Some may recall having heard of the William Weatherford of Creek Indian fame who was in south Alabama during the early 1800s. He was one of the leaders in the massacre at Ft. Mims, a stockade on the Alabama River. Neither his heritage nor any relationship to the family featured in today's column is known to this writer.

James Weatherford and his wife, Elizabeth Spiers, were the first of their family to settle in south Alabama during the early 1800s. James was born in 1786 in Clarkesville, Va., and Elizabeth was born circa 1790 in South Carolina. They were residing in the Old 96th. District in South Carolina before moving to this area. They eventually settled in Conecuh County where their son, Seaborne, was born.

Seaborne J. Weatherford was born in 1826 and grew up in Conecuh and Covington counties. In 1845, he was married to Frances Dozier, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Taylor) Dozier. The Dozier and Taylor families were influential in the settlement of the Dozier and Searight communities. Daniel Dozier became the pastor and founding father of the historic Pilgrims' Rest Primitive Baptist Church, located on the Rose Hill/Dozier Highway.

In the 1850 Census of Covington County, Seaborne and Frances were enumerated as being 23 years of age and having two children: Elizabeth, 3; and Mary, 2. He had land valued at $250 and property, at $500. In 1856, he purchased 160 acres of land in the Dozier/Rose Hill area. In the 1860 census, Seaborne was listed as working as a school teacher.

Seaborne and Frances reared the following children: Elizabeth Prudence "Mae," b. 1846, d. 1883, m. 1863 John Coe; Mary Amanda, b. 1848, d. 1884, m. Lafayette Carrington Moore; Adaline Augusta, b. 1851, d. 1930, m. Thomas Benjamin Sport; Pleasant Daniel, b. ca 1854, d. 1905, m. Mary Newsome; Elias M., b. 1855, d. 1923, m. Anne Jackson; Laura Alice, b. 1857; John William, b. 1859, d. 1908, m. Martha Melvina Jackson; and Sarah "Sallie," b. 1861, d. 1925, m. William Martin Hardage.

Being of the right age, Seaborne enlisted in the Confederate Army. He served as a Lt. in Company B, 18th. Ala. Inf. Regiment. Tragically, he was killed during action in 1863 leaving a young widow with eight children. Frances did apply to homestead 37 acres of land in 1869, but the request was canceled. She continued to live near her relatives, no doubt with their assistance, and died in 1883 in Dozier.

Elizabeth "Mae" and John Coe had the following children: William Green, b. 1865, d. 1939, m. (1) Emma Talley (2) Sallie Jackson (3) Alice Steinkark; John Seaborne, b. 1865 (twin), d. 1870 in Butler Co.; Lance, b. ?1865 (If so, he would have made triplets), d. 1869; Viola "Sissie," b. 1867, m. John F. Jackson; Eugenia, b. 1868; Daniel, b. 1875, d. 1896 when thrown from a horse; James Thomas "Tommy," b. 1878, d. 1920, m. Willie Myrtle Barrett; Elias, b. 1879; W. Lafayette "Fate," b. 1883, m. Eva Jones; and Dozier L., b. 1888, m. Fannie Morgan.

Mary Amanda and Lafayette Moore reared the following children: Jessie Jones, b. 1870, d. 1930, m. (1) James Welborn Graves (2) J.E. Gibbons; Narcissa Frances "Fannie," b. 1874, m. Edward P. Templeton; Mary Lena, b. 1879, m. Walter Lee Smith; Charles Edward, b. 1881, d. 1907, m. (1) C. F. Wall (2) Mary Cordell Long; and Joseph Malichi, b. 1884, d. 1965, m. Laura Alice Newsome.

Adeline and Thomas Sport had the following children: William Jennings, b. 1876, d. 1907, m. Daisey Fields; Lemuel Green, b. 1877, m. Cumi Kimbrough; Mattie Lee, b. 1881, m. Daniel Jackson; Effie Elma, b. 1885, d. 1942, m. Benjamin Franklin Etheridge; Thomas Marvin, b. 1887, d. 1954, m. Annie Maude Campbell; German Fletcher, b. 1892, d. 1950, m. Dollie Mae Sasser; and an infant whose birth and death dates are unknown.

Pleasant Daniel and Mary had the following three children: Carl Lee, b. 1880, m. Mary Alma Alford; Ellis, b. 1881, m. Annie Benton; and Lula, b. 1884, d. young probably.

Elias and Ann had the following children: James Dozier, b. 1880, d. 1935, m. Myrtle McGhee; Frank, b. 1882, d. 1927, m. Lessie Lee; Jessie B., b. 1884; Caney, b. 1886, m. Lola Bryant; Nancy Frances, b. 1888, m. Burton Avery; Dempsey, b. 1892; and Lilly Mabelle, b. 1896, d. 1973, m. Reuben Giddins.

John W. and Martha reared the following children: Ezra Jones, b. 1885, d. 1929, m. Myrtle Pauline Robbins; Nancy Elizabeth, b. 1887, m. James A. Clark; John D., b. 1889, d. 1962, m. Floribel Rowell; Fannie Lou, b. 1891, d. 1973, m. James Arthur Barrington; Myrtle Lee, b. 1893, d. 1969, m. Jennings Butel Kimbro; Infant, b.& d. 1896; and Lily Belle, b. 1901, d. 1962, m. Jennings Barney Rawls.

Sallie and William Hardage reared the following children: Fannie Brown, b. 1879; James Ceaborn, b. 1881, m. Abiline L. Hollis; Perry Lee, b. 1882; John Thomas, b. 1884, d. 1936, m. Alma Hester Stripling; William Avery, b. 1886, m. Killian Jarvis; Mary Anne, b. 1887, m. John Henry Turner; Samuel Dozier, b. 1889, m. Georgia M. Tyson; Ruth, b. 1891, d. 1976, m. Jessie J. Kimbro; Sarah Caroline, b. 1893, m. John Arthur Dorsey; Roy Jones, b. 1896, m. Ruth Cowart Danley; Joel Norman, b. 1896, m. Bessie May Woodham; Augusta May, b. 1898, m. W.E. Hathaway; Mattie Bernice, b. 1901, m. Horace J. Henderson; Elmer Cecil, b. 1902, m. Nellie Rue Brooms; and Charles, b. 1904.

A few years after the war between the states, several of the above families moved to Franklin County, Texas, and reared their children there. There were some who remained in the Dozier area, which became a part of the new Crenshaw County created in 1866. There are very few descendants wearing the Weatherford name who currently reside in Covington County.

Appreciation is expressed to Kenneth Shackleford for allowing his research on this family to be used for this writing. Anyone who might have corrections or additions to the above is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at Rt. 9, Box 97, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, at the Andalusia Public Library.