John Silas Wesley (J S W) Essary was born on 12 October 1869 in Alabama to William Calloway Essary and Lucinda Leonard. J S W married Julia Orlean Livingston on 23 January 1890 in Hale County, Alabama. Together they had 12 children, 8 boys and 4 girls. J S W Essary died on 8 March 1925 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.

Evidence Analysis

J S W Essary’s FamilySearch profile contained 19 sources and maintained a high data quality score. However, closer examination revealed gaps in the documentation. Notably, the 1920 U.S. Census record was absent from his profile. Additionally, previous searches for his father, William Calloway Essary, in the FamilySearch Full Text search had uncovered records about J S W that remained unattached to his profile.

The 1900 and 1910 U.S. Census stated J S W was a farmer.¹ His death record stated he was a grocery merchant.² The 1920 U.S. Census could reveal if he transitioned occupations in 1920. Despite many search attempts for J S W, his wife Julia, and his children, none of the family could be found in the 1920 U.S. Census.

Marriage License

In addition to John Silas’ marriage certificate, the FamilySearch Full Text Search found their marriage license. Interestingly, the license was half blank. A marriage license consists of two sections. One section includes the naming of the bride and groom. Another section will be a bond that includes a bondsman to ensure the marriage occurs as stated. The section that names the bride and groom is completely blank. This was true for other marriage licenses in the same book. This means Julia’s name is not mentioned in the record.

The probate judge, James M Hobson, approved the license. Oddly, the top section of the marriage license records was not filled out for many applicants in the same record collection. This kind of thing did happen from time to time. It could have been a matter of “everyone knows each other” or perhaps the laziness of the probate judge.

Land Records

A search of the FamilySearch Full Text search found land records for J S W Essary and his wife, Julia. J S W and Julia had inherited property from Julia’s father, John Livingston. Two parcels in Hale County, Alabama, were subdivided to Leah Howard, Julia’s sister. The first parcel of 100 acres was sold on 20 April 1892. This parcel was given to Leah by Julia’s mother, Elizabeth, but both Julia and J S W had to agree to the division.³

The second parcel in Hale County, Alabama, was subdivided to Leah Howard on 20 November 1895. This parcel was for an additional 20 acres. Neither parcel had an exchange of funds. It was simply a subdivision of the property from John Livingston’s estate.⁴

While I did not look for the probate or will for John Livingston, J S W Essary and Julia must have inherited some land from the estate. J S W and Julia sell 39 acres of land in Hale County, Alabama, for $150 to W T Perry on 16 February 1898. The deed included two parcels, one was 10 acres, and the other was 29 acres.⁵ Julia was a signatory on the deed and agreed to the sale.

John Silas’ father, William Calloway Essary, sold 116 acres of land in Hale County, Alabama, to William Perry on 25 February 25 1901.⁶ This means both J S W and William Calloway had a business relationship with William Perry. William Perry could be researched to learn more about the Essary family. What was his connection? A neighbor? A real estate investor? An extended family member?

Research Suggestions

• J S W Essary and Julia O Livingston were involved in the division of property from John Livingston’s estate. The probate or will of John Livingston could provide more information about what J S W and Julia inherited. A probate or will should be in the Hale County, Alabama probate records.
• Research William T Perry of Hale County, Alabama. He had a business relationship with the Essary family. More could be learned from census records and land records.

Sources

1. 1900 U.S. Census, Hale County, Alabama, population schedule, Moundville Beat no. 2, enumeration district (ED) 62, sheet 10A (penned), dwelling 194, family 196, J S W Essary household; digital image, FamilySearch, (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 15 February 2026); citing NARA microfilm publication T623; 1910 U.S. Census, Hale County, Alabama, population schedule, Beat 10, Halls Stone, enumeration district (ED) 53, sheet 3B (penned), dwelling 58, family 59, John S Essary household; digital image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 15 February 2026); citing NARA microfilm publication T624. ↩︎
2. “Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974,” entry for J. S. W. Essary, no. 7274, 8 March 1925, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama; digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 February 2026). ↩︎
3. “Hale, Alabama, United States records,” entry for J S W Essary, Deeds, 1892-1900, volume N, page 352, 26 April 1892, Hale County, Alabama; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 14 February 2026), image 772 of 800, film number 008586685; citing Alabama, Probate Court (Hale County). ↩︎
4. “Hale, Alabama, United States records,” entry for J S W Essary, Deeds, 1899-1902, volume P, page 572-573, 20 November 1895, Hale County, Alabama; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 14 February 2026), image 93 of 621, film number 008586686; citing Alabama, Probate Court (Hale County). ↩︎
5. In the video I only saw the 10 acres, but read through the document again and saw there was an additional 29 acres, for 39 total acres. ↩︎
6. “Hale, Alabama, United States records,” entry for W C Essary, Deeds, 1899-1902, volume Q, page 498-499, 25 February 1901, Hale County, Alabama; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 14 February 2026), image 465 of 621, film number 008586686; citing Alabama, Probate Court (Hale County). ↩︎