Bailey-Britton History and Genealogy

A WAAGAU.EY BAI LEY-BRITTON HISTORY AND GENEALOGY 0 By T. H. BAILEY Kingsport, T cnncszee 1962 "But strew his ashes to the wind, Whose sword or voice has served mankind, And is he dead, whose glorious mind Lifts him on high? To live in hearts we leave behind, Is not to die." SERVICE, a balm for sorrow. INTRODUCTION Abom 45 years ago some friends and I were talking about things in general, when my friends began to talk about their Ancestry - their grandfathers and great grandfathers. I lis tened for a while and finally said, "well, I couldn't tell you my grandfather's name on either side if I had to be shot." One of my friends in surprise. exclaimed, ''What! Did a buzzard lay you on a stump?" I did not take offense, knowing that he was joking, but r hung my head for a moment and said, 'Well, I don't know, but I am going to find out, beginning right now." I began thinking, iust how did r come to be here? Who, where and how did I get here and know so little about it? At that time, my father and mother were dead. I found with some difficulty, that my grandfather died in the Mexican .War in 1848, not long after the surrender of the City of Mexico, when my father was only two years old. ft seems that in those days but few people kept any records of their ancestry, and did not even talk very much about them. Consequently my father knew very little about his people, to pass on to his posterity. I finally learned my grandfather's name from older people. My next step was to get my great grandfather's name, but how? This was more difficult; he had died between 1840 and 1843, and no one living in my day knew anything about him. None of my people had heard or remembered his name. One day I was search ing through my gnndmother's old trunk, full of old papers of eve-;y d(:scription, all jumbled together, and by accident fotmd this old tax receipt, "Rec'd of William Bailey (son of Samuel) his State and County Tax in fuIJ for 1842, 25 cents. (signed) Ja. C. Miller Sheriff." Now I had learned that my grandfather's name was William and this receipt being with my grandmother's papers, there was little doubt as to my great grandfather's name. Beyond this, I had to rely upon Documental Records found at County scats, State Capitols and libraries scattered over th~ eastern part of the United States. Hundreds of counties have been visited personally, in Tenn., N. C., S. C., Md., N. ]., Ky., Ind., Mo., Ark., and other states. I have had access to most of the larger Iibra!'ies in State Capitols and others; Library of Congress; Census Records. Veter an's Records, Pension Records and other hist=,ry in tb National Archives at Washington, D. C. Wills, deeds, marriag::s and other records in the above mentionel counties and s ·ates have contributed liberally to these records and made it possible to connect our lines bock to the Immigrants. Now I have not done all this work abne, much credit must be given to others, who have contributed liberally; but special credit and thanks are due Mrs. James Laningham of Pennington Gap, Va.; Mrs. Alta Tarango of San Pedro, Calif.; Mrs. Lyle 0. Waddell, of Las Cruces, N. Mex. who have collected much data on the same lines, and have much informarion on coilateral lines, sterning out of Fauquier Coutny, Va., which has not b::en included in this volume. There arc many others who have helped in a great way, to whom I wish to express my thanks. I am not a grammarian nor historian, but interested princi paily in research of genealogical facts pertaining to our Bailey Britton lines. A few items of history have been drawn from others who arc gifted historically, and used as a support to this work. Of course there are many errors, typographical and other wise, but there are no deliberate statements that have not been proven at least logically and to the satisfaction of the writer. Some information in regard to the present generations has been given orally by members of the family and no doubt errors will be found. Many dates have been taken from census records which are not always correct, It would be impossible to compile a record like this absolutely p:rfect. Many Bible records have been taken, which may be considered indisputable. The Baileys in the early days seemed to find it hard to break away from the old, and many times repeated names, as John, Wil liam, James, Thomas, Samuel, Robert, Henry and Joseph; and to break the monotony, one ventured to name his son "Broadbill," and got away with it. Others soon followed suit. Then other names appeared, such as Greenberry, Littlebery, Nimrod, Siman, Callam, Mumford, Hancock, Absolom, Elisha, Colvin and finally parents began to name their children anything they pleased, such as Finis, Above Hope, and Octopus. "Octopus, sir!'' exclaimed the aston ished divine who w;i5 about to baptize a baby, in the good old II days, ''But you cannot call a child by so extraordinary a name." ''Yes, Sir, if you please, you see it is out eighth child, and we want it called Octopus." I have given more time and study to the early history and origin of these family names, than to the present families which are now representatives of every state in the Union; many thousand of whom I do not know and cannot find. I have tried to get a back ground for these families who if they wish may trace back two or three generations and connect I have had some criticism from a few of our people who have not given it a thought; even some who have indicated that they thought it little short on sinfulness. But my Bible teaches that we should give an account of our Stewardship, and has as much to say about geneology as anything else. Moses gave the geneology from the beginning to Abraham which covers a period of more than three thousand years. Geneology is found all through the Bible; read it, it is Biblical. "Our fathers in a wondrous age, Ere yet the earth was small Insured to us an heritage, And doubted not at all That the children of their heart Which then did beat so high, In later time should play like part For our posterity." -Kipling. "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers" -Proverbs 17 :6 "Like the leaves on the trees the race of man is found, Now green in youth now withered on the ground; Another race the foJ!owing spring supplies; They rise successive, and successive fall: So generations in their course decay; So flourish these, when those are passed away." -Homer. Geneology is not easy to compile, and less easy to understand by the laymen who have not made it a study; but must be studied as any text book to g:t a clear picture of what is meant to be con veyed. III Take a dozen jig saw puzzles With fragments jumbled together, Place them in their proper huddle For they will fit no other. When each is in its respective place Then the picture is clearly done. You've won your genealogical race .. And can tell which is your own. 'Worthy Ancestors and descendants arc those who h:ive het tered the race throu~h serving it as individuals. Ancestry is not an end, but a beginning. It is like the old proverbial needle in a haystack; but I con \~d that a needle in a haystack can be found if every straw is re mvved one by one. Every ge1:eologist has a way of his own in studying family history. I have studied many of these histories and have selected what I think the the best points, and most easily understood. Since this work is primarily for the families interested, and not especially for other genealogists, I have refrained from using unfamiliar terms and abbreviations, too often used by specialists. My method may not be the best, but I feel much like the boy whose father. wishing to know how his son was getting along in school, said "Son how do you spell Elepbant7"' "e-1-e-f-a-n-t" was the prompt reply. "But I'm afraid Mr. Webster would not agree with you an tr.at." "But you didn't ask how Mr. W cbster spelled it, you asked how I spelt it." retorted the boy. I think the boy spelt it rite. Many v.'Titers use too many silent words as well as silent letters. If you are inclined to be critical, just remember its the way 1 do it. Too many unnecessary references tend to clutter-up the read ing, and the inexperienced cannot get a clear understanding. Most members of families interested, will believe what you say, or else discredit the whole thing, referi:nces and all. Not m;:my have a chance, or the time to look up references. IV I have tried to get all our present families up-to-date but cir cumstances have prohibited getting some. The younger families h:ivc scattered to all parts of the country, and I have not been able to reach several of them. Besides, I have failed to get coopera tion from a few.

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