BEST FAMILIES OF THE SCREVEN CO., GA AREA
Copyright © September 1999 - Thomas W. Mitchiner, Greenville, NC. These documents may be freely used for private purposes, and included in your own genealogy. However, this document is copyrighted by Thomas W. Mitchiner and may not be sold, nor given to anyone who may attempt to derive profit from same. First shown on GAGenWeb for Screven Co., GA on November 24, 2001. Last updated on October 20, 2005. Any corrections or additions would be welcome.
1820-1880 CENSUS RECORDS FOR SCREVEN AND EFFINGHAM CO. BEST FAMILIES
In 1793 Screven Co., GA was created from Burke Co., and Effingham
Co. Records start 1806. Visitor number
JOHN BEST, JR. of NC and descendants in Screven Co., GA.
A1. JOHN BEST, JR....Born about 1761 in Dobbs Co., NC and died 11 Nov 1836 at the age of 84 in Screven Co., GA where he had filed for a Rev. War Pension but died before receiving anything. He left no widow. He lived in Duplin Co., NC when he enlisted as a soldier and served for one year from 1781 to 1782 during which time he fought in the battle of Eutaw Springs in SC on the Savannah River near where the Browns lived on Sept 8, 1781. His oldest child, JACOB B. BEST was apparently born in SC around 1781. His son, JACOB BEST, is listed in Effingham Co., GA in the 1840 and 1860 GA Census. His adult children and his wife are listed with him in the 1860 census and he gives SC as his birth state. (See 1860 Effingham Co., GA Census.) Returning home from SC he married MARTHA WILLIAMS in NC on Apr 28, 1783 with a son named WILLIAM WILLIAMS. BENJAMIN BEST and JACOB WILLIAMS were witnesses and bondsmen. Those who were granted administration of the estate of WRIGHT WILLIAMS in on July 23, 1794 were his wife, TEMPERANCE WILLIAMS, his brother, JACOB WILLIAMS, and his brother-in-law, JOHN BEST, JR. JACOB WILLIAMS is named in the will of his father, GEORGE WILLIAMS, in 1816 in Duplin Co., NC. (line 553. WILLIAMS, GEORGE (CR.035.801.12/A-520), 11 Sep 1816 - Apr Term 1817, wife TABITHA negroes Kit, Jum, Amos & Lettice, one Fetherbed, all the household & kitchen furniture, plantation tools, all the Horses, Cattle & Hogs, every other kind of Stock; son JACOB & daus. MOURNING SHEPPARD, PATSEY BEST, MARY HARRIS, & grandau. MARY dau. of HENRY STOAKES negroes left to wife; grandau. MARY dau. of TEMPERANCE one Featherbed; grandson ROBERT son of ABSALOM BEST one Featherbed, extrs: GEORGE E. HOUSTON, EDWARD WILLIAMS, wit: JOHN PEARSALL, WILLIAM HARRIS, signed: GEORGE WILLIAMS.) He moved to Screven Co., GA soon after the Rev. War.
In Footprints on the Sands of Time by Youmans he is listed as a Revolutionary soldier whose grave is between RICKEY FREEMAN'S and BEST'S BRIDGE, Screven Co., GA. In 1812 he witnessed the Will of HEZEKIAH HOWARD with his son JACOB BEST and was perhaps the executor of the Will of JOHN MITCHINER in 1814. He is listed as being granted 60 acres in the 1817 Headright and Bounty Grants. In 1817 he was granted land with his son JACOB BEST from his son ABSALOM BEST. He was also granted land from the same son in 1818. JOHN BEST is listed in 1830 Ga census for Screven Co. as being between 70-80 years old. In 1834 he granted land to his son HENRY BEST. His pension application was filed 6 April 1835 in Screven Co. His children were listed as: JACOB, GEORGE, WILLIAM, HENRY, and ABSALOM. Since JOHN BEST, JR. has a son named ABSALOM there may be a connection, yet to be established, in North Carolina or Virginia with the ABSALOM BEST that died around 1790 in the Orangeburg District of South Carolina. (See Best Family for Allendale Co., SC.)
