Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485322835:1030:191555462
• _UID: 7C09B3BDC0F445D38617105D36C7DE2FD55D
• Census: 24 Sep 1850, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: 18 Jun 1860, Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: Jul 1870, Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States

Family/Spouse: John Shuttlesworth. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485319980:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: LK4L-KXP
• _UID: 5204515809284F6DA962B0C15D9209AD0D15
• Census: 24 Sep 1850, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: 18 Jun 1860, Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: Jul 1870, Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: 1 Jun 1880, Guadalupe, Texas, United States

Notes:

Residence: near Seguin, TX

Occupation: Methodist minister

From Findagrave:
In the Bicentennial Minutes, Mrs. Idalene Donegan reflects that early education probably began as early as 1842 with the arrival of Methodist Minister Reverend David Evans Thompson and his enterprising wife, Elizabeth Ann.

In 1845, Reverend Thompson had started a school and taught in Seguin's first schoolhouse on the northeastern corner of Nolte and Milam Streets. It was a three room adobe building which, by 1890, "succumbed to the elements." By 1849, Reverend Thompson, with the first trustees of the Methodist Church - Ezekiel Smith, Joshua Young, Wilson Randle, Thomas D. James, Thomas H. Duggan, James C. Watkins, and Charles A. Smith, built the first church at the northwestern corner of Austin and Market (Nolte) Streets. It was built with lumber shipped from Indianola, a three week trip. Today, one of the first church buildings in Seguin is located on the corner of south Camp and Washington Streets. It is a private residence.

Elizabeth Ann can only be described as a leader among women. She not only stood by her husband's side rather than behind him, she led the way during his absences. She was a member of the first graduation class of the Georgia Female College, later Wesleyan College, and the first woman teacher in Seguin. While her husband served in the Civil War, she literally ran the family plantation with the help of slaves. Cotton was planted and shipped to Mexico. She operated a cloth factory spinning cloth for the Confederacy as well.

From "Under the Live Oak Tree, A History of Seguin" by E. John Gesick, Jr.

David married Elizabeth Ann P. Bridges on 8 Aug 1843 in Jefferson, Georgia, United States. Elizabeth (daughter of Herod Flourney Bridges and Margaret Ware) was born on 11 Apr 1815 in Putnam, Georgia, United States; died on 9 Dec 1890 in Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States; was buried in Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485315099:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: L2WK-H6N
• _UID: 2F434BE8C7AD47B99E36DD8230217D2D4735
• Census: 24 Sep 1850, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: 18 Jun 1860, Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: Jul 1870, Seguin, Guadalupe, Texas, United States
• Census: 1 Jun 1880, Guadalupe, Texas, United States

Notes:

Residence: near Seguin, TX

From Findagrave:
In the Bicentennial Minutes, Mrs. Idalene Donegan reflects that early education probably began as early as 1842 with the arrival of Methodist Minister Reverend David Evans Thompson and his enterprising wife, Elizabeth Ann.

In 1845, Reverend Thompson had started a school and taught in Seguin's first schoolhouse on the northeastern corner of Nolte and Milam Streets. It was a three room adobe building which, by 1890, "succumbed to the elements." By 1849, Reverend Thompson, with the first trustees of the Methodist Church - Ezekiel Smith, Joshua Young, Wilson Randle, Thomas D. James, Thomas H. Duggan, James C. Watkins, and Charles A. Smith, built the first church at the northwestern corner of Austin and Market (Nolte) Streets. It was built with lumber shipped from Indianola, a three week trip. Today, one of the first church buildings in Seguin is located on the corner of south Camp and Washington Streets. It is a private residence.

Elizabeth Ann can only be described as a leader among women. She not only stood by her husband's side rather than behind him, she led the way during his absences. She was a member of the first graduation class of the Georgia Female College, later Wesleyan College, and the first woman teacher in Seguin. While her husband served in the Civil War, she literally ran the family plantation with the help of slaves. Cotton was planted and shipped to Mexico. She operated a cloth factory spinning cloth for the Confederacy as well.

From "Under the Live Oak Tree, A History of Seguin" by E. John Gesick, Jr.

Notes:

Married:
The transcribed marriage record says the marriage was 3 Aug , but the license was 8 Aug. One of the two must be wrong.

