ELMIRA PRISON, NEW YORK 1864 – 1865: THE SHAME OF THE UNION Edited by William B. Hesseltine Elmira was outside of New York City. It was only there for one year, yet it had the highest death rate, per capita, of any prison camp North or South. It is a shameful spot on American history. The vindictive U.S. commissary-general of prisoners & the camp's Chief Medical Officer, Col. William Hoffman, bragged in public, that he had killed more Confederate soldiers then any union soldier in the field. When a soldier dies in the field, that's war. When he dies this way, it's cold-blooded murder. After the war, the Yankees tried their best to keep the whole incident hidden from the public. They gave the Chief Medical Officer a promotion in rank and a medal for services rendered. Elmira had a death rate of 24 percent. The mad doctor and everyone associated with Elmira should have been tried for war Crimes. Official statistics for the worst six month period at Elmira: Month Prisoners Sick Dead September 9,480 563 385 October 9,441 640 276 November 8,258 666 207 December 8,401 758 269 January 8,602 1,015 285 February 8,996 1,398 426 Elmira was on a 30-acre site, along the banks of the Chemung River. A one-acre lagoon of stagnant water, called Foster's Pond, stood within the walls of the stockade. The lagoon was a backwash from the river and served as a latrine and garbage dump. Prison buildings were located on the high northern bank of the pond. The lower southern level, known to flood easily, later became a hospital area for hundreds of smallpox and diarrhea victims. Remember Foster's Pond, it will be important later in the story. A more unsanitary spot could not have been chosen. Elmira prison camp was established on May 15th, 1864, when Adjutant General E. D. Townsend reported several empty barracks could be used to house a large number of "rebels" recently captured. The buildings were to house as many as 10,000 men. Two barracks, "built to comfortably accommodate 3,000 troops without over crowding," had been set-aside for 4,000 prisoners. An additional 1,000 men could be quartered in tents on surrounding grounds. The Camp Bakery had adequate facilities for feeding 5,000 prisoners. No camp hospital existed, but tents were available for any men who might become ill. Not until two weeks before the first contingent of confederate prisoners arrived did Commissary General of Prisons William Hoffman point out again that as many as 10,000 prisoners might be sent to Elmira. Preparations were never made for more than 5,000 men. On June 30, 1864, Elmira was said to be ready to receive prisoners. Inside the fenced in area (known as "the pen") stood 35 two-story barracks, each of which measured 100 by 20 feet. Ceilings were barely high enough to accommodate two rows of crude bunks along the walls. Unsealed roofs characterized the wooden buildings. The floorings were of green lumber, without foundations, and had little resistance to wind and water. Behind the rows of barracks was a group of buildings converted into a dispensary, adjutant's office and guardrooms. To their rear, extending to the northern bank of Foster's Pond, were the cookhouses and mess halls. The first group of prisoners to arrive at Elmira quickly crowded t allotted barracks. Subsequent arrivals lived in "A" tents scattered around the prison area. At the time of their arrival, most prisoners were unaware of one last and deadly factor. Elmira was located in a region of New York State, where for at least four months of the year, the weather was bitterly cold. One prisoner from Virginia wrote the compound was, "An excellent summer prison for southern soldiers, but an excellent place for them to find their graves in the winter." The first contingent of prisoners arrived from New York by train. Prisoners were pleasantly surprised when sympathetic citizens, at many stops, distributed food and clothing to them. Yet, wrote one prisoner, "these agreeable incidents were occasionally diversified by the insults of some sleek non-combatant, whose valiant soul found congenial occupation in fearful threats of our indiscriminate massacre, if he could only lay hands on us." The first group reached Elmira at 6 am on July 6th and numbered 399 men - one soldier escaped enroute. The second group arrived early in the morning of July 11th, followed by 502 Confederates the following day. Before departing their earlier prison camps, the prisoners received vaccinations for smallpox. The injections were of poor quality vaccines, and seen on many arms "were great sores, big enough, it seemed, to put your fist in." On July 15th, an Erie Railroad train jammed with prisoners, collided with a freight train near the hamlet of Shohola. Forty-eight prisoners and seventeen guards were killed. 