DeHay
Benjamin DeHay
"After reading in the Montgomery Advertiser of March the 12th Peter
A.
Brannon's 'The Churchyard at Salem' we want to call your attention to
the
Grave-yard that is known as the old McDowell grave-yard about five miles
South-west
of Camden. Handed down for several generations it is known that two
young men
just arriving at the age of manhood left South Carolina afoot and
reached here
before Camden was built or started and late in the evening of a day
reached
the home of one of the early settlers of that neighborhood, a Mr.
Pullman
Vaughn, where they stopped for the night with one of the strangers
complaining. He
soon developed pneumonia and after a hard fight against the disease
died. His
companion buried him in the graveyard above mentioned and stayed on here
for a
year or more living with Mr. Vaughn. Before he left he went to the
forest and
secured a slap of red cedar and with no tools except a club ax and a
pocket
knife made a marker for his partner's grave and set it up at the grave.
This
marker is still standing there with its beautifully carved letters and
many of
them still perfect. With the help of a good preacher, a country editor
and a
strong magnifying glass we find as best we can make out the following
words:
Sacred
to
the memory of
SAMUEL DEHAY
who was born in
Darlington District
South Carolina
and
Emigrated to this
State and County
00000000000000
Departed this life
in 1818 aged
18 years-1-month and 10
days.
---------------
Stranger observe
as you pass by
as you are now so once was I
as I am now, so you will be
prepare yourself to follow me.
---------------
 |
|
Samuel DeHay marker made of cedar at Capell Cemetery, Wilcox Co. AL. |
"This marker of red cedar is about four inches thick, sixteen inches
wide
and stands about five and a half feet out of the ground and is still in
a
wonderful state of preservation after being exposed to the elements for
about one
hundred and fifteen years. Samuel Dehay's companion was named Pittman.
He went
back to his home in Carolina and may have left some descendants there
who we
whink would be much interested in this. Pullman Vaughn was a half
brother to
the father of Mr. W. C. Vaughn but much older and built his home where a
house
now stands on the right hand side of the road just at the top of Kennedy
Hill.
Personally we have known of this grave for about sixty years and Mr. W.
C.
Vaughn who now has lived over three score and ten and to whom we are
indebted
for some of this history says that he went to school before the Civil
War in the
house there used both as a church and school house and that this grave
marker
was there then and showing some age.
"Curiosity may prompt us to go and look at this wooden slab but as we
leave we can not help but feel our admiration for Pittman who expressed
his
friendship for a comrade under such sad conditions and with such
primative tools
that for more than a century it has spoken and still speaks plainer than
words.
JNO. B.
McDANIEL
Camden, Wilox County, Ala. March 11, 1933.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Darlington District S.C. papers please copy."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some DeHay Family notes by David Rayburn of TX
DeHAY FAMILY OF WILCOX COUNTY, ALABAMA
* * * * * * *
I do believe that a Samuel DeHay age 18 died in 1818 and is buried in
Capell Cemetery. But in considering the possibility that he did not die
and that he stayed in Wilcox Co., it appears that he would show up on
the 1830 Census of Wilcox Co. I have not been able to locate a Samuel
DeHay on the 1830 Census of Wilcox County. I have found no evidence to
support the possibility that he did not die in 1818. I also believe that
the Vaughn, Nettles, and other families living in the immediate area
would have been aware of any hoax grave marker if one had been erected
in the Capell Cemetery. But if anyone has information to the contrary, I
would be very interested.
The following land records confirm the acquisition of land in Wilcox
County by another Samuel DeHay in the year 1837.
SOURCE: Land Patent Details – BLM Alabama Land Records
Name: Samuel DeHay
Land Office: Cahaba
Document #22754
Acres: 39.14
Issue date: April 1, 1837
Entry: Sale-Cash
Description of Land:
Aliquot Sec Township Range Meridian State County
NENW 13 11-N 7-E St Stephens Alabama Wilcox
Excerpt from Patent:
“WHEREAS Samuel Dehay of Wilcox County, Alabama has deposited in the
General land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Register
of the Land Office at Cahaba whereby it appears that full payment has
been made by the said Samuel Dehay according to the provisions of the
Act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820, entitled “An ad making
further provision for the sale of the Public Lands” for the North East
Quarter of the North West quarter of Section thirteen, in Township
eleven of Range seven in the District of lands subject to sale at
Cahaba, Alabama, containing thirty nine acres and fourteen hundredths of
an acre, according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands,
returned to the General land Office by the Surveyor General, which said
tract has been purchased by the said Samuel Dehay.
NOW KNOW YE, That the United States of America, in consideration of the
premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress….. do give
and grant, unto the said Samuel Dehay To have and to hold the same
together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances
of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Samuel DeHay
and to his heirs ad assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I, Martin van Buren President of the United States
of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of
the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the tenth day of April
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven and
of the Independence of the United States the sixty first.
