Levi Hampton

Two of the homes that existed on Harrison Trotter’s allotment received from his uncle, Levi Hampton.

Photo Credit: J. Trotter

Quick Facts

Significance:

Arkansas Homesteader

Place of Birth:

Alabama

Date of Birth:

About 1835

Place of Death:

Bradley County, Arkansas

Date of Death:

Sometime prior to 31 March 1925 (execution of will)

Place of Burial:

Unknown

Homestead Application #11408 was filed at the Land Office at Camden, Arkansas on 13 September 1884 for 120 acres of land. The Homestead Certificate #5962 was officially signed 14 July 1891.

Most records date Levi Hampton’s birth to around 1835 in Alabama, but little is known about his life before the Civil War. However, he is listed as a voter in 1867 in Bradley County, Arkansas and was the head of a large household with his first wife Dolly in the 1870 Census for Palestine Township¹. That set of children included Mary H. (b. about 1858), Edward (b. about 1860), John (b. about 1862), Will (b. about 1864), and Lottie (b. about 1869).

Per the Homestead proof questionnaire, Hampton settled the land he would later claim for a homestead in Section 22 with that family around January of 1873. The actual Homestead Application #11408 was filed over a decade later at the Land Office at Camden, Arkansas on 13 September 1884 for 120 acres of largely timberland composed of white oak, pine and hickory.

From first settlement in 1873 to his testimony as part of his proof packet, Hampton built an all-season log home, smoke house, corn cribs and stables, two cotton houses, plus an additional 18x18 foot dwelling; cleared and fenced 60 acres of the land for cultivating corn and cotton. He also had 2 mules, a horse and 8 head of cattle. At the time of his proof, Hampton noted his family included “a wife and eight children” and that his family had settled with him seventeen years prior. More accurately, during his homestead the couple had at least one more daughter Anna around 1874 and he lost his wife Dolly². He married his second wife Jane (also known as Virginia and Janey) Johnson at Bradley County on 5 Nov 1877 and, they added a daughter Lou to the family in 1887³.

Levi Hampton formally proved up the land before the Bradley County Judge in Warren, Arkansas on 9 March 1891, signing by his mark. Close neighbors Sam Trotter and Ryal Trotter (neighboring brothers), an unrelated neighbor Wilson Terry, and Will Newton (the Trotter’s younger half-brother) were called as witnesses. Only Terry was on hand to stand for Hampton and a note in the file asks the government to allow that. The Homestead Certificate #5962 was officially signed 14 July 1891. None of the others appear to have completed a homestead application.

The family appears to have prospered on the land adding in one more member of the family, Levi and Jane’s nephew Harrison Trotter (Son of Sam Trotter mentioned above and Josephine Johnson) by the time of the 1910 Census⁴. Trotter family lore credits Levi Hampton with helping to raise and provide for Harrison which appears to be supported by his bequest of 17 acres to Harrison in his will of March 1916⁵. Some portion of the plot of land remains to this day in the hands of the Trotter descendants and, at one time, housed Harrison Trotter and his fifteen children including his eldest son Levie, named in honor of Levi Hampton.

Levi Hampton willed 17 acres to each of his remaining children (Ed, John, Will, Lottie Sims, and Anna Nelson) plus Harrison Trotter and 18 acres passed to his widow, Jane. Levi passed sometime prior to 31 March 1925 when his will was presented for execution⁶.

~ Contributed by Jessica Trotter, descendant

More about the contributor: Jessica Trotter is the great granddaughter of Levi Hampton’s nephew, Harrison Trotter, through his son, Levie Trotter. Jessica holds a Master of Science in Information, Archives and Records Management Specialization from the University of Michigan—but works in public libraries by day. She has been an avid genealogical researcher for 25 years, and a genealogy presenter for eight years.

Patent Details - BLM GLO Records

¹ Barret, Mary and Peggy Bowman, "1867 Voter Registration -- Palestine Township," Bradley County Roots, Vol 11, no 1, 2002. 1870 Census: Bradley Co, Arkansas, Roll: M593_48; Page: 549B; Image: 302; Family History Library Film: 545547.

² Inferred from subsequent marriage and Census enumeration. "Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRNQ-3TB?cc=1417439&wc=QDM2-HVC%3A1589732904: 18 March 2019), 004315602, image 410 of 565; Bradley County, Arkansas; 1880 Census: Bradley Co, Arkansas, Roll: 39; Page: 51C; Enumeration District: 018.

³ "Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957," ibid.

⁴ 1910 Census: Bradley Co, Arkansas, Roll: T624_44; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0017; FHL microfilm: 1374057.

⁵ Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979, Wills v. B 1860-1933, p. 326.

⁶ Ibid.