Surname Saturday - Walling

Various spellings of the Walling surname include Wallen, Walden and Wallin. The English surname is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name "Weal" which means foreigner.

My first documented Walling ancestor is Thomas Walling who was born circa 1627.  He first married Mary Abbott in 1651 and later married Margaret White Colwell circa 1669.  Thomas Walling died on July 19, 1674 in Providence, Rhode Island.  My lineage is through his first marriage to Mary Abbott.

The marriage of Thomas and Mary's son, Thomas2, is also listed

While I have no documentation of Thomas' parentage, it is believed by many family historians that his parents were Ralph and Joyce Wallen who arrived at Plymouth Colony in 1623 on the ship "Anne" which sailed from England.

In 'Elisha Wallen:  The Longhunter', author Carolyn D. Wallen notes the following with regards to Thomas Walling's will:

Thomas Walling died in November of 1676 in Providence.  His will was written in 7-19-1674 and proven in court on 11-22-1674.  In the will he mentioned his wife Margaret, sons Thomas (II), John, William, James, Cornelius, Gershom and daughter Abigail.  

"To sons Thomas, John and William, farm which I now dwell upon, equally, as each arrives at age, the dwelling house to be for son William, and his share of land to be adjoining house with orchard included.  The farm not to be sold except among brethren, that is to say Thomas, John, James, William and Cornelius.  To son James, land at age.  To son Cornelius, land on west side of Seven Mile Line, and if James and Cornelius died without issue, their part to brothers.  If there be more divisions than one of land west of Seven Mile Line, then my right in second division to son Gershom, and to him 10 shilling.  To daughter Abigail Walling, 5 shilling.  To wife Margaret, all movable goods and cattle and benefit of all the land to bring up children.  To her also the disposing of the dwelling house, till William comes of age at which time he to take half the land and housing, and other half to be for wife Margaret till her marriage or death, and then to William."

Thomas Walling2 was born on February 8, 1669 in Providence, Rhode Island. He married Sarah Elwell in 1695.  Thomas died in Cohansey, New Jersey on October 22, 1724 and Sarah died circa 1724.

Elisha Walling, Sr.,son of Thomas2 and Sarah, was born circa 1708 in Cohansey, New Jersey.  He married Mary Blevins circa 1730.  Elisha, Sr. and Mary's children were Joseph, Thomas, Elisha, Jr., James and John.  *Note:  It is Elisha Walling, Jr. who was the Longhunter in the above mentioned book.

My Walling lineage continues through Elisha Walling's son James who married Mary White Pugh.  Their children were Elizabeth*, James, Jr., Joseph, John, Sr., Thomas and Manning.

John Walling, Sr. was born circa 1775 in Virginia.  He married Anna Chisum circa 1793.  Anna was born circa 1777 to the marriage of John Chisum3 and Margaret Chisum.  John and Anna's children were Jesse, James, John, Thomas Jefferson, Sentha/Cynthia Ann and Alfred Gaines.

Mary Polly 

James Walling, son of John and Anna, was born in Virginia then later moved to Mississippi where he met and married Martha Hamlin in 1820.  By 1840, they had moved to Texas with their children; Mary Polly, Lucinda, Vance, Ann, Elizabeth, Martha, James, Jr., and Sarah.

Mary Polly Walling married Isham Russell Chisum, Sr. on May 21, 1840 in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Isham Russell Chisum, Sr. was the son of Elijah Kaufman Chisum (1773-1860) and Elizabeth Walling (1768-1841)* who was the daughter of James and Mary Pugh Walling mentioned above.

Lucinda

Mary Polly and Isham Russell Chisum's children were James Madison "Jim", Martha, Mary Emily, Lucinda, Frances "Fannie", Amanda Laura, Isham Russell, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, Rhoda, John and William.

Mary Polly Walling and Isham Russell Chisum are my paternal 3great grandparents through their daughter, Lucinda Chisum Steele.

Through the marriage of Mary Polly Walling and Isham Russell Chisum, I have double kinship in the Walling lineage.

Mary Polly Walling's grandfather, John Walling, Sr. (1775-1841) was a brother to Elizabeth Walling (1768-1841) who was also Isham Russell Chisum's mother.

John Walling, Sr. (1775-1841) is my 5great grandfather through Mary Polly Walling.  He is also my 4great grand uncle through Isham Russell Chisum.

