Montezuma Alabama - Tenants In Common

Montezuma, Alabama - Tenants in Common is the historical resurrection of an all but forgotten town in South Alabama, as well as a colorful portrait of the people involved in its formation. Selected as the seat of Justice of Covington County in 1822, Montezuma flourished until repeated floods and, eventually, a devastating fire forced its move to present day Andalusia. Little was known about the town or its inhabitants, until a recent search for the old town site resulted in not only the discovery of its exact location, but in a wealth of local, state, and national history. 


This edition includes the previously unpublished, Memoirs of Eliza Williams (Chotard) Gould, daughter of Sarah F. Chotard, whose determined efforts to obtain a fortune for her grandchildren left an indelible mark on the early history of Montezuma. 


The memoirs, which cover a period from 1777 to 1825, record an account of General Andrew Jackson as he rode to the battleground in the Battle of New Orleans. Eliza writes, "We, with many lady friends, assembled on the balcony, weeping as though the corpse of a beloved friend was to pass by. At last, the cavalcade came in sight, we all wiped our eyes to take a last look, as we feared. When the salutations had passed, the General expressed his regret at our alarm, insisted that we were in no danger, that the American arms would be victorious and the British whipped back to their vessels. His confident manner and expressions requested that we would dry up our tears, dissipated for a time our distress, and enabled us to receive the adieus with smiles. They were the most splendid horsemen I ever saw, being dressed in full uniform, well mounted and caparisoned, and as bright, and gay, as if going to a bridal ceremony." 


The Memoirs of John William Devereux (1769 to 1847) are also included. Devereux, another important influence on Montezuma's early history, says of his eldest son's death, "I lost my son Albert on the 6th day of September 1822 at Hobson's Choice in Conecuh County where he was buried alone - at our family residence - on the bank of the Conecuh River under a small stooping white oak tree in a little plumb orchard - I then moved to Montezuma in the year 1823, Covington County, and purchased land adjoining the village where we remained until 1833."