Person Page - 5

     William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers was born in Nov 1859 at Shelby, Shelby Co, Alabama. He was the son of PVT Thomas "Tom" Weathers and Jane Amandaline "Mandy" Beam. William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers married Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat, daughter of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt, on 27 Dec 1883 at Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama. William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers died on 8 Apr 1924 at Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 64.

      William Floyd Weathers -- also known as William J., William A., Will, Bill and Buddy -- was a farmer. He was enumerated on the census at age 7 months in 1860.

Confusion existed about William's exact name. William was enumerated as William J. Weathers in the 1860 census and W. F. Weathers in the 1880 census, thus by 1880 he was likely using Floyd as a middle name, so at some point he appears to have changed his name. Based on interviews and written correspondence with William's daughter Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett, William's name was thought to be William Albert Weathers, not William Floyd Weathers, but in looking closely at the Joel Harper Winslett family bible, the alteration of William's middle initial F to an A could be seen. Discussions and written correspondence with William's granddaughter, Willie Leola Winslett Galloway and her cousins concluded Floyd was the correct middle name, at least at some point in time. Nevertheless, Willie stated all his life William signed his name as W. A. Weathers when he attended the Weathers family reunions, so he must have enjoyed using the name Albert as well. Some confusion may exist because his son was named William Albert Weathers. William's granddaughter Ludie Mae Weathers Grantham published a 1994 compiled family records book which stated his name was William Floyd, but because his brother was named Hiram Floyd, the brothers were thought unlikely to have shared the same middle name.

William was enumerated as W. F. Weathen, an apprentice carpenter age 20, living in the household of his uncle William Beam, a carpenter, with his brother Hiram on the 1880 Shelby Co, AL census. Their mother Amanda had remarried an elderly man and there were likely insufficient resources to well support the two young men.

In 1900 William was shown on the census as William O. Weathers, age 45, living with his wife Lizzie and their children on a farm he rented in Spearman, Shelby Co, AL. His son Thomas' 1968 death certificate states his parents were William Floyd Weathers and Elizabeth Wheat. The family tradition is William left his family -- a theme that occurred in his own birth family; his daughter Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett stated that William and his wife Elizabeth took turns living with family members

At age 61 William is shown on the 1920 census in Munford, Talladega Co, AL as Bill Weathers renting with his son Will, his son's young bride Addie, and a black servant. William indicated he was a widow, although his wife was still alive but not living with him. William was living next door to son-in-law Henry Dillard Winslett and his family. All in the Weathers household were noted as being able to read and write. William died from "heart dropsy."

     Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat was born on 20 Oct 1862 at Talladega Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt. Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat married William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers, son of PVT Thomas "Tom" Weathers and Jane Amandaline "Mandy" Beam, on 27 Dec 1883 at Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama. Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat died on 4 Apr 1944 at Vincent, Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 81. She was buried at Vincent Cemetery, Vincent, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Mary Elizabeth Wheat was also known as Lizzie and Betty. She reported on the 1900 census she was born in Oct 1862 in Alabama. Mary Elizabeth was enumerated on the 1870 census as as Susan E; no other data was found with this name, so Susan was not thought to be part of her name. Elizabeth reported she could read and write on the 1900 census but her husband could not.

Family tradition reported by her daughter Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett was that Elizabeth was from a upper class family that had slaves and consequently did not know how to do things for herself. However, after the Civil War the family lost almost everything and Elizabeth's father, reduced to working as a carpenter, died when she was only seven, leaving her mother with young children to raise alone. So although her maternal grandfather Thomas Merritt was well-to-do, it does not appear Elizabeth grew up in a wealthy family.

Elizabeth reported on the 1930 census when she was age 67 that she was married at age 17 which would have been in 1879 -- four years before she married William Weathers, so she may have had a prior marriage. However her name was recorded as Lizzie Wheat when she married William, so a prior marriage is unlikely.

After 1918 Elizabeth was abandoned by her husband who was a drunkard and went to live with her daughter Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett; in the spring and summer she would go live with her other children when her husband would come stay at Amanda and Henry Winslett's home or next door with Amanda's brother William.

However, Elizabeth was not in the Winslett household during the 1920 census; the Winslett home was already quite crowded. In 1930 Elizabeth was living with her widowed son-in-law George Lee on his farm in Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL just a few doors from the farms of her son Thomas and her son William and their families. In 1940 she was living on the farm of her son William outside Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL.

Elizabeth was reported on official documents as dying in adjacent St. Clair and in Shelby counties in Alabama. Possibly St Clair Co is where she died because she is buried in Shelby Co, AL. Her death certificate indicated her parents were John Whe_te (Wheat) and Beck Meant (Merritt).

     Thomas 'Tom' Floyd Weathers was born on 9 Sep 1886 at Talladega Co, Alabama. He was the son of William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers and Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat. Thomas 'Tom' Floyd Weathers married Ethel Nalls on 21 Nov 1910 at Shelby Co, Alabama. Thomas 'Tom' Floyd Weathers died on 24 Jun 1968 at Talladega, Talladega Co, Alabama, at age 81. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Talladega, Talladega Co, Alabama.

      Thomas "Tom"Floyd Weathers was a farmer. He reported on his WWI draft registration that he had a wife and children. In the 1920 census he was living with his family in Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL where he rented a farm. In 1930 he was renting at the same location. He was noted in 1935 and 1940 as renting a farm "on Ravel Leadrix to Florida Short Route at Childersburg," in Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL.

     Amanda 'Mandy' Ola Weathers was born on 7 Aug 1888 at Childersburg, Talladega Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers and Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat. Amanda 'Mandy' Ola Weathers married Henry Dillard Winslett, son of Joel Harper Winslett and Oma 'Omie' 'Omy' Lavinia Strong, on 16 May 1909 at Crosswell Church, Shelby Co, Alabama. Amanda 'Mandy' Ola Weathers died on 22 May 1982 at Birmingham, Alabama, at age 93. She was buried at Montevallo Cemetery, Montevallo, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Amanda Ola Weathers worked on her parents farm until she married. She enjoyed having company and talking with people. During the Depression she fed numerous hungry people.

     Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) was born c 1796 at Fairfield Co, South Carolina. He was the son of Jacob Beam ? (of Newberry). Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) married Roseanne Glenn, daughter of James Glenn I and Margaret Plunkett, in 1827 at South Carolina. Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) died at Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Despite his unique name Ezekiel Beam was difficult to trace because he was living in South Carolina and then north Alabama concurrently with at least five other men with the same name who lived in one or both of the states when he did.

