Email Correspondence RE:  Robert Farmer

Email Correspondence
RE:  Robert Farmer

Index Genealogical Documents Essay by James Gray 2006
Email Correspondence The Forged Documents Descendants
  Timeline  

 

You will be able to see by the first emails between myself and Susan Peterson just exactly where James Gray got his family history information.  From reading his essays and his “sources” anyone can see that he got his facts, really, from Susan Peterson and myself (other than the census records and the info on the slave ship).

Mr. Gray’s very first essay draft seems to be an almost verbatim accounting provided by Mrs. Peterson suggesting he didn’t do ANY research; he just copied what she stated as fact and didn’t verify any of it with the actual records available to him.

Mr. Gray comments on a photo of Farmer’s grave that it was unmarked but that someone placed the Confederate colors there; yes, the local SCV did after Gray told them his story.  The SCV never marked that grave with a flag until Mr. Gray said he believed him to be a Confederate soldier.  I have worked in that cemetery since 2003, and have never seen it marked with a flag.  There are actually veterans with military markers that get overlooked on Memorial Day, even one WWI veteran who is getting marked with a CSA flag when he was born during the Civil War and his WWI military records and death certificate can be confirmed online.

You can also see from these emails where Mr. Gray thinks I am disputing the fact that Robert came from Australia to Brunswick.  That was never in question, it was always the genealogy and the military records.  And really, these emails were basically about him cleaning up the genealogy portion, which he asked for help on, and to provide documented military records.

Mr. Gray may think that I am bragging about my “connections” to other agencies in this county.  One email in particular will prove that most of the government agencies in Glynn County will contact me about historical research.  And if they don’t contact me, I know the other researchers they would contact who all have outstanding research backgrounds; many who have published books and articles over decades of their research careers.

Special attention should be paid to the email dated 13 June 2008 from Mr. Gray where he stated that he agreed to my findings on the genealogy and that he would change is essay.  But guess what?  He never did; his essay remained in error.

Then we received the infamous military documents that someone wrote "(Australian Soldier)" on, and I took them to be what they were until it was recently pointed at that they were altered and the originals don't have that statement on them.  We were all excited; yet still Gray's essay remained online, in error, and to this day it is still online and in error.

I have debated on whether or not to post the most recent essays as they get quite nasty and on some levels embarrassing.  But I have decided to put them online, scars and all.  I will, however, refrain from mentioning who all received the emails, and I will refrain from putting some responses online for persons who opted out of this conversation.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but you have the right to not read these emails.

After I made inquiries into his statements about his years of research experience, Mr. Gray contacted these people but EXCLUDED me from these emails.  I don't know why, I made the claims against him why shouldn't I be included?

From:  Bob & Susan Peterson
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Thursday 28 April 2005 11:30 AM
Subject:  Cemetery Lookup?

Good morning, Amy:

Hope this finds you doing well.  I’m trying to get some information on the Robert Farmer family and see that he, his wife (Algernora “Nora” Clubb Farmer) and several of his children are listed in your on-line index to the Oak Grove Cemetery.  I’ve also jotted down the St Marks info you have out there for the family.  Was wondering if the Oak Grove book you have gives any statistics or information on the family.  Is this a lookup you might be able to do for me?

Robert Farmer
Mrs. Nora C. Farmer (Nora Clubb was the daughter of James Clubb and Matilda harris Clubb…more of the Cumberland Island/St Simons Island Clubb family)
Algia Lorena Farmer
Dolly Farmer
Mrs. Roland L. Farmer (I thought from early information I had found that Roland L. Farmer, Robert and Nora’s son, was also buried there..but may be mistaken)

Also, not sure if Janie / Jennie Farmer Selsbe (I’ve also found it spelled Selsby) is buried there.  I know that she married and moved to New York but thought that she might have returned to Brunswick after her husband died…She’s not in Palmetto so if not in Oak Grove, she’s probably up in New York.

I’m also trying to confirm Robert Farmer’s military service during the Civil War; it’s not clear to me if he fought in the CSA or the Union army.  Any help you can give would be great.  Robert Farmer, like most of the men who are on my family tree, was a seaman and bar pilot.  Do you happen to have an address for the Brunswick Bar Pilot’s Association?  Does it still exist?  I’m thinking that I might drop them a note if they are still in existence and see if his name shows up in their historical records.

Thanks!

Susan Peterson

[her mailing address was deleted by me for privacy]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Bob & Susan Peterson
Sent:  Thursday 28 April 2005 10:11 PM
Subject:  Re:  Cemetery Lookup?

The St. Mark’s Book has more info than the Oak Grove listing.

According to the Oak Grove Book, the following are buried in plot B-75:

Mrs. Roland Farmer
Robert Farmer
Mrs. Nora Farmer

Had I stayed home a little longer, I could have gotten your email and looked this up for you at the cemetery, as I was just there with Patricia Barefoot.  Trying to drum up interest in preservation and conservation of the cemetery.

Anyways, Ruth Vicent made notes in my book:

Mrs. Roland Farmer’s name was Jane?.  Robt. & Nora had children Robert, Roland, & Angel / Aurora?.  Roland died 13 March 1945 in Patchouga, NY.

There is one entry for someone marrying a Lillian Morris who is buried at Palmetto.

Ruth’s notes are just scattered around the entry, so I don’t know what’s what.  She also notes that in the next plot, B-76 that the infant of H.C. Silsbie and Janie Farmer is buried there.

This plot belongs to Carswell & Franklin.  How she knows that the Silsbie infant is there, I don’t know.  She also notes that the infant died in Brunswick 12 May 1929, and that record should be at the health department, the infant is listed in the Georgia Death index as “Inf. Of H.C. Silsbie”.

Of note, Ruth wrote that Robert Farmer was born in either Australia or Georgia around 1855.  According to the 1900 Glynn census he was born about 1848 in England, was naturalized in 1860.

Maybe looking up his obit would help with your military endeavors?

There are 12 Robert Farmers on the Confederate side, 2 in the 27th Battalion GA.  The rest are Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, etc.

The Union side has 10 Robert Farmers.

Hope this helps, and let me know if you want me to look locally for more info, will be happy to help!

Amy

From:  Bob & Susan Peterson
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Friday 29 April 2005 9:05 PM
Subject:  Re:  Cemetery Lookup?

This is good information, thank you.  Algenora Clubb is, of course, on my family tree.  The information I have here at home states that Robert Farmer was born in Australia…I believe the earlier census records shows Australia; it’s just the one census year (1900) where he is enumerated with England as his birth place.  The census in 1900 is a little strange that way…I know, for example, that my grandfather’s Dad, Andrew Fraser, was born in Scotland and Grandpa, Walter Fraser, in Jamaica, but the 1900 census has Andrew Fraser listed with England as birthplace, too.  I think it was just easier for the census taker…perhaps he didn’t ask, just thought he knew by their accents.  :)

If Roland L. Farmer died in Pachouga, NY, he must have been with his sister, Janie Silsbe…since that is where she and her husband moved around 1929.  Robert Farmer was a bar pilot...as was Janie’s father, James A. Clubb.  Harold Silsbe was also involved in the maritime business but I think he may have been more on the ship building side of things.  I’m wondering if the old Brunswick Pilots Association is still in existence.  Do you know?  If so, and if you can get me an address or phone number, I would be interested in seeing if Farmer is listed in their records.

I’ve also just recently been contacted by a descendent of Robert Farmer’s who lives in Australia.  He says that Robert Farmer is buried there in Melbourne!!  He also said that the tombstone in Australia states that Robert Farmer was a veteran of the American Civil War and fought in a Georgia regiment, CSA.  I need to write the Georgia Archives to see if they can find the information.  I’ll start with what you have found…i.e., a request that they search the 27th Ga to see what’s there.  There’s not usually much but at least a copy of the record would be something for the folks back in Australia.  I wonder if his body was sent back to Australia?  So…with those questions, I would appreciate a look up in the Public Health Records for a death certificate.  Maybe there would be some mention of special arrangements or at least the name of the funeral home.

You know that Ruth made a fairly thorough research effort of the funeral home files so I’m guessing that is where she found the information on the Silsbe infant.

Sounds like you are staying busy.  If you manage to get a group organized for the Oak Grove Cemetery preservation, let me know.  I can’t contribute to any physical effort since I’m in Seattle but am more than willing to make a monetary contribution.  So, keep me updated.  I have a lot of family buried in that old cemetery.

Susan

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Bob & Susan Peterson
Sent:  Saturday 30 April 2005 8:53 AM
Attach:  page.JPG
Subject:  Re:  Cemetery Lookup?

A phone book from 2003-04 has this:

Bwk. Pilot Assn.
102 Virginia St.
St. Simons, 31522
(912) 634-8903

If you talk to them, ask them if they any public information, like pilot’s listings, etc. from the early days.  Would be neat to put on one of our sites.

I checked the Georgia Death Index, and there are only 13 Farmers listed, starting in 1931 with a John M. Farmer.

According to the Mortuary book from the health department I found the following:

Irwin Farmer 1 yr 2m recorded 7 Sept. 1892 died of brain congestion living at 709 K Street.  I put “recorded” as I am not positive that the date listed is the date of death.

R.G. Farmer 65 yr recorded 2 December 1892, found dead, unknown, and there was a coroner’s inquest, no address.  Maybe we should see if there is a newspaper, and I wouldn’t know who would have the coroner’s inquest.

Jas. Aleantarra? Farmer? 24yrs recorded 8 March 1902 [writing is very cramped together] unfortunately, this photo is very blurry, and there is a long message about his death.  I see the word “funeral” and something that looks like “S.S. Bark”  Maybe he died on board a ship, I don’t know?

Attached is a snippet of the least blurry one.  It sucks, because you can read the entries above and below it.  It’s in between Pneumonia and Heart failure.

I photographed this book, so my photos are not very good on many pages [I only have A to K listings].  I took one photo of the whole page, then one of the upper half, and one of the lower half.  The whole page is blurry, and so is the lower half.  The top half is perfect, but the info is on the lower half, of course.

I will go have a look at the health department next week if you want.

These were all white males.  I am off 3 days next week, so if you want me to look through newspapers, etc., I can do this.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Bob & Susan Peterson
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Monday 2 May 2005 10:23 PM
Subject:  Re:  Cemetery Lookup?

Hi Amy:

If it’s not too much trouble, I would appreciate a look up in the death certificates.  At least we know that this Robert Farmer was alive on 7 June 1900 since that’s when the census was 1900 census was dated.  So, death would have been sometime after that June 7, 1900.  If a death record could be found then I would love an obit from the paper, but I wouldn’t want you to comb through everything without a date to go on.  I also know from other documents I’ve found that his sons were listing their sister Janie Silsbe as next of kin in 1927 so I’m assuming that both parents had passed away by that time.  At least that gives a range of dates to search 1900 through 1927.  I would like to know when Nora died, too, if that is available.  Not sure how she would be listed…Algenora or Nora or some other shortening of her name…but most likely as Nora Clubb Farmer.

Jas? Aleantarra? Farmer do you think that could be James Alexander Farmer? named most likely for Nora’s father James Alexander Clubb.

Again, thank you.

Susan Peterson

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Bob & Susan Peterson
Sent:  Tuesday 3 May 2005 3:59 PM
Subject:  Re:  Cemetery Lookup?

No death records exist for Robert and Nora, but I did find their death dates, and an obit for Nora and Roland.  No paper is available for the time when Robert died.  I didn’t make it to the health department today to read the J.A. Farmer death notice.  Newspapers are not available for 1892 either.

From the loose paper files in the probate court, Nora and Robert both had files.  Both died intestate, and after Nora died, daughter Janie had to become the administrator of her father’s estate.  There was also a file for an R.G. Farmer, mentioned in a previous email.  He did die in 1892, but his estate file said he had no living heirs.

From these documents, death dates were listed.

Robert Farmer died 30 August 1902 [no newspaper]
Nora Farmer died 24 December 1909; obit online now with Roland’s:

http://www.glynngen.com/newspapers/bwknews_obits.htm

[today this link is http://www.glynngen.com/newspapers/obits/F.htm]

I went through the deed records, and there are quite a few involving Nora and her siblings, but one struck me as interesting.  From Book HH pages 501 to 503 is a deed between James S. Blain & John I. Harris of the first part and Robert Farmer of Camden County on the second part.  The deed was dated 20 March 1874, and Robert was buying land next door to, guess who?  James A. Clubb.

He married Algenora almost exactly one year later.  Wonder if James met Robert because of their piloting careers?  Anyways, I made a copy of this deed, and will type it up for the site in the next couple of days.  I made a couple more copies, but can’t remember what they were about.  I haven’t been to bed yet since 5 p.m. yesterday!

Also, Roland was buried in Oak Grove according to his obit.  Wonder who this Mrs. Roland Farmer is?  Wonder if it’s a typo and should read Mr. Roland Farmer?  There were only three marked gravesites in the plot, all brick outlines.  No unmarked infants nearby either, as stated in Ruth’s notes and the Oak Grove book.  If they are there, they are very unmarked.

Enjoy!

Amy Hedrick

From:  Bob & Susan Peterson
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Saturday 7 May 2005 3:39 PM
Subject:  Re:  Cemetery Lookup?

Thanks!  Of course, the Brunswick paper has a few misspellings in the names.  I took a quick look at census records and found a Christian M. Farmer with wife Mary born 1862.  That has to be mary Clubb b. Dec. 1862 who was married to Christian M. Farmer.  Mary was Nora’s older sister by two years.  This must be the Mrs. U.M. Farmer noted in Nora’s obit.  Nora’s Obit has a couple of other mistakes one of the names mention should have been “Gornto” rather than Gorato.  I’ve also discovered that Robert Farmer’s family moved to Georgia a few years after his arrival.  His parents and siblings were in Macon by 1870…siblings include Christian!  Later census records show they arrived in America in 1866…a pecarious time to move to Southeastern U.S.!

I’m not sure where the Roland G. Farmer fits in but am convince that he is likely yet another of the Australian Farmers who moved to Georgia.

Fun stuff!!!

Susan Peterson

From:  jim [email deleted but this is James M. Gray’s 1st email to me]
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Thursday 16 March 2006 8:57 AM
Subject:  Lookup Request

I am looking for information on a man named Robert Farmer who appears in 1870 US Federal Census Records of Glynn County, Georgia.  I also need some pictures of the town of “Pellicanville”.

It is for a memorial I am preparing on the Australian Memorial Website, www.acwv.info, dedicated to veterans of the American Civil War.

He was from Australia, served in the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles and died and was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Brunswick.  I’m also trying to find someone who can take a photo of his grave and the cemetery for me.  If you have any suggestions, I’d sure appreciate them; especially where I might find a picture of Robert Farmer.

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

James Gray

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Jim
Sent:  Thursday 16 March 2006 3:17 PM
Subject:  Re:  Lookup Request

The Cemetery Plot for Robert Farmer is online here:

http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/oakgrove/transcriptions/sectionB/75B.htm

[today that link is:  http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/glynn/oakgrove/transcriptions/03.html]

Taking a photo of the town of Pellicanville, do you realize how hard that would be?  It’s a big place, that doesn’t exist anymore.  If what you were wanting was a picture of the town sign, then I can’t help, because the town is no longer.

It was basically just the name of a neighborhood, not really a town.  Today it is known as Arco, but considered Brunswick.  Arco just being the name of the neighborhood, not really a town.

Also, do you have any documentation to support Robert Farmer having fought in the Civil War?   Supposedly he came to America in 1860, in time and old enough to enlist, but I haven’t found any record of it.

Thanks!

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 29 March 2006 9:06 AM
Subject:  AUSTRALIAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR VETERAN IN OAK WOOD CEMETERY

I have been trying every where to acquire a photograph of an American Civil War Veterans gravesite in the Oak Wood Cemetery.

He was a veteran from Australia and reportedly served in the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles in the town he lived.

I have built a memorial website dedicated to all the American Civil War veterans from, and buried in, Australia and New Zealand, www.acwv.info; which has been archived by the National Library of Australia to preserve their memories.

If there is anyone who can provide a photos of his gravesite for his memorial section, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

James Gray
SCV

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 29 March 2006 9:11 AM
Subject:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

I have been trying every where to acquire a photograph of an American Civil War Veterans gravesite in the Oak Wood Cemetery.

He was a veteran from Australia and reportedly served in the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles in the town he lived.  His name was Robert Farmer, he died in 1902 and his grave is identified as lot B-75.

I have built a memorial website dedicated to all the American Civil War veterans from, and buried in, Australia and New Zealand, www.acwv.info; which has been archived by the National Library of Australia to preserve their memories.

If there is anyone who can provide a photos of his gravesite for his memorial section, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

James Gray
SCV

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Tuesday 21 March 2006 10:16 AM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

I sent a response to your first email of 15 March 2006 the very next day.  Did you not get it?

Robert Farmer’s grave does not have a marker, it is assumed that one of these three brick outlines is his grave:

http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/oakgrove/transcriptions/sectionB/75B.htm

[today that link is:  http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/glynn/oakgrove/transcriptions/03.html] 

There are no records available to ascertain which grave is actually his, or if this site is where he is buried.

I have problem sending you a photo, however, you never responded to my first email.  Will the photo on this web page suffice?  If so, I will send you a copy, but you have to answer me.

Robert Farmer was not recorded on any of the rolls for Glynn County.  Do you have supporting documentation that he was a Civil War Veteran?

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 22 March 2006 8:29 PM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

I must apologize, as this is the first email I’ve had from you.  Robert Farmer served in the Confederate services in an infantry unit, the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles in the town he lived.  Some Brunswick records indicate he may have also been a member of the 27th Georgia Regiment, which in reality was a unit formed from the ranks of the 26th; but he did apply for a veteran’s disability benefit through the State of Georgia in December 1927.

If those records could be obtaines, you could simply fill out the forms provided on the American Veterans Administration website and they will supply you with a headstone, delivered to the cemetery; without cost.  It would be a nice thing to do.  One of our members here is also using my information to organize a tour for Australians who wish to visit the Australian veterans gravesites in America; like they do the World War II sites in Italy.  Brunswick is but one of a list I am working on to provide him; and a headstone would really add to that as well.

The picture you provided on the website is fine.  If you could send me a copy without the writing in the center, I’d appreciate it and credit it to you.

Thanks very much.

James Gray

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 22 March 2006 8:38 PM
Attach:  1. Robert Farmer.doc
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

Attached is the story of Farmer that is going on the website.

Jim

Robert Farmer was born in Northam, Western Australia on May 1845 or 1848; depending on which census record you check.  Arriving in America in 1860 his occupation for the census years listed was that of a bar pilot and/or a seaman, over the 3 census periods, and he resided in Brunswick, Georgia.  In 1855 Robert married a woman 10 years younger than he was, named Algranora “Nora” who was born in Georgia.; the daughter of James Alexander and Matilda Florence (Harris) Clubb.  In the Record Book HH pages 501 to 503 there is a record of a deed between James S. Blain & John I. Harris of the first part and Robert Farmer of Camden County on the second part.  The deed was dated March 20, 1874 and Robert Farmer was buying land next door to the father of the woman he married almost exactly one year later, Mr. James A. Clubb.

A story of interest that pertained to James A. Clubb, Nora’s father, is a notorious case in the area.  The famous schooner-yacht “Wanderer”, pride of the New York Yacht Club, put in to Port Jefferson Harbor in April 1858 to be fitted out for the slave trade.  Everyone looked the other way, which suggests that kind of thing was not unusual, except that the surveyor of the port reported his suspicions to the federal officials.  The ship was seized and towed to New York, but her captain talked and possibly bought his way out and was allowed to sail for Charleston, South Carolina.

Fitting out was completed in South Carolina, the “Wanderer” was cleared by Customs and she sailed to Africa where she took aboard some 600 Africans slaves.  On November 28, 1858, the “Wanderer” reached Jekyll Island, Georgia, where she illegally unloaded the 465 survivors of what is generally called the last shipment of slaves to arrive in the United States.  There was a long and very public legal battle over the ship and the slaves were brought in.  James Clubb turned state’s witness against the owners and his journal entries from that event are today in a museum on Jekyll Island.

Robert Farmer served in the Confederate services in an infantry unit, reportedly the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles in the town he lived.  Some Brunswick records indicate he may have also been a member of the 27th Georgia Regiment; but he did apply for a veteran’s disability benefit through the State of Georgia in December 1927.  The 1860 census of DeSoto Parish, town of Mansfield, lists Robert as John Francis, age 33, Male, occupation Farmer, owning real property in the amount of $700, personal property in the amount of $150, as native of England.  His wife was Ellen, age 20, was listed as Female, occupation Matron and a native of Australia.

Robert and Ellen were recorded as having two daughters, Eliza A., age 4 and Mary I.F., age 1, both natives of Louisiana.  They are listed in the household of Mr. L.F. Scott, age 25, a Farmer, who owned $1600 in real property, $6650 in personal property and was a native of Alabama.  Robert Farmer, in 1866, was joined in Georgia by his brother, Christian Mortimer Farmer, who married one of Nora’s sisters.  This is noted in Nora’s obituary with reference to her sister, Mrs. U.M. Farmer.  The “U” however, was a misprint for “C” by the newspaper.  Her name was Mrs. C.M. Farmer.  The early Brunswick papers were notorious for misstating details and names.  The 1900 census records state that Charles M. Farmer was born in October 1853 in Australia, whose parents were born in Scotland.  Charles married Mary C. Farmer, Nora’s sister Mary Clubb Farmer, and with a daughter named Nina Farmer lived in Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia.  Robert’s parents and siblings, according to the 1866 – 1870 census of Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, arrived in the U.S. during that same period.  John A. Farmer, a Grocer, and his wife Agnes, both were born in Scotland, immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.

The 1870 US Federal Census Records of Glynn County, Georgia list Robert at age 25, as a seaman, living in the household of John Silvan, age 40, who was also a seaman.  Robert Farmer married into one of the old families of Glynn and Camden counties and may have benefited from his wife’s family connection to the maritime trade.  Robert Farmer and Algenora Clubb were issued a license on May 5, 1873 by William A. Berrie and it was executed on May 19, 1873 by H.B. Treadwell M. G..  A second entry shows Robert Farmer and Miss Algenora Clubb with license issued May 5, 1873k, which was executed on March 10, 1875 by Lucas, M.G.Odd; a contradiction unless they perhaps had a second ceremony.  James A. Clubb, Robert’s father-in-law, was a rice planter on Cumberland Island in Camden County, Georgia.  He was also the lighthouse keeper for Cumberland Island as well as being a bar pilot.  James A. Clubb was descended from John Clubb, one of the officers from Oglethorpe’s 42nd Regiment of the Foot.  John Clubb received a King’s Grants to properties on St Simons Island and Cumberland Island as one of the original colonists.  Because he was an officer and a gentleman, he paid his own way to the America, had a large household and his grants from King George were substantial in the “new colony”.  John Clubb fought in the Revolutionary War, for the Patriots, and is buried in the family cemetery on the north end of Cumberland Island.

The St. Marks Episcopal Church records the baptisms of Robert and Algia Nora’s children as follows;

In 1902 it appears as though Robert Farmer, Sr. and Robert Farmer, Jr. may have had a falling out over a loan, as the following was found in the Superior Court files:

“Farmer, Robert Sr. vs. Robert Farmer, Jr. & W.H. Davenport writ of error Mr. Farmer loaned the defendants $300 to buy the Elks Saloon and they still owe him $100.  Went from Superior to Justice Court to Supreme Court.  Spanned from May 1901 to 29 June 1902; Civil Minutes Vol. 4 folio 689; Final Record Vol. 7 pg. 133”  That same year brought tragedy to the family and an end to the Farmer legend.

Robert Farmer died in 1902, according to the records of the probate court.  He died intestate and and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery; his grave is identified as lot B-75.  Nora Clubb Farmer, his wife, died in 1909 at 55 years of age, also intestate.  Her daughter Janie was named executrix of her estate and with her mother’s death also the executrix of her father’s remaining estate.  Robert, Nora and their son Roland were all buried in “Oak Grove Cemetery” in what was then downtown Brunswick and is near an area called ARCO since the 1920/30 era.  Prior to being renamed ARCO for the oil refinery that was located there, it was called Pellicanville, because of the docks and number of brown pelicans that nested in the area.  Most of the people who lived in that area in the early days were early Camden County, Georgia transplants and most were seamen and pilots.  Robert Farmers grave is identified as lot B-75.  The plot is also the resting place of his wife and several of the children.  Nora Farmer died on Saturday, December 25, 1909 and was survived by four children, sons: R.L. Farmer and Derwood Farmer, and one daughter, Miss Janie Farmer.

According to the “South Australia Advertiser” newspaper, Robert Farmer once joined a whaling ship in Western Australia, was later known as Captain Farmer and is the great grand-uncle of Carmen Lawrence; former Premier of Western Australia.

SOURCES:

1860 Census, DeSoto Parish, Mansfield, Georgia
1870 US Federal Census Records, Glynn County, Georgia
Amy Hendrick, Glynn County, Georgia
Cemetery Listings of Glynn County, Georgia
Glenn County Archives, Brunswick, Georgia
Oak Grove cemetery records, Brunswick, Georgia
Obituary, Nora Farmer, Dec., 1909
Probate Court Records, Brunswick, Georgia
“South Australia Advertiser”, newspaper
St. Marks Episcopal Church, Record Books, Brunswick, Georgia
Superior Court Records, Brunswick, Georgia
Susan Peterson, Seattle, Washington
Tim Daiss, Staff Writer, Savannah Online

© James Gray, 2006

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Wednesday 22 March 2006 12:57 AM
Attach:  075B_farmer.JPG
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

I am completely confused by your write up :-)  My remarks are not meant to sound defensive, emails are so impersonal, but I am completely lost.

Robert Farmer who married Algenora Clubb died on 30 August 1902, how did he apply for a pension in 1927?  You are looking at the record for a Robert M. Farmer who applied for an invalid’s pension on 31 December 1927, there is nothing there stating that this is the same Robert that died in Brunswick, and how could it be?

Also, Robert who married Algenora Clubb, was only 13 to 16 years old at the outbreak of the Civil War, if we believe the census for his age.  While it is likely he could have fought, of all the regiment rosters for Brunswick that are online, none of them list a Robert Farmer.

There were 22 Robert Farmers listed on rosters for both Union & Confederate combined, of that list only two were in Georgia Regiments, both in the 27th Battalion Georgia Infantry.  One was a Robert E. Farmer, the other a Robert L. Farmer.

In your email you state that “Some Brunswick records indicate he may also have been a member of the 27th…”

What are these Brunswick records?

The first paragraph of your write up must have a typo, you state that Robert and Algenora Clubb married in 1855.  It is also confusing to me, as it seems that you are talking about two different Robert Farmers, or two different people.

Who is the Robert you are talking about in the 4th & 5th paragraphs, who was married to an Ellen?  And how does he relate to the Robert who married Nora Clubb?

You state that this man was named John Francis in the census, how do you get that he was Robert Farmer?  Plus he was 33 years old, Robert who married Miss Clubb would have only been 12 to 15 years old in 1860.

Which Robert fought in the Civil War?  The one who married this Ellen, or the one who married Miss Clubb?

In the St. Mark’s Baptisms, did you also see a Mrs. Robert Farmer 69 years old being baptized in 1870?  She is too old to have been Robert’s wife, the Robert who married Clubb, wonder who she was?

Also, the St. Mark’s Records, it appears that you copied them from my website, if so, I am the author of those records, if you could, please associate my name with the source reference.  The same with the Superior Court Record.

I know you may have my name listed as a source, but you don’t have listed who contributed what to your article.  And that Superior Court Record is not located in the court house, it was brought to me to index, you can’t just go in and find it in their files at the court house.

For that record, maybe you could source “Superior Court Record Index compiled by Amy Hedrick”.

While it would be nice to have a marker at his grave, there is no concrete proof that he is buried in this plot, nor which grave is actually his.  Every year flags are put on the veterans’ graves, this gravesite never has a flag.

I would love to know the sources listing Robert Farmer as a member of the Brunswick Riflemen, as I have not found him here.  And from that St. Mark’s Baptism record of a 69 year old Mrs. Robert Farmer, it appears that there may have been two Robert Farmers in this area.

Also, Pelicanville, or Arco, is not near Oak Grove Cemetery.  Oak Grove is still in downtown Brunswick, it hasn’t moved, neither has downtown.  Arco is a few miles away.  Palmetto Cemetery is right in the middle of Arco.

Give me your thoughts.  Thanks!

Amy Hedrick

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Wednesday 22 March 2006 1:12 AM
Subject:  One Further Note

Do the math on those baptisms.  Those are not all children of Robert & Nora.

Some of those children are too old, and they are really the children of William & Rachel Farmer [1870 Glynn Census], those being, Barnard Newton, George Washington [possibly], and Martha.

So far, I have only found 6 children for Robert & Algenora Clubb Farmer:

Robert Mortimer born 20 Jan. 1876 death unknown.
Roland Lee born 18 May 1877 died 13 March 1945 in Patchogue, Suffolk Co., New York
Angel [Algia Lorena] born 21 Dec. 1878 died 23 Apr. 1880
Aurora [male] born abt. January 1881 death unknown
Dolly born 31 March 1885 died 28 May 1885
Janey born abt. December 1890, death unknown.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Thursday 23 March 2006 3:12 AM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

good questions.  the information came to me from another source and I will be reinvestigating it thoroughly.  What I find out I will forward on to you.  Thanks for the heads up.

