Fifth Generation

172. Azariah Graves WALTERS^4,69,215,216 was born on 10 March 1810 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.^69,110 He died in September 1899 at the age of 89.¹¹⁰

Caswell Co NC Deeds
DB AA, p.329-31 11 Aug 1832 Jesse Harrison of Casell to Azariah G. Walters of Pittsylvania for $1400, 296 acres on Moon's Creek adj Daniel Gunn, John Everett, estate of Bartlett Yancey, estate of Thomas Harrison excepting 2 acres sold to B. Yancy. Wit: Andr [prob Arch] Walters, Willis D. Harrison, Martha Harrison, John Everett.

Caswell Co Will Book M, July Court 1835
p.477 Inv and sale of estate of Andrew Harrison, 17 Apr 1835. Buyers included Wm. W. Richardson, Azariah Walters, Archibald Walters, Noel Burton. Wm. J. Harrison, James R. Harrison, Susan & Elizabeth Harrison.

DB DD, p.172 2 Feb 1837. James R. Harrison to Azariah Walters for $4536. 339 A & 103 poles adj William W. Richardson, Archer Walters [his father], crossing to Danville Rd at the mill rd, adj John Averett, Frances Ray, Noel Burton. Wit: A. W. Harrison, R. J. Richardson.

DB DD, p.217 27 Feb 1837 James R. Harrison to William W. Richardson for $736.66, 43 1/3 acres on Dan River, part of that left by his father Andrew Harrison adj Richardson, Azah G. Walters, Arch'd Walters. Wit: A. G. Walters, A. W. Harrison

I believe Azariah is in the 1840 census as "Azariah G. Wartins" in Caswell Co. Indexed as Wartin. He had
1 male child under 5 [Robert Alexander, born ca 1838], one male 5-10 [according to the 1900 census, William Felix born Apr 1834], there was a male age 30-40 which works for Azariah.
2 females under age 5 [probably Mary Catherine and Elizabeth. 1f age 20-30, or born between 1810 and 1820.

Azariah Graves Walters was a captain during the Civil War. He married (1st) Ann Eliza Payne Richardson. Some sources say she was Mary Dillard "Polly" Harrison, but that lady was a generation older and the mother of Ann Eliza. He married (2nd) Martha Coleman in 1845 and (3rd) Martha Carter, daughter of Samuel Jefferson Carter of Halifax. The marriage to the second wife must have been very brief as the wife who had appears in the censuses from 1850 forward with consistent ages and two daughters, was a Martha.

[Ancestral File gives full name of first wife as Elizabeth Payne Richardson, married 13 May 1830. Her parents as Edmund Richardson and Mary Harrison. Does not show other wives, nor last two children.]

Azariah's spouse is "Martha" in the 1850 Census.
Azariah G. Walters, age 35, married Martha Coleman, age 31, on 24 Oct 1845, dau of Daniel Coleman. Sur. Thompson Coleman. Married by Rev. Jno Pritchard.

1850 Pittsylvania Co Census. Azariah G. Walters, age 40. Martha age 36. Both born in Virginia. The following children were all born in NC [Caswell Co] Felix age 16, Mary C. age 14, Robert age 12, Elizabeth age 10, Archibald 8, and b. back in VA was Nancy age 7 [this child has been shown to likely be his niece, a daughter of deceased brother Alexander who did live in Pittsylvania Co VA.]
Slave Schedule lists a total of 25 slaves.

1860 Census. Pittsylvania Co VA. P.O. Danville, Hh 1172
A. G. Walters, age 50. Martha, age 29. [This Martha would appear to be the 3rd wife]
Bettie, 19, b. NC. [Elizabeth]
Robert 21, student, b. NC. Archibald 17, student, b. NC
Mollie 3, b. VA [who? child of 3rd wife?]
Nannie, 18, Teacher's College, b. VA [niece]
Mary 13, b. VA [She doesn't appear in 1850. Her obit many years later indicates she was Nannie's sister so she was another niece of Azariah.]
D. McLaughlin, age 54, stonemason, b. VA

3 July 1865. Application for pardon in the War of Rebellion (Civil War).
Petition states he was a resident of Pittsylvania Co, VA. He was a farmer and planter age 55 years. He was never in the Confederate Army and never held any office in the Army. In May of 1865 he did take the oath prescribed by President Lincoln to support the constitution. His taxable property is worth more than $20,000.
18 Jul 1865. A. G. Walters received amnesty for his part in the Civil War. Signed, Andrew Johnson, President.

