Our Anglo Heritage

Lewis Lacey and Margaret White Lacey From Miniature Daguerreotypes

My Family ~ A Family of the West

A collection of Six Parts – Part One (b)

By Rich Eastwood

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This chart is to help you follow along; it is repeated in the Lewis Lacey section (1b)

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Our Anglo Heritage

A Short History of the United States

Colonial Times to Illinois

Lacy/Lacey Page 15 - Rankin/Clendenin Page 40

McDaniel/McDonald Page 48 - Taylor/Dotson Page 51

Colonial Times to Texas

White/McCulloch Page 66 – Bonus Samuel McCulloch Jr. Page 79

Civil War Era to 1900ish LockeHill/Spring Creek

See: Ruth McDonald Lacey and the Spring Creek Community (The Book)

A Short History of the United States

By Elton Lacey, from his book “The William Lacy and Elliot Lacy Families” Pgs 10-21

THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES.

In this section we will present some sketches of life in the eighteenth and nineteenth

centuries in America. Of necessity these will be general presentations of a broad picture

of life and times in early America. The purpose is to set the background, as much as

possible, in which our forebearers lived out their daily lives.

Early Colonial Virginia.

As early as the 1580‘s, the English tried to establish a colony on the coast of North

America around the Chesapeake Bay area. It was to be named Virginia after the Virgin

Queen Elizabeth. In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh sent out the first group of settlers, but they

eventually returned home. Another group sent in 1587 to Roanoake Island, became the

―lost Colony‖ and no trace of them has ever been found. In 1606, the Virginia Company

sent out settlers who founded Jamestown in 1607. Although the colonists suffered many

hardships and deprivations, the colony became firmly entrenched and tobacco began to

be raised for export to England at great profit. By 1634, there were eight original Shires

(Counties) established in Virginia and the northern border with the newly established

Maryland Colony was fixed. By Royal Charter, Virginia‘s domain extended ―from sea to

sea‖, that is, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Virginia continued to grow and prosper, in

the late 1600‘s slaves were imported in large numbers to tend the fields and harvest the

crops when the plantation owners could no longer get cheap labor by importing white

workers from England. By 1669 there were some eighteen counties in Virginia with

several of them extending their western boundaries indefinitely. It is into this region that

Thomas Lacy I came in the 1680‘s.

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Colonial America (1700-1775).

The British Colonies along the Atlantic Seaboard were expanding rapidly during this

period. Spain dominated Florida, the Gulf Coast and the great Southwest, and the French

controlled the interior from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River. Other Nationalities

were immigrating to the new lands: Dutch, Swedes, Scotch-Irish and Germans also

settled along the coast. This movement of peoples played out against the backdrop of

global battles between France and England for European supremacy. The French became

alarmed at the number of settlers along the coast and the build up of pressures to move

beyond the Appalachians. By the middle of the century, these colonists were topping the

Appalachian rise and moving into the Ohio valley in increasing numbers. This started the

first war on the continent related to these global struggles. It is known as the French and

Indian War (1753-1760). It actually took more lives than the later American

Revolutionary War. The French and their Indian Allies were pitted against the British and

their Indian Allies along the Atlantic seaboard for control of the Ohio Valley. This war

afforded George Washington his first command of troops and experience in military

diplomacy. It ended with the signing of the Peace of Paris in 1763, ending the global war

known as the Seven Years War. The lands west of the Mississippi remained under

Spanish control, but the rest of North America from Florida to Canada became British.

Revolutionary War.

―We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men were created equal; that they are

endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life,

liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are

instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that,

whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the

people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government ---THE DECLARATION

OF INDEPENDENCE [Thomas Jefferson]. We all know these words and the results that

they wrought. While the initial catalyst of the rebellion was economic, ―no taxation

without representation‖, it was, in fact, a bold attack on privilege and tyranny. The British

wanted the colonies for its imperial purpose of global domination. It needed the wealth of

the new continent and did not intend to share it with the people who lived there. The cost

of imperial defense was overwhelming and they felt that the Americans should pay for it

with taxes.

This ringing document was a challenge to a fight issued to the world‘s most powerful

empire. The Americans were clearly outclassed and outgunned. Their advantage was (as

it turned out to be) that Britain was 3,000 miles away by sea and it was expensive to

equip an army to fight the rebels and maintain the empire at the same time. In addition,

the Americans had allies, at least in name, in France and Spain, who were still the global

enemies of England and still smarting from the defeat in the French and Indian War. In a

sense, that war had led to the formation of the fighting force that became to be known as

the Continental Army, since many rebel soldiers gained valuable experience by serving in

their regional militias during this war. People in the frontier did not support the rebellion

at first. They did not feel strongly about the lack of representation in Britain since they

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did not have it in the Colonies either. However, when the Indians, at the instigation of the

British, began to attack them, they readily joined in the struggle.

How some of the companies of this ragtag army were developed and organized is

revealed in the following passage: ―In the course of the war, eight companies of 84 men

each were formed in Culpepper County for Continental service. They were raised by the

following Captains: John Thornton, George Slaughter, Gabriel Long, Gabriel Jones, John

Gillison, and Alexander McClanahan. Captain McClanahan was a Baptist clergyman, and

at first regularly preached to his men. His recruits were drawn principally from his own

congregation or denomination, in conformity with the wishes of the legislature, who

invited the members of the various religious bodies, especially the Baptists and

Methodists, to organize themselves into separate companies under officers of their own

principles. The Baptists were among the most strenuous supporters of liberty‖ (―Virginia

Antiquities‖, by Henry Howe. 1847). Capt. Alexander McClanahan (McClenchan) was a

son of Robert, who had married a daughter of Alexander Breckinridge. Robert

McClanahan came to America in the immigration of 1739/1740 and was Scotch-Irish.

Descendants of Thomas Lacy who served in the Revolutionary War ranged in age from

fourteen to over fifty. Two of Thomas II‘s Sons served in the war, Elkanah Lacy and

Elliott Lacy, both about 50. Thomas Lacy II had several grandsons who served. Three

sons of Stephen Lacy served; Matthew Lacy (age Ca. 28), Charles Lacy (age ca. 26),

Elijah Lacy (age 14). Others who served were: Elliott Lacy, Jr. (age ca. 20); Nathaniel

Lacy (age ca. 22); Elkanah Lacy, Jr. (age 18); Archibald Lacy, (age 25). Thomas Lacy IV

provided supplies to the Revolutionary Forces (―Public Service Claims of Halifax

County, Court Booklet 62-361, p.2‖). There are probably others that are unknown to us at

this time. A Linner Lacy also served (Aud. Acct. XXII, p. 79. ―List of Rev. Soldiers of

Va.‖, Dept of Archives and Hist.). There are probably others which are unknown to us at

this time.

Unfortunately, there are few official records available. In a letter from the War

Department to Hubert W. Lacey dated February 2, 1934, Major General James F.

McKinley states that ―No history of the 3d or the 7th Virginia Regiments in the

Revolutionary War has been compiled, nor can such a history be made on account of the

fragmentary records which are on file. Battles and skirmishes are rarely mentioned except

when certain soldiers were killed or wounded at the places named.‖

He goes on to say that ―The records of Elkanah Lacey, Sr. furnish no information as to

the location of the company in which he served.‖ However, it has been established that he

was killed on October 4, 1777, place unknown.

General McKinley continues ―The records of the service of Elkanah Lacy, Jr. show the

stations of his company in variously numbered regiments as follows:

June 4, 1778, Valley Forge; (the army was at Valley Forge from Dec., 1777 to June 15,

1778) July 13, 1778; Paramus August (the roll for July) 1776 Camp White Plains;

October 29, 1778, New Ark; November 6, 1778, Pumpton Plains; January 13, 1779,

Middlebrook; and same place to May 5, 1779; (winter quarters) To July 1, 1779 Smith‘s

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Clove; August 3, 1779, Ramapaugh; September 56, 1779, Smith‘s Clove; October 1,

1779, Ramapaugh; November 8, 1779, Haverstraw; December 9, 1779, Morrristown.‖

In another letter to Hubert W. Lacey from the War Department (now unavailable),

records show that Elliott Lacy enlisted for a term to end April 10, 1778; he served as a

private in Capt. William Mosely‘s Co., 7th Va. Reg., commanded by Col. Alexander

McClenachan, as noted by Muster Roll dated May 21, 1777. He died in the service

November 20, 1777. The records do not indicate how he died or where he is buried, but

old family records state that ―he was killed in the Revolutionary War‖.

Members of the allied families to the Lacys also served the cause. A notable example is

that of Dr Henry W. Wilson, first husband of Agnes Lacy, oldest daughter of William

Lacy and Elizabeth Rice. He was an attending physician to the troops and died of ―camp

fever‖ while serving at New London. [N.B. New London was an important place during

this period. It had seventy or eighty houses, and arsenal, a long wooden structure that

stood opposite Echol‘s Tavern, later removed to Harper‘s Ferry. It was a long structure

used as a magazine was under constant guard by soldiers. ―Popular Forest‖, the

occasional residence of Thomas Jefferson, was situated three miles northwest of New

London. New London was first the county seat of Lunenburg County and became the

county seat of Bedford County when it was organized.]

Peace talks began in Paris in June, 1782 with John Jay, John Adams, and Benjamin

Franklin for the Americans and Richard Oswald for the British. Final settlement gave

America independence and ill defined boundaries north and south and the Mississippi

river to the west. By 1783 the new United States of America stretched from the Atlantic

Ocean to the Mississippi River to the west and to the boundary with Florida to the south

and Canada and Nova Scotia to the north. Spain controlled Florida and west from the

Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean. On April 15, 1783, Congress ratified the Treaty of

Paris and the British began removing their troops from the former colonies as well as

several thousand loyalists who fled to Britain, Canada, or other British Colonies to begin

new lives all over again.

The Treaty of Paris did not bring peace, nor did the fixing of boundaries, however vague,

settle disputes about ownership of and dominion over the western and southern lands.

Both England and the United States claimed vast territories in Canada, while Russia and

England vied for the territory that would eventually become Alaska and the Aleutian

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Westward Expansion I.

The original thirteen colonies were now the thirteen states of the United States of

America (Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and

Virginia). George Washington was sworn in as the first President on April 30, 1789. The

first new states were added, Vermont in 1791, Kentucky in 1792, and Tennessee in 1796.

The western territories were organized. Several of the states, notably Connecticut,

Georgia, Massachusetts, and North Carolina claimed territories to the Pacific Ocean

based on the original charters, while New York and Virginia both claimed Kentucky and

all lands north and west of the Ohio River (in Virginia‘s case, based on a 1609 charter).

The other states protested and the Federal Government, faced with the cost of expansion

into the western territories, decreed that new western states would have the same rights as

the original states and that territorial governments would be set up with the goal of

eventual statehood. The Northwest Territory was designated as the lands above the Ohio

River up to the Mississippi River and the Southwest Territory as the lands below the

Ohio River up to the Mississippi River. Detroit and Nashville were already established

cities in these territories respectively.

Expansion faced many difficulties, not the least of which was lack of public roads and

hostile natives. The two cultures, European American and Native American, were to

clash in sharp contrast over the concept of ownership of land. The concept of individual

ownership and control of a specified piece of property was deeply embedded in the

immigrants‘ concept of land. The Indians treated land as communal property which was

for the free use of all. They little understood the concept of deeds and property rights as

expounded by the new Americans. The Federal Government gave them deeds to vast

lands and designated reserves for them, which they, in turn, were lobbied to sell either to

the Government or to companies, such as the Ohio Company, which were created for

economic development purposes in the European sense. In 1775, Richard Henderson of

North Carolina and organizer of the Transylvania Company, commissioned Daniel Boone

and his ax men to cut a Wilderness Road from the Holston River via a natural passage

through the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia. This passage, near the

borders of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee to the Kentucky River, is known as the

―Cumberland Gap‖. Emigrants had been ―shooting the Cumberland Gap‖ since it had

been discovered in 1750 to enter the Trans-Appalachian lands and to settle in the river

valleys on the frontier. The Wilderness Road became one of the main routes of westward

migration for the next several decades. The National Road (or Pike), also known as the

Cumberland Road, was a well maintained graveled road stretching from Virginia to St.

Louis. Other routes were through Maryland to Philadelphia and, once the Mohawk threat

was removed, through the Mohawk Valley on the Mohawk Trail. The southern route lead

through Georgia, around the Appalachians into Alabama and Mississippi.

These migrations would precipitate the bloody Indian Wars of the nineteenth century and

eventually lead to the complete defeat of the Indians who were put on reservations,

making the opening of the west complete.

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Vermont became the fourteenth State of the Union in 1791. In 1776 Kentucky was

designated as Kentucky County, Virginia. By 1792 it was admitted as the fifteenth state

of the union with thirteen organized counties, three unorganized counties, and western

lands reserved for the Chickasaw Nation. In 1777 Washington County was created by

North Carolina out of its territory South of the Ohio River. In 1785 it was called the state

of Franklin, although it was not a State of the Union. This territory was formally

organized in 1790 and admitted to the union as the State of Tennessee in 1796.

The eastern part of Tennessee is a great hill-strewn valley, then forest clad, running

northeast to southwest, bounded on the south by the Anaka River and Great Smoky

Mountains, and on the north, partially by the Cumberland River, containing within its

broad boundaries the Clinch, Holston, Nolichucky, French Broad, and tributary streams,

whose combined flow form the Tennessee River.

The first settlers in eastern Tennessee were mainly from Botetourt, Augusta, and

Frederick Counties in Virginia, and Cumberland and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania.

They were a hardy, fearless, enterprising and intelligent people, mostly of Scotch-Irish

stock, and for the most part Presbyterians, if they had any religion at all. Rev. Charles

Cummings, one of the earliest ministers in the region, stated that there were some, mainly

for the wealthier classes, who were extremely wild and dissipated. Settlers along the

Wautauga River were principally from Virginia and the Carolinas. Some were

descendants of people who earlier had come down from the north and settled in Virginia

and the Carolinas, and were of German stock, Huguenots, and members of the German

Reformed Church. They readily mixed and assimilated themselves with the Scotch-Irish.

As to the Scotch-Irish, Theodore Roosevelt says in his monumental work ―The Winning

of the West‖ that: ―they were a sturdy race, enterprising and intelligent, fond of the strong

excitement inherent in the adventurous frontier life. Their untamed and turbulent

passions, and the lawless freedom of their lives, made them a population of very

productive wild, headstrong characters; yet as a whole they were a God fearing race, as

was but natural in those who sprang from the loins of the Irish Calvanists.

The women, the wives of the settlers, were of the same iron temper. They fearlessly

fronted every danger the men did, and they worked quite as hard. They prized the

knowledge and learning they themselves had been forced to do without; and many a

backwoods woman, by thrift and industry, by the sale of her butter and cheese, and the

calves from her cows, enabled her husband to give his sons good schooling, and perhaps

to provide some favored members of the family the opportunity to secure a really first

class education.‖

Pressures continued to build among the emigrants to move further and further west.

People who floated down the Ohio River to the Mississippi would either get off on the

east bank or the west bank. This determined where they would settle. Agreements

between nations, as to fixed boundaries, were being violated. Reserved Indian lands were

―bought‖ by the government or companies and the Indians were forced further west or

onto fixed reservations. More of the Northwest Territory began to be organized with

eventual Statehood as the goal. The Virginia Legislature organized the Illinois Territory

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out of the Northwest Territory on the 12th of December, 1778. In 1784 the Northwest

Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia and in 1790 St. Clair Co., Illinois,

was organized by Governor St. Clair and the Judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions and

Pleas. Also in 1790, Knox County, Indiana, was organized. The Indiana Territory was

organized in 1800 and the Illinois Territory followed in 1809. Indiana was admitted to the

Union in 1816 and Illinois followed two years later in 1818. The farmers in Tennessee

began to hanker for the rich fertile soil of the lake plains regions in Indiana and Illinois.

Emigrants following the National Road also moved toward these promise lands. Thus

they flooded into these areas, pushing the Indians even further west. The Federal

Government began to establish a series of Forts along the roads and waterways to protect

the emigrants, thus encouraging more and more to come. How did these people move and

travel? If they had a family, they usually had some kind of wagon or cart and animals,

either horses or oxen. To start they would need a certain amount of cash, enough to

―outfit‖ at least the start of their trip and some for emergencies on the road. Barter was a

way of life on the trail. If people had extra clothes or guns and ammunition or foodstuffs,

they would trade with other travelers or people in settlements they passed for other items

they needed. In a dire emergency, such as low food stuffs, they might trade away other

goods that were essential in order to survive. Medicines were precious and were readily

used as barter tender. Livestock, too, became potential items of barter, especially newly

born calves or colts. While they usually had a specific destination in mind, circumstances,

such as sickness or death of a family member, might change their plans. Sometimes they

would simply get where they intended to go and then decide to move on.

In 1807, the Illinois Territory was part of the Indiana Territory. The government seat was

at Vincennes with Gen. William Harrison as Governor. It was sparsely settled with a total

population of less than 9,000, mostly in the southern part. By 1810, the colonists had

settled as far north as Woodriver in present Madison County. The Goshen settlements,

know as the ―Land of Promise‖, was established in 1802. Turkey Hill, which lay east of

the present town of Belleville, had residents as early as 1798. The most northern post was

Jones‘ Stockade, settled in 1809, in what is now Bond County. Thus, it was the most

exposed settlement to the threat of Indian attack.

By 1810 the territorial population had grown to 11,501 whites, 168 slaves, and 613

others, not including Indians. On Feb. 3, 1809, all the present State of Illinois and the

lands constituting the present State of Wisconsin were organized into the Illinois

Territory. By 1818 the population had increased to approximately 40,000, when it was

admitted to the Union. This illustrates the great influx of settlers that came into the

territory (present State of Illinois), the southern part deriving most of its settlers from the

Southern States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. It was Gen.

Wayne‘s great victory at Fallen Timbers that opened up this land for settlement.

Places changed in importance as the population moved west. A good example is

Shawneetown in Illinois. From 1813 to 1837, Shawneetown was the principal town in

Illinois. There is a story that when the citizens of the village of Chicago went to

Shawneetown to see the bankers for the purpose of securing a loan, they were turned

down on the premise that Chicago would never amount to anything.

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THE NINETEENTH CENTURY,

We now review some of the important events which influenced the spread of emigrants

during the Nineteenth Century, which saw the country united from ―sea to shining‖ sea.

Westward Expansion II.

The great Western Emigration commenced in earnest after the end of the Revolutionary

War and continued until the end of the nineteenth century and beyond. Roads across the

Appalachian Mountains which were developed before the revolution, and the Wilderness

Road blazed by Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap, and the route from Virginia

to Kentucky were all improved upon and added to. Most ―national‖ roads were, first of

all, military roads and then became popularized by the thousands emigrating to the west.

Georgia was established by Royal Charter in 1732, and its Western lands extended to the

Mississippi River. In 1803, Georgia ratified the Constitution and ceded these lands to the

Federal Government. Public domain lands would later become the States of Alabama and

Mississippi. Thomas Jefferson‘s ―Louisiana Purchase‖ from Napoleon of lands ceded

from Spain to France, by the ―Treaty of San Ildefonso‖, effectively doubled the size of

America. This turned out to be one of the most significant events in American, if not

world, history. In 1800, while this far northwest territory was still under Spanish control,

Jefferson had sought permission from the Spanish Government to seek the mythical

―Northwest Passage‖ along the Missouri River. His plan was rejected, but the purchase

meant that he was free to pursue his dream of finding such a passage, even though both

the French and the Spanish had effectively proved centuries before that it did not exist.

Thus, in 1803, Jefferson and Congress authorized the Expedition of Captain Meriwether

Lewis and Captain William Clark to follow the Missouri and its tributaries to the Pacific

Ocean. This journey, now legendary, was one in which over forty men and one Indian

woman went and returned. They struggled under great hardships, mapped out these

western lands, and laid to rest forever the myth of the Northwest Passage. They

accomplished this over a three-year period and, incredibly, sustained only one loss of life.

This journey awakened the consciousness of the Americans to vastness of the lands to the

far west and stimulated the great migrations along the Oregon, California, and Yukon

Trails that followed.

The Old Southwest extended from South Carolina and Georgia to the Mississippi River.

