Following is a family narrative written by James Whitney "Cousin Jim" Fly who writes from some first hand experiences and knowledge of his family. They are called "legends" as these are remembrances and not part of official records; therefore, this contains opinions and his take on family happenings but seems to be quite worth the reprinting of it here as it seems quite interesting and I think for the most part, reliable. Most of it is quite factual. (Nancy Yankie of Texas, Direct Fly Descendant, 5G Granddaughter of John and Sarah Jane Trader Fly.)
Fly Family Legends:
Colonel William Fly and Mary Mitchell Fly
William Fly, the second son of John D. And Sarah Trader Fly, married Mary Mitchell in 1810. She was the daughter of Andrew Mitchell, all of Maury County, Tennessee.
They were a young couple - The bridegroom was about 16 years old and the bride 17. They were both blessed with extraordinary energy and force of character.
Contemptuous remarks, by some of their relatives on their youth and probable success in life, aroused their ambition and caused them to put forth all their energy and vim that they might show their skeptical friends that they would succeed.
The consequence was that, though they met some breaks in their prosperity, they soon outstrip(ped) all their relatives and acquaintances in acquiring wealth.
Col. William Fly was a man or extraordinary natural ability. His early opportunities for an education were very limited, but in mature years, few would have known that his early education had been neglected.
He was a magistrate in Maury County, Tennessee, for a number of years. He filled various offices in the Militia of the county.He was invariably elected when he became a candidate for office. I well recollect the last time he was a candidate for office in Maury County.
It was for the office of Colonel of the Militia, and his opponent was Lucius Polk. It was a very spirited contest and William Fly won.
He was a very handsome and commanding-looking man, and when dressed in his regimentals, and mounted on his fiery white horse, his children thought him the most distinguished-looking of men.
After William Fly's marriage, he first settled on a tract of land given him by his father-in-law on Turkey Creek in Maury County, Tennessee. Here his three oldest children were born.They were -
1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell 2. Fly, Sarah Jane and 3. Fly, John Dalton
He then moved to Williamson County and settled on Leper's (or Leiper's) Creek. Here his fourth child was born. 4. Fly, David Williamson
Eighteen months later, he moved back to Maury County, and settled near his father-in-law Andrew Mitchell, on Turkey Creek.In this place was born - 5.Fly, Elijah Madden
Mr. Fly sold this place, intending to move to the Obion country in West Tennessee, but afterwards bought James Doty's place on Beach Creek, another branch of Snow Creek.
On this place the town of Benton is now located. It is 10 miles north of Columbia, the county seat of Maury County. While living on this place, Sarah Jane Fly, his daughter, died in her 17th year. She was very pretty with dark auburn hair and fair complexion.
Andrew Tate Mitchell Fly was married to Eliza Jones about 1830. He afterward married a Miss Rabb. While living on Beach Creek William and Mary Fly had 4 children -
6. Fly, Mary Malinda 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana (twin) (GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF TANNERS) Sophia Fly Seat, Reverend Seat's wife. 8. Fly, Benjamin Franklin (twin) 9. Fly, Elvira Josephine 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette was the youngest.
William Fly moved from Tennessee to Yalabusha County,, Mississippi where he owned 2 plantations. While there Governor Polk visited his cousin, Mary Mitchell Fly.
The story goes that when Gov. (afterwards President) Polk came to the plantation, Frank Fly, then 13 years old, was sent to the other plantation tell his brother Willie of the arrival. As he was running along, repeating to himself the message, "The Governor's come. The Governor's come", he stumped his toe, fell down and rolled, forgetting his message.
As he came in sight of his brother, he shouted excitedly, "Oh Brother Will, the Clark's come; the Clark's come." - the county Clerk being the highest official he knew.
The house on this plantation was a large brick structure, called, "The Castle". Later Col. Fly sold these two plantations and moved to Madison County, Mississippi to educate his children. He bought a large plantation two or three miles from Sharon, but lived in the town until his youngest daughter graduated, when he moved to the plantation.
In 1853 or 1854 he moved, with his family, and 100 slaves, to Texas, settling on Oyster Creek, Brazoria County. The land was very rich, but the climate was so malarial, that Col. Fly and 13 slaves died the first year.
A year later, this plantation was sold and Mrs. Fly moved to Big Hill in Gonzales County, Texas. At the close of the war 300 slaves were set free by Mrs. Fly and her children. She died a year later in 1866.
