As I was going through Crawford county probate records recently, my attention was drawn to an item in the estate inventory of Dr. James Williams: an electrifying machine and apparatus (worth $35). Since this was 1832, I was fairly certain it wasn't some type of generator and felt compelled to look it up.
According to several sources on the web, especially the Fort Williams Historical Park, this was basically a machine that created static electricity and was used to treat patients for "general disability", to extract disease, and to stimulate nerves and muscle. It was in fact a very mild form of electro-shock therapy. Benjamin Franklin reportedly used the device to treat paralytics. One of the first important advocates of this treatment was John Wesley, the founder of the modern Methodist church, and he even published tracts on the benefits of the "therapeutic uses of electricity."
Apparently Dr Williams was quite up-to-date on the treatments he had available for his patients.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Friday, May 2, 2014
Friend of Friends Friday, Crawford County part 2
As before, these are from the Georgia, Probate Records, 1742-1990, Crawford County, Inventories and appraisements 1833-1913, familysearch.org
Page 63, image 38. Abel Daniel to the estate of Hosea Sullivan, presented June 1834:
Hire of the negro Nelson for the present year $81.75
Hire of the negro Abram " " " " $82.00
Hire of the negro Bidd " " " " $41.00
Page 68, image 41
1833 Hiring and renting of the negro and lands of Martha Hammock orphan of Wm. Hammock by L. D. Hammock administrator
Colbert to Mary Hammock - $70.00
Page 69, image 41
Estate of Amos Hicks, inventory of 9 Jan 1834
Grace a negro woman valued at $450.00
Feaner (possibly Teaner) and child - $500.00
Lish, a girl - $400.00
Robin, a boy - $400.00
Nelas, a boy - $200.00
Jerry, a boy - $150.00
Rachael, a girl - $200.00
Ellen, a girl - $150.00
Bobb, a man - $600.00
Billy, a man - $450.00
Page 72, image 43
June 1834 division of unnamed estate:
To Thomas Estes one negro woman name Dorcas, valued at $550
To Charles H. Hill on behalf of his wife Nancy, late Nancy Estes, one negro girl named Matilday at $400.00
Page 76, image 45
Inventory of Wilborn J. Hammack, 14 Jan 1834
1 negro boy Aron - $600.00
Page 78, image 46
Inventory and appraisement of the estate of John Glover, 10 May 1834
Negro man Washington appraised to $700.00
" " Aaron $700.00
" woman Kiziah $425.00
" " Letty $250.00
" " Rachael $450.00
" boy Archibald $400.00
" girl Leathy $350.00
" " Tilda $400.00
" " Katy $350.00
Page 63, image 38. Abel Daniel to the estate of Hosea Sullivan, presented June 1834:
Hire of the negro Nelson for the present year $81.75
Hire of the negro Abram " " " " $82.00
Hire of the negro Bidd " " " " $41.00
Page 68, image 41
1833 Hiring and renting of the negro and lands of Martha Hammock orphan of Wm. Hammock by L. D. Hammock administrator
Colbert to Mary Hammock - $70.00
Page 69, image 41
Estate of Amos Hicks, inventory of 9 Jan 1834
Grace a negro woman valued at $450.00
Feaner (possibly Teaner) and child - $500.00
Lish, a girl - $400.00
Robin, a boy - $400.00
Nelas, a boy - $200.00
Jerry, a boy - $150.00
Rachael, a girl - $200.00
Ellen, a girl - $150.00
Bobb, a man - $600.00
Billy, a man - $450.00
Page 72, image 43
June 1834 division of unnamed estate:
To Thomas Estes one negro woman name Dorcas, valued at $550
To Charles H. Hill on behalf of his wife Nancy, late Nancy Estes, one negro girl named Matilday at $400.00
Page 76, image 45
Inventory of Wilborn J. Hammack, 14 Jan 1834
1 negro boy Aron - $600.00
Page 78, image 46
Inventory and appraisement of the estate of John Glover, 10 May 1834
Negro man Washington appraised to $700.00
" " Aaron $700.00
" woman Kiziah $425.00
" " Letty $250.00
" " Rachael $450.00
" boy Archibald $400.00
" girl Leathy $350.00
" " Tilda $400.00
" " Katy $350.00
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Ahnentafel #10 Warren David Hendricks and #11 Lucinda Jane Gooch
According to his own account, Warren David Hendricks was born 8 Sep 1854 to George Washington Hendricks and Jane (Jenny) Keith, in Pickens County, SC. His mother died a few years later after the birth of his younger brother James and his life became rather peripatetic at that point. The family lived in Alabama as well as various places in Georgia, before finally reaching Lumpkin County, which is where he married Lucinda Jane Gooch.
