Nathan Horne

Nathan Horn/Horne was born in NC (according to children's census records). He first appears in the census in 1830, age 30-40 and then in 1840, age 40-50. (Both were Crawford County, GA) This would make his date of birth between 1790 and 1800. He married Nancy G. Whitaker in Wilkinson county, GA on 21 Jul 1821. His daughter Nancy L. G. Horn was born about 1820. Uncertain as to whether he or Nancy were previously married or if this birth just preceded the marriage. However, in 1830, there are several people in the household who are too old for this marriage. No evidence as to what their relationship is to Nathan.

Nathan and Nancy had the following verified children:

• Nancy L. G. Horne, b abt 1820, who married William Wells. She had a child out of wedlock prior to that, since Nathan brought a suit on her behalf for child support.
• Columbus Horn, b abt 1831
• Ellen Winiford Horn, b 1834, d 1913, md. Henry Wilder
• Mary Ann Horn, b abt 1835
• Washington William Buchanan Horne b Sep 1835, d 1884, md Mary Ann Morris
• Josephine Horne, b abt 1839, md William Hand

Considering the gap between their marriage and the birth of Columbus, it is likely that there were other children. The 1840 census does have a son born between 1820-1825 who is not accounted for.

By 1828 Nathan and Nancy were living in Crawford County, Ga., where Nathan was serving as a constable (Macon telegraph). He is there in both the 1830 and 1840 census and died there in late 1840. He appears to have been a constable thoughout, appearing regularly in the newspapers and court records in that capacity. In 1839, however, he began to have difficulties. In May he was cited for contempt of court and jailed. In his official capacity he had apparently sold some property and then could or would not turn the money over to the court. ($195.76). In November, the court noted that he had been released by sheriff Robertson Crutchfield without paying the money, despite the court order. Crutchfield was then required to pay the money himself. His response on the whereabouts of it was deemed "evasive and not satisfactory" and he was ordered to be jailed until it was paid. (Inferior Court Records, William R. Henry, CGGS, 1988). Later records also indicate that Nathan was unable to pay his taxes that year.

When Nathan died, he was intestate. Estate records show that he was heavily in debt and in fact his bad debts appear for some years afterwards in various estate records. His property was sold, which included land in Murray, Cobb, Union, Gilmer, Walker and Pulaski Counties. He also owed money to Gilford Grant, John Jermony, George F. Mathews, Mountain or Martin Hill, Evan (possibly Van?) Horn and Sherrod Horn.

That final name leads to a possibly link with Pike County, where a Nathan Horn was made administrator on the estate of Sherrod H. Horn in 1839. This Nathan and Sherrod's wife Reecy Davis appear in newspaper records on the estate through Sep 1840. Sherrod and Reecy had married in 1819 in Pulaski County, making it unlikely that he had children old enough to administer the estate and that therefore this Nathan could be a brother or other relative and also that it could be the Nathan in Crawford County. More work needs to be done to confirm or deny this.