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Nancy TURNER (b c1790)

Nancy Turner is my maternal great-great-great-grandmother.

A petition to the Court of Ordinary in Union County, South Carolina dated 06 Dec 1844 by Lancelot Porter and his wife Susannah [Comer] relating to the sale of a parcel of land once belonging to James Turner names both James Turner's children and the children of his daughter Nancy Turner Comer. Jason Comer is among the children named. This is primary and direct evidence that Nancy Turner was the mother of Jason Comer.

No information is provided regarding either Nancy's age or the timing of her death. The petition does, however, name the following six children:

(1) Susannah Comer, wife of Lancelot Porter, petitioner,

(2) Jason Comer,

(3) Eliza Comer, wife of Mabry Baldwin,

(4) Mary Comer, wife of Gerard Gregory (and resident of Alabama),

(5) Anna Comer, wife of Henry Mardis, and

(6) Jesse Comer.

All of these six children would appear to be alive in 1844.

Using later census records, the births of each of these children can be estimated as follows:

(2) Jason c1810,

(4) Mary c1814,

(3) Eliza c1816,

(5) Anna c1818,

(6) Jesse c1822.

A Union District court document states that Nancy was married to D Comer. A rather lengthy description of why I believe that D Comer to be a Daniel Comer of Union County, SC is provided in the page for Nancy's husband referenced at the top of this page. I would guess that Nancy married about 1808.

Oddly, if the 1850 Census were to be trusted, (1) Susannah was probably born about 1798. That leaves a gap of about twelve years between her birth and that of Jason. It's not clear to me how that might be explained. I had thought initially that Susannah was the daughter of James Turner, but the referenced court petition is quite explicit in referring to Susannah as "your orator Susannah Comer since intermarried with your orator L Porter." I suspect that Susannah was, in fact, a good bit younger than her husband Lancelot, perhaps by as many as ten years. Further, I suspect that she was not Lancelot's first wife. I would place her birth about 1808 which would be much more in line with the ages of Nancy Turner's other children. If the 1830 and 1840 census records are correct her date of birth may be as late as 1812.

Having a daughter born as early as 1798 would suggest that Nancy Turner was born at least before 1783, but having a daughter born in 1808 or 1812 would make a birth year of 1790 reasonable. When was Nancy born? For that, the census records may provide a clue.

A James Turner appears in the 1800 US Census of Union County, SC. The male head of household is reported to be 26-44 years of age. James' wife is placed in the same age category as her husband (26-44 years) and the three girls are all under 10. This census alone would suggest that James Turner (Sr) and his wife Susanna were born between 1756 and 1774, the two sons between 1784 and 1800, and the three daughters all between 1790 and 1800. The 1810 Census shows the two boys in two age categories, one under ten and one 16-25. [I would guess this could simply be an enumerator error and the younger son should have been in the age category 10-16, but this is mere presumption.] Only two of the daughters appear in the household in 1810. Presumably one of the three has died. The two girls appear in different age categories, the younger is 10-16 and the elder is 16-25. The 1830 Census suggests there is a full 10-year difference in the ages of the two sons, but the household composition in that year is not easily explained. If we presume Nancy to have been the elder sister and use the ages reported in the 1800 Census, Nancy was probably born about 1790.

We know as well that Nancy Turner Comer was dead before 1844 when Lancelot Porter and Nancy's daughter Susannah petitioned the court for the sale of James Turner's land. And the court record relating to the sale of her father's property suggests that she was dead before her two youngest children, Ann and Jesse, reached the age of majority in or around 1839 suggests that she died before that date. That Nancy died before 1839 but after the birth of Jesse Comer in 1822 is about all we can muster regarding her death. One can only presume that she died in Union County, SC.

Sources and Notes:

Note: Lancelot Porter's given name: There are multiple renditions of this Porter's given name. Among them simply Lott, Lanslott, Lancelot, Landlot. I fail to be consistent in the spelling of this name, but I do try to spell it as it appears in documents under discussion.

Union District court document naming husband of Nancy Turner as D Comer.A photocopy of this document was given to me by Mike Comer. I have been unable to find the document in Famiy Search records of the property and probate records of Union County, SC, though I am confident it can be found there. The document must date before Nancy's children, Ann and Jesse, reached the age of majority. That suggests a date prior to 1839. The document incidentally but directly states that Nancy Turner "was married to D Comer." A link to a photocopy of this document appears above under photographs.

