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Jack Peyton May 23rd 1916 – December 24th 1989 Jack Peyton 1940s Jack Peyton holding Martha Ann Deaton Jack Peyton was born in May 1916 in the Washington District of Banks County, Georgia to Dover and Nancy Peyton. In his teenager years, he had a falling out with his father Dover and left home. He found work in the same district for a man named Harve Deaton who took him in as a farmhand. Harve Deaton's wife, Bertie Mae Ausburn, knew Jack as they were distant cousins and grew up near one another. On Jack's WW2 registration card, he lists his cousin, Bertie Mae, as someone who would always know his location. In 1941, Jack Peyton and Bertie Mae Ausburn, had a daughter named Martha Ann Deaton. The circumstances of this event are unknown. Father : Dover Peyton Mother : Nancy Segars Brothers : Sisters : ________________ _______ ​ Child with Bertie Mae Ausburn: Martha Ann Deaton ​ Wife: Annie Ruth Tipton ​ Child: Ronald Peyton Jack Peyton's paternity was not discovered by Martha Ann Deaton's family until 82 years later, in August of 2023, when Martha Ann Deaton's daughter took a DNA test that revealed Jack Peyton as her grandfather instead of Harve Deaton. It is likely that Martha Ann Deaton never knew, as she passed away in 2020, three years before the DNA test was taken. It is also unknown if Harve Deaton ever knew of this. After receving the DNA results from ancestry.com, it was readily apparent that there were no "Deaton" surname DNA matches, even while knowing many of Martha Ann's cousins had taken the same DNA test. It did however show many matches with the name "Peyton", which was familiar due to the fact that Bertie Mae kept two photos of a man named Jack Peyton, one in which he was holding one-year old Martha Ann. After researching Jack Peyton, it was found that his only other child, Ronald Peyton, was still alive and lived in Albany, Georgia. Having contacted Ronald, he told us that he always knew he had a half-sister that lived in North Carolina but did not know who she was. He said he was told this by his uncle John after his father had passed away in 1989. Ronald agreed to take a DNA test and results showed that he was Martha Ann Deaton's daughters half-uncle, confirming that Jack was Martha Ann's biological father. DNA Testing Banks County Carl Maney, Hoyt Moss, Unknown, Jack Peyton WW2 and Marriage Jack Peyton served in WW2 and was awarded a purple heart and a bronze star. After the war, he married a woman named Annie Ruth Tipton. They had one child together in 1946, named Ronald Peyton in Greenwood SC.

Grant Wilmer Ausburn September 17th 1889 - September 20th 1968 Grant Ausburn was the son of Benjamin B. and Mary Louise Caudell Ausburn. He was born September 17, 1889 in Banks County, GA and died September 20, 1968 in Jackson County, GA. He married Daisy Pressley August 13, 1908 in Banks County, GA. She was the daughter of Jack and Sally Pressley. She was born March 25, 1891 and died September 29, 1979 in Banks County, GA. They are buried at Damascus Church Cemetery in Banks County, GA. Grant was a farmer. They had six children. They also raised two grandchildren, Rudolph and Ruby Nell Ausburn. Father: Benjamin Ausburn Mother : Mary Louise Caudell Sister : Mittie Lou Ausburn , Essie Ausburn, Maud Ausburn _______________________ Wife : Daisy Pressley Children : Dora Belle Ausburn, Plummer Ausburn, Hubert Everadge Ausburn, Mary Monteen Ausburn, Mary "Marie" Ausburn, Zinebell Ausburn This picture was taken when Ben Ausburn died. The Grant Ausburn family is well represented here. The children on the front row left to right are Ruby and Rudolph Ausburn, Boyd Jackson and Eulean Lewallen. The second row: Bertie Mae Deaton, Belle Ausburn, Vassie Lewallen, Montene Ausburn, Marie Ausburn and Bentley Lewallen. Back row: Hubert Ausburn, Harve Deaton, unknown, Daisy Ausburn, Duck Ausburn, unknown, Grant Ausburn, unknown, Ralph Lewallen and Claude Jackson

