Migration of Joseph ZEIGLER and Abigail LIGHTSEY

1. Joseph ZEIGLER, born 14 Apr 1787 in South Carolina; died 19 Feb 1860 in Echols County, Georgia; buried 1860 in Wayfare Cemetery, Echols County, Ga., son of Michael ZEIGLER and Martha PIQUOTT. He married on 12 May 1813 in South Carolina Abigail LIGHTSEY, born 12 Oct 1790 in Probably Colleton County, South Carolina; died 12 Jun 1876 in Florida; buried 1876 in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Dade City, Florida.

Notes for Joseph ZEIGLER: Lived in Barnwell District SC until about 1845 and then moved to Lowndes County Georgia. In 1860 his widow was in Echols County, Georgia.

Notes for Abigail LIGHTSEY: The 1860 Federal Census of Echols County, Georgia lists an Abigill Zieglor, Female, aged 59, born in South Carolina and her occupation as a seamstress. Her husband, Joseph, was not listed as he died in 1860 just prior to the Census being taken. After Joseph's death, Abegail move to Pasco County, FL. to stay with her daughter, Mrs. John G. Howell, where she remained until her death in 1876. She is buried in Mr. Zion Cemetery about two miles West of Dade City, FL.

Children of Joseph ZEIGLER and Abigail LIGHTSEY were as follows:

a. Martha Mae ZEIGLER, born 12 Oct 1814 in South Carolina; died 12 Dec 1861 in Echols County, Georgia; said to be buried in Macedonia Cemetery, Mayday, Ga.. She married on 15 Jun 1829 in South Carolina Samuel LIGHTSEY, born 22 May 1806 in Colleton County, South Carolina; died 15 Sep 1878 in Echols County, Georgia; said to be buried in Macedonia Cemetery, Mayday, Ga., son of David LIGHTSEY and Mary [---].

Notes for Martha Mae ZEIGLER: It has been said that Martha and Samuel were buried at Macedonia Church Cemetery. Two attempts to locate these graves have been fruitless. Let it be noted that dad listed them there because of information given to him by the older members of our family. He was told that they are in unmarked graves. On page 379 of the new Chinkypin book they are listed as being buried there. In a recent trip to Macedonia, I found the grave of Rachel Howell, Samuel's second wife. The dates on the headstone match the dates found in dads earlier book. I feel it safe to assume that this is Samuel's second wife. The middle name of Martha has been reported as "Mae" and "Mary". The new Chinkypin book gives her name as Mary Martha Zeigler, dau of Joseph. In a book written by Patricia Lightsey Davis on the Lightsey family it is stated that a letter is on file at the Huxford Library that states her name is Mary Martha Zeigler. This information came from the only living grandchild of Samuel Lightsey and the letter is dated 1955.
  Author's note: Legal documents have been found which attest that Martha Zeigler Lightsey was buried in the Jesse Howell Berring Grounds. This document was signed by her brother John D. Zeigler and his wife Keizie. While nowhere did I find that Samuel was actually buried beside his first wife Martha I do not find him buried beside his second wife Rachel. It is my feeling that they are buried beside each other in the now abandoned cemetery once known as the Jesse Howell Berring Grounds. As written in the notes for Samuel, the local people have known of the existence of this cemetery. My cousin Emory Davis stated that he had played in this cemetery when he was a young boy. According to a booklet written by Betty Lane Clark of Atlanta, Georgia, the Jesse Howell homeplace was sold to Lovelyn Davis about 1900 and has been known as such ever since. Some of the locals with whom I have contacted have told me that they have heard of the Davis Cemetery which supposedly is the same as the Jesse Howell Cemetery. I will hold to this THEORY until further proof can be produced to the contrary. - Charles Zeigler

Notes for Samuel LIGHTSEY: Samuel Lightsey (1806-1878) was born in Colleton District, South Carolina, with his brother Jacob, the two families moved to Lowndes County, Georgia in 1836. Samuel's first wife Martha Mae Zeigler (1814-1861) was a sister to John Darling Zeigler, who moved to Lowndes County with another sister in 1839. Martha died Dec. 12,1861, and a few years later Samuel married Mrs Rachel Howell, widow of William Howell of Echols County. Mrs Howell was born May 1,1816, in South Carolina, and died Oct. 2,1892. Samuel Lightsey's children were born by the first wife. Samuel Lightsey was in the Indian War and served in Capt. Jessie Carter's Company of Lowndes County Militia July 1st to Aug. 15,1838; and in Capt. David R. Bryans Company of Lowndes County Militia, from Aug. 15, to Oct. 15,1838. His home was on the west side of the Alapaha River near present Howell Georgia. Mr Lightsey was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church for many Years as was also both of his wives. He died on Sept. 15,1878, and was buried in the cemetery at Macedonia Church where his first wife was buried and where his second wife was later buried. Samuel was a Member of Alapaha Lodge, No. 209, F. & A.M., at Statenville, Georgia, and died a Member. The 1860 Federal Census of Echols County, Georgia lists Samuel Lightsey, born in South Carolina, as head of house with 6 children. A comparison of these dates show that it was the last 6 of his 11 children. The first 5 children had already married before 1855. Martha was not shown in this census.
  OBITUARY OF MR. SAMUEL LIGHTSEY (transcribed from The Weekly Times, Valdosta, Georgia, dated October 19, 1878): Mr. Samuel Lightsey, of Echols County, died a few weeks ago; and on last Thursday night week Mr. Frank Fender, Tax Collector, was stricken down and died on the following Sunday night. They were school boys together many years ago in South Carolina and they moved to this state in early manhood, where they lived and died neighbors in Echols County. They were aged and very highly respected citizens, both having borrowed time beyone their three score and ten. Each raised a large family of children, all of whom are married and settled in life and are worthy citizens. G.W. Prine
  Author's note: The above information was found in the Huxford books. The grave of Samuel Lightsey has not been found. The grave of his second wife, Rachael Guest Rice Howell, was found in the cemetery. Certain legal documents have been found which indicate that Samuel Lightsey could have been buried with his first wife Martha at the Jesse Howell Berring Grounds located at Valentine, Georgia. That cemetery has long been abandoned but is known to have existed by the local people in the area. No trace of that cemetery is left. Please see the notes for Martha Mae Lightsey. I will hold to this THEORY until further proof can be submitted to the contrary. - Charles Zeigler

