Martha "Stokes" Scott

Originally researched and transcribed by Anne Lundgren, second great-granddaughter of Thomas Kilpatrick and Martha Stokes, and Jean Doerfler Bryson, third great-granddaughter of Thomas Kilpatrick and Martha Stokes. Submitted by Anne Templeton Wilson-second great-granddaughter of Charles Jenkins Williams.

Copy of Kilpatrick & Stokes family history handwritten by Louisa Mumford Kilpatrick.

This is a story of accounts of Martha "Stokes" Scott, Sarah Ann Scott's mother.

In the first settling of the United States there emigrated from Wales among many others from England and Ireland a W. H. Stokes who lived in Virginia with his family. When the war with the mother country began, he was among the first to take up arms in defence of our rights. He owned a great many slaves, and the Torys induced a goodly number of them to run away; after Independance he moved his family to Oglethorp, Ga. After getting his waggons and stock on the way some distance he returned and gathered up a good many of his slaves which had been stolen. The Indians were numerous and not long the men had to provide Forts in which to put their familys- his youngest daughter was born while his family lived there. His oldest daughter married Grimes after his death she married a cousin who was also Grimes the father of Mrs. Harriette Lewes or Judge Lewes of Lagrange, Ga. The second daughter married Pryor who lived above Athans Ga and died there; the third daughter married Abecrumby who lived just over the rver from Columbus in Alabama. Sallie the oldest after marrying 2 Grimes-and a Brown-married the 4th husband and died in Columbus Ga. William Mumford his only son lived and died near Newnan Ga. Martha Stokes his youngest daughter married Thomas B. Scott who was from an old wealthy Virginia family. Great preperations were made and for 3 weeks the Bride and Groom with their attendants and friends dined and danced from house to house of their relatives, friends. Never did two young people set out in life with fairer prospects. They settled in Green Cty. not far from Greensboro where six children were born to them Sarah or Sally as she was called. Jane or Jennie William B. James and John W and Elizabeth D or Eliza. Often kneeling with my head resting on my Mother's lap have I listened to her tell of her youthful days when learning to swim in Broad River and spending morning and evenings on "fishing creek". She was the youngest member of her family being 15 years younger than her next sister. Many a tale of India depredation have I listened too as she related them as told by older members of her family. It was not uncommon for Torys to be tried convicted and hung when her father and mother first settled in Clark Cty. In 1779 nine men were tried convicted and hung; at that time Savannah was in the hands of the British and raiding parties of Tories and Indians distressed the Interior; coming as far up the river as Augusta. Wm. Davies, Benjamin Catchings, and Absalom Bedelle were assistant Judges of the County. Catchings was the father of old Uncle Ben Catchings of Putnam Cty., a life long friend of my Father's and enshrined in my heart his daughter. Indians roamed at will, Cherokees in all North Ga. The Creeks in the west of the state, Semmenoels in the south and Florida; and often one tribe or another in dozens roaming over the state to the consternation of the women and children. Maj Thomas B. Scott was a cultivated polished gentleman who kept open house for his friends; his cut glass decanter of fine brandy and crcked loaf sugar were ever ready on the sideboard, where his friends were invited to share it freely. He with companions who loved pleasure were often away from his home and family, business neglected, boys becoming unmanagebel. The Mill stood still that once gave employment to the old miller and yielded a bountiful supply of food to the fat hogs that made their home around the place. Finally after 2 weeks absence a messenger rode up to the gate and handed the widow a note from a friend in Greensboro conveying the sad news of the death of her young and handsome Husband and Father of her three sons and three daughters. Never a blow fell heavier. He with a friend on his way home that lovely morning reigned his Horse against a large oak and was dashed into eternity.

I know not in what vessel many Irish and Scotch and people of many places came to make their homes in the new world; but among them was a large family in fact several related to each other, all of Scotch Irish decent. They settled in Merriland and Virginia and faught in the Revolution. A brother of my Father was killed. My GranFather after the war ended with James Jones a brother inlaw, John Davies, Josh Murry, and Fitzjerrald brother inlaws all but "Murry" came South and settled on the oakmugie some going to Alabama. After the death of my Gran-Father my Father lived with old Uncle Jones until grown. Just over the Oconee river a stones throw or more beyond Garners Ferry there was a log school house where old Rushing D. Lane taught school. He was excentrick and stern, but a fine displinarean and taught a large school where many grown men and girls in their teens availed themselves of his knowledge - among the number were the Scott boys and Sally and Jane Scott. Wm Turner and 2 other young men of 23 and 4 with the Scotch Irish Thomas Kilpatrick were very much interested in the daughters of the widow Scott, whose home was not many miles off and the young men found it convenient to walk home with them occassionally. The genial face of the widow and her open hospitality made her house a resort where many of the schollars of old man Lane enjoyed a good dinner or spent an evening with the young ladies or a hunt or fish with the older boys. Three of the young men took a fancy to the widow for she was young fresh looking and as handsome as either one of her daughters.

One can imagine how hard it was for a widow with three boistrous rude boys to hold the reigns where no stronger hand was at the helm. With three white and four or five coloured boys some a little older, some a little younger, they in a few years became the terror of the neighborhood; no white boy or coloured or hog or anything could cross their path, the oldest boy would often in after years tell of their doings, and wonder why someone had not put an end to their pranks. Rushing D. Lane the Teacher was a warm friend of Thomas Kilpatrick and also of the widow Scott and often came round to advise or report the progress of his school and naturally their friendship ripened from day to day until he became free to suggest any change that might be good for herself or her family. He had noted from time to time how frequent young Thos. K, Wm T - and Raines visits over to the widows were becoming and he jeered the young pupils saying he was afraid the Widow would have to interfer or she would be payinng tuition or no good resulting. Jennie and Sallie denied their visits to either one and presumed to suggest their Mother as the Magnet which was drawing these friends to the house; as a matter of fact the blushes which spread over the Widows face drew eyes to where she was and as little Eliza sat perched upon T-Ks knees it was easy to see where her eyes fell. But the visits were not discontinued and by the close of his third year teaching RD Lane was very free to advise the widow who he considered the one most suited for companion and Father for her boys. But she had not been sleeping all those months her watchful eyes had noted how readily he reproved her little orphan girl when a cup accidentaly dropped out her hands at table how quick he suggested use of the rod before he was given or asked to use it. That act decided the widow her own mind although she was in no hurry to give her hand to either one. Anyone of the 3 young men were considered good choices.

(I have tried to retain the spellings, punctuations, etc. in the original handwritten account above. Thomas Kilpatrick referred to above was born ca 1792 in Georgia and died April 17, 1837. He married Martha Stokes Scott, the widow Scott, on September 28, 1815. They had four children: Thomas (1816-1856); Madison (1817-?); Louisa Mumford, who wrote the above,; & George L. Martha was born ca 1780 and died March 16, 1836.) ekl

1830 Census records for Putnam County Georgia, Page 186, in Captain Henry Hamers District.

On the listing for Thomas Kilpatrick are the following:

One male under age 5, one male of 5 and under 10, one male of 10 and under 15.

One female of 10 and under 15, one female of 20 and under 30, one female of 40 and under 50, the last appears to be Martha Stokes Scott Kilpatrick.