Nathaniel Guyton, Junior was one of seven children born to Nathaniel and Sarah Guyton. His brother and sisters included Mary who married William Tate, Hannah who never married, Amy (Emy) Anne married John Crittenden, Isaac married Elizabeth, Jacob married Unknown possible Anna, and John who married Ruth. Nathaniel, Jr. was born between 1778 and 1780 in South Carolina. It’s not known for sure but he was probably born on his father’s farm, which was located at Smith’s Ford, 96^{th District, South Carolina. Smith’s Ford is located in present day Cherokee County, South Carolina.}

Not much is known about the early life of Nathaniel, Jr. except that he probably spent a lot of his boyhood working the corn and cotton fields on the family farm and helping his father in the blacksmiths shop. Nathaniel married Margaret about 1800. It is generally believed that Margaret’s maiden name was Kay. Nathaniel and Margaret had seven children that we know of Nathaniel Guyton, III, Sarah who married James Whitesides, Anna married William Nolen, James F. married Sarah Jane Warren, John W. married Margaret Thompson, Hannah married Aaron Pennington, and Thomas K. Guyton married Rebecca Strawbridge. All of Nathaniel’s children were born in South Carolina.

The first written record that has been found for Nathaniel is when he was mentioned in the records of El Bethel Baptist Church in July 1803. This is when he was received into the church by experience and baptism. Then on March 21, 1805 Nathaniel had 192 acres surveyed and on January 6, 1806 he received a land grant for 192 acres in Union District. October 1, 1810 Nathaniel, Sr.’s will was probated and in it Nathaniel, Jr. received his father’s farm at Smith’s Ford. During the following years Nathaniel lead an active life appearing several times in the Mesne conveyance and plat books of Union District, and in the records of El Bethel church. His last appearance in the records of Union District, S.C. is when he sold his land October 14, 1824. In this deed Margaret Guyton wife of Nathaniel signs the dower November 5, 1824. This is the first record of Margaret Kay Guyton.

During the next couple of months Nathaniel and Margaret moved their family to Marion County, Alabama. First appearing in Marion Co. in the records of Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church, when Nathaniel was received by letter January 15, 1825. Shortly after arriving he made two land patents at the land office in Huntsville. They were issued April 4, 1825 and were for 240 acres. Like in S.C., Nathaniel took an active part in the church. On Saturday, before the third Sunday in January 1831, he became the church clerk of Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church and not long after that he was mentioned as one of the members in the Churches constitution along with his wife Margaret. In September and October 1835, he made two more land patents. These two patents and the ones made in 1825 were all located in and around the present day city limits of Sulligent, Lamar County, Alabama.

In May of 1841, Nathaniel was ordained a minister of the gospel in the Primitive Baptist denomination. During this time there is mention of Brother Guyton’s meetinghouse. In 1845 Nathaniel made his last land patent, and in June 1846 his name appears for the last time in the records of Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church as the moderator. Up until this time he was mentioned on almost every page of the records. Nathaniel probably passed away about this time because we find Margaret living with her son Thomas by 1850.

By: Michael Guyton

Warsaw@bayou.com

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