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:
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.
