Branch No.12

Branch 12 Captain: Belinda J. Peterson, 43 Railway Pde, Murrumbeena,

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3163 peterson.belinda.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

Send any updates to Belinda.

...........................................................................................

{1996 update: This Branch was thought to be part of Branch No.19. It was found that the below 1 Robert (1) Latta was NOT the same Robert Latta of Branch No.19, but that the History of the Robert Latta of Branch No.19 should be move to the Robert Latta of this branch.} PLEASE NOTE: I have NOT used # 2-16. As you will see the number system will not be in order over time, being that as new people are found and added they will need to use the next number not in use. Also as you find new members of the family, please look to see the last number used and start with the next number to fill in with.
LAST NUMBER USED: 101
............................................................................................
 

                                        1 ROBERT (1) LATTA
     Robert Latta designed as being of Killenny in the Parish of Donagheady and the County of Tyrone Ireland came to this country at least by May 11, 1774 in connection with the death of his son, William Latta.  He executed a will on January 30, 1780 at which time he was living in Mecklenburg Co., N.C. and in the year 1785 his Estate was settled in Rowan Co., N.C.; m. Jane ____. {1996 NOTE: "Book" by; Jo White Linn, Copyright 1980 Titled: Abstracts of Wills and Estate Records of Rowan County, North Carolina 1753-1805 and Tax Lists of 1759 and 1778.ISBN 0-918470-03-X. Salisbury, NC. Page No. 30}.  {Deed recorded in Mecklenburg Co., N.C}.{ Deed book 14 p. 68-70, Nov-26-1777}. {McCubbins Collection Rowan Co.,. Public Library, Salisbury N.C.} { Rowan Co., Deed Book 8 p. 298. May 11, 1774}. { Rowan Co., Inferior Court Minutes 1753-1868 Court of pleas & Quarter Sessions.} 1810 Census of York County, SC lists "Robert Latta", no twp listed.
Children: 
17      JOHN (2)  m.
18     WILLIAM (2)  m.
19     JAMES (2) b. August 31, 1755 in Ireland; m. Elizabeth Houston and Jane Knox.
20     JANE (2) lived in the same area of her father in Ireland. In the Will of her Father of January 30, 1780. she was stated to be
living in Ireland a single woman. { From the notes of branch 19 She had Married: Churza Hopkins in Orange Co.., N.C.  October 11, 1793. The marriage will need to be looked into for more details}
21     AGNES (2) lived in the same area of her father in Ireland
22     ISABELLA (2) m. William Jack of Ruskey.
23     SAMUEL (2) (In his Father's Will he was given all the land owned by him in;
LILENIE in DONAHADIE PARISH, COUNTY TRYONE, IRELAND)
 

                                             17 JOHN (2) LATTA
     Robert (1). Lived in Lincoln Co., N.C. 60 miles north of Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N. C.  Was told that in 1792 he went back to Ireland and died there the same year. He is supposed to be the brother of the above family.
 

                                             18  WILLIAM (2) LATTA
     Robert (1).  Born in Ireland.  Was in Rowan Co., N.C. pre 1767.  He died
interstate some time between February and May 1772.

                                            19 JAMES (2) LATTA
    Robert (1) .  Born in Antrim, Ireland August 25, 1755; d. at Hopewell, Mecklenburg Co., N.C. October 30, 1837.  In 1792 he was in Ireland educating his children.  That same year he came to America to administer John Latta's estate.  With him came one son named Robert.  They were SHIPWRECKED near Charleston, S.C. and barely escaped with their lives.  From there they walked to Lincoln, N.C.  Here he was taken in and cared for by Albert Torrence.   {1996 note: The home of this James Latta can be seen at:  *"Historic Latta Plantation/Place"* . See note at the end of this branch.) Married twice: First to Elizabeth Houston, 1780. She was Born:____. Died: 1792. In: Antrim Ireland. Married: Second wife, Jane Allison Knox on April 12, 1796 in Lincoln County, NC. She was born 16 Mar 1776 in Tryon Co (now Lincoln Co), NC, and died 01 Jul 1864 in Mount Mourne, Iredell Co, NC.  She is buried at the Hopewell Presbyterian Cemetery, Mecklenburg Co., N.C. She was the daughter of Robert Knox & Mary Ewart.  (The Allison family is prominent in Branch 8 also - may be connected)

James Latta was born in Ireland on August 31, 1755 to Robert and Jane Latta. He and his first wife, Elizabeth Houston (birth date unknown; d. ca. 1792), had two sons, William (1781-1829) and Robert (1783-1852).  James Latta first came to the area as a peddler traveling between Philadelphia and Charleston, and selling wares from his wagon to the farmers along the way. No doubt it was on such a trip that he met his wife, Jane Knox of Lincoln County. They decided to settle down here in 1799. For a farmer this would have been a valuable site, close to the rich bottom lands of the Catawba River, yet out of immediate danger of floods. Latta's success at business can be measured by the grandeur of the house, which, incidentally, follows the design of a Philadelphia town house.(Driving Tours of Mecklenburg)

James immigrated to the United States in 1785, apparently in order to settle his father’s estate in Rowan County, N.C. He purchased land in Statesville, N.C. in 1792. After the death of Elizabeth, he married Jane Allison Knox (1775-1864) of Lincoln County, N.C., on April 12, 1796. Their union produced four children: Elizabeth (Betsy) (1797-1838; m. Benjamin Wilson Davidson), Mary (Polly) (1799-1824; m. James G. Torrance), Nancy Angelina (1804-33; m. Maj. Rufus Reid), and Ezekial (1810-20).

In 1799, James purchased 200 acres in Mecklenburg County and around 1800 built his home on this land. Later, in 1805, he purchased land in Yorkville (now York), S.C., where he operated a store. James died in 1837 and was buried in the cemetery at Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Mecklenburg County. His home, Latta Place, is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

