Who is Sylvia? (Or The Life of Zilpha Eddins)

Lately my DNA matches have shown lots of connections to the Blakely family of Lexington/Orangeburg, South Carolina. Which brings me to fifth great-grandmother Zilpha Eddins, whose maiden name was "Blakely." I think. The purpose of this entry is to jot down all Zilpha's provable data to see if I can break the wall down any further.

Researcher Bob Eddings wrote that Zilpha had eleven children rather than nine. Zilpha's 1828 ad (more on that in a bit) names nine: Elizabeth, Blakely,  John S., Fereby, Anna Obedience, William D., James A., Mary, and Martha. Ephraim is #10, but he died in Pulaski County, GA, in 1826 and according to Bob, apparently had no heirs. Thus no mention in Zilpha's ad. I have as yet not found the last child, if it existed. (Could be Roof or Shull or Odom, but in this post I shall stick to evidence that can be reproduced).

Let's start with what the 1790 Census can tell us and then move chronologically through her life as suggested by the various sources cited. 

• In the 1790 US census for SC, John Edings is living in Orangeburgh District. There is one male 16 + (John), three males under 16 (Blakely, John S. & Ephraim), and six free white females (Zilpha & five others). Neighbors: Geiger, Busbee, Liphart, Kennerly, Gossett, Bookman, Weisinger, Corley, Roof, Price, Cummerland, Clark, Clark, Hydle, Busby, Hellman, Beard.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/5058/images/4185996_00241?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=389148

One man, three boys, six women. 10 people total. No slaves.William D. and James A. not born yet, so two later children missing from the current household. Two of the 10 inhabitants are John & Zilpha, which leaves eight children, assuming all the inhabitants are John & Zilpha's family of origin. 

• In the 1800 US Census for Orangeburgh, SC, Selvia Eddins is head of household. In the household are two males under 10 (William D. & James A.), two males 10 - 15 (John S. & Ephraim), questionable 1 male 26 - 44--looks like it said one then was changed to zero. There are also one female under 10 (Martha or Mary), two females 10 - 15 (probably Fereby and Anna Obedience), and one female 26 - 44 (Zilpha). Neighbors include Muntz, Peter Sea or Lea, Elizabeth Kelly, William Kelley, Samuel Kelley, Roof, Blakeley, George Turner, Borman, Senn, Carter, Hydle, Smith, Lipheart, Charles Corley, Lites (Lightsey), John Weisinger, William Daniel (brother to Frederick Daniel who married Susanah Hendrix?), Busby, John Ricord (Rickard), Geiger, Sanders, Evans, Christian Wingard.

Selvia is in a section labeled “Lexington north of Saluda.” Others include John Smith, Peter Sea, Martin Hook, Lavina Sandford, Samuel Aldridge.

She's in the same area she was as when John Eddins died in 1795-ish. Elizabeth had married Benjamin Wingard and had at least one child. Blakely was presumably on his way to settle in Pulaski County, GA, since there aren't any males of his age.  While the 1828 ad identifies Mary as the wife of George Turner, Turner's wife in 1800 seems too old to be Mary if Mary is a daughter of Zilpha.

She lives near Nace Blakely and the Nace's future son-in-law Hydle/Hidel.

http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=7590&path=South+Carolina.Orangeburg+District.Lexington.26&fn=Selvia&ln=Eddins&st=r&pid=495483&rc=&zp=75

Being the female 26 - 44 would put her birth year 1756 - 1784. She is head of household. Eight people in the household. John has died.

• In the 1810 US Census for SC, Widow Edins is in Lexington County. In the household are one male 10 - 15 (James A., 17?), two males 16 - 25 (Ephraim, 24 & not John S, who is married & in Lexington), one male 26 - 44. Also in the household are one female under 10 (Unknown), one female 16 - 25, two females 26 - 45  and one female 45 and over (Widow Eddins). Nearby neighbors are George, John & Henry Windgard (brothers of Benjamin, husband of Elizabeth?),  Rambo, Furney, Busby, Jumper, Martin, Hendrix, Oaks, Johnston, Bookman, Oliver, Oswalt, Keixer, Busbee, Rall, Boozer, Gibson. Neighbor David King surveyed a plat for Zilpha in 1817.

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&r=0&dbid=7613&iid=4433429_00136&fn=Widow&ln=Edins&st=r&ssrc=&pid=582582

The make-up of the household suggests that some of Zilpha's children must have been living with her. For example, possibly Elizabeth Eddins Wingard, before she remarried Mr. Brown.

Being the over 45 female would make her birth year 1765 or before.

• Zilpha arranged for land plats of 100+ acre parcels to be drawn in 1817 & 1818. Neighbor David King did one. 

http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/RecordDetail.aspx?RecordId=218585

http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/RecordDetail.aspx?RecordId=219371

Zilpha owned land.

Zilpha married David Winchell between 1810 and 1820. We know this from her 1828 ad (skipping ahead a little). So we look to David Winchell in the 1820 Census. 

