BOBO HISTORY
Family tradition has repeated the same story in many lines of Bobo descendants, that is, the 'Americanized' name, Bobo, was originally French and the Bobo family fled France to England as one of the many Huguenot families. Robert G. Bobo commented: " . . . GABRIEL BAUBAU was transported to Virginia from England about 1699 by Robert Nash. He probably landed in or near Jamestown on the James River. By 1703, he had a piece of land in King William Co., about two miles south of present day Bulahville, and is described in one record as "Bubboes Plantation." In the same year he married ELIZABETH (SPENCER) WHITE, the widow of James White. Gabriel and Elizabeth had at least two children> One was SPENCER (from his mother's surname), the mane generally recognized as the father of ELIZABETH, ABSOLOM, LEWIS, SAMPSON and SPENCER Jr."
The Bobo families lived for many years in the Virginia counties of King William, Caroline, Orange/Culpeper, Albemarle and Prince William. In 1770 LEWIS BOBO received a 700 acre land grant and migrated to Berk County, South Carolina. In 1773 SAMPSON BOBO received a land grant of 450 acres on the Tyger River, Craven Co., South Carolina and he made his home at Cross Anchor in Spartanburg County. Leonardo Andrea stated, "The brothers Lewis and Sampson came with the WOFFORDs, POSEYs, TRAILs and perhaps the RHODEs and RUSHes into the Spartanburg area some years before the War of the Revolution." ABSOLOM BOBO-3 is believed to have migrated to South Carolina after 1781 and lived in Laurens County. Many Bobos and their allied families served as soldiers in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. [Note: Robert G. Bobo is considered an authority on the greater Bobo Family and can be contacted at: TwoBos@aol.com.]
SAMPSON BOBO (1737) migrated with his wife, SARAH SIMPSON (1743) and five children in 1773 to Spartanburg County, South Carolina. They had additional children, two of whom were sons -- JEREMIAH (ca 1787) and WILLIS (ca 1782). WILLIS (ca 1782) married DELILAH SIMPSON, a daughter of Samuel Simpson of Union Co., before 1809 when a 'partition suit' was filed against him in Union Co., South Carolina. The Cross Keys land was sold to BARRAM (sic Barham) BOBO and the money given to Delilah and the other plaintiffs (Simpson siblings). Many of Sampson Bobo's children married and some migrated to the surrounding states, one of which was Tennessee.
This web site focuses upon theWILLIS and DELILAH BOBO family, who later lived in old Maury County, Tennessee, around 1817 through 1850. Both Willis and Delilah were born in South Carolina. On 11 Jan 1806, Willis Bobo was a witness in Spartanburg to a sale of land between William Calvaret to Roland Jennings (Book K, p. 491-3). In 1809 a partition suit places them at Cross Keys, Union Co., near Spartanburg. Willis witnessed a land sale in 1817 and was first taxed in Maury County in 1818. He purchased land from JEREMIAH BOBO and lived in the extreme southeastern corner of Maury, known as 'south side of Duck River.' Willis was recorded in the 1820 Maury County census and the 1840 Marshall County census. In 1836, Marshall County was created from eastern Maury and portions of Bedford, Giles and Lincoln Counties. Willis and Delilah Bobo had a large family from which five daughters and one son were married in Maury County between 1829 and 1843. The Willis Bobo allied families in Maury County were: COOPER, HARGIS, HUEY, OWEN, REDDING and WILLIAMS. The Willis Bobo family began migrating from south-central to western Tenessee around 1843. Willis and Delilah Bobo lived the remainder of their lives in Braden, Fayette County, Tennessee (near Memphis). Some Redding descendants still live in Culleoka, the southeastern corner of Maury.
WILLIS BOBO
WILLIS BOBO-4 (ca 1782) was recorded in 1817 as a witness to a Maury County, Tennessee deed transaction by JEREMIAH BOBO on Bear Creek, the south side of Duck River. Two years later, JEREMIAH BOBO sold WILLIS BOBO 152 acres and 52 poles of his Bear Creek tract for $608. Between the years 1819-1837, Willis Bobo bought and sold land that was in the extreme southeastern corner of Maury County. In 1836 this same area was divided to form Marshall County. Evidently some of Willis Bobo's land was in Maury County and some in Marshall County. He sold his last tract of Maury County land in 1837.
