We are looking for the parents of George H. Wilcox and his wife Rebecca Priest. If you have any family tree information please E-MAIL us here. Here's what we know: (Pap) George Henry W. Wilcox Birth: Dec 25th, 1820 in Columbus, Muscogee Co.,GA Death: Aug 24, 1903 in Bryan Co., Durant, OK Burial: Old Pioneers Cemetery Father's birth place: Connecticut We believe the A. WILCOX in Muscogee County, Georgia in the 1830 census is very likely George's father. Mother: Katherine or Catherine 1793 Georgia Marriage: Nov 5th, 1848 Cherokee, GA Spouse: Rebecca (Beckie) Priest Birth: 1833 in GA Death: between 1880-83 in Etowah, AL Burial: Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery Her parents birth place: SC, South Carolina Home in 1860: Big Shanty, Cobb County, GA HOME in 1870: Gritter, Cobb, GA Gritter is further East and North. Home in 1880: Gum Springs And Attalla, Etowah Co.,AL Etowah County is almost straight west of Cobb County Children: - William Henry 1849 GA (married Emily F. Shaw) - T.M. 1853 GA - James M. 1855 GA (married Ava or Arvilla ?) - Georgia Ann 1856-57 GA (married John S. Hood) - GreenBerry 1859-60 GA (married Lizzie Smith 1880, Mary Thurman 1883) - Arleasy Dora 1864-65 GA (married ? Parker) Death: 2/16/1937 Collin, TX, Altoga Cemetery - John D. or Izar 1868 GA (married Mary E. Ashley) - Alleta "Leda" Parish 1870 GA (married Parker E. Payne) - "GI" Gilford or Guilford Isaiah 1874 GA (married Jessee ?) From the Hood Family Book: We know that George must have had musical training or a lot of natural ability, or else he would not have gone into service during the Civil War as a principal musician. (George H. Wilcox, musician, Company E, 64 Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry- Georgia Department of Archives and History #257/128) Pap was a nick name. His children talked about a boat that Pap had. Patricia Dunbar believes he was a farmer and had a ferry or river boat at sometime. She says they had lots of stories about his boat. Other family tree's note that Pap and many of his sons worked on the railroad in AL. He lived a long life, I think he could have done both. Here are links some links about the Coosa River that ran through Gadsden near Attalla, Etowah Co., AL. This river had a lot of boat travel all through the civil war. It continues into GA. In 1974-7 the damming of the river for the creation of Carters Lake destroyed one of the best whitewater runs in the nation. Coosa River Facts Coosa River Map Historical AL Maps note: Notice on the 1903 map of AL there is a town named "Pinkney" (in St.Clair County) and it's just south and west of Attalla, Etowah County. We see that Pap's sons all left the railroad to purse other occupations. Patricia Dunbar (Jess Smith's niece) lived around the Wilcox's and knows for sure they always said they were Choctaw. note: Rebecca died in AL, before Pap left AL to come live with his two sons (James and Gilford) in Durant OK (border-line Choctaw territory). So, Rebecca never lived in OK. She lived in the Cherokee territory all her life. Her parents birthplace was in the Cherokee territory, aswell. So, the rummor that Rebecca was Choctaw, I believe was a mix-up. Because they were both part Native American of different tribes. There was a Cyprian Wilcox who married Catherine DeWhitt in Handcock County, Georgia May 4, 1819. In 1830, 40, and 50 a Cyprian Wilcox was a resident of New Haven, Conneticut. The names and dates fit, but no other evidence has been found to prove these relationships. If George were full Indian from two generations back, then his father's mother was Indian of full blood, as Wilcox was not an Indian name. In order to know which tribe George's grandmother was from, we would need to know which Indians were living in the Conneticut area between the years 1780 and 1800. Or perhaps George's grandfather traveled to another area meeting an Indian maiden and carried her back to Conneticut where George's father was born. One of George H.'s sons was named Guilford, a town in Connecticut, although the name may or may not have significance. The following may or may not have significance: Susie Brown (full Cherokee) married ? Wilcox Children: James, Thompson, and Polly Wilcox (Polly never married). Susie also had a daughter named Rachel Brown. Rachel's children were Perry Ross, George Hammer Brown, and Abbie Brown.