Ledger Images of the Merchant William Hearne

James B. Hearn sent me a link to research about a branch of the Hearn(e) family from Maryland, researched by Jay Hearn, of Avoca, New York.

At the site, Jay documents information about Samuel Batson Hearne, born 28 Jan 1841, the son of Kendal Batson and Elizabeth (Hearn) Hearn of Littel Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Deleware. The place and timing means it is definately a descendant of William Hearne, the merchant. However, I can't quite tie them into the lines that are in Hearne History. I sent a letter to Jay for more information.

The biggest treat on the site is scanned images of the Day Book (or Ledger) of William Hearne the merchant. One of which I've linked in on the left. You'll have to visit the site to see the others.

I'll post more when I hear from Jay.

Elizabeth Jane Hearne 1822-1874.

Exchanged the following correspondence with Pat Condray about her Hearne Lines which seem to connect through a mysterious Elizabeth Jane Hearne 1822-1874:

18 Dec 2006

Dear Sir

I had a chance to read through the Hearne Book at a Library in Salisbury MD a couple of summers ago, and since then have pulled it up on the internet. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate any record in it of an ancestress. Her name was Elizabeth Jane Hearne Bates, and she was my great great grandmother on my father's side.

A genealogical work about the "Descendants of Benjamin Boydston Condray" traces our ancestress to the William Hearne of England who died in 1691 in Somerset County Maryland, obviously the same patriarch as described in the Hearne Book. The line proceeds through Thomas Hearne (1691 posthumous?-1762, Thomas Hearne 1720-1800, Reverend Stephen Hearne 1748-? Reverend Thomas Hearne 1786-1857, married Frances Wilson, daughter Elizabeth Jane Hearne 1822-1874 married Reverend James Bates 1821-1878. Their daughter Martha Jane married Benjamin Boydston Condray, and they travelled to Faulkner County Arkansas in a train led by Reverend James Bates in 1871. Martha Jane Bates Condray died in 1911 and was followed by her husband Benjamin in 1921.They had ten children including my grandfather.

I don't know whether I missed it in the bulk of the book or what. But I didn't find any Bates in your index. Clearly the lineage identified in our book is clearly to the same original immigrant.

Did I miss it? Or did Elizabeth Jane fall out of the history somehow?

Pat Condray

My response:

18 Dec 2006

Pat,

Thank you so much for your letter. This does appear to be a line that's missing from the book. Hearne was dependent on other people to provide his detail. He only did research on his own direct lines (that I am aware of). Let's you and I figure it out, together.

In the book, we have Rev. Stephen Hearne (1748-1844) of Montgomery, NC. That fits your information. (Hearne pp. 468, 561, 576, 579) One of the children of Rev. Stephen Hearne and Prudence Coggin Steed is Thomas Hearne (Hearne, Pages 576,577,579) He was "A physician and Methodist preacher. They moved to Elbert Co., Ga in 1826." He married, according to Hearne, (1) Mrs Elizabeth Richardson Salter in 1808 and (2) Frances E (Winfrey) Williams in 1828.

Here is where your records and Hearne's diverge. There is no marriage to Frances Wilson.

There is a record of a daughter, Jane E. Hearne, born 1809 to Thomas and Elizabeth Richardson Salter Hearne. That *could* be your Elizabeth Jane Hearne 1822-1874.

Or maybe there is a third marriage. Because Elizabeth Salter died in 1817, there is a 10 year gap where there could have been a third marriage. It is in this gap that your Elizabeth Jane Hearne was born in 1822. Do you have any sources that would indicate that there is a third marriage?

Perhaps Frances Wilson is the same as Frances E Winfrey Williams? There is a daughter named Prudence Eliza Ann Catherine Hearne. However things fall quickly apart. Even though her middle name is close, Prudence E married a Verdel, and she was born in 1829. So she is not a good match.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this, especially about a third marriage.

Sincerely,

Brian

Pat's response:

19 Dec 2006

Brian

Thank you for your prompt reply. Unfortunately I don't have any direct
source of information on the marriages of Reverend Thomas Hearne. He is
listed in the ancestry of Elizabeth Jane Hearne Bates as being the son of
Reverend Stephen Hearne and Prudence Steed Hearne, born 3-25-1786, died
1-25-1857. Elizabeth Jane, as reported, born 4-3-1822, died 4-18-1874. She
married Reverend James Bates, who was born in 1821. They had a daughter (my
great grandmother) Martha Jane who was born in 1842 and married Benjamin
Boydston Condray.

There does seem to be room for a third marriage on the part of Reverend
Thomas Hearne, and Elizabeth Jane follows the family tradition by marrying
a Methodist Minister. But the middle years of Thomas Hearne's marital
career remain a mystery.

Pat Condray

So there you have it. At this time, I don't have any proof that there is a third marriage for Reverend Thomas Hearne. Let me know if you have any.

Edmond Martin Hearne

I receive this week the following additional details from John A Hearn, of Wake Forest, North Carolina. It refers to several individuals on Hearne's History page 616.

1. Edmond M. Hearne (son of Edmond Hearne) was my great grandfather. His full name was Edmond Martin Hearne. He was called Martin by his son (Zeb Vance Hearn - here is where our family dropped the "e"). Edmond Martin Hearne died about 1900 of "the bloody flux". He is buried at Northam Cemetery, in Rockingham, Richmond County, NC. Source of this info Zeb Vance Hearn as told to me, John A. Hearn.

2. Edmond Martin Hearne could not read or write as evidenced by his X mark on his marriage certificate. His wife was Sallie Elizabeth Liles. Edmond Martin Hearne operated a dray for hire, hauling freight, in the town of Rockingham, Richmond County, NC.

