Frances “Fannie” Adline Overton

Frances “Fannie” Adline (or Adeline) Overton was born in September 1843 in Newton County, Georgia, to Abijah Overton and Elizabeth Ann Rhodes. She grew up in a large family of eight siblings: Mary J. Overton, James Henry Overton, Julia Saphronia Overton, Elizabeth B. Overton, John M. Overton, Willilam Mosby Overton, Louisa E. Overton, and Millicent Virginia “Jinnie” Overton. Fannie is my 3rd great-aunt, with our nearest common relatives being her parents (my 3rd great-grandparents). Her sister Virginia was my 2nd great-grandmother.

When the 1850 census was taken on September 26, six-year-old Fannie lived with her family in Subdivision 65 of Newton County, Georgia. Her father, recorded as Elijah Overton in the census, worked as a farmer with real estate valued at $1,500. The household would have been active, housing 11 people, including 9 children. That year, only two of her siblings attended school—15-year-old James and 10-year-old John.

Fannie’s childhood years were marked by several family celebrations and changes. At age 8, she witnessed her sister Elizabeth’s marriage to Vardamond Woolley in Newton County on October 19, 1853. Around age 10, she became an aunt when Elizabeth began her family with Vardamond. When Fannie was about 12, her brother James married Nancy Sparks in Newton County. The following year, at age 13, her sister Julia married Hansford D. Woolley, Vardamond's brother, on June 15, 1858. A year later, Julia and Hansford welcomed their son, John L. Woolley, in Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia.

By October 1860, the Overton’s had established themselves in Conyers where they maintained a thriving farm. Under her father’s guidance, the family’s real estate holdings grew significantly, reaching a value of $2,000—a $500 increase—along with personal assets worth $850. Fannie’s mother and sister Mary contributed to the household through their seamstress work, while her brother John labored alongside their father in the fields. Though the family enjoyed financial stability, access to education varied within the household. Fannie’s mother could neither read nor write, and of all the children, John and Louisa were the only ones who had attended school that year. The household was very active with family members ranging from 28 to 10 years old, including the young children of Fannie’s sister, Mary—5-year-old Thomas L. Overton and 2-year-old Emma G. Overton.

The years 1861 and 1862 brought deep sorrow to the Overton family through deaths both at home and in the war. In March 1861, Fannie’s young nephew John Woolley died in Conyers just before his second birthday. Two weeks later, on April 15, her sister Julia died at age 26. They were buried together in Old Conyers City Cemetery.

Julia’s death came three days after the Civil War began, a conflict that would take more family members. Fannie’s brothers John, William, and James joined the Confederate forces. Her brother-in-law Hansford, age 30, enlisted on October 2, 1861, while still mourning his wife Julia and son John. After being wounded near Richmond, Virginia, he died in a hospital there on April 29, 1862. His body was returned to Georgia, where he was buried next to Julia and John at Old Conyers Cemetery.

The losses continued when Hansford’s brother Varadamond, also Fannie’s brother-in-law, enlisted in the war. He died of typhoid fever in Chattanooga seven months after joining the Confederate army.

In her early twenties, Fannie became a mother to Mattie L. Overton, her daughter born outside of marriage. Meanwhile, her brother William married Nancy Boyd in DeKalb County on January 3, 1867.

By September 20, 1870, Fannie, now 24, remained in her parents’ home in Conyers, along with her sisters Mary and Louisa. The household included several children: her nephew Thomas, now 14, and niece Emma, 12, as well as two newer additions—4-year-old nephew Fletcher L. Overton, Louisa’s son, and Fannie’s own daughter Mattie, age 3. A 24-year-old white male named Lewis Sudduth also lived with the family, though his connection to the Overton’s is unclear. The family maintained their traditional roles, with Abijah continuing his work as a farmer, helped by Thomas who was listed as ‘farm works.’ The women of the household—Fannie's mother, Mary, Fannie, and Louisa—managed the domestic duties together. Records show that Thomas, Emma, and Lewis could not write. Just five houses away lived Fannie’s brother John, who was neighbors with Joseph and Drucilla (Henson) Burnett. Drucilla would later become connected to the family when her grandson Thomas Terrell Burnett married Fannie’s sister Virginia.