Our Ezekiel was born in South Carolina according to his and his daughter Jane Amandaline Beam's censuses; based on the 1850 and 1860 census, Ezekiel was born 1796-1797. An exhaustive search in 2020 did not definitively align Ezekiel with any of the Beams in South Carolina records.

Despite numerous online trees, Ezekiel was not the child of:

* Albert Beam (1733-1798) and his wife Sarah Halsell of South Carolina who married about 1755 and thus Sarah's childbearing was complete about 17 years before Ezekiel was born. Ezekiel was not among Albert's children listed when his heirs settled his estate. (Deed Book Y, page 326 to 328, 1817 Fairfield County, SC; https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Beam-310)

* Albert and Sarah's son John Beam (1760-1827) of South Carolina who already had a son named Ezekiel Beam born in 1790. But this John Beam had brothers William, Jesse and Albert who were of the right age and apparently residing in the right area to potentially have been Ezekiel's father. Numerous DNA matches would be required to see if there is a relationship with this Albert Beam line.

* John Derrick Beam (1765-1822) and his wife Mary Hoyle (1769-1847) of Lincoln Co, North Carolina whose children were included in his extensive estate papers or of his father John Beam and his second wife Elizabeth who also resided in North Carolina.

One thing setting our Ezekiel apart from the more affluent Albert Beam line which lived near Ezekiel in South Carolina was our Ezekiel was unable to read or write or even sign his name on his daughter's 1858 marriage permission note, although his wife Roseanne was literate.

This researcher presumed our Ezekiel was the son of a Jacob Beam and the grandson of an Ezekiel Beam, who was granted land in Craven Co, SC in 1768.

During the War of 1812, an Ezekiel Beam served as a private in McWillie's 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Militia, but this man is believed to be a different Ezekiel Beam born in 1790 and concurrently living in South Carolina at that time because our ancester was only age 16 at the time of the war and the other Ezekiel was age 22.

Ezekiel married Roseanne Glenn and had the majority of his children in South Carolina. Of note many online trees erroneously connect Ezekial to Rosannah Green as his wife; Rosannah Green was his daughter. On 8 Jan 1828 Ezekiel was paid $147 for his wife Rosanne Glenn's inheritance from her father's estate.

Ezekiel was a purchaser at the 1 Dec 1835 Abbeville Co, SC estate sale for wealthy William Yarbrough. This man is believed to be our Ezekiel because the other Ezekiel from Albert Beam's family had already moved to Alabama.

Based on the birth patterns of Ezekiel and Rosanne's children, the families of the five Glenn siblings Roseanne, James, William, Mary and Peter and their mother may have moved together from South Carolina to northern Alabama near the Tennessee and Georgia borders in late 1842. James arrived between 1841 and 1843, William between 1840 and 1843, Roseanne between 1842 and 1844, Mary between 1841 and 1843, and Peter was not yet having children so it is unknown when Peter arrived in Alabama.

The Glenn siblings -- James, William, Peter and Mary (through her husband) -- all purchased land in the portion of Baine or Cherokee counties that would become part of Etowah Co. However, of the 8 land purchases in Alabama for an Ezekiel Beam, none was land bought by our Ezekiel, which explained why he was working as a ferryman in 1850 because he had no land to farm. The 1831 and 1838 land purchases by an Ezekiel Beam in Madison, Jackson and Green counties were while our Ezekiel was living in SC. In 1845 there were 4 land purchases for 80, 40, 40 and 40 acres in Marshall Co, AL, the latter 3 on the same day. Marshall Co was located between Madison and Cherokee Co counties where the two different Ezekiels resided respectively, however the other Ezekiel resided in Marshall Co after these purchases and our ancestor Ezekiel and his children never lived in Marshall Co. The last 80 acre purchase on 1 Dec 1851 was by an Ezekiel G. Beam known to have lived simultaneously in Cherokee Co when our ancestor did.

Before Ezekiel arrived in Alabama, an Albert Beam, enumerated as Albert Bearm age 30-39, was already living in Cherokee Co with his family in 1840; Albert was living with 2 males under 5, 1 male and 1 female age 5-9, 1 female 10-14, 2 females 20-29 and 3 slaves and was not found in records after that year. This age bracket places Albert young enough to possibly be a son of Ezekiel's, but Albert was also an ancestral name in the other South Carolina-based Beam family.

Ezekiel and Rosanne lived in Cherokee Co, AL -- in the part of the county that was later incorporated in Etowah Co according to their son John's obituary -- before later moving to nearby St. Clair Co, AL. This put Ezekiel in close proximity to the other Ezekiel Beam who had already moved from South Carolina to nearby Madison Co, AL, until the latter died in 1848.

The 2 Nov 1850 federal and the 12 Nov 1850 state censuses showed significant differences for the males in Ezekiel's family. In the federal census Ezekiel and his wife are enumerated with 3 sons and 4 daughters under 21. In the state census apparently taken 10 days later -- although the year could not be read so it could potentially have been done in 1849 as it is known some Alabama state censuses were completed way before the date noted on the record -- our ancestor Ezekiel's household had 5 males under 21 (1st unknown, Peter, William, Hiram, John -- youngest son not yet born); 2 males over 21 (Ezekiel and 2nd unknown -- possibly an oldest son); 1 male age 18-45 (2nd unknown listed again); 1 male over 45 (Ezekiel listed again); 4 females under 21 (Unknown, Margaret, Rosanna, Amanda -- Mary was living with her husband on the federal census); and 1 female over 21 (wife Roseanne.) The 2 unknown men could be an oldest unknown son age circa 22, relatives and/or unrelated farm hands and the unknown female could be the wife of any of these men or domestic help.

In household #54 in District 27, Cherokee Co, AL 1850 census showed Ezekiel was age 54 and working as a ferryman, most likely at either Walker's or Brown's ferries on the Coosa River. His home was surrounded by farms and there is no way to tell if he owned or rented the property, but given the lack of a land sale he was likely renting. The census included his wife Roseanne (Rosanna) 17 years his junior, thus it is worth considering he possibly had a first marriage in South Carolina before he married Roseanne. Roseanne shaved years off her age in the census and reported she was born in 1813 and was age 37 athough she is believed to have been born in 1809. Also living with Ezekiel and Roseanne were ther six youngest children. The families of Jacob Green, age 40, and Isaac Green, age 46, both born in South Carolina, were living nearby; Ezekiel's daughter -- also a Rosanne -- married a Green, a marriage often confused with that of her mother.

