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Dear Myrtle,
Thanks for your email message, yes I would be happy to help! From what I have been able to prove and deduce, I believe that John and Isabella had seven children. They were:
1. George Bruton. George is first mentioned in records in South Carolina. It has not been definitely proven that he is in fact a child of John and Isabella. He was born between 1755 and 1760. He was married before 1780 with Elizabeth, although her maiden name is not certain. One possibility is Cannon, as in 1812 when George sold property to his son, George Jr., Elizabeth had to release her dower rights to the property in question. According to the warranty deed at the time, George received the property from Daniel Cannon, which would suggest that Daniel was Elizabeth's father.
George appears in a number of Barnwell District records. In a deed dated April 23, 1803, George bought 250 acres in Barnwell District from Garland Hardwick of Green County, Georgia. This property, originally granted to George Ford, was on the South Prong of the Edisto River. On June 10, 1806, George Sr. sold property to his children Aquilla, Benjamin, and George, as well as to his son-in-law Ferdinand Muller. He transferred additional property to Ferdinand on January 19, 1808, to be held in trust for Ferdinand's two children. George appears again on February 3, 1813, when he sold 167 acres to Isaac Atteberry. The property, originally part of a tract of land containing 267 acres granted to Hugh Pellum and George Poland, was on the waters of the Little Saltcatcher and Lemods Swamp. The 167 acres was bounded by that of George Poland and William Presley. The transaction was witnessed by Slocum Church and Ruben Kittrell.
George last appears in records on December 29, 1817, when he sold an additional 100 acres to his son Benjamin. Two years later Elizabeth appears in a record with James D. Erwin, dated January 17, 1820, which indicates that James had received power of attorney for George's estate. George thus died between the end of December 1817 and January 1820. Who James Erwin was has not been determined. There were many Erwin families in Dobbs County, North Carolina; perhaps he was an old family friend.
George and Elizabeth had five (5) known children.
2. Benjamin Bruton. Benjamin was born around 1769 in North Carolina. He moved to South Carolina and then to Georgia, where he was living by 1790 (as were other family members). On February 2, 1791, Benjamin Bruton was granted 214 acres on Rocky Comfort. He was also granted an additional tract of land there on December 13, 1802. The remaining 200 acres of Rocky Comfort were owned by Robert Gray.
Benjamin was married with Jemima Johnson Fontaine sometime before late 1799. Jemima (born in 1755) was the widow of Francis Fontaine, III, who is believed to have been murdered in 1783 by Tories in Georgia. He had served in the Continental Militia in South Carolina during the Revolutionary and also supplied corn and beef to the army. Jemima participated in the Revolutionary War, providing supplies to the Continental Army. (A number of descendants have joined the Daughters of the American Revolution based on Jemima's Revolutionary War service.)
Each of Francis' son-in-laws, John Goza, Joshua Goza, and Nathan Jackson Brewton, Sr., inherited a portion of his estate. The three signed a receipt to Benjamin and Jemima Bruton, administrators of the estate, for their shares of the estate, referring to themselves as "heirs by marriage." This document was witnessed by Sarah Fontaine (Francis's niece) and Edward Matthews, and was probated on October 4, 1799.
Benjamin served as a Justice of the Peace in Montgomery County, Georgia. He moved to southern Alabama by 1816, where his brother Joseph and his first cousin Benjamin also settled. He and Jemima were known to have sold 514 acres of their land in Rocky Comfort (Georgia) on March 3, 1803, to William Simples of Warren County. The bill of sale was witnessed by John Smith and Benjamin Upton. Because Benjamin does not appear in records again until 1816, when he appears on a tax list in Alabama, it has not been determined when between 1803 and 1816 he moved to Alabama. It also has not been determined if Jemima moved to Alabama with him. It is known that she died sometime after 1809.
Benjamin married a second time in Alabama with a woman named Mary, but he had no children from either marriage. He worked as a wagon master and owned his own wagon train, which hauled supplies from the Alabama River to Fort Crawford. After the closing of the fort, he hauled hardwood from southern Alabama to a furniture factory in Milledgeville, Georgia. Aside from operating his wagon train, Benjamin also owned and operated a large plantation in Sparta, Alabama, using slaves as his work force.
Because he had no children, Benjamin's nieces and nephews inherited his considerable fortune when he died in October 1863.
