June 29, 2002

The family name of Wyatt is believed to be of Norman French origin. It was Guyatt in its native form, but it was Anglicized to Wyatt. The ancestral home of the family in England was Allington Castle, Boxley Parish, Kent County. There is also a record of an Admiral Wyatt being with William the Conquer in England in 1066.

The earliest known ancestor is Joseph Moore Wyatt who married Amy Strickland of Plains, Sumpter County, Georgia. Their son, Richard Henry Wyatt, Sr., was born in 1827 in Cherokee County, Georgia. In 1853, he was married in Sumpter County, Georgia, to Louise Ann Varner who was born in 1835 to George Washington and Kathryn (Kinard) Varner of Sumpter County. During the 1850s and early 1860s, they resided in Americus, Georgia, but they moved to the Rose Hill community of Covington County, Alabama, circa 1864 before the war ended.

Before the family moved to this area, the following children were born: Mary Ellen, b. 1854, d. 1890, m. (1) Edward Young Duncan (2) ? Rowell; George Washington, b. 1856, d. 1926, m. Emma Eliza Bryan; Emma Jane, b. 1858, d. 1880, m. Pleasant Williams; and Medora Anne, b. 1861, d. 1927, m. William Lloyd Butler. After the move to Rose Hill, the following two children were born: Richard Henry, Jr., b. 1864, d. 1942, m. (1) Katie Clyde Flournoy (2) Loretta Walton Baker; and Catherine, b. 1868, d. 1923, m. Giles Harrelson.

The oldest son, George Washington, was married to Emma Eliza Bryan, daughter of James Thomas and Sarah Ann (Johnson) Bryan of the Rose Hill community. All of their children with the exception of the youngest two were born in Rose Hill. The last two were born after the family moved to the State of Arizona. They reared the following children: Bulah Ellafare, b. 1878; Lula Bertha, b. 1880; Lilla Esther, b. 1882; Ada Alabama, b. 1884, d. 1885; George Lumpkin, b. 1886; Walter Washington, b. 1888; Sarah Eudora, b. 1890; Byron Baltimore, b. 1892; Emma Corine, b. 1896, and Thaddies Harden, b. 1901.

Medora Ann was married in Rose Hill to William Lloyd "Bill" Butler, son of John Rice and Mary Elizabeth (Sasser) Butler. They reared the following children: Howell R., m. Lula Sasser; George Washington, b. ca 1890, m. Della Myrtle Brooks; Johnny, m. Versie Ellison; Noah Oscar, m. Maude Campbell; Holley, m. Mertie Norsworthy; Louanna, m. Rauston Owens; Emma, m. Burie Gay; Ethel, m. Tobe Turner; William Harvey "Bud," m. Leila Clayton; Newton, m. (1) ? (2) Maude Brantley; and Lonnie, m. Jim Barrington.

Richard Henry Jr. and his first wife, Katie Clyde Flournoy, had the following five children before her death: Martin Richard, b. 1891, d. 1971, m. Lillian Meadows; Lorena "Rena" Gertrude, b. 1892, d. 1973, m. Milton Eiland; Laura Estell, b. 1893, d. 1972, m. Eugene Elmer Hammett; Roy Flournoy (twin), b. 1893, d. 1918 in WWI; and Mary Clyde, b. 1897, d. 1947, m. Joseph Benjamin Kelley.

Richard Henry Jr. and his second wife, Loretta Walton Baker, reared the following children: Henry Lefton, b. 1903; Audrie Pemola, b. 1904; Joseph Cassie, b. 1906; Silvia Levade, b. 1908, m. ? Bass; Florence Julia, b. 1910; Dell, b. 1912; Infant girl, b. 1914; and John Walton, b. 1915.

Catherine and her husband, William Giles Harrelson, son of Jesse Elsander and Eliza Ann (Mancill) Harrelson, had the following children: Elvin, b. 1892, d. 1918 from measles; Emma, b. 1894, d. 1918 from measles; Elzie, b. 1895, d. 1920, m. Lucio Barto; Preston, b. 1897, d. 1980, m. Mrs. Bobbie Lou Richards; Austin, b. 1899, d. 1985; Edmon, b. 1900, d. 1981; Ernest; Byrd; Jessie; Fannie; Voncille; and Ruby.

William Giles Harrelson was married earlier to Elizabeth Jeter, but he left this family. He and Elizabeth had the following four children: Eugene, b. 1874, d. 1960, m. Ida Mae Sessions; Irene, b. 1875; Eurah, b. 1877, d. 1965, m. 1895 William Arthur Williams; and Etta, b. 1880, m. William Oliver Urquhart. William O. and Etta lived in the Mt. Gilead community until they moved to Texas circa 1917.

Most of the above families lived and reared their families in the Burnout/Rose Hill community. They had large families and have many descendants residing today in Covington County. Some of the descendants and close relatives who shared genealogical data for this writing include the following: Josephine (Hammett) Ray, Marcel Bane, Ray Butler, and Cecil Wyatt. Additional data should be gathered to more completely outline the genealogy of this family who has contributed much to the community life of the county. The writer would appreciate very much hearing from anyone who would contribute more information.

Anyone who might have corrections or additions to the above is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at Route 9, Box 97, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com

REUNIONS:

The Frazier-McKay reunion will be held on Sunday, June 30, from 10 a.m. until at the Andalusia Adult Activity Center. Bring favorite dish, relatives, and friends.

Beasley family reunion: Descendants and families of Albert Nathaniel (1855-1918) and Martha Jane Goram (1859-1939) Beasley will meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, at the Jay Community Center in Jay, Florida. Bring a covered dish dinner.