James B. Darracott - Taliaferro Co., GA
JAMES B. DARRACOTT
James B. Darracott, born ca. 1781, Louisa County, Virginia, died ca. 1851, Taliaferro Co., Georgia, son of Thomas Darracott and Elizabeth Bickley.Married (1) Unknown and (2) Tabitha Conner, daughter of John & Sarah Conner of Newton County, Georgia.
Child by First Marriage:
(1) Elizabeth Darracott, b. ca. 1823(?), GA.Married 2 Feb. 1839, Taliaferro Co., GA to William H. Cunningham.
Children by Second Marriage:
(2)John W. Darracott, b. ca. 1830, probably Newton Co., GA, d. 22 August 1887, Taliaferro Co., GA.Married 26 May 1853, Taliaferro Co., GA to Susan Ann Chapman, daughter of William H. Chapman and Ann (Connell) Andrews (widow of Marcus Andrews).
(3)Sarah A. Darracott, b. ca. 1835, either Newton Co. or Taliaferro Co., GA, died before 1860.Married 13 January 1853, Taliaferro Co., GA to Joseph Thomas “Tom” Harrison, son ofWilliam M. Harrison and Martha Rhodes.(Tom Harrison m. 2nd to Amanda Hackney 23 Nov. 1860, Taliaferro Co.).
Children of Tom & Sarah (Darracott) Harrison:
1.Margaret Ophelia Harrison, b. 4 Nov. 1855, Taliaferro Co., GA, d. 27 Feb. 1925, Taliaferro Co.Married 17 Dec. 1874, Taliaferro Co. to Nathan A. Allen.
2.Mary Jane Harrison, b. 1 Dec. 1857, Taliaferro Co., GA, d. 11 April 1927, Taliaferro Co.Married 11 April 1897, Taliaferro Co. to William R. McGibony.
James B. Darracott was probably named for his mother's brother, James Bickley. He was a minor when his father died in Wilkes Co. ca. 1792-93.In Feb. 1800 James chose David Meriwether as his guardian "instead of his brother William Darracott."[Minutes of Inferior Court, Wilkes Co., GA, 1799-1801, p. 19.]
He is listed in the 1830 U.S. Census in Newton County, GA and in 1840 he is listed in Taliaferro County with a household of 2 males, 2 females and 6 slaves.
It seems likely that he was married twice and that his first child, Elizabeth, was daughter of the possible first wife and the other two children were of the second wife, Tabitha Conner.This is based upon the fact that James B. was approximately 20 years older than Tabitha, that Elizabeth Darracott appears to be quite a bit older than Sarah Ann and John W., and that the will of Tabitha Conner Darracott only mentions her deceased son John W. Darracott and the children of her deceased daughter Sarah Ann.In addition, Tabitha's obituary stated that she had TWO children who predeceased her, John W. Darracott and Sarah Ann.
Taliaferro Co. Deed Bk. B, p. 524:William A. Cunningham to Thomas Chaffin. William A., "who has lately intermarried with one Elizabeth B. Darracott, dtr. of one James B. Darracott . . ."3/12/1839
Will of Mrs. Tabitha Darracott, made 8/22/1888, probated 11/23/1889, Taliaferro Co., W.B. B, p. 202.Names son John W. Darracott, deceased.Grandchildren, Margarett Ophelia, wife of Nathan Allen, and Mary Jane, [dau. of] Joseph T. Harrison.Exec:Wesley A. Wright.Wit:J.E. Darden, W.R. Reid, A.G. Beasley. (NOTE:the abstract by Mel Lunceford in Taliaferro Co. Records & Notes erroneous lists Mary Jane as wife of Joseph T. Harrison.She was his daughter.)
Will of Joseph Thomas Harrison (erroneously listed as JOHN Thomas Harrison in Mel Luncefords book); made 3/17/1919, probated 2/14/1924, Taliaferro Co. W.B. C, p. 8: "having passed my ninety-first birthday" . . . Children:Mrs. Fannie Flynt, Mrs. Anna Estella Moore, MRS. MARGARET OPHELIA ALLEN and MRS. MARY JANE McGIBONEY.(NOTE:daughters Margaret Ophelia and Mary Jane were by first wife, Sarah Ann Darracott, and Fannie Flynt and Anna Estella Moore were by second wife, Amanda M. Hackney.)
