I am descended from John Camp married to Mary Tarpley through
their son James married to Mary Berry, through their son "Big-Head
John" married to Winifred Mattox (or Maddox) through their son
James Seaborn and his second wife Elizabeth (Sissilla) Parrish,
through their son John Thomas married to Martha Jane Duke,
through their son William Robert married to Mary Savannah Garner
through my dad, James Irvan Camp married to Virginia Brewer.
I think that one of the amazing things about the artifacts found in
the suitcase is that in some cases what we thought was accepted
fact may be a bit different. For example, John couldn't have written
a will in 1818 if he died in 1813. Could the date have just been
written incorrectly when whomever first came up with that date?
Where did the date 1813 come from? Someone on this list has
a letter written by a grandson of John telling someone that he
witnessed the burial of John is Georgia, not SC as assumed.
Would whomever has the letter transcribe it for the list and
Jennifer?
The will written in 1818 clearly states John wants his wife "Marey"
provided
for when Mary Tarpley Camp was supposed to have died earlier and
buried in the older
cemetery at what is now Lebanon Methodist Church near Princeton, SC
prior to
John's coming to Georgia with his sons. I would think that this
gives at least
some thought that he married for a second time.
It is far too easy to just maintain the status quo. Years ago when I
first began researching I went to Williamsburg to see the famous
Bruton Parrish Bell given by James Tarpley. Something just didn't
"feel" right about it. Not knowing any better, I went over to the
College
of William and Mary and did some very simple research and discovered
that not only did THAT James Tarpley, but also his two brother died
without issue, leaving their mother their estates, including James
Tarpley's
store. We could hardly be descended from any one without children.
I took what I found over to the proprietor of Tarpley's store and was
totally shot down because they had a "computer printout" telling them
that Camps descended from THAT James Tarpley. It was then a
simple matter to find our James Tarpley some miles away at North
Farnham Church Parrish with the dates of baptisms, deaths and
marriages that coincided with those of our Tarpleys. Still, I have no
first hand proof that THOSE Tarpleys are ours, it is just accepted.
If I am going to spend a lot of time, money and effort to research my
family,
I want it to be the truth, not fiction. While there will always be an
element of speculation, I at least want to be open to other proof,
especially
that which Jennifer has - some pretty spectacular first hand evidence.
Jennifer can far better tell you what she needs than I. I do know
she would
like some information on some early settlers of Walton County who
were very involved in the lives of the Camp family.
Annie, I don't have any information on your William. I was so
overwhelmed
with all Jennifer has, I am not certain of the connection of any
except my
direct line.
Jennifer has indexed all names and your William is not listed. I
suppose
that the best way to help Jennifer is if you have ancestors descended
from this John Camp and family in Georgia, Alabama and Texas
is to contact her through this list.
I hope I am not coming across as condescending. It is so difficult for
me to communicate without facial, hand gestures and voice inflection!
I am just overwhelmingly grateful to what Jennifer has done and is
continuing to do for researching our family. It has made me really
appreciate how tenuous our hold to true records of the past is.
BLESSINGS!
Carole
On Mar 30, 2008, at 4:44 PM, Larry and Elaine Blackman wrote:
The "Marey" spelling of his widow can be a variant spelling
of Mary
just as
it was stated that Anneyomey was a variant spelling of Annie Naomi
CAMP
HILL, my ancestress.
Thank you so much for this added information.
Lending a hand in what way? I'd be glad to help if I could.
What is your lineage because I don't have you in my dbs that I can
find.
Also, I had Merit CAMP listed as Merritt CAMP, so others might have
his
listed that way, also.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carole Johnson" <ammcj(a)bellsouth.net>
To: <camp(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: 03/30/2008 1:39 PM
Subject: [CAMP] Jennifer's suitcase
> Hello everyone,
>
> I don't know how many have read the emails from Jennifer about the
> suitcase that is in her possession, but PLEASE continue to read
> this even if you don't think it pertains to your Camp line.
>
> My brother, Joe Camp, and I had the very good fortune to take
> advantage
> of Jennifer's hospitality and visit her on Friday. The scope
> of the material in the suitcase is unbelievable - and the
> quantity - 3,000 items all together.
>
> Among the items - The 1818 unrecorded will of John
> Camp who was married to Mary Tarpley. There is much
> speculation about him - including now his death date.
> It has been recorded (although I've never seen the source)
> that he died in 1813, yet here is his will listing children
> written in 1818. He also refers to his wife "Marey", so
> he must have remarried after the death of Mary Tarpley Camp.
> That I actually held this document in my hands was
> an unspeakable moment.
>
> Also in the suitcase is an affidavit from Anneyomey Camp
> Hill, also known as Annie Naomi, daughter of the above
> John Camp and Mary Tarpley Camp. In it she swears
> to the names of her brother James and his children.
> She was 87 at the time of the affidavit.
>
> Of much interest to me are items related to my ancestor
> "Big-Head" John, grandson of the above John. My "Big-Head"
> was pretty much impatient and arrogant having rushed
> to judgement in settling his nephew's estate and selling
> off his property (including slaves) and distributing the
> proceeds to the heirs (including himself) without due
> authorization. This created a rife among his coexecutor
> and brother, Robert Berry Camp, that continued the
> rest of their lives. There is a hand-written, angry letter
> from my "Big-Head" to his brother Robert dated October
> 1857. This was no doubt what led "Big-Head" to move
> to Texas pre Civil War.
>
> There is so much more in the suitcase - land records,
> letters, tax receipts, lawsuit information apparently all
> collected by Merit Camp who was born in 1813 and
> died in 1883.
>
> That Jennifer has spent the past four years of her life
> sorting, copying, transcribing and organizing this wealth
> of information is mind boggling. That this information
> exists at all is miraculous and in the pristine condition
> it is in - and so much in one location unbelievable.
>
> Jennifer is applying for a grant to publish all of the information
> in the suitcase, but to do so must research every name,
> place, etc to qualify for the grant. SHE NEEDS OUR HELP
> to research and help her with this huge task. She is not
> directly related to our Camps, but her husband is and
> therefore HAS EVERY RIGHT TO THE ITEMS IN THE
> SUITCASE - so please do not hassle her
> about ownership. The suitcase was in the possession
> of Jennifer's mother-in-law (a Camp descendant) and
> she requested her son to take care of the suitcase, which
> he has.
>
> Jennifer has indexed every name mentioned in any
> document in the suitcase. Much is the history of Gwinnett
> and Walton Counties and she needs help with those
> who were living there and the many other locations.
>
> This has the potential of being one of the best written and
> best documented genealogy books ever done. For
> Jennifer this has been an unselfish act of love. She
> has the intelligence, skill and devotion to see this through.
>
> If you have family in John Camp's line or Camp's
> in Georgia, Alabama and Texas, please consider
> lending Jennifer a hand.
>
> BLESSINGS!
> Carole Camp Johnson
>
> -------------------------------
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