My Early Ancestor Lodowick Murrah -

Before doing an extensive post on ancestors David Cox and Sabrina "Glanton" Cox,  I wish to explore her (Sabrina) ancestors as to what we know and what we THINK we know.

We know for a fact that her grandfather was Lodowick Murrah which is the subject of this post. Her mother was Margaret Murrah who married Benjamin Glanton

Murrah is not a very common name and is found the most in the deep South with the exception of one branch of the Murrah family that went Midwest and there it is found a great deal in Illinois. No doubt many Murrys are descended from Murrahs. The Murrah surname is very likely Scottish since the "Murrah" is found in southern Scotland and far northern England. There is in the County Cumberland a Murrah township in the parish of Greystoke, Leath ward, former county of Cumberland (now Cumbria) In the Murrah township there is a Murrah Hall. Further the name is found in the name is found in the Orkney Islands, which lie off the north coast of Scotland. There is some thought the name could be Irish "McMurrough" but it's viewed as highly unlikely. Especially considering the lack of Irish immigration to the South we are seeing at this time compared to the great Scottish immigration we see in this time period.

 Almost all the Murrahs entered through Virgina. From Virgina the Murrahs split into two migration patterns One part went West across the Appalachians into Kentucky and eventually into Illinois. The other larger part went South into the the Carolinas and Georgia. This branch later migrated through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and into Texas.

If you meet a Murrah in the Deep South ,or if they hail from there,  it is a good chance they are direct descendants of our Great Grandfather Lodowick Murrah. His descendants include Pendleton Murrah who was the last governor of Texas during the Confederacy. Also there is Federal Judge Alfred Paul Murrah . His name sadly will be linked forever to the unfortunate terrrorst attack on the Oklahoma City Alfred P Murrah federal building that took so many lives. Another famous Lobowick Murrah descendant is the famed Methodist Bishop William Belton Murrah for whom Murrah High School in Jackson, MS is named.

Many family researchers say that the ANN that Lobowick was married too was Mira Ann
Jeter. That very well could be true. Yet I have not seen any proof of documentation of that claim as of yet. Therefore this researcher is not yet ready to make that call.

We do have a very good idea of where Lodowick lived in Virginia. In case you were wondering where "the Neck" is, it's just off the Rappahannock River several miles north west of Port Royal. .


We thankfully know a good bit about Lodowick children because of what appears to be a rather nasty piece of litigation.

From Caroline County Court Records and Marriages, 1787-1810 by William Lindasy Hopkins, Richmond, VA, 1987, p56, Chancery Suits we see the following:

Chancery Suit:


Littleton Jeter, Horatio Jeter, Fielding Jeter, Elisha Jeter, Martha Glanton,
decd. who was Martha Jeter, Zachariah Lewis and Milly Lewis his wife who was
Milly Jeter, James Cash and Susannah Cash his wife who was Susanna Jeter and
Elizabeth Jeter children and heirs of John Jeter and Elizabeth Jeter his wife
who was Elizabeth Murrah against James Murrah, Charles Murrah, George Murrah,
Thomas Murrah, Margaret Glanton, Nancy Glanton and Molly Pickett. The suit
concerns the sale of a tract of land of 104 acres left in the will of
Lodowick Murrah. Land is sold 7 Feb 1800. [Dec. 1799]


The above named Jeter children state that their grandfather, Lodowick Murrah,
left a will in which he gave to his wife Ann Murrah all of his estate during
her lifetime. Lodowick Murrah left the following children viz James Murrah
who now resides in South Caroline, John Murrah who died without issue,
Charles Murrah who now resides in North Caroline, George Murrah who now
resides in South Carolina, Thomas Murrah who resides in South Carolina,
Elizabeth Murrah who married John Jeter, Margaret Murrah who married Benjamin
Glanton, Nancy Murrah who married John Glanton, Susannah Murrah who married
Jonathan Glanton and Molly Murrah who married John Pickett.
[Aug 1799]

It appears that  Lodowick died in 1772 and this litigation was filed after his wife died.

Caroline County (which was part of Essex) is a "Burnt" County. Sadly many Courthouse records are gone after the Courthouse was destroyed during the Civil War. Hopefully I will have more to add later on Murrah.

