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FOREWORD
PLEASE READ!

As most of you are aware, THE FEATHERSTONE SOCIETY has recently formed in England. They plan to publish THE FEATHERSTONE FAMILY NEWS several times a year. If you need more information, please contact:
Paul Featherstone
9 Hillcrest Gardens
Hinchley Wood
Esher, Surrey
KT10 OBT.
England
I am excited about this new venture. They have already been able to enroll Featherston(e) descendants worldwide. This gives us all a greater opportunity to add to our knowledge of our various Featherston(e) families.
FEATHERSTON FINDINGS has been invited to merge with THE FEATHERSTONE SOCIETY. Details of this possible merger have not yet been finalized. Before those details can be worked out, we need your thoughts on this matter. Would you prefer that FEATHERSTON FINDINGS continue publication? Or should we all join together with our English cousins in helping to further worldwide Featherston(e) research?
Please respond with your thoughts on this matter.
THANK YOU!
Joyce Featherston Hawkins

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Index

 FEATHERSTON FINDINGS. VOLUME 19
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Page 1

 MERRIMON FEATHERSTONE (cal770 - 1844) and his wife AMELIA (MILLS) FEATHERSTONE
(cal771 - cal846)
ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS

(continued from volume 18, page 8)

Generation VII (Grandchildren of Merrimon Featherstone)

2.2.1. Calvin R. "Bob" Featherston - b. ca. 1840 NC (son of William T. Featherston and Mary Emily Edney); m. 5 Jan 1863 HendersonvilIe, Henderson Co., NC to Emily T. Corn - b. ca. 1846 NC, d. by 1910, dau. of Silas Corn and Elisabeth __?. JFH sources: Henderson Co., NC Census records; July 1996 information supplied by Scott R. Featherstone,
37877; 1870 Cocke Co., TN Census; Mrs. I.D. (Elmeree) Oakley,  (info probably from Marie Rutledge
collection). Note JFH: marriage record shows Daniel R. Featherston having married Emily T. Corn - was original record transcribed incorrectly?

            Issue of Calvin R. "Bob" Featherston:
              2.2.1.1. Emily L. Featherston - b. ca. 1865 NC
              2.2.1.2. Sallie Featherston - m. Frank Cuicevich
             .2.2.1.3. Minnie Featherston - m. __? Dawson
              2.2 1 4. Mary Alice Featherston - b. ca. 1876 NC. (See Gen. VIII 2.2.1.4.)

2.2.2. Ambrose Augustus Featherston - was b. 24 Sep 1843 (son of William T. Featherston and Mary Emily
Edney) according to his death certificate in Buncombe Co., NC Court Records. His age was given as 8 years on the June 1860 census for Henderson Co., NC.  On his death certificate the name of his mother was given as Emily Edney. He moved to Asheville, NC where he became a grocer, with property at 19 North Main St., (now
Lexington) near Pack Square. His wife was Harriet L. Deaver of Buncombe Co. whose name appears on
numerous items of land transactions recorded in Asheville County. On her death certificate, she was listed as
being divorced. She died of some form of tuberculosis.
Years later her daughter Blanche set up two trust funds:
(1) The Harriet L. Featherston Memorial or Endowment Fund, "in memory of my mother Harriet L. Featherston and said fund shall be used by said Association to comfort the feeble, needy and distressed of the City of Asheville.
(2) The Ambrose A. Featherston, Jr. Memorial or Endowment Fund, "in memory of my brother Ambrose A. Featherston, Jr." Ambrose died 10 May 1913 Buncombe Co., NC. He m.l) Harriet L. Deaver b. Feb 1853 NC (div.); m.2) 29 Oct 1891 to Mrs. Clara M. (Wilson) Deaver - b. Dec 1857 NC. JFH sources: Buncombe Co., NC Census records; Nov 1911 Henderson Co., NC Superior Court record, Bk. 82, ps. 49-56; Henderson Co., NC
Census records; 1870 McDowell Co., NC Census lists Ambrose Featherston, age 24, clerk in grocery, b. NC.

         Issue of Harriet L. Deaver and Ambrose Augustus Featherston:

           2.2.2.1. Ernest Cameron Featherston - b. Oct 1872 NC, d. single 12 Dec 1944. Deeded 136 acres to
                         Elmer L. Biship [Bk 233, p. 63, 1942 - 135 acres in Henderson County, Featherston Mill Creek]. E.
                         Cam Featherston to Blanche F. Dermitt [Bk 93, page 89, deed  1916. lot.] cont.

Page 2

Merrimon Featherstone (cont.)

