William Wilson filed his Southern Claims Commission petition in 1877, claiming $59 for two hogs, corn, rice, and 40 head of poultry taken from him by Federal troops from his wife’s home on the Mrs. Lydia Quarterman Goshen plantation, where she was enslaved, in December 1864. Wilson said he was 61 years old when he gave his testimony for the claim, and that he had lived all of his life in Liberty County.
See the full transcript of this claim at: https://theyhadnames.net/2020/05/28/william-wilson-southern-claims-commission/
He added that Mrs. Quarterman’s plantation was about 60 acres, 8-10 acres of it cultivated, and said that his own slaveowner was Edward Andrews, who did not testify for him because the property taken was at his (William Wilson’s) wife’s home. Simon Harris testified for Wilson that he had witnessed the property being taken, saying that he had known Wilson for 18-20 years and was not related to him. He named Tom Irvin, Nejah Martin and Marlboro Fabian as people who could testify as to Wilson’s loyalty to the Union, as well as Toney Golding, Gus Law, and Brister Fleming. Harris said he himself was 70 years old when he gave his testimony.
Thomas Irvin also testified, saying that he was 60 years old at the time of his testimony and that he had lived in Liberty County all his life and was a farmer and a blacksmith. He said he had known Wilson about 20 years of that time and had witnessed the property being taken from Mrs. Quarterman’s plantation. He named as additional potential witnesses as to Wilson’s loyalty Harry Martin, Nejah Baker, and Peter Martin.
The Claims Commission normally had a white landowner testify as well, and in this case it was Robert Q. Andrews, who said he was 23 years old and had lived in Liberty County for 16 years, having known Wilson all of that time. He said Wilson lived about 4 miles from him, and that Wilson’s wife had “lived in the same place I did.” He testified that he was present when the property was taken and saw the Federal soldiers shoot one of Wilson’s hogs and take all his poultry. He said that he did know that Wilson was allowed to own property, and did.
In the case file were also two documents reporting service to the Confederacy by a William Wilson, but concluding that this was not the same man.
Wilson was granted $38 of his $59 claim.
The Southern Claims Commission petition said that William Wilson was 61 in 1877, had lived in Liberty County all his life, and that his slaveowner was Edward Andrews and his wife lived on Mrs. Lydia Quarterman’s plantation in 1864. According to the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, William Wilson, 59 years old, was living with Tamar Wilson, 55, and William Wilson, 10, in Liberty County’s Subdivision 180 [1]. In addition to 59-year-old William and 10-year-old William Wilson, there was a 30-year-old William Wilson also living in Liberty County. The 1870 census does not specify relationships, so 10-year-old William Wilson could have been either 59-year-old William Wilson’s son or grandson.
Tamar is named as William Wilson’s wife in the 1880 census, and they are listed as 62 (William) and 57 (Tamar) [2]. Living with them was Susan Graham, a 15-year-old black girl listed as a farm laborer and Georgia Bacon, a 10-year-old black girl listed as “niece.”
Although no death records were found for William or Tamar, they were not found in the 1900 Liberty County census, and given their ages, were likely deceased by then. (The 1890 census burned in a fire so is not available.)
William Wilson had said in his SCC claim that his wife was living on Mrs. Lydia Quarterman’s plantation, Goshen Farm. Mrs. Quarterman was born Lydia Quarterman Andrews to Micajah Andrews (1774-1843) and Ann Quarterman (1775-1815), and was baptized in the Midway Congregational Church on January 7, 1816 [3]. She married William Thomas E. Baker in 1837 [4], and in 1844, inherited Tamar, said to be 22 years old, from her father, along with Lucretia, Henry, and Samm [5]. Micajah Andrews had specified in his will that “three of my coloured people old Phebe, old Tom and Tamar shall choose their owners out of my heirs,” indicating some special relationship [6]. Baker died, and in 1858, Lydia married William Elliott Way Quarterman, and became Mrs. Lydia Quarterman [7]. She presumably took Tamar to live with her at Quarterman’s farm. W.E.W. Quarterman died in 1868, so was not alive at the time of Wilson’s SCC claim [8]. Robert Q. Andrews, who testified for Wilson in his claim, was a nephew of Lydia Quarterman’s.
