Faris Family Records, Part 2 NC, SC, TN and AL Submitted by Betsy Faris Reverend Alexander Faires born in South Carolina April 15, 1785 and died September 18, 1829, married Margaret Hammil, of Ireland, who was born January 1790 and died July 26, 1860. Reverend Alexander Faires was the first regular minister at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, located near Central Heights, Alabama in Lauderdale County, established about 1820. Although earlier preachers had served here occasionally, Rev. Alexander Faires was the first regular one. Rev. Alexander Faires was the first person to be buried in the cemetery there. The church was also used as a school for many years and the minister usually served as a teacher. The church was used by both the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. On April 4, 1818 land totaling 158 acres was deeded to Alexander Faires, homesteaders. The land was located near the church. Rev. Alexander Faires and a colored helper were said to have been killed while cutting trees to clear land around the church. ******************************************* On September 18, 1829 Alexander Faires and a colored helper began clearing land for expansion of the cemetery plot. A large tree fell crushing both to their death. The name of the helper is not known. ***************************************** The first grave which shows a marker in this burying ground is Reverend Alexander Farris who was buried September 18, 1829 (he was born April 15, 1785). He is recorded as the first regular minister for this church, though there had been some who used the church at various times. It is said that he and a colored helper were killed while cutting down some trees to clear some land around the church. ********************************* * Note by Betsy: From the "History of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church" is the following concerning this Alexander: On September 18, 1829 Alexander Faires and a colored helper began clearing land for expansion of the cemetery plot. This book also states that Alexander came to Lauderdale County, Alabama from York County, South Carolina with other members of the Faires family in 1818. A large tree fell crushing both to their death. From "Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Records" we learn the following: Rev. Alexander Faires born April 15, 1785 died September 18, 1829 in Christian faith. The above all refer to the same folks. This is well documented. ************************************************** Wayne County, Tennessee Marriages 1857 - 1929 Sarah Farris to Felix Rush August 28, 1872. Both are colored. Amanda Farris to Willis Sinclair March 29, 1877. Both are colored. John Farris to Mahala Sessum August 24, 1884. Both are colored. ******************************* Probably Winston Co., AL The 1880 census included a colored family consisting of a woman and four children living with them listed as servants. The names of the family follows: Mary Brown, Female, age 40 - Patience Brown, Female, age 10 - John Brown, Male, age 7 - Boon Brown, Male, age 4 and Houston Brown, Male, age 2, I have no additional information. ********************************** In 1749 Culpepper Co. was formed. John's property lay in the new Co. Below is the part of the will that is of interest to most folks. The spelling, punctuation, case, & so forth are just as they are in the original will. It is important at this time to note the spelling of the surname used in this will. It is my will & desire that my well beloved son Joel shall have three negroes named doll, Lucy & Peter further it is my desire that my well beloved son Job Sertin to have three negroes named Nan & Sarah Davy. Further it is my will & desire that if any of these two should dye {die} as both to their heirs. Further it is my will & desire that all of my household goods & Stock after my debts is paid be Equally divided to two sons Joel & Job Sertin. Further it is my will & desire that my son Josiah Sertin shall have twenty Shillings. Further it is my will & desire that my Son Jacob Sertin shall have twenty Shillings. Further it is my will & desire that my son Isaac Sertin shall have twenty Shillings. I do hereby Ordain Constitute & appoint my well beloved sons Joel & Job Sertin executors. Obviously John had sold all of his property bef. his death or the law of primogeniture would have required that the oldest son inherit everything. Shillings in colonial times were worth twelve to sixteen cents each so says Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary. ******************************************** Will of Moses Short of Rockingham Co., NC, Sept. 17, 1809 In the name of God Amen. I Moses Short of the Co. of Rockingham being weak in body but of sound memory blessed be to God do this 17th day of Sept.in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & nine do make & publish this my last will & testament in the manner following: I give to my grandsons Moses & Joab (this could be Jacob but looks like Joab) Short the land on which I now live lying on the waters of Troublyonno to be equally divided betwen them after the ________ occured, to hold to them during their life & after to their increase. I also give my grandsons Moses & Joab my working clothes equally divided between them. I also give my dau. Margaret Short wife of Moses Short one negro man named Stop to serve her years as a slave & after that to be set free, I also give to my dau. Nancy Whitter wife of Jacob Whitter a negro woman named Letty to serve her years as a slave with her child Polly after that to be free - the child to be at their disposal to set free or keep it as a slave. I also give to Lydia Soman, Sarah Soman, Maragrot Short, Nancy Whitter the movable property equally to be divided among them after the lawful debts are paid. I also allow the negroes to stay on the place till the crop is secured. I make & ordain James Blair & William Blair executors of this my last will - & I make James & William Blair overseers of this my last will.