The name of Anthony Pouncey appeared on the record in S C on April 6, 1749, when he petitioned for and obtained a grant of 800 acres of land on the Wateree where he probably settled.

In this petition he stated he had a wife, six children and eight slaves.  About the same time William Pouncey appears in the record.

Anthony Pouncey was the father of William and Roger.  William Pouncey died when quite young.  He left one son, Major James Pouncey, and one daughter who married Alexander Petrkins.

Major James Pouncey married Ann Kolb and reared a large family; William who married Sarah Sparks; James who married first Mary Pledger and after Mary Forniss, John A who married Miss Armstrong, of N C and Peter A K who married Adelaide Hodges.

His daughters were Sarah, who married D N Crossland, Mary who married Dr Robert S Thomas; Eliza who married William Crossland and Ann Jane married John Smith of N C.

Roger Pouncey had two sons, Anthony and William and three daughters, Mary Lucy and Delilah.

The new settlers of the 'Welsh Tract' along the PeeDee in South Carolina brought with them the love of liberty and burned in the bosoms of their ancestry and the embers were stirred a fresh into a flame when they felt the hand of their ancient oppressor bear heavily down upon them in the Tea Act which sought to tax them without representation in the English Parliament.

To show their spirit of resentment they raised a fund to encourage home industry in the raising of tea and the manufacture of articles of domestic use.  To the fund Anthony Pouncey subscribed 10 lbs., equal to fifty dollars of our present currency.

When the revolution actually broke out, he attached himself to Murphy’s regiment, and became its quarter master.

After the revolution had ended so gloriously for the cause of the thirteen colonies he became quite active in the infant cause of freedom and added no little to the success of setting up the new republican form of government under which he and his posterity were to live.

Bishop Gregg adds:  Anthony Pouncey died in Marlborough early in the present (19th) century.  His widow afterwards married and removed with her family to the West.  Bishop Gregg states that the widow of Anthony Pouncey contracted a second marriage to a man named Cawthon.

Several children were born to the union but all died, together with the father and are buried in Marlboro County, SC.

[Note here says the above taken from “History of the old Cheraws” by Gregg.]

[Note here says: “This part written by my grandfather Joseph Franklin Pouncey, son of Jesse Pouncey”, note by Emma Kate Radford Fordyce, daughter of Mrs. Katie Pouncey Radford]

After the second husbands death in the fall of 1822, Mrs. Cawthon took the children by the first marriage and came to Fort Claiborn on the Alabama River.

These children were William, Jesse and Lucy.  Here the family remained for two years and then in the fall of 1824 came to Big Creek in the Broxton Settlement between Daleville and Geneva.

Just at this time Henry County had been divided and all west of a certain line drawn right about Old Richmond, the then Shire town of Henry was made a new county and Christened Dale in honor of Sam Dale; the noted Indian fighter.

The county then embraced all the territory West of that line to the line of Covington County and included Coffee and Geneva counties.  The foundation of the new county put new life in this territory.

People began to move, and it was common to see new farm improvements scattered here and there over the country while ‘Kinney’s” began to put on airs, as Daleville, the capitol of the new county.

Seaborn and his brother, John S. Ledbetter made preparations to build a branch of their business there in addition to the stores they had already at Ledbetters store (Monks Mill now) and the old Block House.

Then others begin to come in.  It must have been some time after this before the public buildings were ready for occupancy, but the improvements in the new town proceeded. 

Not a great while elapsed before a hotel was found to be necessary.   And either Jack Kinney or Obediah Dick built a double pen log house a little East of where Kinney had earlier built his cabin.  I an inclined to believe that Kinney built the new hotel and afterward sold to Dick.

General development of this territory continued slowly but surely.   In 1827 Samuel and Irvin Donnell, two young men of N C built their cabin in the forks of Clay Bank Creek and Choctohatchee River, some two and one-half miles South of the present Clayhatchee.

One night they were sitting about the fire when they heard a noise in the yard.  About the time they turned to look a monster bear stepped in the door. He had them hemmed in for there was only one door to the cabin and the bear held that.

They were scared badly for they did not like the idea of the bear and the boys sleeping together (the boys inside the bear) it so happened that they had two ferocious dogs about the place and they set them on Bruin; they bit him and he turned to defend himself, greatly to the relief of the boys.

Finally the bear ran out of the house and the dogs drove him back to the swamp.