Jim Gray

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Thursday 23 March 2006 7:57 AM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

Amy;

I found the information supplied me by a former resident of Brunswick.  I am sending you a copy and perhaps between the two of us, we can straighten out this can of worms; and it has really become a confusing mess.

At any rate, it may be information you don’t have and you may want it for your files.

If you “can” help straighten out this story, it would be great you Farmer, you and myself; and to future generations.  I’ll keep working on it here and perhaps with your help we can accomplish something.  I hope you will stay in touch.

(I highlighted some of the text to help me organize it)  It’s so confusing I have to work on it for awhiule and then walk away and come back to it.

Jim

INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO ME FROM A FORMER RESIDENT OF BRUNSWICK:

(NEW INFORMATION)

A few other details on Robert Farmer and family.

It appears that Robert Farmer was joined in Georgia by a brother in 1866, one Christian Mortimer Farmer, who married on of Nora’s sister.  This is noted in Nora’s obit with reference to her sister Mrs. U.M. Farmer.  In the 1900 census records, I’ve found a Charles M. Farmer, born Oct 1853, born in Australia (!! Gotta be the right man!!) both parents born in Scotland, married to Mary C. Farmer (this looks to be Nora’s sister Mary Clubb Farmer, and with a daughter named Nina Farmer living in Dublin, Laurens Co., Ga.  The early Brunswick papers were nortorius for getting details and names misstated so I’m assuming the Mrs. U.M. Farmer referenced in Nora’s obit should have been noted as Mrs. C.M. Farmer.  So, now we know that Robert and Nora named their first son Robert Mortimer Farmer for the father and the uncle.  With a little more searching I’ve found that more of the Farmer family immigrated to the US.  Looks like Robert’s parents and siblings arrived in 1866 – 1870 census (Macon, Bibb Co., GA)  John A. Farmer, a Grocer, and his wife, Agnes, both born in Scotland, immigrated and settled in Macon, Bibb Co., GA.  Their children are enumerated as follows::

Catherine, 25 years old, b. Australia;
Christian M. 15 yrs old, b. Australia; Agnes 13 yrs old, b. England,
 Fortune 11 yrs old (male) b. England,
David 9 yrs old b. England, Nicholas 6 yrs old born in Scotland (subsequent census years show him as Theophilus N. Farmer);
Ethan or Eben (or perhaps Ewen and the census taker had trouble understanding the Australian/Scottish brogue) 4 years old b. Scotland.

In 1880, more of the Farmer siblings listed…

an older son/brother John A. Farmer, 38 years old (Grocer) b. Australia, both parents born in Scotland, and his wife Elizabeth, 34 yrs born Ga, with their children, Agnes 7 years old b Australia and George A. 1 year old b. Australia.  So these later arrivals must have come to America shortly after the birth of their toddler son, George…so around 1879/1880.

By 1900, John A. Farmer, a widower, was living with his daughter Isabell A. Carlson.  She was a widow and running a boarding house in Columbus, GA

Two short years later, Robert Farmer died.

Robert, Nora and their son Roland were all buried in Oak Grove cemetery in what was then downtown Brunswick and is near an area called ARCO since the 1920/30 ear.  Prior to being renamed ARCO for the oil refinery that was located there, it was called Pelicanville because of the docks and number of brown pelicans that nested in the area.  Most of the people who lived in this area in the early days were early Camden County, Georgia transplants and most of them were seamen and pilots.  It all makes wonderfully logical sense, doesn’t it!?1

Friends in Brunswick were unable to find a newspaper obit for Robert Farmer but did find the following one for Nora

Saturday 25 December 1909; pg. 1 col. 3  FARMER, Algenora (Clubb)

(more new information)

Farmer, Robert (26th Georgia Infatnry, the Brunswick Rifles) Born Northam, Western Australia, May 1845 or 1848…depending on the census records you check; arrived in America in 1860, occupation for the census years listed was a bar pilot and/or seaman over the 3 census periods, resided post-war in Brunswick, Georgia.  He married a woman 10 years younger than he was, named Algranora “Nora”, who was born in Georgia, in 1855, Record Book HH pages 501 to 503 reveals a deed between James S. Blain & John I. Harris of the first part and Robert Farmer of Camden County on the second part.  The deed was dated 20 March 1874, and Robert Farmer was buying land next door to James A. Clubb.  He married Clubb’s daughter Algenora almost exactly one year later.

Robert Farmer in the Confederate services in an infantry unit, it is suspected it was the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles in the town he lived, some Brunswick records indicate he may have also been a member of the 27th Georgia Regiment; but he did apply for veteran’s disability benefits through the State of Georgia in December 1927.  The 1860 census of DeSoto Parish, town of Mansfield lists him as John Francis, age 33, Male, occupation Farmer, real property $700, personal property $150, native of England.  His wife was Ellen, age 20, Female, occupation Matron, native of Australia.  They had two children, Eliza A., age 4, Female, and Mary I.F., age 1, female, both natives of Louisiana.  They are listed in the household of L.F. Scott, age 25, Male, Farmer, who owns $1600 in real property and $6650 in personal property, native of Alabama.  Robert Farmer, in 1866, was joined in Georgia by his brother, Christian Mortimer Farmer, who married one of Nora’s sisters.  This is noted in Nora’s obit with reference to her sister Mrs. U.M. Farmer.  (The “U” instead of”C” was a misprint by the newspaper)  The 1900 census records list Charles M. Farmer, born Oct 1853, born in Australia, whose parents were born in Scotland, married to Mary C. Farmer, Nora’s sister Mary Clubb Farmer, and with a daughter named Nina Farmer living in Dublin, Laurens Co., Ga.  Robert’s parents and siblings, according to the 1866 – in 1870 census of Macon, Bibb Co., GA, arrived in the U.S. during that period.  John A. Farmer, a Grocer, and his wife, Agnes, both born in Scotland, immigrated and settled in Macon, Bibb Co., GA.

The 1870 US Federal Census Records of Glynn Co., Georgia list Robert at age 25, occ.seaman, living in the household of John Silvan-age 40, occ. Seaman.  Robert Farmer married into one of the old families of Glynn and Camden counties and may have benefited from his wife’s family connection to the maritime trade.  Robert Farmer and Algenora Clubb were issued a license on May 5, 1873 by Wm. A. Berrie, executed 19 May 1873 by H.B. Treadwell M.G..  A second entry shows Robert Farmer to Miss Algenora Clubb, license issued 5 May 1873, executed 10 March 1875 by Lucas, M.G.Odd; perhaps they had a second ceremony.  James A. Clubb, Robert’s father-in-law, was a rice planter on Cumberland Island, Camden Co., Georgia.  He was also the lighthouse keeper for Cumberland Island and a bar pilot.  James A. Clubb was descended from John Clubb, one of the officers from Oglethorpe’s 42nd Regiment of the Foot.  John Clubb received a King’s Grants to properties on St Simons Island and Cumberland Island as one of the original colonists.  Because he was an officer and a gentleman, paid his own way to the America and had a large household, his grants from King George were substantial in the new colony.  John Clubb fought in the Revolutionary War for the Patriot and is buried in our family cemetery on the north end of Cumberland Island.  Children include Robert Mortimer Farmer, born Jan 20, 1875, a painter by profession, lived in Savannah; Roland Lee Farmer, born May 18, 1877, married to a woman named Annie Elizabeth “Lizzie”, lived in Brunswick, occupation was electrician for maritime ships, [Both sons registered for WWI], Angel, a daughter, born 1880 and Jennie (or Janie) E., born 1890, married Harold Coplad Silsbe from New York & lived in Brunswick until 1927.  Janie and Harold Silsbe’s children:  daughters Algernora, Olivia Mae and Jane Elizabeth and sons Harold C. Jr. and Robert Mortimer.  In 1930, the family moved to Patchogue, Suffolk Co., Long Island, New York;.  Harold C. Silsbe also registered for WWI in Brunswick on Sept 12, 1918.  Robert Mortimer Farmer died in Florida in 193.

Janie E. Farmer, born in Jan. 1890, married Harold Coplad Silsbe.  He was born in New York.  The Harold and Jennie Silsbe family remained in Brunswick until 1927.  Janie and Harold Silsbe had the following children:  daughters Algernora, Olivia Mae and Jane Elizabeth and sons:  Harold C. Jr. and Robert Mortimer.  Robert Mortimer Farmer died in Florida in 1936.  Janie and her husband are found in the 1920 census living in Brunswick.  In 1930, the family moved to Patchogue, Suffolk Co. New York (I looked it up and found it is on Long Island)  Jane in all of the census records lists her father’s place of birth as Australia…so I’m sure she is the right person…not to mention that all of her children carried the names of her family members.

Harold C. Silsbe also registered for WWI in Brunswick on Sept 12, 1918 and gave his wife’s information as next of kin.  Harold C. Silse Jr. is listed on a Korean Conflict War Memorial in New York City (Battery Park) as missing in action, a purple heart recipient, he was a Fireman 3rd Class with the US Coast Guard, he was considered deceased on Sept 10, 1965.  Robert Mortimer Silsbe died Dec 15, 2003 in Cordova, Shelby Co., Tenn.  Robert Farmer died in 1902 per records in probate court.  He died intestate.  Nora Clubb Farmer died in 1909 at 55 years of age, also per records in probate, she also died intestate.  Her daughter Janie was named executrix of her estate and with her mother’s death also the executrix of her father’s remaining estate.  Robert, Nora and their son Roland were all buried in Oak Grove cemetery in what was then downtown Brunswick and is near an area called ARCO since the 1920/30 ear.  Prior to being renamed ARCO for the oil refinery that was located there, it was called Pelicanville because of the docks and number of brown pelicans that nested in the area.  Most of the people who lived in this area in the early days were early Camden County, Georgia transplants and most of them were seamen and pilots.  Robert Farmers grave is identified as lot B-75.  Nora Farmer died on Saturday, December 25, 1909 and was survived by four children, sons; R.L. Farmer and Derwood Farmer, and one daughter, Miss Janie Farmer.

According to the South Australia Advertiser Newspaper, Robert Farmer once joined a whaling ship in Western Australia, was later known as Captain Farmer an is the great grand-uncle of Carmen Lawrence; former Premier of Western Australia.

 

DEATH OF MRS. NORA FARMER

Passed Away Yester Afternoon After a Long Illness

        Mrs. Nora Farmer, wife of the late Capt. Robt. Farmer, passed away at her home on Ellis street at 5:45 yesterday afternoon after a long and lingering illness, covering a period of several months, during which everything possible has been done for her, but to no avail, and for the past several weeks she has been gradually growing weaker, and for the past two or three days death has been momentarily expected.
        Mrs. Farmer was 55 years of age and she has resided in Brunswick all of her life.  She was the daughter of the late Capt. J.A. Clubb, who during his time, was one of Brunswick's best known citizens.  The deceased is survived by four children, sons:  R.L. Farmer and Derwood Farmer, and one daughter, Miss Janie Farmer.  She also leaves three sisters, Mrs. U.M. Farmer, Mrs. C.B. Irvine and Mrs. Nina Welsh, Mrs. Julia Gornto, and one brother, Mr. James Clubb, besides a large number of other relatives.=
        The death of Mrs. Farmer removed a woman who was loved by all who knew her and her death is a great shock to her family.  She was lovable and kind and charitable and The News join the many other friends in extreme sympathy.
        The funeral will occur Sunday morning at 11 o'clock from the McKendree Methodist church, Rev. M.C. Austin officiating.  The interment will be in Oak Grove cemetery.

From Book HH pages 501 to 503 is a deed between James S. Blain & John I. Harris of the first part and Robert Farmer of Camden County on the second part.  The deed was dated 20 March 1874, and Robert was buying land next door to, guess who?  James A. Clubb.  He married Algenora almost exactly one year later.

The newspaper search also discovered this obit for Roland Lee Farmer, Robert’s and Nora’s son.

Friday 14 December 1945; pg. 8 col. 6 FARMER, Roland L.

FUNERAL SATURDAY

        Funeral services for Roland L. Farmer, former local resident, who died in New York Wednesday, will be held at Miller's Funeral Home Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, to be conducted by the Rev. Larry King, of the McKendree Methodist Church.  Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery.

Also looks as though Robert Farmer, Sr. and Robert Farmer, Jr. may have had a falling out over a loan.  The following was in the superior court files:

Farmer, Robert Sr. vs. Robert Farmer, Jr. & W.H. Davenport writ of error Mr. Farmer loaned the defendants $300 to buy the Elks Saloon and they still owe him $100. Went from Superior to Justice Court to Supreme Court. Spanned from May 1901 to 29 June 1902; Civil Minutes Vol. 4 folio 689; Final Record Vol. 7 pg. 133

And interesting story of immigration and migration.  Wonder if some of the younger siblings went back to Australia?

Susan
Bob & Susan Peterson

 

I decided to see what I could discover and here’s what I’ve found.

Your Robert Farmer shows up in the U.S. Census records from 1870 through 1900 and was living in Brunswick, Glynn Co., Ga.  He gave his place of birth as Australia, born May 1845 or 1848…depends on the census record you check…so he was easy to pinpoint.  The census records indicate that he arrived in America in 1860.  His occupation for the census years was listed as a bar pilot and/or seaman over the 3 census periods I was able to check 187, 1880, and 1900.  He married a younger woman named Algranora “Nora” who was born in Georgia.  She was 10 years younger than he was, born in 1855.  They had the following children:  Robert Mortimer Farmer, b. 1875; Roland Lee Farmer b. 1877, Angel (probably named for her mother) a daughter b. 1880 who does not show up on the subsequent census so must have died young, and Janie or Jennie E. b. 1890.

A little bit of research should reveal his wife’s maiden name if that is of interest.

Your man did serve in the Confederate services in an infantry unit, though the card does not offer specifics about which unit he served in, the Georgia Archives should be albe to find it for you.  I suspect he was in the 26th Georgia Infantry (known as the Brunswick Rifles) since that would have been the more logical regiment for enlistment unless he went to a neighboring county to enlist.  He actually applied for veteran’s disability benefits through the State of Georgia in December 1927 but that’s all I could find with on-line research.

Both of his sons registered for WWI and gave a bit more information as follows:
Robert Mortimer Farmer registered in Savannah, he was single at the time, born Jan 20, 1876, he was a painter by profession and was living in Savannah when he filed 9/12/1918.  He had blue eyes and auburn hair.  He gave his sister’s name in the next of kin section…as Jennie E. Silsbe living in Brunswick.

Roland Lee Farmer registered in Brunswick where he was living at the time, Sept 12, 1918.  Roland gave his occupation as an electrician for maritime ships, date of birth as May 18, 1877.  He had brown eyes and light hair.  He was married to a woman named Annie Elizabeth “Lizzie” Farmer and provided her information in the next of kin section.  Census records in 1920 and 1930 show him still married to Lizzie but there are no children enumerated for this couple.

Janie E. Farmer, born in Jan. 1890, married Harold Coplad Silsbe.  He was born in New York.  The Harold and Jennie Silsbe family remained in Brunswick until 1927.  Janie and Harold Silsbe had the following children:  daughters Algernora, Olivia Mae and Jane Elizabeth and sons:  Harold C. Jr. and Robert Mortimer.  Janie and her husband are found in the 1920 census living in Brunswick.  In 1930, the family moved to Patchogue, Suffolk Co. New York (I looked it up and found it is on Long Island)  Jane in all of the census records lists her father’s place of birth as Australia…so I’m sure she is the right person…not to mention that all of her children carried the names of her family members.

Harold C. Silsbe also registered for WWI in Brunswick on Sept 12, 1918 and gave his wife’s information as next of kin.

Susan
Bob & Susan Peterson

 

Another Robert Mortimer Farmer died in Florida in 1936 (must have been a son; jim)

Harold C. Silse Jr. is listed on a Korean Conflict War Memorial in New York City (Battery Park) as missing in action, a purple heart recipient, he was a Fireman 3rd Class with the US Coast Guard, he was considered deceased on Sept 10, 1965

Robert Mortimer Silsbe died Dec 15, 2003 in Cordova, Shelby Co., Tenn.

I have been unable to find anything further on the Silsbe daughters though think that might be fruitful.

I suspect there are a few descendants of your Robert Farmer still living in the United States.  There may be some late children from Roland Farmer’s marriage – though doubtful.  There are more likely to be some descendents from Janie Farmer Silsbe’s family living either in New York or Tennessee.  It does not appear that Robert M. Farmer, the son, ever married but that would need to researched to confirm that assumption.

How in the world did Robert Farmer end up back in Australia and do you know when he actual returned?  Did his wife, Nora, go with him to Australia?  Is she buried with him?

Interesting…I’ll drop a note to a few researchers in Brunswick and ask them to see if they can find a few more threads.  Back with you later.

Susan

Bob & Susan Peterson

Jim:
I live in Seattle, WA where I have been for the past 25 years.  I was, however, born and raised in Brunswick, Georgia and am a descendent from early colonial pioneers of southeast Georgia and Florida on both my paternal and maternal family trees.  Mother’s family were all seafaring men and were also bar pilots, merchant seamen and early lighthouse keepers in Glynn, Liberty and Camden counties.  So, I suspect that Mr. Farmer’s family knew and socialized with my family.

For that reason, I was intrigued by the story and decided to look up a few things.  I still have a couple of books here in my home library that I want to go through to see if there is any mention of Robert Farmer, in particular, there was a recently published book…actually one of those oversized, coffee-table publications that I would usually ignore.  This one was written by a man named Fendig and it is a very sparse documentation of the pilots who plied the waters of Glynn county.  There is not a lot of information in the book, though there are some lovely pictures of some of the vessels and there is, I believe, a couple of transcriptions of the members of the local Pilot’s Association.  There won’t be much background but I may at least tell us if R. Farmer was a member of the association and that in itself could provide some interesting clues for additional research.

When a mystery like yours was presented, I just had to see what I could find.

Resources?  Ancestry.com has most of the census records on-line, a number of military records…though mostly just the index cards, it at least can confirm service and location of a person at a specific point in time.  So ancestry had copies of the WWI Registration cards for southeast Georgia, copies of the index cards for civil war pension apps.  (I’m still a little confused by this one…the index card suggests that the application went to the U.S. government.  There was one U.S. (Yankee) regiment in Georgia…so it could be that Farmer was enlisted in that one regiment.  It would take a request to the NARA and a $30 payment to request the full file to get the details.  So, he may have served in the US Army or mistakenly applied to the US for a pension not understanding that the US did not honor the confederate services and those had to go through the State.  Also, I have a number of reference documents on the shelves of my library on many of the counties and towns of southeast Georgia.

So, there you have it.  Hope that it has helped you a bit

Susan Peterson

[I deleted her address information]

A few more facts for the records on Robert Farmer.

Most of these come from the record books at St. Marks Episcopal Church in Brunswick
Family register for the church shows the Farmer family as follows:
Robert Farmer, 8 May 1880 (I assume this is the date of registration for the family as members of the church.)
Mrs. Farmer
Robert Mortimer, son
Roland Lee, son
Algia Lorena, daughter
Duward Belmon, son (This has to be a mistranscription…would guess something like Stuart or Steward Belmond??)
Dolly, daughter

Also in St Marks records are the baptisms of Robert and Algia Nora’s children as follows:

Since you are  a native of Florida, I’m sure I do not need to remind you that many children died in the early days in the south due to the many fevers transmitted by the mosquitoes.  Yellow fever, malaria and a host of other semi-tropical diseases made it a precarious business for small children’s survival.

The marriage record entry at St Marks include these…

In the register of Communicants at St Mark’s was included:  Jane Elizabeth Farmer, 31 Jan 1904 (v3/170, 171) daughter of Robert and Nora and the one who later married Harold Silsbe.

St Marks Episcopal was the Church where my family worshiped so it would stand to reason that the families must have known each other.  So, off to my own family tree and it didn’t take long to find the connection.  Looks like Algenora “Nora” Clubb was the daughter of James Alexander and Matilda Florence (Harris) Clubb.  She and I share several common ancestors...which is no surprise considering how very small the population was on the Georgia Sea Islands.  The Clubbs and my mother’s family of Spaldings were all early families of Cumberland Island and there are many familial ties gained through the generations of intermarriages with the families who were living on the islands.

James A. Clubb was a rice planter on Cumberland Island, Camden Co., Georgia.  He was also the lighthouse keeper for Cumberland Island (the light was removed to Amelia Island, Florida at the turn of the century) and a bar pilot.  James A. Clubb was descended form John Clubb, one of the officers from Oglethorpe’s 42nd Regiment of the Foot.  John Clubb received a King’s Grants to properties on St Simons Island (Glynn County) and Cumberland Island (Camden Co) as one of the original colonists.  Because he was an officer and a gentleman, paid his own way to the America and had a large household, his grants from King George were substantial in the new colony.  John Clubb fought in the Revolutionary War for the Patriots and is buried in our family cemetery on the north end of Cumberland Island.  The cemetery has tombstones for the Spalding, Clubb, Miller, Bunkley and Lamb families (black and white).

Matilda Harris had an equally long history / heritage and standing in the local area.  She is descended from the Harris, Bunkley, Clubb, Miller and Britton families all of whom were early pioneers, soldiers and officers with Oglethorpe and early recipients of Kings Grants along coastal Georgia; planters on the islands and along the Satilla River.  The Brittons and Lambs were Loyalists and removed to British East Florida during the Revolutionary war…they began to return to Georgia in 1780 when Spain was granted East Florida as part of the Treaty of Paris.  Some of the family remained in Florida after agreeing to become Spanish citizens and convert to Catholicism.

It appears that Robert Farmer married into one of the old families of Glynn and Camden counties and may have benefited from his wife’s family connection to the maritime trade.

Another story of interest that pertained to James A. Clubb, Nora’s father, is a notorious case, the famous schooner-yacht Wanderer, pride of the New York Yacht Club, put in to Port Jefferson Harbor in April 1858 to be fitted out for the slave trade.  Everyone looked the other way – which suggest this kind of thing was not unusual – except the surveyor of the port, who reported his suspicions to the federal officials.  The ship was seized and towed to New York, but her captain talked (and possibly bought) his way out and was allowed to sail for Charleston, S.C.

Fitting out was completed in South Carolina, the wanderer was cleared by Customs, and she sailed to AFirca where she took aboard some 600 Africans.  On Nov. 28, 1858, she reached Jekyll Island, Georgia, where she illegally unloaded the 465 survivors of what is generally called the last shipment of slaves to arrive in the United States.  There was a long and very public legal battle over the ship and the slaves brought in, James Clubb turned state’s witness against the owners and his journal entries from that event are in a museum on Jekyll Island today.  Here’s a link to the story on-line http://www/savannah-online.com/full)story.cfm?sect=TourismOurCity&id=538

The Wanderer was built in a shipyard located on Long Island, NY, where we now know Robert and Nora’s married daughter, Lizzie Silsbe, ended up relocating in 1927.  Perhaps this is yet another connection to or simply a coincidence.  Hard to say.

This has been fun.  I’ve about exhausted my resources for researching family in Georgia from Seattle.  I’ll drop a note to a few people in Brunswick to find out if anyone can look up the CSA record for Robert Farmer next time they are in Atlanta.  No promise but I believe that was your first quest and I’ve gotten us sidetracked with other bits of the man’s life.

Susan

According to the folks back home in Brunswick, Robert Farmer fought in the 27th Georgia Regiment for the CSA.  A note to the Georgia State Archives in Atlanta may provide you with the details of his service.

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Wednesday 22 March 2006 12:30 PM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

I’m the researcher in Brunswick that Susan always contacts.  She and I have talked all this over.  Everything she sent you, I sent to her, and it is also posted on my website [the obits, etc.].  The information about the deed, that was my info, word for word, in an email from May of 2005.

I wish formal death records were kept when he died, you know, today they list the parents.  I don’t know how Susan knows that the Farmer family in 1870 Macon, was Robert’s.  There were Farmer’s here in Brunswick too, old enough to be his parents.  The William & Rachel whose children are also in the local church books.

I would believe them to be his parents quicker than a family showing up in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.

If this Robert Farmer did fight in the Civil War, he must have enlisted in another county, which isn’t unusual.  He could have enlisted from further up north in Georgia, wherever he disembarked when coming over.

He may have came here just to fight.  He was a teenager, with glory in his veins :-)

Also in the mortuary book that I have, and Susan forgot to mention this, was a record for an R.G. Farmer who was found dead on 2 December 1892 and a coroner’s inquest was held.  So far these types of records have not been found in our local court house, if found, it may list his relatives, etc.

And, I don’t know where Susan found two different marriage records listed in St Marks Church for Robert and Algenora, because I didn’t find a single one, and I have scanned each and every page of those books and put them online typed.  I seem to recall the two year difference, but I don’t think it came from St. Mark’s.

I sent her an email after your first email to ask if she ever found a pension or other military records, but she hasn’t responded yet.

I am wondering who this other Farmer family is that is in the 1870 Glynn census and the St. Mark’s books.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Thursday 23 March 2006 10:14 PM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE VETERAN WITH HIS NAME

It really is a small worl;d is it now.  Well, perhaps that will make it easierto straighten out the mess.  I have contacted every historical and genealogical group in Western Australia, where Farmer was born, as well as the government offices to try and get a copy of his original birth records.  Maybe that will help us figure it out.  It may have family information on it.

Will let you know when or what I hear.

Jim

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Friday 24 March 2006 5:29 PM
Subject:  FARMER AND BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA

Amy;

I received an email from a reputable source today that seems to tie Robert Farmer to Brunswick.  Apparently he lived there, became a “Harbour Pilot Master” and was a boat owner in Brunswick.  Stands to reason when he died he would have been buried there.

Jim

Hi James.

If you check out this site:  http://www.justice.wa.gov.au/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_2_2_323_201_0_43/http%3B/justicecontent.extranet.justice.wa.gov.au/_apps/pioneersindex/default.aspx?uid=6872-2293-6659-4402 you should be able to search WA records and order relevant certificates.  I’ve just checked the Dictionary of Western Australians and found this entry:

Robert FARMER B. 12.7.1841 (WA) (and I should point out this is pre civil registration so you won’t get a birth cert for him) d 22.8.1903 (USA), son of Charles and Margaret (nee Spencer).  M. (USA) Norah. Chd. Robert, Roland, Durward, Algie d. inf., Dollie d c1885 (at 2 months), Janie & daughter left WA on whaler 1861.  Participated in American Civil War.  Became Harbour Pilot Master and boat ownder Brunswick, Georgia.

It appears his father died in 1845 and mum remarried, but died in childbirth in 1848.

Hope this helps.

Robyn

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Thursday 23 March 2006 8:58 PM
Subject:  Re:  FARMER AND BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA

I wonder where they got his death date?  What is the “Dictionary of Western Australians?”

Do they source where & how they got the info?  I will have to go to our courthouse and get a copy of the documents that state his death date of 30 August 1902, make sure that I didn’t read it wrong.

I’m assuming then, that this Robert’s parents never came to America, which is what I figured.  I believe Robert came over just to be a part of the war efforts, fell in love, got married, and stayed.  After all, what was there to go back too?  No parents.

The birth date of 1841 fits much better than the census date, especially if he fought in the Civil War.

Thanks for sharing!

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Saturday 25 March 2006 1:47 AM
Subject:  Re:  FARMER AND BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA

The book Dictionary of Western Australians is something they published in Western Australia; the far western state of Australia.  I couldn’t find a copy in my area, but I saw several mentions of it on the web.

If I get more I’ll forward it on.  If you get sanything that will help, letme know.  We just gotta figure this one out.

Jim

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Friday 31 March 2006 11:02 PM
Attach:  1. Robert Farmer.doc
Subject:  ROBERT FARMER

Amy;

I think I’ve finally got this mess straightened out.  I was able to acquire more information from Western Australia sources and from Georgia.  I’ve also received a photo of the gravesites; on which is a Confederate flag.

The Farmer who applied for a pension was Robert Mortimer, not the veteran, and is was for an invalid pension.  Robert, the veteran, was born July 12, 1841 and he died in 1903, though the one records lists it as 1902.  Everything I’ve received to date indicates he is buried in Oak Graove with his wife and son Robert and did serve with the Confederacy.

I expect I will continue to receive information on him; as I have on many of the other veterans.

The attached is what I am at present going with as I’ve confirmed it with pretty reliable sources.

If you have any further impuit, please let me know.

Jim

[I am not going to type the essay here, as I have it online at another page, as does Mr. Gray at his own website]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Friday 31 March 2006 9:40 AM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER

I still don’t think you have this sorted out.  Not to sound rude, and I know this does, but it doesn’t seem like you are doing the research, you are just copying what people tell you without backing it up.  Don’t rely on your sources to be credible, many get stuck on a theory and won’t let go.

Robert Farmer, born 1841, married ALGENORA, not Algranora.  And you still have that they married in 1855 in the first paragraph, and that is not possible.

What is your source for Robert being in the Confederate Army?  He is not listed on the regiment rosters for the Brunswick Riflemen.  Do you have actual paper documentation for this?  I have yet to find any documentation that he was even a participant.

The only proof is that everyone is saying that he was, but no one has the documents to prove it.  There were a couple of Robert Farmers in the war, and that Robert M. filing for an invalid’s pension, can not be his son, and could be anyone.