Lucinda Jane Gooch was born 19 Mar 1857 in Lumpkin County, Georgia to James Gooch and Elvira Grizzle. They had moved to Union County by the time she was 13 and she married Warren when she was 16, on 27 March 1873. The ceremony was performed by Warren's cousin (by marriage) George Whitmore, who was a J.P.
The young couple almost immediately settled in the Gaddistown area of Union County, where they raised a very large family. Warren was primarily a farmer, Jane was a midwife, mother, and homemaker. For the first 20 years of their marriage, Warren's brother James lived next door to them, before moving down to Madison County. James was married to Jane's sister Eliza. The brothers must have been close, since they named their first sons after each other. They also lived quite close to Jane's parents as well as her brothers William and Madison. Tax records indicate that they owned 260 acres of land.
In 1880 Warren and Jane first appear in the census as a family, with their two oldest children Lucy Ann and John James. Also in the household was a 14-year old orphan Elizabeth Rider. Her relationship to the family is not known but Warren and Jane did later take in at least one other orphaned child whom they raised.
In March 1890 Warren was arrested for making whiskey, although he was not charged with selling it. He was released when one of the witnesses (who worked for him) changed his testimony. Family tradition maintains that he did in fact make whiskey. A few months later, the Atlanta Constitution wrote a short piece about him in their section "Dahlonega Nuggets": 'Mr. Warren Hendricks, One of Union County's most prosperous farmers, was in Dahlonega some days ago. Mr. Hendricks is worth about two thousand dollars and made it by hard licks. He never wore a store coat or store pants in his life, but wears clothing manufactured by the "folks at home." Instead of furnishing his little boys with a bicycle and ((unreadable)) pair of shoes, he gives them a long pair of home-made pants, suspenders knit by his girls, tenders them a hoe and puts them in the cornfield barefooted, with instructions to cut the weeds so as to let the corn grow, is why he prospers.'
By the 1900 census, Jane and Warren's two oldest children were married, with 7 more still at home, the youngest being 4. An additional 4 children had not survived. Her daughter Mattie always claimed that Jane was an excellent midwife, but that she had great difficulty with her own pregnancies and was often bedridden for them.
In 1903, Warren was appointed as the road commissioner for the Gaddistown district, along with two other men. About the same time, he was also made a jury commissioner, a position he remained in until his death.
By 1910, several more of the children had married and left home, but 5 were still living with Warren and Jane as they ran the farm. About 1915 they fostered Evelyn Ingle from Copper Hill, Tennessee. She was about 4 at the time. To date, we have not discovered why she was sent to a family in Union County, Georgia. Her father had died and her 4 brothers were also fostered, separately. She was apparently very fond of Warren and Jane, naming two of her children after them, including her first son.
In 1920, Warren and Jane show daughters Mattie, Maude and Evelyn still at home. Mattie and Maude were both teachers. This census entry is not totally accurate since Mattie was also listed on the census in Emanuel county, where she was working. Since the census was taken in January, its possible that she was still home for the holidays when the census taker came by. Maude was at home but left to marry a few months later. The fact that Mattie and Maude were both teachers is a reflection of the importance that the family apparently attributed to education. At least 3 of the daughters (Viana, Mattie and Maude) and one of their sons (Luther) had attended North Georgia Agricultural college in Dahlonega.
In 1930, Warren is still apparently farming, despite now being 76. Foster daughter Evelyn is still with them, as well as their daughter-in-law Ellen Jones Hendrix Seabolt. Ellen's first husband was their son Joseph. In 1920, he had been serving as the mayor of McCaysville, GA when he intervened in an incident with a drunken man, who shot him in the head. Ellen later married James Seabolt but by 1930 was listed as widowed again.
In 1940, Jane and Warren are living at the same place but he is no longer listed as a farmer. All the children are now gone, but they do have a 15-year old maid in the house. Both Jane and Warren are listed as having done 4 years of school. Warren died on 28 August 1940 and Jane followed him on 25 May 1942. Both of them are buried at Mount Pleasant #2 (the Hill Church) in Suches.
