Note: To Contact Charles Pittman who did this research you can reach him via email at pittman_charles@bellsouth.net . The "ATT" address listed in the header of this page is invalid.
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As of this date we have no birth record of Elbert Pittman (spelled frequently with one "T" and with two) and do not know who his parents were. Based upon numerous assumptions, we feel that Elbert was born around 1785.

THE LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA YEARS
He first appears in his 1811 Laurens County Georgia marriage record to Nancy Council. Very little is known about Elbert and his family for the next twenty years except that his name is seen in over a dozen legal records (Laurens County Georgia Legal Records Superior Court 1807-1832.(Volume 1) and 1833-1857 (Vol. 2) ) He appears frequently for jury duty and several other times he was called as a witness, etc. The dates of these appearances are: June 10, 1811, October 1818, Jan. 1819, April 1819, April 1820, August 1820, March 1821, March 1822, May 1823, Sept. 1823, April 1830, and the final record discovered up to this date is November 1832.

One of the most interesting pieces of information gleaned from these records was a brief mention of Elbert lending a man $100. in February 1818 while at Camp Darien. Information about Camp Darien is sketchy but we do know that it was a trading center and militia post at Darien, Georgia which is on the banks of the Altamaha River as it enters the Atlantic Ocean between Savannah and Brunswick, Ga. It is over 165 miles from Elbert's home in Laurens County to Darien which makes this a lengthy trip in those days. Darien was one of the leading seaports on the East coast as settlers floated timber and barges full of cotton down the Oconee and Ocmulgee Rivers to the Altamaha River and on to Darien. It is not known if Elbert was a member of the militia at this time or was on a business trip. His ability to lend a man $100.00, which was a considerable sum at that time, suggests that he was on a business trip. It also suggests that he was a compassionate man of some wealth to lend a friend or acquaintance this large sum of money.

There is also a record of his participation in the 1821 Georgia Land Lottery in Laurens County. In this lottery he was a Fortunate Drawer of two draws (parcels) in Dooly County but did not take possession of the land which then reverted to State ownership. He drew Land Lot 268 in the 13th District of Dooly County and Land Lot 162 in the 6th District of the same county. Based upon these various records from Laurens County, Elbert and his family were in this county until approximately 1832-1833 at which time it is assumed they moved directly to Sumter County Georgia. He next showed up in the 1840 Sumter county Georgia census report. Oddly we have found no listing of Elbert Pitman in either the 1820 or 1830 census records. However, there is an ALBERT Pitman listed in Laurens County in 1820 and in Pulaski County in 1830 and it is generally agreed that the census taker mistook his name for Albert and that this is our Elbert. Legal records show that Elbert's farm was on the Laurens/Pulaski County line which could explain why he was counted in the Pulaski County census in 1830.

There was also an interesting mention of Elbert in a Laurens County newspaper article in November of 1832...."Report on the proposed road from Whitehead's Bridge on Rocky Creek to Pulaski County Line at Alligator Creek where Elbert Pittman lives"....statement written as legal record. (Note: this statement is an important clue to the location of Elbert's farm which is believed to be northwest of the small community of Dexter, Ga. in Laurens County) It is important to note that most of the documented cases of his name show him as spelling Pittman with one "T" whereas some of his children spell their names with one "T" and others with two "T's".

THE SUMTER COUNTY GEORGIA YEARS
Sometime shortly after 1832 Elbert and his family moved to Sumter County, Ga where they settled just north of the community of Desoto in the Southeastern portion of Sumter County. Due to the sketchy nature of the 1840 Sumter County census records it appears that Elbert and Nancy had as many as six sons and eight daughters. No WILL or other document has yet been found to definitively tie any of the children listed below to Elbert and Nancy. However, exhaustive study and considerable circumstantial evidence has gone into the development of this list of children. I feel quite confident that John Wallace Pittman, William Buford (or Bluford) Pittman, Joel Sheppard Pittman, Elbert Pittman, Jr., Charles Pittman, Sarah Pittman, and Nancy Pittman are children of Elbert and Nancy. All of these names are mentioned frequently in Sumter County and are always shown living close to each other in the census reports. We continue to search for the names/identities of the four missing daughters and one son.


