T. C. Anderson, the middle son, of Devine and Elizabeth (Brown) Anderson had a tricky given name. More often than not, he went by his middle name, Clinton, or his initials:
When his given name is used, more often than not, it is mis-spelled as the writer attempt a phonetic spelling of his unusual given name:
- Theutus (1860 US Federal Census)
- Theudas (1895 Oklahoma Marriage Record)
- Thadious (1900 US Federal Census)
- Theudis (1905 Obituary in Roosevelt, Oklahoma)
- Theudies (1905 Obituary in Hobart, Oklahoma)
Possible Historical Origin
Theudis was the King of the Visigoths in Hispania. This would have been an interesting choice politically and historically. Spanish-American relationships in the 19th century were strained as there was competition for territory in the Western Hemisphere. The US was able to gain Florida from Spain and pressed into the former Spanish colony of Mexico, winning the Mexican-American War in 1848. And in the early 1850s, when T. C. Anderson was born, the US and Spanish were in conflict over American trade in Cuba. Pro-slavery Americans wanted to annex Cuba to expand territories were slavery was legal. The Andersons were Republicans, which in this historical period meant they were anti-slavery.
The question remains, as well, did the Anderson family know of the obscure historical King Theudis? T. C. Anderson’s sister and mother served on the school board for Greenwood County, suggesting that the family valued education. Laura McCombs, T. C. Anderson niece, enrolled in a “Normal Institute” to become a teacher in the 1890s. Newspapers in the 1800s occasionally referenced Theudis. For example, the Alexandria Gazette ran an article in May 1809 that detailed Spanish Revolutions from Rome. It is possible that the family read about the King in an article or history book. While possible, it is more likely that the name is form another source.
Possible Biblical Origin
Theudas made a brief appearance in the New Testament:
“For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves, who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.”
Acts 5:36, KJV
The funeral of T. C. Anderson’s mother, Elizabeth Anderson, was presided over by Elder J. Kenner, a leader in the Christian Church (Christian Brethren) in Greenwood County. Newspaper articles from Greenwood identify Kenner as an Elder of the “Christian Church”.
The “Christian Church” came out of the Restoration Movement, that began during the Second Great Awakening (1790-1840). Barton Stone, a Presbyterian Minister, began preaching its precepts in the 1800s, and Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Baptist preachers, began in the 1810s and 1820s. The men united in 1832 and the movement grew to 200,000 members by 1860. Members of the movement wanted to reform the church by unifying all Christians patterned after the church of the New Testament. Members used the Bible to recreate aspects of the early church, emphasizing the Bible over creeds and other guides. The churches reject denominational labels, going by Christian, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, etc.
If Elizabeth Anderson were a member of this Church, then it would suggests that she was inspired by her reading and study of the New Testament. This naming choice is reinforced by the selection of Tabitha for her daughter. Tabitha was born in 1861, five years after T. C. Anderson. If Elizabeth used the New Testament for the names of some of her children, then Tabitha may have been named after Tabitha, a woman brought back to life by the apostle Peter in Acts.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
Acts 9:36-41
Elizabeth’s other children do not appear to be given New Testament names:
- Melissa Jane (1849-1932) was given an infrequent name from the 19th century (though a popular 20th century name). Generally, the name may have been used in the 19th century as a result of the Scottish poem “Ode, on Melissa’s Birth Day” written in the late 18th century. Melissa’s middle name, Jane, is the same as Devine Anderson’s sister, Jane.
- George A (1852-1870) was given a common English name. If Elizabeth was using traditional naming patterns, the first son was usually named for the father’s father, meaning, Devine’s father may also have been called George. No documentation has been found, however, to identify Devine’s parents.
- James H (1858-1868), the third son, was also given a common English name; he shares the name with Elizabeth’s father, James Brown.
- Josephine (1865-unknown) is given a feminine version of Joseph. Historical associations are with Napoleon’s wife, Josephine rather than Biblical.
Finding the Yellow Bricks 