Felix Murphy and Nancy Dickson
Felix Murphy was born 1786 in North Carolina but migrated to Georgia
by 1814. He was a farmer, carpenter and wagon maker who lived in Jones
County Georgia in 1830 and Baldwin County Georgia in 1840. By 1850 he
was living in that portion of Lee County known as Precinct 7, Pierce
Chapel where he died between 1861 and 1869.
Felix Murphy (also spelled Murfee and Murph ) was in the Georgia
Volunteers and Militia under Captain Jenkins during the War of 1812.
(I sent to the National Archives in August, 1987 for pension and
bounty land warrant papers but none was found.)
He married Nancy Dickson about 1828 in Georgia. Nancy was born 1799
in Georgia and died between 1851 and 1859 in Russell County, Alabama.
They had eight known children. Their daughter, Susan Murphy,was born
1829 in Georgia, probably Jones county, and died 30 November 1902
Opelika,Lee County, Alabama. She married James Washington Mayberry
on 8 September 1863 in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia. They had
two children and lived in the part of Russell County that became Lee
County, Alabama in 1866.
Felix Murphy�s parents and origins are a complete mystery and Nancy
Dickson�s are well documented. However, that she is the Nancy who
married Felix Murphy is presumed by a preponderance of evidence � what
I term a �giant leap of faith�. I have placed her in my gedcom as the
daughter of John Dickson who died in Jones County Georgia before 11 June
1829 because she is named in his will as his daughter.
But she is named Nancy Dickson not Murphy. Nancy and Felix married about
1828 which may indicate that Felix had a previous wife, and so, William,
by her, or they married after 1829 and son, William is a little younger
than previously thought.
It could mean nothing more than that John Dickson simply referred to
Nancy by her maiden name as he did all his daughters.
There is some evidence that Felix may be named John Felix Murphy. If so
then The 1820 Jones county Georgia census enumeration of John Murphy, age
26, listed as head of household may be our Felix. Then the 1820 Jones
county marriage record of John Murphy to Nancy Thomas could be the wife
of our (John) Felix Murphy. Personally, I've not seen any record where
Felix used any other name.)
This marriage is purely speculation, however, as the Murphys and
Dicksons have been closely associated for many years. Benjamin Dixon
[Dickson], 55 year old farmer from Georgia lived next to Felix and
Nancy Murphy in Russell County, Alabama. The association is also shown
in the following Georgia tax list.
The 1816 Jones County Georgia Tax List clearly shows the proximity of
Felix Murphy with the Dicksons / Dixons.
CAPT. JEFFERSON'S DISTRICT, N. 358
John B. Dixon
CAPT. WALLER'S DISTRICT, No. 359
Felix Murphey
DEFAULTERS (who failed to return tax)
William Dixon
Wiley Murphey
The facts as shown above cause me to take that giant leap of faith
and determine that Felix Murphy married Nancy Dickson and I shall
proceed on that premise. I should voice the consideration that Nancy
Thomas could have married Felix Murphy and died by 1828 and Felix then
married Nancy Dickson. (Oh for more precise records!)
Nancy�s father, John Dickson was born about 1775 in Caswell, North
Carolina. He had two wives, Rachel Donaldson and Martha Wadsworth.
Which wife is Nancy�s mother is questionable. John's first wife, Rachael,
left John in 1796 because he placed an advertisement in the Augusta,
Georgia newspaper saying that he would no longer be responsible for her
debts. If true, then she is not the mother of any children by him after
1796, including Nancy who was born in 1799.
This message on GenForum gives more information on Martha:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?wadsworth::dickson::1898.html
�I received most of my information from Judi Hamm and she shows that
John was married first to a Rachel Donaldson and second to Martha
Wadsworth (Martha was the daughter of James Wadsworth Sr. whose LWT
of 1820 Jones Co., GA names her husband but not her, so she must have
been dead by 1820). Judi Hamm also shows John's first wife, Rachael
left John in 1796 because he placed an ad in the Augusta, GA newspaper
saying that he would no longer be responsible for her debts.�
Martha Wadsworth was definitely living after 1820 because she was named
in John Dickson�s 1829 will.
I have seen John Dickson named as John Barnett Dickson; however, there
are obvious discrepancies between these two men. John can not have been
born in 1780, as was John Barnett, and had children born in the 1790s.
