MARY ANDERSON WOOD

Contributed by Sherry Gritzbaugh



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Tutorship of the heirs of Mary A. Wood Decd:
Petition and Account: Filed: July 3rd., 1867
Reads in part:
To the Hon. the Judge of the Eleventh Judical Dist. Court in & 
for the Parish of Union & State of Louisiana. The Petition of
James M. Anderson, Adm. of the succession of Henry P.
Anderson decd...respectfully represents, That in obedience to the
order of the Court requiring the rendition of the account of Tutorship
of said Anderson and said heirs of Mary A. Wood decd, former wife
of said Anderson & the said heirs of their marriage. Petitioner
farther shows that the said tutorship commenced upon the death
of Mary A. Wood decd. in July 9th. 1847 but that the said Henry P.
Anderson never rendered any account of the same up to the time
of his death which took place in 1866. That Petitioner has not been
able to discover among the papers of said decd or any where
else, any vouchers or other evidences of the amounts paid out by
said Tutor for the minors, nor of the amounts received by him for
them and & petitioner has therefore been compelled to make an
estimate of the revenues of the property of said minors. That the
said Tutor conducted his affairs and raised his family with the
strictest economy - That nearly every thing that was consumed by
the family was raised or made at home. And the children received
their education at home. That the children were raised to work &
that their services were valuable contributed greatly to their support
during the period of the tutorship. Petitioner further represents
that he has not taken into consideration in making out the account
the receipts or settlements referred to in the petition of Eliza Anderson
and husband for the order under which this account is rendered, but
has disregarded said entirely, for the reason that the same were
nullities the said PRETENDED receipts having been given by this
petitioner in his personal capacity & by the said E. A. Anderson and
husband. Tutor had never rendered any account of his tutorship, nor
submitted any vouchers, which the law required before any valid
settlement could be made with his wards- And the said receipts were
also absolutely null for the further reason that the amount of said
receipts were not for money or any other valuable consideration but
for a part of the negroes which had belonged to petitioner and the
other heirs of Mary A. Wood decd. being those which they inherited
from their mother as aforesaid and which negroes if then slaves would
have been freed when slavery was abolished in the state of Louisiana.
Petitioner further shows that he closed the account of tutorship with
the balance due July 7th 1861 with legal interest for the time that
his reasons for this were that the late war at that time had commenced
and crops were consumed or used for the support of the army. Wherefore
petitioner prays that notices of the filing of this account may be approved
and homologated in all of its parts. Petitioner further prays
for such future orders and decrees as may be necessary in the 
premisesand for all general and quitable relief.

James M. Anderson, Adm. 
in the estate of H.P. Anderson decd.

Union Parish, La.
March 18, 1865
Received of H. P. Anderson my father my proatto share of property
inherited by my mother Mary Anderson consisting of negroes, money
and stock, and house hole furniture & valued at three thousand
six hundred & fifty dollars.
James M. Anderson

Union Parish, La.
March 18, 1865
Received of H. P. Anderson my fathermy protto share of property
inherited by my mother Mary Anderson consisting of negroes, money
and stock and house hold furniture & caluded at thee thousand six
hundred and fifty dollars.
E. A. Payne
D. M. Payne

ACCOUNT OF THE TUTORSHIP OF THE HEIRS OF MARY A.
WOOD DECD & issue of her marriage with Henry P. Anderson
decd rendered by James M. Anderson, Adm. of Henry P. Anderson,
having been Tutor to the siad heirs viz: James M. Anderson, Eliza
Allice Anderson, Sarah F. Anderson and William Henry Anderson
from the death of their mother on the 7th. day of July, 1847. The
Tutor is chargable with the amt. rec'd from sale of sales belonging
to Mary A. Wood.

An inventory was made and 1/2 value of the personal value of 
property received from the Tutor, March 18, 1865 with five percent
interest per annum, the amount due was twelve thousand one
hundred sixty seven dolars and seventy one cents.

Mary Wood was a daughter of Hannah Payne and Matthew Wood
early pioneers of Union Parish, Louisiana.

From the book, "History of Butler County" by J. B. Little, pg. 29
reads in part "on the evening of the 14th. of Jan. 1819, the peace 

of the happy forest of oaks was distrubed by a train of emigrants"
and the Paynes were listed among the first settlers to arrive.
From "Butler County REminiscences" by J. B. Wade in 1874,
pinpoints where the early settlers lived, and states that the Paynes
were located on Persimmon Creek" and that Matthew Wood lived in
the village" (Greenville).
This information has been taken from Swint by Mildred Ezell and
furnished to the compiler by Ms. Becky Smith and Ms. Rene Pittman
Page 402, first paragraph states:
William Payne sold his land on Keg Creek and moved to Sweetwater. 
This last for William Payne was probably around 1808/9 "because his
second daughter HANNAH PAYNE, MARRIED MATHEW WOOD
around 1809 - and in 1810 Matthew Wood of Twiggs County was
issued a permit to "travel through the Creek Nation of Indians.
William Payne was a son of Samuel Payne who had his first warrant
in 1776,for 200 acres of land on Little River & Cag Creek, St. Pauls
Parish and had lived in Georgia for fifteen years. 

