NANNIE G. [JOHNSON] ANDREWS
Wife of
ALEXANDER SAMUEL “SAM” ANDREWS
Daughter of
SHADRACK ROBERT “S. R.” JOHNSON
&
MARY DON [BRADFORD]
by Francie Lane, May
10, 2007
Comments or Questions Click Here
Nannie G. Johnson was born January 15, 1856, Smith Co., TN, the eldest child of Shadrack Robert Johnson and his wife Mary Don [Bradford], both born in Smith Co., TN.
S. R. Johnson was born c1834, and died March 17, 1897, at the age of 63. He was the son of John & Nancy Johnson. John Johnson was born November 29, 1798, VA; died 1880, Smith Co., TN; his wife, Nancy, was born December 17, 1803, NC; died October 10, 1870. S. R. Johnson married Mary Don [Bradford] c1855, undoubtedly in Smith Co., TN; however, a marriage record has not been found.
Mary Don [Bradford] was born August 10, 1839, and died August 3, 1917. She was the daughter of David Mann Bradford. David Mann Bradford was born March 5, 1805; died March 8, 1873. David’s father was James Bradford, purportedly born in 1788, Granville Co., NC,[1] and married Elizabeth [Rust] on July 2, 1803, Wake Co., NC. Bondsman: Charles Taylor. Wit: S. Turner[2]. James Bradford was purportedly the son of David Bradford and wife Elizabeth Mann.[3] James died in Smith Co., TN in c1813. According to Smith Co. court records, James Bradford’s 1813 estate, names his 3 children: David M. Bradford, Vincent Rust Bradford and Ann R. [Bradford] Thompson.
1850 US Census – Smith Co., TN – South Division, p. 742 <128/144>
[1 member of the household married within the year; 4 attended school; and 1 could not read or write.]
JOHNSON, John 55 VA Laborer $200 (Deaf)
, Nancy 45 VA
, Mary 21 TN
, John 18 “ Laborer
, Robberson 16
, Selana 14
, Samuel 10
1850 US Census – Smith Co., TN – South Division, p. 663 <47/144>
[4 members of the household attended school]
BRADFORD, David M. 45 NC Laborer $1,100
, Mary 51 NC
, James 26 TN Laborer
, William 23 “ “
, Manda 21
, David 19 TN Laborer
, Rebecca 13
, Mary 11
, Robert 14 *
, Elizabeth 11 *
*Probably nephew & niece
Amanda “Manda”
Bradford married Alexander A. Squires in Smith Co., TN on November 3, 1853; had
one child Mary G. Squires; and was widowed by 1860.
About 1855, Mary Don Bradford
married Shadrack Robert / Robberson “S. R.” Johnson.
1860 US Census – Smith Co., TN –
District 17 – New Middleton, p. 61 <15/26>
#411
JOHNSON, S. R. 26 TN /$1,460 Tenant
, Mary D. 20
, Nancy 4
, Mary E. 2
, Robert 6/12
p. 62 <16/26>
#417
JOHNSON, John 64 VA $6,000/$9,000 Farmer
, Nancy 57 NC
, John A. 28 TN Trader
, Samuel G. 18 “ @
school
, Ophelia 13 “
#418 , Judah (f) 34 /$600
, Mary E. 12 “
, Nancy G. 11 “
, Amanda F. 9
p. 50
<4/26>
#346
BRADFORD, D. M. 55 NC $3,200/$455 Farmer
, Mary 60 NC
, James 32 TN /$250 Stone Mason
SQUIRES, Amanda J. 30
“ /$175
BRADFORD, Robrt. V. 23 Laborer
, Rebecca 21
SQUIRES, Mary G.