Who Are These Whittingtons Buried In Claiborne Parish - Joseph W Whittington and More

Just down the road from me in Athens  enclosed in a seperate fence in the Lower Old Athens Cemetery in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana  there are these graves. They  are:

WHITTINGTON, Mary H. 25 Jun 1850 28 Sept 1908
WHITTINGTON, Joseph W. 20 Dept 1841 06 Sept 1893

WHITTINGTON, Juanita 7 October 1925 6 May 1941
WHITTINGTON, T.P. 6 Aug 1885 24 May 1930 ** (note could be Theophalus P.)

WHITTINGTON, George E. 2 Nov 1874 22 Aug 1952
WHITTINGTON, Elmira R. 17 Dec 1893

I wonder if these Whittingtons are have their roots  Whittington clan from Amite and Wilkinson County Mississippi ? I see early indications that they might be and I hope to solve that and update this post later.

Note there are many Whittingtons (Perhaps related to this Family) buried in Claiborne Parish. I have access to those photos. Just leave a comment with contact info if interested these folks

Was My Ancestor Alexander Scott Causey Insane?

Click above pics to enlarge

This is a most curious entry for  my Great (4) Grandfather Alexander Scott Causey in the 1860 Census. He is located at the bottom and the Census person has noted on the side that he was "crazy". There is another notation  there that is hard to read but appears  say "caused by concussion". So did he go insane? Was this insanity by by a blow to the head? Was it temporary or sadly permanent? Dis his wife Nancy "Cox" Causey basically have to run the household?

I would love to find out more on this. At one point some Causey researcher , whom I can't recall, told me he THOUGHT there was court record in Amite in which he was declared insane of incompetent. My memory though could be faulty on this and I really need to get to Amite to look myself.

That would quite a story. My Great (4) Grandmother Nancy " Cox " Cause dealing with a crazy husband on the eve of the Civil War in which her sons are about to go off to war in. Sadly it was not too long after this census was taken that Alexander Scott died. I have a date of death of July 8 th 1860. ( I am trying to poin down why this DODis used.  If that DOD is true he died just days after this census was taken.

The fact that Causey was "crazy" and days later died and with the added notation there makes it likely this might have been a recent condition. Still that is a odd notation to put down if not to try to give some indication that perhaps Nancy Cox was the "actual" head oc household.

I will be touching more on the this family in the next post.

Descendants of Cornelius Whittington Killed In September 11th Terrorist Attack -Leslie Whittington and Family

This is tragic.

Her family line is

John Whittington, b. 1724, Albemarle county, Virginia, USA
Mother Sarah Woodroffe, b. Abt 1724, Surrey county, Virginia, USA ,


Cornelius Whittington, b. 24 Apr 1749, Albemarle county, Virginia, USA , d. Aft 27 Nov 1837, Liberty, Amite county, Mississippi, Mother - Rebecca (possibly a Gilliam but not the Gilliam that many Genealogies have posted in error)


Moses Whittington, b. Abt 1788, Georgia, USA , d. 1850, ? Amite county, Mississippi Mother Elizabeth Jenkins, b. Abt 1789, Amite county, Mississippi, USA ,




William Judson Whittington,b. 16 Mar 1818, Rankin or Amite cty, Mississippi, d. 16 Apr 1891, Gloster, Amite county, Mississippi - Mother -Permilia Eveline "Eveline" Bolin, b. 1 Jan 1822, Jefferson county, Mississippi, d. 4 May 1887, Liberty, Amite county, Mississippi, USA


Thomas Lawrence "Tommie" Whittington,   b. 1 Aug 1858, Amite county, Mississippi, ,   d. 8 Apr 1935, Gloster, Amite county, Mississippi,  other was Olive A. Thompson    b. Jun 1869, Rodney, Mississippi, USA    d. Apr 1905, Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA

Thomas Monroe Whittington, b. 17 Nov 1901, Lexington, Holmes county, Mississippi,  , d. 20 Jul 1985, Lubbock, Texas, USA
Mother Hallie Marie Hobbs, b. 13 May 1902, Waco, McLennan county, Texas,  , d. 31 Aug 1983, Denver, Colorado, 

 Dr. H.G. Whittington and the now  Ruth Koch


From the Pentagon Memorial Site:

Charles Falkenberg, his wife Leslie Whittington, and their daughters, Zoe and Dana Falkenberg, were killed on September 11, 2001, when terrorists crashed their plane into the Pentagon. They lived in University Park, Maryland and were on their way to Australia, where Leslie planned to work for a few months at the Australian National University in Canberra. 

