Mary Eleanor Jones & Digges Poynor

Mary was born in Kemper County, Mississippi, the youngest child of Henry G. Jones (born 1800 NC) and Sarah Kennedy (born 1811 SC). She is named after her maternal grandmother Eleanor Potter Kennedy wife of Thomas Kennedy. 

The 1840 Greene County, Alabama census would be the first census for this Jones family.

 
Martha was born 1841 in Greene County, Alabama, but siblings Tom (March 23, 1845) and Mary (Jan. 19, 1848), were both born in Kemper County, Mississippi. No other children make a census or Henry’s will; nor could I find any suspicious Jones burials in the family cemeteries. 

Before 1860 Henry and family moved back to Greene County, Alabama minus daughter Martha who stayed behind and married Isaac W. Kirkland in Scott County, Mississippi. Isaac also originated in Greene County, Alabama the son of Moses Kirkland and Pauline Tims. Martha and Isaac would return to Greene County before 1864.

Mary could not have wanted for much. She attended private boarding schools, owned a piano and had lessons, had a very nice watch, and she was given a bit more in her father’s will than her siblings. It appears her brother enjoyed shopping, which he did a great deal of in Gainesville down at the mouth of the Noxubee River. Brother Tom never married. Sister Martha led a difficult life.

All of Mary & Digges’ nieces and nephews, the children of Isaac and Martha Kirkland, were born before Digges and Mary married. They are: Claude, Henry Thomas, Isaac W. Jr., Lola E., and Mary. They would bury Lola E. in 1864 and Mary E. goes missing after the 1870 census.

Yellow Fever hit Greene County in the early to mid-1870s. Mary’s brother-in-law Isaac W. Kirkland, only age 37, died around 1869; her father died March 1870 after being very sick; her niece Mary was never seen again after 1870; neighbor and probable relative William E. Jones died early 1871 – at age 50.There were over 100 line items on medical bills for Henry’s family in a two-year stretch. There were lots of charges for opium, sulfur, and strange little pills. A doctor was sent to Mary at school. Everybody in the family is being treated for something undisclosed. 

By 1870 sister Martha is living with her recently widowed mother Sarah, her brother Thomas, and Martha’s four surviving children. There are tuition bills indicating that Mary may still have been away at boarding school, though she would be in her early twenties at that time.

Meanwhile, 1860 Digges Poynor was in officer’s training in Virginia. He left his native Brunswick County, Virginia, as Captain Digges Poynor, to teach cadets at the University of Alabama for the coming war. He served CSA for the duration. After the war Digges relocated permanently to Eutaw and set up shop as a lawyer, though we know he was also a teacher (teaching cadets) and a farmer. 

About 1872 Mary Eleanor Jones and Captain Digges Poynor married. They would have a son 1873 and bury him in 1875 next to his grandfather Henry G. 

By 1882 Digges and Mary, both teachers, had established the Male Academy in Eutaw. After an attempt was made in 1883 to burn it down (unsuccessfully) Digges moved the family (with five children) to Mt. Hebron and reestablished his school as the Mt. Hebron Male and Female Academy. See “A Goodly Heritage, Memories of Greene County”, by the Greene County Historical Society, 1977.

The family would remain in Mt. Hebron until their deaths. 

Even though Digges Poynor is best known as a teacher, he never shows his occupation as such on any census: 1860 he’s in officer’s training, 1880 he’s a lawyer, 1900 & 1910 he’s a farmer. But, he was always teaching – perhaps he considered it a “calling” and not an occupation?

David Thomas Poyner, most likely Digges’ uncle, was also a teacher, farmer and lawyer. Digges and Mary name children after David and his wife Julia. Digges was living with Julia and David on the 1860 census in Brunswick County, Virginia.

Digges and Mary had nine children, eight of which reached adulthood, and most lived into their 80’s as did both Mary and Digges. 

Digges Poynor Nov. 14, 1836 April 17, 1916 – Mesopotamia Cemetery
(Digges is a family name, 1850 census: Diggs Poynor age 60, boy under age 5 is Diggs)

 

Mary Eleanor Jones Poynor Jan. 19, 1848 Dec. 31, 1936 Mesopotamia Cemetery

 

Henry Purdy Poynor April 19, 1873 July 31, 1875 Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(Mary’s father’s first name; possible grandfather: 1835 Henry P. Jones lived close by)

 

Eliza Mary Poynor Horton April 25, 1875 Nov. 14, 1945 Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(Eliza is nickname for Elizabeth, Digges’ mother’s name.)

 

Sally Clifton Poynor April 1, 1877 Jan. 14, 1906 Mesopotamia Cemetery
(Sally is nickname for Sarah, Mary’s mother's name.)

 

Wilmer Smith Poynor 1877 to 1936+ (per 1880 census & Mother’s will) unknown burial

 

David Thomas Poynor, Sr. June 28, 1881 Sept. 16, 1970 Mesopotamia Cemetery
(Uncle Thomas Kennedy Jones; Great Uncle David Thomas Poynor)

 

Julia Ann Poynor Hardy June 1883 to 1936+ (census + Mother’s will) unknown burial (Great Aunt wife of David Thomas Poynor)
SEE NOTE AT END for son Dr. James D. Hardy

 

Lelia Kate Poynor March 4, 1885 August 31, 1974 Mesopotamia Cemetery

 

Mattie Virginia Poynor Summerville March 21, 1879 Nov. 23, 1975 Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(Mattie is nickname for Martha, Mary's sister's name; and, possible grandmother: 1835 Henry P. Jones and his wife Martha E. Jones - line is not proved YET.)

 

Dudley Digges Poynor March 24, 1887 Dec. 20, 1969 Mesopotamia Cemetery

Henry, Sarah, and Thomas Jones, son Henry and daughters Eliza and Mattie, as well as niece Lola E. Kirkland, are all buried at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Cemetery west of Eutaw off highway 14. In 2001 there were two small grave stones near Henry Purdy Poynor – by 2007 the stones were little more than pebbles. These pebbles could be the rumored twin daughters of Henry and Sarah who died at birth around 1843. 

Sister Martha Elizabeth Jones Kirkland Scott Kirkland is buried at Bethsalem Cemetery in Boligee, Greene County, Alabama, along with one of her grandsons and his wife. I have never found where her husband Isaac is buried.

A Famous Grandchild for Digges and Mary

Daughter Julia Ann Poynor married Frederick Hardy, and they had twin sons Julion and James D. about 1919. James D. became a medical doctor and subsequently Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. James D. Hardy performed the first human heart transplant and first human lung transplant. His four daughters: Katherine Poynor Hardy, Julia Ann Hardy, Louise Scott Hardy and Bettie Winn Hardy, all became doctors. Dr. Hardy’s biography and obituary are 
online at the University of Mississippi.

From Dr. Hardy’s obituary:
Dr. James D. Hardy died Feb. 19, 2003 at the age of 84. He was chairman of the Department of Surgery (University of Mississippi Medical Center) from 1955 until his retirement in 1987.

As a pioneering surgeon and scientist, he took transplant surgery from the theoretical to the practical. The world’s first human lung transplant in 1963, led by Hardy at UMC, and the world’s first heart transplant in 1964, demonstrated that transplanted lungs would breathe and transplanted hearts would beat in their new recipients

The little boy who would become famous
April 28, 1930 Montevallo, Shelby Co., Alabama, at Highway 25; part of 
precinct #4; 24 24 Rouge 13 East; Roll: 48, page 19A, image 718
HARDY, Fred age 64, age at first marriage 35, born NY AL AL, manager of 
lime plant
Julia P (Poynor) age 46, age at first marriage 34, born AL VA AL
John M. age 25, single, AL AL AL foreman at a lime plant
Fred age 19, AL AL AL
Julion P. age 11 AL AL AL
James D. age 11 AL AL AL
William T. age 10 AL AL AL

Father Henry Jones’ will

Henry G. Jones’ will is dated June 22, 1868 and witnessed by Silas S. Murphy and J. L. Jones (John Lee Jones). Probate May 6th 1870, Book D pages 189-191; Book Z page 692, and pages 580-582, summary:

Henry states that he has already given his daughter (by June 22, 1868) Martha E. Kirkland $5000.00 cash and that is all she is going to get until her mother’s death. He leaves to his son Thomas K. Jones $1,500.00 cash and 2 horses, 2 cows, two calves, bed and furniture; to his daughter Mary E. Jones he leaves $1,500.00 cash, 2 horses, 1 saddle, 1 bridle, 2 cows, 2 calves, bed, furniture and her piano.

Henry leaves 640 acres jointly to his son Thomas and daughter Mary. (According to land entries, Henry had approximately 1,100 acres.)

Henry leaves the balance of his estate to his wife during her lifetime, and afterward to be divided equally among his three children. Thomas K. Jones, his son, is to be executor and serve without bond. 

Dated June 22, 1868 and signed by Henry G. Jones.
Attoway R. Davis, probate judge, signed off 1871 & 1873

When Henry's will was probated May 6th, 1870 Mary was single.

What's a cow worth in 1870?

Thomas had to supply the court with an appraisal of the value of Henry’s estate. Below are some 1870 
values from the appraisal:

a mule $150.00 (that is not a typing error!)
a milk cow $15.00
an ox 30.00
a pony 40.00
a bull 25.00
a sheep 1.25
a dried cow hide 1.00
a used carriage 75.00
used blacksmith tools 15.00
a wagon 50.00

For more information about the Henry G. Jones family see: 
http://magnoliasandpeaches.com/GreeneAlGenWeb/Surnames/GALFamil.asp

Digges Poynor Censuses

1840 Brunswick County, Virginia Roll: 550; page 314

Diggs Poyner
One boy under age 5
2 men age 20-29
1 man age 50-59
1 girl 14-19
1 woman 30-39

1850-Sept. 6 Northern Division, Brunswick County, VA Roll: 432_937; page 310, image 273

Diggs Poyner age 60 FARMER born in Virginia
Eliza Poyner age 49 born in Virginia
Diggs Poyner age 14 born in Virginia

1850-Sept. 13 Northern Division, Brunswick County, VA Roll: 432_937; 
page 314, image 282; ancestry.com image 60 of 62
David T. Poyner age 30 LAWYER born in Virginia
Julia Poyner age 24
William age 6

1860-July 27 St. Andrew’s Parish, Brunswick Co, VA, PO: Smoky Ordinary & Lawrenceville; Roll: 653-1337; page 705, image 244

David T. Poynor 40 School Teacher $12,000/$33,000 born in Virginia
Julia 36 born in Virginia
William H. 15 in school born in Virginia $640
Diggs Poynor 22 Lexington Cadet, in school born in Virginia $0
Frances E. Poynor 21 female (a FIRST marriage?) born in Virginia $3800
Walker, Benjamin age 16 born in Virginia $0
Walker, Sarah age 14 born in Virginia $0
Stainback, R. F. M. female age 58 born in Virginia $800 $3800

1870-Sept. 13 No. Div., Totaro, Brunswick Co., VA, PO: Sturgeon; Roll: 593_1637; page 151, image302

THOMAS D. Poynor age 50 born VA TEACHER/FARMER
Julia age 40 born VA
Rebecca Stainback age 60 boarder born VA
Benjamin I. Walker age 25 Farmer born VA
Sarah F. Walker age 23 boarder born VA

1880-June 5 Eutaw, Greene Co., Alabama, Roll: T9_14, pg. 14B, district 78

Diwgs Poynor age 44 white male lawyer born VA father NC mother NC
Mary E. age 32 white female born MS father NC mother SC
Eliza age 5 white female AL VA MS
Sallie C. age 3 white female AL VA MS
Wilmer S. age 3 white male AL VA MS
Mattie V. age 1 white female AL VA MS
Cook, Lula age 17 white female AL VA MS (not child)
Murphy, Thomas age 15 black male servant

1900-June 26 Greene Co., Mount Hebron, Alabama Roll: T623_17, page 16B, district 35

Digs Poyner white male Nov 1835 age 64 married 28 years born VA father 
NC mother NC Farmer
Mary white female Jan 1848 age 52 m:28 years 9 children 8 surviving born 
MS father MS mother SC
Eliza white female born Apr 1875 age 25 single AL VA MS
Sallie white female born Apr 1877 age 23 single AL VA MS
Mattie V. white female born Mar 1879 age 21 single AL VA MS
David white male born June 1880 age 19 single AL VA MS
Julia white female June 1883 age 16 single AL VA MS
Dudley white male Mar 1885 age 15 single AL VA MS
Lelia Kate most likely at boarding school

1910 Greene Co., Mt. Hebron, Alabama Roll T624_14, page 139B, dist. 27, precinct 6

Diggs Poyner white male age 73 VA VA VA married ONCE for 38 years
Mary white female age 61 AL AL AL married once for 38 years, 8 children 7 surviving
Dave white male age 26 AL VA AL single
Dudley white male age 23 AL VA AL single
Gasset, Jessie white male age 25 BOARDER single AL AL AL

1920-Jan. 02 Greene Co., AL Mt. Hebron, Alabama T625_18, precinct 6, district 26

Mary E. Poynor head white female age 71 widow AL VA VA
David T. Poynor son white male age 38 single AL VA AL
Dudley D. Poynor son white male age 32 single AL VA AL

1930-April 22 Greene Co., AL Mt. Hebron, AL Roll: 18 page 11B, T625_18, precinct 6, dist. 9

Tom Poynor head male white age 49 married AL VA AL [correct: AL VA MS]
Ophelia head-wife female white age 27 married AL AL AL
Dudley brother male white age 43 single AL VA AL [correct: AL VA MS]
Mary E. Poynor mother female white age 82 widow AL USA USA [correct: AL NC SC]
***Next door to Woodson & Leslie Greenwood Jones buried Pleasant Ridge Cemetery***