Hi folks, Granddaughter Megan and I had a wonderful time up in BEAUTIFUL Tishomingo County for the Dixie Youth Girls Softball Tournament! I am pleased to announce that Franklin County came out in 2nd Place! Our Franklin County Girls did us good job and can be very proud to be the Runners-up to the Mississippi State Champions from Jackson County. I am back and ready to continue posting your articles and submissions! You can look for some new articles from Sue Moore on the Jefferson County site later tonight or tomorrow! Anyone who hasn't visited the Northeast corner of our fair state has missed a rare treat! That is a simply beautiful area of the state! And the fine folks in Alcorn and Tishomingo counties are very friendly and helpful! Ann Researching Jefferson & Franklin County, MS I wasn't born in MS but I got here as quick as I could! The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first! Researching Jefferson & Franklin County, MS I wasn't born in MS but I got here as quick as I could! The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first!

What makes you think that Pearl was a girl? I know a Pearl Sanders and he is a male. The name Pearl in Jefferson County is common for a boys name. My brother in law in John Pearl Smith Ann B.

Hey, Earl Red Lick is in Jefferson County. Am familiar with the Sanders Family. I Will look up the date and get back with you. Ann B.

Friends, This is my first effort at entering something here. I knew Henry Floyd Jr. when I was a boy; my older brother probably knew him well, since brother O. K. Stampley is now about 87. Henry Floyd Jr.'s father and our father were best friends. Actually, they were not from Hollandale, but from Murphy, Mississippi, 12 miles from Hollandale. Agreed, Hollandale was the nearest town and we all went to school there, travelling on a gravel road by schoolbus. My, what memories. I really can't furnish much information, but know that after the first wife of Henry Floyd Gilley died, Mr. Gilley Sr. later married a widow, Mrs. Hammack. Her son, Jack, was very successful in the oil business in Texas, and is a little older than I (I'm 75). The second Mrs. Gilley was the widow of a Mr. Hammack. I think Jack was their only son. In their marriage, I believe the first Gilley couple had Marietta and another daughter (whose name escapes me) and Henry Floyd. I recall that Henry Floyd was employed with the Boy Scouts of America for some time. This is anecdotal -I recall my mother taking me with her to visit at the senior Gilley's plantation home about Christmas time one year and I really enjoyed Mrs. Gilley's dates stuffed with pecans and her other candies. I also recall that Mr. Gilley Sr. and my father were Masons and Shriners. They were very devoted members. Mr. Gilley Sr. and my father and Henry Floyd, Jr., were avid supporters of Mississippi State football and they took a friend and me, as kids, to a couple of games with Ole Miss, which were played around Thanksgiving time.. Enough reminiscing. Janice, contact my brother OK. I'll bet he will be interested in exchanging information. Janice, I've copied my brother OK at okstampley@juno com. I'd really appreciate any information gained. Best wishes, Charles Stampley

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/EJB.2ACE/553 Message Board Post: I am looking for any information on the following people, they are listed in the 1920 Census in Beat # 2 Jefferson county. SANDERS-----W P head, age 46 born in MS. _______wife,age 41 born in MS Earl ,son age 13, born in MS Pearl,daughter ,age 13, born in MS W P is listed as being on a farm. I can not find WP or the wife on the 1930 Census, I found Earl in Red Lick Village in Sunflower county. Any information would be a great help.As this may be the brother of my grandfather. Albert Theodore SANDERS. Thank You

If any relatives are left in Mississippi that are related to this family please contact me. I do know that boyhood friends of Mr. Henry Floyd Gilley still live there in Hollandale Miss. Some of the names are H E McKinney, Farr family. Floyd T Gilley born in Virginia wife Ruby Clare Jones born Mississippi ( taken from a photo of her grave) born Nov 23, 1891 died Aug 19, 1942 Son Henry Floyd Gilley born in Mississippi daughter Marietta Gilley daughter Vivian Gilley Floyd and Ruby are buried in Hollandale Cemetary. Does anyone have a listing for this cemetery by chance...I have lots of pictures and family records on these people, and would love to get them to a caring family member. Thanks so much Janice Rice Dupre' Ps Is Hollandale in Washington County, Mississippi?

