Our Ancestors Knew Each Other

Dear Grandparents,
This will come as no surprise to you but we do not often think that our friends and relations may have known each other. One of my volunteer positions is as Registrar for my National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter. I'm sure my grandmother, Grace Colby Werst Branchflower, has been very pleased that I've proved our ancestry to her Patriot Evert Van Epps (and I have supplemental applications pending on many of the rest of you). As Registrar, I help others research their ancestors and submit their applications.

This week I've been helping one of our new members, Kay Pontious, delve further into her Patriot Jonathan Taylor's role in the American Revolution. He's one of the Patriots who applied for and received a pension and after his death his widow was also granted a pension. His is an interesting case. He enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons, Virginia Line in Cumberland, Virginia.
He fought in New Jersey. He settled in the Edgefield District in South Carolina and then his widow and family moved on to Walton County, Georgia.

Now Jonathan Taylor's story is not really mine to tell but in reading the pages of his and his wife's pensions over the phone to Kay, I came across a name that is in our family tree. Robert Milner Echol's is my son-in-law Chris' 4th great grandfather.

Robert Milner Echols
18 Mar 1798 - 3 Dec 1847
Photo from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7190349/robert-milner-echols add by Terry Echols.

Robert Milner Echols was born in Wilkes County, Georgia but soon settled in Walton, County not far from Monroe. He served in the Georgia General Assembly and also the Georgia Senate where he was three times elected president of that body. He also served as a judge in Walton County. It is in his capacity as judge that I found his name in Jonathan Taylor's pension.

Document from the Pension file for Jonathan Taylor of Virginia
https://www.fold3.com/image/18461544

The best thing about finding this signature is that on a following page in the document, Jesse Mitchell, Clerk of the Inferior Court, attests to the signatures. So, we know that Chris' family and Kay's family had contact with each other. Small world isn't it.

Love,
Ceciy

For family members: The descent from Robert Milner Echols
Robert Milner Echols married Mary "Polly" Melton (her brother Eliel Melton died at the Alamo)
Mary Ann Tabitha Echols married James Troup Scott
France Ella "Fannie" Scott married George Washington Outlaw
Bertha Outlaw married George William Cunningham
Geraldine Louise Cunningham married Charlie Campbell Black - Chris' Grandparents
Which makes makes Robert Echols my grandchildrens' fifth great-grtandfather.