Ferrell

Our story begins with Hubbard Ferrell, a captain in the royal militia at Jamestown, Virginia, who was killed during Bacon’s Rebellion.

According to traditional account and secondary sources, Hubbard was born in Longford-Westmeath, Ireland in 1645. I have seen no primary source evidence for that. (And by the way, as is usually the case with 17^th century spellings, his name is not consistently rendered. I have seen Herbert, Hubert, and Huberd, and I have seen Ferrell, Farrel, and Ferrill. His many descendants named Hubbard Ferrell cause me to favor that rendition.)

In Jamestown in 1668 Hubbard married Dorothy Drew, daughter of Colonel Thomas Drew of Charles City County and over the next four years the couple had two sons, William and Brian. (Dorothy was born in Exeter, Devonshire, England. For more on her and her family, see the Drew post.)

Hubbard was a captain in the royal militia under the command of Governor William Berkeley. He appears in the historical record in 1674, when Robert Wynne, a member of the House of Burgesses and speaker of the house filed a petition with the governor, protesting his arrest by Captain Ferrell:

“To the right honorable Sir William Berkeley, King’s Governor and Captain General of Virginia. And to the honorable Council of State. The humble petition of Colonel Robert Wynne. Sheweth. That Captain Huberd Farrell hath caused your petitioner to be arrested to this honorable court and to make his appearance the first day hereof but hath not entered his declaration as by Act of Assembly is injoyned. Wherefore your petitioner humbly prayes a Non Suite against the said Huberd Farrell, with costs and damages according to law. And your petitioner shall pray etc.

Endorsed.

Colonel Robert Wynne versus Captain Hubert Farrell.

The circumstances of the arrest and protest are unknown (to me, at least). The next mention of Hubbard in the historical record is in Nathaniel Bacon’s July 30, 1676 proclamation. Hubbard is among the 22 persons identified by Bacon as Governor Berkeley’s “wicked and pernicious councilors, confederates, aiders, and assisters against the commonalty in these our civil commotions,” and as “as traitors to the King and country.” Bacon demanded that Berkeley, Hubbard Ferrell, and the others surrender themselves to him within four days and declared any who sheltered them to be criminals. Here is the full text of Bacon’s proclamation:  

1. For having, upon specious pretenses of public works, raised great unjust taxes upon the commonalty for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but no visible effects in any measure adequate; for not having, during this long time of his government, in any measure advanced this hopeful colony either by fortifications, towns, or trade.

2. For having abused and rendered contemptible the magistrates of justice by advancing to places of judicature scandalous and ignorant favorites.

3. For having wronged his Majesty’s prerogative and interest by assuming monopoly of the beaver trade and for having in it unjust gain betrayed and sold his Majesty’s country and the lives of his loyal subjects to the barbarous heathen.

4. For having protected, favored, and emboldened the Indians against his Majesty’s loyal subjects, never contriving, requiring, or appointing any due or proper means of satisfaction for their many invasions, robberies, and murders committed upon us.

5. For having, when the army of English was just upon the track of those Indians, who now in all places burn, spoil, murder and when we might with ease have destroyed them who then were in open hostility, for then having expressly countermanded and sent back our army by passing his word for the peaceable demeanor of the said Indians, who immediately prosecuted their evil intentions, committing horrid murders and robberies in all places, being protected by the said engagement and word past of him the said Sir William Berkeley, having ruined and laid desolate a great part of his Majesty’s country, and have now drawn themselves into such obscure and remote places and are by their success so emboldened and confirmed by their confederacy so strengthened that the cries of blood are in all places, and the terror and consternation of the people so great, are now become not only difficult but a very formidable enemy who might at first with ease have been destroyed.

6. And lately, when, upon the loud outcries of blood, the assembly had, with all care, raised and framed an army for the preventing of further mischief and safeguard of this his Majesty’s colony.

7. For having, with only the privacy of some few favorites without acquainting the people, only by the alteration of a figure, forged a commission, by we know not what hand, not only without but even against the consent of the people, for the raising and effecting civil war and destruction, which being happily and without bloodshed prevented; for having the second time attempted the same, thereby calling down our forces from the defense of the frontiers and most weakly exposed places.

8. For the prevention of civil mischief and ruin amongst ourselves while the barbarous enemy in all places did invade, murder, and spoil us, his Majesty’s most faithful subjects.

Of this and the aforesaid articles we accuse Sir William Berkeley as guilty of each and every one of the same, and as one who has traitorously attempted, violated, and injured his Majesty’s interest here by a loss of a great part of this his colony and many of his faithful loyal subjects by him betrayed and in a barbarous and shameful manner exposed to the incursions and murder of the heathen. And we do further declare these the ensuing persons in this list to have been his wicked and pernicious councilors, confederates, aiders, and assisters against the commonalty in these our civil commotions.

Sir Henry Chichley                                   William Claiburne Junior

Lieut. Coll. Christopher Wormeley           Thomas Hawkins

William Sherwood                                    Phillip Ludwell

John Page Clerke                                     Robert Beverley

John Cluffe Clerke                                    Richard Lee

John West                                                Thomas Ballard

Hubert Farrell                                          William Cole

Thomas Reade                                         Richard Whitacre

Matthew Kempe                                      Nicholas Spencer

Joseph Bridger                                             John West

Hubert Farrell                                           Thomas Reade

And we do further demand that the said Sir William Berkeley with all the persons in this list be forthwith delivered up or surrender themselves within four days after the notice hereof, or otherwise we declare as follows.

That in whatsoever place, house, or ship, any of the said persons shall reside, be hid, or protected, we declare the owners, masters, or inhabitants of the said places to be confederates and traitors to the people and the estates of them is also of all the aforesaid persons to be confiscated. And this we, the commons of Virginia, do declare, desiring a firm union amongst ourselves that we may jointly and with one accord defend ourselves against the common enemy. And let not the faults of the guilty be the reproach of the innocent, or the faults or crimes of the oppressors divide and separate us who have suffered by their oppressions.

These are, therefore, in his Majesty’s name, to command you forthwith to seize the persons above mentioned as traitors to the King and country and them to bring to Middle Plantation and there to secure them until further order, and, in case of opposition, if you want any further assistance you are forthwith to demand it in the name of the people in all the counties of Virginia.

Nathaniel Bacon

General by Consent of the people.

During Bacon’s advance on Jamestown in September 1676 he fought the royal militia at King’s Creek and it was there that Captain Hubbard Ferrell was mortally wounded. By some accounts the battle was a failed attempt to surprise Bacon in his camp. By others it occurred as Bacon pursued the governor’s men who were retreating before him.

Here is how Bacon himself described the action, including the fate of Captain Ferrell:

From Camp at Sandy Beach

 S’ber the 17th, 1676.

Before we drew up to James Towne a party of theirs fled before us with all hast for fear: with a small party of horse (being dark in the evening) we rode up to the Point at Sandy Beach, and sounded a defiance which they answered, after which with some difficulty for want of materials we entrenched ourselves for that night, our men with a great deal of bravery ran up to their works and fired briskly and retreated without any loss.

They shew themselves such pitiful cowards, contemptable as you would admire them. It is said that Hubert Farrell is shot in the belly, Hartwell in the leg, Smith in the head, Mathews with others, yet as yet we have no certain account. They took a solemn oath when they sallied out either to rout us, or never return: But you know how they use to keep them: . .

 Your real Friend,

 NATH: BACON.

Bacon’s rebellion failed of course, but it cost Hubbard Ferrell his life. His wife Dorothy had died three years earlier, leaving their two infant sons orphaned. Who raised the boys is unknown to me. Dorothy’s parents and sisters were also dead by then (life was short in 17^th century Virginia) and Hubbard is not known to have had any family in the colony. In any event, our story continues with their son Brian.

Brian Ferrell was born in James City County around 1672. In 1699 he married Elizabeth Eltonhead Stanard, daughter of William Stanard and Eltonhead Conway. Brian was living in Prince George County when he wrote his will in 1716, but exactly where is unclear to me. In the will he left the plantation “where we now live” and “also my plantation lying on Spring Swamp on the other side of Nottoway River” to his wife Elizabeth for her lifetime, and afterwards to their son Hubbert. Spring Swamp is in Surry County, near Jarrat, and lies on the south side of the Nottoway River. If Spring Swamp was “on the other side of the Nottoway River” from the “plantation where we now live,” then that would mean Brian and Elizabeth lived in Prince George County on the north side of the Nottoway. But the estate proceedings of their son Hubbard identify his land as being in Brunswick and Lunenburg counties and as having come to him from his father Brian. Brunswick was formed from King George County in 1720 (four years after Brian’s death) and Lunenburg was later formed from Brunswick County. So most likely Brian and Elizabeth lived in what is now Brunswick County. In any event, Brian Ferrell died in King George County in 1716 and our story continues with his son Hubbard.

Hubbard Ferrell was born around 1700 and, as indicated above, inherited his father’s lands in Brunswick and Lunenburg counties. Around 1731 he married his wife Mary (probably Andrews) and they had at least five children together. In addition to the land he inherited, Hubbard owned property in Bertie County, North Carolina, which bordered Brunswick County. On October 1, 1747 Hubbard patented 223 acres on Miles Creek in present day Mecklenburg County (just west of South Hill) on October 1, 1747. The land was in Lunenburg County at the time (Mecklenburg County was formed in 1765). The property was inherited by Hubbard’s son James and was sold by James in 1753.

Hubbard was a prosperous and prominent member of the community. He served in the House of Burgesses in 1748. He died in 1749. Our story continues with his son James.

James Ferrell was born around 1732, making him about 17 years old when his father died. In 1759 he was a vestryman in the Lunenburg Episcopal church. James was a lieutenant in the Virginia militia in 1777 but I have not discovered any more information about his war record.

In 1795 James sold his land in Mecklenburg County and moved to Halifax County, to land he purchased from Benjamin Edwards, likely an in-law. I have not been able to determine exactly where he lived, but likely it was on the 260-acre farm that his son William purchased from James’s estate in 1808.