100 prisoners and eighteen guards were injured. The injured prisoners were put in wagons and transported to Elmira. Several days after the accident the Confederate prisoners still lay on the floors of the makeshift hospitals of Elmira, their wounds still untreated and clothing stuck fast to the dried blood of cuts and fractures. By the end of July, 4,424 prisoners were packed in the compound, with another 3,000 enroute. The total number leaped to 9,600 by mid-August. It took three hours to feed 10,000 men in shifts of 1,800 at a time. The camp commander complained of the over crowded conditions, and was told as long as the men got through their breakfast by 11 a.m., and dinner by 6 p.m., nothing more was necessary. The runoff and sewage going into Foster's Pond was beginning to have its effects on the prisoners. It was getting to be offensive to the nostrils and a danger to the health. One of the surgeons at the prison stated the case more pointedly. An average of 7,000 prisoners released daily over 2,600 gallons of urine - "highly loaded with nitrogenous material"- into Foster's Pond. Moreover, he noted, the pond received the contents of the sinks and garbage of the camp until it became so offensive that vaults were dug on the banks of the pond for sinks. Washington was notified as early as August 17; not until late October was permission received to use prisoner labor to dig drainage ditches to remove the water and it's rotting matter. By December the odor was gone, but by then scores of prisoners were down with disease. Housing was still a problem and getting worse. Less then a month after the camp opened, almost 10,000 Confederates were inside its crowded compound. Tents ran out on August 7; a new shipment arrived on August 12, but there weren’t enough of them. Hundreds of half-clothed prisoners had to sleep in the open, many of them without blankets. Late in November, a Medical Inspector pronounced the barracks to be "of green lumber, which is cracking, splitting, and warping in every direction." In a feeble effort to lessen the number of prisoners at Elmira, late in September, Washington issued a directive that prisoners physically unfit would be exchanged. The order stated that no Confederates would be shipped southward that were "too feeble to endure the journey." The Camp Commander was ordered to "have a careful inspection of the prisoners made by Medical Officers to select those who shall be transferred." On October 14, five Washington Surgeons examined the 1200 prisoners who arrived by train at the Capitol. Five had died en route; scores of others were reported by one doctor as being "unable to bear the journey." The physical condition of many of these men, he added, "was distressing in the extreme, and they should have never been permitted to leave Elmira." By the time the train halted at the city point exchange base, forty men were reported dying and another sixty were reported as being "totally unfit for travel." Surgeon C.F.H. Campbell wrote a strong letter to Col. Hoffman: "these men are debilitated from long sickness to such a degree that it was necessary to carry them in the arms of attendants from the cars to the ambulances, and one man died in the act of being thus transferred." the spectacle, he concluded, was "disgraceful to all concerned." Despite an outcry that the deed showed "the grossest indifference on the part of the government" the Officers responsible for the prisoner transfer remained at their duties. The episode became one of the major marks against the prison it's occupants had dubbed "Hellmira." In the mean time, life at Elmira had become routine and, in most instances, revolting. Prisoners not packed in the flimsy barracks swarmed around the yards and vied for space within the few ragged tents. The first troops designated as guards at Elmira were Negroes who, one Georgia soldier sneered, "had been decoyed north and Organized into companies and regiments to guard their former masters." Units of the Veteran Reserve Corps, and New York state troops later became the provost guard. Late in July the prisoners underwent a unique indignity. A group of townspeople erected two observation platforms immediately outside the prison walls. For the nominal sum of 15 cents, spectators could observe the prisoners as they endured life inside the compound. Initially, one of the more pressing needs of the prisoners was for clothing. The cry for clothing brought an instantaneous response from southern families and friends. Yet Col. Eastman withheld issuance of the clothing until he could get permission for distribution from Col. Hoffman. The permission came in late August, but only clothing of the color of gray could be issued. Piles of clothing of other colors were burned. All but a few coats, shirts and pairs of trousers were destroyed. Winter struck early at Elmira. Prisoners lacking blankets and clad in rags collapsed in droves from exposure. By early December, 1,600 half naked men "entirely destitute of blankets," stood ankle-deep in snow to answer morning roll call. In the second week of December, the federal government issued clothing for 2,000 men to 8,400 confederates then quartered at Elmira. In January, Confederate authorities sent a shipment of cotton northward under a flag of truce, the proceeds, from the sale of the cotton, went to purchase clothing for the prisoners. If insufficient clothing, inadequate quarters, and the stench of disease-laden Foster's Pond were trying ordeals for the men, other factors taxed human endurance. High on the list were food rations. On August 18, in retaliation for the conditions in Southern prison camps, Col. Hoffman ordered prisoner rations restricted to bread and water. The results were, by late August, an epidemic of scurvy was in full force; on September 11, no less then 1,870 cases had been reported. In October the prisoners received a single small ration of fresh vegetables. Onions and potatoes, wrote a prison doctor, constituted three of every five rations for two weeks of that same month; then their distribution stopped. Not until December was the meager diet of bread and water supplemented with a meat ration. However, stated Captain Bennet Munger, a prison inspector, the