POST 1790 ORANGEBURG CENSUS AREA BESTS

TARLTON B. (BROWN) BEST

He was born on October 13, 1789 and died in 1824 in Screven Co., Georgia at the age of 35. He was just three years older than WILLIAM H. (B. MITCHINER) BEST. There is a copy of a page from the JOHN B. BEST Bible that records his birth date along with the children of JOHN B. BEST and his wife ELIZABETH (COLDING) BEST. It is unknown if this Bible still exists or who has it in their possession. It is apparent from the page that was copied that there are other names in the Bible and a careful examination of the Bible might settle the actual relationship of TARLTON with JOHN B. and WILLIAM B. MITCHINER. JOHN B. BEST was 16 years old when TARLTON was born. TARLTON was perhaps his brother, half brother or nephew. He could be one of either of the males under 16 in the 1790 South Carolina Census listed with the SARAH or the HENRY (2) BEST households. MARY BROWN BEST above could not be his mother since her husband, HENRY, was killed in 1780 by Tories. TARLTON is probably the son of HENRY BEST, SR. and after his father died he was raised by his uncle, JOHN B. BEST. He is likely the male 16-26 years old listed in the JOHN B. BEST household in the 1810 South Carolina Census for Barnwell District. With JOHN B. BEST in 1816 he purchased 196 acres on Sand Hill Pond waters of the Savannah River. This land bordered property of JOHN B. BEST, JAMES SMITH, and Dr. ELIJAH. GILLETT. He married SARAH JELKS, widow of NATHANIEL H. JELKS. The property of her husband passed to her in his Will dated March 27, 1818. Her property, all slaves, passed to TARLTON B. BEST on her death which was only eleven months after they married. 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.

On May 30, 1819 he borrowed $2000 from JOHN B. BEST to be repaid in one year. He would forfeit four slaves named HANNAH, JUNE, JEFFERY, and ANDREW if he did not repay. On March 20, 1819 he witnessed in Screven Co., Georgia with JOHN B. BEST the sale of 146 acres by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER and his wife CHARLOTTE to JOHN H. SMITH. In 1818 he became the guardian of THOMAS W. and WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL with security given by JOHN SMITH and STEPHEN BUTLER. On June 5, 1820 he applied to administer the estate of THOMAS W. CAMPBELL with security given by WILLAM B. MITCHINER. The Campbell boys were the children of ISRAEL CAMPBELL and LAODICA (DICY).  ISRAEL and LAODICA CAMPBELL also had a daughter, POLLIE CAMPBELL. POLLIE married JAMES BOWIE and moved to Georgia. LAODICA (BEST) CAMPBELL married JOHN MEARS after her husband died and they moved to Georgia. They had three children: HENRY B., JAMES J., and JOHN W. MEARS. In 1822 STEPHEN BUTLER and JOHN SMITH asked to be released as securities for TARLTON. TARLTON sued JOHN SMITH for $3000 in property damage to crops on 350 acres of land. No record has been found of his 350 acres in Screven Co., Georgia. JOHN MEARS became guardian of WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL. In 1824 TARLTON was sued by WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL and JOHN MEARS for $600 each stemming from his guardianship.

His Will was dated December 17, 1821. JOHN B. BEST and WILLIAM B. MITCHINER were the executors. It was filed by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER on October 5, 1824 in Screven Co., Georgia. JOHN B. BEST, JOHN H. SMITH, and JOHN MEARS were bequeathed seventy five cents each. He divided his eleven slaves between ORSAMUS H.(HARDEN) BEST born 1815, JOHN H.(HARDEN) MITCHINER born 1818, and WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL born 1801. ORASMUS H. BEST was the second or third son of JOHN B. BEST. JOHN H. MITCHINER was the eldest son of WILLIAM B. MITCHINER. WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL was the son of LEODICA (DICY) BEST CAMPBELL MEARS. He listed his land as 50 acres on Jackson Branch and 98 acres on King Creek in South Carolina. Note that ABSALOM BEST had land on King Creek. The 98 acres on King Creek was probably his half of the 196 acres on the Sand Hill Pond waters of the Savannah River that he purchased with JOHN B. BEST in 1816. The appraisers of the estate were JACOB LEWIS, ELIJAH WADE, and ELIJAH OLIVER.

