The photo above features my handsome grandfather atop a PEAVY gravestone. My mother and I took him some time ago to pay respects to some cousins at their final resting places. These graves were approximately 10 miles from his home, and he was not aware of them. I was so happy to show him these and other spots related to his cousins around town. Pa had stopped to take a breather while Mom and I were a short distance away documenting some other stones. I saw him, handed Mom the camera, and asked her to snap a photo. I think she got a great one.
I would stuff the stockings of my grandfather and two of his daughters with this photo. Grandpa loves hearing stories I find about his and my family history. He doesn't do the genealogy directly, but loves to pour over anything pertaining to it. Every now and again he finds something "old" around the house and shares it with me. Recently, he typed up stories of his childhood for all of us. You can imagine how much I treasure that. Two of his daughters would enjoy the photo as well. It would spark a nice memory for Mom, and my aunt loves all photos -- especially those of family.
There are only a couple of my close family members that really enjoy history, and Grandpa is one of them. (I'm working on a couple of others, and they're starting to get into it - I think). I appreciate the attentive ear, interest, and support he gives me whenever I tell a tale of my travels through time. I love you, Grandpa! Merry Christmas!
Magnolia Park Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Warner Robins (formerly Wellston), Georgia. The land for it was donated by Mr. Thomas Watson. It was originally used for his family burying ground, known as Watson Cemetery. Mr. Thomas Watson lived across the street from the cemetery. Magnolia Park as it is known today was not officially established until 1949. Crawford V. Watson, grandson of Thomas Watson, was laid to rest in Watson Cemetery in 1914. He was born 20 November 1885, the son of Richmond Hezekiah Watson.
I found a blurb in the 27 August 1911 edition of the Macon Weekly Telegraph stating C. V. Watson was sworn in as deputy sheriff of Houston county and moved to Perry to "assume the duties of the office." By the time of his death, his residence was back in Wellston.
In an obituary for Crawford V. Watson from the 11 January 1914 edition of the Macon Weekly Telegraph, the Watson family is mentioned as being one of the best known in Houston county. There are, even today, schools and roads named after this family. One of the main thoroughfares through downtown Warner Robins is known as Watson Boulevard.
The obituary:
Crawford V. Watson Friends throughout Macon and Bibb and Houston counties will be grieved to learn of the death yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock of crawford V. Watson, at his home, at Wellston. He was 27 years of age and had been ill only one week. Pneumonia is given as the cause of his death.
Just two weeks ago, Mr. Watson's father, R. H. Watson, one of the best known men of Houston county, died from the natural infirmities of old age.
Mr. Watson is survived by, besides his widow, three brothers, W. [C?]., C. B., and C. K. Watson, all of Wellston, and three sisters, Mrs. T. W. Murray, Mrs. James Stubbs and Miss Clifford Watson, all of Wellston.
The Watson family is one of the best known in Houston county and the deceased was a member of the firm of Watson Bros., extensive planters and merchants of Wellston.
He was a charter member of the Cherry Camp, W.O.W., of Wellston and the members of the Woodmen of the World of Macon are invited to attend the funeral which will be held from the family residence at Wellston this afternoon at [1?] o'clock. The services will be conducted by Rev. Will Green, of Gray, Jones county. Interment will follow at the family burying ground near Wellston.
Two beautiful tombstones at Sardis Cemetery; Bibb County, Georgia caught my eye recently. I liked them so much I wondered who made them. I'll have to start looking more closely at stones in the future for any signatures. The first gravestone is for Martha A. and B. F. Hudson. Martha A. was born Dec 19, 1849 and died Mar 4, 1919. Benjamin Franklin Hudson was born June 29, 1843 and died Feb 6, 1924:
The second stone was identical in design. This one was for two sons of Martha A. and B. F. Hudson. Otis M. Hudson was born July 15, 1882 and died Feb 11, 1916. William Havis Hudson was born Feb 2, 1886 and died Feb 7, 1919:
My enjoyment of the stones of course got me doing some research on this family...
Benjamin Franklin Hudson was the son of William "Buck" Hudson and Mary B. Moore. This family was in Jones County, Georgia in 1850 and 1860.
According to the 1850 Jones County, Georgia census, Benjamin's siblings were as follows: Matilda, John, William, Sarah, Camilla, Amelia, David B., Mary, and Louisa. According to an 1867 will abstract for William "Buck" Hudson from Book E, Jones County wills, these were his children: John W. Hudson, William Hudson, David B. Hudson, Benjamin Franklin Hudson, Barnwell R. Hudson, Matilda Lipsey, Sarah Rice, Louisa Hudson, and Mary Felts.
