Morgan / Meriwether Georgia Bio Terrell Fielder File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Carla Miles grmiles1@bellsouth.net Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/meriwether.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Terrell Fielder, son of James and Sallie, was born in Morgan County, Georgia in 1797. It is said he fought in the War of 1812, but he would have only been 15 years old at this time. I have not located records to support this statement; however, he did draw land supposedly for his service in the war, so this military service cannot be totally discounted. Terrell married Rebecca Nolan on October 12, 1820 in Morgan County, Georgia. Rebecca was the daughter of George and Rebecca Nolan and she was born about 1803 in South Carolina. Terrell and Rebecca had seven children: Francis Marion, Caroline, William Pinkney, Sarah Jane, George, Martha and Marshall Lucius. I’ve been most fortunate to locate the following two articles pertaining to Terrell Fielder: The first, is a paragraph taken from The Fielder Family Record, written by Obediah Fielder, one of Terrell’s older brothers sometime in the late 1860’s. “Terrell Fielder was born in 1797. He is a Baptist preacher residing in Tallapoosa County, Ala. He is a most excellent man, morally and mentally. His life is above reproach, and his example worthy to be studied and followed. He married Rebecca Nolan. All his children are intelligent, moral and agreeable. Marion, who resides in Carroll County, Ga., is much beloved by all his acquaintances. He married Miss Dobbs. Pinckney was a young man of fine appearance and promise. He engaged in mercantile business in Alabama, with William Flemister, who married his beautiful sister, Caroline. Sarah married Mr. Thornton. George and Martha were younger; and the youngest as a boy, (Marshall) the idol of his father, preparing for the profession of medicine”. This is an excerpt from article taken from Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. 1, pages 418-419, 1895. “Terrell Fielder was born in what is now Morgan County in 1797, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. On reaching manhood, he was ordained a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, and preached in Morgan County and the adjoining counties. Having drawn some land in Meriwether County for his services in the war of 1812, himself and his brother-in-law, Sam Harris, removed to Meriwether County, in 1833. They settled in the dense unbroken forest, in which Indians and wild animals roamed and prowled at will. Terrell organized a Baptist church - the first in that part of the state - in an old dilapidated log house, which had been built and been used for a sheep pen. He afterward, in 1851, moved to Tallapoosa County, Ala., where he died in 1873, aged seventy-six years, peacefully closing a life faithfully spent in doing good and preaching the gospel. Terrell’s wife’s parents, George and Rebecca Nolan, were natives of South Carolina, who, coming to Georgia, settled near Madison, Morgan County”. Terrell first appears with his family in the 1830 Morgan County Census. He is listed in the 1840 Meriwether County, Georgia Census verifying the fact mentioned in the above article that he moved to Meriwether County in 1833. On October 4, 1850, the Census shows he is a farmer, with three children, George, Martha and Marshall, still living at home. At this time, Terrell is 53 years old and Rebecca, 47. Sometime between 1850 and 1860, Rebecca died. I have not found a mention of her death, nor discovered the location of her grave. By 1855, Terrell and his family appear in the Tallapoosa County Agricultural Census. No names are given in the Census information besides Terrell. This Census mentions that Terrell owns between two to four slaves. Appearing in the 1860 Census is Terrell’s second wife, Phindissa, born about 1823 in South Carolina. This is all I have been able to learn about her. At this time, Terrell is still farming, and the value of his real estate is listed at $1,000.00. His youngest son Marshall is living with them, and is now a physician. On August 1, 1870, the Censustaker lists Terrell as living in Elmore County, Alabama. Terrell is 72 years old and his wife Phindissa is 47. From letters written by Terrell’s youngest son Marshall, I have ascertained that Terrell died about 1873. I have not located his burial place or Courthouse records for Terrell’s estate. However his estate is mentioned in a letter written by his youngest son to his daughter, Sarah Fielder Thornton. The letter shown below was written on State of Alabama, House of Representatives stationery. Nov 15th 1876, Good Hope, Elmore Co, Ala Mrs. Sarah Thornton Dear Sister, Your letters of a few weeks back has been received - was glad to hear from you. I have no excuse for not writing to you oftener but the pressures of business. I have been in the Legislature for the last two years, which has absorbed all my time and brains. This leaves my family well, I have 6 children, the oldest a girl in her 15th year, the youngest, 2 years old. Sister, I have wound up our poor old Father’s estate and I find after paying all indebtedness that each heir receives ($76.00) Seventy Six Dollars. If Pa had lived a few more years he would have been dependent upon his children which was his greatest dread. He run his little farm the last year he lived on borrowed money. Sister I have sold out all I possess in this country, and expect to move West. What are the chances for a good Doctor in your County. Do you think I could do well there. If I come West I will bring your money. If I don’t, I will send it by Post-office order. Please write by return mail and let me know what you think of my moving to Arkansas. Your Brother, M.L. Fielder Census information: 1830 Morgan County, Ga Census Page 268 Terrell Fielder -Males, 1 (under 5), 2 (of 5 & under 10), 1 (of 10 & under 15), 1 (of 20 & under 30) Females, 1 (under 5), 1, (of 5 & under 10), 1 (of 20 & under 30) 1840 Meriwether County, Ga Census Page 118 Terrell Fielder -Males, 1 (under 5), 1 (5 & under 10), 2 (15 & under 20), 1 (40 & under 50) Females, 1 (5 & under 10), 2 (10 & under 15), 1 (30 & under 40) 1850 Meriwether County, Ga Census Census taken on 10/4/1850 59th Division Page 370 #903 Terrell Fielder, 55 years, Farmer, Born Ga, Value Real Est $1900 Rebecca, 47 years, Born SC George L., son, 20 years, Born Ga, Farmer Martha P., daughter, 18 years, Born Ga Marshal, son, 14 years, Born Ga 1855 Tallapoosa County, Al Census Terrell Fielder Males: 1 under 21, 1 over 21 females: 1 over 21 slaves:2 1860 Tallapoosa County, Al Census Census taken on 6/5/1860 Beat No. 7, Post Office Notasulga, Alabama #41 Terrell Fielder, 58 years, Born Ga, Farmer, Value Real Est $1000, Value Pers Estate 1,300 Findaphia D. (spelling?), 37 years, Born Ga Marcus L. (Marshall?), 25 years, Born Ga, Physician 1870 Elmore County, Al Census Census taken on 8/1/1870 Page 113 #1108 Terrell Fielder, 72 years, Farmer, Value Real Est 1500, Value Pers Est 500 Phindissa, 47 years, Keeping House, Born SC Source of birth and death date for Terrell Fielder: The birth date was taken from the back of an original picture of Terrell Fielder. It states “Terrell M. Fielder, born 1797”. His date of death was derived from an article taken from Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. 1, pages 418-419, 1895. A letter written by his youngest son, Marshall Lucius and dated November 15, 1876 confirms that he was deceased by this time. Source of marriage of Terrell Fielder and Rebecca Nolan: Marriage date obtained from the Morgan County, Ga webpage at Rootsweb. I've attempted to order a copy of the certificate but according to the Macon, Ga Library, there is a three year gap from 1818 to 1821 in the marriage records for Morgan County. There are no records available to copy. Biography written by Carla Miles - November 2001 Email address: grmiles1@bellsouth.net ======================== 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. ==============