Tamar was received as a member in the Midway Congregational Church on February 15, 1845, and was said at the time to belong to T.W.E. Baker, who was William Thomas E. Baker, Lydia Quarterman Andrews’ first husband, indicating that she probably lived at the Baker place before Baker died and Lydia remarried to W.E.W. Quarterman [9].
William Wilson said in his claim that Edward Andrews was his slaveowner, and that he lived about 4 miles from Goshen Farm. This would have been Edward Quarterman Andrews (1800-1880), also a son of Micajah Andrews and Ann Quarterman. It would seem likely then that William had also been inherited from Micajah Andrews, but there is no William (or Will) listed in Micajah Andrews’ estate division. It is noteworthy that both witnesses, Tom Irvin and Simon Harris, said they had known Wilson for about 20 years, though both he and they said they all had lived in Liberty County all their lives, indicating perhaps that he had come from a different plantation. An avenue for further research would be investigating Edward Andrews’ wife, Margaret Beasley Andrews, to determine when her father died, in case William had been inherited from him.
In February 1867, a William Wilson was received into membership at the Midway Congregational Church, shortly before the Church dissolved and its white and black members went their separate ways [10]. [NOTE: In the post-War Midway Church records, white members were given the courtesy title of Mr. or Mrs, while African-American members were not.]
In looking at the Liberty County land deed records for land sold or bought by William Wilson, the fact that there were three William Wilsons during the post-War period complicates the process of disentangling the records. The land transactions found were mostly before 1890, which probably lets out the youngest William Wilson, who was 10 in 1870. That leaves this William Wilson and also the William Wilson who was 30 in 1870. There are records for both a William Wilson and a William A. Wilson, and it is not clear who is who, so be aware that more work needs to be done to determine this. References to these records is provided here to help with that task:
* January 1877: E. [probably Ezra] Stacy sold to William Wilson, listed as “colored,” for $280 “a portion of the Oakland Plantation known as Lot No. 5 bounded on the north by the Ball tract or H.M. Stevens land on the east by Lot No. 6 on the south by lands formerly belonging to Est. Thomas Bacon on the west by Lot No. 4 of the Oakland Plantation containing in all fifty acres more or less together with Lot No 5 of the Cato pineland tract adjoining and lying on both sides of the Riceboro Road being one sixth of said tract bounded on the north by Lot no. 6 of the same tract on the east by lands of John B. Mallard on the south by lot no. 4 of the same tract on the west by land known as the Ball tract (which is known as Lot No. 9 of the Oakland Plantation) containing ten acres more or less…” Witnessed by James Clark, and Henry Way, C.S.C.L.C. [11]
* March 30, 1885: Wm. Wilson used his coming year’s crop of rice, corn and cotton, and a mare, as collateral for $15 worth of groceries from R.Q. Cassels, if not paid back by October 15 at 8 per cent interest. [12]
* April 4, 1885: Wm. A. Wilson used a cream horse & buggy/Jersey wagon, plus 4 head of cattle and his coming year’s crop of rice, corn, and cotton as collateral for $37.50 worth of groceries from R.Q. Cassels, if not paid back by October 15 at 8 per cent interest. [NOTE: These transactions were common for Cassels.] [13]
* On September 7, 1889, William Wilson sold to Peggy Jones for $10 one acre of land bounded north by T.G. Stacy, south by Mrs. Mary L. Stacy, east by William Wilson and west by Hannah Bacon. [14]
* On May 12, 1888, William Wilson sold to Shadrach Roberts for $44 “what is known as the Stacey Ball tract,” said to be part of Lot No. 9, bounded north by George Berrien, east by N. Tillman, south by William Wilson. Document witnessed by T.S. Ball, Floyd Snelson, E.W. James, J.P., and not recorded until 1895. [15]
* On January 7, 1891, William Wilson sold to Samson Bacon for $3.37 land on the public road leading from McIntosh [post office] to Station S.F. & W Railroad to Riceboro at the 8 miles post on that public road, bounded on the north, east and south by Stacy lands and west by Peter Maxwell, “and containing two tasks and three quarters of a task.” [16]
* On February 14, 1891, William Wilson sold to Mariah Maxwell for $13 two and ¾ acres bounded north by the McIntosh-to-Riceboro public road, and south, east and west by William Wilson. [17]
Citations:
[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, Subdivision 180, p. 12, dwelling #120, family #120, enumerated on November 11, 1870, by Robert Q. Baker, William Wilson, digital image, Ancestry.com (hhttps://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7163/4263491_00392/5879544: accessed 9/17/2019).
