By By Lydia Grimes
Warren family has interesting history
The first thing I want to do is apologize for putting a photograph in a couple of weeks ago which offended a family member. It never occurred to me that someone would object. I looked at the tombstone as being a beautiful work of art. Once again, I am sorry it hurt anyone's feelings.
I was reading a recent copy of The Historical News and I ran across an article about the Warren family of Conecuh County. I have related this tale before but thought it was interesting enough to repeat.
Some of this is taken from Riley's History of Conecuh and some comes from gossip of the time. What is true and what is untrue is up to the reader.
Maj. Richard Warren came to Alabama from Burke County, Ga. in 1817, after having left South Caroline. He settled around Burnt Corn and erected a fort that was a place of refuge for those fleeing hostile Indians. In 1818, Warren moved south and settled on what is now part of Jay Villa in Conecuh County. He and his two sons, Malachi and Hinchie Warren, were the first white men to settle in the area that was Sparta.
Hinchie Warren became the father of two sons, Hinchie Warren Jr. and John Quincy Adams Warren. As the boys grew to manhood, they bought a young female slave. They purchased and imported from Lowndes County a young octoroon by the name of Lucindy. It is said that she was redheaded, had blue eyes and fair skin.
Everything was just fine for a while but as was to be expected, the day came when the two young men became upset with each other over the young slave. Both of them had formed an attachment to Lucindy and they began to argue over her. The disagreement got so bad that the two dug a ‘spite' ditch between their respective properties. (It is said that the ditch can still be seen).
Shortly after the ditch was dug, Hinchie Warren Jr. and Lucindy disappeared and it was whispered that they went north where they lived as man and wife. Some people believe they went to Ohio where they married, had children and grandchildren who were very prominent in society.
Back in Conecuh County, John Quincy Adams Warren took out his sorrow in strong drink. He got so bad that he began to order his spirits by the barrel. It is said that he was a short, but very fat man and had to ask his servants to help him get his drink out of the barrel.
On one occasion, John Q.A. Warren had a barrel of whiskey that had gotten real low; so low that he apparently could not reach it. He persuaded his servants to place him upside down on top of the barrel where he could reach the strong drink. They reluctantly did so and left meaning to come back to assist him in getting off the barrel. The problem was, they were too long in returning and they found John Q.A. Warren had drowned in the bottom of the barrel.
Now this tale may be true or it may not. It is said that there is a run-down graveyard near the old home site that bears the words &#8220The evil that men do live after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.”
There are so many good tales out there. If you know of one, let me know.