Of the hundreds of long-time Ussery researchers, only a very few can actually say they've heard of Holden Ussery. To the best of my knowledge, I am the only descendant of Holden's who has researched and documented his line. His father Squire Welcome Ussery mentioned only 11 of his children in his will, leaving out MARY, HOLDEN and DAN. I know nothing of Dan or Mary, but am still searching.
Holden was born on December 11, 1810 in North Carolina, probably in Richmond County. He was the fifth child and the third son of Squire Welcome Ussery . About 1832, Holden married Lucy (?). Holden married a second time to Malinda Jane Bridges (mn unknown). They are found in the 1870 Monroe Co. AR US Census. Living with them are Malinda's grandchildren Louisa and James J. Bridges. Living two households away is George Bridges (Malinda's son) and wife Margaret. I believe this Margaret is the daughter of Holden. They have two children: Sarah and Benjamin. Also living in their household are: Markus Thompson, age 22 and John Crabson age 16. Both are farm laborers.
In the 1840 US Census for La Fayette County, MS., Holden is listed as Head of Family. In the 1850 US Census for the same county, he is listed with wife Lucy and their six children. In 1848, 1855 and 1859, Holden conducted deed transactions which can be found in the La Fayette County Deed Books E, H, and I respectively.
Mrs. Martin J. Lide, Jr. wrote Family Annals of John Carr Lawhon and Judith Ellen Gardner. In her publication she provided extensive information on the USSERY-GARDNER descendancy as well as the GARDNER-LAWHON descendancy, and of course, she listed Holden as a child of Welcome and Kezia. Recently, Mrs. Lide and I discussed the difficulties I had experienced proving Holden's relationship to his parents. Her response was, "The Texas children of Rhoda Ussery Gardner have always known about him!"
The following is Mrs. Lawhon's information verbatim:
"S. USSERY born May 27, 1782 was married to Kezia his wife on Feb. 7, 1803. KEZIA was born Mar. 18, 1786.
"They had 14 children and start out listing them this way-
"On another page this notation is made in another handwriting-
1. Susannah born Nov 18, 1832 ??
3. Rhoda Caroline- (Note- who m. Joe Lawhon-parents of my husband)
"On another page is this notation:
"Purchased these two books (there are two volumes) from SQUIRE USSERY* $4.25. MARMADUKE GARDNER and RHODA GARDNER, their books- May 10, 1836."
"Information written on blank paper of a very old book bound in calf leather and is called 'a Biblical and Theological Dictionary'. It says-
1. Our daughter GINNY was born Dec 14, 1803.
I would judge from this that S. USSERY did the writing himself. Each one starts out with our daughter or our son, but to save time will just give their names and dates of birth.
SQUIRE b. Nov 15, 1805 [d. ca. 1865 mar. Viney Patterson]
JOHN b. Feb 3, 1807
MARY b. Oct. 1. 1808
HOLDEN b. Dec. 11, 1810
LOTTY b. Mar. 12, 1812
MILFORD b. Nov. 11, 1813
RHODA b. Dec. 21, 1814
DAN b. May 11, 1816
KEZIA b. Apr. 23, 1817
JEMIMA b. Oct. 2, 1818
THOMAS b. Jun. 11, 1821
PLEASANT b. Sept. 25, 1823
O'BANION (O'Bannon) b. Jun 21, 1826
"S.MARMADUKE GARDNER was born Aug. 13, 1812. RHODA GARDNER was born Dec. 21, 1814. The same were married Nov. 18, 1832.They have only two children listed:
2. Saphronia born Sept. 29, 1834
"They had 19 children in all-only ones I know are the two above and
4. Lucy m. David Lawhon-(Parents of your mother-in-law)
5. Ellen m. John Lawhon
6. Tuck m. Bettie Gardner
7. Isaac }
8. Abraham } triplets- died young
9. Jacob }
"STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA- BARNWELL DISTRICT
*SQUIRE USSERY is Rhoda’s brother, and was the Executor of his father’s Estate.
Why Holden wasn't listed in the Will of his father will probably always remain a mystery. Holden might have received his inheritance before he left for Mississippi.
JOHN CALVIN USRY* b: Sep 23, 1833 d: Mar 5, 1890
Martha Ussery b: 1836
Jamima Ussery b: 1837
Margaret Ussery b: 1839 mar. J.H. Smith
Green H. Ussery* b: 1843 d: Mar 17, 1863 Chatanooga, TN - Civil War
Lavinia Ussery b: 1846
* On March 3, 1862 JOHN CALVIN and GREEN enlisted with the Confederate Army at Abbeville, Mississippi. They were privates in Co. C, 37th Reg't Mississippi Infantry. On March 17, 1863 Green died in the Gilmore Hospital in Chattanooga, TN and is buried in the mass grave of other Mississippi soldiers in the Confederate Cemetery. John Calvin served until he was taken prisoner on March 22, 1865 in Memphis, TN. John changed the spelling of his last name after the Civil War.
Unfortunately, I know nothing of the three daughters.
Thomas Jefferson Ussery was born Jun 11, 1821 in SC (probably Barnwell) and died Mar 27, 1891 in High Hills, MO. His parents were Squire Welcome and Kezia Ussery. In 1842, he married Susan Bell, who was born in ca. 1821 in SC.
In the 1850 US Census, Thomas was listed as planter with Susan, John, Squire and Elvira. In the 1870 (and 1880) US Census Barnwell Co., SC, he is listed in the Blackville Twp as a farm laborer.
They had the following known children:
Isham Frederick Ussery was born Dec 9, 1845 in SC to Thomas Jefferson Ussery and Susan Bell. He died Sept 6, 1917 in Williston, SC. He married Mary Davis who was born ca. 1855. They had the following known children:
O'Bannon Ussery was born Jan 21, 1826 in SC to Squire Welcome Ussery. He died after 1880 in Barnwell Co., SC. He married . Elsey [mn unknown], who was born about 1825 in SC, and died Jun 25, 1880 in Barnwell Co., SC. In the 1850 US Census Barnwell Co., SC pg 392,Sept 7 1134-1134, O'Bannon is listed with Elsey and their three children, Columbia Ussery 6, Cynthia Ussery 5, and Welcome Ussery 6/12. In 1860 US Census Barnwell Co.,SC pg 397 886-886 - listed as a manual laborer with wife Elsey and 7 children. Including those listed above, there were John 10, Washington 9, Melvina 6, Martha 4, and Mary 2. In the 1870 US Census Barnwell Co, SC, he is listed in the Red Oak Twp. [ See SC Census for additional information]. During the Civil War, O'Bannon served as a private in the 19th SC Calvary,Co.C Kirk's Squad. He was present during the surrender at Durham Station.
Dec 23, 1835: After the death of Squire Welcome Ussery, Keziah Ussery gave guardianship of O'Bannon to Isham Spears
[Guardianship Petition Bundle 64/ Package 4 Barnwell Dist. SC]
O'Bannon and Elsey had the following children:
Return to:Ussery Home Page