http://dlib.uncc.edu/special_collections/exhibits/latta/invent.htm

Children by first wife (Elizabeth Houston):
24     WILLIAM (3) 1781-1829
25     ROBERT (3) 1783-1852
Children by second wife (Jane Knox):
26     MARY "Polly" (3) b. Dec. 29,1799 in Mecklenburg Co., N.C.; d. November 26, 1824 in Mecklenburg Co., N.C. Buried: Hopewell Pres. Cem., Mecklenburg Co., N.C.  Second wife of James Galbraith Torrence, son of Hugh Torrence and Isabella Kerr, on April 14, 1821 in Mecklenburg Co., N.C. (He had married a "Miss Davidson" and had 5 children before he married Mary.  After Mary's death, he married a "Margaret Allison" and had 6 more children.) He was born Nov. 19, 1774 and died Dec. 12, 1847. Buried in the Hopewell Cemetery., Meck Co., N.C. He was the son of Hugh Torrance & Mrs. Isabella Falls. Two children: William & Jane. Hugh Torance, a peddler from nearby Salisbury, bought a piece of land here and built a log cabin. The Revolutionary War prevented him from moving into the cabin right away. The delay, however, was not without its advantages, for when he finally did move in, Hugh had a family. In the interim, Hugh married Isabella Falls, a war widow, and their only son, James, was born in Salisbury in 1784. Shortly after, Hugh settled into the log structure now incorporated into this building and began farming. He soon prospered and was able to add on to his house. The original log building faced south (towards the road) and had an exterior stone chimney on its west side. The chimney has now been restored, and it is on the same side of the building as the front door. This unusual arrangement came about because the Torance family built a two-story addition to the south side of the log cabin in about 1796 which changed the orientation of the house. By 1800 Hugh had a fine brick house built for himself and his wife on the site of Cedar Grove next door. Hugh's son James spent much of his youth in Salisbury, where he attended an academy and stayed with his uncle Albert. His uncle's career as a merchant obviously appealed to James, since he began to run his own operation in 1805 at the age of 21 in his father's old house. A one-story addition was made to the east side of the log house, and this became the Torance Store. James' account books give us a fascinating glimpse of the life in Mecklenburg County during the early nineteenth century. Debts at the store were often settled in the fall with cotton, and some customers paid by freighting cotton and farm produce from the store to Camden and Charleston. But Mecklenburg was still the frontier; settlers were still trading in fur and indigo, and buying powder and flints, as late as the 1820s. The store carried a wide range of goods including farm implements, looms and spinning wheels, clothing, medicine, staples, and little luxuries like coffee, tea, and spices.  James Torance inherited his parents' fortune in 1816 when both Hugh and Isabella died, and he almost tripled it over the next thirty years. James had three wives, two of whom were daughters of local planters: Nancy Davidson of Mount Mourne and Mary Latta of Latta Place. His last wife was Margaret Allison, and it was with her that James built Cedar Grove, the grand mansion opposite, between 1831 and 1833. This impressive Greek Revival house was probably designed by a professional rather than a local builder.  Cedar Grove is the finest ante-bellum mansion in the county. The impressive brick Greek Revival style house was built between 1831 and 1833 as a plantation home for James G. Torance. Torrence sold the store in 1825 to Samuel McCombs of Charlotte; according to family legend, his daughters convinced him that it was beneath a man of his stature to engage in trade. Besides his store, James also ran a large plantation with a saw mill on site. During James' life, the Torrence plantation expanded to approximately 3000 acres.  James grew primarily cotton and corn, but also grew the provisions and livestock necessary to maintain a large plantation.  The Torrence family seldom mentioned their slaves in their correspondence. In the surviving records, James Torrence makes no personal notes regarding his slaves; he only mentions them in the 1840 inventory, and in his will, as some slaves were given to his children. His son Hugh alluded to a problem slave in a letter to his father in 1838: "I have a negro in the woods he may attempt to go back though I cannot tell. It is Dick. I undertook to whip him a few days ago and when I called him up - he took to the woods. He is a great rascal. If I ever get him, I will sell him -- for I believe he will spoil every negro we have if I keep him."  James' twelve year old daughter Jane Elizabeth writing from Salem Female Academy in 1835 closed her letter by asking her father to "Tell the black people howdy for me."  During the Civil War, James Torrances' widow Margaret wrote to her son Richard that her "darkeys are doing very well. Some of the negroes in this quarter have left their masters to try the Yankees."  Torrance was married three times. He married his first wife, Nancy Davidson, in 1809. Nancy was the daughter of Ephraim and Jane Brevard Davidson of Mount Mourne (a plantation that was formerly in Mecklenburg County, but is now in Iredell County). James and Nancy had five children: Jane Adeline (1811-1820), Catherine Camilla (b. 1814), Isabella Malvina (1818-1893), Hugh Jr., and James Franklin (1816-1869). Nancy Davidson Torrence died of "typhus" in 1818 at the age of 26. James Torrance remarried in 1821 to Mary Latta, daughter of James and Jane Latta of Hopewell.  James had two children with Mary Latta: William Latta (1822-1852) and Jane Elizabeth (1823-1844). Mary Latta Torrence died in 1824. In 1827, James Torrence married for the third and final time. Margaret Allison was the daughter of Richard and Letitia Neil Allison of Statesville. Margaret and James had six children: Letitia (b. 1828), Mary (b. 1829), Delia (b. 1831). Richard (1833-1927), Sarah Jane (b. 1826), and John (1839-1904). Margaret Torrance died in 1880, surviving her husband by thirty-three years. http://www.landmarkscommission.org/surveys&rcedargrove.htm (More on the Torrence family)

27     NANCY ANGELINA (3) b.  February 15, 1804 in Mecklenburg Co., N.C.; d. November 6, 1833 in Mecklenburg Co., N.C. Married: Maj. Rufus Reid, son of John Reid and Mary Johnston, on Dec. 11, 1828 in Mecklenburg Co., N.C. He was Born: 1797 Died: July 15, 1854. Buried: Centre Pres. Cem., Iredell Co Capt. Three children: Sarah, Lacy, and Mary Jane. After the death of his wife, he married her sister Elizabeth.  (See Rufus Reid note)
28     ELIZABETH "Betsy" (3) b. February 9, 1797 in Mecklinburg Co., NC., USA; d. May 14, 1838 in Mecklinburg Co., NC. Married twice: (1) Benjamin Wilson Davidson (b. 20 May 1787 in Mecklenburg Co., NC; d. 25 Sep 1829 in Mecklenburg Co., NC). He married Elizabeth in Aug. of 1818 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. "Oak Lawn", the house of Benjamin Davidson and his wife Betsy. The couple are a good illustration of the connections among planter families common in this part of the county: he was the son of Major John Davidson of Rural Hill, and she the daughter of James Latta of Latta Place. http://www.landmarkscommission.org/surveys&roaklawn.htm (More on Oak Lawn)The house was built in 1818-20, but Benjamin only lived here for a few years before his death in 1829. Betsy had a passion for gardening and planted a quarter mile long avenue of oaks in front of the house which gave way to a further three quarter miles of cedars beyond. In her garden she blended herbs and flowers for their aroma. She left the house in 1835 when she married her sister's widower, Rufus Reid, and moved to Mount Mourne. http://www.lattaplantation.org/history/oaklawn.shtml (Pictures of Mount Mourne and Oak Lawn) http://www.presnc.org/buyproperty/central/Mount_Mourne_HPE/Mount_Mourne_HPE.html (Mount Mourne) http://ts.rtvpix.com/tour/RE/tour.view.php?utl=RE-8139-FSWDE5-02 (Virtual Tour of Mount Mourne) Oak Lawn is the Federal style plantation house erected ca. 1820 for Benjamin Davidson and Betsy Latta. Both were the descendants of pioneer Mecklenburg planters. A mile long avenue of oaks and cedars used to mark the entrance. Children: Robert, John, James, William, Joseph, and Benjamin. (2) Married: Maj. Rufus Reid (widower of her sister Nancy) on Jan. 24, 1835. They lived in Fort Bend County, Texas, and had two children: Elizabeth & the other was a stillborn female.  Richard Torrance (son of James Torrance) married Bettie E. Reid, daughter of Rufus and Betsy Latta Davidson Reid, on November 26, 1856. He moved to Texas where he purchased land on the Brazos River in Fort Bend County, and Bettie stayed behind at Cedar Grove. Richard Torrance's 1860 property assessment shows that he owned 640 acres, nineteen slaves and livestock valued at $27,000.00. The separation was difficult for Bettie Torrance. In a letter to her son, Margaret Torrance reminded him that Bettie was very lonely at Cedar Grove, but she did not believe that Bettie would be happy in Texas.  Bettie eventually moved to Texas to join her husband, and shortly after she arrived, contracted a fever and died in September 1861, leaving him with two young daughters.

29     EZEKIEL (3) b. January 16,1810 in Mecklenburg County, NC; d. November 21, 1820 in Mecklenburg County, NC.

Rufus Reed -  Rufus Reid spent much of his early adulthood in Rowan County, N.C., where he established himself as a merchant and planter. By 1831, he moved to Iredell County, N.C., where he hired craftsmen to build an impressive plantation house that he named Mount Mourne. He spent most of the rest of his life supervising his merchant and planting activities from this location.  Rufus Reid was a leading social and political figure in southern Iredell County from his arrival in the 1830s until his death in 1854. He was a prominent member of the county court, and his neighbors twice elected him to represent them in the North Carolina House of Commons (1842 and 1844). He was probably a Whig. Although he never officially joined a church, he was a regular contributor to the minister's "stipend" at Centre Presbyterian Church, located near Mount Mourne. Rufus Reid's plantation was one of the largest and most diversified in Iredell County. In 1850, Reid owned 84 slaves, making him the second largest slaveholder in the county. Reid's slaves worked hundreds of acres of land and grew substantial crops of corn, wheat, and cotton.  Rufus Reid married three times. He and his first wife, Nancy Latta Reid of Mecklenburg County, N.C., had three daughters: Mary Jane, Sallie, and Nannie. After Nancy's death, Reid married Betsy Latta Davidson, sister of his first wife and widow of Benjamin Davidson. He and Betsy Latta Davidson Reid had one daughter, Betty. After Betsy's death, Reid married Isabella Torrence Smith, widow of Franklin C. Smith, and the daughter of James Torrence from his first marriage. He and Isabella had six children: Emma Catherine, James Rufus, Addie Isabella, John Hugh, Lucy Andrews, and Franklin Samuel. His oldest son, James Rufus, died in 1861 while serving in the Confederate Army in Virginia.  Rufus Reid died in 1854 and is buried near Mount Mourne. His estate was administered by George F. Davidson. Inventory of Rufus Reed papers are located at the University of NC, Chapel Hill, and include correspondence with the Latta family. Collection No. 2712.

