The Dunagan Family

George Washington Dunagan was born in Hall County, Gainesville, Georgia in 1833, to Ezekiel Dunagan (1771-1836) and 2nd. wife, Margaret "Peggy" Wallace (1795-1868). He had five brothers and sisters and 13 half brothers and sisters from his father's first marriage to Lydia Ann Brown.

Lydia Ann Brown’s children (1775 – 1822)

Joseph Ellis Dunagan (1793 – 1861)

Benjamin Black Dunagan (1795 – 1884)

Susannah Dunagan (1797 – 1857)

John D Dunagan (1799 – 1857)

Abner Dunagan (1802 – 1850)

Anna Dunagan (1804 – 1857)

Delilah Dunagan (1806 – 1888)

Isaiah Dunagan (1808 – 1880)

Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan Jr., (1811 – 1881)

Andrew Foster Dunagan (1813 – )

Elizabeth Caroline Dunagan (1816 – 1907)

Louisa B Dunagan (1819 – 1893)

James Reid Dunagan (1821-1900)

Margaret "Peggy" Wallace’s children (1795 – 1868)

Sophie Elizabeth Dunagan (1826 – 1886)

Stephen Reid Dunagan (1827 – 1894)

Daniel C Dunagan (1829 – 1880)

Levi Jefferson Dunagan (1831 – 1906)

George Washington DUNAGAN (1833 – 1871)

Mary Jane Dunagan (1835 – 1916)

George Washington Dunagan had enlisted as a private in Whitfield’s Legion Cavalry, CSA, and fought in as many as 160 different battle engagements during the Civil War or as southerners like to call it the war of northern aggression. After the war ended, GW made his home in Hood County, Texas. He must have been one tough, tenacious, rugged individual. Everyone around Hood County, Texas called him "General" because he had fought in so many battles, I guess. He survived over 80 battle engagements just during the battle for Atlanta.

He became a school teacher and married Martha Elizabeth Wood of Hood County, Texas. They had one daughter. Unfortunately, in 1871, George Washington Dunagan died of pneumonia at age 38 after becoming sick with fever during a hunting trip. He died the same year his only child, George Washington "Georgie" DUNAGAN, a girl, was born. His wife Martha never remarried.

Martha Elizabeth Wood Dunagan died in 1923 at age 92. George Washington "Georgie" Dunagan married Eugene Sebastian Morris in 1897. They had the following children:

Davis Forrest MORRIS
Thomas Bunyan MORRIS
Joseph Weldon MORRIS
A baby son who died at birth, unnamed
Lorenzo Eugene MORRIS
Mary Modine MORRIS who married Joe E. McInroe
George G. Morris who died in childhood

I am thankful for the Hood County Texas Genealogical Society and Michael R. Dunagan, who is the source for most of what we now know about George Washington Dunagan. GW is buried in Dunagan Cemetery, also known as the Jackson Cemetery and is on private property on Loftin Road about 1/2 mile from the Rock Church in Hood County, Texas. Michael actually located the original grave site and had another headstone made to mark GW's grave. (photo below)

Monday, January 30, 2012

Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, Jr.

Ezekiel was a popular name among Dunagan families that came from the Ezekiel Dunagan (1771-1836) and Lydia Ann Brown union of 1792, in Jackson County, later known as Hall County, Georgia. A lot of people refer to this Ezekiel(1771-1836) as Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan but in reality he was known simply as Ezekiel Dunagan with no middle name given. Ezekiel had 19 children, 13 with Lydia and he named his 9th child Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, born in 1811, in Hall County, Georgia, and died in 1881, and is buried on the old homeplace near the north Oconee River in the eastern part of Hall County Georgia.

This Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan (1811-1881) married Lucinda Thompson and listed in the 1850 Federal Census they had two sons: Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, age 7, and Joseph F. Dunagan, age 4. By the 1860 Federal Census they had a total of five children:

E. J. Dunagan (17)

Joseph Dunagan (13)

Martha Dunagan (8)

William Dunagan (5)

Lucinda Dunagan (2)

Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, Sr. was around 49 years old and probably two old for conscription into the Confederate Army, but the younger Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, Jr. was 17 in 1860 and I found military records where he enlisted in 1862, as a corporal, in Company B, Georgia 24th Calvary Battalion, CSA. He also took a bride the same year when he married Nancy Evans in 1862, also of Hall County, Georgia. However, I could not determine if he saw any action in the war because the Calvary Battalion did not muster until 18 Feb 1864. It is possible that he served with what they called the Home Guard during this time but records are not very detailed.

