Table of Contents
Elisha Wilkinson
Son of Thomas Wilkinson (Born 1730 in Sussex, Sussex, Virginia - Died Oct. 27, 1777 in Sussex, Sussex, Virginia)1) and Sarah Porch (Born 1731 in King George, King George, Virginia - Died 1806 in Stafford, Stafford, Virginia)2), Elisha Wilkinson was born on Sept. 19, 1763 in Sussex County, Virginia.3)
Revolutionary War
Elisha Wilkinson
Resident of Capt. Newell's District.
Entered Militia in Virginia at Sussex C.H. under command of Capt. Green Hill, Lt. John Foreman, Ensign John Tyas, Maj. Jarrold, Col. Joseph Jones and Gen. Lawson in November 1780. Marched to Cabbin Point, drew arms and was marched to Babbs Old Field, 7 miles from Hampton Road. From there to Petersburg where was discharged after 6 weeks and 3 days service - was made Corporal after 3 days service. Re-entered service January 4, 1881, as substitute for Simon Shell of Brunswick County, Va., and marched to Petersburg and to Coffins Point to Babbs Old Field under command of Col. Meriwether,Maj. Nathaniel Lucas, Capt. Edmun Wilkins, Lt. Joel Wilkinson, Ensign Thomas Cook, and served until April 15, 1781, as 2nd Sergeant and was discharged after service of 3 months and 11 days. Entered army again July 14, 1781 at Sussex C.H. under command of Col. Boyd Blount, Maj. William Boggs, Capt. Sterling Howell, Lt. Gardner Howell, Ensign William Mogit. Marched to Baker's Old Field and put in Light Horse Co., under Capt. James Vaughan. Marched to Hall's Mills thence to Portsmouth where remained until August 28, 1781, when was sent to Sussex by Col. Benj. Blount with an express to Col. David Mason. Rejoined army at Jamestown and was here discharged. All service being about 6 months and 14 days.
Born in Sussex County, Virginia in 1763 and lived there until 1789, when removed to Dinwiddie and lived there 5 years and removed to Mecklinburg County, Va., where remained until 1807, when came to Franklin County, Ga., present residence.
Source: Historical Collections Georgia Chapters DAR Vol.1 Franklin County, GA
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[![U.S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900. [[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=RevWarPBountyLandGrants&h=64508&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=3542|Survivor's Pension Application File for Elisha Wilkinson]]. Application State: Georgia. Pension Year: 1833. Source:](/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=elisha_wilkinson:revolutionary_war_pension_application-elisha_wilkinson.jpg "U.S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900. [[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=RevWarPBountyLandGrants&h=64508&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=3542|Survivor's Pension Application File for Elisha Wilkinson]]. Application State: Georgia. Pension Year: 1833. Source:")
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Life After the War
During 1789, Elisha Wilkinson married Lucy Abernathy (Born Nov. 30, 1773 in VA - Died August 15, 1837 in Gumlog, Franklin, Georgia)4) in Brunswick, Virginia.5)
Elisha Wilkinson and Lucy Abernathy had the following children:
- Fanny Wilkinson Baldwin (Born 1790 in Virginia - ) Married William Baldwin in Franklin County, GA during 1835. 6)
- Elisha Wilkinson (1791 - 1850)
- Sarah Sally Wilkinson Cawthon (Born 1794 in Virginia - Died 1876 in Habersham, Georgia)
- Silva Wilkinson Baker (Born 1796 in Virginia - Died Oct. 1835)
- Nancy Wilkinson Carter (Born 1798 in Virginia - Died May 5, 1866)
- Mary Polly Wilkinson Bond (Born 1800 in Dinwiddie, Dinwiddie, Virginia - Died May 1880 in Murray, Georgia)
- Martha Patsy Wilkinson-Mitchell (Born 1804 in Virginia - Died 20 May 1889 in Hart, Georgia)7). She married Wiley Mitchell.