B1. WILLIAM WILLIAMS....Born _____and died ____. (Since he apparently died by 1796 he would not be the WILLIAM WILLIAMS that on Jan 17, 1806 married SARAH COOPER, daughter of BENJAMIN COOPER and his wife ELIZABETH (BEST) COOPER, Duplin Co., NC. Witnesses were ABSALOM BEST and W. WILLIAM DICKSON, CC. ) (Note: In a Feb 5, 1825 coneyance made in Screven Co., BURRELL WILLIAMS of Dooly Co. gave power of attorney to DAVID SCARBOROUGH of Dooly Co to dispose of a 500 acre tract of land in Screven Co. granted GEORGE COOPER and BURRELL WILLIAMS.)
B2. JACOB B. BEST.... Born about 1781 in SC or GA or NC depending on the census and died 1864 in GA. He was apparently born before his father, JOHN BEST, JR. married the MARTHA WILLIAMS who had a son named WILLIAM WILLIAMS. If this is the case it is unknown who his mother was. If he was born in SC his mother may have died there and his father could have returned to NC where he married MARTHA WILLIAMS. (Note: His father was in SC around 1781-1782 while serving with a unit from Duplin Co., NC and fought at the battle of Eutaw Springs on Sept 8, 1781 according to his Rev. War pension application. The battle was near the Browns home on the Savannah River. By the 1860 Effingham Co., GA census Jacob was born in SC around 1781.) In 1812 he witnessed the Will of HEZEKIAH HOWARD with his father. He was a Pvt. in GA Detached Militia. On Sept 25, 1814 he was listed with a WILLIAM BEST as a Georgia Volunteer Militia member in the War of 1812 and served in Lieutenant JOHN RAWL's Co., Georgia. . In 1817, with his father JOHN BEST, he received land from his brother ABSALOM BEST. In 1820 he is listed in the Headright and Bounty Grants as receiving 600 acres. In 1827 he received land through the Land Lottery in Lee Co., GA. Also in 1827 WILLIAM (BEST). MITCHINER became the guardian for HENRY B., JAMES J., and JOHN W. MEARS, orphan minors of JOHN MEARS, Screven Co., GA with security made by WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL, half brother of the Mear boys, and JACOB BEST. He married ELIZABETH NEWTON, born about 1791 GA and died _____. In 1845, at the age of 63, he filed on his father's Rev. War Pension and stated that of his father's children only he, GEORGE W., ABSALOM, and WILLIAM were still living. He is listed in the Effingham Co., GA 1840 and 1860 Census. His adult children and his wife are listed with him in the 1860 census. (See 1860 Effingham Co., GA Census.) He is listed in the 1850 GA Census for Screven Co. with his wife and their children: WILLIAM BEST, MARTHA BEST, AMERICA BEST, LOUISA BEST, HENRY BEST, DOLPHIS BEST, ISABEL BEST, and IRA BEST. (Contact Bunnie Gimer for information on the descendants of Jacob B. Best.)
C1. WILLIAM BEST.... Born about 1815 and died_____. By the 1850 GA Census he was born in 1815. (If he is the William Best in the 1880 GA Census for Effingham Co. he is a carpenter at age 66 living in the household of GOODWIN ABBOTH. His birthplace is given as SC and both his parents as GA.)
C2. MARTHA BEST.... Born about 1818 and died_____. Perhaps the SARAH MARTHA BEST that married WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS, January 9, 1850, Screven Co., GA. She is not listed with her parents in the 1860 Effingham Co., GA Census.
C3. M. AMERICA BEST....Born about 1825 and died_____.
C4. LOUISA R. BEST (BLACKBURN).... Born about 1827 and died_____. On Aug 2, 1849 she married, EPHRAIM BLACKBURN, Screven Co., GA. She is listed as wife of GEORGE W. HODGES.
