Sarah Hutson’s Dad, Greenlee B Selman, in Cherokee & Leon Counties --12 for ’26: Final Report for January

Sarah H. Selman Hutson’s father, Greenlee B. Selman, died in Leon County, Texas, on 15 July 1888 and is buried in Concord Cemetery in Concord, Leon County, Texas.[1] No death records for this time period exist and I have not yet found a newspaper available online from Leon County for 1888.

Previously, he lived in Cherokee County, Texas, where many deeds were recorded by him and his wife, Amanda D. Oldham Selman. This report will put the various transactions with deeds, probate, and court records into chronological order, so it can be determined when he might have moved to Leon County.

Cherokee County
I first found a deed showing Green B. Selman selling land on 22 November 1853 to Robert N. Lewis. It is 110 acres, located south of the old San Antonia Road and in the bounds of the old William Barr and Davenport or John Durst Grant, at the most eastern portion of tract no. 8. The deed noted it had previously sold Green B. Selman by the executrix of the John Durst estate. Andrew B. Oldham and T. F. Woodall were witnesses.[2] It is interesting that Amanda was not part of the sale though they had married in 1851. This deed has a clue to possible origins for Amanda: Andrew B. Oldham may be kin to her. Witnesses are often people important to the seller. T. F. Woodall was the deputy clerk. The deed also gave a hint as to who sold it to Green.

During the November 1851 and January 1852 terms of the county court of Leon County, Texas, they ordered the administrix of John Durst’s estate to sell certain lands lying in Cherokee County, known as the Barr & Davenport grant, lying on the Angelina River. The sale to Green B. Selman was lot no. 8 in Block no. 5 of 473 acres for $118 on 31 May 1852.[3]  So, we have the purchase of the land and the sale of at least part of it.

In 1852 tax list, G. B. Selman owned 225 acres worth $450, a part of Barr & Davenport survey. He was taxed only on the land, not any enslaved persons, horses, cattle, money, or miscellaneous property, which suggests he had none.[4]

In 1854, he had 135 acres worth $1000 in the same survey. He was also taxed on one enslaved person worth $800 and two horses.[5] The decrease in land reflects the sale to Robert Lewis, though the math is off, as the land difference is 90 acres and not 110.

In 1856, he was taxed on two properties, one 135 acres and one 250 acres, total worth $1300. He was taxed on 2 enslaved persons valued at $800 and 6 horses.[6] How did he acquire these 250 acres?

In 1859, he had 435 acres worth $2000 and 350 acres worth $500, 4 enslaved persons worth $2000, 8 horses, 40 cattle, a wagon and gun worth $300 for total value of $5640. Again, how did he acquire these additional acres? Using full-text search at FamilySearch did not turn up these transactions, but I did not search using all variations of his name. These are locked, so I had to wait until I got to a FamilySearch Center again.

Green B Selman and Debrah Amanda Selman, his wife, sold 210 acres of land to Daniel B. Lewis for $1500 on 11 February 1860, lands of the old Barr and Davenport or John Durst grant.[7]

On 9 June 1860, Greenlee and Amanda were living in Cherokee County, in Beat No. 1. He had $759 worth of real estate and $6475 worth of personal property. That amount of personal property suggests he had several enslaved people. Five children lived with them: males George W, who was 18, T. B. who was 17, and R. L., who was 5; and females E. A., 16, M.C. 8, and S. H., 2 years old.[8] The oldest were children from Amanda’s first marriage with James Selman, and the three youngest were of Green and Amanda’s marriage.

The slave schedule confirmed Green’s ownership of enslaved people. He owned seven people: 45-year-old male, 25-year-old female, 20-year-old female, 6-year-old male, 4-year-old female mulatto, a 1-year-old male, and a 5-month-old female.[9]

The tax list for 1860 showed he had 250 acres worth $500, five enslaved worth $2500, eight horses worth $700, and 25 cattle worth $140, all totaling $3840.[10] The number of enslaved differs from the census, but the children under a certain age were not taxed. The total value was less than what he told the enumerator of the census. Perhaps he added the value of the young enslaved children.

