Nancy (Watkins) Searcy (1836 - 1928)

Born 12 Jan 1836 in South Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Overton Ledbetter Searcy — married 29 Jun 1856 in Gilmer, Georgia, United States of America

Descendants

Died 22 Jul 1928 at age 92 in Cherry Log, Gilmer County, Georgia, USA

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Biography

Nancy Watkins was the daughter of Abner Watkins & Nancy Smith, according to her 1928 death certificate. She married [Searcy-155|[Overton Searcy]] in 29 Jun 1856 Gilmer County, Georgia. They had @ 9 children together. Nancy Watkins Searcy lived until 1928. She is buried in nearby Rock Creek Baptist Cemetery.

During the Civil War while Tobe (O.L.) was away in Lee's army, local Yankees ransacked the Searcy home in Cherry Log, Ga. according to Ward's Gilmer Co. Ga. history pages 345-346, "Noblett and his band of 85 men, all mounted, galloped thunderously up Leading Ridge toward a community now known as Cherry Log in the district of the same name. It was a critical time of the war and the insolence and oppressions of the Yankees were growing. The band drew rein at the home of Tobe Searcey, who lived where Charley Hice lives now. Mr. Searcey was away with General Lee. Dismounting, Noblett's men swarmed into the Searcey home. Mrs. Nancy Searcey, Tobe's wife, was at home with her small children. Some of the men began climbing into a loft, where they located cans of honey hoarded against the stark needs of the family. They began to hand down and portion out the cans. They also seized bedclothes and whatever else came to hand. But Captain Noblett was not so base. He had a streak of sympathy for his neighbors. Mrs. Searcey hurriedly appealed to him, calling him by name. He is said to have answered her civilly. She fearlessly and desperately reminded him of the outrageous conduct of his men, some of whom were already galloping away into the distance with blankets and miscellaneous articles dangling and flying from their saddle horns. 'Would you starve and freeze me and theses helpless children?' she demanded of Noblett, who can be said to have had some discipline over his command. He sternly ordered his men to lay down what they had taken, and all in his hearing are said to have obeyed.

Sources

• Book, "Thirty Ye Olde Tyme Families", by D.C. Stewart, library Ellijay, Ga., genealogy room.
• Book "The Annals Of Upper Georgia Centered In Gilmer County", by Ward.
• 1840 United States Federal Census Year: 1840; Census Place: Walkers, Lumpkin, Georgia; Roll: 45; Page: 274; Family History Library Film: 0007045
• 1850 United States Federal Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Subdivision 33, Gilmer, Georgia; Roll: M432_70; Page: 376A; Image: 282
• 1856 marriage record Gilmer Co. Ga. “Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXJK-ZBZ : 4 November 2017), Overton L. Sercy and Nancy Wadkins, 29 Jun 1856; citing Marriage, Gilmer, Georgia, United States, county courthouses, Georgia; FHL microfilm 219,505.
• 1860 United States Federal Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Subdivision 33, Gilmer, Georgia; Roll: M653_124; Page: 25; Family History Library Film: 803124
• 1870 United States Federal Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Subdivision 55, Gilmer, Georgia; Roll: M593_152; Page: 51B
• 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Cherry Log, Gilmer, Georgia; Roll: 148; Page: 605A; Enumeration District: 108
• 1900 United States Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: Cherry Log, Gilmer, Georgia; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0039; FHL microfilm: 1240200
• 1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Cherry Log, Gilmer, Georgia; Roll: T624_182; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0047; FHL microfilm: 1374195
• 1920 United States Federal Census Year: 1920; Census Place: Cherry Log, Gilmer, Georgia; Roll: T625_258; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 60
• 1928 Gilmer Co. Ga. death certificate Nancy Searcy.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40521265/nancy-searcy
• "Georgia Deaths, 1928-1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJHY-GKQ : 11 March 2018), Abner Watkins in entry for Searcy, Nancy, 22 Jul 1928; citing Cherry Ivy, Gilmer, Georgia, United States, Georgia State Archives, Morrow.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Julie Lane for creating WikiTree profile Watkins-2026 through the import of Lane Family Tree (1).ged on Aug 13, 2013.

Thanks to Dennis Stewart for adopting this profile on 12 Sep 2019.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Julie and others.