Amanda (Hall) Holland sells Georgia land

This legal record is a deed documenting the transfer of property ownership—80 acres described as the north half of land lot number 184 in the Tenth District and Third Section of Whitfield County, Georgia—from Amanda Holland to W. R. Hammontree. Amanda (Hall) Holland was the second wife of my 2nd great-grandfather, Leroy Thomas Holland, who passed away on May 4, 1892, in Beaverdale, Whitfield County, Georgia. Leroy purchased the land after moving from Anderson County, South Carolina, to Whitfield County around January 1891. I descend through Leroy’s first wife, Amanda Elizabeth Scott.

This deed corroborates what Leroy and Amanda’s son, Aaron Hall Holland, shared in a 1964 letter to my grandfather detailing Hall/Holland family history. I included some of what he wrote in a sketch about Amanda that I wrote in 2015. You can read that here. Essentially, Aaron mentioned that in 1894, the Holland family (Amanda and her sons Aaron, Lawrence, and Joseph) were ordered off land owned by their friend George Brownlee in Whitfield County, where they had lived since moving from Anderson. Following this, Amanda moved the family to 80 acres of land Leroy had purchased adjacent to Brownlee’s land. Amanda worked hard to make the land viable for them, but after much encouragement and an offer from her brother she could not refuse, she sold the 80 acres and moved to Alief, Harris County, Texas. Aaron believed she sold the land for $100, but it appears it was $150. She was already in Texas when she signed the deed over to Hammontree on December 6, 1899. This deed ensures that Hammontree legally owned the specified property in Whitfield County and that Amanda Holland transferred all her rights to him.

Amanda Holland, Deed to Wm. R. Hammontree.

N. 1/2 N. Lot No. 184 10th & 3rd.

State of Texas, County of Harris. 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 

That I, Amanda Holland, of the County of Harris and State of Texas, in consideration of the sum of one hundred fifty ($150.00) dollars cash in hand paid by W. R. Hammontree, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have granted, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, sell and convey unto the said W. R. Hammontree of the County of Whitfield and State of Georgia, all that certain tract of land, viz: The North half of land lot number one hundred and eighty-four (184) of land in the Tenth District and Third Section containing eighty (80) acres, more or less. 

Said land being situated in the County of Whitfield and State of Georgia. 

To have and to hold the above described premises together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto in anywise belonging unto the said W. R. Hammontree, his heirs and assigns forever. And I do hereby bind myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises unto the said W. R. Hammontree, his heirs and assigns against every other person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. 

Witness my hand at Alief, Texas this 6th day of December A.D. 1899.

(R. S. 50) Amanda Holland.

State of Texas, County of Harris. 

Before me A. M. Smith, Notary Public in and for Harris County, Texas, on this day personally appeared Amanda Holland known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that she executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed. 

Given under my hand and seal at office this 6th day of December 1899.

(Seal) A. M. Smith, Notary Public, Harris County, Texas.

Filed, recorded, and certified for June 20th, 1902. 

Clerk.

This was the second time I found a record that corroborates the family history Aaron Holland shared with my grandfather in 1964. In 2016, I wrote about two news articles I found in the Anderson Intelligencer. The first article described how Amanda and her boys survived the historic 1900 Galveston hurricane. The second article detailed a fire in Whitfield County that destroyed their livelihood when their corn, cotton seed, and fodder were lost in a fire on George Brownlee’s land. You can read about both articles here.

Reference

• An Appeal to the Charitable. Beaverdale, Whitefield [sic] Co., GA, The Anderson Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, December 20, 1893.
• Former Resident Dies in Texas, The Anderson Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, January 3, 1915.
• History of Aaron Hall and Clementina Ann (Norris) Hall, letter written by Aaron Hall Holland to Samuel Jackson Holland, May 15, 1964.
• Mr. Lee Holland, The Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, May 12, 1892.
• Sad Letter from Texas, The Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, September 19, 1900.
• Whitfield County, Georgia, Land Records March 1901–December 1903, image 198, FamilySearch.

Lucy sold to Henry Karr, 1791

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

Know all men by these presents that, I, Francis Woodward, of Greene County, State of Georgia, have this day bargained, sold, and delivered unto Henry Karr of the County of Greene and State aforesaid, one negro girl named Lucy, about eleven or twelve years old for the valuable consideration of forty-five pounds Sterling to me in hand by the said Henry Karr before the sale and delivering of these presents the Receipt whereof hereby acknowledge and I do by these presents now and forever defend the said negro girl to the said Henry Karr, his heirs or assigns forever from the right claim or title of any other person or persons whatsoever whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of June 1791.

