Marty and Karla Grant

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Thomas M. Henderson and Margaret Emaline Stewart of Union Co., GA.

[Henderson Home] - [Table of Contents] - Thomas M. Henderson

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Thomas and Margaret (Stewart) Henderson are my 3 times Great Grandparents.

Special thanks to Homer Barnes (1915-2002) and Minnie Ledford Barnes (1914-2002) and Ralph Johnson for data shared on this family. They are the ones who got me started on this branch of my family.

There are birth dates for everyone in this family, and I think they came from an old Family Bible, but I don't know who has it now.

Thomas M. Henderson was born 23 Aug 1834 per his tombstone. He was born in Tennessee per his 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census records. I believe it was probably McMinn County since his parents were there in 1830. However, his Civil War Union Army enlistment lists his birth place as Rutherford Co, NC which was certainly a mistake. That is where his father was born though, thus the confusion. Thomas’s brother-in-law, Cpt. Van Stewart, signed the papers, and he may have provided the information, assuming Thomas was born in Rutherford knowing the family hailed from their originally.

I haven’t yet discovered what Thomas’s “M” middle initial stood for. Thomas Henderson may have been named for his uncle Thomas Pack (c1805-aft 1880).

Thomas is a son of James Henderson and Jane Pack Henderson. They were both from Rutherford Co., NC and married in Sumner Co., TN in 1818. They apparently didn’t like the west and returned east, settling in McMinn Co., TN in the 1820s. They are listed there on 1830 census where Thomas was likely born in 1834. They moved to Union Co., GA before 1840. They are listed on that census with Thomas apparently with them aged 5-9 (born 1830/1835).

James Henderson died in the 1840s. Widow Jane is listed as head of household on the 1850 census in Union Co., GA. Thomas is home with her, age 17. If his August 1834 birth date is correct, he should have only been 15, soon to turn 16 for the census was “as of” 1 Jun 1850.

1850 Census, Union Co., GA, 85^th District, Page 224B, House 316, Family 316

Thomas M. Henderson married Margaret Emaline Stewart on 28 Dec 1857 in Union Co., GA. No marriage record has been found so this date must come from the presumed Family Bible.

Margaret Emaline Stewart was born 11 Jan 1835 per her tombstone. She was born in North Carolina per all her census records 1850 through 1910, most likely in Buncombe County where her parents resided at that time.

Margaret is a child of John Stewart and Ruth Tutt Stewart. They married ca 1830 in Buncombe and resided there until ca 1842 when they moved to Union Co., GA and wound up very near the Hendersons.

Margaret is home with her parents on the 1850 census in Union Co., GA, as “Margaret” age 15, which agrees with her birth date of 11 Jan 1835.

Thomas and Margaret are on the 1860 census in Union Co., GA listed between his brothers James and William Henderson, none of whom were landowners, so they must have rented, or been on their parents property. Neither Thomas or Margaret could read or write. They were both listed as 25 which matches their birth dates.

1860 Census, Union Co., GA, Ivy Log PO, Page 497, House 474, Family 473 

On 2 Sep 1861, a roster was made in Union Co., GA of “eligible” men (eligible to fight for the Confederacy), and Tom Henderson was listed in Gum Log district.

Thomas Henderson enlisted on 5 Jul 1862 in Company B, 7th Battalion, North Carolina Cavalry (Confederate). He enlisted as a Private in Clay Co., NC. Listed as age 28, and a resident of Union Co., GA.

On 3 Aug 1863, Thomas transferred to Company F, 65th Regiment North Carolina Troops. He served in this Unit until he deserted sometime around September-December 1863. He took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States on 15 Mar 1864 in Chattanooga, TN. On 5 Aug 1864 he signed up with the Union Army with Company C. of the 5^th Regiment of the Tennessee Mounted Infantry as a Private. These records also show him born Rutherford Co., NC. Perhaps this was to keep anyone from finding out he’d switched sides, or as noted earlier, perhaps it was assumed he was born there by Cpt. Van Stewart who was his commander (and brother-in-law). On a document dated 23 Sep 1864 he was described as hazel eyed, dark haired, fair complexion, 6 ft 1 inches tall. He mustered out 16 Jul 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.

It isn’t known if him switching sides caused any problems with his family members, though I’m sure there were some who weren’t happy about it. It should be remembered that many joined the Confederacy because they had no choice.

After the war they continued to live in the same place, so if there were problems they weren’t severe enough to force them to move away.

