Marie Denty Nesbit

Mary Susannah Denty, the eldest child of John Ramsey Denty and his first wife Matilda Johnston, was born on 5 Jan 1838 in Limestone County, Alabama. After her mother Matilda’s death in 1845, her father established his guardianship in court, an unusual step for a biological father in the nineteenth century. She and her younger brother John Joseph, who died before 1850, would thus have ostensibly spent some years in John Ramsey Denty's household in Marshall County, Mississippi, but just how many years is uncertain. We know that Marie, in her lovely, albeit florid, eulogy to her father, wrote that John was "for a time, my constant companion. He was ever mindful of his little orphan girl, and at all times would lend a listening ear and a helping hand to my many childish whims. It was he who taught my infant tongue to lisp the name of Jesus."[1] The fact that his daughter was motherless would not present a problem for a man who owned adult female slaves. We also know, however, that the practice of dispatching motherless children to live with their nearest female maternal relative was common. The Johnstons were already caring for Alfred Dockery, the young son of their deceased daughter Sarah. And certainly, the environment that the Johnston plantation offered would have been considered ideal for a growing young "lady" in that culture and time; a large, prosperous cotton plantation containing a doting grandmother, staffed by numerous slaves, and crowded with compatriots in the person of her five Johnston cousins,[2] four of whom were girls and one of whom was very close in age. The adjoining plantation belonged to another uncle, Samuel Johnston, and it too was overflowing with cousins. It's therefore not surprising to discover that Mary was enumerated, not with her father and stepmother in the 1850 Census, but in the household of her uncle Stephen Darden Johnston. Nevertheless, the legal arrangement was not altered until 7 Jan 1856, when Stephen Johnston was granted guardianship of Mary by the Desoto County court. Are we to conclude that this formalized an already existing situation, i.e. that of Mary residing with the Johnstons; or did she divide her time between her father's home and her numerous cousins in Desoto County?

John Abernathy Smith has suggested that "Marie", the name she came to prefer, later idealized her early relationship with her father, that her change from "Mary" to "Marie" and her reluctance to use her middle name or initial marked a repudiation of both grandmothers, and that she may have married to escape her Johnston relations.[3] In truth, she never wrote warmly about any of her Johnston kin; but then, she never wrote about any of her husband's Nesbit relatives at all. Without her own testimony, Marie's emotional life and inner thoughts remain speculation.

However affectionate (or not) her ties with the Johnstons, Marie seems to have remained reasonably close to her Denty kin. Half-brother Nathaniel lived with Marie and her husband after the War. Father John visited her, she requested that he come live with her, and she wrote that loving tribute to him that was published in the local newspaper. Orphaned first cousin Alice Denty Dean, daughter of William Harrison Denty, lived with Marie for eight years, from 1869 until her marriage in 1877. And Marie and her husband provided a home for Nathaniel's young son, Samuel Johnston Denty, for almost two years.

Marie married William T. Nesbit on 18 Jun 1856, not long after being made the ward of Stephen Johnston. "Bill" was a successful farmer and businessman and may have practiced law at some point in his life. In the 1860 Census, he and Marie were enumerated in neighboring Panola County, Mississippi with real and personal property worth $20,000 and $27,000. In the Civil War he served as a Colonel in the 44th Mississippi Infantry. After the war, like so many, his property and prosperity were much reduced. In the 1870 Census he and Marie estimated their real and personal property at $5,000 and $2,675. This was still enough, however, to be able to provide the couple with one white farm laborer and four black servants. That year they were back in Desoto County in Nesbit Station, a small town on the Illinois Central Railroad. There Bill’s brother Ed apparently owned the general store in which John Ramsey Denty had sold "goods" during the previous fall, winter, and spring.

During the next decade, Marie's health slowly deteriorated. In 1874, Avie Webb Flautt, a friend of Elizabeth Abernathy Denty, reported that Marie was "in very bad health and was then at Bailey Springs and that she had a cousin living with her by the name of Alice Denty".[4] In the late 1870s and early 1880s she spent three years in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The cause of her poor health was a disease of the lungs presumed to be tuberculosis. Her decline was slow and inexorable.

My Dear Cousin

Please send me one of your photos. I want to see how much Denty there is in you. There is a considerable amount in your humble servant.

Cousin Rebecca must have answered Marie's letter fairly promptly, for Marie's next communication contains an apology for her tardiness in writing.

Nesbit Station Dec Ist [1877?]