C5. HENRY E. BEST....Born about 1834 and died_____.
C6. ADOLPHUS C. BEST....Born about February 1839, GA and died_____. He married MOSELLE C. ________, born about September 1838, GA and died ______. Like his father he lived in both Screven and Effingham Co., GA. He is in the 1870 Effingham Co., GA Census and 1880 Screven Co., GA Census. In the 1880 Screven Co. GA Census at age 41 his birthplace is given as GA and both of his parents as NC. They had four children.
D1. CHARLES E. BEST....Born about September
1866, GA and died _____. He married MARY______, born about January 1866,
GA and died ______. They moved to Savannah and are listed in the 1900 Chatham
Co., Ga Census. They had five children.
E1. EDWARD
BEST....Born about ______ and died_______.
E2. MILDRED
BEST....Born about ______ and died_______.
E3. CHARLES
LEANDER "LEE" BEST....Born about February 1893, GA and died _____.
He married LOIS S. GRIGGS, born about 1898, GA and died ______. He is listed
in the 1900 and 1920 Chatham Co., GA Census.
F1. HARRY
L. BEST....Born about 1914 and died_______.
F2. LOIS
BEST....Born about 1917 and died _______.
F3. MARY
CATHERINE BEST (CREVIS)....Born March 27, 1918 and died June 3, 1995
Gwinnett Co., GA. She had lived in Macon, Bibb Co., GA prior to her death.
She married JOHN M. CREVIS, SR. born June 8, 1917 and died May 13, 1993 DeKalb
Co., GA. He is buried at Arlington Memorial Park.
E4. MARTHA
BEST....Born August 1868 and died ______.
E5. MOSELLE
BEST....born about November 1897 and died ______.
D2. E. W. BEST....Born about 1868 and died ______.
D3. MARIE N. BEST....Born about 1870 and died_______.
D4. ANNIE M. BEST....Born about August 1874 and died _____.
C7. ISABEL BEST....Born about 1841 and died_____. Not in the 1860 Effingham Co., GA Census.
C8. IRA BEST....Born about 1843 and died _____. Not in the 1860 Effingham Co., GA Census.
B3. ABSALOM BEST.... Born about 1789 and died Sep. 24, 1852. On Sep 16, 1817 he granted land to JOHN BEST and JACOB BEST. On Oct 20, 1818 he granted more land to JOHN BEST. In 1829 he served on the Pettit Jury for Screven Co. and in 1832 he participated in the Georgia Gold Lottery for the distribution of Cherokee Nation land. By his first wife, MARTHA FAIN their were two children: MARTHA M. W. "PATTY" BEST and LEVI HOWARD BEST. (If CHARITY ANN BEST is his child he was also married to ANNA JEAN HOWARD.) In 1844 and 1848 he and his son LEVI HOWARD BEST apparently exchanged some lands. In the 1850 census he is listed as 61 years old living with ELIZABETH LEE who was 55 yrs old. He is listed on the same census page with his son LEVI BEST and his family. In Footprints on the Sands of Time, by Youmans, the ABSALOM BEST Cemetery was 5 miles south of Captola, but no longer exists. According to Robbins family geneology, his second or third wife was REBECCA ROBINS (b. ca. 1811 and was living in 1880 at time of census.) They married Mar. 2, 1852 (same year ABSALOM BEST died) and had one child, ABSALOM P. "TOBY" BEST born 1853. He never married and had a shoe shop in Sylvania, GA. He is listed as 7 years old with his mother, REBECCA BEST, a widow, in the 1860 census.
C1. MARTHA M. W. "PATTY" BEST (ROBBINS)....Born about 1819 and died____. She married ELIJAH T. ROBBINS on Dec. 19, 1836. Her husband was a brother of REBECCA (ROBINS) BEST, wife of ABSALOM BEST, father of MARTHA. She is listed with her husband and one 30 year old son in the 1880 GA Screven Co. Census. Her age is given as 61 and her husband's age as 63. She gives her birthplace GA and both her parents birthplace as NC.