The energy, intelligence and uprightness of the parents were impressed on the children in a remarkable degree. It is said that in three generations of the Flys there have been between 25 and 30 lawyers (two are Supreme Court Judges of Texas, and several others are judges) ministers and physicians.
It may be of interest to descendants of the family to know how planters lived in by-gone days. One year, on Col. Fly's plantation 300 hogs were killed, which meant that 600 hams and 600 shoulders were consumed, for not a pounds of meat or a pound of anything else was ever sold. In addition 600 chickens were raised, and others were bought from the negroes. 45 cows were milked and all the milk and butter consumed.
It took the milkers from before daylight to nearly noon to attend to the milk.The ladies of the household instructed the slaves and visited and cared for them in sickness. Each of the daughters, as well as their mother, had her own ladies' maid. The garments of the negroes were cut out and sewed by colored sewing women, superintended by their mistress.
Colonel Fly's family consisted of the following members -Fly, Colonel William, married in 1810, Mary Mitchell, daughter of Andrew Mitchell of Maury County, Tennessee.
Issue - 1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell, married 1st, Eliza Jones in 1830 married 2nd Ellen Rabb 2. Fly, Sarah Jane died at age 17 3. Fly, John Dalton m. 1st Martha Irvine Divine m. 2nd Julia Stokes m. 3rd Nora Compton 4. Fly, David Williamson (a Methodist Minister) m. Fannie Harper 5. Fly, Elijah Madden m. Nancy McKie 6. Fly, Mary Melinda m. Rev. Asbury Davidson, Methodist Minister 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana m. Rev. W. H. Seat, Methodist Minister
8. Fly Benjamin Franklin m. 1st Sarah Robards; 2nd Mary R. Chambliss 9. Fly, Ella Josephine m. Thomas Catchings 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette, b. 1835 in Yalobusha Co., Miss. d. 1/27/1904, in Victoria, Texas m. Callie Bell of Starkville, Miss. in 1857 This is the end of this particular version of "the Flye Records" as circulated in the family under Col. William and wife, Mary (Mitchell) Fly .
I have tried to copy this material carefully. I will now go back and proof-read it. I hope you will print out this posting and keep a copy with other important documents.
We are very fortunate to have this particular document for the reference of the WHOLE family.
Sources & Credits:
James Whitney Fly "Cousin Jim"
P.S. When the author starts by telling us "Two Brothers came to the colonies, I wonder if he did not know that there had been the THIRD brother John, left behind when the father and the OTHER two brothers came from Pennsylvania to Virginia.Or is it possible that the story, originally was, "Our ancestor, William, and two brothers came to the colonies?The biography-writers for the Goodspeed Publishers in the 1880's described the THREE Fly brothers who immigrated to the colonies; and Goodspeed refers to the Pennsylvania brother, the Virginia brother and the Georgia brother on the generation of Rev. John Fly's grandfather, William Fly, b. ca. 1726/7
Sources "The Flye Family Forum" Author, Jim Whitney Fly
Thus ends Cousin Jim's remembrances of the Fly (Flye) Family as known during his lifetime. They do indeed seem to contain mostly fact, some opinions, but no fiction. (Not my words, but provided by Nancy Yankie, Direct Fly Descendant and 5th G Granddaughter of Col. William D. Fly and Sarah Trader Fly.)
Obituary was printed in the June 14 1855 Edition of The Nashville Christian Advocate.
Fly Family Legends:
Colonel William Fly and Mary Mitchell Fly
William Fly, the second son of John D. And Sarah Trader Fly, married Mary Mitchell in 1810. She was the daughter of Andrew Mitchell, all of Maury County, Tennessee.
They were a young couple - The bridegroom was about 16 years old and the bride 17. They were both blessed with extraordinary energy and force of character.
Contemptuous remarks, by some of their relatives on their youth and probable success in life, aroused their ambition and caused them to put forth all their energy and vim that they might show their skeptical friends that they would succeed.
The consequence was that, though they met some breaks in their prosperity, they soon outstrip(ped) all their relatives and acquaintances in acquiring wealth.
Col. William Fly was a man or extraordinary natural ability. His early opportunities for an education were very limited, but in mature years, few would have known that his early education had been neglected.
He was a magistrate in Maury County, Tennessee, for a number of years. He filled various offices in the Militia of the county.He was invariably elected when he became a candidate for office. I well recollect the last time he was a candidate for office in Maury County.
