I know many of you on the Jackson Co FL list can help with this.... Betty Subj: 1870's Jackson County Date: 03/09/2002 6:00:20 PM Eastern Standard Time From: [email protected] (Nancy Compton) To: [email protected] Greetings From Idaho! My name is Nancy L. Compton and I live in Boise, Idaho. I am researching my great-grandfather's family name of Watford, Wadford. I've searched the 1870 and 1880 censuses and noted many Wat(d)fords having lived in Jackson County, Florida during those times. These families are related, however, after years of research, I've found no proof or disproof that my family belongs to this group. To give you a history: My great-grandfather, William Henry Whadford (Wadford/Watford) was born on September 15, 1862 in Newton, Dale County, Alabama. The story of his family and ancestors he passed to future generations has been most confined. Someone within the family now supposed his folks migrated by wagon from South Carolina. Watford trails are from North and South Carolinas to southeastern Alabama; some went to Florida and then Texas. This was a confirmed trail for many Watfords heading west. My g-grandfather lived out his life in Paonia, Colorado and is buried there, to which I'm a native. His story was he was orphaned at the age of 2 years when his people died in a "plague". Supposedly, his family traveled by houseboat(?) to visit relatives and everyone was found dead on the houseboat except him. After a couple of days, he was discovered and sent to live with an uncle in Florida, but ran away with cousins when he was a young boy (possibly 11 or 12?) and they ended in Texas with another uncle. Hearsay is that his Florida uncle had a son the same age and was lazy and later joined The John Phillips Sousa Marching Band. It's anyone's guess if any of this is true. The first trace I can find of him is his first marriage in Texas in 1885. The first census I found that lists him is Colorado's 1910 census. He states that he was indeed born in Alabama, as well as his unknown father; his unknown mother is listed as being born in Florida. That census also states he is a "survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy". Of course, it's not possible that he himself had fought. The Colorado 1920 census lists his birthplace as Alabama and both his parents having been born in North Carolina. I also discovered he was illiterate and my great-grandmother taught him to read simple words and write his name. Water travel from Henry County, (home to many Wat(d)fords) Ala. to Jackson County could easily be feasible on the Chattahoochee River. I gather they were not "church-mouse" poor as some Watfords were listed in the 1860 census as having real and personal property. Were personal houseboats common and frequently used? I have an internet map of Jackson County around 1895 and I am curious to learn if anything is known about the Watfords Florida settlements and/or cemetery. I briefly reviewed the censuses, however they were only able to loosely point a few locations. Would you please direct me to where I can find this information? I'm also curious about these old families names associated with Watford/Wadfords: Askew Baxley Mixon Newton Taylor Tindell Windham Watson Register The Wat(d)fords and the above families frequently intermarried. I'm sorry to have overwhelmed you, but thank you for your patience and time to read this e-mail. I know there are answers to this 140 year old mystery. History time-line wise, 140 years was not that long ago. I'm chasing every tidbit that comes along and I would so greatly appreciate any direction you can give me. Thank you and I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon! Very truly yours, Nancy L. Compton 12165 W. Bowmont Street Boise, Idaho 83713-6607 208-327-0782 [email protected]