Obediah (Slayden) Slayton Sr. (abt. 1774 - bef. 1872)

Born about 1774 in Virginia, British Colonial America

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 5 Jun 1872 before about age 98 in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

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Biography

This profile is part of the Slaton Name Study.

Obadah Slayden is mentioned as a son in the will of Joseph Slayden as is his presumed mother Milley (Everett) Slayden.

Given name: Records in Virginia record as Obadiah Slayden, ^[1] but Georgia and Alabama show Slaton and Slayton for the same man as Obediah. Few records spell as Obadiah, but some are unclear. Obadiah Slayton posted surety for the 1800 marriage of his sister Rachel Slayden to her cousin Thomas Slayden ^[2]

It is not yet found when and where he married Rebecca Darden, but at least ten children can be surmised: Sarah, Martha, James D, William M, Elizabeth, John , Mary, Agnes, Obediah (Jr.), and Rebecca Slayton. Census indicates all born in Georgia between 1806 and 1825 except Rebecca, probably born in Alabama.

Land and tax records indicate a migration for this distinctively named man from Halifax County, Virginia in 1800, to Wilkes County, Georgia by 1804, and to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where he received a Land Warrant in 1828 for unspecified military service, presumably in the War of 1812. Notes below show that in 1828, they were "dismissed" from a Baptist congregation in Georgia, not punative but leaving the church in good standing, and that Wilkes land was sold in 1830 and Tuscaloosa land bought in 1831.

In Wilkes, land records indicate that he lived near Arthur Slayden and his family. This Arthur is "traditionally" assigned as Obediah's uncle, but the alignment of Obediah's father Joseph as the proven son of Arthur Slayden Sr is still a matter of conjecture.

An 1840 census is still sought, as is any military service record.

He died before June 1872 (his will and probate are being sought in mss). His burial place is unknown, but a memorial shows on findagrave.com after a descendant pointed out an unmarked burial in a cemetery used by the Darden and Strozier families before it became enclosed by Bowers Park. ^[3]

Research Notes

Census:
1830 Census for Obediah Slaiten in Tuscaloosa, Alabama shows household code of m11110001:f2111101.^[4]

In 1850, he and family are again recorded in Tuscaloosa. ^[5]

Both he and his son are enumerated in the 1855 state census for Alabama, Sr with 4m-21, 2m+21 2f+21, 8 whites 9 slaves, ^[6] Obediah Jr's record is above Sr, with 1m+21, 1f+21, 2 whites, 3 slaves.

In 1860 census, he is recorded as an "insane" retired farmer. ^[7]

The continuance of given name in a grandson is suggested in 1870. ^[8]

Research Notes from gedcom of Clinton Slayton

These notes were once publicly available on RootsWeb WorldConnect.

Obediah appears to have relocated from Virginia to Georgia, married Rebecca Darden, and resettled in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Darden researchers agree that Obediah almost certainly married Rebecca Strozier Darden in Wilkes co GA, but no proof yet. Local descendant/researchers state that the couple are buried (he unmarked) in the Darden-Strozier cemetery within the confines of Bower Park, but a 2011 tornado might have altered or eradicated some locations.

Note that Obediah might have travelled with the family of uncle Arthur Slayden (Jr.).

An Obediah Stayton in 1801 Washington County, Kentucky can lead to confusion, not the same man.

Fairly clear path from VA to GA to AL: Slaten Obediah 1800 TAX Halifax TaxList VA 1-1

Slayton Obediah TAX Wilkes 1804 M025 Irwin GA no notation

Slayton Obediah TAX Wilkes 1805 M097 Irwin GA 60a Kettle Cr

1806 GA Land Lottery, Wilkes co GA Slaton, Rosamond wid. 1 [widow of Arthur Jr. Slaton, Joseph D. 2 [son of Arthur Jr. Slaton, Elisha 2 [son of Arthur Jr. Slaton, Obediah 2 [this entry, son of Joseph

Slayton Obediah TAX Wilkes 1815 Tax 066 GA ^[9]

Slaton Obediah 1822, sells land in GA to Thos Green.^[10]

Wilkes County Georgia Inferior Court: Juror #3 for an October 1825 "trial of Poisoning" is Obediah Slaton, and #20 is Jacob Lunsford, probably the man who married Willoughby Slayton's daughter Elizabeth. ^[11]

In Wilkes co GA Obediah lived near Arthur Jr. & descendants. The use of the names James, John, William and Alexander, throughout generations, causes much confusion, and Obediah Jr has little existence in records.

