Charles Moores & Mary Harrison Family

 

Charles Moores, b. 4 Apr 1776, Fairfield Dist., SC, d. 6 Mar 1850, near Texarkana, Fannin Co., TX (son of Henry Moores, Jr. & Jean Brown Ross)

md. Mary Harrison, b. 4 Apr 1792, Fairfield Co., SC, d. 18 Jul 1844, Mooresville, Red River Dist., TX near Texarkana (dau. Reuben Harrison & Sarah Burge)

Chimney of the home of Charles and Mary Harrison Moores, near Longtown, S.C.
Photo by J. Charles White 9 Nov 2005

 

 Marker Title: Cemetery for OLD HARRISON CHAPEL
City: Redwater vicinity
County: Bowie
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: US 67 about 3 mi. east of Redwater on north side of road
Marker Text: Founded 1840 by Republic of Texas pioneers Charles Moores (1776-1852) and wife, Mary Harrison. Extinct all-faiths chapel, where circuit riders served, named for her parents (of South Carolina). This 5-acre family-community burial plot contains about 100 graves. Mary, Charles Moores, and Willis Whitaker were children of American Revolution soldiers; 3 of Moores' sons were Texas Rangers; 4 men buried here had Republic of Texas headrights. Cemetery, restored 1967, is now only evidence of Mooresville (1 mi. N), post office 1841-1866. Moore's Landing was on Sulphur River.

(1968) Incised on back: Erected by Cooper Burgess, Moores, Rosborough, Rochelle, Janes, and Whitaker descendants.

 Photo Courtesy of Judith Rochelle - Transcription Courtesy of J. Charles White

Old Harrison Chapel Cemetery is located off Old Highway 67 which is just around the corner from the historical marker 2 miles east of Redwater. Follow Old 67 about 1/2 mile to a little dirt lane, and turn south. The road stops at a house and barn. Continue on the grass a few yards. Turn left at the little trail and follow it into the cemetery.

(SEE New Handbook of Texas, searchable, on-line for more about Moores Landing.)
 

 

Photos Courtesy of Judith Rochelle

ROCHELLE PLACE, located on Birdwell David Drive off Myrtle Springs Road near Hooks, is on the headright of Massack H. Janes in the Arthur Wavell Colony. When Massack Janes' daughter Elizabeth married Charles Moores Rochelle (grandson of Charles Moores & Mary Harrison). Janes gave them the land and Charles built their home. Suzanne Davis, daughter of owner Harold "Hap" Rochelle (grandson of William Collin Rochelle, the state legislator), has the original headright grant certificate from Wavell Colony signed by President Sam Houston.

Suzanne Rochelle Davis grew up in the house, which apparently had been leased out or vacant for some time when she, her parents and siblings moved back into it after exterior restoration and some interior improvements. The original design and floor plan intact, the house looks today as it did when Charles Moores Rochelle built it for Elizabeth 150 years ago.

 

   

W. L. and Dora Dunn Whitaker's former home in Texarkana, TX, the Draughon-Moore "Ace of Clubs" House at 420 Pine Street, purchased from the Moore family in 1894, had been open for tours for twenty years in 2008.

Courtesy of Melissa A. Nesbitt, Draughon-Moore Collection Curator, Texarkana Museums System.

See Family Photographs from Museum Collection.

Charles Moores came to Texas with his five eldest sons to build a place for the rest of the family. A party including Eli and Charles came first. Eli stayed to work on development, and Charles returned to SC to recruit others. In 1841, Charles returned with his wife, children and children-in-law, Rochelles, Harrisons, Rosboroughs, Whitakers, etc.

An interesting historical note: Charles owned and brought to Texas the father of Scott Joplin.