It was for the office of Colonel of the Militia, and his opponent was Lucius Polk. It was a very spirited contest and William Fly won.
He was a very handsome and commanding-looking man, and when dressed in his regimentals, and mounted on his fiery white horse, his children thought him the most distinguished-looking of men.
After William Fly's marriage, he first settled on a tract of land given him by his father-in-law on Turkey Creek in Maury County, Tennessee. Here his three oldest children were born.They were -
1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell 2. Fly, Sarah Jane and 3. Fly, John Dalton
He then moved to Williamson County and settled on Leper's (or Leiper's) Creek. Here his fourth child was born. 4. Fly, David Williamson
Eighteen months later, he moved back to Maury County, and settled near his father-in-law Andrew Mitchell, on Turkey Creek.In this place was born - 5.Fly, Elijah Madden
Mr. Fly sold this place, intending to move to the Obion country in West Tennessee, but afterwards bought James Doty's place on Beach Creek, another branch of Snow Creek.
On this place the town of Benton is now located. It is 10 miles north of Columbia, the county seat of Maury County. While living on this place, Sarah Jane Fly, his daughter, died in her 17th year. She was very pretty with dark auburn hair and fair complexion.
Andrew Tate Mitchell Fly was married to Eliza Jones about 1830. He afterward married a Miss Rabb. While living on Beach Creek William and Mary Fly had 4 children -
6. Fly, Mary Malinda 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana (twin) (GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF TANNERS) Sophia Fly Seat, Reverend Seat's wife. 8. Fly, Benjamin Franklin (twin) 9. Fly, Elvira Josephine 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette was the youngest.
William Fly moved from Tennessee to Yalabusha County,, Mississippi where he owned 2 plantations. While there Governor Polk visited his cousin, Mary Mitchell Fly.
The story goes that when Gov. (afterwards President) Polk came to the plantation, Frank Fly, then 13 years old, was sent to the other plantation tell his brother Willie of the arrival. As he was running along, repeating to himself the message, "The Governor's come. The Governor's come", he stumped his toe, fell down and rolled, forgetting his message.
As he came in sight of his brother, he shouted excitedly, "Oh Brother Will, the Clark's come; the Clark's come." - the county Clerk being the highest official he knew.
The house on this plantation was a large brick structure, called, "The Castle". Later Col. Fly sold these two plantations and moved to Madison County, Mississippi to educate his children. He bought a large plantation two or three miles from Sharon, but lived in the town until his youngest daughter graduated, when he moved to the plantation.
In 1853 or 1854 he moved, with his family, and 100 slaves, to Texas, settling on Oyster Creek, Brazoria County. The land was very rich, but the climate was so malarial, that Col. Fly and 13 slaves died the first year.
A year later, this plantation was sold and Mrs. Fly moved to Big Hill in Gonzales County, Texas. At the close of the war 300 slaves were set free by Mrs. Fly and her children. She died a year later in 1866.
The energy, intelligence and uprightness of the parents were impressed on the children in a remarkable degree. It is said that in three generations of the Flys there have been between 25 and 30 lawyers (two are Supreme Court Judges of Texas, and several others are judges) ministers and physicians.
It may be of interest to descendants of the family to know how planters lived in by-gone days. One year, on Col. Fly's plantation 300 hogs were killed, which meant that 600 hams and 600 shoulders were consumed, for not a pounds of meat or a pound of anything else was ever sold. In addition 600 chickens were raised, and others were bought from the negroes. 45 cows were milked and all the milk and butter consumed.
It took the milkers from before daylight to nearly noon to attend to the milk.The ladies of the household instructed the slaves and visited and cared for them in sickness. Each of the daughters, as well as their mother, had her own ladies' maid. The garments of the negroes were cut out and sewed by colored sewing women, superintended by their mistress.
Colonel Fly's family consisted of the following members -Fly, Colonel William, married in 1810, Mary Mitchell, daughter of Andrew Mitchell of Maury County, Tennessee.
