Family Research

Much of the actual work and research below is due to the tireless efforts of Deanna Spears (mdspears@dbstech.com) long before I began researching our common family roots. Thank you, Deanna. Also, you will find some great links to other sites where you and others can continue the research.

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Descendants of George Whitsell Sr.

 

George Whitsell Sr.

George Whitsell Sr. was born Bet. 1755 - 1774, and died Bef. 1821.

George married Elizabeth Meadows February 09, 1801 in Oglethorpe Co, Athens, Georgia. She was born 1779 in North Carolina They had seven children: Polley, Martha, Sally (Sarah Sally), James, George, John and Clarrresy.

 

More On George Sr.

 

George Whitsell Jr

George Whitsell Jr. was born in 1796 in Oglethorpe County, GA. 

George married Elizabeth Lester, daughter of Lewis Lester and Rhoda Russell.  Elizabeth was born in 1797 in Oglethorpe County, GA. They had seven children: William George, Jonathan L., Pleasant W., Nancy Susan (Sidney), Jacob, James L., and Andrew I.

 

More On George Jr.

 

Georgia Land Lottery Grants to Revolutionary Veterans

 

More On the Georgia Land Lottery

 

George Williamson Whitsell

George Williamson Whitsell was born on 5 Mar 1853 in Slaughters, KY, died on 8 Jun 1944 in Madison, KY, at age 91, and was buried in Madisonville, KY. 

 

General Notes: 1880 Hanson, Hopkins, Kentucky

Farmer, Widower, Year: 1880; Census Place: Hanson, Hopkins, Kentucky; Roll: T9_420; Family History Film: 1254420; Page: 333C; Enumeration District: 193; Image: 0670.

 

Farmer, Widower, Roll: T9_420; Family History Film: 1254420; Page: 333C; Enumeration District: 193; Image: 0670

 

George married Florence Wilson.  Florence Wilson died unknown she was 82 in Earlington Pike, KY. They had two children: Prior L. and Andrew Jackson.

 

Nancy Susan (Sidney) Whitsell

Nancy Susan (Sidney) Whitsell was born on 23 Jul 1832 in Hopkins County, KY and died on 8 Feb 1901 in Webster County, KY, at age 68. 

 

Nancy married John W. Orsburn, son of Randolph Orsburn and Frances (Franey) Mooney, on 24 Apr 1851.  John was born on 5 Jul 1828 in Webster County, KY and died on 18 May 1902 in Webster County, KY, at age 73. They had 11 children: Arbelia, Mary F., Anna F., Lynn F., Sallie E., Donia E., Luke T., John G., Charles M., William R., and James M..

 

Research Notes: Orsburn Notes for Nancy Susan Whitsell

Her husband. JOHN W. ORSBURN was born in what is now Webster County, KY on 7/5/1828, son of Randolph and Frances (Mooney) Orsburn. He is one of a numerous family and is of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was a North Carolina, born in Rutherford County on 0/13/1795, and his mother was born in the same county in 1799. The Orsburns came originally from Scotland. Subject's father emigrated from North Carolina to Henderson County, KY in 1818 and died in 1868. The mother of our subject died four years before his father's death. Mr. Orsburn, on coming of age, began farming for himself, and has since continued that occupation, save a short time when he resided in Sebree. His farm, which is one of the finest in Webster County, is located about three miles west of Sebree, and contains 550 acres. He was married April 24, 1851 to Miss Nancy S. Whitsell, a native of Hopkins County, KY, born 7/23/1832. The Whitsell family came from Georgia.  Mr. and Mrs. Orsburn are members of the Christian Church. For fifty-six years, Mr. Orsburn has resided near where he was born and is one of the few men, now living, who have resided in Webster County  for more than a half-century. He is a Democrat.

 

Sarah Sally Whitsell

Sarah Sally Whitsell was born in 1794 and died in 1855 in Henry County, GA, at age 61 and was buried in the Hand Fam Cemetery, Hampton, Henry, Georgia.