meat was of such inferior quality that a quarter-beef weighing 92 pounds yielded but 45 1/2 pounds of meat, "when carefully taken off the bone." Men were dying of starvation at the rate of 25 a day. The prisoners turned to a large rat population that inhabitated the banks of Foster's Pond. Once, a small dog followed a wood cart into the compound. The dog was captured and slaughtered, and its carcass was hidden in the barrack rafters until dark. The prisoners were caught in the act of devouring their meal, and arrested by guards. Close on the heels of the scurvy epidemic came an even larger outbreak of diarrhea. Moreover, by November 1864, pneumonia had reached plague proportions. A month later dreaded smallpox came to Elmira and in it's first week struck 140 men and killed ten. Smallpox was ever-present thereafter. One prisoner wrote, "there is not a day that at least twenty men are taken out dead." Medical treatment of prisoners from the outset was bad, and it just got worse as time went on. As early as July 11, 1864 - five days after the arrival of the first group of prisoners, Surgeon Inspector C.T. Alexander reported, "I found the sick.... in no way suitably provided for except for shelter; diet not suitable; some without bed sacks; blankets scarce." On September 21, Ward Assistant Anthony Keiley wrote in his diary: "as I went over to the first hospital this morning early, there were 18 dead bodies lying naked on the bare earth. Eleven more were added to the list by half past eight o'clock." By November the death toll in the hospitals had reached 755 men. A large portion of mortalities stemmed from nearby Foster's Pond - which one observer described as being "green with putrescence, filling the air with its messengers of disease and death." At the rate of sickness then present, a Doctor informed Washington, "the entire command will be admitted to the hospital in less than a year and thirty-six percent will die." Washington ignored or denied repeated requisitions for badly needed medicines. An urgent request for straw on which the sick could lay was ignored. Hoffman turned down repeated requests to complete the ceilings and roofs on the hospital buildings without any reasons given. An official in the U.S. Sanitary commission was turned down flat when he asked permission to attend to the sick and dying. By late December at least 70 men were lying on the hospital floors because of a lack of beds and straw; another 200 diseased and dying men lay in the regular prisoner quarters because there was no room for them in the wards. As one guard wrote, "prisoners died as sheep with the Rot." A federal inspector wrote in October with a sense of relief, "The number of deaths this week is but 40." The number of sick and dead rose sharply at the end of 1864, when prisoners, fighting disease, filth and starvation, could not weather the bitter cold of a New York winter. The winter was so severe, and clothing so scarce, that prisoners stood in deep snow with only rags tied around their frozen and swollen feet to answer morning roll calls. Late in December, after repeated urgent pleas, Washington sent a few stoves to Elmira. There were two small stoves for each barracks, and a few for the men still housed in tents. Prisoners received small wood rations only at 8 am and at 8 pm. During the 12-hour intervals they had to get warm as best they could. Moreover, with an average of 200 men to a barracks, each stove therefore was the sole means of warmth for 100 men. Imagine, if you can, the weather 10 to 15 degrees below zero, 100 men trying to keep warm by one small stove. Each morning the men crawl out of their bunks (those that had bunks) shivering and half frozen to fight for a place by the warm stove. The sick and weak were literally left out in the cold. On the night of March 16, 1865, unusually hard rains caused the Chemung River to over run it's banks. Federals and Confederates alike hastily assembled crude rafts to evacuate prisoners from the smallpox hospital in the flats, and they did succeed in floating most of the sick to safety. Other prisoners crowded the upper stories of the barracks as icy water rose halfway up the first level. The camp's Col. Tracy reported jubilantly that the transfer of prisoners to high ground resulted "with but slightly increased loss of life." A month later General Lee surrendered at Appomattox, and the prisoners received much improved treatment, and were not guarded as closely. The paroling of Elmira's prisoners began late in May. Except for those still confined to the hospitals, the prison camp was vacant on July 5th, and ready for demolition a month later. The last prisoner, named Kistler, did not leave the hospital and start home until September 27, 1865. Elmira's death rate in March of 1865 was an average of sixteen Confederates a day. Of a total of 12,123 Confederate soldiers imprisoned at Elmira, 2,963 died of sickness, exposure, and associated causes. Of the survivors who stumbled forth from the stockade, an eyewitness made the observation; "I speak in all reverence when I say that I do not believe such a spectacle was seen before on earth... on they came, a ghastly tide, with skeleton bones and lusterless eyes, and brains bereft of but one thought, and hearts purged of but one feeling - the thought of freedom, the love of home." Today all that remains of Elmira is a well-kept cemetery. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.362 / Virus Database: 199 - Release Date: 05/07/2002

