Frances J. Burnett

Frances J. Burnett was born on September 24, 1859, in Georgia, the daughter of Joseph B. Burnett and Drucilla Henson. Before Frances’ birth, Drucilla had been married to William Caton, with whom she had three children: Samuel Pride, Edward George, and Mary Elizabeth. After William’s death, Drucilla married Joseph Burnett sometime after 1845, and the couple had four children together: Madison T., Frances J., Laura, and Jane Burnett. Samuel and Edward adopted the Burnett surname following their mother’s remarriage. Frances is my half 3rd great aunt, our shared ancestor being her mother, Drucilla Henson.

By June 26, 1860, the blended Burnett–Caton household was living in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia. Joseph worked as a miller and held a personal estate valued at $100. Drucilla’s older children—Samuel, Edward, and Elizabeth—were still at home. Samuel, then a young farmer, held a small estate valued at $30. Frances, an infant at the time, was the youngest in a household that included her parents, her brother Madison, and her older half‑siblings. Sometime between 1860 and 1862, the family relocated to Newton County, Georgia, where they remained throughout the 1860s.

Frances grew up during the Civil War, a conflict that deeply affected her family. Her two older brothers, Samuel and Edward Burnett, both served in the Confederate Army, and each was taken prisoner—Samuel in Virginia in 1864, and Edward twice, first in 1862 and again in 1864. Both young men endured harsh conditions in Union prison camps before eventually returning home.

On September 22, 1870, the Burnetts were living in Conyers, Newton County. Only two children remained in the home: Frances (12) and Laura (10). Joseph continued working as a miller, while Drucilla kept the household. The Burnetts lived next door to the family of John M. Overton, brother‑in‑law to Frances’ half‑brother Samuel, who had married Millicent “Virginia” Overton. Other Overton relatives—including Abijah and Elizabeth Overton and Elizabeth Wooley—lived nearby. I descend directly from Abijah and Virginia Overton, linking my family to Frances’ through both the Henson and Overton lines.

On December 25, 1875, Frances married James T. Harrison, son of Asa Harrison and Mary A. E. Taylor, in Gwinnett County. Rev. G. J. Bagwell performed the ceremony. Over the next 15 years, Frances gave birth to 12 children: Garland Winfield, Charles “Charley” S., Georgia Savannah (“Georgie” or “Vanie”), Effie P., Felix P., Joseph “Joe” B., Emily Ophelia, Maggie L., William “Willie” V., and three unnamed children who died young.

Marriage license for Frances and James

On June 18, 1880, the Harrisons lived in the Harbins District of Gwinnett County. James farmed while Frances managed the home. Their sons Garland (3) and Charles (1) were their only children at the time. Frances’ brother Samuel, his wife, and their eight children lived next door. Sometime after 1880, Frances’ mother Drucilla died. Around 1893, her father Joseph remarried a woman named Elizabeth, and in 1894, Frances’ half‑brother Edward died and was buried at Almand Cemetery in Conyers.

On June 25, 1900, Frances and James were living in the Cains District of Gwinnett County. They had been married 23 years, and Frances had given birth to 10 children, with 9 living. James continued farming, assisted by sons Garland, Charles, Felix, and Joseph. Frances, James, Charles, Georgia, and Felix were recorded as literate; Effie, Joseph, and Emily were not. James’ widowed mother Mary (72) lived with them. Next door lived Frances’ father Joseph and his second wife Elizabeth, who reported having borne five children, four living—though it is unclear whether any were Joseph’s, which would make them additional half‑siblings to Frances.

The Harrisons remained in the Cains District through at least April 1910. Frances had now borne 12 children, nine still living. She and James had been married 34 years. James and their son Garland worked the home farm, while Felix and Joseph labored alongside them. The youngest child, William, was 16. Six adult children still lived at home, ranging from ages 18 to 29. All could read except Felix, and Georgia, Felix, and William were unable to write.

Frances’ husband James died on July 7, 1916, and was buried at Hog Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery in Dacula. When their son Felix registered for the World War I draft in September 1918, he listed Frances—then living in Winder, Barrow County—as his nearest relative.

Frances died on August 26, 1919 in Winder. The physician listed the primary cause of death as acute dilatation of the heart, meaning her heart suddenly enlarged and failed. The secondary (contributory) cause was chronic endocarditis, a long‑term inflammation of the heart’s inner lining that weakened it over time. Together, these show that her long‑term heart disease eventually led to a fatal heart failure. Frances was buried at the old Hog Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery in Dacula with her husband on August 28. Her death certificate listed her parents as Joe Burnett and Drucilla Henderson—a slight error, as Drucilla’s maiden name was Henson. Frances’ son Charles served as the informant.

Photo by Toni McCall, Find A Grave
 member 46868460

References

• Asa Harrison, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Edward G. Burnett, U.S., Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Georgia, 1861-1865
• Felix Harrison, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Frances Burnett, J. B. Burnett, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Francis Harrison, Certificate of Death no. 10276, Commonwealth of Georgia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, 1919.
• Fulton and Campbell Counties, Georgia, Cemetery Records, 1857–1933. 
• Knox County, Tennessee, Marriage Records 1792–1900, image 112, FamilySearch.
• Samuel P. Burnett, Georgia, Confederate Pension Applications, 1879–1960.
• Samuel P. Burnett, U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861–1865.
• U.S. Federal Census, Cains District, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1900, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 407, Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Harbins, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Hog Mountain, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Subdivision 163, Conyers, Newton County, Georgia, 1870. 

The Overton Myth

As part of my ongoing look at the Revolutionary War in honor of America’s 250th birthday, I next turned to my Overton line. While reviewing my notes, I came across John Overton Sr., my 4th great grandfather. His son, Abijah Overton, is my direct ancestor. I had not done much focused research on John himself—certainly not on his possible Revolutionary War service—but other researchers had shared claims over the years. According to them, John had volunteered during the war and later drew a land bounty in Walton County, Georgia, supposedly awarded in the 1820 land lottery for his service.

However, when I began searching for any primary records to support this story, I came up empty.

Many online family trees claim that Abijah Overton’s father was “Captain John Overton,” a Revolutionary War soldier from Louisa County, Virginia. This claim is incorrect—and the historical evidence makes that clear. The Virginia John Overton (1755–1822) lived his entire life in Louisa County. His military service is well documented, as are his landholdings, marriage, children, and probate. None of his children were named Abijah, and none migrated to South Carolina or Georgia. The Revolutionary War soldier, John Overton of Louisa County (1755–1822), left a clear paper trail that never leads out of Virginia.

Published histories of Louisa County identify the only Revolutionary War Overtons from that county as the sons of Capt. James Overton—John, Thomas, and Waller—whose migrations carried them into Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana. None of these men ever lived in South Carolina or Georgia, and their well‑documented lives bear no resemblance to the South Carolina farmer who became the father of Abijah Overton.

