THE GARRETT FAMILY
The family name evolved through many spellings through those years, Gerard, Gerrard, Girard, Garrat, Garit, Garrott, Garet and finaly Garrett. The first Garrett on record was Thom Gerard born about 1014 at Amalfi and was the founder of the Order of the Knights Hospitalers of St. John. He was thought to be from Normandy. The next 8 generations, Thomas, Lawrence, John, William (Mayor of London), Sir William, John, Roger and Thomas were important in the English royal court.
Our first direct Garrett ancestor in the United States was Edward, son of Thomas, who was born in Leicestershire, England and married to Elizabeth Catlett. In 1742 he received a 500 acre royal land grant in Fairfax County, VA. on Warrior Creek. He was said to be related to William Garrett who came to Virginia with the Jamestown settlers in 1607.
His son Edward Jr. married Ann Owlsey and moved to the old Ninety-Six district in South Carolina in 1767. They had 14 children, John, Betsy, Nicholas, William, Fanny, Jessie, James, Rhoda, Dorcas, Mary, Marthy, Irine, Edward and Stephen.The Garretts in Pine Island are descended from Stephen Garrett (above) and his wife Elizabeth (Putman) Garrett. Stephen was born April 19, 1775 in Putman County, South Carolina and Elizabeth was born June 1, 1793, also in South Carolina. It appears that she was his second wife as the old (printed 1730) family bible shows them marrying September 9, 1811.
Four sons, of their fourteen children, decided to migrate to Texas after the Civil War. Sherman had burned the Garrett plantation in his infamous march to the sea. They left Georgia in 1875 and moved to Colorado County, Texas.
John Harris's headstone states "Came to Texas 1875" and William's son, Silas Leander. "Toll", was born circa 1875 in Texas. The four brothers were John Harris, Silas Austin, Holland and William.
Of the original Garrett families in Pine Island, all were children of John Harris except two. Silas Austin, was the son of John Harris and his first wife Harriett Moore. Mary Jane (Milam), John Morgan, Franklin A, Charles and Benjamin were the children of John Harris and his second wife, Susan Jane Moore (Harriet's sister). Silas Leander "Long Sile" and J.T. "Toll" Garrett was the sons of William making them cousins to the other Pine Island Garretts.
- CHARLES GARRETT
Charles was born in 1874 in Georgia. He married a woman named Hattie and they had one child, Amy S
- AMY S. GARRETT
Amy was born circa 1908.
- BENJAMIN "BEN" GARRETT
Ben was born on May 18, 1860 in Georgia. Ben and his wife Sarah Elizabeth, born November 19, 1858, were married circa 1883 and had five children Arthur, Raymond, Clara, Susie and Hattie. Ben Garrett, William Jonas Milam and W.C. Munn grew up together as boys in Weimer and became life long friends. W. C. Munn was a well known (in the 1920s and 1930s.) merchant who had a four story department store on Houston's Main street. Ben's grandson, Munn Jenkins was named for W.C.. Ben died on may 7, 1928 and Sarah died on april 10, 1921. Both are buried in the Hempstead cemetery.
- CLARA GARRETT
Clara was born October 9 1888. She never married. In 1922 she and Mr Henry
Weirmann, who owned a bakery in Hempstead, were keeping company, but Mr
Weirmann suddenly married her sister Susie. In December 1989, Clara was one
hundred and one years old and living in a nursing home in Hempstead, Texas.
- SUSIE GARRETT
Susie was born in June 18 1892. She married Henry Weirmann on November
10, 1922. Susie's sister Clara was devastated by the marriage and their father Ben
would not allow Henry on his place again after the wedding. Susie and her new
husband soon moved to Stephenville. They later moved to Ft Worth. Susie died in
1973 and Henry died in 1976. The are both buried in Ft. Worth
- HATTIE GARRETT
Hattie was born circa 1890. She married Theodore Clarence Jenkins. They had
three children, Joe, Munn and T. C. (More detail under Jenkins. -
- RAYMOND GARRETT
Raymond was born August 15, 1894 and died August 10, 1908.
- ARTHUR GARRETT
No information.
- FRANKLIN A. GARRETT
Franklin was born on January 8, 1871 in Georgia. He married a woman named Lizzie G., born in 1872, and they had two children, Nellie and Sammuel. He died on July 24, 1917 and she died in 1954. Both are buried in the Pattison cemetery.
- NELLIE GARRETT
Nellie was born circa 1894.
- SAMMUEL GARRETT
Sammuel was born January 28, 1895 and died June 2, 1971. He is buried in
Pattison cemetery.
