Chambers County Alabama Photos......Newman - Johnson House & Charles A. & Mary Hart Johnson Family
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http://theusgenweb.org/al/chambers/
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Contributed by Don L. Clark Jul 2004 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00014.html#0003384

Newman - Johnson House & Charles A. & Mary Hart Johnson Family
(See below photo for information on this house)


When the Chambers County Census of 1850 was taken, the family of Greenberry Wilkinson (Wikerson on Deed) was living in this house. Greenberry was 48, born in South Carolina, and listed his Real Estate Value at $1,000. His wife Charlsey was 43, and also born in South Carolina. The census shows eight children ranging in ages from 20 years to 1 year. Also living here was Littleberry Wilkinson/Wilkerson, Jr., age 23. The Wilkerson house was located directly across the road from Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church on a slight elevation.

The main body of Greenberry Wilkerson's house consisted of two large rooms divided by a central hall. Both rooms had a large fireplace. A porch extended across the front supported by wooden columns on independent brick piers. Shed rooms were at the rear with a porch in between. On the west side was a dining room and kitchen. Another large fireplace was in the kitchen. These rooms were separated from the main body by a dogtrot. A porch extended across this wing as well, with a pantry on the west end. The well was conveniently located on this porch near the kitchen. Overall the house was of good design and craftsmanship of the period.

On September 5, 1854, Greenberry Wilkerson sold his plantation to Samuel Newman for the consideration of $1,072.50. The legal description of the property is the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4; and the East 1/2 of the SW 1/4 except 5 acres for Macedonia Church privileges; and the West 1/2 of the SE 1/4; all in Section 30, Township 23, Range 26, consisting of 195 acres. Samuel Newman continued to buy property and soon his plantation boasted over 500 acres.

Samuel Newman (1797 - 1872) and 2nd wife Judith Armstrong Newman (1799 - 1876) had been residents of Chambers County since at least 1838. It is in this year that both are received by letter on February 10, into the membership of Mount Pisgah Primitive Baptist Church near Stroud. Previous to this they had resided in Harris County, Georgia. The Newmans at some point moved into the southern part of Chambers County and in 1847 are found on the membership roll of Friendship Baptist Church. Also on the Friendship roll are two slaves named Tonny and Aggy, property of S. Newman. On January 20, 1855, the Newmans joined the Rock Spring Baptist Church which was less than two miles east of their new home at Marcoot. The Rock Spring record also shows that Brother Toney a coloured brother, and wife Aggy, property of Bro. S. Newman joined by letter the following month on February 17. The Newmans prospered and sons James M., William Henry and George W., established productive farms nearby. The mortal remains of all these Newmans are at Rock Spring Cemetery.

After Judith Newman's death in 1876, it is unknown how the lands were first divided and sold. By 1900, R. M. Boazman owns this house and in the September 26 issue of "The LaFayette Sun", he advertises his cotton gin and states that he is buying cotton seed at Marcoot. The following summer Boazman had his farm for sale and advertised in the July 10, 1901 issue of "The LaFayette Sun":

Bargains in Farm Property.

     I have the following for sale at reasonable figures and easy terms:
     Fifty five acres good farm land, good buildings and excellent water.
     Also three yoke fine oxen, weight of one 2100 and the other 2600 and another 3000.
     Two good Mitchell Wagons, good as new. One 2 ¾ and another 3 ¼.
     One Good Jersey cow – will give milk in September.
     One Fine Jersey Bull – young.
     One Gin House, suitable for good barn, 80 x 20 feet. Covered with 12000 good shingles. Price $50.
     One Seed House – built new last fall. $15.
     For future particulars call on or write, R. M. Boazman, Marcoot, Ala.

And one month later in the August 7, 1901 issue of "The LaFayette Sun":

     "Mr. Bob Boazman has moved his family down from Marcoot and is occupying the Baird house in the southwest part of town."

The November 27, 1901 issue of "The LaFayette Sun" states that:
"Chas. Johnson has moved into the residence formerly occupied by R. M. Boazman."
Charles A. Johnson was the son of Oliver Johnson and wife Mary Heath Johnson. On December 27, 1885, he had married Miss Mary Hart, daughter of Benjamin & Sarah F. Daniel Hart. The Johnsons, Heaths and Harts were all pioneer settlers of the community. Before the move to Marcoot the Johnsons had lived in the Chapell Hill area. In the December 11 issue of "The LaFayette Sun" this notice appeared:

Milch Cows for Sale.
     I have a good lot of fine milch cows for sale or trade for dry cattle.      I am located in Marcoot, Ala     C. A. Johnson.

It is unknown how long the Johnsons lived here, but presumably a number of years. The house and property was eventually bought by Tommie and Pauline Belcher Lindsey. Possibly during the 1950s this old house burned and a modern brick house now occupies the site.

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