THE WOMACK FAMILY OF GEORGIA AND ALABAMA.
[Note: some of the article contains good information, but some relates to the fraudulent John Warburton Womack lineage.]
[Note that Jennie S Perkins was a friend of General Marcus Joseph Wright, the son-in-law of John Warburton Womack; she contributed to his book on McNairy County, TN]
edited by Thomas McAdory Owen, Joel Campbell Du Bose
By Mrs. Jennie S. Perkins, of Washington, D. C.
The authentic genealogy of the Womack family of Georgia and Alabama commences in 1610 with Lawrence Womack, Bishop of St. Davids, England; he was second son of Charles Augustus Womack, who was a half brother to the Duke of Albemarle
The bishop was a voluminous author, and wrote many books on theology, mostly of a controversial character. He was esteemed one of the ablest bishops of his day. He is buried in St Margaret's Church, London, his daughter Anne being buried by his side. A handsome monument marks the place of his burial, with an inscription in Latin of which the following is a translation:
"Nearby is buried whatever mortal there was of the Reverend Father in Christ, Lawrence Womack, Bishop of St. Davids, who, after the labor of many years in the Anglican church, exchanged his gloriously worn badge for the crown of immortality on the 12th cf March, 1685, aged 73. Likewise what remains of his only daughter, Anne, a virgin of nineteen, who on the 30th of the preceding October was called away to the fellowship (more glorious than any marriage) of the spirits of virgins."
Edward Womack, son of Lawrence, was born in England, March 12, 1653.
Ashley Womack, son of Edward, was born in England, August 15, 1683, and emigrated to Virginia in 1716. ,
Richard Womack, son of Ashley, was born December 7,1710.
Abraham Womack, son of Richard, was born April 22, 1742.
Jacob Womack, son of Richard, was born in 1746. He was one of the members of the Wautauga Settlement; was one of the thirteen appointed to draft the form of government, and was engaged in the battle of King's Mountain.
Mansel Womack, son of Abraham, was born June 4, 1770, in Georgia, and moved to Butler county, Alabama, in 1818.
John Warburton Womack, son of Mansel, was born in Georgia October 15, 1807, and accompanied his father to Alabama in 1818, settling at Manningham, Butler county. The place is now owned and occupied by Jacob Lewis Womack, his great nephew. John Warburton Womack married Mrs. Ann Miller Hays, who was the daughter of Woodcliffe Beville and Judith his wife, who came from Amelia county, Virginia, to Alabama. He was at one time a member of the legislature of Alabama, but declined other offices, both State and Federal. He was a graduate of the University of Georgia at Athens, and of the University of Alabama, and was one of the most distinguished lawyers of the State. He died at his home in Eutaw, Greene county, August 29, 1863. His wife was a descendant of Lieutenant-General de Beville, a French officer who served on the staff of General Rochambeau in the American Revolution, and of his son Chevalier de Beville, who was also on the staff of Gen. Rochambeau. The son remained in Virginia after the Revolution. The issue of the marriage of John Warburton Womack and Ann Miller Hays, nee Beville, were: Lowndes Womack, who was a soldier in the Confederate army; he was quartermaster sergeant in the Army of Tennessee. He was born in Alabama, and died there. Sidney Womack, who was a lieutenant in the regular Confederate army, and on the staff of Brigadier General Marcus J. Wright. He was also born in Alabama and died there. Pauline Womack, who married General Marcus J. Wright, of Tennessee, and Octavia Womack, both of whom reside in Washington City.
General Marcus J. Wright, who married Pauline Womack, is descended from a line of men whose military prowess is a part of the history of our common country. His grandfather, Capt. John Wright, commanded in the Revolutionary War a company known as the "Georgia Line." His father, Col. Benjamin Wright, was born near Savannah, Georgia, April 2, 1784. Soon after the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain in June, 1812, Benjamin Wright was appointed a lieutenant in the army by President Madison. He was soon thereafter detailed for the recruiting service, in which he was very successful. Upon the breaking out of the Creek War in the summer of 1813, he took an active part, and distinguished himself for gallantry in the battle of the Horse Shoe. He was promoted several times, reaching eventually to a field officer. In the war with Mexico he served under General Scott.
Marcus J. Wright espoused the cause of the South at the beginning of the Civil War, and soon became distinguished for his ability as an organizer and leader. General Grant, who confronted his command at the battle of Shiloh and noted its stubborn resistance, asked and obtained the name of his Napoleonic opponent, predicting that he would yet be placed in command of a brigade. Later he was created a brigadier-general, was appointed military governor of Columbus, Kentucky, and was in active service till the close of the struggle.
Gen. Wright's life has been one of ceaseless activity since the war ended. A tribute to his great abilities and wide knowledge of military men and affairs in the South, was his selection by the United States Government as Agent for the Collection of Confederate Records, to prepare material for the " Official Records, of the Union and Confederate Armies." This vast work of more than a hundred large volumes required his unremitting labors for more than twenty years, and is a lasting monument to his painstaking zeal, research and industry. In the meantime he has written and published several widely read books and contributed to the leading magazines, besides carrying on a voluminous correspondence and attending to the many social duties inseparable from his position.
One of the most striking characteristics is his affectionate loyalty to the people of his native section; and the labor of love nearest his heart is the erection of a handsome monument in McNairy county Tennessee, where he was born, on which are inscribed the few hundred names of its earliest citizens. This he expects to have completed and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies during the coming Spring.
The issue of the marriage of Gen. Marcus J. Wright and Pauline Womack, are:
John Womack Wright, who was born in Missouri during the temporary residence there of his parents. He was educated in the preparatory school of the Columbian University of Washington, and at William and Mary College in Virginia, afterwards entering the law school of Columbian University. He entered the volunteer army of the United States in the Spanish war as first lieutenant of the Fifth Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out as captain. He was appointed second lieutenant of the 5th United States regular infantry, and was promoted to first lieutenant. He was adjutant of the Fifth Volunteer Regiment, and disbursing officer of the Province of Santiago under Gen. Leonard Wood. He served four years in Cuba, and one year in the Philippines. Howard Paul Wright, born in Washington, D. C, educated in the public schools of Washington, and in the private school of the National Capital University School. He is engaged in the office of the Southern Rail, road Company in Washington. Pauline Casey Wright, the only daughter, was born in Washington D. C., and resides with her parents. She is a favorite member of Washington's most select circles, and inherits the literary tastes of her distinguished ancestry.
A branch of the above mentioned Womack family, and closely allied to it, descended from John Howard Dillard Womack. His father was James Womack, who came to this country from England and settled in North Carolina, moving thence to Tennessee.
John Howard Dillard Womack was born in Tennessee, moving from there to Georgia, where he married Sara McKennie. After their marriage they removed to Marengo county, Alabama. He died in Dallas county, Alabama, in the 69th year of his age. He was a lawyer, and judge of the court for many years. His children were Elizabeth, Lucy, and Capt. John Poster Womack who died unmarried during the war. Sara Elizabeth married W. H. Couch, and they had three children, the eldest of whom, Texana, married W. M. Etheridge. Bettie C. married D. R. Van Pelt. John Womack married Miss Izard, of Arkansas. Texana Couch Womack Etheridge had four children: Elizabeth, who married Peter Mclntyre; Annie Foster Etheridge, who married Sydney Johnston Bowie, who has for four years represented the Fourth District of Alabama in Congress; Emma Love Etheridge, who married N. E. Sinclair, and Marone Etheridge, now a schoolboy.