Because this area was sparsely settled, the migration west from here was slower than to

the Northwest from the more populous North East. Also, treaties with the Creeks and

Cherokees had created ―Indian Nations‖ in the area and migration was limited to the

areas not under the control of the Indians. The population centers were mostly along the

Gulf Coast and easily accessible by ship. With the Louisiana Purchase, New Orleans

finally passed to the control of the Federal Government. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris had

guaranteed the right of passage on the Mississippi by Americans, but the Spanish still

controlled Natchez and New Orleans. In 1795, the area around Natchez which was still

under Spanish control, was finally ceded to America by the Treaty of San Lorenzo. Only

West Florida, which extended to the Mississippi River, would remain under Spanish

domination until after the end of the War of 1812. In 1819, it was finally purchased from

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the Spanish Government. The only overland route in the Old Southwest before 1806, was

the Natchez Trace. This road followed several old Indian trails from New Orleans

through Natchez to Nashville and later was extended to Lexington, Kentucky. Two

Federal Roads were authorized by Congress in 1803; the National Road from Maryland

to Illinois and the Federal Road from Georgia to Louisiana. A branch of this road, known

as ―three chopped road‖, so named because of the three slash marks made on trees to

mark its path, went to Natchez. The establishment of this road meant that the importance

of Natchez Trace, with its colorful history, began to fade in significance as it was

bypassed by the main flow of civilization.

THE WAR OF 1812.

The War of 1812 is one of the most misunderstood and obscure wars in American

History. In the large picture, it was part of the global conflict of the early nineteenth

century, with Napoleon against Europe and America against Britain. In the regional view,

it was a continuation of the struggle against British Imperialism fought for ―Free Trade

and Sailor‘s Rights‖. As a land war, it was fought on the Canadian border and into

Canada. In 1813, Admiral Perry won a notable victory on the Great Lakes, defeating a

British flotilla. His famous report was ―we have met the enemy and they are ours‖.

Indeed, it was the only surrender of a complete squadron in British naval history.

However, a British expeditionary force attacked Washington and burned the Capitol,

White House, and other government buildings to the ground on August 24, 1814. This

turned out to be a hit-and-run raid that achieved little else. A naval bombardment of Fort

McHenry by the British gave America it‘s National Anthem, the ―Star Spangled Banner‖,

as penned by Francis Scott Key, a prisoner on board one of the bombarding vessels. By

the 12th of September, however, the British had been defeated on land and the

Chesapeake campaign was over.

The Indians played a large role in the War of 1812, siding with the British. Tecumseh, a

Shawnee Chief, was renowned for his eloquence and organizational abilities. He spent his

entire adult life as a warrior and organized Indians from Florida to Canada. He demanded

the right to approve all deals to turn Indian lands over to the U. S. Government. In 1811,

William Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory, sent a force against Tecumseh at

Tippecanoe. He won an ambiguous victory on Nov. 7, 1811, and Tecumseh escaped to

fight another day. In the War of 1812, the British commissioned Tecumseh as a brigadier-

general. However, Harrison caught up with him again at the Battle of the Thames, and

this time Tecumseh was killed. The fame of these exploits helped propel Harrison to the

Presidency in 1840. However, the eventual British ―defeat‖ in this war and the death of

Tecumseh essentially brought to an end any nationally organized resistance of the Indians

to western expansion of the nation. The Indian wars would drag on piece-meal over the

rest of the nineteenth century, but no other leader such as Tecumseh would arise to lead

the Indians in opposition to the taking of their homelands. It also killed any chance that

there would be a ―reserved‖ land for the Indians. While various ―reservations‖ would rise

and fall, no land was safe from the onslaught of the emigrants from the east. The notion

of ―Manifest Destiny‖ had taken root and would grow until the nation stretched from ―sea

to shining sea [N.B. This term was invented by John L. O‘Sullivan, a New York

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Texas and Mexico. The warriors that stayed eventually joined forces with the Fox and

Sac under the leadership of Black Hawk who had fought alongside Tecumseh in the War

of 1812. A battle with Illinois militia men, under the command of Major Issac Stillman,

on 15 May 1832, turned into a rout with 40 Sac and Fox braves defeating 275 well-armed

militia men. While only 11 of Stillman‘s men were killed, it was a major defeat that

became known as ―Stillman‘s run‖. The dead were witnessed by a young Abraham

Lincoln. Emboldened by their victory, the braves began a campaign of terror by raiding

isolated places and massacring women and children. This created a firestorm of public

demands that ―no Indian be left alive in the north part of Illinois‖.

Neither Thomas Jefferson nor Andrew Jackson anticipated the possibility that white

settlement in the American West would proceed from the west. By the mid 1830‘s,

Americans were traveling along the ―Oregon Trail‖ to settle in the fertile lands of

Oregon, or turning south to California. With the settlement of the Oregon Territory

northern boundary reached with Britain on 15 June 1846, white Americans entered

Oregon in large numbers. The wars with the Indians in the far west would sweep from the

southwest with Apache leaders like Geronimo, Victorio, and Cochise to the northwest

from ―Little Big Horn‖ to ―Wounded Knee‖ with leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy

Horse. William Tecumseh Sherman, of Civil War fame, would lead the army in

ultimately crushing the Indian resistance from New Mexico and Texas to Montana and

Wyoming.

Among all the captive stories that came out of the Indian Wars, perhaps none is better

known and had more consequences than that of Cynthia Ann Parker. On 18 May 1836, a

Comanche war party attacked ―fort‖ Parker in Limestone County, where Cynthia Ann

and her family and some friends were sleeping. Among those killed were her grandfather,

John, and father, Silas. Nothing was heard of Cynthia for nearly twenty five years when

she was recaptured. It was later learned that she had married a chief by the name of Peta

Nocona. She was with him on a raid, carrying her daughter ―Prairie Flower‖, when she

was captured and he was killed. She left behind a young son who would grow up to be

the chief of all the Comanche and become a spokesman in Washington for the tribe. He

was known as Capt. Quanah Parker.

Westward Expansion III.

Since 1800, the territory of the United States had more than doubled. By 1820, it

appeared that the natural limits to the boundaries of America had been reached. The

Southwest beyond the Sabine River was Spanish, by formal treaty. The question of the

extension of slavery to the new territories was becoming difficult. President Monroe

wrote Thomas Jefferson that ―the further acquisition of territory to the west and south

involves difficulties of an internal nature which menace the Union itself‘. But Americans,

as individuals, were still moving west under the same forces as their forebearers, the

chance for economic opportunity, or to escape a past. The next few decades would

ultimately resolve the issue by making the whole continental territory a part of the Union.

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Trails to Texas I. Americans began to enter the Spanish territory of ―Tejas‖ during this

period. They crossed over the Sabine River from Louisiana or the Red River from

Arkansas or Oklahoma Territory. In 1809, Spanish colonial regulations required that

foreigners register with the Spanish authorities providing them with name, national

origin, marital status, and time of residency in the territory. Later, the Mexican

Colonization Law of 24 Mar 1825, required immigrants to apply for citizenship in the

new Republic of Mexico. This would lay the foundation for the Texas Revolution much

like the revolution against the British by the original colonists. Applicants had to prove

―their Christianity, morality, and good habits by a certificate from the authorities from

where they formally resided‖. This gave rise to the ―Empressario‖, a person who

organized settlements in Texas. The most famous of these was Stephen F. Austin, son of

Moses Austin. Moses Austin rode 800 miles from St. Louis, Missouri, to enter San

Antonio de Bexar in 1820. He received permission to establish a Colony of 300 souls and

returned to St. Louis to organize it, but he died shortly thereafter and on his deathbed,

asked his son, Stephen, to carry out the plan on his deathbed. Stephen went on to

organize three colonies and help foment the Texas Revolution that brought Statehood.

One of his colonists, in the third colony, was Peter White from Missouri. He brought his

young family to Texas and stayed to raise a second family and fight in the war and

contribute sons to the Civil War. His daughter, Margaret Ann White, would grow up to

marry Lewis Madison Lacey, son of John Hardin Lacey and Mahala Elizabeth Lacey. We

will present some of the story of Peter White and his family in the section on Lewis

Madison Lacey

The Texas Revolution. By 1830, over 8,000 white Americans and a thousand black

slaves had settled in Texas, mostly in the southeastern region. Under a change of

government in Mexico, a new Colonization Law was passed in 1830. It forbade

Americans to settle in Texas. General Santa Anna took power as a dictator by controlling

the army, becoming president in 1834. The Anglo-Texans began to organize and held a

convention on 1 Oct 1832 in San Felipe. They drafted a petition to be sent to the federal

capital on immigration, as well as a request to be separated from Coahuila, and to be

granted full sovereignty within the confederation as a state. This resolution was never

sent and a second convention was held which passed resolutions setting forth grievances

against custom duties, legal inequities, and military rule, and incorporated the words of

the first resolution, a route almost identical to the American Revolution. The burden of

presenting this plan fell to Austin and he journeyed to Mexico City where he was

received graciously by Santa Anna, but the petitions were refused. He started to return

home, but was arrested in Saltillo by Presidential order and returned to Mexico City

where he would remain in jail until 13 July 1835.

During Austin‘s incarceration, things had continued to boil over in Texas. Another call

for consultation of all Anglo-Texans went out. Then word came that General Cos had

crossed the Rio Grande with a large army, bound for San Antonio. On September 19,

Stephen Austin put out a general call for Texans to stand to arms: ―War is our only

resource. There is no other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, and our

country by force of arms.‖ What happened next is well known. The historic battles at the

Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto are legendary. General Sam Houston, former Governor

13

of Tennessee, defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto and Texas became an independent

Republic, with the U. S. officially recognizing it in March 1837.

There were very few Lacy/Laceys in Texas at this time. One of note is William

Demetrius Lacey who signed ―The Unanimous Declaration of Independence made by the

Delegates of the People of Texas in General Convention at the Town of Washington on

the 2nd of March 1836‖, and fought in some of the battles. Unfortunately, his ancestral

line is not well established at this time. His father was a John Lacy, born in VA in 1776.

He married Sarah Ann Bright and they had four children, one son and three daughters.

General Sam Houston has a connection with the Lacy family through the Rankin family.

Both the Huston and Clendenin families are related to the Rankins. Ann Rankin and Sam

Houston are cousins.

On 13 October 1845, the citizens of the Republic of Texas overwhelmingly voted to

approve their constitution and annexation to the United States of America. On 29

December 1845, President Polk signed the act that annexed the Lone Star State and on 19

February 1846, the Republic of Texas became a State and the Republic was no more.

Trails to Texas II. Immigration to Texas mushroomed during the decade of the 1850‘s.

A major wagon road stretched from Memphis, Tenn., to Little Rock, Ark., to Fulton,

Ark., and on into Texas across the Red River with branches from there to San Antonio,

and further west to Fort Davis and beyond. Other roads entered both further west and

further east. Some of these roads are more or less paralleled by Interstate Hiways today

such as 1-30 or 1-20. The road west from San Antonio to El Paso del Norte is today

followed by 1-10. Along these routes you could also push on to California or New

Mexico, or come to Texas via these trails. Even as late as the 1890‘s, these routes were

being used to migrate west by oxen drawn wagons. One such trip is recounted by Bertha

Lacey, daughter of Tobe Lacey, and her story will be presented later in the book.

The Mexican-American War. President James K. Polk had offered to buy California

and Texas from Mexico, but was rebuffed. He sent General Zachary Taylor with a small

army into Texas to protect the citizens there after annexation. In April, 1846, he sent

Taylor orders to march to the Rio Grande. They soon had skirmishes with the Mexican

army and Taylor went to Congress on 11 May, to ask it to declare war. Congress did and

appropriated $10 million dollars to fight and approved a volunteer force of 50,000 men.

The war went well for the Americans with Vera Cruz falling to General Winfred Scott,

who then pushed on to Mexico City. On 13 September, Scott entered Mexico City and

soon after that Santa Ana was deposed by the Mexicans and he subsequently fled the

country. In February 1848, the peace was formalized by the Treaty of Guadalupe

Hidalgo. Mexico surrendered all its claims to-Texas and set the boundary at the Rio

Grande. It also relinquished California and New Mexico to the U.S.A., as well as

Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. This added almost 1.2 million square

miles to the United States. For its part, the U. S. paid Mexico 15 million dollars and

assumed another 5 million in claims by American citizens against the Mexican

government. In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter‘s Mill and the race of the ‗forty-

15

Lewis Madison Lacey

The Lacey Forbearers

Thomas Lacy I

Adapted from the Elton Lacey Book (ELB) Pp. 001 THRU 009

“The William Lacy and Elliott Lacy Families of New Kent and Chesterfield Counties,

Virginia with forebearers and descendants” By Hubert Wesley Lacey and Howard Elton

Lacey

Thomas Lacy I of New Kent and Hanover Counties, Virginia

Thomas Lacy, immigrant, reputed to have come from Wales to Virginia between 1680

and 1685 and to have settled in that part of New Kent County which years later was cut

off into Hanover County, an area which was then on the very frontier of the early and

somewhat scattered settlements.

It is this Thomas who is credited with being the progenitor of a long and prolific line of

Lacys who resided in various parts of Virginia, principally the counties of Hanover,

Louisa, Goochland, Albemarle, Powhatan, Chesterfield, Henrico, Buckingham, Bedford,

16

and Halifax, spreading to the Carolinas and Georgia. With Virginia as the focal point,

descendants spread fanlike to all points south, west and northwest. Today descendants of

this line live in almost every state in the Union. This branch is by far the largest of any of

the pioneer Lacy families of Virginia.

Due to the loss of the old New Kent and Hanover County records--lost in the tragic

burning of Richmond toward the very end of the Civil War where, ironically, they had

been taken for safe-keeping and also the loss of the Registers of the parishes in which the

Lacys lived, very little is known of Thomas and his family. His year of birth is estimated

to be about 1660 and his place of residence before coming to America to have been

Wales, according to an old document in the family and according to tradition. Thomas

Lacy (1800-1879) of St. Clair Co., Ill., a son of Lionel Lacey and a grandson of Elliott

Lacy, a descendant, told his niece in 1863 -- Miss Pamelia Lacey -- that the Lacys came

from Wales. What Thomas knew came to him from his father and his account of the

family, as given to Miss Pamelia, has been corroborated in every instance where official

records have been found.

By tradition, subject Thomas was of French Huguenot stock, perhaps a son of a Huguenot

who had fled France and settled in Wales. This tradition of French Huguenot ancestry

exists among widely separated branches of the family, some of whom have been out of

contact with one another for generations. It has come down through the author‘s own

line, the sire who left Virginia shortly after the ending of the Revolutionary War. Rev.

William Henry Foote in his ―Sketches of Virginia‖ published in 1850, in writing of Rev.

Drury Lacey (1758-1815), states:

―His father, William Lacy, a grandson of the immigrant…of English descent and

Norman-French extraction. His mother, Elizabeth Rice, was a cousin to Benjamin

Rice of Bedford, the father of Rev. Doctors John H. and Benjamin H. Rice.‖

Prof. Austin W. Smith (b. 1885), then of Cookesville, Tenn., author of the ―George Lacey

Genealogy‖ and himself a Lacy descendant, in his letter of Dec. 8, 1936 wrote:

―Dear Mr. Lacey:

I was delighted to hear from you. I have been engaged in the task for some time in

collecting material for a book of the Lacy family. My great-grandmother, Susannah Lacy,

daughter of Matthew Lacy of Goochland County, Va., son of Stephen Lacy of same

county, married Robert George and came to Warren County, Tenn., after spending a

number of years in KY She lived to be 92 years of age. My father who died in 1929 at the

age of 90 knew her well as did my mother who is still living at the age of 90. She was

always proud of the fact that she was French, of the Huguenots who came to America.

Her name was Susannah de Lacy, French, you will readily see, though she accepted the

English ‗Lacy‘. Her grandson, who is now living in Texas, knew her as she lived with

them the last few years of her life. His name is Law Lacy, or de Lacy. He says that there

is no question that they were French. She certainly ought to have known as it was her

great-grandfather who was the French Huguenot. There are Lacys in Virginia who are not

17

French Huguenots. I am sure that this bunch of Huguenots were in England for a time but

that they were French in origin.‖

Persecution of the Huguenots in France preceded the edict of Jan. 29, 1535, ordering the

―extermination of the heretics‖, but reached tragic and awful proportions from that date.

A great many French Protestants fled the country to save their lives, rather than give up

their freedom of conscience and their religious beliefs. Many of these settled in England

and Holland. This migration continued until the middle of the 18th century. The

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 merely accentuated this mass migration, and

France lost, to her detriment, over 400,000 of her best artisans and citizens. The family of

Thomas de Lacy was already in England by 1680. Many of them settled in Wales and

Ireland where they became very prominent.

We find in English Heraldry a seeming variation of the Lacy-Normandy coat-of-arms,

which may signify a family of Norman extraction. In ―Lacy of Waltham in the Willows,

Counties of Norfolk and Suffolk‖ their coat-of-arms is:

―Quarterly, argent and sable, on a bend gules three maltreats or, over all a label of five

points the last, each charged with an ermine spot. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet gules a

demi-eagle wings expanded or, in the beak an arrow of the first headed and feathered

argent.‖

(Burke‘s ―General Armory‖)

The Norman coat-of-arms is: ―Quarterly or and gu, a bend sa, over all a label three points

ar.‖

(―A complete Book of Heraldry‖, London MDCCCXX. Jos. Edminston, Esq. F.S. A.)

Note the similarity of these coats of armor. However, it is unlikely that the Lacys of

Suffolk and Norfolk are the parent family of subject Thomas Lacy, because these two

counties are located on the far side east coast of England and thus some distance from

Wales. However, they may have been an off-shoot of the same family. The names

Thomas and Stephen are found in both.

From ―Cavaliers & Pioneers‖, Abstracts of Virginia Land Grants (1623-1800), Virginia

Land Office Patents, by Nell Marion Nugent (1924), Vol. 5, Land Office of Va., we find

this item:

―Grant of 500 acres of land on Chowan River in the Isle of Wight was made to

Thomas Mann in 1682 for the transportation of ten persons, among whom were

Thomas Lacy, Richard Carter, Giles Thornberry, Ann Dowds, Elizabeth Croomer, and

John Middleton.‖

It cannot be said that this Thomas is the same man as subject Thomas Lacy, but as the

date of arrival corresponds with that of subject the possibility is very strong and should

be given credence. Statements have appeared in print at various times about the date of

arrival in America of Thomas and some confusion as to Thomas himself. For instance, in

the Comp. of American Genealogy (Virkus), V. 1. p. 683, it states ―Thomas Lacy from

England to Va., 1702. Married Ann Burnley.‖ The date of this edition was 1925 and the

article is based on material submitted to and not on research by Virkus. Subsequent

18

research has proven this information incorrect, as it is now the conclusion that the

Thomas who married Ann Burnley was the son of the immigrant Thomas. This

conclusion has been arrived at principally from an old document written by Rev. William

Sterling Lacy (1791-1881), relating a narrative told him by ―old William Rice‖ about the

year 1828 or 1829. Rev. Lacy put this narrative in writing probably sometime before

1850, probably having made some notes at the time of his interview with Mr. Rice. This

treasured document is now in the possession of Mrs. Elizabeth (Lacy) Jones of Roanoke,

VA widow of Alfred Power Jones, M. D. This document definitely states that Thomas

Lacy came from Wales, was engaged to Miss Rice in Wales, preceded the Rice family to

Virginia, who followed a few years later, and he married Miss Rice, daughter of Thomas

Rice, after their arrival in Virginia.

In order to assay the credibility of the family data in this article, it would be well to view

the character and veracity of ―old William Rice‖ and Rev. Lacy.

William Rice was born about 1742 or 1743, based on the statement that he was 85 or 86

years of age in 1828 or 1829. His place of birth would have been in Hanover County in

the locale of the Rice and Lacey homesteads. He was a son of David Rice and Miss

Searcy, and a brother of the noted Rev. David Rice (1733-1816), Presbyterian minister of

Kentucky, and an uncle to the Elizabeth Rice who married William Lacy (1713-1775).

He was a grandson of the immigrant, Thomas Rice. Surely, living in the same

neighborhood and being personally in touch with the older members of the family, he

would have known of the proper family relationship. He was, according to Rev. Win.

Lacy, a man whose ―mind was unimpaired, his memory remarkable‖, and an ―esteemed

and consistent Christian man‖.

Rev. William Sterling Lacy, son of Rev. Drury Lacy, who was a son of the William Lacy

who married Elizabeth Rice, mentioned previously, was a man of the highest integrity

and retentive memory. He could recite from beginning to end the New Testament and

many of the Psalms and portions of the Old Testament. There can be no question but that

he wrote the narrative exactly as it was narrated to him.

This document is the only tangible bit of evidence known of the immigrants Thomas

Lacy and Thomas Rice, relation to their old world background and their immigration to

Virginia, and of the marriage of Thomas Lacy to the daughter of Thomas Rice. All of the

old New Kent and Hanover county records were destroyed by fire in 1865, and the

Register of St. Paul‘s Parish is not in existence. The Vestry Book of this parish gives little

data.

