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Mary A Jacobs m 1828
Militia Orders 1825-1848 Arkansas Territory

 

Abner E Thornton
1805 - aft 1855?

b. Tennessee; d. ?Texas?

History in Words and Photos

 

04/05/14

 

THORNTON GENEALOGY PROJECT 2011

HOME PAGE

 

 

Information found by TCT 9 October 2011

 

Was Abner an attorney?  Yes!

http://www.pcahs.org/pcaolr/fgr01/fgr-0096.htm

... "That said William G. Thornton is the brother of Abner E. Thornton, Esq., who before said marshal's sale was and thence until and after said conveyance last mentioned to the State, continued to be the Financial Receiver of said Bank; ..." Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Law and Equity of the State of Arkansas, E.H. English, Volume 12, July Term, 1851, Case No. 333.

http://www.pcahs.org/pcaolr/chancery/chanc-08.htm

Abner E. Thornton vs. Nancy E. Jacbos & others

Petition for Title

 

____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
                             Abner E. Thornton                               
                                    vs.                                      
                           Nancy Jacobs & others                             
                                                                             
                             Petition for title.                             
                                                                             
This day came the complainant by his Solicitor and files his petition herein 
setting forth the marriage of the said Defendant Nancy Jacobs with Thomas    
Wingfield. And it appearing to the Court that such marriage has actually     
taken place. Therefore on motion of said Complainant it is ordered that said 
Thomas Wingfield be made party to this Suit and that process of subpeona     
issue against him directed to the Sheriff of Hempstead County returnable to  
the next term of this Court and thereupon came James S. Ward, guardian ad    
litem to the said defendants Wingfield Jacobs and John Jacobs and filed his  
answer herein and thereupon this cause was continued intil the next term of  
this Court.                                                                  
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Chancery Record B, 1839-1852, pages 19-20.            
____________________________________________________________________________ 

 

http://www.pcahs.org/pcaolr/chancery/chanc-06.htm

Abner E. Thornton vs. Nancy E. Jacbos et. al.

Bill For Title

 

____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
                             October 20. 1841.                               
                                                                             
                      Abner E. Thornton, Complainant.                        
                                                                             
                                    vs.                                      
                                                                             
Nancy Jacobs, Andrew J. Smith, Margaret Smith late Margaret Jacobs, Thomas   
Wingfield, Nancy Wingfield late Nancy Jacobs, Wingfield Jacobs and John      
Jacobs, Defendants.                                                          
                                                                             
                                 Chancery.                                   
                                                                             
This day came the complainant by Hubbard his solicitor, and process having   
been served on the said defendants, Nancy Jacobs, Andrew J. Smith, Margaret  
Smith late Margaret Jacobs, Thomas Wingfield and Nancy Wingfield late Nancy  
Jacobs, and they having failed to enter their appearance herein, and demur,  
plead or answere to Complainants Bill and it appearing from the allegations  
of Complainant's bill: Therefore on motion of Complainant by his said        
solicitor, it is ordered and adjudged by the Court here, that the            
allegations in Complainant's Bill contained be taken for confessed, as to    
the said last named defendants, and the said defendants Wingfield Jacobs and 
John Jacobs having put in their answer to Complainant's said bill by James   
S. Ward their Guardian ad litem, and thereby admitting the allegations in    
Complainant's Bill; that Nathaniel Jacobs in complainants bill specified, in 
his lifetime, on or about the Eighth day of December in the year Eighteen    
hundred and thirty six received from the said Complainant the sum of one     
hundred dollars money of said Complainant with which to enter in the Land    
Office at Washington, Arkansas the North half of the South East quarter of   
Section Eleven in town nine South in Range twenty-two West, for the use and  
benefit of said Complainant and that afterwards on the ninth day of December 
1836, the said Nathaniel Jacobs entered the above described tract of land in 
the name of him the said Nathaniel Jacobs, with the money of said            
Complainants, and that the said Nathaniel Jacobs in his lifetime so admitted 
the facts to be, and that the above described tract of land is situated in   
the County of Clark and that the above named defendants are the heirs and    
representatives of the said Nathaniel Jacobs deceased, and hold the title    
and interest in and to the above described tract of land as held by the said 
Nathaniel Jacobs in his lifetime.                                            
                                                                             
Therefore on motion of Complainant by his said solicitor, it is adjudged and 
decreed by the Court here, that the above named defendants, Nancy Jacobs,    
Andrew J. Smith, Margaret Smith late Margaret Jacobs, Thomas Wingfield,      
Nancy Wingfield late Nancy Jacobs, Wingfield Jacobs and John Jacobs convey   
to the said Complainant Abner E. Thornton by a good and sufficient deed,     
with general warranty only executed and acknowledged in this Court,          
aforesaid North half of South East quarter of Section Eleven in Township     
nine South in Range twenty-two West, and that said defendants deliver to the 
said Complainant all evidence of title relating to or concerning said tract  
of land. But because said defendants are not all before this Court, on the   
further motion of said Complainant, it is ordered and decreed that James S.  
Ward be and is hereby appointed a commissioner herein, and that he convey to 
the said Complainant Abner E. Thornton, deed of general warranty, the title  
in, and to the aforesaid tract of land in the place and in behalf of the     
said defendants, that he only execute and acknowledge said deed before this  
Court on or before the third day of the next term of this Court, until which 
time this cause is continued.                                                
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Chancery Record B, 1839-1852, pages 36-37.            

 

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=17009 March 4, 1840 - Arkansas Gazette Agents

List of Agents, for the Arkansas State Gazette.
... Clark County, Greenville - Abner E. Thornton, Esq.
...

Board index » Newspaper Articles » Arkansas Gazette (1819 - 1930)

? from our Abner E. Thornton?

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=19856

December 2, 1847 - A.E. Thornton

Post subject: December 2, 1847 - A.E. Thornton

MONUMENT NOTICE.
ALL persons holding monies collected for the erection of a Monument in honor of the officers and soldiers, who have fallen in the Mexican War, are requested by the Monument Committee, to pay over the same without delay, to the Treasurer; and forward a Report, or the subscription upon which the money was collected, to Col. L.J. Reardon, Secretary of the Board.

The above notice is given, because a sufficient sum has not yet been received by the Treasury to defray the expenses connected with the removal to Arkansas, of those who fell at the battle of Buena Vista; and also because the Committee desire to know the amount that has been raised for Monument purposes.

A.E. Thornton, Treasurer
Little Rock, Arks., Nov. 24th 1847.

Maria Pauline Thornton

Is this a daughter of our "Abner E Thornton"?

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=19056

Post subject: May 19, 1845 - Maria Pauline Thornton

From the Arkansas Banner,
OBITUARY.
Since the fatal fiat went forth - "dust thou art, and unto dust-" which awful enunciation cast a deep gloom and a melancholy shade over smiling Eden the relentless executioner of the sentence has in all time, and in every place, been marring the joys of earth, by the indiscriminate execution of his work of devastation!

A more melancholy instance of death's disposition to prey upon the brighter beings of earth, has not fallen under our observation, than that of the fate of Maria Pauling Thornton, daughter of Col. Abner E. Thornton, of this city, who was stricken down in the bloom and beauty of life!

This interesting young lady, whose sad death we are called upon to announce, to her friends in distant places, were born in Clark county, Ark's., June 17th, 1830; where her parents lived until they recently moved to Little Rock. She professed religion, and attached herself to the M.E. Church, in September, 1843, and departed this life, in this place, on the 20th April, 1845, after a very few days illness, in the 14th year of her age.

The writer had the pleasure of a short acquaintance with her, and he has rarely met with a more interesting young lady.

She was just entering upon the most interesting period of female existence, the threshold of young womanhood, and exhibited a sweetness of disposition, and a sprightliness of intellect, which indicated a moral, social, and menial organization of a very superior case, and a cultivation in advance of her age. She was exceedingly dutiful, affectionate, deeply pious, and manifested all those amiable and exulted traits of character, which are the sure, and known results of early teaching in the great principles of that sublime religion which she professed.

She came smiling among us like a bright, innocent being from a purer world, but was suddenly called away, to a home more congenial with her spirit! She came, and briefly passed away, like some tender, beautiful flower, that blooms in the beams of early spring, but is nipped by a frosty breeze, yet lingering in the traces of departing winter! She came and passed away, like the mild, bright vision of a dream, from the fancy of a startled sleeper, which leaves a sweet remembrance of its appearance, and a sigh for its sudden departure!

But she left her friends not without consolation! And while from the clouds of sorrow, the storms of grief pour down upon life's stream, and almost overwhelm them in its distressing agitation, the star of immortality from beyond the far off coast of time, throws back its gilding beams in transcendent radiance upon the troubled waters, and bids them hope and rejoice in the assurance which it affords of a final, blissful and perpetual re-union with the much loved and departed one! Jun. En.

