Individual Details

Birth, death & marriage dates for Isaiah B. Vinsant, his 4th wife Margaret Shinault, and their children are from a family Bible published by the American Bible Society in 1856 and in the possession of a descendant in Van Buren AR in 1977. The data was photocopied by Jan Jennings.

According to the Biography of the younger Isaiah published by Goodspeed. Isaiah Sr grew to manhood in Virginia and immigrated to Crawford Co in 1830 before Van Buren was founded. He was by trade a tanner, shoemaker, cabinet-maker, & wheel-wright and engaged in all of them. He is said to have come on the first keelboat to navigate the Arkansas River. He served two terms as probate judge, and was a justice of the peace.

He married 4 times in Crawford Co in less than three years. There was a daughter by the 1st marriage, no children by the 2nd, a son by the 3rd marriage. By the 1840 census there were three children under 5 - Carolyn & John by the previous marriages, and James Madison Vinsant, the first child by Margaret Shinault. In 1850, Isaiah was 46 and his household included other than wife Margaret, Carolyn, John, James M., Isaiah B., Thomas J., Margaret M. and Tennessee. [1850 Crawford Co AR census p.346, line 5]

Isaiah "Van Zant" is also on the Slave Schedule for 1850, Van Buren Twp, Crawford Co. He had a single slave, a male, age 19

1860 Census. Van Buren Twp, Crawford Co, AR, Hh 160. On the same page with Andrew Foster, Josiah Foster, Luanne Foster who was Riley Foster's widow, and Cornelius Snider [At least two of his children married Fosters.]
Isaiah Vinsant was age 55, b. VA. Value of his Real Estate was $10,500. Personal $16,270
Margaret, age 43, b. TN
Children born in Arkansas: Isaiah B. 18. Thomas J. 15. Margart M. 13. Tennesse 10. Andrew J. 7. Elijah A. 4, and "P", male, age 8 months [he will be George].
James Shinall, age 72, b. TN lived with them - probably Margaret's father, who is believed buried Pevehouse Cemetery, no marker.
Mary Caps, age 13, b. TN was also in the household.
Isaiah had increased his slave holdings during the past 10 years - he is listed on the Slave Schedule with 9 slaves. Mary Caps follows his name with two slaves - I wonder if this is the child living with him.

Birth	22 Apr 1805	Virginia
Marriage	1835	Crawford County, Arkansas - DeShields
Marriage	1836	Patience Weaver
Marriage	1837	Crawford County, Arkansas - Oliver
Marriage	2 Dec 1838	Crawford County, Arkansas - Margaret J. Shinault
Death	1 Mar 1862	Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas

Spouse	Margaret J. Shinault (1817 - 1895)
Child	James Madison Vinsant (1840 - 1917)
Child	Isaiah Buchanan "Buck" Vinsant (1842 - 1929)
Child	Thomas Jefferson Vinsant (1844 - 1932)
Child	Margaret Mae. E. Vinsant (1846 - 1923)
Child	Levina Tennessee Vinsant (1849 - 1917)
Child	Andrew Jackson Vinsant (1852 - )
Child	Elijah Albert "Lige" Vinsant (1855 - 1929)
Child	George M. Vinsant (1859 - 1951)

Spouse	DeShields ( - )
Child	Caroline Vinsant (1836 - )

Spouse

Patience Weaver ( - )

Spouse	Oliver ( - )
Child	John Vinsant (1838 - )