3. Nathan Jackson Brewton, Sr. Nathan was the founder of the large Georgia Brewton family which makes up the vast majority of this family history. He was born in 1765 in Dobbs County, North Carolina, and moved to Georgia along with his family. It is possible that he lived for a short time near Charleston, South Carolina, as did many members of his family, but no records have been located to substantiate this theory.
On April 3, 1794, he and his fiancee Nancy Fontaine Thompson obtained a marriage license in Warren County. Nancy, a young widow, was born around 1780. She was one of at least three children of Francis Fontaine, III, and Jemima Johnson Fontaine. Francis died during the Revolutionary War. Nancy's mother, Jemima, remarried with Benjamin Bruton, Nathan's brother. Jemima was, therefore, both Nancy's mother and sister-in-law. Nathan and Nancy were married on May 18, 1794.
A few weeks later (on June 4, 1794) Nathan bought 350 acres of land in what was then Liberty County, on the south side of the Canoochee River. He and Nancy built their home there, just above where the Brewton-Hendricks Bridge later stood, near the mouth of Cedar Creek. This site was an advantage in times of high water, and the flat river side just below it was a good landing place for timber and boats. Nathan built and operated several mills there for squaring timber.
Later Nathan and Nancy moved across the bay, where Nathan built a grist mill. On May 6, 1810, Nathan served as a petit juror in Tattnall County. He continued to purchase property there and in adjoining areas; by 1837 he is known to have owned 10,874 acres in Bulloch, Liberty, and Tattnall counties. In 1835 a church was built near Claxton and named for the Brewton family, as was the local school. Nathan also appears on tax lists in Tattnall County in 1802 through 1804.
On October 29, 1850, Nathan signed an agreement with his grandson-in-law, Seaborn R. Hodges, who was married to Elizabeth ("Betsy") Ann Hendricks, daughter of Elmire Jemima Brewton Hendricks. In the agreement Seaborn agreed to waive all rights, title, and interest in and upon the estate of his mother-in-law, Jemima, and anything that Jemima may ultimately inherit from her father, in exchange for $500. The agreement was witnessed by James H. Wilkinson, another of Nathan's grandsons-in-law. The reasons for this transaction have not been discovered.
Nathan Brewton died on November 25, 1855. In his will he appointed his sons, Benjamin Brewton and Nathan Jackson Brewton, Jr., as the executors of his estate. Another of his sons, Simon Johnson Brewton, assisted Benjamin and Nathan, Jr. On December 10, 1855, Benjamin and Simon filed an inventory of their father's rights and credits with the probate court. A few months later, on March 3, 1856, they filed a petition with the court stating that their sister, Elmire Jemima Brewton Hendricks, was incapable of managing her share of their father's estate. A jury met on March 13 and found that Jemima was "a lunatic" and should come under a guardian's care. It was therefore ruled that she was incapable of managing her own affairs; her brothers assumed control of her share of their father's estate. Later Jemima's children sued their uncles for custody; the court ruled in favor of her children.
On April 24, 1856, Benjamin and Simon sold a portion of the personal property of their father's estate.
Nathan was the first person to be buried in the Brewton Cemetery, near the Brewton Church, in a community now part of the town of Hagan. This new cemetery was set up by his children, primarily Simon and Benjamin, on land donated by their brother Samuel. Nathan's wife Nancy lived with Simon after Nathan's death. Then, in 1864, she moved in with her daughter, Martha Brewton Rogers, and lived there until her death on July 7, 1864. Nancy is buried next to her husband. The Brewton Cemetery is today one of the largest and oldest cemeteries still in use in Evans County (a county created from parts of Bulloch and Tattnall Counties).
On April 8, 1863, the final distribution of Nathan Brewton's estate was made by W. R. Frier, J. D. DeLoach, James H. Wilkinson, W. N. Moore, and James Anderson. The estate was divided into eleven shares. Numbers were placed in a hat; the names of the heirs were placed in another hat. A slip of paper was then drawn from each hat; this was how Nathan's estate was divided among the heirs. Nathan's oldest surviving son, Benjamin, refused to draw, as he had notes in the estate that were about equal to his share of the estate.
