Key Facts

Snapshot:	Confederate soldier
Parents:	96William Smith mother uncertain; see below
Born:	circa 1831 Macon County, Georgia
Died:	1 June 1899 Houston County, Georgia
Buried:	may be in an unmarked grave in the Smith family cemetery, Houston County, Georgia Cemetery coordinates: N32.5839 W83.6622

48William Harvey Smith was born circa 1831 in Macon County, Georgia.1 His father is 96William Smith, as proven by a deed dated 30 March 1869, a portion of which is copied below.2 His mother was probably 96William's wife Sarah (who is also named in the deed), but one can't be certain; see the discussion below.

The deed that proves who 48Harvey's father is. Full page.2

Problem: Unresolved Who is 48Harvey's mother? Both the 1850 and 1860 censuses show 48Harvey with the same three relatives: his father 96William Smith; Sarah Smith, who we may presume is 96William's wife; and an older woman named Charity Gamage, whose relationship to the other family members is not immediately clear.3,4 1850: 48Harvey's family in Houston County, Georgia. Full page.3 1860: 48Harvey's family still in Houston County. Full page.4 As you can see, 96William's wife Sarah would've been ~43 years old when 48William was born. Could Sarah be 48William's mother? It's certainly biologically plausible, but her advanced age makes this questionable. It's just as plausible—or perhaps even more plausible—that Sarah could be 96William's second wife, and that he had a first wife, not yet identified, who was actually 48William's mother. Sadly, I have been unable to find evidence to prove when 48William married Sarah. Without such a record, it seems imprudent to conclude that Sarah is 48William's mother. But what about Charity Gammage, the elderly woman? Perhaps records about her about her might prove that Sarah is her daughter, and that 48William is her grandson? Sadly, however, I could find no Houston County probate records for her, nor mentions of her in Houston County newspapers. She did apply for a Revolutionary War pension, but her application contains no details about her children. The application does reveal that her husband was William Gammage (d. 1809 or 1810 in Wilkes County, Georgia) and suggests that her maiden name was Saxon, and that she had some connection to Wiley Saxon (probably a brother).5 Unable to prove 96William's maternal line by conventional, paper-trail genealogy, I next turned to DNA evidence. An autosomal DNA sample from the brother of my maternal grandfather on FamilyTreeDNA.com matches with several alleged descendants of William and Charity Gammage, e.g. William Ray Clark. The match between William Ray Clark and my maternal grandfather's brother, as it appears on FamilyTreeDNA Below is a copy of Mr. Clark's alleged lineage as shown on FamilyTreeDNA.com. One would hope to prove Mr. Clark's descent from William and Charity Gammage, and thereby (in consideration of the shared DNA) prove 48William descent, too. Sadly, however, I have been unable to prove Mr. Clark's descent. Although others generations are fairly easy to prove, as explained below I find little persuasive evidence that "Rachel P. Gammage" (who married Jacob Neese) is in fact the daughter of Alsey Gammage, as alleged; indeed, I actually found one piece of contradictory evidence. In Sumter County, Georgia in November 1879, T. W. Griffin (whose relationship is unknown to me) was appointed administrator of the estate of Alsay Griffin, who died there intestate. The record provides no other details about Alsey or his children.6 A November 1843 newspaper briefly mentioned Alsay's property: Alsay Gammage's property mentioned in a November 1843 newspaper. Full page.7 These two records (the administration letter and newspaper) are the only two records I've found that mention Alsay later in life. Neither seems particularly helpful for proving that he had a daughter Rachel, who married Jacob Neese. In Sumter County, Georgia (i.e., where Alsey Gammage died, as noted above) on 7 June 1855, Jacob Neese married Rachel Jones (not Gammage).8 The name Jones is entirely unexpected here and seems to contradict Mr. Clark's alleged lineage, and seems peculiar when considered alongside the 1860 census entry described below. I have yet to find a plausible explanation. 7 June 1855, Sumter County, Georgia: Jacob Neese marries Rachel Jones. Full page.8 By 1860 Jacob Neese and Rachel had relocated to Covington County, Alabama, where they were living with "Morning Gammage," apparently one and the same as the "Mourning LAW, b. 1799, Franklin Co, VA - d. 1872, Heath, Covington Co, AL" noted in Mr. Clark's tree, illustrated above. Although Covington County, Alabama and Sumter County, Georgia are quite distant from each other, this seems to be the only couple in the entire United States in 1860 whose head of household was named Jacob Neese and wife named Rachel. 1860: Jacob Neese, Rachel Neese, and Morning Gamage in Covington County, Alabama. Full page.9 Why did Jacob Neese and Rachel have Morning living with them, if Rachel is truly a Jones? Conversely, if Rachel were truly a Gammage, why does the marriage record show Jones? Frustrated by these questions, I was therefore encouraged to see that the DAR had accepted a membership application (for member #776607) that claims descent from Alsay via Rachel. You can see a summary of the alleged lineage here. Rachel's entry on the application's lineage summary is as follows: In support of the claims made above, the application cites the following evidence: Let's review each of these citations individually (Note that "790815" is simply William Gamage's DAR ancestor number, not a citation): (1) Elizabeth A. Jenkins' book Thomas, William and Solomon Gammage and Their Descendants — This book seldom provides evidence to support its claims. The DAR application's reviewer explicitly admits as much later in the same application: In any case, the most pertinent text from the book is on pages 6-7; the relevant portion is copied below. As you can see, Rachel's parentage is effectively asserted with hardly a passing rationale or evidence. (2) The 1860 census is not persuasive, largely due to the unexpected marriage record, as I explained above. (3) "Estate record of Alsey Gammage names his heirs - no date, but appears to be after death of Morning Gammage" — I don't know what source this refers to, and no better citation is provided elsewhere within the application nor in its supporting documentation. The supporting documentation packet does include the following, barely legible document, for which no source citation is provided. Perhaps this is the "estate record" in question? Although the record is barely intelligible, I don't even see Rachel's name anywhere on it. How could this prove Rachel's descent from Alsay? (4) "Sumter Co Ordinary, Letters of Admin [...]" — As I noted previously, this record doesn't mention Alsay's heirs at all. Feel free to see the record for yourself. As you can see, this DAR application fails to prove Rachel's descent from Alsay. Without such proof, the abovementioned DNA match is largely moot. The identity of 48William's mother remains questionable.

