The Lang Family

John Scogin's second wife was Mary Ann Lang, who had previously been married to Mason Mosely. Mason (or Ivason, as it appears in one instance) and Mary An had one child named Mason Lang Mosely. Mason (Sr.) died on July 28, 1806. He was murdered by an apparent runaway slave. Here is the text of an article from the Augusta Herald of July 31, 1806, sent to me by Carolyn Brown:

DIED, at his plantation in Edgefield District*, South Carolina, on Monday the 28th July, MR. MASON MOSELEY. In justice to the feelings of an afflicted young widow and aged parents; and in the hope of exciting a vigilant attention in the community for apprehending his murderer- the following statement as given by the deceased, is requested to be made public.- On Saturday morning last, as Mr. Mosley was taking a short hunting excursion round his neighborhood, he discovered a negro fellow endeavouring to hide himself from his view- which induced him to suspect he was a runaway, on approaching and interrogating the fellow, his suspicions were strengthened; and for the safe securing of the fellow, he ordered him to strip off his cloathes, to discover if fhe had any offensive weapon in his possession. The fellow denied having any, nor was any to be discovered about him. He was then directed to walk on to Mr. Mosley's house, about one mile distant, the deceased following him-unfortunately the latter inadvertantly approached too near to the Negro, when he suddenly turned round, closed upon Mr. Mosley, and gave him a fatal stab in the belly with a knife, which he had somewhere concealed when previously examined- Mr. Mosley soon after fell, and the fellow made his escape, taking with him the rifle loaded with two balls.- The family being alarmed at the unexpected delay of Mr. Moseley, went in search of him, and about three hours after the accident, found him laying near a road, with a great portion of his bowels protruded through the wound- these were soon returned and the wound stitched up; medical assistance was procured, but all was in vain; he lingered in great pain until 11 o'clock, Monday forenoon, retaining his intellectual facilities to the last few minutes before his death.

The Negro Fellow who committed this murder, was described by the deceased, to be about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, between 30 and 40 years of age; the thumb of the left hand off- a scar on one of his thighs; and his back was well marked with stripes- he had on a short dark coloured cloath coat, blue pantaloons, good sharp toed shoes, and a tolerably good hat- he had with him a large bag, the contents unknown, and a good blanket apparently about new, all of which with the following described rifle he carried off with him. The rifle is of the common length and bore, brass mounted, the stock broken near the hind sight, and there tied with a wax thread. Should any fellow answering the above description be taken up or lodged in any Jail, it will be performing an act ofjustice in the community, to forward information thereof to William Moseley, living at Deer Savanah, Edgefield district, on the road leading from Long-Cane to Charleston, South Carolina; 16 miles distant from Augusta in Georgia, so the villan may be brought to condign punishment.

* The 8/7/1806 issue changed the county from Edgefield to Barnwell. The ad also ran in the Georgia Carolina Gazette 8/7/1806 and AC on 8/21/1806 according to "Marriages & Deaths 1763 - 1820" by Warren.

Mary An married John Scogin in January of 1808 (Source: Mason Lang Mosely family bible, from Carolyn Brown) The book Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana (The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890) gives an apparently incorrect date of 1806. John had previously married Susan (possibly Susannah Wright). A note in a Scogin family bible indicates 5 children from this marriage, but the only two known are Wright (born in 1800) and Sarah (born March 2, 1802).

Mary An's parents have been difficult to pin down. We know that her father was Robert Lang, just not which Robert Lang.

Robert Lang, Mary An's father, died in 1817, and papers regarding his estate are in the 1818 law books of Edgefield District, South Carolina. (See Robert Lang, Sr.' estate papers). The Sarah Lang listed in these papers may be Mary An's mother. The six others listed as receiving the same amount as Mary An (actually her husband John Scogin) may be her brothers and spouses of her sisters. They are John Martin, Robert O. Williams,  John Bettis, Benjamin Lang, Robert Lang Jr, and Mrs (?) Mims.

Robert Lang, Mary An's grandfather, may be the Robert who died in 1763. This Robert Lang was born about 1710, was an Indian trader, and married Millicent. His will, probated July 22, 1763, names wife Millicent, son Richard, and son-in-law Thomas L'Argent (married daughter Nancy Lang). The will mentions other children, but doesn't name them.

Robert Lang's Will from Record of Wills Charleston County, SC., Book A Will Book 11, page 63, 1767-1771:

Will of Robert Lang

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, The Thirtieth day of August One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty to I Robert Lang of the Province of South Carolina Planter, being very Sick ans weak in Body but of Perfect Mind and Memory thanks be to God therefore calling into Mind the Morality of my Body and knowing it is Appointed for all Men Once to die, do make and Ordain this My Last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a decent Christian Burial at the discrestion of my Executors Nothing doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the Same again by the Mighty power of God, and as touching Such Worldy Estate wherewith it has Pleased God to BBlefs me in this Life, I give demise and dispose of the Same in the following manner and form, First I desire that all my Just debts may be paid out of my Estate a soon as my decease, I leLeave my dearly beloved Wife Millicent Lang One Negroe Man and One Negroe Girl during her Life time and after her death to devolve to the Eldest of my Sons to help to Maintain the younger Children. I Leave all the remainder of my Estate aftger my debts are paid to be Equally divided amongst all my Children Except One hundred Acres of Land to be taken from this Trust shere I now Live upon which Tract I give to Thomas L'Argent my Son in Law, and I likewise Constitute and Appoint Milicent Lang my Wife and Richard Lang my Son Executers of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby Utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other Wills or Testaments Legacies Bequests or Executors by me in any ways before Named Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. IN WITNESS hereof I have hereunto Set my hand Seal the day and Year above written.

Robert Lang (L.S.)

Signed, Sealed, published pronounced
and declared by the said Robert Lang as
his Last Will and Testament in the
Presence of the Subscribers.

Andrew Brown
Daniel Burnet
Henry Foster

Proved by Virtue of a Dedimus directed by His Excellency Thomas Boone Esq. to Thomas Bell Esq. 22d July 1763, Qualified Milicent Lang Executrix to the said Will

Isaac Lang sent me the will above, and some other information on this Robert. He shows Robert's father as William Lang. He has four children for Robert and Millicent: David, Nancy, Richard, and Robert. He has the son Robert married to a Susan.

For many years, it was thought that Mary An Lang's mother was Mary Taliaferro. I don't think any of the family researchers know where that name came from, but many are doubting it now. It appears that Susan was her mother, however, it is possible that Mary was a first wife, and Susan a second.

If Mary Taliaferro was not Mary An's mother, the origin of the Taliaferro name in the family is a mystery. It is a common first and middle name in the Scogin family to this day.

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