Richmond Bailey, 1816-1882, Coffee County

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Richmond Bailey was born in Jul 1816 in Laurens County, Georgia, the son of Henry and Nancy (Douglas) Bailey. Around 1810, the Bailey family moved from Jefferson County to Laurens County, and later, around 1838, relocated to Ware County, settling in the area now known as Atkinson County.

It was there that Richmond met and married Matilda Sears, daughter of David and Levicy (Nobles) Sears. Matilda was born on 08 Feb 1820 in Montgomery County, Georgia, and passed away on 04 May 1901 at the home of her son Joseph in what was then Coffee County. Richmond Bailey had died earlier, on 01 Jun 1882. Both are buried at Union Hill Congregational Church in Axson, Georgia.

  1. Tharp Bailey, born 1 Feb 1839, married (1) Missouri Summerlin, daughter of Allen and Anna (Atwood) Summerlin; (2) Mary A. Ricketson, daughter of John P Griffis and Martha Amanda (Overstreet) Ricketson. She was born 11 Nov 1854 and died 24 Aug 1932 in Jacksonville, Florida. His first wife was buried in Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery, but no grave remains. He and his second wife were buried at Royals Cemetery in Kirkland, Georgia. Tharp has a CSA pension application online in the GA archives virtual vault. He says he enlisted in “Wainesville, GA” in April 1862 and served with company K of the 26th GA regiment. He was captured in battle on 22 Mar 1865 and taken to Pt. Lookout, Md, prison until the war was over. Children.
  2. Mary Bailey, born 1842, married Matthew “Mack” Kirkland, son of Timothy and Anna (Holloway) Kirkland. He died 6 Apr 1914 at age 82. She died 12 Nov 1905 and is buried in Antioch Baptist Cemetery in Kirkland, Georgia alongside her husband. Children.
  3. Joseph Bailey, born 18 Mar 1844, married 4 Jun 1871, Mary Pearson, daughter of James S. Pearson. He died 7 Oct 1904 and is buried in Union Hill Cemetery in Axson, Georgia along with his wife. Children.
  4. Aaron Bailey, born Apr 1846, married Almiria Law. He died 22 Mar 1915 and is buried at Denton Cemetery in Denton, Georgia along with his wife. Children.
  5. Catherine Bailey, born 8 May 1848, married Elias Griffis, son of Juniper and Lavina (Sears) Griffis. He was born 7 Mar 1844 and died 6 Dec 1894. She died 8 Sep 1917 and is buried in Red Bluff Cemetery in Pearson, Georgia along with her husband. Children.
  6. Louvicy Bailey, born 1851, married 25 Jan 1874, James S. Royal, son of William and Sarah Ann (Overstreet) Royal. He was born 8 Apr 1846 and died 6 Apr 1928. She died 27 Oct 1914 and is buried in Royals Cemetery in Kirkland, Georgia, along with her husband. Children.

The Bailey family home was situated on the south side of Red Bluff Creek, directly across from Union Hill Church, which still stands today. After Richmond’s death, his son Joseph inherited the homestead.

Richard Bailey served in the Indian War as a private under Capt. James A. Sweat, Oct. 6 to Dec. 3, 1841.

Richmond Bailey was an active member of Cassia Lodge No. 224, Free and Accepted Masons, in Homerville. He received his Masonic degrees in 1864 and remained a member of the Homerville lodge until his death.

When Clinch County was formed from part of Ware County in 1850, the Bailey home was incorporated into the new county. In 1854, with the creation of Coffee County from a portion of Clinch, the Bailey property became part of Coffee. Since 1919, the area has belonged to Atkinson County.

Both are buried at Union Hill Cemetery in Axson, Georgia.

Richmond Bailey, 1816-1882
Matilda Sears Bailey, 1820-1901

Sources

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