Don't condemn me exc you hear me. You are aware that we have been sorely scourged with that fearful fatal disease "yellow fever" & for four months have been afraid to write or even receive letters until two weeks ago (my correspondence have all stopped). We were strickly quarantined all the time much to the immusement of some other little Rail Road towns "who suffered greatly". Our County site lost 75, of which were many prominent citizens. ______ ______ town of this line of R R suffered more or less. We escaped entirely. It reminded me of the fox in his den "afraid to put his head out", but my dear cousin I assure you your letter received several months ago was none the less appreciated though I never remembered seeing you. Know couldn't helping loving you. But I'm going to see if some of these days, if I live long enough. If you can't come to see me I'm going to see you. I'm anxious too to see my old aunt at Huntsville. I'm going to write to her some time soon. Perhaps next year I shall recreate a little. My husband speaks of going for a year or two out west on some R R ‑ Before he _______ I will have a good time flying around. Imagine me soaring over & in the vallies of the Rockey Mountains chasing the antelope in day & at night around the camp fires. You seem to think that all fiction. Well perhaps it is. Alice is very well but the busiest little house keeper[6] you ever saw & one of the very best. I have instilled into her many of my ways in this line but her habits of industry are purely innate. Can't imagine for a moment I intend to compliment my self but I am proud of her ways of housekeeping in which I give lessons. We heard of Pa only once during the war (yellow fever). He stayed in Holly Springs safe & sound. He is in fine health. Tell me something of Lizzie's[7] teaching in Pulaski. I wish I lived near you, you have so many little girls & I love so much to be with them & teach & train them. I believe I'll go into an orphan asylum. Please write immediately & tell me about your family & your mother.

Truly your cousin

Marie N

We don't know whether Bill and Marie ever took that vacation to the Rockies. As noted, Marie spent three years in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, but she and Bill have not been located either there or in Desoto County, Mississippi in the 1880 Census. There was a gap of many years before Marie wrote again. During that time half-brother Nathaniel had lost his wife Nancy, and Marie's health had continued to decline.

July 20, 1885

Dear Cousin

So many, many times have I thought I'd write you but never could commence. I remember several years ago that nice letters passed between us. I left for Eurika Springs immediately afterward, was absent three years. Not long since I wrote to Aunt Susan inquiring about you & family. She wrote me she hadn't heard from you since before Christmas. She is not in very good health, been having chills. Not long since she was bitten by some poisonous insect of spider which gives her great pain. I have often thought I'd go to see her & it seems quite strange to me that I haven't. If I'd always been more associated with my father's relatives I presume I'd know more of all of you. Pa keeps in pretty good health. I'm looking for him to pay me a visit in Sept. He is still living in Holly Springs. Seems to like it much better there than anywhere. I'm going to persuade him to live with us[8] as he is 78 the 24th of Aug. but still holds his identity & when I saw him last was hale and hearty. My husband is not in very good health at present but I attribute it to the hot climate. We will if possible go back to the Mts after this summer & spend at least two months. It is very pleasant here except the hottest months.

I will tell you of some new kin in Va. We recently heard from them, has been several wills and pictures passed. They live 16 miles from Washing City, 10 from Alexandria & some of them on the Potomac. Pa met a commercial traveler in Memphis last fall that told him all about them & gave him the address of Mr Silas Denty. He is the son of Samuel Denty, our grandfather's half brother's son by his second wife.[9] They know much more of the genealigy of the family than any of us. There is an Alexander & Frank who are brothers living on the Fredericksburg & Alexandria RR, both sons of James D.[10] also half brother to grandfather. The father is dead but the mother is still living. Miss Anna Denty, daughter of Alex. wrote me a 14 page letter four weeks ago in answer to mine. She is quite inteligent, is just seventeen & has taught two years in the public schools, is going off to a normal school in Aug. She with several other members of her family are members of the Mt Vernon Church.[11] She wrote me a long history of that old church, of which the father of our country was a member & who helped to build it. As you know it is Episcopal. It was built about the year 1760. She writes it was very much torn up during the late war by the Maine? soldiers. It was then the Washington pew was destroyed. I don't know whether this will interest you or not but I imagined it would. Please write soon & tell me all about yourself, your mother and your family. Pa has always had such a tender feeling for you because your father was his favorite bro. & then he died when you were so small. I visited Giles Co. two years ago. Met a Mr Abernathy (young man) who told me he was related to every family by that name in the Co. He was quite a jolly fellow. Also met a Mr Jones, son of Judge Jones of Pulaski. I was visiting at Mr Ned Grisbys.