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J.T. "TOLL" GARRETT
"Toll" was a son of William Garrett, in Colorado County, making him the brother of "Long Sile" and cousin of the other Pine Island Garretts. He was born in September of 1873. In the 1900 and 1910 Census he was listed as the head of the household and living with him was his sister-in-law Estell "Mrs Essie" (Silas Leander's widow), born in July 1869, and her children, Cleo, Etta and Lee (Listed above).Living with them in 1900 was Arthur Greer, a "boarder" who was born in January of 1891.
- JOHN HENRY GARRETT
John Henry was born in 1861 in Texas and died in 1931. His wife Bell was born April 5, 1875 in Texas and died February 22, 1925. They are both buried in the Hempstead cemetery. Although not directly related to the other Garretts in Pine Island, John probably is related because his parents were born in South Carolina.
- JOHN MORGAN GARRETT
John was born August 8, 1863 in Georgia. He married a woman named Nannie E., born June 3, 1866, and they had eight children, Jessie, Lizzie, Bryan, Tommy, Helen Mae, Jack, Marguerite and Gussie. He followed his half brother Silas Austin to Waller County and settled on a half section about 6 miles north of Brookshire. He bought the land for two dollars an acre with 40 years to pay. The 1900 Hurricane that destroyed Galveston also destroyed John's house barns and even caved in the water well. The family lived in a tent until they could salvage enough material to build another house. He sold out in 1903 and relocated in the Pine Island community. His children attended the Adams School and Jessie, his daughter, taught there. He died on November 10, 1927 and Nannie died on January 26, 1918. They are both buried in the Hempstead Cemetery.
- JESSIE GARRETT
Jessie was born circa 1887. She married Edgar Smith and they had two children, Claude Harris and Marie.
- LIZZIE GARRETT
Lizzie was born circa 1890. She married Ward Urquhart and they had two children, Eleanor and Evelyn. Evelyn married Sam Richard Hamner.
- GUSSIE GARRETT
Gussie was born circa 1891. She married Fred Ashford.
- SUE GARRETT
Sue was born circa 1892.
- BRYAN "BUCK" GARRETT
Bryan was born circa 1901. He was Depot Agent at Welburn, Texas. He and his
first wife had two children. His second wife was Minnie Myrtle (Brumlow) Berry.
- TOMMIE H. GARRETT
Tommy was born circa 1903. He first married Hazel Lynch on January 31, 1931
and they had one child, Eddie Ruth Lynch. His second wife was named Cora.
Tommie died on December 14, 1989.
- HELEN MAE GARRETT
Helen was born circa 1907.
- MARGUERITE GARRETT
Marguerite was born circa 1908.
- JACK GARRETT
No information.
- SILAS AUSTIN "SILE" GARRETT
Silas was born in South Carolina in December of 1848. He married Cornelia (Carrie on the headstone) E. Moore (born in October of 1853) and they had twelve children, Minnie, Lillie, Hattie, Mattie, Nannie, Etta, Harrison Potilla, John Holland, Silas William, Twins - Claude Moore and Clyde Todd, and James Arthur. In addition to the children, his brother James Robert, was living with them when the 1900 census was taken.
Silas and Carrie bought three different tracts of land in Waller County after they moved there from Colorado County about 1898. The three pieces totaled about 800 acres. The "Home Place" near Pine Island Was split by Brumlow Road. A second, called "Hegar Pasture" was located two miles east of Hempstead. The third, called the "Lower Place" was in the Brazos River bottom.
Silas was the Tax Assessor for Waller County from 1906 to 1910. He was one of the founders of the Pine Island Church and was a deacon there until he died in 1929. Carrie died in 1935 and both of them are buried in the Shiloh cemetery.
- MINNIE GARRETT
Minnie married Henry M. Jorden and they had four children, two girls that died
as babies and Silan Oliver (Ton) who married Ruth H. Reeves and Gina who married
Milton Urquhart. They lived in Waller County. Henry died November 24, 1906.
- LILLIE GARRETT
Lillie married John Weatherford and they had two children, Garrett and Eugene.
- HATTIE GARRETT
No information.
- MATTIE L. GARRETT
Mattie was born on June 14, 1877 and died on September 29, 1894. She is
buried in the Shiloh cemetery.
- NANNIE GARRETT
No information.
- ETTA GARRETT
Etta was born on March 22, 1893 and died on August 24, 1895. She is buried
in Shiloh Cemetery.
- HARRISON POTILLA GARRETT
Harrison was born in June 1881. He married Nellie Lay and they had 8 children,
Harrison Potilla Jr., Lurline Imogene, James Archie, Reginald Emmet, Nell, Dot,
andMildred Eugenia. Harrison Sr. was very versatile person who pastored a church
and was a rural mail carrier, insurance salesman and farmer.
