Chapter 12

Jonathan Milton Denty

            The previous six chapters have chronicled the lives and descendants of John and Susannah Denty's three eldest children.  It’s now necessary to return to the early nineteenth century to examine their three youngest offspring, Jonathan Milton, William Harrison, and Susan Kent Denty.

            Jonathan Milton was born about 1810 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.  Although his paternal grandfather was obviously the inspiration for his first name, the origin of his middle name is uncertain.  Milton could be a reference to John Milton, the great English author.  After all, the inventory for Jonathan's estate included five books.  It's not hard to imagine that the son of a Anglican Lay Reader would have, in addition to the Bible and The Book of Common Prayer, a tattered copy of Paradise Lost; and if so, the book would have been available to the young John Denty.  John and Susannah named two other children after the great or powerful: Thomas Jefferson, and later William Harrison.  On the other hand, they also utilized family names for their children, such as John Ramsey and Susan Kent. If the latter, the name "Milton" would undeniably provide a significant genealogical clue.                                  

            The earliest mention of Milton appears in a letter written by John Ramsey Denty to Thomas Jefferson Denty on 13 Feb 1831.  In it, John requested that Thomas tell him "how Milton is doing", a question implying that twenty-one year old Milton was, at the very least, paying an extended visit to Thomas in Giles County, Tennessee, and was perhaps even working and living there.  Whatever the circumstances, he did not remain.  On 14 Sep 1834 he received a grant for forty acres described as NW¼ NE¼ S12 T2 R3W in Limestone County, Alabama, a parcel that adjoined tracts owned by his father and older brother John Ramsey.  Whether Milton farmed his forty acres alone, or worked it in combination with those other parcels, is undetermined; but the latter would seem highly probable since his father was growing increasingly frail and his brother was employed full-time in an Athens store. 

In spite of all those Denty letters so faithfully preserved, surprisingly little is known about Milton.  While his descendants are fortunate enough to possess the photograph of a rather fierce looking Milton, see photo, our only real glimpse into his character or personality comes in his one extant letter to Thomas Jefferson Denty.

                Dear Brother

I Rec'd your vary friendly letter last evening and was glad to hear that you ware well and agreeable to your request have taken up my pen to write you an answer. You seem to complain off our neglect in not writing to you and wish to know if we have forgotten you, which I assure you we have not, for your name is mentioned almost every day in the family and we are made to wonder how it has come to pass that one who appeared to possess the Affections of a Brother & Son should so suddenly be turned away. True, we have become veary poor which naturaly has and aught to have a tendancy to produce humility and though the case might be changed and through the smiles of a kind providence I might become Rich, I think it would not turn me from my Dear parents, Brethen & Sisters. Excuse me for my suspions of laying the neglect at your dore. If the cap does not fit, do not ware it. I will take it back if I am any Judge of the matter. I wish to do every thing in my power consistantly to perpetuate our friendship through life and after death. You know that I am a poor writier and you can write well and therefore I aught to expect you to write more frequent. I have not heared  from Sister and family since Brother William was down.[1]  Brother John was well yesterday. Myself and Sister Susan has enjoyed ordinary helth. Father & Mother scarcely nowes an hour free from affliction. They are scarcely able to help themselves. I have made a very poor crop this year though I shall be able to pay you what I owe you. Father saw your letter and requested me to say to you that he has no property of any kind save one horse and if you will come down shortly you may have him. He is thought to be the finest young stalion that has ever been raised in this state, two years old last spring. I wish you would come down as soon as you can. I wish you would do me the favor to inquire if there will be any chance for me to get in business up there.

                Respectfully your Brother

M. Denty

            The letter is undated, but certainly must have been written after Thomas and Elizabeth Denty Ward first purchased land in Talladega County in 1834, but before Thomas Jefferson Denty died in 1836, i.e. about 1835.

