Neighbors along the Tombigbee River

George Strother Gaines gives us an idea of the early settlers in the Tombigbee Settlement as of 1805. He says, in his "Reminiscenes of George Strother Gaines":

"The Tombigbee Settlement in 1805 was comprised mainly of a few planters on the river (who were generally owners of large stocks of cattle) and persons employed in the care of the cattle. There was also a small settlement east of the Alabama river, ten miles above its confluence with the Tombigbee, known as the "Tensaw Settlement." Mr. Mimms, a man of considerable property, resided near Tensaw Lake, and was surrounded by a pleasant neighborhood composed of the Lingers, Duns, Thompsons, and others. William and John Pierce, merchants, had a store above Mimm's. Of the original settlement I recollect Mr. Bates, who resided at Nanahubba Bluffs; Mr. Hollinger, who resided a few miles above, and was one of the largest planters; his plantation was situated on the "Cut off Island."McIntosh's Bluff was occupied by a Mr. Johnson.

Some eight or ten miles above McIntosh's was the small village of New Wakefield, the seat of Justice for Washington, the only county in the settlement. In the neighborhood of the village resided Mungers, Hinsons, Wheats, Baldwins, and other families, names not recollected.  Mr. Young Gaines resided about ten miles higher up the river. Major Frank Boykin, a revolutionary officer, Thomas Bassett, Bowling, Brewers, and Callers were Mr. Gaine's neighbors. John McGrew lived near St. Stephens. He owned a plantation on the east side of the river, opposite St. Stephens. Mr. Baker resided on the first bluff above St. Stephens, Col. Bullock and Mr. Womack lived also in the neighborhood."1

An 1805 tax list tells us a little more about these neighbors;

Nannahubba Island

Samuel Mims had 640 acres on Nannahubba Island, with 60 acres tilled, and 3 cabins.

 Cornelius Dunn had 178 acres on the same Island, with 20 acres tilled. Joseph Thompson had 365 acres on Nannahubba, with 40 acres tilled and 2 cabins; he also had 640 acres on the east side of the Alabama river with two cabins, 9 outbuildings, and 50 tilled acres. William and John Pierce had 540 acres of land with 10 acres tilled.
Adam Hollinger had 1000 acres on the island with 8 cabins and 200 tilled acres; he also had 800 acres on the west side of the Tombigbee with a 2 story house (32x18 feet) 5 outbuildings, and 80 tilled acres.2 Hollinger was an Irishman, who lived amongst the Creeks and operated a flat boat ferry on the Tombigbee between Fort Stoddart and Fort Mimms. His first wife had been Elizabeth Moniac, a Creek woman, but in 1788 he married Marie LeFleur (a french/choctaw woman) in Mobile and in 1792 he married Marie Juzan (also mixed blood.) Hollinger had many children, all baptized in Mobile. 3,4 (When Hollinger wrote his will in 1808, he named 8 young slaves left to his children. He notes his son William as a half-breed, living with David Tate, and leaves him 3 slaves.) He names his friends Harry Toulmin and William Pierce executors of his will.)

McIntosh Bluff

Daniel Johnston Sr. had 400 acres (14 tilled) on the west side of the Tombigbee at McIntosh Bluff with two houses and 17 outbuildings. Daniel Johnston had 1120 acres (52 tilled) with 6 cabins.
Joseph Kennedy also lived at McIntosh Bluff, and had 7 acres of land and a house.

New Wakefield

 Sampson Munger had 1141 acres and Hiram Munger had 640 acres (6 tilled.) on Sunflower Creek.
John Hinson had 440 acres (10 tilled) and 2 cabins.

