The Family Tree Searcher

Volume 16 - Number 1 June 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The 1940 Census...... 2 By Kathy Merithew and Lee Brown Dunston and Teagle Descendents of Thomas Evans...... 3 By L. Roane Hunt Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting ...... 12 By Barbara J. Ward Moody House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point—1845-1865...... 19 By L. Roane Hunt The Roads of Gloucester County 1866-1867...... 27 By William L. Lawrence Actions Recorded in Local Court Minutes of Gloucester County in Early 1861 ...... 31 By William L. Lawrence The Family of James Clack...... 35 By Lee Brown 1796 Tax Related Documents for Gloucester County, Virginia ...... 42 By L. Roane Hunt GGSV Publications Available by Mail Order...... Inside back cover

Visit the website for Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaggsv/ [email protected]

The 1940 Census—

In 1940, Glenn Miller recorded “In the Mood,” Ida May Fuller became the first person to receive social security benefits, and the price of a gallon of gas was 18 cents. And, during the spring of the year, the United States conducted its sixteenth census of the population. On April 2, 2012, seventy-two years from when the 1940 census was conducted, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) made the 1940 census available to the public for the first time. Through a partnership between NARA and archives.org, the official web site for the 1940 census is http://1940census.archives.gov (see below for other sites that also provide access). The 1940 census was conducted during a momentous time in our nation's history, as the Great Depression was winding down and not long before our entry into World War II. More information regarding how 1940 compared to previous census enumerations as well as the 2010 census may be discovered at http://www.census.gov/1940census and select 1940 Census Facts for Features. The un-indexed 1940 census is available at several online sites: ancestry.com, familysearch.org, myheritage.com, archives.com, and findymypast.com. Each site is working on its index to the 1940 census, and the completion of a state’s index will vary site by site. One way to follow the indexing status is to read the blog of The Ancestry Insider at http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com. However, the lack of an index does not preclude browsing the census. Each of the sites has its own browsing tool, usually a technique that will convert 1930 census enumeration districts to the 1940 districts. Once the 1940 enumeration district is known, browsing is fairly straightforward. Of course, we all want an every-name index and that is being accomplished via volunteers. If indexing is something in which you might be interested, please check out the indexing volunteer opportunities on any of the sites. Kathy Merithew

P.S. from the editor: I used the ancestry.com site and after a little initial confusion managed to locate the link to their 1940 census data. I selected Virginia, then Gloucester County, and then the Ware district (“Populated Place,” as they call it). That showed me two enumeration districts: 37-8 and 37-9 (it turns out that enumeration district 37 is Gloucester County and 58 is Mathews County). So I started with 37-8 and there were my grandparents, mother, aunt, and uncle in the center of the first page! Well, that was easy. What you see are the digital images of the census sheets filled in by the census taker. Frank Jarvis handled 37-8, and I have to say he doesn’t seem to have been the neatest fellow in the county. But, Jeff Sinclair did 37-9, and I think he let a chicken fill in the form. We’re going to need some indexers who will recognize our local names. Lee Brown, Editor

Vol. 16, No. 1 2 June 2012

Dunston and Teagle Descendents of Thomas Evans

By L. Roane Hunt

It is our pleasure to announce a new discovery of original Gloucester documents from 1835. Recently, Betty Lou Dunston Kopczynski, a lifelong resident of York County, approached the Gloucester Museum of History with scrapbooks containing her family history in photographs and descriptions of each. Betty Lou is a member of the first graduating class of York High School in 1955. She married Vincent Paul “Ski” Kopczynski, and they have three sons. The photo inset was taken in the early 1970s. She is the daughter of Edgar Hansford Dunston and Mary Oneda Shackelford from Gloucester County. Betty Lou Dunston Her interest in family history was stirred with the estate sale of Kopczynski her great-aunt, Rosa Dunston Hall. Rosa had married Silas Columbus Hall, and they operated a small store in the Hayes community of Gloucester. They had no children, so their estate was settled with an auction sale. Betty Lou managed to purchase a small trunk containing some personal belongings of her Aunt Rosa. The trunk contained many photographs of the Dunston and Teagle families, and her father was able to identify most of the people and places of each. Betty Lou used her scrapbook hobby skills to preserve the documents from Aunt Rosa’s trunk for her father’s family. She also documented her mother’s Shackelford family in a separate album. See photograph of both scrapbooks below. Aunt Rosa’s trunk also contained eleven pages from a store account book of Thomas Evans dated 1835- 1837. Individual purchases of twenty-seven patrons were recorded on both sides of each page. Immediately, questions arose. Why were these documents in Aunt Rosa’s trunk? Who was Thomas Evans? And, where was his store located? An examination of Betty Lou’s pedigree chart on the next page suggests the path by which the account pages were passed down to Aunt Photograph of open Dunston scrapbook on left and closed Rosa. Rosa was the sister of Shackelford scrapbook on right

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Ancestors of Betty Lou Dunston Kopczynski

Richard D. Dunston James Edward Dunston Jasper Clayton Hughes Jr. Susan E. Hughes Signora Buckner James Patrick Dunston Thomas C. Teagle John A. Teagle Catherine Elizabeth Evans Asenath Elizabeth Teagle John Hall Martha Ellen Hall Asenath ? Edgar Hansford Dunston b. 1907, d. 1985 William Ambrose Michael Ambrose ? ? Henry Hansford Ambrose William Taylor Heywood Elizabeth Heywood Elizabeth ? Mary Lee Inez Ambrose Smith R. Carmine James Mitchell Carmine Elizabeth Grant Alexiana Virginia Carmine Nathaniel Fosque Margaret Ann Fosque Margaret Stevens Betty Lou Dunston , m. Vincent Paul Kopczynski George Shackelford James Shackelford Elizabeth Moore James Richard Shackelford Meade Walker Ellen Adaline Walker Vincent Hudson Maria J. Hudson Mildred Shackelford Mary Oneda Shackelford b. 1910, d. 1988 William Brown William Brown Jr. Susan ? Iverson W. Brown Mildred Amelia West Mary Mamie Brown William Bonneville Burwell Bonneville Elizabeth ? Irinthia Bonneville Leyburn Sparrow Emily Sparrow Nancy ?

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James Patrick Dunston, Betty Lou’s grandfather. His grandmother was Asenath Teagle who was the granddaughter of Catherine Evans who was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Evans. It appears that credit is due to Asenath Teagle Dunston, Rosa Dunston Hall, and Betty Lou for the preservation of these documents.

Ancestors of Betty Lou Betty Lou descended from Richard D. Dunston, her great-great-grandfather. He had at least six children by his first wife. His second wife was Susan Hughes, widow of Henry Stubblefield. Susan Hughes was the great-great-granddaughter of Rev. Thomas Hughes, Anglican minister in Gloucester, and John Clayton, internationally known botanist and Gloucester clerk of court. As previously mentioned, James Edward Dunston married Asenath Teagle who descended from Teagle and Evans families of southern Gloucester County. Their son, James Patrick Dunston, married Inez Ambrose who descended from the Ambrose, Carmine, and Fosque families of the southwestern part of the county. Betty Lou’s mother descended from the Shackelford, Moore, Walker, Hudson, Brown, West, Bonniville, and Sparrow families of the southeastern part of Gloucester County (Guinea). Four generations: Steve, Betty Lou, Mary Oneda Shackelford Betty Lou is shown in the Dunston, and Mamie Brown Shackelford adjacent photograph with her son, mother and maternal grandmother.

The Family of James Edward Dunston and Asenath Teagle James and Asenath had at least eight children that reached adulthood as shown in the family chart on the next page. Most of the photographs in Aunt Rosa’s trunk were taken of this Dunston family. Family photographs are also shown on the next page including James Edward Dunston in the lower left of the page. Asenath Dunston is shown on the upper right with two young sons and Asenath many years later in the lower right. Their oldest son, Charles, married Georgia Smith, and their daughter was the mother of Carmen Rigau Stanford. Carmen shared about her family in a previous Family Tree Searcher (FTS, Vol. 13, No. 2, December 2009).

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Family of James Edward & Asenath Teagle Dunston

James Edward Dunston , b. 1849, m. 1874, d. 1907 +m. Asenath Elizabeth Teagle , b. 1852, d. 1929 Mattie S. Dunston , b. 1875, d. 1876 Charles Hall Dunston , b. 1876, d. 1946 +m. Georgia Aldine Smith , b. 1875, d. 1957 Bertha Elda Dunston , b. 1900, d. 1989 +m. Feliz Rosa Rigau , b. 1894, d. 1954 John Edward Dunston , b. 1880, d. 1942 +m. Blanch Estelle Beechman , b. 1881, d. 1953 James Patrick Dunston , b. 1883, d. 1959 +m. Mary Lee Inez Ambrose , b. 1882, d. 1975 Edgar Hansford Dunston , b. 1907, d. 1985 +m. Mary Oneda Shackelford , b. 1910, d. 1988 Hattie Elizabeth Dunston , b. 1886, d. 1958 Janice Anderson Dunston , b. 1886, d. 1962 +m. Carneal Ambrose , b. 1878, d. 1977 Walter Teagle Dunston , b. 1889, d. 1968 +m. Mary Jane Teagle , b. 1889, d. 1927 Cora Lee Dunston , b. 1891 +m. Thomas Carroll Hall , b. 1886 Rosa Virginia Dunston , b. 1891, d. 1963 +m. Silas Columbus Hall , b. 1890, d. 1962

John Edward Dunston, Asenath Dunston, and James Patrick Dunston

Asenath Elizabeth Teagle Dunston James Edward Dunston

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Asenath, James Edward Dunston, and their son John Dunston standing in front of their home. The woman on the left is unidentified.

James and Asenath are shown above standing in front of their home in the Hayes community. Asenath is wearing a black dress standing next to her taller husband. This photograph illustrates the reason she was known by her nickname, “Tiny.” Also, in the picture is their son, John, standing by the horse. Asenath had to find means of support because her husband died in 1907 at the age of 57. One of these means was to take in boarders. Some of the women teachers of the nearby Hayes School boarded with her, and during the war years, soldiers also boarded there. Shown on the next page is a group photograph of Asenath with her four daughters, two grandchildren, two teachers, and four soldiers. The bottom picture on the next page shows Aunt Rosa Dunston Hall standing with Malcolm Dunston in front of her home in the Hayes community. The 1835 store account pages were kept by Rosa in this house until her death in 1963. It was at the liquidation of her estate that Betty Lou James Patrick and Mary Lee purchased these documents. Inez Ambrose Dunston

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Cora Asenath Annie Rosa Hattie

Lucille

Edith

Asenath Dunston and daughters, Annie, Cora, Hattie, and Rosa; granddaughters Lucille and Edith (daughters of James P. Dunston); four soldiers; and two teachers.

Rosa Dunston Hall and Malcolm Dunston standing in front of her home (inset photograph of Rosa in upper right corner)

Vol. 16, No. 1 8 June 2012 Dunston and Teagle Descendents of Thomas Evans

James Patrick was the third son of James Edward Dunston and Asenath Teagle, and he married Mary Lee Inez Ambrose. They had four children: Edgar Hansford, Lucille, Malcolm, and Edith. They made their home near his mother in the Hayes community. Edgar married Mary Oneda Shackelford, and their only child was Betty Lou.

Edgar Hansford Dunston Edgar grew up in the Hayes community of Gloucester County. In 1921, at the age of fourteen, he went to work in Yorktown as a truck driver for George P. Blow (owner of the Nelson House). A year later, he began working for Howard Ferris Jr. at the Yorktown Hotel and the farm which was part of the Yorktown battlefield. In 1923, Yorktown Hotel was purchased from Mr. Leslie R. O’Hara by Judge Howard Ferris (1853-1930) who had retired to Yorktown after serving on the court in Cincinnati, OH. Edgar Dunston is listed as part of the Ferris household in the 1930 census. Apparently they were living in the Monument Lodge owned by Judge Ferris. Others listed as living at the lodge were the judge’s wife, son, and daughter-in-law. Edgar was twenty- two years old and single but married later that year. Judge Ferris was instrumental in procuring the Yorktown battlefield for the National Park Service (NPS). He had personal influence with Stephen Mather, the director of NPS, since they had been schoolmates. Judge Ferris died in 1930, but Howard Jr., Mr. O’Hara, a very successful businessman, and William T. Ashe, owner of the York Edgar Hansford Dunston (hands on hips) stands in front of River Ferry, succeeded in Howard Ferris’s airplane. Edgar accompanied Howard Jr. on procuring the one thousand many trips in his airplane. and seventy-three acres for the park service. This was completed before the “Sesquicentennial of 1931,” celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Yorktown Victory. Edgar Dunston benefited from his association with Judge Ferris, Mr. O’Hara, Mr. Ashe, and from the purchase of the battlefield by the NPS. After the hotel was sold in 1931, he accepted employment with the NPS at Yorktown and was foreman of maintenance until his retirement in 1965.

Thomas Evans’s Store Aunt Rosa’s trunk also contained eleven pages from a store account book of Thomas Evans dated 1835-1837. Individual purchases of twenty-six patrons were recorded on both sides of each page. Immediately, questions arose. Why were these documents contained in Aunt Rosa’s trunk? Again we wonder, who was Thomas Evans? And, where was his store located?