Issue - 1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell, married 1st, Eliza Jones in 1830 married 2nd Ellen Rabb 2. Fly, Sarah Jane died at age 17 3. Fly, John Dalton m. 1st Martha Irvine Divine m. 2nd Julia Stokes m. 3rd Nora Compton 4. Fly, David Williamson (a Methodist Minister) m. Fannie Harper 5. Fly, Elijah Madden m. Nancy McKie 6. Fly, Mary Melinda m. Rev. Asbury Davidson, Methodist Minister 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana m. Rev. W. H. Seat, Methodist Minister
8. Fly Benjamin Franklin m. 1st Sarah Robards; 2nd Mary R. Chambliss 9. Fly, Ella Josephine m. Thomas Catchings 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette, b. 1835 in Yalobusha Co., Miss. d. 1/27/1904, in Victoria, Texas m. Callie Bell of Starkville, Miss. in 1857 This is the end of this particular version of "the Flye Records" as circulated in the family under Col. William and wife, Mary (Mitchell) Fly .
I have tried to copy this material carefully. I will now go back and proof-read it. I hope you will print out this posting and keep a copy with other important documents.
We are very fortunate to have this particular document for the reference of the WHOLE family.
Sources & Credits:
James Whitney Fly "Cousin Jim"
P.S. When the author starts by telling us "Two Brothers came to the colonies, I wonder if he did not know that there had been the THIRD brother John, left behind when the father and the OTHER two brothers came from Pennsylvania to Virginia.Or is it possible that the story, originally was, "Our ancestor, William, and two brothers came to the colonies?The biography-writers for the Goodspeed Publishers in the 1880's described the THREE Fly brothers who immigrated to the colonies; and Goodspeed refers to the Pennsylvania brother, the Virginia brother and the Georgia brother on the generation of Rev. John Fly's grandfather, William Fly, b. ca. 1726/7
Sources "The Flye Family Forum" Author, Jim Whitney Fly
Thus ends Cousin Jim's remembrances of the Fly (Flye) Family as known during his lifetime. They do indeed seem to contain mostly fact, some opinions, but no fiction. (Not my words, but provided by Nancy Yankie, Direct Fly Descendant and 5th G Granddaughter of Col. William D. Fly and Sarah Trader Fly.)
Obituary was printed in the June 14 1855 Edition of The Nashville Christian Advocate.
Following is a family narrative written by James Whitney "Cousin Jim" Fly who writes from some first hand experiences and knowledge of his family. They are called "legends" as these are remembrances and not part of official records; therefore, this contains opinions and his take on family happenings but seems to be quite worth the reprinting of it here as it seems quite interesting and I think for the most part, reliable. Most of it is quite factual. (Nancy Yankie of Texas, Direct Fly Descendant, 5G Granddaughter of John and Sarah Jane Trader Fly.)
Fly Family Legends:
Colonel William Fly and Mary Mitchell Fly
William Fly, the second son of John D. And Sarah Trader Fly, married Mary Mitchell in 1810. She was the daughter of Andrew Mitchell, all of Maury County, Tennessee.
They were a young couple - The bridegroom was about 16 years old and the bride 17. They were both blessed with extraordinary energy and force of character.
Contemptuous remarks, by some of their relatives on their youth and probable success in life, aroused their ambition and caused them to put forth all their energy and vim that they might show their skeptical friends that they would succeed.
The consequence was that, though they met some breaks in their prosperity, they soon outstrip(ped) all their relatives and acquaintances in acquiring wealth.
Col. William Fly was a man or extraordinary natural ability. His early opportunities for an education were very limited, but in mature years, few would have known that his early education had been neglected.
He was a magistrate in Maury County, Tennessee, for a number of years. He filled various offices in the Militia of the county.He was invariably elected when he became a candidate for office. I well recollect the last time he was a candidate for office in Maury County.
It was for the office of Colonel of the Militia, and his opponent was Lucius Polk. It was a very spirited contest and William Fly won.
He was a very handsome and commanding-looking man, and when dressed in his regimentals, and mounted on his fiery white horse, his children thought him the most distinguished-looking of men.
After William Fly's marriage, he first settled on a tract of land given him by his father-in-law on Turkey Creek in Maury County, Tennessee. Here his three oldest children were born.They were -
1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell 2. Fly, Sarah Jane and 3. Fly, John Dalton
He then moved to Williamson County and settled on Leper's (or Leiper's) Creek. Here his fourth child was born. 4. Fly, David Williamson
Eighteen months later, he moved back to Maury County, and settled near his father-in-law Andrew Mitchell, on Turkey Creek.In this place was born - 5.Fly, Elijah Madden
Mr. Fly sold this place, intending to move to the Obion country in West Tennessee, but afterwards bought James Doty's place on Beach Creek, another branch of Snow Creek.
