The only source of birth information I have for Benjamin Germany is the 1850 federal census, which lists his place of birth as Georgia. Based on his age, he was born around 1805. Over the Mountain lists James and Hannah Germany as Benjamin's parents. Estate papers in the Amite County, MS, courthouse for James Germany prove Benjamin H. Germany was one of his heirs. Benjamin received $456.25 as his equal portion. It appears he was a son but the Amite courthouse does not have a will for James Germany. Another son of James, Robert Germany of Amite County, was the executor. Hannah Elizabeth Germany was the wife of James Germany (proof: land deed in 1819 in Amite County, MS) and presumably was the mother of Benjamin.
Residence
James, the father of Benjamin, appears in Mississippi in the 1810 census. In 1815 in Amite County, Mississippi, James was given Power of Attorney by William L. Arick to receive drafts related to duties related to his position as a postmaster in the Mississippi Territory, so the family was still in the area then. James and his wife, Hannah Elizaeth, sold land in Amite County in 1819. This is probably when they left the area because James Germany appears as the head of household in Feliciana Parish, LA, just south of Amite & Wilkinson counties, in 1820. Marriage records from that area show several people with the surname GERMANY: Elizabeth R., Henry H., Jacob C., Washington, and William, all of whom married between 1824 and 1837. Elizabeth and her husband Nathan Land, Jacob C. Germany, William J. Germany, and the widow of Washington Germany are listed as heirs of James Germany, so it appears that these people were siblings of Benjamin H. Germany. Benjamin stayed in the area and married in West Feliciana Parish, LA in 1827. His oldest son, Henry J., was born ~1828 in MS, so Charlotte and Benjamin must have emigrated to MS shortly after their marriage. Benjamin and family apparently appear with his brother John and family in the 1830 census in Madison County, MS. By 1840 Bejamin and his family are in Kemper County, MS. The family appears in Neshoba County, MS for the 1850 census. Benjamin's wife is listed as the head of household in 1860 in the same county.
Land Records & Deeds
Abstract of Land Deed (US patent Feb. 1840)
the North half of the North West quarter of Section fifteen in Township Ten of Range three East in the District of lands subject to sale at Mount Salus, Mississippi containing seventy nine acres and ninety four hundredths of an acre
source: "Benjamin H. Germany- General Land Office of the US" Land Patent, certficate #16728: Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, www.glorecords.blm.gov.
Spouse/Children
Benjamin Germany and Charlotte Williams married on June 1, 1827 in West Feliciana, LA (marriage bond). The 1850 federal census lists the following children for the couple: Henry, Joseph, John, William, Benjamin, Sarah, Martha, Willis, and Francis, all born in MS.
Census Records
MS 1830
p. 95, Madison County
3 WM < 5 (Henry J., Joseph M., & infant)
2 WM 5-10 (James H. & Willis H.)
1 WM 20-30 (Benjamin H.)
1 WM 30-40 (John)
1 WF < 5 (Sarah J.)
2 WF 20-30 (Elizabeth & Charlotte)
MS 1840
p. 20, Kemper County
head of household: Benjamin Germany
1 WM under 5 (Benjamin Jr.)
3 WM 5-10 (Joseph, John, William A.)
1 WM 10-15 (Henry)
1 WM 20-30 (Benjamin)
1 WF under 5 (Sarah)
1 WF 30-40 (Charlotte)
MS 1850
ED ?, p. ?, line 10 (family 462/482), Neshoba County
head of household: Benjamin Germany
Benjamin, 45, GA
Charlotte, 43, LA
Henry, 22, MS
Joseph, 20, MS
John, 19, MS
Willium, 16, MS
Benjamine, 14, MS
Sarah, 12, MS
Martha, 9, MS
Willis, 7, MS
Francis, 5, MS
Death/Burial
I have not found evidence of an exact death date, but it is clear that Benjamin died between 1850 and 1860. He appears in the 1850 Neshoba County census in September but his wife Charlotte is listed as head of household in the 1860 census, also in Neshoba County. In Over the Mountain researcher Martha Crabb gives his death date as 1856 but no source is listed. It seems likely he died in Neshoba County but I have not been able to find him in Our Links to the Past, a Neshoba county cemetery book.
References
A * indicates a book is part of my private collection.
Crabb, Martha L. Over the Mountain: A Narrative History of the BEAN, SELMAN, and GERMANY Families. 1990, Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc.
This book is available from the author at 414 Floyd Ave. Dumas, TX 79029. It is also part of the collection at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, IN. *
Louisiana Marriages: Early to 1850. Compiled by Liahona Research 1999, Bountiful: Heritage Quest.
This book is part of the collection at Clayton Genealogy Library in Houston, TX.
Our Links to the Past: 1833-1996 Cemetery Records of Neshoba County, MS. Edited by Theresa T. Ridout 1998, Philadelphia: Neshoba County Library.
As far as I know, this book can still be purchased from the Neshoba County Library at 230 Beacon Street, Philadelphia, MS 39350, phone: (601)656-4911. It is also part of the collection at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, IN. *
Estate Papers of James Germany (Amite County, MS, courthouse file #3678).