A search of a great website for Jones County, Georgia cemeteries -- www.friendsofcems.org/Jones -- lead me to the Hudson / Felts Cemetery. It is located off of Fawn Court near Gray. This cemetery contains many of Benjamin Franklin Hudson's immediate family, including his parents:
William "Buck" Hudson [father] (1800-1867); Mary B. Moore Hudson [mother] (1810-1870); Mary S. Felts [sister] (1845-1905); Robert L. Felts [brother-in-law] (1841-1898) *Co A 54th GA; David B. Hudson [brother] (1840-1900) *Co A 54th GA; Pvt. John W. Hudson [brother] (1841-1900) *Co A 54th Inf GA; Sarah E. Rice [sister] (1835-1895); Sgt. James M. Rice [brother-in-law] (1834-1862) *Co F 38th Tenn Inf; Pvt. William J. Lipsey [possible brother-in-law] (1834-1864) *Co F 45th GA.
Interestingly enough, I did not find out for sure if Benjamin was a soldier during the Civil War.
Benjamin Franklin Hudson married Martha A. before 1880. I found them in Jones County, Georgia then as well as in 1900. Their children listed in 1900 were William H., Andrew L., Ora B, and Otis M.
I did not find out any more about Otis M., but I did find his brother William's World War I draft registration:
William was living in Walden, Bibb County, Georgia at the time of registration in 1918. He was farming for his father B. F. Hudson, and he was listed as having blue eyes and dark hair.
Martha A. Hudson died 4 March 1919, less than one month after she buried her son William Havis Hudson. Her funeral notice from the Macon Telegraph:
Mrs. Martha Hudson The funeral services of Mrs. Martha Hudson, wife of Frank Hudson, were held from Sardis Church yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Elder Walter Heard conducted the services, and the interment was in Sardis cemetery. Mrs. Hudson lived at Rutland and was ill several weeks. She died at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Benjamin Franklin Hudson lived less than five more years before being laid to rest next to his wife.
Since my visit to Charleston, South Carolina and St. Philip's Church Cemetery, I have learned a little more about Major General Thomas Pinckney. What a fascinating life he led. Want to know more about him? Read on!
General Thomas Pinckney's grandfather (Thomas Pinckney) came to South Carolina and made it his home in 1692. His wife was Mary Cotesworth. Thomas built a house at the corner of East Bay and Tradd Street in Charleston. He had full view of the harbor. He died in this home of yellow fever.
General Thomas Pinckney's father, Charles Pinckney, was educated in England and became a successful lawyer upon returning to Carolina. He accumulated a large fortune, and was Speaker of the House of Assembly from 1736-1740. Charles married Elizabeth Lucas in 1744. This marriage produced our subject in 1750.
Thomas Pinckney was educated for 19 years in England at Westminster, Oxford. He read Greek fluently to the end of his life. In 1774, Thomas was admitted to the Charleston bar.
Pinckney's law career was interrupted, however, by South Carolina's preparation for the American Revolution. A volunteer company of rangers was formed in April 1775 in which Thomas was appointed a lieutenant. Soon after Lexington, two regiments were formed to defend the colony. Thomas Pinckney was named a captain. His company, part of the 1st regiment, was assigned to duty at Fort Johnson, on the southern shore of Charleston's harbor.
After the first attempt by the British to fire on Fort Sullivan, and the fort being successfully defended, Pinckney and the 1st regiment were moved there in August 1776. This would remain his headquarters for three years.
Captain Pinckney's reputation for handling troops was such that he was often detailed for special duty as instructor in military science. During the first three years of the war he was thus employed along the coast, as far south as Pocotaligo and Purisburg. On one of these tours an incident occurred which marked his firmness and decision of character. It was known to the military authorities that British emissaries from Georgia had visited certain posts, and tampered with the men. During his visit to one of these stations a mutiny broke out among the troops. The company on parade refused to obey orders, threw down their arms, and defied their officers. Persuasion, upbraiding, threats, proved alike unavailing, and the officers seemed about to give up the contest. Captain Pinckney, watching the situation from an adjoining house, saw that the time for parley had passed. Taking his sabre in his hand he entered the angry group, approached the ringleader, and cut him down at a blow. Ordering the company to resume their arms, and fall into ranks, he carried them through the interrupted drill, and turned them over to their officers in a far more submissive spirit than they had manifested. No man could be more averse to assume authority than one of Thomas Pinckney's temperament; he could exercise it promptly when duty required.
