Circa 1913, probably by Jean Stephenson.
Located at Roger Womack's website. http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~rgwomack/genealogy/womackorigin.htm
Images of 3 typed pages. First page is faded.
Note that much of this info is from the John Warburton Womack fraud lineage.
After this, Lawrence [Womack] became son-in-law of King Henry VIII and was made Duke of Albremale [sic], his large family occupied many places of prominence.
Images of 3 typed pages. First page is faded. Transcribed by Robert E Burke.
The following information was received from Herb Perry, thanks Herb. The information is presented as is, no guarantee or warranty is given or implied. Interested researchers are encouraged to perform their own research to prove the authenticity to their own satisfaction. I'm not sure if this was Jean Stephenson's research, the information came in the package with Jean's work. I will post the source later when I find out.
Compiler, Roger Womack
Womacks are found in the earliest records of Wales, that country where by land and by sea, race after race has come to makes its hills their home. One race would be short with black eyes and black hair; another would be tall, with blue eyes fair hair. They came from different countries, and along different paths, but each race brought some good with it. Many came by Sea and landed in Wales, but its most numerous inhabitants were native Britons, who were pushed into the extreme western region by the invaders from across the English Channel.
The Celts used Wales as their fortress [?] during the inroad of the Teutons. The hilly Country proved an effective barrier to the invaders, and here the Welsh remained a more or less independent nation for many centuries - sticking to their old language, traditions and nationality. Gradually they emerged from their seclusion and became incorporated in the English Race.
Throughout the history of Wales, we find the name WOMACK frequently chronicled in their records, Churchmen of Norfolkshire.
By the middle of the sixteenth Century the Womacks - this a people associated with Welsh history from an early time - had crossed England and settled in the most productive agricultural district in that Country - Norfolk Shire. In the middle of the 16th century William Womack is established as the head of a family in the historical old town of East Dereham. We know nothing of his wife, and know of only one son, Arthur. Doubtless there are other and most interesting records, but as yet they have not come to light,
The fact that Arthur was born in shadows of St. Nicholas - one of England’s oldest cathedrals - may have influenced the young man to become a priest. In 1578, he was serving as rector at Lopham - a quaint old town who’s claim to existence it is two ancient Norman-styled churches. No sooner had Arthur established himself in the parish then he went to Hergham [?] - a small town just South of his original home - and married Miss Alice Rose [?], who’s family was very prominent in that section.
An unusual thing occurred in the burial of Alice and Arthur. The time honored custom “Undivided by death” was disregarded; for we find that Alice was buried with her family in Hergham [?]. The fact also suggests the probable prominence of Alice’s family. The date of her death was 1602 [?]. Five years later Arthur died, and was buried in his church yard at Lopham. Probably his people loved him and wished him interred in their midst. Another indication that he was much loved is the fact that his son, Lawrence succeeded the father as rector in Lopham. “Like father like son” Lawrence remained rector for thirty-five years when the care of Farsfield, a nearby church was added to his duties.
Two of Lawrence’s sons Arthur and Lawrence interest us. Lawrence is our main ancestor and Arthur’s grandson, another Lawrence, was the Bishop’s heir. The fact that this young Lawrence was the son of an heiress of noble blood, and was high in church circles, probably influenced Bishop Womack when he made his will.
Bishop Womack
Arthur’s brother - Lawrence ultimately became Bishop Womack but he lived a long and very eventful life before he was appointed Bishop of Saint David’s. This young man’s determined ambition was early evidenced in Corpus Christi College. He had been in college only three months when he was appefated [?] a scholar-ship on Sir Nicholas Bacon’s foundation.
After this, Lawrence became son-in-law of King Henry VIII and was made Duke of Albremale [sic], his large family occupied many places of prominence.
In 1632, at the age of twenty, he received his B. A.; was ordained a deacon two years later; and in 1639 - still ambitious - he began work on his Master’s Degree. He attracted the attention of Lord Paget and through his influence obtained a benefice in the West of England where he acquired much fame by his preaching.
At this time England was torn by Civil disturbances, Bishop Womack was of the losing faction, the Royalists. In 1649 when Charles I was beheaded all Episcopalians fell into disfavor and many were executed. Although the Episcopalians already in possession of livings were not always dispossessed effectual, care wa taken that no further living fell to their lot. Since we hear nothing of Bishop Womack during the Commonwealth this eleven years of power we feel sure he stayed with his convictions.
In 1668 when the King was restored the Episcopal Clergy was elevated. When Charles II came over from Holland and finally made public entry into London on the 29th of May, he found only nine Bishops living and none were in possession of their Sees. Before two months had elapsed he was appointed to an important place in Hereford Cathedral; the following December he was made assistant to the Bishop of Suffolk, with a title of Archdeacon of Suffolk. We follow his rapid progress as one Rectorate after another was given him. In 1683 he was given one of the best prebendal Stall in Ely Cathedral, and in the same year was consecrated Bishop of Saint Davids.
