Transcribed by
Cathryn Jex Millburn

 

HUGH ERSKINE

     Hugh Erskine, b 1792 in Pendleton District, South Carolina, d early 1870's and buried in the Erskine Family Cemetery in Falls County, Texas, on what is now the Hale Farm off Highway 147, east of Marlin, Texas - was a son of James and Nancy Agnes (Duncan) Erskine, Sr., natives of Ireland.

     In 1820 in South Carolina, Hugh Erskine was married to Jane Richards, b 1802 in South Carolina, d early 1880's in Falls County, Texas, and buried by her husband. There are no tombstones on their grave sites. Jane was a daughter of William Richards, a native of Ireland, and his wife, a native of England; and her paternal grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Jackson) Richards. Thomas Richards died prior to 1790 in South Carolina, and Elizabeth was recorded as a widow in the Old 96th District in 1790. When Jane (Richards) Erskine died, she was making her with a son, John W. Erskine.

     Hugh and Jane (Richards) Erskine resided in Pendleton County, South Carolina until 1824, when they moved to McMinn County, Tennessee with the Duncan Family -to a part of the Hiwasse Purchase acquired from the Cherokee Indians in 1819. They returned to South Carolina prior to 1845, and then immigrated to Texas by December 1853 - purchasing land on Blue Ridge (present-day Stranger), in Falls County. They had eleven children:

     Elizabeth Erskine, b late 1821 in Pendleton District, South Carolina - married first to Benjamin Tucker, of McMinn County, Tennessee; married second ca 1847 in South Carolina to Henry Steele, b 1825 in Ireland, d after 1900 in Falls County, Texas - a son of William S. and Mary (McGill) Steele, Jr.

     William Richards Erskine, b April 23, 1823 in Pendleton District, South Carolina, d January 31, 1892 in Limestone County, Texas and buried in Tehuacana Cemetery - married first on July 13, 1856 to Mary Elizabeth (Garrett) McDowell, b March 19, 1835 in Washington County, Arkansas, d 1862 - widow of John McDowell, and a daughter of Thomas McKissick and Margaret Minerva (Reed) Garrett; married second by 1865 to Sarah Frances (Garrett) Hearon - a first cousin of his first wife; and married third in Falls County, Texas on September 8, 1870 to Angeline N. (Brooks) Granade, b March 3, 1839 in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, d March 7, 1895 and buried in Tehuacana Cemetery - a daughter of James Hampton and Anna (Bowie) Brooks, a widow of John Granade.

     Nancy Clementine Erskine - a twin, b 1825 in McMinn County, Tennessee - married in 1841 to Jesse Melton, son of David Melton of Anderson County, South Carolina.

     Mary Emeline Erskine - a twin, b 1825 in McMinn County, Tennessee-married in 1853 to William B. McAllister, b 1825 in Old 96th District, South Carolina - a son of William and Margarette (Todd) McAllister.

     Margarette Jane Erskine, b 1827 in McMinn County, Tennessee - became the second wife of Andrew Jackson Sowders, in Falls County, Texas.

     James David Erskine (called "Jamie"), b 1829 in McMinn County, Tennessee - married first on September 2, 1856 in Falls County, Texas to Clarinda Sparks and had no issue; married second to Nancy A. Rogers - daughter of Larkin and Mary (Aycock) Rogers, and had no issue. "Jamie" reared his niece, Sarah Elizabeth Erskine, who married Ruben S. Springfield -eldest daughter of his brother, William Richards Erskine, by his second wife, Sarah Frances (Garrett) Hearon Erskine.

     Martha Agnes Erskine, b 1832 in McMinn County, Tennessee - married first to William Sparks - a son of Willoby and Mary Sparks, of Limestone County, Texas; married second to Charles Hodges, who died December 19, 1888 and buried in Garrett Cemetery at Stranger, Falls County, Texas, by his first wife, Susannah (Parker) Hodges, who died October 9, 1871.

     Thomas Jackson Erskine, b 1836 in McMinn County, Tennessee, d 1893 - no further information.

     Amanda M. Erskine, b 1838 in McMinn County, Tennessee - married September 7, 1861 to James Augustus Bell, b May 31, 1842 in South Carolina, d December 29, 1928 and buried in Garrett Cemetery at Stranger - a son of Samuel and Anna Bell, who settled in the Stranger Community from South Carolina.

     John Wilford Erskine, b 1840 in McMinn County, Tennessee - married first in 1869 to Nancy Grifth daughter of Leonard Lenore and Sarah (Owen) Griffith; married second to Sarah J. (Snipes) Posey - a daughter of W. C. and L. S. (Cox) Snipes, and widow of Eli Posey.

     Robert Wright Erskine, b 1845 in Pendleton District, South Carolina - was alive when the 1860 Census was recorded in Falls County, Texas. No further information.

     Hugh and Jane (Richards) Erskine reared their children in the Presbyterian faith. They continue to have many descendants in Falls County, Texas.

Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing the bios of these Falls County Families to this web page.
"Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 135, columns 1 & 2.
Member of the Falls County Historical Commission