Indiana McCaslins

From Johnson County, Indiana Court Records, 1823-1853 (prepared by Holmes) Bk AA pg 6 George W King was appointed administrator 18 Apr 1832 of the estate of Newton McCaslin, deceased. Widow, Martha, relinguished her right as Admiinistratrix. A list of personal property retained by the widow and a sale bill for the remainder was filed in Court. On application Harvey [Hervey] McCaslin was appointed administrator to replace George W King who had died, and final settlement was made in 1833.

James Sheilds married Martha Ann Wilson McCaslin on 25 Mar 1835, so he decided that he should become his step-children's guardian.

Jennings County Probate book 1 page 290-9 Feb 1836 On application of James Shields he is appointed Guardian for the protection of the persons and property of Janes McCaslon, David McCaslon and Robert McCaslon infant heirs of ( smugged may be Newton) McCaslon late of Jennings County deceased. Provided he enters into Bond with security to be approved of by this Court and now comes the said James Sheilds and files his Bond with William A. Bullock & Ezra F. Peabody as his securities which is approved of by the Court and ordered on file.

Apparently James Sheilds application in Jennings County did not succeed as Hervey McCaslin is still guardian in the next court actions in Johnson county.

From Johnson County, Indiana Court Records, 1823-1853 (prepared by Holmes) Book C, pg 29 Harvey [Hervey] McCaslin, guardian of James, David A and Robert N, minor heirs of Newton McCaslin, deceased petitioned the court to sell his wards' real estate in sect 15, Twp 12, Range 4. Their mother, Martha Ann, now the wife of James Shields relinquished her dower. Harvey did not think that this land could be successfully partitioned. Feb 9, 1847.

BK C pg 457 Final settlement by Harvey [Hervey] McCaslin as guardian of the minor heirs of Newton McCaslin, deceased. Equal settlement went to James McCaslin and David McCaslin with the balance remaining in the hands of Harvey as guardian of Robert McCaslin. Martha, the widow of Newton, relinquished her dower in the real estate of minor heirs. Nov 11, 1850.

In the 1850 US Federal Census for Franklin, Johnson, Indiana, George King is a wealthy 67 year old farmer as his net worth is $17,000. In his household are his 61-year-old second wife Elizabeth Doss Shellady King, James McCaslin (age 23 and a farm laborer),and Mary Steele (age 12). James McCaslin is Newton McCaslin's son so George King is his uncle, and James married both of George's granddaughters by George's daughter, Jane King McCaslin Hutton, Esther Shellady McCaslin and Sarah Jane Hutton. Shellady is probably varient spellling of Shillideay.

In the 1860 US Federal Census for Vernon, Jennings, Indiana, 64-year-old James Shields and his 53-year-old wife Martha Ann (Wilson McCaslin) Shields have in their household their children, 17-year-old Brown, 15-year-old Sarah and 10-year-old Diana Shields, and her son, 31-year-old James McCaslin (transcribed as Mccarton). He has no occupation listed.

In the 1870 census for Campbell, Jennings, Indiana, James McCastin (McCaslin), age 44, born in Indiana, is working in a sawmill. He and his 30-year-old Indiana born wife, Mariah [Orrell] McCaslin have in their household his daughter by his second wife, Sarah Hutton, 14-year-old Martha J McCaslin, and their children, 9-year-old Mary A, 7-year-old Charles B, 5-year-old Ionia B, and 2-year-old John D McCaslin.

In the 1880 US Federal Census for Christal [Crystal], Montgomery, Arkansas, 53-year-old farmer, James McCaslin [transcribed as Mc Caslin] and his 41-year-old wife Mariah have in their household their children 18-year-old Mariah A, 16-year-old Charles B, 14-year-old Iona B, 12-year-old John D, 8-year-old Myrta , 6-year-old James W and 3-year-old Mariah M. Charles and John are farm laborers. Iona, John and Myrta have attended school in the past year. The move from Indiana to Arkansas took place after the 1870 census but before 1872 when Myrta was born in Arkansas. The McCaslins are living next door to Mariahs brother 35-year-old Thomas Orrell, his 18-year-old pregnant wife Mary C and their 2-year-old daughter Doria A.

In the 1900 US Federal Census for Bear, Montgomery, Arkansas, 74-year-old Indiana-born farmer James and his 61-year-old Indiana-born wife Maria [Mariah Orrell] McCastline [sic] have been married 49 years. Mariah has born 10 children [ I know of nine], but only seven are recorded as living. In their household are their youngest Arkansas-born children, 25-year-old farm laborer James, 18-year-old farm laborer Robert, and 15-year-old Arkansas-born Nettie.

James died on 15 Jan 1907 in Bear, Montgomery, Arkansas.

The reasoning that connects James William McCaslin as a son of Newton and the James McCaslin living with George King is as follows: James who was living with George King in 1850 is Newton's son James. The connection is George King's son George had been the administrator of Newton's estate until George Jr died. James was living with George King (Sr) in 1850. He then married two of George's grandaughters (and his cousins), Esther Shellady McCaslin and Sarah Hutton. There were no children from the first marriage, but James and Sarah had a daughter, Martha J McCaslin. I have not located Martha in the 1860 census where James is living with his mother, Martha Ann [Wilson McCaslin] and her second husband, James Shields. Sarah J [Hutton] McCaslin is not found in the 1860 census as she died 15 Nov 1859. The 1870 census for Campbell, Jennings, Indiana shows 14-year-old Martha J McCaslin living in the household of 44-year-old James McCastin [McCaslin] and his wife (and Martha's step-mother) Mariah [Orrell] McCaslin. Martha can't be Mariah's child as James and Mariah were married in 1861. She's Sarah's child and mentioned in George King's will as granddaughter of Jane King McCaslin Hutton. Her presence in this household can only be accounted for if her father is Newton's son. Mariah is James' third wife.