| John Wildes and Sarah Jane
Nunez married in 1848, probably in Appling Co., GA. John Wildes was the son of Maxey Millan and Elizabeth Wilkinson Wildes. His parents moved from Tattnall County to Ware County, Georgia, but it is not known whether John was born before they moved or not. The census of 1860 records his age as 30 years, which establishes his birth in 1830. After the massacre in 1838, John and his oldest brother, Reuben, found refuge in the home of a neighbor by the name of Harmon Van Rennselear Jeffords and his wife, Eurydice, who, it is said, considered “Little John as being guided to their home by The Divine Hand.” Sarah Jane Nunez was born September 30, 1830 to Hugh and Sarah Nunez of Appling Co., GA. The Nunez family has a long history in Georgia tracing back to the early 1700's. Her great-great grandfather, Dr. Samuel Nunes Ribiero, arrived in Savannah in 1733 with other Spanish and Portuguese Jewish immigrants. They were welcomed warmly by General Oglethorpe and soon organized the first Georgian Jewish congregation (Kehillat Kodesh Mickve Israel) in Savannah. Although Sarah Jane descended from the Jews, it is not known what, if any, belief or faith she followed prior to marrying John. To read more about the first Jewish congregation in Georgia, click HERE. |
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