FAMILY ALBUM

				BY

			  JAMES REDDICK

		      PO Box 32 Fairfax, SC 27827


   






	   1827 -Land Lottery Mary Godbe, widow of Revolutionary Soldier.
    Cary Godbee served in Revolutionary War. Granted 287 1/2 acres for his
		    services.  1850 -Mortality Census of Burke Co.

			  Mary Godbee, aged 85, widow, died April Samuel
			  Godbee, aged 59, married, died March Henry Godbee,
			  aged 47, married, died February James H. Godbee,
			  aged 76, widower, died October

      The present day Godbees in Burke and Screven Counties descend
   from the Godbee family discussed in this section, but due to lack
   of family records and the burning of the Burke County Court House
   in 1856, just HOW seems impossible to decipher.

				      MOBLEY

     It is stated by a family historian that the first Moberly in
  America came direct from England and that his father was a member
  of the baronetage and that he settled in Pennsylvania.  That his
  wife was Phoebe Lovejoy and that they were Quakers. No record has
  been found to substantiate this belief.  The first Moberly or
  Mobberly of Maryland was definitely a member of the established
  church where his children were baptized. The extant records of two
  Anglican parishes prove marriages being performed by that church.
  There was a formidable Quaker settlement in Anne Arundel County not
  far from where the first Mobberly settled in Maryland, and if he
  had been a Quaker, he would have certainly affiliated with the
  members of that community. The Mobberlys were in the South River
  Hundred, that area between the South and Severn Rivers where the
  Episcopalians and the aristocrats settled-distinct from the
  Puritans along the Severn and the Quakers around West River. The
  records indicate that they were good orthodox Episcopalians.  
    JOHN MOBBERLY 16--1728. The first reference for a member of the
  Mobberly family in the Province of Maryland was on March 22, 1688,
  when John Mobberly and Anne, his wife, of All Hallows Parish, Anne
  Arundel County, registered the birth of their son John. John
  Mobberly was therefore definitely domiciled in the South River
  Hundred which comprised All Hallows Parish prior to the above
  mentioned date and continued to reside there through 1698.  The
  birth of his five following sons by his wife Anne is registered
  in All Hallows Parish of Anne Arundel County.  1. John Mobberly,
  born March 2, 1688.  2. William Mobberly, born March 18,1693.  3.
  Edward Mobberly, born May 13, 1696.  4. James Mobberly, born
  January 3, 1697.  5. Thomas Mobberly, born January 18,1698.  His
  name does not appear among those who prior to 1687 entered the
  Province either as emigrant, transportee or servant, nor can any
  record be found of his applying or receiving a land grant from the
  Lord Proprietary.  On September 25, 1697, he purchased from John
  Boyde, of Prince Georges County, "Ample Grange," of 127 acres
  lying on the Patuxent River in Prince Georges County and adjoining
  the plantation "Essington." He apparently did not settle
  immediately upon his plantation "Ample Grange," for the birth
  of his fifth son was registered in a parish of Anne Arundel County.
  At a court held in Charles Town, the then county seat for Prince
  Georges Co., during June 1708, as John Mobberly, Sr. of that
  county, he made deeds of gift of livestock to his five sons,
  namely, John, James, William, Edward and Thomas Mobberly. He
  specifically

			      14
   



   stated in the deed that he "doe acquitt and sett them att Liberty from
   me and all persons to work for themselves att ye years of 16." The deeds
   were signed by him. At this time his wife, Anne, had died and he had
   married secondly Elizabeth. On June 1, 1708, he assigned to Elizabeth
   Mobberly styling her "my now wife" also livestock and other personality.
   He signed his deed of gift in the presence of Richard Duckett and Mary
   Stone. On November 7, 1715, styled "John Mobberly of Prince Georges
   County, Planter" he purchased from Neal Clark, of Anne Arundel County, for
   3,000 Ibs. tob. 200 acres of partly improved land which he called
   "Mobberly's Purchase," being a portion of "Neal's Delight." It lay at the
   south of a draft of the Patuxent River. Jane Clark, wife, waived all dower
   rights.  On May 10,1718, styled John Mobberly Sr., of Prince Georges
   County, Planter, he deeded for natural love and affections which he held
   for sons, James, William Edward and Thomas, Mobberly's Purchase" of 200
   acres, being a portion of "Neal's Delight." Susanna Mobberly, his wife,
   waived all, dower rights. At this time his second wife, Elizabeth, had
   apparently died, and he had married the Widow Scaggs. The marriage was
   performed by the rector of St. Barnabas Church of Queen Anne's Parish,
   Prince Georges County. "On February 28, 1716/7, John Mobberly Sr. to
   Susanna Scaggs, Widow of Aaron Scaggs, deceased." A daughter Anne was born
   to this union on February 5,1718/19. 
      On February 14, 1720/1 "John Mobberly of Prince Georges County formerly 
   of Anne Arundel County, Planter" conveyed to Henry Hall, of St. James's
   Parish , Clerke "Ample Grange," of 127 acres lying on the Patuxent River 
   and adjoining the plantation "Essington" which the said John Mobberly had 
   purchased from John Boyde on September 25, 1697. He signed the deed of 
   conveyance, and his wife, Susanna, waived all dower rights." On July 12, 
   1727 he made a deed of gift of livestock to his daughter, Anne Mobberly. 
   He died intestate in Prince Georges County. The inventory of his personal 
   estate was made on February 12,1728 and was appraised at L7/8/3.  
      On November 6,1728, by the Rev. Jacob Henderson, of St.  Barnabas Parish, 
   his widow, Susannah Mobberly, married presumably her third husband, Henry 
   Boulton. As Susannah Boulton, she filed inventory of her former husband's 
   estate at court on June 24, 1729.  
      On November 28, 1729, the account of "Susannah Mobberly alias Bolton, 
   the administratix of John Mobberly, late of Prince Georges County, deceased" 
   filed an account and reported a balance of L8/1/9 to be distributed among 
   the heirs of the deceased-John, James, Edward, William and Thomas Mobberly. 
   On May 21, 1731, an additional-alaccount was filed by "Henry Bolton, of 
   Prince Georges County who intermarried with Susanna the Relict and 
   administratix of John Moberly . . ." At that time there was a
   balance of L5/12/due the representatives.  
      JOHN MOBBERLY, born March 2, 1688, died in 1752 in Edgecombe County, 
   North Carolina, married Rachel Pindell on February 12, 1712.  
      EDWARD MOBLEY, son of John and Rachel Mobley, born October 8, 1716 
   according to the register of St. Barnabas' church, Queen Anne's Parish, 
   Prince George County, Maryland, and died in Wake County, North Carolina 
   in 1777. His wife was Mary -. He was Captain of the Wake County Militia  
   in 1772 and his son Jeremiah Mobley was appointed a captain in 1773 and 
   seems to have held that office during the Revolution, as he was paid for 
   marching his troops in 1779. Soon after the Revolution Jeremiah moved to 
   South Carolina, and settled first at Flint Hill, Edgefield County. He and 
   almost all of his family are buried on his plantation near Saluda. He was 
   born in 1744 and died about 1824.
      WILLIAM LEMSTER MOBLEY, son of Capt. Edward and Mary Mobley, moved to
   Duplin County, N.C. and was married there on August 6, 1767 to Marjery
   Stanley. In September 1769 he petitioned the Colonial Government of
   Georgia for land setting forth that "he was lately come into the Province
   and had no land granted him and was desirous to obtain land for
   cultivation, having a wife, a child, and two negroes.  Praying for 300
   acres in Halifax, St. George's Parish, adjoining lands of Thomas Mobley,
   William Williams and John Burnsides." Petition granted. During the next
   few years through grants and purchases, he

	         		     15

			     


   accumulated 1,100 acres of land near Mobley's Pond, St. George's Parish,
   later Screven County. (It is interesting to note that Mobley's Pond can be
   found on DeBrahm's map of Georgia of 1780, Archibald Campbell's map of
   1780, and Hall's Map of Georgia of 1860.) A contemporary account named him
   as inactive Tory during the Revolution. He was a Baptist Minister as is
   borne out by the following record in the Ordinary's office in Effingham
   County: "July 26, 1797-Granted marriage license to Mr. James Scarborough
   with Miss Mary Lewis, License directed to the Rev. William Mobley,
   Minister of the Gospel.'' One of the founders of Beach Branch Baptist
   Church in 1803 (later Sardis Baptist Church); he was also a blacksmith,
   according to the following legal notices from Screven County Deed Book
   1801-10:

   STATE OF GEORGIA. Know all men by these present that during the war
   between the United States and Great Britain, negroes of my property, names
   as follows, a wench called Chainnu of a yellow complexion, has long wool
   like hair, blind of one eye by the small pox, the blind eye looks white
   and glassy now about forty five years old, also a boy named John or Jack
   of a yellow complexion, also a girl named Sintha of a yellow complextion.
   The said negroes were plundered from me and carried off to some part or
   place unknown to me, and whereas it is supposed the said negroes and their
   increase or some of them are now at the Natchez Territory in the western
   part of the state, now I, William Mobley of Screven County in the State of
   Georgia, Blacksmith, have made ordained authorized and appointed and by
   these presents do make ordain authorize and appoint my sons Lemuel Mobley
   and Thomas Mobley, both at present of Scriven County, aforesaid my true
   and lawful Attornies so they can repair to the western part of the state
   and elsewhere wherever and jointly and separately with full power in my
   name to ask demand sue for recover and receive all or any of the negro
   slaves aforesaid and their increase of and from any person or persons in
   whose hands a power the same or any one or more of them may be found, and
   allow to demand sue for and recover and receive all such damages as may be
   thought unbearable for my having been so long deprived of my just right
   and property and with power in all luck can jointly and separately to
   execute all such recipts or discharges as may be necessary or proper, and
   I do, further more, authorize my said attornies or either of them, in my
   name, to sell and convey all or either of said negroes to any person or
   persons they or either of them think proper, and one or more attornies
   under them for the purpose aforesaid, to make and appoint and the same at
   pleasure to revoke, and to do and perform all other matters and things
   touching the promises in as full and ample a manner as I myself might or
   could do if personally present and acting for myself, hereby promising to
   approve and confine all and whatsoever my said attornies or either of them
   may lawfully do and come to be done by virture of these presents.  In
   testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of
   June 1802.  Signed and delivered in the		 William Mobley
   presence of James Nesmith Michael Smith John McWade Georgia. Know all men
   by these presents that we, Lemuel and Thomas Mobley of the State of
   Georgia and County of Scriven, for and in consideration of the sum of
   Three Thousand Dollars to us in hand paid at and before the sealing and
   delivering of these presents, we the said Lemuel and Thomas Mobley, both
   bargained, sold and delivered and do by these presents bargain, seal and
   deliver unto John Buford of the same state and county aforesaid all our
   right, title, interest, inheritance claim and demand that we have a claim
   to certain negro boy Jack, a wench Chainnu and a girl Cyntha, which were
   plundered during the British occupation in the state from William Mobley
   by a Michael Milton and a Burrs, and is said to reside in or near the
   Mississippi Territory and is now in his possession, said negroes for (?)
   us our heirs Executors and-as all person or persons whatsoever, to the
   said J Buford, his


