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- 1816 BIRTH: TN,Knox Co: Charlotte Martha Smith born 7 March 1816; also shown as Charlotte Jeanette; Sharlotta; Lottie
Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry family rcds
1834 MARRIAGE#1: MO,Boone Co: James McAllister md Charlotte Smith-both of Boone Co-13 May 1834.
Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry fam rcds: md James McAlister,11 children, living in Oregon in 1851
1844 HIST: OR-The Dalles: Reminiscences of Hon John Minto, Pioneer of 1844 V2 1901 pg 242: Mrs James McAllister & 4 children part of a boatload leaving The Dalles 26 Dec 1844 on Columbia River to north bank 29 Dec, aft terrible storm in the narrow gorge of Cape Horn:
"We left The Dalles 26 Dec with the running gear of 3 wagons in our boat and 17 persons, young & old, on top of that, leaving also our Indian oarsmen... We reached & passed the cascades in safety...We met with no unusual difficulty until some distance below the rapids. But on 29th, as we entered the narrow gorge of Cape Horn from the east, a storm of wind entered from the west. It was the most awful effect of wind that I have ever seen... Clark at the steering oar...decided to land on the north bank rather than on a sand pit near us on the south side. This made it necessary to cross the river in front of the storm...accelerating our speed. The first blow received was the most violent-we crossed rvr right on crest of its turmoil...swallowed up completely frm sight of some Indians in a canoe who hugged the south shore & who believed us sunk, and so reported to our friends at Linnton.
A Mrs James McAlister with her 4 children was among those in the bateau (her husband engaged with care of their property;the family had given Clark a temporary home and to assist whom was his chief object in being there) She sat mute under the onset of the storm, with her little ones close to her; she was the first to get out onto the bank, & her children were passed to her. After receiving the hand of the last & youngest she turned her face to Clark & sd "Dan Clark, I have been your good friend; but you have just put my children in great danger without reason and I never wish to speak to you again." Her face was bloodless with the intensity of her emotions, & Clark, naturally ruddy, was also as white as he could be.
It is but just to give his reason for his decision to reach the north shore: From this side a trail led to Vancouver, and had we been stormbound long, some of us could have gone to the fort for relief and not eaten boiled buffalo hide for soup as a group had done in 1843. The wind fell & the rain came but we succeeded by breaking up a wood rat's nest of huge size in starting a good fire. During the night the weather turned colder & a few inches of soft snow covered us at daylight. Against the chinook wind we made the Hudson's Bay Co's sawmill. There a "canny Scot" gave us shelter...after supper, after hearing our previous night's experience, he returned with a pail of nice white turnips bidding the party to "Help yersel's". Mrs McAlister thanked him & helped the children all around...this was a homely treat but was greatly enjoyed.
29 Dec: On entering mouth of Willamette, we found brig Chenamus and asked to come aboard by a man named Cushing. We were treated to best supper and given the officer's quarters for women & children.
30 Dec: Landed on west bank of Willamette at Linnton, which was a village of tents, blacksmith shop, home & few outbuildings..."
1850 CENSUS: OR Terr, Lewis Co-26 March, DW 83/11: Charlotte McAllister 34/TN, wife of James McAllister
1858 MARRIAGE #2: WA,Thurston Co: Charlotte McAllister md William Mengle 16 July 1858
WA Terr Donation Land Claim-signed by Charlotte Mengel after husband died
1860 Thurston Co, WA Territory: Charlotte Mingle, Barbara also shows Land Claim "Charlotte Jeannette."
1860 CENSUS:WA,Thurston Co-Olympia PO: pg 218, 28 Jun,Dw 398:
MINGLE, William 42/GY (4500,1850); Charlotte 42/TN - no children shown, although 3
children signed division of claim 1861. Living "next door:" Wm Hartman, James
Bunton, George McAllister 25/laborer,
#396 McAllister, Jn 48/KY; MJ 35/TN; Joseph 14/MO; Hiram 9/MO;Jn 5/WT; Geo 4/WT;
James 1/WT.
1859 WILL: WA,Thurston Co-Olympia 2 May 1859:
"I Charlotte Mengel of Thurston Co, WA Terr, make this my last will. I give & bequeath unto my husband Wm Mengel..north & west half of share & portion of the Land Claim known as Land Claim of my late husb James McAlister, deceased: NW Qtr containing 160 acres...Twp 18 North Range 1 East of Willamette Meridian Sec 7 & 18...if I survive husband, give said land to issue of myself and said Wm Mengel.
I further give devise & bequeath, subject to the right of my said husband as tenant by the curtesy & upon his death, the remaining 1/2 or 160 acres constituting the rest & residue of my share & estate in the said Land Claim, in equal shares, share & share alike, unto my 6 children viz: John Y McAlister, James Benton McAlister, Eliza Jeannette McAlister, Sarah Adams McAlister, Julia Amanda McAlister & Elizabeth Adeline McAlister. Wm Mengel, Exec of Est & signed by Charlotte Mengel. Wit: WW Miller,Edwd Furste, TF McElroy."
1865 CODICIL: "Whereas I Charlotte Mengel...have made my last will in writing 2 May 1859 in regard to my property: Now therefore, I do, by this writing...declare to be a codicil to my said last will and to be taken as a part thereof, order & declare that my will is, that only the sum of $5.00 be paid to the following named persons to wit: America Rebbaca Chambers, Martha Ann Bunton, Mary Jane Hart, being the full amount bequeathed to the above named persons. Signed by Charlotte Mengle, 20 Sep 1865, witnessed by John M Hawk, CE Griffin, JW Hawk."
1865 DEATH: WA: Charlotte Martha Smith McAllister Mengle died 12 October 1865
1893 HIST: Manuscript NW Collection, U of WA Lib, by Sarah McAllister Hartman, written 20 Feb 1893. Many stories of family as arrived, settled & Indian troubles, including dth of father, James in 1855. See James Benton McAllister notes.
NOTES: Letters from brother George and sister Ann Pulliam and John Walkup to James & Charlotte in OR in 1850s. Lttr from Ann dated 27 Jan 1856: received letter from Charlotte dated 18 Oct 1855, talking about Indian troubles & wanting to know if somewhere could move back to Boone Co a wk before James killed. She also says that Charlotte said she had 10/11 children living. Says to say hi to America & her family and Martha & her husband.
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