1870 Census. Pittsylvania Co VA. Southern Dist. Danville P.O. Hh 20
Azariah G. Walters, age 60. Mary M. age 39, b. VA.
Betty P. 25, b. NC. Mary V. 19, b. VA. [was this the Mary age 13 in 1860?]
Mollie B. 13, b. VA [Were there two Mollie B's? or is this the granddaughter?]

1880 Census. Pittsylvania Co VA, Tunstall. Hh 463
Azariah G. Walters, age 70. Mary M., wife, age 49.
William F., son, age 48, farmer, b. NC, parents b. VA
Mary B., granddaughter, age 17, b. NC. father b. NC, mother b. VA

Find A Grave Memorial# 14315135. buried Green Hill Cemetery, Danville, VA

When Azariah Graves Walters died in Pittsylvania County Virginia in 1899, he left his mill in Caswell County on 80 acres of land to his wife Martha for life. Upon her death it was to go to Archie (Archibald) E. Walters (or if he died to grandson Azariah G. Walters, Jr, son of Archie). The tract in Pittsylvania County adjoining the Caswell Co tract was 1,050 1/2 acres and contained the old "Broadnax House". I believe that this house may have been the 18th century house of Thomas Fearn, who died in 1805. Walters' Mill Road is just inside North Carolina along the state line. The Walters Mill was on Hogan's Creek, very close to the Virginia state line. [Posted on GenForum]

From "Charles Walters" <[email protected]> 12 Feb 2012
Yesterday I met with Mr. Bob Carter of Rockingham Community College to discuss matters of history regarding the Walters Family of Reidsville, NC. This meeting was arranged by Anne Evans. Thanks Anne. He had in his office a small green metal box labeled ER Walters-Private. Inside this box were a number of documents pertaining to the Walters family which included a copy of the will of Azariah G. Walters. The will is 8 pages in length and typed on legal paper.
Heirs listed in his will are:
Martha M. Walters-identified as his wife
William F. Walters-identified as his son
Mollie Belle Walters-identified as his granddaughter, daughter of William F.
Archibald E. Walters-identified as his son
Azariah G. Walters, Jr.-identified as his grandson, son of Archibald
Bettie Walters Flinn-identified as his daughter
Mary Catherine Holland-identified as his daughter
CG Holland-identified as his son-in-law, husband of Mary Catherine

The property was divided as follows:
To his wife Martha M Walters was given the homeplace containing about 400 acres (Present day Grove Park located in Danville Va) and his Mill Seat and 80 acres located on Hogans Creek in Caswell Co., NC for her lifetime only. At her death the homeplace was to be held jointly by his son William F and his granddaughter Mollie Belle. The Mill Seat and 80 acres was to go to son Archibald E. who in turn was to convey the mill and acreage to his grandson Azariah Graves, Jr.
To his son William F. was given two houses with small parcels of land attached near the far front gate on his homeplace.
To his granddaughter Mollie Belle was given a house and a small parcel of land attached near the far front gate of his homeplace. Described as having 3 rooms and being painted.
To his daughter Mary Catherine Holland and son-in-law CG Holland was given 206 acres lying in Caswell Co., NC along the Dan River known as the "Knight Place"
To his son Robert A. was given the lower part of his "Broadnax Place" containing 400 acres or more with 170 acres lying in Caswell Co., NC and the remainder lying in Pittsylvania Co. VA
To his son Archibald E. was given the middle tract of the "Broadnax Place" lying on the Dan River in Pittsylvania Co., Va containing 500 acres which had upon it the old Broadnax house.
To his daughter Bettie Walters Flinn was given the upper part of the "Broadnax Place" containing 500 acres lying on the Dan River in Pittsylvania Co., Va. joined on the lower side by the land given to his son Archie and on the upper side by land belonging to James A. Stone and his sister Mrs. Stokes. There was a lien (in favor of Stone) on this piece of property for $1600 which he hoped to pay off before his death.
I would like to thank everyone for their help. I have been researching Captain AG Walters for years and this has solved a big piece of the puzzle.

