Fielding Willows

 

And at the same time and place came Fielding Willows, a witness known to be of lawful age and memory, and who after being duly sworn in, regard to the matters in the caption hereof mentioned upon his oath deposed as follows that is to say;

 

I now reside in the County of Carroll, and State of Arkansas; I was living near the Indian line in Washington County, Arkansas, in the month of April 1857. I was personally well acquainted with John M. Jones, and Newton Jones, Pleasant Tackett, and the widow Tackett mentioned in the foregoing deposition of Francis M. Rowan, when the parties above named, were on their way to California, and while they were in camp in the Indian line in Washington County, Arkansas. I was at their camp and stayed with them two or three days. I was well acquainted, and on intimate terms with the Jones boys, and saw their property. I have had hearing of the tabulation statement of the amount, quality, and value of property as deposed to by said witness Rowan, and from my knowledge recollection and belief, I am satisfied that the estimate therein made is very nearly correct. It may be even or under the real cash value of what the real cash value was in the market of Washington County at the time said parties left Washington County. But my best judgement is that the estimate made is not an unreasonable one either way. John M. Jones and his brother had to my own knowledge; one large good ox wagon, 4 yoke of first rate work oxen. Their wagon was very heavily laden with clothing, beds and bedding, provisions, etc. The fine stock cattle they had some six or eight in all were good cattle, and were all no doubt worth the prices named in the annexed evidence of the witness Francis M. Rowan. I know that there was about sixty head of stock cattle over and above the amount owned by the Jones Boys, but to whom it belonged I cannot say. The widow Tackett, Pleasant Tackett, Peleats, and several others were in the crowd and all left the State of Arkansas, for California, together. They left sometime in the month of April 1857. The Peleats, Basham, and Tacketts had three wagons, several yoke of good oxen to each wagon, and had one horse. Had apparently plenty of provisions, clothing and a general outfit to make the trip comfortable, and further this deponent saith not.

 

F. Willow

 

Subscribed & swornto before me this 24th day of October 1860

C.C. Williams, J.P.

​

State of Arkansas
SS
County of Carroll

 

I, C.C. Williams, an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Carroll and State of Arkansas, duly commissioned and qualified as such within and for said county, do hereby certify that the annexed and foregoing deposition of Francis M. Rowan, Fielding Willows, and Felix W. Jones were sincerely taken before me in the county of foresaid, on this 24th day of October 1860, and that the statements, responses, and answers of each of said witnesses were reduced to writing in their presence and read over to them in their presence and hearing, and by them sincerely subscribed and swornto before me. I further certify that I am well acquainted with said witnesses, Rowan, Willburn, and Jones, and that they are all reputable persons, and worthy of credit. In witness whereof, I, as such Justice of the Peace as aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of October 1860.

 

C.C. Williams, J.P.

 

State of Arkansas
SS
County of Carroll

 

I, Sam W. Peel, as the clerk of the circuit court, and ex officio clerk of the county court of the county of Carroll, and state aforesaid, do hereby certify that C.C. Williams, whose genuine official signature appears to the annexed, and foregoing certificate, was at the time of taking said depositions, and the making of said certificates, and now is an acting Justice of the Peace duly commissioned, and qualified as such within, and for said county, and that his clerk certificate is in due form of law, and by the proper officer. That his signature, thereto annexed, is genuine and in his own proper hand writing, and that full worth and credit are due all his official acts as such Justice of the Peace. In witness whereof, I Sam W. Peel, as the clerk of said court as aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal (The public seal of this court having been destroyed by fire). This 25th day of October, A.D. 1860

S.W. Peel, Clerk