I also searched the Georgia Archives’ Headright and Bounty Land Records, the Georgia Virtual Vault collections, the published indexes of Georgia Revolutionary War bounty grants, and the federal bounty land warrant files; no record of any bounty land issued to a man named John Overton appears in any of these sources. I also searched the South Carolina Department of Archives and History’s Revolutionary War collections—including the Audited Accounts, Stub Entries, and published indexes of South Carolina militia service—and found no record of any Revolutionary War service for a man named John Overton in that state.

On the other hand, the Carolina John Overton appears only in South Carolina and Georgia records, and only during the decades after the Revolutionary War. He is first documented in the 1800 census in Kershaw District, South Carolina, where he appears as a man aged 26 to 44 with a wife and four young children. Ten years later, in 1810, he appears in Lancaster District, again as the only Overton in the entire state. His household includes a male under 10 years old—the exact age bracket for Abijah, born in 1805.

After 1810, John followed the common migration route into Georgia. He appears in Walton County in 1820 and in Newton County in 1830, where he is listed as a man aged 70 to 79. This continuous census trail from 1800 to 1830 documents his life as a South Carolina–born farmer who moved into Georgia with his family. It also proves that he was alive and living in Georgia during the years when the Virginia officer was still in Louisa County.

Further evidence comes from Newton County, where John Overton continued to appear in records well into the 1830s. On February 15, 1836, he sold the east half of Lot No. 198 in the Ninth District—the same 101¼‑acre tract he had purchased in 1828—to Absalom D. Smith. The deed identifies him as a resident of Newton County and shows him signing with a mark. This 1836 transaction proves that he was alive and living in Georgia 14 years after the Virginia officer had died in Louisa County in 1822. The Virginia soldier never lived in Georgia, never owned land there, and left a complete probate trail in Virginia. The 1836 Newton County deed therefore provides yet another clear distinction between the two men and further confirms that Abijah’s father was not the Revolutionary War captain from Virginia.

This Carolina John Overton was born between 1760 and 1774, making him too young to have served as a Revolutionary War officer. He would have been a child or teenager during the war, not a captain. No military records, pension files, bounty land applications, or wartime service documents exist for him. The only Overton military records from the Revolutionary War period belong to the Virginia family—a separate and unrelated line.

So once again, I began my research for this sketch thinking my 4th great grandfather was a patriot, but that was not the case.

References

• History of Louisa County, Virginia: Louisa. Local Histories 1669–1936, image 170, FamilySearch.
• John Overton, Virginia, US, Revolutionary War Pensions, 1800-1900.
• Newton County, Georgia, Deeds 1826–1830, 1822–1826, Mortgages 1826–1830, 1822–1826, images 559–560, FamilySearch.
• Newton County, Georgia, Deeds 1834–1837, Mortgages 1834–1837, images 227–228, FamilySearch.
• U.S. Federal Census, Lancaster County, South Carolina, 1810.
• U.S. Federal Census, Newton County, Georgia, 1830.
• U.S. Federal Census, Walton County, Georgia, 1820. 

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. 

Emily Eliza Fish

Emily Eliza Fish was born in Georgia in 1824 to William Washington “Vines” Fish and Sarah Harvard. She was one of at least 11 children, alongside siblings Sarah Margean (or Morgiana) Fish, John Dawson Fish, James Fish, William Troup Fish, George Washington Fish, Thomas Jefferson Fish, David Augustus Fish, Miriam Frances Fish, Mary Ann Fish, and Horace Virgil Fish.

I have been unable to determine with certainty whether she was known as Emily or Eliza. While all legal documents record her name as ‘Eliza E. Janes,’ her tombstone bears the inscription ‘Emily Eliza Fish,’ with Emily listed first. Given this, I have chosen to use Emily in this sketch, as I believe the name engraved on her tombstone best reflects how she was known within her family.

She is my 2nd great-grandmother, with our closest shared ancestor being her son, Thomas Palemon Janes, my great-grandfather. While I have not found a definitive paper trail—and there may not be one—linking me directly to Emily, a DNA test has confirmed our familial connection.

At the age of 18, Emily married Thomas Pike Janes on December 20, 1842, in Baldwin County, Georgia. Thomas was the son of Absalom Madison Janes and Martha Cordelia Callaway, a distinguished family with deep roots in the region. Absalom, one of Georgia’s earliest millionaires, was a co-founder and trustee of Mercer University, where Thomas received part of his education. He continued his studies at what was regarded as the finest schools in the county.

Emily and Thomas’ marriage license

On December 27, 1842, The Federal Union, a newspaper based in Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, published the following announcement:

Married, in Midway, on Tuesday evening, the 20th instant, by the Rev. S. G. Hillyer, Mr. Thomas P. Jones [sic], of Penfield, Ga., to Miss Emily E. Fish, of the former place.

After their marriage, Emily and Thomas settled in Penfield, where they built a life together and raised a large family of at least 13 children: Emma Cordelia Janes, Mary Frances “Fannie” Janes, Thomas “Palemon” Janes, Lillian “Lelia” H. Janes, William “Willie” Felix Janes, Charles P. Janes, Edward “Eddie” H. Janes, Sarah Margie Janes, Lilla Janes, David “Arthur” Janes, James “Jim” Madison Janes, Walter Lee Janes, and John Henry Janes.

For some time, I believed they also had a 14th child named Absalom E. Janes, based on information shared by other researchers. However, upon conducting further research for this sketch, I was unable to find any records to confirm the existence of a child by that name.

Within days of her marriage, Emily endured the devastating loss of her father, William Fish, who passed away at his home in Washington County, Georgia on January 3, 1843, following an illness. His death was announced in The Southern Recorder, published in Milledgeville, on January 10, 1843:

Departed this life at his residence in Washington county, on Sunday evening the 1st inst. Mr. William Fish, in the 43d year of his age. Mr. Fish was a highly worthy and enterprizing [sic] citizen, an affectionate husband, a kind father, and a sincere and devoted friend. In this truly melancholly [sic] dispensation, his afflicted family, as well as the community at large, have indeed experienced a severe loss. 

William was laid to rest in Memory Hill Cemetery, the city cemetery in Milledgeville. The Fish Family Vault, which serves as the final resting place for several members of the family, was restored in 2008, accompanied by a commemoration service. Links to more information about the restoration and history of the Fish Family Vault are provided below:

• The restoration of the Fish Vault in Memory Hill Cemetery, Stephen Hammack, Susan J. Harrington, Matthew Williamson, and Hugh T. Harrington, The Society for Georgia Archeology
• Restoration of the William Fish Vault, Memory Hill Cemetery, Friends of Baldwin County Cemeteries, Inc.
• Fish Vault Commemoration, Friends of Baldwin County Cemeteries, Inc.
• Angling for Mythical Fish, Catching a Legendary Fisk Iron Mummy Casket, Stephen Hammock, Middle Georgia Preservation Alliance, October 20, 2023

As part of her inheritance, Emily was bequeathed $2,500 from her father’s estate.

