Historical Documentation of the Bland, Carnley, Chavers, Cooley, Curry, Forehand, Godden, Hall, Lolly, Mayo, Simmons, and Thomas families of Holmes County, Florida
CAUTION TO THE READER REGARDING RACIAL IDENTIFICATIONS ON HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS PUBLICATION:
The reader should take caution, while viewing this collection of historical records, to view them within the legal and social circumstance of the period they were produced, and not through the lens of our modern interpretation of “race” and the terms used in the modern period to differentiate the subjective “races” of mankind. Racial identification terminology of the 1800’s, such as the use of “mulatto” on the federal census, were used differently and had a very different meaning than we general accept them to mean today.
From its first conception in the late 1700’s to the conclusion of World War Two, the United States census served only two purposes: To record the size and location of the American population in order to allocate Congressional representation, and to give the government a fair estimate of potentially collectable tax revenue. The only purpose of the ‘race’ column in early census records was to identify the tax status of the individual. This status was defined by state taxation regulations, and in no way was, or should be regarded as, a reflection of any self-identification of the individual recorded.
Early tax codes restricted their scope to only three classes of individuals: free white males, free persons of color, and Indians not taxed. By 1790 the sub-set of “Indians not taxed” was further restricted to include only Native Americans who were residing on “known reservations.” Between 1750 and 1950, across the southeast, there existed many individuals, families, and indeed entire communities, of persons bearing a large amount of Native American blood who were potentially subject to local taxation and were not living on “known reservations.” This often left both the tax collector and the tax payer at odds as to the application of the tax law. During that period, petitions to State legislatures sprung up in almost every southern state as tax agencies sought to clear up the legal morass resulting from taxation of persons of Native ancestry.
Southern states solved this quandary by legally defining the term “mulatto” in terms mirroring the common social usage of the term at the time: that being a cross breed of any of the races or an individual of any mixed ancestry. In 1705, Virginia specifically codified this description in the following statute:
“And for clearing all manner of doubts which hereafter may happen to arise upon the construction of this act, or any other act, who shall be accounted a mulatto, Be it enacted and declared, and it is hereby enacted and declared, That the child of an Indian and the child, grandchild, or great grandchild, of a negro shall be deemed, accounted, held and taken to be a mulatto.”
Inclusion of persons with no known African ancestry within the “mulatto” category, both socially and legally, was so well entrenched across the south that William D. Valentine, a white nineteenth century lawyer of Hertford County, North Carolina (where the Meherrin Indians described in this publication were residing), when pressed to define the legally separate definitions of “free negroes” and “mulattos,” espoused the following:
“Free negroes are slaves and their descendants emancipated by Quakers and other benevolent whites and owners of them. The mulatto is the offspringbetween the white and the negro, or between the Indian and thenegro, or between the white and the Indian.”
In the publication “Racial Reorganization and the United States Census 1850-1930: Mulattoes, Half-Breeds, Mixed Parentage, Hindoos, and the Mexican Race” by Jennifer L. Hochschild (H.L. Jayne Professor of Government, Professor of African and African American Studies, and Harvard College Professor) and Brenna M. Powell, we learn of the confusing, haphazard, and oft politically motivated, systems employed by the United States Census Bureau when it came to recording race:
“In any single year and across decades, racial categorization was internally incoherent, inconsistent across groups, and unstable…Latin Americans were variously classified as white, mulatto, or racially distinct…Native Americans were alternately ignored and categorized down to tiny fractions of black and white “blood”.”
“[For the purpose of the census] Congress accepted the “Color” inquiry, specifying the categories of white, black, and mulatto (identified by skin tone) for both free persons and slaves.”
“In short, “mulatto” arrived on the census as the stalking horse for polygenist racial science…between those years [1850 to 1930] the meaning of race, boundaries between races, and subdivisions within races changed almost every decade for almost every group.”
By identifying the fact that many individuals of mixed, non-African ancestry were labelled with the enigmatic “M”, Hochschild and Powell join a host of well-respected academia who specifically recognize the early use of “Mulatto” to merely designate the “mixed” nature of the individual and further illustrate the diabolical systemic use of the “M” label to disenfranchise American Indians in the southern states.
In viewing the historic records included in this compilation, one should not assume, upon finding an ancestor marked as “Mulatto” or even “Black” on the census, that this individual actually had Negro ancestry. The federal censuses of the 1800’s and early 1900’s are replete with examples of persons appearing as “Mulatto,” Black,” or “Negro” who actually had no African ancestry.
For the layman, one should not think of “Mulatto” identification on 1800 and early 1900 census records as we would interpret that identification today, as being a person of one-half White and one-half Black parentage. Instead, “Mulatto” should be viewed, and interpreted, simply as equating with “mixed.”
To appear on the census as “Mulatto”, all an individual had to do was be taxed locally in the “Mulatto” category [which included many racial mixtures without African ancestry], or appear as obviously “mixed with something” to the eye of the census enumerator.
One could appear as “Black” or “Negro” on the census with even less evidentiary requirement. If individuals, families, or even an entire community, were suspected by the local county leaders to “have had some vague Negro blood,” they would generally be recorded as “Black” or “Negro” on the census, even if they voted locally as “White,” legally married white spouses, or even paid taxes as “White.”
On the opposite spectrum, one should not accept an identification as “White” on the census as to be interpreted that the individual was one hundred percent un-mixed Caucasian. The majority of southern state laws, regulations, and codes allowed for persons “of more than two generations removed” from an Indian (i.e. ¼ Indian or less) and persons “three generations removed or more” from Negro (1/8th) to be classified legally as “White.” While no longer codified in any state laws, these race-based standards have so permeated the southern social psyche that it is common to hear the phrase “I can’t legally claim my Indian blood because I’m less than a quarter.”
There is no more potent example of this haphazard “race” identification than the Cooley family. According to numerous witness statements submitted during Martha Cooley’s Civil War veteran’s widow pension, and subsequent appeal to the Department of Interior, Martha Fountain was an unmixed White female married to a Gillis Cooley, a man of large percentage Indian blood. Because Gillis Cooley had been fraudulently sold into slavery [see further details in the “Cooley” section of the family sketches], he, his wife, and his offspring were subjected to a multi-generational shadow of suspicion; an institutional prejudice that resulted in a racial identification on the census that flies in the face of every other historical document regarding the lineage of Gillis, his wife, and children.
Martha Cooley’s application for a veteran’s widow pension was initially rejected as, according to the findings of the pension board, Martha was “…a white woman married to a colored man.” If her husband had been a “colored man,” this would have resulted in their marriage being illegal under Florida law, and thus she would be ineligible to be a widow, as was harshly pointed out by the pension board. Martha appealed to the Department of Interior and the decision of the pension board was reversed because, as the numerous witness statements supported, Martha was a “white woman” living as husband and wife for a considerable time to a man described as having “…no negro blood, that he was of Indian descent, but was sold by his brothers, on their father’s death, into slavery.”
In 1870, barely five years after the South’s enslaved population gained their freedom, it’s understandable that Gillis’s status as a former slave would cause the local gentry to cast a suspicious eye in his direction regarding his pedigree, yet, judging by the witness statements included in his wife’s subsequent appeal, it was fairly common knowledge that Gillis Cooley’s ancestry was primarily Indian with some amount of White admixture. Indeed, the photograph of Gillis Cooley [included later in this compilation] does not appear to show a phenotypically “Black” man, and his Union enlistment record described him as “light complexion, blue eyes, dark hair.” Even a photograph of his two sons [also included] does not reflect that their identification as “Black” or even “Mulatto” on the census was accurate.
Before her marriage to Gillis Cooley in November of 1867, Martha (under her maiden name of Fountain) appears consistently as “White” in 1850 and 1860 while living with her parents, Frederick Fountain and Malinda McDaniel, both also recorded as “White.” Yet, after taking up residence with Gillis, Martha is recorded as “Black” in 1870 and “Mulatto” in 1880 as is her husband and all the children. Gillis Cooley died sometime before 1900 and, after that point, Martha returns to being consistently identified as “White’ on the census of 1900, and 1910. Interestingly the younger Cooley children, who continued to live with Martha after their father’s death, had also now become “White” while the older Cooley children, who were maintaining their own separate households, continued to be recorded as “Black.”
Gillis Cooley’s former status as a slave influenced his taxation status within the “Black” bracket in 1870 then, by 1880, the laws regarding who should be included within the “Mulatto” bracket resulted in the change in both taxation and census “race” identification. It is also quite obvious that Martha’s and the Cooley children’s’ status in relation to Gillis was the primary factor in their identification as “Black” and “Mulatto” even though Martha possessed no Negro ancestry and the children had little, if any, perceptible trace of Negro admixture.
In short, while perusing this compilation, the reader should take these historic records for what they actually are, a snapshot in time replete with the racism and caste systems of the era.
For the above reasons, and to further avoid confusion while viewing the documentation included herein, this publication will preference “Mixed” over “Mulatto” and “Non-White” over “Negro” or “Black.”
HISTORY TIMELINE:
1677………Treaty of Middle Plantation negotiated between the Colony of Virginia and the Meherrin Tribe. Signed by Ununteguero, the “Chief man” and Harehannah, the “Head Chief man.” Resulted in the Meherrin abandoning their northernmost territories and confining them to the Virginia/North Carolina border.
1696…….The Meherrin have abandoned all of their previous territory in present-day Virginia. The main Meherrin village is located on the Meherrin River in the area of present-day Murfreesburough, Hertford County, North Carolina.
1705……..Virginia establishes first reservation for the Meherrin on the Meherrin River in present-day Hertford County, North Carolina.
1707……..The Meherrin reservation is attacked by a militia of 60 North Carolina men commanded by Thomas Pollack. 36 Meherrin men are captured and held prisoner by the militia. Virginia intervenes and negotiates release of the Meherrin men.
1711-15…Meherrin divide into two factions: the “hostile” Meherrin who join the Tuscarora in the Tuscarora Wars, and the “friendly” Meherrin who flee north into Virginia and settle alongside Chief Thomas Blount’s “friendly” band of Tuscarora.
