This blog post is another in a series connecting the dots in my tree to the souls buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
Laura “Lollie” Lyal Martin was born on December 27, 1860, in Georgia. She was known as Lollie. Her parents, John Franklin “Frank” Martin and Adaline “Addie” Celestial Malone had recently celebrated two occasions earlier that month: their second wedding anniversary on December 7 and Addie’s birthday on December 5.
Lollie was likely named after her maternal grandmother, Laura E. Williams, and her paternal grandmother, Nancy Lyall Sims. She was an only child.
Although Lollie’s connection to me is distant, I managed to uncover one! She is the wife of my first great-uncle through the husband of my 2nd cousin, 3x removed. You can follow the connection below. Alice Beman Lankford was my great-grandmother.
Lollie was born near the end of 1860 and was not recorded in the census that year. However, reviewing the census from June 9, we learn that her parents lived in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. Her father, Frank, worked as a farmer and had a personal estate valued at $3,000. At the time, Frank was 22 years old and Addie, her mother, was 19. Sometime later, the family relocated to Floyd County, Georgia.
Tragically, before Lollie’s second birthday, her father passed away in Floyd County on August 22, 1862. Frank was laid to rest in the Martin Family Cemetery in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His untimely death occurred without him leaving a will. Just days later, on August 26, Frank’s father, John Martin, petitioned the Floyd County Court to appoint him as temporary administrator of the estate. This allowed him to manage and sell the significant amount of perishable property Frank had left behind.
After her father’s passing, Lollie and her mother returned to Greene County. There, Addie filed a petition seeking legal authority to manage Lollie’s share of the estate, which was valued at $8,000. To demonstrate her commitment to accountability, Addie offered a $10,000 bond. She named B. Johnson and William as her securities in this arrangement and requested the court’s approval to oversee these funds. Her goal was to ensure proper management of the inheritance for her daughter’s well-being and future needs.
On January 12, 1863, a guardianship bond was established in Oglethorpe County, naming Lollie’s grandfather, John Martin, as her legal guardian. To secure this arrangement, John, alongside Mathew S. Jackson acting as a surety, pledged a financial bond of $10,000. This bond served as a safeguard, ensuring that John would faithfully fulfill his legal duties as outlined in the Letters of Guardianship and applicable laws. The bond would be voided if John adhered to these obligations, but it would remain in effect should he fail to meet his responsibilities.
On October 23, 1863, John Martin, gravely ill and aware of his approaching death, shared his final wishes regarding the distribution of his estate. Unable to formalize a written will due to the unavailability of the necessary assistance, he communicated his intentions verbally in the presence of three witnesses at his home in Oglethorpe County.
John expressed regret for not having completed a written will earlier but was determined to ensure fairness in dividing his estate. He declared that his wife, Nancy, would retain the estate, and as their children came of age or married, each would receive an equal share, in line with what others had already received during his lifetime. He emphasized that his son Thomas, who had reached adulthood but had not yet received his portion, should be given an equal share in currency to guarantee equity. John further requested that if his condition worsened, additional provisions should be made for Thomas beyond his legal inheritance.
Additionally, John stated that his son Redding S. Martin should receive $1,000 more than the standard share of the estate. He entrusted Nancy, Lollie’s grandmother, with the responsibility of managing the estate, granting her the right to retain any land and enslaved individuals she desired. He tasked her with overseeing the property’s division among their children and ensuring the education of those who had yet to be schooled, utilizing resources from the estate to fulfill this obligation.
John also included his granddaughter, Lollie, the daughter of his late son Frank, in his plans, specifying that she was to receive an inheritance equal to that of his other children. This was part of his effort to distribute his estate equitably among all his descendants.
John passed away three days later, on October 26, 1863. He was laid to rest in Martin Cemetery in Oglethorpe County.
In November 1863, Addie submitted a document to the court detailing her management of Lollie’s money and property. This report was a required demonstration of Addie’s responsible handling of Lollie’s estate. Lollie’s assets included $2,500 in Confederate Treasury Notes (bonds) and two enslaved girls: Rebecca, approximately 14 years old, and Emma, around 12 years old. The document also recorded $25 in earnings from hiring out Rebecca during 1863.
