Milly (Wilson) Gathright (1779 - 1873)

Born 13 Jan 1779 in Virginia

Wife of William Mosby Gathright — married 3 Oct 1802 in Jackson County, Georgia

Descendants

Died 10 Sep 1873 at age 94 in Jackson County, Georgia

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Biography

Her formal name may have been Amelia (perhaps spelled as Emilia) or Mildred, but no known records give either name for her. There is no evidence of a middle name.

Her immediate birth family (or some of them) may have preferred the surname spelling Willson but Wilson is more common in the records.

Her state of birth is uncertain but she surely lived in South Carolina as a child before coming to Georgia and may have first lived in Virginia and/or North Carolina before doing so.

She can be documented as part of this Willson family thanks to a letter written by her nephew Benjamin Franklin Willson (1824-1887) in 1862 which mentions her by name and place:

"1862 LETTER OF BENJAMIN F. WILLSON ON DEATH OF HIS FATHER'S SECOND WIFE SARAH CAMERON WILLSON

Franklin, Ga. February 2nd 1862 James Lane Matilda Lane

Dear Brother and Sister, Nieces and Nephews.

It has been a long time since I attempted to scribble you or any of you a few lines in the form of a letter thinking as I do in reffer(ence) to the appreciation of it. I am at a loss to know how to address myself to you. The time has been when I felt easy in communicating a few thought to you. Times have changed a great deal and the people more. Why, the little correspondence we did have was dropped, I can't answer you. Can I suppose I have no news from you direct or indirectly without inquiring of my father of(---) you who I suppose sometimes received a letter from you. For several years past it may be that you have understood that I was dead or had gone to Yankeedom. I know not which and have concluded that my family were not worth wr(iting) to or they were not qualified to answer your communication. Well we are very ignorant. I suppose no -------only as we learn it. I am 37 ½ years of age and have never employed man to act as Guardian for us yet. Neither has there been one appointed by the Courts. My children are smart enough to go the spring and brings us a drink of water. I have been employed by some of the backwoods folk a few time as a sort of music man. I always found the way there and back without a pilot. Perhaps I have said enough at this time on that subject. Yet I think that sheet might be filled without a change of subject matter, but I forbear at present.

This leaves us all well although we have had some affection in our family since I have been in Heard County. I myself was afflicted for nearly two years originated from a spell of colic. I lost my voice in singing to a very great extent. It has improved some in the last six months. My old Sugarstick or the old gal as I most generally call her has been mightily afflicted with Newsalgia.. We have six girls and two boys. Our youngest one is a girl named Joana Brown. We call her after the Governor of our State also after Capt. Brown who fought so gallantly at Manassas.

Uncle and Aunt Atchisson are both very feeble. Aunt Linda suffers more pain than any one else that ever I saw to live. She is 67 years of age and certainly without some relieve cannot live many more years. Uncle is now nearly 83 and much afflicted. He has not been out on his plantation but twice or three times in nearly two years. Last Saturday was a week ago his mule ran away with his buggy and hurt the old man very bad. He is improving smartly. He has accumulated some property. He owns 1020 acres of land and 26 Negroes. No children to leave it too.

Still worse intelligence. This however you will get perhaps sooner than this will reach you. Pa lost his dear companion who was buried on Friday the 24th of January. Her illness lasted just seven days. Her funeral was preached at the grave by Mr. Wm. Cunningham, a Presbyterian Minister. She buried at Long Cane and was 68 years 9 months and 18 days old. Pa and Ma lived together 31 years 8 months and 13 days. Pa takes her death very hard indeed. He wishes to be resigned to his death yet can't give it. Seems he prays that his Will might be swallowed up in the will of the Lord. He is in feeble health. He fell off the hind part of the wagon last fall when they were hauling corn and came very nigh killing him and he has been very poorly all the winter. Exposed himself to much any way for he will go as long as he can stand alone. Works a great deal in the blacksmith shop and does a great many other things too. Laborious for him if he new it. He is now about 77 years old and is breaking very fast. Becoming quite childish in his ways. He preaches right smart. He has no pastoral charge. He travels round and preaches to all. I know of but four of that family that is living. Pa, Aunt Milly Gathright, Aunt Linda and Aunt Susan Hales. She is living in Griffin Georgia. Aunt Milly is still living in Jackson County, Ga. In all probability there will not be one of them alive two years hence for the old afflicted and in trouble. All in easy circumstances so far as this world's goods are concern and I think all of them Christians and will be freed from their toils and tribulations after death; and so far as the children of them are concerned they scattered to the four winds of the earth.

Our crops last year in the county were good. Plenty of breadstuff and the War excitement as high as it ought to be. Nearly everybody gone from the county to the army. Some Tories among us. Not many however. I hope you will think enough of this effort to respond to it and will be blest with the pleasure of recording your family generally in good health. Give me all the news you have. I close by subscribing myself your unworthy brother and friend until death.

Yours truly

B. F. Willson

James Lane Matilda S. Lane" ^[1]

Household in 1860; Jackson County, Georgia

^[2][3]

Thanks to the will Posted to the Gathright mailing list on 10 Jan 2008 by Carolyn Gathright.^[4]

Emily died on 10 September 1873 and was buried in Haynie Cemetery, Jefferson, Jackson County, Georgia, United States.^[5]

Research Notes

Sources

1. ↑ Compiled and Written by: Harold R. Coffman November 1996, rev. August 1, 1999
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMK-NCQ : 30 September 2017), William M Gathright, 1860.
3. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Newtown, Jackson, Georgia; Roll: M653_128; Page: 170; Family History Library Film: 803128
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #11316335 (accessed 6 June 2023)
   Milly Gathright (80) in Newtown, Jackson, Georgia. Born in Georgia.
4. ↑ Last Will & Testament, William M. Gathright, 1852 Will Book A, Jackson Co., GA, pp. 422-4
5. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
   Find a Grave. Find a Grave®. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi; URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #205905240
   Ancestry Record 60525 #170358581 (accessed 6 June 2023)
   Emily Mildred Gathright burial (died on 10 Sep 1873) in Haynie Cemetery, Jefferson, Jackson County, Georgia, United States of America.

• 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
  The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Subdivision 45, Jackson, Georgia; Roll: 74; Page: 49a; Line Number: 24
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #18753081 (accessed 6 June 2023)
  Milly Gathright (72) in Subdivision 45, Jackson, Georgia, USA. Born in Georgia.
• 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1870; Census Place: Subdivision 71, Jackson, Georgia; Roll: M593_159; Page: 354B
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #3492596 (accessed 6 June 2023)
  Millie Gathright (92), Keeping House, in Subdivision 71, Jackson, Georgia. Born in North Carolina.