Individual Details

1850 Tippah Co MS Census says Martha was born in TN. John J. Hays says his mother born Mississippi in 1900 Census.

There is a strange entry in the Register of Freedmen and Refugees Issued Rations, in the Field Office of the Freedmen's Bureau in Fort Smith, AR, for 1866.
On March 15, Martha Hays is listed with 1 adult, 3 children over 14, 4 children under 14, for a total of 8 in the household and listed as a widow, from Crawford Co. Except for the fact that she wasn't a widow - Elias was mustered out in August of 1865 - this description fits Martha very well. Did she lie to get food?
In Freedmen's Bureau records (1865–1872), a "Refugee" generally referred to white Southerners—often referred to as "destitute whites" or Unionists—displaced by the Civil War who needed government aid. They were distinct from, but often aided alongside, the formerly enslaved "freedmen," with both groups receiving rations, clothing, medical care, and assistance in finding housing or employment.
Eligibility: They were white individuals who fled their homes due to the war or were left destitute by the conflict.
Aid Provided: Like freedmen, refugees received assistance, including food, clothing, and medicine provided by the Bureau’s relief programs.
I know their home was burned while Elias was away and certainly they were destitute.

In 1880, Martha was widowed. Age 47, b. TN, father and mother born in NC. William, Elias, Elizabeth, Silas & George still at home. Benjamin and wife Sarah also live there. All children, who were born in Arkansas, state that both their father and mother were born in Tennessee.
Jasper Twp, Crawford Co AR, p.510B, Hh 3
Martha Hays, 47, Widow, Keeps House, can't read & write
Wm R., 21, son, works on farm. Elias, 16, son, works on farm.
Elizabeth, 13, dau. Silas N. 9, son. George W., 5, son.
Ben M. 19, son, married, works on farm.
Sarah E., 18, wife, keeps house


Applied for Widow's Civil War Pension 28 July 1890, Claim #303483. Martha gave her age as 57, post office as Stattler, Crawford Co, AR. She was married to Elias Hays who enlisted 20 Jan 1864, Company I, 2nd AR Infantry Vols and discharged as a Corporal, 8 Aug 1865. He died 11 Nov 1879. She was married as Martha F. Crutcher on 8 Aug 1847, by Rev. Nabors, MG at Tippa Co, Miss, neither having been previously married. Stated she had remarried to Stephen Yard in 1886 which said marriage was void because Stephen Yard had another wife or wives still living! She had a son under age sixteen, George Wallace, born 9 May 1875. Ceremony to Yard was performed by Stephen T. Matlock, JP for Crawford Co. Testimony of George & Mattie Haskett that they were present on 19 Dec 1886 when she married Stephen Yard. [I believe Mattie was her eldest daughter.] Testimony from Parthena Haggard that she was present at the marriage of Martha and Elias Hays in Mississippi and she knew Martha before the marriage, had known her for 40 years. E. A. Vansant also signed her application, stating he had known her for 15 years. [I believe this is Parthena Hays, sister to Elias, based on the 1850 Census] None of the records stated whether or not Martha ever received her pension. I doubt she did.


Her surname was found on "new" headstone in Sarah's Grove Cemetery. The book "History in Headstones" had her name as Martha Frances Hays, but it is now Martha Crutcher - the stone replaced sometime between 1970 and 1998.

On the old grave marker was "In living Memory of Martha Francis Hays, Born April 10, 1833, Died Jan. 20 AD 1898, A Dear Mother, Loving Companion, and Friend". Stone replaced by Freda Hays Barnett, placing a double marker listing her as Martha Crutcher.

Birth	8 Apr 1833	Tennessee
Marriage	8 Aug 1847	Tippah County, Mississippi - ELIAS B. HAYS
Marriage	19 Dec 1886	Crawford County, Arkansas - Stephen Yard
Death	20 Jan 1896	Crawford County, Arkansas
Burial		Sarah's Grove Cemetery, Crawford County, Arkansas

Spouse	ELIAS B. HAYS (1829 - 1879)
Child	Mary Ellen Hays (1849 - 1895)
Child	Ann Eliza Hays (1851 - 1939)
Child	Delitha Hays (1854 - )
Child	JOHN JEFFERSON HAYS (1856 - 1950)
Child	William Richard Hays (1859 - 1937)
Child	Benjamin McClure Hays (1860 - 1936)
Child	Elias E. Hays (1863 - )
Child	A. Elizabeth Emeline "Lizzy" Hays (1867 - 1917)
Child	Silas Newton Hays (1872 - 1942)
Child	George Wallace Hays (1875 - 1910)

Spouse

Stephen Yard ( - )

Father	MASTIN Crutcher (1797 - 1847)
Mother	MARTHA Longmire (1800 - )
Sibling	John W. Crutcher (1832 - )
Sibling	Eliza Crutcher (1834 - 1855)
Sibling	Thomas Crutcher (1837 - )
Sibling	Caroline Crutcher (1840 - 1906)
Sibling	Catherine Melinda Crutcher (1841 - 1927)