Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Discovering the Y-DNA Haplogroup for JACOB HUBER Sr (died 1803) of Berlin, Somerset County, Pennsylvania

Recently, I was able to obtain a Y-DNA test for a male from my paternal HUBER family. There are very few males with this surname still living in my father's family, so this was, in many ways, a small miracle!

According to 23andMe,  my male HUBER ancestors have the Y-DNA haplogroup I2b1*  (which appears to have been renamed I2a2a recently--but that change has not yet appeared on 23andMe or Family Tree DNA websites).

This was somewhat of a shock to me, as I fully expected a Northern European Y-DNA haplogroup of R1a or some variation of that.

Then came the questions:

--Is there anyone out there researching HUBER or HOOVER lineages with Y-DNA haplogroup I2b1*  aka  I2a2a??    

--What Y haplogroups are most common for surname HUBER or HOOVER?

--Is I2b1* aka I2a2a  a really rare haplogroup for Northern Europeans?  

23andMe has posted information on Y haplogroup I2b1* ,  but the page indicates that the haplogroup is most prominent in Southern Europe, Sardinia & the Balkans.

This is somewhat confusing, since my HUBER family clearly had roots in Germany, and  most likely lived in Switzerland before Germany.

Other online information & maps show that Ib21* aka I2a2a did exist in Germany, Denmark & other Northern European areas.

To make things even more confusing, my own Ancestry Composition on 23andMe shows a small percentage of Italian ancestry, plus a small percentage of unidentified Southern European.

Family Tree DNA website shows ancestry of 0.5% Romanian--which I can't figure out at all!  I have a fairly complete family tree, accurate back to 5 generations, and I can see no connection to Southern Europe or Romania whatsoever in any part of my tree within 5 generations. Very curious!


At any rate, here are my male HUBER ancestral lineage (starting with my paternal grandfather) bearing the Y-DNA Haplogroup Ib21* aka I2a2a:

ALONZO COX HUBER b Dec 25, 1871 Thorntown Boone Co IN d 1951 Marshalltown, Iowa;  m MINTTIE MAY BRUTON
|
PHILLIP L HUBER b 1844 Ohio m CAROLINE AMELIA "CRAMELIA" FRAZIER
|
ELIJAH HUBER b 1808 Colerain twp, Ross Co  Ohio, died June 7, 1857 Darlington, Sugar Creek twp, Montgomery Co IN m CATHERINE SHRIVER
|
WILLIAM/WILHELM HUBER b June 22. 1776 Hagarstown, Washington Co MD or VA, died 1836 Salt Creek twp, Hocking Co OH,  m ANNA ELIZABETH KEFFER in Berlin, Somerset PA
|
JACOB HUBER Sr b abt 1750; died Oct 8, 1803 Berlin, Somerset Co PA m MAGDALENA unknown.

Your comments appreciated!


Have a great day!

Betty


© Betty Tartas  2012











Friday, September 7, 2012

Revised Timeline and ALL Deeds & Records Found So Far Pertaining to the 1686 JOHN AXTON vs MARY MANSELL BLAGRAVE Land Dispute (WHITECOTTON)

I am posting these records in order to quell the tide of WHITECOTTON researchers who continue to incorrectly list MARY MANSELL ( daughter of CAPT DAVID MANSELL of Old Rappahanock Co VA, and 2nd wife of HENRY BLAGRAVE I of York Co VA)  as the wife of JOHN AXTON, indentured servant, then tobacco planter, who died 1687 in Stafford Co VA.

After reading these records, I'm sure you will agree that JOHN AXTON never married MARY MANSELL BLAGRAVE.

I'm hoping, anyway....


--June 12, 1648  JOHN AXTON arrives in VA, as headright / indentured servant to LEWIS BURWELL of Westmoreland Co VA SOURCE: several;  see Cavaliers & Pioneers by Nell Marion Nugent p 184;  see also this website "Complete Listing of Early Virginia Immigrants" by George Cabell Greer (several ANN WHITEs, no JOHN COTTONs, by the way, and no WHITECOTTONs)

http://www.evmedia.com/virginia/


--Oct 6, 1654  Westmoreland Co VA (which part later became Stafford Co VA)  "CAPT DAVID MANSELL Land Grant of 600 ac in Westmoreland Co, on S side Petomak (Potomac) Creek, beginning at a branch of said creek dividing this land from Col THOMAS PETTUS; for transport of 12 persons:  FRANCIS HUTCHINS, THOMAS NEWMAN, BENJAMIN VENISON, ELIZABETH LUCAS, ELIZABETH MOALES, EDWARD PHILIPS, HANNAH HUNTLY, THOMAS ARMY, CLEREPIAN (?), ANN JONES, JANE MANSFIELD (MANSELL?), ELIZABETH MANSFIELD (MANSELL?)."
SOURCE:  Cavaliers & Pioneers by Nell Marion Nugent, p297

--1654 James City Co (later York Co)  or Warwick Co VA;  marriage of HENRY BLAGRAVE I and ANN widow of Capt THOMAS HARWOOD;  one son HENRY BLAGRAVE II who married SARAH, and was later involved in the bogus sale of JOHN AXTON & EDWARD CAREY's 600 acres in Stafford Co VA in 1686.  Several court records exist for HENRY BLAGRAVE I in Warwick Co VA, where he &  1st wife ANN were living 1654-1656. SOURCE: Warwick Co VA Records in Transcription by Jones House Assn, p 28-29; p 590; and Adventurers of Purse & Person by John Frederick Dorman p 301.

--bef Oct 1662; Marriage of HENRY BLAGRAVE I & MARY MANSELL, dau of CAPT DAVID MANSELL,  Old Rappahanock Co VA; one son MANSELL BLAGRAVE. SOURCE: Married Well & Often by Robert K Headley, p 42.

--Oct 31, 1662  Westmoreland Co VA (which part later became Stafford Co VA)  "Mr. HENRY BLAGRAVE and wife MARY appeared before the Governor and Council on 25 September last and acknowledged the sale of 600 acres on S side Potomack Creek to EDWARD CARY and JOHN AXTON; witness Francis Kirkham; recorded 30 Oct 1662 SOURCE: Westmoreland County VA Deeds & Patents, 1655-1677, Part 1, by John Frederick Dorman, publ 1973 p 1.  
(NOTE: at this time, HENRY & MARY MANSELL BLAGRAVE were living in York Co VA, where HENRY was a medical doctor as per several sources)

--Dec 9, 1663 Westmoreland Co VA; will of EDWARD CAREY names brother CHRISTOPHER CAREY, and leaves to JOHN AXTON 600 ac in Stafford Co VASOURCE: Westmoreland County Virginia Wills 1654-1800 by Augusta B Fothergill; 1925; p 7

--1664 Stafford Co VA formed from Westmoreland Co VA

--1666 Stafford Co VA; JOHN AXTON married wife? (name unknown); it's possible that JOHN AXTON was married earlier than this date, in Westmoreland Co VA.

--1667 Stafford Co VA; birth of JOHN AXTON's daughter ANNE AXTON (extrapolated from later court records in Stafford Co VA, where court indicated she was under 21)

--1668 Stafford Co VA;  birth of JOHN AXTON's son JOHN AXTON Jr (extrapolated from later court records in Stafford Co VA which show his sister ANN AXTON SMITH as guardian)

--1672 Old Rappahanock Co VA; Will of CAPT DAVID MANSELL; dau MARY, grandchild MANSELL BLAGRAVE (son of HENRY BLAGRAVE I & MARY), godchild DAVID FRISTO, friend & neighbor WILLIAM WHEELERSOURCE: Deed & Will Abstracts of Old Rappahanock Co VA by Ruth & Sam Sparacio; Antient Press, 1989, page 45 (I have full text of will)

--1685 Stafford Co VA; approximate birth date of MEALEY WHITECOTTON, son of ANNE AXTON & ISHAM WHITECOTTON (unverified 1st name); ANN would have been age 17 or 18 when MEALEY was born.  Unfortunately, I can find absolutely NO records for ISHAM WHITECOTTON, or any other spelling variation, in any VA county.

--1686 (or just prior) York Co VA; death of Dr HENRY BLAGRAVE I. Still looking for his will.  I can find no record indicating that HENRY BLAGRAVE I or 2nd wife MARY MANSELL ever actually lived in Westmoreland or Stafford Co VA. York Co VA is near to Westmoreland/ Stafford Co VA, and parts of York became New Kent Co VA, where MARY MANSELL BLAGRAVE HORD/HEARD was living when she & her stepson HENRY BLAGRAVE II & his wife SARAH tried to sell the 600 ac of land in Stafford Co VA which had been previously sold in 1662 to EDWARD CARY & JOHN AXTON.

