William Hutchinson Norris
Encyclopedia
William Hutchinson Norris (Oglethorpe County
, Georgia
on September 25, 1800–Santa Bárbara d'Oeste
, São Paulo
on July 13, 1893) is known for being a founder of the city of Americana
, and a significant figure in the history of the Confederados
.
Norris was a Mexican-American War veteran and an Alabama
senator
as well, who left the US
for Brazil
with 30 Confederate
families.
from Dallas County
during the late 1830s and early 1840s. On December 2, 1861 he was elected Grand Master of the Alabama Masonic Lodge
.
aboard the ship South America. It is uncertain what his departure point was; probably either New Orleans or Mobile
. Norris had left his home at Mount Pleasant in Monroe County
. The only member of this immediate family who did not accompany the group to Brazil was his son Francis Johnson Norris.
On January 10, 1867, the rest of the Norris family left New Orleans aboard the Talisman bound for Rio. After a bad storm, with damage to the ship, they wound up in the Cape Verde Islands and did not reach Rio until April 19, 1867.
Norris died at Santa Bárbara d'Oeste
on July 13, 1893.
, North Carolina
and Nancy Watkins b 1772 in Augusta County
, Virginia
. They married in Wilkes County
, Georgia in the late 1780s and their marriage bond was posted in February 1792. In 1793, a portion of Wilkes County became part of the new Oglethorpe County where he was born in 1800. Norris's father, William Norris, served the a North Carolina regiment in the American Revolutionary War. His grave was marked by the Daughters of the American Revolutionary in Cataula, Georgia, at a Baptist Church in the area.
Harry Alexander Davis wrote a long (the typed manuscript, held at the US Library of Congress, is nearly 1,500 pages long) unpublished work about several Norris families. He claims that Norris's parents were William Norris (b. 1758 Maryland
) and Sarah Rigdon, the daughter of Alexander Rigdon of Harford County
. This claim, like others in the Davis Manuscript, is controversial and unattributed; The Rigdons of Maryland has a well documented entry on Alexander Rigdon and there is no indication that he ever had a daughter named Sarah as stated by Davis, nor is there any indication that a Sarah Rigdon married into the Norris family.
In approximately 1812, the family relocated to Jasper County
and shortly before 1820, Norris migrated to Alabama where he remained until he moved forever to Brazil.
Prior to his marriage to Mary Black, Norris was married to Melinda Black who is thought to have been a cousin of Mary.
Norris had 3 sons-in-law: Willie Daniel (married to Nancy Angeline), Edward Townsend and Joseph Whitaker.
Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Oglethorpe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the largest county in Northeast Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 12,635. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 13,963...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
on September 25, 1800–Santa Bárbara d'Oeste
Santa Bárbara d'Oeste
Santa Bárbara d'Oeste is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. , it has a population of 189,573. The elevation is 570 meters....
, São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
on July 13, 1893) is known for being a founder of the city of Americana
Americana, São Paulo
Americana is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. As of 2006, its population was 203,845.The original settlement developed around the local railway station, founded in 1875, and the development of a cotton weaving factory in a nearby farm.After 1866, several Confederate...
, and a significant figure in the history of the Confederados
Confederados
The Confederados are an ethnic sub-group in Brazil descended from some 10,000 Confederate Americans who immigrated chiefly to the area of the city of São Paulo, Brazil after the American Civil War...
.
Norris was a Mexican-American War veteran and an Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
senator
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
as well, who left the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
with 30 Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
families.
Career in the United States
Norris served in the Alabama State Legislature, both as a Senator and member of the Alabama House of RepresentativesAlabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
from Dallas County
Dallas County, Alabama
Dallas County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander J. Dallas. The county seat is Selma.- History :...
during the late 1830s and early 1840s. On December 2, 1861 he was elected Grand Master of the Alabama Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
.
Career in Brazil
On December 27, 1865, Norris and his son Robert C. Norris arrived in Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
aboard the ship South America. It is uncertain what his departure point was; probably either New Orleans or Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. Norris had left his home at Mount Pleasant in Monroe County
Monroe County, Alabama
Monroe County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. As of 2010, the population was 23,068. Its county seat is Monroeville. It is a dry county, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or...
. The only member of this immediate family who did not accompany the group to Brazil was his son Francis Johnson Norris.
On January 10, 1867, the rest of the Norris family left New Orleans aboard the Talisman bound for Rio. After a bad storm, with damage to the ship, they wound up in the Cape Verde Islands and did not reach Rio until April 19, 1867.
Norris died at Santa Bárbara d'Oeste
Santa Bárbara d'Oeste
Santa Bárbara d'Oeste is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. , it has a population of 189,573. The elevation is 570 meters....
on July 13, 1893.
Family
Norris's parents were William Norris b 31 March 1757 in Johnston CountyJohnston County, North Carolina
-Major highways:* Interstate 40* Interstate 95* U.S. Highway 70* U.S. Highway 301* U.S. Highway 701-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 121,965 people, 46,595 households, and 33,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Nancy Watkins b 1772 in Augusta County
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. They married in Wilkes County
Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...
, Georgia in the late 1780s and their marriage bond was posted in February 1792. In 1793, a portion of Wilkes County became part of the new Oglethorpe County where he was born in 1800. Norris's father, William Norris, served the a North Carolina regiment in the American Revolutionary War. His grave was marked by the Daughters of the American Revolutionary in Cataula, Georgia, at a Baptist Church in the area.
Harry Alexander Davis wrote a long (the typed manuscript, held at the US Library of Congress, is nearly 1,500 pages long) unpublished work about several Norris families. He claims that Norris's parents were William Norris (b. 1758 Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
) and Sarah Rigdon, the daughter of Alexander Rigdon of Harford County
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
. This claim, like others in the Davis Manuscript, is controversial and unattributed; The Rigdons of Maryland has a well documented entry on Alexander Rigdon and there is no indication that he ever had a daughter named Sarah as stated by Davis, nor is there any indication that a Sarah Rigdon married into the Norris family.
In approximately 1812, the family relocated to Jasper County
Jasper County, Georgia
Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 11,426. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,660...
and shortly before 1820, Norris migrated to Alabama where he remained until he moved forever to Brazil.
Prior to his marriage to Mary Black, Norris was married to Melinda Black who is thought to have been a cousin of Mary.
Norris had 3 sons-in-law: Willie Daniel (married to Nancy Angeline), Edward Townsend and Joseph Whitaker.
Curiosity
- Norris is credited with founding the city of Americana, as the land where he first arrived became the new town years after his death.