GILLEY is not a familiar name in Jefferson County so maybe this search belongs somewhere else. If the name was GILL or GILLIS it would be and entirely different matter. The famous entertainer Mickey GILLEY who had the night club with the mechanical bulls in Pasadena, Texas near Houston and now has a club in Branson, Missoui had roots in Ferriday, LA and was a cousin to Jimmy Swaggart the crying theologian, and Jerry Lee Lewis the musician who was more famous for his exploits with other cousins. Wonder if these are some of the connections your looking for? Try the following for starters: http://www.sec.state.la.us/museums/delta/delta-mickey.htm Indeed Hollandale is in Washington County on Highway 61 south of Leland. JRice79761@aol.com wrote: >If any relatives are left in Mississippi that are related to this family >please contact me. I do know that boyhood friends of Mr. Henry Floyd Gilley still >live there in Hollandale Miss. Some of the names are H E McKinney, Farr >family. > >Floyd T Gilley born in Virginia >wife Ruby Clare Jones born Mississippi ( taken from a photo of her grave) >born Nov 23, 1891 >died Aug 19, 1942 >Son Henry Floyd Gilley born in Mississippi >daughter Marietta Gilley >daughter Vivian Gilley > >Floyd and Ruby are buried in Hollandale Cemetary. Does anyone have a listing >for this cemetery by chance...I have lots of pictures and family records on >these people, and would love to get them to a caring family member. Thanks so >much Janice Rice Dupre' > >Ps Is Hollandale in Washington County, Mississippi? > > >==== MSJEFFER Mailing List ==== >"A day without genealogy is like a day without coffee." > > > >

to A1656 Thankyou for saving the important history that you rescued, I wish I could say that It was a part of me, but alas it is not. I am still hoping to find out more about my Stephens Family in Jefferson Co. have had some success from the good people in Jeff. County, and bits and pieces still trickle in, but to be able to hold the letters and bible must give you a wonderful feeling, I hope some one claims the treasure, if not I am sure that the Historical society or a genealogy library would love to have all of the things. Thanks for being so thoughtful. Janette

