susannah Honeycutt

Born ca. 1843 Susannah first appears in the 1850 census living with her mother Mary Honeycutt. Believing Mary to be the daughter of Thomas and Susannah Polk Love, it appears this child was named for her grandmother Love. Susan remains with her mother through the 1870 census. Dated 14 Feb 1884, the 30 year-old Susannah married in Union County to 27 year-old R. A. Foard. He is the son of Samuel and Martha Foard. As written on the marriage license, Susannah is the daughter of William and Mary Honeycutt. Susan Ford died 24 Jan 1929. Her death certificate states that she is the daughter of Bill Huneycutt. And that her mother is “Farley Love.” At age 87 years and a widow living in the county home, Susannah Honeycutt Foard is buried in the cemetery at the Union County Home.