Leslie, 45, was an Associate Professor of Public Policy and an Associate Dean at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She was known for her excellent teaching and organizational skills, her wit and her research on economic issues affecting children and families. Leslie was equally admired for her work in the PTA, neighborhood babysitting co-op and other volunteer endeavors. Before going to Georgetown University, she served as an assistant professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado in 1984. 

Charles, 45, was a gifted software engineer and scientist. An expert in developing software for scientific data management, he managed NASA-related databases and served as director of research for ECOlogic of Lanham, Maryland. He was known by colleagues and friends as a devoted father, community activist and energetic volunteer for the PTA and Adelphi Dolphin Swim Club. Charles graduated at the top of his class, with B.S. and M.S. degrees, from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he had served as a faculty research scientist. 

Charles and Leslie were married in 1984 in Denver, where they had graduated from East High School. Zoe, 8, and Dana, 3, were at the center of their lives. Known for her determination, intelligence and ambition, Zoe was a top student at University Park Elementary School. She was active in Girl Scouts, ballet and swim team. She appeared in the school’s production of “Brigadoon” and a local production of “The King and I.” She was greatly loved by her friends, teammates, teachers and her friends’ parents. 

Dana was a robust, curly-haired girl, who was seen as a miracle by her parents. She was intense, funny and a charmer. She celebrated her third birthday on July 21, 2001 with her Falkenberg grandparents; her Grandfather Falkenberg shares the same birth date. 

The girls were the adored focus of their grandparents, aunts and uncles. They were nurtured by their community, their nannies Sola Adeyale and Gloria Henry, and by the teachers of Greenwood Nursery School and University Park Elementary School. 

Charles was the son of Janis and Bill Falkenberg of Denver. His sister is Ruth Falkenberg, also of Denver; his brother, Chris, preceded him in death. Very special family members are Anne Mansfield and Kathy McCarthy. 

Leslie was the daughter of Ruth Koch and longtime stepfather George Koch of Athens, Georgia. Her father is Dr. H.G. Whittington of Houston, Texas. Her surviving siblings are Kirk Whittington of Atlanta, Georgia, and Sarah Guest of Watkinsville, Georgia. Her brother, Greg Whittington, died in 1991. Her half brothers are Michael and Alex Whittington; her stepbrothers are Eric and Jonathan Koch. Her stepsisters are Sara Kochav and Amy Hamilton. She also left loving aunts, uncles, cousins and spouses of siblings. 

Charles and Leslie were hard-working professionals who lived their belief that families come first. All four family members were talented, beautiful people who loved life and other people. They were anticipating their adventure in Australia and their return to a new house in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Their future looked so bright.

There is another article here at Remembering economist Leslie Whittington from CNN

Here is another article that gives more background on the family
Whittington was born in Topeka and lived in Lawrence from 1958 to 1964, Koch said. Her father, H.G. Whittington, was a psychiatrist at Kansas University's Watkins Health Center, and then director of the Bert Nash Mental Health Clinic. He now lives in Houston.
Whittington went to Centennial through fourth grade. She then moved to Denver, where she graduated from high school.

Things You Learn In Genealogy - Matches Were Not Cheap

I am a history buff which of course just fuels my genealogy obsession. It's amazing what one learns everyday. I think at some point  in high school every teacher should have each of their students do a year long genealogy project on their family. They will learn more history ( and perhaps develop a love of it) than any other activity.

I am trying to track down the ever  so elusive Winfield Nelson. He was the brother of  my Great (3) Grandfather James Benjamin Nelson. You can read about them here

The person that wrote that article is Joe Hoff Who lives in the New Orleans area . His is still alive , is over 90 , and  till has a REMARKABLE mind that recalls everything. I talked to him tonight. I told him I believe that he and my grandmother are the only cousin left of that generation.