Two booklets have been compiled on Confederate burials in Glynn County, neither have Robert Farmer listed.

While I will not dispute that he wasn’t in the war, I believe he may have been, I would love to know what the documentation was for his service.

According to records at that website for Australian births, deaths, etc., and the email signed by a Robyn:

It appears his father died in 1845 and mum remarried, but died in childbirth in 1848.

Hope this helps.

Robyn

Robert Farmer’s father died there in Australia, and his wife may have remarried, then later died in child birth in 1848.  How is that they are in Georgia in 1870 if the above info is correct?

You are still listing all the Farmer children from the St. Mark’s books as Robert’s & Nora’s.  Do that math, they are not the parents.

Barnard Newton Farmer was 14 in 1870, George Washington Farmer was 16 years old in 1870.  Martha Farmer was 19 years old in 1870.  Their mother was Rachel Farmer [listed as Mrs. Robert Farmer or Mrs. Farmer], Rachel died right along with her teenage children.

Everyone was baptized in 1870, and Robert and Nora weren’t even married yet, no matter if it was 1873 or 1875 when they were married.  These children are already teenagers by 1870.

In December of 1902, Algenora was applying for letters of administration on Robert Farmer’s estate.  There is no way he could have died in 1903.  This record does state his death date at 30 August 1902, and that can be disputed, but there is no way she could apply for letters before he died.  Therefore the 1903 death date can not be possible unless the probate court records are in gross error.

Nora’s probate record has her death date at 24 December 1909, her obituary confirms this too.  You state she was survived by four children, but you only list three, you left out Robert.

In your sources, you have my last name misspelled, and the Glenn County Archives, should be GLYNN.

What photo did you receive of the gravesites?  I thought I sent you one, which didn’t have a flat on it, and still doesn’t today.

I have copies in hand of the probate papers listing the death dates.  I also have actual scanned images of the St. Mark’s Church Books to confirm that the children you have listed as Robert 7 Nora’s are too old to be them.

I can also get a copy of the marriage license to confirm the marriage date of 1875.  Between me and another local researcher, who has been doing this longer than I have been alive, we both have the same date.

I have no idea where the 1873 date came into play.  The record states that the license was issued on 10 March 1875 by William Berrie and executed that day by N.B. Ousley, M.G. in Book B page 94 of the marriage records.

If there is another record, please let me know where it is, so I can make a note of the two different dates.

There are a lot of discrepancies in your article, while I’m not saying I’m right, you are contradicting yourself within your own article.

Let me know if you want copies of the items I reference, and I can mail them to you.  The St. Mark’s info, I can email ass attachments since they are scanned images.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Rick Charnock [City Operations Manager, Brunswick, GA]”
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Monday 31 July 2006 7:00AM
Subject:  FW:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Amy I just received this email today. I haven’t had time to check everything out yet, but I thought you might be interested.
Rick

From:  James Gray
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 2:17 AM
To:  Rick Charnock
Subject:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

My name is James Gray, I’m an American living in Australia, am a descendant of American Civil War soldiers and the creator of the Australian Memorial website, www.acwv.info, American Civil War Veterans Buried in Australia and New Zealand; which has been archived by the National Library of Australia.

In researching the numerous veterans buried down-under I have uncovered one Australian born Civil War veteran that died in America and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, Georgia; his grave is identified as lot B-75.

His name was Robert Farmer, son of Charles Farmer from England born in 1799 and Margaret Spencer in 1812, and he was born in Northam, Western Australia on July 12, 1841.  I have confirmed from pictures supplied me that his grave remains unmarked and am interested in acquiring a headstone or bronze memorial marker for him.

Can you tell me how to contact the representatives of the Oak Grove Cemetery in Brunswick?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

James Gray
SCV

From:  Rick Charnock
To:  James Gray
Cc:  John W. Butts [former City Works manager]
Sent:  Monday 31 July 2006 8:59 PM
Subject:  RE:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Hello Jim.  The Oak Grove Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in the City of Brunswick.  Unfortunately over time we have lost a lot of information on the older burials there, so it will be good to identify the unmarked grave you are referring to.  Though the city owns the cemetery any memorials or headstones would be handled by a local company.  Let me get you some contact information, and see what we can do to assist.  Also a local citizen, Amy Hedrick, is very interested in any information you may have about this person that is buried there with the unmarked grave and his background.  She has her own website located at http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/ and the direct link to her webpage on Oak Grove Cemetery is http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/cemetery/oakgrove/ .  I will try to get back to you shortly with some information.
Rick Charnock
Technical Analyst

[today those web pages are:  http://www.glynngen.com and http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/glynn/oakgrove/]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Rick Charnock
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 8:51 AM
Subject:  Re:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Yes, I did get the email, but I am still curious as to the proof of Mr. Farmer’s Civil War service.

I have responded to Mr. Gray yet, because I am disgusted by his research.  And I don’t think I will.

The photos I took of the Farmer plot [and sent to him], did not have a Rebel Flag posted there.  And mention is made of photos that show this flag there.  I think someone placed a flag there, then took the photo, because I have never seen it marked, even by the groups who mark veteran graves.  He completely ignored my photos, and acts like I never sent them.

I have been working in this cemetery for 2 years now, and have never seen it marked with a flag.

I think more proof is needed to make sure he is buried in this plot too, before a marker is placed, because none of the graves are marked.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/cemetery/oakgrove/transcriptions/sectionB/75B.htm

[this is now at http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/glynn/oakgrove/transcriptions/03.html]

Right now we have a preservation project going with the Colonial Dames, and any marker placement will have to be passed through them.  I have been asked to compile a new book on the cemetery, which I am working on now.

Also, getting the local Sons of the Confed. involved would be a courtesy that should not be overlooked by Mr. Gray.

I have had a lot of discussions about Robert Farmer with Mr. Gray, and he has failed to show me proof of Robert Farmer’s service in the Civil War.  No pension file, no muster rolls, nothing.  Nor will he even tell me the proof he has.  He completely ignores my question on his proof.

Not only that, he has completely ignored facts that I have pointed out to him, that are wrong in his research.

If you want to read the email discussion before you take any action, I will be happy to share them with you.  I have them printed out.

At the end, I basically told Mr. Gray that he was making Robert Farmer into something he may not have been.  That he was just copying bad data online and not researching it out to prove or disprove the info.  He had numerous typos and errors in his final draft of Robert Farmer’s life and attached children to him that he could not have fathered because these children were teenagers when he married.

He couldn’t even spell Glynn County right.  He never emailed me after that, until a couple of days ago.  Our last correspondence was March 2006.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Rick Charnock
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 4:19 PM
Subject:  RE:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Thanks for the email Amy.  I have been holding off contacting him until I heard from you.  I will let him know that the Colonial Dames must approve any markers and leave it at that.  He did say that you did not see eye to eye on the details and because of your questioning he had checked further into the matter.  He seems to be relying on some sort of oral history that he believes he has been able to verify through his research, but he has not related any of that information to me.  I would indeed be interested in the email discussion for my own curiosity if you could forward those to me.  I think that they would be helpful to me if I have any further conversations with Mr. Gray.
Thanks, Rick.

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Rick Charnock
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 5:16 PM
Subject:  RE:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

The emails are printed, I don’t have them on my computer, because my computer died last May in a lightening strike.  So I would have to mail them to you, or let you read my copies.

Mr. Gray tried to mesh a Robert M. Farmer with the Robert here.  This Robert M. Farmer applied for a Civil War Pension 31 December 1927, and Mr. Gray thinks this is they guy buried in Oak Grove.

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t pay attention to the dates, because Robert buried in oak Grove died on 30 August 1902.  How did he apply for a pension 25 years later?  His wife died shortly thereafter on 24 December 1909.

Also, if Robert Farmer’s birth date is correct, he was only 14 to 16 years old during the outbreak of war.  Which, is still possible that he fought, and maybe under an assumed name.  And I told Mr. Gray this, and that I am not trying to disprove his service, because it is entirely possible he served, I just think it unlikely with the lack of evidence and his age.

There are many records that list the 26th GA Inf. Brunswick Riflemen, and Robert Farmer is not on any lists.  A family descendant couldn’t even figure out where he served.  She was assuming it was the Brunswick Riflemen, so Mr. Gray took it as fact.

She found a card for Robert Farmer at the National Archives Seattle, who fought in the Confederate ranks, but it didn’t mention his unit.  And it also said that he later filed for a pension in 1927.

So, Mr. Gray took this information and fit it to Robert in Oak Grove.  There’s no way he could have filed for a pensions, and it is him filing, not a relative.

According to Australian records, Robert’s parents died in Australia, but this guy says he found them here in the US in the census.

Also, the children he attached to Robert Farmer as being the father, were older than him.  These kids were born in the 1840s, how could he be their father when he was born during that time too?

I offered to send scanned images of my documentation proving these items were wrong, and he never asked fro them.

I will talk to Carolyn Nugent as well.  I have some other things about Oak Grove to share with her.

I think this man needs to show his cards before anything is done.  Not just list sources, but show the actual documents.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 2:32 AM
Subject:  OAK GROVE CEMETERY WAR VETERAN

The research on one Robert Farmer, an American Civil War veteran buried in Oak Grove Cemetery has finally been completed; after a lot of confusion and controversial information submitted, from Australia to the U.S..  He will soon be placed on the Australian Memorial Website, www.acwv.info, which has been archived by the National Library of Australia.

It has been confirmed that Robert Farmer was born in Australia, migrated to Brunswick, participated in the American Civil War and is buried in Oak Grove.  One picture of his gravesite, submitted by an individual from there, reveals it is unmarked, though someone did have the First Confederate National Colors flying over his grave.

I would like to take I upon myself to acquire a solid bronze memorial plaque be made for him and have it shipped to the cemetery for mounting on his gravesite.  As a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans myself, I can also assure you of a fully uniformed color guard and a fitting ceremony; if you would like.  This would be done at absolutely no cost to anyone.

All I need is someone name and phone number for a contact person and an address of where to ship the memorial plaque to.

Any help you can provide in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

James Gray
SCV
Brisbane, australia

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Brunswick Chapter SCV
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 5:43 PM
Subject:  Robert Farmer Oak Grove Cemetery

Hello!  My name is Amy Hedrick, and I run a website on genealogy & history for Glynn County.

Recently, a man named James Gray of SCV Brisbane, Australia did research into a possible veteran, Robert Farmer in Oak Grove Cemetery.

With his findings, he would like to place a marker on the gravesite, funded by himself.  He may have contacted you already, or be in the process.

However, I have found numerous flaws in his research and think that his theory needs to be investigated further.

This man states he has proof that Mr. Farmer fought under the 26th Brunswick Riflemen, but has failed on numerous accounts to show me the proof.

I have had a long discussion with Mr. Gray, and pointed out his inaccuracies and errors, to no avail.  He has tried to mesh a Robert M. Farmer who applied for a pension in 1927 with the one buried at Oak Grove who died in 1902.

If he contacts you, please do not act immediately on any decision.  Mr. Gray has never shown me any documentation on his proof, he only lists sources that are very vague, have no dates, nor any locations.

Since our initial discussion in March of this year, he may have found that proof.  While I’m not trying to discredit Mr. Gray, I do question his research because he has had many mistakes that he would not correct or at least note that they may be wrong.

Also, we need to prove that Robert Farmer is in fact buried at the grave specified, as they are not marked.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/cemetery/oakgrove/transcriptions/sectionB/75B.htm 

[today that URL is http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/glynn/oakgrove/]

Mr. Gray says he has photos of the plot with a Confederate Flag next to I, my photos do not have this flag, and I sent him my copies.  I think someone went looking for the grave, placed the flag there, then took the photo.

I have never seen this grave marked with a flag, and I have been working in this cemetery for the past 2 years.

I have printed all of the email correspondence I have had with Mr. Gray, and think that they should be read if he submits his request to you, before any decision is made.  I think also, that he needs to send you his documentation, not just a list, but actual paper sources.

While I will not dispute that Robert Farmer fought in the Civil War, it is entirely possible, I want the proof that I have not been able to find.

Robert would have been 14 to 16 years of age at the outbreak of war and he was a bar pilot during his lifetime.  I know youngsters joined in the fight through pride, I just don’t think Robert Farmer had that pride, because he was newly landed from Australia.

You may try to call me on my cell phone if you need too at [omitted], you can call as late as you like, because I work the graveyard shift so am up late.

Being that he is a member of the SCV, I hope he has tried to contact a local chapter before going ahead with his project.

Amy Hedrick

[Mr. Cannon Gould did call me later and we discussed the facts; since that phone call can’t be heard by anyone else, I will not convey it as it would be considered hearsay.]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To: Carolyn Nugent
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 5:44 PM
Subject:  Oak Grove

A few things.  The archaeologist did a survey outside of the cemetery fence, and found a gravesite.  While they don’t know if it’s an actual grave, it could be the remains of one already exhumed.

Also, they found Indian pottery sherds [pottery pieces are sherds, glass are shards] from around 1000 A.D.

I don’t know what the city is going to do with this information, I have not heard anything.

Also, a gentleman named James Gray would like to put a Confed. memorial marker up on the grave of Robert Farmer in Oak Grove.

I have numerous objections, and think you should hear me out before you tell him yes.  He needs to submit to you his research with source references, actual copies of his sources mind you, not just a listing.

During the month of March, he and I had long discussions about his research, and I pointed out many flaws and errors, and he completely ignored these known facts that I could send the paper proof of.  I even offered to send the documents scanned, but he never took me up on the offer.

I have our discussion printed out, and I think you should read these emails before you make a decision on allowing this marker to be placed.

Also, I would contact the Sons of the Confederacy, local chapter, and tell them to hold off on making any rash decisions.

If you want, you can call my cell at [omitted], I stay up late, so you won’t disturb me.  Or call me at home if it’s real late [omitted].

Amy Hedrick

From:  Georgia SCV
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Tuesday 1 August 2006 6:52 PM
Subject:  Re:  Robert Farmer Oak Grove Cemetery

Dear Amy
I was in fact in contact with Mr. Gray.  I have been trying to locate information on Robert Farmer also since Mr.Grays contact with us.  We did find the Farmer plot and photographed it for him. The photo with the flag was taken by our SCV camp and sent to him. The exact grave needs to be determined. He is buried beside tow family members. We are also working to determine if he is listed on the rolls of the 26Th Georgia. We have not found him on the rolls of Company “A”. We will research the other companies in the regiment. We wish to honor all CSA veterans and don’t wish to miss any. You are correct in your letter that proof needs to made prior to any formal dedication. Your concerns are the same as ours. Thank you for contacting the camp and I will keep in contact with you as we gather information.
Regard
C.Y. Gould
T.M.Forman camp 485SCV

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Georgia SCV
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 1:32 AM
Subject:  Re:  Robert Farmer Oak Grove Cemetery

Here is the page with some of the records:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/photos/page.htm

[today that URL is http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/documents.htm]

These are from church records, and involve the children of a William & Rachel Farmer and the children of Robert & Nora (Clubb) Farmer.

Mr. Gray attached William’s children to Robert, and a simple math calculation will tell you it’s impossible.

The court records, I will have to get new copies, as I lost them when my computers were struck by lightening last May.

Let me know if there is anything you need, or any questions you need answered.  These church records have been transcribed on my website too.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/church/stmarks/index.htm

[today that URL is http://www.glynngen.com/church/stmarks/index.htm]

Amy Hedrick

From:  Carolyn Nugent [Colonial Dames]
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 7:05 AM
Subject:  Re:  Oak Grove

I will talk with you.  I am member of UDC and I will talk with SCV, my husband’s cousin is the commander Scott Newbern.

[rest of email is omitted due to privacy issues that had nothing to do with his topic]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Carolyn Nugent
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 12:48 PM

The SCV already know as I have emailed them and talked on the phone with Cannon Gould.  He is not going to allow this to happen without proof.

I shared the documents from St. Mark’s that show the children, and I will be getting copies of court records for him later today.

You won’t need to take immediate action on this since the SCV is aware of it, and they are going to Atlanta to search out more records for Robert Farmer.  But please, make your group aware of it, because if it is proven that he is a veteran, that’s more publicity for the cemetery.

[omitted for privacy]

Amy Hedrick

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 1:26 PM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE CEMETERY WAR VETERAN

Well, the SCV and the Colonial Dames are who you need to speak with, and I believe you have been in contact with the local SCV.

I just want you to know, that I am not upset with you, I like to work things out, and that’s why I hate emails, because they are so impersonal, and can be taken the wrong way.

I just don’t think the research done has been done well.  Especially if you still have children attached to Robert Farmer who are the same age as him or just a bit younger.  Mainly those children from the St. Mark’s Records who were teenagers in 1870 and being baptized.

I had offered to send you documentation, and you never accepted it, which makes me wonder about the research done.  Using transcribed records off of my website or someone else’s shouldn’t be used as fact, mainly because of human error.  I have the actual scanned images of all the church records, and have Xerox copies of the court records that list Robert’s death date, and his wife’s.

The local SCV is going to search out some more records in Atlanta.  I among others, do not want a marker placed on a grave of someone who may not be a Confederate Veteran, and also, who may not even be buried at the specified plot.  He very well could have been Union, which a family descendant things he was.  This is the same descendant that you may have talked with, Susan Gay-Peterson.

According to cemetery records, those buried in the plot are Robert Farmer, Algenora Clubb Farmer, and their son Robert M. Farmer.  However, church records indicate that two daughters are buried in Oak Grove as well, those being Dolly and Algenora.  There are only 3 marked graves in this plot that is supposedly Robert’s, which makes me wonder if it’s the right plot.

It is likely that there are other unmarked graves there, so I won’t dispute that, and I also won’t dispute that Robert did not fight in the war.  It is entirely possible.  But I, along with the Colonial Dames and the SCV, need documented proof, and not family say so.

If we believed our families, then I would have to believe that one of my ancestors was a justice of the supreme court like my uncle and aunt firmly believe.  Which no one in our family was.

Or that my grand aunt was friends with Helen Keller, as she state that little Helen toddled about her home when my grandaunt was a teenager.  This couldn’t be, because Helen Keller was a teenager when my grandaunt was born.

Numerous family traditions did pan out, like me being descended of Cherokee Indians from the Georgia Reservation, and that our family has been here since the beginnings of this country.  But many others have not.

You may want to contact the local SCV, who said they have talked with you about Robert, and let them know your sources and what your research has uncovered.  They do not want a marker placed on a grave that may not contain a veteran, and also, that may not even be his gravesite if he is a veteran.

We still have a lot of work ahead before a marker can be placed.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Rick Charnock
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 8:26 AM
Subject:  RE:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Thanks for the information Amy.  From what you just shared with me it sounds like he is way off base.
Rick

From:  Rick Charnock
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 9:21 AM
Subject:  RE:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Amy this is a copy of the email that I sent to Robert Farmer.  Maybe he will be willing to share what he has so that we can bring this case to a conclusion.  I made it clear to him, I believe, that you are the one that he needs to prove his case to.  Thanks for the information that you sent to me.  I have always been a history buff, and genealogy and civil war information is fascinating to me.  Let me know if you hear from Mr. Gray again, and if there is anything I can do to help you with this, or any other project just let me know.
Thanks,
Rick

From:  Rick Charnock
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 9:09 AM
To:  James Gray
Subject:  RE:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Jim, I have done some checking for you and this is what I have found out.  A group called the Colonial Dames is currently doing a project in Oak Grove, and Amy Hedrick is working closely with them on the project.  Any placement of markers or monuments must be approved by them.  Also as a courtesy the local Sons of the Confederacy chapter should be contacted as well.  I do not presently have any contact information for them, but I am sure Amy can help.
Amy has shared with me some of the information and documentation that she has, and she hasn’t been able to come to the same conclusion that you have about Robert Farmer.  In fact, what she has shared with me has made a pretty convincing case that the Farmer in Oak Grove might not be the same one that was born in Australia.  You might want to make available to her your documentation in order to make your case about Mr. Farmer.  She has mentioned that she has offered to make copies of her documents available to you as well.  In conclusion it seems to me that the best avenue to pursue your venture is to communicate with Amy, and share information.  She seems to be an excellent researcher, and because she is working on the project with the Colonial Dames you will need to convince her that your research is correct.
I hope that you can reach a satisfactory conclusion in your project.  Please let me know if you need further assistance, and I will be glad to help if you if I am able.
Best wishes,
Rick

From:  Georgia SCV
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 11:30 AM
Subject:  mystery

Dear Amy
I spoke with my friend Don McWaters last night and we will be in Atlanta soon.  We plan to go to the State Archives and do further research on Mr. Farmers Confederate records.  I will let you know what we find.Any questions let me know.  Lastly, I received the information that you sent.
Recards
Cannon

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Georgia SCV
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 1:01 PM
Subject:  Re:  mystery

I have searched Ancestry.com and the Soldier’s and Sailor’s website, and have yet to find a Robert Farmer that looks promising.

There are 10 Robert Farmers listed in the American Civil War Soldiers Database.  This database allows you to search for soldiers, muster rolls, regiment history, etc.

Only 2 of the 10 are CSA.  The rest are Union, and one Union soldier is listed as a seaman, which was Robert’s occupation, and the enlistment date of 1863 would have made him older and more acceptable for combat, as he would have been 17 to 19 years old.

The two CSA were from North Carolina and Virginia.  The story is that Robert came straight to Georgia from Australia.

The pension index has 4 Roberts, one of them the 1927 pension, the other 3 are filed from North Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana and list the widows, none being Nora or Algenora or any other misspelling.

A Robert A. Farmer shows up in the “Ft. Smith Criminal Case Files, 1866-1900”, the record was dated 1898.  These files are in Texas though and have not been microfilmed.

So, there’s a head start for you on guys to look for.  If you don’t have Ancestry.com, you can go to the library and use their computer, and print off these records to take with you and investigate further.  Or I can email you the results.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Rick Charnock
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 2 August 2006 4:18 PM
Subject:  FW:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

Amy, I am forwarding this information that I just received from Mr. Gray.  I hope you can help come to some conclusion on it.  Let me know if I can be of help.
Thanks, Rick

From:  James Gray
Sent:  Thursday 3 August 2006 12:09 PM
To:  Rick Charnock
Subject:  RE:  BRUNSWICK’S AUSTRALIAN BORN WAR VETERAN

If you would, could you pass this on to Amy?  It’s the completion of a lot of long nights and a lot of figuering out who was who.

Jim

[attached was the essay that I have already copied to these web pages and Mr. Gray also has posted at his website.]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray & others
Sent:  Thursday 3 August 2006 4:10 AM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE CEMETERY WAR VETERAN

Mr. James Gray; Mr. Rick Charnock; Mr. Cannon Gould; Mrs. Carolyn Nugent:

I received the article by Mr. Gray [copied in full below] via Mr. Charnock, I have a few things.  I want to start by saying, I am not attacking anyone, nor am I furious or upset.  I want to get this straight just as much as you do, emails are so impersonal.

There is a typo in paragraph 2 where Robert married Algenora, you have her name as Chubb.

Now, everything I am about to comment on, I pointed out to Mr. Gray in March, and these issues have not yet been addressed.

Where did the other marriage records come from?  Just family?  Am curious.  My record came from the marriage books located in the courthouse, and another woman made an index to these books before I ever did, and she has the same dates that I do.

I’m just asking because I want to know, not because I am disputing the possibility.  As an historian, I like to know if other records exist that I don’t know about.

You STILL have children attached to Robert that physically can not be his.  How did he have a 19 year old daughter in 1870 with Algneora Clubb?  Robert would have only been 6 to 10 years old when this 19 year old Martha was born.  Algenora wouldn’t have even been born yet.

Remember, he and Algenora didn’t marry until 1873 at the earliest.  How are they having teenage children in 1870?

Also, Mrs. Robert Farmer, who is being baptized.  Did you notice her age?  She’s 69 years old, Algenora Clubb Farmer was only about 15 years old in 1870.

These children may have belonged to William and Rachel Farmer, who you will find in the 1870 Glynn Census:

William Farmer aged 60 all from Georgia
Rachel Farmer aged 50
Sarah aged 25
Martha 22
Barrett 14
Theressa R. 12
Levina 10

In 1860 he may have been in Effingham County, as I found a family, bu they are only listed by first initial.  W. is 49; R. is 37; S is 14; M. is 10; W. is 9; B. is 6; and R is 2.

In 1850 Effingham is William 39; Rachel 38; Sarah 5; Martha 2; and B. Lundy 16.

Seeing as how the names change over the years, this may not be the same family, but it is a strange coincident.

Also, by attaching these children to Robert & Algenora, you are creating mis-information for future generations.  They should not even be mentioned as there is no proof of them being his children.  Not to mention that they are too old to be his children.

In an email from you dated 24 March 2006, you sent information from someone named Robyn who stated that Robert’s father Charles Farmer died in 1845 and his mother Margaret Spencer Farmer remarried then died in child birth in 1848.  How did they come to Georgia between 1866-1870?

Is this death information wrong?

The Mortuary book located in the Glynn Co. Health Department has Robert Farmer, aged 65, died August 1902.

In your paragraph about Robert’s death you state he had two wives, who were they?

The city cemetery office records list only Mrs. Nora Farmer, Robert Farmer and Mrs. Roland Farmer as being buried in plot 75B

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/cemetery/oakgrove/cemoffice/A-L.htm

[today that URL is http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/glynn/oakgrove/cemoffice/]

These records can also be found in the City Cemetery Office located at Palmetto Cemetery.  I also have paper copies.

In your paragraph about Nora Clubb Farmer’s death, you list she was survived by 4 children, but only list 3.  You left out son Robert Mortimer Farmer.  The son R.L. was Roland Lee Farmer.

All of my source records, which I offered to Mr. Gray who never accepted, can be found here [Mr. Gould, you may want to look at this page too, as I uploaded more documents]:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/photos/page.htm

[today that URL is http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/documents.htm]

SPECIAL NOTES FOR ALL:

Two booklets were compiled on Civil War Veterans buried in Glynn County.  One by Ashley & Christine Camp and one by William “Bill” Smith.  Neither one has Robert Farmer listed.

However, they only listed those marked with identification, or family members they know to have served.

On 11 May 2005, I took a photo of Robert Farmer’s plot, no Confederate Flag was present, nor was it present until after 2006.  I started photographing this cemetery in 2004.  In 2005 I helped take flags off of veteran graves, so that the new ones could be placed by a Boy Scout troop.  My friend Chrissy Napier Chapman was with me, and I still have a few of the flags that I was allowed to keep.

Robert’s grave was not marked then, nor was it marked after the Boy Scout project.

Herbert Joiner, a noted historian of Glynn County, did not record Robert as being a veteran in his book on Oak Grove.

Howard R. Symons, Jr., who compiled a second book on Oak Grove, took countless hours researching each veteran, and even providing records for them, whether they had UCV markers or not.

I know this because I have walked every inch of this cemetery and have found graves that have absolutely no military markers or flags, and Mr. Symons has them noted as veterans.

An example would be William J. Price in plot 78B [right below Robert’s grave], he has no military marker, nor a flag.  Yet he supposedly served in Co. B 40th Reg. GA Volunteers Infantry as a private, was captured at Vicksburg, surrendered at Greensboro.

In these photos I have of the grave plot that William is buried in, taken 12 July 2006, you can see Robert’s grave behind them, which now has a flag, yet William J. Price’s was overlooked.

---------------------------------------------------

[the below was copied from email to Mr. Cannon Gould from Amy Hedrick 2 August 2006]

I have searched Ancestry.com and the Soldier’s and Sailor’s website, and have yet to find a Robert Farmer that looks promising.

There are 10 Robert Farmers listed in the American Civil War Soldiers Database.  This database allows you to search for soldiers, muster rolls, regiment history, etc.

Only 2 of the 10 are CSA.  The rest are Union, and one Union soldier is listed as a seaman, which was Robert’s occupation, and the enlistment date of 1863 would have made him older and more acceptable for combat, as he would have been 17 to 19 years old.

The two CSA were from North Carolina and Virginia.  The story is that Robert came straight to Georgia from Australia.

The pension index has 4 Roberts, one of them the 1927 pension, the other 3 are filed from North Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana and list the widows, none being Nora or Algenora or any other misspelling.

A Robert A. Farmer shows up in the “Ft. Smith Criminal Case Files, 1866-1900”, the record was dated 1898.  These files are in Texas though and have not been microfilmed.

---------------------------------------------------

There are about 8 family trees online with Robert Farmer born 12 July 1841 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia as a son of Charles and Margaret Ann Spencer.  The majority seem to be from the same person, but they all state that Robert’s parents died before 1850 in Australia, and that Charles Farmer died of tetanus.

My personal opinion, is that on, the document below needs editing and better fact checking.

Number 2, we really need to research for Robert’s Civil War actions.  I, along with many other organizations, will not take family say-so as proof.

Number 3, we need to somehow prove that Robert Farmer is in fact buried in plot 75B before any kind of marker is placed there.  Especially since the city records were compiled before the 1950s by the Works Project Administration.  Maybe looking into their files will clear up how they knew Robert Farmer was buried there.  To date, no Oak Grove Cemetery records have been found other than this WPA listing.