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Will of James B. Darracott
Transcribed from microfilm on April 25, 2001 by Rhoda Fone at the LDS Family History Center, Fairfield, California.
Georgia
Taliaferro County
I James B. Darracott of the County & State aforesaid, being of sound disposing mind & memory do make & ordain this to be my last Will & Testament, hereby revoking all other and former wills by me made.
Item 1st.It is my will and desire, and express direction that all my just debts be paid.
Item 2nd.I devise and direct that the whole of my estate remaining after the payment of my just debts, shall be kept together by my Executors hereinafter named, for the support of my wife Tabitha Darracott, and Sarah Ann Darracott, and John W. Darracott, and for the education of said children untill they respectively come of lawful age, or marry, the children having arrived at lawful age, or marrying, shall receive one third part of my whole estate to be ascertained as nearly as may be by any three impartial persons chosen for that purpose, by my Executors, and the child so receiving his or her share of my estate, shall hold the same by an absolute and indefeasible fee simple title.
Item 3rd.If either of my said children shall die before they arrive at lawful age, or marry, then the share of my estate to which he or she would be entitled to shall go to and be held by the surviving child in manner & form aforesaid.
Item 4th.If both of my said children shall die under age and consequently(?) before becoming entitled to their respective share of my estate as herein before directed, then I give and bequeath my whole estate to my wife Tabitha Darracott in fee simple.
Item5th.The share of my wife shall consist of one third part of my estate to be estimated in like manner as the share of my two children aforesaid, and when so () & () a part she shall have in the same an estate for and during the time of her natural life and no longer, with a remainder over upon her death to my two children John & Sarah Ann and the heirs of their bodies, but if my wife shall marry again it is my desire and special direction that her intended husband shall give bond in double the amount of the property herein bequeathed to my wife, payable to my executors conditioned for the delivery of the same to my aforesaid children at the death of my said wife if they be living and to the heirs of their bodies then living if they shall be dead.And I further direct that if my wife shall marry again her future husband having refused or neglected to give said bond as aforesaid in five days after said marriage shall have taken place with good security then and in that case the share bequeathed to my wife shall be defeated(?) & reverting back to my estate shall go equally to my two children aforesaid and the heirs of their bodies and that the division of my said estate shall take place immediately on the marriage of my wife, so that it may be ascertained the portion for which said () is to be given and that portion belonging to my children shall not pass into the hands of the said second husband.
Item 6th.If in making division of my estate between my wife & children aforesaid it shall happen that an exactly equal division cannot be made then the persons chosen to make such division shall award as much money to be paid by him or her receiving the greater share to him or her receiving the lesser share as shall make all the shares exactly equal and such award finally & impartially made shall constitute a part of this my last will and testament.
Item 7th.It is my special direction that my daughter Elizabeth C. Cunningham be paid by my Executors five dollars it being the full amount I design giving her.
Item 8th.I hereby constitute ordain and appoint my beloved & trusty friends William M. Harrison, Garland Wingfield of Wilkes County and my beloved son John W. Darracott to be my true & lawful executors to carry out the provisions of this my last Will & Testament.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this Eighth day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & fifty.
/s/J.B. Darracott [seal]
In presence of us
Quinea O’Neal
Linton Stephens
John T. Bristow
Prov: Sept. 1, 1851
Rec:Sept. 3, 1851.
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Obituary ofTabitha (Conner) Darracott.Note from Rhoda: this is from an old newspaper clipping.The name of the newspaper and date was missing.However, it was probably from the Crawfordville Advocate-Democrat.
"An Aged Lady Gone.
Mrs. Tabitha Darracott died at the home of her son-in-law in Crawfordville at 7 o'clock Monday morning May 27th 1889.She was born on the 20th of January 1803 and was therefore in her eighty second year.Her maiden name was Connor.She came to Taliaferro from Newton county as the young wife of James B. Darracott near sixty years ago, And has outlived her husband some forty years.She was the mother of two children, a son & a daughter, both of who are dead.An aged and highly respected lady of Crawfordville says in substance of Mrs. Darracott:'I have known Mrs. Darracott longer and more intimately than any one now living.I might say some fifty five years.We lived close neighbors for a long time.A better, a kinder neighbor never lived.She was an excellent housekeeper and kept her house in order.As wife, mother, friend and neighbor she filled well her part.I loved her for her kindness of heart and excellent traits of character.'What higher can be said of any one; a good and useful woman, and humble trusting christian. . . ."[Portion of remainder missing.]
