3C1. John Wheat
born: ca. 1755, MD
Died: ca. 1842, Hancock (now Pearl River Co.), MS
Parents: Henry Kennedy and Priscilla Mayhar
Nancy's first husband, Andrew Smith, fought in the American Revolution in the GA Troops with John Wheat. Smith family tradition says that Andrew was slain by a hostile Indian in GA as he was clearing the land he received for his war service. Only known child of Nancy's first marriage was Andrew Smith, Jr., b. 1 May 1780, GA d. 17 Dec 1858. He married Nancy Elizabeth ________ (widow of Abram Roberts) and they had 8 children.
John served in the American Revolution as shown by Lucian Lamar Knight in his "Georgia's Roster of the Revolution". Page 189 shows, "Wheat, John. Certificate of Elijah Clarke, Col., Feb 2, 1784".
Memorial Day, May 26, 2003, Wheat Family Cemetery, Pearl River Co., MS. John Wheat is recognized for his service in the American Revolution. Two of his sons were recognized for their War of 1812 service, and two of his grandsons for their Civil War service, CSA. There were 241 people in attendance with dignitaries from the Sons of the American Revolution, Compatriot Paul Cartwright, MS President, (above left), Daughters of the American Revolution, Cindy Phillips, MS Regent (above right in green suit), the Picayune, MS Chapters of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, the War of 1812 Society, United Confederate Sons and Daughters.
John and Nancy Ann were still in Wilkes Co., GA in 1786 when she and her sisters inherited land from her father's estate. On 15 Mar 1790, John Wheat was granted 300 acres of land in Wilkes Co. John sold 200 acres of this land 29 May 1790 to Joshua Johnston. He sold the last 100 acres to Leonard Phillips on 17 Oct 1797. About this time he and Nancy Ann moved to the Tombigbee River area in what is now Washington Co., AL. The Mississippi Territorial Papers establish that John and his brothers, Solomon and Hezekiah occupied adjoining land near the Tombigbee. Brother Thomas received a Spanish Grant nearby. Life was very difficult and settlers were sometimes attacked by Indians. Among them was the wife of one Frederick Smith, said to be related to the Wheat's by marriage. Court testimony was that Smith came to the area in 1798, lived with the Wheats, raised a crop there in 1799, and after his wife was scalped and killed by the Indians, sold his improvement to John Wheat for one gallon of taffia. Evidently Smith was somehow related to Nancy Ann's first husband, Andrew.
By 1803, John and Nancy had moved further west. They went to St. Tammany Parish, LA and were in the northern part of the parish on Silver Creek (the area is now part of Washington Parish). And by 1819 they had relocated a final time, to Hancock Co., MS. John and his sons William and Joseph appear on the Hancock Co. Tax Rolls from that time until their deaths. The land they finally called home is now in the northern portion of Pearl River Co., MS. Here, this branch of the family put down deep and lasting roots. Descendants still sprinkle the area today. John and Nancy Ann are buried in the Wheat Family Cemetery near the Pearl River in what is known as the Buck Branch Community.
3C1A. William Griffin Wheat
Born: 7 Oct 1787, GA
Died: 24 Aug 1858, MS
Married: Martha "Patsy" Wilkinson
3C1B. Joseph Wheat
Born: 1 Nov 1798, AL
Died: 13 Nov 1874, MS
Married: Elizabeth Bagley
3C1C. Hezekiah Wheat
Died: ca. 1815, War of 1812, served in Capt. Peter Barnett's Co.
Never married
Visit the Wheat Family Cemetery in Pearl River Co., MS
Comments or additions
To William Wheat, Jr.
To John and Sarah Wheat
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