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   heirs, and assigns, we will warrant and forever defend. In witness whereof
   we have hereunto set our hand and seal.19th July 1804.  
   Signed, sealed and delivered	            Lemuel Mobley                 
   in the presence of N. Lunday JC          Thomas Mobley

      Family Tradition states that he died very suddenly. One day he was
   explaining his religious convictions to a companion and said, "My belief
   is as strong as this anvil,'' and, with that remark, he fell dead.  "In
   1787 Rev. James Matthews visited Botsford Baptist Church in Burke County
   to conduct a revival meeting at that place.  While the church records are
   not clear on it, it is evident that there were a small group of Baptists
   at Mobley Pond who no doubt had a "Meeting House." While at Botsford
   Church the Rev. Matthews went to Mobley Pond in what is now Screven County
   to conduct a meeting. He reported back to the Botsford Baptist Church that
   he had "Converted 50 people and constituted the Mobley Pond Baptist
   Church." It must have later become an "Arm" of the Beach Branch Baptist
   Church on Brier Creek a few miles west. In the Minutes of the Beach Branch
   Baptist Church (now Sardis Baptist Church) it is recorded, in 1803, that
   Mobley Pond Baptist Church was a part of that church. In 1803 the Rev.
   Henry Hand moved to Screven County, purchased land and made his home until
   about 1821. He was one of the great Baptist leaders of his time. He became
   pastor of the Beach Branch Baptist Church. By 1810 a new church had been
   built at a different site and the name changed to Sardis. Such was the
   beginning of the progressive little city of that name in Burke county. In
   1806 the members of the Mobley Pond Baptist Church petitioned the Beach
   Baptist Church asking that they be dismissed from the mother church to
   form an independent church. The petition was granted and Rev. Hand became
   pastor of that church also.  
      On April 11th, 1807 James Nessmith deeded to Henry Hand, Minister, and 
   John McWade, one of the Deacons, of the church known as Mobley Pond Baptist 
   Church, for five cents, one acre of land on the south side of the old river 
   road leading from Augusta to Savannah. The deed was witnessed by Thomas 
   McGee and Lewis Hodgeson, also members of the church. The Sardis Church 
   minutes do not name those who were dismissed to join the Mobley Pond Church 
   but of the members of the Sardis Church known to live in the vicinity of 
   Mobley Pond were the Mobleys, the Pollocks, some of the Olivers, James 
   Nessmith, James Ponder, Lewis Hodgeson, James McGee, the Hursts, Robbins 
   and others. In 1835 the church was moved into Burke County and in 1843 was 
   renamed "Bethlehem." It is known that almost all of the members of Mobley 
   Pond Church moved to other sections of Georgia and into other states, 
   carrying with them a missionary spirit for the Baptist Faith.  While the 
   church had been of great influence during its life at Mobley Pond its loss 
   of membership by removal of families caused a decline in Baptist influence 
   and prestige in the Community and finally the removal of the Church". 
   The foregoing by the late Clyde D. Hollingsworth.  
      William L. Mobley and Marjery Stanley had two known children: 
      1. Thomas Mobley, died cira 1828, married Ellendar ---------- (1820) 
      2. Lemuel Mobley, married Susannah --- (Nesmith -1820).  He was a 
         Justice of the Peace for Glynn Co., Georgia.  
      William L. Mobley married (2) Patience Ponder, daughter of James Ponder 
      and Mary Ann Bonnell. Refer to Ponder and Bonnell Sections.

	          CHARACTER SKETCH OF PATIENCE PONDER MOBLEY

      PATIENCE MOBLEY was a complex and conflicted woman, forceful and
   dominating at times, capable of inflicting her will on others. At other
   times she could be tender, thoughtful and caring about people who were
   troubled and in need of care. Rather than inhibiting the conduct of her
   daily life, her conflicts drove her onward, resulting in productivity
   beyond the ordinary. Though somewhat cautious and discreet and in keeping


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   with the times, she was nevertheless able to take positive action when she
   deemed it necessary for the common good of a person.  While tough-minded
   and competent in times of crisis, in a minor matter she could be
   imperious and willful when she wanted her own way.  Though some people
   thought she was arrogant, they showed her respect and their good will all
   her life, and she liked this attention and acknowledgement, thought it was
   her due, in fact expected it. Over the long haul, in controversies and
   discussions with family or local gentry, her will prevailed.  Mrs. Mobley
   was no doubt ahead of her times. She found it hard to play the roll of
   second-class citizen-as a woman, wife or mother, or all three. She did not
   fill the bill needed for passivity and submissiveness. Even so, with her
   conflicted personality she was able to give a good performance when needed
   of docility and domesticity, and what's more feel that she had won a round
   or two.  And with it all she had great family pride.  Brought up to be
   conventional yet she did not knuckle under easily. She chafed against
   all restrictions and constraints placed on all womanhood at that time, and
   as a result became outspoken, blunt, forthright and expressed herself
   forcefully and succintly on any issue, domestic or political.  Mrs. Mobley
   had a shrewd and analytical mind, unknown to most of her associates; and
   probably she had a good business head and could handle business problems
   as well as a man (that too was unknown to men).  But she liked male
   attention and the kind of elaborate courtesy that men extended to their
   women of that time. And despite her controversial personality she got the
   kind of consideration and regard she wanted from men.  Her energy was
   above average and well used and directed. And despite the period, she
   acquired local fame, was recognized as a "Character" and her advice was
   often sought by men and women alike.  While bothered as she was by the
   restraints and limitations of the times and despite her often considered
   unorthodox views she was able to command acceptance, the appreciation of
   her family and the affection of the County people.  Though a very private
   person and preoccupied with self, Mrs.  Mobley lived a better-than-average 
   satisfying life. And she got a wry delight and pleasure in flouting local 
   customs. One writer stated that she deserves a place in a novel.

	  LETTER WRITTEN BY PATIENCE MOBLEY TO HER COUSIN MRS. ELIZABETH
		     LOVETT, FT. CLAIBORNE, ALABAMA 
                                  
                                             Mobleys Pond, Scriven County 
                                             July 22, 1843 
                                             Elizabeth Lovett
      Dear Cousin, I received your favour and was very glad to hear from you
   and your Mother. I am not very well, Robert Lovett is well and his
   family also is well. James Cuyler Lovett is married to Permilia Oliver and
   is living where the Doctor was living when you were here. William is
   living at the Holoway place-they are all well and have fine crops!  Robert
   was down three or four weeks ago. He was well. He is not thro' his
   studies yet. William Lovett's negro boy Amos is supposed to have been
   stolen. Charles Nesmith and his family are well.  William Mobley and his
   family are well - he has lost two of his younger children.  You said you
   wish to know where Mary Lively is living. This summer with Lucy Lovett. I
   don't know how long she will be there. Margaret Mobley is with me. She is
   well and gives her love to you. Ellen and myself join together in love to
   you hoping if we never more meet on earth we may meet in heaven.

				     Patience Mobley


	         			18
   

      I have never showed Robert your letter, but Mary Lively was over and
   she read It and told him of it. She says he never said anything-whether he
   had received a letter or not nor whether he would write or not.  
      According to various legal records in the Screven County Court House, 
   William and Patience Mobley were fairly well-to-do for those times. During 
   1796, they sold 342 acres of land for $6,500.00.  In 1801, William made a 
   deed of gift to his three daughters and one son of his 400 acre plantation 
   "Where I now live", 4 or 5 slaves and a small stock of cattle. When the 
   estate of Patience Mobley's brother, James Ponder, was divided in 1826, she 
   received 10 slaves and 138 head of cattle.  
      William L. Mobley and Patience Ponder had the following children: 
      1. Elizabeth Mobley, born November 27, 1794, died March 17,1830, married 
         William E.  Mealing on June 22, 1822. They settled in Muscogee County, 
         Ga. where their home was  standing until destroyed by fire a few years 
        ago. A drawing of the house is given elsewhere in  this book.  
     +2. William L. Mobley, Jr., born in 1797, died in Burke Co. in 1853, 
         married Susan Nesmith in 1820 (See Nesmith section). Very little is 
         known concerning him other than his appointment as to Lt. in the 
         Georgia State Militia in 1819.  
      3. Lavinia Mobley, married Burrel Williams (Lt. in War of 1812).  
      4. Mary Mobley, born in 1800, married Rev. William G. Hunter in Screven 
         County on December 25, 1820. They moved to Lowndes (later Brooks) 
         County, Ga. William G. Hunter served as Spy for ten days in Capt.  
         Jonathan Knight's Company of Georgia Militia in 1813, was elected 
         Major in the Scriven Co. Militia in 1823 and Capt. in Lowndes Co.  
         Militia in 1838. He was minister of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist 
         Church in Brooks County and the 1860 Census lists his Real Estate 
         valued at $10,000 and Personal Estate $20,000. At his death in 1864, 
         war-time inflation had increased this figure to $171,000.  
      5. James H. Mobley, born in 1803, died in 1856, married (1) Mary (Hay)
         Braswell on March 22,1827, (2) Susan Ponder.  
      6. Ellen Mobley, born in 1804, married James H. Wade on April 7,1833.  
         On March 3, 1838,  James H. Wade of Chatham County, Ga. sold his 
         plantation of 925 acres near Mobley's  Pond to William H. Wade of 
         Screven County for $9,000. He also owned 31 slaves. These  were not 
        included in the sale. After her husband's death, Ellen Wade moved to 
        Burke County, where she and her brother James H. Mobley ran the same 
        plantation valued at  $4,000 with 29 slaves valued at $15,000.  
     William L. Mobley Jr. and Susan Nesmith had six children:
    +1. CHARLES W. MOBLEY, born January 25, 1821, died March 28, 1898, married
        Mary Ann Freeman in 1840. She was born in 1825 and died in 1895, the
        daughter of Garrett and Civility Freeman of Screven County.  Refer to
        Freeman section 
     2. Margaret Mobley born December 29, 1823, died December 15, 1909, 
        married (1) Thomas Mitchell (2) Willis Hurst (3) Patrick Proctor.  
     3. Jane Mobley, born December 10, 1826, died October 30, 1891,
        married Sampson Lemuel Griffin on October 28,1849.  
     4 John Mobley born in 1836, died in 1852.  
     5 Patience Ann Mobley, born January 31, 1838, died January 31, 1896, 
       married (1) George W.  Hillis (2) George Broxton (3) Dempsey Murray.  
     6. William Mercer Mobley, born in 1841, died February 4, 1910 married 
        Margaret Bold on January 10,1878.

