busby

William Reese Buzby was born according to the census, in South Carolina c 1770 - 1775. He is the father of Charity Schofield and Lillian Johnson, both of whom are my ancestors. He went by both names: William and Reese, together or separately. He was married to Mary Winn, as reported by his grandson, Reese Schofield in the book Memoirs of Georgia.

The first record found on Reese is the Will of Benjamin Buzbee, in Edgefield, SC filed 23rd October, 1815. At the estate sale of Benjamin Busbee, William Reese purchases items using the name William Reese. Throughout his life, he switched between his two first names and for this exercise, I will do the same as per the record we are discussing.

Benjamin's will named three sons: Benjamin Jr., Miles and Reese but there may have been other children who had already received their portion. Reese was noted on the 1820 census in South Carolina.

It is interesting to note that Reese acted as a witness for Nathan Busby's land purchase in February, 1823. Reese also owned land in Crawford County, Georgia near several other Busby landowners, but we haven't figured out the relationship between these Busbys. Reese's son, Allan, acted as a witness for Nathan Busby purchasing Lot no.88 in the 5th district in Houston Co on 11/29/1830. This seems a strong connection and I wonder if they are cousins?

The Busby family came from Edgefield, South Carolina to Central Georgia, see this map of a possible migration pattern route. Many Busby families lived in this central area, arriving first to Twiggs County, just southeast of Warner Robins and then to Bibb, Houston and Crawford County. The yellow line indicates only the area many of them were coming from in SC. They all lived in the mid 1820's in the purple square. (please forgive the naivety of this attempt).

Nathan - Twiggs & 5th District, Houston County (near modern Warner Robins. (then west)

Elisha (b1760-1770) Frederick (b 1790), William H (b 1800-1810) & Seaborn - Crawford County

Reese didn't have a will, but we have found two documents in the Houston County Court House disposing of his land after his death. One document is dates February 13, 1845. Reese must have died prior to this date.

Georgia
Houston County

February 13th day, 1845

We, the undersigned, heir of William R. Busby, late of said county, deceased, do hereby certify, that the within named James Busby and Nimrod Jackson have this day, settled or paid us all off, and settled in full for said Estate Proceeds, by giving up and dividing such notes, as is not collected in.

In the presence of

James Lewis                         signed Mary X Busby*
                                                        Wheaton Jones
                                                         John Johnson
                                                         Allen Busby
                                                         Philip X Schofield*
                                                          Inman Busby

The other

Georgia
Houston County

This indenture made and entered into this 14th of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, between the heirs of W.R. Busby, late of said county, deceased and Nimrod Jackson and John Johnson of the other; witnessed that said heirs of William R Busby deceased to wit; Mary Busby, Allen Busby, Inman Busby, Wheaton Jones and Philip Schofield, hath this day bargain and sold unto the said Nimrod Jackson and John Johnson a certain tract of land lying in the 5th District of said County and known in the court of said District by #62, containing 202 1/2 acres as more or less.

Now for and in consideration of the sum of Three Hundred dollars in hand, the receipt where of is hereby acknowledged......

signed in the presence of M.J. Boatwright

Wheaton Jones

Philip X Schofield*

Mary X Busby*

James Busby

James Lewis, JP

It would seem that Nimrod Jackson's wife might also be a daughter of W.R. Busby, but we have not proved it yet.

*indicates they used a mark rather than a signature.

Among current Wm. R. Busby researchers, there is discussion about Mary being a stepmother to some of William Reese Busby's older children. There was a contention of the Probate at the Justice Court held at the Gunn Place. Michael Howard chastised Allen Busby for not standing up to his brother James Busbee and Nimrod Jackson. Allen asked the church to punish Michael for his words, but the Church Council declined. ( Michael Howard's wife might have been a Busby, perhaps the daughter of Nathan Busby. There is no proof for this, but it is one theory of why Michael got involved.)

Minutes of Meetings, Fellowship Baptist Church

12 May 1846 - An allegation by A. Busbay (Busbee) against M. Howard. A
Busbee charges M. Howard with unchristian like conduct at justice court
at Gunns. M. Howard asked A. Busbee if they (meaning the heirs of
William R. Busbee, deceased) were not qualified to stand to anything
that Nimrod Jackson and James Busbee done. A. Busbee answered no. M.
Howard said you was and he could prove it by a dozen witnesses. A.
Busbee asked his step mother if we were qualified to stand to anything
they done. She answered no only to the division of the land. A. Busbee
said his recollection was tolerable good and if he had been qualified to
any thing but the division of the land he would have recollect it.

M. Howard said yes, I know your recollection is pretty good, but anything
you don't want to recollect you cannot be made to recollect it, with a
great many other things he has said too tedious to mention though
calculated to hurt feelings. The church took up the charge and
appointed a committee to the body to reort to the church. We the
committtee believe the acknowledgement of Brother Howard satisfactory to
the church.

Anza Murray, c. Clerk pro tem
(M. Howard was clerk at this time, but I assume since this was
concerning him a substitute was appointed.)

After Reese's death, Mary Busby moved from Bibb Co, Ga to Houston Co, Ga, near Lillian and John Johnson. Mary Busby died by 1867 and her son-in-law, Philip Schofield, administered her estate. The court appointed any three of the following men to appraise her estate: David Walker, Wheaton Jones (her son-in-law), J.W. Howard, H.L. Lisenby & H.J. Clark. Her inventory included 2 bedsteads and contents, 5 chairs, 1 sideboard, 1 side saddle, several cows and shoats and 40 acres of land.