(Susie Brown may be the grandmother of George H. Wilcox.) Martha Garrish of Cherokee Co. NC, was 56 years old. She said her mother was of Indian decent. She said her father was a white man. Her grandfather, John Martin, was on roll. It was in Cherokee County that John's and Georgia Ann's (Pap's oldest daughter) first child was born. They named him George Marion Hood for John's brother and Rebecca's father. Pap lived with hid daughter Georgia and her family after he retired. Georgia's sons drove him away when one of them hit him with a ball. He decided he take a train to OK to go live with his Native American family. Georgia told her daughter-in-law, Rhoda Hood, that she was full Indian from three generations back. Rhoda said Georgia Ann had lovely black eyes and hair, & high cheekbones. But, that's all it says. She didn't say which side the Cherokee was from. Georgia Ann Olivia Martin #2399 is listed on the Cherokee Hester Roll of 1883. In the 1860 Cobb County GA Census records. Susie Brown (full Cherokee) married ? Wilcox. Children: James, Thompson, and Polly Wilcox (Polly never married). Susie also had a daughter named Rachel Brown. Rachel's children were Perry Ross, George Hammer Brown, and Abbie Brown. (Susie Brown may be the grandmother of Pap Wilcox.) John, Joseph, and Jacob Martin were cousins. Joseph Martin, Cherokee Indian, drowned in Chicamauga River, always lived in NC and GA. According to records, Sarah Martin received money for Susie Brown Wilcox's grandchildren. (One Joseph Martin was a frontiersman, surveyor, and land speculator from Tennessee. (He married an Indian woman.) Martha Garrish of Cherokee Co. NC, was 56 years old. She said her mother was of Indian decent. She said her father was a white man. Her grandfather, John Martin, was on roll. In the Columbus, Muscogee Co 1830 census the family members were not listed. Just the head of the household: A. Wilcox (possibly George's father) They did note that there was one Male between the ages 5-9, one Male between the ages 10-14, one Male between the ages 30-39, one Female between the ages 10-14, and one Female between the ages 30-39. George would have been abt.10 years old. A. WILCOX was the only WILCOX listed in that area. I could not find him in 1840. From the tree of James R. Engle: George is listed as George W. Martin, wife Rebecca Martin, and child William Henry Martin, age ten months. I know this to be our "Pap" George WILCOX because William Henry WILCOX, son of George WILCOX and Rebecca Priest was exactly ten months old at this time. I do not know why George and his family were listed as Martins other than the fact that Catherine was a Martin at this time, and the census taker knew that she was George’s mother. William Henry WILCOX was the oldest child of Pap and Rebecca. He married Emily SHAW and moved to Steele, Alabama to work on the railroad. William Henry WILCOX and Emily SHAW are buried in the Steele City Cemetery. (Indians traditionally took the last name of the mother. This answers some difficult family questions. Pap Wilcox's mother was Catherine Martin. When he took his father's name Wilcox, he did not have to move to Oklahoma, but when he went to live with his Indian relatives, it is possible that he reverted back to his name of Indian ancestry.) note: Georgia Ann Olivia Martin #2399 is listed on the Cherokee Hester Roll of 1883. The Hood book suggest that Ebenezer Wilcox, born Feb 11, 1719-20 (From the: Wilcoxes of Killingworth, CT.) maybe Pap's grandfather or g-grandfather. According to Charlotte Williams Pierce, great, great granddaughter of Pap Wilcox, Pap's father was from Hamilton County, NC. "His father was Ebenezer Wilcox who married Any Ratly of the Bird clan and had three children: George (Pap), David, and