Elizabeth S. Boykin1,2

Female, #43421, (Nov 1788 - 20 Jul 1837)

ParentMajor Francis Boykin (1751 - 17 Aug 1821)
ParentCatherine Whitaker (say 1748 - after 1800)
Elizabeth S. Boykin|b. Nov 1788\nd. 20 Jul 1837|p43421.htm|Major Francis Boykin|b. 1751\nd. 17 Aug 1821|p9997.htm|Catherine Whitaker|b. say 1748\nd. after 1800|p10028.htm|William Boykin II|b. before 1710\nd. circa 1784|p10002.htm|Elizabeth Bryant|b. say 1712|p10003.htm|James Whitaker|b. 1728\nd. 20 Apr 1782|p10022.htm|Catherine Wiggins|b. circa 1732\nd. after 1771|p10023.htm|

Name Variation Elizabeth S. Boykin was also known as Eliza. 
Birth*Nov 1788 Elizabeth was born at Camden, Camden District, South Carolina, in Nov 1788.3,2,4 
 She was the daughter of Major Francis Boykin and Catherine Whitaker. 
Married NameDec 1806 As of Dec 1806, her married name was Rutherford.2 
Marriage*Dec 1806 She married Williams Rutherford at Baldwin Co., Georgia, in Dec 1806.2 
(Witness) Biography The Whitaker Place.
     In Baldwin County, about twelve miles to the southeast of Milledgeville, lies the plantation known for many years as the "Whitaker Place." It was originally owned by Maj. Francis Boykin, a South Carolinian, prominent in the war of the Revolution, who moved to this county in 1800. He was a successful farmer and accumulated a large area of land which lay on the east side of the Oconee River for a long distance, and extended toward the east to Gum Creek, the dividing line between Washington and Baldwin counties.
     At that time, boats came up the river as far as Milledgeville. Maj. Boykin was appointed one of the River Commissioners, whose duties were to see that the stream was kept clear of snags and other obstructions interfering with the passage of the boats.
     In 1821, Maj. Boykin died. He left two sons and one daughter, Dr. Samuel Boykin, who practiced medicine in Milledgeville; Mr. James Boykin, a Deacon in the Baptist Church; and Miss Eliza Boykin, who married the father of Prof. William Rutherford, of Athens, Ga. Prof. Rutherford was the father of Miss Mildred Rutherford, to whom the South owes a lasting debt of gratitude for the preservation of much of its history.
     Upon the death of his father, Dr. Samuel Boykin gave up his practice in Milledgeville and moved to the plantation. He built a large two-story house for a residence, which became known for miles around as "The White House," because it was the only painted house in the community. He was a great lover of plants and flowers and was the first to demonstrate that sugar cane could be grown in Georgia as high up as Baldwin County. In 1836, he decided to move to Alabama, and sold his plantation to Mr. William Whitaker, a kinsman, who had recently moved into the community from North Carolina.
     William Whitaker cultivated the soil as did Dr. Boykin, and grew large crops of corn, cotton and other products.
     In those days, people traveled by stage coach, and on the long roads there were "Relay Stations" where fresh horses were exchanged for the tired ones, which rested until the return trips. A Relay Station was located on this place and was the center of much interest.
     Upon the death of William Whitaker, the plantation was divided into three parts, and his three children, James, Samuel, and Martha drew for a part.
     The part upon which Dr. Boykin's residence was located, fell to Samuel Whitaker. By that time, this place was very attractive; tall oaks shaded the white sandy yard; in the rear were several black walnut trees which, in later years, attained to immense size. Cherokee rose vines draped the trees on either side of the avenue leading to the public road. Down this road, to the right, was a lane leading to the negro quarters. At the end of the lane was the Overseer's house. On one side of the lane was the Gin House, the first built in that section of the country. This was burned by Sherman's men when a part of his army encamped for several days on that plantation, leaving desolation and ruin behind it.
     At another point, the lane was shaded by a sugar berry tree, unusually tall and branching. There was a superstition among the negroes that this tree was haunted by a spirit which could foretell death, because it had been observed that, just before a death occurred on the place, the tree gave forth a weird and peculiar sound as of the opening of a creaky door. When this was heard, consternation filled the Quarters, be- cause no one doubted but that someone's days were numbered.
     Samuel Whitaker kept a Diary, in which each day's work was faithfully recorded. Every field was designated by its own particular name-as "The New Ground," "The Vineyard Field," "The Goode Field" -the name was symbolic of the nature of the soil or of some association.
     Mrs. Whitaker took an active interest in the religious training of the negroes. A place was provided where they could assemble in public worship. The negro children would come from the Quarters on Sunday afternoons and sit on the steps of her front porch, the larger ones standing in line on the ground, while she talked to them of spiritual things and taught them lessons from the Bible.
     At the close of the war, when losses were heavy, the plantation passed into the hands of Mr. Wirtzfielder, who owned it for a number of years, then sold it to Mr. Sam Walker. After Mr. Walker's death, it became the property of his daughter, Mrs. John Shinholser. Mr. Shinholser now owns the place.
     Mr. Whitaker rented the plantation, after it passed from his hands, and lived there until his death. He was married three times and reared two sons and three daughters: the late William Whitaker was his elder son; the younger son was Dr. James M. Whitaker, for many years on the staff of physicians of the State Sanitarium. The three daughters were Mrs. Elbert Bivins, Mrs. H. D. Allen and Mrs. O. M. Cone.

