| Biography* | | The following research is from the research of Gerald K. McGinty, Sr., 15 Jan 2005:
Shadrach McGinty, b. ca. 1800, based on the 1850 census of LA, but probably earlier because he has service records for the War of 1812., d. after 1859, probably in AR. He married Mary "Polly" Lamar August 5, 1818, in Putnam Co., GA. Mary was born, ca. 1805 (1850 LA census records). Her father, James Lamar, is said to have been the cousin of Mirabeau Lamar, second president of the Republic of Texas (after Sam Houston). Her mother was Catherine "Caty" Richardson. Mary’s nickname, "Polly," is confirmed in her mother’s will, written in Autauga Co., AL, October 6, 1817. Previous research shows that, prior to their marriage, Shadrach had been appointed guardian of Mary’s brother and sister. There are War of 1812 service records in the Natl. Archives showing Shadrach serving as a corporal in the 2nd Reg., Thomas’ command, GA Militia. There is a record in Index to Volunteer Soldiers in Indian Wars and Disturbances, 1815-1858, vol. II by Virgil D. White, showing a "Thadiac" McGinty, Pvt., serving in Russel’s Co., 1st GA militia as having been drafted for the Creek War. This could be Shadrach. He shows in the 1820 census in Putnam Co., GA (pg. 173) with one male child (James) and seven slaves. He shows in the 1830 census in Bibb Co., GA (pg. 65) with two male children, five to ten (James and Robert), and a total of twenty-nine slaves. This indicates a large farming operation. He moved to Jones Co., and is shown as an executor of the will of Robert Carey in 1823. He is also shown in the State of GA Military Records, roll 40, box 16, pg. 43 as a 2nd lieutenant, 16 May 1820, in Jones Co. He shows again on pg. 201 as a captain, 8 July 1830, also in Jones Co. (GA Archives). Shadrach and brother Meshach both show in the Jones Co. land lottery of 1826. In 1828, he sold 101 acres in Jones Co., GA, to Alfred Iverson (Deed Book "O", Jones Co. courthouse, Grey, GA). He was in Jones Co. after 1830, and is listed in a sheriff’s sale of 101 acres of his land. He was in Milledgeville, GA, in 1834 as part of the city’s "Board of Visitors," which must have been similar to the chamber of commerce. Family legend says that he was a Baptist minister, but I have found no church records to confirm this. He moved to Monroe Co., and records show a land sale of 362 acres that he made in Monroe Co., GA in 1838. The deed shows that it included land that he was living on. The buyer was Chosen Boynton. He is shown in the Monroe Co., GA census of 1840, with three males (himself, James and Robert), two females (his wife and a probable, but as yet unidentified, daughter) and no slaves in his household (district 554, pg. 184). His name is grossly misspelled in the census index as Shederick Mcyinty. Shortly after 1840, the family relocated to Dallas Co., AL. Mary’s Lamar family was already established in this area of AL. Earlier researchers erroneously thought that Shadrach died in Jones Co., GA in 1843. A recent discovery in the 1850 census, shows him listed as "Shadrick," age fifty, wife Mary, age forty-five, and son James L., age thirty, living in Catahoula Parish, LA (pg. 73A). His occupation was, planter. His son, Robert H., age twenty-five, is living next door. Sadie Burt McGinty, the great, great granddaughter of Shadrach, says that they were all living on the DuBois Plantation when this census was taken. Sometime after 1850, the family moved to AR and there is a federal land patent showing Shadrach with forty acres in sec. 40, twsp. 16S, range 15W, dated September 1, 1856. There is also a Union Co. deed showing his sale of two quarter sections of land to Mirick Harrell, dated February 17, 1855. This land was located just west of downtown El Dorado, AR on highway 335. Shadrach has not yet been found in the 1860 census so it is assumed that he died before then because Mary, his wife, age fifty-eight, is shown in the 1860 census of Union Co., AR living in El Dorado with her son. R.H. McGinty (pg. 322B). The other son, James L. McGinty stayed in LA and shows there in the 1860-1880 census. He is shown as a primitive Baptist preacher in the 1860 census of Winn Parish, LA (pg. 963/121, house 829). Robert H. moved on to TX and shows in Lavaca Co. in the 1880 census (pg. 10/469B). It is said that his mother, Mary, died in some kind of an accident while traveling through LA. Robert died in Lavaca Co., December 19, 1896, and is buried in the Old Moulton cemetery.2 |