James married first Millicent Edwards, who died in 1799 after having eight children. He next married Cynthia Jane Hiffman, and together they had ten more children.

James died in Halifax County on October 8, 1808 at about age 76. He died intestate (without a will) leaving 18 children. His estate, which included at least 11 slaves, was sold at public auction. His son William bought the land and his son James Jr. bought much of the personal property. Two chancery cases involving the estate enable us to identify his heirs with certainty and reveal much information about his possessions, showing for example that he had a substantial working plantation. The cases may be viewed here: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=083-1810-051#img; https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=083-1828-101.

Our story continues with James Ferrell, Jr., the second oldest son of James and Millicent Ferrell. Born around 1762, James was still living in Mecklenburg County in 1783 when he married Jemima Hutcheson, daughter of John Hutcheson and Elizabeth Chiles. At some point they moved to Halifax County (perhaps when his father did, in 1795). Once in Halifax County, James Jr. and Jemima lived in or near Meadville, as that is where she is shown as living in 1820 as a widow owning 20 slaves (James Jr. left her the home and 150 acres for her life, along with 3 slaves. The other slaves must have been owned by her personally.)

His father James Sr. died intestate, as mentioned above, and his estate was sold at auction in December 1808. (Details here: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=083-1810-051). At the sale, William bought the land (I have not yet been able to determine where it was). James Jr. bought a considerable amount of personal property (4 slaves, livestock, farm equipment, etc.). At his father’s death, James Jr. became the guardian of his half-siblings Patsy, Quintina and Hutchins Ferrell, who were not of age. His older brother William became guardian of Ann and Jane Ferrell. A dispute over payment of the portion due to the wards of William resulted in this chancery case: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=083-1828-101#img. An accounting was ordered and by the time it was conducted, James Jr. had died, so it had to be handled by his son John, who was his administrator.

James Ferrell Jr. died in 1818, leaving this will (I have not seen the original and there may be errors in this transcription):

In the name of God, Amen. I, James Ferrill of the county of Halifax in Virginia, being as  this weak in body but of a disposing mind and memory in order to regulate and set my house in order, and to make such a disposition of my worldly property among my family as I judge most equally, before my death, do make and prepare this my last will and testament, revoking all former wills by me made.

1st principally I desire to recommend and submit myself to the divine disposal for longer or shorter life, as the Almighty Governor of this world, shall please to direct. I implore his mercy for the pardon of my sins and acceptance through the redeemer’s righteousness when I am called hence, that worldly sustinence his providence has bestowed on me, I desire may be distributed in followeth of.

2nd. I lend unto my beloved wife Jemima Ferrill during her natural life or widowhood, one hundred and fifty acres of land including the mansion house and housewares to be laid off by a line drawn from East to West, so as to include the above quantity of land. I also lend unto my said wife the following slaves, James, David, & Fanny, but if the said woman Fanny should have any more children but those hereafter devised, tis my desire that they should be equally divided between my four sons hereafter mentioned heirs: John, William C., James B. and Chiles Overton Ferrell, let it be further understood that the quantity of land lent to my said wife after her death shall be sold on a credit of twelve months and the money arising from said sale to be equally divided between (unreadable) John and William C. Ferrell. I also leave unto my said wife __ horses, her choice, two cows her choice, two ewes, and lambs, two sows and pigs, one yoke of small oxen and a sufficiency of corn and pork for the first year after it may please God to call me, hence, the slaves left to my said wife, to be sold in the —- manner; as the land and the money arising from sale of land negroes to be equally divided among the following children, John, William C, Temperance Poyner, Charity, James and Chiles O. Ferrill to them and their heirs forever.

3rd. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Temperance Poyner, one negro girl by name Jane to her and heirs lawfully begotten of her body and the increase forever.

4th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Piety Dodson, late Piety Ferrell, five pounds cash as a legatee of my estate and no more.

5th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Charity Ferrell, one negro Girl by name Angelina, to her and her heirs, lawfully begotten of her body and the increase of the said negro girl forever.

6th I give and bequeath unto my two sons, John and William C. Ferrell, the following slaves, George, Peter and William to be divided as follows: the three slaves are to be set up between my two sons as above mentioned, and they are to bid for choice, so that the child that gets the most valuable slave or slaves, shall pay to the other the affluence of (??) and of his own money, so that they may both share as equal as possible to them and their heirs forever. I also give unto my said two sons, the benefit of all my claim against the estate of John Hutcheson, myself being a legatee by marriage of Mecklenburg.

7th I give and bequeath unto my son James B. Ferrell two negroes a boy by name Jenkins and his mother Lucy Jenkins, and should my negro woman Fanny have another child more than is devised in this will, tis my desire that it should go to my son James and his heirs forever, also one shot gun called my old gun.

8th I give and bequeath unto my son Chiles Overton Ferrill three negroes, a girl by name Sarah and two boys Ned and Robert and their increase forever, also my silver watch. I also give and bequeath unto my two sons, James and Chiles O. Ferrill the balance of all my lands, after deducting one hundred and fifty acres, as before devised, to be equally divided in quantity by running a line, due north, and south to them and their heirs forever. Tis my will and desire. Then all of my just debts shall be paid, before any legacies given to my children shall be removed from my estate, that all my house and kitchen furniture shall be sold and money arising from said sale, to be appropriated to the payment of my just debts also my plantation tools, and the stock of all kinds not hitherto devised.

Lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Jemima Ferrell Executrix with my two sons John and William C. Ferrill Co-Executors with my said wife this 21st day of August 1818

James Ferrell, Sr.

In presence of

John Henry

Joseph (X) Dunmum

Shermond (X) Wharton

Garratt W. Cook

Sayton Yancey

At a court held for Halifax County the 26th day of Oct 1818: The written last will and testament of James Ferrell and in court and confirmed by the oaths of two witnesses therein subscribed ordered to be received:

Whereupon a motion of Jemimah Ferrell the Executrix and John Ferrill and William C. Ferrill the Executors thein named who made oath thereto according to law, certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form, they giving security. Whereupon they together with John Henry, Joseph Dunmon and Garret W. Cook their securities enter into and acknowledge in the penalty of ten thousand dollars contional according to law.

Teste, John Wimbish CMC

Our story continues with Charity Jemima Ferrell, daughter of James Ferrell Jr. and Jemima Hutcheson Ferrell. Charity was born around 1801. As shown above, in his will her father left her a slave girl named Angelina. On May 24, 1819, a few months after her father’s death, Charity married Atkinson Oldham Lovelace in Halifax County. She and Atkinson would have ten children together. For more on her family, see the Lovelace post.

Wimbish

Our story begins with James Wimbish, who in 1753 bought 1,020 acres on Buffalo Creek (River) in what was then Amelia County and would later become Prince Edward County. James in said to have come from James City County, but I have seen no evidence for that.

James would become one of the founders of Prince Edward County. He was on the commission that built the courthouse. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace for the County, serving from 1754 until his death. James was also the third sheriff of the county, taking the oath of sheriff of Prince Edward County in October 1757.

James is often identified as “Reverend James Wimbish.” While he may have been a minister, I have seen no evidence to support the claim. James was selected as one of the first 10 vestrymen of St. Patrick’s Parish in 1755 and he was church warden in 1755 and 1758.

James signed his will in February 1760, and it was recorded in Prince Edward County in February 1761. In it he names 12 slaves and implies more. Here is an abstract:

 I, James Wimbish of St Patrick’s Parish To my wife — 4 slaves, Moll, Will, Tom, Lucy, and if needed, my negro woman named Phillis, and one fourth of my Personal estate, during her natural life.

To my daughter Martha, the wife of Hugh Challes — my 2 negro girls named Hannah & Chloe, who were born of my mulatto woman Phillis, now in the service of my daughter Martha, but to return to my estate after my death.

To my daughter Anne, the wife of William Baldwin, my mulatto Woman named Agness.

To my daughter Sarah, the wife of the Reverend Mr. James Garden — my mulatto woman named Sue, and 1 bed and furniture, which they have already in possession.

To my son James Wimbish — my Negro man named Mingo, and my Negro boy named Harry, with what has received formerly.

To my daughter Mary, the wife of James Thackston — 65 £ to be paid 12 months after my death.

To my 3 youngest sons, Samuel, John, and Benjamin Wimbish — all my land and slaves not already disposed of, as well as those allotted for the use of my wife, after her death to be equally divided among them, together with the reversion and remainder of my estate.

Executors: my 3 youngest sons, Samuel, John, and Benjamin Wimbish.

Signed Feb 1, 1760 — James Wimbish. Wit — George Davies, Nathel Barksdale, Archibald McElroy.

The inventory of his estate, dated Feb 19, 1761:

Inventory and appraisement of the estate of JAMES WIMBISH deceased, pursuant to court order dated Feb, 1761. Items mentioned include: 3 beds and furniture, 1 looking glass, 8 rush chairs, 5 leather chairs, 1 large looking glass, books, 1 pine table, 1 couch, 5 China cups, 6 saucers, 4 wine glasses, 3 Delf bowls, 9 flowered delft plates, 1 small gilt trunk, 1 walnut stand, 1 old sword, 1 old leather trunk, carpenters and joiner’s tools, 24 cattle; Mulatto slaves named Will, Bob, Cyrus, Toby, Moll, Phillis, Tony, 1 Negro fellow named Tom; 1 Negro girl Lucy. Total value 688 pounds 15 shillings 2 pence.

Signed Saml Wimbish, John Wimbish, Ben Wimbish, exors.

Signed – Wm Booker Nathaniel Barksdale, John Biggs, Thos Flournoy. Recorded Mar 10, 1761

James and his wife, the former Sarah Ann Hunt had eight children. Our story continues with their daughter Martha.

In 1775, Martha Wimbish married Hugh Challis, who like the Wimbish family lived on Buffalo Creek in Prince Edward County (probably just west of Farmville and just north of Hamden Sydney). Hugh owned at least 300 acres of land, operated an ordinary in 1754-55, and had been appointed clerk of St. Patrick’s Parish at its creation in 1755 (his father-in-law James Wimbish being elected church warden and vestryman at the same time.) He served as under-sheriff (deputy) during his father-in-law’s time as sheriff.