 

More On Sarah Sally Whitsell

 

Sarah married Littlebury Brittain Edwards (SEE: Descendants of Rhodri Mawr King Of All Wales below.), son of William Edwards and Elizabeth Brittain.  Littlebury was born on 18 Jun 1792 in Wilkes, GA, died in 1833 in Hampton, Henry, GA, at age 41, and was buried in 1833 in Hampton, Henry, GA. They had four children: James W., William G., Thomas J., and Martha S.

 

Sarah next married John M. Ponder Major, son of James Ponder and Elizabeth Luckie, on 27 Nov 1827 in Oglethorpe County, GA.  John was born on 4 Apr 1795 in Abbeville, SC and died on 17 May 1864 in Henry County, GA, at age 69. They had one child: George M..

 

More On Sarah Sally and James Ponder

 

James W. Edwards

James W. Edwards was buried in Edwards-Stanfield-Turnipseed Family Cemetery, Henry Co, GA. 

 

More On James W. Edwards 

 

William G. Edwards

Research Notes: Joseph Henry Hightower Moore (6/17/87)

Of the four children of Sarah Whitsell and Littlebury B. Edwards, only one moved away from Henry County. This was William G. Edwards (not to be confused with his uncle of the same name) who in 1843 married Jane H. Hightower of Fayette County and subsequently removed to Ashley County, Arkansas and to Texas. James Whitsell Edwards married in Henry, County in 1838, Sarah (Henderson) Crawford, daughter of Richard Henderson and believed to be the widow of a son of George Crawford who lived variously in Henry, Monroe and Spalding Counties, Ga., and in Chambers County, Ala. George Crawford was in Chambers County, Ala., in 1850 and in the Census of that year is shown as 75 years of age, hence born in 1775, and a native of Virginia. He died in Griffin, Ga. in 1858 and was buried in Monroe County, presumably by his first wife who was the mother of his children. His widow, Melvina Crawford, subsequently became the second wife of Dr. James Madison Couch of Griffin. (His brother, Dr. William Bartley Couch of Spalding County, was the second husband of Susan Ann [Edwards] Hightower, daughter of James A. Edwards of Henry County and granddaughter of William G. Edwards of Henry County, and widow of Simeon C. Hightower of Fayette and Henry Counties.)

 

Thomas J. Edwards

Thomas J. Edwards was born in 1820 and died on 11 Nov 1899, at age 79. 

 

Research Notes:

Thomas J. Edwards, the youngest son of Sarah Whitsell and Littlebury B. Edwards, married in Henry County in 1842, Martha J. Crawford, daughter of George Crawford. After her death he married second, in 1886, Sarah (Glass) Harris, widow of Green B. Harris and daughter-of Pleasant Glass of Butts County, Ga. T. J. Edwards was a leading planter in Henry County and built Edwards' Mill, whose old millpond is now. known as Lake Amah Lee near Hampton. Soon after 1847 he built a fine house in the Greek revival style at his plantation and, in later years had a town house in Hampton, where he died. He was a Justice of the Peace, a trustee of Liberty Hill Baptist Church in 1860, and later instrumental in the formation of the Hampton Baptist Church, the land for which was given by his son John L. Edwards.

 

Thomas married M.J. Unknown.   They had three children: Infant, Mary L., and Martha E.

 

Mary L. Edwards

Mary L. Edwards was born on 1 May 1862, died on 15 Feb 1863, and was buried in Hampton, Henry County, GA. 

 

Research Notes:

The following information was graciously provided by a direct descendent of the family:  Joseph Henry Hightower Moore;

Compilation date: 6/17/87

EDWARDS GRAVEYARD

(EDWARDS-LITTLE-PONDER-HAND-TURNIPSEED-STANFIELD)

Near Bear Creek Road, Hampton, Henry County, Georgia

 

Researched by Joseph Henry Hightower Moore

 

In Memory of MARY L., Daughter of M. J. & T. J. Edwards, Born May 1st, 1862, Died Feb. 15th, 1863. Sleep on little Mary, rest sweetly until God bid thee rise.

