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TURPENTINE INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA

 The Early Days of the Naval Stores and Lumber Industries in Bulloch County, Georgia

 Sources for the following:

LIFE IN OLD BULLOCH THE STORY OF A WIREGRASS COUNTY IN GEORGIA

(Some information is the exact wording of the writer, Dorothy Brannen)

By Dorothy Brannen 

Interviews by Tommy L. Schwartz and Olivia Lowry Schwartz   

After the Civil War the turpentine and lumber men of North Carolina discovered the great yellow pine forests in Georgia, specifically Bulloch County,  and went there to harvest the bounty from the trees.  They had learned to make naval stores from the gum of their pine trees.  The gum was heated in a still until part of it vaporized and was condensed into spirits of turpentine.  The residue left from this distilling process was tar or pitch, used to caulk the seams of the wooden ships to make them water-tight, hence the name “naval stores.” 

The turpentine men came first.  Most of them came in the eighties, but there were a few who arrived earlier.  Some of them were in both naval stores and the lumber business.  Some became permanent residents of Bulloch County and established their families here.  Some “followed the timber” from North Carolina and South Carolina into Georgia and later left for unexploited forests in Florida and Alabama. 

Some of the still hands who dipped the gum in the forest were imported from North Carolina and some were local Negroes who were learning the trade.  They lived in shanties in quarters close to the stills.  Since the gum was collected in the warm weather, there was danger of rattlesnakes in the woods. 

An item appearing in the December 25, 1890, STATESBORO EAGLE tells of another group of turpentine workers who had come from North Carolina: 

“On the turpentine farms of Captain G. McKennon and Mr. S.A. Alford, the most of the laborers are Croatan.  They are about the color of Indians, and the women and children who are not exposed much to the sun are real bright in color.  The men and women have straight hair, and are intelligent people.  They stick to each other, and don’t mix much with the Negroes.  Captain McKinnon tells us they are a distinct race in North Carolina  where their homes are, and are supposed to be a mixture of Indian and Portuguese.

The Carr Brothers Turpentine Distillery was in Bulloch County before 1891.  In that year Henry C. Carr, Arthur S. Carr and seven others organized a Presbyterian Church near Riggs’s Mill Pond (now Cypress Lake).  The Carrs were from Wilmington, North Carolina.  It is interesting to note that Graham McKennon from Ashpole, North Carolina was one of the members.  In 1895 most of the members moved away and the church was disbanded. 

In 1895 W. M.(Manassas) Foy and John W. Williams purchased the plant and all the privileges of the Carr Brothers naval store business.  The Carrs’ plant was probably near Adabelle, the headquarters of the Foy and Williams enterprise.  Adabelle was on the Register and Glenville Railroad when it was organized about 1900 and had a population of 85.  The company had a big trading post there where their workers could trade in their tokens for the goods they needed.  It was said that Mr. Foy would kill 500 hogs for bacon to sell to the hands of the Adabelle Trading Company. 

It was stated in the STATESBORO NEWS of August 29, 1902 that in Bulloch County Mr.Foy had about eleven thousand acres near Statesboro and around Adabelle.  At Adabelle his firm operated a large turpentine farm and employed about 125 persons and would make about 1200 barrels of spirits.  When the Adabelle Trading Company was dissolved, probably about 1920, the little village gradually disappeared.  However, Manassas Foy’s two sons, Inman and J.P., continued in the turpentine business at Adabelle.

In addition to the naval stores business he cultivated 800 acres of land and in 1902 it was said that he gathered a hundred bales of cotton and 10,000 bushels of corn.  The railroad ran through his land and his plan was to cultivate five thousand acres which would make him the largest farmer in southeast Georgia. Mr. Manassas Foy died of typhoid fever in January, 1903 at the age of 41. 

Bulloch County, Georgia visit in June 29, 1992 

   The home place of Washington Manassas Foy and Maxie Olliff Foy  is about six miles from Claxton, Georgia in Bulloch County with a mailing address of Register, Georgia.  The house is very large with a Spanish design.  Siblings Louie Simmons ( Mr. Foy’s grandson) about 62 and his sister Sue Simmons(Mr. Foy’s granddaughter) about 60 were living in the house in 1992.  Their mother, Louise Olliff Foy Simmons (daughter of Washington Manassas Foy), was quite elderly (90) and unable to be cared for at home.  Mrs. Simmons’ first husband was W. Manassas Foy who died at age 41 of typhoid fever and was the owner of the 60,000 acre plantation.  Sue Simmons said that Mr. Foy wanted to acquire 100,000 acres and had plans of naming the county after himself.   She said that Mr. Foy would travel in a buggy with a bag filled with money so that he could buy land at every opportunity. Mr. Simmons was Mrs. Louise Foy Simmons’second husband.  A cemetery is on the property that was established for Mr. Foy’s employees and their families.  (Mr. Foy, who was born January 23, 1862, built and moved into an eighteen room house on Savannah Avenue in Statesboro about 1900.) 

Louie Simmons said that Indian families from Robeson County, North Carolina were brought to Georgia by other business men and he hired them for his turpentine business.  He went on to say that he did not know of a visit that Mr. Foy made to Robeson County. The migration to Georgia began after the Civil War (1865-1870) and the last family went back around 1920.  Many of the workers traveled by train. 

