The Governor's Council

Colonial Virginia had no House of Lords but the Governor's Council, which was handpicked by the Goernor and confirmed by the King, served a similar role. Members were appointed from the wealthies and most highly respected families, and posts were often for a lifetime, and inherited after death by a son of the same family. The Governor's Council also served as the high court in the colony, trying all serious offences. The council met at least once a year, and had judicial sessions quarterly. The members often stayed at the capital for several weeks or longer to advise the governor on imminent matters. By the 1640's council members were exempted from taxation to pay for their service to the colony. They assisted with land grants, appointing public positions such as tobacco inspectors, militia officers, sheriffs. They also appointed the justices of the peace in each county. In two cases they successfully appealed to the Queen to replace the the Governor and lt. governor. Thus between their business dealings and their governmental dealings, these were dominant and powerful families in Colonial Virginia. However, after 1750 the House of Burgesses began to fill a more dominant place in governmental affairs.

Members of the Governor's Council from Henrico and nearby Charles City county are listed below.


1623- Wm. Farrar (d. 1637)
1637- Francis Epes (of Charles City County) 1637 (d bef. 1655)
1642- Thomas Stegg (died in a shipwreck in 1652)
1657- Abraham Wood (Charles City)
1664- Thomas Stegg II
1665- Theodore Bland (Charles City-"Westover" (d 1671)
1675- Nathaniel Bacon II (of Bacon's Rebellion-Henrico- "The Curles") (d 1676)
1681- William Byrd I ("Belvidere" in Henrico and "Westover" in Charles City) (d 1704)
1688- Edward Hill ("Shirley" Charles City) (d 1700)
1708- William Byrd II ("Westover" Charles City) (d 1744)
1724- John Carter ("Shirley" Charles City) (d 1742)
1728- Wm. Randolph ("Turkey Island" Henrico) (d 1742)
1754- Wm. Byrd III ("Westover" Charles City) (d 1777)

William Farrar- came to Virginia at age 35 with Lord De La Ware. In the 1622 massacre, ten people were killed at his estate on the Appomattox River, but William escaped with other survivors and lived at the home of his neighbors, the Jordan's, on "Beggars Bush" and "Jorden's Journey" plantation on the James River. When Samuel Jordan died in 1623, his widow, Cicely, married William. Their neighbors were Capt. John Woodlief, John Rolfe, and John Martin. They lived at Jordan's Journey for several years before William patented land at the former city of Henricus, which became known as "Farrar's Island."

Life in Colonial Virginia- Law and Order

The House of Burgesses

From 1619 until 1643, Henrico County had 2 representatives in the House of Burgesses which met with the royal governor and the governor's council, which was appointed by the King. After 1643 the burgesses met in the General Assembly. Most burgesses were members of the gentry.

The Womack's neighbor, William Hatcher, was elected most years from 1644-1652 and again in 1659. He was known for having a temper, and his ancestors had fought against the crown with Cromwell. He was often in trouble for his fiery words, calling the speaker of the house an atheist and blasphemer, and saying "the mouth of this house is a Devil!" and was made to kneel and apologize, paying fees for his indiscretion.

He was in trouble again during Bacon's Rebellion, for "uttering divers mutinous words" but as he was at that point an "aged man" Governor Berkeley fined him 8,000 pounds of dressed pork or 8,000 pounds of tobacco, rather than a harsher punishment.

Henrico County elected Nathaniel Bacon to the House of Burgesses despite his disagreements with his uncle, Governor Berkeley. The assembly voted to create a 1,000 man army with Bacon as the commander. After Bacon's Rebellion, the King sent a number of new governors to Virginia, with the intent of limiting the power of the elected burgesses, including eliminating annual sessions and enforcing many vetoes from the governor or the King. During this time the governor  and his council (appointed by the King) wielded greater power than the elected burgesses.

 http://www.newrivernotes.com/topical_books_1902_virginia_colonialvirginiaregister.htm