              2.2.2.2. Blanche Featherston - b. May 1875 NC. Inherited land from her father in her own right, which
                            gave her financial independence. She m. ca, 1903 to Walter Dermitt and they lived on Pearson
                             Drive in Asheville. On Feb. 16, 1915 she still retained ownership of Henderson County land for
                             she executed a year's lease of the farmland to N.B. Featherston. An abstract of the lease
                             describes the land as: "beginning at a white oak known as the beginning corner of a state grant
                             to David Miller..running south west course with Mariah C. Alexander's line where said line
                             intersects with S.T. Featherston's line on the south side of Mill Creek... with land formerly owned
                             by A.M. Featherston ...to a stake in the branch below Thomas S. Case's line...etc...500  acres 
                              ...being the same lands known as the old Featherston homestead and owned by the late A.A.
                             Featherston, father of Blanche F. Dermitt party of the 1st part... "N.B. Featherston...rent of
                             $100.00 for one year - payable to Blanche F. Dermitt or assigns... Witnesses: Ambrose M.
                             Featherston, Walter Dermitt." She wrote her will prior to Feb. 15, 1915...abstracted below:
                            ...devise to my cousin and namesake, Blanche Stepp, daughter of Decatur and Alice F. Stepp -
                             10 acres... ...to husband Walter Dermitt, and brother E. Cam Featherston, land now owned by
                              me and known as the Featherston Homestead. ...my cousins, Mamie E. Featherston and
                              Emma Featherston, daughters of Columbus Featherston, $1000.00 each. ...to Walter Dermitt,
                              our home on Pearson Drive, AshevilIe. ...if childless, to Walter Dermitt and brother E. Cam
                              Featherston, my store building on Main St., now Broadway, Asheville.
                           ...to E. Cam Featherston, 1/2 interest in East Pack Square property and at their deaths I devise
                             1/2 interest in the store property on Broadway and West Pack Square Store property ...to the
                              Asheveille Associated Charities of the City of Asheville. The income derived from said property
                              after the payment of all expenses and charges, be known as The Harriet L. Featherston
                             Memorial or Endowment Fund in memory of my mother Harriet L. Featherston and said fund
                             shall be used by said Association to comfort the feeble, needy and distressed of the City of
                             Asheville. ...The other half of said property to ...The Asheville Health Seekers Association - a
                             corporation of the City of Asheville, the remaining one half interest in the North Main Street Store
                             property and West Pack Square property, and direct that the income derived from it shall be
                             known as the Ambrose A. Featherston Jr. Memorial or Endowment Fund in memory of my cont.


 

Page 3

Merrimon Featherstone (cont.)

brother Ambrose A. Featherston, Jr. and be used by said Association for the comfort, care and protection of poor and destitute people who come to Asheville, or Buncombe County in
search of health, ...property not to be sold for 50 years, ...and after that only to be re-invested in other income- producing property or U.S. Government Bonds, income to be used as set forward before. If above Associations cease to exist, then the ministers, or rectors of the following churches be constituted a Board of Trustees: the First Presbyterian Church, Central M.E. Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, and First Baptist Church. Thomas Harkins was named executor of the above will. On Feb. 15, 1915 a codicil was executed to reduce the cash
legacies of $1000.00 to $500.00, and the $300.00 legacies to $100.00. [Bk 3, page 577 - Henderson County Court records] She was apparently deceased before June 3, 1915.
 

2.2.2.3. Ambrose Augustus Featherston, Jr. - b. ca. 1878 NC. Brother of Blanche F. Dermitt, per her will. Was deceased at the time of Blanche's will in 1915.

2.2.3. William Columbus Featherston - b. ca. 1845/47 NC (son of William T. Featherston and Mary Emily Edney). Apparently known generally as "Columbus" Featherston. The death records of Buncombe Co., NC show that he died there on 30 Aug 1909. Lived in Asheville, NC where his house was at 180 Charlotte St. He m. 7 May 1874 at Knox Co., TN to Lillian Lee "Li 11 ie" Vunck - b. ca. 1852/54 TN/NY. In the 1912 issue of the Asheville City Directory she was listed as widow of W.C. Featherston. Lillian Lee Vunck Featherston was the daughter of Frank Vunck, and she died in Buncombe Co. 9 May 1912 (Bk 03/1182].

