Deed of Trust for Cain

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Baldwin to Mullins. 

Georgia, Greene County. Know all men by these presents that I, Nancy Baldwin, of the county and state aforesaid for the love and affection I have for my daughter, Julia Mullins, I give unto Thomas Stocks in trust for my said daughter separate and apart from her said husband John Mullins, one negro man Cain about thirty five years old said negro I desire my said trustee to suffer to remain in the possession of my said daughter his labour to be for the benefit of the family as long as my said daughter may live. At her death, the negro man to be the property of the heirs of my said daughters body.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th of January 1842. Test.

James M. Porter
Nancy Baldwin (seal)

Georgia, Greene County. Personally appeared before me James M. Porter of said County and being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he subscribed the within as a witness and saw Nancy Baldwin subscribe the same as a maker for the purposes therein contained the day and date thereunto being attached as within. Signed in presence Jas. M. Porter

May 3rd 1842
Thomas Cunningham, J.J.C.

Recorded 3rd day of May 1842
Vincent Sanford, Clk.

Reference

Greene County, Georgia, Deeds 1839–1852, image 212, FamilySearch. 

Claudia Burnette

Claudia Burnette, daughter of Thomas Terrell Burnette and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Jones, was born in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, on November 23, 1905. The Burnette family had 13 children: Luther Terrell Burnette, Eva Drucilla Burnette, Floria Mae Burnette, Jesse Burnette and his twin, Willie Loyd Burnette, Prince Albert Burnette, Maudie Burnette (twin), Claudia Burnette (twin), Henry T. Burnette, Eleanor Estelle Burnette, Samuel A. Burnette, and Julia Virginia Burnette. Claudia and Maudie were fraternal twins, with Maudie arriving first. Claudia is my great‑aunt, with our nearest common relatives being her parents, my great‑grandparents. Daddy always referred to his twin aunts as Maudie and Claudie—always in that order—so I will use Claudie for the remainder of this sketch.

According to one of Claudie’s grand‑nephews, the twin sisters were named after the two mules their father Thomas kept on the family farm outside Monroe. He fondly recalled his Granny Maudie laughing about the unusual origin of their names. Around 1908, Claudie and her family attended a Jones family reunion in Walton County, where two photographs were taken. In the first, Floria (my grandmother), Eva, and Luther stand in back; mother Lizzie is seated with Henry in her lap; Prince, Thomas holding the twins Claudie and Maudie (though it is unclear which is which), and Willie are also present. The second photo shows the entire Jones family, in which I have identified 39 relatives.

 

On April 28, 1910, Claudie and her family were living in Greshamville, Greene County, having moved from Monroe in a wagon pulled by a horse. Her father was listed as a farmer on a general farm, while siblings Luther, Eva, and Floria were recorded as laborers on the home farm. Claudie’s parents had been married 16 years, and her mother was noted as having borne 10 children, 8 of whom were still living. According to my father, Elizabeth lost a set of twins, which accounts for the two no longer recorded. One of the twins was a boy named Jesse, who appeared in the 1900 census. That record, however, incorrectly states Elizabeth had five children at the time, all living. I have found no records for the other twin, leaving the identity unknown, though Claudie recalled it was a boy. In 1910, Claudie was four years old, and the youngest child in the household was Henry, age two.

The Burnette family felt the impact of World War I when Claudie’s brother Luther entered the U.S. Army on July 24, 1918. His service lasted until August 30, 1919, marking more than a year away from home. By February 13, 1920, the family had moved to the Walkers District of Greene County, where her parents would live out their lives. The 1920 Soundex card recorded her as Claud Burnett. Her father Thomas continued farming, assisted by his 78‑year‑old widowed father, Samuel Pride Burnette, who now lived with them, and 7 of the 10 Burnette children. Claudie’s mother was enumerated as Lizzie. Claudie’s brother Luther and his wife Etta Belle lived next door, both farmers. None of the children were attending school.

