Saffold Roots

My great great grandfather was Ison Saffold, born1817 in slavery. He attained the Saffold name when he was freed by W. A. Saffold in Henry County,Alabama along with 90 other slaves given the Saffold name. That is why there are so many Saffolds in the 1870 and 1880 censuses for Henry County. Many of my relatives changed their names from the slave name to either Harris or Porter. Some of these slaves were related to each other. I care because my dad is related to some and my mom is related to others, or possibly the same ones. Could some of the slaves have been the offsprings of the Saffolds? Is there any way to tell which of the slaves were blood relations to each other?

From a comment submitted by Mamie Benson.

Isham Saffold was a son of William Saffold. He was probably born sometime before 1739 in Virginia. The information below was gathered from a posting in a genealogy forum.

Birth: bef 1739 Virginia
Witness: 19 Mar 1760 Johnston County, N. C.
Witness: 14 Jan 1765 Johnston County, N. C.
Property: 27 Aug 1769 bought land (Johnston County, N. C.)
Census: 1783 Florida
Residence: 1785 Pensacola
Census: 1790 96th District, Spartanburg County, S.C.
Property: 1792 sold property in Spartanburg, S. C..
Residence: 1792 Washington County, Ga.
Property: 28 Nov 1792 sold property in Spartanburg, S. C.
Spouse: UNKNOWN (m bef 1783)

Son of Reuben Saffold.

Son of Reuben II and Mary (Phillips) Saffold, lawyer, legislator, and chancellor was born January 12, 1812 in Wilkes County, Georgia and died November 4, 1853 in Montgomery, Alabama. He received his early education in Dallas County, and later attended Franklin College (University of Georgia) Athens, Ga. He was a junior orator (1830) and valedictorian and honor graduate, A.B. degree (1831). He received the honorary degree of M.A. from the University of Alabama (1843). He read law under his father in Dallas County, and attended the law school of Yale University (1833-34). He was admitted to practice in 1833 and located in Cahaba, later moving to Montgomery. He served in the Alabama legislature, 1835, and on October 18, 1853 he was appointed Chancellor of the southern division of the state. He was a Democrat, a Methodist, and a Mason.

On February 11, 1845 he married at Montgomery, Frances Elvira Bibb. Frances was the daughter of Rev. Peyton and Martha (Cobb) Bibb of Montgomery. Rev. Bibb owened two riverboats, the “Monroe” and the “Carolyn.” He was a Methodist minister and business man.

Frances’ father, Peyton Bibb, was the son of William Bibb, captain of cavalary, Virginia line, Revolutionary war. William and his brother Thomas were the first and second governors of Alabama. (William was the first, from 1819-1820, and upon his death Thomas served from 1820-1821). Bibb County, Alabama was names for William Wyatt Bibb.

Frances’ mother, Martha Cobb, was the daughter of Thomas Cobb and Patsey Martin of Columbia County, Ga., the former a judge of the court of the ordinary.

Patsey Martin was the daughter Carles Martin and Patsey Moon, of Albermarle County, Virginia and Edgefield and Abbeville Districts, S.C. Patsey Moon was the daughter of Jacob Moon, an officer in the Revolutionary army who was killed in the battle of Guilford Court House, N.C. in 1781.

Joseph Phillips Saffold was the father of (1) William Reuben Saffold (died in childhood), (2) Peyton Bibb Saffold who married Laura (McDaniel) Morse of Montgomery, (3) Mary Ellen Saffold who married William Finley Joseph of Montgomery, and (4) Joseph Phillips Saffold of Montgomery.

Source: Dictionary of Alabama Biography

Bibb County was created by the Alabama Territorial Legislature on February 7, 1818. It was one of the first thirteen counties to be added to the seven already existing when Alabama was still a part of the Mississippi Territory. Originally, it was called Cahaba (spelled Cahawba for many years) to preserve the name given it by the Choctaw Indians, Oka Aba. On December 4, 1820, the State Legislature renamed it in honor of the late Governor William Wyatt Bibb. As it was then constituted, it contained much of what is now the southern part of Shelby County and the western part of Chilton County. Its present area is 625 square miles.