The 1820 U.S. Census recorded WILLIS BOBO as head-of-household in Maury County with a wife, two sons and four daughters. For some unknown reason, he or his family wasn't recorded in the 1830 census; however, his married daughter ELIZABETH ("Betsey" BOBO-5) REDDING was recorded with her husband, ISAAC REDDING and male between 10-15. In addition to ELIZABETH BOBO, who was married in 1829, three others were also married by 1840: SUSAN BOBO-5 to GREEN HUEY (1832); SARAH BOBO-5 to LOGAN OWEN (1837); and SPENCER S. BOBO to MARGARET J. WILLIAMS (1840). The 1840 U.S. Census in Marshall County recorded WILLIS BOBO as head-of-household, along with his wife, two sons and four daughters. Two more marriages occurred in the next few years: DELILA BOBO to ABRAM S. HARGIS (1841) and MARTHA BOBO-5 to LANCASTER B. COOPER (1843). Finally in 1850, SPENCER S. BOBO-5 (30) was recorded with his wife, Margaret (26), in her father's Maury Co., household, along with their two children: JOSEPHINE (6) and JOHN W. (1). Sometime after 1843, Willis Bobo and parts of his family began moving westward to Fayette County, Tenn. After 1850, only allied families and descendants remained in Maury and the adjacent counties of Marshall and Giles.
It's difficult to determine specific ages before 1850, since age ranges were then given, and afterwards the specific census ages sometimes differed due to unreliable recording methodology. WILLIS BOBO was between 26-45 in 1820 (or born between 1775-94), between 50-60 in 1840 (or born between 1780-90), in 1850 he was recorded in Fayette Co., Tenn. as 62 (or born in 1788) and in 1870 DELILAH BOBO (same age as Willis) was 82 (or 1788). An important non-census age observation was from researcher Monte Knight who said, "The 1836 Maury County tax list in District 2, the old 4th Civil District, was an initial citing of WILLIS BOBO not being taxed on himself as head-of-household. Heads-of-household, age 55 and over, were exempt, as were widows. Therefore, this approximates Willis Bobo's birth year as 1781-82." Monte Knight later elaborated on the telephone by saying he thought the age approximation by tax data was more reliable than the census data. He feels Willis was probably older than his wife and Delilah's true birth year may have been 1788.
TAXES
WILLIS BOBO was first taxed in Maury County in 1818, one year after Jeremiah Bobo, presumably his brother, was first taxed. Willis was again recorded on the 1823 tax list and taxed for 152 acres. After this he was recorded on Bear Creek and taxed through 1836 for 89 acres and valued at $350. Researcher Monte Knight commented that the year 1836 was the "initial citing of his not being taxed on himself, as head-of-household. Heads-of-household, age 55 and over, were exempt (as were widows); therefore, this approximates his birth year as 1781/82." His location was District 2 or the old 4th Civil District.
DEEDS
Deed transactions show that WILLIS BOBO purchased "152 acres, 52 poles for $608" from JEREMIAH BOBO on 25 December 1819 and then had it registered on 17 July 1821. It was a tract on Bear Creek, a branch of Globe Creek - south side of Duck River. In 1817, Jeremiah Bobo had previously purchased "277 acres, 54 1/2 poles for $1,109" from WILLIAM HOLT. Willis Bobo and John Holt were both witnesses to the 1817 transaction. Willis Bobo then sold 100 acrea, 65 poles of his tract for $550 to Amzio Black in 1825. In 1827, he again sold 50 or 53 acres, 62 1/2 poles for $287.50 to David Calvert. On 1 November 1832 Willis Bobo took a lien on "Bobo's plantation" (Vol. 1, Bk Q, p. 206) and assigned the note to Andrew Smith. On the same date, Andrew Smith sold Willis Bobo 114 acres, with exception of 25 acres in the southeast corner of tract, on the waters of Fountain Creek for $326. On 24 February 1837, WILLIS & son, SPENCER BOBO of Maury Co. sold 77 acres for $120 to Joseph Frey of Marshall Co., Tenn. The tract of land was lying partially in Maury Co., and partially in Marshall Co. on the waters of Fountain and Bear Creeks. On the same date, they also sold 10 acres to William Tomlinson, all from Maury Co. Finally on 3 January 1837, Willis Bobo sold 114 acres for $51 & 1/2 cents to Joseph Brown, less 25 acres in consideration of a lien Brown had on the place for some years. There were no further deed transactions for the Bobo surname in Maury County.
