Prominent Southern Plantation Families and Their Connections: The Enslaved Among the Enslaving Families

Many of the former Enslaved African Americans of central and southern Georgia families can trace their direct roots to the Heath, Harrell, Barrow, Ruffin, Hubert, Burnley, Searcy, Chapman, Gunn, Frazier, Barksdale, Blount, Wright, Persons, Peterson, Pitts, Ellison, Kitchens, Adams, Lockhart, Drake, Matthews, Rousseau, Brinkley, Veazey, and other allied families whose roots were heavy in Lincoln, Wilkes, Warren, Burke, Hancock, Baldwin, Monroe, Macon, Talbot, Taylor, Bibb, Stewart, Dodge, Dooly, Pike, and Putnam counties. These counties specifically can be attributed to the plantation owning families as the majority of these counties are centrally located in Georgia where migration began from Halifax, Edgecombe, Bertie, and Northampton counties in North Carolina through the Old 96th District of South Carolina and into eastern Georgia. In addition, westward expansion took root in the 1820s, 30s, and 40s and with the aid of the expanding Georgia. Many of these families were intertwined with generations of relatives marrying into each family. Some began in the tidewater regions of Virginia, some began through the expansion and migration post Revolutionary War and land lotteries, and some simply because what we know as the new America began to shape.

The Revolutionary War Connection and Migration South

Upon declaring our freedom, the Revolutionary War brought about significant change for the newly formed United States as the native land at that time with it's subjects declared freedom from the British. Of the more prominent enslaving families is the that of the Barrow, Heath, and Barksdale families with all three having early Virginia colony roots and migrating south into North Carolina and then further into Georgia immediately following the Revolutionary War receiving healthy land grants and land lottery allotments in Wilkes County and Burke County. Wilkes County was rather large at the time in the late 1790s and later helped form the present day east central Georgia counties along the Savannah River. 

Other significant families include the Searcy, Thweatt, Flewellen, and Ivey families which were intertwined heavily among the Heath and Barrow families. Because of the significant family ties, many of the Enslaved were passed around and through several generations within the same families and often given to the plantation daughters as dowry gifts prior to marriage or bequeathed in wills generation after generation. Many of the plantation owning families also served as witnesses to one another's legal transactions to include wills, land transactions, debts, and business actions. And many of these were not just recorded in state and county records, but often well documented in personal family papers and many still remain with the families today with a hand few personal papers having been donated to universities and libraries across the nation.

The Who's Who Among the Enslavers

Several Enslaved families of the Heath, Flewellen, Searcy, Rousseau, and Matthews plantation families can all be traced through the wills, probates, and taxation records of the prominent Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia families to include the Enslaved of William Heath, Thomas and Sarah Heath, Adam Heath, Abraham Heath and Winnefred Cotton-Heath, Richard Heath and Rebecca Chappell-Heath, Adam Ivey and Mary Peebles-Ivey, Ephraim Ivey, John Barksdale and Susannah Burnley-Barksdale, Samuel Barksdale and Lucy Brinkley-Barksdale, Epaphroditus Drake and Susannah Barksdale-Drake, Collier Barksdale, Hiram Hubert and Sarah Burley-Hubert, Richmond Burnley and Sallie Veazey-Burnley, Stith Barksdale and Fanny Lowe-Barksdale, Nicholas Giles Barksdale, William Wright and Nancy Heath-Wright, William Barrow and Rebecca Heath-Barrow, Lewis Wright and Patsy Heath-Wright, Warren Barrow and Polly Heath-Barrow, John D. Chappell and Sarah "Sallie" Heath-Chappell, William B. Heath and Marth Chappell-Heath, William Barrow and Olivia Ruffin-Barrow, Thomas Barrow and his wives, Mary Killebrew-Barrow and Elizabeth Atkinson-Barrow, James Flewellen and Sarah Heath-Flewellen, John Heath and Elizabeth Chappell-Heath, Archelaus Flewellen and Nancy Pace-Flewellen, James Thweatt, Sr. and Elizabeth Peterson-Thweatt, Kinchen P. Thweatt, Sr. and Eliza R. Harris-Thweatt, James Thweatt, Jr. and Elizabeth Victoria Flewellen-Thweatt, Kinchen Peterson Thweatt, Jr. and Eugenia L. Flewellen-Thweatt, William Flewellen and Mary "Polly" Thweatt-Flewellen, John W. Persons and Martha Flewellen-Persons, Enos Russell Flewellen and Susan Jones-Flewellen, John Calvin Drake and Mary A. Flewellen-Drake, James Flewellen and Elizabeth Persons-Flewellen, Thomas Flewellen and Francis M. Drake-Flewellen,James H. Peek and Margaret E. Swain-Peek, Thomas J. Peek, Richard D. L. Peek, Matthew Hubert and Martha Wallace-Hubert, Matthew Henry Hubert and Elizabeth. Hardaway-Hubert, James F. Hubert and Josephine Barksdale-Hubert, Benjamin F. Hubert and Elizabeth Heath-Hubert, James Matthews, Daniel B. Searcy and Camilla Thweatt-Searcy, Thomas Chapman and Sarah Hart-Chapman, Henry Heath and Isabella Harrell-Heath, Lawrence Barksdale, Benjamin F. Frazier, George C. Frazier and Eliza A. Frazier, and more. As one can view from the aforementioned names, there are significant family connections among these individuals spanning several generations, state lines and counties from Virginia to both North and South Carolina to Georgia to Alabama and then further points west into Mississippi to Louisiana to Texas and to Arkansas. The Enslaved through forced migration links many people today, known and unknown simply because DNA is now telling the story of migration and directing us all to a higher calling. One that involves seeking out our Ancestors and telling their stories!! But more importantly, the Ancestor's call is at the top of the list which involves being chosen for this great work as well as being guided by the Ancestors. It was not easy researching the many aforementioned enslavers and their family associations, but the research, dedication to telling this important history, and connecting with cousins all over has indeed provided hope. Our Ancestors lived! Our Ancestors survived!

