John H. Manderson
In the posted abstract of his will, John H. Manderson mentions Lewis Bond and in another abstract that I saw it indicates that Lewis was to be his executor. In his “final” will, dated 14 Feb 1825 in Wilkinson County GA (which I read from microfilm at Georgia Archives in Atlanta but neglected to copy), John wrote about 3 pages, describing in detail who was to get what when he died. On 15 Dec 1826 in Baldwin County, Lewis Bond swore that he had witnessed the writing of the will and it seems that it was probated at that time.
The 1820 census for Wilkinson County GA finds the Mandersons and Bonds as nearby neighbors, with only one farm (or plantation) between them. Since the executor of an estate is normally a very close friend or relative, I’m wondering if there is some family relationship here. Possibilities are: Lewis Bond’s wife Jane (maiden name unknown) might have been an older daughter, niece, sister or cousin of John or, Lewis’s mother might have been a Manderson (sister, aunt or cousin to John?).
My interest in all of this is that Lewis Bond was the fourth great grandfather of my kids, through their mother’s side. I believe, although I have no concrete proof, that he may have also migrated to GA from SC. Somewhere along the way, Lewis evidently came into a bunch of money, since he had 300+ slaves in 1820 and his son Joseph was one of the wealthiest cotton planters in GA in the 1850s.
If anyone has more information on John in GA, SC or Scotland or anything to connect him to the Bond family, I’d really like to hear from you.
Ernie Hurst
Norcross, GA