Lucinda Duncan 1844 – 21 March 1900 Lucinda Duncan was born in 1833. She married Azor Carver on January 22nd 1861. The minister was Jacob Weaver . "R.B Vance" was their witness. ​ ​ They had three children: Robert Lee Carver, Leutica Candis Carver, John Henry "Jack" Carver. ​ Lucinda's husband, Azor, went off to serve in the civil war. When he came back, he was able to own a fair amount of land. Azor was a farmer. Lucinda's granddaughter, Etta Davis, always said she was raised by her grandparents. This likely would have been around 1890. ​ Lucinda died on March 21st 1900 and her husband, Azor, died a few months after. Picture of Lucinda Duncan Fa ther: John Henry Duncan Mother : Matilda Owens _______________________ Husband: Azor Carver Children : Robert Lee Carver, Leutica Candis Carver , John Henry Carver Lucinda's son, John Henry Carver Headstone of Lucinda Duncan Marriage Registry of Lucinda and Azor All Census Records

Reuben Deaton April 28th 1891 – September 1931 Rueben Deaton was the eldest son of Leutica Carver and John Starlin Deaton. He was born in April of 1892 in Graham County, NC. He married Lillie McDonald on March 25, 1913 in Graham County, NC. With her came Rube's new step-child. They later had a child of their own, Johnnie Starlin Deaton (February 7th 1915 - May 15th 1988). ​ Rueben Deaton later married Calcina "Callie" Swayney, 1/8th Cherokee Indian. They had four children; however, only two survived to adulthood: Woodroe Deaton (February 20th 1928 - February 27th 2010) and Nellie Deaton (February 21st 1926 - July 31st 2020). Their first child was named "Lutitia Deaton", named after Rube's mother. She was born June 8th, 1923 and died December 24th 1923 at 6 months old of pneumonia in Swain County. Rube buried her on Christmas Day. They had another child, Charles Deaton, on May 4th 1925, he passed away May 12th 1925. ​ Father : John Starlin Deaton Mother : Leuticia Carver Brothers: David Deaton , Isaac Deaton , Robert Lee Deaton Half Brothers : John Henry Deaton, Jacob Leander Deaton , Harve Wesley Deaton ____________________ Wife : Lydia McDonald Children: Johnnie Deaton Wife: Callie Swayney Children: Woodroe Deaton, Nellie Deaton Rube and wife Lydia McDonald pregnant with Johnnie, also with her son in 1915 L to R: Isaac Deaton and brother Rube Deaton When Callie Swayney Deaton died about 1924, Rueben took the children to Georgia. He left Nellie and Woodroe in the care of Margie and Bob Deaton, his brother and sister-in-law. They stayed there, with Rube visiting them, while remaining in Cherokee to work. When they were old enough, Woodroe and Nellie went to live at the school on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. In either 1932 or 1933, a large black car drove into the yard of Robert Deaton and several Indians got out. They informed him that Rueben had been killed. They took Robert Deaton back to Cherokee, NC to bury his brother. Brothers Harve and Isaac Deaton always said a member of the Swayney family killed Rueben. Jurlon Deaton quotes his father, Ike Deaton, as telling the following story. Rube was bad to drink and he went to sleep wherever he was at the time. He always slept with his head hanging off the bed. This particular night he was sleeping in another woman's house and someone came in and hit him in the head with a crowbar. In a newspaper article, Rube was accused by step-son for killing Callie Swayney. The body was exhumed and found that Callie had a crack in her skull. Rube's consequences for this are unknown. Callie Swayney's death certificate. Lutitia Deaton's death certificate. Charles Deaton's death certificate. Rube Deaton's WW1 Draft Registration Card Death Reuben died in 1932 after getting hit in the head. It was speculated that the son of Cherokee Indian, Molly Runningwolf, was the one who did it; however, Molly Runningwolf took the blame and served 21 months in prison. ​ In 1947, Harve Deaton came to get answers to find out who really killed his half brother. Molly Runningwolf had thought he had come to kill her. In reality, he just wanted the truth. Molly begged him to believe her that it was not her or her son, but that it was a member of the Swayney family who did it. ​ The meeting ended cordially. Harve brought along his wife Bertie Mae, children Fred, Martha Ann, Wayne, and his wife's half brother Boyd Jackson. ​ In the interview below, there is a audio recording mentioning Molly Runningwolf's time in prison. Click here to listen to Molly Runningwolf interview Census Records