--1686 York Co or  New Kent Co VA;  Marriage of MARY MANSELL BLAGRAVE to a Mr HORD/HEARD/HARD; some have postulated 1st name as WILLIAM or JOHN.

--Oct 1686  Stafford Co VA Court Records:  
"Bee It Knowne by these presents that I, HENRY BLAGRAVE (Jr) of New Kent County in Virga. for a valuble consideration paid by JOHN GOWRY of Stafford Parish within ye county of Stafford doe fully discharge ye said JOHN GOWRY & have granted unto ye sd JNO GOWRY all my right and deman in land to Six hundred acres of land within the sd County of Stafford and by Pattent granted unto CAPT DAVID MANSFIELD my late Grandfather deced beareing date ye 6 day Octo Anno 1654. To Hold the sd Six Hundred acres of land to him ye sd JOHN GOWRY his heires and assignes for ever. In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seale this 11 day of Oct 1686. HENRY (his mark) BLAGRAVE"
"I, SARAH BLAGRAVE, wife of ye abovesd HENRY do acknowledge my right in as ample manner to JOHN GOWRY his heires as doth my husband, dated ye 11 October 1686 SARAH (her mark) BLAGRAVE"
"I, MRS MARY MANSFIELD now here do assigne and make over all my title of ye above sd land unto JOHN GOWRY his heires forever In Witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seale this 13 October 1686 MARY HARD Seale"
"This Sale of Land was acknowledged in ye County Court of Stafford by JOHN WAUGH Attorney of HENRY BLAGRAVE and SARAH his wife unto JOHN GOWRY this 9 day of December 1686 And was then recorded."
"Know all men by these Presents that I , HENRY BLAGRAVE in New Kent county in Virga. and SARAH my wife do appoint MR JOHN WAUGH in Stafford County Minister to be our Lawful Attorney and in our name to acknowledge our right to Six hundred acres of land in the aforesd County unto JOHN GOWRY which sd right is granted unto aforesd GOWRY bearing date ye 11 Octr 1686 Signed HENRY BLAGRAVE SARAH BLAGRAVE"
SOURCE: Deed & Will Abstracts of Stafford County Virgnia 1686-1689 by Ruth & Sam Sparacio; Antient Press 1989 p 16

--March 1687 Stafford County Virginia Court Records:

"Wm HORTON age sixty one yeares or thereabouts Subp:Sworne & Examined saith that ye Dept. (deponent) Very Well Remembers that sometime in July or Augt 1660 to ye best of yon Depts memory hee this Dept. and EDWARD CARY mett with Mr HENRY BLAGRAVE (Sr) at ye house of WM NEWELL at the Midle Planton (Plantation) and there the sd CARY pchased of ye sd Blagrave Six hundred acres of land lying on ye South side of POTTOMACK CREEK for Fourteen Hundred pounds of Tobo (Tobacco) & Caske (?) and he this Deponent did then and there draw a Convey of the same in the Name of the said BLAGRAVE unto the said CARY & JNO AXTON and he this Dept was Surity with the sd CARY unto the sd BLAGRAVE for ye sd One thousand Five hundred and nine pounds of Tobo and the next Winter there came a Certificate unto this Depts hand and the hand of MR FRANCIS KIRKMAN clerke of ye Genll Court that upon a Certaine day HENRY BLAGRAVE and MARY his wife came into open Court and Acknlowd ye sale of ye sd Six Hundred Acres of land unto ye sd CARY and AXTON and yon Dept. Very Well knows that ye sd CARY and AXTON pd ye said Tobo and further saith not. signed WM HORTON
And Further yon Dept sayth that he this Dept hath heard that CAPT DAVID MANSFIELD Father of said MARY did give the sd Land unto ye sd MARY but in what manner yon Dept. knows not. Sworne and Recorded in the County Court of Stafford this 10 day of March 1686/7"
SOURCE: Deed & Will Abstracts of Stafford County Virgnia 1686-1689 by Ruth & Sam Sparacio; Antient Press 1989 p 32-33

--before June 9, 1687, location unknown; death of ISHAM WHITECOTTON (unverified 1st name)

--before June 9, 1687 marriage of ANN AXTON WHITECOTTON to JOHN SMITH as per court record below

--before June 9, 1687 Stafford Co VA; Death of JOHN AXTON, as per court record below

--June 1687 Stafford County Virginia Court Record:

"In Answer to an Ordr of Court held for Stafford County March 9: 10: 11: 1686/7 (illegible) Surveyed and Divided into three Equall parts for JOHN GOWRY a Divident tract of land containing two hundred acres ye line being ye northmost part of a Divdent of Six hundred acres of land taken up and pattented by CAPT DAVID MANSFIELD, since purchased by JNO AXTON bounded as followeth Beginning at an oake upon POTTOMACK CREEKE being ye northernmost corner and extending to ye woods South to a marked popelar upon AXTON'S SWAMP a little above ye Bridge & so along ye same course thence East to Pottomack creeke to ye Beginninge these being ye same Course as it is in ye Pattent the same being divided into three equal portions. JOHN GOWRY hath elected for his third of ye uncleared ground ye Westernmost Divident thereof also ye two plantons (plantations) thereupon (Vizt) the Planton (plantation) whre JOHN GOWRY now lives & ye Planton where JACOB HUBBARD now lives being likewise divided into three equall parts as followeth (Vizt) Ye sd GOWRYS planton divided into two equal parts for two thirds of a line of stakes being a small marked Read Oake by the Northernmost outsyde extending cross ye planton South E to a small markt Sasafrax Southwardmost outside fence & ye planton where ye sd HUBEARD lives alloted for ye other third part of which Dividsion JNO GOWRY hath chosen ye Easternmost of ye Planton. Sign ROBERT BRENT Surveyr Recorded in ye County Court of Stafford this 8 day of June 1687"
"THOS GREGG Dept....That he this Dept in October last upon his journey to JAMESTOWN in Company with GERRARD LOWTHER & Mr NELSON put up at ye house of one MR HOARD with sd Compa. (company) & the sd LOWTHER falling into discourse with MARY ye wife of sd HOARD who was ye Relict of HENRY BLAGRAVE and Daughter to CAPT DAVID MANSFIELD touching & concerning ye said land by the sd MARY and her Husband BLAGRAVE sold ye six hundred acres of land to JNO AXTON and that the sd MARY ....did not acknowledge ye same at ye Genll Court at JAMESTOWN and further Declared yt for sake of her husband BLAGRAVE she would have freely parted with all she had... Deposeth yt this Difference was after ye sd GOWRY that is now some purchase of sd Land from her Sonne in Law, she then Declared yt the sd GOWRY has cheated her of some ... of ye sd land. Signed THOMAS GREGG Recorded in ye County Court of Stafford 9 day of June 1687"

"CHRISTN. WADDINGTON age fifty yeares or thereabouts Depons that JOHN SMITH for and on behalfe of ANN his Wife an Infant undr ye age of twenty & one yeares Daughter to JOHN AXTON late of Stafford Co deced agt (against) JOHN GOWRY & RACHELL his wife Defts....That Mr WM HORTON being imployed as Agent for JOHN AXTON....share of six hundfred acres of land within the County of Stafford...Potomack Creeke... & EDWARD CARY...for one HENRY BLAGRAVE & MARY his wife one of ye Daughters of Capt DAVID MANSFIELD....at ye Plantation of my husband where ye sd CARY & AXTON made their cropps for yt (that) yeare ye tobo ye sd BLAGRAVE there Recd upon ye West of ye sd Parcel & being Fifteene hundred pounds nett at least....signed CHRISTIAN (her marke)WADDINGTON Sworne & recorded in ye County Court of Stafford the 9 day of June 1687"
"In Chancery, I, JOHN SMITH for & on ye behalfe of ANN my Wife an Infant under ye age of twenty & one yeares, Daughter of JNO AXTON late of Stafford County deced agt (against) JOHN GOWRY & RACHELL his Wife Defts.(defendants). The Depon (Deposition) of GERRARD LOWTHER of ye sd County aged thirty yeares or thereabouts sayeth that upon his Journey to Jamestown in Compa (company) with Mr THOS GREGG of ye sd County & .... MR NELSON, this Depts with ye sd Compa went to ye house of one Mr DAVID MANSFIELD where this Dept & ye sd Mr GREGG the sd NELSON entered into discourse with ye sd MARY concerninge ye Sale of Six hundred acres of land Situate & being on ye South side of Pottamack Creek in this ye sd County and sd MARY her sd husband BLAGRAVE to JNO AXTON & EDW CARY late of ye sd County (part whereof is still in question) MARY declared yt she and her sd Husband BLAGRAVE sold ye sd Six hundred acres of land to ye sd JOHN AXTON & EDW CARY & yt her sd husband did acknowledge the Deede of Sale thereof to AXTON & CARY at ye Genll Court at JAMESTOWNE, and further delcared yt for the sake of her said husband BLAGRAVE she would truely have parted with all shee hade or words purporting ye same & further Deposeth that this Descourse was some few days after sd GOWRY had purchased ye sd Land & that she then further Declared yt sd GOWRY had cheated her Sonne in Law & that he should not have the land nor any other hereof ye sd AXTON & further deposeth not. Signed GERRARD LOWTHER Recorded in ye County Court of Stafford this 9 day of June 1687"
SOURCE: Deed & Will Abstracts of Stafford County Virgnia 1686-1689 by Ruth & Sam Sparacio; Antient Press 1989 p 38, p 43