In 1778, the now Major Thomas Pinckney, with the joined forces of South Carolina and Georgia, went to help protect those frontiers from the English stationed in Florida.
In 1779, Major Pinckney took part in the battle of Stono Ferry. He was 2nd in command of the light artillery. "Major Pinckney gained great applause for his gallant conduct on this day. The battalion to which he was attached charged two companies of the 71st British regiment, and so completely routed them at the point of the bayonet, that only nine men were able to take shelter within their lines."
During the Siege of Charleston, Pinckney was stationed at the Horn redoubt, a mason fortification built along King Street. A piece of it still remains today.
After Charleston fell, Pinckney went north and offered his services to Washington. Congress took active measures to recover South Carolina from British rule and ordered troops to be raised for this purpose. Pinckney was aide to the commander of these troops. Major Pinckney was severely wounded in the Camden battle. An old schoolfellow found him and had him removed with the wounded British soldiers. Mrs. Pinckney was summoned to care for her husband after the British retreated. When his wound was somewhat healed, Major Pinckney was a prisoner of war for more than a year, after which he was exchanged.
As soon as peace was restored, Major Pinckney resumed the practice of law in Charleston. In 1787 he was elected Governor of the state.
In 1791, Major Pinckney was given the position of minister to London. In 1795, he achieved a treaty with Spain that gave the United States free navigation of the Mississippi River. Later, Pinckney served two terms in Congress, ending in 1801. For the next decade, Thomas Pinckney had the life he loved, that of a Carolina planter.
For the War of 1812, Thomas Pinckney was appointed Major General of the southern half of the United States. His command extended from the southern borders of Virginia to the Mississippi, including North and South Carolina, Georgia, and the Indian Territory (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana).
Following the war, Pinckney spent the remainder of his days in agriculture.
Proudly serving your country was a trait Pinckney passed down to his three sons. The three swords which General Pinckney used in the American Revolution and War of 1812 were bequeathed to them with the requirement that "they never be drawn in any private quarrel, and never remain in their scabbards when their country demanded their service." Fourteen of Pinckney's descendants served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Thomas Pinckney died 2 November 1828. A large military and citizen group followed his body in the procession from his house on Legare Street to St. Philip's Church and cemetery.
In addition to the above mentioned The Life of General Thomas Pinckney, another book is available for the study of Thomas and the rest of the Pinckney family. It is Charleston in the Age of the Pinckneys by George C. Rogers. It is "a look at the rise and decline of the Pinckney family whose members were present at every major point in Charleston's history."
I just finished creating a page on the Southern Graves website for St. Philip's Church Cemetery. This beautiful cemetery was established in 1680, and it is located on Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina's historic downtown. I've included a short video with the church bells ringing in the background, several transcriptions, and several photos of the church, cemetery, and gravestones.
I also made some contributions to FindAGrave from this cemetery.
Henderson Spring Road Cemetery is now online. It is located in Elko, Houston County, Georgia. I found out about this cemetery from a local resident who knew it as Springhill Church Cemetery. The church is long gone as far as I can tell, and the cemetery is not entirely kept up. It is, I must add, in a beautiful spot. The open part is under a huge tree. The farther in you go, it becomes more overgrown. Parts are under a couple of trees with a lot of moss hanging down. Very pretty.
A sad part about this cemetery is the many, many unknown burials. Some of these graves are marked only by mounds of dirt. On the page I set up for this cemetery, you will find a video showing this.
In addition to the unknown burials video, I have a 360° pan video, transcriptions of the stones, and more photos. Please stop by a take a look.
I have made some contributions to FindAGrave from the Beech Springs Methodist Church Cemetery in Bullard, Twiggs County, Georgia. Items include transciptions and photos. Surnames include BULLARD, COOK, GOODWIN, GRESHAM, JOHNSTON, LOWE, MCCORMICK, and RAMEY.
According to "New Georgia Encyclopedia," Bullard was first the site of a steamboat landing on the Ocmulgee River. It later became Bullard Depot on the Southern Railway. According to "Towns & Communities of Twiggs County, Georgia," this town was named after the Daniel Bullard family.