When asked if there were people who chose not to return to North Carolina, Louie Simmons said that on a 1915 map he saw that a J.W. Lowry was a furniture store owner.  He also said that in Claxton, Georgia there are Oxendines and that Strickland is a very common name.  

There was a church on the plantation for the laborers and Louie Simmons said that when he was a little boy he could still see the old foundation of the church.  The cemetery is  near where the church was.  In recent years there have been several groups from Robeson County, North Carolina who went to Adabelle to clean and to maintain the cemetery. 

Other items of interest:

1. Adabell Hotel built about 1890-1895
2. Commissary built about 1901-1907
3. About 85-100 people lived in Adabelle, Black, White, and Indian
4. Indians taught others how to work in turpentine (may have taught them how to raise tobacco).  Tobacco became a large money crop beginning in the 1920s.
5. The Olliff Rushing, Durrence House, built about 1872.  It was restored in 1976 by Dr. C.D. and Mrs. Lois Durrence Shely  and placed on the National Regster in 1987 by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior.  Its original cost was about $8000.

There is an engraved stone at the entrance to the cemetery which says:

CROATAN INDIAN

Memorial Cemetery

In memory of Lucinda Locklear, Pink Locklear, Hezie Emanuel and Margaret Adline Locklear----and the other Dauntless Indians from Robeson County, North Carolina who settled, lived and died here sometime between the close of the Civil War and the 1920s and whose graves are unmarked ---Dedicated June 4, 1989 

Tomb Stones

Life in Old Bulloch; The Story of a Wiregrass County in Georgia;

by Dorothy Branner    p. 371; C.L. Oxendine

 In April of 1914 a letter from C.L. Oxendine of a colony of Indians located in Bulloch near Adabelle was printed in the “Times”.  The letter thanked the county bd. of educ. For an appropriation of $25 a month to their school.  The rest of the money necessary was to be made up by the patrons of the school.  The writer invited the county superintendent to visit the school. -- W.M. Oxendine p. 148 in the book above was listed as a preacher and talks about a 10 day meeting.     Frank Simmons, Jr., inherited land from his grandfather.  

 1900 Census Vol. III; Bulloch County, Georgia

 427   435  Lockliar,  John R.; Head; Black; Male; age 30; married 4 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Ellen; Wife; Black; female; age 25; married 4 years; 5 children; 4 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

John B.; son; Black; male.; B June, 1892; age 7; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Walter; son; Black; male; B Jan., 1898; age 2; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

William; son; Black; male; B Sept., 1899;  age 9mon.; B NC; father BNC; mother B NC

Maggie; sis-in-law; Black; female; age 40; married 13 years; 0 children; 0 children living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

 Lochlea, Nelson; Head; Black; male; age 50; married; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Harmon; son; Black; male; Sept., 1879; age 20; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Revels; Lenzy; lodger; Black; male; age 24; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Lochlea; Aquilla; lodger; Black; male; age 17; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Issac; lodger; Black; male; age 21; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

 Goins, William H.; Head; Black; male; July 1852; age 42; married 20 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; cooper

Margaret; Wife; Black; female; B. Nov., 1858; age 41; married 20 years; 7 children; 6 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC;

Henryetter; daughter; Black; female; June, 1881; age 18; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Montyler; son;  Black; male; B August, 1887; age 12; single; Turp laborer

Chancy J; daughter; Black ; female; B Sept., 1898; age 1; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Oxendine, Vandy; Head; Black; male; B. Dec., 1869; age 30; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

 Lockly, William:  Head; Black; male; B. May, 1870; age 30; married 4 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Susie; Wife; Black; female; B Jan., 1870; married 4 years; 0 children; 0 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Emanuel, I.D.; Head; White; male; B June, 1869; age 30; married 3 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC;  Woods rider

Annie; Wife; White; female; B March, 1880; age 20; married 3 years; 2 children; 1 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Agy N.; daughter; White; female; B July, 1899; 10mon.; single; B Ga.; father B NC; mother B NC

Isiah; father; White; male; B May, 1823; age 77; married 48 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Druziley; mother; White; female; B Jan, 1835; age 65; married 48 years; B NVC; father B NC; mother B NC

Jones, Jasper; Head; Black; male; B March, 1873; age 27; married 7 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Eliza, Wife; Black; female; B Jan, 1878; age 22; married 7 years; 4 children; 4 living B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Jas., son; Black, male; B May, 1894; age 6; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Willis; son; Black; male; B Feb, 1896; age 4; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Robbie; son; Black; male; B March, 1897; age 3; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Pearl; daughter; Black; female; B Nov, 1900; age 7 mon; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

Rease, Pink; boarder; Black, male; B Jan, 1880; age 20; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

Emanuel, A.J.; Head; White; male; Aug, 1866; age 33; married 14 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Margaret; Wife; White; female; B Dec, 1865; age 34; married 14 years; 8 children; 5 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Lula; daughter; White; female; B May, 1886; age 14; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Caroline; daughter; White; female; B Jan, 1888; age 12; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

William; son; White; male; B Jan, 1890; age 10; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; day laborer

Atlas; son; White; male; B March, 1892; age 8; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Jas.; son; White; male; B May, 1894; age 6; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Owens, Wilson; Head; Black; male; B March, 1874; age 26; married 1 year; B SC; father B SC; mother B SC; Turp laborer

Nancy; Wife; Black; female; B Feb, 1876; age 24; married 1 year; 0 children; 0 living; B Ala; father B Ala; mother B Ala