--July 1687  Stafford Co VA Court Record:

"Articles of Agreement Indedted agreed upon betweene JOHN GOWRY of the County of Stafford & RACHELL his wife and JOHN SMITH of sd County & ANNE his wife. Whereas there has been a suit and Controversies depending between the said JOHN GOWRY & JOHN SMITH touching their respective Rights to two hundred acres of land within the county of Stafford which sd two hundred acres of land is the Remainder of a Pattent of Six hundred acres of land taken up by Capt DAVID MANSFIELD and purchased by JOHN AXTON & EDWARD CARY in fee from Mr BLAGRAVE & his wife the Daughter of sd MANSFIELD. Whereas the said Deed of Purchase from sd BLAGRAVE & wife is not to bee found, whereon the sd GOWRY did repurchase of the heires of the sd MANSFIELD the said Land which sd GOWRY did sell on foot against the sd SMITH who did marry the heire of the whole blood to the sd AXTON sonne who was heire to the sd JOHN AXTON who was ye Surviving Joynt Tenant with the Said CARY. Now to the end all further differences and Controversies may bee avoyed it is concluded & agreed upon between the said JOHN SMITH & JOHN GOWRY mutually from them & their heiress that for the equall dividing of the sd two hundred acres the sd SMITH & GOWRY have made their choyce as follows (Vizt) yt said JOHN SMITH shall for his share & proportion of sd two hundred acres of land hold from the Swamp running Northerly to the Springe from the sd Springe along ye Corne field fence due North to ye Creeke & yt said JOHN GOWRY & his heires shall hold & injoy the Residue of the sd two hundred acres of land beinge the upper part of the sd two hundred acres & yet each of thei their heires shall hold their sd respective parts as aforesd with all ye housing & fencing against ye claime of each other, and JOHN GOWRY doth agree with the sd JOHN SMITH that sd JOHN GOWRY shall by the last of Decembr next at his own costs emplouy a suffitient & able Carpenter to build a Fifteene foote Dwelling house upon some convenient place of sd JOHN SMITHs land where hee or his heires shall thinke fitt which sd House shall be built with an Outsyde Chymney & good & suffitient & substantiall ye sd JOHN SMITH only to help to gett ye timber. And it is agreed betweeene sd ptyes yt they shall mutually have ye benefitte of the Orchard & Pasture upon the said Land. In Witness whereof the pties have hereunto set hands & Seales this 11 day of July 1687 Signed JOHN GOWRY, RACHEL (her mark)GOWRY, JOHN (his mark) SMITH, ANN (her mark) SMITH. Recorded in ye County of Stafford this 13 day of July 1687"
"Know all ye men by these presents that I, JOHN SMITH, of Stafford County doe fully (for consideration recd) discharge JOHN GOWRY of the aforesd County from all debts due. Childrenes portions due to me as marryinge the Eldest Daughter of JOHN AXTON Deced or due to me or her as Admx (administrators) to JOHN AXTON JUNR, Estate or from all demand of any part of Estate due to her or me from sd JOHN GOWRY or from any other claime wtsoever from the beginninge of the World to this day. AS Witness or hands & Seales this 27th day of July 1687. Signed JOHN SMITH, ANNE SMITH . Recorded in the County Court of Stafford this 13 day of July 1687"
SOURCE: Deed & Will Abstracts of Stafford County Virgnia 1686-1689 by Ruth & Sam Sparacio; Antient Press 1989, p 51-52

--Jan 8, 1706  Stafford County Virginia Court Record:

Know Ye that I MILLY (MEALEY) WHITECOTTON of the County of Stafford , son & heir of ANN AXTON of aforesaid County for consideration of 2500 pounds of good sound merchantable Tobo (tobacco) in cask, paid to me by JOHN GOWRY of aforesaid county...assign all my right title & interest of 200 acres of land more or less, lying in County of Stafford upon the South side Potomack Creek, formerly in possession of my decd grandfather JOHN AXTON, now in possession of the said JOHN GOWRY, the land being part of a tract of 600 acres formerly granted to Capt DAVID MANSEL& by him to MARY his daughter; given this 8th day Jan 1706. MILLY (X) WHITECOTTON in presence of ALEXR. WAUGH.  

At a Court held 12th March 1706. The above deed  of dale was then acknowledged by MILLY WHITECOTTON in person unto JOHN GOWRY and is ordered to be recorded & is recorded.

SOURCE: Deed & Will Abstracts of Stafford County Virgnia 1699-1709 by Ruth & Sam Sparacio; Antient Press 1989, p 129

--Dec 8, 1724 Stafford Co VA Court Record:

--This indenture made 8th Dec 1724 between JOHN SMITH and ANN his wife of Overwharton Parish in Stafford County and JOSEPH WAUGH of same; doth grant all that tract in Overwharton Parish on the south side of Potomack Creek, containing 200 acres, being the Westerly end of a tract of 600 acres granted to Captain DAVID MANFIELD (sic MANSELL) by patent bearing date 5th day of October, 1654; and sold by heirs of said MANFIELD to JOHN AXTON, father of the aforesaid ANN SMITH, to hold said 200 acres unto JOSEPH WAUGH for sum of forty pounds strling good & lawful money of Great Britain; doth discharge for and in consideration of 100 acres, being the plantation whereon the said JOHN SMITH now dwells, granted to him and ANNE his wife, and MEELY WHITECOTTON during their natural lives by the said JOSEPH WAUGH, as by lease date the day before hath confirmed. JOHN SMITH (his mark) ANNE SMITH (her mark)

--At a court held for Stafford County Ninth December 1724; JOHN SMITH & ANNE his wife acknowledged the deeds of Lease & Release...said ANNE being privately & secretly examined according to law & the right of the Land...to be the right of JOSEPH WAUGH...hich at instance of said WAUGH is admitted to record.

--This indenture made 8th December 1724 between JOSEPH WAUGH of Overwharton Parish, in the County of Stafford of one part, and JOHN SMITH, ANNE his wife, and MEELEY WHITECOTTON of said Parish and county...for divers good causes , him thereunto moving, but more in consideration of deed of Lease & Release made by said JOHN SMITH & ANNE, unto said JOSEPH WAUGH for 200 acres in Parish & County aforesaid, being part of the Plantation whereof JOHN GOWRY late of County of Stafford dwelled, as by the said deeds of Lease & Release more full appear.  Hath granted to farm letten unto JOHN SMITH & ANNE his wife, and MEELY WHITECOTTON 100 acres where the said SMITH now dwells, thence along ALIZANDER JEFFRY's line to JOHN CHANDLORE spring branch, thence down branch towards Whipseworson(?) as far as the said WAUGH's land goes, thence down Whipeseworson to the next branch, up the said branch, and crossing the Main Road to his old pasture fence, to the tann flatte which lyes at the lower end of the old field at the beginning... to hold (for) the term of the natural lives of said JOHN SMITH and ANNE his wife and MEELEY (spelled MOOLEY) WHITECOTTON, paying yearly at the feast of St Michael one ear of Indian Corn.  JOSEPH WAUGH  in presence of THOMAS EAVES, T. CABE, LA PEPPER. 

--At court held 9th December 1724. Then came JOSEPH WAUGH and acknowledged this Deed of Lease & Release.

