Person:John Truitt (6)

Biography of John Wingate Truitt

John Wingate Truitt was born December 19, 1801, in Worcester County, Maryland. He married Elizabeth Jane Robinson of Liberty, Smith County, Tennessee, daughter of James Robinson and Elizabeth Fite Robinson, in Tennessee on his birthday, December 19, 1825. While living in Tennessee they had four children: William, Elijah, Sarah Ann, and Edward Richard. The family moved to Etowah County, Alabama where Elizabeth had "Fite" cousins and two more children were be born: Mattie and James L. That year, Wingate went to Texas to apply for a land grant in November, 1839, leaving behind his family and Elizabeth who was pregnant with James L. He was only granted 320 acres^[6]) , the amount alloted to a single man, probably because he did not bring his family with him. Later, after he brought his family to Texas, he was allowed an additional 320 acres. He was originally granted 320 acres of land in Morris County near Daingerfield, where he built a small cabin from Cypress logs hauled out of the Cypress River bottoms. After James was born, he went back for the family and the family moved on to Texas and settled in their little "Dogtrot"cabin near Jenkins in Morris County. The "Truitt Cousins" now own the cabin and an acre of land it sits on. It was declared a Texas Historical Site, June 5, 2010 and an historical marker has been erected. Restoration of the cabin will begin in July 2010, and as funds allow.

Wingate Truitt filed for his land grant on November 13, 1839, and was awarded 320 acres, conditional certificate #112, in Red River County for land that was in Morris County. Records indicate an additional certificate #60 for 320 acres was awarded to the family on April 10, 1849 by Cass County.

After the family settled in Texas, two more children were born: Wingate and Nancy. The family remained in East Texas where John Wingate Truitt died on December 31, 1876. His wife Elizabeth, died on October 7, 1880, apparently from a head injury. Both are buried in Clark Cemetery near Daingerfield in Morris County.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Titus, Texas, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   M432_915.

   Wingate Truitt, b. Maryland, about 1801, Farmer, Titus County, Texas
   Wingate Truitt, age 49, Mrs. T. f. age 46, b. Texas; William, m. age 21, b. TN; E. m. b. TN, age 20; Sarah, f. age 17, b. TN; Edward, m. age 14, b. TN; Martha, f. age 15, b. Alabama; James 10 m. b. Alabama; Wingate, m age 1, b. Texas.

2. ↑ Titus, Texas, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   217.

   W. Truitt, Farmer
   W. Truitt, age 58, m., b. Maryland' E. Truitt, age 54, f., b. Tennessee; Edward Truitt, age 24, m. b. Alabama, Carpenter; James Truitt, age 20, m. b. Alabama; Nancy Truitt, F. age 16, b. Texas; W.Truitt, m. age 11, b. Texas.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 John Wingate Truitt, in Find A Grave.

   FAG# 6143722

4. ↑ White, Gifford (Gifford Elmore). 1840 citizens of Texas. (Austin, Texas: G. White, 1983-1988)
   p. 253, 4 Nov 1839.

   Wingate Truitt, Type 3, 320 acres Red River County, Certificate No 112

5. ↑ Smith, Tennessee, United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   M19, P120.

   Wingate Truett (indexed Pruett), Smith, Tennessee
   Males under 5: 2; Males 20-29: 1; Females 20-29:1; Total 4.

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Wingate Truitt Certificate No. 112