Jane and Warren had the following known children:
-- Mary LucyAnne Hendrix, born 29 September 1875, died 29 April 1956. She married Anderson Asberry McDougald and lived her entire life in Union County.
-- James John Washington Hendrix, born12 Dec 1877, died 17 Mar 1954. He was named after Warren's father Washington and his two brothers James and John. He married Vinnie Gurley and eventually settled in Morgan County, GA.
-- Joseph Benjamin Hendrix, born 18 Mar 1881, died 25 April 1920 while serving as mayor of McCaysville, GA. Married Ellen Jones.
-- Allen Luther Hendrix, born 16 Feb 1884, died 11 Mar 1959 in Gwinnett County, GA. He became a preacher, and met and married his wife Cora Blanche Clyde while serving in Holt County, Nebraska.
-- Vianna Hendrix, born 22 May 1885, died 19 Sep 1947. She married William Carl Gurley.
-- Elvira Hendrix, born 23 Sep 1889, died 20 Aug 1968 in Monroe County, GA. She married John Richard Bearden.
-- William Arthur, born 20 Jan 1891, died February 1976 in Hall County, GA. He lived much of his working life in Franklin County, Ohio, but returned to Georgia after his wife died. He married Gilla May Sparks of Fannin County.
-- Mattie Irene Hendrix, 13 June 1893 - 12 April 1975, Married Charles Gordon Garner
-- Maude June Hendrix, born 21 Oct 1895, died 4 Aug 1967 in Atlanta. She married Edward Lee Floyd, who had been one of the instructors at NGC when she and Mattie were there.
--Alice Evelyn Ingle, born 7 Oct 1911, died 24 Dec 2007 in Haywood County, NC. Married James Thomason and then Dennis Ammons.
Warren and Jane with their descendents, taken about 1938.
Lucinda Jane Gooch was born 19 Mar 1857 in Lumpkin County, Georgia to James Gooch and Elvira Grizzle. They had moved to Union County by the time she was 13 and she married Warren when she was 16, on 27 March 1873. The ceremony was performed by Warren's cousin (by marriage) George Whitmore, who was a J.P.
The young couple almost immediately settled in the Gaddistown area of Union County, where they raised a very large family. Warren was primarily a farmer, Jane was a midwife, mother, and homemaker. For the first 20 years of their marriage, Warren's brother James lived next door to them, before moving down to Madison County. James was married to Jane's sister Eliza. The brothers must have been close, since they named their first sons after each other. They also lived quite close to Jane's parents as well as her brothers William and Madison. Tax records indicate that they owned 260 acres of land.
In 1880 Warren and Jane first appear in the census as a family, with their two oldest children Lucy Ann and John James. Also in the household was a 14-year old orphan Elizabeth Rider. Her relationship to the family is not known but Warren and Jane did later take in at least one other orphaned child whom they raised.
In March 1890 Warren was arrested for making whiskey, although he was not charged with selling it. He was released when one of the witnesses (who worked for him) changed his testimony. Family tradition maintains that he did in fact make whiskey. A few months later, the Atlanta Constitution wrote a short piece about him in their section "Dahlonega Nuggets": 'Mr. Warren Hendricks, One of Union County's most prosperous farmers, was in Dahlonega some days ago. Mr. Hendricks is worth about two thousand dollars and made it by hard licks. He never wore a store coat or store pants in his life, but wears clothing manufactured by the "folks at home." Instead of furnishing his little boys with a bicycle and ((unreadable)) pair of shoes, he gives them a long pair of home-made pants, suspenders knit by his girls, tenders them a hoe and puts them in the cornfield barefooted, with instructions to cut the weeds so as to let the corn grow, is why he prospers.'
By the 1900 census, Jane and Warren's two oldest children were married, with 7 more still at home, the youngest being 4. An additional 4 children had not survived. Her daughter Mattie always claimed that Jane was an excellent midwife, but that she had great difficulty with her own pregnancies and was often bedridden for them.
In 1903, Warren was appointed as the road commissioner for the Gaddistown district, along with two other men. About the same time, he was also made a jury commissioner, a position he remained in until his death.
By 1910, several more of the children had married and left home, but 5 were still living with Warren and Jane as they ran the farm. About 1915 they fostered Evelyn Ingle from Copper Hill, Tennessee. She was about 4 at the time. To date, we have not discovered why she was sent to a family in Union County, Georgia. Her father had died and her 4 brothers were also fostered, separately. She was apparently very fond of Warren and Jane, naming two of her children after them, including her first son.