1711 Map – Meherrin Indian Towns
1713…….Executive journals of Virginia mention “Mister Thomas, a Meherrin Indian.”
1714……..Virginia establishes Fort Christanna, an outpost, church and school for Virginia’s southernmost Indians, on the upper reaches of the Meherrin River. A one-mile square ‘reservation’ is established around the Fort; Siouan tribes settle on the southern portion of the ‘reservation’ while the Meherrin and Nottoway settle on the northern.
1716……..Two children of Meherrin principal chief Ununteguero taken hostage by the Virginia Colony at William and Mary in Williamsburg.
1727……..Meherrin are reported to be attacked by Saponi and Catawba Indians.
1728………Virginia and North Carolina negotiate a final border survey. The area of the former Meherrin reservation now falls within the borders of North Carolina.
1729………North Carolina General Assembly passes the “Act for the More Quiet Settling the Bounds of the Meherrin Indian Lands.” A new reservation is established at the confluence of the Chowan and Meherrin rivers.
1733 Map – Meherrin Indian Towns
1733……….Edward Moseley’s map of North Carolina marks the Meherrin Indian Towns on both sides of the Chowan River at the confluence of the Meherrin River.
1757……….Seven Meherrin, along with King Blount and 33 Tuscarora, 10 Saponi, and 13 Nottoway, enlist at Williamsburg with George Washington’s regiment in the French and Indian War.
1761………..Report of Arthur Dobbs: Northampton/Granville Counties – “Meherrin – 20 fighting men.”
1790………..Joseph Hall (the son of a white man and a half-breed Meherrin Indian woman) founds “Hall & Read,” a merchant trading company traveling between the Meherrin River and Norfolk, Virginia.
1792……….Joseph Hall Jr (1/4 Meherrin Indian) marries Elizabeth Bass (1/2 Nansemond Indian). [October 23, 1792 Norfolk County Bond]
1782 French Map – Meherrin Indian Towns
1795……….Meherrin Town marked just south of Potecasi Creek, in Hertford County, on map of Samuel Lewis.
1802……….A small band of Meherrin immigrate north to New York where they settle among a group of Tuscarora who had removed there prior.
1822………Remnant of Meherrin in Hertford County petition North Carolina complaining in regards to a new law that would allow slaves to testify against “free persons of color.” Signors of the petition include Whitmell Chavers, Allen Hall, Harvey W Hall, and Isaac Hall.
1830………White citizens of Norfolk, Virginia challenge the ability of “Hall & Read” to conduct business as they were “…free persons of color.” Norfolk County Court upholds their retail merchant licensure by decision of the Court on November 16, 1830.
1833………George Hall, who had been residing with his mother’s Nansemond Indian family in Norfolk, is issued a certificate by the Norfolk County Court stating “…on satisfactory evidence of white persons [George Hall] is not a free negro or mulatto but of Indian descent.”
1840………Tax list of Walton County, Florida [would later be divided to form Holmes County]:
Allen, Betsey……..2 male free persons of color….4 female free persons of color
Stephens, Henry….6 male free persons of color….1White female
Mayo, Alfred…….8 male free persons of color….4 female free persons of color
1843………Numerous Meherrin Indian descended families from Hertford County, North Carolina arrive in North Florida. Included in this migration are Joseph Blanchard, William Chavers, Israel Copeland, Wiley Hall, John ‘Jack’ Jones, Alfred Mayo, Betsey Perkins Smallwood, William Stafford, and Benjamin Thomas.
1847………Tax list of Walton County, Florida [would later be divided to form Holmes County]:
Chavers, William…….taxed $3.00…..a free man of color
Hall, Wiley…………..taxed $6.00……a free man of color
[double taxed as his wife was also non-white.]
1850 Walton County, Florida census:
#109: Hall, Wiley…………45…White…..farmer…born NC
Catherine…… 40…White….…………born NC
Wesley……….8…..White…………………GA
Mary…………6……White………………FL
James………..4……White……………….FL
Margaret….….2……White……………….FL
1850 Homes County, Florida census:
#47 Chavers, William……………………57……..White………………….born NC
Malena…………………….27……..White………………….born GA
William……………………11……….White…………………born GA
Jasper……………………….9……..White………………….born FL
Harriett……………………..6……..White………………….born FL
Tempe………………………2……..White………………….born FL
#109: Mayo, George (son of Alfred Mayo)…..26…White…….farmer……..born FL
Emily……………………………17…White………………….born SC
Elizabeth…………………………2…White…………………..born FL
Elsy Ann…………………………1…White…………………..born FL
#110: Thomas, Jane (wife of Benjamin)…….…49…White……..…………….born GA
Sarah…………………………..25…Mixed…………………..born GA
Berrian…………………………21…Mixed ….farmer……….born GA
Mary……………………………15…Mixed ………………….born GA
Marthy…………………………14…Mixed………………….born GA
John…………………………….5….Mixed………………….born FL
#111: Stephens, Micajah (son of Henry)………40….White………………….born NC
Elizabeth………………………25…White………………….born FL
Henry………………………….7…..White………………….born FL
Alexander……………………..6…..White………………….born FL
Sarah…………………………..3…..White………………….born FL
#112: Mayo, Alfred…………………………….59…..White………………….born SC
Catherine (Youngblood)………….46…..White………………….born SC
Samuel G………………………….21…..White………………….born FL
Ezekial…………………………….24…..White………………….born FL
Emily………………………………14…..White………………….born FL
Richard C………………………….14…..White………………….born FL
Caroline…………………………….10…..White………………….born FL
Angeline……………………………8..…..White………………….born FL
(NOTE: Alfred Mayo would lead a mixed-blood “wagon train” to Louisiana and settle among other mixed-bloods there to form what would later be called the “Red Bones.”)
1850 Alabama State Census – Coffee County:
Isaac Cooley…1 white male over 21….3 white females under 21…1 white female over 21
Henry Lolly….1 white male under 21…2 white females under 21…2 white females over 21
Jeremiah Lolly…3 white males under 21…3 white females under 21…1 white female over 21
William Lolly….1 white male under 21…1 white female over 21
Noah Lolly….1 white male under 21…1 white female over 21
1850 Coffee County, Alabama census:
#212 Lolley, Henry………………………………30………White……………….………born ALA
Sarah [nee Mims]………………….23………White……………….………born GA
Joel………………………………….4……….White……………….………born ALA
Amanda………………………….….9……….White……………….………born ALA
Lucinder………………………….….0……….White……………….………born ALA
Mims, Susan………………………………..21………White……[sister-in-law]……born GA
#213 Lolley, Jeremiah……………………………34………White………………………born GA
Penelope……………………….…..48……….White…..[mother]…………born SC
Cooley, Louisa………………………….…17……….White……………….………born ALA
Alfred………………………….….15……….White……………….………born ALA
Eliza………………………………10……….White……………….………born ALA
Nelly…………………………….…8……….White……………….………born ALA
Martha……………………………..8……….White……………….………born ALA
1850 Dale County, Alabama census:
#181 Batson, Mary………………………….……45……White……………..born SC
Simmons, James…………………………….28……White……………..born ALA
Simmons, Deborah [wife of Jacob Bolin]….22……White……………..born ALA
Simmons, Anna E…………………………..19……White……….…….born ALA
Batson, Larey……………………………….15……White……….…….born ALA
Batson, Martin………………………………13……White……….…….born ALA
Batson, Ashley………………………………11……White……….…….born ALA
Bolin, Emeline……………………………….6……White……….…….born ALA
Simmons, Henry……………………………..6……White……….…….born ALA
Bolin, Madison………………………………1……White……….…….born ALA
1855 Tax list of Walton County, Florida:
Benjamin Thomas…….taxed $3.30…..a free man of color
1860 Dale County, Alabama census:
#1431 [family of] Ward, Thomas J……35..Male.…White……………………..…..born ALA
Simmons, Henry….14…Male….Mixed….…laborer………….born ALA
1860 Walton County, Florida census:
#33 Bland [Jackson], Emiline…[nee Jackson]………..39….White………………….born GA
Martha……………………..……16….White………………….born FL
William……………………..…..12….White………………….born FL
Manda..…………………………..2…..White………………….born FL
B.A……………………………….6….White………………….born FL
Emily……………………………..8….White………………….born FL
John……………………………….7….White………………….born FL
#34 Thomas, Berryan………………………………………36….Mixed………………born GA
Sarah…[sister – wife of Richard Forehand]…40….Mixed………………born FL
Mary………[sister]……………………….….30….Mixed………………born FL
Martha……[sister]…….……………………..28….Mixed………………born FL
John………[brother]…..……………………..16….Mixed………………born FL
William…..[brother]………………………….12….Mixed………………born FL
James……..[brother]…………………….…….9…..Mixed………………born FL
Clarkie……[son of Richard & Sarah]…………3….Mixed………………born FL
Jackson……[son of Richard & Sarah]…………2….Mixed………………born FL
Forehand, Richard……………………………………….28….Mixed………………born FL
#35 Jones, Henry………………………………………….…33….Indian………………..born NC
Manda……………………………………………33…White………………..born GA
1860 Holmes County, Florida census:
#131 Lolly, Henry…………………….46………….White………………..born ALA
Sarah [nee Mims]………..32………….White………………..born: ALA
Joel……………………….15………….White………………..born: ALA
Amanda C…………….…13………….White………………..born: ALA
Lucinda C………………..11………….White………………..born: ALA
William Madison……….…8………….White………………..born: ALA
Henry Larue…………….…6………….White………………..born: ALA
Harriet L…………………..5/12……….White………………..born: ALA
1870 Holmes County, Florida census:
#266 Lolly, Henry…………..56………….White………………..born ALA
Margaret…………48………….White………………..born ALA
Amanda…………22………….White………………..born ALA
Lucinda………….20………….White………………..born ALA
Madison………….18………….White………………..born ALA
Larue……………..16………….White………………..born ALA
Harriet…………….4………….White………………..born ALA
Carnley, George………….2………….White…[grandson]…..born ALA
#271 Forehand, James……….48………….White………………..born GA