__________

At this point, it is of interest to mention some of the early settlers in Pennsylvania, whose names are also found in North Carolina; many of these intermarried with the Torrences.  "The North Carolina branch of the Torrences settled first in Pennsylvania. Many of the families that later intermarried with the Torrences also came from Pennsylvania. As early as 1730, Scotch-Irish settlers came to townships Coleraine, Leacock and Pequa, now Lancaster County. Coleraine was doubtless so named by those settlers who came from Coleraine in County Londonderry, Ireland. Their names appear among the Warrants for lands, prior to 1740."  Large numbers of Scotch-Irish from Donegal and Perry, Ireland, arrived at Newcastle, Delaware. All were Presbyterians. Among these were Richard Allison, and John Galbraith, who built the first grist and saw-mills there. The latter became a famous Indian trader and fighter. Andrew Galbraith was an Elder in Donegal Presbyterian Church in 1721.  Many of the Scotch-Irish who originally settled in Pennsylvania, travelled the wilderness road to the South, where their descendants are now found. Prior to 1730, in Donegal, are found the names of John, Patrick and William Allison, John Davidson, John, William and Robert Spear and their sons

                                         23 SAMUEL (2) LATTA

Robert (1) Samuel was born abt. 1770.  He inherited the land in Ireland when Robert died and lived n Ireland, having returned from America.  Children:                                                                                                                                   

88    JOHN (3) b. abt. 1813 in Ireland, immigrated to Australia; d. 1873 at Ballarat Hospital from injuries while cutting wood.

89    WILLIAM (3) b. 1818; d. 1876 in Australia (the Ballarat District of Victoria)

NOTE FROM BELINDA PETERSON: These two brothers came to Victoria, Australia from Killenny, Donegal in Ireland in 1841. JOhn Latta born 1813; died 1873 of the sketchy facts I have so far. John married Catherine Lemon in 1843 and they have their first son, another John in 1849 in Queenscliff. (Queenscliff is about 100 kilometres from Melbourne and my family always holiday there, as it is a delightful seaside town.) A letter is recorded as being unclaimed for him in Geelong (the next largest town) in 1844. John Latta then comes up in public records as being insolvent in 1851 (this was very common as people tried to establish businesses in the new colony) the next records occur in and around Buninyong, Maryborough and Ballarat, the gold mining areas until he died in 1873. John and his family will be part of my next research.

Australian Latta Timeline

1813 - John Latta born in Strabane/Donegal County Tyrone, Ireland, to John and Mary??

1818 - William is born in Donegal (don't know where)

1820 - Catherine Lemon born - to (Catherine Lemon and John Crouchen) unknown

1841 - John and Catherine marry in Dunamanagh, Tyrone, Ireland (information on death register).

1824 - Sarah Jane Black is born in County Derry. Is she Sarah Black?

1841 - Sarah Jane Black is 18. She leaves County Derry to travel to Greenoch Scotland with 7 brothers and sisters and parents James and Margaret. They travel as bound on the "fever" ship the Manilus Reference: 4/4824 pages 240-7. 44 passengers die of Typhoid on the journey over. They arrive in Port Phillip on 16th Feb 1842.

1842 - John and William arrive in Port Phillip (now Melbourne, Victoria)

1841 - John Latter and Catharine Latter (Lemon) arrive in Port Phillip on the Intrinsic in 1841 reference: 4/4814 page 60. If they were illiterate this may be how it was spelled by the officials.

1842 - William arrives in Port Phillip (now Melbourne, Victoria) could it have been 1842?

1841 - John and Catherine marry in Dunamanagh, Tyrone, Ireland (information on Death register)

1841 - John and Catherine arrive in Port Phillip (NSW colony) on 7th October on the "Intrinsic" (State records NSW - Immigrant Index Port Phillip 1839-51, 2144) (SRC AL, Bounty immigrants 1840-49 Film 2144)

1844 - Isabella Latta born 7th June (my GGG GM)

1844 - Unclaimed letter for John at Geelong Post Office

1846 - Isabella is baptized on Jan 20th by the Presbyterian, Church of Scotland Pyrenees parish, Port Fairy 2 miles from Tower Hill

The family's place of residence is "Fiery Creek" and occupation "servant" Fiery Creek (now called Beaufort) Pyrenees or Fiery Creek (since 1854 called Streatham) Ararat Rural City What date? Could it be after John 2nd was born?

1849 - Phillip Latter arrives on the Laubaun? Reference: 4816 PAGE 186. Where did the ship come from? Who is he?

1849 - John and Catherine have son John, at Queenscliff (unconfirmed)

1849 - daughter Catherine birth is registered in Geelong (vicBDM)

1849 - Jan 5th William Latta marries Sarah Black at Scots Church Collins St. They are both illiterate and cannot sign their name. Put witnesses names here.

1851 - son John is baptized at Geelong (vicBDM) I believe there were two more daughters born - I have yet to locate

1851 - William and Sarah have William at Tower Hill. What did people live in at Tower Hill? How did they get there?

1852 - John Latta is registered as insolvent (Victoria insolvency list, John Noble Wilson, 1852) Why?

1852 - William and Sarah have Mary Ann at Grasmere. Where is the exact location of the land and whom did they lease it off? (Augustus Bostock's diaries start here) Need to look for deeds and signatures.

1856 - William and Sarah have John and Sarah at Grasmere (not sure if they are twins yet).

1857 - Baby Sarah dies.

1855-1865? - Making a living, farming, wheat etc. Sending produce to the goldfields in Ballarat by Bullock and dray. William falls on his head a number of times, fighting, drinking, etc. The children go to the local Primary school. Still open.

1865? - William and Sarah separate after he threatens to kill her with a rifle. He lives in a hut close by and William (son) stays there each Saturday night. William becomes quite depressed and drinks a great deal. Where was the hut located?

1870? - Mary Ann marries Richard Hammond.

1872 - Joseph Hammond their first Grandson is born.

1873 - William Hammond, second grandson is born.

1873 - John Latta died, age 60 at Ballarat Hospital. The Ballarat Courier reported that "he was 60 years old. described himself a wood carter. died from injuries sustained whilst cutting wood."

1876 - Jan 5th William suicides after threatening to kill son, William. Found by Joseph  Warrell (neighbour). Last person to see him alive is John, his son. Inquest is held. 12 men from the community including son-in-law Richard Hammond's father are the jury. See transcript.

1876 - 4-year old Joseph Hammond dies.

1876 - Sept 21st Sarah Latta (Black) dies of debility. Both are buried in unconsecrated Woolesthorpe cemetery.

1878 - Robert, 3rd grandson born and Helenah 1st Granddaughter born (twins?)

1879 - Henry, 4th grandson born and daughter Mary Ann Hammond dies (childbirth?) Richard Hammond remarries transcribe.

1895 - April 18th, Catherine Lemon/Latta died - age 75 (vicBDM) Both are buried in the Presbyterian section of the Ballarat New Cemetery.