In 1920, Warren and Jane show daughters Mattie, Maude and Evelyn still at home. Mattie and Maude were both teachers. This census entry is not totally accurate since Mattie was also listed on the census in Emanuel county, where she was working. Since the census was taken in January, its possible that she was still home for the holidays when the census taker came by. Maude was at home but left to marry a few months later. The fact that Mattie and Maude were both teachers is a reflection of the importance that the family apparently attributed to education. At least 3 of the daughters (Viana, Mattie and Maude) and one of their sons (Luther) had attended North Georgia Agricultural college in Dahlonega.
In 1930, Warren is still apparently farming, despite now being 76. Foster daughter Evelyn is still with them, as well as their daughter-in-law Ellen Jones Hendrix Seabolt. Ellen's first husband was their son Joseph. In 1920, he had been serving as the mayor of McCaysville, GA when he intervened in an incident with a drunken man, who shot him in the head. Ellen later married James Seabolt but by 1930 was listed as widowed again.
In 1940, Jane and Warren are living at the same place but he is no longer listed as a farmer. All the children are now gone, but they do have a 15-year old maid in the house. Both Jane and Warren are listed as having done 4 years of school. Warren died on 28 August 1940 and Jane followed him on 25 May 1942. Both of them are buried at Mount Pleasant #2 (the Hill Church) in Suches.
Jane and Warren had the following known children:
-- Mary LucyAnne Hendrix, born 29 September 1875, died 29 April 1956. She married Anderson Asberry McDougald and lived her entire life in Union County.
-- James John Washington Hendrix, born12 Dec 1877, died 17 Mar 1954. He was named after Warren's father Washington and his two brothers James and John. He married Vinnie Gurley and eventually settled in Morgan County, GA.
-- Joseph Benjamin Hendrix, born 18 Mar 1881, died 25 April 1920 while serving as mayor of McCaysville, GA. Married Ellen Jones.
-- Allen Luther Hendrix, born 16 Feb 1884, died 11 Mar 1959 in Gwinnett County, GA. He became a preacher, and met and married his wife Cora Blanche Clyde while serving in Holt County, Nebraska.
-- Vianna Hendrix, born 22 May 1885, died 19 Sep 1947. She married William Carl Gurley.
-- Elvira Hendrix, born 23 Sep 1889, died 20 Aug 1968 in Monroe County, GA. She married John Richard Bearden.
-- William Arthur, born 20 Jan 1891, died February 1976 in Hall County, GA. He lived much of his working life in Franklin County, Ohio, but returned to Georgia after his wife died. He married Gilla May Sparks of Fannin County.
-- Mattie Irene Hendrix, 13 June 1893 - 12 April 1975, Married Charles Gordon Garner
-- Maude June Hendrix, born 21 Oct 1895, died 4 Aug 1967 in Atlanta. She married Edward Lee Floyd, who had been one of the instructors at NGC when she and Mattie were there.
--Alice Evelyn Ingle, born 7 Oct 1911, died 24 Dec 2007 in Haywood County, NC. Married James Thomason and then Dennis Ammons.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Friend of Friends Friday - Crawford County, Georgia, part 1
I just learned of the "Friend of Friends Friday" daily prompt and, since I'm going through Crawford county probate records right now, it seems a good time to post some of these. Since all of the original records are available for free on familysearch.org, I'm only putting in the link. If down the road, the links don't work, these are from the Georgia, Probate Records, 1742-1990, Crawford County, Inventories and appraisements 1833-1913. I have occasionally shortened the description of the estate but the remainder of the text is as it is written on the page or as close as I can get.
Page 4, Image 9 : Return of the sale of the negro man named Prince, belonging to Jesse Mills, dec'd.
Cash recd of John Andrews for Prince - $400.00. Submitted by Bryan Bateman. 4 April 1833
Abel Daniel's accounting of the estate of his wards Berry and Elmyra Sullivan, for the year 1832.
Cash for the hire of Nelson - $70.75
" " " " " Abraham - $40.00
" " " " " Bid (or Bice) - $41.25
" " " " " Peggy - $7.50
Page 8, Image 11: An account between Caroline E. Jones, minor heir of William H. Jones decd and James S. Jones guardian.