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The following is the will of William Darracott, brother of James B. Darracott.It is included here because he left a good deal of his estate to John W. Darracott and Sarah A. Darracott, his nephew and niece.Although William Darracott was married, he apparently had no children.His wife Sarah predeceased him.
Transcribed by Rhoda Fone from copy of handwritten will on file in Greene Co., Georgia.
WILLIAM DARRACOTT’S WILL
Georgia
Greene CountyI William Darricott being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make the following disposition, and I do so for the purpose of preventing any difficulty in distributing what effects I have
First.I give and bequeath to Sarah A.W. Glenn and John W. Glenn, Children of the Rev’d Joshua N. Glenn One Thousand Dollars, this to be equally divided between them.
Second.I give and bequeath unto my nephew John Darracott and my niece Sarah Darracott children of my Brother James, and the children of my sister Kitty Terrell and Richmond Terrell of Newton County all my Notes & Cash on hand to be equally divided between them by my Executor.
Third.One third of my Household Kitchen Furniture I give to my niece Nancy Travis & her children & the other two thirds to my Nephew & Niece John & Sarah Darracott.
Fourth.I give and bequeath unto my Niece Nancy Travis Five Hundred Dollars more than her equal division in consequence of her misfortune.
Fifth.I give and bequeath my Buggy & my Buggy Horse, Travelling Trunk & umbrella, to my Niece Sarah Darracott to be given her as soon as my Executor is qualified.
Sixth.I give my watch to my Nephew John Darracott so soon as my Executor is qualified to be delivered.
Seventh.I give and bequeath unto my Nephew and Niece John Darracott and Sarah Darracott, Children of my Brother James Darracott, the following Negroes, Matt, Edmond, Davy & Peter, to be equally divided between them at my death.
Eight.The Negro Girl Alice I give to my Niece Sarah Darracott for her sole & separate use and not to be subject to any debt of her contracting on her husband.I desire said Girl Alice to remain in the possession of Mrs. Carlton until she Alice is better grown or until Sarah shall be () to take care of her and I desire my friend Mrs. Carlton to take care of Alice whilst she remains with her.
Ninth.I give unto my Friend William W.D. Weaver my old & faithful servants Alec & Liddy, by law I cannot free them, but to my Friend Weaver Please [treat them?]as he may deem just and proper.
Tenth.I authorize my Executor to retain in his hands Three Thousand Dollars out of my Estate before any division is made to buy at such time as is his () he may think () a tract of land for my Nephew & Niece John Darracott & Sarah Darracott and it is my wish that their mother should live with them.
Eleventh.I give to my Friend William W.D. Weaver six hundred dollars in addition to the two old servants I have given him to aid him in supporting the said servants should they become unable to support themselves.
Twelfth, I hereby constitute and appoint my Friend William W.D. Weaver my sole Executor to carry this will into execution.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 2 day of October 1851.
/s/William Darracott (seal)
Duly signed & sealed in
Our presence.
Archibald Carlton
John H. Wood
William C. Dawson
Recorded May 4th 1852.
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SOURCES:
Taliaferro County, Georgia Records and Notes, by Alvin Mell Lunceford, Jr.
Early Records of Georgia, by Grace Gillam Davidson
1830 U.S. Census – Newton Co., GA
1840 U.S. Census – Taliaferro Co., GA
1850 U.S. Census – Taliaferro County, GA
1900 U.S. Census – Fulton Co., GA
1920 U.S. Census – Fulton Co., GA
Darracott Bible Records (Deaths)
Taliaferro Co., Georgia Marriage Book A
Taliaferro Co., Georgia Will Record A, pp. 210-212 (James B. Darracott will)
Tombstone Inscriptions – Crawfordville Baptist Cemetery, Taliaferro Co., GA
Obituary of Mrs. Tabitha Darracott
Greene Co., GA Will Bk. G, p. 120 (Wm. Darracott will)
Ancestry.com – The Atlanta Constitution
Information from Margie McDonald