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485315121:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: L441-VV6
• _UID: 4500D17BD8164E9A8416B4C7A52DCE728E83
• Residence: 1813, Putnam, Georgia, United States; appears in tax list, Capt Tomlinson's district
• Possessions: 29 Jul 1816, Greene, Georgia, United States; purchased land from John Thompson
• Misc: 12 Feb 1820, Putnam, Georgia, United States; lost a book of IOU notes from various people, published in the Georgia Journal
• Census: 7 Aug 1820, Putnam, Georgia, United States
• Possessions: 19 Mar 1821, Putnam, Georgia, United States; bought 75 acres from J. Robertson
• Possessions: 1824, Putnam, Georgia, United States; 105 acres in Putnam County, 202 1/2 in Houston County; Address:
  Captain William Allum's District
• Possessions: 12 Jun 1824, Putnam, Georgia, United States; bought 15 acres from J. Robertson
• Possessions: 8 Oct 1828, Putnam, Georgia, United States; sold 2 1/2 acres in lot 208 to Moses Harvey for $12.50.
• Census: 1830, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  Mathies District
• Residence: 1830, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Possessions: 9 Oct 1830, Putnam, Georgia, United States; bought 270 acres from the estate of Wm. Penifoy
• Possessions: 9 Oct 1830, Putnam, Georgia, United States; sold 270 acres, 14th District to McCarroll Penifoy for $500
• Residence: 1831, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Residence: 1832, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Residence: 1833, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Misc: 1 Oct 1834, Putnam, Georgia, United States; appointed to Grand Jury, Putnam Superior Court, September Term, 1834
• Possessions: 1836, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Possessions: 1837, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Possessions: 1838, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Possessions: 25 Jun 1838, Putnam, Georgia, United States; sold land to McCarroll Penifoy
• Possessions: 1839, Putnam, Georgia, United States; Address:
  District 369
• Census: 1840, Putnam, Georgia, United States
• Misc: Aug 1849, Putnam, Georgia, United States; signed as security for sale of property
• Census: 5 Sep 1850, Putnam, Georgia, United States
• Occupation: 5 Sep 1850, Putnam, Georgia, United States; farmer
• Possessions: 5 Sep 1850, Putnam, Georgia, United States; real property $3000 and 17 slaves
• Possessions: 20 Dec 1851, Putnam, Georgia, United States; sold land to Mary Pounds

Notes:

Who is Thomas Bridges? A brother, father, other? Found in Greene County at the same time as Herod.


Does not appear in the 1817 Putnam Co., Georgia tax list

Does not appear in the 1820 Putnam Co., Georgia tax list

Does not appear in the 1852 Putnam Co., Georgia tax list - probably moved to Louisiana in 1851

Putnam county tax lists for 1817, 1820, 1824, 1830-1833, 1836-1839, and 1852 checked.

Why do I think that Herod & Margaret were married in Greene County?

Residence:
Interestingly, Herod bridges is just one page away from Lewis Deshazo. And John Tomlinson, clearly a relative of Mary Tomlinson Wren, is the captain.

Misc:
State of Georgia, Putnam County. This is to notify those to whom it may concern that I, Herod Bridges, did on the 12th day of February, 1820, loose from my pocket a book containing the following notes: On Joseph Parks of Morgan County, sixteen $25.00 notes.. one note on Locklin Johnston of Putnam County for $16.00... one on Edward Gallin of Morgan County for $12.00 ... one note on John Ward of Greene County for $17.00 ... one on Sion Hudson of Morgan County for $14.00 ... all persons are forewarned against tradin for the above described notes... (signed) Herod Bridges. Sworn to and subscribed before me, one of the acting Justices of Putnam County. (signed) B. Williams, J.P.

Census:
Enumeration - 10001-301, Slaves 0

Herod Bridges is in the same district as William K Deshazo. Mom's family and Dad's family are neighbors in 1820.

Possessions:
Herod Bridges paid 2 polls, had 105 acres of 2nd quality land in Putnam County on Rocky Creek and 202 1/2 acres of pine land in Houston County in the 14th district, lot number 91. The Houston county land looks like it could be a land lottery lot.

Possessions:
Witnessed by G.W. Wren

Census:
Enumerated as 211001-111101-121-0011-Total 16

Residence:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 5 polls, 300 acres 3rd class land along Rocky Creek. Total Due $1.93 3/4

5 polls indicates that he must have 4 slaves.

Possessions:
This appears to be a case where Herod Bridges sold land to McCarroll Penifoy and then bought it back from the estate of Mc. Penifoy's father William the same day. Perhaps it was a land exchange with the estate - like for like. The descriptions of the property are similar and along the same waterway.

