Researchers of Phillips, Mann, Morris families write about their ancestors

As promised, I'm continuing information on Fayette families which appeared in last week's column.

Anne Westbrook wrote of her Allen, Jones and Phillips families and is seeking information on the parents of Sarah Phillips who married Henry Allen 7 Dec. 1851 in Meriwether Co. Anne also is curious about the ties between this Sarah Phillips and Rebecca Jane Phillips who married Harrison Jones 5 Feb. 1857. No location was given for this second Phillips marriage. Henry and Sarah Phillips Allen were in Coweta in 1860 and Harrison and Rebecca Phillips Jones were in Fayette, where Harrison died in 1906. Harrison's brother, Robert Jones, also married a Phillips, Nannie Phillips, whose parents were not given.

Of the family of Rebecca Jane Phillips, Anne tells us that Rebecca's father, John Phillips, b. abt. 1811 in N.C., d. 1868 in Fayette Co., married Louisa Unknown, probably in the early 1830s in Newton Co. Children of John and Louisa Phillips were: Rebecca Jane, m. Harrison Jones; Mary A., b. abt. 1838; Elizabeth F., b. abt. 1840; James H., b. abt. 1843; Joel Z., b. abt. 1847 (Joel had a congenital deformity of the foot); John M., b. abt. 1849; Martha A., b. abt. 1852; and Susan M., b. abt. 1854.

John Phillips died intestate (without a will) in Fayette Co. in 1868, and hisestate records may be found in Fayette County Inventories and Appraisements, Book H. John was in the 1830 Newton Co. census and by 1840 was in Fayette where he apparently stayed until his death.

John Phillips joined Bethsaida Baptist Church on 18 Jan. 1840 and a Trustin Phillips and his wife, Piety, joined the same day. John apparently left the church for a while, as records show him rejoining the church on 20 Jan. 1844, Trustin and Piety rejoined three months later. Anne says that John later was a member of Flat Creek Baptist Church.

Anne also says that John farmed and was much in debt at his death. Louisa was able to keep the land together and the estate open for many years while she reared the children and, possibly, some of her grandchildren. However, in another estate record, John was listed as a creditor and the deceased owed him money for "tuition." Thus, Anne feels that John tutored or ran a school of some kind.

Anne writes: "A big puzzle to me is how my two Phillips ancestors may con nect. John Phillips was born in N.C. in 1811. Sarah Phillips Allen was born in Ga. c. 1833. A link seems to be Trustin Phillips. He and John are close enough to have joined the church together in 1840 and 1844. In 1840, they were the only two Phillips (families) in Fayette County.

"Trustin is well documented. He was born April 1, 1804 in Darlington Dist., S.C., the youngest of his siblings. He was executor of his father's estate in Newton in 1834. He lived in Newton (1830), Fayette (1840 and 1850), Heard (1860 and 1870), and Clayton (1880). He pastored many Baptist churches in the South Atlanta counties, including Antioch and Flat Creek in Fayette and Bethsaida (later Campbell). He and John could not have been brothers as Trustin's brothers were all older and siblings were born in N.C. John was born in S.C. But I am convinced there is a connection.

"The interesting thing is that in 1870, after the 1863 and 1865 deaths of Henry A. and Sarah Phillips Allen, the Allen children were in the home of Trustin (Phillips) and wife, Piety, in Heard Co. Jeremiah Solomon (Allen) was still with them in Clayton in 1880 shortly before he married John Phillips' granddaughter, Louisa Louella Jones. My guess is that Sarah Phillips was a niece of Trustin Phillips, (as) his children are all documented in his will and obituary."

If you have connections with Anne's family, write to her at 5305 Jesmond St., Alexandria, VA 22315. Her e-mail address is a.w.westbrook@worldnet.att.net.

Another researcher and former Fayette resident who wrote was Ruby Evelyn (Pat) Ogletree of North Carolina. Pat writes:

"... I descend from the families, Carroll, Starr, Ogletree, Morris, Mitchell, Mann, Gray, Bransford, Harris and, last but not least, Issac Hightower. (Isaac's) son, Siemon, married Francis K. Ogletree. Issac once owned the Ambrose Gray Plantation. Martha Jane Hightower married Benjamin Absalom Ogletree who died in Brooks April 19, 1922, a Confederate soldier.

"I am 70 years old and had never turned (on) a computer (until) a year and a half ago. Now I have gleaned much information from Virginia to Georgia.

"I discovered that my fourth (great) grandfather was General Washington's personal guard, and have joined the DAR. My ancestor was Shadrack Pinkston(e) who married Athalizah Carroll, daughter of Demes(y) Carroll and Francis Sanford.

"Shadrack and Athalizah Carroll Pinkston's daughter, Charlotte Ann Pinkston, married Benjamin F. Starr. Benjamin Starr's daughter, Martha Ann Starr, married Lovic Pierce Ogletree. Their son, Benjamin A. (Ogletree) married, Martha Jane Hightower. They are all buried at County Line Methodist Church, Spalding County.

"Benjamin Absalom and Martha Ann Starr Ogletree's son, Henry Thomas, married Theatus Bransford. Their son, John Benjamin Ogletree, married Maggie Lee Crook. Maggie Crook's mother was Ada Estelle Morris, who married Griffin Crook. Ada's father was Francis Marion Morris, (who) married Amanda Mann, daughter of William A. Mann."

Pat says she has much information on the Mann family from Germany but has little information on Fayette County Mann families. Pat also says she is seeking information on the father of Francis Marion Morris who is buried at Antioch Baptist Church in Fayette County. His farm is across from the church and could still be in the family of Grey Morris' descendants, Pat adds. Is this family related to Margaret Mitchell? Pat would like to know that also.

Those who may connect to these families, may write to Pat at 4361 Laney Rd., M aiden, NC 28650. Pat's e-mail address is pat_laney@hotmail.com.

If you're looking for your Georgia ancestors 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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