Vol. 16, No. 1 9 June 2012 Dunston and Teagle Descendents of Thomas Evans

In the pedigree chart of Edgar Dunston on page 4, his great-great-grandmother was Catherine Elizabeth Evans. She was the wife of Thomas C. Teagle. In her death record, her parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Evans. Therefore, Thomas Evans was the great-great- great-grandfather of Edgar. Thomas Evans is listed in the Gloucester census for 1810-1830; the 1820 records list him in commerce. From the census record, Thomas’s birth date is estimated to be about 1774. On October 6, 1817, Thomas Evans paid $13.12½ for a retail merchant license and renewed his license through 1839. On May 4, 1840, Thomas Teagle paid $20 for a retail merchant license to operate his father-in-law’s store but did not renew his license the following year. According to the land tax records, Thomas Evans was assessed tax on 20 acres transferred to him from Atwood Cluverius. This property was located near the Severn River, 16 miles southeast of the Court House. In 1820, the value of the building on this property was listed at $100. In 1825, the location of this property was listed near Sarah's Creek. In 1840, Thomas Evans was charged for 122.5 acres located near Sarah’s Creek with a building value of $200. In the following year, his property was listed as an estate indicating his death probably occurred in 1840. In 1842, Thomas Evans’s widow, Elizabeth, was listed with 5 acres including the buildings worth $200.

1835 Store Accounts A list of the store patrons is presented in the table on the next page followed by the image of a portion of William Tilledge’s account page. Many of the well known names of southern Gloucester County are included: Belvin, Jenkins, Rowe, Ransone, Anderton, Haywood, Hall, Tilledge, Pointer, Diggs, and Shackelford. Other names more known in the past were Camp, Hobday, Dews, Dobson, and Stoakes. William Hobday was the owner of “Little England ,” and Edward P. Dobson was one of the heirs of the Dobson estate that included much of Guinea Neck. Each line of the accounts includes the date, multiple items, and their price. Various “shorthand” symbols are used that were difficult to interpret. Therefore, the summation of each line could not be resolved to equal the apparent total given on the right edge of each line. Expert analysis is required to explain the accounting methods used in these books. The list includes a wide variety of items sold in the store of Thomas Evans. Beverages included coffee, tea, whisky, wine, and rum. Basic food items were included: cheese, bacon, eggs, and shad. Other items for cooking included sugar, flour, pepper, salt, vinegar, and molasses. Also, chocolate and tobacco were listed. There were many items useful for the household: soap, starch, combs, paper, coffee pots, tin pans, tin cans, pitchers, milk pots, sisyars [sic], shoes, and hats. There were many items for sewing: cotton, flannel, satin, calico, muslin, silk, indigo, ribbons, buttons, and knitting needles. Miscellaneous items included fish hooks, shot, nails, shingles, bed cords, and pad locks. Many of the purchases seemed to be in bulk quantities which we would associate with a modern “big box store.” Members of the Teagle and Dunston families preserved these documents to be discovered and published for all. The records describe a little of Gloucester life in 1835. Also, it encourages more of us to look into the trunks in our attics and reveal more of our history.

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Page Name Page Name ? William S. Camp 27 Catherin Hall ? Thomas Newton 28 James Anderton 9 Isaac Pointer 29 William Tilledge 10 Jesse Diggs 30 Edward Walden 11 John Belvin 33 Mary Hobday 12 David Jenkins 34 Zachariah Dues 13 James White 35 Edward P. Dobson 14 George Callis 36 Charles S. Chilton 14 John Camp 39 Charles Leavitt's Children 15 Leverston Rowe 40 Thomas Stoakes 15 William T. Ransone 43 William Hobday 16 Hansford Rowe 44 Frances W. Diggs 21 Isaac Anderton 45 George Callis 22 James Haywood 46 John Shackelford

Vol. 16, No. 1 11 June 2012

Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting

By Barbara J. Ward Moody

Zachariah Taylor WHITING was born a slave on August 3, 1850 [2] to Daniel and Hannah (BOOTH SMITH) WHITING (b. 1816) in Gloucester County, Virginia. [3] He descended from Adam (d. Jan 4,1860 or 1869) [4] and Elizabeth WHITING [5] of Gloucester County. His maternal grandmother was brought here from Africa. [6] The slave owner was R. B. Lawson. Zachariah bought his first Bible but could not read it. To learn to read, Zachariah bought a spelling book and took lessons from the Lawson children. [7] “Even after freedom there was for some years no chance at schooling except by going to someone at night which he did. Later on when a man grown, he was able to arrange with the school board and get four years in public school and even then profoundly impressed that his life work must be the Gospel ministry, he studied hard and finally got another two years in the Richmond Theological Seminary.” [8] Rev. WHITING received a teaching certificate and taught for 15 years. He “professed religion in 1865 and was baptized Reverend Zachariah Taylor WHITING This picture hangs in the First United by Rev. William S. Hawkins (white) .” Baptist Church [1]

1. Church address: 6188 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester, VA. Photo courtesy of the church; Henrietta S. Woods, Church Clerk 2. See Notes for alternate spellings of first name and birthdates. 3. Author’s Notes: June 26-July 1, 2000 and History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition edited by A. B. Caldwell and Hampton University Library: 1880 Census 4. Author’s Notes: June 26-July 1, 2000; Gloucester Co. & York Co. Census records & marriage records & Blondell WHITING email 5. “The Preacher Puts the Leaves on the Tree ” newspaper article featuring Blondell WHITING 6. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition edited by A. B. Caldwell; pgs 596-597 (PDF version, pgs 736-737) 7. Twenty-Five Years of History of the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers: 1881-1905 by William Patrick Burrell, and D. E. Johnson, Sr.; Richmond, VA, 1909 8. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition ” edited by A. B. Caldwell

Vol. 16, No. 1 12 June 2012 Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting

In reviewing his life Mr. WHITING considers that attendance at Sunday School, reading the Bible, and constant prayer were the influential factors in shaping his career. Living remote from great libraries, he has bought such good books as he could afford, but the Bible has been his [constant] companion and never failing source of inspiration and help. He was a republican and for 15 years a judge of elections [and held] memberships in Odd Fellows, Masons, and Knights of Gideon. [9] He was a traveling minister. [10] On August 29, 1868, Taylor WHITING, at 21 years old, a colored farmer, son of Daniel and Hannah WHITING was married by Rev. William E. Wiatt to Louisa SINGLETON, age 21 years, colored, daughter of Wallace & Fanny SINGLETON. [11] Taylor WHITING, age 25, is listed in the 1870 US Federal Census with his first wife, Louisa, age 24, living in Abingdon, Gloucester County, VA. Son, James Taylor WHITING was born in 1872 to Zachariah and Louisa SINGLETON WHITING in Abingdon, Gloucester, VA. Zachariah married Louisa SINGLETON of Gloucester County on July 16, 1873. Louisa’s parents are Wallace (b. 1814-d. 1879) and Fannie (b. 1819-d. 1892) SINGLETON. [12] Louisa brought a daughter, Delcey (Delsy/Delsie) SINGLETON, born 1867 (father unknown) to the marriage. [13] In October 1873, a son, Pleasant S. WHITING, was born to Zachariah and Louisa. [14] Louisa died on July 12, 1874, at 26 years of age from dropsey. [15] The VA Death Collection lists a death date of May 1870 (a transcription error?) with consumption as the cause. Another tragedy happens at the same time; a son, “Infant” WHITING was born and died at one month old of consumption. [16] It appears that Zachariah’s son, Pleasant, went to live with his mother’s family, the SINGLETONS, after Louisa’s death. Pleasant is listed as a grandson in the 1880 US Federal Census and as an “adopted son” in the 1900 Census. On March 6, 1877, Zachariah was ordained a Baptist minister in the First Baptist Church of Gloucester for Shiloh Baptist Church, James City, VA. He became pastor of that church (March 1878) and had served there for 43 years by 1921. [17] Church records for First Baptist Church state it was organized and purchased from Old Glebe Meeting House in 1898. [18]

9. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition ” edited by A. B. Caldwell 10. Souvenir Program of The First United Baptist Church, Gloucester, VA, 1st Annual Homecoming Day Observances Sept. 2, 1962; 1st Anniversary of Church & its Pastor, Dec. 2, 1962 11. ‘Virginia Marriages All” (Pg.69/Ln.655)” http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaggsv/marriages__all.htm 12. Blondell WHITING email Aug. 12, 2002 13. “Marlfield: Family of Wallace SINGLETON (SINCLAIR)” by Caroline BAYTOP SINCLAIR; The Family Tree Searcher, vol. 8, No. 2; December 2004 14. 1880 US Federal Census 15. Blondell WHITING email July 19, 2002 16. FamilySearch.org 17. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition ” edited by A. B. Caldwell 18. Souvenir Program of The First United Baptist Church, Gloucester, VA, 1st Annual Homecoming Day Observances Sept. 2, 1962; 1st Anniversary of Church and its Pastor, Dec. 2, 1962

Vol. 16, No. 1 13 June 2012 Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting

Zachariah married Clara Henrietta JACKSON (b. 2/3/1858-d. 3/11/1925) of Gloucester County on December 25, 1878. Clara’s parents are John and Laura JACKSON. [19] Zachariah was 28, a widower & farmer; his wife, Clara JACKSON, age 19, colored. They were married on Dec 24, 1878, by Rev. E. W. Page . [20] Son Samuel (Sam’l) Andrew WHITING was born in Abingdon District, Gloucester, to Zachariah and Clara on October 8, 1879. Zachariah Taylor WHITING, age 33, is listed in the 1880 US Federal Census with his wife Clara, age 25; his children by Louisa: James Taylor (8), Pleasant S. (7) and Samuel (Sam’l) Andrew WHITING (7 months). They are living in Abingdon, Gloucester County, and he is head of household. His occupation is listed as farm laborer and Baptist Preacher. Daughter Mary Frances WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara on April 3, 1881. Daughter Elizabeth J. WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara in February 1882. Son Joshue Frank WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara on November 8, 1884. Another daughter, Hannah A. WHITING, was born to Zachariah and Clara in October 1887. Son John Thomas WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara on March 8, 1889. Rev. WHITING entered the Theological Seminary in 1889 for 2 terms, [21] started preaching at Saint John Baptist Church, and graduated from Richmond Theological Seminary in 1890. First Baptist Church was renamed Union Prospect Baptist Church and Rev. WHITING became their third pastor. “After 20 years, First Baptist Church moved to Ordinary, VA, (its present location)…on US Highway, Rte. 17. Baptisms were held at Payne‘s Landing in Roanes, VA.” [22] “Rev. Zachariah never preached [at the] current church, First Baptist, but did pastor at [the] former one - Berea Baptist Church. After the old church was sold, his portrait was [hung in the new church].” [23] In the year 1892, daughter,Clara H. WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara. Rev. WHITING built and was pastor of Berea Baptist Church in Gloucester County, Virginia in 1893. [24] (The church was the white building across the street from Abingdon Church.) Rev. WHITING was “a strong and valiant man who gave forty odd years of his life to the spiritual and moral growth of this church. Under his superb guidance and inspiring leadership, pews were purchased, choir stand erected, electric lights installed and the church cemetery purchased.” [25] On July 6, 1894, George William WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara.

19. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition ” edited by A. B. Caldwell 20. Virginia Marriages All” (Pg.150/Ln.103) http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaggsv/marriages__141-150.htm 21. Twenty-Five Years of History of the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers: 1881-1905 by William Patrick Burrell, and D. E. Johnson, Sr.; Richmond, VA, 1909 22. Souvenir Program of The First United Baptist Church, Gloucester, VA, 1st Annual Homecoming Day Observances Sept. 2, 1962; 1st Anniversary of Church and its Pastor, Dec. 2, 1962 23. Blondell WHITING email July 29, 2002 24. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition ” edited by A. B. Caldwell 25. Souvenir Program of The First United Baptist Church, Gloucester, VA, 1st Annual Homecoming Day Observances Sept. 2, 1962; 1st Anniversary of Church and its Pastor, Dec. 2, 1962

Vol. 16, No. 1 14 June 2012 Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting

On February 8, 1895, daughter Madeline “Mattie” L. WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara. In a book on The Richmond Theological Seminary, Rev. WHITING is mentioned: “Rev. Z. Taylor WHITING, of Ordinary, Virginia, left school in 1890, and he has organized three churches, started three Sunday-schools, and has baptized 550 persons. He has also erected two church edifices. He reports: ‘Spiritually, the influence of the Seminary has been a permanent guide, and intellectually, a helper in solving the hard problems of life. I cannot express the gratitude I feel for the help I received from the Seminary.’” [26] In 1897, Rev. WHITING built and was pastor of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in York County, Virginia. By 1921, he had been their pastor for 24 years. At intervals, he also was pastor at New Zion Church, James City County; Second Baptist Church, James City County; Smithfield Baptist Church, Gloucester Co.; Ware Neck Church, Gloucester Co.; [27] and Union Prospect Baptist Church. [28] He was also Vice Monitor at Norfolk Union Baptist Association. “This is a remarkable record when we consider that he has for 30 to 40 years conterminously pastored three churches in three different counties, and sandwiched in four others at intervals.” [29] Rev. WHITING was a stand-in for the pastor at Morning Glory Baptist Church when their pastor was away. He was known as Rev. TAYLOR more than as Rev. WHITING. [30] In 1898, he joined “ The Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers ” and was made Messenger of his Fountain. In 1901, he was appointed Chief of the Gloucester Division…” Rev. WHITING often said, “If all the societies in existence among the Race were doing the work the True Reformers are, the 'race problem' would soon be solved, for all that is said about us and done to us, as a Race, is not on account of our color, but our condition. The True Reformers are not only doing a good work in relieving the distressed, lifting mortgages and securing homes, but giving our people a scientific education and wealth. These two things, with true religion, will solve any race problem. Its influence is felt throughout the width and breadth of the land." [31] Zachariah Taylor WHITING is listed as “Jachariah” (a transcription error) in the 1900 US Federal Census, age 49, with wife of 20 years, Clara H., age 45, and their children: Samuel (20), Mary F. (19), Elizabeth J. (18), Hannah A. (12), John Thomas (11), Clara H. (9), George W. (5), Madeline “Mattie” L. (3) and his mother, Hannah SMITH (83). All were living in the home in Abingdon, Gloucester County, Abingdon District. His occupation is listed as preacher. In 1903, daughter, Julia A. WHITING was born to Zachariah and Clara. Zachariah is listed as “ Zachary ” T. WHITING, age 58, in the 1910 US Federal Census along with his wife, Clara H., age 56, and their children: Clara H. (18), George (15), Madeline 26. A History Richmond Theological Seminary With Reminiscences of Thirty Years’ Work Among the Colored People of the South By H. Corey, President of Richmond Theological Seminary; 1895; “Letters from Students” pg. 169 27. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition ” edited by A. B. Caldwell 28. Souvenir Program of The First United Baptist Church, Gloucester, VA, 1st Annual Homecoming Day Observances Sept. 2, 1962; 1st Anniversary of Church and its Pastor, Dec. 2, 1962 29. History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition ” edited by A. B. Caldwell 30. Marguerite DAVENPORT via Calvin DAVENPORT email July 27, 2002 31. Twenty-Five Years of History of the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers: 1881-1905 by William Patrick Burrell, and D. E. Johnson, Sr.; Richmond, VA, 1909

Vol. 16, No. 1 15 June 2012 Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting

“Mattie” L. (13), and Julia A. (7). Family of Z. Taylor Whiting

Rev. WHITING is listed in the 1920 Adam WHITING , b. 1814, d. 1879 US Federal Census, age 68, with his wife, +m. Elizabeth ? , b. 1819, d. 1892 Clara H., age 64, and their children: Clara H. (27), George (23), Madeline “Mattie” L. Daniel WHITING , (22), Julia A. (17) and their grandchildren: +m. Hannah BOOTH SMITH , b. 1816 John T. (4 years, 6 months) and Catherine Zachariah Taylor WHITING , b. 1846, d. 1870 WHITING (3 years, 4 months). They lived +m. 1st Louisa SINGLETON , b. 1894, d. 1954 in Abingdon District, Gloucester Co. He Delcey SINGLETON CORBIN , b. 1867 owned his home free of mortgage and “Infant” WHITING , b. 1872 was a preacher in a church for wages. James Taylor WHITING , b. 1872 Both of his grandchildren were born in Pleasant S. WHITING , b. 1873 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. +m. 2nd Clara Henrietta JACKSON , b. 1855, d. 1925 After Clara’s death, Zachariah, 70, Samuel Adam WHITING , b. 1879 married widow Ida WALLACE, age 55, (b. Mary Frances WHITING , b. 1881 1871-d.?) of James City County on Elizabeth J. WHITING , b. 1882 October 7, 1926, in Gloucester Co., Joshue Frank WHITING , b. 1884 Virginia. Ida’s parents are John and Hannah A. WHITING , b. 1887 Rebecca. [32] John Thomas WHITING , b. 1889, d. 1976 Clara Henrietta WHITING , b. 1892 Z. Taylor WHITING, 70, is listed in George W. WHITING , b. 1894, d. 1984 the 1930 US Federal Census with his third Madeline “Mattie” L. WHITING PARHAM , b. 1895 wife, Ida WALLACE WHITING, 60, (b. Julia Ann WHITING PARHAM , b. 1903 1870-d. ?) living in Ordinary, Abingdon, +m. 3rd Ida WALLACE , b. 1871 Gloucester Co. (on the east side of concrete highway between Ordinary Post Office and White Marsh Post Office) with his children: Hannah A (35), [33] Julia A. (30). His home was valued at $1,500. It states he first married at age 20. He could read and write English. His occupation is listed as Baptist Minister. Hannah & Julia were both teachers by this time. After 46 years of service in 1938, Rev. WHITING resigned as pastor of Berea Church due to ill health. Five years later, Rev. Taylor WHITING died on February 28, 1943. (His gravestone states he died February 29.) His obituary is recorded in the March 4 issue of the Gazette-Journal : HIGHLY RESPECTED COLORED CITIZEN DIES Rev. Taylor WHITING, aged 102, died at his home at Ordinary at 5 a.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held at Berea Baptist Church, Thursday, afternoon at 1 o’clock, in charge of Rev. J. W. Lemon. Rev. WHITING was the first pastor of Berea church, resigning in 1938 because of ill health, after serving for 46 years. He was pastor of a church in James City county for 40 years before coming to Gloucester. A full account of the funeral will appear in next week’s paper. ~Gazette-Journal Thursday, March 4, 1943; Gloucester, VA

32. FamilySearch Collection. Virginia Marriages 1785-1940 33. 1930 US Federal Census typed version has a transcription error listing her age as 5

Vol. 16, No. 1 16 June 2012 Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting

Rev. WHITING’s gravesite is located in Berea Cemetery at Abingdon Episcopal Church on George Washington Highway near White Marsh, Virginia. He is buried beside his second wife, Mother Mrs. Clara Henrietta WHITING. [34]

End Notes: 1. Alternate name spellings: Taylor WHITING in 1870 Census for Gloucester Co.; Zakrahia, Z. T., Zacharah, J. Taylor WHITING in 1880, 1920 & 1930 US Federal Censuses; Zachary T. WHITING in 1910 Census; Zacari Taylor WHITING, age 33, born about 1847-49 (1880 Census at Hampton University Library); and Zack in the VA Births & Christenings, 1853-1917 (1894 entry). 2. Alternate birthdates for Zachariah: Aug. 1840 at Find-a-grave http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61404050; 1842 according to his gravestone & More Cemeteries of Gloucester Co., VA Berea Cemetery by Harry R. Jordan; 1845 in 1870 US Federal Census (USFC); 1847 in 1880 USFC; 1850 in History of the American Negro: Vol. V; Virginia Edition edited by A. B. Caldwell; 1900 USFC; 1852 in 1920 USFC; 1860 in 1930 USFC; 1855 in Twenty-Five Years of History of the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers: 1881-1905 by William Patrick Burrell, and D. E. Johnson, Sr.; Richmond, VA. 1909. 3. In 1865/1866, a “Taylor WHITING” is listed as a Negro worker for the Court ordered mandatory road crew (ages 16 or more) to work on Virginia’s Public Road No. 5 in the county where he resided. The order included whites and “the Black population, both free and enslaved.” Judging by the age and location, this could be our Zachariah. Source: “People of Color: Court Minutes 1859-1867” by Edward B. WASHINGTON; The Family Tree Searcher; Gloucester County Genealogical Society of VA; September 2011; Vol. 15; #2. 4. Rev. WHITING performed the marriage of daughter (or stepdaughter) Delcey SINGLETON, age 27y, daughter of Louisa SINGLETON on Mar 15 1894 to George CORBIN, age 33y, widower, farmer, son of William & Hannah CORBIN; (Pg.268/Ln.22/) . [35] 5. At least 75 marriages performed by Rev. WHITING can be found in “All Virginia Marriages” at Rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaggsv/marriages. 6. Regarding Zachariah’s obituary: “While this short obituary promises a longer article the following week, a search of papers for the rest of the month turned up nothing according to the research department at Gazette-Journal.” ~ Elsa Cook Verbyla; 8/31/2010 7. Clara H. JACKSON WHITING’s death certificate, tombstone, Rootsweb & Blondell WHITING’s email 3/4/2007 states birth date as 1866. 8. Pleasants S. WHITING’s birth year is listed as 1875 in the 1900 & 1910 Censuses. Did Pleasant marry Louisa Jane LANCASTER (b. abt 1879)? She was the daughter of Charles & Pinkey LANCASTER, residents of Abingdon, Gloucester Co.; and listed in the 1910 US Federal Census. 9. Ida WALLACE WHITING’s birthdate is listed as 1870 in the 1930 US Federal Census; maiden name unknown.

34. Photo at Findagrave.com; Memorial #: 61404050 35. Marriages All: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaggsv/marriages__all.htm

Vol. 16, No. 1 17 June 2012 Reverend Zachariah Taylor Whiting

10. Zachariah’s son, Sam’l Andrew WHITING may have moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after the 1900 US Federal Census. There is a Samuel WHITING, age 39, a Mulatto formally of Virginia, working as a fireman in a storehouse and married to Gabriella in the 1920 Census. 11. Zachariah’s daughter, Madeline “Mattie” WHITING PARHAM’s birth is listed as 1897 in the 1900 US Federal Census & Social Security Death Index. She died in 1994 and is buried at First United Baptist Church Cemetery, Gloucester. Photo at Findagrave.com; Memorial #: 61404816. Husband’s first name is not known at this time. 12. Zachariah’s daughter, Mary Frances WHITING, married William Andrew WALKER (b. 1881) on June 11, 1908. William’s parents: Simon WALKER and Eliza TURNER according to VA Birth Records via Familysearch.org. Mary’s middle initial was sometimes listed as “E.” 13. The 1910 Census lists George W. WHITING’s middle initial as “K” (transcription error). 14. Zachariah’s son, John Thomas WHITING, according to his WWI & II Draft Registration cards, was born on March 1, 1889. He was a laborer for the government in the Navy yard, Philadelphia, PA. He married Sara Elizabeth YATES (b. 4/16/1920-d. 7/7/2006). John T. died September 1976 in Philadelphia. 15. Zachariah’s daughter, Elizabeth, age 28, is found living in Baltimore, Maryland and working as a servant; living in the home of the Larus family in the 1910 US Federal Census. 16. Zachariah’s daughter, Hannah WHITING, passed away (about 1993) well into her 90s. [36] 17. Internet searches revealed little in clues to when most of Rev. WHITING’s children died. 18. Learn more about the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers at: http://www.vahistorical.org/tah/truereformers.htm#doc. 19. Information compiled with encouragement, inspiration, and a wealth of information from Blondell WHITING. Additional informational assistance was received from Rachel MUHAMMED & Calvin DAVENPORT.

36. Blondell WHITING email July 31, 2002 re: memory of meeting Rev. WHITING’s daughter, Hannah

Vol. 16, No. 1 18 June 2012

House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point 1845-1865

By L. Roane Hunt

Recently, the Gloucester Museum of History featured a document listing the house and yard servants of Eagle Point from 1845 to 1865 and signed by J. R. Bryan in January 1910. This was John Randolph Bryan Jr. (1841-1917) because the senior Bryan died in 1887. Actually, Bryan’s notation was, “Please revise, correct and return to me. J. R. Bryan, Jan. 1910.” The original list of twenty-one servants was typed, and it appears that the response to Bryan’s request was noted in script. It is not clear why the list started in 1845 because the Bryans purchased Eagle Point in 1830. Local historian, Joe Nicolson wrote in his notes: “Eagle Point” is situated on a land patent given to William Hurst in 1684 with about 300 acres (it was not part of “Warner Hall”). The central portion of the house was built by Col. John Lewis about 1793; a part of that house is presently incorporated in the present house. The schoolhouse part of it is original. It was sold by the Lewises to John Randolph Bryan (1806-1887) in 1830 who added the Eagle Point 1891 [2] western wing. He sold it to H. B. Janvier in 1870; Janvier was married to Bryan’s cousin Ellen Crevin of Louisiana. It was then sold to W. D. Withers in 1888 and inherited by William B. Withers who remodeled the house and sold it to Joseph Bryan (1845-1908) in 1901. Joseph Bryan subsequently remodeled and greatly enlarged the house. In 1918, the Eagle Point 1925 [2] Bryans sold it to Hartwig M. Barauch who also owned “White Marsh” at the time… [1]

1. Lawrence, William L., Old Houses, Mills, Churches and Historical Sites of Gloucester, Virginia, Published by Gloucester County Friends of the Museum, 2010. p. 56 2. Lawrence, William L., The Ferol Briggs Scrapbook of Gloucester and Mathews, Reproduced by the Gloucester Genealogical Society, 2011. pp. 154A-154C

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Family of John Randolph Bryan Sr.

