Seth Darsey

Darsey History

James Darsey

(great great great grand-father of J.E.A. Dorsey)

            At the time of this writing, the first confirmed record of the Dorsey/Darsey family in the American Colonies is found in Calvert County Maryland where a James Dorsey (also variously spelled Dawsey, Dawsy, Dossy, D’Arcy, etc.) was reported as having, with his brothers John and Ralph, moved there from Virginia at the invitation of Richard Preston, a noted Puritan Leader.  The entire family is believed to have been devout Quakers.

            James was born around 1649 in England, and thus was one of the early settlers to immigrate to the colonies.  At the time, many were coming to the colonies to claim ownership in their own land; or to escape what they felt were intolerable conditions in Europe; or to have the freedom to practice their religion.  Because this family was Quakers, and enjoyed a special relationship with Elder Preston, it is reasonable to assume that their motives were probably a blend of seeking religious freedom and the opportunity to work their own land.

            It’s not known whether James, his brothers, or his parents, had the resources to pay their way across the Atlantic, or whether they, or some of them, had to enter into Contracts of Servitude with large land owners or companies.  It was frequently quite normal for individuals and/or families who wanted to repair to the colonies, to enter into contracts for indentured servitude.  Under such arrangements, the Master would pay the expenses of relocating a person and/or their family to the colonies, in exchange for that person or persons working in the Master’s enterprise for specific periods of time.

            The move from Virginia to Calvert County, Maryland around 1660 was probably a decision by James’ Father, Richard Darsey, spurred by Mr. Preston’s invitation, along with the Virginia Governing Authority’s move to outlaw the practice of the Quaker religion within its borders.  James was only 11 at the time so it’s safe to assume that he went to Maryland because his brothers (and perhaps one or more of his parents) did.

            Initially the family lived on a 200 acre tract of land called “Bennett’s Desire”, now called “Bunker Hill”, on the east side of the Patuxent River, near Hunting Creek - Plum Point being on the other side of the Ridge.

            On August 20, 1689, James signed on with Mich. Taney, Sheriff of Calvert County, Maryland, to seize the Magazine of Arms and Ammunition, securing it until King William & Queen Mary could establish a Commission to govern the Province.  This suggest that James maintained his loyalty to the King and Queen of England even though he surely felt himself to be a colonist, or perhaps he didn’t know any better and only “enlisted” for the pay.  Either motive would seem to be in conflict with his Puritan beliefs.

            It is believed that James married Rebecca Preston, the sister or daughter of Richard Preston.  This conclusion is drawn from the fact that in his will, Richard Preston bequeathed “Bennett’s Desire” to his kinsman, James Darsey.

            He and Rebecca had at least 7 children: James Darsey, Jr. (b. 1685, d. Jan. 22, 1758); Philip Darsey (b. 1705, d. about 1773); John Darsey; Rebecca Darsey; Timothy Darsey (d. 1732); Richard Darsey; and William Darsey.  As with most families of this era, there was poor recordkeeping of births and deaths; a statistically large number of infant deaths; and a lack of emphasis given to female children.

            In 1684 he was living in Calvert County, Maryland where he witnessed the will of Thomas Jessaps.  In 1711, he witnessed the will of George Pascall in the same County.  James Darsey died after May 22, 1723 in Calvert County, Maryland.

James Darsey, Jr.

(great great grandfather of J.E.A. Darsey)

            The first born child of James Darsey, Sr. and Rebecca was James Darsey, Jr. (born 1685).

            James Jr. married Mary MacKeele around 1700 in Maryland.  She was born in Scotland and was the daughter of John MacKeele.  Together they produced eleven children: Joseph Darsey (born about 1720); Rebecca Darsey (born about 1736); James Darsey III; Mary Darsey; John Darsey; Sarah Darsey; William Darsey; Francis Darsey; Daniel Darsey; Benjamin Darsey; and Philip Darsey (b 1736).

            The known records suggest he continued to practice the Quaker religion.