Possessions:
This appears to be the 2nd half of a land exchange.

Residence:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 8 polls, 300 acres 3rd class land along Rocky Creek. Tax due: $2.15 3/4

8 polls indicates that he owned 7 slaves

Residence:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 11 1/2 polls, 300 acres 3rd class land along Rocky Creek. 11 1/2 polls indicates that he owns 10 slaves. I am not sure what the 1/2 poll indicates.

Residence:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 12 1/2 polls, 300 acres 3rd class land along Rocky Creek. Tax due: $2.14

Possessions:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 11 1/2 polls, 700 acres 3rd class land along Harrikin Branch, adjoining Pounds. Tax due: $2.27 1/2

Possessions:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 8 1/2 polls, 520 acres 3rd class land along Rocky Creek. Tax due $1.65

Possessions:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 8 polls, 420 acres 3rd class land along Rocky Creek. Tax due $1.70

Possessions:
Herod Bridges is taxed for 8 polls, 420 acres 3rd class land along Rocky Creek. Tax due: $1.77 1/2

Census:
Enumeration: 1000001-0011101, Slaves 311-21, Total 13

Misc:
120 acres of land... levied as the property of William M. Roby, to satisfy executions or Fi Fas in favor of Benamin Moseley; Herod Bridges and B.W. Sanford, security; levy made by Edmond O'Neal. (Signed) H.J. Dennis, Sheriff

Herod married Margaret Ware in 1812 in Greene, Georgia, United States. Margaret (daughter of Thomas Ware and Mary Sarah Jimerson) was born about 1797 in Lincoln, Georgia, United States; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485320318:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: KG8T-V3K
• _UID: B9C0C235707C48AFAB6911661BE3D6B466B8
• Census: 5 Sep 1850, Putnam, Georgia, United States

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485315143:1030:191555462
• _UID: 91DAE878208B4ECD8FF8CFB2C1B45E4AB612
• Misc: 1797, Wilkes, Georgia, United States; listed as defaulter on the tax list
• Possessions: 27 Feb 1804, Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States; purchased 218 acres on Goose Pond Creek from Giles Thomkins for $1400
• Misc: 1807, Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States; listed as fortunate drawer in the land lottery
• Possessions: 19 Nov 1814, Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States; purchased 100 acres from William Babers for $350
• Possessions: 19 Nov 1814, Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States; purchased 240 acres from Wm & Washington Baber for $400
• Possessions: 24 Dec 1814, Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States; Address:
  purchased 200 acres from the estate of Humphrey Tomkins for $165
• Census: 1820, Oglethorpe, Georgia, United States
• Possessions: Bef 1828, Putnam, Georgia, United States; 202 1/2 acres being lot 325, District 2

Notes:

I am becoming much less certain of this Solomon Bridges and his connection to either Herod as a child or Meshack as a father.

Note that the theory of Susanna Flournoy as Solomon Bridges wife may be full of holes. Betty Wren really believes that his wife was Jane Huckaby.

There is an estate package in Oglethorpe County for a Solomon Bridges, died 1825 but has all wrong children.

War of 1812 service. 4 Regiment (Booth's), Georgia Militia, Private.

Based on the newspaper advertisement looking for Solomon Bridges, orphan of Meshack, as a runaway in 1806, I believe Solomon and Meshack are at best brothers.

1796 Oglethorpe County tax digest lists:David Bridges
Jonathan Bridges
Nathaniel Bridges (Will 1809, Oglethorpe Co., Book B, p. 49)
Wiseman Bridges

In Oglethorpe County, there are estate records and records of an estate sale. A Nancy Bridges is appointed guardian for 3 minor children. And at the sale, a lot of stuff is sold to Nancy. Susanna is never mentioned, though she would still have been alive at this point. More evidence that this is not the Solomon that we are looking for. Seems like James must be the oldest son. He also bought a lot and was administrator.


Census:
There is a Solomon Bridges in the 1820 Oglethorpe County census
Enumeration: 011201-31010-0-10-0-0-0000-1000
So, 3 male children, 1 male adult > 45, 4 female children, 1 adult female 26-45, and 1 young female slave.

There is also a Solomon Bridges enumerated in Gwinnett County, Page 212
Enumeration: 300011-20100-0-1-0-0, no slaves. Since this Bridges family stayed pretty well rooted in Oglethorpe, I believe this Gwinnett Solomon is not ours.

Possessions:
According to the deed of sale, this land is part of Putnam that either used to be or became Baldwin.

