My ancestor Wesley Forbes married William Graham Ponder's sister (see below) in Leon, FL, in 1837. I am very interested in the fact that your William Ponder was in Thomas Co in 1850 because I have been trying to discover the connections to Thomas Co at that time. Two of Wesley Forbes' grandchildren, Wesley Berryan Mills and Lucy Forbes Mills, were also on the 1850 Thomas Co Census in school, boarding with Methodist Episcopal minister Peyton P. Smith (months later they were also included on the Dec 1850 Leon, FL, Census). Their sister, my great grandmother Catherine Elizabeth Mills, was born in Thomas Co, GA, in 1845, a few months after her father died in Early Co, GA. What I believe is their uncle Wesley Forbes married Ann Everitt in Thomas Co, GA, in 1852 (see below).
The Ponders were neighbors of the Forbes in Leon Co, FL. Thomas Mills married Eliza Jane Forbes, daughter of Wesley Forbes, in 1831 in Leon Co, FL. They were on the 1840 Early Co, GA, census along with Thomas Mills' brothers Archibald (m. Ann Wolf, granddaughter of Benjamin Lanier of Screven Co, GA, 01 Oct 1826 Screven Co, GA) and Stephen Mills (m Lenora Phillips in 1839 Early Co, GA)and his sister Catherine Ann Mills (m. #1 John R Parramore; m. #2 Mathew Thomas Perryman).
Your post has provided me with a connection to Thomas Co through William Graham Ponder. I am interested in locating other connections. I am also related to the Bonnells through these families as are the Ponders. Catherine Elizabeth Mills married Allen William Bryan, whose grandparents were Henry and Honora Bonnell Bryan. Honora's parents were Anthony and Mary Ann Mills Bonnell of Screven Co, GA.
• 23 Feb 1837 Wesley Forbes married Elizabeth [Ponder] Brown, Leon Co FL (Records of Leon Co., FL 1937 by the Florida DAR, p. 28)
1840 –Leon County, FL Census Wesley Forbes (see 1830 and 1850 census)
1 male 20-30
1 male 50-60
1 female 10-15
1 female 30-40
8 Aug 1849 Elizabeth Forbes died, buried Ponder Plantation "Incochee," now called "Foshalee." (Cemeteries in FL, documentation to follow)
1849: From Marriage and Death Notices Southern Christian Advocate by Holcombe –8/31/1849 Issue -Died 25th of July – Mrs. Elizabeth Forbes, consort of Rev. Wesley Forbes and daughter of Hezekiah and Ann Ponder and formerly of Camden Co. Georgia in the 44th year of her age.
• Sharp & Hickman 1-24-2005
Entries: 2899 Updated: 2005-01-24 11:06:47 UTC (Mon) Contact: Judy Hickman, The following notes are from John Davis of Abilene, TX, and were originally
provided by James Reddick of Fairfax, SC:.
" Hezekiah and Ann Graham PONDER lived in Camden Co., GA, until 1824 when he bought land in Leon Co., FL near the GA line. The land was claimed by both
sides. His plantation was known as "Incochee,", now called "Foshalee."
Foshalee is presently owned by Mr. Irland and contains two PONDER cemeteries. Hezekiah and Ann are buried in the one nearest Highway 319 and the FL state line. The other is close to Metcalf Road and old Sunny Hill plantation.
• Thomas County, GA census pp 52-53 28 Oct 1850 Wesley B. Mills and Lucy F. Mills Boarding (school) in the home of Peyton P Smith
This is assuredly Thomas and Eliza Jane Forbes Mills’ Wesley B and Lucy F Mills, b. FL although Wesley’s age is slightly off. Both children are reported on the Dec 1850 Leon Co, FL census p 68, but since the census was taken in Dec in Leon they could have been at home when it was taken; thus, they appear on two census reports. Wesley is listed as a student on the one in Leon. The time lapse can also explain the difference in Wesley’s age. Lucy in Thomasville is 12 but on the Florida report she is 13.
1850—Wesley Forbes, Enoch Forbes, Eliza Jane Mills and her children are on census in Leon County, Florida.
1850 Leon, FL, census p 68, copy on file Sharon Dean Lee, Heritage Quest Online, Fairfax Public Library,
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/dbsRemote/auth/heritage....
19 406 406 Forbes Wesley 62 M Farmer 4,160 N. C.
20 406 406 Mills Eliza Jane 32 F Geo
21 406 406 Forbes Enoch H. 30 M Farmer S. C.
22 406 406 Mills Wesley 18 M Student Flor X
23 406 406 Mills Lucy 13 F Flor X
24 406 406 Mills Leonora 10 F Flor
25 406 406 Mills Thomas 8 M Geo
26 406 406 Mills Catherine 6 F Florida
1850 Leon, FL, census p 67a, copy on file Sharon Dean Lee, Heritage Quest Online, Fairfax Public Library,
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/dbsRemote/auth/heritage....
9 382 382 Jerkins Zecheriah 47 M Farmer Geo
Zachariah Jerkins on census, no personal value.
1851—Wesley Forbes (b. 1788) performs last marriage in Leon Co., FL. Wesley does not appear in 1860 census.
1852—Wesley Forbes b. 1807 marries in Thomas Co, GA, to Ann H. Everitt
1853—Eliza Jane Forbes Mills marries #2 Zachariah Jerkins in Leon Co, FL
• 10-7-1953 Wesley Forbes (b. 1788) dies in Leon County, FL
Methodist Preachers in Georgia 1783-1900. Lawrence, Harold, editor and compiler., Boyd Publishing, 1984, p. 189. DAR Library, Washington, DC. Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee .
"Forbs, Wesley (1787-10-7-1853) d. Leon Co., FL; m/Elizabeth Ponder (1805-1-25-1849) dau.of Hezekiah & Ann Ponder of Camden Co., GA. *nv Forbes.
(L) GEORGIA CONFERENCE: 1836 Recommended elder but not elected."
1852—Wesley Forbes b. 1807 marries in Thomas Co, GA, to Ann H. Everitt