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Biographical Sketch of John Mayfield (1773-1852) of Greenville District SC

By Phil Norfleet

 

John5 Mayfield (Thomas4, Abraham3, Robert2, Robert1) was born about 1773 in Culpepper County VA, and died about 1852 in Greenville County SC. He married Elizabeth (maiden name unknown); She was born about 1774 in South Carolina, and died sometime after the time of the 1860 Federal Census.

 

CHILDREN OF JOHN AND ELIZABETH MAYFIELD

To the best of my knowledge, only two (Bidsey and Elizabeth) of the children of John and Elizabeth Mayfield have been successfully determined. Indeed, as noted below in the discussion of the 1810 census, it is not even possible to ascertain the exact numbers of their sons and daughters. I have, to date, tentatively identified six children, i.e., Bidsey, Elizabeth, Thomas, James, Lafayette and Minerva. However, it is probable that they had 1-2 more sons and possibly 1 or 2 other daughters (see 1800 - 1820 census reports).

Primarily based upon my analysis of the Federal Census reports for the years 1820-1860 and the will of John Mayfield, my best guesses as to some of the children of John and Elizabeth Mayfield are as follows:

bulleti. Bidsey Mayfield is mentioned as a daughter in John Mayfield's will (see below), being referred to as "Bidsey Pollard."  The first name of Bidsey's husband is unknown to me; however, it might be William (see the 1838 land transaction cited below)..

 

bulletii. Elizabeth Mayfield is mentioned as a daughter in John Mayfield's will (see below), being referred to as "Elizabeth Long." The first name of Elizabeth's husband is unknown to me.

 

bulletiii. James Mayfield.

 

bulletiv. Thomas Mayfield was born about 1800 in Greenville County SC. He married Martha (maiden name unknown); she was born about 1808 in South Carolina.

 

bulletv. John J. Mayfield was born about 1810 in Greenville District SC; he apparently died in Cherokee County AL before 1860. He married Julia (maiden name unknown); she was born about 1817 in South Carolina.

Notes for John J. Mayfield

John J. Mayfield and Family in the Federal Census Reports:

1840 Census for Greenville District SC (page 252): John J. Mayfield is listed as being in a household with 2 males under age 5, 1 male age group 30-40 (probably John himself - born 1810), and 1 female in the age 20-30 group (probably his wife Julia - born 1817).

1850 Census for Cherokee County AL (page 071): John Mayfield - age 40, Julia - age 33, William - age 13, John - age 8, LaFayette - age - 5, Isaac - age 3, and Mary - age 1 month.

1860 Census for Cherokee County AL (page 240):  Henry Anthony - age 50, Martha A. Anthony - age 41, Mary J. Mayfield - age 10.

Probate Records of Lafayette Mayfield:

The following has been taken from the estate papers of Lafayette Mayfield (see Greenville District SC, Apartment 28, Packet # 34]:

23 December 1867: Rowland Cox petitions the Court stating that LaFayette Mayfield died intestate in 1864 and requests that he, Rowland Cox, be made administrator. Lafayette Mayfield was the son of John J. Mayfield (see 1850 census).  In 1864, Lafayette Mayfield would have been 19 years old - he probably died in the Civil War.

07 January 1868: Rowland Cox is appointed administrator of the estate of Lafayette Mayfield. [Presumably, this pertains only to that portion of Lafayette Mayfield's estate in South Carolina.]

20 January 1868: Appraisal of the personal estate of Lafayette Mayfield is recorded in the total amount of $150.

18 December 1868: Rowland Cox makes the final distribution of the personal estate of Lafayette Mayfield to the following 3 legatees:

1. W. D. Mayfield - $62.00.

2. Isaac Mayfield - $56.28 (Rowland Cox is stated to be the guardian of Isaac).

3. Mary J. Mayfield - $56.28 (Henry F. Anthony is stated to be the guardian of Mary).

Note: the above legatees were the surviving siblings of Lafayette Mayfield.

 

bulletvi. Minerva Mayfield, born about 1816 in Greenville County SC. She married Rowland Cox; he was born about 1813 in South Carolina.

Notes for Minerva Mayfield

Rowland Cox, husband of Minerva Mayfield, was the administrator re the estate of Lafayette Mayfield (d. ca. 1860). Also, Rowland was the guardian of Isaac Mayfield (b. 1848), a minor son of Lafayette Mayfield. I think Lafayette Mayfield is probably a son of John Mayfield (d. 1852). [See Greenville District SC Probate Papers, Apartment 28, Packet #34. and Apartment 37, Packet #30.

In the 1860 census for Greenville District, Rowland Cox is listed as dwelling next door to Elizabeth Mayfield, widow of John (d. 1852). [See 1860 Census for Greenville District SC, page 350.]

 

JOHN MAYFIELD (1773-1852) IN THE FEDERAL CENSUS REPORTS

The following is my analysis of the census reports for the period 1810-1860, pertaining to the household of John Mayfield (d. 1852). Unfortunately, due to the introduction of another group of relatives into John's household, occurring sometime before 1810, it is impossible to determine which males and females, shown in the census reports, are actually the sons and daughters of John and Elizabeth Mayfield.