During October and November 1875, Fannie provided nursing services to Mrs. Aley Rhodes in Rockdale County, charging $0.75 per day for 21 days, totaling $15.75. After Rhodes’ death in early 1876, Fannie was an individual documented in relation to financial transactions connected to her estate. To ensure payment, Fannie swore before a justice of the peace on May 22, 1876, certifying that the account was just and accurate. On July 9, 1877, Fannie’s name appeared on a list of payments made by D. N. Hudson, the administrator of the Rhodes estate. The estate paid Fannie $10 (noted as “in compromise”) on March 31, 1877, less than the $15.75 owed to her. The remaining $5.75 may in fact have been paid to Fannie, however, I have not located a record that shows that. Given that Fannie’s mother’s surname was Rhodes, Aley Rhodes may have been an extended family member.

The 1880 census of June 21 found Fannie living in District 476 of Rockdale County, Georgia, sharing a home with her aging father Abijah, who was 75 and widowed. Her sisters Mary, 48, and Louisa, 34, also lived there, along with nieces Emma, 22, and Mattie, 14, and nephew Fletcher, 14. The absence of Fannie’s mother Elizabeth from this record, combined with Abijah’s widowed status, suggests she died sometime between their last known record in September 1870 and this census, though no death record has been found. The household included two black boarders who worked as farm hands: Jacob Clay, 30, and Wesley Hendrix, 22. While Abijah continued to oversee the farm operations, Mary had taken charge of running the household. Fletcher helped with farm work, and Mattie attended school.

Five years later, on August 26, 1885, Fannie’s daughter Mattie married William A. Smith in Rockdale County. Less than two years after this wedding, the family lost their patriarch when Abijah Overton died in Conyers on June 14, 1887. The following day, The Conyers Weekly reported his burial at Daniel Cemetery in Rockdale County, noting his status as an “old and honored citizen” of the community.

In his will dated June 10, 1887, Abijah carefully provided for his daughters and granddaughter. He left his home place—76¼ acres of land in lot 366 of the 16th District, originally in Henry County, then Newton, and now Rockdale County—to his three daughters Mary J., Fannie A., and Louisa E. Overton, along with his granddaughter Emma G. Overton. The property included two mules, two cows, a calf, a yearling, all farming tools, a two-horse wagon, and all household and kitchen furnishings.

The will specified that these women could live together on the property throughout their lives, but marriage or departure from the home would end their individual interests. Abijah included specific provisions for succession: if Mary died, her interest would pass to her son Thomas L. Overton; if Fannie died or married, her share would go to her daughter Mattie L. Smith; and if Louisa left through death or marriage, her portion would transfer to her son Fletcher L. Overton. Emma would forfeit her interest upon marriage and leaving the property. Abijah stipulated that the property should remain intact as a home for these women until the last one left through either death or marriage. At that point, the land and remaining property would be sold at public auction under the ordinary’s direction, with proceeds divided equally among his heirs.

Just over a month after her father’s death, Fannie married James Harris Scott on July 21, 1887, in Rockdale County, with Isaac Hamby performing the ceremony. This was James’ second marriage, as he had previously been married to Sarah A. Richardson, though the fate of that first marriage—whether it ended in Sarah’s death or divorce—is unclear. James brought three sons to the marriage: James A. Scott, born around 1862, Walter Levi Scott, born about 1871, and John R. Scott, born approximately 1874.

Marriage certificate

The Georgia Enterprise in Covington announced the marriage in its July 29, 1887 edition with a brief notice: “Mr. J. H. Scott was married to Miss Fannie Overton one day last week. Both of Rockdale County. Elder Isaac Hamby officiated.”

James brought with him a history of Civil War service and survival. He endured some of the war’s most brutal battles, including the Seven Days Battles near Richmond from June 25 to July 1, 1862, the Second Battle of Manassas in Virginia, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Battle of the Wilderness in Spotsylvania and Orange Counties, Virginia, fought May 5–7, 1864. His war experience culminated in capture at Petersburg, Virginia, where he was sent to Point Lookout, Maryland as a prisoner of war. He remained there until the war’s end, when he was finally released.

1907 census of confederate soldiers card (Alabama 1907) for James H. Scott

Fannie received two distributions from her father’s estate: an initial payment of $12.05 in December 1887, followed by a final settlement of $24.15 in April 1889.

By 1892, Fannie and James had relocated to Alabama. The 1900 census of Goddard, Marion County, Alabama, reveals what I believe to be Fannie’s middle name, the only record I found recording it. All others simply use her middle initial, A. The census lists an Adline Scott living with James H. Scott, and evidence suggests this was Fannie: the couple resided in Goddard, where other records place Fannie and James, and their recorded marriage length of 14 years aligns perfectly with Fannie and James’ July 1887 wedding, as noted in the June 15, 1900 census. 

