Civil War Articles by Julian WilliamsWillcox Reunion Full Of Happenings, Humor And 'Haints'
This article was compiled by Julian Williams.
The 40th Annual Willcox Reunion was held June 3, 2001, at the Little Ocmulgee State Park near McRae, Georgia. Luckily, I was invited to attend although I am not a Willcox or have not as yet found that direct connection through my ancestors. However, I have cousins all around who descend directly from the Willcoxes. I was talking to one of them the other day - first cousin Mark Wilcox of Jacksonville, Georgia. He wanted us to go in search of the old steamboat that exploded in 1860 and killed 14 people, including at least one of my relatives, Joseph B. Williams. It would be nice to find that piece of historical significance. I told him we needed to get Guy Bland to go with us. Guy knows a lot about the local land and water.
Another thing I would like to find is the old plantation of General John Coffee and his original burial site there. I was talking to Rudy Dennis at the reunion and he said William Dopson told him his father said the old grave was located where the Old River Road crosses Coffee Branch. That it was in the northeast quadrant of that intersection. That would be another piece of historical significance. And if you are wondering if Mrs. John Coffee is down there in the swamp - she is not. Mac Nobles and I found her grave in Madison, Florida, and I will tell that story another time.
The Willcoxes were also kind enough to include me on their program and let me make some remarks concerning the "Old Jacksonville, Ga., Articles" which include a lot about the Willcoxes. We started with old Thomas Willcox of Pennsylvania who made paper for Benjamin Franklin and the early government of this country and proceeded down through John Willcox I of North Carolina who made cannonballs for George Washington and The Revolution and almost was hanged for his trouble. Then we told of John Willcox, Jr., of old Telfair County and how he made pole-boats for the War of 1812. We made some remarks about General Mark Willcox. We wondered what happened to the Parramores as they seemed to disappear from around here but are found in Thomasville and other places in Georgia and elsewhere. Mark's first wife was Jane Parramore and she is buried at Old Concord Cemetery. She died at a very young age and he next married a daughter of General John Coffee, Sarah Ann Elizabeth. I read in one account where they called her Polly. They called a lot of girls Polly back in those days it seems.
The Willcoxes, like other families, have their humorous moments and stories. Seems like one Willcox lady had married this fellow and they were not on speaking terms at all. In fact, it is said they would ride to church in separate buggies, eat at separate tables, not speak to each other, occupy different rooms at the house, and in general, have nothing to do with each other. But, with all this assumed separation and estrangement, there was something that didn't agree with appearances. The couple continued to have children. Now, the older children in the family, having picked up along the way some insight into the mysteries of procreation, became very curious as to why the family line was continuing, despite all these evidences that it just shouldn't be happening. After all, there had to some togetherness somewhere in the formula to accomplish such. So, the grand plan was formulated. They would, after dark, when the couple had retired to their separate bedrooms, sprinkle corn meal on the floor of the hallway that ran through the center of the house. They figured if either of their parents left their room during the night, he or she would disturb the corn meal and maybe get some meal on their shoes or feet. Their trick worked. They could tell plainly at break of day that the lady had made a nightly journey down the hallway to the room of the man she didn't dislike so much after all. Love conquers all. And the family was in no danger of becoming extinct. I thought that was a beautiful story. You can't always judge the book by the cover.
Clint Rogers, whose grandmother, Gertrude Williams, was a Wilcox (Willcox), did a great job of presiding over the meeting as this year's Willcox Family President. Clint recognized the folks who were from farthest away, the folks who were the oldest, the youngest, and those who had the greatest number of their immediate family present (sons, daughters, grandchildren, etc.).
And Clint presented me with a document I shall cherish right on. The Willcox Family made me a Lifetime Honorary Willcox Family Member. Because of my interest in the family and writing about the family, this nice group of folks honored me in a very special way. Or at least it was to me. Even some said I was probably really a Willcox and a bit more searching would probably reveal a Willcox in my direct lines. I haven't found one yet but I have found Williamses, Godwins, Bevins, Andersons, Joneses, Phillipses, Stapletons, Whites, Craveys, Browns, Peacocks, Studstills, Campbells, Dopsons, McCrimmons, Petersons, and no telling who else. In there somewhere is probably a Willcox.
And Terri Reed from Louisiana just had to share "ghost stories" with me. Of course, I related to her that I believed Douglas, Georgia, had some of the best haunts for ghosts in the world. If you don't believe me ask Lee Bagwell. I told her also how, in the old Cap'n Joe Willcox House at Jacksonville, Ga., the Dopsons used to scare the fire out of me when they told me Bloody Bones and Slew Foot would descend the dark stairs and catch me going down the hallway. They weren't that fast. When I went through the screen door of my house three doors down I could hear their screen door closing. But I don't think anyone in the world could prepare supper like Mrs. Henrietta Dopson. Grits, fresh pork sausage, huge homemade biscuits, homemade syrup and butter, sweet tea and cold fresh milk. I loved to eat supper with them. Dean and Lester would mention the spirits residing upstairs (and their desire to catch me) to add to my visit. Harriet and Alex would encourage me to run fast. That was comforting. Mr. Levi just laughed. Those, indeed, were the "good ole days."
Terri and Chuck Reed had come a long way to the reunion from Hammond, Louisiana. She told me about visiting Andersonville and the story about the Confederate soldier who would appear in ghostly form from out of the woods and aim his rifle at anyone who came to the site. She was amused by one lady, a United Daughter of the Confederacy, who remarked that the young soldier would indeed not point his weapon at her because she was on his side and had done all this stuff to perpetuate his memory and those of his comrades. She was somewhat disappointed because he didn't seem to have any favorites. He raised his piece as usual and took careful aim at the distressed lady. It got off with her quite a bit but when other visitors explained to her that it was probably just his way of telling all that Andersonville Prison was not a good place to be, maybe she calmed down a bit. At least he's not shooting real bullets as they did when he was here in the flesh and blood. The Civil War was a terrible war. More men were killed in that war than in just about all the others put together. And they were all Americans.
And the Willcoxes stayed and stayed and talked and talked and looked at all the books, literature, pictures, clippings, articles, and other items of family interest. Some of them have even written books on their history.
Diane Williams Rogers (my first cousin), Clint's mother, put together a nice scrapbook of the "Old Jacksonville, Ga. Articles" pertaining to the Willcox Family.
And we were also reminded about the care of the Willcox cemeteries. If one Willcox is in a cemetery, and they know about it, this family will make an attempt to care for that burial place. They even told me of a recent stone memorial they added to "The Old Willcox Burreying Ground." It has the names of those Willcoxes, including John III, who are buried in a more remote place. The Willcoxes take care of business.
And no one is more diligent about the business of the Willcoxes than Martha Albertson. I call her the leader, worker, matriarch, genealogist, guru, and overall authority on Willcox doings. She is a great lady and the family should be thankful for all the long hours and hard work she puts in to ensure that the history is handed down to subsequent generations.
I had a great time at the 40th Willcox Reunion. And the place was nice; Little Ocmulgee had completely renovated and modernized the family shelter meeting place. It was air-conditioned, had a modern kitchen, nice restrooms, new floor, ceiling fans, and comfortable seating. They really did a first-class job on that building and we enjoyed it immensely.
I look forward to next year. If you are a Willcox or connected to the family, you are missing a treat if you are missing the Annual Willcox Reunion the first Sunday in June of each year. Hope to see you there next year!
Credits:
Telfair County History (1807-1987);
information furnished by the Willcox Family;
various family histories and lines of descent.