Benjamin Ausburn December 25th 1869 – September 13th 1937 Benjamin Ausburn was born on Christmas day 1869 in Banks County, Georgia. He was a farmer. He had four children with Mary Caudell: Grant, Mittie, Essie, and Maud. ​ After his wife, Mary, died in 1913, he remarried on July 25th 1921 to Harriet Hailey Lewallen (1877-1948). They did not stay married long. Harriet had a great big furry cat and she slept with that cat. Benjamin vowed that he would never sleep in the bed with a cat. ​ Benjamin's grandson, Boyd Jackson, tells this story: Benjamin was the strongest man I had ever seen. Ben cut down trees with only an axe, never a saw. He could plow a mule all day long, stopping only for a glass of water that his granddaughter, Bertie Mae, would gladly take him. Father : Hugh B. Ausburn Mother : Mary Ann Murray ____________________ Wife : Mary Louise Caudell Children : Grant Wilmer Ausburn , Mittie Lou Ausburn , Essie Ausburn , Maud Lee Ausburn Moderee Sisk (1927-2017), great granddaugther to Hugh Ausburn (Benjamin's father) remembered Benjamin. She said that Benjamin often came over to help her family kill hogs. She called him Uncle Ben. He always picked up the hog and scalded it in a barrel. He always said he would kill the biggest hog anyone had on Thanksgiving day. ​ Benjamin Ausburn ran the Ragsdale Gristmill in the early 1930s. The mill is still in excellent condition . I visited the mill in 2023 and owner, Dock Sisk, showed me around and took me inside the Mill house where the mill workers lived. It is very possible Benjamin lived inside there at some point. Ragsdale Mill built in early 1860s Ragsdale Mill House (Possible living place for Benjamin Ausburn) Benjamin sitting at a table Top Row (L to R): Bently Lewallen holding Bobbie Jean Lewallen, Benjamin Ausburn, Bertie Mae Ausburn, Claude Homer Jackson Bottom Row (L to R): Benny Euline Lewallen, Mittie Lou Jackson, Lucille Jackson, Boyd Jackson L to R: Benjamin, Mittie, Essie holding Bobbie Jean Stories Funeral of Benjamin Ausburn Benjamin's funeral. Daughter Mittie in front of his casket. Death Benjamin Ausburn in Homer, Georgia on September 13th 1937. He developed Sepsis due to Cellulitis in the Right Axillary Region. Benjamin's post-mortem picture is attached to the left. Benjamin's death certificate Benjamin's headstone This picture was taken when Ben Ausburn died. The Ausburn family is well represented here. The children on the front row left to right are Ruby and Rudolph Ausburn, Boyd Jackson and Eulean Lewallen. The second row: Bertie Mae Deaton, Belle Ausburn, Vassie Lewallen, Montene Ausburn, Marie Ausburn and Bentley Lewallen. Back row: Hubert Ausburn, Harve Deaton, unknown, Daisy Ausburn, Duck Ausburn, unknown, Grant Ausburn, unknown, Ralph Lewallen and Claude Jackson Every Picture I have seen of Benjamin Ausburn All Census Records