Emily’s brother, Horace, died of typhus on November 21, 1845. He was laid to rest alongside their father in Memory Hill Cemetery. His death was reported in the December 30, 1845, edition of The Federal Union, published in Milledgeville.

Died—At Midway, on Friday evening, the 21st November, after a short illness, Horace Virgil, youngest son of Mrs. Sarah Fish, aged about 5 years.

Thus was suddenly snatched from the family circle, the one whose promise of length of days seemed fairest and brightest of all Insatiate Archer! Truly didst thou mark for they victim the most youthful and lovely. How inscruitable oh God! Are the ways of thy providence. May the bereaved mother and stricken band of brothers and sisters ever be consoled by the Christian reflection, that little Horace has been translated from earth to dwell forever, a bright Seraph, in the celestial courts of Heaven.

“Yes beloved one, though has left us.
Here they loss we deeply feel,
But ‘tis God that hath bereft us—He can all our sorrows heal.”
“Yet again we hope to meet thee,
When this dream of life is fled—

During the early years of their marriage, Emily remained in Georgia, likely managing the household and caring for the family. From 1846 to 1847, Thomas attended the University of the City of New York, where he earned a degree in medicine. He continued his education from 1848 to 1849 at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. During this time, on September 25, 1847, Emily’s father-in-law, Absalom Janes, passed away in Penfield. He was laid to rest alongside his wife and children in the Absalom Janes Family Cemetery in Greene County.

By October 22, 1850, Emily and her family were residing in Penfield, District 163, of Greene County, Georgia. At 26 years old, Thomas had become a practicing physician. The couple had three children at the time: Emma (age 3), Fannie (age 2), and Palemon (6 months old). The agricultural schedule of the census recorded that the Janes family owned 1,200 acres of land—600 improved and 600 unimproved—valued at $8,400. Their farming tools and machinery were valued at $500, and their livestock, which included horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and pigs, was collectively worth $1,660.

The Janes plantation, known as Redcliffe Farm, was productive, yielding crops such as wheat, rye, oats, and rice. Notable outputs included 1,250 bushels of oats and 400 pounds of rice. The census slave schedule also recorded that Emily and Thomas owned 36 enslaved individuals—18 males and 18 females. Around 1855, Thomas shifted his focus from medicine to full-time farming.

On June 26, 1852, Thomas attended a meeting, referred to as a “conference,” at Penfield Baptist Church. During this gathering, he shared his personal spiritual experiences and expressed his desire to reestablish his membership and connection with the church. However, since he had previously been a member of Bethesda Baptist Church, Penfield Baptist Church formed a committee to formally request Bethesda to reinstate him into their fellowship.

Penfield Baptist Church followed up with Bethesda regarding Thomas’ request. Bethesda responded with a letter Thomas had written in the past, in which he had requested to withdraw from their membership. In this letter, Thomas explained that he believed he had not truly experienced a spiritual rebirth (“born again”). Along with this letter, Bethesda included a resolution granting Penfield the authority to make a decision about Thomas’ case. They expressed confidence in Penfield’s judgment and agreed to abide by their decision.

After reviewing Bethesda’s response and Thomas’ letter, and reflecting on the discussions from the June 26 conference, Penfield Baptist Church unanimously decided to welcome Thomas into their fellowship on August 7. Although church minutes do not mention Emily, it is likely that she attended the same church as her husband, as was customary at the time.

However, their membership at Penfield Baptist Church appears to have been short-lived. On August 11, 1852, following the regular prayer meeting, the church granted Emily and Thomas a letter of dismission. This letter formally released them from Penfield’s membership, allowing them to transfer their membership to another congregation.

Emily’s daughter, Lillian, tragically passed away on June 16, 1853, at just 21 months of age. She was laid to rest in the Thomas Janes Family Cemetery near Penfield. According to The Cemeteries of Greene County, Georgia by E. H. Armor, her tombstone reads:

Lillian H. Janes, daughter of T. P. and E. E. Janes, born Sept. 11, 1851, died June 16, 1853. God in His wisdom has recalled the precious born He has given, and though the casket moulders here, the gem is sparkling now in Heaven.

Emily’s sister, Sarah, married James Palmer Graves from Waterford, Ireland, on May 7, 1856, at Midway near Milledgeville. After their marriage, the couple moved to Ireland, where they had at least four children. Sarah remained in Ireland for the rest of her life.

Emily’s mother, also named Sarah, passed away at the age of 52 on September 6, 1856, at Gordon Springs in Washington County, Georgia. She was laid to rest in the Fish Family Vault at Memory Hill Cemetery in Milledgeville, her remains placed in a Fisk Iron Mummy Casket. 

On January 11, 1859, Emily and her husband, Thomas, purchased seven enslaved individuals from her father’s estate for a total of $4,189:

• Violet, along with her children Peggy and Anthony, for $400 each ($1,200)
• Penly and her children, Delia and Georgia, for $428 each ($1,284)
• Ben, a carpenter, for $1,705

The Penfield Baptist Church minutes from October 30, 1859, do not confirm whether Emily and Thomas had rejoined the congregation. However, the records do note that their servant, Elizabeth, was a member and was received into the church through baptism.

By the time of the 1860 census, the Janes family’s wealth had grown substantially. On July 24, 1860, Emily and her family were residing in Penfield, where her husband, Thomas, worked as a farmer. His personal estate was valued at an impressive $67,800. The couple’s family had also expanded and now included eight children: Emma (13), Fannie (11), Thomas Jr. (10), Willie (listed as Felix, 7), Charlie (6), Eddie (4), Margie (2), and Lilla (just 2 months old). This is the only record found for Lilla, suggesting she likely did not survive infancy. While many researchers claim that Lilla was born and died on May 3, 1860, this seems inaccurate given that she was documented as two months old during the July census. I did locate a record of an “Infant Janes” who died in March 1860 at the age of one month, but this individual was recorded as Black and enslaved.

The Janes family owned a considerable estate, including 1,000 acres of improved land and 650 acres of unimproved land, with the farm valued at $22,000. Their farming tools and machinery were valued at $1,000. The plantation supported an extensive inventory of livestock, consisting of 17 horses, 18 asses and mules, 20 milk cows, 2 working oxen, 18 other cattle, 60 sheep, and 200 swine, collectively valued at $1,825.

Their agricultural production was substantial. The plantation yielded 800 bushels of wheat, 60 bushels of rye, 4,000 bushels of Indian corn, 2 bushels of oats, 160 pounds of wool, and 140 bales of cotton, each weighing 400 pounds. The plantation’s operations were heavily dependent on the labor of 80 enslaved individuals.