Umans, Rose; cousin; Black; female; B Jan, 1881; age 19; single; B SC; father B SC; mother B SC; Washwoman

The following were omitted from pages 44, 52, and 63:

Lockly, Martha; Stepdaughter; Black; female; B May, 1888; age 12; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

1900 Census Georgia;Vol. IV; (Bulloch County ?)

 Braybry, Dall; Head; Black; male; B Apr, 1867; age 33; married 14 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Zlie; Wife; Black; female; B Jan, 1886; age 34; married 14 years; 2 children; 1 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Isaac; son; Black; male; B Aug, 1893; age 6; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

Comins, Reasley; Boarder; Black; male; B June, 1880; age 19; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC Turp laborer

Lockley, Leeander; Boarder; Black; male; B Jan, 1874; age 26; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer 

Lockly, Doss; Head; Black; male; B Jan, 1873; age 27; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Reed, Ella; Lodger; Black; female; B Feb, 1880; age 20; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga

Emma; Lodger; Black; female; B April, 1876; age 24; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga

Alice; Lodger; Black; female; B April, 1890; age 10; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga

 Jacobs, Willie; Head; Black; male; B Aug, 1872; age 27; married 11 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Eunise; Wife; Black; female; B Aug, 1871; age 28; married 11 years; 7 children; 7 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

James H; son; Black; male; B Dec, 1887; age 10; single B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

William H; son; Black; male; B Aug, 1892; age 7; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Rockey; daughter; Black; female; B April, 1894; age 6; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Braxton; son; Black; male; B July, 1896; age 3; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Eva; daughter; Black; female; B March, 1898; age 2; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Ann; daughter; Black; female; B Nov, 1899; age 6mon.; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Bullard, Beasly; Laborer; Black; male; B Sept, 1877; age 22; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

 Moore, Charley H; Head; Black; male; B Feb, 1847; age 53; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

 Lockley, Rocky; Head; Black; male; B April, 1870; age 30; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Abe; relative; Black; male; B April, 1876; age 24; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

 Locklar, Sandy; Head; Black; male; B April, 1874; age 26; married 5 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Edner; Wife; Black; female; B Jan, 1877; age 23; married 5 years; 4 children; 4 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B SC

Lee R; son; Black; male; B May, 1895; age 5; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

Robert; son; Black; male; B Oct, 1896; age 3; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

Clem; son; Black; male; B May, 1898; age 2; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

Ida; daughter; Black; female; B Oct, 1899; age 7 mon.; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

Wren, William E; Boarder; White; male; B June, 1840; age 59; widower; B SC; father B SC; mother B SC; farm laborer

Jones, William A; Boarder; White; male; B July, 1876; age 24; single;B Ga; father B

Ga; mother B Ga; farm laborer

Wilkinson, Elzy; Servt.; Black; male;B May,  1874; age 26; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm laborer

Oxendine, Jordan; Servt; Black; male; B August, 1876; age 23; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farm laborer

Hendrik, Randall; Servt; Black, male; B Nov, 1873; age 26; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm laborer

Barnes, Arthur; Servt; Black; male; B Mar, 1877; age 23; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm laborer

Oxendine, Daniel; Head; Black; male; B Dec, 1857; age 42; married 15 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Christiana; Wife; Black; female; B March, 1865; age (shows 14—must be mistake); single(must be mistake); B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Mary; daughter; Black; female; B Oct, 1885; age 14; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Lou Ellen; daughter; Black; female; B Jan, 1889; age 11; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Josephine; daughter; Black; female; B July, 1890; age 9; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Claude; son; Black; male; B Sept, 1892; age 7; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Oxendine, Henry T; son; Black; male; B Sept, 1895; age 4; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Amanda; daughter; Black; female; B March, 1898; age 2; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga

 Locklear, James H; Head; Black; male; B Dec, 1864; age 35; married 9 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Samantha; Wife; Black; female; B Jan, 1864; age 36; married 9 years; 4 children; 3 living;B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Jasper; son; Black; male; B May, 1891; age 9; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Maggie; daughter; Black; female; B July, 1892; age 7; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Ethel; daughter; Black; female; B March, 1900; age 2 mon; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

 Strickland, Silas; Head; Black; male; B Dec, 1872; age 27; married 5 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Turp laborer

Lallie (?); Wife; Black; female; B May, 1880; age 20; married 5 years; 3 children; 1 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Bonnie (?); daughter; Black; female; B Dec, 1899; age 5 mon; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC

 Locklear, Duncan; Head; Black; male; B Nov, 1877; age 23; married 1 year; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

Catherine; Wife; Black; female; B May, 1883; age 17; married 1 year; 0 children; 0 living; B SC; father B SC; mother B SC

Localear, Henry; Head; Black; male; B May, 1874; age 26; married 3 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; laborer

Lula Jane; Wife; Black; female; B March, 1882; age 18; married 3 years; 2 children; 2 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

French N.; son; Black; male; B Dec, 1898; age 1; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga

Baby; son; Black; male; May, 1900; 9 mon; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga

Evander; Boarder; Black; male; B May, 1879; age 21; married 3 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; laborer

Mattie; Boarder; Black; female; B April, 1882; age 18; married 3 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC

 1910 Census Georgia (Bulloch County ?)

 Lockley, Vandy; Head; Mulato; male; age 34; married 13 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Mattie; Wife; Mulato; female; age 28; married 13 years; 5 children; 4 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC farm labor

Cordelia; daughter; Mulato; female; age 9; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; no job

Miller; son; Mulato; male; age 5; single; B Ga; fatherB NC; mother B NC; no job

Flora  J.; daughter; Mulato; female; age 3; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; no job

Margaret; daughter; Mulato; female; age 6 mon; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; no job

Emanuel, William; Head; Mulato; male; age 20; married 2 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Josephine; Wife; Mulato; female; age 18; married 2 years; 2 children; 2 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none (no job)

George W; son; Mulato; male; age 2; single; B GA; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Agnes; daughter; Mulato; female; age 3 mon; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none

 Jernigan, Monger; Head; Mulato; male; age 26; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Sallie; Mother; Mulato; female; age 75; widow; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Henry; Bro; Mulato; male; age 37; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Rewis ?, Henry; Cousin; Mulato; male; age 30; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm labor

 Jacobs, John H; Head; Mulato; male; age 22; married 4 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; Farmer

Anna B.; Wife; Mulato; female; age 22; married 4 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none

 Riggins, General; Head; Mulato; male; age 46; married 28 years; B SC; father B SC; mother B SC; Turp laborer

Venus; Wife; Mulato; female; age 48; married 28 years; 3 children; 3 living; B SC; father B Sc; mother B SC; none

William; son; Mulato; male; age 24; single; B SC; father B SC; mother B SC; Turp laborer

Susan; daughter; Mulato; female age 17; single; B SC; father B SC; mother B SC; none

Wilma; daughter; Mulato; female; age 1; single; B Ga; father B SC; mother B SC; none

 Emanuel, Edward J.; Head; Mulato; male; age 42; married 23 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Margaret; Wife; Mulato; female; age 41; married 23 years; 3 children; 3 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Atlas; son; Mulato; male; age 18; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farm labor

Buckston; son; Mulato; male; age 16; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farm laborer

Lottie; daughter; Mulato; female; age 7; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Locklea, Henry; Head; Mulato; male; age 30; married 12 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Lula J; Wife; Mulato; female; age 28; married 12 years; 6 children; 6 living; none

Frank N; son; Mulato; male; age 12; single

Beatrice A; daughter; Mulato; female; age 8; single

Wm. H; son; Mulato; male; age 6; single

Anna M; daughter; Mulato; female; age 4; single

Lela J; daughter; Mulato; female; age 2; single

Sweet; daughter; Mulato; female; age 2mon; single

(All of the children above were listed as being born in Georgia.  Also their parents were listed as being born in Georgia in the information on the children.  However, in the parents’ own entries it shows their place of birth North Carolina) 

Oxendine, Christiana; Head; Mulato; female; age 40; widow; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none ( no job)

Claude; son; Mulato; male; age 18; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Henry T; son; Mulato; male; age 14; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; farm labor

Amanda; daughter; Mulato; female; age 11; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none ( no job)

Viola; daughter; Mulato; female; age 5; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none 

Locklear, Quiller; Head; Mulato; male; age 24; married 6 years; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farmer

Sarah; Wife; Mulato; female; age 20; married 6 years; 3 children; 3 living; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none (no job)

Maggie; daughter; Mulato; female; age 5; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

Ella; daughter; Mulato; female; age 3; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

James; son; Mulato; male; age 2; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

• Croatans, descendants of half-breed Indians

*Locklea, James H; Head; Indian; male; age 40; married 20 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Amantha; Wife; Indian; female; age 41; married 20 years; 6 children; 5 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none (no job)

Ethel; daughter; Indian; female; age 10; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Whitfield; son; Indian; male; age 7; single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Susie M; daughter; Indian; female; age 4; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none

 *Locklea, Jasper; Head; Indian; male; age 21; married 4 years; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Lula; Wife; Indian; female; age 21; married 4 years; 2 children; 2 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none ( no job)

John; son; Indian; male; age 3; single B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Mary M; daughter; Indian; female; age 1; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none

 *Bell, Andrew; Head; Indian; male; age 24; married 4; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farmer

Maggie; Wife; Indian; female; age 19; married 4 years; 3 children; 3 living; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; none (no Job)

Benj. F; son; Indian; male; age 3; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Hattie W; daughter; Indian; female; age 2; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Roma D; son; Indian; male; age 3 mon; single; B Ga; father B NC; mother B NC; none

Wiley; Brother; Indian; male; age 22;p single; B NC; father B NC; mother B NC; farm labor

Jacobs, William; Head; Mulato; male; age 40; married second time 4 years; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farmer

Martha; Wife; Mulato; male; age 22; married second 4 years; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none ( no job)

Herschell; son; Mulato; male; age 18; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm labor

Rocky J; daughter; Mulato; female; age 17; single; B Ga; father b Ga; mother B Ga; farm labor

Broxton; son; Mulato; male; age 14; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm labor

Eva; daughter; Mulato; female; age 13; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm labor

Cornelia; son; Mulato; male; age 12; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm labor

Warnell; son; Mulato; male; age 8; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

Oscar; son; Mulato; male; age 6; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

 Locklea, Wm. R; Head; Mulato; male; age 38; married 17 years; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farmer

Persan; Wife; Mulato; female; age 34; married 17 years; 9 children; 7 living; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none ( no job)