At least, none that I am aware of.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Georgia SCV
To:  Amy Hedrick, James Gray, Robert Moyer
Sent:  Thursday 3 August 2006 2:49 PM
Subject:  OAK GROVE CEMETERY WAR VETERAN

Parties interested in Robert Farmer
Thank you for the research on Robert Farmer.  Since the SCV is only concerned with preservation of the CSA veterans memory and honor.  It is my recommendation that until conformation of his military record can be determined beyound doubt.  No action should be taken by the local SCV until all research is brought to a final conclusion.  Once the confusion has been eleminated and all parties are in agreement then I will be glad to present the information to the camp for action on honors due.
I am your most humble servant
C.Y. Gould
SCV

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Monday 28 August 2006 9:06 AM
Attach:  there were numerous attachments, nearly all were copies of emails typed into documents, only a few were images of actual sources, i.e. pages from books.
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE CEMETERY WAR VETERAN

Since there is so much disbelief relating to Farmer being from Australia and being buried there, I have attached all I have, including emails sent me, relating to Farmer.  We are satisfied he is one and the same.  You can examine it all and when you are convinced you can write the story on him.  When, and if, you do so, let me know and we will add him to the memorial website, credit you and acquire a headstone for him depicting he was an Australian veteran.  I will await further news from you.

Jim Gray

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray (and others)
Sent:  Wednesday 30 August 2006 12:36 AM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE CEMETERY WAR VETERAN

Jim Gray, Cannon Gould, Susan Peterson, Rick Charnock, Carolyn Nugent:

No one is disputing that he is the Robert Farmer from Australia [at least I’m not], and that me might be buried in Oak Grove.  I firmly believe he is the same man.

The problem I have is his Civil War Service.

All of these sources you have sent me are merely email correspondence and Xerox copies from a couple of books that were transcribed from some other record without a source referencing where the data came from originally.  While I accept the info on Robert’s father and mother, seeing as how it came from a publication that was hopefully researched, I can not accept that he was a Confederate Veteran, or any other type of veteran, without documentation.

Then the other sources are copies from my website, which I transcribed from other documents.  My webpages shouldn’t be sued as a source because I make errors in transcribing.  You need to use the primary documents that I typed from as a source reference.

Not a single one of the sources you sent is an actual roster or other military document state Robert’s service in any branch during the Civil War.  No family letters, or journals, nothing that supports that he was a soldier.  Only mention is made of Robert who filed for a pension in the 1920s.

It seems that you are only basing his service on what Susan Peterson stated, and she even quotes the info on the Robert Farmer that applied for his pension in the 1920s, which is physically impossible for the one buried in Oak Grove [or even his widow] to have filed for.  And that document you sent from Susan, is titled

“CSA-Farmer (not in Australia) Susan Peterson, Wa.”

Does this mean that she was telling you about the Robert that filed for pension in the 1920’s, and not Robert from Australia?

Apparently she was telling you about the other Robert Farmer, and you are taking her info as that of Robert buried at Oak Grove.

Susan, what are your sources for Robert’s [Algenora’s husband] Civil War service?  And, what are your sources for the marriage of Mary Clubb, her sister, to a C.M. Farmer other than the obit of Nora?  I have that Mary “Mollie” Clubb married a U.M. Roberts, and was married to him after 1900.

The “Bicentennial of Western Australia…” does not list a Christian Mortimer Farmer as a sibling of Robert.  And, if census can be believed, this C.M. Farmer was born about 1853-55.  Who were his parents?  According to the book “Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia Pre 1829-1888, Vol. II”, Charles [the supposed father] died in 1845, and his widow died in 1848 after remarriage.  How could either one of them have had a son born in the 1850s?

1870 Bibb Co., Georgia census has John & Agnes Farmer of Scotland with the following people living in their house:  Catherine 25 Australia; Christian 15 Australia; Agnes 13 England; Fortune 11 England; David 9 England; Theopolis 6 Scotland; Elan 4 Scotland; Ann 35 (domestic servant).  Ann is black but she is listed as if her name is Farmer.

There is a possibility that Robert Farmer could have been their son and not the son of Charles and Margaret Spencer Farmer.  However, someone did research this family and published it in a book, so hopefully they researched it and didn’t just use family say-so.

A Christian Farmer in Macon, Bibb Co., Georgia during 1880 has a wife named Fronie.  Then in 1900 Laurens Co., Georgia his wife is Mary, and he was born about October 1853, his wife was born about December 1862.

According to census records, Algenora Clubb Farmer’s sister Mary was born about 1852.

In 1910 Christian and Mary are in Taylors Co., Georgia and it states that Mary B. is his second wife, which would make sense due to the 1880 wife of Fronie.  All throughout, he is listed as being born in Australia and parents in Scotland and his age is within a 1 or 2 year difference, which is normal.

In 1920 they are in Effingham Co., Georgia, wife is still Mary B.  They are still there in 1930.

It is possible that Christian died on 9 January 1939 in Bibb Co., Georgia.  Getting his death certificate might help in determining his parents, who I think are John & Agnes Farmer, and not Charles & Margaret Spencer Farmer.

Also, the photo of Robert Farmer, could this be the photo of the gentleman who filed for his pension in the 1920s?

And finally, what about Robert Farmer’s direct descendants?  The grandchildren and great grandchildren, not the cousins and nieces or nephews?  Have you tried to find them?  Maybe they have some family papers.

My problem, is putting a Confederate marker on someone’s grave who either may not have been a soldier at all, or may have been a soldier but was Union.

How about this?  What if he was a blockade runner?  Which is my theory due to the fact that he was a pilot, and he came over right at the start of the war, and he married a Clubb.

I created a web page with primary source documents, actual church census, and court records, not typed transcripts or emails from descendants.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gaglynn/photos/page.htm

[today that page is http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/documents.htm it has never been taken offline, only moved]

Until we can find an actual military record, I can not support the theory that he was a soldier.  And I honestly think that two different Australian Farmer families are being merged together.  It is entirely possible that C.M. Farmer was a cousin or not even related at all to Robert.

But my opinion really doesn’t matter, it is up to the powers that be on erecting a tombstone or other marker.

Issues with your article:

1.  Your article still has children attached to Robert that he could not physically have fathered with Nora.  For instance, Martha the 19 year old daughter of Mrs. Rachel Farmer who is 49 years old.  Martha would have been born in 1851, that would make Robert Farmer 10 years old, not in America, and Algenora Clubb not even born yet.

2.  I think they typo in Nora’s obit about her sister is in the last name and not the first name, since a Ulysses Mortimer Roberts married a Mary A. Clubb on 22 July 1872, and census records support this couple, their marriage date, and their birth dates.  Mary Clubb was born in 1852, the wife of C.M. Farmer was born in 1862.

3.  There is ABSOLUTELY no way for Robert Farmer’s estate to have been filed in 1902 and him die in 1903.  You can not file someone’s estate BEFORE they die.  Also, there are two records stating his death, one his estate which says 30 August 1902, and the other the Glynn County Mortuary Book which says August 1902.

4.  How did Robert file for a pension in 1927 when he died in 1902, and his wife died in 1909?  This pension card does not list a widow or children.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Bob & Susan Peterson
To:  Amy Hedrick & James Gray
Sent:  Wednesday 30 August 2006 11:54 PM
Subject:  Re:  OAK GROVE CEMETERY WAR VETERAN

Wow!  I’ve not done any research on this Robert Farmer other than some armchair websurfing.  Yes, Amy, you are correct, the one reference I gave was simply citing the only records I could find for a Robert Farmer and that was clearly not a CSA vet record.

All of the rest was either from the obituary or census records that I viewed via Ancestry.com.  I can’t comment otherwise, one war or another!

Susan

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Rick Charnock; Carolyn Nugent; Cannon Gould; James Gray; Susan Peterson
Sent:  Thursday 31 August 2006 2:54 AM
Subject:  Robert Farmer Family Page

I have created a family page for Robert Farmer, and I also included a synopsis of the conflicts I have with the essay on Robert Farmer.

I know it sounds snide, but it is not meant to be.  I wanted to present the problems with the research, and hope that someone out there can add to it, confirm it, or further disprove all that has been done.

If you find anything offensive with this, Mr. Gray, please send me corrections you want made.  No matter how I word this, it’s going to look like an attack, and it’s not meant to be.  The only way to get this figured out is to “argue’ the points, and facts, on the matter.

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/

My own research was in error as well, and I have corrected as much of it as I could.  I am right now trying to locate direct descendants of Robert Farmer, not cousins, in hopes that they can help.

Not only that, they have the final say-so in any kind of marker placing, because they are the next of kin by law.  You never know, they may not want anything placed on the grave of their great-grandfather.

I have posted Mr. Gray’s email address on the family page, in hopes that someone would contact either one of us in the research, especially the military research.

I think I have provided enough source documentation to state as a fact Robert’s death date, and the fact that he could not father those children from the 1870 baptismal records.

I hope you will consider removing the death date of 1903 and those children from your essay.

Hope everyone has a great holiday, and stay out of Ernesto’s way!

Amy Hedrick

From:  Rick Charnock
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Thursday 31 August 2006 9:08 AM
Subject:  Robert Farmer

Thanks for the updates.  I hope that posting the web page will get you some leads.  For some reason I wasnt able to email you through my city email so I am using my personal email instead.

Rick

From:  Linda Vignato
To:  Amy Hedrick
Date:  Wednesday 28 February 2007 7:29:31 PM
Subject:  harold silsbe

hi
my name is Linda and i have been researching my roots.  i have some info on Harold silsbe.  he is the son of francis silsbe and olivia ?.harold i believe was married 3 times.  the local newspaper had him marrying annie george in 1901.  then to a mary or may and they had emma.  i think the flu epidemic killed them.  i have all the children you have with janie.  robert mortimer married velma parris he died dec 15 2003 she was born jul 13 1926 and died apr 10 2001.  their children all living [omitted for privacy of the living].

jane married stegeman.  jane died apr 13 2003. theri children all living [omitted for privacy of the living].

hope this info helps. if you need more i have the silsbe side.

Linda

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Linda Vignato
Sent:  Tuesday 6 March 2007
Subject: harold silsbe

I am so EXCITED that you emailed me!  Have you seen my web page on the Farmer family?  If not, please read it over.  I am trying to find living descendants of this family as a gentleman in Australia is hell-bent on placing a Confederate Memorial marker on Robert Farmer’s grave, and we have no proof that he even served during the war, on either side.  Not to mention he hasn’t even bothered to contact living descendants to ask them what they would like.

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/

Please email me at this email address [omitted]  I keep better track of my correspondence this way.

Do you, or any of the living descendants, know anything about Robert Farmer?  Can you give me your sources on the information you have below?  Are there marriage records for Harold’s marriages to prove them, etc.?

Thanks again!

Amy Hedrick

From:  Linda Vignato
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 7 March 2007 6:18 PM
Subject:  harold silsbe

Hi Amy,
i don’t have any marriage certs on harold. he was a distant cousin of mine. i have been going through the local paper which dates back to 1865, reel by reel. that's were i read about harold. i was confused at first because i was looking on census records for him and annie. but found him with mary(may) then with janie. if you search the death notices on ancestry you will find robert and jane. 2 different obits. i've half heartedly tried to contact those living. penny's email address is wrong. i found them in the local high school yearbook and she is listed on the alumni list.

i can sympathize with you people get hooked onto something and no matter what you show them they don’t believe you. i had that happen with 2 of the silsbe children, minerva married samuel harned. but there were 2 mrs samuel harned and the newspaper combined the 2 obits. if her age was right she would have given birth at 10. the harned society would not believe me. i went to the cemetery and took pictures. i finally sent for the death cert and emailed it so they would correct the info. samuel was married before and had other children. i got tired of arguing with them.

i hope maybe you have better luck tracking down the living grandchildren. your info explains roberts middle name and the name alegnora(sp).

keep in touch. i'll let you know if i find anything else. i'm only u to 1934 in the advance.

Linda

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Saturday, 7 April 2007 4:57 AM
Attach:  FARMER LETTER.gif; FARMER – ARTS DEPT.2.jpg; FARMER – ARTS DEPT.1.jpg; FARMER SOURCES.doc
Subject:  CONFIRMATION OF AUSTRALIAN VETERAN IN BRUNSWICK

Ms. Hendricks;

We have corresponded before relating to Robert Farmer, buried in Brunswick, who is an American Civil War veteran from Western Australia.

I have recently received new information that definately places him in Brunswick, dieing there and information on his family.

Yesterday I received a copy of a letter from the Australia Archives, written from Brunswick, Georgia, dated Feb. 15, 1897 by Robert Farmer to his sister in Western Australia; which proves he was there.  He died 6 years later in 1903.

Also, the “Dictionary of Western Australians” records “Robert Farmer, born 12 July 1841, leaving WA on a whaler in 1861, participating in the American Civil War and dieing in the USA iin 1903.  His parents were Charles Farmer and Margaret (nee Spencer) and his siblings are recorded as Charles, Jane, Thomas, William, Mary Ann, John and Eleanor.”  This was supplied by Gerard Foley, Archivist, State Records Office, Western Australia.  For further confirmation you can contact him direct.

I would still like to work with you and move ahead on acquiring a military headstone for his grave; even though he is buried with two of his family.  There would be no cost involved and the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization in Georgia could handle everything; as they have just done in Louisiana for a South Australia veteran buried at Mansfield, Louisiana.

A copy of the letter and sources are attached for your examination.

Sincerely,

James Gray

[attached were copies of a letter that I have referenced from the book “The Story of  Rock Vale and Malabaine” and pages from the “Bicentennial….” book.]

Dear James Gray,

Your email has been passed on to me for a response.  The Dictionary of Western Australians records a Robert Farmer, born 12 July 1841, leaving WA on a whaler in 1861, participating in the American Civil War and dieing in the USA iin 1903.  His parents were Charles Farmer and Margaret (nee Spencer) and his siblings are recorded as Charles, Jane, Thomas, William, Mary Ann, John and Eleanor.”  There is no record of the birth in the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages records, so this record must come from a Church record.  I can copy this information and send it to you if supply me with your address.
Thank you
Gerard Foley
Archivist: State Records Office of WA.

Jim, the W.A. Dictionary of early settlers has the following details on Robert Farmer:

FARMER, Robert, born 12 Jul. 1841, died 22 Aug. 1903 (U.S.A.).

Son of Charles and Margaret (nee Spencer).

Married (U.S.A.) Norah.

Children, Robert, Roland, Durward, Algie (died in infancy), Dollie died ca. 1885 at 2 months), Janie and another daughter.

Left W.A. on a whaler in 1861.

Participated in the American Civil War.  Became Harbour Pilot Master and boat owner at Brunswick, Georgia.

Regards,

Geo.

(George Spooner)
Webmaster
Busselton FHS

 

Farmer, Robert

Robert Farmer was born in Northam, Western Australia in May 1845 or 1848 (incorrect was July 12, 1841); depending on which census record you check.  Arriving in America in 1860 his occupation for the census years listed was that of a bar pilot and/or a seaman, over the 3 census periods, and he resided in Brunswick, Georgia.  In 1855 Robert married a woman 10 years younger than he was, named Algranora “Nora”, who was born in Georgia.  In the Record Book HH pages 501 to 503 there is a record of a deed between James S. Blain & John I. Harris of the first part and Robert Farmer of Camden County on the second part.  The deed was dated March 20, 1874 and Robert Farmer was buying land next door to the father of the woman he married almost exactly one year later, Mr. James A. Clubb.

Robert Farmer served in the Confederate services in an infantry unit, reportedly the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles in the town he lived.

Robert Farmer died in 1902 [incorrect, was 1903] per records in probate court.  He died intestate.  Nora Clubb Farmer died in 1909 at 55 years of age, also per records in probate, she also died intestate.  Her daughter Janie was named executrix of her estate and with her mother’s death also the executrix of her father’s remaining estate.  Robert, Nora and their son Roland were all buried in Oak Grove cemetery in what was then downtown Brunswick and is near an area called ARCO since the 1920/30 ear.  Prior to being renamed ARCO for the oil refinery that was located there, it was called Pelicanville because of the docks and number of brown pelicans that nested in the area. [believed incorrect]  Most of the people who lived in this area in the early days were early Camden County, Georgia transplants and most of them were seamen and pilots.  Robert Farmers grave is identified as lot B-75.  Nora Farmer died on Saturday, December 25, 1909 and was survived by four children, sons:  R.L. Farmer and Derwood Farmer, and one daughter, Miss Janie Farmer.

According to the South Australia Advertiser Newspaper, Robert Farmer once joined a whaling ship in Western Australia, was later known as Captain Farmer and is the great grand-uncle of Carmen Lawrence; former Premier of Western Australia.

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Friday 6 April 2007 1:47 PM
Subject:  Re:  CONFIRMATION OF AUSTRALIAN VETERAN IN BRUNSWICK

There is no disputing that Robert Farmer lived and died here, and is buried here.  Proof of his residency is not in question.

The problem is, that we need proof of his military service.

And, this letter is titled “Letter From Mrs. Robert Farmer”, not from Mr. Robert Farmer.  Although it could still be from Brunswick to Australia, as in-laws did call themselves sisters and brothers to each other.

Robert Farmer’s military service is the only thing stopping the placement of a military marker.  The sons of the Confederacy, myself, and the cemetery preservation committee will not allow a military tombstone to be placed until proper proof is found.

This book is not proof enough, because it does not have a source documenting the military service, or any of the genealogical information contained therein.  How does the author know that Robert Farmer served during the Civil War?

You need a military record.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Linda Vignato
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Tuesday 10 July 2007 8:31 PM
Subject:  algie silsbe

hi amy,
i started to do more searching and found this website.
algie is listed on 10-1713. i also heard from a direct
descendant from my gggrandfather. i was so excited. we
will be going to cedar grove later this month and i'll see
if i can find their graves.

http://home.insightbb.com/~karima/ketchaponack.html

Linda

From:  Margaret (Gorton) Coxon
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 16 January 2008 9:09 AM
Subject:  Glynn Co., GAGenWeb

Dear Amy
We are currently planning a trip to the US and Canada in August/September (hopefully) and are intending to spend a few days in Brunswick in an attempt to track down anything on my Gt Gt Gt Uncle Robert Farmer who, according to family legend, was the harbour master there after serving with Conferate Army in the Civil War.
Whilst surfing the net for information, I came across your paper titled Robert Farmer Family From Australia to Georgia.  I agree with you on the points you have mentioned.  Out of curiosity, I searched my family database for a James Gray and found a person of that name married to a third cousin on a Wilkerson line.  Robert’s older sister, Jane, married a James Wilkerson and they are my Gt Gt grandparents on my father’s side.  I do not know the people concerned as my father died when I was young and my mother remarried, moving away from Northam.  It is only since I have become and adult that I have been researching my families.
I was planning to bring a copy of a photo of Uncle Robert with me as my husband is a Civil War buff so we will be visiting the museum at Richmond where I was hopeful of some identification.
Also, I would like to visit their graves to pay my respects and photograph the headstones.  Are they easily accessible?
Is there a maritime museum or somesuch where I could possibly find out about his term as a harbour master?
Thank you for your time.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Any info would be very gratefully received as he seems to be a bit of an enigma.  I have enclosed a photo, taken from a book, of him in uniform.  Personally, I feel it may be his harbourmaster’s uniform but I could be wrong.  I do have pictures of Nora and some of the children.
Sincerely,
(Mrs) Margaret Coxon, nee Gorton.

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Margaret Coxon
Sent:  Wednesday 16 January 2008 11:19 PM
Subject:  Re:  Glynn Co., GAGenWeb

The problem with Robert Farmer, is his Civil War record.  No record of his service has been found.  Not only that, there are about 12 Robert Farmers that served on the Confederacy so it’s nearly impossible to tell which is which, or if he even served at all.  Two records for a Georgia Robert Farmer, this record may be for the same man.  One is Robert E., one is Robert L. and the record is for the 27th Battalion Georgia Infantry, so I think it’s the same man.  But is it your Robert?

We do know that no record for Robert Farmer existed in Glynn County for his enlistment.

His grave is unmarked, and that too poses a problem, because it is unknown by me how the two men before me knew that the Farmers were buried in plot 75B of Oak Grove Cemetery.  Mr. Herbert Joiner and Mr. Howard R. Symons, Jr. both wrote books on the cemetery and stated their references were cemetery records and deeds.  Where these records are that they are referencing is unknown because I have poured through records in the court house and at city hall and have not found anything.

There is a document in the cemetery office listing the plots, who owned them, who was buried in them, and which funeral home buried them, but that document was typed up by either Mr. Joiner or Mr. Symons.  Again, where did they get the original information?

But, I do believe they are buried here, because long before these two men put together their books, the Works Project Administration did a cemetery survey in the 1930s.  And they put on a map that the Farmer plot was 75B.  Here is the plot:

http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/oakgrove/transcriptions/sectionB/75B.htm

[today the URL is http://www.glynngen.com/cemetery/glynn/oakgrove/transcriptions/03.html]

All of the documents that could be found on Robert, I put online, as you have seen.  I have attempted to contact a living descendant of Robert Farmer’s in the U.S., but she unfortunately did not return a response.  Either she did not get my letter, or chose to ignore it for whatever reasons.

I think there was some turmoil within the family, and that might be why she did not return a response, either that, or she does not feel it necessary to explain her family history or is not interested.  Whatever the reasons, they are her own, and we have to respect that.

Mr. Gray wants to place a Confederate marker on the graves, I don’t think that should be done until Robert’s service can be confirmed.  Family say-so is just not enough in my opinion because I have proven so many of my own “family stories” wrong, that I would hate for a Confederate marker to be placed and it turns out he was a Union soldier.

My suspicion though, is that it’s possible that Robert got in right at the end of the war and that is why he is not on any official records.  Either that or he was a blockade runner and did not serve in any official capacity.  Which, knowing the family he married into, it would not be an unlikely occupation.

What book did this photo come out of, and id it provide any other information to prove it is the Robert Farmer who lived in Brunswick?  Also, did it provide a date of the photo?  He looks quite young in this photo, and it would be hard to tell if this is a military or sea captain’s uniform.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Margaret Coxon
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Monday 21 January 2008 10:22 AM
Attach:  Farmer3.tif; Farmer2.tif; Farmer4.tif; Farmer1.tif
Subject:  Farmer Family – third attempt

Hi Amy,
Thanks for your email.  Sorry I’ve taken so long to answer but I had my daughter over for the weekend and she virtually took over the computer.  Then the last two attempts have disappeared into cyberspace so it looks like I’m going to have to send this in parts as it doesn’t like it when I do the whole lot.
The book I mentioned is called The Story of Rock Vale and Malabaine (published 1979) by Alfred Lawrence and Lorraine Eddy who are descended from Robert’s youngest sister Eleanor.  I have scanned the whole chapter on the Farmer Family.  The book mostly deals with Eleanor’s descendants.  There are photos of most of Robert’s siblings – Jane is my Gt Gt grandmother.  Alf has since passed over but I do have an email address for Lorraine.  I notice that there was a reference to Robert being a member of a few lodges in Brunswick but I wouldn’t know if he was a Freemason.  Also in one of the letters, Nora makes mention that their eldest son left home without telling them, supposedly heading for Australia but I don’t know if he ever arrived.  Perhaps this caused dissension in the family.
I do agree with you in regard to putting a Confederate marker on his grave until we know for sure.  Since I’ve been poking into family affairs, I’ve disproved a couple of “family stories.”  Personally, I prefer the skeletons!
My husband seems to think that a blockade runner could be right.
I will have a look at those other websites you have sent – when I get a minute.  I seem to have less time now than when I was working!
Thank you again for replying and I do hope the info I have sent is of some use.
Sincerely,
Margaret.

From:  Margaret Coxon
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Tuesday 5 February 2008 8:39 AM
Subject:  Robert Farmer

Hi Amy,
Just a quick note to see if that info I sent arrived.
It is still on my hard drive if it did not.
We shall be doing the major plan of our trip when… [rest omitted for privacy]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Margaret Coxon
Sent:  Thursday 7 February 2008 7:05 PM
Subject:  Re:  Robert Farmer

Yes, I got everything.  Thank you so much for sending this.  Most of this information doesn’t match what has been published in other books.

I am going to incorporate some of this info with my cemetery book, would you like to proof read the chapter when I am finished?  There may be something you might want to add.

Keep me posted on your trip schedule, maybe we can meet sometime.

Thanks again!

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Monday 9 June 2008 8:08 AM
Subject:  NEW INFOR FROM GA. STATE ARCHIVES
Attached were all of the documents received by Gray and viewable on other web pages.

To: Ms. Amy Hendrick
[my email address deleted]

I sent you an email some time ago with information received from the Georgis State Archives on Farmer; who you had questioned if he had ever actually served in the American Civil War or had originally came from Australia.

In captured Confederate documents of Farmer's provided me by them, it clearly reveals he did participate in the American Civil War, was from Australia and had been recorded under the various names of Farmer, Rober L. Farmer and Fanner; all determined to be the same man.

To date I have heard nothing from you and was wondering if you had received the information I sent you. As such, I am supplying you with it again. Since this pretty well confirms they are one and the same, don't you believe he now deserves to be recognized with a proper headstone?

Would like to hear from you regarding this.

Jim Gray
Brisbane, Australia

June 9, 2008

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Monday 9 June 2008 4:41 PM
Subject:  RE:  NEW INFOR FROM GA. STATE ARCHIVES

Sorry, but I don’t think I ever received these items in any previous emails. They must have gotten lost in cyber space J Or in my incredibly cramped inbox. I have over 500 emails to attend to and may have overlooked this one, or forgotten to answer.

I am willing to believe that the Robert L/E Farmer who served in the 27th is our Robert, especially when they actually wrote “Australian” soldier on one document, and because a son was named Roland Lee Farmer.

May I have permission to put the images online at my Robert Farmer page to update it?

First off, I want to re-state, that I have never once doubted that Robert Farmer was from Australia. There are family letters written by his wife to relatives in Australia and one even stating their son ran away to Australia to visit the family Robert talked so much about. There are also photos located in Australia of him and his family in Brunswick. You also showed me pages from a book where his birth was recorded. I never doubted his nationality.

The only things I have disputed were the children you have attached to him and Nora and his military service.

Also, I never doubted that he served in the Civil War, but without documented proof, you can not place a military marker on a grave. That was my biggest concern, what if he didn’t serve? What if he was a Union soldier and we put a Confederate marker up? Etc….

I, and the Confederate Sons, was against a marker being placed on an already unmarked grave denoting Confederate service when no record has been found to establish his service.

You have found a record, finally, of an Australian Robert Farmer having served the Confederacy.

In your original essay that you sent, you attached children to Robert and Nora that could not have been theirs because Nora wasn’t even born yet, and there was another Farmer family in Glynn County who were the parents of these children. When I told you this, you sent a new essay, but still had these children attached to Robert.

You also stated that Robert M. Farmer who had a pension record in 1923 was Robert who was buried here, which was impossible, because the Robert here died in 1902 and his wife soon after. When I told you this, your second essay still reflected the same information. You never changed any of the disputed facts, nor did you at least note that the facts were in dispute.

I did find a living descendant of Robert’s from his son Durward Belmont, and I wrote them a letter about what you would like to have done and if they could shed any light on Robert and his service, but they never wrote back. This tells me that they do not want anything to do with your project or their own family history.

Another descendant has been in contact, and they may want to be involved. They are of Janey (Farmer) Silsbe’s family (she being Robert & Nora’s daughter).

Have you been in contact with any descendants? I believe their permission as next of kin is needed in order to place the marker. I’m not sure about this, but it would be nice to cover all bases.

So, officially, I believe you have found the right military record for Robert Farmer who was born 7 December 1841 in Perth, Australia and who died 30 August 1902 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia and was interred in plot 75B of Oak Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Monday 9 June 2008 9:20 PM
Subject:  Re:  NEW INFOR FROM GA. STATE ARCHIVES
Attach:  Baptism records of Australia that can be seen on Mr. Gray's website

It is very good to hear from you after all this time. I must say, like you, I was stunned to actually acquire a document that actually stated he was an "Australian soldier". The chance of ever finding anything like that was simply astronomical; to say the least.

The information I placed in his story was that provided the family church records. If you would like, you can take the attached story and change the sections you believe to be in error from 'black' to RED and add in "your" interpreation of the childred, in BLUE, and we'll try to rearrange it and changeit on line. When I print another group of the books (only print a few each time) I will also make the corrections in it and explain why.

It's too bad about the descendants not caring about their ancestors grave. That's a tragedy. That occured with one nown here and by getting permission from the "cemetery" it was acceptable and a headstone was made and shipped out for him. Later, we received a thank you email from another descendant that was finally found and quite appreciative of what had been done. If the descendants do not want to be bothered, all it takes is permission from the cemetery. We would need a letter stating thay agree to it, that they would accept delivery of it, the ship to address and the name and phone number of the person willing to accept delivery; in the event the delivery person gets lost inroute. I am sure the Sons of Confederate Veterans would arrange a ceremony for you. It always makes the newspapers and television every time a headstone or plaque is dedicated. Most down here are Union, but we did get one shipped to Mansfield, Louisiana for an Australian veteran there s well.

You of course can use ANY and all the information I sent you that you wish; that's what it is all about. Sharing the information with anyone wanting it to insure it is still around for future generations. Please feel free to do so.

