My G-Grandfather’s Attic
When I was a child, there was no place more magical to me than the treasure-filled attic of my g-grandfather,
Josiah Garrett. The house was located between the villages of Perth and Union Church, in Jefferson County,
MS, about three hours north of New Orleans, Louisiana, where I grew up. Josiah was no longer living by then,
but his two daughters, Lola Gibson and Flora Dawkins, were in residence. Even as a child, I wouldn’t have
traded a day in that wonderful old house for a week at Disney World.
It was built in 1847 by my 2-g-grandparents, Isaac and Abba Ann Warren Garrett, who raised their family and
lived out their lives there, as did Josiah and Flora Carmichael Garrett. The house had once been used as
a post office and stopping point for mail riders, who sometimes stayed overnight in the attic. It was called
Scotland Post Office, in honor of the many citizens of Scottish ancestry who’d settled in the area in the early
1800’s.
The attic was still filled with remnants of the exciting days when the early Mississippi Territory was just
opening up. Trunks overflowed with 100-year-old clothing. My cousins and I would go through the trunks, try
on the clothes, look through the old books and newspapers. When we were finally persuaded to join the
family downstairs, everyone would gather and listen to Aunt Lola talk about times long past. She would show
us the small holes in the exterior walls, left open so that rifles could be inserted in case of attack. She would
tell us stories about her childhood, the all-day camp meetings and how young people courted by going on a
buggy ride, chaperoned by one of their parents. Her stories were as magical as the attic. Sadly, the old
home is no longer there, the treasures in the attic either scattered or discarded. The walls that reverberated
with the laughter of five generations of Garrett children have been torn down. The old floorboards, where
Abba Ann paced and prayed—for the children when they were ill, for strength when Isaac died and for a way
to feed her family when times grew hard—the floorboards are gone, they no longer echo with the long-ago
sounds of Abba Ann’s steps.
My great-aunts, Lola and Flora, passed away years ago, but when I see the land now, I can almost smell the
biscuits baking and the coffee brewing. I could swear I hear Aunt Lola calling out a greeting from the front
porch, “Come on in and put your feet up for a spell, Flora’s about to make a blackberry pie.” It’s my imagination,
of course. Or maybe it’s the soft breeze carrying long ago voices through the tall pines and over the tops of
the magnolia trees, through the open door of a house that’s no longer there.
But I can go back. And I do. Time after time. In mind and in my heart, in my memories of those lovely family
get-togethers and those magical afternoons spent in my great-grandfather’s attic.
Pages are cross-indexed under names and locations below.
Click on the name for the main page concerning that line.
Family Names
Click on the NAME to go to that family’s main page. The
pages under names are related to that family. Many
pages are cross-indexed for both name and place.
BALDRIDGE
Will of William Baldridge, Lancaster, PA, 1767
John Baldridge’s Bible, Ireland, PA, NC
Old Town Clock of Hillsborough, NC
Petition on Behalf of Orange County Regulators
Little River, Orange County, NC Landowners Map
Baldridge & Turrentine Photos
Francis Baldridge Land Claim, MS, 1806
Info from John Baldridge’s Bible
Francis & Elizabeth Turrentine Baldridge’s
Power of Attorney, MS, 1816
John Stampley’s Heirs: Deed, 1823, Coles Creek, MS
Certificate of Transfer to Francis Baldridge, 1819