As I researched James, I noticed some variation in his birth date—while October 4 remains consistent, the year varies from 1833 to 1839, with the 1900 census listing October 1839. Though this census recorded “Adline” as having no children, we know from her father’s will that Fannie had a daughter, Mattie L. Overton, before her marriage to James. Such omissions were common in the 19th century when children were born outside of marriage, as families often chose to keep these matters private.

While some census details appear incorrect, such as listing both of Adline’s parents as Virginia-born, other evidence strengthens the connection. The census describes James as a literate farmer who owned his farm, noting both he and his wife could read and write. A strong piece of evidence comes from their neighbor Stephen P. Hanson, who lived just two houses away. Stephen’s daughter Martha Ursula Hanson would marry John William Burnett, brother of Thomas Terrell Burnette, my great-grandfather. According to one of John’s descendants, he lived with his aunt Fannie and uncle Jim Scott before his 1899 marriage to Martha, suggesting he may have met his future wife during this time given their nearby homes.

Back in Georgia, Fannie’s brother John passed away on April 4, 1906, in Newton County and was laid to rest in Almand Cemetery in Conyers.

The 1910 census, taken on April 26, shows Fannie and James still residing in Goddard. Unlike the 1900 record, this census showed that Fannie had one child, though the enumerator left blank the question about its survival. The record contains two notable errors: Fannie appears as “Frances M” instead of Fannie A, and her parents’ birthplaces are incorrectly listed as Virginia for her father (who was born in South Carolina) and Tennessee for her mother (who was born in Georgia, though the 1900 census had claimed Virginia). James maintained his occupation as a farmer, working and owning a general farm.

That same decade brought another loss to the family when Fannie’s sister Virginia, known as Jinnie, died on January 10, 1916. She was laid to rest at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia.

By 1920, Fannie and James had settled on Jordan Road in Bear Creek, Marion County, Alabama. The January 20 census shows James, at 86, still actively farming his own land. This census entry adds to the amusing inconsistencies in their records—James’ parents, consistently listed as South Carolina-born in previous records, were suddenly recorded as being from Ireland (father) and Holland (mother), with his mother’s tongue noted as Scotch. The following year found Fannie and James living in Haleyville, another Marion County community.

Loss touched the family again when Fannie’s oldest brother James died on July 28, 1921, at age 89. He spent his final days at his son John’s home in the Grove Level community of Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, and was buried the next day in Grove Level Cemetery.

Fannie’s own story ended in October 1925 when she passed away in Marion County, Alabama. The details of her death date and burial location remain undiscovered, leaving her story partially untold until future records might emerge online to complete it.

References

• Abijah Overton’s will, Rockdale. Wills 1872–1916, image 75, FamilySearch.
• Elizabeth B. Overton, James H. Overton, Sophronia Julia Overton, William M. Overton, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Fannie A. Scott, Alabama Deaths, 1908–59.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32242310/john_l-woolley: accessed May 13, 2025), memorial page for John L. Woolley (24 Aug 1859–30 Mar 1861), Find a Grave Memorial ID 32242310, citing Old Conyers Cemetery, Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Scott and Priscilla Butler Fraser (contributor 46859858).
• Frances A Overton, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Hansford D Woolley, U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861–1865.
• J. H. Overton, North Georgia Citizen, Dalton, Georgia, August 4, 1921.
• James H. Scott, Alabama, U.S., Census of Confederate Soldiers, Multiple Regiments (Marion County #47), 1907, 1921.
• James Harris Scott, Alabama, U.S., Census of Confederate Soldiers, Georgia CSA Commands (Folder #1), 1907, 1921. 
• Jinnie Burnette’s tombstone, Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia (personal visit).
• John M. Overton, U.S., Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Georgia, 1861–1865.
• Person visit to Almand Cemetery, Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia.
• Rockdale County, Georgia, Annual Returns 1876–1891, images 70, 72, 577, and 636, FamilySearch.
• Rockdale County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1872–1936, image 20, FamilySearch.
• Sarah A. Richardson, Georgia Marriages, 1699–1944.
• Town and County: Everything and Everybody, The Georgia Enterprise, Covington, Georgia, July 29, 1887.
• U.S. Federal Census, Bear Creek, Marion County, Alabama, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Conyers, Newton County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 476, Rockdale County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Goddard, Marion County, Alabama, 1900, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Subdivision 163, Newton County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Subdivision 65, Newton County, Georgia, 1850.