Elam Farmer

This post will attempt to hash out all the Elam Farmers living around Chesterfield County, Virginia in the 1700s.  I am a descendant of one Elam Farmer who married a woman named Polly, through his son, George. 

The first Elam Farmer I will look at is my ancestor.  Elam Farmer was born before 1745. He died in 1811. He was married first to an unknown woman.  With this unknown woman, he had at least three children.  George was born around 1765.  Tabitha was born on February 13, 1775.  She married a Thomas Boles.  He also had a son named Elam who had died by 1811, presumably without child.  Elam, born before 1845, lists himself as Elam Farmer Sen'r in his will, so he must have had a son named Elam at some point.  On September 10, 1795, Elam married to his second wife, Polly Harding.  Some people say she is a widow and her maiden name was Hudson, but I cannot find any proof of this.  Polly was considerably younger than Elam, as she was still able to have children.  The 1810 census of Chesterfield County, Virginia lists 2 females between 0-10 in Elam's home.  One of these should be Anna Farmer, the only unmarried daughter listed in her father's will.  The other daughter is not known and probably died before the will in 1811.  Some people list the Elam Farmer who married Polly Harding was the son of Lodowick Farmer and Sarah Cheatham. Lodowick's will, however, does not mention a son named Elam. There is a connection between Elam and the Cheathams, as we see several mentions of Cheathams in Elam's will, but being that his father, Elam Farmer married second to Phebe Cheatham, that would explain the connection. Phebe and Sarah were sisters. Both children of Benjamin Cheatham and Grace Williams.

The next Elam is the one who married Lucy Nunnally.  Though I do not know for sure that her name was Lucy, it seems to be the most common name given to this Nunnelly woman.  In the will of John Nunnally, from 1765, it lists grandchildren, Elam Jr and Martha.  I feel that this Elam Jr. is my ancestor, who married second to Polly Harding.  In his will, Elam Farmer had married a second wife, Phebe Cheatham.  The following children, in addition to Elam and Martha, are listed as Henry, Lodowick, Hezekiah, Mary, Rhoda, Salley, and Judith.  

A third Elam is one who married Mary Stratton.  They were married in 1808 in Powhatan County, Virginia.  This Elam is the son of Hezekiah Farmer and grandson of the Elam and Phebe Cheatham Farmer.  Hezekiah Farmer left land to his son Elam in Powhatan County, so it seems logical that this Elam, who married and lived in Powhatan County was Hezekiah's son.  In 1820, Elam and Mary had 3 living children, 2 sons between 0 and 10 and one daughter between 0 and 10.  

In 1810, there is an Elam Farmer living in Goochland County, Virginia.  He is listed as 26-44 years old.  His wife is 16-25 years old and his children are one son, 0-10 and one son, 10-15.  I do not know where he fits in our tree.  Any help is appreciated.

In 1830, there is an Elam Farmer living in Chesterfield County, Virginia.  He is listed as 40-49.  There is no wife listed.  He has 3 sons, one is 15-19, one is 10-14, and one is 5-9.  This could be the Elam who married Mary Stratton.  His 2 sons under 10 from the 1820 census could be the two older sons.  The daughter from 1820 could have been married.  Mary could have died.  Without further information on the family, I cannot tell yet.

So, you have the following tree

Elam Farmer married Lucy Nunnelly

...Elam Farmer married unknown

......Elam Farmer

...Elam Farmer married 2nd Polly Harding

Elam Farmer married second to Phebe Cheatham

...Hezekiah Farmer

......Elam Farmer married Mary Statton. 

 

L C and Louise Farmer

I'm going to take a slightly different approach to my blog.  I'm trying to organize all my genealogy information into timelines for individuals, which includes dates and sources for all the people in my files organized in a timeline-like fashion.

I'm going to start with my grandfather, L. C. Farmer and my grandmother, Louise Harvell Farmer.