In the fall of 1820, the young men went back to North Carolina and when they returned they brought their father and his family with them. The family consisted of Daniel Donnell and Ibbie Donnell, his wife. Beside Samuel and Irwin the family consisted of Thompson, Lydia, Margaret and Joseph.

Daniel Donnell settled near a little creek on the west side of Big Clay Bank and one of its tributaries, not far from the present Providence Church. There he built a home and also a mill on the Little Creek (it is known at this time at Metcalf’s Mill.)

Louis Hutchinson had moved to the new town and built a rival hotel at Daleville.  His hotel stood East of the public square on the crest of the rise and North of the public road.

Other buildings were constantly going up here and there about the new town.

The Pouncey family continued to reside in the Broxton Settlement where they had accumulated property rapidly.  William was grown when the arrived there in 1824, and being a man of fine business energy his success was phenomenal.

In 1834 the family decided to leave the Broxton Settlement and get nearer the new town with a view to entering the mercantile business.  They entered a large tract of land on the North side of where Samuel and Irwin Donnell had settled and occupied it.

William and Jesse Pouncey bought out Ledbetter store house and business in Daleville.  This house was a two story structure located on the West corner where the street coming down from the North entered the public square.

The new firm put more capital in the business and gave it a new impulse.  About this time the public mind was disturbed by a proposition to again divide the county and make two of it.

The people living up and down Pea river on both sides complained that the distance was so great to the county seat, it was very inconvenient for them.

Here Arch Justice, a new comer from Barbour County who had settled at a place known as Summers Mill, two miles North and a little West of Daleville, appeared as the champion of division. A man of determined character, of great physical strength, and a great fighter.

Physically he was short in stature, heavy set, swarthy complexion, black hair and eyes and weighed about 180 pounds.  Men wore boots much in those days and Arch Justice had to split the leg of his boots to get into them.

In addition to the new county questions, the Indians went on the war path and began to murder the whites all over the country. The military was called out, and all able-bodied men put under arms.

The equipment of citizen soldiery in those days consisted of an old greasy wallet to carry provisions and a quilt to sleep on and a change of rainment.   Their arms consisted of flint and steel muzzle loading shot guns, rifles and flint and steel holster pistols.

Among those to raise a company was William Pouncey.  Seaborn Ledbetter was Colonel at that time, and William Wilburn, a former citizen of Henry County, but residing at Irwinton (Eufaula) was General [Wilburn].

"Captain William Pouncey addressed General Wilburn the following letter:

Daleville, July 28, 1837 Gen. William Wilburn Dear Sir: I have nothing of importance to inform you of.  My men I have had the principal part of the furlonged (furlong) until I know for the want of provisions, then we all expect meat tomorrow, the 29 inst.  Which we hope to meet our provisions as we have some news, Correct of the Indian Line on the old Three Notch Road where it crossed the Double Bridges Creek, the line appears to be women and children. I learn there is some sign in Fla. and it all appears to be making up Pea River.

I understand from Mr. John S. Ledbetter that we might make the Company 68 privates, one Captain, two Liet (.), first and second, four Sergeants, four corpals (corporals), and one assistant Commissary. I have made the Company as above stated. You will please write me whether I am justifiable in so doing, and if I am I will forward you a new list of the Company.

Very Respectfully, William Pouncey, Capt.

"Soon after the arrival of the Pounceys in the neighborhood of Daleville, a warm friendship sprang up between that family and Mr. Donnells.  In the Donnell family were two beautiful young daughters, Misses Lydia and her younger sister, Margaret.

Cupid got busy and it was not long before it was announced that Jesse Pouncey and Lydia was to be married.  But death loves a shinning mark and ere autumn leaves had been scattered by November winds Lydia had gone to the grave.

"Inconsolable over his loss at first Jesse found consolation later in the company of her younger sister.  His suit was encouraged and the engagement and wedding followed. September 6, 1837 was fixed at the date for the wedding, and great preparations were made for a large number of guests were to be invited.

John S. Ledbetter was selected as best man, and Margarette Broxton was bridesmaid.  Lodawick Stapleton, Justice of the Peace and brother-in-law of the groom said the ceremony.

Among those present besides relatives were the Circuit Court officials for Court was in session.  John McDuffie from the upper part of the county and James M. Long, a merchant of the town.

Jesse Pouncey built a home for his bride near the banks of Clay Bank Creek.  In those days the Country was full of prospectors, but crossing of the streams was difficult for the lack of bridges.  Jesse Pouncey put in a flat near his home.

