JAMES MEDLOCK

If your interested in this family, please contact:

Terry at  Carl0139@aol.com

or

Sam at swmed@juno.com

James has led Sam and I on a merry chase for the last four years. We learned to

respect and admire him as we learned the times our ancestors faced and conquered.

It is a testament to James that his succeeding generations lived by the faith.

James father is not certain. That we may never know. Sam and I have communed with

James’ spirit but he refuses to give up the ghost of his true father. However, we

are placing him with Nathaniel due to location of property on Line Creek and

proximity on 1830 census. James DNA varies with Nathaniel’s descendant by 1 marker.

Three years after beginning our search for James, we discovered in the home of Ruth

Higgins, a Medlock Family Register by Monroe Pickens. This Register proved all we

had documented! Monroe Pickens was a genealogist of note. He traced his own Pickens

family which became the core of the Sharp papers on General Andrew Pickens. Monroe

was married to Emma Medlock, a daughter of  James Travis Medlock, Sr., the only son

of James and Sarah Sallie Medlock. Monroe would have known Travis’ second wife,

Martha James Babb for many years. Martha would have known all about the Medlocks for

she was a next door neighbor all of her life and then married one!

*** Note: The very first page of this register has sent us on another search – it

says only James Medlock m. ______ West? Now is this a first wife for our James born

c.1800 or is this his father? As of yet, we have no clue.

JAMES MEDLOCK was born c1800 and died January 6, 1837 in Laurens County, SC. He

married Sarah “Sallie” Jones born March 12, 1801 and died January 8, 1882. This

couple is buried at the Medlock-Knight-Puckett family graveyard at Brewerton now

Harmony Community in Laurens County, SC. The tombstones are still legible. They

were the parents of six children, 5 daughters and one son.

***  Note: Medlock Family Register gives James death date as 16 January 1836.

1822----12 Nov----James Medlock bought from John Bagwell for $300 60 acres on Line

Creek branch of Saluda River and bound by Thomas Kinman, Ira Arnold, Samuel Nabors.

Laurens County Court of Equity, Roll C-7, p.171/172

***  Note: 1812 deed has Sam Nabors with 216 acres on Line Creek bound by Cresswell,

Old Indian Line, Nathaniel “Matoks”, Thomas Kinman, Cornelius Cargile, & Benjamin

“Madoks”. 1814 deed has Thomas and James Kinman selling to Nathaniel Matlock 276

acres on Line Creek bound by Sam Nabors, Old Indian Line, Thomas Kinman. This land

part of original 850 acre grant to Patrick Cunningham in 1786, inherited by John &

Robert Cunningham who conveyed to James and Thomas Kinman.

*** Note:  Line Creek flows from Greenville and enters the Saluda River barely below

the Ancient Indian Boundary in Laurens County. This boundary was set in 1755 from the

Savannah River east forming the northern county line between Abbeville and Anderson

and between Laurens and Greenville, making a turn north to NC line to form boundary

between Greenville and Spartanburg. At Line Creek 4 counties meet. In 1822 Anderson

would have been part of Pendleton District. The Saluda River formed the boundary of

Greenville and Pendleton, Abbeville and Laurens.

1823----03 April---- James and Sallie’s marriage recorded by  Thomas Monroe Pickens

in the Medlock Family Register and from the Old Southern Bible Records by Lester.

1823----5 Aug----James Medlock purchased at auction from John Knight 188 acres for

$312, land previously owned by William Rutledge, and bound by Edward Ware, Randolph

Murff. William Rutledge died unmarried and he was stepson of John Knight. William was

the first burial in the Medlock-Knight-Puckett graveyard. Laurens County Court of

Equity, Roll C-7, p.#L26

*** Note: James Medlock sold 89 acres to Thomas Taylor by mortgage and purchased

another tract a farther down the Saluda but still on the river, shown by this deed.

1824----18 Aug----James Medlock buyer at Estate Sale of Edmund P. Gaines with William

F. Jones, Charles Jones, Zachariah Taylor, John Jones, John Knight, A.N. Ware.

Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County by Sara Nash, page 162.

1829 State Census Laurens County, SC
James Meadlock 5, Silas Meadlock 3, Nathaniel Meadlock
 

1830 MIDLOCK Laurens County, SC 225 100001-01001

1 M –5, 1 M 30 to 40 // 2 F –5, 1 F 5 to 10, 1 F 20 to 30

Neighbors: Wm. Cook, TR Cook, Randolph Murff, John Knight, Allen Owen, Charles Jones,

“JM”, Robert Flowers?, Wm. Puckett, Nat Medlock, Wm. Davidson, Sterling Smith, M.

Finch, Wm. Gaines, John Crawford, James Clardy, Silas Medlock, Tho. Ware, Abner Freeman,

Caty Simmons, H. Simmons, James Simmons, Josiah Rutledge.

