The Bledsoe name is not that common in the Covington County area at this time, but several descendants of this family currently reside in the area. This writer does not know of any relationship of the Bledsoe, Bedsole or Bledsole names; however, there might be.

Upon checking Ancestry.com, the earliest ancestor identified was William Bledsoe Sr., born in 1530 in England where he also died. The name of his wife is not known, but they had a son named William Bledsoe Jr., born in 1550 and died in 1580. William Jr. was married to Elizabeth Sharpe, and they had one son, Richard Bledsoe, who was born in England in 1580, the year his father died. Richard died circa 1680 in Northamptonsire, England. He was married to Margaret Hill Clark, and they had a son named George Bledsoe who was born in 1600 and died in 1681, both in England. George was married to Agnes Cobb who was born in 1605 in England and died in 1680 in Northumberland Va. This means George was the immigrant ancestor of this line who sailed from England to Virginia during the later years of the 1600s.

George Sr. and Agnes Bledsoe were the parents of George Bledsoe Jr. who was born in 1635 in Seagrave, Lincolnshire, England, and died in 1705 in Northumberland, Va. He was first married to Anne Jennings (1650-1695), and he was later married to Elizabeth Lattimore (1656-1708). His and Elizabeth’s youngest son, Isaac Bledsoe, was born in 1703 and died in 1760 in Northumberland, Va. He was married to Mary Parker (1710-1790), and they had a son whom they named Benjamin Bledsoe Sr., who was born in 1745 in Surry, N.C.

Benjamin was married in 1776 to Sarah Chew (1748-1810). Within the next year in 1777 they were residing in Nashville, Tenn., but they had returned to North Carolina within the next three years. However, records suggest Benjamin Sr. died in 1805 in Knoxville, Tenn. Benjamin and Sarah had a son named Benjamin Bledsoe as well. Benjamin Jr. was born in 1776 in Surry County, N.C., and died in 1830 in Kentucky. He was married to Elizabeth Morton (1780-1820).

Benjamin Jr. and Elizabeth Bledsoe reared the following children: Levi, b. 1801, d. 1890; Benjamin F., b. 1802; Ufina, b. 1805, d. 1878; William, b. 1808, d. 1827; Larkin Nubie, b. 1808, d. 1872, m. Malinda Jane Simmons; Andrew Jackson, b. 1815, d. 1883; and Lucinda, b. 1818, d. 1819.

The fourth oldest son, Larkin Nubie Bledsoe, who was born in 1808 in North Carolina, was married to Malinda Jane Simmons who was born in 1814 and also a native of North Carolina. He is the Bledsoe ancestor of this particular line who migrated from North Carolina to Alabama. He died in 1872 and she, in 1884 in Pike County, Ala. They reared the following five children: Elizabeth Ann “Eliza,” b. 1832, d. 1925; George Washington, b. 1834, d. 1866; John Larkin, b. 1838, d. 1937; William Madison, b. 1841, d. 1895; and Melissa Carolyn, b. & d. 1843.

From this generation on, this writing will focus on the second oldest son, John Larkin Bledsoe, and his descendants. He was born in 1838 in Troy of Pike County and lived for many years in Coffee County. Actually he was born in a log cabin on the family homestead located near the Village of Centerville which later became Troy. He became a farmer and was always performing that work for his living. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 as a private in Company A, 60th Infantry Regiment. He was captured at some point and spent six month as a prisoner at Point Lookout, Md.

John Larkin Bledsoe and his family moved around several times. He was still single and residing in Jefferson County, Ala., in 1880, but he was married four years later in 1884 in Clay County, Ga., to Georgia A. Lott. By 1900 he and Georgia had returned to his home county and lived in the Mount Pleasant community of Coffee County. Seven years later in 1907 they moved to Covington County. In 1920 they were found in Sanford, Fla., but they had returned to Coffee County by 1923. Seven years later John Larkin died while he were residing in the Chancellor community of Coffee County.

John Larkin was honored with a dinner on his 99th birthday, the oldest living man in the Mt. Pleasant community of Coffee County. He was residing with his daughter, Mrs. John L. Wall, with whom he had lived for a number of years. On this special occasion members of four generations of his family were present, and all three of his living daughters baked him a birthday cake, one having 99 candles. Many relatives and friends called on him on this remarkable birthday.

John Larkin and Georgia Bledsoe reared the following children: Laura Parrielee, b. 1860, d. 1863; John Edward, b. 1863, d. 1920, m. 1883 Dorothy Patience Hooks (1866-1935); Amelia Caroline, b. 1866, d. 1936, m. 1883 Noah Stanton Stokes (1860-1946); George Lawrence, b. 1868, d. 1941; Mary Viola, b. 1872, d. 1912; Emzie Nubie, b.1875, d. 1939; William, b. 1877, d. 1944; Ida Burt, b. 1879, d. 1949, m. John L. Wall; Gennie Calera, b. 1982, d. 1945; and Troy Mims, b. 1885, d. 1945.

John Larkin and Georgia’s oldest living daughter, Amelia Caroline Bledsoe, was married in 1883 to Noah Stanton Stokes, son of Absalom Lafayette Stokes and Elizabeth (Jay). Noah was born in Santa Rosa County, Fla., but his family moved to Andalusia during the early 1860s. Amelia and Noah reared the following children: Ivy Audrie, b. 1884, d. 1938, m. (1) Charles T. Storey (2) W.D. Jay; Elizabeth “Lizzie” Georgia, b. 1884, d. 1990, m. Nathaniel C. Cornett (1878-1927); Flora Mabelle, b. 1886, d. 1944, m. N.B. Wynne; Valdosta “Vallie,” b. 1888, d. 1980, m. James F. Bunch; Anna “Annie” Myrtle, b. 1889, m. John Odom; Homer Dewitt, b. 1890, d. 1891; Ruby Clyde, b. 1893, d. 1954, m. Cary Etheridge; John “Johnnie” Stanton, b. 1896, d. 1991, m. Frances Evelyn Holland; James “Jamey” Austin, b. 1897, d. 1971, m. Cola Huggins; Charlotte “Lottie” Mims, b. 1899, d. 1993, m. (1) Isaac Watson (2) Hugh M. Marks; Eunice Inez, b.&d. 1901; Glady Raymond, b. 1904, d. 1969, m. Eula Brooks; Samuel Sanford “Sam,” b. 1906, d. 1969, m. Bardee Walker; and Rexford “Rex” Sr., b. 1908, m. Ollie Mae Mott (1912-2004).

The sources for this writing were Ancestry.com for the early generations and family records.

Anyone who might find errors in the above genealogy is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

 

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will be meeting on the third Thursday this month, November 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Dixon Memorial Room for a covered dish dinner. Everyone interested in local history is encouraged to attend and bring a covered dish. The society would appreciate anyone interested becoming a member.