• In the 1820 US Census for SC, David Winchel is living in Lexington County. In the household are one male over 45 (David), one female over 45 (Zilpha), and one person engaged in agriculture. Important neighbors: Absolom Hedrix, Jesse Lee or Sea, John Lipheart, David Hendrix, William Lee, Margaret Brown, Jeffcoats, George Rickard, John Eddins (her son), Metze, Ellison, Busby, George Fry, William Hendrix, Henry Hendrix, Andrew Fry, Lites, Weissinger.

http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/View.aspx?dbid=7734&path=South+Carolina.Lexington.Lexington.15

Being the over 45 female would make her birth year 1775 or before.

• Even if Zilpha wasn't literate, she was still social. She got letters, because there was one for her in the Columbia, SC, post office on January 1, 1822. 

https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11B55F04C806628C%40GB3NEWS-138A1065925CC670%402386539-138A07E4E2E8FB30%402-139076BFAED9DD80%40Advertisement?h=13&fname=zilpha&lname=Eddins&fullname=edins&exsrch=1&rgfromDate=&rgtoDate=&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=&kwexc=&sid=qqfwlywajxhzgatbntyuknmeztknscfm_wma-gateway006_1643251079816

• Zilpha's 1828 South Carolina State Gazette ad names her as "Zilpha Winchell, formerly Edins" and identifies her deceased husband as "John Edins." The ad also states that her children were "Mary, wife of George Turner, Elizabeth Brown, Fereby, wife of Samuel Hendrix, John Edins, Martha Edins, Blakely Edins, Obedience, wife of Edom Moon, James A. Edins and William D. Edins." 

http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/newspapers/doc/v2:11B55F04C806628C@GBNEWS-11BB082D13CEFFC8@2389070-11BB082D58F81ED0@6-11BB082E17EBB3F8@/?search_terms=edins&s_dlid=DL0114120622143605554&s_ecproduct=SUB-Y-6995-R&s_ecprodtype=RENEW-A-I&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2010%2F11%2F2015&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=10%2F11%2F2015&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=rsjmc@earthlink.net&s_accountid=AC0112050822015911400&s_upgradeable=no 

•  In the 1830 US Census for SC, David Winchell is living in Lexington County. He is 40 - 50, and living by himself. Neighbors: Shealy, Fort, Waters, Qualltelbaum, Lee,  Withers, Orthery, Williams, Mitchell, Fort, Sun, Taylor, Brown, Askins.

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=8058&iid=4410695_00714&fn=David&ln=Winchel&st=r&ssrc=&pid=660978

Why is there no one else in his household if Zilpha died in 1831??

• Sources say Zilpha died in 1831. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=aqsKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=%22james+a.+eddins%22&source=bl&ots=yDcQa3wx3b&sig=SWaowTZywclN_-NPUmmdiNaMxtw&hl=en&ei=rONZTYTUD4H68Aa01tSWDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&sqi=2&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22james%20a.%20eddins%22&f=false

To sum up:

So basically, all we can prove is that Zilpha was born between 1756 and 1765. She was married at least twice, once to John Eddins and once to David Winchel. She had at least 10 children, most of whom lived to maturity. Her first child (Elizabeth) was born between 1777 and 1780. Last child (James A.) born 1794. She owned land that she was able to sell. She lived near several Blakelys. She died in 1831. 

Dang. 

Though the DNA evidence still points to Zilpha as a Blakely, we can't prove any more than what's listed here. Still there's now a better outline of her life that may prove helpful in the future. 

Onward!  

Elizabeth Eddins Wingard Brown

 The purpose of this post is to describe the life of Elizabeth Eddins/Edins/Edens, oldest daughter of John and Zilpha Eddins, Lexington and Orangeburgh Districts/Counties, SC. She married Benjamin Wingard and then Unknown Brown.

Before continuing, let me declare strongly that this post's goal is not to make anyone upset—only to lay out the facts that I believe describe her life. The material is labeled as fact with sources or as theory with supporting evidence. I will gladly change/amend this blog post if you provide evidence to prove!

To begin:

Much of the information posted about this Elizabeth on Ancestry and the internet is confused or incorrect. 

For example:

The birthdate may be correct, being within the estimates of the best Eddins researchers. Even the marriage date to Benjamin Wingard may be correct, though the source isn't mentioned in any book or document I've come across in 30 years. It's pretty specific, so there may be some truth to it. The death date, however, is just plain silly. Elizabeth had at least six and possibly seven children: Mary, Samuel, Albert, Jobe, William, Jacob and probably Sarah. In addition, Alabama was not a state until 1820.  And no one has ever proved that John Eddins's name was John William Eddins (though it might be. Show me the evidence).

