Loftin
LOFTIN
GENEALOGY
LINE
The
LOFTIN
Family
Tree
Philip
Daniel
Loftin
(1978 - 200?)
Curtis
Dean
Loftin
(1953 - 20??)
Sam
William
Loftin
(1918 - 1979)
Alonzo
Lester
Loftin
(1876 - 1937)
William Alexander
Loftin
(1851 - 1939)
James
Franklin
Loftin
(1827 - 1864)
Thomas
Loftin
(1798 - 185?)
James
Loftin
(1768 - 1836)
John
Loftin
(1740 - 1793)
Cornelius
Loftin III
(1714 - 1785)
Cornelius
Loftin II
(1675 - 1735)
Cornelius
Loftin I
(1648 - 1735)
Leonard
"Laughton"
Loftin
(1610 - 1678)
_______
James
Franklin's
SIBLINGS
Isabella
"Ebba"
Caroline
Loftin
(18?? - 1???)
Betsy
Salina
Loftin
(18?? - 1???)
_______
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James Franklin Loftin
Born: Abt. 1827, Lincoln County, NC
Died: 16 May 1864, Drewry's Bluff, VA
James Franklin Loftin was the son of Thomas Loftin and Sally Lavinia Beatty. He was born about 1826-1827 in Lincoln/Catawba County, NC, and frequently went by the name Franklin and Frank.
James Franklin was mentioned in the will of his paternal grandfather, James Loftin. His grandfather left him the 133 acres of property where his father, Thomas, lived. James Franklin was mentioned in the Will of his maternal grandmother, Isabella McCorkle Beatty dated 11 Dec 1836. It says, “I also leave my grandson JAMES FRANKLIN LOFTIN one sheet and checkered counterpen and piece quilt. “
He is also mentioned in the will of Matthew McCorkle, his Great Uncle and brother to Isabella McCorkle Beatty, dated 07 April 1838. The portion from the Will states, “From any remaining monies, Caroline Loftin, daughter of Thomas Loftin; Franklin and Salina Loftin, children of Thomas and Lovina (Lavinia) Loftin, are to receive $50 each.”
James Franklin married Frances Elizabeth Fisher on August 13, 1847 (with Parson Naylor as the Bondsman & George Setzer as the witness). Their North Carolina Marriage Bond lists Frances Elizabeth Fisher's name as Franky E. Fisher. Elizabeth, as she was also called by her family and friends, was born 08 Aug 1826 to Reuben and Mary Fisher. According to Cordie Loftin Wilson (daughter of William Alexander Loftin), Frances Elizabeth used to laugh and tell the William Alexander Loftin family that she wore seven petticoats at her wedding to Franklin.
Marriage Bond between James Franklin Loftin and Frances "Franky" Elizabeth Fisher
James Franklin Loftin's Signature
I had a difficult time finding the 1850 Census for James Franklin & Frances Elizabeth Fisher Loftin because of the incorrect spelling of their last name. Franklin's age is listed as 24, indicating that his birth year was 1826. His Real Estate Value was listed as $500. Franklin & Elizabeth's 1st child was Harriet J. Loftin, who was born in 1849. The Census lets us know that the "J." in Harriet's middle name was for Jone. There is no indication as to the "P." listed in her name in the 1850 Census.
1850 Catawba County Census
Name Age Sex Occupation Real Estate Value Birth James F. Lofften 24 M Farmer $500 Catawba Elizabeth " 24 F " Jone P. " 1 F "
James Franklin Loftin and Frances Elizabeth Fisher had at least seven children.
Children of Franklin and Elizabeth Fisher Loftin Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse Harriet Jone Loftin 11 Aug 1849
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC13 Dec 1908
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NCGilbert A. McKinnis
m. Abt. 1866
Catawba, Catawba Co, NCWilliam Alexander Loftin 26 Oct 1851
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC11 June 1939
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NCLaura W. Cranford
m. 28 Jan 1875
Catawba, Catawba Co, NCJames Edmund Loftin Abt. 1853/54
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC16 Nov 1925
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC(1) Mary Fannie Eades
m. 16 Aug 1919, Catawba Co, NC
(2) Rebecca Jane McKinseyMary Frances Loftin 30 Nov 1855
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC08 May 1936
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NCJacob Francis Drum
m. 18 Aug 1875
Catawba, Catawba Co, NCAlonzo Loftin 1857
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC
Washington Lafayette Loftin 20 Jun 1859
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC18 May 1932
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NCMargaret Jane Lackey
m. 28 Apr 1881
Catawba, Catawba Co, NCOliver Cromwell Loftin 15 Dec 1861
Catawba,
Catawba Co, NC02 Apr 1930
Lincolnton,
Lincoln Co, NC(1) Isabelle "Belle" Jane Moore
m. 02 Mar 1882
(2) Rachel Luzetta "Zettie"
Abernathy McAlister
m. 08 May 1910, Lincoln Co, NCAlonzo apparently died as an infant. He was listed on the 1860 Census as age 3, but not listed on the 1870 Census. He was not mentioned on Cordie Wilson’s listing of Franklin’s children.