Upriver Families

Young Gaines had 800  (40 tilled) acres on the west side of the Tombigbee near Bassetts Creek with 5 cabins and 800 acres on the east side of the Alabama river where it joined the Tombigbee.
Major Francis "Frank" Boykin had 800 acres (25 tilled) and 4 cabins.
Thomas Bassett had 1060 acres (50 improved) and 3 cabins on the west side of the river, also 750 acres (25 cleared) and 4 cabins just above McIntosh Bluff.
George Brewer had 800 acres just below Bassetts Creek, another 629 acres (60 tilled) with a house and 12 cabins, and another 634 acres with 3 cabins and a mill.
James Caller also had a number of properties; three on the west of the Tombigbee totaling nearly 2000 acres (one of which was on Smith's Creek with 6 cabins), two on the west side of the Mobile River, totalling nearly 1000 acres, and two on the east side of the Mobile River, directly across from his other property, totaling 1640 acres. Notably, his 1000 acre plantation east of the Mobile was all tilled and that on the west side was known as "Grogg Hall" and had a house 30x20.

Near St. Stephens

John McGrew Sr. had 1000 acres of land (40 tilled) on the west side of the Tombigbee, with a 34x18 house and 7 outbuildings.
John Baker had 400 acres (25 tilled) and a 30x20 foot house and 3 outbuildings.
Colonel Bullock is not mentioned on the tax list.

There is a long list of residents without land description in this year; included are Jesse Womack, John Womack, William Womack, and Richard Womack. Also listed are Francis and William Coleman, David and William Gaines, Levin Hainsworth, William Hunt, Sandford McClendon, Silas Pace, Philip McGee, Harry Toulmin, Tandy Walker and others.2

We also see that Benjamin Few came in 1802 from Georgia, but died in 1805. (Note that Jesse Womack served with Twiggs and Few in the Revolution)

1- The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines, Pioneer and Statesman of Early Alabama and Mississippi 1805-1843 Edited with an Introduction and Notes by James P. Pate
2- 1805 tax Washington County, Miss. Terr (check original record-these are from a webpage)
3-The Hollingers http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cmamcrk4/smfm23.html (documented on webpage)
4-http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cmamcrk4/crkdox15.html#anchor1611373

Suggested Resources:
Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines
Thomas Woodward's Reminiscences
Pickett's History of Alabama
 http://jenniferhsrn.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-tensaw-settlement-part-1.html