Naming Conventions Guide Us

Several Enslaved family mothers named their children in a systemic way leaving breadcrumbs to trace the family lines as well as trace the plantation connections. This is also a part of our family history and somewhat of tradition through the generations which has proved helpful in tracing the family lines as well as history. Often times, many of the Enslaved were not just tied to one plantation family but often shared amongst several plantations within the same family or family connections. For example, when analyzing the Heath, Hubert, Ivey, Barrow, Thweatt, Drake, Persons, and Flewellen papers there are often times the Enslaved are shared such as Elijah "Lige" Heath who was formerly enslaved by Henry Heath and Isabella Harrell-Heath but was rented out to the Rabun, Gunn, Ivey, Reynolds, and Rhodes families of Warren, Wilkes, Hancock, and Green counties countless times as he was a "wheelwright" and very skilled. Another example is Henryrico Richmond Flewellen who was often referenced in the family papers of Archelaus Flewellen (son of James Flewellen & Sarah Heath-Flewellen) and his son, Thomas Flewellen and James Thweatt, Sr. whose son, James Jr. married Elizabeth Flewellen (Thomas' daughter). Henryrico can be found in documents in Warren, Upson, Putnam, Monroe, Bibb, Quitman, and Baldwin counties as he too was skilled and an avid farmer. Henryrico was also rented out and often times his skilled services was documented among the Flewellen, Searcy, Thweatt, and Rousseau families throughout central Georgia. Both Lige and Henryrico were descendants of the Heath Enslaved whose family has been documented countless times from Virginia to North Carolina to Georgia. 

Many of the formerly Enslaved such as Rev. Paul Hubert, Shepherd "Shep" Peek, Mourning Peek and her descendants, Clarke Peek, Mitchell Chapman, Sr., Isaiah Flewellen, Cager Barksdale, Nathan Barksdale, and Anthony Barrow can be found in numerous documents as large land owners, homesteaders, ministers and church planters, and posessing skills not readily found within the communities where they lived. In addition, several Enslaved descendants from the plantation owning families mentioned served during the Civil War and other wars as well. One has to wonder how the descendants of this Enslaved family was documented over and over. But one also has to accept our Enslaved Ancestors survived numerous moves (forced and unforced), broken families as a direct result of the slave trade as well as the constant shame and view of them as property.

The Legacy Will Continue

Many of the aforementioned plantation owning individuals were major influential people in Georgia and Alabama's history post the Revolutionary War and throughout the early 1800s to early 1820s and heavily tied to the american expansion west. They were also a key factors in the horrible time in America's history involving the domestic slave trade as many along with their descendants began migrating westward across Georgia from Lincoln, Wilkes, Richmond, Warren, and Hancock to counties such as Putnam, Monroe, Macon, Talbot, Taylor, Pike, Harris, Troup, Muscogee, Stewart, Chattahoochee, Marion, Randolph, and other counties with many crossing the Chattahoochee Valley into Alabama counties such as Cleburne, Chambers, Lee, Russell, Barbour, and Henry with later migrations further west into Alabama as well as over into Mississippi and abroad. These families were instrumental in the railroad expansion, farming industry expansion, cotton planting, cultivating, and the boom of the textile industry and the development of major exporting of American made goods to the Caribbean and European countries. As time has passed, and more and more records are being unearthed, many family historians today are finding more information about our Enslaved Ancestors and their major contributions in contributing the building of wealth in this nation. Along with increased and readily accessible documentation, DNA has also played a major role in the reunification of our families once torn apart by slavery. As I have researched for years, and specifically on these families and locations, I am continually amazed at how enormous this family is as well as the familial connections that continue to bind us in unity as ONE FAMILY!

Originally Written January 14, 2022; Updated March 15, 2024

The 1890 Union of Felts "Tug" Heath and Eunice "Eunie" Frazier

Greetings to all and wishing you all great success in your research endeavors. As I continue along this ancestral journey, I stop and ponder on thought of how I overcame some obstacles in my family history research and one that comes to mind is breaking through the wall with respect to my 2x Great-Grandparents, Felts and Eunice Heath. It is through their son, my Great-Grandfather that my central Georgia roots begin with many extensions abroad.


My Great-Grandfather is Mitchell Heath who was born January 19, 1910 and is the son of Felts and Eunice Heath. You can read more about Granddaddy by reading Mitchell Heath: The Greatest Man on Earth in my Lifetime, and he was indeed a great man! Granddaddy, as we called him, was my mother's maternal Grandfather. And to my mother, he was the only father she knew and his legacy continues to live on in all of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. But just where did Granddaddy come from and what is the story of his lineage? And to answer that question, I will need to introduce you to his parents.


Granddaddy's father was Felts "Tug" Heath who was born May 10, 1868 in the area known as Powellton, Hancock County, Georgia. Grandpa Felts was affectionately known as Tug to their family. I first saw the name Felts Heath in the obituary of Granddaddy's sister, but instead of Felts being spelled with an "F" it was spelled with "Ph" as Phelps. In the same obituary, I discovered who Granddaddy's mother was and her name was Eunie (nee Frazier) Heath. The year was 1981 as that was the year Granddaddy's older sister had passed and the first time I saw the names of their parents. But the actual first time I really acknowledged them was in 1986 when I was visiting with my Grandmother, Jessie Mae Heath-Eubanks, and helping her clean the house. During this causal and normal weekend visit, I stumbled across her obituary stash in the table. But I still didn't know them but I was a little older and really knew their names at this point. Grandmomma often spoke of her Grandmother Eunie often, but she rarely spoke of her Grandfather and then I discovered the reason why. Granddaddy Felts Heath died before my Grandmother was born and she was born in 1929. All I could think of was the hurt she must felt not never knowing her paternal Grandfather. But her Grandma Eunie was always a conversation piece and I'm glad my grandmother shared those stories.