James inherited “Bennett’s Desire”, which is now called “Bunker Hill” from his father.  He also owned “Garden”, “Robinson’s Rest”, and “Deer Quarter”.  The family was seemingly successful in their business and land ownership.

            The Last Will of James Jr. appears in “Maryland Calendar of Wills” 1759-1764, Volume 12, which states: “Dorsey, James, Calvert Co. 22 Jan. 1758, 5 May, 1761; To son James Dorsey, 100 A. called Ddorsey’s Garden.  To son Daniel Ddorsey, pt of ad. Tract 60 A., and all my right that I purchased of hrs. of John Davis, land called Robinson Rest.  To son John Dorsey, the ¼ pt. of land called Deer Quarter, and 10 A. adjoining his own land called Bennett’s Desire.  To son Philip Dorsey, 150 A. which I purchased of Capt. Hyde, called Robinson’s Rest.  To son Francis Dorsey, 50 A. being pt. of land called Bennett’s Desire.  To wife Mary Dorsey, 40 obs. Current money.  Remaining pr. Of estate to my eleven children: James, Mary, Rebecca, John, Sarah, William, Philip, Daniel, Francis, Benjamin and Joseph Dorsey.  Exe. Sons James and John.  Wit: Joseph Leach, Joseph Strickland.  5 May 1761: came Wm Allnut and other 2 witnesses; probated will, (31. 402)

            James Darsey, Jr., died January 22, 1758, in Calvert County, Maryland.  His Will was probated (proved) May 5, 1761, with witnesses: James Darsey, John Darsey and Wm Allnut.

Joseph Darsey

(Great Grandfather of J.E.A. Darsey)

            Joseph Darsey was born about 1720 in Calvert County, Maryland and died around 1781.  He married Elizabeth Ann Cordert (or Corbert) in 1740 in North Carolina.  She was born about 1727 in Virginia or North Carolina and died about 1824 in Jefferson County, Georgia.

            A Census between 1755 and 1855 states: “D’Arcy, Joseph, October 1769, has 250 a. has wife and 6 children, asks for 200a., next to Wm. Johnson, John Wells, and Jas. Bichham; Apl. 1770, granted 200 a.”

            On September 14, 1758, records show Joseph as a private in the First Virginia Regiment (Lt. Col. Stephens’ Company) at Fort Dunquesne (now Pittsburgh, Pa) – during the French and Indian War.

            After that service, he and his family moved southward, living in Laurenburg, Virginia and North Carolina.  After enlisting in the Revolutionary Army in North Carolina, he moved his family to Georgia and settled in Burke County.  His family lived in that part of Jefferson that was cut off of Burke County and took refuge from the hostilities in that part of Jefferson County that was cut away from Burke County in a place on Butler’s Creek, about 6 miles from Augusta.

            Joseph received a grant in 1769 for 250 acres of land, and in 1770 another grant for another 250 acres.

            At this time most of present day Georgia was under the control of Indians, principally Cherokee.  Colonists had seized and were controlling the lands east of the Oconee and Altamaha rivers.  Those who traveled westward, beyond those rivers, would find themselves in hostile frontier territory, and very much subject to attack from the natives.

            Joseph and Elizabeth produced at least seven children: James Darsey (b. 1742); Benjamin Darsey (b. 1746); William Darsey (b. 1752); Joseph Darsey, Jr. (b. November 27, 1762); Joel Darsey (b. September 11, 1765; George Darsey; and Seth Darsey (b. about 1770).

            Joseph Sr. and five of his sons fought in the Revolutionary War.  There is no record of George serving.

            Following the end of the Revolutionary War, Joseph joined his wife in the Augusta area, and most of the rest of the family moved to an area north of Dexter, Georgia in present day Laurens County.  The Laurens County tracts lay west of the Oconee River and east of the Ocmulgee River, beyond which the Cherokee had been caused to repair.  Several received Land Grants for their service in the War.

Joel Darsey’s petition/application for a Land Grant was filed in Savannah, and is available to those who would like to learn of a young farm boy’s involuntary involvement in the War for Independence.

            Joseph Sr. died about 1781, and Mary died about 1824, in Jefferson County, Georgia.

