Harriette Talbott, genealogist of Nashville, Tennessee, wrote of Cavitt
Armstrong, "He was a prominent and influental citizen of Tennessee and
Texas. He was a delegate from Robertson County to the Convention in
Austin, July 4, 1845 when a state Constitution was to be formed
preparatory to Texas' admission as one of the United States of America.
Armstrong Co., Texas, was named in honor of Cavitt Armstrong."
However, there is nothing in the act creating Armstrong County, Texas to
substantuate Miss Talbott's statement. There were members of six
different Armstrong families who figured prominently in Texas history.
James Armstrong and Cavitt Armstrong were members of the Convention that
framed the constitution of 1845.
On March 10, 1840, when Ann was 39 years old and Cavitt was a month from
his thirty-second birthday, they were married. The decision was one Ann
came to after long liberation and putting Cavitt off until time could
tell....until she felt reasonably sure the remarriage was the best for
all concerned. It was wise for growing boys to have a father's care and
concern, it was necessary for a woman, even one with the business acumen
of the little Dutch Ann, to have a man represent her in the business
world. Cavitt had been acquiring lands and slaves to help work it. The
marriage would bring together the abilities of both of them. Ann had
proven the young man by allowing him to oversee her property, allowing
one third part for superintending. The marriage seemed right. For the
four years Ann was a widow she had acted as guardian of her seven
children making count of the material belongings, the schooling, her
stewardship in all things to the Courts of Robertson County, Republic of
Texas. Some of the Court records Copied from the original fine script
entries of the tiny books marked Estates, Guardian: Vol. 1 pp 101
1319 Robertson County, Republic of Texas show the flavor of the times...
what people had in their homes, how they rented their slaves out to
friends, what articles cost at this precarious time in the history of
the land of Coahuila and Texas, now the public of Texas.
Col. E.L.R. Wheelock, founder of the town of Wheelock, was the friend
and advisor who stood by the young woman with the seven sons, gave her
advice, sold her land, went her bond when she was required to have
$40,000 bond to serve as guardian of her sons' father's estate.
At the January term of Courts 1840, Ann Cavitt appeared to close the
administration of the estate of her late husband, Andrew Cavitt, in
preparation for her marriage and allowing Cavitt Armstrong to take over
the burden of administration, but there was not a quorum present to do
business and the settlement was ordered continued. The Chief Clerk
Probate Court seemed to have a slight slip of remembrance and this fact
is not of record until Oct. 22, 1842. At that time the record of
partition asked for by Ann was made in the County of Milam, Republic of
Texas.
The Court Records of Ann's Guardianship for her seven sons:
ANN CAVITT )
On The Estate of )
ANDREW CAVITT )
Before this honorable Massalon Farley, Judge of Probate in and for the
County of Milam and William Walker, Associate Justice, on the Thirty
first day of July in the year our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
thirty seven at the place of holding Court in for said County at
Nashville the County seat thereof,
Be it remembered that heretofore towit. On the day and year aforesaid
Came Ann Cavitt, and petitioned the Court for Letters of administration
on the Estate of Andrew Cavitt, Deceased which said petition is in the
words and figures following towit:
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched.
It must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last Blue Promise...Poetry and Links
http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/meath/45/index.html
...It is in silence where music lies...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Listowner CARRINGTON & CAVITT Surnames ICQ#1280761
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~