Information from descendants of James G. Horton/Elizabeth
Williams indicte that Elizabeth died 11 SEP 1889 in
Kaufman Co., Terrell,TX and was buried in TX.
I cannot explain why Bird and Elizabeth married twice nor if they divorced between the first and second marriage.
I have looked at various records and tried to visualize the context of the Bird Farmer/Elizabeth
Horton marriage.
It looks to me like some of Bird's
Abbott step-children, as well as his own son, were living with him when he married Elizabeth. I suspect, but don't really know, the problem's associated with the different families combined with settling the estates of both deceased spouses and whatever else was happening at that time, may have been too much turmoil.
It appears obvious to me that Bird was short on money for settling his deceased wife's estate as he borrowed money from John C. Horton in one instance and in another the sheriff sold his property to pay the judgment to his
Abbott step-son.
The following dates and events provide some context:
25 Feb 1853- Joseph
Abbott signed his will.
9 Apr 1853- Joseph
Abbott will filed with
Court. Wills all
property to wife and at her death, property is to be divided equally among his children (not named). Appoints wife “Alcy” to be executor.
17 Aug 1854- Bird
Farmer & Alice
Abbott are married.
24 Oct 1857- Bird
Farmer relinquishes right to administer estate of mother-in-law Lydia
Abbott adding that William Young, Public Administrator, can be appointed to take charge of the estate.
16 Apr 1862- Joseph
Abbott Estate, Petition for the Partition of Slaves. Thomas
Abbott,
Moses Hubbard and Margaret
Hubbard, his wife, as Plaintiffs Vs
Harrison Abbott, William
Farmer and Mary
Farmer, his wife, Leonard
Abbott, John F. Abbott and Susan
Abbott, Defendants.
Aug 1862- Suit brought-Thomas
Abbott,
Moses Hubbard and Margaret
Hubbard his wife vs William
Farmer and Mary his wife,
Harrison Abbott, Leonard, John F. and Susan
Abbott- For partition of slaves belonging to heirs of estate of Joseph
Abbott. They ask that commissioners be appointed by court to partition slaves and say Leonard, John F. and Susan
Abbott are minors asking that a guardian ad litum
be appointed for them. Wm. Farmer and wife were served
writ in St.
Charles Co. 27 Jul 1862, Susan
Abbott was served in St.
Charles Co. 27 Jul 1862, Leonard and John F. Abbot were served in
Lincoln Co. on 27 Jun 1862.
24 Jan 1863- Alice (
Abbott)
Farmer Estate. Bird
Farmer appointed administrator, inventory and appraisal filed.
12 Mar 1863- Alice
Farmer Estate. Inventory/sale bill.
Nov 1863- Alice
Farmer Estate. Court renews order of Aug 1862 for division of slaves belonging to estate of Joseph
Abbott deceased, appoints commissioners and directs meeting to occur the last Thursday in Dec 1863 at residence of Bird
Farmer.
13 Nov 1863- H. A. Abbott Estate. Bird
Farmer, Admin, ordered to hire out slaves in estate.
8 Feb 1864- Joseph
Abbott Estate, Partition of Slaves. Court approves Comm. report.
10 Feb 1864- Alice
Farmer Estate. Slaves and money distributed to heirs.
April 2 1864- James G. Horton death. (Note: this date is based on a receipt in the probate file for a tombstone order = In memory of James G. Horton, born April 22 1807, died April 2 1864).
7 Apr 1864- James G. Horton Estate. Elizabeth
Horton and John
Horton appointed administrators. They list themselves as only heirs. James K. Cannon, Bird
Farmer and Thomas J. Gadberry are appointed to inventory and appraise estate.
14 May 1864- Bird
Farmer appointed guardian of John F. and Susan E. Abbott.
27 Mar 1866- Bird
Farmer sells 79 plus 53 acres, to son Wm. H. Farmer, for $1, Bird retains life estate.
28 Mar 1866- Bird
Farmer & Elizabeth
Horton married.
17 May 1866- Alice
Farmer Estate. Bird
Farmer, Admin, Appears for final settlement. Heirs: Mary
Farmer, Thomas F. Abbott, William H. Abbott, Leonard
Abbott, Margaret
Hubbard, John F. Abbott, Susan E. Abbott.
21 May 1866- Bird
Farmer mortgage to John
Horton –
2 horses, one yoke of oxen and growing crop of tobacco, wheat, oats, corn and hay for $500.
16 Aug 1866- Alice
Farmer Estate. Bird Farmer-Estate settled, Bird discharged.
15 Feb 1870- Bird
Farmer settlement, discharged as Susan E. Abbott Guardian.
21 Jul 1870- Census shows Elizabeth (
Horton)
Farmer living with Son John C. Horton.
15 Nov 1870- Bird
Farmer asks for settlement of John F. Abbott guardianship.
15 Nov 1870- John F. Abbott wins $200 judgment against Bird
Farmer and, at public auction, 24 Mar 1871, the sheriff sold Bird’s interest in 79 plus 53 acres to
William
Miller for $210.
26 Jul 1871- Bird
Farmer settlement and discharged as John F. Abbott guardian.
15 Feb 1877- Bird
Farmer & Elizabeth
Horton marriage.
9 Apr 1877- Thomas F. Abbott Estate. Jeptha
Wells, Public Administrator, appointed administrator. Bird
Farmer and B. F. Moorhous submit inventory which only lists personal property.
08 June 1880- Elizabeth (
Horton)
Farmer Census shows “Betsy Horton” living with
Grandson James
Horton.
10 June 1880- Census Bird, Wm. H. Farmer.
18 Jun 1883- Bird
Farmer signs $150 note to William
Miller (due one day after 18 June 1883) and deed of trust on 42 plus 30 acres.
9 Jul 1883- Bird
Farmer signed his will.
8 Oct 1883- Elizabeth
Farmer (formerly
Horton) quit claims 42 plus 30 acres to Wm. H. Farmer for $100. Elizabeth declares herself to be a widow. (William H. Farmer is Bird Farmer's son from marriage to Alice
Abbott, widow of Joseph
Abbott).
19 Oct 1883- Bird
Farmer will accepted by Probate
Court.
25 Jan 1884- Elizabeth
Farmer, formerly Elizabeth
Horton (widow of James G. Horton), and son John C. Horton and wife Mary, sell 80 acres in
Moscow Mills to Rufus Hill for $1800. Elizabeth’s signature is notarized in
Lincoln Co., John and Mary’s notarized in
Kaufman Co., Texas.
Regarding Bird Farmer's burial, my uncle Charles A. Farmer, grandson of Bird
Farmer, once told me that he thought Bird was buried on his farm in
Moscow Mills. That farm seems to be next to the James G. Horton property so I suppose it is possible that Bird Farmer's grave could be located near the grave of James G. Horton.