His personal property items were sold on April 16, 1825 by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER in the estate settlement to JOHN H. NESMITH, THOMAS W. OLIVER, and JACOB OLIVER. Many legal cases are mentioned in the Augusta Chronicle from 1826 through 1828 that were filed by SAMUEL BUTLER against the estate of TARLTON B. BEST and settled by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER.

WILLIAM H. (MITCHINER) BEST  (Contact: M. Brown) (See Randolph Co., GA website Mitchiner Family)

He was born on October 27,1792 in South Carolina. The Will of WILLIAM H. BROWN of Screven Co., Georgia is the first record found of WILLIAM H. BEST using the surname MITCHINER. The Will was written on September 12, 1812. It was witnessed by JOHN MITCHINER, WILLIAM H. B. MITCHINER and J. W. WADE. WILLIAM H. BROWN left his property to his two daughters, ZILPAH and ELIZA. He is probably the same WILLIAM H. BROWN with property near lands belonging to JOHN B. BEST that signed a petition on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River for a river landing road.

His widowed mother, LUVICY, died in 1815. In her Will she left him the same property, possessions, and five slaves she inherited in 1814 from her deceased husband, JOHN MITCHINER, plus an additional slave. In her Will written May 3, 1815 she referred to her son as WILLIAM H. BEST. In a receipt for his mother as the executrix for the Will of JOHN MITCHINER on June 5, 1815 he gave his name as W. H. MITCHINER. By 1819 he had married CHARLOTTE OLIVER. She signed with him on a deed of sale for 146 acres in Screven Co., Georgia. He signed his name as WILLIAM B. MITCHINER. It was probably her property. She may also have owned slaves when they married. In addition to the property inherited from his mother and the property of his wife he also received two Screven Co., Georgia land grants in 1820.

CHARLOTTE's parents were PRISCILLA WILLIAMS and JAMES OLIVER. The father of PRISCILLA was WILLIAM WILLIAMS. Based on the age of her father he was not the WILLIAM WILLIAMS who was the stepson of JOHN BEST, JR. of Screven Co., Georgia. The interest of PRISCILLA as a heir of her father, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, was conveyed in Screven Co. to ENOCH GODFREY on July 27, 1797. The land involved was 1/10th interest in 240 acres. This was a pond tract that was divided into 10 equal sections with the names of PRISCILLA W. OLIVER and MARY W. LIVINGSTON written on two sections. The will was witnessed by SETH WILLIAMS, FRANCIS GODFREY, and ANSON WILLIAMS. On March 21, 1799 JAMES and PRISCILLA OLIVER conveyed to ENOCH GODFREY land described as adjoining land of WILLIAM WILLIAMS, deceased and JOHN WILLIAMS deceased. The witnesses were JOHN SMITH, HENRY CRAGG, and CHARLOTTE CRAG.

The estate of JAMES OLIVER, the father-in-law of WILLIAM B. MITCHINER, was divided on June 7, 1826 in Screven Co. into five equal shares. Lot # 1 went to GEORGE POLLOCK, guardian of JAMES M. POLLOCK. Lot # 2 went to THOMAS W. OLIVER. Lot # 3 went to WILLIAM W. OLIVER. Lot # 4 went to DORTHY THOMPSON the widow of BRYAN THOMPSON. Lot # 5 went to WILLIAM B. MITCHINER the husband of CHARLOTTE MITCHINER. Lot # 5 consisted of 500 acres in Screven Co., Georgia. This land is either the property sold by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER on December 4, 1843 to RANSOM ROGERS or the 500 acres mentioned in 1865 in WILLIAM's Will.

While WILLIAM B. MITCHINER was involved in many land dealings, in many cases it is impossible to tell when he sold a piece of land he acquired or acquired a piece of land he sold. On August 31, 1822 WILLIAM B. MITCHINER is listed as a witness with ANTHONY LEWIS to his father-in-law, JAMES OLIVER, conveying 1000 acres to THOMAS OLIVER for $1400. This land was partly in Burke Co. and partly in Screven Co., Georgia. The land was originally granted JAMES OLIVER on February 4, 1801. The land was "South westwardly" bounded by the land of WILLIAM B. BEST and JACOB LEWIS. If this WILLIAM B. BEST is not a reference to WILLIAM H. MITCHINER than this could be the only reference to his possible biological father. If this is correct than WILLIAM B. BEST is probably a son of HENRY BEST who came from Georgia and married MARY BROWN who is listed as a head of household in the 1790 South Carolina Census for Orangeburg District.