--. George Brown William P. ____________ Moses Short (His Seal) H________ K(?)uyho Note: Somon Could be Samson. ******************************************** Will of Moses Short of Rockingham Co., NC, Sept. 17, 1809 In the name of God Amen. I Moses Short of the Co. of Rockingham being weak in body but of sound memory blessed be to God do this 17th day of Sept.in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & nine do make & publish this my last will & testament in the manner following: I give to my grandsons Moses & Joab (this could be Jacob but looks like Joab) Short the land on which I now live lying on the waters of Troublyonno to be equally divided betwen them after the ________ occured, to hold to them during their life & after to their increase. I also give my grandsons Moses & Joab my working clothes equally divided between them. I also give my dau. Margaret Short wife of Moses Short one negro man named Stop to serve her years as a slave & after that to be set free, I also give to my dau. Nancy Whitter wife of Jacob Whitter a negro woman named Letty to serve her years as a slave with her child Polly after that to be free - the child to be at their disposal to set free or keep it as a slave. I also give to Lydia Soman, Sarah Soman, Maragrot Short, Nancy Whitter the movable property equally to be divided among them after the lawful debts are paid. I also allow the negroes to stay on the place till the crop is secured. I make & ordain James Blair & William Blair executors of this my last will - & I make James & William Blair overseers of this my last will.--. George Brown William P. ____________ Moses Short (His Seal) H________ K(?)uyho Note: Somon Could be Samson. Will of William O. Short of Rockingham Co., NC, March 1, 1815 In the name of God Amen. I William O. Short of Rockingham & State of NC being sick & weak in body but of sound mind & memory & calling to mind the ___________ (condition?) of my body & know that it is doomed for all men once to die, do this first day of March A.D. Eighteen hundred & fifteen make & publish this my last will & testament in manner & form following: First I recommend my body to the grave to be bur. in a Christian like manner at the discration (desecration) of my Executor & my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it. Item 1. First I give & bequeat to my beloved wife (Joan Short) one hundred acres of land lying up & down the road it being part of the __________ tract during her natural life or her remaining my widow taking in my mansion house, proving she should raise my youngest son Wilson Short & give him one year schooling at least but if she the said Joan Short should fail to do that she is only to have the benefit of fifty acres taking in the mansion house & lying on the South side of the land & have the benefit of the one hundred acres for five years lot her school my son or not. Also I give her one sorral mare Ja_ownby the mare of Doamon(?) Mare, also one cow & calf, one sow & pigs, one bed, furniture & her own saddle , also two flax wheels & one cotton wheel. Item 2. I give to my dau. Polly Blackburn one bay horse by the name of Friday. Item 3. I give to my dau. Sarah Do(a)gley the plantation whereon she now lived & a part of my plantation beginning at the Creek then up to the old house, & hence to the draw, for two years provided she should take on(e?) of my sons that is to say Samuel Short & board, wash, make mind for him during time of two years & also give him schooling for one of the above years for the use of said land & the balance of his two he is to work for her benefit. Item 4. I give to my dau. Delilah Blackburn the balance of the old plantation up to it. C____ings line for two years with the privilege of moving the old shop any where for her own benefit provided she should take my son L_________ Short & board, make mind for him & give him one year schooling the balance of the time he is to work for her benefit. Item 5. I give to my dau. Rachel Richards fifty dollars to be raised out of the ___ 0f my chattel property. item 6. I give to my two sons Samuel & Lrour (? I am only guessing at this name. My copy of this will is exteremly difficult to read.) Short all of my old land to be actually divided (equal number or ((negroes(?)) soros) beginnning at the Creek & running up to the South line & also give to Samuel Short my ___idly horseand tomy son Lroor (?) Short my __________ mare which Delilah Blackburn is to take with my son Lrear (?) & have the use of, & food during the time she keeps him & also Sarah Doglay (Dagley) is to take the horse loft to Samuel Short & feed & use him during the two years she keeps Samuel Short. Item 7. I give to my son Wilson all the balance of my land to have full privileges of the whole after the death of my life or hor(?) coasing(?) to be my widow. I also give him a filly which is the only one I have. Item 8. I give to my son Aaron Short five shillings & to my son William Short five shillings all to be raised out of the sell of my chattel property to be sold to the highest bidder & after paying all of my just debts the balance of the proceeds is to be divided between my dau. Rachel Richard & my granddaughter Joan Short so for school to have fifty dollars & Joan to have twenty dollars & if a balance should remain it is to be equally divided between the said Rachel Richard & the said Jaon short my granddaughter. I also will that as much of my corn be sold