56. Moses CORNELIUS was born on
20 Nov 1784 in South Carolina. He signed a will on 25 Nov 1846 in Blount County, AL. In
the name of God Amen I Moses Cornelius being mindful of my mormortality do this twenty
fifth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousnd and eight hundred and forty six
and publish this my last will and testament in manner following first Idesire to be
decently buried and with as little expence as may be .... Also give and bequeath to my
Wife Sinthy Cornelius all my land that I have or may have at my death Also all horses,
hogs, cattle household furniture farming tools of every kind that I may own at my death
also one Two horse wagon, one carry all waggan and set of Blacksmith tools during her
natural life and after her decease the above land and property to be sold on a twelve
month credit and the money divided in equal shares between my lawful heirs..... Also I do
hereby constitute and appoint my Son Andrew Cornelius sole Executor of this my last will
and testament Also to collect all my just debts and to pay off all my just creditors and
the remainder after paying all lawful Expences to be given to my wife for her use and
benefit... Given under my hand and seal the day and year above written...MOSES x CORNELIUS
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as for his last Will and
Testament in presents of us who at his request and in his presents have subscribed our
names as witnesses thereunto... WILLIAM HOHHINGSWORTH; MEREDITH CORNELIUS; JOHN H. BOX...
Probated 30 July 1847 He died about 1847 in Oneonta, Blount County, Alabama. He was buried
in Old Liberty Cemetery. Moses was the first person buried in the Old Liberty Cemetery.
Moses Cornelius and his wife, moved from South Carolina in 1819, to Alabama. They owned a
mill four miles southwest of where Oneonta now stands. It was the only mill we had in this
country. He ground corn only. He also built the first saw mill. It was at the time called
a sash saw mill. The saw was a straight blade eight inches wide and eight feet long. It
had two motions, upward and downward. It did it's sawing with the downward stroke. I give
this description because they are in use no more. The mill was on a creek where it runs
through a great gorge cut through the mountain. The bluffs were more than one hundred feet
high. Grandfather Moses would cut his saw logs and haul them to the bluff and when he had
gotten several hundred he would invite his neighbors to come and see the logs roll off the
bluff.
Moses Cornelius was addicted to drink until he was thirty years of age; but by God's
wonderful love and grace he was saved fron the curse of rum and made "a new creature
in Christ Jesus."
"We who in Christ believe That
he for us has died, We all his unknown
peace receive, And feel his blood applied."
He joined the Methodist church and became a minister of the gospel. He was a great power
for God. Under the influence of his prayers and sermons Christians were made to rejoice in
the Lord, sinners were convicted and came home to God.
He died at the age of sixty-five. His final illness began two years before his death. He
has his casket made and placed under his bed; and when he grew suddenly worse, he sent for
one of his old friends and companions to come and see how a "Christian soldier can
die." He died in 1846. His wife, Cynthia, lived to be eighty-four years of age, dying
in 1875. He was married to Cynthia BYNUM in 1806 in South Carolina.
57. Cynthia BYNUM was born about
1792 in South Carolina. Children were:
28 i. Zechariah CORNELIUS.
ii. Joel CORNELIUS
was born in 1811 in Tennessee.
iii. Sarah (Sally)
CORNELIUS was born in 1813 in Tennessee. She died in 1852.
iv. Eliza CORNELIUS
was born on 17 Mar 1815 in Tennessee. She died on 13 Aug 1882 in Blount County, Alabama.
She was buried in Old Liberty Cemetery, Oneonta, Alabama.
v. Champion CORNELIUS
was born in 1816 in Tennessee. He died in 1852.
vi. William
CORNELIUS was born in 1817 in Tennessee. He died in 1838.
vii. Meredith
CORNELIUS was born in 1819 in Tennessee.
viii. Elizabeth
(Betsy) CORNELIUS was born in 1821 in Blount County, Alabama. She died in 1891.
ix. Andrew CORNELIUS
was born in 1824 in Blount County, Alabama.
x. Cargile CORNELIUS
was born in 1825 in Blount County, Alabama. He died in early manhood.
xi. Celia CORNELIUS
was born in 1826 in Blount County, Alabama. She died in 1895.
xii. Dicie CORNELIUS
was born on 26 Jan 1826 in Blount County, Alabama. She died on 1 Aug 1883.
xiii. Tillman
CORNELIUS was born in 1831 in Blount County, Alabama. He died in 1909.
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