Here's another example:

One Elizabeth Eddins, 79, planter, born SC about 1780, died in Tuscaloosa, AL, in September 1859. This fact is proved by the 1860 Mortality Schedule for Tuscaloosa County, AL:

Link here:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8756/images/32787_1220706416_0000-00597?pId=6565757

I have known and proved that married women sometimes reverted to maiden or earlier surnames in later life. However, the EE who died in Tuscaloosa, AL, in 1859, was born Elizabeth Walker. She married Joseph Balus Eddins.

• Here in 1830 with husband Joseph Balus Eddins, 1777 - 1839:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/4409667_00668?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=30f60bfde5925bf667b3610d85da687b&pId=1019567

• Here she is in Tuscaloosa in 1840—widowed, with children still in the household; sons Samuel and Bery nearby:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4411216_01024?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=cc6087774e2cd2732ea952ee3ec44dd1&pId=1374010

• 1850 Tuscaloosa with son Joseph nearby:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4191541-00061?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=8207b8f72b70255e9ae1b0c954234264&pId=16816395

Yada, yada, yada.

Obviously this woman was not the Elizabeth Eddins of Lexington County, SC. If you look, you can find lots more evidence that the Elizabeth Eddins in Tuscaloosa, AL, was not the same person, though she bore the same name. So...

...Let's move to what IS provable about Elizabeth Eddins of Lexington, SC, daughter of John and Zilpha.

Bob Eddings, Eddins researcher, is my starting point for early Eddins info. In 30 years of research, I have found his info to be "off" only a few times. So let's assume he is correct. Here's what he says about Elizabeth Eddins:

"Regarding Elizabeth Eddings who married Benjamin Wingard, I don’t know much. I looked at the World Connect project on the Internet to see what others had posted about them and the info I found was almost useless. One poster showed their daughter Mary being born before her mother. Here is what little I have on them. Elizabeth was born circa 1777 . About 1794-95 she married Benjamin Wingard and apparently their first child was William, born 12/10/1795. Their other children were: Mary, Jacob, Sanuel, Albert, and Jobe. I estimate they all were born during the period circa 1798-1807. Due to Benjamin's young age, he might have lived with his parents for a while." 

http://genforum.genealogy.com/eddins/messages/741.html

Findagrave.com shows first son William's birthdate as 12/10/1799:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5977292/william-wingard

Assuming this info is correct within a year or two, then Elizabeth would have married Benjamin Wingard about ages 17 - 19.  They may have lived with his parents. William, the first child, was born 12/10/1799 or so, when Elizabeth was 18 - 22. 

William's grave says 1799:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=wingard&GSfn=william&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=3&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=5977292&df=all&

The 1800 Census agrees with William's birth year as 1796 - 1799:

In the 1800 US Census for SC, Benjamin Wingard is living in the Orangeburgh District of Lexington County. In the household are one male under 10 (born 1791 - 1800), one male 16 - 26, (born 1774 - 1784, Benjamin) and one female 16 - 26  (Elizabeth, born 1774 - 1784). Where are the rest of the children supposedly born before 1800??? Nowhere if William was the first and born in 1899. Neighbors include most of the Hendrix families, Michael Lee, Philip Fry, Peter Hendrick, John Lipes.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7590/images/4440836_00154?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=494726

Here's an interesting digression: 

In Memorialized Records of Lexington District, S.C., 1814 - 1825, Page 68, Brent Holcomb lists this transaction: Benjamin Wingard buys 378 acres on the head of Congaree Creek from George Liks (Litesy??); sale price $378; dated December 19, 1801; recorded and proved December 1, 1817. Many people have listed December 19, 1801, as Benjamin's death date. He probably died after, but at least there's now a source for the very specific date.

Skipping ahead in time:

 

In 1828, Elizabeth's mother Zilpha ran an ad in the SC State Gazette that listed her children, including "John Edins" and "Elizabeth Brown." The ad also named those of Zilpha's children living outside SC. John and Elizabeth are not mentioned, so they must have still been living in SC in 1828. 

You can find the content of Zilpha's ad in an earlier ALRoots2 post. Here's the web link, but it's behind a paywall:

http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/newspapers/doc/v2:11B55F04C806628C@GBNEWS-11BB082D13CEFFC8@2389070-11BB082D58F81ED0@6-11BB082E17EBB3F8@/?search_terms=edins&s_dlid=DL0114120622143605554&s_ecproduct=SUB-Y-6995-R&s_ecprodtype=RENEW-A-I&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2010%2F11%2F2015&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=10%2F11%2F2015&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=rsjmc@earthlink.net&s_accountid=AC0112050822015911400&s_upgradeable=no

One thing it's possible to conclude from this entry is that Elizabeth got remarried after Benjamin's death (after 1801) to Mr. Unknown Brown. 

Backtracking to 1810:

The 1810 Census does not list Benjamin Wingard and sadly, it doesn't list either "Elizabeth Wingard" or "Widow Wingard." An obvious conclusion is that Benjamin died our moved away by 1810 and that Elizabeth and children were living with relatives. 