Wille` Wilcox. David emigrated to Oklahoma early. It was said that there were two other children, but they didn't claim kin. (Could those two be James and Thompson Wilcox of Cherokee by Blood?) There was a Cyprian Wilcox who married Catherine DeWhitt in Handcock County, Georgia May 4, 1819. In 1830, 40, and 50 a Cyprian Wilcox was a resident of New Haven, Conneticut. The names and dates fit, but no other evidence has been found to prove these relationships. Pap lived at Big Shanty, Georgia, a railroad town leading into Atlanta where Sherman stockpiled supplies during the Confederate War. An important battle was fought nearby--Kennesaw Mountain. The railroad which came through Big Shanty was the main railroad leading from Chatta-nooga, TN, to Atlanta. Both Union and Rebel troops fought to control it. Steele, also a railroad town in St. Clair County, AL, may have been the reason for Pap's move to AL. George's son and family are buried in the Steele City Cemetery. Possible Father's to Rebecca: (These first 5 are brothers.) note: Pap & Rebecca were married in Cherokee Co. - Martin Priest born: 1808 in SC, in 1840 Census he lives in Dist. 823 Cherokee Co. - William Priest born: 1808 in SC, Miner in Cherokee Co., GA 1850 - Thomas Priest born: 1802 in NC, in 1840 Census lives in Dist. 817 Cherokee Co. - Pinkney Wesley Preast born: 1813 in SC, Died 11/18/1905 Atlanta, GA - James M. Priest born: 1817 in SC Their Father: John S. Preast born: 1780 in VA Their Mother: Sarah born: 1780 in VA note: William has a son (James Wiley) born the same year as Rebecca, which would make him an uncle. There is a death record of: William Priest died 1870 in Cherokee Co. - P.W. Preast born: 1812 in SC, Is in 1840 & 1860 census in Dist. 20, Cobb Co. note: Cobb is th same area as Cherokee Co. - Wife: Syntha Preast born: 1814 SC - Daughter: A.C. Preast born: 1840 GA - Son: N.J. Preast born: 1841 GA - Son: P.C. Preast born: 1844 GA - Daughter: S. Jane Preast born: 1847 GA - Son: W.M. Preast born: 1850 GA - Son: W.D. Preast born:1851 GA - Son: L.N. Preast born 1856 GA - Abeseneth Priest born: 1800 in SC, 1870 census: Thomasons, Hall, GA - William Priest born: 1809 in SC, 1860 census: Bells, Cherokee, GA note: Notice the father of the 5 brothers has the Preast spelling. note: Cherokee County, Georgia, was created from ceded land of the Cherokee Indians on 21 December 1830. On 3 December 1832, Cheorkee County was divided into ten counties: Forsyth, Lumpkin, Union, Cobb, Cherokee, Gilmer, Cass [now Bartow], Murray, Floyd, and Paulding. I recieved this e-mail from another researcher: Who were Rebecca's parents? I can't find them in 1850 (seem to have been a lot of people missed in the 1850 census). In 1860, Big Shanty P.O., Cobb Co, Ga: G.H. Wilcox 29m Ga Rebecca 27f Ga - W.H. 11m Ga - T.M. 7m Ga - J.M. 5m Ga - G.A. 2 f Ga They are on page 379. The familes of Pinkney W. Priest live in Cobb on page 357 and Thomas Priest on page 366. In 1870, Gritter District, Cobb Co, GA: George H Wilcox 39m Ga Beckie 37f Ga - James M. 15m Ga - Georgia A. 13f Ga - Greenberry 10m Ga - Alicia J. 5f Ga - John D. 2m Ga and next door to them live: William H. Wilcox 21m Ga Emily 21f Ga. They all live on page 320.Cynthia Priest, widow of P.W. Priest, is on page 343. So......Rebecca's closest association is with Pinkney. Rebecca consistently reported that she was born in 1833. Rick has believed that Martin V. Priest, born in 1835, was Pinkney W.'s first child and the marriage of P.W. to Cynthia considered to be in 1834. Let's look at them........P.W. was born 1813 so would have been 20 in 1833. Cynthia, in the 1860-70-80 census, reported she was born 1815 to 1819 so, in 1833, she would have been as old as 18 and young as 14. She was part Indian so probably would have married young. The 1840 census was first for P.W. but there are a bunch of people in his family who are not his kids & we don't who they are. There are four kids under 10, including one girl, who "might" be his kids. If so, we don't know their names. Can't find them in 1850 so that's no