            CHARLES W. MOBLEY and MARY ANN FREEMAN had nine children: 
     1. James Henry Mobley, born September 27, 1841, died November 10, 1863. 
        The

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    following obituary appeared in the Christian Index of January 8, 1864:
       "Died at Atlanta Hospital, November the 10th, 1863, James H.  Mobley,
   of Co. D, 47th Reg. Ga.  Vols., aged 22 years. His protracted illness was
   characterized by intense suffering which he bore with patience until death
   came and relieved him of his pain. He was a bright, interesting young man,
   and too much beloved to be easily resigned, but he would point to the
   sorrowing parents the bright world where now I hope he is praising his
   Redeemer close by the throne of God. I don't know as this young man was a
   member of any church, but I was one of his companions thru our campaigns
   in Mississippi and North Georgia, and a better companion I never had. He
   sleeps now far from his friends. A Friend." 
2. Amelia Frances Mobley, born
      September 22, 1843, died January 21, 1923, married W. L. D.  Rackley in
    1871.  3. Augustus Austin Mobley, born December 4, 1845, died young.  4.
      Martha L. Mobley, born lanuary 9, 1847, died September 17, 1908,
    married James W.  Campbell November 22, 1866. He was the son of William
    D. Campbell and Elizabeth Lewis of Screven County.  5. John M. Mobley,
      born November 4, 1849, died September 29, 1928, married Valeria
    Littlefield. She was the daughter of Samuel Littlefield and Martha Lovett
    of Screven County.  John M. Mobley was another legendary member of the
    Mobley Clan and a man of diverse talents. In those days it was somewhat
    unusual to be sheriff of Burke County and play the piano, organ and
    violin. Contemporary reports say that he did all with great ease and had
    never had a lesson in his life.  6. Charles W. Mobley Jr., born March 4,
      1852, died September 28, 1897, married Abbie Graham in 1874. She was
    the daughter of Abner Graham and Sarah Rackley of Burke County.  7. Ellen
      Elizabeth Mobley, born September 25, 1855, died January 10, 1891,
    married William C. Lovett, son of James Cuyler Lovett and Permelia
    Oliver. James C. Lovett was a large planter in Burke County and during
    the Civil War was Confederate agent of Burke County.  8. Mary Jane
      Mobley, born December 8, 1857, died June 24, 1915, married George W.
    Reddick on February 5, 1880. These were the paternal grandparents of the
    compiler of this volume.  9. Georgia Tallulah Mobley, born October 20,
      1860, died November 20, 1934, married John A.  Reddick on December 28,
    1878.

		      CHARLES W. MOBLEY 1821 - 1898

      CHARLES W. MOBLEY was a somewhat legendary figure in Screven and
   surrounding counties.  He was a striking looking man of powerful physique.
   It was said that his arms and wrists were the largest and most muscular in
   that part of Georgia.  He did not believe in owning many slaves and in
      fact had only 15 slaves in 1860, but saved his money and at the
   beginning of the Civil War owned $20,000.00 in cash, a large sum in those
   days.  Refusing to serve in the Confederate army, he built a cabin in the
   Savannah River Swamp and remained there periodically throughout the war.
   His former slaves stayed with him during Reconstruction and he gave each
   of them a gun with instructions to shoot any stranger who came on the
   place. Three Carpetbaggers were disposed of in this way and their bodies
   thrown into a whirlpool called the Devil's Cauldron. Rough times, these!
      He was very devoted to the violin and was an expert player.  From
   various reports he must have possessed absolute pitch with a pronounced
   gift for improvisation; as he would sit for hours spinning out very
   melodic tunes. One of his daughters, Amelia, who disliked the violin,
   asked him one day, "Papa, what was that tune?" He faintly smiled "Oh, just

			     20

   something that went through my mind. I'm surprised you noticed".  Charles
      Mobley had drive, a high intelligence, an inquiring mind combined with
   tough-mindedness, stability and the ability to roll with the punches. Also
   he had a sense of economy and used his time and energy wisely. While he
   could be expansive and gregarious at times, he also could be contemplative
   and meditative. He liked solitude now and then.  Though he was not
      politically active, he should have been, because politics and business
   were a good mix and very productive in those times although the
   connections may not have been as visible as today.  But Mr. Mobley
      understood the relationship better than most and was able to use the
   clout and potential more adroitly than his associates.  In his wheelings
   and dealings he turned on his considerable charm and persuaded many to see
   things his way, and to his advantage, naturally.  Where his manner and
   approach appeared leisurely, deliberate and off- handed he was shrewdly
   surveying the situation, analyzing the possibilities of what was in it for
   him, and making a decision.  Thus his deceptively easy- going and
   disarming personality made him many friends which of course made for more
   lucrative business opportunities.  He thoroughly enjoyed his world of
      business. While he was a shrewd bargainer, he was honest, dealt fairly
   with others and did not vacillate in making decisions. Though he was not
   ruthless, there were times when he was cold and hard, but his integrity
   remained untarnished.  With his flexibility, Charles Mobley was able to
     stand up under the strain and stress and show no signs of pressure. He
   had a healthy ego, a remarkable physical constitution and If he had vices
   they were not visible to the naked eye. While he was social and convivial
   to a point; he often turned to brief moments of solitude which resulted in
   renewal and stimulation.  His intuition, also known as a sixth sense of a
     hunch, developed markedly over the years and served him well. Some may
   have called it luck which made him successful but mostly it was due to his
   fondness for people, his friendliness which gave him so many contacts
   which in turn led to business deals. With his charisma and engaging
   "presence" he became a popular and well-known figure in the County and
   probably beyond.  But what Mr. Mobley enjoyed most was the recognition he
     got for his business acumen, his accomplishments in commercial
   enterprise with his good name intact.  His growth and productivity
     remained constant until the end.  Another source stated that Charles
     Mobley was clearly a forceful, aggressive character. Direct in approach
   - no beating about the bush for him.  While generally agreeable by nature,
   he was tenacious to a remarkable degree.  More than that, he was
   acquisitive, avaricious in his drive to attain his objectives. Money was
   vitally important to him, his financial sense might have led him to drive
   a hard bargain, be it for much or little. He was not underhanded in his
   dealings; on the contrary he was forthright, sometimes tactlessly, in his
   demands. Uncompromising though he could be, his mind was receptive to
   ideas gleaned from others, a quality that might further enhance keeness in
   gaining advantage.  Ego projection was strong in any event; a self-image
     of confidence, and importance, backed him in voicing his pronouncements.
   If opposed he was unyielding, often vitriolic in denunciation. Pride took
   a harsh turn when pricked, arousing resentment that might have led to
   vindictiveness on occasion.  Usually clear headed, however, he rarely
     allowed emotion to run away with him to his detriment even though his
   frustration tolerance was low indeed.  Towards friends he was
   affectionate, often amenable-if demanding in the long run-and as long as
   he was in the lead he cooperated. A vivacious, compelling personality all
   told, he undoubtedly made his mark in some capacity back in his day.

					21 pgs 22-30 are pictures



			 THE HOMECOMING OF A CAPTURED SLAVE
      The week beginning December 2, 1864 was probably the most memorable one
   in the annals of Screven County's history. On that day the Northern Army of
   75,000 troops, under the Command of Gen. William T. Sherman, arrived on 'its
   March to the Sea'. Sherman had issued strict orders against the burning of
   homes, but with 75,000 troops in the County for five days, a tremendous
   amount of food was taken or destroyed.  The invader arrived at the home of
   Charles W. Mobley as his wife and children were sitting down to breakfast. A
   large ham had been placed in the middle of the table. When Mary Ann Mobley
   first espied the troops, she quickly sprinkled the ham with flour, hoping
   the soldiers would think it Arsenic, which they did. It is not recorded what
   looting was done, but as all horses, cattle, hogs, etc. had been driven into
   the Savannah River Swamp for  safekeeping, very little was left for the
   Yankees. Their army marched past the Mobley home from early morning until
   dusk. Perhaps as an act of spite they took with them one of the rather
   elderly Mobley slaves named Sam.  Sam had an amiable temperamentand, seemingly
   agreeable, went along; but on the long trek to Savannah and upwards through
   the Carolinas he took particular care to remember certain landmarks along
   the roads. The treatment accorded him by his new captors redoubled his
   original intention to escape. Whereas he had been given a rather wide
   latitude of freedom as a slave (allowed to hunt, fish and visit friends) now
   he was not permitted any freedom at all. He was kept closely confined and
   allotted only a certain prescribed yard space. Somehow he escaped, running
   in the woods within sight of the road until he felt safe from capture.
   Thereafter he kept on the roads, living mostly on berries and sometimes at
   homes along the way he was given a piece or two of bread.  Many weeks later
   he arrived back at the Mobleys in the middle of the night, strode up to the
   door and knocked. Charles Mobley, upon answering the urgent summons of such
   a late visitor, was more than overjoyed at the sight of his ex-slave. Warmly
   embracing Sam, he invited him in, ordered a bed made and told him to sleep
   until he himself waked him.  Early the next morning Mobley roused his other
   ex-slaves who had remained on the place, and told them to butcher two hogs
   and prepare for a Barbecue, not relating the fact that Sam had returned.
   The entire place was busy all day preparing the meat and the many delicious
   victuals that accompany it. when everything was ready, the negroes were told
   to go into the smoke house and open jugs of wine as there was indeed going
   to be a Lucullan banquet. Mobley added succinctly that he didn't care if
   everyone got drunk.  Through it all, Sam slept soundly. Late in the afternoon
   he was awakened by his former master, and when Sam made his appearance, it
   was as much a joyous surprise to his old friends as the feast was to him.
   When the evening's festivities began to die down, every one of Sam's negro
   friends invited him to stay the night at their home. He was a bit overwhelmed
   by such a display of genuine hospitality and had some difficulty making
   up his mind which invitation to accept.  Taking advantage of the situation,
   an 18 year old negro girl walked up to him and said "Uncle Sam, I don't have
   no home, but I'll be glad to go with you into the swamp tonight!" It is not
   recorded whether Sam went or not, but he probably did.  Scehdule and
   description of the personal property claimed by Charles W. Mobley, the head
   of the family, to be exempt from levy and sale under the constitution
   and laws of Georgia. March 19, 1869.

