…He is the darling of my heart, My Southern soldier boy. Oh, if in battle he were slain, I know that I would die, But I am sure he’ll come again, To cheer my weeping eye…
SOUTHERN SOLDIER BOY by Captain G.W. Alexander
It speaks to the courage of a mother’s heart that she could endure the personal hell of having her six sons march off to war. It speaks to the strength of a mother’s heart that she could survive three of those sons dying on the field of battle.
While researching one of my maternal lines I recently came across the family of Lucinda White Morris and William Jackson of Murray County, Georgia. Lucinda was my 4th great-aunt, she and her husband had 13 children, seven girls and six boys. The onset of the War Between the States would drastically change the dynamics of this family.
John Morris Jackson, oldest son, born 01 November 1827, died 31 August 1864 – Battle of Jonesborough.
Commissioned a Captain on 03 Jan 1862. Mustered out on 15 May 1862. Commissioned an officer in Company A, Georgia 34th Infantry Regiment on 15 May 1862. Promoted to Full Major on 01 Mar 1863. Mustered out on 31 Aug 1864 at Jonesboro, Clayton, Georgia. Burial site unknown.
Joseph Franklin Ballenger “J F B” Jackson, second son, born 1830, died 14 January 1912 in Alabama.
Commissioned as 1st Lieutenant in Company B, Georgia Phillip’s Legion Infantry Battalion on 11 June 1861. Promoted to Full Lieutenant Colonel on 20 Mar 1862. Mustered out on 20 Mar 1862. Commissioned an officer in Company S, Georgia 39th Infantry Regiment on 20 Mar 1862. Mustered out on 29 April 1864.
Thomas A Jackson, third son, born 01 October 1836, died 14 March 1869
Served as a 2nd Lieutenant in 60th Georgia Infantry. Died of war related injuries in 1869.
Eppy William Jackson, fourth son, born 02 Mar 1838, died 30 Aug 1862 – Battle of Second Manassas.
Commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant, Company C, 11th Regiment Georgia Infantry. Promoted to Captain 27 January 1862. Burial site unknown.
William White “John” Jackson, fifth son, born 18 April 1840, died 25 January 1905 in Alabama.
Enlisted as a Private 08 August 1861 in Company E, Georgia 3rd Infantry Battalion. Promoted to Full Corporal. Promoted to Full 5th Sergeant on 12 Nov 1861. Mustered out on 06 May 1863. Transferred to Company C, Georgia 37th Infantry Regiment on 06 May 1863. Served as 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant, 36th Regiment (Broyles’) Georgia Infantry. He was captured 04 July 1863 during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi and was paroled on 09 July 1863. He was next captured on 16 Dec 1864 at the Battle of Nashville and was taken to a Prisoner of War camp in Ohio. He was mustered out at Greensboro, North Carolina on 26 Apr 1865. He was released from the POW camp in Ohio 16 June 1865, after the war ended.
Benjamin Floyd Jackson, the youngest son, born 25 February 1845, died 21 September 1863 – Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia.
Enlisted 26 February 1861, the day after he turned 16, as a Private in Company C&B, 1st Georgia Regulars. Burial site unknown.
When the summer breeze is sighing, mournfully along, Or when autumn leaves are falling, sadly breathes the song. Oft in dreams I see thee lying on the battle plain, Lonely, wounded, even dying, calling but in vain
Weeping, sad and lonely, hopes and fears how vain! When this cruel war is over, praying that we meet again.
WHEN THIS CRUEL WAR IS OVER by Charles Carroll Sawyer
My daddy’s family has been a mystery throughout the 40 plus years I’ve been researching.
Mary Rebecca Smith Black 31 Oct 1849 – 30 Oct 1930
Mary Rebecca Smith, my great-great-grandmother, was born on Halloween, 1849 in Georgia. June 1869, she married John W Black in Grimes County, Texas, three sons and three daughters were born to their union. John passed away in March of 1884 leaving the 35 year old Mary with six small children from four months to 13 years of age.
One would think that the young mother would have remarried, but as census records bear out, that was not the case. In 1900 I found Mary and her two youngest children, Wayne and Fannie, living with her oldest daughter, Mary Alice, her husband, John M Machen, and their family. June of 1911, Mary was committed to the Austin State Lunatic Asylum in Austin, Texas by her son-in-law, W T Higgins.
For 19 years, 5 months, and 13 days, this was her home, this is where she died.
I was able to obtain her commitment papers and her patient file a few years ago. It was heartbreaking to read that the condition for which she was committed could have been easily treated with Vitamin B-12.
I’ve often wondered if she simply became overwhelmed with life after losing her husband.
“Where there’s a will, there are 500 relatives…..”
The Will of Giles Driver, Jr. offers a window into the dynamic of his family. Giles is very detailed in how he disposes of his estate, in some cases right down to the penny. He was specific regarding the circumstances surrounding who received what and the conditions that had to be met to receive the inheritance. Two notes here – this is not an exact transcription as far as spelling and there are a few words that I couldn’t make out, thus the blanks. Where you see bold text, I have added information for clarification.