                            Issue of Lillian Lee "Li 11 ie" Vunck and William Columbus Featherston:
 

2.2.3.1. Mamie E. Featherston - named as dau of Columbus Featherston and her cousin in the will of Blanche F. Dermitt in 1915 who bequeathed her $500.00.
2.2.3.2. Emma Maude Featherston - named as dau of Columbus Featherston and her cousin in the will of Blanche F. Dermitt in 1915 who bequeathed her $500.00. Died in Buncombe Co., NC 26 Nov 1957 (dau of Columbus Featherstone [Bk. 44/158].
2.2.3.3. N.B. Featherston II - Rented the A.A. Featherston homestead farm by legal contract in 1915, which land had formerly been owned by the Ambrose Mills Featherston who had died in 1846.
(Note JFH: Is this N.B. Featherston a son of William Columbus or was it Napoleon Bonaparte (son of William T. Featherston and Mary Emily Edney) who rented the A.A. Featherston homestead in 1915? The only census records I have showing this family are: cont.

Page 4

Merrimon Featherstone (cont.)

1880 Knox Co., TN Census

Lum Featherston head 35 TN TN TN
Lillie Featherston wife 28 TN TN TN
Emma Featherston dau 2 TN TN TN
Mima(?) Featherston dau 5 TN TN TN

1910 Buncombe Co., NC Census
Emma Featherston head 30 single TN NC NY
Lillian Featherston mother 56 widow NY NY NY
(occupation - dressmaker)
Mamie Featherston sister 34 single TN NC NY
(occupation - dressmaker)
If William Columbus and Lillian had a son, he very well could have been born after 1880. Does anyone have another census showing this family?)

2.2.5. S. Merrimon Featherston - b. Feb 1850 NC (son of William T. Featherston and Mary Emily Edney), d. 30 Dec 1930 Buncombe Co., NC; S.M. Featherston (age 27) of Hendersonville, m. 17 Jan 1879 Hendersonville,
Henderson Co., NC to Mary Garren (age 23) - b. May 1855 NC (dau of William Garren), d. 25 Mar 1931 Buncombe Co., NC. Sources: Index of Register of Marriages (male), p. 16, Henderson Co. Courthouse; S. Merrimon Featherston. given as son of Sebren on his death certificate in Buncombe Co., NC under date of Dec. 30, 1930. (Bk 18/001]. Mary Garren Featherston d. in Buncombe Co., NC on 25 Mar 1931, with father's name of William Garren (Bk 18/0224]. He was listed in the Asheville City Directory of 1912 (?) with wife Mary, and his
occupation was a clerk at A.A. Featherston (Grocery Store). They lived at 174 South Main St. They all moved from Henderson Co. to Asheville. Buncombe Co., NC after 1900 and before 1910. (JFH: see note at end of family listing for Seaborn T. Featherston - vol. 18, p. 7.) JFH sources: Buncombe Co. and Henderston Co., NC Census records.

Issue of Mary Garren and S. Merrimon Featherston:

2.2.5.1. William Cammie Featherston - b. Mar 1882 NC, d. 6 Aug 1960 Buncombe Co., NC
              (Bk 47/1068]
2.2.5.2. Lillie Featherston - b. Sep 1885 NC
2.2.5.3. Emma Featherston - b. Sep 1888 NC
2.2.5.4. Columbus Featherston - b. Jun 1891 NC
2.2.5.5. Horace N. Featherston - b. Feb 1894 NC (See Gen. VIII 2.2.5.5.)
2.2.5.6. Jennings Gale Featherston - b. Sep 1898 NC. The death record in Buncombe County
               for Jennings Gale, gave his father as S.M. Featherston (Bk 45/0543].

2.2.7. Napoleon Bonaparte "Little Bud" Featherston - b. 15 Jan 1858 NC (son of William T. Featherston and Mary Emily Edney), d. 5 Nov 1938 Hendersonville, Henderson Co., NC, bur. Moore's Grove Cem., Hendersonville, NC; m. ca. 1890 to cont.

Page 5

Merrimon Featherstone (cont.)

Luster Lee Nichols - b. 8 Dec 1860 NC, d. 1 Aug 1936, bur. Moore's Grove Cem., Hendersonville, NC. JFH sources: July 1996 information supplied by Scott R.Featherstone, ; Mrs. I.D. (Elmeree) Oakley,  (loose pages of
cemetery info found in a folder at the Hendersonville Public Library "Done in 1937 by WPA".)

Issue of Luster Lee Nichols and Napoleon Bonaparte "Little Bud" Featherston:

2.2.7.1. Florence Ethel Featherston - b. 3 Jun 1891 Henderson Co., NC [Vol. 90, p. 218
               Delayed Birth Certificates, Henderson Co., NC Courthouse], d. 1973.
2.2.7.2. Kistie Clara Featherston - b. 1892, d. 1895
2.2.7.3. Pare Lee Featherston - b. 1894. (See Gen. VIII 2.2.7.3.)
2.2.7.4. Ambrose Mills Featherston - b. 20 Dec 1896 Henderson Co., NC. (See Gen. VIII         
               2.2.7.4.)
2.2.7.5. Vera Lucile Featherston - b. 31 Oct 1898 Henderson Co., NC. (See Gen. VIII 2.2.7.5.)
2.2.7.6. Franklin Nichols Featherston - b. 1900. (See Gen. VIII 2.2.7.6.)
2.2.7.7. Geneva Dorthy Featherston - b. 1904. (See Gen. VIII 2.2.7.7.)
2.2.7.8. Lavada Louise Featherston - b. 1913.