Lonnie; son; Mulato; male; age 13; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; farm labor

Felie; son; Mulato; male; age 9; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

Wilmer; son; Mulato; male; age 7; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

Quinnie; son; Mulato; male; age 6; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

Rufus Lester; son; Mulato; male; age 5; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

Luther; son; Mulato; male; age 3; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none

Wheler; son; Mulato; male; age 1; single; B Ga; father B Ga; mother B Ga; none 

LIFE IN OLD BULLOCH

THE STORY OF A WIREGRASS COUNTY

IN GEORGIA

BY

Dorothy Brannen

GEORGIA CONNECTION

After the Civil War lumber and turpentine men from North Carolina went to Bulloch County, Georgia which was a very large area to establish lumber and naval stores industries in the virtually untouched  pine forests.  The pine forests were located in the counties along the coast and were not settled earlier because of the dense swamps.  Early settlers preferred the open lands of middle Georgia and therefore did not settle along the coast.   The population was sparse and in 1860 the county only had about 3,000 people including slaves.

The Naval Stores Industry had long been a source of trade since the colonial period.  The men from North Carolina had learned to make naval stores from the gum of the abundant supply of pine trees.  They would heat the gum in a still until part of it vaporized and was condensed into spirits of turpentine.  That which was left from the distilling process was tar or pitch which was used to caulk the seams of wooden ships to make them water tight.  That is how the industry became known as “naval stores.”

The North Carolina turpentine men were the first to come to Bulloch County, Georgia mostly in the 1880’s but a few came earlier in both naval stores and the lumber business.  Some came and became permanent residents while others returned home or followed the industries as they went to the untouched forests in Florida and Alabama.

An item that appeared in the December 25, 1890, STATESBORO EAGLE tells of a group of turpentine workers who had come from North Carolina:

“On the turpentine farms of Captain G. McKennon and Mr. S.A. Alford, the most of the laborers are Croatans.  They are about the color of Indians, and the women and children who are not exposed much to the sun are real bright in color.  The men and women have straight hair, and are intelligent people.  They stick to each other, and don’t mix much with the Negroes.  Captain McKennon tells us they are a distinct race in North Carolina where their homes are, and are supposed to be a mixture of Indian and Portuguese.

In the book, LIFE IN OLD BULLOCH, THE STORY OF A WIREGRASS COUNTY IN GEORGIA by Dorothy Brannen, there is an entry on p. 371 about C. L. Oxendine as follows:

In April of 1914 a letter from C.L. Oxendine of a colony of Indians located in Bulloch near Adabelle was printed in the “Times”.  The letter thanked the county board of education for an appropriation of $25 a month to their school.  The rest of the money necessary was to be made up by the patrons of the school.  The writer invited the county superintendent to visit the school.

Another entry on p. 148 of the same book  speaks of a preacher in 1893 whose name was W.M. Oxendine and talks about a ten day meeting that was held.

Many worked on land which Frank Simmons, Jr., inherited from his grandfather.   Most of the people came as a family unit.  There is a cemetery on the property where the Croatan Indians are buried.  In 1992 Louie Simmons said that when he was a child one could see the foundation of their church near the cemetery.  Many worked in the industry or on Mr. Foy’s farm for about 30 years altogether and returned to North Carolina around 1919.

There is an engraved stone at the entrance to the cemetery which reads:

CROATAN INDIAN

Memorial Cemetary

In Memory of Lucinda Locklear, Pink Locklear, Hezie Emanuel and Margaret Adline Locklear---and the other Dauntless Indians from Robeson County, North Carolina who settled, lived and died here sometime between the close of the Civil War and the 1920’s, and whose graves are unmarked.  Dedicated June 4, 1989

MARKINGS ON TOMB STONES

Etha wife of Governor Bell

March 24, 1900

Nov. 14, 1918

Hattielean Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Bell

Oct. 28(18), 1908

Jan. 17, 1913

Son of J.J. and A.M. Oxendine

Aug. 7, 1913

June 13, 1915

Jamie Daughter of J.D. and Annie Emanuel

Oct. 9, 1909

April 3, 1912

Manthy Wife of J.H. Locklear

Jan. 6, 1865

March 14, 1915

Daughter of Henderson and Lue Ellen Jacobs

Sept. 6, 1911

June 11, 1913

Some chose to remain in Georgia or to follow the industry as it moved to the Florida and Alabama areas.

The Carr Brothers Turpentine Distillery was in Bulloch County before 1891 where they began a Presbyterian Church near Rigg’s Mill Pond.  The Carrs were from Wilmington, North Carolina.  A Graham McKennon from Ashpole, North Carolina was one of the members.  The church was disbanded in 1895.

VISIT AND INTERVIEW

June 29, 1992

In 1992 Louie Simmons and Sue Simmons siblings and children of Frank Simmons, Jr. and grandchildren of Washington Manasas Foy  lived on part of the original plantation  on Adabell Road  in Register, Georgia in Bulloch County about 6 miles from Claxton, Georgia.  They lived in a very impressive Spanish style house. 