We learn from this narrative that Thomas Lacy lived to a very ripe old age and that he

was an exceedingly tall man, which would tend to discount any Welsh ancestry since the

Welsh are of very short stature. It would appear, from the statement of William Rice, that

Thomas Lacy was living about the year 1750 since he states that he saw him ―when a

small boy‖. Thus Thomas Lacy must have been 85 or more years of age at his death, if

born about 1665. His death would have occurred in Hanover County, the place of his

residence.

19

The first documented evidence of the residence of subject Thomas is that contained in the

official 1704 Rent Roll Record, which shows the following Lacys owing land in New

Kent County: Thomas Lacy -- 100 acres, William Lacy -- 500 acres, and Emmanuel Lacy

--180 acres.

Thomas must have purchased his land as no land grant record has been found. If he had

paid his own way to America he would have received a headright of 50 acres and that

would have been recorded in ―Virginia Land Grants‖. Some information has been

secured from the Vestry Book of St. Paul‘s Parish, which was located in that part of New

Kent County cut off in 1720/1 into Hanover. In the Vestry Book covering the period from

1706 to 1766 the following references are found:

―Returns made to the Vestry of St. Paul‘s Parish, March 4, 1708/9, from the

surveyor of the 39 Precincts that the said Parish was divided into for the Processioning of

Lands by an order of the said Parish Vestry held Sept. 24, 1708/9, are here according to

Law and an order of the said Vestry made on the said 14th of March, Registered

Verbatim.‖

―No. 18. The lands of Haughton House, Thomas Lacy, Jeremiah Dumas, Robert

Depriest, William England, Rice Hughes, William Stephens, John Hickman, John

McCoy, lying adjacent to each other, being made one precinct, of which the said William

England Haughton House were appointed overseers, who made this return on the Back of

the Order (viz;) this order is executed, only one line with Rice Hughes did not appear.

Subscribed: William England Haughton House‖

―No. 20. Thomas Lacy and Thomas Graham were appointed overseers in the

Processioning of lands in St. Paul‘s Parish, Sept. 17, 1711. Among these lands was that of

Emmanuel Richardson.‖

These two records would certainly apply to Thomas Lacy I, but subsequent ones may

refer to the second generation and in the one instance -- that of Thomas Lacy, Jr. -- to the

third generation.

―No. 22. Ordered into one Precinct for Processioning ye lands of Jeremiah

Dumas, Thomas Prosser, James Wood, Col. Curtis, Mr. Brooks, James Rice, William

Crossley, Thomas Lacy, Thomas Lacy, Jr., James Whitlock, Col. Thompson, Olivers,

Nathaniel Hodgeskeson, James Hunt, ye Hughs, James Allen, George Straughan, David

Tyree, James Anthony, and ye Carr‘s Lands, James Whitlock and James Allen to see the

said processioning performed, who made the following return, viz: In Obedience to the

within order, we the Subscribers has seen all the lands within mentioned procession‘d

except the land of George Straughan and Ellis, which nobody appeared for.

March ye 28th, 1732 James Allen

James Whitlock.‖

―No. 38. The Lands of Thomas Lacy, James Whitlock and Thomas Graham lying

adjacent to each other, being made on Precinct, of which the said Thomas Lacy and

20

James Whitlock were appointed overseers, who made this return on the Back of the order,

viz: the within order complied with ... us.

Subscribed: Thomas Lacy James Whitlock‖

Of a later date -- 1743 -- an entry shows for the first time the name of Stephen Lacy.

―At a Vestry held in St. Paul‘s Parish, Oct 18, 1743. No. 7. Ordered into one

precinct for processioning the Lands of Thomas Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Thomas

Grant, John Price, John Williamson, Thomas Harlow, Charles Anderson, and that John

Williamson and William Allen see the said processioning performed, who made the

following report, -- we whose names are mentioned in ye within Order have met

accordingly and none agreed & sent.

Thomas Grant, Stephen Lacy, Benjamin Johnson, Charles Anderson, Thomas Harlow,

Richard Allen.

John Williamson, William Allen‖

[N.B. ―Processioning‖ of lands was necessary in order to re-establish boundary lines

between adjoining owners due to the destruction or removal of land marks which

consisted in many cases of scrub oak or other trees, stones and creeks -- the latter often

changing courses. Disputes would develop between property owners and the authority to

adjudicate these matters was granted by the Council to the various parish vestrys of the

Established Church.]

There is no evidence that subject Thomas Lacy lived anywhere except New Kent County,

in that part which became Hanover County. He was already in Virginia when Oliver de la

Muce arrived in 1700 with three ships of Huguenots. There is also no evidence that his

son, Thomas, who married Ann Burnley, lived any place other than Hanover County. We

know that Thomas Lacy‘s grandsons moved to Manikintowne and lived among the

French Huguenots in Goochland County and the name of Lacy is included among the

settlers of Manikintowne. This list appears to be about 1750. The parish serving

Manikintowne was old King William and later St. James Northam.

We have record of one son, Thomas Lacy II, born to Thomas Lacy I and his wife, Miss

Rice (Rhuys in Welsh), whose name may have been Phebe. There were most likely other

children but we have no knowledge of them. There is a record of a Julian Lacy in

Hanover County towards the latter part of the 18th Century who may derive from an un-

known branch of the family.

Thomas Lacy II

Thomas Lacy II (b. ca 1683/4 New Kent Co., VA) Planter. Practically nothing is known

of him. There is a record in the Bible, which belonged to Rev. William Sterling Lacy,

taken from earlier records in the Bible of his father, stating that Thomas II married Ann

Burnley; no date shown but it is supposed to have been about 1704/6 in New Kent Co.,

VA.

21

The parentage of Ann Burnley is not known. Reputedly the family was English and

French. There are a few records of Burnleys but none go back as far as Ann who was

probably born about 1688 or 1690. She may have been a sister to one John Burnley so is

credited with being born about 1670; in fact, she could have been a daughter. There was

one John Burnley who returned to England in 1771 leaving a will in Virginia and making

another in England in which he devised a considerable estate. In this will is mentioned

brothers Zachariah Burnley, Hardin Burnley, Richard Burnley and sisters Elizabeth

Duke, Keziah Duke, and Ann Littlepage and sons of a deceased sister, Judith

Meriweather, who married James Meriweather. He does not mention a wife or children.

This John, who was a merchant, was no doubt the son of John, supposedly born ca 1670,

and may have been a cousin or uncle to Ann. He was not a brother, else he would have

mentioned her in his will.

It is most interesting to note that Zachariah Burnley held 880 acres of land in Bedford

Co., Va., which he sold to Thomas and Elliott Lacy (sons of Thomas Lacy and Ann

Burnley) and to Thomas Deen in 1758. This transaction will be discussed in the section

on Elliott Lacy.

Authenticated records of the names of all of the children of Thomas and Ann are lacking,

but the names of three sons are known, Thomas (III), William, and Stephen. The names

of the others, proven by circumstantial evidence, are Elkanah, Nathaniel, Elliott and

tentatively Phoebe. There may have been other, especially daughters, of whom we have

no knowledge.

Stephen LACY

Birth Date: ca. 1705

Birth Place: VA

Death Date: bf 20 Jul 1772

Death Place: Goodchland Co.,VA

Spouse 1: ______

Spouse2: Sarah

Thomas LACY, III

Birth Date: About 1705/1708

Birth Place: VA

Spouse:

William LACY

Birth Date: 26 Feb 1713

Birth Place: New Kent Co., VA

Death Date: 28 Feb 1775

Death Place: Chesterfield Co., VA

Spouse: Elizabeth RICE

Birth Date: 17 Nov 1715

22

Birth Place: New Kent County, VA

Death Date: 21 May 1770

Death Place: Chesterfield Co., VA

Spouse Father: James RICE

Spouse Mother: Margaret HOUSE

Marriage Date: 1738

Nathaniel LACY

Birth Date: About 1715

Birth Place: VA

Death Date: 1781

Death Place: VA

Spouse: Marie BOOTLE

Phoebe LACY

Birth Date: 1717

Spouse: Thomas GODSEY, Jr.

Elkanah LACY

Birth Date: About 1720/1730

Death Date: 1777

Spouse: Mary BROWN

Elliott LACY

Birth Date: ca. 1725

Birth Place: VA

Death Date: 20 Nov 1777 (killed in Rev. War)

Spouse: (Lois) BROWN

Birth Place: VA

Marriage Place: VA

As stated previously, this book is mainly concerned with the descendants of William and

Elliott Lacy, and will include some previously unpublished information on Nathaniel

Lacy‘s descendants. The material on the descendants of William Lacy is taken primarily

from the unpublished manuscript by Hubert Wesley Lacey; the material on Nathaniel

Lacy was provided by Joyce R. Bush; and the material on Elliott Lacy comes primarily

from the unpublished manuscript of Hubert Wesley Lacey.

Many individuals contributed to this work, both to Hubert W. Lacey and H. Elton Lacey.

Their specific contributions are noted at the appropriate places in the text. Hubert was

uniquely positioned to do this work, as he was able to contact individuals who had been

born in the last century, and who had personal knowledge of life in that period.

23

The Legend of Thomas Lacy and the Pirate

Compiled by Elton Lacey

The story of Thomas Lacy capturing a pirate, reputedly Blackbeard, has come down

through the generations. The furthest back it goes is to the Rev. William Sterling Lacy, a

man of outstanding character and the source of much correct information on the family.

This story has been suspect because of the claims that it was the pirate, Blackbeard, who

was captured and slain. This could not possibly be because Edmond Drummond, a.k.a.

Edward Teach a.k.a. "Blackbeard" was born 1680-1690 and was killed 22 November

1718 in a fight with Lieut. Robert Maynard and company.

The incredibly true story has now surfaced, much of it consistent with the important facts

in William Sterling Lacy's version. It was found by Gene Lacy doing an on-line search in

the Virginia Colonial Records Project on the Homepage of the Library of Virginia. The

Library spent the years between 1955 and 1985 visiting more than one hundred libraries

and archives in Great Britain, Ireland, and France to survey the collections. They

subsequently obtained microfilm on 14,704 Survey Reports, and acquired 963 reels of

microfilmed documents. It was among these documents that the story of Thomas Lacy

and the pirate surfaced.

First we present the story as told by William Sterling Lacy. This is taken from Hubert

Wesley Lacey's book, "The Thomas Lacy III Family of Hanover and Buckingham

Counties, Virginia".

COPY OF OLD PAPER WRITTEN BY WILLIAM STERLING LACY, SON OF REV.

DRURY LACY.

ORIGINAL IS IN THE POSSESSION OF ALFRED P. JONES, M. D. OF ROANOKE

VA.

Passing through the upper end of Luta Prairie about the year 1828 or '29, I stopped at the

house of old Mr. Wm. Rice; he said he was 85 or 86 years of age, and brother of Rev.

David Rice, one of the first Presbyterian Ministers of Kentucky. His mind was

unimpaired, his memory remarkable and he was esteemed a consistent Christian man. He

told me that when a small boy, he saw my ancestor who emigrated from Wales, and was

then residing in Hanover Co., Va., remarking that he was one of the oldest and tallest

men he ever saw; his name was Thomas Lacy. He told me his history was very peculiar,

that when a young man he embarked on board a vessel from Wales with other emigrants,

with a view of settling in Virginia; that during the voyage he was captured by a notorious

pirate who went under the familiar name of Black Beard, but whose name was Taike; that

every passenger on board was made to walk the plank with the exception of Thomas

Lacy, who the pirate swore was too fine a looking fellow to be drowned and that he

would impress him into his service and make a noble pirate of him.

24

A short time after the pirate put into Ocracoke Sound, and cast anchor on a desolate

coast, where he was in the habit of trading with some lawless accomplices.

A man of suspicious character, I think by the name of Minnis, applied to the Governor of

Virginia, then residing on Jamestown Island, to aid him in fitting out a large Merchant

Vessel and collecting a large number of desperate adventurers with a view of capturing

the pirate. He was induced to do this, from the fact that a very large reward had been

offered by the British Government and several of her colonies for the capture of the

pirate.

It seems that Minnis was acquainted with the habits of Black Beard and knew at what

time he would be on the coast. The vessel was fitted and crew collected. Immediately on

entering Ocracoke Inlet the vessel was so fitted to appear almost a wreck. Taking

advantage of a favorable wind and tide she sailed slowly under ragged sailes and crippled

masts to where the piratical vessel lay, only four or five men on deck making signals of

distress as they approached the pirate. All the men, completely armed, hid under the

hatches of the vessel. The pirate seemed amused at her slow approach, supposing they

had her entirely in their power. The piratical vessel was anchored over a half mile from

shore. At this time nearly half the crew were on shore trading as above mentioned. As

soon as she reached the pirate she was grappled and drawn up alongside of her. Instantly

all the hatches were thrown up and armed men in large numbers rushed on the deck of the

pirate. At this instant Thomas Lacy drew his cutlass and shouting with trumpet-voice, "I

am a true man. I am a prisoner", began to cut down the pirates on the right and left. This

circumstance increased their panic and threw them into some confusion so that they were

quickly overcome by superior numbers. Not one would surrender and everyone was slain.

Black Beard recognized Minnis and cursed him as a traitor and was soon after killed.

They then proceeded with their prize to Jamestown where the good Conduct of Thomas

Lacy being reported to the Governor, he gave him a share of the prize money, and a tract

of land on the frontier in which is now Hanover Co., saying he would make a fine Indian

fighter. In a few years after Thomas Rice sailed from Wales and settled in the same

neighborhood of Thomas Lacy. Thomas Lacy married his daughter to whom he had been

engaged before leaving Wales.

This Thomas Rice was the ancestor of this William Rice who gave me the above

narrative.

Signed: William S. Lacy

FROM THE COLONIAL RECORDS PROJECT-LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA

Survey Report No. 4385

13 May 1700 This document contains 21 depositions sworn before the Court of Oyer &

Terminer for the trial of pirates in Virginia before Peter Beverly, Clerk of Arraigns. Some

25

of the depositions are sworn by individual mariners, others by groups of mariners from

different ships captured by Lewis Guittar. All ships were outward bound from Virginia,

except the Pennsylvania Merchant, which was inbound from England. On 17 April

(1699) the ―BALTIMORE‖ was captured; on 18 April the ―GEORGE‖ of Pennsylvania

bound for Jamica. The master of the ―FRIENDSHIP‖ of Belfast-Hans Haniel-was killed

when the pirates fired on his ship. On 28 April 4 ships were captured within the Cape of

Virginia including the ―PENNSYLVANIA MERCHANT‖, and the ―INDIAN KING‖ of

Virginia and the ―NICHOLSON‖. The ―PENNSYLVANIA MERCHANT‖ was burnt.

The crews taken prisoner were confined in the hold of the pirate ship which was call ―LA

PAIX‖ (PEACE); some other being made to throw cargoes of tobacco and other goods to

Lyn-Haven by the pirates. On 28 April Captain John Alread, Commander of ―H.M.S.

ESSEX‖ having heard of the pirates' exploits came ashore and informed H. E. Francis

Nicholson H.M. Governor General of Virginia and Captain Passenger of ―H.M.S.

SHOREHAM‖ that there was a Pirate in Lyn-Haven Bay. Whereupon captain Passenger

and His Excellency, together with Captain Alread and Peter Hayman Esquire, went

aboard ―H.M.S. SHOREHAM‖ and in coming out of the James River engaged the Pirate

ship. Captain Guittar fought under a blood red flag. Peter Hayman Esquire was slain.

After an engagement which lasted 6 to 8 hours John Lympany, a passenger from the

―PENNSYLVANIA MERCHANT‖, was ordered by Lewis Guittar to swim aboard the

―SHOREHAM‖ to inform H. E. the Governor that there were English prisoners aboard

his ship and that they and the ship would be blown up unless H. E. was prepared to grant

Quarter to Guittar and his men if they surrendered. The Governor gave his promise.

About 124 pirates were taken prisoner and some 25 to 30 pirates were slain. Between 40

and 50 English prisoners were liberated.

Survey Report No. 4378

Part I contains two documents 17 and 18 relating to charges of Piracy against Lewis

Guittar and others and 18 also relates to a charge of Piracy against David Evand and

Turlagh Sulivan and others.

8 November 1700. The warrant for the execution of Lewis Guittar and members of his

crew for Piracy upon the High Seas.

21-21 October 1700. Not of Judgment at Sessions, sentencing Lewis Guittar and a

number of his crew to death.

Survey Report No. 5918

An Admiralty memorial, dated 12 September 1701, recommending an allowance of 23

shillings a month for 5 months to Thomas Lacy and William Woolgar for the capture of

the French pirate Lewis Guittar, within the Cape of Virginia.

Survey Report No. 6672

Lords of the Admiralty to the Navy Board. 17 September 1701. By direction of the Lords

Justices, their Lordships ordered the Navy Board to pay Thomas Lacey and William

Woolgar each five months pay as A.B. of the Royal Navy as a gratuity for their voluntary

service on board ―H.M.S. SHOREHAM‖, Capt. Passenger, in her action with a pirate

ship off the Capes of Virginia.

26

Conclusion: Thomas Lacy was listed as a sailor from one of the ships that was captured

on the 28th of April 1699. Of the three ships captured, only the Nicholson was reported

as leaving crew behind in its attempt to escape from the pirate. The above report makes it

clear that Thomas Lacy served on the Shoreham during the battle. Thus, we conclude that

he was a seaman aboard the Nicholson, was left in port in the hasty departure,

volunteered to serve on the Shoreham and received his reward for this service.

Elliott Lacy

Excerpted from the Elton Lacey Book (ELB) Pp. 224 THRU 234

Elliott Lacy was born circa 1725, in Va. and died on 20 Nov 1777, killed in the

Revolutionary War. Evidently Elliott grew to manhood in and around Hanover County,

Va. where his family had lived for two generations. At some point he married a Miss

Brown, as recorded in old family records, given by Thomas Lacey, grandson of Elliott, to

Miss Pamela Lacey as mentioned above. The identity of Miss Brown is unknown, but

very likely she was the sister of Mary Brown, wife of Elkanah, Elliott‘s brother. Their

parents were Francis and Christianer Brown of Chesterfield Co., Va. The close residency

of the Browns and Lacys in Chesterfield Co., the repetition of the unusual name Lionel

(corrupted into Lianer, Linner, Linel, etc.), and the fact that a brother of these Brown girls

was also named Lionel, strengthens the circumstantial evidence for these conclusions. In

addition, both Thomas and Daniel Brown, sons of Francis and Christianer, moved to

Bedford Co., Va., where a daughter of Thomas married Burley Lacy, son of Elliott.

Family records, dating back over one hundred years, state that Burley Lacy‘s wife was

his cousin. Finally, according to the will of Francis Brown, he had but two daughters,

Mary and Lois, thus it appears that the name of Elliott‘s wife was Lois. Nothing is known

of her dates of birth or death, but she was still single in June of 1755, the date of her

father‘s will. As we shall see below, land transaction records place Elliott in Bedford

County at the same time, so it is likely that he met and married his wife there. Elliott and

his wife had eight children. Their family chart is given later.

The first official records of Elliott Lacy outside the Hanover County area are in the newly

organized County of Bedford (formed in 1753 and organized in 1754). This was a county

in the southwestern part of Virginia with its western boundary the unorganized county of

Augusta and was truly on the frontier at the time. He was a member of the Militia of

which there are four references listed below. Probably this service was related to the

French and Indian War which was going on at the time.

1. In ―Gleanings of Virginia History‖, by Boogler, it states that he was paid 3

pounds

and 4 shillings for service in the Bedford County Militia, in 1756, serving under

Capt. John Phelps, Lt. Richard Callaway, and Ensign Samuel Howston (Houston).

His close kinsman, Zachariah Burnley, was a member of the same unit.

2. In 1758 he was sergeant in the Bedford County Militia

(―Va. Colonial Records, Vol. 2).

27

3. ―Elliott Lacy of Bedford County, VA, was a private in the Army in the Indian

Wars

before the Declaration of Independence‖. (Hist. Sketch of Bedford Co., Va.‖, p. 40

Duke Univ.)

4. ―Elliott Lacey, sergeant Colonial Militia, Sept. 1758, Bedford County.‖

(―Virginia Colonial Militia‖, by Win. A. Crozier.)