Immigration: 27 FEB 1840 from Longtown, Fairfield Co., SC, arriving 24 May 1840 in N.E.
Texas, and built a plantation home, "Sweet Springs"

Father: Henry Moores Jr. b: 09 OCT 1744 in Woodbridge, NJ
Mother: Jean Brown Ross b: 26 JAN 1746/47 in NC

Marriage (1) Mary Harrison abt 1807 in Fairfield Dist., SC
14 Children:

Nancy E. Harrison Moores b: 23 JUN 1809 SC, d. 25 Feb 1843 SC, md. Capt. James Rochelle, Jr. (b. & d. SC, their children came to TX)

Sarah Harrison Ross Moores b: 10 NOV 1810 SC, d. 19 Sep 1893, md. (1) James Thomas Rosborough, (2) Willis Whitaker, Jr. (after his 1st wife her sister died) b. SC d. Cedar Grove Plantation, Cass Co., TX (Pictures of this family)

Charles Moores, Jr., b: ABT 1811, d. in infancy.

Elizabeth Harrison Moores b: 03 SEP 1814 in SC, d. 30 May 1877 TX, md. Willis Whitaker, Jr. b. SC d. 1867, Cedar Grove Plantation, Cass Co., TX

Eli Harrison Moores b: 20 APR 1815 in Thorn Creek, Fairfield Dist., SC, d. 10 Mar 1885, Texarkana, TX, md. Minerva A. Janes

Reuben Henry Harrison Moores b: 16 NOV 1817 SC, d. 1871, prob. Mooresville, TX, md. Jane M. Godbold

Jane Ross Moores b: 18 JAN 1818 in Columbia, SC, d. 1875, md. James Moore

Thomas B. Moores b: 16 AUG 1820 SC, d. 1852 TX, md. Margaret (Sarah) Norvel

Anderson Ross Moores b: 29 APR 1822 SC, d. 1873 TX, md. Pauline T. Jarrett

Mary Harrison Moores b: 1824 SC, d. 1825, SC

David Harrison Moores b: 18 JAN 1827 SC, d. 18 Jan 1892, TX, md. Rachel Perry Godbold

Frances B. Moores b: 30 OCT 1828 SC, d. 11 Jan 1848 TX, md. R. H. Allen

Col. William Henry Harrison Moores b: 23 JUL 1830 Longtown, Fairfield Co., SC, d. 25 Apr 1898, Texarkana, TX, md. (1) Matilda Cooper, (2) Marie Louise Ross

Richard Harrison Moores b: 1834 SC, d. 1855 TX

 From Mrs. Montague's Records:

Charles Moores who married Mary Harrison, settled in Bowie County, Texas, in 1837 was born in S.C. Mary Harrison, daughter of Ruben Harrison was born in VA., and who came to Richland district with relatives, the Kirklands, and others of Virginia. They are related to the Willoughby, Battaile and other prominent V. Southside families. Ruben Harrison served in the Revolutionary War, as is shown by the record in the War Department, Washington.

In 1837, Charles Moores, accompanied by five of his sons, came to what is now Bowie County, Texas (at the time Red River County), and began to "set up" a home place, near Redwater. It took more than two years for them with the help of slaves to clear land, start fields to cultivation, build a home and slave quarters. In the winter of 1839 they returned to S.C. and in February of 1840, the journey to Texas began. The following is a true and exact copy of the log of the journey kept by Anderson Rochelle Moores. The original is in the possession of Mrs Wiley Linn Murie, Clarksville, Arkansas.

February the 27, we left our South Carolina home behind and started to Texas.