Miscellaneous Baldridge Records
CAIN
Miscellaneous Records
Census Images: Gwinnett Co., GA & Denton Co., TX
History of 42nd GA Inf Reg
Story & Pictures: Civil War Prison: Camp Chase, OH
CARMICHAEL
Miscellaneous Carmichael Records: NC & MS
Carmichael Passengers on the Jupiter of Larne
Carmichaels of Karnes County, Texas
Gillett Cemetery, Karnes County, Texas
1870 Census Page, Union Church, Jefferson Co, MS
1880 Census Page, Karnes County, TX
Davis Tombstones, Jefferson County, MS
COURTNEY / CURTIS
Will of William Cook, Baltimore, MD, 1739
A History of Protestantism in Early Mississippi
Miscellaneous Records
FAIRLEY
Fairley Family Photos, Karnes County, TX
DAWKINS
Old Garrett/Dawkins Family Letters
Survey Union Church Cemetery, Mississippi
Photos: Dawkins Tombstones, Union Church, MS
Miscellaneous Records: VA, NC, MS
Gladys Dawkins Magearl Obituary
Edward DOTY, My Mayflower Ancestor
Pilgrims and Strangers
Pilgrim Town: Marshfield, MA
Pilgrim English Ancestral Homes
Old Winslow Burying Ground
Miscellaneous Records: MA, NC, MS
Illustrations from “The Story of the Pilgrims”
The Mayflower & the Plimoth Plantation
GARMON / YANCEY
Miscellaneous Records
“Richmond Blues,” 46th VA Inf Regiment
GARRETT
Probate/Guardianship Records of Isaac Garrett
Roster of Co. A 12th Miss Inf Regiment
Civil War Experiences of Josiah Garrett
Old Garrett/Dawkins Family Letters
Miscellaneous Records: SC & MS
Jacob Garrett Family Photos, West Virginia
Survey Union Church Cemetery, Mississippi
History of the Old Scotch Settlement, Mississippi
David & Martha Garrett: Beauvoir Cemetery
Isaac Garrett: Scotland P.O., Jefferson Co, MS
Snippets from Grandpa Garrett’s Journal
HANON
Miscellaneous Records: Illinois
JACKSON
Old Jackson Family Photos
Photos of Samuel & Susan Jackson; IL, MO, TX
Taney County, Missouri
Jackson: Veterans Memorial, Pearl River Co., MS
Miscellaneous Records: Missouri & Texas
McCORMICK
Miscellaneous McCormick Records: NC & MS
Union Church Records, Mississippi
Survey: Union Church Cemetery, Mississippi
McCormick Family Photos, North Carolina
Isle of Lismore, Argyll, Scotland
Views of Lismore, Argyll, Scotland
MATTHEWS
Photos of Samuel & Susan Matthews Jackson
Photo of Amanda Matthews Franklin’s Family
Roster of Co. L., 10th IL Cav Regiment
Taney County, Missouri
Miscellaneous Records: IL, MO, TX
OSBORNE
Miscellaneous Records
SHARP
STAMPLEY
Sale of Plantation, John Stampley, MS, 1784
Image: Promissory Note, John Stampley, MS, 1787
A History of Protestantism in Early Mississippi
Transcription of Jacob Stampley’s Will, MS, 1826
Documentrom Estate Papers of John Stampley, MS
Petition of Jacob Stampley re: John Cole, 1829
John Stampley’s Heirs: Deed, 1823, Coles Creek, MS
Miscellaneous Records
STRINGER
Miscellaneous Records: GA & MS
TURRENTINE
Turrentine Family History
Little River, Orange County, NC Land Owners Map
Elizabeth Turrentine Baldridge’s Power of Attorney
Baldridge & Turrentine Photos
Miscellaneous Records
WARREN
Marriage Bond: Josiah Warren & Nancy Doty, Onslow Co,
NC, 1780
Probate/Guardianship Records of Benajah Warren
Warren Family Photos
Daniel Warren: 1870 Census Page, Jefferson Co., MS
Josiah Warren’s Will & 2 Quit Claims to Josiah Warren
Miscellaneous Records: VA, NC, GA, MS
BRISTER-WHITTINGTON
Brister-Whittington Families of SW MS
My Other Sites
Places
GEORGIA:
Vintage Photos of Schools in Gwinnett County
ILLINOIS:
CW 10th IL Cavalry, Roster of Company L
Histories of Illinois Civil War Regiments & Units
LOUISIANA:
New Orleans, WWII: Story of 73rd Bombardment Wing
When Time Stood Still: My Katrina Retrospective
MARYLAND
William Cook’s Will, Baltimore County,1739
MISSISSIPPI