Timeline for Jesse Womack's Extended Family in North Carolina and Georgia

date	Place	Event
1741 Apr 23	Amelia County, Va.	Richard Womack purchases land
1758	Lunenburg Co. Va.	Abraham Womack private in Va. Colonial Militia, French and Indian War (serves with John Mitchell-future brother in law)
1761	Orange Co. NC	Aug 1761, Orange Co, NC Court minutes, 57-252, "Ordered that Richard Womack, Jacob Womack, Abraham Womack, Josiah Aldey {sic, Richard Womack's son-in-law}, Robert McFarland, Andrew Evans, Frederick Kerlock, Robert Donaldson, Hugh Barnet, William Barnet, William Chambers Jr, Edward Chambers & John Hurley be appointed a jury to lay out and open a road to begin where the road from the County line crosses the road leading from where John Pryor, Esq lives to Orange County house, thence ... to .. Granville County line, and that Edward Chambers, Robert McFarland & Thomas Douglas be appointed overseers."
1763	Granville Co. NC	Abraham Womack marries Martha Mitchell
1765	Orange Co. NC	Abraham Womack buys 166 acres on Hico Creek adjoining land of John Pryor (patent book 14, p.385) dated 7 Jun 1761
1767	Orange Co NC	Abraham buys 205 acres Mayo Creek (formerly belonging to Philip Pryor)
1771	St. George Parish Ga. (later Burke Co. now Jefferson Co.)	3 Sep 1771, St. George Parish, GA {later Burke Co, GA; the area where the Womacks lived is modern Jefferson Co, GA}. Georgia Land Owner's Memorial 1758-1776. John Womack, 100 acres, St. George Parish, 2/100, 14 Dec 1771. Bounded on NW by John Emanuel, SW by Richd Womack and Peter Grant, other sides vacant. Granted to self 3 Sep 1771. Signed by Abraham Womack for John Womack.
1771	Rocky Comfort Creek, Burke, Ga.	Richard Womack and his wife were living here with four children and six negroes. Colonial Records of GeorgiaVol. X page 897.
1771 Sept.	Rocky Comfort Creek, Burke, Ga.	Capt. Jonathan Kemp moved from NC to St. George Parish (Burke Co) in abt 1768 and bought 100 acres of land on Rocky Creek. Here he met and married Sally “Patsy” Womack. Colonial Records of Georgia by Chandler Vol. XII page 52
1772	Orange Co NC	30 Mar 1772, Orange Co, NC, Orange Co, NC Deed Book 3, p.483, dated 30 Mar 1772, Abraham Womack of Orange to Alexander Davison of same, 205 acres, W side of May Creek {sic, Mayo Creek in modern north-east Person Co, NC}, on Thomas King's line, formerly Philip Pryor's. note that in 1777 the northern part of orange county became caswell county
1773 Nov 15	St. George (Burke Co.) Ga.	St. George Parish, GA - Richard Womack of St George to son Jesse Womack, slave Tom, witnessed by Abraham Womack and Martha (her M mark) Womack; proved by Abraham Womack 9 Dec 1773.
1781	NC	Jonathan Kemp was a Captain in Burke’s Regt, NC Militia during the Revolution. Then returned to Georgia
1783 Nov 3	Wilkes Co. Ga.	Wilkes Co, GA, Abraham Womack warrant for 500 acres, warrant dated 3 Nov 1783; surveyed 6 Nov 1783; on Gravils Creek, near Powels Creek of Ogechee, bounding on all sides by vacant land. (granted 1785)
1783 Nov 3	Wilkes Co. Ga.	Wilkes Co, GA, Abraham Womack warrant for 300 acres, warrant dated 3 Nov 1783; surveyed 6 Nov 1783; on the head of Harden's Creek of Little River, bounded by vacant land on all sides. (granted 1789)
1784	Burke Co. Ga.	Jonathan Kemp elected to the Georgia Legislature and serves as a Justice in Burke Co.
1784 Jan 28	Burke Co. Ga.	Francis Boykin (later migrates to Tombigbee) a “refugee soldier” of Burke Co. Appoints Jonathan Kemp, Esq. to obtain his bounty land.
1790	Burke Co. Ga.	Headrights include:Boykin, Francis and Jesse, Coleman, Francis, Fussell, William, Harvey, Blassingame, Kemp, Daniel, Pace, James, Prior, Robert, Warmack, Mary, Warmock, Jesse (plus Taylors, Walkers, and others)
1791 Jan 20		Death of Sally “Patsy” Womack Kemp Jonathan Kemp remarries Elizabeth Cox
1796	Hancock Co. Ga.	Abraham Womack deeds land and possessions to children, witnessed by David Womack
1797 May 25	Hancock Co. Ga.	Abraham and Martha Womack deed Francis Coleman, husband of dtr. Mary, 75 acres on Graybill’s Creek Hancock Co., GA Deed Book B, 1794-1802, pages 475, 545, 546
1797 June 2	Hancock Co. Ga.	Last Will and Testament of Abraham Womack, Book A page 219, Hancock Co., GA. Dated 2 June 1797, Court of Ordinary.
1801	St. Helena La.	Jonathan Kemp and his sons sign a petition for claim to West Florida titles Mississippi Territorial Papers of the United States Vol. V 1798-1817page 168

Richard's Story- 1795-Friends and Relations in Georgia

Despite being spread out on their frontier plantations, most several hundred acres in size, getting together to socialize with neighbors and relatives was the spice of life then just as it is now.
Friends and relatives would have visited on Sundays, traditionally the day of rest, but also a time to gather for a picnic or meal and socialization. The men might have gathered during the week to assist each other with building a new cabin or barn, or with extensive clearing, or seasonal harvesting. At such times the women would eagerly bring their quilts to work on together, in between cooking meals to set out on boards for the men at the mid-day dinner. Birth, death, and marriage were times for families to gather and support each other. There were few if any doctors; the women would help their female family members through that ordeal and celebration. Death was a constant companion, and lifetimes were often greviously short, although many of the Womack’s tended to be a long-lived sort. Marriages were among the happiest of celebrations; a joining of families, and an expectation of new lives to come. Families were generally large- 8-10 children, and due to the hazards of childbirth and health in general, many men, like Jesse, had survived one wife and started a new family with a second wife. Children were used to living in extended families with half-siblings, step-siblings, full-siblings, and multiple generations under one small roof. This probably produced some inherent conflicts, but it seems that families kept close contact even over vast distances. 

