Eighth Generation

3979. Edwarda Lewis Skillman was born in 1849 at Wellswood plantation in Rapides Par., Alexandria, LA. She died on 22 November 1878 at the age of 29 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA.

Edwarda Lewis Skillman and George Waters Stafford were married on 22 December 1868 in Alexandria, Rapides, LA. Married at summer home of Parents on hurricane Creek, west of Cheneyville, LA. George Waters Stafford, son of Leroy Augustus Stafford and Sarah Catharine Wright, served in the military between 1861 and 1865 at Confederate Army. His father organized "The Stafford Guards," but George joined "The Rapides Invincibles" under Capt. Lee Crandall. The company was mustered into the Confederate Army in New Orleans on 27 May 1861 as Co. I, Eighth Louisiana Infantry, at which time, George was just shy of his 17th birthday. It became part of Gen. Richard Taylor's brigade of Ewell's division, participated in battles in the Shenandoah Valley under Stonewall Jackson. George was promoted from sergeant to a lieutenant, and in 1863 was promoted to captain. By then, his father was a brig. general, and George was assigned as a aide to his father.
At the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864 his father was mortally wounded and died three days later in Richmond. He died on 4 April 1890 in Gainesville, TX. Cause of death was acute dysentery. He was buried at Episcopal Cemetery in Gainesville, TX.

Edwarda Lewis Skillman-9568 and George Waters Stafford-9632 had the following children:

+6399	i.	Leroy Augustus Stafford-9635.
6400	ii.	David May Stafford was born on 5 August 1871. He died on 17 November 1919 at the age of 48. He was buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pineville, LA.
6401	iii.	Annie Jeannette Stafford was born on 19 May 1873.
6402	iv.	Edward Skillman Stafford was born on 1 April 1876. He died on 8 April 1882 at the age of 6 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA. Cause of death was diptheria.
+6403	v.	Helen Keary Stafford-9639.