By Spessard Stone
Silas Wood was born ca. 1790. On 4 December 1809, Silas married Rhoda Prudence Chapman, born ca. 1795 in Georgia. In a memorial to Congress by citizens of Jackson County, to "renumerate the early settlers in the county," dated November 1824, Silas Wood was a signer. Silas Wood was listed as a head of household in the 1825 census of Jackson County. Enumerated with him were 3 males under 21, 1 female over 21, 2 females under 21, and 2 blacks.
On 12 November 1835, Silas made the following will:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Silas Wood of Jackson County in the Territory of Florida, being in perfect health of body, and of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, Considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs, and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my last Will & testament, in manner and form following; that is to say:____________
"First and principally, I commit my Soul into the hands of the Almighty God, and my body to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named, and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows:____________
"I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Rhoda Prudence for the space of her natural life three negroes, named Jane, Ben and Maria, and one her death, I give and bequeath the same to my Son Almerine Jackson Wood his heirs & assign____________
"I further give, divide and bequeath to my Said Son Almerine Jackson Wood all my real estate, and all interests I may have in any lands whatsoever:____________
"I give and bequeath to my daughter Artimacy Emeline Wood a negro girl name Matilda____________
"I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Elisa Prudence Stone a mulatto girl named Sucinda____________
"I devise and bequeath all the rest and residue of my personal estate to my Son Almerine J. Wood, and my daughter Artimacy E. Wood, Said property consisting principally of horses, cattle and hogs____________
"And Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my Son Almerine J. Wood to be sole Executor of this my last Will and testament, revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this, and none other to be my last Will and testament____________
"In testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my seal this 12th day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & thirty five-
[signed] Silas Wood
"Signed, sealed published and declared
by Silas Wood the above named testator as
and for his last will and testament in the presence of us,
who at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of
each other, have subscribed our names as entrustees hereto."
"this 12 day of November 1835
"Sears Bryan
"Amos [?]
"Danl Ferguson
The will of Silas Wood was filed and recorded in the clerk's office of Jackson County, Book F, pages 449 & 450.
Silas Wood appeared on a number of early Florida documents. In a petition to Congress, dated January 1831, "to establish an arsenal at some eligible place in case of invasion ...location town of Ocheesee," Silas Wood was among the signers. On 13 February 1834 the governor's appointments for Jackson County included Justice of the Peace, Silas Wood. In a memorial to Congress seeking statehood, postmarked 9 July 1842, Jackson County, S. Wood and A. J. Wood were signers. The 1842 document was the last that this researcher was able to find Silas.
Rhoda, age 55, was enumerated with her son Almerine J. Wood in the 1850 census of Calhoun County, Florida. Rhoda Wood probably died in the 1850s.
Silas and Rhoda (Chapman) Wood had the following known children:
1. Almerine Jackson Wood, born ca. 1814, Ga.; married Mary Ann ______.
The 1850 census of Calhoun County, Florida, dated “7th day of November 1850,” enumerated:
129 129 Almerin P. Wood, 36, M, $4000, Farmer, Georgia
Mary Ann Wood, 25, F, Georgia
Silas Wood, 8, M, Florida
Almerin P. Wood, 6, M, Florida
Jesse Wood, 2, M, Florida
Rhoda P. Wood, 55, F, Georgia
Lawrence Bolinger 27 [21?], M, Tenesu
Eliza Stone, 15, F, Florida [Daughter of Isaac Hugh Stone] James W. Bozeman, 21, M, Georgia, Phisitian
2. Caroline Wood, born ca. 1816; died ca. 1839; married about 1834, probably in Jackson County, Florida, Isaac Hugh Stone.
3. Artimacy Emeline Wood, born ca. 1822; died after 1886, Altha, Calhoun Co., Fla.; married (1) ca. 1841 Sheppard Henry Stone, div.; (2) George W. Davis; (3) ______ Harris.
Artimacy Emeline Wood, daughter of Silas Wood and Rhoda Prudence (Chapman) Wood, was born ca. 1822, Alabama (per 1860 census); died after 1886, Altha, Calhoun Co., Fla.; married (1) ca. 1841 Sheppard Henry Stone, div.; (2) George W. Davis; (3) ______ Harris.
Artimacy's first husband, Sheppard Henry Stone, son of Henry D. Stone and Elizabeth (Hansford) Stone, was born ca. 1823, Mobile, Montgomery County, Alabama; died ca. 1889, Forsyth, Monroe County, Georgia. They divorced.
Artimacy's second husband was George W. Davis. The 1860 census of Jackson County, Florida, dated "13th day of June 1860, Post Office Marianna, Fla.," listed in household 139/139 Emiline Davis, 28; Farmer; value of real estate $1500, value of personal estate, $3500; place of birth, Alabama; Henry S. Stone, 17, born Florida; Emily, 12, born Florida; Georgia, 12, born Alabama; Ann E. Davis, 4, born Florida; Infant unnamed (male), 1/12, born Florida.