The Womack family was one of the earliest settlers in the area. Other early settlers, who received “head rights” in the area included the Harveys, Priors, Fussells, Boykins, Taylors, Walkers, Paces, Kemps, and Colemans. We see most of these names again later in the lives of the Womack family. It appears that neighbors formed close bonds in those days. Communities were tiny, and the young people from neighboring families often courted and married. Indeed, Richard Womack was already related to two of these families.

Richard's half-brother Jack, now 24, had married 19 year old Frances Coleman and their first child, John N. Womack Jr., was born in 1799. Jesse was no doubt delighted in his first grandchild. Frances’ family plantation adjoined that of the Womack’s. Her father, Frances Coleman, and her mother, Margaret, were their closest friends and neighbors. Their sons were mostly grown now, and two married Womacks- Francis Jr., 28, had married Mary Womack, Richard’s cousin- the daughter of his Uncle Abraham. Benjamin, 22, would marry Elizabeth Womack. The Coleman’s had a younger daughter, Vashti, who was 14, and one little boy, Daniel, who was 8, and no doubt a close friend of Richard’s 9 year old brother, Frank.

Richard's uncle, David Womack, age 65 and Aunt Mildred Pryor Womack, age 59,  had also migrated from Caswell County NC in 1784 and were living in Burke County in 1795. 1  Their eldest son was 32 year old Richard Mansel, and they had a 30 year old daughter Dolly (Dorothy) who married David Mitchell. David II was 26,  Abner 22, Abe 18 and Jacob Green 15. Richard remained close with this family for years.

Another uncle, Abraham Womack, lived about 40 miles north, in Hancock County. Richard’s grandfather  had been visiting him when he passed away, in July, 1785. Now Abraham was sick- so sick that he had written his will and was leaving his lands and possessions to his wife and children. He had a good sized plantation on Graybill's Creek and had 22 negroes helping farm it. Most of the children from his first marriage were grown and married and the girls were living on their own, (including Mary who had wed Francis Coleman Jr.)  But Abraham had lost his first wife, and then married Martha, who had five younger children. Elizabeth, age 15 was the eldest of that family. (see Abraham’s will below)

Richard’s aunt Patsy Womack, had married Captain Jonathan Kemp, who had also moved from NC to Georgia and bought land on Rocky Creek. He had fought in Burke's Regiment in the NC Militia during the war and then returned to serve in the Georgia Legislature. He and Patsy had 6 children who were cousins to Richard- the closest in age being Dempsey, age 18. But Patsy had died soon after Dempsey’s birth, and Jonathan Kemp had remarried Elizabeth Cox and started another large family.

Richard's aunt, Sarah Womack, and her husband, James Archdeacon Cody, had both died in 1795, but they and their family had also migrated from Caswell County, NC to Warrenton Georgia, about 20 miles away from Richard’s home. He had grown cousins still living in that area, too.

Other Womack family members probably kept touch with letters. Another uncle, John Womack, and his wife Lucy- Mildred’s sister, had lived near them in Caswell Co NC. Uncle Jacob Womack had also moved to North Carolina, and then for a time, on to Tennessee.

1- Deposition of William Womack, Son of David Womack Sr, records of St. Helena Parish

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will of Abraham Womack, Hancock County, Georgia Will Book A, page 219, signed 2 Jun 1797.

