Chattahoochee County Georgia Bios William Pinkney Fielder & Susannah McLaughlin Fielder File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by grmiles1@bellsouth.net Carla Miles Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/chattaah.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm William Pinkney Fielder & Susannah McLaughlin Fielder William Pinkney Fielder, was the third child of Terrell and Rebecca Fielder. He was born on February 4, 1826 in Morgan County, Georgia. I’ve not located any information regarding his childhood years or early adulthood. Terrell Fielder was born in 1797 in Morgan County, Georgia, the son of James and Sallie Fielder. Terrell was a Baptist minister and died about 1873 in Elmore County, Alabama. William’s mother, Rebecca Nolan, was born about 1803 in South Carolina and was the daughter of George and Rebecca Nolan. Rebecca (William’s mother) died sometime between 1850 and 1860 according to Census records. The first record I find for William is his marriage to Susannah McLaughlin on October 27, 1852 in Meriwether County. Susannah McLaughlin was born on February 20, 1829 in Wilkes County, Ga., the daughter of William McLaughlin and Susannah Tuck. William McLaughlin was born about 1784 in Maryland. Nothing is known of his parents. Susannah Tuck was the daughter of Josiah Tuck and Tabitha Harris. Josiah was a Revolutionary War soldier, and his daughter Susannah, is mentioned in his will dated October 13, 1843. In the will, her father gave to Susannah Tuck McLaughlin “a feather bed and furniture, and a cow and calf”. William McLaughlin died between 1841-1842 when his youngest child Susannah was about 11 or 12 years old. Her mother, Susannah Tuck McLaughlin, died about 1844 when Susannah was about 14 years old. Susannah went to live with her older sister Sarah and her husband, Amanuel Brooks. Amanuel became her legal guardian. In fact, she appears with the Brooks family in the 1850 Meriwether County, Georgia Census. At this time she was 21 years old, one year before she married William. One more interesting note on William McLaughlin was learned through corresponding with a fellow McLaughlin researcher this year. She shared with me that William was buried in the McLaughlin cemetery across from the old home place off Highway 100 in Meriwether County, Ga. The house is still standing, and she even went in it several years ago! I would like to make a trip to Meriwether County to see this house for myself. William Pinkney’s early adult years have been a mystery to me. I haven’t located him in the 1850 Census so I don’t know his whereabouts during that time period. The earliest I’ve located him is the 1855 Agricultural Census for Tallapoosa County, Alabama. At this time, he and Susannah have one child and two slaves. He continued to remain elusive in the 1860 Census. I didn’t locate him again until 1869 when he purchased land in Marion County, Georgia. William and Susannah had seven children: William Alonza, Marcus Terrell, Leander Frank and Joseph T. who were twins, Martha Elizabeth, Lucius Pinkney (I would think he was named for William’s youngest brother, M.L. Fielder) and Susie Vassar. In the 1870 Census, the family lived in Marion County, Ga. at Fort Perry. At that time, William was 46 years old and his occupation was farming and milling. The Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames states that the name Fielder means “the fielder”, a farm laborer, so it was quite appropriate that this was William’s occupation. There were several workers enumerated with this family, so the farm and sawmill must have been a fairly large operation. By 1880, the Fielder family had moved to Chattahoochee County and lived in the Pine Knot District. William was a farmer and all of the children, with the exception of the youngest Susie, were listed as working on the farm as well. William lived out the rest of his life in Chattahoochee County. During this time, he served as a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public in this District. Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church was reorganized in 1883 and William and Susannah Fielder were charter members. William served as the Clerk of the Church from December 31, 1882 until his death. (I have transcribed the original Church minutes, which were mostly written by William and the transcription is included as part of this Chattahoochee County, Ga. web page.) All that is left of the church is the cemetery as the building was destroyed by Fort Benning many years ago. All of the Fielder family members are buried at the cemetery. Mt. Zion cemetery is located in a restricted area of Fort Benning, Georgia and permission must be obtained prior to visiting the cemetery. William Pinkney Fielder passed away on May 31, 1889. He was buried at the Mt. Zion Cemetery. His obituary and another related article are listed below: “On the night of May 31st, 1889, our beloved brother, Wm. P. Fielder, passed from earthly cares, home and loved ones, to his eternal reward. Though his health had been bad for several years, his death was unexpected and sudden, laboring in his farm the day prior to his death; it was a shock to all, when on the morning of June 1st, the sad news of Bro. Fielder's death spread throughout the community. He was a consistent member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and had been a deacon and clerk of the same from its organization (1883). He often told his family that when the Lord called for him it would be unexpected by them. His life was one of full submission to the will of his Master. A good citizen, a kind and hospitable neighbor, a warm friend, an affectionate husband, a loving and tender father, he has gone to his rest. He leaves a wife, seven children and a host of friends to mourn their loss. After proper funeral services his remains were interred at Mt. Zion Church, in the presence of relatives and friends, there to await the time when the Lord shall descend with the voice of an archangel and the dead in Christ shall rise incorruptible. May we all so live and act in this life, that we may have part with him in the life beyond.” "Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep, From whence none ever wake to weep; A calm and undisturbed repose. Unbroken by the last of foes." Wm. P. Allison (Mr. Allison was the pastor of the Mt. Zion Church) Brantly, Marion County, Ga. Newspaper Article about William Pinkney Fielder's death: “Mr. Pinkney Fielder, a former resident of Meriwether died at his home in Chattahoochee County last Friday night. He was in usual health at supper time but died shortly afterwards. Mr. Fielder was a son of Mr. Terrell Fielder and grew to manhood near Brooks' Mills at the old family homestead. He was about sixty-six years of age. The family moved from Meriwether a few years before the war.” Susannah Fielder was still living in the Pine Knot District of Chattahoochee County at the time of the 1900 Census. She was 72 years old and her son, Marcus Terrell, 43 years and still single was living with her. Susannah was surrounded by her children, her oldest son William known as “Lonnie” lived on one side of her and one of her other sons, Lucious known as “Mage” lived on the other side. Her daughter Mattie Fielder Blythe and her family lived eight houses up from her. Sometime in the early 1900’s the Fielder families left Chattahoochee County and moved to Box Springs, Ga. Susannah lived out the remainder of her life there. She died from cancer on January 13, 1903 and is buried beside her husband at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Her obituary is below: “On January 13th, after a very long illness, sister S.V. Fielder departed this life for the better land. She had been a faithful member of the Baptist church for more than sixty years, but in all that time her faith in Christ grew stronger and stronger until the end.” “She died of that dreadful disease, cancer, and was sorely afflicted before God took her home; but amid it all, not a word of complaint was ever heard to escape her sainted lips. She lived and died in the full assurance of her Saviour's soul-preserving power.” “She leaves to mourn the loss of a Christian mother, six children and one brother, Dr. McLaughlin of Americus, her husband and two children having been dead several years, and her only sister, Mrs. Clower, of Grantville, preceding her into the heavenly region by a few days.” “I had a long talk with her a short while before her death and asked her as she was nearing the eternal presence of Christ how she felt, and the answer came, "I know not why the Lord has so afflicted me, but He is by my side and all is bright. The gloom is only hovering over this frail, worn out body; it cannot touch the soul." “The last impression the scribe ever received from her was that I will doubtless never see you again in this world, but will meet you by and by in the presence of the Lamb.” "Servant of God, well done; Praise be they new employ, And while eternal ages run, Rest in they Master's joy". Another article related to Susannah Fielder’s death: The Talbotton