When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, Thomas remained at Redcliffe Farm in Penfield while many men from Greene County joined the fight. He proposed raising a cavalry regiment for Georgia and focused on studying cavalry tactics. In February 1862, after receiving approval from the Confederate War Department, he sought consent from the Georgia Governor to organize a regiment, requesting a list of available cavalry companies. Although the Secretary of War granted him permission on February 22, Thomas delayed action while awaiting the Governor’s response.

In July 1862, Thomas joined the 16th Regiment of the Georgia Militia as an assistant surgeon but resigned in June 1863. There are two conflicting accounts regarding his resignation—one suggests his role was eliminated, while another attributes it to physical disability. 

Emily’s brother, Thomas, served with Company I of the 4th Regiment, Georgia Infantry during the war. He was wounded during the Battle of Chancellorsville and tragically passed away in Richmond, Virginia, on May 23, 1863. According to his Find A Grave memorial, Thomas was initially buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. On June 1, 1863, his family had his remains exhumed and brought back to Georgia for reburial.

Like many Southern plantation owners, the Janes family faced significant challenges following the Civil War. The abolition of slavery, which had been the primary source of labor for their farms, made it increasingly difficult to sustain their agricultural operations. Thomas persisted in planting cotton as he had before the war, but this approach proved unsustainable and ultimately led to financial difficulties.

After nearly 11 years away from Penfield Baptist Church, Emily, Thomas, and their daughters, Emma and Fannie, were welcomed back into the congregation on May 13, 1863. Their membership was reinstated through a letter of transfer from Bairds Baptist Church in Bairdstown.

Minutes from Penfield Baptist Church

Bairds Baptist Church, Bairdstown, Georgia

In June 1869, the Janes plantation was described as spanning an impressive 5,000 acres near Mercer University. It featured flourishing fields of red clover, bluegrass, and timothy grass, all growing without the use of fertilizers. Thomas employed sustainable farming techniques, such as grazing livestock on clover fields to reduce feed costs. The plantation also produced wheat, corn, and cotton, and included wooded areas with oak and hickory trees.

By July 20, 1870, Emily and her family were still residing in Penfield. Over the decade since the 1860 census, the value of their real estate had doubled to $45,000, while Thomas’ personal estate was appraised at $5,000. Emily managed the household, while Thomas continued to oversee farming operations. Among their 11 children at home, three had reached adulthood: Emma (23), Fannie (21), and Palemon (20), who worked as a farm laborer. The household also included three teenagers: Willie (17 and still in school), Charlie (16 and also a farm laborer), and Eddie (14, working on the farm). Additionally, five younger children completed the family: Margie (12), Arthur (9), James (7), Walter (6), and John (3). Living next door was William Fish, age 39, likely Emily’s brother.

The family’s plantation, while maintaining a smaller inventory of livestock compared to 1860, saw its value increase to $3,500. They owned 10 horses, 6 asses and mules, 11 milk cows, 2 working oxen, 40 other cattle, 20 sheep, and 20 swine. Their plantation’s agricultural production included 350 bushels of spring wheat, 750 bushels of rye, 40 bales of cotton, 80 pounds of wool, 15 bushels of peas and beans, 50 bushels of Irish potatoes, 200 bushels of sweet potatoes, and 25 tons of hay. They also produced 500 pounds of butter and ventured into beekeeping, yielding 50 pounds of honey. Thomas slaughtered or sold livestock worth $500. The total estimated value of the plantation’s production, including livestock and additions to stock, was $6,650.

Tragedy struck the family on February 28, 1871, when Emily’s brother, George, a respected judge in the 13th Senatorial District, was assassinated in Oglethorpe, Macon County, Georgia. While returning from Macon, he was ambushed near the courthouse and fatally shot below the left ear by an unknown assailant. George was laid to rest at Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens in Oglethorpe.

Later that same year, on December 7, 1871, Emily’s daughter, Fannie, married John Hamilton Carswell in Richmond County, Georgia.

On June 7, 1873, Emily, Thomas, and their daughters, Emma and Fannie, were formally granted letters of dismission from Penfield Baptist Church. This allowed them to transfer their membership to another congregation.

Minutes from Penfield Baptist Church

Emily’s daughter, Emma, married Simon W. Overton in Greene County, Georgia, on January 20, 1874. It will be interesting to see whether Simon connects to my known Overton lines.

On August 26, 1874, Thomas was appointed by the Governor as Georgia’s first Commissioner of Agriculture. His service in this role began that same year. This new position likely required Thomas to spend significant time away from home, whether in Atlanta or traveling to farms across the state. During his absences, Emily was often left to manage the household. It is likely that the plantation operations were overseen by a hired manager.

At the start of 1875, Thomas hired four Black farmhands under a formal labor contract approved by the county court. However, the farmhands soon violated the terms of the agreement, refusing to work and seeking employment elsewhere. With Thomas away in Atlanta, Emily took the matter to court. The court enforced the contract, leading to the farmhands’ arrest for contempt and their imprisonment.

The following day, Thomas returned home, resolved the situation, and secured the release of the farmhands. In retaliation, the farmhands filed warrants accusing Charles, Edward, and Palemon Janes—Emily and Thomas’ sons—along with the county bailiff, of “interfering with a contract.” The Janes sons and the bailiff were subsequently arrested and taken to Atlanta. During a partial hearing, the charges against the Janes family members were dismissed, and the bailiff was released on his own recognizance.

After completing his first term as Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Thomas was reappointed by the Governor for a second term, beginning in September 1878. However, by mid-September 1879, rumors began circulating about a possible resignation, stemming from an investigation into alleged mismanagement within his office. Before the end of the month, Thomas officially resigned and returned to his home in Greene County.

Just under four years after her marriage, Emily’s daughter, Emma Overton, passed away in Penfield at the age of 30 on December 15, 1877. At the time, Thomas was in Atlanta attending to his duties as Commissioner of Agriculture and was likely summoned home by Emily. Tragically, he did not make it back before Emma’s death. Her burial location is unknown.

Following Thomas’ resignation and the loss of their daughter, life likely returned to its routine for the Janes family. Emily continued managing the household, with help from her daughter Maggie, while Thomas resumed his farming operations. By June 26, 1880, the census enumerator recorded the family living in Skull Shoals, Greene County, Georgia. Their sons, Eddie and Arthur, worked as farmers, while Jim, Walter, and John served as laborers, most likely assisting their father on the family farm.

The household also included five Black servants listed as laborers: George Barron (40), Perry (35), Emerline (30), Lizzie Williams (20), and Elis Tucker (50). Additionally, a 15-year-old Black male, John Tucker, also worked as a farmer and resided with the family. Both Elis and John were described in the census using the term “idiots,” a term historically used for intellectual disabilities. Among the Black members of the household, only John was noted as literate.