		     Specie			    Valuation
		     1 bay horse-eleven years old	$120.00
		     1 black mare mule-seventeen years old 30.00
		     2 bay mare mules-16 years old	200.00

				       31



		     17 head stock cattle-$5.00 per head  85.00
		     40 head hogs-$1.00 per head	  40.00
		     1 two horse wagon		    40.00
		     1 timber carriage		    10.00
		     300 bushels corn-more or less       245.00
		     6 stacks fodder		      25.00
		     Household and kitchen furniture      75.00
		     Plows and plantation implements      10.00
		     a buggy 75 bushels cotton seed	7.50

							$952.50



			   A DESCRIPTION OF MOBLEY'S POND
				   By W. W. Stake
			   (Take from Debase Review, 1851).

      The subscriber has a plantation of several thousand acres, fifty miles
   below Augusta, on the Georgia side of the Savannah river.  Nearly in the
   center of this body of land is Mobley's Pond, a large, and in Shriven
   county, a celebrated sheet of water, seven miles round, and eight feet
   deep, heretofore a fruitful source of disease to the neighborhood, and of
   revenue to the doctors. The upper half was an open plain of more than a
   thousand acres, where a hundred steamboats could ride in safety, and
   where, from any point, a bird could be distinctly seen.  The lower section
   is covered with cypress, whose rich foliage and drooping moss,
   intercepting the sun's rays, and overshadowing the waters, presented to
   the view a dismal canopy above, and a horrible landscape beneath.  Here
   millions of noxious vermin lived, and flounced, and died. Here the horned
   owl chanted his melancholy ditties.  Here the white-crane gathered her
   food, built her nest, and reared her young, and when congregated by
   thousands on the branches of this magnificient tree, resembled a vast
   shrubbery of seringoes in bloom. The open parts were the resort of
   innumerable wild fowls, and were covered with countless flocks of ducks.
   This loquacious bird, during the long winter nights, kept up an eternal
   row; his carousal and jollification pic-nics transcended everything of
   record in the achievements of Venus and Bacchus, and were almost a match
   for the uproarious frolics of John Bull and Brother Jonathan, on the
   anniversary birthdays of majesty and independence.

      The alligator was the king beast of this Pontine marsh; armed with a
   formidable tail, and a pair of more formidable jaws, he was the terror of
   the women, and boys and negroes. Compared to him in bodily appearance, the
   ourangoutang was a beauty, and the jackass lovely.  His most interesting
   position was a recumbent posture, with his upper jaw elevated at right
   angles, and his teeth shining in the sun. When lying in ambush for his
   prey, he could flourish an eye that would shame a catamount, and a trunk,
   the like of which never flounced in the waters of Phlegethon or Cocytus.
   This redoubtable animal was frequently to be seen prowling upon the banks
   with the agility of the hippopotamus, and his reputation for manliness had
   its origin in the writings of the zoologist, who, instead of manipulating
   him gently as a lap-dog, peeped at him through a spy glass, from a most
   respectful distance.  Although a soldier among calves, and pigs and lambs,
   his courage and ferocity are evidently overrated; it is seldom that a full
   grown hog realizes the honor of being digested in his capacious maw.

      The terrapin could be counted by thousands, and the finest trout
   Georgia were there.

					 32






			     THE BEAVER DAM GHOSTS
			    BY ROBERT HOLLINGSWORTH
		     (FROM THE SOUTHERN SPORTSMAN, OCTOBER, 1976)

      Do you believe in ghosts? I've always been fascinated by ghost stories
   and really believe that most folks are, therefore I made an extra effort
   to find one of the foremost "ghost experts" in this part of Georgia.
   Friend J. H. Reddick, past clerk of court of Screven County, who upon
   learning of my search for someone who has had personal dealings with
   ghosts, directed me to his cousin, Hert "Bud" Reddick of Route 2,
   Sylvania, Georgia. I thanked J. H. for his assistance in this important
   venture into the unknown with friend Hert. After several unsuccessful
   attempts to corner Hert, I finally got him on the phone and made my
   interview date.  After Arriving and greeting Hert and his gracious wife, I
   was assured by Hert that I had indeed come to the right place, so we
   immediately did away with small talk and got right down to "ghost talk".
   He started right out by telling me about his Grandfather Charles Mobley
   who lived up near Mobley pond in the upper part of the county. His Grandpa
   was part Indian and owned part of Mobley pond.  Seems that Grandpa Mobley,
   being part Indian, just natural born loved to hunt and fish and did a lot
   of both. He kept a pack of hounds that he nearly hunted to death-just
   hunted them all the time. Although they were | so po' that the buzzards
   followed them all the time, still they were stomp-down good 'uns- just
   outran every hound they ran against. All of this has nothing to do with
   the story, but it's just to let you know that Grandpa Mobley had the best
   in hunting dogs. Hert says that he caught a fox with his pack just about
   every time they went into the woods.  Well-Grandpa Mobley finally got old
   and right feeble, so he came to live with Hert's family who lived down
   near the Beaver Dam creek-the old John Reddick place.  Mr.  John was
   Hert's father.  Grandpa Mobley still insisted on hunting and fishing, even
   though he was way up there in years. He hunted on Sundays the same as week
   days-even tho' the neighbors might not approve. One Sunday he was
   returning about dark from one of his hunting trips.  As he turned a
   corner, not far from the old Reddick home in his buggy, he was shocked and
   mystified to see a ball of fire in a near-by fence corner of a rail
   fence-down right spooky.  Both he and the mule were rather "shook-up" from
   the experience.  The fire vanished and he and the mule journeyed on
   homeward.  Later on while returning from another hunting and fishing trip
   with the mule and buggy on a Sunday, Grandpa Mobley encountered the ball
   of fire again in the fence corner near the rail fence.  This time it
   frightened the mule so badly until he could not control the mule and he
   reared and plunged forward, throwing Grandpa Mobley from the buggy,
   breaking his hip.  This weird experience just about ended the old
   gentleman's hunting and fishing. He told the family one night while
   sitting out on the front porch-"Y'all see that big old cedar tree in the
   front yard?  Well after I'm dead and gone I'm gonna come back and visit
   you right beneath that old tree." They all laughed it off.  A few years
   after Grandpa Mobley had died, Mr.  Charlie Bazemore came a courting at
   the John Reddick home-he was a coutin' Hert's sister, Mattie.  Mr.
   Charlie and Miss.  Mattie were sitting out on the front porch on this
   beautiful moonlight night passing romantical phrases back and forth to
   each other, when suddenly Mr.  Charlie looked out where his mule was
   hitched and exclaimed to Miss Mattie that there was someone out there with
   his mule.  Then Miss Mattie saw the figure also.  So Mr.  Charlie walked
   out to where his mule was nervously fidgeting, and as he approached the
   figure, it moved to the back of the mule.  Then Mr.  Charlie followed it
   to the rear of the mule and the flimsy figure moved to the front of the
   mule.  He couldn't catch up with it.  Getting a little unnerved he
   returned to the front porch where Miss Mattie told him that she could see
   both of them (he and the figure) while they were out there.  They looked
   back at the mule and again they saw the figure near the mule. The figure,
   wearing an old felt hat like Grandpa Mobley always wore, slowly

				   33

   walked over to a bench beneath the old cedar tree near-by and sat down.
   Mattie then remembered what her Grandpa had said-"Someday I'll return for
   a little visit and sit beneath that old cedar tree out there in the front
   yard". The figure finally vanished.

      When Mr. Charlie drove home that night he noticed mat his mule was
   skiddish and nervous.  When they approached the spot where Grandpa Mobley
   had seen the ball of fire that he encountered while returning from one of
   his hunting trips, the mule suddenly stopped and would not go a step
   further. Mr. Charlie Bazemore could not even lead the mule past this spot.
   Mr. Charlie finally had to go home another route. Mr.  Charlie stated
   later that his mule fidgeted and stomped and carried on sumpin' awful all
   that night in his stall. And the next morning Mr.  Charlie's father asked
   him, '"What in tranation was wrong with your mule last night?" He too had
   noticed the unusual behavior of the mule.