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=10622

Post subject: February 28, 1837 - Agents for the Gazette

AGENTS FOR THE GAZETTE
...Abner E. Thornton, Esq. Clark county...

Our Abner E. Thornton?

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/mirabeau-buonaparte-lamar/the-papers-of-mirabeau-buonaparte-lamar-volume-6-hci/page-46-the-papers-of-mirabeau-buonaparte-lamar-volume-6-hci.shtml

PAPEES OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR 373
...

NO. 2622. J. P. WADDELL TO LAMAE

Galveston, April 23rd 1858.
Hon MIRABEAU B LAMAR.

DEAR SIR.

In the month of October last (1857) Col A E Thornton, my Father
in Law and the friend of your wifes Father left or intended leaving
New York on the Steamer Northern Light for Aspinwall, bound to
San Salvador City on a trading expedition, since which time his family
have heard nothing of Him. I have made inquiry in vain in New
York & presuming that there was an American Consul at San Salvador
have addressed him, but with no better success. Presuming that you
have it in your power to communicate with any Agent of the Govern-
ment that may be in that place, I have written to request that you will
institute the necessary enquiry in regard to Col Thornton & advise me
of the result. By so doing Sir, you will confer a favor upon his anxious
& distressed family.

Eespectfully yr friend and obt Servant,

J F. WADDELL

  The voyage to Aspinwall by steamer Northern Light, and from Panama to San Francisco by the Sonora, was a long and tedious one of twenty-five days.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/biographies/m/miller-frederick.txt

Steamer Northern Light Print

http://www.encore-editions.com/steamer-northern-light

Our Abner E. Thornton?

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/a/t/Iona-Marie-Watt/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0040.html

Abner E. Thornton (son of William Thornton and Mary) was born December 13, 1805. He married Mary Jacobs on October 13, 1828.

More About Abner E. Thornton and Mary Jacobs:
Marriage: October 13, 1828

Children of Abner E. Thornton and Mary Jacobs are:
  1. Ebu Thornton, b. 1832.
  2. John Thornton, b. 1836.
  3. Lafayette Thornton, b. 1838.
  4. William Thornton, b. 1840.
  5. Maria Paulina Thornton.

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=pnEDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA625&lpg=PA625&dq=%22Abner+E+Thornton%22&source=bl&ots=p6B8uNV-5l&sig=TOUfffzrmxXxXStCWZuGZA4GDWY&hl=en&ei=oDuSTqG6GuqLsQLAldCuAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22Abner%20E%20Thornton%22&f=false

1858??

http://books.google.com/books?id=OqNLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA636&lpg=PA636&dq=%22Abner+E+Thornton%22&source=bl&ots=v1rtbIZVz1&sig=knKTSNz-xkIMx7rCI3GeL0zH9Fw&hl=en&ei=oDuSTqG6GuqLsQLAldCuAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22Abner%20E%20Thornton%22&f=false

 

Reports_of_cases_argued_and_decided_in_the texas supreme court - abner e thornton

1857-1858

http://books.google.com/books?id=6JYFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA233&lpg=PA233&dq=%22Abner+E+Thornton%22&source=bl&ots=b59UZdcCCd&sig=3cZSbn3Sxedi4oI6WXO9dVofqJM&hl=en&ei=oDuSTqG6GuqLsQLAldCuAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFcQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=%22Abner%20E%20Thornton%22&f=false

 

Google Search for Abner E Thornton:

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Abner+E+Thornton%22&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7#q=%22Abner+E+Thornton%22&hl=en&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&prmd=imvnsbo&ei=oDuSTqG6GuqLsQLAldCuAQ&start=10&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=d6b4e92255e236a9&biw=1312&bih=710

http://files.usgwarchives.org/ar/clark/bios/elkins.txt

Witness: A. E. Thornton A. E. Thornton Sheriff in Clark Co 1832-1833, 1835-1836 AR State Legislature - Senator - 1836-1840

&&&

CLARK COUNTY ARKANSAS; PAST AND PRESENT editor Wendy Richter Okolana Christian Church Dr. Willis S. Smith may have taught the first Sunday School in Okalona and Clark County in 1833. Writing a few years later, Smith recalled that people of all ages attended. Among those families were McLaughin, Crow, Caruthers, Cornelius, Gentry, Gibbins, Thornton, Elkins, Lisenby, Pierce, Rieves, Keath, Lewis, Wood, and Stewart.

&&&

CLARK CO., AR - PROBATE RECORDS p ?99 October term, October 13th 1846 Ara Beall (Peff) VS Joshua Elkins Deft & Garnashee (Garnishment) This day came the said defendant and files his answer to the interrogative filed by the Plaintiff in this case. p 347 Ara B. Beall (Plaintiff) vs Joshua Elkins Deft and Garnashee of Abrner E. Thornton (GARNISHMENT) This day came the parties the plaintiff by attorney and the defendant in proper person, and the said plaintiff, having on the on the first day of our present term filed his alligations and interrogatives herein and the same having been omitted to be noted on the record on that day, it is ordered that the same be noted of record as of that day and thereupon the Defandant Joshua Elkins files his answer herein whereby it appears that he is indebted to the said Abner E. Thornton in the sum of one hundred and ninety-four dollars, and it appearing to the court here that on the 17 day of April A.D. 1846 at and during the April term 1846 of this court, the said plaintiff recovered against Mary Freeman, Thomas I. Freeman, William Clover, and the said Abner E. Thornton the sum of one hundred and sixty-four dollars and sixty-five cents for his debt, and his costs in that suit in that ?? expended, which costs were to??ed to the sum of sixteen dollars and sixty one cents, and it also appearing to the satisfaction of the court that said recovery remains in full force and effect and in no wise reversed vacated or set aside and remains wholly unpaid. It is therefore considered by the court that the said plaintiff Ara B. Beall, have and recover of and from the said defendant Joshua Elkins, the said sum of one hundred and sixty four dollars and sixty-five cents for his debt and also the said sum of sixteen dollars and sixty-one cents the cost aforesaid expended for his damages, together with interest on this judgement at the rate of ten per cent per annum from the 17th day of April A. D. 1846 and that the said Abner E. Thornton be barred and precluded from his remedy against the said Joshua Elkins for the same, and that the said Defendant have and recover of and from the plaintiff all the cost in and about this case in this be?? expended.

 A. E. Thornton Sheriff in Clark Co 1832-1833, 1835-1836AR State Legislature - Senator - 1836-1840,

&&&

CLARK CO ARK, COURT MINUTES p. 24 July Term, 1845: Monday, July 14, 1845, . . . William Elkins, coroner, posted bond of $5,000 with Joshua Elkins and A. E. Thornton as securities

http://www.pcahs.org/pcaolr/est01/est-0040.htm

Estate of Jacob Holman

 

____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
County of Clark,                                                             
                      ss.                                                    
State of Arkansas,                                                           
                                                                             
         To All Persons To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting:         
                                                                             
Know ye, that whereas Jacob Holman of the County of Pike, died intestate as  
it is said, on or about the twenty-sixth day of October A.D. 1842, having at 
the time of his death personal property in this State which may be lost,     
destroyed or diminished in value if speedy care be not taken of the same, to 
the end thereof, that the said property may be collected, preserved and      
disposed of according to law. We do hereby appoint Abner E. Thornton of the  
County of Clark, administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels,   
rights and credits which were of the said Jacob Holman at the time of his    
death, with full power and authority to secure and dispose of the said       
property according to law, and collect all monies due said deceased and in   
general to do and perform all other acts and things which are or hereafter   
may be required of him by law.                                               
                                                                             
In testimony whereof, I, James S. Ward, Clerk of the Circuit Court and       
Exofficio Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Clark       
aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at  
office, this 28th day of November A.D. 1842.                                 
                                                                             
                             Jas. S. Ward, Clerk.                            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
The State of Arkansas,                                                       
County of Clark,                                                             
                                                                             
I, James S. Ward, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Exofficio Clerk of the      
Court of Probate in and for the County of Clark, do hereby certify that the  
within and foregoing letters of administration granted to Abner E. Thornton, 
on the Estate of Jacob Holman deceased, were this day duly recorded before   
they were delivered to said administrator.                                   
                                                                             
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand as clerk as aforesaid and  
affixed the seal of office at Greenville, this 28th day of November A.D.     
1842.                                                                        
                                                                             
                             Jas. S. Ward, Clerk.                            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Letters of Administration (1838-1856) pages 21-22.    
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
The State of Arkansas,                                                       
County of Clark,                                                             
                                                                             
                          Clark County Probate Court                         
                       In Vacation November 28th 1842.                       
                                                                             