Boyd Jackson August 11th 1929 – September 4th 2010 Benjamin Boyd Jackson was born in Banks County Georgia on August 11th 1929 to Mittie Lou Ausburn. It was believed by most that Claude Jackson, husband of Mittie Ausburn, was the father of Boyd Jackson; however, after DNA testing, through the son of Lucille Jackson, it has been determined that Claude Jackson may not have been the biological father of Boyd, rather it was a man by the name of "Luther Huttie Watson". This was apparently known to a select few, including Boyd Jackson's son, Ronnie Jackson, who told me that Luther "Luke" Watson, was his biological grandfather and that his father, Boyd Jackson, always knew this. It is unknown why or how the relationship between Luther and Mittie came to pass, but it is speculated that Claude Jackson may have been unable to have children. Boyd was originally named after his maternal grandfather, Benjamin Ausburn, whom he was quite fond of growing up. He said his grandfather, Benjamin, was the strongest man he ever seen. He would cut down trees with only an axe, never a saw. He could plow a mule all day long, stopping only for a glass of water. ​ Boyd had one younger sister, Lucille who was born in 1932. He also had a much older half-sister, Bertie Mae Ausburn. Boyd's mother, Mittie, became very sickly. With Claude working the farm, she wasn't able to care of Boyd and Lucille by herself. Bertie Mae, would pick up Boyd and Lucille on Sunday afternoon and keep them at their house until Friday afternoon so they could go to school. So Boyd was essentially raised by Bertie Mae and her husband, Harve Deaton. Mittie Jackson died on July 6th, 1941. Before she passed, she pulled Harve Deaton aside and asked him to take care of her children. Harve promised that he would take care of them as long as they would stay with him. Father: Luther "Luke" Huttie Watson Mother : Mittie Lou Ausburn Sister : Lucille Jackson Half Sisters : Bertie Mae Ausburn ____________________ Boyd Jackson school picture L to R: Harve Deaton, Martha Ann Deaton, Boyd Jackson, Lucille Jackson, Bobbie Jean Lewallen L to R: Martha Ann Deaton, Boyd Jackson, Boyd's brother-in-law, Fred Gibson in Cherokee, North Carolina Top Row (L to R): Bently Lewallen holding Bobbie Jean Lewallen, Benjamin Ausburn, Bertie Mae Ausburn, Claude Homer Jackson Bottom Row (L to R): Benny Euline Lewallen, Mittie Lou Jackson, Lucille Jackson, Boyd Jackson Boyd married Ruth Williams in March of 1950. Ruth was born March 23, 1928 and died in March of 1980. Her parents were Edsel and Vinna Free Williams. Boyd and Ruth had one son, Ronald Boyd Jackson who was born May 20, 1951 in Gaston County, NC. He has two children, Richard Clay and Jeffrey Lee Jackson. Boyd then married Rosa Lee Bray on August 12, 1960 in Banks County, GA. Rosa Lee was born on July 22, 1943. Her parents were David Lewis Bray, Sr. and Cora Lee Dodd Bray. Rosa Lee and Boyd had two children, Barbara Ann and Robert Dale Jackson. -Barbara Ann Jackson was born October 31, 1971 in GA. She married Johnny White. She has two children, Dylan Delane Jackson and Kelsey Ann Qwinn. She later married Mike Adams. -Robert Dale Jackson was born September 6, 1964 in GA. He married Donna Bramblett in 1982. They have two boys, David Dale and Dustin Robert Jackson. Boyd Jackson and son L to R: Boyd Jackson holding Ronald, Wayne Deaton L to R: Ruth, Boyd, Ronald Boyd's children: Dale and Barbara Ann L to R: Wayne Deaton, Boyd Jackson, Ronald Jackson Boyd and son Ronald Jackson Boyd Jackson and Harve Deaton on Cramer mountain at Stuart Cramer's Maymont Mansion L to R: Boyd holding Wayne Deaton, Ruth Jackson, Martha Ann Deaton L to R: Martha Ann Deaton, Boyd holding Ronald, Wayne Deaton L to R: Boyd Jackson and Harve Deaton working at the Cramerton chicken house

Lanceford Cantrell Around 1787 – Around 1850 Lanceford Cantrell was born around 1787. He has an undocumented burial as no tombstone has been found. His grave was most likely marked with a fieldstone. He was the son of Isaac & Mary (Linder) Cantrell. In his youth he moved, with his parents, to Spartanburg County, South Carolina. He married Martha Cantwell about 1817 bringing his bride into the home of his mother. They lived there on the banks of Buck Creek for over twenty years. After his mother died he moved his family to a part of Union County Georgia that become Towns County in 1856. His family was recorded there on the 1850 census. Fa ther: Isaac Cantrell Mother : Mary Linder ____________________ Wife : Martha Patsy Cantrell

John Robert Davis December 18th 1840 – June 24th 1928 John Robert Davis was born on December 18th 1840 to father Thomas Davis and mother Arabella Burchfield. Around 1863, John Davis married Anna Starkey and they had many children together. ​ John Robert Davis is buried in Lone Oak Cemetery in Robbinsville, North Carolina beside his wife, Anna, and son, James Thomas Davis . Headstone of James Thomas Davis Fa ther: Thomas Davis Mother : Arabella Burchfield ____________________ Wife: Anna Starkey Death Certificate.