LEGAL
An 1842 Maury County trial involved deceased ELIZABETH BOBO REDDING and her husband, ISAAC REDDING. Included among the names recorded as witnesses in the trial were several names that have had particular interest to descendants of Willis Bobo. These names concern the probable family of Willis and Delilah Bobo, even though all family relationships haven't yet clearly been designated. This article not only names many of the family members but also includes family names that have been closely associated with the Bobo family -- HOLT and ALLEN.
Isaac Redding was brought to trial in Maury Co., Tennessee for the death of his wife, Elizabeth "Betsey" Bobo, but was acquitted for first and second degree murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to prison for five years. Several members of the Willis Bobo family were mentioned as participants. Willis's son, SPENCER S. BOBO, was the prosecutor and his wife, DELILAH, testified. A daughter, SARAH (BOBO) OWENS, also testified. At the end of the document, Willis Bobo asked the court to pay ALLEN H. BOBO for his wife's expenses.
The HARGIS surname was also somewhat clarified in the civil suit Wells vs Wells, 1836. "WILLIAM HARGIS of Fayette Co., Tenn., states, "Mrs. Wells (ELIZABETH WORSHAM WELLS, 2nd wife of old DAVID WELLS, Sen'r) is a sister of mine . . . her children, JOHN, HENRY, NANCY PRUDENCE (Nancy L. Worsham, who married Samuel Wells) . . ." ALLEN H. BOBO was a witness for the defense in Maury county in WELLS VS. WELLS, 1836. William Hargis was involved in two other suits for 'civil causes.' He sued his sister's (Elizabeth (Hargis) Worsham Wells) stepson, Robert Wells on 10 April 1832 and also Richard Bentley.
No deeds of purchase or transferral were found in Maury County for the surname HARGIS between 1807 and 1860. William Hargis and his family were recorded in the 1830 census in the extreme southeastern section of Maury County -- the Fountain and Globe Creek area. He was born between 1770-80, his wife (40-50 yrs), males: 1 (5-10), 1 (10-15), 1 (15-20); and females: 2 (<5), 2 (5-10), & 1 (10-15). William Hargis and his family had evidently moved westward to Fayette County by 1836.
ALLEN HOLT BOBO
ALLEN HOLT BOBO, son of Willis Bobo, was in the 1850 U.S. Census, 1st Civil District, Shelby County, Tennessee which was recorded on 22 October 1850. It showed him and his family at dwelling number 758. "Allen Bobo" was 35 years old, a male, occupation a farmer and he was born in Tenn. Sarah, his wife, was 31, female and born in Tenn. "Wm" was 4 years old, male and born in Tenn. James was 3 years old, a male and born in Tenn. (At dwelling number 757, John W. Curle (36, born in GA) and his wife, Lucinda (34, born in AL) have six children listed: Miranda 14, David 10, Edward 10, Thos 8, John 2 and Catherine Bobo 2.)Allen was also a Methodist: "A. H. BOBO attended the second quarterly meeting at Belmont" [Fayette Co., Tenn.] on 6 April 1850. ALLEN HOLT BOBO was later recorded in the 1860 U.S. Census in Pennington Township, Bradley County, Arkansas which was taken on 30 July 1860. "Allen H. Bobo," was 41 years old, male, a Constable, with real estate valued at $3,000 and personal property valued at $1,000. He was born in Tenn. Sarah A. Bobo was 36 years old, female and born in Tenn. James Bobo was 13, male and born in Tenn. John Bobo was 6 years old and born in Ark. Nancy Bobo was 4, female and born in Ark. Samuel Bobo was 9/12, male and born in Ark. Oliver Allen was living with them at the age of 23, a farmer with a personal estate of $150, who was born in Ala.