help. Could Rebecca be a daughter of Pinkney's brothers? Not Thomas or William or John Jr because we have good lists of their children & Rebecca is not among them. That leaves only Martin who did have four girls under 10 in the 1840 census. The two oldest are gone from the family by 1850. I don't know........Rebecca Priest Wilcox could be either a daughter of Pinkney W or his brother Martin. (Martin is most likely.) Information discovered Jan 27th, 2006 #15421 - Priest James Monroe - Applied in Ga - 240 The Guion Miller Roll lists Rebecca Wilcox applying for compensation arising from the judgment of the United States Court of Claims on May 28, 1906, for the Eastern Cherokee tribe. Rebecca has a son named James M., is this her son, or her uncle, or her cousin? Also listed: #7543 - Priest Elizabeth - in Ga - pg240 #7544 - Priest Wm T - in Ga - pg240 #8413 - Priest Kissey - in Ga - pg240 #8415 - Priest James L - in Ga - pg240 #15419 - Priest Nancy R - in Ga - pg 240 #15420 - Priest Jasper S. - in Ga - pg240 #7535 - Preast John W - in Ga - pg239 Dawes Final Rolls list: - Tribe - Last - First - Age - Sex - Blood - Card -- Type: Choctaw Wilcox Belle ---15 --- F -- 1/32 - MCR2948 - MCR Choctaw Wilcox Dealy ---11 ----F -- 1/32 - MCR2948 - MCR Choctaw Wilcox Guy ------3 ----M -- 1/32 - MCR2948 - MCR Choctaw Wilcox J.H. -----0 ----M --------- MCR2948 - P Choctaw Wilcox John -----0 ----M --------- MCR3328 - P Choctaw Wilcox John -----0 ----M --------- 5142 ---- P Choctaw Wilcox Joseph ---0 ----M --------- MCR1904 - P Choctaw Wilcox Josie ----0 ----F --------- MCR1904 - P Choctaw Wilcox Luria ---12 ----F -- 1/32 - MCR2948 - MCR Choctaw Wilcox Millie J-41 ----F -- 1/16 - MCR2948 - MCR Choctaw Wilcox Tommie ---9 ----M -- 1/32 - MCR2948 - MCR Choctaw Wilcox Ulysses -13 ----M -- 1/32 - MCR2948 - MCR note: MCR meant: Mississippi Choctaw and P meant: Parent Dawes is a list of those members of the Five Civilized Tribes who removed to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) during the 1800's and were living there during the above dates. (1898-1914) Seeing the Wilcox surname on the Choctaw rolls leads us to think that George was the Choctaw, and looks like Rebecca is part Cherokee. But, we will try to link the names in the rolls to the family. And, also continue our search for their parents. View the Rolls In case # 15419, Nancy Rebecca Priest, of Marietta, GA filed Filed for money as an Eastern Cherokee, but her claim was rejected. She stated, "That I am 59 years of age and live in Cobb Co., GA. I claim my Indian through my father; my mother is white. My husband is a white man. I claim through my grandmother Howell. My grandfather Howell was white. My father was born and raised in Cherokee Co., GA. Don't know when he was born. The Indians stole my grandmother and kept her four years in prison. All I know about this is hearing my grandmother talk about it. I don't know when they stole her--it was before I was born. If my father was living he would be about 108 years of age. My father lived among the Indians in Cherokee Co. He was ˝ Cherokee. I never lived with the Indians as a member of the tribe. They were gone when I was born. I, nor my father were never on any rolls. Don't know about my grandmother. My grandmother's sisters were: Polly and Becky Howell, but I don't know the name of the other one. Polly never married and I don't know who the other one married. She had two brothers, Steve and Washington. I am recognized as white woman but I have always claimed some Indian. This is the only application I ever made for Indian benefits. My father never made any. All the members of my family and my brothers' and sisters' family claim through my father and his mother and through no other source." signed: Nancy R. Priest, Marietta, GA., July 6, 1908. Our Rebecca had died by 1908. But, this was certainly someone kin. Marietta is in Cherokee County, GA. (Nancy Rebecca's two sons and two Howell nephews also filed and were rejected.) If you have any info on George or Rebecca's parents please E-MAIL us here.