For many years I believed my surname was Herring but when I started my genealogy research I learned from some Herring genealogists that Elizabeth Austin Harrell, believed to be my great grandfather's mother, remarried when he was about 4 years old to Lewis Herring (1801-1862). The hand written documents to support this assertion are supposed to be in the genealogy section of the Canton Public Library in Canton, MS. This would mean, of course that my great grandfather really was a Harrell and not a Herring. However, we have since compared my DNA with the DNA of a descendant of Isaac Harrell and found that this is not true. At best, Robert Herring and Isaac Harrell were stepbrothers. This then is a page of Robert Herring's stepfamily.
Some Herring genealogists believe Robert H Herring's father was a John Harrell, born in North Carolina. A John W. Harrell, Moses B. Harrell and an Asa Harrell can be found in the early Mississippi Carroll County Land records as very close neighbors. Moses B. and Asa can also be found in the 1840 and 1850 Carroll Co, MS census. In the 1850 census Asa listed his age at 34 and Moses B. listed his age at 45 both being reported as being born in North Carolina. Using a countrywide search of census records, a Moses B., an Asa and a John W. Harrell can also be found in the 1830 Gates CO, NC census as neighbors.
In Mississippi on October 21, 1843,
Edward Hampton Coe and William H. Bates purchased the N half of the W half of
the SW quarter, Section 31, Township 21, R5E, and the E half, SE quarter,
Section 36, Township 21, R4E, in Carroll County from John W. Harrell for $400. John W. Harrell is
also mentioned an estate record book of Carroll County as a witness to a
land transaction involving Jane Sanders Dower, dated June 5, 1841. Also signing
are A.R. Britnal, John Lott, John Davidson, and Berry Ambers. In another estate
record book, another transaction appears to be the probate of one Henry Sanders,
where Moses B. Harrell is listed as the executor, and A. Harrell and John W.
Harrell are the witnesses, probated October 1841. Because of the use of their
middle initials for Moses B. and John W. and the odd name of Asa, and that all
three of them can be found together in Gates CO, NC and then in Carroll CO, MS,
it appears that they are at least related. Due to the closeness of their ages
though I assume they are brothers.
Update: We now have evidence to support that Robert H Herring was a son of John C Herring and was just living in the household of his older cousin, Lewis Herring, in 1860. John C. Herring and his wife both appeared to have died sometime between 1850 and 1860 in Yell County, Arkansas.
Isaac changed the spelling of his name from Harrell to Herrell. The family story is that Isaac married an Indian and was disowned by his family so he changed the spelling of his last name. I'm not sure if this is true. He lived close to his mother and his wife's family name was Montgomery. These are photos that I received from some of Isaac Herrell's descendents.
Herrells to far left on this picture
This is Lora Jack Herrell and his wife Etta.
Lora Jack was the eldest son of Isaac Herrell.
This is a picture of Jack and Etta in later years. Lora Jack simply went by the name Jack.
Here is the marker for James R. Herrell (Jimmie) (1901 - 1962) and his wife Verda
Mae (1904 - 1980).
Billy Ray Herrell's (29 Oct 1928 - 6 Feb 1987) resting place in the Oak Grove Memorial Cemetery in Irving, Dallas County, Texas.
This is Erie F. Herrell's (7 Feb 1891 - 22 Feb 1948) final resting spot in the Mount Olivet Cemetery - Rose Garden section,
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.
Patrick Earl Herring, Sr.
E-Mail: imaherring@yahoo.com
Last Updated: 05/06/2005