Also living in Cherokee Co in 1850 in an isolated bend of the Coosa River just east of Gasden were the households of Rosanne's siblings James, William, Mary and Peter B. Glenn. James Gleen [Glenn] a 47-year-old farmer born in South Carolina with his family resided ten doors from the Beams at house #64. Living 117 houses away from the Beams was William Glenn, age 45 also born in South Carolina, with his family. And 136 houses away from the Beams was Peter Glenn age 37 with his family and the Glenn siblings' mother Margaret Glenn age 70. Peter's sister sister Mary was living next door to Peter. Even further, 154 houses away, was another James Glenn age 49 born in North Carolina with his wife Mary and family, but his relationship to our Glenn family if any is unknown.

Furthermore, an additional Ezekiel Beam was in the 1850 state census with 4 females under 21 and 1 over 21; a male between 18 and 45 (born between 1805 - 1832); and 1 male under 21, making a third Ezekiel Beam living in the area. This Ezekiel cannot be our ancestor because in 1850 our ancestor had four sons under 21, including 3 under age 10, so this was likely Ezekiel G. Beam, son of Isaac Beam. On 1 Dec 1851 Ezekiel G. Beam purchased 80 acres land in Lebanon (Sec 23, Township 8, Range 10). This Ezekiel was noted as E. G. Beam, age 25 born in South Carolina, in the 1850 Cherokee Co, AL federal census. His wife Jane age 23 was born in North Carolina and their 4 children ages 4 - 11 (Mary, Rosan, Mary J. and James J.) were all born in Tennessee until Martha was born about 1850 in Alabama. So this Ezekiel had not been in Alabama for long, but he had named a daughter Rosan, perhaps named after our Ezekiel's wife Roseanne, her namesake daughter or her grandmother, thus there may have been some family relationship between Ezekiel G. and our Ezekeil. Ezekiel G. Beam was living next door to his presumed parents Isaac born in North Carolina and Jane Beam born in South Carolina, both age 47, and their children age 5 to 22 -- the first 2 born in South Carolina and the remainder in Tennessee; this birth pattern implies Ezekiel G. Beam may have also been born in South Carolina. No further data was available on either Ezekiel G. or Issac Beam, so it is not known if this Beam line potentially connects to that of our ancestor in South Carolina.

By 1860 Ezekiel and Roseannah (sic) were living nearby in Bennetsville, St Clair Co, AL and had likely moved there by 1858 when their daughter Amanda was married in the county. Although Ezekiel did not own land, he was enumerated between two farms valued at $3000 and $6000 and Ezekiel and his 15-year-old son Hiram were farming. Ezekiel had aged to 63 and Roseanne was still reporting she was born in 1813. Living with them were four of their youngest children. Ezekiel and Roseanne moved to Shelby Co, AL by 1862 according to their son John's obituary and by 1867 their sons William A. and Hiram Beam are on the voter registration in that county. By 1860 and 1870 Ezekiel's sons Peter and Hiram respectively had moved to Arkansas.

No census record has been found in 1870 for Ezekiel and Roseanne Beam, their two youngest sons John Whitfield Beam and Presley Beam, and their daughter Amanda Beam Weathers and her three sons; all of Ezekiel and Roseanne's other children were accounted for in 1870, so they were not living in any of those households. Chilton Co had a dramatic record loss in 1870 due to fire and although Amanda and her boys might have been living in Chilton Co, Ezekiel was supposedly living in Shelby Co, AL at that time and no record loss occurred there. Online reports state Ezekiel died 10 Feb 1878 in Shelby Co, AL or Mississippi, but in that era it would have been highly unusual for a man to live to be 102 years old and no records have been found to support this death date.

An incorrect online family tradition was Ezekiel was born in Scotland and immigrated to South Carolina. The story noted "Ezekiel Beam was born in 1796, emigrated with a brother from Scotland, leaving other brothers in Scotland." The myth continues that "he married in 1830 Rosanah of part Cherokee and part English extraction, it is believed in Shelby Co, AL, and their family was reared there." (Book title unknown but probably Beam Family and appears to be a Heritage Company or a similar book families pay a company to write; https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/30909775/person/12327306379/media/711ec5ae-81d6-452e-90b3-310e60a3f816) Exhaustive research on Ezekiel's wife Roseanne Glenn's family showed Roseanne to be pure Irish, and Ezekiel and Rosannah did not move to Shelby Co until after their children were born, however there may be some as yet unknown Scottish ancestry. A search for Scottish records for an Ezekiel Beam did not provide results.

Importantly there were many Ezekiel Beams often living in the same area at the same time through 1860 whose records have become erroneously intertwined. Ezekiels found in the records were:
--born 1747 or earlier, owned 100 acres on Mill Creek in Craven Co, SC in 1768; possibly our ancestor's father.
--1790 -1848, married unknown first wife & living in Madison Co, AL in 1830; wife deceased by 1840; then married Letty Compton; lived in Marshall Co, AL; born in SC to John Beam of SC; not the son of Mary Hoyle of NC
--1796 -1878, married to Roseanne Glenn, stated he was born in SC; lived in Cherokee and St Clair Co, AL; his daughter Amanda born 1842 was our ancestor; he was noted in 1850 and 1858 as unable to read and write, whereas his wife was able.
--1816 -1881, married to Matilda Samford (5 Jul 1819-1858); born in SC to Jacob Beam and Mary Mitchell on the John Teeter Beam line out of North Carolina; moved to Texas where he died; children Mary M (1836 AL), William (1838 AL), Margret (1840 LA), George (1842 TX), Rebecca (1848 TX) and Amandy (1850 TX); he was able to read and write although his wife was not. (Unreliable source on ancestry.com showed Matilda married in 1819 the Ezekiel Beam born 1790 leading to much confusion for researchers);
--born 1825, married to Jane Loyd in McMinn, TN; known as Ezekiel G. and E. G. Beam; born in SC; based on his children's births was living in Tennessee 1839-1846 and in Cherokee Co, AL by 1850 next door to presumed father Isaac Beam, age 47, (household 731) of NC, SC, TN and AL and possible brother Wesley. Could Isaac born in 1803 in NC be a relative of our Ezekiel born 1796 in SC?
--born 1840s, grandson of [white] William Beam of IL not by 1st wife Hetty who was Indian but by 2nd wife Nellie who was mulatto and through her daughter Mary to Ezekiel; lived in Choctaw Nation in MS and the Choctaw and Creek nations in OK; author Daniel Littlefield source.