Died:
According to a deed dated 8 Feb 1828, Solomon Bridges was already deceased and had been living in Oglethorpe County. A piece of land he owned in Putnam County was sold at auction to John Dupree.

Notice was published in November 1824 in the Georgia Journal announcing the sale. He must have been dead before that. Another sale happened in 1827. Possibly that could be for his widow.

"Agreeable to an order of the Court of Ordinary of Oglethorpe County, will be sold at the courthouse in Putnam County, on the 1st Tuesday in January next, one tract of land, No. 325, situated in the 2d district formerly Baldwin now Putnam County. Sold as the property of Solomon Bridges, deceased. (Signed) James Bridges, Adm."

Solomon married Susanna Flourney. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485316786:1030:191555462
• _UID: 280ADC0887B1470485CFB6690F68B3AAE005

Notes:

NOTE: Uncertain, but looks likely. Might have been Flourney, but then again, she might not have.

There is an 1823 subpoena in the Oglethorpe County estate records for Susanna Bridges.

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485320330:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: L81N-28S
• _UID: 8E879AB0456C45DDA8ADA6C946E2D8978D4D
• Misc: 1 Nov 1801, Lincoln, Georgia, United States; named to receive $100 at his grandfather's death
• Possessions: 24 Dec 1801, Wilkes, Georgia, United States; sold land to Richard Woodroof
• Possessions: 14 Jan 1805, Greene, Georgia, United States; purchased land from Ezekiel Park
• Misc: 15 Jan 1808, Lincoln, Georgia, United States; mentioned in grandfather's will
• Possessions: 4 Oct 1808, Greene, Georgia, United States; sold land to Francis Boykin
• Possessions: 17 Jul 1810, Jones, Georgia, United States; purchased land from William Baldwin, Sr.
• Census: 7 Aug 1820, Greene, Georgia, United States; Address:
  Woodham's District
• Census: 1830, Gwinnett, Georgia, United States
• Possessions: 19 May 1840, Colorado, Republic of Texas
• Possessions: 12 Jul 1841, Colorado, Republic of Texas; recorded land purchase
• Residence: 1844, Colorado, Republic of Texas; appears on a Texas Tax List
• Misc: 1848, Colorado, Texas, United States; accused of assault with the intent to kill
• Census: 4 Sep 1850, Colorado, Texas, United States
• Occupation: 4 Sep 1850, Colorado, Texas, United States; farmer
• Possessions: 4 Sep 1850, Colorado, Texas, United States; real property $2500
• Possessions: 23 Sep 1857, Fannin, Texas, United States; patented 640 acres

Notes:

Could have been born in Caroline Co, VA or in MD, or even Caswell Co., NC

Marriage to Sarah Jemison could have been in Talladega or in Lincoln Co., GA.

It appears that the Thomas in Colorado Co, Texas is in fact this one and that he was one of the early settlers of Texas. See http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/11945659/person/111050223/media/1?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid|pgNum and the links to the Columbus library for details

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/976644/person/-15746941/media/5?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid|pgNum

Ware Family History: Descendants from Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Kings ...
By Wanda Ware DeGidio

http://www.warefamilies.org/

Four families: Winn, Thomas, Ware, Garrett of the southern United States, from 1600s to 1993 - Switzer Library, Cobb County; Atlanta History Center

Wilder and some connecting (especially some Ware) families in the Southeastern United States of America: a belated, 'though very incomplete, report of such part of them, of their origins, of their migrations and of their genealogies, as could be found in a cursory search

From nutherslatton on Ancestry:
Thomas WARE was born in 1770 in Caswell County, North Carolina. He died on 19 Jan 1859 in Colorado, Colorado County, Texas. He is one of the foundational ancestors of the Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Per the Colorado County Chronicles, Volume I & II: "Colorado County was originally part of Stephen F. Austin's first colony, and was known as the Municipality of Colorado under the rule of the Mexican government. In 1837 it was organized as one of the original counties of the Republic of Texas."

From http://library.columbustexas.net/history/Criminal%20Causes.htm
Texas Court Records Colorado County District Court Records Criminal Cause File Index, 1837-1930 compiled by Bobbie Elliott and Bill Stein.

Though they are often overlooked, the cause files in the Office of the District Clerk are an enormously valuable resource for both historians and genealogists. The cause files come in two types: criminal and civil. The former contain papers relevant to the various criminal cases that were directed to the district court; the latter the papers of the lawsuits that were filed in the district court. This is a list of the criminal cause files from the beginning of the county, 1837, until 1930.

