Amazon Jane Johnson (16 Dec 1809 - 1 Aug 1877)

Amazon Jane Johnson was born on 16 Dec 1809 in Georgia. She married Benjamin Thomas Emanuel in Jefferson County, Georgia on 2 Jun 1830, and they settled in Talbot County, Georgia on large plantation properties. Following the death of her husband on 27 Feb 1854, Amazon Jane Emanuel continued to operate the Benjamin T. Emanuel plantation into the U.S. Civil War. Following the Civil War, Amazon moved with her oldest son and siblings to Cherokee County, Texas where she died on 1 Aug 1877.

Amazon J. Johnson was the daughter of Elijah Johnson (1779-1838) and Sarah Collins. The 1820 U.S. Federal Census of Burke County, Georgia records Elijah Johnson, age 26-45; a female, presumably his wife age 26-45; and four others: two males age 0-10, a male age 16-26, and a female age 10-16. At the 1820 Census, Elijah Johnson owned 23 slaves. Amazon's husband, Benjamin T. Emanuel, was born in Burke County on 29 Jan1806, and it is likely that Amazon and Benjamin were acquainted at an early age.

The 1856 Georgia Property Tax Digests for Talbot County record land held by the heirs of Benjamin Thomas Emanuel. The digest lists Wm. Emanuel as administrator of E. Johnson responsible for tax on 230 acres in Early County, Georgia. The digest assigns tax to Mrs. A. J. Emanuel for 366 acres of land in Talbot County and her son R. J. Emanuel for 600 acreas in Talbot County. The value of all land held by the Emanuel family was estimated at $10 per acre. The total value of land and personal property, including slaves, assigned to the Emanuel family was $24,285.

The 1860 U.S. Federal Census of Talbot County, Georgia enumerates the Amazon Jane Emanuel household and the William David Emanuel household living on adjacent properties.

On 10 Jan 1877, the heirs of the Estate of Benjamin Thomas Emanuel sold Talbot County, Georgia real estate to Henry W. Carly and W. J. Lign of Talbot County by indenture for $4,770. The indenture describes the property as Lot 68 and 150 acres of Lot 92; all of Lot 93; all of Lot 67; and 11 acres of Lot 62 in District 17 of Talbot County, Georgia. Amazon Jane (Johnson) Emanuel conveyed the land as her Dower in the Estate of Benjamin Thomas Emanuel, and William David Emanuel, Thomas Joel Emanuel, Moses Tucker Emanuel, and Georgia Ann E. (Emanuel) George surrendered their interests in the land as lawful heirs. When the indenture was made, Amazon Jane Emanuel and Thomas Joel Emanuel were living in Rusk County, Texas; William David Emanuel and Georgia George in Cherokee County; and Moses Tucker Emanuel in Angelina County, Texas.

Notes and Comments

The names of the 10 Jan 1877 purchases of the Emanuel family’s Talbot County, Georgia real estate are not clearly discernible on the indenture document.

Sources

1820 U.S. Federal Census
Elijah Johnson Household
Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia
Elijah Johnson, a: 26-45
+Female, a: 26-45 (Sarah Collins)
Male, a: 0-10 (Moses W. Johnson)
Male, a: 0-10 (William L. Johnson)
Male, a: 16-26
Female, a: 10-16 (Amazon Jane Johnson)
Slaves: 23

1840 U.S. Federal Census
B. T. Emanuel Household
Talbot County, Georgia
B. T. Emanuel, a: 30-40
+Female, a: 30-39 (Amazon Jane Johnson)
Male, a: 10-14 (William David Emanuel)
Male, a: 5-9 (Robert J. Emanuel)
Male, a: under 5 (Benjamin Finney Emanuel)
Female, a: 5-9 (Sarah E. Emanuel)
Slaves: 32

1850 U.S. Federal Census
Benjamin Emanuel Household
17th District, Talbot County, Georgia
16 Aug 1850
Benjamin Emanuel, a: 44, b: Georgia (Farmer)
+Amazon Jane Emanuel, a: 40, b: Georgia
Robert Emanuel, a: 17, b: Georgia
Sarah Emanuel, a: 15, b: Georgia
Benjamin Emanuel, a: 11, b: Georgia
Lewis Emanuel, a: 9, b: Georgia
Georgia Ann, a: 3, b: Georgia
Unnamed Male Infant, a: 8 months, b: Georgia
Real Estate Value: $8,500; Slaves: 76

Others living in the household:
William R. Robinson, a: 23, b: Georgia (Laborer)
William Bray, a: 27, b: Georgia (Farmer)
+Isabilla Bray, a: 25, b: Georgia
Richard Bray, a: 3, b: Georgia
Julia Bray, a: 2, b: Georgia
Chesly Posy (Male), a: 23, b: Georgia

1860 U.S. Federal Census
Amazon J. Emanuel Household
688 District G.M., Lower 17th
27 Jun 1860
Amazon J. Emanuel, a: 49, b: Georgia
Real Estate Value: $7,000
Personal Estate Value: $9,295
Georgia A. E. Emanuel, a: 13, b: Georgia
Thomas Emanuel, a: 11, b: Georgia
Moses Emanuel, a: 7, b: Georgia
Martha George, a: 20, b: Georgia
Real Estate Value: $7,000
Personal Estate Value: $9,295

1870 U.S. Federal Census
Wilkinson District, Talbot County, Georgia
Post Office: Box Springs
17 Jun 1870
Amazon Emanuel, a: 60, b: Georgia
Real Estate Value: $7,000; Personal Estate Value: $600
William Emanuel, a: 39, b: Georgia (Farmer)
Personal Estate Value: $400
Georgia Emanuel, a: 22, b: Georgia
Moses Emanuel, a: 19, b: Georgia
Real Estate Value: $500
Mary Emanuel, a: 16, b: Georgia
Benjamin Emanuel, a: 15, b: Georgia (Works on farm)
William Emanuel, a: 10, b: Georgia (Works on farm)
Catharine Emanuel, a: 8, b: Georgia
Lilly Emanuel, a: 4, b: Georgia

Others living in the household:
Mary Williams, a: 33, b: Georgia (Teaching school)
Sarah Clarke, a: 20, b: Georgia (Boarder)
Frances Clarke, a: 16, b: Georgia (Boarder)

The 1870 Federal census of Talbot County, Georgia enumberates the Amazon Emanuel household at dwelling 390 and as family 389. On the same page, the census enumerates the George Emanuel household at dwelling 393 adn as family 392. Born in Virginia, George Emanuel was 65 yeasrs of age and working on a farm. Mary Emanuel, presumably the wife of George Emanuel, was 55 years of age, born in Georgia and keeping house. Also living in the household was Frances Emanuel, a: 16 and b: Georgia. A relationship between the George Emanuel family and descendants of David Emanuel, Jr. has not been identified.