On December 22, 1822 WILLIAM H. BEST had his name legally changed by the Georgia House of Representatives at Milledgeville to WILLIAM B. MITCHINER. He also changed the name of his eldest son from JOHN H. BEST to JOHN H. MITCHINER and his eldest daughter's name from MARY W. BEST to MARY W. MITCHINER. He was an executor with JOHN B. BEST of the Will of TARLTON B. BEST filled by WILLIAM H. MITCHINER on October 5, 1824 in Screven Co., Georgia. Around 1831 he moved his family to Randolph Co., Georgia. His wife died there around 1837. On September 10, 1838 he married SARAH CORAM. He died on July 19, 1865 and is buried at the Benevolence Baptist Church Cemetery in Randolph Co., Georgia.

A complete record on WILLIAM B. MITCHINER and his immediate descendants can be found under "Randolph County Families" on the GAGenWeb site for Randolph Co., GA.

MARY (2) (MUNSON) BEST

Mary was the sister of RIGHT MUNSON. In the 1790 Census for Orangeburg District, PATIENCE MUNSON was the head of a family and a neighbor of the three Best families in the census. The family included another female and four slaves. He left his sister his plantation, 35 head of cattle, 100 hogs and its current crops on March 28, 1801.

BENEJAH B. (BROWN) BEST and Descendants

He was born around 1775 in the Orangeburg District of South Carolina. He should be one of the three males under 16 males in the three Best families in the 1790 Orangeburg District Census of South Carolina. His father is very possibly ABSALOM above. His wife could not be the ELIZABETH that witnessed the will of ABSALOM in 1790 since they probably did not marry until about 1810 when their first child was born. The first record of him is a case in 1801 when he was sued by SALLY MUNSON and had to pay $200. He sold to TARLTON BROWN a female slave named Easter for $250. The case of BENEJAH BEST vs. JOHN MITCHONSON was decreed January 1, 1807 for $50. He purchased from RICHARD GILL a 135 acre plantation on the south side of Jacksons Branch for $237. On January 6, 1808 he was appointed an appraiser with JOHN BEST, MICHAEL BROWN, BARTLET BROWN and JACOB KETTLES for LEODICA CAMPBELL the administrator of her husbands, ISRAEL CAMPBELL, estate. In 1810 he paid a $.74 Tax Return in Barnwell Co. In 1812 he sold a 177 acre plantation being half of a 354 acre tract at the Big Branch and Jacksons Branch. In the War of 1812 he served in the 2nd Rgt., (OSWALD's) 2nd Battalion, South Carolina State Troops as a sergeant.

He is listed on an undated petition as an inhabitant of Barnwell on the Savannah River for a river landing road between the lands of SARAH OVERSTREET, SAMUEL MAINER, and JOHN BEST. Other names on the petition included MICHAEL BROWN, BARNETT H. BROWN and WILLIAM H. BROWN, JAMES OVERSTREET as well as JOHN B. BEST.

He paid Mary Odom $500 in 1814 for her interest in the estate of ANN PURVIS together with any interest in the estate of the estate of WILLIAM PURVIS. In the case on MARY ROWLAND vs BENAJAH BEST filed July 23, 1822, he claimed that ELIZABETH PURVIS left him her estate in 1807. He took care of her husband WILLIAM PURVIS for a year until he died and then cared for her until she died. He purchased three female slaves for his children, MARY, SARAH and ABSALOM B. in 1822. In a "Bill of Revivor" filed March 16, 1824 in the MARY ROWLAND vs BENAJAH BEST case, it appears that BENEJAH BEST had died and that his widow, ELIZABETH BEST, was the administrator of his estate. His widow could be ELIZABETH in the 1830 census. He was around 57 years old when he died. Along with his wife that received one third of the estate, the children mentioned in his estate settlement filed June 4, 1832 in Barnwell District, South Carolina are: ABSALOM BLANCHARD BEST, MARY BEST, and SARAH MIXON. Since BLANCHARD is a given name among the COLDINGS, it is likely that his wife is related to that family.