The list provides the cause file number, the style of the case, the year the indictment was handed down, and a brief description of the alleged crime, as it appears on the indictment. Many of the numbers were assigned to more than one case. No explanation for this has been encountered. Often numbers appear to have been skipped. These numbers were probably assigned to a case, but either no cause file was created for the case, or the cause file that was created has been lost or filed elsewhere. Information on the cause numbers missing from the list below might be gleaned from the various minute and docket books in the Office of the District Clerk. Remember that accusation is not the same thing as guilt. Those wishing to discover the outcome of any of the cases listed below should investigate further at the Office of the District Clerk at the Colorado County courthouse.

There is a criminal case on file for Thomas Ware:
Criminal Cause File No. 563: State of Texas v. Thomas Ware (1848) assault with intent to kill William R. Turner. In his defense, the Turners were a rowdy, and even a dangerous bunch as evidenced by further court records:

Colorado County District Court Records Criminal Cause File Index, 1837-1930 Criminal Cause File Government Person(s) Charged Year Charged With: CCF# 286 Rep of Texas v. William Turner 1844 assault and battery on John Suggs
CCF# 288 Rep of Texas v. John Suggs 1844 assault and battery on William Turner
CCF# 289 Rep of Texas v. John Turner 1844 assault and battery on Robert H. Tobin
CCF# 341 Rep of Texas v. William R. Turner 1844 not keeping river banks in repair at ferry
CCF# 422 Rep of Texas v. William R. Turner 1845 keeping a gaming house
CCF# 558 State of Texas v. Robert W. Turner 1848 stealing a horse
CCF# 560 State of Texas v. Robert W. Turner 1848 assault with intent to kill John Tanner
CCF# 562 State of Texas v. John Tanner 1848 assault with intent to kill William R. Turner
CCF# 563 State of Texas v. Thomas Ware 1848 assault with intent to kill William R. Turner
CCF# 565 State of Texas v. Nicholas Ware 1848 assault with intent to kill William R. Turner
CCF# 685 State of Texas v. Fleming D. Turner 1850 carnal knowledge of his mother's sister

Criminal Cause File No. 683: State of Texas v. Nicholas Ware 1850 carnal knowledge of his sister's daughter
CCF# 107 State of Texas v. Washington H. Secrest 1853 assault with intent to kill William R. Turner
CCF# 268 State of Texas v. Robert Turner. James Johnson. and Franklin Cole 1858 gaming
CCF# 300 State of Texas v. Jesse Turner 1859 playing cards in public
CCF# 333 State of Texas v. William Turner 1860 assault with the intent to kill Jesse Launes
CCF# 487 State of Texas v. William Turner 1863 aggravated assault
CCF# 582 State of Texas v. William B. Dewees. Randolph Foster. Ira A. Harris. Don Turner. Amos Besch. Don F. Payne. and Cook 1866 betting at a gaming table
CCF# 600 State of Texas v. Bram Turner 1866 taking up and using an estray horse
CCF# 665 State of Texas v. Don F(frog). Turner 1868 theft of a buggy
CCF# 709 State of Texas v. Bram Harvey alias Bram Turner 1868 theft
CCF# 795 State of Texas v. Ben Turner 1869 rape
CCF# 814 State of Texas v. Jasper Woolridge alias Jasper Turner 1870 theft of a gelding
CCF# 844 State of Texas v. Don F. Turner 1870 assault with intent to murder
CCF# 861 State of Texas v. Charley Turner. John Harbert. Dave Dancy. George Turner. and Charley Turner 1870 aiding in escape of prisoners
CCF# 876 State of Texas v. John Turner and Mandy Clayton 1871 adultery
CCF# 889 State of Texas v. George Turner 1871 violating estray law
CCF# 890 State of Texas v. George Turner 1871 violating estray law
CCF# 1012 State of Texas v. George S. Turner 1872 assault and battery
CCF# 1078 State of Texas v. James Turner 1873 theft of a mare
CCF# 1121 State of Texas v. Don F. Turner 1873 permitting two prisoners to escape
CCF# 1129 State of Texas v. Don F. Turner 1873 negligence in permitting prisoners to escape
CCF# 1292 State of Texas v. Manley Turner. George Best. Drag De Man. and J. B. Leyendecker 1874 playing cards in a public place
CCF# 1493 State of Texas v. Sim Turner 1876 rape of Susan Caldwell
CCF# 1770 State of Texas v. Manly Turner 1879 theft of cattle
CCF# 2484 State of Texas v. Sim Turner 1892
CCF# 2535 State of Texas v. Jim Turner 1893 assault with intent to murder Henry Dancy
CCF# 2656 State of Texas v. Ben Turner 1897 murder of King Thompson
CCF# 2891 State of Texas v. Andrew Turner 1904 murder of an infant
CCF# 3008 State of Texas v. Warren Turner 1909 theft of mule
CCF# 2654 State of Texas v. Sanford Turner 1915 unlawfully injuring the fence of another
CCF# 3231 State of Texas v. Sanford Turner and Annie Turner 1915 assault with intent to murder
CCF# 3232 State of Texas v. Annie Turner 1915 assault with intent to murder
CCF# 3233 State of Texas v. Sanford Turner and Annie Turner 1915 assault with intent to murder