Granddaddy's mother to my Grandmother (his daughter) was always known as Eunie. But I discovered through various records that her actual name was Eunice Frazier prior to her marriage to Grandpa Felts. Grandma Eunice, who was affectionately known to her family as "Eunie", was born August 5, 1875 in Taliaferro County, Georgia in the area known as Springfield just northwest of Crawfordville and just south of the Taliaferro and Greene county lines. As any pre-teen would be, I was excited to now know the names of my own Grandmother's grandparents. I mean WOW, I actually knew Granddaddy's parents' names and it was cool as this was a generation beyond my Great-Grandfather and that meant there was more family than what I knew I had in 1986. But in 1986, I was not into family names and who begot who but it was still cool nonetheless to know their names.

1890 Hancock County, Georgia Marriage License Index Record for Felts Heath and Eunice Frazier

The year was now 1987 and a middle school teacher had given an assignment for everyone to complete our family tree. So the excitement began for me then, but it was the year 2010 when I first saw the marriage certificate and marriage license index record that I gained new valuable information concerning my 2x Great-Grandparents, Felts and Eunie. And for starters, their names were spelled differently but somewhat consistent to what I knew.  Grandpa Felts and Grandma Eunie applied for their marriage license on January 29, 1890 in Hancock County, Georgia and were married on January 30, 1890 in Hancock County, Georgia by Rev. A.C. Rainwater. Rev. Rainwater was identified as a Minister of the Gospel on both the marriage certificate and the marriage license index record. Minister of the Gospel was illustrated as such, M.G. on both records. As illustrated in the image of the marriage certificate and marriage license index record, Grandma Eunie's name was spelled Unis Frazier on the marriage record but in the marriage license index record, her name was spelled Uinis Frazier. Grandpa Felts' name was spelled Phelps Heath just like on my 2x Great Aunt's obituary but not really surprising. WOW and very interesting is all that came to mind when I first saw the records. However, these spellings were consistent (even though inconsistent) with various records to include the U.S Census records for the years 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920, Tax Digests records, U.S. Cities Directories for Cincinnati, Ohio for the years 1924, 1926, 1932, 1935, 1936, and 1938, and marriage and death records of their children.

January 1890 Hancock County, Georgia Marriage Certificate of Felts Heath and Eunice Frazier

Another item of interest to me on the 1890 marriage certificate was the use of the abbreviated term Cold, which stood for Colored. I was now looking at differently terminology in my research that described my Ancestors. In the U.S. Census records, I had only seen them referenced as Mulatto or Black but not Colored. This was different and sometimes a bit overwhelming. What I can say is that was proud to have found a record that actually documented my 2x Great-Grandparents marriage as well as provided proof that they were indeed married. Overjoyed, elated, and extremely excited are just mere descriptive words of how I felt when I actually saw the records and read their names aloud as now I felt closer to them and more proud of my Heath and Frazier heritage. It is an honor to be one of their many descendants.


The 1890 union of Grandpa Felts and Grandma Eunie was a launching point years later for my family research. A Launchpad I never would know even existed until the year 2010 as I began to actually see records in a whole new light. As 2010 opened many new doors, I began to take years of hard research and piece together many new branches, new family lines as a result of the marriage records, and crossing county lines tracking the movements of the Ancestors. But what I am most grateful for and treasure in the 1890 union of Felts and Eunie is the birth of their son, my Great-Grandfather Mitchell Heath. I am blessed because of their union and blessed because their son, my Granddaddy will always be the greatest man on earth in my lifetime.


To my Ancestors, thank you Grandpa Felts and Grandma Eunie for your blessed union!


Humbly Submitted,


Dante' Eubanks
Great-Great Grandson of Felts "Tug" Heath and Eunice "Eunie" Frazier-Heath

52 Ancestors Week 2: Reflecting Upon Grandma Jessie Mae and The Cross





The Cross in front of New Covenant Christian Worship Center
Photo Taken by Patrice Hopkins, November 2016

As I am learning day by day along my Christian walk and every day walk of life I am reminded of the cross I must bear and would not be the person I am today without it! This picture to the left is of the wooden cross which stands in front of the church where I currently serve as pastor in Hollywood, Maryland. This photo was taken by Patrice Hopkins, a church member and avid photographer with a keen eye. But what the image reminds me of is it's symbolism and pure meaning of faith. Faith is and has been a big part of my life since I can remember and I owe my upbringing to and involvement in church to my family. And for that, I am forever grateful for the Ancestors.



For many, a fond memory is Mom's cooking, Mom's nurturing, the family dinners and playing with cousins. It could also be family travels and meeting new family members you may only see once and never again or even seeing new places. But for me, one memory that stands out is the cross. The cross represents a symbol of faith, perseverance, troubles, accomplishments, and triumphs. The cross also reminds me of my Christian journey which aligns with my purpose in life and the Ancestors.