His heirs received the following: his wife, Nancy, received three slaves, Sam, Chang, and Raford, valued at $3,800. She paid the estate $300. His daughter, Nancy Brewton Miller, received two slaves, Major and Elick, valued at $1,800. His daughter Clarissa Brewton Smith received one child slave, Calvin, valued at $2,000. His son Simon Johnson Brewton received two slaves, Flora and Body, valued at $1,900. His daughter Martha Brewton Rogers received two slaves, Primus and Eliza, valued at $1,800. The heirs of his son, Emanuel Brewton, received three slaves, Patsy, Clasa, and Mary, valued at $2,300. His daughter Jemima Brewton Hendricks received two slaves, Isiah and Shadrick, valued at $1,900. The heirs of his daughter, Elizabeth Sikes, received three slaves, Danson, Casey, and Dicy, valued at $1,800. Nathan's son, Samuel Brewton, received two slaves, Wilson and Jones, valued at $2,500. His son Nathan Brewton received two slaves, Peter and Buck, valued at $2,300. The heirs also received money or notes totalling $3,500.
Nathan and Nancy had twelve children.
4. Mary Bruton. Mary Bruton was married around 1770 with Benjamin Fontaine in Dobbs County, North Carolina. Benjamin was born in 1754 in New Bern, North Carolina. Benjamin was a brother to Francis Fontaine, III. There has been some question as to whether Benjamin's name was in fact Benjamin or Peter. There are a number of records pertaining to "Peter and Mary", rather than Benjamin. The name "Benjamin" is cited by R. A. Brock in his publication, A Partial List of Descendants of John de la Fontaine, prepared for the Virginia Historical Society. The common assumption is that "Benjamin" and "Peter" are the same person, yet this is not definitive.
Records in New Bern indicate that Peter Fontaine lost a gun there in 1771. Mary and her husband eventually settled in Georgia, but first stopped over in South Carolina on their way, as did Benjamin/Peter's father, brothers, and sister Mary. The Brutons moved in this same pattern (Dobbs County, North Carolina, to South Carolina, and then to Georgia). It is possible that the two families were associated even before settling in North Carolina.
On June 21, 1785, Peter Fontaine received a bond from the State of South Carolina for the sum of 75 pounds, 17 shillings, and 8¼ pence for having served 489 days in the State Militia, from July 4, 1781, to December 18, 1782. Peter next appears in a deed of conveyance on January 2, 1787, with Richard Call in Richmond County, Georgia. Richard sold Peter a tract of six hundred acres in Augusta. In the document Peter is referenced as a house carpenter.
Peter died in Richmond County around August 1789. His widow, Mary, posted a bond of 1,000 pounds with the Register of Probate on September 1, 1789, and pledged to make available to the appointed appraisors a true and complete inventory of Peter's personal property. The appraisors of the estate were appointed, an inventory of property taken on October 23, 1789, and Mary was appointed administratrix of the estate. The inventory listed one chest of carpenter tools valued at £15.1.4, one horse and saddle valued at £3.15, one shotgun valued at £1.5, household furniture valued at £9.10.4, and kitchen furniture valued at £2.16.10, for a total value of £32.8.6.
Peter's widow, Mary, married a second time on April 15, 1797, with John McCoy in Warren County. Mary and Peter are known to have had at least two children.
5. Clarissa Bruton. She was married in 1772 with Thomas Fontaine, who was born in 1752 in New Bern, North Carolina. As a young boy, Thomas moved with his father to Dobbs County. Thomas was yet another brother of Francis Fontaine, III. Thomas and Clarissa are believed to have moved to Charleston County, South Carolina, along with other Fontaine family members, between 1772 and 1778. They lived in what was later Colleton County, which was formed from Charleston County in 1798.
On April 28, 1788, Thomas co-signed a note with Benjamin Bruton and William Sleigh in the amount of 144.1 pounds, which was to be repaid in two annual payments of £72.6, with lawful interest. His occupation at that time was listed as a carpenter. On July 6, 1788, he leased 401 acres from John Nesom. John Nesom had originally purchased this property from Thomas' brother, John Fontaine.
Thomas appears in the First South Carolina Census in 1790, Charleston District, St. Bartholomews Parish, as "Thomas Founton". His brother, John, is listed in the same census.
On May 6, 1790, Thomas petitioned the court to delay payment of £72.6, plus interest due, on the note payment of April 28, 1790. This would be the second payment on the note made in April 1788. On February 22, 1791, he was subpoenaed to appear in court in March 1791, regarding payment on the note. A judgement was made and the property was sold on March 2, 1792, to satisfy payment on this note.