They are listed on the 1870 census next door to Margaret's Uncle Isham Stewart and Thomas's brother James Henderson. Both Thomas and Margaret were apparently able to read and write by this time. Both were 35, which matches their birth dates.

1870 Census, Union Co., GA, Subdivision 126, Blairsville PO, Page 44, House 619, Family 619

Thomas and Margaret were listed on the 1880 census in in Gum Log Township. They were next to Martha Stewart, Margaret's sister-in-law, widow of her brother William Stewart, and also next to William Crisp, no known relation. Thomas and Margaret were both 45, again matching their birth dates.

1880 Census, Union Co., GA, Gum Log (1024) Dist. Page 155/155B, House 238, Family 238

Thomas and Margaret adopted his grand nephew Arthur Scroggins (alias Arthur Henderson) on 11 Sep 1895. Arthur was born out of wedlock to Alice Scroggins and William M. Henderson (son of Thomas' brother James). He was born 15 Nov 1893, and apparently took on the Henderson name, either due to his adopted parents, or due to his birth father's name (or both). On 8 Oct 1895, Alice Scroggins was in court, charged with Assault with intent to Murder. She plead not guilty. She was found guilty of assault and battery. I didn’t find a record of her sentence. The victim wasn’t named in the court records, but the story was handed down that she’d tried to murder her child by stoning, who would be Arthur Scroggins alias Arthur Henderson.

On 9 Dec 1897 Thomas M. Henderson and his siblings made a deed for mineral rights to W. A. Hart of Towns Co., GA. The grantors names were Thomas M. Henderson for himself, and as attorney for “Catrin Holcolmb, Elizabeth Moore, Ibaline Sitton and the heirs at law of James Henderson.” This deed strongly suggests they are dealing with inherited land from their parents, thus the need for all of them to sign off on it. The land is described as Lot 57, in 9^th District, 1^st Section of Union Co., GA being 160 acres. (Union Co., GA Deed Book G, p. 58.)

Thomas and Margaret are listed on the 1900 census in Union Co., GA in Gum Log Township. Grand nephew Arthur Scroggins/Henderson is with them. They are listed between daughter Frances Burnett and Margaret’s sister Nancy Stewart Hedden.

1900 Census, Union Co., GA, Gum Log District, Page 267B, House 13, Family 13

 

Thomas M. Henderson died on 9 Jan 1909 per tombstone in Union Co., GA. He is buried at the Henderson Cemetery.

Widow Margaret is listed on the 1910 census in Union Co., GA in Gum Log. She is a few houses from her daughter Ibiline and husband Washington Gilbert, who are my ancestors who were next door to John P. Grant and Darthula Evans Grant, also my ancestors.

1910 Census, Union Co., GA, Gum Log Dist 1024, Page 249B, House 46, Family 46

Margaret Stewart Henderson died on 18 May, but I’m not sure what year. Her tombstone says 1909, but that is clearly wrong for she was still alive on 26 Apr 1910 when listed on the 1910 census. Thus, perhaps she died in May 1910, just a few weeks after the census, or it could have been 1911, 1912, etc., but before 1920 for she wasn’t listed on that census. It was probably before 1919 for that is when the earliest death certificates for Union Co., GA were filed. Thus she died sometime between May 1910 and May 1918 most likely.

Her stone is inscribed: “Margret Henderson Jan 11, 1835 May 18, 1909 At Rest.”

Homer and Minnie Barnes took me and my grandparents Garland and Luella Grant to the Henderson Cemetery in June 1990 when I took photos of their headstones. That’s my grandmother Luella who can be partly seen in both photos.

You’ll notice several tombstones nearby. Many of them are only stones with no engravings upon them so we don’t know who is buried there.

Research to do (if someone already has these, please share!)

Order Thomas Henderson and Margaret’s Civil War Pension files from National Archives.

Thomas Henderson, widow Margaret Henderson

C 5 Tenn Mtd Inf

His filed 1882, Feb 17, Application # 440,352, Certificate # 484,628 filed GA.

Hers filed 1909 Jan 28, Widow 912,644, Certificate # 678,376 filed NC.

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Children

Thomas M. Henderson and Margaret E. Stewart Henderson had 9 children plus one adopted child (a grand nephew) making 10. Four of the children died young.

Their daughter Ibiline A. Henderson (1863-1934) is my ancestor.

See the Family Group sheet (link below) for more on the children of Thomas and Margaret.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Thomas M. Henderson and Margaret E. Stewart.

Revised: November 2, 2025

Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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