There IS a "Widow Brown"but probably not Elizabeth as she would have been 37 or so and woman who's head of household is over 45. 

In the 1810 U.S. Census for SC, Widow Brown is living in Lexington District. In the household are two females 16 - 25 (born 1785 - 1794) and one female 45 and over (Widow Brown, born 1774 or earlier). 

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7613/images/4433429_00127?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=582275)

Moving farther forward in time, however, we find a good candidate for Elizabeth:

In the 1820 US Census for SC, Elizabeth Brown is living in Lexington County. In the household are one male 26 - 44 (born 1776 - 1780 but not head of household), two females 10 - 15 (born 1805 - 1810), one female 26 - 44 (Elizabeth, head of household, who must be 40 - 44, born 1776 - 1780). Three people engaged in agriculture. two people under 16, two people over 25. Total is four people. Neighbors: Geiger, Fey, Meetze, Lee, Kinzler, Griffen, Battles, Strickland, Oswalt, Price, Reisinger, Swygert.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7734/images/4433457_00088?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=981570

Also, consider this:

In Memorialized Records of Lexington District, S.C., 1814 - 1825, Page 127, Brent Holcomb lists this transaction: Elizabeth Brown gifts to Mary and Sarah Wingard, 30 acres lying by the Broad River; executed 20 March 1822; proved the same day; recorded April 3, 1822.

Elizabeth is the 1820 head of household. Mary and Sarah may be the two females 10 - 15. At this point I don't know who the male is; perhaps Jobe. (Oh, boy—something else to investigate:)

And the final record for Elizabeth's life:

In the 1830 US Census for SC, Elizabeth Brown lives in Lexington County. In the household there is one female 50 - 59 (Elizabeth, born 1771 - 1780) and one free colored person 10 - 23. Next door is John Eddings (John S. Eddings, Elizabeth's brother). Neighbors: Roof, Ruff, Lee, Oswalt, Newman, Qualttlebaum, John Eddings.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/4410695_00720?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=cdb84693e052aabd5bc77378745e21cc&pId=661013

Elizabeth Eddins (b. 1777 - 1780) would be 50 to 53, so her age matches Elizabeth Brown’s in 1830.

That's all I have found about the life of Elizabeth Eddins Wingard Brown. There may be other good sources available. I'll keep looking. Comments with proof are always welcome!

Since Mary Wingard mar

The Eddinses of Pulaski County, GA

Blakely and William D. Eddins and offspring, as far as I can tell, though there may be others.

Blakely and William D. were both sons of John & Zilpha Eddins/Edins/Eddings/Edens of Orangeburg/Lexington County, SC. Blakely went to Pulaski County first and his brother William D. and family followed. The tricky part is figuring out who's offspring is whose.

Here's what Eddings researcher extraordinaire Bob Eddings has to say:

"I can't answer all your questions about Ephriam Eddings, but I am sure the one in Georgia on the 1820 census was the the same one in Richland Co., S.C. Circa 1809 Ephriam's brother Blakey (Blakely) granted him some land in Morgan Co., Ga. and 2/14/1814 Ephriam sold that land. In 1820 he was in Pulaski Co., Ga. I don't know when or where Ephriam married, but his wife was named Anna. I show no record of any children. On 5/10/1826 Anna filed for an Application for Letters of Administration in Richland Co. to settle Ephriam's estate, since he was then deceased. I dont know if Ephriam ever lived in Morgan Co. or not."

The earliest record I can find of Blakely so far is as a lieutenant in an unnumbered district militia company, Pulaski County, GA, G.M.; Bleckley Edens’s entry is from December 10, 1810. 

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/22837/images/dvm_LocHist008472-00122-1?treeid=&personid=&rc=659%2C3743%2C876%2C3803&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TNm6&_phstart=successSource&pId=231

In 1814 Blakely Edings is listed in the muster rolls for Pulaski County, GA. The entry says: "Blakely Edings, Lieut., commencement of service Sept. 9, expiration of service, Sept. 18, pay for the month, $30." This is dated "Georgia. Pulaski County, November 3rd, 1814. Pay roll of Detachments of Militia at Forts Pike, Mitchel, Green, and Lawrence, under the command of Capt. Gideon Kellam, agreeable to Regimental orders of September 8th, 1814."

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/22837/images/dvm_LocHist008472-00115-0?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&rc=618%2C3305%2C834%2C3362&pId=216

The Georgia Tax Digests shows that in 1818 Blakely was in Pulaski County, GA, serving as trustee for Elizabeth Lee. 

http://interactive.ancestry.com/1729/40141_1220705227_0542-00049/4788344?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3dgeorgia1890proptaxdigests%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dangs-d%26gsfn_x%3dXO%26gsln%3deddins%26gsln_x%3dNS%26uidh%3dwy5%26pcat%3d36%26fh%3d1%26h%3d4788344%26recoff%3d6%26ml_rpos%3d2&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord

From 1818 to 1821 Blakely shows up in several court documents, for example, security for a bond or as a marriage-performing JP. He was obviously a respected man. 

