Records show Sam was born in 1833 in North Carolina. Not able to prove his parents and/or siblings; however, in the 1880 Census he gives NC as Father and Mother's birthplace (census information below).  Records show Sam lived in, and around, the Sandy Creek - Laurel Mill area, in Franklin County, from 1865 until his death in 1908.  His family attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Sam served with (2d) Company H, 12 Regiment NC Nash County during the Civil War and married Priscilla Ann Joyner, in Franklin County, on March 27, 1865.

Priscilla Ann Joyner (aka Priscilla Ann Amos Joyner), daughter of Amos Joyner and Polly Jones, was born May 28, 1838. Her date and place of death is a mystery (see Stumped - Looking Amos Joyner).  Obituary for daughter Amanda, dated August 10, 1896, states, "Miss Amanda leaves two sisters, two brothers and an aged father to morn her departure, while she crosses the river to join the kind and affectionate mother who has been beckoning her for so long! Oh, the joy of such a meeting with mother, where there is no more parting of sickness...."  Priscilla was alive during the 1880 census and deceased by the time Amanda died in 1896.

Sam and Priscilla children are:
    John Henry Harper (9/13/1866-10/11/1961) with wife Belinda Griffin
    Willis Joyner Harper with wife Lou Strother
    Mary Elizabeth Harper (01/21/1868-03/29/1935)
    Martha Harper
    Amanda Harper  (1874-8/05/1896)
    Lucy Ann Priscilla Harper (3/15/1870-1953) with husband Dewitt C. Gupton

Thoughts:

Sam's year of birth: 1880 census shows Sam is 47 with year of birth as 1833; however, his military records give his age as 31 during the months of May and June 1861. Military records would make his birth between May 1, 1829 and April 30, 1830.

Naming of Sam and Priscilla's children:
   Second son was apparently named after Priscilla's brother (Willis B. Joyner).
   Mary Elizabeth probably named for Priscilla's mother (Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Joyner)
   Martha may have been named for Priscilla's sister (Martha Joyner)
Leaving the first born John Henry Harper, and two sisters, Amanda and Lucy Ann Priscilla. Lucy Ann probably got her mother's first name attached but where does the Lucy Ann come into play. Am thinking perhaps one, if not all three, are named for Samuel's side of the family.

 1880 United States Census

Sam HARPER Household
Male

Other Information: Birth Year <1833>
Birthplace NC
Age 47
Occupation Farmer
Marital Status M <Married>
Race W <White>
Head of Household Sam HARPER
Relation Self
Father's Birthplace NC
Mother's Birthplace NC

Source Information: Census Place Sandy Creek, Franklin, North Carolina
Family History Library Film 1254963
NA Film Number T9-0963
Page Number 560C

Household:

Name                                                   
Sam HARPER        Self   M   Male     W    47   NC    Farmer    NC    NC
Presilla HARPER    Wife  M   Female W    41   NC    Keeping House NC NC
John H. HARPER    Son  S    Male     W    13   NC                  NC NC
Mary HARPER        Dau  S   Female  W    12   NC                  NC NC
Lucy Ann HARPER Dau  S    Female W     9    NC                  NC NC
Manda HARPER     Dau  S    Female W     6    NC                  NC NC
Willis HARPER      Son   S    Male     W    2    NC                   NC NC