Darlene: You will want to check in Macon, Georgia which is in BIBB COUNTY. I looked in Macon County and there are no Stone Families in the 1900 Census, the first one after he was born. There are two Stone Families in the 1880 census. If you know his parents or siblings, I will check again. Davine ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 8:41 PM Subject: [GAMACON] Chesley Lelan Stone Born 1884 > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jd.2ADE/13688 > > Message Board Post: > > Hi, > > I am searching for information on Chesley Stone. I was told he was born in Macon. He died in KY. > > Thank you for any help you can provide. > > Darlene > > > > ==== GAMACON Mailing List ==== > Be sure to check the surrounding counties and also those Alabama Counties across the river. Many moved beteen the two states. > >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jd.2ADE/3285.1 Message Board Post: May have info regarding your Joseph Passmore. E-mail me direct if possible. Thanx! Gail at [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jd.2ADE/13688 Message Board Post: Hi, I am searching for information on Chesley Stone. I was told he was born in Macon. He died in KY. Thank you for any help you can provide. Darlene

THANK YOU for the additional info on Mrs. C. W. Lewis. The will help someone greatly. Your generosity is what makes this genealogy game work. Davine ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 11:35 AM Subject: [GAMACON] Charles Wheeler Lewis Family > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Surnames: LEWIS, BLACKWELL > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jd.2ADE/892.1 > > Message Board Post: > > On 6/17/1999 you posted the obituary of C.W. Lewis from 1903. His wife was identified simply as "Laura Elizabeth". Later, on 11/30/1999 C.T. Lewis listed info from Felton Cemetery on various LEWIS family members. > > I have evidence that the wife was Laura Elizabeth Blackwell, b. ca 1850 in N.C. dau of James L. Blackwell and Jane Elizabeth Long. The family is listed in 1870 census of Iredell Co., N.C. My grandmother visited her there in 1928. Will be glad to follow up with interested family members. > > > ==== GAMACON Mailing List ==== > "Not for fame or reward, not for place or rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity; but in simple obedience to duty as they understood it; these men suffered all, sacrificed all, dared all, - and died." > --Rev. Dr. Randolph McKim (inscription on Confederate soldiers monument, Arlington National Cemetery) > >

