The Two Joshua ELDERS, by Linda Sparks Starr and other descendants, summer 1997. Two Joshua Elders appear in Henry and Fayette County records. The older, a Revolutionary War soldier who married "Minerva" or "Sarah" Hightower, is the uncle of the younger Joshua who married Anna Gray. The elder Joshua resided in Fayette before moving on to Coweta County, while the younger Joshua lived in Henry. This Elder line is traced back to a Peter whose will was proven in "Old" Rappahannock County, Virginia August 4, 1674. [Sweeney] The line comes forward through his son Peter Jr., then through his son William to Joseph born September 6, 1731 in Richmond County, Virginia. [King] This Joseph and his first wife, Mary Matthews, are parents of the "Uncle" Joshua and David, father of the "nephew" Joshua. This is a prolific family who tended to use the same names for children; therefore, relationships are sometimes difficult to sort out, especially with second and third marriages. "Uncle" Joshua was born circa 1761 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He served in the Revolutionary War and may be the Joshua Elder who purchased land in Wilkes County adjoining Henry Starr on Little River December 24, 1792. [Deed Book II, p. 533] This Joshua and his wife Sarah were living in nearby Greene County, Georgia when they sold their Wilkes County land January 4, 1800. [Book RR, p. 417] Family researchers say the Joshua who was the son of Joseph and Mary (Matthews) Elder did not arrive in Georgia until 1806 with his brother David. They do agree that Joshua and his wife moved with the William Hightower family to Fayette County circa 1826. Joshua died in nearby Coweta County before July 1, 1850, the date his will was probated. The following children are reported for him: Sterling married Mary "Polly" HENING/HERRING May 7, 1812 in Clarke County, Georgia; [Davis p.154] John Lewis (1807-1884) married Nancy Bird BROWN; Jordan; Howell married Rebecca P. HERRING October 16, 1817 in Clarke County; [Davis p. 154] David; unidentified daughter who married Cordial WILBORN; Sarah married Seaborn GARRETT May 9, 1822; [Davis p. 158] daughter who married a Weaver; and another daughter who married a Phillips. Turning now to David Elder, father of the "nephew" Joshua: David and his first wife, Mary "Polly" READ, married September 22, 1785 in Brunswick County, Virginia. She was the daughter of William Read; they had four children, including Joshua H. born April 10, 1793. David continued to live in the Brunswick and Dinwiddie Counties area after Mary's death in 1797. He, his second wife Molly Phillips, and all his children joined other Elders in the north central part of Georgia in late 1806. They settled in the southern part of what was then Clarke County but is now in Oconee County, south of present-day Watkinsville. According to one researcher, his large plantation was located between Big and Little Rose Creeks not far from the present day Oconee National Forest. David's third marriage, to the wealthy widow Elizabeth Allen, increased his own wealth in land and slaves to the point he was able to give all 15 of his children a good start in life. David died August 4, 1853 and is buried in the Elder Cemetery. The younger Joshua, son of David, married Anna "Annie" E. GRAY October 11, 1812. [Clarke County Marriage Book A, p. 31] The only thing known of her origin is the tombstone date of her birth, May 29, 1790, and Virginia as her birthplace from the 1850 Henry County Census. Clarke County militia records show one Joshua serving in the militia as 2nd Sergeant in 1816 and one Joshua in 1817. [Davis p. 126; 127] Joshua and Anna were in Clarke County when the 1830 census taker made his rounds, but probably moved to Henry County after the fall harvest. Joshua's name appears in that county's records until their residence became part of the area taken into Spalding in 1851. Among the various bequests in his will, dated August 1, 1863, is $150 for building "a Rock wall at the Grave Yard where I desire to be Buried." [Will Book A, p. 117-119] Joshua died August 28, 1863 and Anna on June 15, 1869. Both are buried within the rocked-walled Elder plot in County Line Cemetery. The eight children named in his will are: (1) Mary L. "Polly" born April 15, 1814 died March 14, 1864. She married John Henry STARR July 14, 1831. They are buried at County Line. (2) Nancy E. born May 29, 1815 died September 15, 1895 in Coweta County, Georgia. She married John J. HINDSMAN December 27, 1837. (3) Martha A. born circa 1818 married Pendleton MALAIER/MELEAR. (4) Elizabeth R. "Betsy" Lucinda born circa 1825 died before August 1, 1863. She married Rev. William David Starr December 31, 1837. [Maddox] (5) Samuel Edmond born February 7,1820 died June 30, 1878. He and his first wife Mary Adeline BATES married December 18, 1841; [Ingmire] his second wife was Martha M. OGLETREE, daughter of Hope Hull and Frances (Starr). They married December 23, 1851. Samuel and Martha are buried next to each other at County Line, but she as Martha Thomas, wife of M. M., her second husband. [Armchair] (6) David P. born May 22, 1825 died May 4, 1893 in Spalding County. He married Nancy M. HEAD September 7, 1848. [Ingmire] Both are buried at County Line. (Descendant David P. Elder lived in Griffin.) (7) Rev. James Blanton born December 10,1827 died September 8, 1881. He married Nancy B. WILSON January 2, 1849. [Ingmire] They are buried In County Line. [Not mentioned in Lawrence]. (8) Rev. John Hartwell born December 22, 1832 died July 23, 1906. He married Frances Nancy SOWDER/SOUTER October 21, 1858. [Lawrence] He was converted in 1844 at the Mt. Zion Campground meeting and licensed to preach in the North Georgia Conference in 1855. Named Deacon in 1860, he is listed as Elder in 1884. [Lawrence, page 166]. Both are buried at County Line. SOURCES: ELDER and HARDIGREE FAMILIES by Ernest Elder Jr. FAYETTE COUNTY GEORGIA MARRIAGE RECORDS 1823-1850, by Frances T. Ingmire. GENEALOGY of the ELDER CLAN, by Lee M. Elder of San Angelo, Texas. METHODIST PREACHERS IN GEORGIA: 1783-1900 by Harold Lawrence. RECORDS OF CLARKE COUNTY GEORGIA 1801-1892 in the Georgia Department of Archives & History, compiled by Robert Scott Davis. THE REGISTERS OF NORTH FARNHAM PARISH 1663-1814 and LUNENBURG PARISH 1783-1800, RICHMOND COUNTY VIRGINIA, By George H. S. King. WILLS OF RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1656-1692 by William Montgomery Sweeney.