From “Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men” by John Hardy, pub. 1879.

A native of Dallas county, Alabama and a son of Hon. Reuben Saffold, one among the first settlers of the eastern part of Dallas county, and an eminent man in the early days of the State. The subject of this article was born on the 20th day of April 1826, near Pleasant Hill, in Dallas county. After receiving a classical education, and graduating at the Sate University with much credit at Tuscaloosa, he read law under the instruction of his father and was admitted to the bar in Cahaba in 1847. He engaged in the practice of his profession with his brother, Hon. Joseph P. Saffold, at Cahaba, where he at once took a reputable and honorable position among the members of that bar, among whom were some of the first men of the South. He continued in his profession until the rumbling of war was heard. Though having supported Breckinridge and Lane in a sense of duty to his party, he did not urge, as most of the leaders of that party of immediate and separate State secession upon the election of Lincoln, but Judge Saffold believed the remedy for the South was within the Union. However, after the State seceded and men were called for he volunteered and performed military service on the Gulf coast. After the surrender he located in Selma, and again entered upon the practice of law. On assuming control of the State by Hon. L. E. Parsons, in 1865, as Governor, he appointed Judge Saffold to the office of Judge of this Judicial Circuit, which position he held until 1867, when he was elected a member of the State Constitutional Convention from Dallas county, in which body he was most useful and conservative member. In the same year Gen. Pope appointed him to the office of Mayor of the city of Selma, which position he held until 1868, when the State reassumed its original position as one of the States of the Federal Union, and he was chosen to the supreme Court bench of the Sate. The duties of this position, the numerous important decisions in the Alabama reports, ample prove he discharged with ability and treat diligence, for the six years for which he was chosen. Since 1873 Judge Saffold has been engaged in the practice of law in Selma, where he is much respected by even those who differ with him politically, for his ability as a lawyer, and his sound, conservative and practical mind. He is amiable and courteous in his social relations, always giving the greatest respect and attention to those with whom he may come in contact.

Caroline Sarah Saffold (b. Jan 28, 1830; d. June 17, 1857) was the 11th child of Reuben Saffold, II and his wife Mary (Phillips) Saffold. On April 23, 1851 Caroline married Philip Noble Cilley (b. March 9, 1821, d. November 17, 1912) with the service performed by the Rev. D.P.J. Murphy. Dr. Cilley was in medical practice in Lowndes County, Alabama and also represented his district in the Alabama legislature.

Caroline’s children with Dr. Cilley were:
1. Mary Bolling CILLEY, born 23 Aug 1852, died 27 Apr 1855.
2. Sarah Cavis CILLEY, born 6 Oct 1854, died 5 May 1935, unmarried.
3. Philip Noble CILLEY, Jr., born 12 Oct 1855, died 25 Jan 1857.

Caroline died at the age of 27 within a few months of giving birth to her third child.

The biographical information I have on Reuben II lists Caroline Sarah as “Sarah Caroline.”

Rhoda H. Saffold (1792-After 1855), daughter of Reuben Saffold married Robert Cade (C. 1762-1826) on May 11, 1820 in Wilkes County, Georgia.

Cade had moved to Wilkes County, Georgia from North Carolina where he was born before 1790 the son of Robert (?) Cade.  Rhoda moved to Kemper County, Mississippi after Robert’s death in 1826.

