Pylant Geneology

When George moved from Sumter Co, SC to AL he is thought to have brought his orphaned nieces and nephews: Mary, Martha, Celia, James, Henry, Jesse, and Isham Pylant. The date 1820 is thought to be the time of the migration based on family tradition claiming Isham was about seven years old at the time and he was born in 1813. Other related families migrated from Sumter County to Alabama: Boykin, Reugg, Sprott, and Faircloth.

George Pylant was forty-three years old and took Sarah Crow, aged twenty-four, as his mistress in the Fall of 1822. On 27 Jan 1835, George Pylant named five minors, all surnamed Crow, as "those I deem my children." The mother of these children was probably named Sarah Crow. It is thought that these minors were not his step-children, but were "his recognized bastard children," for whom he had an Act of the Legislature of Alabama passed. Two other children were named in the estate papers.

Know all men by the presents that I George Pylant of Lowndes County and State of Alabama for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have to those I deem my children, viz, Caroline Joicy Crow, George Jefferson Crow, Shammy William Crow, Henrietta Maria Crow and Isam Milledge Crow, all of the Said County and State as well as for the future consideration of one dollar to me hand paid by said minors at or before the undersigned delivery knowledged have given and granted and by these do given and granted unto the said minor children their executors administrators and assignees all my estate consisting of negroes, land and houses, horses and mules, cattle and hogs and all household furniture and all notes and debts due to me and all money found in my possession at my death to have and to hold the whole of paid estate unto the said minor children their executors administrators and assignees forever and the said George Pylant for himself executors and administrators the said estate unto the said minor children these executors administrators assigns against the claim of him the said George Pylant his executors and administrators and against claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever shall and will warrants and forever defend them by these presents. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27 th January 1835. Signed sealed and delivered George Pylant (Seal) in presence of Asa T May, Lockwood J Potter
The State of Alabama Lowndes County Personally appeared before us William T. Browning and Robert Smith two acting Justices of the Peace for Said County George Pylant who acknowledged that he signed sealed the within deed of Gift for the purposed therein Mentioned. Signed Sealed and Acknowledged) George Pylant this 20th day of April 1835 Wm. F. Browning JP (Deed Book #2 (1834-1837), p. 276. County Clerk's Office, Lowndes County Courthouse, Hayneville, AL)

This deed of gift didn't list Luvennia, the 19 day old baby, who died eight months later.

Died on Sunday evening last, Mr. George Pylant, an old and respectable citizen of Lowndes County, at his residence near Church Hill. (The Lowndes County, Chronicle - 11 Nov 1843.)