I am hoping that the descendants of Winfield Nelson might be able to shed light on the what I believe to be Ireland origins of the Nelson family. He told me Winfield had a daughter that married a Parker in amite and in fact that family stayed on the original Winfield Nelson land for a very long time.

While researching Parkers of Amite I found this interesting story about some Parkers in Alabama.:

As a child, I would go to Cullman two or three times a year. There
were a few country stores, but they were widely scattered. I can recall
carrying ten dozen eggs to Bremen and getting 6 cents per dozen for them.
I can well recall how scarce matches were when I was a young man.
A little box of about twenty five sulphur matches cost 10 cents. People
kept some fire in their homes all summer long so as to save the cost
of matches. My grandfather, Thomas Barton Parker, boasted shortly
before his death at the age of 93 that he not only never bought a
match but he never had struck one, either.
When Grover Cleveland was president, I homesteaded 160 acres of
land. It was the south half of the ne quarter, and the north
half of the se quarter of section 34, township 12, range 5 in
Cullman County, Alabama. I still own this land.
My grandfather was Thomas Barton Parker. He and my grandmother
Barbara Childers Parker, moved here from York District.

How interesting. I never knew that.

Mt Olive Methodist Church Franklin County Mississippi - The Church That Benjamin Drake Nelson Built

Benjamin Drake Nelson, Ira A. Jenkins, Dora Lillian 

NelsonNote: Dora Lillian JENKINS Nelson. Photo contributed by Joseph Hoff. Submitted by Frances Phrares.

I found this sketch on a Franklin County Mississippi genealogy web site.The site has not been updated in quite a while so I am copying it in full in case it disappears. There is a good bit of important information that relates to more than just my Great (2) Grandfather. Benjamin Nelson ( married to Dora "Jenkins " Nelson).

Before getting to my own Great (2) Grandparents a little Clan house keeping. The article mentions several important items. and names about families from which I am a direct descendant from. That is the Causey and Whittington families. This sketch is also helpful in giving us clues about the some of the various religious influences on the two families which I intend to write in much detail later.

From the Sketch we learn the Missionary Baptist Church , which the Methodist were allow to use some before the building of Mt Olive, we see this:

Some of the charter members of the Baptist church were Mr. Madison
Whittington, who was clerk of the church. Uncle Matt as he was usually
called was Horace Whittington's grand father. Other members were: Mr.
William Smith, Ned Smith's grandfather, William Causey, their families and
others.

 
Mr Madison Whittington is the great grandson of Richard Whittington who was the brother of my Great (7) Grandfather Cornelius Whittington Sr. That of course would make him the direct descendant of my Great (8 ) Grandparents John Whittington, Jr. and Sarah Woodroffe.

Important info on other Methodist Whittington's are mentioned. My line descending from Cornelius has a very "Baptist" flair to say the least .Though as we shall see in a later post Methodism makes a rather strong presence there as to his some of his descendants..

The William Causey there mention is "possibly" the son of my Great Grandfather William Causey Sr by his first marriage but it is far more likely it is his grandson. I will attempt to nail that down. However there is little doubt he is a direct descendant of the William Causey Sr. As I mentioned, much more on these family dynamics in a latter post.

Now to my Great (2) Grandfather that is mentioned in this sketch:

..This weakened the Baptist membership, and the Methodist grew in number
and continued their worship in this church until the middle 1880's when they
felt the need of an organized and established Methodist church.

My grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Seale deeded enough land including a
lovely spring of water for a Methodist church building.

Three trustees were appointed to have a contractor hired and the church
built. These trustees were: Messers: Henderson Parker, Sr., Bob and
Russel Smith's grandfather, John Huff, Mr. Dolph Huff's father, and Stephen
Wilkinson. These trustees hired Mr. Bennie Nelson from Amite Co.,
Bewelcome community to build the church with the men of the community
helping him.

The heart weather boarding was dressed by hand, the boards were rove
and splintered by hand until they resembled heart shingles.

In 1889 my father, the late Dougle Elijah Seale who lived near Gloster
rode horseback to his mother's home near the church and gave several days
work on the church helping Mr. Nelson who was staying at my grandmother's
home, board given free, they finished the church....

