Ancestors of the Dauphin family of Covington County arrived quite early. By 1821, Darling Dauphin was a preacher for the Beckbee Association which later became the Bethlehem Baptist Association; therefore, he must have settled here prior to this date.
    Darling was born around 1764 in Bertie County, North Carolina, probably as the son of a George Dauphin. He was orphaned in 1775 and was apprenticed as a leather worker. By 1790, he was married to a young lady named Ruth.
    The couple’s children were all born in North Carolina by 1820, about the time the family emigrated to South Alabama. Their names were John; James, m. Matilda Mashburn; Martha, m. 1822 William A. Bradley; Winnafred (twin), m. John H. or J. Bradley; Elizabeth; a son; and a daughter.
    It appears that James was the only son to make the move with the parents. He and his father were listed as heads of households in the 1830 and 1840 censuses. In 1836, they both received grants of land in the Gantt area west of Rose Hill. Darling acquired two 40 acre tracts and James, one. (Earlier in 1824, there was a record of a Darlen Daffin having been given a land grant.) In 1854, James added 85 acres and 255 acres to his land holdings.
    In 1830 and 1840, Darling and James each owned one slave. In 1850 and 1860, James owned two slaves.
Sometime after 1826, Darling was a resident minister for churches in the Beckbee, Bethlehem, and Conecuh River Associations. During the years of 1831 to 1841, he represented the Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church.
    Soon after settling on their land, a house was built at a location near the early general merchandise store operated by James Parker. During the years before the W.B.T.S., James and his son, Seaborn A. lived in the house.
    By 1860, Darling had died, and his widow, Ruth, is listed as head of the household. She is 77 years of age and lives next door to her son, James. Residing in her home was Sarah Squier, a native of North Carolina, but whose relationship is not known.
Darling’s son, James, emerged as a leader in their community. In 1841 and again in 1845, he was commissioned as Justice of the Peace for Beat Number Four. He was well regarded by his neighbors and known as a successful farmer.
    James and his wife, Matilda, reared the following children: Daniel, m. Delilah Clark; Eliza C., b. 1823, m. John Wright Jones; Thomas, m. Caroline ?; Nancy E., m. William C. Jones; John Jackson, b. 1828, d. 1864, m. Martha Ann Jones; Marcus Lafayette, b. 1833, d. 1900, m. Mary Mourning Jones; Elizabeth (twin), b. 1833, single; David, b. ca 1838; and Elizabeth, b. ca 1844.
    Daniel was active in the Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church circa 1841. He later served in the Confederate Army as a private in Co. C, 37th. Ala. Inf. Reg’t. During the war he was injured and died. In the 1870 census, his widow, Delilah, was listed at 48 years of age with the following children: Caroline, 22; Andrew J., 20; George W., 18; Franklin, 16; James, 18; David L., 11; and Mary A., 9.
    Thomas D. left the state for awhile but returned home to farm the family’s land. In 1854, he purchased 40 acres in the Dozier/Rose Hill community. The next year he purchased 80 acres in the same area. In 1869, he homesteaded 38 acres in the Rawls community. In 1860, he was listed as a farmer living alone at age 35 years. In 1870, he was married to Caroline who is 32 years of age with a child, Adeline, 9 years of age who was born in Mississippi. Also in the home is a male, Haselsin N., who was 17 years of age. Thomas and Caroline had five children: Adeline, John, Charlotta, David, and William.
    John Jackson purchased a 40 acre and an 80-acre tract of land in 1856 in the Dozier/Rose Hill community. He was a mill right and built a grist mill at Macrae, Alabama. He was married to Martha Ann Jones, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Carter) Jones. (Sarah’s father was a native of Stockholm, Sweden.) John and Martha had at least three children: George, Molly, and Jackson. In the 1870 census, Martha is listed as head of the household with two children: George W., 10; and Jackson, 7.
    Marcus L. purchased 40 acres of land in 1855 in the Rawls community. He is probably the Marcus S. who purchased two 40 acre tracts in the Gantt area in 1856. He also acquired some railroad land in 1886. Marcus farmed his grandfather’s land and served as a Baptist preacher. He was ordained at the Shiloh Church which he represented from 1852 to 1862. In 1864, at age 32, he served as a 4Cpl., Co. A, Cov. Co. Reserves (First Class) representing Beats 1,3,7,8,9, & 10. Marcus and his wife, Mary Mourning, sister to John’s wife, had at least the following children: Martha J., b. ca 1855; and Eliza C., b. ca 1859.
    Although no proof can be established at this time, there is another Dauphin descendant living near the above families. It would appear that Seaborn A. Dauphin might be another son to James Dauphin. In the 1850 census, there was an Augustus Dauphin, 21 years of age, recently married to Mahala, age 22, forming a new household. In the 1860 census, Seaborn A. Dauphin, 32 years, is living with his wife, Mahala J., 32 years, and the following children: Telatha, 8; John J., 7; Jesse J., 3; and Mary M., 1. In the 1870 census, the family includes one additional child, Darling at age 9. The Gus and Ruby Bryan history mentions a James Dauphin and his son, S.A.; therefore, this would seem to be correct.
    Seaborn A. purchased 40 acres of land in the Rawls community in 1855. In 1861, he was serving as a Captain for Beat No. 4 Co., 60th. Reg’t, 8th. Brigade, 11th. Div., Alabama Militia. In 1887, he was commissioned Tax Assessor for the county.
    At present, there is no information available on the other descendants of Darling Dauphin and his son, James. Anyone who has additional information or corrections to the above is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at Route 9, Box 97, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com

    Appreciation is expressed to Sue Dauphin of Jupiter, Florida, for sharing her family records. There are several descendants in this family who are interested in continuing the research.

Writers request: 
    Anyone researching the Adams family of Covington County is requested to contact him. The available data suggests there were several Adams families who have not been related. Since this family will be the subject of a future column, assistance is needed to correctly relate the different families. If you may be of any help please contact Curtis Thomasson at the above addresses.

Query:
    Seeking identity of Delaney Cox and the parents of John and Delaney (Kilpatrick) Cox, residents of Covington County circa 1870. Also interested in communicating with those researching the Clements and Seymour families. Contact D. Richardson Slater at 1305 Brookgreen lane, Ooltewah, TN 37363 or Email: MawMaw2776@aol.com

    Seeking information on the Aughtman family of Covington County: What was "Hub" Aughtman’s given name? Have data to exchange. Contact Frances Wheeler at 9920 NE 120th St., Okeechobee, FL 34972 or email: fwheeler@strato.net

Reunions:
    The Annual Thomasson Traces Family Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, August 26, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Shaw Recreation Center on Sutton Road. All Thomasson descendants are requested to attend and bring a cover dish dinner, family photos and memorabilia, and a favorite family quilt for display. Contact Curtis Thomasson at 334-222-6467 or 
Email chthom@alaweb.com  for more information.
 

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