Alphabetical Table of Names Mentioned
in the excerpts of the
1849-1855 Diary of Rev. J. L. Cotten 
of the
Methodist Church of Cahawba, AL

Comments Updated 15 Apr 2006

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27 Jul 2000:  Mrs. Barbara Smith, widow of thelate Roy Lester Smith, sent me copies of some of Roy's work. Roy is a direct descendent of my ggg-uncle, Isham Gwin, brother of my gg-grandpa,William Gwin, both of Cahaba, AL.  Our common ancestors are Ishamand William's parents, John and Jane Walker Gwin.  Among that workis a 16-page typewritten transcription containing excerpts from the diaryof the Rev. (C. J. L.?) Cotten--some 58 entries, almost all of which containreferences to my Gwin, Basset, and/or Wilson ancestors (which referencesappear in boldface in the list below).  Indeed, referencesto over eighty different individuals are made here, and I hope that thisposting may help some of you with your research.  In a 26 Jan1997 letter to Barbara Ward, Roy said the diary copies were sentto him by the Cahaba Project where the original manuscripts of the diaryare on loan by the owner.
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Excerpts from theDiary of Rev. James Cotten, Pastor of the Methodist Church ofCahaba and close friend and confidant of John Gwin, William Gwin,and their families.  Excerpts begin 6Apr 1849 and close 23 Mar 1855.

For a list of marriages in Dallas Co., AL, 1818- 1845, click: dallcoearlymarriages.htm.

For a list of names mentioned in the book, Memoriesof Old Cahaba, click: cahabanames.htm.

For a list of names in the index of my Cahabaancestor's photo album, click: index2photoalbum.htm.


 
 
Called by Cotten
Listed as such on entries of thesedates
John Gwin's Comments
01. Allen, Sister01. Sun 28 Apr 1850.
02. _____, Ann02. Sat 11 Feb 1854, Fri 03 Jan 1851
03. [Ulmer], Lucy, aka Miss L.03. Sun 22 Dec 1850, Tue 24 Dec 1850, Fri 22 Oct 1852, Thu 04Jan 1853, Tue 05 Apr 1853, Sat 11 Feb 1854, Fri 23 Mar 1855; 
04. [Ulmer Dr.], Lucy's father04. Sat 11 Feb 1854, Fri 23 Mar 1855
05. _____, Martha05. Thu 04 Jul 1850
07. _____, Sister Martha07. Thu 06 Dec 1849, Fri 29 Mar 1850
08. Babcock, Bro.08. Thu 06 Apr 1849;
09. Babcock, John09. Mon 19 Nov 1849, Tue 27 Nov 1849
10. Babcock, John's mother10. Tue 27 Nov 1849
11. Babcock, Sister11. Tue 04  Jun 1850
12. Baloom the negro12. Wed 14 Nov 1849, Wed 28 Nov 1849, Thu 21 Mar 1850, Fri 29Mar 1850
13. Bassett, Bro.13. Thu 06 Apr 1849; Sat 30 Jun 1849, Wed 14 Nov 1849, Wed 28Nov 1849, Tue 25 Dec 1849, Sun 21 Apr 1850, Sun 21 Apr 1850, Sun 28 Jul1850This is almost certain to be JosephBasset, since the entry for 21 Apr 1850 says that Cotten baptisedBro. Basset's infant daughter, Margaret Revel Basset, on that day. Margaret Revel Basset is Joseph Basset's second child but first by hissecond wife,Louisa Catherine High Blann.  MRB was born 29 Sep 1849,never married, and died 18 Dec 1903.

I don't know when Cotten arrived in Cahaba, but he may not have knownJohn Gwin's daughter Ann who was Joseph Basset's first wife, who died in1845 at age 18, probably in childbirth.

