Robert C. Evans, son of Lewis Evans -Natchez, Adams County, MS

 While my trip to Natchez didn't result in finding the parents of John Williams Evans, I found a tremendous amount of information about someone's Evans family.  I spent time at two churches, the courthouse, and the library.  I found evidence of three different Robert Evans and several other Evans families.  In the hopes of helping someone else research their elusive Evans Family, I am going to publish the information I found here.   This is what I found about Robert C. Evans. 

Robert C Evans, son of Lewis Evans, brother of Thomas L & Eliza Evans.

1.       Robert C. Evans & wife, Maria Fauntleroy

Bn 1801- 1810

Children,             Evelyn Mary Evans,  bn June 11, 1849

                               Robert Lynn (Lyoney) Joseph Evans, bn March 18, 1852

                                            Lelia Mary Evans, bn May 1858

                                            Thomas Lawrence Evans

                                            Viola Evans,

                Sisters:              Eliza Mary Evans, bn April 20, 1807, per deed record see d below.

                                            Catherine Evans, per deed record see d below.

                Brother:            Thomas L. Evans & wife,  Anna L., per deed record see d below.

                Parents:             Louis Evans and Sarah Rhodes, per sister’s baptism record

   

a.        Baptismal Records - Cathedral Church in Natchez, MS  

                                                               i.      Lelia Mary Evans, born May 1858– parents, Robert C. Evans, deceased and Maria Fauntleroy, natural offspring, all of Natchez, baptized April 25, 1860

                                                             ii.      Thomas Lawrence Evans, baptized April 25, 1860, parents the late Robert C. Evans and Maria Fauntleroy

                                                            iii.      Viola Evans, mentioned in the baptismal record of Eliza Mary Evans as being the daughter of Robert C. Evans and as a witness to the profession of faith of Eliza Mary Evans

                                                           iv.      Eliza Mary Evans, baptized on May 18,1860 having been previously baptized in the Episcopal Church. Daughter of Louis Evans and Sarah Rhodes.  She was born in Natchez, MS on April 20, 1807. [Sister of Robert C. Evans]

                                                             v.      Robert Lynn (Lyoney) Joseph Evans, baptized May 18, 1860, born March 18, 1852 son of the late Robert C. Evans and Maria Fauntleroy

                                                           vi.      Evelyn Mary Evans –born June 11, 1849, baptized May 18, 1860, natural daughter of the late Robert C. Evans and Maria Fauntleroy of Richmond, VA.

b.      March 22, 1839 (Deed) – selling land on Pearl St. to Eustis in Natchez.

                                                               i.      Brother, Thomas L. Evans & wife,  Anna L.

                                                             ii.      Sister, Eliza Evans

                                                            iii.      Sister, Catherine Evans

c.       Deed Index in Adams County:

                                                               i.      April 1838 – Grantors, Robert & Thomas L. Evans-  Grantee, H. S. Eustice, trustee, Deed of Trust, Book AA p631

                                                             ii.      April 1838 – Grantors, Robert & Thomas L. Evans – Grantee, Agriculture Bank, CQT, Deed of Trust, Book AA, p631

                                                            iii.      1839 – Grantee, Robert  C. Evans – Grantor Ludiz Kerber , Mortgage, Book BB p14

                                                           iv.      June 1840 – Grantor, Robert C. Evans – Grantee John Williamson, Deed of Trust, Book CC p310

d.      Census Records:

1830 Natchez, Adams County Census, p5
Robt C. Evans
Male 20-29	1
Females 20-29	3
Free Colored Male 10-23	1
Slave Male 10-23	1
Slave Female under 10	1
Slave Female     10-23	1

e.      Roll #0892101 V.12 Year 1855 Probate Court Records,  Adams County,  MS

                                                               i.      P. 539. Wed. March 28, 1860; Robert C. Evans, deceased, handwritten last will and testament, recorded after testimony of William Robertson, Benjamin F.B. Hunter.

f.        Will Book 3, 1854-1871, Adams County, MS, P.158

Dated, Feb. 21, 1857

Gave everything to sister, Eliza Evans

Mentions an agreement between him, Eliza, and Anna C D N Evans; Anna C D N Evans is to pay him $10,000 for his right to Bruinsburg Plantation in Claiborne County, MS.

Witnesses, H. Emerson & W. Stewart

g.       Cathedral Church, Natchez, Adams County, MS

February 19th, 1860 Quinquagesima
1. The prayers of the congregation are requested for the repose of the soul of Mr. Robert Evans, who died on Friday night, & who will be buried to-day at 12 M.

Cathedral Church in Natchez, MS

Last month I dragged my husband to Natchez, MS in search of his Evans ancestors.  I was particularly interested in searching the Cathedral Church records to see if the Robert Evans mentioned in my last post was the father of the three Evans boys.  That date fit in with what I expected for the parents of John William Evans and his two brothers, James Thomas and Jeptha M.  Evans.   I set up an appointment for Thursday with the volunteer archivist of the church.  The Cathedral Church has a rich history and is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. 

Anne was wonderful, sharing her knowledge of the history of Natchez as well as helping me find the records of the Evans children baptized at the church. Unfortunately the children listed as Robert C. Evans children were not John, James, and Jeptha.  Robert C. Evans' children were baptized after his death along with his sister, Eliza. Eliza's baptismal record mentioned that she had been previously baptized at the Episcopal Church.  

On Friday, while I was plowing through the deed records at the courthouse, Robert used his smart phone to find the address to the Episcopal Church (4 blocks from the courthouse) and called them to see what kind of records they had and if we could see them.  The church was closing at 4:00pm so we left the courthouse for the church.  The secretary at the church had already pulled the record book with the years we needed when we arrived.  She was so helpful. We found John Evans born on January 22, 1857 with parents, Robert and Margaret Evans.  Our John William, according to the census records was born in December 1857.  Maybe?  There was also a birth for Thomas Evans with the same parents, born December 19, 1855. (Could this be James Thomas Evans?) We also found the marriage record for Robert Evans and Margaret Ferguson.   Unfortunately the marriage was after the probable birth year of Jeptha in 1851.   

All together we found three different Robert Evans in Adams County – none who fit.  However I still have hopes for Thomas L. Evans who was the brother of Robert C. Evans and Eliza Evans.