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TRANSCRIPT
The Family Tree Searcher
Volume 7 - Number 1 June 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Editor’s Page .......................................................................................................................2
By Roger C. Davis
Founders of the Westville Christian Church of Mathews County, Virginia .................3
By L. Roane Hunt
The Eastville—Westville Mystery, Connections between Mathews/Gloucester
and Northhampton Counties ....................................................................................11
By Gayle Mandell
Brock’s Country Store —The Story Behind the Store ......................................................16
By Roger C. Davis
Stories of Gloucester County Recalled by Charles Kerns, Sr. ...................................... 22
Compiled by Roger C. Davis
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship ......................................................................... 24
By Cathy Williamson
Old House People - A Poem .................................................................................................. 30
By Pat Royal Perkinson
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton ..................................................................... 31
By Robert R. Harper
Taliaferro Family of Gloucester County, Virginia ............................................................38
By L. Roane Hunt
Gloucester Mortality Schedule Taken with 1850 Census ...............................................43
Submitted by Blondell Whiting
Images from Past Meetings.................................................................................................... 48
Photographs by Roger C. Davis
Surname Files .................................................................................................Inside back cover
Visit the Web Site for Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaggsv/
Vol. 7, No. 1 2 June 2003
The Editor’s Page — Stories of Mathews and
Gloucester County, Virginia
Our constant search for clues to our ancestor's past can best be found in church,
census and military records. Early community involvement and neighborhood
relationships were reflected in church rosters and parish registries. These surname
relationships are further reinforced by the county census records that help define family
interactions, wealth, and proximity of children (descendants) to those founding families.
Roane Hunt’s probing analysis of the Westville Christian Church members and 1800’s
census returns of Gloucester County is an informative example of this church -census data
relationship.
Gayle Mandell’s article further explores the migrations
between counties and the frequency of surnames as family
members married their neighbors. She investigates the Williams
and Gayle connections among others.
History and family are combined in Roger Davis’ article
about Brock’s Store at Wicomico and Woodrow Ambrose’s tenure
as postmaster. Robert Harper uses archaeology to search for the
site of John Clayton’s plantation and house.
Our Society enjoyed Cathy Williamson’s talk on “Finding
Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship.” Roger Davis has compiled
information from her notes for our distant members. He has also
assembled some of the stories recalled by Charles Kerns, Sr.,
about early Gloucester when “Charlie” talked to the Society in
January.
Pat Perkinson shares a poem with those “Preservationists” among us who enjoy old
houses and all the rewards of living in them as well as the agonies of fixing them up. Her
sense of humor is refreshing!
A wealth of family genealogy material about Gloucester and Mathews families still
remains hidden in boxes and attics. Your editor encourages you to dig into this storehouse
of pictures and family information and turn it into an informative article for the Family
Tree Searcher. Your grandchildren will be delighted!
Roger Caldwell Davis, Editor
The Family Tree Searcher
Society Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaggsv/
Roger C. Davis
Vol. 7, No. 1 3 June 2003
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
of Mathews County, Virginia
by L. Roane Hunt
Introduction
The Westville Christian Church was established on December 12, 1858, and the congregation
moved into their present building on November 20, 1859. The building stands as an important land-
mark in the history of Mathews County, set back from the main street of Mathews Courthouse with a
front yard and brick walkway that leads to its front door, as shown in the photograph below. The
photo-inset shows its sign near the street, which displays its current activities. The church helped
establish two other Christian Churches in Mathews County: Oak Grove at Mobjack and Holly Grove
at North. In 1943, Holly Grove united with Westville, and Oak Grove and Westville began a joint
pastorate. Westville maintained its distinction among the larger denominations of the county, which
included the Methodist, the Baptist, and the Episcopal Church derived from the Anglican Church of
the Colonial Kingston Parish.
The founders
of Westville Chris-
tian Church in-
cluded many repre-
sentatives from
prominent Mathews
families, such as
Billups, Bohannon,
and Green. In the
early 1990s, the
church provided a
typed version of
their “permanent
record of member-
ship” that included
its charter member-
ship.
1
Like many
Photograph of Westville Christian Church taken in the
Summer of 2002. Built in 1859, it is tucked back off the
main street in Mathews Courthouse beside the newly
renovated public library. Its sign in the foreground
describes the church’s activities.
Vol. 7, No. 1 4 June 2003
such transcribed documents, this record was subject to errors of spelling interpretation as the hand-
written record was typed. Also, in some cases, it is difficult to make positive identification of
individual members. A great tool in this work was the publication of the 1860 Mathews census,
taken within two years after the church charter was established. Fortunately, the recent publication
of the 1860 census provides a complete index that includes every individual for direct comparison
with the church membership.
2
The present article attempts to describe the families involved in the formation of this church.
Also, to understand the personal philosophy of these founding families, an overview of the Baptist
controversy that produced this church is given. This background information is intended to aid in
our understanding of our ancestors who either fought to stay within the existing churches or chose
to form new churches. It should be noted that churches that continue over long time periods do not
necessarily retain the doctrine on which they were established, even when distinct formal creeds and
confessions are adopted. This means that the old issues associated with churches mentioned in this
article should not necessarily be considered the doctrines of the present churches.
Local Church History
The weekly church bulletin of Westville states: “The founding members, influenced by the
teachings of Alexander Campbell, organized Westville Christian Church…” Alexander Campbell
came to America from Scotland and led a national movement, first within the Baptist Church, and
then the Disciples of Christ. His movement in Eastern Virginia was led by Peter Ainslie who began
his pastorate with Mathews Baptist Church in 1821.
3
Subsequently, he pastored in Gloucester
4
and
York Counties until he was dismissed from the Dover Baptist Association of Virginia in 1832.
5
According to the history of Mathews Baptist Church, he continued his influence in Mathews County,
and many of their members who aligned with Peter Ainslie were dismissed. The Church itself
suffered probation for the next three years.
6
This disciplinary action of Mathews Baptist Church precipitated the formation of a new church
consisting of the “Reformers” that were excluded from the Baptist Church. In 1835, Ephesus Church
was organized at the “Glebe” home of Joseph Bohannon, son-in-law of Peter Ainslie. By 1837, this
church had built the Ephesus Meeting House at Hyco Corner in Mathews Courthouse.
7
The Westville
Christian Church Constitution states that in 1858, the Ephesus Church was in a “divided and
distracted state” and that they were “totally and hopelessly disorganized.”
8
What were the issues that produced this national movement and the local efforts to protect old
churches and to form new churches? The answer to this question is relative to our interest because
it defines the philosophy of Baptists, and to some degree, the Methodists.
9
The membership of
these two churches represented a large portion of Mathews County. The driving issue for Alexander
Campbell and his followers was for the unity of all Christian churches.
10
The issues that resulted
were the diminished emphasis upon the work of the Holy Spirit of God and the increased emphasis
upon the ability of humans to intellectually decide to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In
the nineteenth century, this offended Baptists because of their teaching of God’s intervention in the
faith of mankind. Also, it offended the Methodists of that day who emphasized the work of the
Holy Spirit to stir the emotion of those seeking the holy life. Therefore, the founders of these new
churches, including Westville of Mathews, tended to be those who believed that churches should
appeal to the intellect or human reason to assess the Scriptures and make the proper decision to
obey God’s command. They did not expect supernatural solutions or intervention by God to cause a
proper human response. (A full discussion of these issues is far beyond the scope of this article.)
As a result of this great debate, Westville Christian Church was established as part of a new
denomination, and it was the popular choice of intellectuals and professionals, including doctors,
lawyers, educators, merchants and farmers with large estates. This denomination, known as the
Disciples of Christ, did not reach the status of the major denominations, I believe, because the major
denominations adopted much of what Alexander Campbell and the new denomination were
advocating, thus diminishing the differences.
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
Vol. 7, No. 1 5 June 2003
Founders of Westville
Who were the founders of Westville Christian Church? The first table lists the fifteen charter
members, five men and ten women. The alphabetical list of members shows the multiple represen-
tations of prominent families of Mathews. Individuals are identified primarily with the aid of the
1860 census data. Additional assistance came from general genealogical data and some notations in
the church records. Each individual is described by their profession, real and personal wealth, and
slave holdings as provided by the census record. The professional status for many individuals
corresponds to that of the head of household under which that person was listed. The five men
were merchants and farmers of substantial real estate holdings. The women were the wives of
doctors and a county official, as well as other merchants and prominent farmers. The total wealth
of the households of charter members shows a substantial portion of the total populace wealth.
The second table lists the members that were added to the church before the end 1858.
Thirty-three additional members are listed, and many of them were the spouses and families of the
charter members. The “(E)” is used to denote the members joining the church, who had been
members of the Ephesus Church. The relationships and the professional status are provided from
the census data. The wealth and slave holdings listed in the second table are the amounts not listed
for the charter members of the first table. The wealth associated with 48 members enrolled in the
first month explains their ability to finance, in less than a year, the construction of the main church
building that stands today. The 1860 census lists the church building of “Disciples” to
accommodate 400 persons. The professions associated with the additional members include many
more merchants and farmers, and at least two teachers. Surveying the surnames of these tables, we
recognize many prominent families that made significant contributions to the development and
prosperity of Mathews County.
Surname First Profession Real Personal Slaves
Armistead Clarissa (Barnum) wf of John N. Armistead, Merchant $1,300 $5,200
Barnum Elijah
Merchant & Farmer, husband of
Clarissa Billups
$15,000 $75,000 41
Billups Esther
Billups Susan A. $10,000 13
Bohannon John, Jr. Farmer $5,500 $4,000 5
Bohannon Mary Eliza wf of Edmond W. Bohannon, Farmer $4,000 $15,000 29
Browne Julia A. wf of Christopher J. Browne, Farmer $16,000 $16,000 21
Garnett Sarah M. (Barnum) wf of Dr. James H. Garnett, Physician $5,000 $20,000 28
Green George W. Farmer $2,000 $2,000 5
Green John W. Coach Maker $100
Green William Farmer $1,000 $100
Hudgins Julia (Tod) [sic] wf of Holder Hudgins II, Farmer $30,000 $50,000 61
Miller Emory (James) wf of Shepard G. Miller, Clerk of Court $30,000 $44,000 37
Moore Mary C. Seamstress
Shultice Mary (Jarvis)
wf of Dr. William Shultice, Physician &
Farmer
$80,000 $120,000 48
Totals $189,800 $361,400 288
Charter Members of Westville Christian Church
Mathews Courthouse, Virginia
December 12, 1858
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
Vol. 7, No. 1 6 June 2003
Additional Members of Westville Christian Church in 1859
Mathews Courthouse, Virginia
Surname First Profession Real Personal Slaves
Barnum Lucy A. 2nd wf of Elijah Barnum (charter member)
Billups (E) Julia 20,000 40,000 45
Billups (E) Roberta C.
Bohannon Anianna
dau of Joseph & Jane P. Ainslie Bohannon
(members)
Bohannon (E) Ebenezer Tailor & Farmer 4,300 5,760 8
Bohannon (E) Edmond W. husband of Mary Eliza Bohannon (charter
Bohannon Elizabeth
2nd wf of Americus W. Bohannon, Tailor &
Farmer
2,000 4,500
Bohannon Elizabeth (Lizzie)
dau of Edmond W. & Mary Elizabeth
Bohannon (charter member)
Bohannon Jane (Ainslie) wf of Joseph Bohannon (see below)
Bohannon (E) Joseph Tailor & Postmaster, husband of Jane Anslie 3,000 9,000 9
Bohannon Leah Catherine
dau of Joseph & Jane P. Ainslie Bohannon
(members)
Bohannon (E) Mattie L.
dau. of John & Zelica Bohannon (charter
member)
Bohannon Rebecca
dau of William & Rosamond Billups
Bohannon, Farmer
Bohannon (E) William Farmer, husband of Rosamond Billups 6,000 28,000 29
Bohannon (E) Zelica wf of John Bohannon (charter member)
Brown Ellen (Richardson) wf of William H. Brown, Teacher 10,500 8,500
Browne Christopher J. Farmer 16,000 16,000 22
Burke Sallie F. (Atkinson) wf of John J. Burke, Jr., Farmer 3,000 38,575
Fitchett Eliza G. dau. of William & S. Fitchett
Foster Esther wf of George W. Foster 1,000 30
Foster Rebecca (James)
dau of Thomas & Frances James, wf of
Baldwin Foster, Seaman
3,000 4,000
Gayle Lizzie Seamstress, widow of William H. Gayle 50
Green (E) Charlotte B. wf of George W. Green (charter member)
Green Nancy Ann wf of William Green (charter member)
Green Virginia (Hughes) John William Green (charter member)
Hudgins Nannie (Wright) wf of Thomas J. Hudgins, Farmer (See below)
Hudgins Thomas J. Farmer, son of John Lewis & Mary Anderson 10,000 13,000
Lane (E)
Mary A. H.
(Barkswell)
wf of Walter G. Lane, Sr., Hotel Keeper 15,000 13,000 24
Lane (E) Virginia V. (Billups) wf of Walter G. Lane, Jr., Merchant 2,000
Parrott Susan E. Teacher, widow 3,000 2,000
Sibley Frances (James) wf of Robert S. Sibley, Farmer 10,000 9,100
White (E) John Blacksmith 700 520 0
Williams Esther (Bohannon) Farmer, widow of Thomas Williams, 1,200 160
Total $108,700 $194,195 137
dau. of Robert & Elizabeth Billups, Farmer
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
Vol. 7, No. 1 7 June 2003
Families of the Westville Founders
The written history of Westville does not include a narrative describing the church activities of
its early years, which included about four years of the Civil War. The only indication as to the
church leadership was the list of elders that included E. Bohannon, William Bohannon, C. J. Browne,
John Green, and John White. The first pastor listed was Peter Ainslie, the son of the Peter Ainslie
that led the debate that produced this new church.
11
The church record gives us much more infor-
mation to define which families were active in those initial years of Westville Christian Church.
Billups- The Billups name is compounded by the prominent Elijah Barnum, who came from
Connecticut and married Clarissa Billups of
Mathews. He was a charter member and two of
his daughters, Clarissa and Sarah, joined their
father on this distinguished list. The first family
chart is presented for Elijah Barnum showing his
two daughters and his second wife, Lucy. The
asterisk is placed by names that are included as
members in the church record. Many of the
Billups were the children of Robert Billups,
brother of Clarissa Billups Barnum. Robert and
Clarissa were children of Christopher Billups and
Mary Sharborough Williams.
12
Many of Robert’s
children were members of Westville, and Virginia
married Walter G. Lane, Jr., who was also a mem-
ber. Christopher had another son, John, who
married a Mary Barnum, and he had two daugh-
ters that married the prominent Gloucester
citizen, Joel Hayes.
13
Two other women, Esther
and Susan A. Billups, were charter members, but I
was unable to determine their family relations.
Another Billups of interest was Hugh G. Billups,
who provided the land on which Ebenezer Baptist
Church was established in Gloucester in 1826 by
Peter Ainslie.
Bohannon- The second major family group
included as founders of Westville was the
Bohannon family, but I was unable to connect
these families. Nancy Billups was married to Dr.
John Gordon Bohannon, and at least three of their
children were included in Westville membership,
as indicated in the third set of family charts. His
sons, George W., Americus, and Dr. John G., Jr.,
and their families are listed. The family of
William B. Bohannon was also engaged in the
Westville church. His son, John, and his two
daughters and their families were very active in
the church. The families of Joseph Bohannon,
Edmond W. Bohannon, and Ebenezer Bohannon
were also fully engaged in Westville. Their ages
were such that they all could have been sons of
Dr. Bohannon or William B. Bohannon, or they
could have been nephews of these two men. Joseph Bohannon was the husband of Jane Ainslie,
daughter of Peter Ainslie, and it was their home where the first church in this movement was
Billups Family
Robert Billups, b. Apr 1, 1796, m. Sarah
Elizabeth __?__, b. Feb 17, 1801
Mary R. Billups, b. 1823
Sarah Elizabeth Billups, b. 1824, m. Joshua
Gayle, b. 1824
Martha L. Gayle,* b. 1852, m. Walter Rufus
Stoakes, b. 1847
Christopher S. Billups, b. Mar 7, 1826, m.