Your posting was one of the saddest I've ever read, and how close to ending in tragedy! Thank heavens for people like you who understand the value of the heritage she and her husband left behind and made the choice to intervene. Someday someone in her family will truly yearn for knowledge of this wonderful couple who gave their family roots and traditions, even if it's not one of the sons. This person will shudder at how close they came to losing all of those treasures, saved only by the kindness and wisdom of a neighbor. I read somewhere the comparison of a situation like this as being a branch severed from a tree trunk and roots, not being able to survive without that which gave it life. Maybe you have given a second chance to this family that will be recognized as a blessing by the other members someday. And what a blessing you already are to Ms. Gilley by seeing her wondrous garden, etc. as magical, and her life as something to be treasured. Thank you for all of us who weep at what has been discarded before. My own situation concerns a recently found cousin, who's grandaunt died about ten years ago. This person was the keeper of the records of my father's line. The aunt's husband had died and the adopted son was unaware and unappreciative of the importance of a wealth of photographs and memorabilia. At the funeral, he brought a large cardboard box full of the family photos and records and offered them to the cousin. He didn't recognize the importance, and being in the middle of family grief, told him that he'd get them another time. That was about a decade ago. When I found this out, I begged him to try to find the son, and see if this box of treasure has survived. He can not find the son. Hardly a week goes by that I don't grieve for the loss. Your actions may spare someone else. Lynne ----- Original Message ----- From: <JRice79761@aol.com> To: <MSJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 11:29 PM Subject: [MSJEFFER-L] What is a Family? > As a family researcher I long for every bit of knowledge that I can scrape > together. The gift, as I call it is a rare photo of an ancestor, a bible > record, and best yet a diary. > Recently in my home town of Fort Stockton, an elderly woman, my neighbor was > put in a nursing home by her two sons. I really did not know this woman at > all. But, the people of this Town sure did. Her family was one of the early > pioneers of this town. She was a delight to a lot of people in her heyday. She > had a backyard that I can see from my kitchen window that once held none other > than a "Secret Garden," and an Alice in Wonderland feeling. The people here > have told me she thought everyday should be Christmas. Since I have lived here > she did indeed turn on her Christmas lights every night. Today the lights no > longer come on at dark. The fantasy land of her backyard that was once her > boys, and her grandchildren's playground has been slowly picked apart. Her > memories of days gone past have all disappeared except in her mind for her. Every > little trinket, every little light, has now all been extinguished. To Ms. > Gilley, her life is done according to her children. Her wonderful painted house, > the flowers that just dance off of it at you as you pass it by, will probably > soon be painted over. Her giant picture window with all her trinkets displayed > will never be lit up again, the Santa's the Witches and what not are all gone. > Gone where? The dumpsters in my alley hold the life of Ms. Gilley. Her Photo > Albums, pictures of her children, and her grandchildren have all disappeared. > The navy blanket her husband brought back from World War II, in the dumpster, > as well along with his years of history as a teacher throughout the state of > Texas, and Alas they did not forget to toss the bible records of both families, > yes in the dumpsters. Mr. Gilley passed away in 1998, his family was from > Hollandale, Mississippi. Ms. Gilley was born here in Texas. The life of Ms. > Gilley is another story to be told, and I after rescuing all of her important > memories from the dumpsters know it was a wonderful, glorious life and her family > history will live on. To her sons I say shame on you for they gave you life, > and you decided not to treasure that but, instead focused only on yourselves. > You can throw away her clothes and dishes and the baby photos but she will > always be your mother. I also know that neither of you will ever be like your > father. He let her be who she was and loved her for it. Sons, you threw away the > love letters your father wrote to your mother in the 1920s. Didn't you even > care? I did. > Janice > > This story is sad but true, If there is any one in Mississippi related to > this Gilley family please contact me. I would love to send to relatives that > care, the photos and memorabilia of this family. > > > > > > Henry Gilley > > > > FORT STOCKTON - Henry Floyd ``H.F.'' Gilley, 85, died Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998, > > in Fort Stockton. Service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church > > with burial in East Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fort Stockton Funeral > > Home. He was born Aug. 27, 1913, in Hollandale, Miss., and had been a > > resident of Fort Stockton since 1946. A Navy veteran of World War II, he owned and > > operated the Lem Smith Machinery Co. and was a member of the First Baptist > > Church and Fort Stockton Masonic Lodge 1023. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn > > Gilley of Fort Stockton; two sons, Brian Gilley of Midland and Terry Gilley > > of Hereford; two sisters, Marietta Caruthers of San Francisco, Calif. and > > Vivian Nicholson of Bakersfield, Calif.; and three grandchildren. > > > > ==== MSJEFFER Mailing List ==== > "Isn't genealogy fun? The answer to one problem, leads to two more." >