My Walling lineage through my 3great grandmother Mary Polly:

Thomas Walling1 (m. Mary Abbott)
+Thomas Walling2, 1669-1724 (m. Sarah Elwell, 1676-1724)
++Elisha Walling, 1708-1785 (m. Mary Blevins, 1710-1783)
+++James Walling, 1746-1786 (m. Mary White Pugh, ca.1748-?)
++++John Walling, Sr., 1775-1841 (Anna Chisum, ca. 1777-1842)
+++++James Walling, Sr., 1795-1867 (Martha Hamlin, ca. 1796-1852)
++++++Mary Polly Walling, 1820-1891 (m. Isham Russell Chisum, 1812-1861)
+++++++Lucinda Chisum, 1846-1897 (m. Francis Marion Steele, 1847-1883)
++++++++Isham A. Steele, 1870-1934 (m. Mary V. Blackman, 1876-1945)
+++++++++Mary Allye Steele, 1900-1969 (m. Bruce Edmonds, 1904-1974)
++++++++++Bruce A. Edmonds, 1927-2002 (m. Mildred Bynum, 1926-2012)


My Walling lineage through my 3great grandfather Isham R. Chisum:

Thomas Walling1 (m. Mary Abbott)
+Thomas Walling2 (m. Sarah Elwell)
++Elisha Walling (m. Mary Blevins)
+++James Walling (m. Mary White Pugh)
++++Elizabeth Walling (m. Elijah Kaufman Chisum)
+++++Isham Russell Chisum (m. Mary Polly Walling)
++++++Lucinda Chisum (m. Francis Marion "Frank" Steele)
+++++++Isham Alfonso Steele (m. Mary Virginia Blackman)
++++++++Mary Allye Steele (m. Bruce Edmonds)
+++++++++Bruce Alfonso Edmonds (m. Mildred Bynum)


As if the Walling double kinship wasn't confusing enough, I also have double kinship with John Walling, Sr.'s wife, Anna Chisum.  Anna was the sister of Elijah Kaufman Chisum.  (Walling siblings married Chisum siblings)

Also of note are Anna's parents, John Chisum3 (1732-1806) and Margaret Chisum (1750-1798).   John and Margaret's great-great grandfathers were brothers.

Surname Saturday - Chisum

According to author Clifford R. Caldwell in his book, 'John Simpson Chisum: Cattle King of the Pecos Revisited', the Chisum surname originated in the parish of Roberton, Roxburghshire, England.  The different spelling variations include Cheesome, Chisholm, Chissolm, Chisholme, Chism, Chisolm, Chisum and Chissum.

In tracing my Chisum lineage, I discovered that Richard Cheesome was most likely my first ancestor to arrive in America.  Richard was born circa 1613 in London and arrived in America in 1643.

Family historians believe that Richard Cheesome married Margaret Isham.  The Isham surname has been passed down through the generations, lending credence to this belief.

My connection to this line of Chisums is through Richard and Margaret's son, James Chisholm (ca. 1657-ca. 1698) and his wife, Anne Carter (ca. 1657-ca. 1684).

My lineage is as follows:

Richard Cheesome (m. Margaret Isham)
+James Chisholm (m. Anne Carter)
++John Chisum, 1681-ca. 1734 (m. Elizabeth Bradley, ca. 1683-ca. 1777)
+++John Chisum, 1704-1792 (m. Ellender Gillentine, 1716-1804)
++++John Chisum, 1732-1806 (m. Margaret Chisum, ca. 1750-1798)*
+++++Elijah Kaufman Chisum, 1773-1860 (m. Elizabeth Walling, 1768-1841)*
++++++Isham Russell Chisum, 1812-1861 (m. Mary Polly Walling, 1820-1891)*
+++++++Lucinda Chisum, 1846-1897 (m. Francis Marion Steele, 1847-1883)
++++++++Isham Alfonso Steele, 1870-1934 (m. Mary Blackman, 1876-1945)
+++++++++Mary Allye Steele, 1900-1969 (m. Bruce Edmonds, 1904-1974)
++++++++++Bruce A. Edmonds, 1927-2002 (m. Mildred Bynum, 1926-2012)

*Notes:

Margaret Chisum is believed to have been the great, great granddaughter of Richard Cheesome and Margaret Isham through their other son, William (ca. 1650-ca. 1697); grandson, Alexander (ca. 1677-?); great grandson, William (ca. 1722-ca. 1792) and his wife, Deborah Cooke (ca. 1723-ca. 1762).

Elizabeth Walling was a sister to Mary Polly Walling's grandfather, John Walling Sr.

Elizabeth Walling was my 4th great grandmother through her son Isham Russell Chisum.

John Walling, Sr. was my 5th great grandfather through his granddaughter Mary Polly Walling.