 The first day we came 7 miles
28th we came to Winsborro 10 miles
29th we crossed little River 10 miles

March 1st, 1840

1st we crossed Broad River 18 miles
2, we passed Union Court house 20 miles
3, we crossed Martinburg C.N. 20 miles
4, we crossed packlett River 25 miles
5, we crossed the blue ridge 18 miles
6, we passed Ashville N.C. 24 miles
7, we camped on the French Broad River 30 miles
8, we passed warm springs 17 miles
9, we passed newport 17 miles
---------------
226 miles
End of 1st page

Page 2 of log of journey from S.C. to Texas

10, We passed Dandridge, Tenn 21 miles
11, we came 18 miles
12, we passed Knoxville, Tennessee
18 miles
13, we passed Campbell station 34 miles
14, we passed Kingston 16 miles
15, we came to Cumberland Gap 19 miles
16, we came 21 miles
17, we passed Sparta, Tenn. 18 miles
18, we crossed the Caney Fork 20 miles
19, we passed ________ville 17 miles
20, 21,22,23,24,25,26 we stayed a Uncle N's
27, we left Uncles N's 8 miles
-------------
End of second page 220 miles

28, we passed Shelbyville, Tenn 20 miles
29, we came 15 miles
30, we passed Columbia, Tenn. 9 miles
31, we passed Mt Pleseant 24 miles
April 1840
1, we passed Murfreesboro 28 miles
2, we came 19 miles
3, we came 17 miles
4, we passed Dardin 27 miles
5, we passed Collierville 25 miles
6, we passed Somerville, 22 miles
7, we came 12 miles
8 we passed Raliegh 16 miles
-------------------
220 miles
end of third page ______________

Copy-Page-2 - Log of Charles' Moores' journey from S.C. to Texas

9, we lay over at Memphis 0 miles
10, we ferried the Mississippi River
14 miles
11, we came 5 miles
12, we crossed Black Fish Lake 4 miles
13, we came 3 miles
14, we came 2 miles
15, we came 5 miles
16, we came 6 miles
17, we camped
18, we crossed St. Francis River 14 miles
19, we came
20, we lay by
22, we crossed L'Angulle River 14 miles
23, we came 5 miles
------------------------------
end of fourth page 67 miles

24, we came 13 miles
25, we came 12 miles
26, we came 8 miles
27, we are camped on White River
28, we crossed White River 8 miles
29, we came 10 miles
30, we came 8 miles
_________________
Total 72 miles

May 1840
1, we came 14 miles
2, we came 6 miles
3,4,5, we lay by
6, we crossed Bayou Meta 11 miles
7, we lay by on Arkansas River
8, we come to the ferry 1 mile
-------------------------
32 miles
end of fifth page

May 9, we crossed the Arkansas River and left Little Rock
2 miles
10, we passed Benton 24 miles
11, we lay by
12, we crossed Saline River 18 miles
13, we crossed Wachita River 15 miles
14, we crossed Caddo Creek 18 miles
15, we crossed Antoine Creek 18 miles
16, we crossed Little Missouri River
10 miles
17, we passed town of Washington
18 miles
19 and 20 we are water bound by Red River
21, we crossed Red River 5 miles
22, we left lost Praire 6 miles
------------------------
152 miles
end of sixth page

23, we came to our place 14 miles
24, we arrived home 10 miles
---------------------
24 miles

226
220
234
67
104
152
24
----------
1027 miles

"UNCLE " N's" IN TENNESSEE

When the trips to and from South Carolina and Texas were made, there were certain stops that were made on each trip for visits, for renewals of old acquaintances, and laying in of provisions. One such was at Fayetteville, Tenn. at NORVELL'S. One of the daughters of Henry Moores married a Norvell and they lived in Tenn. Thomas Briggs Moores, one of the sons of Charles Moores and Mary Moores, married his cousin on the last trip. The wedding was a festive occasion and the bride accompanied the Texas-bound immigrants.

(Westward the Tide of Empire Goes to Texas) Montague's file

(Bell Buckle, Tenn.)

 This log entered by and Courtesy of Ken Moore
Fresno, California

Ken Moore's note:

The note (Bell Buckle, Tenn.) was just there at the bottom of the log. I found that Uncle Norvelle lived in Bell Buckle, Bedford County, Tennessee. John B. Moores lived in Fayetteville. His daughter Mary Moores who married Thomas Hines also moved to Texas from LCT as did several other members of the family.