Hello, The story about the discarded family history seems to be becoming all too fa miliar in recent times. Just last year I saw a neighbor put her deceased husband's family heirlooms out for sale at a moving sale.....everything from huge original framed ancestral portraits ca. early 1800s to books to china, etc.....sold for a pittance as if it were all so much rubbish (even the grown children had no interest in the items.) This really bothered me, realizing my own family's (few but precious) heirlooms might meet a similar fate if I die before my siblings do. I'm glad the records mentioned in the earlier post were rescued and it occurred to me that if no family members can be found who have an interest in them, they might be donated to the local genealogical/historical society, or maybe even a post could be made to the list with that surname (or other related surnames) at Rootsweb and maybe a distant cousin/or connection might want them for research/archival purposes. I am so fortunate to have many heirlooms which came from my Allein/Wood ancestors who lived in Church Hill in Jefferson County. I've always appreciated them but never as much as I do now, now that I am interested in my family's history (I just wish I had started on it long ago.) Just this month, my siblings and I got together to decide "who gets what" when my mom is no longer with us. While they can at least appreciate the heirlooms for their aesthetic/or monetary value, the history is lost on them. This will be the first time the collection has been split up since its days in Church Hill/and Vicksburg going back at least to the 1840s. I think some ghosts have been disturbed in the process too, for no sooner did the first pieces of furniture get carted from the house than minor but noticeable phenomenon began to occur, leaving thoughts in my mind that the Allein/Moore ancestors were agitated <strange but true.> In the ten years I've been doing genealogy, I've met so many people who have told me that they have virtually no family heirlooms (records, photographs, etc.) and I always feel genuinely sorry for them, knowing how much even the smallest artifact would mean to them. It is for that reason that I often think there could be a substitute fulfillment in taking an interest in (or adopting, so to speak) a stranger's family history and yes, even the artifacts if they are to be had. About a year ago I got a 1918 school yearbook on eBay; I searched high and low for the original owner, only to sadly find on the SSDI that she was dead. I then searched for living relatives but never found any. Inside the yearbook were two name tags....the original owner and her husband....from a reunion held 40 years later. The little name tags had the school's colored ribbons attached. How special it would be if a living relative could have these....especially since the owner's class photo was in it. I plan to donate the yearbook to the local library's research room, where it might be found by still-living alumni or descendants, but also plan to post all the book's alumni names on the locality list at Rootsweb first. I did make several posts on Rootsweb for that surname, hoping a cousin might turn up but with no luck. Anyway, I enjoyed the previous post and wanted to also say that I myself would have no problem whatsoever in digging in a dumpster if I thought I might find anybody's family history there. Your deed was noble and good! I've never been to Jefferson Co. or Church Hill, but would love to go dumpster-digging there anytime...ha! Peggy Dyas Researching: ALLEIN/WOOD/FITZPATRICK in Jefferson Co. MS

Janice, This just breaks my heart. I did the same thing you did once, rescuing some wonderful family "treasures" that had belonged to an acquaintance. She had no close family and the folks who cleaned out her house barely knew her. Her parents had come from Germany and settled in west Texas. She had many letters, records, etc., from both Germany and the little community in TX her parents had helped establish. When I realized they were throwing these things away, I approached them and asked if I could have the family papers. I didn't even know them, and ordinarily I would've been hesitant to mind someone else's business, but I was so upset at seeing all of this history disappear. After they satisfied themselves that I wasn't after anything other than 'old, useless papers' they gave it all to me. I had no clue what to do with it and I live a long way from TX but, luckily, they'd thrown in this lady's address book along with the other things. So, I started calling numbers in TX and the first one I! got was a childhood friend who was so close the the family that it was she who looked after the graves of the lady's parents. She and I had a good cry and then I packaged it all up and sent it to her. Most of the material is now safely in the History Room of the church they all attended. Have you tried posting a message on the Gilley surname boards at Rootsweb and GenForum? I hope you're able to find someone who will appreciate these family treasures. I appreciate you rescuing them. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: JRice79761@aol.com To: MSJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 10:29 PM Subject: [MSJEFFER-L] What is a Family? As a family researcher I long for every bit of knowledge that I can scrape together. The gift, as I call it is a rare photo of an ancestor, a bible record, and best yet a diary. Recently in my home town of Fort Stockton, an elderly woman, my neighbor was put in a nursing home by her two sons. I really did not know this woman at all. But, the people of this Town sure did. Her family was one of the early pioneers of this town. She was a delight to a lot of people in her heyday. She had a backyard that I can see from my kitchen window that once held none other than a "Secret Garden," and an Alice in Wonderland feeling. The people here have told me she thought everyday should be Christmas. Since I have lived here she did indeed turn on her Christmas lights every night. Today the lights no longer come on at dark. The fantasy land of her backyard that was once her boys, and her grandchildren's playground has been slowly picked apart. Her memories of days gone past have all disappeared except in her mind for her. Every little trinket, every little light, has now all been extinguished. To Ms. Gilley, her life is done according to her children. Her wonderful painted house, the flowers that just dance off of it at you as you pass it by, will probably soon be painted over. Her giant picture window with all her trinkets displayed will never be lit up again, the Santa's the Witches and what not are all gone. Gone where? The dumpsters in my alley hold the life of Ms. Gilley. Her Photo Albums, pictures of her children, and her grandchildren have all disappeared. The navy blanket her husband brought back from World War II, in the dumpster, as well along with his years of history as a teacher throughout the state of Texas, and Alas they did not forget to toss the bible records of both families, yes in the dumpsters. Mr. Gilley passed away in 1998, his family was from Hollandale, Mississippi. Ms. Gilley was born here in Texas. The life of Ms. Gilley is another story to be told, and I after rescuing all of her important memories from the dumpsters know it was a wonderful, glorious life and her family history will live on. To her sons I say shame on you for they gave you life, and you decided not to treasure that but, instead focused only on yourselves. You can throw away her clothes and dishes and the baby photos but she will always be your mother. I also know that neither of you will ever be like your father. He let her be who she was and loved her for it. Sons, you threw away the love letters your father wrote to your mother in the 1920s. Didn't you even care? I did. Janice This story is sad but true, If there is any one in Mississippi related to this Gilley family please contact me. I would love to send to relatives that care, the photos and memorabilia of this family. > > Henry Gilley > > FORT STOCKTON - Henry Floyd ``H.F.'' Gilley, 85, died Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998, > in Fort Stockton. Service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church > with burial in East Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fort Stockton Funeral > Home. He was born Aug. 27, 1913, in Hollandale, Miss., and had been a > resident of Fort Stockton since 1946. A Navy veteran of World War II, he owned and > operated the Lem Smith Machinery Co. and was a member of the First Baptist > Church and Fort Stockton Masonic Lodge 1023. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn > Gilley of Fort Stockton; two sons, Brian Gilley of Midland and Terry Gilley > of Hereford; two sisters, Marietta Caruthers of San Francisco, Calif. and > Vivian Nicholson of Bakersfield, Calif.; and three grandchildren. ==== MSJEFFER Mailing List ==== "Isn't genealogy fun? The answer to one problem, leads to two more."