Following is a video of Beech Springs Methodist Church Cemetery:
William Warren Peavy was born 1848 in Georgia to William Henry Peavy and Elizabeth Jackson. Warren first married Scynthia Hammock, daughter of John Alex Hammock and Sarah Emerson, 27 April 1876 in Byron, Houston County, Georgia. Scynthia was born about 1854 in Georgia and died 1905 in Georgia. She was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia.
Warren and Scynthia Peavy had one son, James Francis Peavy Hammock. He was born 6 February 1877 in Byron, Houston County, Georgia. J. F. was reared by his grandmother, Sarah Hammock, and assumed her name. He married Minnie Lewis Avant, daughter of James Russell Avant and Mary E. Harry, 1910 at Liberty United Methodist Church in Bibb County, Georgia. Minnie was born 1876 in Georgia abd died 1959 in Bibb County, Georgia. Francis died 8 January 1960. He and Minnie were both buried in Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery, Bibb County, Georgia.
In March 1878, Warren Peavy shot and killed his brother-in-law, T. C. Hammock. Evidence, including family letters from over 100 years ago and family interviews conducted 30 years ago, suggest he fled to Texas and assumed the name Joe N. Warren.
From Columbus Daily Enquirer-Sun 27 March 1878:
Saturday afternoon, at Byron, on the Southwestern Railroad, Mr. Warren Peavy shot and killed his brother-in-law, young Mr. Hammock. Ten buckshot were fired into his body. Family trouble. Hammock was unarmed, and his only offense seems to have been that he was riding out Peavy's child, his own niece.
30 March 1878:
Mr. Hammock, shot Saturday by Mr. Seavy, at Byron's Station, S.W.R.R., is dead. Seavy is still at large.
William Warren Peavy, under the name of Joe N. Warren, fled to Texas after the killing and farmed for a living. He later married Sarah Elizabeth Gilbert, daughter of Almoth Byers Gilbert and Mary Jane Hill. They married in the year 1885 in Parker County, Texas. Sarah was born 1862 in Parker County, Texas. She died 1927 and was buried next to her husband in Fairview Cemetery.
Joe N. Warren and Sarah Gilbert had six children: William Frederick (1887-1962), Almoth Franklin (1889-1952), Augustus Jackson (1892-1968), Charles Isery (1894-1977), Sarah Melissa (1896-1970), and Samuel Wilson (1898-1903).
William Warren Peavy, a.k.a. Joe N. Warren, died from injuries suffered in a horse and wagon accident 5 November 1899 in Parker County, Texas. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery.
The family letters mentioned above also suggest the Texas Warrens were unaware of the Georgia Peavys. I'm glad we found our way to each other 100 years later. ------------------- Additional Sources: - History of Peach County, Georgia. Governor Treutlen Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1972 - Charles Jackson - Lynn Walden, Great-granddaughter of Joe N. Warren - Newspaper Articles via Genealogy Bank - Clifford V. Barker's The Story of the Georgia Peavys and the Texas Warrens - Census Records - Marriage Records - Family Letters - Tombstone Inscriptions - Obituaries - Probate Records - Death Records
Maybe it's because these stones are not common in my area of the South. All I know is once I saw this stone, I became fascinated with the man it stood to memorialize. African American research is a whole different type than what I am used to; it's much harder. It's even more difficult once you hit the slavery period. I cannot promise what I have found is the gospel, but it's what I believe is the likely story. As is the proper path to take in genealogy, I will start with the death of Daniel Ryder.
Daniel Ryder is buried in Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia. At one time, the area was known as the Walden community, or Rutland district. His stone is a simple military stone with no dates. It reads:
Daniel Ryder Co K 137 U.S. Cld. Inf.
There is stone to the left of his that is partially sticking up out of the ground with no visible markings. Is this a random stone? Maybe it's a marker for Daniel's wife, Dilly Ann.
Daniel is buried a good distance away from the rest of the individuals within the cemetery. I can only assume it's because of his race. I believe Daniel died between 1910 and 1920. "Separate but equal?" Here's a photo showing the distance. I was kneeling at Daniel's stone when I took the picture.