Franklin purchased property from Thomas Beatty in 1859.
Property purchased by James Franklin Loftin Grantee (Purchaser) Grantor (Seller) Year Kind of
InstrumentBook Page James Franklin Loftin Thomas Beatty 1859 Deed 7 608 According to the 1860 Catawba County Census, Franklin and Elizabeth were age 36. Their Real Estate Value was $600 and their Personal Estate Value was $210. Their children were Harriet age 11, Alexander age 9, James age 7, Mary age 5, Alonzo age 3 and Lafayette age 1. Also according to the Census, Elizabeth couldn’t read or write, but Harriet and Alexander were enrolled in School.
1860 Catawba County Census
Last Name First Name Age Sex Occupation Real Estate Personal
EstateSchool Can't
Read or
WriteLoftin Franklin 36 M Farmer $600 $210 ------ Elizabeth 36 F X ------ Harriett 11 F X ------ Alexander 9 M X ------ James 7 M ------ Mary 5 F ------ Alonzo 3 M ------ Lafayette 1 M
The 1860 Agricultural Census, shows that James Franklin had 1 horse, 1 cow, 7 pigs, 30 bushels of wheat, 75 bushels of Indian Corn and 215 bushels of oats.
1860 Catawba County Agricultural Census, Catawba Station, p. 77
Name of Owner: Franklin Loftin Value of Livestock: $97 Wheat, # of Bushels: 30 Improved (Land): 80 acres Horses: 1 Oats, # of Bushels: 215 Unimproved (Land): 120 acres Mules: 0 Indian Corn Bushels: 75 Cash Value of Farm: $600 Milk Cows: 1 Ginned Cotton Bales: 0 Value of Farm Implements : $30 Working Oxen: 0 Wool: 0 Other Cattle: 0 Swine: 7 James Franklin Loftin had three half brothers, Eli Anderson Loftin, Pinkney Loftin and William A. Loftin, that also served in the Civil War. All three brothers enlisted on the same day, 6 June 1861, as was common with most families. The tragedies of the Civil War usually ran deep within families, too.
Pinkney served with the 23rd Reg. - Co. F and died 15 Sep 1861 of disease near Manassas. William served with the 23 Reg. - Co. A and died 20 Oct 1861 from disease. Eli was 19 years old when he enlisted. He became part of the 23rd Reg. - Co. F. He was shot in the knee 1 July 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg and his left leg was amputated to the thigh. He lay on the battlefield several days and nights, not being moved until after the battles of Gettysburg were all over. The leg, however, was removed by a surgeon on the field. Eli spent the next year in various hospitals until he was finally exchanged and admitted to the Salisbury, NC hospital at the end of 1864.
After having lost a half-brother in 1861 and another one in 1862, James Franklin Loftin also enlisted in the American Civil War. He realized that there was a real possibility that he would not return home from the war. On 13 Feb 1863, he prepared his Last Will and Testament.
The Last Will & Testament of James Franklin Loftin
Know all men by these present that I, James F. Loftin, of the county of Catawba and state of North Carolina in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, The said James F. Loftin doth hereby bequeath to his wife, Elizabeth Loftin, all of his tract of land, lying in the aforesaid state and country above written adjoining lands of Jesse Walden, Andrew Yount and others. For her to have, to hold forever all of the afore land and premises for to sell or distribute in any way that she sees proper, also all of the other property, for her to hold forever and if she should be indebted for her to sell any of the above property to satisfy the debts that she sees proper. Given under my hand and seal this the 23rd day of February 1863, Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of:
Abram Wyckoff James F. Loftin
Elam A. SherrillJames Franklin Loftin enlisted in the American Civil War as part of the Confederacy on 03 Mar 1863 as a Private at the age of 35/36. His enlistment location was Wilmington, NC. He served with the 49th Regiment, Company I of NC Infantry and was described in the Catawba Soldier, p. 306, as “a fine, cheerful and kindly disposed soldier.” It has been said by the family that when James Franklin went off to war, his son William Alexander Loftin was just tall enough to harness the horse to the plow. James Franklin was listed as present with the group of troops from May thru December 1863, as well as March thru June 1864. According to Cordie Loftin Wilson, as he was preparing to leave home after his last visit, he remarked that he would never return and did not want Elizabeth to remarry.
