William Isaac Self, Jr
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1809. From Georgia to Mississippi:

William Isaac Self, Jr. was born in Georgia, Oglethorpe County, 1796. In about the year 1809 his family traveled through the Indian Nation to what was then called the Mississippi Territory and his father, William Self, Sr. settled in Hancock County, Mississippi.

 

 

1810. Move to Louisiana:

The year William Isaac Self, Jr. moved to Louisiana is unknown yet William Isaac Self, Jr.  is first found in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana in 1810. William Isaac Self, Jr. claimants by settlement 1810, section 44, 637 acres, west of the River Tangipahoa in St. Helena, Parish, Louisiana.

 

1810. Petition to the Congress of the United States:

The petition to which William Isaac Self, Jr. affixed his “X” was from the people of West Florida Parishes of Louisiana hoping to persuade Congress to attach them to the Territory of Mississippi rather than to the Territory of New Orleans.

 

1811. Cruelty to a slave:

William witnessed an act of cruelty to a slave in 1811. It was written in Spanish in East Florida Parish of Louisiana before the Parishes were established as they are today. He could not write so he made his X mark.

 

 

War of 1812:

Military: Military records list William Isaac Self, Jr. was enrolled in Louisiana Militia with Captain James Harris' Company, 12 Regiment, Louisiana Militia, February 27, 1815, Camp Navy Yard. He entered service December 28, 1814. His company was transferred to Captain Thomas Beckam's and William Watson's Companies. He served from December 23, 1814, to March 10, 1814. Pay per month $8.00. Total pay was $20.64. He again served April 22, 1814, to May 14, 1814. Total pay was $15.13 . He was paid 40 cents per day for loan of his horse.

 

1813. Mt. Nebo Baptist Church:

William Isaac Self, Jr. was a charter member of the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, in 1813.

 

 

1819. Dismissed from st. Nebo Baptist Church:

On 4 DEC 1819, William Isaac Self, Jr. was dismissed from the St. Nebo Baptist Church.

 

 

1822. Purchased 640 acres:

In January 25, 1822 , William purchased land in Washington Parish, Louisiana. On this date William Isaac Self, Jr. of Hancock County, Mississippi, bought a tract of land from William Wheat. He paid $600 for 640 improved acres bounded on the north by the State Line, on the southeast by Charles McMenner's land and on the southwest by vacant land.

 

 

1836. Creek Indian War:

Military: Military records show William Isaac Self, Jr. enrolled in the Creek War at Columbus, Georgia, June 7, 1838, with Captain Anderson's Company, Wood Battalion, 3 Brigade, Georgia Militia. He was Mustered out at West Point, August 18, 1836.

 

1835 to 1843, Mississippi Tax Records:

1835:                        

William Isaac Self, Jr. bought 160 acres on Boque Chitto and 4 slaves.

 

1836 (Tax Records):

In 1836, William Isaac Self, Jr. first appears in Pike County, Mississippi (Tax records in  archives). 160 acres on Boque Chitto.  He has 4 slaves.  In 1836 we find SELF and SIBLEY doing $5000 merchandise sales (about $957,000 in today’s dollars).

 

1837 (Tax Records):

William Isaac Self, Jr. listed alone $3000 ($489,000 today) merchandise sales, 1 white poll (tax) and 4 slave poll  (taxes). Such business was on Tangipahoa Creek. In 1838, He is not listed on the poll tax rolls.

 

1839 (Tax Records):

William Isaac Self, Jr.– 1 white poll (tax), 2 slave poll (taxes) on the Boque Chitto.

 

1840 (Tax Records):

William Isaac Self, Jr.pays 4 slave poll (taxes).

 

1841 (Tax Records):

William Isaac Self, Jr. listed $3000 ($489,000 today) merchandise sales. 4 slaves.

 

1842 (Tax Records):

William Isaac Self, Jr. lists 2 clocks value $30, 5 cattle, 9 slaves above 5 and under 60.

 

1843 (Tax Records):

William Isaac Self, Jr.has $100 loaned, 1 clock value $10, 12 cattle, 7 slaves. This is last of the Tax Records for Pike County on file in Jackson, Mississippi archives.

 

1844. Toro Baptist Church:

He was also a charter member and founder of the Toro Baptist Church which is the oldest church in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Unknown year when church was founded, but believed to be 1844.

 

1844. Will of William Isaac Self, Jr.:

He made a will in Pike County, Mississippi, May 7, 1844.

 

Transcription from a copy of the will of William Isaac Self, Jr.:

"I William Self considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and through law and enfeebled in body being of sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following That is to say,

 

"First - I give to my wife Elizabeth Ann Self in lieu of her dower one negro of light completion named Charlotte about 24 years old, one hundred dollars in cash in consideration of certain cattle which owned at the time of our marriage, one gray mare, one sorrel horse with a ball face in the place of the mare and colt which she owned at the time of our marriage - also two beds and bedding being the same which she owned at the time of our marriage.

 

"Secondly - I give and bequeath to my youngest child, Thomas Jefferson Self, being the only child of my said wife Elizabeth Ann Self, one negro girl of light completion named Mary about seven years old.

 

"Thirdly - I give and bequeath to my six other sons to wit Elijah Self, Eli Self, Elias Self, William Jackson Self, David Washington Self, and Franklin Dawson Self and their heirs forever all the rest residence and reminder of my real and personal estate, effects, money, goods, and chattels of what kind and nature so ever to be equally divided between and among them.

