THE CONWAY FAMILIES FROM VIRGINIA

HENRY - JOSEPH - WILLIAM [AND POSSIBLY JAMES ??]

Thomas Conway born [1704? (D.A.R. record DOB 1720) who died in Virginia in 1784] is believed by

descendants to be the Father of the Conway brothers who served in the Revolutionary War and who would later

find their way to the area that would become Greene County, Tennessee. D.A.R. Records state Thomas

Conway, born 1720 born Virginia, died September 27, 1784 Virginia with a wife, Elizabeth Mauzey, who

shows to be a Revolutionary War Pensioner.

The very first Thomas Conway is found in Virginia in the year 1607 wheN he was enumerated in the Virginia

Colony. This was the year of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement. One Hundred and Seventy years after

the founding of Jamestown - or about four or five generations - the Greene County men of this Surname who

broke with the Mother Country in 1776 to establish a new Nation may well be the descendants of this

Jamestown Settler.

In 1771, the name of Thomas Conway is found in the 'Rent Rolls' of Fauquier and Loudoun Counties. Could

he be the descendant of the Jamestown Settler, and the ancestor of the Conway Brothers who came to Greene

County ? I believe it certainly may be. This Thomas Conway is listed in the D.A.R. records who show his wife

to be Elizabeth Mauzey, although Fold3 records are not found for him.

Gifts of Land and Slaves in Virginia to Thomas Conway's children in 1766, 1772, 1773, and again in 1784

certainly bear this out:

* names appearing in the above gifts are:

Enrolled in the 14th Virginia Regiment, Revolutionary War were:

* Henry Conway, Captain

James Conway, Private

* Joseph Conway, Ensign and Lieutenant

Enrolled in the 5th and 9th Virginia Regiment was:

* William Conway, Private

In North Carolina Land Grants we find:

1786 and 1788 to Henry Conway, 600 acres North Side Nolachuckey [River]

1786 and 1790 to William Conway, 600 acres North Side Nolachukey [River]

1790 to Joseph Conway, 200 acres South Side Nolachuckey [River]

Although no Enlistment or Land Grant records are found for a man named Thomas Conway, a man of

this name was here:

In February 1792 Thomas Conway married Susanna Conway in Greene County, inferring an intra-family

marriage. In this same year a few months later, on April 11, 1792, Thomas Conway Junior married Nancy

'Ruton' [Rector] in Greene County. The marriage bondsman was Thomas Conway Senior. Thomas was the

son of Henry Conway. It makes perfect sense that the Conway Brothers who came to Greene County were

naming sons after their father, Thomas, who had died in Virginia.

A Note of Death was published in the Knoxville Gazette on February 9, 1793: "Died on the 27th ultimo, after

short illness, Captain Thomas Conway, of Greene County, a gentleman highly esteemed by all who had an

acquaintance with him." The designation as "Captain" seems to be Honorary, because no Revolutionary War

records are found for Thomas.

A gathering of Conway Descendants and Friends came to Greene County in April 2010 to celebrate the marking

of the Grave of Joseph Conway, a Revolutionary War Soldier:

Greene County's Historian, Tim Massey, organized the event with the Sons of the American Revolution and

other Heritage Organizations. The Greeneville Sun provided News Coverage:

CAPTAIN HENRY CONWAY

Henry is listed in the D.A.R. Records, born 1749 VA died September 10, 1812 TN, wife Sara Hundley.

Henry Conway's Widow, Sarah Hundley Conway, was placed on the Pension Rolls:

BOUNTY LANDS: 4,666 Acres

WIDOW'S DECLARATION:

Henry's son, Thomas, migrated to Boone County, Missouri, where a replacement tombstone has been erected in

Columbia Cemetery. Thomas' widow, Ann (1770-1845) is buried Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.

NOTICE OF DEATH:

CIRCUIT COURT

OCTOBER 21, 1812:

"Henry Conway, General, Rev. Soldier,

died in East Tennessee"

Henry Conway is buried on his farm near

Warrensburg. In the 20th Century, this

family graveyard became known as the

Maloney Cemetery when Henry's

daughter, Susanna Conway Sevier,

remarried to Hugh Maloney.

Today, the land is on the Smelcer Farm.

This Military Headstone was placed by

Greene County Historian, Donahue Bible.

LIEUTENANT JOSEPH CONWAY

Joseph Conway is listed in the D.A. R. Records, born July 21, 1757 VA died 1802 TN, wife Sarah Turner

[THIS LETTER REFERS TO THE WAR OF 1812 BURNING OF THE CAPITAL]

Joseph Conway appears in the Greene County Tax Roster in the year 1790. In 1801, he appears in Blount

County. Joseph did not change locations - the territory of East Tennessee was ever changing. Greene County

was created in 1783 from land originally in Washington County. In 1792, Knox County was formed from

Greene County and Hawkins County (originally part of Sullivan County). In 1795 Blount County was organized

from Knox County; then, in 1797 Cocke County was created from Jefferson County from lands originating in

Greene and Hawkins County.

