After much too long of a break, I’m hoping to finish this project this year. What better way to get “back in the saddle” than a Murder Mystery…..
In 1998, my husband and I took a road trip in hopes of solving the mystery of the murder of one of my great-great-great-grandfathers, Daniel H. Carroll. I know very little about this man and that drives me a bit crazy.
From the 1850 Scott County, Arkansas Census, I know that he was born about 1820 in Kentucky. About 1843 he married Nancy Boultinghouse and they had four children, Sarah Jane in 1844, Francis Marion in 1848, and twins, Thomas Jefferson and Mary Elender Victoria, on 21 Apr 1851. Fourteen days later Daniel was murdered while at work. Thirty-one short years of life and a huge mystery that still remains shrouded 171 years later.
“August 5th A.D 1851
Dear Brothers and Sisters
I gladly imbrace the present opportunity of writing you a few lines….. if you have not heard it I will Now let you know that I lost my husband on the 6th day of last may he was Shot While he was at work about one half Mile from the Mill geting logs in to the Slough his Brother George was with him Tho was some distance from him when he Was Shot. Daniel never Spoke after he was Shot he turned round and fell on his face and lay there till George went about A Half mile to henry Scaggs and back George saw the glemps of some person Run off but could not tell who it was
I can not tell for sertain who it was That done the murder but I believe it was one of the Harras boys under The influence of Jo Tumlinson it is a great loss to me the greatest I could have met with in this world”*
This letter has intrigued me ever since it came into my hands in the late 1980s. I’ve researched, asked everyone I could think of, run down “rabbit holes”, ANYTHING that might possibly shed some light and reveal more information about who Daniel H. Carroll was and who murdered him. Much to my dissatisfaction and disappointment, I’ve found very little.
In 1998, Jerrell and I decided to visit Waldron, Arkansas to see if we could discover more information by being at the source. Waldron is the county seat of Scott County and where Nancy was living when she wrote the letter. My first stop was at the courthouse where I was informed there were no records that far back due to a fire. I later learned that between the departing Union troops burning most of Waldron, Reconstruction and the “Waldron War” (1870-1882), there truly were no records to be found.
Nancy’s letter goes on to speak of more murders –
“I will now inform you that Jo Tumlinson And his Clan is not Satisfied with taking Daniels life they are still seeking more Blood on the 9th day of July all the Men in the neighborhood of Tumlinson Was called out to work the road in the Evening of that day Joe Tumlinson rode up in to the crowd with a gun on his Shoulder and with out any seremony Shot king Bennet and he died in a Few minutes after Tomlinson Rode off To Waldron and gave himself up to The law and was tried before Esqrs Featherston and Gaines and was acquit He is now the great monster of the West”*
From other researchers and sources I’ve learned that Esquires Featherston and Gaines were apparently “cronies” of Joe Tomlinson/Tumlinson. That being the case, it’s not surprising that he was “aquit” for the murder of King Bennet. My researchers mind wants desperately to know, who killed Daniel and why. Where was he buried, who were his parents and what happened to his brother George. I’ve been banging my head against this brick wall for 40 years.
What I can tell you is this –
- Daniel was murdered
- Nancy moved to Texas with her father, Daniel Boultinghouse prior to 08 Jan 1854 which is when she remarried.
- George M Carroll, who was born about 1822 in Kentucky, was in the 1850 and 1860 Scott County, Arkansas Census and then disappears.
I was told by a local historian that it was very common for people to vanish from Scott County. The aftermath of the Civil War and the Waldron War resulted in many murders and disappearances, she said that many people changed their name and moved on.
This may be a mystery I never solve. I’m currently trying to locate a direct male descendent of my Daniel to take a Y-DNA test.
For further information on how “wild and wooly” Scott County was, The History of Scott County Arkansas paints quite the picture.
That which is not written, is lost forever
*Excerpts from a letter written by Nancy Boultinghouse Carroll to her brother, Daniel Brown Boultinghouse, and sister, Mahala Boultinghouse Russell, who were living in Georgetown, Williamson, Texas, are quoted in blue italics.