Francis Woodward

Test
Joseph Cook
John Burton

Recorded this 22nd day of March 1792.
E. Parks

Reference

Greene, Land Records 1785–1793, Enslavement Records 1785–1793, image 528, FamilySearch. 

Elizabeth Durie

Elizabeth Durie was born in 1853 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was the daughter of James Durie and Jane Liddell Braidwood, and the third of nine children: Mary, Agnes, Elizabeth, George, Jemima, Andrewina, John, Robert, and Jane. Elizabeth is the second great-aunt of my husband, with their nearest common relatives being her parents. Elizabeth’s sister, Jemima, is my husband’s direct ancestor.

On April 7, 1861, the Durie family resided at 62 Brown Street in the District of Clyde, St. George civil parish, Glasgow. Elizabeth’s father, an engine smith, specialized in making and repairing engine parts, similar to the work of a blacksmith. At that time, the family included six children: Mary (11), Elizabeth (10), George (8), Jemima (4), Andrewina (2), and John (3 months). One sister, Agnes, born around 1851, had likely passed away. Elizabeth, Mary, and George were scholars, attending school.

1861 Scotland census

Just a week after the census was taken, Elizabeth’s sister Andrewina contracted dothinenteritis, also known as typhoid fever. She passed away at home on May 26, 1861, after enduring the disease for six weeks. In addition, Andrewina suffered from “water in the head” (hydrocephalus) for two weeks before her death. She was laid to rest at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

By 1871, Elizabeth and her family had relocated to 22 Pitt Street in the Blythswood District of Barony, County Lanarkshire, Scotland. The 1871 census record lists six children in the household: Mary (21), Elizabeth (20), George (18, listed as “Gane”), Jemima (14, listed as “Lemma”), John (10), and Robert (8). Elizabeth was unemployed, while her father worked as an engine fitter. Her sisters Mary and Jemima were employed as warehouse girls, and George worked as an iron turner. Both John and Robert were scholars. 

1871 Scotland census

Elizabeth married John Alexander, the son of James Alexander and Isabella Wallace, according to the banns in Scotland. Their marriage took place on February 21, 1873, in Tradeston, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. John, a journeyman baker, and Elizabeth both resided at 22 Pitt Street in Glasgow, likely a tenement-style home. At the time of their marriage, Elizabeth was 20 years old and John was 24.

Elizabeth Durie and John Alexander’s marriage record

Elizabeth and John had eight children: Jane Braidwood Alexander, John Alexander, George Alexander, Robert Alexander, Mary Alexander, James Alexander, William Alexander, and Alexander Alexander. Jane was born in 1874 and John in 1879, both in Partick, a village in Glasgow. George was born in 1881 in Rosneath, Dunbartonshire. Robert was born in 1883 and Mary in 1886, both in Kilcreggan and Cove, County Dunbartonshire. James was born in 1889, William in 1891, and Alexander in 1896, all in Anderston, County Lanarkshire. Anderston was a village in Glasgow.

In 1881, Elizabeth, John, and their children Jane and John lived at Clachan House No. 13 in the civil parish of Rosneath, County Dumbartonshire, Scotland. John was employed as a baker.

1881 Scotland census

By 1891, the Alexander family had grown substantially, adding five children since the last census. They resided at 194a Main Street in Anderston. John continued his work as a baker, while their daughter Jane worked as a seamstress. Sons John, George, and Robert, along with daughter Mary, were all attending school. Their youngest child, William, was just seven months old. The census also noted that two rooms in their house had one or more windows, a detail used to assess housing conditions and public health at the time.

1891 Scotland census

On December 14, 1900, Elizabeth’s daughter, Jane, married Alexander Bilsland, the son of Robert Bilsland and Margaret Semple. The wedding took place in Anderston, following the publication of banns according to the Forms of the United Free Church of Scotland. At the time, Robert worked as a carter, responsible for transporting goods using a cart and horse, while Jane was employed as a laundress. One of the witnesses to the marriage was John Alexander, who could have been either Elizabeth’s husband or her son.

By 1901, the Alexander family had moved to 7 North Street in the Sandyford ward of Anderston. Their new home, now with three windows, was apparently larger than their previous residence in 1891. Elizabeth’s husband, John, continued his work as a baker. Four of their children were now employed: John worked as a grocer’s shopkeeper, George as an apprentice house painter, Robert as a bonded storekeeper, and Mary as a paper bag maker. James and William were both attending school, and the family had welcomed another son, Alexander.

1901 Scotland census

Elizabeth passed away at their home at 40 Overnewton Street in Anderston on February 23, 1911. Her death was attributed to hemiplegia, a form of paralysis affecting the right side of her body, which she had endured for three years. This condition was likely caused by a stroke. 

