Martha Ellen Barnett was the 2nd eldest of 13 children born to Harrison and Irena Barnett, prominent planters in Oglethrope County Georgia. She had a proud heritage through her parents, traceable to both Jamestowne and the Puritans.

Martha married farmer/ planter John Saunders Fleeman Jr. on 7 Nov 1867 just after the close of the Civil War. He was a year her senior and had been just barely too young to fight, though he lost more than one uncle in the fighting.

The couple had 10 children. Eight lived to adulthood. The sons whose names we know were John B. , William Walter, Henry Obie, Cornelius S. and B.E. Their daughters were Irene, Georgia , Eva and Winnie.

The Barnett family has preserved a letter from Martha, about the family heritage. The letter is below:

July 17, 1928

Dear Girl: -

Obie said you wished to know something about your grandparents. I will write you all I know. I think I can write better than I can talk As to Pa's family, I can tell but little. He was left a small child by his parents. His (illegible)…..

have been told it is still called the old Barnett place. He told me that he had never gone to school but six months in his life, but he had a better education than most boys of the present age. He was determined to learn, and studied every opportunity he had, which was very scarce, only at night. He had to work to support himself. His brother had plenty but it did him no good. He would get odd jobs any where he could. At one time when he was a small boy he was changing his home, stuffed all his possessions in his pants leg. He met a neighbor who inquired where he was going and he told him he was moving. He kept striving after he was married. He was clerking in Athens. I don't know where he met Ma. She was very wealthy at that time. During the War between the states, at the last call he enlisted, could have stayed home, but his country called so he left all and went – was elected Captain and was beloved by all.

As to Ma's I know more. She and the old workers would tell me. Her father came from Virginia, was a doctor and a bachelor. He and another man about the same age came down to North Carolina and from there to Georgia, but at what date I do not know – somewhere near a hundred years ago. There he met grandma. She was then young and very pretty but poor when he came to Georgia. He brought her mother and brother with him. They were all buried at the old Yancey Place, about a mile from where I am now. I can't tell any thing about where in the old States they came from. Grandma Hicks has a history to tell of her (mother's) life. She was a Hines and her father was very wealthy and at one time was elected Governor of Virginia. She met a poor man and loved and eloped with him. For that her father never forgave. So you see we have some good blood in our veins. I don't know anything about dates or places, I only remember from childhood.

Your aunt,

M.E. Fleeman