The next time we find Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, Jr. (1843-?) and Nancy Evans Dunagan, they were in Marshall, Mississippi. The 1870 Federal Census shows the following people living in the household:

E. J. Dunegan (28)

Nancy Dunegan (27)

Colley Dunegan (7)

Julia Dunegan (5)

Martha Dunegan (2)

Louis Dunegan (30) (Black)

Asbery Dunegan (20) (Black)

John Garoy (40)

The photo above was given to Hannah Barber-Abraham by her Grandmother, Mary E. Dunagan-Barber. Hannah states that she was told that this is Ezekiel Dunagan, the man sitting in the chair, and that the two young men on either side of Ezekiel are his sons by one of his slaves. Even though I did find in the 1820 Federal census that Ezekiel Dunagan (1771-1836) of Hall County, Georgia, owned four slaves, one black adult male, one black adult female and two black females under the age of fourteen, this photo could not be of this Ezekiel (1771-1836) because he died in 1836 and the still camera was not invented until 1837. I am not sure who the man in the photo is but you can see from the census of 1870 that there were two black men, Louis and Asbery, listed as living in the household of Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan and Nancy Evans Dunagan and they had apparently taken the Dunagan last name. There is no way to know for sure whether these two young men are descendants of the first Ezekiel Dunagan unless we were able to locate one of their descendants and test the DNA. However, it was not uncommon for former slaves to take the last name of the slave owner.

By 1880, still living in Marshall, MS, Federal Census shows the following family members living in the same household, the last name is spelled differently:

E. J. Donigan (35)

Nancy E. Donigan (36)

Julia E. Donigan (15)

Martha E. Donigan (12)

Mary E. Donigan (10)

Beulah E. Donigan (4)

Thomas J. Donigan (2)

Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, Jr. and Nancy Evans Dunagan

I haven't been able to locate Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan and Nancy Evans Dunagan in the 1890 census but they are still living in Marshall, MS in 1900 and they had added a son, William Albert Dunagan (17), between the 1880 and 1900 census.

The next census in 1910, shows Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan, widowed, living in Memphis, TN, with only two of his children:

Beulah Dunagan (28)

W. Albert Dunagan (26)

This is all of the information I have researched on this Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan line but Hannah Barber has done some research on the family and has provided the photos in this blog, given to her by her Grandmother Mary Evans Dunagan-Barber, a daughter of Ezekiel Jackson Dunagan and Nancy Evans Dunagan. Mary married James M. Barber and they had nine children.

Ben A. Barber

Lyman Barber

Blanche G. Barber

Thomas V. Barber

Beulah I. Barber

Lucy B. Barber

James R. Barber

Earl M. Barber

Evelyn Barber

Evelon and Mary E. Dunagan-Barber

James Robert Barber, their 7th child, was Hannah Barber's father. He married Dorthy Khaled Adcock, a professional singer who performed at the old Cotton Club in NY, regularly. They only had one child, Hannah Barber.

James Robert Barber

Dorothy Khaled Adcock-Barber

SOURCES:

Ancestry.com

U. S. Federal Census

Hannah Barber-Abraham(Photos)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

John Franklin Dunagan

John Franklin Dunagan born 15 Oct 1832 in Hall County, GA, died 13 Aug 1890 in Hall County, GA. John Franklin Dunagan is my 2nd great grandfather and married Frances Samanthra Bryant on 22 Jan 1854 in Hall County, GA. Frances Samanthra Bryant’s great grandmother was full blooded Eastern Cherokee Indian. They had the following children:
Alfred Benton Dunagan born Oct 1855, died 7 Sep 1931 in Jackson County, GA
Jeter Andrew Dunagan born 26 Aug 1856, died 3 May 1923 in Barrow County, GA
Joseph Alexander Dunagan born 8 Apr 1862, died 25 Dec 1949 in Barrow County, GA
John Marion Dunagan born 22 Mar 1869, died 14 Nov 1920 in Hall County, GA
Eveline Dunagan born ABT 1871, died ?
Amanda Dunagan born 22 Aug 1871, died 6 Dec 1943 in Hall County, GA
Lucinda “Lady” Dunagan born ABT 1874, died ?
Sarah Jane Dunagan born ABT 1867, died ?
John Franklin Dunagan enlisted as a private with the CSA on May 12, 1862, but by June 10, 1862, he was listed as a deserter. Obviously, he was not too happy to join the cause but faced the threat of conscription. I know that his father, Joseph Ellis Dunagan and many of his Uncles did not support secession from the Union. On September 4, 1862 he rejoined his unit in Company F, 43rd Infantry Regiment of Georgia. The Georgia 43rd Infantry Regiment organized at Big Shanty, Georgia, earlier in April, 1862, which contained men from Cherokee, Pickens, Cobb, Hall, Forsyth, Jefferson, and Jackson counties. The unit moved to Tennessee, then Mississippi where they were placed under the command of General Barton in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. His unit took an active part in the conflicts at Chickasaw Bayou and Champion's Hill, and was captured when Vicksburg fell. John Franklin Dunagan was reported captured at Bakers Creek, Mississippi on May 16, 1863. He was part of an exchange of prisoners at Fort Delaware, Delaware, sometime in 1863. After being exchanged, the 43rd was assigned to General Stovall's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. It was prominent in the numerous campaigns of the army from Missionary Ridge to Nashville, and ended the war in North Carolina. In December, 1863, it totaled 283 men and 251 arms, and in November, 1864, there were 130 fit for duty. John Franklin Dunagan deserted again and on February 13, 1864, traveled to Chattanooga, TN, to take an oath of allegiance to the United States government. On April 26, 1865, his entire regiment, or what was left, surrendered.

The Sons of Thomas Dunagan and the American Revolution

Thomas Dunagan was born June 16, 1706, in Limerick, Ireland. He was an early immigrant to America, settling first in Virginia, then Orange County, NC, and later in Surry County, NC, where he died sometime between 1782 and 1790. This Thomas Dunagan was my 6^th great grandfather. Thomas married an Irish girl from Limerick named Sarah around 1726 and unfortunately this is all we know of Sarah. Thomas and Sarah had the following children:

Charles Dunagan born ? , died ABT 1813 in Orange County, NC
Thomas Dunagan born ABT 1727 in Ireland, died 1810 in Surry County, NC
John Dunagan born BEF 1730 in ? , died AFT 1780 in Surry County, NC
Joshua Dunagan born ABT 1737 in VA or NC, died ABT 1798 in GA
William Dunagan born 1738 in VA, died 15 Nov 1798 in Orange County, NC
Joseph Dunagan born 1740 in VA or NC, died 1810

Of Thomas and Sarah Dunagan’s children, they had three sons who fought in the Revolutionary War for America’s Independence. John, Joshua and Thomas, aka Tommy, fought in the Revolutionary War as Continental Army soldiers.

John Dunnegan, #1282, paid 185 lbs., received by same (vol. 7 page 205 NC) NC Records, Also Roster of the Revolution. Received into service by Selby Harney.
Joshua Dunnagan, #2893, NC line (Revolution Soldiers) paid 186 lbs. 186 vol. 17, page 207, 1781-1785 NC records, also NC Roster. Joshua was living at the time he enlisted in Warrenton District, Fauquier County, VA. Received by William Faircloth.
Thomas “Tommy” Dunnigan, private, enlisted April 25, 1776, mustered out January 1778.

There were other Dunagan men from this same family line in North Carolina that served together in the same war. David Dunnagan, a younger John Dunnagan and Sherrid (Sherwood) Dunagan also served. I don't know the exact relationship to the older Dunagan brothers but they were probably cousins or nephews. According to my father's(George J.) research notes, he believed that David Dunnagan was killed in the war.

David Dunnagan, vol. 4 chapter 4, 8, 12, C.L. Also Dunningham, Dunagin, Dunagan. David's service # was 91389, 4th. Virginia Regiment(General Scott's Brigade) NC Roster 207.
John Dunagan (younger John) service # 1283, vol. 17, page 205 NC records, Roster of Revolution NC. John was a private and was deeded 640 acres in NC for 84 months of service in the American Revolution, April 2, 1784 by Captain McNees in Warrenton District NC. John was born March 15, 1755, died in 1813, married Susan (last name unknown).

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Ezekiel Dunagan 1814 Spy

This story is taken from an article written by Sybill McRay on Hall County History, The Times newspaper on November 30, 1969. The title of the article was “Where is site of old Fort built in Hall County!”

In all probability one or more forts were located in the section of Hall County that was cut off from Jackson County territory. Forts were usually erected on the untamed frontier for the protection of the pioneer settlers and Hall County – which was created in 1818 – was the untamed frontier in the late 1700’s and 1800’s.

When the white man first came to the Jackson County area of Georgia around 1785, he found the land inhabited by the Creek and Cherokee Indians. The dividing line between the two tribes was in the vicinity – the Creeks living mostly to the south and the Cherokees to the north. There seems to have been peaceful co-existence with each tribe having separate hunting grounds; however, the early pioneer lived in constant danger either from a few renegade Indians or from wild animals.

An old map published in “Historical Notes on Jackson County” by Frary Elrod, shows that a fort was once located on the North Fork of the Oconee River. Some records of this old fort still exist, but the exact location is unknown. This possibly the Fort Early from which invoices were filed by Sgt. Anthony Storey in 1814. A notation on one of the documents indicates that Fort Early was “near the Oconee” which apparently refers to the North Fork of the Oconee River.

One invoice of interest: “Georgia, Jackson County. I, Anthony Story Sergeant and Commander of Fort Early…..do certify that two spies were stationed at the above fort, by order of Major Patton, for the term of 39 days, viz, from 8^th of Jan. 1814 to the 15^th of Feb. 1814. Given under my hand this 16^th day of Feb. 1814. Anthony Storey, Sergt. Commandent.”

A muster roll certified by Capt. Joseph Whorton listing the soldiers stationed on the frontier of Jackson County gives the names of “Benjamin Whorton, Spie, F. Early and Ezekiel Dunegin, Spie, F. Early.” (Ezekiel Dunegin (Dunagan) is my 4^th great grandfather. The term Spie or Spy is reference to soldiers who were territory scouts or did ground reconnaissance duty.) The muster roll also identifies several forts in the area: Fort Yargo, Fort Harrison, Fort Daniel, and Fort Flawyd (Floyd). The site of most of the fortifications is now lost to the passing of time. However, the exact location of two forts is known. Fort Yargo, built about the year 1793 and still standing, is now a Georgia State Park in Barrow County; a historical plaque marks the site of Fort Daniel near Hog Mountain. All the forts were similar in construction. There were built of logs and were surrounded by a stockade which was erected by standing logs upright in the ground.

The first white settlement in what is now Hall County was Gillsville. It was first named “Stonethrow”. Whether this name was used by the Indians on their travels to and from Augusta, GA. And Nacoochee and Tallulah territory is not known. Several Indian villages were located not far from the village of “Stonethrow” and evidently something was a stone’s throw from something else. Stonethrow, or Gillsville, was very near the important Lacoda Trail which the Indians traveled for trading purposes and this suggests that since the settlement was very near at least one fort which was built on this frontier which was the furthermost white settlement. When Jackson County was created in 1796 there were already 43 people living at Stonethrow (now Gillsville).

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Joseph Dunegan

I came across this website that has a partial roster for Colonel David S. Booth's 4th Regiment of Georgia Militia that were called to service in the Creek War, as part of the War of 1812. There is a Joseph Dunegan listed as a member of Captain Mercer's company in November 1814, while the regiment was posted at Fort Hawkins, Georgia.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/military/warof1812/boon.txt

Fort Hawkins was built in 1806 near Macon, Georgia, along the Ocmulgee River to serve as a defensive military post in response to attacks by the Creek Indians in the area. When the Creek Indian war broke out in 1813 at the instigation of the British, Georgia called forth approximately 3600 militia troops to Fort Hawkins to protect the southern boundary of settlement from attack by Creek Indians and to provide support and reinforcements for General Andrew Jackson who was en route to Mobile in response to hostile Creek and Seminole Indian, as well as British, activity in the West Florida territory. Apparently Colonel Booth's regiment, which had a large contingent of men from the Jackson/Franklin county area of Georgia, under the leadership of Major General John McIntosh proceeded west to Fort Mitchell on the Chattahoochee river in present day Alabama. From there the Georgia militia units under General McIntosh's command engaged the Creeks in several small battles or skirmishes. Some of these men later accompanied General Jackson further west and fought at the Battle of New Orleans in January of 1815. I wonder if this Joseph Dunegan listed in Colonel Booth's regiment might be Joseph Ellis Dunagan. He would have been about 20 or 21 years old at the time and might very well have served in the local militia when it was called up for action. Below are links to sites that contain information about the Georgia Militia's role in the Creek War, including a portion of a book on Google books. I'm still researching this for more details, but I thought I would share what I found tonight.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gataylor/regim.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=37Dnvmkm1wsC&pg=PA46&dq=booth+4th+georgia+militia+fort+hawkins&hl=en&ei=Oa9hTZuoHsP58AaSisXfCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=fort%20mitchell&f=false

Justin Lawhon