1631/2- Capt. Tho. Osborne, Francis Epes, Walter Aston
1639-Capt. Tho. Harris, Christopher Branch, Edward Turnstall
1641- Mr. John Baugh, Mr. Francis Fulford
1642/3- Capt. Matthew Gough, Arthur Bayly, Daniel Luellin
1644- Dan. Llewellin, Richard Cocke, Abra. Wood, William Hatcher
1644/5- John Baugh, Abra. Wood
1645- Abra. Wood, William Hatcher
1646- Capt. Abra. Wood, William Cocke
1647- Capt. Tho. Harris
1649- William Hatcher
1652 April- William Hatcher
1652 Nov- Capt Wm. Harris (note for Charles City- Capt. Dan Llewellin, Maj. Abra. Wood)
1653- Capt. Wm. Harris
1654- Richard Cocke
1655/6- Thomas Lyggon, Maj. Wm. Harris
1657- 1659 Maj. Wm. Harris
1659/60- Theorick Bland, speaker Wm. Farrar (Theodoric Bland also representing Charles City)
1663, 1666- Capt. Wm. Farrar
1676- Nathaniel Bacon Jr.
1677- Wm. Byrd, Thomas Cocke
1679- Wm. Byrd, Abel Gower
1680, 1682- Wm. Byrd, John Farrar
1684- Wm. Randolph, John Farrar
1685- Capt. Wm. Randolph, Richard Kennon
1688- Wm. Randolph, Peter Field
1691, 1692- Wm. Randolph, Francis Eppes
1692/3 John Pleasants (quaker- declined to take oath- Capt Wm Randolph elected in his stead, Capt Peter Field
1693- Wm. Randolph, Francis Epes
1695- Wm. Randolph, Wm. Soane
1696- Wm Byrd (out of country) Wm. Randolph, James Cocke
1698- Wm. Randolph, speaker, Tho. Cocke
1699- Wm. Randolph (served 3 days- Tho. Cocke in his stead) James Cocke
1700- Tho. Cocke, Wm. Randolph
1701-2- Wm. Farrar, Tho. Cocke
1704- Wm. Randolph, Francis Epes
1705-1706 Wm. Randolph
1710- Wm. Randolph, John Bolling
1714- John Bolling, Francis Epes, Jr.
1718- Wm. Randolph, John Bolling
1720-22- Wm. Randolph, Thos. Randolph
1723-1726- Wm. Randolph, John Bolling
1742-1748 Richard Randolph and John Bolling
1749- Peter Randolph and John Bolling
1750's- Wm. Randolph, Bowler Cocke

http://www.newrivernotes.com/topical_books_1902_virginia_colonialvirginiaregister.htm

The burgesses continued to try to exert influence, mostly representing the interests of the wealthy planters and tobacco trade. In 1713, the governor, supported by the assembly, made a law requiring a public tobacco warehouse in each county, where all tobacco would be graded in order to ensure high quality exports and good prices to planters. Certain burgesses were paid to be official inspectors. Smaller planters feared that some burgesses were focusing on their own interests rather than that of the common man, and many existing burgesses were replaced. The new members tried to replace the law, and two years later succeeded in a royal veto of the law. In 1730, when another tobacco inspection law was proposed, the assembly required that no burgesses could be paid to be inspectors.

Richard Womack 1655-1684- William Byrd I

William Byrd I

Young Richard Womack connected with one of the wealthiest men in the colony when he became a trader for William Byrd I. Byrd had inherited 1200 acres from his uncle, Thomas Stegge, at the falls of the James, the western frontier of the settlement. While still in his twenties, William Byrd became a captain in the local militia and a member of the county court. His main livelihood, however, was that of an explorer and trader. He was interested in exploring the lands that lay to the west; lands still held by local Indian tribes. He became active in Indian trade and sent out caravans of traders to remote villages to expand the lucrative fur trade. He also imported bonded servants and slaves to Virginia; white bonded servants, negro slaves, and captured Indian children. Byrd increased his lands, eventually owning nearly 30,000 acres.  He grew tobacco on his plantation and owned warehouses along the James River. He was one of the wealthiest men in the colony of Virginia.

He nearly lost his fortune when he sided for a time with Nathaniel Bacon, nephew of Governor Berkeley and an Henrico neighbor with whom he had explored and conducted trading expeditions at the request of the Governor. (See Bacon's Rebellion and the men of Henrico) In time, however, Byrd returned his loyalty to the Governor, thus retaining his life and his lands. His wealth continued to grow; in 1688 he bought land from the Blands for 10,000 lbs. of tobacco and cask, build a home on what became Westover Plantation. He died there in 1704.

His son, William Byrd II had been educated in England, but returned to Westover to become a planter. He was a member of the house of burgesses and served on the Governor's council until his death in 1744. He is most famous for founding Richmond, wich was laid out in 1737. He was, however, also known for being an unkind and unfaithful husband, and a cruel master who frequently beat his servants and slaves. By 1768 he had squandered his father's fortune.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/William_Byrd.jpg

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/byrd_william_ca_1652-1704

Richard Womack 1655-1684 -Background- Founding of Jamestown and the Virginia Colony

We all have an image in our minds from our childhood history books of the founding of the Jamestown Colony, although the more I read the more I realize how difficult it is to transport ourselves back in history and truly understand the events of the times. Nevertheless, here is a simplistic representation of the events which preceded the birth of Richard Womack, born in 1655, in the Colony of Virginia.