By 1839, Milton had joined the Wards in Talladega County, witnessing a deed from Roland Cornelius to Thomas Ward there on 9 September.  Talladega County, at the southernmost extension of the Appalachians, was then a heavily forested, primitive frontier.  The first bridge had not been erected until 1835, in spite of having sixteen creeks that were virtually unfordable.[2]  (See map, Counties Significant to the Southern Dentys.) It's likely that Milton initially lived with Thomas and Elizabeth Denty Ward; but he had established his own household by 1840, when, still unmarried, he was enumerated with a 40-50 year old male, possibly the Lewis Ward who'd also witnessed the 1839 deed.

By 1845, Milton had married Mary Ann Boyd. 

On 4 Mar 1847 Milton purchased 160 acres in Talladega County described as E½ S½ S2 T20 R3W, just south of the town of Kymulga.  He bought a second 160 acres on 29 Sep 1847, also in S2 T20 R3W.  On 30 Jun 1849, he sold 34.8 acres for which there's no record of purchase.  As Mary Ann also signed the deed, the property may have come to them through inheritance from her family.  While Milton always seemed to have owned ample acreage, his estimated worth in the federal censuses was never great.  In 1850 he claimed real estate worth $640; in 1860 his real and personal property was estimated at $200 and $900; and in 1870 at $1,600 and $1,200.  Yet by the time of his death in 1873 he owned a total of 580.13 acres in Talladega and neighboring Shelby County, some bordering the Coosa River.

However well (or not) Milton might have done as a planter, his siblings apparently never knew of it.  There are no references to Jonathan Milton or his family in any of the later Denty letters.  According to niece Alice Denty Dean, Milton wrote a letter to his brother William (Alice's father) about 1869 that was addressed to Pleasant Hill, Mississippi, where William hadn't lived for almost a decade.[3]  For all the visits that Susan Kent Denty made to her niece Rebecca Denty Abernathy in Tennessee or that John Ramsey Denty made back and forth between Mississippi and Alabama, there's no mention of either sibling ever visiting Talladega County.  In fact, Alice Denty Dean was so vague concerning Milton's identity that she believed he was living "up North somewhere" as late as 1891.  Of course, if Milton did write to Susan Kent Denty or John Ramsey Denty, it's unlikely his letters would have been preserved in any case.[4] It's unfortunate that Milton's 1869 letter to brother William wasn't saved; it might have answered many questions.  Still, although there's no specific knowledge of a family rift between the Dentys in Talladega and the Dentys in Alabama and Mississippi, there certainly seems to have been a pronounced lack of interest.

Milton died intestate in Talladega County on 25 or 26 August 1873.  Letters of Administration were granted to third son James B. Denty after the widow and two older sons had recused themselves, albeit that Mary and oldest son John were sureties for the bond of $5,000.  Mary Ann Denty lived until at least 14 Nov 1886, when she and son John M. Denty sold a right of way through their farm to the Goodwater & Birmingham Railway. 

Although one daughter probably died in childhood, Milton and Mary Ann Denty had six children live into adulthood, all sons: John M., William T., James B., Robert Wallace, Columbus L., and Franklin.   While James, Columbus, and Franklin are profiled briefly below; John, William, and Robert are the subjects of the following chapter.

John and Mary Ann's third son James B. Denty, who was born in September 1850, was residing with his parents on the family farm in 1870 and was Administrator of his father's estate in 1873.  Although he was still living on the farm in the 1880 Census, purchased 210 acres of his father's estate from his five brothers on 12 Feb 1881, and presented the receipt from the heirs attesting to full distribution of his father's estate on 16 May 1881; he was not a party with his mother and brothers to a deed dated 28 Dec 1885 selling several tracts in Shelby County.  Whether he died or simply moved away in the interim is undetermined.  See photo.