One day a couple of prospectors came along, they were told the price and one them said he could jump the D--- creek and refused to pay it.  Jesse Pouncey turned his flat across the creek and the first fellow made his horse jump overboard.

Continued on column at right >

 

 

From Pouncey History

Written 1912 by Joseph Franklin Pouncey
Additional notes by Katie Pouncey Radford
Some original spellings clarified with modern equivalents, 1999

This transcription was refined July 1997 by Elaine Hendricks, who references books belonging to Mrs. Katie Pouncey Radford, mother of Emma Kate Radford Fordyce.

 

Continued from column at left

When he did both horse and rider disappeared under the water, then came to the surface and swam out.  His companion decided to pay the ferriage and was put across.

After Jesse Pouncey’s marriage the property held in common by him and William was divided, the store falling to the latter.

Arch Justice raged a hot campaign all over the county declaring from every stump that he would 'Split the county if he had to do with a broad axe.'

He beat Abe Warren who was running against Justice to retain the seat in the Legislature he already had, but Justice, the only Whig ever elected from Dale County won his fight and kept his promise.

William Pouncey soon sold his stock of goods and offered his building on the market. The Board of Roads and Revenues bought it for a Courthouse to take the place of the old log building.

They paid Warren Deese to put it out in the square and he employed the negros of the community to do the work on Sunday.  He paid them one dollar a day each and furnished them five gallons of whiskey.

It took two Sundays to complete the work and on Monday morning in February, 1838 after the last Sunday’s work the Circuit Court opened its spring session in it.

Justice had been elected on a platform to split the county, and in 1839 he put a bill through the Legislature creating the new county to the West and Christening it Coffee, in honor of General Coffee of Georgia.

The Indian war had ended and the government had departed the race to Arkansas and the Indian territory, but local affairs were still in a disturbed condition about Daleville because of the county seat. 

The county Board of Roads and Revenues was composed of two members South of the river and three on the North side when it had been decided to locate the new county seat on top of the bluff South of the river.  

Thomas Andrews, a member of the Board went to Sparta and secured the land. The contract for the new Courthouse was let to a man around Pittman and he began preparations to carry out the terms of the contract.

The County Board then disposed of the public property of the county at Daleville in 1841.  The public square was sold to Dr. W. L. Milligan and the Courthouse to Moses Matthews, who moved it up to his home near Ozark for a residence where it [is at] the present time.

People in this county first got their mail at Louisville and Columbus, but some time later the location of the county site at Daleville the government established an office there.  In 1839 William Pouncey was appointed post master.

The following is a copy of the original commission now in the Pouncey archives and which has been loaned to me to copy:

Amos Kendall, Post Master General of the United States of America. To all who see these presents Greetings: Whereas by letter dated on the 9th day of Oct. 1839 William Pouncey was appointed Post Master at Dale C. H. In the County of Dale, State of Alabama, and whereas he did on the 26th day of Oct, 1839 execute a bond and has taken the oath of office as directed in said letter of appointment, now, know ye, that, confiding in the integrity, ability and punctuality of the said William Pouncey, I do commission a Post Master, and authorized to execute the duties of that office at Dale C. H. Aforesaid according to the Laws of the United States and the regulations of the Post Office Department to hold the said office of Post Master, with all the powers, privileges and to the same belonging, during the pleasure of the Post Master General of the U. S.

In testimony where of I have herewith set my hand and caused the seal of the Post Office Department to be fixed at Washington City the 26th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eighteen hundred and thirty nine, and of the independence of the United States, the sixty fourth.

--Signed, Amos Kendall.

The widow of Anthony Pouncey continued to reside on the homestead she settled when she came up near Daleville until her death in 1840.

She was buried at the Donnell grave yard near Providence Church where she had served her God so faithfully and where she had taught her children the love and fear of our master by precept and example.

In 1841 William Pouncey died and sleeps the sleep of the brave and noble by the side of his mother.

He never married.  Jesse Pouncey became the executor of the estate of William Pouncey, as he had been his business partner and he proceeded to wind up his affairs.

To Jesse Pouncey and his wife were born fourteen children, two of whom died in infancy.

The eldest Donnell died at 14. Abel John died in the war of the sixties and sleeps in the soil of Virginia.  William who married Julia Thompson, and served in the Confederate Army, after rearing a large family died in 1910.