Detailed sources:
--McWillie's 2nd Regiment SC Militia roster, http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~york/1812/McWillies.html (Ezekiel Beam listed but likely other man by this name)
--1 Dec 1835 Abbeville Co, SC, William Yarbrough estate sale, with Ezekiel Beam purchaser (The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. XX, Summer 1992, No. 3, p. 138, Box 153, Pack 2542; http://www.usgwarchives.net/special/tafq/tafq7.htm)
--George Vernon, Irons, "River Ferries in Alabama before 1861," The Alabama Review, Alabama Historical Association, Univerisity of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, AL Jan 1951; http://www.uwa.edu/uploadedFiles/alabamareview/1951Jan_RiverFerriesInALBefore1861.pdf.

     Roseanne Glenn was born on 28 Feb 1809 at South Carolina. She was the daughter of James Glenn I and Margaret Plunkett. Roseanne Glenn married Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co), son of Jacob Beam ? (of Newberry), in 1827 at South Carolina. Roseanne Glenn died on 28 Oct 1894 at Scott Co, Arkansas, at age 85.

      Roseanne Glenn and her daughter Jane Amandaline Beam on the 1880 and 1910 censuses reported Roseanne was born in South Carolina. In 1880 at age 73 Roseanne reported she was born about 1807 and her parents were born in England, the latter which was not correct. Roseanne's great granddaughter Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett stated Roseanne immigrated from Ireland to America, however the Rosanne who immigrated from Ireland was Rosanne Glenn's grandmother -- another Rosanne Glenn. Nothing in the Glenn lineage substantiates the often-repeated story that either Roseanne was part Indian.

In 1880 Roseanne was living with her son Presley Beam and his family in Harpersville, AL. Her death date and place have not been verified as Arkansas, but her son Presley did move to that state. Roseanne was noted in records by the names Rosy Ann (by her brother in a court case), Rosana, Rosanna, Roseannah and Rosannah.

     Jonathon "John" Wheat was born c 1811 at North Carolina. He was the son of John Wheat and Elisabeth (Unknown). Jonathon "John" Wheat married Mary Ann Perdue on 29 Nov 1838 at Greene Co, Georgia. Jonathon "John" Wheat married Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt, daughter of Thomas Merritt and Martha "Patsy" Rowland, on 21 Jan 1847 at Greene Co, Georgia. Jonathon "John" Wheat died on 18 Apr 1870 at Sycamore, Talladega Co, Alabama.

      Both Jonathan Wheat and his sister Martha's births were established as about 1811 based on data in the 1850 census but it unknown if they were twins. Jonathan stated he was born in North Carolina on the 1850 census, as did his death certificate and North Carolina was where he was born. The 1860 census stated his birth was in Georgia, but that census taker appeared to have reversed the birth places of Jonathan and his wife. Searches of North Carolina records have not revealed more data on Jonathan. Jonathan's daughter Elizabeth reported on the 1900 census he was born in South Carolina and the Joel Harper Winslett bible states Jonathan was born in Georgia.

The administrator's 1833 report for the estate of Levi Wheat, deceased, in Putnam Co, GA, shows Jonathan was paid $127 by the estate for his services as the plantation overseer for his brother Levi Wheat's Greene Co, GA plantation. Jonathan signed his $127 receipt on 5 Feb 1834. The estate accounting also lists John Foster, ? Hines, Wm B. Carter, H. W. Cozard, Gilly Moore, Peggy Winslett, and (General) Robert Putnam Bledsoe (purchased Greene Co land). The 1834 estate account showed Jonathan was paid $40 for his services; he signed the receipt as John Wheat on 15 Dec 1834. At Levi's estate sale Jonathan bought his cotton gin valued at $20 for $5 and a razor and "booc," perhaps one of the books Levi owned, for 56 cents.

On 1 Oct 1840 and 1 Apr 1841 Jonathan was included in a list of names of people with unclaimed mail at the Greensboro, GA post office.

In 1840 Jonathan was enumerated as J. Wheat, age 20 - 30, living in Greene Co, GA with his wife Mary Ann of the same age and a daughter age under 5, and 3 slaves; note the census page for his slaves is the page before his listing. Their granddaughter Lily Wheat reported Jonathan and Mary Ann lived in the Walker community at that time. Residing alone four doors away in 1840 was an unknown Jno Winslett, age 15-20.

Similarly, his brother Edmund Wheat, age 30 - 39, with a young wife Catherine, age 15 - 19, and a child under age 5 was residing in adjacent Morgan Co, GA with two female slaves age 36 to 54 with two slave children under age 10. By 1850, Edmund is no longer residing there.

Jonathan named one of his daughters born about 1840 Adaline. Adaline Thrash, the widow of Jonathan's brother Levi Wheat, married Thomas B. Knowles on 4 Nov 1833 in Greene Co, GA. Jonathan worked as Levi's plantation overseer.

On 2 Jun 1843 John Bickers signed a contract with Jonathan Wheat, a carpenter, both of Greene Co, GA to construct a home for Bickers on his land for $80 due on 25 Dec 1843. On 15 Jul 1843 Jonathan put a lien for building the Bickers home on the house and land adjoining the lands of David Perdue, David S. Sayers and James T. Billingslea. These notes were recorded 15 Jul 1843 in Greene Co, GA.

Jonathan was on the 1845 Morgan Co, GA tax list. (http://usgwarchives.net/ga/morgan/taxlists.html)

On 1 Oct 1845 Jonathan was noted as having mail at the Milledgeville, GA post office.

Jonathan purchased 3,000 pounds of fodder at the 12 Nov 1845 estate sale of his second wife Elizabeth Merritt's maternal grandfather Hiram Rowland in Greene Co, GA.

In 1850 Jonathan Wheat was living in Greene Co, GA with his much-younger second wife Elizabeth, their two children, and three older children likely from Jonathan's first marriage. He was farming real estate valued at $800 and stated he was born in North Carolina, while his wife and all the children were born in Georgia. He had 5 slaves on the 1850 slave schedule. Marrying into the wealthy Merritt family was a plus for Jonathan.

On 23 Jul 1852 Jonathan Wheat gave custody of his daughters Sara Adaline and Mary Antoinette, by his first wife Mary Perdue, to his father-in-law Daniel Perdue prior to moving to Alabama. The witness was James L. Brown, and the document was recorded on 23 Jul 1852.

