I have an ambrotype of my great grandfather, Bushrod Witcher who was born 1843 in Carroll County, Georgia. The image is very good and was probably made around 1862. Bushrod's father was Andrew (A.J.) Witcher b. about 1815 N.C. The confusion begins with Andrew's father who is believed to be John b.1871(?). It is believed that John is the son of Ephraim, but there is no documentation to support this theory. Can anyone help me?
The Following is a Far Fetched Hypothetical Story:
Andrew(AJ) Witcher was born in N.C. around 1815. A Passenger list from New York has A.J. Witcher born in N.C. arriving in 1834 from Palermo Italy. His status was a mariner. When he got to N.C. he discovered that most of his family had moved to NW Georgia. This was at the time of the Cherokee Indian removal. Andrew took up with a young Indian girl along his route and brought her to Carroll County, Georgia. His travels from Italy would explain his attraction to young women of dark complexion. In Carroll County the Indian maiden took the name of Mary Burns born in N.C. which is the name on the marriage certificate, dated 1840. My fourth cousin, Mark Witcher who is a direct descendant of Andrew told me that Bushrod's mother, Mary was the Indian in our Witcher line. Otherwise there is no record of a Mary Burns in Carroll County at any time I can find.There is a document from 1843 that alleges that a bond of $2400 was made by Andrew and his uncle, Bushrod for John who was called a "lunatic" and released in the custody of the elder Bushrod. Not good for my genetics. In 1850 Andrew, Mary with four children including Bushrod are living in Etowah County Al. In 1860 Mary is listed as a widow living in Fulton County Georgia with the four children, Vincent, Bushrod, Benjamin, and Elizabeth. What happened to Andrew? As far as I know Bushrod was the only one to survive the Civil War. As children we had always heard tales leading us to believe that Bushrod was an Indian. Of course to us, the name, Bushrod sounded like an Indian name. Now it is known that it is very English and George Washington's nephew was named Bushrod. Now I wonder how that name found its way into the Witcher family. Bushrod's apparent great uncle also bears the name. One family tree placed Andrew's father John with brother Bushrod and sister Sarah from Ephraim's direct family. Sarah married Asa Prior who eventually donated the land to start the town of Cedartown, Georgia, my hometown. That's my story. How much is true is only a guess. Maybe someone will be able to clarify some of it. Thanks for reading. William Austin