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Descendants of William Owens

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM¹ OWENS was born Abt. 1770 in Sumpter Co, S. C.?, and died Abt. 1839 in Decatur Co. Ga. He married POLLY COLLINS?? 24 Aug 1809 in Baldwin Co., Ga?.

Notes for WILLIAM OWENS:

1 .NOTE: (?) William Owens (may) be William M. Owens ,Sr.----The below is the first indication that there might be a Jr. & Sr.

In a book "Decatur Co, Ga,; EARLY MARRIAGE RECORDS & ABSTRACTS OF EARLY WILLS OF GA PIONEERS" Gen Ref 975.899 G , Ft. Worth Lib., I found a listing of DECATUR CO, GA GOLD AND LOTTERY DRAWS which notes: "William Owens, Sr. of Capt. Gibson's District- 2 gold draws" also: Lott Owens, and Etheldred Owens.

2. A copy of a letter to Charles C. Burke, Jr. from Addie Kate Owens dated 8-17- 1987 and forwarded to my father Thomas Julian Owens, by John W. Owens of Palatka, Fl (formerly of Miami) on 2-18-1989 is reprinted as follows:

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August 17, 1987

Dear Charles,

I have accumulated quite a bit of history on the OWENS and KEMP families for my husband, John. He asked me to give you some of this information and rather than go into a lot of copy work at this time I thought it best to outline these two lines for you.

First, let me say that we originally became interested after seeing an old Bible that belonged to my husband's "Uncle Jim," who was James Alexander Owens, son of John Bolivar and Mary Kemp Owens. Uncle Jim had only one child, John Alexander. John Alexander has died, but his daughter JoAnn Owens Thomas (Mrs. M. Hale) lives in Columbus, Georgia at 1719 Park Drive, and she has Uncle Jim's Bible. A lot of the information following came from that Bible. Still more information came from the Owens Cemetery north of Sneads and from talking to as many cousins, etc. that we could fine. JoAnn made a trip to the Courthouse in Bainbridge some years ago and found the Daniel Kemp and William Owens wills, later mentioned here. Some of the marriage license information came from the Courthouse at Marianna,Florida.

OWENS

History of Decatur County, Georgia, by Frank S. Jones, Page 213 - "EARLY SETTLEMENTS OUTSIDE OF BAINBRIDGE.....Fifth to settle Decatur Co.,.... Chattahoochee River (now in Seminole County) was settled by William Owens, the Brutons, the Hardens and Joseph Fairchild."

William Owens owned a plantation and landing on the Chattahoochee River where he ran a General Store. I Quote from a paper written by my husband's father, Thomas Barnes Owens, about the landings on the Chattahoochee in the early days. "...Next up is my Grandfather Owens (William M. Owens) old plantation. He sold it to Capt. Abe Fry in the 1840's and moved across the river into Florida. Next up is my Great- grandfather Owens ( William Owens) old place."

William Owens lived on the east side of the river in Georgia until his death c. 1839. His will can be found in Book A, Decatur County, Georgia, 1839-1873, dated Feb. 2, 1839, recorded August 16, 1839. His wife must have died before him; she is not mentioned in the will, and we do not know her name. His children were: 1. Lott G. Owens, 2. Whitman H. Owens, 3. Letty (married Hare), 4. Lelah (married Hare), 5. William M. Owens (married Nancy Whiddon), 6. Nancy (married Littleton), 7. Mary ( married Rosier) and 8. Martha ( married Hare).

History of Decatur County, Georgia, by Frank S. Jones, Page 231, "Heads of Families in Decatur County in 1830.......Elias Kemp, Lott Owens, Whitman Owens, William Owens, William M. Owens."

William M. Owens was born in 1806, died March 27, 1859. He married Nancy Whiddon December 29, 1831. She was born in 181(7) and died Feb. 25, 1867. They were married in Georgia Dec. 29, 1831. After that date they moved to the Florida side of the Chattahoochee. Their children were: 1. Mary Jane 2. William Eli 3. John Bolivar, 4. Leroy E. 5. Eliza Frances, 6. Dieztron, 7. Whitman David, and 8. Sarah Ellen. I have a copy of their marriage license and his will dated April 25, 1858 and filed April 6, 1859.