3
1870 US Census – Smith Co., TN – District #17, New Middleton
p. 184 <23/30>
BRADFORD, Davy 65 NC $1,700/$820 Farmer
, Mary 70 NC
, Rebecca 30 TN
SQUIRES, Mandy 38 /$680
, Mary G. 13
BRADFORD, James 45
p. 21 <21/30>
#160
JOHNSON, John 74 VA $4,500/$10,406 Farmer
, Nancie 68 NC
, Mandy 20 TN
, Ofelia 24 “
, John A. 37 /$300 Farmer
p. 9 <9/30>
#70
JOHNSON, Robert 35 TN /$650 Farmer
, Mary D. 30
, Nannie 14
, Bettie 12
, Robert H. 10
, Sam 8
, Mary 6
, Jos. L. 4
, Lency (f) 2
, Davy Man 4/12
Sometime around 1872, Nannie [Johnson] became engaged to Alexander Samuel “Sam” Andrews of West Station, Holmes Co., MS. There was no kinship between the Johnson and the Andrews families, so the only possible explanation is that they met through attending school. Sam Andrews became a school teacher, and he had the financial means to “go away to school” for his education. Could he have attended the Teachers College in Carthage? Perhaps he had taken a job as a teacher at the New Middleton College in 1872, where Nannie was enrolled as a student. Difficult to say, but their engagement is evidenced by a letter, written by Nannie, age 19 in 1875, in which she speaks of their engagement for many years.
Alexander Samuel "Sam" Andrews was born on February 17, 1851, in West Station, Holmes County, Mississippi, son of Calvin J. Andrews and Mary Sharp [Martin] Andrews. Sam’s mother, Mary, inherited a great deal of real estate from her father, Alexander S. Martin in 1864; however, Mary died shortly thereafter, and A.S. Martin’s estate fell directly to her two children, Sam and daughter Margaret. Widower Calvin J. Andrews, was appointed Guardian over his two minor children and was ordered by the court in 1867 to sell two parcels on behalf of the two children, which brought $675.00, and presumably a portion was used for Sam’s higher education. Sam’s father died in c1869. In 1870, Sam Andrews was present in Holmes Co. during the taking of the census. No further record has been found for him until 1874, when he began selling off various parcels of Holmes Co., MS land, which he had inherited. His real estate sales continued until early 1875, bringing him a total of $1,435.
Nannie’s letter to her fiancé “Sammy”, was written from her home in New Middleton, Smith Co. It seems from the contents of her letter that mail took about two weeks for delivery to and from Holmes Co., MS. Her letter, in beautiful penmanship, illustrates that she was well educated and able to “vacation” in Putnam Co., TN.
July 28,
1875
New
Middleton
Mr Sammie Andrews
Dear Sammie,
How you do
scold when you cannot get letters from me every time you expect them. How is it
with me, do you suppose, when I wait six or eight weeks before I hear from
you? What do you think of the law of
retaliation? Ah! I can hear your reply to that now: "Quite pleasant - but I pretend to you
I am terribly grieved". Am I
right, Sam, or am I cruel? Cruel of
course. I am always cruel. But it is
not retaliation altogether. I have been
gone from home for sometime, started immediately after writing my last letter
to you. I received yours of June 25th,
while at Bloomington and would have answered then, but you said you would write
again soon, so I concluded to wait - as it was often hard to get letters
mailed. I did not receive yours of July
12th until I came home. I am at home
now looking better than I have in several months. My health has improved considerably. I think I will spend a portion of August up there. I enjoyed the trip thoroughly. Lodged with
the best, kindest people in the world:
had splendid water, an abundance of company, played croquet, took buggy
rides and evening walks. Oh! I enjoyed
myself exceedingly. Bloomington is in
Putnam Co., Tenn. about thirty miles east from here. Why did you ask if it was in Indiana?
I was very sorry to learn that you had been sick - at least I suppose
you were sick as you had been out of the house only twice in ten days. Now Sam, are you not ashamed of yourself for
treating me that way? Will not even
tell me when you are sick. If I would
not sympathize with you - pray who would?
You should not be so cross with me, Sam, even if I am a little
incredulous at times. Have I not a
right to disbelieve you in some things?