On this place the town of Benton is now located. It is 10 miles north of Columbia, the county seat of Maury County. While living on this place, Sarah Jane Fly, his daughter, died in her 17th year. She was very pretty with dark auburn hair and fair complexion.
Andrew Tate Mitchell Fly was married to Eliza Jones about 1830. He afterward married a Miss Rabb. While living on Beach Creek William and Mary Fly had 4 children -
6. Fly, Mary Malinda 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana (twin) (GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF TANNERS) Sophia Fly Seat, Reverend Seat's wife. 8. Fly, Benjamin Franklin (twin) 9. Fly, Elvira Josephine 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette was the youngest.
William Fly moved from Tennessee to Yalabusha County,, Mississippi where he owned 2 plantations. While there Governor Polk visited his cousin, Mary Mitchell Fly.
The story goes that when Gov. (afterwards President) Polk came to the plantation, Frank Fly, then 13 years old, was sent to the other plantation tell his brother Willie of the arrival. As he was running along, repeating to himself the message, "The Governor's come. The Governor's come", he stumped his toe, fell down and rolled, forgetting his message.
As he came in sight of his brother, he shouted excitedly, "Oh Brother Will, the Clark's come; the Clark's come." - the county Clerk being the highest official he knew.
The house on this plantation was a large brick structure, called, "The Castle". Later Col. Fly sold these two plantations and moved to Madison County, Mississippi to educate his children. He bought a large plantation two or three miles from Sharon, but lived in the town until his youngest daughter graduated, when he moved to the plantation.
In 1853 or 1854 he moved, with his family, and 100 slaves, to Texas, settling on Oyster Creek, Brazoria County. The land was very rich, but the climate was so malarial, that Col. Fly and 13 slaves died the first year.
A year later, this plantation was sold and Mrs. Fly moved to Big Hill in Gonzales County, Texas. At the close of the war 300 slaves were set free by Mrs. Fly and her children. She died a year later in 1866.
The energy, intelligence and uprightness of the parents were impressed on the children in a remarkable degree. It is said that in three generations of the Flys there have been between 25 and 30 lawyers (two are Supreme Court Judges of Texas, and several others are judges) ministers and physicians.
It may be of interest to descendants of the family to know how planters lived in by-gone days. One year, on Col. Fly's plantation 300 hogs were killed, which meant that 600 hams and 600 shoulders were consumed, for not a pounds of meat or a pound of anything else was ever sold. In addition 600 chickens were raised, and others were bought from the negroes. 45 cows were milked and all the milk and butter consumed.
It took the milkers from before daylight to nearly noon to attend to the milk.The ladies of the household instructed the slaves and visited and cared for them in sickness. Each of the daughters, as well as their mother, had her own ladies' maid. The garments of the negroes were cut out and sewed by colored sewing women, superintended by their mistress.
Colonel Fly's family consisted of the following members -Fly, Colonel William, married in 1810, Mary Mitchell, daughter of Andrew Mitchell of Maury County, Tennessee.
Issue - 1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell, married 1st, Eliza Jones in 1830 married 2nd Ellen Rabb 2. Fly, Sarah Jane died at age 17 3. Fly, John Dalton m. 1st Martha Irvine Divine m. 2nd Julia Stokes m. 3rd Nora Compton 4. Fly, David Williamson (a Methodist Minister) m. Fannie Harper 5. Fly, Elijah Madden m. Nancy McKie 6. Fly, Mary Melinda m. Rev. Asbury Davidson, Methodist Minister 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana m. Rev. W. H. Seat, Methodist Minister
8. Fly Benjamin Franklin m. 1st Sarah Robards; 2nd Mary R. Chambliss 9. Fly, Ella Josephine m. Thomas Catchings 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette, b. 1835 in Yalobusha Co., Miss. d. 1/27/1904, in Victoria, Texas m. Callie Bell of Starkville, Miss. in 1857 This is the end of this particular version of "the Flye Records" as circulated in the family under Col. William and wife, Mary (Mitchell) Fly .
I have tried to copy this material carefully. I will now go back and proof-read it. I hope you will print out this posting and keep a copy with other important documents.
We are very fortunate to have this particular document for the reference of the WHOLE family.