John Randolph Bryan Sr. , b. 1806, d. 1887 +m. Elizabeth Tucker Coalter , b. 1805, d. 1856 John Coalter Bryan , b. 1831, d. 1853 Delia Bryan , b. 1833, d. 1902 +m. Dr. John Randolph Page , b. 1830, d. 1901 Frances Tucker Bryan , b. 1835, d. 1896 +m. Dr. Spotswood Wellford Carmichael , b. 1840 Georgia Screven Bryan , b. 1837, d. 1912 +m. Andrew Glassell Grinnan , b. 1827 Georgia Screven Bryan , b. 1837, d. 1912 +m. Andrew Glassell Grinnan , b. 1827 Virginia Macay Bryan , b. 1839, d. 1839 John Randolph “Ran” Bryan Jr. , b. 1841, d. 1917 +m. Margaret Randolph Minor , b. 1845 St. George Tucker “Saint” Bryan , b. 1843, d. 1896 Joseph “Joe” Bryan , b. 1845, d. 1908 +m. Isabella Lamont Stewart , b. 1847 John Randolph Bryan Jr. Thomas Forman Bryan , b. 1848, d. 1851 Civil War Aeronaut Rev. Corbin Braxton Bryan , b. 1852, d. 1922 +m. Mary Sidney Caldwell Scott , b. 1860

John Randolph Bryan Sr. was the namesake of John Randolph [3] of Roanoke, who was a lifelong friend of his father, Joseph Bryan. The senior Randolph married Elizabeth Tucker Coalter on January 27, 1830, and they had ten children before her death in 1856. All of their children were born in Gloucester County, but they owned another plantation “Carysbrook” located in Fluvanna County, Virginia. After the Civil War, the Bryan family lived at Carysbrook. In the 1870 census, John Randolph Bryan and his younger children were living in Fluvanna County. Also, his eldest daughter, who married Dr. John Randolph Page, was living in her father’s household in Fluvanna County in 1870. John Randolph Bryan Jr. made his first mark of notoriety in 1862 when he volunteered to man a makeshift hot-air balloon to scout the enemy lines on the lower peninsula from Gloucester Point. His first flight was successful, but on the following day, his lines had to be cut because of an emergency. His balloon rose quickly until the hot air cooled, and he landed safely in the York River. Joseph Bryan was also a veteran of the Civil War and played an important roll in the economic recovery of Virginia following the war. He was a lawyer, newspaper publisher, philanthropist, and an effective advocate of southern industries. He served as president of the Virginia Historical Society at the turn of the century. He typified the respect that the Bryan family had for their pre-civil war servants. He used his wealth to assist these servants and their relatives throughout his life. At his Joseph Bryan death eight of these benefactors carried his casket on their shoulders from the church to the grave site.

3. John Randolph of Roanoke, U.S. Congress for Virginia

Vol. 16, No. 1 20 June 2012 House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point

House and Yard Servants The title of the Bryan document was “A list of the “Bryan” House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point, Gloucester County, Virginia, from 1845-1865.” The original typed portion is presented below with the script comments noted by brackets. 1- Daddy Frank, A very old negro from the Bryan Family Servants, had served three [ four ] generations of Bryans from before the Revolutionary War to about the end of the Mexican War. [ Died June 1853 ] 2- Daddy John Tazewell, The gardener, cut wood for the house, attended to the bees, fruit, etc. 3- Mammy Sarah Tazewell (John’s wife), our head nurse, in charge of the children, the house girls, etc. 4- Evelina (Daughter of Sarah) first the undernurse, then later, nurse, cook, etc. [ Married Holeman Lewis, Fluvanna Co. Was Sister Fanny’s girl and nurse later. ] 5- Lucy Carter, (Abram’s wife) lady’s maid; afterwards, Sister Georgia’s nurse. 6- Abram Carter [ married Lucy ], the dining room servant, a very versatile general utility man, butler, cook, carpenter, boatbuilder, painter, etc. 7- Elijah Cook, carpenter, boatbuilder, smith, wheelwright, joiner. 8- Uncle Cuffy Robinson, an old man in charge of the hogs, orchard and “drop shot gang,” etc. 9- Mammy Becky Robinson, (Cuffy’s wife), the head cook, a most accomplished cook. 10- Polly Stubbs (Daughter of Becky Robinson) [ married Lorenzo Stubbs ] was second cook and succeeded her mother. 11- Patty [ married Winston ] was dairy maid and milker; attended to the dairy and poultry yard. 12- Suchy Page [ Capt. Berry’s George wife ] washwoman. 13- Sally Page [ Richard Smith’s wife ] washwoman. 14- Fanny Dixon (Sarah’s eldest daughter, Zekes wife, [ 2nd Chas Dixon’s wife ] was dress maker and seamstress. 15- China [ Lewis Kerlley’s wife, Susan’s mother, wife Col Thruston’s ] was a seamstress. 16- Oliver Page was the farm shoemaker and a fisherman, mender of harness, etc. [ He married Bet Tazewell, second wife Jennie. ] 17- Winchester Tazewell [ married Nancy Page ] was the groom and carriage driver. 18- Winston Tazewell [ married Patty Robertson ] was a carriage driver.

19- Daniel Robinson, [ married Phyllis ] (Saint’s Boy) [ died 1909 ]. Horse and House Boys, who later 20- Sterling Robinson (Joe’s Boy) [ died 1908 ]. took the place of older men. Daniel and Charles went through 21- Charles Stubbs (Ran’s Boy) [ dead ]. the war with Ran and St. George. [22- Phyllis Robetson (Daniel’s wife) was Sister Delia’s maid. She was a Page not Bryan maid. ] [23- Martha, House Girl, married Emmanuel Tazewell. ] [24- Amy, House Girl. ] [25- Aaron (Braxton’s Boy). ]

Vol. 16, No. 1 21 June 2012 House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point

Evidently, the information from this document dated 1910 was included in a book entitled, Joseph Bryan, His Times, His Family, His Friends . For the museum display and this article, a genealogical study was made to identify each of the Bryan servants listed. Public records were the sources for the results that are presented below: “Daddy Frank-” Unfortunately, insufficient information was supplied about the first servant listed to identify any family connections or descendents he may have had. John and Mammy Sarah Tazewell- John and Sarah Tazewell are listed as parents of Winston Tazewell in his marriage record with Manerva Burrell. Records indicated that they had at least four children: Louisa, Polly, William, and Cuffie. Evelina Tazewell– The Bryan lists indicates that Evelina was the daughter of Sarah Tazewell, but the record of her marriage to Holeman Lewis indicates that her parents were David and Judy Tazewell. She began as Frances Bryan’s girl, later under nurse, and finally nurse. Each of the Bryan children had a girl or boy servant assigned to them. Besides their servant duties, they were sometimes friends and playmates. As shown in the Tazewell chart, Holeman Lewis was born in Fluvanna County, VA. Also, her brother’s marriage record indicates he was born in Fluvanna County. This indicates that Bryan servants spent time in both “Eagle Point” in Gloucester and “Carysbrook” in Fluvanna. In fact, there were eleven colored individuals in book 1 of the Gloucester Marriage Book. Holeman Lewis was living at Eagle Point in 1869 according to the personal property tax records of Gloucester County.

Family of David & Judy Tazewell

Family of John & Sarah Tazewell David Tazewell , b. 1820 +m. Judy ? John Tazewell Evelina Tazewell , b. 1842 +m. Sarah ? +m. Holeman Lewis , b. 1840 in Fluvanna Winston Tazewell , b. 1831, d. 1887 Frances Tazewell , b. 1851 +m. Patty Robinson +m. William Taliaferro , b. 1853 Louisa Tazewell , b. 1846 John Tazewell , b. 1853 in Fluvanna +m. James H. Brooks , b. 1843 +m. Sarah F. Curtis , b. 1852 Polly Tazewell , b. 1852 William Henry Tazewell , b. 1876 +m. Larkey Page , b. 1851 +m. Eleanora Taliaferro , b. 1890 Cuffie Tazewell , b. 1856 John Thomas Tazewell , b. 1877 +m. Elizabeth Daniels , b. 1861 Julia F. Tazewell , b. 1878 William Tazewell , b. 1858 +m. Alexander Carter , b. 1873 +m 1st. Sarah Carter , b. 1858 Davy P. Tazewell , b. 1884 +m 2nd. Mary Ellen Rowe , b. 1862 Fannie E. Tazewell , b. 1885 +m 2nd. Minerva Burrell , b. 1845, d. 1883 Clarence T. Tazewell , b. 1888 Cercil P. Tazewell , b. 1891 Howard B. Tazewell , b. 1893

Abram and Lucy Carter– Lucy was Georgia Bryan’s nurse. Abram and Lucy were not found in the Gloucester County records. Elijah Cook– In the 1869 personal property tax record, Elijah Cook lived at Lowland Cottage in Ware Neck owned by Maj. Thomas Seddon Taliaferro.

Vol. 16, No. 1 22 June 2012 House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point

Family of Cuffy & Becky Robinson Family of Lorenzo & Polly Stubbs

Cuffy Robinson Lorenzo Stubbs +m. Rebecca ? , b. 1810 +m. Polly ? , b. 1820 Daniel Robinson , b. 1836 Charles Stubbs , b. 1838, d. 1903 +m 1st. Mary ? , b. 1836 +m 1st. Margaret Singleton , b. 1845 +m 2nd. Phyllis ? , b. 1841 James H. Stubbs , b. 1864 +m 3rd. Mary Smith , b. 1842 +m. Mary Eliza Carter , b. 1865 Sterling Robinson , b. 1839, d. 1905 +m 2nd. Phoebe Travers , b. 1871 +m. Julia ? , b. 1851 Essex Stubbs , b. 1889 Louisa Robinson , b. 1868 +m. Nannie ? , b. 1895 Rebecca Robinson , b. 1869 Aaron Stubbs , b. 1850, d. 1905 Georgia Robinson , b. 1870 Lewis Stubbs , b. 1852, d. 1905 Bell Robinson , b. 1871 +m. Frances Johnson , b. 1862 Patty Robinson , b. 1872 George Stubbs , b. 1857 Martha Robinson , b. 1873 +m. Mary Tabb , b. 1862 +m. W. T. Wyatt , b. 1874 Polly Stubbs , b. 1861 Daniel Robinson , b. 1877 +m. Simon Walker , b. 1859

“Uncle Cuffy and Mammy Becky Robinson-” Cuffy was a yard worker, and Becky was “a most accomplished cook.” They had two sons listed as child servants: Daniel was St. George Bryan’s boy, and Sterling was Joseph Bryan’s boy. Also, it appears Daniel served John Randolph Bryan throughout the war. The 1869 tax record shows Daniel living at “Sherwood” in Robins Neck owned by Robert C. Selden. Sterling Robinson and his family were listed in the 1870 census in Fluvanna County next to the Bryan family at “Carysbrook.” However, he returned to the Robins Neck area of Gloucester by the 1880 census. Sterling was a trustee for St. Paul Baptist Church when it was established in 1901. Polly Stubbs– The Bryan list indicates that Polly was the daughter of Becky Robinson and the wife of Lorenzo Stubbs. Lorenzo’s Polly was only ten years younger than Becky Robinson. Their son, Charles, was the child servant of John Randolph Bryan, but he went to war with St. George Bryan. Charles is buried in the Old Glebe Cemetery located next to the First United Baptist Church. His Charles Stubbs tombstone was placed there by Joseph Bryan shown in the adjacent photograph with inscription below. This is an Born at Eagle Point example of how Joseph Bryan maintained his friendship October 1838 with those who served the Bryan family. Died June 21, 1903 Patty- She married Winston Tazewell, son of John and Thou faithful unto death and Sarah Tazewell as shown in the chart on the previous page. Will give thee a crown of life. Suchy Page- She was not identified. Erected by his friend, Sally Page– She was the wife of Richard Smith, and he Joseph Bryan

Vol. 16, No. 1 23 June 2012 House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point

Family of Charles & Fanny Dixon Family of Winchester & Nancy Kertley

Charles Dixon , b. 1815 Winchester Kertley , b. 1805 +m. Fanny ? , b. 1818 +m. Nancy Page , b. 1810 Bettie Dixon , b. 1850 Eliza Kertley , b. 1849 Alexander Dixon , b. 1854 +m. Pleasant Singleton , b. 1850 +m. Martha Scott , b. 1856 Lewis Kertley , b. 1850 David Dixon , b. 1855 +m. Lucy “China” Graham , b. 1852 +m. Sarah Thornton , b. 1852 Simon Kertley , b. 1872 Robert Dixon , b. 1856 John Henry Kertley , b. 1873 +m. Lucy Ann Carter , b. 1854 Lewis Kertley Jr. , b. 1875 Elsy Dixon , b. 1863 Wilson Kertley , b. 1885 Charles Dixon , b. 1865 Willie Kertley , b. 1889 Tyler Kertley , b. 1893 Judy Kertley , b. 1895 lived at the home of J. H. Tabb in 1869. William Kertley , b. 1856 Fluvanna Co., VA Fanny Dixon– Charles and Fanny were +m 1st. Margaret Smith , b. 1869 listed in the 1870 Gloucester census. +m 2nd. Elizabeth Davenport , b. 1862 China Kertley– “China” must have been Susan “Sarah” Kertley , b. 1861 the nickname for Lucy Graham who married +m. James Washington , b. 1859 Lewis Kertley on July 22, 1870 according to the Gloucester marriage records. Lewis was the son of Winchester Kertley and Nancy Page. (An alternate spelling for Kertley in the records was “Curdly.”) According to the 1869 tax record, Winchester and Lewis Kertley lived at “Lands End” in Robins Neck owned by the Sinclair family. Eliza, the eldest daughter of Winchester, married Pleasant Singleton, a most trusted servant of the Sinclair family. Oliver Page– Oliver and Elizabeth are listed as the parents of Sarah Page in the record of her Gloucester marriage to Charles Smith in 1876. Winchester Tazewell– No such person could be found in records. It appears to be an error in the Bryan list, and this man was actually the Winchester Kertley mentioned above. He was the husband of Nancy Page. Winston Tazewell– Winston was the son of John and Sarah Tazewell identified on page 22. Daniel and Sterling Robinson– Daniel and Sterling were the sons of Cuffy and Becky Robinson indentified on the previous page. Charles Stubbs– Charles was the son of Lorenzo and Polly Stubbs indentified on the previous page. Phyllis Robinson– Phyllis was the wife of Daniel Robinson, son of Cuffy and Becky Robinson. Martha Tazewell– The Bryan list indicates she married Emmanuel Tazewell, but he could not be found in the records. Amy and Aaron– They could not be found in the records.