1790 Census - John is not listed separately; he probably is in the household of his father, Thomas, in the age 16 or over category.

1800 Census - Page 261: John and his wife are placed in the age 26-45 grouping; also 3 males are listed in the under 10 age grouping. These three young males are probably sons of John and Elizabeth.

1810 Census - Page 114: John is placed in the age 26-45 grouping; also, the report lists 2 males in the under 10 category, 3 males in the 10-16 category, 2 females in the under 10 category, 3 females in the 10-16 category, 2 females in the 16-26 category, and 1 female in the 45 & over category. Obviously this report is inconsistent with the 1800 report. Apparently other family members have moved into his household. These other family members probably consist of his widowed mother (Ann shown in the age 45 & above grouping) and at least 1 of the 2 females that were listed in the household of Thomas Mayfield in the 1800 census.

1820 Census - Page 108: John and his wife are placed in the age 45 and over grouping; also, the report lists 1 male in the under 10 category, 1 male in the 10-16 category, 2 males in the 16-26 category, 2 females in the under 10 category, 2 females in the 16-26 category, and one female in the 26-45 grouping. Since no females are shown in the 45 and above age grouping, Ann, widow of Thomas Mayfield (d. 1803), has probably died.

1830 Census - Page 316: Both John and his wife are placed in the age 50-60 grouping. In addition, there are 2 males in the 20-30 age group, 1 female in the 10-15 group, 2 females in the 15-20 group and 1 female in the 20-30 group.

1840 Census - Page 251: Both John and his wife are placed in the age 60-70 grouping. In addition there is 1 female shown in the 20-30 age category.

1850 Census - Page 452: John is reported to be age 77; his wife, Elizabeth, is also stated to be age 77. No other people are listed as being in his household.

1860 Census - Page 350: John is dead by this time; the probate records of Greenville District indicate that he died in about 1852. However, his widow, Elizabeth, is listed (by herself); she is stated to be 86 years old.

 

LAND TRANSACTIONS OF JOHN MAYFIELD (1773-1804)

23 October 1810:  Solomon and Cassandra Hornbuckle of Greenville District SC convey to John Mayfield of Greenville District, for the sum of $300, a 100-acre tract of land situate " ... on the north side of Enoree River Beginning at the north bank of said River ... ."  Witnesses to this indenture were:  Benjamin Benson and George W. Hornbuckle.  The indenture was recorded in Greenville District, upon the oath of George W. Hornbuckle, on 27 October 1810. [See Greenville District SC, Deed Book I, pages 39-40.]

A review of the grantor and grantee indices for Greenville District SC indicate that there may be six other land transactions associated with this John Mayfield.  I have not had an opportunity to review these records but I provide the summary information from the indices as follows:

1837:  Hugh Bailey conveys 20 acres of land, lying on the Enoree River, to John Mayfield. [See Greenville District SC, Deed Book S, page 379.]

1837:  John Mayfield conveys 6 acres of land, lying on Factory Branch, to Lester and Kilgore. [See Greenville District SC, Deed Book T, page 128.]

1838:  William Pollard conveys 75 acres of land, lying on Reedy Fork Creek, to John I. Mayfield. The "John I. Mayfield" may actually be "John J. Mayfield," the son of John Mayfield (1773-1852). [See Greenville District SC, Deed Book S, page 380.]

1838:  Peter Lenderman conveys 9 and 1/2 acres of land, located adjacent to land of Hance Black, to John I. Mayfield. Note: the "John I. Mayfield" may actually be "John J. Mayfield," the son of John Mayfield (1773-1852). [See Greenville District SC, Deed Book S, page 381.]

1839:  Peter Lenderman conveys 9 and 1/4 acres of land, to John I. Mayfield. Note: the "John I. Mayfield" may actually be "John J. Mayfield," the son of John Mayfield (1773-1852). [See Greenville District SC, Deed Book T, page 403.]

1845:  John Mayfield conveys 1 and 5/8 acres of land, lying on Enoree River, to Lester and Kilgore. [See Greenville District SC, Deed Book Y, page 276.]

 

WILL OF JOHN MAYFIELD (1773-1852)

08 March 1852:  The will of John Mayfield, dated 15 January 1847, was entered into probate in the Greenville District SC Court of Ordinary on 08 March 1852. The WPA (done in the 1930's) typed transcript of the will is as follows:

I, John Mayfield of Greenville District do make this my last will and testament. I will my just debts be paid. I give to my wife Elizabeth Mayfield during her life my plantation of 320 acres, her choice of three slaves, one-half of my stock, one-half of all tools and furniture to enable her to make a crop. I will and direct that the shares belonging to my dtrs, Bidsey Pollard and Elizabeth Long be put out on interest and the interest paid to them annual. I will and direct that the balance of my estate, at the death of my wife, the whole be sold and proceeds divided between my children, except the two above named. I appoint Josiah Kilgore executor. Dated 15 Jan 1847.

/S/ John Mayfield (his mark)

Witnessed by:

George W. Sheppard

John Tarver

James Henderson"

Note the actual Probate Court records (Apartment 41, Packet # 54) for this John Mayfield are missing from the SC State Archives files and also from the microfilm of those files; the above will was copied from the WPA typescript that was done in the 1930's.