Are the descendants of John Vincent (1787-1871) related to the 
person after whom the town of Vincent, Alabama was named?


My father and his siblings always said that the town of Vincent, Alabama was 
named for one of my family's relatives.  

This family legend is probably a myth. 

On the back of a map of Vincent, Alabama is the "History of the town of 
Vincent, Alabama" compiled by Evelyn Lowe (pub. 1974).  This history says: 

"The TOWN was named after the family of Mrs. Annie E. Vincent, daughter of 
Harriet McGraw.  The oldest home in Vincent ... was built in the 1840s. ... 
Mrs Anna E. Vincent moved into this house when she was three years old." 

In the late 1980s or early 1990 I visited the town library and obtained an 
undated photocopy of the "Vincent Methodist Church History" which says: 
"In 1888, the Central of Georgia [Railroad] obtained a right of way from 
J.E. Vincent and it was this reason the town was named Vincent."  I think 
they meant J.J. Vincent, possibly a typo confusing his middle initial with 
his wife's. 

The town was named for the family of James Joshua Vincent (1826-1899) and his 
2nd wife, Anna Eliza McGraw (1845-1922).  When I visited the town, I spoke to 
a Vincent descendant who still lived in house built in the 1840s.  I think the 
old lady said she was Mrs. Anna Vincent's granddaughter.  From her or the 
library, I got the names of two relatives who had the family genealogy. 

I corresponded with them in 1990.  They were Menzo Driskell, Jr. of Alabama and 
Gerri George of Texas.  Both sent me a collection of information from their 
family research.  Mr. Driskell also sent copies of source records for James 
Joshua Vincent's first marriage and family group records, probate records of 
other Vincents, and two histories of the town of Vincent compiled in 1959 and 
1974. 

The 1959 & 1974 histories, info gathered in my interviews and correspondence, 
and the history on the back of the map all agree.  The town was named for the 
family of James Joshua Vincent and his wife Anna E. Vincent. 

According to his research, Mr. Driskell said James Joshua Vincent was born in 
Maryland. This is confirmed by several U.S. Censuses. 

Because of his birth in Maryland, it is possible but unlikely that James Joshua 
Vincent (1826-1899) is related to John Vincent (1787-1871) who was born in North 
Carolina and whose family remained there or moved to Georgia and other southeastern 
states.  Even if they were related, it would have been a few generations earlier.  

Therefore, it was unlikely at the time this family legend first appeared (after 1888) 
that they would have been aware of any relationship. 

- Ron Vincent
  2017-11-21