Wishful Wednesday - Millie Ann Clay (Georgia)

Today's Wishful Wednesday focus is on my 3rd great grandmother, Millie Ann Clay.  IF you can help with any further information on Millie or her supposed parents, John & Martha, I'd love to hear from you.  Although reports tie Millie into the Clay's that descend from John Clay who was in early Virginia, I'm not so sure at this point.  I think she may be part of the Clay's that came in & settled in early North Carolina instead. 

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Name: Millie Ann Clay

Sex: F

Individual Information
Birth: Abt 1830 - Georgia (1)
Death: 6 Oct 1926 - Grady County, Georgia (2)
Burial: 11 Oct 1926 - Pine Forest Baptist Church Cemetery, Grady County, Georgia (3)

Events

1. She appeared on the census on 1 Jun 1850 in Thomas County, Georgia. (4)
1850 Census shows Milly CLAY, 14, Female, North Carolina). She is enumerated with Lewis GRIFFIN (74 M Georgia), Farmer, Cannot read & write, Martha (67 F North Carolina), Cannot read & write, Milly CLAY (14 F North Carolina), Warren (11 M Georgia), Tinar GRIFFIN (3 F Georgia), and
Joseph GRIFFIN (23 M North Carolina), Farmer, Cannot read & write. They live in District 81.

2. She appeared on the census on 1 Jun 1860 in Thomas County, Georgia. (5)
1860 Census shows Milly Hester, 23, Female, Georgia, cannot read & write.

3. She appeared on the census on 1 Jun 1870 in Thomas County, Georgia. (6)
1870 Census shows Millie J. Hesters, 35, Female, White, Georgia, House Keeping, Cannot read, Cannot write, Annie (15 F W Georgia), Martha (12 F W Georgia), Hardy (4 M W Georgia), and Angeline (2 F W Georgia). They live West of Ochlocknee River, served by Thomasville Post Office.

4. She appeared on the census on 1 Jun 1880 in Ochlocknee, Thomas County,
Georgia. (7) 1880 Census shows Milly A. Hesters, White, Female, 60, Widowed, Georgia Georgia Georgia, Keeps house, Cannot write.

5. She received a pension 4089 on 16 Apr 1891 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
16 APR 1891 Mille Ann Hesters of Thomas County, Georgia, applied for Widow's Pension $100.00 24 APR 1891 Returned for fuller proof. 27 DEC 1891 Warrant Issued. Witnessed by Hiram Wadsworth, J. Marion Wadsworth, and George W. Sellars (son-in-law). 13 FEB 1892 Deposition of J. J. Ragan, who was 3rd Lieutenant in Company K - 29th Georgia Regiment of Confederate Volunteers, testified that David A. J. Hesters was a hearty healthy man when he enlisted, and served faithfully until about the close of the war when he contracted "in the Army" chronic diarhea which kept him a sickly invalid for about two years after the war and from which he died about 10 APR 1867. J. J. Ragan was present with him and shaved him when he died. Signed B. H.

Pope, (name not legible). 13 FEB 1892 Deposition of Marion Wadsworth and George W. Hesters, who testified that David A. J. Hesters was a strong and healthy man when he enlisted, and after the war a sick man from an aggravated case of chronic Diarrhea from which he suffered and from which he died, that he
never was able to do an work after he came out of the army, and that the physician that waited on him for two years continuously after he came home from the army is now daead and therfore his evidence cannot be procurred.

Widow of the said deceased said physician that physiced the deceased after he came home sick and during his sickness is now dead and therefore his certificate cannot be had. Signed B. H. Pope, (not legible). 13 FEB 1892

Certification that B. H. Pope is Ex Officio Justice of the Peace in and about Thomas County, and that John J. Ragan, Marion Wadsworth and George W. Hesters are reliable citizens of Thomas County, whose statements are worthy of credit. Signed Jas. S. Merrill, Ordinary.

6. She received a pension 3969 on 3 Feb 1893 in Thomasville, Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
7. She received a pension 3541 on 5 Feb 1894 in Cairo, Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
8. She received a pension 2262 on 18 Jan 1895 in Cairo, Thomas (Later
9. She received a pension 929 on 31 Dec 1895 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
10. She received a pension 399 on 6 Jan 1897 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
11. She received a pension 721 on 15 Jan 1898 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
12. She received a pension 1674 on 16 Jan 1899 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
13. She received a pension 3018 on 16 Jan 1900 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)

14. She appeared on the census on 15 Apr 1900 in Cairo, Thomas County, Georgia. (9) 1900 Census shows Millie Hesters, Mother in Law (W F ... Widowed Mother of 6 children, 4 living). VERY LIGHT - HARD TO READ.

