#52 Ancestor Challenge 2019, Week 21, Military
In Memory and Honor
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Forde
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Forde
Memorial Day 2019 offers a kairos opportunity to write an essay in memory of Caleb Sappington, my fourth great grandfather. This essay is also in honor of his namesake, Caleb Eugene Thetford, a seventh great-grandson awaiting birth in July. My heart sang with joy when I learned my granddaughter loved the name because of the Biblical Caleb, a companion of Moses and Joshua, being noted for his astute powers of observation and fearlessness in the face of overwhelming odds.
Caleb Sappington
11 May 1816, Caleb Sappington took the oath of office as an ensign in the 68thMilitia District of Georgia, an ensign being a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the infantry or navy. Did Caleb see military duty? Was he assigned to be on a ship out of Georgia? Perhaps he was a flag-bearer in the infantry? Hmmm! Where exactly was Caleb fighting and when?
In 1807 Britain introduced a series of trade restrictions to impede trade with France due to the fighting in the Napoleonic wars. The United States contested these restrictions as illegal under international law. The United States view was that Britain’s restrictions violated its right to free trade with others. In June of 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. The conflict continued until 1814 when both sides were weary of a costly war, and they began negotiations that ended on 24 December of 1814 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent; it was ratified by February of 1815.
Wasn’t that a great history lesson? That was the Readers Digest condensed version. But, it didn’t answer the questions about Caleb’s involvement as an Ensign in May of 1816, a year and three months after the War of 1812 ended!
Caleb Sappington, the surveyor for Wilkes County, Georgia, justice of the peace, planter, husband, and father, was part of a county militia. Caleb had astute powers of observation, he designed the roster for the War of 1812:
Early Records of Georgia Vol. 1 and 2, p. 319: “Roster of Soldiers and Civil Officers for the Period of the War of 1812: The Roster was designed by Caleb Sappington; it is on beautiful paper, in a clear, perfect handwriting resembling engraving. The militia did most of the warfare on land, with every able-bodied male over sixteen enrolled, subject to call upon the alarm of raids by Indians. Certain days were designated as ‘Muster Days’ and all reported at the County town for drill and instruction from their officers.”
Historical Chronology
1776: The United States of America is born.
1785: Georgia becomes a land of golden opportunity
1785–1787: A son, Caleb, is born to Richard Sappington and Rebecca Jarrett.
1785–1792: A pink-cheeked, fair-haired Georgia peach named Martha Bankston is born—a first-generation American girl.
2 July 1791: The treaty with the Cherokee commonly called the Treaty of the Holton redefines the cession of a portion of Georgia including Currahee Mountain based on
a 1790 treaty with the Creek Indians. This treaty defined the western boundary of settlement for the United States and tried to calm members of the Cherokee Nation who had witnessed the erosion of the earlier Treaty of Hopewell. At the time this treaty was signed, the Cherokee, mostly the Lower Towns, were in open revolt, attacking and being attacked by the settlers.
c. 1809: Estimated marriage date of Martha Bankston and Caleb Sappington
c. 1811: Estimated birth date of a daughter, Rebecca Jarrett Isabella Sappington in Wilkes County, Georgia.
1822: The tax digest for District 14, Capt. Reeves’s District, shows: Sappington, Caleb—no slaves, 250 acres pine land in Early County, 6thdistrict, lot 185; 111 ½ acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek adjoining R. Sappington, originally granted to G. Darden.
1823: The tax digest for District 8, Capt. Hood’s District, shows Caleb and Martha next door to Caleb’s parents, Richard and Rebecca Sappington, and to his brother, William J. Sappington.[4]
1824: Caleb is elected surveyor of Wilkes County, Georgia.
1825: The tax digest for District 9, Capt. James W.C. Luker’s District, lists Caleb Sappington, poll only, no slaves or land; District 14 Capt. Beniah B. Reeve’s District, shows: Sappington, Henry T.—poll only, no land or slaves; Sappington, Richard—8 slaves, 677 acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek adjoining B. Moore, originally granted G. Darden; 500 acres pine land in Early County, 21stand 16thdistricts, lots 363 and 239; one four-wheel carriage, one stud-horse young M__sk; Sappington, John—no slaves or land, poll only; Sappington, William J.—no slaves, 68 acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek adjoining R. –Sappington, one two-wheel carriage; Sappington, Caleb—111 ½ acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek adjoining R. Sappington, originally granted to G. Darden; Sappington, Thdies—poll only, no slaves or land.