The Janes plantation covered 275 acres of improved land, comprising 200 acres of tilled farmland and 75 acres dedicated to permanent meadows, pastures, orchards, or vineyards. An additional 1,000 acres of wooded land brought the total estate value to $15,000. Their tools and machinery were valued at $150, while their livestock was worth $800. In 1879, plantation expenses included $100 for building or repairing fences, $200 for fertilizers, and $700 for farm labor. That year, the total value of farm production was estimated at $2,280.

The plantation’s livestock inventory, though reduced from 1860, remained significant. It included 5 horses, 2 mules or asses, 4 working oxen, 8 milch cows, 6 other cattle, and 50 sheep. In 1879, the farm produced 6 calves and 22 lambs, sold 1 cow, slaughtered 2, and lost 5 cattle due to death, straying, or theft. The plantation yielded 500 pounds of butter, while 34 sheep produced 80 pounds of fleece, despite 3 sheep succumbing to disease. Additionally, the farm kept 30 swine and 30 chickens, which produced 200 dozen eggs.

Crop production for the year was substantial. The plantation harvested 150 bushels of barley, 250 bushels of Indian corn from 50 acres, 600 bushels of oats from 50 acres, and 100 bushels of wheat from 10 acres. Other yields included 100 gallons of molasses from 2 acres, 50 bushels of potatoes, 100 bushels of apples, and 300 bushels of peaches from 200 trees spread across 2 acres. Four acres of mown grasslands produced 4 tons of hay. With its year-round productivity, the plantation demonstrated a diverse and thriving operation.

Willie, Emily’s son, passed away tragically at the age of 29 on September 9, 1882, in Richmond County, Georgia. He left behind his wife and four young children: Thomas, Annie, Essie, and William Jr. The Greensboro Herald of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, published an announcement on September 14, 1882:

—The friends of Dr. Thos. P. Janes deeply sympathise [sic] with him and his family in the death of his son Willie, a prominent business young man of Augusta.

Heartbreak struck the family again in 1883 with two devastating losses. One was William Jr., Willie’s infant son, and the other was Emily’s sister, Mary, who passed away on June 6, 1883. Willie and his son were both laid to rest in Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia. Mary was laid to rest at Laurel Grove Cemetery North in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia.

On March 8, 1885, sensing the approach of his death, Emily’s husband, Thomas, summoned the family members present at his home to witness his verbal will. He expressed that, if his health allowed, he would put his wishes in writing. However, recognizing that his time was short and fearing he might not have the opportunity to formalize his intentions, he declared his wishes aloud to serve as his final will and testament. Thomas stated:

After all my first debts are paid, I desire and will that my wife (Mrs. Eliza E. Janes) shall at my death have all of my property of every description and that she shall take the same with the power of dispensing of it as she sees proper.

Thomas, who had been working to reclaim his position as State Commissioner of Agriculture, tragically passed away just two days later, on March 10, 1885. He was found unconscious in a field, and despite attempts to save him, he died before medical assistance could arrive. Thomas was laid to rest in the Janes Family Cemetery on Redcliffe Farm, near Penfield. It was widely reported that he succumbed to a morphine overdose, potentially taken to ease his nerves amid financial distress. However, those close to him contested this explanation, maintaining that he had no reason to take such an action.

On March 23, 1885, Thomas’ children—Arthur, Edward, James, Charles, and Margie—testified that they had been present at their father’s home on March 8 when he declared his verbal will. They attested that he passed away from the illness he was suffering at the time of his declaration and affirmed that his verbal will should be honored and executed in full.

The court was petitioned to appoint guardians for Emily’s 18-year-old son, John, as well as the three minor children of her late son Willie (Thomas, Annie, and Essie). The court reviewed and approved the requests, appointing Emily as the guardian for John, and Willie’s wife, Katie L. Janes, as the guardian for her three children.

On June 1, 1885, Emily applied to the Greene County Court of Ordinary to become the administratrix of Thomas’ estate. She declared that the estate was valued at approximately $10,000 and required administration to settle debts and distribute the remaining assets among the heirs. The court ordered that a citation be issued and published in accordance with the law. Listed in court records as “Eliza,” Emily was officially appointed as the administrator of the estate on July 6, 1885. She fulfilled the legal requirements, including paying the mandated bond and swearing an oath to carry out her duties faithfully.

On August 1, 1885, Emily petitioned the Greene County Court of Ordinary for 12 months of financial support for herself and her minor son, John. She requested that appraisers be appointed to assess the necessary amount for their maintenance, which could be provided in either money or property, as determined by the appraisers. Additionally, she asked for household furniture to be set aside for their use.

The court appointed five appraisers—John M. Colclough, Daniel Colclough, Robert L. Burgess, John S. Callaway, and William A. Overton—to address her petition. On August 5, the appraisers concluded that $1,000 was required for financial support. They designated specific items for Emily and John’s use, including 2 mules, 2 horses, 2 mares, 16 hogs, 2 cows with calves, 2 yoke oxen, 12 head of cattle, farming tools, 1 wagon, syrup kettles, seed separators, anvil bellows, 1 cotton press, 50 bushels of wheat, 68 bushels of oats, 5 bushels of rye, and 5,000 feet of lumber, valued at $645 in total. An additional $355 was allocated in farm products and cash.

The household furniture set aside for their use consisted of 12 rocking chairs, 24 chairs, 1 sideboard, 2 bookcases, 1 safe, 1 wardrobe, 1 dining table, 2 small tables, 2 sofas, 1 center table, 1 mirror, 1 hat rack, 1 carpet and rug, 1 pair of andirons (metal supports for holding logs in a fireplace), and kitchen furniture.

On August 10, 1885, the court approved 12 months of support for Emily and her son, John, officially granting the appraisers’ recommendations.

The court reviewed and approved Emily’s application requesting a lawful distribution of the estate to its rightful heirs. To oversee this process, the court appointed five appraisers—Charles M. Sanders, Joseph O. Boswell, John R. Bryant, Charles S. Ellington, and Robert L. Burgess—all respected freeholders of Greene County.

The estate’s heirs totaled 11 individuals: Emily; her surviving children—Frances, Palemon, Edward, Margie, James, Walter, John (a minor), Charles, and Arthur; and Catherine, the widow of Willie (deceased) and guardian of his three minor children—Thomas, Annie, and Essie.

On October 12, 1885, the appraisers divided the estate into 11 equal lots, comprising a total of 2,758 acres. Each lot was assessed individually, with values ranging from $6 to $11 per acre. The total worth of each lot was calculated based on these valuations, ensuring a fair distribution among the heirs.