In 1861, he was taxed only on 250 acres of land worth $500 and Ben Selman acted as his agent.[11] Is this a clue that he has moved? However, he was taxed for $250 acres worth $500 in 1863. The total value of land and other assets was $8035.[12] I did not locate him in the 1864 tax list in Cherokee County.[13]

It is likely he moved to Leon County sometime in the early 1860s.

Leon County
The first tax list G.B. Selman was listed on was in 1864. He had no land but was taxed for 11 enslaved people worth $5500.[14] In 1865, he still had no land, but was taxed on 7 horses, 35 cattle, no sheep, and $125 misc. property, the total valued at $665.[15] By now, the enslaved people were freed.

In 1866, both G.B. Selman and Amanda Selman were listed separately, neither with land. She had horses valued at $175. He had horses, cows, and misc. property valued at $335.[16] In 1867, Amanda Selman had 320 acres in Burleson grant, worth $800. She also had 5 horses and 30 head of cattle. G.B. Selman had only 1 horse.[17] She purchased the land from G. B. Walker for $1200 cash. It was located on Bushy Creek, ten miles north and 79 degrees west of Centerville.[18]

In 1867, G. B. Selman was mentioned as an agent in an agreement about land to be sold for the benefit of Susan Boykin and the heirs of Jesse Boykin, deceased.[19]

In 1868, G.B. and Amanda were listed separately and were taxed on the same items as in 1867.[20] In 1869, they were again listed separately, with Amanda having the 320 acres, 5 horses, and 30 cattle. Green B Selman had just the one horse.[21]

The family was not found in the 1870 census in Leon County, even when searching line by line in Beat 5 and Precinct 4 where they have shown up in the tax records. W. L. Selman, Greenlee’s brother was found and so were other Burlesons. Neither were listed in the agricultural census either. It seems unusual that they would be missed. Amanda and Greenlee are listed in the 1870 tax list in precinct 4. Amanda has the 320 acres, 7 horses, and 50 head of cattle, and Greenlee with the one horse. Their son, George Washington Selman is also listed with three horses and 53 head of cattle.[22]

In 1871, “Mrs. Amanda Sillman” was listed with 320 acres worth $1800. She had 3 horses, 2 mules, 40 cattle, and $40 of miscellaneous property. Green had no land, 1 horse. A G.B. Sellman was listed with 640 acres of land but no livestock.[23]

In 1872, they are listed in precinct 4. Amanda Selman had 320 acres of land, 2 horses, 70 cattle, 3 mules, and $20 miscellaneous property. Green Selman had one poll. There were two G.W. Selmans listed. Both had 2 horses. One had 40 cattle and the other 25 cattle. Both had 1 mule. One had $10 miscellaneous property and the other $20. I cannot tell which was Green and Amanda’s son.[24]

Something changed in 1873. Greenlee was listed as owning the 320 acres, the one horse, 30 cattle, and 3 mules.[25] But then in 1874, Amanda was listed with the land and G.B. was not.[26] Then in 1875, he was listed with the land.[27] In 1876, Amanda was listed with the land.[28] In 1877, G.B. Sellman was listed twice. One entry had 160 acres in R. Wade survey, and the other had the 320 acres in Ben Burlison survey (the one previously owned). He also had a carriage, buggy or wagon worth $40.[29]

Next Steps
As I finish up the research for January with the Hutson and Selman families, I have found tax, land, and court records concerning these families. I have quite a few documents to extract/transcribe and I need to continue entering the data in the Airtable database.

I do not feel I have enough information to write up their story until I do that work. It really is showing that I had not done much research in these families. Full-text search has been helping me add documents, though.

TheFarm  Alfred Thompson Bricher-MET

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[1] Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21580900/greenlee-bean-selman : accessed 29 Jan 2026), photo of grave marker of G. B. Selman by smarsh, memorial no. 21580900, Greenlee Bean Selman (1820-1888), Concord Cemetery, Concord, Leon Co, Texas.

[2] Cherokee Co, Texas, deed, v I, p. 64-65, Green B Selman to Robert N Lewis, 1853, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVB-V9QY-5 : 28 Jan 2026); citing IGN 008134042, images 74-75 of 698.