FYI: I found a book on ebay that has many of this surname, thought someone might be interested in it, it shows many full names and photos of the book, although it is too high for my pocket, it might help someone and not go to a collector that will only hoard the information. This is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1736638140 Hope it helps, Jamie

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: LEWIS, BLACKWELL Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jd.2ADE/892.1 Message Board Post: On 6/17/1999 you posted the obituary of C.W. Lewis from 1903. His wife was identified simply as "Laura Elizabeth". Later, on 11/30/1999 C.T. Lewis listed info from Felton Cemetery on various LEWIS family members. I have evidence that the wife was Laura Elizabeth Blackwell, b. ca 1850 in N.C. dau of James L. Blackwell and Jane Elizabeth Long. The family is listed in 1870 census of Iredell Co., N.C. My grandmother visited her there in 1928. Will be glad to follow up with interested family members.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Jd.2ADE/3361.3370 Message Board Post: my grand dad...Andrew Jackson Ammons "daddy jack" had a brother...he lived near Elba Alabama, Zion Chapel area...what are the years we're talling about here??? His dad was George Washington Ammons...

Katherine: Sorry, I had not heard of them leaving or why BUT it would havew been between 1850 & 1860. They are listed in the 1850 Macon Co., Ga. Census and in the 1852 Macon Co., Ga. Tax Digest owning quite a bit of land: 1845 Acres in the 2nd Dist. of Macon Co., including Lot No. 99 plus others not listed. 200 Acres being Lot 327/28th Dist. which would be southwest of Oglethorpe and near the Grangerville area. 160 Acres - Lot 55/9th Dist. of Union Co., Ga/. 160 Acres - Lot 81/7th Dist Gilmore Co., Ga. Davine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Katherine Ricker" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2002 10:46 AM Subject: [GAMACON] Helvingston > I have the Louise F. Hays book, "History of Macon County, Georgia," which mentions the Helvingston family in several places. I am trying to determine what happened to them--why they left Macon County (there has been a suggestion of an unfortunate occurrence) and where they went. > > Any help will be greatly appreciated. > > Thanking you, > > Katherine > > > > > > ==== GAMACON Mailing List ==== > "Not for fame or reward, not for place or rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity; but in simple obedience to duty as they understood it; these men suffered all, sacrificed all, dared all, - and died." > --Rev. Dr. Randolph McKim (inscription on Confederate soldiers monument, Arlington National Cemetery) > >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Jd.2ADE/13687.2.1 Message Board Post: It does and he's my father. But I'm also trying to find some of his family since he was adopted.

Katherine, I don't know if you have tried this, but I just did a google.com search for Helvingston, and received 2 pages of hits, mostly genealogical and military information...so if you haven't tried google, try it. Mildred

