The Family of
Isaac Claxton
It is not known for sure who Isaac Claxton’s father is but
there is reason to believe it is John Claxton of Bedford County, TN. John Claxton apparently moved from Bedford County
to Giles County and died by 1843. The Bedford County Family History Book states
that Isaac Claxton was mentioned in John’s estate but I have not been able to
find the estate papers. Thomas S. Parsons
of Giles County
went to Bedford County
in 1843 to bring suit on John Claxton Jr. for the estate of John Claxton of Giles County. The only Parsons I have seen in relation to
Isaac Claxton is Joseph C. Parsons who owned land bordering Isaac Claxton on
Pigeon Roost Creek in Giles
County. Some have wondered if Thomas Parson was
perhaps a brother-in-law or son-in-law to John Claxton.
According to the Bedford County Family History Book, John
Claxton appears to be in Bedford
County as the 1812 tax
list has Johnthon Clackston
listed. The 1830 Census has John listed
and the 1836 Tax list has John listed with 56 acres of land. John is thought to be the father of David
Claxton, John Claxton Jr., James Claxton, and Isaac Claxton. Other Claxtons
mentioned in census and tax records are Jonathan H., Wesley, Jeremiah, and
Solomon. According to a December 12,
1831 prison record of David Claxton there were six brothers and a sister living
at that time. We are not sure which six
of these Claxton men are the sons of John Claxton.
John Claxton Jr. and Isaac Claxton each named their first
daughter Sophia. So was John’s wife
Sophia or was John Jr. and Isaac’s unknown sister named Sophia, we do not know.
Other thoughts as to perhaps some relatives to Isaac Claxton
are Solomon Claxton and Jeremiah Claxton.
At first look one would see the use of old testament
names between these three individuals.
Secondly both Solomon and Isaac are found in Lincoln County
in the Census. Isaac Clanton is in the
1820 Census in the 19-26 age bracket. Solomon Clarkson is found in the 1830 census
in the 20-30 age bracket. From this information it appears that Isaac
is slightly older than Solomon. By 1830 Isaac is in Bedford
County but then is found in Giles County
by the 1836 Tax List.
According to the 1850 Census Isaac’s wife is Ann and
they are both 51 years of age. By 1860
the census shows that Isaac is a carpenter and 60 years old. It also states that his wife is Jane. The following court record of his son-in-law
William Hyles as administrator of Isaac’s estate
identifies all of Isaac’s children:
Giles County, TN 1867Chancery Court File Boxes,
transcribed by Elizabeth W. White:
Box H, Case # 2536
William S. Hyles and others vs. William J. Claxton
Isaac Claxton died at his residence in Giles County, July 1867, intestate,leaving surviving Jane, his widow, Sophia A. wife
of William S. Hyles, Susan E. wife of Simeon Gilmer,
and Milton D. Claxton, his only children. William J.
and John Claxton, grandchildren of Isaac Claxton and children of deceased son
William L. Claxton. Isaac Claxton died owning a tract of land in
the 11th district on the waters of Pigeon Roost Creek, bounded by lands of
Joseph C. Parsons, C. W. McMillion, W. A. Jackson,
and G. W. and Thomas McGrew.
Apparently Isaac’s first wife Ann had died as Isaac married
Jane Self: Giles County marriage records: Isaac Claxton
to James (Jane) Self 04/11/1857 04/12/1857 S.A. Parsons JP. Jane was previously married to Owenby Self who died in 1856 leaving his widow Jane and
daughters Emaline, Hepsibah,
Rebecca E. and Mary Ann.
Prior to 1869 David Snow married Rebecca Self the daughter
of Jane Self Claxton who was Isaac’s widow.
The 1870 census shows that Jane goes to live with this daughter. 1870
Census: Jane Clanton in the David Snow household with wife Rebecca.
Children of Isaac
Claxton
1.
Sophia Claxton
Sophia Claxton, born about 1828, married William S. Hyles born about 1825.
There is not a marriage record but the 1850 census shows them together
in their own household. There are no
children to this union but they did raise a Nathaniel Claxton who is thought to
be the son of her brother Milton Dudley Claxton. Sophia moved to Limestone County, AL
with Nathaniel Claxton and that is where she died. We do not know where she is buried.
The 1875 Chancery Court records of Giles County
show William S. Hyles was a partner in a blacksmith
business by the name of Harmond & Hiles. Census
records show William as being a farmer.
William’s parents were Archibald and Susan S. Fleeman Hyles. They came to Giles
County from Virginia about 1834. William, born in Virginia, was the first of eight
children. His brothers and sisters were:
Born in VA Elizabeth, James, and Sarah Medora and Born in Giles County TN
Lorenzo, John J., Archibald Jr., and Susan.