                                    24 WILLIAM (3) LATTA
     James (2) Robert (1).  Born Antrim, Ireland October 8 or 9, 1781.   Died: Darlington, N.C. September 26, 1829. Came to America alone in 1794 after the death of his mother. Wife Mary Permella Woods, born America July 19, 1791; d. Louisiana November 1, 1849. Married December 1811, Darlington, N.C. Children all born at Darlington, N.C.  Darlington History: Deed Book I-18. Bill of Sale. Oct. 18, 1823. Edith R. Woods sells negro woman Abigail, aged about 20, to Isham Frame Woods of Louisiana, for $357. Wit. William Latta, Ezekial Goodson. Ack. Oct. 20, 1823. Rec. Oct. 20, 1823.  Deed Book I-73-74. Deed of Gift. Dec. 25, 1822 [year overwritten and difficult to make out]. Edith R. Woods to William Latta for $1.00 Negro girl slave Abigail, in trust for her daughter Ann B. Woods. Profits from Abigail to be retained by Edith during her lifetime. Wit. E. Gee. Ack. Edmund Gee, July 5, 1824. Rec. July 5, 1824.
 Children:
76     WILLIAM FRAME (4) Born: July 28, 1812. Died: Aug 14, 1812. He was named after Rev. Frame Woods
33     MARY ELIZABETH (4) Born: July 28, 1812. m. William J. Kelton  (Also seen as: Kellinues, Kellin, Killen), May 17, 1832.
32     ANN PAMELA (4) Born: May 1?, 1814. m. William Henry, March 15, 1832. William HENRY born 7 Oct 1808 in NC. He married (1) Ann LATTA in Mar 1832 Darlington District, SC. They moved to Perry/Decatur Co. TN in 1836. Their children were John, Frame W., A. J., William, Robert L., A.E.C., and Corry P. Ann Latta HENRY died in Decatur Co. TN in 1849. William HENRY married (2) a widow, Julia COLLINS VAN HOOK in 1851 in Henderson Co. TN. Their children were Mary Elizabeth (m. James William BRYANT) ;Alonza B.; Martha Frances "Fannie" (m. Jon HISE); Andrew Collins (m. Elizabeth E. JOHNSON) ;Sophie (m. Bob BRYANT); and Albert B. (never married). William HENRY moved from Decatur Co. TN to Lamar Co. TX about 1868. He died in Fannin Co. TX 7 June 1884 and is buried in the Oakhill Cemetery near Honey Grove, TX.
30     ROBERT EDWARD (4) Born: Feb. 9, 1816
34     EDITH ROGERS (4) Born: Dec. 21, 1817. Died: March 17, 1849. Named after the wife ( Edith Rogers) of Rev. Frame Woods.
Married: Ezer (or "Eyn") Evans Woods, Louisiana April,1845. One known child: Mary Edith Woods, Born: March 17, 1849. Died: June 2?, 1849.
79     JAMES (4) Born: Oct. 24, 1819. Died: Oct. 26, 1822.
35     ANDREW WOODS (4)Born: Sept. 12, 1821.  Died: Aug. 22, 1842 in West Feliocoasa Parish, LA. (Robert listed him as " Died Single")
80     HARRIET (4) Born: June 23, 1823.
78     JOHN HENRY (4) Born: June 29, 1825.
77     WILLIAM DOPEY (4) Born: Sept. 1?, 1827. Died: Oct. 27, 183?.  He was named after the Rev. William Dopey.
31     ALBERT TORRENCE (4) Born: May 13 or 15, 1829.

                                               25 ROBERT (3) LATTA
     James (2) Robert (1).  Born Antrim, Ireland August 21, 1784; d. August 25, 1852 Columbia, S.C. Naturalized February 7, 1814 Charlotte, N.C.  Was the President of National Bank.  Married twice. First wife: Jane Allison (1785-1819); m. November 4, 1806. Mrs. Jane Allison Latta-[Died] At Philadelphia, on the 13th ult., wife of Mr. Robert Latta , merchant of Yorkville, S. Carolina. (Camden Gazette, July 1, 1819.) Second wife: Eliza Dilworth Latta.    Darlington Deed Book L-195. Bill of Sale. Mar. 25, 1832. Josiah J. Evans of Society Hill sells to Robert Latta for $875, 2 negroes: Dicey (conveyed to Evans by John Dalrympl on June 7, 1831) and [not named] (conveyed to Evans by John Kirven Jan. 1833 [sic]), "which said negroes are now in the possession of the late William Latta to whom they have been delivered by the order of the said Robert Latta." [Note: the deed book copy appears to be defective, in part by omitting several words, including the name of the second slave.] Wit. A. M. McIver, J. C. DuBose. [No recording date.] See L-215.  L-215. Bill of Sale. Mar. 25, 1832. Josiah J. Evans to Robert Latta. Same as L-195, including deficiencies in the copying. Ack. Apr. 14, 1832, Rec. Apr. 14, 1832.
Robert Latta was born near Londonderry, Ireland, on August 21, 1783. After the death of his mother, he and his older brother, William, joined their father in North Carolina. By 1812, Robert had acquired part of his father's mercantile business, which sold goods in the Carolina Piedmont towns of Statesville and Lincolnton, N.C., and Yorkville, S.C. He first married Jane Allison (1785-1819) and they had two children, John Allison and William Albert. After Jane's death, Robert married Philadelphia-native Eliza Dilworth in 1821. He built a home in Yorkville, S.C. on property he purchased from his father.

Second wife Elizabeth Dilworth b. ____; d. January 1869; m. October 9, 1821.  She was the
daughter of Samuel and Sarah Dilworth of Philadelphia, Pa. 
Children of first wife (Jane Allison):
36     WILLIAM ALBERT (4) (Will dated May 15, 1852, Richland Co., S.C.)
37     JOHN ALLISON (4) b. January 1, 1808; d. October 26, 1826 in Cola, S.C.
Buried in the Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery, Clover, York County, S.C. (Robert listed as: grave site in Philadelphia, P.A.)
38     JANE ELIZABETH (4) b. Dec. 5, 1813; d. Nov. 2, 1824; buried in Philadelphia, Pa.
86     Infant (4) b. June 10, 1816; d. July 28, 1816; Buried in Bethel Pres. Cem., York S.C.
87     SARAH ELIZA (4) b.  May 1, 1823; d. Jan. 1, 1829; Buried in the Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery, Clover, York County, SC. (Tombstone says daughter of Robert and Jane Latta)
 

Children of second wife (Elizabeth Dilworth):

39     JAMES THEODORE (4)
40     ANNA CECELIA (4) b. Yorkville, S.C. (now York) February 5, 1830; d. Charlotte, N.C.
January 10, 1891; m. Rufus Murray Johnston.  Child: Latta Crawford Johnston, b. May 20, 1857; d. February 28, 1892. Newspaper Article - Yorkville Miscellany - Issue of June 5, 1856: At Woodlawn, Columbia, on Thursday morning, May 29, by Rev. R. M. Palmer, Rufus M. J. Johnston, of New York, and Ann Cecilia, eldest daughter of the late Robert Latta.

41    IDA ELIZA (4) Born: July 15, 1834. Died: May 25, 1859. Buried: Pres. Churchyard , Cola, S.C. single.
 

1870 Census - York Co., SC

12  1879 1894 Latta         Robert         28   M    W    Farmer         400   500 South Carolina                                                          
13  1879 1894 Latta         Elizabeth      55   F    W    Keeping House            South Carolina
14  1879 1894 Latta         Margaret J.   26   F    W                                     South Carolina
15  1879 1894 Latta         Nancy E.       24   F    W                                     South Carolina
16  1879 1894 Latta         Andrew J.     19   M   W    Farm Laborer               South Carolina
17  1879 1894 Latta         Eliza C.       17   F    W                                       South Carolina

 

                            _____________________________________________

Letter to Miss Nancy Latta, Alexandriana P. Office, No. Ca.