No, unfortunately I don't. But have you seen this--I believe Davine Campbell sent it to me originally-- Marriage Contract Macon County, Ga. Deed Book A Page 206 5-29-1858 Sumter Co., Ga. May 29, 1858 Marriage Contract Whereas, there is a MARRIAGE comtemplated to be between JOHN S. JONES of Macon Co., Ga. & MARTHA STEWART of Sumter Co., Ga. WHEREAS, Martha Stewart is now possessed in her own right, 7 slaves. [slaves named], also a bay mare ($125.00), a Buggy ($60-80) & Household and Kitchen furniture. Also having an Estate in Expectancy, coming to her from her Father, in case she is the survivor. 1st Part: John S. Jones [Groom to be] 2nd Part: Martha Stewart [Bride to be] 3rd Part: William W. Bryan, in trust for the above property. If John S. Jones survives Martha, he is to have at her death, a childs part of said property and the other portions to be equally divided between: William W. Bryan, Little J. Bryan, Martha Hill, wife of Caleb Hill and Elizabeth Bryan, children of the said Martha Stewart, and the children that may be born of the contemplated marriage. Wit: Nathan Bryan, Jr. Signed: John S. Jones Elihyu N. Waldrep Signed: Martha Stewart M. B. Smith, J.P. Signed: William W. Bryan Recorded: June 3, 1858, Jno. M. Greer, Clerk ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harriett Fuquay" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 8:21 PM Subject: [GAMACON] Martha Bryan > Hi Meredith > thanks for the reply about the Martha Bryan in the 1850 Macon Co., GA census. I must admit that I wondered about the difference in ages of William and Jesse. Could William have been from a previous marriage? Do you know who Martha's parents were? > > Since I last corresponded with you I have learned the following; > William Washington Bryan b 5 Dec 1832, d 24 Jul 1895 married Elizabeth T.A. McMurrain b 1831 in Bibb co GA-on 27 Jul 1851 in Sumter Co GA( have a copy of the marriage certificate). She was the d/o John McMurrian b in Greene Co,.Ga and Lydia Pool b 1795 in S.C. - info given to me by M K Harrison). > > Their children: > Bryan, John M. b abt 1852 GA > Martha E b abt 1854 GA > Washington b abt 1857 Ga > Mirabeau B. L. b Aug 1859 GA > Lydia Ann (Macinda) b abt 1861 GA > Jesse Harris b 1862 GA > William M b abt 1864 AL > Robert D b 10 Jul 1866, d 8 Nov 1866 > Phoeba A b 2 Jun 1869,marr Luther Welch > Minnie M b 1 May 1871, d 20 Dec 1873 > Elvira L b 18 Jul 1874, died Nov 1899 marr Joseph P Mott > > Jesse Harris Bryan married Mary Lucinda "Lula" Massey. Daughter of Green Massey and Joannah Hill.Green Massey and his brother Newton married sisters. Joannah and Julia Hill were the daughters of John Hill of Macon Co Ga lived to be 106 years old. Green Massey's sister married Owen Hill. > > My William W Bryan was in Coffee Co Al in 1860. There was another William W(right) Bryan in Pike Co Al at the same time. His wife was Elizabeth Curtis. William Washington Bryan and family were in Fort Perry ED#955, Marion Co Ga in 1870 and 1880. The name Mirabeau B.L. connects directly to the McMurrain. Elizabeth "Lizzie" had a brother named Mirabeau B. Lamar McMurrain who served in the Civil War. Her mother and one sister had the name Lydia, other sisters were Martha and Masilda(Macinda) and her father's name was John. > > I am actually trying to find the parents of William Washington Bryan. The closest I am able to come at this time is the son of the Simon Bryan who came to FL and died there in 1832. He died 11 Mar 1832 and my W. W. was born 5 Mar 1832, nine months after Simon's death. Not impossible for that to have happened. > > Any help and suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated as this is one big brick wall. > Thanks again > Harriett Fuquay > > > ==== GAMACON Mailing List ==== > If you want to unsubscribe, just send a message to [email protected] in the subject line type the word unsubscribe and nothing else. If your email program requires text in the body just type unsubscribe. >

I have the Louise F. Hays book, "History of Macon County, Georgia," which mentions the Helvingston family in several places. I am trying to determine what happened to them--why they left Macon County (there has been a suggestion of an unfortunate occurrence) and where they went. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanking you, Katherine

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jd.2ADE/13687.2 Message Board Post: There is a Cecil Youngblood in The Social Security Death Index who died in Dec 2001 in Butler, Taylor County, GA. Hope this helps.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Jd.2ADE/13687.1 Message Board Post: Please give a little more info on your Cecil Youngblood. Did he die in Macon Co., Ga.? Is he buried in Macon Co., Ga.? Did you attend the funeral? Do you know when he was born or how old he was when he died? Did he ever live in Macon County?

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cecil Youngblood Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Jd.2ADE/13687 Message Board Post: I'm looking for anyone who may be related or who had known Cecil Youngblood who recently died Dec 2001. I'm his middle daughter from his second marriage. If you might know his parents who had adopted him or maybe his real parents I would really appreciate it if you could give me some information on this.

