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In researching my family I seem to have found a family 'secret'. No one in our family can remember anything regarding my GGGrandmother. In fact there is no certainty of her name. I do know she had two sons, Joseph Louis(Lewis)and Jack Stone. They came from the Abbeville Ga area. But the story goes that their mother and father were not married. Her maiden name they believe was Stone and his last name Wood or Woods. Joseph L married Jenn Anna Permerter and settled in the town of Withers Ga and raised their family. I don't know where Jack went. Of course not being married and having a family today is no problem. But in the 1800's it was a absolute no. Even now in those small towns of South Georgia it is not a real great thing. Joseph and Jack never talked about their family. So nothing more is known.....at this time.
In the time since I last wrote this, a bit of new information has come forth. Some is even more incredible than what I had heard before. I managed to find the location of my Ggrandfathers death, Valdosta Ga. So I wrote and asked for his death certificate. I was sure that once I got that the name of his mother(maiden) would be there and put to rest all the mixed stories. Well this week it came. I was so excited to call my cousin who was helping in my research. There was information so unbelievable staring me in the face I could scarcely believe it. When I had her on the phone, I read her the information and she went on as though she had not heard a word. Vo-- I said, didn't you hear me. It lists under the fathers name, 'Joseph Stone' and under mothers maiden name 'Susan Land' of Wilcox county Ga. They were married and his fathers name was Joseph. This is where the story gets even more strange. Vo-- says 'no she never married their father. And her name was Stone and the fathers last name was Wood/s'. "But it says on this death cert. that HIS name was Stone and she was a Land. The information was given to the official by his son, Joe W Stone." 'I do remember the name Land, but I know she never married the father. But I don't remember the way I used to. Why don't you call 'A' and 'B' they are younger and their mother was the last sister of Joseph Louis Stone to die. Maybe they know more.'
I did call and the story gets wilder. I'll write more later...
Many months have passed. My cousins had a tale to share that makes me wonder. This is how it went..."Needless to say without a husband to support her and the boys they were very poor. All the cloths they had were cast offs and food was scarse. As the boys got old enough to work the fields, they did. They worked hard, but the other field hands were not kind. Often they had to defend themselves. One day a man made a comment about their mother and Joseph took the pitchfork he had in his hands and threw it at him. Thinking he had killed the man, he took off. For a long time Susan and Jack had no word of him. So she had Jack go out looking for him. The man had not died and they wanted him to go back home. After a time Jack found Joseph in Clinch Co., but Joseph would not go back. He said he would not ever go back. Jack went home and instead he and Susan moved to Clinch Co. ... that is how the family wound up in Withers,GA." Well, I told them also what the death cert. said, and (not to my surprise) they do not believe it is true.
I have also since had contact from a family member on the side of Jenn Anna, Joseph L Stones wife. He seems to have a bit of info and hopefully will share. I'll keep you posted....

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