John Collins Meets Larkin Musgrove

Richard Graham Musgrove
1923-2016

Our family history is recorded in Richard Graham Musgrove's book "The American Family Musgrove." In 1993, on page 725 of his book, the author wrote of our family line:

"James Walter Musgrove, Sr. has been reported by descendants to have come from Baker County, Georgia. However, I have been unable to tie him back to one of the many Musgrove families from that area."

Until now, we'd no clue how our family's line became Musgroves. There was no known point of contact between Elizabeth (Bryan) Musgrove - James Walters' supposed wife - and any other known Musgrove.

This post tells the story of a meeting between John Forbes Collins - our third great grandfather* (see relationship notes below) - and Larkin Cuthbert Musgrove of Baker County, Georgia.

Richard G Musgrove continues our family's story.

"Sometime after James Sr. died, John F. (Collins ed.) separated from his wife and lived in common law with Elizabeth Bryan Musgrove and her three sons David John, Charles H. and James Walter. " 

The American Family Musgrove page 734

James Collins was the youngest child of John and Aleph (Dixon) Collins; born May 22, 1855, in Baker County, Georgia.

His father left Baker County to live in a common-law marriage with Elizabeth (Bryan) Musgrove in Clinch County before he was five years old.

On his death certificate, his wife, Sophronia Collins, gave her deceased husband's mother's name as Aleph Dixon.

Correction: "The informant on this death certificate is my grandmother, Annie Alpha Collins Allen (1903-1978) also buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery." (see the comment section below)

Aaron Dixon

The 1820 federal Census of Gadsden County, Florida, lists the household of Aaron Dixon. His family was already living there when John Collins, the Elder, moved his family to Florida around 1823.

He had three daughters and one son under ten years old in 1820. By the 1830 census, he had ten children total.

His oldest daughter was our grandma, Aleph Dixon. Next was daughter Mary Dixon. She married William Brockett; their oldest son was named Bennett.

William Bailey vs. William Brockett

You may remember from an earlier post that William Bailey signed the Returns of Qualified Voters & Reconstruction Oath Book on July 18, 1867, on the page opposite of the 'scalawag,' Joshua John Musgrove.

The case of William Bailey, a plaintiff in error vs. William Brockett begins on page 148 of Google's digitized book, "Reports of Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia, Volume 20". The hearing took place at the Georgia Supreme Court in Macon for it's June 1856 term.

"A fieri facias, usually abbreviated fi. fa. (Latin for that you cause to be made) is a writ of execution after judgment obtained in a legal action for debt or damages for the sheriff to levy on goods of the judgment debtor."   

Wikipedia

William Bailey appealed the decision of Baker County's Superior Court in 1845. Bailey held a 'fi.fa.' against Brockett and laid claim to some of Brockett's slaves.

But Brockett counter-claimed the Negroes were a gift from Aaron Dixon - his father-in-law - to Bennett Brockett; William and Mary (Dixon) Brockett's minor son.

The first witness, Edmund House, from whom Aaron Dixon bought the original slaves, testified:

"...that William Brockett got possession of the negroes from Aaron Dixon. The names of the negroes were Nancy, and two children, Armstead and Tom. William Brockett, the defendant, held the negroes by deed of gift from Aaron Dixon to Brockett's wife and children."

Larkin C Musgrove

Lark and Joshua Musgrove
Civil War muster roll - 1862

Our supposed great uncle, Larkin Cuthbert Musgrove, Jr.,  was shot and killed in 1860; suspected of helping runaway slaves. We don't now know whether it was this Larkin testifying for William Brockett or another Larkin C Musgrove, born two years earlier. The patter Larkin was the brother of Joshua John 'the scalawag' Musgrove and son of William Wilder Musgrove.

A 'Lark Musgrove' served with Joshua Musgrove in the Civil War

 Larkin Musgrove testified of his presence when William Brockett - with his father-in-law's permission - traded his slave, Tom, to Mr. Morrow for two younger children.

He loaned Bennett Brockett somewhere between $15-25 for the difference in value and Bennett Brockett paid him back. He produced a receipt dated before the fi. fa. was redeemed for Tom. Only Larkin Musgrove, Mr. Morrow, William and Bennett Brockett were present at the time.

John Forbes Collins

John Forbes Collins testified for William Bailey and against his brother-in-law, William Brockett:

"...that Aaron Dixon had ten children; and at the time of the deed of gift to the children of defendant, he had but two other negroes. William Brockett came to Georgia, from Florida, in 1841, and brought Armstead and Tom with him. Aaron Dixon was amply able to buy and pay for the three negroes of House, and that defendant, Brockett, was worth little or nothing, and had no means to pay for the negroes."

Basically, he claimed;

• His father-in-law, Aaron Dixon, didn't have enough slaves to gift all his children.
• His father-in-law had no need to borrow money from Larkin Musgrove.
• His brother-in-law was broke, couldn't afford slaves or to pay anyone back, anyways.

Elizabeth (Bryan Musgrove) Collins

John Forbes Collins youngest son. James, was one year old in May 1856, when his father was testifying against his Uncle William and Larkin Musgrove in Macon.

Baker County Georgia
Courthouse built in 1906

This is our first known encounter of the Collins and the Musgroves of Baker County, Georgia. The next time we see John Collins, he is living with Elizabeth (Bryan) Musgrove in Clinch County, Georgia.

The Baker County Superior Court records of 1845 could shed much light on this situation. Unfortunately, that courthouse burned down, and all records were destroyed in 1873.

Note: Relationships are expressed from the perspective of the grandchildren of Willis Edgar and Carrie (known as) Mae (Merritt) Musgrove. 

*Terms of relationship - grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousin, etc.  - are used here generically to include relatives such as fourth great grandfathers, great grand uncles, second cousins twice removed, etc.