Yorkville May 14th 1825
Dear Grand Father -

Mother rec. Aunt Nancys letter on the 12th stating that all were well. I unfortunately happened to get bit by a Snake. A Rattle Snakes companion. I did not see it until it had bit me I rode up to the house from the field and Ben, one of the black men applied herbs to it and they alleviated the pain very much until Father and Dr. Moore came from York. It was early in the morning before sun rise. I had just commenced covering corn It bit me on the Ancle of my left leg rather behind it I was carried to York next day thinking it the easiest way - it was swelled above my knee very much. On this morning Saturday I was a week since. The swelling has subsided in my leg altogether and very much in my foot. I am beginning to hop on a crutch. I believe there is no more news at present. Sarah is beginning to talk. She is going three years from yesterday Father Mother & Sister join me in love to you (John is at the place We expect him up this Morning) Grandmother Aunt Nancy Mr. Davidson & M.r Torrence's family

I remain your affectionate Grandson - William A. Latta

page 2 states -  Yorkville May 14. 1825 - Dear Sister,

    We only recd. your Letter of the 1st. (?) Wednesday last, therefore could not be up as you request.  It is consequence of Williams getting bit by the Snake we could not get off this work I am sorry to say you (??) have not come to (?) yet should they arrive in time I will send them up - It is not likely we will be up now untill we go n to Phila. please write shortly how you all are.  I Remain Your affect. Brother -  R. Latta

Mother, Aunt Susan & Father unite with me in love to you and Grand Mother, Aunt Betsy & the children, also Mr Torrence family - I am affectionately your Grandson - Wm. A Latta

  
                                   30  ROBERT EDWARD (4) LATTA
     William (3) James (2) Robert (1).  Born Darlington, S.C. (Also seen Ireland)  February 9,1816. Died: 1890.Buried: Quaker Cemetery, Camden, S.C. Married: Eliza White, May 12, 1847. She was born October 20, 1815 and died 1889. Buried: Quaker Cemetery, in
Camden, S.C.  Children:
42        MARY PAMELA (Pamelia) (5) b. Dec. 5, 1851; d. abt. 1879.(died single).
43        HARRIET CAROLINE "Hattie"(5) b. Jan. 22, 1857; d. March 29, 1927.
Buried: Quaker Cemetery, Camden, S.C. Married: John Franklin Smith.
44        WILLIAM ALBERT (5) b. Feb. 5, 1860. 
45        ROBERT A (5) b. Feb. 10, 1854; d. abt. 1917. Lived in Cheraw. One known
child: Albertus Latta.
45-A    MARGARET (5) b. abt. 1852. (No history)
45-B    JOHN (5) b. June 9, 1852. (No history)    

The following roster of Confederate recruits was printed in the Yorkville Enquirer on May 3, 1861. From the names it would appear that most of the men were from the Allison Creek and Ebenezer areas of York County.  Officers: R. H. Glenn, Capt; H. A. Wallace, 1st.Lieut; S. L. Campbell, 2nd Lieut; W. L. Thompson, 3rd. Lieut; J. A. Glenn, 1st Sgt; A. A. Barnett, 2nd Sgt; J. H. Berry, 3rd Sgt; J. T. Thompson, 4th Sgt; J. B. Tate, 5th Sgt; S. D. Simril,1st Cpl; J. R. Wallace, 2nd Cpl; J. C. Stewart, 3rd Cpl; R. Latta, 4th Cpl; W. R. Glenn, 5th Cpl; G. W. Mason, 6th Cpl.

                                    31 ALBERT TORRENCE (4) LATTA
     William (3) James (2) Robert (1).  Born Darlington, S.C. May 13 or 15, 1829; d.
was living in K.Y. 1901.  In 1901 he was a Baptist minister.  Married three times.  First wife Nancy Alethia Russell b. Mackville (now 1930, Westville) S.C. September 9, 1842; d. February 9, 1869; m. ____. Second wife Mary Jane Russell (sister of Nancy) b. Mackville, S.C. April 5, 1837; d. Gastonia, N.C. October 8, 1890; m. Mackville, S.C. January 8, 1872.  Third wife: Rebecca Head, nee Key, b. ____ d. ____; m. Gastonia, N.C. after October 8, 1890.
Children of first wife (Nancy Alethia Russell):
46     NANCY EDITH (5) b. Camden, S.C. September 22, 1860; d. May 20, 1861.
47     WILLIAM ALBERT (5)
48     EURANIA HETTIE (5) b. Camden, S.C. May 17, 1864; d. White Plains, S.C.
September 3, 1873.
49     ANDREW TORRENCE (5) b. Mackville, S.C. April 5, 1867.
Children of second wife (Mary Jane Russell):
50     MARY PAULINE (5) b. White Plains, S.C. May 2, 1874.
51     CECELIA (5) b. White Plains, S.C. July 3, 1877.


                              36 WILLIAM ALBERT (4) LATTA
    Robert (3) James (2) Robert (1).  Born Nov. 15, 1809. Died: July 7, 1865.
Married three times.    (1) Camilla Catherine Torrence, (daughter of James Galbraith Torrence and his first wife - James' second wife was Mary Latta (#26) above) on June 24, 1834 in Mecklenburg, NC. Their marriage announcement was listed in the "Miners and Farmers Journal" and listed William as an attorney/esquire.  She was born on Nov. 19, 1813 in Mount Mourne, Mecklenburg, NC., and died on Nov. 29, 1851. She s buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery, York, SC. She was the daughter of James Galbraith Torrance & Ann "Nancy" Davidson.   (2) Sarah F. Dews on June 30, 1853 in York County, SC. She was born in 1821 in Pennsylvania, and died on April 3, 1854.   (3)  Miss Anna Clark on July 22, 1856. (also seen as Clarke), widow of Winnsboro, N.C. She was born in March of 1823, and died on Oct. 26, 1912. 

Death Notices from the Yorkville Miscellany Newspaper - Latta, William A.:  Died in Yorkville on the 7th of July last, William A. Latta, Esq., in the 55th year of his age. (Issue of August 17, 1865)

Children by First Wife (Camilla Catherine Torrence):
59     WILLIAM " Willy" (5) b.  May 9, 1835; d. July 12,1841; buried: Rose Hill Cemetery,
York, S.C.
53     MARGARET M (5) b. abt. 1837; d. abt. 1919. single.
55     ANNIE I. (5) b. abt. 1840; m. Col. William Blackburn Wilson, two daughters: Florence Wilson.  Annie Latta Wilson.
60     ADA (5) b. abt. 1842; d. abt. 1854
56     JANE ALLISON " Jennie" (5) b. 1844 in York, S.C.; d. 1918 in Bartow, Fla.
Married: Gen. Evander McIvor Law, March 9, 1863. In: Law Plantation, Columbia, S.C.
 He was Born: Aug. 7, 1832 in Darlington, S.C. Died: Oct. 31, 1920. In: Bartow, Fla. He was the son of Judge E.H. Law & Elizabeth E. " Bettie" McIver. 4 children; McIver Law, Augustus Law, Annie Law, William Latta Law.  Newspaper Article - Yorkville Miscellany - Issue of March 18, 1863: Married at Waverly, near Columbia, on the 9th inst., by Rev. P. J. Shand, Brig. Gen. E. McIlver Law, of Alabama, and Jennie, daughter of William A. Latta, formerly of Yorkville.

52     ROBERT JAMES (5) b. abt. 1848; single.  The TOWN OF LATTA, S.C. was named after him.  He was educated at King's Mountain Military Academy and served in the Confederate Army. Worked as an Engineer for the railroad where he surveyed the area that became the town of  Latta, Dillon, SC.
54     FLORENCE CAMILLA (5) b. abt. 1853; d. abt. 1915. single.

Children of the Second Wife (Sarah F. Dews):
81     Child Latta (5) b. 1854; d. 1854.

Children by Third Wife (Anna Clark):
57     JOHN ALLISON (5) b. July 13, 1857; d. January 21, 1936; m. Anna R. Lewis
January 2, 1921.  * The next 2 children were listed by Robert, but I was unable to find a record of them*
58     WILLIAM (5) b. ___; d. ____ when eight years old.
61     WALTER (5) b. ____; d. ____ young.( This maybe the child of 39 James T (4) Latta)

There is a John B. Latta, age 3, that died in York County, SC from an 8-day fever in October of 1850. (no parents listed)

1860 Census - York Co., SC

Latta W.A., age 49, born Y.D. SC, Latta Anna, age 36, born SC; Latta Margaret, age 22, born Y.D. SC; Latta Ann, age 19, born Y.D. SC;   Latta Jane, age 15, born Y.D. SC; Latta Robt., age 12, born Y.D. SC; Latta Florence, age 9, born Y.D. SC; Latta John, age 2, born Y.D. SC .