Martha H. __?__, b. 1849
Virginia W. Billups,* b. July 16, 1829, m. Walter
G. Lane,* b. Sept 7, 1829
Julia S. Billups,* b. Jan 21, 1832
Robert S. Billups,* b. 1835, m. Mary E. __?__,*
b. 1839
Roberta C. Billups,* b. 1838
George Thomas Billups,* 1841
Elijah Barnum,* b. 1797, m1. Clarissa Billups,
m2. Lucy __?__,* b. May 1810
Sarah M. Barnum,* b. Jan 22, 1829, m. Dr.
James H. Garnett, b. Dec 11, 1827
Clara S. Garnett,* b. 1852, m. Walter Rufus
Stoakes, b. 1847
Eva Garnett,* b. 1854
Lucy Garnett,* b. Sept 1, 1857, m. James H.
Armistead, b. Jan 27, 1854
Ruby H. Garnett,* b. 1860
Henry B. Garnett, b. Sept 6, 1862
Mary H. Garnett, b. Oct 21, 1865
Clarissa Barnum,* b. 1833, m. John N.
Armistead, b. 1821
Leavin Armistead, b. Oct 7, 1850
Dora Armistead,* b. 1852, m. A. D. Armistead,
b. 1835
* Members of Westville Christian Church
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
Vol. 7, No. 1 8 June 2003
established. In the early 1830s, she was a co-worker with her father in his participation in
temperance meetings in Middlesex when he had his farm in Gloucester and served as pastor of
Grafton Baptist Church in York County.
14
There were so many Bohannon members active in
Westville that it is difficult to distinguish between them for proper identification.
James- The children of Thomas James and Frances Lewis were key members of Westville.
Their daughter, Emory, married Dr. Shepard G. Miller, and she was one of the charter members. Her
brother, Alexander James, preached to the church prior to the Civil War. He served as an officer in
the war, and he died at sea following the war in 1867. Additional James children are included in the
next family chart, and it shows that many of the descendents were members of Westville.
Bohannon Family
William B. Bohannon, b. 1778
William Bohannon, b. 1800, m. Rosamond
Billups, b. 1805
Esther Bohannon,* b. 1801, m. Thomas
Williams
Marshall Williams,* b. 1830, m. Leah Catherine
Bohannon,* b. 1843
Thomas James Williams, 1836
John Wesley Williams,* 1836, m. Lizzie
Bohannon,* b. 1837
William Sidney Williams,* b. 1838
John Bohannon,* b. 1807, m. Zelica P. __?__,*
b. 1815
Amanda E. Bohannon, b. 1834
William P. Bohannon, b. 1836
Mary E. Bohannon,* b. 1838
Martha F. Bohannon,*b. 1840
James G. Bohannon, b. 1845
Frances J. Bohannon,* b. 1848
S. Bohannon, m. William Fitchett
Augustine Fitchett, b. 1836
Eliza G. Fitchett,* b. 1839, m. Cornelius E.
Bohannon,* b. 1840
William E. Fitchett,* b. 1841, m. Mary E.
James,* b. 1844
Dr. John Gordon Bohannon, b. 1784, m.
Nancy Billups
George W. Bohannon,* b. 1816, m. Lucy D. __?
__,* b. 1819
Aurelius P. Bohannon,* b. 1843
John W. Bohannon,* b. 1845, m. India __?__, b.
1852
Ann E. Bohannon,* b. 1848
George B. Bohannon, b. 1850
Mary G. Bohannon,* b. 1853
James H. Bohannon,* b. 1857
Americus W. Bohannon, b. 1823, m. Elizabeth
__?__,* b. 1831
Dr. John G. Bohannon,* b. 1828, m. Laura S.
__?__,* b. 1832
Richard L. Bohannon,* b. 1851
Charles G. Bohannon,* 1853
Rassan D. Bohannon,* 1855
Henry B. Bohannon,* 1858
William Bohannon,* Mar 16, 1865
Ebenezer Bohannon,* b. 1817, m. Elizabeth
__?__ , b. 1816
Cornelius E. Bohannon,* b. 1840, m. Eliza G.
Fitchett,* b. 1839
Alice Bohannon, b. 1849
Sallie B. Bohannon,* b. 1851
Fannie G. Bohannon,* b. 1854
Edmond W. Bohannon,* b. 1810, m. Mary
Elizabeth __?__,* b. 1822
Lizzie Bohannon,* b. 1837, m. John Wesley
Williams,* b. 1838
Alexander C. Bohannon, b. 1840
Joseph Bohannon,* b. 1808, m. Jane P.
Ainslie,* b. 1814
Eliza Bohannon, b. 1836
Arianna B. Bohannon,* b. 1838
Joseph E. Bohannon, b. 1840
Leah Catherine Bohannon, b. 1843, m.
Marshall Williams,* b. 1830
Christopher Bohannon,* b. 1845
Wickliff Bohannon,* b. 1849
Alice Bohannon,* 1855
* Member of Westville Christian Church
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
Vol. 7, No. 1 9 June 2003
Green- The Green family was represented by
the families of George W. Green and William
Green. They were probably related, but I was unable to determine the relationship. They were well
represented from the beginning, and their families are presented in the third set of family charts.
Three of the Green men were charter members.
Hudgins- Julia Tod Hudgins, the third wife of Houlder Hudgins II, was an important charter
member of Westville. This family was very wealthy prior to the Civil War, with ownership of
shipyards and large tracts of land in Mathews, as well as surrounding counties. They extended their
ship-building enterprise to Elizabeth City County, and owned a large tract of land, part of which
became Langley Air Force Base. This family had been leaders in the Mathews Baptist Church and
had fought to keep the church in the Dover Baptist Association when the followers of Peter Ainslie
sought to withdraw.
15
Hudgins family history claims that Houlder Hudgins II built the Mathews
Baptist Church for his brother-in-law, Thomas Muse Hunley.
16
However, the Mathews Baptist Church
history does not acknowledge this significant contribution. Actually, Houlder Hudgins II was
baptized in the Westville Christian Church at the end of the Civil War, on October 28, 1865. His
nephew, Thomas J. Hudgins, later served the church as an Elder, and his son by a previous marriage
became a member. It appears that Julia Hudgins persuaded at least a portion of the Hudgins family
to join the Reformed Baptist Church of Westville.
Mary Shultice- She is listed as a charter member, and she was the wife of Dr. William Shultice
from Fredericksburg, VA. Mary was the daughter of John D. Jarvis,
17
and her brother, John Jarvis,
married Susan Ainslie, another daughter of Peter Ainslie. This shows another family and religious
philosophy connection. It is surprising that John and Susan Jarvis were not members of the
Westville Church, since they were listed in Mathews in the 1860 census. Generally, the strong family
Green Family
George W. Green,* b. 1808, m. Charlotte B.
__?__,*
Sarah E. Green, b. 1838
Mary E. Green, b. 1842
William B. Green,* b. 1844, m. Julia D. __?__, b.
1865
George P. Green, b. 1846
Laura S. Green, b. 1848
Ann B. Green, b. 1852
John J. Green, b. 1853
Charlotte Green, b. 1854
Charles Wesley Green, b. 1854
Washington E. Green, b. 1859
William Green,* b. 1805, m. Ann Richardson,*
John W. Green,* b. July 9,1833 m. Virginia
Hughes,* b. Mar 9, 1836
Cornelia Ann Green, b. 1860
Cephas L. Green,* Sept 6, 1872
Sarah E. Green, b. 1838, m. James B. Williams,
b. 1838
Adelaid Green,* b. 1844
Mary E. Green, b. 1845, m. John W. White, b.
1840
James Family
Thomas James, b. Feb 24, 1777, m. Frances
Lewis, b. 1785
Emory James,* b. Oct 1816, m. Shepard G.
Miller, b. Sept 19, 1808
Mary Ida Miller,* b. Feb 18, 1855, m. Julius G.
Miller, b. 1840
Lucy G. Miller,* Jan 22, 1858
Alexander James,* b. Nov 8, 1817, m. Harriett
F. Miller, b. July 30, 1822
Alexander James, Jr.,* b. Feb 26, 1845, m.
Georgia Armistead,* b. Nov 22, 1852
Leonidas James,* b. Jan 7, 1820, m. Emily
Jane __?__,* b. Oct 22, 1828
Emma A. James,* b. 1851, m. Charles L.
Armistead, b. 1845
Willie A. James,* b. 1856
Rebecca James,* b. May 7, 1825, m. Baldwin
Foster, b. July 27, 1815
Lemuel James, b. June 10, 1827, m1. Maria
Anderson, m2. Columbia Williams
Mary Frances James,* b. Jan 30, 1827, m.
Robert L. Sibley,* b. Oct 12, 1812
* Member of Westville Christian Church
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
Vol. 7, No. 1 10 June 2003
ties of the church founders continued in subsequent family generations of church members. The
Shultice family moved to Goochland County, VA, according to the land tax records of 1872.
Julia A. Browne- She is listed as a charter member, and she was the wife of Christopher J.
Browne from King William County, VA. The family connection of Julia is not known to the author of
this article. The church record of Christopher J. Browne is not consistent because he was not listed
as a member, but he is included in the list of elders. The Browne family continued their church
membership in later generations.
Concluding Remarks
The Westville Christian Church began on December 12, 1858, on the momentum achieved by
the Ephesus Christian Church that had separated from the Mathews Baptist Church in 1835. In the
brief period before the Civil War, they built a significant church structure to serve 400 persons, a
membership of about 60 and their families. Westville, and the movement they represented, sought
to recover a church like that of the first century AD that would unite all churches with an appeal to
human reason to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Savior. Westville has stood for
church unity in the county and social reform throughout its history. The strong family ties were an
important factor in their initial accomplishments, and these ties continued to compound as the
descendants of key families married each other for many generations, as shown in the church
record. The foundation formed during its earliest generations has carried it into the twenty-first
century. ‡
End Notes:
1 Membership record was provided by Walter Scott Hunley,
elder of Westville Christian Church.
2 Bradley, Dr. Stephen E.: The 1860 Federal Census,
Mathews County, Virginia, 150 pp, 1998.
3 History of the Mathews Baptist Church, Hudgins, VA,
1991, p. 2. Mathews Baptist Church was constituted as
Kingston Baptist Church in 1775 when Mathews was part
of Gloucester County. It was located about two miles
east of Gwynn’s Island where Lord Dunmore, governor of
Colonial Virginia, took sanctuary at the beginning of the
war. “In 1821 Elder Peter Ainslie removed from Black
Creek in Hanover County and took the pastoral charge of
this church which he continued to hold until the
ordination of Elder John Daingerfield in 1825 who served
as pastor of the church until 1835. Some of the
members of this church were among the earliest
adherents of the peculiar views of Mr. Alexander
Campbell.”
4 Dutton, C. H., History of Ebenezer Baptist Church,
Gloucester, VA, Minutes of Mid -Tidewater Baptist
Association. “In 1826 Ebenezer was constituted with 34
members and was received into the Dover Association
that year. Her first pastor was Elder Peter Ainslie who
served only two years.” The Gloucester Land Tax
Records show one acre listed to Peter Ainslie, trustee for
meeting house, 8 miles north of the courthouse. Mr.
Ainslie’s 532 acre farm was located nearby. He was
listed as trustee until 1908, 73 years beyond his death.
5 Saunders, Robert L., Jr., The History of the Grafton
Baptist Church, 1777-1977, Grafton, VA, pp. 15-23,
Grafton Baptist Church was the first Baptist church
established on the Lower Peninsula, a few years before
General Cornwallis surrendered to General George
Washington, a few miles north at Yorktown. “In 1827
Peter Ainslie became pastor of Grafton Baptist Church.
Ainslie was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, on November
27, 1788, and he migrated to America in 1811.” Ainslie
stated, “In the spring of 1827, I extended my labors to
York County and in the summer of this year a great work
of grace commenced at Grafton in that county, and large
numbers united with all the Baptist churches of that
section. I was called to take charge of the Grafton
Church, which I accepted and in the fall of the year I
engaged an overseer for my farm in Gloucester and
moved with my wife and children to Yorktown.” The
1832 meeting of the Dover Baptist Association voted to
exclude Peter Ainslie and five other ministers for
“promoting controversy and discord under the specious
name of ‘Reformers.’” In the early years of the Alexander
Campbell movement, his followers were called
“Reformers.” On February 9, 1835, Peter Ainslie
drowned when his boat was crushed by ice in the
Mattoponi River. He was attempting to unite a slave with
his wife that was being sold.
6 History of the Mathews Baptist Church, Hudgins, VA,
1991, p. 2. “Elder Ainslie, to whom the church was
devotedly attached, settled in York County, but
occasionally visited them.” Elders John Daingerfield and
Mathew Gayle attempted to remove the Baptist churches
of Mathews from the Dover Association, but Deacon
Thomas Hudgins begged the association to continue
their membership. The “Reformers” were excluded and
the Mathews Baptist Church was re -established in 1835.
7 Westville Christian Church, Mathews, VA.
8 Constitution and By-Laws of Westville Christian Church,
Article I, Basis of Organization, December 12, 1858.
9 Saunders, Robert L., Jr., The History of the Grafton
Baptist Church, 1777-1977, Grafton, VA, pp. 31-36. This
is an account by Dr. G. Lane Corbin, King and Queen
County, of a debate between York County ministers: Rev.
James B. L. Williams, Methodist, and Rev. John Curtis,
(Continued on page 15)
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
Vol. 7, No. 1 11 June 2003
The Eastville—Westville Mystery
Connections Between Mathews/Gloucester County
and Northampton County, Virginia
by Gayle Mandell
An area of Mathews County, formed from Gloucester in 1791 and known as the
Westville District, lies directly opposite the small community of Eastville on the Eastern
Shore in Northampton County, Virginia. In studying the history of both areas, certain
references indicate this is more than just a coincidence. A number of families whose
origins can be traced to Northampton County ultimately settled in Kingston Parish of
Gloucester County – and vice versa. They also traveled back and forth; although the will of
one William Jarvis – a relative of Francis and Ann Jarvis – stipulated that he would
disinherit anyone who moved to the
western shore of the Chesapeake.
The question is this. What, exactly, is
the origin of the Eastville – Westville
connection?
Eastville became the county seat
for Northampton County about 1715.
However, the area comprising the
Eastern Shore of Virginia has much
earlier origins. It was one of the eight
original shires and was first explored
by Captain John Smith in 1608. By
1619, a permanent English settlement
had been established on the narrow
peninsula located between the
Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay.
It was called “Ye Plantacon of
Accawmacke,” after the Indian word
meaning “over the water.”
In 1643, the name of the area
was changed to Northampton, after
Northamptonshire in England. In 1663, the peninsula was divided into two counties –
Northampton and Accomack – and the first courthouse was built at the “Towne,” a small
settlement between Cherrystone Inlet and Kings Creek on the bayside. However, in 1677 a
new site was selected at an area known as “ The Hornes,” which later became Peachburg
Town and finally Eastville. It has been the county seat of Northampton County for over
three hundred years. A courthouse was built there in 1731 at a cost of 50,000 pounds of
tobacco. Some sixty years later, the building had become too small for the growing
population and a new one was erected in 1795. This structure was later replaced by the
present courthouse, built in 1899, which houses the oldest continuous court records in the
Mathew s
Courthouse
Westv i l l e
Chesapeake
Bay
Locations of Eastville and Westville, Virginia
Vol. 7, No. 1 12 June 2003
nation, dating from 1632.
Between the years 1640 and 1645, several surnames appeared in the court records of
Northampton County which also appeared in records of Kingston Parish, Gloucester
County. It should be noted that relationships have not been established and that variations
in spelling were common.
ADDAMS FOSTER MOORE SMARTE
BLUNT GARNETT MORGAN TURNER
BROWNE GAYLE MYLES TOMPKINS
COOKE GWYNN PITT VAUGHN
CUNNINGHAM HALL POOLE WATERS
DAVIS JARVIS POWELL WELLS
DIXON LILLY READE WEST
DYER LONG SAVAGE WILLIAMS
EDWARDS LUCAS SCARBOROUGH WISE
ELLIOTT MILLER SMITH YOUNG
EVANS MINIFIE
During the 1700’s, the surnames
appearing in estate records for
Northampton County can also be found
in Kingston Parish, Gloucester. These
include Nottingham, Goffigon, Benthall,
Webb, Pitts, Smith, Burris, Jarvis, Wilkins,
Powell, Savage, Elliott, Turner, Wilson,
Turpin, Dunton, Harmanson and
Parramore, to name a few. Interesting
comparisons can be made between the
names on these estate records and those
on early land grants in Gloucester
County.