I refer to my Ancestors a lot and I thank them a lot because I feel chosen and set apart by them in every aspect of my family's history and my research journey, but more importantly because of my faith and commitment to serve others. Service to others comes naturally and I feel it has been passed down from generation to generation in my family. My Mother serves others to the full extent and she ask for nothing in return because that is a part of her makeup, her bloodline, and her persona. Her siblings also serve others and without question, and that all was passed down from the generation before them through my Grandmother, Jessie Mae. Grandmomma still is remembered to this day as the community mother, the faithful church member, and the apple of our eye as the family's matriarch. She lived a full life and in her life's work, service to others was at the center of her core.

So what does the cross and Grandma Jessie Mae have in common? Well for me, EVERYTHING! The cross is a representation of my faith in God and a reminder of the cross I bear daily spiritually, physically, and in remembrance of the Ancestors. My mother ensured I was involved in our family's church and that is because my Grandma Jessie Mae ensure her children were raised in the church. Many may not understand and that's ok, but church is a part of our makeup and a big part of our faith in God and knowing through him all things are possible if you only believe! Thank you Grandmomma for always reminding us to trust God in EVERYTHING!

This week my family and I celebrated our matriarch's 89th birthday by remembering her spirit, her tenacity, and her love for her family. Grandma Jessie Mae was born February 19, 1929 and every year since her passing, my mother and her sisters commemorate her birthday celebration with her favorite foods, fun conversation, and cherishing the memories by retelling the many funny stories we all remember. It is one of our favorite times of the year as we are reminded of the love in our family and our faith in God. It is the cross we bear and our cup is running over!

I'm grateful for this time of remembrance and for being reminded to continue my journey as it is the cross I must bear.

Humbly submitted,

Dante' Eubanks

52 Ancestors Week 1: My Genealogy Journey and My Inspiration

Thank you for visiting my blog! The year is now 2018 and Faith, Family, and Ministry remain my life's passion! Who am I and just what is this all about. Well for 2018, I have decided to join the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blog challenge, and yes I'm already behind. 
 

Photo Credit: Amy Johnson Crow

I am Dante Eubanks, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. My interest in family history and wanting to know more about my roots began in the spring of 1987 when my 7th grade English teacher tasked our class with our research project which was to develop a family tree. At the time I knew my maternal great-grandparents on my grandmother, Jessie Mae Heath-Eubanks' side of the family and so I began the task of asking questions. Because I saw my Grandmother and Great-Grandparents every weekend, developing a family tree was going to be easy for me and the excitement was interesting for me at the tender age of 13 years old. What questions was I going to ask? What was my Grandmother, her mother, and father going to tell me in regards to their family? And where did they migrate from and when? So many questions and so many details to discover and I was excited. 

I knew the assignment would be easy as I spent every weekend and every summer at my great-grandparents house. So I knew the family history or at least I thought I did, and learning more was something exciting and what I had looked forward to when my journey began in 1987. My grandmother's parents were Mitchell Heath and Anna Lue Barrow, and there story is told thru this blog. My true inspiration and zest for learning more and more really was gifted to me by my Great-Grandmother, Anna Lue. She was a jewel and the matriarch of my family as I knew it. And to this day, Granny, as I affectionately called her, still inspires me to do more and to share the Ancestors' journey as well as their legacy. To learn more about Granny, our Anna Lue Barrow-Heath, read  Honoring My Cincinnati Matriarch: Getting to Know Granny, My Great-Grandmother Anna Lue Barrow-Heath Part I and Honoring My Cincinnati Matriarch: Getting to Know Granny, My Great-Grandmother Anna Lue Barrow-Heath Part II.

In the beginning of my journey, knowing the names on the family tree was important, but now it's knowing the Ancestors' legacy and sharing them among the living generations today. Genealogy to me is more than just family research, but it is discovering the journey of my Ancestors, their life's story, and what they want to be shared with the generations of today. I have always felt this was my calling, and I am honored to have answered the Ancestors' call! My journey began with a then simple assignment in 1987, but my dedication to my ancestry research truly began in 1989, and I have not regretted one moment of getting to know more about my family.

On this genealogy journey, I also discovered my maternal grandfather, William Eubanks' lineage through his parents with emphasis on his mother, Henrietta Jones-Eubanks' family which is my Mississippi, Maryland, Kentucky, and South Carolina connection many times over. This journey also introduced me to more in-depth knowledge of my paternal Butler family and allied families of southern Maryland with incredible history and ties to our nations overall history. From 1987 to now, I have learned so much on all sides of my family, traced back to the mid 1600s on some lines, and have connected with cousins from all over. And because of the ever changing migration patterns, I have also learned that all sides of my family have crossed one another in more ways than one. What can I say, it's an amazing journey and I am ever more excited to learn more!!!

Thank you for sharing in my genealogy journey and for better understanding my inspiration. This is just the beginning and I'm excited to continue my journey!

Granny, thank you for inspiring me and for allowing me to listen!


Dante

The Heath Enslaved History: Exploring the Heath Enslaved Relationships and Connection to William Heath of Surry County, Virginia

BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front
The Georgia Heath Enslaved and their descendants all have one thing in common; they named their children after each other!!! So you are connected to Benjamin Heath, well which one? How about Phelps Heath or Felts Heath, again which one? You said Samuel, oh ok, but again which one? And you thought you descended from William, Isaac, Abraham, Ransom, Foster, Peter, Daniel, Anachy, Rebecca and again, I still ask you WHICH ONE? So the theory was birthed, the Heaths must have been related to one another.


After beginning my Heath family research in 1988 and digging deeper beginning in February 1993, I only knew as far back to my 2nd Great-Grandfather, Phelps "Tug" Heath who was born in Hancock County, Georgia. I also thought his first name was spelled Phelps, but it turns out it is spelled Felts. When I first began researching the Georgia Heaths, there were many and the many were spread from east Georgia counties such as Richmond, Burke, Emanuel, Washington, Greene, Hancock, Warren, Wilkes, Jefferson, Screven, and Glascock to west Georgia counties such as Harris, Talbot, Taylor, Houston, Pulaski, Monroe (in the middle), Macon, Muscogee, and Troup counties just to name a few but all these counties had one thing in common, they were all located in central Georgia and along the Central Georgia Railroad.