This day personally came Abner E. Thornton before me, James S. Ward, Clerk   
of the Circuit Court and Exofficio Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for  
the County of Clark aforesaid, and on his motion, letters of administration  
is granted to him on the Estate of John Holman deceased, upon his entering   
into bond conditioned according to law i the penal sum of sixteen hundred    
dollars, with Joshua Elkins and John H. Nelson as his securities. And        
thereupon, the said Abner E. Thornton took the oath prescribed by law as     
administrator of the Estate of Jacob Holman deceased.                        
                                                                             
Witness my hand as clerk as aforesaid, this 28th day of November A.D. 1842.  
                                                                             
                             Jas. S. Ward, Clerk.                            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Probate Record Book A (1840-1847) page 70.            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
                     In Clark Circuit Court In Vacation.                     
                               June 25th 1845.                               
                                                                             
                          Hiram Moore, Complainant                           
                                                                             
                                     vs.                                     
                                                                             
            Abner E. Thornton, Mary Holman and the unknown heirs             
                    of Jacob Holman deceased, Defendants.                    
                                                                             
                                 In Chancery.                                
                                                                             
... "to obtain title to certain lands (80 acres) ... Mary Holman widow of    
Jacob Holman deceased and the unknown heirs of said deceased are non         
residents of this State. It is therefore ordered that notice be given said   
non resident defendants by publication in the Washington Telegraph a         
newspaper published in this State ... (to) appear before the next term       
hereof ... on the first Monday of September next."                           
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Chancery Record B, 1839-1852, pages 75-76. Excerpt.   

 

http://arcourts.ualr.edu/case-136/136.1.html

Peter Holliday vs. Ambrose H. Sevier
Abstract

On April 28, 1829, no judge appeared to hold court so it was adjourned and the case was picked back up in the summer term. On August 19, 1829, the parties consented to a verbal statement of Chester Ashley on oath in lieu of a written affidavit in favor of his motion to continue the case. Trimble entered the order to continue the case at the cost of the defendant. On March 30, 1830, the court finally picked the case up again. At that time, Judge Trimble ordered that a jury come to hear the evidence – the jury consisted of William Thornton, Archabald Huddleston, Jame Little, John J. Langley, H.E. Thornton (the foreman), Henry Ashabranner, Augustus B. McDonald, Joseph B. Riley, Benjamin Hardin, Samuel Lewis, Micajah McDonald, and Moses Guice. Sevier objected to the entry of the receipt into evidence, but the court overruled the objection and admitted the receipt. The court stated that the receipt was evidence conducing to provide a privity of contract between Sevier and Holliday. Sevier excepted to this ruling and filed a bill of exceptions. The jury found for Holliday and thus, the Clark County court entered a judgment for him in the sum of $164.04 ½.

On April 1, 1830, Sevier moved the court to arrest the judgment against him and filed his reasons for the motion. First, he stated that Holliday's declaration did not contain a statement as to whom the notes were payable, whose notes they were, nor that they belonged to Holliday in the first place. Also, the consideration for contract was not formally or expressly stated in the first two counts, nor was the contract stated with sufficient certainty. Furthermore, the conversion count was defective because it never stated that the note was Holliday's property or that it was converted to Sevier's use. Also, the second count was defective because it did not appear certainly whether the sum mentioned in that count was different from that mentioned in the first count. Nevertheless, on August 2, 1830, a writ of execution issued to the Clark County sheriff from the clerk Isaac Ward against Sevier for $168.04 ½ and $43.90. On August 10, 1830, Abner E. Thornton, the deputy sheriff, made an endorsement on the writ of execution, noting that he had received it. However, the sheriff of Clark County, Abner Wells, noted on September 27, 1830 that the execution was not served by order of Holliday's attorney.

Thornton, Abner E. Sheriff of Clark County from 1831 to 1835; member and foreman of the jury which found damages for Peter Holliday against Ambrose H. Sevier in Holliday v. Sevier (1827); sheriff in Collins v. Johnson (1834).
Thornton, William Member of the jury which found damages for Peter Holliday against Ambrose H. Sevier in ; deputy sheriff of Clark County in Holliday v. Sevier (1827);

http://arcourts.ualr.edu/Personal-Names/names-t.htm#thorntonw

http://home.southwind.net/~crowther/Cocke/Trials.htm

THE CLARK COUNTY MURDER TRIAL

In 1831-32, Charles S. Cocke allegedly shot and killed Zebulon Edmiston. The following account is in the scrapbook of Dr. Willis S. Smith (now in the Arkansas Historical Commission Collection):

A CRIMINAL CASE

In 1831 or 1832, Charles C. Coches, having held hard feelings (whiskey) toward Zebulon Edmiston, for several months, shot and killed Mr. Edmiston, and made his escape, to the then wilds of Texas. Mr. Edmiston was a large man, and said to be rather overbearing toward his adversaries; but a good honest man, very well respected by those who had the chance to know him. Mr. Coches was rather weak in physical strength, and had been in serious difficulties in the states, and had barely escaped punishment there. The governor of the territory (John Pope) offered a reward for the apprehension and delivery of Mr. Coches. The detectives, however, were daily making use of all chances to hear of his whereabouts. Mr. Coches was taken sick in Texas, Mexico, and was unable to secrete himself any longer. He was captured and delivered to A. E. Thornton, sheriff of Clark County, by James Gibson, the then sheriff of Hempstead county.

At the March term of the Clark circuit court, 1833, the case was before the grand jury, and a true bill of indictment for murder was returned unto the court, and the defendant, Coches, was arraigned before the bar for trial. The United States of America - Territory of Arkansas vs. Charles Coches - indictment for shooting and killing Zebulon Edmiston.

The court met according to adjournment, Thomas Hubbard represented the U.S. and Robert Crittenden the criminal. On motion of Crittenden, the court appointed six men as guards, who after being sworn, entered on their duty. Mr. Coches health being so bad, it was not safe to keep him in the jail for he was in articulo mortalis. The jail was an old log house, not good enough for a well person, therefore the prisoner was kept in a house where his wants could be attended to. Mr. A.E. Thornton, then sheriff, was connected with affinity to Mr. Edmiston, and this being made manifest to the court, an elisor was appointed to act as sheriff during the important trial.

The petit jury was summoned and selected and the case progressed. Each contested every inch of ground they could in their favor, respectively. Judge Hubbard was a lawyer of marked ability, no better choice could be made for the U.S. Bob Crittenden was said to be the best lawyer in the territory and as an orator had no equal. Ashley and Sevier were called to assist on the side of the defense, both very able lawyers. After able speaking in behalf of the prisoner, and the defense, the case was closed.

The jury returned a verdict of murder in the first degree, as charged in the indictment. The verdict of the jury was read in court to the prisoner, and after other preliminaries were had, his honor, Judge Cross, ordered the prisoner to stand up, and then asked the prisoner if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed on him. The answer being returned in the negative, the judge passed sentence on him. The time fixed for the execution was the 20th day of April, 1833, between the hours of 10 o'clock in the forenoon and 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the prisoner to hang by the neck until dead. A motion for new trial and arrest of judgment were overruled.

The prisoner was remanded back into the custody of the sheriff, A.E. Thornton, and then into the care of the guard, almost dead by that dangerous disease, ascites. Drs. Cocks and McDonald were chosen as physicians to administer medical aid to the criminal. They treated this case until the day of his execution. Dr. Cocks was the best read physician I ever had the pleasure of meeting in Arkansas. On the day of the execution, in Greenville, I saw more people, than I ever saw, in Greenville, up to that date. Several ministers followed him to the gallows.

He made no confession in regard to his future. He said he died wrongfully.

[Sent by Howard V. Jones to Bob Ewing, 26 Jul 1999]

The following articles appeared The Arkansas Gazette:

MURDER.
At the late General Muster of the Militia of Clark county, on the 29th ult., Mr. ZEBULON EDMISTON was shot from his horse just as he was leaving the muster ground and apparently without provocation by a man by the name of CHARLES S. COX, who immediately fled and made his escape though promptly pursued by 20 or 30 men. Cox had been residing in that county for some time past and has a family there, but is understood to be a fugitive from justice from Tennessee, where he had committed a murder and is withal, a very worthless man. Mr. Edmiston was a respectable citizen of Clark county.
[The Arkansas Gazette, November 9, 1931, page 3, col. 2.]