On December 7, 1863, Lollie’s grandmother, Nancy Martin, submitted a petition to the Court of Ordinary in Oglethorpe County for the probate of John Martin’s will. In the proceedings, Lollie was identified as one of the minor next of kin. To ensure proper care and oversight, Elijah “Thomas” Martin, Lollie’s uncle, was appointed as temporary guardian for her as well as several of John’s other minor children.
On January 11, 1864, Addie was officially certified to serve as Lollie’s guardian. She provided a bond with security, took the required oath, and received court approval, which authorized her to manage her daughter’s property. This certification entrusted Addie with the responsibility of using Lollie’s estate according to the law and fulfilling all guardian duties, including the submission of necessary reports.
In March 1864, with the court’s approval, Addie invested the $2,500 in Confederate bonds—similar to government loans during the Civil War—aiming to grow the funds. A certificate was issued, promising an annual interest rate of four percent on the bond. On June 1, 1864, Addie filed a return for Lollie’s estate with the court, which was likely an accounting or financial report to ensure continued oversight.
Tragically, Addie’s role as guardian was short-lived. She passed away on April 16, 1865, likely in Oglethorpe County. She was laid to rest in the Martin Family Cemetery in Oglethorpe County. With Addie’s passing, four-year-old Lollie, still a minor, became an orphan.
On June 17, 1870, 10-year-old Lollie was living with her paternal uncle, Thomas Martin, and his family in Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. They resided next door to her paternal grandmother, Nancy Martin, along with her aunt Susan Martin and uncles Redding, Benjamin, and Edgar (listed in the census as Edwin). Thomas, aged 29, worked as a farmer and had a personal estate valued at $500. His wife, Harriet, managed their household.
There is a gap in the records between April 1865, when Lollie’s mother Addie passed away, and February 1869, when William Boswell was officially named as Lollie’s guardian. Given that Lollie was living with Thomas during this time, it is possible that he assumed responsibility for her care. However, I have not found any court documents to confirm this arrangement.
Lollie’s maternal grandfather, Thompson Malone, passed away in 1862, leaving behind a substantial estate that took years to finalize. When the estate administrators, Laura E. Malone and Joseph H. Malone, were ready to settle the inheritance, it was recognized that, with the death of her mother Addie, Lollie was entitled to her mother’s share.
In February 1869, William J. Boswell—Lollie’s uncle by marriage (the husband of her mother’s sister, Josephine Malone)—petitioned the court in Greene County to be appointed as Lollie’s guardian ad litem. This role allowed him to legally represent Lollie’s interests during the estate settlement process. The court granted his request, ensuring that her inheritance rights were protected.
At just nine years old, Lollie became the recipient of two significant inheritances, securing her future despite the many hardships she had endured.
By January 11, 1873, William appointed Redding Martin, Lollie’s paternal uncle, as his lawful representative, or attorney-in-fact. Redding, who resided in Oglethorpe County—the location where John Martin’s will was probated—was authorized to act on William’s behalf in receiving payments or funds owed to Lollie from John Martin’s estate. Earlier that year, William also took care of purchasing clothing and shoes for Lollie, ensuring her needs were met.
In early March 1873, Lollie, with the permission of her guardian, William, relocated to Oglethorpe County, where she owned significant property. Following her move, William informed the courts of his desire to relinquish his guardianship responsibilities—a decision Lollie agreed to.
On March 19, 1873, Redding Martin submitted a petition to the Ordinary of Oglethorpe County, requesting the transfer of Lollie’s guardianship from William to himself. The court approved the request, officially appointing Redding as Lollie’s legal guardian in Oglethorpe County. To fulfill his guardianship duties, Redding, along with J. G. M. Edwards and Benjamin Martin as sureties, pledged a bond of $2,000. This bond ensured that Redding would responsibly manage and protect Lollie’s interests and property throughout the duration of his guardianship.
In April 1873, Redding submitted a petition to the Greene County Court of Ordinary, requesting the transfer of guardianship jurisdiction to Oglethorpe County, where both he and Lollie were now residing. After reviewing the petition and the accompanying certificate, the Greene County Court approved the transfer. This decision allowed Redding to maintain his guardianship of Lollie, now under the legal authority of Oglethorpe County.