1920 Census Soundex cards

Claudie married Jesse “Peek” Bryan, likely in 1929 in Greene County, though I have not located a marriage record to confirm this. Peek was four years older than Claudie. My Daddy once recalled that Peek was a good man, quiet and cheerful. After their marriage, Claudie and Peek settled in Greensboro, Greene County, on Mill Street, according to the April 23, 1930 census. Peek worked as a weaver at the Mary Leila Cotton Mill, a major employer in the area. Mill Street was part of the surrounding mill village, a tightly knit community of about 75 worker houses and an industrial complex northwest of downtown Greensboro. Claudie and Peek likely rented one of these modest homes, typical of mill families during that era. The census also notes that both Claudie and Peek were literate.

Peek and Claudie

Their daughter Lizzie “Ree” Bryan was born in 1930 and Evelyn “Joyce” Bryan in 1936. Claudie had a difficult birth with Joyce and developed epilepsy afterward. Although she underwent extensive testing, doctors were unable to determine the cause, which was likely due to oxygen deprivation. Claudie’s father Thomas died from chronic myocarditis at age 71 on February 6, 1940, in Greensboro, and was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. By April 22, 1940, the Bryan family was still living on Mill Street, with Jesse now working as a loom fixer at the mill. He earned $724 in 1939, working 40 hours a week. Claudie maintained the home, and their daughters were ages nine and three.

Peek died in 1941 at age 38 in Athens, Clarke County. Other than his tombstone, I have not found records to determine the exact date, cause, or location of his death. Peek’s siblings helped care for Claudie after his death. He was remembered as fun‑loving and kind.

In April 1945, Claudie married George “Frank” Moore in Greene County. Frank was about 10 years older, tall and slender, with light blue eyes and light hair, and missing a finger on his right hand. He had previously married Anna “Annie” Bertha “Berta” Wright in 1918, with whom he had seven children: George Thomas Moore, Emma Louise Moore, John “Jack” Harris Moore, Edna Fay Moore, Mary “Mae” Frances Moore, Ethel Goodwin Moore, and Charles E. Moore. Annie died in 1936 of pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. Frank’s son George served in the Army in France during World War II, when his wife Hazel gave birth to their daughter Anne in 1945. Hazel, who lived with her father at the time, died a month later, and George’s sister Mae convinced Claudie and Frank to take Anne in until George returned. When he did, Anne remained with Claudie and Frank until she married at 18, having been raised as their own. During wartime rationing, Claudie struggled to obtain formula for Anne, but a friend shared ration cards, allowing her to feed the baby. Anne always called Claudie and Frank “Mama and Daddy.”

Claudie and Frank’s son, Claude “Bo” Franklin Moore, was born in 1949. Near the end of her pregnancy, Claudie had a seizure and fell onto a stove, suffering severe burns to her belly and arm. She was rushed to a hospital in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, where she gave birth to Bo. Her arm healed with scars that left it permanently drawn. Years later, another seizure caused burns to her hand in a frying pan, and she lost her little finger and part of her ring finger. For the most part, Claudie controlled her seizures with medication, though they tended to occur around the full moon.

On April 8, 1950, Claudie and her family lived in the first house on the right of Appalachee Avenue in Greensboro. Joyce, her daughter from her first marriage, was 13 and still at home. Anne, age 4, was recorded as Claudie and Frank’s daughter, and their son Claude was an infant. Claudie maintained the household while Frank worked as a tractor driver at the county convict camp, part of Georgia’s chain gang system. He worked 55 hours a week. Anne later recalled they lived on Elm Street in 1950, so they likely moved shortly after the census was taken.

On December 31, 1955, Claudie’s brother Henry was accidentally killed while squirrel hunting in Putnam County, Georgia. His companion heard a gunshot and found Henry dead from a head wound. Two nearby fishermen helped carry his body out of the woods. The death was ruled accidental by a coroner’s jury and reported as Putnam County’s first hunting fatality of the year. Henry was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery following a service at Oak Street Baptist Church. Claudie’s brother Sam made the emotional trip to her home to share the news.

Claudie’s mother Lizzie died on December 2, 1956, at Minnie G. Boswell Hospital in Greensboro. She was buried beside her husband at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. In her final week, Lizzie suffered acute renal failure caused by adrenal insufficiency, following a fractured shoulder. She also had generalized arteriosclerosis, chronic bronchitis, and senility.