Their mother, Louise Olliff  Foy Simmons was 90 in 1992 married Frank Simmons, Jr..    Her father was Washington Manasas Foy, born Janurary 23, 1862 and her mother was Maxie Olliff Foy.  Washington Manassas Foy and John W. Williams were partners who owned the ADABELLE TRADING COMPANY a big naval sores operation where many of the Indians from North Carolina worked.  He was the owner of a 60,000 acre plantation and died at the age of 42.  Sue Simmons said that Mr. Foy, who was her grandfather, wanted to acquire 100,000 acres and then had plans to name the county after himself but died 40,000 acres short.  She said that he would carry a bag filled with money in his buggy so that he could buy land at every opportunity. 

Louie Simmons said that the Indians in Robeson County, N.C. were brought  to Georgia by other business men for the turpentine industry and for farming.  Mr. Foy later hired them for his turpentine business.  The Indians who began going to Georgia after the civil war and the last family went back around 1920.  However some stayed behind and Louie Simmons said that there are many Oxendines  around Claxton, Georgia and that Strickland is a very common name.  They traveled primarily by train.  Louie said that he did not have knowledge of Mr. Foy visiting Robeson County, N.C. 

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ADABELL

About 85-100 Black, White, and Indian residents lived in Adabell.  While the Indians were there they taught others how to work in turpentine and may have taught them how to raise tobacco.  Beginning in the 1920’s tobacco became the large money crop.

The Adabell Hotel was built about 1890-1895.  In 1992 parts were still standing.

There was a commissary 1901-1907.

The Olliff Rushing, Durrence House was built C. 1872.  It was restored in 1976 by Dr. C.D. and Mrs. Lois Durrence Sheley and was placed on the National Register 1987 U.S. Dept. Interior with an original cost of about $8000

1900 Census Vol. III Bulloch County, Georgia

 Lockliar, John R. Head  Black-Male age 30 married 4 years born NC Turp laborer

Ellen                    wife   Black-female age 25 married 4 years 5 children 4 living Born NC

John B.                 son    Black-male Born June 1892 age7 single born NC

Walter                  son    Black-male Born Jan 1898 age 2 single Born NC

William                son    Black-male Sept. 1899 age 9mon single Born Georgia

Maggie                 sis-in-law Black-female age 40 married 13 years 0 children Born NC

Lochlea, Nelson   Head  Black-male age 50 married Born NC Turp laborer

Harmon                son  Black-male Born Sept. 1879 age 20 single Born NC Turp laborer

Revels, Lenzy       Lodger Black-male age 24 single Born NC Turp laborer

Lochlea, Aquilla   Lodger Black-male  age17 single Born NC Turp laborer

                Issac      Lodger  Black-male age 21 single Born NC Turp laborer

Oxendine, Vandy  Head  Black-male Born Dec.1869 age 30 single Born NC Turp laborer   

Lockly, William  Head Black-male Born May 1870 age 30 mar. 4 yrs B. NC Turp laborer

Susie                    Wife  Black-female Born Jan 1870 age 30 mar. 4 yrs no child. B. NC

Martha                  Stepdau Black-female Born May 1888 age 12 single Born NC

Emanuel, I.D.  Head White-male June 1869 age 30 mar. 3 yrs. Born NC Woods rider

Annie               Wife  White-female Mar 1880 age 20 mar. 3yrs 2 births 1 live Born NC

Agy N.             Daughter White-female July 1899 age 10m sing. Born Ga.

Isiah                  Father     White-male May 1823 age 77 mar. 48 Born NC

Druziley            Mother    White-female Jan 1835 age 65 mar. 48 yrs Born NC

Jones, Jasper     Head Black-male Born Mar 1873 age 27 mar 7 yrs Born NC Laborer

Eliza                  Wife Black- female Born Jan 1878 age 22 mar 7 4 births 4 live

Jas.                     Son  Black-male Born May 1894 age 6 single Born NC

Willis                 Son   Black-male  Born Feb 1896 age 4 single Born NC

Robbie                Son   Black-male Born Mar 1897 age 3 single Born NC

Pearl                   Daughter Black-female Born Nov. 1900 7m single Born Ga

Rease, Pink        Boarder    Black-male Born Jan 1880 age 20 single Born Ga Laborer

Emanuel, A.J.    Head   White-male Born Aug 1866 age 33 mar 14 yrs Born NC laborer

Margaret           Wife  White-female B Dec 1865 age 34 mar 14 yrs 8 births 5 live B.NC

Lula                   Dau   White-female Born May 1866 age 14 single Born NC

Caroline             Dau     White-female Born Jan 1888 age 12 single Born NC

William              Son     White-male Born Jan 1890 age 10 single Born NC  Day Laborer

Altas                   Son     White-male Born Mar 1892 age 8 single Born NC

Jas.                      Son     White-male Born May 1894 age 6 single Born NC

Hammonds, S.A.  Head  White-male B June 1874 age 25 mar 6 yrs B N.C. Day Laborer

Florrence,             Wife   White-female B May 1873 age 27 mar 6 4 births 3 live B NC

Dennis                   Son    White-male B Oct 1893 age 6 single B NC

Oscar                     Son    White-male B Jan 1895 age 5 single B NC

Owens, Wilson     Head    Black-male B Mar 1874 age 26 mar 1 yr B SC Turp laborer

Nancy                   Wife    Black-female B Feb 1876 age 24 Mar 1 yr no children B Ala

Umans, Rose         Cousin  Black-female B Jan 1881 age 19 single B SC Washwoman

1900 Census Vol. IV Bulloch County, Georgia

Braybry, Dall   Head Black-male B Apr 1867 age 33 mar 14 yrs B NC Turp laborers

Zlie                   Wife Black-female B Jan 1866 age 34 mar 14 yrs Births 2 live 1 B NC