1870 Census - York Co., SC

3   2029 2044 Latta         Anna C.        47   F    W    Keeping House            1,000     South Carolina
 4   2029 2044 Latta         Margaret       31   F    W                                       South Carolina
 5   2029 2044 Latta         Ann            29   F    W                                       South Carolina
 6   2029 2044 Latta         Robert J.      21   M    W                                       South Carolina                                        X                       X
 7   2029 2044 Latta         Florence       19   F    W                                       South Carolina
 8   2029 2044 Latta         John A.        13   M    W                                       South Carolina                                        X

 

Episcopal Church Of The Good Shepherd 36 102 E. Liberty St., Yorkville, SC (Tour of Homes)

A pivotal building. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that there were sufficient Angelicans in Yorkville to establish an Episcopal Church. Rev. John D. McCullough was sent as a missionary from Charleston to the Up-Country, and he established churches in Spartanburg, Glen Springs, Union and Yorkville. Beginning in 1849, services were held irregularly in the Courthouse, Methodist Church, and Presbyterian Church. Good Shepherd Church was officially established in 1852, and the sanctuary, of plain Gothic style, was built in 1855, at a cost of about $5,000. Dr. J. M. Lowry (#35) gave a corner of his lot, and Mr. William Latta (#43) donated five hundred Mexican Silver Dollars to be cast into the bell, which is still used. He also donated a melodeon, making Good Shepherd the first church in York to have a musical instrument.

                             39 JAMES THEODORE (4) LATTA
     Robert (3) James (2) Robert (1).  Born: June 19, 1827. Died: May 22, 1865.
Married: Angel Wetherill Lott (Also seen: Angel Lott Wetherill) She was Born: 1832 in
Philadelphia, PA. Died: 1875   Children:
62     EDWARD DILWORTH (5) b. Pendleton, S.C. May 4, 1851; d. Nashville, Tenn.
or Ashville, N.C. July 14, 1925.
82     WALTER (5)
83     ANGELA WETHERELL (5) Born: Aug. 31, 1852. Died: Sept. 10, 1852 in Europe.
84     WILLIAM PINCKNEY (5) Born: 1853. Died: 1874. Buried: St. Paul's Epis. Cemetery,
Pendleton, S.C.
85     JAMES THEODORE, Jr. (5) Born: Dec. 9, 1855. Died: April 17, 1891. In: Charlotte, N.C. Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, N.C.
 

                                   44 WILLIAM ALBERT (5) LATTA
Robert E (4) William (3) James (2) Robert (1) Born: February 5, 1860. In: Camden, S.C.
Died: August 16, 1932. Buried: Quaker Cemetery, In: Camden, S.C.
Married: Sallie Cason Francis (Also seen as : Sarah Carson Francis) She was Born: Dec. 17, 1866 Died: Feb. 13, 1913. Buried: Quaker Cemetery, Camden, S.C. She was the daughter of:  John Herbert Francis & Margaret " Maggie" Joesy.
Children:
68    WILLIAM HERBERT (6) b. 1886 in SC; d. 1952 in VA; m. Sarah Pauline Johnson.
69    JOHN HENRY (6) Born: Oct. 10, 1888. Died: May 17, 1889. Buried: Quaker Cemetery,
Camden S.C.
70    ROBERT EDWARD (6) (Doctor) b. 1894 in Camden, SC; d. 1956 in GA; m. Mary Stewart Hewlett.
71    MARGARET ELIZABETH (6) b. Sept. 1, 1898 in SC; d. Dec. 18, 1964. Buried: Magnolia
Cemetery, Hartsville S.C.
72    FRANCES MOZELLE (6) b. Jan. 9, 1904 in Camden, S.C.; d. July 16, 1982.
Buried: Magnolia Cemetery, Hartsville, S.C.; m. August John "Joe" Haun, June 30, 1926.  Three children: Frances, Harriett, and Johanna.


                                     47 WILLIAM ALBERT (5) LATTA
     Albert T. (4) William (3) James (2) Robert (1).  Born Camden, S.C. May 5, 1862; d. living in Louisville, KY 1926.  Married Jessie A. Garland b. White Plains, S.C. July 17, 1864; d. ____; m. February 1885. In the 1911 City Directory of Louisville, KY, there is an Albert Latta listed as President of Latta Optical (?). 

 Children:
63     NANCY (6) b. Sheffield, Alb. 1885.
64     JESSIE GARLAND (6) b. Sheffield, Alb. 1889.

  
                                   62 EDWARD DILWORTH (5) LATTA
     James (4) Robert (3) James (2) Robert (1).  Born Pendleton, S. May 4, 1851; d. July 14, 1925.  Married twice.  First wife Harriet " Hattie" Nisbet b. May 18, 1853; d. Oct 9, 1910; m. Macon, GA on March 14, 1877.  She was the daughter of Thomas C. Nisbet and Mary Wyatt.  In February, 1898, Mrs. Hattie Nisbet Latta (Mrs.Edward Dilworth), of Charlotte, was appointed third State Regent for the State.  Under her inspirational guidance, the first five chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution in North Carolina were organized.
 Second wife: Jennie Lea in Atlanta, GA on August 31, 1918.
Children by first wife:
65     MARION NISBET (6) b. New York City, N.Y. December 25, 1877; d. living in
1909 Milwaukee, Wis.  Wife Orgarita Merrill b. ____ d. ____.  She descended from Maj. Gen. John Stark of N.H. D.A.R. # 45614.
66     EDWARD DILWORTH, JR (6) b. New York City,  N.Y. December 6, 1879.
67     JANET ACTON (6) b. Charlotte, N.C. October 17, 1883; d. ____, D.A.R. #
49148; m. William Haskell Porcher.
              
1876 - Edward Dilworth Latta opens a clothing store in Charlotte. Soon, this South Carolina descendent of Mecklenburg planter James Latta will become known as one of the Queen City's most influential men. He begins the Charlotte Consolidated Construction Company, called the "4Cs." E.D. Latta will introduce the concept of suburbs, and develop trolley transportation that makes suburban growth possible.

                           

                              68 WILLIAM HERBERT (6) LATTA
William H (5) Robert E (4) William (3) James (2) Robert (1) Born: June 22, 1886. In: Camden
S.C. Died: August 12, 1952. Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Hampton, VA. Married: Sarah Pauline Johnson. She was Born: April 8, 1900. In: Cheraw S.C. Died: Oct. 14, 1986. Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Hampton, VA. She was the daughter of: James Henry Johnson & Isabella Gaskins.  Children:
73    JOHN FRANCIS (7) b. February 7, 1921 in Elizabeth City County, VA; d. February 9, 1921 in Elizabeth City County, VA.
74    WILLIAM ROBERT (7) b. 1922 in VA; d. 1987 in VA; m. Mary Lois Hodge.



                             74 WILLIAM ROBERT (7) LATTA
William H (6) William H (5) Robert E (4) William (3) James (2) Robert (1)
Born: September 25, 1922. In: Elizabeth City County, VA. Died: July 6, 1987. In: Hampton, VA. Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Hampton, VA. Married: Mary Lois Hodge, May 10, 1947 In:
Hampton, VA. She was Born: December 23, 1927 In: Giles County, VA. Died: June 1, 1980. In: Newport News, VA. Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Hampton, VA.
Child:
75    CONSTANCE MARQUITA (8) Born: December 1, 1948 In: Newport News, VA.
Married: Carl Christopher Backus, April 19, 1964 In: Sparta, N.C. They had one child.
Married: Daniel Thomas Mullady, August 15, 1971 In: Hampton, VA. No Children.
Re-Married: Daniel Thomas Mullady, July 28, 1977 In: Newport News, VA.
Child: CRYSTAL CHRISTINA LATTA, Born: September 25, 1964 In: Hampton, VA. She
Married: Eric Lane Brown, February 14, 1990. He was born: Dec. 3, 1964 In: Hampton, VA.
They have Two children: William Austin Brown, Born: Nov. 28, 1988. & Karah Elane Brown,
Born: July 17, 1992.