WILLIAMS FAMILY CONNECTION
Of particular note among the
inhabitants of the Eastern Shore was the
family of Samuel Williams, later of
Kingston Parish. Samuel descends from
Michael Williams (1617 – c.1650) of
Gravesend, England, who came to the
colonies on August 21, 1635. In 1646, he
patented land near Franktown on
Nassawadox Creek in Northampton
County and called his patent Holly Grove.
His son, Thomas Williams, apparently
Samuel Williams, b. Nov 25, 1725, m. Nov 7, 1753
+Sarah Haffoman
John Williams, b. Aug 17, 1754, m.1 Aug 11, 1775, Edith
Nottingham, dau. of Thomas & Scarborough
Nottingham; m.2 Aug 17, 1787, Margaret Glanville;
m.3 Jun 12, 1793, Margaret Goffigon
William Williams, b. Apr 9, 1759, d. Sep 28, 1801, m.1 Apr
29, 1786, Mary Nottingham, dau. of Thomas &
Scarborough Nottingham; m.2 Aug 3, 1795, Leah
Goffigon, d. 1798, buried Williams Family Cemetery,
Mathews.
Thomas Williams, b. May 5, 1759, d. Sep 19, 1823, m.1
May 15, 1793, Susan Billups, d. May 31, 1764, m.2
Oct 18, 1804, Mary Lilly Billups, b. Jan 1, 1785, d.
Jun 25, 1857
*2nd wife of Samuel Williams, m. Dec 4, 1764,
+Sarah Dunton
Pollie Williams, b. Oct 18, 1765, m.1 Mar 31, 1785, Capt.
Gabriel Hughes
Margaret Williams, b. Jul 5, 1768, m.2 Jun 12, 1790, Levin
Gayle, son of John & Susanna Davis Gayle
*3rd wife of Samuel Williams, m. Dec 12, 1772,
+Margaret Nottingham, d. Oct 1, 1810, dau. of
Thomas & Scarborough Nottingham
Sarah Scarbrough Williams, m. Col. Christopher Billups,
b. Jul 31, 1763
Elizabeth Williams, m. John Dixon Jarvis
Hannah Williams, m. Dr. Briggs
Susan Williams, m. Capt. Francis Bright
Margaret “Peggy” Williams, m. Mr. Dean
Mary Fountain Williams, m. Dr. Seth Sheppard
The Eastville Westville Mystery
Vol. 7, No. 1 13 June 2003
moved from Holly Grove and owned an estate known as Williamston on Annamessex Creek
in Somerset County, Maryland. His wife was Frances Robinson and children were Thomas,
Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary and John Williams, born on Feb. 20, 1692/3.
The son, John Williams, married three times – to Sarah Beauchamp, Mary Fountain
and Elizabeth Polk. John and Mary Fountain Williams, his second wife, had several
children, one of whom was Samuel Williams, born on November 25, 1725. Samuel moved
from his father’s estate of Williamston back to Northampton County and, on November 7,
1753, married Sarah Haggoman of Oak Grove, a descendant of Sir George Yeardley and his
wife Temperance Flowerdew. He lived on the family estate, Holly Grove, located just north
of Eastville. Following Sarah’s death, Samuel married Sarah Dunton on December 4, 1764.
When his second wife died, Samuel married Margaret Nottingham, daughter of Thomas
and Scarborough Nottingham of Lebanon, later Millford, on December 12, 1772. Samuel
and Margaret Nottingham Williams left the Eastern Shore in 1774 and settled in Kingston
Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia., where Margaret died on October 1, 1810. The children
of Samuel Williams for three marriages are presented in the chart on the previous page.
GAYLE FAMILY CONNECTION
Another Gloucester family with ties to Northampton County were the Gayles. From
the Williams family discussion above, Margaret Williams – daughter of Samuel and Sarah
Dunton Williams – married Levin Gayle. Though it has not been proven, Levin is probably
part of the family of Hunley Gayle of Kingston Parish who was engaged in shipbuilding in
Mathews and in Baltimore, Maryland. Circumstantial evidence indicates that Hunley Gayle
had connections on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland.
Northampton County marriage records note that a Joseph Gale/Gayle married
Peggy Jacob on April 14, 1801. Her identity is unknown although members of her
family were early residents of Northampton. The will of William Dixon, Jr. of
Northampton County notes several names allied with Joseph Gale. The will itself was
dated April 9, 1795 and proved July 13, 1795. Dixon leaves one acre of land
purchased from Henry Giddens to his sister “Ann Bishop for life… and then to my
son William.” He leaves to his son William “my lands whereon Joseph Gale now
lives.” His will also mentions negroes America, Joe, Charles, Frank and James, and
names his “friend” Rickards Dunton, Jr. as executor and guardian to his son
William. Witnesses were Thomas Dixon and S.S. Satchell.
Rickards Dunton, named on William Dixon’s will, had a cousin, Levin Dunton, Sr.,
who married Frances Waterfield. Their daughter, Sarah Dunton, was the second wife of
Samuel Williams. Frances Waterfield Dunton’s sister, Esther Waterfield, married Abraham
Jacob and one of their children was Margaret “Peggy” Jacob, who married William
Scarbrough in 1776 in Northampton County. William Scarbrough was living in 1776, and
Margaret was living in 1787. It is possible that William Scarbrough died and “Peggy” Jacob
married Joseph Gayle in 1801; however, this is merely conjecture as no documentation has
been found.
The family of Christopher Gayle, Sr., also has ties to both Kingston Parish and the
Eastern Shore. His son, Christopher Jr., married Mary Ann Stevens in Eastville in
Northampton County. The marriage is recorded in the Northampton County marriage
records. It seems likely that he would have chosen to visit this area due to some prior
connection.
The Eastville Westville Mystery
Vol. 7, No. 1 14 June 2003
His grandfather, Josiah Gayle, was born
in Kingston Parish in April of 1722. His
marriage to a woman named Mary is recorded
in the Kingston Parish Register. Mary died
around 1761, and Josiah’s marriage to
‘Hannah’ is also recorded. In 1763, Josiah and
Hannah moved from Kingston Parish to
Lunenburg County where Josiah was granted
240 acres of land. From there, he went to
South Carolina and was granted 200 acres in
1769 on the High Hills of Santee in Craven
County.
Josiah’s son, Christopher Gayle, Sr., was
born on November 1747/48 in Kingston
Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. His birth
is recorded in the register of Kingston Parish.
His siblings were Josiah, Jr., Dorothy, Caleb,
Elizabeth, Ransom, Ann, Ambrose, John, and
a half-sister, Mary. Around the year 1768,
Christopher, Sr. married Unity Richbourg,
who died in Louisiana around mid -April, 1815.
According to a marriage bond dated January
26, 1816, he married Winnie C. Vaughn (1792
–1851), a woman 45 years his junior. A
planter, Christopher moved with his family to
the High Hills of Santee in the early 1770’s
and became a vestryman of St. Mark’s Parish,
Episcopal Church there.
Christopher Gayle, Jr., was born
sometime between 1770 and 1774 to Christopher and Unity Richbourg Gayle. His siblings
were Unity, John, Eliza, William Hull, David Porter and Christopher Wade. According to a
marriage bond dated December 20, 1798, Christopher, Jr., was married to Mary Ann
Stevens in Eastville, Northampton County, Virginia, by Baptist preacher, John Elliott. The
couple left Northampton and travelled to Louisiana, settling near Christopher’s parents, a
few miles south of St. Francisville on the Mississippi River. Their plantation of 330 acres in
East Baton Rouge parish was “situated on Ward’s Creek, joining Noel Hill’s land to the east,
William Garig’s to the west and Mr. Buhler to the south.” According to records in East Baton
Rouge, LA. (Case No. 310, Judge’s Book D, p. 415, Nov. 21, 1816), Christopher and Mary
Ann Stevens Gayle were divorced September 27, 1817, and Mary Ann Gayle died just a few
months afterwards. Christopher Gayle, Jr., died in May of 1819 in East Baton Rouge and
his father, Christopher Sr. – along with William Williams – was appointed guardian of his
children, Mary, John I. Y., William C., Edward, Caroline, and Unity Eveline. [Book G, No.
531, folio 534, Bond of Christopher Gayle, Book G. No. 550, folio 534; and No. 239 “Flat
File,” Christopher Gayle, Deceased ab intestate, Court of Probate, Parish of East Baton
Rouge.]
For the time being, the original question of how Eastville and Westville were
connected remains unanswered, but they obviously were. The repetition of names creates
a patch-work quilt of connections, and anyone researching Gloucester surnames would
Josiah Gayle, b. Apr 1722, m.1 Mary, d. 1761
Christopher Gayle, Sr., b. Nov 2, 1747/48, m.1
abt 1768, Unity Richbourg, d. Apr 1815
Christopher Gayle, Jr., b. 1770/74, d. May 1819,
m.1 Dec 20, 1798, Mary Ann Stevens, d. 1817
Mary Gayle
John I. Y. Gayle
William C. Gayle
Edward Gayle
Caroline Gayle
Unity Eveline Gayle
Unity Gayle
John Gayle
Eliza Gayle
William Gayle
Hull Gayle
David Porter Gayle
Christopher Wade Gayle
Christopher Gayle, Sr., m.2 abt 1768, Winnie C.
Vaughn, b. 1792, d. 1851
Josiah Gayle, Jr.,
Dorothy Gayle
Caleb Gayle
Elizabeth Gayle
Ransom Gayle
Ann Gayle
Ambrose Gayle
John Gayle
Josiah Gayle, m.2 1763, Hannah
Mary Gayle
The Eastville Westville Mystery
Vol. 7, No. 1 15 June 2003
benefit by comparing records on both sides of the water. ‡
SOURCE REFERENCES:
Gayle Kinsmen; John Averitt
Marriages of Northampton County, VA. 1660/1 – 1854; Jean M. Mihalyka
A Good Inheritance; Francis Stuart Harmon
The Ancestors and Descendants of Judge John Alexander Kelly and Martha Matilda Peck Kelly
and Related Families; 1515 – 1959 – Dr. John Alexander Kelly, Roberta Matilda Copenhaver
County Court Records of Accomack-Northampton, Va.; 1640 – 1645; Susie M. Ames
Colonial Records of Gloucester County, Va.; Polly Cary Mason
Eastville, Virginia; Frances Latimer, 1993
The Lilly, Billups, Stokes Family Papers; Collection of the Earl Gregg Swem Library, Williamsburg,
Va.
Northampton County Orders, XXXIX-0, No. 33, 1796 – 1800
Research Notes of Gayle Bradley Weiss
Reformed Baptist or Disciples of Christ. Rev. Curtis
began the debate, but became sick and could not
continue. Dr. F. W. Power attended to his needs, but he
expired before he could be removed. This is an extreme
example of the controversy and the emotions that were
expressed.
10 The Encyclopedia Americana , Vol. IX, Americana
Corporation, 1961, p151. Two basic views motivated the
Disciples of Christ: “they abhorred the disunity of the
church, and they believed that a restoration of New
Testament teachings and practices were the only
possible basis of unity.”
11 “Peter Ainslie,” by W. T. Moore. The New Living Pulpit of
the Christian Church: A Series of Discourses, Doctrinal
and Practical, ed. W. T. Moore. St. Louis, MO: Christian
Board of Publication, 1918, pp. 337 -338. Three
generations of Peter Ainslies active in the national
movement.
12 There were two Christopher Billups and there is some
debate about the family and associated dates.
13 History of the Union Baptist Church, Achilles, VA, 1976,
p. 8. Joel Hayes of Hayes Store, Gloucester, VA, had
much influence in the Union Baptist Church, which
seems to have experienced a similar controversy and was
completely reorganized, effective December 5, 1854.
14 Collison, Helyn Hatton, Records of Middlesex County,
VA, 2000, pp 145-152. Peter Ainslie and his daughter,
Jane, participated in the Middlesex Temperance Society
meetings in 1830. He addressed the meetings on May
1830 and July 16, 1831, when the controversy was about
to explode.
15 History of the Mathews Baptist Church, Hudgins, VA,
1991, pp. 1-2.
16 “Climbing The Family Tree,” The Daily Press NEW
DOMINION, Newport News, VA. The Hudgins family
claimed to have built impressive landmarks in Mathews
including the “Baptist Church on the road from Mathews
Courthouse to Milford Haven built by Houlder Hudgins,
II, for his brother-in-law, Rev. Thomas Muse Hunley, a
Baptist minister.”
[http://www.sky.net/~jhudgins/geneal/vahudgins/]
Thomas Muse Hunley served as Commissioner of
Revenue for Mathews County and a lay -preacher for the
Methodists and Baptists.
17 Virginia Herald. Pub: Wed., April 11, 1832. Married at
Afton in Mathews Co., on Tuesday, March 27, 1832, Dr.
William Shultice, and Miss Mary Elizabeth Jarvis,
daughter of John D. Jarvis, by Rev. John Dangerfield.
Personal communication from Becky Barnhardt.
(Continued from page 10)
Founders of the Westville Christian Church
The Eastville Westville Mystery
Vol. 7, No. 1 16 June 2003
Brock’s Country Store—The Story Behind the Store
by Roger C. Davis
The country stores in Gloucester County are a reflection of times past. Behind each
façade is a history of community and the families that operated the stores. Brock’s
Country Store is located in the Wicomico community and was last operated by Richard and
Joyce Holbrook Brock. The little store with attached residence is located on the corner of
Powhatan Drive and Carmine’s Island Road next to what was the little Ambrose post office
building.
Richard Brock, Sr. bought the store in 1971 from Hunter and Ruth Bland after Richard
retired from the Air Force. He and his family moved from Hampton, where he was
stationed at Langley Air Force Base, to Gloucester County. Richard and his wife, Joyce,
operated a very successful business there for some thirty years. The store became a “hang -
out” for young people when the Brocks added a pinball machine, soft drinks, snacks and an
inviting place for the locals to meet.
1
In fact, a love story developed here when young Richard Brock, Jr., met Tina
(Christina) Ambrose, granddaughter of Woodrow Ambrose, who served as the postmaster
for the Wicomico station housed in the small concrete block building next to Brock’s Store.
Years later, after the start of this “country store” courtship, Richard and Tina married and
today are raising a family at their Carter's Cove residence. In keeping with family tradition,
Tina Brock works at the Hayes Post Office. The children of Richard and Tina Brock are
Adam Price, born April 15, 1981, and Lindsey Nicole, born December 21, 1988. Tina says
she can remember riding her horse up to the store.
2
Brock’s Country Store
Wicomico, Gloucester County, Virginia
Photo by Roger C. Davis - January 2003
Vol. 7, No. 1 17 June 2003
Years ago, there was a store building on the opposite corner next to the old Edwin
Hogg residence. The building was owned by the Edwin Hogg family and rented to the store
operators. In 1945, William Woodrow Ambrose and his cousin, A. Henneth Hogg (no
relation to Edwin Hogg), went into business together to operate a country store at that
location. At the same time, Woodrow Ambrose became the postmaster for Wicomico and
operated the post office out of the store.
In 1946 Woodrow sold his interest in the store to Henneth and resigned as
postmaster. Henneth served as postmaster until 1948, when his brother, Gilbert Hogg,
became postmaster and helped run the store for the next year until he was offered and
took the first rural carrier position at the Gloucester Post Office.
3
In 1949, Woodrow bought back the store business and again became the postmaster
and held that position until 1958, when his wife, Rosa, assumed the job until 1961. After
Rosa, Catherine Ambrose Hogg (1961 -1971), then Loletta Ambrose Jenkins (1971 -1985) and
Patsy Foster (1986----) were postmasters at the little Wicomico Post Office before it closed
and the new, larger, upgraded Wicomico Post Office was opened on Valentine's Day,
February 14, 1989. Today "Mac" McNutt is the postmaster, one hundred and three years
after a Wicomico Post Office was established in 1900, with the appointment of John E.
Hogg on September 20, 1900. Mr. Hogg served until his death on February 13, 1939. Mrs.
C. Jennings Hogg took over and was followed by Cabot Williams until Woodrow Ambrose
became postmaster in 1945.
3, 4
Tragedy struck in 1954 when the store and post office building burned to the ground.