What a wonderful thing you have done to rescue history. I wish I was a member of the family but alas I am not but hope someone will know the family and love the history as much as you did. Have the best day ever. Toni PS: Thanks for giving life to a soul that may have been forgotten.

As a family researcher I long for every bit of knowledge that I can scrape together. The gift, as I call it is a rare photo of an ancestor, a bible record, and best yet a diary. Recently in my home town of Fort Stockton, an elderly woman, my neighbor was put in a nursing home by her two sons. I really did not know this woman at all. But, the people of this Town sure did. Her family was one of the early pioneers of this town. She was a delight to a lot of people in her heyday. She had a backyard that I can see from my kitchen window that once held none other than a "Secret Garden," and an Alice in Wonderland feeling. The people here have told me she thought everyday should be Christmas. Since I have lived here she did indeed turn on her Christmas lights every night. Today the lights no longer come on at dark. The fantasy land of her backyard that was once her boys, and her grandchildren's playground has been slowly picked apart. Her memories of days gone past have all disappeared except in her mind for her. Every little trinket, every little light, has now all been extinguished. To Ms. Gilley, her life is done according to her children. Her wonderful painted house, the flowers that just dance off of it at you as you pass it by, will probably soon be painted over. Her giant picture window with all her trinkets displayed will never be lit up again, the Santa's the Witches and what not are all gone. Gone where? The dumpsters in my alley hold the life of Ms. Gilley. Her Photo Albums, pictures of her children, and her grandchildren have all disappeared. The navy blanket her husband brought back from World War II, in the dumpster, as well along with his years of history as a teacher throughout the state of Texas, and Alas they did not forget to toss the bible records of both families, yes in the dumpsters. Mr. Gilley passed away in 1998, his family was from Hollandale, Mississippi. Ms. Gilley was born here in Texas. The life of Ms. Gilley is another story to be told, and I after rescuing all of her important memories from the dumpsters know it was a wonderful, glorious life and her family history will live on. To her sons I say shame on you for they gave you life, and you decided not to treasure that but, instead focused only on yourselves. You can throw away her clothes and dishes and the baby photos but she will always be your mother. I also know that neither of you will ever be like your father. He let her be who she was and loved her for it. Sons, you threw away the love letters your father wrote to your mother in the 1920s. Didn't you even care? I did. Janice This story is sad but true, If there is any one in Mississippi related to this Gilley family please contact me. I would love to send to relatives that care, the photos and memorabilia of this family. > > Henry Gilley > > FORT STOCKTON - Henry Floyd ``H.F.'' Gilley, 85, died Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998, > in Fort Stockton. Service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church > with burial in East Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fort Stockton Funeral > Home. He was born Aug. 27, 1913, in Hollandale, Miss., and had been a > resident of Fort Stockton since 1946. A Navy veteran of World War II, he owned and > operated the Lem Smith Machinery Co. and was a member of the First Baptist > Church and Fort Stockton Masonic Lodge 1023. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn > Gilley of Fort Stockton; two sons, Brian Gilley of Midland and Terry Gilley > of Hereford; two sisters, Marietta Caruthers of San Francisco, Calif. and > Vivian Nicholson of Bakersfield, Calif.; and three grandchildren.