B1. ABSALOM (2) BLANCHARD BEST, SR..... Born Apr. 7, 1811 and died June 28, 1850 at the age of 40. Married WINIFRED RILEY WILLIAMS (b. Nov. 6, 1809 and d.  ____). She is the daughter of WILSON WILLIAMS. On July 6, 1822 he purchased from WILLIAM JONES a Negro woman named ABIGAIL for $450. JOHN W. ALLEN, a son-in-law, was appointed administrator of his estate on February 4, 1851. Virginia Ann Catalano stated in an email on Nov. 8, 2011, "found the intestate record of Absalom B. Best, which was administered by his son-in-law John Wesley Allen......another documentation of the association of the two men.  Mrs. Winifred R. Best was named as widow." He is buried at Swallow Savannah Cemetery in Allendale, South Carolina. Where she is buried is unknown.  "Previous to that time (1847) many facts were gathered from Mrs. WINIFRED RILEY BEST (nee WILLIAMS) and CHARLES H. COLDING, Sr., the first born Nov. 6, 1809, the latter 1799 about the history of the Swallow Savannah Methodist Church." (Source: "The History of Swallow Savannah Church, Methodist Episcopal South", By John W. Ogilvie, May 4, 1882.  Children:

• C1. MARY ELIZABETH BEST....Born Oct. 4, 1832 and died May 22, 1905. Buried with her husband at the Allen Family Cemetery. She married JOHN WESLEY ALLEN (Born Feb. 11, 1811) and died May 24, 1886). Virginia Catalano stated in an email on Oct. 17, 2011, " in our family Bible my gg grandparents are mentioned by name of Absalom and Winifred Best. Their daughter Mary Elizabeth Best married John Wesley Allen, my great grandparents." In the 1850 SC Census for the Barnwell District for household #1825 is listed WESLEY ALLEN, age 40, MARY, age 18, and JAMES, age 2. Household #1827 is her mother, WINIFRED BEST and four of her sons: BENAJAH, WILLIAM, WILSON and LAWRENCE. In the 1860 SC Census, Barnwell Co. J.W. ALLEN is listed with his wife, M.E., and five children. In the 1870 SC Census for Allendale TWP, Barnwell Co. JOHN W. ALLEN is listed with his wife and nine children.
• C2. BENJAMIN BLANCHARD BEST, SR.......Born Sep 1832 and died Oct 1908. Buried at Swallow Savannah United Methodist Church Cemetery. He married in 1861 SUSAN HARLEY (Born Jul 1840). In the 1880 Census his widowed mother, age 69, was living with his family. Child before 1880 Census: Daughter WINIFRED (Born 1863 and died Jan 22, 1881. Buried Swallow Savannah United Methodist Church Cemetery. Married about 1880 _____ SHUMAN.) Children from 1880 Census: Daughter SUSAN CORNELIA (Born 1867. Married WADE HAMPTON BRABHAM) age 13, Daughter S.ELIZABETH (Born 1869. Married _____ PRIESTER) age 10, Son, BENJAMIN BLANCHARD, JR (Born September 10, 1872 and died September 25, 1905. Married CARRIE E____.),  Daughter ORA S. (Born 1875. Married JAMES WYATT PRIESTER) age 5, Son WILLIAM R. (Little Ned? born 1877) age 3, and Son WILLIE ORR (Born October 2, 1879 and died July 27, 1884 . Buried Swallow Savannah United Methodist Church Cemetery).
• C3. ANDREW BEST....Born 1839 and died _____? Buried at Swallow Savannah United Methodist Church Cemetery.
• C4. WILLIAM CAPERS BEST.... Born Mar 18, 1841 and died Feb 1913. Buried at Mizpah United Methodist Church Cemetery, Bamberg Co., South Carolina. Married on Jul 1, 1865, JANE REBECCA KIRKLAND.
• C5. WILSON WILLIAMS BEST.....Born about 1844 and died after 1884. He married before 1870, SUSAN.W. MIXSON (Born 1851). Children by the 1880 Census: Daughter SARAH age 11, and Son M.A. age 6.
• C6. LAWRENCE CAPERS BEST....Born Jul 24, 1845 and died Feb 23, 1885. Buried at Swallow Savannah Cemetery. He married Nov 10, 1868, JULIA INDIANA MCAVOY (Born 1852.) Children by the 1880 Census: Son L.W. age 9, Son R.A. age 8, Daughter M.J. age 5, and Daughter CALLIE age 2.
• C7. ABSALOM B. BEST, JR.....Born Sep 15, 1850 and died Jan 30, 1904. He married Jan 26, 1873, Fairfax, South Carolina, MARY REBECCA ALLEN (Born 1851). Children by the 1880 Census: Daughter U.I. age 5, Son WADE H. age 4, and Son A.B. age 2.