WILLIAM PAYNE AND MARY ABIGAIL SWINT

Mary Abigail Swint was a sister of John Swint, the Revo. war soldier.
She was born in 1768 and died 29 August, 1852. It is unknown where
she was born but records indicate that she lived with her brother, in 
the Keg Creek area of Richmond County (later Columbia Co.) when
she married William Payne. The brother, John Swint died about 1801
in Hancock County, Ga. Mary Abigail Swint Payne was the first
person to be buried in the Payne Cemetery, In Sandy Ridge, Lowndes
County, Alabama.

Page 408 shows that the research on the Payne family was done by:
Mrs. Florence Payne Vaughan, Mrs. Wanda Hoad Payne and Col.
(Ret) John A. Walter.

Butler Co. Ga. was created 13 Dec. 1819 and the first election was
held in Aug. 1820. The names of Samauel, Daniel and John Payne
were included on the list of voters. In the election of 1826, Daniel
Payne was elected Justice of the Peace. William Payne, Jr. was
elected Sheriff. Nancy Payne Smith; HANNAH PAYNE WOOD, 
John, Daniel and William Payne settled in Butler Co.

In 1837, Matthew and Hannah Payne Wood with their family and 
her brother, Daniel Payne, and his family moved to Ouachita, La.
MATTHEW WOOD, and his two sons-in-laws: JOHN TAYLOR &
WILLIAM CLEATON CARR; Daniel Payne and his son-in-law, 
NEEDHAM BRYAN, were all instrumental in FORMING UNION
PARISH from Ouachita Parish in 1839. The records of Union
Parish are replete with their names in this endeavor. A third
son-in-law of Hannah and Matthew Wood, HENRY P. ANDERSON's
name is also recorded as being instrumental in forming Union
Parish.
John Taylor was parish judge, Wm. Cleaton Carr was sheriff
and Henry P. Anderson was adm. of schools.

The history tells us that in later years of her life, Mary Abigail
was blind and lived in the home of her son William in Lowndes 
County, Ala. It is also known that she died at this location on
29 Aug. 1852.

Mary Abigail Wint (1768-1852) married William Payne (1765/6-1816/7)
were the parents of the following named children:

1. Nancy Payne (1786-1855) md. 1804 in Columbia Co. Ga. to 
Andrew Smith. They were the parents of nine children.

2. Hannah Payne (17 May 1791 in Columbia Co. Ga. died 9th. Feb.
1864 in Lincoln Parish, La.) md. 1808/9 in Ga. to Matthew Wood
(29 July, 1791 in Ga. - 20 Oct. 1855) They are interred in the John
Stowe Cemetery located in Lincoln Parish, La. They were the 
parents of six children.

3. Samuel Payne (1793-1864) may have md. Sallie David?

4. Daniel Payne (1795-1861) Married Elizabeth Dupree ca
1817 in Twiggs Co. Ga. Elizabeth died 4 Jun. 1868 in Farmerville,
Union Parish, La. Daniel died in Columbia Co. Ark. They were 
the parents of seven children.

5. John "Jack" Payne (1798-1820) md. Frances "Fannie" Gafford.
They were the parents of twelve children.

6. William "Billy" Payne, Jr. (1800-1872) md. Dorothy "Dolly" 
Perry in Sandy Ridge, Lowndes Co. Ala.

The Ancestry of Mary Wood Anderson of Union Parish, La.

SAMUEL PAYNE: Had his first warrant in 1766, for two hundred 
acres of land on Little River and Keg Creek, St. Pauls Parish -
lived in Ga. for fifteen years. The name of his spouse is unknown
to the compiler. According to Swint by Mildred Ezell, he was
the father of William Payne who married Mary Abigail Swint.
John Swint was living near the Payne family in 1774.

WILLIAM PAYNE: He paid taxes in Columbia County on tweo
hundred thirty acres of land on Sweetwater and for his seven
slaves. His son-in-law, Andrew Smith, lived nearby and paid
taxes for one slave and a riding chair in 1808. William Payne
paid taxes on the two hundred thirty acres of land and four
slaves. Mary Abigail Swint Payne was the first person to be
buried in the Payne Cemetery. A marble slab covers her
grave. Mary A. Payne - born 1768 - died 29 August, 1852.

