WINDOWS INTO OUR PAST A Genealogy Of The Parsons, Smith & Associated Families Volume One Compiled by: Judy Parsons Smith CROSSING into and Through THE COMMONWEALTH WINDOWS INTO OUR PAST A Genealogy Of The Parsons, Smith & Associated Families Volume One Compiled by: Judy Parsons Smith Please send any additions or corrections to: Judy Parsons Smith 11502 Leiden Lane Midlothian, VA 23112-3024 (804) 744-4388 e-mail: [email protected] Lay-out Design by: D & J Productions Midlothian, Virginia © 1996, Judy P. Smith 2 Dedicated to my children, so that they may know from whence they came. 3 INTRODUCTION I began compiling information on my family in 1979, when my Great Aunt Jo first introduced me to genealogy. Little did I know where that beginning would lead. Many of my first few generation were already set out in other publications where I could easily find them. Then there were others which have taken many years even to begin to develop. There were periods of time that I consistently worked on gathering information and "filling out" all the paperwork. Then there have been periods of time that I have just allowed my genealogy to set aside for a year or so. Then I something would trigger the genealogy bug and I would end up picking up my work once again with new fervor. Through the years, I have visited with family that I didn't even know that I had. In turn my correspondence has been exhaustive at times. I so enjoy sending out and receiving family information. The mail holds so many surprises. Oh, the crazy things that one finds out while searching out the family's roots. I have been spending the past year researching the Middle Ages and before. To tell the truth I never was really interested in that period of time, until, I found out that we were related to European Royalty. Many believe that what is going on in our world today is crazy, only after delving into the past do we find that life is just as crazy and unpredictable as ever. In my quest for family information, nothing was sacred, I search through courthouse record rooms, the Virginia State Library and Archives, other peoples attics and closets for bits and pieces of family information. Every scrap of information that I have collected has been compiled here for your perusal. I have tried to include "stories" about individuals when they were available or appropriate. My sister was a great help here - she was able to give me some insight into the rulers of England before the Tutors. While helping her study for her exams I was able to get some great information from her, it in turn turned out to be a great way to accomplish two things at once. Thanks go out to all those with whom I have corresponded and those individuals who gave me updated information on their individual families. I am most grateful to my husband who was a great sport while I put together this volume. He encouraged me, assisted in drafting some of the appendixes, reminded me that I needed to sleep when I had spent too much time working on the draft. Thanks also to all my family for being there and giving me the extra push that I needed to get the book "hammered out". As with any work of genealogy, there are always omissions and additions that find their way into print, should you come across a "typo" or have any information that your would like to see corrected please contact me. Judy P. Smith July 1996 4 ABBREVIATIONS & SYMBOLS In the following text a number of abbreviations and symbols are used. In order that you can better follow the information given be sure to check this section when in doubt. An example of a typical entry and it's "translation" follows: Hugh Powell Garton, son of James & Mary (Allen) Garton, b. 13 Sept 1875, Greene County, VA; d. 30 May 1951, Richmond, VA; m. 4 Jul 1899, Greene County, VA to Mattie Liew Richards, daughter of Richard & Emma (Roberts) Richards, b. 14 Apr 1878, Greene County, VA; d. 11 Jan 1956, Richmond, VA. In the above example we find that, Hugh Powell Garton was b. (born) 13 Sept 1875 and d. (died) 30 May 1951. He m. (married only or first) to Mattie Liew Richards. She was b. (born) 14 Apr 1878 and d. (died) on 11 Jan 1956. Abbreviation Meaning abt. about aft. After b. born bap. Baptized bef. before bp. baptized bur. buried c./ca. circa./around d. death Abbreviation Meaning div. divorced m. married m1st first marriage m2nd second marriage m3rd third marriage ! observations/explanation ✝ Minister, pastor, or preacher. " Revolutionary War service. # Civil War service 5 TABLE OF CONTENT SECTION ONE CONNECTICUT........................................................................................................................................................................... 12 MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY ............................................................................................................................................ 12 PENNSYLVANIA .................................................................................................................................................................. 13 MIGRATION PATTERN .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 S O U T H C A R O L I N A ............................................................................................................................................... 14 V I R G I N I A ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 LEE COUNTY SETTLEMENTS........................................................................................................................................... 5 PEOPLE...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 CUSTOMS, OCCUPATIONS AND INTERESTING FACTS............................................................................................................. 5 CONFLICTS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 MAP OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, EASTERN TENNESSEE AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA HIGHLIGHTING THOSE COUNTIES IN WHICH ANCESTORS LIVED............................................................................................................................................................... 8 A D A M S........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 ADDAMS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 A L L E N ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 ALLENINE - ALLEYNE - ALLIN - ALLAND - ALAN ................................................................................................ 10 A N D R E W S.............................................................................................................................................................................. 14 A N D R E W S.............................................................................................................................................................................. 14 RELATED TO THE SMITH FAMILY ........................................................................................................................................... 14 A R C H B O L D .......................................................................................................................................................................... 14 A T K I N S.................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 A V A N T...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 B A K E R...................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 BECKER, BEAKER..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 B E N T Z....................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 B L A N K E N S H I P ................................................................................................................................................................. 33 BLANKINSOP - BLANKINGSHIP - BLANKINSHIP.................................................................................................................... 33 BLENKINSOP - BLAKINSOP...................................................................................................................................................... 33 B L E D S O E ..............................................................................................................................................................................