Rochelle Cemetery Photos by Hap Rochelle, "on the land I grew up on,
off of Myrtle Springs Rd, just west of Texarkana, TX"

     

 Eli Harrison Moores (1829-1885) tombstone, son of Charles Moores & Mary Harrison

Eli Harrison Moores' daughter Mary Harrison Moores (1851-57) tombstone

 Eli Harrison Moores, Jr. (1856-1882) tombstone

 

(SEE New Handbook of Texas, searchable, On Line for more about Moores Landing.)

 Photo Courtesy of Judith Rochelle

Old Harrison Chapel Cemetery is located off Old Highway 67 which is just around the corner from the historical marker 2 miles east of Redwater. Follow Old 67 about 1/2 mile to a little dirt lane, and turn south. The road stops at a house and barn. Continue on the grass a few yards. Turn left at the little trail and follow it into the cemetery.

TEXT: Cemetery for Old Harrison Chapel. Founded 1840 by Republic of Texas pioneers Charles Moores (1776-1852) and wife Mary Harrison Moores, as a cemetery for an all-faiths chapel where circuit-riders served, named for her parents, Reuben and Sarah Harrison of South Carolina). This 5-acre family- community burial plot contains about 100 graves. Mary, Charles Moores, and Willis Whitaker were children of American Revolution soldiers; buried there. 3 of Moores' sons were Texas Rangers; 4 men buried here had Republic of Texas headrights. Cemetery restored 1967, is now only evidence of Mooresville (1 mile NW), post office established at Moores Landing on Sulphur River. [Texas Historical Landmark 1968]

 James Fort ROCHELLE, a former sheriff of Bowie County, Texas, was born at Myrtle Springs, this county, in 1864, son of H. P. and Cornelia (FORT) ROCHELLE, and on the maternal side is descended from French Huguenot ancestry, his great grandfather ROCHELLE having been among those who left France following the edict of Nantes, and on their arrival in this country settled in South Carolina. H. P. ROCHELLE was born in South Carolina. In the early forties, soon after the death of his father, which occurred in that state, he came with his maternal grandfather, Charles MOORES, to Bowie County, Texas, where he was subsequently married to Miss Cornelia FORT. Here he passed the rest of his life, and died in Jan. 1883. His widow is still living. She is a native of Miss. and a daughter of J. B. FORT with whom she came to Texas. J. B. FORT was the first permanent settler at Myrtle Springs, Bowie County, which later on account of its healthfulness and many other advantages became the home of a number of wealthy planters whose landed estates were in the Red River valley. Charles MOORES on coming to Bowie County, first settled at what is now known as Redwater, near Sulphur River. In 1876, H. P. ROCHELLE and his family moved from Myrtle Springs to Texarkana and were among the pioneers of the town. A large portion of the old ROCHELLE plantation is still owned by JAMES F. ROCHELLE and other members of the family. While Mr. ROCHELLE has been engaged in agricultural pursuits nearly all his life, he has given several years to public service and as Sheriff of Bowie County has made a record. He was first elected to this office in 1906, and twice since then he has been reelected, his long service being indicative of his popularity and efficiency. In July 1913, he was elected assessor and collector of the city of Texarkana, Texas. James F. ROCHELLE married Miss Ella McMICKEL, like himself a native of Bowie County and they are the parents of six children namely: Arley, Murriel, James, Edward, Ruth and Rollin. He was born on 15 Feb 1864 at Myrtle Springs, TX. He married Ella McMICKLE, daughter of E. P. McMICKLE and M. L. _____, on 20 Dec 1893 at Texarkana, TX. He was Sheriff, Bowie Co, two terms; Tax Collector, Texarkana, mercantile business, Texarkana; banking and farming; Baptist between 1908 and 1914. He made affidavit listing heirs of Charles Moores on 19 Dec 1913. He died after 1917.

 

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