On November 7, 1887, Emily petitioned the court to release her from her administrative responsibilities, asserting that she had fully settled all debts and distributed her late husband’s estate among his rightful heirs. After conducting a thorough review, the court deemed her administration satisfactory, granted her discharge, and issued letters of dismission as formal confirmation.

Tragically, both Emily and her youngest son, John, passed away in Greene County in 1894. While the exact date of Emily’s death remains unknown, John’s death occurred on October 4. Both were laid to rest in the Janes family cemetery near Penfield, where they joined other members of their family in eternal rest.

References

• A Visit to Dr. Janes’ Farm, Southern Recorder, Milledgeville, Georgia, June 29, 1869. 
• Arrested, The Greensboro Herald, Greensboro, Georgia, May 27, 1875.
• Bryant, Jonathan M., How Curious a Land: Conflict and Change in Greene County, Georgia, 1850–1885, 1996.
• Chatham County, Georgia, Special Proceedings Records 1869–1870, 1870–1871, image 245, FamilySearch.
• Commissioner Thomas P. Janes, 1874 – 1879, Georgia Department of Agriculture; https://agr.georgia.gov/thomas-p-janes. 
• Communicated, The Federal Union, Milledgeville, Georgia, January 10, 1843.
• Daily Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1877.
• Died, The Federal Union, Milledgeville, Georgia, September 16, 1856.
• Dr. Thomas P. Janes Dead: He Dies Suddenly at His Home in Greene County—A Good Man Gone, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 11, 1885.
• Edgar Noel Graves, Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620–1911.
• Emily E. Fish, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Emily Eliza (Fish) Janes photo (from History of the Janes-Peek Family: From Grandma’s Little Trunk, Dr. Reba Neighbors Collins, Edmond, Oklahoma, p. 73, 1975).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31342375/william_felix-janes: accessed March 9, 2025), memorial page for William Felix Janes Jr. (1882–1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 31342375, citing Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Richard Cutler (contributor 46778847).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54214115/george_washington-fish: accessed March 9, 2025), memorial page for Col George Washington Fish (1820–28 Feb 1871), Find a Grave Memorial ID 54214115, citing Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens, Oglethorpe, Macon County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Rhonda Bruce (contributor 47578333).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31342313/william_felix-janes: accessed March 9, 2025), memorial page for William Felix “Willie” Janes (1852–9 Sep 1882), Find a Grave Memorial ID 31342313, citing Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Richard Cutler (contributor 46778847).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7970119/thomas_jefferson-fish: accessed March 9, 2025), memorial page for SGT Thomas Jefferson Fish (1837–23 May 1863), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7970119, citing Memory Hill Cemetery, Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Evening Blues (contributor 46587085).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52863196/mary_a-graybill: accessed March 9, 2025), memorial page for Mary A. Fish Graybill (Sep 1840–6 Jun 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 52863196, citing Laurel Grove Cemetery North, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Raymond B. (contributor 47259819).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52902278/john_henry-janes: accessed March 7, 2025), memorial page for John Henry Janes (4 Jun 1867–4 Oct 1894), Find a Grave Memorial ID 52902278, citing Janes Cemetery, Greene County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Samuel Taylor Geer (contributor 46925792).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195433832/emma_cordelia-overton: accessed March 7, 2025), memorial page for Emma Cordelia Janes Overton (2 Jan 1847–15 Dec 1877), Find a Grave Memorial ID 195433832; Burial Details Unknown; maintained by Deryl Weaver (contributor 49379113).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52902269/lillian_h-janes: accessed March 7, 2025), memorial page for Lillian H. Janes (11 Sep 1851–16 Jun 1853), Find a Grave Memorial ID 52902269, citing Janes Cemetery, Greene County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Samuel Taylor Geer (contributor 46925792).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122563343/horace_virgil-fish: accessed February 28, 2025), memorial page for Horace Virgil Fish (1840–1845), Find a Grave Memorial ID 122563343, citing Memory Hill Cemetery, Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Rhonda Bruce (contributor 47578333).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122563207/william_washington-fish: accessed March 3, 2025), memorial page for William Washington Fish (1800–1 Jan 1843), Find a Grave Memorial ID 122563207, citing Memory Hill Cemetery, Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Rhonda Bruce (contributor 47578333).
• Fish Vault Commemoration, Friends of Baldwin County Cemeteries, Inc., http://www.friendsofcems.org/Baldwin/FishVault/FishVaultProgram.pdf. 
• Geer Ancestry (online family tree), Samuel Taylor Geer.
• Greene County, Georgia, Official Bonds 1877–1911, image 55, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, images 1091–1113, 1116–1118, 1121, 1123–1124, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Probate Records 1879–1893, images 303, 428, and 299–302, FamilySearch.
• Hammock, Stephen, Angling for Mythical Fish, Catching a Legendary Fisk Iron Mummy Casket, Middle Georgia Preservation Alliance, October 20, 2023; https://mgpaorg.wixsite.com/mgpa/post/angling-for-mythical-fish-catching-a-legendary-fisk-iron-mummy-casket. 
• Janes, Rev. Frederick, The Janes Family, a Genealogy and Brief History of the Descendants of William Janes, the Emigrant Ancestor of 1637, pp. 373–374, 1868.
• Letters to Georgia Gov. Joseph E. Brown, October 20, 1861, February 15, 1862, and February 27, 1862; Ancestry.com, Georgia, Civil War Correspondence, 1847–1865.
• Married, Southern Recorder, Milledgeville, Georgia, May 13, 1856.
• Mary F. Janes, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Murder of Hon. George W. Fish, The Daily Constitutionalist, Augusta, Georgia, March 2, 1871.
• Obituary, The Federal Union, Milledgeville, Georgia, December 30, 1845.
• Penfield Baptist Church Minutes: 1839–1885.
• Personal visit to Thomas P. Janes family cemetery, Greene County, Georgia.
• Restoration of the William Fish Vault, Memory Hill Cemetery, Friends of Baldwin County Cemeteries, Inc., http://www.friendsofcems.org/MemoryHill/FishVault.php. 
• Southern Recorder, Milledgeville, Georgia, January 10, 1843.
• The Federal Union, Milledgeville, Georgia, December 27, 1842.
• The Restoration of the Fish Vault in Memory Hill Cemetery, Stephen Hammack, Susan J. Harrington, Matthew Williamson, and Hugh T. Harrington, The Society for Georgia Archeology; https://thesga.org/archive/2009/03/the-restoration-of-the-fish-vault-in-memory-hill-cemetery/. 
• Thomas J. Fish, US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Georgia, 1861–1865.
• U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedule, District 147, Greene County, Georgia, Agriculture, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedule, Greene County, Georgia, Agriculture, 1860, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedule, Greene County, Georgia, Slave, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 163, Greene County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Exclusive of Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 149, Greene County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Skull Shoals, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
• Union Point Locals, The Greensboro Herald, Greensboro, Georgia, September 14, 1882.
• Washington County, Georgia, Probate Records 1852–1903, images 87–88, FamilySearch.
• Washington County, Georgia, Probate Records 1856–1866, images 512, 519, FamilySearch.
• William Fish, Washington County, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992. 