Sources & Credits:
James Whitney Fly "Cousin Jim"
P.S. When the author starts by telling us "Two Brothers came to the colonies, I wonder if he did not know that there had been the THIRD brother John, left behind when the father and the OTHER two brothers came from Pennsylvania to Virginia.Or is it possible that the story, originally was, "Our ancestor, William, and two brothers came to the colonies?The biography-writers for the Goodspeed Publishers in the 1880's described the THREE Fly brothers who immigrated to the colonies; and Goodspeed refers to the Pennsylvania brother, the Virginia brother and the Georgia brother on the generation of Rev. John Fly's grandfather, William Fly, b. ca. 1726/7
Sources "The Flye Family Forum" Author, Jim Whitney Fly
Thus ends Cousin Jim's remembrances of the Fly (Flye) Family as known during his lifetime. They do indeed seem to contain mostly fact, some opinions, but no fiction. (Not my words, but provided by Nancy Yankie, Direct Fly Descendant and 5th G Granddaughter of Col. William D. Fly and Sarah Trader Fly.)
Obituary was printed in the June 14 1855 Edition of The Nashville Christian Advocate.
Fly Family Legends:
Colonel William Fly and Mary Mitchell Fly
William Fly, the second son of John D. And Sarah Trader Fly, married Mary Mitchell in 1810. She was the daughter of Andrew Mitchell, all of Maury County, Tennessee.
They were a young couple - The bridegroom was about 16 years old and the bride 17. They were both blessed with extraordinary energy and force of character.
Contemptuous remarks, by some of their relatives on their youth and probable success in life, aroused their ambition and caused them to put forth all their energy and vim that they might show their skeptical friends that they would succeed.
The consequence was that, though they met some breaks in their prosperity, they soon outstrip(ped) all their relatives and acquaintances in acquiring wealth.
Col. William Fly was a man or extraordinary natural ability. His early opportunities for an education were very limited, but in mature years, few would have known that his early education had been neglected.
He was a magistrate in Maury County, Tennessee, for a number of years. He filled various offices in the Militia of the county.He was invariably elected when he became a candidate for office. I well recollect the last time he was a candidate for office in Maury County.
It was for the office of Colonel of the Militia, and his opponent was Lucius Polk. It was a very spirited contest and William Fly won.
He was a very handsome and commanding-looking man, and when dressed in his regimentals, and mounted on his fiery white horse, his children thought him the most distinguished-looking of men.
After William Fly's marriage, he first settled on a tract of land given him by his father-in-law on Turkey Creek in Maury County, Tennessee. Here his three oldest children were born.They were -
1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell 2. Fly, Sarah Jane and 3. Fly, John Dalton
He then moved to Williamson County and settled on Leper's (or Leiper's) Creek. Here his fourth child was born. 4. Fly, David Williamson
Eighteen months later, he moved back to Maury County, and settled near his father-in-law Andrew Mitchell, on Turkey Creek.In this place was born - 5.Fly, Elijah Madden
Mr. Fly sold this place, intending to move to the Obion country in West Tennessee, but afterwards bought James Doty's place on Beach Creek, another branch of Snow Creek.
On this place the town of Benton is now located. It is 10 miles north of Columbia, the county seat of Maury County. While living on this place, Sarah Jane Fly, his daughter, died in her 17th year. She was very pretty with dark auburn hair and fair complexion.
Andrew Tate Mitchell Fly was married to Eliza Jones about 1830. He afterward married a Miss Rabb. While living on Beach Creek William and Mary Fly had 4 children -
6. Fly, Mary Malinda 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana (twin) (GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF TANNERS) Sophia Fly Seat, Reverend Seat's wife. 8. Fly, Benjamin Franklin (twin) 9. Fly, Elvira Josephine 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette was the youngest.
William Fly moved from Tennessee to Yalabusha County,, Mississippi where he owned 2 plantations. While there Governor Polk visited his cousin, Mary Mitchell Fly.
The story goes that when Gov. (afterwards President) Polk came to the plantation, Frank Fly, then 13 years old, was sent to the other plantation tell his brother Willie of the arrival. As he was running along, repeating to himself the message, "The Governor's come. The Governor's come", he stumped his toe, fell down and rolled, forgetting his message.
As he came in sight of his brother, he shouted excitedly, "Oh Brother Will, the Clark's come; the Clark's come." - the county Clerk being the highest official he knew.
The house on this plantation was a large brick structure, called, "The Castle". Later Col. Fly sold these two plantations and moved to Madison County, Mississippi to educate his children. He bought a large plantation two or three miles from Sharon, but lived in the town until his youngest daughter graduated, when he moved to the plantation.
