Warren , William Gray, 26 Oct 1806 - 14 Jun 1868

[Maria Louisa Warren died c1882 in North Carolina. Her daughter, Ann Bateman Warren was attending St. Mary’s Female College of Raleigh, North Carolina.]

Talbot, Mattie Warren, 1844 - 5 Nov 1862 (niece of William)

Rugeley, Annie Bateman Warren, 1867 - 6 Feb 1901 (daughter of William Gray and Maria Louisa Warren)

Rugeley, Robert (infant)

Rugeley, Infant son

Rugeley, Infant son

Rugeley, Helen T., 2 Feb 1893 - June 1959

Rugeley, Jane Irvin, 1 Oct 1860 - 8 Feb 1864
 

William Gray Warren Plantation

William Gray Warren was born in North Carolina October 21, 1806 and died on June 11, 1868 on the Warren Plantation known as "The Caney Plantation." Some records indicate that William was the son of Larkin Warren and Eunice Alicia "Nicy" Foley Warren. The 1860 census lists Warren as a planter, age 55 with real property valued at $85,000 and personal property $76,000 and 112 slaves.

Warren married Maria Louisa Swisher Graham in Matagorda County on June 1, 1854.

Maria, daughter of Ann Bateman Swisher Wilkinson (December 7, 1807 Franklin, Tennessee - April 8, 1875), was born c 1825 in Tennessee. Her mother had married a Mr. Swisher who died after Maria's birth. Her mother was married second to John F. Wilkinson (June 16, 1802 Wilmington, NC - December 12, 1840 Matagorda, TX)  on September 4, 1828 in Williamson County, TN. Maria had two sisters, Annie Wilkinson and Helen Wilkinson who were both born in Texas. The family traveled down the Mississippi River by flat boat from Franklin, Tennessee to New Orleans and then on to Matagorda by schooner. They were in Matagorda by the time of the birth of Helen on October 8, 1839. John and Ann Wilkinson were buried at Matagorda Cemetery.

"Died - at his residence in Matagorda, in the prime of his life, J. F. Wilkinson, Esq., a native of Tennessee, and one of the old Colonists of Texas. He was a subaltern officer and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto, where the fetters of Texas were broken forever. He left a young family to lament his death." Austin City Gazette, February 17, 1841

The Wilkinson's daughter Helen (October 8, 1839 - May 4, 1928) married John Francis Holt (April 28, 1838 - March 31, 1921). Their children were:
Ann Elizabeth Holt who married Edward J. Kilbride on June 7, 1894 in Matagorda County.
Louise Warren Holt who married James S. Mayfield on November 4, 1897

Ann Wilkinson married Dr. James Raphael Thompson (c1825 - 1876) on October 9, 1866 and their children were:

Maria Louisa Swisher was first married to John G. Graham on April 16, 1846 in Matagorda County.

Their daughter, Anna Bateman Warren, was born c 1866 in Matagorda County. She married Edward Salmon Rugeley, Jr. in Matagorda County on October 18, 1883.

William's niece, Mattie, married Gayle Talbot, son of Judge Matthew Talbot and Harriet Sarah Gayle Talbot.

The will of W. G. Warren, probated in 1868, showed he owned 3,394 acres in the Thomas M. Duke League. The settlement of Mrs. Warren's will in 1882 lists her dwelling house on the Thomas M. Duke League and other extensive acreage in the William Rabb League and the Bostwick and Brotherton League.

An interesting document in the Probate records is an accounting of medical records to the Estate of William G. Warren from Dr. James R. Thompson for care of the family and slaves on the Warren Plantation. Two out of the six pages pertain to family illness; the last four pages pertain to care of the slaves. Dr. Thompson came from Matagorda, a distance of about twenty-five miles by either horseback or buggy to care for this family and his charge for visit and mileage was always $3.00.

SAMPLES OF THOSE SIX PAGES FOLLOW:

Records of Christ Church in Matagorda show similar indication by the Warrens toward humane treatment of their slaves.

February 7th 1862 - Baptised - Mrs. Warren's slaves: David, Lewis, Jacob, Daphne, Martin, Wells, Phil

February 19th 1862 - Marriage of Lewis & Emiline: Henry and Betsy, John and Martha - Mrs. Warren's Negroes.

