William Thomas Acree (1815 - 1895)

Born 4 Jul 1815 in Greene County, Georgia, United States of America

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Amanda (Adams) Acree — married 3 Mar 1879 in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama

Descendants

Died 14 Jan 1895 at age 79 in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama, United States of America

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William Acree was a Prisoner of War during United States Civil War.

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Biography

William Thomas Acree was born 04 Jul 1815^[1][2][3]

He was the first elected probate judge of Covington County, Alabama. Elected to this position in 1850, he served about 4 years. He also served as notary public, circuit court clerk, justice of the peace, county superintendent of education, and a member of the House of Representatives from Covington County, Alabama. He was elected probate judge on 06 May 1850, appointed postmaster on 21 Aug 1852, appointed as a member of the Alabama General Assembly on 06 Aug 1855 and 15 Feb 1856. He served as an enumerator for the 1860 US Federal Census and was appointed tax collector for the 44th district of Covington County in 1864--he was also appointed Superintendent of Education for the county the same year. On 03 Dec 1868 he was appointed notary public for the county and on 04 Dec 1875 was appointed Clerk of Circuit Court. In his later years he was twice appointed Covington County, Justice of the Peace, first on 03 Jan 1881 and later on 16 Mar 1885.

About 1841 he married Achsah Ann Jones, daughter of Josiah Jones. She died in May of 1878 and on 03 Mar 1879 he married Amanda Acree in Covington County, Alabama^[4] as his second wife, she having apparently already bore him 4 children, the youngest William Thomas Acree Jr.

William joined the Masons in the mid 1850s and was a member of Andalusia Lodge No 434 for over 40 years.^[3]

From the 1860 agricultural census of Covington County, Alabama p39, W. T. Acree held 100 improved acres and 880 unimproved acres. $1920 cash value of farm, $100 cash value of farm equipment, 3 horses, 3 milch cows, 2 oxen, 13 other cattle, 30 swine-total value of livestock=$661. Produce for the past year included 400 bushels of indian corn, 30 bushels of peas and beans, 10 bushels of sweet potatoes. $50 value in homemade goods. $180 value of animals slaughtered. He is also listed on p11 farming in Red Level, with $10 value in farm equipment, 2 horses, 3 milch cows, 6 other cattle, 16 swine. $200 value of livestock. Produce from the past year including 75 bushels of indian corn and 20 bushels of sweet potatoes.

William was prosperous and can be found in numerous deeds and land transactions in Covington County. On 23 Oct 1851 he purchased the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of S1 in T3 R14. On 15 Jul 1854 he bought the SE1/4 of the SW/14 of S12 in T4 R15. On 01 Sep 1858 we find he purchased 301.34 acres described as the N1/2 of the SW1/4 and the S1/2 of the NW1/4 and the N1/2 of the NW1/4 and W1/2 of the NE1/4 of S12 in T4 R15. On 25 Dec 1875 he purchased part of the S1/4 of the NE1/4 of S13 in T4 R15 and on 13 Dec 1881 bought the E/12 of the SE1/4 of S12 T 4 R15. Land sales in Covington County included the sale of lot #3 in the town of Andalusia to John W. Penton on 25 Mar 1882. The sale of the SE1/4 of the SW1/4 and the W/12 of the SE1/4 of S6 in T4 R16 on 27 Dec 1882, and the sale of 120 acres to ET Raley on 13 Oct 1883 described as the NE 1/4 of the SE1/4 of S21 and the W1/2 of the SW 1/4 of S22 in Tf R16. And on 30 Sep 1887 he sold 60 acres described as the E1/2 of the SW1/4 and the SE1/4 of S6 in T4 R16.

William Thomas Acree served in the Seminole Indian War in Company 1 (Elmore's Company) of the Alabama Battalion Militia Infantry, volunteering on 17 May 1836 at Hayneville, Lowndes County, Alabama. Upon his discharge, 22 Jul 1836, at Montgomery, Montgomery County, AL, he is shown as having resided in Lowndes County, AL for 7 years, then moving to Covington County where he lived out his days another 52 years. At the time of enlistment he was 6 feet tall with dark hair and dark complexion. He received two bounty land warrants for his service, one for 120 acres and one for 40 acres. On 01 Sep 1892 he filed for a pension based on this service in the Creek Wars, and on 13 Nov 1895, his widow Amanda (Adams) Acree, filed for a widow's pension on this same military service.

He also served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War and appears in the records on 27 Jul 1961 as Regiment Pay Master (RPM) of the 60th regiment, 8th brigade, 11th division, Alabama Militia, CSA. Later, on 30 Oct 1862, he is listed as 1st Sgt. Co I, 40th Alabama Infantry Regiment. On 24 Oct 1864 William T. Acree was issued a pass at Evergreen, Alabama for "2 days in the city". The pass describes him as 50 years old, 5'10" tall, with dark hair, eyes and complexion. Occupation is noted as Superintendent of Education.

According to records located in Washington, D.C., William T Acree and son John W. Acree were captured at their home in Covington County, AL by Union soldiers during the Civil War and imprisoned at Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, MS in 1865.

William appears on a list of persons transacting business with Robinson's Tanyard & Manufacturing Company in Covington County, AL in 1865.

He was a member of the Baptist Church in Andalusia the last two years of his life.^[3]

William died 14 Jan 1895 in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama^[3][2] and his obituary appeared in The Covington Times on 18 Jan 1895:

An Old Landmark Gone

Judge William T Acree breathed his last at his home near town about eleven o'clock Monday morning last. He had a severe attack of paralysis several years ago, since which time he has been feeble in health. On Monday he had a second stroke which resulted in his death in about on hour. Deceased was about 80 years of age and one of the old land marks of this section, having settled in Covington County when quite a young man. He served one term each a probate judge, circuit clerk and superintendent of education and also represented the county in legislature. He was a member of the Baptist church and a Mason, his remains being passed away with Masonic honrs on Tuesday. A large crowd witnessed the impressive ceremonies at the grave.^[5]

He was buried on 16 January, 1895 in Magnolia Cemetery, in Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama. His gravesite is located in the older part of the cemetery directly behind the county courthouse where his portrait hangs on the wall.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Tombstone, William T. Acree.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} William T. Acree military marker.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} The Covington Times. 08 Feb 1895.
4. ↑ NARA. Widow's Pension packet - Indian Wars (Amanda Acree).
5. ↑ The Covington Times. 18 Jan 1895.

• List of Persons transacting business with Robinson's Tanyard & Manufacturing Company in Covington County, AL in 1865- http://trackingyourroots.com/data/1865covbuisiness.htm
• Alabama death certificate of Theodocia (Acree) Franklin.
• Covington County, Alabama Deeds
• US Federal census - 30 Jun 1880, Covington County, AL
• Alabama State census - 1866
• Records of elections and appointments located at the Alabama State Archives, Montgomery, AL.
• US Federal census - 1850 Covington County, AL
• US Federal census - 11 Sep 1860 Covington County, AL
• NARA - military and pension records
• Lissy Feaster's funeral home record
• Covington County, AL Deed Book F p213-14 (attached)
• William Thomas Acree, First Probate Judge
• Andalusia Star News, 02 Apr 2011
• Alabama death certificate of daughter Lissy Feaster.
• NARA Homestead Packet of William Thomas Acree. Appliction # 20230, Certificate #67514.