In 1853 or 1854 he moved, with his family, and 100 slaves, to Texas, settling on Oyster Creek, Brazoria County. The land was very rich, but the climate was so malarial, that Col. Fly and 13 slaves died the first year.
A year later, this plantation was sold and Mrs. Fly moved to Big Hill in Gonzales County, Texas. At the close of the war 300 slaves were set free by Mrs. Fly and her children. She died a year later in 1866.
The energy, intelligence and uprightness of the parents were impressed on the children in a remarkable degree. It is said that in three generations of the Flys there have been between 25 and 30 lawyers (two are Supreme Court Judges of Texas, and several others are judges) ministers and physicians.
It may be of interest to descendants of the family to know how planters lived in by-gone days. One year, on Col. Fly's plantation 300 hogs were killed, which meant that 600 hams and 600 shoulders were consumed, for not a pounds of meat or a pound of anything else was ever sold. In addition 600 chickens were raised, and others were bought from the negroes. 45 cows were milked and all the milk and butter consumed.
It took the milkers from before daylight to nearly noon to attend to the milk.The ladies of the household instructed the slaves and visited and cared for them in sickness. Each of the daughters, as well as their mother, had her own ladies' maid. The garments of the negroes were cut out and sewed by colored sewing women, superintended by their mistress.
Colonel Fly's family consisted of the following members -Fly, Colonel William, married in 1810, Mary Mitchell, daughter of Andrew Mitchell of Maury County, Tennessee.
Issue - 1. Fly, Andrew Tate Mitchell, married 1st, Eliza Jones in 1830 married 2nd Ellen Rabb 2. Fly, Sarah Jane died at age 17 3. Fly, John Dalton m. 1st Martha Irvine Divine m. 2nd Julia Stokes m. 3rd Nora Compton 4. Fly, David Williamson (a Methodist Minister) m. Fannie Harper 5. Fly, Elijah Madden m. Nancy McKie 6. Fly, Mary Melinda m. Rev. Asbury Davidson, Methodist Minister 7. Fly, Sophia Louisiana m. Rev. W. H. Seat, Methodist Minister
8. Fly Benjamin Franklin m. 1st Sarah Robards; 2nd Mary R. Chambliss 9. Fly, Ella Josephine m. Thomas Catchings 10. Fly, George Washington Lafayette, b. 1835 in Yalobusha Co., Miss. d. 1/27/1904, in Victoria, Texas m. Callie Bell of Starkville, Miss. in 1857 This is the end of this particular version of "the Flye Records" as circulated in the family under Col. William and wife, Mary (Mitchell) Fly .
I have tried to copy this material carefully. I will now go back and proof-read it. I hope you will print out this posting and keep a copy with other important documents.
We are very fortunate to have this particular document for the reference of the WHOLE family.
Sources & Credits:
James Whitney Fly "Cousin Jim"
P.S. When the author starts by telling us "Two Brothers came to the colonies, I wonder if he did not know that there had been the THIRD brother John, left behind when the father and the OTHER two brothers came from Pennsylvania to Virginia.Or is it possible that the story, originally was, "Our ancestor, William, and two brothers came to the colonies?The biography-writers for the Goodspeed Publishers in the 1880's described the THREE Fly brothers who immigrated to the colonies; and Goodspeed refers to the Pennsylvania brother, the Virginia brother and the Georgia brother on the generation of Rev. John Fly's grandfather, William Fly, b. ca. 1726/7
Sources "The Flye Family Forum" Author, Jim Whitney Fly
Thus ends Cousin Jim's remembrances of the Fly (Flye) Family as known during his lifetime. They do indeed seem to contain mostly fact, some opinions, but no fiction. (Not my words, but provided by Nancy Yankie, Direct Fly Descendant and 5th G Granddaughter of Col. William D. Fly and Sarah Trader Fly.)
Obituary was printed in the June 14 1855 Edition of The Nashville Christian Advocate.
Inscription
Col. William Fly
Born in Northampton County, N.C.
September 11th 1794
Died in Brazoria County, Texas
March 1st 1855
He was a man
of great energy of character
His memory
is embalmed in the heart
of his wife and children
forewhom
he toiled with ceaseless care
for more than forty years
He had many conflicts in life
but his end was peace
He was for many years
a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Family Members
Siblings
Children