      Hert remembers when he was about 15 years old and was ordered by his pa
   to go fetch a pail of water from the well. He got the bucket and went out
   towards the well. About that time he heard the sawmill whistle down near
   Beaverdam swamp blow a long, mournful blast. Looking towards the sawmill,
   he saw a ball of fire moving from the sawmill area and heading toward the
   Reddick place where he was drawing water. He was scared half to death and
   tried to draw water as fast as he could, but couldn't get the bucket to
   sink. Looking back again, he saw the ball of fire getting closer, so he
   pulled up the bucket and hurried to the house, threw the bucket down and
   ran and jumped in bed.  Being a boy, and subject to fright, he was shaking
   like a puppy dog and told his Pa what happened, but never did get anyone
   to take him too seriously. "But it sure happened," he states emphatically.
      Another time Hert and his wife and two other buggy loads of folks were
   returning from church services at McBride church. As they approached near
   what is known as "Ghost Pond", Hert says that a large white looking thing,
   about the size of a big hog, trotted from the buggies behind his buggy,
   came on up to his buggy and trotted along by the buggy wheel. Then this
   thing slowed down some and drifted back to the two buggies behind him and
   trotted a little distance, then returned to the side of his buggy. It made
   absolutely no sound at all-completely silent.  Then this thing trotted up
   near the front of the mule, then crossed in front of the mule and ran to
   the side of the road and jumped a tall, ten-rail fence and didn't even
   touch the fence-with no sound whatsoever.  He said that this rail fence
   was as high as a tall man.  Hert's wife confirmed this since she was in
   the buggy. The other buggies saw it also.
     How we're doing, huh? Still don't believe in ghosts? Well, keep reading.
     The late Pete Reddick was passing this same spot, late one afternoon,
   where Hert and his wife and the other couples had seen the mysterious
   thing that jumped me fence that night after church. As Pete approached
   this spot, his mule became frightened and reared up and threw Pete out of
   the buggy and broke his leg. And like Grandpa Mobley, he became a cripple
   for life.
      And at last, but not least, there was the case of the bulldog.  Years
   after Grandpa Mobley had died that spot where Grandpa Mobley saw the ball
   of fire in the fence corner continued to haunt man and beast alike.  Hert
   remembers well that afternoon that his Daddy walked down the road toward
   this haunted spot because their bulldog continued to bark at something
   down there. His Daddy carried his shotgun because he thought the dog might
   be treeing a squirrel, or coon. When his Daddy got nearer the dog,
   suddenly the bulldog started running back up the road toward his Daddy,
   with his bristles up.  The dog ran on to the house and Hert's Daddy could
   never get that bulldog to go down that road again.
       Did the bulldog see the ghost of Grandpa Mobley, or was it the strange
   ball of fire with it's eerie glow? Only the bulldog knew, and he never did
   tell a soul.

				NESMITH
		(Many spellings based on Nasmith, Nasmyth, Naismith)
       When most surviving family records start about 1500, this surname was
   established through the middle of Scotland in many walks of life. The name
   held prominence in the pre-

				   34







   and post-Reformation Church, in land ownership, and as burgesses of Ayr,
   Glasgow, Sterling, Edinburgh, etc.  The name is said to be a Scottish
   corruption of Knifesmith.  Most of the names were centered at Hamilton,
   next Glasgow, seat of the semi-royal House of Hamilton.  They appear as
   tenants, followers, ministers, tutors, attorneys for the Dukes, over some
   250 years.  Many of the higher positions held, such as Dean of Brachin,
   were obvious Hamilton family patronage.  Most were burgesses and farmers.
   Although likely, there is no proof the dozen most prominent lives were
   related.  The senior was Nesmith of Posso in Peebleshire, which was
   granted half the barony in 1540 by Mary Queen of Scots, presumably for
   support along with Hamiltons, who were next to her son, James, in fine to
   the crown.  This family acquired an adjacent barony later, and became the
   baronets who ran out in 1928. They came to use Nasmith.
      REV. JAMES NASMYTH (our line) of Haughhead, born in 1614 was one of the
   several more conspicuous Dissenters during the religious wars.  A graduate
   of the University of Edinburgh (M.A.  class of 1636), he was the Minister
   at Hamilton for many turbulent years, where the Duke granted him Haugh
   Head, a property of which Nesmiths, probably his family, had been tenants
   since before 1500.  He was appointed by Parliament a Visitor to the
   College of Edinburgh July 31, 1649; joined the Protesters in 1651; was
   imprisoned in Edinburgh in 1660, and allowed only to reside within twelve
   miles of his parish, and six miles from the seat of a Prelate.  Deprived
   Sept. 16 1662. and Jan. 6.  1663 ordered to be confined to the Merse; was
   granted indulgence here Sept.  3, 1672; died Sept.  1674, "A good man and
   a good preacher." He married (1) (Const.  May 18, 1641) Sophia (died Nov.
   1647) daughter of Sir Patrick Home of Polwarth, and widow of Joseph
   Johnston of Hilton, Berwickshire; (2) May 18, 1650, Marion Inglis,
   Kirkliston, and had issue, ALEXANDER, and several other children.
      MR ALEXANDER NESMITH was so styled, and also bore the territorial title
   OF HAUGHHEAD, as heritor, instead of the earliest styles IN HAUGHEAD.
   There is not much information on him other than legal matters.  His
   brother John was a surgeon.  He married Margaret Hutcheson and had
   issue-JAMES born 1683, died 1774, Robert, born 1687, a daughter, born 1691
   and Francis, born 1693.
     REV. JAMES NASMITH, born at Hamilton in 1683; studied at the University
   of Glasgow and at Leyden, under Witsius, Frigland and Boerhaave.
   Graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1700 and was tutor to James,
   fifth Duke of Hamilton. Lie was ordained in 1711 and rose to leadership of
   the now-peaceful church, and died "Father of the Church" on November 27,
   1774 at the age of 91. His death drew notices as far away as London.  The
   Edinburgh Evening Courant ot Monday, November 28, 1774 carried this
   obituary notice: "Sunday died at Dalmeny Mr.  James Nasmith, minister of
   that place, in the 91st year of his age and the 64th year of his ministry.
   He was contemporary at the University of Glasgow with the famous chevalier
   Ramsay in the last century, studied at Leyden under Witsius, Frigland and
   Boerhaave: was tutor to the present Earl of Selkirk's father and to the
   present Duke of Hamilton's grandfather-in private life he was pious and
   amiable: in his public character, bright and exemplary."

      Rev. James Nasmith was married on April 25, 1716 to Marion Young (died
   June 7, 1782) daughter of Patrick Young of Killecantie, Linlithgow and had
   issue -Alexander, born March 19, 1721, student at Glasgow University 1740;
   Ann, born December 9, 1722, died March 15, 1816; Patrick, born May 27,
   1727; JAMES, born August 26, 1728; Sarah, born September 12, 1730, Married
   William Paton, minister of Eckford; Margaret; and Isobel, married Dr.
   Parlane, Glasgow.
     JAMES NESMITH born in Dalmeny, Scotland on August 26, 1728, emigrated to
   Georgia in 1758 and died in Burke County, Georgia in 1780. He is thought
   to have come over with his first cousin, Thomas Young, who became known as
   the "Wealthiest Tory in Georgia." James Nesmith settled in St.  George's
   Parish (later Burke and Screven Counties) in

				    35





   1758 where he had 250 acres granted to him. In December 1760 he petitioned
   the Colonial authorities for 150 acres one mile above Stoney Bluff, having
   six negro slaves at the time.  Petition granted. In 1764 James Nesmith was
   appointed Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Roads for St. George's
   Parish and was granted 400 additional acres. The year 1765 finds him again
   petitioning for land, stating that "he had had four hundred acres of land
   granted him and was desirous to obtain an additional tract, having a wife,
   a child and ten negroes; therefore praying for one hundred acres at
   Halifax joining the land before granted him and lying between land of
   Samuel Moore to the southward and land of Peter Randon to the northward."
   The Georgia Gazette of January 10, 1770 shows him on the Grand Jury of the
   Province of Georgia. It is interesting to note that his lands were named
   High Head (Haugh Head) after his ancestral property in Scotland.

      He was supposed to have been a Loyalist and it would be entirely
   reasonable to expect a son of the Father of the Scottish Church, now at
   peace with the Crown, to be a Loyalist, especially since he was indeed
   only 15 years in this country. It was an old Scottish custom to have a son
   serve some time with the enemy, providing basis for later return of any
   property confiscated. However, he is not listed in the Act of Attainer, is
   not on the list of persons whose land had been confiscated, and he is not
   listed in the Act of Amercement as having been restored to citizenship.
      As James Nesmith died in 1780, the following notice and court case
   point up the fact that his widow was the active Loyalist.
   Gazette of the State of Georgia
   Thursday, April 8, 1784
   Presentements of Grand Jury of Burke Co.
   No. 5-"We present widow Nesmith, Widow Griner, Widow Shewmake, Widow Ryals
   for harbouring Bartlett Rawlings and Cud Mobley, enemies of this state and
   out-liars on or about the 1st Of February ultimo by information of Ann
   McCanny."

   State of Georgia/
	    By his Honor Benj. Talliaferro, Esqr., Judge of Superior Court of
   Wilkes County/
   said county, To:
   Jos. Stiles and John Hutchinson, Esqrs. Whereas there is a certain matter
   of controversy in the Superior Court of this county viz., Admr of Jas.
   Neesmith, appit, vs Elijah Clarke, respt.  Whereas John Greene is an
   important witness in this case, you are appointed to examine him,
   agreeable to the interrogatories hereunto annexed, to be returned sealed
   before court to be held in Wilkes Co., Nov.  20th next Jan. 10, 1797.
   Banj. Catching C.S.C.