Susan……….24………….White………………..born FL
William………20………….White………………..born FL
Johnson……..17………….White………………..born FL
Mary J………15………….White………………..born FL
Lucelius……..13………….White………………..born FL
Thomas Arron.10………….White………………..born FL
Jasper A………6………….White………………..born FL
#320 Thomas, Berrian………………45………Mixed………………………..born GA
Mary L [nee Rally]…34………White………..…………….…..born ALA
Christian A…………. 5………..White………………………….born FL
Hall, James M…………………13……….Mixed…[step-son]…….……born FL
Benjamin F…………..….10………Mixed…[step-son]…….……born FL
Ruth J……………………..8……….Mixed…[step-daughter]……..born FL
#321 Hall, Ann Catherine…………..62…………..White………………born GA
Elizabeth M…………..…20…………..White………………born ALA
Amelia A……………..…18…………..White………………born ALA
Willis [Jefferson]………..16………….White……………….born ALA
#322 Thomas, Mary [Hall]………….38…….White…………………….born GA
Mary J…………………8………White………………….…born FL
Sarah F……………..…6………White……………………born FL
Franklin…………….…1………White…………………….born FL
#323 Bland, William…………………..32…….White…………………….born FL
Martha [Thomas]……..…33……Mixed……………………..born FL
Clara J……………………13……Mixed…………………….born FL
June E…………………..….4…….Mixed…………………….born FL
William B………………..…2……Mixed…………………….born FL
#324 Cooley, Gillis…………………..…30……Non-White…………………..…born FL
Martha…………………….25…… Non-White ……………………born GA
Elizabeth…………………..13……Non-White ……………………born FL
Mary K……………………..6…… Non-White ……………………born FL
Daniel J…………………….4…… Non-White ……………………born FL
Martha J…………………….2……Non-White ……………………born FL
1870 Washington County, Florida census:
#7 Simmons, Henry………………24..……….Indian………………..born ALA
1880 Washington County, Florida census:
#10 Cooley, Gillis……………….47……….Mixed………….born FL (both parents born NC)
Martha……………..37……….Mixed………….born GA
Catherine…………..17……….Mixed………….born FL
Daniel………………13……….Mixed………….born FL
Martha………………11……….Mixed………….born FL
Emma……………….7……….Mixed………….born FL
Margaret…………….3……….Mixed………….born FL
Missouri……………..1……….Mixed………….born FL
#44 Shaver, Rebecca…………….38……….Mixed………….born FL
Gintarvus……………21……….Mixed………….born FL
Vardeman [nee Vardy].19…….Mixed………….born FL
Thomas………………17……….Mixed………….born FL
Tilton…………………6……….Mixed………….born FL
Clifton………………..3……….Mixed………….born FL
Boy……………………1……….Mixed………….born FL
1880 Holmes County, Florida census:
#142 Hall, Jeff [Willis]…………24……Indian……………..born FL
Catherine….…….….30……Non-White ………………born FL
#183 Thomas, William………………..21…White..……………………..born FL
Martha [nee Simmons]..30…White……………………….born GA
Simmons, Mary………………….18…White…..step-daughter…..born FL
#186 Curry, William………………….25…..White…………………….born ALA
Rolan……………………20…..White…………………….born ALA
Marshall…………………7…..White…………………….born ALA
Marlin……………………6…..White…………………….born ALA
#187 Curry, John…………………….28…..White…………………….born ALA
Samuel………………….60…..White…[father]…………..born GA
Epsey……………………50….White…[mother]…………born SC
Goddin, John……………………21…..White…………………….born ALA
Elizabeth……………….20…..White…………………….born FL
#199 Thomas, James……………..……25…..Mixed……………….…….born FL
Georgiana…………..…22…..White………………………born FL
#200 Carnely, John………………….24…..White………………….born FL
#201 Thomas, William………………..62…..White……………..born NC
Mary…………………50…….White…………….born NC
Martha…………………..36…..White……………born FL
Simmeon………………..22…..White…………….born FL
Daniel…………………..19……White……………born FL
Queen……………………16……White……………born FL
#209 Thomas, Berry……..………..…57……Mixed……………………born GA
Mary……….…………43……White………………………born ALA
Christian….…………..16……Mixed… [grand-daug]……born FL
Hall, Benjamin………………….21……White……[step-son]..…….born FL
Carnelly, Luis…………………..26…….White……[boarder]………born FL
Ruth…………………..19…….White……[white]………..born FL
#210 Forehand, Sarah [nee Thomas]…….52…… Mixed………born GA
John…………………….19…… Mixed ……….born FL
Horace………………….15…… Mixed ………..born FL
Goddin, Palace………………….….28…… White……….born FL
Mary………………………4………White……….born FL
#211 Bland, William…………………..34………White ……………………….born FL
Martha…[nee Thomas]….44………Mixed ………………………born GA
Clara………………….….21……… Mixed………………………born FL
Ginnie…………………….15……… Mixed………..………………born FL
William……………………13………Mixed…………………….….born FL
Viola……..………….…….9……… Mixed……………………….born FL
John…………………….…4……… Mixed…………………….…born FL
Sarah………………… ..…1………. M ixed………………………born FL
Hall, Sarah……………………….15………. Mixed…[niece]………….…born FL
Franklin…………………….13……… Mixed…[nephew]…………born FL
#217 Thomas, William…………..…25…………….Mixed.………………….……born FL
Margaret…………..20…………….White…………………………born GA
Missouri……………18…………….White……[step-daughter]……born FL
Slay, Holidy……………..….19…………….White……[sister-in-law]..……born FL
William……………….…1. …………….White………………………..born FL
#281 [family of] Pitts, John……………41……..White………………………..born FL
Simmons, Henry……30……..Mixed..…..[laborer]…………born ALA
1885 Holmes County, Florida census:
#529 Carnley, L J………………..32………..White………………….born FL
Ruthia J…………………….24…………White………………..born FL
Mary A……………………..3………..…White………………..born FL
Cornelius…………………..8/12…………White………………..born FL
#531 Hall, James M……………..25…………White………………..born FL
Alice H………………26…………White………………..born FL
Mary J………………..6……..……White………………..born FL
Coburn……………….4……..……White………………..born FL
Margaret……………..2………..…White………………..born FL
Hall, Arquilla……………..45………….White…[mother]……born ALA
#532 Thomas, Benjamin…….…..60………..Mixed.………………..born FL
Christian A…..…..19……….Mixed.….[daughter]….born FL
#533 Bland, Martha [nee Thomas]..44………..Mixed…………………………………………born FL
Clara J……………….28………..Mixed…………………………………………born FL
Jennie…………….….18………..Mixed………………………………………….born FL
William………………16………..Mixed………………………………………….born FL
Viola……………..….14………..Mixed…………………………………………..born FL
John…………………..9………..Mixed…………………………………………..born FL
Ailsy Ann………….….4………..Mixed…………………………………………..born FL
Forehand, Sarah [nee Thomas]..55…….Mixed…[sister – widow of Richard Forehand]..born FL
Harris………….…19………..Mixed……[nephew]…………………………..born FL
Thomas, Sarah………………18….……..Mixed………[niece]…………………………..born FL
#534 Forehand, John………………………….23…………..Mixed.…………born FL
Pallis (nee Goddin)…………..30…………….White…………born FL
Mary………………………….9…………….Mixed…………born FL
Lettice…………………….….5…………….Mixed…………born FL
Harris, Jr…………………..…11/12………..Mixed…………born FL
#535 Mayo, William…………….…..35…………………..Mixed…………born FL
Margaret……………….30……………………White…………born FL
Melvin, Catherine………………4……[niece]……….White…………born FL
1900 Holmes County, Florida census:
#323 Goddin, Redick……………….50……….White……………….born FL
Elizabeth……………..49……….White……………….born FL
Mac…………………..18……….White……………….born FL
#324 Cooley, Martha……………..65………..White………………born ALA
Joel…………………17……….White………………born FL
Missouri…………….19………..White………………born FL
Stephen………………15……….White……………….born FL
#372 Thomas, Berry A……………73…….White………………….born FL
Christian……………34…….White…[daughter]…….born FL
Bony………………11……..White [grandson]……..born FL
Mary A……………..8…….White………………….born FL
Asberrry…………….5…….White………………….born FL
#373 Bland, Martha………………63……..Non-White …………………born FL
Clarke……………….43……..Non-White …………………born FL
John………………….22……..Non-White …………………born FL
Martha………………..3……..[granddaughter]………..……born FL
Oscar…………………1………[grandson]…………….……born FL
James…………………14………[grandson]…………………born FL
#374 Bland, William……………….20………Non-White …………………born FL
Nancy………………..25………White………………..born FL
Amanda………………8……….Non-White …………………born FL
Ada……………………6……….Non-White …………………born FL
Hughey………………..3……….Non-White …………………born FL
#375 Curry, Fealy C…………………21……White………………..……..born ALA
Vina [nee Bland]………..18…… Non-White ………………..born FL
William…………………..23……. Non-White.…………………born FL
Martha L…………………3/12….. Non-White …………………born FL
#388 Forehand, JohnW………………38……..White………………born FL
Palice [nee Goddin]….41……..White………………born FL
Hare, Mary……………………..23………White..[daughter]….born FL
Forehand, Lettice………………18……..White………………born FL
Horace………………15……..White………………born FL
James………………..13……..White………………born FL
William……………….8……..White………………born FL
Johnnie……………….3……..White………………born FL
#389 Goddin, John W………………….47……..White………………born FL
Susan E………………….40……..White………………born FL
Charlie……………………9……..White………………born FL
1900 Walton County, Florida census:
#94 Cooley, Gillis…………..28……….. Non-White ………………………born FL
Sophie…………26………. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Ben E…………..9……….. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Henry D………..6……….. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Laura J…………4…….…. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Cara Lee……….2…….…. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Hardie………….2/12……. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Annie…………..50………. Non-White …[mother-in-law]..….born FL
#95 Cooley, Ben..……..……..37………… Non-White ………………………born FL
Tempa…………..23………. Non-White ………………………born ALA
Moses……………12……….. Non-White ………………………born FL
Lee………………9…….….. Non-White ………………………born FL
Ellen…………….8……..….. Non-White ………………………born FL
Catherine………..6……..….. Non-White ………………………born FL
Calvin……………3…………. Non-White ………………………born FL
Manual………….3/12……… Non-White ………………………born FL
#96 Simmons, Henry………………..58……….. Non-White …………………born ALA
Mary C [nee Cooley]..36……….. Non-White …………………born FL
Mary E………………14……….. Non-White …………………born FL
James………………..14…….….. Non-White …………………born FL
Henry W…………….8…………. Non-White …………………born FL
Martha J……………..6…………. Non-White …………………born FL
Eliza L………………4…………. Non-White …………………born FL
Thomas J……………10/12….…. Non-White.…………………born FL
1910 Holmes County, Florida census:
