Ann Eliza (Curtis) Babcock (1808 - 1884)

Born Jul 1808 in Georgia, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Oct 1884 at age 76 in Cahaba, Dallas, Alabama, United States

Biography

And about Babcock's large, brick warehouse

Extended a stockade so far.

And within its strong, high, grim walls

Were the Yankee prisoners of war.

Memories of Old Cataba ^[1]

Eliza was born in Georgia according to the 1850 Census. ^[2][3] She was the daughter of plantation owner William Curtis of the Cahaba area of Alabama. Willliam Curtis also owned a hotel in Cahaba and many slaves. His wealth was shared generously with Eliza during her life and was the subject of a disputed Will for two generations after his passing.

Eliza married to Joseph Babcock but was widowed before the 1850 Census where she is seen with a great number of children. Soon after Joseph's death, Ann Eliza's troubles with her husband's estate is mentioned in the journal of local Minister Cotton. He wrote: Sister Babcock is in a good deal of trouble in consequence of the embarrassed condition of her husband's Estate. " though this clearly gets worked out by the time of the 1850 Census where her fortunes are fortified possibly from her father who later tells others he has done a great deal for her. ^[4]

She resided in the Babcock house in Cahaba. She is associated with the Babcock Warehouse which was used as the core of the prison camp Castle Morgan which held 3,000 Northern Soldiers during the Revolutionary War. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

The prison is mentioned in an essay by Mrs. Anna G. (Gayle) Fry telling what was going on in Cahaba through the entire duration of the war from a woman's perspective. Eliza'a son John is mentioned by name. ^[8]

The 1860 Census ^[9] show her family more or less composed as in 1850.

By 1870 ^[10]she appears to reside with some orphaneded female relations, the Cotten girls and a Curtis, all of whom may be her nieces.

In the 1880 US Census she reports that her father is from Virginia and her mother from Georgia. ^[11]

Much detail about Eliza, her father, their business dealings, and the family dynamics can be gleaned from Alabama Supreme Court's records regarding contention over the probating of William Curtis's Will. ^[12]

Buried: New Cahaba Cemetery, Cahaba, Dallas County, Alabama. ^[13]

Obituary^[14]

Research Notes

Needs Gravestone photo

Very Likely her mother is named Ann Lee Curtis (same Ann L. Curtis wife of William who donated land for Methodist Church in Cahaba in 1849) and she has this Find A Grave Memorial. Could her maiden name be Lee? : https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19541464/ann-lee-curtis

Sources

1. ↑ Memories of Old Cataba
2. ↑ 1850 US census at Dallas County Alabama
3. ↑ https://www.gwingenealogy.net/GENEALOGY/ALABAMA/CAHABA/CahabaBookNames.htm
4. ↑ https://www.gwingenealogy.net/GENEALOGY/ALABAMA/cottendiaryexcerpts.htm
5. ↑ http://genealogytrails.com/ala/dallas/oldcahaba.html
6. ↑ Castle Morgan Prison Camp
7. ↑ Historic Markers at site of Cahaba Prison and other Cahaba locations
8. ↑ Life in Dallas County During the War, Confederate Veteran, page 216-222
9. ↑ 1860 US Census
10. ↑ 1870 US Census
11. ↑ 1880 US Census
12. ↑ Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Alabama, Volumes 45-46
13. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #195881971.
14. ↑ The Selma Times Selma, Alabama 29 Oct 1884, Wed • Page 1

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4JX-N1P : 12 August 2017), Annie Babcock in household of A E Babcock, Mitchells, Dallas, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district ED 70, sheet 442C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,011.