This writer appreciates so much when another family researcher shares genealogical data, which makes for a feature in this column. That is what happened for this week with Jeff Lundy emailing the results of his research on the Paulk family in which he has an ancestor. He also made a trip to Andalusia this past week while he was visiting with his mother in Baker, Fla. He and this writer have a common ancestor in the Stokes lineage—Absalom Lafayette Stokes of Beaufort County, S.C., Walton County, Fla., and Covington County.

The earliest Paulk ancestor identified by Jeff Lundy is Samuel Lundy who was born circa 1670. He died 1710 in Middlesex County, Md. He was married to Sarah Brabrooke (1670-1744), and they had a son named Jonathan Paulk who was born in 1703 and died in 1773 in Jefferson County, Ga. Jonathan was married to Rebecca Ruth Stearns (1707-1775), and they had a son named Uriah Lundy who was born in 1746 in Tolland County, Conn. Uriah was married to Rachel E. Collins (ca 1775-ca-1815), and they had a son, William or Uriah Paulk, who was born in 1781 in Wilkerson County, Ga., and died in 1841 in Chambers County, Ala.

William/Uriah Paulk was married to Henrietta Buckholts (1787-1871). They were both born in Georgia, him in 1781 and she in 1787. He died in 1841, and she, in 1871. They brought the Paulk family into Alabama, and their son, Epaphroditus Paulk, migrated on to South Alabama. They had the following other children: John, b. 1812, d. 1875; Aaron, b. 1815, d. 1855; Joshua, b. 1818, d. 1870; and Thomas H., b. 1831, d. 1861.

Epaphroditus or “Ditus” Paulk was born March 27, 1810, in Wilkerson County, Ga. He was married first in 1835 in Lumpkin, Stewart County, Ga., to Emilia A. Hughes who was born in 1820 in Wilkerson County, Ga., and died in 1886 in Dale County, Ala. He was married at a much later date to Velvety James. Ditus died on February 1, 1897, in Ozark, Dale County, Ala., and was buried in the Post Oak Cemetery in Ozark.

Ditus and his first wife, Emilia “Millie” A. (Hughes), reared the following 10 children: Elizabeth Ellen, b. 1838, d. 1913, m. (1) Iverson Asbury Willis (1838-1862) (2) John Franklin Bowman (1845-1914); John Jackson, b. 1840, d. 1912, m. Eliza Jane Carter; Nancy J., b. 1847, d. 1925, m. ? Scott; James W., b. 1848, d. 1941, m. 1877 Jancy C. ? (1855-1920); Elijah “Eli” Nunn, b. 1850, d. 1922, m. 1874 Louisa Jane Wiggins (1860-1932); Joseph, b. 1852, d. 1929, m. 1878 Frances “Fanny” Lone Tubb (1859-1941); Edward Elonzo, b. 1854, d. 1922, m. (1) 1914 Frances Smith Preston (1878-1956); Martha A., b. 1856, d. 1922, m. James A. J. Henderson; Sarah Jane, b. 18959, d. 1933, m. (1) 1879 Daniel Dozier Williams (1859-1915) (2) William Harrison Dorsey; and Alfred A., b. 1861, d. 1935, m. Velvey Confederacy “Connie” James (1861-1935).

The oldest daughter, Elizabeth Ellen Paulk, was born in 1838 in Georgia before the family moved to Alabama during the next year in 1839. She was first married to Iverson Asbury Willis, who enlisted on March 14, 1862, in Greenville, Ala., to serve in the Confederate Army. He was assigned to Company I, 33rd Alabama Infantry Regiment, but he was killed within a few months in 1862 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was buried there in a mass grave near the Battle of Stone River. Before his death they had one son, George Washington Willis, b. 1860, d. 1950, m. Sarah Elizabeth Beasley. Afterwards, Elizabeth married John Franklin Bowman, and they had one son as well, John Thomas Bowman, b. 1880, d. 1954, m. 1898 Amanda Matilda Chapman. John and Amanda had one son, Wade Bowman, b. 1912, d. 2003.

The oldest son, John Jackson Paulk, was born in 1840 after the family moved to Alabama. He also enlisted in the Confederate Army at Woodville and served throughout the war. He was a private in Company E, 37th Alabama Infantry Regiment. He returned from the war and was living with his wife, Eliza Jane (Carter), and two infants in Newton, Ala., in 1870. He became a shoemaker and was residing in the Barnes Cross Roads and Rocky Head communities of Dale County in 1980. By 1910 they had moved to the Tate School House community in Geneva County. He died in Esto, Fla. in 1912, so Eliza was listed as widowed in the 1920 census.

John Jackson and Eliza Paulk reared the following children: Almanda “Manda,” b. 1862, d. 1932, m. 1879 Benjamin Franklin Scott; A.E., b. 1863; John Jackson Jr., b. 1868; Sarah Ellen, b. 1870; Nancy A., b. 1872; Ansel D., b. 1874; Exa C., b. ca 1875; James Joseph, b. 1876; Louisa, b. 1879; Edward E., b. ca 1884, m. Annie ?; Jessie, m. Minnie Urquhart; and Mollie J., m. ? Dillard. The son, Edward E. Paulk, worked as a watchman in 1935 in Jackson County, Fla. He had previously lived in Noma, Holmes County, Fla., in 1910; Bay View, Holmes County in 1920; and Wausau, Washington County in 1930. Edward died in 1940 in Mariana, Fla.

No information was found on the next daughter, Nancy J. Paulk other than her marrying a Mr. Scott. The next son, James W. Paulk, was born in 1848 in Alabama, but he moved to several different states throughout his life. He was married in 1877 to Jancy C. Paulk (1855-1920). (Uncertain about her maiden name.) In 1870 they were residing in the Ridgely community of Union Springs, Bullock County, and they were still there in 1880. By 1900 the family had moved to Union, La., and in 1910 they were in the Sulfur area of Miller County, Ark. By 1920 they had settled in Cass County, Tex. The two known children include the following: N.P., b. ca 1866; and Donie Virginia, b. 1871, d. 1929 in Fouke, Ark.

There is considerable genealogy readily available on this family, so the review of it will continue in next week’s column. At this point only four of the 10 children have been covered, so the other six will be outlined in the next story.

Again, appreciation is expressed to Jeff Lundy who provided his research and made this writing possible. He is a descendant of Elijah “Eli” Nunn Paulk, one of the six children to be covered next week.

Anyone who might find an error in the above or able to share additional information is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

 

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 25, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Guests and prospective members are urged to attend.