Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

1880 Webster Co. GA Film 1,254,171 1092 Dist GM; hh 63-63 Abel 87 SC VA NY. His tombstone "b 1788 d 1883", his b & d differ, 1812-b 1794 GA; 1850 b 1793 NC; 1860 b 1794; 1870 b 1792 SC; 1880 b 1793 SC; 1887 b 1791. Accurate age can vary a year either way depending on the date the census was taken.

Abel's year of birth is probably correct, however, it varies with the census and gravestone, as does his place of birth. Following the migration of the rest of his supposed siblings, SC is most likely as his place of birth. Probably the family was living near the Black Creek Baptist Church, near present day Dovesville, Darlington Co., SC. We know nothing about his childhood, except that he probably moved west about 1807 or not much later to the area of GA where the Darien Church is located. At that time Washington Co., now Hancock Co, a small community of Linton, near Sparta. He did not spend time in school, as he was illiterate (census). As an older teenager, he joined the military; militia or regular is not known as no record is presently available. Three depositions are on file (claiming a pension for this service - denied) one by Abel and two by his second wife Elizabeth (Hortman). He joined to drive the team "his father William Daniel furnished". During his service, the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend, Tallapoosa, et al, were fought. He joined at Ft. Hawkins, near Macon, Bibb Co. (first deposition) and/or Sandersville, Washington Co. (third deposition). He served under Thomas Butler (not Holmes Butler), wagon master; Private in the company commanded by Capt Harrison, for six months. He was 18 years of age, a farmer, 5 1/2 feet high, black hair, blue eyes and fair complexion, 120 lbs. That deposition also says he was discharged at Sandersville.

Abel told his family that he had also served in the Indian Wars, Mexican War, and was at Ft. Gains under General Gains, among other campaigns. One researcher stated that he had been a captain in the Indian Wars. No records have been found.

According to Elizabeth's deposition, "the following have been the places of residence of herself and her said husband since his discharge: to Butler Co., AL 7 yrs; to Twiggs, to Crawford (where Penelope died & Abel remarried), then to Webster, P.O. Dawson. Elizabeth also signed with her mark. The three depositions were first, 1871, Abel was aged 85, the next 1884, (Dawson was in Terrell Co), and the last 1894 (Dawson was in Randolph Co, then changed to Webster). The passage of time and the inability to read and write, probably accounts for the discrepancies in the depositions.

There is no record of Abel having been in Butler Co., but he could well be hidden in the household of one of his brothers in the 1820 census. (There is an unclaimed letter in the PO then, that is probably this Abel) By March 1825, he was in Crawford Co. and married to Penelope. The 1830 census shows the family, including two sons under 5, the teenaged Sullivan children, and Abel and Penelope. In 1834, Abel made bond of $500, and was made the guardian of Barry and Elmyra Sullivan, orphans of Hosia or Moses Sullivan. He was to "truely maintain clothe and educate said orphans..." James Potter, John W. Perry and David M. Stewart signed with Abel, 11th day of February 1834.

By 1835/6 Elmyra had become pregnant by Abel and married Isaiah Culpepper. Isaiah finding out "on his wedding night", promptly returned Elmyra to the home of her parents. Three months later Barry Wesley Culpepper (so called) was born. The friends of the couple persuaded Isaiah to continue the marriage, leaving the baby with Abel. The upheaval in the family "caused Abel to leave the area until after his wife (Penny) had died". (John Perry swore to these events in 1852.)

On 25 Dec 1837, Abel and Isaiah, in the right of his wife and as guardian of Barry Sullivan, orphan of Moses Sullivan... sold Lot No 27 in 28th Dist, Twiggs Co., formerly Wilkinson Co., (106 1/2 acres) formerly the property of said Sullivan. Isaiah seems to then be the guardian of Barry Sullivan and husband of Elmyra. Prior, Wm. Simmons was their guardian. What was his relationship? Check orphan court records! LOOK IN WILKINSON COUNTY & TWIGGS CO. RECORDS FOR "DANIEL's".

This sale may be to provide a dowry and quieten the troubled waters. Either before or because of this sale, there is another disturbance; Abel, in the right of his wife, is charged with "wasting the estate of their wards & also failing to make returns, he was ordered to show cause at the next term" (Twiggs Co., No 25-28 1772 (not a date) ).

In 1849 Daniel Culpepper and later that year his wife, Jemima, die. He is Barry Wesley's (Culpepper) legal grandfather, Isaiah has predeceased them. Daniel left Jemima $5000 and "Barry Wesley Culpepper (so called), son of my son's wife, born in wedlock" $5.00". An odd will, Barry being his only grandchild, unless Daniel was convinced that Barry was not in fact of his blood.

Lewis F. Hicks, second husband of Elmyra (who had - after the death of her parents - borne him children and since died) took the case to court to have Barry disinherited. (Because he wanted his heirs to inherit, and wanted Barry to have no share?) At the death of Jemima, Elmyra had become the heiress to the $5000 estate. By 1852 when the case was argued before the GA Supreme Court, Lewis Hicks was in possession of the estate as administrator to Jemima. He was also the guardian of Barry Culpepper. Theodoric Mentfort swore that Isaiah's estate had been equally divided between Barry Wesley Culpepper and Lewis F. Hicks; "Both Hicks and his wife were anxious such should be the case". This information is from "Reports of Cases in Law and Equity..." Vol 15 GA 160 et seq. The case is also reported Vol 12 GA 155 et seq. This tragic tale is important in sorting out the family in the census records, because Barry Wesley Culpepper is a descendant of William Daniel, and because the daughter of Barry Sullivan (Mary Elmyra) a granddaughter of Penelope, also step-granddaughter of Abel, marries Penelope and Abel's grandson (Alexander Daniel).

The 1830 census shows Abel, Penelope, Barry & Elmyra Sullivan, Wm C and John. In 1840, Barry & Elmyra are gone, Penelope is dead and Elizabeth Hortman is the wife. Wm C and John, are there and T. J. and Emmaline are both under 5. From 1850 census on, Abel is living on his farm in Dawson, with various members of his family living in the 6 houses on the place. Into this extended household, Annie Daniel was born and raised, hearing Abel and the older members of the family telling about "when grandpa was young".

Obit - Dawson Journal, Thursday, August 9, 1883: Died. Old Uncle Abel Daniel, the father of our coroner, Mr. John Daniel, died at his home in Webster county on last Saturday morning (4 Aug 1883). He was over ninety years of age.

Census:
1880; Census Place: District 1092, Webster, Georgia; Roll T9_171; Family History Film: 1254171; Page: 481.4000; Enumeration District: 87; Image: 0346
63/63, Daniel, Abel, w, m, 87, married, farmer, can't read or write, SC(? this is hard to read, it appears that S. Carolina was written on top of Georgia, but it could be the other way around), VA, NY (this is written above GA which appears to be crossed out)
----, Elisabeth H., w, f, 55, wife, m, keeping house, can read but not write, GA, SC, SC
NOTE: Grandson Alexander lives next to him on the census (household 62), and son William C. lives next to Alexander (household 61).