Claudie’s sister Eleanor died in 1963 and was buried at Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in McDonough, Henry County, Georgia. Her sister Floria died in 1970 in Greensboro and was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Oglethorpe County. Her brother Willie died in 1974 in Monroe and was buried at New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery in Between, Walton County. Claudie’s second husband Frank died on December 14, 1976 in Greene County and was buried beside his first wife Annie at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. Her brother Luther died in 1977 and was buried at Greenview Cemetery in Greensboro, and her brother Samuel died in 1983 in Clarke County and was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Claudie died at a nursing home in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia, on October 8, 1988, at the age of 82. At the time, she was living with her son and his family. She was laid to rest beside her first husband, Jesse “Peek” Bryan, at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greensboro.

Claudie is remembered as kind and loving, as was Frank. Family members who knew Claudie remember her as sweet, quiet, and soft-spoken—traits she shared with her sister Floria. My Aunt Betty once said she loved her Aunt Claudie like a second mama. 

Maudie, Claudie’s twin sister, lived on for just over 13 more years as a twinless twin. In her later years, dementia slowly reshaped her world. She moved into a nursing home in Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia, where she passed away on January 16, 2002. She was buried at Greensboro City Cemetery in Greensboro.

Though twins, Claudie and Maudie were complete opposites. Claudie was gentle and soft‑spoken, while Maudie was fiery, cantankerous, and hard to please. For much of her life, Maudie bossed Claudie around, yet when storms gathered—both in the sky and in life—she sought her twin’s comfort. Living nearby, she often walked to Claudie’s house, especially when thunder threatened, knowing her sister’s presence could calm her fears. Maudie—the elder twin by birth—often assumed the role of leader, but even with her cantankerous nature she leaned on Claudie’s quiet strength, finding comfort in the sister who was always her safe harbor.

Maudie herself was taller by six inches. She was known for dyeing her hair jet black, a trademark look that defined her for decades. But in the nursing home, her hair grew out white as snow. Dementia softened her sharp edges, and the once bossy, hard‑to‑please Maudie became unexpectedly sweet, offering a tender final chapter to her life.

References

• Annie Bertha Moore, Certificate of Death no. 16703, Certificate of Death, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1936.
• Charles E. Moore, Certificate of Death no. 30-16071, Certificate of Death, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1930.
• Claudia B. Moore, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
• Claudia B. Moore, Social Security Death Index.
• Claudia Burnett Moore, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Eatonton Hunter is Accidentally Killed Saturday, Eatonton Messenger, Eatonton, Georgia, January 5, 1956.
• Elizabeth Jones Burnette, Certificate of Death no. 30983, Certificate of Death, Georgia Department of Public Health, 1956.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58710640/frank-moore: accessed November 18, 2025), memorial page for Frank Moore (1895–1976), Find a Grave Memorial ID 58710640, citing Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery, Veazey, Greene County, Georgia, USA; maintained by: Find a Grave.
• Frank Moore, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• George F. Moore, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• George F. Moore, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Greene County, Georgia, Census Soundex card, 1920.
• Luther T. Burnett, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010.
• Luther Terrell Burnett, U.S., Lists of Men Ordered to Report to Local Board for Military Duty, 1917–1918,
• Maudie Lord, Oconee County, Georgia, U.S., Probate Death Certificates, 1927–2010.
• Mr. Geo. F. Moore, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978,
• Personal memories of Sam Lankford, Betty Elrod, Mickey Lord, and Anne Garner.
• Thomas Terrel Burnette, Certificate of Death no. 4275, Certificate of Death, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, 1930, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greshamville, Greene County, Georgia, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Walkers District, Greene County, Georgia, 1920. 

Adaline Celestial Malone

Adaline “Addie” Celestial Malone was born on December 5, 1841, in Georgia, the daughter of Thompson “Tom” Malone and Laura E. Williams. She was one of six children born to this union, alongside Josephine, Felix Thomas, Martha Ophelia, Laura Ella, and Cornelia Jane Malone. Addie also had two older half-siblings—Joseph H. Malone and Sarah Haseltine Malone—from her father’s first marriage to Araminta “Anita” Henderson.

