The Archilus family was featured in this column several years earlier, but additional research has resulted in new records and some corrections. The unusual name has been spelled in several variations, which requires careful consideration. The most prominent of these names are Archilus, Archilles, Archeleus and Archelist.

At present, the earliest ancestor of this family to be identified is Charles Archilles, who was born in 1760 in Germany. He was married in 1784 in Pennsylvania to Mary Johst, and the couple was residing in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1785 when their son, Charles R. Archilles, was born. The father, Charles Archilles, has been listed as a Dutchman of the Quaker faith.

It is not known when Charles R. Archilles migrated from Pennsylvania to Northwest Florida, nor why he made the move. It has been suggested that he may have traveled with the John Barrow family; however, most of John’s children were born during the early 1800s in Georgia, probably Pulaski County. John Barrow had moved on to Walton County. Fla., during the early 1820s. He died there in 1829.

It is known that Charles R. Archilles was married in 1825 in Escambia County, Fla., to Mary Elizabeth “Polly” Barrow, daughter of John Barrow and his wife, Elizabeth Starkie. John was born in 1763 in Pitt, N.C., and died in 1829 in Walton County, Fla. Elizabeth was born in 1783 in South Carolina and died in 1850 in Walton County, Fla. They were married in 1803 in Georgia and became the parents of the following children: Reuben N., b. 1805, d. 1870; Mary Elizabeth “Polly,” b. 1807, d. 1860, m. 1825 Charles R. Archilles (1785-1870); Archibald, b. 1808; John, b. 1810, d. 1879; Tabitha, b. 1812, d. 1860, m. Absalom Fuqua; Richmond, b. 1813, d. 1896; Huldah, 1817; and Jeremiah, b. 1820.

John Barrow settled in Okaloosa County, Fla. along the Yellow River, and the community became known as Barrow’s Ferry and later Oak Grove in 1828. John established and operated a ferry across the river circa 1826. It is easy to see why he is confused with John Gray Barrow, who settled about the same time in the Montezuma Settlement in Covington County, Ala., in 1832, and operated a ferry across the Conecuh River near Bullock Falls. There is most likely some relationship between the two, but none has been determined at this time.

John Barrow’s daughter, Mary E. Barrow, and her husband, Charles R. Archilles, had settled in Covington County by the 1830 federal census. When they were married in 1825, Charles was about 22 years older than Mary. Even with that marriage date, most family trees on Ancestry show them with a child born in 1822. They are usually credited with being the parents of the following children: Wealthy “Welthie” Ann, b. 1822, d. 1908, m. 1841 Thomas Milton Maddox; Huldah, b. 1830; Nancy Caroline, b. 1832, d. 1900, m. William Wesley Fuqua; George Marion, b. 1834, d. 1863, m. 1859 Martha Lavinia Cross; Julia Ann Emily, b. 1839. d. 1882, m. (1) Julius Green Barrow (2) William Johnson; Almeda, b. 1841; and Sarah Catherine, b. 1845. Most of the children used the spelling of the name as Archilus.

Wealthy Ann Archilus was married in 1841 to Thomas Milton Maddox, who was born in 1807 in South Carolina and died in 1894 in Brewton, Ala. She died there in 1908. They were the parents of the following children: Harriet Elizabeth, b. 1855, d. 1938; Amanda E. “Mandy,” b. 1861, d. 1926; Rebecca, b. 1866; and Andrew J., b. 1829.

Not much is known regarding Huldah Archilus other than her year of birth being 1830. Since her sister married a Fuqua, she could well be the Huldah Fuqua who was buried in the Jordan Cemetery in the Salem community of Covington County. It is believed that her sister, Nancy Caroline and husband, William Wesley Fuqua, were buried there, but there are no markers. That is also true of Nancy Caroline’s parents, Charles R. and Mary Archilles.

Nancy Caroline Archilus was married in to William Wesley Fuqua, son of Absalom Fuqua (1832-1897) and Tabitha Barrow. William Wesley moved along with the Archilus family from Walton County to Covington County, Ala. In 1856, he acquired 40.02 acres of land adjoining his father-in-law, Charles R. Archilles, in the Salem community. During the War for Southern Independence, William W. enlisted for service as a private in Company E, Brady’s Company. He served in the Home Guards and was sent to Mobile for a short period of time. Following the end of the war, he was listed as a registered voter in 1867 in Beat Number One. In 1870, he homesteaded an additional 80.04 acres near his other property. It is quite interesting that on the deed, Nancy Caroline was recorded as his squaw, which suggests some Indian heritage.

Nancy Caroline and William Wesley Fuqua were the parents of the following children: Martha Ann, b. 1859, d. 1930, m. Henry Joseph Rabren; Edward, b. 1861, d. 1937; m. (1) Nancy Anne “Annie” Hulon (2) 1901 Minnie L. Brannam (1882-1962) (3) Evelyn ?; John, b. 1863, d. 1953, m. Mary Eveline Wishum (1870-1946); Mary Magdalene “Maggie,” b. 1866, d. 1955, m. Daniel Damascus Rabren; James Alexander, b. 1869, d. 1948, m. Ella Elizabeth Jones (1876-1951); and Elizabeth D. “Bett,” b. 1871, d. 1959, m. Edward W. Smith.

George Marion Archilus was born in 1834 and died in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1863 during the War for Southern Independence. He enlisted in Brewton, Ala., on May 13, 1862, and was assigned to Company H, 1st Fla. Infantry of the Confederate Army. He was mortally wounded and then captured at Murfreesboro on January 2, 1863. He died there on January 10, 1863, in a U.S. hospital, and was buried there. Before the war, he was married in 1857 to Martha Lavinia Cross (1836-1894), daughter of William Cross (1811-1880) and Winnie ? (1814-1860). They were the parents of two children: Columbus, b. 1859; and Francis Phillip “F.P.,” b. 1861, d. after 1938, m. (1) 1883 Laura L. Downing (1858-1916) (2) Lilly Frances Wilson.

Julia Ann Emily Archilus was first married to Green Barrow who was born circa 1797 in North Carolina and died about 1872 in Andalusia, Ala. Green rendered service in the War of 1812 and probably received land as a bounty. He appears to have come to Covington County during the 1850s. He was first married to Tamar Pearce (1799-1854) circa 1818. He and Tamar were the parents of the following children: James Sowell, b. 1820, d. 1902; Henry George, b. 1821; William T.J., b. 1824; Theophilus, b. 1829; Sara N., b. 1830; John G., b. 1834, d. 1858; Elizabeth J., b. 1834; Emily A., b. 1837; and Thomas Jefferson, b. 1844, d. 1910. Following Tamar’s death, Green Barrow was married second to Julia Ann Emily Archilus.

Julia Ann Emily and Green Barrow were the parents of the following children: Oliver Stedman, b. 1856, d. 1860; William G., b. 1857; Warren Green, b. 1859, d. 1914; Nancy Caroline “Annie,” b. 1862; George Richard, b. 1864; David Sterling, b. 1867; Robert Henry, b. 1868; and Julia Emily, b. 1871, d. 1946. Following Green’s death, Julia Ann was next married to William Johnson. They had one daughter, Mary, b. 1875., and the family moved to Texas where Julia Ann died in 1889 in Houston.

No more is known about the two youngest daughters, Almeda and Sarah Catherine Archilus.

The sources for this story include Ancestry.com, and family records of Linda (Grimes) Harrell, William “Bill” Fuqua, and Curtis Thomasson, who are all descendants of William Wesley Fuqua and Nancy Caroline (Archilus).

Anyone who has additional genealogy on the Archilus and/or Fuqua families or who might find an error in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.