George Paysinger - Louisiana Homesteader

Paysinger crafted Federal style desk on display at the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center.

Bossier Parish Libraries History Center

Quick Facts

Significance:

Louisiana Homesteader

Place of Birth:

Newberry, South Carolina

Date of Birth:

About 1824

Place of Death:

Plain Dealing, Louisiana

Date of Death:

June 1908

Place of Burial:

United Methodist Church Cemetery (located on family land)

George Paysinger made settlement in Bossier Parish, Louisiana in December, 1874, several years after emancipation.  

George established actual residence on January 24, 1875, when he completed homestead entry #1039 at the Natchitoches, Louisiana Land Office, under the Homestead Act of 1862. George fulfilled all of the requirements, including building a house and time living on the land, to receive a patent on August 3, 1882. The 160.60-acre parcel was located just east of Plain Dealing, Louisiana and ran north toward the Arkansas border.   

George was a master architect, builder, craftsman and a farmer. Among many achievements in his life George, as a former enslaved person, served as a Juror for the 2nd Judicial Court in Bossier Parish on April 3, 1882. During the years which homesteaders are required to make proof in support of their entries George Paysinger, his wife and five children made numerous improvements to the property. They cleared and fenced about fifteen acres; constructed two cabins for residences, a smoke house, corn crib, cotton house, and a wagon shelter. In addition, ten acres were cleared where they grew cotton/corn. George had neighbors with whom he had close relationships with for over twenty years, some during his enslavement.

Several of George’s neighbors and longtime acquaintances agreed to serve as the required witnesses to testify for his homestead entry. Cornelius Howell and Henry C. Wyche completed the two witness testimony statements.  S. C. O’Daniel, R.E. Wyche, J. N. Bryan, Ernest Wyche, and at least one other also agreed to serve as witnesses on February 10, 1880 to provide final proof of claim. It is noteworthy that J.N. Bryan a former enslaver of George Paysinger is among these witness signatures.

The Bossier Banner published a notice on February 10, 1880, of the intention of George Paysinger to make final proof of his homestead claim on Tuesday, March 25, 1880. The publication listed the claim as #1039, for the east half of the southwest quarter and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 23, north of range 13, west of Louisiana Meridian. George completed the Final Affidavit Required of Homestead Claimants at the Natchitoches, Louisiana Land Office on June 3, 1880.  

The Natchitoches Land Office ultimately issued Final Certificate #434 for homestead application #1039 on August 3, 1882.This 160-acre Homestead Land Patent was only a segment of the land George Paysinger acquired during his lifetime. Before the land patent was final, in 1877 the family that enslaved George prior to emancipation either deeded or sold him 140 acres. He also purchased another 160 acres from the Bossier Parish School Board in April 1885 and 40 acres of state land in 1887, totaling 500 acres. George lived out his life on the land he acquired and a portion of the land still remains with his heirs.

The Paysinger Desk

The desk was crafted by George Paysinger, who was also credited by some historians with building Orchard Place, the main residence on the Orchard Plantation in Bossier Parish. It is probably a vernacular version of a Federal style desk. It is hand made of heart pine. It originally had a drop-front and is dated to the middle to late 1800s. John Hamiter, great-grandfather of the donor and enslaver of George Paysinger, was the owner. The pine boards that the desk is made with are almost a full 2 feet in width. Mid-1800s virgin timber was used in the construction. The desk originally had four keyed locks. A complete restoration of the piece was completed in 2002 and is on display at the Bossier Parish Library History Center.

~ Contributed by Felix L. Scott Jr., descendant

Felix Lewis Scott Jr. is a 3rd great grandson of Louisiana Homesteader George Paysinger. Scott, a Colorado native, has experienced two distinctly different professions and is a 30-year entrepreneur. He apprenticed under his father's tutelage as a cement mason and like his 3rd great grandfather, became a proficient builder specializing in a wide range of concrete applications from flatwork/foundations to bridges and high-rise buildings. Scott later utilized education acquired at the University of Colorado to endeavor a career with the Colorado Department of Corrections. He fulfilled 22 years with the State of Colorado advancing to Facility Operations Manager before retiring. Scott and his wife Teresa also established and operated a successful local business, Ebony Salon, since 1991. Felix Scott Jr. is currently on a “retirement” exploration journey into his nuclear family and family history/genealogy; finding joy in unearthing extraordinary relations like his great-great-great grandfather George Paysinger.

Resources

Bureau of Land Management Land Patent Information

Items related to George Paysinger at the Bossier Parish Libraires History Center