By 1860 Jonathan was living with his family in Wewokaville, Talladega Co, A, which no longer exists; Wewoka was about 10 miles from the present day towns of Talladega and Childersburg and was originally an American Indian town. This time the census taker recorded Jonathan as Johnathan, stated he was born in Georgia and his wife in North Carolina, so the birth places were likely accidentally reversed because Jonathan's death certificate stated he was born in North Carolina.

With $8,100 in real estate in 1860, Jonathan was wealthy compared to his neighbors and the majority of our other ancestors in this state. He was also enumerated as Johnathan on the 1860 slave schedule where he was listed with 8 slaves: black males age 70, 26, 11 and 2 and females 52, 18, 14 and 12. Both the land and the slaves may have in part or in whole come from his wife who would have inherited from her relatively well-to-do father Thomas Merritt.

In 1866 Jonathan was enumerated in Talladega Co living with 1 male and 3 females under 10, 1 male and 2 females 10-20, himself and his wife over age 20. Jonathan died from pneumonia four years later in Sycamore, AL, just south of Talladega, AL. Jonathan was working as a house carpenter at the time, so the Civil War likely impacted his economic status and his livelihood. In 2022 Sycamore was a downtrodden two-street town of small wooden homes along the railroad tracks when this researcher visited there; no historical structures remained.

On 3 Dec 1860 Jonathan's brother-in-law Benjamin Merritt, executor for the estate of Benjamin's father Thomas Merritt, reported to the Talladega Co probate court that on 5 Nov 1860 the estate sold, among other land, 309 acres for $3,090 on 12 months credit to his brother-in-law Jonathan Wheat, who executed a note with Benjamin Merritt and Dorch Newsom as sureties. Jonathan died in Apr 1870 and in Apr 1872 the new estate admininstrator for the Thomas Merritt estate claimed the land sales had been a sham and the estate would have to bring lawsuits to recover the land. No recourse was found in the probate records about the real estate sales, and altogether it was illogical for the original executor Benjamin Merritt to report to the court he had sold all the real estate for over $7000 if he did not have the funds to dispurse to the heirs.

Jonathan's lineage is confirmed by numerous atDNA triangulations posted on wikitree by the Wheat Family DNA Study which DNA-verifies his ancestors.

In addition to the Wheat and Merritt families in Talladega Co, our other family lines resided there including the Taltons, Winsletts and Weathers. In 2022 the town of Tallageda still had a commercial and residential historical center when visited by this researcher, who drove from Lincoln through Talladega, Sycamore, Childersburg and Harpersville in Talladega County and then to Tallapoosa County.

Sources

1833, admin account of estate of Levi Wheat, listed Jonathan Wheat and Peggy Winslett among the people paying off notes owed the estate. Most likely filed in Putnam Co, GA where Levi Wheat died.

"Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXJZ-P8L : 7 February 2020), Jonathan Wheat and Mary Ann Horn, 29 Nov 1838; citing Marriage, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 159,051.

1840; Census Place: Greene, Georgia; Roll: 42; Page: 31; Image: 68; Family History Library Film: 0007044

Southern recorder. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1820-1872, October 06, 1840, Image 3; https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn82016415/1840-10-06/ed-1/seq-3/#index=4&rows=12&proxtext=Jonathan+Wheat&sequence=0&words=Jonathan+Wheat&page=1

Southern recorder. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1820-1872, April 06, 1841, Image 3; https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn82016415/1841-04-06/ed-1/seq-3/#sort=relevance&index=0&rows=12&proxtext=Jonathan+Wheat&sequence=0&words=Jonathan+Wheat&page=2

2 Jun 1843 NS 15 JuL 1843; Greene Co, GA Deed Book; p. 74 (Wheat builder contract)

The Federal Union. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1830-1861, October 21, 1845, Image 3; https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn86053071/1845-10-21/ed-1/seq-3/#sort=relevance&index=5&rows=12&proxtext=Jonathan+Wheat&sequence=0&words=Jonathan+Wheat&page=2

"Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXJZ-P85 : 18 July 2016), Jonathon Wheat and Elizabeth Merritt, 21 Jan 1847; citing Marriage, Greene, Georgia, United States, county courthouses, Georgia; FHL microfilm 159,051.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYP-XCL : 20 December 2020), Jonathan Wheat, Greene, Georgia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDK-SY5 : 18 February 2021), Johnathan Wheat, Talladega Co, AL, 1860.

1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules

Alabama State Census, 1820-1866

Alabama State Department of Archives & History; Montgomery, Alabama; U.S. Census Mortality Schedules, Alabama, 1850-1880; Archive Roll Number: 3; Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 20, Talladega, Alabama; Page: 1.

     Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt was born on 4 Jun 1829 at Greensboro, Greene Co, Georgia. She was the daughter of Thomas Merritt and Martha "Patsy" Rowland. Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt married Jonathon "John" Wheat, son of John Wheat and Elisabeth (Unknown), on 21 Jan 1847 at Greene Co, Georgia. Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt died on 1 Oct 1897 at Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 68. Her estate was probated on 7 Jan 1898 at Shelby Co, Alabama.

      In 1850, 1870 and 1880 Elizabeth Merritt reported she was born in Georgia, which aligns with where her siblings were born; in 1860 the census taker likely reversed her birthplace with that of her husband.

Just as Elizabeth Merritt and her husband Jonathan Wheat had moved from Greene Co, GA by 1860 to Talladega Co, AL, Elizabeth's brother Thomas Merritt also moved to Talledega Co by then. In her father's Talladega Co estate settlement papers, Elizabeth was referred to as Elizabeth Merritt married to Jonathan Wheat in the testimony of Dortch Newsom.

In 1870 Elizabeth still resided in Wewokaville, Talladega Co, AL with her children. Her husband had just died and her son John was managing the farm.

By 1880 Elizabeth was living in Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL with her three youngest children; she reported her parents were both born in Georgia. Living on the farm next door is her brother Thomas Merritt with his family.

On 15 Jan 1898 Elizabeth's estate was paid $4.34 by Knox and Bowie, the attorneys for the estate of her Thomas Merritt who was most likely her brother rather than her father who died in 1860.

A 21 Jan 1898 Greensboro, GA newspaper notice stated Elizabeth's son William Wheat visited Shelby Co, AL to deal with Elizabeth's estate shortly after her death and bought property there; it is presumed she died about Oct 1897 based on this article.