By the President: Martin Van Buren
By: A. Van Buren, Sec’y
Saml D. King – Acting Recorder”
* * * * * * *
SOURCE: Land Patent Details – BLM Alabama Land Records
Name: Samuel DeHay
Land Office: Cahaba
Document #22561
Acres: 39.14
Issue date: April 1, 1837
Entry: Sale-Cash
Description of Land:
Aliquot Sec Township Range Meridian State County
NWNW 13 11-N 7-E St Stephens Alabama Wilcox
Excerpt from Patent:
“WHEREAS Samuel Dehay of Wilcox County, Alabama has deposited in the
General land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Register
of the Land Office at Cahaba whereby it appears that full payment has
been made by the said Samuel Dehay according to the provisions of the
Act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820, entitled “An ad making
further provision for the sale of the Public Lands” for the North West
Quarter of the North West quarter of Section thirteen, in Township
eleven of Range seven in the District of lands subject to sale at
Cahaba, Alabama, containing thirty nine acres and fourteen hundredths of
an acre, according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands,
returned to the General land Office by the Surveyor General, which said
tract has been purchased by the said Samuel Dehay.
NOW KNOW YE, That the United States of America, in consideration of the
premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress….. do give
and grant, unto the said Samuel Dehay To have and to hold the same
together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances
of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Samuel DeHay
and to his heirs ad assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I, Martin van Buren President of the United States
of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of
the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the tenth day of April
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven and
of the Independence of the United States the sixty first.
By the President: Martin Van Buren
By: A. Van Buren, Sec’y
Saml D. King – Acting Recorder”
COMMENTS BY EDR:
It is interesting to note that the above two tracts of land were
acquired in the same Section, Township and Range of Wilcox Co. as the
tracts acquired by James Cree and Samuel Henry Nettles. And all were
acquired within a few months of each other.
There is also evidence that indicates the Samuel DeHay family and the
James and Peter J. Cree families may have all come from the same county
in South Carolina. A Samuel DeHay is found on the 1830 Census of St.
John’s Parish, Charleston Co., South Carolina. The family of James Cree
is found on the 1830 Census of St. James Goose Creek, Charleston Co.,
South Carolina.
In an effort to determine if the Samuel DeHay that was enumerated on the
1830 Census of Charleston Co., South Carolina is the same Samuel DeHay
that acquired land in Wilcox Co. Alabama in 1837 I have checked the
South Carolina and Alabama census index and found the following:
a. No Samuel DeHay has been found listed as head of household on the
1820 Census of either South Carolina or Alabama. In fact I found none
listed on index for entire U.S.
b. Samuel DeHay head of household is found on the 1830 Census for St.
John’s Parish, Charleston Co., South Carolina. This family is enumerated
as follows:
Samuel Dehay
Males – age 0-5 = 1
20-30 = 1 [Samuel DeHay b. 1800 to 1810]
Females - 0-5 = 2
20-30 = 1
c. On the 1830 Census, St. Johns Parish, Charleston Co., South Carolina;
Samuel DeHay is found listed along with the family of Benjamin DeHay. It
appears that Samuel is probably the son of Benjamin. Benjamin DeHay is
shown born 1770-1780 and he is listed as head of household on the 1820,
1830, 1840 and 1850 Census for St. John’s Parish, Charleston Co., South
Carolina. This would support the conclusion that Benjamin DeHay was
probably the father of Samuel DeHay.
d. Although the family of Benjamin DeHay is found on the 1840 Census in
St. John’s parish of Charleston Co., South Carolina, the family of
Samuel DeHay is not found listed. It is possible that he had died prior
to 1840. But it seems more likely to me that this Samuel DeHay followed
the migration of other area families [such as the Nettles and Cree
families] to Wilcox County, Alabama and he is the Samuel DeHay who
acquired land in 1837 in Wilcox County. The fact that Samuel DeHay,
Samuel Henry Nettles [in 1836] and James & Peter J. Cree [in 1836] all
acquired tracts in Section 13 Township 11 Range 7 Wilcox Co., appears to
support that possibility.
e. I have not been able to locate the family of this Samuel DeHay on the
1840 or 1850 Census of Wilcox County. Perhaps he was missed on the
Census or he may have died and if so his widow may have remarried and
his widow and children may be listed under some other surname.
Another interesting note is that Josiah Garlington 11/15/1832.also
acquired a tract of land in Wilcox County, Alabama Township 11 Range 7.
I do not know who Samuel DeHay married in South Carolina prior to 1830
Census, but if he married a Garlington, then perhaps Samuel and his wife
moved to the same Township and Range in Wilcox Co. to obtain support
from Josiah Garlington. But I would need more on information on who
Samuel DeHay married prior to coming to a conclusion on this
possibility.
Josiah Garlington family is found on the 1840 & 1850 Census of Wilcox
Co. as follows:
CENSUS: 1840 Wilcox Co., Alabama; No Twp listed; Pg 315; (Ancestry.com
image 19 of 72) –
Josiah Garlington
Males - 5-10 = 1
10-15 = 1
40-50 = 1
Females 0-5 = 2
5-10 = 1
10-15 = 1
30-40 = 1
Comments: Other families listed on the same census pages (close
neighbors) included Samuel Nettles, William Nettles, John Nettles, and
James Cree.
CENSUS: 1850 Wilcox Co., Alabama; 12 Dec 1850; Pg 406 – Dwlg 910 – Fam
910
Josh Galington 53 M Farmer 2000 South Carolina
Elizabeth 49 F South Carolina
Abel 26 M Farmer Alabama
Mary 22 F Alabama
John 18 M Alabama
Sarah 15 F Alabama
Caroline 12 F Alabama
Susan 11 F Alabama
Margaret 9 F Alabama
Josiah 7 M Alabama