INTRODUCTION:
For decades Family Trees universally believed Elizabeth Harvey married Richard Harvey in Albermarle Virginia and the two moved a family to Georgia. In 2023? Helen Rice in Wikitree found a will by Emanuel Harvey that named his wife Elizabeth and his five children which has dispelled an age old notion that this couple was Richard and Elizabeth Harvey. Consequently, they are NOT the same as Elizabeth, wife of Richard Harvey who married Richard Harvey, of Bryan County, GA. Elizabeth is identified through mtDNA testing and Emanuel's will has surfaced.

Biography

As of 31 Dec 2023, Elizabeth's origins are unknown. We know she married Emanuel Harvey, and that they had at least 5 children.[1] Emanuel identifies her as "my beloved wife, Mrs. Harvey" in his Will dated 1817 [?].[1]

Elizabeth died about 1835 in Florida.[2]

Family and Property

Elizabeth married Emanuel Harvey, of Bryan County, and they had at least the following 5 children: [1][2]

1. Nancy Martin (Will), Mary "Polly" Martin (Probate), m. James Martin.
2. William Harvey (Will & Probate), living in GA in 1852.
3. Elizabeth Sheffield (Will), Martha Sheffield (Probate), m. John Sheffield. According to the 1850 Census, her age 73 - bd approx1777.
4. Rebecca Davis (Will).
5. Susannah McElvene (spelled as on Will), Susan Bragg (Probate).

RESEARCH

See: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-630041

TIMELINE

1787- William McElveen was the first of this clan to settle in Bulloch County. He came from the Scotch settlement of Waxhaw Creek, North Carolina, and settled on Black Creek, Bulloch County, Georgia, in
1787 (https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?arti... P. 16).

1817 Jul 2 – Bryan County, GA – William Harvey to William McElveen, for $35, "my part and share of my Fathers Lands, lying and being in the County of Byran on Black Creek on the Savannah Roads, adjoining a tract of Lands containing 200 acres, granted to said William Harvey and I do s ell and empower the said William McElveen to act and recover all my right and claim of the said Land which my Mother Elisabeth Harvey is now in possession of and my part of a note of $40 and my part of the account allowed for the keeping of a horse. Signed: William Harvey. Witnesses: Wm. Williams, James Alexander, J.P.[4]

1817 Jul 2 – Bryan County, GA – William Harvey, planter, to Jesse Butler, planter, both of Bryan County, for $75, a 200-acre tract of land, bounded on the southwest by Emanuel Harvey and on all other sides by vacant land at the time of the survey. Wit: Wm. Williams, James Alexander, J.P.[5]

1818 Jul 31 – Bryan County, GA – William McElveen to Jesse Butler, for $35, a fifth part of a tract formerly belonging to Manuel Harvey, which was willed by him to his son William Harvey and sold by him to the said McElveen, bounded on the west by Black Creek and on the south by Jesse Butler. Wit: Josiah Alexander, Thomas Williams.[6]

1830 - It is possible that Elizabeth could be the 70 to 80 year old female living with Walter Davis in the 1830 census for Jackson County, Florida however, more research is needed.[7]

DNA

I estimate Elizabeth (Unknown) was born about 1755 based on Marttha Sheffield, her middle child, was 72 years old on the 1850 census. What we do have though, is mysterious mtDNA and atDNA that take us to the 18th Century.

For DNA references, please see https://www.geni.com/projects/Elizabeth-Harvey-from-Bryan-County-Georgia/4494241 Project, where we find healthy DNA trails with both a Swedish and French descendant each who share the same amount of traces with me as with each other. At least for the present, however, their trees,show no evidence of ANY contact with 18th century American colonies. The only explanation I can think of is their families may have been mariners, even if as of yet, we don't have proof.

A rich Autosomal blend of Swedish and French would indicate their union being mid-1700s. However, Elizabeth is married in the colonies with her babies being born after the 1770s; and they get their first Georgian property in 1817. This would seem they could start their family in Charleston or maybe even farther north in one of the Carolinas.

Vital Statistics

Birth

Her birth date is estimated from her husband Emanuel's birth date, (about 1742 + 3 years) = about 1745.

An unsourced birth date of about 1750 was previously listed.

An unsourced birth place of North Carolina was previously listed.

Research is needed to see if the 1827 Land Lottery property below was for the Elizabeth on this profile or the other widow Elizabeth Harvey in Bryan County, Georgia. In the 1827 land lottery, Elizabeth obtained land in Lee County as the widow of her husband. Her county of residence is listed as Bryan County.[8]

Reference

• [1] County Judge, Jackson County, Florida, Records of estates, 1840-1893, Record of estates, v. C 1851-1857; database with images, FamilySearch (image 33); see pages C44-48, C90-94, C109-111, C151-153, C346-351.
• [2] Superior Court, Byran County, Georgia, Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1922; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1793-1937, Deeds & Mortgages, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853; database with images, FamilySearch (image 11).
• [3] Superior Court, Byran County, Georgia, Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1922; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1793-1937, Deeds & Mortgages, v. A-D 1796-1829; database with images, FamilySearch (image 441, image 442).
• [4] Superior Court, Byran County, Georgia, Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1922; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1793-1937, Deeds & Mortgages, v. A-D 1796-1829; database with images, FamilySearch (image 441, image 442).
• [5] 1830 US Federal Census, Jackson County, Florida
• [6] 1827 Land Lottery image page 166 of 441.