   No. 1 Do you know the parties in the above case?
   No. 2. What was the mode of disposing of property taken in the British
   lines during the late war and what was the character of the widow Neesmith
   and her family, also Col.  Jas.  McCoy, the Rev. Mr.  Mobley, Wm.  Ennis,
   Gill Thomas, Jas. Gray, Wm.  Ryalls, Francis Paris, Mrs.  Esther Griner,
   and Mary Miller. Relate specially and tell all you know relative to the
   above case in favor of the respondent. M.  Williamson, Respt.  Atty.
     The Admrs. of Neesmith, Appit. vs Elijah Clarke, Respt. Georgia Richmond
   Co. Pursuant to a commission from the Hon. the Superior Court of Wilkes
   County to us directed. We have this day caused John Green, Esqr, the
   witness therein mentioned to come before us and after being sworn on the
   Holy Evangelic of Almighty God to answer the Questions therein proposed in
   truth deposeth and saith.
     Answer to 1st Question. I do know' Elijah Clarke also Samuel Godby, who
   I am informed is the Admr. of NeeSmith.
     Answer to 2nd. The mode of disposing of the Enemy's property was by
   selling and dividing among the Captors, and if property taken in the
   British lines proved afterward to belong to the friends of this Country it
   was returned to them after deducting one third for

				  36

   salvage. The character of the widow NeeSmith was notorious to be the enemy
   of the friends of this Country and that she did aid and assist the British
   and Tory's of every description all that in her power lie, and I do think
   and believe that the property of NeeSmith came as fully under the Act of
   Confiscation as any other person or persons whatever, not particularly
   named in that Act. I also know that Col. Jas. McCoy was an active officer,
   (and always believed him to be a good man) in the cause of the Liberty of
   this Country; The Rev. Mr.  Mobley was an inactive Tory; Wm. Ennis I know
   nothing personally for or against; Gill Thomas was an active man in the
   cause of the Freedom of this Country; Jas Gray was a Capt. of the Tory
   party and known to be an Enemy of this Cot!ntry; Wm. Ryalls took
   protection under the British, but his general character was that of an
   honest man; Francis Paris I conceived to be an Enemy to this Country, but
   his character was that of an honest man; Mrs. Esther Griner, I did not
   know, her character was not very fair at that time; Mary Miller I do not
   know. The line between us and the British at that time was, jas I
   understood), from the Hudsons on Savannah river to the mouth of Little
   Ogeechee where it empties into Big Ogeechee. I also knew Samuel Moore a
   person named in the Act of Confiscation (as well as I recollect) that he
   was an Active Capt. in the service of the British and that he married the
   Daughter of NeeSmith, that he was a vile murderer and robber, and told me
   himself that he robbed Gen'l. Clarke of a number of Goods and that there
   was one man who was guarding the General's Wagons at the time, killed by
   one of his party and! this happened sometime after the British left
   Savannah. That the said Moore was harboured as the widow NeeSmiths as well
   as many others of his character, and this deponent Further sayeth that he
   had lost some property and went to the Widow NeeSmiths to enquire after
   the said Moore to get from him the property the deponent had lost, and
   that the widow directed this deponent into the Swamp where he might find
   said Moore, who was only to be seen by such as would pledge their word not
   to take his life, that she could confide in; that the deponent went into
   the Swamp where he found the said Moore, who confessed he had taken it and
   made restitution and gave him the above information respecting the robbery
   of Gentl. Clarke, and further this deponent sayeth not. Signed J. Green.
   Taken and sworn to at Augusta before us, this 16th day of November 1797.
   Jos. Stiles, J.P., John Hutchinson, J.P.
      This speculation is that Gen.  Elijah Clarke, knowing the Tory
   sympathies of the Nesmiths, had taken possession of some of the Nesmith
   property there in Wilkes County.
   As no legal action to confiscate their property was ever entered thus a
   civil suit between the Administrator Godby and the illegal occupant Clarke
   ensued for indemnity or possession of the Nesmith property. It would
   appear highly unlikely that Clarke lost the case, far he commanded the
   patriot forces in this very area, and no jury of patriots of course-would
   be likely to sympathize or find a point of law in favor of a "nortorious
   Tory." Surprisingly enough the exact opposite occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 24
   1798 when the Special Sworn Jury of the Wilkes County Superior Court
   "found for the plaintiff twelve hundred dollars to be discharged by
   delivering the said negro Phillis and her increase."
      James Nesmith married Anne Young, who died May 31, 1829, at an advanced
   age. To this couple were born two sons and two daughters:

   1.  James Nesmith II, born January 31, 1774, died September 20, 1845,
       married Elizabeth ---  born May 7, 1773 and died August 1, 1832.  He
       owned several thousand acres of land in Screven and Bullock Counties
       and was elected a Captain in the Georgia Militia in 1809.  Children:
       A. Frances Nesmith, married Williams.
       B. James Nesmith III born 1796, died May 11, 1860, married Jane Price
	  in 1813
       C. John Nesmith, married Rachel Freeman.
       D. Elander Nesmith, moved to Thomas County in 1833.
       E. Charles R. Nesmith, born May 13, 1798, died December 3, 1868,
	  married Patience Roberts on March 29,1821.

				    37



   2.  Rev.  Charles Robert Nesmith, born in 1780 and died in 1877, married
       Jane Hillis, born in 1785 and died after 1860. He was a Baptist
       Minister and one of his charges was Sardis Baptist Church in Sardis,
       Ga.  He was one-time owner of Stoney Bluff Landing on the Savannah
       River in Burke County.
       Children:
       A.  Susan Nesmith, born in 1804, died in 1895, married William L.
	   Mobley, Jr.  Refer to Mobley section.
       B.  John H.  Nesmith, born in 1810, died in 1873.  Unmarried.
       C.  Margaret Nesmith, born March 24, 1813, died August 16, 1879,
	   married William Triplett Royal.
       D.  Jane Nesmith, born in 1817, died 1850-60, married Augustus H.
	  Roe.
       E.  Isaac Nesmith, born in 1820, died unmarried.
       The U. S. Census of 1860 for Burke County shows the combined Real
   Estate and Personal Estate of Rev. Charles R. Nesmith and his two bachelor
   sons valued at $50,000 including 46 slaves.  By 1864, due to War-time
   inflation, this figure had increased to $ 122,060.
   3. Mary Nesmith, married (1) Thomas Innes (2) William Hardin.
   4. Sarah Nesmith, married Samuel Moore, a Tory Captain in the service of
      the British, referred to above. The Royal Gazette of Georgia (Loyalist
      period in Savannah) for Feb.  15, 1781 states "War Office, Nov.  25
      -His Majesty has been pleased to appoint (among a long list) Capt.
      Samuel Moore of the 56th Foot-to be a Major of the Army-." After
      Moore's death, Sarah Nesmith married Stephen Johnson.

      Stephen Johnson and Capt.  Henry Cooper (another friend of the
   Nesmith's) were more than a match for some of the Georgia Whigs. It must
   be remembered that had they been Colonial patriots, it is likely that they
   would have been considered heroes instead of outlaws. An issue of The S.
   C. and American Gazette, Charleston, S.C.  in 1780 carried this notice
   "Capt.  Cooper and Stephen Johnston, Tories, carried off 100 negroes,
   property of Mrs. Sarah Stuart and John Graham, Lt. Gov. of Ga.  Carried
   them to S.C." The Royal Gazette of Georgia stated on April 12, 1781:
      "A few days ago a party plundered at Middlesex Ferry, Stephen Johnson
   was one of their number.  As Col.  Fenwick at Pocotaligo is very active
   and vigilant, it is hoped he will soon give a good account of them-they
   seem dreadfully afraid of the Greens. A reward offered by Col.  Balfour of
   100 guineas for Mackey and 50 with a pardon to any of his accomplices that
   may bring him in or give intelligence, will probably have a good effect."
      On April 26: "Last week Stephen Johnson and a few of his theivish gang
   visited some plantations near town which they plundered of horses,
   cloathing and other things. In the night Wednesday the 18th Inst.  twelve
   of them approaching the redoubt at Ebenezer in which were eight or nine of
   the Militia, were hailed twice by the sentry but returned no answer and on
   being asked a third time who they were, they said "friends of the
   Americans" and were immediately fired upon from the redoubt which obliged
   them to scamper off leaving behind a horse, a gun cocked, a sword and some
   Loathing they had plundered from which it is thought one of them must have
   been wounded. As it is now grown a common practice with the rebels to take
   the King's protection one day and appear with arms again the next, it
   becomes next to impossible to distinguish and avoid them."

			      PONDER
      JOHN PONDER arrived in Maryland in 1674 and died in Talbot County,
   Maryland in 1703. His wife was Mary Shepherd, daughter of Francis Shepherd
   whose will March 5, 1691, March 21, 1691 was recorded in Talbot County.
   The legatees of John Ponder were: Wife-Mary Ponder, 1/2 the plantation
   where l live.  Sons-John, James, William and Richard Ponder, all were
   given land.  Daughter-Mary Ponder (under 18 years of age) personal goods.

			    38



      RICHARD PONDER, left a will recorded in Queen Anne County, Maryland in
   1748. He does not name his wife, who was Sarah Hamour (Hamer), daughter of
   John and Eliza. The other legatees were five sons and four daughters, viz.
	 John Ponder, James Ponder, William Ponder, Daniel Ponder and Hamer
	 Ponder Anna Ponder, Rachel Ponder, Sarah Ponder, and Ann Ponder.
	 Son, William Ponder was made sole Executor.

      The will of JOHN HAMOUR, Senior, of Queen Anne's County, Maryland was
   dated April 23, 1722-proved June 7, 1722. Legatees:

	My wife, Eliza Hamour to have the use of the plantation during her
	life, my personality during her widowhood, and at her remarriage, my
	four children, John William, Ezekial, Sarah Ponder. My wife to have
	1/2 personal estate absolutely, the other 1/2 to the said four
	children.
	My Son, John Hamour, to have "Hamour's Lot" on lower side of
	Anderson' Branch.
	My Son, William Hamour, to have the plantation where he is now
	seated.
	My Son, Ezekial Hamour, and My Daughter, SARAH PONDER, to have 236
	acres of land "Smith's Delight" and "Hamour's Addition" equally, and
	personality.
	My daughter, Mary Hamour, to have at age 16 years, or marriage, 249
	acres of land Dwelling plantation, at the death of her mother, and if
	she dies without issue, the plantation to my grandson, John Hamour,
	son of my son John Hamour.

