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Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas

We find Mahaffey spelled so many ways, it is a bit harder to locate family.    A few of those spellings include: Mahaffa ~ Mahaffy ~ Mahaffie ~ Mahafa ~ Mahoffy ~ Mehaffy ~ Meheffey ~ Mehaffy ~ Mahafee ~ Mahaffee ~ Mahafey ~ Mahavvey ~ McHaffey ~ Mahoffey ~ MacPhee ~ MacFie ~ McHaffy

These records are a compilation of records by various researchers, compiled by Susan BARLOW Holmes, along with the many other records that I have collected throughout my years of genealogy.    They include the following, e-mail addresses are available if valid, on the index of the Mississippi Kinfolk page.

Verna Reed

Elizabeth Jordan

Carolyn Cole

Susan BARLOW Holmes

Lora Beth Wright

Rebecca O'Bryan

Kevin Davis

Kevin Davis writes:    There are two different Mahaffey families in the Simpson Co area, but they still tie together several generations back. Original Mahaffey settlers to the area were a William and Mary Mahaffey who came to the area in the 1830's.   They had several children.   Two of their sons, William Mahaffey Jr., and Robert Mahaffey always remained in Simpson Co Mississippi. The descendants of these two brothers form what some people believed were two different sets of Mahaffeys.

WILLIAM MAHAFFEY1 was born in 1780/1784, probably in South Carolina, and died c1831, probably in Simpson Co Mississippi.

He married MARY who was born about 1784 at North Carolina.   Her maiden name may have been Durden.   (See note below)  Mary died after 1860, probably in Jasper or Tyler Co Texas.   Mary married 2nd to John Richardson, who was the father of Sarah Richardson that married William and Mary's son, Amos.    Mary and John Richardson were said to have gone to Texas via the 'Wheat Wagon Train'.

The Mahaffey family is said to have migrated from Ireland.    We think this line of Mahaffey's migrated from North or South Carolina.

William Mahaffey was granted land in Montgomery Co Georgia Georgia Land Book IIIII or HHHHH.
William Mahaffey - Montgomery   2,507   1808     p. 360
William Mahaffey - Montgomery Co Georgia     1811     Bk KKKKK     p. 414
William Mahaffey - 1805 and 1806 Tax Records of Montgomery Co Georgia

DURDEN:
Shirley Jones writes: Mary is possibly the daughter of J. J. Durden who is found owning property with William Mahaffey in the West Florida Parishes in Louisiana and died (a Revolutionary veteran) in Simpson Co Mississippi.   He received a Revolutionary Pension, but no children are listed. From the 'Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files': John Durdin: North Carolina Line, applied for pension 15 October 1832 Simpson Co Mississippi, aged 70, soldier was born in Dobbs Co North Carolina and soldier lived there at enlistment.   I would like to pursue that line.
Verna Reed writes: I have interesting information on the Durdens, I suspect William Mahaffey's wife Mary b. 1784 in North Carolina, d. after 1860 in Texas, second husband -- John Richardson) may have been a Durden, or Durdino, used interchangably. The Durdens were in Montgomery Co Georgia at the same time William Mahaffey appears. Some of the Durden genealogies say there was a Mary Durden. J.J. Durden owns property with William Mahaffey in the West Florida Parishes of Louisiana, and a John Durden died in Simpson Co Mississippi. Anyone having information on the Durdens, I sure would like to share information. If anyone would like the Durden attachments I have received, I am happy to share. Extremely interesting. Sure gives me some ideas where to look for more information about William Mahaffey.

Birth records come from Bible near Houston, Harris Co Texas belonging to Amos Mahaffey. No information as to who presently owns the Bible, or it's present location.

Children of William and Mary Mahaffey:

Nancy Mahaffey, born 04 September 1804      John T. Mahaffey, born 08 December 1805      Eda Mahaffey, born 04 September 1807      Oliver Mahaffey, born 27 August 1809
Phebe Mahaffey, born 19 July 1811      William Mahaffey, born 30 May 1813      Robert Mahaffey, born 06 February 1815      Sarah Mahaffey, born 16 June 1817
Ashley Mahaffey, born 20 April 1819 and died 1858       Amos Mahaffey, born 31 May 1821 and died 05 January 1867      Martha Mahaffey, born 29 October 1823 in Washington Parish Louisiana

PHEBE MAHAFFEY, born 19 July 1811 in Georgia, and died 01 June 1874 in Mississippi.
She married 1)  THOMAS HILTON.  The son of William Hilton, he was born c1805, and died before 1850, probably in Simpson Co Mississippi.  Click his name for more of this family.
She married 2) DEMPSEY TOUCHSTONE between 1854-1860.   The son of Green Touchstone and Sally Stanley, he was born 25 July 1791 in Georgia, and died 24 July 1874 in Simpson Co Mississippi.   Click his name for more of this family

NANCY MAHAFFEY2, daughter of William Mahaffey and Mary Durden, was born 04 September 1804, probably in Georgia.