Martha Ursula Hanson

Martha “Mattie” Ursula Hanson was born in Cleburne County, Alabama on July 29, 1880, to Stephen P. Hanson and Martha “Caroline” Durrett. She was the eldest of seven children, with siblings James Petty “Pet” Hanson, George Henry Hanson, Margaret Hanson, Lucious Franklin Hanson, Thomas Jefferson Hanson, and Robert Jackson Hanson. Mattie was married to my 2nd great-uncle, John William “Will” Burnett. We have no common relatives. Will’s brother, Thomas Terrell Burnette, was my great grandfather.

Record of births from Stephen P. Hanson’s Bible
Mattie is on the fourth line. 
(used with permission of Carrie Romoser.)

Due to the 1880 census day being June 1, Mattie, born in July, was not recorded. Around 1896, the Hanson family moved from Cleburne County to near Bear Creek in Marion County, Alabama. Research compiled by Austin Landis Burnette (Mattie’s grandson) shows they purchased land in Marion County in 1896 and sold it in 1906, indicating their residence there for at least 10 years. I have not yet located any online land records or deeds.

On March 21, 1899, John William “Will” Burnett applied for a marriage bond in Marion County. Mattie’s parents signed the bond, giving their consent to the Marion County Probate Judge for the marriage. John, son of Samuel Pride Burnett and Millicent “Virginia” Overton, was born in Georgia in 1868 and had moved to Alabama at an unknown date. Samuel and Virginia are my 2nd great grandparents. 

According to Austin, Will lived with his uncle Jim and aunt Fanny Scott in Marion County before the marriage. While writing this sketch, I realized that uncle Jim was James Harris Scott and aunt Fanny (Fannie) was Frances A. Overton, sister of Millicent Virginia (Overton) Burnett. The 1900 Marion County census shows James H. and Adline Scott as a married couple of 14 years. This new piece of information revealed that Frances’ (Fannie), previously known only Frances A. Overton, had the middle name Adline (or Adeline).

Mattie and Will were married at Bear Creek in Marion County on March 26, 1899. There was a 13-year age difference between them. I have not found Mattie and Will in the 1900 census. It is likely they lived near Mattie’s close-knit family in Goddard, but census records do not show them there. I also checked Walton County, Georgia, where Will’s parents lived, without success. Other online researchers seem to have faced the same difficulty, as no one has attached the 1900 census to their family tree. 

Will and Mattie Burnett (photo provided by Austin Burnette)

Mattie and Will’s marriage bond and license

Mattie and Will had eight children: Samuel Stephen Burnett (1900), Julia Virginia “Virgie” Burnett (1902), Herbert Newton Burnett (1903), Amy Leona Burnett (1905), Jasper Pettye Burnett (1906), William “Ellis” Burnett (1908), Charles “Charlie” Noel Burnett (1911), and Leonard Dixon Burnett (1914). 

Hanson family, minus Leonard (photo provided by Austin Burnette)

In 1908, the Hanson family, except for Mattie and Will, moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee, to the community of Liberty Grove, located south of Loretto. The women and children traveled by train to Loretto, while the men and boys drove the cattle and wagons along narrow dirt roads, carrying their belongings. Mattie, Will, and their children stayed behind for one more year before moving to Lawrence County in 1909.

In January 1909, Mattie’s parents purchased over 500 acres of land for $1,256.46, about five miles south of Loretto, in the southern part of Lawrence County. In October 1909, they divided the land among their children as follows: James received 71 acres, George received 79 acres, Lucious received 75 acres, Thomas received 77 acres, Robert received 56 acres, and Martha received 92 acres. The Hansons kept the remaining acres for their home place. Martha did not receive her land until a year after her brothers did.

Later that year, Will and Mattie moved their family to Liberty Grove, a year after the Stephen Hanson family settled there. Everyone built homes on their land and engaged in farming, except for Mattie’s brother Petty, who became a school teacher. Mattie and her family attended Liberty Grove Baptist Church, where Will was one of the founding members.

By April 21, 1910, Mattie and her family were living on Livington Road in Civil District 2 of Lawrence County. At that time, she and Will had been married for 12 years, and Mattie was recorded as having six children, all of whom were living. Will worked as a farmer on a general farm he owned, with Mattie and their son Samuel both working as farm laborers on the home farm. Mattie would have had her hands full with six children, the youngest being just under two years old. Although at least three of the children were school-age, none of them were attending school at the time. Mattie and John were the only family members able to read and write.

On November 28, 1916, Will suddenly passed away at the age of 48 after returning from the fields in Liberty Grove. While it was said he had a stomach illness, it may have actually been a heart attack. He was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery on November 29, 1916, in Liberty Grove. His untimely death left Mattie a widow with the daunting task of raising their eight children alone.

Just a few months later, on January 13, 1917, Mattie’s mother, Caroline, aged 65, passed away in Lawrence County, after suffering from heart dropsy. She was laid to rest at Liberty Grove Cemetery.

On December 18, 1919, Mattie’s son Samuel married Cora Mae Mashburne in Lawrence County.

On January 9, 1920, Mattie, aged 40, and her children, ranging from 5 to 19 years old, lived in the Second District of Lawrence County. Mattie was surrounded by her extended family, with her brother Frank in dwelling 33, brother Henry in dwelling 31, brother Thomas in dwelling 32, brother Robert in dwelling 35, and her father and his second wife Alice in dwelling 36. Mattie herself lived in dwelling 34. In total, 31 family members, including spouses and children, resided side-by-side in the neighborhood.

Mattie managed her farm, which she owned, with the assistance of her son Samuel, who was listed as a laborer on his mother’s farm. Except for Leonard, all of her children attended school, and everyone except Charles and Leonard could read and write.

On February 5, 1922, Mattie’s daughter Virgie married Hobert E. Plunkett in Lawrence County. Sadly, on June 5, 1925, Mattie’s father, Stephen, passed away at the age of 68 in Liberty Grove. He was laid to rest at Liberty Grove Cemetery on June 6.

Hanson family
Front row: Robert Hanson holding Alice, Annie Hanson holding Nellie,
Stephen P. Hanson, his wife Caroline, Mattie Burnett holding Charles, Will Burnett
holding Ellis. Second row: James Petty Hanson, George Henry Hanson, his wife
Romer holding Loela, Samuel Stephen Burnett, Lucious Franklin Hanson,
Thomas Jefferson Hanson. Third row: Amy Lenora Burnett, Julia Virginia
Burnett, James Ezra Hanson, Pierce Hanson, Eva Hanson, Jasper Burnett,
Herbert Burnett (photo provided by Austin Burnette).