Elsie Lucille Meeler February 23rd 1927 - March 7th 2020 Elsie Lucille Meeler was born February 23, 1927 in Banks County, GA. She was the last child born to James W. Meeler and Etta Davis Meeler. Elsie married Verner Daniel Looney, born March 30, 1922, on November 1, 1946 in Habersham County, Georgia. Elsie retired from Grady School, in Homer, GA as cafeteria supervisor, and Verner retired from construction work. They had two sons, Verner Lee Looney and Edwin Dillard Looney. Elsie Looney passed away on March 7th, 2020. Father: James Meeler Mother: Etta Davis _ ______________________ Brothers: Robert Meeler, Charlie Meeler Sisters: Odell Meeler Half Brother: John Henry Deaton , Jake Deaton , Harve Deaton ________________ ______ Top Row (L to R): Robert Meeler, Charlie Meeler Bottom Row (L to R): Etta Meeler, Elsie Meeler, Odell Meeler R to L: Elsie Looney, Etta Meeler, Anita Looney, Lee Looney L to R: Harve Deaton, Elsie Looney, Etta Meeler, Charlie Meeler, Robert Meeler Elsie and Odell Meeler

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Essie Ausburn March 17th 1904 - January 15th 1996 Essie Ausburn was born March 17, 1904 in Banks County, GA. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary Caudell Ausburn. She married Joseph Bentley Lewallen June 27, 1921. He was born May 9, 1902. His parents were Nancy and Jay Lewallen. His parents are buried at BC Church Cemetery, Habersham County, GA. Bentley and Essie Lewallen had four children; Ralph Mckenley, Vassie Mae, Betty Eulean, and Bobbie Jean Lewallen. Bentley spent his life as a farmer. They lived in GA, SC and NC. Bentley Lewallen died October 6, 1984 in Stephens County, GA and Essie Lewallen died January 15, 1996 in Cleveland County, NC. They are buried at Damascus Church Cemetery, Banks County, GA. L to R: Essie and husband Bentley Lewallen Father: Benjamin Ausburn Mother : Mary Louise Caudell Brother : Grant Wilmer Ausburn Sister : Mittie Lou Ausburn , Maud Lee Ausburn ________________ _______ Husband : Bently Lewallen Children : Ralph Mckenley, Vassie Mae, Betty Eulean, and Bobbie Jean Lewallen Memories of Uncle Bentley and Aunt Essie written by Martha Ann Deaton : ​ "Bobbie Jean remembers them being wonderful parents. The most enjoyable times she remembers was going home after she was married. They always had Pepsi’s there for them, their favorite drink. She liked to go to the cupboard and find homemade biscuits and country ham that were left over from breakfast. I remember loving to go to their house as a child. I, too, liked to go into the pie safe and get a snack from her leftovers or a piece of pie. Uncle Bentley carved little monkeys out of a peach seed. They had such minute details. I wore them on a ribbon around my neck. Somehow I always managed to lose them. How I wish I had one today! ​ This story goes about Aunt Essie: When Wayne was born Aunt Essie came to our house to help. She had cooked a big dinner. She knew that sweet potato pie was my favorite so this was the dessert she prepared. As you know, homegrown sweet potatoes have strings in them, or they did then. Aunt Essie had long red hair. She gave me a big helping of the pie and I did not eat it. She asked why I wasn’t eating my pie since it was my favorite. I retorted that I was not going to eat it because it had her red hair in it. She never let me forget this story as long as she lived." L to R: Benjamin Ausburn, Mittie Lou Ausburn, Essie Ausburn holding Bobbie Jean Lewallen On April 6th 1939, Essie's 5 year old daughter, Betty Eulean Lewallen, passed away from lobar pneumonia and emphysema. She is buried at Damascus Church Cemetery, Banks County, GA. Martha Ann Deaton remembered her parents, Harve and Bertie Mae Deaton , saying she was such a sweet little girl. Harve caught fish and put them in a bucket for her to look at when she was bedfast.

Mary Ann Murray January 6th 1832 - June 26th 1899 Mary Ann 'Polly' Murray was born in Franklin County, GA to John and Sarah Caudell Murray. She was born January 6, 1832. She married Hugh Ausburn o n December 28, 1850 in Franklin County, GA. They had ten children. She died June 26, 1899 in Banks County and is buried in the Damascus Church Cemetery in Banks County, GA near her son, Joseph B. Ausburn. Picture of Mary Ann Murray Father: Thomas Ausburn Mother : Virginia Jane Brown ____________________ Husband: Hugh B. Ausburn