The connections within the Chisum and Walling families are many.  I will attempt to address my Walling line in a future post.


Sources:  
Historical Southern Families, Vol. XVII
John Simpson Chisum: Cattle King of the Pecos Revisited, Clifford R. Caldwell

Louella "Ella" Steele (1868-1954)

Louella "Ella" Steele was born in Limestone County, Texas on April 21, 1868.

She was the third child born to the marriage of Francis "Frank" Marion Steele and Lucinda Chisum.

Ella's siblings included the following four sisters and one brother:

Lula
Lydia Frances
Isham Alfonso
Mary Allye
Lena Rhoda

LtoR:  Lula, Lydia,Mary, Lena and Louella "Ella" Steele

The 1870 and 1880 U. S. Census records show Ella living with her parents and siblings in Limestone County, Texas.

1870 U. S. Census

1880 U. S. Census

Ella Steele married Walter Alfred Walling circa 1888.

Ella's great grandfather was James Walling, Sr. who was a brother to Walter's great grandfather, Alfred Gaines Walling; making Ella and Walter third cousins.

However, the connection/kinship between the Walling, Chisum and Steele families was much more intertwined than the mere third cousin relationship suggests.

Parents of James and Alfred Walling were John Walling, Sr. and Anna Chisum. Anna Chisum's brother, Elijah Kaufman Chisum, married Elizabeth Walling, a sister to John Walling, Sr.

Elijah and Elizabeth Chisum's son, Isham Russell Chisum, married Mary "Polly" Walling who was the daughter of James Walling, Sr. and the niece of Alfred Gaines Walling. 

Elijah and Polly Chisum's daughter, Lucinda Chisum, married Francis Marion "Frank" Steele. Lucinda and Frank Steele were the parents of Louella "Ella" Steele.

Ella Steele and Walter Walling had the following children:

Travis John, 1896-1970; m. Catherine Cecilia Barnhart

Allie Steele, 1898-1943; m. Ruby Selman

The 1900 U. S. Census record shows Ella, Walter and two sons living in Robertson County, Texas.  The record also shows their second son, Allie, listed as Terry G.

1900 U. S. Census

The 1910 U. S. Census record shows Ella and family living in Childress County, Texas.

1910 U. S. Census

By the 1920s and through the 1940s, Ella was living in Cottle County, Texas. Walter Alfred Walling died in 1928.

1920 U. S. Census

1940 U. S. Census

Ella was living in Childress County, Texas when she passed away on May 12, 1954.  She is buried near her husband in the Chlidress Cemetery in Childress, Childress County, Texas.

Photograph by FindAGrave member, Jerry Montgomery

Amarillo Daily News - 5/13/1954

Louella "Ella" Steele Walling was my great grand aunt through her brother, Isham Alfonso Steele, who was my great grandfather. 

Mary "Polly" Walling (1818-1891)

Mary "Polly" Walling was born in Pike County, Mississippi on November 4, 1818.

She was born to the marriage of James Walling, Sr. and Martha Hamlin.

Mary "Polly" was a sister to Lucinda, Vance, Ann, Elizabeth, James, Jr., and Sarah Walling.






The 1820 U. S. Census shows James, Martha and Mary "Polly" Walling living in Pike County, Mississippi.

The Wallings moved from Mississippi to Texas after 1820 and prior to 1840. The 1840 Texas Tax List shows James Walling living in Nacogdoches County, Texas.

On May 21, 1840, Mary "Polly" Walling married Isham Russell Chisum in Nacogdoches County, Texas.

Mary "Polly" and Isham Russell Chisum had eleven children while living in Nacogdoches County.

By 1860, the Chisum family was living in Limestone County, Texas.

Following the death of Isham Russell Chisum in 1861, Mary "Polly" and children continued living Limestone County.  The 1870 U. S. Census shows Mary and three of her children, Isham Russell, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, and Rhoda living in the same household.

The 1880 U. S. Census shows Mary "Polly" Chisum as head of household.  Also listed as living in the same household are the following:

James Anderson Chisum (son-in-law)
Mary Emily Chisum (daughter)
Zanie Chisum (grandson)
Haden Hollis (grandson)
Monty Pearl (granddaughter)
Thomas Jefferson (grandson)
Nolla (granddaughter)
William Franklin (grandson)
E. J. Meeks (female/widowed) - possibly related through Mary "Polly" Chisum's daughter Martha who married William Meek/Meeks.

Mary "Polly" Walling Chisum died on January 18, 1891.  She is buried near her husband in the Tidwell Cemetery in Thornton, Limestone County, Texas. Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member, Alford.

