WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ASA MOORE
BIRTH
Asa Moore was born in about 1815. He was very probably born in North Carolina, probably in the area of Mecklenburg, Anson and Union Counties on the border with South Carolina. Census records indicate that he was born within a year or so of 1815. Masonic records list his birthdate as 1815 and his birthplace as North Carolina, and so does family tradition. One census has SC, one has TN, all the others have NC. Family tradition has always associated him with Mecklenburg. Both his wife and his brother's wife and their families came from this area.[Maps and Timelines to be added]
EARLY LIFE
Here is where we know little more than a few vague family traditions. Everything in this section hinges on those family traditions -- which may be very accurate-- or on the other hand -- may be worth nothing. No one knows who Asa Moore's parents were. Family stories tell of a large family that was educated and well to do. There is a tale of two sisters who married Yankees and lived in Ohio. I have heard tell of a third brother who came to Texas but then "went back". Some have said that Asa had a falling out with his family of origin. We do not know why, although it may have been related to Civil War issues. Supposedly, there was a trunk of letters originating from Mecklenburg, that Asa never opened and/or never answered. I once heard it said that his father may have been involved in the turpentine business, but have not been able to confirm it. One person who knew him in Nacogdoches told that "back in North Carolina, Asa Moore had 1000 head of cattle running free." He may have been connected with a school, either as student or teacher. He may have worked as a blacksmith and/or in farming. He might have gone to Kentucky or Kansas, and it is possible that he lived in a cabin near a significant amount of water, where folks traveled in canoes. He may have been married before he married Elizabeth White, my gg-grandmother. One story is that there was a fire in a store and a child was maimed or killed, and someone, a woman, with whom Asa Moore had been very close (wife? sister? mother?) blamed him for the accident. Another story is that he was betrayed in love and badly hurt.
KNOWN SIBLING: ANDREW JACKSON MOORE 1812-1884
THE MYSTERY OF THE FULL POWER OF ATTORNEY
On Valentine's Day, 14 February 1840, two people, Mary J. MOORE and David MOORE went to court in Perry Co, Tennessee with Asa MOORE and gave him full Power of Attorney to buy, sell, rent, or do anything with their property that they would be able to do. This Power of Attorney was also recorded in the Anson Co, North Carolina courthouse, which is a strong indication of where they came from. These two people, Mary J. MOORE and David MOORE are clearly closely related to Asa MOORE, but how are they related? The second mystery of this Power of Attorney is why Mary J. MOORE was listed first, and separately from David MOORE. This is an indication, probably, that they were not married, and probably that Mary J. MOORE was older and therefore the court gave her more respect than a woman usually got. Was she Asa MOORE and David MOORE's mother?? Deep gratitude to Robert and Shirley FAIRCLOTH for the research that dug up this Power of Attorney, the first NEW information about Asa MOORE in 20 years or more. We now know that Asa MOORE and at least two members of his family were living in Perry Co, TN in the early 1840s. Asa MOORE and James D. MOORE also gave bond in a court case involving a James MOORE in Perry Co, TN in the early 1840s. The transcription of the POWER of ATTORNEY is here. Transcriptions of the other court cases coming soon.
MARRIAGE
Asa Moore and Elizabeth B. White were married on 9 September, 1845. This marriage date is given in Asa's bible which is still in existence and is owned by Asa's great-grandson, Draydon (Bo) Moore of Nacogdoches, TX; however, it does not give the place of marriage, and no additional marriage record has ever been found.
Asa was 30 years old when he was married, and his bride was around 17. This has led some to speculate that he may have been married before.
Asa and Elizabeth were married for 21 years, and in 1866, she died in childbirth. So far as we know, Asa Moore never married again.
THE ASA MOORE FAMILY BIBLE
CHILDREN of ASA MOORE and ELIZABETH B. WHITE
THE MYSTERY OF CLEM
Asa and Elizabeth B. White had 11 children of their own (see CHILDREN of ASA MOORE and ELIZABETH B. WHITE) and raised a 12th who parentage is unknown. His name was Clem Benton White Moore. He was born ca 1842 in TN, several years before Asa and Elizabeth White were married. Tradition in his family is that Asa Moore was his step-father. It is unclear whether Elizabeth was his mother, and if so, whether he was born in a previous marriage or born out of wedlock. A woman in Dallas named Alma Robinson wrote to Clem's granddaughter that somewhere in her research notes she had some information about who Clem was and why he was living with Asa and Elizabeth Moore. At the time she wrote, her house had been vandalized, but she promised to gather the information. However, she was never heard from again. If anyone reading this knows of Alma Robinson or any of her descendants, please, please contact me!
ASA JACK MOORE
This picture was sent to Amelia Lillian Moore Cox Perez about 1966 by her first cousin I'della Moore Edwards Bristow. Written on the back of the picture was the name "Asa Jack Moore". I'Della said to Amelia, "I don't know who wrote that, but whoever it was must have known what they were doing." However, it is the only place we are know of where Asa Moore was given a middle name.
OLD ASA
This picture was found in an album of photographs that belonged to Andrew J. Moore. Dr. A. Douglas Marion of Chester, SC, whose wife descends from Andrew J. Moore, kindly sent me a copy.
Asa Moore lived to be 75 years old, a ripe old age in 1890. Not counting Clem, he outlived all but three of his children. He was an active member of Milam Masonic Lodge #2 in Nacogdoches and served a number of years as its Treasurer, and even provided a building for the Lodge to meet. He died on 18 June 1890 at the home of his son, Sterling Price Moore. On 19 June, the Lodge members gathered and processed to Sterling's home, where they conducted a Masonic Rite funeral and then carried the body 5 miles south of town to what is known as "the old home place" and buried him beside his wife, Elizabeth B. and his infant daughter, Mary S. Moore. Later, markers were erected for Asa Moore and Elizabeth B. White Moore at the Christian Cemetery about one mile south of the old home place.
HOW ARE THESE MEN RELATED?
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James Hall Moore was born in Alabama in 1818, so he was approximately 3 years younger than Asa Moore. He was the son of Joseph Moore and Mary Hall Moore. He came to Lovelady in Houston Co, TX (about 65 miles from Nacogdoches) and married Louisa Lemanda ELLIS and raised a large family. He was also active as a Mason and was Tiler of the Lovelady Lodge. Most people have immediately noticed the strong physical resemblance between James Hall Moore and Asa Moore, but no definite relationship has been found.
ASA MOORE'S DESCENDANTS (PHOTO ALBUM)
UNIDENTIFIED MOORE FAMILY PICTURES