She married ROBERT J. LAIRD.  I was unable to determine in the 1830 and 1840 census, which might be Robert and Nancy.

JOHN T. MAHAFFEY2, son of William Mahaffey and Mary Durden, was born 08 or 28 December 1805 in Georgia, and died 02 April 1894 near Tryus, Mississippi, burial in Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery, Sontag, Lawrence Co Mississippi.

He married MARY LOWE about 1832.   The daughter of John Butler Lowe and Susannah Sturdivant, she was born 13 May 1815 in Georgia, and died 01 or 27 January 1909 in Lawrence Co Mississippi, burial beside her husband in Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery, Sontag, Lawrence Co Mississippi. 

Elizabeth Jordan writes: In John Butler Lowe's will, his daughter, Mary is listed as the wife of John T. Mahaffey.

SUSANNAH M. 'AUNT SHAN' MAHAFFEY3, born 01 January 01, 1833 in Simpson Co Mississippi, and died 21 December 1914, burial in Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery, Sontag, Lawrence Co Mississippi.    She did not marry.

MARY JANE MAHAFFEY, born 10 April 1835 in Mississippi, and died 25 September 1886 in Utica, Hinds Co Mississippi, burial in Kelley Cemetery, Utica, Hinds Co Mississippi.
She married CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 'LUM' BARLOW on 04 May 1853 in Simpson Co Mississippi.    The son of William Bryant Barlow and Nancy Harrington/Herrington, he was born 02 March 1836 in Perry Co Mississippi, and died about 1897 in Utica, Hinds Co Mississippi, where he is said to be buried in an unmarked grave at Meeks Cemetery.  Click his name for more of this family.

WILLIAM MAHAFFEY, born 05 January 1839 in Simpson Co Mississippi. Some researchers show his death as 1852, but finding no proof of that, I find a William who's age matches, and whom I can not find other parents, thus he is outlined here.  If anyone knows Wm to be of another family, please let me know so that I may change this information.   Elizabeth Susan White Mississippi    (Walker FT)  

NANCY MATILDA MAHAFFEY, born 03 March 1840 or 1841 in Simpson or Lawrence Co Mississippi, and died 04 May 1928, burial in Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Sabine Parish Louisiana.

THAMER / perhaps DINAH MAHAFFEY, born 07 April 1850, and died 05 September 1939.    She married JAMES MONROE BOUTWELL on 19 July 1882 in Lawrence Co Mississippi.
I cannot locate this family on any census records.   The only thing I found at all on the internet, other than the marriage, was an inquiry in an internet message board by Margaret Mahaffey Owen:   My father was Simeon Woodrow Mahaffey, born in Silver Creek, Mississippi, son of Sim Mahaffey, born in Silver Creek, Mississippi, son of Tamer Mahaffey, daughter of John T. Mahaffey and Mary Lowe Mahaffey.        Note: If Simeon is a Mahaffey, then was he born out of wedlock?   I was unable to locate him in any census records either.

OLIVER MAHAFFEY2, son of William Mahaffey and Mary Durden, was born 27 August 1809 in Montgomery Co Georgia, and probably died between 1870-1880 in Jasper Co Texas.

He married ELIZABETH 'ELIZA' LOWE before 1843, probably in Mississippi.  She was born c1817 in Alabama. 

1840 Citizens of Texas    Land Grants by Gifford White:   Oliver Mahaffey arrived Texas December 1839 / Class 3 Grant of 640 acres on 03 Jan 1840 / finalized on 01 Sep 1849 in Jasper Co Texas
1840 Tax Rolls:   Oliver Mahaffey    1 poll tax and 320 acres under survey based on a grant not yet patented        I could not locate Oliver on an 1840 census.

AMOS MAHAFFEY   born c1842 Jasper Co Texas.    Found in Trinity Co Texas marriages: Nettie J. and Amos Mahaffey married 10 Oct 1889     Is this the same Amos?

ROBERT MAHAFFEY2, son of William Mahaffey and Mary Durden, was born 06 February 1813 or 1815 in Montgomery Co Georgia, and died 31 December 1866 in Mississippi, burial in Harrisville Cemetery, Harrisville, Simpson Co Mississippi.

He married CATHERINE MCFERRIN in Simpson Co Mississippi.   The daughter of William McFerrin and Margaret Weems, she was born 05 May 1821 in Wayne Co Mississippi, and died 07 August 1880 in Harrisville, Simpson Co Mississippi, burial in Harrisville Cemetery, Simpson Co Mississippi.

1840 Citizens of Texas Land Grants by Gifford White -- listed with brothers Amos, Ashley, and Oliver -- Robert Mahaffey arrived Texas Dec 1839 / Class 3 Grant of 640 acres in Jasper Co Texas/not patented
1840 Texas Tax Rolls, Jasper Co       Robert     1 poll tax / 2 slaves

H. CATHERINE MAHAFFEY, born 31 July 1838 in Simpson Co Mississippi, and died 07 March 1910 in Simpson Co Mississippi, burial in Harrisville Cemetery, Harrisville, Simpson Co Mississippi.
She married JOHN WESLEY BARLOW in 1854, Simpson Co Mississippi.   The son of George Washington Barlow and Flora Ann Byrd, he was born 06 February 1834 in Harrisville, Simpson Co Mississippi, and died 16 July 1910 in Simpson Co, burial in Harrisville Cemetery, Simpson Co Mississippi.   Click his name for more of this family, photos and more.

