In Memoriam: Martha Elrod Ghee (1850 - 1938)

 

Martha Elrod Ghee

Born:  December 12, 1850

Died:  March 20, 1938

Member of the Union Ridge Baptist Church for 69 years.

Predeceased by Husband and two daughters

John Wesley Ghee (1907)

Tennie Ghee Crowder (1923)

Susan Hettie Ghee Sanders (1919)

Survivors:

Daughters:

Lula Florence Ghee Clinard

Cora Lee Ghee Thomason

Sarah Ghee Phillips

Denna Ellen Ghee Smotherman

Sons:

James Albert Ghee

John William Ghee

Ed Ghee

Thom Robert Ghee

Lonzo Lawson "Sam" Ghee

Clifton S. Ghee

67 grandchildren and 70 great grandchildren.

Sources:

Baptist and Reflector, June 23, 1938, p 16. col 3; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-mrs-martha-elrod/205406413/ : accessed September 6, 2026), clip page for Mrs. Martha ELrod Ghee--Obit.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18809657/martha-ghee: accessed 6 Sep 2026), memorial page for Martha Elrod Ghee (12 Dec 1850–20 Mar 1938),  Memorial ID 18809657, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

Wm C Cook Bedford Co. TN District 10(1846)

FamilySearch had an experimental search of the United States Wills and Deeds that they were testing some weeks back.  I hope that they will make that available again soon even if it is just the search portion and not the transcription.  While it was live I found a number of items quickly that it would have taken me months and even years to find without access to this type of search. Not knowing how long the search would be available, I collected my results in a Google Doc.   

One of the great finds was a Deed with Nathan Jackson selling 42 acres to Absalom Power in 1846. The land was located in Bedford Co TN District 10 and its description list the neighbors.

Bounded as follows
On the East by Wm C Cook
On the South by Ivy Phillips
On the West by John Scott
On the North by Samuel Jackson.

I've been having issues with the regular search at FamilySearch for awhile now and this one(while experimental) was more productive in it's time live, than the regular search function at FamilySearch has been in a long time.  This tool would be a real time saver for researchers attempting neighborhood reconstruction.  

Source:  

"Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-KSRH-F : accessed 28 August 2023), Deeds v. OO-QQ Jan 1845-May 1849, Film # 476362( DGS 8567893) image 228 of 775; imaged by Tennessee Dept. of Education, Nashville, 1965.

William C Cook Witnesses Deed Bedford Co. TN (Dec 1843)

My 2nd Great Grandfather William C Cook as a witness to a Deed. 

Persons involved:

Thomas B Carlton--Bargainer (Bedford Co. TN)

James T Byler--Trustee for Meeting House (Williamson Co. TN)

Thomas Cole --Trustee for Meeting House (Williamson Co. TN)

Renwick Gault-- Trustee for Meeting House (Bedford Co TN)

William C Cook--Witness

Ivey Phillips--Witness

Robert Hurst--Clerk Bedford Co. 

Andrew Vannoy--Registrar Bedford Co.

Dates Mentioned:

Bargained--23 Dec 1843

Witnessed by Clerk 2 Dec 1844

Received, Noted & Registered 2 Feb 1845.

Land:  26 poles x 14 poles rectangular tract containing 2 acres more or less

Source:

Bedford County, Tennessee deed books and index, 1808-1966; imaged at FamilySearch on Deeds v. OO-QQ Jan 1845-May 1849 image 38 of 775(Original Record Deed Book "OO" pg 26) 

pg 26 

Thos B Carlton to Jas T Byler & Other Trustees to Meeting house

This indenture made the twenty third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three, Between Thomas B Carlton of the County of Bedford and State of Tennessee of the one part and James T Byler of the County of Williamson and State aforesaid and Thomas Cole of the County of Williamson and state aforesaid, and Renwick Gault of the County of Bedford and state aforesaid of the other part as commissioners, witnesseth for and in the consideration sum of five dollars to me in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath given, granted and bargained sold aliened conveyed and confirmed, unto the said Byler, Cole and Gault as commissioners of a Liberty Meeting house, and to their successors in office forever, a certain tract or parcel of land, the rail timber reserved for said Carlton lying and being in the county of Bedford and state aforesaid on the waters of Duck River Bounded as follows(viz) Beginning on a red bud running East twenty six poles to a pin oak, thence South fourteen poles to a red bud, thence West Twenty Six poles to a rock, thence North fourteen poles to the beginning.  Containing by estimation two acres be the same more or less.  To have and to hold all and singular the rights profits, endearments hereditaments and appetences of and unto the same belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining to the only proper use of a Liberty Meeting House and behoof of them the said commissioners and heir successors in office forever.  I the said Thomas B B Carlton for myself my heirs and assignees doth covenant and agree to and with the said commissioners and their successors in office forever that the before recited land and bargained premises he will warrant and forever defend unto the said commissioners and their successors in office forever against the right, title, interest or claim of every person or persons claiming the same or any part thereof.  In Witness where of the said Thomas B Carlton doth hereinto set his hand and fix his seal this day and year above written, for the  use of a Liberty meeting house for all Orthodox Christians to preach in and have churches in, the first church to have its days unmolested and so on in Succession 

---Thomas B Carlton

Attest 

William C Cook

Ivey Phillips

(For Certificate see next page)

pg 27 

State of Tennessee

Bedford County

Personally appeared before me Robert Hurst Clerk of the County Court of said County Thomas B Carlton the bargainor to the foregoing deed with whom I'm personally acquainted and who acknowledged that he executed the foregoing deed for the purposed therein contained.

Witness my hand at office this 2nd day of Dec 1844------Robt Hurst Clerk

Rec'd & noted Feby 1st 1845 at 11 o'clock A M

Registered Feby 1st 1845   Andrew Vannoy Register