By 1782 Hugh and Martha had moved to that portion of Guilford County that would become (in 1785) Rockingham County, North Carolina. Hugh served as a county justice in 1782. (For more on Hugh, his family, and the descendants of he and Martha, see the Challis post). Hugh died in August 1786. Martha died in Rockingham County. Her will, signed on March 15, 1801 and proven in May 1804, provides:

In the name of God, amen. I Martha Challes of the county of Rockingham and state of North Carolina being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for his mercies and as touching my worldly goods as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I do give and dispose of in manner and form as follows, to wit:

Item. I give and bequeath to Susannah Dalton my chest and ten shillings.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Challes ten shillings. I also give and bequeath to Ann Stubblefield, Sarah Mills, Martha Smith, Fanny W. Smith all the property, debts, and outstanding cash after paying my just debts and paying one hundred dollars to Jean Dalton and also one hundred dollars more to Patsy Dalton and then the balance of my property which consists of four negroes, to wit Juror (?), Sila, Ennis, and Lina with all stock of horses, tobacco, corn, wheat, rye, oats, flax, cotton, bacon, brandy, sugar and all my household and kitchen furniture, which consists of the following articles: four stone jugs, tea kettle, ___, three counterpanes, two ploughs, one coulter, two axes, four weeding hoes, four casks, two hogsheads, two washing tubs, two ___, case of knives and forks, some earthen ware, two bells, two pots, one oven lid, two cleavers, one pewter dish, ten pewter plates, four __, and several other articles two tedious to be mentioned and it is to be understood that after paying the above legatees, John Challes, Susanna Dalton, Jean Dalton and Patsy Dalton, and paying all of the just debts, then the balance is to be equally divided between Ann Stubblefield, Sarah Mills, Martha Smith and Fanny W. Smith to them and their heirs forever. And I do appoint Drury Smith and Wyatt Stubblefield executors of this my last will and testament to see the same performed according to the intent and meaning of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteen day of March one thousand eight hundred and one.

s/Martha Challes (her mark)

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of

Ezekiel Murphey

John Norman

James Murphey

State of North Carolina

Rockingham County

May session, 1804

The within will of Martha Challes was duly proved in open court by the oaths of Ezekiel Murphey, John Norman and James Murphey and ___

s/ Ro. Gallaway

Our story continues with her daughter Ann Challis. See the Challis post for more.

Davis

Our story begins with William Davis of King William County, Virginia, born about 1650. William was possibly the son of John Davis, but it is unproven at this point. Sometime before March 1688, William married Mary White, daughter of Henry White and Mary Croshaw White. For more on those families, see their posts.

William Davis and his wife Mary had two daughters and two sons, Benjamin and John. Our story continues with Benjamin.

Born in King William County about 1695, Benjamin was a master carpenter and builder. Around 1725, he married Elizabeth (possibly Phillips) in King William County. Benjamin built the first addition to St. George’s Parish Church in Fredericksburg Virginia in 1754-1756 and afterwards lived in Culpeper, Virginia, where he died in the summer of 1763. For a comprehensive look at his life, including the strong but circumstantial evidence connecting him to William Davis and Mary White Davis, see http://www.joanhorsley.org/reports/Davis_Benjamin_I_REPORT_%2011_29_2017.pdf.

Our story continues with his son William Davis, who was born in King William County and moved to Pittsylvania County in 1779.

William was living in Spotsylvania County, when, in August 1761, he purchased 850 acres in Culpeper County from a widow named Sarah Minor. By January 1764, William had sold his land in Spotsylvania County and he and his wife Sarah Graves Davis (see Graves post for more on her family) were living in Culpeper County (William’s father Benjamin had moved to Culpeper earlier and died there in 1763). In December 1778, William sold his land in Culpeper County. Three months later, on March 16, 1779 he bought a mill on 850 acres in Pittsylvania County lying on both sides of the Banister River and Cherrystone Creek, just southeast of Chatham, which was then called Pittsylvania Court House. William purchased the land and mill (the “William Pigg” mill, which had been built in 1768) from John Booth of Henry County, for £1400. By September 1780 William had added another 400 adjoining acres to his holdings. The rock house built by William in 1779 is still standing, located just off the current Catawba Drive. The map and photos below are by the historian Danny Ricketts, who was descendant of William Davis:

Records show that during the Revolutionary War, commissary agents impounded a wagon and four of William’s horses, along with a large quantity of bacon (pork), beef, wheat, and corn. William’s son Benjamin was serving in the army at the time (see below).

William transferred some of his land to family members, and for most of the time he lived in Pittsylvania County he was taxed for 700 acres. Tax records show that in 1786, William owned four horses, 17 head of cattle, and 18 slaves.

William died in 1791. In his will dated June 4, 1790, he says that he is “far advanced in life.” Here is an abstract of his will (taken from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-19677):

 –son John (receives 3 head of cattle)

–son Benjamin (receives William’s house and 150-acre plantation)

–son Joseph (also receives 150 acres)

–son Thomas (receives the rest of William’s land, except one acre by the creek adjoining William’s mill)

–daughter Nancy Rickett (receives a slave; the will mentions her husband William Rickett)

–daughter Peggy Davis (receives two slaves and a flock of geese)

–son-in-law Thomas Maide (the will cancels a debt owed by Thomas)

–son-in-law William Corbin (receives a slave and a feather bed, in consideration of a debt related to William’s brother’s will)

–sons Joseph and Thomas (mentioned again, now they receive William’s mill with one adjoining acre of land)

–remainder of estate to be divided between youngest children Joseph, Thomas, and Lucy.

–son Benjamin instructed to rebuild the mill, keeping possession of the mill and slaves for three years and then distributing them according to the will’s provisions

–single daughters to be provided for as long as they remain single

–if either son Joseph or Thomas dies before arriving unmarried at “lawful age,” their share of the mill to go to the other brother

–son-in-law George Mires to receive nothing more than what he now has in his possession.

–son-in-law Daniel Bradley to receive nothing more than what he now has in his possession — the land he lives on.

–executors instructed to pay to Daniel Bradley the debt arising from William’s executorship of his brother’s will.

–William’s friend John Parks and William’s son Benjamin appointed executors.

–signed (with mark) June 4, 1790, and proved June 20, 1791.

–witnessed by William Miers, Jacob Miers, George Miers, Jr.

Our story continues with William’s son, Benjamin Davis and his daughter Susannah Davis. First, Benjamin.

Benjamin preceded his father to Pittsylvania County. He was in the county on May 10, 1778, when he married Lydia Meador (often recorded as “Meadows.” See Meador post for more on her family). A supporting affidavit in Benjamins Revolutionary War pension file reports that the affiant (William Dixon) “first became acquainted with said Benjamin Davis as early as the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven (1777) in the aforesaid County when the said Davis was only about nineteen (19) years of age, and he, the affiant, about seventeen years of age; that he distinctly remembers that said Davis was married in the following year, sometime in the Spring thereof, but he cannot remember what month—that the name of his wife previous to marriage was Lydia Meadows, daughter of Joab Meadows deceased, whom he also well knew…” According to information in the pension application file, the couple were married by James Hurt a Baptist minister.

The pension application file (which may be viewed here: https://revwarapps.org/w4172.pdf) reveals that on March 19, 1779 at Callands, Benjamin enlisted for two years in Captain John Greene’s company of Virginia State Troops. One of the supporting affidavits was from 89-year-old John Myers, “an intimate friend and neighbor” of Benjamin. Myers recalled “that he heard frequently from said Benjamin Davis during the Campaigns of said army in the Southern States, and received from him the details of several Battles, viz Camden and Guilford Court House, & in which he (said Benjamin Davis) was engaged, and which details were often related to him in person by said Benjamin Davis after his return from the service.”

90-year-old William Dixon, a veteran and colleague of Benjamin, swore that he “was most intimately acquainted with Benjamin Davis,” and provided details of Benjamin’s service, reporting that Benjamin served in the wagon-master’s department as a teamster (wagon-driver) and that Benjamin owned the horse and wagon he drove.

The Battle of Guilford Court House occurred on March 15, 1781, just four days before William’s term of enlistment expired. Dixon testified that that “on the day of said battle said Davis did abandon his waggon & team and did join the ranks of his aforesaid company in order to engage the enemy the particulars of which he, the affiant, well remembers.” So, with only a few days left to serve, rather than sit out the fight in the rear, William Davis abandoned his wagon and team to take on place on the firing line in General Huger’s brigade—a particularly brave act for a man with a wife and three infant children waiting for him back in Pittsylvania County.

William survived the battle and received his discharge at the Troublesome Ironworks four days later:

“I do Certify that Benjamin Davis is discharged from the service, with his waggon and team, and has Per[miss]ion to pass to his home to Pitsylvania in Virgi[nia] allowing him three days to perform that Journey.

Given Speedwell Iron works/ 19th March 1781

Sam’l Edmiston

DW.M.G’l A (Deputy Wagonmaster General of the Army)”

At his father’s death in 1791, Benjamin inherited his home (shown above) and 150-acre plantation.

Having already married in 1778, Benjamin and Lydia married again on January 31, 1800. Here is the explanation offered on the Wikitree page linked above:

“According to his Revolutionary pension file, Benjamin Davis married Lydia Meador on May 10, 1778 at Pittsylvania County, Virginia, but there was no existing record of the marriage. According to the 1851 testimony of 89-year-old widow Mary Shelton (who had attended the wedding at the home of Lydia’s father Joab “Meadows”), the marriage was performed by a Baptist minister named Hurt. This could only have been the Rev. Philomen Hurt, who was a teenage soldier in 1778 and not yet a minister.

In other words, this particular detail appears to have been wrong, unless Philomen Hurt was a very precocious young minister. However, the indication that it was a Baptist wedding fits the fact that Benjamin’s father William Davis was a member of the Upper Banister Baptist Church.