When Elizabeth died her grandson Charles Green Millender, the son of Nancy, administered her estate starting with his acquiring an administration bond on 7 Jan 1898, on which Elizabeth's son W. H Wheat was a signatory. Listed heirs were her children John T. Wheat of Coosa, GA; W. H. Wheat of Greensboro, GA; and from Shelby Co, AL there were Lizzie Weathers, the wife of William Weathers; Eddie Robertson; W. A. Wheat; and the children of Elizabeth's deceased daughter Nancy Wheat Millender.

Elizabeth's estate included 57 acres lying north of the public road leading from Harpersville to Glaze's (possibly Glade) Ferry, Shelby Co, AL, which the administrator applied to the court to sell at auction because of the many heirs. Elizabeth's son William H. Wheat apparently acquired all rights of inheritance from his siblings and from W. A. Wheat by Oct 1898. On 25 May 1900 her son W. A. Wheat filed a motion to compel the administrator to account for the estate holdings being squandered in the administrator's two homes. The sheriff tried to deliver a citation to compel the estate settlement on 23 Nov 1900, but did not find the administrator. The court demanded the estate administrator appear with the final settlement on 27 Nov 1900, but other documents indicated Charles G. Millenger had moved to Texas and the probate file ends there.

In an interview with Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett, Amanda stated her grandmother was named Elizabeth Merrit and Elizabeth had a brother named Thomas Merrit. She stated Elizabeth Merrit married a Wheat and had the following children: Ellen, W. A. "Ruff," Bill, Nancy, John and her own mother Mary Elizabeth Wheat. With the exception of Bill, Amanda provided the spouses names for these children. This is critical data because John Wheat is a common name and having Amanda provide the names of some of her aunts and uncles ensured the correct Wheat - Merritt family was found in official records.

     John M. C. Winslett was born in 1808 at Greene Co, Georgia. He was the son of Samuel Winslett II and Disa 'Dicey' 'Dicy' McMichael. John M. C. Winslett married Elizabeth 'Timpy' Bird, daughter of Hiram Bird and Temperance "Tempy" A. Wheeles, on 9 May 1830 at Meriwether Co, Georgia. John M. C. Winslett married Sarah May on 2 Sep 1838 at Troup Co, Georgia. John M. C. Winslett died c 1880 at Clay Co, Alabama.¹

      Although the Henry Dillard Winslett family bible states John M. C. Winslett was born in South Carolina, that is unlikely because John's father Samuel II was only noted living in Georgia during the time of John's birth. John M. C. Winslett was likely born in or close to Meriwether Co, GA; from there John moved across the border to Chambers Co, AL where his younger brother William Milton Winslett married in 1842.

Reseacher Janie Rawlingson believed John's second wife Sarah May died, John married a third time and by that marriage had at least another son -- perhaps Thomas Washington Winslett.

The orginal Meriwether Co, GA Marriage Book A established John's license and marriage certificate dates as 6 and 8 Mar 1830 respectively, and Jordan Dodd's Georgia Marriages to 1850 erroneously transcribed his marriage to Elizabeth Bird as in Marion Co, GA. John probably had three sons in addition to his son Jonathan; researcher Janie Rawlington believed John and Elizabeth Bird only had living sons Jonathan and James.

John drew land in Gordon Co, GA in the 1830 Meriwether Co, GA land lottery.

John was likely the John Winslett age 30-39 living in Chambers Co, AL in 1840 with his wife age 20-29 and sons: 1 less than 5 years old, 2 between 5 and 9 years old, and 1 age 10-14. If this is the same man, then his second wife Sarah died shortly after their marriage. John's father Samuel and brother William Milton were also residing in Chambers Co at this time.

A John Winslett, a farmer age 61 born 1808-1809 in Georgia, was in the 1870 Lee Co, AL federal census; Lee was adjacent to Chambers Co. This is the only John Winslett in this researcher's database born in that era, although there certainly could have been other men with that name. John was residing with Thomas Winslett age 23, a Ms. Winslett (first name not given) age 20 and a male named W. B. Winslett [likely William Buchanan Winslett] age 15 -- all born in Alabama. Although John was not enumerated as illiterate, none of the children could read or write. If these are his children, the three would have been the children of Sarah May. John's brother William Milton was also residing in Lee Co at this time. Interestingly, John Winslett was residing three doors from the Dillard family, and John Winslett's great grandson was named Henry Dillard Winslett.

     Elizabeth 'Timpy' Bird was born c 1810 at Georgia. She was the daughter of Hiram Bird and Temperance "Tempy" A. Wheeles. Elizabeth 'Timpy' Bird married John M. C. Winslett, son of Samuel Winslett II and Disa 'Dicey' 'Dicy' McMichael, on 9 May 1830 at Meriwether Co, Georgia. Elizabeth 'Timpy' Bird died c 1838.

      Elizabeth Bird died leaving young children who were provided for by her father's will. Her mother died after 1850 after which her father Hiram Bird's estate settlement made payments on behalf of her children to John Winslett and MC Winslett for $50 each. In this case, Elizabeth's son James may have been underage and the payments were to her son Jonathan and to her husband John M. C. Winslett on behalf of her son James.

     Jonathan "John" C. Winslett was born on 28 Oct 1832 at Georgia.⁴ He was the son of John M. C. Winslett and Elizabeth 'Timpy' Bird. Jonathan "John" C. Winslett married Matilda Jane Talton, daughter of Cpl. Joel J. Talton and Julia M. Dukes, on 19 Nov 1852. Jonathan "John" C. Winslett died on 18 Apr 1896 at Sycamore, Talladega Co, Alabama, at age 63. He was buried at Fort Williams Cemetery, Sylacauga, Talladega Co, Alabama.

      Jonathan "John" C. Winslett received a portion of the estate settlement from his grandfather Hiram Bird after he reached the age of majority. Jonathan reported in 1860 that he was born in Georgia; his son Joel Harper Winslett reported him born in South Carolina on the 1880 census.

Jonathan at age 27 appeared on the 1860 Chanahachy, Tallapoosa Co, AL census as an overseer with $40 in household goods. He was living with his wife Matilda age 25 and sons Joel H. age 5, James age 4 and Julia J. age 2. They resided on a farm next to his great uncle William "Buck" Winslett.

Jonathan served in Company E, 46th Alabama Volunteers and was wounded in May 1864 near New Hope Church, Kennasaw Mountains, GA. He filed a pension on 18 Mar 1896 stating his address was Sycamore, AL; he did receive the pension. His widow Matilda filed a pension application in Shelby Co, AL at a later date.

