Nathan & Tarry

......

...

Nathan

was born a slave about 1825

on Roselawn Plantation

near Fowlstown Decatur County Georgia

The Plantation was owned by

John Donalson Sr. and Lady Agnes Peel Donalson

The Donalson Clan

originated out of Ulster County in Ireland

John Donalson Sr. and Wife were born and married

in Burke County Georgia.

They then moved to Pulaski County Georgia

onto their first Plantation

in District Nr. 5

and recorded unmentioned land properties

and 18 slaves.

Around 1820 they moved to

Roselawn Plantation

in Decatur County Georgia

were they listed as the largest Tax payer

with 55 slaves

When John Donalson Sr. passed

his last will was probated in Decatur County Georgia in 1828.

He equally divided his estate among

his wife and children.

All 55 slaves are named on the document.

According to his last testimony

his second youngest son James Meldrim Donalson,

which was not grown yet and lived with mother on the homestead plantation,

received besides several properties

the following Negroes

Sesh, Cond, Coty, Nathan, Hannieb, Mitchell

as well as Lucindy and Amos

...

source

1850 Slave Census for Decatur County Georgia

listing for James Meldrim Donalson

...

source

Last Testimony probated 1828 Decatur County Georgia

Will of John Donalson Sr. probated 1828 Decatur County, Georgia

Sometime around 1850 Nathan came to Florida

onto the Farm of Samuel C. White,

an early settler and possible doctor, who purchased lands in

Leon County and Wakulla County.

He was placed among the other slaves on

S.C.White's Plantation.

On the 1850 Slave Schedule for Leon County, Florida

is a listing of a male Slave in the appropriate age

as fugitive to state

under Samuel C. White.

Samuel C. White passed during the
Civil War and Nathan became the Sharecropper for his widow

on the property in Wakulla County.

After Samuel C. White and his wife SarahJane had passed,

a written agreement in their Papers stated that the 160 acres of Land in Wakulla County, Florida will go to Nathan for a total sum of 320 Dollars.

Dispite the aera and hardship of the time

Nathan was able to give the amount in 3 seperate annual installments.

The last installment was paid to the late

SarahJane White's Executor.

Deeded and Recorded

Wakulla County Court House in 1876.

By 1885

his Farm Value was reported as 450 Dollars.

By 1897

Nathan purchased 3 additional land lots at Dickerson Bay.

Today part of the original 160 acres

is owned by me and my wife.

.....

...

Source

from the Samual C. White papers

.

Florida State Archives

Record Group Number: 900000

Series/Collection Number: M79- 185

Creator: White, Samuel C., 1803-1863

Title: Papers, 1830-1890.

Amount: 25.00 item

The following is a transcription of a handwritten obituary, one of the papers of Samuel C. White.

Transcribed by Robert D. Smith, 1/22/2003

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Mr. Samuel C. White was born Nov. 15th 1803 & died Feb. 20, 1863.

Mr. White was converted & joined the Baptist church in the year 1855 from which time until the day of his death, he lived a faithful & devoted Christian. It was not his privilege to leave behind him in his last moments, any evidence of final victory, neither was it necessary to conform his friends in the opinion that his was a safe & glorious transit. His uniform Christian character was all they needed to satisfy their minds, that "their loss was his eternal gain". A day is two, however before his death while "reasoned of enthronement" his mind dwelt on things above. While in very great pain, he called the writer of this to his bedside, & remarked, that while we were awaiting the action of remedies, there was something else could be done. Asked that I should read a chapter & lead in prayer. And although in great pain he seemed almost to forget his suffering while he wrestled at the throne of grace.

If he had an enemy I do not know it. He was in every respect a Christian gentleman & the whole community laments his loss.

As a father and husband he was exceedingly kind & affectionate. As a master humane & indulgent. May his children emulate his example & meet him in the Better Land.

A friend