This means that the marriage took place before Baptist ministers were authorized to perform marriages in 1780. So that would be one reason why there wasn’t a record of the marriage. This might also be the reason why Benjamin and Lydia decided to get “formally” married in 1801—to preserve the “legitimacy” and inheritance of their children. Their marriage bond was dated 31 Jan. 1801, and surety was provided by Benjamin Davis and his first cousin John Davis, Jr. There was also a letter of permission from Joab Meador, father of the bride (dated 24 Jan. 1801). Either this was a second marriage of Benjamin Davis to a woman with the identical name as his first wife, or it was a “repeat” of an original marriage that was “irregular” (performed by a minister who wasn’t formally licensed).”

In the 1820 census Benjamin is recorded as the head of a household of 3 free males, 3 free females, and 6 slaves.

 Benjamin died in Pittsylvania County on March 22, 1836, at about age 78.

Benjamin and Lydia Meador Davis had five children. Our story continues with his daughter Sarah. But first, let us return to his sister Susannah.

Susannah Davis was born in Culpeper County, around 1770. She came with her family to Pittsylvania County and there on February 19, 1787, she married William Corbin, requiring the consent of her father, as she was underage. She and William had four children together. After William’s death, Susannah married William Nelson, with whom she had four more children.  One of the sons of Susannah and William Corbin was Jameson Corbin, who married his first cousin Sarah Davis, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia Davis. Their story is continued in the Corbin post.

Sarah Davis, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia, was born in 1798 or 1799. On October 9, 1818, she married her first cousin Jameson Corbin. They had 11 children together before Sarah’s death on April 15, 1877, in Pittsylvania County. Their story is continued in the Corbin post.

Ellington

Our story begins with John Ellington, born ca. 1670-1680. How and when John came to Virginia is unknown. Possibly he was brought over as an indentured servant by Godfrey Fowler and George Archer, who in January 1717 were granted 500 acres in Henrico County for transportation of ten persons, including one “Jno. Ellington.”

John first appears in the historical record on 19 Jan 1712 when he witnessed a deed in Amelia County, Virginia. In July 1717 he was granted 200 acres on both sides of Ellington’s Branch of Namusend Creek in Prince George (present day Dinwiddie) County. Additional land was granted to John Ellington in 1723 between Mawhipponock (Whipponock) and Nummisseen (Namozine) Creeks adjoining Godfrey Ragsdell’s corner and John Spain’s line. In 1730 he added another 300 acres on the upper side of Whipponock Creek in present-day Dinwiddie County. He was one of several men paid 100 pounds of tobacco in 1718 for killing wolves.

John’s wife was named Sabrina, but we don’t have a record of her maiden name or the date of their marriage. In December 1739 the records reflect Sabrina assenting to giving up her dower rights in a sale of property, a transaction joined in by her son John Jr. and his wife Sarah. That suggests that Sabrina and John were married by 1719.

So, from these facts we can surmise that John and his wife Sabrina lived in present-day Amelia County, on at least 500 acres, between Whipponock and Namozine Creeks, probably in the area of present-day Namozine Road, a few miles northwest of Sutherland. He was likely living there when he died.

Our story continues with his son John Ellington Jr.

John Jr. lived in Nottoway Parish in Amelia County, which in 1788 became Nottoway County. By August 1739 he was married to Sarah, whose surname is unproven but traditionally believed to have been Worsham.

In 1737 John Jr. acquired 200 acres in Amelia County, on Deep Creek, bounded by Licking Branch, in Raleigh Parish, Amelia County (now Dinwiddie) In 1746 he acquired from Peter Rowlett an adjoining 200 acres, by deed witnessed by John Clay, Charles Clay, and Sarah Clay. 1755. In 1755 he also owned 48 acres on the lower side of Namozine Creek in Dinwiddie County. On 23 Feb 1758 he purchased from Samuel Goode 738 acres in Prince Edward and Amelia Counties, on both sides of Salours (Sailors) Creek.

We know that in 1771 he was living in Amelia County, “near Beavil’s Bridge”, because of this runaway notice:

Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon)

Williamsburg, April 18, 1771

RUN away from the Subscriber, on Tuesday the 26th of March, a likely Virginia born Negro Man named CANDLEMAS, of a yellow Complexion, about nineteen Years of Age, five Feet six or seven Inches high, and has a Scar on the right Side of his Face. He had on, and took with him, white plain Jacket and Breeches, a short black spotted Cotton double breasted Jacket, a Virginia Cloth Jacket without Sleeves checked with blue and red. He formerly belonged to Mr. Holt Richeson of King William, and I imagine is gone there again. Whoever will bring the said Slave to me, near Beavil’s Bridge, in Amelia, shall have THREE POUNDS Reward. JOHN ELLINGTON.

John Jr. supplied a horse and foodstuffs to the Patriots during the Revolutionary War, making his descendants eligible for the DAR.

John Jr. died in March 1783 (his will was dated March 5 and his estate was inventoried on March 27). We know he was living in Amelia County when he died (he owned over 1,000 acres in Amelia and Prince Edward counties) but I have been unable to determine exactly where. Likely it was in Raleigh Parish, as he is identified as a resident of that parish in a 1777 deed. It is likely that he lived in the same area, if not the same house, as his father John, Sr., that is to say, in Amelia County northwest of Sutherland, in the area of present-day Namozine Road.

In his will John Jr. identified nine children and 18 slaves by name. He is believed to have had other children, not mentioned in the will.

5 MARCH 1783

I JOHN ELLINGTON of the County of Amelia being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and ordain the following as my last will and testament.

First, I give unto my son DAVID ELLINGTON one negro wench named Venus and her increase and one negro fellow named Dick which he now has in possession.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son JOHN ELLINGTON one negro fellow named Jemie and a negro fellow named Caesar.

Item, I give unto my son WILLIAM ELLINGTON one negro wench named Doll and her increase except her oldest child and all __ except the one __ excepted and one negro fellow named Frank.

Item, I give unto my son DANIEL ELLINGTON one negro fellow named Tom which he now has in possession one negro fellow named Prince and one negro boy named Scott.

Item, I give unto my son PETER ELLINGTON one negro fellow named Sam which he now has in possession and one negro fellow named Hampton.

Item, I give unto my daughter MARY FARLEY one negro woman Nancy and all the child she now has and may hereafter have and which she now has in possession.

Item, I give unto my daughter ANNE MARSHALL one negro woman named Sarah which she now has in possession and all the increase she now has and hereafter may have and one girl named Aggy.

Item, I give unto my daughter BECCA FARLEY one negro woman named Tabb which she now has in possession and all the children she now has or hereafter may have.

Item, I give unto ELIZABETH ROBERTS one negro wench named Jude and all the children she now and hereafter may have and one negro girl named Myrta.

Item, I give unto my grand daughter ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, one negro girl named Sylvia for and during the term of her natural life and to be disposed of among here children after her death and should she dir without making such disposition that then the said negro and her increase be divided among her children.

Item, I give unto my grandson ELLINGTON MORGAN one negro boy names Jemie.

Item, I give unto my grandson JOHN MORGAN one negro boy named Sterling.

Item, to my granddaughter MARY ELLINGTON daughter of PETER ELLINGTON one negro girl named Chloe now in her possession.

Item, I give unto my said son PETER four hundred acres of land whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give unto my grandson JOHN ELLINGTON son of DANIEL ELLINGTON two hundred and forty four acres of land more or less in the County of Prince Edward to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give unto my nine children above mentioned all the residue of my estate of whatsoever kind nature or quality soever to be equally divided among them share and share alike.

Item, I hereby constitute and appoint my sons WILLIAM and DANIEL executors to this my last will and testament signed this fifth day of March 1783.

John Ellington

Signed sealed published and declared to be his last will and testament before us.

Rece Newman Benjamin Lawson J. H. Briggs

Our story continues with Daniel Ellington, son of John Jr.

Daniel was born about 1746. On August 13, 1779, he had married Sarah Tucker, daughter of Daniel Tucker and Elizabeth Spain (see Tucker post for more info) in Prince Edward County, Virginia.  At the time of his father’s death in 1783, Daniel was living in Prince Edward County, shown in the records as head of a family of six, with three slaves. In 1785 the records show that there were seven whites in his household. In 1797 he was appointed a picker of tobacco (what responsibilities that entailed, I do not know).

I have not been able to determine exactly where in Prince Edward County Daniel and family lived, but around 1801 they moved to Rockingham County, North Carolina, as part of a mass migration of Prince Edward County Methodists. The Ellington farm was on both sides of Town Creek, in the present-day Oregon Hill community in Rockingham County, off of Moir Mill Road (just past Destefano Road, heading west).

Daniel Ellington died in Rockingham County, North Carolina, probably in 1813, the year his will was admitted to probate, but in any event after October 16, 1809, the year he signed it. He names 9 children in his will and left a considerable estate, including 14 slaves mentioned by name:

I Daniel Ellington of the county of Rockingham and state of North Carolina, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and ordain the following as my last will and testament.

First, I lend to my dearly beloved wife Sally Ellington all my land whereon I now live on the east side of Town Creek and mill, one negro man named Tom, another named Jim, two negro women, one named Feb. the other Jenny, and one negro named Harry, two feather beds and furniture, one desk, one large pine table, one large pine chest, six chairs, six pewter plates, one pewter dish, six knives and forks, one pot and one Dutch oven during her natural life and widowhood. I also give to my wife Sally one bay mare Pleasure and one woman’s saddle and bridle, two cows and calves, one yoke of oxen, two sows and pigs to her and her heirs forever.