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donbrown/pgard1810_1825.htm

Did Blakely get married and have kids? Hard to tell. 

In the 1820 US Census for GA, Blakley Eddins is in Pulaski County. In the household are six males under 10 (born 1810 - 1820), one male 16 - 25 (born 1795 - 1804; James? William D.?), one male 26 - 44 (born 1776 - 1794; Blakley born 1780ish). There are three females under 10 (born 1810 - 1820), and two 26 - 44 (born 1776 - 1794). Four people are engaged in agriculture. There are also one male slave under 14, one 14 - 25, and one female slave 14 - 25. Nine free white people under 16, three FW people over 25. 

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=0&dbid=7734&iid=4433224_00110&fn=Blakley&ln=Edins&st=d&ssrc=&pid=1481017

I haven't found Blakely after the 1820 Census or in any documents after 1830. Bob Eddings said he died in 1838, but I haven't yet found the evidence to support that. I'll keep looking.

However, I HAVE found William D. Eddins:

In the 1830 US Census for GA, William D. Eding is living in Capt. Roach's District, Pulaski County, GA. In the household are one male 0 - 5 (born 1825 - 1830), four males 5 - 10 (born 1820 - 1825), one male 30 - 40 (born 1790 - 1800; William D. born about 1791). There are also one female 0 - 5 (born 1825 - 1830), one female 10 - 15 (born 1815 - 1820), and one female 20 - 30 (born 1800 - 1810). Neighbors: Hardy Powers, James Kinsion (Kinshen), Perskins, Bush, Brown, Mathews, Wood, Pope, Ward, James Key (probably father of Emaline, who married William D., Junior in 1838).

William D. also appears in the 1840 Census:

In the 1840 US Census for Pulaski County, GA, W.D. Edins lives in Capt. Eden's District. In the household are one male 5 - 9 (born 1835 - 1840), one male 10 - 14 (born 1825 - 1830), two males 15 - 19 (1820 - 1825), and one male 40 - 49 (William D., 1790 - 1800). There are also one female 0 - 5 (born 1835 - 1840) and one female 15 - 19 (born 1820 - 1825).  Neighbors: Hodge, Whigham, Simmons, Z. Pope, Bemby, Hosky, Hays, Sapp.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4185983_00341?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=9a89c829112d1d3c2f812c2e9e937163&pId=1832194

W. D. Edins appears in the 1850 Mortality Schedule for Pulaski County, GA. He was 57, born SC, married, 24 days sick, died in November 1849, died of “imfamany.” Heaven know what "imfamany" is. Influenza?

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8756/images/GAT655_7-0323?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=413905

After 1850 the only Edinses I can find in Pulaski County are in the Censuses. For example, in the 1850 US Census for Pulaski County, D. R. Eddins is living alone in Household #357. He is 25 (born 1825), a farmer. Living a few doors away is his sister Zilpha, married to Benjamin Whigham. The correct name is Zebulon Rodolphus. 

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4191558-00517?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=d9d3435efb7b5e5736b44fd286113782&pId=18904146

Also in Pulaski County there's farmer Blakely Edins, 29, born about 1821 in GA, living with new wife Martha, née Yearty. 

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4191558-00470?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=edebbe36287808b1b5b1a5ad13dd3f3f&pId=18902226

William D. had just died in 1849 (1850 Mortality Schedule).  The executor for his will was Zebulon, which would suggest that Z. R. was William D.'s son. In the same set of estate papers, Blakely Eddins and Richard Delamar are listed as security for Zebulon's service as executor. See:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/005778372_00520?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=53e625bb565155a08c55b3f8a600ee7c&pId=694301

and

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/005759582_00159?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=53e625bb565155a08c55b3f8a600ee7c&pId=72159

Sadly, Blakely died intestate by September 7, 1863, as evidenced by this application for executive powers:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/005759577_00250?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=53e625bb565155a08c55b3f8a600ee7c&pId=813968

That's all I've got for the moment. I'm sure there's more. When I find it, I'll post it. 

The Zilpha Postulations

At this moment, my best theory is that: 1.) Zilpha Eddins's maiden name was Blakely; 2.) that she was the sister of Dionysius Blakely; and 3.) that she was the first and only wife of John Eddins. Here's why:

Reasoning behind Item #1

A. John & Zilpha's first boy was Blakely (b. about 1780). He is the first documentable example in our line to bear it as a first or middle name. (Also in DB's descendants) There are lots of Blakelys after him, but he's the first. So there were no Uncle or Auntie Blakelys running around previously, suggesting that the introduction of "Blakely" as a Eddins name started in his generation.