#124 Bland, Jim………………23………..Mixed……………………..born FL
Emma……………27……….Mixed………………………born GA
Alan………………6………..Mixed……………………..born FL
Bessie……………..4………..Mixed……………………..born FL
Maggie L………….2………..Mixed……………………..born FL
Clarkie J…………..52………Mixed…..[mother]………..born FL
Hall, Arguilla…………….55………White…….[boarder]………..born ALA
#125 Bland, William…………..44………..White……………………….born FL
Nancy……………34………..White……………………….born FL
Mandy……………14………..White……………………….born FL
Ada……………….16………..White……………………….born FL
Hughy…………….12………..White……………………….born FL
Travis………………9………..White……………………….born FL
Dovie………………5………..White……………………….born FL
Ellie A……………..2………..White……………………….born FL
#126 Curry, Field……………….33………White………………………born ALA
Vinae………………30……….White………………………born FL
Willie……………….12……….White………………………born FL
Lew…………………10……….White………………………born FL
Mandy……………….6……….White………………………born FL
Lora…………………2……….White………………………born FL
#130 Goddin, Wiley……………..57……….White……………………..born ALA
Milli Ann………..22………..White……………………..born FL
Missouri………….19………..White……………………..born FL
Mandy……………18………..White……………………..born FL
Autney……………15………..White……………………..born FL
Francis…………….11………..White……………………..born FL
Wiley L……………10………..White……………………..born FL
Amilee……………..8………..White……………………..born FL
Elsie May………….6………..White……………………..born FL
Pennie……………..4………..White……………………..born FL
#131 Forehand, John W………….49………..White……………………..born FL
Palace……………60………..White…………………….born ALA
Billy……………..18………..White……………………..born FL
Johnny…………..14………..White……………………..born FL
Hall, Lettice………………..28………..White…[daughter]………born FL
Forehand, Jim………………23………..White……………………..born FL
Maury A………..18………..White…[daughter-in-law]..born FL
Hall, George…………………3……….White…[grandson]……….born FL
#132 Forehand, Horace…………..25………..White……………………..born FL
Emma……………26………..White……………………..born FL
Penny…………….3………..White……………………..born FL
Buddie…………..6/12 ……..White……………………..born FL
#245 Goddin, Mack…………….29………….White…………………….born FL
Mary……………..24………….White…………………….born FL
Alma………………7………….White…………………….born FL
Mully………………4………….White…………………….born FL
Lucy………………3………….White…………………….born FL
Melly………………2………….White…………………….born FL
#246 Goddin, Elizabeth…………..62………….White…………………….born FL
#247 Cooley, Martha………………66………….White…………………….born FL
#248 Cooley, Stephen……………..no age………….White…………………….born FL
Rhody……………….no age………….White…………………….born FL
#249 Cooley, Joel………………….no age………….White…………………….born FL
Zadie………………..no age………….White…………………….born FL
Samuel………………..4………….White…………………….born FL
Margaret………………2………….White…………………….born FL
1910 Walton County, Florida census:
#12: Cooley, Sophie…………32……….. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Ben E…………..18………. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Henry D………..16………. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Laura J…………13………. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Cora………….….9…….…. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Hearty…….…….8……….. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Robert…………..7…….…. Non-White ………..…………..….born FL
Daniel…………..6……….. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Rosanna…………5……….. Non-White ……………………….born FL
Edeline…………..3……….. Non-White ……………………….born FL
#13 Simmons, Henry………………..70…….…….White…………………born ALA
Mary C [neeCooley]..53…….……White…………………born FL
James………………..22…….……White…………………born FL
Henry W…………….19………….White…………………born FL
Lige………………….14……..……White…………………born FL
Thomas J……….……6…………..White…………………born FL
Eliza…………………6…………..White…………………born FL
Stephan………………4…………..White…………………born FL
1910 Robeson County, North Carolina census:
#151 Locklear, Isaiah………………….40…………….Indian………………..born NC
Missouri [Cooley]……28…………….Indian……………….born NC [actually born in FL]
[daughter of Gillis & Martha Cooley]
1920 Holmes County, Florida census:
#67 Forehand, James………………….33…………..White……………………..born FL
Addie [nee Thomas].….27………….Mixed……………………born FL
Elsie…………………….9………….Mixed……………………born FL
Jessie……………………7………….Mixed……………………born FL
Eula……………………..5………….Mixed……………………born FL
Ethel…………………….1………….Mixed……………………born FL
Thomas, Christian…………………54……..…Mixed..[mother-in-law].…born FL
#70 Bland, John B…………………….45………….Mixed……………………born FL
Mattie……………………..39………….White……………….……born FL
Oscar………………………22………….Mixed……………………born FL
Clarkie……………………..20………….Mixed……………………born FL
Jennie………………………16………….Mixed……………………born FL
William……………………..10………….Mixed……………………born FL
Addie………………….…….8……….….Mixed……………………born FL
Alva…………………………6……….….Mixed……………………born FL
#71 Bland,William B………………….52………….Mixed……………………born FL
Nancy………………………50………….White……………………..born FL
Ada D………………………24………….Mixed……………………born FL
Hughie……………………..22………….Mixed……………………born FL
Davie D…………………….14………….Mixed……………………born FL
Austin………………………4…………..Mixed…[grandson]………born FL
Marie………………………6/12…………Mixed…[granddaughter]…born FL
#94 Simmons, James………………….31………….Mixed……………………born FL
Sallie…………………..32………….Mixed……………………born FL
May……………………10………….Mixed……………………born FL
Joe D……………………7………….Mixed……………………born FL
Dan……………………..4………….Mixed……………………born FL
#98 Simmons, Wesley [Henry W]……27………….Mixed…………….born FL
Martha…………………24………….Mixed…………….born FL
Henry………………….5………..….Mixed…………….born FL
Marta…………………..3……….….Mixed…………….born FL
#99 Cooley, Rhoda……………………38………….Mixed…………….born FL
#100 Godnin, Max C……………………32………….Mixed…………….born FL
Alice……………………..17………….Mixed…………….born FL
Mollie…………………….15………….Mixed…………….born FL
Nellie……………………..9………….Mixed…………….born FL
Bessie……………………..6………….Mixed…………….born FL
#101 Hall, James B…………………….52…………..White…………….……..born FL
Nancy………………………52…………..White…………….……..born FL
Mary Anne…………………77…………..White……[mother]……..born FL
1920 Walton County, Florida census:
#19 Cooley, Benj………………………48………….….Mixed……………………….born FL
Tempa…………………….46……………. Non-White ………………….born FL
Ernust……………………..18……………..Mixed…………………….…born FL
Lillie………………………16……………. Non-White ……………….…born FL
Brown, Burly………………………10……………. Non-White ……[grandson]…born FL
#20: Simmons, Catherine………………57………….Mixed…………………….born FL
Elijah………….……20…………..Mixed……………………..born FL
Eliza…………………14…………….Mixed………………..…born FL
Stephan………………13……………Mixed………………..…born FL
Fountain, Alex…………………….67…………..Mixed……[uncle]………born FL
1920 Franklin County, Florida census:
#104 Locklee [sic Locklear], Isaiah…….52………….. Non-White …………………….born NC
Missouri………………….38………….. Non-White …………………….born FL
[daughter of Gillis & Martha Cooley]
1930’s:
The following are transcripts of two unpublished, anonymous articles written for the Florida volume of the Federal Writers Project state guide series in the late 1930’s entitled “The Dominecker Settlement.”. The original typescripts are in the library of the University of Florida at Gainesville:
“The beginning of the Dominicker Settlement was before the Civil War in 1855 by a black man named Joe Thomas. A slave raised a family of four children one boy and three girls, by a white woman named Polly Thomas. She owned the black man and after her husband was killed she took her slave for a husband and raised the four children. Their son Berrian Thomas married a white woman named Rally Hall. Their daughter named Martha Thomas married a white man named Bill Bland. The other girls raised a family of children without being married for different colored men.”
The same origin tale is included here with corrections supported by extent historic documentation:
“The beginning of the Dominicker Settlement was before the Civil War in 1855 by a black man named Joe Thomas [the progenitor of these Thomas’ was named Benjamin, not Joe]. A slave [Benjamin Thomas was taxed as a “free man of color” and there is no record of him ever being a slave] raised a family of four children one boy and three girls, by a white woman named Polly Thomas [Benjamin’s wife was named Jane – this is obviously a misrepresentation of Mary “Polly” Rally-Hall who married Berrian Thomas]. She owned the black man [once again, Benjamin was never a slave] and after her husband was killed she took her slave for a husband [illegal under Florida law…she, the slave, AND the minister would have been whipped, the white spouse imprisoned, and the marriage annulled] and raised the four children. Their son Berrian Thomas married a white woman named Rally Hall [Berrian Thomas married Mary “Polly” Rally]. Their daughter named Martha Thomas married a white man named Bill Bland. The other girls raised a family of children without being married for different colored men. [Their eldest daughter, Sarah Thomas, legally married Richard Forehand and Mary Thomas died before 1870 childless and unmarried]”
“The Dominecker Settlement is located in Holmes County, about half way between Westville and Ponce de Leon, Florida. Westville prides itself on being the one that made bootleg liquor famous, and the Domineckers owned and operated the stills. Ponce de Leon is a small village -a trading post for farmers. During the time that lumber and turpentine were leading industries, the town thrived. Now, a small sawmill employs a few people and cull lumber is shipped to the paper mill at Panama City. People trade one product for another and there is very little money spent. The town derives its name from a small spring on the Pea River, called Ponce de Leon Springs. The spring claims to be the original “Fountain of Youth” discovered by Ponce de Leon.
The Domineckers live in their little settlement and have few outside interests. The children are not allowed to attend the white schools. For a child from the settlement to attend school was unheard of until 10 years ago, their efforts to enter their children in school caused such an upheaval, the school board finally compromised by establishing a grammar school for them. A few exceptions have been made in Westville for high school students, but they are never allowed to actually graduate. Two families have moved to Shamrock, Florida to send the children to a white school.
The Domineckers attend the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. It is supposed to be a white church, they are allowed to go to any church to “preaching” but cannot take a part in church affairs. They seldom attend any services but their own -unless it is a holiness revival. These people are sensitive, treacherous and vindictive. They never start a disturbance but if any one bothers them – the whole family will do childish things to get revenge, to steal a hog or mutilate a crop is as good as a want. They are pathetically ignorant and an entire family will work hard for little compensation. The Domineckers come to town once a week for supplies. Their dilapidated wagons are drawn by anemic looking oxen. Each wagon is literally spilling over with children. They attend their business quickly and quietly and leave as unceremoniously as they came. They are treated with the same courtesy that a Negro receives -never served at a public fountain nor introduced to a white person. It would be ridiculous to prefix “Mr.” or “Mrs.” to their names. The Domineckers differ in size but they are practically the same type. Their skin is dark, swarthy and thick looking; some have medium skin with big brown freckles, their eyes are brown and sharp, usually deep-set. They have beautiful white teeth and bright pink gums. Most of them have black straight hair, none of them have real kinky hair and one family has three children that are decided blonds – their skin looks sun-burned. They are a type of people that age quickly, probably from lack of care. The men are big and burly looking, noted for their strength and famous for “halter breaking” calves and horses. The women are low in stature, fat and shapeless, they wear loose-fitting clothes and no shoes. One woman 74 years of age has never owned a pair of shoes. When a person is the smaller type his is almost dwarf-like in size. There seems to be no in-between size. The people move from one hut to another, often living alone for a while and then moving back into the family group. Men, women and children work in the fields. Some houses are scrupulously clean while others are filthy. They just live from day to day -certainly not an ambitious group. Each generation marries into the lower class of white people; their original group will soon be extinct.
Common law marriage is practiced, as a matter of fact -most of them “take-up” with each other. Local people claim that the Domineckers are 95% Negro. This statement is absurd. They are about three fourths white and one eighth Negro and one eighth Indian. “
1939:
Federal Writers’ Project (Fla.). Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State. Sponsored by the State of Florida, Department of Public Instruction. New York: Oxford University Press, 1939.
“PONCE DE LEON, 45.2m (64 alt, 382 pop), is the site of Ponce De Leon Springs, one of the many fountains of youth named for the Spanish explorer. In adjacent back country live ‘Dominickers,’ part Negro and part white, whose history goes back to the early 1860s. Just before the War Between the States, Thomas, a white, lived on a plantation here, with his wife, two children, and several Negro slaves. After his death his wife married one of the slaves, by whom she had five children. As slaves often took the name of their masters, her Negro husband was also known as Thomas. Of the five children, three married whites, two married Negroes. Today their numerous descendants live in the backwoods, for the most part in poverty. The men are of good physique, but the women are often thin and worn in early life. All have large families, and the fairest daughter may have a brother distinctly Negroid in appearance. The name originated, it is said, when a white in suing for a divorce described his wife as ‘black and white, like an old Dominicker chicken.’ Dominickers children are not permitted to attend white schools, nor do they associate with Negroes. About 20 children attend a one-room school. As no rural bus is provided, the pupils often walk several miles to attend classes. An old cemetery, containing a large number of Dominicker graves, adjoins the school. Numerous curves and steep hills make driving west of Ponce de Leon somewhat dangerous; care and caution are advised. “
1930 Calhoun County, Florida census:
#5 Thomas, Orie………………………40…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
Rufus…………………….17…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
Harry……………………..16…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
#6 Cooley, Sophia………………………41…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
Gillis………………………..57…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
Sadie………………………..14…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
Laura………………………..25…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
Savanna……………………..10…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
#7 Cooley, Ben…………………………..60…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
Tempie……………………….42…………… Non-White …………………..born FL
1930 Walton County, Florida census:
#9 Goddin, Molly…………………………….23……….White……………………born FL
Griffin, B.C…………………………..……43……….White……[boarder]…….born FL
#10 Fountain, Catherine [Catherine Cooley]….71……….White……………………….born FL
Simmons, Elijah…………………………..35……….White……[son]…………….born FL
Baker S…………………………23……….White……[son]…………….born FL
Thomas, Elizah…………………………….28……….White……[daughter]……….born FL
Artimus………………………….9……….White……[grandson]…….….born FL
O.C………………………………7……….White……[grandson]……….born FL
1930 Franklin County, Florida census:
#23 Lockley [sic Locklear], Isaiah…………65……… Non-White ………………………..born NC
Missouri…………………..…53……… Non-White ………………………..born FL
[daughter of Gillis & Martha Cooley]
1940 Holmes County, Florida census:
#90 Forehand, Johnnie………………………34…………”Dom”……………………born FL
Love………………………….39…………”Dom”……………………born FL
Mary P……………………….14…………”Dom”……………………born FL
Little Boy……………………12…………”Dom”……………………born FL
Reddy………………………..10…………”Dom”……………………born FL
Mary Francis…………………..3…………”Dom”……………………born FL
#92 Goddin, Gillis……………………………23…………”Dom”……………………born FL
Mollie…………………………..25…………”Dom”……………………born FL
John Leon………………………7……….…”Dom”……………………born FL
Luis Jean………………………..5……….…”Dom”……………………born FL
Shirley Ann……………………..3/12………”Dom”……………………born FL
Cooley, Rhoda……………………………64…………”Dom”……[aunt]……..…born FL
#94 Simmons, Bill……………………………22………….White……………………born FL
Velma…………………………20………….White……………………born FL
Vera……………………………2………….White……………………born FL
#95 Hall, George………………………………30………….White……………………born FL
Lena…………………………………26………….White……………………born FL
Louise………………………………..8……….….White……………………born FL
#96 Hall, Ephraim……………………………..48………….White……………………born FL
Lela…………………………………41………….White……………………born FL
Evalyn………………………………19………….White……………………born FL
Helan……………………………….12………….White……………………born FL
#97 Simmons, Tom……………………………39………….White……………………born FL
Lela Mae………………………28………….White……………………born FL
Clyde………………………….15………….White……………………born FL
Clethan………………………..13………….White……………………born FL
Cletus………………………..…9………….White……………………born FL
Lela………………………….…6………….White……………………born FL
Leler…………………………….6………….White……………………born FL
Gladys………………………….3………….White……………………born FL
Lonnie D………………………..1………….White……………………born FL
#98 Forehand, William…………………………25………….White……………………born FL
Clio……………………………..20………….White……………………born FL
Lynell…………………………….3………….White……………………born FL
Nell Jean……………………….3/12…..…….White……………………born FL
Harold………………………….57………….White……[father]…….…born FL
Eunice………………………….59………….White……[mother]………born FL
Buster…………………………..15………….White……[brother]………born FL
#99 Simmons, Wesley H……………………….52………….White……………………born FL
Martha…………………………..41………….White……………………born FL
Annie Lou………………………17………….White……………………born FL
Annie Lee………………………12………….White……………………born FL
R.J……………………………….9………….White……………………born FL
John……………………………..7………….White……………………born FL
William………………………….5………….White……………………born FL
Willie……………………………5………….White……………………born FL
#100 Forehand, Wade……………………………25………….White……………………born FL
Ola Lee…………………………27………….White……………………born FL
Barbara Jean……………………1/12…….….White……………………born FL
#101 Simmons, Jim……………………………..52………….White……………………born FL
Sally……………………………53………….White……………………born FL
Baylar………………………….14………….White……………………born FL
1940 Liberty County, Florida census:
#55 Simmons, Bob [Robert Steven]……….…33…………White……………………born FL
Lizzie………………………….33…………White……………………born FL
O.C.……………………………13…………White……………………born FL
Daniel………………………..…7…………White……………………born FL
#57 Lolley, L. J………[Lee Jackson]……..….38…………White……………………born FL
Mary……………………………..38…………White……………………born FL
Ruby……………………………..14…………White……………………born FL
Houston………………………….11…………White……………………born FL
Johnny…………………………….8…………White……………………born FL
Ruth……………………………….6…………White……………………born FL
Leroy………………………………2…………White……………………born FL
1940 Robeson County, North Carolina census:
#15 [family of] Locklear, James………………..34……..Indian…………………..…born NC
Locklear, Missouri [Cooley]….60……..Indian…[mother-in-law]….born SC
[daughter of Gillis & Martha Cooley]
November 28, 1956:
Report to the U. S. Public Health Service and the U. S. Census Bureau by Calvin Beale entitled “A Visit To the ‘Dominicker’ Mixed-Racial Group In Holmes County, Florida.”:
By Calvin Beale
“I first went to Bonifay, the county seat, and visited the county health nurses, Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Sims. They immediately mentioned he letter of inquiry from Dr. Witkop of Public Health Service and asked if I had any connection with it. I allowed as how I did. Both were glad to talk about the Dominicker group. Only one family is among their current patients. The patient is an elderly man, Jim Simmons, who has diabetes. The nurses, especially Mrs. Sims, a native of the county, knew other Dominickers. The term Dominicker is not acceptable to the group and is not used in their presence. They do not wish to be considered colored. One became very angry with Mrs. Lee when she, not knowing the family, listed a new-born child as Negro because of the somewhat Negroid appearance of the family. I believe she changed the record after the protest. The appearance of the group was said to be variable. Jim Simmons claims to be part Spanish and Indian. The nurses knew of the Forehand, Goddin (the present spelling), and Thomas families but had not been sure of the connection until I confirmed it. They also mentioned a Curry family. The names were all said to be held by white people too. The teeth of the Dominicker children were said to be better than the average for white children. There is no dentist in the county.