I shall direct this to Buford Sta. Giles County but I'm not certain about it. Much love to every one of you.

Your aff cousin

M.S. Nesbit

It seems odd that Marie would have visited Giles County in 1883 without making an effort to meet Rebecca Denty Abernathy. Perhaps Alice Denty Dean's later description of Marie as a "woman of great pecularities" was apt.

In 1887 brother Nathaniel's second wife died leaving his seven children without a mother. His son Sam, four years old at the time, was sent to live with Marie and Bill Nesbit. On 23 Apr 1889, Alice Denty Dean wrote that Marie's heath was "very bad". By 26 Sep 1889 it had failed to the point that Alice wrote regarding Marie:

"Poor woman. She suffers so much. I fear she will not live much longer as she now has Consumption. Her left lung is gone so her last Dr. says & her right is diseased & have told them she could not get well but about all that could be done was to keep her stimulated. I was over to see her this eve. She seemed to be suffering very much and was quite nervous indeed. I do feel sorry for her. She can't bear her pain with any patients. She is looking for Dock and his new wife to see her. They wrote they would be hereabout next week. They will take his little child she has back with them as she is not able to care for him. Poor little fellow doesn't want to go back at all. Cousin Marie has no children & so made a pet of him and now her health has failed her, she will have to give him up. It will be sad for both".[12]

"Her whole life was one of pain and then she died so hard so all said present at her death. She knew she was going to die sometime before her death, talked to many of her friends about death, and give full instructions about her death and burial. Sent for our Pastor and talked to him and told him the text to preach from at her funeral and about how long he must talk at the grave etc. She thought of all of her friends both far & near and give near all as she could a little keepsake of some kind though Cousin Dock's two daughters got the most she had, and some of the Nesbits. She give off everything & sent a great many presents off before her death & those she could not see or send to she had locked up and put away before she died so they could get them. She was a woman of great peculiarities and carried them to her grave. She had her dress made & brought to her bedside for her to look at & ordered her casket & had them keep her out of the earth until the third day after her death in imitation of our Savior's resurrection and her funeral was preached from this portion of the Bible".[13]

Marie was buried in Nesbit Cemetery; presumably in precise accordance with her instructions. Bill Nesbit married a second time on 22 Apr 1891. He died on 6 Sep 1902.

Birth date: 5 Jan 1838. [Bell and Scott, Desoto Cemetery Inscriptions, p. 204]

William's parents were Thomas Nesbit (6 Mar 1808, Chester District, SC - 21 Jul 1882) and Mary Ann Driver (13 Nov 1813, NC - 1 Dec 1876). In 1818 the Nesbit Family had moved from Chester to Limestone Co, AL where Thomas Nesbit and Mary Driver wed on 2 Oct 1831, the couple then moving to Desoto Co, MS in 1837. [Atcheson, Nesbit, Mississippi Early Settlers, p.2]

24 Nov 1845: John Ramsey Denty was appointed guardian of "Mary Susannah" and John Joseph Denty.

18 Sep 1850 CENSUS, Desoto Co, MS: Niece "Mary S. Denty" was enumerated in the household of Stephen Darden Johnston. Also in the household were wife Rebecca, mother Mary, son James, daughters Mary A, Elizabeth, Frances, and overseer William F. Henley. [Dwelling #256]

13 Dec 1854: Will of Polly Johnston left her estate equally divided between her children and "my granddaughter Mary S. Denty", but then, Mary was her mother Matilda Johnston’s sole heir. A codicil dated 25 Apr 1855 stated that Mary S. Denty had been given a gold watch valued at $100 by her grandmother, who wished it to be deducted from her share of the estate. Polly Johnston died in late 1861 or early 1862. [Will Book 1, p. 299-301]

7 Jan 1856: Stephen D. Johnston sought appointment as guardian to Mary S. Denty. Appt granted. [Probate Minutes, Vol. 3; Letters Testamentary, Probate Court, p. 395: Copies appearing in Abernathy and Smith, The Descendants of Thomas Jefferson Denty]

Marriage: 18 Jun 1856. Ceremony performed by William Carey Crane, H.B.C. Bondsman: Ephraim Bouldin. Date confirmed by Marie in letter written on anniversary, 18 Jun 1877. [Desoto County Genealogical Society, Desoto Descendants, v. 7, n. 4, p. 13, Nov 1989/Orig: Vol. C, p. 197; Copy of letter appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