The 1840 Sumter County Ga. census shows the Elbert Pitman family as the following: (I have inserted the names since none were shown in this census): 1 male 5-10 years old (Charles),1 male 10-15 years old (?), 1 male 16-20 years old (Joel Sheppard Pittman), 1 male 20-30 years old (Elbert Jr.) ,1 male 50-60 years old (Elbert Sr), 1 female 5-10 years old (Nancy), 3 females 10-15 years old (?) ,1 female 15-20 years old (?),2 females 20-30 years old (?, ?) 1 female 50-60 years old (Nancy Council Pitman).. In 1840 both John Wallace Pittman (b. 1814) and William Buford Pittman (b. 1815) had moved out of Elbert and Nancy's home and had started their own independent lives. (Note: The 1840 census shows a total of four boys living at home plus seven girls. Add these to William and John who had already moved out and it totals 13 children...of which we have only accounted for 7 of them. We have found no other Sumter County records listing these children.)

Nancy Council Pitman passed away in late1840 or early1841 and Elbert married the widow Mary Kennedy shortly thereafter. Nancy was listed in the 1840 census which was completed on October 27, 1840. (We have not located an official death record of Nancy).Mary Kennedy's husband, James Kennedy, had passed away in early 1841 and Elbert married Mary in approximately August 1842. In September of 1842 Elbert was appointed guardian of Mary Kennedy's two young children (Mary Ann Kennedy and James M. Kennedy) which obviously means that Elbert and Mary had married. (The law stated that if the male head of household was present then he would be legally bound as the guardian of any children in that home.) No official marriage record has ever been found for Elbert and Mary. Mary Ann and James M. Kennedy were the only two "blood" children of Mary's marriage to James Kennedy...the other three children were offspring of James' first marriage...thus the discrepancy between Mary's young age and compared to these three step-children.

On November 19, 1842 Elbert sold his farm to a lady named Nancy Caldwell. (SUMTER COUNTY GEORGIA SUPERIOR COURT GENERAL INDEX TO DEEDS AND MORTGAGES---1831-1917, LETTERS N-Z, PAGE 40. Filing Docket and General Index and Realty Deeds and Mortgages Grantors". Lot 260 , 15th District. Elbert sold 202 1/2 acres for $800. By studying land parcel maps we have been able to locate the farm that Elbert Pittman sold in 1842...Lot 260. The farm was approximately 2 miles north of the community of DeSoto, Ga. on Highway 195 at the intersection of Cheek Road. This is the old George Washington Council estate. (Note: Research has shown that Land Lot 260 in the 15th was granted to a man named Joseph Kimball from Putnam County in July 1833 as part of the Georgia Land Lottery. There are no records of Kimball selling LL 260 to Elbert Pitman. However, after the grant, Elbert is the first one mentioned in the deeds as owning it. It is highly likely that Kimball simply sold the land to Elbert in 1833 as soon as he won the grant and they never bothered to have the sale recorded. Kimball lived in Putnam County Georgia at the time.)

Elbert sold this farm soon after marrying Mary Kennedy. It appears that when Elbert sold this farm he moved his family to Mary's farm which was on Land Lots 119 and 143...less than 5 miles from his farm. During this period Mary's step son, Wright Kennedy, was trying to have her removed from the Kennedy family farm. With Elbert's help, Mary took Wright Kennedy to court and won the court battle and Wright was forced to sell Mary "parts" of LL 119 and 143 in September 1843. These lots are adjacent lots.

Sadly, Elbert died within nine months of his marriage to Mary. We know this because in September,1843 the Sumter County Court records show that Mary Kennedy Pittman was once again in court filing for guardianship of Mary Ann and James M. Kennedy. Again, no official record of Elbert's death has been found but he obviously died for Mary to be filing for guardianship. No other mention of Elbert Pitman has been found. (Those wishing to read about Mary Kennedy Pitman's life after Elbert's death can click on her name below and find more details.)

The big puzzle for Elbert Pittman researchers now, aside from who his parents were, is where he and his first wife Nancy are buried. It is suspected that Nancy is buried either on the family farm, Land Lot 260 in Sumter County, or in a nearby church in an unmarked grave. We believe that Elbert was buried beside Nancy by Mary Kennedy Pittman and Elbert's sons. There is an outside chance that Elbert could be buried on Mary's farms at LL 119 and 143.

Update: On March 29, 2002 I went to Sumter County and spent the day walking around on LL#260. We made several discoveries. First, there is a huge old house that was built around 1880 by George Washington Council. Next to it is the foundation of a much older home. We believe that this foundation is the site of Elbert Pittman's home. The reason we believe this are: (1) Very little of this farm has been cleared for farming...just three fields which total perhaps 60 acres. The rest is still in virgin hardwoods. There were no other home sites on the property that we could find. (2) This home site is near Dorminey Creek which is the only water source on the property. (3) It is near the intersection of Highway 195 and Cobb Cheek Road. Both roads were there in 1840 according to old maps.