From the History of Butler Co. Ala, by J. B. Little, pg. 29
stated "on the evening of the 14th. of Jan., 1819, the peace of
the happy forest of oaks was disburbed by a train of emigrants"
and the Paynes were listed among the first settlers to arrive.

From Butler County Reminsences by J. W. Wade, in 1874,
he pinpointed where the settlers lived, and stated that the
Paynes were located "on Persimmon Creek" while Mathew
Wood lived "in the village" (Greenville). Mathew is reputed to
be a son of Abraham Wood. One A. R. Wood was a witness
for James, son of John Swint, received an indigent pension.

When Butler Co. Ga. was created 13 Dec. 1819, and the first
election was held in August, 1820, the names of Samuel,
Daniel and John Payne were included on the list of voters.
In the election of 1826, Daniel Payne was elected Justice of
the Peace and William Payne, Jr. was elected Sheriff.
Nancy (Payne) Smith; Hannah (Payne) Wood; Samuel, John,
Daniel & William Payne settled in Butler Co. In 1830, Lowndes
Co. was formed from Butler, moving Daniel and William Payne
into Lowndes Co.

MOVING TO OUACHITA PARISH AND
THE FORMING OF UNION PARISH, LA.

In 1837, Hannah Payne and Mathew Wood, joined by her 
brother Daniel Payne, moved to Ouachita Parish, La. They 
were instrumental in forming Union Parish from Ouachita in 1839. 
Mathew Wood and his three son-in-laws: Henry P. Anderson,
John Taylor and William Cleaton Carr; Daniel Payne and his
son-in-law, Needham Bryan all played an important part in the
history of Union Parish. The records of the Union Parish Police
Jury are replete with their names in this endeavor.

In later life, Mary Abigail was blind and died in the home of her
son, William in Sandy Ridge (Lowndes Co.) Alabama. To the
union of William Payne and Mary Abigail Swint Payne there
was born:
Born Died

1. NANCY PAYNE 25-08-1786 09-05-1855 
2. HANNAH PAYNE 17-05-1791 09-02-1864
3. SAMUEL PAYNE ca 1793 -05-1864
4. DANIEL PAYNE ca 1795 1861
5. JOHN "Jack" PAYNE 17-08-1798 07-04-1880
6. WILLIAM "Billy" PAYNE 11-09-1800 20-09-1872

Married

Nancy Payne born in Richmond Co. Ga. died in Butler Co. Ala.
md. Andrew Smith about 1804 in Columbia Co. Ga. He was
born 16 Nov. 1785 and died 16 Oct. 1827 in Butler Co. Ala. They
were the parents of nine children.

Hannah Payne born in Columbia Co. Ga. died in Lincoln Parish,
La. md. ca 1808/9 in Ga. to MATHEW WOOD who was born 
29 Jul. 1791 in Ga. & died 20 Oct. 1855 in Lincoln Parish, La.
They are reputed to be the parents of six children. 

Samuel Payne who was born in Columbia Co. Ga. and died in
Butler Co. Ala. md. ca 1814 possibly to Sallie Davis (1795=1815)
in Twigs Co. Ga. (Unproven data)

Daniel Payne was born in Columbia Co. Ga. and died in Columbia
Co. Arkansas. Md. 1817 in Twiggs Co. Ga. to Elizabeth Dupree
(1794Ga.-4 Jun. 1868 in Union Parish, La.) They were the parents
of seven children.

John Payne was born in Columbia Co. Ga. and died in Butler Co.
Ala. He md. 20 Sep. 1820 in Butler Co. Ala. to Frances "Fannie"
Gafford 20 Sep. 1806 in Ga. (born 20-09-1806 in Ga. died 12 June
1881 in Butler Co. Ala.) They were the parents of twelve children.

William Payne Jr. born in Columbia Co. Ga.; died in Sandy Ridge,
Lowndes Co. Ala. Md. 17 Aug. 1824 in Butler Co. Ala. to Dorothy
"Dolly" Perry. (26 Dec. 1800 SC - 8 Apr. 1880).

HANNAH PAYNE & MATHEW WOOD

There has been much ado about the actual date of the marriage of
Hannah Payne and Mathew Wood according to a noted Ouachita
Parish historian. Since most of it is speculation due to the fact that
Mathew adopted some of the children at a later date to ensure they
would be his heirs should something happen to him. Twigs County
Court records had burned and the records had been destroyed by
fire which could account for a second marriage ca 1823. This was
not uncommon during that era.

The compiler will try to give you as accurate record as possible.
Corrections will be duly noted.

Thompson Wood married Eliza Hendrick on the 27th. day of March,
1845. He was reputed to have moved to Texas. He was living in
Claiborne Parish, La. when the 1850 census was taken.