From the records, apparently Thomas Ware and his brother Nicholas were joined in the attempt on William R Turner's life by John Tanner. William Turner owned the local gambling house and had other charges against him including assault and murder. Interesting bunch. As we say in Texas, people need killin'. Just kidding. It's possible Ware met up with WR Turner first in Greene Co, Georgia before the Wares and Turners moved to Texas.

From:
Consider the Lily: The Ungilded History of Colorado County, Texas by Bill Stein

Stein, ed., "The Slave Narratives of Colorado County," Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, vol. 3, no. 1, January 1993, p. 11; Colorado County Commissioners Court Minutes, Book 1, pp. 3-4.

"...Most curiously, another of the largest slaveholders, Charles B. Stewart, owned 20 slaves but no land or other taxable property in the county. Another, Thomas Ware, had a plantation of 1107 acres in the north part of the county which he presumably had operated since he acquired it on May 19, 1840. In 1846, he had 17 slaves. To his north was a 600-acre plantation, which had been purchased by Briggs W. Hopson on March 8, 1840. In 1846, it was operated by Hopson's widow, Elizabeth Y. Hopson, and staffed by thirteen slaves. "Ware's and Hopson's plantations were nestled amidst the growing number of smaller farms that were owned and operated by Germans, and isolated from them not only linguistically, but because they were two of the very few in the area that used slave labor. Whether for philosopical or economic reasons, the Germans who were settling in the area in increasing numbers, by and large did not own slaves. In 1846, for example, of the seventy slaveholders in Colorado County, only one was German. That man, Charles Kessler, did not live among the other Germans, and owned only two slaves.

"....On May 9, 1846, a little more than a year after the Colorado County commissioners created the patrols, the state government passed a law which authorized the various counties to create them. The law specified that slaves could be given no more than 25 lashes, and allowed the patrols to arrest white people who were "found in any assemblage of slaves, or in or about any negro quarter" (see Gammel, comp., The Laws of Texas 1822-1897, vol. 2, pp. 1497-1501)....

"Since 1850, the number of slaves in the county had nearly tripled, and the ranks of suspicious slaveholders had swelled accordingly. John Matthews had greatly increased the number of slaves he owned, surpassing James S. Montgomery as the largest slaveholder in the county. In 1856, Matthews had 81 and Montgomery 78. Caleb Claiborne Herbert, with 29 slaves, Richard H. Foote, with 24, George Washington Thatcher, with 19, and Thomas Ware, with 17, had continued to operate their nearby plantations. ...

".... Texas Monument, November 6, 1850. The vote at Frelsburg, still called Cummins Creek by the newspaper, was 35 to 0 in favor of the bill. In Columbus, 24 persons voted for the bill and 45 against. The large slaveholders voted 9 to 0 against the bill at Thomas Ware's plantation.

"....Others of the old plantations had also changed hands. Thomas Ware had died on January 19, 1859, leaving his estate to be divided among fifteen heirs. After some quick legal maneuvering, on March 9, 1859 his administrators, Nicholas T. Ware and Frances Elbert Harwell, organized Ware's 24 slaves into fifteen lots and had each heir draw a number from a hat to determine which slave or slaves he or she got. Soon, the plantation itself was conveyed to Phineas M. Garrett, who, in 1860, operated it with the help of 35 slaves.