Hire of Daniel - $50.00
Hire of Dave - $54.50
Hire of Henry - $55.00
Hire of Washington - $34.00
Hire of Stephen - $10.00
Hire of Phebe and three children - $20.00
Hire of Sally - $40.00
Hire of Melinda - $40.00
Hire of Epsey - $42.00
Page 16, Image 15 Susan Prosser in a/c with Henry Tarver her guardian for .. 1832.
By hire of her negro woman Jinney - $20.00
" " " " " girl Aley - $10.00
Page 17, Image 15 An account of the hiring of the negroes belonging to James Louisa and Ruth Prosser orphan children of Jesse Prosser decd for 1832
One negro fellow George by Luke Robinson for $65.00
One negro girl ?Thizly? by Martin Patten - $50.00
One negro girl Molly by Wm. Robinson - $25.00
Page 24, Image 19: Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Richard Bullock, decd, Dec 16, 1833.
Harry a negro man valued at $500
Rachael a woman and her child Hosea $500
Lacey a girl - $450
Tracy a girl - $350
Faithey a girl - $200
Daniel a boy - $200
Page 27, Image 20
From the estate inventory of Chesley B. Marshall, made Jan 13, 1834.
1 negro man Billy - $200
1 negro man Davy - $250
Page 28, Image 21
John Ricks return for 1833 for the orphans of Redmon B. Mason [Susanah and Arthur].
By hire of a negro man Abram to William Exium - $75
" " " " " Philip to R. S. Anderson - $35
" " " " " woman and five children to Wm Faircloth - $40
Page 36, Image 25
James Jones, guardian, for minor Caroline E. Jones, 1833
Hire of Negro boy Dave - $70
" " " " Henry - $65
" " " " Washington - $40
" " " " Stephen - $22
" " " girl Sally - $50
" " " " Epsey - $50
" " " " Malinda & child - $30
" " " " Phebe & three children $10
(continuation on page 37)
Cash for sale of negro boy Daniel $400, record 4 Feb 1834
Page 38, image 26
Inventory, appraisement and distribution of estate of Jesse Mills, dec'd. 5 March 1834:
Alexander Mills drew Hagar a negro woman appraised at $375
Susanah Mills drew Joseph a negro boy appraised at $500
Isaac Mills drew Wiggins a negro boy appraised at $325
Nancy Mills drew Michael a negro boy appraised at $400
Moses Mills drew Frank a negro boy appraised at $475
Elenor Mills drew Rency and John a negro girl and boy appraised at $450
Elisha Mills drew Joshua a negro boy appraised at $400
Martha Mills drew Fanny and Sampson a negro girl and boy appraised at $375
Green Lee Mills drew Prince a negro boy appraised at $480 [which would appear to contradict the first entry above where Prince was sold]
Page 39, image 26
Estate of James M. Williams, appraisal done Feb 1834
One negro man Allen $600
One negro boy George $550
One negro woman Carolina $450
One negro woman Aggy and child Henry $500
One negro boy Nelson $300
One negro boy Pomfrey $550
One negro girl Mary $175
Page 49, image 31
Appraisement of the estate of William Northern, April 1834
Cyrus a man - $625
Mariah and five children Chana, Mima, Lewis, Bob and Lucretia - $1600
Mary and four children Sally, Joseph, Evelina and Carolina - $1080
Page 4, Image 9 : Return of the sale of the negro man named Prince, belonging to Jesse Mills, dec'd.
Cash recd of John Andrews for Prince - $400.00. Submitted by Bryan Bateman. 4 April 1833
Abel Daniel's accounting of the estate of his wards Berry and Elmyra Sullivan, for the year 1832.
Cash for the hire of Nelson - $70.75
" " " " " Abraham - $40.00
" " " " " Bid (or Bice) - $41.25
" " " " " Peggy - $7.50
Page 8, Image 11: An account between Caroline E. Jones, minor heir of William H. Jones decd and James S. Jones guardian.
Hire of Daniel - $50.00
Hire of Dave - $54.50
Hire of Henry - $55.00
Hire of Washington - $34.00
Hire of Stephen - $10.00
Hire of Phebe and three children - $20.00
Hire of Sally - $40.00
Hire of Melinda - $40.00
Hire of Epsey - $42.00
Page 16, Image 15 Susan Prosser in a/c with Henry Tarver her guardian for .. 1832.