My Great ( 2) Grandfather Benjamin Drake Nelson was the son of of my  Nelson Immigrant ancestor  Great (  3 ) Grandfather James Benjamin Nelson and his first wife my Great ( 3) Grandmother Lavisa Cassels Collinsworth ( she was widowed), the daughter of Great (4)  Rueben Cassell and Mary Sojourner.

My connection is  thus to these Nelsons is :  (5 ) "Mom (4) Myrtle Ruth "Nelson" Shepherd  (3 ) Hamilton Burton Nelson Sr (2) Benjamin Drake Nelson.(1) James Benjamin Nelson ( The Immigrant)

James Benjamin Nelson was a master builder and many of his buildings stand today in Mississippi and no doubt parts of Louisiana too. It is a goal of mine to obtain as many pictures of these buildings from the past and present as I can. We might not get to talk to James Benjamin Nelson today but his work , his craft can perhaps speak to us about him. On that note through the Mississippi Methodist Church web page it appears that Mt Olive Methodist Church is still in operation. I hope and pray the original building is  still standing. I intend to contact this Church this week and try to obtain photographs and other details this week. When I get such information I will update this post.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MT. OLIVE METHODIST CHURCH

Franklin County - Brookhaven District - Mississippi Conference - Edited 1966

The origin and beginning of the Mt. Olive Methodist Church in 1889
eleven miles South of Meadville, Miss. the County seat of Franklin County.

In the early 1850's or before a heart pine weather boarded Missionary
Baptist Church was built across the road north west of where Mt. Olive
Methodist Church now stands.

This church was about 20 by 30 ft. with one front door, and two windows
with shutters on the East side, in later years, the church being so dark in
cold weather, a large glass window with twelve panes was placed in the West
side. The building was heated by a chimney made of dirt, a wooden frame was
built the shape they wanted the chimney to be and the frame was covered
inside and out with "mud cats" which were made of mud held together with
Spanish moss.

This chimney had a large fire place and hearth and was placed in the
North end of the building but it never gave out much heat and was soon
replaced with a brick flue and a metal cast-iron box heater.

This building was used by both Baptist and Methodist alternately but
the Methodist had Sunday School in it each Sunday they had preaching which
was usually once a month. The Methodist also had a Childrens Day program
once a year.

Some of the Methodist preachers who preached in this church were: W.
W. Simmons, W. W. Cammock, Newton Huff, Mr. Dolph Huff's grandfather, Rev.
Jagers and others.

Some of the Baptist ministers were: Moses Seale, my great grandfather,
Roland Wilkinson and others.

According to Mr. Nathan Bunekley in writing up his diaries and attending
this church commented, "I attended Mt. Olive Baptist church today and heard
a good sermon by the preacher." This was in 1855.

Some of the charter members of the Baptist church were Mr. Madison
Whittington, who was clerk of the church. Uncle Matt as he was usually
called was Horace Whittington's grand father. Other members were: Mr.
William Smith, Ned Smith's grandfather, William Causey, their families and
others.

Some of the Methodist who attended this church were Mr. Matt or Madison
Temple and family, grandfather of Mrs. Lizzie Sullivan. My grandfather
Elijah Seale and family. Uncle Hinds Whittington, John H Parkers
grandfather. The Jagers, Steele and Huff families.

There were several members of the Campbellite, Mormans and Primitive
Baptist in the community, but were not allowed to preach in this church.

Some of the Methodist who attended this church had their membership in
old Mt. Vernon church that stood near the Homochitto River in the lower part
of the now Homochitto Community going there once a month on horse back for the roads were merely widened trails and almost impassable at times.

Other Methodist members had their membership in Salem Methodist in
Amite County because they had relatives near this church and in visiting them, attended church at Salem. Among these were my grandparents, Elijah and Elizabeth McMillian Seale who later deeded the land for the present Mt.
Olive church. The Whittington and Wilkinsons also attended were charter
members of Old Salem Church.

As time rolled along changes came about by older members passing on,
the civil war days and years, and people moving away to schools and churches closer and of their choice.

This weakened the Baptist membership, and the Methodist grew in number
and continued their worship in this church until the middle 1880's when they
felt the need of an organized and established Methodist church.

My grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Seale deeded enough land including a
lovely spring of water for a Methodist church building.

Three trustees were appointed to have a contractor hired and the church
built. These trustees were: Messers: Henderson Parker, Sr., Bob and
Russel Smith's grandfather, John Huff, Mr. Dolph Huff's father, and Stephen
Wilkinson. These trustees hired Mr. Bennie Nelson from Amite Co.,
Bewelcome community to build the church with the men of the community
helping him.

The heart weather boarding was dressed by hand, the boards were rove
and splintered by hand until they resembled heart shingles.

In 1889 my father, the late Dougle Elijah Seale who lived near Gloster
rode horseback to his mother's home near the church and gave several days
work on the church helping Mr. Nelson who was staying at my grandmother's
home, board given free, they finished the church.

The by laws and constitution and organization of the church were drawn
up by Rev. W. W. Cammock who was a missionary to the Choctaw Indians, and Rev. W. W. Simmons, his father-in-law and the church was named Homochitto Chapel, but always went by the name of Mt. Olive, since the Baptist deeded or gave their old church to the neighborhood for a school building and its name was Mt. Olive.

Now the new church had to be furnished and since Mr. Henderson Parker
had his own saw mill and was a cabinet maker he made the pulpit stand and
secretary as it was called then, this stand held the church and Sunday
School record books, the little Methodist hymnals (song books) with no
notes, a church discipline, our little and few Sunday School books and a
large Bible that the ladies Aid Society, now W. S. C. S. bought, along with
a ceiling China lamp that hung in front of the pulpit stand, a beautiful
Fostoria pattern glass water pitcher and two glasses, two collection plates,
a felt tablecloth for the beautiful round table, that Mr. Parker made.
Uncle Hen Parker, as he was affectionately called, made two stands in harmony with the pulpit stand and placed them permanently (we thought) on each side of the pulpit stand and the one on the right was used for the pitcher and glasses, the one on the left was used mostly for a "pull up" into the pulpit
by the preacher. Flowers were placed there at times but seemed to be in the
way. These stands were taken away by a "destroyer" who also broke up the
lamp and other furnishings of the church. Yes, all has not been smooth
sailing with the old church, for Satan loomed big at times, so much so until
he asked, "Why have a church lets moved it to Meadville" and many of its
records also were destroyed. But thanks to the ever faithful few, and our
Heavenly Father old Mt. Olive still stands and I'll be ninety-seven years
old when it will be 100, and I hope to be there to celebrate.

In some humble way lets honor Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Seale for making it
possible for the community to have a place of worship.

She is buried between her husband, Elijah Seale and her son William
Joseph Seale in the Elijah Seal Cemetary on the Dougle E. Seale home place
about 1/4 mile North East of the church.

Written July 15, 1966 by
Mrs. Claude Seale Parker of Liberty, Miss.

I have written the above as accurately as I remember it being told to me by my parents, grandmother, and others, then we have one of Mr. Nathan Bunckley's diaries that was given us that I got data from.

I went to my first Sunday School there in 1896. Mr. Lamar Stokes was
Sunday School Supt. but said he was too young for the place and gave it up
to my father Dougle E. Seale who was Supt. for many years. Then the
conference appointed Mr. Stokes after my father's health failed, and he
resigned. In 1910 Mr. Stokes resigned as Sunday School Supt. and Mr. C. S.
Temple was appointed and was Supt. when I left the community in 1915.

The big Bible wasn't used much except it was placed open on the pulpit
stand and the preacher placed his open Bible upon it, or a written sermon
sometimes. I'm so glad for the interest shown it in having it repaired.

Webmaster's note: I have no idea where I got this!  If anyone knows, please let me know so I can give them credit for the contribution!

Cornelius Whittington' s Wife Is not Rebecca Gilliam

Cornelius Whittington is my Great ( 7 ) Grandfather.

My connection starting with my mother is : (8) "Mom" (7) Myrtle Ruth "Nelson" Shepherd , (6) Hamilton Burton Nelson Sr, (5) Dora "Jenkins" Nelson, (4) Ira Allen Jenkins (3)Stacy "Whittington" Jenkins, (2)James Whittington (1)Cornelius Whittington.