Seth Darsey

(Grandfather of J.E.A. Darsey)

            Seth Darsey was born about 1770 in St. George Parish, Burke County, Georgia.  He married Edith “Eda” Peacock about 1812, in Washington County, Georgia.  She was born in 1795 in North Carolina.

            He operated one of the earliest cotton gins in Laurens County, Georgia.  He also served as a local preacher in the Methodist Church and helped start Buckhorn Methodist Church.  He was the first person to be buried in Buckhorn Cemetery when he died in 1847.  According to tradition, the first house of worship (Buckhorn Methodist Church) was built by Seth Darsey on what was known as the John Lord estate, and called Bethsaida.  He owned property on Buckhorn Creek.

            Records indicate that Seth and Edith Darsey had ten children: Unity Darsey (born February 21, 1815); Mary Elizabeth Darsey (born about 1816); James Rufus Darsey (born about 1826); Mary Ann Darsey (born about 1826); Benjamin Wesley Darsey (born February 26, 1826); William Henry “Billy” Darsey (born February 28, 1827); Robert A. Darsey (born August 11, 1829 in Laurens County); Dilantha Darsey (born about 1831); David Jackson Darsey (born about 1832); and Serena Darsey (born about 1832).

            Wilcox County would not be established as a County until 1857.  Prior to that time the family maintained their residence, and worked their land, north of present day Pitts, Georgia.  Prior to 1857, the land was in Dooly County.

            Seth died about 1847, and Edith died in 1876, both while residents of Laurens County, Georgia.

James Rufus Darsey

(Father of J.E.A. Darsey)

            James Rufus Darsey was born around 1826 in Laurens County, Georgia.  It is not known when he migrated to what is now Wilcox County, Georgia (then Dooly County), but he and his family are shown as residents of Wilcox County in 1860. 

            It is not known when James Rufus relocated over the Ocmulgee River into the new territory named Dooly County.  He probably brought his bride with him from Laurens County.

It is known that in the 1830’s President Andrew Jackson and the governments of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina gathered up all of the Cherokee they could find, and, under arms, marched them to north Georgia and then toward present day Oklahoma.  This forced expulsion of the Cherokee people would later be known as the “Trail of Tears” because of the agony experienced and the physical hardship of the journey, including many deaths. 

            The Darseys probably had no interest in the destiny of the Cherokee, but they were undeniably beneficiaries of the policy.  One must remember that during the middle 1800’s, Blacks and Indians were considered by a good number of citizens to be property, rather than fully franchised humans.

            The County of Wilcox would not be established until 1857.  Prior to that time the family maintained their residences, and worked their land, north of present day Pitts, Georgia.  It is a matter of record that several other families also migrated from Laurens County to Dooly County.  Particular notice should be given to the families named Faircloth, Coleman, Miles, Perry, and Fountain.

            James Rufus Darsey married Louisa Elizabeth “Eliza” Miles (Mills) on December 26, 1844 in Laurens County, Georgia.  She was the daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Miles, born February 19, 1827, in Laurens County, Georgia.

            On February 18, 1860, James Rufus Darsey (Darcy) and L.E. Darsey (Darcy) joined Frederick Faircloth, Elisha Coleman, Sugar F. Faircloth, Nancy Faircloth, and Queen Faircloth in agreeing to organize and form Union Baptist Church.  The original grounds (3 acres) were given the Church by Nancy Faircloth.  J.C. Faircloth, J.E. Darsey (Darcy), and C.M. Fountain sold the second parcel of land (16 ½ acres) to the trustees of the Church in March 1912 for a reported $600.00.  Both parcels are situated in close proximity to the J.E.A. Darsey home place, and what would later be the home of Markie Edmund Perry who was destined to become a great-son-in-law to James Rufus.

            There have been three houses of worship during the first hundred years of Union Baptist Church.  The original house of worship was an old log house – a combination of church and schoolhouse.  The second was a two-story frame building, with a lodge in the upper story.  Work on the third building was begun about 1900 and completed about 1905.