1607- The London Company is given a royal charter to found a colony and sends 3 small ships with 105 "adventurers" (most of whom were "gentlemen" and a few who were "laborers") to settle Jamestown. They build a fort, but rely mostly on the food from their journey and that given them by the Powhattan Indian tribe that lives in the area. Soon relations with the Powhattans  deteriorates.

1609- Ships returning from England find 75% of the colony has died from starvation, disease, and indian attacks. The first Anglo-Powhattan war will continue from 1609-1614.

1611- Sir Thomas Dale heads further inland on the James River and founds a city on the bluffs which he calls "Henricus." He attacks the local Appomattox Indian towns and founds a settlement on their land called the "Bermuda Hundred."

1613- Dale builds a fort at Bermuda Hundred at the confluence of the James and the Appomattox Rivers and calls the settlement there  "City Point."

1614- Powhattan marries his youngest daughter, Pocahontas, to John Rolfe. This  secures peace with the tribe during his lifetime. In the Bermuda Hundred, John Rolfe has cultivated Orinoco tobacco, an improvement over the Indian tobacco, which will become the main crop of the colony.

1616- The population of Bermuda Hundred consists of 119 people. 17 are farmers, the rest laborers sent from the Virginia Company of London. Pocahontas and John Rolfe visit London; she dies there.

1619- The first elected House of Burgesses is established in Jamestown, allowing colonists a share in the government, along with the governor, still appointed by the Virginia Company. A ship with 90 women arrives in the colony (local planters had to pay the passage of the lady (120 pounds tobacco) and have her permission to marry.) This helps begin more families in the heavily male population.

1622- After the death of Powhattan, his brother Opechancanough coordinates a series of attacks on the colony. 347 colonists are brutally massacred. Bermuda Hundred has only 41 survivors. In retaliation the surviving colonists raid the Powhattan's corn fields, then stealthily invite leaders, including Opechancanough, to a treaty meeting. There they poison their toasting drinks, and then shoot them. Opechancanough escapes the slaughter. The colonists continue the pattern of yearly raiding of Indian fields just as they mature in order to starve out the Indian population, many of whom retreat further into the wilderness.

1624- King James revokes the charter of the Virginia Company, making Virginia a royal colony.

 After his death in 1625 his son, King Charles I, takes little interest in the colony, leaving the popular government in place.

1635- Capt. Francis Eppes patents 1700 acres at City Point and names part of the property "Hopewell Farm" after the ship which brought him to Virginia.

1642- Sir William Berkeley, educated at Oxford, and a gentleman at the court of King Charles I, is knighted by the King and at his request, named royal Governor of the Colony of Virginia. Berkeley became a successful planter and trader. He cultivates the support of the leading planters, and in turn supports the general assembly.

1642-1648- The Civil War in England- In 1642 the British Parliament under Cromwell rises up against what they consider tyrannical rule by Charles I, resulting in civil war.

1643- In the Colony of Virginia, Bristol Parish is created from Henrico Parish. This covers the Bermuda Hundred area (now Chesterfield County Virginia.

1644- Indians attack the Flowerdew Hundred, killing 300 colonists. (Family stories tell of Sarah, wife of Dr. Woodson, holding off the Indians at her cabin with Col. Thomas Ligon, a cousin of Sir William Berkeley.

1646- Fort Henry is built (at what is today Petersburg Va.) to act as a legal frontier between the  colonists and the Indians. Both had to be authorized to cross into the other's territory from here. (1646-1691) The Occaneechi Trail/Trading Path led southward from Fort Henry toward Occaneechi Town (near present day Clarksville Va.) and southward toward the lands of the Catawba and Cherokee.

1649-  In England, Charles I is accused of treason and beheaded. Governor Berkeley, a staunch Cavalier, refuses to acknowledge the downfall of the monarcy, claiming that Virginia remains loyal to the throne. In retaliation, the British Commonwealth (Cromwell's government) enacts a navigation act against the colony and when the colony resists, places a blockade on the colony. In 1651 English soldiers are sent to Jamestown. Berkeley surrenders and steps down as governor.

