by AUDREY CREEL / December 30, 2020
©Audrey Creel, 2020 (All rights reserved.)

Henry Curren was born in approximately 1853 in Tennessee.[i] In a testimony given for the Maney family war claims, Henry stated that he was enslaved by Edwin Keeble.[ii] While Henry was enslaved by Edwin Keeble, his mother was enslaved by Dr. James Maney.[iii] Henry stated that he “lived on the Maney quarters for the slaves before and during the war,” indicating that he likely lived on the Maney plantation (present day Oaklands Mansion) during the Civil War.[iv] It is unknown how long Henry was enslaved by Edwin Keeble or when he was separated from his mother by the slave trade.

Following the Civil War, Henry married Louise Sanders on June 18, 1869 in Rutherford County, Tennessee.[v] It is unknown where Henry and Louise lived after their marriage. Henry and Louise had four children between 1874 and 1878: Henry Jr., Mattie, Oscar, and James Curren.[vi] Louise likely died shortly after the birth of her last son, as Henry is listed as either widowed or divorced in 1880.[vii] In 1880, Henry lived in Murfreesboro with his children and found employment as a hack driver.[viii] It is unknown for whom Henry was employed.

Certificate of Death: Henry Curren
1853 – May 6, 1911

Henry remarried to Dicey Bridget on December 28, 1880 in Nashville, Tennessee.[ix] Following their marriage, Henry purchased a home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[x] Henry and Dicie had one child in 1888: Shellie Curren.[xi] In 1900, Henry worked as a carpenter in Murfreesboro, though it is unknown for whom he was employed.[xii] By 1910, Henry and Dicie were living at their home in Murfreesboro, where Henry was still employed as a carpenter.[xiii] Henry died on May 6, 1911 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[xiv] Henry’s burial place is unknown.

Children of Henry and Louise (Sanders) Curren

Henry Curren Jr.

Certificate of Death – Henry Curren, Jr.
May 28, 1870 – June 23, 1954

Henry Curren Jr. was the oldest son of Henry and Louise (Sanders) Curren.[xv] In 1880, Henry lived with his father and siblings.[xvi] Henry was unemployed and did not have to work to help support his family.[xvii] By 1900, Henry Jr. had married Willie Curren.[xviii] By 1930, Henry owned a home in Nashville, Tennessee where he worked as a brick mason.[xix] It is unknown where Henry was employed. Henry and Willie had one daughter in 1918: Cora L. Curren.[xx] By 1940, Henry and Willie had moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and rented a home.[xxi] Henry was unemployed and lived with his daughter, who worked as a cook to support her parents.[xxii] Henry died on June 23, 1954 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[xxiii] His certificate of death lists no known cause for his death, simply noting that he was dead on arrival.[xxiii] He was buried at Highland Cemetery.

Mattie Curren

Mattie Curren was the oldest daughter of Henry and Louise (Sanders) Curren.[xxiv] In 1880, Mattie lived with her father and siblings in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[xxv] There are no further known records for Mattie Curren.

Oscar Curren

Oscar Curren was the son of Henry and Louise (Sanders) Curren.[xxvi] Oscar lived with his father and siblings in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1880.[xxvii] There are no further known records for Oscar Curren.

James Curren

James Curren was the youngest son of Henry and Louise (Sanders) Curren.[xxviii] In 1880, James lived in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with his father and siblings.[xxix] There are no further known records for James Curren.

Child of Henry and Dicie (Bridget) Curren

Shellie Curren

Shellie Curren was the only daughter of Henry and Dicie (Bridget) Curren.[xxx] Shellie was born in 1888 and lived with her parents in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[xxxi] Shellie attended school in 1880, though it is unknown where.[xxxii] There are no further known records for Shellie Curren.

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References

[i] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00424?pId=16588674.

[ii] War claims, “Newton C. Maney, Administrator of Jas. Maney vs. The United States,” in folder “Maney War Claims RCA Primary Sources (from Oaklands Collection),” 11-12.

[iii] War claims, “Newton C. Maney, Administrator of Jas. Maney vs. The United States,” 11-12.

[iv] War claims, “Newton C. Maney, Administrator of Jas. Maney vs. The United States,” 11-12.

[v] Marriage Record, Henry Currin to Louise Sanders, Rutherford County, TN: June 18, 1869, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=4125&h=32555&tid=&pid=&queryId=832e8fafbc94636539835b8a1c9e9956&usePUB=true&_phsrc=hKK163&_phstart=successSource.

[vi] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1880 United States Census.

[vii] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1880 United States Census.

[viii] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1880 United States Census.

[ix] Marriage Record, “Currin, Henry to Dicey Bridget,” Nashville, TN: December 28, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from familysearch.org database, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-X9YS-7F1?i=153&cc=1619127&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AKZ7R-XX9.

[x] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1900 United States Census, 1900, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4118727_00859?pId=61075585.

[xi] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1900 United States Census.

[xii] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1900 United States Census.

[xiii] United States Census, “Currin, Henry,” 1910 United States Census, 1910, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449874_00955?pId=27435167.

[xiv] Death Record, “Henry Curren,” Murfreesboro, TN: May 6, 1911, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2376/images/33113_257702-00997?pId=56173.

[xv] United States Census, “Currin, Henry Jr.,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00424?pId=41825700.

[xvi] United States Census, “Currin, Henry Jr.,” 1880 United States Census.

[xvii] United States Census, “Currin, Henry Jr.,” 1880 United States Census.

[xviii] United States Census, “Curren, Henry,” 1930 United States Census, 1930, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4548154_00651?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=6896ebf6a16fb444cf7b0391745e22b4&usePUB=true&_phsrc=hKK181&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.56957994.1836174568.1599315331-1251799660.1599066608&pId=68116702.

[xix] United States Census, “Curren, Henry,” 1930 United States Census.

[xx] United States Census, “Curren, Henry,” 1930 United States Census.

[xxi] United States Census, “Curren, Henry,” 1940 United States Census, 1940, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/m-t0627-03952-00389?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=832e8fafbc94636539835b8a1c9e9956&usePUB=true&_phsrc=hKK170&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.10255029.1836174568.1599315331-1251799660.1599066608&pId=35267180.

[xxii] United States Census, “Curren, Henry,” 1940 United States Census.

[xxiii] Death Record, “Henry Curren Jr.,” Chattanooga, TN: June 23, 1954, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2376/images/40059_b086806-07145?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=832e8fafbc94636539835b8a1c9e9956&usePUB=true&_phsrc=hKK168&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.257716875.1836174568.1599315331-1251799660.1599066608&pId=1395717.

[xxiv] United States Census, “Currin, Mattie,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00424?pId=16588675.

[xxv] United States Census, “Currin, Mattie,” 1880 United States Census.

[xxvi] United States Census, “Currin, Oscar,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00424?pId=16588675.

[xxvii] United States Census, “Currin, Oscar,” 1880 United States Census.

[xxviii] United States Census, “Currin, James,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00424?pId=16588675.

[xxix] United States Census, “Currin, James,” 1880 United States Census.

[xxx] United States Census, “Curren, Shellie,” 1900 United States Census, 1900, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4118727_00859?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=8f9cd0a0298c70aa94e3d290722d1e00&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY1163&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.184578537.1371773040.1609344375-1638797985.1606331613&pId=61075587.

[xxxi] United States Census, “Curren, Shellie,” 1900 United States Census.

[xxxii] United States Census, “Curren, Shellie,” 1900 United States Census. 

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