The South Carolina State Land Grant Book 66 records a grant to Thomas of 572 acres in Charleston County on September 2, 1795. This property adjoins land granted to Thomas' brother, John. No record of the sale of this property has been located, but it is known that Thomas and Clarissa had moved to Georgia by December 30, 1795, as this was the date of the birth of their son, Benjamin, recorded in Georgia.
Thomas and Clarissa had seven children before Clarissa's death. Thomas was married a second time on February 2, 1797, in Warren County, with Sally Threewits, with whom he had one daughter, Mary. Sally was the daughter of Joel Threewits. Because Thomas and Clarissa's youngest child, Benjamin, was born on December 30, 1795, and Thomas remarried in February 1797, it appears that Clarissa either died in childbirth at the end of 1795 or sometime in 1796 or early 1797.
The first known purchase of land by Thomas was made on January 2, 1798, in Warren County. He bought 200 acres from Wyatt Bonner for $400; the property was on the headwaters of Hart's Creek. Thomas extended his land holdings with the purchase of 280 acres along Hart's Creek from Septimus Weatherby on December 31, 1801, for $400. He purchased an additional 50 acres on February 18, 1804; 87 acres on January 4, 1805; and 32 acres on April 13, 1806. According to the records of the Warren County Courthouse, Thomas had a plantation at the headwaters of Hart's Creek of at least 712 acres.
The Warren County Will Book contains the will of Thomas Fontaine, which was probated on November 7, 1808. He left his wife, Sally, one Negro girl named Sealy, and $500 in cash. He also willed that he wished his wife to continue to live with his family and that she enjoy the support of his family until she remarries, if she so chooses. He also indicated that his sister, Sally Fontaine, could also remain living with his family, and each of his heirs should contribute $50 per year for her support. Thomas also indicated that his negroes should continue to work on his plantation, unless his executors choose to hire them out. He also directed that his stock and plantation tools and furnishings should be equally divided among his children (excluding items for his wife), once they were of age.
An appraisal of his personal property was made on December 2, 1808. His property was valued at $6,219.39, and included six horses, 60 hogs, 16 head of cattle, 18 geese, and nine negroes. It also included 150 gallons of brandy. It took some years to settle Thomas' estate; the final return was not made until March 6, 1815, by Thomas' brother, John Fontaine. According to the returns of the estate, the only heirs were his widow, Sally, and his children Mary, John, and Benjamin, although he also left provisions for his sister. It is possible that the other children predeceased him, although there has been confusion about the names of Thomas and Clarissa's children. For example, it is often cited that one of their children was Lucy Fontaine, who married a Mr. Thompson. Lucy has been proven to be the daughter of Francis Fontaine, II, making her a sister to Thomas and not a daughter. Records in Jefferson County, Georgia, indicate that Sally Fontaine, as Thomas' widow, was eligible to draw in a land lottery. This indicates that Thomas must have served in some capacity in the Revolution.
6. Cecelia Bruton. She married twice, first with William Waters and second with Josiah Jones. She had one known child.
7. Joseph Brewton, Sr. Joseph was born in 1768 in North Carolina. He was the only sibling in his family who never lived in Georgia. Joseph married Elizabeth P. (surname undetermined, possibly Pringle), who was born in 1778. Some records state that she was born in Virginia; others indicate Tennessee. They continued to live for several years after their marriage in North Carolina, in an area that became part of Kentucky. They migrated through Tennessee to Marengo County, Alabama, and then on to what is now Escambia County, where Joseph appears on a tax list in 1816. Joseph's brother, Benjamin, and his first cousin Benjamin, also settled in this area of southern Alabama.
Joseph and Elizabeth settled on Alco Hill, a community near Fort Crawford in what became the city of Brewton. He is known to have purchased property there in 1837. Joseph and Elizabeth were members of the Catawba Springs Baptist Church until 1854. A new church, the Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church, was organized on September 17, 1854, as a result of the increasing number of settlers to the area. Joseph appears in records as a charter member of this church.
Joseph died in 1858 and is buried in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, opposite the Alco Methodist Church. His headstone reads: "To the memory of my Father, Joseph Brewton, born in Kentucky 1768, died in Escambia County, Alabama, 1858. Gone to rest." Joseph's wife Elizabeth died in 1866; she is buried next to him. Joseph and Elizabeth had seven confirmed children; there are three other possible children (Alexander, William, and Diana) that are unconfirmed.
I hope that you find this helpful and interesting. Let me know if I can be of further assistance!
Regards,
Brian
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