Isaac                  Son    Black-male B Aug 1893 age 6 single B Ga

Comins, Reasley    Boarder Black-male B June 1880 age 19 B NC Turp laborer

Lockley, Leeander Boarder Black-male B Jan 1874 age 26 B NC Turp laborer

Lockly, Doss          Head  Black-male B Jan 1873 age 27 single B NC Turp laborer

Reed, Ella               Lodger Black-female B Feb 1880 age 20 single B Ga

Emma                     Lodger  Black-female B Apr 1876 age 24 single B Ga

Alice                       Lodger Black-female B Apr 1890 age 10 single B Ga

Jacob, Willie    Head   Black-male B Aug 1872 age 27 mar 11 yrs B NC Turp laborer

Eunise              Wife   Black-female B Aug 1871 age 28 mar 11 yrs 7 births 7 live B NC

James H.           Son  Black-male B Dec 1887 age 10 single B NC

William H.        Son   Black-male B Aug 1892 age 7 single B NC

Rockey              Daug Black-female B Apr 1894 age 6 single B NC

Braxton             Son    Black-male B July 1896 age 3 single B NC

Eva                    Daug  Black-female B Mar 1898 age 2 single B NC

Ann                   Daug  Black-female B Nov 1899 age 6 m B NC

Bullard, Beasly   Laborer  Black-male B Sept 1877 age 22 single B NC

Moore, Charley H.  Head Black-male B Feb 1847 age 53 single B NC Turp laborer

Lockley, Rocky   Head Black-male B Apr 1870 age 30 single B NC Turp laborer

Abe                      Relative Black- male B Apr. 1876 age 24 single B NC Turp laborer

Locklar, Sandy    Head Black-male B Apr 1874 age 26 mar 5 yrs B NC Turp laborer

Edner                   Wife Black-female B Jan 1877 age 23 mar 5 yrs 4 births 4 live B SC

Lee R.                  Son   Black-male B May 1895 age 5 single B NC

Robert                  Son   Black-male B Oct 1896 age 3 single B NC

Clem                    Son   Black-male B May 1898 age 2 single B NC

Ida                       Daug Black-female B Oct 1899 age 7 mon single B NC

Wren, William E.    Boarder White-male June 1840 age 59 Widow B SC Laborer

Jones, William A.    Boarder White-male July 1876 age 23 single B Ga Field laborer

Wilkinson, Elzy       Servt.     Black-male May 1874 age 26 single B GA Field laborer

OXENDINE, JORDON  Servt. Black-male Aug 1876 age 23 single B NC Field laborer

Hendrik, Randall      Servt   Black-male Nov 1873 age 26 single B Ga Field laborer

Barnes, Arthur          Servt.  Black-male Mar 1877 age 23 single B Ga Field laborer

Oxendine,  Daniel   Head Black-male Dec 1857 age 42 mar 15 yrs B NC Turp laborer

Christiana                Wife Black-female Mar 1865 age 14 (34?) B NC

Mary                        Daug  Black-female Oct 1885 age 14 single B NC

Lou Ellen                 Daug Black-female Jan 1889 age 11 single B NC

Josephine                 Daug Black-female July 1890 age 9 single B NC

Claude                      Son    Black-male Sept 1892 age 7 single B NC

Henry T.                   Son     Black-male Sept 1895 age 4 single B NC

Amanda                    Daug  Black-female Mar 1898 age 2 single B Ga

Locklear, James H.  Head Black-male Dec 1864 age 35 mar 9 yrs B NC Turp laborer

Samantha                 Wife Black-female Jan 1864 age 36 mar 9 yrs 4 births 3 live B NC

Jasper                       Son   Black-male May 1891 age 9 single B NC

Maggie                     Daug  Black-female July 1892 age 7 single B NC

Ethel                         Daug  Black-female Mar 1900 age 2m single B NC

Strickland, Silas       Head  Black-male Dec 1872 age 27 mar 5 yrs B NC Turp laborer

Lallie                        Wife  Black-female May 1880 age 20 mar 5 yrs 3 births 1 live B NC

Bonnie                      Daug Black-female Dec 1899 age 5m single B Ga

Locklear, Duncan     Head   Black-male Nov 1877  age 23 mar 1 B NC

Catherine                  Wife   Black-female May 1883 age 17 mar 1 o births B SC

Localear, Henry        Head  Black-male May 1874 age 25 mar 3 yrs B NC laborer

Lula Jane                   Wife Black-female Mar 1882 age 18 mar 3 yrs 2 births 2 live B NC

French N.                   Son  Black-male Dec 1898 age 1 single B Ga

Baby                           Son   Black-male May 1900 age 9 mon single B Ga

Evander                      Boarder  Black-male May 1879 age 21 mar 3 yrs B NC Laborer

Mattie                         Boarder Black-female Apr 1882 age 18 mar 3 yrs B NC

1910 Census Bulloch County, Georgia

Lockley, Vandy  Head Mu-male age 34 mar 13 yrs B NC farmer

Mattie                 Wife Mu-female age 28 mar 13 5 births 4 live B NC Farm laborer