If you could deceive me in one instance, could you not deceive me
again? If I have caused you any pain, I
regret it and humbly ask your pardon, but I cannot believe that you would be
pained very much on account of receiving no letters from me, and when you offer
to release me from the engagement - something whispers: "He is tired." I firmly believe you are tired of our
engagement, and I offer you your freedom just as kindly as you offered me
mine. But unless you are tired, Sam,
you wrong me to offer to release
me - for who has been faithful these many years? I am not a fickle, heartless coquette (though by many I am
accused) yet, you have sufficient proof to the contrary. No!
not a coquette, but - when my affection is so slighted, when for many
days and weeks I am neglected - yea, almost forgotten, I then regret that any
engagement existed, for it's unpleasant to you to be bound to me for when you
care so little, and bitter indeed, to me to be neglected - so unloved by the
man to whom I am engaged. You say you
love me - how to prove it? Let me ask
you one question and then if you love me, you will know how to prove it. Have you proved by constant and affectionate
letters that I am tenderly loved and remembered by you? Have you fulfilled all your promises with
me? Do you love no one else as you do me? If I did, would I remain engaged to
you? I ask you the same question. Answer me truly. Goodbye Sam. I am not
tired myself, but if you are, I release you.
Yours,
Nannie
Nannie certainly knew how to “push his buttons”, because Sam soon made arrangements to move out of Mississippi, applied for a marriage license in Smith Co., TN on November 29th and their wedding took place the following day:
A marriage license granted in Smith Co., TN, shows:
A. S. Andrews to Nannie G. Johnson - issued: Nov. 29, 1875; executed: Nov. 30, 1875, by B. M. Stevens, Minister of the Gospel.
Sam and Nannie [Johnson] Andrews had one son, who died at birth on March 17, 1877. He was named “Allie S. Andrews”, and they buried him near her Grandfather David M. Bradford’s grave. David M. Bradford had died March 8, 1873. Tragically, Nannie died less than three weeks later, on April 3, 1877, and was buried beside their infant child in the “Bradford Cemetery” on Mulherrin Creek, New Middleton, Smith Co., TN. Photographs of the cemetery by John Waggoner have been published on the Smith Co., TN web page, with the descriptive location as “Dyer Branch on Paul Wade farm north of New Middleton”.[4]
[Photographed by, and
courtesy of, John Waggoner]
May 8, 2007
The gravestone differs from the published transcription[5], because it is one stone, and is inscribed:
NANNIE G.
JOHNSON
WIFE OF A. S. ANDREWS
JAN 15, 1856
APR 3, 1877
HER SON
ALLIE S.
MARCH 17, 1877
“The Christian Advocate”
newspaper of Nashville, TN, ran the following obituary in the Apri1 21, 1877, edition[6]:
“NANNIE G. ANDREWS born Jan. 15, 1856; died
April 3, 1877; married Alexander S. Andrews, Nov. 30, 1875; educated at New
Middleton College”.
Widower Sam Andrews was employed as a school teacher in Smith Co., TN, and in the 1880 Census was boarding with the Anderson family. Sam was mistakenly listed as “Andrews Anderson”:
1880 US Census – Smith Co., TN – 3rd
District – SD2; ED115;p.15 <14/14>
ANDERSON, Melia 54 (widow) Keeping House TN VA VA
, Mary E. 27 Single Dau TN Wales TN
, Sarah J. 22 “ “ “ “ “
, Catharine 20
, William J. 16 Son
, Martha F. 13 Dau
~ ~ , Andrews 30 Teacher MS GA MS
~ ~ , Oldham 24 Blacksmith TN TN TN
Sam courted and married Hattie Cornelia [Boulton]. A license for their marriage was issued in Smith Co. on July 30, 1882, by H. J. Perkins, Justice of the Peace. Hattie was the daughter of Napoleon B. Boulton and his wife, Lucy Jane [Williams], whose ancestries date back to the pre-1810 Smith Co. settlers. Whether coincidental to Sam’s meeting Hattie or not, Hattie’s Grandfather, Evan J. Williams, was living two doors away from David M. Bradford in the 1870 Census. In the 1880 census, Hattie’s maternal Great Aunt, Temperance [Whitley] Rowland, and maternal Great Grandmother, Mahala Whitley were living two doors away from S. R. Johnson.