By hire of her negro woman Jinney - $20.00
" " " " " girl Aley - $10.00
Page 17, Image 15 An account of the hiring of the negroes belonging to James Louisa and Ruth Prosser orphan children of Jesse Prosser decd for 1832
One negro fellow George by Luke Robinson for $65.00
One negro girl ?Thizly? by Martin Patten - $50.00
One negro girl Molly by Wm. Robinson - $25.00
Page 24, Image 19: Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Richard Bullock, decd, Dec 16, 1833.
Harry a negro man valued at $500
Rachael a woman and her child Hosea $500
Lacey a girl - $450
Tracy a girl - $350
Faithey a girl - $200
Daniel a boy - $200
Page 27, Image 20
From the estate inventory of Chesley B. Marshall, made Jan 13, 1834.
1 negro man Billy - $200
1 negro man Davy - $250
Page 28, Image 21
John Ricks return for 1833 for the orphans of Redmon B. Mason [Susanah and Arthur].
By hire of a negro man Abram to William Exium - $75
" " " " " Philip to R. S. Anderson - $35
" " " " " woman and five children to Wm Faircloth - $40
Page 36, Image 25
James Jones, guardian, for minor Caroline E. Jones, 1833
Hire of Negro boy Dave - $70
" " " " Henry - $65
" " " " Washington - $40
" " " " Stephen - $22
" " " girl Sally - $50
" " " " Epsey - $50
" " " " Malinda & child - $30
" " " " Phebe & three children $10
(continuation on page 37)
Cash for sale of negro boy Daniel $400, record 4 Feb 1834
Page 38, image 26
Inventory, appraisement and distribution of estate of Jesse Mills, dec'd. 5 March 1834:
Alexander Mills drew Hagar a negro woman appraised at $375
Susanah Mills drew Joseph a negro boy appraised at $500
Isaac Mills drew Wiggins a negro boy appraised at $325
Nancy Mills drew Michael a negro boy appraised at $400
Moses Mills drew Frank a negro boy appraised at $475
Elenor Mills drew Rency and John a negro girl and boy appraised at $450
Elisha Mills drew Joshua a negro boy appraised at $400
Martha Mills drew Fanny and Sampson a negro girl and boy appraised at $375
Green Lee Mills drew Prince a negro boy appraised at $480 [which would appear to contradict the first entry above where Prince was sold]
Page 39, image 26
Estate of James M. Williams, appraisal done Feb 1834
One negro man Allen $600
One negro boy George $550
One negro woman Carolina $450
One negro woman Aggy and child Henry $500
One negro boy Nelson $300
One negro boy Pomfrey $550
One negro girl Mary $175
Page 49, image 31
Appraisement of the estate of William Northern, April 1834
Cyrus a man - $625
Mariah and five children Chana, Mima, Lewis, Bob and Lucretia - $1600
Mary and four children Sally, Joseph, Evelina and Carolina - $1080
Monday, April 21, 2014
Sarah Blanch and Middle Names
I am a middle namer and so are many of the other people in my family. Nonetheless, I sometimes forget to take that into account when hunting for relatives, particularly since middle namers will sometimes appear in records by the name they use and sometimes by their first name. This was brought home recently as I was going through some Crawford county deeds. In one instance, property was sold to Martha Hatcher and Blanch Perry, daughters of Mark Perry. I had Mark with two daughters but they were Martha and Sarah (from the 1880 census). Other records with the land had Blanch as S. Blanch Perry, which of course started me looking at Mark's daughter Sarah. Taking the leap that Sarah Perry, on the census as Mark's daughter, and the Blanch/S. Blanch Perry in this record were the same, I started looking at records for Blanch. A few years after the land record, Blanch Perry married Ezekiel Atwater. Looking further in the census, in 1900 Ezekiel and Blanch Atwater had a son Perry. In 1910, the parents in the family are Ezekiel and Sally Atwater (Sally of course being Sarah), and her tombstone from 1918 has Blanch P. Atwater. In this case, the use of the middle name makes good sense, since her mother was also Sarah and this would have served to differentiate them.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
The Mystery of Gussie and Julia Lewis
In the Crawford County records at the Georgia State Archives, there is a petition from Zach Lewis to commit Gussie and Julia Lewis to the state asylum as "idiots", dated 23 August 1899. To do this, the three nearest adult relatives have to sign the petition, which in this case was Zach Lewis and his siblings Mrs. Lizzie Gordon and Joe Lewis. Zach was the son of Zachariah Lewis, Sr, and his wife Torvesa Nelson. Lizzie and Joe were his half-siblings, children of Zachariah Lewis Sr and his wife Mary Montcrief.