If you make the corrections mentioned and get the letter from the cemetery sent to me I'll be glad to do the paper work and get a headstone or marker for the grave. You tell me which they would like. A headstone is nice, but extremely heavy and requires a lift to move and place it. It can also be broken by vandals. A bronze plaque, on the other hand can easily be lifted by one person, is permenant and cannot be broken as it is solid cast bronze and is really very attractive as well. If we do this, I would like you and your group to officiate and share in the credit for its establishment.

If there is anything we can do to assist, you only have to ask. I have found military documentation on 58 other Australians that fought in the war, but have no idea what happened to them. They are likely buried in the U.S., but will take time to determine; if ever.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Jim Gray
Brisbane, Australia
SCV

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Monday 9 June 2008 10:40 PM
Subject:  RE:  NEW INFOR FROM GA. STATE ARCHIVES

In the state of Georgia you don’t need any official permission to place a tombstone.

Oak Grove Cemetery does not have any “owner”. It is maintained by the city, but that’s it. The cemetery is technically “abandoned”, meaning no more burials are to occur except those of descendants who have plots and are still living. And it’s up to living descendants to take care of the plots, not the city. They just maintain the roadways and that’s it.

I will get in contact with the Sons of the Confederacy and see what they want to do about a marker. I think it should be left up to them and the descendants today. I will try to contact a living descendant and see what they would like.

Have you shared this info with others here? I think at one time we had a “conference” email with several people.

If not, I will pass along the info you sent.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Tuesday 10 June 2008 2:11 AM
Subject:  Re:  NEW INFOR FROM GA. STATE ARCHIVES

Unfortunately, I have no contact with any of the decendants; only the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I ordered and provided the documentation for John Fearn Francis's headstone in Mansfield, Louisiana and they arranged for its acceptance there. They now have it and soon will be holding a dedication ceremony for it. I would assume Robert Farmers could be handled the same way. Feel free to pass the information along to anyone you choose.

Jim

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Thursday 12 June 2008 8:44 PM
Subject:  Re:  NEW INFOR FROM GA. STATE ARCHIVES
Attach:  Document printed below email

Here are my corrections to your article. There are two paragraphs at the end that I think you should move to the beginning because it seems like you are starting a new subject at the end. You should end this article with Nora's death since it is the last thing to happen.

I don't think any mention should be made of 3 of the Farmer children from St. Mark's records because they belong to William & Rachel Farmer who were living in Georgia before Robert ever arrived. Not only that, but one or two were born before Algenora and one would have been born when Robert was only 5-10 years old.

Later!

Amy Hedrick

---------------DOCUMENT UPDATES MADE BY AMY HEDRICK AND SUBMITTED TO JAMES GRAY----------------

ROBERT  FARMER

Robert Farmer, son of Charles Farmer from England born in 1799 and Margaret Spencer in 1812, was born in Northam, Western Australia on July 12, 1841; according to Western Australia Dictionary of Early Settlers. Other census records give his birth as 1845 and 1848; depending on which source you examine. Charles, and Margaret Farmer’s children, according to the Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia Pre 1829-1888, Vol ll, are recorded as “Charles, born in 1832, died 1854; Jane Elizabeth born in 1834, died 1903; Thomas born in 1835, 1900; William born in 1836, drowned 1839; Mary Ann born in 1838; John born in 1840, died 1903; Robert born 1841, died 1903 [Robert died in 30 August 1902 per his estate and death records, please use the correct year 1902 because you explain below the different death dates] (USA); William born in 1843, died 1867; dtr. born and died in 1844; and Eleanor born in 1844, died 1913.” Charles was permitted to select 210 acres of land and owned Sth Perth Swan Loc 41 & 10 acres at Rottnest in addition to Perth Loc 527in Adelaide Terrace. Records reveal he worked as a shipwright, a fish curer and a gardener and died of tetanus.

Visit my webpage here for dates, sources, and family of Robert & Algenora Clubb Farmer:  http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=glynn1&id=I13581 There is one more document that lists Robert’s birth date as 7 December 1841.

Arriving in America aboard a whaling ship in 1861, Robert Farmer’s occupation for the census years listed was that of a bar pilot and/or a seaman, over the 3 census periods and he resided in Brunswick, Georgia. The 1870 US Federal Census Records of Glynn County, Georgia list Robert at age 25, as a seaman, living in the household of John Silvan, age 40, who was also a seaman. Robert eventually married a woman 10 years younger than he was, in 1875, named Algenora "Nora" Chubb [her name was Clubb not Chubb] who was born in Georgia.; the daughter of James Alexander and Matilda  Florence (Harris) Clubb. Robert Farmer married into one of the old families of Glynn and Camden counties and may have benefited from his wife's family connection to the maritime trade.  Robert Farmer and Algenora Clubb were issued a license on March 10, 1875 by William Berrie and executed that day by N.B. Ousley, M.G. in Book B page 94 of the marriage records; according to Mrs. Amy Hedrick. Other information provided by other individuals says Robert Farmer and Algenora Clubb were issued a license on May 5, 1873 by William A. Berrie and it was executed on May 19, 1873 by H.B. Treadwell M. G.; and yet another source, which may or may not be correct, stated Robert Farmer and Miss Algenora Clubb was issued a license on May 5, 1873, which was executed on March 10, 1875 by Lucas, M.G.Odd; posing several contradictions unless they perhaps had other ceremonies.

The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia Pre 1829-1888, Vol 2 by Rica Erikson, lists Robert and Nora’s children as “Robert, Roland, Durward, Algie died infant, Dollie died c.1885 at 2 months, Janie & dtr.”

The St. Marks Episcopal Church records the baptisms of Robert and Algia Nora's children and is printed verbatim as follows, though some disagree with the recordings;

Mrs. Amy Hendricks of Brunswick , Georgia states, on the other hand, that the children of Robert and Algenora Clubb Farmer were;

    [printed verbatim]   [You can delete this and use the St. Mark’s records only and add info about Janey, there was no way for the first three children in the St. Mark’s records to be Robert & Nora’s because some were born before Algenora, not only that, but they are in census records with their parents William & Rachel Farmer]

In the Record Book HH pages 501 to 503 there is a record of a deed between James S. Blain & John I. Harris of the first part and Robert Farmer of Camden County on the second part.  The deed was dated March 20, 1874 and Robert Farmer was buying land next door to the father of the woman he married; Mr. James A. Clubb.   James A. Clubb, Robert’s father-in-law, was a rice planter on Cumberland Island in Camden County, Georgia.  He was also the lighthouse keeper for Cumberland Island as well as being a bar pilot.  James A. Clubb was descended from John Clubb, one of the officers from Oglethorpe's 42nd Regiment of the Foot.  John Clubb received a King's Grants to properties on St Simons Island and Cumberland Island as one of the original colonists.  Because he was an officer and a gentleman, he paid his own way to the America, had a large household and his grants from King George were substantial in the “new colony”.  John Clubb fought in the Revolutionary War, for the Patriots, and is buried in the family cemetery on the north end of Cumberland Island. 

A story of interest that pertained to James A. Clubb, Nora's father, is a notorious case in the area. The famous schooner-yacht “Wanderer”, pride of the New York Yacht Club, put in to Port Jefferson Harbor in April 1858 to be fitted out for the slave trade. Everyone looked the other way, which suggests that kind of thing was not unusual, except that the surveyor of the port reported his suspicions to the federal officials. The ship was seized and towed to New York, but her captain talked and possibly bought his way out and was allowed to sail for Charleston, South Carolina.

Fitting out was completed in South Carolina, the “Wanderer” was cleared by Customs and she sailed to Africa where she took aboard some 600 Africans slaves. On November 28, 1858, the “Wanderer” reached Jekyll Island, Georgia, where she illegally unloaded the 465 survivors of what is generally called the last shipment of slaves to arrive in the United States.  There was a long and very public legal battle over the ship and the slaves were brought in. James Clubb turned state's witness against the owners and his journal entries from that event are today in a museum on Jekyll Island. 

Robert left Australia on a whaler in 1861, became a Harbour Pilot Master and a boat owner in Brunswick, Georgia and upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, according to family oral history and records in Western Australia where he was born, served in the Confederate services in an infantry unit; reportedly the 26th Georgia Infantry, known as the Brunswick Rifles. Unfortunately he is not to be shown on their rosters. There are records, however, that show him as a member of the 27th Georgia Regiment, which is where one of several complications have arisen; but again he is not shown on those rosters under the name of Robert but as Robert L., and on some records he was recorded with the erroneous entry of “ Robert Fanner” instead of Farmer. On the first page of one of his captured Confederate records it gives the city of his enlistment and reads: “Lewisville (Australian Soldier)”. Robert Farmer, in 1866, was joined in Georgia by his brother, Christian Mortimer Farmer [Wrong, Christian Mortimer Farmer did not exist, it was Ulysses Mortimer Roberts wife of Mary Clubb, sister of Algenora], who married one of Nora's sisters.  This is noted in Nora's obituary with reference to her sister, Mrs. U.M. Farmer. The “U” however, was a misprint for “C” by the newspaper. Her name was Mrs. C.M. Farmer. The early Brunswick papers were notorious for misstating details and names.  [Nora’s obit had the initials correct, but the last name wrong, it wasn’t Mrs. U.M. Farmer but MRS. U.M. ROBERTS]

One 1900 census record states that Charles M. Farmer was born in October 1853, which is an error; in Australia and that his parents were born in Scotland. Charles married Mary Clubb Farmer, Nora's sister and with a daughter named Nina Farmer lived in Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia. Robert's parents and siblings, according to the 1866 - 1870 census of Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, arrived in the U.S. during that same period. Robert’s brother John A. Farmer, a Grocer, and his wife Agnes, both were born in Scotland, immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.  [This paragraph should be deleted because it is the wrong family, Robert’s parents never came to America, nor did anyone else in his family]

In 1902 it appears as though Robert Farmer, Sr. and Robert Farmer, Jr. may have had a falling out over a loan, as the following was found in the Superior Court files:

“Farmer, Robert Sr. vs. Robert Farmer, Jr. & W.H. Davenport writ of error Mr. Farmer loaned the defendants $300 to buy the Elks Saloon and they still owe him $100. Went from Superior to Justice Court to Supreme Court. Spanned from May 1901 to 29 June 1902; Civil Minutes Vol. 4 folio 689; Final Record Vol. 7 pg. 133”  That same year brought tragedy to the family and an end to the Farmer legend.

Robert Farmer, Sr. died of tetanus [I think your records have Robert’s cause of death confused with his brother Charles.  Robert died from a combination of heart disease and diabetes], according to Western Australia Dictionary of Early Settlers, on August 22, 1903, but is listed in the records of the probate court and the St. Marks Episcopal church records as having died on Sunday, August 31, 1902 He died intestate and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery; his grave is identified as lot B-75. Robert, Algin Louisa who died on April 23, 1880 and Dolly who died on May 28, 1855 are all buried in “Oak Grove Cemetery”. Robert was buried by Wyllys Rede; the other two being buried by Henry E. Lucas. It was related that Algin Louisa and Dolly’s graves are said to be in the family plot, but are not marked by stones and that Robert’s grave, in the center, is flanked by those of his two wives; but this has not been confirmed. They may in fact be the graves of Algin and Dolly.

[It is likely that the infant graves were either buried with Algenora’s father in 96B, or were unmarked in their plot 75B, those interred there were Algenora, Robert, and most likely their son Roland Lee.  Records state that it was Mrs. Roland Lee Farmer that was interred here, but the woman we know as his wife was buried in Palmetto Cemetery]

Nora Clubb Farmer, Robert’s wife, died on Saturday, December 25, 1909 [She died the 24th of December] at 55 years of age, also intestate. She was survived by four children; sons, R.L. Farmer and Derwood Farmer, and one daughter, Miss Janie Farmer. Her daughter Janie was named executrix of her estate and with her mother's death also the executrix of her father's remaining estate.

According to the “South Australia Advertiser” newspaper, Robert Farmer once joined a whaling ship in Western Australia, was later known as Captain Farmer and is the great grand-uncle of Carmen Lawrence; former Premier of Western Australia. Calvin Hart of Jacksonville Florida, whose friend is an avid collector of Civil War memorabilia, has graciously provided us with what is said to be a picture of Robert Farmer.  [I don’t believe this to be his photo after seeing photos of Robert and you should combine this paragraph with paragraph 2 above]

Robert’s brother Charles died in 1854, Jane in 1903, Thomas in 1900, William in 1867, and Eleanor in 1913. Before his death in 1854, Charles 1849 exchanged his father’s 10 acres  at Rottnest in 1849 for a canning location, made exploration to the north of settled districts in 1854 with an R. Austin; Mt. Magnet and towards Shark Bay. He died of tetanus after a gun accident and was buried 23 miles northeast of Mt. Magnet. [You have already mentioned the siblings and their death years above, you should combine this with the first paragraph and close this article with the death of Nora]

SOURCES:

1860 Census, DeSoto Parish, Mansfield, Georgia
1870 US Federal Census Records, Glynn County, Georgia
Amy Hedrick, Brantley County, Georgia
“The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia” Pre 1829-1888, Vol ll, D-J, Rica Erikson, page 1014
Cemetery Listings of Glynn County, Georgia
“Dictionary of Western Australians; 1829 – 1914”, Rica Erickson
G. Cotterell, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Perth Western Australia
George Spooner, Busselton FHS
Gerard Foley, Archivist, State Records Office of Western Australia
Glynn County Archives, Brunswick, Georgia
Greg Jarrell, Reference Services, The Georgia Archives
Oak Grove cemetery records, Brunswick, Georgia
Obituary, Nora Farmer, Dec., 1909
Probate Court Records, Brunswick, Georgia
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp 485
“South Australia Advertiser”, newspaper
St. Marks Episcopal Church, Record Books, Brunswick, Georgia 
Superior Court Records, Brunswick, Georgia, Index compiled by Amy Hedrick
Susan Peterson, Seattle, Washington
Tim Daiss, Staff Writer, Savannah Online
Verna Nazzari, Family History Society of Rockingham & Districts Inc.

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Carolyn Nugent; Georgia SCV; Rick Charnock; Margaret Coxon; James Gray
Sent:  Friday 13 June 2008 10:02 AM
Subject:  Robert Farmer CSA

For quite awhile, Mr. Jim Gray of Australia has been trying to prove Robert Farmer's Civil War service in the CSA in order to place a marker at his grave in Oak Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, Glynn Co., Georgia.

I think he finally found the proof.

He received documents from the Georgia Secretary of State regarding Civil War documents for a Robert L. Farmer who served in Co. B of the 27th Georgia. This document actually states that said Robert L. Farmer was an Australian Soldier!

See attached documents. I believe this is most likely our man as Robert Farmer was born in Australia, there are letters written by him and by his wife, Algenora (Clubb) Farmer, to his sister in Australia, not only that but Australian relatives actually have photos of him and his wife and children.

No one knows exactly when Robert arrived in the US, but the story is that he came right at the start of the war in 1861 and that he got caught up in the war. His age has been largely disputed, his birth record stated he was born 12 July 1842; another family record states he was born 7 December 1841; and census records where he provided his own age, state he was born about 1845 or 46, which would match his enlistment papers.

From reading family letters, you can tell that Robert was not very educated and was a poor correspondent when he was younger. It is likely that he wasn't very good at math either, thus giving us so many birth dates.

The cemetery plot that Robert was buried in was co-owned by himself and James A. Clubb, his father-in-law, who is also interred in Oak Grove in 96B, straight across from the Farmer plot of 75B.

Mr. Gray would like to have a marker placed at Robert Farmer's gravesite in Oak Grove Cemetery. I believe that he has now found the proper proof for Robert's service in the war.

Per Mr. Gray: ...get the letter from the cemetery sent to me I'll be glad to do the paper work and get a headstone or marker for the grave. You tell me which they would like. A headstone is nice, but extremely heavy and requires a lift to move and place it. It can also be broken by vandals. A bronze plaque, on the other hand can easily be lifted by one person, is permanent and cannot be broken as it is solid cast bronze and is really very attractive as well. If we do this, I would like you and your group to officiate and share in the credit for its establishment.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To: Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Friday 13 June 2008 4:28 AM
Subject:  Re. Robert Farmer CSA

Thank you for your email. Perhaps your letter will initiate a responce.

Jim

From:  Margaret Coxon
To:  Amy Hedrick
Date:  Friday 13 June 2008 8:59AM
Subject:  Robert Farmer.

Dear Amy,
Thankyou so much for your email regarding Robert Farmer. I can't wait to see my husband's face when he gets home from work in the morning!
Unfortunately, due to time constraints and rail times, we are unable to visit Brunswick this time around and will have to put it, along with a few other things we had to forgo, on our 'bucket list'!
However we will try to get to the museum at Richmond despite their dire warnings about the taxi service. We can get the train to Richmond OK but apparently, the public transport is not the greatest even though to us, the distance is not a long walk
Thankyou once again. I have forwarded your email to a cousin in Western Australia who is also descended from Jane Farmer, (Robert's sister). She, also, will be quite thrilled.
Sincerely,
Margaret Coxon.

PS. It seems Mr Gray lives about an hour or so from me as Loganholm is also an outer suburb of Brisbane.

From:  Carolyn Nugent
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Friday 13 June 2008 8:59 AM
Subject:  Re:  Robert Farmer CSA

Amy, we certainly want to be involved in this. We have some new information
on grave marking. I will try to look it over and get back to you. Our new
President Meredith Trawick is anxious to mark graves during next two years.

Carolyn Nugent, Treasurer
Lanier of Glynn Chapter #2354

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Friday 13 June 2008 8:21 AM
Subject:  FARMERS STORY

I have made the corrections you suggested and have pointed out the apparent error in the churches baptismal record; and I do concur with your findings.

These changes will be reflected in everything as soon as possible.

Thank you again for holding my nose to the grindstone; otherwise, we may never have found the captured Confederate documents, which are so very important to his story.

If I can ever be of help, please let me know.

Jim Gray

From:  Terry Foenander
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Wednesday 29 April 2009 8:41 PM
Subject:  Your Online article on Robert Farmer.

Dear Ms Hedrick,
     I am writing to you in relation to the Robert Farmer matter, after reading your very accurate article relating to the Australian born person named Robert Farmer, buried in Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.
     We were already aware, many years ago, that the Australian Robert Farmer had never served in the Civil War, as there was absolutely no evidence of this.   We had already conducted much research years ago, and knew the facts, much of which Gray was unaware of.
     We also have the pension documents of the real Confederate soldier, Robert Farmer, who actually died in Jefferson County, in 1924.   He was born in Jefferson County and lived there all his life, as he has declared, in his pension papers, when he applied for the Confederate pension from Jefferson County, Georgia.   His wife was named Mattie, and there is absolutely nothing to indicate that both she or her husband, Robert, had anything to do with Australia.  
     I don't know if you are aware that there is a military service document, sent to a gentleman in West Australia, by Jim Gray, and which was then forwarded on to us, which seems to prove that the Robert Farmer who had served in the 27th Georgia Battalion had been, as the document is inscribed, from: "Lewisville (Australian Soldier)".   However, when I saw this document, I knew immediately that it had been forged, as I have all the military service documents of Robert Farmer, the Confederate soldier, and which copies had already been sent me, before I received the fake copy.   That very same document, sent by Jim Gary, is in the military service records at the National Archives, and nowhere on it, or on any of the other papers, is it stated that Robert Farmer, the Confederate Soldier was from Australia, or had anything to do with Australia at all.   Besides these pieces of evidence, we also have the census records, from 1850 onwards, which clearly showed that the Robert Farmer in Jefferson County had been born there, and definitely did live there all his life, as he had declared.
     I don't know if you have the faked copy of the military paper from Jim Gray, but if you wish, I could send you the copy, as well as the original message from the gentleman in West Australia, to whom it was originally sent by Gray, Mr. Maurice Kissane, and Mr. Kissane's unfortunate belief that the document was genuine, and had proven that Robert Farmer the Confederate soldier was born in Australia.   Mr. Kissane was not be blamed for his original belief, as he was not to know that the document was faked, and that we already had the original evidence to prove that Robert Farmer of the 27th Georgia was never from Australia.
     Two independent researchers in the U.S., one in North Carolina, and the other in Washington, D.C., have both checked the copies of the military file of Robert Farmer, and have both also confirmed that Robert Farmer was never from Australia, and nowhere in his military papers is Australia mentioned, at all.
     We are now collecting all the evidence about the faked document, and, if a Veterans Administration grave marker was obtained by this deception, then we will have to inform a number of U.S. government groups and individuals of this forgery and misuse of data from the National Archives.
     Regards,
     Terry.

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Various people contacted previously
Sent:  Thursday 30 April 2009 2:57 AM
Subject:  Robert Farmer buried at Oak Grove Cemetery

On 12 June 2008 I sent you all an email stating that Mr. James Gray may have found the proof that Robert Farmer (buried at Oak Grove) served the C.S.A. during the Civil War.

===========================================

This is the text from that email:

For quite awhile, Mr. Jim Gray of Australia has been trying to prove Robert Farmer's Civil War service in the CSA in order to place a marker at his grave in Oak Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, Glynn Co., Georgia.

I think he finally found the proof.

He received documents from the Georgia Secretary of State regarding Civil War documents for a Robert L. Farmer who served in Co. B of the 27th Georgia. This document actually states that said Robert L. Farmer was an Australian Soldier!

See attached documents. I believe this is most likely our man as Robert Farmer was born in Australia, there are letters written by him and by his wife, Algenora (Clubb) Farmer, to his sister in Australia, not only that but Australian relatives actually have photos of him and his wife and children.

No one knows exactly when Robert arrived in the US, but the story is that he came right at the start of the war in 1861 and that he got caught up in the war. His age has been largely disputed, his birth record stated he was born 12 July 1842; another family record states he was born 7 December 1841; and census records where he provided his own age, state he was born about 1845 or 46, which would match his enlistment papers.

From reading family letters, you can tell that Robert was not very educated and was a poor correspondent when he was younger. It is likely that he wasn't very good at math either, thus giving us so many birth dates.

The cemetery plot that Robert was buried in was co-owned by himself and James A. Clubb, his father-in-law, who is also interred in Oak Grove in 96B, straight across from the Farmer plot of 75B.

Mr. Gray would like to have a marker placed at Robert Farmer's gravesite in Oak Grove Cemetery. I believe that he has now found the proper proof for Robert's service in the war.

Per Mr. Gray: ...get the letter from the cemetery sent to me I'll be glad to do the paper work and get a headstone or marker for the grave. You tell me which they would like. A headstone is nice, but extremely heavy and requires a lift to move and place it. It can also be broken by vandals. A bronze plaque, on the other hand can easily be lifted by one person, is permanent and cannot be broken as it is solid cast bronze and is really very attractive as well. If we do this, I would like you and your group to officiate and share in the credit for its establishment.

===========================================

Mr. Gray sent documents reportedly from the state archives proving his claim. As many of you may remember, I have "argued" with Mr. Gray about his claims. Personally, as I have said before, I believe he may have been a blockade runner.

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/

I never took the info found at the above link offline because Mr. Gray still refuses to correct his data. For some reason he just wants to place this marker and I almost believed he solved the puzzle.

Anyways, it has recently been brought to my attention that Mr. Gray may have FORGED the documents that he claimed came from the state of Georgia and this matter is currently under investigation as it is a serious crime.

I had told Mr. Gray that I believed his claims since he had documents from the state of Georgia proving the case; little did I know that this isn't the first time he has done such deeds. Why he feels the need to make erroneous claims to place military markers I have no idea but it has been shown to me that this was not the first time.

I'm glad I put up the fight I did.

However, personal family history does state that Robert fought during the war, but these family members never stated in what capacity; so yes he probably did because in his own words he stated he was in the US by the late 1850's.

I have not been out at Oak Grove for many months so I don't know if a marker was ever placed at the grave of Robert Farmer. Were any of you contacted again by Mr. Gray?

If ever you are contacted by him, I would just politely tell him the matter is closed and has been handled locally.

Hoping everyone is well:

Amy Hedrick

[A few people responded, two to state they would check into the marker being placed and that they had never heard anything else from Gray after my last email that was copied within this email, he apparently forgot all about the rest of us and just went to the SCV with the marker].

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Various persons
Sent:  Sunday 3 May 2009 5:47 PM
Subject:  Robert Farmer 2

I have updated my research page on Robert Farmer:

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/

I have sent this email to our local SCV Camp, but it seems that they are not answering at this email address. [name omitted], if you could, please get this information to them. I have tried searching for a contact online, but their website has absolutely no information about who to contact.

Mr. Gray claims he already obtained the marker and sent it to them and they held a ceremony and placed the marker.

I don't know how true this is, but I went to the cemetery last week and the grave is not marked with a tombstone.

I had received pages from a book that state Robert came to America in the midst of war but that is all. This information was obtained from a niece of Robert's. She never stated that he fought in a branch of the military, just that he came here during the war.

I am so disheartened by this man and for the life of me can't understand why he has gone to such lengths to prove his case. What's really sad is that I provided him with documented evidence that he misinterpreted or ignored altogether. Not only that but he used my information, changed the wording, and claimed it as his own.

Which again is said, because the original documents that he says he is "quoting" don't even have the info on them that he is claiming.

This website shows evidence of Mr. Gray's other pursuits:

http://www.tfoenander.com/litany.htm

The webmaster of this site is also the one who brought the forgery claim to my attention. I am currently awaiting the original military record from NARA records for this supposed Robert Farmer that Mr. Gray claims is the one buried here. Two different people researched this Robert Farmer military record long before Mr. Gray started his research, and their documents do not have "(Australian Soldier)" on their copies.

It has been alleged that Mr. Gray wrote "(Australian Soldier)" on the original military record to prove his case. Such a shame.

Amy Hedrick

[Received one response that someone would check into the military marker and that they were upset about the fraud.]

A letter was written to the commander of the local SCV of Brunswick, he then sent a response to the author of the letter suggestions we collaborate with Gray in sorting everything out.  Little did he know that there is no collaborating with Gray, if you question him, he takes it as an attack, and then you do get angry and attack him.

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  SCV Commander and various others
Sent:  Sunday 10 May 2009 3:28 PM
Subject:  Robert Farmer

Hello [name omitted]. As I am sure you are aware by now, there is a big snafu involving the personal history of one Robert Farmer buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, Glynn, Georgia. I am sending this email to a few other people who are interested in the outcome of this fiasco.

I have been in contact with Mr. James Gray since 2006 regarding the research into Robert Farmer and have pointed out to Mr. Gray in many, many, many emails that his research is in error, etc. I even provided actual scanned images of original documents to prove my case. I no longer correspond with Mr. Gray because it is pointless.

There is no reasoning with Mr. Gray, he does not listen or chooses to ignore the facts. I believe a military marker was obtained for Robert Farmer, and I hope, with all of my heart, that you or someone in your group does some fact checking of your own before the marker is ever placed. Even the text of the marker is in error as it regards Robert Farmer.

Mr. Gray claims this is the text on the marker:

Robert Farmer
Co. "B", 27th Ga. Inf. Batt.
American Civil War
July 12, 1841 - August 22, 1903
Australian Born Veteran
"Lest We Forget"

Robert Farmer died on either 29 or 30 August 1902 and was buried in Oak Grove on the 31st, he may have been born 7 December 1841 according to the records of his descendants. I have primary source documents confirming the death month and year firmly. His estate was filed in 1902, how could that happen a year before he died?

Since you did not hire Mr. Gray to do this research, please confirm that his information is correct; don't take it at face value, we all make mistakes, but double checking can prevent the mistakes from escalating.

Check the original documents at their repositories without using the internet. Go to the State Archives and view the images on microfilm of Robert L. Farmer in the 27th GA. Go to St. Mark's downtown and ask them to see the church records. Or, if the church can not be of help, you can order the books on microfilm from the LDS Church and have the film sent to our LDS Family History Library on Community Road. Go to probate and get copies of the estate records.

You will see that Mr. Gray has made many errors in his research; actually I don't think he did any research. I think he just pieced together things people sent him and went from there. I know for a fact that he used everything pertaining to Glynn County records from my website and has claimed it as his own. I'm only human and I make mistakes too.

It has been alleged that Mr. Gray has forged documents to prove his case. I have copies of these documents that he sent to me personally. I also have copies of the original documents and you can find the original documents online at www.footnote.com a website that presents original documents from microfilm just like Ancestry.com. These are not user submitted images, they are the originals.

http://www.footnote.com/browse.php#All|47756382

You have to have a subscription to this site to view the larger documents, however, they give a sneak peak of each document and you can clearly see the document that Mr. Gray claims says "Lewisville (Australian Soldier)". Look at it, does it say "Lewisville (Australian Soldier)" anywhere? Remember this is a thumbnail image from Footnote.com, you can view a larger version if you subscribe, then match the handwriting to confirm it is the same document.  [The thumbnail photo was in the original email, but to cut down on space, I omitted it from here, you can see it on The Forged Documents page.]

Here is a link to this same document on Mr. Gray's website:

http://www.acwv.info/1-files-veterans/farmer/03.jpg

Mr. Gray's documents are not real. Who forged them and why is a separate issue. No matter what, I urge you to research this matter without bias yourself before you hold a public ceremony to place this marker as it would be an injustice to the family that are still living who may not want any sort of marker placed at the grave.