Martin Wood left slaves and money for the children of Mary Wood 
and Henry P. Anderson. (Court document on file in Claiborne Parish,
Louisiana.) It is unclear to the compiler whether he was a son or
brother to Mathew Wood. His age in the Claiborne Parish census
show him as being sixty years old and born in Ga. Winnifred Harris
was 61 and born in NC. Nancy Doles was 30 years old and born in
La. She was cripple and living in his home.

Samuel Wood born 05 Mar. 1810. The compiler has no information
on this child.

Jane Wood born 22 Aug. 1811 She married Judge John Taylor.
They are interred in the Liberty (Taylor) Cemetery located in Union
Parish, Louisiana. John Taylor was a native of Ga. He was born
in 1804 and died in 1877. Jane died on the 15th. day of Apr., 1853.

Willis Wood born 5th. Dec. 1813 in the state of Ga. and departed
this life on the 1st. day of December, 187 in Lincoln Parish, La.
He is buried in the John Stow Cemetery. On the 6th. day of Mar.
1844 in Union Parish, La. he married Talitha Cumi Anderson, a
daughter of Talitha Cumi Stow and Dr. James Anderson who was
born in Tennessee. 
Talitha was born on the 29th. day of January, 1830 in La. and
died on the 2nd. day of July 1906 in Union Parish, La. 
He willed all his property to "Toby" meaning John S. Roane, witness
was E. M. McGee, L. E. McGee, and L.M. Gahagan. Will written by
E. M. Graham on 2 June, 1874 and was probated in 1877. It was stated
that J. S. Roane had reared Willis Wood and had always lived with him.
Willis Wood had been kicked by a mule some time before he wrote
his will and had been treated by a Dr. Roberts, having no permanent
home in North Louisiana, who practiced with the "Swedish Movements"
and this suit charged he was not mentally competent to make this will.
Wm. S. Kendall, a physician, age 36, stated he did not know the
parents of Willis Wood, that he had never lived more than 12-14 miles
from Willis Wood. Mrs. Goodgion, Pipes, and Mrs. Wood had waited
on Col. Wood at the time. Mrs. Sallie Carr had been a visitor ten or
fifteen days before he made his will. This suit inferred that Col. Willis
Wood had borrowed ten thousand dollars from the estate of Andrew
Gibson; adm. by J. S. Roane as tutor for the minor heirs on the
condition the loan be made in favor of J. S. Roane.
John Mitchell, the overseer born in 1826 in Ga. was lvg. with Willis
Wood in the 1870 census.
John Stowe Roane was born 26 June, 1850 and died 15 Feb. 1930.
He married Elizabeth (Bettie) Gibson.
Also living in the home of Willis Wood in 1870 was N. Baughman born
ca. 1857 and J. Baughman born about 1853 in La.
The compiler will let the records speak for themselves.

Sarah "Sallie" Wood born 27 Apr. 1819 in Ft. Dale, Ala. She married
Sheriff William C. Carr.Sallie died on the 22nd. day of Sep. 1890.
William Cleaton Carr, MD was born 3 Nov. 1809 in Laurence Co. Ga.
He died on the 18th. day of Jan. 1886 in Union Parish, La. He was
a brother to Allen Carr. In 1850 he was listed in the census as a
physician worth $2500.00.

Mary Wood - She was born 27 April, 1824 and died in July, 1847
in Union Parish, La. Probate Record on file in Union Parish, La. 
Book A-3 pg. 346. The succession mentions her husband, Henry
P. Anderson and her four children, (1) James Matthew Anderson
(2) Eliza Alice Anderson (3) Sarah Talitha Anderson and (4) William
Henry Anderson.

The John Stow Cemetery
Although the John Stow Cemetery is not often spoken of as the
Tobe Roane Cemetery, it is in reality a family graveyard of John
Stow, another of the earliest settlers of Union and Lincoln Parish, La.
Like the Feazel families of Union & Lincoln Parish, John Stow 
arrived within a short period after the Louisiana Purchase.
The cemetery was about seventy-five by ninety feet in size and
showed evidence of wealth of days gone by. Here is the resting
place of HANNAH PAYNE AND MATTHEW WOOD. This is also
where Willis Wood and his wife are interred. 
There stood an old four foot wall of flatiron rocks, laid one upon
the other. The wall was built by slave labor. In the north end is a
heavy iron gate ornately carved with flowers and the figure of a
small girl hung upon metal posts. Dozens of spring buds, daffodils,
jonquils and iris still grow. The old crepe myrtle bushes and some
of the cedar trees plus the remains of a brick walk once gave access
to the various graves. Abraham Stow was buried in 1829.
This is one of the earliest marked graves bearing markers with
dates in the parish. Talitha Cumi Anderson Stow was buried
5 Feb. 1830. The stone reads "Remember as you pass by, you must
die." 

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