ADAMS COUNTY, MS:
Old Images of Natchez
Historic King’s Tavern, Natchez
Historic Jefferson College, Washington
~&~
Historic Jefferson College, Page 2
Historic Assembly Hall, Washington
The Old Methodist Church, Washington
Concordia, Home: Gov. Manuel Gayoso de Lima
Brandon Hall, near Washington
Cowles-Mead House, Washington
James Foster House, near Washington
William Foster House, near Washington
Propinquity, near Washington
Selma, near Washington
Antebellum Homes, Natchez
JEFFERSON COUNTY, MS:
Union Church Presbyterian: C.W. Grafton:
“43 Year Pastorate in a Country Church”
Scotland Post Office
Ghosts of Old Rodney
Last Inn on the Natchez Trace: Mt. Locust
Vintage Views of Fayette
Union Church Presbyterian Church Records
Photos: Union Church Cemetery
Survey: Union Church Cemetery
History of the Old Scotch Settlement
“The Old Store,” Jefferson County
Reminiscences of Jefferson County
Warren Family Cemetery Photos
Goodwin Family Graveyard Photo
Davis Family Tombstones
Photo of Old Barn in Jefferson County
Extinct Towns of Jefferson County
Jefferson Co. Records Description, 1902
1843 Yellow Fever Epidemic, Rodney
Early Days of Rodney
LINCOLN COUNTY, MS:
Vintage Photos of Lincoln County
Residences of Old Brookhaven
Vintage Views of Brookhaven
Whitworth College, Brookhaven
Caseyville Cemetery
PEARL RIVER COUNTY, MS:
Vintage Photos Pearl River County
Old Thigpen Cemetery
Historic Byrd’s Chapel
House of Ruth Cemetery
Turtleskin Cemetery
Palestine Cemetery
Veterans Memorial, Picayune
Vintage Photo Poplarville High School
“Granny” Bounds Cabin
Logging in Pearl River County
Old Images of MS & LA Turpentine Stills
VARIOUS COUNTIES in MS:
Vintage Photos of Camp Shelby, Forrest County
Vintage Photos of Wesson, Copiah County
History of Protestantism in MS, pub. 1865
The Road Gen. Jackson Built
The House Where Gen. Jackson Stopped
A Buggy Ride, Franklin County
Riddle Log House, Tishimongo County
Vintage Photo of Tylertown, Walthall County
Vintage VIews of Port Gibson, Claiborne County
Vintage Images of Crystal Springs
MISSOURI:
Taney County
The Hills Sing: Taney County
Images from Taney County
Bradleyville Cemetery, Taney County
Bradleyville Cemetery, Taney County, Set 2
NORTH CAROLINA:
18 Pages of Research for Orange County, NC
John Baldridge’s Bible, Lincoln/Orange Co.
Petition on Behalf of Orange County Regulators
“Old Town Clock” of Hillsborough
Little River, Orange County Landowners Map
Stewartsville Cemetery, Scotland Co.
McCormick Family Photos, Richmond Co.
“Highland Scots & Scotch-Irish” 1939 Book: North
Carolina: Old State & New”
Map: Early Settlement in NC
Richmond County History and Images
Vintage Photos: Richmond / Scotland Counties
PENNSYLVANIA:
Lancaster County Will Index
Little Britain & Marctic Township Histories, 1883
Turrentine Family History, Mifflin County
John Baldridge’s Bible, Lancaster County
William Baldridge’s Will, Lancaster County, 1767
History of Lancaster County; Histories of Little Britain &
Marctic Townships; Index to Will Books
Old Pennsylvania Postcards
TEXAS
Dallas Vintage Postcards
Gillett Cemetery, Karnes County
VIRGINIA:
Richmond Blues, 46th VA Inf Regiment
“Old Virginia and her Neighbors,” pub. 1897
WEST VIRGINIA
Jacob Garrett’s Family Photos
LISMORE, APPIN, ARGYLL, SCOTLAND:
Tribute to the Isle of Lismore
Lismore: “A Fine Light”
Brief History of the Lismore Lighthouse
Across the Sound to Jura
OTHER
Genealogy Poems
The Story of Flanders Fields
The Story of the 73rd Bomdbardment Wing, WWII
Oradour-sur-Glane, The Silent Village
These pages are dedicated to the many family
researchers whose kindness and generosity have
helped me knock down so many brick walls.