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Different strokes for different folks is what I always say. When searching for long lost ancestors most people, I suppose, would question elders about who is who, or even check the family bible for mention of those obscure members of the family that no one have ever mentioned. But some of us have a tendency to go a little further. A few months ago as I visited relatives in Lanes, South Carolina I decided to conduct some research in grave sites in the general area. Near the little community of Gourdin in Williamsburg county, a few miles south of the intersection of SC Hwy #s 375 and 377. In a well kept plot of land called McKnight cemetery. To my surprise and delight, I located a headstone of George Gourdine, born 1843 and died 1929. To date this is the oldest headstone I have located with our family name of the African descent. But wait, there is more -- much, much more. During my relentless research of Black South Carolinian who served the Union during the Civil War (1861-1865) I have compiled documentation of a veteran soldier by the name of George Gourdine who was born and resided in a community named Gourdin located in Williamsburg county. Could this be one and the same George Gourdine. According to Civil War pension records at the National Archives, first application on May 2, 1893, George was born about 1826 at Gourdin, Williamsburg, SC. On January 5, 1868, he married Emma Jane Thomas, in Clarendon County, SC., by Murray. He enlisted in the army at Beaufort, SC, on April 19, 1865, and was assigned to Company C, of the 104th Infantry Regiment of the United States Colored Troops. George was discharged at Mt. Pleasant, SC, during June 1865, after only a couple of months of service -- supposedly due to medical complications. He returned to the community of Gourdin and resided there for the rest of his life. However, George apparently enjoyed a long a virile life. According to the pension records, he fathered 13 children. Five of them died in fancy (names unknown) and three died before October 1897, (Louisa, William and Elizabeth). The five children remaining children were Mary Alice (Murray), born October 15, 1868; Georgiana, born March 9, 1877; Weston, born May 22, 1880; Charlie, born April 4, 1882; and James Henry, born March 10, 1887. George filed his last update to his pension application on April 6, 1915, recognizing the death of his beloved Jane. The pension records coincides very nicely with the U.S. Census Records. According to the Census Records, as of 1900, George resided in Williamsburg county, township of Laws and that he was born during November 1832. His household also consisted of his wife Jane, born March 1835; sons Weston, born May 1882; Charles L., born April 1884; and James H., born March 1886. Apparently Mary Alice (Murray), who was the oldest, at about 32 years of age, had established resident elsewhere with a Mr. Murray. If anyone have any further information on George Gourdine, as identify above, I would be most pleased if you would contact me and I will share this information in upcoming issues of our quarterly newsletter. |