(NOTE: JOSEPH WAUGH was the brother of RACHEL who married JOHN GOWRY of the 1686 land dispute.  Although I have not yet found RACHEL's will, I suspect that she left these 200 acres, part of the land dispute acerage, to her brother JOSEPH, and he, in kindness, gave it back to ANNE AXTON SMITH, JOHN SMITH & MEALEY WHITECOTTON)

SOURCE: Stafford County Virginia Deed Abstracts 1722-1728 & 1755-1765, by Ruth & Sam Sparacio; Antient Press 1987 p 15-16 (original Deed Book J p 139-143) 

--after 1743 Stafford Co VA; death of ANNE AXTON SMITH; unknown if she had any children with JOHN SMITH, but it certainly seems possible.

--after 1743 Stafford Co VA;  death of JOHN SMITH; his name in many deed, will & court records, with his particular mark. Also, JOHN apparently operated a ferry across Potomac Creek, which means that his wife ANNE was still alive as late as 1743, as per the 1724 lifetime lease from JOSEPH WAUGH. SOURCE: Stafford Co Will Book Abstracts 1729-1748 by Ruth & Sam Sparacio Antient Press, 1987; pp 19, 40, 61, 75, 88, 102, 104, 122, 135

--bef June 13, 1733 Stafford Co VA; death of MEALEY WHITECOTTON (Sr); one of the recipients of his estate was JOHN SMITH (p 61).  SOURCE: Stafford Co Will Book Abstracts 1729-1748 by Ruth & Sam Sparacio Antient Press, 1987; P 33, 61, 101

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

Mystery Monday: ELIZABETH JONES, wife of THOMAS SCOTT, THOMAS MAYFIELD, or Both?

My ggg grandmother ELIZABETH JONES was born about 1783 in Granville Co NC, the daughter of NICHOLAS JONES and MARTHA "PATSY" MOORE, and granddaughter of ARTHUR MOORE who died 1821 in Franklin Co TN.

On March 3, 1802, ELIZABETH JONES married THOMAS SCOTT, as per a  marriage record from Pulaski County,  Kentucky.  On the marriage record there is a note from her parents, NICHOLAS & PATSY JONES, indicating that their daughter "was of age".



These three families, SCOTT, MOORE & JONES,  have been fairly difficult to research & trace, partly owing to their very common surnames, and the fact that they moved around a lot, their migration path being from Bertie Co NC to Granville Co NC, which part became Orange Co NC, which part became Caswell Co NC, which part became Person Co NC;  then on to Madison Co KY(1789) for several years, then through Pulaski Co KY(1800), to Rutherford Co TN (1810), Lincoln Co TN (JONES & SCOTT family, 1820),  Franklin Co TN (MOORE family, 1820) and McNairy Co TN (SCOTT family, 1830-1840).  The only saving grace is that they seemed to move together, can be found in census records together, and a few had unusual names, making them at least a little more traceable.

I verified this marriage with the marriage record mentioned above, census records,  and a biography of WILLIAM WARD SCOTT of Christian Co Missouri in the book "A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region", by Goodspeed.  WILLIAM was the son of THOMAS SCOTT & ELIZABETH JONES who married 1802 in Pulaski Co KY;  the bio lists all the eight children of that couple--including my gg grandmother LAVINA SCOTT who married THOMAS BRUTON in McNairy Co TN.

Then, recently, I discovered a couple of records & sources indicating that a THOMAS MAYFIELD of Rutherford Co TN married an ELIZABETH JONES.  I have not found a marriage record, but the marriage may have taken place in Rutherford County Tennessee, where the MAYFIELD family lived, and where the family of NICHOLAS JONES was living in 1810.

Information on this THOMAS MAYFIELD & ELIZABETH JONES family and their children can be found in the book   "The Millers of Millersburg and Their Descendants" by John Bailey Calvert Nicklin, self-published in 1923.   Their nine children included NICHOLAS JONES MAYFIELD b abt 1820, who married ELIZABETH McCLUNG; and MARTHA MAYFIELD birthdate unknown, who married WILLIAM TANNAHILL.

And then, in the book "Land Deed Genealogy of Lincoln Co TN 1818-1828" page 27,  I found the following deed, dated Sept 16, 1818:

"THOMAS MAYFIELD of Rutherford Co TN to RHEUBEN WASHBURN of Lincoln Co TN; a tract of land...containing 10 acres, being entered by THOMAS MAYFIELD and surveyed by WILLIAM RAY. Witnessed: NICHOLAS JONES and PATSY JONES. Registered 7th Jan, 1819." 

In the following census (1820 Lincoln Co TN) REUBEN WASHBURN lived right next door to NICHOLAS JONES & MARTHA PATSY (MOORE) JONES.  So the tract of land that THOMAS MAYFIELD originally purchased was right next to them.

The evidence seems to suggest that ELIZABETH JONES who married THOMAS MAYFIELD of Rutherford Co TN was the daughter of NICHOLAS JONES & MARTH PATSY (MOORE) JONES.

 And yet in 1802, their daughter ELIZABETH JONES, my ggg grandmother, married THOMAS SCOTT and produced my gg grandmother LAVINA SCOTT in around 1815.   And the census records for THOMAS SCOTT in 1810 Rutherford Co TN, 1820 Lincoln Co TN, and 1830 McNairy Co TN show the exact number of children & correct boy/girl ratio, as listed in the bio of WILLIAM WARD SCOTT, the son of THOMAS SCOTT & ELIZABETH JONES.

So what's going on here? I see three distinct possibilities.

1) ELIZABETH JONES who married THOMAS MAYFIELD was the granddaughter of NICHOLAS JONES & MARTHA PATSY MOORE, possibly the daughter of WILLIAM JONES, who I have been researching as a possible eldest son of NICHOLAS & MARTHA.

2) ELIZABETH JONES, my ggg grandmother,  married both men.  She could have separated/divorced from THOMAS SCOTT in around 1815, after the birth of my gg grandmother LAVINA SCOTT, and married THOMAS MAYFIELD (there's little info on the birthdates of their children, but it looks like they were all born in the 1820s.).  THOMAS SCOTT could have also remarried, thus showing a couple in the census records.  However,  I have not yet found any court records to support this theory.

3) The JONES woman who married THOMAS MAYFIELD was a daughter of NICHOLAS JONES & MARTHA PATSY (MOORE) JONES, but her name was not ELIZABETH.  The only source I have found so far naming THOMAS MAYFIELD's wife as "ELIZABETH JONES" is the self-published book by John Bailey Calvert Nicklin.  The 1810 Rutherford Co TN census does show that NICHOLAS & MARTHA JONES had a second daughter born 1790-1800, plus 7 sons.  So it is entirely possible that the woman who married THOMAS MAYFIELD was indeed their daughter, but a different daughter from their eldest daughter ELIZABETH who married THOMAS SCOTT in 1802.

Death info on both women, if they are two different women, is sketchy.

The Nicklin book says that "ELIZABETH died on the day of THOMAS MAYFIELD's death"--but she is not at all mentioned in his will--which was definitely written before his death--so I'm thinking that's unlikely.  She must have died before 1846.

Here is a transcription of the will of THOMAS MAYFIELD, written Sept 22,1846 Rutherford Co TN; proved Nov Court 1846 Rutherford Co TN:

"In the name of God, I, THOMAS MAYFIELD....do make this my Last Will & Testament as follows: 1) first to my four sons and daughter, to wit: JESSE W MAYFIELD, JOHN A MAYFIELD, NICHOLAS MAYFIELD, RICHARD MAYFIELD and ELIZABETH MILLER  two negroes WAKE and HAGAR;  2) to my three daughters to wit: MARY HUTSON, JANE SMITH, and MARTHA and their bodily heirs: to my daughter MARY, one girl named MARY; to my daughter JANE, one girl named MANDY; to my daughter MARTHA one girl named HAGAR.  3) to my (son) THOMAS, one boy WESTLY, and 30 acres of land; to JOHN one house and lot in the state of Alabama, Blountsville.  And all the remaining part equally amongst my children. THOMAS MAYFIELD X his mark

ELIZABETH my ggg grandmother, who married THOMAS SCOTT in 1802,  seems to disappear off census after 1830 in McNairy Co TN.  So it is possible she died between 1830-1840. THOMAS SCOTT did not remarry, apparently, and is possibly listed in the 1840 McNairy Co TN census with the family of  his son THOMAS SCOTT Jr.  THOMAS SCOTT Sr died 1849 in Scott Spring, Greene Co Missouri, as per the bio of his son WILLIAM WARD SCOTT.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2012


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Blogoversary!

Today, Aug 21, is my 4 year Blogoversary!  Thanks to all who have encouraged me and follow my posts!

Here's to many more!

