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I am back working on the identity of our Elizabeth Horn(e). For more than 50 years family researchers have tried to find her ancestry with no luck. She was married to William Robinson and had 11 children. We knew nothing of her parents or siblings. She was born in Maryland on April 21, 1786.
Elizabeth met William Robinson in Kentucky, +/- 1807, and traveled from Kentucky to Lawrence County, Arkansas, arriving in 1810. They traveled with a group that included the William Compton family, some Shannon families, the Bazel Boran family and others. Elizabeth arrived in Texas late in December of 1829 with her family, and died there in 1869.
Up to now, family researchers always assumed Horn(e) was Elizabeth's MAIDEN name. Maybe it still is, but then again that assumption might explain our lack of success...Over the years some pretty good researchers have worked on finding her ancestry.
Perhaps our assumption was wrong...they often are. What if Elizabeth Horn(e) was a young widow when she met William Robinson? After recently finding the 1815-1816 original documentation of a defamation of character lawsuit filed by William Robinson against Bazel Boran in Lawrence County, Arkansas, we have determined to take a different approach to uncovering her identity.
Very little seems to be known about this William Compton who traveled from Kentucky to Arkansas with Elizabeth and William Robinson. There are no definitive birth records for him. Some Compton researchers have married him to an Elizabeth Garlick in ? VA in 1785. I have been unable to locate any information about Elizabeth Garlick.
The Lawrence County, Arkansas William Compton died there very early in 1822. The record appointing an administrator for his estate is dated February 14, 1822. . . Edward McDonald was named administrator. There was no Will.
I do not think there is any familial connection here. Records reflect that McDonald was appointed to be the administrator of many estates in Lawrence County.
There is a Circuit Court record for the February term, 1827, ostensibly to settle the William Compton estate. Referring to McDonald in this record it reads, "He is credited as follows, to wit: By amt taken by widow at appraisement...$65.50".
I have this William Compton's widow recorded as Sarah (unknown)Compton. . .not Elizabeth Garlick Compton. Granted, she could very well be a 2nd wife.
The 1822 record cited above includes "Statement of administrator: Four legal heirs, children of said COMPTON, DECEASED". I have never found a record that names the four legal heirs.
However, the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas record for 1818-1829, includes the following entry for November 10, 1821. . ."John Compton is allowed $8.00". His name is among six who have presented accounts for payment, including Elizabeth's husband, William Robinson. The reasons for money due them are not given. The Robinson's leave Lawrence County, Arkansas a month later, and start for Texas in December of 1821.
In 1828 there is a Miller County, Territory of Arkansas record involving one William C. Compton which even contains his signature. I have a copy of the hand written document and type it as I see it... "Be it remembered that on this 5th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight John Hays of Miller County and William Cumpton personally came before me (unclear) an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County and acknowledged themselves to be indebted to the United States of America that is to say the said John Hays in the amount of one Hundred Dollars and William Cumpton in the sum of fifty Dollars to be levied of their respective goods and chattels lands and tenements if the said John Hays shall fail(?) in the Condition underwritten (new paragraph) The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound John Hays shall personally appear at the Circuit Court on the first day of the next term thereof for the county of Miller at a court to be holden at the Home of Claybourn Wright on the first Wednesday after the fourth Monday in November next then and there to answer to an Indictment found against him for an assalt and battery committed by him on the body of Cornelius ??? whereof he stands charged and shall not depart the same without leave of said Court then this recognisance to be ?aid also to remain in full force November the 5th 1828 Signed by John Hays and W.C. Compton"
"Old" Miller County, Arkansas Territory has a long and interesting story. It was located at the end of the Southwest Trail that bisected Arkansas NE (Lawrence County) to SW (Red River). It was a major launching point for entry into Texas.
I believe both of these men, the John and the William C. to have been sons of the William Compton who traveled from Kentucky to Lawrence County, Arkansas with our Elizabeth Horn(e)and William Robinson.
I have posted before to the Horn and Compton Forums about the connections between the Robinson and Compton and Horn and Shannon families.
I believe the woman giving the 1816 deposition in the defamation of character lawsuit, filed in Lawrence County, Arkansas by our William Robinson against Bazel Boran, to be Louise or Louisa Compton Shannon, a daughter of this William Compton who died in Lawrence County, Arkansas.
I further believe she was the first wife of John Shannon, son of Owen Shannon, both of whom ultimately arrive in Montgomery County, Texas, as did our Elizabeth Horn(e) and husband William Robinson. Both Shannons and William Robinson are on the 1815 tax roll for Lawrence County, Arkansas, and John Shannon and Robinson are also on the 1816 record.
The Robinsons and Shannons and the William C. Compton above, would travel the same road from NE Arkansas via the Southwest Trail to "Old" Miller County, Arkansas Territory. From SW Arkansas the Tramell Trace took them south to Nacogdoches, Texas, the Old Spanish Road (OSR) and the LaBahia Trail would take them to the Brazos River area where Stephen F. Austin organized and populated his several colonies. When Texas won its independence in 1836, one of the first large counties formed was Montgomery County.
I propose (no Bible record or Will) that John, William C. and Louise/Louisa were children of this William Compton who died in Lawrence County, Arkansas early in 1822. These children were most likely born in east Tennessee. It is generally believed that this William Compton is the same person whose name appears on the 1789 petition of settlers living south of the French Broad River in east Tennessee, addressed to the authorities in North Carolina asking for protection from the Indians.
I have even wondered if our Elizabeth Horn(e) could have been Elizabeth Compton Horn(e), the first child of this William Compton reportedly married in 1785. Elizabeth was born April 21, 1786. It is recorded she was born in Maryland. Was not William Compton from Maryland?
I propose that Compton was "somewhere along the Kentucky River" per the deposition in +/- 1807. I believe the location to have been in current Madison County, Kentucky. I believe Elizabeth Horn(e) was recently widowed and pregnant or with a very newborn baby girl. I believe it was there that the Comptons met up with William Robinson, the Shannon and Boran families and others, while waiting for enough wagons to gather to make a safe trip across Indiana and Illinois to the Mississippi River and beyond if they so chose.
I have a map that shows a Hornes Mill along the Kentucky River in Madison County. Does anyone have any knowledge of this mill? Another map refers to it as Clark's Mill.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who might have some information or suggestions that could help with this mystery.
Thank you for your time and attention to my request for information.
Maggie Robinson
Houston, Texas
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