At that time Woodrow Ambrose bought one half acre of land on the corner of Powhatan
Drive and Carmine’s Island Road from Charlie and Gertie Williams and constructed the
little concrete block building that would serve as the Wicomico Post Office for the next
thirty-five years. Today it serves as a beauty shop. Woodrow sold his little building to a
man who wanted to run a fencing business and within a year this man sold the building to
the Brocks.
Woodrow decided to take a better paying job, still with Civil Service, in production
control at Fort Eustis, where he worked from 1958 to 1973, when he retired. The family
Carmine’s Island Rd. William’s Landing Rd.
Powhatan Dr.
Powhatan Dr.
Mary Roane’s
house
Edwin Hogg’s
house
Present
Wicomico
Post Office
Brock’s Store
Original Store
& Post Office
Ambrose
building
Site Plan at Wicomico Post Office
Brock’s Country Store
Wicomico Post Office (Ambrose
building) 1954-1989
Photo by Roger C. Davis, April 2003
Vol. 7, No. 1 18 June 2003
Ancestors of Christine Marie Ambrose Brock
William Washington Ambrose
b. Mar 11, 1870, d. Jan 1, 1945
Alonzo Talmage Ambrose
b. May 17, 1892, m. Oct 26, 1910, d. Sep 9, 1982
Lavinia Ann Gibbs
b. 1874, d. 1946
William Woodrow Ambrose
b. May 6, 1918, m. Sep 7, 1935
William T. Croswell
b. Mar 1859
Leontyne C. Croswell
b. Dec 9, 1893, d. 1984
Josephine Croswell
b. May 1871
Fredrick Lee Ambrose
b. Nov 16, 1938, m. Jun 25, 1955
John W. Walker
b. 1852
Otis Wray Walker
b. Aug 1882
Lilly A. Walker
b. Dec 1851
Rosa Blanche Walker
b. Sep 28, 1915, d. Jul 5, 1940
William J. Diggs
b. 1831, d. Apr 8, 1838
Danah Blanche Diggs
b. Mar 1885
Margaret Lewis Croswell
b. 1853
Christine Marie Ambrose
b. Jun 23, 1907, m. Richard Brock, Jr.
Stanley James Coates
b. Aug 6, 1907
Barbara Jean Coates
b. Dec 29, 1939
John West
b. 1835
Noah West
b. Sep 1876, m. 1899
Mary Susan Sparrow
b. 1839
Pansy Mae West
b. Sep 5, 1912/13
George Calhoun Coats
b. abt 1850
Maggie Lee Coates
b. Oct 1879
Mary Susan West
b. 1851, d. 1910
Ruth A. Sparrow
b. May 1880
Nancy M. West
b. abt 1847, d. Apr 1884
William L. Coats
b. 1848
Walter Lee Coates
b. Jan 1880
Washington Sparrow
b. Feb 1842
Matilda ?
b. Oct 1843
Brock’s Country Store
Vol. 7, No. 1 19 June 2003
Ancestors of William Woodrow Ambrose
Michael Ambrose
b. abt 1805, m. abt 1824
Benjamin Franklin Ambrose
b. Sep 1841, m. abt 1864, d. Jun 12, 1911
Elizabeth Heywood
b. 1803
William Washington Ambrose
b. Mar 11, 1870, m. Nov 5, 1891, d. Jan 1, 1945
Washington Hogg
b. 1821
Sarah Elizabeth Hogge
b. Feb 1846, d. Nov 19, 1924
Elizabeth Hall
b. 1821, d. Sep 25, 1890
Alonzo Talmage Ambrose
b. May 17, 1892, m. Oct 26, 1910, d. Sep 9, 1982
William Henry Gibbs
b. 1844
Lavinia Ann Gibbs
b. 1874, d. 1946
John W. Croswell
b. 1810
Matilda N. Croswell
b. 1846
Nancy (Ann) M. Carmine
b. 1812, d. Jul 27, 1869
William Woodrow Ambrose
b. May 6, 1918, m. Rosa Blanche Walker.
William Croswell
b. abt 1790
Isaac Croswell
b. 1823, m. 1847
Matilda Speed
b. abt 1795
William T. Croswell
b. Mar 1859
Smith R. Carmine
Elizabeth Carmine
b. 1830
Elizabeth Grant
Leontyne C. Croswell
b. Dec 9, 1893, d. 1984
John W. Croswell
b. 1810
Richard Charles Croswell
b. 1840, m. Jan 11, 1866
Nancy (Ann) M. Carmine
b. 1812, d. Jul 27, 1869
Josephine Croswell
b. May 1871
Robert Harris
Lucy J. Harris
b. 1852, d. Jun 20, 1877
Harriet ?
Brock’s Country Store
Vol. 7, No. 1 20 June 2003
lived at Wicomico during this period. Woodrow and Rosa had children that included
William Donald, born September 28, 1936; Fredrick Lee, born November 16, 1938; William
Woodrow, Jr., born January 11, 1943; and Teresa June, born March 12, 1949.
Hunter and Ruth (his second wife) Bland bought the land next to the post office
building from Woodrow Ambrose in 1960 or 1961, and built the store and attached
residence. The Bland family lived here and operated the store until they sold in 1971 to
Richard and Joyce Brock, Sr. Hunter Bland had been postmaster at Plainview before coming
to Wicomico. A fire in the residence part of the building nearly cost the lives of Joyce and
Gail Brock in 1992. The fire started in an air conditioner unit on Father’s Day, June 19,
1991, but fortunately was discovered by Robert Lee Bloxom who was passing the store. He
was able to waken and alert Joyce and Gail and get them out of the building to safety.
Bloxom received a Woodmen of the World lifesaver award from Gloucester Lodge 216 for
his timely actions. Mr. Brock was in the store at the time but unaware of the fire.
5
The Brocks repaired the fire damage and restored the structure to create the building
as seen today. They had added a second floor to the original building prior to the fire.
Richard Brock, Sr., died November 21, 1992, and Joyce Brock continued to run the store
until her death January 5, 2001. Gail was helping her during this time. Richard, Jr., and
Tina Brock and Gail continued to operate the store
until December 31, 2001, when the Brocks closed
the store. Today the store is for sale.
Recently, on April 23, 2003, I met with Tina and
Woodrow Ambrose at his residence on William’s
Landing Road to talk about their ancestors. Their
family tradition indicates that three brothers came
over from Spain shortly after 1820 (not
documented). “One of the brothers settled in New
York, another in Richmond, VA, and the third,
Michael, settled in Dunlop along the York River in
the Wicomico area.”
6
Michael Ambrose, with four people in the
household, appears in the 1830 census for
Gloucester County, VA. By the 1840 census there
are six in the household. Michael Ambrose had
two sons, Henry Hansford and Benjamin Franklin
(Frank). Tina descends from Frank.
7
Frank Ambrose married Sarah Hogge and they had seven children, four sons, Jim, Will
(William Washington Ambrose), Frank and Walter and three daughters, Cleavia, Cornelia
and Mary.
Will, an oysterman, married Lavinia (Vernia) Ann Gibbs on November 5, 1891. The
wedding ceremony was conducted by the Rev. F. H. Hall.
8
This union produced one son,
the well loved Alonza Talmage Ambrose, who was born on May 17, 1892, and a daughter,
Daisy, born July 19, 1895.
Alonza Talmage, who died September 9, 1982, married Leuntine (Leontyne) Croswell
(born December 9, 1894) on October 26, 1910. They would have eight children. The third
child was William Woodrow Ambrose, born May 6, 1918, at Wicomico, VA.
Brock’s Country Store
Tina Ambrose Brock and her grandfather
William Woodrow Ambrose April 2003
Photo by Roger C. Davis, April 2003
Vol. 7, No. 1 21 June 2003
On September 7, 1935, Woodrow married Rosa Blanche Walker at Richmond, VA. She
was born September 28, 1915, at Gloucester, VA. They had four children, one of whom was
Frederick Lee Ambrose, born November 16, 1938. This Frederick married Barbara Jean
Coates on June 25, 1955, at Hertford, NC. Their daughter, Christina Marie Ambrose, was
born June 23, 1956, at Hampton, VA, and married Richard Brock, Jr., on May 16, 1975, at
Ordinary, VA.
Thus, a hundred years of postal service at Wicomico is brought to life and a romance
that ties the little post office to the Brock’s Store is revealed. From Michael to Tina
Ambrose is a span of seven generations of living in Gloucester County, Virginia. Today the
store door is closed and locked, waiting for a new family and other generations to become
a part of Wicomico’s heritage. ‡
End Notes:
1 Brock, Jr., Richard and Tina (Christina) Ambrose. Personal interview. April 7, 2003.
2 Ibid.
3 Ambrose, William Woodrow and Tina Ambrose Brock. Personal interview. 23 April 2003.
4 McNutt, "Mac." Personal interview at Wicomico Post Office and unpublished document from
Wicomico Post Office, April 30, 2003.
5 Gazette-Journal, October 1992.
6 Ambrose, Jr., William Woodrow. Computer program printout--"Descendants of Michael
Ambrose (born 1805)"
7 The 1830 and 1840 Census, Gloucester County, Virginia. Web Site
http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaggsv/
8 Hunt, L. Roane, ed. "Marriage Records of Gloucester County, Virginia, Book 1 (1853 -1895), May
2001. p.148.
Brock’s Store and Wicomico Post Office (1954-1989)
Photo by Roger C. Davis, April 2003
Vol. 7, No. 1 22 June 2003
A Surveyor’s Memories around Gloucester
County Courthouse
Charles J. Kerns, Sr.
As compiled by Roger C. Davis
A lot of memories about Gloucester history
were passed on to the Gloucester Genealogical
Society when Charles J. Kerns, Sr., spoke to the
members on January 27, 2003. Mr. Kerns has been
the appointed surveyor for Gloucester County since
1965. He is a 1945 graduate of Botetourt High
School and served in World War II. After the war, he
studied engineering at VPI, learned land surveying
under William Stiff, county surveyor for Middlesex
County, and studied at International Correspon -
dence Schools.
He told us of his experiences as lay -out
engineer on the first Coleman (York River) Bridge
from 1949 to 1952. He also surveyed oyster beds
for the State of Virginia throughout the Tidewater
area for sixteen years. This year, 2003, will mark his
54th year in land surveying! He is included in the
list of county surveyors on page 23 compiled by
Roger Davis.
An interesting exhibit Charlie showed us was an
old 1831 transit compass, first used by Henry
Hughes, an elected Gloucester surveyor from 1831
to 1853, and used for ninety -nine years by three
county surveyors. The dry card compass has horse
hair sights and an old Jacob's staff to hold the
compass. William E. Wiatt used the compass after
the Civil War to re-survey all the Gloucester proper -
ties after the original surveys had been destroyed.
Land was given to early settlers of the colony for bringing new settlers into the
county. Richard Kemp, Esq., who served as Secretary of State, brought seventy people here
about 1649, and got fifty acres for each person making a total of 3,500 acres. Part of this
land grant is the current site of Gloucester County Courthouse. The first building was
constructed prior to 1684 but burned around 1766 (from “Glo -Quips,” December 12, 2002).
John Tyler was the only U.S. president to own land in Gloucester County. The old Odd
Fellows Lodge (current Abbitt Reality office building), that still stands, was called Tyler’s
(Continued on page 29)
Charles Kerns at his courthouse
office in April 2003
Photo by Roger C. Davis, April 2003
Vol. 7, No. 1 23 June 2003
Surveyors of Gloucester County, Virginia
Compiled by Roger C. Davis
Time Period Name of Surveyor Source
1651-____ Miles Cary 1
1670-1673 Robert Beverley 2
1675-1676 John Lewis 2
1683-1689 Lawrence Smith 2
1690-____ Maj. Lawrence Smith 1
1709-____ John Smith 2
1712-1723 Thomas Cook 2
1732-1737 Robert Perry 3
1740-1745 John French 2
1747-1753 Thomas Mumford 2
1751-1767 John Throckmorton 2
1768-1770 Francis Tomkies 3
1785-____ Lewis Booker 2
1786-1810 William DuVal 3
1810-____ Morgan Tomkies 2
1817-1819 R. G. Morris 4
1821-1822 Thomas Baytop 4
1831-1853 Henry Hughes 4
1854-1861 Thomas B. Montague 4
1866-____ W. A. Robins 4
1866-1877 William E. Wiatt 1
1877-1896 A. T. Wiatt 1
1896-____ R. A. Folks 1
1907-____ Robert Heywood 1
1965-present Charles Joshua Kerns, Sr. 1
Sources:
1 Kerns, Charles J., Sr., List of Surveyors of Gloucester County.
2 Polly Cary Mason, comp., Records of Colonial Gloucester County Virginia, Vol. 1 (by
the compiler 1946, p.122).
3 Gloucester County Surveyor's Book, 1733-1806.
4 General Index to Surveyor's Books.
Surveyor's Books:
Old Book 1733 to 1817 (Contains some plats of Mathews area.)
Book No. 1 1817 to 1849
Book No. 2 1850 to 1869
Book No. 3 1873 to 1904
Book No. 4 1900 to ____
Vol. 7, No. 1 24 June 2003
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship
By Cathy Williamson
Cathy Williamson, Public Services Librarian at the Mariners' Museum, Newport
News, VA, presented a talk to the Gloucester Genealogical Society on March 24,
2003. This article was compiled by Roger C. Davis from her presentation notes.
From 1565-1954, about 45 to 50 million individuals came
from Europe, Asia and Africa to North America on ships. For
400 years primary transportation was by ship, and many of
these were small sailing vessels. Today we search for ship
passenger lists to provide interesting clues about early
relatives.
Passenger lists could include name, age, gender, ship name,
captain's name, port of embarkation, mode of travel and port
of arrival. It may identify relatives or friends who accompanied
them to America.
The time period may provide an idea of the style and size of
vessel, giving you insight on how difficult their journey was
and may help you understand why they left and what sacrifices
they made.
This discussion will help you learn how to:
Find ancestors immigration data.
Find ship passenger lists.
Identify a specific vessel.
Utilize maritime reference resources.
Obtain vessel information from the library.
Use WEB resources and bibliographies.
There are TWO PHASES to your research:
Locate passenger lists or ship's name.
Locate additional information about the ship and voyage.
Ancestors’ Immigration Data
Since there were millions of immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa and beyond and
many had the same names, you need as much data as possible to identify the specific
individual.
Name- full name, given name, and surname. Watch for variant spellings, especially
surnames. Many American family names are different from ancestor's name used in the
"old country." The immigration officer often shortened the name, created a
transliteration of the name or translated the word into English. Be imaginative.
Passenger lists were prepared at port of embarkation.
Cathy Williamson
Vol. 7, No. 1 25 June 2003
Age- needed to eliminate duplicate entries.
Date of arrival -Year and month preferably, refines search and makes task easier.
Nationality- helps establish a particular person, aids when selecting published lists.
Port of arrival -narrows search for passenger lists and identifying specific vessels. In the
19th century, about 101 U.S. ports were used.
Port of departure -may help narrow search for specific vessel.
Locating Ship Passenger Lists
1565-1819
Try Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild (http://istg. Rootsweb.com). You are unlikely
to find information in this time period by searching the web.
Prior to 1820 there was no law requiring the recording of passenger arrivals in U.S.
ports. Immigration records were handled by colonies, states and port cities and varied by
area and custom.
If a passenger list exists, it might be in a local archival collection, local port records,
local newspapers, local histories, courthouses, museums or in personal collections. Many
lists and indexes have been published and some are appearing on the web.
When searching in this time period, try indexes to published lists and look for ship
name (if known), passenger name, nationality, geographic settlement or port of entry.
An excellent source is Filby, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 2003 edition. This
huge source indicates 4,181,000 immigrants are indexed in 22 volumes. You need to
search each set of cumulative indexes. It identifies name, age, U.S. destination, year of
immigration, citation number and page number. Identify citation title and search library
catalogs to locate a copy.
Examples of publications:
Passenger arrivals at the Port of NY 1830 -1832 (NARA microfilm)
Irish Emigrants in North America
English origins of American colonists
German immigrants: lists of passengers bound from Bremen to New York
1820-1954
In 1819, an "Act Regulating Passenger ships and vessels" required the shipmaster,
entering an American port from a foreign country, to file a list of passengers with the
customs officer and swear to accuracy of contents as in the same manner as a cargo
manifest. This act resulted in the Customs Passenger Lists from 1820 -1891 and the
Immigration Passenger Lists from 1892 to the present.