Have a great day-

Betty


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Surname Saturday: Major RICHARD SANDERS of Caswell Co NC and Wilson Co TN

For the past several months, I have been spending most of my time actively researching my SAUNDERS or SANDERS family of Virginia, North Carolina & Tennessee.  I have been working with Justin Sanders trying to connect his branch of the SANDERS family, from Bedford Co TN & Sevier Co AR, to my branch of the family, which produced NC judge & statesman ROMULUS MITCHELL SAUNDERS.  Gary Sanders of the Sanders DNA project has also provided help & support.

Basically we've been researching the four sons of JAMES SAUNDERS Sr b about 1706  New Kent Co VA who died May 1776 Orange Co NC (which part later became Caswell Co NC).  He likely married 1st) ANNE PATTERSON, sister of GIDEON PATTERSON (established thru Virginia & Caswell Co NC deeds) and, possibly, 2nd) CASSANDRA HAYDEN or HAIDEN (no primary source records).  The sons were:

--Col JAMES SAUNDERS or SANDERS  b about 1733 VA, never married, died 1825 Caswell Co NC as per his will, and left all his property to his siblings, nieces & nephews (see previous blogpost). He was a politically prominent person in Caswell Co NC, and after the 1803 death of his youngest brother, Capt WILLIAM SAUNDERS  in Smith Co TN, Col JAMES raised Capt WILLIAM's son ROMULUS MITCHELL SAUNDERS.

--THOMAS SAUNDERS or SANDERS b abt 1735 VA, who married MARY MITCHELL (maiden name unverified), and lived on lands in Buckingham Co VA which belonged previously to his father JAMES SAUNDERS Sr (this can be proven through the few deeds that exist). THOMAS & MARY lived in Buckingham Co VA until at least 1800, and then joined their children in Sumner & Davidson Co TN, where THOMAS died in 1812.  THOMAS is not mentioned at all in the May 1776 Orange Co NC will of his father JAMES SAUNDERS Sr, but he is named as a deceased  brother and his children as nieces & nephews in the 1825 Caswell Co NC will of Col JAMES SAUNDERS or SANDERS

--Major RICHARD SAUNDERS or SANDERS b 1756 VA, married ELIZABETH "BETSY" PAYNE b March 31, 1763 Goochland Co VA. This blogpost will be about the records we have found for him.

--Capt WILLIAM SAUNDERS or SANDERS, b 1759 in VA; married 1st) ELIZABETH "BETSY" MITCHELL (not HANNAH!!!) and 2nd) NANCY CUNNINGHAM. Lived in Caswell Co NC until at least 1795, then moved to Sumner Co TN, which part became Smith Co TN by the time he died in 1803. He was the father of NC statesman ROMULUS MITCHELL SAUNDERS.

There is major confusion about this SANDERS/SAUNDERS family.  Most researchers simply regurgitate the information found in the 1899 book "Early Settlers of Alabama" by James Edmond Saunders, which is mostly incorrect for this particular line, and which attributes some or all of these four brothers to a couple named WILLIAM SAUNDERS & AGNES ADAMS.  I have never found any primary source records for this couple and in fact believe that they never existed.  After 12 years of research, it is now clear to me that for this branch of the SANDERS/SAUNDERS family, the author James Edmond Saunders actually scrambled together at least two different, but related, SANDERS/SAUNDERS families from VA & NC.

Major RICHARD SANDERS b 1756 married ELIZABETH BETSY PAYNE, the daughter of ROBERT PAYNE b 1738 Goochland Co VA, d bef May 1791 Pittsylvania Co VA, and ANNE BURTON, and granddaughter of JOSIAH PAYNE b Oct 30, 1705 in Goochland Co VA, d March 5, 1785 in Pittsylvania Co VA, & ANNE FLEMING.

I have not yet found a marriage record for them, but in ROBERT PAYNE's 1791 Pittsylvania Co VA will, his daughter is listed as BETSY SANDERS.  The PAYNE surname is carried through the children & grandchildren of Maj RICHARD SANDERS & ELIZABETH BETSY PAYNE. Here is a list of their children as per his 1834 Wilson Co TN will:

--JAMES P SANDERS b 1782 Caswell Co NC; married possibly MARY POLLY DIX Sept 22, 1809 Caswell Co NC; prob died TN.

--ANN PAYNE SANDERS b abt 1784 Caswell Co NC, d aft 1870 Dallas Co AR; m JOSIAH SAMUEL(S) Feb 27, 1804 Caswell Co NC, only one child ELIZABETH BETSY PAYNE SAMUELS who married THOMAS ATKINSON (all three named in the 1825 Caswell NC will of Col JAMES SANDERS).  ANN never remarried after her husband died in 1827, and moved with her daughter's family to Dallas Co AR (as per census).

--JOSIAH PAYNE SANDERS b abt 1790 Caswell Co NC, d after 1835 in TN.  Wife unknown; was listed in the 1830 Wilson Co TN census just below his father, and just above his brother NATHANIEL. (named as "Joseph P Sanders" son of Richard in the 1825 Caswell Co NC will of Col JAMES SANDERS)

--ELIZABETH SANDERS b abt 1800 Caswell Co NC, d after 1835 TN; married unknown WIER or WEIR.

--NATHANIEL C SANDERS b abt 1801 Caswell Co NC; d after 1835 TN; married possibly NAOMI SOMERS/SUMMERS Feb 2, 1822 Wilson Co TN

--WILLIAM SANDERS b abt 1803 Caswell Co NC; d after 1835 TN; he was living in Smith Co TN by 1833, according to a court record involving one of his father's slaves, and was involved in the "tobacco manufacturing business".

According to census records, Maj RICHARD SANDERS lived in Caswell Co NC until 1820.  His wife died before 1810 census, and it appears that he did not  remarry.  The census also shows that he had two more sons than are named in this will, born 1790-1800.

Maj RICHARD SANDERS moved to Wilson Co TN sometime after the 1820 Caswell Co NC census but before the 1830 Wilson Co TN census.  He is enumerated in the 1830 Wilson Co TN census as simply "Richard" with no surname,  making him difficult to find by searching on Ancestry.com or other such sites.  The record shows an elderly man living with a younger couple & children, and many slaves. He is listed directly above his sons JOSIAH P SANDERS & NATHANIEL SANDERS in the census record.

Maj RICHARD SANDERS did fight in the Revolutionary War (Caswell Co NC), and applied for his pension in 1832 in Sumner & Wilson Co TN.  His pension file is available on the website Fold3.com  According to the pension file, he died Feb 13, 1834.  His will was probated the following year, Feb 3, 1835.  Here is an abstract of the will of Maj RICHARD SANDERS:

--Will probated Feb 3, 1835 Wilson Co TN (one other source online says Bedford Co TN, but that is incorrect).  Heirs: sons JAMES, NATHANIEL C,  JOSIAH P, and WILLIAM SANDERS; daus ANN P SAMUEL, and ELIZABETH WEIR; AGNES SANDERS, ROLFE S SANDERS & MARY ANN ELIZABETH SANDERS, the children of his son JOSIAH P SANDERS;  GEORGE WASHINGTON LAFAYETTE SANDERS, child of his son WILLIAM SANDERS. Wilson Co TN Will book 1834-1837, p 78


If you have questions, please contact me.  I have accumulated  an extensive list of primary & secondary sources for these families.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2012





Friday, June 29, 2012

A Friend of Friends Friday: The 1825 Will of Col JAMES SANDERS of Caswell County North Carolina

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway


Col JAMES SANDERS (aka SAUNDERS) Jr was the son of JAMES SAUNDERS Sr who died May 1776 Orange Co NC and  a sister of GIDEON PATTERSON, likely named ANNE. His father JAMES Sr supposedly married 2nd to CASSANDRA HADEN--although I have never found any records to support this.


GIDEON PATTERSON gave to Col JAMES SANDERS a deed of gift of all his "goods & chattels" in 1788 Caswell Co NC, naming him as nephew.


Col JAMES  and his father JAMES SAUNDERS Sr came from Virginia to what was then Orange Co NC in about 1763, when his father established a grist mill. They also both sat on the jury at the trial of the Regulators in 1768. 


Col JAMES SANDERS represented Orange Co NC in the NC Provincial Congress of 1776. He was also involved in the decision making process when Orange Co was divided, and the establishment of Caswell Co NC.  He fought in the Revolutionary War, as his his three brothers:  THOMAS SAUNDERS,  Capt WILLIAM SAUNDERS and Major RICHARD SAUNDERS.  All three of his brothers moved to Tennessee and died there.


Col JAMES never married, but raised his nephew ROMULUS MITCHELL SAUNDERS, son of Capt WILLIAM SAUNDERS, after WILLIAM's death in 1803 Smith Co TN.  


