I came across receipts for land purchases between Agnes and B.D. Irvine and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Gleeson
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| $1000.00 Rec'd of Mrs. Agnes Irvine one thousand dollars on this note June 1st 1875 E.C. Gleeson Jo. H. Travis Rec'd of Mrs. Agnes Irvine balance payment in full this note June 25th 1875 E.C. Gleeson |
and Joseph H. Travis
Agnes Irvine was John W. Moran's sister and the wife of B.D. Irvine.
Elizabeth Clary Travis (Gleeson) was the daughter of Major Edward Travis, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and his first wife Lucy Jones Worsham. Elizabeth was born about 1807 and died 1890. She was first married to Gaines F. Clark, M.D. about 1829. After his death she married William W. Gleeson. The Gleeson name appears in different sources as Gleason/Glisson/Gleeson.
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| $1000.00 Twelve months after date we promise to pay to the order of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Gleeson one thousand dollars for value received in land This July 26th 1875 Agnes Irvine B.D. Irvine |
This was not the first marriage for William Gleeson either. His first wife was Mary Amelia Pulliam. Their children were: Mary Amelia Gibson who married Calvin Job Rogers, Margaret E. Gleeson who married Andrew Maloan. William Gleeson was not a poor man. He was the recipient of numerous land grants in the 1830's. In 1844 he was appointed U.S. Postmaster at Dresden Tn. In 1850 his value is listed at $12,000 and he owned 15 slaves ages 1 to 80. In the 1860 slave schedule census he is the owner of 22 slaves ranging in age from 1 year to 55 years old. William died in 1867.
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| $1000.00 Rec'd of Mrs. Agnes Irvine One Thousand Dollars as payment in full of this note this Oct. 4th 1875 E.C. Gleeson Jo. H. Travis |
In the 1870 Census Elizabeth was still residing in Weakley County, District 7. This time her name appears as E.C. Gleason. Her real estate and personal estate are valued at a total of $5000. Elizabeth is 60 years old and widowed. She has no children but she is by no means alone. The Civil War is over and it seems that many of the former slaves stayed in the Gleeson household:
William A. Gleeson, age 30, black, farm laborere
Analiza Gleeson, age 20, domestic servant
Marha M. Gleeson, age 10, black, domestic servant
Lucy F. Gleeson, age 5, black, at home
Charles A. Gleeson, age 2, blacks, at home
Caroline Gleeson, age 45, mulatto, domestic servant
Mary E. Gleeson, age 20, mulatto, domestic servant
Katie S. Gleeson, age 17, mulatto, domestic servant
Adline H. Gleeson, age 14, mulatto, domestic servant
Callie L. Gleeson, age 10, mulatto, domestic servant
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| $1000.00 Two years after date we promise to pay to the order of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Gleeson One Thousand dollars for value received in land. This July 26th 1875 Agnes Irvine B.D. Irvine |
In 1880 Elizabeth is living with her sister-in-law Amanda Hicks Travis and several niece's and nephews in Henry County. Amanda was the wife of Elizabeth's brother Robert Ludson Travis who died in 1869.
Side notes: Joseph Hutching Travis' name appears below that of Elizabeth on the receipts. Perhaps he was helping her or was a partner in the land deal. Joseph was her younger brother. Martha Maria Travis is the half sister of Elizabeth and was married to Tennessee Governor Isham G. Harris. Isham is a Moran 1st cousin 5 times removed which means that Elizabeth Clary Travis Gleeson is also a distant cousin through the Harris family.
