Readers respond on Carroll, Johnson families

As more and more people are discovering that these columns are archived online, I'm getting responses from families we discussed quite some time ago.

In the following case, it was nearly a year ago that I first ran information on the Carroll family of Fayette, and, as it turned out, of Gwinnett County also. Diane Medlock Faria writes:

"Judy, I was thrilled to find the [Carroll] information that you published in The Citizen online. I am also a descendant of Thomas Carroll through his daughter Malinda. Bob and Peggy Ruth and I were corresponding several years ago on our family connections. I noticed from your article that you, too, had been in contact with Bob.

"My husband and I were in Memphis, Tenn., this past week, and we had the opportunity to visit the new Memphis/Shelby County Public Library. I was pleased to locate an abstract of Thomas Carroll's will and other information. I regret that I didn't have more time at the library. I was amused by the reference in Thomas' will that Nelly Vickery was a woman who 'claimed' to have been married to him because I, too, found his marriage date to her on record. Perhaps he had a little too much to drink that day and couldn't remember the ceremony! Ha!

"I was intrigued that you mentioned Gwinnett County as a place where the Carrolls were at one time because I have other ancestors who were from Gwinnett County ... Martins, Masseys, Stephens and Medlocks. "My husband and I spent a week in the Atlanta area this past July. We visited cemeteries in Gwinnett County, Fulton County and Fayette County. A distant cousin, Bobby Kerlin, who is a Fayette County historian, met us and took us to the various Fayette County cemeteries and showed us where the McBride family homestead was at one time.

"I just wanted to take the time to thank you for publishing the information and for giving us other Carroll cousins a new direction in which to search. Diane Medlock Faria."

Well, Diane, if we helped somebody "find their folks," then we have accomplished our purpose. I'm so glad you found the column helpful in your genealogy search. Since I am also distantly connected to this Carroll family, I guess that makes us sort of cousins, huh?

Another response from a column of last year was one from Guyton Stubbs who lives in Louisiana. Guyton picked up on my "tangle" of Johnson families and responded:

"I ran across your Web page as I am trying to untangle some Johnsons. The book by Willis Ezra Johnson, 'Our Johnson Family,' sounds very interesting. "Would you happen to know if in that book there is mentioned an Obediah Johnson and brother Joseph J. out of Troup County, Ga., eventually moving to nearby Alabama?

"I am trying to determine who the father was of an Obediah Johnson, who was born in Troup County in 1820 or 1822. He had a brother named Joseph J. Johnson, who was born in 1820, also in Troup County.

"This is not the Obediah Johnson who was in Tattnall, Georgia around the same time and who married Drucilla Hall. The Obediah Johnson I am researching married Elmira E. Thompson from North Carolina. They had at least two sons, George W. and James Newton Johnson, along the way [who were] living in Alabama around 1843-1854 and then finally [moved] to Louisiana, where they are buried.

"Obediah Johnson and his family moved to St. Maurice, La., around 1857 and [he] died there in 1882, as well as did Joseph J. Johnson in 1884. I have visited their graves and have seen the grave markers and know this to be true.

"In the Louisiana Census of 1870 and 1880, Obediah listed his father and mother as both having been born in South Carolina but moved to Georgia. My question is: who was the father and mother of Obediah and Joseph J., and how can that be verified?

"This family is a tough one to find out about, but maybe since you are familiar with some of the Alabama Johnsons and have access to materials that I may not have, you may be able to help me out with this. I am not a genealogist, but I am trying to help out a friend of mine who is related to Obediah Johnson, his great, great granddaughter, as a matter of fact. Thanks for any info that you might have.

"Sincerely, Guyton Stubbs, e-mail: zrbbgun1@bellsouth.net."

First, and Guyton is aware of this, anyone born before 1826 in what later became Troup County was not born in Troup but in Indian territory, because Troup County was not formed until 1826. Fortunately, whoever said Obediah was born in Troup County in 1820 did give a valuable clue as to the area to be searched. Even errors can sometimes be beneficial!

I checked the Ezra Johnson book, but did not find a reference to any of those Johnsons moving to Troup County, especially during the time period Guyton mentioned. Ezra's Johnsons moved from Virginia to North Carolina (not South Carolina), to Coweta, Campbell and Carroll counties in Georgia, and eventually on to Randolph County, Ala. In the late 1800s, some went westward to Texas.

However, I was fortunate to have my "History of Troup County and LaGrange, Georgia" book, which listed numerous Johnsons. I typed up all the references to Johnsons from the book, including original land owners (winners in the 1827 Land Lottery), and Johnsons mentioned in deed books, censuses, and court records through 1854. Some looked very promising.

One, a Nicholas Johnson, even bought land from a person named "Guyton." How's that for a coincidence? I haven't heard back from Guyton yet, but I hope the information helped to give him some clues.

If anyone else is looking for Troup County Johnsons, it would be no problem to copy the information I sent to Guyton and e-mail it to you. If you don't have a computer, write to the Citizen at the address below, include a SASE, and I'll send it by snail mail.

If you're looking for your Georgia ancestors, have a genealogy tip, or have a local family history to share, write to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com. I'll be happy to share it with others and maybe help you "find your folks."

Until next week, happy hunting!

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