[3] Cherokee Co, Texas, deed, v. G, p. 155-56, Harriet M Durst to Green B Selman, 1852, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C391-WKZL : 28 Jan 2026); citing IGN 008489569, images 98-99 of 613.

[4] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZT4-F : accessed 29 Jan 2026), 1852, Cherokee Co, p. 26, no. 418, G. B. Selman; IGN 004616007, image 253 of 1115.

[5] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZ55-M : accessed 29 Jan 2026), 1854, Cherokee Co, p. 34, G. B. Selman; IGN 004616007, image 354 of 1115.

[6] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZP2-H : accessed 29 Jan 2026), 1856, Cherokee Co, p. 38, G. B. Selman; IGN 004616007, image 474 of 1115.

[7] Cherokee Co, Texas, deed, v. P, p. 126-27, Selman to Lewis, 1860, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C391-33LZ-5 : 28 Jan 2026); citing IGN 008489394, image 417 of 687.

[8] 1860 U.S. census, Cherokee Co, Texas, Beat No. 1, p. 16, dwelling 106, Green Selman.

[9] 1860 U.S. census, slave schedule, Cherokee Co, Texas, Beat No. 1, p. 5, G. Selman.

[10] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZBV-J : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Cherokee Co, 1860, G. B. Selman; IGN 004616007, image 736 of 1115.

[11] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZBX-B : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Cherokee Co, 1861, G. B. Selman; IGN 004616007, image 809 of 1115.

[12] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZY8-6 : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Cherokee Co, 1863, G. B. Selman; IGN 004616007, image 913 of 1115.

[13] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZT6-J : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Cherokee Co, 1864, G. B. Selman; IGN 004616007, image 964-68 of 1115. Checked line by line in the S.

[14] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NSW-S3 : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1864, G. B. Silman; IGN 004653200, image 604 of 1498.

[15] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NS7-JL : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1865, G. B. Silman; IGN 004653200, image 637 of 1498.

[16] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NS7-6W : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1866, G. B. Selman and Mrs. A. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 683 of 1498.

[17] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NS7-9X : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1867, p. 22, G. B. Selman and Amanda. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 720 of 1498

[18] Leon Co, Texas, deed, v. V, p. 408-09, G.B. Walker to Amanda Selman, 1867, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C391-7ZQC : accessed 28 Jan 2026); IGN 008489548, image 568 of 690.

[19] Leon Co, Texas, agreement, v. I, p. 5-, Susan Boykin to GB Selman, 1867,  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSP1-7QMD-V IGN 008256322, images 9-12 of 688.

[20] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NS7-9X : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1868, p. 16, G. B. Selman and Amanda. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 754 of 1498

[21] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NSQ-78 : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1869, p. 4, Green B. Selman and Amanda Selman; IGN 004653200, image 778 of 1498.

[22] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NSS-53 : accessed 29 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1870, p. 35, GW Selman, GB. Selman, and Amanda Selman; IGN 004653200, image 778 of 1498.

[23] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NSS-F3 : accessed 31 Jan 2026), Leon Co, 1871, p. 32, Mrs. Ama Sillman, Green B Sellman, & G.B. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 911 of 1498.

[24] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NS9-54 : accessed 31 Jan 2026), Leon County, 1872, p. 51, Amanda. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 977 of 1498.

[25] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NS9-3M : accessed 31 Jan 2026), Leon County, 1873, p. 45, G. B. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 1041 of 1498.

[26] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4NSM-5Z : accessed 31 Jan 2026), Leon County, 1874, p. 50, Amanda. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 1112 of 1498.

[27] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4J7D-D : accessed 31 Jan 2026), Leon County, 1875, p. 56, G.B. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 1210 of 1498.

[28] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4J7D-D : accessed 31 Jan 2026), Leon County, 1876, prec. 4, p. 56, Amanda Selman; IGN 004653200, image 1298 of 1498.

[29] “Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4J7D-D : accessed 31 Jan 2026), Leon County, 1877, p. 62, G.B. Selman; IGN 004653200, image 1455 of 1498

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