Whitman David Owens (Crockett) was born 21 Feb 1846. His grave does not give his death date, just the inscription "Co. I, 5 Fla. Car., CSA, Corp." He is buried next to his wife Jessica Marsilla Abernathy Kemp Owens in the Owens Cemetery (iron fence encloses these graves). Jessica Marsilla was born in 1845 and died March 30, 1903. They married April 14, 1867 (I have a copy of their marriage license). Their children were: 1. Thomas Barnes Owens (my husband's father) 2. Alice Nancy (Lade) and 3. Robert Linton Owens. Robert Linton died as an infant and the small grave is next to the enclosed graves of his parents. Whitman David Owens married a second time to Emily Culpepper (their children are still living in the Jacksonville area).

Alice Nancy (Lade) Owens was born Jan. 19, 1876 and died December 31, 1935. She married Daniel L. Burke on December 23, 1896. Her children were 1. William (Son), 2. L. D. (Doll), 3. Wilson, 4. John (Cooter), and 5. Charles (Buddy). I put the nicknames there -- that's all my husband ever called his cousins.

KEMP

Daniel Kemp. I have a copy of his will filed in Deacatur Country, Georgia Will Book AA, 1828-1838, which lists daughters and two sone - Alexander and Elias H. Kemp. I have not found the name of his wife, who probably predeceased him. Daniel's will is dated December 9, 1826 and was filed December 20, 1827.

I do not know where the Kemp family was buried (except Mary and Marsilla Kemp, who are buried with their husbands in Owens Cemetery). John's father told him that the Kemps lived at the fork of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers in Georgia. It is entirely possible that the burial ground has been covered by the waters of Lake Seminole (which you will see if you travel the road from Sneads to the Owens Cemetery).

Elias H. Kemp was born May 15, 1805 and died Feb. 27, 1877. He married Caroline Reddy (in one place spelled Jincy Carline Redick). I have a copy of their marriage certificate which used the latter spelling. Caroline was born Dec. 29, 1810 and died Jan. 17, 1870. They were married July 17, 1828. Their children were: Daniel Alexander, Mary A. (married John Bolivar Owens), Jessica Marsilla Abernathy (married Whitman David Owens), Rachel Ann (married Hare), Francis Marion, and Harriet and Calhoun.

History of Decatur County, Georgia by Frank S. Jones, Page 224 -"The Post Office
at Fowlstown was established as Kemp on January 5, 1833, and changed to Fowlstown on July 15, 1833 and was discontinued on October 21, 1842. Postmasters of this office were as follows: Elias Kemp -date of appointment Jan. 5, 1833." page 231 - "Heads of Families in Decatur County in 1830 - Elias Kemp." Page 262 - "Sheriffs of Decatur County - Elias Kemp - 1841-42."

Jessica Marsilla Abernathy Kemp was born in 1845, died March 30, 1903. Married April 14, 1867 to Whitman David Owens. See OWENS information.

An interesting note: The sisters, Mary A. Kemp and Jessica Marsilla Abernathy Kemp married brothers, John Bolivar Owens and Whitman David Owens, respectively.....makeing the children of both marriages double first cousins.

Enough for now! Keep in touch. We'll appreciate hearing from you if you fined additional information.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

signed - ADDIE KATE OWENS

P.S. I have underlined the names of your direct-line ancestors.
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3. Will is filed ; 2 Feb 1839; Book A, Decatur Co, Ga 1839-1873;
rec. 16 Aug 1839

4. Note: History of Decatur Co. Georgia, by Frank S. Jones (found in Ft. Worth Library) Gen 975.8993 J
Chap XVII p 213 Lists the Pioneer familes moving to Decatur Co
"The 5th Family to settle was William Owens who settled on the Chattahoochee River in what is now Seminole Co.Along with the Brutons, The Hardens and Joseph Fairchild."