Vol. 16, No. 1 24 June 2012 House and Yard Servants at Eagle Point

Other Fluvanna Connections There were two other black families that settled in Gloucester and had children born in Fluvanna County: the Walker and Payne families. The Walkers settled near Gloucester Point, and the Payne family settled near Robins Neck. These families are described in the adjacent charts showing that a number of them were born in Fluvanna County, VA, according to their marriage records. Also, these families settled in the Robins Neck area of Gloucester County. However, none of the servants in the Bryan list carry the surnames of Payne or Walker. This could be explained because in many cases the maiden names of the women were not given. The most likely explanation would be that Family of Phil Walker & Julia Butler these families were primarily “field hands” for the Bryans. The servants in the Bryan list Phil Walker presented in this article were those that served +m. Julia Butler , b. 1812 Fluvanna Co., VA within the Bryan household and yard. Therefore, Thornton Walker , b. 1846 Fluvanna Co., VA their work was in close proximity of the family +m 1st. Daphney ?, b. 1868 members. Their work required the ability to +m 2nd. Crissie Burwell , b. 1866 communicate and adapt to the social customs of Mary Jane Walker , b. 1852 Fluvanna Co., VA the family that they served. Field hands, +m. Joseph A. Williams , b. 1851 however, worked under the farm managers in a Annie Walker , b. 1866 Fluvanna Co., VA rough environment of farm work. +m. Charles Edward Moody , b. 1867 The class distinction between the house servant and the field hand is Family of Richard Payne & Rebecca Page illustrated by a story told by Joseph Bryan. As a young child, he took most of his meals Richard Payne in the basement with the servants, and he +m. Rebecca Page , b. 1834 learned much of their speech patterns. He Susan Payne , b. 1850 heard from the house servants derogatory +m. Emanuel Pollard , b. 1846 references to certain field hands. However, Washington Payne , b. 1851 Fluvanna Co., VA when he repeated one of these phrases in +m. Mary “Molly” Wiatt , b. 1856 the company of his mother, he received a Thomas Payne , b. 1853, d. 1877 very severe spanking. Naturally, there Fanny Payne , b. 1854 Fluvanna Co., VA would have been some jealousy between +m. Alexander Brown , b. 1851 Charles City Co., VA servants with the cleaner house work and those that labored in the harsh farm duties. The Payne family settled on land originally part of the Wilson Creek Farm located on the road to Robins Neck, now named Paige Road. The subdivision of this farm after the Civil War is described in a previous article of The Family Tree Searcher. [4] The northern portion of the farm was subdivided for the emancipated slaves. The Payne family was located along the present Paynes Landing Road. Susan Payne, b. 1850, was the eldest child of Richard Payne and Rebecca Page, and she married Emanuel Pollard from King and Queen County, VA. They had at least nine children: Richard Thomas, James Allen, [5] Washington T., Walker Thomas, George, Major, Henry, Emma, and John. Susan’s sister, Fanny (b. 1854 in Fluvanna County), married

4. Hunt, L. Roane, Post Civil War Development of the Wilson Creek Community of Gloucester County, Virginia, FTS, Vol. 8, No. 1, June 2004 5. James “Jim” Thomas Pollard lived on Paynes Landing Road all of his life, and he was a loyal helper for my grandmother who lived alone at the local Roanes Store and Post Office

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Alexander Brown, and they had at least six children. They lived on the corner of Payne Landing Road and Paige Road, opposite the St. Paul Baptist Church. Alexander Brown and Emanuel Pollard were both trustees in this church when it was established in 1901. Washington Payne, b. 1851 in Fluvanna County, was the son of Richard Payne and Rebecca Page. He married Molly Wiatt, and they lived near the Seldens Store and Post Office. He lived on a portion of “Level Green Plantation” that was subdivided for emancipated slaves. The Kertley families described earlier also lived in this community. Rebecca Page Payne, widow of Richard, married Johnson Scott who was also born in Fluvanna County, and they had seven children. They also lived across from St. Paul Baptist Church.

It appears that the servants of the Bryan family were exposed to life in both Gloucester and Fluvanna Counties, and many of them chose to settle in Gloucester after their emancipation. The opportunities for a better life were in Gloucester because of the available seafood and farm land. These options were critical for post civil war survival for all the Gloucester citizens.

Vol. 16, No. 1 26 June 2012

The Roads of Gloucester County 1866-1867

By William L. Lawrence

In the September 2011 issue of the Family Tree Searcher Edwin B. Washington, Jr. lists the road crews of Gloucester County. All male inhabitants between the ages of sixteen and sixty years of age were required by law to work on the public roads in their respective precincts. While I was reading this article, I noticed some of my ancestors were listed. I thought it would be helpful if a map was available that showed the road numbers and thus delineated the neighborhoods. If a reader found an ancestor named in the list of road crews, he could use the map to find the approximate location in the county where that ancestor lived. I found that the road numbering from 1859-1861 was different from 1866-1867. Since there were more road crews listed in the latter period, I decided to put my attention on the years 1866-67. Since the land tax records give a description of the land, the distance from the court house, and a value of buildings, I was able to roughly locate many of the road crews’ homes. I found two maps of Gloucester County for the year 1862, but I decided to use the 1912 survey of R.A. Folkes. This map lists many families, as well as new roads, and was helpful in that manner. By comparing the maps, I was able to determine that there were around 150 miles of roads in the county in 1866-67. Since there were forty road crews, each crew was responsible for 3½ to 4 miles of road. This was verified by the data of road #3. James H. Rowe was listed as 2 miles S.E. of the courthouse and W. Ap Jones was listed as 2 miles N., thus a total distance of 4 miles. Road #14 was listed twice, so I made the first #14a and the second #14b. I presumed the double listing to be a clerical error. The roads in the upper end of the county near Glenns, and the roads in the southern end near Guinea proved difficult to decipher. As a result, the location of these is approximate. Also, roads #4, 6, 9, 13, 15, 25, 28, 29, 33, 35, 36, 37, and 38 were missing. On the following page is a table listing the road numbers, the page in the September 2011 FTS issue that lists the road crews, the year, the “Road Surveyor” and at least one “hand,” the name and description of the land tract of the crew member, the distance and bearing from the courthouse of said land tract, and a miscellaneous note. The page after is the 1912 Folkes map with the road and road numbers in bold.

Vol. 16, No. 1 27 June 2012 The Roads of Gloucester County 1866-1867

1866 & 1867 Roads of Gloucester listed in the Family Tree Searcher-Sept.2011 issue

Distance and "Road Surveyor" Name and Description of Tract Road page bearing from year followed by at least in 1866 or 1867 land tax notes # of FTS the one "list of hands" records Courthouse 1 19 1867-Mar R. B. Roberts not listed as a land owner William Shackelford Severn River 20 m. S.E. Guinea 2 16 1867-Feb William German 10 m. N.E. John Huel 7 m. N.E 3 14 1867-Jan James H. Rowe By Recent Survey, Ware River 2 m. S.E. Court House area A.P. Davies Hail Western 1 m. E. W. Ap W. Jones 2 m. N. 4 not listed 5 7 1866-Dec Landon N. Davies Level Green, Ware River 9 m. S.E. Robins Neck area Robert Selden Sherwood near Ware River 11 m. S.E. 6 not listed 7 7 1866-Dec Levi Corr Road View, near White Marsh 5 m. S. Rt. 17 south of the Court House W. Kemp Sr. Clifford 1 m. S. 8 8 1866-Dec John T. Lewis Part of Spinkers 3 m. S.W. Spinkers refers to Spinks Hill L. S. Stubbs Near Bellamy's Church 5 m. W. Chestnut Fork Rd. 9 not listed 10 15 1867-Feb William B. Heywood Part of Saw Mill Tract 9 m. S.E. Providence Road house was located behind Prov. Wm. H. Williams Part of Saw Mill Tract 9 m. S.E. Bapt. Church land in his wife, Sophronia’s 11 9 1866-Dec R. B. Stevens Timberneck Creek 12 m. S. name Zack Dews Mumfords Creek 13 m. S. He's probably living at 12 19 1867-Mar Edward T. Thurston not listed as a land owner 12 m. S. Lansdown on Severn River Fielding L. Taylor Belle Farm 10 m. S.E. Glass Road It's the Fairfield on Vaughn's John T. Perrin Fairfield 14 m. S.E. Creek 13 not listed listed as "at present the listed as living in Ware Neck - 14a 6 1866-Aug John White Surveyor" not his road area Thos. Brown 20 m. S.E. G.W. Lewis Sarah's Creek 15 m. S.E. Guinea Road 14b 8 1866-Dec John W. Minor, Sr. York River 18 m. S.E. Little England area He's the son of Mildred-land James Fleming Part of Sarah’s Creek Tract 14 m. S. listed in her name 15 not listed 16 17 1867-Feb Robert A. Stubblefield Cowpen Neck 8 m. W. Cappahosic area Augustine Hughes Cappahosic 8 m. S.W. 17 10 1866-Dec Saml. P. Enos Near Petsworth Old Church 5 m. N.W. now Willis Road Doct. W.F.Jones 6 m. W. lived at Sunnyside at Sassafras 18 13 1866-Dec George A. Roane Part of Ware House 10 m. W. Marlfield Road Junius B. Browne Near Marlfield 8 m. W. 19 10 1866-Dec Joseph Medlicott Near Old Petsworth Church 8 m. N.W. Rt. 17 north of Ark Saml. B. Chapman Near Woods Ordinary 8 m. N.W. 20 11 1866-Dec A.S. Trevillian 10 m. N. Rt. 198 near Harcum Edward Sears Upton 12 m. N. 21 11 1866-Dec Warner P. Roane Mount Prodigal 8 m. N.W. Rt. 17 north of Adner Henry G. Rilee 8 m. N. 22 12 1866-Dec W.W. Mason 14 m. N.E. Glenns to Turk's Ferry Road Zack Bland Near the Dragon 17 m. N. 23 12 1866-Dec Edwin Broaddus Near Dragon 17 m. N.W. Dragon Ordinary to Glenns John L. Groom 18 m. N.

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1866 & 1867 Roads of Gloucester listed in the Family Tree Searcher-Sept.2011 issue (Cont’d)

Distance and "Road Surveyor" Name and Description of Tract Road page bearing from year followed by at least in 1866 or 1867 land tax notes # of FTS the one "list of hands" records Courthouse Glenns to Dragon bridge 24 12 1866-Dec Wm. P.R. Leigh Piankatank River 14 m. N. towards Saluda John L. South Dragon 16 m. N.E. 25 not listed 26 13 1866-Dec Thos. Thrift Near Mount Prodigal 12 m. N.W. Pampa Road John Lambeth 16 m. N. 27 13 1866-Dec Thos. S. Taliaferro Lowland Cottage 6 m. E. Ware Neck area Wm. Iverson Ware Neck 9 m. E. 28 not listed 29 not listed 30 14 1866-Dec Thos. B. Armistead Providence 7 m. N.W. Pinetta area 31 17 1867-Feb Edwd. Y. Massey 6 m. N.W. Rt. 17 3 to 6 miles N. of C.H. C.C. Pointer 5 m. N.W. 32 16 1867-Feb Lewis T. Booker 10 m. N. Pampa Road Henry Roane 12 m. N. house was located at Cash 33 not listed 34 20 1867-Mar Beverly Sears 14 m. N. Salem Church to Rt. 198 Wm. Haynes Near the Dragon 16 m. N. 35 not listed 36 not listed 37 not listed 38 not listed 39 18 1867-Mar Wm. Brown York River 20 m. S.E. Severn Wharf Road Saml. M. Rowe Severn 18 m. S.E. 40 18 1867-Mar Joseph H. Smith not listed as a land owner Stephen Hogg 18 m. S.E. Guinea area

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Vol. 16, No. 1 30 June 2012

Actions Recorded in Local Court Minutes of Gloucester County in Early 1861

A Report from the History Sub-Committee of the Gloucester County’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee

By William L. Lawrence

Prior to September of 1870 when the “Board of Supervisors” system of government was created, Gloucester County was governed by a “local court” made up of justices (or commissioners) of the peace. Jefferson W. Stubbs was the presiding justice from 1850 to 1866. These minutes come from Minute Book No. 1, 1858-1867 and show some of the actions taken by this governing body during the early, chaotic months of 1861. January 1861 At a Court held for Gloucester County at the Courthouse on Monday the 7th of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty one. Present Jefferson W. Stubbs, A.W. Robins, John H.P. Seawell and P.H. Fitzhugh, Justices. It is ordered that all the acting Justices of the County be summoned to attend the Court now sitting to take into consideration the propriety of appointing a special police for the County, & the propriety of making a levy for the purpose of procuring arms, etc. for the defence of the County. Certain resolutions adopted by a public meeting of the people of the County requesting the Court to levy a tax upon the County to be expended in placing the volunteer companies now organized and about to be organized in such a condition as to be ready for affecting service having been presented to the Court. The Justices having been summoned for that purpose and a majority of them being present the Court ordered that the sum of three thousand dollars be raised by a levy upon the tythes in the County to be expended under the order of the Court in the purchase of arms, ammunition and other things necessary to place the people of the County in a position of defence, which sum is to be raised by a levy of ninety cents upon each tythable. And it is ordered that the Sheriff proceed to collect the said levy and hold the amount when collected subject to the order of the Court. It is ordered that Genl Wm. B. Taliaferro be requested to proceed to Richmond for the purpose of conferring with the Governor representing to him the want of arms by the people of this County and the wish of the people to be better provided for in that respect. And to obtain from him an order upon the proper authorities for necessary arms, ammunition & equipments for the volunteers and people of the County, and in case he shall not succeed in obtaining them upon application to the Governor the said General Taliaferro is requested to use his best endeavors to obtain the passage of an Act of Assembly to furnish necessary arms etc. (See photograph on next page.)

