Person Page - 173

     George Washington COLEMAN, son of Staton George COLEMAN and Mary Tschudy DERAMUS, was born on 25 May 1840 in Autauga County, Alabama.¹

George began military service at age 21 on 2 June 1861 in Autauga County, Alabama, when he enlisted in Company G, 6th Alabama Infantry. By some time in 1863 he enlisted again in the 25th Louisiana Cavalry. He was a 1st Lieutenant and later Captain. When his wife applied for his pension one of her witnesses recalled him fighting in the Battle of Mansfield and Battle of Pineville on the Red River.

George Washington COLEMAN appeared in a newspaper article 10 November 1864 in the The Autauga Citizen, published in Prattville, Alabama. In a legal annoucement concerning the probate of the estate of Jacob A. Deramus (his uncle), deceased, George was included among the "next of kin" and invited to appear at a probate hearing. Most of the heirs were out of state including "George W. Coleman resides in the state of Arkansas" and stated to be of full age.

George married Mary Virginia Hicks on 14 September 1865 in Van Buren, Union County, Arkansas.²

George Washington COLEMAN died on 14 January 1923 in Oglesby, Coryell County, Texas, at age 82.¹ He was buried in Post Oak Cemetery.¹

     Melvina JAMES, daughter of Absalom Harrison JAMES and Emily Arabella BROWN, was born in 1862 in Bibb County, Alabama. She was also known as Vina.

Melvina JAMES appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1870, in the household of her parents Absalom Harrison JAMES and Emily Arabella BROWN in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. She was eight years old.¹

     Thomas W. COLEMAN, son of Andrew Jackson COLEMAN and Lydia Ann BURT, was born in 1852 in Autauga County, Alabama.

Thomas W. COLEMAN appeared on a census, enumerated 25 August 1860, in the household of his parents Andrew Jackson COLEMAN and Lydia Ann BURT in Autaugaville, Autauga County, Alabama. He was recorded as Thomas Colman, age 8.¹

He appeared on a census, enumerated 10 June 1870, in the household of his parents Lydia Ann BURT and Andrew Jackson GERMAN in Weogufka, Coosa County, Alabama. He was recorded as T. W. German [sic], age 17, in school, born in Alabama.²

     Andrew J. COLEMAN Jr., son of Andrew Jackson COLEMAN and Lydia Ann BURT, was born on 12 September 1854 in Autauga County, Alabama.¹

Andrew J. COLEMAN Jr. appeared on a census, enumerated 25 August 1860, in the household of his parents Andrew Jackson COLEMAN and Lydia Ann BURT in Autaugaville, Autauga County, Alabama. He was listed as Andrew Colman, age 6.²

He appeared on a census, enumerated 11 June 1880, in the household of his mother Lydia Ann BURT in Weogufka, Coosa County, Alabama. He was listed as A. J. Colman, 25. step-son, in the household of his step-father, A. J. German.

Andrew J. COLEMAN Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 18 June 1900 in Harpersville, Shelby County, Alabama. The household was listed as Andrew Coleman, a 45 year old farmer, born Sep 1854; his wife Susie (Susan B. Johnson), age 47, born Nov 1852. They had been married for 20 years and Susie was the mother of 7 children, only 4 living. Also in the household were son Luther B. Coleman, age 15, born Dec 1884, works on farm; daughter Lula Coleman, age 12, born Aug 1887, works on farm; son Thomas Coleman, age 10, born Nov 1889, works on farm; and daughter Vivian Coleman, age 8, born Sep 1891. All were born in Alabama.

Andrew J. COLEMAN Jr. died on 2 August 1929 in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama, at age 74.¹ He was buried in Union Cemetery, Jefferson County, Alabama.¹

     Col. David Patton was buried in Elizaville Cemetery.

Col. David Patton was born on 4 April 1799 in Pennsylvania.

David married an unknown person circa 1837 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Col. David Patton died on 18 March 1868 at age 68.

     Susan Elizabeth ABNEY, daughter of William Hardy ABNEY and Nancy BLACK, was born in February 1835 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Her mother having died in childbirth, the baby was most likely given to the care of a relative. She was not with the family in 1840, but was back with her father in 1850.