A June 30, 1873 annual return documents financial transactions managed by Redding as Lollie’s guardian. It noted payments of $1 to Joel F. Thornton and $21.60 to R. H. Mitchell, who was likely a legal official. The return also confirmed the receipt of $905.13 from William Boswell, Lollie’s former guardian, as a transfer of funds for her estate.
On August 26, 1874, Lollie was admitted to the congregation of Crawford Baptist Church in Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
On September 28, 1874, Redding submitted an annual financial return as Lollie’s guardian, detailing disbursements made in 1873. The recorded total amounted to $2,085.55. Later, on May 31, 1876, Redding filed another financial return covering the years 1875 and 1876, reporting total disbursements of $295.44 for the two-year period.
On September 18, 1876, Redding submitted a petition to the Court, explaining that the income from Lollie’s estate was insufficient to cover the costs of her board, clothing, and education. He requested permission to draw from the principal of her estate, in addition to its accrued interest, to ensure her proper maintenance and education, as permitted by law. The Court approved his petition, granting him the authority to use as much of the estate’s principal as necessary to support and educate Lollie.
Redding submitted an annual financial return for Lollie’s estate, documenting disbursements totaling $236.90 for the year ending on July 1, 1877. For the following year, ending on July 1, 1878, he filed another financial return, reporting disbursements amounting to $185.28. Additionally, a separate return was submitted for the same year, listing further disbursements of $42.50.
On December 4, 1879, Lollie married Patrick Mell Cheney, the son of the prominent William Owen Cheney and Elizabeth Ann Callaway, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. The Cheney family was well-regarded and influential in the community during that time. Lollie was 18 years old, and Patrick was 23 when they tied the knot. After their marriage, the couple settled in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, where they began building their life together.
Redding submitted an annual financial return for Lollie’s estate, covering the years 1879 and 1880. This was the first return to reference her married name, Cheney. Disbursements for the period amounted to $178.60.
By June 2, 1880, Lollie, aged 19, and her husband Patrick, aged 24, were living in District 148 of Greene County. In the census records, Lollie was listed as “Lottie.” She managed their household while Patrick worked as a farmer. Also residing with them was Patrick’s 68-year-old widowed mother, Elizabeth, who shared their home.
Tragically, just one year and four months into their marriage, Lollie passed away on April 6, 1881, at the young age of 20. The cause of her untimely death remains unknown, though it raises speculation about whether childbirth may have played a role. She was laid to rest in Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown. Her tombstone, now gradually being reclaimed by the earth, bears the inscription:
Sacred to the memory of Lollie, wife of P. M. Cheney. Born Dec. 27, 1860, Died April 6, 1881.
References
- Administrators and Guardians Letters: Greene County, Georgia, Probate Records 1856–1913, image 72, FamilySearch.
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24042262/lollie_l-cheney: accessed March 16, 2025), memorial page for Lollie L Martin Cheney (27 Dec 1860–6 Apr 1881), Find a Grave Memorial ID 24042262, citing Bairdstown Cemetery, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, USA; maintained by PC (contributor 46773894).
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32135833/adeline_celestial-martin: accessed March 18, 2025), memorial page for Adeline Celestial “Addie” Malone Martin (5 Dec 1841–16 Apr 1865), Find a Grave Memorial ID 32135833, citing Martin Cemetery, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Lu Batchelor (contributor 47083487).
- Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, images 988–992, FamilySearch.
- Greene County, Georgia, Real Estate Records 1869–1874, images 188–189, 192, FamilySearch.
- John Martin, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.
- John F. Martin, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.
- L. L. Martin, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
- Laura L. Martin, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1962, images 463–564, FamilySearch.
- Laura Martin, Greene County, Georgia, Court Records 1859–1886, 1865–1869, image 431, FamilySearch.
- Lollie L. Martin, Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate C Files 1790–1943, images 117-126, FamilySearch.
- Lollie L. Martin, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1962, images 71, 557, 631–635, FamilySearch.
- Lollie L. Martin, U.S., Southern Baptist Church Records, 1750–1899.
- Personal visit to Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
- U.S. Federal Census, District 148, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
- U.S. Federal Census, District 161, Greene County, Georgia, 1850.
- U.S. Federal Census, Georgia Militia District 227, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1860.
- U.S. Federal Census, Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1870.
- U.S. Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.