Addie’s connection to me is complicated: according to Family Tree Maker, she is the aunt of the husband of the step-granddaughter of my first cousin five times removed. This line traces back to my 5th great-grandparents, Robert L. Hobbs Sr. and Mary Marion Caldwell, and winds through the Southerland, Lankford, Davison, Boswell, and finally Malone families.

By November 2, 1850, the Malone family was living in Greensboro, District 161 of Greene County, Georgia. Thompson Malone was a prosperous farmer with real estate valued at $7,000. Addie and her sister Josephine were attending school. Also residing in the household was William A. Williams, a 26-year-old farmer, likely a relative of Addie’s mother. Next door lived Nancy Malone, age 35 (possibly 55), listed as “insane.” In the same household were Jefferson (19), Laun (18), Wesley (14), Clement (8), and Antoinette (16) Malone. Jefferson and Laun were farming, while Wesley and Clement were in school. Though their exact relationship to Addie remains unconfirmed, the proximity and shared surname suggest a close family connection.

On December 7, 1858, Addie married John Franklin “Frank” Martin, son of John Martin and Nancy Lyall Sims, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. The ceremony was performed by Rev. N. M. Crawford.

By June 9, 1860, Addie and Frank were living in Woodville, Greene County. She was 19, and Frank, a farmer, was 22 with a personal estate valued at $3,000. They later moved to Floyd County, where they lived just two doors from Addie’s parents and siblings. The 1860 census shows Thompson (listed as Thomas) with real estate worth $9,500 and a personal estate of $21,000. Josephine, Felix, and Ophelia were still in school.

Addie’s only child, Laura Lyall “Lollie” Martin, was born on December 27, 1860, in Georgia. Her name honored both grandmothers—Laura E. Williams and Nancy Lyall Sims.

Tragedy struck in 1862. Addie’s father, Thompson Malone, died on May 27 or 28 in Greene County (court records differ on the exact date). His burial site remains unknown. Just weeks later, on June 11, Addie’s sister Josephine married William Johnson Boswell. Then, on August 22, Addie’s husband Frank died unexpectedly in Floyd County. He left no will, and Addie—now a 20-year-old widow with a toddler—was forced to navigate the complex world of probate and estate management.

Frank’s father, John Martin, was appointed temporary administrator to handle the perishable property. Addie soon returned to Greene County with Lollie and petitioned the court to manage her daughter’s inheritance, valued at $8,000. She posted a $10,000 bond with B. Johnson and William Sanders as securities. The court approved her request, granting her legal authority over Lollie’s share. Addie also received a $400 allowance for one year’s support and later collected over $2,100 as part of her own inheritance.

Although John Martin was formally appointed Lollie’s guardian in January 1863, Addie remained deeply involved. She filed reports, managed assets, and advocated for her daughter’s interests. When John Martin became gravely ill in October 1863, he verbally affirmed Lollie’s right to an equal share of his estate. He died on October 26, and Addie’s role became even more critical.

On February 3, 1863, court-appointed commissioners divided the enslaved individuals from Frank’s estate. Addie received Mary and her child Sarah, valued at $1,650; Lollie received Rebecca and Emily, both around 12 years old, valued at $1,800. Two estate auctions—on November 5, 1862, and December 1, 1863—generated $9,073.61 from the sale of livestock, furniture, tools, farm goods, and medical instruments. Court records from 1863–64 refer to Frank as “Doct. John F. Martin,” and the inventory included saddle bags, a pocket case, and medicinal supplies, suggesting he practiced medicine.

In November 1863, Addie submitted a detailed account of Lollie’s estate, which included $2,500 in Confederate bonds and the two enslaved girls, now listed as Rebecca and Emma.

That same month, Addie was formally recognized as one of her father’s heirs during the December 1863 Term of the Greene County court. She received a young enslaved boy named Little Jack as part of her share. On January 11, 1864, Addie petitioned the court for legal guardianship of Lollie, now under 14, and posted a $16,000 bond—double the estate’s value. Her petition was approved.