Thankfully we know a good bit about Cornelius through some ample records. However in almost every genealogy I have encountered a major mistake regarding his wife , and thus that line of direct ancestors, is made.

Here is typical of what we encounter:
Cornelius Whittington (son of John Whittington, Jr. and Sarah Woodroffe) was born April 24, 1749 in Albemarle Parish, Sussex Co. Virginia, and died March 29, 1835 in Liberty, Amite Co. Mississippi. He married Rebecca Gilliam on 1774 in South Carolina, daughter of Burrell Gilliam and Anne Johnson.

We know for a fact he married a Rebecca.

In fact with all the Gilliams in the area it could have been a Rebecca Gilliam though I can't recall seeing that Gilliam name mentioned in documents.

I have to research this but I highly suspect this error might have started from the book  "Genealogy of Wilkinson and Kindred Families" which while containing some important information on various branches of  my family also contains some whoppers of misinformation as it gets further back up the various branches.

However the evidence shows that he could NOT have been married to a Rebecca Gilliam daughter of Burrell and Anne as they are shown in most genealogies.This online genealogy is typical of what we see.

Children of Burrell Gilliam and Anne Johnson are:

1. Patty Gilliam, b. November 25, 1746, Albemarle Co. Virginia.

2. Franky Gilliam, b. October 22, 1747, Albemarle Co. Virginia.

3. William Gilliam, b. October 11, 1749, Albemarle Co. Virginia.

4. Anne Gilliam, b. March 03, 1752, Albemarle Co. Virginia.

5. +Rebecca Gilliam, b. November 23, 1754, Albemarle Co. Virginia, d. 1831, Liberty, Amite Co. Mississippi.

6. Moses Gilliam, b. November 17, 1756, Albemarle Co. Virginia.

7. Miles Gilliam, b. February 21, 1759, Albemarle Co. Virginia.

8. Wyatt Gilliam, b. April 06, 1762, Albemarle Co. Virginia.

The following Will of Rebecca Gilliam's father  will show the above list of kids  is largely correct (besides Rebecca dying in Amite) and at the same time proves the Rebecca Gilliam mentioned cannot be the Rebecca married to Cornelius Whittington.

Will of Burrell GILLIAM 
(NOTE NANCY IS HIS SECOND WIFE)

Dated 13 Nov 1799, Presented Sep Court 1800

Lend my beloved wife Nancy GILLAM all my estate both real and personal, all debts due me and whatever money may be found belonging to me also my stock, household goods, etc. untill [sic] my son Adams GILLAM arrives to the age of 21. my sd son to be supported and educated out of the profits of sd. estate.to Adams

4 of my likelyest negroes at wife’s death or marriage, should sd. son depart this life under age or without issue sd. negroes to be sold and money divided between my sd. wife and Patty Folks, Franky Gale, William and Moses GILLAM, Nancy Norwood, Rebecca Alley, Wiatt GILLAM and my grandson Burrell GILLAM, the son of Wiatt GILLAM. my personal estate to go to my sd. wife and my children aforementioned.

Extrs. Benjamin Lashley and Benjamin Adams and Nancy GILLAM.

Wits. Benjamin Edwards, Richard P______, Isaac Edwards, Willis Maclin

Note: this Will being contested the Jury upon their Oaths do say it is a good Will.

Will Book 482, Page 207, Northampton County, NC

28 Jan 1807

Will of Miles Alley

In the name of God amen, I Miles Alley of the county of Brunswick in VA do make and ordain this my last will and testament and with what wordly goods it has pleased God to bestow on me in this life to dispose of in

manner and form following:

Item.. I give and bequeath unto my son Herbert the negroes and stock he has now in his possession and their increase to

him and his heirs forever.

Item.. I give and bequeath unto my son James all the land now in my possession to him and his heirs forever. Item..

I give and bequeath to my daughter Lucy the negroes and their increase to her and her heirs forever.

Item.. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary two negroes namely Jim and Chloe and their increase to her and her

heirs forever.

Item.. I lend to my loving wife Rebecca three negroes namely Cate, Peggy and Harry during her natural life or widowhood also one bed lent her return to my children or their heirs.

Harry to my son Herbert, Peggy to my son James and Cate to my daughter Mary and the bed and furniture to James son Miles to them and their heirs.

