Pendergrass of South Carolina and Georgia

John Pendergrass was born a 1740 and died before 1784 in Lancaster County, South Carolina. He was married ca 1770 in Bute County, North Carolina to Margaret Pownall (born 11/10/1748/9 in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, died 1827-1830 in Jackson County, Georgia, a daughter of John Pownall and his wife, Margaret (Nelson) Pownall. They had issue: Nimrod (1780-1871); John (1777-1868); and Nathaniel (1771-1843).

Nathaniel Pendergrass, the son of John Pendergrass and his wife, Margaret (Pownall) Pendergrass, was born 22 September 1771 in Bute County, North Carolina and died 1843 in Jackson County, Georgia. He was married first to Hannah Nixon, a daughter of John Nixon, born 30 April 1777 in Kershaw County, South Carolina, died 2 September 1821 in Jackson County. Hanna gave birth to ten children. After her death Nathaniel married secondly Elizabeth Burks (born 1796 N. C.) on 4/23/1822 in Clarke County. Elizabeth gave birth to four more children.

Nathaniel Pendergrass, the grandfather of Dr. J. B. Pendergrass, was a great believer in the Bible and lived a consecrated Christian life, often speaking in public and working for Christ. He was twelve years of age at the close of the Revolutionary War. His wife was Miss Hannah Nixon, a woman of great beauty and intellect. She was of royal descent."

Issue:

• Hiram Pendergrass 7/22/1796-12/19/1856, buried in the City Cemetery, Monroe, Georgia. Hiram was born in South Carolina, removed to Jasper County, Georgia. He drew in the 1820 land lottery, land in the 15th district of Early County. He was married in Jasper County oon 12/2/1816 to Cynthia E. Freeman, born 9/11/1799 in Georgia. He was apparently a teacher, because of a letter dated January 22, 1845 to Governor George W. Crawford complaining of not having been paid for teaching poor children, which he had done for 23 years. His work carried him Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties. In 1836 he was a teacher at the Rehobethville Academy in Morgan County. Cynthia was a daughter of Polly Freeman whose LWT was probated in Monroe County on 11/7/1842 wherein she named her daughter, Cynthia Pendergrast. Hiram died in Monroe, Walton County. His wife, Cynthia was a mid-wife, and recorded her will in Walton County Return Book U, page 76. 5/12/1876. She named her son, William N., daughter, Eliza and sons-in-law, A. M. Beck, Thomas Snow, William Lowe and B. S. Brown, who were to share in the proceeds of the sale of her house and lot in Monroe. Cynthia was buried in Monroe beside her husband. Issue:
  
  

1. Sarah Herring Pendergrass, born 10/16/1817, married Anderson W. Smith 7/16/1838.
   
2. Mary Ann Pendergrass, born 4/28/1820.
   
3. James F. Pendergrass, born 2/28/1823.
   
4. Martha Nixon Pendergrass, born 10/10/1824, married Thomas Snow 11/19/1844 in Walton County.
   
5. Malinda Jane Pendergrass, born 2/7/1831.
   
6. Frances C. Pendergrass, born 5/9/1834, married James C. Christopher on 4/3/1851.
7. William Nixon Pendergrass, born 7/16/1836, died 10/8/1887, married Anna Elizabeth Hughes 4/14/1859 in Walton County. He was buried in the City Cemetery in Monroe, Walton County.
   
8. Elizabeth Pendergrass, born 7/28/1841, married Absalom M. Beck on 10/21/1869 in Walton County.

• Rebecca Pendergrass.
• Martha Pendergrass married John Reynolds, a son of William Reynolds whose LWT was probated in Jackson County on 7/5/1830 wherein he named a daughter, Patsy Pendergrass.
• Margaret Pendergrass.
• Nathaniel Harlingsworth Pendergrass, 10/24/1807-6/3/1879 was a resident of Jackson County where ie witnessed a number of documents (Wills).
• John Nixon Pendergrass 2/13/1812-4/22/1880.
• Elizabeth Pendergrass, born 1813.
• Emily Pendergrass, born 3/9/1814-12/15/1892, buried at Winder, Rose Hill Cemetery, Jackson County.
• George Henry Pendergrass, 2/3/1818-8/10/1899. He married Mary M. Haralson on 12/15/1842 in Newton County. Wife, called Margrett, was born 1822 in Georgia. They were listed on the 1880 Newton County Census, Stansells District, with a daughter, Sallie Pendergrass, age 23.
• Mary Pendergrass, born 1820.
• Ann Pendergrass, born 1828.
• Cynthia Pendergrass, born 1830.
• Sarah Pendergrass, born 1832.
• John Pownell Pendergrass, born 1837.

Old Jefferson, Georgia

Sources: 1880 Newton County Census; Rose Hill Cemetery; Memoirs of Georgia (published 1896).