The 1850 and 1860 censuses both show 48Harvey with his parents and (possible maternal grandmother) Charity Gamage in Houston County, Georgia.3,4

1850: 48Harvey's family in Houston County, Georgia. Full page.3

1860: 48Harvey's family still in Houston County. Full page.4

48Harvey married 49Elizabeth Jane Ammons on 8 May 1861 in Houston County.10 Although the marriage record shows her maiden name as "Hammond," other records—including one made while 49Elizabeth was still alive11—clarify that her maiden name was actually Ammons.

48Harvey's and 49Elizabeth's marriage certificate. Full page.10

The American Civil War began the same year they got married. 48Harvey seems to have joined the war effort, although there are some problems/discrepancies with his service records. 49Elizabeth later swore that her husband had enlisted "in the latter part of 1861 in Capt. Jno. H. Power's Co" 1 (i.e., in Captain Powers' Company E, 7th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Georgia State Troops), although a muster roll dated 31 January 1862 (the earliest extant muster roll) doesn't list 48Harvey as a member of the company.12 In any case, after enlisting he reportedly "remaind 3 months on Skidaway Island." 1 Confederate earthworks built during the war are still visible on Skidaway Island today:

Confederate earthworks on Skidaway Island.13 48Harvey likely helped build mounds like these.

49Elizabeth also swore that 48Harvey later transferred to "Co. 'A' Ga Malitia Col. Clarks Regt," 1 and her testimony was corroborated by John Donaldson (who was apparently a family friend), who claimed to have joined and served with 48Harvey in the same unit.11 Although I did find a matching service record for Donaldson (in Compay A, 1st Light Duty Men, Georgia),14 I have found no such record for 48Harvey.

His pension application files later indicate that he was a member of "Company C of the 1st Regiment of State Troops Volunteers," and (unlike the other claims) this is corroborated by an independent service record—but it shows that 48Harvey apparently had deserted, since he was noted as being absent without leave for November and December 1864.15 According to 49Elizabeth, he was present until two months before the surrender, at which time he had been sent home on sick furlough.1

After the war, in 1867 the U.S. Congress passed several Reconstruction Acts. These Acts divided the former Confederacy into several military occupation zones, which were ruled by Union military commanders. The Acts also directed the commanding officers to register Southerners who wanted to vote in upcoming elections. One registration requirement was to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States; the obvious intent was to disfranchise any lingering Confederate resistance. The original copy of 48Harvey's signed oath is lost, but he undoubtably signed since he shows up on a subsequent list of Houston County registered voters.16

96William's name on a Reconstruction-era list of registered voters for Houston County, Georgia—proof that he had sworn allegiance to the United States.16

On 30 March 1869, 48Harvey received two properties from his father, who apparently died not long thereafter. See his father's profile for more information about the deeds and the property, since that information won't be repeated here.

The 1870 census shows 48Harvey back with his family in Houston County, Georgia. Sarah (either his mother or step-mother, as explained previously) was living with him.17

1870: 48Harvey's family in Houston County, Georgia. Full page: 1, 2.17

The 1880 census is much the same, and the family still lived in Houston County.18 You may also be interested in 48Harvey's 1880 farm schedule listing19 (along with the corresponding template and my partial transcription).

