Maria Farnell Green

Maria Farnell Green was born about 1810, in Georgia, possibly Pulaski County, where she was enslaved by Elisha Farnell. Elisha Farnell died intestate in 1823. His inventory listed his enslaved persons, including “Mareaha.” Among the heirs identified was James Farnell, a son. James was born about 1814. In the Final Distribution of the Estate, Maria was given to James, as part of his portion of the Estate. There is little information about Maria after this. She and two other youth were offered for sale because of debts owed the bank, by the Sheriff of Houston County, where William, Elisha’s oldest son and estate administrator was living at the time.  In 1846, Maria had Randel Farnell. About 1858, the white Farnell family, presumably with their enslaved servants, moved to Florida. It is there, in Columbia County, Florida, that Maria and Frank Green, her son Randel and his wife, Sallie and their children, were found living in the 1870 census. It is believed that Maria and Frank died in the early to mid-1870s, since they have not been found on the 1880 census. About 1877, Randel and his family moved to Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida, where his wife Sallie’s parents and siblings lived. The move is believed to have been prompted by the deaths of Maria and Frank.