If your ancestor arrived between 1820 -1954, the passenger list may be at the National
Archives (NA). You can search there or ask them to search for you. You must supply full
name, port of entry and month and year of arrival. Use NATF Form 81. If records are
found, they will invoice for $10. Message to: [email protected], or regional offices. There
are estimates that 10-40% of passenger lists are missing from the NA records.
If your ancestor emigrated from eastern, northern or central Europe, he/she may have
departed from Hamburg, Germany. The 1850 -1934 records are indexed on microfilm at
LDS Family History libraries, located throughout the U.S. From 1850 -1920, the busiest port
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship
Vol. 7, No. 1 26 June 2003
was Bremen, followed by Hamburg.
Other indexes are often limited but are usually compiled by nationality or port of
entry.
Ellis Island became the receiving office for the port of NY in 1892, was active until
1924, and officially closed in 1954, when most immigrants began arriving by plane. Data
included race in 1903 and personal descriptions in 1906. Ellis Island web site has many
passenger lists online, but they are still adding information.
Ship Information Desired
Name of ship: many ships had the same names during the same times from the same
ports. Resources for finding information are very different for different time periods and
are often very limited in earliest years.
Type of vessel indicates how many masts and sails, and how it was rigged for sail. For
earlier years, you may find an image or painting of the type of vessel that corresponds to
the same time period, but no photographs before around 1850s.
You can conduct this research yourself or library staff will conduct research for a fee.
The more information you can provide, the faster you or staff will be able to locate
information. Sometimes family documents may reveal bits of information about the
ancestor's ocean voyage. Look for name of vessel, date of arrival, port of arrival, type of
vessel, date ship was built, name of ship Captain, date of departure and port of departure.
Any one of these facts can aid in your searches.
Types of Ships
There were a variety of types of ships that carried our ancestors. Some examples are
shown on Eric Sager’s "Maritime Capital: the Shipping Industry in Atlantic Canada 1820-
1914. (See figure 3.1 from his book). Often you will see the phrase, Bark "Maria" or
Schooner "Anna" or Brig "Calcutta." The first part of these names is the rig or ship type. In
1770s -1840s, all were sail, many were packet ships with regular, fixed routes. Notice the
term “ship” meant a specific type of vessel during sailing days. In 1803 the Passenger
Vessel Act limited one passenger per two tons of ship. Trips took about two months. In
1840, Cunard built some of the first steam/sail ships. Brittania crossed in 14 days. By the
1850s, steamships began regular crossings of the ocean, and most took two weeks. From
1870- 1950s, passenger steamship lines developed out of competition. By 1880s, nearly
all of the immigrants traveled by steamship, with the trip reduced to one week. In 1936,
Queen Mary, of the Cunard -White Star line, crossed in 4.5 days.
Some of the more common types of vessels of the day were schooners, brigantines,
brigs, barquentines, barques, ships, and steamships.
Ship Identification Resources at The Mariners’ Museum
Some overlap of dates, corresponds to primary source used to search for the given
dates.
1607-1789
Swem's Virginia Historical Index – Indexes 8 publications including the W & M
College Quarterly, Calendar of VA state papers, VA Magazine of History and
Biography… 1650s -1930s, with primary focus on Virginia's colonial period.
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship
Vol. 7, No. 1 27 June 2003
Ancestors’ names and ship names indexed.
Sailing Navy List- Ships of the Royal Navy, built, purchased and captured 1688 -
1860. Excellent glossary and plans and descriptions of early vessels including
frigates, galleys, sloops and slave ships.
Naval Office Shipping List- Before 1776, British maintained offices at each major
port. Vessels were required to register as they entered from foreign ports.
Includes typical register information: vessel name, date built, place built, owner,
origin. Organized by date within ports. Many lists lost.
1741-1826
Lloyd’s List- Ship arrivals and departures by date. No vessel name index, tedious
search.
Lloyd’s Register (1764-____)- British firm that insured vessels. Indexed by name.
There were many vessels with the same name in earlier registers. Ratings:
A=approved for transatlantic travel, E= approved for carrying dry cargo
transatlantic, I = not approved for dry cargo, O=not deemed safe for any foreign
voyage.
Liverpool (ship registers on microfilm [1835 -1882])- registers for Liverpool and
foreign vessels visiting port. Listed by date.
1835-1882
New York Herald (on microfilm 1835-1882)- Important first source to verify a
specific vessel, because it links name of vessel to type of ship and often captain’s
name. Under “maritime intelligence,” lists arrivals and departures for NYC and
ports around the world. Includes vessel name, type of ship, captain, homeport
and selected events that occurred during voyage.
New York Maritime Register (on microfilm 1867-1941)- Lists ships entering port
by date.
Record of American and Foreign Shipping (1857-____)- In 1857, known as the
New York Marine Register and in 1933, became the Record of the American
Bureau of Shipping, sometimes known as American Lloyd's (1857, 1862, 1867,
1870-). Prior to 1857, search to identify specific vessel information is very
difficult and time consuming.
The Mariners’ Museum has largest collection of ship registers in North
America. Staff will copy pages for $.25 per page.
Mystic Library- Staff at the Mystic library have been involved in a 3 year project to digitize
American Lloyd’s ship registers from 1850s -1900. Over 150,000 pages scanned and are
currently indexing by ship name and captain’s name. Currently there are 10 registers
online and searchable. Try the site at: www.mystic.org
Early registers organized the lists by type of vessel.
Data includes: vessel name, captain, rig, tons, decks, draft, type of wood, fasteners,
when medaled, year built, location built, shipbuilder, port registered, owners, dimensions,
remarks and place and date of registration.
Captain’s name, date built, shipbuilder become critical to differentiate a specific
vessel from another.
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship
Vol. 7, No. 1 28 June 2003
Types of Ship Information at The Mariners’ Museum
Images-unlikely early immigrant ships painted, but examples of similar types of vessels,
such as silhouettes and drawings. Indexed in in -house online database.
Photographs-over 50,000 sailing vessels and steamships beginning around the 1850s.
Some indexed in in-house online database, the rest are card file indexes. Most are black
and white. Reproductions can be ordered, 8 x 10 = $15 + $5 s & h; 11 x 14 = $25 + $5
s & h.
Vessel histories-books, online catalog by vessel name.
Plans- card file indexes, placing online, some part of Eldredge Steamship collection, can be
copied $20+ per sheet + $5 s & h. Depends on size of sheet.
Histories-primarily published material, online catalog.
The Steamship Ephemera Collection, primarily covering the 1870s -1960s. This
compilation of material by numerous steamship collectors has an international focus and
includes advertising pamphlets, sailing schedules, selected first class passenger lists,
handbooks, rate cards, sailing schedules, cabin plans, deck plans, photographs,
newspaper clippings, stamps, postcards, menus, etc.
The Ephemera Collection is one of largest steamship collections in the world.
Archives staff members are currently reprocessing this collection and it will be closed
until late 2003.
A search for your ancestor's ship may prove to be a daunting task but the chance for
success is greatly improved with the resources and help close at hand at The Mariners’
Museum Library. You are invited to try a search! Also, the listed web sites may prove
helpful.
Genealogy Web Sites
www.google.com- a search for “immigrant ships” brought 94,700 hits, many of which are
duplicates.
www.ancestry.com and www.rootsweb.com- are co-sponsors of the Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild, ISTG, (http://istg.rootsweb.com) formed in late Sept. 1998. It
consists of over 500 volunteers who are transcribing passenger lists. Currently over 4000
lists have been indexed and placed on web. Sort by port of emigration or date. It gives
name, age, gender, occupation, country of citizenship, number of bags, travel status, city
or area of previous residence.
www.cyndislist.com- excellent guide to online genealogy resources, mentions sources for
passenger ship lists. Guide to over 40,000 genealogy web sites.
www.ellisisland.org- passenger lists from 1892-1924, selected photographs of immigrant
vessels. You can order vessel images at $10 per image for 5x7 and $20 for 8x10.
www.familysearch.com- sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints
(LDS). 600 million names in the International Genealogical Index (IGI) and other major
resources, including microfilm from around the world. Includes: military, church and
court records. Some of family lists created by individuals and may have errors,
discrepancies.
www.mariner.org- American steamship lines and books on immigration, archives being
added.
www.mystic.org -selected ship registers online.
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship
Vol. 7, No. 1 29 June 2003
www.nara.gov- order searches of passenger lists, and descriptions of major record .
Start Your Voyage
Search www.mariner.org/librarchives
Send e-mail to: [email protected]
Visit the Library, Monday -Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays.
Special thanks to
Elaine Killam, Research Assistant, bibliographies.
John Colletta’s, They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your
Immigrant Ancestor’s Arrival Records.
Eric Sager's, Maritime Capital: the Shipping Industry in Atlantic
Canada 1820-1914.
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Ship
Lodge in his honor. From around 1957 to 1970, it was owned by Claude and Arline
Lanciano as their residence.
Today, Charlie keeps an office in a small
building at the court circle. He tells us that Dr.
Leonard Morris had his doctor’s office in the
building for forty -seven years. Dr. Morris was a well
liked black doctor that served the local black
population near the court house. There was no
plumbing or water at the building, so he had to go
to the nearby Kerns well for his water supply.
Also, Charlie stated that at one time there were
twenty-seven mills in Gloucester, one of which was
Kerns’ Mill. These mills were used to grind corn and
wheat. Unique to this area were the tide mills with
their elaborate wooden cog wheels and reversing mechanism. As the water tide direction
changed, the operator reversed the gear drive mechanism to keep the grinding stones
turning in the same direction. The windmills had a spindle device that allowed an operator
to adjust the blades into the wind direction. These mills were not as reliable since the wind
direction and intensity was always changing, whereas, the tides always came in and went
out.
Long active with the Boy Scouts and sailing, Mr. Kerns said the log cabin at the
Botetourt School site was built in 1936 under the WPA Act for the scouts. He has been
active in scouting for sixty -two years. His sailing trips took him from Gloucester to
Martha’s Vineyard and on trips to the Bahamas.
Charles Kerns, Sr., has led an active life and provided many services to Gloucester
County and to the people that live here. He is a great story -teller, an interesting person to
know and has to be the most avid “collector” I ever met! We enjoyed his talk and are proud
to have him as a member of our Society. ‡
(Continued from page 22)
Vol. 7, No. 1 30 June 2003
This original poem was submitted by
our member, Pat Perkinson, for the
enjoyment of our many "old house"
genealogists. Pat drew inspiration
from the years that she and her
husband, Bert, labored to restore her
ancestral estate, known as “Prospect.”
in Middlesex County
Old House People
There are those like myself who, for reasons arcane,
choose to live in old houses. We constantly strain
for nocturnal nuances, deep mournful groans,
other sounds sans receptors in our too -human brains.
Though we are perhaps old by measure of our kind
we long to share secrets of an earlier time.
With eyes and ears eager, we keep hoping to find
the stories old houses hold locked in heart pine.
We search chimney bricks, ever looking for marks
scratched on their surface by some patriarch’s
weather-worn hand-carved initials or number,
indicia to help an old house remember.
When wild winds come up, rattle eave and rafter,
we’re sure we hear wails that confirm what we’re after:
tales told by old-timers swear the house harbors a ghost
who sings “Kathleen Mavorneen” with a chorus of mad laughter.
Hieroglyphics on hearths, Roman numerals on blinds,
diamond-etched window panes – we savor the signs.
Sure, we’ll pore over old records for documentation,
but for much that we know we’ve no sane explanation.
Pat Royal Perkinson
Copyright @ 2003
By Pat Royal Perkinson
Vol. 7, No. 1 31 June 2003
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton
By Robert R. Harper
John Clayton, the Great Botanist of America
For more than two hundred years, historians have speculated over, searched for, and
written about the possible location of the home and garden of John Clayton. This quest
has resulted in the publication of two books, dozens of articles and numerous scholarly
research papers that have chronicled the known facts, urban legends, and plain fantasy
relating to the man who served for fifty -three years as clerk of Gloucester County, author,
cartographer, plantation owner, land speculator, father of eight children, and was called in
his lifetime, “Mr. Clayton the Great Botanist of America.” Now, located on a 39 -foot rise in
the Mathews County landscape known locally as “Windsor Farm,” an acre hilltop is giving
up details that some day may give closure to this frustrating enigma in John Clayton’s life.
John Clayton, the botanist, arrived in Virginia about 1715, probably taking up
residence with his father who had established himself in Williamsburg a decade earlier.
John Clayton, Senior, was a “barrister -at-law,” who first found employment as a secretary
to Governor Nott. The elder Clayton rose quickly within his profession, and in 1713, was
appointed Attorney General of Virginia. Governor Spotswood, who called the senior
Clayton, “as fair a character as anyone I ever knew of that profession,” recommended him
for the appointment. It is generally believed that the Attorney General rented the Nelson -
Galt House on Francis Street near the Capitol, where he died November 18, 1737.
Of John Clayton, the botanist, nothing concrete is known of his education or early life
in Williamsburg. Speculation places him as having studied at Eton College near London,
where Clayton's father, grandfather and other relatives attended. We know Clayton read
French; and he states that he studied Latin during his youth. Also, he had a knowledge of
the law, business practices, and higher mathematics.
In 1720, Clayton appears for the first time in the Gloucester County record as clerk of
the court, filling a seat vacated by Peter Beverley who had been appointed to the Governor’s
Council that same year. The council was made up of only the most influential planters in
Virginia. Clayton solidified his ties to Virginia’s ruling class by taking as his bride Peter
Beverley’s granddaughter. However, much of the credit for this appointment must go to
the influence of Attorney General John Clayton who secured the clerkship of Hanover
County for his second son, Arthur, at the same time.
On June 2, 1723, Clerk John Clayton married Elizabeth Whiting, daughter of Major
Henry Whiting of Elmington Plantation, a mile to the south of Clayton’s supposed home.
Major Whiting’s wife was Anne, the daughter of Peter Beverley whose office is rumored to
have been opposite the main gate of Elmington. Many have speculated and actually
published that John and Elizabeth Clayton were married at Ware Church in Gloucester, but
the one scrap of surviving document reveals only that the bride and groom were “both of
Gloucester County.” To this union eight children were born between 1724 and 1737, six of
whom lived to maturity.