D1. MOURNING C. ROBBINS....Born 1850 and died ____. No other information.
C2. LEVI HOWARD BEST....Born 1817 and died ____. On Feb 13, 1844 LEVI H. BEST granted ABSALOM BEST land and ABSALOM BEST granted LEVI H. BEST land on Dec 5, 1848. His wife by 1850 GA Census is apparently PHERIBY (ROBBINS) BEST (b. 1825 and d. 1880 in Screven co., Georgia). She is the sister of REBECCA (ROBINS ) BEST, wife of ABSALOM BEST, father of LEVI. Their children were: ELIZA, ABSALOM, MARTHA, BENJAMIN. LEVI H. BEST married ELIZABETH COLE (or COIL) in Screven Co., Georgia on Jan. 9, 1840. (LDS records show he married ELIZABETH GAIL.) (Contact Kim Mock for information on the descendants of Levi Best.)
D1. ELIZA E. BEST (NEWTON)....Born Dec. 14 1840 and died Mar 1, 1920. She married WILLIAM R. NEWTON, SR. (b. Apr. 3, 1836 and d. Jul. 17, 1916). Their children were MACK NEWTON, LIZZIE NEWTON, and HARRIET EMANDA NEWTON.
D2. ABSALOM BEST....Born about 1842 and died ____. He is listed in the 1860 census at the age of 18 after a 49 yr old widow REBECCA BEST with a 7 yr old son ABSALOM BEST. She may be his grandmother. He served in the 25th GA and died Sep. 19, 1863 at Chickamauga.
D3. BENJAMIN BEST....Born about 1847 and died ____. He married CELIA BOBBINS Jan 15, 1867 in Screven Co.
C3. CHARITY ANN BEST (LEE)....Born Nov. 11, 1820 and died Mar. 5, 1892 and buried at Screven Co. Doubleheads Baptist Church Cemetery. Married JOSEPH "JOSIAH LEE. Her parents were ABSALOM BEST and ANNA JEAN HOWARD. Her cemetery record is the only found reference to her as a child of ABSALOM BEST. She is in the 1880 GA Census for Screven Co. at the age of 59 with her husband who is 77. She gives he birthplace as GA and the birthplace of both her parents as NC. They are in the household of LEVI A. LEE.
D1. LEVI A. LEE....Born 1850 and died
____. He married SARAH J.____(b. 1855 and d.____). In the 1880 GA Census
for Screven Co. he gives his mother's birthplace as GA and his father's as
NC. No other information.
E1. CLINTON
LEE....Born 1876 and died_______.
E2. KNOW
LEE....Born about 1878 and died_______.
E3. JOEL
L. LEE....Born 1779 and died______.
C4. ABSALOM P. "TOBY" BEST....born 1853. He never married and had a shoe shop in Sylvania, GA. He is listed as 7 years old with his mother, REBECCA BEST, a widow, in the 1860 GA Screven Co. Census.
B4. GEORGE BEST.... Born between 1790 and 1800 by the 1830 GA Screven Co. Census and by the 1860 GA Effingham Census for he was born in GA in 1801. He died ____. (If he is the George Best at age 92 in the 1880 GA Census for Effingham Co. he was born about 1788 in NC.) In 1820 he is listed in the Headright and Bounty Grants as receiving 800 acres. In 1822 he was an appraiser for the estate of WILLIAM BRADY and in 1824 served as a appraiser with JOHN R. THOMPSON for SIMON SMITH, guardian of the heirs of HENRY MEGEE. In 1833 he is listed in the Headright and Bounty Grants as receiving 893 and 516 acres. A 1839 tax return for a GEORGE BEST was filed for Irwin Co., GA. Perhaps the same person as GEORGE W. BEST. He would have been born between 1780-1790 in 1840 GA Census. He is first mentioned in 1820 as receiving a land deed from JOHN M. LUCAS in Screven Co. He is also an appraiser in 1827 with JOHN R. THOMPSON and LEWIS M. STRICKLAND as executor for estate of HENRY MEGEE. (A GEORGE BEST was licensed to preach at the Middle Ground Church, Sylvania, GA. He married MARY CONE LEE, widow of DAVID LEE. She was first married about 1804-1806. She had children for both husbands. Reportedly, however, her husband came from Barnwell, SC in early 1800's. In 1862 a MARY BEST died and was buried at Sand Pond Cemetery, next to the Middle Ground Baptist Church, Screven Co. She was 75 and born in 1787.) In the 1880 GA Census for Effingham Co. his age is given as 92 yrs. old and NC is given as his birth palce and the birthplace of both his parents. His wife, Mary, is 55 yrs. old.