1834--11 Aug--Laurens District Coroner's Inquisitions 1802-1865. Wm. Norman Deputy to

summon fourteen good men to appear before James Cook, JP, between Rockymont Meetinghouse

and Williamson's store between three and six o'clock 11 August 1834 to view body of

Isabella Atkins. James Cook JP, David Simmons foreman, Samuel Maddox, Elisha Williamson,

John Knight, John Pyles, James Medlock, James Simmons Sr., Sanders Williamson, John

Williamson, Nathaniel Pyles, Wiley Murff, ___ South, John Stephens, Mason Clore.

They met on the Public Road between John Williamson's store and Rockymont MH to view the

hanging body of deceased. Jury concluded she had committed suicide. Oaths of David Simmons,

Samuel L. Maddox, Elisha Williamson, J E Williamson, James Medlock, John Knight, Sanders

Williamson, James Simmons, George French, John Pyles, John Bagwell, Wiley Murff, James

Cook, JP. Filed 20 October 1834.
 

1832---24 Nov----James Medlock buyer at Estate Sale of William Clardy. Others present were:

John Jones, Gabriel South, Seaborn Jones, Charles Jones, A.C. Jones (Adam Crain), SILAS

MEDLOCK. Notes of estate on DAVID MEDLOCK and A.N. Ware. (Abstracts of Early Records of

Laurens County by Sara Nash, page 239.)

1835---11 Nov---James Medlock purchased 142 acres for $710 from John Knight on south side

of Beaverdam Creek, waters of Saluda. This is second purchase from John Knight (died in

1841).

1837----22 Mar--James Medlock died intestate. Sarah Medlock applied for administration

of estate.                     

1837----27 Mar----Citation read at Beth Church by J.B. Anthony and at Rockmount Church by

Nathaniel Gains. Rockmount Baptist Church was formed 1830 3 miles S of Princeton giving it

a Tumbling Shoals location. Services ceased about 1840/41. Members were: John Crawford,

John Russell, Ira Arnold, James Cook, Elisha Williamson, Nathaniel Gains, Silas Medlock,

John Knight, Wiley Murff, Frances Stone Murff and Linny Poole.       

1837----3 April----John Knight, Sarah Medlock, Charles Jones bound for $2500 .   

1837--17 May--Appraisal of the Estate of James Medlock, dec’d, by John Knight, Charles Jones,

Reuben Williamson. Sarah Medlock ADM. Unlike other Matlocks in the area, James was literate &

enjoyed a comfortable living. Lots of books, a Bible, a wood patent clock, livestock, farm

tools, raw leather, furniture, Gracy, a slave girl and  Isaac, a slave boy.

1837----18 May----Purchasers at Sale: John Knight, Wm. Arnold, Wm. Saxon, Wiley, Murff, Thomas

Crawford, Wilson Cooper, William Weatherall, Widow Saxon, Pleasant Saxon, John Padgett, THOMAS

TAYLOR, Sarah Medlock, ADM

1838--24 May----Return of Estate for 1837. Joel Reed, John Knight, Joseph Daniel, SB Smith,

John Knight ($110), Thomas Taylor ($255), Thomas West, Cornelius Cook, Gabriel South, Wm.

Cook ($111), John Hall, Wm. S. Puckett, THOMAS MEDLOCK, Thomas Crawford.  Does not denote

who bought slaves. Paid out by Estate: John Gaines, Wm. Bates, J. Clardy, Wm. T. Jones, Wm.

Leak, Wm. Weatherall, Sam. H. Owen, W.G. Johnson, note to Elizabeth Murff ($49).

1839----6 May---- Estate received of John Knight, James Jones, John Knight($257), then the line

“to the amt. paid by W MEDLOCK for (rest of sentence illegible until last word "road")

1840 MIDLOCK SARAH Laurens County, SC 14 0010-112101 

Sarah Midlock on image, indexed on Ancestry as Mullock , page 14

1 M 10 to 15, 1 F –5, 1 F 5 to 10, 2 F 10 to 15, 1 F 15 to 20, 1 F 30 to 40

Neighbors: Dr. Joel Anderson, Wm. Maddin, Capt. Robert Cunningham, Clore Allison, Nancy

& Vinton Bramlett, THOMAS TAYLOR, “S.M.”, Elizabeth Murff, Sarah Madden, Reuben

Thomas Esq., Capt. John ______?, Wm. Knight Sr., Starling Jones, Wm. Owens, Boyce Garrett,

Lucinda Hughes, David Knight.

1843----23 Dec----Settlement of Estate – daughter having married and wishes her share. Lists

returns through the years and totals $2326-minus widow’s 1/3 share leaving $1550 to be divided

among 6 children.

