Mary Thomas
about 1799 - 1849
Mary Thomas is identified as Isham B. Thomas' sister through an 1835 Bulloch County, Georgia, deed in which Isham gave her land and identified "Mary Odom" as his sister in the deed (click here).
Mary Thomas married James Odum (or Odom) in Bulloch County, GA , on February 27, 1817. James Odum is said to have been a farmer and lived all his life in Bulloch County. They are reported to have had as many as 8 surviving children, 4 of whom are: Leonard (b. 1826), Isaac (or Oscar) (b. 1828) Godfrey (b. 1832) and Henry (b. 1838), as identified through the Common School Fund records. Other probable children are Eveline (b. 1836), and Eliza (b. 1825) .
James Odum is listed on the 1820 Bulloch County census, but Mary is missing from the household. Mary Odum is listed on the 1830 and 1840 census as the head of the household in Bulloch County. There is no male of the appropriate age listed in the household on either the 1830 or 1840 census to be James Odum nor is there any listing for James Odum as a separate household in Bulloch County for those years. The members of the household are shown as:
| Age Group >> | Under 10 | 10 to 16 | 16 to 25 | 26 to 45 | over 45 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 1 | ||||
| Females: | 1 |
| Age Group >> | Under 5 | 5 to 10 | 10 to 15 | 15 to 20 | 20 to 30 | 30 to 40 | 40 to 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Females: | 1 | 1 |
| Age Group >> | Under 5 | 5 to 10 | 10 to 15 | 15 to 20 | 20 to 30 | 30 to 40 | 40 to 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Females: | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Based on the above, all indications are that James died before 1830. The increase of 3 children (Godfrey?, Eveline?, Henry?) between 1830 and 1840 with no adult male in the household is noted.
At some point during the 1840's, the Common School Fund records show both Godfrey and Henry Odum were in the household of Calvin Rushing in Bulloch County. Eveline Odum is not mentioned in these records. Calvin Rushing did not marry until June 1838 when he married Sarah Nevil.
Mary Thomas married her second husband, Andrew Kicklighter, Sr. in Bulloch County, GA, on May 2, 1841. They had one child: Mary Magdalene Kicklighter (b. 10 Dec. 1841). Of interest is that Vicey Thomas and Nancy Thomas, one of whom is probably Mary's sister, married two of Andrew Sr.'s sons, Jesse (10 Jun 1823) and Andrew, Jr. (11 Nov 1824). Also, Eliza Odum, who is probably Mary's daughter, married another of Andrew Sr.'s sons, Frederick (18 Mar 1841).
Mary Thomas died sometime before September 6, 1849. On that date the Bulloch County Court appointed a guardian for Mary's orphan, minor son, Godfrey Odum. There was no mention made by the court of any other Odum children.
The 1850 census found Godfrey Odum living in the household of Ezekiel Clifton and his wife Sarah in Emmanuel County, GA, and shown as a farmer. Leonard Odum (Liberty County, GA) and Isaac Odum (Wayne County, GA) were both married and living in their own households. Henry Odum was living in Leonard's household. Eveline Odum, age 16, was listed in the household of Henry Kicklighter (probably a nephew of Andrew Kicklighter, Sr.) and his wife, two households away from Leonard in Liberty County. Eliza (or Vicey) Odum married Frederick Kicklighter (son of Andrew Kicklighter, Sr.) March 18, 1841, and was living in Bulloch County. Mary Magdalene Kicklighter was living in her father's household.
After 1850:
- Leonard Odum and his wife, Sarah, moved to Volusia County, Florida where they stayed.
- Isaac Odum and his wife, Elizabeth Warner, disappeared after 1850 but their son, Leonard, married Martha Harrison and stayed in Wayne County, Georgia.
- Godfrey Odum married Rebecca Moody of Liberty County and settled in Wayne County.
- Henry Odum and his wife, Rosamond, moved to Pierce County, then Appling County and finally settled in Wayne County.
- Eveline Odum disappeared.
- Frederick and Eliza Kicklighter moved to Bradford County, Florida
- Mary Magdalene Kicklighter was in Andrew Sr.'s household on the 1850 and 1860 census. She married James Harvey about 1861 and they settled in Bryan County, Georgia.
Mary's information and the children Leonard, Isaac, Godfrey, Henry and Mary Magdalene are included in the Family Tree. Eveline and Eliza are not included as I have not yet confirmed their relationship.
