Diary of Narcissa Melissa Lawton: Summer Oaks Plantation, Georgia, 1862
American Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War, U. S., 1861-1865
A transcription of the diary of Narcissa Melissa Lawton (1817-1883), who lived much of her adult life on the Summer Oaks Plantation in Thomas County, Georgia, with her husband, Alexander Benjamin Lawton (1809-1861). Together, the couple had seven children: Alexander Cater Lawton (1841-1921), Winborn Theodore Lawton (1843-1892), Clara J. Lawton (b. 1845), Robert W. Lawton (b. 1847), Benjamin F. Lawton (ca. 1848-ca. 1853), Thomas J. Lawton (b. 1851), and Emma Lenora Lawton (1853-1907). Lawton also had three stepchildren from her husband's previous marriage to Elizabeth Brisbane Lawton (1808-1839): Mary Jane Lawton (b. 1832), Martha S. Lawton (b. 1834), and Eusebia Lawton (ca. 1836-ca. 1850). Much of the diary is about Lawton's thoughts of her sons, Alex and Winny, joining the Confederate Army to fight in the American Civil War.
Original 75-page typed transcription of original diary by Narcissa Melissa Lawton, 1962: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
Reagan, Bettye Jean Aulin
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Summer Oaks Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia
Monticello, Florida
Lawton Family History
Oviedo (Fla.)
The family history the Lawtons of the Summer Oaks plantation in Thomas County, Georgia. This family history centers around Alexander Benjamin Lawton (1809-1861) and his wife, Narcissa Melissa Lawton (1817-1883). Together, the couple had seven children: Alexander Cater Lawton (1841-1921), Winborn Theodore Lawton (1843-1892), Clara J. Lawton (b. 1845), Robert W. Lawton (b. 1847), Benjamin F. Lawton (ca. 1848-ca. 1853), Thomas J. Lawton (b. 1851), and Emma Lenora Lawton (1853-1907). Lawton also had three children from his previous marriage to Elizabeth Brisbane Lawton (1808-1839): Mary Jane Lawton (b. 1832), Martha S. Lawton (b. 1834), and Eusebia Lawton (ca. 1836-ca. 1850).<br /><br />Part I on the book focuses on the Lawton family background, highlighting William Lawton, Joseph Lawton, Benjamin Themistocles Dion Lawton, and Winborn Asa Lawton. Part II details the immediate family of Alexander Benjamin Lawton and his family while living in South Carolina, while Part III discusses the family's migration to the Summer Oaks plantation in Georgia. Part IV describes the location of Summer Oaks and Part V discusses theories about the location of Alexander Benjamin Lawton's resting place. Part VI details the descendants of the Lawtons of Summer Oaks. This family history was compiled by the great-great-great granddaughter of Alexander Benjamin Lawton and Narcissa Melissa Lawton, Stacey Allene Church and her father, Gerald Marshall Church. Many of the descendants of the Lawtons migrated to Oviedo, Florida.
Church, Stacey Allene
Church, Gerald Marshall
Original book by Stacey Allene Church and Gerald Marshall Church: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
Reagan, Bettye Jean Aulin
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Edisto Island, South Carolina
Mulberry Grove Plantation, Walterboro, South Carolina
Black Swamp, Robertville, South Carolina
Lawtonville, South Carolina
Bluffton, South Carolina
Summer Oaks Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia
Oviedo, Florida
Monticello, Florida
Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Headstone for George White Crawford at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Orlando (Fla.)
Cemeteries--Florida--Orange County
Churches--Florida
Veterans--Florida
Gravestones
Tombstones
Graves
Florida. Legislature
Headstone of George White Crawford at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Crawford arrived in Orlando, Florida, from Tennessee in 1873. During the Civil War, he served as second lieutenant of the 5th Tennessee Infantry for the Confederate Army. Crawford settled in the Conway area and began raising cattle and growing citrus. He was also elected three times to the lower house of the Florida State legislature and once to the Florida State Senate. Crawford also served as the Justice of the Peace. He married Sarah Mizell, the daughter of David Mizell, Jr., who was a pioneer settler of Winter Park. The Crawfords had four children: Sarah Crawford (who married Frank Cullen), Ethel Crawford, Cora Belle Crawford, and John Crawford.<br /><br />Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Conway in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Cook, Thomas
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
<a href="http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank">RICHES of Central Florida</a>
Cook, Thomas
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Still Image
Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery, Conway, Orlando, Florida
Tennessee
Early Settlers of Orange County, Florida: Reminiscent-Historic-Biographic
Orange County (Fla.)
Settlers, First
Orlando (Fla.)
Sanford (Fla.)
Christmas (Fla.)
Winter Park (Fla.)
Winter Garden (Fla.)
Kissimmee (Fla.)
Longwood (Fla.)
Altamonte Springs (Fla.)
<em>Early Settlers of Orange County, Florida</em>, printed in 1915 and published by Clarence E. Howard of Orlando, Florida. The book also includes an article "Early History of Orlando" written by J.N. Whitner of Sanford, Florida. This 68-page book contains the biographies of many of Orange County's early settlers.
Howard, Clarence E.
<span>Howard, Clarence E. </span><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1725831" target="_blank"><em>Early Settlers of Orange County, Florida: Reminiscent-Historic-Biographic</em></a><span>. Orlando, Fla: C.E. Howard, 1915.</span>
Howard, Clarence E.
Whitner, J. N.
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Orlando, Florida
Sanford, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Garden, Florida
Longwood, Florida
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Kissimmee, Florida
Christmas, Florida