William J. Britt (1838 - 1909)

Born 19 Aug 1838 in Edgecombe, North Carolina, United States

Husband of Mary Margaret Wallace — married 11 Sep 1862 in Darien, McIntosh Co., GA, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 29 Dec 1909 at age 71 in McIntosh, Georgia, United States

Biography

William J. Britt was born about 19 Aug 1838 (1900 Census lists March 1834 as date of birth in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. He died 29 Dec 1908 (aged 70) in Crescent, McIntosh County, Georgia, United States and was buried at Hopkins-Belleville Cemetery in Crescent, McIntosh County, Georgia, United States. ^[1]

William came to McIntosh County, Georgia from Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina in the late 1850's to work as a wheelwright for a Mr. William B. Nelson, who lived in the north end of the county and was in the timber and turpentine business. William, married his daughter, Mary Catherine "Kate" Nelson. She lived less than a year after their marriage and is buried in the cemetery at Jones, Georgia. They had no children.

In 1861, William enlisted in the Confederate Army and was assigned to the Sixty-first Infantry (Wilson's Regiment, Infantry; Seventh [Wilson's] Battalion, Infantry) . ^[2] He was sent to the Armory in Macon, GA, to build wheels for gun carriages. Late in the War he was sent to the front lines, probably in Virginia. He was in the army unit that escorted Jefferson Davis from Richmond, and when hostilities ceased, he walked home from Washington County, GA to McIntosh County, GA bare-footed.

After returning home from the war , he worked as a blacksmith at Crescent, GA and he also set up a general merchandise store. He married Mary Margaret Harris (Wallace) about 1863 and they had 4 children:

1. Jesse Alexander Britt (1864–1939)
2. Martha Britt (1867–Deceased)
3. Willie Britt (1869–Deceased)
4. Margaret Britt (1870–Deceased)

Though he never became wealthy, he was successful in these enterprises and was able to send his son Jesse Alexander to a business school in New York State. I believe it was located in Clinton, NY. He also sent Martha and Priscilla to G.S.C.W. (The Georgia State College for Women), located in Milledgeville, GA.

In 1870 William was living in District 22, McIntosh, Georgia, United States with his four children: Jessie A Britt, age 6; Martha W Britt, age 4; William John Britt, age 3 and Margaret Britt under 1 year. His wife Mary Margaret is not listed and may have passed away shortly have the birth of their daughter Margaret Britt. ^[3]

By 1880 William was married to his third wife, Leonora whom he married about 1874. They were living in District 22, McIntosh, Georgia, United States with William's four children from his previous marriage to Mary Margaret and their three children. ^[4] Known Children of William and Leonora include:

1. Luther Britt (1874–1945)
2. Bennie Britt (1878–Deceased)
3. Minnie Bell Britt (1880–1964)
4. Priscilla F Britt (1885–Deceased)
5. Sydney Britt (1889–Deceased) ^[5]

In 1900 William J. Britt and Leanora were living in Militia District 1480, McIntosh, Georgia He was a farmer and owned his home and farm free and clear. Other's living in his household during the 1900 census include: Priscilla F Britt, daughter, age 15 and Sydney A. Britt, 11 Son. ^[6]

William died 29 Dec 1908 (aged 70) in Crescent, McIntosh County, Georgia, United States and was buried at Hopkins-Belleville Cemetery in Crescent, McIntosh County, Georgia, United States.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185457404/william-john-britt
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 provided by Fold3 © Copyright 2011 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
3. ↑ >"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC3X-45Q : 28 May 2021), Wm John Britt, 1870.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8G6-GYY : 13 January 2022), William J. Britt, District 22, McIntosh, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8G6-GYY : 11 August 2017), William J Britt, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 77, sheet 530A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0156; FHL microfilm 1,254,156.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3JJ-Q9D : 14 February 2022), William J Britt, 1900.

• Family Bible and extensive family records which have been passed down.