Ancestors of the Dannelley family of Covington County arrived here during the 1820s as two families were enumerated during the 1830 census. Actually they came from South Carolina to Conecuh County circa 1818 and were residing there during the 1820 census taking. The only two families recorded in 1820 were those of James and John Daniley. who were probably the two oldest sons of James G. Dannelly, Sr. Based on the ages of the individuals, it appears that James G. Sr. was living in the home of John. (The name may appear as Danley, Daniley, or Dannelley.)

William Hardy and James G. Dannelley, Jr. were sons of James G. Dannelley, Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth Goatee/Gothe. James G. Sr. was born in 1750 in South Carolina and appears to have married there. He and Elizabeth had several other children including Pete, John, George, Sarah, Mary, and Elizabeth "Eliza." Records suggest Elizabeth died in 1817 in Beaufort District, South Carolina, and that James Sr. moved circa 1818 with at least some of his children to South Alabama. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and there is a pension on file in his name. In the 1790 census, he and his wife were listed , and they owned six slaves.

During the 1830 census, the families of William Hardy and James G. Jr. were enumerated. There was an older male in the household of William who was probably James Sr. He then died about three years later. The site of his grave, that of another Revolutionary War Veteran, is unknown.

James Jr. settled in the new village of Montezuma where he operated a hotel at one time. He owned two slaves in 1830, and served in the Alabama Militia in 1837. In 1841, he served for a year as Postmaster of the Montezuma Post Office. Some records suggest his wife's name was Eliza and others, Martha Tuten. They were living in Coffee County by 1850.

The names of James Jr.'s children are not known with the exception of a son, John Perry, b. 1861, who married Frances Elizabeth, b. 1867. They had at the least the following children: Andrew Napoleon, b. 1884; Perry Washington, b. 1886; John Geter, b. 1896; Horace Duey, b. 1898; and Alice Delia, b. 1903.

James Jr. is probably the father of Sarah Eveline who married William Columbus Holley. This couple had the following children: J.H., b. 1887, d. 1904; M.A., b. 1889; C.C., b. 1890; W.E., b. 1895; J.F., b. 1897; M.C., b. 1900; Thomas, b. 1902; and Howard, b. 1907.

Also, James Jr. is most likely the father of Caroline who married Daniel Franklin Powell. Their children included the following: Lottie Ann, m. ? Summerlin; Thomas, m. Elizabeth Gilmore; William Daniel, ml. Florence Augusta Danley; Sarah Eveline, b. 1867, m. William Columbus Holley; Rebecca, m. Jim Crews; Columbus, m. Fannie Owens; John Sherman, m. Jane McDuffie; Mary Jane, m. Walker Fleming; George, m. ? Crews; and Dave, m. Jane Crews.

James G. Sr.'s daughter, Eliza, b. 1800 SC, d. 1870, m. (1) ca 1817 Peter Henry Steele (2) Josiah Hampton Stokes. She and Peter Steele had the following children: Robert, b. 1817, d. 1885, m. (1) Myra Baggett (2) Susan Barnhill; Sarah Elizabeth, b. 1818, d. 1878, m. Wright Absalom Stokes; Henry William, b. 1818, d. 1892, m. Eliza Hart; Amanda, b. 1820, d. 1924, m. Robert Morrison; William Colby, b. 1822, m. Elmira Jane ?; Peter, b. 1823, d. 1886, m. Mary Emily Carter; Infant boy, b.&d. 1825; James, b. 1828; Jason "Jay," b. 1831, d. 1865. m. Elizabeth Kennington; Isaac Alexander, b. 1832, d. 1907, m. Cynthia Susanna Daniels; Julian D. "Jule," b. 1836, m. Mary Catherine ?; and Caroline, b. 1837, m. William Johnson. This family eventually settled in Walton County, Florida, after Peter's death. Eliza was left with 11 children in her home. It appears that she married again a few years later.

A third child who settled in Covington County very early was William Hardy Sr., born in 1806 in South Carolina. He came as a young lad to Conecuh County with his father circa 1818. In 1826, he was married to Celia Bryan, daughter of Jesse Oliver and Elizabeth (Johnson) Bryan, another pioneering family in the county. During the 1830s he began purchasing some of the first land sold by the government in the Rose Hill community, the area where his wife's family had settled. He and his wife were enumerated in the 1830, 1840, 1850, and 1860 Censuses of Covington County. He had two slaves in 1840 and three in 1850.

William H. Sr. and Celia reared the following children: William Hardy Jr., b. 1827, d. 1898, m. Mary Ann E. Rogers; James H., b. 1829, d. 1892, m. Nancy Elizabeth (Brown) Wages; Jesse H., b. 1830, d. 1857; John G., b. 1832, d. 1856; Hardy Emanuel, b. 1834, d. 1904, m. Julia Inez Adams; Elizabeth Marie, b. 1836, d. 1902, m. John Richard Cauley; Andrew Jackson Sr., b. 1838, d. 1895, m. Anna Catharine Manring; Celia Ann, b. 1840, d. 1887, m. Jesse Byrd Sasser, Jr.; George W., b. 1841, d. 1844; Mourning Miranda, b. 1844, m. ? Reynolds; Sarah Minervy, b. 1846, m. Dennis Lindsay; Ava Mitilda, b. 1849, d. 1856; and Acy Washington, b. 1854, d. 1920, m. Georgia Alabama Holley.

William had moved his family just across the county line into Coffee County by late 1860. Soon after this, at least three of William's sons served in the Confederate Army. James H. enlisted in February 1864; Hardy Emanuel enlisted in 1863 at Troy; and Andrew Jackson Sr. enlisted in Co. H, 53rd Alabama Infantry Regiment. All three survived the war and returned to rear their families. Hardy Emanuel served as Sheriff of Coffee County during the 1870s.

At some point, William built Maloy Mill. He died in 1874 in the Danley's Crossroads community, located a few miles west of Elba. The area including the cemetery where William was buried was named for this Danley family. There are many descendants who continue to live in Covington and Coffee Counties.

Although there is no known relationship, there was an Arthur Dannelly and family enumerated in the 1840 Census of Covington County. He had apparently died by 1850 when a Jane Dannelly was listed as head of a household. Jane and her children were noted as being Mulatto. No further information is known on this family.

Sources for today's writing include the following: Personal records, census records, family records of Eloise Eason King, genealogical notes by Scott Smith, and Wyley Ward's "Early History of Covington County, 1821-1871."

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

LOCAL HISTORICAL

PUBLICATION

The Covington County Heritage History is now in the hands of the publisher and should be delivered early in 2003. Prepublication price of $50 + ($4 tax for Ala. residents) + $5 shipping continues through August. Orders may be placed by mailing check payable to Cov. Co. Heritage History Committee, P.O. Box 973, Andalusia, AL 36420. Call 334-222-6467 for more information.

FAMILY REUNIONS

Mack family reunion will be held at noon on Sunday, August 4, at the Babbie City Hall. All friends and relatives are encouraged to attend and bring a covered dish.

G.F.C. Moore family reunion will be held Saturday, August 3, beginning at 10 a.m. at the F.O.P. Lodge in Gantt. Lunch will be provided. All family and friends are welcome.