Will of Giles Driver, Jr
Pike County, Georgia – Record of Wills, Volume C-D, 1844-1912, Page 492
19 July 1869
In the name of God Amen. I Giles Driver of said State and County being of advanced age and knowing that I myself must shortly depart from this life, deem it right and proper, both as respects myself and family, that I should make a disposition of the property with which a kind Providence has blessed me. I therefore make this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and annulling all others made by me heretofore.
Item 1st – I desire that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner, suitable to my circumstance and condition, but nothing unnecessary about it. My soul I hope and trust shall return to rest with God who gave it, as I hope for eternal Salvation through the blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Item 2nd – I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid by my Executors hereinafter named.
Item 3rd – I have given to my daughter Sarah R who intermarried with Charles B Hubble one thousand and thirty five dollars in cash, she leaving no child at her death my wish is for said Hubble to have no more interest in my estate whatever.
Item 4th – My wish and desire is for my youngest son Charles G to have one hundred dollars extra and more than the balance of my children this difference is made because he has not received his due proportion of education.
Item 5th – I give and bequeath to my wife, Mary, all the property that she was possessed of at the time of our marriage, to do with as she may think proper at her death. I also desire that three hundred dollars be laid out in hand of which she is to have full control during her natural life or widowhood but at her death or marriage for the lands to return to my estate and to be equally divided among my children or their children as the case may then be.
At this point in the will is a note “See Marriage Contract”. The placement is such that I don’t know if he is referring to his third wife, Mary M Carson, or to his son, Julius W, who is the subject of Item 6.
Item 6th – I throw (?) this restriction and qualification around the property or effects that may fall to my son Julius W, that is, it is not to be subject to any of his debts or contracts now made or hereafter made, but he is to use it for his support and benefit and that of his family and at his death to be equally divided among his children but his present wife and the Serepta Ann Rebecca Reeves wife neither of them is to have any interest in my estate or its increase whatever at the death of my son Julius W Driver I make this difference because he is divorced from the Reeves wife and I understand that the father of his present wife Sarah E Hogan intends to make a similar will.
Item 7th – My will and desire is for my Grandson Giles L Driver and my grand daughter Sarah F Driver (children of Julius W Driver and his 1st wife, Frances Jane Ussery) each to have one hundred dollars to be retained in the hands of my executors until these children become of age or marry. These amounts to be retained out of the portion falling to their Father.
Item 8th – If any of my children die before or after me and have a child or children such child or children to draw their parents interest in my estate under this will.
Item 9th – I hereby put this condition and qualification upon the property or its effects that may be received by each of my children (to wit) if any of them die and leave no living or posthumous child then the property or its effects falling to such child to return to my estate and to be equally divided among all my children or their children as the case may there be in the manner herein specified for division observing the restrictions and qualifications in this will
Item 10th – My wish and desire is that each of my children that have not had a bed bedstead and furniture to have one after paying off all my just debts for each child to draw an equal share of my estate both real and personal, not counting (?) any old debts against any of them, observing the restrictions, qualifications and differences in this will
Item 11th – I have given my two sons Julius W and Robert P each a mule and each mule valued at one hundred and forty one dollars, sixty six cents, each of them have an extra cow which must be valued. I also paid Doyal & Nunnally fifty eight dollars for Julius ___ for cotton, twenty one dollars _____ due for that Thirty seven dollars these amounts I want counted against them without interest
Item 12th – I constitute and appoint my two sons Alonzo C Driver and James L Driver my lawful
Executors to this my last Will and Testament this 19 July 1869
Giles added a codicil that included the following –
First – Whereas I have understood that my son Julius W Driver intends to claim some property that he was in possession of at the time when he broke up house keeping and separated from his second wife Serepta Ann Rebecca Reeves and whereas I feel satisfied that I have fully compensated him for said property. Now if he claims said property and continues to contend for it then I want the five hundred dollars that I handed him when he started out to California counted against him without interest but if he relinquishes his claim to said property I want the will to be carried out without this codicil so far as he is concerned
Second – In lieu of the one hundred dollars mentioned in the fourth Item of my will to my youngest Charles G my wish is to alter it to Two hundred and twenty five dollars
Third – I also want my son James L to have two hundred and twenty five dollars These last two Items they are to have before there is any division made
Fourth – I want my wife Mary M Carson to have the bedstead and mattress that we lie on in lieu of her bedstead that she sold when she came here
Fifth – There is due from A C Driver Two hundred and twenty five dollars for his mare without interest
Sixth – My wish and desire is for the portion falling to my daughter Synthia E Pryor for her and her husband to have the use and benefits of the proceeds of the property but her present or future husband not to be allowed to trade off any of the property neither to be subject to any of his debts or contracts now or hereafter made the said property is to be exclusively for my daughter Synthia E and her children
Seventh – This I think will make my children as near equal as I can fix it
John Morris Jackson, oldest son, born 01 November 1827, died 31 August 1864 – Battle of Jonesborough.
Joseph Franklin Ballenger “J F B” Jackson, second son, born 1830, died 14 January 1912 in Alabama.
Thomas A Jackson, third son, born 01 October 1836, died 14 March 1869
Eppy William Jackson, fourth son, born 02 Mar 1838, died 30 Aug 1862 – Battle of Second Manassas.
William White “John” Jackson, fifth son, born 18 April 1840, died 25 January 1905 in Alabama.
Benjamin Floyd Jackson, the youngest son, born 25 February 1845, died 21 September 1863 – Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia.