5. William, William M., Whitman,and Levi are the only Owens listed as heads of household in 1830 Decatur Co. Census.

Children of WILLIAM OWENS and POLLY COLLINS?? are:

LOTT G.² OWENS, b. Abt. 1793; m. SARAH NEEL, 15 Aug 1842, Decatur Co. Ga¹.

Notes for LOTT G. OWENS:

1. ?? is G for George; ? Griffin??

2. Marriage index; Decatur, GA FTM Disc # 3

3. Listed in 1830 Decatur,Ga Census as head of household along with: William, William M., Levi.

4. Listed in 1840 Decatur Co., Ga Census p.15,dist 635 along with Wm M;
H. E.; W. H. Did not find Levi in Decatur in 1840.

5. Listed in 1840 also in Jackson Co.,Fl p 185 with Samuel, Mary, John. Could
be a son or nephew or the same Lott in Decatur, Ga.

6. 1850;1860 Fl Cen has NO Lott, HOWEVER a "GRIFFIN" appears in Jackson,
Co. in 1850 same page as Isaac,next to Wm M. and in 1860 in Jackson, Co.
as GRIFFIN on same page as Elizabeth and Isaac. ALSO, the same in
Jackson in 1870.

7.**1850 Fl Fed Cen Jackson Co. Household # 226 Ref: Fl GenWeb Project;
Jackson Co. 1850 Census on internet :
Lists Family #226 Parker with an Owens, Lott G. Age 30 b Ga

Notes for SARAH NEEL:

1. May be daughter of Herman Neel or James T. Neel who are both listed as heads of houshold in 1830 Decatur, Co, Ga Census.

Marriage Notes for LOTT OWENS and SARAH NEEL:

1. Marriage Index Decatur Co Ga

2. Maybe born 1820 NC

ii.

WHITMAN HILL OWENS, b. Abt. 1794, Sumpter Co, S. C.?; d. 3 Jan 1873, Abbeville,Henry,Al.

iii.

WILLIAM M. OWENS, b. 1806, S.C.; d. 27 Mar 1859, Sneads,Jackson Co., Fl.

iv.

NANCY, b. Abt. 1807; m. THOMAS LITTLETON, 29 May 1830, Decatur Co. Ga².

Notes for NANCY:

1. Marriage Index FTM Disc 3

LELAH OWENS, b. Abt. 1807; m. ELIJAH HAIR, 19 Sep 1830, Decatur Co. Ga³.

Notes for LELAH OWENS:

1. Decatur Co, Ga Marriage reads Elijah and (Silvah) Sep 19,1830

Marriage Notes for LELAH OWENS and ELIJAH HAIR:

1. FTM disc #3

vi.

LETTY OWENS, b. Abt. 1807; m. HAIR.

Notes for LETTY OWENS:

1. ?? I believe this is the Letty married to Thomas Hare listed in the
1850 Fed Census in Jackson Co. as household #98.
He is listed as age 63: a farmer and she is listed as age 52: both listed as born in N. C.; There is also listed a child Eliza Hare age 11yrs and a 17 yr old male named Isham Corbett, both born Al.

Notes for HAIR:
This may be Thomas Hare listed with a Letty in Jackson, Co. Fl Fed Cen per internet listing under Fl GenWeb Project,Jackson Co. 1850 Census.

vii.

MARTHA ANN LUCINDA OWENS, b. Abt. 1807; m. THOMAS C. HAIR, 10 Sep 1829, Decatur Co. Ga⁴.

Notes for THOMAS C. HAIR:

1. Listed in Decatur Co. Ga. 1830 Census as head of household. Also listed were Edmond and William, and Elija.

Marriage Notes for MARTHA OWENS and THOMAS HAIR:

1. Marriage Index; Decatur Co, Ga; FTM disc #3

viii.

MARY OWENS, b. Abt. 1807; m. ROSIER.

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