(Names referenced above: Major Francis Boykin James William Boykin and Dr. Samuel Boykin).5 
Death*20 Jul 1837 She died at Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., Georgia, on 20 Jul 1837.3 
Burial*circa 21 Jul 1837 Her body was interred circa 21 Jul 1837 at Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., Georgia, at Rutherford Family Cemetery. Location:
     From the Baldwin County Courthouse, go east on Hancock St. one block. Turn right (south) on Wayne St., which becomes Business 441 South. Go 0.9 mile to the Vinson Highway (Hwy 112). Turn left on the Vinson Highway. Go 1.4 miles to Gilman St. Turn left on Gilman St. and go 0.1 to where the street forks and bear right at the fork on Jackson St. Go about 100 yards to the first street to the right, Davis St. Turn right on Davis St. The cemetery is located about 125 ft from the intersection of Davis and Jackson in the driveway of the first house on the right side of Davis, at 101 Davis St. SE (approximately 40 ft off the street). The brick foundation of the wall is visible, but the wall and all monuments but one have been destroyed. Cemetery is in decay. GPS coordinates: 33 03' 01.2" N 83 12' 41.6" W

Three Graves in Cemetery:
     1. Eliza Boykin Rutherford, ca. 1785 - 20 Jul 1837, Aged 52 years, w/o Williams Rutherford, "only daughter of the late Francis Boykin", "formed with attributes and capacities ornamental to her sex".
     2. Francis Boykin Rutherford, ca. 1807 - 8 Jul 1824, died in his 17th year of age. "A youth of great promise." Gravestone is fading and difficult to read.
     3. Algernon Sidney Rutherford, ca. 1820 - 23 Sep 1826, d. in his 6th year of age. Insc: Aged 52 years. "This monument erected to the memory of Eliza Rutherford by her husband, Williams Rutherford. She was the only daughter of the late Francis Boykin. Exemplary as a wife, as a mother and formed with attributes and capacities ornamental to her sex."3,6 
Biography* Her grandaughter, Mildred Rutherford, was a noted author of the South and many Georgia daughters were named for her.
(Names referenced above: Elizabeth S. Boykin Elizabeth S. Boykin). 

Family

Williams Rutherford (4 Mar 1783 - )
Marriage*Dec 1806 She married Williams Rutherford at Baldwin Co., Georgia, in Dec 1806.2 
Child

Charts Edward Boykin Descendants
Last Edited 25 Jan 2008

Citations

  1. Anne Jacobs Boykin (Mrs. Robert Neal) Murphy, History and Genealogy of the Boykin Family Mrs. Robert Neal Murphy and Bernard Carter Boykin, Richmond, VA, 1964.
  2. , RootsWeb WorldConnect Project, Ancestry.com: Rootsweb.
    http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/
    Sam R. Bunn Family.
  3. Elizabeth L. Dawson et al., compiler, One Hundred Three Lost or Found Cemeteries of Baldwin County, Georgia, 1814-1999, Milledgeville, Georgia: Mary Vinson Memorial Library, 1999, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.8573 V3d.
    p. 154.
  4. Katherine Bowman Walters, Oconee River Tales to Tell, Eaton, Putnam Co., GA: Eaton, Putnam Co. (GA) Historical Society, 1995.
    Chapter 5, pp 53-57. Assumption on place of birth based on fact that her father had relocated to south of Milledegville in 1785.
  5. Anna Maria Green Cook, History of Baldwin County
    , Anderson, SC: Kays-Hearn, 1925 (Pages 115-117).
    Article by Mrs. O. M. Cone, 1925, Pages 476-478.
  6. Friends of Baldwin County (Georgia) Cemeteries, Inc. http://www.friendsofcems.org/Baldwin/.