New Era Thursday, January 8, 1903 Box Springs “Mrs. Fielder died Wednesday morning at 4 o'clock. She was a very old lady and had been afflicted with cancer on the face for several years. Her suffering was indeed great but she bore it with Christian patience and we believe that she has entered the beautiful above where there is no pain or sorrow. She was a member of the Baptist church and leaves several children and a host of friends to whom we extend sympathy in their loss. We should not mourn for her but say the will of the Lord be done.” CENSUS INFORMATION: I have been unable to locate William P. in the 1850 Census - checked Tallapoosa County, AL and Meriwether County, Ga - no record Susannah McLaughlin Fielder was an orphan, her Legal Guardian was her brother-in-law, Amanuel Finley. She is listed as living with her sister and brother-in-law’s family in the 1850 Census: 1850 Meriwether County, Ga Census Census taken on 9/24/1850 Amanuel Finley, 43 years, Farmer, Born Ga, Value Real Est $3,520 Elizabeth, 36 years, Born Ga All children born in Ga: Susan, daughter, 13 years Wiley, son, 10 years Martha, daughter, 7 years William, son, 3 years Columbus, son, 1 year Susan McLaughlin, 21 years, Born Ga 1855 Tallapoosa County, AL Agriculture Census W.P. Fielder Males: 1 male over 21, 1 male under 21 Females: 1 female over 21 Slaves: 2 Have been unable to locate William P. and his family in the 1860 Census-Checked Tallapoosa County, AL and Marion County, Ga - no record of them. 1870 Marion County, GA Census Fort Perry, Census taken on 9/8/1870 Wm P. Fielder, 46 yrs, WM, Born GA, Farming and Milling, Value of RE $300, Value of Pers Est $185 Susan V., 41 yrs, WF, Housekeeper, Born GA Children: William A., 16 yrs, Born AL Marcus T., 13 yrs, Born GA Leander, 11 yrs, Born GA Joseph T., 11 yrs, Born GA Martha E., 3 yrs, Born GA Lucious P., 1 yr, Born GA Workers enumerated with family: Franklin G?, 26 yrs, WM, works in sawmill Henry Tilley, 18 yrs, WM, works on farm Jane Duncan, 26 yrs, WF, Born GA L.B. Mittia (?) 1 yr, WF 1880 Chattahoochee County, GA Census Pine Knot District Vol. 4, E.D. 11, Sheet 32, Line 1 Census taken on 6/7/1880 #11 William P. Fielder, WM, 56 yrs old, Farmer, Married, Born GA, Parents born GA Susan V., WF, wife, 50 yrs, Keeping house, Born GA, Parents born in GA Children: Marcus T., son, 22 yrs, working on farm, single, born GA Leander, son, 21 yrs, working on farm, born GA Joseph, T., son, 21 yrs, working on farm, born, GA Martha E., dau, 13 yrs, working on farm, born GA Lucious P., son, 11 yrs, working on farm, born GA Susan V., dau, 9 yrs, born GA **At this time, Lonnie (their oldest son) and Mary Fielder lived next door to his Parents. 1890 Census was destroyed 1900 Chattahoochee County, GA Census Vol 12, E.D. 14, Sheet 3, Line 74 Pine Knot G.M. District 1107 Census taken on 6/4/1900 #51 Susan V. Fielder, Head, WF, DOB Oct 1827, 72 yrs, Widow, Mother of how many children: 8, How many children living: 6, Born GA, Parents born GA, Occup: Landlord Mark T., son, DOB Oct 1856, 43 yrs, Single, Born GA, Parents born GA Susannah's sons Lonnie (William Alonza) and Lucious lived on either side of her at this time, per Census records. Her daughter, Mattie Fielder Blythe and her husband William Robert lived 8 doors up from her home. Additional information on the children of William Pinkney and Susannah Fielder: William Alonza Fielder, born August 1853 in Alabama, married Mollie Weed (census records list her as Mary, marriage certificate as Mollie) on February 17, 1880 in Chattahoochee County, Ga., died in 1919 Marcus Terrell Fielder, born 10/30/1856 in Georgia, married Ella Teate on 11/28/1900 in Chattahoochee County, Ga., died on 7/11/1931 in Junction City, Ga. Leander Frank Fielder, born 11/2/1858 in Georgia, married Belle McLaughlin on 4/28/1889 in Chattahoochee County, Ga., died 10/18/1898 in Chattahoochee County. (Twin of Joe) Joseph T. Fielder, born 11/2/1858 in Georgia, no record of marriage, died on 10/20/1911 in Box Springs, Ga. (twin of Frank) Martha Elizabeth Fielder, born 11/9/1866 in Georgia, married William Robert Blythe on 2/16/1890 in Chattahoochee County, Ga., died on 1/1/1909 in Junction City, Ga. Lucius Pinkney Fielder, born 9/24/1868 in Georgia, married Mary Ellen Hart on 11/16/1899 in Chattahoochee County, Ga., died on 4/11/1954 in Junction City, Ga. Susie Vassar Fielder Hart, born 4/16/1871 in Georgia, married Solomon Frank Hart on 3/12/1899 in Chattahoochee County, Ga., died on 12/29/1924 in Columbus, Ga. ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============