John Thomas Lively [2575]

  General Notes:

Buried at the Muse Cemetery, Anderson, Texas.

About John Lively and his father Thomas:

Both John Lively and Thomas Lively were listed as heads of families in the 1820 census of Pendleton County, South Carolina, and the 1830 census of Pickens County, South Carolina.

In 1820 John's family had a male aged 26-45, two males 1-10, a female 26-45, a female 10-16 years, and two females 0-10 years.

By 1830 his family included a male aged 40-50 years, a male 15-20 years, two males 5-10, one female 10-15, and two females 0-5 years.

Prior to 1840, John moved with his family to Cass County, Georgia. In the census of that year, the family consisted of a male aged 50-60, a male 15-20, a female 50-60, a female 15-20, and two females 5-10. The 1840 census of Cass County, Georgia also shows that John owned 9 slaves. In 1850 John Lively was living in Walker County, Georgia as were his three known sons and daughter Tilithia, all married and without families. Judea A. P. Lively was single and living with her father in 1850. John's wife Elizabeth died in March of that year.

By 1852 John Lively had moved to Texas with his sons John W. Lively and Reuben Lively. Son Thomas had preceded them to Texas, presumably sometime late in 1850. In 1860, John was living with his sons, John Wesley's family home in Houston County Texas.

John's name has occasionally been given by recent descendents as John Thomas and even Thomas and Tommy. Official documents discovered so far have given his name only as John Lively.

The first written record of Thomas Lively is in the census of 1790, Edgefield County, South Carolina. On this date his family included two males aged 16 and over, one male under 16 years of age, and four females.

In 1800, Thomas was living in Abbeville County, South Carolina. The census that year listed his family as one male aged 45 and over, one male 16-26, two females over 45, 3 females 10-16, and two females 1-10. The 1810 census, Abbeville County, South Carolina, lists Thomas and his family as: one male 26-45, one female over 45, 3 females 16-26, one female 10-16.

Pendleton County, South Carolina was Thomas' home when the 1820 census was taken and his family then included one male 45 and over, two males 1-10, one female over 45, one female 26-45.

Although Thomas was recorded living in 4 different counties between 1790 and 1830, this may represent as few as two different locations. The County of Abbeville, Edgefield and Pendleton, as they were organized, were all a part of the original 96 District. District and County were used interchangeably. In 1785 Abbeville and Edgefield County were split off from from District 96. Since Abbeville and Edgefield had one common boundary until 1897, it is possible a slight adjustment in boundary definition would cause what appears to be a relocation, even when a relocation did not take place.

A further study of county formations reveal that Washington County was taken from District 96 in 1795. In 1798 Washington County was divided into Greenville County and Pendleton County. Then, in 1826, Pendleton County was divided into Anderson and Pickens Counties.

One family tradition reports that Thomas Lively was born and reared in Virginia. This tradition maintains that he was a patriot and served in the Revolutionary War during which time his wife spun clothes, made his clothes, and shipped then to him while being closely watched by Tories. No official record of his Revolutionary War experience has been found.

Thomas and John Lively, both residents of Pickens County, sold 300 acres on January 30, 1836 to John Clayton. This land was on the north side of Twelve Mile River adjacent to the Rice Creek and John Stewart line. The deed was witnessed by Thomas Lively, Jr., and recorded August 18, 1836. John, in one place within the document was identified as John Sr., and Thomas Sr., the grantors of the deed, made their marks indicating they could not write.

Thomas Lively purchased 150 acres on Prather Creek in Pickens County, October 1, 1835 from John Nabour and his wife Winney.

The Thomas Lively will was probated June 10, 1839 in Pickens County giving a life estate to wife Rachel. His land on the west sided by Stewart's Creek and Roberts McCann's line went to son John Lively, while the land on the east side went equally to daughter Jane and son Mark.

John married Elizabeth Unknown [2576] [MRIN: 862] in 1811. (Elizabeth Unknown [2576] was born in 1792 in Nova Scotia and died in Mar 1850 in Walker County, Georgia.)