Stop the Murderer.
$250 REWARD.
WHEREAS, CHARLES S. COCKE, wilfully, maliciously, and without any known provocation, late in the evening of the 29th day of last month, at the house of Col. Jacob Wells in Clark county, Arkansas Territory, did present a gun at Zebulon Edmiston and fired immediately and shot him through the body of which he died in a few minutes. The murderer made his escape immediately:
Now, therefore, I, Nancy Edmiston, widow of the aforesaid Zebulon Edmiston, do offer a reward of two hundred and fifty dollars for the apprehension and safe delivery into the custody of the Sheriff of the aforesaid county of Clark, of the said Charles S. Cocke; and I do hereby bind myself to pay said sum to any person who will apprehend and safely deliver him into the custody of the sheriff as aforesaid.
The said Charles S. Cocke is about 40 years of age, about 5 feet 11 inches high, of rather a slender form, thin face, light red hair, blue eyes, and fair skin; it is supposed he will make for the Texas. Said Cocke came to this county some four or five years ago and passed by the name of Charles Scott; his name however was found afterwards to be Charles Scott Cocke and as I have learned, he has frequently told since he came here, that he fled from the State of Alabama for committing murder. \par Given under my hand this 20th day of November 1831.
NANCY EDMISTON.
[The Arkansas Gazette, December 7, 14, and 21, 1831.]

A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, it is represented to the Governor of the Territory of Arkansas, that a murder was perpetrated, in the county of Clark, in said Territory, on the body of Zebulon Edmiston, by a certain CHARLES S. COX, who fled from justice, and is now going at large.
Now, therefore, I, JOHN POPE, Governor of the Territory aforesaid, to the end that the said Charles S. Cox, if guilty of the crime with which he stands charged, may be punished according to law, do hereby offer a reward of Two Hundred Dollars to any person who may apprehend and deliver the said Charles S. Cox to the proper authorities of said county, to be there proceeded against and dealt with according to law.
Given under my hand at Little Rock, A.T. this 10th day of January, 1832.
JOHN POPE.
[The Arkansas Gazette, January 18 and 25, 1832.]

We understand that Charles Cox who shot Mr. Zebulon Edmiston in Clark county last year and for w hose apprehension the Governor offered a reward of $200 has been apprehended in Texas and brought back and is now securely lodged in the Jail of Hempstead county.
[Arkansas Gazette, October 24, 1832, page 3, column 1.]

CONVICTION FOR MURDER.
At the Circuit Court of Clark county which sat last week, Charles S. Cocke was tried on an indictment for the murder of Zebulon Edmiston, on the 29th Oct. 1831, found Guilty, and sentenced to be executed on the 29th inst. (April) Counsel: for the prosecution, T. Hubbard, Pros. Att'y., and A.H. Sevier; for the prisoner, C. Ashley and R. Crittenden.
[Arkansas Gazette, April 3, 1833, page 3, column 2.]

EXECUTION.
On the 29th ult., (April) Charles S. Cocke suffered the highest penalty of the law in Clark county, for the murder of Mr. Zebulon Edmiston near two years ago. We understand he died without making any confession, though it is generally believed that he had perpetrated other murders than the one for which he was executed and had committed at least one act of brutality on a respectable young lady before he fled to Arkansas for which he ought to have suffered death years ago.
[Arkansas Gazette, May 8, 1833, page 2, column 3.]

PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Washington county, May 21, 1833.
Dear Sir. - ... A man by the name of ... has been industriously circulating a report in the county, that Col. Sevier volunteered to defend Cox, murderer of Edmiston in Clark county. This slander has been circulating among the relatives of the unfortunate man who fell by the hands of Cox, for the purpose of injuring Col. Sevier; but I trust it will have no effect, when it is understood that Crittenden and not Sevier, was the man who defended Cox. This slander is worthy of the man who has given it circulation ...
EDITORIAL.
We know not how any man could have the hardihood to trump such an arrant falsehood that Col. Sevier volunteered to defend Cox. The truth is, he was employed to aid in the prosecution, and we trust it will not be derogating from the fame of the Prosecuting Attorney, Mr. Hubbard, to say that, Mr. Sevier, belongs much of the credit of convicting the prisoner.
The murder was one of the most deliberate and cold-blooded acts of the kind ever perpetrated in the county, and excited an almost universal burst of indignation from the people, several of whom united in employing Col. Sevier to assist in bringing to punishment the wretch who had committed such a flagrant breach of the laws.
The defense was conducted by Col. Ashley and Mr. CRITTENDEN, and we have no doubt they used every exertion in their power that duty required of them to save the life of their guilty client.
EDITORS, Gazette.
[Arkansas Gazette, May 22, 1833, page 2, column 5.]

Commentary

Zebulon Edmiston was related to several prominent men in the community. As noted above "Mr. A.E. Thornton, then sheriff, was connected with affinity to Mr. Edmiston". Sheriff Abner E. Thornton was related to Zebulon Edmiston by marriage because his sister married David Crawford Edmiston, a brother of Zebulon Edmiston. Zebulon's wife was Nancy Moore, who may have been related to Matthew and Nathaniel Moore, early settlers and magistrates of Clark County.

Nevertheless, once again, Charles Scott Cocke was surrounded by notable men of the time. The accounts indicate that he was defended by the law firm of Chester Ashley and Robert Crittenden (precursor to the Rose law firm). He was prosecuted with the assistance of Ambrose Hundley Sevier.

Although Sevier and Crittenden had started out as political allies, in 1827, Crittenden killed Sevier's cousin and political ally, Henry Wharton Conway in a duel. This caused quite a stir, both in Arkansas and elsewhere since, at the time, Henry Wharton Conway was a member of Congress.

Charles Cocke had connections with both:

  • He had served with John Crittenden, father of Robert Crittenden, in the Virginia House.

  • He later contacted Sevier in connection with his Pension Application.

Although there is no indication that Charles Scott Cocke and Zebulon Edmiston were engaged in a duel, politics and dueling seemed to be a way of life in Arkansas. Since dueling was illegal in Arkansas, most duels were fought in places where dueling was still legal. Even the judges who were supposed to uphold the law, occasionally took up arms against each other. Governor John Pope had a nephew who was involved in several duels and finally lost his life in a duel in Mexico.

In the case of Charles Scott Cocke, the governor offered a reward for his capture. Governor Pope may have been motivated by more than a desire for justice, since one of the people who dueled his nephew was a John Cocke, who might have been a cousin of Charles Scott Cocke. On the other hand, the duel might have been with John Watkins Cocke who married Governor Pope's daughter. John Watkins Cocke appears to be a descendant of Abraham Cocke and Mary Batte, possible ancestors of Charles Cocke.

Chester Ashley

United States Senator from Arkansas

Chester Ashley Democratic November 8, 1844 –
April 29, 1848
Elected to finish Fulton's term
3 Elected to a full term in 1846

Died

Chester Ashley (June 1, 1790 – April 29, 1848) was an American politician who represented Arkansas in the U.S. Senate from 1844 until his death.

Ashley was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1790; while a child he moved with his parents to Hudson, New York. He was a graduate, with honors, of Williams College; following this, he took a course in law in Litchfield, Connecticut. Ashley moved west upon completion of his education, going first to Illinois, and thence to Missouri. In 1820 he arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas, soon becoming one of the best and most prominent lawyers in the Arkansas Territory; for a time, his partner in practice was Robert Crittenden. Together, Ashley and Crittenden founded Rose Law Firm.

For some twenty years Ashley's practice was the largest in the state, and he became a wealthy man. This led him to try his hand at politics; in 1844 he canvassed the state campaigning for James K. Polk for president; the Democrats were victorious, and Ashley was elected by the state legislature to fill a vacancy in the Senate. Soon after entering, he was made the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee; in 1846, he was reelected to the Senate. Two years later he was taken suddenly ill in the Senate Chamber and died not long after.

Chester Ashley is the namesake of Ashley County, Arkansas.

&&&

File:Chester Ashley.jpg

Sevier Ambrose

Ambrose H. Sevier Democratic September 18, 1836 –
March 15, 1848
1 Elected in 1836
2 Re-elected in 1837
3 Re-elected in 1843

Resigned

Ambrose Hundley Sevier (November 4, 1801 – December 31, 1848) was a Democratic member of the United States Senate from Arkansas.

Ambrose Hundley Sevier was born near Greeneville, Tennessee in Greene County, Tennessee. Sevier moved to Missouri in 1820 and to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1821.

In Arkansas he became clerk of the Territorial House of Representatives. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1823. Sevier became a member of the House of Representatives and served from 1823 to 1827 and served as speaker of that body in 1827.

Sevier was elected as a Delegate to the Twentieth US Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Wharton Conway. Sevier was reelected and served as delegate in three successive congresses from 1828 to 1836 when Arkansas was admitted to the Union. Sevier is known as the "Father of Arkansas Statehood".

In 1836 Sevier was elected as the first member of the United States Senate from Arkansas. He was reelected in 1837 and 1843. He resigned from office in 1848. During the twenty-ninth Congress he was allowed to hold the seat of President pro tem of the Senate for a day, though he was not actually elected to that post. During his tenure he served as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs and was a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations.

In 1848 Sevier and Nathan Clifford, the Attorney General of the United States, were appointed ambassadors to Mexico by President James K. Polk to negotiate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the Mexican-American War.

