William K. Payne Family, Henderson Co. TX

Henderson County Texas

William K. Payne

William K. Payne, son of Thomas Payne and his first wife, Martha “Patsy” (McCarty) Payne, both from Hawkins County, Tennessee, was born November 15, 1821 in Alabama, and died January 01, 1877 in Henderson County, Texas (U. S. Census 1850 and William K. Payne tombstone inscription, Payne Cemetery, Henderson County, Texas). The first record of Thomas Payne and his family, including William K. Payne, is enumerated in The First Census of Texas, 1829-1836 by Marion Day Mullins. A character certificate to enter Texas was given to Thomas Payne in September of 1834 in the area of San Augustine (Character Certificates in the General Land Office of Texas, edited by Gifford White).

William K. Payne came to Anderson County some time around 1846, as he is listed on the voter rolls of the Republic of Texas in that year from Anderson County, as documented in the Republic of Texas: Poll Lists for 1846, compiled by Marion Day Mullins. In the 1850 United States Census from Anderson County, Texas. William K. Payne is listed as age 28, a gin agent, from Alabama and is single.

William K. Payne married Martha J. Woodard, daughter of Rev. James B. Woodard (Methodist minister) and Telitha (Harrison) Woodard on July 28, 1853 in Anderson County, Texas, as referenced in Anderson County, Texas Marriages 1850-1856. Martha J. Woodard was born April 23, 1835 in Alabama and died November 24, 1876 in Henderson County, Texas (1860 U. S. Census and Martha J. Woodard Payne tombstone inscription, Payne Cemetery, Henderson County, Texas).

William K. Payne was a delegate from Henderson County to the Texas Secession Convention in 1861, and he signed the Texas Ordinance of Secession from the Union, as documented in Texas in the War 1861-1865 compiled by Marcus J. Wright, Brig. General.

He is listed in the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System as Captain, Company E, 13th Texas Cavalry. This listing is affirmed in the book, Defenders, A Confederate History of Henderson County, Texas from the Henderson County Historical Society.

The following information on Captain W. K. Payne’s service to the Confederate States of America was provided by Thomas Reid and is based on research Mr. Reid conducted in Athens, Henderson County, Texas (e-mail to Britt Thompson and 13th Texas Cavalry Regiment - Dismounted by Thomas R. Reid http://www.angelfire.com/tx/RandysTexas/13thTxCav.html).

“Payne, William K. - Census of 1860, farmer, born Alabama, 1821. Served with L. W. Moore as a delegate to the Texas secession convention of 1861 from Henderson County. Listed as owning five slaves, $250 in real estate, and personal property of $7,600. Recruited Company E, 13th Texas Cavalry, which was sworn in at Athens, Texas, February 22, 1862. After training at Camp Burnett and Camp McCulloch, the regiment was delayed on the march in Lafayette County, Arkansas by an epidemic of measles and typhoid. Captain Payne was forced to resign his commission due to disability on August 31, 1862.”

According to the Handbook of Texas Online, Payne Springs, Texas “... was named for W. K. Payne, a Confederate veteran, who settled in the area in 1850. By 1888 the community had a Methodist church, a Baptist church, a blacksmith, a general store, and a gristmill and gin. When the post office was established in 1890 the area was known as Payne's Spring. The name was changed in 1894 to Payne Spring, and the post office continued to operate until 1905. By the 1940s Payne Spring had a population of sixty-eight and one business. The population in 1990 was estimated at 606.”

Official Directory of Henderson Co Tenth Judicial District M. H. Bonner Judge W. H. Martin District Attorney J. B. Bishop District Clerk J. C. Goodgame Sheriff County Court Jno. M. McDonald P. J. (sic) Precinct No. 1 S. M. Bradford J. P. " " 2 W. K. Payne J. P. " " 3 W. L. McNiel J. P. " " 4 John Caldwell J. P. " " 5

SHERIFF We are authorized to announce the name of W. K. PAYNE as a candidate for the office of Sheriff of Henderson county, subject to the primary election of the different precincts of Henderson county.

Children of William Payne and Martha J. Woodard are: + 2 i. Martha M. Payne, born May 31, 1854 in Henderson County, Texas died July 06, 1897 in Malakoff, Texas. 3 ii. Telitha A. Payne, born March 20, 1856 in Henderson County, Texas; died November 16, 1938 in Malakoff, Texas. 4 iii. William B. Payne, Sr., born September 15, 1862 in Henderson County, Texas; died April 12, 1916 in Malakoff, Texas. 5 iv. Thomas J Payne, born 1860 in Henderson County, Texas. 6 v. Robert P. Payne, born November 09, 1864; died March 03, 1883 in Henderson County, Texas 7 vi. Lidia Payne, born 1865 in Henderson County, Texas. 8 vii. Texana Payne, born 1869 in Henderson County, Texas. 9 viii. Jettie Payne, born December 24, 1874 in Henderson County, Texas; died 1917 in Malakoff, Texas. Britt Thompson: RBTNYU81@aol.com

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