Zachariah, Sr cannot be the person who brought the petition because he died in 1897. He was married at least 3 times (possibly 4) and had at least 15 children. Gussie (male) and Julia, however, do not appear anywhere in that list of children. They could, of course, have been born after the 1880 census. In that case, though, they would have had to be the children of Sarah Moncreif Lewis who was still alive in 1899. In that scenario, she would have almost certainly been considered one of the 3 closest adult relatives. It also seems unlikely that they are Zach's children for the same reason, that in this case their mother would have been one of the three "nearest adult relatives", certainly closer than an aunt or uncle. So if they were born before 1880, they should have been in that census and if after 1880, their mother should have been included in the paperwork.
Another oddity (adding to the confusion about their ages) is that they were committed in August 1899 but do not appear in the 1900 census, either in Crawford County or at the State Asylum at Milledgeville.
As part of the process of commitment, a special jury had to be convened, with at least one medical doctor. The members of the jury in this case were J.E.L. Johnson MD, M.P. Riviere, S.J.Spillers, N.P. Spillers, J.H. Irby, E.L. Culverhouse, W.B. Spain, T.J. Stewart, H.C. McAfee, C. F. Hollis, Johnathan Wilder, and J.S. Stephens. They did find that Gussie and Julia were "idiots" and should be confined in the asylum.
Zachariah, Sr cannot be the person who brought the petition because he died in 1897. He was married at least 3 times (possibly 4) and had at least 15 children. Gussie (male) and Julia, however, do not appear anywhere in that list of children. They could, of course, have been born after the 1880 census. In that case, though, they would have had to be the children of Sarah Moncreif Lewis who was still alive in 1899. In that scenario, she would have almost certainly been considered one of the 3 closest adult relatives. It also seems unlikely that they are Zach's children for the same reason, that in this case their mother would have been one of the three "nearest adult relatives", certainly closer than an aunt or uncle. So if they were born before 1880, they should have been in that census and if after 1880, their mother should have been included in the paperwork.
Another oddity (adding to the confusion about their ages) is that they were committed in August 1899 but do not appear in the 1900 census, either in Crawford County or at the State Asylum at Milledgeville.
As part of the process of commitment, a special jury had to be convened, with at least one medical doctor. The members of the jury in this case were J.E.L. Johnson MD, M.P. Riviere, S.J.Spillers, N.P. Spillers, J.H. Irby, E.L. Culverhouse, W.B. Spain, T.J. Stewart, H.C. McAfee, C. F. Hollis, Johnathan Wilder, and J.S. Stephens. They did find that Gussie and Julia were "idiots" and should be confined in the asylum.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Thomas Cates' Estate
In a continued effort to learn more about Thomas Cates and his circle of family and friends, I took a look at his estate records and particularly the sales of his property after his death.
Not unexpectedly, the most prominent purchaser was his wife, Nancy Cates. She bought a bedstead and furniture; a pine chest, table and stool; table furniture; a coffee mill; one lot of books; two spinning wheels; a club ax; a barrel and tub; a pot and pot hooks; 3 sitting chairs; and a keg.
His son, Turner Cates, was more restrained, just purchasing a tea kettle; a rod and chair; a hatchet (can't read the first word describing it); a man's saddle; and a sorrel horse.
Mary Dies is the only woman besides Nancy to appear on the list of purchasers. Considering that it was unusual for women outside the immediate family to come to these sales and the type of things that she bought, it is likely that she is connected to the family but how is not known. In the 1840 census, as Mary Dyes, she is two entries away from Turner and 3 from Thomas, she is aged 30-39 and has 3 young girls (age 5-9) in the house, indicating she is probably a widower. She is also probably the woman who in 1844 married Wiley Cates, whose connection to Thomas has also not been established but is probably not a son. Mary purchased a bed & cot, 2 sitting chairs & frame.
V. Nichols, based on his location, is probably Vincent/Vinson Nichols, married to Eliza McCook. He has an odd 1840 census entry, where his listing includes 125 scholars. Either he was running a school or the census taker got something wrong. He was a prominent person in the county and, among other things, donated the land for Old Bethel U.M. Church. He was also the JP involved with the estate. He purchased a clock, which must have been a very nice one since it was one of the most expensive items on the inventory at $8. He also purchased a side-saddle.
