Z. L. (Zachariah Lindsey) b. 22 April 1822, NC; d. 20 February 1892-Murray Co, GA; married 1849/50 to Dicy Jane Bryant b. 3 July 1826, McMinn Co, TN; d. ____ Murray Co, GA. She was the youngest daughter of John Wellington Bryant (1772, NC-1846, TN) and Mary Jane Morris

(1780, NC-1854, GA). Z. L. is buried Calvary Cemetery, Murray Co, GA. A smaller tombstone is next to his, but there are no inscriptions on that stone-Dicy Jane's (?).

He was apprenticed to Sylvester Blackwell in October 1838 when his mother died.

1840 Census-Polk Co, TN living with the Blackwells; age 17/18. Occupation-three males are listed in Agriculture.

1850 Census-Roane Co, TN; Zachary L., 27 yrs, carpenter, married within the year, birthplace, NC; wife Disy J., 24 yrs, birthplace, TN, married within the year.

Z. L. Williams received $30.00 on 21 December 1854 and $10.00 on the 19 October 1855 as final payments on his mother's estate.

1860 Census-Murray Co., GA, Dist. #874; Z. L., 37 yrs, farmer, real estate value, $2,500, personal estate value, $400, born, NC; Post Office, Upper Kings Bridge; with wife and children.

1870 Census-Murray Co, GA, Tenth Dist. #874; Zacariah, 50 yrs, farmer, real estate value, $3,500 personal estate, $800, born, NC; with wife and children.

1880 Census-Murray Co, GA, Tenth Dist. #874; Zachariah, 59 yrs, farmer, born, NC, father birthplace, unknown, mother birthplace, NC with wife and children.

Z. L. Williams was listed in the "Murray Home Guards" Capt. Bond's Co, Cav. State Guards.

(Source: Murray County Men Who Served in the Confederate Army Complied by Bobby Mosteller & Herman McDaniel)

Their farm was located in Murray Co, GA; Tenth District, #874 in the Beaverdale Community in the northwest part of the county next to the Conasauga River.

The children of Z. L. and Dicy Jane Bryant Williams were:

1. Rufus Wellington, 16 Dec. 1851, TN

2. Margaret Josephine, 2 Jan 1854, TN

3. Mary Jane, 7 Feb 1855, Murray Co, GA

4. Nancy Agusta, 28 Sept 1858, Murray Co, GA

5. William Lindsey, 5 Aug 1860, Murray Co, GA

6. Martha Elizabeth, 2 Feb 1863, Murray Co, GA

7. Lilyan, 5 Oct 1866, Murray Co, GA

8. George Calvin, 3 Aug 1868, Murray Co, GA

9. Estella "Stella", 18 May 1873, Murray Co, GA

The middle names and birthdates were in a letter written by Susan Howard in 1980 to the Whitfield Murray Historical Society. She is/was the gr-granddaughter of Stella Williams (youngest daughter) and also wrote the following story:

"According to family stories, Zachariah Lindsay came from TN with his sister Betsy. They were orphans, raised but not adopted by a foster family who gave Z. L. a horse and a slave on his 18th birthday and turned both children out. He sold the slave and used the money to buy a farm near Dalton. He was also said to be an architect and designed the old courthouse in Dalton among other buildings. He died Feb 29, 1892 and is buried, I suppose, in the Dalton cemetery. In 1894, Stella Williams left Dalton with her mother to be married. I far as I know, she never returned."

The following is the oral history with [sources] of Z. L. Williams as told to Carolyn Z. Luffman.

* "Grandpa (Z. L.) Williams remembered coming across the "big" mountain from NC to TN. Harley (a brother) went to Texas and came back to GA for a visit. Grandma Williams (Dicy Jane) would not let him in the house because he was a stranger. He waited around until Grandpa (Z. L.) came in from the field and he (Z. L.) told Grandma who he (William H.) was. She felt very badly about not recognizing him" [Rosie Ann Henry, Williams' gr-granddaughter]

* "Grandpa (Z. L.) was a carpenter. Mother (Daisy Henry) has a "pie safe" cupboard with punch tin made by him. Uncle Noel Swinney said, as he sat on Daddy's (Dane Henry) front porch that, "Grandpa Williams was bounded out to an Indian who owned the Savannah Farm. One of his sisters (Arrena) was bounded out to the same person. Grandpa learned the carpenter trade while living on the farm. When he was 21 years old, he was given a horse, sum of money, and a suit of clothes. He came through Bradley Co, TN to Murray Co, GA. Grandpa went to work for Joseph John Bryant. Grandpa's sister, Arrena, had married James A. Bryant, brother of Joseph John Bryant. Grandpa met Joseph John's youngest sister, Dicy Jane Bryant and married her." "Mame" Langford Henry, Daddy's (Dane Henry) stepmother, said, "Grandpa (Z. L.) learned the carpenter trade at the Savannah Farm. He bought a farm (the "Hill place"). The first year they (Z. L. & Dicy) were married, they built a corncrib and lived in it all winter, until he could get a house built. They were "up in years" when they died." "Carey Hix now has the corn crib (bought it from Bruce Hill). The "house" was used as a pig house or it was in the pig pen area. It has since been destroyed-torn down." [Martha Rhea Henry Young, William's gr-granddaughter]

Carolyn Z. Luffman
2010

Murray County Families