NOTE: Josiah STOVALL, 1743 - 20 NOV 1798
Josiah Stovall was born in 1749 in Henrico County or Lunenburg
Co., Virginia. When he was a child, his family moved to
Granville County, North Carolina. He married Mary Hicks in 1768
in Virginia. She was born on November 20, 1751 in Hanover Co.,
Virginia.
Josiah is listed in documents as being a Private in the
Revolutionary War under the command of Colonel Richard
Hendersonâs Regiment in Captain James Yanceyâs Company of Foot
on the date of October 3, 1771. Josiahâs brothers; William,
John Jr. and Drury are also in this unit.
A Farmer by trade, he moved his family to Lincoln County (was
Wilkes County), Georgia in 1785 upon receipt of land as payment
for military service during the American
Revolution (see Miss. Rev. Soldiers, page 289-294 or Miss. Gen.
Exchange, Vol. 6, page 3-5) Josiah and Mary had at least 17
children with three mentioned in his last will and
testament; Polly, Drury and Charles. Later in an estate
settlement in 1804, the following heirs were named; Polly
(widow), Charles, David, Ralph, Josiah, William, Polly
(daughter), Lewis, John, Elisha Holmes (for his wife Sally
Stovall Holmes) and Charles Kennon (for his late wife Lucy
Stovall Kennon) .
Records show in the early days of Lincoln Co. history, the
First Superior Court and the Inferior Court were held at the
home of a Josiah Stovall who resided near the old Tatom
place, between Soap and Fishing Creeks in what was known as the
Sybert District. At that time, there was no county seat and
this was the most populous area. In the "Minutes of the
Superior Court, 1796-1805," pages 1-2, in the Offices of the
Ordinary of Lincoln County, are the following words. "The
Honorable Superior Court for the County of Lincoln met
agreeable to the Act of the Assembly at the house of Mr. Josiah
Stovall on Monday the 16th day of May 1796."
Josiah was among the names of the Grand Jury List that was
drawn and his home was near the old Tatom place. In Josiahâs
will, one of the witnesses was a Tatom. His death is recorded
in the Lincoln Co. GA., Book A, page 15. After Josiahâs death
in November 20, 1798, his will, recorded on November 17 and
probated on December 14, 1798 in Lincoln Co., Georgia, bequeath
tools, Plantation, livestock, land and slaves to wife and
children.
His wife, Mary moved to the area known as Spring Ridge
Community near Mississippi Springs in Hinds County,
Mississippi. She died there, December 12, 1845 and is buried in
the Old Friendship/Stovall/Smylie Cemetery. Seven of the
children moved to Alabama and Mississippi around 1811.
A letter written in 1845 and mailed to William T. Rattiff in
Raymond, MS describes the obituary of Mary. The sum of the
letter is the following; Mary died at the age of 96 on
Friday, December 12th, 1845 at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Tatum near Jackson, MS.
The widow of Josiah Stovall of Georgia for nearly 50 years and
a devout member of the Baptist Church for 78 years. She raised
17 children, 10 sons and 7 daughters, of whom 6 sons and three
daughters died before she did.
She often said over 600 persons descends can be traced back to
her. €91