Research Project: Sellers April 2015
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Information Supplied
Documents (photocopies or screen prints)
1. Picture of woman with hair parted in the middle, pulled back, probably into a
bun; wearing frameless glasses, dress has puffed sleeve, with buttoned up bib in
front, broach at neckline. Woman appears to be white, possibly in her 60’s.
2. Montgomery Co., North Carolina bond, obligating Jacob Sellers to $1000 dated 25
Sept. 1852 for conditioned on his marriage of above to Laura Ann E. Williams; the
obligation to be void if there is lawful impediment to the marriage.
Signed by Jacob Sellers and James Summers.
3. Montgomery County, North Carolina license authorizing any Minister of the
Gospel or Justice of Peace for said county to marry Jacob Sellers and Laurey Ann
Elizabeth Williams, witnessed by John M. Luman(?) , Clerk of Court 25 Set. 1852.
4. Return of marriage: “I here by sertify that I have solemnized the events of
matrimony between Jacob Selers & Laury Ann Elizabeth Williams. Jonathon
Cornelisen(?), J.P. “
5. Census abstracts from FamilySearch.org: Except as noted, gender is consistent
with name.
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1860 household of Jacob and Laura Sellers in North Carolina…
1870 household of Jacob and Laura Sellers in Ohio; he age 52, she mulatto,
age 38 both born North Carolina. Also in the household are children Sarah C.,
age 19, William age 16, John age 13 and Martha age 10, all born North
Carolina; Della age 8, Eunice A. age 6, Frances (f) age 4 and Latitia age 2, the
last 4 born in Ohio.
1880 household of Jacob and Laura Sellers in Wayne, Warren Co. Ohio He is
mulatto, age 63, married, mulatto, farmer est. birth date of 1817, b. North
Carolina, parents b. North Carolina. She is identified as wife, age 47, b. North
Carolina; also in the household Francis Lawrence age 19 b. Ohio, relationship
given as “other”, Letitia Sellers, age 12 b. Ohio, daughter and Flavius Williams
age 42, relationship given as “other” b. Virgina.
1900 household of James and Letitia Curtis, in which resides Laura Sellers,
Mother in Law, black, widowed, b. Jan. 1831, North Carolina, parents b. North
Carolina. Wayne Twp., Corwin Village, Warren Co., Ohio.
1910 household of Gladman and Mattie Ellis, Laura Sellers, mother in law age
79, widowed, black b. North Carolina, parents b. North Carolina.
6. Record of index to death of Jacob Sellers, 15 July 1889, Wayne Twp, Warren Co.,
Ohio age 72, birthdate 1817, b. North Carolina, farmer, black.
Research Project: Sellers April 2015
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7. Death record of Laura Elizabeth Sellers, showing that she died ??? Twp., Clinton
Co., Ohio, full name: Laura Elizabeth Sellers, female, black, widowed, b. Jan. 7, 1831,
age 84 years, 1 month, 12 days, housewife, b. North Carolina, father: Martin
Williams, b. North Carolina , mother: Susan Beasen b. North Carolina. Informant is
Mattie Ellice, Warrensville, Ohio. Date of death Feb. 19, 1915; cause of death Pe????,
contriutoary case age, ….[need bigger image]
8. 2 records from Find-A-Grave, which included obituaries
1.) Jacob Sellers, b. March 15, 1817 Troy, Montgomery County, North Carolina, USA;
d. July 15, 1889, Harveysburg, Warren County, Ohio, USA
XENIA DAILY GAZETTE AND TORCHLIGHT WEDNESDAY EVENING – AUGUST 7,
1889 XENIA, OHIO GREENE COUNTY
Jacob SELLERS (Colored) was born in Montgomery County, North Carolina on the
15th day of March, 1817. When he was about 30 yeas old, he was joined in marriage
with Laura WILLIAMS. They lived in North Carolina until the troublesome times of
1860, when he resolved to find a home in the North. They started on the 6th day of
November (The day that Lincoln was elected) they crossed the line and left his
native state forever.
Traveling was slow, with all his earthly possessions in a one horse wagon that had
to be stopped occasionally to have his papers examined before he could do in, so
that it was nearly Spring when he got to his friends in Ohio. In 1874 he became
converted o the Christian faith and joined the Baptist church in Harveysburg and
has ever since been a faithful and esteemed member. He died after a long sickness
on the 15th day of July 1889, leaving a wife and four children to mourn his loss,
seven children having gone before. In politics he was a strong Republican saying
that the party that had done so much for his race should have his support.