She died after 1854. Robert’s will is found in the “Early Records of Georgia, Volume II, Wilkes County” compiled by Grace Gilliam Davidson, 1933, and published at Macon, GA, as is as follows:” Estate to be equally divided between wife Rhoda H., and my four children; Louisa, Reuben S., Anderson J., and Wm. R., to be kept together until children reach majority. Wife Rhoda H., and Marshall Martin, Exrs. Signed April 13, 1826; Probated January 1, 1827. Jas. Cade, Jr., Jos A. Green, Henderson G. Wade, Test.” In the same volume, dated January 1st, 1827, Rhoda appears as follows: “Robert Cade, dec’d. Will probated. Rhoda H. Cade qualifies as executrix.” (The following information about Rhoda’s descendents was kindly supplied by Dede Stafford who is the person referred to when there are references to documents “in my possession” and to “me.”  )

First Generation

The children of Rhoda and Robert, all born in Wilkes County between 1820 and 1826 were:

(1) Louisa Cade

(2) Reuben S. Cade

(3) Anderson J. Cade

(4) William Robert Cade

Between 1827 and 1837, Rhoda and her children and relocated to Kemper County, Mississippi. She appears on the 1837 Kemper County, MS state census record as having in her household 3 males under 18, one female over 16, one female under 16, 10 male slaves, and 24 female slaves. In the 1850 MS state census record for Kemper County, she is listed as being 58 years old, born in Georgia. The only other person listed in her household is a Jesse E. Stovall, overseer. Rhoda also appears in the 1850 MS slave schedule as having 21 slaves; 10 females, 11 males, 7 adults, 14 under the age of 17. In 1854 she appears on the 1854 land roll for Kemper County, MS as having 480 taxable acres. Her date of death, and place of burial is unknown, although it is assumed that she died in Kemper County, MS.

2nd Generation

William Robert Cade

Born: December 12, 1825 at Wilkes County, GA Died: January 1, 1875 at Carroll County, MS Buried: Cade/Smith Family cemetery, Emory, MS Parents: Robert Cade and Rhoda H. Saffold

Louisa Judith Watson (Married in Sumpter County, Alabama on February 12, 1857)

Born: August 20, 1839 at Sumpter County, AL Died: January 27, 1905 at Carroll County, MS Buried: Cade/Smith Cemetery, Emory, MS Parents: Jared Watson and Judith Holt

The Children of Robert and Louisa (Watson) Cade:

1) T.W. Cade (male). B: 1858 at Sumpter County, AL D: Between 1860-1870 in AL or MS (appears with parents in 1860 Carroll County, MS census, but not in 1870 census. It is assumed he died young.)

2) Allen Bird Cade. B: May 29, 1859 at Kemper County, MS D: November 15, 1923 at Carroll County, MS Married: December 13th, 1878 at Carroll County, MS to Martha “Mattie” Pollard (1855-1880). Notes: Mattie Pollard Cade died in childbirth according to the 1880 MS mortality schedule. Allen never remarried. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1923. (copy of death certificate in my possession) Both are buried in the Cade/Smith Cemetery in Emory, MS.

3) Jared Watson Cade. (my great-great grandfather; see 3rd generation)

4) William B. Cade. B: 1865 at Carroll County, MS D: After 1905 in MS (?) Married on July 4th, 1905 in Carroll County, MS to Susie Ricketts.

5) Robert S. Cade. B: October 7, 1866 at Carroll County, MS D: February 15, 1947 at Carroll County, MS Buried: Cade/Smith cemetery in Emory, MS.

6) Drew Edward. Cade B: July 1, 1867 at Carroll County, MS D: December 19, 1929 at Lexington, Holmes County, MS Married on October 22, 1900 at Vaiden, Carroll County, MS to Edna Hunter. Note: Drew also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Copy of death certificate in my possession.

7) Lee Holt Cade. B: February 1, 1872 at Carroll County, MS D: June 12, 1938 at Lexington, Holmes County, MS Married on June 10, 1899 at Carroll County, MS to Connie E. Downer (1880-1967)

8) Louise Cade. B: 1875 at Carroll County, MS D: After 1928 in Florida (?) Married to Albert S. Finch Note: Mentioned in brother Jared Cade’s obituary (1928) as Mrs. Albert S. Finch of Century, Fla.

