Finding Your Folks: Dominicks, Drewrys, Oakleys in the mailbag

I do apologize for the interruption in the genealogy columns but it was unavoidable. Most of you are aware that last March I was diagnosed with breast cancer and, after talking with several experts, decided on surgery to get rid of it once and for all. The surgery was done on June 3 and I am happy to report that all is well. Recuperation will take a while but all the cancer is gone (along with a goodly portion of me). My granddaughter, Jadie, came down from Covington to stay with me as she did after the open heart surgery a couple of years ago, and I couldn't have come back so fast without her. She is an amazing young lady.

During the interim, a few letters came in that I'd like to pass on so that these good people can find their folks who lived in our area back in the 1800s. Also, since we've touched briefly on old Campbell County, I'd like to refresh your memory on some members of my family who were there in hopes that I may find more about them also.

A letter from Don Drewry stated that he was seeking Dominicks and Drewrys. We mentioned the Dominicks of Pike County in a recent article and learned that they came from Newberry County, S.C., as did many of the people who settled in the Line Creek area of Pike, Coweta, Fayette, Spalding and Meriwether counties back in the early 1800s. Don writes:

"Yesterday, while searching the web, I came across an article you wrote in 2005 about the Dominicks. In the article you commented on David Dominick married Mary Neely. The reason for my search was that I was trying to see if I could find anything about who Mary's parents were.

"David and Mary Dominick are my 4th great grandparents. My 3rd great grandfather was Francis Drewry who married Eunice Dominick. The article did answer one question for me. I did not know who became the guardian of David's children.

"I have not had an opportunity to do a lot of research in Coweta's courthouse so the information you present is very helpful. I do have information on the whole Dominick line back to South Carolina and the Drewrys, which goes back to 1649 in York County Va.

"I don't know if you ever wrote anything on Edwin Drewry, Francis Drewry's uncle. Edwin lived in the mid 1800s in the Line Creek area. When Edwin moved to the area from Hancock County, he formed the town Drewryville.

"Don Drewry (don.drewry@rcn.com)"

Again, I must mention that I don't do personal research unless the family connects to my own and, even then, only if I have the time. But I would dearly love for Don to write something about his Drewrys for the column. I don't think we have ever studied that surname before. If you can connect with his Dominicks, Neelys or Drewrys, please write to Don at the above address.

Another letter from Mike Oakley of Fort Worth, Texas, sheds more light on his search for his Oakley family of Fayette County. Mike writes that he has found evidence that his GGG grandfather, John Oakley, may not have been born in South Carolina as was thought, but may have been born in North Carolina. John's son, James Madison Oakley, in one census, gave his father's birthplace as North Carolina. Mike says, "James Madison states … in the last year of his life that his parents are from North Carolina. This is noted in the 1910 census. I have to wonder … were the government census takers incorrect? Did James 'think' that his parents were from South Carolina and by 1910 found out they were from North Carolina? I think he actually did us a favor in the last year of his life …"

To further prove his point, Mike says his nephew, the last of his Oakley family line, took a DNA test and matched with an Oakley family that had been in Granville and Person counties (North Carolina) since Colonial times.

"I think we may have found a connection to the two families," Mike says. "Granville records have a will from the estate of William Oakley Sr. whose wife Rebecca asks her son Stephen to be administrator of the estate in 1823. The court petition later in March of 1841 shows John Oakley, a son, who resides in some foreign parts. I believe this John is my ggg grandfather and the 'foreign parts' was Georgia.

"My ggg grandfather died a year later 1842 after a tree fell on him. We have more research to do in North Carolina and Georgia, but I think we are on the right track.

"I had planned to visit Fayetteville, Ga. in September, but have had to reschedule my trip for the Thanksgiving holidays. I hope we are able to get more answers in Georgia. If not I guess we are off to North Carolina.

"Best regards, Michael Oakley, Fort Worth, Texas." (mimoco123@yahoo.com)

Michael gave several links showing the will of William Oakley and other connections but they were from Web sites and family trees of other persons who may not want their names used here. If you write to Michael, I'm sure he will share those links with you.

And, something to look forward to in the future, Anne Westbrook Green, who wrote some wonderful articles on her Jones family of Campbell County last year, has offered to share some things from the scrapbook of her grandfather, former Hapeville City Attorney Henry Arthur Allen (1930s), including some memories of Old Campbell County. I really look forward to reading about those.

Stories about your families who lived on Atlanta's south side are always welcome. Send stories to jkilgore@thecitizen.com or JodieK444@aol.com. Mail to The Citizen, P.O. Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214. All letters and e-mails I receive are subject to being used in the column.