Ambrose Hundley Sevier died on his plantation in Pulaski County, Arkansas. He was buried in the historic Mount Holly Cemetery. The State of Arkansas erected a monument in the cemetery in his honor.

Sevier was the grandnephew of John Sevier, first cousin of Representative Henry Wharton Conway, Governor James Sevier Conway, Governor Elias Nelson Conway, brother-in-law of Senator Robert Ward Johnson and father-in-law of Governor Thomas James Churchill.

Sevier County, Arkansas is named in his honor.

Ambrose Hundley Sevier at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

File:AR Sevier Ambrose.jpg

Sevier Ambrose

Henry Wharton Conway (March 18, 1793 – November 9, 1827) was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Arkansas Territory.

Henry Wharton Conway was born on March 18, 1793, near Greeneville, Tennessee in Greene County, Tennessee. Conway was educated by private tutors. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy during the War of 1812 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1813.

In 1817, Conway became a clerk in the U.S. Treasury and served in that position until he moved to the Missouri Territory in 1818. In 1820, he moved to the Arkansas Territory.

In Arkansas, he was appointed as receiver of public moneys and served in that position in 1820 and 1821. He was elected as a delegate to the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Congresses.

Conway was mortally wounded on October 29, 1827, during a duel near Napoleon, Arkansas[1] with Robert Crittenden who was Secretary of the Arkansas Territory. Conway lingered for a couple of weeks after the duel but succumbed to his wounds.

Henry Wharton Conway died on November 9, 1827. He is buried in the Arkansas Post cemetery.

Conway was the brother of Governor James Sevier Conway and Governor Elias Nelson Conway. He was first cousin to Senator Ambrose Hundley Sevier and Governor Henry Massey Rector. He was also third cousin to Confederate General and Virginia Governor James Lawson Kemper.

Conway County, Arkansas is named for him.

File:HWConway.jpg

Henry Wharton Conway (March 18, 1793 – November 9, 1827)

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=6788

March 23, 1830 - Justices of the Peace

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

The following is an official list of the JUSTICES OF THE PEACE elected by joint vote of the General Assembly of the Territory of Arkansas, on the 7th day of November 1829

CLARK COUNTY

Antoine township - Abner E. Thornton, Nicholas Keith, John Gentry, Charles Cox, Mose Moore, Samuel Rose.

http://www.agsgenealogy.org/databases/pdffiles/AFH/AFH173Sep1979.pdf

The Arkansas Family Historian

Volume 17, #3

July, August, September 1979

THORNTON Mrs. H. Ivan Rainwater (Dorothy T.) 2805 Liberty Place. Bowie

Maryland 20715 - My great great grandfather, Andrew J.

THORNTON, and his brother Abner E. THORNTON, were among the first settlers

in the Okolona settlement in Clark Co • AR (before 1830) Abner E.

THORNTON was a State Senator in the first State Leg~slature in Ark. (1836-

1840). I am seeking biographical material which I hope ~1ll tell the place

of his birth and who his parents were. I have pretty c~ear evidence that

the parents of Abner E and And~ew J THORNTON were William and Mary (?)

THORNTON but would like confirmation r do not know he, maiden name Since

Abner E. THORNTON was a State Senator. there must surely be biographical

material about him in State records

My other problem concern& my great grandfather. Oav1d A.hley THORNTON,

son of Andrew J. THORNTON and Louisa A. (?) THORNTON. Davl Ashley THORNTON

was a private in Co. I, 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry and d1ed in Little

Rock in St. John's College. 14 September 1862, the college having been

converted druing the War to hospital use Records in che National Archives

do not tell where he was buried Perhaps a Little Rock Newspaper published

shortly after that date would carry an obituary Can anyone help me? I

will appreciate any additional data or even a tiny clue'

I would like very much to get in touch with one of the AFH members who

would be willing .to help me. ei ther on a paid basis or tn e""hange for similar

help in genealogical sources in Washington, DC and/or Maryland.

   

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22David+Green+Thornton%22&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7#pq=%22david+green+thornton%22&hl=en&sugexp=kjrmc&cp=10&gs_id=11&xhr=t&q=%22Abner+E.+Thornton%22&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=%22Abner+E.+Thornton%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=4983e9505d3f5f2a&biw=1262&bih=576

google search 7 Nov 2011

http://files.usgwarchives.org/ar/clark/bios/elkins.txt A. E. Thornton Sheriff in Clark Co 1832-1833, 1835-1836AR State Legislature - Senator - 1836-1840, A. B. Beale State Legislature- Representative 1854-55, 1856-57
http://files.usgwarchives.org/ar/clark/bios/elkins.txt CLARK COUNTY ARKANSAS; PAST AND PRESENT editor Wendy Richter Okolana Christian Church Dr. Willis S. Smith may have taught the first Sunday School in Okalon and Clark County in 1833. Writing a few years later, Smith recalled the people of all ages attended. Among those families were McLaughin, Crow, Caruthers, Cornelius, Gentry, Gibbins, Thornton, Elkins, Lisenby, Pierce, Rieves, Keath, Lewis, Wood, and Stewart.

Ancestry.com family tree links

if a member !

http://www.ancestry.com/community/researchers.aspx?fn=Abner+E&ln=Thornton&&dc=

http://www.pcahs.org/pcaolr/est01/est-0040.htm

Estate of Jacob Holman

 

____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
County of Clark,                                                             
                      ss.                                                    
State of Arkansas,                                                           
                                                                             
         To All Persons To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting:         
                                                                             
Know ye, that whereas Jacob Holman of the County of Pike, died intestate as  
it is said, on or about the twenty-sixth day of October A.D. 1842, having at 
the time of his death personal property in this State which may be lost,     
destroyed or diminished in value if speedy care be not taken of the same, to 
the end thereof, that the said property may be collected, preserved and      
disposed of according to law. We do hereby appoint Abner E. Thornton of the  
County of Clark, administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels,   
rights and credits which were of the said Jacob Holman at the time of his    
death, with full power and authority to secure and dispose of the said       
property according to law, and collect all monies due said deceased and in   
general to do and perform all other acts and things which are or hereafter   
may be required of him by law.                                               
                                                                             
In testimony whereof, I, James S. Ward, Clerk of the Circuit Court and       
Exofficio Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Clark       
aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at  
office, this 28th day of November A.D. 1842.                                 
                                                                             
                             Jas. S. Ward, Clerk.                            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
The State of Arkansas,                                                       
County of Clark,                                                             
                                                                             
I, James S. Ward, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Exofficio Clerk of the      
Court of Probate in and for the County of Clark, do hereby certify that the  
within and foregoing letters of administration granted to Abner E. Thornton, 
on the Estate of Jacob Holman deceased, were this day duly recorded before   
they were delivered to said administrator.                                   
                                                                             
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand as clerk as aforesaid and  
affixed the seal of office at Greenville, this 28th day of November A.D.     
1842.                                                                        
                                                                             
                             Jas. S. Ward, Clerk.                            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Letters of Administration (1838-1856) pages 21-22.    
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
The State of Arkansas,                                                       
County of Clark,                                                             
                                                                             
                          Clark County Probate Court                         
                       In Vacation November 28th 1842.                       
                                                                             
This day personally came Abner E. Thornton before me, James S. Ward, Clerk   
of the Circuit Court and Exofficio Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for  
the County of Clark aforesaid, and on his motion, letters of administration  
is granted to him on the Estate of John Holman deceased, upon his entering   
into bond conditioned according to law i the penal sum of sixteen hundred    
dollars, with Joshua Elkins and John H. Nelson as his securities. And        
thereupon, the said Abner E. Thornton took the oath prescribed by law as     
administrator of the Estate of Jacob Holman deceased.                        
                                                                             
Witness my hand as clerk as aforesaid, this 28th day of November A.D. 1842.  
                                                                             
                             Jas. S. Ward, Clerk.                            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Probate Record Book A (1840-1847) page 70.            
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
                     In Clark Circuit Court In Vacation.                     
                               June 25th 1845.                               
                                                                             
                          Hiram Moore, Complainant                           
                                                                             
                                     vs.                                     
                                                                             
            Abner E. Thornton, Mary Holman and the unknown heirs             
                    of Jacob Holman deceased, Defendants.                    
                                                                             
                                 In Chancery.                                
                                                                             
... "to obtain title to certain lands (80 acres) ... Mary Holman widow of    
Jacob Holman deceased and the unknown heirs of said deceased are non         
residents of this State. It is therefore ordered that notice be given said   
non resident defendants by publication in the Washington Telegraph a         
newspaper published in this State ... (to) appear before the next term       
hereof ... on the first Monday of September next."                           
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Clark County, Arkansas Chancery Record B, 1839-1852, pages 75-76. Excerpt.   
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Territorial_Militia#Arkansas_Territory