What if they aren't supporters of the Confederate cause? What if they do not want any kind of military marker placed at their ancestor's grave? And of course, what if they know Robert Farmer did not serve the C.S.A. nor any military outfit? Some people get very defensive when other people who are not related to them assume things about their ancestors.

From my own personal research through public records I have found a living DIRECT ancestor of Robert Farmer and she refused to answer my letter. Therefore I would NOT do anything to this grave for any reason because there are living persons who can take care of the grave and any markers that could be placed there should be approved by them.

Long before the alleged forged documents came to light, I created web pages on the study of Robert Farmer because Mr. Gray refused to correct the genealogical aspect of his essay.

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/

I have tried to point out to Mr. Gray that facts are facts, you can't deny them. I have printed every single email sent and received during Mr. Gray's research and you can read for yourself, he just plain ignores anything you say.

I believed Mr. Gray, I thought he found the answer. And after all of the trouble I had with the genealogy portion of his essay, I should have double checked the military records myself. I am guilty of not verifying the research. As an organization that is responsible for placing this marker, I implore you, do not make my mistake, please double check the research.

I will be happy to meet with you and share my folder on Robert Farmer so that you can read the correspondence between myself, Mr. Gray and many other folks involved in seeking out Robert Farmer's history so that you can form your own opinions.

And finally, how do we really know that Robert Farmer is buried in the grave suggested? Did you know that the records at the cemetery office are not the original cemetery records? We do not know where the original cemetery records are. The W.P.A. created the cemetery survey and map but I have found many mistakes in the work that they did. Not only that but Herbert Joiner and H.R. Symons both wrote books on this cemetery and both re-typed the records and both altered the original map of the cemetery. So who knows what the original records reflected.

I do believe Robert Farmer and family are in Oak Grove Cemetery, but without a tombstone marking at least one of the family members, how can we say for sure that this is the gravesite of Robert Farmer?

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Caroline Hancock
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Sunday 10 May 2009 8:30 PM
Subject:  I hope this helps...
[This email was sent to me after I requested info on Robert L. Farmer of Georgia to compare to Robert of Australia.]

Not meaning to confuse, but here goes:

Of the Farmers, there were several, but there was only one /*Robert.*/

I first checked the 27th *Regiment*, which must have been a conscript group, or combination. There were a few Farmers, but there were no Roberts.

Of the 27th Battalion group, (non-conscripts outfit) there /*appeared*/ to be *two* Robert Farmers, Robert L., (later to be the correct one) and Robert E. I looked at all the Farmers records, *all of them.*

*Rhesa Farmer *was an alphabetic neighbor. (The documents line up in Footnote. It would be as though I were at the National Archives with all the files, placed in order on the table. If I were to look for a person, I would pull ALL the files, that is, if I was looking for a situation like this. (Mistakes are common in files, misspellings can be throughout all files on one man. We are accustomed to this!) How many of these are there in the records, who knows?

Now picture this as though the files are in a line:  Rhesa E. Farmer Robert E. Farmer Robert L. Farmer. Three Files.

Going to the Robert L., our supposed soldier, we see a line that indicates something interesting. I might have noticed it upon examining Rhesa's file, but I first saw a cross-referencing in Robert's file. __"Recapitulation shows 2 private. Present, sick (Robert's condition there.) There is a X on top of his name. You see X often, and he was pretty consistent with that. Maybe it would be easy to miss, maybe not.  Is it me, or do you all see it also? I find you have to look and look, and look again. Imagine how busy Mr. Fowler must have been!

Rhesa turned about to be Rob's cousin. When I checked records, this made sense. At first, I thought it was his father (1860 Census).

(It is kind of interesting to think that there might be a Rhesa in the children. There was, but he was born in 1861, so he just mixed the only Census I had to look at. The info on little brother showed up on the
Farmer Family site. Anyway, it was enough to explain that the more likely detail was that the relationship was cousin and not father. It just makes more sense.

I cannot remember now what I saw first. Anyway, in Rhesa's file, there is a cross-reference with Robert. Here, or at least on one of the records (my memory fades here) Robert's initial is E. But "E" is Rhesa's initital. It is evident that the writer just mistakenly wrote E, confusing the intitial with Rhesa. A common mistake. I believe the copyist was the same throughout. Upon looking at things, it is evident that the Robert E. is a special file, with blanks for two names.  Probably med only, but who knows for sure. I can just picture them being paired together, as they were probably cousins and had the same last name. Paperwork reduction, in a sense. I guess you could say it is a double folder. Kind of like when I joined the Navy, and my name was on the list with all who went to the airport together, it was kind of a corporate paperwork thing. In a medical situation, it really makes sense. (Just my opinion.)

Robert E. Folder is by itself, but if you look at it, you see, cards filed with. This was a shared folder, and I this just explains all the more. The Robert Files were in Rhesas, and a portion of the ones that said Robert were really filed in this folder, which has blanks for two names. I am printing these out, and can mail them to you, if you like. Meanwhile, I am sending you these "invites" via Footnote...

X on each means the boys are filed together, despite differing dates. From what I saw, the muster rolls added up......The misspellings and all, like louisville vs lewisville are just common mistakes. So is RE and Robert E rather than Robert L. Perhaps copyist Fowler also had Robert E. Lee on the brain, who knows? He probably filled out alot of paperwork that day. And we never make mistakes either, do we? And so, in my opinion, the medical situation opened up a potential admin problem.

What do you think? The details add up, I think....

I love to compare notes. There should NEVER be one opinion. The more you look, the more you see...

I hope that helps some.

Mattie is my grandmother's name. Perhaps there were two of them...But one thing is for sure, I believe that there was one Robert L. Farmer, the soldier, and one Rhesa Farmer, soldier, and that both enlisted on the same day, were both the same age but joined up at different locations. That is what I could see in the time that I had. I was at Snead's Ferry visiting with my daughter when I started to look deeper.

Carrie

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Various recipients
Date:  Monday 18 May 2009 6:08 PM
Subject:  Robert Farmer, etc.

[I have omitted the first line listing the recipients.]

Has anyone with the SCV received my email dated 10 May 2009 or been notified about the Robert Farmer "incident"?

The local SCV has not responded and it is their word we are eagerly awaiting since they have the tombstone to mark the grave.

I know Mr. Gray has probably sent letters/emails to [name omitted] and the SCV telling them that we are attacking him, but all of this "he said / she said" should be ignored right now.

What really needs to be done is for someone with the SCV to do their own research and that would settle the matter without any bias. Just order the military record for Robert Farmer of the 27th and match it with the documents that Mr. Gray most likely sent. Go look at our local records and build the family tree of Robert Farmer from Australia without using my website.

I really would hate for this marker to be placed because there is a lot of doubt in the matter, not to mention, how do we know for sure that Robert Farmer is even buried at that particular grave? There's no tombstone in the whole cemetery for anyone in his immediate family.

Hoping everyone is well!

Amy Hedrick

I received a response to the above that I should collaborate with Mr. Gray and that the marker would not be placed until this matter could be solved "without a shows of doubt or Mr. Gray asks me to return it to the vendor".

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  various recipients; James Gray
Sent:  Monday 18 May 2009 10:01 PM
Subject:  Re:  Robert Farmer, etc.

Just to clarify, I'm not in a snit, or angry. Emails or so impersonal, I'm just stating the issues at hand that need to be addressed :-)

So, what do you suggest [name omitted]? This isn't really an answer to the problem.

Who is the professional researcher that needs to solve this problem? Whose answer will you accept?

Mr. Gray is not going to ask for the marker to be returned because he believes he is correct, and his beliefs aren't in question, it's his research.

As for the military part, I am awaiting a response from the Georgia Archives. I have asked them to send me the same exact files Mr. Gray received in April 2008. So, I can't really say much on the military documents until I receive the originals from an un-biased "professional" researcher.

Online websites that store the original military files do not show the same document that Mr. Gray has sent out. That being the document that says "Lewisville (Australian Soldier)". The only way to solve this, is to get copies from the same person Mr. Gray got them from.

I know Mr. Gray did not come to America to do the research; he asked me and I sent him primary source documents and I did the "leg-work" as you will, for the research in this county. He states on his website that I have never sent him proof of my statements.

I created a web page of my sources long before the military marker was ever created. I did quite a bit of the family history research long before he ever contacted me about his project.

I also corresponded with Mr. Gray for months on months trying to show him that he has made mistakes in reading these primary source documents I sent. Not only that, Mr. Gray, but you have contradicted your own statements.

http://www.acwv.info/1-files-veterans/farmer/farmer.htm

Here on the above page you state that Robert Farmer's brother Charles died in 1854 in the very first paragraph, but then in the 9th paragraph you state that Charles was here in the 1900 census and that he married Algenora Clubb Farmer's sister.

How did he do that if he died in 1854?

I sent you information to show you that Algenora's sister Mary married a man named U.M. Roberts not C.M. Farmer. These marriage records are on file at the probate court and online at the state archives website. I can't make it up.

In your 4th paragraph you are attaching children to Robert Farmer that he and Algenora could not PHYSICALLY parent and you are mis-quoting the original baptismal document. You state that Martha Farmer was 19 years old in 1870 and the daughter of Mrs. Robert Farmer.

The original document says she was "the daughter of above" and "above" was Mrs. RACHEL Farmer. And, if Robert was born around 1841, and Martha was 19 in 1870, that would make her birth year about 1851 and make Robert 10 years old when he fathered her. Algenora Clubb, Robert's wife, was born in 1855; so Martha's mother wasn't even alive to give birth to her yet. Not to mention these children you contend are Robert's actually show up in the census with William & Rachel Farmer.

But here is the funny thing, Mr. Gray you COPIED your "research" directly from my website word for word, where I unintentionally made errors, but it is these errors of mine that prove you are not doing the proper research expected out of a professional, that being "ALWAYS CHECK THE ORIGINAL":

http://www.glynngen.com/church/stmarks/baptisms.htm

These simple errors makes one wonder how "professional" Mr. Gray really is because if he had checked the original, he would have been able to say: "Hey Amy, I think you made a transcription error on your website involving the Farmer baptisms, why don't you look again."

Because I DID make a few mistakes, actually, I have made numerous mistakes involving the St. Mark's Church records that I am currently working on correcting.

And I have pointed out all of these errors to Mr. Gray time and time again in emails that I still have, and he just ignores the issues, he doesn't even acknowledge that I have asked questions or made statements.

So, [name omitted], how do we proceed? I can't collaborate with Mr. Gray because he refuses to collaborate. He acts as if you aren't trying to solve the problem. I have asked him so many questions and have tried so many times to get him to agree or disagree on things and he has either refused to acknowledge me, or he is ignoring me.

Mr. Gray, what are your thoughts? Why don't you read the original documents and then read your essay, and then see if maybe, just maybe, you have made mistakes. I know I have and I am working to correct them.

Ms. (not Mrs.) Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick and other recipients
Date:  Tuesday 19 May 2009 8:06 AM
Subject:  THE FARMER DOCUMENT

Ms. Hendricks;

I am sending you copies of "all" the materials relating to Mr. Foenander's claim that "I" forged a document relating to Robert Farmer, so you can determine for yourself who is a liar and who is not. As you can see from the letter I received from the Director of the Georgia State Archives, with whom I have been corresponding with over this matter, he COMPLETELY vindicated me from doing "anything" wrong. His own staff member altered the document, then "Certified" it in their office and sent it to me as an original. If they sent you a certified copy, would you have any reason to question it?

Mr. Foenander was told of this by a friend of mine he contacted in Western Australia and copies were also sent to his friend in New South Wales; but Mr. Foenander only believes what he wants to believe, and only Mr. Foenander, in his mind, can do no wrong. He fails to acknowledge, however, that in 10 years he has done 'nothing' to benefit anyone or any veteran anywhere; whereas he had to eat his words when he said I was wrong about Francis Fearn, an Australian, being killed an buried in Louisiana, and it was I who acquired the information from the Swedish government along with a photograph of Mr. Palle de Rosencrantz buried in Australia; and though I did make a couple of mistakes relating to veterans in Australia, because Mr. Foenander and Mr. Compton refused to release information they already had, (mistakes I later acknowledged after acquiring proof and tried to rectify), I have been responsible for over 15 headstones being correctly placed on graves that had none. Mr. Foenander knew they had no headstones before I did, but sat on his rear and did nothing.

I am not perfect, nor are all census records or other recordings; we all make mistakes and if I am provided with "proof" I have always corrected my mistakes. I recorded exactly what was given to me and who gave it to me and if it is wrong then someone should provide proof of such. As I have told you before; if you can provide me with confirmable documentation on anything relating to Robert Farmer, I will examine it, confirm it and act accordingly.

There is enough proof without the document to confirm Robert Farmer was born in Australia, did go to Brunswick, Georgia, served in the war and is buried in that grave. Setting aside everything else relating to the family, that is crystal clear to everyone. If he is denied proper recognition now, that falls on the heads of you and those in Georgia and if you are placing your trust in Terry Foenander, everyone except him and his cronies will tell you it is grossly misplaced.

Anyway. in regards to the document. It was indeed altered, but NOT by me; it was done by the office of the Georgia State Archives and that has been stated in the website.

To publicly accuse someone of "forgery" and "fraud" without proof is a crime both in the U.S. and in Australia and one can be held liable for doing so; and I have proof in writing from all over Australia, Europe, the U.S. and Georgia that Mr. Foenander has knowingly slandered my name without ever confronting me personally. For that he is wrong, liable and a liar.

The attached are for your examination.

James Gray

cc: retained

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Wednesday 20 May 2009 2:24 AM
Subject:  Re:  THE FARMER DOCUMENT

Now I am in a snit Mr. Gray.  First, my name is H-E-D-R-I-C-K.  Please try to address me properly, after all, my name is signed at the bottom of every email I send out.

Mr. Gray, my email was almost 99% about the genealogy research you claimed to have done.  But for some reason you  have decided to respond by attacking Mr. Foenander instead and not addressing the issues I was talking about.

[name omitted], you can't discuss things with Mr. Gray, he just overlooks what you are saying.  Mr. Gray's research is riddled with inaccuracies and has now also been tainted with this altered document.

And to all, I received an email directly from the state, confirming what Mr. Gray has said, that someone at the State Archives forged the documents and then mailed them out.  He did NOT alter the documents.

So, Mr. Gray, my apologies if I have offended you in any way by suggesting you altered documents.  Why someone would do that who wasn't benefiting from the research, I do not know, but it was done at the STATE level and they are investigating the matter.

[name omitted], the Georgia Archives admitted to forging the documents.  That proves from a "professional" that this marker should not be placed.  If you have some genealogical skill, you can research Robert L. Farmer online and see where people who are related to him did their family history research and that he was the man who was born, lived, and died in Jefferson County, Georgia.  He served in the 27th GA with his cousin, Rhesa Farmer.  He was not from Australia nor was anyone in his family.  His parents were from Scotland.

End of story, this marker should not be placed and should be sent back to whence it came.  Those no longer concerned about the genealogical portion of the research can stop reading now :-)

But to continue with Mr. Gray.  You stated in your third paragraph that if I could provide you with confirmable documentation, you would correct your mistakes.  Is that true?  Don't deny you made this statement because it is printed below, and I can show everyone your email with all of the headers attached so they know I didn't alter your words.

I HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH SAID DOCUMENTATION to disprove your family history on Robert Farmer, that being his children and the fact that his sister-in-law, Mary Clubb, did NOT marry a man named C.M. Farmer.  I GAVE YOU THE DOCUMENTS and I told you that you mis-read them, over and over and over again.  Here are all the documents that I sent you in 2006:

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/documents.htm

Read this document, does it says Mrs. Robert Farmer?

Martha was the daughter of "above" that being Rachel Farmer.  Martha was 19 years old in 1870.  In 1870 Algenora Clubb was 15 years old (4 years YOUNGER than the daughter you claim to be hers) and unmarried.  Robert Farmer was 29 years old and unmarried (he was 20 years younger than Rachel and only 10 years older than the daughter you claim to be his).  According to census records, Rachel Farmer's possible husband was William Farmer.  You don't need me to tell you that you are wrong, the record speaks for itself.

This is the exact record I sent you.  Why did you state that Martha was the daughter of Mrs. Robert Farmer?  I'll tell you why, because I made a mistake in transcribing the above record when I put it online (and printed it in a book in 2004) and you copied the above info DIRECTLY from my website claiming it as your own research.

And remember, this IS your documented, confirmable, evidence.

And no, there IS NOT enough proof that Robert Farmer of Brunswick served in the Confederate States of America.  The document from the state was altered.

And this whole thing is turning into, excuse my language, a pissing contest, "I did this and he didn't do that".  I don't care what Mr. Foenander has accused you of in the past, or that he is "attacking" you, because you are doing the same to him and this ongoing "fight" with him is not the topic of discussion.  Robert Farmer's family and military history is the topic.

Mr. Gray, did you know that I am one of only 2 people in this county doing this type of research?  Did you know that most of the court offices and the libraries direct people to me when they do genealogical research?  I know you didn't come to Brunswick and get these documents.  And I am the ONLY one who has scanned images of the church records because I am the one who scanned them and published a book in 2004 FOR THE CHURCH.  I also put this info on my website, and you COPIED directly from my website the information about the baptisms (which I made errors on) and you also copied a Superior Court record.

Not to mention, I am the only person that I know of that the court house will let come in with a scanner or a camera for that matter.  So I know no one else could send you actual scanned images of court records either.

Also, the death date for Robert Farmer, you still contend it was 1903, after all you supposedly had that date printed on the memorial marker.  What does this document say:

Does it say Robert died in 1903?  I have two other documents confirming the month and the year as August 1902 and I sent those documents to you in 2006 and I have them posted on my website (also done so in 2006).  The document above is in his wife's own words.  How could she file an estate one year before her husband died?

Your research is in obvious error, any amateur genealogist can see that.

The military record was altered, therefore confirming it wasn't for an Australian.  It was for a Robert Farmer though, but it is not for the one buried here.

Tell these people they are wrong in their family history research:

[I have omitted links to the online family trees that I provided in this email to prevent dragging people in who want no part of this]

Then tell [name omitted] who is descended of Rhesa Farmer, the cousin to Robert Farmer of the 27th GA that her research is in error, that her ancestor's cousin was actually from Australia.  She spent a lot of time confirming that Robert and Rhesa were two different men and that they were cousins and that they were the same men listed in military documents as fighting with the 27th GA and that they were born and died in Georgia.

Apparently facts don't matter to you.  Are you suggesting that I am making up facts because I don't like you?  That I have been biased against you by Mr. Foenander?

You know that's not true because I have page upon page of printed emails since 2006 of our correspondence and your lack of attention in these matters.  You know in your heart that I am right, and that we have discussed these matters (well, I have with you) over a few years.

I was ready to believe you had the documented proof.  I was so excited that it was confirmed.  But I still had problems with your genealogy research.

And then it was confirmed that this military document was falsified.  How can you even suggest that we still place the marker when there are so many errors in the research?

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick and other recipients
Sent:  Wednesday 20 May 2009 8:46 AM
Subject:  Re:  THE FARMER DOCUMENT

May 20, 2008

Ms. Hedrick;

First, I apologize for spelling your name wrong; I did not spell check my email before mailing it.

Second; I have refused to get into what you refer to as a "pissing contest" with anyone; Mr. Foenander or you. He was referred to in my email to you, because he has referred in 'his' emails to others that you and he had been comparing notes, and you both seemed to suggest 'I' was guilty of forgery. If you are not in collusion with him in that matter, I apologize to you personally.

In answer to your questions and statements I have answered them in RED beside each you requested I comment on. Beyond that, I do not wish to get into another, as you call it, "pissing contest," with anyone. I am frankly amazed that if you feel the Robert Farmer grave is the wrong one, why have you not found 'confirmable' outside documentation and provided it to validate it? That would settle it once and for all and I would certainly give you an apology and a 'job well done'.

If you can provide me with 'confirmable documentation, (scans, copies, ectera) proving your case, I will be happy to retract all my information and give you a written apology; otherwise, the church, census and other individuals information will be considered with the same weight as that you originally provided to me. Until that time arrives, I will not continue to debate this subject back and forth like two roster's in a chicken pen. 'Confirmable documentation' is what is needed. To do less would be to do Robert Farmer an injustice.

James Gray

----- Original Message -----
From: Amy Hedrick
To: Jim Gray ; and other recipients
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 4:24 PM
Subject: Re: THE FARMER DOCUMENT

Now I am in a snit Mr. Gray. First, my name is H-E-D-R-I-C-K. Please try to address me properly, after all, my name is signed at the bottom of every email I send out.

Mr. Gray, my email was almost 99% about the genealogy research you claimed to have done. But for some reason you have decided to respond by attacking Mr. Foenander instead and not addressing the issues I was talking about.

[name omitted], you can't discuss things with Mr. Gray, he just overlooks what you are saying. Mr. Gray's research is riddled with inaccuracies and has now also been tainted with this altered document.

And to all, I received an email directly from the state, confirming what Mr. Gray has said, that someone at the State Archives forged the documents and then mailed them out. He did NOT alter the documents.

So, Mr. Gray, my apologies if I have offended you in any way by suggesting you altered documents. Why someone would do that who wasn't benefiting from the research, I do not know, but it was done at the STATE level and they are investigating the matter.

[name omitted], the Georgia Archives admitted to forging the documents. That proves from a "professional" that this marker should not be placed. (That forged document alone proves nothing except that it was a forged document and should have no bearing on anything.) If you have some genealogical skill, you can research Robert L. Farmer online and see where people who are related to him did their family history research and that he was the man who was born, lived, and died in Jefferson County, Georgia. He served in the 27th GA with his cousin, Rhesa Farmer. He was not from Australia nor was anyone in his family. His parents were from Scotland.(The information in the story was included because the Georgia State Archives officer gave his opinion, and it was presented as just that; opinion, not fact)

End of story, this marker should not be placed and should be sent back to whence it came. (That is again, your opinion, which you are entitled to, but before that is done, you should provide documentation that all the information others provided is false. There are others who have opinions as well, and their opinions should be considered and rebuked with confirmable documentation; not just your opinion (no offence meant).)Those no longer concerned about the genealogical portion of the research can stop reading now :-)

But to continue with Mr. Gray. You stated in your third paragraph that if I could provide you with confirmable documentation, you would correct your mistakes. Is that true? Don't deny you made this statement (I don't and I stand by it) because it is printed below, and I can show everyone your email with all of the headers attached so they know I didn't alter your words.

I HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH SAID DOCUMENTATION to disprove your family history on Robert Farmer, that being his children and the fact that his sister-in-law, Mary Clubb, did NOT marry a man named C.M. Farmer. I GAVE YOU THE DOCUMENTS and I told you that you mis-read them, over and over and over again. Here are all the documents that I sent you in 2006:  ( I am sorry, but you 'related' the information by an email as your research or opinion, but you NEVER sent me the copy you have posted below. I archive all my emails.)

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/documents.htm

Read this document, does it says Mrs. Robert Farmer?

Martha was the daughter of "above" that being Rachel Farmer. Martha was 19 years old in 1870. In 1870 Algenora Clubb was 15 years old (4 years YOUNGER than the daughter you claim to be hers) and unmarried. Robert Farmer was 29 years old and unmarried (he was 20 years younger than Rachel and only 10 years older than the daughter you claim to be his). According to census records, Rachel Farmer's possible husband was William Farmer. You don't need me to tell you that you are wrong, the record speaks for itself.

This is the exact record I sent you. (Again, you are mistaken, you never sent me these records. If you had they would be posted on the website.)Why did you state that Martha was the daughter of Mrs. Robert Farmer? I'll tell you why, because I made a mistake in transcribing the above record when I put it online (and printed it in a book in 2004) and you copied the above info DIRECTLY from my website claiming it as your own research. (Ms. Hedrick, YOU told me in an email to use what ever information I need 'from' your website, so I did; and you were credited as a source at the end of his story as were all other contributors. I assumed since you stated you had confirmed your information that it was correct; and now you say it wasn't. That's why I now require 'confirmable' documentation, not just personal statements.)

And remember, this IS your documented, confirmable, evidence. (From your erroneous website, per you)

And no, there IS NOT enough proof that Robert Farmer of Brunswick served in the Confederate States of America. (In 'your' personal opinion.)The document from the state was altered.(The altered document was received long after and has nothing to do with anything else.)

And this whole thing is turning into, excuse my language, a [expletive omitted] contest, "I did this and he didn't do that". I don't care what Mr. Foenander has accused you of in the past, or that he is "attacking" you, because you are doing the same to him and this ongoing "fight" with him is not the topic of discussion. (I have NEVER accused Mr. Foenander of anything illegal, only of being vicious, vindictive and spreading false statements at every turn. I have often stated he was a good researcher, but had a self cantered ego problem. It was you who were using his accusation of a forged document by me, when in fact it was a lie.) Robert Farmer's family and military history is the topic.

Mr. Gray, did you know that I am one of only 2 people in this county doing this type of research? Did you know that most of the court offices and the libraries direct people to me when they do genealogical research? (What about all the other people in other counties and states? And I commend you for your dedicated work, but as you said, you yourself made mistakes and posted on your website inaccurate information; Why was it not made accurate before it was posted? We all make mistakes and we all want to correct them when we have 'confirmable documentation' to do so.) I know you didn't come to Brunswick and get these documents. And I am the ONLY one who has scanned images of the church records because I am the one who scanned them and published a book in 2004 FOR THE CHURCH. I also put this info on my website, and you COPIED directly from my website the information about the baptisms (which I made errors on) and you also copied a Superior Court record. (Again, you are mistaken. I contacted and was sent different information from individuals with the Glynn County Archives; from the Oak Grove cemetery records; the Probate Court Records; scans made from the St. Marks Episcopal Church, Record Books, Brunswick; Susan Peterson, Seattle, Washington; Tim Daiss, Staff Writer, Savannah; 1860 and 1870 Census Records, DeSoto Parish; scans made for me from “The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia” Pre 1829-1888, Vol ll, D-J, Rica Erikson; from the “Dictionary of Western Australians; 1829 – 1914”, G. Cotterell; from the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Perth Western Australia; from Gerard Foley, Archivist, State Records Office of Western Australia and others. I never accept the word of a single individual. I collect data from many sources and compare what I am sent.)

Not to mention, I am the only person that I know of that the court house will let come in with a scanner or a camera for that matter. So I know no one else could send you actual scanned images of court records either. (Fortunately, for me, you were wrong. Scans were made and sent to me)

Also, the death date for Robert Farmer, you still contend it was 1903, after all you supposedly had that date printed on the memorial marker. What does this document say: (You have never before produced this document; would you email me a copy of the entire document for me to examine?)

Does it say Robert died in 1903? I have two other documents confirming the month and the year as August 1902 and I sent those documents to you in 2006 and I have them posted on my website (also done so in 2006). (I never received any such documents; only what you said were in different documents.) The document above is in his wife's own words. How could she file an estate one year before her husband died?

Your research is in obvious error, any amateur genealogist can see that.

The military record was altered, therefore confirming it wasn't for an Australian. It was for a Robert Farmer though, but it is not for the one buried here. (Can you provide 'confirmable documentation for examination proving the veteran is NOT buried there and where he IS buried? Or is this just another arrived at assumption?)

Tell these people they are wrong in their family history research: (I will examine these postings and correspond with the authors, and see how they relate to Robert Farmer. If a mistake has been made; it will be corrected.)

[WEB ADDRESSES OMITTED]

Then tell [name omitted] who is descended of Rhesa Farmer, the cousin to Robert Farmer of the 27th GA that her research is in error, that her ancestor's cousin was actually from Australia. (Provide me with her email, postal address and phone number and I will be only too happy to contact her and discuss it with her. I would have before if you had provided contact information. I always contact every descendant I am made aware of.) She spent a lot of time confirming that Robert and Rhesa were two different men and that they were cousins and that they were the same men listed in military documents as fighting with the 27th GA and that they were born and died in Georgia.

Apparently facts don't matter to you. Are you suggesting that I am making up facts because I don't like you? That I have been biased against you by Mr. Foenander? (I believe you have the best of intentions, but I also believe you want to retain control of what ever happens there and will do anything to achieve that. I am not trying to undercut anyone's authority or prestige; I only want to honour a Confederate soldier.)

You know that's not true because I have page upon page of printed emails since 2006 of our correspondence and your lack of attention in these matters. (You have NOT provided 'confirmable documentation' copies to me in the past, only your opinion and writings.) You know in your heart that I am right, and that we have discussed these matters (well, I have with you) over a few years.

I was ready to believe you had the documented proof. I was so excited that it was confirmed. But I still had problems with your genealogy research. (As I do with yours; but I am ready to be proven wrong with 'confirmable documentation'.)

And then it was confirmed that this military document was falsified. How can you even suggest that we still place the marker when there are so many errors in the research? (The altered document was NOT the sole piece of evidence and you have provided NO 'confirmable documentation' show if he is not buried there, where he is buried.)

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Sunday 24 May 2009 4:53 PM
Subject:  Robert Farmer

Unfortunately, my internet service won't let me send out an email to more than one person, so I am trying from a different address.

This may be a repeat for some, my apologies if so.  Also, you may go here to read past emails that started in 2006 between myself, Mr. Gray, and others:

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/email.htm

This is being sent to many people, since Mr. Gray is making statements against me, and he is asking for contacts, I am going to include everyone in this email that has either been in contact with me, or with someone involved in this dilemma.  So, if you are not interested in this discussion on Robert Farmer anymore, please tell me and I will remove you from this mailing list.