Some in the group suffer from TB. The group extends over into Walton County, where a couple of children in one family have a congenital malformation. (There is a Negro family in Holmes family [sic] with three albino children. I did not get the spelling of the name, which sounded like Hodah or Hoodah.) The nurses knew nothing of the origin of the Dominickers. They said Jim Simmons was approachable and probably would be glad to talk. All in the group were said to be poor. A separate elementary school is still maintained for the group, called the Mt. Zion School. Current enrollment is 12, said once to have been about 25. The nurses estimated the population of the group at 40. I next visited the Soil Conservationist, who knew of the group, but, not being a county native, took me to the man in charge of the Selective Service office. The S.S. man went over some of the same ground covered by the nurses. He said the Dominickers were sensitive on the race question and might not get information unless the questioner were referred in by someone accepted by the group.
It was his opinion that the children attending Mt. Zion school were essentially the darker ones and that some of those who looked white were in surrounding white schools. The teacher of the separate school is a white woman, Miss (?) Dupree, who lives in Westville. The present building was erected after World War II at a cost of $8,000. The S.S. man did not know how the Dominickers were drafted racially during World War II. Some farm, others work in forest industries. He said they were low in culture.”
Location of the Absentee Meherrin Indian settlement within Holmes County, FL:
SECTION 36 – T4N R17W
FAMILY SKETCHES:
BLAND
John Bland (born circa 1820) ~m~ Emeline Jackson (born 1821 GA)
Deceased before 1860 married 11 May 1843 Early County, GA
Children:
- Martha Bland (born 1844 FL)
- William H P Bland (born 1846 FL) ~m~ Martha Thomas (born 1836 GA)
- Emily Bland (born 1852 FL)
- John Bland (born 1853 FL)
- B. A. Bland (born 1854 FL)
- Manday Bland (born 1858 FL)
William H P Bland (b 1846) ~m~ Martha Thomas (born 1836 Georgia)
Children:
- Clara J “Clarkie” Bland (born 1858)
- Jennie Bland (born 1866) ~m~ William H Hall
- William Benjamin Bland (born 1868) ~m~ Nancy C Goddin (born 1872)
- Viola B Bland (born 1874) ~m~ William R Hollis (born 1864)
- John B Bland (born 1875) ~m~ Martha Mattie Curry (born 1879)
- Sarah Bland (born 1878)
- Vina Bland (born 1880) ~m~ Field C Curry (born 1877)
- Ailsy Ann Bland (born 1881)
Clara J “Clarkie” Bland (born 1858) –never married
Children:
- James “Jim” Bland (born 1887) ~m~ Emma ____ (born 1883 GA)
William Benjamin Bland (born 1868) ~m~ Nancy C Goddin (born 1872)
Children:
- Ada Bland (born 1894 FL)
- Mandy Bland (born 1896 FL)
- Hughie Everett Bland (born 1898 FL)
- Travis Bland (born 1901 FL)
- Davie Bland (born 1905 FL)
- Ellie A Bland (born 1908 FL)
James “Jim” Bland (born 1887 FL) ~m~ Emma Morrison (born 1883 GA)
Children:
- Love Bland (born 1901 FL)
- Alan Bland (born 1904 FL)
- Bessie Bland (born 1906 FL)
- Maggie L Bland (born 1908 FL)
John B Bland (born 1875) ~m~ Martha Mattie Curry (born 1879)
Children:
- Oscar Bland (born 1899 FL)
- Clarkie Bland (born 1900 FL)
- Jennie Bland (born 1904 FL)
- William Bland (born 1910 FL)
- Addie Bland (born 1912 FL)
- Alva Bland (born 1914 FL)
CARNLEY
Daniel Nathaniel Carnley (born 1846 Alabama) ~m~ Amanda L Lolly (born 1846 Alabama)
Children:
- Mary M Carnley (born 1866)
- George W Carnley (born 1867)
- John H Carnley (born 1873)
- Seleay D Carnley (born 1874)
- Rhoda : Carnley (born 1877)
- Alexander Carnley (born 1879) ~m~ Lucinda Blocker
Alexander Carnley (born 1879) ~m~ Lucinda Blocker (born )
Children:
- Lela Mae Carnley (born 1906) ~m~ Thomas J Simmons
John L Carnley (born May 1855 Florida) ~m~ Queen A Thomas (born Sept 1863 Florida)
Children:
- Mary V Carnley (born 1881 FL) ~m~ Joel Lolly (born 1882 FL)
- Sallie S Carnley (born 1883 FL)
- Thomas L Carnley (born 1886 FL)
- William Carnley (born 1889 FL)
- John K Carnley (born 1891 FL)
- Lewis L Carnley (born 1894 FL)
- Hiram W Carnley (born 1897 FL)
- James E Carnley (born 1900 FL)
COOLEY
Gillis Cooley (Mixed-Indian born 1840 North Carolina) ~m~ Martha “Annie” Fountain (White born 1845)
++Gillis [original surname unknown] was an Indian born in North Carolina. When he was quite young his father died and his older brothers concocted a scheme to make some quick money. They darkened Gillis’ skin with coal ash, took him down to the slave market and sold him off into slavery. Allen Cooley, a War of 1812 veteran of Sumter, South Carolina purchased young Gillis and brought him down to the family estate near Stateburg. After serving in the Florida War in 1837, Allan Cooley brought his entire family and property (including Gillis) down to Walton County, Florida. In 1864, at the height of the Civil War, Gillis escaped from Allan Cooley, ran to Santa Rosa County and enlisted in the Union Calvary at Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island.++
++Martha Fountain was a white woman, daughter of Frederick Fountain (a Blacksmith from North Carolina) and Malinda McDaniel (from Georgia)++
++Gillis Cooley enlisted in Company D, Florida 1st Cavalry (Union) on 25 Mar 1864 at Santa Rosa, Florida and mustered out on 17 Nov 1865 at Tallahassee, Florida. He is described in his enlistment papers as “6 foot 2 inches tall, light complexion, blue eyes, dark hair.”++
++ On 24 Oct 1888, Gillis Cooley was awarded a Civil War Veteran’s pension as an “invalid.”++
++Martha Cooley applied for a Civil War Veteran’s widow pension in 1897, however the application was denied as the Pension Board ruled that she possessed no marriage license and that the marriage between Gillis and Martha was illegal under Florida law being that Martha was white and Gillis was a “colored man.” On 30 April 1906 Martha Cooley appealed to the U.S. Department of the Interior and Assistant Secretary Jesse E. Wilson overturned the Pension Board determining that Gillis and Martha had sufficiently lived as man and wife, and further that Gillis “…has no negro blood, that he was of Indian descent, but was sold by his brothers, on their father’s death, into slavery,” and such marriages between white persons and persons of Indian descent were not illegal.++
Children:
- Elizabeth Cooley (born 1857)
- Mary Catherine Cooley (born 1864) ~m~ Henry Simmons (born 1844)
- Ben Cooley (born Feb 1865) ~m~ Tempa (b May 1877)
- Daniel J Cooley (born 1866)
- Martha J Cooley (born 1868) ~m~ Thomas Shavers
- Gillis Cooley Jr (born Oct 1871) ~m~ Sophie Amos (b Jan 1874)
- Emma Cooley (born 1875) ~m~ Vandy Shavers/Yates (born 1862)
- Margaret Cooley (born 1877) ~m~ Tilton Shavers
- Missouri Cooley (born 1881) ~m~ Isaiah Locklear (born 1870)
- Joel Cooley (born 1882) ~m~ Zadie Woodard
- Stephen Cooley (born 1885) ~m~ Rhoda Goddin (born 1882)
Gillis Cooley Jr (born Oct 1871) ~m~ Sophie Amos (b Jan 1874)
++Gillis Cooley Jr received deed for 80 acres in Walton County, Florida on 03 July 1902.++
Children:
- Ben E Cooley (born 1891)
- Henry D Cooley (born 1894)
- Laura J Cooley (born 1896)
- Lara Lee Cooley (born 1998)
- Hardie Cooley (born 1899)
- Robert Cooley (born 1903)
- Danial Cooley (born 1904)
- Floranna Cooley (born 1905)
- Edeline Cooley (born 1907)
- Sadie Cooley (born)
- Laura Cooley (born)
- Susanna Cooley (born)
Ben Cooley (born Feb 1863) ~m~ Tempa (b May 1877)
Children:
- Moses Cooley (born July 1887)
- Lee Cooley (born Feb 1891)
- Ellen Cooley (born Apr 1892)
- Catherine Cooley (born June 1894)
- Calvin Cooley (born Dec 1896)
- Manual Cooley (born Feb 1900)
- Ernest Cooley (born 1906)