The site of the Warren "Caney Plantation" on Caney Creek off of FM 457 in the Bostwick and Brotherton League shows remnants today to the slave quarters. There are brick cisterns and a trail that follows the creek to the Mt. Pilgrim Church where the black children attended school and their parents' church.

Along the path, there is the Warren cemetery where the family members are buried and nearby, across the creek, is the slave cemetery where many of the plantation's slaves are buried.

Canebrake Settlements 1822 - 1870 by Mary McAllister Ingram, 2006 pp 52-53
 

Last Will and Testament of Maria Louisa Warren

The State of Texas
County of Matagorda

I, Maria Louisa Warren of the County of Matagorda in the State of Texas a femme sole being at present in good health, and of sound mind and disposing memory do make, execute publish and declare this instrument of writing as and for my last will and testament hereby specially revoking and annulling all former wills by me at any time heretofore made that is to say:

First. I direct that all my just debts and the expenses attending to probating and recording of this my last will and testament and the return of an inventory of my estate shall be paid by my executors hereinafter named out of the property and estate herein given, devised and bequeathed to my daughter Annie Bateman Warren.

Second. I hereby give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Annie Bateman Warren and to Eugene Warren Talbot of said Matagorda County that certain stock of cattle horses and mares branded thus  which range in said Matagorda County, and which they are to own and hold share and share alike, together with the present and future increase thereof.

Third. I hereby give devise and bequeath all the residue of my estate real personal and mixed, choses in action or whatever my said Estate may consist of or any other property to or in which I may have a claim or interest at the time of my death to my said daughter and only child Annie Bateman Warren, and if at the time of death she the said Annie Bateman should of the age of twenty one years then it is my wish and I hereby so provide and direct that all of the property and estate herein given devised and bequeathed to her shall be turned over and the possession thereof delivered to her by my said Executors and she is there to go into the immediate possession and enjoyment thereof subject to no conditions, limitations or restrictions save and except the right of the Executors to hold the same for the purpose of paying my debts as provided in item fourth of this will.

Fourth. I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint John F. Holt and John Matthews, both resident citizens of the County of Matagorda Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and it is my will and I hereby so provide and direct that no bond or security be required of them as such executors, and I hereby exempt and relieve them from giving any.

In case either of my said Executors should die, either before or after my death, or be unable or disqualified or decline to act then the other one shall have full power to act as the Executor hereof without bond. My said Executors are hereby authorized and empowered to sell and dispose of any of the property and estate herein given, devised and bequeathed to my said daughter Annie Bateman for the purpose of paying my debts if I should die owing any and for the purpose of paying the expenses of probating this my will and the return of an inventory of my estate and the expenses which may accrue in the administration of my estate by them my said Executors, but for no other purpose whatever, and if both of my said Executors should be acting under this Will it shall be necessary to the validity of any such sale or disposition that both join in and concur in the making of the same. After the probating and recording of this my last will and the return of an inventory and appraisement of my estate s the law requires and the payment of the debts and expenses as above and in this item provide for it is my wish and I hereby so provide and direct that the estate and property herein given devised and bequeathed to my said daughter or what may be left of the same after the said payment of debts and expenses as well as the fruits revenue and increase thereof shall be my Executors turned over and delivered into the possession and control of my said daughter, if she should then be of the age of twenty one, but if she should not then be of that age, the said property and estate shall be by said Executors turned over and delivered to the guardian of my said daughter and the trustee of her property and estate named and appointed in item sixth of this will to be administered and managed as is provided for in said item and there the authority and duties of said Holt and Matthews as Executors hereof shall cease and determine.

Fifth. It is my will and I hereby so direct and provide that no action shall be had in the County Court, or in any other Court having jurisdiction of the Estates of deceased persons in relation to the settlement of any Estate other than the probating and recording of this my will and the return of any inventory, appraisement and list of Claims of my Estate.

Sixth. If I should die leaving my said daughter under the age of twenty one years then I hereby appoint the said John Matthews guardian of her person and as such I direct that no bond or security be required of him and if I should die leaving my said daughter under the said age of twenty one years then I hereby appoint (and I most earnestly request him to accept) the said John Matthews trustee of the property and estate herein given, devised and bequeathed to my said daughter without bond or security until she attains the age of twenty one years and the general powers and authority of trustee in such cases are hereby conferred upon him except so far as they may conflict with the provisions hereof.