In 1758 Elliott with his brother, Thomas, and Thomas Deen, bought 880 acres from

Zaehariah Brunley in Bedford County. The deed reads as follows:

―THIS INDENTURE made this twenty second day of May in the year of our Lord

one thousand seven Hundred & fifty Eight. Between Zachariah Burnley of the County of

Bedford of the one part and Elliott Lacey, Thomas Deen of the same County & Thomas

Lacey of Chesterfield County of the other part WITNESSETH that the said Zachariah

Burnley for and in consideration of twenty Pounds Current Money of Virginia to him in

Hand

Paid the Receipt whereof he doth Acknowledge hath granted Bargained sold Released &

Confirm‘d by these presents doth grant Bargain sell Release & Confirm unto said Elliot

Lacy Thomas Deen & Thomas Lacy & to their heirs and Assigns forever one certain tract

of Parcel of Land Containing eight Hundred & eighty Acres the same more or less Lying

and being in the County of Bedford on the Branches of Falling River Near the Pilot

Mountain it being part of a Tract of Land the said Zachariah Burnley Bought of Robert

Wathen & Robert Jennings and Bounded as follows (to wit) Beginning Corner Hickory

thence North forty two Degrees west one Hundred & forty four Poles to a Hickory

Thence North Seventy Six Degrees fifty two Poles to a Red Oake thence North Sixty

Eight Degrees East fifty Poles to a Shrub oak, thence North Twenty Degrees West Ninety

Poles to a Small Red oak Saplin, thence North Eighty Nine Degrees West three Hundred

& Eighteen Poles to a small white oake thence North Sixty five Degrees West forty one

Poles to a White oake thence South fifteen Degrees East five Hundred aand forty four

Poles to a Small white oak thence North Eighty one & one Half Degrees East one

Hundred & Ninety Poles to Pointers on Cob. Bollings line thence on his line North

twenty five Degrees West sixty four Poles to a White oak, thence North thirty two

Degrees East one Hundred & Seventy Poles to the first Station with Allwod, Swaine

Meadows & all other Profits & Commodities to same belonging and all the Estate Right

Title Interest Claim & Demand whatsoever of him the said Zachariah Burnley of in & to

the said Land & Premises & every Part & Parcel thereof. To have and to Hold said tract

of Land and all other the before granted Premises with their appertences unto the said

Eliot Lacey, Thomas Deene & Thomas Lacey & to their Heirs and Assigns forever to the

only Use & Behoof of the said Eliot Lacey, Thomas Deene & Thos. Lacey their Heirs

and Assigns for ever & the said Zachariah Burnley for him and his Heirs the said Land &

Premises against him & his Heirs & all Persons claiming from by or under him or any of

them to the said Elliot Lacey, Thos. Deene & Thos. Lacey shall & Will Warrant &

forever Defend by these Presents in Witness whereof the said Zachariah Burnley hath

Hereunto set his Hand & Seal the day & Year above Written.

Sign‘d Seal‘d Delivered ―Zach. Burnley L. S.

28

In Presence of us:

Peter Rawlings, Henry Jones

Anthony Rawling (his mark),

James Lee, James Stapp

On the twenty second day of May one Thousand and seven Hundred & fifty Eight

Liberty & Seisin of the Within sold Land and Premises was acknowledged to be made &

Done by the within Named Zachariah Burnley to the Within Names Elliot Lacey, Thos.

Deene & Thos. Lacey for them & Heirs and Assigns forever.

In Presence of Henry Jones, James Stapp Zach. Burnley L. S.

Peter Rawlin, Anthony Rawling (his mark)

May 22nd, 1758. Recd. of Elliot Lacey, Thoins. Deen & Thos. Lacey seventy pounds by

me.

Zach Burnley.

At a Court held for Bedford County June 16th, 1758.

This Indenture and Memorandum of Livery of Seisin & Receipt thereon Endorsed were

acknowledged by Zachariah Burnly Party thereto & Ordered to be Recorded.

Teste: Benjamin Howard C. B. C

Truly Recorded: Ben Howard. C. B. C.‖

(Deed Bk. A, p.176)

There are some points of interest to be noted in this document. Of course, since the laws

and procedures were based on English Law the document reads almost like a modern day

land transaction document. The legal description of the boundaries in terms of temporary

markers such as tree or rocks is a good example of why ―processioning‖ was used to

reconfirm boundaries. The casual spellings, especially of names, is a common feature of

such documents. As seen above, such spelling variations occur frequently in the

document.

In 1759, we find record of Elliott Lacy as a plaintiff in a suit against John Landrum in

Chesterfield County, which was organized ten years earlier out of Henrico County and

lies three counties to the East of Bedford. We do not know if he was a resident of this

county at that time.

Order Bk. 2, p. 513. April Court 1759. Chesterfield Co., Va.

―Elliott Lacy) Agt. ) John Landrum) This day came the parties by their

attornies and thereupon came also ------to wit, Thomas Rudel, to speak------ upon their

oath say that the defendant is guilty in manner and form in the petition against him, hath

ordered and assess the plaintiff damages by occasion thereof for four pounds six shillings,

therefore it is considered by the Court that the plaintiff recover against the said defendant

his damages aforesaid in form---- together with his costs, etc.

29

(Signature) John Archer

Teste: W. Watkins. Clk.‖

It is interesting to note that in this suit Elliott had his two brothers, Elkanah and

Nathaniel, testify for him. This is further evidence of the relationship of Elliott to the

Thomas Lacy family. He was required to pay them 25 pounds of tobacco per day for their

services:

(Order Bk. 2, p. 515, Chesterfield Co., Va.)

―April Court 1759. Ordered that Elliot Lacy pay Elkanah Lacy 150# Tob0 for six

days attendance as a witness against John Landrum.

John Archer

30

Witnesseth that the said Elliot Lacy for and in Consideration of the sum of forty eight

pounds eight shillings and eleven Pence three farthings Current Money of Virginia to him

in hand paid by the said Win. Duiguid the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge

and thereof and of every Part & Parcel thereof doth hereby Clearly Acquit Exonerate &

Discharge the said William Duiguid and his Heirs forever hath Bargained sold aliened

enfeoffed and Confirmed unto the said William Duiguid his Heirs and Assigns forever

one Certain Tract or Parcel of Land Lying & being in the Parish of Russel in the County

of Bedford on the Branches of Falling River being the same Land the said Elliot Lacey

bought formerly of Zachariah Bunrly late of Bedford County and Contains eight hundred

and eighty acres and is Bounded as followeth that is to say Beginning at Colo. Bollings

Corner Hiccory near Pilot Mountain thence ---- etc. To have and to Hold the said

dividend Tract or Parcel of Land and all and singular the Premises with the Other

appertenances thereto Belonging herein before granted or hereby intended to be granted

Bargained Sold with their and every of their appertenances unto the said William Duiguid

his Heirs and Assigns to the only Proper use and Behoof him the said William Duiguid

his Heirs and Assigns forever and the said Eliot Lacey for himself and his Heirs the said

Sold land and Premises with the appertenances thereto Belonging or in any wise

appertaining unto the said William Duiguid his Heirs and Assigns against him the said

Eliot Lacey his Heirs and Assigns & all Other Persons whatsoever Lawfully Claiming or

to Claim by from or under him them or any of them and all Other Persons Whatsoever

shall and will warrant and forever Defend by these Presents. In Witness Whereof the said

Elliot Lacey to these presents his hand and Seal hath set the day and the year above

Written.

Seald & Delivered Elliot Lacey L.S.

In the Presence of:

David Patteson John Patteson

Charles Patteson Thos. Patteson

MEMORANDUM that on the sixteenth of June MDCCLXI Livery of Seisin of the within

Sold land and Premises with the appertenances was had and Taken by the within Named

Elliot Lacey and by him Delivered to the within Named William Duiguid and Quiet

Possession given according to the True intent and Meaning of the within Written

Indenture by Delivery of Turff & Twig.

Seald & Delivered in Presence of

David Patteson John Patteson

Chas. PattesonThos. Patteson

Received the sixteenth day of June 1763 of the within William Duiguid the sum of

Fortyeight

Pounds eight shillings and elen Pence Current Money)

of Virginia in full for the Consideration Money for the with)

Mentioned Land and Premises …………………………….) £ 48.8.11-3/4

Teste: Elliott Lacey

David Patteson, John Patteson, Chas. Patteson

Thos. Pattëson

31

At a Court held for Bedford County Novr. 24th, 1763.

This Indenture & Memorandum of Livery & Seisin & Receipts hereon Indorsed were

Proved by the Oaths of David Patteson, Chas. Patteson & Thos. Patteson, Witnesses

thereto and Ordered to be Recorded.

Teste: Benjamin Howard

C.B.C.‖

(Deed Bk. A, p. 499. Bedford Co., Va.)

We now present the children of Elliott Lacy and Lois Brown.

Elliott LACY, Jr. Birth Date: About 1759

Birth Place: (pos.) Buckinham County, VA

Death Place: Revolutionary War

Nathaniel LACY Birth Date: About 1761

Birth Place: (pos.) Buckingham County, VA

Spouse: Amy BARKER

Death Date: After 1820

Death Place: Gallatin County, IL

Burley LACY

Birth Date: About 1763

Birth Place: (pos.) Buckinham County, VA

Death Date: After 1830

Death Place: Wayne County, IL

Spouse: Judith BROWN

Birth Place: Bedford County, VA

Spouse Father: Thomas BROWN

Marriage Date: 2 Sep 1786

Marriage Place: Bedford County, VA

Lionel (Liner) LACY

Birth Date: 1765

Birth Place: prob. Buckingham Co., VA

Death Date: 1 Jun 1816

Death Place: St. Clair County, IL

Spouse: Ann RANKIN

Birth Date: About 1770/1775

Birth Place: prob. Cumberland Co., PA

Death Date: 8 May 1837

Death Place: IL

Spouse Father: Thomas RANKIN

32

Spouse Mother: Mary Isabelle CLENDENIN

Marriage Date: About 1789

Marriage Place: French Broad River, TN

Elkanah (Kaner) LACY

Spouse: Miss BROWN

Katherine LACY Birth Place: VA

Spouse: George HUBBARD

Elizabeth LACY

Birth Place: VA

Spouse: Elisha BALDWIN

Mary (Polly) LACY Birth Place: Livingston County, KY

Spouse: William BALDWIN

Lionel Lacy

Excerpted from the Elton Lacey Book (ELB) Pp. 253 THRU 261

Lionel (Linel, Lyner, Lemuel) Lacy was born circa 1765, Va., probably in Buckingham

County where the family was residing in 1761. He died Saturday, June 1, 1816, St. Clair

County, Ill. Interred in family plot on his ―plantation‖, where numerous other burials of

relatives were made, including that of his wife. No stone marks either his or his wife‘s

grave. According to family legend, he was buried in his wedding suit, which was his

wish. He was assuredly named for his uncle, Linear (Lionel) Brown. Nothing is known of

his youth, which was probably spent in Buckingham Co., Va., where, unfortunately, the

courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1869, with the loss of all records. It is not known

whether he served in the Revolutionary War or not. One Linner Lacy did serve. (Aud.

Acct. XXII, P.79. ―List of Rev. Soldiers of Va.‖, Dept. Archives and Hist.). It is assumed,

however, that this service record refers to a cousin, a son of Elkanah Lacy, Sr., since he

was older. It would seem that if subject Linel did so serve, that his son, Thomas, would

have related it to his niece, Pamelia Lacy, in 1863, when he gave her the family history.

Sometime after the ending of the Revolutionary War, possibly between the years 1786

and 1788, Lionel left Virginia and removed to eastern Tennessee, at the time that it was

the State of Franklin. He settled either in the Holston settlements or those on the French

Broad River, in what is now Jefferson County, then frontier communities with a frontier

society. The eastern part of Tennessee is a great hill-strewn valley, then forest clad,

running northeast to southwest, bounded on the south by the Anaka and Great Smoky

Mountains, and on the north, partially, by the Cumberland River, containing within its

33

broad boundaries the Clinch, Holston, Nolichucky, French Broad, and tributary streams,

whose combined flow form the Tennessee River.

The first settlers were mainly from Botetourt, Augusta, and Frederick Counties in

Virginia, and Cumberland and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania. They were a hardy,

fearless, enterprising and intelligent people, mostly of Scotch-Irish stock and, for the

most part, Presbyterians, if they had any religion at all. Rev. Charles Cummings, one of

the earliest ministers in the region, stated that there were some, mainly from the wealthier

classes, who were extremely wild an dissipated.

Settlers along the Watauga River were principally from Virginia and the Carolinas. Some

were descendants of people who earlier had come down from the North and settled in

Virginia and the Carolinas, and were of German stock, Huguenots, and members of the

German Reformed Church, who readily mixed and assimilated themselves with the

Scotch-Irish. As to the Scotch-Irish, ―they were a sturdy race, enterprising and intelligent,

fond of the strong excitement inherent in the adventurous frontier life. ‗Their untamed

and turbulent passions, and the lawless freedom of their lives, made them a population

very productive of wild, headstrong characters; yet as a whole they were a God fearing

race, as was but natural in those who sprang from the loins of the Irish Calvinists.‖

―The women, the wives of the settlers, were of the same iron temper. They

fearlessly fronted every danger the men did, and they worked quite as hard. They prized

the knowledge and learning they themselves had been forced to do without; and many a

backwoods woman, by thrift and industry, by the sale of her butter and cheese, and the

calves from her cows, enabled her husband to give his sons good schooling, and perhaps

to provide some favored members of the family the opportunity to secure a really first

class education‖.

[N.B. Quotes from ―Winning of the West‖, Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Schribner‘s

Sons, New York, 1926]

About 1789, he married Ann Rankin, a Scots-Irish girl, daughter of Thomas Rankin and

Mary Isabelle Clendenin who were natives of Cumberland Co., Pa. They had first moved

to Augusta Co., Va., and thence to the French Broad River area some five or six years

previously. Thomas, and four of his sons, served in the Revolutionary War in

Pennsylvania. Thomas was born in Derry Co., North Ireland, in 1724 and died in 1810 in

Jefferson Co., Tenn.

There is no record of the marriage of Lionel Lacy and Ann Rankin in the files of

Jefferson, Green, or adjoining counties. Many of the old marriage bonds were lost in the

various moves of the courthouse records, and in some instances collections of loose

papers, among them marriage bonds, were used to start fires on cold mornings. The

record of the marriage exists in old family records, dating back over one hundred years.

In 1930 a monument was erected on the grounds of the Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church

near Jefferson City, Tenn., in honor of ―Four Pioneer Settlers of Dumplin Valley‖,

namely Richard Rankin (1756-1827), Thomas Rankin (1762-1821), Samuel Rankin

(1758-1828), and John Bradshaw (1745-18 18). The inscription carries a brief history of

34

the Rankin family, and lists the names of all the children of Thomas Rankin (1724-1810),

and his wife, Mary Isabelle, and to whom they were married. This list includes the name

of Ann Rankin, married to Lemuel Lacy. (The name ―Lemuel‖ was an error made in

reading an old record in which the name was not clear.)

Shortly after their marriage, Lionel and his wife headed for points west. They moved to

the Cumberland settlements around Nashville, then a mere collection of huts about 110

miles from their home on the French Broad River. Their travel was through a wilderness

and over a trace which was constantly being harassed by roving bands of Indians. This

necessitated that such journeys be made in groups for mutual protection, and guarded by

mounted riflemen. The Cumberland settlements were at the very frontier of the ever

advancing army of settlers and frontiersmen as the Indians were steadily pushed back

from their traditional hunting grounds. Bands of Indians roamed around the Nashville

area and on Nov. 11, 1794, Charles Snyder, a gunsmith, was killed by Indians.

On Oct. 23, 1791 near Nashville, Tenn., Lionel and Ann‘s first child, John, was born. At

this time, Nashville was a mere cluster of log cabins in the heart of the Cumberland

settlements. There was continuous warfare with the Indians to the south and west,

particularly with the Creeks. In two years or less they were back in the French Broad area

in Jefferson County, where their next two children were born: Stephen in 1793 and Caleb

in 1795. By the fall of 1797, they were back again in the Nashville area, for their fourth

child, Joshua, was born on Jan. 5, of that year on the Red River, near Clarksville.

In all, they had seven sons, each of whom we have descendant data on. In some cases, the

data and stories are extensive and in others, there is but a small amount. However, these

lines will occupy most of the rest of the book. It is from the Elliott line that Hubert

Wesley Lacey and Howard Elton Lacey descend.

We first present the list of the children of Lionel and Ann. Each son will be treated in a

separate section with their complete descendant data presented before passing to the next

one.

John LACEY

Birth Date: 23 Oct 1791

Birth Place: Nashville, TN

Death Date: 11 Nov 1862

Death Place: St Clair County, IL

Spouse: Lydia PRIMM

Birth Date: 1801

Death Date: 1865

Spouse Father: John PRIMM

Spouse Mother: Elizabeth HANSBROUGH

Marriage Date: 24 Sep 1818

Marriage Place: St. Clair Co., IL

35

Stephen LACEY

Birth Date: 1793

Birth Place: TN

Death Date: 15 Mar 1821

Death Place: St Clair County, IL

Burial Place: Lacey Plantation, St. Clair Co., IL

Spouse: Elizabeth PRIMM

Birth Date: 26 May 1793

Birth Place: Stafford County, VA

Death Date: 28 Nov 1880

Death Place: St Clair County, IL

Spouse Father: John PRIMM

Spouse Mother: Elizabeth HANSBROUGH

Marriage Date: 3 Mar 1817

Marriage Place: St. Clair Co., IL

Caleb LACEY

Birth Date: 1795

Birth Place: TN

Death Place: AR

Spouse: Elizabeth Campbell JOHNSTON

Birth Place: Williamson County, TN

Spouse Father: John JOHNSTON

Spouse Mother: Polly CHAFFIN

Marriage Date: 26 Aug 1819

Marriage Place: St Clair Co., IL

Joshua LACEY

Birth Date: 5 Jan 1798

Birth Place: Cumberland Settlements, TN

Death Date: 17 Jun 1858

Death Place: St. Clair Co., IL

Burial Place: Old Union Cemetery, Lincoln, IL

Spouse: Malinda GOODING

Birth Date: 4 Nov 1804

Birth Place: Fleming County, KY

Death Date: 20 Sep 1885

Death Place: Ashley, IL

Burial Place: Mt. Zion Cem., nr Ashley

Spouse Father: Cornelius GOODING

Spouse Mother: Margaret SCOTT

Marriage Date: 15 Apr 1824

Marriage Place: Centerville, IL

36

Thomas LACEY

Birth Date: 9Feb 1800

Birth Place: Holston Settlement, TN

Death Date: Dec 1879

Death Place: Jefferson County, IL

Burial Place: Mt. Zion Cem., Jefferson Co., IL

Spouse: Mary Lucinda GREATHOUSE

Death Date: 1848

Marriage Date: 1823/1824

Marriage Place: Jefferson County, IL

Divorced:

James LACEY

Birth Date: 1802

Birth Place: Livingston County, KY

Death Date: 20 Nov 1866

Death Place: St. Clair County, IL

Burial Place: Mt. Zion Cem., Jefferson Co., IL

Spouse: Nancy Mosby JOHNSTON

Birth Date: 16 Jan 1808

Birth Place: TN

Death Date: Jan 1858

Death Place: St. Louis, MO

Burial Place: Bellefontaine Cem., St. Louis

Spouse Father: John JOHNSTON

Spouse Mother: Polly CHAFFIN

Marriage Date: 1826

Marriage Place: ST. Louis, MO

Rev. Elijah LACEY

Birth Date: 1804

Birth Place: Livingston County, KY

Death Date: 1885

Death Place: IN

Spouse: Ruth McDonald LOCKE

Birth Date: 2Apr 1807

Birth Place: TN

Death Date: 6 May 1877

Death Place: Locke Hill Comm., Bexar Co., TX

Burial Place: Locke Hill Cem.

Marriage Date: 21 Aug 1828

Marriage Place: St. Clair Co., IL

On their journeys, they must have taken their livestock, and barter was used in the place

of cash. An example of the use of the barter system by Lionel is preserved on a scrap of

37

paper handed down through successive generations, and is most interesting and

informative. It reads as follows:

―I promise to pay or cause to be payed unto John nan Carrow one good second

reate

cow with calf on or before the first day of October next for value received of him, as

witness my hand this 17th day of September 1798.

his

Test: William Mears Linel x Lacy‖

mark

In a list of marriages in Sumner Co., Tenn., the name of John Nan Carrow appears

showing marriage to Celia Shade, Feb. 7, 1792. Later in Warren Co., Ky., where various

members of the Lacy clan lived, this item appears in Order Bk. A., p. 30: ―John

Nancoarow appointed constable. James Mobley his security‖. This is no doubt the same

man as mentioned in the above note.

The various records on Lionel Lacy show either Lacy or Lacey. Lionel was unlettered. It

is probable that the spelling of the name as ―Lacey‖ on the land grant was the

determining factor in the adoption of that spelling by all his sons.

