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Note: Robert and Marinda lived in Georgia until 1854-55 when they moved to Alabama where they lived until 1867. Then they moved to Louisiana. They and eight of their eleven children are buried in the Henson Cemetery, Jackson Parish, Louisiana. Marinda's people remained in Georgia. Her brothers were a physician and a lawyer (or maybe two lawyers). Judge Sessions, who was her brother died early in this century. The following exercise is copied verbatim as written by Mellie Head while in the eighth grade. (Mellie is the daughter of Jesse George Head and Lena Garrett.) " HOW MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER HEAD CAME TO LOUISIANA IN THE YEAR 1867 My Great Grandmother Head (Mellie Malinda Sessions Head) and her ten children came from Alabama to this part of Louisiana. After arriving at New Orleans they traveled up the Mississippi and the Ouachita to the mouth of Cheniere Creek. They did not come in a covered wagon or on a train but they traveled on a steamboat from Mobile to New Orleans. No doubt the trip from Alabama was disagreeable to the younger members of the large family. So whenever they could the two younger girls, Nancy and Victoria slipped away from their mother and went to the room where the stewardess stayed. Although they were very young they could sew, so they helped the stewardess with her sewing. One funny incident was when my Great Uncle Yancey's hat blew off his head into Lake Ponchartrain. They were on their way to Louisiana. When they reached the landing at Cheniere they stayed until my Great Grandfather Head came for them in wagons to move them and their provisions to their new home. He had come to Louisiana a few weeks before to select a place for their new home. Their new home was located near Cypress Creek." (SO ENDS MELLIE'S NARRATIVE.) The journey by boat to Louisiana started from Montgomery on the Alabama River. It was James Yancey Head who lost his hat; but, let it be remembered that the children ate at the Captain's table and never once soiled the tablecloth. James Yancey was six and Robert Lloyd Head was two. Years after, Nancy Matilda Head (Aunt Nanny) , in recounting these events, told that the grown-up daughters Mary Jane (May) and Harriett Anna Head wore woolen dresses that they had carded, spun, wove, and sewed by hand. When they stopped at the mouth of Cheniere, they met Dr. and Mrs. Henson who were living there. Mrs. Henson wanted to move out in the hills and felt that the Heads were neighbors that she would like; so, the Hensons soon moved out and lived at what is still known as the Henson Place. Robert and Marinda were both skilled in the kinds of work necessary to home making. They kept a few former slaves but worked with them in making a home in what was then "New Country". The first house they built burned soon after being completed. Most of their belongings burned too. The location of the first home in Louisiana is lost from memory of men. Somewhere in the Big Woods, possibly near the source of Big Glade. Robert and the children found much to enjoy in the New Country. Game such as wild turkey, deer, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and all sorts of birds abounded. The streams furnished fish. Life was interesting, even exciting for all who enjoyed the out of doors. Mellie Marinda found pioneer life difficult although she never complained. Houses were rude and poorly finished. Sis (probably Harriett Anna) fell a victim to malaria sometime in that first year; when she died they had to inquire of the neighbors as to where a burial ground was located. They learned there was a burial plot on what was then the Sykes Place; so Sis was laid to rest and in a few months her brother Johnny (John Thomas Head) was buried beside her. Johnny must have had acute Bright's Disease. It was then called dropsy and no cure had ever been found. Carding, spinning, weaving, and knitting had to be done quickly. Years afterward, Marinda talked of what a swift worker the black woman AILSE was. Years went by, children were born; no sickness or other disaster struck. Politics was of great interest. The issues that led to the Civil War were being discussed. Robert told in later years of hearing Stephen A. Douglas speak from the steps of the Capitol Building in Montgomery. Secession and war came. The oldest son William Jefferson (Jeff) enlisted in the infantry and fought in the battle of Shiloh. He took measles and was sent home riding in/on boxcars. He died in a few days. Robert's cousin, Randolph, was instrumental in making up a company of cavalry and was the Captain. Robert was a Lieutenant. Marinda, at home with a faithful slave woman and the children, planted and harvested corn, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and forage for the animals. She was an expert in caring for cows and also managed to care for the hogs, so food and supplies were plentiful until the close of the war when the countryside was overrun by the Yankees. Robert served throughout the war and near the close he was a prisoner of war at Ship Island. Sometime in '63 or '64, it seems he had a furlough and managed to have his teenage son, Andrew Jackson, inducted into the army and into this same company of Cavalry. Andrew's record is in the Confederate Memorial in Montgomery. (Robert's war record has been found in the Library of Congress.) Finally, all the family was together again. The money they had saved was worthless. There were certain other financial reverses, so after living one more year (1866) in Alabama, they decided to start all over again in a new country. He had signed a note for a friend before the war. The person reneged so Robert had to pay the note. That was a lesson he learned and advised his children and grand children not to sign notes. Some friends, the Bakers, had already moved to North Louisiana. The youngest child, Pollard Oliver Head was born Dec 15, 1866, and when he was six weeks old, Feb 1867, the family emigrated. Around 1890 Mellie Marinda fell and broke her hip and since there was then no surgical help she was somewhat lame the rest of her life. About 1892, her daughter, Margaret Victoria, died leaving five young children (#1________, #2________, #3_________, #4__________, 5________. Mellie Marinda spent a year helping out in that home. It was reported that she took pneumonia while there and was not able to continue; so Victoria's husband Walter sent his three(#1_______, #2_________, #3_________ little girls to Alabama where his mother kept them until he married again, this time to Emily Francis Head, daughter of Andrew J. Head and Almeda Jane Salsbury. Mellie Marinda's son's (Robert Lloyd Head) wife, Maggie Cloyd, died in 1892 leaving a baby boy, Sam. He grew up in the home of his grandparents where he was his Aunt Carrie's, (Mellie Marinda's daughter, Martha Caroline Head) greatest treasure. Mellie Marinda's daughter, Mary Jane Head passed away around 1890 and then Mary Jane's husband, John Hampton, died around 1891. John left all his property, real estate, live stock and other assets as well as some liabilities to the Head Family, probably deeded first to his father-in-law, Robert Auley Head, who gave it jointly to Martha Caroline (Carrie) Head and Pollard Oliver Head as they were the two children remaining at home. Robert Auley Head and Mellie Marinda Sessions, were still living at their home known as the Hathaway Place that they bought in 1868 or 1869. They felt they could not maintain both places so they proposed to sell the Hampton Place to their son, Andrew Jackson Head, and his wife, Almeda Jane Salsbury. Almeda said, "No, I'm turned around all the time I'm at the Hampton Place; the sun doesn't rise and set right there." Robert Auley Head then said, "You buy this place and I'll move to the Hampton Place." So that was arranged. The "Hamp Place" became "Grandpa's" to the grandchildren and Andrew Jackson Head and Almeda Jane Salsbury acquired a tract of 480 acres. Almeda died in 1924. Andrew lived there until 1928.
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