Item, I give to my son John Ellington two negro men named Filo and Pence, also one cow and calf, one feather bed and furniture that he now has in his possession. I also after my wife’s death or widowhood I give my abovementioned son John one negro man named Jim and one woman Feb., to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give to my son Paschal Ellington one hundred acres of land adjoining the land of Francis Jackson and Abraham Phillips, Esqs and one negro woman named Effie during his life and after his death I give it to be equally divided among the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. I also give to my above named son Paschal five shillings in cash, one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf that he now has in his possession, to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I lend to my son Daniel Ellington my land that is between Piney Fork and Town Creek and on the west side of Town Creek as the line runs as I purchased of Zack Sovel to a corner white oak sapline on the side of a hill above my mill thence an east corner to the said mill pond and as the said pond may hereafter meander, also one negro girl named Clarissa and her increase during his life and after his death to be equally divided among the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and if he should die without such heir or heirs then the said land and negro and increase to equally divided between my four sons Billy T., Alexander, Grief and Farrow. I also give to my above-mentioned son Daniel one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf and one sow and pigs to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I lend to my son Pleasant Ellington the land whereon he now lives containing seventy five acres, it being the land that I purchased of Zack Sovel, one negro girl named Peggy during his life and after his death to be equally divided among the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. Also I give to my above mentioned son Pleasant one feather bed and furniture and one cow and calf that he now has in his possession to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give to my two sons Billy T. Ellington and Alexander M. Ellington all the remainder part of my land that lies on the west side of Town Creek except one acre joining my mill dam to be equally divided between them share and share alike. I also give my above mentioned son Billy T. Ellington one negro girl named Nance and her increase, one cow and calf, one sow and pig, and one feather bed and furntiture to him and his heirs forever. And I also give to my above mentioned son Alexander M. Ellington one negro girl named Amy and her increase, one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf and one sow and pig, to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give to my two sons Grief Ellington and Farrow Ellington all my land lying on the east side of Piney Fork and Town Creek and one acre on the west side joining my mill dam after my wife’s death or widowhood to be equally divided between them share and share alike and I also give my above mentioned son Grief one negro girl named Valey and her increase, one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf and one sow and pig to him and his heirs forever. And I also give to my above mentioned son Farrow one negro woman named Judah that now lives at my son Paschal’s and her increase and one negro girl named Fanny and her increase after my wife’s death or widowhood to him and his heirs forever. Also one feather bed and furniture, one horse bridle and saddle, one cow and calf, one sow and pig, to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I lend to my daughter Betsy S. Guerrant one negro woman and her increase that she may hereafter have, one negro girl named Jenny during her life and after her death I give them and their increase to be equally divided among the heirs of her body lawfully begotten. I also give to my above mentioned daughter Betsy S. Guerrant one feather bed and furniture and one cow and calf that she now has in her possession, to her and her heirs forever.

Item, I also give to my above mentioned children, (to wit) John, Paschal, Daniel, Pleasant, Billy T., Alexander M., Grief, Farrow and Betsy S. all the remainder part of my estate be it of what nature form or quality soever to be equally divided among them, share and share alike.

Item, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son John and my friend John Morehead, Esq., executors of this my last will and testament dated the sixteenth day of October Anno Domini eighteen hundred and nine.

s/Daniel Ellington

State of North Carolina , Rockingham County November Session 1813

The execution of the within last will and testament of Daniel Ellington Esq. deceased was duly proven by __, John Forrest, John Hutcherson who made oath that the same and every word thereof was of the proper handwriting of the said Daniel deceased.

Robert Gallaway, C.C.

Our story continues with his daughter Elizabeth Spain “Betsy” Ellington. Betsy was born September 3, 1783, in Prince Edward County, Virginia. On April 17, 1802, she married Thomas Porter Guerrant, right around the time that the Guerrant and Ellington families (along with other Prince Edward County Methodists) relocated to Rockingham County, North Carolina. For more about her children, see the Guerrant post. For more about her mother, see the Tucker post.

Betsy died on June 5, 1839, at age 59. After death there was a lawsuit concerning a bequest made to her in her father’s will of an unnamed female slave (“”I lend to my daughter Betsy S. Guerrant, one negro woman and her increase that she may hereafter have, one negro girl named Jinny, during her life, and after her death I give them and their increase to be equally divided amongst the heirs of her body lawfully begotten. I also give to my above mentioned daughter Betsy S. Guerrant one feather bed and furniture and one cow and calf that she now has in her possession, to her and her heirs forever.”) The appellate decision can be viewed here: https://casetext.com/case/lillard-v-reynolds-1.

After Betsy, our story continues with her son Daniel Ellington Guerrant. For more, see the Guerrant post.

Hoskins

Our story begins with Bartholomew Hoskins, who traveled from England to Jamestown, Virginia in 1615, at about age 15. He survived life in the colony during a time when the great majority of settlers did not. Because he arrived in the colony before 1616, paid his own way, and survived the Indian Massacre of 1622, Bartholomew earned the designation “ancient planter.”

Bartholomew prospered in the colony, and by 1655 he had patented over 4,000 acres of land. Records reveal that he made several trips back and forth to England, maintaining homes in both places. On July 3, 1624, at St. Dunstan’s, Stepney, in London, he married Dorcas Foster, a widow whose maiden name is unknown. In Virginia the couple made their home in a part of Elizabeth City County that became New Norfolk County, then later Lower Norfolk, where Bartholomew was living when he died. He served four terms as a Burgess in the General Assembly between 1649 and 1656. He was a vestryman in Lynnehaven Parish and a member of the County Court. Bartholomew was dead by February 1663, as there is a reference to him in the records of Old Rappahannock County as follows, “Bartho. Hoskins late of Elizabeth River in the County of Lower Norfolk in Virginia dec’d.”

According to one researcher (Russell, 1983) Bartholomew and Dorcas had no children of their own. Supporting this conclusion is that fact that on his death Bartholomew was succeeded by a stepson, Richard Foster. But according to other researchers, John Hoskins of Northumberland/Westmoreland County Virginia was their son. While it is possible that John was the son of Bartholomew, I think it more likely that he was not, but rather was a relative (perhaps a nephew). In any event, our story continues with John.

John first appears in the record in 1648, as one of the persons transported to Virginia by Thomas Meares. Meares appears to have been the son-in-law of Bartholomew Hoskins. John may have been a Hoskins relative of perhaps was Bartholomew’s son and was “transported” by Meares to enable him to get a land grant while at the same time providing return passage to his in-law. In any event, John became a “shipmaster” and patented his first land in Virginia on June 4, 1663. The land was in Northumberland County (now Westmoreland County) and was described as “bounding upon Yeocomico River, S.E. upon land of Wm. Warder and S.W. upon a creek dividing this from land of Mr. Charles Ashton.” In 1664 John Hoskins also owned land on a branch of Machotix Creek, about five miles from Yeocomico Creek, adjoining lands of Harry Vincent, Isaac Allerton and Richard Wells.

The name of John’s wife is unknown. Among their children was son Thomas. Our story continues with him.

Thomas Hoskins was born circa 1650. Records regarding Thomas are few, as the records of the county were largely destroyed. There is a record from Northumberland County dated September 8, 1662, which shows that John Hoskins (Thomas’s father) hired a 14-year-old servant boy named Boaz Hollis to serve Thomas (then aged 12) while he attended school in England. Thomas returned to Virginia in September 1665. By 1683, Thomas was living in St. Stephens Parish, New Kent County (now King and Queen County).

The name of Thomas’s wife is unproven, but according to the Hoskins family history written by Glenister Hoskins, “There is strong evidence that Thomas married Phoebe Hodgkins, though neither the date nor the place of the marriage are known. Phoebe was the daughter of William Hodgkins. a Rappahannock County merchant and member of the Rappahannock Count. Phoebe’s father was also a son-in-law of Col. Toby Smith, who was once a surveyor for Bartholomew Hoskins. Phoebe’s father was also a nephew-in-law of Colonel Moore Fauntleroy who owned land in the Upper Norfolk area adjacent to land owned by Bartholomew Hoskins. The date of Phoebe’s death is unknown. Also unknown is the place of her burial.” Our story continues with their son Samuel.

Samuel Hoskins was born circa 1680. In 1706 he married Mary Brereton of St. Stephens Parish, King and Queen County, likely the daughter of Colonel William Brereton. At her father’s death, Mary and her husband Samuel inherited over 1400 acres of the Brereton estate in King and Queen County, including the land later known as “Mount Pleasant.” Samuel would eventually devise most of the land (described as “beginning on the north side of Essex road running south by Col. Grymes line thence east by north to Abraham Estis then up the branch to Chapman’s corner, thence north by west to the beginning,”—this included the area from St. Paul’s church to Dogwood swamp on the Bruington road, a stretch about 4 miles long and one mile wide) to his sons John and Samuel Jr. The north end of Mount Pleasant became known as Holly Springs and remained in the family until after the Civil War. “The Mount Pleasant house was situated about 2 miles from the border of Essex on the most direct road from Tappahannock on the Rappahannock River to Walkerton on the Mattaponi.  The house stood on a high hill overlooking the mill pond, dam and mill.  That house no longer stands, but the present house is in the same location on the brow of the first hill one ascends when proceeding along the road from St. Paul’s church to Bruington.” Samuel Sr. was the grandfather of the noted thoroughbred breeder Colonel John Hoskins. Samuel died in King and Queen County in 1738.

Our story continues with William Hoskins, son of Samuel Hoskins and Mary Brereton Hoskins.

William Hoskins was born in St. Stephen’s Parish, King and Queen County, on October 7, 1729. In 1755 he and his wife, the former Dolly Coleman, moved to Halifax County, Virginia. Dolly was likely the daughter of Thomas Coleman. For more on her family, see the Coleman post.

William and his family lived on “the north branch” of Terrible Creek (or Little Terrible Creek) in Halifax County, probably just north of Crystal Hill (Old Court House). His property line ran alongside the “old court house road” to the creek. He served as high sheriff of the county and as a vestryman in Antrim Parish.

