Chronology of Abraham Womack, married first Martha Mitchell, married second Martha Watkins

Abraham Womack, who married first Martha Mitchell, and married second Martha Watkins, was the son of Richard Womack (III) and Ann Childers. Abraham was likely the third eldest son, with Richard IV and Jacob being older.

The dates given for Abraham's birth and death are just plain wrong, or to be taken with a large grain of salt. The dates likely come from his grandson, John Warburton Womack, or John's son-in-law, General Marcus J Wright, CSA. The death date of 9 Dec 1804 is wrong, since Abraham's estate was probated in 1797. Likewise, the dates given for Abraham's first wife, Martha Mitchell, are suspect.

Ann McDonald's site, WomackHunter, gives great info on Abraham's descendants.

22 Apr 1742, Abraham Womack born, according to John Warburton Womack bio. This was in Virginia, likely Amelia County (Richard Womack purchased land there 23 Apr 1741).

7 May 1748, Martha Mitchell born according to John Warburton Womack bio. Ann McDonald's site gives Martha birth date as 4 Mar 1744.

Sep 1758, Abraham Womack listed as a private in the Lunenburg Co, VA militia - see Hening's Statutes at Large, search for Womack. Note that John Mitchell follows Abraham, likely Abraham's future brother-in-law. This was during the French and Indian War.

Aug 1761, Orange Co, NC Court minutes, 57-252, "Ordered that Richard Womack, Jacob Womack, Abraham Womack, Josiah Aldey {sic, Richard Womack's son-in-law}, Robert McFarland, Andrew Evans, Frederick Kerlock, Robert Donaldson, Hugh Barnet, William Barnet, William Chambers Jr, Edward Chambers & John Hurley be appointed a jury to lay out and open a road to begin where the road from the County line crosses the road leading from where John Pryor, Esq lives to Orange County house, thence ... to .. Granville County line, and that Edward Chambers, Robert McFarland & Thomas Douglas be appointed overseers."

John Pryor was the future father-in-law of two of Abraham's brothers, David and John. Robert McFarland was the father of James Harris McFarland, who married Abraham's daughter Cicely. Thomas Douglas later sold land to Abraham.

Note that the Richard Womack extended family settled in the part of Orange Co, NC which became Caswell in 1777, and Person in 1792. Another Abraham Womack, married to Elizabeth Stubblefield, lived in western Orange Co, NC (almost on the Guilford, later Rockingham, County line) at the same time. Care must be taken to distinguish the two Abrahams.

31 Mar 1763, Granville Co, NC marriages - Womack, Abraham & Martha Mitchel, spinster; John Mitchel bondsman; Jno Bowie witness. {Granville is just to the east of modern Person Co, NC.}

12 Nov 1765, Orange Co, NC, deed registered from Thomas Douglass to Abraham Womack for 166 acres. {Almost certainly part of a 266 acres Lord Granville patent to Thomas Douglas (patent book 14, p.385) dated 7 Jun 1761, for 266 acres in Orange Co on Hico Creek, adjoining John Pryor and others. Hico Creek flows from eastern Caswell into northwest Person Co, NC, very near Halifax Co, VA, where Abraham married his second wife, Martha Watkins. There is no record of when Abraham sold this land.}

12 May 1767, Orange Co, NC, deed registered from John Tabor to Abraham Womack for 205 acres. {Abraham sold this land on 30 Mar 1772, below.}

30 Mar 1772, Orange Co, NC, Orange Co, NC Deed Book 3, p.483, dated 30 Mar 1772, Abraham Womack of Orange to Alexander Davison of same, 205 acres, W side of May Creek {sic, Mayo Creek in modern north-east Person Co, NC}, on Thomas King's line, formerly Philip Pryor's.

3 Sep 1771, St. George Parish, GA {later Burke Co, GA; the area where the Womacks lived is modern Jefferson Co, GA}. Georgia Land Owner's Memorial 1758-1776. John Womack, 100 acres, St. George Parish, 2/100, 14 Dec 1771. Bounded on NW by John Emanuel, SW by Richd Womack and Peter Grant, other sides vacant. Granted to self 3 Sep 1771. Signed by Abraham Womack for John Womack.

1771-1775 - The state records of North Carolina, Volume 9, Part 1, undated petition to Gov Josiah Martin (who was gov from 1771-1775) from the inhabitants of Orange Co to split the county; among signers: David Womack and Abraham Womack (in a row); John Womack.

15 Nov 1773, St. George Parish, GA - Richard Womack of St George to son Jesse Womack, slave Tom, witnessed by Abraham Womack and Martha (her M mark) Womack; proved by Abraham Womack 9 Dec 1773.

2 July 1776 - Revolutionary Records of the State of Georgia - Journal of the Council of Safety, 2 Jul 1776, The following gentlemen were recommended and approved as Magistrates for the District of Queensborough {another name for St. George Parish}: Abraham Wammock among others.

