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.