William T. Curry, b. May 1833, Pike Co., AL, d. 22-Dec-1901, Covington Co>Co., AL, buried in Cross-Curry Cemetery @ Ealum Hill.

According to Family tradition, William T. Curry was murdered while
traveling along the old Oaky Streak Road, near the Turkey Creek
crossing, in northern Covington County. The Oaky Streak Road became
CR-23 and, more recently, was designated as Hesters Store Road.

Mr. Curry's home was located about seven miles NNE of Red Level in
Section 8, T6N, R15E. This is adjacent to the Boykin community near
the Butler-Covington county line. Some descendants recall that William
T. Curry was ambushed in his buggy at night by an assailant whose last
name may have been Johnson or Johnston.

I am interested in any of the facts and circumstances surrounding this
crime. Was anyone ever charged with Mr. Curry’s murder? Was there a
trial and what were the results?

Surely there are newspaper accounts of this event. Perhaps there are
some old timers in Covington County who may recall their parents or
grandparents mentioning this event. Any information will be
appreciated.

Also, William T. Curry's widow was Eliza Spears Curry, b. November 1845 in
Alabama. Does anyone know when she died and where she is buried?

Ed Smith
Houston, TX

Mr. Smith,

I don't know about the murder, but I'm interested in your Johnston,Johnson surnames. My husbands family is descended from Thomas Jr., Johnston and Sina Cost(wife 1) and Barthenia Lindsey (wife 2). The lived in Shelby, Pike, and Geneva Counties in AL and Walton and Holmes Counties in FL. Their son was General Lafayette Johnson (without the T) in Walton and Holmes Counties in FL. His family homesteaded in Holmes Cuonty and descendents are living there today. My husband is Lafayette's great-grandson.

Does any of this fit your Johnston/Johnson?

Thanks,
Sherrie

Sorry, Sherrie, but I'm not researching the Johnson's or Johnston's. It's the Curry's & Whiddon's that I'm tracking in Covington County. I listed Johnson/Johnston in the surname list of my original query because the murderer of William T. Curry was alleged to be a Covington County man named John Johnson or possibly John Johnston.

Ed

I am interested in your story for two reasons. First, like Sherrie Johnson, I am reasearching the Johnson/Johnston line. Secondly, I am from Red Level, AL. My mother and step-father live about two miles from Hester's store.
My father, who is a Johnson, has always said that he was told that the Johnson's came to Holmes county because one of the brother's murdered someone. This is not, in fact, the reason they moved to Holmes county, but I wonder if, somewhere along the way, stories got mixed up. Please email me and I will be glad to share what little information I might have. I am curious to know what you might have dug up!
Thanks,
Shannon Johnson
scottandshannon@charter.net

Are you related to Ira Johnson of Homes county whose wife was a Gavin? Gail Gavin Holzmueller

I am related to Johnson's in Holmes County Florida. Johnson is my father's name. As far as I know, I am not directly related to Ira Johnson?

Linda, thanks for the reply. Ira Johnson died in 1936. He and my grandfather both got pneumonia and did within a week or two of each other. Gail

Mr. Smith,

Hello, my name is David Curry. I am the Great-Great Grandson of William T. Curry. I am currently trying to find information about my ancestors and stumbled across your posting. Your account of what happened fits what I have been told through the years. We still have family in Covington County, Alabama and will try to find out what I can to help with your inquiry. My father states he never heard much about his Great Grandmother and is going to call his brothers and uncle who may be able to help. Your original posting is dated May 2004, are you still in need of this information.

I live 35 miles south of Atlanta, Ga; however, my family and I went to South Alabama this past weekend visting family and looking for the gravesite of William T Curry. We could not locate it. I have never seen it, yet my father has. I'm afraid through the years it has been neglected and the property was sold off to timber companies. The property appears to have been clear cut and the gravesite may have been destroyed. We are planning on another trip within the next couple of weeks to see if we can locate the site.

As I stated earlier, I am new to researching ancestory lines and I am trying to piece together the puzzle. I was told William T. had 2 brothers and they had came over from Ireland around 1850. One settles in the Carolinas, one in Georgia, and one in Alabama. Could I ask how far back did you get with the Curry line and does this match? Also, it is my understanding William T. had 3 diiferent wives with 3 different children by each one. Oscar Curry (my Great Grandfather) was around 11 when William T was murdered. He was the youngest William T. Curry's children.

Thank you in advanca for any help you could provide.

David Curry

i am a great grandson of William T. Curry. i remember hearing the accounts of W T murder and they are much like the one you have described. i was told that it was at night and he was "waylaid" by someone he had crossed. my uncle who would be about 95 if he were alive said that he was found the next morning at the entrance to a lane that led to his house. the horse apparently continued on home and stopped when a wheel caught in the fence as he turned into the lane. i have pictures of his headstone taken some twenty years ago that i would be glad to share with anyone interested. just leave a message here with an e-mail address and i will forward a pdf file with them.

i would be interested, we have some curry's in our line from andalusia. my email is gravejunkee@aol.com.
thanks.