Nancy Thurmond
[From Martha] EARLY RECORDS OF GEORGIA, VOLS. I AND II. The question in my mind was, since Absolom died in 1801, how could James be mentioned in his will as Nancy's husband if they weren't married until 1805? This is what I found in the resource above: Although this book did not contain a copy of the actual documents, it could be the next best thing assuming the compiler did not make any huge mistakes. There are TWO documents pertaining to Absolom's will. This first is in Vol. I, page 68 in a section devoted to Wilkes Co., Records of Wills 1792-1801, and is a record for Absolom's will going to probate. It lists the children of Absolom, including Nancy, but nowhere does it refer to her as James Heflin's wife. It goes on to say the will was signed on Oct. 3, 1800, and was probated on July 27, 1801. Then it says the following: Mary Thurman comes before the Inferior Court and declares she will not agree to the will of her deceased husband, Absolom Thurman but will claim 1/3 of the real estate and a child's part of the personal estate. Then in Vol. 2, page 267, in a section devoted to Returns, which seems to mean follow-ups to previous wills for various reasons, the document devoted to Absolom Thurman states: 'Returns Nov. 5, 1810, paid Mark Jackson in right of wife Elizabeth, paid Jas. Heflin in right of wife Nancy,' and it goes on the mention the other children, all of whom received $58.56 each. So as you can see, this means Nancy was not married to James when her father died in 1801, but she was married to him by 1810 when this 'Returns' document was satisfied. This assumes the marriage record of James and Nancy in Greene Co. GA on Dec. 30, 1805 or the one on Dec. 31, 1806 is accurate. Mary, Absolom's wife mentioned in the will, was his second wife and not the mother of Nancy and the other children. His first wife was named Elizabeth. The second wife was Mary Kinney. Information from Bob says she was a teenager, and she and Absolom had not been married long before he died. That may have been part of the problem with the contesting of the will.
Use your browser's back button to return to the previous page.