Arkansas Territory

On March 2, 1819, President James Monroe signed the bill creating Arkansas Territory. The act which created Arkansas Territory provided that the territorial governor "shall be commander-in-chief of the militia of said territory, shall have power to appoint and commission all officers, required by law, be appointed for said territory..."[29] At the time of its formation, the new Territory of Arkansas included the following five counties:[30]

  • Arkansas
  • Lawrence
  • Clark
  • Hempstead
  • Pulaski

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Damon.cluck/Militia_Orders_1825-1848 Militia Orders 1825-1848

 

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=1457

Newspaper Articles » Arkansas Gazette (1819 - 1930)

September 27, 1825 - Appointments by the Governor

APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR,

Antoine Barraque, Sub-Agent to the Quapaw Indians.
David Tollett, Justice of the Peace, Mine Creek Township, Hempstead County
Isaac Baldwin, Justice of the Peace, Big Rock Township, Pulaski County
Nicholas Rightor, Surveyor of Phillips County
John C. Sumner, Coroner of Crawford County

Military - Clark County
Thomas S. Drew, Major, 1st Reg't Arkansas Militia;
Abner E. Thornton, Judge Advocate;
William Kelly, Paymaster;
George W. Rogers, Captain;
Josiah Smakey, 1st Lieutenant;
John Fentim, 1st Lieutenant;
John Hood, 2d Lieut.
James Bankston, 2d Lieutenant;
James J. Melson, Ensign;
Middleton Scarborough, Ensign

Cavalry -
George H. Owens, Captain in the Lawrence County troop of Cavalry;
Robert Muir, 2nd Lieut;
Squier Pevehouse, Cornet
William McDonald, 1st Lieut in the Hempstead County troop of Cavalry;
Joseph Alcut, 2nd Lieut;
Cha's Pettigrew, Cornet

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=1772

May 9, 1838 - Appointments by the Governor

APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR

Capt. James Johnson, of Hempstead county, to be Commissioner to select Salt Springs, in the place of James Logan, resigned.

Abner E. Thornton, of Clark county, to be State Director of the Real Estate Bank, for the Branch at Washington, in place of Daniel Morrison, resigned.

   
   

Information found be TCT 20 November 2011

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=celticlady&id=I13775
  • ID: I13775
  • Name: Abner E. THORNTON
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: ABT 1810 in Tennessee 1
  • Death: UNKNOWN
  • Note:
    1850 Victoria, Victoria County, Texas Census; Roll: M432_916; Page: 237; Image: 111.
    Abner E. Thornton, age 40 (born circa 1810), male, Merchant, born Tennessee.
    Mary A. Thornton, age 40 (born circa 1810), female, born South Carolina.
    Ebu (Eba?) Thornton, age 18 (born circa 1832), male, clerk, born Arkansas.
    John Thornton, age 14 (born circa 1836), male, born Arkansas.
    Lafayett Thornton, age 12 (born circa 1838), male, born Arkansas.
    Wm. J. Thornton, age 10 (born circa 1840), male, born Arkansas.

 

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=20009

Post subject: May 4, 1848 - Little Rock Bible Society

Little Rock Bible Society
From the Banner

Pursuant to previous notice, a meeting of the friends of the Bible, without regard to denominational distinctions, was held in the Methodist Church in Little Rock, on Sunday evening, April 2, 1848.

Mr. Thomas W. Newton was called to the chair, and Mr. Charles Rapley appointed Secretary. Mr. Banks, agent for the American Bible Society, in a brief address, explained the object of the meeting, to be the organization of a society to be named the Little Rock Bible Society, Auxilary to the American Bible Society. The object of its formation to be the gratuitous circulation of the Scriptures among those families in the city and neighborhood, who are without a copy of the Scriptures, and are destitute of the means or the desire to procure it. The constitution of the Parent Society was adopted, and an agent appointed to ascertain the families who are unsupplied with the Scriptures, and provide each with a copy.

The meeting was addressed by Rev. Mr. Turrentine, Rev. Mr. Green, Rev. Mr. Stevenson and others and was then adjourned till the following evening. But owing to the inclemency of the weather was further adjourned until Wednesday evening, April 5th, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Dr. Dodge, President; Rev. J.F. Green, Corresponding Secretary; C. Langtree, Recording Secretary; C.P. Bertrand and Rev. W.W. Stevenson, Vice-President; David Bender, Librarian, and Col. A.E. Thornton, Treasurer; Hon. Judge Ben Johnson and Rev. A. Hunter were appointed honorary Vice Presidents.

A proposition was also made that the congregation of the Evangelical churches of the city should make their several Pastors, life members of the Parent Society, which was responded to, on the part of those congregations by several gentlemen present.

An agent is now actively employed in distributing the Bible in this county, who will probably be prepared to make a report of his operations at the next regular meeting of the officers of said society.

G. Langtree, Recording Sec'ry.
L.R.B. Society

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=1457

Post subject: September 27, 1825 - Appointments by the Governor

APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR,

Antoine Barraque, Sub-Agent to the Quapaw Indians.
David Tollett, Justice of the Peace, Mine Creek Township, Hempstead County
Isaac Baldwin, Justice of the Peace, Big Rock Township, Pulaski County
Nicholas Rightor, Surveyor of Phillips County
John C. Sumner, Coroner of Crawford County

Military - Clark County
Thomas S. Drew, Major, 1st Reg't Arkansas Militia;
Abner E. Thornton, Judge Advocate;
William Kelly, Paymaster;
George W. Rogers, Captain;
Josiah Smakey, 1st Lieutenant;
John Fentim, 1st Lieutenant;
John Hood, 2d Lieut.
James Bankston, 2d Lieutenant;
James J. Melson, Ensign;
Middleton Scarborough, Ensign

Cavalry -
George H. Owens, Captain in the Lawrence County troop of Cavalry;
Robert Muir, 2nd Lieut;
Squier Pevehouse, Cornet
William McDonald, 1st Lieut in the Hempstead County troop of Cavalry;
Joseph Alcut, 2nd Lieut;
Cha's Pettigrew, Cornet

http://www.arkansasties.com/Social/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=6788

Post subject: March 23, 1830 - Justices of the Peace

The following is an official list of the JUSTICES OF THE PEACE elected by joint vote of the General Assembly of the Territory of Arkansas, on the 7th day of November 1829.
CLARK COUNTY

Antoine township - Abner E. Thornton, Nicholas Keith, John Gentry, Charles Cox, Mose Moore, Samuel Rose.

Caddo township - Issac Ward, Winthrop Colbreth, John B. Anderson, John Gallaway, sen., Allen H. Johnson.

Missouri township - Noah Reeder, Isaac White, William Kelly, Jacob Birndlee, Washton Sorrells

Militia Orders 1825-1848

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Damon.cluck/Militia_Orders_1825-1848
 
   

Information found be TCT 05 April 2014

Family Search Site:

 

Abner E Thornton, "United States Census, 1840"

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHBX-ZWV

Abner E Thornton, "United States Census, 1840"
Name: Abner E Thornton
Event Place: Antoine, Clark, Arkansas
Page Number: 110
Affiliate Publication Number: M704
Affiliate Film Number: 17
GS Film number: 0002474
Digital Folder Number: 004411329
Image Number: 00229

This image is available:

  • At ancestry.com. By clicking here you will be leaving FamilySearch.org. (fees and other terms may apply)

Abner E Thornton, "United States Census, 1830"

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHPX-6HN

Abner E Thornton, "United States Census, 1830"
Name: Abner E Thornton
Event Place: Caddo, Clark, Arkansas Territory
Page Number: 198
Affiliate Publication Number: M19
Affiliate Film Number: 5
GS Film number: 0002473
Digital Folder Number: 004410650
Image Number: 00363

This image is available:

  • At ancestry.com. By clicking here you will be leaving FamilySearch.org. (fees and other terms may apply)

 

   

 

Information found be TCT 22 November 2011

Family Search Site:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11848-167736-28?cc=1401638
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXLP-3R6

http://www.archive.org/stream/pictorialhistory00hemp#page/1200/mode/2up/search/thornton

http://www.archive.org/stream/pictorialhistory00hemp#page/1200/mode/2up/search/thornton

^ Hempstead, Fay, "A Pictorial History of Arkansas" St. Louis and New York, N. D. Thompson publishing company, 1890, Call number: 9197481, Page 432, Accessed 31 October 2011, http://www.archive.org/stream/pictorialhistory00hemp#page/406/mode/2up

http://argenweb.net/stfrancis/FAMILY/Crittenden.pdf

http://argenweb.net/stfrancis/FAMILY/Crittenden.pdf

 

"first legislature of Arkansas"

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22first+legislature+of+Arkansas%22&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7

 

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=RJYFAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.archive.org/stream/housedocumentso48housgoog/housedocumentso48housgoog_djvu.txt

 

Information found be TCT 22 November 2011

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Information found by TCT 4 September 2012

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/dallas-tabor-herndon/outline-of-executive-and-legislative-history-of-arkansas-hci/page-3-outline-of-executive-and-legislative-history-of-arkansas-hci.shtml First General Assembly

^Members of the first General Assembly of the State of
Arkansas were elected August 1, 1836. The constitution of 1836
provided- that the General Assembly should consist of a senate
and a house of representatives ; that the senate should consist
of not fewer nor more than thirty-three members ; that the house
should consist of not fewer than fifty-four nor more than one
hundred members ; and divided the state into districts for the
election of members of the two houses. It was also provided
that the members elected on the first Monday in August should
meet on the second Monday- in September. The state house,
which owed its erection to the constructive enterprise of Gov-
ernor John Pope, though not completed, was put in condition,
and the General Assembly met within its walls for the first time
on Monday, September 12, 1836.