Notes on W.R. Cade and Louisa J. Watson. Marriage of William and Louisa Watson taken from ” Alabama Marriages; 1809-1920″ Jordan R. Dodd, Compiler. Provo, Utah. W.R. appears on the 1860 MS (Carroll County) census record as a well-to-do “farmer”, also appears on the 1860 Carroll County Slave Schedule as owning 15 slaves. W.R. was a Confederate Soldier, having joined 4th MS. Infantry, Company “C”, “Red’s Invincible’s”, under the command of Capt. W.O. Red. He served in the capacity of Sgt. he was captured on February 16th, 1862 at Fort Davidson, Indiana, and held prisoner at Camp Morton, in Indianapolis, IN. He would spend over six months there before his release. He appears in the 1870 Carroll County, MS census with his family, his fortunes at that time having been drastically reduced after the Civil War. W.R. wrote his will on December 3rd, 1874, and was dead less then one month later on January 1st, 1875. (Copy of Will in my posession) He is buried in the Cade/Smith Cemetery, beside wife Louisa, in Emory, MS. Judith did not re-marry after the death of W.R., but raised her children alone, and managed their farm. She appears in the 1880 Carroll County, MS census as a “farmer”, head of household, with children Allen, Jared, William, Robert, Drew, Holt and “Lou” (Louise). She died on January 27th, 1905, as is buried in the Cade/Smith cemetery.

3rd Generation

Jared (“Jack”) Watson Cade

B: February 8th, 1862 at Carroll County, MS D: May 8th, 1928 at Meridian, Lauderdale County, MS Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery, Meridian, Lauderdale County, MS Parents: W.R. Cade and Louisa J. Watson

Sarah Estelle Short (Married at Meridian, Lauderdale County, MS on May 24, 1893)

B: February 15, 1868 at Pickens County, AL D: June 20, 1932 at Meridian, Lauderdale County, AL Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery, Meridian, Lauderdale County, MS Parents: James Lowe Short, Mary Frances Dodson

Notes on Jack Cade and Estelle Short. Jack was a carpenter for the railroad for over 35 years at the time of his death in 1928, according to his obituary (copy in my possession). Appears with family in the 1900, 1910 census for Lauderdale Co., MS. Wife Estelle outlived Jack by four years, dying in 1932. She is buried beside him in Rose Hill Cemetery in Meridian.

The Children of Jared and Sarah (Short) Cade

1) Watson Lloyd Cade. (my Great-Grandfather; see generation 4)

2) Jessie F. Cade. B: January, 1899 at Meridian, Lauderdale County, MS D: After 1970, East Point, Fulton County, GA Married in 1924 at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS- Leon Moore

3) Infant Cade (male). B: 1903 at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS D: 1904 at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery, Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS

4) Louise E. Cade. B: 1905 at Lauderdale Co., MS D: After 1969 at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS (?) Married: 1925 at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS- Robert Lewis Connell (1904-1969)

4th Generation

Watson Lloyd Cade

B: October 11th, 1894 at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS D: July 14, 1955 at Jacksonville, Duval Co., Fla. Buried: Antioch Baptist Cemetery, Lacrosse, Fla. Parents: Jared W. Cade and Sarah E. Short

Mary Alfred Curtis (Married (1st) at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS on July 13, 1914)

B: March 4th, 1894 at Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., Texas D: November 25, 1977 at Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL Buried: Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville, AL Parents: Rev. Alfred Nash Curtis and Sallie Ford Cagle Children born to Watson Lloyd and Mary (Curtis) Cade.

1) Sarah Evelyn Cade (see 5th generation)

2) Lloyd Curtis Cade B: December 15th, 1923 at Ensley, Jefferson Co., AL D: July 3rd, 1990 at Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL Buried: Highland Memorial Gardens, Bessemer, AL Married at Ensley, Alabama on August 11th, 1948- Evelyn Marie Kirkpatrick (still living)

Watson Lloyd Cade and Mary Alfred Curtis divorced in 1935.