1844 Court of Ordinary Petition for sale of land once belonging to James Turner. South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977. FamilySearch: South Carolina, Union County, Union > Real estate book, 1835-1872 > image 79 of 402; citing Department of Archives and History, Columbia. Note: This record shows a petition to the Court of Ordinary in Union County, SC by Lancelot Porter and Susannah his wife dated 06 Dec 1844 appealing for permission to sell a parcel of land of 130 acres once belonging to James Turner (and subsequently to his wife who has recently died intestate). The record identifies the children of James Turner as (A) son Jesse B Turner, (B) son James Turner (apparently deceased) and grandson J W Thompson Turner the child of James, (C) daughter Mary Turner Bryce (wife of Thomas Bryce, thought to be a resident of GA but also thought to have died before the petition was filed), and (D) daughter Nancy Turner Comer (also apparently deceased). Nancy's children are identified as (1) Susannah Comer, wife of Lancelot Porter, petitioner, (2) Jason Comer, (3) Eliza Comer, wife of Mabry Baldwin, (4) May Comer, wife of Gerard Gregory and resident of AL, (5) Anna Comer, wife of Henry Mardis and (6) Jesse Comer.

1820 US Census of Union County, SC, Household of James Turner. The 1820 US Census of Union County, SC on 07 August 1820 shows the household of James Turner with a total of 6 free white persons, one male age 10-15, 1 male age 26-44, 1 male age 45 and over, 2 females age 10-15 and 1 female age 26-44. [Note: I presume the male age 45+ and the female age 26-44 are James Turner and his wife Susannah. James did have two sons, James (Jr) and Jesse B. These could be the younger males in the household. Only one of his daughters appears to remain at home in 1820.]

1820 US Census of Union County, SC, Household of Lott Porter. The census, dated 07 Aug 1820, shows the household of Lott Porter with a total of 5 household members, two males under 10, one male 16-25, 1 male 26-44 and 1 female 26-44. [Note: I presume the male and female 26-44 are Lancelot and his wife. I think that this wife is not Susannah Comer. Susannah would be much too young to be the mother of the children in this household. I also presume that the couple is on the younger side of the age category. The 1850 Census would suggest Lancelot would be 23. The youngest males in the household are probably this couple's children. I suspect the male 16-25 is another relative.]

1830 US Census of Union County, SC, Household of Lanslott Porter. The census taken on 01 Jun 1830 shows the household of Lanslott Porter (adjacent to James and Jesse Turner and Joseph Crofford). It is comprised of five persons, two males age 10-15, one male age 30-40, one female age 5-10 and one female age 15-20. [Note: This census suggests Lancelot was born between 1790 and 1800 and his wife was born between 1815 and 1820. I suspect the latter is an enumerator error and she should have been placed in the age 20-30 category. That would make her birth fall between 1800 and 1810.]

1840 US Census of Union County, SC, Household of Landlot Porter. The census, enumerated on 01 Jun 1840, shows the household of Landlot Porter with eight members, two males under 5, 1 male age 15-10, 1 male 40-50, 1 female under 5, 1 female age 5-10, 1 female age 15-20, and 1 female age 20-30. [Note: Again, this places Lancelot's birth between 1790 and 1800 and his wife between 1810 and 1820. Again, I think Susannah Comer's age has been incorrectly reported. I think she was born between 1800 and 1810, but this 1840 accounting is consistent with the 1830 Census. Perhaps Susannah was a second wife and not the parent of the children in the household in 1820.]

1850 US Census of Union County, SC, Household of Landlot Porter. The 1850 US Census of Western Division, Chicakasaw Co, MS on 07 Nov 1860 dwelling 711, family 711 shows (1) Landlot Porter (age 53, male, farmer, real $100, born SC), (2) Susanah Porter (age 52, female, born SC, cannot read/write), (3) Julia A Porter (age17, female, born SC), (4) Watis Porter (age 14, male, born SC), (5) Gillis Porter (age 12, male, born SC), (6) Adline Porter (age 9, female, born SC), (7) Jane Porter (age 5, female, born SC), and (8) Holly Porter (age 2, male, born MS). No school attendance for any of the children. Neighbors children all attended. [Note: I am not certain that this is the Landlot and Susannah Comer Porter who petitioned the Court of Ordinary in 1844 for sale of land belonging to Susannah's grandfather James Turner, but it seems possible. If this is the couple, Susannah's age as recorded here is almost certainly incorrect. She should be only 38 or 42 years of age.]