As I looked at the Georgia county map in 1993, I was fascinated by the fact that there were so many Heaths, black, white, mulatto, you name it and they were all living near one another with some right next door or over in the next county and with many instances where the names appeared to mimic one another. Abraham, Henry, William, Daniel, Foster, Peter, Benjamin, Jefferson, Turner, Asberry, Dollie, Celia, Hannah, Caroline, Anachy, Ellen, Lena, Sylvia, Rachel/Rachael, and Harriett seemed to be the most popular names in the Heath families. It is because of the naming convention and county proximities with one another I capitalized on the notion and teaching point that repetition is significant in family research.


In the Beginning: Finding the Heath Enslaved and their owners
Finding the Heath Enlaved was not all that hard as the 1870 census was filled with black Heath families in all the counties named above and I'm certain, I have probably missed a few. Once again, the names repeated themselves in all the counties with Benjamin, Abraham, Peter, and William topping the list for the males and Harriett, Eliza, Ellen, Sylvia (Silvie), and Rachel/Rachael topping the list for the females. The children's names also were very repetitious and many families lived next door to one another, with some also living next door to the white Heaths which meant there was a clue to the slave and slave owner relationship. Bingo, it was time to dig deep!


My slave owner research began by tracing the white Heath families in order to establish connections as well as migration patterns. I began mapping which Heaths were present on the 1870 census and worked backwards from there. It seemed all roads lead back to a white Heath named William and his parents as well as North Carolina back to Surry County, Virginia. And it was also through William, all roads led back to his father Adam, and Adam’s African Enslaved female named Doll who was identified with seven other Enslaved.


The African Enslaved female Doll was identified as 1 of 8 Enslaved imported from Africa by the Barrow family and subsequently purchased by Adam Heath in 1695. Their purchase was associated with Adam having been granted 386 acres in Surry County on the south side of the James River. William Heath was the son of Adam and Sarah Heath of Surry County, Virginia and husband of Elizabeth Gee-Heath. William and Elizabeth had a son named Thomas Heath who was married to a Sarah. Thomas and Sarah's sons Adam Heath, Abraham Heath, and Richard Heath were the original Enslaved owners of many Heath slaves in Wilkes, Burke, and Warren counties in east central Georgia (but originally from or descendants of Enslaved from Halifax County, North Carolina) as well as our connection to the North Carolina to Georgia migration between 1782-1790. Thomas and Sarah’s Enslaved servants were the descendants of Doll, which has been confirmed through the historical documents of Adam Heath and his son, William Heath.


Thomas Heath received several of his Enslaved servants from his father William and ultimately passed down either as gifts or through his last will and testament, June 13, 1772 (Halifax County, North Carolina) the same Enslaved and their descendants to his sons Adam, Abraham, and Richard. I am focusing this background story on the three sons for a reason and that is the North Carolina to Georgia migration. Thomas Heath died in Halifax County, North Carolina in 1773, Abraham Heath and Richard Heath died in 1807 in Warren County, Georgia. Many of the Virginia Heath Enslaved servants and their offspring were documented in the wills thereby providing a connection to one another as well as a connection to the white Heath enslavers. The Enslaved servants born in Virginia moved along with their children to Halifax County, North Carolina not by choice but forcibly by obligation as Enslaved servants to the white Heath families and subsequently some of the Heath Enslaved were born in Halifax County and then their offspring were born in Georgia.


Our Ancestors’ Heath Expansion in Georgia: Abraham Heath & Richard Heath's Enslaved and the Migration Westward
Abraham Heath was in three specific counties in Georgia namely Burke, Wilkes, and Warren. Abraham's trail connects many theories of slave connections and relationships as well as just how did the Enslaved get to those specific areas. One caveat to that is Warren County was formed around 1794/95 out of Wilkes County. Burke County is just southeast of both Warren and Wilkes Counties. Richard Heath's records show he was primarily in Warren County, but nonetheless both Abraham and Richard owned a great number of Enslaved servants as documented in their last will and testament, for Abraham dated November 23, 1807 and probated January 4, 1808; for Richard Heath May 26, 1807 and probated January 4, 1808.


Abraham's Enslaved were willed to his wife, Winnifred Cotton-Heath, and his children: John Heath, Sarah "Sally" Heath-Chapple (Chappell), Benjamin Heath (who was married to Nancy and relocated to Monroe County, GA; will dated September 10, 1838 and probated January 6, 1840), William Heath (who was married to Sarah Bonner-Heath; will dated December 12, 1813 and probated July 4, 1814 and Sarah's will dated February 3, 1846 and probated September 7, 1846), Adam Heath, Elizabeth Heath, Polly Heath-Barrow, Richard Heath, and Frances "Fannie" Burge Heath-Highfield, and Abraham Heath. Richard's Enslaved were willed to his wife, Rebecca Chappell-Heath, and his children Chappell Heath, Mack Heath, Elizabeth Heath-Hill, Sarah Heath-Moreland, Nancy Heath-Wright, Temperance "Tempy" Heath-Dewberry, Henry Heath (who was also willed land purchased from Burrell Searcy), Rebecca Heath, and Richard Heath.


Between brothers, Abraham Heath and Richard Heath, and other associated families such as the Hubert, Ivey, Flewellyn (Fluellen), Barksdale, Felts, Chapple/Chapel/Chappell, Dickson/Dixon, Battle, Barrow, and Wright families owned and more likely shared labor among the Heath Enslaved throughout Warren, Wilkes, Burke, and surrounding counties as well as the migration through central Georgia and into Alabama.