On November 15, 1925, Mattie’s daughter Amy married Fred B. Vanderford in Lawrence County. Fred lived five farms away from the Burnett farm. Tragically, Mattie’s son Herbert passed away on September 9, 1929, at the age of 26, at his home near Liberty Grove Church. According to his death certificate, Herbert suffered from malarial hematuria for 22 days, a serious complication of malaria. He was laid to rest at St. Truitt Cemetery the following day, after a funeral service at Liberty Grove Church, where he had been a member since his 16th birthday.

By April 10, 1930, census records show that Mattie and four of her children—Jasper (23), Ellis (21), Charles (19), and Leonard (16)—continued to live on their family farm in Lawrence County. In addition to attending school, all the children worked on the farm. Everyone in the household was able to read and write. Although the family dynamics and dwelling numbers had changed slightly since 1920, the Hanson family remained closely clustered together in the neighborhood. Mattie’s brother Henry lived in dwelling 113, Robert in dwelling 114, Thomas in dwelling 115, and Mattie in dwelling 116. Mattie’s daughter, Virgie, and her husband Hobert Plunkett, now lived next door to Mattie, where her father previously resided. With wives and children combined, there were a total of 35 Hanson family members living side-by-side in the neighborhood. All her brothers were farmers.

On October 7, 1933, Mattie’s son Charles married Esther Mae Fleming in Lawrence County.

Sadly, on July 14, 1936, Mattie’s son Ellis died suddenly from appendicitis at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama. It is believed his appendix ruptured. At the time of his death, Ellis lived in Loretto, where he was a farmer. He was 27, nearly 28, years old. Ellis was buried at Saint Truitt Cemetery in Lawrence County. He never married.

On April 11, 1940, Mattie, aged 61, and her son Leonard, aged 24, lived in Loretta. Mattie was unemployed, while Leonard worked as a garage mechanic. In 1939, Leonard worked for 26 weeks, and during the week of March 24–30, 1940, he worked a grueling 70-hour week. Despite having no recorded earned income, both Leonard and Mattie appeared to have other sources of income, likely from their farm.

When Leonard filled out his World War II draft registration card on October 16, 1940, he listed Mattie as the person who would always know his address. At that time, Mattie resided at R.F.D. 1 in Appleton, Lawrence County, Tennessee.

Despite thorough searches, I was unable to locate Mattie in the 1950 census, even after checking near her children and siblings.

The photo below is believed to have been taken at a Hanson family reunion in Tennessee, likely in the 1950s.

Believed to be a Hanson family photo.
Front: James P. Hanson and Mattie Burnett.
Back: Frank and Emma, Henry and wife, Tom and wife.
(Used with permission of Carrie Romoser.)

In January 1954, Mattie visited her son Jasper in Knoxville, Tennessee. The following year, in June 1955, she visited her son Sam in the Bluewater community of Lawrenceburg before continuing on to visit another son, Charles, in Loretto.

After being a widow for 41 years, Mattie passed away at the age of 77 in Lawrenceburg on November 11, 1957. She had been suffering from heart disease for six months. Mattie was laid to rest beside her husband Will at St. Truitt Cemetery on November 13.

Photo provided by Austin Burnette

When I wrote the sketch for Mattie’s husband, Will, in 2015, I included the text below. I thought it fitting to share a slightly revised version for Mattie’s sketch.

Anyone who has researched their family history knows you make new friends and discover “cousins” along the way. In late 2000, through the wonders of the internet, my sister and I connected with several researchers working on the Samuel P. Burnette and Virginia Overton lines. We were scattered across five states—Virginia, Georgia, Maine, Alabama, and Tennessee. Each of us could document our direct lines and knew of Samuel and Virginia, but we did not know much more. We shared what we knew, compared notes, and embarked on further research together. It was a wonderful experience, sharing stories, photos, and simply enjoying each other’s company, even though it was all online.

Although our research eventually slowed down, we kept in occasional contact through Facebook. The only man in our group was Austin Landis Burnette, a direct descendant of John William Burnette. Austin was always joking around with us, and I enjoyed his wit and humor. Then he went silent for a while, and I later learned he was suffering from depression and hadn’t been doing much research.

In mid-February 2011, I received an email from Austin telling me he was in hospice care. He did not want to leave this world without “us girls” knowing what had happened to him. Less than two weeks later, I saw his obituary posted on his Facebook page. Austin was a kind, southern gentleman, and it was a pleasure working with him and being his virtual friend and cousin.

The personal details in this sketch were shared with the group by Austin himself. I hope he would approve.

References

• Amy Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records December 1924–December 1926, image 173, FamilySearch.
• Blue Water, Democrat-Union, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, June 17, 1955.
• Burnett, Baptist and Reflector, Nashville, Tennessee, October 17, 1929.
• Chas. Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records December 1932–May 1935, image 105, FamilySearch.
• DuBose, MD, F. G., Malarial Hematuria, JAMA, 1899;XXXII(10):539–540. doi:10.1001/jama.1899.92450370025001j; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/474607.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16458374/martha_caroline-hanson: accessed February 16, 2025), memorial page for Martha Caroline Durrett Hanson (1 Mar 1851–13 Jan 1917), Find a Grave Memorial ID 16458374, citing Liberty Grove Cemetery, Lawrence County, Tennessee, USA; maintained by J C (contributor 47219112).
• Funeral Held in Pomona for James Hanson, Hi-Desert Star, Yucca Valley, California, October 23, 1969.
• George Henry Hanson, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Herbert Newton Burnett, Certificate of Death no. 22613, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Tennessee, 1929.
• James Petty Hanson and Robert Jackson Hanson, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Jasper Pettie Burnett, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Leonard Dixon Burnett, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Lone Star, Democrat-Union, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, January 29, 1954.
• Lucious Franklin Hanson, Certificate of Death 66-036347, Tennessee Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, 1966.
• Lucious Franklin Hanson, Certificate of Death no. 66-026347, Tennessee Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, State of Tennessee, 1966.
• Mattie Burnett, Certificate of Death no. 57-27685, Department of Public Health, State of Tennessee, 1955.
• Mattie W. Hanson, Alabama, County Marriages, 1805–1967.
• Personal memories, photos, and research of Austin Landis Burnette.
• S. P. Hanson, Certificate of Death no. 417, State of Tennessee, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1925.
• Samuel Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records September 1919–April 1921, image 88, FamilySearch. 
• U.S. Federal Census, Civil District 2, Lawrence County, Tennessee, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Goddard, Marion County, Alabama, 1900.
• Virgie Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records April 1921–February 1923, image 143, FamilySearch.