Lionel may have lived briefly in Warren Co., Ky., or passed through there, but in 1800 he

was living in Livingston Co., Ky., as shown in the Tax List of that year. Nathaniel had

been living there prior to this time. Lionel remained there about seven years and his next

three children were born there. No record of land purchases by him in this area has been

found. Lionel and Ann had yet to ―put down roots‖, something they would do in St. Clair

Co. Ill. One cannot help but wonder how he provided for his family. He seems to have

done this, however, very well.

In May of 1807, they removed from Livingston Co., Ky., to St. Clair Co., Illinois

Territory. They crossed the Ohio River either at Elizabethtown or Shawneetown,

undoubtedly traveling by ox cart. On June 1, 1807, they settled on land where the present

town of Edwardsville now stands. A few years later they moved to ―High Prairie‖, about

eight miles southwest of the present town of Belleville and about two miles east of

Millstadt. Here he settled on 320 acres, receiving a federal grant sometime after he had

improved it. ―Illinois Settlements From St. Clair County Records‖, states that Lionel

Lacy settled on 320 acres August 15, 1814, and describes the land as follows: ―320 acres,

Sec. 2, Twp. 1, South of Base Line, Range 9 West of 3rd P.M., S.W. 1/4 and N.E. 1/4‖.

He served on the Grand Jury of Common Pleas, St. Clair Co., in 1814 for that year‘s term

(―Legislative Papers, 1814, Illinois‖).

Lionel built a log cabin on the place ca. 1813/14, setting it back some distance from the

Belleville-Centerville (Millstadt) road. Lionel died on 1 Jun, 1816, in the cabin, as a

comparatively young man. Ann survived him by 21 years. She died on May 8, 1837, at

the home of her eldest son, John. They are both buried in the family burial plot on the

plantation, where numerous other relatives are buried. No stone marks their graves.

38

We present a copy of the will of Lionel Lacey and inventory of property list next. The

various records found on Lionel Lacy show both spellings of the name. Lionel was

unlettered, and it more than possible that the spelling of the name as ―Lacey‖ on the land

grant was the determining factor in the adoption of that spelling by all of his sons. This

spelling was also used in his will (St. Clair Co., Ill. Recorded Bk A, p. 45, no. 42.) as

noted below. Some of the wording in the will is too blurred to be read correctly, but the

important features of it are readable.

―In presence of Almighty God. Amen

―I Linel Lacey being weak and low of body but sound of mind and knowing the

uncertainty of human life do make my last will and testament for the disposal of my

earthly

First to my sons John Lacey and Stephen Lacey I will and Bequeath the Plantation and

part of land where I now live in equal parts between them. But to my loving wife Ann

Lacey to have and hold the rights of Dower in and to said house during her natural life,

unless she marries.

Secondly, to my son Caleb Lacey I bequeath one cow.

Thirdly, to my sons Joshua Lacey, Thomas Lacey, James Lacey, and Elijah Lacey I

Bequeath after all my just debts are paid, all of my horses, cattle and sheep. All

household furniture and all other such property whatsoever kind or nature which by right

or law appertains unto me. This is to remain in the hands of and under the direction of my

loving wife Ann Lacey during the period of her widowhood, and in case she marries

again, I will and Bequeath to her an equal part of and to the said property with my

aforesaid sons, Joshua., Thomas and Elijah Lacey, and to lose her rights as Dower to the

house.

Fourthly, I appoint my aforesaid loving wife Ann Lacey and my respected friend

Abraham Eyman, Executrix and Executor of this my last will and testament.

Signed Sealed and Delivered this His

---Day of May ---- in the presence of Lionel x Lacey

James N. --------- Mark

Thomas Harrison

John ---------

Magdalene Teeters‖

According to the will, the land was bequeathed equally to his sons John and Stephen

Lacey. After the sudden death of Stephen, a division of lands was made by a suit in

chancery, whereby his widow secured permanent possession of the southern half. It was

by the marriage of her daughter to Henry B. White that it became known as the ―White

Farm‖. The northern half passed out of the hands of the family years ago.

We now present the list of inventory of personal property of Lionel Lacey because of its

historical significance and general interest as to what type of property farmers had in the

early part of the nineteenth century.

39

―INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OF LACY

1. Brown horse 45.50

1. Chestnut Sorrrel Do Coalt 50.00

1 Do* Do 22.50

5 year oald calves 10.00

6 two year oald Do 32.00

2 Three year oald steers 16.00

1 Bull 7.00

3 Young cows 26.00

7 Do oald 72.00

I Yoak of Steers 62.50

I Do Do 52.50

62 Hoggs 165.00

40 Sheep 35.00

1 Band horse Mill 50.00

2 Barshear Ploughs 10.00

1 Lume abd tachine 15.00

3 Beadsteds Beds and furniture 33.00

1 Dresser and furniture 21.40

Kitchen furniture 24.00

3 oald axes 4.00

Wearing apperl and

Sundry articles 21.50

Sundry Books 4.25

Geese 4.75

Beef and Pork 33.50

Sundry Small articles 6.00

896.10

*ditto

Being first duly Sworne to appraise the goods and chattels of Liner Lacy Deceased and

called on the 2nd of February for that purpose, we Certify this is a true list of all that was

produced and the valuation Set by us, given under our hands.

Thomas Harrison

Daniel ---------- (illegible)‖

The will of Lionel Lacy was duly proven in the August Term of Court, 1816, by

Thomas Harrison and Magdalene Teeters, per John Hay, Clerk. Ann Lacey and Abraham

Eyman were given Letters of Administration 8-16-1816, Belleville, St. Clair Co., Ill., by

John

Hay, Clerk.

[Return to intro]

40

MOORE - RANKIN - CLENDENIN

From THOMAS GRIFFIN'S Web Site (I believe he is a Wier descendant)

Inserted from <http://home.swbell.net/tjgriffi/weir/moore_rankin.html>

From Elmer Collier's book - Weir, Wear, and Ware:

The Moore, Rankin, and Weir families petitioned in 1718 to the Governor of New

England to come to America. Permission was granted and they and almost 100 families

came to America, settling Nutfield under the impression that the lands were in

Massachusetts, but in May 1719, the General Court decided that New Hampshire had

jurisdiction over them. James Gregg and Robert Weir, in behalf of the Scotch-Irish in

Nutfield, asked the court assembled at Portsmouth, New Hampshire for a township 10

miles square. Robert Weir was appointed as Sheriff during these proceedings. In 1722,

Nutfield was incorporated as the town of Londonderry, New Hampshire. The people

thrived and multiplied, they tilled the soil, fished at the Amoskeag Falls and made linens

and hollands that became known far and wide.

Archibald Clendenin, John and Thomas Moore and Hugh Rankin were the first settlers of

Londonderry, N.H. These families intermarried after coming to America.

Moore

Thomas Moore married Sarah. They had three Sons, one was Anthony

Anthony Moore was born in Northampton County, Penn. near the Delaware River, in

1732. He received a primary education. He led a colony to the Wilderness, now known as

Greeneville, Tenn., 1779. Anthony served as Private Fifth Class, Third Company, Sixth

Battalion, Northampton County, Penn. Militia in 1778, under the following officers:

Colonel Jacob Stroud, Major John Gaston, Lt. Abraham Miller, Adjutant Jacob Winans.

(info, from Penn. Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. VIII, p. 430.) Served on first grand jury in

Greene Co., Tenn. in 1783.

Married Margaret Copeland who came from Ireland to Philadelphia, Penn. at age 16.

Her parents were Jonathan Copeland (Captain), born November 11, 1724, and died 1786,

and Mary Nichols. Margaret had one brother. She died July 13, 1820, at the age of 76,

and Anthony died November 18, 1822, at the age of 90 years. Both are buried in Mount

Bethel Cemetery in Greene County, Tenn. (Ref. DAR National No. 314884, 410086 and

State Library, Nashville, Tenn. & Paxton Family book page 145).

The children of Margaret and Anthony:

41

Sarah Moore was born, July 21, 1763, in Northampton County, Penn. near the Delaware

River. Died October 9, 1850. Married William Rankin, August 29, 1787, in Greene

County, Tenn. (see RANKIN).

Mary Jane Moore was born May 16, 1767. Married Thomas Temple, June 13, 1791.

Nellie Moore married Anthony Caldwell.

Margaret Moore married Samuel Brewer, July 17, 1800.

David Moore was born May 14, 1769. Married Elizabeth Smith, January 10,1795.

Elizabeth was born Feb 14, 1771. Died May 22, 1853. Buried in Greenville, Tenn., Green

Co.

Rankin

In order to know our ancestors more particularly, it is necessary that we go back about

380 years and take a view of some of their personalities. First, there was Alexander

Rankin. We do not seem to have any definite information back beyond him. He took part

in that great contest between Protestants and Catholics at Londonderry. We find that one

of his sons was killed on the highway, another son, in making his escape from his

enemies, was suffocated in a smokehouse where he had taken refuge. It seems that

Alexander Rankin was in the siege of Londonderry. After the siege had gone on for 105

days, it was lifted by the forces of William of Orange in August 1689. Alexander was

evidently deeply religious. His name was signed to ―Petition of thanks to Almighty God

and William King of Orange‖ for ending that awful siege.

William, (son of Alexander Rankin), was born in Scotland and fled to Ireland with his

father. He seems to have had a part in the siege of Londonderry. William was married to

Dorothy Black in 1687. They had three sons, Adam, born in Scotland, John and Hugh,

born in Ireland. Adam and Hugh came to America in 1721 with their father, landed in

Philadelphia, Pa. and settled in Chester County. Hugh was killed in a mill accident. Adam

married Mary Steele.

John (son of William Rankin) was born 1690 in Derry County, Ireland. He married Jane

McElwee and came to America in 1720 or 1727 and settled in Chester Co. Pennsylvania.

They had two sons, Thomas and Richard, and eight daughters, names unknown. (Magill

Family Record, page 129)

Thomas (son of John Rankin) was born in Derry County, Ireland, in 1724 and came to

America with his parents, settling in Cumberland County, PA. In 1780, Thomas and his

family moved to Augusta County, Virginia. Many people were leaving PA, in order to

settle in Augusta County, Virginia. During this period one hundred acres of land could

be purchased in this part of Virginia for twenty-five dollars at this time. This family

remained in Augusta County, VA until 1784. Then they moved on to Green County,

Tennessee. Jefferson County was carved from Green County, Tenn. and the section near

Dandridge and Jefferson City, Tenn. close to the French Broad River was chosen by

Thomas for their home. Thomas died in 1810-12 in Jefferson County, Tenn. Thomas

buried in Old Church Cem. between Jefferson City & Dandridge. Married Isabelle

42

Clendenen (See Clendenen) of Cumberland County, PA, in 1753. The name of Thomas

Rankin appeared on the muster rolls of the War of the Revolution as an officer (Captain)

on a miscellaneous list of soldiers who received depreciation pay for their services -

―Page 494, vol. 4- Pennsylvania Archives, 5th series‖. Thomas signed petition in

Cumberland County, PA. His place of residence during the Revolution was Cumberland

County, PA. His four eldest sons served as privates in the Revolution and four of his

grandsons were with Gen. Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans (Ref. Dept. of Interior,

Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C., Genealogy of Magill Family, record, published in

Richmond, VA 1907, History of Tenn., p. 1002, Notable Southern Families, Vol. 2, p.

350, see supplement of John Wear). DAR 181774 & 577675

The children of Isabelle and Thomas:

John Rankin was born 1754, died 1825, married Martha Waugh. (Siege of York).

Richard Rankin was born 1756, died 1827, married Jennet Steele. (Cowpens)

Samuel Rankin was born 1758, died 1828, married Miss. Petty. (Cowpens)

William Rankin 1789 to 1833 (see below)

Thomas Rankin was born 1762, died 1821, married Jennet Bradshaw.

James Rankin was born 1770, married Margaret Massey.

Jane Rankin, married William Jillesple.

Margaret Rankin, married Samuel Harris.

Ann Rankin, married Lemual (Lionel) Lacey.

Isabel Rankin, married Robert McQuisto

NancyRankin, married Samuel White.

Mary Rankin, married James Bradshaw.

Notes: William Rankin (Son of Thomas Rankin) in his petition for pension states he was born

January 27, 1759, five miles below Carlisle, (Cumberland County) PA and was married

August 29, 1787, to Sarah Moore (see MOORE) in Greene County, Tenn. She was the

daughter of Anthony Moore and Margaret Copeland. In June 1760, Thomas Rankin and

family moved to Augusta County, Virginia, near Staunton. a resident of Juniata, he

enlisted, August 1779, and served two weeks as private under Ensign George Dicken in

the Perma‘Troops. One month later, he was drafted to serve as private, two months, under

said Dickey to guard Frontier Settlements. in the fall of 1780, drafted for three months,

served as teamster in Virginia Troops, returned Christmas Day to his home having served

four months, three days. The summer of 1781, he enlisted, served twenty days, was at

Battle of Hotwater and Jamestown. September 1, 1781, he was appointed Quartermaster

under Quartermaster Hunter and Wagonmaster, General Stuart in Virginia Troops, was at

the Siege of Yorktown. William died December 13, (buried Timber Ridge, Greene Co)

1833, in Greene County, Tenn. His wife was born July 23, 1763, and died October 9,

1850. ―No. 7049. Jonesborough, Tennessee. William Rankin. This document states

“Extracted from Tennessee by Williams”

During the infancy of the settlements on Nollichucky, corn became scarce and, availing

themselves of a short suspension of hostilities, Jeremiah Jack & William Rankin

43

descended the river in a canoe to barter with the Indians for corn. They reached Coiatee

(Kaia-a-tee) without interruption. The warriors of that place refused to exchange or sell

the corn and manifested other signs of suspicion, if not of open enmity. They entered the

canoe and lifted up some wearing apparel lying in it and which covered some rifles. This

discovery increased the unwillingness of the Indians to trade and they began to show a

disposition to offer violence to their visitants. The Beloved Woman, Nancy Ward,

happily was present, and was able by her commanding influence to appease their wrath

and to bring about a friendlier feeling between the parties. Little Indians were soon clad

in homemade vestments brought by the traders. The canoe was filled with corn, and the

white men started on their return voyage well pleased with the exchange they had made

and especially with the kind offices of the Beloved Woman.

*********

William Rankin was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Tennessee from

Greene County and figured in the State of Franklin movement.

Rankin is listed as a participant in the battle of King‘s Mountain (White, King‘s

Mountain Men, 219) he was placed on the pension Roll of Tennessee at the rate of $45.88

per annul to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. Certificate issued 27th day of

February 1833, and sent to Hon. James Blair, H. of Rep.‖

Arrears to 4th of March 1833 $91 .76

Semiannual, allowance ending Sept. 1833 22.94

$114.70

―Revolutionary Claim -Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by W. L. Williams, Clerk, Book E. Vol. 6, page 132.

William and Sarah‘s children are:

Thomas Rankin was born July 13, 1788. Married Jane Shields.

Margaret “Peggy” Rankin was born January 1, 1790, probably in Greene County,

Tenn., or Juanita County, PA. Married Hugh Weir about 1810. Margaret died, 1845, in

Fayette County, Ill.

John Moore Rankin was born April 10, 1792. Married Polly Ann Weir, August 15,

1816. Moved to Missouri.

Anthony Rankin was born August 23, 1794, married Morgaretta Gray.

William Rankin was born March 23, 1799, married Lydia Bullard. Moved to New

Jersey.

Isabell Clendenen Rankin was born August 30, 1796, and died October 5, 1836, in

Greene County, Tenn. Married John Weir Wilson, November 11, 1818.

David Rankin was born February 10, 1804, and died September 28, 1833. Married

Margaret Wilson, September 22, 1824.

Jane Rankin was born November 17, 1801, and died November 30, 1883. Married

Nathaniel Magill, June 24, 1824.

44

Clendenin

John Clendenin, the immigrant was born c.1704 in Dumfries, Scotland & his will was

proved June 14, 1797 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania. Married Janet Huston, who died in

1797, within three weeks of her husband. Janet was a sister of Samuel Huston who died

in 1784. Samuel was their neighbor. They attended Silver Spring Presbyterian Church.

John & Janet‘s remains are interred in the Pine Hill graveyard, on the farm, which was

first owned by Samuel Huston. This burying ground was in its time famous. It is located

in the western part of the farm, near the edge of a precipitous hill. In January 1743, some

of the inhabitants of ―ye township of Pennsborrow‖ petitioned the Court of Lancaster for

a road, & among the names appended to this petition was that of John Clendenin.

Pennsborrow Township then included all of the valley lying between the Big Spring on

the west & the Susqueharma River on the east. John was an inhabitant of that part of the

Cumberland Valley as early as 1743. He may have been there earlier. Cumberland Co.,

Pa. was formed in January of 1750 & John Clendenin was on the list of taxables for that

year. The name John Clendenin (probably his son) is recorded with those of Thomas

Rankin & Richard Rankin as collectors for Pennsboro Township. East Pennsboro then

included all of the county lying between the Stony Ridge on the West & the Susquehanna

River on the east. After this, John Clendenin appears regularly among the Taxables of

East Pennsboro. In 1762, East Pennsboro Township was partitioned & Allen Township

was taken from it. John Clendenin continued to appear on the East Pennsboro tax list, but

Thomas & Richard Rankin were listed on the Allen Township tax register. When John

Clendenin & his family lived in that part of the county, hostile Indians yet abounded. & at

one time the settlers, for their protection, erected. a block house on John Dickey‘s land,

the tract that adjoined John Clendenin‘s land on the South. This blockhouse is spoken of

in the early annals as ―Dickey‘s Fort.‖ In the woods along the foot of the mountain, not

far removed from the Clendenin home, there flowed a spring, which the young men of

the neighborhood would salt & by that device would attract deer & make their capture

easy. Upon one occasion, while they were lying in ambush waiting for the deer to come,

they were discovered & fired upon by a roving band of Indians. William Clendenin,

brother to our ancestries, Isabella(Mrs. Thomas Rankin) was one of the young men &

was mortally wounded. When his comrades returned, reinforced & armed, to look for

him, he was cold in death

The children of Janet and John:

John Clendenin Jr. was born c.1755 & died Aug 1802. Married Elizabeth Caldwell.

Served as a 2nd Lt. in the American Revolutionary War.

William Clendenin killed by Indians.

Margaret Clendenin died young.

Jennie Clendenin died young.

Annie Clendenin married Bradshaw.

Mary Clendenin married Calhoon.

Isabella Clendenin married Thomas Rankin.

45

Katie Clendenin died young.

Samuel Clendenin died 1804. Married Mary McBeth.

James Clendenin married Isabella Huston (first cousin) daughter of Samuel Huston &

Isabella (Sharon) Huston, October 14, 1765.

Clendenin-Sam Houston Connection

From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,

Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 758-759

CLENDENIN, like nearly all family names, varies in its spelling. That preferred by the

branch whose history is here written is Clendenin, although on the early records it is

frequently written Glendenning, Glendinning and Clendining. The family is of Scotch

ancestry, and in an old Bible in the possession of John Waugh Clendenin, of Wichita,

Kans., it is recorded that three brothers, John, Charles and James, born in Dumfries,

Scotland, came to America some time between 1730 and 1750. One of these was among

the earliest settlers of the Cumberland Valley. In January, 1743, some of the inhabitants

of "ye township of Pennsborrow" petitioned the Court of Lancaster for a road, and among

the names appended to this petition was that of "Jno Glendinnen." Pennsborrow

Township then included all of the valley lying between the Big Spring on the west and

the Susquehanna river on the east. John Glendenin, then, was an inhabitant of that part

of the valley as early as 1743, and may have been there earlier. Cumberland county was

formed in 1750, in January, and among the taxables of East Pennsboro township that year

was John Clendenin. East Pennsboro then included all of the county lying between the

Stony Ridge on the west and the Susquehanna River on the east. After this John

Clendenin appears regularly among the taxables of East Pennsboro at every assessment.

The first partition of East Pennsboro township was made in 1762, when Allen

township was taken from it, after which John Clendenin continued on the tax list of East

Pennsboro. In 1825 Silver Spring Township was formed out of East Pennsboro and after

that John Clendenin was assessed in Silver Spring. He was located in the extreme

northwest of Silver Spring, in the angle formed by the Stony Ridge and the mountain. His

land is now included in two adjoining farms owned respectively by B. F. Garman and

Leonard Zeigler. John Clendenin made his will in August, 1783, and in it occurs the

following passage:

"I being in possession of a piece of land held whereon I have lived for some time and

made considerable improvement, I give and bequeath the same to my two sons, John and

Samuel."

According to this he held the land by possession and the improvements he made upon

it, and not by warrant or patent. The records show that the parts, as designated in his will,

were surveyed to his sons, John and Samuel.