One notable Heath Enslaved servant who was rented was Clack Heath who was a skilled worker and worked for the Barksdale, Hubert, Ivey, Felts, Dickson, and Battle families and was described in many instances as a skilled and reliable worker. Another skilled Enslaved servant was Elisha "Lige" Heath who was a skilled wheelwright. Both Clack and Lige were owned by Henry Heath, son of William Heath and grandson of Abraham Heath, and it can be assumed as well as proven through documentation that they were willed or given to Henry by William who also most likely received their Enslaved parents from Abraham Heath and Winnifred Cotton-Heath through their wills in the early 1800s. Over in Talbot County, another Heath slave named Titus Heath worked for the railroad and bought his freedom and possibly his wife's freedom. Titus is a descendant of Celia "Celey" Heath as well as Dollie "Doll" Heath. Coupled with the fact of slave owning families migrating, the railroad expansion across central Georgia played a vital role in the migration of all Heaths and their families as well as the expansion and interaction of Heath Enslaved servants with other plantations, providing slave labor for the building of the Central Georgia Railroad, and becoming skilled and reliable workers while traveling with the enslaver(s).


Benjamin Heath, son of Abraham and Winnifred, relocated to Monroe County, Georgia with a great number of Heath slaves. Benjamin and his wife Nancy were the parents of Mary Ann Louisa Heath, Benjamin Green Heath (who relocated from Georgia to Cass County (formerly known as Davis County for a few years), Texas), Abraham Heath, William Lafayette Heath (he also relocated from Monroe County Georgia to Macon County, Alabama where he married Catherine Wilson and finally relocated to Cass County, Texas), and George Chapple (Chappell) Heath. The most interesting part about Benjamin and his family, we can clearly trace Heath Enslaved of Abraham and Winnifred that were willed to Benjamin who then passed them and their children down to his sons and daughter. The same Heath Enslaved servants migrated with the white Heaths from Warren County to Monroe County, Georgia, then over to Macon County, Alabama, and finally to Cass County, Texas. Some of the Enlaved included were Isaac, Dice, Tillman (known as Tillman Heath Dickerson), Mamie (Mymy in wills), Henry, Charles (known as as Charles Heath Richardson), Jeffery, Turner, Abraham, Fanny, Mary, Lydia, Anachy, another Fanny (girl listed in September 1838 will of Benjamin), Julius Caesar, Miles, and Jack. These Enslaved and many others appear in the 1870 Census in Davis County (as previously mentioned, Davis later reverted back to the original name, Cass County shortly after 1870 around 1872/73).

Understanding the Family Connection and Accepting the Past
For many years, I questioned just how are all these Heath families were connected and how and why did so many move west from Georgia into Alabama and onto Texas. From Texas, many also relocated to Oklahoma, Arkansas, and California. There were so many migration patterns, but the Heaths and their associated cousins from the Richardson, Dickerson, Haskins, Walker, Hubert, Barksdale, Battle, Dickson, Searcy, Harrell, Flewellyn/Fluellen, Rousseau/Russeau/Russaw/Russell and Ivey families all seemed to follow the same patterns and this is a direct correlation to the enslaved owner and Enslaved relationship as well as how Enslaved families were relocated with the slave owners. Fast forward to today, DNA testing is confirming the links related to the Virginia to North Carolina to Georgia to Alabama to Texas migration of the above families. It is an awesome feeling knowing the documented research coupled with historical documents confirming both white and black families and DNA matches is ensuring we understand the family connections and begin the process of accepting our past.


In the instance of the great migration from Georgia to Texas, many black families were still in Georgia after the Civil War and appear in the 1870 and 1880 Census in Warren, Hancock, Talbot, Taylor, Monroe, and Muscogee counties many by 1880 and most by 1900 began appearing in Texas with their families right along with the previously mentioned slave families who relocated prior to 1870 between the years of 1850-1865. This can all be verified through many Texas voter registration lists from 1866-1867 which documented the year of arrival, years living in a given state, and associated years living in a particular county. Voter registrations and agricultural documents provided key details in identifying black Heath family members and associated families. Another interesting revelation is the fact there had to be some form of communication between the Enslaved families after leaving Georgia as they were reunited after the Civil War and some years after 1870 and the 1880 Census. One thing is certain, the Enslaved and later emancipated black families remained connected not only thru naming convention but by occupation as well as the connection back to the white families who originally enslaved them. Slavery is not something to cherish, but it is something our Ancestors survived, conquered, and taught each surviving generation how to survive and advance forward. As a result of our Ancestors' strength, perseverance, and unwavering faith, we must understand, acknowledge, and accept our past.

Thank You Ancestors for Preserving Our Family!
I am grateful for our past even the bad parts as without all of it, many of us would not be here today. Whether we accept slavery or not, whether we accept kinship between the slave owners or the slaves, or whether we accept the fact our Ancestors worked for less than their potential and worth or not is not the issue. Our present day issue of not wanting to accept the past and realize it was reality should not be an issue at all, but instead it should be our purpose to take the "issues" and past wrongs of this country enslaving others and leap forward and preserve our Ancestors' legacy. My Ancestors had purpose and my Ancestors had worth!! Today, the next hour, the next few moments, and throughout the journey of researching the Ancestors, my purpose and our purpose should be to preserve the legacy of our Ancestors as they guide us to greater and greater depths of knowledge as we continue to break down the brick walls. I acknowledge the purchase of the Enslaved female named Doll by Adam Heath in Virginia and I am grateful for her journey, her descendants becoming my Ancestors, and for the Ancestors birthing a great family spread abroad from coast to coast.