 

"Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my oldest son, Elijah Self my sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereinto set my hand and seal of the 7th day of May, 1844

 

Seal

 

Signed/William Self"

 

"Seal published and declared by the last will and testament of William Self to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who here unto subscribed our names of witness."

 

Brothers Hughes, Lewis, Samuel, Varnada

 

William's will was probated in Saint Helena Parish, Louisiana, April 1, 1846. The inventory of William Self's property included the following: 640 acres on which the deceased last resided in St. Helena Parish bounded on the north by M. Newsom, east by Tangipahoa River, south by Strawbridge, west by vacant lands--appraised at $800 ($16,800 in 2005), and eleven slaves appraised at $6975 ($1,407,000 in 2005).

 

1846. Death Date of William Isaac Self, Jr.:

William died by murder, March 31, 1846 in St. Helena Parish, Louisana.

 

1846. Murder of William Isaac Self, Jr.:

Version 1:

There was a murder trial in the Local District Court in 1850 or 1851. The name of the murder victim was not named. Louisiana Legislation passed an act January of the 1850 session for reward of $500.00 to Henry H. Bankston for arresting and conveying into the "hands of justice the murder of William Self of the parish of St. Helena...." The Government announced such a reward on April 8 1846. Self's relatives were mentioned in the following Louisiana statute. William was murdered by a slave after he whipped the slaves girlfriend. Louisiana awarded a man named Bankston a reward of $500.00 for capturing the murderer. Louisiana Public Law #182 March 18th, 1850. By Act 261 of the 1852 Legislature, the state treasurer was to pay warrants for John Sibley, James M. Holt, Robert F. Sibley Jr., John Chance, Reddick Sibley, Jackson Self, David Self, and George W. Kirkham for "services rendered in prosecuting and bringing to justice one MORRIS JOHNSON, who after trial, had been sentenced to the penitentiary for life."

 

Version 2:

William Isaac Self was born October 1, 1796 and died March 31, 1846 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Here is an excerpt from a short document submitted by Cousin Elaine entitled "Death of William Self":             "It is the long standing tradition that William Self was shot to death as he put his baby son to bed. A window was open and the murderer shot through the window and disappeared. The story handed down is that he had beaten a  negro slave girl during the day and the boyfriend, who also was one of his slaves, became very angry and did the deed. I personally believe that it must have been a grandson since his age is on up there and his sons are grown. I have no proof. "Russ Williams claims that the slaves did not have access to guns and he was pretty sure that the story is not true. He alluded (but did not come out and say it) that a relative did the deed and he was immediately dealt with and they never found this person again.  "...It is a fact that he was murdered since the Louisiana legislature called for an act to set up a bounty for the killer."  The bounty mentioned above was in the sum of $500 for "arresting and conveying to the hands of justice the murderers of William Self..." and approved on 18th March, 1850, signed by Joseph Walker, Governor of the State of Louisiana.

 

Editor’s Thoughts On Who Committed The Murder:

For some reason, I think Version 2 above is the more accurate version. I do not believe that it would be easy for a slave to acquire the use of a shotgun. Version 1 just doesn’t pass the “smell” test. This bit of history in the Self family has not come down to us as oral history. It was completely unknown to us. I recently asked my Uncle Jack Self (Raymond Ralph “Jack” Self) if he had ever heard that his great great grandfather had been murdered. He replied that he had not. Why not? I believe that the family  hushed this up because a relative or neighbor did it and he was dealt with and was never heard from again. Something which happens in a family or to a family in most cases get passed down the generations. But, this was hushed up and remained hushed up. Who could it have been? I haven’t the foggiest notion of who the relative or neighbor might have been. Of course, all of this is pure conjecture on my part.

 

1846. Administration of the will of William Isaac Self, Jr.:

January 7, 1846:

Petition of Elijah Self for family meeting to appoint a tutor to his three brothers: William Jackson Self, David Washington Self, and Franklin Dawson Self, all minors. The date cannot be correct as it is before the death of William Isaac Self, Jr. The date probably should be January 7, 1847 and not January 7, 1846.

March 21, 1846:

Death by murder of William Isaac Self, Jr.

March 27, 1846:

Petition of Elijah Self for inventory. His father, William Isaac Self, Jr., has recently died, leaving Elijah and 5 other children; Elijah and Eli are of age, the other three are minors. Elijah Self is sole executor of the will.

April 1, 1846:

Inventory: 640 acres on which the deceased last resided, bounded north by M. Newsom, east by Tangipahoa River, south by Strawbridge, west by vacant lands  appraised at $800, 11 slaves at $6975. (Editor’s Note: In 2005 values, $800 would be $160,800 and $7000 would be $1,407,000.)

April 13, 1846:

Bond was given to Elijah Self, administrator for $12,000 (Editor’s Note: In 2005 values, $12,000 would be worth $2,400,000).

November 30, 1846:

Notice of sale: 640 acres and all personal property will be sold on January 2, 1847.

November 7, 1846:

Family meeting to fix terms.

December 7, 1846:

Partition of slaves among heirs.

January 7, 1847:

Sale of lands, the 640 acres is purchased by Mrs. A. F. Bridges for $805 (About $160,800 in 2005 dollars). Personal property also sold.

 

 

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