I am 38 years old and have been researching my family tree for at least 8 years and found a wealth of information. My only regret is that I didn't start sooner.

My maternal line has been in the Lowndes County, Georgia area for over 150 years.  The surnames that I have researched on this side are: BAKER, BEAL, BOON, DASHER, HILL, MILLER, WATSON, WOLF

I have done the most research on the Millers.  The most distant ancestor that I know is Sophia Miller, oral history says that she came from Africa and was bought in Savannah, Georgia. Sophie and her children were freed and appear in the 1850 census for Lowndes County, Georgia (This is unusual because Blacks did not normally appear in the US Census until 1870). Two of Sophia’s sons, Aaron and John Miller, were owners of 480 acres of land. During that time they needed the help of a guardian to buy the land for $1,350. Aaron and John were no older than 19, 20 at the time and my best guest was that their guardian, Hamilton W. Sharpe, was their father (and gave them the money to buy the land). This land was located in an area of Lowndes County, that eventually became Hahira, Georgia.

After the civil war when the union army withdrew from this area, there was a lot of civil unrest. Jefferson Bracewell, Aaron Miller and 110 Black residents migrated to Arthington, Liberia (Africa) with the help of the American Colonization Society in 1871 and 1872. Aaron's brother, John, my 3rd great grandfather was suppose to go the following year, but the trip was cancelled due to the lack of funds. I have found living descendants of some of the families that migrated from Georgia to Liberia (a number of them live in the US).

Aaron Miller died in Liberia, and John Miller became the owner/administrator of the estate. John had two sons Augustus and, Isaac - My 2nd great grand father.

Augustus eventually accumulated over 500 acres; whereas, Isaac had over 400 acres. Eventually most of the land from both families was sold to pay debts, and my 2nd great grandfather Isaac was sued and lost all of his land. Eventually this side of my family moved to Valdosta, Georgia (the county seat for Lowndes).

My paternal line is from Southwest, Georgia (Location: Sylvester, Dawson, Ty Ty, and Albany, Georgia. Many of the SLADES and a few JACKSONS have move to New Jersey). The surnames that I have researched on this side are: GARDNER, HAMILTON, JACKSON, KNIGHTON, LITTLE, NERVY, SLADE.

The following info is more details about my family research.

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[BAKER]

Isom Baker: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1856, Georgia
Married: Minnie Wolf (born 1861)
Children: Garifield, Giber?, Laura, Isom, Mammie, John, Walter, Hattie
Residence: Valdosta, Georgia (Lowndes County)
Facts: Daughter- Mamie Baker married Lewis Hill

[BEAL]

Daniel Beal: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1869
Residence: Valdosta, Georgia (Lowndes County)
Facts: Married Mary Jane Miller, daughter of Isaac Miller and Jane Watson
Facts: Son- John Beal married Ida Hill

[BOON]

Mary Jane Boon: Most distant known ancestor
Residence: Thomasville, Georgia (Thomas County)
Facts: Son- Issac Miller (whose father was John and grandmother was Sophie Miller)

[DASHER]

Emma Dasher Wolf: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1840
Birthplace: South Carolina
Residence: Valdosta, Georgia (Lowndes County)
Facts: Maiden name- Dasher, Husband- Joseph Wolf

[GARDNER]

Spencer Gardner: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1822, Georgia
Married: Laura ?, born - South Carolina
Children: Aaron, Ephraim, Austin, Sarah
Residence: Dawson, Georgia (Terrell County)
Facts: Son- Aaron Gardner married Lou Nervy
Facts: Aaron and Lou Gardner's Children: Sellie, Annie, Fred, Licus (Ulysses), Pearl, Peter, Spencer, Laura, Bob, Hanna
Facts: Grandson - Robert "Bob" Gardner (1877 - 1922) married Mealie Knighton, their Children - Bishop, Margaret.

[HAMILTON]

Ben Hamilton: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1825
Married: Scilla ?
Children: Melia, Sylvia, Cornelia, Beu, James, Laura, Caroline
Residence: Calhoun County, Georgia
Facts: Daughter - Sylvia Hamilton married Abe Jackson

[HILL]

Lewis Hill: Most distant known ancestor
Residence: Valdosta, Georgia (Lowndes County)
Facts: Married Mamie Baker

[JACKSON]

Alford "Abe" Jackson: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1853, Calhoun Couty, Georgia
Married: Sylvia Hamilton
Children: Albert, Ben, Paul, Raney, Steller, Marley, Francis, Silas, Winder, Henry, Carla
Residence: Calhoun County, Georgia
Fact: lived in Early County, Georgia
Fact: Son - Bennie Jackson married Maylou Little
Fact: Shown as 28 years old in 1880 Early County, Georgia Census. Next Door neighbor was Joshua Jackson (62yrs) married to Rainey. Joshua could be Abe's father or uncle.

[KNIGHTON]

Mealie Gardner: Most distant known ancestor
Maiden Name: Knighton
Born: 1868
Facts: Married Robert Gardner
Residence: Dawson, Georgia (Terrell County)

[LITTLE]

Lewis Little: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1853, Clay County, Georgia
Married: Leah ? (born 1850)
Daughter: Maylou (born 1876), married Ben Jackson
Residence: lived Calhoun County, Georgia

[NERVY]

Lou Gardner: Most distant known ancestor
Maiden Name: Nervy
Born: 1860- 1946
Married: Aaron Gardner
Residence: Dawson, Georgia (Terrell County)

[MILLER]

Sophia Miller: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1800
Children: Amanda, John, Aaron, Jake (Jack?)
Residence: Hahira, Georgia (Lowndes County)
Facts: Sophia and her family were listed on 1850 Census as Freed Blacks
Facts: Sons - John and Aaron Miller owned 490 acres in Hahira, Georgia (purchased with the help of their guardian, Hamilton W. Sharpe).
Facts: Son- Aaron miller and his family immigrated to Liberia, Africa in 1872. Aaron died a few years after leaving Georgia (possibly of Malaria).
Facts: Grandsons- Augustus and Isaac Miller each owned over 400 acres of land in Hahira, GA.
Oral History: Sophia was bought as a slave in Savannah, Georgia

[SLADE]

Willie Lee Slade: Most distant known ancestor
Residence: Dawson, Georgia (Terrell County)
Son: Frank "Cab" Slade married Margaret Gardner, both resided in Sylvester, Georgia (Worth County).
Fact: Frank and Margaret Slade's children- Roosevelt, Nathaniel, Ben, Thelma, Iris

[WATSON]

Nelson Watson: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1820 (Georgia)
Married: Mary Jane ? (born 1835, Georgia)
Children: Martin, James, Jane, Joda, Willis, Green, Jacob, Eliza, Wilson, John
Residence: Valdosta, Georgia (Lowndes County)
Facts: Daughter- Jane Watson married Isaac Miller

[WOLF]

Joseph Wolf: Most distant known ancestor
Born: 1838, South Carolina
Married: Emma Dasher
Residence: Valdosta, Georgia (Lowndes County)
Children: Elizabeth, William, Robert, Susan, Minnie, John, Cilla, Eliza
Facts: Daughter- Minnie Wolf married Isom Baker
Facts: Cilla's daughters- Gracey and Emma
Facts: Eliza's son - Henry