B5. WILLIAM BEST.... Born between 1790 and 1800 by the 1830 GA Census and died____. Because of age differences he could not be either WILLIAM WILLIAMS stepson of JOHN BEST unless he used the same surname or WILLIAM BEST son of JACOB BEST above. He was listed in Screven Co. with a wife and three children. On Sept 25,1814 he was listed with JACOB BEST as a Georgia Volunteer Militia member in the War of 1812. In Screven Co., Georgia on May 3, 1822 he married SARAH HOWARD. In 1827 he received land through the Land Lottery in Troup Co., GA. He was listed in the 1832 Georgia Gold Lottery for the distribution and settlement of Cherokee Nation land. In 1834 he is listed with his brother HENRY BEST Pettit Jury for Screven Co. In 1835 he was paid $76.41 for taking care of ANNA JANE HOWARD for year. She seems to be a sister-in-law by his brother ABSALOM and perhaps the mother or sister of his wife. No record after 1835.
B6. HENRY BEST....Born_____ and died______. Apparently youngest son of JOHN BEST. He was born between 1810 and 1820 by 1840 GA Census. Probably he and his family were living with his father in 1830 GA Census but appears to be born between 1800 and 1810. Died about 1843. In Screven Co., Georgia on Jan. 22, 1828 he married ELIZABETH WILLIAMS. Her father, SAMUEL WILLIAMS was born July 2, 1759 in Duplin Co., NC and died July 4, 1838 in Bulloch Co., GA. He may be the son of DAVID WILLIAMS and SARAH MATHIAS. Her mother ws MARY _____, born on October 7, 1769 in NC and died before 1856 in Bulloch Co., GA. Besides ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, their other children were ROBERT R. , SARAH (married 1. THOMAS RAWLS, 2. ANDREW WILSON), and JOHN (He married SUSANNAH______. They had a daughter MARY (Margaret) ANN “Maggie” WILLIAMS (b. October 28, 1838 and d. July 24, 1884) that married PAUL GREEN BOYKIN on April 22, 1875 as his second wife.) In 1827 HENRY BEST received land through the Land Lottery in Lee Co., GA. with JACOB BEST and WILLIAM B.(BEST) MITCHINER and is listed in the 1832 Georgia Gold Lottery for the distribution and settlement of Cherokee Nation land. He served on Pettit Jury for Screven Co. in 1834 and in that year he also received land from his father. (LDS records show a daughter of HENRY BEST, MARY ANN BEST, was born 1825 and married JAMES E. ARCHER in 1847.) In 1840 GA Census he is listed with his wife, five children, and an elderly female between 70 and 80 yrs old. His widow was perhaps ELIZABETH BEST in 1850 GA Census with children: GEORGE BEST, VICKY BEST, JANICE BEST, HENRIETTA BEST, and JANE BEST.
C1. GEORGE BEST....Born ____ and died_____.
C2. VICKY BEST....Born ____ and died_____.
C3. JANICE BEST....Born ____ and died_____.
C4. HENRIETTA BEST....Born ____ and died_____.
C5. JANE BEST....Born ____ and died_____.