B2. MARY F. BEST....Born 1805. She paid, on January 6, 1821 WILLIAM JONES $150 for a Negro girl named RACHAEL. On December 31, 1833 her brother, ABSALOM B. BEST, gave her a  Negro girl named SALLY.

B3. SARAH C. BEST (MIXON)....Born 1808. Married 1829, EDWARD MILES MIXSON, SR. son of JOHN C. MIXSON and MARY JOYCE. Children:

• C1. ELLEN MIXON....Born 1830 and died ____. Married Nov 2, 1853, L.B. HARVEY.
• C2. JOHN BENAJAH MIXON....Born Oct 22, 1832 and died Jan 3, 1915. Married Jul 17, 1866, MARY LOUISE JACKSON.
• C3. CHARLES JONES MIXON III....Born 1834 and died____.
• C4. EDWARD MILES MIXON, JR. ....Born 1836 and died _____.
• C5. HANSON MIXON....Born 1839 and died ____. Married LOUIS HOGAN.
• C6. CAROLINA ELIZABETH MIXON....Born 1842 and died____. Married JOHN W. RIGGS.
• C7. ANN MIXON....Born 1845 and died ____.
• C8. SUSAN W. MIXSON....Born 1853 and died ____. Married WILSON WILLIAM BEST.   

B4. SUSAN BEST....Died young, and not is mentioned in settlement of her father's estate on June 4, 1832. .

JOHN B. (BROWN) BEST and Descendants

He was born on May 5, 1773. He married about 1808 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. Note here that the name of his last child shows JOHN B. BEST probably is related to BENAJAH BEST. His eldest son, HENRY C. moved to Screven Co. Georgia by 1860.

He filed a 1810 Tax Return in Barnwell District for $1.40. On July 20, 1812 he sold SAMUEL MANER for $200 land where he formerly resided containing 100 acres. This sale was witnessed by TARLTON BEST and WILLIAM H. ROBERT. On May 10, 1814 he had surveyed 211 acres on Sand Hill Bay that was bordered on one side by the land of ABRAHAM MIXSON. It was thought before the survey that it was 200 acres. On December 4, 1815 he received a 145 acre land grant in Barnwell District. The land had been surveyed by JAMES OVERSTREET on May 10, 1814 and was bordered by land of ABRAHAM MIXON and WILLIAM BLACK and JOHN MIXON. On December 2, 1816 he received land grants in Barnwell District for 196 and 59 acres. His 196 acres was bordered by the the land of JAMES SMITH and Dr. ELIJAH GILLETT. JOHN B. is listed on a petition as an inhabitant of Barnwell on the Savannah River for a river landing road between the lands of SARAH OVERSTREET, SAMUEL MAINER, and JOHN BEST. Others names included were MICHAEL BROWN, BARNETT H. BROWN, WILLIAM H. BROWN, ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, SAMUEL MEARS, JAMES OVERSTREET, THOMAS COLDING, and WILLIAM J. KIRKLAND as well as BENEJAH BEST.

JOHN B. BEST was among the original members of Swallow Savannah Church with JOHN MCRAIL, JOHN ALLEN, JOSEPH ALLEN, SARAH HUMPHRIES and BETSY BADGER. "The original church was a log house (1815-1816) on an old road going South on lands of Wm. Bostick, Jr., opposite a sycamore tree on the road, nearly opposite and about six or eight hundred yards northeast from a sheet of water known as Swallow Savannah Pond, from which the church derived its name."

JOHN B. BEST died intestate in August 4, 1841 in South Carolina. His children of legal age were HENRY C. BEST, MARY A. B. HUMPHREYS, the wife of CURTIS HUMPHREYS, ORSAMUS H. BEST and JOHN A. BEST. They agreed in signed testimony on Aug 10, 1841 to convey their rights in the estate to their mother, ELIZABETH, during her life or until the youngest of the children come of age. The minor children were LOUISANA I. BEST, WILLIAM B. BEST, FRANCIS M. BEST and JASPER B. BEST. On Sep 22, 1841 ORSAMUS H. BEST petitioned to administor the estate of his father. ORSAMUS H. BEST with JOSEPH C. BRYAN and SAMUEL COHEN post an administrators bond for $10,000 on Oct 22, 1841.