In August 1790, Joseph Conway was granted a patent to 2400 acres of land given by the Federal Government

for seven years of service rendered in the Revolutionary War. According to his descendants, the original

document dated August 1790 is written on parchment and signed by John Adams.

As the Greeneville Sun aptly stated in their article in 2010, Lt. Joseph Conway finally received recognition with

the placement of a Military Stone in Briar Thicket Cemetery, Cocke County, Tennessee. Numerous

descendants, guests and members of the Sons of the American Revolution (S.A.R.) were in attendance.

Briar Thicket

CemeteryCocke County.

2010

S.A.R. Grave Marking

Ceremony

LT. COL. WILLIAM CONWAY

William is listed in the D.A.R. records, born 1741 VA; died June 4, 1801 TN, wife Jane. Although his

enlistment record states "Private", he is shown in the D.A.R. records as Lt. Col. being promoted and serving in

multiple Regiments of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th Virginia Regiments. The promotion to Lt. Col. likely occurred

throughout his lengthy service.

No Pension Records are indicated in the D.A.R. records, and no Pension Records are found at Fold 3. He did,

however, receive valuable Land Warrants.

William Conway was appointed Sheriff and Collector of Taxes for Greene County on May 6, 1793. He

resigned May 2, 1795.

What very little we know about Lt. Col. William Conway comes from the research of a dedicated and extremely

knowledgeable local Historian, Mr. Donahue Bible of Mohawk, Greene County, Tennessee. The reference

below to the 'two Williams' relates to the soldier, William Senior, and his son of the same name, William Jr.

A Lawsuit went before the TN Supreme Court in 1841 regarding ownership of slaves and appears to be related

to the Will of William Conway. The complete 110 page file may be ordered from the Tennessee State Library

and Archives:

William Conway (Senior) signed his Will on June 4, 1801. The Will was probated in the January Session 1802.

The original Will has not been located, but the Minutes from the Probate Sessions Court provide brief

information:

Wife, Jane

To son, Christopher, 130 acres mouth of Lick Creek, running up to the river.

To son, William, land on river.

To son, Henry, land below Whites Ford on Lick Creek.

Son, James, no bequest was made.

Daughter, Molly

Grandsons William, Henry and Christopher

Executors: Sons, William, Henry and Christopher.

Witnesses: Robert Rogers, David Proffitt

William and Jane Conway original tombstones.

William Conway Graveyard on his farm in Mohawk, Tennessee

Pictured is Mr. Donahue Bible who restored the old graveyard.

Which now brings us to another - but elusive man of the Conway surname with service in Virginia Regiments ...

JAMES CONWAY

Two men of this name are found in the Revolutionary War Rosters in Virginia Regiments. The relationships of

these men to the Conway Brothers of Greene County are not known. One of these men served in the Sixth

Virginia Regiment. He died in Trenton, New Jersey during the War. The other man was in the 14th Virginia

Regiment as were Captain Henry Conway and Lt. Joseph Conway of Greene County. This James Conway filed

for Pension in 1820 when he lived with his son in Knoxville, Tennessee.

It is important to note the elder Thomas Conway who gave lands in Virginia during the mid-to-late 1700's only

made bequests to his named sons Henry, William, and Joseph, but there is no mention of a son, named James.

Is it possible a son named James was underage at the time of the bequests, then he later died in the War???

Lt. JAMES CONWAY, 6TH VIRGINIA REGIMENT

Died or killed in Trenton, New Jersey on December 8, 1776

James Conway who died at Trenton is a documented soldier in the D.A.R. records, born 1756.

The above Affidavit by Silvany Gardner states he was well acquainted with James Conway when both

men lived in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

When Henry Conway's Widow, Sarah, filed for a Widow's Pension in Greene County, Tennessee, she

stated she and Henry were married in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

James Conway in the 6th VA Regiment named a son [James] Christopher. William Conway of Greene

County, Tennessee, named a son Christopher.

James Christopher Conway, born January 13, 1776, died April 17, 1854, son of the Revolutionary War

Soldier, is buried in the Conway Family Cemetery, Fall Creek, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

JAMES CONWAY, 14TH VIRGINIA REGIMENT

James Conway was enrolled in the Pension Rolls on June 22, 1818 after living in South Carolina. In his elder

years, this man lived with an unnamed son in Knox County, Tennessee. James died on June 1, 1827,

presumably in Knox County . Because his application includes a list of assets, it appears his application for

Pension was based on 'need'. Also, he signed the application with his 'mark'.

These facts cast serious doubt that James in the 14th VA Regiment was a brother of the very affluent Conway

Families of Greene County, who also served as Officers in the 14th Virginia Regiment.