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Descendants of William Smith Terrill

Generation No. 1

      1. William Smith⁵ Terrill (James⁴, Maj. Edmund³, Edmund², Robert¹) was born 1818 in Kentucky, and died Bet. 1880 - 1900 in Unknown, possibly Grayson Co, Texas. He married (1) Mary Ann Thompson Abt. 1844 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma, daughter of James Thompson and Margaret McNary. She was born January 28, 1826 in Cherokee Nation East, Alabama, near Tennessee River, and died March 30, 1871 in Grayson Co, Texas. He married (2) Martha Bef. 1880 in Grayson Co, Texas. She was born 1828 in Missouri.

Notes for William Smith Terrill:
Dist. June 27th 1848

Sir I take my pen in hand a second time to inform you we all are well. I requested you to send Mary's bedding &c and presume that you have had and opportunity and I have not heard from you or the things It was a small favor and last that I shall ask of you if you did not wish to pay for the boxes you could of sent you well by the person that hauled them and Mr. Gardner at Ft. Smith would have paid for them as it was so grate a gratification to your present family that we left if you will send the things that belong to Mary your Family shall never be pestered with us again. William is going to school and is doing very well. Angorana has taken up with Dick Crossland. I saw her yesterday and she was at Crossland and she said he was going to marry her. I advised her to come with me to Mackeys until she got married but she would have her own way Terrill.

Note: Angerona did not marry Crossland, but married William Choate, according to George, GGgrandson of Dick Crossland.

Source: James George Thompson 1802-1970, by Mary Wilson Kelsey & Mavis Parrott Kelsey, Published University Press, Texas A & M University, 1988.

Apparently William S. Terrill and wife Mary Ann felt rejected by James G. and Martha Jane Thompson. Martha was the second wife of James. William and Mary had taken all Mary's younger brothers and sisters with them and moved off. Hence, the letter to Mary's father.

Among Grayson County Court Records it becomes clear that Will, Mary, and their children must not have been on good terms with James G. and Martha Thompson for most of their lives. There is no evidence that any of his estate was willed to members of their family. After Williiam M. Thompson, Sr died, Will Terrill had his children placed under a guardianship bond with Dr. Frazier. Frazier was the husband of Mary Ann's sister and he was seeking to get land awarded to the rightful heirs. Land in Grayson County, Texas and the State of Alabama was cited in the court entry. However, it is not known whether or not the heirs of Mary Ann ever received any such allotments. A will was found that showed the Terrill heirs, the Frazier hiers, and William M. Thompson, Jr. as additional hiers to the land up in the Cherokee Nation, lower Sallisaw. Bill Thompson, Jr. became a very prominent citizen of the Vian community. An early tin-type photo of a young John G. Terrill and young Bill Thompson exists. Apparently they all ran around together after moving to the Vian area.

Grayson County Court Records, Sherman, Texas
Personal and Archival Photographs
"History of Sequoyah County",

More About William Smith Terrill:
Letter: 1848, Letter to James Thompson, See Notes
Military service: Found fighting for the Confederate Cavalry
Notable Act: Bet. 1850 - 1880, Will seemed to keep to his ranch
Residence: Bef. 1850, Grayson County, TX, Whitesboro precint

Notes for Mary Ann Thompson:
More about Mary Ann Thompson Terrill:

July 2000

The photograph of William and Mary Terrill is a reprint of a very early Cabinet Card photo.
They were the parents of John Gunn Terrill. The original mount card and photo is approximately
61/2 inches by 9 1/2 inches. The photo was a black and white image on a creamy white
background (possibly yellowed with age). This type of photo appeared
during the time of the American Civil War and is rarely found after 1906.
There were two copies of this photo among some that Connie Terrill
thrasher had given to my aunt, Juanita Walters Walker. One copy had
written across the top, in very light pencil, Mary and Will Terrill. I left one
of the copies with Juanita’S son, Jim, and took the better one home to
share with the rest of the family. I consider this a wonder find as I try to
preserve the family history.

Because Mary Terrill died in 1971 at the age of 45, I believe that this
photo was taken about 1868-1870. I do not yet know what caused Mary’s
death at such a young age, but there were several epidemics that swept
the area during the early 1870s.

