Elijah MALLARD was born on October 11, 1770 in Duplin County, North Carolina. There is a question as to just who are Elijah's parents. Some, maybe most, believe him to be the son of George and Comfort Woodstock MALLARD. One of George and Comfort's sons is named Elijah. One problem with our Elijah being their son is that there is an Elijah MALLARD who had an estate probated in Duplin County, North Carolina on July 14, 1813. A Duplin County Court minutes dated Tuesday, July 19, 1808, read as follows, "Ordered hands of John McGowen, Hezekiah Dobson, William Fry and Elijah Mallard, Jr. work on the River under James Raphael, Overseer." This record suggests that a Elijah MALLARD had a son Elijah, Junior. Our Elijah could be the youngest child or one of the youngest children of George and Comfort. I am more inclined to believe that our Elijah is the grandson of George and Comfort and the son of the Elijah that died in 1813.
According to Elijah's obituary, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of 17 years in 1787 or 1788. His obituary says that he had been a Local preacher for more than 50 years. This means he had been in the ministry since before 1799.
I believe that our Elijah MALLARD was the Elijah MALLARD who filed a marriage bond on October 15, 179(5?) in Onslow County, North Carolina. The Bond doesn't have the date completed on it, but occurred during Governor Richard Dobbs SPAIGHT, Sr. term. His term as the Governor was from December 14, 1792 until November 19, 1795. The marriage was between Elijah MALLARD and Polley BALLARD. The 1820 and 1830 U.S. Census would suggest that Elijah and Polley had at least two sons and four daughters. We believe the names of the two sons are Lewis MALLARD and John Wesley MALLARD. From Elijah's death notice we know Eliza MALLARD is one of the four daughters. The name of two of the other three daughters is believed to be Mary MALLARD and Almedia M. MALLARD.
According to Elijah's obituary he came to Georgia in 1807. We believe our Elijah MALLARD as the same person as the Elijah MALLARD found in the Gatrell Militia District, Lincoln County, Georgia Tax lists of 1810. Elijah appears to have lived in three neighboring counties of Lincoln, Columbia and Warren between 1810 and 1830. An Elijah MALLARD of Walker's Militia District, Columbia County, Georgia drew land in Georgia's 1820 Land Lottery. Land given in Georgia's 1820 Land Lottery, was from Cherokee and Creek land cessions. The land he drew was located in the recently created County of Early. Early County was created from the Creek land cessions. When Early County was created, its initial size included parts of eleven of today's counties. The following are the names of those eleven counties: Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole and a small part of Thomas. According to Elijah's land grant, the land was located in section one. Section one is now the eastern part of Dougherty County. By the time Elijah was given the official grant of land, in 1835, this area was part of Baker County. Baker County was created from Early County in 1825. When Baker County was created, its initial size included parts of five of today's counties. The following are the names of those five counties: Baker, Dougherty, Mitchell, parts of Calhoun and Miller. Unfortunately all of Baker County Probate and Land records dating before 1874 were lost in a courthouse fire.
Elijah was ordained as a Deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1834. The ministry of the Church was administered by Local and Itinerant minsters. Local or Lay Ministers were licensed to preach in the church where they lived. The Itinerant or Circuit Minister was either a Deacon or Elder. In the Methodist Church the ministerial order had three levels. The three levels where Deacon, Elder and Bishop. The Circuit Minister generally presided over 20 to 30 churches. Every three months they would begin their circuit to these churches.
In the 1850 U.S. Census of Franklin County, Georgia, an Elijah MALLARD is listed in the household of John B. and Eliza MERRETT. His age is listed as 79 years old, and that he was born in North Carolina. His profession is listed as a Methodist minister. The 1850 Mortality schedule of Franklin County lists an Elijah MALLARD, 79 years old, Widowed, born in North Carolina, died in September 1849 of dropsy. In the Book Marriage and Death Notices from the Southern Christian Advocate, 1861-1867, Volume II a death notice for Elijah MALLARD is listed. The notice, by A. J. Orr dated November 30, 1849, reads "Died, September 24, 1849, the Reverend Elijah Mallard, aged 78 years, 11 months and 13 days. He was born in Duplin County, North Carolina, embraced religion and joined the M. E. Church in his 17th year; came to Georgia in 1807, and died at the house of his son-in-law, John B. Merritt, near the Franklin Springs. He was a local preacher for more than 50 years, and though always faithful, was peculiarly devoted to the duties of his holy office for the last 14 years of his life. He died of dropsy, with which he became afflicted in March last, expressing at all times entire resignation to the will of God. He gave satisfactory answers to his friends when asked about his prospects for another world, assuring them that all was well. He told his children not to lament his death, for he should be happy: bade them to follow him as he followed Christ, and requested them to meet him in a better world. Though he lingered long on earth, his labours are now ended, and as both his life and death gave evidence of true piety, no doubt he rests in heaven."