John Moore, Senior

In the article "History of Brushy Ridge Community - Colored", by Frank U.G. Peck he states:

"We will first consider the early settlers" .. "the first Colored man to make a permanent home in South Brushy Ridge was John More (sic), Sr.  He formerly belonged to Gim Nickell.  After living in South Brushy Ridge awhile he bought a home in North Brushy Ridge and reared a large family.  His heirs own the land yet".   Here Mr. Peck is referring to James Albert "Jim" Nickell and his wife Barbara Nickell. 

"his brother was Samuel" Moore ..."he was the father of Jennie Moore and the father in law of Daniel C. Boone of North Carolina".  "he was the father of Harriet Moore and the father in law of Charley Johnson".  

John Moore Senior was married to Susana Peck.  (I believe Emily and Susana were sisters from Summers County & may have been Haynes & thus related to me).  His son John C. Moore was b. on 10/6/1866 and he died at age 65 on 9/22/1932 (of bronchial pneumonia).  His death certificate number is 11794 & it reveals that it was issued in Greenbrier County, Irish Corner District.  

John Senior appears in the 1880 Census at age 50 with his wife Susana 42, & his children Madison 22; Cephalice (later known as "Fall"); John 13, & with Jennie Boone & his grandchildren Tobe Boone 10, Anjaline Boone 9, Lucy Boone 6, Elvira Boone 5 & Mary Boone, 3 as well as baby who is six months old and not yet named.    Note that the John who is 13 above appears to be John C. Moore b 11/6/1866 & that he would marry Nannie Tiffany & he would die at age 65 on 9/22/1931 of bronchial pneumonia.  DC # 11794, Greenbrier County, Irish Corner District.  In the 1900 Census, John Moore Sr's wife shows up as a divorced woman, 65, with John W. 18 & Otey 16.  "Fall" (Cephalice) Moore b. around 1966 (s/o John & Susan) dies on 10/16/1917  in Allegheny, Virginia of a cerebral heorrhage.  The informant is Annie Moore.  Certificate #26157.   I need to spend more time on this entry - & I will!

The Gim Nickell that Mr. Peck speaks of is James Albert Nickell (1782 - 1848) who was married to Barbara Nickell (1789 - 1862).  When Jim Nickell died in 1848 his Will was probated in Monroe County.  (Wills and Probatyes 1724 - 1985).  The probate court acknowledged the enslaved individuals and their value.  They were Lucy $50 (since her value is so low she must have been a child), Emily $350.  (I believe she is my relative); Ruth $450; Mary $500; Anthony $300; Frank $450; Sam $600 (the family called him "Big Sam" and he was a prized "driver" of horses"), John $550 (John was Sam's brother).  I have a photo of "Big Sam" elsewhere in this blog.  A year later in 1849 an adjustment to the Will was noted (basically an accounting issue).  

It seems that James Albert Nickell ws b. around 1782 in Augusta or Monroe & died at Nickell's Mill on 12/1/1848 & that he was the child of Thomas Nickell, Sr. (1747-1807) & Jane King (1746 - 1811).   The children ere Ruth (1805-1865), Isaac (1807 - 1848), Elizabeth (1809 - 1828), Sarah (1812 - 1868), James Madison (1814 - 1886), Margaret (1817 - 1838), Alex C. (1822 - 1876) & ?Pallie.  

My greatgrandmother - Elizabeth Jane Payne Haynes - was a seamstress at Nickell's Mill and it is said that she made everything that the children wore except their shoes.  However, Elizabeth was born around 1863.  If she started working for the family when she was 13 then that would have been around 1876.  Only James Madison Nickell would have been alive at this time.  I wonder it it is he who was operating the Mill.  At any rate, I have seen stories about this family at the Greenbrier Historical Society.  I believe one story is entitled "The Darkies".  I will have to try to find it when I go to Lewisburg in the Spring.  In the account the family talks about Big Sam and his fantastic abilities as the driver of horses.  Big Sam, though, would have been born at least around 1825 and he may not have been at Nickell's Mill when my great grandmother was in service there.  A cousin of mine has had many wonderful meetings with the surviving members of the Nickells family.  I have corresponded with one but have not met them in person.  Maybe in the future. 

At any rate, the purpose of these blurbs is to try to flesh out the people who are mentioned in Mr. Peck's article.  It is abundantly clear that he wanted people to know about who lived in Brushy Ridge.  I appreciate his efforts and hope that he would appreciate my efforts in this day and age of technology which has important documents at our instant disposal.