Those elected to the senate were: Arkansas and Jefferson
counties, Samuel C. Roane ; Carroll, Izard and Searcy, Charles
R. Saunders ; Chicot and Union, John Clark ; Clark, Hot Spring
and Pike, A. E. Thornton; Conway and Van Buren, Amos Kuy-
kendall ; Crawford and Scott, Richard C. S. Brqwn ; Crittenden
and Mississippi, William D. Ferguson; Greene and St. Francis,
Mark W. Izard ; Hempstead and Lafayette, George Hill ; Inde-
pendence and Jackson, John Ringgold ; Johnson and Pope, John
Williamson ; Lawrence and Randolph, Robert Smith ; Miller and
Sevier, Joseph W. McKean ; Monroe and Phillips, James Martin ;
Pulaski, Saline and White, John McLean; Washington, William
McK. Ball and Robert McCamy.


http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/dallas-tabor-herndon/outline-of-executive-and-legislative-history-of-arkansas-hci/page-4-outline-of-executive-and-legislative-history-of-arkansas-hci.shtml 42 OUTLINE OF EXECUTIVE

his body was taken to Fayetteville and buried in the Evergreen
Cemetery, where his Masonic brethren erected a monument over
his grave. Two of his wives are interred in the same cemetery
by his side Mrs. Nancy J. Yell, who died on October 3, 1835,
and Mrs. Maria Yell, who died -on October 14, 1838. His first
wife died in Tennessee, before he came to Arkansas.

Third General Assembly-
Members of the third Gerferal Assembly were elected Octo-
ber 5, 1840. There were twenty-one senators and sixty-three
representatives. Of the senators, sixteen were Democrats and
five were Whigs. In the house there were forty-one Democrats
and twenty-two Whigs.

The members of the senate were: Arkansas, Jefferson and
Desha counties, J. Smith; Benton and Madison, A. Whinnery ;
Carroll, Marion and Searcy, W. C. Mitchell ; Chicot and Union,
J. Clark ; Comvay and Pope, J. Williamson ; Crawford and Scott,
J. A. Scott; Critenclen and Mississippi. \V. D. Ferguson; Hemp-
stead, J. H. Walker; Hot Spring and Saline, C. Caldwell; Inde-
pendence, M. Magness ; Izard and Lawrence, J. S. Licklin ; John-
son and Franklin, S. Adams; Miller and Sevier, T. W. Scott;
Monroe and Phillips, D. Thompson ; Pike and Clark, A. E.
Thornton; Poinsett and St. Francis, M. W. Izard; Pulaski, R. C.
Uyrcl: Randolph, W. '15 lack: Washington, O. Evans, D. Walker;
White, Van Burcn and Jackson, L. 11 Tully.

 

 

http://www.pcahs.org/pcaolr/hist01/hist0007.htm  

Trial of John H. Mosely

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________ 

                              EARLY SKETCHES,                                
                                                                             
In August, 1837, while the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Cherokee Indians    
were migrating to their new homes in the north of Arkansas; west of Missouri 
the Choctaws and Chickasaws homes were in the northern part of Arkansas, and 
their direct road to their new homes was the old military road, commencing   
at Old Jackson Mission, passing through Missouri and Arkansas via Little     
Rock, to Fulton on Red River, near the then western boundary of Arkansas.    
During their moving they were frequently troubled with horse thieves,        
stealing their ponies worth from five to ten or fifteen dollars, and         
complaint being made by the Indians to their agents about the loss of their  
ponies along the road in Clark and Pike counties, their agent(s) used some   
energy to arrest and bring the thieves to justice.                           
                                                                             
One party was captured in Pike county, convicted, and executed by the name   
of Tyre O'Neal. A man by the name of John H. Mosley, then residing on the    
said military road at Clear Springs, in Clark county, was arrested as        
accessory before the fact for horse stealing (indian ponies), examined       
before a justice's court, thought guilty and committed to jail to await      
his trial in the circuit court; it being a capital offense was not permitted 
to bail. Mr. Thomas McLaughlin acted as constable and James L. McLaughlin    
was the then justice of the peace (two noble men never lived) in Antoine     
township, near where Okolona now stands. Hon. L.I. Handy was judge of the    
circuit court, James S. Ward was clerk of Clark county and Dr. Willis        
Smith (the writer) was sheriff. Mr. Stevenson was state's attorney, but      
resigned before court convened. Court in course met, but Judge Handy was in  
feeble health, and adjorned for the space of three or four weeks. During     
this time, the sheriff was compelled to keep a standing guard of twelve men  
to prevent the prisoner making his escape by the help of outside friends,    
the jail being nothing but a log house. This was the most trying and         
exciting time that the writer ever experienced in this county in forty-nine  
years; it tried the hearts and souls of men. It drew the lines of            
demarcation between honest men and thieves and counterfeiters. "Birds of     
the same feather ganged together."                                           
                                                                             
Court met pursuant to adjornment, his honor, L.I. Handy, presiding. There    
being no attorney for the state, his honor appointed John Fields prosecuting 
attorney pro tem, assisted by Samuel Hempstead. Both had just commenced the  
practice and were men of marked ability. Samuel Moore was called to their    
assistance during the trial, a man of law and judgement. The prisoner was    
indicted and arraigned before the bar, defended by George Conway, J.W. Coke, 
Albert Pike, Grandison D. Royston, Thomas Hubbard, John Taylor, Judge Hall   
and Childress. This drew men from every part of the state. The little town   
(Greenville, the then county seat of old Clark) was crowded with both        
strangers, not too many, only their special friends, and so remained.        
                                                                             
About this time the county was flooded with raised bank notes; for instance, 
the addition of a cipher to the right of the figure on a five dollar bill,   
raised it to fifty, and on a ten dollar bill, to a hundred dollars, and so   
on to a thousand, and were so well executed, that none but a close observer  
could detect the fraud. But I will now return to the trial of said Mosley.   
The grand jury returned a true bill against Mosley for being an accessory    
before the fact for stealing Indian ponies.                                  
                                                                             
                              State of Arkansas                              
                                     vs.                                     
                               John H. Mosley                                
                                                                             
                               Horse Stealing.                               
                                                                             
George Conway, Grandison D. Royston, Thomas Hubbard, J.W. Coke, Albert Pike, 
Judge Hall,  J.S. Taylor, _________ Childress, A. Fowler and Chester         
Ashley for the defense, the most talented bar (I) ever had the good luck to  
meet in Arkansas. The jury being made and empaneled, the prisoner was        
arraigned before the bar and the examination commenced. The state seemed to  
leave nothing undone and pushed forward with skill and ability, criticizing  
every law point, while on the part of the defense, escaped the attention of  
the lawyers (not) noticing every gap left down, if any. The case lasted      
about two weeks, when it was closed and the jury retired, was out 24 hours   
and returned a verdict of guilty as charged in the bill of indictment. The   
defense moved for a new hearing but his honor, L.I. Handy, refused to grant. 
The defense moved for an arrest of judgement.                                
                                                                             
The case was ably argued by the contending parties, and lasted five or six   
days, but motion for arrest of judgement was overruled, and (when) the       
prisoner was asked by his honor if he had anything to say why the sentence   
of death should not be passed on him, plead not guilty. The judge then       
passed the sentence of death. After asking the prisoner if he desired to     
have the 30 days alloted him, and receiving an affirmative answer, his       
honor passed the sentence of death, to hang by the neck until dead, dead,    
dead, on the ninth day of December, 1837, (the Arkansas Gazette says,        
"... the tenth day of December" ...) The guard was now increased to 24 men.  
Many exciting scenes occurred during this time and on the day for his        
execution. From all appearances various plans were tried for the rescue of   
the prisoner from the sentence of the law by his party, but none succeeded.  
Money was offered freely for his release.                                    
                                                                             