******************************************************************************
Humbly and Respectfully submitted in Honor of the Ancestors,

Danté Eubanks, August 24, 2017

Special Note: This writing includes over 20 years of combined research and collaboration beginning in 1988.

Thank you for the "One Lovely Blog Award"....It's all about Collaboration, Communication, & Support!

On September 28, 2014, I received a very nice surprise and one I never expected being new to the blogging community.  I was nominated for the "One Lovely Blog Award" by my new found DNA Cousin, Bernita Allen author of "Voices Inside my Head".  http://alhupartu.blogspot.com/  In addition to Cousin Bernita's nomination, I was also nominated by Tracey Hughes, author of "Tracey's Tree". http://traceystree.blogspot.com/

I never created a post for the "One Lovely Blog Award" in 2014 but today I thought to myself, there's no better time than the present to jump start another round of recognizing many who are pioneers in their own right in the genealogy community.  I want to give a special Thank you to both  Cousin Bernita and Tracey as I am just as honored today as I was in 2014 and humbled to be nominated by you both.  Anyone reading Cousin Bernita and Tracey's blogs will find them both amazing, interesting and very informative as well as give you a sense of pride and love for the Ancestors.



Here are the rules for this award:
   1.  Thank the person who nominated you and link to that blog.
   2.  Share seven things about yourself.
   3.  Nominate 15 bloggers you admire (or as many as you can think of!)
   4.  Contact your bloggers, let them know that you've tagged them for the One Lovely Blog Award.

Seven Things About Me:
   1.  I have been in Ministry since February 1995 and Pastoring since December 2014.
   2.  I am considered the walking family tree.
   3.  I love reading history.
   4.  My son Isaiah is named for my favorite book in the Bible.
   5.  I love walking through cemeteries (for me, it's connecting with the Ancestors).
   6.  I love movies and have a huge movie collection.
   7.  I am the father of 9 children.

15 Bloggers I Admire:
There are so many awesome genealogy blogs that it was really hard to narrow down to 15.
Here is my list (in no particular order):


   1. Finding Eliza by Kristin Cleage     
   2. Genealogy Circle by Cindy Freed
   3. Our Alabama Roots by Luckie Daniels
   4. Claiming Kin by Marlive Taylor-Harris
   5. My True Roots by True A. Lewis
   6. Tracey's Tree by Tracey Hughes
   7. Roots Revealed by Melvin Collier
   8. Ancient Echos from the past by Xzanthia  Zuber
   9. Saving Stories by Robin Foster
 10. The Legal Genealogist by Judy Russell
 11. Pieces of Me by Stephani Miller
 12. Geneabloggers by Thomas MacEntee
 13. Repurposed Genealogy by Jennifer Campbell
 14. Carolina Girl Genealogy by  Cheri Hudson Passey
 15. Tracing Amy by Amy Cole


As I continue to explore my own Ancestry and conduct genealogy research, I am reminded I am here to honor the Ancestors. This experience is rewarding but there is no greater reward than to honor and cherish the legacy of those who have gone before us. This blog is a sincere tribute to my Ancestors, and I am truly appreciative of the those above for sharing the knowledge of their Ancestors as well as contributing to helping others in the genealogy community. It's all about Collaboration, Communication, and Support!


Humbly Submitted,


Dante' Eubanks

The History of Talbot, Taylor, Wilkes, and Warren Counties in Georgia

The East Central Georgia to West Central Georgia Connection: A Brief Synopsis into the Georgia Counties of Talbot, Taylor, Warren, and Wilkes and Their Family Affiliations

Wilkes County

Wilkes County, named for British politician and supporter of American independence, John Wilkes, is considered Georgia's first county established by European Americans. It was the first of eight original counties created in the first state constitution on February 5, 1777 with the other seven counties being organized from existing colonial parishes.

Wilkes was unique in being land ceded in 1773 by the Creek and Cherokee nations in their respective Treaties of Augusta. It is located in the Piedmont above the fall line on the Savannah River. Interestingly, between the years 1790 and 1854, Wilkes County's area was reduced as it was divided to organize new counties as population increased in the area. This is a very significant fact in history as the Heath, Hubert, Barrow Searcy, Dickson/Dixon, Flewellyn/Fluellen, Harrell, Thweatt (also spelled Thweat, Threatt, Threat), Barksdale, Bonner, Ivey, Cody, Battle, Skrine, Hillsman, Felts, and other allied families first came to Georgia by way of Wilkes County before migrating to other surrounding counties and further migration westward to Talbot, Taylor, Harris, Macon, and Muscogee counties in west central Georgia. The Georgia legislature formed the counties of Elbert, Oglethorpe, and Lincoln entirely from portions of Wilkes County whereas Madison, Warren, Taliaferro, Hart, McDuffie, and Greene counties  were created partially from Wilkes County lands.

Since Wilkes County played an important part in the fabric of the Unites States history, it also has played an important role within the fabric of the Hubert, Heath, Barksdale, Runnels, Greene, Thweatt, Searcy, Ivey and Battle families whose long standing history and ties to Wilkes County as well as subsequent counties formed from Wilkes or portions of Wilkes County. Wilkes County was the site of one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia. During the Battle of Kettle Creek in 1779, the American Patriot forces were victorious over British Loyalists which in that time was a huge victory for the new nation fighting for independence and freedom.