Lola Dampier. (Watson Lloyd Cade married 2nd in Jacksonville, Duval Co., Fla. in 1936)

B: April 22nd, 1900 at Alachua Co., Fla (?) D: August 31st, 1947 at Jacksonville, Duval Co., Fla. Buried: Antioch Baptist Cemetery, Lacrosse, Fla.

No children born to the union of W. Lloyd Cade and Lola Dampier

5th Generation

Sarah Evelyn Cade

B: July 18th, 1915 at Meridian, Lauderdale Co., MS D: August 3rd, 1965 at Alhambra, Los Angles Co., CA Buried: San Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, CA Parents: Watson Lloyd Cade, Mary Alfred Curtis.

Benny H. Padilla (Married at Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona on March 7, 1946)

B: October 28th, 1909 at San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co., CA D: September 4th, 1982 at Boise, Ada County, Idaho Buried: San Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, CA Parents: Jose H.M. Padilla and Leonides Grijalva.

Notes on Evelyn Cade and Benny Padilla. Evelyn was a Yeoman 3rd Class, Navy “WAVE” during WWII, and while stationed in Coral Gables, Fla., met her future husband, Benny Padilla, who was a Sgt. in the Army Air Corps. (medical division). They married in 1946, and would live in California until Evelyn’s death from cancer in 1965. Benny was an employee for the San Gabriel Parks Dept., where he would retire.

Children born to this union:

1) Mary Evelyn Padilla (see 6th generation)

6th generation

Mary Evelyn Padilla

B: June 19th, 1947 at San Gabriel, Los Angeles, CA **STILL LIVING** Parents: Benny H. Padilla and Sarah Evelyn Cade.

Clair Clifford Freece, Jr. (Married at Alhambra, Los Angeles California on March 13, 1976)

B: July 27, 1934 at Auburn, Cayuga Co., N.Y. D: January 31st, 2008 at Bessemer, Jefferson Co., AL Burial: Cremation; ashes in possession of family Parents: Clair Clifford Freece, Sr. and Minnie Ethel Robbins Children born to this union.

1) Dolores Marie “Dede” Freece (me!!)

Born: November 5, 1977 at Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA. Married on September 25th, 1999 at Fairview, Buncombe Co., N.C. to Stephen G. Stafford, a native of Jacksonville, Fla.

2) Benjamin Curtis Freece

B: January 26th, 1983 at Boise, Ada County, Idaho.

Guy Stark Saffold, Jr. was the son of Guy Stark Saffold. Guy grew up in Washington, D.C. with strong interest in following in his father’s footsteps to become a medical doctor and surgeon. The second World War intervened, changing everyone’s plans. Guy’s eyesight was too poor to qualify for other services (even in  a darkened room he would instinctively reach for his glasses before speaking), so he enlisted instead in the Merchant Marine. Through the war years he served as an Ensign on a Liberty Ship, convoying supplies and munition across the North Altantic to Europe and into the Arctic port of Murmansk in Russia. After the war Guy returned to New England where he worked first for the Corbin Lock Company and eventually for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Guy Married Elizabeth Minick in _________, and in 1947 Guy Stark Saffold, III was born in New York City. Four years later, in 1951 a second son, Richard Branning Saffold, followed. The family lived for a few years in Metuchen, New Jersey and then in Chatham.

In the 1960s Guy took a job with the Leo Burnett advertising company in Chicago, and the family settled in Long Beach, Indiana, a small lake shore community just east of Michigan City. In 1959 Guy and his wife were divorced. He remarried to Nancy Leigh Derring (Bowes) of Winnetka, Illinois. Around 1968, Guy and Nancy Leigh moved to Freeport on Grand Bahama, Island and eventually to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he died in 1970 of a heart attack. He was cremated and the ashes were scattered over the ocean off Freeport.