The next discovery we made was the existence of two old concrete slabs out behind the home that were covered in vines. These slabs look exactly like old tombstones. There was no writing on them. We also found a much smaller tombstone in a field to the north of the home perhaps 100 yards away. We believe these two larger slabs to be the tombstones of Elbert and Nancy.

Listed next are exact copies of the Guardianship papers signed by Elbert and later Mary Kennedy Pitman.

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PITMAN GUARDIANSHIP APPOINTMENT
SEPTEMBER 1842

ADMINISTRATORS AND GUARDIANS BONDS AND WILLS
SUMTER COUNTY GEORGIA
Bond Book 00 PAGE 86-87

GEORGIA
SUMTER COUNTY

Know all men by thease presants that we Elbert Pitman and Jared Tomlinson are held and firmly bound unto the honourable the inferior court sitting as a court of ordinary for said county and their successors in office in the just and full sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the payment of which sum to the said Justices as there aforesaid and their successors in office we bind ourselves and our Executors and administrators Jointly and severally firmly by these presants sealed with our seal and dated this Fifth day of September 1842.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the said Elbert Pitman is this day appointed guardian for James M. Canady, Maryann Canady orphans of James Canady.

Now if the said Elbert Pitman do well and truly demean himself as a guardian of afoursaid agreeably to letters of guardianship bearing even date here with and agreeably to law in such case made and provided the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law.

Attest
Edumn Nunn Clk, C,C,O
Elbert P Pitman (LS) Jared Tomlinson

(Note: The "P" in Elbert's name was his Mark. On the original document the word "HIS" was written above the letter P and the word "MARK" was written below the P.)

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PITMAN GUARDIANSHIP APPOINTMENT NOVEMBER 6, 1843


ADMINISTRATORS AND GUARDIANS BONDS AND WILLS
SUMTER COUNTY GEORGIA Bond Book 00 PAGE 99

GEORGIA
SUMTER COUNTY


Know all men by thease presants that we Mary Pitman and Jared Tomlinson acknowledge ourselves jointly and severally bound unto their honors the justices of the inferior court sitting for Ordinary purposes for said county and their successors in office in the just and full sum of Two thousand dollars to the payment of which sum well and truly be made. We bind our selves and the heirs and our executors of us and each of us Jointly and severally by the presants sealed with our seals and dated this sixth day of November 1843.

The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound Mary Pitman who is this day appointed guardian of the persons and property of Maryann Canneda and James M. Caneda orphans of James Canneda deceased acknowledge the by his acceptance of said appointment of said appointment and setting of guardianship of this date, shall well and truly maintain to the and educate said orphans acording to these circumstances and shall take good and lawful care of their persons and property according to the laws of this state and shall annually make a just and true returns of all her actings and doings having unto this court then this obligation to be void other wise to remain in full force.

Attest
Edmun Nunn C,C,O
Mary Pitman (LS) Jared Tomlinson

(Note: Jared Tomlinson was a very influential and respected attorney in Sumter County and lived in the same Georgia Military District as Elbert and Mary Pitman.)
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INFORMATION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ON ELBERT PITMAN'S LINEAGE:

(WILLIAM PITTMAN of Lee County, Ga, Henry County, Ala., and Ouachita County, Arkansas.....possible brother to Elbert Pitman)
He was born around 1798 in North Carolina and died after 1870 in Ouachita County Arkansas. William lived in Lee County, Ga. in 1830 (which was to become Sumter county in 1831). (Elbert moved there shortly after William). William then moved to Henry County Alabama in 1840.

In 1850 they are still in Henry county with this listing of people in the census:
Name: Pitman, William Year: 1850 County: Henry Township: Southern District State: Alabama Roll: M432_6 Page: 418 Image: 346. Wm., Rebecca, Thos, Adline, Jas/Jos. M., Louisa, Ann E., Eliza, Fanny/Fancy. Also in the home is J. C. Merrick, age 40 NC. Living next door is married son Wm. Pitman.

In 1860 William and Rebecca show up in Columbia County Arkansas (Georgia Township)William was 62 in 1860 so he would have been born around 1798 in North Carolina. This William Pittman was married to Rebecca E. Barnes and had a son named William Riley Pittman.
Around 1861-62 Elbert Pittman's son, Elbert Jr., moved from Georgia to Abbeville, Alabama (Henry County)...same county where William was only a few years before. They showed up in the 1870 Henry County census as :Elbert age 55, farmer; wife was listed as Clara age 45; three children- Buck, age 13, John age 10, and Nancy age 8. All members born in Georgia. They were also there in the 1880 census.