27 January 1825: Caleb witnessed a deed of sale from his father, Richard Sappington, to his brother, Thadeus Sappington (Source: Deed Book HHH, 1823–1825, Wilkes County, Georgia; microcopy RH 408, p. 264; Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia). Richard Sappington to Thadeus Sappington, both of Wilkes County, Georgia consideration: $300 On Waters of Long Creek
Beginning at mulberry standing on north side of china Grove Rd, running thence S13W, 42.5 chains to Intersect of James Echols line, thence running said line S80W, 21.6 chains to Stake corner, thence N2.3E, 47.63 chains to Stake corner, thence with said road S88E, 9.5 chains to Pine corner on said road, thence with straight line to Beginning 111 acres, 2 roads, 14 square perches
Signed: Richard Sappington
Wit: Caleb Sappington and Caleb Sappington J.P.(Caleb)
Recorded 16 1826
Plat given below deed
1826: Tax digests show: District 12, Capt. Reeves’ District, Sappington, William J.—no slaves; 104 acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek, adjoining Albert; Sappington, Caleb—117 acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek, originally granted to G. Darden; Sappington, Richard (old)—8 slaves, 477 acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek adjoining B. Moore, originally granted to G. Darden; 260 acres pine land in Early County, 16thdistrict, lot 239; 250 acres pine land in Early County, 21stdistrict, lot 363; Sappington, Henry—50 acres 2ndclass land and 152 ½ acres 3rdclass land in Henry County, 11thdistrict, lot 167; Sappington, Thaddius—no slaves; 111 ½ acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County on Long Creek adjoining Richard. Sappington, originally granted to Darden; District 14, Capt. Thompson’s District: Sappington, Caleb—poll only, no slaves or land.
20 December 1827: Rebecca Jarrett Isabella Sappington marries Jacob Rutledge Brooks, (her sixteenth birthday?) in Henry County, Georgia, indicating the Sappington’s owned a house and land in Henry County prior to their 1830 move there from Walton County. Jacob Rutledge Brooks was a pioneer settler in Georgia and Alabama and Indian fighter. He later becomes a judge, a justice of the peace and member of the Confederate Alabama Legislature.
4 August 1827: Caleb Sappington was a justice of the peace on a deed of land sold to his brother, Henry Sappington in Wilkes County, Georgia.[5]
1828: The tax digest for District 10, Capt. Henry Popes’ District, shows Caleb Sappington, poll only, no slaves or land.
May 1829: Caleb witnesses an estate settlement as the justice of the peace in Wilkes County, Georgia.
1829: The tax digest for District 16, Capt. Wooten’s District, shows Caleb Sappington, poll only, no slaves or land.
21 October 1829: Caleb Sappington ran an advertisement for re-election as county surveyor in the Washington Monitor, the Washington, Georgia newspaper.
24 November 1829: Caleb places a second ad in The Monitor requesting support for his re-election as county surveyor.[6]
January 1830: Caleb Sappington loses his bid for re-election as county surveyor to Samuel Brooks. Caleb moved his family to his land in Walton County before the
1830 Federal Census. There, his family is enumerated this way: males: (2) to 5; (1) 10–15; (1) 15–20; (1) 40–50; Caleb would have been forty-three years old.[7]It appears that other children were born and died early.
1830: The tax digest shows Caleb with no slaves and 250 acres of pineland in Early County, 6thdistrict, lot 185; 112 ½ acres 3rdclass land in Wilkes County 6thdistrict, adjoining Richard Sappington, originally granted to Darden.
1835: Martha Bankston Brooks is born to Rebecca and Jacob Rutledge Brooks
1840: U.S. Federal Census enumerates the family in the Circle District of Walton County, Georgia: Caleb Sappington, five males and four females. Martha and Caleb’s daughter, Isabella Sappington Haralson died between January and April following the birth of her only son.
18 April 1845: Caleb Sappington dies in Walton County, Georgia.
Caleb Sappington’s Will
Thanks to Claire Sappington Schmidt, we have a copy of Caleb’s original will:
Georgia Wills and Returns Book F pp. 267–269, February 1989, Georgia Department of Archives and History.
Georgia, Walton County
Knowing that it is appointed for man to die, I Caleb Sappington of the County and State aforesaid being of sound mind do make and ordain this my last will and Testament.
Item 1st I will bequeath to my beloved wife Martha Sappington, the half of Lot (27th) twenty-seven in the first district of Walton County, and adjoining Edmund Gresham’s land, containing one hundred and twenty-five acres. Also, three slaves Henry, Rufus, and Phebe, two horses, two calves, such plantation tools necessary to carry on the farm and provisions enough for the support of her and family left with her, for twelve months after my Decease. Two feather beds and furniture and such household and kitchen furniture as may be necessary for her comfort and convenience of housekeeping during her life or widowhood, and then to be equally divided among the Children.
Item 2nd I will that my house and lot at Social circle, and my land in Early County, and the half of lot No (27) Twenty-seven in the first district of Walton County. Half of Lot (28) Twenty-eight and Lot Number four in the first district in said County be sold by my Executors, and divided equally among the Children, and the trustees appointed for my daughter Nancy Greer shall make such use of her part as shall be most to her interest and the welfare of herself and Children and hold all property of hers for the use of herself and Children. I wish the Trustee of my daughter, Rebecca J. Brooks, to manage her part as the above case. I also wish an equal portion given to the infant left by my daughter Isabella Haralson and left in trust as specified in the cases, and should the said child die before it becomes of legal age, then its part is to revert to my Children and be equally divided among them.
