Martin Mothers Part I - Rebecca Martha Ann “Becky” Shadinger Martin, Her Female Ancestors and Their Husbands

Rebecca Martin (1855-1936) was a charter member of the Rebecca Martin Club of Stripling Chapel Methodist Church, Carroll Co, GA which was named in her honor. She was a widow for about 22 years before her death. I have been told that she took care of sick folks, running what today might be called a personal care home but I would appreciate documentation and remembrances you may share about her.

My daddy, George Marvin “Marvin” Martin son of Cliff, recalled his Grandma Becky very fondly although he was only about 15 when she died. He wrote “Becky was one of the most pleasant ladies I have ever known. She seemed always to smile, to enjoy life and the people around her. Never, to my knowledge, did she say one unkind word against anyone. I only know of her attitude toward grandchildren. She fed us well and turned us loose to play. She had a flair for soothing hurt knees and hurt feelings. I never heard her say no or don’t to any grandchild. She somehow managed to come up with a more interesting alternative activity. Without realizing it, we always switched our plan to coincide with what she wanted us to do.

We knew she loved each one of us for being a special individual, which was amazing considering there were so many of us. She baked piles of huge teacakes for us and kept a cool jug of a mixture of homegrown cider and grape juice dangling in the well. I guess that the greatest compliment I can give Grandma was that when we were children she let us be children.

…In Grandma Becky’s eyes danced a sense of laughter and to this day I can see that same sparkle in those children, most of whom are gone.”

…In retrospect, I am not surprised that my brother named his only daughter after Grandma Becky. Using Becky’s middle names, I dubbed my youngest daughter Martha Ann.

…How sad it is that in one more generation, no one will remember these grand old ladies (speaking of both the writer’s grandmothers). They were so much a part of a certain time, a time of fundamentals: hard work, the strength of the home and loving hearts.”

It is in honor of Rebecca Shadinger Martin that this reunion started as a birthday celebration in August sometime prior to 1932 at Grandma Becky’s home. Relatives and friends would come from all around. There were over 250 in attendance with many young cousins. The furniture was pushed back and quilts were laid out on the floor with boys in one room and girls in another. Thyra Martin Alexander remembers one of the games was a paper trail laid out through the woods using small pieces of paper. She couldn’t understand why that activity was for boys only. And there was plenty of food including barbeque and Brunswick stew cooked all night by the men folk.

Tracing the female line is more difficult than the male because of the surname changes. Maiden names often are not recorded. So it is with Grandma Becky’s mother’s mother, etc. Here is all I have.

France Ellen “Ellen” Jones (1828-1909) married John C Shadinger (1826-1915). Rebecca Martha Ann Shadinger Martin was the 4th of their 9 children.

Mary Westbrook (1804-?) and Tignal Jones (1801-?) were the parents of Ellen Jones Shadinger. That’s all I have. Please share any information with me.

We have a bit more about the wives of the fathers of Becky Shadinger Martin.

Elizabeth Mitchell (1809-1871) was the wife of Andrew Shadinger (born about 1802 to 1804-died 1831). They were parents of Becky’s father John C Shadinger. By age 22 Elizabeth was a widow with 3 children when her husband Andrew Shadinger was out cutting wood. The wind blew a tree over on him and killed him in 1831. She married Willis Jones about a year later. There were no children together and Willis is believed to have died around the 1850’s in Coweta County.

In about 1857 Elizabeth and her son John bought 202 1/2 acres on what is now Hwy 27 South, Carroll Co GA. Elizabeth Mitchell Shadinger Jones was living as widow in Carroll Co., GA in 1860; her real estate was valued at $3,000 and her personal estate was worth $9,600, which means that she was a fairly wealthy widow for her time. Her 2 younger children died before her. Daughter Mary died at a young age and son William died leaving 3 daughters, mentioned in Elizabeth’s will. Because his brother had no sons who lived to maturity (his only son William Jr. died young), most all Shadingers in GA descend from John. They hold an annual reunion the last Sunday in July at the home church in Carroll Co.

Elizabeth lived near John, her oldest son, in Carroll Co., GA and got to see all of his children before she died there in 1872. A grave marker has not been found for her. She was affiliated with the Primitive Baptist Church at Old Emmaus as were her older brothers, James and Hardy Mitchell.

Mary Ann “Polly” Avera (1770-1810) and Henry Mitchell (1767-1843) were parents of Elizabeth Mitchell Shadinger Jones. Polly was born in Johnson Co, NC and buried at Smith's Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Chester Co, SC along with Henry who was born in VA.

Anna Fail (1747-?) and Jacob Avera (1744-1807) were Polly Avera Mitchell’s parents.

And that’s it for Part I of our Martin Mothers. If you have more information please share with me. Photos would be especially nice.