 

Martha E. Edwards

Martha E. Edwards was born on 31 Dec 1856, died on 5 Aug 1868, at age 11, and was buried in Hampton, Henry County, GA. 

 

Research Notes:

The following information was graciously provided by a direct descendent of the family:  Joseph Henry Hightower Moore

Compilation date: 6/17/87

EDWARDS GRAVEYARD

(EDWARDS-LITTLE-PONDER-HAND-TURNIPSEED-STANFIELD)

Near Bear Creek Road, Hampton, Henry County, Georgia

 

Researched by Joseph Henry Hightower Moore

In Memory of MARTHA E., Daughter of T. J. and M. J. Edwards, Born December 31st, 1856, Died August 5th, 1868. Sleep on our Martha, dear and sweetly rest. [IT:[Stone broken.]:IT]

 

Martha S. Edwards

Research Notes:

Martha S. Edwards, the only daughter of Sarah Whitsell and Littlebury B. Edwards, married in Henry County in 1839, James Frederick Glass, son or ward of Manson Glass of Fayette and Clayton Counties, who came to Georgia from Virginia. Frederick and Martha (Edwards) Glass settled north of McDonough in Henry County on present U. S. Hwy. 23/State Hwy.42 and are buried on their home place. They were both under age at the time of their marriage and until reaching their majority, Manson Glass was guardian for James Frederick Glass, and the Rev. William Moseley continued as guardian for Martha (Edwards) Glass. This was owing to the substantial estates to which each of the young people was to be heir. They were ancestors of the Henry County branch of the Glass family.

 

George M. Ponder

Research Notes:

44th Georgia Regiment:  George M. Ponder was 4th Corporal of the company on 4 March 1862. He was subsequently appointed 1st Corporal and in 1864, 5th Sergeant. He was captured with William M. Stanfield and others at Spotyslvania, Va., 10 May 1864, and imprisoned and later paroled at Fort Delaware, Del. He was received in Virginia in March 1865, and returned to Henry County.  Burial: Edwards-Stanfield-Turnipseed Family Cemetery, Henry Co, GA

 

James P. Whitsell

Research Notes:

James was the only one of the Whitsell men to fight for Company C, while all the others went to Company A, of the 8th Kentucky Infantry Regiment. James may or may not have been captured at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi in July of 1863. His final rank was Sergant. There was an earlier battle in Jackson around 1862 and one in 1863 after Vicksburg fell to the union. He helped to try to defend Vicksburg and was killed in a retreating battle to link up with General Johnson's Army of the West.

 

Martha Whitsell

Research Notes:

Will of MARTHA WHITSELL of Oglethorpe Co., FA being weak in body.

Just debts to be paid out of the estate.

"Having given to my brother JAMES WHITSELL two negros Asa and Cyntha, one horse named Ball, and two cows and one sow and five pigs, feather bed and furniture, one Side board and dressing table, two chests two pots and oven, one pair cards and wheel." (incomplete thought here, and on later bequests)

"Having given to my sister EDWARDS one side saddle"

"Having given to my nephew JAMES SIMMONS, when he shall arrive at the age of 21 ."

"Having given to my nephew JAMES W. EDWARDS, when he arrives at the age of 21" (no amount or other item disclosed)

"Having given to my nephew JAMES J. WHITSELL when he arrives at the age of 21" (nothing more)

"Having given to my nephew JAMES CROWLEY the sum of when he arrives at the age of 21."

" I do nominate my brother JAMES WHITSELL and THOMAS J. STAMPS executors."

Signed 1/16/1822 MARTHA (X) WHITSELL her mark

Witnessed by BENJAMIN WELLS

BENJAMIN TRIBLE

L.B.B. EDWARDS

County Sites From The USGenWeb Project 

Georgia

Kentucky

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