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The Court appoints Wm. Ap. W. Jones, A. W. Robins, Powhatan R. Page, Wm. B. Taliaferro and Fielding L. Taylor, a committee who are to proceed to examine the debtors Jail and contract with such person or persons as they may think competent to repair the build and put it in a fit condition to receive such arms & ammunition as may be hereafter obtained for the use of the County. And the said Committee are to Paragraph authorizing Gen. William B. Taliaferro to request purchase such arms, arms, ammunition, & equipments from the Governor. ammunition & military equipments to an amount not exceeding three thousand dollars in value as shall be most needed at this time and report their proceedings to the next Court. And in making such purchases the Committee are to draw upon the Sheriff for the amount in his hands collected under the order this day made. February 1861 At a Court held for Gloucester County at the Courthouse on Monday the 4th day of February one thousand eight hundred and sixty one. Present Jeff W. Stubbs, Thos. C. Robins and Wm. Ap. W. Jones, Justices. The Committee appointed by the order made at the last term to purchase necessary arms to this day made a report and it appearing by the said report that certain expenses have been incurred by the said Committee in pursuance of the order of Court in causing the debtors jail to be fitted up as an arsenal & for the repair of arms and the Sheriff not having in his hands from the levy heretofore ordered to be made, a sum sufficient to meet such expenses. And Wm. P. Smith Esqr., one of the citizens of the County having offered to advance such sum as may be necessary to pay the amount of expenses that had been incurred by the said Committee asforesaid. It is ordered that the same committee heretofore appointed proceed as soon as practicable to ascertain the amount due to all persons for services rendered at their instance under the said order of last term, and that they draw upon Mr. Wm. P. Smith for the amounts so due which orders when paid, shall be good and sufficient vouchers against the County in favour of the said Smith or his assigns to be levied for upon laying the next County levy. But the said Committee are in no event to draw upon the said Wm. P. Smith for an amount exceeding in the aggregate five hundred dollars. For reasons to the Court, it is ordered that the Sheriff suspend the further collection of the levy directed to be made at last term until the further order of the court. Junius B. Brown, Robert B. Jones, Franklin Shackelford, Jno. H. Leigh and Geo. A. Roane are appointed a patrol, and Junius B. Brown the Captain thereof for the period of three months from this day. Robert C. Robins, Thos. S. Stubblefield, Wm. T. Pointer, Wm H. Williams and Simon W. Stubblefield are appointed a patrol and Robert C. Robins the Captain thereof for the

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period of three months from this day. Thos. S. Taliaferro, Jno. Mason, Wm. H. Massenburg, Rich’d Miure and Thos. Burton are appointed a patrol and Thos. S. Taliaferro the Captain there for the period of three months from this day. Edward C. Dutton, John Marchant, Elijah Dutton, Thomas Smith and Powhatan S. Palmer are appointed a patrol, and Edward C. Dutton the Captain thereof for the period of three months from this day. Wm. T. Perrin, Rich’d Page, Powhatan R. Page, Sanden N. Davies and Thomas Graves are appointed a patrol, and Wm. T. Perrin the Captain thereof for the period of three months from this day. James M. Nicolson, Edward T. Thruston, Wm. T. Robins, Watt Seawell and Joseph Padgett are appointed a patrol, and James M. Nicolson the Captain thereof for the period of three months from this day. Warner P. Roane, Wm. H. Martin, Claiborne T. Roane, Gideon Fary and Wm. J. Acra are appointed a patrolk, and Warner P. Roane the Captain thereof for the period of three months from this day. March 1861 At a Court of quarterly session begun and held for Gloucester County at the Courthouse on Monday the 4th day of March one thousand eight hundred and sixty one. Present Jefferson W. Stubbs, P.R. Page, Thos.C. Robins and Benjamin Rowe, Justices. Resolved that the thanks of this Court are due and are hereby tendered to Wm. P. Smith Esqr. for his public spirited course in lending funds to the County to defray expenses incurred in providing arms, etc. for the defence of the County in anticipation of the County Levy. May 1861 At a Court of Quarterly session begun and held for Gloucester County at the Courthouse on Monday the 6th day of May one thousand eight hundred and sixty one. Present Jeff W. Stubbs, P.H. Fitzhugh, and John. H. P. Seawell, Justices. It is ordered that the Sheriff summon all the acting Justices of the County to attend the Court forthwith for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of the act of the General Assembly of Virginia passed the 19th day of January 1861 entitled “An Act to authorize the County Courts and any incorporated city or town, to arm the militia of their respective counties, cities and towns, and to provide means therefore.” Absent Joel Hayes For reasons appearing to the Court it is ordered that the order made at the last January term to levy a tax upon the County to be expended in placing the voluntary companies now organized and about to be organized in such a condition as to be ready for effective service to be set aside. All the Justices of the County having been summoned to attend the Court for the purpose of considering the act of the General Assembly passed on the 19th day of January 1861 entitled “An act to authorize the County Court and any incorporated city or town to arm the militia of their respective counties, cities or towns & to provide means therefore,” and a majority of the said Justices being present and having considered the subject it is ordered that this Court will & does hereby accept the said act of Assembly, to apply to this county. And thereupon the

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Court doth order that the sum of five thousand dollars be raised by loan under the authority of the said act of Assembly & for the purpose contemplated by the provisions of the said act. And John R. Cary the clerk is hereby appointed the agent of the Court to negotiate such loan for & in the name of the County of Gloucester, and for that purpose the said John R. Cary as the agent of the County is to issue in the name of the County 50 bonds in sums of one hundred dollars each all bearing interest from the date & payable in installments of one thousand dollars at one, two, three, four, & five years with interest from the date that is to say, ten of the said bonds are to be made payable at twelve months, another ten with interest at two years & so on up to the end of five years when the last ten are to become payable with interest. And the Court doth further order that the said sum of 5000 dollars & the interest thereon is to be levied for by an annual levy of $1000 & the interest which shall have accrued on the whole amount to be made in each year for five successive years. It is ordered that John R. Cary, Wm. P. Smith & Joel Hayes be & they are appointed Commissioners, who for & behalf of the Court shall apply the money which may be obtained by virtue of the foregoing order when the same shall be received by the agent of the Court as they in their discretion shall think best for the arming, equipping & provisioning of the troops in this County & they are to report from time to time their proceedings to the Court, but the action of the said commissioners is to be subject to the future control of the Court as the Court may hereafter order-& the said commissioners are hereby authorized & so required to apply so much of the money which may come to their hands by virtue of this order as may be necessary for that purpose in paying to Wm. P. Smith the sum of two hundred and twenty five dollars with the interest thereon heretofore advanced by him to the County. It is ordered that the male free Negroes of the County over the age of sixteen years & under sixty be required to work upon the fortification now being erected at Gloucester Point on York River and such other public works as may be constructed in this county for the purpose of defence. And Wm. F. Lewellen in the first district, Thomas C. Robins in the second, Saml D. Puller in the third & Saml B. Chapman in the fourth district are hereby appointed and directed to summon all such free negroes or so many thereof as from time to time may be needed to work on the said public works. And if any such free Negro after having been duly summoned shall fail to appear at the time & place designated in the order summoning him, he is to be reported to one of the Justices of the County, who thereupon may proceed to adopt such measures as shall be necessary to compel him to do such work.

Vol. 16, No. 1 34 June 2012

The Family of James Clack

By Lee Brown

The Reverend James Clack was one of the most important of Ware Parish's early rectors. Born in 1655 to William and Mary Clack, and of Viking descent, Mr. Clack emigrated to Virginia and was a minister in Gloucester County for over 44 years. James’ father, William Clack (1628- ca. 1682), son of Richard Clack, was of a family believed to have come to England in a Viking invasion of 634. [1] He, his wife Mary (d. June 18, 1674), and their family lived in or near Marden Parish, in Devizes, County of Wiltshire, England, and James was baptized there. Marden is about 100 miles west of London. There were at least four sons: Nicholas, James, Richard, and Francis. Nicholas was older than James, and his year of birth is assumed to have been about 1653. Some accounts show Richard having been born March 18, 1663, and Francis on April 5, 1666, though the source of those dates is not known; other accounts claim Richard and Francis as the older brothers but dying young. In truth, nothing reliable can be said about them. James attended Magdalen College, Oxford University, starting on December 12, 1671, at the age of 16. He received a B.A. degree and was ordained at Salisbury Cathedral on September 29, 1675. His signature can still be seen in the Diocesan Subscription Book declaring his assent to the Thirty-Nine Articles. He was appointed to the Parish of Holt and Atworth in Wiltshire and may have served there. He married Mary Rivers (b. ca. 1658, Wiltshire, England) at Alton Barnes Parish, Wiltshire, England, in 1675/6, but she died by 1678. In August of 1678 (some say August 18), James left England for Virginia. He arrived on New Year’s Day, 1679, and became the rector of Gloucester’s Ware Parish on Easter Sunday of that year. Nicholas Clack and Nicholas’ wife Anne came to Virginia with James or at about the same time. Nicholas and Anne lived in Lancaster County where he was a tailor. Nicholas died in October, 1709, bequeathing 12 pence to his brother James and the remainder of his assets to his wife. There were apparently no children. Nicholas had inherited the Clack family property back in England, and the inheritance passed on his death to James – suggesting that brothers Richard and Francis were either younger than James or dead before 1709.

1. Jones, Spotswood H., The World of Ware Parish , The Dietz Press, Richmond, Va., 1991, p. 14 2. Marriages at Alton Barnes, 1597 to 1812 , Vol. 1, p. 124: "James Clack & Mary Rivers, both of Cheriton St. [3 Jan] 1675/6." Alton Barnes parish is about 6 miles east of Devizes. 3. Jones, p. 14

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James married his second wife, Jane, while rector at Ware, and they had five children who survived to adulthood – William, James, Jane, Dorothy, and Anne. It is unknown where the Clack family lived, but in the 1704-1705 quit rent roll James Clack is listed as owning 250 acres. The Reverend Mr. Clack served Ware Parish in a church built around 1655 on the north side of the Ware River. There is no visual evidence of that church now, but an archaeological dig uncovered “a brick foundation having the dimensions of 30’ x 65’ with a 12’ x 12’ porch or entrance on the riverside at the east end. The orientation of the sixty- five foot length was found… to be on a due east and west axis.” [4] It is likely that this church was primarily a wooden structure. On April 28, 1681, an application “for another church in Ware Parish” was considered by the Council and General Court. We might assume that Mr. Clack arrived and found the existing church past its prime. Mr. Clack surely supervised the building of the current Ware Church, a few miles from the original site and on higher ground above the headwaters of the Ware River. This church is 80’ x 40’ with walls 26’ high to the cornice, using Flemish Bond masonry. It was roofed with trees felled between 1717 and 1719 [5] so it is a good assumption that construction began not long before then. But what happened between 1681 and the start of construction for the current church around 1717? Is it possible that Mr. Clack, as discussed in The World of Ware Parish , oversaw the construction of both a second church in the 1680s (probably a wooden structure) and then a third church (the current brick building)? All records that would fill in that gap have been lost. We do know that Mr. Clack participated in parish life and the affairs of the colony. In 1703, he attended a meeting of clergy at Stratton Major Parish, King & Queen County. [6] In 1704, the Ware Vestry reported the parish was “well enough inclined towards the Reverend Mr. James Clack… who has been Minster of this parish above six and twenty year.” [7] In 1705, he was one of 23 clergy who walked out of a meeting in Bruton Parish Church to express grievances with the Colonial government. [8] He was also part of the commission that founded the College of William & Mary. [9] On December 20, 1723, Mr. Clack’s long tenure as rector ended with his death, and he was buried just outside the east end of his new church, the first known burial at the site. There are later burials under the chancel of the church, the first in November, 1725. Because Mr. Clack is buried outside the church and not under the chancel, something he would have been entitled to had he desired it, it may be that the church was not sufficiently finished for Mr. Clack’s burial in 1723, and he may never have preached inside the beautiful church that he built.

4. Jones, p. 23 note 23. From affidavit of William Mott Field, Feb. 21, 1990 5. Miles, D W H and Worthington, M J, ‘The Tree-Ring Dating of Ware Church, Gloucester County, Virginia,’ unpublished Oxford Dendrochronology Lab archive report 2006/56, 2006 6. Fleet, Beverley, Virginia Colonial Abstracts , Baltimore, Md: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1988, Vol II, p 285- 286 7. Jones, p. 43 8. Jones, p. 45 9. Sorters, Stacie, “Biography of Rev. James Clack”, Family Stories web site, 2000, referencing “Across The Pond Research”, site now unavailable

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The photograph on the left shows the east wall of Ware Church where Rev. James Clack’s tomb is located. The tomb next to the east wall is shown in the right photograph.