We know that William Mahaffey had a daughter named Sarah, born 16 June 1817 in Washington Parish Louisiana. The naming patterns in Sarah Murray's family are so similar and fit in with other descendants of William Mahaffey.

ASHLEY MAHAFFEY2, son of William Mahaffey and Mary Durden, was born 25 May 1815 or 20 April 1819 at Washington Parish Louisiana, and died in 26 May 1858.

He married RUTH MULLICAN.  The daughter of Jeremiah Mullican and Frances Holbrook, she was born 11 July 1825 in Simpson Co Mississippi, and died on 01 November 1895, burial at Old Mount Zion Cemetery, Tyler Co Texas.    After Ashley's death, Ruth married Jonathan Peters.

1840 Citizens of Texas by Gifford White      Mahaffey, Ashley arrived in Texas December 1839 Class 3 grant 320 acres January 1840 in Jasper Co No date for finalization
Not on 1840 Tax Rolls   He returned to Mississippi before 1850.

AMOS MAHAFFEY, son of William Mahaffey and Mary Durden, was born 31 May 1821 in Washington Parish Louisiana, and died on 05 January 1867 in Harris Co Texas.

He married SARAH RICHARDSON.  The daughter of John Richardson and Nancy Allbritton, she was born 22 November 1827 at Simpson Co Mississippi, (not proven) and died on 05 March 1889 near Buffalo, Leon Co Texas, burial in Keechi Cemetery, Leon Co Texas.   John Richardson, father of Sarah, married Amos' mother, Mary, after William Mahaffey's death.   [One researcher has her grandfathers birth certificate which states that Sarah's maiden name is Harrison] 

1840 Citizens of Texas Land Grants by Gifford White        Amos Mahoffey / no arrival date / class 3 grant / 320 acres in Liberty Co October 1839 / not completed / not listed on 1840 tax rolls
Probate Records of Harris Co Texas, Estate of Amos Mahaffey: Amos Mahaffey departed this life on 5th of January 1867, intestate Sarah Mahaffey, widow, and children: Nancy 21 years, Mary Jane 19 years, Robert 18 years; called Bob, Amos 16 years, James B. 10 years, Albert G. 8 years, Sarah Alice 5 years, Martha Elizabeth 1 year.

MARTHA MAHAFFEY2, daughter of William Mahaffey and Mary Durden, was born 29 October 1823 in Washington Parish Louisiana, and died 23 November 1884 in Texas, burial in Hines Cemetery, Burkeville, Newton Co Texas.

She married JUDGE MARINDA / MERIDA DAVIS HINES on 08 September 1842.    The son of J. Elbert Hines and Mahana Melton, he was born 15 August 1820 in Pike Co Mississippi, death date unknown, burial in Hines Cemetery, Burkeville, Newton Co Texas,

Barbara Yancey Dore <RootsLady@rootslady.com> is the SE Texas Genealogy Coordinator, and has a wonderful database, as well as a gedcom of this family, found at Ancestry.com ... and there are many more families to see there, and much more information on these than what is seen here.

MARINDA /MERIDA DAVIS HINES, JR., born 16 January 1849 in Texas, and died 20 March 1887 in Newton Co Texas, burial in Hines Cemetery, Burkeville, Newton Co Texas
He married PRISCILLA 'PIE' SEASTRUNK on 20 November 1874 in Newton Co Texas. The daughter of Thomas Reuben Seastrunk and Mary M. Cade, she was born 20 November 1852 in Mississippi.

WILLIAM MAHAFFEY, born 05 January 1839 in Simpson Co Mississippi. Some researchers show his death as 1852, but finding no proof of that, I find a William who's age matches, and whom I can not find other parents, thus he is outlined here.  If anyone knows Wm to be of another family, please let me know so that I may change this information.

He married JEANETTA. (1870 census)      One researcher shows him to be married to ELIZABETH SUSAN WHITE.  

In 1860 Orange Co Texas, I find a 21 yr old William Mahaffey, born in Mississippi, living in the home of ________________ as a laborer.  Also in that home is a 17 year old Ellen Mahaffey, age 17, born in Louisiana, and a spinster, whom I have not been able to place as yet.   Census Image    This William is no longer in Texas in 1870, so I believe the William in the 1870 Simpson Co Mississippi census, age 30, may be him.   He is too old to be the William, son of Amos Mahaffey that died in 1864. 

JEFFERSON DAVIS 'JD' MAHAFFEY, born 16 August 1861 in Simpson Co Mississippi, and died 09 November 1936.

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