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Toombs of Virginia and Wilkes County



Gabriel Toombs was born in Virginia and died in Wilkes County, Georgia. He was a patriot during the American Revolution, too old for active service. In 1784 he removed to Wilkes County. In 1788 Gabriel Toombs served on the grand jury of Wilkes County. Wife, Ann. His LWT was probated in Wilkes County on 25 February 1799. He left almost all of his estate to his wife, Ann, to be divided at her death, between his six children, viz: Robert and Dawson Gabriel Toombs, Mary Barrett, Elizabeth Toombs, Ann Dawson Spearman and Sally Dawson Toombs. All of this property to go to the children for life, then to his grandchildren at their deaths, and the slaves are to be treated kindly. “This is my desire, my dear children, fulfill my desire.”

25 July 1800, Lewis Barrett and Mary, his wife, John Spearman and Anne Dawson Spearman, his wife, Elizabeth Toombs and Sally Dawson Toombs of Wilkes County to Robert Toombs of Wilkes County for $200.00, 130 acres devised to Dawson G. Toombs in the will of his father dated 8 December 1795 in Greene County on the waters of Fishing Creek adj. Watson & Grigsby. Greene County Deed Book 2, pp. 582-583.

Issue:

  1. Robert Toombs, born in Virginia, died 1815 in Wilkes County. During the American Revolution, he served as Major, commanding a regiment of Virginia Troops. In 1783, he removed to Wilkes County where he received a bounty grant for his services. He married (1) Miss Sanders and had no children; (2) Sarah Catlett and (3) Catherine Huling (born 15 January 1789 Virginia, died 11 May 1848 in Wilkes County), the daughter of James Huling, Revolutionary War Soldier of Virginia and Wilkes County. His LWT dated 1 August 1815, probated 2 January 1815 in Wilkes County. He bequeathed his eldest son, Lawrence Catlett Toombs, 300 acres adjoining Peter B. Terrell, slaves, stock in the Bank of Augusta, etc. He mentioned children born or to be born "by my present wife". Thomas W. Cobb, executor, touching the bank stock. Wife, Catharine and friend, John Spearman, executors for the other property.
    Issue by 2nd wife:
    1. Lawrence Catlett Tombs married Harriet E. DuBose, daughter of Ezekiel DuBose, Revolutionary War Soldier of Lincoln County, Georgia and his wife, Mary (Rembert) Dubose), in 1822, Wilkes County.
      Issue by 3d wife:
    2. Sarah Ann Eliza Toombs, born 1808, married Henry J. Pope of Georgia, Confederate Soldier. In 1880, he was a lawyer in Washington, Georgia. One of the old servants of his father, William Toombs (mulatto), born 1805 in Georgia, resided with him. In 1856 when Toombs visited Boston and delivered a lecture upon slavery, a large audience greeted him. In referring to the constitution providing for the return of fugitive slaves, Toombs was greeted with a hiss. The speaker turned in the direction of the noise and said: <“>I did not put that clause there. I am only giving the history of your own Adams, of your fathers and mine. You may hiss them if you choose.<”> There was a storm of applause. Toombs was appointed a General during the War Between the States and spent seven months eluding Federal search parties.
    3. Gabriel Toombs, born 7 March 1813 in Wilkes County, died 29 November 1901 in Washington, Georgia. He married Mary Richardson. He was a farmer in Washington, Georgia. Issue:
      1. Robert Toombs, physician, was born 1849 in Wilkes County.
      2. Gussie Toombs (son), was born 1857 in Wilkes County.
    4. James H. Toombs of Oglethorpe County.
    5. Augustus Toombs.
  2. Dawson Gabriel Toombs, married Mary. His LWT dated 12 December 1799, probated 31 July 1801 left his wife, Mary, certain slaves and all of the legacies due in Virginia or elsewhere. The rest of the estate to be divided according to my fathers will. Executors: Wife, Mary, and brother, Robert.

  3. Mary Toombs married Dr. Lewis Barrett.

  4. Elizabeth Toombs.

  5. Sallie D. Toombs married Robert Dawson.

  6. Ann Dawson Toombs married John Spearman.


General Robert Toombs
General Robert Toombs (1810-1885)

Toombs Home
Toombs House built ca 1794 in Washington, Georgia. Robert Toombs, planter, owned land and slaves in Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He was on the Union Army traitor list and when Federal soldiers came to the home searching for him, he escaped through the back door.

Notes: Official Georgia Correspondence confirms the fact that yankees did not return run-away slaves when southerners visited their relatives in the north. The northern courts did not honor this facit of the constitution. This fact, along with the tariffs the yankees charged southerners for transporting goods, started the war between the states. Slavery was not an issue until about 1864 when Lincoln added it to the cause in order to get himself re-elected. Jeannette Holland Austin.

Sources: Revolutionary War Soldiers in Georgia by McCall, Volume III; 1850-1880 Jasper County Census; Jasper County Marriages; Wilkes County Wills, Original Papers; 1880 Wilkes County Census, Washington, Georgia; 1880 Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia Census; Chronicles of Wilkes County by Mary Bondurant Warren; LWT of Gabriel Toombs (1792-1801) Wilkes County; LWT of Robert Toombs (1818-1819) Wilkes County; LWT of Dawson Toombs (1792-1801) Wilkes County.

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