The memorial marker for Mr. Clack reads: Rev. James Clack 1655 - 1723 Here lyeth the body of James Clack, son of William and Mary Clack who was born in the parish of Marden - - miles from the Devises in the county of Wilts. He came out of England in August, 1678 arrived in Virginia upon New Year's Day following, came into the Parish of Ware on Easter. Where he continued minister near forty five years till he dyed. He departed this life on the 20th day of December, in the year of Our Lord God 1723 in hopes of a joyful resurrection to eternal life which God grant him for his Blessed Redeemer's sake. Amen. The APVA publication “Epitaphs of Gloucester and Mathews Counties in Tidewater Virginia Through 1865” (1959), in their transcription of the tombstone, inserts “the youngest” before “son.” The inscription shown above is from the plaque mounted at the grave site. Today, the tombstone inscription is illegible.

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There is a great deal of genealogical information available in libraries and on the internet about the Clack family – both the ancestors of James Clack and his descendants. Of course, much of it is contradictory and unsubstantiated. For example, the detailed family tree shown here is on of several that can be found with Could this be the Clack ancestry? no supporting evidence. John Killick 1389- Surrey Many researchers claim +m. ? that James’ father William married Mary Spencer, daughter John Killick 1490-1524 Nutfield, Surrey of Nicholas Spencer and Mary +m. Agnes 1509- (m. 1525) Nutfield, Surrey Gostwick and a descendent of Richard Killick 1524-1578 Horley, Surrey “all the Saxon, Norman, +m. Katherine 1526-1572 Merstham, Surrey Plantagenet and Tudor kings of Richard Clack 1550-1598 Horley, Surrey Britain, all the Scottish Kings, +m. Jone Jeale 1549-1618 Hartfield, Sussex and French Kings back to Richard Clack 1574-1659 Surrey Charlemagne and beyond.” [10] This is disputed, despite the +m. Margery Shove 1585-1645 Horley, Surrey name “Spencer” appearing in the William Clack 1628-1682 Marden, Wiltshire Clack family tree. [11] +m. Mary -1674 Marden/Devizes, Wiltshire The death of William’s wife Nicholas Clack 1653-1709 Lancaster, VA Mary was recorded in Marden James Clack 1655-1723 Gloucester, VA Parish, from which we know she Richard Clack b. 1663 died June 17, 1674, and was Francis Clack b. 1666 buried the next day. A “Mrs. Mary Spencer” had her death on August 31,1663, recorded in Cople, Bedfordshire, near the Spencer properties. In the terminology of that time “Mrs.” is suggestive of an unmarried woman of good social status. Indeed, the Spencer’s were a very prominent family, but James’ records at Oxford suggest his family could not afford full tuition. It is unlikely that a marriage between William Clack and a Spencer would have happened. Octavia Bond, author of one of the early Clack genealogical references in 1928, does not mention the possibility that Mary was a Spencer. That story seems to have been started in the 1930s, and there seems to be no evidence supporting it. Whoever she was, Mary was probably born about 1630, and her marriage to William is usually claimed to have been around 1649.

The children of James Clack are better known, except for their years of birth. What follows is what most seem to agree upon, but sources for this information are sketchy. William Clack was born about 1696. He married Catherine Courtney. He is described by Robert Lowry: “He was a trader and sailing captain. Two of his ships were the Speedwell and the Mercury. Salt and manufactured goods were brought to Virginia; tobacco, staves, and furs

10 Sorters, Stacie., “Biography of Rev. James Clack,” Family Stories web site, 2000, referencing “Across The Pond Research,” site now unavailable 11. Gordon, J.S., http://www.johnsteelegordon.com/genealogy/n_b1.html#9, 2003

Vol. 16, No. 1 38 June 2012 The Family of James Clack were taken to England. On a 1741 voyage from Plymouth, England, his ship was chased and captured by Spaniards, who took the vessel and cargo valued at 14,000 pounds. He was left unharmed in Bermuda by the Spaniards, according to a report he later made to Governor Gooch of Virginia. “On the death of his father, Rev. James Clack Sr., William became heir to his grandfather's property in Wiltshire, and it is believed that he then made his home there.” [12] James Clack, Jr. , was born in 1698 or 1690. He married Mary Sterling in 1718, and later moved to Brunswick County. He and Mary had perhaps as many as eleven children, including Sterling, John, William, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth (Betty), Sarah (Sally), and Dolly. Bond wrote: “James spent more than half his life in Gloucester Co, where his father was pastor of Ware Parish. He was still living there in 1740 when he is recorded as being guardian to Charlotte Ballard, daughter of his sister Jane. “On at least one occasion James signed his name as James Clack, Mariner. Probably associated with his brother William in the sailing enterprise, James was probably known by the title Captain. He was probably also a surveyor and shore patroller. “When James’ son Sterling went to Brunswick County to serve as deputy to the clerk of the county court, James followed with his wife and children. The family lived there from about 1742 on an estate near Lawrenceville until his death, between 3 Jun 1757 (date of his will) and 23 Aug 1757 (date of probate).” [13] Bond provides considerable information on the apparently very prosperous James Clack, Jr., his wife Mary Sterling, and her sister Ann Sterling. She quotes from the wills of both James and Mary, the latter’s will proved in Brunswick Count Court on May 23, 1763. She states the Sterling sisters were probably the daughters of either Peter or John Sterling. In 1711, before either was married, the pair was granted 400 acres under the head rights law for importing into Virginia 8 Scotch women. [14] Jane Clack was born about 1694, or about 1700, and died in 1748. She first married Robert Ballard (1694-ca. 1738) in 1719 and they had at least three children: Henrietta (1722-1741), Charlotte (1724-1740), and Jane (b. ca. 1736). Her brother James became the guardian of Charlotte in 1740, the year Jane married her second husband, Matthew Hubbard (1694-1745). They had four children: Elizabeth, James, Matthew, and William. Dorothy Clack was born August 24, 1714. She married Gwyn Reade (d. June, 1762) in 1733. The Reade family Bible says, "The Rev’d Thomas Read is the son of Gwyn and Dorothy Read, who was the daughter of the Rev’d Mr. Clack & Jane his wife, born 24 August 1714" and lists their thirteen children, Robert, Lucy, James, Gwyn, Dorothy, Jane, John, Thomas, Mary, Mildred, William, Francis, and William, born between 1734 and 1758. [15] Dorothy married Francis Armistead on February 2, 1766. She resided in Kingston Parish and died at age 83 in May, 1797.

12. Lowry, Robert Graham, “Footprints: The life Stories of Robert Graham Lowry and Susan Louise Thurman & those of their in-America Ancestors from Jamestown and Plymouth,” self published, 1985. p. 202-217 13. Bond, Octavia Z., “Family Chronicle and Kinship Book of Maclin, Clack, Cocke, Taylor, Cross, Gordon and Other Related American Lineages,” self published, 1928. p. 611-619 14. Bond, p. 611-613

Vol. 16, No. 1 39 June 2012 The Family of James Clack

Anne Clack was born about 1716. She married a Courtney and had one son, Clack Courtney. She later married Hincha Mabry (1696-1761) of Brunswick before 1752. She died before 1810, reportedly in Mecklenburg in 1772. The order and years of birth of the first three children of James and Jane vary in different accounts. Bond and others say the order is James (1690), Jane (1694), and William (1696). Those who believe their mother is Jane Bolling, born 1676, say her marriage was about 1695, and the children tend to be listed as William (1696), James (1698), and Jane (1700). Sometimes Jane is described as the oldest (1690). Another account has Anne born in 1700 and not the youngest daughter. Basically, except for Dorothy, there is no reliable evidence for the birth date of any of the children, and about all that can be said is that the first three or four seem to have been born between 1690 and 1700. Because William inherited the Clack property in England, it seems likely that he is the oldest son. The birth dates selected for the paragraphs above, completely unsubstantiated, are based on that starting point.

There is one person in the family of the Rev. James Clack about which we know almost nothing, and that is Mrs. Clack. Who her parents were, or more precisely who her great-great-grandmother was, has been the subject of considerable interest. Bond suggests that it is likely that Jane (her name identified in the Reade family Bible) was part of some prominent Gloucester family – perhaps a Sterling or Thornton. Legend has it, though, that her name was Jane Bolling and she was the great-granddaughter of Pocahontas and great-great-granddaughter of Powhatan. Unfortunately for legend, the Bolling family did not include a Jane Bolling who fits the picture. Robert Bolling (1646-1709), the immigrant, set foot at Jamestown, Virginia, on October 2, 1660, at age 14. He quickly made a name for himself, eventually becoming a large landowner near Petersburg, at Kippax , and a Burgess. In 1675, about age 29 and already a relatively wealthy man, he married Jane Rolfe (1655-1676), daughter of Thomas Rolfe and Jane Poythress. Thomas Rolfe was the only child of John Rolfe and Pocahontas, and Jane Rolfe was his only documented child. Robert Bolling and Jane Rolfe had one son, John, born January 26, 1676 – the great- grandson of Pocahontas. Jane died sometime the same year (and Robert later married Anne Stith). Bolling genealogists are clear that the short marriage of Robert Bolling and Jane Rolfe produced only one child. [16] Still, the legend of a mysterious and undocumented second child, a daughter named Jane Rolfe Bolling, persists – started, most likely, with the claim by Sarah Clack Maclin, daughter of James Clack, Jr., that she was descended from Pocahontas, four or five generations removed, this according to a grandson and Maclin family lore. Bond, however, proposes that a Pocahontas connection, if it existed, might have come through the Sterling family. Those not believing in a Jane Bolling, daughter of John Bolling and Jane Rolfe, point not only to the absence of documentation but also to the short marriage, the birth of son

15. “Entries in [the Rev. Robert] Read Bible,” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , Vol. 21, p. 326 16. Bolling, Alexander R., Jr., The Bolling Family, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, Md., 1990. This is but one of many Bolling genealogies with the same conclusion.

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John in January, 1676, and death of John’s wife Jane in 1676. The other side suggests that daughter Jane, who is usually said to have been born in 1676, could have been born late in 1676 before the death of her mother, perhaps in childbirth. Or, might son John and daughter Jane have been twins? Despite the absence of any supporting documentation, this Jane Rolfe Bolling is supposed to have been born about 1676 at Kippax, married James Clack in 1695, and died during the Bolling ancestry of alleged Jane: birth of her daughter, Dorothy, in 1714 (meaning John Rolfe , b. 1585, d. 1622 that daughter Anne could not have been born two years later). +m. Pocahontas , b. ca 1595, d. 1616 Thomas Rolfe , b. 1615, d. 1675 Bolling – Bowling, USA, Roots Tree , by John P. Sullivan, from which I’ve seen only summaries, +m. Jane Poythress , b. 1630, d. 1680 presents an alternate theory about Mrs. Clack. He Jane Rolfe , b. 1655, d. 1676 claims that Robert Bolling returned to England in +m. Robert Bolling , b. 1646, d. 1709 1673, married there, and had a daughter Jane in John Bolling , b. 1676, d. 1729 1674. Neither the unnamed wife nor his child +m. Mary Kennon , b. 1679, d. 1727 returned with him (and the following year he Jane Bolling ? , b. 1676, d. 1714 +m. James Clack , b. 1655, d. 1723 married Jane Rolfe). It is this daughter, and not a descendant of Pocahontas, who he says married James Clack about 1694. No such earlier wife, or even any trip by Robert Bolling back to England, is mentioned in The Bolling Family by Alexander R. Bolling, Jr. James Clack may have traveled to England and returned through Maryland in 1695. [17] Could he have met and married an English woman there (maybe someone named Jane Bolling), and perhaps even have had his daughter Jane there? That contradicts most accounts which say he was married in Gloucester, though there is no proof of that either. Bond mentions yet another theory, citing American Biography by John Belknap (Harper Brothers, 1843, p. 140), that the son of Robert Bolling and Jane Rolfe was Major John Bolling, whose son Colonel John Bolling is the John Bolling who married Mary Kennon. That would mean there is a missing generation in Bolling genealogy and that Colonel John Bolling could have had a sister. Bond, however, suggests that this sister and not Mary Sterling married James Clack, Jr. At no point does she contemplate that the Rev. James Clack married a Bolling. [18] Regardless, birth dates make the theory of a missing Bolling generation highly unlikely. At the end of the day, the existence of a Jane Bolling is just speculation. Not only do we not know where Mrs. Clack came from, we also do not know what happened to her. Her date of death is unknown and she is not buried at Ware (so far as we know), though if she pre-deceased her husband she would have been buried at the first church site or in a family cemetery. Perhaps she followed her children to Brunswick County, or perhaps she remarried and her name disappeared. This is unfortunate. As the wife of a popular and long-serving rector of the established Church during a period of great growth in Gloucester County, she must have had an impact in the community that belies her anonymity.