Personally Bishop Womack must have called forth an admiration rather than love, He is described by a contemporary as a “Tall man of plain and grave aspects.” His family life seems to indicate a predominance of judgement rather than sentiment. His brilliant Nephew was made his heir in preference of his son, and two later marriages show increasing respect for rank. Of his first marriage we hear little except there was a son “Edward”, born March 12th, 1653. After the death of Edward’s mother, Lawrence married a wealthy widow. This date was November 18th, 1668. They had one daughter - named Ann for her mother - who died in her sixteenth year. The third marriage solemnized on April 25, 1670 at the Norman Cathedral of St, Bartholomew-in-London, probably reflected the dignity and the wealth of the prominent spinster, Catherine Crobett [sic].
In England of today the Episcopal Bishops are all “Lords of Parliament”. During the reign of Charles II when the clergy was paid more deference than it is today, the rank of bishop carried even greater dignity. Bishop Womack and is wife in keeping with their distinguished position, maintained several establishments. The church provided the residence near Saint David’s Cathedral in wales but one was a handsome residence in Westminster - that venerable town, which was the busy spot long before London had being. It was in this Westminster home that the Bishop died, November 7th, 1685. He was buried along with Sir Walter Raleigh and his son - Carew [?] Raleigh - in St Margaret’s Church, a notable shrine between Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey,
When Edward, the Bishop’s son selected a private rather than a clerical career, his decision was probably influenced by the unsettled condition of the country. England was in turmoil; for the people were beginning to think for themselves, and to demand a right to self expression, both in religious and secular affairs. When the Tory party dropped into entire disfavor in 1715, he probably encouraged his son Abraham, to move to America, where previous to this time many relatives had established themselves.
WOMACKS OF AMERICA:
In 1716, Abraham is registered as a head of a family in Prince Edward County, Virginia. His son Richard, who was a lad of six when the family moved to Virginia, lived there until past middle age then finding the country alive with political unrest he moved further west. In 1765 he was pioneering in what is now Burke County, Georgia. Richard reared a large family who scattered through Virginia and Georgia, and many of its members added glory to the name. It is with his son, Jesse that we are concerned..
Jesse Womack was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia in 1739 and moved with his father to St. George Parish, Burke County, Georgia. He was here at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, and served creditably as a First Lieutenant of the tenth company under Captain Blasingame Hard [sic], Colonel John Thomas, and General John Twiggs. For his service he received a large tract of land in Washington County, Georgia, but apparently he did not take up his grant.
When the Womacks settled in Georgia near the site of Augusta, then a trading village inhabited by Indians and white men, Indian traders who had married Indian wives, and had been adopted into Indian tribes. It is probable that Dorothy Pryor - Jesse Womack’s first wife - is the daughter of a Choctaw Princess and her father from that old and distinguished family of Virginia Pryors. Dorothy and Jesse Womack had a very large family of children among them we find (1) David and Richard Mansel, who moved to Louisiana, where many descendants had done credit to the name, (2) John who went with his wife’s people, the Colemans into Alabama, and (3) William who remained in Georgia.
John Womack married Frances Coleman and from the census role of Baldwin County, Georgia we learn that William Womack was living near Milledgeville, Georgia - a happy and prosperous man, the head of a promising family; Mark, Green, William, Dignychin, Abraham Minter and Mary. While Abraham Minter was quite a young boy the father died. In due course of time the mother married again. Upon this turn of affairs Mark, the oldest brother, took Abraham Minter into his home. When the Mark Womacks moved to Mississippi the younger brother accompanied them. When Abraham Minter grew up he wandered back to Georgia and to Milledgeville. The girls of the older civilization were more to his fancy, and September 8, 1825 he married Miss Elizabeth Robinson.
Soon after this the Womacks were attracted by stories of Texas, the Empire of the West, the fertile valleys, boundless plains, and unlimited natural resources. The approaching Slave War also suggested this state as a possible haven for the large slave holders as it was still part of Mexico.
The Womacks responded to the call of the west in 1835 but were halted enroute by stories of the Massacre of Goliad and the Alamo. They settled in Alabama two years by which time the Republic of Texas had been safely established, following the victory of San Jacinto in 1836 and the election of Burnet, the first President of the new Republic.
Their journey was resumed in 1837 and the early part of that year found them happily settled near old Fanthrop, Montgomery County, where they were later joined by the Jesse Womacks and other friends and relatives.
There a great number of Womacks and their descendants still living from whom minute information may be had concerning the trials and hardships, attending their early residence in the State, their struggle through the Civil War period and the splendors and happiness coming with peace and prosperity later on.
Womack blood has much to do with the guidance of the destinies of the State, its growth shortly followed the early colonies to its present enviable position among the States of the Nation that now holds two-thirds of the wealth of the world.