Buried Green Hill Cemetery, Danville, Pittsylvania, VA

The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD, 23 Sep 1899, Saturday, p.8
Death of Capt. Azariah G. Walters
(Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun)
DANVILLE, VA., Sept. 22
Capt. Azariah G. Walters, one of the oldest and most widely known residents of Southern Virginia, died today at his home, in Pittsylvania county, just south of this city, in his 90th year. He had spent his entire life in the county with the exception of 15 years' residence just across the Carolina line. Capt. Walters was a farmer, never aspired to to public office and accumulated a considerable estate. His third wife, nee Carter, of Halifax County, and five children survive him.

http://ncccha.blogspot.com/2006/06/walters-mill.html#more
has pictures and stories of the Walters Mill
The following is from The Caswell Messenger (1 May 1991):
Two tragedies scar the history of the Walters Mill on Hogan's Creek near the Virginia border below Providence. The death of David Allen Ware in 1932 and the total destruction by fire around 1965.
Ware's granddaughter, Eunice Harrelson of Providence, remembers the fire that started late one Saturday night, probably set by trespassers, vandals, or malicious youth.
The incident was a senseless loss. There was no electricity to catch fire nor were there flammables on the premises to combust spontaneously. The cause of the fire remains of suspicious origin.
William Lewis Neal of Providence remembers the death of David Allen Ware in 1932. Ware's clothing caught on a set screw of the mill's shaft and he was battered to death. He had to be cut away from the gears of the mill; it was a horrible tragedy.

Azariah Graves WALTERS and Eliza Ann Payne RICHARDSON were married about 1832 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.⁴ Eliza Ann Payne RICHARDSON, daughter of Edmund RICHARDSON and Mary Dillard HARRISON, was born in 1812. She died on 12 November 1844 at the age of 32.

Online database at Rootsweb states the following:
Name also seen as Ann Elizabeth Payne Richardson. However, her gravestone shows Eliza Ann Payne Richardson, and that name will be used here.
Granddaughter Kate Holland Judkins gave her name as Elizabeth Payne Richardson in her lineage for DAR.

Find A Grave Memorial# 62736671. Marshall Cemetery, Providence, Caswell Co, NC.
She died age 32 years 4 months 9 days.

Eliza's parents were Edmund Richardson and Mary Dillard "Polly" Harrison - they married 21 Oct 1811, Pittsylvania Co, VA. Mary Dillard was the daughter of William Harrison and Anna Payne.

William Harrison's will proved 18 Feb 1811 in Pittsylvania, named sons: Robert, Nathaniel, & William P. Harrison; daughters: Susannah wife of William Ware, Jane wife of Henry Stone, Anne wife of Daniel Colemen, and Polly [or Mary] Dillard who married Capt A. G. Walters [This statement is wrong and obviously inserted later into this brief abstract of the will., Mary Dillard Harrison was not married at the time his will was proved - she married Edmund Richardson in October of 1811. The will was written, in 1807 and she was the only unmarried daughter then as well. Mary & Edmund's daughter, Eliza Ann Richardson, was the lady who married A. G. Walters. This error has been perpetuated in at least two Pittsylvania histories.]

Azariah Graves WALTERS and Eliza Ann Payne RICHARDSON had the following children:

Azariah Graves WALTERS and Martha COLEMAN were married on 24 October 1845 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.^4,12 Martha COLEMAN^35,219, daughter of Daniel COLEMAN and Anna Payne HARRISON, was born on 10 November 1813 in Virginia.⁶⁹ She died on 14 December 1853 at the age of 40 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

24 Oct 1844. Azariah G. Watlers, marriage bond. Martha Coleman, Daniel Coleman her father. Thompson Coleman, Bondsman. Jno. L. Pritchard officiated.

Martha was a first cousin to Azariah's first wife.

Tombstone inscription from
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/pittsylvania/cemeteries/coleman01.txt
LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Coleman graveyard:
1936 Sept. 28
Research made by Mabel Moses
Cemetery Location: 9 miles east of Chatham, Virginia, thence north 4 miles on
Riceville Road, thence east on Route #665, thence east 3
miles. The graveyard is located about five miles from the
Coleman home on an old road.
Pittsylvania Co., Virginia

Mrs. Martha C. Walters
Born 10th November 1813
and departed this life 14th December 1853
Mourn not for me, ye loved ones dear
Although the grave seems dark and dreary,
My speechless tongue in Heaven can tell
My Jesus has done all things well.

Azariah Graves WALTERS and Mary Martha CARTER were married before 1860. Mary Martha CARTER was born in July 1830 in Virginia.

1900 Census. Pittsylvania Co VA, Tunstall Hh 449
William F. Walters, head of household, age 60, born Apr 1834, Widowed, b. NC
Martha M. Walters, stepmother, age, age 69, b. Jul 1830, Widowed, b. VA. She has had two children, both living.
Mollie B., daughter, age 40, b. Jan 1860, single [Was she the three year old in the 1860 census - Mollie age 3]
Flinn, Bettie W., sister, age 60, b. Apr 1840, Widowed, b. NC
Assie W., nephew, age 20, b. Jan 1880, insurance agt.
Calvin M., nephew, age 17, b. Sep 1883, at school