Hi everyone, I have been looking at microfilm lately and decided to share some of my findings. Ann has already put some of the slave trial records online at the Jefferson Rootsweb site with more to come. These records include names of defendants, jurors, officials, freedmen, etc. I will also submit more 1832 road overseer records completing the Fayette and Red Lick area. Here is a jury pool from 1832. I have put it a table form, and I hope that the list can pick it up. If not, let me know. Sue M. Jurors of the Circuit Court, Jefferson County, September Term 1832 Jefferson County Mississippi - Court Records, 1802-1813; Minutes, 1822-1835 Family History Library Film # 893057, Salt Lake City, Utah Page 180 The Sheriff in open court produced the Jury box, and the following persons names were drawn to serve as jurors at the next Term of the Circuit Court for Jefferson County to be holden on the 4th Monday in September next (1832) to wit- Thomas C. Vaughn H. H. Hamilton John H. Duncan Francis Tidwell John Ducker Aaron Rowark Hiram Baldwin Alex. Young John W. Pipes Jno. Baldwin James Kelly Jno. McIntire John Tullis David Bullen Leander Aldrich Dan’l. McIntire Allison Ross P. Elam Wm. G. Vause Isaac Dunbar Joseph Rayney Jno. Robinson Henry Ledbetter A. Hamberlin Moses Odom Jno. Turnbull,Senr. Robt. Farley Richard Spain F. McCaleb Turner Lumbly Augustus Campbell Peter Emerick Elisha Brazeale A. B. Sims Andrew Montgomery Levi C. Harris Richard Farris Archd. Torry Abner Pipes Thomas O. McDonald

What's New July 17, 2003 - Added more Jefferson County Slave Court Records Also added a HUGE panoramic photo of the Jefferson County Agricultural High School from 1929/1930. WARNING! This file is VERY large and takes a LONG time to load! If anyone can identify some of the folks in that class photo, please let me know! Thanks so much to contributor Judy Valentine for this wonderful glimpse of the past! I will be away for a few days to take my granddaughter to play in the State Softball Championship in Iuka, MS! Ann Allen Geoghegan Researching Jefferson & Franklin County, MS I wasn't born in MS but I got here as quick as I could! The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first!

Just thought I'd share this. My server is AOL and they are for a limited time allowing free access to the 1930 US census images through Ancestry.com. I do not know if it works with other servers. It's free but you have to register at Ancestry before using it. The down side is that while I was able to see the image for my grandparents, I couldn't read all of it because it was so blurry on my computer, even after printing it out. Maybe people with better computer/know-how can do better. Also, while I was able to access it just fine early this morning, there's now a traffic jam at Ancestry and it keeps saying "try again later", etc. Maybe the wee hours of the morning is the best time. I don't know how long the free trial will last. There is an option for enlarging the census page on your screen, but every time I tried that, I got bumped off again because it's so busy. Still, if you're persistent, you'll be able to get in. I tried accessing directly through the internet, and couldn't. So, I went back to AOL's home page and clicked on the link and got in (to Ancestry's census page.) You definitely want to uncheck the option for "exact spelling" of your ancestor's name. My ancestor and his whole family had their names misspelled, but I just happened to already know how the names were misspelled so I found them easily. Sorry this post is so "iffy".....just thought I'd pass it on. Peggy Dyas Researching: Allein, Fitzpatric(k), Wood in Jefferson County 1800s

