52 Cousins~Matilda Eddins

Matilda Eddins was the 6th child born to Williams Eddins and Elizabeth Wilson. She had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Matilda's parents were born in Chesterfield, South Carolina and had moved the family from Chesterfield to Madison County, Alabama Territory arriving before March 1818. 

There on 9 March 1818, her father listed in this deed as Washington Eddins purchased from Moses & Christiana Jones a tract of land in Madison County. 

Matilda Eddins was born 10 August 1825 in Madison County, Alabama. 

Matilda, age 19, married Hardy Bryant Deese, age 19, on 4 June 1845 in Monroe County, Alabama. 

H. B. Deer [Dees] in the Alabama, U.S., Select Marriage Indexes, 1816-1942 

Name H. B. Deer 

Gender Male 

Marriage Date 1845 

Marriage Place, Monroe, Alabama 

Spouse Matilda Eddins 

FHL Film Number 1289610 V. A-B 

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records 

  

Hardy Bryant Deese worked as a farmer and as a Wagon Maker while Matilda tended the home and children. 

Hardy Bryant Deese and Matilda Eddins had the following children: 

  i. William Ruffin Deese was born in 1847 in Butler County, Alabama. He died in 1868 at the age of 21. 

 ii. Curtis "Kirk" Deese was born on 22 Jun 1848 in Butler County, Alabama. He died on 20 Nov 1936 at the age of 88.  

 iii. Cornelieus Neal Deese, born 23 Mar 1852, Butler County, Alabama; married Nancy, 4 Feb 1880, Monroe County, Alabama; died 20 Dec 1931, Sabine Parish, Louisiana. 

 iv. Silas Deese, born 22 Sep 1853, Butler County, Alabama; married Abigail Williams, 21 Oct 1880, Wilcox, Alabama; died 3 Jul 1929. 

 v. Ezra E. Deese was born on 7 Mar 1854 in Butler County, Alabama. He died on 29 Apr 1917 at the age of 63. 

 vi. Sarah Katherine Deese was born on 17 Mar 1857 in Butler County, Alabama, United States. She died on 4 Feb 1934 at the age of 76 in Zwolle, Sabine, Louisiana. 

  vii. John Edward "Ed" Deese was born on 12 Jul 1858 in Butler County, Alabama. He died on 15 Apr 1934 at the age of 75 in Many, Sabine, Louisiana. 

 viii. James Lafayette "Jim" Deese was born on 22 Aug 1860 in Butler County, Alabama. He died on 4 Nov 1935 at the age of 75 in Many, Sabine, Louisiana. 

  ix. Martha Ann "Mattie" Deese was born on 2 Nov 1868 in Butler County, Alabama. She died on 30 Apr 1937 at the age of 68 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. 

  

  Matilda Eddins is my 1st Cousin 4X Removed

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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com/:accessed May 2024); Memorial page for Hardy Bryant “H.B.” Dees; (24 October 1825–26 May 1901); Find a Grave memorial # 92932184, Citing Jerusalem Cemetery; Many, Sabine Parish, Louisiana, USA. 

2. 1850 U. S. Census, Butler County, Alabama, population schedule, Township 11, Butler, Alabama, Page: #254 (Stamped), Line: #18, Dwelling: #161, Family: #161, Household of Bryant DEES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com:online May 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm M432. 

3. 1866 State Census, Butler County, Alabama, population schedule, Butler County, Alabama, Page 35, Line 24, Bryant Dees; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:online May 2024). 

4. 1880 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Foxs Mills, Wilcox, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) 185, Page: #241 (stamped), Line: #26, Dwelling: #23, Family: #23, Household of H. B. DEES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com: online May 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_0035. 

5. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Hardy Bryant “H.B.” Dees (24 October 1825–26 May 1901), Memorial #92932184. 

6. "Alabama, County Marriage Index, 1816-1942," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: online May 2024), Marriage: H. B. Dees & Matilda Eddins; https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records. 

7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Matildia Eddins Dees (10 August 1825–11 May 1901), Memorial #92932102. 

 

The Crime and The Aftermath

 This Blog post is a continuation of the 4 November Blog Post entitled - Gilbert J. Dease and his Nephew John Ryan Charged with Murder. This blog post contains details from the trial. 

THE THOMAS MURDER

INTEREST IN THE TRIAL INCREASES

Dease and Ryan Testify In Their Own behalf and Give a Detailed Account of the Fight With Thomas. 