ROMULUS MITCHELL SAUNDERS became a well-known judge & politician in North Carolina. Several published biographies are available; unfortunately many of them incorrectly list R M SAUNDERS grandparents as "William Sanders & Agnes Adams"--a couple who seemed to have never existed! 


--In the name of God, Amen. I JAMES SANDERS (Sr) of the County of Caswell and state of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, but aged and infirm, and being fully possessed of the uncertainty of life, being disposed to devise and bequeath such property as I have acquired in this life, for that purpose I do make and publish this my last will and testament.

1) It is my desire and instruction to my Executors to give me a decent & Christian burial and fully and honorably discharge my debts and just claims which may exist against me at my death.

2) I give and devise to my nephew JAMES SANDERS, son of THOMAS SANDERS, deceased, a tract of land on the Dan River, including the mansion house in which I reside; containing according to a recent survey of James Rainey approximately 820 acres, it being part of the tract of land on which I have myself resided and divided from the land tract...(rest is difficult to read but gives exact location of land).

I also give to the said JAMES SANDERS the following Negroes:  HARRY, SAM, CHUCKER, FRANK & his wife MILLY & their children PATTY, BETTY, NELLY, ALBERT, SETH, MILLY & STEPHEN.  Also a Negro girl named POLLY (rest illegible).

3) I give and devise to my nephew ROMULUS M SANDERS a tract of land on the Dan River commonly called the lower tract, containing according to a late survey of James Rainey 875 acres of land, and separated from the tract given to JAMES SANDERS by the dividing line described in the devise to him, it being all the remainder of the land except what was devised to the said JAMES SANDERS.

I also give the said ROMULUS M SANDERS the following Negroes JAMES and MAGGY his wife, their children WILEY, BETSEY;  KINGSTON and his wife SUCKY and their children EDNEY, ARCHER, DIXON, JESSE,  LABNER and also LABON the son of NANNY.

4) I also bequeath to ROMULUS M SANDERS my old Negroes JOHN, JESSE, MARY, MAGGY and SICILY and also old AMY if she choose to live with him, upon this special condition, and with the special instruction and request, that as they have been faithful servants for me many years, they shall continue to reside during their lifetime on the land.  I have devised that the said R M SANDERS (sees?) that the said Negroes shall be by him taken good care of, and here and hereafter taken care of  and supported, and the better to enable him to do so, and for that purpose, I also give to the said R M SANDERS a negro man EDMOND, a good horse, three good cows & calves, four head of hogs, and a suitable (illegible) quantity of provisions to support them for one year after my decease.

5) I give and bequeath to my nephew ALANSON TRIGG, son of WILLIAM TRIGG Jr (and SARAH SAUNDERS, sister of Col JAMES) the following Negroes  SARAH & her children DANIEL, SILVY, CRECY, BUCK, GEORGE, SAM , SALLY, SETH, PHILL, LETIT.

6) I give and bequeath to my niece MARTHA TRIGG (daughter of THOMAS SANDERS, decd) , wife of ABRAHAM TRIGG:   AGGY & her children EDY, TEMPY, PETER, HENDERSON and a little child just born and not named.

7) I give and bequeath for the separate and exclusive use of BETSY P ATKINSON, wife of THOMAS ATKINSON for and during her natural life DILY & her children MARIA, MAJOR, DICK, MARY, ARCHER & SANDY; and at the death of the said BETSY, I give and bequeath the said negroes & their increase to the children of the said BETSY P ATKINSON who may be living at the time of her death.(Note: ELIZABETH "Betsy" PAYNE SAMUELS was the daughter of JOSIAH SAMUELS & ANN P SANDERS, next section, who was niece of Col JAMES SANDERS). 

8)  I give and bequeath to my brother RICHARD SANDERS and his daughter ANN P SAMUELS for their natural life, for their separate and exclusive use of two negro men LABON and JAMES, sons of old MAGGY; and I hereby authorize the said RICHARD SANDERS to retain the (illegible) of both of them, as he shall think proper so to do and pay the said ANN P SAMUELS annually one half of the value of their hire; or if he shall deem it proper he is authorized to give one of them into the possession of his said daughter, for any part (illegible) of the time aforesaid. And after the death of the said RICHARD and ANN, I hereby give and bequeath the said negroes to JAMES SANDERS, son of RICHARD.

9) I give and bequeath to JAMES SANDERS , son of RICHARD SANDERS,  ISAAC, Old NANCY, and one good bed furniture.

10) I give and bequeath to HARRIET SANDERS, daughter of JAMES SANDERS (note; son of THOMAS SANDERS decd), and wife of Dr NATHANIEL SANDERS;  RACHEL & her children MILLY, JINSY (sp?), ELIZA, DELLANY.  Their increase and whole property I give to the separate and exclusive use of the said HARRIET, for and during her natural life, and at her death, the whole of the said property I give to the issue of the said HARRIET, living at her death. And if she shall have no issue living at her death, then as is their want, I give the said property to the children of LETITIA ALLEN dau of JAMES SANDERS son of THOMAS SANDERS decd; her husband was JOHN ALLEN).


11)  I give and bequeath to my nephew FRANCIS SANDERS son of THOMAS SANDERS decd, PARTHENA and her children ALCY, LEVI (sp?), LYLLA, MOSES and DAVID.

12) I give and bequeath to my niece SALLY MOSELEY, the use of the following negroes during her natural life: RINAR (sp?) and her child WASHINGTON, and after the death of said SALLY, I give and bequeath the said negroes & their increase to her son LUCIEN BROWN, and to her daughter (LOCKEY S BROWN), by her former husband BEDFORD BROWN, which said property shall be equally divided between them. (Note: this niece was SARAH "SALLY" TRIGG, dau of WILLIAM TRIGG Jr & SARAH SAUNDERS; married 1st to BEDFORD BROWN; 2nd to PETER GUERRANT MOSELEY)

13) I give and bequeath to LOCKETT SANDERS (daughter of WILLIAM TRIGG Jr & SARAH SAUNDERS; married her 1st cousin EDWARD T SAUNDERS, son of THOMAS SANDERS, decd) for her separate use the use of the following negroes for her natural life: Old AMY, if she should choose to go with her; young AMY her daughter, MATTHEW, BRANSON & JOHNSON. And after her death, I give the said negroes and their increase to her son EDWARD SANDERS.

14) I give and bequeath to my niece ELIZABETH JONES (daughter of THOMAS SANDERS decd, and wife of WILLIAM JONES II of Buckingham Co VA) during her natural life the following negroes NANCY & her children MARTHA, CHARLOTTE, THOMPSON, & FANNY; and after her death I give the said negroes and their increae to her son THOMAS JONES and her daughter POLLY.

15) I give and bequeath to my nephew WILLIAM TRIGG (son of WILLIAM TRIGG Jr & SARAH SAUNDERS) of Alabama my negroes TOM and STEPNEY.

16) I give and bequeath for the separate and exclusive use of KEZIAH JEFFREYS, wife of THOMAS JEFFREYS for and during her natural life, a small tract of land lying on the waters of little creek, adjoining the land of ARCHIMEDES DONOHO, and supposed to contain about 45 acres; and after her death, I give and devise the same to her children. If she should have no issue, then I give the same tract of land to MILLY WATLINGTON (note: KEZIAH JEFFREYS & MILLY WATLINGTON were the nieces of  Col JAMES SANDERS , the daughters of his sister KEZIAH SANDERS who married THOMAS DONOHO. ARCHIMEDES DONOHO & SANDERS DONOHO were their brothers). 

17) I give and bequeath to my nephew JOSEPH SANDERS son of RICHARD, a Negro woman now in his possession by the name of MARY, and her increase.

18)  I give and bequeath to my nephew JAMES SANDERS, son of THOMAS, all my household & kitchen furniture, except for bed furniture.

19) I give and bequeath to my nephew SANDERS DONOHO (son of KEZIAH SANDERS & THOMAS DONOHO) a negro girl by the name of BETTY, the daughter of RACHEL.

20)  In disposing of my negroes it has been an object with me to give them away in families, to prevent their separation; I do therefore give bequeath & devise  that if any of the negro women I have given to the said legatees mentioned in this my will, should bear children after the date of this my last will and testament, and before my death, then said child & increase shall go to where it's mother has been given.

21) If any of the negroes or their increase which I have given away shall die before my death, I herby give & devise that the legatees to whom the said negroes should have been given shall have of the remaining negroes (illegible portion)

22) It is my will and desire that all of the balance of my estate, of any description be sold to the highest bidder by my Executors, (illegible) from the proceeds my debts shall first be paid, and the balance equally divided between JAMES SANDERS son of THOMAS, ROMULUS M SANDERS, and JAMES SANDERS son of RICHARD. 