In 1880, Mary Bradford, widow of David Mann Bradford, Sr., is shown in the Census living with David M. Bradford, Jr., his wife Mildred and children. Mary Bradford, age 82, was born in NC and stated her parents were born in NC. In the household were also daughter Rebecca A. Bradford, age 40; and son James R. Bradford, age 55. Their next-door neighbors were Edward Upton, Sr. (age 60 – b. TN Ireland NC), his wife Elizabeth, 60; and at the next house was Edward B. Upton, Jr., age 28, wife Mary G. [Squires] and mother-in-law Amanda [Bradford] Squires, age 50.
Also in District 17, 1880 was John Johnson, age 84, widower, born in VA and both parents were born in VA, living with his son John A. Johnson, age 47 and wife Fannie, 34, a teacher.
1880 US Census – Smith Co., TN – Civil Dist 19 – SD2;ED118;p 26-27 <2/12>
JOHNSON, Shadrac R. 45 TN VA NC Farmer
, Mary D. 40 TN VA VA
, Robert H. 20 TN TN TN Farm Laborer
, James S. 18 “ “ “ “ Att. School
, Mildred M. 15
, Joseph L. 14 Farm Labor Att. School
, Drucilla L. 12 “
, David M. 10
, Alexis S. 8
Leonidas T. 4
1900 US Census – Smith Co., TN – Civil Dist. 17 – SD4; ED105; p. 7B <12/27>
JOHNSON, Mary [portion of page is illegible]
, Robert “
, David son b. Feb 1868 32 single school teacher
, Lon “ June 1877 22 “ farm laborer
BRADFORD, Rebecca sister b. May 1832 68
In 1910, Mary Don [Bradford] Johnson was living with her son Leonidas “Lon” Johnson, 33, a farmer, who married Fannie in 1902. Widow Mary D. Johnson was age 70 and stated she had 4 children; 2 were still living.
Nannie G. [Johnson] Andrews’ parents are buried in the “Bradford-Johnson” cemetery:[7]
Johnson, May (sic) D. 10 Aug 1839 - 3 Aug 1917
"Loving wife a mother dear is buried here"
Johnson, S.R. Died 17 Mar 1897 age 63 years. (A Mason)
"An honest man is the noblest work of God."
Bradford, Rebecca A. 16 Jan 1836 - 1 June 1904
"I go to my reward follow me"
To summarize the ancestry of Nannie G. [Johnson] Andrews:
John Johnson: Born in Virginia. Although, the gravestone transcription gives his birth as November 29, 1798, and his death as 1890, the photograph taken of the gravestone by John Waggoner, clearly shows his birth as November 26, 1796; and his death date as December 9, 1880.
Wife Nancy [ ]Johnson, born in NC on December 17, 1803; d. October 10, 1870. Both are buried in the Johnson Cemtery #623, Dry Fork Road[8]
Their children were all born
in TN:
F. H. Johnson, b. 1826; d. 1851-1860 m. Juda [ ]
Mary Elizabeth Johnson, b. 1848
Nancy G. Johnson, b. 1849
Amanda F. Johnson, b. 1851 [Gdau lived with John & Nancy in 1870]
Mary Johnson, b. c1829
John A. Johnson, b. c1832. Occupation: Trader / Farmer
Shadrack Robert / Robberson Johnson, b. 1834; d. March 17, 1897
m. c 1855 to Mary Don [Bradford]
Selana A. “Sallie” Johnson, b. February 12, 1837; d. February 18, 1910
m. c1856 to William C. Bradford, b. July 16, 1827; d. April 13, 1914
Samuel G. Johnson, b. c1841
Ophelia Ann Johnson, b. November 2, 1846; d. December 23, 1884
m. December 23, 1874, to William H. “Buck” Moore, b. 1843
David Mann Bradford, b. March 5, 1805; d.