Tuscaloosa records are not exemplary: this was a real frontier in AL in the 1830's, as the Chickasaw and Creek were not happy to have this area settled. It appears that the Darden and Simpson family groups made this trip as well but the only impetus would be easy land acquisition. One notation suggests that Obediah was called "Osie," suggesting C or S as a middle initial.

Note: Kennedale, AL is extinct, now known as Cottondale.

Much of the previous research submitted to DAR and other sources does not bear up under scrutiny. Many obituaries for these descendants are posted in Birmingham Alabama papers. The loss of 1890 census is strongly felt for this group. The names Waller and Durrett appear in these records, Durrett clearly linking them to Joseph Slayden and Waller probably to a "traditional" marriage reported for a Daniel, son of Arthur Slayden surmised from records in Pittsylvania co VA (see Joseph's will). An uncited note from Mrs. June Reese in DAR records names an Obediah daughter as Agnes Waller Durrett, whose marriage to Greenwood Durrett is cited in the will below.

These records were synthesized from census, misc records, and Darden family group sheets

From "Old Tuskaloosa Land Office Records & Military Warrents" Tuscaloosa Land Office Register of Receipts 1821-1835: "Jan 12, 1828 Obediah Slaten, Georgia" Sect: 13, Tws20, Range 11W COMMENT: This means he was still living in the state of GA in 1828 when he received the Warrant for land due to military service.

Slaton Obediah and unnamed wife Oglethorpe Ga Archives - County Line Baptist Church 1828-10-04 letter of dismissal

Slayton Obediah 1830 LAND Wilkes BkLLLp221 GA to Samuel Darden

Slayton Obediah 1831 LAND Tuscaloosa, buys land from George & Elizabeth (Strozier) Darden, parents of Rebecca Darden. Book H p 213 160 acres, $500

1840 census record not yet found, presumably in Tuscaloosa.

George Darden Will, Aug 8, 1843, probated June 8, 1844 - I bequeath to Rebecca Slaton $500
Aug 7, 1844 $500 to Obediah Slayton for the portion of money left by George Darden to Rebecca Slayton.

Special census, 1868 Tuscaloosa Beat Roll, Beat 19 ^{[citation needed]}

Will of Obediah

Slaton Obediah deceased WILL Book ? Tuscaloosa AL 1872-06-05 names no wife. The book is not online at FamilySearch at time of writing.

Tuscaloosa Times, Nov 6, 1872, Wednesday, page 3, col 5 - Probate Court - Wm Slayton, Adminr of the Estate of Obadiah Slayton, dec'd ... has filed a petition for an order to sell the lands of said Estate, with Dec 11th elected to hear the petition. Notify Sarah Hasty, Mary Blocker wife of W G Blocker, Agnes Durrett, wife of Greenwood Durrett, and James D Slayton, non-resident heirs.

The William who administered his estate was probably a son, William M. Slayton, but this is conjecture.

Clues about both Obediah and William are as follows:

William married an Elizabeth, according to numerous land transactions. In 1874, he sold land as "administrator of the estate of Obadiah Slayton decd." The indefatigable Mss Gandruf and Jones have reported the will recorded by June 6,1872, as below. Therefore a logical conjecture that this is a son. It is clear that this family has ties to the Wallers, Durretts, and Simpsons, but the Darden connection is cited most frequently in genealogical works. It is also clear that these were major landholders in Tuscaloosa, and William and Abe (probably a misreading of Obediah) were listed as slave owners in 1860, with seven and five slaves respectively. Various wills from the 1950's to 1974 indicate that the family has moved away; Clinton Slayton was unable to contact any descendants, but is sure there are some still in Tuscaloosa. He did talk to Darden descendants there.

Obediah's "insanity" when he was at 90 years may reflect senile dementia and not clinical insanity. There was eventually a Boyce Hospital for the Insane built in Tuscaloosa, whose inmates appear in 1920 census, long after Obediah's death. The term was much more loosely applied in those days.

