Finding Your Folks: The Nixons of Campbell County (again)

I know. Some of you are reading this and scratching your heads. “Didn’t she do this last week?” you say. Well, yes I did. But because of pressing news occurring last week, the column didn’t make it into all the papers.

Since it is a two-parter, I can’t very well run the last part if everybody didn’t get the first part. So, here we go with the Nixons again.

The following family genealogy was submitted by Valerie Johnson Freeman of Tustin, Calif. Valerie and I have been crossing paths for several years. She is an excellent, meticulous researcher and I’m sure you will enjoy this.

I’m running her story in two parts, so as not to leave out any of the details and dates she has so painstakingly researched. If you want to discuss this family further, contact Valerie at VCJFreeman@aol.com.

These Nixons came from North Carolina to eastern Georgia, then, as so many did, migrated westward to Meriwether, Heard, Coweta and Campbell counties. We begin with Francis Nixon who came to Georgia with his parents. Valerie writes:

“Francis Nixon was born 11 Feb. 1810 in Oglethorpe Co., GA. Research indicates that Francis’ paternal grandparents were Francis Nixon (I) and Mary Unknown. Francis (I) made his will on 28 Oct. 1787 in Mecklenburg Co., NC, showing Wife, Mary, and three sons: Allen, Joseph, and John. (Will book E, page 38-39, proved 1788.)

“Widow Mary Nixon married John Tanner on 8 March 1790 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. Sometime after the marriage, John and Mary Tanner moved to Oglethorpe Co., GA. Mary’s three boys are mentioned by name in John Tanner’s will filed in Oglethorpe County, GA on 9 July 1811.

“The maternal grandparents of Francis Nixon are Samuel Ward and Edith “Eady” Hudson. Samuel served in the Revolutionary War with the Virginia Militia from Lunenburg Co., VA. His will was recorded in Oglethorpe Co., GA on 12 Nov. 1842.

“Francis’s parents, Joseph Nixon and Martha Ward, were married in Oglethorpe Co., GA on 11 Jan. 1809. They are then found in Walton Co., GA for the 1820 and 1830 censuses. Francis’ father died sometime between 1832 and 1840. His mother died in July 1859 from typhoid in Coweta Co., per the 1860 Mortality Schedule. She was 77 years old, born in Virginia. Her estate settlement was filed in November 1859, naming her living children. Joseph and Martha were buried at the Nixon Family Cemetery (unmarked/abandoned) off Gordon Road near Senoia, Coweta Co., Georgia.

“On 5 Jan. 1835, Francis signed a warranty deed granting him land in Coweta Co., GA from the estate of Sarah Kemp. [Sarah, a widow living in Screven County, won the Coweta land in the 1827 lottery. The transfer to Francis was through an attorney.], which was recorded on 7 Jan. 1836 in Book D, page 308. The land was in the 1st District, Section 4, Lot 202, consisting of 202.5 acres.

“On 2 March 1837, Francis married Anna Ray in Meriwether Co., GA. The parents of Anna are unknown as of this time. Francis and Anna are then found in Meriwether Co., GA for the 1840 and 1850 censuses. Their children, all born in Meriwether Co., were:

“(1) Thomas W. Nixon b: 1838; d: 30 Aug. 1862 in the Civil War - 2nd Manassas, Prince William Co., VA. He did not marry. Served with the 19th Regiment, Company C.

“(2) Joseph J. Nixon b: 12 Oct. 1839; d: 15 Jan. 1914 in Palmetto, Campbell Co., GA.; m. Louisa M. Smith on 23 Dec. 1869 in Campbell Co., d/o John B. Smith and Temperance Bailey. He also served with the 19th-C.

“(3) Martha J. Nixon, b: 1842-1843; d: 21 Jan. 1921 in Campbell Co.; m. Moses M. Smith, also a child of John B. Smith and Temperance Bailey. She m. 2nd to Moses’ brother, Abner Bailey Smith, sometime after Aug. 1894.

“(4) Rebecca Ann Nixon, b: 1843-1845; d. (after 1880 census) m. James Monroe Windham on 28 Dec. 1859 in Campbell Co.; s/o James [Windom] Windham and Martha Ray. (Note: I believe, but have not yet proved, that Martha (Ray) Windom and Anna (Ray) Nixon are sisters.)

“(5) George D./T. Nixon b: 1847; d. ? He m. Mary “Mollie” E. L. Evans on 26 Dec. 1869 in Coweta Co.

“(6) Wyley W. Nixon b: 1848-1849; d. ? He never married. On the 1920 census, he is living in Union City, Campbell Co., GA, as a boarder with brother-in-law, A. B. Smith.

“Anna died in late 1850-early 1851. Francis married 2nd to another Ann ... Ann 'Annie' Elizabeth Grantham, daughter of Jadok/Zadock Grantham and Elizabeth Lovelace 'of' Meriwether Co. She was born 9 Aug. 1824 in Georgia. The 1850 Census of Meriwether Co. has Annie’s parents on page 337B, family #444-444. Francis Nixon and family are close by on page 338B, family #458-458. Francis and Annie were most likely married in the summer of 1851 in Meriwether Co. Annie died 5 Feb. 1905 in Heard Co. and is buried at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery in Macedonia, Heard Co., GA.”

Valerie’s story continues with Francis and his second “Annie,” who had nine children, all of whom remained in the south metro area, from Heard to Campbell counties. We’ll go into detail on the second family next week.

Many, many thanks to Valerie for generously sharing her family information.

If you have a genealogy story about a south metro Atlanta area family, send it to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

(Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others.)