(Continued on page 34)
Vol. 7, No. 1 32 June 2003
Descendants of John Clayton
1 John Clayton, b. 1694, d. Dec 15, 1773
+Elizabeth Whiting, b. 1702, d. 1771
2 Catherine Clayton, b. abt 1724
2 John Clayton, b. 1725, d. 1826
+Elizabeth Willis, b. Jan 12, 1728/29, d. aft 1782
3 Anne Clayton, b. abt 1749, d. abt 1784
+Henry Landon Davies, b. abt 1735, d. Mar 1, 1808
4 Nicholas Clayton Davies, b. Feb 27, 1769, d. Jun 17, 1814
+Elizabeth Crawford, b. 1772, d. Apr 2, 1820
4 Arthur Landon Davies, b. Oct 16, 1770, d. Apr 25, 1840**
+Elizabeth Whiting Pryor, b. abt 1780, d. Apr 18, 1813
*2nd wife of Arthur Landon Davies:
+Lucy Clayton Pryor, b. abt 1772, d. Oct 19, 1823
4 Catherine Eliza Davies, b. Nov 19, 1772
4 Samuel Boyle Davies, b. Dec 22, 1774
4 Edith Landon Davies, b. Apr 17, 1777
4 Henrianne Davies, b. Jan 27, 1780
4 Tamerlane Whiting Davies, b. Nov 11, 1782
3 John Willis Clayton, b. 1750, d. Aug 12, 1782
+Mary Pettus, b. abt 1750
3 Mildred Clayton, b. 1752
3 William Willis Clayton, b. 1758, d. aft 1781
3 Henry Clayton, b. 1765
3 Lucy Whiting Clayton, b. abt 1770
+Nathaniel Manson, b. abt 1770
*2nd husband of Lucy Whiting Clayton:
+Henry Landon Davies, b. abt 1735, d. Mar 1, 1808
4 Addison Davies, b. 1789
4 Dr. Howell Davies, b. 1795
3 Elizabeth Clayton, b. abt 1772
3 Thomas Lewis Clayton, b. abt 1774
3 Arthur Clayton, b. abt 1776
2 Capt. Jasper Clayton, b. abt 1729, d. May 1779
+__?__ Whiting, b. abt 1730
3 Jasper Clayton, Jr., b. 1750
3 +Courtney Baylor, d. Mar 1777
4 Jasper S. Clayton
3 Catherine Clayton, b. abt 1752
+Christopher Pryor, d. abt 1745, d. 1803
4 Julianna Pryor, b. 1772, d. Jan 26, 1818
+William Robins, b. Sep 25, 1770, d. 1846
4 John Clayton Pryor, b. 1778
+Elizabeth Armistead Tyler, b. Jul 18, 1798
*2nd wife of John Clayton Pryor:
+Maria Smith Armistead
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton
Vol. 7, No. 1 33 June 2003
4 Elizabeth Whiting Pryor, b. 1780, d. Apr 18, 1813
+Arthur Landon Davies, b. Oct 16, 1770, d. Apr 25, 1840
4 Harry Ann Whiting Beverly Pryor, b. abt 1783, d. Jun 7, 1831
+John Reade Cary, Sr., b. 1783, d. Dec 14, 1825
3 Thomas Whiting Clayton, b. 1752, d. 1784
3 John Clayton, b. 1754
2 William Clayton, b. abt 1733, d. 1797
+Elvina __?__
3 Jasper Clayton, b. 1762
2 Lucy Whiting Clayton, b. abt 1735
+__?__ Livingston, b. abt 1735
*2nd husband of Lucy Whiting Clayton:
+John Hughes, b. Mar 24, 1722/23
3 Jasper Clayton Hughes., b. 1757, d. Aug 19, 1821
+Ann Tomkies, d. abt 1760
4 Susan Hughes , b. 1812
3 Thomas Hughes, b. 1759
3 Maj. John Hughes
3 Capt. Henry Hughes
2 Thomas Clayton, b. abt 1737
2 Arthur Clayton, b. 1739
** Three of John Clayton’s descendants served as Clerks of Court for Gloucester County
from 1818 to 1887: Arthur Landon Davies (1818 -1835), John Reade Cary (1837-1867), John
Samuel Cooke (1870-1887). The Family Tree Searcher, Vol. 4, No. 2, Dec. 2000, pp. 19-27.
Chart compiled from:
Database of Robert Harper.
Rootsweb database: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/
Ancestors of John Clayton
The Great Botanist of America
Sir Jasper Clayton
b. abt 1600, m. May 1, 1624, d. Sep 1660
John Clayton
b. abt 1630, m. 1664
Mary Thompson
b. abt 1605, d. Feb 1691/92
John Clayton, Sr.
b. 1665, d. Nov 18, 1737
William Bowyer
Alice Bowyer
b. abt 1640, d. 1718
Margaret Weld
John Clayton
b. 1694, m. Elizabeth Whiting, d. Dec 15, 1773
Lucy __?__
b. abt 1665
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton
Vol. 7, No. 1 34 June 2003
The first view of Clayton as a botanist was in 1734 with his collection of eighty
classified plants near his home. The following year Clayton sent the plants to the English
naturalist, Mark Catesby at Oxford, who forwarded them to Jan Frederick Gronovius in
Leiden. Gronovius passed the Clayton specimens to Carl Linnaeus, thus beginning the
chain of events that led to Gronovius publishing “ Flora Virginica” in 1739, the first
important book on North American plants. This book was based on what Clayton termed,
“A Catalogue of Plants, Fruits, and Trees Native to Virginia,” a manuscript meant as a gift
for the private library of Gronovius and not for publication. The book went to print
without Clayton’s permission, but Gronovius explained the situation away as a need to
preserve Clayton’s work so it would not be lost in some accident. Clayton’s work at
discovering and classifying over 800 native plants would continue for another four
decades, leading not only to scholarly writings of his own and many honors from Europe
and America, but also to Gronovious publishing a second part to Flora Virginica in 1743.
An expanded version of the same work was published by Laurens Theodore Gronovius at
Leiden in 1762, under his father’s name.
By 1738, Clayton’s plantation and garden were well established when the Quaker
botanist, John Bartram of Philadelphia, visited Gloucester County as part of his eleven
hundred mile journey. Arriving on the Middlesex shore, Bartram wrote of his “crossing
Pianketank rode to John Claytons,” but added, “I had the misfortune of a grievous
disapointment for Clayton was gone towards the mountains to seek after some land there.”
Though Bartram finds, “… there garden is poorly furnished with Curiosities…” He found
“John Claytons and Col. Birds (William Byrd of Westover) is best furnished with variety of
plants…” In another version of the same letter Bartram replaced Byrd’s garden with John
Custis of Williamsburg and called it, “best Furnish’d next John Claytons of any.” It would
be 1760 before Bartram visited Clayton again, but this time he left us no lengthy
description of his trip or his impressions of Clayton’s garden. Though many prominent
Virginians visited John Clayton, some of whom kept diaries, none revealed the exact
location of his home. Clayton lived in Gloucester until his death in late 1773 or early 1774.
In his will that was probated on January 6, 1774, Clayton instructed that: “… there be no
funeral preached at my funeral or afterwards … and none of my family … or relations go
into mourning … and that my body be buried near my wife’s.” Clayton’s personal papers
and lifetime of flora research were taken to William Clayton, Clerk of New Kent County, for
safekeeping against invading British troops at the start of the American Revolution. On
July 12, 1787, an escaped prisoner named John Price Posey set fire to the New Kent prison,
and as an afterthought, the clerk’s office. The stout brick walls and reinforced iron locks
that had protected the future’s most valuable link to John Clayton against the British
through five years of war were no match for “fence rails, shingles, steel tinderbox and a
flint.”
Windsor Archaeological Project
In early 2002, it became the concern of two Gloucester historians, Lorna Wass and
Boyd Gwyn, that the site called Windsor might be destroyed by development after the
unfortunate passing of the owner Mrs. Margaret Armistead. Since the 1950s, Mrs.
Armistead and her late husband, Willard, had allowed many interested historians to
trespass on the farm and allowed the Garden Club of Mathews to erect a memorial gate to
John Clayton fronting the modern day highway. Her hope was to one day have the site
archaeologically explored and prove or disprove that John Clayton had indeed lived there.
On the request of Mrs. Wass and Mr. Gwyn, four friends with archaeological backgrounds
(Continued from page 31)
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton
Vol. 7, No. 1 35 June 2003
formulated a plan of logistics to
salvage as much information as
possible before the site would
be destroyed. The plan would
cover a broad range of topics,
ranging from site research to
funding for excavation materials
and weatherproofing open test
units, grass cutting and debris
placement, to the washing,
conservation and long-term
storage of artifacts. Within
ninety days, funds had been
raised, materials purchased, the
site mapped, a grid system laid
out, and the first secrets of the
plantation began to be revealed.
Since August of 2002, the
volunteers of the Windsor
Archaeological Project have
excavated twenty-two 5’ by 5’
test units selectively placed
across the acre hilltop.
Separated into two different,
though connected areas of investigation, one
centers on the possible garden area, while the
second concentrates on the mansion site
foundations. Nearly 60,000 pounds of soil and
building debris have been examined and over
10,000 artifacts recovered, ranging from the late
seventeenth century ceramic fragments to modern
day pull-tabs. While not a single artifact personally
attributable to John Clayton or his family has been
recovered, the vast majority of eighteenth century
ceramics fall precisely into the date range of John
Clayton’s supposed ownership of circa 1720 to
1773. The tiny amount of seventeenth century
material can easily be explained as previously
owned, but still useful items brought into a new
marriage. The surrounding acreage shows no sign
of earlier occupation except Native American
material going back some 7,000 years. Many
ceramic shards are of the same types ordered by
Elizabeth Clayton through her husband’s shipping
agents, John Norton and Sons of London. These
include “Queens china” (Cream ware), “Earthen
tortoise shell plates,” “blue and white china,” and
utilitarian kitchen ceramics “Brown glazed,” though
much research remains into these orders.
Location of Windsor Archaeological Project
Mathews, Virginia
Gloucester
County
Mathews
County
Rt. 3
Rt. 14
Rt. 198
Rt. 14
Pianketank River
Windsor
Site
Lisa Harper of Gloucester excavating
within the southern corner of the main
house foundation at Windsor
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton
Vol. 7, No. 1 36 June 2003
Excavations in the possible garden area revealed the remains of a row of post holes
spaced ten feet apart, forming a fence line at an angle askew to nineteenth century
buildings, but amazingly similar in appearance to those lines drawn on the only surviving
document showing property owned by John Clayton in 1754. From one of the post holes
came a remarkably preserved section of cedar post and in the post filling two shards of
ceramic were found, dating the fence line from the latter half of the eighteenth century. A
second post hole in the continuous fence line showed signs of having been repaired during
its lifetime. A larger burned post and partially exposed oyster shell and clam walkway
were also encountered in the garden units, but are more likely of late 19
th
or early 20
th
century origin. It is unfortunate that about 75% of the garden appears to have been
destroyed when one of the owners dug an eleven -foot deep trench to bury the remains of a
dilapidated chicken house and barn.
Initial probing disclosed a brick foundation 50 feet west of the current 1880’s
farmhouse where family tradition stated the old house was located. This gives credence to
a local legend that “John Clayton’s brick walled garden was found 50 feet from the house.”
At 50’-1” west of the current farmhouse a planting hole was uncovered directly overlying
Section of cedar post recovered from the possible
garden area dating from the mid to late eighteenth
century.
Fragile remains of a chicken egg recovered from
the filling of Windsor's clay floor.
Melted window glass (left)
found in the “burned layer” of
the foundation filling. On the
right is a large section of
windowpane warped by the
fire and recovered from the
“destruction layer” of the
house fill deposited when the
house was torn down in the
1870’s.
Rim fragment from a plate
molded with a “feather-edge”
pattern introduced about 1765.
This type of ceramic is
referred to as creamware by
modern day collectors, but was
called “Queensware” by
Elizabeth Clayton when she
ordered it from Great Britain
on her husband’s shipping
account.
Fragile half of a brass cuff link
impressed with the design of a
fowled anchor. Dating from the
mid to late eighteenth century
it might have been dropped by
Captain Jasper Clayton who
owned Windsor from 1773
until 1779 or a visiting British
Officer during the American
Revolution. It was recovered
from the filling of a 19
th
century planting bed near the
main house.
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton
Vol. 7, No. 1 37 June 2003
the brick foundation, which could easily have been confused for a garden wall. The
excavating of selected test units over the foundations has revealed a house 24 by 16 feet,
robbed along both end walls down to the last course of brick, but basically intact along
both 24-foot sidewalls. The remaining walls are 6 courses high, two bricks (1 ’-2” in
thickness), laid in English bond and in some areas plastered on the interior.
Two wing additions of 16-foot width and 12-foot length have been exposed. The
south wing appears to have burned along with the main block of the house, but the north
wing appears to have survived the fire and provided the family with shelter while the new
house was under construction. It is believed that timbers salvaged from the wing might
have been used in building the 19
th
century smokehouse that lies on an angle to both
houses, but exists only a few feet from the robbed wing foundation. The most massive
timbers in the smoke house are hand hewn, held in place with wooden pegs and show signs
of reuse from another structure. The smaller beams are machine sawn (probably in a water
powered saw mill) and are affixed with mass manufactured iron nails.
Insurance policies of 1802 and 1806, taken out by John Clayton’s grandson, Jasper, on
his plantation called “Windsor,” describe his house as “24 by 16, two story high first story
of Brick at 8-feet pitch 2
nd
of wood about 10-feet Do [pitch]. The lower floor of the large
room several feet below the surface of the Earth.” At each end was a wing, “12 by 16,
under-pinned with brick, built of wood.” This policy appears to match the foundation
uncovered in all aspects, but tells us only that the house existed by 1802. The policy also
informs us that $250 in value was deducted from the structure for “decay or bad repair,”
leading us to draw the conclusion that the house was old at the time. How old is one of the
unanswered questions because twenty Virginia summers and winters can age the
appearance of a house far beyond its actual years. What is certain is that in 1773, John
Clayton willed his 450-acre home plantation to his son, Captain Jasper Clayton, who willed
it in turn to his son, Jasper, at his death in 1779. This Jasper went on to be the first
surveyor for Mathews County and married a Berkeley daughter of Barn Elms in neighboring
Middlesex County. It was this Jasper that took out insurance policies in 1802 and 1806
and was the last Clayton to own the property.
The Windsor Archaeological Project will have been in existence one year in August of
2003. The plan of simple salvage archaeology has turned into an extended project of two
to five years with the prospect that the site may be acquired by a member of the Armistead
family and preserved. The 2003 – 2004 digging season will concentrate on excavating the
southern end of the mansion house containing a chimney base that was uncovered by
archaeological volunteer, Lisa Harper, as this article was being written. Another section of
the possible garden area will be overseen by excavator, Lorna Wass, and excavation
volunteer, Linda Breaks, will continue her work on exploring the foundation walls.
In April, the Windsor Archaeological Project became a division of the John Clayton
Chapter – Virginia Native Plant Society. The Gloucester based chapter will help with
funding and allow tax -deductible contributions to be donated to them that will be used for
needed expenses related to the investigation of the site. Contributions can be mailed to,
John Clayton Chapter – Virginia Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 677, Yorktown, VA 23690.
Please designate the contribution for the Windsor Archaeological Project. Anyone wishing
information on this site that played such an important part in the botanical history of
Virginia, America, and Europe, may contact Lorna Wass at (804) 693 –3403 or
The Archaeological Quest for John Clayton
Vol. 7, No. 1 38 June 2003
Taliaferro Family of Gloucester County, Virginia
by L. Roane Hunt
The Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia plans to publish a book in 2003
containing the federal census for Gloucester County from 1790 to 1840. This will
cover the census years prior to those published by Cy Rilee which covered 1850 to
1880. The earliest census of 1790 and 1800 were lost, and partial lists for 1783 and
1784 were published instead. Beginning in 1850, the names of all the individuals were
listed for each household. Prior to 1850, only the names of the head -of-households
were given; therefore, these census records are not as helpful for genealogical
research. However, in some cases, family lines can be traced and additional
information can be extracted to further illuminate the family history. This book
project plans to include an appendix that contains brief articles of selected families that
demonstrate the use of these early census records. The present article is an example of
what is planned for the appendix.
The Taliaferro family moved to Gloucester County at the end of the Revolutionary
War. Apparently, they were descendants of William Taliaferro (1715 -1778) and Elizabeth
Holden (1719-????) of “Hockley” on the York River in King and Queen County. (See chart on
pages 40-41.) They had at least four children: Philip, Mary, Katherine, and Richard, who
married into Gloucester families including Baytop, Throckmorton, Booth, and Stubbs. Early
Gloucester census records help describe the entry of the Taliaferro households. The
earliest was Richard Taliaferro (1751 -????) in 1784 in the Petsworth Parish (1784P), and he
is listed in the census records as follows:
1784P/ Taliaferro, Richard, --- White Souls: (6), Dwellings: (1), Other Buildings: (1).
Various Gloucester men served under Capt. Philip Taliaferro (1745 -1791) in the war.
He married Sarah Baytop (1745 -????) of Gloucester County, daughter of James Baytop and
Sarah Smith. Their children established homes in Gloucester. The first, Dr. William
Taliaferro (1770-1851) appeared in the 1810 census, and he was listed in each census
through 1850. He owned “Church Hill” located adjacent to Ware Parish Church.
Census records:
1810/ Pg.413a/Ln.691/ Taliaferro, William, --- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (44), WHITE
MALES: under 10: (3), 26 under 45: (2), WHITE FEMALES: 16 under 26: (1), SLAVES: (38).
In 1820, Dr. William Taliaferro was joined by his brother, Philip Taliaferro (1779 -
1848). Philip paid taxes on 383 acres of land two miles southeast of the courthouse. This
tract was known as the “Warehouse.” He served as Commissioner of Revenue beginning in
1827, and he served as the second pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church of Gloucester.
Census records:
1820/ Pg.198/Ln.783/ Taliaferro, William, Dr, --- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (59), WHITE
MALES: 10 under 16: (3), 45 and over: (1), WHITE FEMALES: 10 under 16: (1), 26 under
45: (1), OCCUPATIONS: Agriculture: (18), Manufacturing: (1), MALE SLAVES: under 14:
(7), 14 under 26: (7), 26 under 45: (16), 45 and over: (3), FEMALE SLAVES: under 14: (5),
14 under 26: (4), 26 under 45: (9), 45 and over: (2).