1880: 48Harvey's family in militia district 527 (map), Houston County, Georgia. Full page.18

An 1890 Houston County tax digest is the last record I've found pertaining to 48Harvey that was created while he was still alive.20 Judging by the dollar amounts listed, the family was not doing too well financially.

48Harvey in an 1890 tax digest.20

48Harvey died on 1 June 1899 in Houston County.1 The property he inherited from his father in 1869 includes a small Smith family cemetery. Although there is no extant tombstone for 48Harvey himself, he may be buried there. The cemetery is at coordinates N32.5839 W83.6622.

Sources Cited:

1: Georgia Archives RG 48-1-1, Confederate pension application for Elizabeth Jane Smith of Houston County; image 2 ("Questions for Applicant," dated 5 March 1901). Georgia Archives Virtual Vault, <https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/TestApps/id/360591>, accessed 4 April 2020. Hereafter cited as "Pension application."

2: Houston County, Georgia. Deed book N (1868-1874), pages 180-181, two land deeds from William Smith to William H. Smith, both dated 30 March 1869. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-B9QS-4?i=132&cat=207572>, accessed April 2020.

3: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). 5th district[?], Houston County, Georgia. Page 646, dwelling 601, family 601, William Smith household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 74. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6DM9-SWD?i=73&cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZYR-7LG>.

4: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Fifth district, Houston County, Georgia. Page 1053, dwelling 731, family 1 [sic], Wm Smith household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 127. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBB-STJQ?i=6&cc=1473181&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZMD-TH9>.

5: NARA microfilm publication M804, folders for Jacob Gabbard - John Geery, application #R3883 for William Gammage/Gamage by Charity. I used a transcription by Will Graves.

6: Sumter County, Georgia. Letters of administration 5, page 33. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L935-BD8B?i=331&cc=1999178&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A68YJ-MQBM>.

7: Georgia Messenger (Fort Hawkins, Georgia), 30 November 1843, page 3, column 3, near the top of the page. Georgia Historic Newspapers, <https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn82014212/1843-11-30/ed-1/seq-3/>.

8: Sumter County, Georgia. Marriages book 3 (1850-1857), page 147. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BZJ-XLC?cc=1927197>.

9: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Covington County, Alabama. Page 63 or 417, dwelling 419, family 419, Jacob Neese household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 7. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBX-888?i=62&cc=1473181>.

10: Houston County, Georgia. Marriage book B (1852-1864), page 200, marriage of W. H. Smith and E. J. Hammons, dated 8 May 1861. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS7R-49V5-S?i=225&cat=2739190>.

11: Pension application, op. cit., image 3 ("Questions for Witnesses," dated 22 March 1901).

12: Muster roll for Captain John H. Powers' Company E, 7th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Georgia State troops, dated 31 January 1862. Virtual Vault, <https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/cmr/id/1981>, accessed 4 April 2020.

13: Blogger user Rhonda, "Earthworks" (Online image, photographed circa November 2013), "A Touch of the South," No Bad Days RVing, accessed 4 April 2020.

14: Compiled Confederate service record of Private John Donaldson of Company A, 1st Light Duty Men, Georgia. NARA microfilm publication M266, roll 125. National Archives Catalog, <https://catalog.archives.gov/id/163197402>, accessed 4 April 2020.

15: Compiled Confederate service record of Private W. Smith of Company C, 1st Regiment Troops and Defences, Macon, Georgia. NARA microfilm publication M266, roll 151. Fold3, <https://www.fold3.com/image/31248996>, accessed circa 9 April 2020. You can download a copy of the service record here.

16: Georgia's 1867-1868 Returns of Qualified Voters. Volume 78 (Houston County Book 2), page 8, entry 84, Wm Smith. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869" / Return of Qualified Voters / Houston / 23 / image 6 of 129), accessed 17 October 2021. Although I copied the image from Ancestry.com, the corresponding microfilm at the Georgia Archives is microfilm 297/20. You can see the relevant portion of the page here.

17: 1870 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Subdivision 167, Houston County, Georgia. Pages 47-48, dwelling 379, family 381, W. Harvey Smith household. NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 158. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-68R9-3Z2?i=46&cc=1438024&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMC3C-DFY>.

18: 1880 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 527, Houston County, Georgia. Supervisor's district 5, enumeration district not stated, page 309A, dwelling 235, family 235, Harvey Smith household. NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 152. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBH-64M?i=24&cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM8G4-DQ3>.

19: 1880 U.S. Federal Census (Agriculture Schedule). Kemp's 10th district, Houston County, Georgia. Supervisor's district 5, enumeration district 26, page 8, entry 2, W H Smith farm. NARA microfilm publication T1137, roll 15. The NARA provides a helpful template.

20: Houston County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1890, militia district 527 (= 10th district), pages 7 and 8, entry for W. H. Smith. Ancestry.com ("Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892" / Houston / 1890 / images 47 and 48 of 258), accessed 17 October 2021.