ELIZABETH J. BEST, the widow of JOHN B. BEST, died December 3, 1862 in Barnwell, SC. In 1850 she had been living in Screven Co., GA. Her Will was recorded on December 13, 1865. JOHN A. BEST was the administrator. She listed her sons as: JASPER B., HENRY C., ORSAMUS H., JOHN A., and FRANCIS M. BEST. She listed her daughters as MARY ANN B. HUMPHREYS and LOUISANA COHEN. In 1807 JOHN B. BEST was a witness with BENAJAH BEST to the application of LEODICA (BEST) CAMPBELL to administer the Will of her husband, ISRAEL CAMPBELL.

• B1. HENRY COLDING BEST....Born July16, 1809 in South Carolina and died 1870 in Georgia. Married on October 2, 1833 JERUSHA M. JOHNSON (Born 1815 and died September 11, 1858). She was the daughter of AMOS JOHNSON and ELIZABETH DANIEL. They were members of the Church of Christ meeting at the head of the Coosawhatchee River. JERUSHA was charged with speaking disrespectfully against a church member. For this they were censured, suspended and finally excommunicted on August 11, 1838. On January 18, 1840 he sold to WILLIAM B. JARRELL for $800 on the Marsh Branch of the Coosawatchee River 1106 acres. Between 1850 and 1860 he moved his family to Screven Co., Georgia. Children:
  • C1. JOHN B. BEST....Born 1835 and died_____.
  • C2. ELIZABETH JANE BEST (BRYAN)....Born July 9, 1837. She married Nov 9, 1868 JAMES M. BRYAN on November 19, 1868.
  • C3. WILLIAM HENRY BEST....Born February 6, 1840. He married February 8, 1870, IMOGENE_______.
  • C4. AMOS J. BEST....Born March 3, 1843 and died July 31, 1863.
  • C5. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN "FRANCIS" BEST....Born September 15, 1845 and died February 8, 1864.
  • C6. QUINTILLY VARNS BEST..Born April 14, 1848 and died ____.
  • C7. ANNA JERUSHA BEST (HUGHES)....Born 1851 and died 1881. Married ______ HUGHES.
  • C8. ROBERT JOHNSON BEST....Born October 26, 1854. Married on April 11, 1877 ALLIE V. ANDERSON (Born November 6, 1860, the daughter of PAUL BEST ANDERSON and SARAH L. MORGAN.)
• B2. MARY ANN "POLLY" BEST (HUMPHREYS)....Born Dec. 3, 1811 and died April 1883. Buried at the Humphreys Family Cemetery, Screven Co., Georgia. Married Jun 28, 1827 WILLIAM CURTIS HUMPHREYS, SR. (b. June 6, 1804 in Milbury Grove, Allendale Co., SC and d. September 14, 1879 in Screven Co., GA) on December 3, 1827 at her father's home. He was the son of JOHN CONYERS HUMPHREYS (b. April 19, 1772 and d. September 26, 1817 near Milbury Grove, Allendale Co., SC) and SARAH CONE (b. October 16, 1780 in SC and d. February 20, 1857 in Allendale Co., SC). His mother was the daughter of JOHN CONE, SR. and RACHEL COLDING. They lived near the Middleground Baptist Church, Black Creek, and are buried in the Humphrey's Family Cemetery, Screven Co., GA. Children:
  • C1. VIRGINIA HUMPHREYS (BOWIE)....Born 30 June 1828. Married on October 8, 1851 Dr. WILLIAM CAPERS BOWIE.
  • C2. RACHEL HUMPHREYS (WILLIAMSON)....Born November 28, 1830 and died 1900. Married on March 5, 1862 JAMES EMMET WILLIAMSON.
  • C3. REBECCA HUMPREYS....Born June 7, 1833 and died 1906.
  • C4. ISABELLA HUMPREYS....Born April 23, 1839 and died ____.
  • C5. FRANCIS HUMPREYS....Born June 1, 1841 and died ____.
  • C6. MARY HUMPREYS....Born April 19, 1846 and died ____.
  • C7. CURTIS HUMPREYS....Born October 19, 1843 and died December 1, 1930. Married SARAH A. BLACK.