During this interval, petitions were sent up to James S. Conway (Governor)   
for his pardon, but all proved abortive until the day of his execution, when 
the prisoner was shrouded and seated on his coffin, the prison door was open 
and the wagon standing ready to carry the prisoner to the gallows and the    
adjusting of the rope around the prisoner's neck. John S. Taylor, attorney,  
came with a respite for 20 days for the convict, just in time to rescue the  
prisoner. In a few more minutes he would have gone to that bourne from       
whence no traveler returns.The prisoner was then placed in jail to await     
the expiration of the twenty days. On the eleventh of December, at night,    
Judge Hall came with a pardon in full from Governor Conway, on condition     
that the party pay all legal fees except guard hire, and quit the county in  
10 days and the limits of the state in 40 days, and not be found again in    
the state, and if so, to suffer death as the sentence was pronounced on him. 
The party soon settled all costs and the prisoner was discharged. When the   
door was opened to discharge the prisoner, a crowd of his friends were       
present, and the first words uttered by the prisoner, was: "Well, boys, all  
of you come up to the grocery and take a drink."                             
                                                                             
This looked strange to me, a man just escaping from the sentence of death,   
who had his shroud on, sitting on his coffin, (and) should think of whiskey  
instead of prayer and thanksgiving to God. Thus ended one of the most        
important criminal trials ever held in Arkansas. On the day for the          
execution, there were more people present than I ever saw in Arkansas at one 
time, before or since, ... excitement ran high. I thought the prisoner would 
be taken from my custody and hung anyhow. At that time horse stealing was a  
capital offense by special act of the legislature. All of the attorneys for  
each side are dead, except, Grandison D. Royston and Albert Pike. Judge L.I. 
Handy and James S. Ward, clerk, are dead. Dr. Willis S. Smith, the then      
Sheriff, is yet living. Copy of the respite and death warrant:               
                                                                             
              James S. Conway, Governor of the State of Arkansas             
                  To whom it may concern and especially to                   
                   The Sheriff of Clark county, Arkansas:                    
                                                                             
Know Ye That, Whereas, John H. Mosely has been condemned and sentenced by    
the Circuit Court of said county of Clark, to suffer death by hanging on     
the ninth day of the present month.                                          
                                                                             
Now Therefore, I, James S. Conway, governor of the aforesaid, grant to said  
John H. Mosley a respite from the sentence of the said circuit court of      
Clark county. For the time and space of 20 days, from the date fixed for     
his execution. And you the said sheriff of Clark county, are commanded to    
suspend the execution of said sentence, of the said court on the said John   
H. Mosley, for the said space of 20 days from the date fixed ... for his     
execution.                                                                   
                                                                             
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of     
the state to (be) (af)fixed, this seventh day of December, 1837, and of      
the Independence of the U.S., the sixty-second year.                         
                                                                             
(Seal of State)          J.S. Conway, by the Governor                        
                       R. H. Watkins, Secretary of State.                    
                                                                             
In (this) case of the State of Arkansas vs. John H. Mosely, the following    
named persons were summoned by the sheriff of Clark county as guard to keep  
the said Mosely secure day and night, as the jail was not secure, having     
been made of logs; and the county site being then Greenville, was then       
sparsely inhabited, the county was new and not settled much at the time.     
The guard was one half on duty at a time while the other half was resting.   
I remember well, at one time, Col. Bozeman and I sat on guard most of the    
night: Col. Bozeman, Joseph Gray, David Morrison, Frank Russell, Thomas      
McLaughlin, John Crow, J.H. Crow, B.F. Crow, James R. Crow, Abner Hignight,  
George Horner, Abraham Newton, William Jones, Jesse Skinner, William         
Pettyjohn, Col. Jacob Wells, A.A. Wells, G.W. Wells, James Sloan, Joseph     
Hoofman, Elias Hoofman, Jesse Hoofman, Thomas Wingfield, Jacob Wingfield,    
John Wingfield, Charles Wingfield, William Wingfield, Willis S. Smith, Dr.   
J.T. Hayden, Hendrix White, Richard Wilson, Sam Kelley, John Stephens,       
William Gentry, Jack Gentry, James Gentry, M. Ward, Jacob Logan, Benjamin    
Logan, George Overbaugh, Abraham Weir, Z. Weir, Charles Franklin, William    
Franklin, William Jones, Jr., John Lisenby, Lemuel Lisenby, Peter            
Leatherman, J.S. Stuart and A.E. Thornton; A.J. Thornton, Moses Guice, B.F.  
Wyatt, Enoch Frier, Peter McCain, _________ Prewit, F.C. Lisenby, Thomas     
McNeely, Richard McNeely, William McNeely, Robert McNeely.                   
                                                                             
The guard would certainly have to be relieved by others. The average of the  
guard was twelve men. There were many persons on guard, no doubt, not named  
above. I write from memory altogether. It is nearing 40 years (1877) since   
the transaction of the above occurrence took place, and but few are now      
living who took part in this great trial. It is now one of the past events   
of our county history, and but very few of the above name(d) are now living  
to relate those trying times and talk them over when we meet. The memory of  
those veterans should never be forgotten by those who live in the future.    
Those who have departed this life and gone to the spirit land, I sincerely   
hope, are gazing on those joyful scenes in that "Happy Land" and visiting    
around the throne of God, or seated by some silver fount of life recounting  
over their toils and trials whilst imprisoned here.                          
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Scrapbook of Dr. Willis S. Smith, Arkansas History Commission, Little        
Rock, Arkansas.                                                              
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
                           JOHN H. MOSLEY PARDONED                          
                                                                             
GOV. CONWAY has granted a pardon to JOHN H. MOSLEY, convicted of horse       
stealing, at the last session of the Clark county Circuit Court. It appears  
to have been a fair case for executive clemency, as he was believed have     
been not the principal, but the accessory to the crimes. The punishment,     
also, was considered disproportional to the crime. As the new code will      
make an essential change in the part of our criminal jurisprudence, there    
can be no question, we presume, of the propriety of extending mercy to the   
convict, who will, in all probability, abandon the country.                  
____________________________________________________________________________ 
                                                                             
Arkansas State Gazette, December 12, 1837, page 2 column 1.
____________________________________________________________________________ 

David Kelley 1996

 

 

http://damoore.tripod.com/bio1.html

On a much more serious note, William Moore was twice charged with assault. First, William was indicted on the charge of assault and battery "commited on the Body of one Elizabeth Galbreath on the tenth day of September A.D. 1834." (Circuit Court file #2449) The circumstances of the event remain a mystery, but Elizabeth was probably related to William's wife Rebecca Galbreath. Sheriff A. E. Thornton was unable to find William Moore in his bailiwick. It seems William and his family had fled the Territory, since his daughter Mary Jane was born in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, on 18 Nov 1834. Years later, in September 1844, William was charged with assault and battery on the body of Elias Hoffman, it being alleged that he "did beat bruise wound and illtreat and other wrongs to the said Elias Hoofman there and then did to the great damage of the said Elias Hoofman." William was taken into custody at the home of Nancy Bolt by the sheriff who "afterwards released him by he as principal and John Moore as his security entering into a recognisance . . . in the sum of fifty dollars." (Circuit Court file #1682) However, William apparently then left the county. From 8 Nov 1844 through 27 June 1851, ten warrants were issued for William's arrest on this single charge; each time, the sheriff reported that William Moore could not be found in his bailiwick.

To paint their actions in a less negative light, one could say that Moses Moore and his sons imbibed deeply of the frontier spirit of rugged individualism. In their emigrations from Georgia to Kentucky to Illinois Territory to Missouri Territory to Arkansas Territory--and in the case of some of Moses's sons, to the Mexican province of Texas--they faced dangers from outlaws and Indians as well as the hardships and challenges of an untamed land. When they believed they were in the right, they were not afraid to stand their ground and fight. James Walker Moore and Thomas W. Moore both migrated to Texas when it was still under Mexican jurisdiction, and they fought for the cause of independence in the Texas Revolution. Thomas, as it turns out, was not afraid to fight his fellow Texians if necessary. The following story is recounted in the 1893 History of Texas--Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee & Burleson Counties:

&&&

In the years that followed, other events which occurred support the proposition that William was closely related to Nancy, Moses Walker, John, and James Walker Moore. Abraham Bolt died in Clark County on 13 Oct 1844, naming Benjamin Bolt as the executor of his will and Nancy Bolt, his widow, as the executrix. On 2 Nov 1844 the following persons were bound to make inventory of the possessions of Abraham Bolt: Nancy Bolt, Benjamin Bolt, William Moore, John Moore, Moses [W.] Moore, and John K. Allen. A few months later, on 14 Feb 1845, the sheriff took William Moore into custody (for his assault on Elias Hoffman) "at the late residence of A Bolt in South Fork Township and afterwards released him by he as principal and John Moore as his security." William bolted the county, and Sheriff Thornton was never able to apprehend him again.

   

 

 

 

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