Geology.com Georgia County Map



Another great role in history involved enslaved African Americans (during this time in history referred to as Negroes) forced to reside and work on the new formed southern plantations.  During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, colonists used enslaved African Americans to clear land, cultivate plantations, and create elaborate estates for the slave owners, and process the cotton in this area. Many may not realize that in the new America during the late 1700s, the cotton crop growing was long-staple cotton. Long-staple cotton would not grow in this area of Georgia and short-staple cotton required much labor to process. A prominent and well known man, General Nathaniel Greene was associated with the Hubert family though the marriage of one of his officers to a Hubert woman. Colonel John Rutherford was married to Mary Hubert, daughter of Benjamin B. Hubert and Mary Williams-Hubert. As mentioned, the Hubert family is one of Wilkes County’s oldest and prominent families which eventually settled in an area of Wilkes County that became a part of Warren County in 1793. Not far the Hubert plantation, Gen. Greene owned a plantation donated to him by the state of Georgia called “Mulberry Grove” where Catherine Greene employed a tutor working at Mulberry Grove by the name of Eli Whitney. In 1793, Eli Whitney, a Yale graduate,  and his fellow Yale graduate, Phineas Miller, patented a cotton gin which in one day could process hundreds of pounds of cotton. Because of this new machine, slavery in the south became more important and vital to the plantations survival and to the wealth of the slave owner community. 

Because of the newly developed cotton gin, the machine allowed mechanization of processing of short-staple cotton making its cultivation profitable in the upland areas. As a result, there was a dramatic increase in the development of new cotton plantations throughout the Deep South to cultivate short-staple cotton and this affected the Heath, Hubert, Battle, Barksdale, Searcy, Ivey, Sibley, Dixon/Dickson, Felts, and Thweatt families on a grand scales as they required manual labor to maintain production and to maintain the ever growing plantations thereby acquiring more slaves which contributed to the ever present southern divide from the northern states. In addition, settlers increased pressure on the federal government to remove Native Americans, including the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast. As a result of the Georgia settler’s pressure, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830.

Warren County

Warren County was created on December 19, 1793 and is named after General Joseph Warren, who was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War. The county seat, Warrenton, was founded in 1797 as seat of Warren County. It was incorporated as a town in 1810 and as a city in 1908. Other cities and communities include Cadley, Camak, Elim, Jewell, Mesena, and Norwood. Warren County’s history and association with the Heath, Hubert, Harrell, Barrow, Bonner, Cody, Barksdale, Battle, Dickson/Dixon, Skrine, Hillsman, Rudiselle/Rudsille/Rudison, Flewellyn/Fluellen, and Ivey families to name a few is directly associated with the history of Wilkes County displayed above.

I had the distinct honor and privilege to visit Warren County in October 2014 for the Hubert Family Reunion which was my first time visiting as well as my first time attending a Hubert Family Reunion. More to come in another post on the Warren County visit and Hubert Family Reunion. Warren County's history is directly related to Wilkes County as stated above as Warren was formed out of Wilkes County and as a direct result, much of my family research in Georgia ties directly to both Wilkes and Warren counties and ultimately back to the Carolinas and Virginia.

Talbot County

Talbot County was created by a December 14, 1827, act of the Georgia General Assembly from a portion of Muscogee County. Taylor County was created from a portion of Talbot County in 1852. The County was named after Georgia Governor Matthew Talbot.  Talbotton, which was also named after Governor Talbot, was founded in 1828 as seat of the newly formed Talbot County. Talbotton may be best known in history as the place where the immigrant Straus family got their start in retail sales in the 19th century. Decades later, the Straus family acquired R.H. Macy & Co. in New York and eventually turned it into the famous Macy's chain. Other districts and cities include Junction City, Woodland, Manchester, Geneva, Box Springs, Centerville, Roughedge, and Tax.

Many families from Wilkes, Warren, and surrounding counties to include Monroe, Hancock, Greene, and Jones migrated to Talbot County in the mid 1800s during a time of the great westward expansion and association with the building of the Georgia railroad. Anyone conduction genealogical research in Talbot (which is West Central Georgia) will most definitely have ties back to Wilkes and Warren counties (which is East Central Georgia). As for my direct family research, the families that surface the majority of times includes the Heath, Hubert, Ivey, Flewellyn/Fluellen, Searcy, Adams, Sibley, Carraker, Bonner, Harrell, and Matthews to name a few. More specifically, my key interest lies with the Heath and Hubert families and their direct migration to from Georgia to east Texas. But no just the Heaths and Huberts as I'm learning more and more through cluster genealogy research, all families were connected at some point and many migrated together. For more information on the Georgia to Texas migration, see Roots of the Tree: Understanding the Georgia to Alabama to Texas Connection.

Taylor County

Taylor County was created on January 15, 1852, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly from portions of Macon, Marion and Talbot counties. The county is named for Zachary Taylor, twelfth President of the United States. The land for building the courthouse was purchased from Andrew McCants, John T. Gray, John Sturdivant, John L. Parker, and a Mr. Covington (from  assembly meeting minutes dated March 8, 1852). Militia Districts and towns (listed with associated District numbers) in the county included Prattsburg 737, Hall 743, Reynolds 741, Butler 757, Cedar Creek 1071, and Whitewater 853.

Taylor County is directly related to the families of Talbot County and surrounding counties to include Harris, Macon, Dooly, Muscogee, Randolph, Marion, Upson, Schley, Houston, Peach, Bibb, and Meriwether. Many of the aforementioned families, especially the Heath, Ivey, Searcy, Adams, and Sibley families have strong ties to Taylor County and surrounding counties and the very fabric of west Georgia and east Alabama. Ongoing family research is being conducted to continually document the family ties as well as bridge the gaps between our Ancestors and present day generations of their descendants.

Originally Written and Submitted September 22, 2015 via my online Ancestry Family Tree with Additional Family Information updated March 2017

Dante' Eubanks