I may have made a mistake by stating Ms. Hancock was a descendant of Rhesa Farmer, she made a statement about her grandmother's name being Mattie (which was Rhesa's wife) and she may have just meant that was her name and not that Mattie Farmer was her ancestress.  My apologies if I made the wrong assumption.  Either way, she did do extensive research on these men and has the documents to back up her research and she is included in this email.

For some of you, this is the first email you will receive regarding this conversation.  Sorry to include you so late.  My discourse with Mr. James M. Gray started in March of 2006 regarding an Australian named Robert Farmer buried in Brunswick, Glynn, Georgia, USA.

Mr. Gray:  I am not in collusion with Mr. Foenander, he told me the documents were forged, that I should check the originals, and he asked me where I got them.  He contacted me, I never questioned the material  you sent until it was pointed out.  So, I got the originals and was astonished.

And I assumed you may have forged them since you sent them.  But, honestly, one would think that the person sending them forged them and not a reputable state agency, but, as you and I both know, they were altered by the state and I apologized for my assumptions which were not aided in anyway by anything Mr. Foenander may have said to me.

And, when you stated you didn't do the alterations, I again did my own research and contacted the Georgia State Archives and they admitted to me that one of their employees did the nefarious deed and they had no reason to believe you did the alteration.

So, end of story on that, what more can be said?

But, to continue on your statements because this can't just be dropped.  You say I never sent you any scans of the church and court records, then you say you did receive scans of the church records.

Again, you are mistaken. I contacted and was sent different information from individuals with the Glynn County Archives; from the Oak Grove cemetery records; the Probate Court Records; scans made from the St. Marks Episcopal Church, Record Books, Brunswick; Susan Peterson, Seattle, Washington; ...

First, where is the Glynn County Archives, because I would love to visit this place seeing as how I have lived here for over 22 years and have never heard of such a place.  Please give me the address so I can visit.

Second, after reading back over all of our emails, I have claimed some things I shouldn't, like telling you long ago about the Mrs. Robert Farmer being Mrs. Rachel Farmer, you are right, this is the first time you are hearing about this.  However, had you read the original documents that you stated you got from someone else, you would have already known this and corrected it in your essay.  But, because you show it as "Mrs. Robert Farmer" I know that the information you have was copied directly from my transcript that I made an error in and am trying to tell you so that you can show the correct version, but you don't want to do that for some reason or other.

Also from viewing past emails and copies of Susan's emails that you sent me, I see that you copied exactly, word for word, what Susan Peterson said, and NEVER bothered to check her facts, something I told you to do because you can see by Susan's emails to you she didn't even know she was researching someone in her own family tree!  She was just picking people out of census records with the name of Farmer that were from overseas.  And you got stuck on the fact that Robert Farmer served in the 27th because Susan told you she thought he might have and I believe that is the only source you have for his service because the actual military record does not reflect anything to prove who Robert Farmer of the 27th was other than a geographic location of Jefferson County where another Robert Farmer lived and died.

Thirdly, which is it?  Did you get scanned images or not?  Like I said, I am the only one who has these records scanned and this isn't "bragging", it's the truth, and I scanned the court records and put them all on a web page in August 2006 so that you and everyone involved could get copies and then in August 2006 I sent an email to all those involved with our correspondence (including you) telling everyone where to go to see all of the documents that I have provided for "proof" of Robert Farmer's family history.

Actually, on 21 March 2006 I offered to send them to you through the post, the actual hard copies of the documents certified by the courts, you never responded to that email.  The next email I get from you was dated 1 August 2006.

Our court house will not let anyone in with a scanner or a camera IT'S THE LAW!  I have special permissions.  That's why I have a ton of scanned images from court records on my website and no one else does.

 (Fortunately, for me, you were wrong. Scans were made and sent to me) 

Wait, you just said before this, that you never received scanned images (regardless if they were from me or not).

And as you say here:

(Again, you are mistaken, you never sent me these records. If you had they would be posted on the website.)

Whether I sent them or not, you said that "Scans were made and sent to me."  Well, then why weren't they on your website?  Maybe you didn't include them because it proved your research wrong.  And really, the family history portion of Robert Farmer has nothing to do with the military portion.  So why not correct your mistakes, it wouldn't disprove your military research.  Public records reflect something entirely different from what you have; and this isn't about attacking you and your research, or me claiming credit, it's about getting the correct information out there and not MY version of the facts, but the REAL version of the facts.

The court house doesn't, and hasn't ever, scanned documents and sent them to people.  They don't have the time nor do they have the resources.  Not only that, but the court house will not send out uncertified or free copies, hence, they don't send scanned images.

I have sent people to the court house and told them that I can scan and photograph documents so they should be able to do so as well.  They then tell me that they weren't even allowed in the front door with their equipment.  You are checked in a metal detector before you go inside and your bags are run through an X-ray machine.

The probate clerks told me that I was the only one who ever brought a scanner in, and they locked the records down so that no one could even view them without their aid.  They told me that I was THE ONLY one they would allow to look at and handle the old records WITHOUT supervision.  I guess they lied to me, because I've been doing it for years now?

Probate will even call me on my cell phone to do genealogy requests for them because they haven't got the time and I do it for free because they let me scan the documents and put them online.  That's why my website has tons of scanned images.

So, forward the email from this person or agency with the scanned documents attached so that I can contact them for proof that they made the scans and I will recant and apologize (you said you saved all emails).  This is the only way to settle the matter.  I have no problem admitting my errors.

And even if you don't want to admit that I provided the scans, you obviously can't deny you got them because you stated that you did get copies from someone or somewhere.  Which means you didn't read them, because if you had, you would have noticed that the info Susan sent on the church baptisms was wrong in a few places.  And it's because of these errors we know that Susan got the information from the book I published on the St. Mark's Episcopal Church records, where I made a transcription error (many errors in fact) about Mrs. Robert Farmer being baptized.  The original says Mrs. Rachel Farmer.  If Susan had supplied you with the info directly from the church records, she would not have said Mrs. Robert Farmer was being baptized as well as Martha daughter of above.

I actually have posted a statement at the beginning of the St. Mark's Church records at my website that I made numerous mistakes and am working to correct them.  I even have a page for corrections that I created for people who bought the book.

http://www.glynngen.com/church/stmarks/corrections.htm

I have tried to tell you time and again that you need to change the information, because I was in error, therefore Susan Peterson was in error and the original records say differently.  This is the point I'm trying to make:  AN ERROR WAS MADE IN TRANSCRIBING THE RECORDS, SO YOUR DATA IS IN ERROR.  Correcting this error will not unravel your essay.

I have admitted my mistake, I have tried to get you to correct your data because you copied it directly from my research work via Susan Peterson and it was in error.  How hard is this to understand?

Apparently I will have to repeat this over and over and over and over again.  So, one more time, Amy Hedrick made a mistake while transcribing the St. Mark's Church records for her book and website and therefore provided James Gray with a true copy of the records in August of 2006 and again in May 2009 so that he can have the proof of Amy Hedrick's mistake and the correct data so that he can correct his essay to reflect the truth.

I have sent you the "confirmable" evidence that I made a mistake via the documents web page created in August 2006.  That's what you asked for now (you didn't want just my word, and rightfully so because someone's say-so is not a fact), that's what I have provided, and I provided it for the first time back in August 2006.  To you, to Rick Charnock, to Carolyn Nugent, to the local SCV, to Susan Peterson, all these folks and more got the email of the documents page that I created because this was really done to aid and correct your research.  And, thousands of people online have seen them because this is how Mr. Foenander found me this May 2009.

The majority of the facts in your essay as they pertain to Glynn County public records can be proven wrong by the actual public records, you don't need me to tell you, JUST LOOK AT THE ORIGINALS.  Susan Peterson sent you erroneous church records because she either copied them from my website or the book I published, I know this for a fact because, again, I made a transcription error and she copied all of my errors in her info sent to you.  She actually stated word for word in some places information that I conveyed to her in 2005.

Susan's info was wrong, because my info was wrong, and the original records which were provided you by me per the documents web page in 2006 show the true information that you refuse to acknowledge because you want to believe everything Susan Peterson told you and nothing else.  And I don't know why.

Have I said it enough now?

 (Ms. Hedrick, YOU told me in an email to use what ever information I need 'from' your website, so I did; and you were credited as a source at the end of his story as were all other contributors. I assumed since you stated you had confirmed your information that it was correct; and now you say it wasn't. That's why I now require 'confirmable' documentation, not just personal statements.)

After reading over all of the emails, I never once stated you should use whatever info you needed from my website.  I never stated I had confirmed my info on the website, and I actually told you NOT to use my website or transcriptions as a source because I am human and like any human transcribing thousands of pages of documents, typos occur.  And if you are going to use my transcripts you need to credit them to me so that if they are in error, people can tell me that I made a mistake and not have to accuse you of making the mistake.

ALWAYS CHECK THE ORIGINAL; which I provided you via the documents page in August 2006 to show that your essay was riddled with inaccuracies that can easily be corrected by looking at the original church and court records.  And, since I said my info was incorrect on the website I provided you with the confirmable proof per the scanned images of the ORIGINAL documents.

In my email dated 22 March 2006 I voiced my concerns about how you sourced your document.  I told you that you should source the facts with the people and places that provided them.  And that I was the one who transcribed the church records, the probate records, the deed record, and the Superior Court record and I sent that info to Susan not you, and that I should be credited with the transcriptions (transcriptions are human typed records from an original document, therefore they can be credited to an individual) as such because you didn't look at the originals, you took a typed transcript as the source.  If you had took the original as the source, you could then credit the agency that stored the document instead of me.  But you only listed my name in your sources and many of your sources are actually databases created by me for my website.

And no, this is not about me claiming "ownership" of your research.  It's about letting people who read your article know where you got each fact.

The St. Mark's Church records were scanned by me and published in a book in 2004 and then put online in 2005 by me; I did this for the church.  And it really doesn't matter if you say I sent them to you or not; the fact is you did not read the records or you would have seen that Susan provided you with the wrong data.

And if you want to claim you got it directly from the church, then you will have retype your info because there was no Mrs. Robert Farmer baptized in 1870, it was Mrs. Rachel Farmer, that's what the original document says and there was absolutely NO marriage record for Robert and Algenora in the church books either.

The Superior Court case between Robert and his son was a record that I transcribed for the Superior Court, namely the clerk, Lola Jamsky, who brought a box of records out of storage for me to start indexing for the court that I never finished.  You will not find that record in the Superior Court offices (they now have an archives where it is stored that was just implemented in 2009, so don't claim you got it from there because you did this research in 2006 and quoted the document then; the court archives were created in 2009), and I want you to show me a copy of the document within 48 hours to prove you got it directly from said court and not my website.  I don't even have the document because I only typed an index from the box of records.  If you can't show proof that you have the original document then you need to source the transcript to me.  Personally,  I think you should remove it from your essay because it really has no bearing on your essay since you didn't discuss the outcome further.

The deed record as well.  It's typed on my web page, and I have a copy of it in my files and I shared the contents with Susan Peterson.  Show me the actual image sent to you or scan the actual document and send it within 48 hours stating you have the original in your files.  If you can do this, I will recant and apologize for claiming the research as mine.

I'm not trying to claim glory, I'm trying to get you to do the professional thing, and that is give credit where credit is due.  You can't claim the courts as the source when you haven't viewed the original court document.  You took a typed statement from Susan Peterson who got her info from me (or my website) and Ancestry.com.

And also realize when the author of the information your are using says they made a mistake, you should realize they are claiming the error and they want you to have the correct information.  It's not an attack on you, it's to help you.

Since you haven't referenced your facts properly, all questions have to be directed at you.  We can't ask the Glynn County Archives, because we don't know what they contributed and because they don't exist.  At first I thought you were referencing the USGenWeb Glynn County Archives online, but you would have stated as such.  And you will see that quite a bit of the info at that site was contributed by guess who?

This statement about the Robert Farmer death date from his estate file:

(You have never before produced this document; would you email me a copy of the entire document for me to examine?)

In your statement that I pasted at the top of this email you said you got scanned documents from Probate Court, so you should have had this document all along as it was in Probate in a file for Robert Farmer.  So, if you got the scanned images from Probate as you said, you would have seen this document long ago.

What's even funnier though, you actually quote this document in your essay from 2006!  Hah!  How can you say you never saw it?  You contradict yourself at every turn.

But really, I went and got this document for you in 2006 (and offered to mail it to you) when you said Robert died in 1903 and I told you that his estate file says differently as do the church records and his mortuary record and I put these document on the documents page in August 2006 and made it available to you and to everyone involved in this, so if it wasn't sent in an email by me, the link to the images were.  The only thing that has changed with the documents page is the web address, but they have always been online.

Of course, you didn't get the scanned images.  Wait a minute, you did.  No, you didn't.  Which is it because you have contradicted yourself several times, one doesn't know what to believe.

And on 30 August 2006 at 11:54 PM Susan Peterson stated in an email sent to me and you referencing my email of 30 August 2006 at 12:36 AM sent to several recipients including you :

Wow! I've not done any research on this Robert Farmer other than some armchair websurfing.  Yes, Amy, you are correct, the one reference I gave was simply citing the only records I could find for a Robert Farmer that was clearly not a CSA vet record.

She admits to NEVER setting foot in Glynn County or receiving actual documents from Glynn County.  She only surfed the web.

The email in question from me was 3 pages long but the 4 points summarized were that you had the wrong children attached to him, that the typo in Algenora's obit about her sister being married to U.M. Farmer was supposed to be U.M. Roberts, that there was ABSOLUTELY no way for Robert's estate to be filed in 1902 and he died in 1903, and about the pension file you were stating was his but you later realized there was no possible way since the file was from the 1920's.  That seems to be the only fact you did correct.

(I believe you have the best of intentions, but I also believe you want to retain control of what ever happens there and will do anything to achieve that. I am not trying to undercut anyone's authority or prestige; I only want to honour a Confederate soldier.)

I'm actually both flattered and dismayed that you think I have such powers.

What am I trying to control and just what exactly am I "doing" to achieve "that"?  Pointing out facts and confirming my facts with documented evidence that can be viewed by anyone who goes to the court house and St. Mark's Episcopal Church, is that how I am trying to "achieve that"?  I'm not trying to undercut you either.  I'm trying to show that your information needs to be corrected, that there is confirmable evidence to show you need to correct that info, and it is meant to aid your research not take credit for it.

But, of course, you don't realize that I do not have that kind of pull in this town.  If the SCV or anyone else wants to place a marker they will place it whether I say no or not.

Why do you always think that someone is trying to become "famous" by questioning your research?  I've seen a posting online supposedly authored by a third person (and I believe it's copied in one of the documents you sent me recently), that a person who questions your research is really just self-absorbed and wants to claim ownership of everything themselves.

If I wanted to claim it for myself, we wouldn't be having this conversation and the marker would have been placed long ago without you.  I would have taken the glory.  But as someone who has done several years of record transcriptions, I can't honestly agree to place a marker for someone who one, can't be confirmed to be buried in the exact spot everyone thinks he is, and two, no military documentation can be found for his service in any branch of the U.S. Military during any war especially since there are so many Robert Farmers on record for both sides.

(The altered document was NOT the sole piece of evidence and you have provided NO 'confirmable documentation' show if he is not buried there, where he is buried.)

What was the other evidence?  The military records you had were altered so they can't be taken as proof because there are numerous Robert Farmers that served in the Union and the Confederacy, so how can you say that this is the right guy?  After all, you were basing your whole theory on that one statement "(Australian Soldier)" and the fact that Susan Peterson said so, which she later recanted the info (seen above in blue) and the state admitted to altering the military document, so what is your other evidence?  I'm not doubting you, I just want to know, what did I miss?

So here, I think this is our Robert Farmer:  Robert Farmer born about 1842 living in New Bedford, Massachusetts enlisted 18 May 1863 in Mass. for the Union.  This could be him, he was born about 1842.  It's a harbor town, Robert Farmer who died in Georgia was a harbor pilot.  I mean this fits better than Robert Farmer of the 27th GA who enlisted in Jefferson County, Georgia.

There are 21 Robert Farmers indexed in the Civil War military records.  Nine are Union and twelve are Confederate.  How do you know that the one from the 27th is the one buried in Glynn County?  What is your "confirmable documentation", because the military record does not reveal anything pertinent to Brunswick, Georgia or Australia.

And really, you can't take family stories as fact.  Yes, they add color to a story and they should be accounted for, but if they can't be proven they should not be taken as fact.  If that were the case then I should believe that one of my ancestors cracked the liberty bell, and that I am descended of the first U.S. Supreme Court Justice as my uncle says I am.  Or that my grand aunt used to play with little Helen Keller while Helen toddled around the house, even though Helen Keller was a teenager when my grand aunt was born.  But, because my family says it's true, then it must be.

So, what was the other source for proof of military service?  I won't state undeniably that he didn't, but I can't state certainly that he did either.  I don't think he served the 27th GA for sure, I believe that man is buried in Jefferson County or with his family in that area.  So why put a marker on this Robert Farmer's grave claiming he served the 27th and that he died in 1903 when he died in 1902 and the military record does not confirm this man as being the one?  There's nothing in that military document to differentiate him from any other Robert Farmer.

Oh, and one final thing, can you clarify your resume for me?

James Gray, being a Civil War descendant and having been involved as a researcher who collaborated with the Florida Division of Archives and History in Florida for some thirty years, while serving as founder of the Florida Historical Research Foundation and as an Associate Curator of History for the Hillsborough County and Frostproof Museums

This statement was in the document titled "Falsified Accusations" paragraph four and I have seen it posted online too.  I emailed the Florida Archives and this was their response:

Thank you for contacting the State Library of Florida. 

If Mr. Gray says that he worked for the State Library or the State Archives, I have spoken to my colleagues in both sections and no one recalls anyone by the name of James Gray working here in a professional capacity.  It’s possible he may have visited our facilities and used our collections as a patron, but we can find nothing to show he worked here.

I checked the Florida Association of Museums site (http://www.flamuseums.org/) and while I did not find any museum listed for Frostproof, there are quite a few in the Tampa area (Hillsborough County).  I would think a likely place to contact would be the Tampa Bay History Center (http://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/).  The following contacts should be able to help you with any affiliation Mr. Gray may have had with them...

[I have omitted the last of this snippet because I mistakenly posted a contact as the signer of the email which was my error.]

But, I may have asked the wrong Florida Division of Archives and History, maybe there are two.  So, another person was contacted and this was their answer:

I contacted the head of our Archives and Records Management program, Jim Berberich [omitted contact info], who has been with the program since 1973, and he has no recollection of Mr. Gray collaborating with the State Archives on any projects since he has been here.  I was unable to locate any records that Mr. Gray was ever employed by the Department of State. 

Sincerely

Patsy Kinsey
Benefits Manager/Payroll Coordinator
Department of State
Office of Human Resources
(850) 245-6575

I'm sure 30 years of service, even as a volunteer without pay, would be recognized by someone, after all I have only been researching for 7 years in this county and most of the repositories here know me, have heard of me whether they can remember my name or not, or can direct people to my website and I am only a volunteer who does this without pay.

Of course, the people you worked with may no longer be there, no one stays in one place forever. 

And then your foundation, the Florida Historical Research Foundation, I did a search for it here:

http://www.sunbiz.org/corinam.html

And it says that it was started on 29 September 1975 and that the group has been inactive since 11 December 1976.  Was that 30 years?  It wasn't even 3 years.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To: various recipients, EXCLUDING Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Sunday 24 May 2009 3:06 AM
Subject:  FW:  Florida Division of Archives
Mr. Gray contacted Ms. Dunham because I had mistakenly put her contact info as a signer of another email, it was my mistake, I never contacted her.

Mr. Jim Berberich;

Ms. Elizabeth L. Dunham;

I received a rather nasty email from Ms. Amy Hedrick today in an attempt to discredit me and my years of research and associations while in Florida. She sent me a response she received from your office after contacting you, (see below) so I would like to clarify the situation once and for all; for all concerned.

I have never said I worked ‘for’ the Florida Division of Archives, only that I worked ‘with’ the department and its personnel over the years. I speak of the departments former state archaeologist, whose name I can’t remember now, and its former Director Mr. Ross Morrell. I conducted in-field research locating and documenting lost military sites within the State of Florida and worked with them on the Fort Alabama/Foster site in Hillsborough County, the Fort Jennings site, the Fort Holmes site, the Fort Harllee site and others. I passed much information along to them on site locations and provided them with detailed field notes, drawings, photos and the like on sites like the Fort Harllee Bridge site.

If you contact Mr. Paul Camp, Special Collections, University of South Florida Library you will find a huge collection of research and documentation on file as I always provided them with copies of most everything I did; as I worked closely with Mr. Camp and attended school there. My collection there has since been used by many personnel and archaeologists to continue to track down other lost Florida sites.

The museums in question were the ‘old’ Hillsborough County Historical Museum, which was located on the Hillsborough River (I think there is a park in that location now) whose Director was Mr. Mike Mayfield, and the Frostproof Historical Museum in Frostproof, Florida; neither of which may exist today, as they were small museums. I had displays in both and donated a number of items to both at that time; and was graciously made an Associate Curator of History by both; see attached letters from both. I have also donated items to the ‘new’ Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa where I once lived.

The Florida Historical Research Foundation, formed by me and approved by Mr. Ross Morrell and the state who authorized me to use the original Florida State Seal on our papers, was formed for the purpose of keeping our site searches above board, as owners could contact Mr. Morrell and verify our work was legal and not that of treasure hunters or 'pot-holers' that were so prevalent at the time. They even approved our "Historical Site Mapping" booklet which was compiled as a guide to proper examination and documentation of sites that were found.

Today I live in Australia and being disabled have been involved in research on the American Civil War veterans buried in or from Australia and New Zealand. You can examine it on the Veterans Memorial Website, www.acwv.info, which has been archived by the National Library of Australia.

Unfortunately, some of my research conflicts with the opinions of Ms. Hedricks and Mr. Terry Foenander and both have tried for some time to discredit me; Mr. Foenander has even accused me of forgery, when he knows a ‘certified’ document sent to me from the Georgia State Archives was altered by a member of their own staff; for which I received a letter of apology from the Georgia State Archives Director.

I hope this clears up the matter and I apologize for your being drawn into this unnecessary confrontation; which I will no longer be a part of.

Sincerely,

James Gray

                                      

 

[Mr. Gray pasted a snippet from my email dated 24 May 2009 where I pasted copies of my response from a query to the agency he quoted he had collaborated with.]

From:  James Gray
To:  Various recipients EXCLUDING Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Thursday 28 may 2009 12:15 PM
Subject:  TAMPS MUSEUM RESPONCE

After learning that Ms. Hedrrick of Georgia had contacted and received reply's from the Florida Dividion of Archives and the Tampa Museum, I contacted them; and this was one of their replies:


----- Original Message -----
From: Elizbeth Dunham [I have omitted her email address]
To: James Gray [I have omitted his email address]
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: Florida Division of Archives

Jim,
Someone has used my name and museum without my knowledge. I did not write that. You may forward this to anyone you feel should receive it.

I am sorry that this woman would go to such lengths.

My signature is and has been for the past two years:

Elizabeth L. Dunham
Vice President for Programs
Tampa Bay History Center
801 Old Water Street (since January 2009)
Tampa, Florida 33602
Direct: (813) 675-8983

TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER – Letter from

28/05/2009 9:21 AM


Dear Jim,
I was shocked to receive your message. This email is my personal one and I never give it to anyone unless I want to do so.

I think the Society of Florida Archivists membership directory has me as "Director and my Juno address."

We here at the History Center hope you are doing well and wish you all the best. We know all you have done for many of us in the history business.

Do see our new facility at: www.tampabayhistorycenter.org

My best, Liz
[I have omitted her email address]

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Thursday 28 May 2009 2:35 AM and again Saturday 30 May 2009 5:26 AM (my first email bounced)
Subject:  Your emails

Mr. Gray, if you haven't noticed, Susan Peterson said she did not want to be bothered by this anymore, yet you continue to include her in your responses. You should show her the courtesy she asked for and remove her name from your mass emails.

And you have to know that if you are going to make accusations against me behind my back, that the persons you talk to will contact me. Just in case you are wondering how I know what's going on since you are not including me in your emails.

And, just for your information, I never contacted Ms. Dunham, I accidentally posted her info as the signer, when in fact it was not from her. She was a contact that was forwarded to me, along with another person. The email with her info came from the State Archives in Florida and I never talked to her or the other contact because it isn't worth going further.

The reason being, you said you collaborated with the Florida Division of Archives & History and that's who I contacted. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

I am not busy trying to discredit you. You are behaving as if I am contacting dozens of people about you. I contacted one person (the other contact was by someone else) and they gave me an answer and other contacts whom I never talked to, as Ms. Dunham has pointed out. You are running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

I merely want to know, from you, how someone with 30 years research experience, as you claim to have, can do such error-ridden research.

It's funny that you are focusing your attention on your past research experience instead of on the research you need to focus on which is Robert Farmer's military record. You wasted the American taxpayer's money on a memorial marker that has an erroneous date, and possibly and erroneous military service.

Why is it so hard to realize you need to read the public records, adjust the family history, and then provide documented proof of Robert Farmer's military service? The documents from the state do not reflect any information to confirm who the Robert Farmer is other than a geographic region of Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia where a man named Robert Farmer did live and die, and he wasn't from Australia.

This is not an attack against you, it's something you should do as a professional researcher with 30 years experience. Has anyone seen Mr. Gray's proof for Robert Farmer's military service? Send us some documents, or post them on your website so we can all go and view them, let us know where you got them so we can contact the source to confirm them, like any professional researcher would.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Friday 29 May 2009 9:35 PM
Subject:  Re:  Your emails
Attach:  FARMER LETTER [I have not attached it here, I don't know why he attached it as it doesn't help his case any, other than proving Robert from Australia was in Brunswick, which was never disputed.]

I have confered with you on this for a long time and it goes nowhere. The information I got on the children came from the St. Marks Episcopal Church records which were sent to me. If you have a problem with them; contact St. Marks Episcopal Church.

The letter Farmer wrote, from Brunswick (attached) is a copy of the original from a family member, showing he was in Brunswick.

I do not believe I have wasted anyone's time or money except my own, trying to do something no one else would take the time to do, but I will not continue to debate this further.

If you want to do something, "prove" beyond a doubt that other individual is the veteran; which he isn't. Unless you do that, please do not continue to harrass me as I'm not interested.

As far as the Peterson's, they have become somewhat of a friend with me and I don't believe I need your permission to converse with them. Her former remarks was directed to you; not me. Her reply to me was as follows;

Dear Mr. Gray:
I am simply appalled by all of this and cannot imagine what would compel anyone to go to such lengths to discredit a person in such a manner.  There is just no apparent reason for any of it nor any excuse.  Sincerely sorry that this is all happening to you.

Respectfully.....Susan Gay-Peterson

 I do not want to attack anyone, nor do I want to be attacked; but I have been, both by you and Mr. Foenander; who everyone her knows is a nut. I have grounds, in writing, to sue him for slander and defamation of character; but I have chosen to just let it go and move on; unless he continues. I don't need the aggravation.

If one is not a part of the solution, they are a part of the problem.

I have washed my hands of the whole affair as it seems all anyone wants to do is critize, not do what's right.

So please do not contact me on this matter again.

James Gray

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray
Sent:  Friday 29 May 2009 10:53 PM
Subject:  This is not an attack, my apologies

How can we sort this out if I can't contact you? And, if you give up, the marker will never be placed.

You asked me for documentation on the family history, I gave it. You asked me, I gave it.

And, I'm not being rude or nasty, you need documents to prove Robert's family, I gave them, and even if you want to say other repositories gave them, that's fine too. But read the documents. Fixing the genealogy portion of your essay is not going to hurt the military aspect.

Robert Farmer from Australia lived in Glynn County from the 1870 census until the 1900 census. I have never denied that he lived in Brunswick or that he was from Australia. That's not what is in question.

Robert L. Farmer from Georgia lived in Jefferson County from his birth and until his death, and is buried there.

Why would Robert from Australia be that man when there was a man living in Jefferson County named Robert L. Farmer, the name as it was written on the military documents? Tell me what I am missing? What record is there that shows Robert from Australia as a soldier in the 27th GA.

I can't find any record. What did you find?

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick
Sent:  Saturday 30 May 2009 12:44 AM
Subject:  Re:  This is not an attack, my apologies

If you have documentation on a Robert L. Farmer, living in Brunswick the sane tiume as Robert Farmer did I'd like to see it. Perhaps there are two Robert Famer's that served in the war. I'll be happy to look into it further if you can provide family information and census records on another Robert Farmer living in the same vicinity. I'd like to know where he was born, when he was born, who his parents were, where they originally came from, facts about his life, census records, when he died, where he died and where he is buried. If you can provide that I'll definately look into it.

Jim Gray

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick; Robert Taylor
Sent:  Saturday 30 May 2009 5:54 AM
Subject:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED
Attach:  All of the military cards, which I will attach here, these were sent by Mr. Gray

I believe the mystery surrounding who the Robert Farmer was that is buried in Brunswick, Georgia has been solved.