C6. MARY ANN BEST (ARCHER) ? ....Born Nov 13, 1825 and died ____. She married JAMES E. ARCHER Mar 4, 1847 in Screven Co., GA (LDS Records).
JOHN B.(BROWN) BEST of SC and relations in Screven Co., GA.
(See Best Family for Allendale Co., SC.)
A1. JOHN BROWN BEST ....Born on May 5, 1773 in SC. He married ELIZABETH J. COLDING. She was born on December 1, 1790 and was the daughter of HENRY COLDING and JENNETTE BRYAN. Their children were HENRY COLDING BEST, MARY ANN BROWN BEST, ORSAMUS HARDEN BEST, JOHN AUSTIN BEST, LOUISANA BENNETT BEST, WILLIAM BARTLETT BEST, FRANCIS MARION BEST, and JASPER BENAJAH BEST. JOHN B. BEST was a witness with TARLTON B. BEST to the sale of 146 acres in Screven Co., Georgia to JOHN H. SMITH by WILLIAM BEST MITCHINER and his wife CHARLOTTE. JOHN B. BEST was an executor with WILLIAM B. MITCHINER of the estate of TARLTON B. BEST of Screven Co., who died in 1824. His eldest son, HENRY C. moved to Screven Co. Georgia by 1860.
C1. JOHN B. BEST....Born 1835.
WILLIAM B. (BEST) MITCHINER ....Born about 1792 in SC and died ____Jul. 19, 1865 in Randolph Co., GA. On Dec. 5, 1814 the Will of his step-father, JOHN MITCHINER, was filed in Screven Co., GA. His Will was written in 1809 and leaves his wife, LUVISEA, the plantation and five negroes slaves, JACK, JERRY, HANNER, HARRIET, NELLY. JOHN BEST was the executor. His mother, LUVICY BEST died May 3, 1815 and left him the plantation and six negroes: JERRY, ISAAC, JACK, HARRIET, HANNER, NELLY. On Dec. 11, 1815 he had 386 acrea of land surveyed and on Mar. 20, 1819 he sold 146 acres with his wife CHARLOTTE (OLIVER) MITCHINER to JOHN H. SMITH with TARLTON BEST and JOHN B. BEST as witnesses. He received in the 1820 Headrights and Bounty Grants as WILLIAM H. BEST 396 and 600 acres. In 1822 he purchased 160 acres from ELIJAH E. PICKREN.
His land in Screven Co., perhaps listed as WILLIAM B. BEST, and the property of WILLIAM W. OLIVER, CHARLES R. NESMITH, JOHN POLLOCK and JACOB LEWIS border the 700 acreas sold for $1400 by JAMES OLIVER to THOMAS OLIVER on 31 Aug 1822. The property was part of five tracts in or near Burke Co. originally granted JAMES OLIVER, WILLIAM HURST, LEWIS HURST, LEWIS HUTCHESON, JACOB CLEMONS, and DORCAS PICKINS. The sale was witnessed by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER. (The property is apparently close to that of TARLTON BEST by his estate settlement. Personal property items were sold 16 April 1825 by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER in estate settlment to: JOHN H. NESMITH, THOMAS W. OLIVER, and JACOB OLIVER.)
On Dec 14, 1822 his name was legally changed by the House of Representatives from WILLIAM H. BEST to WILLIAM B. MITCHINER. The names of his two children were also changed from Best to JOHN H. MITCHINER and MARY W. MITCHINER.
In 1823 he sold 160 acres to WILLIAM W. OLIVER. At a Sheriff's sale he had 184 acres of pine land levied against in favor of execution of JACOB FREEMAN and also in favor of JOHN POLLOCK. Land joined property of THOMAS W. OLIVER and JOHN POLLOCK. THOMAS W. OLIVER paid WILLIAM B. MITCHINER $116 for the land. Land of WILLIAM B. MITCHINER and WILLIAM OLIVER mentioned as adjoining 60 acres of PATIENCE MOBLEY levied against on 8 Aug 1822 to satisfy fi fa for JAMES OLIVER on Mobley's Pond.
