Comments on: Newt Knight, the story goes on forever, continued: Mississippi Senator Blanche K. Bruce

By: Ed Payne

Ed Payne — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:42:23 +0000

Ms Lewis-Gilmer,

It is my maternal line that led me to first contact Vikki Bynum and later to begin posting on “Renegade South.” I am a descendant of early (ca 1818-1822) Jones County settlers Stacy Collins and Willoughby Walters. One of Willoughby’s sons, George Willoughby Walters, married one of Stacy’s daughters, Sarah (Sallie) Collins. She is my 3 gr-grandmother. Several of Sarah’s brothers and nephews were active members of the Knight Band and one, Riley Collins, later joined the Union Army in New Orleans.

I’m attracted to individuals who demonstration that among our ancestors some people were just as complicated and independent minded as we might fancy ourselves to be today. And this group (along with a maternal 2 gr-grandfather who turned out to be a Union veteran from Maine) have certainly proved this to be the case.

No family connections (at least up through the 1880s) with any of the towns you mention. My grandfather Payne was born in northern Alabama so that branch is, by Mississippi standards, among the more recent arrivals.

By: LaTrenda Shana Lewis-Gilmer

LaTrenda Shana Lewis-Gilmer — Sat, 25 May 2013 20:19:44 +0000

Ed Payne where are your ancestors from? Do you have any ancestors that were from the Newton County, Ms. area? Decatur, Newton, Collinsville, Lauderdale Ms.?

By: Ruby Lee

Ruby Lee — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 06:42:24 +0000

Very interesting post! As widely as we study the Civil War, very little is known of Reconstruction, and how it impacted life in the U.S. for many years to come. Thank you for sharing!

By: Ed Payne

Ed Payne — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 04:05:18 +0000

Ms Bliss,

Thank you for your kind remarks. As it happens, I am a descendent of the Jones County Walters clan by way of Willoughby Walters. Based on some preliminary searching, I see you have encountered a major brick wall. Via this comment, I will request that blog master Vikki Bynum provide you with my email. Please email me and I will see if we can find any further answers.

By: Misty Bliss

Misty Bliss — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:20:26 +0000

Mr. Payne,
Everything you post is absolutely fascinating!! I wonder if I might trouble you with a personal question. In all your studies, have you ever come accross a Walters family, in particular a Samuel H. Walters? He was probably a child during the civil war. I’m trying to trace my geneology but have been stumped for years and years on this man. No doubt the civil war years were not kind to geneological records. But your work has given me quite a vision of what his world was like. Here’s what I know from his son’s death certificate. He was born in Mississippi, was married to Caroline Mangrum, also born in Mississippi. The son was named Patrick Henry Walters and was born in Hermanville, Claiborne County, Mississippi on 20 Nov 1878. By 1904 Patrick was living, and was married, in Dallas, Texas. Patrick was my Great Grandfather. Please forgive me for such an overly bold personal request! And, thank you for your fabulous research and writings on this era in the Piney Woods!!
Sincerely,
Misty