On January 1, 1857, at age 17, Georgia Ann Frances Bryan married James S. Pitman, also of Bienville Parish, and the son of Jesse R. Pitman and Nancy Rouse. James Pitman was about 25 years old.
A letter written on January 21, 1862 by Fannie was found in The Wimberly Family History which was compiled by Vera Wimberly in 1979. The letter, written to her sister Catherine Amanda Bryan Watts and to her sister-in-law, Alice Mary Wimberly Bryan on January 21, tells of Fannie's visit to New Orleans to visit her husband, "Jim" Pitman while he was serving in the Army at the New Orleans Barracks. Some excerpts from the letter are below.
All seems confusion. I have not been in the streets yet. I recon I will see the elephant sure enough when I go.
I have two nice oranges on the table by me I wish you too had.
(Oh, my sakes, you just ought to see the Madam. She is one of them you read about. I think she beats all I've seen yet.)
At the end of her letter Fannie wrote, Kiss my baby for me. Tell her Mam's coming back. God bless her little self. I want to see her so bad. This indicates that Fannie and James Pitman had a young daughter. She wrote of this baby the following month in a letter to her half-brother, Spann Ragan; Bro. Jimmy has the chills. My baby had one this morning and is quite sick with it. It is assumed that this child died as no record of this child exists in census records and G. F. Bryan Pitman Wimberly - no children was written by Redic Bryan when listing his father's brothers and sisters. This list, signed by Redic Bryan, son of Terrell Bryan, was found in the Bryan Family Bible.
Fannie's husband, James S. Pitman, died during the war. In the book, The Civil War Letters of the Pierson Family, Brothers in Gray which was edited by Thomas W. Cutrer and T. Michael Parrish, a letter indicates that James S. Pitman died on the battlefield in Tennessee late in 1863.
Reddick Bryan, Fannie's father died on January 12, 1864. On July 9, 1864, Reddick's slaves were divided among family members. Fannie, written as Georgia A. F. Pitman, wife of James Pitman, received slaves valued at $2000.00. This reference to James Pitman leads me to believe that he was considered missing in action or maybe a prisoner and not yet declared dead. In 1866, Georgia Ann Frances Wimberly Pitman was mentioned on a deed as the widow of James S. Pitman.
On November 19, 1867, in Bienville Parish, Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman married Ezekiel S. Wimberly, a widower with at least three children. In 1870 Ezekiel and Georgia Ann Frances Wimberly were living in Bienville Parish with Ezekiel's children James, Martha, and Thomas. Also living with the family were Sarah Watts, daughter of Catherine Amanda Bryan Watts, Georgia's sister and two young black children, Berry, age 12 and Sam, age 8.
At a Church Meeting held at Liberty Chapel on April 11, 1875 in Bienville Parish, Mr. Ezekiel Wimberly and Mrs. Fannie Wimberly were counted as present.
Fannie's mother, Elizabeth Regan Bryan died on February 12, 1877. Fannie must have contacted distant family members as Fannie received a letter from Amelia Baker, sister of Elizabeth Regan Bryan, thanking Fannie for the letter and obituary.
In 1880, Fannie and Ezekiel Wimberly were living in Bienville Parish with Ezekiel's youngest son, James. D. Wimberly.
On page 414 of The Wimberly Family History is another letter written by Fannie on February 16, 1899. Fannie was living with her step-son James "Jimmie" Wimberly. She writes of Jimmie running the farm and of the loss of her husband.
In 1900, Fannie was living with the John L. and Alice M. Wimberly family of Bienville Parish. Her relationship is listed as "aunt." Fannie was the aunt of Alice M. Wimberly, the daughter Joseph B. Bryan who was Fannie's brother. She is listed as a widow. On this census Alice M. Wimberly reported that she had had seven children and only three living; Andrew L, Karl B., and Frances. I looked next to Fannie's name, hoping to find the same information; however, their was nothing referencing children next to Fannie's name.
Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman Wimberly
Picture courtesy of Mary Smith - December 2004
Laura Frances Bryan Martin, Sarah Margaret Wimberly Bryan, Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman Wimberly at the home of Thomas J. and Laura F. Martin
Picture courtesy of Mary Smith - December 2004
James S. Pitman
On January 1, 1857, James S. Pitman married Georgia Ann Frances Bryan. Also during that year, James S. Pitman purchased land from his father and step-mother. In 1859, he sold land to L. Holston.
In 1861, James Pitman enlisted in the 16th Louisiana Infantry, Company C which was also known as the Castor Guards. His brother-in-law, Terrell Bryan was also a member of that company. His sister's children John W. Hinton and Thomas H. Wimberly were also in Company C. Thomas J. Pitman, James' brother, served in the 9th Louisiana Infantry in Company C (Bienville Blues) and is frequently mentioned in the book The Civil War Letters of the Pierson Family, Brothers in Gray
Three letters written by James S. Pitman can be found in The Wimberly Family History and he is also mentioned two letters written by Thomas Wimberly.
James S. Pitman died during the war, presumably in Tennessee. His service record ends in October 1863. The following excerpt from a letter, written by Rueben Allen Pierson on December 15, 1863 to his sister of Mary Catherine Pierson of Mt. Lebanon in Bienville Parish, was found in the book The Civil War Letters of the Pierson Family, Brothers in Gray.
I received a letter from Cousin George Williams today. He is in good health. He writes me that James Pittman was wounded both in the body and foot and supposed to be mortal. He was left on the battle ground and fell into the hands of the enemy. I fear he was killed.
Ezekiel S. Wimberly, born about 1822 in Georgia, was the son of David and Martha Wimberly. His relationship to the William Wimberly family is unknown. In 1850, Ezekiel was living in Bienville Parish, Louisiana with his parents, David born in NC and Martha Wimberly born in GA, siblings, Sarah, Amanda, Noah, and an Elizabeth Holland and two young Holland children. His father, David was a farmer. Ezekiel's occupation was listed as laborer.
Ezekiel was first married to Maranda S. Butler on March 10, 1853 in Bienville Parish. According to the 1870 census record, they had at least three children; Thomas, James, and Martha. James, the youngest, was born in 1858.
Ezekiel is mentioned in a letter written by his father about the death of his brother Noah on page 566 in The Wimberly Family History. An excerpt from this letter, dated November 7, 1862 is below. It is assumed that Noah Wimberly died as a result of service in the Army, however, no record can be found of his service in Louisiana.
I will state to you my distress my dear beloved son Noah Washington Wimberly dide on his way home on Sunday evening about one hour lesson the 2 day of this month my son Ezekiel got home with him Monday evening 3 and we beryad him on Tusday the 4 he dide in the waggon only miles from home his longing desire was to get home he dide easy and I hope and beleave is gon to rest
In 1866, Ezekiel purchased land a Daniel Wimberly in Bienville Parish. {Note: I double checked the spelling of this name several times as Ezekiel's father was a David Wimberly, but the name in the conveyance book is definitely Daniel. Is there a Daniel Wimberly or did the recorder copy the name incorrectly?}
Ezekiel S. Wimberly married Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman on November 19, 1867.
In 1870 Ezekiel, a farmer, and Georgia Ann Frances Wimberly were living in Bienville Parish with Ezekiel's children James, Martha, and Thomas. Also living with the family were Sarah Watts, daughter of Catherine Amanda Bryan Watts, Georgia's sister and two young black children, Berry, age 12 and Sam, age 8.
Ezekiel's sons, Thomas J. and James D. lived in Bienville and were found together on the same census page in 1900. James D. was married. He and his wife, Nettie, had a son age 1 year named Will E. Thomas J. and wife Texanna reported that they had two children, but none living. Both men were listed as farmers.
Ezekiel S. Wimberly died prior to February 16, 1899 as his death was referred to in a letter written by Fannie, found in The Wimberly Family History.
Conveyance Records, Letters, and Other Documents at this site that mention Georgia Ann Frances Bryan and her family
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Letter from Georgia Ann Frances "Fannie" Bryan Pittman to Spann Ragan - 1862