14. Beene, Infant 14. Sun 08 Dec 1850
15. Beene, Mr.15. Sun 08 Dec 1850 
16. Bell, Judge 16. Mon 19 Nov 1849 
17. Bell, Miss 17. Thu 21 Mar 1850, Fri 22 Mar 1850 Mary Frances "Fanny" Elizabeth Bell of Bogue Chitto, daughter-in-lawof John and Jane Gwin and wife of ChesleyR. Gwin
18. Bohanan, Sister 18. Mon 19 Nov 1849 
19-20. Bowdon, Old Mr. 19. Tue 27 Nov 1849, Thu 06 Dec 1849
21. Broom, Bro. 21. Tue 11 Dec 1849, Wed 12 Dec 1849, Thu 27 Dec 1849,  
22. Bush, Sister 22. Sun 28 Apr 1850 
23. C., Col. 23. Sat 05 May 1849 
24. C., Miss 24. Mon 29 Jul 1850 
25. Campbell, Col. 25. Tue 25 Dec 1849
26. Campbell, Mr.  26. Sat 05 May 1849 
27. Cobb, Bishop 27. Sun 28 Apr 1850 
28. Cole, Mr. 28. Sun 09  Jun 1850 
29. Comelander, Jesse 29. Wed 12 Dec 1849 John and Jane Gwin's son-in-law, William and Roe Gwin's brother-in-law,and Martha Gwin's husband.
30. Cove, Mr. Jo. 30. Mon 17 Dec 1849 
31. Cove, Sister 31. Fri 22 Mar 1850 
32. Craig, Mrs. 32. Thu 21 Mar 1850 
33. Crocheron, Mrs. Henry33. Thu 21 Mar 1850 Some eight months later, a Mr. H. J. Crocheron, 23, a New Yorkfarmer listed as owning $27,300 in real estate, is recorded in the 6Nov 1850 census of Cahaba as living in residence #600 withwife Julia, 20, and children Howard, 8, and Eugenia,6. An interesting note is that next door in residence #599 is the McKnightfamily, William and Louisa A. (Gwin) McKnight, Johnand Jane Gwin's youngest daughter!
34. Crosby, Sister 34. Mon 19 Nov 1849 
35. Curtis, Dr. of Wilcox 35. Tue 24 Dec 1850 
36. Divins, (Mr.) 36. Mon 26 Nov 1849 
37. Ellis, Bro. 37. Thu 27 Dec 1849 
38. Fambro, Col. 38. Tue 11 Dec 1849, Thu 27 Dec 1849 
39. Finley, Bro. 39. Sun 25 Nov 1849 
40. Francis, Bro. 40. Thu 26 Apr 1849, Sun 21 Apr 1850, Thu 04 Jul 1850, Fri 03 Jan 1851
41. Furlow, Mrs. 41. Mon 26 Nov 1849 
42. Garnett, Bro. 42. Sat 15  Jun 1850 
43. George, old man [slave] 43. Tue 28 May 1850 This is John Gwin's longtime slave. I believe that John and Jane hadno slaves when they came to Alabama from Tennessee (see the 1820 censusfor Dallas Co., AL), so he must have acquired this George after movingto Dallas Co. 

According to a biographyof John's baby brother's (Richard W. Gwin's)son, William W. Gwin, John's and Richard's father, IshamGwin, a Baptist pastor in Crowson's Cove, Sevier Co., TN, HATEDSLAVERY (though he kept slaves himself) and so FREED his slaves and movedto Indiana, a new FREE state, in order to live away from the institutionof slavery.

This is speculation (though based on the above biography): I believethat both John and his brother William(also listed in the 1820 census of Dallas Co., AL, as having no slaves)DISAGREED with their father and moved to Alabama in order to own slaves.The reason they brought no slaves with them from Tennessee MAY have beenthat their father had already freed his own, leaving none to give Johnand William in their inheritance. 