Transcribed from handwritten Bethany Baptist Church records by Eddie Mikell, all rights reserved. E-mail mikell@virginia.edu for purchasing information on Lawrence County and Jefferson Davis County publications available on CD and hard copy. Now available on e-bay! Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in May 1837 Met in Conference. After a sermon by Brother Pittman, opened a door for the reception of members. No applicants. Took under consideration the subject of repairing the meeting house and agreed that the house be recovered with shingles. Appointed a committee, consisting of Brethren Stamps, Bridges and Joel Bullock, to examine the condition of the meeting house and report at next meeting what repairs is necessary to be made and plan of operation, whereby my be effected. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in June 1837 Met in Conference opened a door for the reception of members. Received by letter Brother Thomas Sheperd. The committee appointed to examine the meeting house reported that it is necessary to put six new blocks under it, two sills across the sleepers to support them, which report was received. Resolved that a fund be raised for the same by scription and that Wylie White be appointed to draw up, and hold a subscription for that purpose. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in July 1837 Met in Conference by opening with singing and prayer by Brother E. Lowe. Received by letter, Brother Richard Sims and his wife, Elsey Sims. Elected Brethren Joel Bullock and Wylie White delegates to the Association and in case of failure, Williams Stamps and Britton Bridges. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in August 1837 Met in Conference. After a sermon by Brother Robertson, opened a door for the reception of members, No applicants. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in September 1837 Met in Conference and opened a door for the reception of members. Received by experience, Sister Elizabeth Mikell and by letter, Brother Calvin Smith and his wife, Beedy Smith, by experience, and also, Brother John Mikell by experience. Appointed Joel Bullock, Britton Bridges, and James Mikell, Commissioners, to let out and superintend the intended repairs on the meeting house: and, resolved that if the subscription for that purpose be found insufficient, that the Church be held bound for the deficit necessary for the defraying the expanses.