In 1750 Samuel Huston appears on the tax list of East Pennsboro as a freeman. In 1752

he took out a warrant for 200 acres of land, not far removed from John Clendenin. It is

46

strongly probable that the presence of John Clendenin in that locality induced Samuel

Huston to settle there, as they were brothers-in-law…

The first John Clendenin died about 1797, at the age of ninety-three years; his wife,

Janet Huston, died three weeks before her husband, and their remains are interred in the

Pine Hill graveyard, on the farm which was first owned by Samuel Huston, Janet‘s

brother.

47

Below inserted from “Sam Houston, Wikipedia.org”

Sam Houston (of Texas fame) was the son of Major Samuel Houston and Elizabeth

Paxton. Houston's ancestry is often traced to his great-great grandfather Sir John

Houston, who built a family estate in Scotland in the late seventeenth century. His second

son John Houston emigrated to Ulster, Ireland, during the English plantation period.

Under the system of primogeniture, he did not inherit the estate. After several years in

Ireland, John Houston emigrated in 1735 with his family to the North American colonies,

where they first settled in Pennsylvania. As it filled with Lutheran German immigrants,

Houston decided to move his family with other Scots-Irish who were migrating to lands

in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. A historic plaque in Townland tells the story of the

Houston family. It is located in Ballyboley Forest Park near the site of the original John

Houston estate. It is dedicated to "One whose roots lay in these hills whose ancestor John

Houston emigrated from this area."

The Shenandoah Valley had many farms of Scots-Irish migrants. Newcomers included

the Lyle family of the Raloo area, who helped found Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church.

The Houston family settled nearby. Gradually John developed his land and

purchased slaves. Their son Robert inherited his father's land. His youngest of five sons

was Samuel Houston. Samuel Houston became a member of Morgan's Rifle Brigade and

was commissioned a major during the American Revolutionary War. At the time militia

officers were expected to pay their own expenses. He had married Elizabeth Paxton and

inherited his father's land, but he was not a good manager and got into debt, in part

because of his militia service. Their children were born on his family's plantation near

Timber Ridge Church, including Sam Houston on March 2, 1793, the fifth of nine

children and the fifth son born.

Planning to move on as people did on the frontier to leave debts behind, the elder Samuel

Houston patented land in Maryville the county seat of Blount Co. in East Tennessee near

relatives. He died in 1807 before he could move with his family, and they moved on

without him: Elizabeth taking their five sons and three daughters to the new state. Having

received only a basic education on the frontier, young Sam was 14 when his family

moved to Maryville. In 1809, at age 16, Houston ran away from home, because he was

dissatisfied to work as a shop clerk in his older brothers' store.

He went southwest, where he lived for a few years with the Cherokee tribe led

by Ahuludegi (also spelled Oolooteka) on Hiwassee Island, on the Hiwassee River above

its confluence with the Tennessee. Having become chief after his brother moved west in

1809, Ahuludegi was known to the European Americans as John Jolly. He became an

adoptive father to Houston, giving him the Cherokee name of Colonneh, meaning "the

Raven".Houston learned fluent Cherokee, while visiting his family in Maryville every

several months. Finally he returned to Maryville in 1812, and at age 19, Houston founded

a one-room schoolhouse in Knox County between Maryville and Knoxville. This was the

first school built in Tennessee, which had become a state in 1796.

[Return to intro]

49

Died in 1858 in Rome Twp. Jefferson Co. IL

Buried in Ebenezer Cemetery, Rome Twp.

Married(1), Priscilla Lurany „Raney‟ Taylor, 9 Nov 1796 in Chatham Co., NC

Raney: Daughter of Thomas Taylor and Elinor Dotson Taylor

Born 1775 Chatham Co., NC; Died 1820

Married(2), Elizabeth „Eliza‟ ______ before 1835 in IL

Elizabeth: Daughter of (Unknown)

Born 1810; Died 1845 in IL, Buried in Ebenezer Cemetery, Rome Twp.

Notes: In 1803 the family moved to Tennessee with the extended family of Eleazar

Andrus and Elinor Dotson Taylor Andrus

Note from okiecuz web site:

Lenvil was a farmer and champion amateur boxer of Illinois. It is told he was approached

by three strangers while cutting wood one evening. One said, ―I hear you say you're the

champion prizefighter of Illinois.‖ He replied, ―I think I am.‖ With that Lenvil drew a

circle on the ground with a stick and he and the stranger proceeded to fight. After the

contest the stranger picked himself up from the ground, shook hands and said, ―You're

the champion!‖

The first known record of Lenvil in Illinois was the 1820 federal census. On 3-18-1836

he purchased 40 acres of land in Jefferson County from Robert Stockton. Again on 7-25-

1838 he purchased 10 acres from Matthew Taylor. Lenvil's brother William is said to

have been a Methodist minister. Linvil went by the name of McDaniel until the mid

1830‘s then used the name McDonald. The children that remained in Illinois kept the

name McDaniel, the ones that went to Texas used McDonald.

The children of Linvil and Luraney:

Celia McDaniel – b. 1793 Chatham Co.

David McDaniel – b. 1794 Chatham Co.

James M. McDaniel –

b. 4 Mar 1797 Chatham Co.

d. 29 Oct 1877 Jefferson Co.

m. Elizabeth Modglin then Susan Fields

John McDaniel- b. 1799 Chatham Co.

Eleanor McDaniel/McDonald –

50

b. 1798

d.1858

m. David Woodrome

Thomas McDonald – *

b.1803

d.1870

m. Rachel Axley

Ruth McDonald –* ¡The editor‘s speculation!

b. 1808

d. 1877

m. Elijah Lacey

William McDaniel –

b. 1 Mar 1810

d. 5 Jul 1849 Monroe Co., IL

m. Mary Patterson

Elizabeth McDaniel – 1810-?

(is this the same person as 2nd wife?)

Joseph McDonald – *

b.1815 Williamson Co.

d. aft. 1880 Spring Creek, Gillespie Co., TX

m. Esther Taylor then Rhoda Nelson

The child of Linvil and Eliza:

James Eli McDonald Sr. – *

b. 1836

d. 1864

m. Caroline Taylor

* Went to Texas

From the editor: The 1820 Census, Monroe Co. Illinois, shows 2 white females between

the age of 10 and 16 in the household of Linvil. That fits with Ruth and Elizabeth, while

that is not proof of Ruth‘s parentage it reinforces my assumption.

Linville McDaniel 1820 Census, Monroe Co. IL page 14 (#67)

There were no names of household member in the 1820 Census; these were added to

illustrate the idea, ed.

M under 10 1 William

M 10-16 1 Joseph

M 16-18 1 Thomas

51

M 18-26 2 James, David,

M 26-45 0

M 45 older 1 Linville

F under 10 1 Unaccounted for maybe a baby that died?

F 10-16 2 Eliza, Ruth

F 16-26 0

F 26-45 1 Raney

F 45 older 0

Engaged in Agriculture.

A James McDaniel and wife lived next door (maybe Mom and Dad). Daughter Eleanor

and her husband David with two little girls were on the other side. Daughter Celia not

here, perhaps married. Nearby was Gerades Lock(e) that had a son 18-26, could one of

them had a relationship with Ruth?

From about 1803-1811 the family lived in Williamson Co. TN and that was where Ruth

was born. At any rate, the story ―Ruth McDonald and the Spring Creek Community‖ will

show that she is part of the family; birth child or not.

¡Here‘s a far-out concept: What if Ruth and Eliza were taken in, from another family.

Maybe some other McDonalds, orphans or something? Eliza may have been used by

Linville; Ruth‘s child was by, Gerard Locke, perhaps an older man of dubious character,

who may have used her, ed! [Return to intro]

Taylor Family

From the Nelson-Taylor Book by Mansel H. Nelson, Chapter Two

The Nelsons are a Mormon family and this is written from that perspective. From time

to time contributors (Jane Hollingsworth etc) are mentioned in the text and sometime it

is hard to follow, I have adapted it a little to make it easier to follow, ed.

JANE TAYLOR AND HER PEOPLE

A Brief Account of the Taylor Family and Allied Lines

For more than a century we have spoken of Jane Taylor Nelson with profound love and

respect. Who was this noble woman who dared walk the dusty trails, ride wild horses,

and crack the whip over the stubborn oxen's back? She faced perils, cared for the sick and

wounded, prayed with her family, and at the end of the trail found the promised land,

only to lose her beloved husband. To her this chapter, is respectfully and humbly dedi-

cated--that we may, in a small measure, remember the heritage that is ours because of

Jane Taylor and her people.

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EARLIEST AMERICAN RECORDS

Richard Taylor--In the early Virginia records we learn from research conducted by

Mansel H. Nelson and Jane Hollingsworth that there were a number of Richard Taylors

who came from England between 1620 and 1650 and settled in Virginia. From the land

records we gleaned the following information: Richard Taylor, Sr., married Margaret.

They were early land owners. We found record of only one son, but there could have

been other children.

Son of Richard Taylor and Margaret

Richard Taylor, Jr., was born in England and probably came with his parents to

Virginia as a young man. He was a surveyor and helped lay out many lands in his new

country. He married Susannah. Records dated 12 Aug 1714 indicate the following

information: "Richard Taylor, of South Farnham Parish, known as Richard Quarter, 200

acres adjoining John Price of Piscatway Creek, the tract granted Henry Awbury on 19

Mar 1677, purchased by deed by Robert Taylor, of Jonathan Fisher, the 27 Dec 1692, and

by the will of Robert Taylor, 7 Sep 1699, I give to Benjamine Cook by conveyance of:

Signed Richard Taylor, and his wife Susannah signs consent.

For some reason, after the death of his son, Richard Taylor became the owner of

this tract of land, deeded to him by the will of his son. Richard died in Old Rappahannock

County, Virginia.

Children of Richard Taylor, Jr. and his wife Susannah

Richard Taylor

James Taylor

Robert Taylor married in 1687, Luraney Hudson. He died 1699.

Elizabeth Taylor, (probable daughter) married Jonathan Fisher.

Note: Robert Taylor (Richard, Richard), married 1687, Luraney Hudson, daughter of

Edward Hudson and Dorothy Young. He was a surveyor. As stated in a land transaction.

Robert's will was proven, 7 Sep 1699. His wife, Luraney, had considerable property at

the time of their marriage. This may account for the reason why Robert's property, named

above, went to his father, Richard.

Luraney married (2) Mr. Featress, (3) Thomas Hudson, Jr., and (4) Robert Matter.

Children of Robert Taylor and Luraney Hudson

Robert Taylor, 1688, married (1) Mary Hudson, and (2) Ann Hudson.

Daniel Taylor, lived in Old Rappahannock County.

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Mary Taylor

ANCESTRY OF LURANEY HUDSON TAYLOR

Her parents were Edward Hudson and Dorothy Young. Edward was born about 1640,

Old Rappahannock County, Va. Edward was married there in 1666 to Dorothy Young.

She was born in the same county, 1646, daughter of Robert Young and Anne Perry. The

children of Edward and Dorothy were all born in Old Rappahannock County.

Children of Edward Hudson and Dorothy Young

Luraney Hudson, b. abt 1667, married (1) Robert Taylor, and became our, ancestor.

Anne Taylor, b. 1669, married 1686, John Brazier.

William Taylor, b. 1670, Old Rappahannock Co., Va.

Note: Luraney's grandparents were Robert Young and Anne Perry. They were married in

Old Rappahannock County, Virginia, in 1641, After Robert died, Anne married Mr.

Evence. All their children were born in the same county. Their, first son was William

Young. The wife of William is unknown at this time. However, he willed the old

homestead of Samuel Perry, his grandfather, to Robert Young who in turn willed it to

William Young, and he willed the same property to his niece, Luraney Taylor, naming

her sons Robert and Daniel, and daughter Mary.

Children of Robert Young and Anne Perry

WilliamYoung, b. in Old Rapp, Co., Va.

Elizabeth Young, married John Brazier, of British Isles.

Anne Young, nfd.

A daughter, who married Mr. Armstrong.

Dorothy Young, b. 1646, married Edward Hudson and became our, ancestor.

Sarah Young, married Mr. Cook.

Notes; Robert Taylor (Robert, Richard, Richard), was born 1688 in Old Rappahannock

County, Va. The county of Old Rappahannock was abolished in 1692 and named

Richmond. So Robert's children were born in Richmond County, Virginia. He married (1)

9 July 1723, Mary Hudson, born 1703 in Essex Co., Virginia, the daughter, of William

Hudson, Sr., and Judith E. Billington. Robert married (2) in 1747 Ann Hudson, younger

sister of his first wife. The Ancestry of Mary and Ann will be discussed later.

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Note: Robert's will gave us the first clue to the ancestry of our, Billington Taylor. But his

son Billington was not the one we were looking for. Billington, son of Robert, and his

son Billington, Jr., lived in South Carolina, and subsequently moved to East Feliciana

Parish, Louisiana. Both Billington and Richard were living in that parish by 1820. In the

1830 census Billington was listed as age 70-80 and Richard as age 70-80. (Research was

done by Mrs. Alice K. Hatcher of Clinton, La. Mrs. Hatcher is a descendant of Billington

Taylor, son of Robert.)

Here is the will of Robert Taylor as it was taken from his lips so long ago.

In the name of God Amen. I, Robert Taylor of Edgecombe County, in the

Province of North Carolina, Being Sick and Weak Tho in Perfect mind &

Memory do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in Manner & form

following...

First I give my sole to God who gave the same and my body to be Buryed

at the Discretion of my Exers.

I give and bequeath to well Beloved Son Robert, one Shilling Sterling to

be paid by my Excrs, hereafter named...

I give and bequeath to my Beloved son Edward Taylor one shilling

Sterling to be paid by my Excr. hereafter named.

My will and Desire is that all my Lands be Equally Divided among the

Rest of my sons, Viz: Joseph, William, Henry, Richard, Thomas, Billington,

Nimrod, & Hudson after the Decease of my now wife or during her widdowhood,

if she Continues a widow to hold it all her life & then to them & their heirs for

Ever.

My will and desire is that all my personal Estate I lend unto my loving

wife to bring up my Children During her widowhood, and if she should not Marry

again then I lend it during her life and after her Decease to be Equally Divided

amongst all my Children Viz: Joseph, William, Henry, Richard, Thomas,

Billington, Nimrod, Hudson, Judith & Rachel.

I give and bequeath to well beloved daughter, Ann Huse, one shilling

sterling to be paid by my Exers, hereafter, named.

And I appoint my loving wife, Ann and my son William Taylor my whole

and sole Execrs. & Execir. of this my last will.

Sealed Signed and Delivered & Pronounced in Presents of

William Hudson, Sen. His

James Vaulx, Jr. Robert Taylor

William Hudson Jun. Mark

Edgecombe County, September Court 1758 (Photostatic Copy; From N. C Wills,

1663- 1789, Vol XXXI, page 40, folios 2 & 3, Will of Robert Taylor).

His children were born in Richmond County, Virginia.

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Children of Robert Taylor and Mary Hudson

Robert Taylor, b. abt 1724, Richmond Co., Va. nfd.

Edward Taylor

Joseph Taylor

William Taylor

Anne Taylor, b. 1734, married Huse (or Hughes).

Henry Taylor

Richard Taylor, served in Rev. War, two of his is descendants were members of D.A.R.

Thomas Taylor, b. 1741, killed before 20 Jan 1782, married Elinor Dodson.

Judith Taylor, b. 1743.

Rachel Taylor, b. abt 1745

Children of Robert Taylor and Ann Hudson

(Perhaps some were born in N. C.)

Billington Taylor, b. 1748. Moved to Alabama.

Nimrod Taylor, lived in South Carolina. (U. S. Census 1790)

Hudson Taylor

THE ANCESTRY OF

MARY AND ANN HUDSON TAYLOR

Mary Hudson was born 1703, Essex, Co., Va., and died before 1748. She married

Robert Taylor, 9 July 1723. After her death Robert married Ann, who was fourteen years

younger than Mary. Ann was also born in Essex County; the date given according to her

age at the time of her marriage was 32 years. The Hudsons and Taylors were congenial,

kind, friendly people. Their family ties held them close together. After Mary's death

Robert Taylor married her sister. When-he became old he asked his father-in-law and

brother-in-law to witness his will. He loved his wives' people, and they loved him.

William Hudson Sr., was born in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia, about

1670. He married in 1700, Judith E. Billington, born about 1680, Old Rappahannock

County. She was the daughter of John Billirigton and Mary Day. Mary's father was John

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Day. We do not have extensive data for the Billington-Day families. William Hudson,

Sr., was the son of Thomas Hudson of York, Virginia. (More information later).

Children of William Hudson and Judith E. Billington

A daughter, 1702, Essex Co., married 1717, Robert Davis.

Mary Hudson, b. 1703, Essex Co., d. abt 1745, married 9 July 1723, Robert Taylor and

became our ancestor.

William Taylor, Essex Co.

Three unnamed children

Ann Taylor, 1717, Essex County, married 1749, Robert Taylor.

Mary and Ann's grandparents were Thomas Hudson and Mary Fountleroy.

Thomas Hudson was born in 1640 in York County, Va., and died in Old Rappahannock

County, Va. He was the son of Thomas Hudson, Sr. Thomas married about 1666, Mary

Fountleroy, daughter of Moore Fountleroy. The records were very dim and poorly

written, and so the name could have been Fontleroy. Jane Hollingsworth makes the

following comment concerning William Hudson, their second son: "Our Luraney Hudson

had a brother William Hudson who married Rebecca Woodnut, daughter of Henry. Their

son Edward was named for his great-grandfather. He married Mary Boston, and his will

helps identify Thomas Taylor, a son Thomas who was a brother of Luraney's husband. I

feel sure his name was Robert. I am trying to find positive dates and references so when it

is recorded it will be unquestionably true.‖

Sons of Thomas Hudson, Jr. and Mary Fountleroy

Thomas Hudson III, b. abt 1668, Old Rappahannock Co., Va, married Luraney Hudson,

widow of Robert Taylor. He was her (3) husband.

William Hudson, b. abt 1670, same county, married 1700, Judith E. Billington.

ROBERT TAYLOR'S CHILDREN

He had ten sons and three daughters. If today we could make a complete listing of

all his living descendants they would number into the thousands. There are, of course,

many families by the name of Taylor that are no relation to our Taylor ancestry.

The Nelson family has concentrated on the ancestry of Jane Taylor and her near

relatives. Much work could be done, and we hope from this very small beginning

someone will compile a complete genealogical history of the Taylor family, including as

many as possible of the descendants of Robert Taylor.

Several of his Sons served in the Revolutionary War, but of the descendants of

these men we could find only two granddaughters or great-granddaughters of Richard

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Taylor who had ever joined the D.A.R. Thomas, to be discussed later, was killed.

Billington applied for a pension in his old age and thus gave us the names of his children.

Mrs. Hatcher is descended from Billington, and we hope to include her line in this

chapter, Richard, Billington, and Thomas are listed in the land records of Chatham

County, North Carolina. However, this Billington is the son of Thomas. His uncle and

cousin Billington were at that time living in Clarendon County, S.C. In 1800 Hudson was

living in Montgomery County, N.C. Nimrod was a tax payer in Montgomery County, in

1782.

Thomas Taylor (Robert, Robert, Richard, Richard), was born 1741 in Richland County,

Virginia, and came to North Carolina as a young man with his family. He married Elinor

Dodson, as a young family man he moved south into Chatham County, North Carolina.

The records of that time have been searched, (Ref: N.C. State Department of Archives

and History, Chatham County Court Minutes 1774-1779.) Following are a few

fragmentary entries pertaining to Thomas Taylor:

Nov. 1778--Thomas Taylor appointed overseer of the road from Bear Creek to

Rigdon Ferry.

Feb. 1770--Ordered that a road be laid out from the Quaker Road at the Ore mill

to the fork on Deep River with the following jurors to lay off same:

Richard Taylor, Thomas Taylor, et al.

May 1779--Thomas Taylor - juror to next court.

Aug 1779--Thomas Taylor - on grand jury.

Only one conveyance was located for Thomas by Mrs. Huggins, but it does prove

his wife was Elinor, and that he was "of Chatham County" on Dec. 3, 1777, when he sold

―100 acres more or less to William Powell of Halifax County for 60 pounds proc. money.

Beginning at Joseph Taylor's and Jerrett Wallace's corner, by Joseph Taylor's line to his

other corner, to Elizabeth Jackson's line, her line to William Powell's line, his line to

Jerritt Wallace's corner, by his line to the beginning. Wit. Samuel Weldon.‖ (Note:

perhaps the Joseph mentioned was the brother to Thomas, This gives us a clue to Joseph.)

Elinor did not sign the above deed with Thomas, but the beginning of the deed of sale

was 'Thomas and Elinor Taylor of Chatham County."

