Benjamin Holt Sr. Munnerlyn

Benjamin Holt Sr. Munnerlyn
(9 Apr 1829 - 14 May 1865)

Elizabeth S. Davis
(1835 - 1915)

Wife of Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn.
This image to the left was taken some time in the 1890's. At that time she was known as Elizabeth S. Graham.

The following biography of Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn was written by Dr. Horace William. "Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn was the first child born to Thomas M. and Mary Avant Kirton Munnerlyn. It occurred on April 9, 1829. While the name 'Benjamin' was popular among the Munnerlyns and other families at that time and in that part of the country, the name 'Holt' was new in Munnerlyn circles. However, there is a clue as to where the name came from. On October 16, 1833 Loftis Redlee Munnerlyn made application in a court in Marion County for a Revolutionary War pension. Several friends went with him and swore that they knew him and that his statements of service in the Revolution were correct and that he was a man of good moral character. One of these men was Benjamin Holt. Benjamin Holt was a well known 'clergymen' who was instrumental in the founding and building of the first Methodist church in Marion, South Carolina in 1833. There is no doubt that this Benjamin Holt was a good friend of the Munnerlyns and was a fellow minister with Loftis Redlee and his son Thomas M. Munnerlyn, the father of Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn.

"While information about the childhood of Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn is not available it appears that he was an unusual person who must have matured early and was a substantial character. He evidently had a reasonably good education for his day. He may have attended a military school since he was, on August 24, 1850, commissioned as a major in the Upper Squadron of the Eighth Regiment of Cavalry of the State of South Carolina. Two months Later, October 22, 1850, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the same squadron and regiment and commandant of it. He was then twenty-one years and six months old. If he finished military school in 1850 he may have gotten the first commission on completion of his work as the first commission was retro- active to July 15, 1850.

Another insight into Benjamin Holt's effectiveness as a young citizen is seen in a recently discovered hand written eulogy which he prepared and delivered before the members of a Masonic lodge who were gathered along with visitors at the grave site of David Leggett, Sr. on Sunday, November 1, 1850. David Leggett had been a prominent citizen in the community where the Munnerlyns lived and that community bore the name, Leggett Community. The eulogy consisted of six carefully written, legal size pages. It was by present standards quite 'flowery' but was typical of the thought and sentiment of that day. It was not a 'stock' speech but was prepared for the occasion and contained many specific references to the life and activities of David Leggett, Sr.

"It was the prevailing custom in that time for young persons to marry early. So it was that Benjamin Holt, age twenty-one years and eight months, married Elizabeth S. Davis, age between fifteen and sixteen years, on December 12, 1850. Elizabeth was the daughter of Daniel H. and Charlotte White Davis. She was descended from several well known families in South Carolina among them were the Keenes, the Horrys, the Avants, and the Whites. Intermarriage between these families and the Davis and Munnerlyn families made Benjamin H. and Elizabeth distantly related through marriage. The Davis family was from Wales and no doubt were among the many Welch immigrants who went to South Carolina and were granted a large block of land in Britton's Neck in 1736.

"In 1852 a son was born to Benjamin Holt and Elizabeth and was given the name, Albert. That same year on December 13, one day after their second wedding anniversary Benjamin, Elizabeth, Little Albert and Elizabeth's father and mother, Daniel and Charlotte Davis Left Marion County by wagon for Texas. With them were Elizabeth's brother, Robert H. Davis and several black slaves. A log of the trip is preserved in a hand written expense account kept by Benjamin Holt and listing places, purchases, costs, and the place of each transaction. "The trip was made overland and by boat. Beginning in Marion County near their home the caravan moved west and south through Sumter, Columbia, and Akin to Augusta, Georgia. In Georgia they went through Sandersville, Macon, Thomaston, and Columbus. From there they completed the first leg of the overland trip at Montgomery, Alabama, a distance of five hundred and three miles at a total cost of $126.15 1/2. At Montgomery the party took a river boat, the steamer Fashion, down the Alabama River to Mobile. This took three days and nights and the cost was $105.00. At Mobile they spent the night at the Battle House at a cost of $9.25 while the horses and wagons were in a wagon yard at a cost of $5.25. At Mobile the group boarded the steamer Oregon for passage to New Orleans. The cost of this part of the trip was $98.35. "At New Orleans a transfer was made to the river steamer Caddo which went up the Mississippi River to the Red River and up that river to Grand Ecore near Natchitoches, Louisiana. The cost was $123.60 and the time was two days and nights. From Natchitoches they proceeded overland west to the Sabine River, crossed at Darnell's Ferry and entered Texas, Shelby County, on February 6, 1853, The total cost of the trip was $521.40 1/2.