I think John Dickson married Rachel Donaldson and Martha Wadsworth while
John Barnett Dickson married Martha Kinney and Hannah Nichols (Howard?).
John Dickson died in Jones County, Georgia in 1829 and John Barnett
Dickson, who also resided in Georgia, died 1867 in Texas. Their children,
as named in their wills, differ and my Nancy is specifically named
as daughter of John Dickson in 1829 will.
Because John Barnett Dickson was in Georgia it is my consideration -
which needs more work and proof - that John Barnett Dickson is or may
be the son of John who died in 1829.
My questions are:
Does anyone have proof to verify my belief that Nancy Dickson did marry
Felix Murphy in Georgia about 1825 � 1829?
Does anyone know if Rachel Donaldson or Martha wadsworth is Nancy�s
mother?
Does anyone know if and what relationship exists between John Barnett
Dickson and John Dickson?
FHC film #0470018 - Jones County, Georgia Deeds 1827 - 1839
Abstracted by Leila Mayberry on June 10, 1998. (
I�ve added punctuation.)
Book A (1808 - 1809)
p 394) 05 February 1808
James Murphy, of Hancock co. Ga., to Jeremiah Mullins, of Hancock co.,
for $625 for 202 � a ( acres ) know as lot # 174 in 9th District
Baldwin co. James Murphy
witnesses: Edmond Macklin
Alexr. Bellamy, J.P.
Book B (1809 - 1811)
p 344) 15 May 1810
John Murphy of Jones co., to Lewis Saunders, of Baldwin co., for
$5,000 for 202 1/2 a known as lot #142 in Dist. 10 Baldwin co now
Jones on waters of Big Cedar Creek granted to Samuel Kitchens.
Witnesses: Nancy Pope John ( C ) ( his mark ) Murphy
Jesse McKne. Pope
p 346) 15 May 1810
John Murphy, of Jones, to Lewis Saunders for $500 for 151 � a being
the residue of a 202 � a tract in Baldwin co. 10th Dist. #113, now in
Jones co, granted to Coleman Lennard, bounded by lot # 114 & by 51 acres
of said tract #113 originally conveyed to John Rose by Elisha Watty
{ or Matty or Watly } except one acre I, the said John Murphy have
heretofore conveyed to the Methodist Society for the use of a meeting
house & the use of the nearest spring water.
Witnesses: Nancy Pope John ( C ) Murphy
Book D (1812 - 1813)
p 21) 02 August 1808 recorded 27 February 1812
John Thomas, James Thomas, & Asa Thomas, of Jackson co., Ga., orphans
of Evan Thomas, to James Murphy, of Jones co., for $250 for 202 � acre
tract in Jones co. 11th Dist. Of the late cession of lands of the Creek
Nation of Indians called Baldwin co. known as lot #86, East by #90 & west
by # 92 & granted to the orphans of said Evan Thomas on 02 August 1808 .
John ( x ) Thomas
John ( x ) Thomas for James Thomas
Asa ( x )Thomas
witnesses: William Carrigan, D. Creswell, Thoms. Hyde
p 134) 14 April 1812 recorded 18 July 1812
John Murphy, of Jones co., to William Mitchell, of Ogelthorpe co., for
$1,000 for 202 � a on waters of Wolf Creek in 9th Dist. Baldwin now
Jones co. bounding NE by lot #70, SW by lot #68, & the lot ( being sold )
is 69. John ( C ) Murphy
witnesses: Jno. Mitchell
Thos. Mitchell
Book P (1831 - 1839)
p 440) 05 January 1836 registered 31 December 1836
Felix Murphy, of Jones co. Ga, to James May, of same place, for $350
for 202 � acres above the branch belonging to said Murphy being part
of lot #7 in formerly Baldwin now Jones co. & the balance of said land
being a fraction adjacent said May & D.B. Hill.
Witnesses: Davis Duncan Felix Murphy
R.P. Bailey
John Jefferson, J.P.
p 508) 23 February 1837 recorded Book P. 19 October 1837
Felix Murphy, of Jones co. Ga., to Horashio May, of Jones co., for $600
for 82 acre tract in 6th Dist. Baldwin now Jones co. known as lot #192
which was granted ( Decem.i ) {copied exact} 1806 to Jarmiah Everett.
Witnesses: John Jefferson
James Modesett
[email protected]
