Nathaniel Humphreys Family

Humphreys Family, Pointe Coupee Parish, La.
Compiled by Pauline Bizette Brandy

Photo taken March 16th, 1910 in Innis, Louisiana

Top row left to right:
Mr. & Mrs. John E. Innis with baby George Innis, Beulah Innis Hebert, Myrtle Humphreys Davis, Ione Humphreys Middleton Perry, and Ruth Humphreys Lambert with Gladys Elizabeth Lambert
and Vione Nelda Lambert.

Middle left to right:
J. Emart Innis, Margie Nichols, Mrs. Margaret Lefevre Innis, Camilla Humphreys, Kaiser Humphreys, Leonard Humphreys, Hobson Humphreys, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Montgomery, Curran Montgomery Edna Innis, and Mrs. Anne Innis Nichols. Mrs. Susan Elizabeth Wilcox Humphreys, with Lester and Ivy Humphreys Brewster behind. Leslie Lee and Camilla Ann Wilcox Humphreys, with Edna Teresa Humphreys, Chritsina Humphreys, and Allie Humphreys to their left.

Center bottom sitting:
MaryAnn Terrell Lefevre Wilcox,
daughter of Philemon Terrell Jr. and Margaret Ratcliff, holding baby Lester Brewster

The Humphreys family of Pointe Coupee Parish traces back to Wilkinson County, Mississippi and then South Carolina. Although many records document the Humphreys' family in both Louisiana and Mississippi, research in South Carolina has just commenced.

Nathaniel and Mary Humphreys are documented on both the 1790 and 1800 Census in Cheraw, South Carolina. This area was later Marlboro County, South Carolina. Based on census records, Nathaniel Humphreys was born before 1755 and Mary was born about 1763 in Maryland. Mary Humphreys died sometime after 1850 in Wilkinson Co., Mississippi. They evidently had about four sons and four daughters.

One son, Jehu Phillip Humphreys was born 13 Jun 1797 in South Carolina. It is believed that Jehu P. Humphreys may have had a brother Benjamin Humphreys b: c1794. Benjamin Humphreys  (or Umfress) married Penelope and had Nathaniel Humphreys,  Polly Humphreys Watkins, Nathan Humphreys and Penelope Humphreys Beasley. This family evidently remained in the Lancaster area of South Carolina. There may have been other brothers namely James Humphreys and John Humphreys. One John Humphreys obtained land on Lynches Creek in Lancaster District, South Carolina in 1800.

Jehu P. Humphreys possibly had a total of three wives. His first wife is believed to have been Sarah Carnes, the daughter of Jacob Carnes of South Carolina. Their three children are believed to have been: Nathaniel Humphreys, Mary Ann Humphreys Smith, and Elizabeth Humphreys Moore McCrea. Bible records indicate that Sarah Carnes Humphreys died 13 April 1827 in South Carolina.

By 1833, Jehu P. Humphreys had obtained a Mississippi Land Grant. On 29 Jun 1834 Jehu P. Humphreys married Elizabeth White, a widow of Lewis Coon, in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Wilkinson County Mississippi records document name as "Jehu P" Humphreys although some later family records state "John P." .

Jehu P. & Elizabeth Coon Humphreys are documented in Wilkinson County, Mississippi through 1850, along with his mother Mary  Humphreys. Their family was increased to eleven children with the addition of the following children: Melissa Humphreys, Cicero Humphreys, Amanda Humphreys, Simeon Humphreys, Noah Humphreys, Nathan Monroe Humphreys, Benjamin F. Humphreys and Sidney J. Humphreys.

Jehu P. Humphreys was deceased by 1851. He was drowned by three of his slaves who were tried, convicted and executed for his murder. A total of 975 acres and seven slaves were sold in Wilkinson Co., MS. within the two year period following his death.

Both Jehu P. Hunphreys and his wife Elizabeth are said to have been buried in White's Chapel Cemetery in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.

The oldest child of John P. Humphreys was Nathaniel Humphreys who was born 22 Feb 1826 in South Carolina. On 12 April 1849, Nathaniel Humphreys wed 15 year old Elizabeth "Emily" Jane Jackson in Wilkinson County, Miss. Emily Jane Jackson was born 3 Sep 1834 in Mississippi and is said to have been "the favorite niece" of Stonewall Jackson. One Joseph Jackson, possibly her father, witnessed her marriage license.

Nathaniel and Emily Jane Jackson Humphreys had a total of eleven children: Sally Elizabeth Humphreys, Jehu J. Humphreys, Mary Jane Humphreys Clark, William Ridley Humphreys, Ella Howard Humphreys Davis Powers, Joseph Nathaniel Humphreys, Samuel George Humphreys, Albert Douglas Humphreys, Lillie Ida Humphreys Lafield, Anthony Wayne Humphreys, and Leslie Lee Humphreys.

Nathaniel Humphreys served four years in the Condeferate Army and was injured at Port Hudson. It was in 1869 that Nathaniel and Emily Jane Jackson Humphreys moved to Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. They obtained 160 acres on Atchafalaya River which became known as "Solitude Plantation". Deed records indicate there was a family cemetery on "Solitude Plantation", where both Nathaniel and Emily Jane Jackson Humphreys are believed to have been buried. Nathaniel Humphreys died 10 Dec 1877 and his wife Emily Jane Jackson Humphreys on Jan 1882.

Leslie Lee Humphreys, the son of Nathaniel and Emily Jane Jackson Humphreys, was born 26 April 1866 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Camilla Wilcox, born 19 February 1867, was the daughter of James Creath & Mary Ann Terrell Lefevre Wilcox.

The "Love Letters" of Leslie Lee and Camilla Ann Wilcox Humphreys  are believed, by many descendants, to be among the best of romantic readings. Camilla Ann Wilcox had gone off to school to get an education. Leslie Lee Humphreys wrote to her while she was away. In the letter dated 15 August 1885, Leslie Lee Humphreys asked if she would "be my wife and love me, and let me love you always".

On 24 August 1885, Leslie Lee Humphreys enclosed "The Poem" he had composed and instructed her to burn it after she had read it. Many descendants rejoice in the fact she failed to follow his
instructions!

"The Poem" reads:
How ever good or fair other girls may be
There are none of them so dear
By far, as thou to me
Nor will they ever be
For thou art all to me
And that I will ever change
You may never fear
So if others be as fair
What are their charms to me?
I neither know nor care
For thou art all to me
And thou will ever be
More than the world to me
My Little Angel fair
My Darling Little Cammie.

Needless to say, on 13 January 1886 he married Camilla Ann Wilcox in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Their "Love letters" are not only romantic but also give a good perspective on life in those days.

Leslie Lee and Camilla Ann Wilcox Humphreys were lovingly called "Nandad" and "Pardee" respectively. They owned "Sweet Home" on Bayou Latanache which is owned by a descendant.

Leslie Lee and Camilla Ann Wilcox Humphreys had eleven children:
Leslie Ione Humphreys Middleton Perry, Ivy Joyce Humphreys Brewster, Jessamine Christine Humphreys Rice, Allie Leland Humphreys Atkinson, Edna Theresa Humphreys Connell Rice, Hobson Richmond Humphreys, Camilla Ann Humphreys Tessier, Leonard Lee Humphreys, Howard Kaiser Humphreys, Marian Ascenith Humphreys, and Ruth Elizabeth Humphreys Lambert.

Camilla Ann Wilcox Humphreys "Pardee" died on 28 Aug 1947, and "Nandad" Leslie Lee Humphreys died 9 Mar 1948 in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. They are both buried at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Cemetery. May their "Love Letters & Poem" be enjoyed by many more generations to come.