b. Mary Catherine ZEIGLER, born 21 Dec 1815 in Barnwell District, South Carolina; died 10 May 1885 in Hernando, Fl.; buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Dade City, Fl.. She married in 1837 John George HOWELL, born 18 Oct 1817 in Barnwell District, South Carolina; died 20 Apr 1885 in Dade City, Florida, Mt. Zion Cemetery; buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Dade City, Florida.

Notes for John George HOWELL: In Dec.1839, John G. moved to Lowndes County with his wife and child, following his Father there. He settled on a farm near his Father's, and in 1858 was cut out of Lowndes into the new County of Echols. Mr. Howell was 1st Lieut. of the Militia in the 904th District, Lowndes County(1851-1857). He was Justice of Peace in the same District (1856-1864), this District was placed in Echols County in its creation. He served as Sheriff of Echols County (1862-1864). Mr. Howell was a member of the Masonic Order, entering as a charter member into the organization of Alapha Lodge No. 209 at Troublesome (later named Statenville) in 1857. He served as Senior Deacon of his Lodge, (1858-1860), and was Worshipful Master, (1861-1865). He was also a life long Member of the Methodist Church. The 1860 Federal Census of Echols County, Georgia lists John E. (in lieu of G.) Howell as head of house with 6 children. In 1866, he sold out his holdings in Echols County and moved to Pasco County Fla. where he became a fruit grower and prospered. He died there in 1885, and his wife died soon after. They were buried at Mt. Zion Methodist Church about two miles West of Dade City, Florida where they were Members.

c. John Darling ZEIGLER, born 29 Mar 1820 in Barnwell District, South Carolina; died 14 Dec 1906 in Echols County, Georgia; buried in Unity Primitive Baptist Church Cem. Lowndes County, Ga. He married on 25 Jun 1847 in Echols County, Georgia Keziah CARTER, born 13 Nov 1831 in Georgia?; died 25 Dec 1894 in Echols County, Ga.; buried in Unity Primitive Baptist Church Cem. Lowndes County, Ga.

Notes for John Darling ZEIGLER: John D. was cut out of Lowndes County into the new County of Echols in its Formation in 1858. He bought 400 acres in the 11th. land district, being part of land lot no. 443 in said district, this transaction took place on Aug. 13,1856, He later purchased the remainder of lot no. 443 and part of lot no. 444. These lands were later deeded to Charles Boland Zeigler the son of John D. Zeigler. He served as Justice of Peace in the 904th. Dist. of Echols, 1860-1864, and served as Representative from his County to the Ga. Legislature. John D. was for several years a member of the Masonic Order. He received his degree in 1859 in the Alapaha Lodge no. 209 at Statenville Ga., (known then as Troublesome). The Town was named Statesville and thru Postal error was listed as Statenville and the name was never changed. He served as Jr. Warden of the Lodge in 1861, Lodge Treasurer in 1869-1872, and as Jr. Deacon in 1870-1871. He was received into Unity Baptist Church (Primitive) July 25,1874, and was Baptized; His wife was similarly received May 22,1875. He was Ordained a Deacon of the Church August 30,1879, and served in that capacity until his death December 14,1906. John D. and Kizzie are buried in the church cemetery at Unity. John D. Zeigler served as a Private in the Georgia Militia in the Civil War, under Captain James W. Staten. This enlistment was for six months, August 4,1863 to February 15,1864. He served as Notary Public, and Exo. Justice of Peace of the 904th. District, Echols County from 1868 to 1874. John D. was born in Barnwell Dist. S. C., and came to Lowndes County in 1839 with his sister and brother-in-law, the John G. Howell's. John D. Zeigler's father came to Lowndes County in 1845, following his son and daughters there, also moving to Lowndes County about the same time were three of Joseph's Nephews, William Zeigler and Jacob Jefferson Zeigler sons of Jacob Zeigler, and Joseph Conrad Holman Zeigler, son of Conrad. The 1860 Federal Census of Echols County, Georgia lists John Zeiglor as head of house, a wife named Kurgie (Kizzie), and 7 children. John is a farmer.

Information provided by Gene Jeffries 16 Mar 2000, and Charles T. Zeigler 16 Feb 2009.

Please help maintain, correct and expand these pages. Send comments, corrections, updates and additions to:

migrations@ogsgs.org

DISCLAIMER: The family information included in Orangeburgh Family Migrations was complied from a variety of sources, many of which are not documented. These pages have not been checked for accuracy and should not be treated as authoritative documentation on these families. They are provided as a hopefully helpful source of leads to further research into these families.

Return to: Orangeburgh Migrations

|  Home   |  Membership   |  Publications   |  First Families  |

04-17-09