Chitwood Family
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Early Family History and Background Chitwood Family (and related lines) Jean (Cragun) Tombaugh TOMBAUGH HOUSE 700 Pontiac Street Rochester, Indiana 46975 Early Family History and Background Copyright © 1965 Jean (Cragun) Tombaugh First Printing (by mimeograph) 1965 Wendell C. Tombaugh Second Printing (by offset press) 1976 Tombaugh Publishing House Third Printing (by copier) 1981 Tombaugh Publishing House Fourth Printing (by IBM computer) 1989 TOMBAUGH HOUSE Fifth Printing (by Macintosh computer) 1992 TOMBAUGH HOUSE Passages from Shakespeare of London by Marchette Chute, copyright, 1949, by E. P. Dutton & co., Inc., reprinted by permission of the publishers. Also see Acknowledgments. Early Family History and Background PREFACE The purpose of this book is to preserve family history and to perpetuate pride in the accomplishments of our pioneer ancestors. It is understandable that the contents of Chapter One may be tiresome reading to some. However, it was included for the benefit of those who might want to go more thoroughly into the background of the family. The old and original spellings - and misspellings - have been used. This book is not intended to be a final story of the Chitwood family of Virginia, but, rather, a first chapter of the story, which we hope will never be ended. It may appear strange that a native of Illinois, born of parents from Kansas, living in Indiana, writes a book about people in Virginia. True, much information is available, if at all, only in Virginia. But, the Indiana State Library, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Public Library and the National Archives have vast amounts of pertinent information on their shelves, on microfilm and on microcards; and the courteous assistance of their personnel must be remembered. That which is not available through those sources has been eagerly furnished by many relatives. Particular tribute must be given to Mrs. Walter P. Holland and Robert Gray Chitwood, of Roanoke, Va.; Mrs. C. B. Nolen of Ferrum, Va.; Mrs. L. L. Steffey of Bristol, Tenn.; Mrs. Willis Cheatham and Mrs. Fay B. Chitwood of Rocky Mount, Va.; Miss Sally Lumsden of Glade Hill, Va.; Mrs. J. Y. Jamieson of Falls Church, Va.; Mrs. A. H. Neel of Dayton, Ohio; and to Mrs. George Lee Chitwood, Mrs. Bethel Dickson and Fred Chitwood, all of Conway Springs, Kansas. The joy of writing this book was to have been reward in itself. But I have been repaid many fold in addition by having had the opportunity to know and to work with these hitherto unknown cousins. Early Family History and Background Especially do I thank my husband, who, during the research for and writing of this book, has learned to index names, run an antiquated mimeograph and wear each shirt a day longer. My specifically mentioning these wonderful people is not intended to discredit the invaluable assistance of numerous other people, whose names if included would make costs exceed our printing budget. But the recognition of those who have contributed would be incomplete without mentioning that those about whom this book is written made possible not only this book but our very existence. This, my first attempt at writing, has been quite an experience. As I sit here contemplating the months and months of research, the almost unbelievable amount of correspondence, the cataloguing and filing of literally reams of papers, the stacks of mimeograph stencils (and their many corrections), and awaiting the verdict of the reader, I am reminded of those famous last words of Sidney Carton which he uttered as he was about to be executed: "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known."1 J.C.T. 1 Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities. Early Family History and Background DEDICATION To my Grandmother VIRGINIA FRANKLIN (CHITWOOD) MAYFIELD who, although crippled in body for many years with joints swollen and hardened by arthritis, retained the sweetness of her disposition and the charm of her Virginia origin, was a joy to all, and To my Aunt and Uncle ANTHA BEATRICE (MAYFIELD) PEARSON and WILLIAM E. PEARSON whose selfless dedication made her last years bearable. Early Family History and Background TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication 5 Preface 3 EARLY FAMILY HISTORY AND BACKGROUND 1. Chetwode, Chetwood, Chitwood 8 LINE OF DESCENT 2. From John de Chetwode 16 FIRST GENERATION IN AMERICA 3. Matthias Chetwood (Cheatwood) of Goochland Co., Virginia 22 4. Mary Key, of Northumberland Co., Virginia 23 5. Children of Matthias and Mary Chetwood 23 SECOND GENERATION IN AMERICA 6. John Chetwood, Sr., of Franklin Co., Va. 28 7. Elizabeth Tillotson of Chesterfield Co., Virginia 31 8. Children of John and Elizabeth Chetwood 34 THIRD GENERATION IN AMERICA 9. John Chitwood, Jr., of Franklin Co., Virginia 50 10. Rhoda ----, wife of John Chitwood, Jr. 