[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty County, Georgia, population schedule, Dictrict 15, enumeration district 67, p. 3, dwelling #28, family #28, Wm. Wilson; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6742/4240148-00403/12823907: accessed 9/17/2019).
[3] Midway Congregational Church Baptism Records, baptism for Lydia Quarterman Andrews, female, 7 January 1816, father Micajah Andrews, FamilySearch.org FHL #924846.
[4] Ancestry.com, “Liberty County, Georgia Marriages, 1785-1895″(https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 5/28/2020), William Thomas E. Baker to Lydia Q. Andrews, license date 17 February 1837, marriage date 20 February 1837.
[5] Liberty County Court of Ordinary, Vol. B, 1823-1850, pp. 356-7, Estate Division of Micajah Andrews; digital image, Ancestry.com, “Georgia Probate Records, 1743-1990,” Liberty County, within “Appraisements, bonds, and wills Vol. B 1823-1850” image #623-4. Record summarized and put online at TheyHadNames.net (https://theyhadnames.net/2018/10/01/liberty-county-estate-inventory-division-micajah-andrews/)
[6] Liberty County Court of Ordinary, Vol. B, 1823-1850, pp. 345-6, Will of Micajah Andrews; digital image, Ancestry.com, “Georgia Probate Records, 1743-1990,” Liberty County, within “Appraisements, bonds, and wills Vol. B 1823-1850” image #613. Record summarized and put online at TheyHadNames.net (https://theyhadnames.net/2018/06/08/liberty-county-will-micajah-andrews/)
[7] Ancestry.com, “Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978,” Liberty County, Wm. E.W. Quarterman to Lydia Q. Baker, marriage date 8 April 1858.
[8] Find A Grave Index, Memorial ID 59689930 (created by Ann White, 6 October 2010), William Elliott Quarterman, 15 December 1802, death 12 February 1868, Flemington Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Liberty County, Georgia; digital image: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59689930/william-elliott-quarterman.
[9] Midway Congregational Church Records, digital images, FamilySearch.org (accessed 5/28/2020); Tamar, belonging to T.W.E. Baker, to be propounded for membership on February 16, 1845 in the quarterly session records. Records online at: https://theyhadnames.net/midway-church-records/.
[10] Midway Congregational Church Records, digital images, FamilySearch.org (accessed 5/28/2020); William Wilson admitted to Church membership during the February 1867 session, in the quarterly session records. Records online at: https://theyhadnames.net/midway-church-records/.
[11] Liberty County Superior Court, “Deeds & Mortgages v. R 1874-1877,” p. 460-1, E. Stacy to William Wilson; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, R 1874-1877” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5TGG?i=521&cat=292358, accessed 5/29/2020)
[12] Liberty County Superior Court, “Deeds & Mortgages v. U 1884-1885,” p. 460, Wm. Wilson to R.Q. assels; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, U 1884-1885” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-R9HP-5?i=511&cat=292358, accessed 5/28/2020)
[13] Liberty County Superior Court, “Deeds & Mortgages v. U 1884-1885,” p. 479-80, Wm. A. Wilson to R.Q. cassels; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, U 1884-1885” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-R9HP-K?i=521&cat=292358, accessed 5/28/2020)
[14] Liberty County Superior Court, “Deeds & Mortgages v. X 1887-1890,” p. 538, William Wilson to Peggy Jones; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, X 1887-1890” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-R91T-4?i=280&cat=292358, accessed 5/28/2020)
[15] Liberty County Superior Court, “Deeds & Mortgages v. AB 1894-1896,” p. 429-30, William Wilson to Shadrach Robert; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, AB 1894-1896” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-59QG-G?i=538&cat=292358, accessed 5/28/2020)
[16] Liberty County Superior Court, “Deeds & Mortgages v. Y 1890-1891,” p. 269-70, Wm. Wilson to Samson Bacon; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, Y 1890-1891” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5TYN?i=172&cat=292358, accessed 5/28/2020)
[17] Liberty County Superior Court, “Deeds & Mortgages v. AD 1898-1901,” p. 523, William Wilson to Mariah Maxwell; digital image, FamilySearch.org, “Deeds & Mortgages, AD 1898-1901” within “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5918-Q?i=614&cat=292358, accessed 5/28/2020)