As I continue to write about Birdsville, I am truly enamored by the sheer amount of history surrounding this storied place. It is truly the old south and fortunately, there is much evidence left of days from long ago. I have access to the Jones Family history which is where I have been able to glean so much information.
The great granddaughter of Francis Jones, Sr. was Mary Young Henderson who was the wife of Michael Henderson. Mary Young was the daughter of James and Lavania Jones Young. Mary Young later married John Cameron and their old homesite was near Cameron Station in Screven County.
Francis Jones, Sr. executed his will in March of 1774. It was witnessed by three of his neighbors who lived in the vicinity of the Ogeechee River and Rocky Ford. They are listed as Thomas Mills, Daniel Bonnell and Valentine Hollingsworth. I would like to point out that those family names are still in the area over 250 years later.
He bequeathed to his sons, Francis, Jr. and James “My manor whereon I now live and a mill to be divided between them”. James Jones later owned land at Cameron as well. He left to his sons, John and Phillip, a tract of land in St. George’s Parish which included a mill and was formerly the property of John Lott.
St. George’s Parish would have been in the direct vicinity of what we know as Birdsville today. Lott’s Mill was a grist mill that got water to operate from Walker’s Spring. There are remnants of that old mill that still exist today. I must admit that so much of this history has existed unbeknownst to me until recently.
I have ridden by Walker’s Spring all of my life and although I knew it existed, I never really knew its significance until recently. I mentioned previously that I was tied to this land and Iet me try to explain that as best as I can. I have said many times that we are all connected, we all come from the house of Abraham, but in our little part of the world we are bound by family ties and close connections. Ya’ll bear with me as I will connect all of this information together.
The old store that sits in Birdsville is now owned by the family of Mary Franklin Andrews. Mary’s mother was a Jones along with her two sisters Francis and Catherine. R.C. Jones owned that store building and some adjoining land before they did. My great Uncle, Tom Black, came from Herndon to run that store.
My great uncle, Virgil Black, was involved in the operation of that store as well. My uncle Tom farmed in very close proximity to Birdsville later on. My Uncle Virgil farmed right across the road from that old store building as well as the land that went with the store building. My Uncle Virgil’s house is on Birdsville Road. My family ties to the Birdville area were established a long time ago.
The old store building has been well maintained and bears the name “Birdsville” on a sign out front. It serves as a landmark and part of my Black family history for me as well. My grandmother, my beloved “Bigma” was Susie Black Womack. Tom and Virgil Black were her brothers. Although they were my blood relatives, they are outstanding human beings, and I am proud to be related to them.
I have seen pictures of that store from the 1930’s-1940’s and there were cars and people everywhere. I would make the grand assumption that it was the hub of the community. Those scenes play out in my mind as I write these words. I truly wish I could have experienced that in person, but, thankfully, I am tied to this special place through my family.
Mary Franklin Andrews was my seventh-grade science teacher, and I was honored to have known her throughout my life. Her sister Catherine was a beautiful soul of her own accord. Mary and Catherine have both gone on to their great reward in heaven, but their presence can still be felt in Birdsville. Their younger sister, Francis, is a dear friend of mine and still spends quite a bit of time here.
Fortunately, I have had strong ties to the Jones family and my Black family in Birdsville all of my life. As time passes those connections grow more and more with each passing day. I am thankful for close friends and family. I am also thankful that Birdville has been and continues to be such a big part in my life. Y’all continue to bear with me as I share more history about this beautiful place that I love so much.