Timeline Notes for Glema Louise Harvell

October 1, 1933 - She was born in Carroll County, Georgia to Raymond Newton Harvell and Lena Bell McIntosh.
        **Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer
        **Birth Certificate of Glema Louise Harvell -- in the possession of
            Dexter Lynn Farmer.
        **Obituary of Glema Louise Harvell published in the Times-
            Georgian.

She married L. C. Farmer.  He was the son of Charles Clayton Farmer and Jerusha Ella Inez Snow.
**Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

June 16, 1951 - She became the mother of Sheila Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

April 22, 1955 - She became the mother of Harland Keith Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

November 21, 1957 - She became the mother of Elton Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

October 17, 1959 - She became the mother of Dexter Lynn Farmer in Franklin, Heard, Georgia.
**Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

November 9, 1962 - She became the mother of Derwin Scott Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

April 24, 1964 - She became the mother of Mindy Kay Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible - Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

At some point, she changed her name from Farmer to Basden.  She had met a man named John Basden who gave her a ring, but it was never known if they really married or not.
**Personal knowledge of Jennifer Farmer Connett and Dexter Lynn Farmer

2005 - She is mentioned in the engagement announcement of Jennifer Lynn Farmer and Charlton Lee Connett which was published in the Savannah Morning News: "The bride-elect is the granddaughter of ... Mrs. Louise Basden and the late Mr. L.C. Farmer of Bowdon, Georgia."

2006 - She is mentioned in the marriage announcement of Jennifer Lynn Farmer and Charlton Lee Connett which was published in the Savannah Morning News: "She is the granddaughter of ... Mrs. Louise Basden and the late Mr. L. C. Farmer of Bowdon, Georgia."

July 9, 2007 - She died in Carrollton, Carroll, Georgia.
        **Obituary of Glema Louise Harvell published in the Times-Georgian.

July 11, 2007 - The obituary of Glema Louise Basden was published in the Times-Georgian based out of Carrollton, Carroll, Georgia -- Glema Louise Basden, 73, of Bowdon died July 9, 2007. Mrs. Basden was born Oct. 1, 1933, in Carroll County to the late Raymond and Lena Bell McIntosh Harvell.  She was retired from Tanner Medical Center where she worked as a nurse. She was a life-long residence of this area and a member of Bowdon Baptist Church.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, L.C. Farmer; son, Ellen Farmer, and a brother, Raymond Harvell Jr. Survivors include her sons, Dexter Farmer of Savannah, Scott Farmer of Bowdon and Harland Farmer of Bradenton, FL,; daughters, Sheila Smith of Carrollton and Kay Ploeg of Douglasville; sister, Gladys Johnson of Bowdon. Funeral services will be Thursday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at Rainwater Funeral Home with the Rev. J. W. Daniel officiating.  Burial will follow in the Bowdon City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 5 to 8 p.m. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family at www.rainwaterfuneralhomcome.com

July 12, 2007 - Funeral services were at 11 a.m. at Rainwater Funeral Home with Charlton Connett officiating.  She was buried in the Bowdon City Cemetery in Bowdon, Carroll County, Georgia.
**Jennifer Farmer Connett personally attended the funeral.  The minister that was
            chosen to perform the ceremony could not be found so my husband performed
            the ceremony.
        **Obituary of Glema Louise Harvell published in the Times-Georgian.

2011 - A stone was placed on her grave.  I have not yet been out to photograph it.


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Timeline Notes for L. C. Farmer

January 27, 1930 - He was born in Alabama to Charles Clayton Farmer and Jerusha Ella Inez Hale.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer
**Social Security Death Index: 418-36-8285

1930 - L. C. Farmer is recorded in the Lost Creek, Cleburne, Alabama census as son of Clayton C. and Inez Farmer.  He is listed as L. C. Farmer, age 2 months old and being born in Alabama.