Isaac Mills was probably not a near neighbor (per the 1840 census) but he was one of the two men to sign as security on the admin bond. (The other was Joseph Wilder). He was married to Elizabeth Dun, or possibly Dies. He purchased an augur and a hand saw.
Thomas Striplin appears to have been a neighbor. He purchased a frying pan & streaker, a cow, and a yearling.
Nimrod Lewis, was I believe Thomas' son in law. He purchased one set of plow gear, a tub of plows and sundries, a cowhide, a bay filly, and 4 head of geese.
John Hancock, a neighbor, purchased a set of plow gear and a halter chain. John was one of the men who inventoried the estate.
John Perry, not a neighbor but closely associated with John Hancock and Nimrod Lewis, so possibly with the Cates as well. He purchased a tub of plows and sundries, as well as 2 swingletrees (used for beating flax) and a bridle. John as also one of the men who did the inventory.
B. Surtivant, not further identified, purchased a reel.
?Saml? Vining bought a pair of cart hubs.
Larry or Lamy Dies (unidentifed, not in the 1840 census) purchased 1 small trunk.
Not accounted for in the sale were the two young slaves listed in the inventory of his estate. They were Laurah, age 8, valued at $300 and Grace, age 5, valued at $275. In the 1840 census, Thomas Cates showed 3 slaves, who were the two young girls as well as a female in her 20s, possibly their mother. The older slave was not listed as part of the estate so presumably had died or been sold by that time.
Not unexpectedly, the most prominent purchaser was his wife, Nancy Cates. She bought a bedstead and furniture; a pine chest, table and stool; table furniture; a coffee mill; one lot of books; two spinning wheels; a club ax; a barrel and tub; a pot and pot hooks; 3 sitting chairs; and a keg.
His son, Turner Cates, was more restrained, just purchasing a tea kettle; a rod and chair; a hatchet (can't read the first word describing it); a man's saddle; and a sorrel horse.
Mary Dies is the only woman besides Nancy to appear on the list of purchasers. Considering that it was unusual for women outside the immediate family to come to these sales and the type of things that she bought, it is likely that she is connected to the family but how is not known. In the 1840 census, as Mary Dyes, she is two entries away from Turner and 3 from Thomas, she is aged 30-39 and has 3 young girls (age 5-9) in the house, indicating she is probably a widower. She is also probably the woman who in 1844 married Wiley Cates, whose connection to Thomas has also not been established but is probably not a son. Mary purchased a bed & cot, 2 sitting chairs & frame.
V. Nichols, based on his location, is probably Vincent/Vinson Nichols, married to Eliza McCook. He has an odd 1840 census entry, where his listing includes 125 scholars. Either he was running a school or the census taker got something wrong. He was a prominent person in the county and, among other things, donated the land for Old Bethel U.M. Church. He was also the JP involved with the estate. He purchased a clock, which must have been a very nice one since it was one of the most expensive items on the inventory at $8. He also purchased a side-saddle.
Isaac Mills was probably not a near neighbor (per the 1840 census) but he was one of the two men to sign as security on the admin bond. (The other was Joseph Wilder). He was married to Elizabeth Dun, or possibly Dies. He purchased an augur and a hand saw.
Thomas Striplin appears to have been a neighbor. He purchased a frying pan & streaker, a cow, and a yearling.
Nimrod Lewis, was I believe Thomas' son in law. He purchased one set of plow gear, a tub of plows and sundries, a cowhide, a bay filly, and 4 head of geese.
John Hancock, a neighbor, purchased a set of plow gear and a halter chain. John was one of the men who inventoried the estate.
John Perry, not a neighbor but closely associated with John Hancock and Nimrod Lewis, so possibly with the Cates as well. He purchased a tub of plows and sundries, as well as 2 swingletrees (used for beating flax) and a bridle. John as also one of the men who did the inventory.
B. Surtivant, not further identified, purchased a reel.
?Saml? Vining bought a pair of cart hubs.
Larry or Lamy Dies (unidentifed, not in the 1840 census) purchased 1 small trunk.
Not accounted for in the sale were the two young slaves listed in the inventory of his estate. They were Laurah, age 8, valued at $300 and Grace, age 5, valued at $275. In the 1840 census, Thomas Cates showed 3 slaves, who were the two young girls as well as a female in her 20s, possibly their mother. The older slave was not listed as part of the estate so presumably had died or been sold by that time.
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