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Sophia Lucy Ann (Gilmer) Bibb (1801 - 1887)

Sophia Lucy Ann Bibb formerly Gilmer
Born in Broad River, Oglethorpe, Georgiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 19 Jan 1819 in South Carolina, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 85 in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 15 Feb 2015
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Biography

Sophia Lucy Ann Gilmer was born on March 11, 1801, in Broad River, Oglethorpe, Georgia. She was the daughter of Thomas Meriwether Gilmer and Elizabeth Lewis.

Her father died in 1817, and in his will, Sophia was given "two tracts of land I lately purchased from James Nash and Briton Caple, lying in the County of Oglethorpe..." She also received four slaves, and stock and other articles for housekeeping. Upon the eventual death of his mother (which occurred in 1855), she would also receive her share with her siblings of the estate not already allocated. [1]

At the age of 17, Sophia married Benajah Smith Bibb on January 19, 1819, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, when he was 22.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] They had five children - William Joseph, George Rockingham, Louisa Sophia, Sarah Elizabeth, and Martha Dandridge.

Around 1822, Benajah and Sophia moved to Alabama.[9] In 1840, they lived with children and 88 slaves (46M, 42F) on a plantation in Montgomery County, Alabama.[10] In 1850, the couple and children and Sophia's mother lived in Montgomery County, Alabama, along with 101 slaves.[11][12][13] Their property consisted of 800 improved and 1000 unimproved acres, primarily producing livestock, corn and oats.[14]

Her mother died in 1855, and left the bulk of her estate to be divided among her nine surviving children, which included Sophia.[15]

Much material about the Gilmer family comes from a book written by Sophia's brother, George R. Gilmer.[16] Describing his sister, he said:

"Lucy Ann Sophia, the second daughter, is a most notable housekeeper, a very loving wife, fond mother, and efficient member of society. Her husband, B. S. Bibb, of Montgomery, Alabama, the present senator of that county, is a gentleman of wealth and great respectability. They have five children. One of their daughters married a descendant of the Indian Princess, Pocahontas."

In 1860, the couple and their daughter, daughter-in-law and grandsons lived in Montgomery County, Alabama, on a farm with 125 slaves.[17][18][19] Benajah's real property was valued at $100,000 (comparable to $3,664,180.72 in 2023), and his personal property at $150,000 ($5,496,271.08 in 2023). The improved acreage had grown to 1200 acres, with 600 unimproved, still primarily producing livestock, corn and oats.[20]

In 1870 and 1880, the couple and daughters and grandchildren lived in Montgomery County, Alabama.[21][22][23] The value of their property in 1870 was much reduced, to $45,000 real and $10,000 personal property. In 1880, their farm was listed at only 25 acres in size.[24]

Benajah died in February 1884. His will was written in July 1867 and proven in March 1884. In it, he left everything to Sophia, and acknowledged "It is a subject of sorrow to my heart that the casualties of the late war have deprived me of the means and pleasure of providing for my children."[25] Sophia was named executrix.[26]

Sophia died on January 9, 1887, in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, at the age of 85.[27] She was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama.[28]

More than a half century later, an article by a local judge described her legacy:[29]

"Sophia Bibb will always be remembered in Montgomery, because of her love and devotion for the cause of the Southern Confederacy and for all Confederate soldiers. During the war, she nursed hundreds of them with her own hands. She organized a hospital association and for 4 years was a skilled leader and manager. In 1866, she organized a society for the burial of dead Confederate soldiers, and this society, a short time afterwards, became one of Montgomery's most honored and useful organizations, The Ladies' Memorial Association. Mrs. Bibb was unanimously elected president of the Ladies' Memorial Association, and served for 21 years and until her death in 1887."
"She took the leading part in securing the simple headstones which mark the graves of more than 800 unknown Confederate dead, who sleep on the hillside at Oakwood Cemetery. Nearby, the association, under her leadership, built a small monument in memory of her dead, and also a little chapel. The latter has long since crumbled into decay, and no trace, remains of it. Mrs. Bibb's greatest undertaking was the erection of the handsome monument now standing on Capitol Hill to the Confederate dead. When the subscription list was opened for the building of the monument, she was the first subscriber, giving $100--a lot of money back in those days. It is related that when Jefferson Davis, the great leader and President of the Southern Confederacy came to Montgomery to lay the cornerstone of the monument, that Mrs. Bibb was sick in bed at her home. When President Davis learned this, he requested that he be driven to her home to see her."