The old Darden cemetery, which stands in what is now Bowers Park, shows graves beside George Darden and Elizabeth Strozier which are unmarked. One of them may be Rebecca's or Obadiah's.

Land records

Slayton Obediah 1837 LAND Tuscaloosa 1685 nesw 6E 24N 2 AL St Steph Tuscaloosa 1837-11-07 39.89 acres St Stephens Meridian is from the southwest. Nearby: Hewit, Jemison, Blocker

Slayton Obediah 1834 LAND Tuscaloosa 9327 nwne 9W 22S 1 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1834-10-21 40.03 acres Nearby: Burch Darden, George Darden, Samuel Darden

Slayton Obediah 1837 LAND Tuscaloosa 1676 nenw 9W 22S 11 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1837-11-07 40.125 acres Nearby: Emerson, Darden

Slayton William 1839 LAND Tuscaloosa 22399 sese 9W 22S 26 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1839-09-02 40.145 acres Nearby: Jennings, Darden, Blocker, Hewitt

Slayton William 1839 LAND Tuscaloosa 224 nwse 9W 22S 26 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1839-09-02 40.145 acres

Slaten Obediah 1828 LAND Tuscaloosa 6185 11W 20S 13 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1828-02-20 79.55 acres Nearby: Patrick, Burns

Slaten Obediah 1828 LAND Tuscaloosa 6186 11W 20S 14 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1828-02-20 79.91 acres Nearby: Watkins, Turner

Slaton William 1852 LAND Tuscaloosa 26377 swne 9W 22S 13 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1852-01-01 39.83 acres Nearby: Darden, Durrett

Slayton William 1858 LAND Tuscaloosa 3486 swnw 8W 22S 19 AL Hunt Meri Tuscaloosa 1858-06-01 40.315 acres Nearby: Jennings, Blocker, Darden

Research Needs

1840 census, military service record

Sources

1. ↑ Pittsylvania County Virginia Deed and Will Book 11, page 517.
2. ↑ Knorr, Marriage Bonds and Minister's Returns of Pittsylvania County VA, 1767-1805 (1956) 80, original page 30.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 16 June 2021), memorial page for Obediah Slayton (1774–5 Jun 1872), Find A Grave: Memorial #83047084, citing Darden Cemetery, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, USA; maintained by Clinton Slayton (contributor 46632769).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHP9-PFV : 24 August 2017), Obediah Slaiton, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States; citing 342, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 3; FHL microfilm 2,330. Household code is m11110001:f2111101.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH5H-DBK : 29 August 2020), Obediah Slaton, Tuscaloosa county, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States; citing family 67, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Note: Rebecca Simpson (aged 16) is in the household), either a household servant or married daughter, unclear.
6. ↑ Alabama State Census, 1855," database, FamilySearch citing "Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States records, Dec 2, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GTP-9TYC?view=explore : Oct 6, 2023), image 36 of 48; Alabama. Department of Archives and History., Obadiah Slayton, Sr., Tuscaloosa, Alabama; citing p. 58, Department of Archives and History, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,492,023.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDJ-NJC : 18 March 2020), Obediah Slaten, Jolly Jones, Beat 14, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Note: SC birthplace may by correct, but probably VA is correct. Retired farmer (insane).
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH23-QKM : 29 August 2020), Obediah Slaton in entry for John Slaton, Election Precinct 11 Brookwood, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
9. ↑ Georgia Tax Digests, Georgia State Archives, Morrow, Georgia
10. ↑ Wilkes County Georgia Deed? BooK GGG(?) p. 33. This is how my copy is marked
11. ↑ "Wilkes, Georgia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-W92L-G : December 17, 2021), image 414 of 462; Georgia. Inferior Court (Wilkes County).

• NOTES from GEDCOM of Clinton Slayton

• Slaton Arthur Jackson. Slaton Family Ab Antiquitas: With Brief Notes on Some Allied Families (Whittier, CA: Slaton, 1974), 79. Earlier editions under varying titles.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Fran Mason for creating WikiTree profile Slayden-22 through the import of Mason Family Tree.ged on Oct 28, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Fran and others. Also, to Butch Darden of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for providing family stories about the location of graves.