for cash as will raise the sum of thirty three dollars which is money I hold in my hand due my brother Moses (?) Short as a legacy. & hereby make & ordain my worthy friend John Samson & Nathaniel Dolmany executors of this my last will & testament in ____________. I the said William O. Short have to this my hand will & testament set my hand affixed my seal this day & year above written. William O. Short His Seal Witnesses N. Dolmany George Samson May Session 1815: The execution of the within last will & testament of William O. Short was duly proved in open court by the oath of George Samson & on motion the same was ordered to be recorded. R. Galloway C.C. ************************************************************ From Tuscaloosa Co., AL Thomas I. moved to Newton Co., MS The earliest date of record was a deed signed by Mary Wash in Newton Co. on July 13, 1840. In newton Co. Thomas I. acquired a four to five thousand acres plantation. He has around three hundred negro slaves on this plantation. It was located five miles north of Newton, MS ******************************************************8 Thomas I. paid $11.00 per acre for his lands located in Newton Co. Mary Wash taught sixty Negro ch. every Sunday underneath a big tree on the plantation. Thomas I. paid as much as $1000.00 each for a few of his slaves. ********************************************** The Will of Zephaniah Clement Will of Zephaniah Clement, Bibb Co., AL {Copied from the original will in the files of Probate Office.} I Zephaniah Clemment of the Co. of Bibb & Statre of AL being weak in body, but of sound & perfect mind & memory, do make & publish this my last will & Testament, in manner & form following (to wit) First I give & bequeat unto my beloved son Stephen Clemment One Dolar over & above the amount he has already received - I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved son William Clement One Negro girl named Nell & one Horse, & one cow & Calf worth Ten dollars & one Bed & furniture worth ten dollars & one Bed & furniture worth fifty dollars to him & his heirs forever - I also give & bequeat unto my beloved son Thomas Clemment on negro girl named Harriett one Horse worth $100 one Bed & furniture worth fifty dollars & one cow & calf worth ten dollars, to him & his heirs forever- I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved son Luellen Clemment one negro girl named Rose & one Horse worth $100 one Bed & furniture worth fifty dollars one Cow & calf worth fifty dollars, tho him & his heirs forever. I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved son Alfred Clemment one negro girl named Amy one Bed & furniture worth fifty dollars, & one cow & calf worth ten dollars, to him & his heirs for-ever I do leave in the care of my executors for the support & maintenance of my beloved dau. Isabel Clemment one negro girl named Writta one bed & furniture worth fifty dollars & one cow & calf worth ten dollars to her during her natural life, & then to return to her Brothers & sisters to be equally divided among them. I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved dau. Polly Wash one negro girl named Fanny one Horse worth one Hundred dollars, one Bed & furntiure worth fifty dollars one cow & calf worth ten dollars, eifht head of hogs worth fifty dollars to her & her heirs forever. I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved dau. Susanna Terry one negro girl named Mirah & Hundred dollars in money one bed & furniture worth fifty dollars one cow & calf worth ten dollars one sow & pigs worth ten dollars to her & her heirs forever- I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved dau. Leanna Clemment one negro girl named Betty one Bed & furniture worth fifty dollars one cow & calf worth ten dollars to her & her heirs for ever - I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved dau. Nancy Hunt one negro girl named Dina one Mule worth one Hundred & fifty dollars One bed & furniture one cow & calf worth ten dollars, to her & her heirs forever - I do also give & bequeat untomy beloved dau. Parsada Clemment one negro girl named Juli one bed & furniture worth fifty dollars one cow & calf worth ten dollars to her & her heirs for ever - I do also give & bequeat unto my beloved dau. Annamariah Jones all my right & claim to certain tract of land lying in the state of SC Edgefield Co. Walnut Creek now contested by law, & in case she should fail to recover the said land that she is to receive four hundred dollars in lieu thereof out of the proceeds of my Estate to her & her heirs for ever - It is alos my will that the following negroes (to wit) Gilbert, Nan, Milly, Lucy & Dicy, Judy, Pharo & Ester be kept together upon the plantation, under the care & direction of my Executors untill the discharge of all my just debts, & after the discharge of said debts that the said Negroes be equally divided so as to make the smallest legacies equal with the greatest. & lastly, I do appoint my beloved sons William & Thomas Clemment & John Hunt my sole Exectuors of this my last will & Testament - hereby revoking all former wills by me made - In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 25th day of Jan. in the year of our Lord one thousand & eight Hundred & twenty two. Signed Z. Clement {His Seal} Signed, sealed, published, & declared by the above named Zephaniah Clement to be his last will & Testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in presence of the Testator: P. Watkins, Samuel Cammack, & Lewis Cammack. Peter Watkins & Samuel Cammak proved the Execution of the Will 25th Feby {Feb.} 1822. Let it be recorded. A.M. Lusk, Judge of Bibb Co. Ct. This will also recorded in Book C pages 10, 11, & 12. ***************************************