                                  89  WILLIAM (3) LATTA

Samuel (2) Robert (1)  William was born in 1818; d. 1876 in Australia (the Ballarat District of Victoria).  married Sarah Jane Black in 1849 at Scots Church in Melbourne. It was the only Presbyterian Church in Melbourne at the time. They seem to be unable to read or write because they only make their mark on their marriage certificate. From Melbourne, Victoria they travel down to Tower Hill about 300 kilometers from Melbourne on the West coast of Victoria. They probably go by coach, as the steamers have not yet been introduced to the area. They have their first child William in 1851 at Towerhill and they then appear to have settled in Grassmere (about 10 kilometers away) on land they leased.  They spend the next 20 years establishing their life as farmers. They had a further 3 children. Mary in 1852 and John (My Great Grandfather) and Sarah in 1856. I have not yet established if John and Sarah were twins but Sarah suddenly died in 1857 leaving William and Sarah with just the three children. Life was extremely challenging in Victoria at that time. They would have of course relied on their neighbors a great deal and daily life involved planting wheat, vegetables and other produce, attending markets to buy cattle and killing and sharing their animals between their neighbors and themselves. They transported food to the Goldfields in Ballarat for the miners by bullock and dray in the 1860s and possibly made a reasonable livelihood. Things start to become more difficult when William and Sarah separate in about 1868. William had had a number of severe falls from his horse and a few rather savage fistfights and the family believed this affected his mind. He also drank rather heavily and things came to a head when he threatened to shoot his wife and then later his eldest son. The records show that in 1876 when he committed suicide by the use of a rifle this was his second attempt. He died on this 23rd wedding anniversary in 1876 after expressing remorse for the break down of his marriage. He lay dead for two days and was discovered by his neighbor George Warrell. The inquest was held in William's hut by the local coroner with 12 friends and peers from the area as jurors. One of the men was his son-in-law Richard Hammond. Half of the men could not sign their names and made their mark on the inquest documents. The family had a very troubled year that year and the eldest of Sarah and William's grandchildren, Joseph, died at age four. Sarah Latta died in September in that same year of debility. She was aged 53. The family continued to live in the area and the rest of the story is yet to be researched.. (2005 Note from Belinda: I am having quite a bit of luck with my ancestors in Australia because Victoria is so small. I have found a wonderful book. It is called People and Places, Western Victoria 1854-1865, from the diary of Augustus Bostock. William Latta, c 1818, Donegal. (The man who committed suicide in 1876 at Grassmere near Warrnambool) was Augustus Bostock neighbour and had land next door. Augustus's diary has multiple references to our ancestor, William Latta and strangely enough the family that his son, John married into after his father died. John Latta married my Great Grandmother, Grace. Her family was Parker and her mother's family were Lindsays. They are all referred to quite frequently in the book. The Diary eg 15/12/1854. "Went to see Latta and Doy about building the bridge. (The bridge was required from them all to access parts of the road to Warrnambool.) 17/3/1855 "Thrashing machine came to Lattas." (It seems Latta grew wheat and raised beef, etc. and sent some of the food to the minors at the goldfields. This was a very significant period of gold mining in Australia.) NOTE FROM BELINDA: Latta Genealogy Newsletter (Issue 26 - Summer 2005) I just got back from my trip to Grasmere, Winslow, Woolesthorpe and Warrnambool in Victoria, Australia. It was very enlightening and I was able to glean a great deal of information about the Latta family in Victoria. I found (through the help of a local man in Woolesthorpe) the post office where Sadie Latta worked until the 1930's, early Latta land and even the site of the old unconsecrated graveyard (which was destroyed by bushfire) and where William Latta (arrived 1842) and Sarah Black (his wife) was buried in 1876. I will start to build a website and put all my photos and video footage together with my other research for everyone to enjoy and help solve the puzzles.  When I went to the shipping records last week I found the arrival of John Latter and Catherine Latter in 1841 on the "Intrinisic." They arrived into Port Phillip in the colony of NSW (now part of Melbourne, Victoria). The misspelling was possibly because they could not write for themselves and it was mis-transcribed by an official. I think this is the John Latta born in 1813 whose spouse was Catherine Lemon....He may be my William's brother and the parents were John and Mary (maiden name??) Latta from Strabane County Tyrone.  Could Margaret Rodgers be this Mary? and I think if this is the case then Andrew Latta may be their younger brother and came to Australia in 1869 after the other two brothers were settled.  What do you think? I still have no record for William's arrival however.  Then a Phillip Latter arrived on the4 "Laubaun" in 1847 but I am yet to trace his line. I have also got so much more information about my Grandfather, Charlie Latta's siblings. There was an illegitimate son born in 1916 when John Latta (1890) the older brother was in the first world war. His name was Cyril Latta Shepard and sadly he was never acknowledged by the family. I have letters from his poor mother to the War Department trying to locate John for her to have her son acknowledged in name. I have photographs in Balmoral, the Latta family home in Warrnambool (1904) and Grace Parker Latta and wife of John Latta with her baby daughter  Gladys in 1904. She is my Great-Grandmother.  Children:

102     WILLIAM  (4) b. 1851 at Tower Hill

103    MARY ANN  (4) b. 1852 at Grasmere; m. Richard Hammond abt. 1870.

104    SARAH (4) b. 1856; d. 1857

90    JOHN (4) b. 1856 in Australia; m. Grace Parker

THE DEATH OF WILLIAM LATTA - Newspaper: The Belfast Gazette and Portland and Warrnambool Advertiser, Edition Date: Friday January 14, 1876; Published Belfast (aka Port Fairy). Page 2, column 4: The usually quiet township of Winslow was the scene of unwonted excitement on Friday evening last, when it became known that an old resident named William Latta had been found dead in his house. The deceased, who was a farmer, seemed to have been subject to violent paroxysms of rage, and at such times to have become quite insane. At the inquest, which was held before Mr. J. H. Craig, on Saturday, it was stated by one of his sons that the deceased through his violent conduct had estranged his family from him, and that he had lived by himself. He had seven or eight years ago attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat, and lately he had threatened to shoot one of his children. The deceased was found lying dead on the floor of his house by a witness named George Warrrell. It appeared that Latta had tied the stock of his gun to a plough and had attached a piece of leather to the trigger, and then by pulling the barrel towards him must have succeeded in discharging the whole contents into his stomach. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased died from a gun shot wound inflicted by himself, while in a fit of temporary insanity.

                                    90 JOHN (4) LATTA

William (3) Samuel (2) Robert (1)  John was born in 1856 in Australia; m. Grace Parker.  Children:

91    JOHN "Jack" (5) (John James Latta B-18??; married May Lee; Robert Latta B-1868 at Ulladulla, NSW; Renwick Clyde Latta Born July 3, 1913. Married Gwennie Ernestiner Bennet, Sept. 29, 1942. Renwick's Military Information: Australian Army #NX102461 (N52318), Date of Birth, 3 July 1913, Born at Ulladulla, NSW, Australia, Date of Enlistment, 17 August 1942 at Ashfield, NSW, Place of Enlistment, Sidney, NSW, Next of Kin, Gwennie Latta, Discharged 8 January 1946, Rank, Sapper. Posting at discharge, HQ COMD ASC 9 Aust. Div., WW2 Honours and Gallantry. None for display. Prisoner of War. No.

1996 Note:
Information was added to this Branch from the records of;  75 Constance Marquita (8) Latta.
Constance M. Latta
102 Shenandoah Road
Hampton, VA 23661-3428
..............................................................................................

