The defendant: Silas Lacy Gladden b 24 Nov 1813 SC d 13 Jan 1897 AL. From the Court Minute Books in Jackson County Florida I found that Silas Gladden was tried & convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. His 1st trial began 30 Apr 1868 & he was sentenced on 11 May 1868. A second trial began 20 May 1869 and he was sentenced 22 Dec 1869. Not once in the minutes was the victim's name listed.

Who did he murder?
What where the circumstances surrounding the murder?
Are there any newspapers available for that time period?
Anyone have someone in their family killed during this time?

His descendants though it might have been some of his daughter's 1st husband's people (Coonrod) but I've not been able to identify a Coonrod dying during this time period.

The family story goes that Silas was a Mason and after being sentenced to hang the Masons held a party near the jail and during the night assisted in the escape of Silas on a fast horse. He went to live in Charleston SC where he remained until 1897 when his grandson went to accompany the elderly man back to Webb, Henry Co. (now Houston Co), Alabama. They traveled by train and Silas took a cold on the trip and died 11 days after arriving in AL of pneumonia. (dod 13 Jan 1897 - bur at Cowarts Baptist Church Cemetery near Ashford, Houston Co., AL).

Silas was a white man and veteran of the CSA. He was married to Keziah ?? and had three children: John Wesley; Reubin A; & Francis Elizabeth - who married 1) 9 Jan 1866 Charles L. Coonrod, son of Joseph & Hester Coonrod and m2)abt 1898 William B. Hardy.

Rhonda Watson
rwats@mindspring.com

Silas Gladden killed Addison Fullerton 31 May 1867 at Bill Tidwell's cowpen in Jackson Co., Florida. This information was found in the CSA FL Pension Application of Elizabeth Fullerton # A12566.

Addison Fullerton was the husband of Elizabeth Coonrod, dau of Joseph & Hetty Coonrod. Silas' dau, Frances was married to Elizabeth's brother Charles L. Coonrod. Don't know the story behind the facts but at least I know who Silas killed now. Anybody know the "rest of the story"?

Correction: The Death Date of Addison Fullerton given as 31 May 1867 in his widow's CSA pension application seems to be incorrect. After further investigation it appears from the Superior Court records on the appeals filed in behalf of Silas Gladden that he killed Addison Fullerton on 31 Dec 1867 at Bill Tidwell's place in Jackson County Florida. Reference: Superior Court Case #797 & #836 - Gladden vs State of Florida at State Archives, Tallahassee, Florida. These papers include the testimonies of all the witnesses.

Rhonda, Your message indicates some knowledge of Silas' descendents. I'm looking for kin! My ggdpa was William Wesley Gladden, married Martha Ann Melissa Polk Gilder (a widow???) who is buried at Cowarts Baptist Church cemetery also. Wm isn't buried there; story is that he went to west AL to visit, took sick, died and was buried out there---somewhere. Haven't been able to find out where. But, there aren't many Gladden's and there must be a connection between Silas and Wm. Do you know name of grandson who accompanied Silas back to Webb in 1897? I know Wm was in Morgan, Calhoun County, GA in 1850 census as town marshall and listed in 1881 county officials guide as Sheriff. Family tale is that he left GA to Henry Co., AL because he refused to hang a man. Any info anyone has will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks, Glynn G

Silas Gladden is buried in Cowarts Baptist Church Cemetery in Cowarts, Alabama. Formally Henry County it is now Houston County, Alabama. I have a photo of his grave. It stands alone with no other graves around it. A Martha Gladden is buried elsewhere in the cemetery and is the wife of William Gladden, possibly the son of Silas.

I am not a descendant of this family, but researching his Civil War record. I show that he fought in Company B 7th SC Inf. Strange since he was a resident of Jackson County, FL at the outbreak of the war.

And for the record, Silas has a Mason symbol atop his headstone.

I am doubtful that the Silas Gladden who served in the SC Inf is the same as the Silas Gladden who was in Jackson Co. FL. There were several by the name Silas Gladden and because the Silas that was in Jackson Co FL returned to SC for a time after the murder, they are sometimes confused. They are very possibly kin to each other though.

Indications are that Silas who eventually went to Jackson Co., FL may have enlisted in 10 May 1862 Co K 60th GA Inf. Silas resided in Baker Co. GA in 1850 and in Jackson Co., FL by 1860. He migrated probably abt 1847 from Chester Co., SC where he is found in 1840 living near Joseph Coonrod (my ancestor). Silas' dau married one of Joseph Coonrod's son. Joseph's family migrated abt 1847 to Jackson Co., FL. Silas had a brother who remained in GA and that may explain why he joined a GA unit if he served at all because he would have been about 46 years old.

Another ancestor of mine, John D. Ditty, also migrated from York Co, SC (near the Chester Co. line) to Jackson Co., FL via Lee Co., GA (1860) where his son, James Isaac Ditty, served in the CSA in a GA Unit. Jane Ditty, widow of John D. Ditty, purchased land in Jackson Co., FL in 1868 from Silas Gadden. This was shortly after his trouble for the murder of Addison Fullerton.

Addison Fullerton's mother was Martha Gladden Fullerton who was married to Richard Fullerton also from Chester Co., SC. We believe Addison, his wife and his parents are buried in the Coonrod Cemetery in Bascom, Jackson, FL. Only his wife's grave is still marked. Addison was married to Elizabeth Coonrod, a daughter of Joseph Coonrod. Addison's mother, Martha Gladden Fullerton, is thought to be the sister of Silas but have not been proven conclusively yet. Hope this helps in your search.