44. Givhan,Dr.44. Sat 30 Nov 1850 
45. Goldby 45. Thu 21 Mar 1850 
46. Griffin, Bro. 46. Tue 24 Dec 1850 
47. Guinn, Bro. [usu. John]47. Thu 06 Apr 1849, Thu 17 May 1849, Sun 05 Aug 1849, Sun 11Nov 1849, Tue 13 Nov 1849, Mon 26 Nov 1849, Tue 27 Nov 1849, Sun 16 Dec1849, Thu 27 Dec 1849, Thu 03 Jan 1850, Fri 22 Mar 1850, Sun 21 Apr 1850,Tue 28 May 1850, Sat 01 Jun 1850, Sun 09  Jun 1850, Sat 15  Jun 1850, Thu04 Jul 1850, Sun 21 Jul 1850, Mon 29 Jul 1850, Sat 30 Nov 1850, Sun 08Dec 1850, Sun 22 Dec 1850, Tue 24 Dec 1850, Fri 27 Dec 1850, Mon 30 Dec1850, Fri 22 Oct 1852, Thu 25 Nov 1852, Thu 04 Jan 1853, Tue 05 Apr 1853,Sat 11 Feb 1854, Tue 21 Feb. 1854, Fri 10 Mar 1854 Fri 23 Mar 1855 John Gwin, husband of Jane WalkerGwin; son of Isham and Mary Canterbury Gwin;and father of Mary, Thomas, Isom,William,Sarah,Ann,Martha,Chesley,and Louisa
48. Guinn, Bro Wm. 48. Sat 30 Jun 1849, Mon 19 Nov 1849, Sun 25 Nov 1849, Thu 06Dec 1849, Tue 11 Dec 1849, Wed 12 Dec 1849, Mon 17 Dec 1849, Thu 27 Dec1849, Wed 02 Jan 1850, Fri 29 Mar 1850, Sun 06 (Oct?) 1850, Tue 08 (Oct?)1850, Sun 03 Nov 1850, Fri 03 Jan 1851 William, son of Johnand Jane, husband of Rosanne Carlisle Jones (Wilson)Gwin
49. Guinn, Charley49. Thu 21 Mar 1850, Fri 22 Mar 1850Chesley R. Gwin, son of Johnand Jane
50. Guinn, Isom50. Tue 21 Feb. 1854 Isom Gwin, firstborn ofJohn and Jane and first husband of Mary Burdine Wilson. He was namedfor his grandfather, Isham Gwin (see comments for entry #43 above).Isom had just died less than three months earlier and was buried at thecemetery of the Protestant Methodist Church in Athens, Dallas Co., AL (seephotographs of his grave). 

Like his grandfather--and namesake--and his father, Isom kept slaves(though his grandfather had freed his own) and left them in hiswill to his widow and two daughters.

51. Guinn, Miss Louisa 51. Thu 17 May 1849 John and Jane's baby and wife of William McKnight
52. Guinn, Mrs. 52. Thu 19 Sep 1850 Jane (nee Walker) Gwin,wife of John
53. Guinn, Mrs. Charley53. Tue 17 Sep 1850 Mary Frances "Fanny" Elizabeth Bell (Mrs. Chesley) Gwin, daughter-in-lawof John and Jane.
54. Guinn, Old Bro. 54. Sat., 18 Jan 1851 John Gwin
55. Guinn, Old Sister55. Sun 22 Dec 1850 Jane Walker Gwin, wife of John and daughter of Thomasand Elizabeth Magill Walker of TN
56. Guinn, Sister Wm.56. Sun 28 Apr 1850, Sun 21 Jul 1850Rosanna "Roe" Carlisle Jones Wilson (Mrs.William) Gwin
57. Guinn, twoBro.57. Thu 26 Apr 1849, Sat 05 May 1849, Tue 25 Dec 1849John (father) and William (son) Gwin
58. Hatcher, Mr. 58. Thu 27 Dec 1849 I speculate that this person is somehow related to the Hatcherfamily of Crowson's Cove, Isham Gwin's next-door neighbors inSevier Co., TN, where John was raised. 
59. Hays, Maj. 59. Thu 21 Mar 1850 
60. Holston 60. Sat 15  Jun 1850 
61. Hoot, Sister 61. Tue 25 Dec 1849, Sat 01 Jun 1850In the 6 Nov 1850 census of Cahaba, a Catherine Hoot , 50, b.SC, is living in residence #586 (next door to John and Jane Gwinand their son Chesley R. and new daughter-in-law Frances E.)with her sons Henry 26,  a bricklayer b. in SC; and Robert, 16, b.in AL; and four other people who may possibly be her brother and his wifeand family.
62. Horne, Sister 62. Thu 26 Apr 1849 
63. Hunter, Sister Charlotte 63. Fri 29 Mar 1850 Cotten's entry: "Sister Charlotte Hunter leaves to nightfor the North." Evidently this leaving was only for a visit, as eight monthslater she's back--but twice?

In the 6 Nov 1850 census of Cahaba, a Miss C. E. Hunter, 27,b. NY, is living in residence #594, a boarding house.
But the same census records a C. E. Hunter, 35, F, b. in "Con."(assumed to be Connecticut), living in residence #556, home of Mr. andMrs. Simms and evidently also a boarding house (since some 19 other peoplefrom many different states and countries also live there).