And I hereby appoint JAMES SANDERS son of THOMAS and ROMULUS M SANDERS Executors of this my last will & testament.

Signed JAMES SANDERS Sr

(Note: not sure why he used "Sr" after his name, when other earlier records show his as "Jr".  And he had no children of his own. Perhaps it was to distinguish himself as the eldest "James Sanders" currently living--there were several with that name)

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2012

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Several Unplaced THOMAS SANDERS or SAUNDERS 1700s-1800s Virginia and Tennessee

Recently I have been collaborating with two other SANDERS/ SAUNDERS researchers, trying to sort out the many branches in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and beyond.

I have run into the following unplaced THOMAS SANDERS/SAUNDERS, and I'm hoping that others can provide comments and documentation and help us solve some of these mysteries.


1) THOMAS SANDERS b Oct 15, 1742 who married MARY PULLIAM, daughter of JOSEPH PULLIAM, on Oct 11, 1765 in Halifax Co VA.  The marriage bond was secured by ADAMS SANDERS, likely brother of THOMAS; they were both probably the sons of THOMAS SANDERS & ANNE ADAMS of New Kent Co>Henrico Co>Goochland Co>Albemarle Co>Buckingham Co VA.

What I would really like to know is what happened to this couple after their marriage.  They apparently did not remain in Halifax Co VA.  I have not been able to find any trace of them in VA, NC or TN records, or any mention in other people's online family trees. Isn't anyone researching them?  Did they not have children?


2) THOMAS SANDERS & wife MARY of Madison Co TN.  I have not been able to figure out exactly who this THOMAS might be.  I know he is NOT the son of FRANCIS & ALETHIA SAUNDERS/SANDERS, who also settled in Madison Co TN; their son was THOMAS F SANDERS and he married ELIZABETH KIRBY; after his death, she moved to Spencer Co IN.

Anyway, here is an abstract of the will of THOMAS SANDERS, probated Jan 7, 1839 Madison Co TN


--Will of THOMAS SANDERS, Madison Co., Tenn. Two tracts of land, 203 acres, divided equally between JOHN M. SANDERS and WILLIAM S. H. SANDERS. A tract of land, 100 acres, where he lived to JOSHUA SANDERS. To MARY A. SANDERS negro woman Mariah. MELISA ELIZABETH a negro girl Louisa. Wife MARY SANDERS $300. Dau TABITHA THOMAS, wife of RANSON THOMAS $1. Proceeds from sale of perishable property to be divided among JOHN M. SANDERS, WILLIAM S. H. SANDERS, JOSHUA J. SANDERS, MARY LOUISA JANE SANDERS, MELISA ELIZABETH SANDERS and wife MARY SANDERS. Signed with an "x" mark. No exec named. Wits John Welsh, P. M. Johnson.
10-11. Inventory of Sanders property, January 26, 1839.
365-366. Settlement report of Sanders property, February 11, 1841.

MCCM 4, page 568. Will probated January 7, 1839.




3) THOMAS SANDERS of Bedford Co TN.  I would like to find out his wife's name, his children's names and where he ended up after 1830.  He is listed in the 1820 & 1830 census in Bedford Co TN, with several children.  The 1830 census looks like an older man with a wife 10-20 years younger, some very young children, some older children.

Here are deeds for THOMAS SANDERS from Bedford Co TN:


--THOMAS SANDERS, Bedford Co., Tenn. "give and bequeath" to WILLIAM RAGSDALE, MARY EDWARD, NANCY RAGSDALE, hrs of CLABOURN J. RAGSDALE, living in the Western District of Tenn., featherbeds, livestock, being the property "I" bought at the "sail" of Edward Ragsdale. March 10, 1822. Reg June 11, 1823. Wits F. D. Ragsdale, Henry Booth.

--THOMAS SANDERS to JAMES EDDE Bill Sale.  Know all men by these presents that I THOMAS SANDERS of the County of Bedford And State of Tennessee For and in Consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars have this day sold to James Edde of the said county a negro girl named VOSSEY (?) aged about eighteen years and I hereby warrant to the said Edde the claims and title to the said slave against the claims of all persons whatsoever I likewise warrent the said girl to be of sound body and mind and a slave for life. Witness my hand and seal this 20th day of November 1826

 Can anyone shed any light on this individual & his family?

Your comments appreciated.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2012

Friday, May 4, 2012

A Friend of Friends Friday: Will of JAMES SANDERS / SAUNDERS Sr May 1776 Orange Co NC

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway


JAMES SANDERS/SAUNDERS Sr was my great X 5 grandfather.  In the next few weeks, I will be posting some newly discovered information about his family.  Information in parentheses within the will are my notes.


--In the name of God, Amen.  I, JAMES SANDERS Senior of the County of Orange and Province of North Carolina, being sick and weak, but of sound disposing mind and memory, thanks be to Almighty God for it, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say.

--First, I commend my soul to almighty God who gave it me hoping through the merits of my blessed Savior Jesus Christ to attain eternal Life and my body to be decently buried in such manner as my Executors herein after named shall appoint, and as to my worldly estate and effects, I devise and bequeath in manner and form following (to wit)

--Item. I leave and bequeath to my son (Col) JAMES SANDERS the tract of land agreed upon together with the plantation he now lives on, also BACUS a negro man, and BECK a negro wench and all her issue, said BACUS' wife, likewise JESSE, JENNY and HARRY, three negroes together with the stock of all kinds and nature so ever.

--Item. I leave and bequeath to my daughter SARAH, wife of WILLIAM TRIGG a proportionable or equal share of such goods and effects as I have reserved for the use of me and my wife during our lives, and also leave and bequeath to the said SARAH TRIGG the negro wench NANN and her issue, and the negro boy DANIEL now in her the said SARAH's possession, and all the other effects I gave her at the time of her marriage.

--Item.  I leave and bequeath to my daughter SUSANNAH wife of ROBERT TERRY the negro wench called BETT together with the mare, bed and cattle I gave her at the time of marriage.

--Item. I leave and bequeath to my daughter FANNY wife of WILLIAM SANDERS the elder a negro wench named JANE and her issue; a horse and saddle, bed and six head of cattle.

--Item. I leave and bequeath to my daughter CASANDRA's eldest daughter a negro girl named LILLY.

--Item.  I leave and bequeath to my son (Major) RICHARD SANDERS a piece of tract of land beginning at the upper end of my plantation, and to come as low down as a Locust Bush on the river bank cross to the spring branch to an Ash, down the edge of the low ground to a spring, from that spring south to the back line; also a negro man called BOB and a negro girl named SHADE, also a negro boy called MAJOR together with a horse, a sorrell mare and six head of cattle.

--Item. I leave and bequeath to my son (Capt) WILLIAM SANDERS a piece or tract of land beginning at my son JAMES' and ending at my son RICHARD'S tract together with a negro lad called CHARLES, and a negro girl called DELEH and a negro boy called RANDALL also a horse and a gray mare with six head of cattle. (Capt WILLIAM SANDERS was the father of ROMULUS MITCHELL SAUNDERS)

--Item.  I leave and bequeath to my grandson JEREMIAH TERRY son my daughter SUSANNAH a negro boy named TIM.

--Item.  I leave and bequeath the mill stones and utinsils thereunto belonging, also the still to be for the use of my son JAMES' plantation and the plantaion whereon I live, and likewise the wagon for the use of the plantation whereon I now dwell.

--Item.  It is my will that all the goods and effects I die possessed of except the Bequests and Legacies herein mentioned, shall be equally divided between my daughters SARAH, SUSANNAH, FANNY, and CASSANDRA.

--Item.  It is my will that the stock of hoggs (sic) shall at the time  of division be equally divided between my sons RICHARD and WILLIAM SANDERS.

