Phinizy from Italy to Georgia

William Ferdinand Phinizy, was b. 1760 in Parma, Italy, and died 19 October 1818, buried first at his home at China Grove, later reinterred in St. Paul's Churchyard in Augusta, Georgia. He was orphaned during early childhood and was sent to resided with his aunt in France. While in France, he enlisted in LaFayette's regiment which came to America to fight against the British troops. He was married to Margaret Condon, a native of Rhode Island. They settled in Wilkes County in 1787 on the banks of Long Creek. Irrespective of his circumstances of arriving in America penniless, he accumulated land and built a store in Lexington, subsequently opening another retail store in Augusta. The Augusta Chronicle published an article in August of 1790 which stated that he had been cited by the grand jury for selling spiritous liquors without a license. He was a man of varied business adventures,which brought him good fortune. In 1791 he provided personal funds to equip a cavalry company to protect the vicinity against Indians and for this generosity was given the title of Major. He built a home near Bowling Green called "China Grove". He died on 19 Oct 1818 in Stephens, Georgia. (Oglethorpe County) His wife, Margaret, was born 1760, died 22 August 1815, of Irish descent, having been Margaret Condon of Cranberry, Rhode Island. She was also interred in St. Paul's churchyard. 18 June 1805. Page 469. Justices of the Inferior Court to Ferdinand Phinizy of Oglethorpe Co. for $10, Lot No. 33 in the town of Lexington, adj. Mathew Gage. He lived first in Wilkes Co., then in Richmond County. He married Margaret Condow. Issue:

I. Sarah Phinizy b. 1788 Georgia, d. 18 Jan 1819 Richmond Co., Ga m. Thomas Burdell. Had issue: Thomas Burdell; Joseph Burdell m. his cousin, Eliza McGran; and Ferdinand Burdell.

II. Eliza Phinizy b. 1791 Georgia, d. 26 Jul 1884 Richmond Co., Ga m. Thomas McGran and had issue: Sarah McGran; and Eliza McGran.

III. Marco Phinizy, b. 1794 Georgia, lived at Athens, m. 9/6/1813 Oglethorpe Co. Ga., Nancy Baldwin. His estate was administered in Clarke Co., Bk B, Admrs, Bonds, Estate of Marco Phinizy, 10/7/1816, Jacob Phinizy and John Phinizy, admrs. Jacob was made gdn of John F. and Benjamin, orphans of Marco. He married Mrs. Dancy by whom he had son, John F. Phinizy.

IV. Jacob Phinizy was b. 24 April 1790 Oglethorpe Co., Ga., d. 22 April 1853, buried in the Oconee Cemetery, Athens, Clarke Co., Ga. He m. on 17 May 1813 in Oglethorpe Co., Matilda Stewart (24 Dec 1795-24 May 1836), a daughter of John J. Stewart and his wife, Mourning Floyd. (Her nephew was John B. Floyd, Secretary of War under President Buchanan, and another nephew was John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky). Jacob and his wife were residents of Clarke Co. in 1830. He was First Lieutenant of the Richmond Blues, having enlisted at Augusta. Issue of Jacob Phinizy follows:

A. Ferdinand Phinizy, b. 1/20/1819 Bowling Green, Oglethorpe Co., Ga., on the old family plantation. He married 1st, 2/22/1849 in Richmond Co., Harriett H. Bowdre, b. 1829, d. 2/7/1863, dau. of Hayes Bowdre of Augusta, Ga. They are buried in the Oconee Cemetery, Athens, Ga. He m. 2d, 8/11/1865 Annie S., dau. of Thomas Barrett and Savannah Glascock of Augusta, Ga. Ferdinand was a wealthy landowner in Athens, graduate of Franklin College, now University of Ga. in 1838. They are buried in the Oconee Cemetery, in Athens. Ferdinand died on October 20, 1889 and Harriett died February 7, 1863. He obtained a contract to trade the first eleven miles of the Georgia Railroad from Athens. The family removed to Augusta where he established the cotton firm of Phinizy & Clayton. He also had an interest in the cotton houses of C. H. Phinizy & Co., D. B. Phinizy, and Phinizey & Co. They had eleven children, as follows:

Ferdinand Bowdre Phinizy m. Miss Mary Lou Yancey, daughter of Col. B. C. Yancey of Ga.
Stewart Phinizy, b. 11/23/1854 m. 1876 Miss Marion Coles, daughter of J. S. Coles of Columbia, S. C. and gr-dau of Gov. Pickens of S. C. He was a native of Bowling Green, Oglethorpe County. Issue: Ferdinand, Coles, Eliza P., Marie S., Louise C. and Izaetta.
Leonard Phinizy was born December 22, 1854 in Augusta, attorney.
Mary Louise Phinizy m. Dr. A. W. Calhoun of Atlanta, Ga.
Jacob Phinizy m. (1) Miss Vannie E. Gartrell of Atlanta, (2) Miss Mary Vason of Augusta, Ga.
Marion Daniel Phinizy, never married.
Billups Phinizy m. Miss Nellie G. Stovall of Athens, Georgia and had issue: Anne Barrett Phinizy who married E. H. Johnson; Bolling Stovall Phinizy who married Hughes Spaulding; Martha Susan Phinizy who married Leroy Pratt Percy' Nellie Phinizy who married Lieut. Robert Malcolm Fortson; and Louise Calhoun Phinizy.
Harry Hayes Phinizy, never married. Issue by 2nd wife:
Savannah Barrett Phinizy m. Miss Martha Glover of Atlanta, ahd had issue: Laura Anne Phinizy.
Barrett Phinizy.
Charles Henry Phinizy m. Miss Nellie Carter Wright of Atlanta and had issue: Charles Henry Phinizy, Jr. and William Wright Phinizy.

B. Sarah Phinizy m. John M. Billups of Columbus, Mississippi, where he died during the War Between the States.
C. Margaret Phinizy m. Colonel T. D. Lookhardt of Nashville, Tennessee, she d. Atlanta, Ga.
D. John Phinizy m. Eliza Sherrod Watkins, the oldest daughter of Paul J. Watkins. He died in Alabama. Issue:

Elizabeth Phinizy m. Mr. Pointer.
Maud Phinizy, unmarried.
Paul Watkins Phinizy.
James Watts Phinizy.
Margaret Floyd Phinizy m. Mr. Strong.
Jacob Phinizy died at Manasses, Capt., Oglethorpe Rifles, 8th Ga. Regt.
Marco Phinizy.

V. John Phinizy b. 1793 in Wilkes Co., Georgia, planter, m. on 20 Jul 1814 in Richmond Co., Martha Creswell, b. 1801 Georgia, lived in Richmond Co., Ga. Issue follows:

A. John Phinizy, b. 1822 Richmond Co., Ga, never married.
B. Thomas Burdell Phinizy, b. 1826 Richmond Co., Ga. m. Fannie Hamilton and had issue: James Hamilton Phinizy John Phinizy who m. Miss Irwin; Margaret Phinizy who m. William K. Miller; and a daughter, Mrs. Gary.
C. William Jacob Phinizy, b. 1828 Richmond Co., Ga., never married.
D. Mary Eliza Phinizy, b. 1832 Richmond Co., Ga m. W. S. Roberts and had issue: John Roberts.
E. Martha Patton Phinizy, b. 1833 Richmond Co., Ga m. C. M. Kolb.
F. Charles H. Phinizy, b. 1/15/1838 on the Eve plantation in Richmond Co., Ga., m. 1885 the widow of F. B. Phinizy (Ferdinand Bowdre), his deceased cousin, Mrs. Mary Lou Yancey Phinizy, the daughter of Col. B. C. Yancey of Ga. Pres., Ga. R. R. Bank of Augusta, Ga. They had issue: Harriet Phinizy. G. Jane Meek Phinizy, b. 1841 Richmond Co., Ga m. (1) Capt. John Samuel Bones and (2) Captain James Walker. Issue: by first marriage: John Phinizy Bones. H. Robert Marco Phinizy m. Louisa Hamilton Musgrove and had issue: Mary and Lula Phinizy. The children were raised by their grandfather, John Phinizy, because their parents died young.
I. James Hamilton Phinizy, never married.