In 1827 he became the guardian for HENRY B., JAMES J., and JOHN W. MEARS, orphan minors of JOHN MEARS, Screven Co., GA with security made by JACOB BEST and WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL the half brother of the Mear boys. On Mar 4, 1822 JOHN MEARS had become the guardian of WILIAM D. CAMPBELL with JOHN H. SMITH and STEPHEN BUTLER as security. In 1827 he received land in Lee Co., GA in the GA Land Lottery. He moved to Randolph Co. GA by 1835, but sold on April 22, 1852 to ALEXANDER KEMP 415 acres in Screven Co., GA. When he died in 1865 in Randolph Co. he identified 500 acres he still owned in Screven Co., Georgia on Horse Creek. (See The Best of the Mitchiners.)
TARLTON B. (BROWN) BEST....Born in 1789 SC according to the JOHN B. BEST family Bible and his death was reported in the Augusta Chronicle on 15 Sept 1824. He married SARAH JELKS, widow of NATHANIEL H. JELKS after 1818. The Will of NATHANIEL H.. JELKS was dated Mar. 27, 1818 in Barnwell Co., SC. He left five dollars each to unnamed brothers and sisters and half brothers and sisters. His wife was left the slaves, viz: CIDNEY, SELAH, ISUM, VILET and GILLARD with issue, CAROLINE with issue. Stated in Aud HARRIS vs JOHN L. ATKINSON and TARLTON B. BEST, filed February 4, 1822, SARAH JELKS died 11 months after their marriage. JOHN B. BEST is crossed out and TARLTON B. BEST is written over the name. JOHN L. ATKINSON had been an executor with SARAH JELKS of the estate of NATHANIEL JELKS. This case as LUD HARRIS vs JOHN L. ATKINSON and TARLTON B. BEAT can be found for the Barnwell Equity and Chancery Court for June 22, 1822 in LDS records, Box 14, Group 28, Frame Number 527. He was the guardian of WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL and THOMAS B. CAMPBELL. On June 5, 1820 he filed to administer the estate of THOMAS B. CAMPBELL. He was a deceased orphan of ISRAEL CAMPBELL with WILLIAM B. MITCHINER as security.
He had many legal problems as found in the Augusta Chronicle and Georgia Gazette around 1822. Three negros, namely ISHAM, JEFFREY, and ANDREW levied on his property in favor of JAMES G. SALISBURY vs him and WILLIAM B. MITCHINER also to satisfy fi fa in favor of WILLIS YOUNG vs him and STEPHEN BUTLER. One negro woman named SIDNEY taken from him in favor of A.S. JONES and also do satify executiion in favor of R. CONE. SIDNEY also taken from him to satisfy an execution in favor of BRITTON PRICE.
The Will of TARLTON B.BEST was dated Dec. 17, 1821. He left 11 slaves; EFFY, JUNE, ANDREW, SAMUEL, CAROLINA and child SIDNY, SEAY and child CAROLINA, GILLY, HANNER. They were divided with named property between ORASAMUS H. BEST son of JOHN B. BEST, JOHN H. MITCHINER son of WILLIAM B. MITCHINER, and WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL, all minors. Property in S.C. was listed as 50 acres on Jackson Branch, and 98 acres on King Creek in Barnwell, SC. JOHN H. SMITH, JOHN B. BEST, and JOHN MEARS (husband of Leodicy Best-Campbell-Mears) were bequeathed $.75 each. The Will was presented by WILLIAM B.MITCHINER who was an executor with JOHN B. BEST. The witnesses were THOMAS SCARBROUGH, PAUL WILLIAMSON, and JOSEPH Y. GARLINGTON.
Other BEST references in SCREVEN CO., GA.