17. Weis, Frederick Lewis, The Colonial Clergy of Virginia, North Carlolina, and South Carolina . Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976. p. 10. Has this entry: “JAMES CLACK, b. England; K.B. for Md., 10 Dec. 1695; sett. Ware Par. (Gloucester) Va., 1679-1723; Ep.; d. Ware Parish, Va., 1723” 18. Bond, p. 626-628

Vol. 16, No. 1 41 June 2012

1796 Tax Related Documents for Gloucester County, Virginia

By L. Roane Hunt

The tax records of Gloucester County, Virginia, that begin in 1782 are an important source of historical information that describes life from the earliest years of the United States of America. Polly Cary Mason published portions of these tax records in her books in 1946 and 1948. [1] In 2001, Martha W. McCartney demonstrated the usefulness of tax data as a source of historical information in her Gloucester history book. [2] The Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia (GGSV), in cooperation with the Historical Committee of Gloucester County, initiated a project to make these tax records accessible to the public. The land and personal property tax assessments for the years 1782-1870 have been Page No. Title transcribed and posted on the internet. [3] The 1 Land Tax project was presented in a previous journal 2 Land Tax (continued) article, [4] and a progress report was given in a later article. [5] GGSV is currently publishing a 3 Property Tax series of books containing these Gloucester tax 4 Property Tax (continued) records. Volume 1 covers 1782-1791, [6] and volume 2 covers 1792-1803. [7] 5 Poor Tax Recently, David Brown of The Fairfield 6 Poor Tax (continued) and Foundation discovered ten pages of Gloucester tax Clerks Notes data in the Swem Library of William and Mary 7 List of fees due to Gloucester College, [8] and he shared these documents with dated 1796 GGSV. A list of the document pages and their corresponding titles are presented in the adjacent 8 List of fees due to Gloucester table. There were two pages each for “land,” dated 1796 (cont’d) “property,” and “poor” tax. Page 6 also included a 9 List of fees due to Gloucester column of data labeled, “Clerks Notes.” The final dated 1796 (cont’d) four pages were labeled, “List of fees due to 10 List of fees due to Gloucester Gloucester dated 1796.” dated 1796 (cont’d)

1. Mason, Polly Cary, Records of Colonial Gloucester County, Virginia , Vol. I & II, 1946 & 1948 2. McCartney, Martha W., With Reverence fo the Past: Gloucester County, Virginia , 2001 3. GGSV, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaggsv, Land Tax and Property Tax 4. Hunt, L. Roane, Convenient Access to Gloucester County Records—1782-1861 , The Family Tree Searcher, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 3-20 5. Hunt, L. Roane, New Publications of Tas Records for Gloucester County, Virginia—1770-1820 , The Family Tree Searcher, Vol, 15, No. 1, pp. 23-31 6. Hunt, L. Roane, Tax Records of Gloucester County, Virginia—1782-1791, Vol. 1, 2011 7. Hunt, L. Roane, Tax Records of Gloucester County, Virginia—1792-1803, Vol. 2, 2012 8. Gloucester County Papers, Box 10, Folder 25, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Vol. 16, No. 1 42 June 2012 1796 Tax Related Documents

A general review of these documents indicates that all are probably from 1796. Actually, there were very few changes for the period of 1792-1797 recorded by Morgan Tomkies. During this period, the tax assessments were listed in the English money system of pounds (£), shillings (s), and pence (d): one pound equals 20 shillings, one shilling equals 12 pence. In 1792, Gloucester County was reduced to three parishes because Kingston Parish became Mathews County. Beginning in 1798, the official assessments were listed in dollars and cents. These newly discovered tax documents in Swem Library were compared to the full tax assessment records of 1796 in this analysis.

Land Tax The beginning of the first page of the document is shown in the photograph below. The transcription is shown in the table. The total tax for 1796 is shown in the right columns. The names in the new documents were recorded in the same order as the full land tax record of 1796. Only 200 names (48%) of the 417 names of the 1796 record were listed in the new documents. This shows the close relationship of the new documents to the full tax record for the entire year. A general observation indicates most of these names are associated with the northern portion of Gloucester County. The scans are very legible. As shown in the sample scan, subtotals were calculated systematically throughout the record. The subtotals were useful in verifying the transcribed values of each line. The land tax values of the new documents are one-sixth the value for the entire 1796 year. This suggests these tax values are for two months of that year. The full land tax record included the acreage and tax rate but not the location of the land.

Land Tax from new Total Tax for 1796 Names documents £ s d £ s d Anderson, Matthew 0 19 8 5 18 6 Acra, Thomas 0 3 1 18 6 Burton, Henry 0 6 0 1 15 8 Buckner, John Estate 0 3 4 19 10 Burk, Elizabeth 0 1 0 5 7 Berry, John 0 1 3 7 6 Browning, John 0 1 0 5 7 Bane, Lewis 0 1 0 5 2 Burton, John 0 0 7 3 10 Booth, George 1 7 9 8 6 6 Boswell, John 0 5 4 1 11 8 Boswell, Thomas 0 5 0 1 9 9 Burn, Henry Estate 0 0 4 1 9 Bristow, John 0 1 3 7 3 Initial portion of the land tax for page 1 Blake, Benjamin 0 4 1 1 4 5 Baynham, William 0 1 7 9 5

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Property Tax from new Names documents £ s d Anderson, Matthew 8 13 12 Anderson, Samuel 0 5 4 Acra, Thomas 0 5 6 Boswell, John 0 8 8 Baytop, James 2 13 8 Booth, George 2 6 0 Booker, Lewis 0 11 0 Brooking, William 0 7 8 15 11 10 Baynham, Richard 0 10 8 Berry, John 0 9 4 Bristow, John 0 4 0 Brooking, Charles 0 0 4 Brooking, Sarah 0 3 8 Brooking, John U 0 3 8 Brooking, Samuel 0 7 0 Blake, Thomas 0 3 8 17 14 2

Property Tax The beginning of document page 3 is shown in the photograph on the right. The transcription is shown in the table above. The names in the new Initial portion of the property documents were recorded in the same order as the tax in page 3 full property tax record of 1796. However, only 248 names (34%) of the 731 names of the 1796 record were presented in the new documents. This shows the close relationship of the new documents to the full tax record for the entire year. Again, a general observation indicates most of these names were associated with northern Gloucester County. The scans are very legible. As shown in the sample scan, subtotals were calculated systematically throughout the record. The subtotals were useful in verifying the transcribed values. The full property tax records for this period did not give the tax assessment values. During this period only the number of slaves, horses, cattle, and carriages were listed without the amount of tax. Therefore, no direct comparison could be made with the new documents.

Poor Tax It is interesting that a poor tax was included in these new documents because a poor tax was not included in any of the full assessment tax records from 1782-1870. Could this tax have been assessed on a trial basis and failed to materialize or continue beyond 1796? The beginning of document page 5 is shown in the photograph on the top of the next page along with the transcription. This list included all those listed in the property tax list on the previous section and some additional names that were not charged for any property.

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Poor Tax from new documents Name £ s d Anderson, Matthew 1 16 0 Anderson, Samuel 0 8 0 Acra, Thomas 0 8 0 Boswell, John 0 6 0 Baytop, James 1 12 0 Booth, George 2 2 0 Booker, Lewis 0 10 0 Brooking, William 0 6 0 Buckner, John 0 2 0 8 10 0 Baynham, Richard 0 14 0 Blake, Charles 0 2 0 Berry, John 0 16 0 Bristow, John 0 6 0 Bowls, Stubblefield 0 2 0 Brooking, Charles 0 2 0 Brooking, Sarah 0 4 0 Brooking, John U 0 6 0 Brooking, Samuel 0 8 0 Blake, Thomas 0 4 0 11 14 0

In the adjacent list the three additional names are John Buckner, Charles Blake, and Stubblefield Bowls indicated by the arrows. Only 302 names (41%) of the 731 names of the 1796 record were listed in the new documents. Again, a general observation indicates most of these names were associated with Initial portion of the poor tax in page 5 northern Gloucester County. The value of poor tax was near the level of the property tax, and the tax for those with no property was two shillings. Again, the subtotals in this list helped in the transcription of the tax values.

Clerk’s Notes The beginning of the clerk’s notes on document page 6 is presented in the photograph on the next page. This list was from “A” to “M” and was continued on another page that is missing. It appears to be the conversion of “cents” of the continental currency to the English pound system. Each line gives the name, value in cents, and pound-shilling-pence values. Also, the subtotals are included. The transcription of the sample portion is tabulated on the left. Two additional columns are presented on the right side of the table. The “total pence” is the tax in the English system expressed in pence, and the ratio of the cents to pence is the exchange rate. In 1775, the exchange rate for pence to cents in Virginia was 1.39 according to the online Wikipedia Encyclopedia. Apparently, this rate was used in Gloucester County in 1796. This same exchange rate was also noted in the 1798 record when Gloucester changed the official tax records from the English system to dollars and cents.

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cents total Names cents £ s d per pence pence Acra, John 40 0 2 5 29 1.38 Acra, Thomas 122 0 7 4 88 1.39 Anderson, Samuel 570 1 14 6 414 1.38 Anderson, Matthew 2023 6 1 6 1458 1.39 Brooking, Samuel 26 0 1 7 19 1.37 Brooking, John U 104 0 6 3 75 1.39 Baynham, Richard 122 0 7 4 88 1.39 Berry, John 697 2 1 10 502 1.39 Booker, Lewis 556 1 13 5 401 1.39 12 16 2 Buckner, John 52 0 3 2 38 1.37 Baytop, James 870 2 12 3 627 1.39 Blake, Thomas 262 0 15 9 189 1.39 Brooking, William 182 0 11 6 138 1.32 Boswell, Thomas 140 0 8 5 101 1.39 Cooke, John Estate 284 0 16 0 192 1.48 Cooke, John 125 0 7 6 90 1.39 Clements, William 320 0 19 4 232 1.38

Initial portion of the clerk’s notes on page 6

Wikipedia states the 1775 Virginia exchange rate for the English pound system to continental currency as follows: 6 shillings = one dollar, therefore, 72 pence = 100 cents and one pence = 1.39 cents. Also, 6/20 pounds = one dollar and one pound = 3.33 dollars. In the table above, John Acra’s 40 cents equaled 29 pence.

Fees due the Clerk of Gloucester dated 1796 The last four pages of the new documents were entitled, “A list of fees due the clerk of Gloucester dated 1796.” The initial portion of document page 7 is presented in the photograph on the next page. The transcription is tabulated below the photographed record. The cents are converted to the English system in the three columns on the right using the exchange rate of 1.39 cents per pence. Notice that the values for Thomas and John Acra in this table correspond to the calculations for them in the clerk’s notes on the previous page. In fact, the truncated list of clerk’s calculations had 61 names, and the tax record of 31 names agreed with the 1796 list of this page. This shows a connection between all ten of these documents. There are 296 names in the present lists. Many of the names did not match the lists in the previous documents. Some of these names are identified as administrators and executors for others. Also, there are partnerships and groups of people indicated. Therefore, the tax values for these names are probably combinations of taxes that cannot be sorted out.

Vol. 16, No. 1 46 June 2012 1796 Tax Related Documents

Names Cents £ s d Names Cents £ s d Anderson, Ambrose 70 0 4 2 Clack, James 125 0 7 6 Anderson, Ambrose & Steven 70 0 4 2 Cooke, Giles & Thomas exor 184 0 11 0 Anderson, Ambrose & Ransone 70 0 4 2 Cooke, Giles Jr. 134 0 8 0 Acra, Thomas 122 0 7 4 Chevallier, J. 530 1 11 9 Anderson, Matthew & Hughes 453 1 7 2 Cluverius, Joseph 142 0 8 6 Acra, John 40 0 2 5 Cole, Margaret 98 0 5 11 Anderson, Ambrose 360 1 1 7 Coleman, Richard 52 0 3 1 A list of fees due the clerk of Gloucester dated 1796 Initial portion of document page 7

Record Date The last four documents were dated 1796, and as mentioned earlier, they contain entries that match the previous six documents. Also, the full tax records indicated very little variation between 1792 and 1797. There were a few variations in the records that seemed to confirm the 1796 date for all ten document pages. One such indicator relates to the land records of my ancestors. Alexander Roane had an estate of 400 acres that was divided equally between his four sons: William, Thomas, Alexander, and Charles. In the full land tax record, all four were listed in 1795, 1796, and 1797. They are also listed in the present land tax documents. This reduces the possible date to this three year range. Another indicator is provided in the estate of Rev. James M. Fontaine of Ware Parish, who during the Revolutionary War, served all four Gloucester parishes. He died in 1795, and his widow, Betty C. Fontaine, appeared in the full property tax records only in 1796. She is listed in the present property and poor tax documents confirming the 1796 date of all ten of these document pages. Overall, it appears that these new documents are working papers produced in the process of collecting the various taxes for Gloucester County in 1796. It also appears that the tax collection was divided into at least two parts, and the present documents covered mainly the northern part of the county. The official records were recorded in the English pound system until 1798, but payments were accepted in continental dollars and cents. The 1796 exchange rate in Gloucester was the same as that established for Virginia in 1775.

Vol. 16, No. 1 47 June 2012

The Jordan Children Honor Their Parents

Harry and Esther Marie Jordan

In celebration of Christmas 2011, the Jordan children chose to honor their parents by giving a substantial donation to the Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia and to the Gloucester Historical Society. Harry and Esther Marie have been outstanding supporters of both societies for many years. They were charter members of GGSV. Harry with the support of his wife published two important volumes that documented the cemeteries of Gloucester County. Thank you, Harry and Esther Marie.

Vol. 16, No. 1 48 June 2012