Gibson, Mrs. Mary T.

   General Notes:

In the 1860 Polk Co., GA Census Mary T. was married to James Gibson and had a year old daughter, "Elinton." In the 1870 Census, she was living alone with children: Ellington, Jimmie, and Clyde, all girls.

Ordinary Court of Polk Co., GA
The Hon. Joel Brewer, Ordinary Presiding
as recorded in Minute Book A

October Term 1873
p. 139L. H. Walthall applied for and was granted permission to rent land belonging to minors for the year 1874 at private or public sale whichever Guardian may think most to the benefit of said minors.

In March of 1874 Mary wrote the following loving, passionate letter to Dr. Trotter. Evidently her love for him died within the next few years and she divorced him. She remarried shortly afterwards.

3 Mar 1874, Oak Hill, via Cedar Town, Polk Co., GA
"Dr. James M. Trotter, My own dearest best of husbands. I received two letters from you by last Saturdays mail; one from Palatka [Florida] and one from Sanford, and we were so rejoiced to hear from you and hope by this time that you have had letters from us. I write twice a week regularly and must thank you for being so prompt yourself. Nothing on earth affords so much pleasure now as to read one of your precious letters full of sentiments of devotion and love. We appreciate very greatly every line for you dearest, have long since proven that not only in work but in every action you have shown the depth of affection that dwells in your pure soul for your family who you know full well entertain the same feelings for you. We could not be happy in any degree without you and I hope the time will soon come when you may return to us and that we may never be separated on this earth again. How can I bear the thought of you going to Europe! I don�t think I can ever give my consent to it and yet I fear every mail will bring a message and your lawyers saying to you to come and bring with you the documents which are to secure to you a large estate enough to make you wealthy beyond ordinary wealth, yes rich! And yet I would not give my precious husband for all the riches this poore world affords nor risk your life across the bryney deep for all the wealth you are entitled to and know that when you make up your mind to do anything, nothing that anyone can say will change you. Nothing save the providence of God can keep you from carrying into effect any plan you design to carry out. Then, oh how thankful I am that I have a husband in whom I can place implicit confidence that all he does or designs to do is for good. No poor careless minded drunkard wife am I, neither the wife of one indifferent to me and cold and neglectful. But the wife of a true man, a devoted husband and father. I am more than proud to know that I am your wife my precious, and your children are as much so as I could be. Our health is good. Mother was a little unwell but is up and going about. Ellie, Jimmie, Clide and Eva are all in fine health. Your plantation business all going on well. We are quite lonely without you, but feel as much anxiety about you carrying out your business transactions that we are trying to do without you for awhile. I received the little pamphlet of the sale of Florida property with a letter, also from you. Mother and the children join me in much love. Little Eva takes nothing now to make her sleep, no medecine of any kind, and eats hearty and sleeps all night long, so sweetly! Grows more like you, my precious and I am glad of it. Write soon again and take care of your health and return when you can. Your affectionate wife, Mary T. Trotter."

A note written on the fold of the letter: "Your beautiful descriptions of the land of flowers make us wish that we were there with you. I know I should be perfectly delighted so much. I am always carried away with beautiful scenery of any kind and such a love for flowers & evergreens lakes rivers &c."


Ordinary Court of Polk Co., GA
The Hon. Joel Brewer, Ordinary Presiding
as recorded in Minute Book A

August Term 1874 p. 190Annual return of L. H. Walthall, Guardian of Minor orphans of James G. Gibson, deceased, filed, approved, entered of record.

August Term 1875 p. 234Annual return of L. H. Walthall, Guardian of Minor orphans of James G. Gibson, deceased, filed, approved, entered of record.

October Term 1875
p. 249To the Ordinary of said County. The petition of Mary T. Trotter, mother of the minor children of James G. Gibson deceased. Respectfully shows that L. H. Walthall is the Guardian of a portion of the property only of said minors viz. Ellinton, Jimmie G. & Clide T. Gibson. That petitioner is the natural Guardian & in possession of the persons of said minors & their interest in the homested estate and that the same is not sufficient for their said maintenance and that said L. H. Walthall Guardian as foresaid has & does refuse to make any provision for the support, maintenance and education of his said wards. She therefore asks that notice citation be issued & served on the said Walthall notifying him to be & appear at the next court of ordinary to be held in said county on the first Monday in December next to show cause why he should not provide for the maintenance & education of his said wards in terms of the law, and as in duty bound She will ever be. Nov 9th 1875 [signed] Mary T. Trotter

Upon examining and considering the above petition of Mrs. Mary T. Trotter, it is ordered that citation do issue & be served upon L. H. Walthall in said case in terms of the law. Nov 9th 1875 [signed] Joel Brewer, Ordinary

I, L. H. Walthall, Guardian of Ellington, Jimmie G. & Clide T. Gibson acknowledge due and legal service on the within petition & order & waive copy & all other service thereon, this the 13th day of November 1875. [signed] L. H. Walthall

The above case of Mary T. Trotter against L. H. Walthall Guardian of Ellington, Jimmie G. & Clide T. Gibson & by consent of the parties the same is continued. [signed] Joel Brewer, Ordinary

Mary T. Trotter vs. L. H. Walthall, Guardian &c
Citation from the Court of Ordinary to Show Cause &c to be answered and disposed at the December term of 1875 of said court. In answer to the citation above referred to L. H. Walthall as the Guardian of the persons & property of the minor children of James G. Gibson late of said County of Polk deceased, comes in his own proper person & for answer thereunto or to so much thereof as is necessary to be answered unto Says that on the ____ day of ______ in the year 187___ [these dates are blank in the recorded document] he was appointed as the Guardian as the persons and property of the minors aforesaid, that on the said day last mentioned he executed and delivered to the Ordinary aforesaid a Bond with proper Securities which was approved and accepted by him as a suficient (sic) guarantee for the faithful performances of his duties as such Guardian and receiving his letters of Guardianship he entered immediately upon the discharge of his trust, that on examination into the condition of the estate of the said minors he found that they were intitle (sic) by right of inheritance from their deceased father to three fourths of all the estates both real and personal of said deceased father after the payment of all the just debts then outstanding & unpaid against the exact amount in money of the said interest he is unable to say as the same has never yet so far as he is informed been definitely ascertained. That one Springer S. Gibson was the administrator on the estate of the said James G. Gibson deceased who had the control of the said estate and that this respondent has only received from him the sum of three hundred & forty Dollars in cash for the said minors and a Deed to one hundred & eighty or ninety acres of land which said money was paid & deed made about two years ago; that a portion of the plantation on which the said James G. Gibson resided at the time of his decease has been set apart to the said Mary T. Trotter & the three minors for whom this respondent is acting as the Guardian and to three fourths of the profits annually arising from the same this respondent is entitled for the maintenance & education of the said minors & which he has never received into his own hands because of an agreement made by & between himself & the said Mary T. Trotter that she is the Mother of the said minors in consideration of these being allowed to remain with her would accept the said three fourths of the annual proffits of the said homested as a provision ample for the support & education according to their circumstances of the said minors and which this respondent believes & charges was ample sufficient and abundant if the same had been prudently economically & faithfully applied according to the stipulations of the agreement. This respondent denies that he has not faithfully & well looked to & cared for the maintenance & education & comfort of his said wards and charges that if they have lacked or suffered for any of the necessaries of life to which this limited means entitled them it is alone in consequence of the disregard and broken promises of a mother who was duly bound by nature & by contract to guard their interests & wellbeing. This Respondent further charges and alleges that if he has been guilty of any neglect of the interests of his said wards the same consists in allowing the said minors all of whom are girls, to remain with their said mother to be made to all the menial service in & about her house & kitchen, such as cooking, washing, getting wood and even extending so far as fetching horses & saddling & putting them to buggies for the use of the said Mary T. Trotter & her husband, one James M. Trotter, all of which degrading & menial service he charges that his said wards has been forced to perform, all of which facts this respondent is ready to verify & prove & hence he asks the judgment to be discharged with his costs in this behalf laid out & expended. [all underscoring is mine]

You, L. H. Walthall, do swear that the foregoing defence is true to the best of your knowledge & belief so help you God. [signed] L. H. Walthall

Sworn to & subscribed before me this the 26th day of November 1875. [signed] Joel Brewer, Ordinary

December Term 1875
p. 25529 Dec - Petition of Springer S. Gibson admnr. &c. It is ordered that citation do issue in said case & be published in the Cedar Town Record once a week for four weeks notifying all persons concerned to be & appear on the 1st Mon. in March 1876 to show cause if any they have why leave to sell said mineral interest in said lot should not be granted. [signed] Joel Brewer, Ordinary

February Term 1875
p. 2637 Feb - Petitioner Springer S. Gibson admnr. &c of the estate of James G. Gibson, dec�d, is granted permission to sell a 1/6 interest in & to all mineral & mining privileges to Lot 992 in the 20th district of the 3rd Section in Harralson Co. Ga. [signed] Joel Brewer, Ordinary

August Term 1876
p. 270Annual return of L. H. Walthall, Guardian of the minor children of J. G. Gibson, deceased. Approved, accepted and recorded. Joel Brewer, Ordinary

October Term 1876
p. 27612 Sept - L. H. Walthall petitioned the court for permission to sell iron ore "on rock lying loose & on top of the ground & in the plantation belonging to said minor children" for benefit of the minors. Ordered that citation issue and be published in the Cedar Town Record once a week for 4 weeks. Oct. 2nd Joel Brewer, Ordinary

May Term 1879
p. 372The final return of G. W. Weatherston & Susan Walthall, Admnr. of Estate of L. H. Walthall who was the Guardian of the minor children of J. G. Gibson of Feb. 6 1879 being examined, Ordered it be allowed as correct & recorded. [signed] Joel Brewer, Ordinary


In the 1880 Census Mary T. was married to Henry King, with children "Clide Trotter" (Gibson) and Eva Trotter, age 6.

   Marriage Information:

Mary married James G. Gibson, son of Col. Springer S. Gibson and Mattie Spark, about 1856 in Polk Co., GA. (James G. Gibson was born in 1831 in GA and died in Sep 1868 in Cedartown, Polk Co., GA.)

   Marriage Information:

Mary also married Henry C. King on 15 Apr 1879 in Polk Co., GA. (Henry C. King was born on an unknown date and died on an unknown date.)

   Marriage Notes:

see Polk Co., GA Marriage Record B, at p. 72; Rev. D. J. Myrick officiated.

Notice of the Tuesday wedding appeared in the 17 Apr 1879 issue of the Cedar Town "Advertiser," on p. 3, wishing the newlyweds "great happiness."