Mary "Polly" Walling Chisum was one of my paternal great-great-great grandmothers through her daughter, Lucinda Chisum Steele; grandson, Isham Alfonso Steele, great granddaughter, Mary Allye Steele Edmonds; great-great grandson, Bruce Alfonso Edmonds.

Isham Russell Chisum (1814-1861)

Isham Russell Chisum was born in White County, Tennessee ca. 1814.

He was born to the marriage of Elijah Kaufman Chisum and Elizabeth "Betsy" Walling.

Elijah and Betsy Chisum moved from Tennessee prior to 1840. They settled in Nacogdoches County, Texas.






The 1840 Texas Tax List shows Isham Russell Chisum living in Nacogdoches County.

It was in Nacogdoches County where Isham Russell met and married Mary "Polly" Walling on May 21, 1840.

The 1860 U. S. Census shows the family living in Eutaw, Limestone County, Texas.

The following children were born to the marriage of Isham Russell Chisum and Mary "Polly" Walling:

Isham Russell Chisum died on May 10, 1861.  He is buried in the Tidwell Cemetery in Thornton, Limestone County, Texas.  Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member Donald McDonald.

Isham Russell Chisum was one of my paternal great-great-great grandfather through his daughter, Lucinda Chisum Steele; grandson, Isham Alfonso Steele; great granddaughter, Mary Allye Steele Edmonds; great-great grandson, Bruce Alfonso Edmonds.

Sibling Saturday - Lucinda and Tom

Lucinda Chisum Steele and Thomas Jefferson Chisum

Lucinda and Thomas Jefferson Chisum were born to the marriage of Isham Russell Chisum and Mary Polly Walling.

Lucinda was born on May 2, 1846 in Nacogdoches County, Texas.  She married Francis "Frank" Marion Steele ca. 1865 and made her home in Kosse, Limestone County, Texas where she and Frank had the following children:

Lula, 1866-1955 (m. Henry Harrison Stubbs)
Lydia Frances, 1867-1941 (m. Silas Abraham Greer)
Louella, 1868-1954 (m. Walter A. Walling)
Isham Alfonso, 1870-1934 (m. Mary Virginia Blackman)
Mary Allye, 1872-1961 (m. Henry Robert Eaton)
Lena Rhoda, 1877-1960 (m. James A. McLelland)

Lucinda Chisum Steele died in Kosse on December 30, 1897 and is buried alongside her husband in the Thornton Cemetery in Thornton, Limestone County, Texas.

Thomas Jefferson was born on January 3, 1852 in Limestone County, Texas.  In 1876, Tom traveled to Sicily Island (formerly Florence), Catahoula Parish, Louisiana to sell horses.  He remained in Sicily Island where he later met and married Catherine "Kate" Smith on March 23 1881.

Tom and Kate had the following children:

Thomas Jefferson, Jr., 1881-1882
Mary Eva, 1883-1955 (m. Dr. Charles J. Gordon)
Jessie, 1884-1962 (m. John Grafton McNair)
Edward Walling, 1886-1955 (m. Nellie Elizabeth Ballard)
Emmett DeWitt, 1888-1949 (m. Laura Eveline Ballard)

Thomas Jefferson Chisum died in Sicily Island on December 4, 1934 and is buried alongside his wife in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

Friday's Faces from the Past - Lena's Photographs

Photograph #1

The first of many photographs found in the belongings of my great grand aunt, Lena Rhoda Steele McLelland who was born and raised in Limestone County, Texas.  She and her husband, James "Jim" A. McLelland moved to Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana between 1900 and 1910 where they lived the remainder of their lives.

I believe most of 'Lena's Photographs' are of relations in the Steele, Chisum and/or McLelland families who lived in the Limestone County, Texas area.

It is possible that the children in this photograph are the children of one of the following couples:

Lydia Frances Steele and Silas Abraham "Abe" Greer
Louella "Ella" Steele and Walter A. Walling
Mary Allye "Madie" Steele and Henry Robert Eaton

These three Steele sisters were daughters of Francis Marion Steele and Lucinda Chisum and sisters to Lena Rhoda Steele McLelland.  Other than Lena who had no children, there was one other sister named Lula and a brother named Isham Alfonso.  Lula had one daughter.  Isham Alfonso, who was my great-grandfather, had four daughters.

Any Texas Steeles, Chisums or McLellands out there who can help identify the children in this photograph?

To view other photographs from this collection click on 'Lena's Photographs' under Tags on the right-hand side of the blog.