It was common practice to name the first child or two after a parent. It would not be surprising for the first boy to be named after the wife's father or using his surname. For example, Nancy Hendrix, wife of James A. Eddins, named her first boy after her father (Peter Hendrix > Peter Eddins). John & Zilpha had business dealings with Dionysius Blakely (Lexington plats); they were neighbors (1790, 1800, 1810 Censii); and DB & JE served together in SC's Third Regiment (1780 garrison report)

Reasoning behind Item #2:

A. As mentioned, the name "Blakely" runs like a river though our family. As it happens, it also runs like a river through other families who are descended from Dionysius Blakely.

DB had at least one son and at least four daughters: John, Mary Polly (m. John Hidle), Elizabeth/Leodicia/Dicey (m. James Eidson), Nancy (m. William Perry), and Sarah. Plus probably an unnamed daughter who married Hardy Harris. Many of the Hidle children and grandchildren had "Blakely" as their first or middle names.

B. In earlier posts I proved that Dionysius and Zilpha were contemporaries, and so not parent/child. They were also neighbors. They could have been cousins, but my hunch is that they were brother and sister.

C. This postulation needs more exploration. 

Reasoning behind Item #3

A. DNA kits from the James A. Eddins line (my line) match kits from the John S. ad Anna Obedience Eddins (Edom Moon) lines and the Elizabeth Eddins (Benjamin Wingard) line. So one parent contributed DNA to both the oldest child (Elizabeth), two middle children (John S. and Anna Obedience), and the youngest child (James A.). That parent was either John or Zilpha, probably Zilpha.

B. In the February 1816 deed in which land is given to James A. Eddins and William D. Eddins, Zilpha says:

"...and in order to make their lot, as nearly as possible, equal to the part which my elder children have had...

https://books.google.com/books?id=aqsKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=zilpha+eddins+1831&source=bl&ots=yFcQ69utag&sig=X3KZkIMGGTftVRM60gI_wfuJPDo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGk8q49LvUAhVB4D4KHYPEDnUQ6AEIMjAC#v=onepage&q=zilpha%20eddins%201831&f=false

She doesn't call the other children "...his elder children...." She says, "...my elder children...."

While researching Irena Green Bibb Garrett last month in AL, I found the will of Edward Garrett, her second husband. Irena and Edward both had children from previous marriages. Though they were married thirty or so years, his will left her some things but clearly mentioned "his" children. Not "our" children, but "my children." The language was very specific, just as Zilpha's was.

Assuming that's true: therefore, if Zilpha was the mother of the youngest child (JA), she was the mother of the oldest child (Elizabeth), and thus the only wife with whom John Eddins had children.

As more people get DNA tested, we may be able to finally prove or disprove this theory. Hang on!

Blakely and Eddins DNA, and what it proves

DNA has proved that our Eddins family is related to the Blakelys.

At both Ancestry, FtDNA, and Gedmatch.com, several of our Eddins DNA kits triangulate with kits of Blakely descendants. Our kits match DNA kits from people descended from other children of John & Zilpha.

In the Eddins family, we can trace our line back through James A. Eddins to John & Zilpha/Sylvia Eddins, both with documents and with DNA. The Blakely kits that we match all trace their lines back to Dionysius Blakely. One researcher in particular, Gary Ray Blakely, has done years of research. I find his research and data quite reliable. He and the kits he administers trace back to Dionysius Blakely. The kits of other Eddins descendants trace back to Anna Obedience Eddins who married Edom Moon and Elizabeth Eddins who married Benjamin Wingard.

There are only a few ways in which my line can be descended from the Blakely family.

1. One of John's parents, grandparents, or ancestors was a Blakely.

Can't prove or disprove this yet. I have no info about John prior to his 1777 enlistment in the SC Volunteers Third Regiment.

http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/RecordDetail.aspx?RecordId=218748

2. Either Dionysius, Bland, or another Blakely male was the father of James A. Eddins  incestuously.

Actually, this possibility is probably precluded by the fact that the name "Blakely" runs through the Eddins family. In all the records I've seen about Zilpha, as extraordinary as she was, there's never been anything to suggest that she was erratic or demented or abused. Rather, she seems to have been one feisty dudess—selling land, running ads to find her errant flock, and marrying a man much, much younger. Is such a woman likely to name her first son after a relative who "took advantage of her"? Hardly.

3.  One of Zilpha's parents, grandparents, or ancestors was a Blakely.

I have no proven info about Zilpha prior to her being named on an 1806 land plat in Lexington County, SC, though it's 99% likely that she was the female in John's household during the 1790 SC Census. It's just that her name is not listed.

The only thing I can prove is that Zilpha says she is the mother of William D. and James A. Eddins, based on a record from a law case.

"STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA:

Know all men by these presents that I, Zilpha Eddins, of Lexington District and the State aforesaid, widow woman, for and in consideration of the natural love I have and do bear towards my two sons, James A. Eddins and William D. Eddins..."

https://books.google.com/books?id=aqsKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=zilpha+eddins+1831&source=bl&ots=yFcQ69utag&sig=X3KZkIMGGTftVRM60gI_wfuJPDo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGk8q49LvUAhVB4D4KHYPEDnUQ6AEIMjAC#v=onepage&q=zilpha%20eddins%201831&f=false

Right now my best theory is that Zilpha was born a Blakely, and that she was John Eddins first and only wife. But all I can prove is:

1. The James A. Eddins line is descended from the Blakelys.

2. Zilpha Eddins was married to John Eddins and the mother of James A.

3. James A. Eddins is related to Anna Obedience and Elizabeth Eddins.

More on my current theory in the next blog.