- Lillie Cooley (born 1904)
CURRY
Samuel Curry (born 1819 Georgia) ~m~ Epsey Scott (Indian born 1820 South Carolina)
[her father born: VA – mother born: NC]
++Living in Tallapoosa County, Alabama circa 1850++
++Living in Coffee County, Alabama circa 1860++
++Living in Holmes County, Florida circa 1880++
Children:
- James C Curry (born 1837 ALA)
- Davis Curry (born 1843 ALA)
- Rebecca Curry (born 1845 ALA)
- Elizabeth Curry (born 1847 ALA)
- John L Curry (born 1848 ALA)
- William Curry (born 1849 ALA) ~m~ Nancy Roland (born 1886 FL)
James C Curry (born 1839 Tallapoosa Co, Alabama) ~m~ Temperance “Tempy” Moore (born 1839 GA)
Children:
- Nancy J Curry (born 1861 ALA)
- Ida Lee N Curry (born 1864 ALA) ~m~ Daniel J Thomas (born 1860 FL)
- Epsy Elizabeth Curry (born 1869 ALA) ~m~ Daniel Horace Forehand (born 1865 FL)
- Lena Arnette Curry (born 1871 ALA)
- Beskie B Curry (born 1873 ALA)
- Joseph W Curry (born 1875 ALA)
- Field C Curry (born 1877 ALA) ~m~ Vina Bland (born 1880)
- Ophelia C Curry (born 1877 ALA)
- Mattie Martha Curry (born 1879 ALA) ~m~ John B Bland (born 1875)
Field Curry (born 1877 Coffee County, Alabama) ~m~ Vina Bland (born 1880 FL)
Children:
- Willie James Curry (born 1898 FL)
- Lew Curry (born 1900 FL)
- Mandy Curry (born 1904 FL)
- Lora Curry (born 1908 FL)
William Curry (born 1849 ALA) ~m~ Nancy Roland (born 1886 FL)
Children:
- Jarvis Curry (born 1882 FL)
FOREHAND
James Forehand (born 1790 South Carolina) ~m~ Jane Coates (born 1814 GA)
++ War of 1812 enlisted as private in 18th U.S. Infantry under Colonel William Drayton in Columbia, SC. Enlistment record reflects “5’ 9” dark eyes, light hair, dark complexion, living in Sumter District, enlisted Oct 11, 1813 for 5 years.”++
Children:
- Richard Forehand (born 1832 GA) ~m~ Sarah Thomas (born 1820 GA)
- James F Forehand (born 1839 GA)
- Randal Forehand (born 1841 GA)
- Rebecca Forehand (born 1843 FL) ~m~ 1st ________ Yates
2nd ________Shavers/Chavers
- Susan Forehand (born 1846 FL)
- Philip Forehand (born 1848 FL)
- William Forehand (born 1849 FL)
James Forehand (born 1822 Georgia) ~m~ Nancy Fulford (born 1834 Georgia)
Children:
- Susan Forehand (born 1846 FL)
- William Forehand (born 1850 FL)
- Johnson Forehand (born 1853 FL)
- Mary J Forehand (born 1855 FL)
- Lucretia Caroline Forehand (born 1857 FL)
- Thomas Arron Forehand (born 1860 FL) ~m~ Harriett Lolley (born 1861 FL)
- Jasper A Forehand (born 1864 FL)
Thomas Arron Forehand (born 1860 FL) ~m~ Harriett Lolley (born 1861 FL)
Children:
- Rachel Forehand (born 1875)
- Randall Forehand (born 1884)
- Ruell Forehand (born 1887)
- John W Forehand (born 1891)
- Calla V Forehand (born 1891)
- Malinda Forehand (born 1903)
Richard Forehand (born 1832 GA) ~m~ Sarah Thomas (born 1820 Georgia)
Children:
- Clarkie Forehand (born 1857 FL)
- James Jackson Forehand (born 1858 FL)
- John Wesley Forehand (born 1861) ~m~ Mary Pallis Goodin (born 1852)
- Daniel Horace Forehand (born 1865) ~m~ Epsey E Curry (born 1865)
- Harris Forehand (born 1866 Florida)
John W Forehand (born Nov 1861) ~m~ Mary Palace Goddin (born Sept 1852)
Children:
- Mary Forehand (born Aug 1876) ~m~ ______ Hare
- James Forehand (born 1880)
- Lettice Forehand (born Oct 1881) ~m~ Will Hall
- Horace Forehand (born Nov 1884) ~m~ Emma
- James “Jim” Forehand (born March 1887) ~m~ Mary Addie Thomas (born 1892 FL)
- William “Billy” Forehand (born Oct 1891)
- Annie Forehand (born 1893)
- Benjamin F Forehand (born 1895)
- Johnnie Forehand (born July 1896) ~m~ Dora Morrison Bland
- Johnson A Forehand (born 1900)
- Lee Forehand (born 1904)
- Allie Forehand (born 1906)
Horace Forehand (born 1885FL) ~m~ Emma Eunice_____ (born 1881 FL)
Children:
- Penny Forehand (born 1907 FL)
- Buddie Forehand (born 1909) FL)
- William Forehand (born 1937 FL)
- Buster Forehand (born)
James “Jim” Forehand (born March 1887) ~m~ Mary Addie Thomas (born 1892 FL)
Children:
- Elzie Forehand (born 1911 FL)
- Jessie Forehand (born 1913 FL)
- Eulah Forehand (born 1915 FL)
- Ethel Forehand (born 1917 FL)
- Lizzie Forehand (born 1921 FL)
John “Johnny” Forehand (born 1896) ~m~ Dora Morrison Bland
Children:
- Mary P Forehand (born 1926)
- Little Boy Forehand (born 1928)
- Reddy Forehand (born 1930)
- Mary Francis Forehand (born 1937)
Daniel Horace Forehand (born 1863) ~m~ Epsey E Curry (born 1863)
Children:
- Sarah Forehand (born 1886) ~m~ James Simmons (born 1888)
- Allison Forehand (born 1891)
- James Forehand (born 1892)
- Daniel Forehand (born 1893)
- Troy Forehand (born 1898)
- Tempey Forehand (born 1900) ~m~ Bonnie Dell Brown
GODDIN
Reddick Goddin (born 1830 South Carolina) ~m~ Eleanor Callahan (born 1834 Alabama)
++Lived next door to Allen Cooley in 1850 Holmes County, Florida++
Children:
- Mary Palace Goddin (born 1852 ALA) ~m~ John Forehand (born 1861)
- John Wesley Goddin (born 1853 ALA) ~m~ Susan E ____ (born 1860)
- James William Goddin (born 1860 ALA) ~m~ Elizabeth Pastewood
- Josephine B Goddin (born 1861 FLA) ~m~ John Etherington
- Penelope Goddin (born 1866 FLA)
- Patsy Goddin (born 1868 FLA)
- Nancy C Goddin (born 1872) ~m~ William Berreau Bland (born 1868)
- Rhoda Goddin (born 1882) ~m~ Stephen Cooley (born 1885)
- Penny Goddin (born ) ~m~
- Fred Goddin (born ) ~m~
- Mack Goddin (born1888) ~m~ Mary E Simmons (born 1885)
Mack Goddin (born1888) ~m~ Mary E Simmons (born 1885)
Children:
- Alice Goddin (born 1903)
- Mollie Goddin (born 1905)
- Nellie Goddin (born 1911)
- Bessie Goddin (born 1914)
- Gillis Goddin (born 1917) ~m~ Mollie Morris (born 1915)
Gillis Goddin (born 1917) ~m~ Mollie Morris (born 1915)
Children:
- John Leon Goddin (born 1933)
- Luis Jean Goddin (born 1935)
- Shirley Ann Goddin (born 1939)
HALL
Joseph Hall (born 1710 Norfolk, Virginia) ~m~ Margaret (Peggy) (born circa 1750 Hertford Co, NC)
Children:
- Thomas Hall (born circa 1738) ~m~ Mary ‘Polly’___?___ (born circa 1740)
- Ebenezer Hall (born circa 1740)
- Stephen Hall (born 1746)
- Absalom Hall (born 1747) ~m~ Rachel Nickens
- Naomi Hall (born 1748) ~m~ William Bass (born 1725)
- Jemima Hall (born 1750)
Thomas Hall (born 1738 Hertford Co, NC) ~m~ Mary ‘Polly’ (born circa 1740 Hertford Co, NC)
Children:
- Nathaniel Hall (born circa 1771)
- Joseph Hall (born circa 1775) ~m~ Elizabeth Bass
- Lemuel Hall (born
- Margaret Hall (born
- David Hall (born
- Anthony Hall (born
1790 census of Hertford County, NC:
Hall, Mary……………………………6 Free Persons of Color
1800 census of Hertford County, NC:
Hall, Isaac……………………………5 Free Persons of Color
Hall, Joseph…………………………..1 Free Persons of Color
Hall, Thomas…………………………7 Free Persons of Color
1810 census of Hertford County, NC:
Hall, Mary…………………………12 Free Persons of Color
Joseph Hall (born circa 1775 Hertford Co, NC) ~m~ Elizabeth Bass (born circa 1775)
Children:
- George Hall (born 1796 Hertford Co, NC) ~m~ Rachel Pitts (a “free woman of colour”)
[George Hall issued a certificate of Indian descent in Norfolk, VA Oct 23, 1833]
- Sally Hall (born 1799 Hertford Co, NC)
- Mary Hall (born 1802 Hertford Co, NC)
- William ‘Wiley’ Hall (born 1805 Hertford Co, NC)
- Priscilla Hall (born 1806 Hertford Co, NC) ~m~ James Ash
William ‘Wiley’ Hall (born 1805 Hertford Co, NC) ~m~ Catherine _?___ (born 1810 NC)
++++ Moved to Baker County, Georgia circa 1839 ++++
++++ Moved to Holmes County, Florida circa 1843 ++++
Children:
- Wesley Hall (born 1842 Georgia)
- Mary Hall (born 1844 Florida) ~m~ John Thomas
- James Hall (born 1846 Florida)
- Margaret Hall (born 1848 Florida)
- Amelia A Hall (born 1852 Florida)
- Willis F Hall (born 1854 Florida)
- Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” Hall (born 1856 Florida) ~m~ Catherine __?___ (born 1850)
Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” Hall (born 1856 FL) ~m~ Catherine ___?___ (born 1850 FL)
Will Hall (born FL) ~m~ Lettice Forehand (born 1882 FL)
Children:
- George Hall (born 1907 FL)
LOLLY
Henry Lolly (born 1820 Coffee County, Alabama) ~m~ Sarah Mims (born 1827 Alabama)
++”Henry Lolly of Dale County, Alabama” received cash deed to 39 acres in Coffee County, Alabama on 10 Dec 1841++
++Moved from Coffee County, Alabama to Holmes County, Florida 1855-59++
Children:
- Joel Lolly (born 1839 Alabama)
- Amanda C Lolly (born 1841 Alabama)
- Lucinda C Lolly (born 1850 Alabama)
- William Madison Lolly (born 1852 Alabama)
- Henry Larue Lolly (born 1854 Alabama)
- Harriet Louisa Lolly (born 1859 FL) ~m~ Thomas Arron Forehand (born 1850 FL)
William Madison Lolly (born 1852 Alabama) ~m~ Elizabeth “Patience” __?___ (born 1848 Alabama)
++Moved from Holmes County, Florida to Geneva County, Alabama circa 1870++
Children:
- Gill A Lolly (born 1876 Alabama)
- James M Lolly (born 1880 Alabama)
- Jackson W Lolly (born 1881 Alabama)
- Melvina Lolly (born 1887 Alabama)
- Ancil L Lolly (born 1888 Alabama)
Jackson W Lolly (born 1881 Alabama) ~m~ Sarah E _______ (born 1880 Alabama)
Children:
- Elias S Lolly (born 1900 Alabama)
- Levey H Jackson Lolly (born 13 Apr 1902 Alabama) ~m~ Mary _? (born 1903 Alabama)
- Malvinie M V Lolly……(born 1904 Alabama)
- Wiley G Lolly (born 1906 Alabama)
- A Lolly (born 1908 Alabama)
Levey “Lee” Jackson Lolly (born 1902 Alabama) ~m~ Mary __?___ (born 1903 Alabama)
++World War 2 enlistment card: Lee Jackson Lolley – Hosford, Liberty County, FL – born: 13 Apr 1902 Geneva, Alabama – employer: Southern Pine Extraction Company – complexion: Dark – eyes: Brown – hair: black++
Children:
- Inez Lolly (born 1924 Florida)
- Ruby Lolly (born 1926 Florida)
- Houston Lolly (born 1929 Florida)
- Johnny Lolly (born 1932 Florida)
- Ruth Lolly (born 1934 Florida)
- Leroy Lolly (born 1938 Florida)
Henry Larue Lolly (born 1854 Alabama) ~m~ Sardelia “Dealy” Elizabeth Worley (born 1851 GA)
Children:
- William Henry Lolly (born 1876 FL)
- Sarah Elizabeth Lolly (born 1877 FL)
- Alice Amanda Lolly (born 1878 FL)
- Monroe Luther Lolly (born 1880 FL)
- Daniel Jasper Lollie (born 1881 FL) ~m~ Margaret Maggie Simmons (born 1880 GA)
- Joel Lolly (born 1882 FL) ~m~ Mary Carnley (born 1890 FL)
- Sidney Lolly (born 1884 FL)
- Mary Ellen Lolly (born 1889 FL)
- Mary D Lolly (born 1894 FL)
- Thomas Lolly (born 1898 FL)
Daniel Jasper Lollie (born 1881 ALA) ~m~ Margaret Maggie Simmons (born 1880 GA)
++married 21 May 1904 Holmes Co++
Children:
Joel Lollie (born 1882 FL) ~m~ Mary Carnley (born 1890 FL)
Children:
- John M Lolly (born 1907 FL)
- Victoria Lolly (born 1909 FL) ~m~ _______ McConner
- George Lolly (born 1922 FL)
- Rosie Lolly (born 1925 FL)
- James Lolly (born 1931 FL)
SHAVERS/CHAVERS/YATES
Rebecca Forehand (born 1843 Florida) ~m~ 1st ______Yates
Children:
- Vardeman “Vardy” Yates (born 1862 FL) ~m~ Emma Cooley (born 1871 FL)
Rebecca Forehand (born 1843 Florida) ~m~ 2nd Jasper Chavers/Shavers (born 1841 FL)
++son of William Chavers++
Children:
- Thomas Shavers (born 1865 FL) ~m~ Martha J Cooley (born 1968 FL)
- Tilton Shavers (born 1874 FL) ~m~ Margaret Cooley (born 1877 FL)
- Clifton Shavers (born 1877 FL)
- Sandy Shavers (born 1878 FL)
- Alex Shavers (born 1882 FL)
++Rebecca Shavers and all of her children moved to Harrison, Mississippi circa 1920++
SIMMONS
Henry Simmons (born circa 1800 SC) ~m~ Mary _____?_____ (born 1805 SC)
Deceased 1831-1835 remarried to Thomas Batson 25 Sept 1836
Children:
- James Simmons (born 1822 ALA) ~m~ Unknown Indian Woman
- Deborah Simmons (born 1828 ALA) ~m~ Jacob Bolin
- Anna E Simmons (born 1831 ALA)
James Simmons (born 1822 Alabama) ~m~ Unknown Indian Woman (born circa1825 ALA)
Deceased before 1850
Children:
1. Henry Simmons (born 1844 Alabama) ~m~ Mary Catherine Cooley (b 1863)
Henry Simmons (born 1844 Alabama) ~m~ Mary Catherine Cooley (born 1863 Florida)
Children:
- Mary E Simmons (born 1885) ~m~ Mack Goddin
- James “Jim” Simmons (born 1888) ~m~ Sarah “Sallie” Forehand (born 1886)
- Henry Wesley Simmons (born 1892) ~m~ Martha Bland (born 1897)
- Martha Jane Simmons (born 1893) ~m~ Arthur Yates (born 1897)
- Elijah Simmons (born 1895) ~m~ Rebecca J Wheeler (born 1898)
- Thomas J Simmons (born 1899) ~m~ Lelia M Carnley
- Eliza Simmons (born 1904) ~m~ Boney Thomas (born 1889)
- Robert “Bob” Steven Simmons (born 1907) ~m~ Lizzie Wheeler
James “Jim” Simmons (born 1888) ~m~ Sallie Forehand (born 1886)
Children:
- Joe Simmons (born 1912 FL)
- Dan Simmons (born 1915 FL)
- Cathleen Simmons (born 1920 FL)
- Alvester Simmons (born 1923 FL)
- Beulah Simmons (born 1926 FL)
- Ruby W Simmons (born 1929 FL)
Henry Wesley Simmons (born 1892) ~m~ Martha Bland (born 1897)
Children:
- Henry Simmons (born 1915)
- Frank Simmons (born 1917 FL)
- Martha Simmons (born 1917)
- Odom Simmons (born 1920 FL)
- Annie Lou Simmons (born 1923)
- Annie Lee Simmons (born 1928)
- R J Simmons (born 1931)
- John Simmons (born 1933)
- William Simmons (born 1935)
- Willie Simmons (born 1935)
Thomas Jefferson Simmons (born 1899 FL) ~m~ Lela Mae Carnley (born 1912 FL)
Children:
- Clyde Simmons (born 1925 FL)
- Clethan Simmons (born 1927 FL)
- Cletus Simmons (born 1931 FL)
- Lela Simmons (born 1934 FL)
- Leler Simmons (born 1934 FL)
- Gladys Simmons (born 1937 FL)
- Lonnie D Simmons (born 1939 FL)
THOMAS
Benjamin Thomas (born circa 1808 Hertford Co, NC) ~m~ Jane__?___ (b 1801 NC)
Deceased before 1850, Holmes County, FL
++++ Moved to Baker County, Georgia circa 1835 ++++
++++ Moved to Holmes County, Florida circa 1840 ++++
Children:
- Sarah Thomas (born 1826 Georgia) ~m~ Richard Forehand (born 1852 FL)
- Berrian Thomas (born 1828 Georgia) ~m~ Mary L Rally (born 1837 ALA)
[served in Confederate 4th Florida Infantry Company I]
- Mary Thomas (born 1835 Georgia)
- Martha Thomas (born 1836 Georgia) ~m~ William H P Bland (born 1846)
- John Thomas (born 1845 Florida) ~m~ Mary Hall (born 1844 FL)
- William Thomas (born 1848 Florida)
- James Thomas (born 1851 Florida) ~m~ Georgianna ______ (born 1858)
Berrian Thomas (born 1828 Georgia) ~m~ Mary L Rally (born 1837 ALA)
Children:
- Christian Thomas (born 1864)
Christian Thomas (born 1864) – never married
1 Boney Thomas (born 1889) ~m~ Eliza Simmons (born 1904)
- Mary Addie Thomas (born 1892) ~m~ James “Jim” Forehand (born 1892)
- Asberry Thomas (born 1894) ~m~ Willie G. Collinsworth (born 1887)
[shot twice and killed by his brother-in-law, Rufe Collinsworth in 1919]
John Thomas (born 1845 Florida) ~m~ Mary Hall (born 1844 Florida)
Children:
- Mary J Thomas (born 1862)
- Sarah F Thomas (born 1865)
- Franklin “Sank” Thomas (born 1868)
Martha Thomas (born 1836 Georgia) –
- had two illegitimate children
1.Clarkie J Thomas (born 1858)
2. Jackson Thomas (born 1858)
then ~m~ William H P Bland (b 1846)
Children:
3.Jennie Bland (born 1866) ~m~ William H Hall
- William Benjamin Bland (born 1868) ~m~ Nancy C Goddin (born 1872)
- Viola B Bland (born 1874) ~m~ William R Hollis (born 1864)
- John B Bland (born 1875) ~m~ Martha M Curry
- Sarah Bland (born 1878)
- Vina Bland (born 1880) ~m~ Field C Curry (born 1877)
Daniel J Thomas (born 1860 Florida) ~m~ Ida Lee N Curry (born 1864 Alabama)
Children:
- Joan Martha Thomas (born 1895 FL)
- Josephine Thomas (born 1901 FL)
- Bessie Thomas (born 1903 FL)
- Corie Lee Thomas (born 1912 FL)
Boney Thomas (born 1889) ~m~ Eliza Simmons (born 1904)
Children:
- Artimus Thomas (born 1921)
- O.C. Thomas (born 1923)
Orie Thomas (born 1890) ~m~ _____________
Children:
- Rufus Thomas (born 1913)
- Harry Thomas (born 1914)
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