Who were the Anderson's that your speaking of? Mesheka@aol.com wrote: > Dear Listers: > > I have already sent this to every surname mentioned in this to a Rootsweb > Surname List...so please do not forward it to a Rootsweb list. In addition, > I have also sent it to all surrounding counties that have mail lists on > Rootsweb... > > I am looking for information on my great-great grandfather. > > The story that my family has heard all of our lives is that he originated > from IRELAND with his brother, and arrived in BOSTON. He wound up fighting > for the North in the Civil War (supposedly with Sherman), making his way down > to SOUTH GEORGIA. He lost his leg, and somehow wound up at my great-great > grandmother's door in WAYNE COUNTY, (HORTENSE), GEORGIA as a very sick man. > We do not know if he deserted from perhaps BLACKSHEAR'S PRISON CAMP, > ANDERSONVILLE, or just made a run for it on SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA. It > is said that he and another Irish man, who was also a Union Soldier showed up > asking for help. My great-great grandmother was SIDNEY PEARSON MOODY, a > widow who had four? children. > > Sidney was the daughter of SIDNAH RAULERSON (daughter of JACOB RAULERSON and > NANCY BAGGS), and SAMUEL PEARSON. Sidney's previous husband was SAMUEL > MOODY. Three of their children that I definitely know of were: DAVID BARNEY > MOODY, JOHN MARTIN MOODY, and MARY JANE MOODY...there is said to be another > one by the name of CHARLES EDWIN... > > Anyway, because it wasn't proper to be caring for a man in her house, they > were married in Wayne County on March 22, 1868. They proceeded to have three > children of their own: THOMAS (TOM) who never married because his > "sweetheart" was killed in an accident, MARIETTA (SIS) who married J.N. > ANDERSON and they had no children, and my great-grandfather, LEWIS PRESLEY > who married ELIZA STRICKLAND and they had several children to include: > BAZELEAR (BAZE), CALLIE, my grandmother, ALICE (who married HENDERSON DAVIS), > and MAZELLE, etc. > > Here is my problem: My great-great grandfather changed his name from > something Irish to MANNING because there were already so many MANNINGS in > that area. It is my belief that maybe he deserted, or he just wanted to fit > in due to being an Irish Catholic, as well as a Union Soldier! On he and > Sidney's marriage certificate, he used the name MANNING. In addition, all of > the children above used the name MANNING. His friends and family called him > JIM or PEG-LEG, as he did get a wooden leg. > > My great-aunt CALLIE said that she believed someone in the MOODY family > (probably one of SIDNEY'S previous children with SAMUEL) had in their > possession one time -- a trunk that contained his Union uniform, and > pertinent documents relating to his Irish heritage. I am DESPERATELY seeking > this information, as it is very difficult to search for our roots in IRELAND > when we don't know what his real name was!!! > > According to the PIONEER'S OF WIREGRASS GEORGIA, and the LDS FILE -- my > great-great grandfather is reported to be the son of MARY ANN BURNEY and JOHN > MANNING, who had sons named JAMES and LEWIS P. MANNING. Coincidentally, my > great-great grandfather named my great grandfather, LEWIS PRESLEY. In > addition, their JAMES MANNING lost his leg as a Confederate Soldier...and > according to their JAMES' pension file...their birthdates are practically the > same! However, the date on the pension record for their JAMES states that he > collected up until February 1895. On my great-great grandfather's headstone, > it says he died in 1893. Also, according to the LDS FILE -- their JAMES died > in 1916. > > I do know that Huxford's books do have errors in them, as they have my great > grandfather LEWIS married to someone named ELISHA KNIGHT. I have never heard > of her; he was DEFINITELY married to ELIZA STRICKLAND and they are both > buried in the HORTENSE CEMETERY with their children! In addition, my > great-great grandfather JAMES, and his wife, SIDNEY are both buried in the > RAULERSON CEMETERY. I do not know why she was not buried with her first > husband, SAMUEL MOODY. > > It was always said that my great-great grandfather, JAMES, named my mother's > mother, ALICE ANNIE -- because he had lived on the corner of ALICE and ANNIE > STREETS in BOSTON. In addition, my great grandfather (LEWIS P. MANNING), was > married after my great grandmother died, to ETHEL JOHNSON...and their > youngest son is named JAMES MANNING and he is still alive. He was named after > his grandfather, and he too, has always heard he was from Ireland. > > Supposedly, my great-great grandfather named my great aunt BAZELEAR (BAZE) > from the Bible...well, in the King James version...there is no such name; > however, it is possibly in an Irish Catholic Bible. > > My mother is adamant that they always visited their kinfolk when she was > growing up (she was born in ZIRCLE and raised in HORTENSE)...and that they > never visited the MANNINGS...and that she was even told by a doctor with the > name MANNING who belonged to that family -- that they were no relation. > > I have heard from several people via the Internet who tell me I am wrong and > that my great-great grandfather was indeed the son of JOHN MANNING and MARY > ANN BURNEY. If this is true -- then my grandfather must have done something > terribly wrong to make up a tale like that and for he and SIDNEY to never > reveal the truth to their children or grandchildren! > > So, I am looking for the elusive trunk that had his history in it. I have > looked in vain for family Bible's, birth and death certificates or even > obituary notices of his children that might have mentioned his real last name > or that he was from Ireland. > > I am tired of hitting this brick wall -- I want to know once and for all, > what his REAL name was; thereby, I am offering a REWARD for VERY DEFINITE AND > AUTHENTICATE PROOF of who my great-great grandfather really was... > > I would appreciate that if you respond to this notice -- PLEASE do so > privately, to Mesheka@aol.com. > > Thanks for your assistance. > > ==== ANDERSON Mailing List ==== > You can locate many other ANDERSON family researchers by going to this link and searching on ANDERSON at <a href="http://rsl.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/rslsql.cgi"> Rootsweb Surname List (RSL)</A>