Unity Mathis

Birth: 1783 Death: 1853

FROM PIONEERS OF WIREGRASS GEORGIA, JUDGE FOLKS HUXFORD VOL. 1, Pgs. 175,176

EDMUND AND UNITY REGISTER MATHIS....

EDMUND MATHIS was born in Duplin County, North Carolina, in 1776, and grew up in Duplin and Sampson Counties. He was married about 1798 in North Carolina to Miss Unity Register, born 1778, daughter of John Register, of Sampson County. About 1800-5 Edmund Mathis and wife together with her father's family and others of the connection, moved to Bulloch County, GA., where they settled, acquiring lands both by grant from the State and by purchase.

Record is found where Edmund Mathis in Bulloch County was drawn for grand jury service, April Term, 1812, 1813, and other terms, and as a petit juror December, 1807, November, 1809 and November, 1810. He granted 500 acres of land on the North side of Lotts Creek, Jan. 9, 1808. After his removal to Appling County he sold 300 acres of this tract to Timothy Bryant, Jr., of Bulloch County, Sept. 23, 1826 (Deed Book 5K, page 53, Bulloch County). Other deeds appear on record there into and from him.

After leaving Bulloch County, Edmund Mathis and family moved first to Glynn County where they lived a short while. He was Justice of Peace in the 25th district, Glynn County, 1818-1819. In the winter of 1819-1820 he moved to the new county of Appling and settled on Little Satilla River near Fellowship Baptist Church. He served as Justice of Peace in the 442nd district, Appling County, 1822-1828.

In the winter of 1827-28, Edmund Mathis and family again moved, this time to Lowndes County, establishing their home on Lot 485, 10th district in present Lanier County, east of the Alapaha River. After living here a few years the family moved again, this time to Hamilton County, Florida, in 1832. Mr. Mathis apparently did not like the country there as he moved back to Lowndes County, locating in the 661st (Naylor) District where he was Justice of Peace , 1838-1841. The Indian War came on and he served in 1838 in Capt. Jesse Carter's Company of Lowndes County militia.

In 1842, Mr. Mathis and wife and daughter (the sons at that time being married) moved to Ware County (now Clinch) and located on land lot No. 151, 12th District, which was only three miles east of the then Lowndes-Ware line. After living there until his wife's death in 1853 he sold out to his son, Tyre Mathis, and spent his last few years with Tyre and his family. Tyre Mathis subsequently bought Lot of Land No. 525, 7th district of Ware (now Clinch), and moved there. It was there that Edmund Mathis died in 1860. He was buried at nearby Prospect Church. His wife was buried at Wayfare Church.

Mr. Mathis and wife were originally members of Fellowship Baptist Church in what was then Appling County, which church they were members of in 1825 and before. He bore that church's petition in October, 1825, to the Piedmont Baptist Association, seeking admission into the Association. He was elected in October, 1825, as Associational delegate from the Piedmont Association to the Hepzibah Association. Mr. and Mrs. Mathis were received into Union Church, Lowndes County, April 12, 1828, by letter from Fellowship Church. On June 12, 1830, he was ordained a deacon in Union Church and continued as a deacon the remainder of his life. On June 9, 1832, Mr. and Mrs. Mathis having removed to Hamilton County, Florida, joined with others of Union Church in a request for that church to establish an "arm" at Tiger Swamp Meeting-house in Hamiltion County, near their homes. The request was granted. The next year the "arm" became an independent church named "Concord" and Deacon Mathis and wife were among the charter members. Having moved back to Lowndes County they were received back into Union Church by letter from Concord, Sept. 6, 1839. Two years later he settled in Ware County as already stated, about three miles distant from Griffin's Mills on Cow Creek which was then just over in Lowndes; and Deacon Mathis and wife joined with others in asking for their letters that they might form a new church at a meeting-house which was called Mathis' Meeting-house which had been erected near the mills and was the result of Deacon Mathis' efforts to establish a place of worship in the community. Their letters were granted April 10, 1841, and a month later the new church was formally constituted and named Wayfare, and Deacon Mathis became one of its two first deacons, the other being Deacon John Roberts (q.v.) Mrs. Unity (Register) Mathis died in 1853 a member of Wayfare, and on May 6, 1854 her husband was granted letter of dismission, and when Prospect Church was constituted Jan. 22, 1859, he became one of the organizing members. The next year he died a member. Thus it can be said that he took a leading part in the organization of at least three new churches. He served his day and generation well and lived an humble, Christian life, dying as it is said, in great peace. He was buried at Prospect Church (grave is now marked).

Census References: 1820, Appling; 1830, Lowndes; 1840 , 1850, Ware.

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 Edmund Mathis (1776 - 1860)

Burial: Wayfare Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Echols County Georgia, USA Plot: Unmarked grave.

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Created by: Betty Jones Mikell Record added: Sep 01, 2007 Find A Grave Memorial# 21298228 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=mathis&GSfn=u...