In 1870 many of my relatives and William Pittman ended up in Ouachita County Arkansas in the Bridge Creek Township...the same township where Elbert's widow, Mary, was living with another widow in 1870. In 1870 William and his wife Rebecca were living next door to Elijah Pittman (age 20) and his wife Sarah and both were born in Georgia. (probably Lee or Sumter County, Ga.) Present day relatives of this William Pittman have some information that William Pittman's parents may be named Thomas and Unity. Some research has shown that they came from either North Carolina or Maryland. It is interesting to note that two of Elbert's sons, John Wallace Pittman and Joel Sheppard Pittman, sold their Sumter County land and moved to Ouachita County Arkansas shortly before the Civil War in 1862 or 1863. They moved to the same general area that William and his son William Riley Pittman had moved to several years before.

(JOHN PITMAN..possible brother)
A study of some of the Pitman names in Laurens County leads me to believe that one of Elbert's brothers could be John Pitman who married Elizabeth Phillips in 1815. John also drew land in the same 1821 lottery as did Elbert. Additionally, a lady I suspect to be Elbert's sister named Milly Pitman shows up in the Laurens County marriage record getting married to an Andrew Bunch in 1811.

(SION PITTMAN of Sumter County, Ga.)
Another possible connection is with a man named Sion Pittman of Sumter County who lived within 10 miles of Elbert and his family. Sion was the son of Sion Pitman Sr. of Robeson County,North Carolina, had a relative named RILEY Pitman (born 1817). This Riley name makes me think that there is a connection between William Pittman and Sion Pitman. The timing of these Pitmans appearing in Lee County/Sumter County and later in Ouachita County Arkansas leads me to believe they are related.

(JOHN PITMAN of Laurens County, Ga...possible Father)
One of our most promising leads for Elbert's father is another man named John Pitman who was listed in the 1820 Laurens County census and was over 45 years old at that time. He had a large family and lived in the same military district, MILTON's DISTRICT, as Elbert.

Several children of a man named Marshall Pittman were in Ouachita County Arkansas at the same time Elbert's sons, John Wallace Pittman and Joel Sheppard Pittman, were there. If anyone develops any theories or evidence about this lineage please let me know.

I currently believe that a thorough study of the Laurens County/Wilkinson County Georgia area will produce the leads we need to find Elbert's parents. I also believe that there is a link to Robeson County, NC but I have been unable to find any direct lineage to Elbert.

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UPDATE 2003:
I participated in an interesting study called the "Family Tree DNA" study which compares DNA from people who feel they may be kin. This can only tell you if, somewhere in your background (approximately 20 generations maximum), your genes crossed with their genes. We have already located five people who have a genetic distance of 1 but no definitive tie to Elbert yet.

• Married: 10 Jun 1811 in Laurens County Georgia ⁴
• Change Date: 23 Apr 2001

1. Sarah Pittman b: 1812
2. Elbert Pittman b: 1810 in Laurens County Georgia
3. John Wallace Pittman b: 1814 in Laurens County Georgia
4. William "Bluford" Pittman b: 6 Jan 1815 in Laurens County Georgia
5. Joel Sheppard Pittman b: 1822 in Laurens County Georgia
6. Charles Pittman b: 1834 in Sumter County GA. (Americus)
7. Nancy M. Pittman b: 1835 in Sumter County GA. (Americus)

• Married: Aug 1841 in Sumter County, GA.
• Change Date: 23 Apr 2001

1. Abbrev: 1840 Sumter County Georgia Census
   Title: 1840 Sumter County Georgia Census
   Publication: Elbert Pitman and family.
2. Abbrev: 1821 Georgia Land Lottery
   Title: Miltons M.D. Page 197
   Publication: Two draws of 222 acres each.
3. Abbrev: Joel E. Key
   Title: Joel E. Key
   Publication: Thanks to cousin Joel E. Key for his superior research on Elbert Pitman in Sumter and Laurens Counties. Without Joel's contributions we would not have made nearly as much progress on putting the life of Elbert Pitman together. Joel E. Key can be reached at .. jekey@alltel.net
4. Abbrev: Marriage of Elbert Pitman to Nancy Counsel
   Title: page 281 from a list of marriages from 1809-1817.
   Author: "History of Laurens County"
   Text: Elbert Pitman marries Nancy Counsel on June 10, 1811