Court Rejects Alleged Will of George Pylant: David A. Steele (mentioned in the Planters and Merchant's Bank lawsuit), as administrator of George Pylant's estate, filed suit against George's daughter and son-in-law, Caroline and Leroy Thomas. David A. Steele applicant for Probate of Will of George Pylant Dec'd and for Letters of Administration for Decedents Estate vs Thomas & wife et al heirs at law of George Pylant Dec'd
This day the Court proceeded to hear the application of David A. Steele for the probate of an instrument of writing as the last Will and Testament of George Pylant dec'd late of Lowndes County which was continued to this ___ of the Court. the heirs and legatees interested were cited into Court but made no objection. the Subscribing witnesses to said instrument of Writing were also summoned to appear the same day except Lockwood J. Potter who resides beyond the Jurisdiction of the Court. one of the witnesses Asa T. Mayalone appeared who being duly sworn deposed in substance as follows that it was his own genuine signature as witness to said supposed will that the signatures of the other witnesses resembled their hand writing and the signature of the supposed Testator resembled the hand writing of George Pylant Dec'd above mentioned but that he does not recollect anything about the transaction when it took place. does not remember whether George Pylant in his life time ever called upon him to witness this will. does not recollect of subscribing the same as a witness together with the other witnesses or in the presence of each other, or that either of them subscribed the same in the presence of George Pylant in his life time, or whether the said Pylant was at the time of sound mind and memory, in fact does not recollect any thing about it. The Court became satisfied that the evidence was entirely insufficient to establish said instrument of writing as the last will and Testament of George Pylant Dec'd and inasmuch as the said George Pylant in his life time sin__ the oath of the above mentioned instrument of writing had an Act of Legislature of Alabama passed legitimizing the legatees mentioned in said supposed will who before said act were his recognized bastard children all of which was brought to the notice of the Court - Whereupon It is ordered and Decreed by this Court said instrument of writing above mentioned shall not be received and established by this Court as the last will and Testament of George Pylant deceased and that George Pylant died intestate. Ordered that the Clerk file said instrument of writing and all papers connected with this cause in his Office as office documents. Whereas David A. Steele also made application to this Court for letters of Administration upon the Estate of George Pylant Dec'd and the heirs requested that he should be appointed. Decedent having no widow and the Court being satisfied that he is a suitable person whereupon it is ordered by the Court that David A. Steele be and he is hereby appointed Administrator of all and singular the good and chattles rights and credits which were of George Pylant Deceased late of Lowndes County upon his entering into Bond with approved security and taking the Oath prescribed by law. David A. Steele having entered into Bond with Archer B. Howard and Leroy Thomas as his securities which Bond was approved by the Court for his faithful Administration and management of the Estate of George Pylant Deceased and taken the Oath prescribed by law. Therefore it is Ordered by the Court that the Clerk issue to David A. Steele his letters of Administration of and upon the goods and chattles rights and credits which were of George Pylant Deceased. Ordered that said Administrator make a full true and correct inventory of all and singular goods and chattles right and credits which were of Geo. Pylant Dec'd. Ordered that said Administrator make a return of said inventory to this Court within three months. Ordered that John T. Bickey, F. F. Manning, Benjamin Mock, David W. Bozeman and Elias Daniel or a majority of them be and they are hereby appointed to appraise the goods and chattles rights and credits which were of George Pylant deceased. Ordered that the said Appraisers make a return of said appraise bill to this Court upon their Oaths within three months. Ordered the Clerk issue his warrant of appraisement direct to John Bickey, F. F. Manning, Benjamin Mock, David W. Bozeman and Elias Daniel commanding them or any three of them to appraise the goods and chattles right and credits which were of George Pylant Dec'd. Ordered that said Administrator have leave to sell all the Perishable Property belonging to the Estate of George Pylant Deceased on a credit of at least six months. Ordered that said Administrator give notice of the time and place of said sale by advertisement set up in three or more public places in Lowndes County at least thirty days before the day of sale. Ordered that said Administrator make a return of said sale Bill to this Office at its first term after said sale has been effected. Ordered that said Administrator give notice by publication in the Lowndes County Chronicle published in Hayneville notifying all the persons indebted to said Estate to make immediate payment and those having claims against said Estate to present the same duly authenticated as the directs or they will be barred. Ordered that said Administrator have leave to sell the cotton crop at private sale for cash. Ordered that said Administrator make a return of said sale bill of the Cotton crop to this court after the said sale has been effected. Ordered that said Administrator have leave to keep all the property belonging to said Estate together for the year 1845 and to employ an overseer for the purpose of making a crop on the Plantation of said Decedent. Thos M. Williams Judge (Probate Court Book F, p 131. Lowndes County Courthouse, Hayneville, AL.)

Caroline Pylant Thomas Countersues Estate: On 15 October 1845, Leroy and Caroline (Pylant) Thomas filed a petition against David A. Steele, George J. Pylant, and the heirs at law of George Pylant. The Thomas' asserted that the estate would be "greatly less injured by a sale of the lands than by a sale of the slaves of the said Estate for the payment of debts." The court then ordered Steele to sell the land at public auction. On 13 December 1845, "Archer B. Howard and Cornelius Robinson became the purchasers of the South half of section fifteen of Township fifteen of Range thirteen at and for the sum of $1510.50 (fifteen hundred and ten and 50/100 dollars) on a credit until the first day of January 1847." (Probate Court Book F, p. 131