He married Glema Louise Harvell.  She is the daughter of Raymond Newton Harvell and Lena Bell McIntosh.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

June 16, 1951 - He became the father of Sheila Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

L. C. Farmer served as a private in the US Army during the Korean War.
**Personal knowledge of Dexter Lynn Farmer"
**Military Grave Marker

April 22, 1955 - He became the father of Harland Keith Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

November 21, 1957 - He became the father of Elton Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

October 17, 1959 - He became the father of Dexter Lynn Farmer in Franklin, Heard, Georgia.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

November 9, 1962 - He became the father of Derwin Scott Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

April 24, 1964 - He became the father of Mindy Kay Farmer in Georgia.
**Family Bible -- Written in 1981 by Dexter Lynn Farmer

February 3, 1996 - He died in Cobb County, Georgia of a stroke.
**Social Securty Death Index: 418-36-8285

February 1996 - He was buried in the Bowdon City Cemetery in Bowdon, Carroll, Georgia.  His grave stone reads "PFC US Army Korea"
**Jennifer Farmer Connett
            has personally seen the
            headstone and
            photographed it.

2005 - He is mentioned in the engagement announcement of Jennifer Lynn Farmer and Charlton Lee Connett which was published in the Savannah Morning News: "The bride-elect is the granddaughter of ... Mrs. Louise Basden and the late Mr. L.C. Farmer of Bowdon, Georgia."

2006 - He is mentioned in the marriage announcement of Jennifer Lynn Farmer and Charlton Lee Connett which was published in the Savannah Morning News: "She is the granddaughter of ... Mrs. Louise Basden and the late Mr. L. C. Farmer of Bowdon, Georgia."

July 11, 2007 - He is mentioned in his wife's obituary which was published in the Times-Georgian.  It reads, "she was preceded in death by her husband, L.C. Farmer."

The Snow Family - Thomas Jefferson Snow

Thomas Jefferson Snow was born in 1833 in Gwinnett County, Georgia. He married Mary Jane Durrett, a daughter of James Francis Durrett and Martha A. Ross. Thomas and Mary became the parents of eight children: Edna Pearl, Martha Rachel, Thomas J., Benjamin Franklin, Sarah W., Lovie D., Reuben Walter and Mary Jane.

Edna Pearl Snow was born on May 26, 1860 in Alabama. She married Lorenzo Dow Walker on December 13, 1883 in Carroll County, Georgia. Edna and Lorenzo had the following children: Minnie Lee, Mary Jane, Lena Victoria, Eula Bell and William McKinley. Edna died on December 10, 1948.

Martha Pearl Snow was born in 1861 in Alabama. She married Thomas T. Collier on January 12, 1882 in Cleburne County, Alabama. They had the following children: Davie, Jesse Versie, Walter F., Lettie G., Bertha, Dewey A. and Wiley Ocus. Martha died on March 15, 1914 in Boaz, Marshall, Alabama.

Thomas J. Snow was born in 1862 in Alabama. I do not know anything further on Thomas.

Benjamin Franklin Snow (pictured left) was born on June 10, 1865 in Cleburne County, Alabama. He married Louli Juline Overton, a daughter of William Mosby Overton and Nancy Ann Boyd. Benjamin and Lou had the following children: Delbert, Earl Clifton, Lemma, Lilly, Beulah, Jewel, William Bryan, Faye, Myrl, Loyce and Berta Lou. Benjamin died on February 4, 1935 in Tifton, Tift, Georgia. Benjamin apparently dropped dead suddenly had his home after chopping wood. His obituary describes him as "an honorable and upright man [and] a good citizen." He was buried in Ty Ty Cemetery in Ty Ty, Tift, Georgia.

Sarah W. Snow was born in 1869 in Alabama. I do not know anything further on Sarah.

Lovie D. Snow was born on June 16, 1871 in Alabama. She married Charles George Farmer on December 31, 1886 in Cleburne County, Alabama. The became the parents of the following children: Lena E., Thomas William, Berma, John Clifton, Charles Clayton, Berta and Lindsey J. Lovie died on March 4, 1947 in Ranburne, Cleburne, Alabama. She and her husband are buried in the First Baptist Church Cemetery in Ranburne, Cleburne, Alabama. Lovie and Charles are my gg-grandparents and their son, Charles Clayton, is my g-grandfather.

