Lynah family history

(30) John Heyward Lynah

born May 16, 1848, in Grahamville

married Ella Louise Heyward (Nov. 6, 1855 - January 27, 1925) and died Dec. 4, 1935 at Savannah, Georgia. Both are interred at Magnolia Cemetary, Charleston, S. C.  Issue:

I. (46) Savage Heyward born 1879
II. (47) James born Oct. 5, 1881
III. (48) Lilly Heyward born July 5, 1884, married Harry Timrod Dearing (Aug. 6, 1877 - June 16, 1962) and died March 21, 1956.  N.I.
IV.  (49) Eloise, born 1879, married Paul Trapier Palmer. From this marriage are descended branches of the Palmer, Dowdney, Bisco, and Buckley families.
V. (50) John Heyward born Dec. 19, 1891.
VI. (51) Marie Glover 1897 died infant.
VII. (52) Edward born 1897 died 1898
VIII. (53) Anne Cuthbert born Oct. 8, 1899 married Reider Arnljot Trosdal (born Feb. 14, 1880) one son, Reider.

How rice planters hated to give up the planting of rice, especially these who clung to it to the very last! It was their life.

John Heyward Lynah was one of the very last of the rice planters. His home during the latter part of his life was in Savannah, Georgia, but his plantation (Fife & Rice Hope) lay in South Carolina, just across the Savannah River. He visited it nearly every day and, toward the later part of his life, he planted only thirty acres; just enough for him to think of the old days.

Each year at harvest time, his family noticed that he hung a sheaf of rice on the wall of his house on the plantation, and removed the one he had placed there the year before. When he died at a ripe old aye, he requested that his family place the sheaf on his casket instead of flowers. He wanted the sheaf of rice to go with him to the grave. (It was so.)

He was one who demanded, and because it was deserved, obtained the respect from those around him. On one occassion he is reported to have gone for his shotgun when one of his colored hands had the audacity to address him as "Mr. Heyward".

On another occassion he ran a poacher from Rice Hope by firing over his head with his rifle until the man was out of sight, sans gun, clothes, and game. This poacher turned out to be a physic's teacher in Savannah High School, later principal. Years later, I went to register for Physics and I was told the story and advised to take some other course of study, which advice was followed.

He was a very religious Episcopalian. Always active and attentive to Christ Church in Savannah. He was physically active and mentally alert until his death. He aided in the support of his three maiden sisters as long as they lived. He was of impressive appearance, tall, upright, and wore a moustache which extended and connected to his sideburns, and tickled.

His financial comeback after the Civil War was nothing short of phenominal. The usefulness of Venezobre, having been destroyed by government meddling with the tides of the Savannah River, he started planting on Rice Hope and later Fife, eventually acquiring both. He died a man of means who had made his way through troubled times.

His wife, who died many years before (1922), had wished to be returned to her home in Charleston for burial, and so she and later he, with one of their infant children, were interred in Magnolia Cemetary.