March 8, 1873
m. (wife #1 or #2?) Mary [ ] Bradford, b. February 25, 1797; d. July 27, 1890
at age 92y, 5m, 2d. Both are buried in the Bradford Cemetery #628, Mulherrin Creek, New Middleton, Smith Co., TN.[9]
**Note: When tracking David M. Bradford, Sr.’s children through the census years, I noticed that Amanda (1829), David, Jr. (1831) and Mary D. (1839) indicated their Mother had been born in Virginia. Mrs. Mary [ ] Bradford consistently stated in census years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 that she had been born in North Carolina. This discrepancy is particularly striking in 1880, when widow Mary Bradford is living in the household of David, Jr. and Mary is shown born in NC – yet, David’s information stated his mother was born in VA. It would seem, therefore, that whoever was giving the family’s information to the census taker knew that David’s biological mother was not Mary.
David Mann Bradford’s children were all born TN:
James R. Bradford, b. September 7, 1824; d. September 10, 1882
William C. Bradford, b. July 16, 1827; d. April 13, 1914
m. c1856 to Selena A. “Sallie” Johnson, b. February 12, 1837;
d. February 18, 1910
John D. Bradford, b. March 13, 1857; d. October 7, 1922
(?Manerva / Nancy G.?) Bradford, b. c1859
Margi Ann Bradford, b. c1862
James A. Bradford, b. c1866
George R. Bradford, b. c1868
Mary A. Bradford, b. c1871
Lafayette Bradford, b. c1873
Alice / Mattie Bradford, b. 1876
Fannie Bradford, b. June, 1879
Jennie Bradford, b. June, 1883
Amanda Bradford, b. 1829 / 1832
m. Alexander A. Squires
Mary Green [Squires], b. July 30, 1856; d. August 11, 1881
m. Edward B. Upton, Jr.
David M. Bradford, b. May 1, 1831; d. May 16, 1893
m. Mildred [ ], b. June 24, 1840; d. March 18, 1917
Rebecca A. Bradford, b. January 16, 1836; d. June 1, 1904
Mary Don Bradford, b. August 10, 1839; d. August 3, 1917
Shadrack Robert/Robberson “S. R.” Johnson, b.
1834; d. March 17, 1897. Married c1855
to:
Mary Don [Bradford] Johnson, b. August 10, 1839; d. August 3, 1917
Both are buried in the Bradford-Johnson Cemetery #636, Bradford Hill Rd., New Middleton, Smith Co., TN[10].
Their children were all born in TN:
Nancy G. “Nannie” Johnson, b. April 15, 1856; d. April 3, 1877
m. November 30, 1875 to Alexander Samuel Andrews, born
February 17, 1851; d. [unknown]
Allie S. Andrews, b. March 17, 1877; d. March17, 1877
Mary E. “Bettie” Johnson, b. 1858; d. September 23, 1888
m. J. H. Ballinger
Robert H. Johnson, b. November 11, 1859; d. June 3, 1938
m.[11] “R.
H. Johnson & Ella Gordon, December 24, 1882. H. J. Perkins,
J.P. Johnson, 23, a farmer, was
born and lives in Smith Co., TN.
Gordon,
21, was born in Leek (sic
Leake), Co., Mississippi; lives
in Stonewall,
Smith Co.,TN. Witnesses: James Johnson and Green Shepherd of
Stonewall, TN.”
m. c1905 #2 Sallie [ ], b. August 14, 1870; d. May 21, 1953
James Samuel Johnson, b. 1862
Mildred Mary Johnson, b. 1864
Joseph L. Johnson, b. 1866
Drucilla “Lency” Johnson, b. 1868
David Mann Johnson, b. 1870
Alexis S. Johnson, b. 1872
Leonidas T. “Lon” Johnson, b. June 1, 1876; d. December 19, 1931
m. Fannie [Baird], b. October 29, 1878; d. March 24, 1959,
daughter of William M. & Mary E. [James] Baird.