Item.. I give and bequeath to James' son Miles one negroe girl Cinthy and her increase to him and his heirs forever...

I give and bequeath unto Herbert's son John one negroe girl Juley and his increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item.. I give and bequeath unto Dorothy Pearson thenty five pounds VA money to be raised out of my son Herbert's portion. If she dies without lawful issue of her body my desire is that the money return to my children and equally divided among them.

Item.. My wish and desire is that at my death all my stock or property that is not given or lent of every kind be sold and the money put out on interest and my wife to have the interest as neccisity reguires it and after be equally divided between four of my children namely Herbert, James, Lucy and Mary to them and their heirs forvever.

Item.. I have given my daughter Mason Williams on all___except five shillings___.

I do make this my last will and testament revoking all others by me before made. In witness where of I have herewith set my hand and seal this 28th day of January 1807

Sig: Miles [his X mark] Alley.

Brunswick County, Will Book, Page 265

[Miles is involved in several land transactions in Northampton County, NC with the Reavis family. It is believed that Edward Reavis first married Hannah Alley and then secondly Sarah GILLIAM.
Miles’ wife Rebecca is Rebecca GILLIAM, the daughter of Burrell GILLIAM. See Will of Burrell GILLIAM. Herbert Alley had out of wedlock a daughter Tabitha G. Alley with Dorothy Pearson, hence the provision in Miles’ Will. In 1850 Dorothy Pearson is living with Tabitha G. who has married Logan Gray. Among Tabitha’s and Logan’s children are Rebecca GILLIAM Gray and Miles Alley Gray.]

While no doubt the Whittington family  knew a Burrell Gilliam  ,since we know he is listed as a Godparent, it is clear that this Rebecca Gilliam cannot be Cornelius's wife.More research needs to be done here on his wife..


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So Let's Begin

A little introduction here in my very first post.

I have now got to the point where I need to get the data I am have learned about my various ancestors into some written form. I am planning to start Part I of a series of "books" or publications on my family . My research is still continuing and in fact the need to put it out there for input/information sharing is one reason also I am starting this blog. (My main  non genealogy blog is here by the way.).

The blog is sort of blah looking right now,  but I will be adding a series of links relating to the ancestors I am writing about as well as just genealogy links of interest. So hopefully the appearance of this blog will go rapidly  from rather generic looking to some more pleasant to the eye as well.


In attempting discover who my ancestors were  I will attempt to  engage their  story. That is  their jobs, their political surrounding ,their religion , their hopes, their dramas etc that all made them , and thus me to various degrees, what they were as a person and a family. One reason I am writing this blog is an attempt to put this in interesting narrative that is not just a series of dates and places repeated for 50 pages.

So not only will this be a genealogy blog  but all those topics and more will be explored.

The first few months of this blog will no doubt be exploring some of the following lines of my direct ancestors. ( though this list is not by any means exhaustive) .

These at first will be of my  Great Grandfather through through my mothers Maternal line . That is Hamilton Burton Nelson Sr and ,lines  including but  not limited too :  Cassell ,  Causey , Cox , ,Glanton, Gilliam, Jackson, Jenkins, Murrah, Nelson, Richardson ,,Sojourner.  Whittington, and other lines that hopefully will develop.


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Those lines of my  Great Grandmother through my mother's paternal line,  That is Pallie Wigley,  including but not limited too: Boykin, Deloach, Flake, Gwaltney,  Harthcock , Killebrew, Martin, Marriott,  Ruffin, Tolar, Warren, Wigley, Zeigler  ,and others  some waiting to be explored.
 

Please to look to the tags in the sidebar as family names and topics develop.

These lines are very Southern. They go from the early days of the Jamestowne Settlement and other parts of Colonial Virgina to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia , the early Territory days of Mississippi, to Louisiana , Arkansas , Texas and beyond. A few lines appears to have been also in Tennessee and perhaps one significant line (Causey) might have had his Immigrant American start in Maryland.

These families, the figures the associated with, the wars they were in , the various locales they lived shall be explored here too. It should be noted for African Americans that happen upon this blog I will make some effort to keep track of Slaves that were linked to my family also.