- JOHN HOLLAND "HOLL" GARRETT
John was born in February of 1881 and died in 1931. John married Laura
Urquhart. Their children were Earl Gates who married Helen Peterson, Norman A. (Pete) who remained single, Queenie who married Jimmie Hard and Mack O. who
was killed, over Holland, in World War II.
- SILAS WILLIAM "WILL" GARRETT
Silas was born in September 1888 and died in 1968. He was married first to
Cora Smith who was born on December 10, 1892 and died on February 21, 1920 and
second he married Laura Stocker on December 12, 1922. Laura was born August 15,
1893 and died February 20, 1982. Silas and Laura are buried in the Shiloh cemetery.
He and Cora had two girls, Ester and Effie Ruth and a son, Billy Bob. He and Laura
had four children, Eddie Wilburn, Todd, Kathleen and Reginald.
- CLAUD MOORE GARRETT
Claud was born on July 30, 1891 and died on March 6, 1974. He married (1st)
Edna Lee Hargrave and (2nd.) a woman named Zola. He is buried in the Shiloh
cemetery. Their children were C.L., Rodger and Lamar.
- CLYDE TODD GARRETT
Clyde was born on July 30, 1891 and died on November 3, 1955. Clyde married
Rosa Reeves. She was born July 26, 1887 and died August 6, 1949. They are both
buried in the Shiloh cemetery. Their children were Clifford, Bonnie Merle and Clyde Jr.
- JAMES ARTHUR "TUG" GARRETT
James was born in July of 1896 and died in 1955. He married Stella Whitsett
and they had two children, Lee Austin and Arthur. He is buried in Shiloh cemetery.
- SILAS LEANDER "LONG SILE" GARRETT
Silas L. a son of William Garrett, in Colorado County, making him a cousin of the other Pine Island Garretts and the brother to "Toll". He married Francis (Fannie) Greer and they had they had two children, Albert Lee and Lillie Pearl. After Francis died of pneumonia, Silas married Francis' sister Estell and they had two girls, Cleo and Etta.
- LILLY PEARL GARRETT
Lillie was born in July 1889. She married Luther Taylor ("Quilla's" brother.)
- ALBERT LEE GARRETT
Lee was born in August 1891. He married Aquilla "Quilla" Taylor and they had
five children, Douglas, Rachel, Wessie, Christine and Ray. Lee died April 16, 1943
and "Quilla" died December 31, 1979.
- CLEO GARRETT
Cleo was born in August 1897
- MARGARET ETTA GARRETT
Margaret was born May 1899. She married C.H. Thomas on March 8, 1919)
- COLONEL JARED E. GROCE II
Jared was born October 12, 1782 in Halifax, Virginia. He married Mary Ann Waller on August 29, 1804. Mary died nine years later on November 7 1813 leaving three children, Leonard Waller, Sarah Ann and Jared E. Groce III. He married Annis Waller (Mary's sister) in 1814 and they had two children, Edwin and Waller William, before she died on March 30, 1818.On a business trip to New Orleans in 1821, Jared heard of Stephen F. Austin's plans for a colony in Texas. He sold Fort Groce, their home in Alabama and he and Leonard Waller Groce (the eldest son) took their 100 slaves and 50 loaded wagons and started to Texas. He acquired ten leagues of land (44,280 acres) on the eastern side of the Brazos river for his plantation "Bernardo."
- JAMES T. HALEY
James was born in September of 1839 and his wife Margaret was born in June of 1842. James was from North Carolina and Margaret was from Tennessee. They were living alone in 1900. Margaret had had four children but only two were living in 1900.
- SAM W. HODGES
Sam was born in May of 1858 and his wife Lou was born June of 1865. They were both born in Tennessee. In 1900 they had one daughter, Cora born in November of 1887.
- H. T. HOLLAND
H. T. was born circa 1883 in Georgia. His wife, Zula, was born circa 1891 in Texas. In the 1910 census they only had one child, named Elton.
- ELTON HOLLAND
Elton was born about November 1908 as the 1910 census listed him as 1 and
6/12 in April 1910.
- JESSIE HOLLIS
Jessie was born in January 1854 and his wife Lou was born in July 1865. They had six children in 1900, Amelia, George W., Etta, Ward M., Louis and Jessie. Living with them was Andrew Moullin the husband of Amelia. It is probable that the Hollis family moved from Waller County after the 1900 census as there is no one by the name of Hollis known to be buried in Waller County.
- AMELIA HOLLIS
Amelia was born in February 1884. She was married to Andrew Moullin who
was born in October 1872.
- GEORGE W. HOLLIS
George was born in May 1889.
- ETTA HOLLIS
Etta was born in February 1891.
- WARD M. HOLLIS
Ward was born in February 1893.
- LOUIS HOLLIS
Louis was born in March 1895.
- JESSIE HOLLIS
Jessie was born in January 1899.