64. Hunter, Mr. William 64. Sun 03 Nov 1850 
65. Jones, Bro. 65. Thu 06 Apr 1849, Sat 05 May 1849, Fri 03 Jan 1851 
66. Jones, Mr.  66. Tue 11 Dec 1849 
67. Kovnegby, Mrs. 67. Thu 27 Dec 1849 
68. Lapsley, Mr. 68. Sat 05 May 1849 Cotten's entry: "There is in the same building another lawyer aMr.Lapsley who seerms to be quite companionable and has read a good dealupon the subject of Theology, but does not profess to be a christian." In the 5 Nov 1850 census, Wm. M. Lapsley, 34, a lawyer b. in KY, is livingin Cahaba in residence #551 with his wife, Emily A., 24, and no children.
69. Lapsley, Mrs. Wm. 69. Thu 21 Mar 1850 Cotten's entry: "Visited Mrs. Wm. Lapsley and Mrs. Craig."EvidentlyCotten has been making his neighbors' acquaintance in pursuing their salvation.
70. Lister, Mrs.70. Fri 22 Mar 1850 Probably Eliza, the wife of Jere Lister, neighbor andbusiness partner of the Bassets.  Some eight months later, in thecensusof 5 Nov 1850, Jeremiah(32, b. GA) and Eliza (25, b.AL) Lister are recorded as living in Cahaba in residence548 (next door to Joseph and Louisa Basset) with children James(10),Mary(8), and Charles (6). Daughter Mary is the sameMaryEllen Lister who, twelve years later in 1862, would marry Joseph Basset'snephew, Robert George Cheeseman,and move with him to Matagorda, TX
71. Little, Maj. 71. Mon 17 Dec 1849 
72. Little, Sibln 72. Mon 17 Dec 1849 
73. Lovett, Bro. 73. Wed 12 Dec 1849, Thu 21 Mar 1850 
74. Lucus, Bro. 74. Tue 27 Nov 1849 
75. Matthews, Col. 75. Tue 28 May 1850 
76. McDaniel, Bro. 76. Sun 22 Dec 1850 
77. McK., Bro. 77. Tue 04 Jun 1850 This must be William McKnight, son-in-law of John and Jane Gwinand husband of their ninthborn and baby, LouisaGwin McKnight, who is buried next to her mother Jane in Cahaba'sNew Cemetery. I believe William is buried there also, as his broken stoneis also in the cemetery, though some distance away, perhaps moved by thevandals who broke it.
78. McKnight, Bro. 78. Thu 17 May 1849 This must be William McKnight, son-in-law of John and Jane Gwinand husband of their ninthborn and baby, Louisa Gwin (see note,above).
79. Meridith, Bro.79. Thu 21 Mar 1850
80. Moffat, Mrs. 80. Mon 17 Dec 1849 
81. Parish, George Lawrence 81. Sun 08 Sep 1850 
82. Parish, Mr. 82. Sun 08 Sep 1850 
83. Ramsey, Bro. J. Y. 83. Thu 26 Apr 1849 
84. Ransom, Mr. 84. Mon 17 Dec 1849
85. Ransom, Mrs. 85. Mon 17 Dec 1849 
86. Revel, Margaret86. Sun 21 Apr 1850 Cotten lists this person only by her two given names. Margaret RevelBasset is Joseph Basset'ssecond child but first by his second wife, Louisa Catherine High Blann. MRB was born 29 Sep 1849, never married, and died 18 Dec 1903. 
She is listed in the 5 Nov 1850 census as Margaret R. Basset, 1, F.,b. AL, d/o Joseph and Louisa.
87. Roberts, Bro. 87. Wed 14 Nov 1849 
88. Rowark, Mrs. 88. Thu 17 May 1849 Mary Gwin, secondborn of John and Jane and wife first of DruryHampton Roark and second of Abel Turner; mother of WalterRoark and Anna Turner, the latter of whom would marry Mary'sbrother William's son, Rufus King Gwin. 
(At first I incorrectly pronounced this name /rork/ to rhyme with cork,dork, and pork; however, the correct pronunciation, as I have learned fromliving descendants and as is verified here by Cotten's phonetic misspelling,is /ROW-ark/, two syllables, the first to rhyme with slow, go, and dough,the second to rhyme with dark, mark, and park.)
