Other family researchers have recorded that Nathaniel married Mary Childress in Amherst, Virginia, in 1791. The record I found shows the groom as Thomas Stateton, Jr. Since there were Statons living in Amherst County around that time, including a Thomas, the marriage record probably ties to that family.
It's not clear when Nathaniel moved from Virginia to Georgia, but he served in the Georgia militia in Washington County in 1793-1794 and had land dealings there in 1794 and 1795 (name shows as Stateom). This is also where son Thompson Nathaniel was born.
In 1805 Nathaniel sold 350 acres on Doves Creek in Elbert County. He was still in Elbert in 1810 and 1811 as evidenced by the following legal notice he put in the paper (this one was found in the Augusta Chronicle dated 12 July 1811 but it probably appeared in more local papers as well):
"Georgia, Elbert County: That in the month of July 1810, the building of the common Jail in and for the county aforesaid, was let to the lowest bidder. I being the lowest and last bidder, the same was cried off on me; on which in compliance of the terms thereof, I gave my bond and security for the faithful discharge of the aforesaid work, according to the plan of said Jail as exhibited on view of the said day of letting(?) by the honorable the Inferior court of said county, and whereas I gave power to Thomas Oliver of said county, to act for me as clerk, and with authority to draw from the county funds or the officers holding the money to pay for said work as said court might direct any money for the building and carrying on said work, and also(?) did take the said Oliver, into partnership with myself, in the aforesaid work, and whereas since that, the said Thomas Oliver, has acted altogether contrary to my interest. --- I therefore and hereby forever revoke and declare that the aforesaid power given by me to him, to be forever null and void, as I shall in no wise abide by any settlement whatever forever null and void, as I shall in no wise abide by any settlement whatever that he may make with the aforesaid justices of said court or (on?) any of them; and hereby forwarn the said court from acting on any order or orders heretofore given by me to any person whatever, for that by the time stipulated in my bond, given to said court, for the compleating (sic) and delivery of said jail, I shall have the same ready according to the terms of said bond, and then shall make a legal demand for the money, I do forwarn the said court from paying of any money towards the building of said jail, to any person except myself, as I shall expect to receive it all on my delivering said jail. Nathaniel Statham. July 5, 1811."
On 4 November 1816, Nathaniel purchased 3 tracts of 202½ acres each in Wilkinson County, two in District 14 and one in District 15. These tracts were located in an area that eventually became part of Pulaski County and were recorded in Pulaski County Deed Book E, page 103. They were also not far from the site, on the other side of the Ocmulgee River, where Nathaniel's son, Nat Statham, was involved in the Battle of Breakfast Branch less than 2 years later.
Nathaniel's father, John Statham, died in Elbert County in 1823, leaving a dollar each to four of his sons and dividing the remainder of his estate between children Nathaniel, Nancy, William, Jesse and Pleasant. By that time, Nathaniel was living in Irwin County with his wife, four sons and two daughters, according to the 1820 census. His eldest son, Thompson Nathaniel (Nat), at 26, was living on his own farm in the same county. Living nearby was Pleasant Statham, 16 to 26 years old, with his wife and three children. Pleasant is most likely Nathaniel's second oldest son.
In 1830, Nathaniel was still in Irwin County, with wife and 3 sons at home. His nearest neighbors included son Nat with his new family, and Nat's new relatives by marriage: Miles Adams (maternal uncle by marriage); David Fitzgerald (brother-in-law); and John Fitzgerald (father-in-law). Pleasant Statham was still there. There was also a James Statham, who may be another of Nathaniel's sons, or the son of Nathaniel's older brother, John, Jr., who is known to have eventually settled in Irwin/Wilcox County.
Nathaniel was 76 years old in the 1840 Stewart County, Georgia, census and lived in the 22nd District. He's also listed as one of the "Pensioners for Revolutionary or military services" identified as part of that year's enumeration. It's unknown how long Nathaniel had been living in Stewart County, but his son Nat was there in 1836 fighting with the Mounted Stewart Rangers in the Florida Indian war; he was still there in 1840 (as Nathaniel Statham), living in Florence District. By 1850, Nat and his family had returned to Irwin County, but I was unable to find Nathaniel in either county that year.
Nathaniel probably died in Irwin County in late1852 or early 1853. Court records show an order granting son Nat letters of administration on the estate of Nathaniel and an Administrator's Bond order in February 1853; and authorization to sell the land from Nathaniel's estate in July 1853 (transcription of these records here).
- Thompson Nathaniel Statham, b. 20 Jun 1795; m. Sarah Elizabeth Fitzgerald
- Pleasant Statham, b. 1794-1800; m. Nancy Goldsmith
- Unknown son, b. 1802-1804
- George W. Statham, b. ca 1809
- Unknown daughter, b. 1804-1810
- James Statham(?), b. 1810-1820
- Unknown son, b. 1810-1820
A family researcher of George W. Statham believes that he was a son of Nathaniel Statham. George was living in Dale County, Alabama, in 1840 and 1850 with wife Mary C. (Wiggins) Statham and their children.
A Pleasant Statham (as Statam) married Nancy Goldsmith 11 Jul 1816 in Putnam County. I believe this to be the same Pleasant Statham who was a head of household in 1820 and 1830 Irwin County, and 1840 Barbour County, Alabama, whether or not he's Nathaniel's son. In 1820, there was also a Pleasant Statham living in Putnam County, obviously the same man who married there 4 years before. But the household makeup is similar enough to that of the Irwin County Pleasant Statham to suggest it's the same person, captured twice in the same census in two different locations, when a few other coincidences are factored in. I haven't as yet found the Putnam County Pleasant Statham after that 1820 census but there is a widowed Nancy Statham (as Stateham) living in 1850 Muscogee County, Georgia, with five kids (including a son named Pleasant) born between 1828 and 1838 in Pulaski County, Georgia, and two kids born 1840 or after in Barbour County, Alabama. The Pulaski County birthplace is puzzling as I've not seen any evidence of a Pleasant Statham living there in the 1820's and 1830's, but Irwin and Pulaski Counties abutted at one time and it's possible this family lived in an area alternately designated as Irwin or Pulaski according to the shifting of county lines that occurred between 1820 and 1838. This is pure conjecture, of course, but it makes for an interesting theory.
Pleasant Statham was registered as a resident of Telfair County when he drew land in Lee County in the 1827 land lottery (District 5, Lot# 258). The part of Lee where the lot was located eventually became part of Randolph, and land records for that county show that he sold the lot in 1832. The county lines between Irwin and Telfair changed significantly between 1825 and 1826, and this may account for Pleasant being a resident in Telfair for the land lottery. On the other hand, he may have simply moved back and forth between counties; the county line between Irwin and Telfair doesn't seem to have changed significantly between 1827 and 1830.