GEORGE N. BEST....Born abt 1815 in Screven Co., GA____ and died_____. In 1860, age 45, he living in Chatham Co. with his wife, Amelia L (age 27) and children Ashley O. (age 13) and Alaren E. (age 10). He is a fisherman.
J.M BEST....Born ____ and died_____. In Apr. 29, 1836 deed he received land in Screven Co., GA from PETER ARNETT.
SARAH BEST (ROYALS or RYALL)....Born ____ and died_____. On Dec 24, 1834 she married WILLIAM ROYALS or RYALL.
JOHN W. BEST....Born 1826 and died Dec. 3, 1880 at the age of 57, 4 mo. and 27 days and is buried at the Middle Ground Baptist Church Cemetery. He was born 1826 and married on May 24, 1849, REBECKAH HUNTER, Screven Co, GA. They are in the 1860 GA Census for Screven Co.
TWILLON B. BEST....Born ____ and died_____. He is listed as J.P. on Jan 12, 1822 when STEPHEN L. HARRINGTON of Screven Co., GA gave power of attorney to JOHN L. RICHARDSON of Habersham Co., GA.
ZIGA A. BEST (NEWTON)....Born ____ and died_____. On Oct. 14, 1856, she married WILLIAM R. NEWTON.
CAROLINE BEST (SMITH)....Born____ and died ____. She married MILLINGTON SMITH (b. 6 Feb 1814 and d. ____). They resided in the Screven/Effingham area.
BEST buried at Doubleheads Baptist Church Cemetery, SCREVEN CO., GA.
| NAME | BIRTHDATE | FATHER | SPOUSE | DIED | MOTHER |
| CHARITY ANN BEST | 11 Nov. 1820 | ABSALOM BEST | JOSEPH "JOSIAH" LEE | 5 Mar. 1892 | ANNA JEAN HOWARD |
| CLYDE W. BEST | 13 Oct. 1920 | PAUL BEST | 8 Jan 1945 | ||
| BEST - infant | Oct. 1911 | R.W. BEST | |||
| PAUL BEST (race black) | 24 Aug 1879 | 28 Feb. 1947 |
BEST references in EFFINGHAM CO., BULLOCK CO., and LIBERTY CO., GA.
SABELLA L. BEST (HODGE) ....Born ____ and died_____. She married AMBROSE HODGE Apr 16, 1857 in Effingham Co.
LOUISA H. BEST (HODGE)....Born ____ and died_____. She married G.W.HODGE Apr 23, 1863 in Effingham Co. LOUISA L. BEST married GEORGE W. WILLIAMS Jun 10, 1857 in Bullock Co.
BENAJAH BEST ....Born about 1775 and died_____. He lived in the Barnwell area of SC. His wife was ELIZABETH. He paid MARY ODOM in 1814 $500 for her rights and demands on estate of neice ANN PURVIS, deceased, together with any claims on estate of nephew, WILLIAM PURVIS. (See Best Family for Allendale Co., SC.)
CAROLINA BEST....Born_____and died _____. She is listed on Effingham Co. Records Index, Para 177, page 132. .
WILLIAM BEST....Born ____ and died_____. He is listed on Effingham Co. Records Index, Pages 149 and 178.
BEST of the problems needing resolutions
I've added some notes that I made in 2002 this year on the Best families in Screven Co. and Effingham Co., GA . I've also put what I have on the Best families in census records for those counties as a link on this site. Any additions or corrections would be appreciated. You may have more complete census records than I do. I seem to have Jacob in both Screven Co. and Effingham Co. in the 1850 census. I do not know which William Best it is in the 1880 Effingham census that was born in SC and his parents in GA. Adolphus in the same census gives his place of birth as GA and his parents as NC. Jacob, who is their father, gave his birthplace as SC in the 1860 Effingham Co. census. I do not have 1870 census records.
1820-1880 CENSUS RECORDS FOR SCREVEN AND EFFINGHAM CO. BEST FAMILIES
GAGenWeb - Screven County, Georgia