In the 1782 Halifax Tax list (LP 64. 1)

Thomas Taylor owned 100 acres of land. Others were William, Joseph, and Richard, the

latter showing 100 acres in Chatham, In Chatham County, we find the following records:

Thomas Taylor from Benjamin and Sarah Maulden, planter, both of Chatham

County, 75 acres in Chatham County beginning S side Bear Creek at mouth of

Rocky Branch… (part not legible)... up branch to Poplins line, E course to corner

white oak sapling on a hill, along Poplins line N to Bear Creek, up creek… with

several courses to first station, part of tract of 550 acres granted George Poplin

from Gransville.

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Wit: Richard Maoulden Benjamin (B) Maülden

John Baysdale Sarah Maulden

(Vol. A- 446, Reel 7, Chatham County Deeds)

Thomas Taylor's death--Thomas Taylor was shot and killed before 20 Jan, 1782.

There are conflicting statements as to his death. He was killed by Col. Phillip Alston.

Alston was tried for murder. His defense was that Thomas Taylor was a Tory. His story

was convincing enough to get the following entry in Colonial and State Records of North

Carolina, Vol 20 p. 73, Monday, Dec 19, 1785: "Resolved that a pardon to Col. Alston..

for killing Thomas Taylor." Again in Dec 24, further hearing was made. Col. Alston was

pardoned on the deposition that Taylor's death was a war time atrocity.

Chatham County did have a very large number of Torys and became a very

turbulent place in which to live during the Revolution. David Fanning was a man who

could have been a hero. All he lacked was character. He was the most complete scoundrel

recorded in our history. For about eighteen months Fanning led his band of Tory

"outliers" from the Piedmond to the seacoast. In that period his exploits were quite

daring. "At church service in Chatham he spoke so eloquently on behalf of His Majesty

that he recruited from the congregation the nucleus for his band, And Chatham suffered

thereafter, for Fanning had headquarters most of the time along Deep River ...Often

Fanning hanged his prisoners, for he bore a personal grudge against most of his old

neighbors, and some he personally shot down in cold blood," (Ref: Sharpe, ―A New

Geography of North Carolina, II‖ p. 700.)

Since Thomas Taylor came from that locality it must have been somewhat easier

for Alston to convince the jury that he was a Tory. But was he a Tory? He was a scout for

the American Armies. Mr. J. Henry Crouch writes, "My grandmother made a written

statement that is recorded in Harris Co., 'A man by the name of Taylor in North Carolina

was a soldier, of the Revolution and a famous scout. He was killed by Philip Alston for

refusing to act as his bodyguard.‖ Alston‘s only defense was to claim that Taylor was a

Tory. Alston killed other men and in later life became a counterfeiter, We went to

Raleigh to learn the truth. In studying the minutes of the trials we find that at no time

could Alston offer any evidence that Taylor, was a bad man. Mrs. Huggins wrote: "We

do know Alston was really bad, a counterfeiter, and almost anything else one could say

about him. His family finally fled to Tennessee, I believe, to escape the stench of the

family name," He was killed in Ga. by his own negro.

We know that Thomas Taylor was dead as of Nov 1781 in Chatham County, and

that the case against Alston was still going on in 1786.

Elinor, spelled Elliner Taylor, received help from the government, by way of

payment for her husband's service, Voucher No, 1083, April 1782.

Elinor was appointed official administrator of his estate. Here are a few entries

from the probate court record:

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Inventory of Thomas Taylor, deceased, Chatham County, as of 20 Jan 1782, we

find he owned two tracts of land, one of 37 acres (? record not clear, very old), the other

300 acres, 1 negro fellow, 1 mare and colt, 3 head of cattle, 1 sheep, 3 cows, and piggson,

1 bed and furniture, 1 beadstead, 1 bed, 3 ―chears‖, 2 potts, 1 frying pan, 2 plates, 1

bason, 2 chests, 1 table, 2 "wheals cards", a sett of shoe makers "tolls", saddle and bridle,

2"pales", 1 piggin, (other items not legible), 4 hoes, 1 plow, 1 grubing hoe, 1 chisel, 1

handsaw, I pair "shairs", 1 ladle, 1 beaver "trapp", 1 hide, 1 tray, 1 "jugg", 1 "rasor", 3

books, 1 inkstand. (At least the last two items would indicate that Thomas and Elinor

were not illiterate.)

An Administration Bond, as administrators of Thomas Taylor, deceased, was

made to Elinor Taylor and Greenham Dodson, both of Chatham County, on 12 Feb 1782.

From Nancy Taylor Beal's descendants we will learn a little more about Elinor. An

account of her ancestry is included in this section.

From Chatham County Wills, Inventories, Sales of Estates and Deeds, 1790-1799,

page 53, folio 4, Thomas Taylor Estates, we find the following:

Know all men by these presents that are, Greenham Taylor, son of: and

Benjamin Beal, and Linvill McDaniel, in right of our wives, Nancy and Raney,

Daughters of Thomas Taylor, late of Chatham County, in the State of North

Carolina, Deceased, for durn good cause and Consideration as thereunto, Moving

by these presents constitute and appoint our Brother, Billington Taylor, to ask,

demand and receive for us and to our use of and from the Administrator, or

Administrators of Judith Taylor deceased our proportion or shares of the Estate of

Judith Taylor deceased, and on Receipt thereof to grant in our names releases,

receipts or Other acquisitions in the law to the Said Administrators for the sums,

hereby testifying and confirming what as our said attorney shall lawfully do in

and about the principles, and ever do further Empower our said Attorney to

appoint such other Attorney or Attorneys under him as he shall deem necessary

for the purposed aforesaid.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands and Seals this ninth day of

December, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety-six.

Signed Sealed and Delivered in presence of: J. W. Thompson Greenham Taylor

(seal)

Arch M. Eryse, Benjamin Beal (seal) Eliazar Andres, Linvill MDaniel (seal)

Proved by Eliazar Andrews at November Term 1797.

The next entry on the records of Chatham County reads as follows:

Know all men by these presents that I William Johnson in Right of my

wife Tabitha, Daughter of Thomas Taylor, late of Chatham County in the State

North Carolina, deceased, for divers good causes and considerations due me,

thereunto Moving do by these presents constitute and appoint my Brother-in-law,

Billington Taylor, to ask, demand, and receive for me and to my use of and from

the Administrators of Judith Taylor deceased, my Proportion or share of Judith

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Taylor dcd, and on receipt thereof to grant in my name Principles, Releases or

other acquisitions in the Law to Said Admr for the sum, hereby testifying and

confirming whatever my said attorney shall Lawfully do in and about the

principles, and I do further irnpower my said attorney to appoint such other

attorney or attorneys under him as he shall deem necessary for the purpose

aforesaid.

In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal this ninth day of

November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and ninety-

seven.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of: Eliazar Andrews William Johnson

(seal)

Proved at November Term 1797 by Eliazar Andrews.

Note: Of the above named, Billington Taylor, Linvill McDaniel, and William Johnson

moved to Tennessee and later, to southern Illinois. In the Monroe County, Illinois,

records we find the spelling of their names changed. Linvill McDaniel was given as

"Linvill McDonald‖ and William Johnson was written ―William Johnston.‖

Children of Thomas Taylor and Elinor Dodson

(All lived in Chatham County, perhaps born there.)

Billington Taylor married Mary Elizabeth Modglin about 1792, of whom later.

Thomas Taylor had a family and moved to St. Clair County and Monroe Co., Illinois.

He d before 3 Oct 1842. In 1818 Census of Illinois we find, "Thomas Taylor, Sr., All free

whites 8." In the 1820 census we find, "Males 21 and up 1, all others 6." At that time he

lived in Monroe County.

Nancy Taylor married Benjamin Beal.

Lurena "Raney" Taylor died before 1843 in Illinois. Married Linvill McDaniel, who

was known in Illinois as Linvill McDonnell or McDonald. On 25 July 1838 he sold land

to Matthew Taylor, (Matthew was his nephew, of whom later.) Then again we find him

listed as Linville McDaniel where sold land to Billington J. Taylor. Jane Taylor Nelson

gives his wife as Lurena McDonnell.

Judith Taylor was not the Judith mentioned in the court records above. That Judith was

probably the daughter, of Robert, a sister to Thomas.

Greenham Taylor was not listed in the census of Illinois. We don't know where he went.

Tabitha Taylor was a very young child when her father, was murdered, not more than a

year of age and perhaps less. She married when 15 or 16 years of age, William Johnson,

who signed the petition for part of Judith's estate. As his entry was after, the others,

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perhaps he had just married Tabitha. They moved to Tenn, and subsequently to Illinois

where he was listed as William Johnson and her name was misspelled as ―Talutha‖, nfd.

ELINOR DODSON TAYLOR AND HER PEOPLE

Elinor was the daughter of Greenham Dodson and Eleanor Hightower. He was

born about 1790 in Richmond, Virginia, and her mother was born there 10 Jan 1722.

When their family was young, Greenham and Eleanor moved to North Carolina.

Children of Greenham Dodson and Eleanor Hightower

Judith Dodson, b. 6 Jan 1741, Richmond, Virginia

Thomas Dodson, b. Richmond. Married Sarah Dodson (maiden name)

Hightower Dodson, b. Richmond, married Unity Dodson (maiden name)

William Fortunatus Dodson married Unity Dodson (maiden name)

Rawleigh Dodson, d. 3 June 1830, age 80 years. He married Margaret Dodson (maiden

name)

Elinor Dodson married Thomas Taylor and became our ancestor.

Elinor’s Grandfather Dodson

Thomas Dodson and Mary Durham were the parents of Greenham Dodson.

Thomas was born 15 May 1681 in Old Rappahannock Co., Va, and died 21 Nov 1740 in

Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Charles Dodson and Anne Dodson.

Mary Durham Dodson was born 5 June 1686, Richmond, Va., the daughter of

Thomas Durham and Dorothy Smoot. (Ref: Dodson Family Genealogy and Jane

Hollingsworth)

Children of Thomas Dodson and Mary Durham

David Dodson d. 1740. His wife‘s name was Amy.

Thomas Dodson married (1) Elizabeth Rose, (2) Mrs. Ellenor Sloan,

George Dodson married 30 Apr 1726 to Margaret Dogord.

Greenham Dodson married Eleanor Hightower, and became our ancestor.

Alice Dodson married Mr. Creel.

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Mary Dodson married Mr. Oldham.

Abraham Dodson, b.4 Apr 1723, d. 25 Oct 1668, married Barbary.

Joshua Dodson, b. 25 May 1725, nfd.

Elisha Dodson, b. 22 Feb 1727, married Miss Averett.

Elinor's Grandfather Hightower

John Hightower lived in Farnham Parish, Warsaw, Va. His children were born in

Richmond County. John was the son of Joshua Hightower, who came from Ireland to

Virginia. He died in Amelia Co., Va., Sep 1764. Mary Bryan, his wife, was the daughter

of Thomas Bryan and Eleanor (probably "Winnifred‖, records very dim). Their children

were born in Farnham Parish, Warsaw, Richmond Co., Va. (Research by Jane

Hollingsworth.)

Children of John Hightower and Mary Bryan

William Hightower, b. 20 July 1720, d. 1764, married 11 Dec 1743 to Susannah Hanks.

Eleanor Hightower, b. 10 Jan 1722, married Greenham Dodson, and became our

ancestor.

John Hightower, b. 13 Nov 1725, married (1) Ann Smith, (2) Mrs. Mary Edmondson,

Joshua Hightower, b. 14 Sep 1728, married Susannah.

Thomas Hightower, b. 24 May 1731.

George Hightower, b. 28 Sep 1733, d. 1820.

Richard Hightower, b. 27 Dec 1737.

The Great-Grandfather of Elinor Dodson Taylor

Charles Dodson was born about 1649 and died before 6 Feb 1705. He married

Anne Dodson, daughter of Benjamin Dodson and Ann Sims. Anne married (2) John Hill.

(Research by Jane Hollingsworth--Will of Charles Dodson II Jan 1702/3, WB 2, p 95,

proven 6 Feb 1705, Rev. Ralph Dodson.) Both Charles, known as Charlie, Sr., and Anne

were born in what is now Richmond Co., Va. (Ref: N. C. research by Mansel H. Nelson.)

Children of Charles Dodson and Ann Dodson

Charles Dodson Jr., d. l Aug 1715, married Anne.

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Thomas Dodson, b. 15 May 1681, d. 21 Nov 1740, married Mary Durham, and became

our ancestor.

Bartholomew Richard Dodson married Elizabeth Clarke.

William Dodson, b. abt 1685.

John Dodson married Elizabeth.

Lambert Dodson, b. abt 1689, married Sarah Harris.

Anne Dodson, b. abt 1692.

Elizabeth Dodson, b. abt 1695

Mary Dodson, d. before 1719.

Elinor Dodson Taylor's Great-Grandfather Durham

Thomas Durham was born 1660, Barnham Parish, Richmond, Virginia. He died

1 June 1715. He was the son of Thomas. He married Dorothy Smoot, who married (2)

Jerimiah Greenham. It is said that Jerimiah Greenham was so loved by his children and

grandchildren that we now have the name Greenham in the Taylor and allied families.

(Research by Jane Hollingsworth.)

Children of Thomas Durham and Dorothy Smoot

Mary Durham, b. 5 June 1686, Richmond Co., Va., married Thomas Dodson, and

became our ancestor.

Thomas Durham, b. 27 June 1690, married Mary Smoot 5 May 1735.

John Durham, b. 23 Nov 1698, Richmond County.

Elinor Dodson Taylor's Great-Grandfather Bryan

Thomas Bryan Jr., died in 1718 in Richmond County, Virginia. His wife

Eleanor, whose maiden name was Winnifred(?) died 1719 in Richmond Co.

His will was dated 2 Apr 1718, Richmond Co., Va., naming a wife Eleanor, a

grandson, son of George Alias Ashburn--a son of John, a daughter of Minnefred McCoy,

daughter Margaret Branna, and two youngest children, names not given, signed--Thomas

Bryan.

Thomas Bryan was the son of Thomas Bryan and Mary Wright, daughter of

Thomas Wright and Mary ?

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The will of Thomas Wright was dated May 1672, and proven 4 Sep 1672. Jane

Hollingsworth was able to obtain a copy of his will:

Thomas Wright of Moratican Creek, Rappahannock Co., Va.

To my wife, Mary, all and every goods, Chattles, Cattle, and whatsoever

that she had when I married her, to her use only. To William Baldwin Dau living

with one

Isack Stennop on South Side of Rappahannock River, the sum of six hundred

pounds of tobacco to be paid upon a cow for her use, and my will is that my

Sonrie in law Edward Poole recorded with increase to his and his

heirs forever. To Edward Rylyes Wife daughter sum of Six Hundred Pounds of

tobacco to bee laid out for a cow for hir. My will beeing that Thomas Madison

having the laying out of the tobacco and that he see the cow recorded with

encrease into hir and him heirs forever.

To my cozen Edward Carter, my young mare and hir encrease and three

hundred acres of land upon Mr. Halls land and living by Colonel Lees path and

sold to me by Mr. Thomas Chetwood in part of satisfaction of 1000 acres which

doth appear up on record of Lancaster Co. To my Sons in law Thomas and Robert

Bryant, my old mare

and 1000 lbs. of tobacco apiece. To my sonne in law Robert Briant 115 acres of

land which lyes by Maratican Mill beeing part of 230 acres of land between John

Chin and my self. To my daughter in laws child Elizabeth Pool my old mare foal

which fell this present yeare and hir increase, but in case Elizabeth Pool does

decease without issue of hir body then the sd legacy shall return to Thomas and

Robert Briant and their heirs forever. To Brian Stott children is my stone colt

which is at present above one year old and my will is that Brian Stott, their father

having the ordering of it as he thinks fitt.

My will is that all my legacies which I have given away bee paid the next

crop after my decease. My wife, Mary Wright, to be Exercutex giving unto her

my servants with all the remainder of my goods, chattles, cattle and household

stuff whatsoever, and all my debts which are due unto me. She paying my

legacies aforesaid and debts I owe.

Wit Brian Stott, Age 45 years

Robert Brian, Age 22 years

(Wills of Rapp, Co., Va., 1656-1692)

Many of the Wrights of England can trace their ancestry through royalty back to the Old

Testament, and of course on back to Adam and Eve, according to the best genealogists

and historians. As Thomas Wright was a man of means, perhaps with a little effort we

could tie his line with the royal family.

Billington Taylor (Thomas, Robert, Robert, Richard, Richard), was born about 1771,

probably in Chatham County, North Carolina. He married Mary Elizabeth Modglin,

about 1792, as on 9 Feb. 1792, Billington Taylor and his wife, Mary, of Chatham County

sold 100 acres for 30 lbs. current money to Richard Poplin of same county, Book E p.

65

323. Then in Book K, p. 360, 4 May 1799, Billington purchased 100 acres from James

McDaniel of Chatham County for 50 lbs. current money.

Book L p. 149, 19 Dec 1798, Grant to Billington Taylor a tract of land in

Chatham containing 30 acres on Cedar Creek--"beginning at a pine, McDaniels corner, to

a pine Muns corner,

to a stake in McDaniels line. " Entered 15 Feb 1787.

Book L, p. 150, 24 Sep 1800, Grant to Billington Taylor-―100 acres in Chatham

on the waters of Cedar Creek beginning at a pine Joshua Beals corner, with Munns line to

a dogwood, to a black oak at or near, Beals corner, to a post oak in Beals line." Entered

25 Feb 1799.

Book N, p. 143, 28 July 1803, Billington Taylor of Chatham County to Thomas

Gallaway of same county. (Same land as in Book L, P. 150.) AckTd Aug Court 1803.

Book N, p. 144, Billington Taylor of Chatham County to Thomas Gallaway of

same county-- 130 acres for 115 lbs cur, money. Ack'd Aug Court 1803.

Then in 1804 Billington sold the remainder of his property, for he had already

moved to Term., perhaps as early as 1802.

Billington and his people lived in Tenn. until about 1816, when they moved north

to southern Illinois. He first settled in St. Clair County, where in 1818 census he was

listed as ―1 male twenty one and up, all other free whites 8." In 1820 census he was in

Monroe County listed as "1 male over 21, and all others 9."

Since there was a lapse of ten years between the time they first owned land in

Chatham County, North Carolina, and the birth of Matthew Modglin, there are no doubt

other children we do not know about, Billington J. Taylor married Sarah Lemon in St.

Clair County. Was he the son of Thomas or Billington? We have not been able to learn.

The Lemon family history does not give his parents. We will list him as Billington's son

with a question mark. His age is about right. His father, if Billington, was first listed in

St. Clair County where he was married.

Billington Taylor died after 30 July 1843, but was not listed in 1850 Census of Illinois.

(Back to Thomas and Elinor‘s son Billington)

Children of Billington Taylor and Mary Elizabeth Modglin

Billington J. Taylor (probably a son), married Sarah Lemon, St. Clair County, 10 Apr

1831.

Mary Taylor married William Whedler.

66

Rev. Matthew Modglin Taylor, b. 25 Jan 1802 (date from his old Bible), Tammis

Valley, Williamson County, Tenn. Married 1 Oct 1822, Monroe Co., Ill., Hannah Axley.

(See story of Rev. Matthew Taylor and family in the Ruth McDonald Lacey story.)

Jane Taylor, b. 1 Jan 1804, Tamis Valley, d 2 June 1872, Franklin, Idaho, 3 Oct 1820, in

Monroe Co., Ill., married Edmond Nelson, and this book is written because of this

marriage.

Sarah “Sally” Taylor, b. 1805, Tamis Valley, married in Monroe Co., 7 Apr 1824, Elias

Smith.

Rhoda Winters Taylor, b. 11 Mar 1808, Tamis Valley, d. 20 Feb 1844, married 6 Oct

1829, Franklin S. Casey.

Celia Taylor, b. 1816, Tamis Valley, married Martin S. Casey.

Martha "Patsy" Taylor, prob. born in St. Clair County, d. 1831, married 10 Mar 1830,

Harold Bruce.

Nancy Taylor, b. abt 1819, St. Clair Co., md Mr. Thruman, nfd. ~Mansel H. Nelson~

Editor’s note: I deleted the last half of this chapter because it didn’t directly concern

our family. If you are really interested I have a copy of the rest of the chapter.

[Return to intro]

68

Peter White

b. 9 Jun 1801 in Culpepper Co., VA

d. 5 Apr 1865 in Goliad Co., TX

m. lots of wives (see below)

Simon Cocral White

b. 19 Jul 1806 in Culpepper Co., VA

d.

m. Nancy Vaughn in 1832

Peter White

Peter White

Son of John Peter White (Or Thomas and Sarah White)

Born: July 9, 1801 in Salem, VA

Died: April 5, 1865 in Goliad, TX

Married: Nancy McCullough, about 1821 ¿Perhaps this is not her maiden name, it is

unstated in the records; the McCulloch name has been given to her by descendants?