            The present building was begun in 1960 and completed in 1963.  It was dedicated in 1966.  Since these efforts the Church proper has continued to annex and grow, currently exhibiting excellent and spacious facilities for an active membership.

            Union is the mother church of many of the churches in this area.  Members of Union played a great part in the organization of Pleasant View, Pitts, Seville, Pine City, Double Run, Oklahoma, Enon (which is no longer active) and Rock Springs.

            Homecoming is celebrated each year on the 4^th Sunday in April.  Per an account given by Mrs. Lola Conner, on April 26, 1923, the Darsey family and the Holliday family happened to meet at the church to clean the cemetery and put flowers on the graves of the soldiers.  Each family had brought a box lunch in their wagons.  When they finished working, they spread their meals and ate together.  After enjoying the meal and fellowship, they decided to do it again the following year.  Thus, the tradition of Homecoming at Union began.

            James Rufus and Elizabeth “Eliza” Darsey had seven children: Mary Elizabeth Darsey (born July 22, 1846); Martha Jean “Jeanie” Darsey (born October 8, 1848); John David Darsey (born February 18, 1850); Harriett L. Darsey (born September 1, 1852); Thomas D. Darsey (born February 25, 1856);Anna Eliza Darsey (born March 20, 1859); and James Edwin Augustus Darsey (born December 29, 1861).

            James Rufus Darsey was either a patriot of the Confederacy or times were very hard for his family, because he enlisted in Company E (the Wilcox Rifles) of the 49^th Regiment which soon joined the Army of Northern Virginia and fought until its survivors surrendered with Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.  Family lore states that he joined as a substitute for a Mr. Brown who had been conscripted into service and didn’t want to go.

            James Rufus survived the war, but he came home ill and died shortly thereafter on February 13, 1864.

            Louisa Elizabeth “Eliza” Darsey survived nearly 34 more years when she died on February 13, 1898.  Both are buried in the Cemetery of Union Baptist Church, the Church they helped start.

James Edwin Augustus Darsey

            James Edwin Augustus Darsey was the seventh and last child of James Rufus and Louisa Elizabeth “Eliza” Miles (or Mills) Darsey.  He was born on December 29, 1861.  His father was probably away at war for the majority of young James’ life.  When James was only two years and 46 days old, his father died leaving the family in distress, and dependent on the good will of friends, relatives and neighbors.

            Louisa was now the only parent of seven children, the older ones being girls ages 18 and 16, followed by two more girls and three boys all under the age of 14.  The oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, married Willis Johnson five weeks and two days after James Rufus Darsey’s death on March 22, 1864.

            J.E.A. Darsey’s birth is actually cited as being in Seville, Wilcox County, Georgia.  The City of Pitts did not formally come into existence until 1905.

            J.E.A. Darsey married Amelia Arlena “Meli” Parkerson on August 12, 1888, in Wilcox County, Georgia.  She was the daughter of Henning Parkerson and Mary Faircloth.  She was born November 25, 1869, in Seville, Wilcox County, Georgia.

Together, Jim and Meli had ten children, all of whom were born on the family farm, north of Pitts and across the creek from Union Baptist Church.  They were: Homer Ashford Darsey (born May 18, 1889); John Henning Darsey (born March 10, 1891); Flossie Cornelia Darsey (born March 20, 1893); Carrie Gertrude Darsey (born November 18, 1894); Elmer Ezekiel “Cap” Darsey (born August 8, 1897); Gladys Louisa Darsey (born July 4, 1899); James Hoyt Darsey (born August 16, 1900); Elsie Loucille Darsey (born September 6, 1905); Ruby Elise Darsey (born August 14, 1907); and J.B. “Jake” Darsey (born January 17, 1910).

