Sarah's husband, Nat Statham, had been in that area for some time, since before the land was ceded to the US Government by the Indians under a new treaty in 1818. This area eventually became part of Wilcox County when it was created in 1857.
History of Irwin County provides the following interesting tidbit: "The next court was held December 6, 1823. The Grand Jury returned no general presentments and found one True Bill, being The State vs. Thompson N. Statum (sic), Jeptha Durham and Seaborn Castleberry for assualt and battery." Apparently the tone of political discourse has ever been an acrimonious one; interesting, too, that Nat's future father-in-law, John Fitzgerald, was one of the Grand Jury members making this finding.
In 1830, Nat and Sarah appear in Irwin County with their first child. Their neighbors, listed from closest to furthest: John Fitzgerald (Sarah's father); David Fitzgerald (Sarah's brother); Miles Adams (Sarah's maternal uncle); Nathaniel Statham (Nat's father).
In the 1850 census, Nat and Sarah were living in the part of Irwin County that eventually became Wilcox County when it was formed. Their household profile is as follows: Thomas (sic) N., 52; Sarah, 40; Charles A., 19; David, 15; Thomas, 11; William, 6; Sarah J., 2.
In 1860 Wilcox: Thompson, 65; Sarah, 52; David, 25; Thomas, 21; Sarah, 12; Isaac Wiggins, 6. I have no idea who Isaac Wiggins is, but he's still with Sarah and Nat in 1870 and doing farm labor. Sarah died in 1875.
- John Alexander Statham, b. ca 1829; m. Nancy Jane Bowen
- Charles A. Statham, b. ca 1831
- David Statham, b. ca 1835; d 13 Jul 1862
- Thomas John Statham, b. ca 1839; d. 27 Jul 1861
- William Statham, b. ca 1844; m. Martha Turner
- Sarah Jane Statham, b. 25 Jul 1845; m. Hezekiah "HK" Anderson
David Statham was a Private with Co. H, 10th Regiment GA Infantry, enlisted 14 Feb 1862. On register of Chimborazo Hospital, No. 1, Richmond, Virginia with Rubeola. Admitted 25 May 1862, transferred 12 Jun 1862 to Petersburg. Died 13 Jul 1862 in Richmond. Thomas J. Statham was also a Private with Co. H, 10th GA Infantry, enlisted 20 May 1861, Abbeville, Georgia. Died 27 Jul 1861 at camp near Williamsburg, Virginia; cause of death not indicated. Claim submitted 9 Nov 1863 by their father Thompson N. Statham. Affidavit by TN Statham in Wilcox County 29 Oct 1863 confirming that he is the father of David and Thomas J. Statham, with testimony from Smith Turner (father-in-law of Nat's son William). Nat was the administrator for David's estate according to this legal notice.
William Statham (as Stateham) was working as a farm laborer in the household of Thomas Mitchell in 1860 Wilcox County. He fought with Co H, 10th Georgia Regiment. He applied for pension benefits in 1904 (downloadable from Georgia's Virtual Vault), which his widow Martha Statham applied to continue receiving in 1916.