At his death in 1781, William held a substantial estate, owning the 420 acres on which lived as well as 1400 acres in Pittsylvania County. Twenty-two slaves are mentioned by name in his will and 26 are identified as being in his estate when it was liquidated. After William’s death his widow Dolly became the head of household until her death in 1808. After her death there was a chancery proceeding in Halifax County that in which the slaves and Halifax County land were divided among the heirs and the Pittsylvania County land was sold. William’s estate included 7 volumes of the Spectator, suggesting that he and/or Dolly were literate and educated. Nevertheless, his will (recorded May 7, 1781) demonstrates some creativity in spelling and grammar:

I William Hoskins makes this my last will and Testement my wil is that my Jest debts shild be paid. then I lend to my beloved wife Eight negros Mump, Ginney, Gilkind, Grace, Isbil, Pat, Hardey, Mansin, and all my howsal furniture to Each of my fore children James Hoskins, Thomas Hoskins, John Hoskins, Jeaney Hoskins and also I lend her all my stock and Mill doreing her natural life and at her discease the negroes housal furniture and stock to be Equal Devided amongst my seven children Mary H.K. William HK James H.K. Dolley Stone Thomas Hoskins John Hoskins Janney Hoskins.

Item I give Nancy Bruis five pounds also I lend her a negro gal Milley during her natural life, and after hur decease hur and her increas to go to her children.

Item I give to my son William Hoskins one negro gal named Luce and what other things I lent to him and his ares for ever.

Item I give to Mary Stone one negro gal named Ales and what other things I lent hur to hur ares for ever.

Item I give to James Hoskins two negros Jack, Jacob. One bed Bedstead and furniture, one horse, one sow and pigs, kow and caf, fifty Barrils of Corn and as much fodder as will winter seven head of cattle this winter also I give to him the Land that I know joins the track that he know has in pershesson Beginning at the Creek and runing down to the said creek as the creek manders tel it comes down to the second branch that emtys in to the saide Creek and up the said Branch to my out side line. betwixt me and Begeman Smith astate this I give to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give to Thomas Hoskins two negros named Charles and Sirus and a parsel of Land Beginning at the said branch that James Hoskins parts runs round to and runs up the said branch tel it gits to my out side line and runs as my old line runs tel it strikes the Creek and up the said Creek to James Hoskins part

Item I give to John Hoskins two negros named Richard, Ned and the parsel of Land that I know live on after my wifes death Beginning at the creek where the line devides John Irby and my self runing as my old line runs to the Court house Rode and down the said Rode to the Creaks and down the saide Creake to wheare I begun and it is my will after my wifes discease he shal have my mil.

Item I give my daughter Jinney Hoskins three negros named Ben, Simon, Bety.

Item I give to Bety Hoskins a daughter of Samuel Hoskins one negro gal named dise

Item I give to Dolley Stone one negro named fan and what other things I lent to hur.

and it is my Will that if Thomas Hoskins, John Hoskins, Genney Hoskins should Discease with out a lawfull begotten are of their body, what I leave to them shal be Equal devided amonge my Children that is then aliveing and the Land I have in Pittsylvania County shal be sold to discharge my Debts. It is my Wil that James Hoskins and John Stone shuld be executor to my last wil and Testament-Given under my hand this 18th November 1780.

s/William Hoskins (seal)

Witnesses:

Saml. Tompkins

Gideon Ragland

Our story continues with Mary J. Hoskins, daughter of William and Dolly. Called “Molly,” the dates of her birth and death are unknown, but she was alive in 1809 when the chancery case involving her parents’ estates was ongoing. On July 15, 1769, she married Joshua Stone. Because the record includes the consent of her father, Molly must have been under age 21 at the time. Interestingly, Molly’s sister Dolly married John Stone, brother of Joshua. In other words, the Hoskins sisters married Stone brothers.

The story continues in the Stone post.

Royall

Our story begins with Joseph Royall, who arrived in Virginia on July 22, 1622, at age 22, about the ship “Charitie,” as an indentured servant of Luke Boise. To say Joseph arrived at a challenging time in the colony would be an understatement. When the Charitie arrived, there were fewer than 500 people in the colony, 347 having been killed in an Indian uprising four months earlier.

Joseph settled in Charles City County. Evidently through some fault of his, seawater had ruined the clothing of the Boise family during the journey. So, Joseph became obligated to provide clothing for the Boise family for the rest of his life. Mr. Boise died shortly after arriving in Virginia and Mrs. Boise proceeded to have the agreement solemnized in court. Whether it was performed is unknown.

Despite his humble beginning, and despite the challenges of life in 17^th century Virginia, Joseph prospered. By 1637 Joseph he was free of his indenture and in August of year he patented 300 acres in Henrico County, southeast of Turkey Island Creek, having acquired the land by “headright” for transporting new colonists to Virginia. Among those who he brought over were his brother Henry (about whom nothing else is known) and his first wife Thomasin (surname unknown). The following year he patented 200 acres in Charles City County, at Diggs Hundred. In August 1642 he patented 600 acres on the north side of the James River in Charles City County, land that became the site of the plantation and home called “Doggams,” which remained in the family for over 300 years and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Both Thomasin and Joseph’s second wife Ann died childless. How they died is unknown, but disease was rampant in the early days of the colony and in 1644 over 500 colonists were massacred in a sudden surprise Indian uprising.

In 1645 Joseph returned to England and there married Katherine Banks, of Canterbury. The couple returned to Virginia and in 1646 at Doggams Katherine gave birth to Joseph Royall, Jr., Joseph’s only son. After having several daughters (the record is unclear), Joseph died in 1655, at around age 55. Katherine, a wealthy widow at that point, later married Henry Isham, himself an established member of the landed gentry. She and Isham had two daughters, whose descendants included Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Robert E. Lee, and many other prominent Virginians. At Katherine’s death in 1686 she left her estate, notably Doggams and the lands of Joseph Royall, to her son Joseph Royall, Jr. It is with him that our story continues.

Joseph Jr. became an accomplished and affluent man. Born around 1646, he served as a captain of the Virginia militia, Justice of the Peace and Sheriff of Henrico County, and as a vestryman in Curls Episcopal Church, and he owned over 4500 acres of land, on both sides of the James, on the north side of Proctor’s Creek and on the north side of the Appomattox. Around 1676 he married Mary, the widow of George Archer and became the guardian of Mary’s three children. Mary’s surname has not yet been determined. She is often reported to have been Mary Eppes, daughter of Colonel Francis Eppes. I think it is likely that she was an Eppes (in large part because of a power of attorney she gave to William Eppes in 1680) but court records prove she could not have been the daughter of Francis Eppes. For now, her parentage is simply unknown.

Joseph died in 1722 at around age 76. He and Mary had four children. Our story continues with their son William.

William Royall was born in Henrico County around 1688. Upon his father’s death he inherited about 900 acres of land in Henrico County. William married Sarah Baxter, known only to be the brother of Edward Baxter. Their parents have not yet been determined.

William and Sarah lived until around 1747, having had four children. Our story continues with their son John.

John Royall was born around 1720. About 1748 he married Susannah, whose surname was likely Bates (although not yet proven). John moved to Halifax County, Virginia (whether before or after his marriage is unknown), where he died around 1766. His will, probated in Halifax County in September 1766, left his estate to his wife Susannah, then upon her death or remarriage to be divided equally among their eight children, except that the land was divided between their sons William and John. William and John both were cavalry captains during the Revolutionary War. John moved to Tennessee, while William remained on the family land—Royall Hill, on the Dan River near present day Paces—and had about 80 slaves at his death in 1822. Our story continues with their son Richard.

Richard Royall, being a younger son, inherited no land from his father. Nevertheless, he acquired land and an estate of his own and became affluent.

In April 1801, Richard married Elizabeth Maynard Royster, daughter of Revolutionary War officer Nathaniel Royster. Richard and Elizabeth lived in Pittsylvania County, in the Sandy River community, near present day Axton. Richard died in 1819, leaving the 560-acre estate and his slaves to his widow Elizabeth for her life. She survived him by 27 years and at her death in 1846 the estate included 35 slaves.

Here is a transcription of Richard Royall’s will:

In the name of God, amen. I Richard Royall of Pittsylvania County and the state of Virginia being in a low state of health but of sound mind do constitute and make this my last will and testament.

1st I subject my estate to the payment of all my just debts.

2nd If my creditors should be pressing and can’t give such indulgence to allow my estate to raise money for them, I direct my Executors hereafter named to sell such property as can be best spared to pay such creditors. The balance of my whole estate, both real and personal, with all my stock of every kind, also by household and kitchen furniture and plantation utensils etc. I lend to my dear beloved wife Elizabeth M. Royall during her life. It is my wish that if any money can be raised to spare, I wish it to be appropriated to the benefit of educating my two sons Nathaniel and John Royall. And at the death of my dear beloved wife Elizabeth M. Royall, I wish the whole of my estate, both real and personal, to be equally divided between all of my dear beloved children: Nathaniel Royall, John Royall, Susannah R. Royall, Elizabeth Royall, Mary Royall, Judith Royall, Sarah Royall, Nancy Royall, and Caroline Royall, with all of its increase. I also wish that if any of the negroes shall behave rudely I leave it in the power of my Executors to sell such negroes and by such as will __ if my wife should be dissatisfied and not willing to remain here, I leave it to the power of my Executors to sell this land and the money arising to be appropriated to the best us of my dear beloved wife and family. I do nominate and appoint my dear beloved wife Elizabeth M. Royall Executrix and William Bailey of Halifax County Executor and Thomas Shelton of Pittsylvania.

In testimony whereof I set my hand and seal this 2nd day of May 1819.

s/Richard Royall

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of:

Josiah Eanes

Elijah Robinson

Jno. B. Royall

Recorded and probated November 15, 1819.

Richard and Elizabeth Royall had ten children together. Their daughter Judith was the mother of Mississippi Governor John Marshall Stone. Our story continues with their daughter Nancy.

Nancy Royall was born in Pittsylvania County around 1816. On April 6, 1840, she married John Guerrant Watkins, and soon afterwards they moved to Rockingham County, North Carolina. Nancy and John had six children together before her death around 1870, at about age 54.

The story continues in the Watkins post.

Jeffries

Exactly when Edward Jeffries came to Virginia (and from exactly where) is unknown. But on April 18, 1714, he wrote a will in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County Virginia. The will, which was proven in court on July 7, 1714, named his wife Elizabeth, one son, and five daughters.