1649- In the midst of the Puritan rule of England, a pamphlet is annonymously distributed in London which paints a very rosy picture of life in the Virginia Colonies. It advertises a land with 15,000 colonists living on fine plantations in a land of natural abundance. This pamplet is credited with attracting many English Cavaliers, who find themselves displaced without the royal court and disgruntled with Puritan rule, to migrate to the Virginia Colony.
(http://www.virtualjamestown.org/exist/cocoon/jamestown/fha/J1080)


1658- Cromwell dies, and without his guidance, the Commonwealth crumbles.

1660-Charles II is restored to the throne, and Sir William Berkeley to Governor of Virginia. Charles II uses land in the colonies to reward his supporters, and insists that colonial trade be limited to England. This causes a decrease in the price of tobacco, and a hardship on the colony. Within the colony, Sir William Berkeley instigates laws which officially recognize slavery, and remove any legal rights from slaves. Captured Indians and their offspring are also now relegated to a lifetime of slavery. (In effect until 1752)

Information from: http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/
Illustrations courtesy of wikimedia

Other sources of information on this time period:
http://www.virtualjamestown.org/fhaccounts_date.html

The 1854-1855 Texas Scholastic Index in Trinity County

During the school year of 1854-1855, Texas required that a Scholastic Index be taken in each county, showing the number of students aged 6-16 who were attending school in each county. In Trinity County, the list was compiled by 27 year old Andrew Jackson West (who in October 1855 would marry 15 year old Matilda Taylor, the eldest sister of my great-grandmother,Nancy Frances Taylor.)

This list provides us with a good picture of the 80 families that were early pioneers in Trinity County. There were 218 children attending school in the county in 1854-1855 - a remarkable achievement considering how greatly these children were needed with everyday farm labor during early pioneer times, and what distances were no doubt traveled to and from the nearest school room.

From this index we know that three of the Franklin sisters-Rebecca, Frances, and Jemima- were already settled in Trinity County by 1854.

Rebecca Franklin and Abraham James Womack had six children. 2 males and 2 females were attending school. This would have been Frances Elizabeth 14, Sarah Jane 13, Richard 11 and George 7. Mary age 15 was no longer attending school, and James age 4 had not yet started school. We know that Rebecca was pregnant with another child at this time; William Alfred who would be born in January, 1855.

Frances "Fannie" Franklin and John Chapman had seven children. 1 male and 3 females were in school; Allace "Linny" 11, Mary 10, Allen 9, and Sarah Elizabeth "Betty" 7. Jemima "Mima" age 6 Rebecca age 4, and Caroline 1 were still at home. Fannie was also pregnant; another daughter, Adeline, would be born in 1854.

Jemima Franklin and William McClendon had seven children. 3 males and 2 females were attending school; Henry 16, Thomas 13, William 11, Mary 10, and Rebecca Alace 7. 19 year old Milledge Livingston was finished with school, and 4 year old Robert Lewis was not yet attending school.

What was school like for these children?

We know that in 1860, the school teacher, 23 year old John Burris, was living with the McClendon family. It is likely that in the earliest days of the county, when a formal school had yet to be built, the classes may have been held in private homes or community buildings. We know that in 1866 the Eastern Star Lodge in Nogalus Prairie held a community school in their meeting hall, charging $1 per student per month. If students could not afford the fee, the Masons paid tuition for them. (History of the Eastern Star Lodge #284 AF p. 227) Respect for the Masons ran deep in these families; Henry Franklin had been a Master Mason and most of the families were members until recent times. My grandmother was a member of the Eastern Star and my grandfather and father were Masons. By 1873 the school had moved to Centralia and there were paid teachers for 5 months of the year.

 Books would have been precious and in short supply; simple primers for the children may have been brought with the pioneers and other books may have been sent up to town from New Orleans or Galveston. It is certain that each family had a bible; that likely provided the main reading material in the early days. Children would have done their lessons on slate tablets using chalk; pen and paper would have been very dear indeed. Henry Franklin admonishes his son-in-law AJ Womack to make sure and write along all the sides of the paper when writing a letter- and artifacts of letters from his great-niece, Mary Anna Purvis Campbell show that she did just this (Making letters somewhat hard to read!)

Girls were destined to become wives and mothers, using their education for running a household. Most male children prepared for the business of running a plantation. A few male children were prepared for higher education including Rebecca's eldest son, Richard Hilton, and Jemima's eldest son,  Livingston McClendon, who both became physicians.

Why was Rebecca J. Franklin Womack buried in Grimes County, Texas?

I was confused for some time about why Rebecca Franklin Womack was not buried with her family in Trinity County.  I finally found her grave in Iola, Grimes County, Texas. She had traveled down to be with her daughter, Mary Ann, who is also buried there, as is Rebecca's other daughter, Sarah Jane. Both were married to the same man; Dr. Theophilus Hill.

Sarah Jane Womack had first married Dr. George Marion Wallace. In 1860 they were living in nearby Angelina County. She had three children; Brink, Lucy, and Elizabeth. We are unsure of how she was widowed, but it was wartime, and her husband died before August 1866, when she married another doctor- James Theophilus Hill. They made their home in Iola, in Grimes County. Sarah had three children with Dr. Hill; Mary Leona, Alma Amerial, and James Abraham.

Although we are uncertain of AJ Womack's exact date of death, we know it was sometime between 1867, when he registered to vote in Trinity County, and 1870, when he no longer appears on the Trinity County census. There is some uncertainty in his burial place at Apple Springs; some say he was buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery, others say at Calvary.

By 1870, Rebecca Franklin Womack was 52 years old and living alone on the plantation with her two youngest sons, Alfred and Thomas, ages 15 and 12. Helping her on the plantation was a newly freed black family, the Scurlooks. Sam was 54, and his wife Melissie 35. They had seven children, and the 82 year old grandmother, Lucie Scurlook, also lived with them on the plantation.

The Hills were back visiting Rebecca on the plantation in 1873. Somehow 5 year old Leona either sickened and died or had a fatal accident. She was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery in Apple Springs.  Two years later, Sarah gave birth to another daughter, Sallie. However the birth was too much for Sarah; she died in early April. She was only 34 years old. Sadly, little Sallie would die as a toddler, in the fall of 1876. Mother and daughter were buried in Zion Cemetery, in Iola, Grimes County.

According to the story by Sarah Miltia Hill, Dr. Hill took the children to live with their grandparents on the plantation (however we know that this included only one grandparent; Rebecca.) Dr. Hill went back to his work, visiting them whenever he could. While visiting, however, he got better acquainted with Sarah's older sister, Mary Ann; a widow with two children who was also back living at home on the plantation. They were married November 30, 1875.

According to Sarah Miltia Hill, Rebecca Franklin Womack returned with them to Iola to help look after all the children. However the 1880 census still shows her as living on the Womack plantation in Trinity County, now age 63, with just her youngest, Thomas "Sweet" Womack, age 22. Her sons, George and James were still living nearby with their growing families.  George and Mollie had Leon 9, Oda 7, Edna 5, and Jennie 3. James and Fannie had Emma 9, Dona 6, and Leona 3.  I think it is likely that Rebecca made extended visits to her daughter and grandchildren in Iola/Madisonville, which was 100 miles away; a long trip by horseback or carriage for a woman in her 60's. She passed away there on July 20, 1882. She was buried at Zion Methodist Cemetery in Iola.

Her daughter Mary Ann lived until June 6, 1897, when she was 59 years old. By then all her children and step/children (also her nephews and nieces) were grown.
Dr. Hill did not pass until 1911, when he was 73 years old. He and Mary Ann were also buried at Zion Cemetery in Iola.

Dr. Hill's family was a complex one; his wife Sarah's children- Brink Wallace, (Elizabeth and Lucy's lives are unknown,) Alma Amerial Hill (a family genealogist and the mother of Sarah Miltia Hill) and James Hill and his wife Mary Ann's children- Laura and George Franklin, and Runie Maude and Rebecca Hill. Rebecca, born in 1878, was surely named after her grandmother, Rebecca J. Franklin Womack.

While researching this family I found that Runie Maude Hill had married, had seven children, and was buried at Madisonville City Cemetery near Iola. One of her sons was William Womack Heath, born in 1903. While teaching, he attended Texas Christian University and the University of Texas Law School. He was not yet legal age when he was appointed the county attorney for Grimes County. After two terms as county attorney he was appointed as a judge. In 1933 he was appointed Texas secretary of state, and then assistant attorney general. He entered private practice in 1937, becoming one of the most prominent insurance lawyers in the country. This success enabled him to buy a ranch near an old friend, Lyndon B. Johnson and he was influential in establishing the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library. He re-entered public affairs in his later years, culminating in being appointed as ambassador to Sweden in 1967. After this he retired to ranching and working with charitable foundations. He died in Austin in 1971 and was buried at the State Cemetery.

Rebecca would have been proud. I wonder if William Womack Heath knew that her father, Henry Franklin, had also been a lawyer and magistrate...

Handbook of Texas Online, Charles Christopher Jackson, "Heath, William Womack," accessed March 12, 2017,http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fhe08. 



 

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