"...Other people raised horses, hogs, or chickens. Several, including Robert Robson and Leon de Serin, raised sheep. De Serin, who had an aristocratic family background in France, was probably the single greatest champion of sheep-raising in the county. He had arrived in Texas on February 20, 1842, only to discover that the law then in force made persons eligible for land grants only if they arrived prior to January 1, 1842. Nonetheless, the day after they arrived, he and some of his fellow passengers drafted a letter to Sam Houston asking that they be granted special dispensations. Houston refused. De Serin spent the next few years struggling to support himself and his wife and daughter, fending off illness, and contemplating returning to France. In 1846, he moved to Colorado County and began raising sheep.... He is not known to have lived in the county after 1852. What became of his sheep, each of which he had named and for which he kept meticulous birth and death records, is unknown. De Serin's eccentric sheep-raising, and others' eccentric cattle-raising, were sideshows to the county's economic base, farming. There were two distinct types of farmers in the county: those who used slaves and those who did not. Most of the German farmers in the north part of the county did not, and their failure to do so isolated them further from their English speaking neighbors. The largest slaveholder in the north part of the county, Thomas Ware, had in 1849 sold his plantation to William Frels and purchased another, smaller one, to the north of Claiborne Herbert's on the east side of the Colorado River....

By virtue of his purchase from Ware, Frels became by far the wealthiest and most productive of the German farmers."

http://www.columbustexas.net/library/history/footnote/part5-67.htm
Colorado County Probate Records, Final Record Book F, pp. 47-61; Colorado

County Tax Rolls, 1860; Eighth Census of the United States (1860) Schedule 2, Colorado County, Texas; Colorado County Deed Records, Book H, p. 101, Book J, p. 786, Book K, pp. 33, 34; Colorado County Bond and Mortgage Records, Book E, p. 428. Though Garrett did not finally complete purchase of Ware's plantation until February 21, 1863 (see Colorado County Deed Records, Book L, p. 353), it is clear from the tax rolls that he had acquired title to it earlier. Probably Garrett's purchase of the property was contingent upon him making a series of payments, which were only completed in 1863, at which time the deed was written. Rhodes came to the county in 1858, that year entering into a partnership with Angus McNeill and his family to cultivate McNeill's plantation (see Colorado County Bond and Mortgage Records, Book E, p. 171).

Thomas Ware was married four times. His first wife, Mary Sarah Jemison, our ancestor, bore him nine children, dying at the age of 41. His second wife was Phoebe Peeler, whom he married 2 Jun 1818. Together, they had an additional seven children. His third wife was Jerusa W Gordon Hope, a widow who he married 29 Feb 1844 in Colorado County, Texas. She bore him one child. His fourth marriage was to Nancy A McClosky, another widow, who he married 19 Feb 1848.

Thomas WARE and Mary Sarah JEMISON were married in 1793 in Greene County, Georgia.
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Posted on Ancestry 14 Jul 2010 by myroots737 on Ancestry:
Extracts from letter - dated 11 Jun 1894
Henry Ware to his daughter Elizabeth (Ware) Mitchell
... As to my relatives; my father had one brother old than himself, his name was John, my father's name was Thomas. They had one half-sister. John and Thomas were left orphans at the close of the Revolutionary Ware. My fatther was 16 years old at the time and was raised by his uncle, Robert Ware, who immigrated from Maryland (after the war) to Lincoln County, Georgia, where my father became a man.

He married my mother either in Lincoln County or Twiggs County, Georgia, I don't remember which. My uncle John immigrated to Kentucky at an early day, became a large property holder, and raised a large family of children. He visited us in Georgia, when I was about 8 years old. I remember his saying he could out-run, out-jump or throw down any man whose wife had thirteen children. I have met some of his grand-children. I have been informed that Mrs. Ex-President Lucy Hays, that noted temperance worker, was his grand-daughter - her mother was a Ware. I know but little of my father's relatives.

My mother was a Jemison, her name was Sarah, she died in Greene County, Georgia when I was 4 years old. I have a very indistinct recollection of her. She had two sisters. Elizabeth married William Kirkham. Artemisia married Moses Wheat, you know. They had five brothers, William, Samuel, Joseph, Robert, and Henry. Robert Jemison Jr of Birmingham, Alabama is a grandson of Uncle William. Elbert Jemison is a son of Uncle Robert. Owen, the young man you knew in New Orleans, was a grandson of Uncle Henry.

The old stock of Jemisons were men of intellect and enterprise. Aunt Artemisia (Jemison) Wheat was a woman of very superior ability.

Note: Henry Ware, the author of this letter, was the youngest child of Thomas Ware and Sarah Jemison.