In the Name of God Amen
I Abraham Womack being weak in body but of sound memory blessed be God, do this day, June the second in the year of our Lord A.D. 1797, make and publish this my last Will and Testament in names and form following (vizt):

First, I give my body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner, and my spirit I Recommend to God who gave it.

Secondly, I lend unto my loving wife Martha Womack two negroe women Jude and Hannah during her natural life and after her decease for the said two negroes Jude and Hannah and their increase to be equally divided between my five youngest children Elizabeth Sarah Lucy William And Jesse. And should either of them die under age or before marriage for the survivors to divide equally.

I also lend unto my wife two other negro women Doll and Nann while my son
John becomes of age and after he arrives at the age of twenty-one years for them and their increase from this date to be equally divided between my three sons-in-law William Stone, Clement Glenn and Francis Coleman. I also give unto my wife her bed, square table and walnut Chest. I lend unto my wife my young bay mare until she has three folds [sic, foals], the first for my son John, the second for my son William, and the third for my son Jesse and then the said mare to remain the property of my wife forever. I lend my wife one hundred & twenty five acres and during her natural life, beginning at a hickory corner John Reeds line, running along Colemans line to a pine corner, Rogerss line, thence down my old line to Frazers line, thence across to said Reeds line including half of my present dwelling house, Spring and priviledge of other out houses.

I give unto my son John one hundred acres of land adjoining his brother Shearward and my wife and after her decease I give and bequeath all my track of land containing two hundred and twenty acres unto my son John with all and singular their rights and appertainnances in any wise belonging including my present dwelling house, orchards, household, kitchen furniture, plantation tools and work horses. I also give unto my son John one feather bed, also one negro boy named January which is to remain with my wife until he arrives at the age of twenty one years and then he is to receive him and the hall and the stair room should he want them and the hundred acres of land before mentioned.

I give unto my five youngest children, five little negroes (to wit) David, Isom, Sam, James, and Amy to be divided as they become of age, I give unto my three daughters Elizabeth Sary and Lucy all my black walnut in my kitchen loft to be equally divided.

I give unto my son Shearward Womack my Folding table, also one negroe man named Bill to be received the twenty-fifth day of December 1798. Also my coat to be taken at my death.

I give unto my son David Womack one negroe man named Walt to be received the twenty-fifth day of December 1798. Also my mixed coat at my death.

I give unto my son Mancil Womack my green hand [?] cloth coat at my death.
I also give him Eighty five dollars and seventy cents to be paid the twenty-fifth day of December 1798.

I give unto my daughter Susannah Glenn one negroe girl named Chancy, also one feather bed...also Eighty five dollars and seventy five cents to be paid the twenty-fifth day of December 1798.

I give unto my daughter Mary Coleman one feather bed, one hair trunk, also one negroe girl named Cealey, also Eighty five dollars and twenty five cents to be paid the twenty-fifth day of December 1798.

I give to my granddaughter Patsey Howard Eighty five dollars and seventy five cents to be paid the twenty- fifth day of December 1798.

The work horse, wagon, and plantation tools, houses and kitchen furniture to remain on the plantation for the support of the family. The stock of meat cattle and sheep to remain on the plantation until December 1798 and equally division to take place between the children and as far as the young children's part, I trust my wife to take them and keep and give off as they become of age.....

If my son John should die under age his property must be equally divided between my sons Shearward Womack, Mancil Womack & David Womack.

I do appoint my sons Shearward Womack, Mancil Womack, & James H McFarland Executors of my Last Will and Testament to take care and see the same be performed according to my true intent & meaning. In Witnesses whereof I here unto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of
John White
Thomas Lightfoot
Waller Brown.

Abraham Womack
Martha her + mark Womack

An Inventory of the goods and chattels of the Estate of Abraham Womack late deceased
ABSTRACT:
Slaves Bill, Nann, Doll, four small boys, Hannah, January, Jude, Cealy, Walt
225 acres oak and hickory land
3 horses, 23 meat cattle, 25 hogs
Various farm equipment, household furniture, harvested crops (mainly tobacco and corn), etc
Total $5154.14

The Womacks and Colemans