More Connections and a New Mystery

Earlier I posted about Dock Braswell and his father's petition to get him out of jail.  I had just posted this petition because it was in one of the Crawford County folders at the Georgia Archives.  While I knew that J.G. Braswell's daughter Virginia had married a family connection (Emanuel Horne), I hadn't paid much attention to Dock. 

Today I learned that Fannie Hause (or House) and Dock Braswell married in 1898, in Houston County.  They are tenuously connected in that Fannie is the granddaughter of John and Margaret Moore of Houston County and Emanuel Horne's sister Carrie married one of the Moores' grandsons, although of a different line.   In the 1900 census, Fannie and her daughter Bessie, age 2, are living with Fannie's parents Charles and Sarah Hause in Houston County.  Fannie is listed as married.

The mystery, however, is Dock himself.  Because of Virginia, I had already done some research on J.G. (Jacob Green) Braswell.  According to the census, he had two sons - Jacob Green and Isaac Luther.  However, his obituary only lists one surviving son "J.J. Braswell".   Both his sons appear to have gone by their middle names.  J.G. Braswell himself is seen as J.G., as Green, and as Pope.  His obituary confirms the nickname Pope.  As such, it is easy to imagine him nicknaming a son Dock as opposed to actually giving him that name.   Isaac Luther is documented as having married in 1894 and is living with that wife in the 1900 census, eliminating him as the possible "Dock" unless he was a bigamist, unlikely in a small community like that.   Green is living with his father in 1900 and is listed as single.   If J.G. was truthful in naming Dock as his son in his affidavit, then it would seem likely that Green is that son. 

I have not been able to find any Dock Braswell (with various spellings) in the census who would fit as either J.G.'s son or Fannie's husband.   I also have not found a Green Braswell of an appropriate age in the census after 1900.   It does seem unusual that a nickname would have been used on both the court record and the marriage record but never on the census.  Because of this anomaly, I think more work will need to be done on Dock, but for now I am tentatively hypothesizing that he is J.G.'s son Green.  

Pope Braswell's obituary does have one small fact that might provide some evidence - he is listed as having a daughter Fannie, but there is no other evidence of such a daughter in the household.  I wonder if this was actually a reference to a daughter-in-law?

Amanuensis Monday - J.G. Braswell petition

Georgia, Crawford County
To The Honorable J.N. Mathews, Ordinary of said County
     The petition of J.G. Braswell shows that he is the father of Dock Braswell of said county.  That said Dock Braswell is illegally restrained of his liberty by R. C. Aultman and petitioner shows that said imprisonment is illegal because said warrant is in possession of R. C. Aultman that copy of process is not attached.

1st Because the said R. C. Aultman is not an officer legally authorized to arrest

2nd That said Aultman has not given bond as required by the code section 355 which requires that all deputy Sheriffs shall give bond with security before they can be deputized to execute any process

Wherefore petitioner prays that writ of Habies Corpus do issue

[Signed] W. J. Wallace
R. D. Smith
Petitioners Atty

Georgia Crawford County
      Personally appeared J. G. Braswell who on oath says that the facts contained in said petition are true & he fears that the said Dock Braswell will be removed beyond the limits of the County.

                                                                                                           



                                                                                                              his
                                                                                                    J.G.  X Braswell
                                                                                                              mark
                                         Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of April 
                                                                                                 J. N. Mathews, Ordy

Georgia Crawford County
    To R. C. Aultman  you are hereby commanded to produce the body of Dock Braswell alledged to be illegally restrained by you together with the cause of such detention before me at 2 oclock April 8th 1896 to be there delt with as the law directs

[signed] J. N. Mathews, Ordy


Georgia Crawford County
J. G. Braswell }
    vs                }   Habeus Corpus
R. C. Aultman}   Before Hon J.N. Mathews Ordinary
   And now comes petitioner in above stated case & for amendment says

1st That the said Dock Braswell is not Guilty of the Offense charged in the Warrant which the said Dock Braswell has been arrested

     [Signed]         A.J. Danielly
                         W. J. Wallace
                         R. D. Smith
                         Petitioners atty

J. G. Braswell }
    vs                }    Habeus Corpus                           

R. C. Aultman}    Before J.N. Mathews Ordinary

This case coming on for a hearing and the court having heard the evidence and argument of counsel & the same matter having been past on by the court & the [?]-discharged on the 8th day of April it is ordered by the court that the warrant be dismissed & the defendant discharged & the said R.C. Aultman be taxed with the cost of this proceeding this 13th day of April 1896.
        [signed] J. N. Mathews, Ordy

 Recorded this 13th day of April 1896