Birth:
Wilder claims that he was born in Caswell Co, North Carolina. That seems, perhaps, more reasonable to me. Additionally, some marriage records say he is from VA.

Possessions:
Wilkes County, Ga Deed Book UU, 1803-1804, p. 159
24 Dec 1801
Thomas Ware of Jackson Co., Ga to Richard Woodroof of Wilkes Co., Ga for $225, 140 acres in Wilkes Co., adj N. by Major Cawl, S. by David Tomlinson, & vacant at time of survey, S.E. by Little River, N.E. by Benj. Catching. (signed) Thomas Ware. Wit: Richard Russell, Absalam Levret, Solomon Thornton, J.P. Rec 25 Feb 1804.

Possessions:
Greene County, Georgia Deed Book BB, p. 259
Ezekiel Park to Thomas Ware, 14 Jan 1805, $210, 140 ac in Greene Co, originally granted to Nathan Hicks and by him conveyed to Daniel Thacker, who conveyed said land to Ezekiel Park. Rec 27 Jan 1806

Misc:
grandson Thomas, son of John Ware

Possessions:
Sold 191 acres on Richland Creek to Francis Boykin for $530

Possessions:
Greene County, Georgia Deed book CC, p. 474
William Baldwin, Sr to Thomas Ware of Jones Co on 17 Jul 1810 for $100, 184 3/4 ac in Greene Co., Rec 22 Aug 1810

Census:
Enumeration: 200201-121
Slaves: 102-42
Total: 18

Very many Peelers nearby, as well as Wares who are likely Thomas' children.

Census:
Enumeration: 10010001-000221001
Slaves: 4002-132
Total: 21

Possessions:
" Another, Thomas Ware, had a plantation of 1107 acres in the north part of the county which he presumably had operated since he acquired it on May 19, 1840. In 1846, he had 17 slaves."

Possessions:
Kidder Walker
Chief Justice
C C
Saml J Redgate J. P.
John F Miller J P

Republic of Texas
County of Colorado

Be it Rememberd that on this 12th day of July A D 1841 there was Begun and held in and for Said County a Regular Term of the County Court present Kidder Walker Chief Justice, John F Miller William David Associate Justices, W B Perry Clerk & Joseph G Ball Depty Sheriff, when the following Business was transacted, to wit, a list of Deeds was furnish By the Clerk, having Been admitted to Record Since the last term of this Court was ordered to Be entered in the minutes & is as follows to wit

J Cummings to T Ware
quarter league of land on Cummings Creek known as north quarter of the upper league of said Cummings Consesion
oath Before clerk By S J Redgate & J W Dodson witnesses

Misc:
Criminal Cause File No. 563: State of Texas v. Thomas Ware (1848) assault with intent to kill William R. Turner

Census:
In 1850, he is enumerated as from North Carolina rather than Maryland.

Possessions:
Thomas is listed as owning 17 slaves in 1850

Possessions:
Grantee: Thomas Ware
Certificate: 131
Patentee: Thomas Ware
Patent Date: 23 Sep 1857
Acres: 640
District: Fannin
County: Fannin
File: 871
Patent #: 1851
Patent Volume: 9
Class: Fan. 3rd

Thomas married Mary Sarah Jimerson in 1796 in Talladega, Talladega, Alabama, United States. Mary (daughter of Robert Jemison, II and Margaret Kirkham) was born on 17 Jan 1776 in Rockbridge, Virginia, United States; died before 27 Aug 1817 in Greene, Georgia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485317869:1030:191555462
• _UID: C5D1DDAEBABF429C8708F6F94612CE5773CA
• Possessions: 10 Dec 1799, Lincoln, Georgia, United States; deed of gift of land and a slave from her father

Notes:

Could have been born in Lincoln Co, GA. Or Talladega, AL. NC seems more likely to me.

Sometimes called Mary, sometimes Sarah. Usually Sarah.

N1

Listed in IGI as Sarah Jamison, Sarah Jemison, Sarah Jameson. I don't know where the Mary came from.

Also seen as born in Rockbridge, Prince Edward Co., VA and died Twiggs Co., GA

Died:
siblings partitioned inherited land on 27 Aug 1817 and there were only 7 shares. So Sarah had to have died by then.

Notes:

Married:
U.S. marriage records says that this occurred in Georgia. In 1796, Alabama was a part of Georgia, I think.

This hardly seems the likely place for this marriage. Talladega was frontier country. The Jimersons and the Wares were well established on the eastern side of Georgia and did not seem to be heading out to the west to get married.