As such trustee said Matthews is entitled to the custody, possession control and management of all of said property and estate after the same is delivered to him by my Executors as is provided for in item fourth of this will, until she arrives at the said age of twenty one years, but if she should marry before attaining said age then the said Matthews is authorized if he sees proper and deems it safe and discreet so to do to deliver and turn over the possession, control and management of all of my said daughters estate and property which may have come into his hands custody and control: as such trustee or any part of the same to her, but if he thinks best after such marriage to retain the custody, possession control and management of said property and estate or any part thereof then he is at liberty to do so without giving or assigning any reason, explanation or excuse to any person for his action in the promised. It is my earnest wish and I hereby specially so provide and direct that said Matthews shall out of my said daughters estate and property herein given to her, support and maintain her until she arrives at the said age of twenty one years in a manner commensurate to her property and means, and according to her station in life so that she may not be forced to perform manual labor for her support and so that she may not be dependent upon the charity of others for it and the necessary funds for her said support and maintenance, I authorize the said Matthews to pay over directly to my said daughter and I empower her in her own name to institute and maintain any legal proceedings which may be necessary to collect from said Matthews the money and funds necessary for her said support and maintenance. I hereby authorize and empower the said Matthews if the fruits reverse and income of my said daughters property and estate in his hands should not be sufficient for those purposes to sell and dispose of any of said property and estate for the purpose of raising money for her said support and maintenance and for the purpose of paying the taxes thereon and to preserve and take care of said property in the manner that said Matthews as a prudent man would of his own property. The rights, powers and authority of said Matthews as such guardian and trustee is to cease when my said daughter attains her majority, that is twenty one years of age, and she is then to receive from said Matthews the custody, control and possession of her property and estate in his hands and possession at that time.

Seventh, The Policy upon my life in the Aetna Life Insurance Company of Hartford Conn. for five thousand dollars I hereby authorize the Rev. Mr. Bennett Smedes Principle of the St. Mary’s Female College of Raleigh, North Carolina and Mr. E. G. Brodie of Henderson, North Carolina to collect and receive from the said Company and I authorize and empower them to do all necessary things and acts to collect the same and their receipt for the money due on said Policy shall be binding on my heirs and Legatees the Executors of this Will and every other person. The proceeds of the said Policy or so much thereof as may be necessary. I desire the said Miss Smedes and Brodie to use and expend for the completion of my said daughters education is finished to the satisfaction of the said Smedes and Brodie, then I desire them and I hereby provide and direct that they shall pay over the balance of said five thousand dollars to said John Matthews if my said daughter should then be under the age of twenty one years, and the said Matthews is to receive it and act as trustee for it in the same manner as for the other property herein by item sixth confided to his care management and control as trustee, but if my said daughter should then be over or of the age of twenty one years when her said education is finished as aforesaid such balance of said Ensurance money shall be paid over directly to her. If at the time of my death the education of my said daughter shall have been finished to my satisfaction then the provisions of this item shall be considered and treated as null and as no part of my will and in this event the said money due is aforesaid from and by said Polisy, shall be collected and receipted for by said Matthews and managed as the other property confided to him under item sixth of this Will if my said daughter should then be under the age of twenty one years.

Eighth. Should my said daughter Annie Bateman die before she arrives at the age of twenty one years and without leaving a child then and in that case it is my will and desire and I hereby so provide and direct that all of the property herein given devised and bequeathed to her or what may be left of the same as well as the fruits, income, revenue, or increase thereof shall pass in fee simple in equal portions share and share alike to my two sisters Mrs. Annie Thompson (now a widow) and Mrs. Helen M. Holt, wife of said John F. Holt, and to their heirs if they or either of them should die before my said daughter does.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto signed my name this the 24^th day of March A. D. 1881, in presence of Fred C. McCamly, Julia A. Hodges and C. S. Austin, who attest the same at any request.

Maria Louise Warren

The above instrument was now here signed by Maria Louise Warren the testatrix in our presence and we at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other sign our name here to as attesting witnesses the day & date above written.

Julia A. Hodges, Fred C. McCamly, C. S. Austin

Filed July 15^th. A. D. 1882
Recorded September 17^th A. D. 1882

Wm. E. Austin
Clerk Co. Ct. M. Co.

Proof of Will dated September 18, 1882 indicates Maria Louisa Warren died “about three months ago in the State of North Carolina.”
 

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