More About - Who is ES Maynard

By Sue Meinyer Rocha, Ed. D. 

E. S. Gwin was Samuella Gwin. According to the book Virginia Cousins: A Study of the Ancestry and Posterity of John Goode of Whitby, a Virginia Colonist of the Seventeenth Century, With Notes Upon Related Families, a Key to Southern Genealogy, and a History of the English Surname Gode, Goad, Goode, or Good by G. Brown Good, Samuella Gwin was born on July 29, 1837 in Richmond, Virginia. 

Samuella Gwin was related to a very prominent family in American history. Her grandfather was Rev. James Gwin, a famous Methodist minister, who served under Rev. William McKendree, the first nativeborn Methodist bishop in America. Rev. James Gwin also served as a soldier on the frontier under General Andrew Jackson (who later became President Jackson). He and Andew Jackson remained friends throughout their lives. 

Col. Samuel Gwin was Rev. James Gwin’s second born child. Col. Samuel Gwin fought under Andrew Jackson, and his days as a soldier effected his health. By 1831, his wife was ill with consumption, and he was advised that her only hope was to take her to a warmer climate. He asked for President Andrew Jackson’s assistance, and he was appointed as Register of the Lane Office in Mississippi. Col. Gwin was appointed to the new Land Office in Choccchuma, Mississippi. Senator Pointdexter resented the appointment, and Judge Isaac Caldwell, a former partner of Senator Lynch Pointdexter’s law practice, sided with Pointdexter. Eventually, a dual between Col. Gwin and Judge Caldwell occured in June 1836. Judge Caldwell was shot, and died within a few hours of the dual. Col. Samuel Gwin was shot through the lungs, but survived the dual, and lived another couple of years. Col. Gwin’s wife, Edith, died in 1837. Col. Gwin died on July 25, 1838, while he was in New Orleans. No information has been found at this point about what happened to Samuella from 1838 to 1850. 

As per the 1850 Census record for Warren County, Mississippi, Samuella lived with Elizabeth and her husband, James C. Mosby. This was Elizabeth Gwin Mosby, who was the daughter of Rev. James Gwin and his wife, Mary Adair McAdams Gwin. Elizabeth Gwin Mosby was also Col. Samuel Gwin’s sister, and Samuella’s aunt.

In the late 1850s, Samuella Gwin lived with her uncle, Senator William McKendree Gwin and his family. William McKendree Gwin, who was named after Rev. William McKendree by his father, Rev. James Gwin, was Col. Samuel Gwin’s brother. Samuella was adopted by Senator William McKendree Gwin, and throughout the late 1850s, he helped Samuella obtain control over her estate, which was valued at $50,000.

John C. Maynard was a native of Richmond, Virginia. He arrived in California in the early 1850s. 

John C Maynard married Samuella Gwin September 20, 1855 in San Francisco.

The 1860 US Census shows that she was married and living with him, a child, and John C. Maynard’s brother, George F. Maynard.  George F. Maynard married Sarah Parker, and they had a daughter, Blanche. In November, 1871, Blanche Maynard married the son of Senator William McKendree Gwin, William McKendree Gwin, Jr

Early in 1862, John C. Maynard returned to Virginia with Samuella and their children, where he became a quartermaster in the Confederate army.

Samuella died in on December 9th, 1862 in Warsaw, Virginia; she was 26 years old. Her funeral was held on December 11, 1862 at the St. Peter’s Cathedral in Richmond, Virginia.  Since St. Peter’s Cathedral was located in Richmond, Virginia, near St. Paul’s Cathedral and cemetery, it is believed that Samuella may have been buried there.

Sources: 

• Virginia Colonist of the Seventeenth Century, With Notes Upon Related Families, a Key to Southern Genealogy, and a History of the English Surname Gode, Goad, Goode, or Good.
• Richmond enquirer, Richmond Virginia, June 24, 1836, page 4, column2.
• Cisco, Jay Guy. “Colonel Samuel “ in Historic Sumner County, Tennessee. 1909. Retrieed from: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnsumner/gwin.htm
• “FATAL DUAL”. Richmond enquirer, Richmond, Virginia, June 24, 1836, page 4, column 2 1860 US Census, Township 3, San Mateo, California; Roll: M653_65; Page: 83 (1)
• San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California, June 27, 1901, page 1
• Sacramento Daily Union, Sacramento, California, September 24, 1855, page 2, column 5
• Daily dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, March 12, 1862, page 4, column 2
• Daily dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, December 10, 1862, page 2, column 2

SMC Families - J.C. Maynard

John Cringan Maynard was born 26 Jul 1837 in Richmond, VA, the son of Stith Maynard and Lucy Hylton. 

