Dempsey Cribb (c1797) and Nancy Ann Harrelson of Marion Co, SC

I (Marty Grant) am a 1st cousin 6 times removed to Dempsey Cribb. That connection is based on some unproven family links though, so it could be wrong.

Dempsey Cribb was born ca 1796/97 in Georgetown District, SC (now Marion County). He is a son of Thomas William Cribb and Elizabeth ---. This is proven by two sources. The Diary of Rev. Simeon Campbell records Dempsey, Anthony and others as children of Elizabeth Cribb (who was a widow for many years). In a deed dated 1827, Elizabeth Cribb deeded land to her son Anthony Cribb, and also referred to her "late husband Thomas Cribb".

Dempsey was apparently at home with his father Thomas Cribb for the 1800 census in Marion Dist, SC (age "under 10", born ca 1790/1800), and with his widowed mother Elizabeth Cribb in 1810 (age 10-15, born ca 1794/1800) and 1820 (age 16-25, born ca 1794/1804)..

Dempsey Cribb married ca 1820/1821 in Marion Dist, SC to Nancy Ann Harrelson (maiden name proven in probate record showing heirs of Benjamin Harrelson who died 1840, including daughter "Nancy Cribb", thanks to Jo Dickerson for that data). Nancy was born ca 1796/97 in SC. Her parents were Benjamin and Susannah (---) Harrelson. (Probate Roll # 357, published in "Probate Records, Marion County, South Carolina Volume One", by Lucille Utley, Danny Smith, 1985, page 218).

Dempsey Cribb was listed on the 1824 Tax List for Marion Dist, SC and charged for 7 cents tax.

Dempsey Cribb was listed on the 1830 census in Marion Dist, SC. This census was alphabetical, so I can't tell who his neighbors were.

On 17 Nov 1832 Dempsey Cribb sold land to Willis Huggins (who's wife was my Aunt Mary Campbell). He refers to the land being his part of an original grant to "Demcey Campbell". The Deed was witnessed by Theophilus Campbell and Elizabeth Huggins (daughter of Willis). (Marion Dist, SC Deed Book W page 188)

On 1 Jan 1833 Dempsey Cribb sold his 1/2 interest in 207 acres of land (formerly belonging to Richard Edwards) to "William Cribb". I have yet to identify William Cribb. The land was on Maiden Down. Witnesses were: David Edwards, Anthony Cribb and John Collins (I don't know which John Collins this was, but see the Collins pages for more on them). (Marion Dist, SC Deed Book P page 197)

On 13 Feb 1833 Dempsey Cribb sold the other half of the 207 acres to Matthew Martin. Witnesses included Samuel Edwards, David Edwards and John Collins. (Marion Dist, SC Deed Book P page 198)

Dempsey Cribb was listed on the 1840 census in Marion Dist, SC. He wasn't listed near any other Cribb families, but his neighbors on this census included names in the Maiden Down area (Reaves Township). For some reason, he was listed alone. Perhaps this was just because he wasn't home when the census taker came by, or because his wife (Nancy Ann Harrelson) wasn't his first wife.

Dempsey Cribb and family were listed in Marion Dist, SC on the 1850 census. He had some of the same neighbors that he had in 1840, so he was still in the same area (Maiden Down).

On 2 Jan 1856 Dempsey Cribb purchased 200 acres from his brother Anthony Cribb, land in the Fork of Buck Swamp and Maiden Down. Witnesses include N.C. McDuffie and Evan Lewis (Dempsey's son-in-law).

Nancy Ann Harrelson Cribb died on 16 Oct 1856 as reported in the Diary of Rev. Simeon Campbell.

For the 1860 census Dempsey Cribb was listed in Marion Dist, SC in the same general area as before (he had the same neighbors still). He had Sarah Harrell living with him (perhaps a sister of his late wife; "Harrell" and "Harrelson" are often mixed up in the early records for some reason). He also had Mary McNeil residing with him. I don't know who she is.

Dempsey Cribb was listed on the 1870 census in Reeves Neck Township. He had a Mary Rogers residing with him, relationship unknown. His nephew William T. Cribb (son of Anthony) was nearby.

On 28 Dec 1878, Alice V. Page petitioned that Dempsey Cribb's estate be considered a "derelict estate" considering that he died "1876 leaving considerable real and personal estate and no widow or children as his heirs". Alice V. Page was not an heir, but one of his creditors. (Probate Roll # 1333, published in "Probate Records, Marion County, South Carolina Volume Two", by Lucille Utley, Danny Smith, 1985, page 232)

Children

The census records show only one apparent child for Dempsey and Nancy. I figured this was probably Margaret Cribb (c1822) who fits perfectly for several reasons. However, a probate record for Dempsey Cribb (dated 1878) stated that he died without heirs, which if correct, means that Margaret is not his child. For the sake of not losing track of Margaret Cribb, I'm going to leave her here for now, pending other evidence.

Margaret Cribb was born ca 1821/22 in Marion Dist, SC. I have not found any direct proof that Margaret is a child of Dempsey. Sellers stated that she a Cribb, but I have no direct evidence that she was Dempsey's child (or that she was actually a Cribb). Dempsey did have a daughter her age, and she did name one of her sons "Dempsey". She also lived very near Dempsey Cribb, so it all fits. The only catch is that Dempsey's probate record (dated 1878) says that he died with no widow or children. However, Margaret did not die until 1887. There are only two possible conclusions to draw. One: The Probate record was wrong (it happens, but it is rare), or Margaret Cribb is not Dempsey's child.

She seemed to be home with her parents for the 1830 census (age 5-9, born ca 1820/25).

Margaret Cribb married Evan Lewis before 1846. Evan was born ca 1808/09 in Marion Dist, SC, a son of Jonathan and Susannah (Porter) Lewis. (Per Sellers).

He gives more on their descendants. He does not list Margaret Cribb as a daughter of Dempsey, but based on them naming one of their sons "Dempsy", I think this is where she belongs. Add to that the fact that they were just two houses from Dempsey Cribb in 1850, and next door to him in 1860, and I think that ties it up pretty well, though it isn't absolute proof. Dempsey has a daughter this age with him in 1830.

Both their deaths were recorded in the Diary of Rev. Simeon Campbell (page 35), his as March 18th, 1877 and hers as Nov 11th 1887.

Researcher List

1. Dempsey¹ Cribb , born 1796 in Georgetown Dist, SC (now Marion Co, SC); died 24 Jun 1877 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Cribb Cem, Dillon Co, SC, son of Thomas William Cribb and Elizabeth (---) . He married abt 1820 in Marion Dist, SC Nancy Ann Harrelson , born 1796/97 in Georgetown Dist, SC; died 16 Oct 1856 in Marion Dist, SC; buried in Cribb Cem, Dillon Co, SC, daughter of Benjamin Harrelson and Susannah (---) .

Children of Dempsey Cribb and Nancy Ann Harrelson were as follows:

+ 2 i Margaret² Cribb , born 1821/22 in Marion Dist, SC; died 11 Nov 1887 in Marion Co, SC. She married Evan Lewis .

Generation 2

2. Margaret² Cribb (Dempsey¹), born 1821/22 in Marion Dist, SC; died 11 Nov 1887 in Marion Co, SC. She married in 1840/46 in Marion Dist, SC Evan Lewis , born 1808/09 in Marion Dist, SC; died 18 Mar 1877 in Marion Co, SC, son of Jonathan Lewis and Susannah Porter .

Children of Margaret Cribb and Evan Lewis were as follows:

+ 3 i Caroline³ Lewis , born 1845/46 in Marion Dist, SC. She married Frank M Monroe Dr .

4 ii Adaline³ Lewis , born 1846/47 in Marion Dist, SC. She married in 1860/70 in Marion Co, SC Oliver Williams , born in NC.

5 iii Jonathan³ Lewis , born 21 Feb 1850 in Marion Dist, SC; died 19 Feb 1920 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Cedar Dale Cem, Marion Co, SC.

+ 6 iv Dempsey³ Lewis , born 7 Jun 1854 in Marion Dist, SC; died 24 Dec 1915 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Cedar Dale Cem, Marion Co, SC. He married Eliza Jane Stackhouse .

Generation 3

3. Caroline³ Lewis (Margaret² Cribb, Dempsey¹), born 1845/46 in Marion Dist, SC. She married in 1860/67 in Marion Dist, SC Frank M Monroe Dr , born 1837/38 in Marion Dist, SC.

Children of Caroline Lewis and Frank M Monroe Dr were as follows:

7 i James⁴ Monroe , born 1866/67 in Marion Dist, SC.

8 ii Annie M⁴ Monroe , born 1868/69 in Marion Co, SC.

9 iii Bettie G⁴ Monroe , born 1870/71 in Marion Co, SC.

10 iv Martha J⁴ Monroe , born 1874/75 in Marion Co, SC.

11 v McDuffie⁴ Monroe , born 1877/78 in Marion Co, SC.

6. Dempsey³ Lewis (Margaret² Cribb, Dempsey¹), born 7 Jun 1854 in Marion Dist, SC; died 24 Dec 1915 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Cedar Dale Cem, Marion Co, SC. He married in 1870/76 in Marion Co, SC Eliza Jane Stackhouse , born 3 Feb 1852 in Marion Dist, SC; died 19 May 1918 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Cedar Dale Cem, Marion Co, SC.

Children of Dempsey Lewis and Eliza Jane Stackhouse were as follows:

12 i Taylor⁴ Lewis , born 1875/76 in Marion Co, SC.

13 ii John L⁴ Lewis , born 1876/77 in Marion Co, SC.

14 iii (---)⁴ Lewis , born 1879 in Marion Co, SC.