- Sophia Wilkinson Edwards (Born Dec. 10, 1805 in South Carolina - Died Nov. 18, 1883 in Franklin, Georgia)
- Signal Wilkinson (Born 1810 in Georgia - Gordon, Georgia). Named in honor of his Grandfather, (Lucy's father) Signal T. Abernathy.
- Thomas Wilkinson (Born Feb. 14, 1812 in Kentucky - Dec. 2, 1883)
- Frances T. Wilkinson (Daughter, born 1816 in Franklin, Georgia - Died Aug. 1833)
During the early 1800s, the Wilkinson family began spelling their name “Wilkerson”. So when researching, you may find the name using this spelling as an alternative.
Senator John Edwards
Great Great Great Great Grandson of Elisha Wilkinson & Lucy Abernathy.
Elisha Wilkinson (1762-1833) was the great great great great grandfather of former Senator John Edwards (Democrat representing North Carolina, January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005. And Democratic Party nominee for Vice President in 2004). Elisha's wife, Lucy Abernathy (1773-1837) was the great great great great grandmother of former senator John Edwards. One of their daughters, Sophia Wilkinson (1805-1883) married Thomas Gilbert Edwards (1796-1848). One of their sons, Joseph H. Edwards (1832-1887) married Elizabeth J. Whitworth (1833-1915).
Source: Information from “The Ancestors of Sen John Edwards (b. 1953) by William Addams Reitwiesner. Much of the material of former senator Edwards ancestry was contributed by Robert Battle. Others include Julie Helen Otto, of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, Melvyn Douglass, A. Deason Smith, Michael Allison, Nancy Hinkle Flesch, Charlene Reeds Ebeling, Ann C Holloman, Lois Branch, and Gary Boyd Roberts.8)
[![Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892. 1820 - Elisha Wilkinson appears on the third line from the bottom.((Original data: Georgia Tax Digests [1890]. 140 volumes. Morrow, Georgia: Georgia Archives.))](/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=elisha_wilkinson:elisha_wilkinson-franklin_county_tax_digest-1820.jpg "Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892. 1820 - Elisha Wilkinson appears on the third line from the bottom.((Original data: Georgia Tax Digests [1890]. 140 volumes. Morrow, Georgia: Georgia Archives.))")
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1830 United States Federal Census
| Name | Elisha Wilkinson | |
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | Franklin, Georgia | |
| Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 | 1 | (Thomas Wilkinson - Age 18) |
| Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 | 1 | (Signal Wilkinson - Age 20) |
| Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69 | 1 | (Elisha Wilkinson - Age 67) |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 | 1 | (Frances T. Wilkinson - Age 14 ) |
| Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59 | 1 | (Lucy Wilkinson - Age 57) |
| Slaves - Males - Under 10 | 1 | |
| Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23 | 1 | |
| Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35 | 1 | |
| Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35 | 1 | |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 2 | (Thomas Wilkinson - Age 18 & Frances T. Wilkinson - Age 14) |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 1 | (Signal Wilkinson - Age 20) |
| Total Free White Persons | 5 | |
| Total Slaves | 4 | |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 9 |
Source: Year: 1830; Census Place: Franklin, Georgia; Series: M19; Roll: 17; Page: 251; Family History Library Film: 0007037
Last Will and Testament
Elisha Wilkinson's Last Will and Testament
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For unknown reasons, Sarah (Sally), Silva, and Nancy Wilkinson were not named in Elisha's will (dated Nov. 5. 1833). But they were named in their mother Lucy's will (dated Oct. 17, 1835).
Lucy Wilkinson's - Last Will and Testament
Probate Date: Sept. 9, 1837
Probate Place: Franklin County, Georgia
Source: Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Franklin County); Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992
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Burial
Elisha Wilkinson died in 18379) and is buried beside his wife 10) in a private cemetery located in the Gumlog Community on the shores of Lake Hartwell, near Lavonia, GA.
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5)
Source: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Source number: 1790.019; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Number of Pages: 1