Alexander L. Bird
Alexander L. Byrd was born in Lenoir County, North Carolina about 1830. HIs
military records show him as 32 years of age in 1862, yet the 1860 Wakulla
County, Florida Census shows him as being 26.
He came to Wakulla County in the 1850's and married Martha Jane Hale, the
daughter of Benjamin Hale and his wife Martha.
He settled by the Plank Road just West of the Natural Bridge crossing the St
Marks River near Woodville. He had a contract to maintain a section of the
Plank Road.
On March 14, 1862, he enlisted in the "Wakulla Tigers" which later became
Company I of the Fifth Florida Regiment of Infantry. The Fifth and Eighth
Florida Regiments joined the troops of General Robert E. Lee in Virginia in
July of 1862 right after the battle of Seven Pines. They arrived in time for
the Second Battle of Manassas. From there they moved into Maryland to capture
Harper's Ferry. The troops then moved over South Mountain into Pleasant Valley
for the Battle of Sharpsburg in Maryland, 17 September, 1862.
The Army of Virginia moved back into Virginia and prepared for the Battle of
Fredericksburg, which took place 10 to 13 December, 1862. Alexander Byrd was
sent to the Florida Hospital in Richmond, Virginia on 16 December and on the
Company Muster Roll was listed as having died 17 December, 1862 At General
Hospital, Camp Winder, Richmond, Virginia. His cause of death was shown as
pneumonia.
Alexander Byrd was the father of two children, both of whom were born in
Wakulla County:
i. Nancy Ann
ii. Byrd born 24 August, 1858. She married Rollie Carraway. Child:
Fannie Carraway born 7 May, 1899
ii Alexander B. Byrd born 22 May, 1862 and died 8 December 1933 in Leon
County. He married 23 January, 1883 in Madison County, Florida Elizabeth Redd,
daughter of George Redd and Margaret Hinton.
Children: (8)
a. Margaret Leuginia Byrd born , 4 July, 1884, Madison County, died 5
November, 1958 in Miami, Florida. Married 1900 in Leon County William Silas
Alligood.
b. John Alexander Byrd born 8 June, 1886 in Madison County, died 30 April,
1952 in Jefferson County. Buried in White Church Cemetery, Woodville. Married
29 March, 1924 in Lewvy County, Florida Lina Ellen Peacock.
c.Addie Rebecca Byrd born 22 November, 1887 in Leon County, died 30
October, 1983 in Leon County. Married Arthur Wiggins 25 December, 1904 in
Leon County.
d.George Walter Byrd born 17 March, 1891, in Leon County, died 20 November,
1975 in Gadsden County, Florida. Married 13 Dec, 1913 in Leon County Mattie
Alline Harris
e. Clifton Edward Byrd born 1 June 1893, Leon County, died 6 March, 1977 in
Sarasota, Florida. Married 12 February, 1911 in Leon County Annie Estelle
Causseaux.
f. Clintom Wyche Byrd born 11 November, 1895 in Leon County, died 3 May,
1977 in Leon County. Married 20 January, 1918 in Macon, Georgia, Alice Mae
Stafford
g. Gertrude Elizabeth Byrd born 13 October, 1897, died 12 January, 1983 in
Jefferson County, Florida. Married 27 June, 1915 in Leon County Noah Grantham
h. Palmer Grady Burd born 28 October, 1901 in Leon County, died 8 April, 1966.
Married Etta Mae Anders.
WAKULLA COUNTY, FLORIDA , FEBRUARY 12, 1861
KNOW ALL MEN PRESENT THAT WE, ALEXANDER BYRD AND MARTHA JANE BYRD, OF THE
COUNTY OF WAKULLA AND STATE OF FLORIDA, OF THE FIRST PART AND FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS TO ME IN HARD
CURRANCY AND THE RECEIPT WHEREOF BEING ACKNOWLEDGED AND DELIVERED OF THESE
PRESENT BY S. B. FERRELL OF THE SAME PLACE OF THE SECOND PART, THE RECEIPT
WHEREOF IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED, CONVEY UNTO THE SAID PARTY OF THE SECOND PART,
HIS EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ASSIGNS ONE NEGRO GIRL NAMED SARAH AND HER
CHILDREN SEABE AND JANE AND LARRO AND ALL HER INCREASE TO HAVE AND TO HOLD AND
SAME UNTO THE SAID PARTY OF THE SECOND PART, HIS EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS,
AND ASSIGNED FOREVER THE SAID NEGROS IN POSSESSION OF MOTHER UNTIL DEATH THERE
TO HEIRS.
THIS IS A BILL OF SALE TO OUR PART OF SAID NEGRO AND INCREASE AND WE DO FOR
OURSELVES, OUR HEIRS, EXECUTORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, COVENANT AND AGREE TO AND
WITH THE SAID PARTY OF THE SECOND PART TO WARRENT AND DEFEND THE SALE OF SAID
NEGROS HEREBY SOLD UNTO SAID PARTY OF THE SECOND PART HIS EXECUTORS,
ADMINISTRATORS, AND ASSIGNS ALL AND EVERY PERSONS WHOMSOEVER.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF WE HAVE HEREINTO SET OUR HANDS AND SEALS THIS 12TH DAY OF
FEBRUARY, A.D., 1861.
ALEXANDER BYRD (SEAL)
MARTHA JANE BYRD (SEAL)
THE STATE OF FLORIDA
WAKULLA COUNTY
BE IT REMEMBERED THAT ON THE 26TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, A.D., 1861, PERSONALLY
APPEARED BEFORE ME ONE NATHAN HALE. THE SUBSCRIBING WITNESS TO THE FOREGOING
INSTRUMENT OF WRITING UPON HIS OATH SAYS HE SAW ALEXANDER BYRD AND MARTHA JANE
BYRD, WIFE OF AFORESAID ALEXANDER, BOTH SIGN, SEALED, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE
ABOVE INSTRUMENT OF WRITING, AND THAT HE SUBSCRIBED THE SAME AS A WITNESS UPON
WHICH SAID ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I HAVE RECORDED THE SAME IN BOOK B, PAGE 233. IN
WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND SEAL, THIS 26TH DAY OF
FEBRUARY, 1861
H. L. HENDERSON, CLERK
STATE OF FLORIDA
LEON COUNTY
I JESSE CARROL, SURELY FOR MARTHA JANE BYRD, GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE OF NANCY
ANN BYRD AND ALEXANDER BYRD, MINORS, DO ON MY OATH SAY THAT SAID MARTHA JANE
BYRD, GUARDIAN AS AFORESAID, DIED IN THE YEAR 1868, LEAVING BELONGINGS TO SAID
MINORS 3 MILCH COWS AND TWO YEARLINGS. THAT HE HAS FAITHFULLY TAKEN CARE OF
THE SAME AND THAT THE INCREASE OF SAID COWS HAS BEEN 18 HEAD, AND THAT THERE
ARE NOW IN HIS POSSESSION 20 HEAD OF CATTLE VALUED AT $100-00 AND THAT HE HAS
SOLD 3 BEEF CATTLE OUT OF SAID LOT FOR $30.00.
THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY LEFT FOR SAID MINORS OF VALUE THAT HE HAS
PAID THE TAXES REGULAR ON SAID CATTLE AS IS ABOVE SHOWN.
THAT HE IS AN UNCLE BY MARRIAGE TO SAID CHILDREN AND THAT HE HAS PROVIDED A
HOME FOR SAID MINORS AND TREATED THEM THE SAME AS IF THEY WERE HIS OWN
CHILDREN AND HAS BEEN AS CAREFUL OF THEIR PROPERTY AS IF IT WAS HIS OWN - AND
THAT THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS TRUE AS HE VERILY BELIEVES.
JESSE CARROL (HIS X MARK)
SUBSCRIBED BY SAID JESSE CARROL IN MY PRESENCE AND BY HIM SWORN TO BEFORE ME
THIS 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, AD, 1878.
HENRY C. RIPPEY
COUNTY JUDGE
SURETY FOR MARTHA JANE BYRD, GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE OF NANCY ANN BYRD AND
ALEXANDER BYRD, MINORS. IN ACCOUNT WITH SAID ESTATE FILED SEPTEMBER 17, 1878,
EXAMINED, APPROVED, AND ALLOWED THIS OCTOBER 4, 1878, AND A TRUE COPY RECORD
MADE IN BOOK OF ANNUAL RETURNS 1878 - PAGE 570 AND 571.
Feb 1998, Information provided by John Byrd