Descendants of Charles Coleman (1744-1824) and Mary Roundtree of Edgecombe County, North Carolina by J. C. Coleman

Descendants of Charles Coleman (1744-1824) and Mary Roundtree of Edgecombe County, North Carolina by J. C. Coleman

Courtesy of ?, personal correspondence dated 199?

As written by J. C. Coleman
Annotated by Wes Coleman [WC], March 2009

The history of the Coleman family in Alabama, that branch of it that is descended from Charles Coleman, 1744-1842 and Mary Roundtree (1750-1821) began in 1819, when John Coleman (Born Sept. 19, 1781 and died June 9, 1852) son of above Charles Coleman and his wife, Rhoda Cobb Coleman (Nov. 3, 1793-died 1863, age 71) moved from Edgecombe County, North Carolina and settled in Greene County, Alabama, on grants of land he obtained from the Government of the United States. This John Coleman is known as "the settler". The original grant of one tract of land to John Coleman was for eighty acres, signed by James Monroe, President, on October 20, 1824. A second grant of land was signed by James Monroe to John Coleman as assignee of Benjamin Clements, Oct. 20, 1824. A third tract for one hundred and sixty acres was granted to William Gates and signed by John Q. Adams in 1826. A fourth tract of 80 acres to William Gates signed by John Q. Adams same date. A fifth tract granted to John Coleman and William C. Haskin of 8(?) acres, dated April 20, 1825. All five of the original grants are now in possession of James 0. Banks, son of Ralph Roundtree Banks and Sarah Minor Banks, to whom the above lands were willed by his grandfather James 0. Banks, son of Martha Coleman Banks, daughter of John and Rhoda Cobb Coleman. The lands are known as "the old Coleman Homestead". With the exception of a short period these lands have been possessed by descendants of John Coleman ever since the grants were made.

The family tradition is that John Coleman and one slave came to Alabama in 1818, when John filed his claim, planted a crop of corn and then went back to North Carolina to bring his family to Alabama, and they came in 1819.

According to the will of John Coleman, probated July 26, 1852, the home place "Coleman Homestead" was left to ? ? Bestor Coleman, his son, who was to receive it after the death of his wife, Rhoda Cobb Coleman. This ? ? Bestor Coleman, born May 7, 1827, died Aug. 25, 1857, age 30, as he died intestate, his rights, as provided in the will of John Coleman, passed to his brothers and sisters. By agreement of the family, J. C. Coleman purchased the interests of his brothers and sisters, as shown by record of deeds, in 1858 for $8,360.00. He purchased also 40 acres from his brother Wiley.

After the Civil War land values decreased and J. C. Coleman sold the place to Reuben Beaver in 1865 for $4000.00. The money paid for this belonged to Martha, Reuben's wife, which she inherited from her father John Carpenter. She had the title changed from Reuben Beaver to her brother N. H.? Carpenter as trustee for her. Then on December 26?, 1867, N. ? Carpenter sold the place to Wiley Coleman for $5,250.00. Wiley Coleman, son of John, kept possession until his death. He added much additional land to the original Coleman Homestead. On his death in 1892, he left this land to his nephew J. ?. Banks, who added still further to it and at the time of his death, as stated above, he left it to his grandson, James O. Banks, son of Ralph and Sarah Banks.

When J. C Banks sold the lands he reserved one acre for the family burying ground with the right of way, and this was repeated in subsequent transfers. This is now known as Grassdale Cemetery.

Provision for the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery was made by James O. Banks. He had a brick wall put around the enclosure with an iron fence on top. He left a bond of one thousand dollars, interest from which is to be used for upkeep. The cemetery is sodded in grass and kept trimmed and is one of the most beautiful old cemeteries in the state.

The original body known as "Coleman Homestead" contained 348 acres. On it is a nice two story house, the original building by John Coleman, but improvements and additions have been made.

Charles and Mary Coleman came out from North Carolina, presumably on a visit, evidently liked the country because Charles also bought lands from the government as shown by his will. Mary Roundtree died in 1821 and Charles Coleman in 1824. Both are buried in the family cemetery. That Charles Coleman was a soldier in the revolutionary War.

s/ J. C. Coleman [no date - poor quality of the copy of a typed letter suggests a manual typewriter was used.]