Columbus L. Denty was born in September 1855.  Although he moved to Louisiana, where he married Belsorah Shannon on 7 Dec 1878 in Desoto Parish, he remained in contact with the family; or at least enough to grant power of attorney to his brother John to sell his share of their estate in 1885.  Columbus and "Belle" had four children, but only one lived into the new century: William, born in Nov 1880.  The 1900 Census found the family residing in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas where forty-four year old Columbus was employed as a "loc fr man" and nineteen year old son Willie as a house painter.  Columbus died by 1920.  That year the widowed Belle was living with Willie and his wife Martha in McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma.         

Born in September 1858, Franklin W. Denty was enumerated in the 1900 Census in Clanton, Chilton County, Alabama, which borders both Talladega and Shelby Counties on the south.  That year he described himself as employed in watch repair, the renter of a house on 2^nd Street.  He remained in Clanton through 1920, but by 1929 he and wife Carrie had moved to 214 South 12^th Street in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was still repairing watches, and apparently also either making or repairing jewelry.  The couple seemingly had at least two children, but only Norma S. Denty, born in May 1887, survived.  The author has been unable to learn where Frank and Carrie died, or what happened to Norma.  See Addenda.

Research Notes: Jonathan Milton and Mary Ann Boyd Denty

Spouse: Lynn Christian

28 Nov 1832: Rec'd patent #5763 for 40 acres NW ¼ NE ¼ S12 T2 R3W in Limestone Co between 40 acres owned by his father and 40 acres the latter had assigned to John Ramsey Denty.  Milton was described as residing in Madison Co at the time.  [Copy provided by Larry Ferguson; Barefield, Old Huntsville Land Office Records and Military Warrants 1810-1854, p. 39; Auto Records Project, AL: ancestry.com has date of 14 Sep 1834]

9 Feb 1834: Account of debts due estate of James Fitten in Limestone Co (turned in by Mrs. Catherine Fitten and John R. Denty) listed one note on "J.M. Denty" for $7.56 ¼ due 25 Dec 1834.  [Will Book 4, p. 309]

9 Sep 1839: Along with Lewis Ward, witnessed deed from Roland Cornelius to Thomas Ward in Talladega Co, AL.  [Book C, p. 134]

1840 CENSUS, Talladega Co, AL: "Milton Denty" = 1 male 30-40, 1 male 40-50.  (Who is the older male?)  [Pg 249]

4 Mar 1847: Purchased 160 acres in Talladega Co from George and Mary Kelly for $360.  Parcel described as E ½ S ½ S2 T20 R3W.  [Book F, p. 130]

29 Nov 1847: Purchased 160 acres for $360 from Thomas Brasher in the Coosa Land District, T20 R3W.  [Talladega Deed Book F, p. 326]

30 Jun 1849: Jonathan M. Denty "with wife Mary A." sold 34.8 acres in S27 T18 R3W to the Hughstons for $57.50.  Not recorded until 10 Mar 1876.  [Talladega Deed Book T, p. 110]

3 Oct 1850 CENSUS, Talladega Co, AL (Talladega District): Farmer "Milton Denty" 40, born in GA, with real estate estimated at $640; wife Mary A. age 26, born AL; sons John M. age 4, William T. age 2, and James B. age 1/12.  (The family was enumerated next to Thomas and Elizabeth Ward.)  [Pg 356]

28 Jun 1860 CENSUS, Talladega Co, AL  (Northern Division): Farmer with real and personal property valued at $200 and $900; wife M age 36; sons J.M. age 15, W.T. age 12, J.B. age 12, B age 8, and F.W. age 2; daughters [!] C.L. age 5 and M.E. six months.  [Pg 703]

There is no listing for Milton on the 1860 Slave Schedule.

Milton apparently wrote a letter to brother William abt 1869, just before latter's death; but it was directed to Pleasant Hill, MS, where William hadn't lived for almost a decade.  This letter was published in the local Desoto County newspaper.  [Alice Denty Dean, 4 May 1891: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith, Descendants of Thomas Jefferson Denty and Elizabeth Abernathy Denty]

6 Jul 1870 CENSUS, Talladega Co, AL (T19 R3E): Farmer Jonathan M. Denty, age 60, born in GA, with real and personal property valued at $1600 and $1200; Mary S. age 40; sons William T. 22, James B. 20, Robert W. 17, Columbus 15, and Franklin W. age 12.  All sons but Franklin described as farm laborers.  [Pg 564]

Deeds verify that Milton owned land in Section 19; also Section 20 of Talladega Co.  According to Tex Brison his land bordered the Coosa River.