John & Zilpha, Bland & Dionysius

Now that I've done some heavy research into the lives of John & Zilpha, Bland and Dionysius, I'm ready to make comparisons in order to draw some conclusions.

1. Birth and death dates

John Eddins born about 1750, died about 1795.

Zilpha Maiden Name Unknown born between 1756 and 1765, died about 1831.

Dionysius Blakely born between 1756 and 1765, died about 1815,

Bland Blakely born before 1776, died after 1790.


2. Military service

John Edins, Bland Blakely and Dionysus Blakely all served as privates in the Third Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers under Col. William Thompson.

https://www.fold3.com/image/9679383

Payroll of 3rd Regiment in Garrison, March 1780. Bland Blakely and John Edins.

3. Land

They all lived in Lexington District, SC, around 1790. Dionysius and Zilpha lived there in 1800.

Dionysius transferred land to John & Zilpha Eddins

Bland and Dionysius lived next to each other in 1790.

Dionysius living next to George and Mary Eddins Turner in two censuses; next to John S. Eddins in another.


Mini-bios:

• John Edins mini-bio: born about 1750 (Va?), married about 1777 - 1780, mustered into Third Regiment SC Volunteers on xxx date 1777. In garrison March 1880. Owned land conveyed from Dionysius Blakely. Farmer. Appeared in 1790 Census in Lexington District, died intestate 1795.

• Zilpha Eddins mini-bio:  born between 1756 and 1765 (SC?), married about 1777 - 1780, widowed about 1795. Appears as HOH in 1800, 1810 Censuses in Lexington District. Married after 1819, shows up in the household of David Winchell, Lexington District, in 1820 Census. Ran ad naming children of John Eddins in 1828. Died in 1831.

Children of John & Zilpha: Elizabeth, Blakely, John S., Fereby, Mary, Martha, Anna Obedience, William D., James A., Ephraim.

• Dionysius Blakely born between 1756 and 1765, mustered into Third Regiment SC Volunteers on July 24, 1776. Married Fanny MNU (some people have her as Ivers). Owned lots of land in Lexington District, SC, some which was conveyed to John & Zilpha Eddins. Owned slaves. Died 1815.

Children of DB and Fanny named in his will: John, Mary (married John Hidle), Nancy (married William Perry), Elizabeth/Dicey/Leodocia (married James Eidson); Sarah; an unnamed daughter (married Hardy Harris); and perhaps one more daughter.

• Bland Blakely mini-bio: born before 1774, died after 1790. Possibly born 1730. Possibly listed in Wilkes County, GA, in 1786. Lived on land in Lexington County, SC, maybe owned it. mustered into Third Regiment October 17, 1777. Had unidentified people living with him in 1790.

Conclusions:

1. Dionysius and Zilpha were contemporaries, not parent/child.

2. Dionysius is not my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, but he may be my fifth great-uncle.

3. They all knew each other, since they lived close to each other several times.


Theories:

1.  Bland, Dionysius, and Zilpha were siblings.

2. Even though I don't know squat about John Eddins before he shows up in the Third Regiment SC Volunteers, I'm guessing he knew the Blakelys before then. He married Zilpha as his first and only wife about 1777, was in the Revolutionary Army for about three years, then returned home and resumed "Life with Zilpha."

I'll explore more of these theories in an upcoming post.

Bland Blakely

In researching whether Dionysius Blakely is likely to be my sixth great-grandfather, I came across another person who's probably related:

Bland Blakely.

Probably a fair to middling kinda person....Sorry. Bad joke.

Some trees at Ancestry have Bland listed as Dionysius's wife. Others have Fanny Unknown. Still others have Iva "Fanny" Eller as Big D's wife.

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&gss=sfs28_ms_db&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&MS_AdvCB=1&gsfn=dionysius&gsfn_x=NP&gsln=blakely&gsln_x=NS&msdpn__ftp=South%20Carolina%2C%20USA&msdpn=43&msdpn_PInfo=5-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C43%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&msdpn_x=1&msdpn__ftp_x=1&MSAV=2&MSV=0&uidh=wy5

Since we know from DB's will that he had at least one wife named Fanny, that means that Bland could be either another wife or another person altogether.

Here are the verifiable facts I found on Bland, along with their sources.

• AN EXACT NAME SEARCH of all collections at Ancestry bring up 13 hits, of which we can eliminate five because they are too late. "Our" Bland would have been a contemporary of DB. So only these hits work:


1. AGBI, 1750

2.  1790 Census

3.  A privately owned portrait

4. Five military documents from Revolutionary War



What does each entry say about BB?