Hi Meredith thanks for the reply about the Martha Bryan in the 1850 Macon Co., GA census. I must admit that I wondered about the difference in ages of William and Jesse. Could William have been from a previous marriage? Do you know who Martha's parents were? Since I last corresponded with you I have learned the following; William Washington Bryan b 5 Dec 1832, d 24 Jul 1895 married Elizabeth T.A. McMurrain b 1831 in Bibb co GA-on 27 Jul 1851 in Sumter Co GA( have a copy of the marriage certificate). She was the d/o John McMurrian b in Greene Co,.Ga and Lydia Pool b 1795 in S.C. - info given to me by M K Harrison). Their children: Bryan, John M. b abt 1852 GA Martha E b abt 1854 GA Washington b abt 1857 Ga Mirabeau B. L. b Aug 1859 GA Lydia Ann (Macinda) b abt 1861 GA Jesse Harris b 1862 GA William M b abt 1864 AL Robert D b 10 Jul 1866, d 8 Nov 1866 Phoeba A b 2 Jun 1869,marr Luther Welch Minnie M b 1 May 1871, d 20 Dec 1873 Elvira L b 18 Jul 1874, died Nov 1899 marr Joseph P Mott Jesse Harris Bryan married Mary Lucinda "Lula" Massey. Daughter of Green Massey and Joannah Hill.Green Massey and his brother Newton married sisters. Joannah and Julia Hill were the daughters of John Hill of Macon Co Ga lived to be 106 years old. Green Massey's sister married Owen Hill. My William W Bryan was in Coffee Co Al in 1860. There was another William W(right) Bryan in Pike Co Al at the same time. His wife was Elizabeth Curtis. William Washington Bryan and family were in Fort Perry ED#955, Marion Co Ga in 1870 and 1880. The name Mirabeau B.L. connects directly to the McMurrain. Elizabeth "Lizzie" had a brother named Mirabeau B. Lamar McMurrain who served in the Civil War. Her mother and one sister had the name Lydia, other sisters were Martha and Masilda(Macinda) and her father's name was John. I am actually trying to find the parents of William Washington Bryan. The closest I am able to come at this time is the son of the Simon Bryan who came to FL and died there in 1832. He died 11 Mar 1832 and my W. W. was born 5 Mar 1832, nine months after Simon's death. Not impossible for that to have happened. Any help and suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated as this is one big brick wall. Thanks again Harriett Fuquay

Harriett, This is the widow of Magruder Bryan. She also had the maiden name of Bryan. Magruder is the son of Little Bryan & Elizabeth Magruder. Magruder & Martha Bryan married in Greene Co., GA in 1838. Macon Co GA, Admin & Guardians Book A, pg 148 Lists minors of McGruder BRYAN for the year 1853. They are: JESSEE, MARTHA, ELIZABETH, & WILLIAM BRYAN. I'm not actually sure who the 17 yr old William is. Unless Magruder married prior to 1838 one, or if this is a brother of Martha's. I haven't found them on the 1860 census to see if there was a baby William born in 1850 to be the one listed above in the Admin & Guardian book. I do not have a death date for Magruder to see if a baby was possible. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Harriett Fuquay > To: Davine Campell > Cc: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 10:08 AM > Subject: Martha Bryan > > > Hi > Do you happen to know who this is: > 1850 Macon Co., GA Census > Family #97 > Household #97 > Page 116A > 770 District > Martha Bryan 35 F W > Martha Bryan 9 F W > Elizabeth Bryan 6 F W > William Bryan 17 M W > Jesse Bryan 11 M W > > This William would be the same age as my William Washington Bryan born 1832. Do you know who her husband was? Is there any further info on any of these children? > > Thanks so much > Harriett Fuquay > > > ==== GAMACON Mailing List ==== > I am a Southern Woman born with revolutionary blood in my veins. Freedom of speech and of thought are my birthright. Rose O'Neal Greenhow Heroine of the Confederacy >

----- Original Message ----- From: Harriett Fuquay To: Davine Campell Cc: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 10:08 AM Subject: Martha Bryan Hi Do you happen to know who this is: 1850 Macon Co., GA Census Family #97 Household #97 Page 116A 770 District Martha Bryan 35 F W Martha Bryan 9 F W Elizabeth Bryan 6 F W William Bryan 17 M W Jesse Bryan 11 M W This William would be the same age as my William Washington Bryan born 1832. Do you know who her husband was? Is there any further info on any of these children? Thanks so much Harriett Fuquay

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jd.2ADE/1373.1 Message Board Post: I am ggranddaughter of Thomas Jefferson Beverly, who was Nancy Beverly Dykes' baby brother. I would appreciate any information about their Dad, William Beverly and Mom, Elizabeth Patrick Beverly. And ancestors and descendants. Thanks