2.3.1. William Washington Hawkins - (son of Ann Brown Featherston and Robert Washington Hawkins), bur. Enon Cem., Woodstock, GA. (JFH: This is the only name of a child I have for Ann Brown (Featherston) Hawkins. Does anyone have additional information?)

2.4.4. Sarah Eliza Featherston - b. 12 Sep 1839 (dau of Seabron T. Featherston and Sarah Alien), known as "Eliza". May have been a dau under 5 on the 1840 census. She m. 15 Nov 1859 in Henderson Co., NC to Memory Prince Dermid. She appears in the 1860 census of Henderson Co., NC as Eliza Dermid, age 20, wife of Memory Dermid, age 28 - with no children. The name "Sarah" was included by Reba Dermid in the application she filed for membership in the NSDAR, based on descent from Sarah Eliza. By the 1880 census Sarah and
Memory had a family of nine children.

Issue of Sarah Eliza Featherston and Memory Prince Dermid:

2.4.4.1. Katherine Amanda "Kitty" Dermid - b. abt. 2 Nov 1860 Henderson Co., NC. (See Gen.
              VIII 2.4.4.1.)
2.4.4.2. Edward Dermid - b. 1864 Henderson Co., NC. Lived in Bristol, TN and died there.
               Was married and had at least one daughter.
2.4.4.3. John Dermid - b. 1866 Henderson Co., NC
2.4.4.4. Harriet Dermid - b. 1868 Henderson Co., NC
2.4.4.5. Sally Dermid - b. 1870 Henderson Co., NC  cont.

Page 6

Merrimon Featherstone (cont.)

2.4.4.6. Junious Wells Dermid - b. 1872 Henderson Co., NC, d. 5 Feb 1951 Buncombe Co.,
              NC [38/0111]
2.4.4.7. Mary Dermid - b. 1873 Henderson Co., NC
2.4.4.8. Lillian Dermid - b. 1875 Henderson Co., NC
2.4.4.9. Claudius Dermid - b. 1879 Henderson Co., NC, d. 16 Jan 1905 Buncombe Co., NC.
               Single. Was working for the Southern Railroad, and was killed in a construction
                accident in Balsam, NC.
 

2.5.1. Harriet C.C. Texana Featherston - b. abt. 1842 SC (illegitimate dau of Mariah Catherine Featherston). Alleged father may have been from Georgia. Was 8 years of age on the 1850 census for Henderson Co.. NC.
(JFH source: South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research Vol. 15 Marriages and Death Notices from the Greenville Patriot and Mountaineer - "Married on the 6th inst. (Nov 1856), by Thomas Dillard, Esq., Col. W.E.
Clyde and Miss Harriet C.C.T. Featherston, daughter of Mrs. Catherine Alexander formerly Featherston, of Hendersonville, NC".) Was listed as "H.C.T." in the will of her mother, Mariah Alexander, under date of June 1870, as recipient of a life lease in property willed to Harriet's daughter Mary Harriet C. Clyde...125 acres of the Mariah Alexander lands. [Part of the original homestead of Merrimon Featherston.] 1870 Henderson Co., NC Census: *50 - Alexander, Maria, age 60 1000 real estate b. NC Alexander, Texana 24 GA Alexander, Susan B. 18 SC Alexander, Auga T. 15 SC Alexander, Mary H.C. 9 SC A different census lists Harriet's birthplace as S.C.

Issue of Harriet C.C. Texana Featherston and Col. W.E. Clyde

2.5.1.1. Mary Clyde - b. abt. 1860 SC. (see Gen. VIII 2.5.1.1.)

2.5.3. Aurora Talula Alexander - b. 26 Aug 1855 Pickens Co., SC (dau of Mariah Catherine Featherston and Fountain Alexander), d. 30 Apr 1946 Spartanburg, SC. bur. Mountain View Cem., Greer, SC; m. 4 Sep 1880 Spartanburg, SC to Robert Joshua Ellis. (Ref. Research of Ruth Williams Bishop of Greer, SC as of 1983).
Issue of Aurora Talula Alexander and Robert Joshua Ellis: 2.5.3.1. Cora Eva Ellis - b. 18 May 1882 Pickens Co., SC (See Gen. VIII 2.5.3.1.) cont.