"A considerable part of the expense of this journey was for toll roads, toll bridges, ferry crossings, and food for both persons and animals. The food consisted chiefly of bacon, potatoes, rice, meat, and a few other staples while the horses were provided with corn and fodder. One interesting charge was of $6.00 for 'transporting the Negroes across Georgia.' For some time Georgia had struggled with the problem of the importation of slaves into the state and was trying to put an end to the slave traffic.

"In the middle of 1830's another Benjamin Munnerlyn (1791-1845) had made the same trip with his family from South Carolina as far as Baldwin County, Alabama, and settled near Mobile. He was the uncle of Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn (1829-1865). On this trip Benjamin Holt and family passed within less than fifty miles of where his cousins lived but it appears that they had no contact with them. Less than ten years later a third party which included Benjamin Holt's sister, Catherine, and her husband John Benjamin Williams and possible a Little son, Tommy, made their way to Texas and settled temporarily in or about San Augustine. Even before this there were other Munnerlyns who had gone to Texas and Arkansas, and more were to come.

"Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn and his father-in-law settled in Sabine County, Texas and their descendants are in that part of Texas to this day. They were farmers and soon were integrated into the life of both Sabine County and neighboring Shelby County. After arrival in Texas the MunnerLyns had other children: Florence, 1853 or 4; Mary, 1856; Ellen, 1859; and Thomas M. 1861.

"It will be remembered that Benjamin Holt was an active Mason in South Carolina. Apparently, the nearest Masonic Lodge to him in Texas was at San Augustine. Franklin B. Sexton was Grand Master of that lodge and soon Benjamin Holt affiliated with it and was well received. His ability was soon recognized. About this time there was a desire of some thirteen masons in the Sexton community for a lodge to be established there. Accordingly, Franklin Sexton addressed a letter to the Grand Lodge of Texas requesting the establishing of a new lodge in Sabine County. The letter along with the signed petition was taken to Austin, Texas by none other than Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn. Mr. Sexton's Letter said in part, 'Allow me to introduce to you my worthy brother B. H. Munnerlyn who represents 'Old Red Land' and has also in charge a petition for the establishment of a new lodge in Sabine County. Brother Munnerlyn is, I take much pleasure in saying, in all respects 'a good and true.' You will find him a genuine specimen of a South Carolina gentleman and Mason.' The letter goes on to recommend that B. H. Munnerlyn be made the first Master, Robert Polly the first Senior Warden, and Robert Davis (Elizabeth's brother) the first Junior Warden. The petition was granted and the Lodge was established July 29, 1860. On that same day Elizabeth's father, Daniel H. Davis, died.

"There seems to be a blank in the records between 1861 when Thomas M. was born and 1865. The Civil War was on and much was happening. We do not know if Benjamin Holt Munnerlyn was active in the war. The records of service on the Confederate side do not list him. With his military credentials he may have been. Family tradition says that he was in the battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, went home and developed pneumonia and died May 14, 1865. He was buried in a plot of land which became known as The Munnerlyn Cemetery located on their home place. It is now filled with members of his family. Two months after his death a son was born to Elizabeth and was given the name, Benjamin Holt.

"In a short time, two or three years, Elizabeth remarried. it was to a widower named James Graham. He had five children. in the census of 1870 they were listed as James, 17; Mace, 11; Emily 9; Fanny 8; and Miriam 5. The same census listed only four Munnerlyn children. According to family tradition Albert and Florence had died. Ellen died later.

"James Graham was addicted to drink and very soon began to mistreat the Munnerlyn children and the servants. This treatment was so distasteful that it angered the servants and James Graham was ambushed and killed. This was in late 1869 or 1870. This left Elizabeth a widow the second time and with nine children and one yet to be born in the latter part of 1870. By this time the slaves had been freed. The census of 1870 gives her vocation as 'farmer' and head of the household. After that census was taken her last child, Robert Davis Graham, was born.

"Evidently Elizabeth owned the farm which she cultivated, judging by a letter to her from her young brother-in-law, George Ford Munnerlyn, in which he said, 'Now if you get a good chance to rent your place, rent it ....' This was probably two years after James Graham's death. The letter was written January 2, 1871 immediately after George had visited over Christmas with Elizabeth and family.

"How this brave widow managed to provide food, clothing, and education for her family is a guess. Only one male child, James Graham, a seventeen year old step son was able to work. Her brother, Robert Davis, lived near. Elizabeth, after a long, hard pioneer life died in November, 1917, age 82. She was buried beside her husband, Benjamin Holt, in the family cemetery."

Cemetery Information:

Descendant Relation:
James Sr.>Loftis Redlee>Thomas Mixon>Benjamin Holt Sr. MUNNERLYN

Documents: