Notes for: Obediah Britt

It is NOT known as of 11/15/2001, if the children listed are actually brothers, and children of Obediah and Ava. Obed Britt of Washington Co., Georgia had a number of children listed on the 1830 census. He and wife Avy (sister Britt) were dismissed from the Darien Baptist Church, in Washington County, Georgia in 1831. It appears that Obed and Avy left Washington County, and planned to settle in Crawford County, Georgia. No record has been found to validate this theory; except the marriage of Ava Britt to Jacob Hortman in 1838 seems to reinforce it. The fact there are more teen-age boys shown on the 1840 census, with Jacob Hortman & Ava Britt-Hortman, than fit into the length of Jacob and Ava's marriage, is enough to raise thought.

Census reviews indicate there were NO "Britt" family heads in Crawford County, Georgia, in 1830, and 1840; however, Ava Britt married Jacob Hortman in Crawford County, in 1838. In 1850, the thought to be children of Ava seem to "appear" from some other location; though their places of birth are listed as Georgia. Again, the 1840 census indicates a number of males in the home of Jacob and Ava Britt-Hortman, that do not fit the length of their marriage.

The 1850 census, and location of a marriage license for Kinchen Britt to Elizabeth McGraw in Crawford County in 1846, makes it "appear" Kinchen was here second (after Ava); and the other family members "came" later. Perhaps, because of a death of the parent, which we believe to be Obediah or "Obed." From the 1850 census (family 371) we found that Kinchen is identified as "H" (head of household).

In 1858 Kinchen deeded land (in-trust) to Henry N. Britt; for the use of Kinchen's mother Ava Hortman. This deed, at least confirms that Ava Britt-Hortman is the mother of Kinchen L. Britt. Also on the 1850 census, we find Henry N. Britt and Elizabeth "Betsy" Miller-Britt married, living with the Sanders Bond (family 358). It is believed that Catherine Miller-Bond, wife of Sanders Bond, is a sister of Elizabeth "Betsy" and Mary Jane. Isaiah and Obidiah Britt, were in the home of James Mathews (family 381). Lewis Britt, shown as being a laborer, living in the home of Hilliard Crutchfield (family 173). Joel Brit is listed in the home of Jacob Hortman (family 379) as an idiot. John Jasper Britt has not been located on the 1850 census. Levi H. Britt has recently been located on the 1850 census, in Thomas County, Georgia. Many of the Thomas County Census pages were deemed illegible by the transcriber, and John Jasper may in fact be there along with Levi. A marriage record of Levi H. Britt to Caroline Hearn in 1849 indicates they were in Crawford County, at least for a short time. Ava and her parents were listed on the 1880 census, as being born in South Carolina. Each listed Britt, indicated THEIR place of birth as Georgia, except for Ava.

The place of birth for the Britt parents seems to change with each census. John Jasper Britt on the 1880 census, indicated that both his parents were born in South Carolina; on the 1900 he indicated both his parents were born in Georgia. Henry, in 1880 indicated his father was born in North Carolina, his mother in Georgia; in 1900, both his parents born in Georgia. Isaiah had not been located on the 1870 nor 1880 census; however the location of his Confederate Service Record (listed as J.D.), indicated that he died in 1864. Kinchen, in 1880 indicated his parents were born in Georgia, where his mother indicated she was born in South Carolina. Kinchen has not been located on the 1900 census; however a deed has been located, indicating Kinchen and family moved to Shelby County, Texas. On the 1850 census, Joel Brit and Ava Britt-Hortman's ages are fairly close, so they may be siblings; however the 1880 census indicted that Ava as 73 years, which makes her DOB more realistic to being the Mother of Joel.

Until other verifying or conflicting information can be found, we will leave this family group as is, to maintain account of them during that era. John Jasper Britt attended the funeral of Henry N. Britt. The obituary stated Henry was survived by ONE brother; but did not name the surviving brother. The notation does however, imply there were other brothers that may have passed on, before Henry. For the sake of argument, the status of the known Britts in Crawford County at Henry's passing (1907): Isaiah died (1864), Joel died (1853), Obediah died (1900), John Jasper died (1910), Kinchen died (1913). The death dates for Lewis and Levi, are unknown. It should also be noted, Obediah son of Levi H. Britt, was living in the home of John Jasper Britt (1880 census). He is listed as a "nephew", which implies Levi is a brother of John Jasper. Since Levi was found in Thomas County on the 1850 census, that may be where John Jasper was also. That particular census is in poor shape, and many names cannot be read. Levi's family was last researched and found on the 1870 census in Monroe County, Georgia. Because of his absence on the 1850 census, we are not convinced John Jasper Britt is a brother of Henry. He would have been 18 on that census. Too, since Obediah son of Levi is listed as nephew to John Jasper; it would also indicate that Levi H. Britt was not a brother of Henry, but is a brother to John Jasper. So of the remaining names, either Kinchen L. Britt, or Lewis Britt would be the surviving brother of Henry in 1907. Henry had a son named Lewis Miles C. Britt. A Lewis M.C. Britt married Mary Wooten in 1855, in Taylor County. Our hunch at this point is Henry's son Lewis, was named after Henry's brother Lewis. This is pure speculation at this point, and the challenge continues, since a researcher of Lewis Miles Cullen Britt states he had a son named Henry Newton.