1850 MEDDOCK SARAH Laurens Co SC Sullivan Twp 302
HH #1566 Sarah (Sallie) Meddock 42 F  SC
         Martha                 16 F  SC
         Lucinda                15 F  SC
         Waldeman Murff         38 M  SC
         James R.                5 M  SC
         Connel O.               3 M  SC

HH #1567 Travis Meddock         24 M  SC                     
         Cornelia               24 F  SC 
         Sarah Jane              2 F  SC   

Neighbors: James Pucket, Wiley Murff, Eliz. Murff, John R. Murff, John Knight, Jefferson Taylor,

Stephen Allen, James Davis, “SM”, “TM”, R.F. Babb, James Griffin, Lesly Brown, Catherine Pinson,

Eliz. Osborn, JAMES TAYLOR, Joshua Holland.

1853--10 Mar--In her capacity as ADM for James’ estate, Sarah Medlock had to transfer deed of

ownership to THOMAS TAYLOR for 89 acres he had bought on mortgage from James before James death.

This is the document where all heirs of James have signed with their spouses, Waldemar signing

for his deceased wife, Elizabeth Jane. Misc. Records, Laurens County, SC, Roll C9,  SC Archives.

1860 MEDLOCK SARAH Laurens District SC 255 Tumbling Shoals 

22 June 1860 Dwelling #572, Family #553, Line 36 & 37

Sarah Medlock  59 F Wd SC RE $2000 PP $5000
Sarah          23 F    SC

Neighbors: John B. Humbert, John Pyle (Sabra Taylor), John L. Wood, “BENJAMIN” TAYLOR, Thomas

Carter, Joel Ellerson, John Davis, Cynthia Pearl, S.V. Knight, M.H. Murph, John Knight, P.

Arnold, Eliz. Murph b. NC, James Jones, “S. M.”, Andrew Patterson, Wesley Medlock, Eliz.

Phillips, Jasper Bagwell, Denny Reeves, E.B. Gambril.

1870 MEDLOCK SARAH Laurens Co SC Laurens Court
#680-757 John Cluck    27 MW  SC
         Sarah L.      33 FW  SC
         Sarah L.       1 FW  SC
#680-758 Sarah Medlock 69 FW  SC  PP$100
         Cornelia       9 FW  SC
#680-759 Thomas Farmer 50 MW  SC Labor

Neighbors: Martha Taylor, Lucinda Beeks, Selia Pucket 71, John Johnston, Wm. Reeder (Reeves?),

Hendry?, John C. Cluck, “S. M.”, Thomas Turner, John Knight, Caroline Culbertson, Balentine

Medlock 45, Joel E. Saxon, Jabez C. Clark, John MCKnight, Elizabeth Murff.

*** Note: Was this Balentine Medlock the Voluntine Medlock listed with Silas on 1850 census?

John C. Cluck b. TN was husband of Sarah Lucinda, living next door to her mother. Martha

Taylor 18 and sister Cylena 14 were they connected to “Benjamin” Taylor?

1880 MEDLOCK SARAH Laurens County SC Sullivan  216C
John C Cluck  Head  MW 37 M   TN TN TN   Farmer
Sallie L      Wife  FW 43 M   SC TN VA
William J     Son   MW  8 S   SC TN SC
Sarah Medlock M/Law FW 79 Wd  VA VA VA
Cornelia      Dau   FW 18 S   SC SC SC

Neighbors: Silbert, Vermillion, Ross, Puckett. 

*** Note: 1st time noted TN birth for James Medlock and VA birth for his wife Sarah. Also 1^st

time Sarah was not living in her own home. Did Lucinda or John Cluck give census enumerator

correct information? Eighteen year old Cornelia was the child of James Travis Medlock, Sr. and

his first wife, Cornelia Jones.

1 ELIZABETH JANE MEDLOCK..........................................

Elizabeth Jane Medlock born  February 3, 1824 and died July 27, 1849.

She is buried Medlock-Knight-Puckett family graveyard. She married

Waldemar Murff

2 JAMES TRAVIS MEDLOCK.............................................

James Travis Medlock, Sr. born  May 7, 1826 and died November 26, 1885.

He is buried at Medlock-Knight-Puckett family graveyard beside his first

Wife, Cornelia Jones. Second wife Martha J. Babb is buried at Harmony Church,

Laurens County, SC.

3 MARY POLLY  MEDLOCK.............................................

Mary “Polly” Henderson Medlock born January 24, 1828 and died July 4,1872

and is buried Medlock-Knight-Puckett family graveyard beside her husband

Benjamin Johnson.

4 MAZY CAROLINE MEDLOCK...........................................

Mazy Caroline Medlock born December 26, 1829 and died May 24 1886 and

buried Magnolia Cemetery in Greenwood beside her husband James A.(Andrews)

Simmons.

5 MARTHA ANN MEDLOCK..............................................

Martha Ann Medlock born November 20, 1831 and died May 14, 1872 in Arkansas.

She is buried at Center Point Cemetery, Howard County, Arkansas. She married

David Young Pope.

6 SARAH LUCINDA MEDLOCK...........................................

Sarah Lucinda Medlock born July 9, 1836 and died December 4, 1899 and

buried Medlock-Knight-Puckett family graveyard with her husband, John

Calvin Cluck.