On January 25, 1864, Addie appeared before Justice J. W. Godkin to settle a financial claim against her father’s estate. Acting as a creditor, she submitted an account for $288.23, which was paid in full by her brother Joseph and mother Laura, the estate’s administrators. The next day, she received $2,037.50 and a $133.33 adjustment to equalize her share in the division of enslaved persons. On March 2, 1864, she received an additional $2,660, all of which reflected the substantial value of Thompson Malone’s estate.

The next day, she received $2,037.50 and a $133.33 adjustment to equalize her share in the division of enslaved persons. 

On March 2, 1864, she received an additional $2,660, all of which reflected the substantial value of Thompson Malone’s estate.

On March 4, 1864, Addie petitioned the Superior Court of Greene County for permission to invest $2,500 of Lollie’s inheritance in Confederate bonds. Judge Iverson L. Harris approved the request on March 9.

Sadly, Addie’s life was cut short. She died on April 16, 1865, likely in Oglethorpe County, and was buried beside her husband in the Martin Family Cemetery in Oglethorpe County. She was just 23 years old. Her death left four-year-old Lollie orphaned, but Addie’s careful legal actions ensured her daughter’s inheritance and future were protected.

Photo by Walter John “Bud” Bussell, Find A Grave
member 46594959

On February 1, 1869, the Court of Ordinary in Greene County appointed William J. Boswell, Addie’s brother-in-law, as guardian ad litem for Lollie. With Addie gone, Lollie became her sole heir. Boswell petitioned the court to represent Lollie’s interests in the final settlement of Thompson Malone’s estate, ensuring that the legacy Addie had fought to preserve would pass to her daughter.

Longevity was not a hallmark of this family’s story. Like her mother Addie and father Frank before her, Laura “Lollie” Martin lived only a brief life, passing away at the age of 20 in 1881.

References

• Adaline C. Malone, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Estate Records: Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, images 493, 507, 628, 648, 662, and 752, FamilySearch.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32135833/adeline_celestial-martin: accessed November 11, 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).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32135820/john_franklin-martin: accessed November 11, 2025), memorial page for John Franklin Martin (9 Apr 1836–22 Aug 1862), Find a Grave Memorial ID 32135820, citing Martin Cemetery, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Lu Batchelor (contributor 47083487).
• Floyd County, Georgia, Annual Returns 1861–1869, image 305, FamilySearch.
• Floyd County, Georgia, Appraisal Records 1852–1867, Bills of Sale 1852–1867, Probate Records 1852–1867, 1842–1852, Sale Records 1842–1852, 1852–1867, image 481, FamilySearch.
• Floyd County, Georgia, Probate Court Minutes 1859–1866, images 190–191, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1856–1868, images 322 and 329, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Court Records 1865–1869, 1859–1886, images 124 and 173–174, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Court Records 1865–1869, 1859–1886, images 178 and 431, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Marriage Records 1849–1877, 1875–1877, Colored Troops Division Records 1875–1877, image 398, FamilySearch.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 161, Greene County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.
• Wilkes County, Georgia, Court Records 1828–1855, image 284, FamilySearch.
• Wilkes County, Georgia, Wills 1819–1836, 1837–1877, images 339–340, FamilySearch. 

Little Jack awarded to Adaline C. (Malone) Martin

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

From the estate of Thompson Malone

Rec’d Dec 1863 of J. H. & Laura Malone, Admr. & Admx. Of the estate Thompson Malone deceased one negroe boy named Little Jack the same being awarded by the Commissioners as her equal share of the negroes of said estate.

A. C. Martin

Reference

Estate Records: Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, image 628, FamilySearch. 

Robert Hobbs donates land for Woodville School House

Robert L. Hobbs, my 5th great-grandfather, is still on my list of subjects to research. I’ve written part of his story (click here to read), but there is much more to learn about him. So far, I know that Robert was born on May 30, 1754, in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. His family later moved to Craven County, South Carolina, where he lived during the Revolutionary War. He served as a patriot soldier, completing multiple tours between 1779 and the early 1780s, including service under General Nathanael Greene and participation in campaigns against British forces and Cherokee tribes.