Reuben Walter Snow was born on April 20, 1873 in Alabama. He married Elizabeth R. I do not know Elizabeth's maiden name. Reuben and Elizabeth had a large family. Their children include Verna, Sep, Ulyssus S., Walter Hershal, William Ralph, Elmore, Virgie Lee, Rayford, Clemon, Neroumay, Dana Sue, Marshall Foch and Jerry. I do not know when Reuben passed away. There is a grave marker erected in Ranburne, Cleburne, Alabama in the First Baptist Church Cemetery, but no death date is recorded.

Mary Jane Snow is the youngest child of Thomas Jefferson and Mary Jane Snow. She was born in 1875 in Alabama. She married William Albert Abercrombie in 1891. They had the following children: Bertha L. Russell H., Theresa M. J., Nora and Albert. William and Mary also lost 3 infants before 1900. I do not know their names or when they were born and when they died. Mary died in 1960 in Cleburne County, Alabama.

Sources:
Census Records: 1870-1930 Cleburne County, Alabama
Census Records: 1900-1910 Marshall County, Alabama
Census Records: 1920 - Carroll County, Georgia
Census Records: 1920-1930 Tift County, Georgia
Death Records: Martha Pearl Snow Collier, Lovie D. Snow Farmer
Grave Stone Photo - Charles Clayton and Lovie D. Snow Farmer; Reuben Walter Snow and Elizabeth R. - Photos taken by Jennifer Farmer Connett in 2009.
Marriage Records: Edna Pearl Snow and Lorenzo Dow Walker, Martha Pearl Snow and Thomas T. Collier, Charles Clayton Farmer and Lovie D. Snow
Obituary - The Cleburne News - Benjamin Franklin Snow

William Farmer and Family

So it has been more than a month since my last post. I have been feeling pretty good lately, just haven't felt like sitting still and typing... :)

William Farmer was born on June 22, 1801 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. I do not know anything about William's early life. I know he was 38 when he married his first wife, Frances St. John on November 7, 1839 in Newton County, Georgia. I have assumed that Frances was his first wife since I can find no evidence of a previous wife. I have been unsuccessful in locating William in 1850 or prior census records. Was he still in the Oglethorpe/Newton county areas or did he leave and come back? I really do not know. His wife Frances was born in 1820 in South Carolina. Together, they had 8 known children: John C., Samantha Anne Elizabeth, Sarah Emily, Salina Frances, William Thomas, Robert Hardin, Newton Andrew and Martha Eunice. Frances died on May 26, 1858 in Rockdale County, Georgia, when Martha was just 5 months old.
Shortly after the death of his wife, William remarried to a widow, Sarah Ann Boyd, whose maiden name was Goddard. Together, they had 2 children: Charles George and Virginia. A third child is sometimes attributed to them, John. I feel that John was a Boyd and not a Farmer and thus the child of Sarah's first husband. John would have been born in 1859, just shortly before she married William. In the Family Bible my dad has, it states that Charles's siblings were Jennie and John. If John was William's son, then based on the April 1, 1860 marriage date for William and Sarah, then John was conceived out of wedlock. In 1880, John is listed as a Farmer, but in 1900 he is listed as a Boyd with a birth recorded as happening in November of 1859, which was 5 months before the marriage of William and Sarah. Another mistake some researchers have made regarding the children of William and Sarah is assuming that Virginia had died young. Virginia was 16 years old in 1880 and living with her half-sister, Nancy Boyd (who married William Overton) and her family. Since no one could find her after 1880, the researchers assumed she had died. It wasn't until I began researching my Durrett family that I found out what happened to Virginia after 1880. Virginia had married in October of 1882 to Joseph Columbus Durrett, who was an uncle to her brother's (Charles) wife. The couple then moved with their 4 children to Texas and later to Florida, where Virginia died.
Sarah was first married to Robert J. Boyd. I know nothing about him but his name. I have been unsuccessful in finding him on any census records. He married Sarah on October 3, 1844 in DeKalb County, Georgia. They had 4 children: Nancy Ann, Sarah Ann, Ephriam, and the disputed John. Nothing is known about Ephriam. He appears on one census record then disappears. It is not known when Robert died or where he was during all the censuses. In 1850, Sarah is living with who we assume is Robert's brother or some other relative of his with her two daughters. Robert is no where to be found. Robert is presumed dead by 1860 since Sarah remarried.
William died on August 5, 1872 in Rockdale County, Georgia. After William's death, Sarah moved to Cleburne County, Alabama with her daughter, Nancy and her family. Sarah died on September 1, 1891. She is buried at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Carroll County, Georgia in an unmarked grave. I visited the church cemetery about 5 years ago and could not locate her grave. There was a large field, but there were only 5 or six marked graves.