      JAMES PONDER of Queen Anne County, Maryland made will there dated
   September 27, 1750, proved October 23, 1750. Legatees:
   Wife-name not given, 1/3 of Estate
   Sons-James Ponder, Ephraim Ponder, Ephraim Dawson Ponder, Hezekiah Ponder
   Daughter-Margaret Ponder
   Sole Executor-Eldest son, James Ponder

      The above sons, James and Ephraim Dawson Ponder moved to South Carolina
   at a date unknown. Ephraim was there in 1772 in Craven County.  James
   moved on to Georgia and died at Great Ogeechee on May 16, 1793 His wife
   was MARY ANN BONNELL. REFER TO BONNELL SECTION.
      JAMES PONDER and MARY ANN BONNELL had four children:

   1. James Ponder, married Rebecca Robbins and died in Screven County,
    Georgia in 1826, leaving an estate valued at $25,936.97 including 57
    slaves.
   2. Patience Ponder married William L. Mobley. Refer to Mobley Section in
   this book
   3. Mary Ponder, married Thomas Roberts in 1789. Three children:
      A. Elias Roberts, born December 28, 1789, and died May 12, 1852 in
      Thomas County, Georgia, married Nancy Neville in January 1820. His
      inventory listed Personal Property valued at $10,000 including 13
      slaves.  A biographical sketch follows:

      ELIAS ROBERTS, after spending his youth in Screven county and a few
   years' residence in Chatham County, brought his family into the sparsely
   populated region of Southwest Georgia. He and his household made the
   removal in private conveyances and brought all their property, with slaves
   and livestock, locating in the west part of Lowndes County. Most of the
   land in this region was still owned by the state, though some of it had
   been purchased by non-resident speculators. Elias Roberts having bought
   land bordering

				39



   Mule Creek, first built a house of round logs to shelter his family.  Then
   his slaves laboriously whip sawed boards from the native timber and with a
   skilled house-joiner and carpenter to direct the operations, a commodious
   two-story dwelling was erected. The boards were two and a half inches
   thick, were dovetailed together at the ends and were fastened to the
   studding with wooden dowel pins in lieu of nails. When finished, and for
   some years afterward, this was the most pretentious residence in all this
   countryside. A few years after Mr. Roberts settled there he was approached
   one day by a speculator, who owned several lots in this region, and who
   offered his land for sale at fifteen dollars per lot (a lot containing 490
   acres). Mr. Roberts bought and paid the price asked for one lot which was
   covered with fine oak timber, but told the speculator he thought the rest
   of his land was valueless for farming purposes. Elias Roberts remained a
   resident at the place of his first settlement until his death, at the age
   of sixty-three years. Before coming into this part of Georgia, he had
   served under General Jackson in the Florida Indian wars, and after coming
   here was a member of a company organized for protection against the
   Indians over the border, the company being several times called out to
   drive the red men back to their reservations. During such troublous times
   the Roberts homestead above described became the place of refuge for the
   women and children of the settlement, so that it served both as a
   residence and a fort. Elias Roberts had been a participant in the battle
   of Brushy Creek In 1836, when the Indians made their last great stand in
   defense of their hunting grounds.
      B. Elizabeth Roberts, born 1798 and died July 17, 1861 married Charles
	 H. Johnson in 1829.  They lived in Colquitt County, Georgia where
	 for years he had the most pretentious residence.  In 1860 he was
	 listed as the wealthiest man in Colquitt County, with an estate
	 valued at $20,000 including 24 slaves.
      C. Patience Roberts, born December 15, 1802 and died April 3, 1876
	 married Charles R. Nesmith on March 29, 1821. Lived in Thomas
	 County, Georgia.

   4. Hezekiah Ponder, born July 7, 1770 in South Carolina and died July 20,
      1833 in Leon County, Florida, married Ann Graham of Camden County,
   Georgia in 1802.  She was born April 3, 1783 and died June 11, 1850, the
   daughter of Alexander and Ann Graham. Hezekiah Ponder and Ann (Graham)
   Ponder lived in Camden County, Georgia until 1824 when he bought land in
   Leon County, Florida near the Georgia line. Land claimed by both sides.
   His plantation was known as "Incochee," now called "Foshalee." Foshalee is
   presently owned by Mr. Ireland and contains two Ponder cemeteries.
   Hezekiah & Ann are buried in the one nearest Highway 319 and Florida State
   Line. The other is closer to Metcalf Road and old Sunny Hill Plantation.
   Hezekiah and Ann (Graham) Ponder had nine children:
      A. William Graham Ponder, born October 23, 1803 and died December 25,
	 1867 in Leon County, Florida, married Mrs.  Elizabeth (Hadley)
	 Copeland, a widow, on November 5, 1829.
	 They had five children:
	 1. Amanda born in 1834.
	 2. James, born in 1837, married Annie Victoria Kirksey at St.
	    John's Episcopal Church in Tallahassee, Florida on June 27, 1860.
	    Her father, James Kirksey, was one of the wealthiest men in Leon
	    County with holdings in excess of $200,000.
	 3. Ellen, born in 1839, died in 1865, married William W.  Davis on
	    June 15, 1856.
	 4.Thomas, born in 1841 and killed in Civil War 1862. (Lt. in
	   Confederate Army.)
	 5.William, born in 1843 and died in 1865, married Mary Francine
	   Madre.  William Graham Ponder lived in a large white frame two
	   storied house 5 miles south of Thomasville on Tallahassee Road
	   (house still in good repair). He was a Senator from Thomas County
	   and delegate to the Secession Convention of Georgia, held at
	   Milledgeville, January 16, 1861. In 1860 his Real Estate and

				      40





	   Personal Property in Thomas County, Georgia and Leon County,
	   Florida were valued at $175,000 including nearly 200 slaves.
      B.Elizabeth Ponder, born February 7, 1806 and died August 8, 1849 in
	Thomas County, Ga.  married (1) George W. Brown on December 17, 1823
	and (2} Wiley Forbes on February 23, 1827.
      C.Ephraim Graham Ponder, born November 17, 1808 and died August 19,
	1874 in Leon County, Fla., married Ellen B. Gregory on December 8,
	1852 He built a beautiful Town House in Thomasville which is
	presently a National Register listed property. Later he sold it and
	moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he built a very fine house which
	became a target for the Federal gunners in 1864 and was called the
	"Sniper's Nest." A description of the Thomasville house follows as
	well as the lurid story that surrounded the mansion in Atlanta.

   (rest of page 41 is a picture of Wm G. Ponder (1803-1867) pages 42 & 43
   also pictures.)







			   Ephraim G. Ponder House

      Of the many fine and interesting houses in Thomasville, the one with
   one of the most varied backgrounds is the Ephraim G. Ponder House.  Built
   circa 1856-57, this elegant home was the residence of Ephraim G.  Ponder,
   a local trader in slaves.
     The Ponder House is a two and one-half story structure with a one story
   porch on the north facade and a second entrance on the south. It has a
   hipped roof, clapboard siding and paneled end pilasters. The cornice
   consists of a combination of dentils and pendant drop brackets.
     The excellent north doorway is flanked by leaded glass sidelights and
   fixed transom, all enclosed by a heavy door frame of great detail,
   including dentils and acorn and lotus leaf rosettes. Two double windows on
   the first floor are framed with the same detailing. On the second floor,
   two double window flank a triple window of good design. The north porch
   has turned balusters with oval railings. The part of the north facade
   enclosed by the porch is flush siding treated to look like stone.  The
   south facade is Greek Revival in detail and has an exceptional entrance.
   The entire first floor of this facade is flush siding with clapboards
   above.
     The interior includes rift pine floors, excellent millwork, door and
   window crowns and ceiling medallions. A wing has been added to the east
   facade, but does not detract from the appearance of the house or grounds
   which are in excellent condition. The entire property is planted with
   evergreens, magnolias and dogwoods and is enclosed by a wrought iron fence
   with an exceptional gate.
     The Ephraim G. Ponder House is a National Register listed property.
     "Atlanta and Environs, A Chronicle of Its People and Events" by Franklin
   M. Garrett is the source of the following narrative:
      Ephraim G. Ponder was born in Georgia about 1810 and for many years
   lived at Thomasville in Thomas County, where he was a planter and slave
   trader. He was successful in both endeavors and by 1857, having made a
   compentency, retired. Five years before, in 1852, he had married Ellen B.
   Gregory, a beautiful, accomplished and wealthy lady fourteen years his
   junior. What attracted the couple to the Atlanta area is not of record,
   but come they did and on November 25, 1857, Ponder purchased from J. J.
   "Cousin John" Thrasher 26-35/100 acres of Land Lot No. 81 in the 14th
   District for $1,460. this property lay along Marietta Road and the W. & A.
   R. R., 1 1/2 miles from the center of the city. It is now traversed by
   Ponder Avenue, Northwest, named for Ponder, and by numerous contiguous
   streets.
      Shortly after acquiring his land Mr. Ponder thereupon erected what in
   those days was considered a mansion, and even now would rate as a fine,
   commodious home. The house was constructed of stone, covered by white
   plaster. It was square in shape, two stories high and in the center of the
   roof, was a small observation platform surrounded by a banister.  The
   kitchen was a separate building a few feet back of the main house. It was
   an oblong one-story brick structure with small windom and wood shingle
   roof. A front porch ran across the entire front of the house which faced
   southwest, and the grounds, tastefully laid out, were planted in boxwood
   and fruit trees. It is reasonably certain that the Ponder gardens and
   those of "The Terraces," the Ram on home on Pryor Street, were the finest
   in and around ante-bellum Atlanta. Some of the boxwood from the Ponder
   place now, and for many yearn had adorned the home of Miss Cordelia and
   the late Sarah Huff at 70 Huff Road, Northwest.
     The Ponder mansion stood on high ground and if still standing would be
   bound by the following streets, none of which existed at the time: North,
   by Third Street N.W., South by Oxford Street, N.W.  East by Buyton Street,
   N.W. and West by Ponder Avenue N.W. In addition to his home Mr.  Ponder
   erected, contiguous thereto, a number of substantial frame buildings for
   his slaves, and three large buildings for manufacturing purposes, along
   the Marietta Road.

