Netherland Family in Southwest Mississippi Territory - Early 1800s

An early census of the Mississippi Territory indicates James, Joseph, Levi, and William Netherland (Jr.) were already residents of the southwest area of what later became the State of Mississippi.  Most Netherland researchers believe the four men were brothers, having been born in Richmond County, Georgia to William Netherland (Sr.) and Rachel Fenner Netherland. According to the census, James was the head of a household in Wilkinson County, while the other three men were enumerated in Lawrence County. In 1816, a census taken in Wilkinson County validates that James continued to be a resident there, and in 1816, a census of Lawrence County confirmed that William, Joseph, and Levi were still residing in that county. In an earlier post I included the names of the ten children born to William Netherland (Sr.) and Rachel Fenner Netherland, my fourth great-grandparents. I am descended from their son, John Patrick Netherland and his first wife, Elizabeth Jane Smith. Their son, William Bailey Netherland, was my maternal great-grandfather.  I invite you to follow me here for future posts about several Netherland families as they migrated from Mississippi into Louisiana and later to Texas.


References: Missisippi State and Territorial Census Records, 1792 - 1866, accessed online via ancestry.com on September 8, 2010

The Children of Rachel Fenner and William Neatherlin

At the time of this post, I have not verified the actual date and place where Rachel Fenner and William Neatherlin were married.  Many researchers believe they were married in Richmond County, Georgia before 1800.  According to most accounts, their union produced ten children.  These children included four daughters, Mary, Sara, Dicy, and Rachel, with the latter most likely being named for her maternal grandmother, Rachel Austin.  Their six sons were named James, Levi, William, Jr., Joseph, John Patrick (my great-great-grandfather) and Lewis Solomon Neatherlin, with William, Jr. carrying forth his father's name. it is interesting to note here that William is a common name in both the Neatherlin/Netherland and the Fenner families.

In the coming weeks, I will be tracing the Neatherlin/Netherland family as it moved from the southwest Mississippi Territory into Louisiana, and later, as various family members migrated further west into Texas.  It was likely in Louisiana that Neatherlin family members apparently changed the surname to "Netherland" and where many of their descendants still live around Winnsboro.  By the mid-1800s, however, a number of these Netherland family members had settled in Texas, where they raised their families and later died and are buried. 

If you are a descendant of any of the ten Neatherlin/Netherland children born to Rachel and William, I would love to hear from you.