She appeared on a census, enumerated 7 August 1850, in the household of her parents William Hardy ABNEY and Dempsey Scurry in Newberry County, South Carolina. She was listed as Susan E. Abney, age 15, born South Carolina.¹

Susan married Milton Grant circa 1854 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Susan Elizabeth ABNEY died circa 1856 in South Carolina. It is likely that, like her mother, Susan died in childbirth or soon after.² She was buried in Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery, Saluda, Saluda County, South Carolina.

     Dempsey Scurry was born on 1 August 1794 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹

Dempsey married first Edmund Payne circa 1814 in South Carolina. Their daughter, Catherine (1815-1873), married David Cooper Boazman (1807-1870) and second, Noah Tyson (1806-1874). She is buried in Slaughter Cemetery, Rodessa, Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

She married second John W. Boazman circa 1824 in South Carolina.²

She was the administrator of Edmund Payne's estate in 1826 in Newberry County, South Carolina. The other administrator was John Boazman, who she married.³

Dempsey married William Hardy ABNEY, son of Walter ABNEY and Susan BROOKS, circa 1835 in South Carolina. She was the widow of John Boazman, who died in January 1835 and Edmund Payne who had died in 1824. She was the mother of four children: Catherine Payne (1815-1873), John Beal Boazman (1826-1887), Susan Cornelia Boazman (1827-1908), and Ralph S. Boazman (1830-1849.)^4,1

She was probably the female age 40 to 50 listed in the household of her husband, William Hardy ABNEY, in the 1840 Federal Census of Newberry County, South Carolina.⁵

About 1842 Dempsey and William joined the Cross Roads Baptist Church near Chappells in Newberry County. They remained a members until they were dismissed on 5 Jun 1869. On 2 Jul 1842 Dempsey was charged with patronizing a country dancing school. In August 1842 she acknowledged her error in patronizing the school and was acquited of the charge.

During 1854 there was a heated disagreement between the Abney and John and Elizabeth Chappell. Elizabeth was said to have made disparaging remarks to Susan Elizabeth Abney concerning her marriage to Milton Grant. They wanted the Chappells dismissed from the church, but the matter was apparently settled.⁶

Dempsey Scurry and William Hardy ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 7 August 1850 in Newberry County, South Carolina. The household was listed as William Abney, a 37 year old carpenter, with real estate valued $3,000; implied wife Dempsey Abney, age 56; implied daughter Susan E. Abney, age 15; and Ensula (Ursula) Burnham, a 19 year old female. All were born in South Carolina.⁷

Dempsey Scurry and William Hardy ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1860 in Newberry, Newberry County, South Carolina. The household was listed as Mrs. Dempsey Abney, a 65 year old farmer, with real estate valued $13,000 and personal estate valued $34,000; her implied husband William Abney, a 45 year old miller; Julius Deen, a 31 year old overseer; Mrs. Catherine Goodman, age 53; Ralph Grant (son of Susan E. Abney & Milton Grant), age 4; and Edward Duffie, a 25 year old road carpenter, born in Ireland. Everyone else was born in South Carolina. The 1860 Slave Schedule showed Dempsey Abney owning 28 slaves.⁸

On 26 March 1867 Dempsey died in Chappells, Newberry County, South Carolina, at age 72 leaving William Hardy a widower.⁹ She was buried in Boazman & Smith Cemetery, Chappells, Newberry County, South Carolina.

     Emma Lula May, daughter of Lewis May and Julia Ann Ellis, was born on 16 June 1862 in Good Hope, Edgefield County, South Carolina.

She appeared on a census, enumerated 2 August 1870, in the household of her parents William Hardy ABNEY and Julia Ann Ellis in Coleman Roads post office, Saluda, Edgefield County, South Carolina. She was listed as Emma Abney, age 8, at home, born in South Carolina.¹

Emma married Pickens Goggans circa 1877 in Good Hope, Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Emma Lula May and Pickens Goggans appeared in a newspaper article 26 February 1878 in the The Camden Journal, published in Camden, South Carolina. Mysterious Murder-- We take from the Edgefield Advertiser the following account of a mysterious murder that occurated lately in that county:

"On Wednesday evening, the 5th instant, a horrible murder occured in the upper part of our county-- some nines miles above Good Hope and some six miles below Higgin's Ferry on the Saluda. Here lived Mr. Pickens Goggans, one of the sons of the Goggans that was murdered at the same place some two or three years back, by Smith. This man Smith, it will be remembered, fled to Georgia and has never been apprehended. Pickens Goggans was a young man of 25 or 26. He had been married only some six to eight weeks to a very pretty young girl of only 15 or 16. On the evening above named, at nightfall, while Goggans was lying before the fire in the dining room, with his head on a chair, and while his wife was in the adjoining room getting supper the latter heard the report of a pistol in the dining room. In terror she rushed out of the house and summoned a neighbor who lived within call. And when she and the neighbor entered the dining room they found Goggans dead, shot through the head as he lay before the fire. As to further details of this horrible matter and various reports concerning it we deem it best not to make them public yet."

Later developments cast suspicion upon the widow and brothers of the deceased. A jury of inquest charges the crime upon them.

The 13 Feb 1878 The Abbeville Press and Banner (Abbeville, SC) added a few additional details. It gave the victim's name as "F. P. Goggins" and the location as "about seven or eight miles from Chappell's Depot." It added that "Goggins was lately married to a Miss May."


Emma and Pickens Goggans appeared in a newspaper article 21 February 1878 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. Goggans Murder -- The inquest jury met at Good Hope on the 16th and the evidence led to the arrest of John and Henry Goggans, brothers of the deceased, and Mrs. Emma Goggans, his widow. They proceeded to Lexington to apply for bail.

The 26 Feb 1878 issue of The News and Herald (Winnsboro, SC) said the murder had taken place near Good Hope Church and gives a more decided verdict to the inquest of "Pickens Goggins"... saying that "John Goggins, Henry Goggins and Mrs. Emma Goggins, widow of the deceased, (a girl of fifteen, and recently married) are the murderers. The party were perfectly cool in giving their evidence, not a tear being shed by one of them. The widow is very pretty and was gaudily dressed during the examination."

The 28 Feb 1878 The Edgefield Advertiser mentioned "There are now twenty prisoners in our jail, of whom four are white persons. These four are John Goggins, Henry Goggins, Mrs. Emma Goggins, and a man named Riser."

There is a gap in the available issues of The Edgefield Advertiser between February and July 1878 and no articles have been found covering the trial, however Emma died only a year later at home and one of her obituaries stated that she had been acquitted of the murder. Both John and Henry Goggans are found in the 1880 census so apparently they were also acquitted.

Pickens father was also murdered at home only a few years previously. From the 10 Jul 1874 Daily Phoenix (Columbia, SC) - "Homocide in the Good Hope Section - On Saturday afternoon last, about nightfal, John Goggans, an old man with eight or nine children, living in the Good Hope section (a little above Richardsonville) was shot and instantly killed by a young man named Jack Smith, of the same section." Smith fled to Louisiana and was never apprehended.

Emma Lula May died on 17 September 1879 in Saluda, Edgefield County, South Carolina, at age 17.

Her obituary appeared 2 October 1879 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. "Death of Mrs. Goggans -- Emma Goggans, the very handsome and unfortunate young woman of our county, who was tried for her life eighteen months ago, upon the charge of murdering her husband, is dead. She died at her home, some 18 or 20 miles above us, in the Saluda section, on the 17th of September, of typhoid fever, if we are not misinformed."

From the 1 Oct 1879 The Abbeville Press and Banner (Abbeville, SC) - "Mrs. Emma Goggins, who was tried last fall at Edgefield for the murder of her husband, died last week near Saluda Old Town, in Edgefield county. She was a singularly handsome woman, about twenty years old."

The 1 Oct 1879 issue of The Newberry Herald (Newberry, SC) also said thet "Mrs. Emma Goggans" died on the 17th and described her as "the pretty young widow who was tried at Edgefield a year ago for the murder of her husband and acquitted."

     Thomas May was baptised on 12 September 1614 in Sutton Cheney, Leicestershire, England.¹

Thomas married Mary ABNEY, daughter of George ABNEY and Anne Staples, on 4 March 1640. They had one child, Thomas May, Jr., in 1645.¹

Mary died on 19 September 1650 in Sutton Cheney, Leicestershire, England, leaving Thomas May as a widower.¹

Thomas May died in 1685 in Sutton Cheney, Leicestershire, England.