Cordelia              Daug Mu-female age 9 single B Ga

Miller                  Son Mu-male age 5 single B Ga

Flora J.                Daug Mu-female age 3 single B Ga

Margaret             Daug Mu-female age 6m single B Ga

Emanuel, William  Head Mu-male age 20 mar 2yrs B NC farmer

Josephine                Wife  Mu-female age 18 mar2 yrs 2 births 2 live

George W.               Son    Mu-male age 2 single B Ga

Agnes                      Daug  Mu-female age 3m single B Ga

Jernigan, Monger    Head Mu-male age 26 single B NC Farmer

Sallie                       Mother Mu-female age 75 wd B NC

Henry                      Bro       Mu-male age 37 single B NC Farmer

Rewis?, Henry        Cousin  Mu-male age 30 single B Ga Farm laborer

Jacobs, John H.   Head Mu-male age 22 Mar 4 yrs B NC Farmer

Anna B.               Wife Mu-female age 22 Mar 4 yrs B NC

Riggins, General   Head   Mu-male age 46 Mar 28 yrs B SC Turp laborer

Venus                    Wife   Mu-female age 48 Mar 28 3 births 3 live B SC

William                  Son   Mu-male age 24 single B SC Turp laborer

Susan                     Daug  Mu-female age 17 single B SC

Wilma                    Daug   Mu-female age 1 single B Ga

Emanuel, Edward J.  Head Mu-male age 42 mar 23 yrs B NC Farmer

Margaret                   Wife Mu-female age 41 mar 23 yrs 3 births 3 live B NC

Atlas                          Son   Mu-male     age 18 single B NC

Buckston                   Son    Mu-male age 16 single   B NC

Lottie                         Daug  Mu-female age 7 single B NC

Locklea, Henry           Head  Mu-male age 30 Ma4 12 yrs B NC Farmer

Lula J.                         Wife  Mu-female age 28 Mar 12 yrs 6 births 6 loive B NC

Frank N.                      Son   Mu-male age 12 single B Ga

Beatrice A.                  Daug  Mu-female age 8 single B Ga

Wm. H.                        Son  Mu-male age 6 single B Ga

Anna M.                      Daug  Mu-female age 4 single B Ga

Lela J.                          Daug  Mu-female age 2 single B Ga

Sweet                           Daug   Mu-female age 2m single B Ga

Oxendine, Christiana    Head   Mu-female age 40 widow B NC

Claude                           Son    Mu-male age 18 single B NC Farmer

Henry T.                        Son    Mu-male age 14 single BGa Farm laborer

Amanda                         Daug   Mu-female age 11 single B Ga

Viola                              Daug   Mu-female age 5 single B Ga

Locklea, Quiller            Head  Mu-male age 24 mar 6 yrs B Ga Farmer

Sarah                             Wife   Mu-female age 20 mar 6yrs 3 births 3 live B Ga

Maggie                          Daug  Mu-female age 5 single B Ga

Ella                                Daug  Mu-female age 3 single B Ga

James                             Son    Mu-male age 2 single B Ga

*Locklea, James H.       Head  Indian Male age 40 mar 20 yrs B NC Farmer

Amantha                         Wife  Indian female age 41 mar 20 yrs 6 births 5 live B NC

Ethel                               daug   Indian female age10 single B NC

Whitfield                         Son    Indian male age 7 single B NC

Susie M.                          daug   Indian female age 4 single B NC    

*Locklea, Jasper             Head  Indian male age 21 mar 4 yrs B NC Farmer

Lula                                 Wife   Indian female age 21 mar 4 yrs 2 births 2 live B NC

John                                 Son     Indian male age 3 single B Ga

Mary M.                           Daug  Indian female age 1 single B Ga

*Bell, Andrew                 Head  Indian male age 24 mar 4 yrs B NC

Maggie                             Wife  Indian female age 19 mar 4 yrs 3 births 3 live B NC

Benj. F.                             Son   Indian male age 3 single B Ga

Roma D.                           Son   Indian male age  3m single B Ga

Wiley                                Bro    Indian male age 22 single B NC  Farm laborer

*Croatans, descendants of half-breed Indians

Jacobs, William          Head  Mu-male age 40 second mar 4 yrs B Ga Farmer

Martha                        Wife   Mu-female age 22  second mar 4 yrs B Ga

Herschell                     Son    Mu-male age 18 single B Ga Farm laborer

Rocky J.                      Daug  Mu-female age 17 single B Ga Farm laborer

Broxton                       Son    Mu-male age 14 single B Ga Farm laborer

Eva                              Daug  Mu-female age 13 single B Ga Farm laborer

Cornelia                       Son    Mu-male age 12 single  B Ga Farm laborer

Warnell                        Son    Mu-male age 8 single B Ga

Oscar                           Son    Mu-male age 6 single B Ga

Locklea, Wm. R.         Head  Mu-male age 38 mar 17 yrs B Ga Farmer

Persan                          Wife   Mu-female age 34 mar 17 yrs 9 births 7 live B Ga

Lonnie                          Son    Mu-male age 13 single B Ga Farm laborer

Felie                             Son    Mu-male age 9 single B Ga

Wilmer                         Son    Mu-male age 7 single B Ga

Quinnie                        Son    Mu-male age 6 single B Ga

Rufus Lester                 Son    Mu-male age 5 single B Ga

Luther                           Son    Mu-male age 3 single B Ga

Wheler                          Son    Mu-male age 1 single B Ga

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