Issue of Artimacy E. (Wood) and (1) Sheppard Henry Stone:
1. Henry Sheppard Stone, born 4 Jan 1844, Chipola, Jackson Co., Fla.; died 15 Jan 1903, Altha, Fla.; married (1) 1865, Martha Ann Elizabeth Hansford, born 10 Apr 1846, Georgia; died 12 May 1885, Chipola; (2) 13 Jun 1885 in Jackson Co., Fla. Millie Musgrove, born Apr 1870, Florida. Henry and Martha are buried in Chipola Cemetery, Altha, Fla.
2. Mary O. Stone, born 14 Jun 1846; died 19 Feb 1940; buried Mt. Olive Cemetery, Altha, Fla.; married in Calhoun Co., Fla. 4 Mar 1866 Isham Hagan.
3. Emily E. Stone, born 4 Jan 1849; died 2 Nov 1929; married in Jackson Co., Fla. 10 Aug 1864 John Larkin Belle.
4. Georgia Alabama Stone, born 7 Oct 1851(?); died 7 Jun 1943; married in Calhoun Co., Fla. 1 Jul 1867 George Lundy Hansford, born 15 Dec 1848; died 18 Nov 1926. Her date of birth probably is in error as her father Sheppard Henry Stone married (2) 24 Oct 1850 in Monroe County, Georgia, Julia H. Rogers.
Issue of Artimacy E. (Wood) and George W. Davis:
5. Ann Davis, born ca. 1856.
6. Charles W. Davis, born 1860.
Herewith follows George W. Davis' post nuptial deed to Artemissa [as here spelled] Emeline Wood Stone Davis:
State of Florida Whereas at the time of my intermarriage with Artemissa Emeline
Couunty of Jackson Stone, she was possessed of & owned in her own right certain
slaves hereafter named, and whereas by the laws of the State of Florida, where we
lived at the timeof our said marriage, the title to said slaves was secured to the said
Artemissa Emeline, and whereas there has been a neglect to record said property or an
inventory thereof in these six months after said marriage whereby it is contended that
the same is subject to my debts, and whereas I am now comparatively out of debt
and owe nothing but what I can readily pay out of and with my own property
which is more than sufficient for said purpose, Now therefore in consideration of the
promises, and of the love and affection which I have and bear towards my said wife and
of the sum of ten Dollars to one in my hand paid by my said wife and the receipt whereof
hereby acknowledge do grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm unto the said Artemissa Emeline
Davis all my rights title claim and interest in and to the following slaves, namely, Matilda
aged about thirty seven years, Wiley aged about twenty years, Antonete aged about seventeen years,
Seurs aged about fourteen years, Adelia aged about ten years, Ann aged about seven years,
Lemon aged about four years, Philip aged about nineteen years, as also the children of the said
female slaves born since said marriage and the future increase of the said female slaves
to have and to hold and slaves their future increase unto the said Artemissa Emeline
Davis and her children by her first marriage and those born and to be born of her marriage
with me.
And I do hereby covenant with the said Artemissa E. Davis that I, my heirs, execu-
tors and Administrators shall not and will, not interfere with, intermeddle, or have
any interest, right or title either in law or equity in or to any part of said property, but that
the same with the rents issues and profits therof and future increase therof shall be held
used and enjoyed by her as a separate and distinct estate of and from the estate owned by me,
and be in no mode or measure subject to my disposal or to the payments of my debts but
that the said property with the profits hereafter to be made, and the future increase thereof all
of which is intended to be secured to her as her separate estate, shall be received employed and
disposed of her during her overtime in the same manner as if she were a feme sole, and then
aat her death the same shall belong to the children of the said Artemissa Emeline by her
first marriage and those born and to be born of her marriage with me,
And I the said George W. Davis for myself, my heirs, and administrators
the aforesaid property unto the said Artemissa Emaline and her said children shall and
will warrants and by by these presnets forever defend.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the twenty eighth
day of December A.D. 1857.
Signed Sealed & delivered
in the presence of us
1 Wm Powers
2 Charles F. Britton
State of Florida Before me John W. Poser Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said
Jackson County County, personally came Wm Powers who being duly sworn deposeth
and say that he saw Geo W. Davis sign and seal the above deed of gift for the uses
and purposes therein mentioned & that he with Charles F Britton signed the same as witnesses
each in the presence of the other
Sworn & subscribed before me Wm Powers
this 30th day of January A.D. 1858
John W. Pooser, Clerk
State of Florida I John W. Pooser Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County
Jackson County do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original deed
as presented to me for record and recorded this 1st day of February A.D. 1858,
Acknowledgment: This appendix was largely derived from documents provided by Dewey Edward Stone.
September 29, 2001.