William Saffold was the son of Bird Saffold and Matilda Cade. Bird gave William and his sister Sarah over 4000 acres in Guadalupe County, Seguin, Texas. On this property in 1865 William built his home, pictured below. There was a dam, a ferry, a store and a mill. William built the dam across the Guadalupe River. At night he could hear the falls and from the balcony of the home see that dam that he build. William served in the war and rose to the rank of General. In later life he suffered illness and ended his own life as reported in the newspaper headline shown below.

Bird Saffold was the son of Reuben I and Sarah (Bird) Saffold. Bird was a stockman, born December 19, 1796 in Wilkes Country, Ga. He resided in Dallas Country and Newton County, a man of large means. In 1853 he moved to Guadalupe County, Texas. On December 19, 1820 he married Matilida Cade. Their children were: (1) Robert Cade Saffold, a student at the University of Alabama, 1835-36, legislator, lumberman and planter, Confederate soldier, unmarried; (2) Sarah D. Saffold, married ______ Herring of Mississippi; (3) William Saffold , attended the University of Alabama, 1845-48, gradauting with the degree of A.B., lawyer and planter who moved to Guadalupe County, Texas, and resided near Seguin, was adjutant general, Texas State Troops, 1860-61, serving in the Confederate Army, died of accident, August 6, 1896, and interred in Newton County, Mississippi.

Source: Dictionary of Alabama Biography

Dr Guy Saffold was the son of James Phillips Saffold.

Obituary from the Washington Post, February 28, 1938

Dr. Saffold, 57, D. C. Specialist, Dies at Home
Veteran of War Medical Service Had Been Ill Several Months.

Dr. Guy Stark Saffold, 57, prominent ear, nose and throat specialist, and veteran of the World War medical service, died yesterday at his home, 9127 Thornhill road, Silver Spring, Md. He had been ill several months. Dr. Saffold had practiced in Washington and Maryland more than 30 years. A native of Montgomery County, Md. he was graduated from George Washington University medical school in 1904.

Guy Saffold
Grave Marker

He became associated with Dr. J. J. Richardson and later went abroad for postgraduate study in London, Berlin and Vienna. In recent years Dr. Saffold had been a member of the staff at the Episcopal Hospital. He conducted private practice, with offices at 1726 I street Northwest. During the World War Dr. Saffold held commission as captain in the Army Medical Corps. He served in France at an A. E. F. evacuation hospital from August, 1918, to April, 1919. An enthusiastic golfer, Dr. Saffold was a member of the Washington Golf and Country Club, the Congressional and Columbia Country clubs. He also was a member of the District and other medical societies.

Lenore Saffold
Grave Marker

He leaves his wife, Mrs. Lenore Reach Saffold; three children, Guy Stark Saffold, Jr., Rosemary Linthicum Saffold and Virginia Reach Saffold, of Silver Spring; a brother, Ray Phillips Saffold, El Paso, Tex., and a sister, Mrs. H. F. Sommers, of Hong Kong. Funeral arrangements had not been completed last night, but the burial will be in Arlington Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Karl R, Lesh, Dr. A. W. Valentine, Dr. J. Russell Verbrycke, Jr.. Dr. F. X. McGovern. Dr. Harry F. Anderson, Dr. J. C. Bradley, Dr. B. L. Jarman. Richard Engel, and W. Parker Jones.

Captain Guy Stark Saffold and his wife Lenore Reach Saffold are buried side by side in Arlington National Cemetary. Upon entering the cemetery on Memorial Drive, turn left at the “T” onto Eisenhower Drive, right onto McCLellan Drive, and finally left onto Grant Drive. The graves are in section 7 not far the road.

I never knew my grandfather, but Lenore was our “Ganny” — no doubt my child’s version of “grandmother” — and much-loved.

Son of Milton Jefferson Saffold and Martha James (Harrison) Saffold was a physician. He married Sarah Eleanor Linthicum, of English ancestry in Washington, D.C.  Source: Dictionary of Alabama Biography.

Among Milton Jefferson’s children was Guy Stark Saffold.