Mary Ann Barnett Turner

The 1860 census for Pickens Co.-Southern Division (Greene Co., Mantua area) shows a Mary Barnett (40) with Partilla (26, a farmer born 1834; he was Palilla or Patilla on the 1850 census) and John T. (28; he was born ~1831 per 1850 census). They are next to Edwin Bridges/Bridgers, who was with Mary's cousin Eliza Lavender after his unwell wife, Martha White Bridges, died in/before 1866. Also on the page Boltons, Bonds, Storey, Massey.

Connection to Partilla and John T. is Joseph Pinkney Barnett, their older brother. He lived in Mantua, on the 1860 census next to his mother Barsheba, with a two children under 3. Joseph P. Barnett 1828-1906 married Jane Elizabeth Smith Nov. 8, 1955. Joseph P. was at the Nov. 1873 Estate Sale of Mary's deceased brother William Lavender ~1812-1 Aug. 1873. But JP's two brothers disappear from Alabama after the 1860 census, on which Partilla F. Barnett owns two slaves.

On the 1876 list of heirs for her mother, Elenor Lavender, Mary is listed as "Mary A. Barnett, widow of ______ Barnett."

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After the death of David Lavender of Newberry County, SC, in 1826, his children needed a guardian. Robert Mars, who was husband of David's sister Sarah Lavender Mars/Marrs, was named guardian in 1830.

"The State of South Carolina. To His Honor, William Nelson, Ordinary in and for the District of Newberry.

The humble petition of Robert Mars shewith that William Lavender (a minor of the age of choice), John Lavender, Hugh Lavender, Mary Ann Lavender, Robert Smith Lavender (minors under the age of choice) are entitled to a considerable estate which on account of their minority they are unable to manage -- Wherefore your petitioner prays that he may be appointed the guardian both of the persons and estates of the aforesaid infants. Caldwell & Fair, pro petitioners.

I, Elenor Lavender, the mother of John, Hugh, Mary Ann and Robert Smith Lavender, the within named minors under the age of choice, do hereby consent to the appointment of the within mentioned Robert Mars as guardian of the aforesaid minors.

This 4 December, 1830 Elender X Lavender, her mark attest Smith Lavender" filed in the Court of Ordinary, Newberry ---------------------------------------------------
From NEWBERRY COUNTY, SC EQUITY RECORDS 1818-1844, copied and provided to THE LAVENDER LINE by Sharon J. Lee, M.D.:

"Equity 1833, Box 18, Pkg. 12: James McCracken Jr., Exc of David Lavender dec. and widow Eleanor Lavender vs Robert Mars Committee for William Lavender and guardian for John, Hugh, Mary A., and Robert Smith Lavender. Bill for partition. Filed 16 May 1833. Children of David Lavender were William (who is "in a state of mental imbicility and deaf") John (16 yrs.), Hugh (14 yrs), Mary Ann (12 yrs) and Robert Smith (10 yrs). There was another child, Jane, who died 1828 unmarried. The Exc. James McCracken had already moved to Ga. The widow wants to move out of state but cannot until the estate is settled."

• Marriage: after 1850. She is with her mother and brother on 1850 census.
• In 1870, living alone next to L.A. Lavender (her cousin) and near his brothers and their mother. Next line is black man Jesse Lavender; line above is domestic servant Sol Lavender in the L.A. Lavender household. He is named in David Lavender Estate (Newberry SC)
• Lived 1873: Mantua, Greene Co., AL [Estate papers of Eleanor Lavender]
• In 1873 signed a petition claiming misrepresentation in obtaining her signature on a bond relating to Eleanor's Estate.
• In 1880, had married James Turner. Marked in census "deaf and dumb."
• Died Aug. 1, 1883 as Mary A. Turner.

See Estate settlement of William Lavender ~1812-1873, which occurred in 1874.

After settlement of her mother's Estate, Mary Ann Lavender Barnett married Mr. James Turner on Nov. 12, 1879 Alabama Marriages. She may have had a stroke prior to 1880, since on that census she is marked "deaf and dumb." In 1882 Mary Ann signed a Will. She died in 1883: "near Mantua, on the 1st instant, Mrs. Mary Ann, wife of Mr. James Turner, following a lingering illness" (Eutaw Whig and Observer, August 9, 1883 p. 3, via newspapers.com).

Mr. James Turner filed a Petition to Administer her Estate which names her heirs, including the children of her dec. brothers Robert S. Lavender and John S. Lavender; the latter include J.S.L.'s daughter "Indiana Lavender residing in Jackson, Mississippi." Another of John S. Lavender's daughters -- Mary A. Hammitt, the eldest, and probably Mary A. Turner's eldest heir -- contested Mr. James Turner's efforts to administer his wife's Will, questioning the document's authenticity. Mary Hammitt claimed that Mr. Turner was a drunk, away from home a great deal, and mistreated Mrs. Turner. Her lawyer's Turner Estate interrogatories repeatedly ask witnesses "did you ever hear her say" this or that about Mr. Turner.

Mr. Turner subpoenaed witnesses of his own to claim that he did not drink, always treated Mrs. Turner well, and did not make efforts to alienate her from her kin.

Lands owned by Mrs. Turner -- 320 acres in Township 24, Range 1E, Sec. 2 and Sec. 11 -- were sold at auction in 1894. Eutaw Whig and Observer, Thurs. Nov. 1, 1894, p. 2 (via Newspapers.com)