In 1866 Jonathan and his wife were on the Tallapoosa Co, AL census with 1 male and 2 females under 10 (William, Susan, Julia) and 2 males 10-20 (James and Joel Harper.) Interestingly, the G. M. Harper and Sarah Harper families were living nearby which may explain Joel's middle name whereas his first name was from his maternal grandfather Joel Talton.

In 1870 Jonathan was listed as John Winslet, age 38, a farm laborer on the Daviston, Tallapoosa Co, AL census with his wife Matilda and their family. Perhaps after the war he had lost his land. His brother-in-law Joseph Talton lived next door with his family.

By 1880 Jonathan was enumerated as Johnathan Winslot, age 47, and Matilda, age 46, were farming in Tallapoosa Co, AL in an area with an extended number of famiy members. Jonathan reported his parents were born in Georgia on that census.

Jonathan died in Sycamore, AL which was also where our ancestor Jonathan Wheat died, just south of the town of Talladega, AL. In 2022 Sycamore was a downtrodden two-street town of small wooden homes along the railroad tracks when this researcher visited there; no historical structures remained.

     Matilda Jane Talton was born on 15 Mar 1834.⁵ She was the daughter of Cpl. Joel J. Talton and Julia M. Dukes. Matilda Jane Talton married Jonathan "John" C. Winslett, son of John M. C. Winslett and Elizabeth 'Timpy' Bird, on 19 Nov 1852. Matilda Jane Talton died on 18 Feb 1915 at Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 80. She was buried at Williams Cemetery, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Based on the Winslett Family Bible, Matilda Talton's parents were named Talton and Dukes respectively. Matilda may have been born in Georgia, South Carolina or Alabama according to various records. Matilda was born in Alabama according to the 1860 Tallapoosa Co, AL census and her daughter's 1880 census entry, but searches of the Alabama censuses did not show her parents living in Alabama at the time of her birth. Her son John H. Winslett noted in the 1920 Columbiana, Shelby Co, AL that his mother was born in South Carolina, but that was likely in reference to his maternal grandmother.

Matilda was clearly not the Matilda Talton born 16 Jul 1875, daughter of William Henry Talton in Johnston Co, NC, who married Louis/Lewis Sasser in 1893 in Wayne Co as his second wife; that Matilda was much younger.

     Marinda Elizabeth Winslett was born on 5 Sep 1853 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Marinda Elizabeth Winslett died on 19 Nov 1856 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama, at age 3.

     Joel Harper Winslett was born on 19 Nov 1854 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. He was the son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Joel Harper Winslett married Oma 'Omie' 'Omy' Lavinia Strong, daughter of PVT John Allen Strong and Louisa 'Lou' Elizabeth "Eliza" Smith, on 4 Oct 1877 at Hackneyville, Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. Joel Harper Winslett died on 31 Aug 1909 at Wilsonville, Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 54. He was buried at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Joel Harper Winslett age 24 was enumerated as Harper Winstlot on the 1880 Hackneyville, Tallapoosa Co, AL census with his wife Omie age 19 and children John W. age 1 and Mattie L. age 5 months. They lived close to the families of his father-in-law John A. Strong, George W. Strong, and his uncle Joseph J. Talton. Joel Harper appeared on the 1880 acriculture schedule as Harper Winshat in Tallapoosa Co, AL renting 25 acres land he farmed with a total value of 225 dollars.

William E. Futral age 33 with parents born in Georgia and a wife Louisa G. age 24 with parents born in Alabama and children Anna and Willis were living next door to Joel Harper Winslett in 1880. Also sandwiched between the John and George Strong families and the Joesph Talton family in the 1880 Tallapoosa Co, AL census, was a Betsie Futral, age 63 born in Georgia with her father and mother born in Ireland and Georgia respectively. She is show living with Martha J. age 38, Andrew J. age 26, Sarah M. age 32, Mary E. age 29, Nancy G. age 24, John M. age 22, and Neomie E. age 21 -- with the eldest child born in Georgia and all the rest born in Alabama. Living next door is her son Benjamin with his wife Sarah S. and their son James F. It is unknown if this Futral family is related to ours but the proximity is so tight with several of our lines that there must be some relationship.

In 1900 Joel was enumerated as Joel H. Winstlett age 45 in Mardisville, Talladega, AL living with his family. This census has birth dates for three of his children that differ with the family bible by a year; this researcher accepted the census dates as possibly closer to the time period because when the bible record was written was unknown.

A family story about Joel is after they arrived home from church in the buggy one day, he felt chilled and unwell. By the time the doctor arrived on horseback he was dead.

There was often mention of Indian looks in the Winslett and intermarried Smith family. Specifically, Joel Harper Winslett's brother Hiram and his aunt Martha were known for their dark Indian looks. His mother-in-law Lousia Smith was also reportedly American Indian. Mention was often made of many members of the family having high "Indian-looking" cheek bones. Yet no Indian blood has yet been identified in our blood line of the family, although the Winsletts did intermarry with Indians.

     James Newton Winslett was born on 11 Mar 1856 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. He was the son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. James Newton Winslett married Susanne 'Susie' Ann Peters, daughter of (Unknown) Peters and Ann (Unknown), on 7 Nov 1878 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. James Newton Winslett died on 11 Nov 1934 at age 78.

      James Newton Winslett was possibly born on 10 Mar 1856. He lived in Fayetteville, Dodge Co, AL in 1900, Talladega Co, AL in 1910, and in Tallapoosa Co, AL.

     Julia 'Julie' Isabella Winslett was born on 22 Mar 1858 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Julia 'Julie' Isabella Winslett married George Washington "Almon" Strong, son of PVT John Allen Strong and Louisa 'Lou' Elizabeth "Eliza" Smith, on 4 Oct 1877 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama.² Julia 'Julie' Isabella Winslett died on 18 Nov 1930 at Kings Co, California, at age 72.

     Susan 'Susie' Jane Winslett was born on 26 Aug 1860 at Elmore, Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Susan 'Susie' Jane Winslett married Ponie H. Hardeman on 24 Oct 1878 at Hackneyville, Tallapoosa Co, Alabama.³ Susan 'Susie' Jane Winslett died on 30 Oct 1943 at Dogtown, Dekalb Co, Alabama, at age 83.

     William Jefferson 'Jeff' Winslett was born on 20 Mar 1862 at Daviston, Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. He was the son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. William Jefferson 'Jeff' Winslett married Ella Frances 'Fannie' Hutchinson, daughter of (Unknown) Hutchinson, on 24 Dec 1885 at Clay Co, Alabama.⁵ William Jefferson 'Jeff' Winslett died on 29 May 1925 at Bessemer, Alabama, at age 63. He was buried at Talladega Co, Alabama.

