Comments on: What’s in a Marriage? Bynums on both sides of the Civil War Divide

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:27:51 +0000

I’m sorry, John, I don’t recognize your Bynum names. The Bynums are pretty widespread throughout the South since, after starting out in VA/NC, they fanned out throughout the South and Southwest. There are many in SC, AL, GA, TN. TX, and OK, as well as MS. The Jones County, MS, Bynums, who are the subject of the posts on Renegade South, descended from William Bynum, born 1763 in NC. He appears to have lived in SC and TN before settling in MS.

Best of luck in finding connections through Renegade South!

Vikki

By: john hubert bynum

john hubert bynum — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:31:48 +0000

Looking for my folks, can you help? Im from Panama City Fla, father John Franklin Bynum, born in Panama City; his father was John Carl Bynum and mother was Mary Rose Carlos Bynum

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:22:53 +0000

Yes, Chuck, that PM Bynum is the same Prentice M. Bynum who appears prominently in my last two books, Free State of Jones and Long Shadow of the Civil War. Vikki

By: Chuck Bennett

Chuck Bennett — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:00:40 +0000

We have a PM Bynum that was appointed to the Lamar County Board of Supervisors in April of 1904. Is this the same man?

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:20:44 +0000

Hi Jimmy,

I have a brother named Jimmy and my great-grandfather William had a brother named John H. Bynum (the H was for “Hall”).

There are many Bynums throughout the South, but most seem to have descended from those who first came to VA, then moved to NC, and from there fanned out onto the frontier. Have you investigated censuses, the best first place to begin. Of course, there’s all kinds of material on Ancestry.com.

If you have any specific information beyond that one name, feel free to post it–you might hear back from Renegade South readers.

Thanks for writing,
Vikki

By: Jimmy Bynum

Jimmy Bynum — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:35:10 +0000

I love the information above about the Bynums. Apparently I am a descendent of John H Bynum born 1854 in Georgia. Over the past few weeks, I have begun looking into our ancestry and trying to find the lines back in history. Any guidance you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:43:09 +0000

Hi Mimi,

Very interesting! Where did Kinchen Ross Bynum live before moving to Arkansas? The William Bynum Sr., born 1763, who eventually migrated to Jones County, MS, started out from North Carolina. I am familiar with the name Kinchen, but have never seen him listed as this William’s brother (he also appears to have been considerably younger). One of the problems with researching the Bynums is that so many were named William or James, generation after generation.

If Kinchen Bynum is more distantly related to the Jones County Bynums, his lack of loyalty to the Confederacy is an interesting parallel to those Bynums who joined up with Newt Knight and the Knight Company.

Your story also demonstrates that many men simply wanted to survive the war, and felt no particular loyalty to either side. Whichever side endangered their families or farms most directly was likely to feel their anger.

Vikki

By: Mimi Bynum Johnson

Mimi Bynum Johnson — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:15:28 +0000

Wow! I came across the site by chance and what an interesting read! I will also have to look into the book ya’ll were all talking about as well.
William Sr. I believe is the brother of Kinchen Ross Bynum who I am a decendent of. I can not remember exactly who but I do know my Bynum ancestor changed sides of the civil war more than once. The story is that his commanding officer had tried to order him to give him his horse, he refused, left camp in the middle of the night, joined the North side until he killed that man who had wanted his horse and then changed back to the side of the South. Not sure but I think it was Kinchen, who ended up ultimately in Arkansas.

By: renegadesouth

renegadesouth — Wed, 19 May 2010 11:54:23 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Marc! I hope you enjoy The Free State of Jones.

From everything I’ve read and researched about the Bynums, it appears they first migrated to Virginia from England or Wales early in the 17th century. By the 1800s, my branch was in North Carolina. From there, the names between branches overlap so much that I can’t pinpoint their exact route to eventual settlement in southern Mississippi around 1817. After studying to census records, however, it seems certain my ancestor, William Bynum, born 1763, lived in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia before settling in what became Jones County, MS, in 1826.

The Collinses followed a similar migratory path, and it’s possible that some members from both families either remained in Georgia, or returned there later. If you provide some names, I or Renegade South readers may be able to find a link.

Vikki

By: Marc A Bynum

Marc A Bynum — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:26:34 +0000

We have both Collins and Bynums in our family. I wonder if many moved south to GA later in the century.

This was a fascinating read. I will look for your book.

Regards,

Marc