            This family was always very active in the functions and services of Union Baptist Church until February 1894 when controversy arose.  The story is told that the church service was in progress at Union and the preacher called for testimonies from all who felt led to testify.  Much to his surprise, the young Mrs. Darsey stood.  Every eye was glued on her and every ear strained to hear as she gave her testimony.  As soon as she finished, the preacher rebuked her, saying “It is my interpretation of the Scripture that ladies are not supposed to speak in church!”  When the service was over, Jim hitched the horse to the buggy, loaded the family, and started home.  After going a short distance, Jim said “Mama, why did you get up and testify?”  Amelia answered, “Jim, I felt like the Lord led me to testify, I believe you ought to obey God rather than men.”  Nothing more was said about the incident at Union Church.  Shortly thereafter, Jim announced that he had talked with several others friends and members of Union, and they had decided to leave Union and organize the Pine City Holiness Baptist Church.  On May 31, 1894, the Union Baptist Church granted letters of dismission to “Deacon J.E. Darsey and wife and also Sister Darsey, Harriett Darsey and Jennie.”

            In 1894 James E.A. and Amelia Darsey became two of the founders of the Pine City Holiness Baptist Church which in turn became the mother church of the Holiness Baptist movement in Georgia.  He served on the executive committee of the Holiness Baptist conferences for 47 years and was known as a devout and honest man.

            His friend, J.N. Salter, who married Jim and Meli, said at his funeral that he could go to him for advice and always receive an “unbiased opinion”.  His wife is reported to have said that “Mr. Darsey was naturally good.  I had to work at it.”

            During one service at Pine City James E.A. Darsey stood and explained that their church believed in holiness and was against dancing.  He said “I believe in cleaning up around your own door.  I have not seen my children dancing, but I know that they are, so I move that we turn Jake, Loucille, and Elise out of the church.”  One by one the other members of the church stood up, said that they agreed with Mr. Darsey but could not second his motion.  His motion therefore died for lack of a second.

            The Abbeville Chronicle of April 7, 1900 reported that there had been a sing at the home of Mr. J.E. Darsey on Saturday night last and that it was quite a success.  The Darsey family was known to open their home to others, and the jovial and humorous nature of the family was apparent in most of the children.

            Amelia Arlena was the true matriarch of the family.  She was a grand cook, stern disciplinarian, loving parent and wife.  Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all had great appreciation of the gingerbread that smelled so good and tasted even better, which she cooked on a wood burning “pot-belly” stove.

            It is commonly believed that when Homer Ashford Darsey went to Atlanta to study medicine, he came to the opinion that the name Dorsey had a more educated sound than Darsey, and through his influence all his siblings adopted yet another surname for the family.  James E.A. Darsey used to say that he educated his children and they repaid him by changing his name to Dorsey.

            Oddly enough, some of the descendants of the Darsey’s who resided early on in Maryland, also changed the spelling of their names and began another long and distinguished branch of the family tree.

            In August 1938, Mr. & Mrs. Darsey celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary at their home in Pitts, Georgia which was located just west of the Pitts School, at the SW corner of 7^th Street and 8^th Avenue.

            A favorite story of many of the children and grandchildren is that the family wanted a picture of Amelia Jean Adams and Carroll “Deuce” Dorsey dressed as a bride and groom (representing their grandparents) but Deuce was very reluctant until someone gave him a $1 bill.  With that, being the professional trooper he was, the pictures were taken and in them you can see him holding the “bribe” – but not the bride.

            During the latter days of J.E.A. Darsey’s life he was confined to the bed.  On July 13, 1941 Nina Dorsey (Jake’s wife) took her 11 month old son Jimmy in to visit with his grandfather.  Nina later reported that Mr. Darsey looked at Jimmy, stated “God bless the child” and died.

            It’s unusual but Doctor Homer Dorsey (his first born son) pronounced his father dead, and signed his death certificate.  J.B. (Jake) Dorsey, the last son, was a funeral director in Wilcox County, and he was charged with the responsibility of directing the funeral and interment.

            Amelia Darsey died on October 16, 1951, at her home in Pitts. 

            Both lived full and productive lives, deserving of emulation and family pride.  Together, they have left their descendants and many who knew them, enriched by their example, and all the better for having known them.  We should all be proud to carry their legacy into future generations.

            Because the truth is, the value of a person is not what they have, but who they are.