WELCOME TO THE WILLINGHAM FAMILY HISTORY

     


Before I get started, I would like to thank the many
family members who all helped me on this adventure,
and especially the two who had family bibles that
verified names and gave us precise dates.
 
Avon Willingham, who descended from 
Park Willingham and 
Nancy Willingham Trotter who descended 
from Amos Jackson Willlingham. 
Both of them were great in sharing their information as 
well as many family pictures. Aunt Ruby who got us
started with a list she had gotten from her mother
was also especially helpful. This is not a work of
just one person, it has been a family adventure,
worked on by a number of us, for a number of years.


 



   
Back in the mid 1850's 'Old' Amos Willingham left
Randolph Co., Alabama and moved his young family 
to Upshur Co., Texas. I refer to him as 'Old' Amos 
as we had a few more Amos's in the family. His
youngest son, Josephus Newton Willingham was the only
child out of 9 children that was born in Texas. Josephus,
or Joe, as he was known to most people, also happens
to be the one that my husband is descended from.






 
'Old' Amos was born in Oglethorpe Co., Georgia in 1810. 
In that year there were 2 Jesse Willingham's and 
2 Thomas Willingham's listed in Oglethorpe County. 
I have always believed that one of the Jesse's was 
his father. I had just about decided that Jesse, Sr.
was Amos's father when a family bible was uncovered
that stated his fathers name as Thomas and his mother
as Rebecca.  At first I disputed this, but have since 
conceded to the fact. It has been discovered that
Rebecca was more than likely born in Georgia.  
Also the Jesse,Sr. was Amos's grandfather, and not 
his father. People often named their first son after the 
father's father, second son was usually named after the 
mother's father. 
This seemed to be the pattern that Amos and Jane followed. 







Amos's first son was Jesse Cleveland Willingham, 
his second son was George Haney Willingham, named
after his wife's father. 
He did name his second daughter Rebecca, and 
other family researchers will agree that she 
was probably his favorite.






 
He married Jane Belle Haney, daughter of George and
Sarah Haney of Jackson Co., Georgia. George Haney/Haynie 
is buried in McElhorron Cemetery, near Winder,Georgia.
He was found on a list of "Graves of Revolutionary
War Patriots'. Somehow, both Amos and Jane ended 
up in Newton Co., Georgia and were married there. 
This might be a good time to point out that in 1830 
of Newton Co., Georgia, both a Jesse and a Thomas
were listed on the census.







Amos and Jane had three sons who fought in the 
Civil War and only one returned. Jesse Cleveland 
was listed on the'Masonic Brethren Killed In Civil
War' list of Upshur County.  Jesse was also listed 
on the 1860 census of Upshur Co., Tx. as an artist.
We were not sure about George until the family bible
was shared by Nancy Trotter. Jesse and George never
married, and were the only two children born in 
Newton Co., Georgia.  The third son who fought in 
the civil war was Amos Jackson.







My husband's direct line of ancestors can all be found
at one cemetery. Shady Grove Cemetery in Upshur Co.,
Texas. We spent days in that cemetery recording names
and dates, it was not only one of those hot Texas
summer days, but I must say the fire ants kept us on
the move. Numerous relatives are out there, but I
was pleasantly surprized to find his direct line all
together. I really could kick myself for not taking
pictures though. We don't live that far from there, 
we are in the same county, it's just a matter of 
getting out there some time when the weather is nicer
and mainly, when I think about it. I am usually
involved in something else when I remember I need 
to go do that.


 




The next page will get into a little more detail on the 
different family members. Please be sure you check 
all the pages, we have some wonderful photos too.



      


PLEASE COME BACK SOON


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