Sarah and Dempsey Howell
The first link in my Howell chain begins with Dempsey Howell. Census records indicate that he and his wife (Sarah Commander) were both born in SC. Later pension records indicate that Sarah was born ca. 1794. No evidence yet exists to give a date of birth for Dempsey.
It appears they were part of the original “Old West” which was then the wild and dangerous Indian territory of what is now the state of GA. Westward expansion was in full swing with regular land lotteries being held following each succession of Indian land. Census and lottery records indicate that Dempsey and Sarah were a regular part of the western movement.
Dempsey and Sarah Howell were married in 1811 in Jones county GA.. During the war of 1812 Dempsey enlisted in the GA. militia as a private in Wimberley’s regiment during Jan 1814 he served about four months and was discharged when the war ended.
By 1820 they were living in Twiggs county GA. In 1820, Dempsey is shown as a fortunate drawer in the 1820 Ga. Land lottery drawing. He is shown as having drawn land in Irwin County GA. I have no evidence at this time that Sarah and Dempsey ever lived in Irwin County. They probably sold the land without ever having lived there.
During this period their sons ( Joseph b.1820 d.1880) and (Washington b.1824 d.1860) were born.
Dempsey again appears as a fortunate drawer of land in Troup county GA. during the April 17 GA Land lottery drawing in Crawford County Ga. Again I don’t have evidence of their having lived in Troup County.
The 1830 census record shows Dempsey and family which now include two daughters Mary Jane and Elizabeth as living in Monroe county Ga. in the 596 GMD.
The next census record of 1840 Monroe county shows Sarah as the head of household. She now also list another son born in 1831, my 3x Grandfather Turner Howell. Sarah states in a pension application that Dempsey died in 1840 in Monroe county Ga.
Sarah’s son Joseph appears in marriage records in 1845 in Crawford county Ga. He marries Martha commander, coincidentally his mothers maiden name was Commander. They may be distant cousins.
By 1850 Sarah and family appear on the census for Barbour county AL where the family will remain for more than 150 years.
Sadly I have been unable to locate the gravesite of Dempsey although I believe it is located in Monroe County GA. I am almost certain that Sarah is buried in an unmarked grave at the Rocky Mount UMC Cemetery. I hope to have memorial markers placed there in the future.