Ancestry Page

Sources:
Census Records: 1850 - Newton County, Georgia
Census Records: 1860 - Rockdale County, Georgia
Census Records: 1870 - DeKalb County, Georgia
Census Records: 1880, 1900 - Cleburne County, Alabama
Census Records: 1910 - Tarrant County, Texas
Census Records: 1920 - McLennan County, Texas
Census Reocrds: 1930 - Dade County, Florida
Death Records: Florida - Virginia L. Durretti
Farmer Family Bible
Marriage Records: Robert Boyd and Sarah Goddard

George Farmer

Well, I am feeling pretty good this morning. Perhaps it is true that things start to get better when you get close to the second trimester. I am going to try to get this new post up before I do start feeling bad.

George Farmer was born sometime around 1760 in Virginia, probably Chesterfield County. I do not have any proof as to George's father, but have seen references that his father's name was Elam Farmer. There were many Elam Farmers in Virginia who could be George's father, and so far I have not been able to pin point exactly which, or even if his father's name actually was Elam.
My records show that George married Nancy Hardin on May 15, 1794 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. There have been disputes as to the maiden name of George's wife, or if he in fact married two different Nancys, but according to he research I have done, I am most positive that Nancy Hardin was the wife, and only wife of George. Some researches believe that George Farmer married Nancy Bolling in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on April 17, 1798. If you look at the original records and not the transcripts, you will see that the George who married Nancy Bolling was a Farrar, not a Farmer. One can see how the names can be easily confused. Our George Farmer did move to Oglethorpe County, hence the confusion in his wife's name and the assumption that some researches make in stating that Nancy Hardin died and he then married Nancy Bolling.
George and his family were in Oglethorpe County, Georgia by 1800 where George is recorded in the Tax records and on the census with his wife, one son and two daughters in the household. George probably died in 1810, since he is recorded in the Tax lists but not recorded on the census.
George and Nancy had, according to the 1800 census, 3 children, and since Nancy is listed as 45+, it would seem unlikely that they would have many children after that census. In my records, I have children born up to 1809. Perhaps their was a mistake on the census or some of the children are actually grandchildren and their father is not known. I do not know for sure without looking for more records on the family. I have the following list of children of George and Nancy: Henry, Thomas, Elizabeth, Martha, William, Theodosia, George W., and Robert Hardin. Elizabeth and Martha were the daughters recorded in 1800 and Henry was most likely the son. In 1820, Henry is recorded in the Oglethorpe County census with a male and female between the ages of 10 and 15. They are most likely siblings of his, since they are too old to be his children. That would be there would be at least 5 children. Theodosia is probably the girl and either Robert or George the boy.
I would love to see more records on this family, as William would be my ancestor. I have proven my line up to William, but have not been able to find that record or link that truly connects William to his father, George. I feel very strongly that William is connected to this family. He has named a son Robert Hardin, and another son, my gg-grandfather, has the middle name of George. When I have more time, I will try to write a post on William, but for now, I must stop typing and get ready for work.

I have not added George to my ancestry tree since he is not proven yet to be my William's father, and he is not located on Find-A-Grave.com.

Sources:
Census Records: 1800, 1820 Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Tax Records: 1800, 1805, 1810 Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Marriage Records: George Farrar and Nancy Bolling