FORMATION OF LAWRENCE COUNTY When Established Lawrence County was established December 22, 1814, from the older county of Marion. It was one of the fourteen territorial counties represented in the Constitutional Convention of 1817 (1) The date of the establishment of the county suggests the War Between the United States and Great Britain, and it was named in memory of Captain James Lawrence, who commanded the ship Chesapeake, in that great struggle, whose last words when mortally wounded were, "Don't give up the ship." (2) Shape, Size and Boundaries The present shape of the county is somewhat rectangular, and it has an area of 418 square miles. The original act defined the boundaries of Lawrence County as follows: "Beginning at the Franklin County line where the middle section of the fifty township intersects the same; thence east along the said line to its intersection with the eastern boundary line of the county of Marion; and all that tract of country on the north side of said line and within the original boundary of Marion County, shall form a county to be known as Lawrence." The original area of the county was about 1000 square miles, but by act of January 5, 1891, it contributed part of its eastern area to form the county of Covington. On February 12 of the same year, it surrendered to Marion County the northern half of township 5, ranges 17 and 18. In 1870 it contributed a tract of western area to form the county of Lincoln. In 1906, a part of its territory was deducted in the formation of Jefferson Davis County. The area at one time was 414,382 acres, or 638 square miles. At present Lawrence County is bounded on the north by Copiah and Simpson on the east by Jefferson Davis and Marion; on the south by Marion and Walthall; on the west by Lincoln. The area of the county at present (1937) is 418 square miles, or 267,520 acres. County Seat MONTICELLO, the county seat, established March 1, 1815, is situated on a high bluff on the west bank of Pearl River, and was named in honor of the famous residence of Thomas Jefferson. During the early part of the nineteenth century, Monticello was an important business point and a political center of note. The legislature at one time selected Monticello for the state capital, but rescinded its actions twenty-four hours later and located it elsewhere. During the first five years of the county's history, courts were held at Wright Mitchell's house. The first courthouse was a crude log structure, built in 1818, on the same site as the present one. The first court was organized March 6, 1815, with Harmon Runnels, chief justice; Stephen Noble, Benjamin Goodson, and James Stigler, associate justices; Hardin D. Runnels, sheriff; and Harmon M. Runnels, clerk. At one time there were deeds recorded in the chancery clerk's office written in Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and English. These old documents were destroyed in 1931, when the courthouse burned. These valuable records were stored in a room located in the dome of the courthouse, where the fire was first discovered, making it impossible to save them. In 1806 the old Federal road from Ocmulgee River in Georgia to St. Stephens in Alabama was opened (by treaty) through the country of the Creeks and was extended two years later to Natchez, running through the present town of Monticello. This made it easy for the settlers of South Carolina and Georgia to immigrate into the section of Mississippi Territory through which this road ran, and many of these immigrants settled in that portion, which afterwards become Lawrence County. The earliest settler of the town and county was Harmon Runnels, who built the first house in Monticello and there reared a large family of sons and daughters. One of his sons, Hiram G. Runnels, was elected governor of the state; and his grandson of the same name was subsequently elected governor of Texas. Other early settlers in this section were: Wright Mitchell, Joseph Cooper, Bartholomew Longino, Henry Maxwell, James Buckley, Elias Mullens, Josse Maxwell, John Maxwell, Samuel and Brewster Jayne, Aaron Hickman, Luke Butler (grandfather of William Butler who served several terms as sheriff of the county), and many other families prominently connected with the growth and progress of the county. These pioneers were brave, honest, enterprising, and hospitable people. Among the early merchant of Monticello were John M. Elder, Samuel Jayne, Francis Blair, William Whitehead, and Charles Lynch; the latter afterward was governor of the state, making two early governors furnished by this county. The Nagle Hotel, one of the early hostelries of Monticello, managed by Edward Bowen, was a two-story building coving practically a block; the stables and negro quarters for the hotel covered another block. The Planters Hotel, owned and operated by Mr. Daughtry, father of Mrs. G. A. Teunisson, covered the square where the present high school is located. The brick Methodist church, a two-story building, provided pews for the members in the main auditorium and a balcony for the slaves. There were also provisions made for a nursery. In the building of this church, one member made for a nursery. In the building of this church, one member made a donation of $1000 and had his own padded pew.

Transcribed from handwritten Bethany Baptist Church records by Eddie Mikell, all rights reserved. E-mail mikell@virginia.edu for purchasing information on Lawrence County and Jefferson Davis County publications available on CD and hard copy. Now available on e-bay! Took under consideration, the choice of supply in the ministery for next year, which was deferred till tomorrow. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in November 1836 After a sermon by Brother Robertson, the Church went into conference, a door was opened for the reception of members. No applicants. Proceeded to the choice of a supply in the ministery and Brother Norvel Robertson was unanimously chosen. Sister Anna Stucky applied for a letter of dismission, which was granted. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in December 1836 Met in Conference. After a sermon by Brother Magee, opened a door for the reception of members. No applicants. On application, letters of dismission was granted for Sister Jelsey Posey and Brother Dave, a servant, her husband. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in January 1837 Met in Conference. After a sermon by Brother Robertson, opened a door for the reception of members. Received by letter, Brother Britton Bridges and his wife, Sister Lydia Bridges. Application begin made by our Sister Church at Silver Creek for help, in a case dealing; there were appointed Brethren Joel Bullock, Britton Bridges, William Stamps, Mastin Parkman and Reuben White to attend as suc. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in March 1837 Met in Conference. After a sermon by Brother Martin, opened a door for the reception of members. Received by letter Brother Edmond Lowe. Saturday before the 3rd Sunday in April 1837 Met in Conference. After a sermon by Brother Robertson, opened a door for the reception of members. Received by letter, Brother Dave, a black man, belonging to Sister Hooker. Ordered that the key of the meeting house and the charge there be transferred from Brother Parkman to Brother Bridges.