Common wisdom for many years stated that Charner Humphries, son of John and Elizabeth Timms Humphries of Chester Co., S.C. married his first cousin Charlotte Humphries. They supposedly settled in Union Co., S.C. where Charner died in 1838. Widow Charlotte married Isaac Gregory. Charlotte and Isaac had a large family and raised their children, along with Charlotte's two daughters by Charner Humphries, in Union Co., S.C.

Recently, I wrote an article that was published in the Spring 2010 edition of the South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research (edited by Brent Holcomb) showing that, rather than marrying his cousin Charlotte, Charner Humphries, son of John and Elizabeth Timms Humphries, married Mary Darby of Chester Co.,S.C. about 1818. Charner and Mary Humphries moved to Dekalb Co., Ga. around 1831 and a little later established the "White Hall," which served as the local tavern, inn, stagecoach stop, etc. Because this area was later annexed by the City of Atlanta as the "West End," it is considered to be one of the earliest settlements of that city and Charner Humphries is considered to be a minor historical figure in the founding of Atlanta.

There was definitely a Charner Humphries living in Union Co. up to 1838 who was married to Charlotte Humphries, but he is not the son of John and Elizabeth Timms Humphries. It has not been possible to identify his parentage to date. He may be a son of Richard Humphries, brother of Charlotte's father, Charles Humphries. Richard lived in Union Co., S.C. up to 1817. If the second Charner is Richard's son, he would be both a first cousin of his wife Charlotte and the Charner Humphries who went to Georgia.

The identification of Charner Humphries who founded the White Hall of Dekalb Co., Ga. as the son of John and Elizabeth Timms Humphries has been claimed for many years by descendants of the family that lived in the Atlanta area. The new article presents facts that support this assertion.

If you are interested in more information about the two Charners, you may want to read the S.C.M.A.R. article.

Charlene