William Alderman, 1798-1864, Brooks County

William Alderman, son of David and Jemima, was born in Duplin County, North Carolina, on 12 Jan 1798, and passed away at his home in Brooks County in Nov 1864. In 1816, he moved with his father to Bulloch County, Georgia, where he later married Sarah Edmondson, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Edmondson, on 18 May 1820. Sarah was born in Bulloch County in 1802 and died at her home in Lowndes, now Brooks County, on 20 Jan 1850. Both she and her husband were laid to rest at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Pavo, Brooks County.

For the benefit of some who think differently, the marriage records in Bulloch County show that a marriage license was granted 13 May 1820, to William Alderman so that he could marry Sarah Edmundson, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Edmundson, and a certification by Enoch Fagan, J. P., shows that he performed the ceremony on 18 May 1820. It has been said that the confusion is probably due to an error in date on a tombstone. There are no gravestones remaining to better understand this past issue with the identification of his wife.

Their children:

1. Pollie Alderman, born 1821, married Phillip Hiers, son of Daniel. Died 14 Jun 1889.
2. Lavina Alderman, born 1824, married William Franklin.
3. John A. Alderman, born 25 Jun 1827, married 15 Feb 1849, (1) Emily Norman, and then married (2) Susan Alderman after Emily’s death. He died in Apr 1907.
4. _______ Alderman, female, born 1828-1829, based on 1830 census.
5. Nancy Alderman, born 1835, married John T. Norman of Colquitt County.
6. Mitchell Alderman, Jr. born 1838, married Mary Hiers, daughter of Daniel
7. William Alderman, born 1840, never married; killed in C. S. A., Aug 1862.
8. Isaac Alderman, born 1843, never married; died in C. S. A., 1863.
9. David Alderman, born 1847, never married; died in C. S. A. 1862.

Around 1828, William Alderman and his family relocated to Lowndes County, settling in the Tallokas district, in what later became Brooks County, near Bethel Church. This area was incorporated into Brooks County in 1858. On 5 Sep 1834, Mr. Alderman was baptized into Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, and in Sep 1841, his wife also joined and was baptized. They remained devoted members of the church until their deaths. Mr. Alderman briefly served as the church clerk and treasurer in 1859 before resigning.

In the census records for 1850, taken a few months after the death of his wife, we lose William and his surviving family. Huxford claims he found him in Thomas County during that census, but a hand search of all the pages in the Thomas County census, fail to show him or his family.

William is not recorded as having any slaves in the 1850 or 1860 slave census and his personal property value valued at $2655 in 1860 would indicate the same.

John A. Alderman, their eldest son, settled in Colquitt County, where he served as a Representative in the General Assembly from 1888 to 1889. He also acted as the administrator of his father’s estate.

Three of their sons, William, Isaac, and David, enlisted on 7 Sept 1861 in Company “C” of the 61st Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Capt. James McDonald. William was killed by a shell at Rappahannock, Virginia, in Aug 1862. Isaac succumbed to illness in 1863 at a Confederate hospital in Virginia, while David died of smallpox in 1862 at Guinea Station, Virginia.

Sources

• Huxford, Folks, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, vol. 1, p. 7, Jacksonville, Florida : Cooper Press, 1951.
• Parker, William, Aldermans in America, p. 403-404, Raleigh, N.C. : Edwards & Broughton Co., 1957.
• “United States, Census, 1820”, , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLW-MW6 : Sat Mar 09 00:02:56 UTC 2024), Entry for William Alderman, 1820.
• “United States, Census, 1830”, , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGB-ZQ6 : Mon Jan 20 16:12:00 UTC 2025), Entry for Wm Alderman, 1830. This census indicates 2 daughters under 5,
• “United States, Census, 1840”, , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBN-DPK : Sun Mar 10 00:47:06 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Alderman, 1840. The 1840 census indicates there may have been other children born to this family, or the years of birth known are not correct.
• “United States, Census, 1860”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMZ-R5B : Mon Jul 08 04:33:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Alderman and William Alderman, 1860. There is a girl living with the family named Lindy or Linzy Croft, age 13.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34163511/william_c-alderman: accessed March 8, 2025), memorial page for William C Alderman (12 Jan 1798–11 Nov 1864), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34163511, citing Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Pavo, Brooks County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Patricia Crosby Leonard (contributor 46487366).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34163531/sarah-alderman: accessed March 8, 2025), memorial page for Sarah Edmondson Alderman (1802–20 Jan 1850), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34163531, citing Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Pavo, Brooks County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Patricia Crosby Leonard (contributor 46487366).