15. She received a pension 962 on 15 Jan 1901 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
16. She received a pension 2729 on 1 Feb 1902 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
17. She received a pension 2150 on 25 Jan 1903 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
18. She received a pension 2557 on 13 Jan 1904 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
19. She received a pension 2679 on 3 Jan 1905 in Thomas County, Georgia. (8)
20. She received a pension on 20 Jan 1906 in Grady County, Georgia. (8)
21. She received a pension 1265 on 11 Jan 1907 in Grady County, Georgia. (8)

22. Unable to locate on the 1910. The 1910 soundex for the state of Georgia shows no Millie Hester. I also checked for the family of Joe Parker which is her daughter, Martha's family. She lived with the Joe Parker
family in 1900. She is NOT listed with them on the 1920. (searched 5/28/00)

23. She received a pension on 21 Oct 1915 in Grady County, Georgia. (10)
Application for Pension for Total Blindness, Under Act 19 AUG 1912 State of Georgia, Grady County. 21 OCT 1915 Personally before me, the undersigned Ordinary of said County, comes M. A. Hesters, widow of David D. HESTERS, Co "K" 29 GA, who after being duly sworn on oath says, That she is on the old
class Pension Roll of the State of Georgia, and has been paid a pension of Sixty Dollars annually, and was so paid in 1915, That she has become totally blind by reason of cause unknown, And that she makes this application that she may be allowed an increase in her pension for total blindness. P. H. Herring, Ordinary, Grady County. Millie Ann Hesters, her mark. State of Georgia, Grady County. 21 OCT 1915 Personally before me, the undersigned Ordinary of said County, comes J. A. Lindsay, M. D., who after being duly
sworn on oath says, that he is a practicing physicianm, and has been for 17 years, and that he knows Mrs. Millie Ann Hesters, of said County. That she is NOW and has been for the past 13 years totally blind; which blindness was the result of cause unknown.P. H. Herring, Ordinary, Grady County. J. A. Lindsay, M. D. State of Georgia, Grady County. 21 OCT 1915 I, P. H. Herring, baing the Ordinary of said County, do certify that Millie Ann Hesters is on the Pension Roll of Grady County, and has been paid a pension of $60.00 for 1915, and that she is a bona fide resident of said County, and that She has become totally blind. That he knows Dr. J. A. Lindsay, who is a resident practicing physician of said County, and is a truthful man and physician of high standing, and what he says is worthy of belief and credit. P. H. Herring, Ordinary, Grady County.

24. Death Certificate: #1726, 15 Oct 1926, Grady County, Georgia. (3)

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Parents

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The documentation on the parents of Millie Clay is very sketchy and at this time is basically an unproven theory that I am still struggling to document.  I have found an article that states that she was the daughter of John Clay & his wife Martha, but have found no supporting evidence that satisfies MY own person level of absolute proof.  So until it is proven I continue my search for real documention.  Maybe you can help?

Spouses and Children

1. *David A. J. Hester (Abt 1832 - 10 Apr 1867) (11)

Marriage: 18 Dec 1851 - Thomas County, Georgia (12)

Children:

1. Mary Ann (Annie) Hester (1853-1933)
2. Martha Jane Hester (1857-1948)
3. Hardy Hester (1865-1928)
4. Angeline Hester (Abt 1868-1948)

Notes

Marriage Notes (David A. J. Hester)

Ceremony performed by the Rev. Bartley Wynn. Copy of License in file. Book

E, Page 54. Pension Application shows 17 DEC 1851. Millie & David are fifth cousins twice

removed, common ancestor is John Wilson.

Sources
1. Ancestral File-LDS. .... Census, Federal, 1860, Page 65, Lines 14-17,

Dwelling # 531, Family # 1-4. .... Census, Federal, 1880. .... Census,

Federal, 1870, Page 24, Line 40, Dwelling # 168, Family # 178. ....

Census, Federal, 1850. .... Confederate Pension Application Files,

Georgia. .... Census, Federal, 1900.

2. South Georgia Genealogical Society, Pine Barrens - Quarterly of the South

Georgia Genealogical Society (South Georgia Genealogical Society),

Volume III, March 1990, Number 3, page 38. .... Death Certificate,

#1726, Grady County, Georgia.

3. Death Certificate, #1726, Grady County, Georgia.

4. Census, Federal, 1850.

5. Census, Federal, 1860, Page 65, Lines 14-17, Dwelling # 531, Family # 1-4.

6. Census, Federal, 1870.

7. Census, Federal, 1880.

8. Confederate Pension Application Files, Georgia.

9. Census, Federal, 1900.

10. Confederate Pension Application Files.

11. Ancestral File-LDS. .... Census, Federal, 1860, Page 65, Lines 14-17,

Dwelling # 531. .... Census, Federal, 1880. .... Census, Federal,

1870, Page 24, Line 40, Dwelling # 168, Family # 178. .... Confederate

Pension Application Files, Georgia.

12. Ancestral File-LDS. .... IGI. .... State of Georgia, Thomas County,

Georgia Probate Records (State of Georgia), Book E, Record #54. ....

Marriage Bond, copy in file. .... Joe E. Craigmiles III, Thomas County,

Georgia Marriages 1826-1925 (Craigmiles & Associates Publishing &

Printing), Page 89. .... Connie Wethin, CWethin103@aol.com. ....

Confederate Pension Application Files, Georgia. .... Census, Federal,

1860, Page 65, Lines 14-17, Dwelling # 531.