 Mobile, Jan. 18. -- (Special)-The trial of Gilbert J. Dease and John J. Ryan for the killing of Deputy Sheriff J. Westley Thomas in Whistler on July 10th, 1893, gathers interest as it proceeds. It has been characterized by a large attendance of spectators ever since the taking of the testimony began on Tuesday, but today, and especially tonight, the court-room, was crowded to suffocation so much so that Judge Semmes adjourned the court an hour earlier than usual. The attendance has been larger and the interest, greater than on any similar occasion for many years and probably has never been exceeded. Among those present at the trial, is Colonel John J. Ryan, Sr. of Ellisville, Miss., and his wife, father and mother, of one of the defendants and J. K. Almon, editor of The Canton, (Miss) Democrat and wife the latter being a sister of defendant Ryan.

The feature of the proceedings of this the Fourth day of the trial was the telling the story of the killing by the defendants Dease and Ryan. The early hours, and in tact nearly all the morning session, was taken up by the introduction by the defense of a large number of character witnesses as to the general reputation, Thomas, Dease and Ryan. 

The preponderance of evidence adduced was to the effect the general reputation of Deputy Sheriff Thomas was that of a bad, desperate man, while the general reputation of the defendants Dease and Ryan were excellent. 

About 2 o'clock Gilbert J. Dease took the stand in his own behalf.

His direct and cross examination continued for two hours. After detailing minutely his arrest by Thomas on the fatal night, his giving bond and Thomas Kyan and himself drinking together, the witness said, they started from his house to the village. On the way Thomas said:  "People said I couldn't take you, but I can take any d---d man." Dease replied that anybody could take him as he was a peaceable law-abiding man. Thomas replied, "You are a liar; you are hiding John Connors from me now."  Dease protested that he was not, when Thomas reiterated his, former statement, adding, "I’ll do you just like I did Mike Fincher." Thomas had killed Fincher just a week before. As Thomas made this last remark, he made a movement as if to draw a weapon. Witness backed away saying. "Don't do that, Wes." Thomas continued to advance, when witness pulled his pistol (a 45-calibre Colt's revolver) and began firing. He tired six shots Very rapidly and Thomas was attacking him all the time witness was firing. When the pistol was empty, he clubbed it and hit Thomas over the head and shoulders.

Then he stumbled and Thomas fell on him. Witness reversed the pistol and continued to beat Thomas over the head. Ryan took no part in the fight and only pulled Thomas off of Dease. Witness- was satisfied Thomas died while on top of him. 

Dease then described the flight of himself and Ryan into Mississippi.

The defense tried to show by asking Dease's intentions that he and Ryan were going after money to employ lawyer to defend them, but Judge Semmes said the Supreme Court had ruled that a witness could not testify as to his Intentions and overruled all questions in that direction, to which the defense excepted. 

Ryan followed Dease and corroborated his statement in all the most essential particulars. 

Neither of the defendants saw Thomas with a pistol or any other weapon. It has been previously testified that no weapon was found on Thomas's body. 

Tomorrow the State will examine witnesses in rebuttal. [1]

Sentencing:  

"...having heard the Evidence and the Charge of the Court on this Twenty Second 1 day of January 1894 say on the other we the Jury and this Defendant Gilbert J. Dease guilty of under in the second degree and further kind that he be imprisonment in the Penitentiary for (10) years, and further find the defendant John Ryan not Guilty it is ordered that the defendant Gilbert J Dease be remanded to Jail to amend the further action of the Court and that the State of Alabama ... {Mobile, AL City Court, Criminal, Minutes Book No. 16, 1893-1896; FILM #1945141}[2]

Commutation:

Before retiring from office Gov. Jones, of Alabama, commuted the sentence of Gilbert J, Dease from ten years one year. Dease's term will now expire in January next.[3] The Mississippi Press, Pascagoula, Mississippi, Fri, Dec 21, 1894, Page 1, Column 3.

Gilbert J. Dease is my 2nd Cousin 3X Removed. 

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1. "THE THOMAS MURDER," Local News, The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama, 19 January 1894, Page 2, Column 1; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : online November 2024); https://www.newspapers.com/.

2. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-HQCX-7

3. "Commutation:," Local; News, The Mississippi Press, Pascagoula, Mississippi, 21 December 1894, Page 1, Column 3; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/: online November 2024); https://www.newspapers.com/.