89. S., Bro. 89. Sat 15  Jun 1850 
90. S., Dr. 90. Wed 02 Jan 1850 
91. Saffold, Bro. 91. Thu 06 Apr 1849 
92. Saffold, Judge 92. Sun 11 Nov 1849, Wed 02 Jan 1850, Thu 03 Jan 1850 
93. Saltmarsh, Bro. 93. Thu 06 Apr 1849 
94. Saltmarsh, Dr. 94. Wed 02 Jan 1850, Tue 28 May 1850, Tue 24 Dec 1850 
95. Saltmarsh, Sister 95. Wed 02 Jan 1850 
96. Shields, Bro.96. Mon 30 Dec 1850, Fri 22 Oct 1852 I speculate that this person is somehow related to Richard Shields,Isham Gwin's next-door neighbor in Crowson'sCove, Sevier Co., TN, where John was raised.
97. Simms, Bro. 97. Tue 11 Dec 1849, Thu 03 Jan 1850 
98. Smiley, Bro.98. Mon 30 Dec 1850 A Smyley infant is buried just a few feet from Isom Gwin's grave inthe Protestant Methodist Church of Athens cemetery across the road fromthe old St.Luke's church at Martins Station
99. Snead, Bro. 99. Wed 28 Nov 1849 
100. Spaight, Messer. 100. Sun 21 Apr 1850 Cotten writes: "SABBATH 21ST APL. 1850--This morning Messer.Spaight and Turner came to know if I would invite some singers whowere giving a concert in town last night to do the singing in Church forus.  Bro. Bassett went round tosee them, but as we were unwilling to give it all up to them, we had noneof their aid."  The Nov 1850 census records a lawyer, A.W.Speight, 27, b. in AL, as living in resisdence #632. 
101. Stouton, Wm. B (R?) 101. Mon 17 Dec 1849 
102. Terry, Mr. 102. Tue 08 (Oct?) 1850 
103. Thomas, Bro. 103. Sun 28 Apr 1850 
104. Tipton, Maj. 104.  Sat 15  Jun 1850 I speculate that this gentleman COULD be related to the Tiptons ofCrowson's Cove, Sevier Co., TN, and of Tuckaleechee Cove, Blount Co., TN,one of whom (Joseph Tipton) married John Gwin's younger sister,VirginiaJane Gwin Tipton and followed Isham et al to Indiana.
105. Tipton, Mr. 105.  Thu 27 Dec 1849 Possibly the same as above
106. Turner, Mr. 106.  Thu 17 May 1849 Abel Turner, son-in-law of John and Jane, husband of their oldestdaughter Mary, and father of Anna Turner who would marry RufusKing Gwin, Anna's own first cousin.
107. Turner, Messer. 107.  Sun 21 Apr 1850 Probably same as above
108. U., Bro. 108.  Wed 02 Jan 1850, Sun 21 Jul 1850, Sun 28 Jul 1850 Dr. Ulmer, #112 below
109. U., Dr. 109.  Tue 28 May 1850, Sun 08 Sep 1850, Sun 06 (Oct?) 1850, Sun22 Dec 1850, Mon 30 Dec 1850 Dr. Ulmer, #112 below
110. U., Sister 110. Tue 24 Dec 1850 wife of Dr. Ulmer, #112 below
111. Ulmer, Bro. 111. Thu 06 Apr 1849, Thu 26 Apr 1849 Dr. Ulmer, #112 below
112. Ulmer, Dr.112. Sat 05 May 1849, Fri 22 Mar 1850, Tue 24 Dec 1850 _______ Ulmer, M.D., dear friend of Rev. Cotten, buried at the NewCemetery, Cahaba
113. Ulmer, Mrs. 113. Sat 11 Feb 1854 wife of Dr. Ulmer, #112 above
114.  Ulmer, Sister 114. Thu 03 Jan 1850, Mon 29 Jul 1850, Sun 08 Sep 1850, Fri 03 Jan1851 wife of Dr. Ulmer, #112 above
115. Walker, Col.115. Sun 05 Aug 1849 I speculate that this gentleman COULD be somehow related to John Gwin'swife, Jane (Walker) Gwin
116. Warford, Mr. 116. Sun 21 Apr 1850 
117. Watts, Mr. 117. Sat 30 Nov 1850 
118. Wilson, Col. 118. Sun 21 Jul 1850 Nathaniel Burdine Wilson, husband ofJaneJones Wilson and brother of EzekielBurdine Wilson
119. Wilson, Miss 119. Thu 19 Sep 1850 
120. Wilson, Sister 120. Sun 21 Jul 1850 Jane Jones Wilson, first wife of NathanielBurdine Wilson and mother of all his known children
121. Wilson, the negro 121  Wed 14 Nov 1849, Wed 12 Dec 1849 
122. Wright, Bro.122. Thu 26 Apr 1849