Jan. 15, 1997. Note.
Information was added to this branch from the records of:
A. Douglas Marion, M.D.
145 York St.
Chester, S.C. 29706.
...............................................................................................
{ 1996 Note: See the above Family Number 52, Town of Latta S.C.}
{ 1996 Note: See the above and Below information on Family Number 19}

(Notes from 1930's about 1 ROBERT (1) LATTA)
     From Historical Sketches of North Carolina from 1584 to 1851.  From Journal of
Committee of Safety: "Whereas Robert Latta complained to this Committee that sundry persons are indebted to him and will not pay their accounts.  Resolved: That the said Robert Latta again make demand of each person his debt, and upon non-payment, to demand security for the payment of the same on the first day of November, next.  Upon failure there of he is hereby authorized to spe for the same."  On page 374, "Robert Latta came into Committee and acknowledged the receipt of L14.10s. supposed to be counterfeit, from Adlai Osborne, agree to order of Committee."  Osborn was afterwards arrested as a tory.


     In the census of 1790, the name of Joseph, of Mechlenburg, N.C. was the only name
mentioned.  The census is not given for Orange Co., N.C. but in that county five Latta's
appeared in the text books; they were John, Sr.; John, Jr.; James Sr.; James Jr.; and
Thomas.  They were in St. Mary's or Hillsboro Districts.

     The mother of Rev. S.A. McPherson, in her journal dated 1854, says that she
received a letter from Cousin John Nesbit.  Does this connected branches 12 and 19?  See
Mrs. Edward Dilworth Latta, nee Nesbit branch No. 19.

(Note 1996: See Notes in branch # 8)
......................................................................................

(1996 Notes on 19 JAMES (2) LATTA)


                                                        Historic Latta Place

                                             The Plantation Home of James Latta
                                                               Circa 1800

                               

Tucked away on the banks of the Catawba River, this backcountry plantation
offers a glimpse into the life of merchant/planter James Latta and his
family in rural Mecklenburg County in the early days of our republic.
You'll find the restored Latta house, various out buildings, a replica
kitchen, wellhouse and log house, as well as a barn and barnyard animals.

James Latta was a Scot who came to America from Ireland in 1785 to settle
his father's estate. Having a good head for business and seeing a ripe
opportunity in this burgeoning republic, he became a traveling merchant who
bought his wares in Philadelphia and Charleston and sold them from the back
of his wagon to Piedmont Carolina farmers and villagers. Imagine the
excitement of local folks to see Latta's wagon coming down the road with
his muffin tins, muslin, needles, salt and sugar, toothbrushes, tea, bridle
bits and curry combs, tinware, cast iron pots - even English china and fine
silks!

James Latta was first married to Elizabeth Houston in Ireland. She died,
leaving her husband and two sons, William and Robert. By 1796, James Latta
had married Jane Knox of nearby Lincoln County, purchased the first of six
farms totaling 725 acres, and started construction of his white, two-story
Federal style Philadelphia town house.

Latta's entrepreneurial spirit soon led him into cotton farming. By 1825,
he hired an overseer to manage the plantation and his slaves. Being a
prudent Scot, in later years he had no urge to build a more grandiose
house; he simply invested or banked his money. He died a wealthy man in
1837.

Rich and cultured and naturally quite popular, daughters Betsy, Polly and
Nancy were often called "the Belles of the Catawba." Father James intended
that they marry well. Perhaps he had the inside window cut from the parlor
to the hall so he could keep an eye on gentlemen callers. Educated at the
Girl's Boarding School in Salem, North Carolina, the daughters did, indeed,
marry prominent local landholders. Like his father, Latta's son, Robert,
was a merchant and became known as the "merchant prince" of South Carolina.
The youngest son, Ezekial, died at the age of ten. You can visit the family
gravesite just down the road at Hopewell Presbyterian Church, the center of
their social and community life.

Distinguished by its fine craftsmanship, James Latta's white two-story
frame house is elegantly simple, yet quite grand compared to the rustic log
homes of the day. Latta made a proud, clear statement of his urban
connections by choosing a Philadelphia town house style.

Fine hand-crafted exterior and interior trim give the house a special
significance among historic buildings - dog ear molding over the doors,
wave and scroll detailing on the stairs, and sophisticated mantels. Inside
you'll find painted walls, fine furniture, and even family silver. The
deeply worn board just outside the dining room door, where the servants, no
doubt, stood waiting to serve meals, will spark your imagination.

You'll enjoy wandering the grounds, seeing the barnyard animals, and
visiting the outbuildings, replica log house, and garden. Learn about the
Lattas and how they lived from guided afternoon tours.

James Latta's plantation home is now a part of beautiful Latta Plantation
Park, located on Mountain Island lake in northern Mecklenburg County. Canoe
rentals, hiking trails, horseback riding trails, and picnic facilities are
available in the park. Bring the family for a picnic (nearest restaurant 6
miles) and make a day of it!

Location:

Historic Latta Place is located 12 miles northwest of Charlotte, North
Carolina. The address is 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC 28078.

From Charlotte take I-77 North to Exit 16B, Sunset Road west. Travel west
on Sunset Road to Beatties Ford Road. Turn right and proceed north for 4.8
miles to Sample Road (across from Hopewell Presbyterian Church). Turn left
on Sample Road and enter Latta Plantation Park.

Call 704-875-2312 for admission fees and tour schedule. Group tours
available by appointment.

.....................................................................................

Note by George P. Latta.  The above information was taken from a website. The above James Latta can be found in Branch No. 12, family 19. 

1997 Note: The information below was given to me (George Latta) by Bill Bigham of Winston-Salem, NC. He writes: This is information on Branch No. 12, Family 19 James Latta from the History of Hopewell Presbyterian Church published in 1939. The below is an exact quotation from that book as well as the Latta Cemetery listings from appendix D.

Sommerville, Charles William.  The History of Hopewell Presbyterian Church. Charlotte: Observer Printing House, 1939. [page 152] James Latta came from Ireland in 1790, located between Hopewell and Catawba and built the house occupied by David Sample one hundred years later. A shingle roof on this house lasted eighty-two years.  In 1795 he married his second wife, Jane Knox, who bore him three daughters, Betsy, Polly, and Nancy. Betsy married Ben Wilson Davidson; Mary was the second wife of James Torrance, and the mother of two children: Dr. William Torrance, bachelor, and Jane Torrance who married Dr. W. S. M. Davidson and lived on the Billy Wilson place. Nancy married Rufus Reid, of Iredell County.  Mr. Latta died in 1837. [Summerville cites Alexander: sketches, pg 53 as his source.] [pg. 302, Appendix D {Cemeteries - Hopewell Cemetery Names} (1) In memory of JANE K. LATTA, wife of James Latta, died July 1, 1864, in the 89th year of her age. She being dead yet speaketh. (2)  Beneath this tomb is deposited the remains of EZEKIEL LATTA, who was born January 16th, 1810, and died November 21st, 1820. (3) Sacred to the memory of JAMES LATTA, who departed this life 30th October, 1837; aged 82 years, 2 months and 9 days.

.................

Message Board Post: Ferguson, Herman W., Mecklenburg Co, NC: mintues of the court of common pleas and quarter sessions, v 6:1851-1860. Book 10:565, page 74 1855 April session [30] Deed from R. D. Parks to James Latta for 37 acres bearing date 21 Novr. 184? , proved by Wm. Knox.  State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County: At a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions began and held for the County and State aforesaid at the Court House in Charlotte on the 4th Monday in April A.D. 1855 being the 23rd day of said month, present the worshipful & John P. Ross, M.N. Hartt, Wm. Reid, Wm. Maxwell, B. W. Alexander Esqrs. [Justices]. Book 10:639, page 90 1855 October session: Ordered by court W. K. Reid, C.C.C. pay Wm. Latta, Guardian of his own children, his order or agent, $114.13 the balance of their distributive share of the estate of Wm. L. Torrence, decd., paid office by Thos. M. Kerns, admr. State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County: At a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions began and helf for the County and State aforesaid at the Court House in Charlotte on the 4th Monday in October A.D. 1855 being the 22nd day of said month. Present the Worshipful Wm. Reid, Wm. Maxwll, B. W. Alexander, John P. Ross & M. N. Hart Esqrs. [Justices]. 

LATTA, NORTH CAROLINA - The Town of Latta was built around the railroad, and originally called Lattie. Latta is named for Captain Robert J. Latta, a railroad engineer who laid out the town.  Once, three railroad tracks ran through the town to get the area's agriculture to market.