In 1790, Robert moved his family to Greene County, Georgia, where he lived for the next 55 years. He became a planter and slave owner, and was involved in a high-profile forgery case in 1800, narrowly escaping execution thanks to a last-minute pardon. In 1845, he was granted a Revolutionary War pension retroactive to 1831, but received only seven months of payments before his death on June 7, 1845, at the age of 91. His burial site is unknown, though it may be near Greensboro, Georgia.

After his death, his estate—including land, household goods, and 16 enslaved individuals—was appraised at over $6,000 and administered by his son Nathan Hobbs and John G. Holtzclaw, with sales and settlements continuing into the 1850s.

I recently learned that in 1842, Robert contributed to his community in a way that would have helped many. In November 1842, he donated half an acre of land located on the west side of the Georgia Railroad, near Town Creek and adjacent to Mrs. Mary Nance’s property, to a group of trustees—James Croft, Henry English, A. J. Watson, Samuel D. Durham, and James M. Davison. He granted the land to the trustees and their successors “in fee simple,” meaning it was a permanent gift intended to support education for generations to come. While he reserved the rights to certain timber, the rest of the property was freely given to serve the public good. This act of generosity reflects Robert’s commitment to his neighbors in the story of Woodville’s growth and the value placed on learning.

Although the book History of Greene County, Georgia by Rice and Williams doesn’t mention the Woodville School House by name, it paints a picture of rural education in the 19th century. Children often attended small “field schools” or “poor schools” built from logs, with simple benches and shuttered windows. Teachers worked long hours—from sunrise to sunset—and were paid modestly, sometimes in food rather than money. Despite limited resources, these schools served families who deeply valued learning. Many students studied by firelight and went on to become respected leaders. It’s likely that the Woodville School House, built on land donated by Robert, resembled this kind of institution.

In 1928, nearly a century after Robert donated land for the Woodville School House, records show a contested trustee election for the Woodville–Bairdstown Consolidated School. While I can’t say with certainty that this was the same land Robert gifted in 1842, the continued use of the Woodville name and confirmation that the consolidated school building was located in Woodville make it a strong possibility. The school had clearly evolved—merging with Bairdstown in Oglethorpe County and becoming part of a broader public education system. Through all the changes and legal disputes, its roots in Woodville suggest that Robert’s original gift may have continued to serve the community for generations.

Robert’s contribution isn’t my family’s only connection to Woodville schools. Census records confirm that my father’s family lived in Woodville in 1940 and would have attended school there. Many years ago, my Aunt Lucile (Lankford) Epps purchased two books at a Greene County book sale and gave them to my Daddy (Sam Lankford), who in turn gave them to me. Both books were from Woodville schools and had been assigned to Daddy, his sister Lucile, and their brother Clark. One of the books, The Story of Our Republic: A History for Beginners by Irving P. Foote, Ph.D., held a surprise when you opened the pages. I wrote about the two books in 2018, which you can read about on my blog: Vintage school books.

References

• Greene County, Georgia, Deeds 1839–1852, image 290, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, School Records 1790–1943, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, images 1293–1296, FamilySearch.
• Rice, Dr. Thaddeus Brockett, History of Greene County: 1786–1886, pp. 178–179, edited by Carolyn White Williams, The J. W. Burke Company, Macon, Georgia, 1961.
• U.S. Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1940.

Medical Debts Settled by Thompson Malone’s Estate: Harry and Jack

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

From the estate of Thompson Malone

Thompson Malone to Dr. Wm. L. M. Harris

• Jan. 8, 1861: Visit and mileage negro child = $2.50
• Jan. 19, 1861: Exam and prescription negro boy Harry = $1.00
• Sept. 4, 1861: Visit and mileage and adjusting fractured limbs for boy Jack = $25.00
• Sept. 5, 1861: Visit and mileage Jack = $2.50
• Sept. 6, 1861: Visit and mileage Jack = $2.50
• Sept. 8, 1861: Visit and mileage = $2.50
• Sept. 10, 1861: Visit and mileage = $2.50
• Oct. 6, 1861: Visit and mileage = $2.50
• Total = $41.00

Reference

Estate Records: Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, image 704, FamilySearch.