Item 3rd I will that the balance of my negroes be sold by my Executor and divided among my Children, and the parts for Nancy, Rebecca, and Isabella Haralson’s child left in trust as stated in the second item of this instrument and that my Executors shall act as Trustees for my daughter Nancy Greer, Rebecca J. Brooks, and for Isabella Haralson’s child.
Item 4th I will that after providing for my wife as directed in the first item of this will, that all the perishable property be sold, and proceeds divided as in the foregoing part of this will.
Item 5th I will that the portions of property given to my wife after her death shall be divided in the same way as the other property, leaving in trust Nancy’s, Rebecca’s, Isabella’s child’s portion.
Item 6th I wish all my just debts to be paid, out of my effects.
Item 7th I hereby institute and appoint my son John M. Sappington, and my sons in law Welborn M. Bentley, and Presley F. Christian, Executors to this my last will and Testament. And my son, Joseph Sappington when he becomes of age, may act as Executor of it if it is his wish, or it should be necessary for him to do so. In testimony whereof this, I the said Caleb Sappington hereunto set my hand and affix my seal, this fourteenth day of 1845.
Caleb Sappington {Seal}
Author’s Note: Caleb Sappington was consistently taxed as a non-slave owner. Yet, his will and estate name three slaves. Caleb inherited slaves from his father. Martha’s father deeded two slaves to her. The author surmises that the proximity of Caleb’s property to his father’s in-laws’, and siblings’ allowed for servants to be loaned or exchanged when needed. The names of slaves used in this essay are the actual names found in the estate papers for Richard and Caleb Sappington.
c. 1849: Martha Bankston Sappington dies, probably in Walton County, Georgia.
Lineage to Caleb Eugene Thetford
Martha Brooks (1834-1872) marries Elijah McDonald
Rebecca Jarrett McDonald (1858-1938) marries William Anderson Miller
Coy Clifton Miller (1892-1962) marries Ruby Anna King
Rose Arlene Miller (1920- 1984) marries Ervin Gelnor Vold
Cynthia Annette Vold Forde
Daughter Forde
Granddaughter Diaz-Thetford
Caleb Eugene 22 July 2019: Welcome to our world,
[1]Early Records of Georgia Vol. 1 and 2, p. 319: “Roster of Soldiers and civil Officers for the Period of the War of 1812: The Roster was designed by Caleb Sappington; it is on beautiful paper, in clear, perfect handwriting resembling engraving. Most of the warfare on land was done by the Militia, and every able-bodied male over sixteen was enrolled, subject to call upon the alarm of raids by Indians. Certain days were designated as ‘Muster Days’ and all reported at the County town for drill and instruction from their officers.”
[3]Early Georgia Records, Vol. 1 and 2, p. 248: “The land disposed of in this lottery was obtained by treaty with the Creek Indians at Indian Springs, January 8, 1821, covered by five original counties at the time of the survey, namely Dooly, Houston, Monroe, Henry, and Fayette counties, since divided into 21 counties: A list of names entitled to draw for land in the 164th Dist. or Capt. David Hillhouse’s County, in Major Thomas Gordon’s Battalion. In Wilkes County, Georgia. Richard Sappington, 2 draws (Caleb’s father-in-law), Early County, Georgia; Caleb Sappington, 2 draws; William Sappington, 1 draw.”
[4]1821 Tax Digest: Sappington, Richard: 7 slaves, 250 acres pine land in Early County, 21st district, lot 363; 250 acres pine land in Early County, 16th district, lot 239; 677 acres 3rd class land in Wilkes County adjoining B. Moore, originally granted G. Dardan; Sappington, Caleb – no slaves, 250 acres pineland in Early County, 6th district, lot 185; 111 ½ acres 3rd class land in Wilkes County, adjoining Richard Sappington, originally granted to G. Darden; Sappington, Wm J – no slaves, 68 acres 3rd class land in Wilkes County adjoining Richard Sappington, originally granted to G. Darden.
[5]Freda Reid Turner, Henry Land Records 1821-1828, Deed Books A & B, Vol. I,p. 105 of published book; Deed Book A, page 659; Caleb Sappington was J.P. on deed. 4 August 1827; Page 161 of published book; Deed Book B, page 334; William Miller of Madison County sold to Henry Sappington, 4 August 1827, $200, 202 ½ acres, district 11, lot #167, drawn by William Miller in land lottery, recorded 3 September 1827, wit: James Long, Allen Daniel J.I.C.
[6]The Monitor, Washington, Georgia, 24 November 1829: “To the voters of Wilkes County: The undersigned having been several times honored with your confidence, asks again your indulgence for the office of County Surveyor the approaching Election in January next. He would do violence to his feelings was he not to return to you his grateful acknowledgment for your kind indulgence in several times placing his humble services to public trust. A renewal of your confidence will call forth his best energies in the discharge of the duties of the office, together with that gratitude which he has ever cherished as the highest offering he could make for your many favors. Caleb Sappington.”
[7]1830 U.S. Federal Census page 24.133.txt Microfilm: M19-21