  • C8. JOHN HUMPREYS....Born April 10, 1848. Married January 28, 1875 MARGARITE VIRGINIA GOULD.
• B3. ORSAMUS HARDEN BEST, SR.....Born September 6, 1815 and died September 8, 1887.  He is buried in the Swallow Savannah United Methodist Cemetery in Allendale Co. Married about 1833 MARTHA S. PERRY BRYAN (b. Jun 26, 1819 and d.Jun 26, 1883), daughter of MICHAEL D. BRYAN. In 1836 at the age of 21 he was the adm. of the estate of RICHARD BRYAN. He filed a letter on September 22, 1845 to Adm. the estate of his father, JOHN B. BEST who died without a Will. On February 19, 1853 he received from  his mother, ELIZABETH J. BEST the sum of $1848.30 for the bond to administer the estate of JOHN B. BEST. Children: TARLETON, RICHARD, MARY, ORSA.
  • C1. FRANCIS P. BEST....Born Sep 26, 1834 and died _____.
  • C2. WILLIAM TARLETON BEST....Born 1836 and died Sep 8, 1882 and buried at Swallow Savannah Cemetery. Married about 1865, JOSEPHINE PEYTON.
  • C3. JOHN RICHARD BRYAN BEST....Born Jul 19,1841 and died about 1903 and buried at Swallow Savannah Cemetery.. He and his wife are buried in the Swallow Savannah Cemetery. On Mar 13, 1861 he married (1) CLIO LEGARD BIGNON  (Born April 21, 1844 an died March 6, 1885) the daughter of Dr. JOHN E. BIGNON and HARRIET A. (O'BANNON) BIGNON. After his wife died he married (2) MARY ANN HUMPHREYS, his first cousin. During the war he served in Company E., First South Carolina Infantry. In 1897 he moved to Washington Co., Mississippi. Children all by first marriage: BANNIE (Born January 14, 1862 and died October 17, 1867), JOHN EDWARD, MAUDE C., RICHARD B., JENNINGS O'BANNON, ORSAMUS P., WILLIAM J., HATTIE L., and on the same stone CLIO L.(Born June 16, 1873 and died May 7, 1875), MICHAEL DELOGH (Born March 7, 1882 and died July 12, 1882, and ARMAND BIGNON (Born January 30, 1885 and died February 28, 1885). JOHN EDWARD BEST (Born December 31, 1867 and died June 19, 1920) married in Leland, Washington Co, MS, KATE STUART (Born February 23, 1876 and died September 09, 1945). They had six children. She was the daughter of SAMUEL SYLVESTER STUART and MARY JANE WARD.  HUGH COURTNEY BEST (BALLARD) (Born Bet. 1926 and 1927 in MS and living in Barrington, IL in 2002) provided some of this information. She is a descendant of their son, JOHN EDWARD BEST, JR. (born Abt. 1900 and died____?).
  • C4. MICHAEL BEST....Born Jul 15, 1843 and died ____. 
  • C5. MARY REBECCA BEST....Born Mar 5, 1846 and died ____. Married ____ DUPUIS.
  • C6. ORSAMUS HARDING BEST ...Born 1848 and died 1912. Married, 1880, LEONORA AMANDA HOGGS (Born June 14, 1854 and died February 17, 1933). He is buried with his wife in the Hogg/Best Cemetery near Kline, SC in southern Barnwell Co. His children buried at the cemetery include: FRANKLIN HOGG (Born December 14, 1881 and died October 3, 1887), ALICE MARY (Born. June 5, 1884 and died November 12, 1895), GADSDEN LEE (Born October 24, 1886 and died November 10, 1886), and THOMAS FLETCHER (Born November 4, 1887 and died February 2, 1896).  Their other children were: Dr. ORSAMUS H. BEST (Born march 2, 1883. Married PAULINE RICHARDSON.), NONIE B. (Born about 1890. Married J.W. Vincent.), and Dr. MARTIN CORNELIUS BEST (Born February 14, 1893. Married MABEL PRATT.
  • C7. GEORGE CALDWELL BEST....Born Dec 11, 1855 and died May 5, 1925 and buried at Cave Methodist Church Cemetery, Kline, South Carolina. Married 1877 ALICE IRENE HOGG.