In the name of God, I Edward Jeffrey of the parish of North Farnham, the county of Richmond being sick and weak in body, but of a sound and perfect memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I commend my soul unto the hand of almighty God hoping through the merritts worth and passion of my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to ___________and for asking same and as for my body I committ to the earth to be decently buried at the descretion of my Executor hereafter named as for such worldly estate wherewith it hath please God to bless on me, I give and desire in the following manner and form.

Item I will that my debts and funeral charges to be paid out of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto Wilson Charlton all that old field whereon his father Thos. Charlton________ and all those woods as that pond adjoyning to the said old field whereon Zachery Nicholls held and _________ ___________ of the said old field ____ _____ wish at _________Wm. Thomas Griffin line unto him the aforsd Wilson Charlton and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.

Item I give unto my daughter Prudence Palmer one paire of gloves.

Item I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Myskell one paire of gloves.

Item I give unto my daughter Esther Charleton one paire of gloves.

Item I give unto my grandaughter Eliza Geffrey one cow and calf and her increase to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give unto my grandson William Myskell one three year old heifer and all her increase forever.

Item I will that my daughter Margt. do live with her mother as long as she shall live a single life.

Item I will that my son John do live with his mother so long as she shall live.

Item All the rest of my estate good and chattells whosoever I give and bequearth to be eaually divided between my loving wife Elizabeth Jeffrey, my son John and my daughter Margt. Geffrey confirming and appointing my loving wife as afforesaid to be my only and sole executrix to this my last will and testament ratifying and confirming this and no other revoking and disannuling all former wills by ___________ as ____________ my hand and seale this 18th day of April 1714 Anno

Edward Geffrey

Signed Sealed and delivered

to _______Last will and Testament

Thomas (T) Bryan Junr

Samuel Baker

At a court held for Richmond Court the 7th day of July 1714

This will was proved in court by the oaths of Thomas Bryan Junr on of the Wittnefses thereto and annexed to Record

Test M Beckwith Cl Cur

The inconsistent spelling of surnames is common during this time, but note that Edward managed to spell his name two different ways (Jeffrey and Geffry) within a single document. As Thomas de Quincey wrote of his own surname “spelt of course, like all proper names, under the anarchy prevailing as to orthography…in every possible form open to human caprice.”

Edward’s youngest daughter Margaret, born in 1697, was obviously unmarried when her father wrote his will, but within three years of his death she had married Thomas Bryan Jr., one of the will’s witnesses. She and Thomas moved to St. Paul’s Parish in the part of Stafford County Virginia that became King George County in 1717.

Margaret and Thomas had at least one child, a daughter Wilmoth, born around 1720.

The story continues in the Bryant post.

Henderson

Our story begins in Kincardinshire Scotland, a place commonly called “the Mearns.” On July 20, 1817, Thomas Henderson married 21-year-old Helen Ley at the Kinneff Kirk, a beautiful and historic church on the Kincardinshire coast (See the Ley post for more on Helen and her family). Thomas’ parents and date of birth are unknown to me. (His parents are often reported to be Robert and Mary Haig Henderson of Clackmannanshire, Scotland, but I find that dubious, as Clackmannshire is on the other side of Scotland, far from the Mearns and that Thomas’ birthdate matches neither the birthdate in the immigration record or that found in the family Bible of one of Thomas’ children.)

Kinneff Kirk

Kinneff Kirk. A beautiful setting.

James Alexander Henderson was born to Thomas and Helen on November 24, 1817, a little over four months after his parent’s wedding.

Thomas and Helen emigrated to the United States, along with sons James Alexander and Robert Hector, arriving in New York on March 25, 1820, about the ship Euphrates. Immigration records show that at the time of their arrival Thomas was 30 years, 8 months old (identified also as a farmer), Helen was 25, and their sons were 2 and 6 months, respectively. They traveled to America with a man named James Hector, whose relationship to them is unknown to me, but who is sometimes reported to have been a ward of Thomas and Helen Henderson.

The story now takes a strange turn. After arriving in New York, the Hendersons traveled to Washington County Virginia, in the mountains of western Virginia, where they lived with a wealthy man named Whitley Fullen. Washington County is not a typical destination for folks arriving in New York (by any means), leading me to believe that they must have traveled to the U.S. with the intent of going to live with Mr. Fullen, presumably at his invitation. According to family tradition (and, I’m told, confirmed by DNA), Helen’s last four children were fathered by Fullen. Their names were Malinda T. Henderson, Whitley Fullen Henderson, William Campbell Henderson and Hiram Fullen Henderson. (Note that two of the boys were given “Fullen” as their middle name.) At his death, Fullen left his entire estate (some 13,000 acres of land) to those four children. The story that has been passed down through the family for generations (and is being published here for the first time) is that Thomas Henderson traded his wife Helen to Whitley Fullen for a horse, a saddle, and a jug of whiskey.

Our story continues with the oldest child, James.

James Alexander Henderson, born in Scotland, married Sarah Jane Scott (for more and Sarah and her family, see the Scott post). They lived in Washington County, near Saltville, and had 7 children together. In the 1850 census James is shown as a “laborer.” According to family tradition James was in the Confederate home guard, serving as a guard at the Saltville salt works, and was captured at the Second Battle of Saltville and sent to a prisoner camp in Knoxville, Tennessee. Note that James would have been in his late 40s at the time, and therefore subject to conscription late in the war after the Confederacy raised the conscription age to 50. James died on May 11, 1891, at age 73. He is buried atop a hill behind the original Whitley Fullen homeplace on Route 80, as it turns to go over the Clinch Mountain into Russell County.  His stone is unreadable.

James Alexander Henderson

Our story continues with Samuel Dunn Henderson, fourth child and third son of James and Jane.

Samuel, who was called “Bunt” or “Sam Bunt,” was born on October 5, 1862. On January 19, 1884, he married Cordelia Worley (see Worley post for more on Cordelia and her family). They couple lived in Washington County, on the Holston River, not far from Tumbling Creek, and they had 13 children together. Bunt died on September 26, 1933, at age 70, after being kicked by a cow.

Samuel Dunn and Cordelia Worley Henderson and their daughter Brooksie Leona

Our story continues with Roy Duff Henderson, their sixth child and third son.

Roy was born on November 20, 1900. He married Allie Mae Coe and they had eight children together. At first the couple lived in his father’s house, but according to family lore Roy decided to build a house of his own because his sisters and his wife didn’t get along. In any event, he built a house on the other side of the Holston River from his parents’ home, in Poor Valley, near Saltville. To reach Roy and Allie Mae’s house one had to either ford the Holston River or cross it on a swinging footbridge.

Roy, my grandfather, lost his hearing while working in a plaster mine. By the time my mother was born, he was completely deaf. He never heard her voice. Because he was deaf, he was fired from the mine. After that he farmed, growing a small crop of tobacco. He had also been a preacher before losing his hearing. Roy died July 22, 1988, at age 87, in Tacoma Park, Maryland, at the home of one of his children. He is buried in Saltville.

Roy Duff and Allie Mae Coe Henderson

Our story continues with Daisy Irene Henderson, youngest child of Roy and Allie Mae. Daisy was born on August 9, 1942. After one of her sisters took a job working at Dan River Mills in Danville, Virginia, Daisy came to Danville to help look after the children while her sister was at work. William Cooper “B.B.” Guerrant met Irene (as she was then called) at a movie theater in Danville, while he was home for the summer from his job in Florida.

The next summer, when Irene was back home in Washington County, she was walking down the road to her cousin’s house, when B.B. suddenly drove up in his red and white Ford convertible. Irene says when she saw him she thought it was a dream—she had no idea how he found out where she lived. B.B. and Irene then ran off to South Carolina (with her father’s permission) and got married. Irene says they spent hours in a hotel room doctoring her birth certificate to make it appear that she was old enough to get married.

After the marriage, B.B. and Irene lived in Belle Glade, Florida, where he worked for his uncle in a vegetable packing house. The marriage failed, but not before it produced three children, one of them being the author of this post.

Trevillian

Our story begins with John Trevillian, who arrived in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1664—one of 20 persons transported by John Bruerton. The details of John’s indentured servitude are unknown. Two other Trevillians (Samuel and Anthony) are known to have come to Virginia, but the historical record is clear that only John had male descendants. All Virginia Trevillians are descended from John.

Note that some sources claim a second John Trevillian arrived in 1691, but this is a mistake originating in a misreading of the evidence. The claim is based on a colonial record which reads: “Jan. 6, 1690-91. John Trevillion was charged 3 pounds for his voyage.” Some researcher concluded that the “voyage” was John’s voyage from England to Virginia, and that mistake has been often repeated by others. Looking at the record itself shows that the reference is not to John Trevillian being charged for his voyage to Virginia, but rather to him being paid 1 lb 10 shillings to reimburse him for “his voyage” in helping pursue a runaway servant of William Wise.

This is as good a place as any to note that seeming every possible variation of the spelling of “Trevillian” appears in the records—Trevillian, Trevilian, Trevillion, Trevilion, Travillion, Travillion, Treyvillian, Trovillion, etc. The standard and most common version is “Trevillian,” and that is what I will use throughout this post. There is a family tradition the original Virginia Trevillians were Huguenots, but that is not correct. “Trevillian” is an ancient Cornish name and there were no Trevillians among the Virginia Huguenots.

The story of the next two generations after John the immigrant is a bit foggy. We know that between 1694-1697 three children (John, Samuel, and Elizabeth) were born to John and Jane Curtis Trevillian in Charles Parish, York County (Jane was the wife of Robert Curtis, of York County). That John may have been the 1664 immigrant or may have been his son (or even grandson). I think it likely that John, husband of Jane Curtis, was the same John who arrived in 1664, but I have seen found no proof of that.

John Trevillian, son of John and Jane, was born in York County on August 8, 1694. He is said to have married Jane Lewis and they are said to have been the parents of Thomas Trevillian of Hanover County, but I have seen no proof of that.

It is with Thomas that we land on firmer historical ground. Thomas Trevillian first appears in the records of Hanover County in January 1773, when he is granted a license to operate Harris Ordinary. According to Roy Trovillion’s book Silver Horse Thomas lived on Little River, “on the road to Fork Church, half mile from Verdon.” There are still Trevillians living in that area today and at least one of Thomas’ descendants is buried at the Fork Church.

