Thomas Garrison (1810 - 1879)

Born 20 Mar 1810 in Cumberland County, New Jersey

Husband of Margaret (Maul) Garrison — married 21 Mar 1832 in Bridgeton, New Jersey

Husband of Elizabeth (Buie) Garrison — married 6 Dec 1859 in Port Gibson, Mississippi

Descendants

Died 8 Jul 1879 at age 69 in Copiah, Mississippi

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Biography

Thomas was the son of Thomas Garrison and Demaris Nichols and grew up in Cumberland County, New Jersey. ^[1]

Soon after his marriage to Mary Margaret Maul 21 March 1832,^[2][3] the couple moved away from home, first stopping in Pennsylvania, where their eldest child was born, and later to Turtle Creek Township, Warren Co., Ohio, where Thomas owned and operated a carriage making business.

Thomas and Margaret had eight children, four of whom died in infancy or as young children.^[4]

In 1852, Thomas and Margaret moved their family to Port Gibson, Mississippi, where Thomas established another carriage business. His wife, Margaret, died soon after that, in 1856, and Thomas married a widow, Elizabeth Buie, for his second wife.^[5]

By 1860, Thomas was a wealthy merchant, with real estate valued at $4,000 and personal property valued at $7,000 (a total of $260,000 in today's dollars.) Part of this wealth came from seven slaves that Thomas owned: two adult women and five children. Of the slaves, one of the women and two of the children were mulatto. Thomas had two slaves houses for them.^[6]

In 1861, Thomas purchased a cotton plantation named "Ottawa." His son, Edwin, recalled in his journal: "From 1861 to 1869, my father was a planter, working Negroes, raising cotton, rice, corn in Copiah Co., near Linden, Mississippi. Mr. Ainsworth was father's overseer. We had about 80 Negroes, 25 full hands with boys and girls who worked from 10 to 15 years."

After the end of the Civil War, Thomas could no longer sustain the plantation and, In 1869, he sold out his farm and moved to Crystal Springs where he established another carriage business. His son, Edwin, joined him. The business was called Garrison Walls & Company. In the 1870 census, Thomas was a carriage maker, with real estate valued at $4,000 and personal property of $400. Two of his grandchildren were living with him, as well as a blacksmith and his wife.^[7]

Nine years later, death came to Thomas. He died at his home in Copiah, Mississippi at the age of 69.^[8][9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ Garrison Family Bible Records.
2. ↑ "Married: on the 21 inst. by the Rev. J. C. Harrison, Mr. Thomas Garrison to Miss Margaret M. Maul, both of this place." West Jersey Observer, Saturday, March 24, 1832, page 3.
3. ↑ Garrison Family Bible Records.
4. ↑ Garrison Family Bible Records.
5. ↑ Garrison Family Bible Records.
6. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census. Year: 1860; Census Place: Port Gibson, Claiborne, Mississippi; Roll: ; Page: 490; Image: 6.
7. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Census. Year: 1870; Census Place: , , ; Roll: M593 .
8. ↑ Find a Grave Memorial for Thomas Garrison.
9. ↑ U.S. Federal Mortality Schedules Index; Thomas Garrison; death July 1879; Copiah, MS; age 72; state of birth: NJ; occupation: painter; cause of death: kidney disease; ID 197-115830.
10. ↑ Garrison Family Bible Records.

• Garrison Family Bible Records.
• U.S. Federal Censuses for 1840, 1850, 1860 and 1870.
• New Jersey Marriages, 1684-1895. Thomas Garrison and Margaret Maul, 21 March 1832 Cumberland, NJ.
• Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935.
• Biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, New Jersey. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Co., 1896, page 71.