				      44






      The latter buildings housed the mechanical activities of the Ponder
   slaves. Of a total of 65, nearly all of the men were mechanics.  All,
   except the necessary household servants, a gardner and a coachman, were
   permitted to hire their own time. Mr. Ponder would have absolutely nothing
   to do with their business other than to protect them. Therefore, if anyone
   desired an article of their manufacture, they contracted directly with the
   workman and paid him his own price.  These slaves were virtually free.
   They acquired and accumulated a modest substance and, except for complete
   freedom and education, lived happily and usefully.
     One of the Ponder slaves, Festus Flipper, deserves special mention.  He
   was a skilled carriage traimmer and shoemaker.  After the war he conducted
   for many years a boot and shoe shop at 42 Decatur Street. Of his children,
   at least two distinguished themselves and were outstanding credit to their
   race. Lieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper, U.S.A., became the first Negro to
   graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, being a
   member of the class of 1877. The late Rev. Joseph S. Flipper became a
   Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and served also as
   Chancellor of Morris Brown University in Atlanta. Both were born as
   slaves.
      Unfortunately, all was not peace and harmony at the Ponder estate.  As
   Lieutenant Flipper says in his "Autobiography":
     "The mistress of this fortunate household, far from discharging the
   duties and functions of her station, left them unnoticed and devoted her
   whole attention to illegitimate pleasures.  The outraged husband appointed
   a guardian and returned broken hearted to the bosom of his own family,
   where he devoted himself till death to agricultural pursuits."
     It was in October, 1861, that Ephraim G. Ponder filed a petition for
   divorce in Fulton County Superior Court. Among the allegations made in the
   petition were that Ellen Ponder had committed adultery as long ago as 1854
   with divers men; that she was a continuous drunkard; had threatened her
   husband with a pistol; had used abusive language and treated him with the
   utmost disrespect.  That Ponder was liberally endowed with patience is
   also indicated by the petition which sets forth that he did not become
   fully convinced of her infidelity until March 10, 1861. The petition
   further indicates the solvent condition of the couple, with slaves valued
   at $45,000 and horse $10,000. It was not until June 21, 1871, that the
   divorce was granted, at which time Ephriam was living in Thomasville, his
   former home, to which he returned ten years before.
      Meanwhile Ellen Ponder continued to live at the Marietta Road home and
   the slaves continued as before since the marriage contract prevented the
   sale of any of the property without the mutual consent of husband and
   wife, and such consent was never asked for by either .
     Three years after the master had departed, war came to the Ponder
   estate. Ellen refugeed, first to Macon, then to Fort Valley, leaving the
   estate in charge of Festus Flipper. In July, 1864, the home became a
   target for General Geary's Federal gunners stationed at what is now the
   intersection of Eighth Street, NW, and Howell Mill Road.  Confederate
   sharpshooters had taken up a position in the Ponder home, and this,
   coupled with the fact that the strucucture was the most prominent
   immediate landmark, sealed its doom.
      During July and August, 1864, round after round of shot and shell were
   directed at the house, and while large holes were opened in the walls, it
   is a curious fact that the house never caught fire. It was said that a ton
   of shot and shell were found inside after the seige. As a residence it was
   rendered wholly untenable and was never occupied again."
     The following taken from "Last Train From Atlanta" by Hoehling.
     "Action swirled around the Ponder House, off the Marietta Road, little
   more than a mile and a half from the center of the city.  Another chapter
   was thereby written in the tragedy of the mansion Ephraim G.  Ponder built
   for his beautiful bride, Ellen.
     Its boxwood and fruit trees, landscaped gardens, and graveled paths once
   were equaled only by Rawson's "Terraces" on Pryor Street. The elegant two
   story house was built of stone and surfaced with white plaster. Out
   buildings, spread over one hundred acres,

				45



   included an attached brick kitchen and quarters for sixty-five slaves, all
   of them trained mechanics and virtually free.
      But Ephraim, broken hearted, left Atlanta in 1863, and filed for
   divorce.  He charged the lovely Ellen with drunkenness and adultery.  The
   slaves themselves recounted in confidence the "Illegitimate pleasures" of
   their mistress, the highpitched laughter ringing from the darkened mansion
   late at night, sometimes shadowy half-naked figures moving past the opened
   windows on a hot summer's evening.
     Ellen fled with her slaves to Macon in the spring. The house began to
   look cursed. The weeds grew in a tangle over the flower beds, and the
   evening breezes whined their lament through windows which young boys had
   broken with stones-but beyond this neglected, "haunted" estate began the
   infinity of gentle hills, the softer, sweeter country aromas replacing the
   muddy, dusty, brick city smells.
      Ponder's house was fortified just in time. The second floor bristled
   with snipers, as did the widow's walk. Spiked fortifications of wood, or
   chevaux-de-frise, rambled like ugly rows of porcupines over the lawns
   which once had nourished privit hedges. Intricate trenchwork, boarded and
   sand-bagged, roamed the length and breadth of the estate, all of which was
   now under assault by Maj.  General John W. Geary.
      Further slaughter, W. P. Archer, an Atlanta soldier, testified, was
   caused by the well on the estate: "It was here at this terrible place that
   John Shropshire, brother of ex-Deputy Sheriff Andrew J.  Shropshire, was
   killed while at the Ponder House well getting water, he making the 27th
   man that had been killed at this well. The roof and curbing around the top
   of this well was literally perforated with minie balls. John Shropshire
   was a prince of a fellow but he had his life shot out of him in an effort
   to obtain water for his comrades who were suffering in the ditches, as he
   had as many as a dozen canteens strapped on him when he was killed. It was
   risk your life or perish for water."
      The house was blasted and blasted again as the day wore on.  Jagged
   chunks of masonry were chewed out of the second-floor walls. The defenders
   perished within, and others took their place. Even thrity-pound Parrott
   shells were lobbed at the big target, leaving huge holes. Somehow, the
   mansion stood even after the wooden slave quarters were burned and riddled
   into gaunt skeletons.
      The sharpshooters (many of whom were from Atlanta and remembered the
   gossip about Ellen Ponder) speculated, between lulls in the battle, on how
   many tons of shot and shell were accumulating within their uncertain
   fortress."
      D. Archibald Graham Ponder, born April 15, 1810 and died September 19,
	 1832 in Leon County, Florida.
      E. Mary Ann Ponder, born February 8, 1814 and died in April, 1886,
	 married Simon Theus on June 19, 1832.
      F. James Ponder, born May 3, 1818 and died October 19, 1851 married Ann
	 R. Copeland on January 20, 1847. In 1850 his Real Estate and
	 Personal Property valued at $50,000. After his death, Ann Ponder
	 married Cicero Young, who became a Captain in the Confederate Army.
      G. Patience Ponder, born May 16, 1821, died on March 1870, married
	 Joseph B. Johnson on April 3, 1838; twin of:
      H. Rachel Ann Ponder, born May 16, 1821 {twin} and died July 14, 1885,
	 married (1) William S. Theus on December 23, 1841 and (2) William
	 Alderman on December 30, 1848. The inventory of the estate of
	 William Alderman taken in Leon County, Fla. in 1862 amounted to
	 $48,578.74 including 50 slaves.
      I. John Graham Ponder, born May 18, 1824 and died October 21, 1849.
		 LETTER FROM EPHRAIM G. PONDER TO WILLIAM G.  PONDER
					   Richmond-October 14th, 1849

				     46





   Mr. Wm. G. Ponder

		Dear Brother. l received your favors of 8th inst. I am truly
   glad to hear from you & family. My health is fine. Our negro market is
   brisk. No.  1  men 825 to 650, No. 1 women 600 to 700, Plow boys 5 ft. 2
   inches 650 to 675, Girls 4 ft. 4 in. 425 to  450 to 4 ft.  6 in. 475, 4 f
   8 500. Good women with one child 650 to 700. So you may judge how times
   are. l have not heard from John since he got in Ga. I am anxious to hear
   from him. I am in hopes that  John will be able to sell the lot of negroes
   well, for I can't lay in the same negroes with $4000 more. I  saw Thomas
   Gadsden from Charleston-he said that the Col.  wanted to sell sixty
   negroes in  Jefferson. I have written him on the subject. I will buy them
   if can buy them right. Our city is quite healthy. I remain yours truly
   until death.
					   E. G. Ponder

			       REDDICK

      A tradition in one branch of the Reddick family states the arrival of
   our Reddicks from Scotland to North Carolina in the middle 1700's. The
   three who came from there to Burke Co., Ga. after the American Revolution
   were said to have been fullblood Scotchmen, with brogues so thick it was
   difficult to understand them. Part of the above was written in an old
   ledger owned by Miss Clara Reddick (1879-1976} of Thomasville, Ga., who
   also stated she had heard her grandfather, Nicholas Moses Reddick,
   1802-1888, assert these same statements. Until further proof is found, we
   may accept such as being authentic.
      Three Reddicks (tradionally brothers) Peter, Jacob Lewis and Nicholas,
   were in Burke County in 1785, when they served on jury duty.  This showed
   that they were of age and owned land. They bought land along Brier Creek
   just north of Paris' Mill or what is now Milihaven Plantation.
      PETER REDDICK died in 1818 in Burke County. The name of his first wife
   is unknown but they had one son, Thomas Reddick born Circa 1792 and living
   in Screven Co. in 1860. His son Jacob G.  Reddick born March 30, 1824,
   died February 23, 1904, married Mary J. Jackson of Screven Co.  on March
   25, 1846. She was the daughter of John W. Jackson and Eliza Hurst.
      Jacob and Mary (Jackson} Reddick had three children:
      1. John Crumpton married Tabitha Peterson.
      2. Thomas Taylor married Sarah Strickland.
      3. Mary Elizabeth married John Willis.
      This family moved to Levy Co. Florida after the Civil War and the
   children married there. Jacob G.  Reddick, in later years, returned to his
   homeland area and is buried in Effingham Co.
      Peter Reddick married (2) Margaret Clark of Edgefield, S.C., daughter
   of Col. John Clark (Revolutionary War Patriot) and Sarah Tobler of Beech
   Island, S. C. Sarah's uncle was the noted Presbyterian Divine, Rev. Johann
   Joachim Zubly. Rev. Zubly was given an honorary D.D.  degree by Princeton
   College in 1770, when Aaron Burr was president, and was a delegate from
   Ga. to the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia in 1775. These people
   are buried in the beautiful Clark-Zubly Cemetery near Beech Island. Ulric
   Clark, M.D., a half-brother of Margaret (Clark) Reddick, married Catherine
   Watkins of Augusta, a great niece of George Walton, signer of the
   Declaration of Independence from Georgia.
      Peter and Margaret (Clark) Reddick had three children:
      1. Ulric born in May 1807, died February 20, 1869 in Marion Co. Fla.
	 Married August 8, 1833 to Sarah Mills daughter of Dr. Thomas Mills
	 of Beech Island, S.C.
      2. Sarah Ann born 1810, died 1840 unmarried.  3. James born August 6,
	 1813, moved to Flab.

      JACOB LEWIS REDDICK died in Burke Co. in 1808. His wife was Nancy
   Wiggins, who married Turner Brasses of Screven Co. after Jacob's death.
   Jacob's son, Nicholas Moses Reddick stated that his father fought in the
   Revolution, was captured and overturned the

				      47



note cwm:  these are the only pages of this book that we copied in the Ladson
	   library, Vidalia, GA