According to family lore, Thomas married Sophia Terry, “who was a wealthy heiress, owning all the land from Oxford, Hanover Co., on North Anna River, below the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad.” I’m not aware any proof for that claim (and of course there were no railroads at the time). The records do reveal that his wife was named “Sapphia,” but that is all we have to the best of my knowledge.

Interestingly, Patrick Henry attended Fork Church (St. Martin’s Parish) when he was living at Scotchtown. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, Henry’s first biographer William Wirt credits Thomas Trevillian as one of his sources for his account of Henry’s famous closing argument in the Parson’s Cause. It seems probable, therefore, that Thomas was present at Hanover Court House when Henry argued that case. It also interesting that Thomas’ security on his ordinary license was Matthew Jouett, father of the famous Patriot Jack Jouett. Thomas was on the Hanover County Committee of Safety.

Our story continues with James Trevillian, son of Thomas and Sapphia.

On September 23, 1751, James was living in Granville County, North Carolina. On that date he deeded 147 acres of land in Louisa County, Virginia to “Thomas Trevillian, Jr.” of St. Martin’s Parish, Hanover County. (On February 25, 1752, Thomas Trevillian and wife Sapphia deeded the land to Samuel Luck.) On October 8, 1754, James and his brother appear on a Granville County militia muster roll. Records reveal that by May 1773 James was living in Albemarle County, Virginia, with his wife Sary.

So how and why did James go from Hanover County to Granville County, NC then back to Albemarle County? We can’t be certain, but the most likely explanation is that he and his brother moved to Granville County to take acquire land when the Granville tracts were being sold. Records reveal that on October 24, 1754, James acquired land from the Earl of Granville’s agents on the banks of Nutbush Creek and Island Creek (presumably the 300 acres he sold in 1761). Later he moved back to Virginia, perhaps first to Louisa County, or perhaps directly to Albemarle County.

As for James’ wife Sary, she is often said to have been Sarah Nelson. The Nelsons were close neighbors of the Trevillians in both Hanover County and Albemarle County and many of James and Sary’s descendants have the name “Nelson,” often joined with Hugh and Thomas. But the famous Nelson family is well-documented, and I have found no evidence for a Sarah or Sary and no evidence that anyone in that family married a Trevillian. For now the identity of Sary must remain a mystery.

By the way, our James is often confused with the James Lewis Trevillian who served in the Revolutionary War, lived in Louisa County, and was married to Mary Goodall. That James was his cousin or uncle.

James prospered in Albemarle County, owning considerable property there. He lived near Easham and Stoney Point, north and east of Charlottesville, on and beside Trevillian Mountain.

James died in 1794. His will, which was probated in Albemarle County in April of that year, reads:

In the name of God, I, James Travillian of the County of Albemarle, being in a low state of health and in perfect and sound mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, concerning the uncertainty of this life and wishing to dispose of my earthly goods, which it has pleased the kind hand of Providence bless me with, I do make and claim this my Last Will and Testament, revoking all Will or Wills heretofore by me made.

First, I leave my beloved wife, Sary Travillian, during her natural life or widowhood my pieces of property, both Real and Personal, except a negro boy to which I give to my son, Thomas Travillian, and for which I have this day, executed a Deed of Gifts.

It is my will that at the death of my wife, that an equal division of my Estate be made between my following children: Thomas Travillian excepted viz, Elizabeth Golding, Hunley Travillian, Edward Travillian, Tempey Travillian, Sary Travillian, and Nancy Travillian.

Item ~ Lastly, I appoint my well beloved wife, Sary Travillian my Executrix, with Thomas Travillian and Edward Travillian my Executors to this my Last Will and Testament as witness my hand and Seal this 22 July 1793.

James (X) Travillian (Seal)

Wit: John Key, Martin Key, James Flanagan,

Produced At Albemarle April Court 1794

Our story continues with Thomas Trevillian, son of James and Sary.

Thomas was born in 1769 and he died in Albemarle County in 1818, at age 49. On December 17, 1787 he married Mary Ann Carr, daughter of Gideon Winston Carr and Susannah Meekins Carr. See the Carr post for more on that interesting family. Interestingly, Mary Ann was 32 years old and 14 years older than Thomas when they married, thus accounting for the marriage record’s reference to her as “Mary Carr, spinster.”

Thomas owned over 400 acres of land in the area of Travillion Mountain. From 1794-1802 he was enlisted in the 2nd Company, 88th Regiment of Virginia militia. At his death in November 1818, he owned 13 slaves.

Our story continues with his son Gideon Carr Trevillion.

Gideon was born in Albemarle County on June 12, 1793. He was a sergeant in the Virginia Militia under Capt. Triplett Ester during the War of 1812 and received a pension for his service. Shortly after his father’s death, Gideon bought the land in his estate (about 400 acres), and he continued to live on the family property in Easham, around Trevillian Mountain.

On September 18, 1818, Gideon married Henley Carr, his first cousin, daughter of Micajah and Elizabeth Wood Carr. Gideon and Henley had 8 children before her death in 1856 (our story will continue with one of them, daughter Mary Ann). In 1857 Gideon married Mary Dickerson, his first cousin once removed and the widow of Elisha Thurman. The couple signed and recorded a lengthy prenuptial agreement. At the time of the agreement Gideon owned 416 acres of land and 23 slaves. After Mary’s death Gideon (then 64 years old) married widow 56 year-old widow Mary D. Hindman (I don’t know if Hindman was her married name or the name of her first husband).

In May 1828 Gideon founded the Liberty Baptist Church, which he would pastor for over 40 years. Many Trevillians and Carrs were members of the church over the years. The church is still standing on Stoney Point Road in Charlottesville, although now it is a Spanish language church and the old cemetery is overgrown and untended.

Gideon died in Staunton, Virginia on January 13, 1876, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law William Loving and Eliza Trevillian Loving. He was 83 years old. In the 1860 census his occupation was shown as shown as “colporteur” (a seller of religious books/tracts).

Our story continues with Mary Ann Trevillian, born about 1828, daughter of Gideon Carr Trevillian and Henley Carr Trevillian. Mary Ann was called Nancy (the most common nickname for Marys) and she appears in some records as “Nancy Trevillian.” Without doubt her name was Mary, however, as shown by other records including her father’s prenuptial agreement and by her husband’s death record.

On July 11, 1850, Nancy married John Henry Duncan in Albemarle County. Their story continues in the Duncan post.

Lindsay

Joshua Lindsay, husband of Mildred Vernon, died in Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1813. According to the biography of his son Reuben Lindsay, Joshua and family moved there around 1800. Reuben’s bio says the family moved to North Carolina from Maryland, but all of Joshua’s siblings are identified in chancery cases in Orange County, Virginia, where most were living in the early 1800’s. It seems likely that Joshua moved to North Carolina from Virginia, perhaps having originated in Maryland as per the family tradition.

Joshua was survived by wife Milley (nee Vernon) and children Taylor Lindsay, John Lindsay, Reuben Lindsay, Fanny (Frances) Lindsay Stubblefield (wife of Hugh Stubblefield), Joshua Lindsay, and Milley Lindsay.

The twelve slaves he owned at his death were divvied out among his children in an 1813 probate proceeding:

State of North Carolina
Rockingham County

Pursuant to an order of the worshipful court of Rockingham County aforesaid, bearing date February session 1813, the undersigned Nathaniel Scales, Alexander Sneed, Robert Galloway, Thomas Williams and Henry Scales, commissioners appointed to divide and appropriate the negro slaves of Joshua Lindsay, deceased, among his several representatives to wit, Milley Lindsay, widow and relic of the said Joshua Lindsay, dec’d, Taylor Lindsay, John Lindsay, Reuben Lindsay, Fanny Stubblefield (wife of Hugh Stubblefield), Joshua Lindsay and Milley Lindsay–sons and daughters of the said deceased. Being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God–have proceeded to divide, equalize and appropriate the said Negro slaves in the manner and form following. That is to say, into lots or shares No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The lot no. 1 drawn by Milley Lindsay consisting of one negro man named Jerry, valued to $350
The lot no. 2 drawn by Taylor Lindsay consisting of one negro woman named Fanny, valued to $325
The lot no. 3 drawn by Reuben Lindsay consisting of one negro woman named Daphney, valued to $325
The lot no. 4 drawn by Joshua Lindsay consisting of two negroes to wit Netty and Minerva, valued to $250
The lot no. 5 drawn by Fanny Stubblefield (wife of Hugh Stubblefield) consisting of two negroes to wit Jimmy and __, valued to $275
The lot no. 6 drawn by John Lindsay consisting of two negroes to wit Jimmy Junior and Eliza, valued to $200
The lot no. 7 given by the consent of the legatees, generally, to Milley Lindsay, widow and relic of the said Joshua Lindsay, dec’d, consisting of three negroes to wit Gabriel, Phyllis and her child Permelia valued to $500

which several sums and valuations, as above stated, make an aggregate amount or sum total of $2,225 and when divided by the number of shares make a dividend or distributive share to each legatee of $317.85 which we have equalized and appropriated as follows… (proceeds to describe how the shares are equalized)

Joshua’s daughter Frances (Fanny) married Hugh Challis Stubblefield in Rockingham County on November 29, 1809, and their story continues in the Stubblefield post.

Joshua Lindsay’s parents have not been proven, although all of his siblings have. He was likely the son of Joshua Lindsay, who died in Essex County Virginia in 1794. Joshua Sr. is believed to have been the son of Caleb Lindsay, who at his death was living on the Rappahannock River in Essex County (now Caroline County), Virginia on a 300 acre tract he bought in 1716. It seems likely that Caleb was the son of Scottish immigrant James Lindsay, who appears in the records of Gloucester County as early as 1635.

More research is needed to confirm these lines but the name “Caleb” was carried forward in Joshua Lindsay’s family and in the families of some of his siblings.

Note that the name is frequently given as “Lindsey” and both spellings were often used.