Daniel and his family are found in the 1910 Rutland District, Bibb County, Georgia Federal Census:
- Ryder, Daniel (Head) age 62; married 42 years; born Virginia; Farmer - Ryder, Dilly Ann (Wife) age 59; 7 children (6 living); born South Carolina - Williams, Will (Son-In-Law) age 33; married 6 years (2nd marriage); born Georgia; Farmer - Williams, Stella (Daughter) age 28; born Georgia
This entry suggests Daniel was born about 1848 and married Dilly Ann about 1868. Daniel and his family are then found in the 1900 Rutland District, Bibb County, Georgia Federal Census:
- Ryder, Daniel (Head) born December 1847; married 31 years; born Virginia; Farmer - Ryder, Dilliann (Wife) born January 1850 - Ryder, Estella (Daughter) born March 1880, Georgia; Farm Laborer - Ryder, Bessie (Daughter) born December 1884, Georgia; Farm Laborer
Daniel's son William and his family were next:
- Ryder, William (Head) born August 1872; married 10 years; born Georgia; Farm Laborer - Ryder, Georgian (Wife) born May 1870, Georgia - Ryder, Daniel (Son) born July 1891, Georgia - Ryder, William (Son) born August 1893, Georgia - Ryder, Clifford (Son) born May 1895, Georgia - Ryder, Evaline (Daughter) born March 1898, Georgia
I can go back once more. Here is Daniel and family in the 1880 Rutland District, Bibb County, Georgia Federal Census:
- Daniel Ryder (Self) age 33, born Virginia, Laborer - Dilly Ann Ryder (Wife) age 32, born Georgia, Keeping House - Nora Ryder (Daughter) age 10, born Georgia - Willie Ryder (Son) age 8, born Georgia - Alverta Ryder (Daughter) age 4, born Georgia - Friddy Ryder (Son) age 2, born Georgia - Stella Ryder (Daughter) age 2 months, born Georgia
I could not easily find Daniel Ryder in the 1870 census. The prior records suggest he was married to Dilly Ann by that time, and possibly had one child.
Between 1865 and 1866, Daniel Ryder was a private in Company K, 137 U. S. Colored Infantry Regiment. This regiment was organized in Selma, Alabama in 1865 and mustered in Macon, Georgia. Duty was in the Department of Georgia until 1866. Some units were assigned to cleanup and burial details in and near Andersonville. The recruits were mostly farmers, laborers, and ex-slaves. Sounds like Daniel was all three.
Now, can we go farther back? I have a hunch Daniel Ryder was a slave owned by William Ryder of Houston and Bibb counties, Georgia. I'm going by the fact that many slaves took the names of their "masters" after emancipation. The fact that Daniel had a son named William might also be a clue.
If I am correct, the 1860 Bibb County, Georgia Slave Schedule has William Ryder owning 9 slaves. One was a 13 year old boy. There was a 33 year old female, but no male around that age.
The 1850 Houston County, Georgia Slave Schedule shows William Ryder owned 5 slaves. One was a 2 year old boy. There was a 40 year old female, but no male around that age.
I believe the young boy in each of these slave schedules is Daniel Ryder. Aside from the horrifying fact that he was a slave, it does not appear that he was ever with his father. He may not have even been with his mother, though I do hope (even though the ages don't fit this theory) the older woman on each of these schedules was his mother. Unfortunately, it seems Daniel Ryder spent the first 17 years of his life a slave and apart from his family. I wonder if he ever was with them again.
A somewhat interesting fact is that Daniel's one-time owner, William Ryder, and William's wife are also buried in Liberty United Methodist Church cemetery. This, in my opinion, further boosts the theory William at one time owned Daniel.
William Ryder Aug 15, 1819 Liverpool, Eng Dec 12, 1895
Sarah Wife of William Ryder Mar 15, 1823 Aug 17, 1907
Another possibly interesting note: William Ryder, owner of Daniel, was a teacher. I wonder if he allowed Daniel to be taught to read, write, etc,...
After the research of Daniel, I can say I am still fascinated by him and his story. If there is anyone out there with any information about this man, I am certainly interested in knowing more about him. Especially if any corrections need to be made to the research I conducted, please let me know. Lastly, I thank Daniel for his service to our country.
Send Message 
Add Friend 
Block User 
Invite to Group 
Report User 
William was living in Walden, Bibb County, Georgia at the time of registration in 1918. He was farming for his father B. F. Hudson, and he was listed as having blue eyes and dark hair.
Since my visit to Charleston, South Carolina and 
I have made some contributions to 
records "On 23 March 1878 in Houston Co., T. C. Hammock was murdered by Warren Peavy."
. Governor Treutlen Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1972