• B4. JOHN AUSTIN BEST....Born November 4, 1818 and died November 26, 1878. Married on December 29, 1857 SELENAH CAROLINA HEXT (Born August 8, 1830 and died February 6, 1915. Buried at Antioch Christian Church Cenetery, Allendale Co., South Carolina.)  She was the daughter of SARAH CAROLINA PORCHER and LAWRENCE HEXT, Sr. JOHN AUSTIN BEST filed on Sep. 15, 1851 to settle the estate of JENNETTE COLDING. Her children were listed in the estate settlement as JENNETT FLOWERS, ELIZABETH BEST, widow of JOHN B. BEST and mother of petitioner, ANN MOORE, SARAH HICKS, and LOUVICY BRYAN. On January 11, 1862 he was commissioned as a second Lt. of the Bull Pond Co. of the 43th Regt. SC. Children:
  • C1. JULIA TALLY BEST (LAFITTE)....Born December 31, 1858 and died June 21, 1937. Married JAMES O'BANNON LAFITTE on November 18, 1880. He was the son of THOMAS SMITH LAFITTE and MARY PEEPLES PATTERSON.
  • C2. MARGARET "MAGGIE" EDWARDS BEST (KEEL)....Born December 29, 1860 and died Dec 24, 1950 and buried at Swallow Savannah Cemetery. Married Apr 26, 1892 JULIUS HOWELL KEEL, SR April 26, 1892. Children: EUNICE, LEONARD, EDITH, JULIAN, and LENA.
  • C3. WILLIAM "WILLIE" LAWRENCE BEST....Born Sep 22,1862 and Sep 6, 1936 and buried Antioch Christian Church Cemetery, Allenale Co., South Carolina. Married Dec 20, 1887, WALTON LILA WARREN. Children: SELENA, MAE, WALTON, SADIE, LILA WARREN, and LAURIE. He was the last of the BEST line to live on the BEST PLACE that was purchased by his great-grandfather, ALSALOM BEST, in August 1784. the survey described the 200 acres as "situated in Orangeburgh District, known by the name of Oglesby's Pond, between the Bull Pond and the Coosawatchie River."
  • C4. SIMON....Born September 22, 1887.
  • C5. JOHN "JACK" PORCHER BEST....Born December 27, 1865 and died 1919. Married MARBLE GRAY.
  • C6. LEONORA "LENA" MATTIE BEST....Born January 3, 1878 and died February 8, 1946 and buried Antioch Christian Church Cemetery, Allenale Co., South Carolina.
• B5. LOUISANA BENNETT BEST (COHEN)....Born Apr. 23, 1821 and died Sep 23, 1853. Married 1841, SAMUEL COHEN (Born 1817). Children:
  • C1. MARY COHEN....Born 1843. Never married and took care of the others.
  • C2. AMANDA COHEN....Born 1845 and died _____. Married HAZEL FLOYD.
  • C3. LEONORA COHEN....Born 1846. Married JOHN OSBORNE (Ossie) WALKER.
  • C4. ELEANOR COHEN....Born 1849. Married IDA CROSBY.
  • C5. FRANCIS COHEN....Born ?. Married KATHRINE KELLER.
  • C6. LAURA COHEN....Born ?. Married HANSFORD GREE?
• B6. JASPER BENAJAH BEST....Born Apr. 1, 1823 and died October 30, 1880. Never married.
• B7. WILLIAM BARTLETT BEST....Born Feb. 13, 1824 and died May 15, 1856. Never married.
• B8. FRANCIS MARION BEST....Born Oct. 3, 1826 and died December 30, 1866. Married SARAH CAROLINA HEXT, June 24, 1862. Prior to his marriage that year during the War of Southern Succession he wrote a number of letters to his mother and to his brother, JOHN AUSTIN BEST, from Aiken, South Carolina. He signed his name F. M. BEST. In his letter to his brother he wanted him to send him a hired free Negro so there would be no loss if he ran away. Children:
  • C1. MARION LEE BEST....Born May 25, 1863 and died_____.
  • C2. RICHARD LYNN BEST....Born July 27, 1864 and died _____. 

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