Here's my usual query, but with a few more details than before.  I'm
making progress, but it sure is slow! 

I'm descended from Martin ELAM and Mary PHILLIPS, who were married in
Lunenburg Co. VA on 9 Jun 1775.  Does anyone have any proof of Martin's
ancestry?  

Martin ELAM was living in Chester Co. SC by November 1789, when he
bought land from John COLVIN. The deed plainly says that both men were
residents of Chester Co. SC at that time. The land was 500 acres on 
Welsh's Fork of the Sandy River, bounded by the property of James SHARP 
and James DOUGHERTY.  The land had originally belonged to James DOUGHTERY and
was bought by John COLVIN 11 Jul 1788. I suspect this John COLVIN is related
to Nicholas COLVIN, who married Martin's daughter Susannah 
Dyer ELAM on 28 Jan 1789 in Chester Co. SC (that date came from an 
unconfirmed source, so I don't know if it was a church record, Bible record,
or what). But Nicholas and Susannah were definitely husband & wife because
many other records document it.

Anyway, Martin is mentioned again when he bought land from Anderson
THOMAS in June 1790 (Book B #491, 10 acres)and November 1790 
(Book B #267, 490 acres). I don't have copies of these deeds.

In November 1790 (Book B #310) is a bill of sale showing that Martin 
sold slaves to Anderson THOMAS.  These slaves were named Sarah, Simon,
Grace, Hannah, and Samuel. Mary (PHILLIPS) ELAM's father George PHILLIPS 
had left her slaves named Sarah, Simon, Grace and Jenny in his 1785 will.
So it seems like these are the same slaves. Unfortunately, the Chester 
Co. SC deed register seems to indicate that Martin *bought* these slaves 
From Anderson THOMAS rather than sold them to him because it shows
Martin as the grantee and Anderson as the grantor. I suppose it could
just be a coincidence that the slaves had similar names as the ones
Mary (PHILLIPS) ELAM ownde. I don't have a copy of this transaction, 
but someone looked at them and sent me an abstract. Also,the abstract 
gave the date as November 1790 and the deed index gave December 1790. 
I need to get a copy of these items.  Can anyone help with this? I 
will gladly pay for copying and postage.

In December 1793 (Book C #299), Martin and a George ELAM, whom I suspect 
was his brother, were witnesses for a Chester Co. SC deed of conveyance 
between Thomas RODEN and Dennis CARRELL. Martin's son George Phillips 
ELAM would have been only about 14 years old at the time, so it couldn't
have been him.

However, Martin isn't listed on the 1790 SC federal census. Was he
living with someone else so that he wasn't the head-of-household?
Or did the census-taker accidentally miss him?

Martin died in Chester Co. SC in 1826.  Mary died in 1829. 

I suspect that Martin was the son of Richard and Sarah ELAM of 
Chesterfield Co. VA, but I lack proof.  Richard and Sarah ELAM did 
have sons named George and Martin, so there is a good possibility 
that I'm on to something here.  Is anyone else searching this line?

Martin and Mary (PHILLIPS) ELAM had the following children:

1.Susannah Dyer b ca 1776, m Nicholas COLVIN 1789 
2.George Phillips b ca 1779, settled in DeKalb Co. GA (my ancestor)
3.Richard b ca 1781, d ca 1844 in Chester Co. SC
4.Sarah b ca 1783, m Caleb DAVIS
5.Elizabeth Phillips b ca 1785, m Solomon COLEMAN
6.Mary b ca 1787
7.Martha b ca 1789
8.Patience b ca 1791
9.Nancy b ca 1793, m Wiley COLEMAN
10.Frances b ca 1795, m John Quirns ARNETTE

I appreciate any help anyone can give me.


Vickie Elam White
[email protected]  or
[email protected]

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