Nobody by the name of Allen Bobo was listed in the 1870 or 1880 U.S. Census in Arkansas. Nor was there an Allen Bobo in the1900 census in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.
ALLEN HARGIS BOBO
In the 1910 U.S. Census, ALLEN HARGIS BOBO, son of Allen Holt Bobo, was recorded in Reno City, Precinct 5, Washoe Co., Nevada. He was listed as "Allen H. Bobo," head, male, white, 47, second marriage, married 10 years, born in AR and both parents born in TN. Minnie K. Bobo was listed as wife, female, white, 55, married once for 10 years, 4 children born with 3 living, born in MO, father born in NY and mother born in IL. Vera was listed as a daughter, female, white, 7 years old, single and born in MO. Ernest was listed as son, male, white, 3 years old, single and born in NV. Lester was listed as son, male, white, 1 year old, single and born in NV.
Otto was listed as son, male, white, 19 years old, single and born in AR. Valma was recorded as an adopted daughter, female, white, 7 years old, single, born in OK, father born in AR and mother born in TN.
In the 1920 U.S. Census, ALLEN H. BOBO, age 58 (AR) and Minnie K. Bobo, age 46 (MO) lived on Tyler Street, Riverside (actually Arlington), Riverside County, California. Their family consisted of six dependents: Vera, a daughter at age 17 (MO), Velma, an 'adopted' daughter (actually a Ketchum niece and daughter of Grace (Ketchum) Conley -- Minnie's deceased older half-sister), age 17 (OK), Ernest, a son 13 (NV), Lester, a son 11 (NV), Herbert, a son 7 (CA) and Mary a daughter 5 (CA).
DISCUSSION
WILLIS & DELILAH BOBO lived in the extreme southeastern corner of Maury County and had nine children who were born between 1810 and 1820. In the 1830 Maury census, ELIZABETH "Betsey" (BOBO) REDDING was married (1829) to Isaac Redding and was described between the ages of 20-29. A male between the ages of 10-15 was also listed. In the 1840 Maury census, in the 6th Civil District, SARAH (BOBO) OWENS had married (1837) Logan Owens and was described as a female between 20-29. They had 1 male under 5. BETSEY REDDING was listed between the ages of 30-39, as was Isaac Redding and they had 2 males under 5, 3 males between 5-9, 2 males 10-14 and 1 male 15-19. They also had 1 female 5-9. Finally, also in the Maury 6th Civil District, LANCASTER B. COOPER was listed with his first wife and family (he didn't marry MARTHA BOBO until 1843). Both he and his wife were 20-29 and they had one male and one female under 5. Sometime around 1843, Willis Bobo and his household migrated to Fayette County, Tennessee. ALLEN HOLT BOBO had also migrated westward and married (3 June 1844) Sarah "Sally" Ann Hargis in Fayette Co., Tenn. When Spencer Bobo first migrated to Somerville, Fayette County on or before 1847, he joined the local Masonic Fraternity 14 May 1847. In the 1850 Maury census, in the old 14th Civil District, SPENCER S. BOBO had married (1840) Margaret J. Williams and was living in her father's household (John E. Williams, 53, farmer, TN & Rachael H., 56, KY). Spencer was described as a tailor, 30 years old and born in Tenn. Margaret was 26 and born in Tenn. Their two children, Josephine (6) and John W. (1). Sometime after 1850, the BOBO surname ceased to exist in Maury County, Tennessee.
[For more Maury County, TN information, link to: http://www.tngenweb.usit.com/maury.]