His first wife was Samuella Gwin, (SMCGS Blog 14 Apr 2015) one of the first women to be listed in the San Mateo County Sole Traders register. One always wonders what triggers such filings.  In this case John and E.S were probably newly married, so this might have just been a move to protect her significant estate.  I found another reason why they might be concerned.  In  spring 1856 John, Wm. H. Werth, Austin E. Smith and H.C. Logan were indicted by Grand Jury for assault with a deadly weapon. (SF Bulletin 1 Apr 1856 v1 issue 149 pg 2)  Perhaps they were anticipating some liability in the case.

Most likely it was within the next few years that J.C. wrote A New revelation : the title to the San Mateo Rancho explained ; plates showing the true boundaries as defined by the Mexican government, and the fabricated boundaries, as claimed by the grantees.  This fifty page manuscript is available in UC Berkeley's Libraries.


During the civil war John served in the Quartermaster's Department of the Confederate States of America with a rank of Major. According to a newspaper article written in 1937 he served as Superintendant of Libby Prison which was located in the Confederate capital of Richmond.  His obituary verifies that he returned to Virginia in 1862 and returned to California at the end of the war.  A couple of notices in the Richmond Dispatch verify his presence there.  "Major John C. Porter Provost Marshal of the City, with Godwin commanding eastern half and John C. Maynard the western half." (Richmond Dispatch, 3/13/1862, p. 2, c. 3) and "John C. Maynard, Capt. AQM Camp of Instruction, taking bids for construction of frame chapel at post." (Richmond Dispatch, 11/12/1862, p. 1, c. 5).   The Stranger's Guide and Official Directory for the City of Richmond (No. 1 Oct, V.1, Geo P. Evans and Co 1863) lists under Various Duties, "Major J. C. Maynard, purchases and forwards forage, fuel and lumber, and superintends local transportation. Entrance to office, on 9th st., near Main".  Further research in Confederate records for Libby Prison might verify his actual assignment there.

John married Kate Heth on 5 Oct 1863 in Richmond Virginia.  Although the family was living in San Francisco at the time the 1870 census was taken, they had moved back to San Mateo County by 1880. 

Annual Report of the Insurance Commissioner

John, from then on commuted to San Francisco to conduct business.  He was appointed as California Insurance Commissioner in 1878, serving at least until 1880 as that is the occupation listed in the census that year.

San Mateo Times 17 May 1937

A couple of newspaper articles written in 1937 give a bit of insight into the character of J.C, the second notes that he "seems to have been a man of considerable influence."  He served on many commissions and committees and at one point was Superintendent of the U.S. Mint in San Francisco.    The article was about a book from his library.  It notes that the book was one of about 450 volumes purchased by the municipal library.

San Mateo Times 24 Feb 1937

 John died 30 Jun 1893 in San Mateo. Kate died 1 Dec 1912 in Richmond Virginia where she was living with her son Joseph Stith.

John and Kate had three children:

Estelle bn. 13 Jul 1864 and d. 7 Oct 1887.  She is buried in St. John's cemetery. (FindAGrave85676931)

Joseph Stith b. 13 Apr 1866 

John Heth b 28 Oct 1867 d. before 1912

Schellens Collection Index

• J.C. 1866 Mechanics Liens 1 37.2 130
• J.C. 1859 Agricultural Society 2 38.1 8
• J.C. 1856 county affairs 2 39.1 29
• J.C. 1859 lost mare 3 41.1 19,34
• J.C. 1866 road 6 47 104
• J.C. 1866 new road 6 48 1
• J.C. 1882 residences 7 49 159,222
• J.C. 1876 on dance committee 14 58.2 191
• John 1850 Belmont history 6 47 22
• John C 1883 History of Newspaper Publishing in RC 1 6.2 44,47,66,128
• John C. 1889 Redwood City Club Notes 1859-1971 1 16 282
• John C. 1891 Electric RR 2 40.2 125
• John C. 1856 Oak Hill Ranch 3 41.1 8,10
• John C. 1887 death of Estelle Maynard 7 49 187,188
• John Cringan 1888 Great Register 7 49 201
• John Heth 1888 Great Register 7 49 201
• Joseph Stith 1888 Great Register 7 49 201
• K. [Mrs.] 1889 directory 7 49 222

Census

• 1870 San Francisco Ward 8, San Francisco, Roll: M593_82; Page: 427A 
• 1880 San Mateo, San Mateo, California; Roll: 80;  Page: 384D; Enumeration District: 237 

Deeds

• Maynard J.C. 9 Sep 1859 1M 326 to 327 Mortgagor
• Maynard John C. 15 Jan 1857 1M 37 to 38 Rancho Canada Raymundo Mortgagor
• Maynard J.C. 9 Sep 1859 Mort1 326 thru 327 Mortgagor
• Maynard John C. 10-Nov-1868 P1 269 22-Oct-1870 patent from United States Government
• Maynard John C. 15 Jan 1857 Mort1 37 thru 38 Mortgagor Rancho Canada Raymundo 
• Maynard John C. 23 May 1857 D1 144 thru 145 grantor
• Maynard John C. 24 Jan 1856 D1 41 grantor
• Maynard John C. 26 Jun 1858 D2 52 thru 53 grantor 
• Maynard John C. 4 Feb1860 D2 251 thru 252 grantor

James Crowe Register

MAYNARD John C. 62 4 9 Virginia 6/30/1893 San Mateo Married M White Geul Amassara??? Henry B. Lalbrook St. John's, San Mateo 7‐1‐1893 James Crowe

San Mateo County Families: Who is E.S. Maynard?

In October 1856, E.S. Maynard filed an inventory of her property with the San Mateo County Court.  This was one of the first entries in the San Mateo County Sole Trader’s Register.  The filing permanently protected her separate estate consisting of more than 1000 acres of land, , “seven horses, six cows, 12 Chinese Sheep, two ploughs, three double and one single set of harness, two buggy waggons and a lot of fowls numbering one hundreds and twenty five or thereabout.”(1)

San Joaquin Republican
(Stockton, CA)   V: 6-1 P: 3

But who was E.S. Maynard?  Early San Mateo county land records offered a few clues including a deed dated 29 Oct 1856 which like the sole trader document names her husband John C. Maynard.  The 1860 census lists the family in Township 3 (post office Woodside).  S. Ella, who is 23, was born in MIS.  Her husband, John C., age 29 was born in Virginia.  There is a 4 year old son, Gwesing(?), born in California.  Also in the household are a number of farm laborers and servants and a George F. Maynard born in Virginia who is assumed to be John’s brother.

Another clue to the identity of E.S. can be found in a newspaper article dated Saturday, November 19, 1859.  It was printed throughout the state. This article identifies E.S. as the adopted daughter of Sen. William Gwin and his wife.  The article does not identify the actual parents of S. Ella, however.  

Various sources (none documented - see books and website below) identify her father as Samuel, the brother of William. He died in 1837/8 when E.S. was a baby.

It turns out, Samuel led a colorful life.  Born in Tennessee he relocated to Mississippi in 1831.  The following letter written after his appointment as land registrar in Mount Salus explains a bit about his life.  

"Washington, October 14, 1831 Hon. George Poindexter, United States Senator: Sir- My recent appointment, Register of the Land Office at Mount Salus, makes it my duty to explain to you why I sought the position, and to say something of my antecedents. I am a native of Tennessee; was a volunteer under Jackson in his Indian campaigns; was in Coffee's brigade in the assault and capture of Pensacola in 1814, and in all the engagements with the British below New Orleans. I lost my health by long protracted exposure, and to this day am a habitual sufferer. In 1829 the Postmaster General was good enough to give me a clerkship in his department, since which time I have never been absent from my post. My beloved wife is now threatened with consumption, and I am advised that the only hope for her is to take her to a warmer climate. Under this advice, and with this hope, and for the happiness of a young family, I submitted the case to the President, and, with the noble sympathies of his nature, he conferred on me the Mount Salus appointment.

I do not apprehend that anyone will doubt my qualifications or character, but I fear my non-residence may be considered an objection. For this I must ask indulgence. I have never resided in Mississippi, but have shed my blood on her soil in her defense, as the records of our battles will attest. My venerable father and his six brothers were soldiers of the Revolution. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Sam'L Gwin "

It turns out, Senator Poindexter did resent the appointment and managed to defeat the nomination of Colonel Gwin in the Senate.  The Gwins, in turn, led the successful fight to defeat Poindexter in the next election.  The result was that in 1835 Judge Isaac Caldwell, Poindexter's law partner, and Colonel Gwin engaged in a dual. Each armed with six revolvers and agreeing to move forward as they shot, the inevitable happened and both parties fell. Caldwell died within a few hours. Gwin, shot through the lungs, survived a year, dying in New Orleans in 1838.

So we are still left with the question, is ES (S Ella) the daughter of Samuel?  The obvious next step is to find probate records for Samuel.  We know he owned land in Hinds Co., Mississippi and he reportedly died in New Orleans.  Probate records for both are available online and he is not found in New Orleans nor in the index for Hinds County thru 1842. It is possible that the probate was filed at a later date as there were land records in his name (listing multiple patentees) at least as late as 1841, it is also possible that he still had holdings in Tennessee and that the official probate was filed there The Elite Directory for San Francisco and Oakland (Argonaut Publishing 1879) notes that Mrs. "Gwin's daughter married Mr. Evan Coleman, and her charming niece, Miss Ella Gwin, was led to the altar by John C. Maynard."  Again Ella's father is not named but it does corroborate a close relationship.  It does not note that Ella by this point is already deceased.

Locating E.S. in 1850 might also give a clue to her identity.  She was not found with the family of William, who was living in Virginia at the time.  A search for Gwins born about 1837 in Mississippi found Samuella Gwin age 12 living in Warren, Mississippi with the family of James C. Mosby.  While my first thought was that her mother had remarried, James' wife Sarah was only 22 making it impossible for her to be Samuella's (ES/S Ella) mother.  The second thought that Sarah was an older sister is also unlikely as "again undocumented" sources suggest instead that James' first wife was Elizabeth Gwin the sister of Samuel and that Sarah was his second wife.  

Adding credence to the ancestry of Samuella are the fact that her name is a feminine version of Samuel, she named her first son Gwin, and a daughter Edith.  She was definitely connected to Samuel's brother William as he acknowledged her as an adopted daughter.  Leaving the door open to a change, however, is the fact that Samuel came from a large family.  His father James had moved to Mississippi, so any of his children could have had a child born there, and no documentation has been found to date proving her parentage.  

The sources previously mentioned provide a death date for Samuella of 9 Dec 1862.  While no death record, obituary, or grave has been found, we do know that John had remarried before 1870.  In fact no record has been found for Samuella  after the 1860 census was taken.  A thorough search of land record documents should verify a time of death, however, as those lands would have been been inherited by family members.  One possible source of further information might be a court  case in which William M. Gwin was involved which was reported in the San Mateo County Times Gazette on 7 Feb 1863. 

July 13, 1874    San Francisco Bulletin   V: XXXVIII-82   P: 3. 

 E.S. and John C. Maynard reportedly had four children. Two, Edith and Hylton, most likely died in childhood as they are not found in the 1870 census. Perhaps Samuella died in childbirth and the three were buried on Oak Hill Ranch grounds or in the defunct and lost West Union Cemetery as they are not found with the rest of the family burials.

Gwin was born 15 Dec 1856 and died in 5 Jul 1874 according to his tombstone (FindAGrave#85676932)  which is located in St. John’s Cemetery in San Mateo.  One source says that he was killed, but I have found no record to back that up, surely anything spectacular would have been reported in the newspaper.  The only newspaper notice I've found is shown here. Perhaps an unspectacular accident, or a suicide by a seventeen year old might have been kept quiet?

Mary, the daughter of E.S. and John,  was born 8 Nov 1858 She married Henry Stanley Dexter about 20 Jun 1887(Dexter Henry S 26 Napa Valley Maynard Mamie 25 San Mateo 17-Jun 18853 278 San Mateo) . Mary died just over two years later on 29 Oct 1887 according to her tombstone (FindAGrave85676933) . 

See the May SMCGS Families posting for more on JC Maynard

Sources and Research Possibilities

Schellen’s Collection

• E.S. 1856 Oak Hill Ranch 3 41.1 8,10

SMCGS - Early Land Record Index

• Maynard E.S. 29-Oct-1856 D1 41 Grantee wife of John C. 
• Maynard E.S. 2 Apr 1858 D1 328 grantee 
• Maynard E.S. 26 Jun 1858 D2 52 thru 53 grantor 
•  Maynard E.S. 9 Sep 1859 Mort1 326 thru 327 Mortgagor \
• Maynard E.S. 4 Feb1860 D2 251 thru 252 grantor  

Census Records 

• 1850 James C. Mosby Household, Warren, Mississippi; Roll: M432_382; Page: 210B
• 1860 - Township 3, San Mateo, California; Roll: M653_65; Page: 83 (1)

Books

• Founding the Far West: California, Oregon, and Nevada, 1840-1890  By David Alan Johnson p.118 (2)
• George Archer I of the Umberslade Archers of Henrico County, Virginia and his descendants by Randolph, Wassell. 1987 p. 11
• Jackson, Andrew Message from the President of the United States, with Documents Relating to the Character and Conduct of Samuel Gwin.   Washington, D. C. 1837 (Charges of Fraud and Favoritism in Land office Dealings) 
• Virginia Cousins  By G. Brown Goode, Goode p353

Websites

• The Issaquena Genealogy and History Project – Gwin Family

  Do YOU have a San Mateo County Pioneer Family that you would like to see on this blog?  Contact Publications@smcgs.org.