54 11. Children of John and Rhoda Chitwood 55 FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA 12. William Chitwood, of Franklin Co., Virginia 77 13. Lockey Thurman, wife of William Chitwood 80 FIFTH GENERATION IN AMERICA 14. Thomas Jefferson Chitwood, of Franklin Co., Virginia 89 15. Lucy Catherine Lumsden, wife of Thomas Jefferson Chitwood 93 Early Family History and Background 16. Children of Jefferson and Lucy Catherine Chitwood 125 SIXTH GENERATION IN AMERICA 17. George Washington Chitwood, of Franklin County, Virginia 134 18. Matilda Octave Metts, wife of George Washington Chitwood 139 19. Children of George W. and Matilda O. Chitwood 153 20. Chitwood Bible records 169 SEVENTH GENERATION IN AMERICA 21. Virginia Franklin Chitwood, of Franklin County, Virginia 176 22. Isaac Morton Mayfield, husband of Virginia Franklin Chitwood 178 23. Children of Isaac M. and Virginia F. Mayfield 185 EIGHTH GENERATION IN AMERICA 24. Iva Mayfield, of Conway Springs, Kansas 195 25. J. Beach Cragun, husband of Iva Mayfield 198 26. Children of J. Beach and Iva Cragun 204 NINTH GENERATION IN AMERICA 27. Jean Cragun, of Chicago, Illinois 208 28. Wendell C. Tombaugh, husband of Jean Cragun 209 TENTH GENERATION IN AMERICA 29. John Beach Tombaugh, of Rochester, Indiana 214 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 215 Early Family History and Background EARLY FAMILY HISTORY and BACKGROUND 1: Chetwode, Chetwood, Chitwood The more thorough the research into the background of the early Chitwood family, the more interesting the search becomes. One source for information in the early lines of the Chitwood family is the William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. 18, second series, 1839, pp 507-509, by (Dr.) Blanche M. Haines, of Three Rivers, Michigan. I have divided this article into more paragraphs than the original shows in order that it may be more easily read. Other than that change, it is quoted here verbatim from this source: "Chetwood. - The Chetwode, Chetwood family of England is an old Saxon one going back to the time of William the Conqueror, to one John de Chetwode. That Thomas Chetwode, an early immigrant colonist to Virginia was of this family is certain. "The earliest mention of Thomas Chetwood in Virginia was in 1653, when he was witness to the nuncupative will of Mr. Thomas Crowder.2 May 8, 1655, Thomas Chettwood of London, merchant, gave power of attorney to Mr. Peter Knight.3 Alexander Porteus gave power of attorney to Mr. Thomas Chetwood in 1658.4 Repeatedly, in the records, he appears with the prefix Mr. In 1660, Governor William Berkeley appointed him Surveyor.5 This with other records show that he was in the favor of Governor Berkeley. "From 1653 to 1678, the year of his death, he appeared in Lancaster County records many times. He brought in many colonists and had many head-rights on 2 Lancaster Co Record Book 2 3 Ibid 4 Lancaster Deed Book 2 5 Ibid Early Family History and Background them. The largest of the land grants from these headrights was 5275 acres to Thos. Chetwood and John Prosser in 1667 for transporting 106 persons. In 1667 Major William Ball and Mr. Thomas Chetwood brought in thirty-two persons and were granted 1600 acres. Most of this was on the north side of the Rappahannock River. Grants totaling more than 15000 acres for transporting people appear with his name. Dividing the joint grants by two, he had in Lancaster County alone more than 5000 acres and there were other grants in Northumberland and Old Rappahannock counties. There were close to 300 headrights in which he had an interest. "He died intestate in 1678. The inventory brought in by Edward Carter, Robert Newsum and Walter Wallace named Elizabeth Chetwood, relict of Thomas Chetwood, defunct.6 The estate of £2000 was granted to his widow in 1678 with Capt. William Ball, Attorney.7 No mention of lands or children, though he had both. In March, 1669, Mr. Thomas Chetwode was granted a certificate for transporting certain persons, including Elizabeth Chitwode.8 As early as 1664, Elizabeth Chetwode gave power of attorney to Marquo Barret.9 The evidence is that Thomas and Elizabeth Chetwood were married in England. "That he made many trips across the ocean is shown by headrights granted in 1658 by Mr. Wm. Underwood for bringing in Thomas Chettwood three times and in 1661 to 'Thomas Chitwode for transporting himself three tymes', with others. In his lifetime he deeded land to many of the prominent colonists in Lancaster and adjoining counties. Among them were William Travers, Jno. Chinley, Marquo Barret, Will Wroughton, Nicholas Wren, Thos. Hearley, Richard Overton, Henry Stoneham, Edward Carter and Edward Dale. "Three contemporary Thomas Chetwoods are to be found in London wills at that time. It seems probable and almost certain that Thomas Chetwood, merchant of London and Lancaster Co., Virginia, was the son of 'Henry Chettwood, late of St.