      William Jefferson Winslett had a child by another woman while married to Ella Frances Hutchinson.

     (Twin Boy) Winslett was born on 15 Apr 1865 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. He was the son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. (Twin Boy) Winslett died on 17 Apr 1865.

     (Twin Boy) Winslett was born on 15 Apr 1865 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. He was the son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. (Twin Boy) Winslett died on 22 Apr 1865.

     John Howell Winslett was born on 17 Mar 1867 at Talladega Co, Alabama. He was the son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. John Howell Winslett married Martha Emma W. Hutchinson, daughter of (Unknown) Hutchinson, on 27 Jan 1894 at Clay Co, Alabama. John Howell Winslett died on 14 Dec 1928 at Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 61. He was buried at Williams Cemetery, Clay Co, Alabama.⁵

      John Howell Winslett lived at one time in Fayetteville, Talladega Co, AL. He was enumerated with wife Emma and children Mary, John and Susie in the 1920 Federal Census for Columbiana, Shelby Co, AL where he owned his own home.

Buried in the family plot along with John Howell Winslett and his wife Emma Hutchinson Winslett and their sons Ora and Preston is a Cario Winslett (19 Sep 1912--30 Mar 1937) who is of the age to have possibly been another son of John and Emma's.

     Susanne 'Susie' Ann Peters was born on 27 Jan 1857 at Alabama. She was the daughter of (Unknown) Peters and Ann (Unknown). Susanne 'Susie' Ann Peters married James Newton Winslett, son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton, on 7 Nov 1878 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. Susanne 'Susie' Ann Peters died on 22 Dec 1932 at age 75.

      Susanne Ann Peters may have been born in 1855.

     George Washington "Almon" Strong was born on 5 Nov 1858 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. He was the son of PVT John Allen Strong and Louisa 'Lou' Elizabeth "Eliza" Smith. George Washington "Almon" Strong married Julia 'Julie' Isabella Winslett, daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton, on 4 Oct 1877 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama.⁷ George Washington "Almon" Strong died on 5 Jul 1934 at Kings Co, California, at age 75.

      George Washington Strong was shown as George W. Strong, a 22-year-old farmer living with his wife and children next door to his father, in the 1880 Tallapoosa Co, AL census. By 1900 George was living in Spring Creek, Shelby Co, AL with his growing family. In 1910 he was living with his family at Corcoran, King Co, CA where he was a foreman on a farm.

George's nephew Henry Dillard Winslett reported George's name was George Almon Strong; Almon(d) was given to George's son as a middle name and as yet no records have been found that refer to George as George Washington Almon Strong.

     Ponie H. Hardeman was born on 7 Sep 1854 at Guinett Co, Georgia. He married Susan 'Susie' Jane Winslett, daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton, on 24 Oct 1878 at Hackneyville, Tallapoosa Co, Alabama.³ Ponie H. Hardeman died on 22 Jun 1918 at Gordon Co, Georgia, at age 63.

      Hardeman's first name may be Donie, instead of Ponie.

     Ella Frances 'Fannie' Hutchinson was born in Jul 1867 at Alabama. She was the daughter of (Unknown) Hutchinson. Ella Frances 'Fannie' Hutchinson married William Jefferson 'Jeff' Winslett, son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton, on 24 Dec 1885 at Clay Co, Alabama.⁸ Ella Frances 'Fannie' Hutchinson died in 1955.

      Ella Hutcherson and her sister Emma both married brothers in the same family.

     Martha Emma W. Hutchinson was born on 13 Oct 1871 at Georgia. She was the daughter of (Unknown) Hutchinson. Martha Emma W. Hutchinson married John Howell Winslett, son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton, on 27 Jan 1894 at Clay Co, Alabama. Martha Emma W. Hutchinson died on 3 Oct 1931 at Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 59. She was buried at Williams Cemetery, Clay Co, Alabama.⁶

     Thomas 'Tom' Milton Winslett I was born on 8 Jan 1870 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. He was the son of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Thomas 'Tom' Milton Winslett I married Lulu Adell Coker in 1892. Thomas 'Tom' Milton Winslett I died on 17 Nov 1933 at Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 63.

      Thomas Milton Winslett appeared on the 1900 Columbiana, Shelby Co, AL census.

     Tempia 'Tempie' Emily Winslett was born on 20 Jan 1872 at Elmore Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Tempia 'Tempie' Emily Winslett married John Wesley Chaffin on 17 Jun 1888 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama.² Tempia 'Tempie' Emily Winslett died on 19 Jun 1955 at Sylacauga, Talladega Co, Alabama, at age 83.

     Georgia Anne Winslett was born on 13 Jan 1875 at Tallapoosa Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Georgia Anne Winslett married Oliver Newton Horton on 28 Dec 1904 at Shelby Co, Alabama. Georgia Anne Winslett died on 10 Jun 1949 at Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 74.

     Martha 'Mat / Mattie' Ellen Winslett was born on 8 Dec 1876 at Talladega Co, Alabama. She was the daughter of Jonathan "John" C. Winslett and Matilda Jane Talton. Martha 'Mat / Mattie' Ellen Winslett married Rufus Wiley Horton, son of Lewis Marvin Horton and Sarah Frances McAdams, in 1899. Martha 'Mat / Mattie' Ellen Winslett died on 4 May 1968 at Columbiana, Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 91. She was buried at Columbiana, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Martha "Nat" Ellen Winslett was likely the daughter of one of her older siblings and someone of American Indian heritage.

At age 40 Martha's reported mother Matilda Jane Talton was nearing the end of her reproductive life because Georgia Ann was born in 1875 -- three rather than two years after her next older sibling, indicating Matilda's fertility was waning. Furthermore, according to her nephew John Dixon Winslett, Martha looked Indian with dark skin, eyes and hair and was proud of her Indian looks; she spent much time in the woods studying nature. Because nothing indicates any of Martha's reported direct line ancestors were Indian, Martha was likely Jonathan and Matilda's granddaughter possibly the daughter of sisters Julia Isabella or Susan Jane who married in 1877 and 1878 respectively.

Teresa McGee, the great granddaughter of Martha Ellen, stated all her life she was told by her mother that Martha Ellen was Black Foot Indian. This would make the most sense if Martha Ellen was not Matilda and Jonathan Winslett's child.