1820/ Pg.198/Ln.784/ Taliaferro, Philip, --- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (32), WHITE MALES:
Vol. 7, No. 1 39 June 2003
under 10: (4), 16 under 26: (2), 26 under 45: (1), WHITE FEMALES: 16 under 26: (1),
OCCUPATIONS: Agriculture: (11), MALE SLAVES: under 14: (7), 14 under 26: (2), 26
under 45: (5), FEMALE SLAVES: under 14: (4), 14 under 26: (1), 26 under 45: (4), FREE
COLORED FEMALES: 26 under 45: (1).
In 1830, Dr. William Taliaferro and Philip Taliaferro were joined by their brother,
James Baytop Taliaferro (1775 -1841) of Roaring Springs.
Also listed was Warner Throckmorton Taliaferro (1802 -
1877), son of Dr. William Taliaferro and Mary
Throckmorton and grandson of Warner Thockmorton.
Warner T. Taliaferro of “Belle Ville” served in the State
Senate and his portrait hung on the courthouse wall.
Census records:
1830/ Pg.188/Ln.793/ Taliaferro, William, Dr ---
TOTAL RESIDENTS: (69), WHITE MALES: 10 under 15:
(1), 15 under 20: (1), 20 under 30: (1), 50 under 60: (1),
MALE SLAVES: under 10: (7), 10 under 24: (10), 24
under 36: (10), 36 under 56: (8), 56 under 100: (3), 100
and over: (1), FEMALE SLAVES: under 10: (9), 10 under
24: (2), 24 under 36: (13), 56 under 100: (2).
1830/ Pg.188/Ln.794/ Taliaferro, Warner P. ---
TOTAL RESIDENTS: (95), WHITE MALES: under 5: (1), 5
under 10: (1), 20 under 30: (1), WHITE FEMALES: under
5: (1), 20 under 30: (1), 40 under 50: (1), MALE SLAVES:
under 10: (21), 10 under 24: (11), 24 under 36: (4), 36
under 56: (2), 56 under 100: (4), FEMALE SLAVES: under
10: (17), 10 under 24: (12), 24 under 36: (3), 36 under
56: (7), 56 under 100: (8), COLORED PERSON: DEAF &
DUMB- 14-25: (1).
1830/ Pg.188/Ln.795/ Taliaferro, Philip --- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (36), WHITE MALES:
10 under 15: (1), 15 under 20: (1), 40 under 50: (1), WHITE FEMALES: 20 under 30: (2),
MALE SLAVES: 10 under 24: (6), 24 under 36: (3), 36 under 56: (1), 56 under 100: (2),
FEMALE SLAVES: under 10: (4), 10 under 24: (5), 24 under 36: (4), 36 under 56: (1), 56
under 100: (2), FREE COLORED MALES: 24 under 36: (2), FREE COLORED FEMALES: 24
under 36: (1).
1830/ Pg.188/Ln.801/ Taliaferro, James P. --- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (40), WHITE MALES:
10 under 15: (1), 15 under 20: (1), 50 under 60: (1), WHITE FEMALES: 5 under 10: (2), 10
under 15: (2), 20 under 30: (1), 40 under 50: (1), MALE SLAVES: under 10: (8), 10 under
24: (6), 24 under 36: (2), 36 under 56: (2), 56 under 100: (2), FEMALE SLAVES: under 10:
(2), 10 under 24: (3), 36 under 56: (4), 56 under 100: (2).
In 1840, Dr. William Taliaferro, Philip Taliaferro, and James Baytop Taliaferro were
joined by their brother, George B. Taliaferro (1779 -1844). Matilda Ann Roane (1800-1867)
is listed next to her father, James Baytop Taliaferro. Her husband, Major Benjamin Roane
died in 1837 in King and Queen County, and she moved close to her family. Warner T.
Taliaferro, who is listed again, was the father of Gen. William Booth Taliaferro. He was the
highest ranking officer in the Civil War from Gloucester County.
Census records:
1840/ Pg.352/Ln.105/ Taliaferro, George B. --- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (16), WHITE
MALES: 10 under 15: (1), 20 under 30: (2), 30 under 40: (1), MALE SLAVES: under 10: (5),
(Continued on page 42)
Warner Throckmorton Taliaferro
State Senate
Taliaferro Family of Gloucester County, Virginia
Vol. 7, No. 1 40 June 2003
Descendants of William Taliaferro
King and Queen County, Virginia
1 Col. William Taliaferro, b. 1715, d. 1778
+Elizabeth Holden, b. abt 1719
2 Capt. Philip Taliaferro, b. 1745, d. 1791
+Sarah Baytop, b. abt 1745
3 Dr. William Taliaferro, b. 1770
+Mary Throckmorton, b. abt 1772
4 Warner Throckmorton Taliaferro, b. Mar 3, 1802, d. Oct 17, 1877
+Frances Booth, b. 1802, d. Apr 3, 1824
5 Gen. William Booth Taliaferro, b. Dec 28, 1822, d. Feb 28, 1898
+Sally Nivison Lyons, b. Jan 4, 1828, d. Oct 18, 1899
*2nd wife of Warner Throckmorton Taliaferro:
+Leah Sedden, b. Feb 27, 1810, d. Aug 12, 1895
5 Philip Alexander Taliaferro, b. Jun 11, 1827, d. Jun 27, 1901
+Sarah L. McCandish, b. 1829
5 Susan Sedden Taliaferro, b. Nov 27, 1829
5 Thomas Sedden Taliaferro, b. 1831
5 Warner Throckmorton Taliaferro, Jr, b. 1833
5 Edwin Taliaferro, b. 1836
*2nd wife of William Taliaferro:
+Harriet Throckmorton, b. abt 1780
4 Col. Alexander Galt Taliaferro, b. 1808
4 Dr. William Taliaferro, Jr, b. 1812, d. Jul 14, 1870
3 James Baytop Taliaferro, b. Apr 4, 1775, d. Aug 14, 1841
+Catherine Booth, b. Dec 23, 1779, d. Nov 3, 1823
4 Philip Taliaferro, b. Nov 18, 1796, d. Jan 9, 1819
4 Mary Booth Taliaferro, b. Jan 2, 1799, d. Sep 13, 1801
4 Matilda Ann Taliaferro, b. Sep 3, 1800, d. Apr 17, 1867
+Major Benjamin Roane, b. Jan 23, 1785, d. May 1, 1837
5 Emily Catherine Roane, b. Mar 30, 1829, d. Dec 9, 1901
+Junius Brutus Browne, b. Sep 12, 1830, d. Aug 9, 1878
5 George Alvin Roane, b. Aug 1, 1834, d. Jun 4, 1868
+Margaret Ann Booth, b. abt 1845, d. 1921
5 Harriet Elizabeth Roane, b. Nov 23, 1837, d. Mar 17, 1916
+Samuel Franklin Roane, b. Jul 25, 1821, d. Oct 20, 1877
4 Mary Frances Taliaferro, b. Feb 12, 1803, d. Jan 3, 1827
+Richard Shackleford, b. Dec 18, 1801, d. May 1858
4 George Booth Taliaferro, b. Mar 10, 1805
4 Sarah Baytop Taliaferro, b. Apr 14, 1807, d. Jun 5, 1885
+William Ward Spencer, b. Dec 22, 1801, d. Jul 10, 1865
4 Eliza Ellen Taliaferro, b. Aug 23, 1809, d. Apr 27, 1823
4 James William Taliaferro, b. Oct 14, 1812, d. Aug 17, 1814
4 Thomas Booth Taliaferro, b. Aug 16, 1816, d. May 31, 1879
+Mary Munford Sinclair, b. 1822, d. 1902
Taliaferro Family of Gloucester County, Virginia
Vol. 7, No. 1 41 June 2003
4 Harriet Amanda Taliaferro, b. Sep 30, 1818, d. Jul 6, 1872
+Charles Carter Field, b. 1822
4 Margaret Catherine Taliaferro, b. Apr 23, 1822, d. Sep 3, 1836
*2nd wife of James Baytop Taliaferro:
+Elizabeth L. Hackney, b. 1786
3 Rev. Philip Taliaferro, b. Oct 3, 1779, d. May 11, 1848
+Mary Fanny Oliver
4 James Oliver Taliaferro
+Lucy Taylor
*2nd wife of Philip Taliaferro:
+Elizabeth Piemont
3 Richard Taliaferro, b. abt 1777
+Margaret Holden Stubbs, b. abt 1777
3 George B. Taliaferro, b. abt 1779
+Louisa Dixon
3 Thomas Taliaferro, b. abt 1783
+Sarah Oliver
3 Mary (Polly) Taliaferro, b. abt 1785
+Matthew Kemp, b. 1780
3 John Taliaferro, b. abt 1789
3 Sarah Taliaferro, b. abt 1789
2 Mary Holden Taliaferro, b. abt 1747
+George Booth, b. abt 1745, d. 1786
3 Anne Buckner Booth, d. 1820
+Stephen Field, b. 1747, d. Apr 3, 1798
3 Sarah Booth, b. abt 1753
+Thomas Baytop, b. Oct 11, 1751, d. Oct 11, 1812
3 Catherine Booth, b. Dec 23, 1779, d. Nov 3, 1823
+James Baytop Taliaferro, b. Apr 4, 1775, d. Aug 14, 1841
(Family record given previously.)
2 Katherine Holden Taliaferro, b. abt 1749
+John Stubbs
2 Richard Taliaferro, b. 1751
+Elizabeth ?
Chart compiled from:
Stubbs, Dr. and Mrs. William Carter, Two Virginia Families: Descendants of Mordicai
Cooke and Thomas Booth. New Orleans: published privately, 1925.
Rootsweb database: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/
Taliaferro Family of Gloucester County, Virginia
Vol. 7, No. 1 42 June 2003
10 under 24: (2), 24 under 36: (1), FEMALE SLAVES: 10 under 24: (2), 24 under 36: (2),
Persons employed in- Agriculture: (1), C: (3).
1840/ Pg.352/Ln.106/ Taliaferro, James B. ---
TOTAL RESIDENTS: (47), WHITE MALES: 60 under 70:
(1), WHITE FEMALES: 15 under 20: (2), 30 under 40:
(1), 50 under 60: (1), MALE SLAVES: under 10: (8), 10
under 24: (11), 24 under 36: (2), 36 under 56: (3), 56
under 100: (2), FEMALE SLAVES: under 10: (7), 10
under 24: (4), 24 under 36: (1), 36 under 56: (4),
Persons employed in- Agriculture: (18).
1840/ Pg.360/Ln.352/ Roane, Matilda A. --- TOTAL
RESIDENTS: (10), WHITE MALES: under 5: (1), WHITE
FEMALES: under 5: (1), 5 under 10: (1), 30 under 40:
(1), 40 under 50: (1), MALE SLAVES: 10 under 24: (1),
56 under 100: (1), FEMALE SLAVES: under 10: (1), 10
under 24: (1), 24 under 36: (1), Persons employed in-
Agriculture: (2).
1840/ Pg.360/Ln.353/ Taliaferro, Philip --- TOTAL
RESIDENTS: (38), WHITE MALES: 20 under 30: (1), 60
under 70: (1), WHITE FEMALES: 30 under 40: (1), MALE
SLAVES: under 10: (6), 10 under 24: (3), 24 under 36:
(6), 56 under 100: (2), FEMALE SLAVES: under 10: (7),
10 under 24: (3), 24 under 36: (3), 36 under 56: (4), 56
under 100: (1), Persons employed in- Agriculture: (18).
1840/ Pg.361/Ln.390/ Taliaferro, William, Sr., Dr. --
- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (61), WHITE MALES: 10 under 15:
(1), 15 under 20: (1), 20 under 30: (1), 60 under 70: (1),
FREE COLORED MALES: 10 under 24: (1), FREE COLORED FEMALES: 36 under 56: (1),
MALE SLAVES: under 10: (8), 10 under 24: (7), 24 under 36: (7), 36 under 56: (4), 56
under 100: (2), FEMALE SLAVES: under 10: (7), 10 under 24: (5), 24 under 36: (8), 36
under 56: (7), Persons employed in- Agriculture: (18), PE: (2).
1840/ Pg.368/Ln.606/ Taliaferro, Warner T. --- TOTAL RESIDENTS: (128), WHITE
MALES: 5 under 10: (3), 10 under 15: (1), 15 under 20: (1), 40 under 50: (1), WHITE
FEMALES: 10 under 15: (1), 30 under 40: (1), MALE SLAVES: under 10: (13), 10 under 24:
(24), 24 under 36: (11), 36 under 56: (6), 56 under 100: (5), FEMALE SLAVES: under 10:
(14), 10 under 24: (18), 24 under 36: (20), 36 under 56: (4), 56 under 100: (5), Persons
employed in- Agriculture: (48), Manufactures & Trades: (15).
The Taliaferro family of Gloucester included physicians, lawyers, and gentlemen
farmers of large estates. In fact, the slave holdings of the Taliaferro households increased
from 38 in 1810 to 290 in 1840, the largest number in Gloucester County. These early
census records can be helpful in genealogical research, at least in some families. ‡
(Continued from page 39)
Gen. William Booth Taliaferro
CSA
Taliaferro Family of Gloucester County, Virginia
Vol. 7, No. 1 43 June 2003
Gloucester Mortality Schedule Taken with 1850 Census
Persons who died during the year ending 1st June, 1850
Submitted by Blondell Whiting
Transcribed by L. Roane Hunt
During our last GGSV meeting, Blondell Whiting shared photo -copies of the Mortality
Schedules for Gloucester County for 1850 and 1860. Roane Hunt transcribed them and
typed the data on MS WORD files. The individuals that had surnames on the 1850
Mortality Schedule are presented below. The microfilm record is available through local
library loan from The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA.
Symbols in the data: Sex – M: male, F: female; Race – W: white, B: black, M: mulatto; F:
free, S: slave; MS: married status, S: single, M: married, W: widow or widower; OCC:
Occupation. All we listed were born in Virginia.
Kemp, Mary, age: 37y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M, died
Dec 1849, CAUSE: childbirth, length of illness:
30d.
Riley, Susan, age: 30y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M, died
Sept 1849, length of illness: 30d.
Pointer, Frances, age: 1y, sex: F, race: W, died Oct
1849, CAUSE: pneumonia, length of illness:
7d.
Heath, Joseph, age: 45y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: harness maker, died May 1850, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Heath, Frances, age: 50y, sex: F, race: W, MS: W,
died Mar 1850, CAUSE: consumption, length
of illness: long.
Jones, Clarissia, age: 35y, sex: F, race: W, OCC:
seamstress, died June 1849, CAUSE: fits,
length of illness: 12d.
King, Rutha, age: 35y, sex: F, race: M/F, OCC:
laborer, died Apr 1850, CAUSE: childbirth,
length of illness: 10d.
French, Alice, age: 40y, sex: F, race: W, OCC:
seamstress, died Mar 1850, CAUSE: pleurisy,
length of illness: 60d.
Corbin, Ann, age: 80y, sex: F, race: W, MS: W,
OCC: seamstress, died Mar 1850, CAUSE:
bilious fever, length of illness: 6d.
Dobson, Alice R., age: 3y, sex: F, race: W, died
Sept 1849, length of illness: long.
Davis, Maria E., age: 37y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
died Mar 1850, CAUSE: diarrhea, length of
illness: 14d.
Lawson, Richard, age: 25y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
farmer, died Feb 1850, CAUSE: pleurisy,
length of illness: 6d.
Soles, Thomas H., age: 30y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: farmer, died Dec 1849, CAUSE: pleurisy,
length of illness: 21d.
Soles, Sarah, age: 6y, sex: F, race: W, died Sept
1849, CAUSE: bilious fever, length of illness:
15d.
Padget, Thomas, age: 25y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
laborer, died Dec 1849, CAUSE: dropsy,
length of illness: long.
Newcomb, Frances, age: 35y, sex: F, race: W, died
Dec 1849, length of illness: long.
Nelson, Robinson, age: 32y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
lawyer, died Mar 1850, CAUSE: pneumonia,
length of illness: 8d.
Dungy, Henry, age: 45y, sex: M, race: M/F, MS: M,
OCC: carpenter, died Sept 1849, CAUSE:
dropsy, length of illness: long.