Family links:
Spouse:
Laura E. Williams Sellers (1831-1926)*
Children:
Eunice Alma Sellars Curtis (1863-1926)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Zion Baptist 50 Springs Caesar Creek State Park Wa, Harveysburth, Warren County,
Ohio, USA
Created by Norette Cassell Cowin
Record added: Oct 01,2012
Find A Grave Memorial #98101855
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2) Laura E. Williams Sellers
Birth: Jan 7, 1831, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Death: Feb 19, 1915, Willmington, Clinto County, Ohio, USA
“Laura Elizabeth Sellers, daughter of Martin and Susan Williams was born January 7,
1831 in North Carolina. On Feb. 19, 1915 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Eunice
Curtis, of Wilmington, Ohio, the tired spirit returned to Him who gave it, after a well
spent life of 84 years, on month and 12 days. She was united in marriage to Jacob
Sellers. To this union were born eleven children
Family links:
Spouse:
Jacob Sellers (1817-1889)*
Children:
Eunice Alma Sellars Curtis (1863-1926)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Zion Baptist 50 Springs Caesar Creek State Park Wa, Harveysburth, Warren County,
Ohio, USA
Created by Norette Cassell Cowin
Record added: Oct 01,2012
Find A Grave Memorial #98102410
Undated Obituary from Miami Gazette
“Laura Elizabeth Sellers, daughter of Martin and Susan Williams was born January 7,
1831 in North Carolina. On Feb. 19, 1915 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Eunice
Curtis, of Wilmington, Ohio, the tired spirit returned to Him who gave it, after a well
spent life of 84 years, on month and 12 days.
She was united in marriage to Jacob Sellers. To this union were born eleven
children, three sons and eight daughters. The husband and eight children preceding
her in death She leaves to mourn , three daughters, Mrs. Martha Ellis, Mrs. Eunice
Curtis, Mrs Letishia Curtis, sixteen grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and a host
of relatives and friends. In 1860 with husband and family she came to Ohio and
settled near New Burlington. After the death of her husband, which occurred in
So we can put together these 3 family group sheets:
Research Project: Sellers April 2015
Family Group Sheet : Jacob Sellers and Laura Anne Elizabeth Williams
Jacob Sellers
b. March 15, 1817, Montgomery Co., North Carolina
son of
d.
married
1852 Montgomery Co., North Carolina
Laura Anne Elizabeth Williams
b. Jan 7, 1831 North Carolina
dau of Martin and Susan (Beason) Williams
Children
Sarah C. age 11 in 1860, age 19 in 1870 b. NC
William age 7 in 1860, age 16 in 1870 b. NC
John age 5 in 1860, age 13 in 1870 b. NC
Martha age 2 in 1860, age 10 in 1870 b. NC; she married Gladman Ellis
Della age 8 in 1870 b. Ohio
Eunice A. age 6 in 1870 b. Ohio
Frances age 4 in 1870 b. Ohio
Latitia age 2, age 12 in 1880 in 1870 b. Ohio; she m. James Curtis
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Research Project: Sellers April 2015
Family Group Sheet: Jacob’s parents
_________________ Sellers
b. probably before 1797
son of
d.
married
before 1817
________________ _________________
b. probably before 1800
dau of
d.
Children
Jacob Sellers b. March 15, 1817 Montgomery Co. North Carolina
Possible relation: Flavius Sellers b. ca 1838 Virginia
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Research Project: Sellers April 2015
Family Group Sheet: Elizabeth’s parents
Martin Williams
b. pr. before 1810
son of
d.
married
before 1831
Susan Beason
b. probably before 1814
dau of
d.
Children:
Laura Ann Elizabeth Williams b. 1831
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Chronology
Probably before 1797 birth of ____________ Sellers
Probably before 1800 birth of _______________, who married _______Sellers
1800 Census:
Probably before 1810 birth of Martin Williams
Probably before 1814 birth of Susan Beason
Before 1817 marriage of _______________ Sellers and _________ ______________
15 March 1817 birth of Jacob Sellers, Montgomery Co. North Carolina1
1820 census North Carolina: Sellers in Montgomery Co.
1830 census North Carolina: Sellers in Montgomery Co. and Martin Williams
Jan 7, 1831 birth of Laura Williams, North Carolina, daughter of Martin Williams and
Susan Beasen2
1840 census
1850 census
1852
-- Sept. bond for marriage of Jacob Sellers and Laura Ann Williams signed by Signed
by Jacob Sellers and James Summers. Who is James Summers?
--- return… need date
1860 census, Diffies Dist. Montgomery Co., Ohio
“In 1860 Diffies District was just west of present day Troy,
N.C.”3
Jacob age 40 and Laura age 30 and ch All in family are identified as mulatto
ETC….
His obituary, Xenia Daily Gazette and Torchlight, Aug. 7, 1889
Her death certificate names her parents
3 NCMONT list archives
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NCMONTGO/200507/1121613511
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Research Project: Sellers April 2015
FOCUS: Montgomery County North Carolina Research
Formed 1779 from Anson Co.
County seat is Troy (established as county seat 1844;prior to that
Laurenceville(1816)
Courthouse burned 1835
Maps
This map is from http://www.ncecho.org/
This map is from Wikipedia. It shows current day boundaries.
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Research Project: Sellers April 2015
North Carolina to Ohio
North Carolina Research
 Family Search.org Wiki:
 FamilySearch.org: Catalog
 Ancestry Redbook Wiki
 Linkpendium North Carolina
 Cyndi’s List North Carolina
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