(Alice Denty Dean claimed in letter of 4 May 1891 that "Uncle Milton Denty" was living "up North somewhere".)

According to Probate Records, Milton died seized of the following properties in Talladega County in T 19 R3W: N ½ SW ¼ S8 (80.07 acres) and NW ¼ NE ¼ S8 (40 acres) and NW ¼ SE ¼ S8 (40.03 acres) and SW ¼ NE ¼ S8 (40.03 acres) and E ½ SE ¼ S5 (80 acres) and NW ¼ NW ¼ S9 (40 acres - This plot contained homestead).    And in Shelby County: County in R2E: SW ¼ SE ¼ S3 T19 and part of NW ¼ NW ¼ S3 T19 and NE ¼ S10 T19 and SW ¼ SW ¼ S34 T18 and E ½ NW ¼ S2 T19.  (Land in Shelby totaled  260 acres; total acreage in both counties = 580.13)

Date of death: Probate records dated 18 Sep 1873 stated that Milton "departed this life intestate in this said county the 25th day of August".  But Petition for Admns 2 Sep 1874 claims death date of 26 Aug.  [Copies provided by John Abernathy Smith]

15 Oct 1873: Letters of Admns granted James B. Denty.  (Mary A, JM, and WT Denty declined to admns estate,; Mary requesting appointment of James as Admns.)  Property value of estate estimated to be $2,500.  Bond $5,000 with Mary A. Denty and J.M. Denty as sureties.  J.W. Sanford, Wm Hine, and Wm Culpepper appt to appraise.  [Probate Minute Book L, p. 449]

10 Sep 1874: H.H. Hamill appt grdn of minors Robert W, Columbus S, and Franklin W. Denty.  Mary A. Denty rec'd dower from lands in Talladega.  Why not the accepted practice of naming the older brothers as guardians?  James B. was Admns.

16 Sep 1874: Admns James B. Denty petitioned to sell certain parcels.  Petition named only heirs as: Widow Mrs. Mary A. Denty; children John M, William T, and James B (all over 21 years) and Robert W, Columbus L, and Franklin W (all minors over 14).  All heirs resided in Shelby Co, except John M. Denty, who still resided in Talladega Co.  [Minute Book M, p. 57]

Lands sold on 21 Nov 1874: NW ¼ SE ¼ S8 T19 R3E; N ½ SW ¼ S8 T19 R3E = 120 acres bought by James B. Denty for $264; E ½ E ¼ S5 T19 R3E = 80 acres bought by Wm Culpepper for $97.  (On 17 Dec 1874 James B. Denty asked sale be nullified because Culpepper had paid too small a price.)

1880 CENSUS, Kelly's Creek, Shelby Co, AL (Beat #16): Farmer Mrs. Mary Denty age 56, AL AL AL; son J.B. age 30, AL GA AL, also farmer; F.W. age 23.  [Pg 6]

16 May 1881: Admns J.B. Denty presented receipt from heirs of full distribution of estate in amount of $600 for 210 acres in S2, S3, and S10 T19 R2E.  It had been signed by JM, WT, RW, CB, and FW Denty on 12 Feb 1881.  [Book 4, p. 265]

18 Dec 1885: Mrs M. A. Denty, along with JM, William T, RW, CL, and Frank W. Denty sold several tracts in Shelby Co to A.B. Mitchell for $150.  Mary signed with mark.  [Deed Book 11, p. 169]

14 Nov 1886: Mary A. Denty and J.M. Denty sold right of way through S3 and S10 T19 R2E to Goodwater & Birmingham Railway for $1.  [Book 8, p. 510]

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