Her will was written in September 1877 and proved in February 1887. She left everything to her husband Benajah if he survived her (he did not), so instead her house and its contents went to her unmarried daughter Louisa. She paid sums to several children to finalize their share in a bequest from her brother William Benjamin Strother Gilmer, and specified that her remaining estate should be divided among her four surviving children and the heirs of her deceased son George. Her daughter Louisa and son William were named executors.[30]

Sources

  1. Ancestry.com. Georgia, Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992 [database on-line]. Oglethorpe County. Registers Office (Georgia); Probate Place: Oglethorpe, Georgia. Link
  2. Hunting For Bears, comp.. Georgia Marriages, 1699-1944 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Ancestry Record 7839 #71714
  3. Ancestry.com. Georgia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1754-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997. Ancestry Record 2085 #141909
  4. Ancestry.com. Georgia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1754-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997. Ancestry Record 2085 #58136
  5. Ancestry.com. Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Link
  6. Ancestry.com. Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Link
  7. Ancestry.com. Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Link
  8. "Georgia Marriages, 1808-1967", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW3J-RY4 : 11 January 2020), Lucy Ann Sophia Gilmer in entry for Benajah S. Bibb, 1819.
  9. Bibb page 65
  10. Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census. Year: 1840; Census Place: Montgomery, Alabama; Roll: 10; Page: 150; Family History Library Film: 0002334. Image
  11. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census. Year: 1850; Home in 1850: Montgomery Ward 1, Montgomery, Alabama; Roll: 12; Page: 123b. Image
  12. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH5Z-BSY : 20 December 2020), Bibb in household of Benaga S Bibb, Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  13. Ancestry.com. 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Image
  14. Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Image
  15. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1817-1932; Author: Alabama. Probate Court (Montgomery County); Probate Place: Montgomery, Alabama. Link
  16. Gilmer, George R. (1855). Sketches of some of the first settlers of upper Georgia, of the Cherokees, and the author. New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1855. Page 19. Link
  17. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census. Year: 1860; Home in 1860: Division 1, Montgomery, Alabama; Roll: M653_19; Page: 221; Family History Library Film: 803019. Image
  18. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDX-64C : 18 February 2021), Sophia L A Bibb in entry for B S Bibb, 1860.
  19. Ancestry.com. 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Image
  20. Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Image
  21. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census. Year: 1870; Census Place: Montgomery Ward 2, Montgomery, Alabama; Roll: M593_35; Page: 447B. Image
  22. Ancestry.com. 1880 United States Federal Census. Year: 1880; Census Place: Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama; Roll: 26; Page: 109A; Enumeration District: 127. Image
  23. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4V7-54B : 19 February 2021), S L A Bibb in household of B S Bibb, Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district ED 127, sheet 109A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,026.
  24. Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Image
  25. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1817-1932; Author: Alabama. Probate Court (Montgomery County); Probate Place: Montgomery, Alabama. Link
  26. Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1817-1932; Author: Alabama. Probate Court (Montgomery County); Probate Place: Montgomery, Alabama. Link
  27. Sophia Gilmer Bibb - Obituary - Atlanta Constitution - Jan 11 1887 - Page 6. Link
  28. Find A Grave: Memorial #8285406
  29. Sophia Gilmer Bibb - Biography - Montgomery Advertiser - Jan 9 1956 - Page 4. Link
  30. Ancestry.com. Alabama, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Estate Case Files, Montgomery County, Alabama, 1840-1915; Author: Alabama. Probate Court (Montgomery County); Probate Place: Montgomery, Alabama. Link
  • Sophia Gilmer Bibb - UDC Memorial - Montgomery Advertiser - Mar 8 1936 - Page 22. Link
  • Sophia Gilmer Bibb - Biography - Selma Times - Mar 13 1907 - Page 16. Link
  • Bibb, Charles William. The Bibb family in America, 1640-1940, Baltimore, Maryland, 1941. On Archive.org
  • DAR-A009851: DAR Website, Ancestor #: A009851 William Bibb Service Source: GWATHMEY, HIST REG OF VA IN REV, P 63; FORCE, AMERICAN ARCH, 4TH SER, VOL 3, P 367; WM & MARY QTRLY, VOL 5, P 247
  • Mrs. Hershel W. Smith, compiler. Marriage Records of Greene County, Georgia (1787 - 1875) and Oglethorpe County, Georgia (1795 - 1852). Historical Collections of the Georgia Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Volume V. 1977. Reprinted 2001. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Page 153.




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Sophia by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Sophia:

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Rejected matches › Lucy Ann Beebe (1801-)

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