24 Apr 1858: "William T. Nesbit" was one of six securities for H. Stam, contractor of new jail, for bond of $30,000. [Desoto Descendants, v. 9, n. 1, p. 17, Feb 1991/Orig: Board of Police Minutes 1858-1868, p. 7]

1860 CENSUS, Panola Co, MS: Farmer William T. Nesbit age 27, born AL, with real and personal property worth $20,000 and $27,000; Marie S. age 21, born AL. [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

Lt. Col. W.T. Nesbit is listed on the Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension List, having served in the 44th MS Infantry. This must be Bill since Alice Denty Dean refers to "Col. W.T. Nesbit" getting married again after Marie's death. "Colonel W.T. Nesbit", son of Major Thomas Nesbit, described as very active in the early organization of the Nesbit Presbyterian Church. [Desoto Descendants, v. 16, n. 1, p. 29, Feb 1998; Abernathy and Smith; Atcheson, p. 2]

Nathaniel and Nannie Denty were, according to a letter written by John Ramsey Denty on 13 Aug 1870, boarding with W.T. and Marie Nesbit in 1869. John also wrote that Nathaniel now lived "about 1 ½ miles from Billie Nesbit (who appears to take a great interest in his welfare)". [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

22 Aug 1870 CENSUS, Nesbit Station, Desoto Co, MS: Farmer age 37 with real and personal property estimated at $5000 and $2675 respectively; M.S. age 32; Robert age 14; white farm laborer; and 4 black servants ranging in age from 2 to 16. [Pg 3]

In a letter dated 12 Aug 1874 from Avie Webb Flautt to Elizabeth Abernathy Denty, Avie wrote that Marie "was in very bad health and was then at Bailey's Springs and that she had a cousin living with her by the name of Alice Denty". On 6 Feb 1884, Alice Denty Dean confirmed that she had lived with the Nesbits for 8 years, presumably from 1868 until 1876. [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

15 Feb 1882: W.T. Nesbit sold NW ¼ and SE ¼ of S30 T2 R7W to Mary S. Nesbit, his wife, for $400 - at 10% interest from 1 Jan 1866. Sworn before E.S. Nesbit, Mayor and J.P. of Nesbit, MS. [Book 3, p. 456]

Alice Denty Dean, 6 Feb 1884: "Cousin Marie Nesbit is still living in Ark. Her health is not good". Marie mentions spending three years in Eureka Springs, AR in a letter she wrote 20 Jul 1885. Presumably Bill was with her. In 1880 they were not enumerated in Eureka Springs, AR or Desoto Co, MS. [Copies appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

Letter written by Alice Denty Dean on 28 Oct 1888 implies that Bill may have practiced law. [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

Alice Denty Dean, 23 Apr 1889: "Cousin Marie Nesbit's health is very bad". [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

Death date: 10 Oct 1889. [Bell and Scott, p. 204] But in a letter dated 10 Nov 1889, Alice Denty Dean claimed: "She died the 13 of last month". [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

Burial: Nesbit Cemetery lies on the west side of the Illinois Central Railroad. [Bell and Scott, p. 204]

In letter written 4 May 1891, Alice Denty Dean stated that: "Col W.T. Nesbit is married and gone to New Orleans with his new bride". [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

Bill's second wife was Ella Caruthers (or Christopher). She died in 1917, is buried in Hernando Baptist Cemetery.

[1] Copy provided by Rebecca Denty Abernathy.

[2] There were a total of nine children in the family, but on 7 Jan 1856 one son had died and three were yet to be born.

[3] John Abernathy Smith, 24 Feb 1998.

[4] Avie Webb Flautt, 12 Aug 1874: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith, The Abernathys of Arlington.

[5] Susan Kent Denty, who lived in Huntsville, Alabama. See Chapter 16.

[6] Alice Denty had married Simon Dean on 26 Nov 1877.

[7] Elizabeth Denty Abernathy, Rebecca's eldest daughter.

[8] John Ramsey Denty died on 28 Jul 1885, only eight days after Marie wrote this letter.

[9] Samuel was the third child of Jonathan Denty by his second wife Sibby Compton. See Chapter 22.

[10] James Compton Denty was the second child and eldest son of Jonathan and Sibby Compton Denty. He is mentioned in Jonathan's letter dated 8 May 1808. See Chapter 20.

[11] Pohick Church, Lorton, Virginia.

[12] Alice Denty Dean, 26 Sep 1889.

[13] Alice Denty Dean, 10 Nov 1889

Chapter 9