Samuel died in the Army of Virginia during the war. Irvin went through the war, married the only daughter of Rev. W. P. Bryan and now resided in Wauchula, Florida. J. F. Pouncey married the daughter of Jonas P. Bell and lives at Clayhatchee, where he has resided continuously for forty two years.

Lavinia married Thomas Mills who died some years ago.

Margaret married E. A. Thompson and died in 1871.  Ruben married Belle Cameron and died 18 years ago. Aureline married Mollie Warren and lives at Pollard, Alabama at the present time.

James Buchanan, named after the last Democratic President before the war married Jennie Stokes and now lives at Enterprise, Alabama.

Alice, the youngest married Professor, Oscar Pinckard, and resided in Houston, Texas.  Jesse Pouncey, the father, was born in S C in 1807 and died the third day of July, 1880 and was buried the next day.

Mrs. Pouncey, Aunty Peggy, as she was lovingly called by everybody passed to her reward on Oct. 1, 1902.

They are both buried at old Providence; the Church they loved so dearly and of which they had been the main stay all their lives, and the place they had served their master so faithfully and taught their children to follow in their footsteps that at last they might receive a crown rejoicing.

This history was written by J. F. Pouncey about 1912. At the present time none of the Pounceys above mentioned or their wives are living, except my mother who is 91 years old and the second wife of James H. Pouncey.

The reason for not giving much of the judicial and political history of the county is that the county archives have been twice destroyed by fire, but all that part of our history while embraced in the territory of Henry County (1819 - 1824) is safe in the archives of Henry County, the courthouse of Henry never having burned.

When the Indians went on the war path in 1836 they did not neglect the pale face who had invaded their hunting grounds South of the line drawn from Irwinton (Eufaula) to Line Creek.

Among the murders committed by them was the Hart family in the neighborhood of Indigo Head (Clintonville) and the murder of the Albrison family in the Broxton Settlement East of the Choctowhachee River, between Daleville and Geneva.

Eli Albrison lived in the upper edge of the settlement and his father lived eight miles down the river.  The younger Albrison went down to his fathers one day on business, and while he was gone, a band of Indians came down the river in a boat and went to his home and there murdered his wife and her sister.

After putting up his horse on his return home, Mr. Albrison went into the house and what he there beheld filled his soul with horrible vengeance.  His wife and her sister lay side by side on the floor with scalps gone and their bodies mutilated.

He lost no time in giving the alarm, and the bodies were buried. A posse was ready and in pursuit of the red skins and he joined them with haste.  The search kept up for a week.

One evening they discovered a light in the swamp, and surrounded and charged it, but the red skins had fled, evidently in a precipitate manner, as the charging posse secured their leggons and a butcher knife they had left behind.

Shortly after that an Indian woman and two boys were captured and put in jail in Daleville.  Jesse Pouncey was the jailer. The old jail was a round, log affair, and the cracks were not well sealed.

The door was fastened with a pad lock and trace chains. One moonlight night some one went there and fired through a crack, killing the woman out right, but did not injure the boys.

It was thought that Eli Albrison did the shooting in reprisal for the murder of his wife and sister-in-law.  A handkerchief was found at the jail, which was believed to be his, although no one saw him.

The body of the woman was buried three-fourths of a mile Southwast (southwest) of Daleville and about one-fourt(h) of a mile North of the road that went from Daleville to Pridgens ferry, now Trawicks bridge. 

Another incident in the Broxton Settlement will serve to show the wickedness of human nature.   One day when Mrs. Priggy Broxton, the mother of Alf and John Broxton, was at a meeting at the Stapleton Church beyond Big Creek, a white man and negro painted themselves with polk berries, so as to look like Indians, and robbed her home.

She had carried the money with her and the booty obtained by the robbers amounted to only seven or eight dollars, a couple of overcoats and a gun.

The children thought the robbers were not Indians.  When she looked over the clothing and things they had moved, they found polk berry finger prints on them.  A possee was formed but the scoundrels made good their escape.

Arch Justice, who cut quite a figure in the early history of Dale County raised an Indian girl whom he named Mary.  She moved to Freeport, Florida in 1840 where she later died.  He also raised an Indian boy.

Once a writ of destinue was obtained against some one, and the boy was placed on the block by Sheriff Levi Skipper to be sold into slavery.

This was too much for Justice, and drawing his gun, he walked up to the block and said to the Indian, “Come down off that block, you are a free man.”  Then said some more things he did not learn at Sunday School.

No one, not even the sheriff offered any resistance and the Indian went about his business.