3. Laura J. Hearne (daughter of Edmond Hearne and sister to Edmond Martin Hearne) had the middle name of Jane. She and her sister Sophronia (nickname Froney) remained single for many years and lived in the house of their father Edmond Hearne, near Wadeville, NC, after his death. My grandfather Zeb Vance Hearn knew both of these women when he was a young man. He referred to Laura as Laura Jane. He called them "old maids", but said one of them [apparently Sophronia] married late in life. So this means that your note about Laura V. Hearn who died as a child, possibly being the same person as Laura J. Hearne, is incorrect. Source of this info Zeb Vance Hearn as told to me, John A. Hearn. I have the original paper will of Edmond Hearne, father of Sophronia, Laura Jane, Edmond Martin, etc.

4. George W. Hearne (son of Edmond Hearne and brother to Edmond Martin Hearne and Laura Jane Hearne) had the middle name of Washington. He is buried in a cemetery north of Rockingham, Richmond County, NC, but it is not at Northam Cemetery where his brother Edmond martin Hearne is buried. I was at his well marked grave about 30 years ago but cannot now locate the cemetery. He and his wife never had any children of their own, but adopted a boy, or had a young boy living in their home. George Washington Hearne owned a large farm on the north side of Rockingham, NC. Source of this info Zeb Vance Hearne as told to me, John A. Hearn. I found his will which says he left the farm to the Methodist Orhanage in Raleigh, NC. I have a photo of George W. Hearne in front of his home with the small boy, but George's face is very small in the photo because it has the whole house width.

John A. Hearn
126 North Ave.
Wake Forest, NC 27587

I am indebted to John for this information. I will update these pages and my database soon.

Extended Hearne Database Now Online!

Hooray! Finally, I've completed entering Hearne's 1912 Addendum into my database. This extended Hearne database now contains all of the people in Hearne's book, plus a lot more! It's now more accurate than the book. It includes all of the research here on the blog. Check it out. Here is the list of names.

Last living descendant of W.T. Hearne: James Noel

Out of the blue last week, I got a call from Kathy Smith, a local Historical expert from Lee's Summit, Missouri. Through her historical work, she had the acquaintence of James Noel (pronounced Nowl, rhymes with bowl), who is the remaining living direct descendant of W.T. Hearne, author of Hearne History, who died about 1913 .

I was able to talk to Jim on the phone. He is now 90, but clear in thought and nimble of wit. He has a good memory for facts, and many binders of notes. He has W.T. Hearne's original notes for the book, as well as the copper plates from the original printing. Handed down through the family are many heirlooms, including jewelry and one of the original chairs from the family's dining set from England.

Jim's aunt was Maggie Barkley Lee, the daughter of Fannie S. Hearne and Dr. J. C. Lee. Fannie was the daughter of William T. Hearne, the author of the book.

Maggie Barkley Lee married James Noel, had a son Lee Noel. He had no survivors; no children. Lee inherited the W.T. Hearne house in Independence. The house was donated to the truman heritage foundation.

James' brother is Forrest Noel, who married Jean Stribling. This is Jim's father.

Here are some other notes from my discussion:

"Aunt Mag stayed in Lee's summit until 1914. Ms. Lee and Aunt Mag Hearne lived in Uncle William's house, and moved in with them in 1917, with Lee opened up a savings and loan and insurance business. Mag and son Lee living in the house. Uncle Jim died about 1963, son Lee died about 1967-8, Aunt Mag Noel died about 1967.

"The family came to Lee's summit about 1870, and started buying land, bought by the Unity Church. A 20 story tower, Mag Hearne and Aunt . His first wife, her mother in laws farm bought by state of State of Kentucky where they built the State capital of KY and the Unity Tower.

"When the Hearne family cam to virginia about 1680, the family had a furniture buisness in london, and had shipped over a dining room set mhogany and 8 leather upholtered chairs. Somebody has the other chairs. Around page 130 something, there's a reference to the table and chairs.

"Granddad bought land from Alexander Majors, who created the pony express. He bought that farm out of bankruptcy in 1887. James Noel lived and worked on that pony express farm, 48 years with state of Missouri." (Note: Kathy Smith says the pony express did not actually pass through the farm.)

I'm sure Jim would be delighted to hear from you. He thinks nobody cares about Hearne's anymore:

James Noel
P.O. Box 1015
Lee's Summit, MO 64063

William Fletcher Hearne in 1900 Census

Found William F. Hearne and Family in the 1900 Census, Texas, Mills County, Justice Precinct No. 2, page 177:

Family 182
William F Hearne, head, W, M, Feb 1842, 58, md 27 yrs, AL, SC, SC;
Katie Hearne, wife, W, F, Dec 1855, 44, Md 27 yrs, 13 children, 12 living, AK, AK, AK;
Maury Hearne, son, W, M, Jun(?) 1875, 25, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Rodney Hearne, son, W, M, Nov 1878, 21, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Oti Hearne, son, W, M, Sept, 1880, 19, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Altha Hearne, day, W, F, July, 1882, 17, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Colyer Hearne, son, W, M, Aug 1884, 15, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Buel Hearne, son, W, M, June 1886, 13, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
John Hearne, son, W, M, Aug 1888, 11, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Elsa Hearne, dau, W, F, Feb 1890, 10, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Kate Hearne, dau, W, F, July 1892, 7, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
O B Hearne, son, W, M, May(?) 1895, 5, sgl, TX, AL, AK;
Rubie Hearne, dau, W, F, Oct 1898, 1, sgl, TX, AL, AK;