I have gone back and done complete research on “all” the Farmer’s who served in the American Civil War from the state of Georgia, who were in Company “B”, 27th Battalion Georgia Infantry, I find there were four (4). There was L.D. Farmer who enlisted at Pope Hill, Georgia on July 25, 1864; R.E or Robert (Rhsea) Farmer who enlisted at Lexington, Georgia on Nov. 6, 1863; Robert L. Farmer who enlisted at Pope Hill, Georgia (which is located at Ringgold, Georgia) on Nov. 6, 1863 and Robert Farmer who enlisted at Lewisville, Georgia on Nov. 6, 1863; and whose records were also recorded as “Robert L.  Farmer”.  A record is also shown for a Robert Fanner, also in Company “B”, 27th Battalion Georgia Infantry.

The attached Muster Roll cards showing the information on each comes from Publication Number: M266, Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia, located in the National Archives Records Administration; and therefore cannot be disputed. ALL four were members of Company “B”, 27th Battalion Georgia Infantry at the same identical time; no wonder there was confusion in the record keeping.

Though a Georgia State Archive personnel may have altered and certified a Muster Roll card that was sent out, he was in fact NOT falsifying information, as Robert Farmer did in fact enlist in Company “B”, 27th Georgia Infantry at Lewisville, Georgia on November 6, 1863 and was mustered in on January 2, 1864. ALL his Muster Roll cards have it on them (see attached) and these have NOT been altered. The reason for both Robert Farmer’s records being included under one name was because they were BOTH in Company “B” at the same time, and must have caused a lot of confusion at the time.

Robert L. who enlisted at ‘Lewisville’, Georgia, however, is the only one who was born in Australia and who is buried in Brunswick.

Only by checking their place of enlistment and their enlistment date would one discover this error in the recording of Robert’s name.

The attached map showing the location of each enlistment indicates ONLY the Robert L. Farmer who enlisted at "Lewisville", (our Robert Farmer), was anywhere near Brunswick, Georgia. The "other" Robert L. Farmer was located hundreds of miles to the northwest; just below Chattanooga, Tennessee.

James Gray

 

                              

                         

 

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Saturday 30 May 2009 5:50 PM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED

Sorry this is so long.

Robert L. Farmer (the Georgia one) was from Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia according to census records and online family trees. However, the trees seem like carbon copies of each other, but public records support most of the material and one tree actually has notes on the family suggesting they did research them.

Also, Pope Hill was in Jefferson County, Mr. Gray is looking at a modern day subdivision called Pope Hill Estates in Coweta County. You should always reference maps of the time period, not present day maps. Look at this map for Jefferson County in 1864:

http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/histcountymaps/jefferson1864map.htm

You will see Pope Hill at the top of Jefferson County just below Bath. That puts all of the men you quoted in Jefferson County where all of the men lived up until the war and some long after until their deaths.

I put the census records on my site, and of course you can all look them up at Ancestry.com, or the LDS website has them online for free now.

http://www.glynngen.com/history/people/farmer1/documents.htm

Scroll down to the section titled "COMPARISON OF THE ROBERT FARMERS"

Robert L. Farmer is living in Jefferson County at the same time that Robert Farmer of Australia is living in Brunswick. He is always listed as Robert L. or R.L. and family trees have his name as Robert Levin Farmer. His marriages are recorded in Jefferson County, and he is supposedly buried in Mt. Moriah Cemetery with the rest of the Farmer family. I have put in a request for someone to find record of his burial and tombstone, but we all know how long that can take. I might just go up there myself.

So, there is no chance they are the same man in the census; because I did think that could have been a possibility because I couldn't find Robert L. in the 1870 census, then Robert of Australia shows up in Glynn. However, by 1880, both men are in the census, one in Jefferson County, the other in Glynn County, Georgia.

The 27th GA was not formed in Brunswick, but you know this, the 26th was. The 27th that Robert L. Farmer was a part of was formed at Savannah with several other regiments, which still isn't impossible for Robert of Australia, but it's hard to place him as the man when there was a Robert L. Farmer of Louisville that matches what the military record states. Not only that but Rhesa (Robert) E. Farmer and Lewis Daniel (L.D.) Farmer are brothers and first cousins of Robert L. Farmer and all served the 27th.

There are no Farmers in the 26th, and even if Robert of Australia fought in the Civil War, we know it wasn't with a Brunswick, Glynn County regiment because he is not on any rolls. Not only that, but there is no telling where he could have fought because we don't even know where he entered the United States in 1860-61, or if in fact he really got here by that time.

I believe Mr. Gray has the wrong man. And I am not saying that Robert Farmer of Australia did NOT fight in the Civil War, I just strongly believe that he is not the man from the 27th GA because of the Farmers that were in the 27th are all related to each other, and are all from Jefferson County, where Louisville and Pope Hill is located.

And not that this proves anything, but there are more family letters than just the one Mr. Gray has a copy of. None of them mention anything about Robert serving in the war. The earliest letter written (of record) was by Robert to family in Australia dated 12 November 1872 from Cumberland Island, Camden County. He never mentioned anything about the war or being a part of the efforts in any capacity. The only clue to his past is that he says he is a sailor; which would suggest to me, that if he did fight in any capacity, it may have been with the Navy or running blockades for profit.

That letter and a couple of others, including the one Mr. Gray has a copy of, were printed in a book titled "The Story of Rock Vale and Malabaine". I can not find a copy of the book anywhere, but I do have the chapters on Robert Farmer's family, and the researchers say only that Robert got caught up in the war.

I have two theories, one, I think Robert Farmer of Australia met up with James A. Clubb somewhere at the start of the war. Clubb asked Farmer to stay on his lands and protect his maritime properties and possibly watch over his lands as well while he (Clubb) was away at war. Farmer apparently made quite a bit of money during the war because by 1874 he is buying property in Brunswick, the deed stating he was of Cumberland Island. Then he marries Clubb's daughter.

And, in later letters, Algenora states that Robert lost a lot of money.

Or, two, the man Robert was living with 1870 might provide clues too. John Silvan was 40 years old in 1870 Glynn County. He was a seaman from Pennsylvania and Robert Farmer of Australia was living with him and he too was a seaman. This census record could suggest that Robert Farmer came out of Australia to Pennsylvania and then to Glynn County by 1870. John Silvan may have fought for a Pennsylvania regiment, the 11th PA Co. C (I have not proven this, there is just a man indexed in the rolls as such).

I think the Robert Levin Farmer of Louisville, Georgia-born, was the Robert L. Farmer in the 27th GA. Census records put him in Louisville, and the military record states he was of Louisville.

I think Robert Farmer of Australia was NOT in the 27th GA and that it can not be confirmed that he was in any regiment because no record has been found to prove it, but information has been found to disprove, or at least question it by the fact that there was a man named Robert L. Farmer who was of Jefferson County, Georgia.

Census records, military records, and geography place Robert L. Farmer in Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia and he was old enough to serve in the military.

Census records, vital records, land records, and personal family letters, place Robert Farmer of Australia in Camden and Glynn Counties, and possibly Fulton County when he died in 1902.

Two different men.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick and various recipients
Sent:  Saturday 30 May 2009 11:00 PM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED
Attach:  Pope Hill - Lewisville Comparison Map [map created by James Gray]

I have gone back, using "your" map and recomputed the town locations (see attached). Remember the National Archives Muster Roll cards reveal there were 2 different enlistments, in 2 different towns, recorded under the same name, on the same exact day, witnessed by 2 different Commanding officers, some 45 miles apart; on the SAME day. Original, unaltered government documents from the National Archives cannot be disputed.

How do you explain there being two (2) DIFFERENT individuals enlisteed as Robert.L. Farmers in the SAME company "B", but each enlisted at a DIFFERENT town and witnessed by two different commanding officers?   --  One at Lewisville and another, on the same exact day, at Pope Hill? If you insist they are one and the same, he must have had one hell of a horse to make that distance.

One can make all the assumptions in the world, but that information cannot be disputed. There had to have been 2 "different" Robert Farmers who enlisted on the same day; one at Lewisville and one at Pope Hill, and I have no doubt but that they were in all likehood related.

James Gray

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick and various recipients
Sent:  Saturday 30 May 11:03 PM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED

YOUR WEBSITE LINK DOES NOT WORK

JIM

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick and various recipients
Sent:  Saturday 30 May 11:25 PM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED
Attach:  Pope Hill - Lewsiville Comparison Map

MAP APPLIES TO EMAIL SENT

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Sunday 31 May 2009 3:54 PM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED

From your latter email you stated a link of mine didn't work, which link was that?

From Louisville to Stellaville it's only 15.38 miles and Pope Hill was just west of Stellaville.

On your comparison map, you have shown a distance from Louisville in Jefferson County to some place in Richmond County, of course it's over 40 miles away. You shot off north east, when Pope Hill is almost directly north of Louisville and in the same county. You need to be aiming towards Matthews.

Even if you walked on foot from Lewisville to Pope Hill, it wouldn't take a whole day; it would take under 8 hours.

All of the enlistment cards, which are really just detailing where the soldier was throughout the months (it's not a record of his enlistment but of his actions), were in one "folder" not 2 different folders. The reason being, they are for one man.

Why is it that all of the documents run in sequence if they are for 2 different men?

They all say he was enlisted by Capt. King and each card was filed by copyist F.A. Fowler.

Which of these documents shows a different enlistment officer? I didn't see it so you will have to point it out. Capt. King and Capt. J.H. King are the same man.

Robert L. Farmer is living in Dist. 77 of Jefferson County in 1860. Dist. 77 is at the top of the county, where Pope Hill was located using maps of the time period.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/maps/jefferson.gif

The census for 1860 shows him in Dist. 77 and the post office is Louisville. That's how you have two different towns on the military documents. One is where he was actually from and the other is the Post Office. This one difference does not prove it is two different men because these towns are both in Jefferson County and Robert L. Farmer lived in Pope Hill.

Robert L. Farmer and R.L. Farmer are the same man.

Robert E. Farmer and Rhesa E. Farmer are the same man.

And you are are right, one can make all the assumptions in the world, but this isn't an assumption, it's fact, it's written on paper, and you are trying to create two men to fit your needs. There was only one Robert L. Farmer of the 27th GA, all online indices record only one.

This Civil War master index only shows one Robert L. Farmer, as we know Robert E. and Rhesa E. Farmer have been confirmed to be the same man:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/military/civilwar/gsi/gsi097.txt

Towns in Jefferson County:

http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/jeffersoncopn.htm

Scroll down and find Pope and Pope Hill. It is in Jefferson County. It is not in Coweta County as you first suggested, it is not in Catoosa County where you are now stating it is near Ringgold, and it is not in Richmond County where you point to on your map. And now you have sent another map but made no comment about whether you agree that they are in the same county now or not.

How can you explain there are two different men, in two different towns, witnessed to by two different men?

Because I see one man, with two towns 15 miles apart listed on his military documents because he lived in one and enlisted in the other so they are both valid enlistment towns for one man, and all are witnessed by the same men.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick, various recipients
Sent:  Tuesday 2 June 2009 1:45 AM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED
Attach:  4 documents seen below

I am not going to get into another [expletive deleted] contest about Farmer with you Amy; I've got more important things to do. But look at the attached; if that's not proof, then you will never be convinced. There were two individuals enlisted in two different towns on the same day, by the same Capt. King. He would NEVER have enlisted the same man in two different towns, he would have recognized him; and he wasn't that stupid.

At any rate, all the Farmers in Georgia were Confederates and they all served in the same company, so why all the confrontations? They all deserve to be remembered. It don't really matter in that light which one is buried there; he's still a Confederate veteran so why not honour him as such. You're not even a Confederate or a descendant anyway Amy.

Enough said.

James Gray

                                                  

 

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray, and various recipients
Sent:  Wednesday 3 June 2009 1:41 AM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED

You know nothing of my family history, believe it or not, through my nephews and my 6th great grandfather's descendants, I am related to Robert Farmer through his marriage to Algenora Clubb, and to several more Confederates out of McIntosh and Camden Counties, Georgia. My direct ancestors were Native born Americans in Georgia and were here up to and during the Revolutionary War and held captive in Savannah because of their religion, so do not make assumptions on things you know nothing about.

All of the Hedricks that served the Confederacy out of Virginia, my ancestors. The Hedricks on the Union out of Indiana, my ancestors. I have ancestors who fought on both sides. The Harrells of Georgia & South Carolina, my ancestors as well.

These documents are not proof. They run in sequence, which means they are for one man not two different men. They were all in the same folder. Only one Robert Farmer served with the 27th GA. All the research done by other historians reflect that in their indices they have online, all of the government indices show the same.

And, R.L. Farmer could have enlisted in Pope, and been mustered in at Louisville later the same day, thus the two towns on the documents.

I have searched all the military databases available to me. Robert Farmer of Brunswick never filed for a pension, he did not file for Confederate Exemption on his property, nothing in his family writings state he fought during the war, a man who wrote a book on Oak Grove Cemetery focused on all the military veterans (of all wars) and he did not list Farmer as one and this man went to the archives and scrolled through the microfilms in person because he did this before the internet and he WAS a relative of Robert Farmer and was connected to the most well established families of Coastal Georgia (he has been deceased since the 1990's).

I have found nothing to state Robert Farmer even served in the Civil War let alone as a Confederate. And I am not saying he didn't, but you have provided a military record for a man who lived and died in Jefferson County and are trying to apply it to another man because you think that two different towns listed in the "where" space makes two different men. Two towns both connected to Robert Levin Farmer of Georgia.

Not to mention there is nothing to connect Robert Farmer of Australia to Jefferson County and that he was never known as Robert L. or R.L. Farmer.

This is not a confrontation or a [expletive deleted]; this is how you work things out to get to the right story. Your story is flawed with erroneous dates that can be supported by public records; and with the military document for another man.

And again, I'm not saying Robert never fought in the war, there's just nothing found yet to prove that he did.

Since that is your way of doing genealogy and history, here, we will apply your method:

The 1870 Glynn County Census says Robert Farmer was born in 1845 and from Austria, so that means Robert Farmer was really from Germany and not Australia. Since you think that two different towns on the military documents makes two different men, then Robert Farmer in Glynn County was from Germany, the 1870 census says so. There were two different men.

In 1880 Glynn County Robert was born in 1845 and from "Aust." which is a shortened form of Austria.

In 1900 Glynn Robert Farmer was born May 1848 and is from England; Austria is a European nation.

The census says Austria so now we have two different Robert Farmers that married a woman named Algenora. The German one was living in Brunswick according to census records.

So what if there are family letters addressed from Brunswick to Australia. The census records the one from Austria, wonder where the Australian was all this time. The one from Australia was born in 1842 so this can't be him in the census.

Or, maybe we have three Robert Farmers, one from Austria, one from Aust., and one from England.

I'm glad you have better things to do because it's obvious this project doesn't mean too much to you if you are so ready to give up, and it does matter how you memorialize someone. It matters a lot, and it also matters that you remember them correctly.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick, and various recipients
Sent:  Wednesday 3 June 2009 2:32 AM
Subject:  Re:  ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED

Please do not continue sending me your opinions; I am not interested in your opinions. You still have not provided a birth or burial place for your so called individual and refuse to accept anything except what you want to believe. NEITHER of those cards says anything about being "musterd in"; they state they were "ENLISTED" at those towns. First you claimed he was 'born' in one then enlisted in the other. Now you say he 'enlisted' in one and was 'mustered in' at the other. Where did you minaciously acquire that information? As for the abbreviation 'Aust.', there are other veterans with the same abbreviation and they were found to have been born in Australia. One can always dig out anything to back their opinion, but that does not make it so.

As such, there is no reason to continue this with you as you have your mind made up and nothing short of a living eye-witness would satisfy you. So please discontinue any further discussion with me on this matter. I don't mean to be rude, but please go and bother someone else.

James Gray

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Friday 5 June 2009 5:41 PM
Subject:  Re: ROBERT FARMER - MYSTERY SOLVED

Mr. Gray, you have already used the taxpayers hard earned money to purchase this marker, and now you think I have to prove my case and you are giving up on your research. You started this project, you should follow through. I'm not being argumentative or rude, Mr. Newbern said we had to work this out together or the marker will never be placed.

Just for your research records, I checked the McIntosh County newspapers for an obit for Robert Farmer that died in Brunswick and they did not have one; the paper was available, they just didn't report his death. Remember there was no Brunswick paper available, no Atlanta paper either, and there was a paper available but no obit in the Camden County papers. So that leaves checking the Savannah, Chatham County papers and the Jesup, Wayne County papers.

I have told you when and where Robert L. Farmer was born. I placed it online and sent you several links to online family trees where his birth and death information is recorded. I also put it online at my website.

Since you obviously did not view the online trees, Robert Levin Farmer was born 25 October 1845 in Jefferson County to parents Rhesa Jordan Farmer and Elizabeth Jane Matthews. He married first to Willie Arrington on 11 April 1878 in Jefferson then he married his widowed sister-in-law Savannah (Beal) Farmer on 28 February 1887. He is buried in Louisville City Cemetery in Jefferson County according to a cemetery book published on the cemeteries of that county, with his two wives and his son.

He died in Louisville, Jefferson County on 9 May 1902, and I found one copy of his obit in the Atlanta papers online at Ancestry.com, and also one from Jefferson County at their public library. They will be sending me that obit and they contacted a local researcher who studies these families. This researcher is currently going over the military documents. He did state that there was only one Robert Levin Farmer in Jefferson County that was born in Pope Hill then later removed to Louisville where he died.

I do not know this researcher, I have never met him, so it's not someone I have "influenced"; he is someone the library uses for genealogy research requests. I have sent him the military documents only after a phone conversation today. I am not going to share his contact info because he has yet to state that he wants to be involved, but I will share his responses until he tells me otherwise.

Robert L. Farmer is not a figment of my imagination, nor is he an opinion; he was a real person and he was the only Robert L. Farmer of the 27th GA. And I am not stating the documents say "ENLISTED" or "MUSTERED IN", I'm suggesting that it's likely that he enlisted in one town and mustered in at another and that's how the two towns were written on these documents that run in sequence.

One can always dig out anything to back their opinion, but that does not make it so.

You make this statement, yet you also are guilty of the same thing by creating 2 Robert L. Farmers out of one. And I merely used your theory to show you that I can make two or three Robert Farmers out of one, just like you have done.

And it is not my opinion that Robert Farmer of Australia never filed for a Confederate pension or exemption on his property. It is also not my opinion that he was never known as R.L. or Robert L. Farmer either because public records support this information. There are no Confederate records at the local level, nor did he ever sign his name as Robert L. or R.L. Farmer.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Monday 8 June 2009 10:50 PM
Subject:  Oak Grove Cemetery Map

Mr. Gray, I noticed on your web page for Robert Farmer that you posted various documents on your web server relating to your research.

I had stated in a previous email that you should not use my website for your sources and I notice you have saved screen shots of cemetery records from my website, without my permission. Since I have changed the format of those pages, I can't really argue with you about ownership, I can however tell you that the map you have detailing Oak Grove Cemetery is an original work of mine because it is a digitally altered copy of the original.

You never asked me if you could place this map on your web server, and I never shared this map with you. Linking to it would be the appropriate and professional thing to do, however you have pirated the image from my website and stored it on your server without putting a source with the document and without my permission.

There is no need to respond to this email with an attack saying you got the image from someone else, because I can prove it as my own through the alterations I made that no one knows about and the original creator of this map has been deceased for many years so I know they didn't send it to you either, not to mention this is not their original map either.

No matter what, if you are not going to source that map properly, you need to remove it from your web server. And by sourcing I mean putting a name with the document and not in a vague list at the end of your page.

Thank you.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick and various recipients
Sent:  Tuesday 9 June 2:15 AM
Subject:  Re:  Oak Grove Cemetery Map

Amy;

When are you going to give it up and go away. The map did come from the internet, but I borrowed it from the same place you did. It was a commercial map; not one you personally designed. But I have put together a much better map of information from a Brunswick government department that does a much better job in showing where the cemetery is located; just so you will be happy.

As far as the information you originally provided me; you were told at that time that I was going to use it on a website and you never once objected, until now.

So lets just agree to disagree and go out seperate ways; Okay?

JG

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Tuesday 9 June 2009 7:10 AM
Subject:  Re:  Oak Grove Cemetery Map

Wow!  I wasn't being rude, so please don't get an attitude with me.  As usual, you have not read and understood my email and have jumped to the wrong conclusions.  I said the map detailing Oak Grove Cemetery, not a map showing directions to the cemetery.

Mr. Gray, the map in question is located here:

http://www.acwv.info/1-files-veterans/farmer/Oak%20Grove%20Cemetery%20map,%20Brunswick,%20Georgia,%20USA.jpg

Underneath it is:  Oak Grove Cemetery map, Brunswick, Georgia, USA

You have pirated a document that I created, without my permission, and without giving me the credit.  It is a self-published image that falls under the protection of federal copyright laws of the United States of America for the length of my lifetime and 75 years thereafter.

You should add to that statement "courtesy of Amy Lyn Hedrick" as you have sourced the other images on your site.

Or place a link to it at its original location:

http://www.glynngen.com/images/maps/001oak.jpg

Or remove it altogether from your web server if you can't find it in yourself to do what's right.

And I don't have a problem with you using my material and I'm not objecting to its use on your website.

The problem is that you are using this map on your web server without crediting it to me.  And it's a very big problem because you never even asked me if you could use it, therefore I never gave you permission to use it on your site or for any publications, and you are presenting it in a way that would make one assume it was yours.

After all, you gave credit to Mr. Calvin Hart and the local SCV for their images, and Mr. Hart isn't even the photographer of the image he sent you.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick only
Sent:  Tuesday 9 June 2009 10:06 AM
Subject:  Re:  Oak Grove Cemetery Map

I must apologize. We were talking about two different maps; I did not realize that map was even on the website. Though I must have gotten it from you by email, as I have no record of going to your site link before, I went to the link you provided and it is your work; a mighty fine piece of work too. As such I have, as you requested, added to the map the following in the bottom right corner where it is easily seen;

Used by Courtesy of Amy Lynn Hedrick GlynnGen.com, Webmaster.

I trust that meets with your approval.

James Gray

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Wednesday 10 June 2009 2:08 AM
Subject:  Re:  Oak Grove Cemetery Map

Yes, thank you. My name is Amy Lyn Hedrick, only one "N" in my middle name.

Also, did you get a previous email where I stated that I looked for an obituary for Robert Farmer of Australia in McIntosh County papers and did not find one?

Just want you to add that to your notes. So that makes no obit in the Camden County paper, no obit in McIntosh County, and then the newspapers for Brunswick and Atlanta were missing for that time period.

I will be trying Savannah and Wayne County soon.

Amy Hedrick

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  James Gray and various recipients
Sent:  Friday 19 June 2009 6:49 PM
Subject:  Clubb / Roberts Family

This is not an attack, so please, Mr. Gray, don't get hostile.  I just want you to produce the right facts in your essay as they can be obtained by simple genealogy research that any amateur can research, so certainly you should be able to come to the same conclusions.

Algenora Clubb Farmer's sister Mary did NOT marry a man named C.M. Farmer.  Mr. Gray has erroneously attached the family of Christian M. Farmer of Bibb County to the family of Robert & Algenora (Clubb) Farmer.

http://www.acwv.info/1-files-veterans/farmer/farmer.htm

About the 10th paragraph:

One 1900 census record states that Charles M. Farmer was born in October 1853, which is an error, in Australia and that his parents were born in Scotland. Charles married Mary Clubb Farmer, Nora's sister and with a daughter named Nina Farmer lived in Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia. Robert's parents and siblings, according to the 1866 - 1870 census of Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, arrived in the U.S. during that same period. Robert’s brother John A. Farmer, a Grocer, and his wife Agnes, both were born in Scotland, immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.

In Gray's first paragraph he states quite a few of Robert's family died before 1870, Charles especially:

Robert Farmer, son of Charles Farmer from England born in 1799 and Margaret Spencer in 1812, was born in Northam, Western Australia on July 12, 1841; according to Western Australia Dictionary of Early Settlers. Other census records give his birth as 1845 and 1848; depending on which source you examine. Charles, and Margaret Farmer’s children, according to the Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia Pre 1829-1888, Vol ll, are recorded as “Charles, born in 1832, died 1854;  Jane Elizabeth born in 1834, died 1903;  Thomas born in 1835, 1900; William born in 1836, drowned 1839; Mary Ann born in 1838; John born in 1840, died 1903; Robert born 1841, died 1903 (USA); William born in 1843, died 1867; dtr. born and died in 1844; and Eleanor born in 1844, died 1913.”...

I have no idea how Charles Farmer died in 1854 yet he is in the census up until 1930 in Georgia.  Not to mention that this C.M. Farmer, whose name is Christian not Charles, is listed with the family of John & Agnes Farmer.  Charles & Margaret (Spencer) Farmer were the parents of Robert Farmer.  But, Mr. Gray is stating that John from the 1860 Bibb census was the brother of Robert.  How could C.M. Farmer be a brother to Robert when he was the son of John?

There are some family trees online at Ancestry.com (public member trees that provide more sourcing than the regular trees) that document the family of John & Agnes (Henderson) Farmer and they list Christian Farmer (1854-1938) as a son and his father John (1818-1908) was the son of John Farmer (b. 1791) and Isabella Angus (1801-1864); he was not the son of Charles Farmer & Margaret Spencer because their son John was born in 1840 according to Mr. Gray's first paragraph and the John Farmer from the 1870 Bibb census was born about 1818 not 1840.

I think the only reason Mr. Gray has attached Christian Farmer is because he WAS born in Australia; but he was not related to Robert in any direct way.  His family was from Scotland and they traveled to Australia then came to Georgia.  Charles & Margaret Farmer died before 1848 in Australia they never came to the US.

Algenora's obit lists Mary, mistakenly, as "Mrs. U.M. Farmer" and Mr. Gray believes that this was supposed to be Mrs. C.M. Farmer.

Marriage records for Glynn County show Mollie A. Clubb marrying U.M. Roberts on 22 July 1872 in Glynn County:

http://content.sos.state.ga.us/u?/countyfilm,20647

From 1880 to 1910 they are living together in Glynn County and nowhere else (in 1910 they are a few houses away from the Robert Farmer children).  The family of C.M. Farmer is living in 1880 Bibb, 1900 Laurens, 1910 Taylor, 1920 & 1930 in Effingham.

On 27 December 1877, James A. Clubb files a deed in which he names every single one of his children (see attached).  His daughter Mary (sister of Algenora) was listed as "Mary A. Roberts".

Around 1903 Ulysses Mortimer Roberts files for a Confederate Pension (something his brother-in-law Robert Farmer did not do) which can be viewed online at Ancestry.com.  After his death on 24 November 1910, his wife Mollie A. Roberts continues with his pension.  She was listed as Mollie A. Clubb on her marriage record a record which can also be found in this pension file.  The whole time they are in Brunswick, while C.M. & Mary Farmer are in Laurens & Taylor Counties.

Mary "Mollie" A. Clubb did NOT marry a man named C.M. Farmer and C.M. Farmer was NOT the brother of Robert Farmer of Australia.

All instances of this C.M. Farmer and Mary Clubb should be removed from the essay because it is not a truth; it's not even a possibility.

Amy Hedrick

From:  James Gray
To:  Amy Hedrick only
Sent:  Saturday 20 June 2009 10:34 AM
Subject:  Re:  Clubb / Roberts Family

I will look into it; BUT if you send any more messages between us to Foenander I will ceaser all communication with you.

JG

From:  Scott Newbern
To:  Amy Hedrick; Carolyn Nugent; James Gray; Terry Foenander; and others
Sent:  Saturday 22 August 2009 6:32 PM
Subject:  Robert Farmer Grave Marker

Compatriots,

I have sent the Robert Farmer grave marker back to the National Cemetery Administration which is a branch of the Veterans Administration (VA). They will recycle it. The VA conducted their own investigation after receiving a notice and their historians / researchers sided with those of you who determined that the Robert Farmer buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, GA, was from Australia, but their is no documentation confirming he was ever a Confederate soldier. I feel like their investigation has provided the definitive findings to put an end to this story especially since their findings match the findings of some of you. I appreciate all of your efforts in this matter.

Scott Newbern
Commander
Thomas Marsh Forman Camp 485
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Brunswick, Georgia

From:  Amy Hedrick
To:  Scott Newbern (and all recipients of the above email)
Sent:  Saturday 22 August 2009 6:57 PM
Subject:  Re:  Robert Farmer Grave Marker

Thank you so much for taking the extra step Mr. Newbern.  Did you contact the VA or did they contact you?  And is there a way to get a copy of their findings or an official notice from them?  I would like to place it on the website if possible.

I'm glad they could recycle the marker.

Amy Hedrick

 

 

 

Index Genealogical Documents Essay by James Gray 2006
Email Correspondence The Forged Documents Descendants
  Timeline  

 

 

 

Home            Contact         Site Map
 Copyright ©GlynnGen.com All Rights Reserved
  Material on this site is one of kind, having been published here for the first time ever. This data was compiled by Amy Hedrick
  for the GlynnGen website to be used for your personal use and it is not to be reproduced in any manner on other websites or electronic media,
  nor is it to be printed in any resource books or materials. Thank you!

Want to make a contribution?

Donate via PayPal: