Martha Jane Starling
Martha Jane Starling was born in Coosa County, Allabama more than 184 years ago on February 16th, 1835 to her Father Levi and Mother Jane Starling.
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Martha James birth year of 1835 included.
• On January 8th, 1835 the United States public debt contracts to zero, for the only time in history.
• On January 30th, 1835 President Andrew Jackson was attending the funeral of South Carolina Representative Warren R. Davis at the U.S. Capitol when English born American house painter Richard Lawrence attempts to assassinate him using two different pistols both of which misfired. Going forward Lawrence is found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent the rest of his life in several different insane asylums.
• On May 5th, 1835 A railway is opened between Brussels and Mechelen Belgium. It is he first railroad service in Continental Europe.
• On July 28th, 1835 the assassination of King Louis Philippe I of France is attempted in Paris by Giuseppe Marco Fieschi, using a home-made volley gun; 10 people are killed, but the King escapes with only a minor wound.
Fieschi and two conspirators are executed by guillotine 7 months later on February 19th, 1836.
• On October 2nd, 1835 the Battle of Gonzales is fought between Texan settlers and Mexican forces. It is the first engagement of the Texas Revolution.
• On December 28th, 1835 Ihe Second Seminole War led by Osceola breaks out in the Florida territory.
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Martha Jane was the first of 7 children born to her parents who married the year prior in 1834. Her younger siblings were Jennifer, Temperance, Mary Ann, James, William Henry, and John.
Starling patriarchy Levi supports his family in the field of farming.
Martha Jane having just celebrated her 15th birthday marries Tennessee native Joseph Casey in Hatchet Creek, Coosa County Alabama on March 14th, 1850. Mr Casey at 32 was 17 years her senior. The couple would go on to have nine children between the years 1851 and 1872. Chronologically they welcome James, Sarah Jane, John, Mary Adeline, Joseph Casey Jr., Martha, Theodosia, Catharine, and Missouri.
Martha Jane's Husband Joseph Casey is appointed to a three-year term as postmaster in Weogufka, Coosa County Alabama on September 19th, 1853.
In the mid 1850's the Casey's and Starling's both relocate to Hillsborough County in Florida where the men partake in the field of farming in order to care for their families.
** Martha Jane's Father Levi Starling enlisted with Captain Francis M. Durrance's Company on December 29th, 1855 during the Third Seminole War. On the afternoon of May 16th, 1856 three wagons filled with grain left Fort Brooke and were slated to arrive at Fort Fraser which was under Captain Durrance's command.
On Saturday the 17th of May while stopping at a creek for a water break and 3 miles from their ultimate destination, Levi's Son James who came with his Father on this journey asked "What strange man is that?" while pointing to a tree just a short distance away... Before Levi could respond, his Son James lay mortally wounded as a barrage of gunfire had been volleyed from behind the adjacent pines.
Levi picked up his dying Son, placing him in one of the wagons while the relentless Seminole assault continued. Levi and James along with another man who went by the nickname "Roach" all perished on that day while the rest of their party retreated. The events on that Saturday in 1856 would become known as the "Simmons Hammock Massacre"
During the American Civil War, Mr. Casey enlists with the Confederate States Army 1st Florida Special Cavalry Battalion. The unit commanded by Charles James Munnerlyn was created in April of 1864 with a primary focus of protecting Florida cattle from Union raiders. It was given the nickname of the "Cow Cavalry". The hides and meat from Florida cattle were a critical supply item for the Confederacy.
After the war's conclusion and Confederacy's defeat Joseph and Martha Jane live quietly in rural Hillsborough County Florida where Mr. Casey tends to his farm for the remainder of his years.
Joseph Casey passes away on February 6th, 1884. He was sixty six years old. Martha Jane, 10 days shy of her 49th birthday would never remarry.
It's not entirely clear as to how Mrs Casey made a living during the course of her many years of living after having lost her Husband.
** Florida State Census records from 1900 show Martha Jane at the age of 65 as the "Head of Household" and living with her 38 year old Son James.
** State Census records from 1910 feature Mrs. Casey now 76 years old living with her Daughter Missouri and Son-in-Law Barney's family.
Martha Jane would pass away on March 13th, 1917 at the age of eighty two.
Martha Jane Casey.... Beloved Wife and Mother