Vol. 7, No. 1 44 June 2003
Borum, Stephen, age: 1m, sex: M, race: W, died
Mar 1850, length of illness: 1d.
Hudnall, Mary, age: 60y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
died Dec 1849, CAUSE: bilious fever, length of
illness: 45d.
Hudnall Jr., Stanley S., age: 28y, sex: M, race: W,
OCC: merchant, died Jan 1850, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Walden, William, age: 23y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
laborer, died Jan 1850, CAUSE: pneumonia,
length of illness: 3d.
Walden, Edward, age: 16y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
laborer, died Jan 1850, CAUSE: liver disease,
length of illness: long.
Lane, Keziah, age: 30y, sex: F, race: B/S, OCC:
laborer, died June 1849, CAUSE: smallpox,
length of illness: 15d.
Coatie, John, age: 26y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: farmer, died Mar 1850, length of illness:
long.
Coatie, Elizabeth, age: 24y, sex: F, race: W, MS: W,
died Mar 1850, CAUSE: pleurisy, length of
illness: 5d.
Lambough, William, age: 30y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: carpenter, died Mar 1850, CAUSE:
pleurisy, length of illness: 10d.
Morris, George, age: 30y, sex: M, race: M/F, MS: M,
OCC: oysterman, died May 1850, CAUSE:
pleurisy, length of illness: 30d.
Medlicott, Hester Ann, age: 1y, sex: F, race: W,
died June 1849, CAUSE: croup, length of
illness: 5d.
Enos, George, age: 56y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: millwright, died Mar 1850, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Gayle, Robert S., age: 1m, sex: M, race: W, died
Sept 1849, CAUSE: dysentery, length of
illness: 30d.
Ransone, Joyce, age: 47y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
died Sept 1849, CAUSE: shot, length of
illness: 40d.
Stubblefield, Foster, age: 11y, sex: M, race: W,
OCC: student, died July 1849, CAUSE:
dysentery, length of illness: 7d.
Leavit, Charles, age: 4y, sex: M, race: W, died July
1849, length of illness: long.
Leavit, Sarah F., age: 1m, sex: F, race: W, died July
1849, length of illness: 35d.
Summerson, Kingham, age: 5y, sex: M, race: W,
died Jan 1850, CAUSE: pneumonia, length of
illness: 14d.
Jordan, Mary, age: 21y, sex: F, race: M/F, OCC:
cook, died Dec 1849, CAUSE: childbirth,
length of illness: 2d.
Dutton, Schuyler, age: 31y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
blacksmith, died Jan 1850, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Kemp, Lucy, age: 5y, sex: F, race: W, died Nov
1849, CAUSE: brain fever, length of illness:
10d.
Booth, Thomas B., age: 19y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
student, died Sept 1849, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Montague, Mary, age: 65y, sex: F, race: B/S, OCC:
laborer, died May 1850, CAUSE: hemorrhage,
length of illness: long.
Montague, Elizabeth, age: 32y, sex: F, race: B/S,
died May 1850, CAUSE: dropsy, length of
illness: long.
Bray, Emily, age: 27y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M, died
Jan 1850, CAUSE: childbirth, length of illness:
1d.
Williams, Alicia, age: 22y, sex: F, race: W, died Apr
1850, length of illness: long.
Walker, Lucy, age: 70y, sex: F, race: W, died July
1849, CAUSE: dropsy, length of illness: long.
Shackleford, Mary J., age: 30y, sex: F, race: W, MS:
M, died Oct 1849, length of illness: long.
Waste, Rebecca, age: 25y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
died Dec 1849, length of illness: 8d.
Waste, William, age: 30y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: oysterman, died Dec 1849, CAUSE:
dysentery, length of illness: 6d.
West, James W., age: 65y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
died Dec 1849, CAUSE: dysentery, length of
illness: 5d.
Johnston, Elizabeth, age: 55y, sex: F, race: W, MS:
W, OCC: housewife, died July 1849, length of
illness: long.
Hall, Mary C., age: 11y, sex: F, race: W, died Jan
1850.
Hall, John, age: 16y, sex: M, race: W, OCC: farmer,
died June 1849, CAUSE: drowned, length of
illness: sudden.
Gloucester Mortality Schedule Taken with 1850 Census
Vol. 7, No. 1 45 June 2003
Padget, Mary J., age: 16y, sex: F, race: W, OCC:
seamstress, died Jan 1850, CAUSE: brain
fever, length of illness: 1d.
Padget, William E., age: 7y, sex: M, race: W, died
Jan 1850, CAUSE: brain fever, length of
illness: 3d.
Padget, James S., age: 4y, sex: M, race: W, died Jan
1850, CAUSE: brain fever, length of illness:
5d.
Wolf, Willington, age: 5y, sex: M, race: W, died Oct
1849, CAUSE: brain fever, length of illness:
1d.
Roane, Elizabeth M., age: 28y, sex: F, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: housewife, died Sept 1849, CAUSE:
congestient, length of illness: 8d.
Hall, Carry, age: 22y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
laborer, died Mar 1850, CAUSE: brain fever,
length of illness: 2d.
Fary, John P., age: 11y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
student, died Feb 1850, CAUSE: brain fever,
length of illness: 2d.
Edwards, Frances, age: 55y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: housewife, died Dec 1849, length of
illness: 6d.
Edwards, Joseph, age: 67y, sex: M, race: W, MS: W,
OCC: farmer, died Dec 1849, CAUSE: pleurisy,
length of illness: sudden.
Horsley, Franklin, age: 14y, sex: M, race: W, died
Nov 1849, CAUSE: pleurisy, length of illness:
6d.
Corr, James, age: 63y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
carpenter, died June 1849, CAUSE:
pneumonia, length of illness: 6d.
Blufoot, Elizabeth, age: 6m, sex: F, race: M/F, died
Sept 1849, CAUSE: ? fever, length of illness:
30d.
Sale, Rebecca, age: 8y, sex: F, race: W, died Feb
1850, CAUSE: brain fever, length of illness:
4d.
Caffee, Fanny B., age: 15y, sex: F, race: W, died
June 1849, CAUSE: measles, length of illness:
6d.
Walker, Ann E., age: 26y, sex: F, race: W, OCC:
housewife, died Aug 1849, CAUSE: dianhold?,
length of illness: 10d.
Taylor, Elizabeth, age: 30y, sex: F, race: B/F, died
July 1849, CAUSE: cholera, length of illness:
1d.
Morris, Frist?, age: 5y, sex: F, race: M/F, died Apr
1850, CAUSE: worms, length of illness: long.
Bramble, Augustine, age: 6y, sex: M, race: M/F,
died June 1849, CAUSE: brain fever, length of
illness: 6d.
Kevan, John W., age: 35y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
died Jan 1850, CAUSE: pleurisy, length of
illness: 3d.
Royster?, Henry F., age: 35y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: farmer, died July 1849, CAUSE:
cholera, length of illness: 6d.
Catlett, Tabb, age: 2y, sex: M, race: W, died June
1849, CAUSE: diarrhea, length of illness: 60d.
Hall, Lorenzo, age: 47y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: farmer, died Apr 1850, CAUSE: pleurisy,
length of illness: 5d.
Saunders, William, age: 50y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
W, OCC: sailor, died Aug 1849, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Smith, Armistead, age: 59y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: farmer, died Nov 1849, CAUSE:
pneumonia, length of illness: 20d.
Woodland, William, age: 45y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: oysterman, died Apr 1850, CAUSE:
pneumonia, length of illness: 14d.
Thompson, Rebecca, age: 85?y, sex: F, race: W,
MS: W, died July 1849, length of illness: 12d.
Williams, Mary A., age: 32y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: housewife, died 1850, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Pointer, Isaac, age: 30y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: farmer, died Dec 1849, CAUSE: cholera.
Fields, Susan, age: 30y, sex: F, race: W, died Oct
1849, CAUSE: dropsy, length of illness: long.
Gregory, Richard, age: 40y, sex: M, race: B/F, OCC:
farmer, died June 1849, CAUSE: cholera,
length of illness: 6d.
Hayes, Elizabeth, age: 40y, sex: F, race: B/F, OCC:
laborer, died June 1849, CAUSE: cholera,
length of illness: 1d.
Dungy, Jerry, age: 40y, sex: M, race: B/F, MS: M,
OCC: sawyer, died 1850, CAUSE: cholera,
length of illness: 6d.
Hill, Lucy C., age: 1y, sex: F, race: B/F, died July
1849, CAUSE: dysentery, length of illness: 7d.
Lemon, Mary E., age: 6y, sex: F, race: M/F, died
Oct 1849, CAUSE: dropsy, length of illness:
long.
Gloucester Mortality Schedule Taken with 1850 Census
Vol. 7, No. 1 46 June 2003
Smith, John W., age: 11y, sex: M, race: W, died
Sept 1849, CAUSE: drowned, length of illness:
sudden.
Watson, Margaret, age: 30y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
died Feb 1850, length of illness: 6h.
Brown, Elizabeth, age: 45y, sex: F, race: W, MS: W,
OCC: housekeeper, died Dec 1849, length of
illness: 7d.
Kenningham, Claiborne, age: 53y, sex: M, race: W,
MS: M, OCC: farmer, died Jan 1850, CAUSE:
pneumonia, length of illness: 9d.
Newcomb, Margaret, age: 4y, sex: F, race: W, died
Oct 1849, CAUSE: fits.
Hayes, Adeline, age: 6y, sex: F, race: W, died Sept
1849, CAUSE: bilious fever, length of illness:
15d.
Wise, Robert, age: 10m, sex: M, race: W, died June
1849, length of illness: 7d.
Oliver, Foster P., age: 14y, sex: M, race: W, died
May 1850, CAUSE: fits, length of illness: 6h.
Brown, Austin, age: 1y, sex: M, race: W, died Feb
1850, length of illness: 7d.
Barron, Ann H., age: 53y, sex: F, race: W, MS: W,
died Feb 1850, CAUSE: consumption.
Ambrose, William, age: 35y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: oysterman, died Sept 1849, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: long.
Huson?, Elizabeth, age: 30y, sex: F, race: W, OCC:
housekeeper, died June 1849, CAUSE: cholera,
length of illness: 10d.
Croswell, Mary T., age: 10y, sex: F, race: W, died
Oct 1849, CAUSE: fits, length of illness: 1d.
Blake, Sarah, age: 45y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M, died
Dec 1849, CAUSE: erysipelas, length of
illness: 7d.
Dunn, James H. , age: 22y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
farmer, died June 1849, CAUSE: scrofula,
length of illness: long.
Leavit, Mildred D., age: 90y, sex: F, race: W, died
Nov 1849, length of illness: 14d.
Jenkins, Elizabeth, age: 65y, sex: F, race: W, MS:
W, died Dec 1849, length of illness: long.
Jenkins, Elizabeth, age: 27y, sex: F, race: W, MS:
M, died Aug 1849, CAUSE: bilious fever,
length of illness: 35d.
Smith, Susan, age: 25y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: housewife, died Jan 1850, CAUSE:
burned, length of illness: 1d.
King, Ann E., age: 3y, sex: F, race: W, died June
1849, CAUSE: dysentery, length of illness: 1d.
Shackleford, George, age: 42y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: fisherman, died Apr 1850, length of
illness: 9d.
Lowery, Boswell W., age: 13y, sex: M, race: W, died
Aug 1849, length of illness: long.
Woodly, John, age: 5y, sex: M, race: W, died Mar
1850, CAUSE: pleurisy, length of illness: 21d.
Brushwood, William T., age: 18dy, sex: M, race: W,
died Mar 1850, length of illness: 4d.
Huson, William, age: 25y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
tailor, died Sept 1849, CAUSE: pleurisy, length
of illness: 6d.
Huson, John, age: 17y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
tailor, died Mar 1850, CAUSE: pleurisy, length
of illness: 2d.
Huson, Thomas, age: 3y, sex: M, race: W, died Mar
1850, length of illness: 3d.
Thornton, Sterling, age: 3m, sex: M, race: W, died
Dec 1849, CAUSE: croup, length of illness: 3d.
Norton, Elizabeth, age: 70y, sex: F, race: W, MS: W,
died Mar 1850, length of illness: 14d.
Wright, Nancy, age: 65y, sex: F, race: W, MS: W,
OCC: housewife, died Dec 1849, CAUSE:
dropsy, length of illness: long.
Montague, Lucy L., age: 2y, sex: F, race: W, died
Nov 1849, CAUSE: bilious fever, length of
illness: 2d.
Drummond, Elizabeth, age: 50y, sex: F, race: M/F,
died Dec 1849, length of illness: long.
Drummond, Matilda T., age: 16y, sex: F, race: M/F,
OCC: seamstress, died Mar 1850, CAUSE:
consumption, length of illness: 30d.
Morris, Carry, age: 13y, sex: M, race: B/F, OCC:
laborer, died May 1850, CAUSE: fits, length of
illness: 1d.
Gouldman, William, age: 33y, sex: M, race: B/F,
OCC: laborer, died Feb 1850, CAUSE: pleurisy,
length of illness: 14d.
Morris, Margaret A., age: 4m, sex: F, race: M/F,
died Mar 1850, length of illness: sudden.
Berry, Elizabeth, age: 4y, sex: F, race: B/F, died
Oct 1849, CAUSE: bilious fever, length of
illness: 4d.
Morris, George, age: 26y, sex: M, race: M/F, OCC:
oysterman, died May 1850, CAUSE: cholera,
length of illness: 10d.
Gloucester Mortality Schedule Taken with 1850 Census
Vol. 7, No. 1 47 June 2003
Wroten, Elizabeth, age: 37y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M,
died June 1849, length of illness: 15d.
Bramble, Catharine, age: 40y, sex: F, race: W, MS:
M, died July 1849, CAUSE: pneumonia, length
of illness: 6d.
Aharan, Richard T., age: 1dy, sex: M, race: W, died
Nov 1849, length of illness: sudden.
Deale, James, age: 30y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: fisherman, died Dec 1849, CAUSE:
dysentery, length of illness: 30d.
Massy, Robert, age: 39y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: farmer, died Dec 1849, length of illness:
1d.
Dutton, Wiley S., age: 24y, sex: M, race: W, OCC:
farmer, died Aug 1849, CAUSE: diarrhea,
length of illness: 30d.
Groom, Samuel, age: 97y, sex: M, race: W, MS: W,
OCC: farmer, died Mar 1850, CAUSE:
pneumonia, length of illness: 12d.
Pitts, ?, age: 34y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M, died Dec
1849, CAUSE: consumption, length of illness:
40d.
Bristow, John H., age: 1y, sex: M, race: W, died Oct
1849, length of illness: 4d.
Flemming, Thomas?, age: 39y, sex: M, race: W, MS:
M, OCC: farmer, died Dec 1849, CAUSE:
pleurisy, length of illness: 12d.
Flemming, Maria Ann, age: 6y, sex: F, race: W,
died Feb 1850, length of illness: 8d.
Jenkins, Grace, age: 5m, sex: M, race: W, died July
1849, CAUSE: dysentery, length of illness: 7d.
Deale, Jarvis, age: 40y, sex: M, race: W, MS: M,
OCC: farmer, died Oct 1849, CAUSE:
dysentery, length of illness: 3d.
Hogg, Jane A., age: 81y, sex: F, race: W, died Sept
1849, CAUSE: dropsy, length of illness: 6d.
Teagle, Penelope, age: 5m, sex: F, race: W, died
June 1849, length of illness: 7d.
Acra, Susan, age: 22y, sex: F, race: W, MS: M, died
Dec 1849, CAUSE: sore throat, length of
illness: 14d.
Gloucester Mortality Schedule Taken with 1850 Census
GGSV Board for 2003 standing from l to r: Roger C. Davis, president; Robert W.
Plummer, treasurer; Harry Jordon, member-at-large; Martha T. Morton, secretary;
seated from l to r: Theresa Denby, historian; Roane Hunt, past-president; Philip
M. Morton, vice-president.
Vol. 7, No. 1 48 June 2003
Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia
Images from past meetings…
…for our distant members.
Harriet Cowen contributed to our
December 1999 issue
Ben Borden was our speaker at
our September1999 meeting
Clyde H. Ratcliffe spoke to our
Society May 22, 2000
Walter and Joan Stubbs enjoy
Phyllis Hunt’s refreshments