Levi Methvin

    Levi Methvin was born in Maryland on September 23, 1768. It is believed that Levi was the son or grandson of Thomas Methvin and his wife Mary Botfield Methvin. Levi was married to his first wife, possibly Elizabeth Gooch on 18 June 1793 of Henry County, Virginia. It is known that his first wife was indeed born in Virginia from the 1880 Grayson County, Texas census records of his son, James Shelton Methvin, who stated that he was born in Virginia, his father in Maryland and his mother in Virginia. The family moved to North Carolina, where daughter Sarah was born in 1799. He is probably listed in the 1800 Buncombe County, North Carolina census as Levi Melvin as 10010-10100-00. The family moved to the Mississippi Territory in North Alabama by the year 1806. This land was in the New Market area, where he was part of a new settlement along with Spencer Rice and James Crump. He sold that land in 1809 to a Mr. Rowan, and moved his large family to 320 acres on the Flint River in Range 22, Township 2.

    The 1809 Mississippi Territory census, also known as the "squatter census", has the family listed with 2 males under 21, 1 male over 21, 7 females under 21 and 1 female over 21.

    Levi's first wife probably died prior to to 1824, as he married his second wife Ann (Anna) Massengale, the widow of Elisha Massengale on December 23, 1824, sol. February 7, 1825. She had five children prior to marrying Levi. They were Elijah W., Warren Y., Wright, Matthew and Lavina Massengale.

The Will of Elisha Massengale, Jackson County, Alabama

In Testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 5th day of January, 1822. Elisha Massengale (Seal)

Witnesses present: Robert W. Roberts, Anthony H. Metcalf, Nathan Smith, M. Thompson, J. Brinker. This 13th day of May, 1822.

This last Will and Testament of Elisha Massingale was this day produced in open court and the Execution thereof being duly proved by the oaths of Anthony H. Metcalf, Nathaniel Smith & Isaac Brinker three of the subscribing witnesses thereto was ordered to be recorded. (See County Court Minutes No.2, page 218.) Thomas Brandon C.C.C.

    The 1830 Madison County, Alabama census has the following Levi Methvin 1 male under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 60-70, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 15-20 and 1 female 40-50.

    There are records from a store owned by Isaac Criner in New Market Alabama, that reveals much about the family and the times they lived in. Among those listed and the dates were May 2, 1831 Levi Methvin-checks for $0.13, May 10, 1831-Mrs. Nancy Methvin-2 oz. indigo for $0.50, Miss Polly Methvin-2 oz. indigo for $0.50 and 1 remnent of flannel for $0.25, May 31, 1831 Mrs. Nancy Methvin-wool hat for $0.75, June 8, 1831 Miss Polly Methvin - 6 1/2 yards of calico for $2.93, June 13, 1831 Nancy Methvin-1 belt for $0.25 and Miss Rodah Methvin - strand of beads for $0.25. Other familiar names that purchased items at the store that years includes the Campbells, Kirks, Woodards, Lambs and Fowlers.

    Levi bought more land in 1831 to go with his other landholdings. He received the S1/2 of SE1/4 of Section 11, Township 2, Range 2East that had 80.46 acres and E1/2 of NE1/4 of Section 14, Township 2, Range 2East that had 80.15 acres. This land was in old Decatur County, Alabama before it was changed to Jackson County and Madison. Other land holders in this area included his son, James S., step-son W.Y. Massengale, the Bragg family, and other families including the following surnames, Nowlin, Campbell, Woodward, Fowler,and Pylant, each of which would intermarry within the family.

    The 1840 Madison County, Alabama census has Levi Methvin 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 70-80, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 50-60.

    Levi died July 28, 1847 and is buried in the Bragg Cemetery in Madison County, Alabama in Section15-Township2-Range2E NW1/4 of SE1/4 just off Hurricane Road.

    According to Levi's will, he was the father of 10 children, namely; James S, Sarah, Polly, Anna, Levinah, Thomas, Susanna, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Levi Jr. His wife Anna was 75 years old and living in Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas in 1860, with her son W.Y. Massengale.

1860 FANNING COUNTY, TEXAS HH 420 427

W Y MASSENGIL 45 M FARMER 3000 800 TENN

LEANDER J. 19 M ALA

DEMPSEY T. 15 M ALA

SUSAN A. 13 F ALA

FRANY V. 12 F ALA

LODEMA K. 6 F ALA

ANN E. 5 F ALA

ANNA METHVIN 75 F N.C.

Other Massengale census records include

1840 Madison County, Alabama W.Y. Massingale 1 male 20-30, 1 female under 5, 1 female 20-30

1850 Madison County, Alabama page17

113 Mesingale, Wight 32 Tn

Hannah 33 Tn

Elisha 4 Ms

Clarinda 3 Ms

Alex 2 Ms

132 Massengale, W.Y. 36 Tn

Margaret 36 SC

Martha 10 Al

Andrew 9 Al

Dempsey 7 Al

Susanna 5 Al

Mary 2 Al

                    The Last Will and Testament of Levi Methvin late of Madison County Deceased.

The Last Will and Testament of LEVI METHVIN of the County of Madison and State of Alabama. I, LEVI METHVIN considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and establish this my last Will and Testament. In manner and for (?) following, that is to say, First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, ANNA, the one-third of all my lands lying in the State and County aforesaid during her natural life and at her death I will devise the same that may set apart for her to my daughter ELIZABETH not only for the natural love and affection which I have for her, but for her long services and strict attention to me in my present helpless condition, and I do give and bequeath to my son LEVI the only horse bruit which I now own and should she ever have and increase for the first to be given to my said daughter ELIZABETH, the balance of my stock of cattle, hogs to after paying all my just debts with my household and kitchen furniture of whatsoever naturee the same may be equally divided shear and shear alike between my said wife ANNA and my daughter ELIZABETH and my son LEVI, and I further will and devise that the balance of my lands be rented out untill my son LEVI arrive to the age of twenty one years, and the profits of the same to be applied to the purchase of a bed and furniture for my said son and the balance of said profits to be divided equally between him and my said daughter ELIZABETH, and I do hereby give and devise all my land except for the part which I have before set apart for my said daughter ELIZABETH at the death of her mother to my several children as follows to wit: to my son JAMES S. METHVIN, to my daughter SARAH KIRK and to my daughter POLLY KIRK and to my daughter ANNA LAMB and to my daughter LOVENA CAMPBELL and the heirs of my son THOMAS METHVIN now deceased and to the heirs of my daughter SUSANNAH LAMB deceased and to my daughter RODAH MERRIMAN and to my son LEVI METHVIN to be divided shear and shear alike between them, to be divided for sale or otherwise as a majority of them may see fit or my executor hereafter named may see proper, and I hereby appoint my said son James S. Methvin sole executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby avoking all former Wills by me made.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, the twenty ninth day of April Eighteen hundred and forty five.

Signed Sealed published and declared by the LEVI METHVIN seal

above named LEVI METHVIN to be his last Will

and Testament in the presents of us who have Alfred Hambrick

hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses Bradford Hambrick

in the presents of the Testator. Eli Woodward

Madison County Alabama Orphans Court September 13th 1847

The Last Will and Testament of LEVI METHVIN Deceased, having been filed for probate and execution thereof being duly proven by the witnesses into the same is ordered adjudged and decreed to be (?) filed and recorded (Bk No 12 Page 218) Pursuant to said order said will duly recorded on the 14th of December 1847.