This portrait of my great-great grandparents, Thomas Franklin Espy and Frances (Searcy) Espy, was unearthed by my cousin Beverly (Espy) Dayries in 2008, with the help of her husband, Bud Dayries. It was in their basement.
Thomas Franklin Espy, born December 3, 1835, Tallapoosa County, Alabama, died May 14, 1910
Frances R. Brazilla Searcy (aka) Fannie, born March 25, 1842, Henry County, Alabama, died January 19, 1896
Thomas and Frances had seven children: Theodocia - born 1860, Thomas Marion - born 1862, Ella Gray - born 1866, William Watt - born 1869, James Robert Lee - born 1871, Achsa Pearle - born 1875, and John Jolly, Sr. - born 1878.
This portrait is a recent jewel I discovered in Uncle Watty's house. It was in a very old, dusty frame. The frame glass was even shattered. This is the Thomas Franklin Espy family. Next to Thomas is his wife Frances. Surrounding them are their children. John J. Espy is standing on the far right. Griggs Espy (a cousin in Dothan, AL) thinks his grandfather, Thomas Marion Espy, is standing behind Frances. He also said there were four boys, and that one is obviously missing in this portrait.
I am really going to miss Mother. In time, I hope to be able to share some personal stories about her and even the remarks I shared at her memorial service this past weekend. The older pictures below were some I had scanned a while back and just hadn't posted. The first one, though, was taken on my last visit to Headland...not long ago. The pictures of Sarah Beth and Leslie with Mom were also taken fairly recently. I'm grateful we have these photos and all the wonderful memories. To see more pictures of Mom, go to Mom's Side in Categories on the right.
A year has passed since Watt Espy died. Watty was the name his family called him. Uncle Watty is missed by all of us. If someone anybody has information or photos of Watt, please contact me at majorespy@yahoo.com. Thanks!
On September 26, 2008, the National Death Penalty Archive at the University at Albany held a dedication: Executions in America, The M. Watt Espy Jr. Collection. Although Watt was unable to attend the dedication due to his health problems, he was able to view a DVD of it. I'm sure he was very proud.
You may first want to see a program (below) from the dedication. And here's the news release about the dedication.
The University at Albany also just announced that they have received a federal grant to help with the indexing of Watt Espy's papers. You can read about the grant here.
Brian Keough was instrumental in helping land the grant. In an e-mail to me recently, Brian said, "The grant we are just beginning will greatly enhance the ability to find material in the Espy Collection. We will be able to digitize selected correspondence, photos, and other material for you that can quickly be identified and digitized from a box. For an example of what a finding aid will look like for the Espy Papers, see Hugo Bedau's Papers."
According to Professor Jim Acker, the indexing of Watt's papers "ought to be a boon for researchers when completed."
The M. Watt Espy Papers finding aid is now available online.
Thisis Watt Espy's last interview. To learn more about it, click here.
This is a photo of the home in Headland where Watty lived during the '80s and '90s. See if you can spot Watty in the picture. The home is called the old Edgar Lindsey Home.
Larry Smith, our Henry County Historian, provided a brief history:
Edgar Lindsey and wife Margaret Oates Lindsey had a daughter, Malinda Oates Lindsey who married Dr. Walter Scott.
Dr. Walter Scott married (1) Malinda Oates Lindsey Scott and they had a daughter, Mary Jordan Lindsey Scott 1912-1958, who married Major Watt Espy. Dr. Walter Scott married (2) Letchie Gary in May of 1930. She already had a son, Charles Gary. He lived in Midland City, Alabama.
Major W. Espy and (1) Mary Jordan Lindsey Espy had one son, M. W. (Watty) Espy, Jr. M. W. Espy and Mary Jordan divorced.
Watty inherited the Edgar Lindsey house from his mother Mary Jordan Lindsey Scott.
The following are some images of the home today. These images were taken by Larry Smith. You can see the front yard has been cleared and the home has been extensively renovated. Again, this home is where Watt Espy, the Death Penalty Historian, did most of his work.
I enjoyed reading the old deeds to the
E. Lindsay House in Headland that you mailed me some time ago. This is good
evidence of where the Old Headland Baptist Cemetery that joined this
Lindsay lot was located . - Larry Smith
Larry Smith recently took these images at the First Baptist Church Cemetery. Unlike the Methodist Church Cemetery across town, our Baptist one is in dire need of some maintenance/landscaping. Nonetheless, these images will have to do for now. I have been told by Dad that the tombstones of J. J. Espy and the other Espys are supposed to get some professional cleaning very soon. Once that's done, and some flowers are placed at Watty's grave, better images will be posted. Still, you should have no problem spotting Watty's slab in the first image. I have seen it personally, and it looks very nice.
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