2. Milton Dudley
Claxton
Milton Dudley Claxton was born November 29, 1834 and he died
May 2, 1901. He is buried in New Zion
Cemetery next to his
second wife. New Zion
Cemetery is just north of the head
waters of Pigeon Roost Creek in Giles
County.
Milton’s first wife was Jane (?).
Jane was born June 15, 1826 and died May 16, 1868 and is buried in Diana Cemetery. Milton
then married Palestine Willeford on March 12,
1871. After Milton
died Palestine
then married Isaac A. Lincoln who died in 1922.
She died after 1922 and they are both buried in New Zion Cemetery.
Milton enlisted in Company C of
the 3rd TN regiment CSA at Pulaski, TN on October 31, 1862 for 3
years. During May and June
of 1863 he was listed as sick in the hospital in MS. On February 25, 1864 he was ordered to the
hospital by the surgeon. He arrived at Stout Hospital
in Madison GA on February 27, 1864. On
July 21, 1864 he returned to duty from St. Mary’s Hospital in LaGrange, GA. Milton took
the Oath of Amnesty at Pulaski,
TN on January 12, 1865. His complexion was light, his hair was light,
eyes were gray, height was 5 feet 8 inches. He signed by his mark. According to the unit records Milton had to be in the
Battle of Chickamaga in September of 1863.
In 1899 Milton
applied for a Tennessee Confederate Pension.
He states he was living in Sumac, Giles
County, TN. In his application Milton states his health began to fail him in
the latter part of 1862. He took cold,
commenced to spit up blood, and his voice began to grow weak. This continued until he took sick in
1864. He was without shoes or blankets
and was suffering from something he contracted during the winter of 1864. It lingered for a long while,
his blood seemed to be in bad condition and resulted in a breaking out on his
face. The doctors called it a cancer and
it continually grew worse from that time until a greater part of his nose and
face was gone. The application stated he
had a wife of 56 and no children. He owned
about 50 acres worth about $10 per acre.
It was signed by his mark.
It is believed that Milton
had a child by his first wife. This
would have been Nathaniel Vandon Claxton born March
23, 1863. Nathaniel could have easily
been conceived before Milton
left for service. Milton returned home from service in 1865 and
his first wife died in 1868 at the age of 41.
By 1870 we see Nathaniel in the home of his aunt Sophia Hyles. Milton then married again
in 1871. It is not until 1899 that he
files his pension application and makes those statements. So Nathaniel’s mother has passed away, his
father is in bad shape with his face being destroyed from his sickness. He is in no shape to raise a child. Nathaniel goes to live with his Aunt.
3. William Lane
Claxton
William was born about 1837 and was killed at the Battle of
Raymond, Mississippi
on May 12, 1863. William married Mary Ann Self apparently about 1857. Mary Ann was the daughter of Isaac’s 2nd
wife Jane Self. To this union were born
two boys William James Claxton and John Lane Claxton.
William enlisted in Company C of the 3rd TN
regiment CSA at Pulaski, TN on November 10, 1862 for 3 years. On May 12, 1863 William was reported wounded
at Raymond, MS and in the hospital. Later that day he was reported killed. There is a stone in the cemetery at Raymond, MS
with the following inscription Claxton, “W. L., Co H, 3rd
Tennessee Infantry”. The information at the cemetery states that
those who died on the field were buried where they fell by the Union
soldiers. Since William apparently went
to the hospital he probably is buried by his stone.
Isaac Claxton was appointed guardian of his two grandsons
after William Lane
was killed. Mary Ann then marries Thomas
Shadden.
Thomas and Mary Ann move to Fannin County, TX
by the 1880 census. Isaac’s grandsons William
James and John Lane
both move to TX along with their mother.
They are listed in the 1880 census but their last names were badly
misspelled. In fact if it were not for
an obituary found in the family bible of William James Claxton, I would have
not been able to document the link of the TX William and John Claxton to Giles County, TN. The obituary stated that William was born in Tennessee and that he
had half brothers of the surname Shadden, the same surname
as the Thomas Shadden that married his mother Mary
Ann. With this obit and the TX census
records I was able to connect William James Claxton to William Lane Claxton and
Isaac Claxton.
4. Susan Emma
Claxton
Susan was born about 1844.
She married Simeon Gilmore on September 25, 1866. They had at least one son, John Gilmore born
in 1869. At this time I have not been
able to find any more information on this Gilmore family.
The Isaac Claxton
family of today
From this family of Isaac Claxton there exist today three
Claxton surname branches. The
progenitors of these branches are William James Claxton of Fannin County, TX,
John Lane Claxton of Lander, WY, and Nathaniel Vandon
Claxton of Limestone County,
AL.