1. The American Genealogical-Biographical Index says that BB's birthdate was 1750 based on the entry in the 1790 Census. I personally don't see how AGBI can come to that conclusion, because the 1790 Census indicates only that Bland was over 16.

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=NpZ12&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-g&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=bland&gsfn_x=NP&gsln=blakely&gsln_x=NS&msypn__ftp=South%20Carolina,%20USA&msypn=43&msypn_PInfo=5-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C43%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&msypn_x=1&msypn__ftp_x=1&MS_AdvCB=1&cp=0&catbucket=rstp&MSAV=2&MSV=0&uidh=wy5&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=1141419&recoff=2%203&dbid=3599&indiv=1&ml_rpos=5


2. In the 1790 US Census for SC, Bland Blackley is living in Orangeburg District, South Carolina. In the household are one male under 16, one male 16 and over, and four females. Neighbors include Dionysius, George Turner, Roof, Geiger, Drehr, Drafts, Fulmer, Corley, Looner (Looney?), Rolls, Metz, Lighsey.


https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5058/4185996_00242?pid=388712&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DNpZ13%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26gss%3Dangs-g%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsfn%3Dbland%26gsfn_x%3DNP%26gsln%3Dblakely%26gsln_x%3DNS%26msypn__ftp%3DSouth%2520Carolina,%2520USA%26msypn%3D43%26msypn_PInfo%3D5-%257C0%257C1652393%257C0%257C2%257C0%257C43%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C0%257C%26msypn_x%3D1%26msypn__ftp_x%3D1%26MS_AdvCB%3D1%26cp%3D0%26catbucket%3Drstp%26MSAV%3D2%26MSV%3D0%26uidh%3Dwy5%26pcat%3DROOT_CATEGORY%26h%3D388712%26recoff%3D7%25208%26dbid%3D5058%26indiv%3D1%26ml_rpos%3D6&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=NpZ13&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true


3. I'll have to write and ask permission to see that privately owned portrait right away!!!


4. Five military records

• July 1, 1779, Private in SC Third Regiment, commanded by Col. William Thompson, male

•  August 1, 1779, Private in SC Third Regiment, commanded by Col. William Thompson, male

• August 18, 1779, Private in SC Third Regiment, commanded by Col. William Thompson, male

• Another entry, August 1779, Private in SC Third Regiment, commanded by Col. William Thompson, male

• November 1, 1779, Private in SC Third Regiment, commanded by Col. William Thompson, male


• INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER GARY BLAKELY has added another military record from the National Archives in DC:

"Bland Blakely, Pvt., 2d Comp., Pay roll of 3d Regt for March on Garison 1780

Note: Third Regiment in Garrison at the Siege of Charleston in the year 1780"

http://news.rootsweb.com/th/read/BLAKELY/2007-04/1177286012


• GARY HAS ALSO ADDED a piece of information that may or may not be Bland:

"Bland appears to be on a 1785 Wilkes County, Georgia tax list with one poll and 200 acres."

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BLAKELY/2016-02/1455583837

And this, same idea:

"Bland Blackley/Blakeley ( Rev War veteran, on 1790 census, 1785 through 1806
Wilkes/Warren Counties in Georgia)"

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BLAKELY/2007-01/1170034865

Here's a source for the 1785 Wilkes County Tax List. I have been unable to find a source for anything in Warren County or anything in 1806.

http://www.giddeon.com/wilkes/books/early-records-of-ga-vol2/013-070.shtml



• FOLD3 ADDS only Bland's date of enlistment as October 17, 1777.

https://www.fold3.com/image/21643309



• THE ROSTER OF South Carolina Patriots in the Revolutionary War, Vol. 1, A - J, by Bobby Gilmer Moss says on P. 73 that "Bland Blackley...served in the Third Regiment under Capt. John C. Smith during 1779 and was later a dragoon in the cavalry under Col. Maham."

https://books.google.com/books?id=95vwdfiI67MC&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=%22bland+blackley%22&source=bl&ots=OCwVbY6d86&sig=-RauoMQxDRjW8X4bgTmW3RCs4Es&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiK58aX2qrUAhWGz4MKHVuWA9MQ6AEIKTAB#v=onepage&q=%22bland%20blackley%22&f=false

What can we know about Bland Blakely after seeing all this info???

1. Bland Blakely was a man—or a very masculine woman who passed as a man (1790 Census and war service).

2. Bland could ride horses. He was probably a farmer. (Cavalry and 1790 Census)

3. Bland was educated (signed payroll lists at Fold3.com)

4. He was born before 1774 (1790 Census)

5. He had a family, or people living with him (1790 Census).

6. He served in the same unit at Dionyius Blakely and John Edins (Roster of SC Patriots).

7. He may have lived in GA before he lived in SC.


That's all we can know for sure, but it's a better than fair-to-middling start.