Elizabeth Durie Alexander’s death record

Elizabeth was laid to rest in lair 384 at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery on February 25, 1911. The lair holder was her brother, John Durie.

Eastern Necropolis Cemetery interment record for Elizabeth

A month and a half later, Elizabeth’s widowed husband, John, was recorded in the census along with six of their eight children, the youngest being 14 years old. Everyone in the household was employed. John worked as a bread maker, George as a house painter, Robert as a bonded storekeeper, James as a sheet metal worker, Mary as a paper bag maker, William as a storekeeper, and Alexander as a messenger.

1911 Scotland census

 In 1912, John married his second wife, Margaret Cockburn Brown. 

John Alexander and Margaret Cockburn Brown’s marriage record

The witnesses to the marriage were Andrew Lane Wark and Eleanor Wark. Interestingly, Elizabeth’s sister Mary Durie married Robert Wark in 1892. There might be a connection between the Wark families, but I have not been able to confirm this in my research so far.

References

• Alexander Alexander, Statutory registers Births 644/10 1394, National Records of Scotland, 1896.
• Andrina Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/5 442, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• Andrina Durie, Weekly interment book, nos. 1–8950, 1855–1861, Weekly installments paid on lairs, 1901–1963, Eastern Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, image 236, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH8-P972-9?i=235&cat=1323530. 
• Diseases on Scottish death certificates from 1855, Diseases and Medical Terms; http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/medical-diseases.htm. 
• Elizabeth Alexander, Daily interment books, December 1897–August 1912, Eastern Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, image 759; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-N3ZK-147Z?cat=1323530. 
• Elizabeth Alexander, Scotland census 502/12/18, National Records of Scotland, 1881.
• Elizabeth Alexander, Scotland census 644/10 37/3, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Elizabeth Alexander, Scotland census 644/10 46/21, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• Elizabeth Durie, Statutory registers Deaths 644/11 103, National Records of Scotland, 1911.
• Elizabeth Durie, Statutory registers Marriages 644/9 127, National Records of Scotland, 1873.
• George Alexander, Statutory registers Births 502/1 8, National Records of Scotland, 1881.
• James Alexander, Statutory registers Births 644/10 202, National Records of Scotland, 1889.
• Jane Alexander, Statutory registers Marriages 644/10 395, National Records of Scotland, 1900.
• Jane Braidwood Alexander, Statutory registers Births 646/3 1117, National Records of Scotland, 1874.
• John Alexander, Scotland census 644/11 23/14, National Records of Scotland, 1911.
• John Alexander, Statutory registers Births 646/2 646, National Records of Scotland, 1879.
• John Alexander, Statutory registers Deaths 644/22 179, National Records of Scotland, 1920.
• John Durie, Scotland census 644/69/19, National Records of Scotland, 1871.
• Mary Alexander, Statutory registers Births 502/2 2, National Records of Scotland, 1886.
• Robert Alexander, Statutory registers Births 502/2 22, National Records of Scotland, 1883.
• Smith, Sarah, Genealogy, Old Occupations, Scotland, What is a Carter?, Unlock Your Past, June 21, 2024; https://www.unlockyourpast.co.uk/old-occupation-carter/.
• William Alexander, Statutory registers Births 644/10 272, National Records of Scotland, 1891.

Isham, Thornton, Jack, and Greene, servants of Mary Ann H. Findley and John H. Broughton

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

Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, December 10, 1857

Executors’ Sale.

By virtue of the last Will and Testament of John H. Broughton, late of Greene county deceased, will be sold in front of the Court-House door in the city of Greenesboro’, on the first Tuesday in January next, between the legal hours of sale, the following named negroes—to-wit: Isham about 46 years of age, a tolerable plantation smith; Thornton, about 45 years old, a good plantation carpenter.

Terms cash.

J. L. BROUGHTON, J. T. BROUGHTON. Exr’s.
Greenesboro’, Ga., Nov. 13th, 1857.—48 

The Georgia Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, January 21, 1858

Administrator’s Sale.

Will be sold on the first Tuesday in February next, before the Court House in Greenesboro’ between the legal hours of sale, two negroes, viz: Jack about 17 years old and Greene about 18 years old. Sold as the property of Mary Ann H. Findley dec’d, under an order of the Court of ordinary of Greene county. Terms cash.

S. M. FINDLEY, Adm’r.
Greenesboro, Ga, December 7th, 1857. 

References

• Executors’ Sale, Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, December 10, 1857.
• Administrator’s Sale, The Georgia Temperance Crusader, Penfield, Georgia, January 21, 1858.