1777, Caswell Co, NC formed from northern half of Orange Co. See Map of Orange Co, NC districts.
Caswell Co, NC 1777 tax list:

1. Abraham Womack & Wyatt Stubblefield in Caswell Dist {north-west Caswell Co; this is the other Abraham Womack married to Elizabeth Stubblefield.}
2. David Womack in Nash Dist {north-east Caswell, modern north-east Person; this was Abraham's brother.}
3. John Womack in St. Lukes Dist {south-central Caswell, modern south-west Person; this was Abraham's brother.}

Abraham Womack who married Martha Mitchell was NOT in Caswell Co, NC in 1777, as is sometimes asserted. Nor was he in Caswell in the 1780 tax list; the Abraham Womack in that list is also easily shown to be Abraham married to Elizabeth Stubblefield.

However, by the 1784 Caswell tax list, Abraham Womack who married Martha Mitchell was back in Caswell. The 1784 tax list shows the following Womacks:

1. Abram Womack and Wyate Stubblefield in Caswell Dist {north-west Caswell Co; this is the other Abraham Womack married to Elizabeth Stubblefield.}
2. David Womack in Nash Dist {north-east Caswell, modern north-east Person; this was Abraham's brother.}
3. Abram Womack in St. Lawrence Dist; mentions 305 acres on Storeys Creek {north-central Caswell, modern north-west Person; this was Abraham Womack who married Martha Mitchell.}
4. John Womack in St. Lukes Dist {south-central Caswell, modern south-west Person; this was Abraham's brother.}

Few Womack researchers realize that Abraham Womack who married Martha Mitchell returned to Caswell Co, NC for a few years before moving back to Georgia.

1 Nov 1782 - Caswell Co, NC Deed Book B, p.7 - Joshua Browning of Caswell to Abraham Womack of same, for 247 lbs, 305 A on w side of Storey's Cr adj Roger Atkinson. 1 Nov 1782. Wit: Jno Atkinson, Thos. Neely.

1 Dec 1782 - death date for Martha Mitchell Womack, first wife of Abraham, from Ann McDonald's site.

3 Nov 1783 - Wilkes Co, GA, Abraham Womack warrant for 500 acres, warrant dated 3 Nov 1783; surveyed 6 Nov 1783; on Gravils Creek, near Powels Creek of Ogechee, bounding on all sides by vacant land. {Note this land was granted on 13 Dec 1785, below.}

3 Nov 1783 - Wilkes Co, GA, Abraham Womack warrant for 300 acres, warrant dated 3 Nov 1783; surveyed 6 Nov 1783; on the head of Harden's Creek of Little River, bounded by vacant land on all sides. {Note this land was granted on 28 May 1789, below.}

So, Abraham took a trip to GA in fall 1783 to find some land.

The locations of the grants are interesting.

The 500 acres was in Wilkes Co, GA until 3 Feb 1786 when Greene Co was formed; in Greene Co, GA until 17 Dec 1793 when Hancock Co was formed; in Hancock Co, GA until 24 Dec 1825 when Taliaferro Co was formed; and in Taliaferro Co, GA since (slightly north of Powelton, GA).

The 300 acres was in Wilkes Co, GA until 19 Dec 1793 when Warren Co was formed; in Warren Co, GA until 24 Dec 1825 when Taliaferro Co was formed; and in Taliaferro Co, GA since (in the vicinity of Hillman, GA). So, both of Abraham's plots of land wound up in Taliaferro Co, GA, one of the smallest counties in GA.

25 Nov 1784 - Caswell Co, NC Deed Book C, p.10 - Abraham Womack of Caswell to Joshua Browning of same, for 247 lbs, 305 A on w side of Storey's Cr adj Roger Atkinson. 1 Nov 1782. Wit: Hiram Howard, Jno Atkinson.

Note that Hiram Howard was Abraham's son-in-law, married to his daughter Lucretia. See Hiram's will. Note that Howard researchers have no proof whatsoever that Lucretia was a Farrar.

13 Dec 1785, Abraham Womack granted 500 acres in Wilkes Co, GA. Georgia Headright and Bounty Land Records, 1783-1909 > Colonial Records Register of grants, 1785-1786, v. III (page 366) > Image 389 of 920. Registered 20 Dec 1785.

22 Jan 1787 - Caswell Co, NC marriages. James H McFarland to Cisley Womack; James Robinson bondsman; Ald. Murphey witness. {Of course, Abraham was in Caswell Co, NC for the marriage of his daughter!}

1786-1787 - Abstracts of Granville Co, NC; Court Minutes 1786-1787, p.46 - Betsey Yancey, Abraham Womack paid as witnesses in case of Wm Neal vs. Jno Mitchel.

Some time between about 1782 and 1787, Abraham must have married his second wife, Martha Watkins. See the will of William Watkins in Halifax Co, VA.

28 May 1789, Abraham Womack granted 300 acres in Wilkes Co, GA. Georgia Headright and Bounty Land Records, 1783-1909 > Colonial Records > Register of grants, 1789, v. SSS (page 212) > Image 261 of 726. Registered 1 Jun 1789.

I will continue later.