Philemon Terrell, Sr. Family

Philemon Terrell Jr., Pointe Coupee Parish, La.
Compiled by Pauline Bizette Brandy

The Terrell family traces back to North and South Carolina, then to Colonial Virginia, and back to England. Our early Terrell family was of Royal English descent, whose motto was "Sans Dieu Rien" which means "Without God Nothing".

There is an old family tale handed down for many generations in the various lines of the family. The family had immigrated from England. The tale tells how three Terrell brothers were each passed down "SILVER BUCKLES" from their father. One was a set of Knee Buckles, one Suspender Buckles, and the third set was Shoe Buckles.

Each of the three brothers were given a set of "SILVER BUCKLES" with the understanding it was to be passed down to the oldest male of each succeeding generation. This was to be done "least our heritage be lost". Ruth Elizabeth Humphreys Lambert's version of the story was almost identical to that found in very distant lines of this family. The tale of the "SILVER BUCKLES" was always a fascinating story. Validating the tale meant finding the descendants and present day owners, which seemed incredible and unlikely. It was in 1988, after nearly three years of research, that two of the three sets of "SILVER BUCKLES" were located in the possession of present day descendants.

One of the three brothers was named James Terrell, and it is from him that Ruth Elizabeth Humphreys Lambert descends. The original "SILVER BUCKLES" passed down from James Terrell are currently in a bank vault in Nocona, Texas. Engraved on the back are the initials "J.T." and the date "1657".

The second set of "SILVER BUCKLES", owned by the Lake Eric Terrell family of South Carolina, are said to have been passed down from Richmond Terrell who immigrated to Virginia in 1656. The two sets of "SILVER BUCKLES" are almost identical in size measuring 1.5 by almost 2 inches.

Although the size is similar; the appearance, claw mechanism, and tongue design differs between the two sets. Either of the two sets of "SILVER BUCKLES" could be suspender, knee or shoe buckles. The hallmark and die punch markings on the backs of these two sets of 300+ year old "SILVER BUCKLES" could, by silversmiths, be used to trace their origins. They likely date back to England rather than Colonial Virginia. The third set of "SILVER BUCKLES" has yet to be located.

Due to the loss of many early Virginia records, there are few records of our early Terrell ancestors. The family tale and "SILVER BUCKLES" passed down, however, have been found to be true and concrete proof of our heritage.

A few generations from our early immigrants, we find Philemon Terrell Sr. living in South Carolina. He was born about 1744 and the son of a James Terrell. Philemon Terrell Sr. purchased 100 acres of land south of Cheek's Creek in Anson County, N.C., which he sold in 1766. This land is currently located north of present day Pekin, N.C., an area of rolling hills often filled with wild flowers in the warm season.

Philemon Terrell Sr. married Elizabeth, whose maiden name is unknown. They married in the early 1770s as their first child was born about 1774. Records indicate they had 10 children: Philemon Terrell Jr., Pierce Terrell, Mary Terrell Williams, Josiah Terrell, Nancy Terrell Stanaland, John Terrell, Doriety Terrell Willcox, Elizabeth Terrell Curry, Malcolm B. Terrell, and Lucy Terrell Dees.

By 1778, Philemon Terrell Sr. had located to the area known today as Robeson County, N.C. He obtained a land grant in 1779. He owned land north of Drowning Creek and on the south side of Ten Mile Swamp. He lived on the west side of Great Swamp, which today is east of the town of Lumberton, N.C. The area is known as the "Burnt Islands" in present day Wishart Township.

Philemon Terrell Sr. and his brother Richmond BOTH served in the Revolutionary War in N.C. Philemon's Wilmington District payment voucher, #674 for Revolutionary service pay roll #500, was dated 6 July 1782 for which he received 6 pounds and 15 shillings. Voucher # 3165 indicates another 15 shillings for his service.

Philemon Terrell Sr. and his brother Richmond Terrell lived next door to each other in Robeson County, North Carolina, as noted on the First Census of the United States taken in 1790. There was a Robert Terrell living close by, likely a relation, who had a grist mill. Philemon Terrell Sr. had received N.C. land grants in 1779, 1780, 1784, and 1791.

Both Philemon and Richmond Terrell raised their families there in North Carolina and likely received some form of bounty land in Georgia for their Revolutionary War service. On 6 October 1795, Philemon Terrell Sr. sold all four surveys of his North Carolina land.