Cameron’s Stocking—A New Family Treasure

This is one post I never expected to write.

Back in March, my son Chris and daughter-in-law Ashley stopped by on a Saturday morning, donuts from a new shop in hand. It felt like a typical visit—until they shared something extraordinary. After nearly 12 years of marriage, they were expecting a baby.

I’m not sure they got the reaction they were hoping for. I was too busy trying to pick my jaw up off the floor to respond properly. Both my husband and I were in shock. We had never pushed for a grandchild—having a child is a deeply personal decision, and it was never ours to make. Whenever the topic came up (and it wasn’t me who brought it up), they made it clear they didn’t want children. I had come to terms with that. But people can change their minds, which is what my son told me that day. So this news wasn’t just surprising—it was a blessing I never saw coming.

As soon as they left, I knew exactly what I had to do: make a Christmas stocking for my grandchild.

I had made a stocking for Chris, ready by his second Christmas. My younger son Kevin’s took a bit longer—31 years, to be exact—but I finished it in 2018. Ashley’s was stitched in 2019. I couldn’t bear the thought of this child having a store-bought stocking hanging beside two handmade ones. So, after a couple of days of mulling it over, I ordered a stocking kit and got to work the moment it arrived.

I kept the project a secret, just in case I didn’t finish. If you know my sons, you know they would never let me live that down. So that’s how I spent every afternoon this past spring and summer—stitching after lunch until it was time to start dinner. I even brought the project with me for my month-long Georgia visit with family in the spring. It came in handy when our train hit a truck on the way there and we were stuck on the tracks for several hours. Cross-stitching made the time fly by.

I documented my progress along the way, sharing updates with a few trusted family members in Georgia—under strict instructions not to breathe a word to anyone in Virginia. It was my little secret, and I wanted it to be a surprise when the time came. 

 

Sometimes the threads were a hot mess!

In June, I had to pause unexpectedly for eye surgery to repair a macular hole. I’d noticed the stitches were getting harder to see, but I work with 18-count Aida cloth, which is quite small. That had never been a problem before—but I’m not getting any younger. I blamed the lighting for my struggles. Little did I know! After the surgery, I had to spend a week face down, followed by two more weeks of recovery. Despite the setback, I pushed through—this time with the help of a lamp my husband kindly moved to my work area.

As is customary today, we learned the baby’s sex before he was born, and Chris and Ashley chose a first name. It took a while to settle on a middle name, so I took the opportunity to ask—more than once—what name they had selected, especially as the project neared completion. Every year, my family gathers the Sunday after Thanksgiving to help trim our crepe myrtles, clean out the gutters, put up the outdoor Christmas lights, and decorate gingerbread houses. It’s become a wonderful tradition, and I use it as a chance to hand out Christmas-themed gifts, like ornaments, at the beginning of the season instead of the end. My plan was to present the stocking that day.

I was nearly finished with the stocking—except for the name—by mid-August when Ashley invited me to join them for her monthly checkup, which included an ultrasound. At the appointment, the technician asked if they had chosen a name yet, and Ashley responded with “Cameron.” At that moment, I felt safe stitching his name. That gave me plenty of time to purchase the materials needed to complete the stocking and have it professionally finished.

All that was left was to fix the rope which my sister helped with

I finished a few days later and was able to relax during my next month-long visit to Georgia in the fall. My stitching isn’t perfect—some stitches are a little wonky, and I didn’t catch them until it was too late. I redid what I could, but didn’t let the imperfections stop me. I purchased velvet and silk-like fabrics for the back and lining, and when we returned home in September, took everything to a local alterations shop, where they transformed it into a proper stocking.

This stocking may never win a ribbon, but it was stitched with love. In the end, it’s not flawless stitches that make something a treasure—it’s the love woven into every thread. Cameron’s stocking is now part of our family’s story, ready to capture memories as he grows with each passing Christmas. I hope Santa fills it with goodies for my grandson for many Christmases to come.