Source: Family records and Research by Susan M. Linde, Ph.D., Family Member and Researcher


Letter by Mary Ann Terrill and Angerona Thompson

Date: April 22, 1850
From Cherokee Nation, near Ft. Smith

To Dr. Butler Cherokee Agent,
Sir. Form letters recently received from Washington City I learn that myself and my brother, William, and John Thompson, and my sisters, Angerona and Lurana Thompson have a reservation claim awarded us, as the Heirs of Peggy Thompson Dec'd. And not knowing the proper officer to address in Washington on the subject, requires you to inform the government that we do not wish our money draw by a power of attorney from any other person or persons than ourselves. Which I am guardian for William, John, Lurana Thompson, am entitled to draw for them; my sister (Angerona) whose name is assigned to this, will draw hers herself. We would also request you as our agent to urge upon the government a settlement of our claims at as early a day as possible and forward the money to you for us, as we stand very much in need of it. Your immediate attention to this will confer a great favor on yours most Respectfully, Mary Ann Terrill, Angerona Thompson.

Source: James George Thompson, Kelsey and Kelsey, University Press, Texas A & M University, 1988.

More About Mary Ann Thompson:
Burial: 1871, Preston Bend Cemetary
Letter: April 22, 1850, See Notes

More About Martha:
Census: 1880, Shown as 2nd Marriage to Wm. S.

Marriage Notes for William Terrill and Martha:
The little girls shown with William S. and Martha (2nd wife) in 1880 were born within the lifetime of Mary Ann Thompson Terrill. Therefore, it is the opinion of this researcher that they were Martha's children from a previous marriage.


Children of William Terrill and Mary Thompson are:

Oliver Cromwell⁶ Terrill, born September 23, 1845 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma; died February 28, 1872 in Grayson Co, Texas.

More About Oliver Cromwell Terrill:
Burial: 1872, Preston Bend Cemetary

ii.

James Preston Terrill, born September 12, 1848 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma; died February 23, 1872 in Grayson Co, Texas.

Notes for James Preston Terrill:
James, Oliver, and William Terrill were told to have died one winter day when a freak blizzard hit north Texas. The story said that they were all out in the pasture mending fences. Oliver was 26, James - 23, and William Jr. - 17. However, further research revealed that there was a cholera epidemic moving through the area from about 1870. Since Mary died in 1871, 3 boys in February of 1872, another son in March of 1872, it may have been the epidemic rather than weather.

iii.

George Dunlap Terrill, born May 16, 1852 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma; died January 05, 1874 in Grayson Co, Texas.

More About George Dunlap Terrill:
Burial: 1874, Preston Bend Cemetary, Grayson Co.

	5	iv.	William Smith Terrill, born September 30, 1854 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma; died February 20, 1872 in Grayson Co, Texas.
+	6	v.	Albert Pike Terrill, born October 04, 1858 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma.
+	7	vi.	John Gunn Terrill, born April 15, 1862 in Grayson Co, Texas; died January 10, 1934 in Vian, Oklahoma.
	8	vii.	Allen T. Terrill, born July 14, 1865 in Grayson County, TX; died March 05, 1872 in Preston Bend, Texas.

More About Allen T. Terrill:
Aka (Facts Pg): 1865, Allen and Edmund were twins
Burial: 1872, Preston Bend Cemetery, Preston Bend , Texas

	9	viii.		Edward Morris Terrill, born July 14, 1865 in Grayson Co, Texas; died February 23, 1899 in Probably in Oklahoma.
	10	ix.		Mary C. Terrill, born November 18, 1855.

Notes for Mary C. Terrill:
Believed to have died young. The date of her death on the tombstone is not legible. She was born within the time span of other children of William S. and Mary Ann Terrill. However, the family was totally unaware that there had ever been a girl born to William and Mary. So this was news. The tombstone is the only record of her in this family. She was not in the 1860 Census. So she must have died before the age of five.

Henry C. Terrill, born November 18, 1856 in Indian Territory, OK; died September 26, 1869 in Grayson County, TX.

Notes for Henry C. Terrill:
Only family record of Henry C. Terrill is in the Family plot, Preston Bend, Texas.

More About Henry C. Terrill:
Burial: Preston Bend , Texas

Children of William Terrill and Martha are:

Minnie⁶ Terrill, born 1865.

Notes for Minnie Terrill:
Minnie and Belle Terrill were probably adopted by William S. Terrill. Family history did not mention either of these girls. But William was found to be married again after Mary's death. These two girls, as well as John G., and Albert were listed in 1880 Census records. At least one of the girls was born about the same time that Edmund Morris was born and before Mary's death. Therefore, it is my opinion that Martha was a widow and that these two children were from her first marriage.

More About Minnie Terrill:
Adoption: Likely adopted by William S. Terrill

ii.

Belle Terrill, born 1868.

More About Belle Terrill:
Adoption: Likely adopted by William S. Terrill

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