Methods of travel in those early days was often by river, and migration over land averaged about 10 miles per day. As new territories opened up, there was an influx of settlers hoping to obtain more fertile land for agriculture and better living.By 1800, Philemon Terrell Sr. had relocated his family to Taylor's Creek in Liberty County, Georgia. Liberty County was known for its many residents bent on the cause of Liberty, hence its name. Philemon Terrell Sr. and many of his older sons are noted as having served on juries in Liberty County. Records indicate Philemon Terrell Sr. died by early 1813, as the family sold all of his estate in 1816. Philemon Terrell Sr.'s estate included a total of 600 acres with 550 pines and 5 slaves.

It is fitting that our Revolutionary War Soldier, Philemon Terrell Sr. was likely laid to rest in Liberty County, Georgia on land that is now part of Fort Stewart U.S. Air Force Base. No marked grave exists for Philemon Terrell Sr., and security clearance into that area requires advanced planning in order to visit.

After the sale of Philemon Terrell Sr.'s estate, Elizabeth Terrell and many of the children headed west with the Ratcliff family. Philemon Terrell Jr. and his wife Margaret Ann Ratcliff, from whom the Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana family descends, also relocated. The families possibly stopped for a brief period in Pulaski County, Georgia.

A story from the Texas branch of this family tells of how the family left Fort Mims, Alabama prior to the famous Creek Indian "Massacre of Fort Mims". This massacre occurred on 30 August 1813.

The family first appears on records in Marion County, Mississippi, and then on tax rolls in Covington County. Elizabeth Terrell died after 1824 in Mississippi, yet estate records on her have not yet been located if any do exist.

Philemon Terrell Jr. was born about 1786 and married about 1808. Philemon Jr. and Margaret Ann Ratcliff Terrell had 8 children: Elizabeth Ann Terrell, Penelope Rebecca Terrell Marler, John Ratcliff Terrell, James L. Terrell, Margaret Ratcliff Terrell Entress, Ascenith Elizabeth Terrell Brownfield, Samuel Lafayette Terrell, and our Mary Ann Terrell Lefevre Wilcox.

One old family record indicates that on 27 July 1808 Philemon Terrell Sr. gave to his son Philemon Terrell Jr. a slave named "Jack". This slave "Jack" is on family records into Mississippi, Arkansas, and then in Texas with Samuel Lafayette Terrell. Samuel Lafayette Terrell was the brother of our Mary Ann Terrell. Samuel Lafayette Terrell took the slave "Jack" and the Terrell ancestral "SILVER BUCKLES" with him when he moved to Texas. There are many old original letters on this family in the possession of a descendant in Oklahoma.

Like his father, Philemon Terrell Jr. served in the military. He served as a Private in Col. Nixon's, Capt. William Spencer's Company of the Infantry, 13th Regiment Mississippi Territory Militia in the War of 1812. Philemon Terrell Jr. served for one month, from January 5 to February 7, 1815. He fought in the famous "Battle of New Orleans", which occurred on 8 January 1815. He was paid $8 for his month of service, and discharged at Marion County, Mississippi.

On 19 January 1815 Philemon Terrell Jr. signed the Petition to Congress, from Camp Pearl River, by the inhabitants of Marion and Lawrence Counties. This petition asked for an extension of time or exception for payment on lands. The petition explained how they were the first settlers of the wilderness, and the war with the Creek nation had left commerce and finances difficult.

Philemon Terrell Jr. lived in Covington County prior to locating on Morgan's Fork of the Homochitta River in Franklin County, Mississippi. Tax records indicate he neighbored the Ratcliff family 1821-1832 in Franklin Co., Mississippi. One old recorded family record, in the possession of the Marler family of Baton Rouge, states the family "lived 20 miles out from Natchez".

By 1840, Philemon Terrell Jr. was living in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Parish records indicate his brother, Malcolm Terrell, was also residing on Bayou Latanache. Philemon Terrell Jr. obtained a patent on 21 April 1845 in Section 9, Township 2, Range 7 west of the Mississippi River. He purchased additional land in Pointe Coupee and obtained another patent on 15 February 1855. The Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse has further documentation on Philemon Terrell Jr.

The land of Philemon Terrell Jr. on Big Tree Bayou, according to maps, was located south adjoining the Rice property. Descendants of these two families still reside on the original lands.

Old family records indicate Philemon Terrell Jr. died 12 Oct 1864 in Pointe Coupee Parish. He is likely buried in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Cemetery in an early unmarked grave. Descendants of this Pointe Coupee Parish family have been accepted into both the D.A.R. and S.A.R.