--In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, acknowledging this to be my last Will and Testament, this 28th day of February in the year of our Lord Christ, one thousand seven hundred and seventy six 1776 and I appoint my son JAMES SANDERS, RICHARD SANDERS and WILLIAM TRIGG my executors of this my last Will and Testament

JAMES SANDERS  

Signed, sealed & delivered in presence of us

ANDREW HADDOCK
JAMES SANDERS
ROBIN (ROBERT?) TERRY
May court 1776   The execution of the within will was duly proved in open court by the oath of JAMES SANDERS one of the subscribing witnessed thereto and ordered to be recorded.
F.  Nash  C C (clerk of the court)


Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2012

Friday, April 27, 2012

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in Deeds from Surry County Virginia 1756-1787



Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway


Sept 18, 1756 Surry Co VA; KENNETH MACKENZIE to BENJAMIN COCKE, merchant, for 67 pounds 8 shillings 1 penny, slaves BOB, CYRUS, MILLY and BETTY

Sept 3, 1756 Surry Co VA;  REBECCA ACREL, spinster of Southwark Parish in Surry County and PHILIP WATSON, merchant of Henrico Parish in Henrico Co to RICHARD COCKE of Southwarke Parish and WILLIAM ACREL of Westover Parish in Charles City County, Gent. (whereas WILLIAM ACREL Esq, decd, late of Charles City Co , the father of said REBECCA ACREL in his will dated 20 March 1737, devised to his two daughters REBECCA ACREL and SUSANNA ACREL, all of his slaves which he  had by his Intermarriage with their mother. REBECCA ACREL is son to marry PHILIP WATSON.)   Slaves named BEN, PETER, DANIEL, HARRY, BRIDGET, BETTY, JACOB , BETTY, DICK, SAM and EDEY. 

Feb 21, 1757  Surry Co VA; JOHN HUTCHINGS the Younger, Gent., of Norfolk Borough and MARY LONG, widow of Surry County to WILLIAM EDWARDS, Gent., of Surry County...for 200 pounds current money, slaves named TOBY, DAVY, JOE, JACK, DEPTFORD, HARRY, SAM, BILLY, BETTY, MARGAERT, PAT, SUE, SALL and LITTLE BETTY, and all household goods.

Dec 28, 1757  Surry Co VA; MARY BROWNE widow of WILLIAM BROWNE decd, to her son WILLIAM BROWNE for love & affection......acres (being her dower in her husband's estate except the plantation at Pea Hill), and Negroes named FRANK, JENNY, FRANK, HUSBAND, ABRAM, MATT, TONEY, RUMER and her children; FR--and her children, NAN and her children.

Oct 11, 1759 Surry Co VA;  KENNETH MACKENZIE, Gent., of Surry County to NATHANIEL HARRISON, Gent., of Stafford County; Negro slaves named  HANIBAL, LEWIS, POMPEY, MINGO, NANCY, DINAH and SILVA.

1760? date missing, Surry Co VA;  JOHN RUFFIN, Gent., to WILLIAM SALTER for 88 pounds 10 shillings, three Negroes named GWINNICH, BLACK BETTY and ALEXANDER, (late part of the estate of WILLIAM CLINCH).

Aug 18, 1760 Surry Co VA; BENJAMIN BAIRD to his daughter SARAH BAIRD, one negro woman named PATTY, one Negro girl named LYDIA and one Negro boy named MOSES; to son JOHN BAIRD one Negro girl named AMEY and one Negro girl named ROSE; to son ALEXANDER BAIRD one Negro woman named JUDY, one Negro boy named BRISCOE, one Negro girl named MOLL, and one Negro boy named YORK.

Jan 18, 1762 Surry Co VA; MARY CRAFFORD to her daughter MARY CRAFFORD aged 4, seven Negroes, viz, ISAAC, LONDON, BRISTOL, VENUS, NANCY, and BETTY, plus household goods.

Sept 19, 1763 Surry Co VA; GEORGE ANDERTON Sr of Sussex County VA to his son JOHN ANDERTON of Surry County...one Negro man slave named GLO(U)CESTER, one Negro woman named PEGG, and one Negro boy named KINGSTON plus household goods.

Nov 5, 1763 Surry Co VA; GEORGE ANDERTON Sr of Sussex County VA to son GEORGE ANDERTON Jr of Surry County....one Negro woman named BESS; one Negro girl named LYD; one Negro boy named WILL, one Negro girl named BECK and household goods.

Jan 16, 1764 Surry Co VA; THOMAS HOLT to his son-in-law WILLIAM HARRIS....Negroes named BETTY, AGGA, JACK, PATT, HARY, BECK, TARRISHA, MOSES, JAMES, MOLL and ALLY;  to son-in-law WILLIAM SIMMONS...Negroes named LUCY, LETTICE, DILSEY, BRISTOL, DAVIS, SUE, CHARLOTTE, BETTY and MOLL; to son-in-law HENRY COCKE...Negroes named JAMES, DANIEL, JACK, CHARLES, AMEY, ROSE and BEN.

Feb 24, 1764 Surry Co VA; MARY STARKE of Bristol Parish, Prince George County, to her daughter REBECCA COCKE of Southwark Parish Surry County... four Negro slaves named SUE, HARRY, WILL and ANNAKY.

Jan 18, 1765 Surry Co VA; ROBERT READE of Southwark Parish Surry County to WALTER PETER of Surry County and DANIEL FISHER of St Andrew's Parish in Brunswick County for 220 pounds...seven slaves named ABBY, JOHN KENDER, HARRY, SAMMY, CAESAR, TOM and DOLL plus household goods.

March 18, 1768 Surry Co VA; ANTHONY DIGGE to JAMES BELCHES for 106 pounds 9 shillings & 9 pence 1 farthing...one Negro woman named BECK, one boy DANIEL, one boy CAESAR, one boy HARRY, one girl JUDY pluse household goods and livestock.

May 23, 1773 Surry Co VA; RICHARD PUTNEY of Surry County to son ELLIS PUTNEY of Albemarle County .. one Negro girl named DELCIE; to daughter REBECCA HOLT of Southampton County, ...one Negro girl named NAN; to son BENJAMIN PUTNEY...one Negro woman named MOLL; to son JAMES PUTNEY  of Prince George County...one Negro girl CHARLOTTE; to son LEWIS PUTNEY one Negro boy EMANUEL, to son DAVID PUTNEY of Prince George County...one Negro boy named JACOB.

June 11, 1774 Surry Co VA; BENJAMIN HARRISON Sr of Charles City County to ROBERT BURWLL, WILLIAM ALLEN & FIELDING LEWIS, executors of WILLIAM LIGHTFOOT, decd, for 1495 pounds 15 shillings... 450 acres called "Cabbin Point Land" whereon stands the warehouse and mill now in the possession of said HARRISON (being conveyed to said HARRISON by his brother  CHARLES HARRISON in 177-). Also slaves named TOBY and his wife PATIENCE; ENEAS, STEPNEY, DENNIS and his wife SARAH;  MOLLY and FRANKY.
Nov 25, 1783 Surry Co VA; BENJAMIN SPRATLEY frees salves named WILL, NATT, LUCY, BETTY, SIMON, JANE, MARY, SALLY, CUFFY, ANNAKY, and JUDY. 

July 18, 1783 Surry Co VA; MICAJAH MADDERA to THOMAS DAVIS for 600 pounds gold or silver, the above land called "Fosters" which he lately bought from said DAVIS; a Negro girl called DOLL, a Negro girl called LETTICE , livestock and furniture.

Nov 22, 1784 Surry Co VA;  AGATHEA CORNWELL frees her slave named EDY.

Nov 30 1784 Surry Co VA;  MATTHEW WHITE of Perquimans County in North Carolina frees his Negro man named MOSES aged 20 years old.

Aug 21, 1786 Surry Co Va; ELIZABETH CRAFFORD to her daughter POLLY CRAFFORD... one Negro girl named CHINA and "a decent maintenance out of my estate until she is of full age, or marry".

Oct 24, 1786 Surry Co VA;  JOHN WARREN Jr frees his Negro boy PHILIP aged 2 years, when he is aged 21. 

Dec 26, 1786  Surry Co VA; BENJAMIN WHITE of Perquimans County North Carolina frees his Negro man CAESAR aged 25; Dec 26, 1786 JACOB WHITE of Perquimans County North Carolina frees his Negro slave named ISAAC aged 26 years.

Jan 5, 1787 Surry Co VA; NICHOLAS FAULCON to his son-in-law THOMAS WHITMELL ALSTON of Warren County in North Carolina...slaves named KATE, JENNY and her two children named HARRY and TOM; FUNY, MOLL and JENNY.

May 4, 1787 Surry Co VA; NATHANIEL SEBRELL to NICHOLAS FAULCON and JACOB FAULCON the surviving partners of JACOB FAULCON & CO, and JOHN HARTWELL COCKE, executor of HARTWELL COCKE, decd, who was one of the copartners; for 125 pounds 16 shillings & 8 pence....224 acres on Blackwater Swamp (being all the land said SEBRELL possesses) and slaves named HARY, PETER, CHARLES, ISAAC, SINAH, LIZZA JACOB, BETTY, DAVY, JIMMY and BOLLING.


SOURCE:  "Surry County Virginia Deeds and Estate Accounts 1756-1787" by William Lindsay Hopkins

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2012