Being in the 49th Regiment North Carolina Infantry, James Franklin Loftin would have fought at the following battles during the American Civil War:
49th Regiment North Carolina Infantry Battles
1863 - 1864 during James Franklin Loftin's Service
Date Battle Location 20 Apr 1863 Sandy Ridge, NC 20 Jun 1863 2 Jul 1863 28 Jul 1863 Boone's Mill 1 Sep 1863 Petersburg, VA 15 Sep 1863 Sharpsburg, MD 15 Nov 1863 9 Mar 1864 Suffolk, VA 15 Mar 1864 Petersburg, VA 1 May 1864 Petersburg, VA 7 May 1864 Petersburg, VA 10 May 1864 Drewry's Bluff, VA 13 May 1864 Drewry's Bluff, VA 14 May 1864 Drewry's Bluff, VA 15 May 1864 Drewry's Bluff, VA James Franklin served at Drewry’s Bluff, located in northeastern Chesterfield County, Virginia. It was the site of Confederate Fort Darling during the American Civil War and was named for a local landowner, Confederate Captain Augustus H. Drewry.
Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff, VA, was located at a sharp bend of the James River and saw no battle action for two years. During that time it became an important training ground for the Confederate Naval Academy and Marine Corps Camp. On May 5, 1864, Union Major General Benjamin Butler and his forces landed 15 south of Richmond and marched overland to within three miles of Drewry's Bluff by May 9th. While several Union regiments did manage to capture Fort Daling's outer defenses, delays by Union generals spoiled their success. Confederate infantry under General Beauregard, including troops from Richmond and North Carolina, seized the initiative and successfully counterattacked on May 16, 1864. The 18,000 Confederate forces defeated the 39,000 Union forces - but 400 Confederate soldiers were killed during the battle.
The Confederate Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia
A True History of Company I, 49th Regiment NC Troops in the Great Civil War by W. A. Day
Newton, NC 1893The wounded Yankees were suffering for water and while we were attending to their wants, we found one of our Company, Franklin Loftin, who was mortally wounded and left at the breast-works (a temporary fortification) when we fell back that morning. He was lying back in the field under a board shelter where the enemy had placed him. He said that they treated him very kind. He was shot through the bowels.
James Franklin Loftin died during this battle at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia. His tombstone gives his death date as May 1864. Confederate Records list his death date as 16 Jul 1864 and states that he was "killed in action" at Drewry's Bluff. Since the actual date of the battle was 16 May 1864, it seems more logical that his death date was indeed 16 May 1864.
It's wonderful that these records have survived to help us understand more of the details. There are a few mistakes, however, on the records. (Left) James Franklin's enlistment date is shown as March 3, 1862 - the correct enlistment date was March 3, 1863.
Confederate Company Muster Roll, Company I, Regiment 49
(Above and Below) James Franklin's enlistment date is shown as Mar 3, 1862 - May 3, 1863 - May 3, 1963. Since most of them show his enlistment date as March 3, 1863, the seems the most logical choice. It further states that he was "killed in action near Drewry's Bluff on the 16th day of July 1864". The actual Battle at Drewry's Bluff was 16 May 1864, not 16 July 1964. The "Company Muster Roll" is reporting information for the months of May & June 1864, which further suggests that his death date was indeed 16 May and not 16 July.
Confederate Company Muster Roll, Company I, Regiment 49
The Catawba County War Memorial on the square in Newton
The back side of the memorial has a listing of the Catawba County men who were killed during the Civil War from 1861 - 1865. James Franklin Lofton/Loftin and his 1/2 brothers Pinkney & William are listed there.
According to the 1870 Catawba County Census, after James Franklin was killed in the Civil War, Elizabeth continued to run the farm with the help of her sons, William Alexander and James Edmund Loftin.
The actual burial site of James Franklin Loftin
is not known.
As was common during the Civil War,
his body was not sent back home
but was buried on the battle field.
The tombstone where
Frances Elizabeth Fisher Loftin
is buried at Center Methodist Church
in Catawba County,
remembers James Franklin’s death
at Drewry Bluff in May of 1864.
Center Methodist Church Cemetery
CLICK For additional information on Frances Elizabeth Fisher Loftin
SOURCES
Thanks to Alisha Story for the "straw wagon" photo from Hart's Square
Thanks to Peggy Loftin Brotherton for the Confederate Company Muster Roll for James Franklin Loftin
Any photos or additional information on James Franklin Loftin would be appreciated.
Contact Curtis D. Loftin