Married: Mahala McCulloch on 9 Mar 1837. I found an old Bible record in Auntie

‗Cille‘s stuff giving this date.

Born November 4, 1822

Died 1846-1848

Married: Elizabeth Vess, Dec. 24, 1848

Widow of Peter‘s friend Jonathan Vess

Elizabeth died of pneumonia in Jan. 1850

Married: Rebecca Hercitta Osgood, Aug. 27, 1854

Married: Martha Jane Elam Craig, Oct. 17, 1857 in San Antonio, Bexar Co.

Born 1820-1824 in Salem, IL

Martha was a widow.

Died Nov. 24, 1883 in Goliad, buried Loma Vista Cemetery, Zavala, TX

Peter and Nancy came to Texas by way of Missouri; he had a brother, Simon C. White,

who came to Texas as well. They may have come to have a look around as early as 1821.

According to the Austin‘s Register of Families Volume 1 #229; Peter White, age 29 &

wife Nancy, age 25, 1 son and 1 daughter, occupation farmer, arrived in Texas from

Missouri in 1827. They took the Oath Jan. 30, 1829. His land was east of the Navidad,

four or five miles above Golden Rod Creek.

69

Location of Peter White’s Orginal Tract

From- http://thomashaynes.weebly.com/sylvester-bowen-league.html

This was originally an article about the Sylvester Bowen Grant; One League of Land on

the East Side of the Navidad River. As you can see it also pertains to our story.

A portion of GLO historic map 3708 showing the Sylvester Bowen league

Thomas Haynes bought one league of land (4,428 acres) on the east side of the Navidad

River (actually the north side at this particular spot) at public auction on August 30, 1850,

for $14.10 ($0.003 per acre) plus $1.05 court cost. The land was being sold by Jackson

County for non-payment of taxes. The land had been granted to Sylvester Bowen by

Mexico on Oct. 22, 1830, and was located above (west of) and adjoining a league of land

granted to Edward Batey (or Beaty), and below (east of) a league granted to P. White. In

addition to about 2,000 feet of river frontage, the land is also crossed by Sutherland

Creek.

This league of land is easily found on GLO maps 3707-3708 and 77324 of Jackson

County and on the Google satellite view. To get to this land, take US 59 from Edna

toward Ganado, then take FM 530 north. Where the highway crosses the Navidad, the

land is to the right. Source: Jackson County deed records, volume D, page 227, and GLO

maps 3707-3708 and 77324 of Jackson County.

70

Peter’s Early Family The following 2 scenarios come from two different viewpoints:

From the Lacey/White Family traditions;

The children of Peter and Nancy:

Mahaley White - 1822

John Shadrack White - 1828

Elizabeth Gaines White -1831

Isaac Newton White - 1833

George Benjamin Franklin White - 1838 -

Autsin Cassimer White - 1839

French Strother Grey White - 1840

Peter Poloski White - 1842

Margaret Lodriski Ann White - 1844

Nancy A.M. White - 1845

From a McCulloch Family researcher‘s viewpoint (and my view as well);

The children of Peter and Nancy:

John Shadrack White

Elizabeth Gains White

Isaac Newton White

Mahaley White was really Mahala McCulloch daughter of Samuel McCulloch Sr.

Born in 1822

The children of Peter and Mahaley:

George Benjamin Franklin White

Austin Cassimer White

French Strother Grey White

Peter Poloski White

Margaret Lodriski Ann White

Nancy A.M. White

The discussion:

The McCulloch view doesn‘t account a daughter in the 1829 records.

Samuel McCulloch Sr.‘s children were all Mulattos

George, Austin, French, Peter, Margaret and Nancy were listed as Mulattos in the 1850

Census. John was listed as White.

Samuel McCulloch Sr. and Jr. lived parallel lives to Peter. In 1850 the Whites and all or

most of the McCulloch families live in the immediate neighborhood of each other.

Peter owned slaves.

71

Lucille Lacey Waite, a grand-daughter of Margaret White, recently (Summer 2006) had

her DNA tested. The results show about 14% African stock, I‘ve studied her family in

depth (she was my mother‘s sister) and have eliminated other parts of the family as

candidates, though anything is possible.

Read the E-mail regarding McCulloch, below, and then you figure it out.

1850 Census, Jackson Co. Family 102

Peter White, age 48, M, White, Farmer, RE Value $4000, Born VA

John S. White, age 21, M, White, Texas

Austin C. White, age 11, M, Mulatto, Texas

F S Gray White, age 9, M, Mulatto, Texas

Peter P. White, age 8, M, Mulatto, Texas

Margaret White, age 6, F, Mulatto, Texas

Nancy White, age 4, F, Mulatto, Texas

Peggy McCulloch, age 53, F, Mulatto, NC

A summary of Peter’s children as I understand them, ed.

The children of Peter and Nancy:

Female child

John Shadrack White

b. September 19, 1828

d. Sept. 8, 1862 in the Civil War

Elizabeth Gaines White

b. Jan. 19,1831 in Texana, Jackson Co. TX

d.

Isaac Newton White

b. April 27, 1833 in Texana, Jackson Co.

d.

The children of Peter and Mahala:

George Benjamin Franklin White

b. Jan.12, 1838 in Texana, Jackson Co.

d. (he was not in the 1850 Census)

Autsin Cassimer White

b. April 12, 1839 in Texana Jackson Co.

d.

m. Louise

72

French Strother Grey White

b. Nov. 24, 1840 in Texana, Jackson Co.

d. Jan. 15, 1915 in Carrizo Springs, TX

m. Louisa Jane Craig

Peter Poloski White

b. Feb. 7, 1842 in Texana Jackson Co.

d. in the Civil War

Margaret Lodriski Ann White

b. Jan. 23, 1844 in Texana, Jackson Co.

d.

m. Lewis Madison Lacey

Nancy A.M. White

b. Dec. 23, 1845 in Texana, Jackson Co.

d.

m. W.S. Busby

The children of Martha Jane Craig:

Thomas Craig

Louisa Craig ¿m. F.S.G. White?

Alexander Craig

Wesley Craig

The children of Peter and Martha Jane:

William Simon White

b.

d. in 1888

Odania White

b. Feb. 1, 1859 in Goliad, TX

d.

James Beauregard White

b. Oct. 17, 1861

d.

Notes: Family tradition says Peter was with Sam Houston‘s Texian Army in the

Quartermaster Corps. He was on a foraging trip when the army got to San Jacinto.

He was at the ‗Battle of Plum Creek‘ in 1840 under Capt. Caldwell.

73

In 1842, he served as a private in Capt. Lafayette Ward‘s Company of Texas Volunteers

against the Mexicans.

During the U.S. war with Mexico he served in Capt. Hansbrough Bell‘s Company of

Texas Mounted Volunteers (Corpus Christi Rangers). Mustered out of Federal service

July 6, 1846.

Peter‘s sons and son-in-law in the Confederate Army:

John S. White, Pvt. Co. D, Waller‘s 13th Texas Cavalry Battalion; killed at Bonnet

Carre, LA, Sept. 8, 1862

Austin C. White, Pvt. Co. B, 1st Regiment, Texas Cav. (Yager‘s) (1st Mounted Rifles)

F.S. Grey White, Pvt. Co. D, Waller‘s 13th Texas Cavalry Battalion

Peter P. White, Pvt. Co. B, 1st Regiment, Texas Cav. (Yager‘s) (1st Mounted Rifles)

killed

Lewis M. Lacey, 2nd Sergt. Co. D, Waller‘s 13th Texas Cavalry Battalion

An e-mail from Kevin McCulloch, Feb.06

Hi Rich,

Thanks for your emails. Sorry it has taken me a while to respond but I wanted to go

through my files and refresh my memory on this branch of the family before responding

to you.

I am not descended from Samuel McCulloch Sr. He was a brother to my 3rd great-

grandfather, William G. McCulloch. I've been working on the McCulloch family history

for many years and I have done research on all lines of the McCulloch bunch so I do have

information on Samuel and his descendants. I can also tell you that Samuel's lines are

VERY HARD to follow. He had 1 son and 4 daughters. Researching his son is pretty

straightforward but there is nothing straightforward about the girls several of them marry

several times, tend to use different first names and move around alot.

I show that Samuel Sr. had a daughter named Mahala (McCulloch) who was born ca.

1822 and died between 1846 and 1850. Based upon the birth of their first child, I have

estimated that she married Peter White ca. 1838. I haven't found a marriage record for

them but Samuel Sr.'s will (dated 1853) mentions his deceased daughter, Mahala White,

wife of Peter White having 5 kids. In the 1850 census of Jackson Co., TX (page 217,

family 102), I find Peter White with 6 kids and a 53 year-old woman named Peggy

McCulloch (presumably his mother-in-law). The oldest child, John S. White (born ca.

1829) would have been too old to have been Mahala's so either John S. White is from a

previous marriage or he is some other sort of relative to Peter. So when you subtract out

John and Peggy, that leaves 5 kids for Peter. One of those kids is named Margaret (born

ca. 1844) and another one was Nancy (born ca. 1846).

74

Peter is also listed in the 1860 census in Goliad Co., TX (page 60, dwelling 861, family

914) with basically the same kids (Margaret and Nancy included) but by this time he has

married to a woman named Martha (born ca. 1820) and they have apparently had 2 kids

of their own.

I loose track of Peter and his family after 1860 although tonight I did a search on

Ancestry.com just to see if I could find anything on him and to my surprise I found

several databases listing him. They showed him married to a Nancy

McCulloch/McCullough. One of the researchers, an E.N. Glass shows them being

married 9 Mar. 1831. I was beginning to think that perhaps Mahala and Nancy were the

same person until I noticed the marriage date (which may not be accurate) because

Mahala McCulloch along with her father and siblings did not even get to TX until at least

1835…

Peter White Family Story

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS Published 1907, Page536-538 -Found on

Ancestry.com

J.B. WHITE is proprietor of a meat market and bakery at Eagle Pass and is also county

treasurer of Maverick county, in his official duties and in private life he has made a

creditable record as one who is reliable as well as energetic and progressive and thus he

deserves mention among the representative men of this part of the state. He was born in

Goliad County, Texas. October 17, 1861, and pursued his education in the common

schools while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, Peter and Martha

Elam (Craig) White. The father was born in Virginia and the mother was born and reared

in Salem, Illinois. There she married a Mr. Craig and about 1837 removed to Texas, set-

tling in Goliad County, where Mr. Craig, a millwright by trade, erected many of the early

mills of that and other localities. For many years he resided in Goliad County but

subsequently removed to Hopkins County, where he spent his remaining days. He left

four children: Thomas, a speculator; Mrs. Louisa Osgood; and Alexander and Wesley,

who are stock men. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Craig married Peter White. a

native of Virginia and one of the pioneer residents of Texas, who came to this state with

the Austin colony in 1820. He secured a headright in Jackson County, comprising a large

tract of land, and thereon remained, making some improvements until he secured a good

title from the Mexican government. He afterward went to Arkansas, where he remained

for a number of years, during which time he married, while subsequently he returned to

Texas and located on his headright in Jackson County, where he followed farming and

stock-raising, there residing until after the death of his wife. To his care were left six

children: John, Austin, Peter, Gray, Nancy and Margaret. The four SONS served in the

Confederate army. The children were all young at the time of the mothers death but

became useful, good citizens. John and Peter were killed in the war. After losing his first

wife the father married Mrs. Craig, a widow, who had four children, and they reared the

two families doing a good part by them. For a short period Mr. White remained on his

headright farm and then sold a part of it, removing later to Goliad County, where he

75

engaged in stock farming until his death April 5, 1865. He was a slave owner and he

developed a large and valuable estate, although in the early days he underwent many of

the deprivations and hardships incident to pioneer life. He was an active figure during the

early exciting times in the development of Texas and he served as a member of

Houston‘s army, which gained independence for Texas, being detailed in the commissary

department. On the day of the decisive battle at San Jacinto he was off with a train of

provisions for the army. He went through the siege to the close and was always ready to

respond to a call in case of other raids on the country. He also helped drive the hostile red

men out of Texas and in 1846 helped settle the dispute between Mexico and the United

States. He entered the army against the Mexicans, his command being stationed to protect

the border at Brownsville. Thus he was a veteran of two wars. During the Civil war his

sympathy was with the Confederacy and he used his influence in its behalf but was too

old to go to the front. However, he gave four sons to the service and the war caused him

heavy financial losses as well, for his slaves were freed and he lost much stock through

the foraging of the armies. Many men of notoriously bad character disguised themselves

as Indians and plundered and robbed and drove off the best of the stock. Mr. White was a

strong and influential Democrat but cared little for office, and he was a worthy member

of the Masonic fraternity. His wife survived him and kept the family together.

She was a daughter of Mr. Elam, one of the early settlers and prominent farmers of the

vicinity of Salem, Illinois. He remained in that locality and died on the old homestead.

His children were James; Frank; Mrs. Martha White and Mrs. Polly Ann Cox, who first

located in Missouri and afterward removed to Oregon. James and Frank came to Texas

but after a short time returned to Missouri, where they continued to reside. Mrs. White

the mother of our subject, remained on the old homestead in Goliad County until 1883,

when she sold that property and started for Dewitt County, but before reaching her

destination she became ill and died in November, 1883, the family later continuing the

journey. She was a worthy member of the Christian church. By her marriage to Mr.

White she had three children: Simon, who died in 1888; Alpha, who became Mrs. Vivan

and after the death of her first husband married a Mr. Wooster; and James W., of this

review.

James W. White remained with his widowed mother during her lifetime and then found

a good home with a married sister until 1884, when he married and made a home for

himself in Zavalla county, where he established a ranch and engaged in the stock

business. The range was then free and his business flourished. He got a good start and

afterward bought land and fenced his pasture, erecting also good ranch buildings. He

remained in successful business upon that place until 1894, when he sold out there and in

June of that year removed to Eagle Pass, where he yet resides. While ranching he also

carried on farming to some extent, raising feed and family supplies.

Since coming to Eagle Pass Mr. White has purchased a commodious residence and has

engaged in the conduct of a meat market and bakery on Main Street, having a very

prosperous business. He is always in the market for the purchase of beef cattle and he

leases a pasture and keeps stock on hand ready for slaughtering. He has also made some

business investments in this locality and is a stockholder and the vice president of the

76

International Dry Goods & Furniture Company of Eagle Pass, which is incorporated. A

wholesale and retail business is carried on that extends into Mexico. He is also a

stockholder in the Guide, a democratic newspaper, which is owned and controlled by an

incorporated company. In all of his business undertakings he has been very successful

and has displayed keen discernment and unfaltering enterprise.

Mr. White was married in 1884 to Miss Mattie Floyd, who was born in Dimmit County,

77

Children of Mary and James:

Jane McCulloch b. 4 Dec 1776 in SC, d. bef. 1817 in SC

m. William H. Henderson bet 1790-1800

William G. McCulloch b. 3 Aug 1778 in 96 District, SC, d. 5 Nov 1843 in Montgomery

Co., TX

Mary McCulloch b. 27 Aug 1780 in SC, d.1874 in Montgomery, AL

m. Walter R. Carson

Samuel James McCulloch b. 15 Nov 1782 in SC, d. 7 Feb 1855 in Bexar Co., TX

He had several families

John McCulloch b. 29 Jan 1784 in SC, d. 4 Oct 1837 in Union Co., AR

James McCulloch Jr. b. 21 Apr 1787 in SC, d. 17 Jan 1816 in Abbeville District, SC

Isaac McCulloch b. 22 Mar 1789 in SC, d. 3 Aug 1842 in Montgomery, AL

Margaret McCulloch b. 12 Nov 1791 in SC, d. 9 Jul 1881 in Abbeville, SC

Anna McCulloch b. 26 Dec 1793 in SC, d. 23 Mar 1867 in Montgomery, AL

Adam McCulloch b. 8 Jan 1796 in SC, d. 6 Jun 1841

Robert McCulloch b. 13 Aug 1798 in SC, d. 2 Oct 1842 in Montgomery, AL

Elizabeth McCulloch b. 23 Aug 1800 in SC, d. 1874 in Montgomery, AL

Samuel Sr.

Samuel James McCulloch

Son of James McCulloch and Mary Garrison

Born 15 Nov 1782 in the Abbeville District, SC

He and his brother John were apparently slave traders according to records from

Louisiana.

In May 1835 he came to the Austin Colony

Listed in Austin Colony records as a single white man, with free black son, Samuel Jr.

and daughters, Jane, Harriet and Mahaly.

The family settled on the Lavaca River, the children were considered free blacks.

Died 11 Feb 1855 in Bexar Co., TX

78

Buried Samuel McCulloch Jr. Cemetery, Von Ormy, Bexar Co.

Rose Ann

Born about 1801 in Abbeville District, SC

Died after 1880

Peggy

Born about 1797 in NC

Died after 1850

In 1850 she is living in the Peter White household so she is apparently the mother of

Mahala.

Peggy and Rose Ann are listed in the census as Mulattos, perhaps they were never

actually married to Samuel; note the birth order of Hulda and Mahala below.

Child of Samuel and mother unknown:

Samuel McCulloch Jr.

b. 10 Oct 1810 in Abbeville District, SC

d. 3 Nov 1893 in Von Ormy, Bexar Co.

m. Mary Lorena Vess

Children of Samuel and Rose Ann:

Jane McCulloch

b. abt. 1820 in AL

d. 1886 in TX

m. (1) Stanford Lindsey Sr. (2) Mr. Gray (3) Mr. Nelson

Harriett McCulloch

b. abt. 1820 in Greene Co., AL

d.

m. John F. Reynolds

Margaret „Hulda‟ McCulloch

b. abt. 1823

d.

m. (1) Mr. Banks (2) John C. Mellus

Child of Samuel and Peggy:

Mahala McCulloch

b. abt. 1822

d. bet. 1846 and 1850 in Jackson Co., TX

m. Peter White

79

Note: 1850 Census Jackson County

Family 107 (Peter White was Family102)

Thomas Ayres, 38 yrs, Male, White, Farmer, RE Value $300, Born GA

Rosanna Ayres?, 49 yrs, Female, Mulatto, Born SC

John C. Mellus, 20 yrs, Male, W, Farmer, Born Florida

Margaret Mellus, 26 yrs, Female, M, Born Ala

Thomas B. Banks, 8 yrs, Male, M, born Texas

Rosa Jane Mellus, 1 yr, Female, M, Born Texas

Laurence Dorman, 52 yrs, Male, W, Teacher, Born Ireland

Family 108 Jane Gray, (Head of household) 30 yrs, Female, M, RE Value $400, Born Ala.

Stanford Lindsey, 12 yrs, Male, M

Margaret Gray, 10 yrs, Female, M

Harriett Gray, 7 yrs, Female, M

Family 109 Samuel J. McCulloch Sr. 67 yrs, Male, W, Farmer, RE Value $300, Born SC

Samuel J. McCulloch Jr. 38 yrs, Male, M, Farmer, Born SC

Samuel J. McCulloch 3rd

. 12 yrs, Male, M

Robert McCulloch, 10 yrs, Male, M

Clark L. Owen, 8 yrs, Male, M

Mary L. McCulloch, 2 yrs, Female, M

Andrew Jackson McCulloch, 2 yrs, Male, M

Harriett Reynolds, 30 yrs, Female, M

Elizabeth Reynolds, 12 yrs, Female, M

Martha Reynolds, 10 yrs, Female, M

Caroline Reynolds, 7 yrs, Female, M

John Reynolds, 3 yrs, Male, M

[Return to intro]

Samuel McCulloch Jr.

Adapted from “The Handbook of Texas Online”

MCCULLOCH, SAMUEL, JR. (1810-1893). Samuel McCulloch (McCullough,

McCullock), Jr., free black soldier in the Texas Revolution was born in the Abbeville

District of South Carolina on October 11, 1810. He moved with his white father, Samuel

McCulloch, Sr., to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1815. In May 1835 Samuel McCulloch,

Sr., describing himself as a single man, moved to Texas with his son and three daughters,

Jane, Harriet, and Mahaly. The family settled on the Lavaca River in what is now Jackson

County. Samuel McCulloch, Jr., and his sisters were considered free blacks. On October

5, 1835, the younger McCulloch joined the Matagorda Volunteer Company as a private

under the command of George M. Collinsworth. On October 9 he fought at Goliad and

was severely wounded in the right shoulder during the storming of the Mexican officers'

quarters. He was the only Texan wounded in the battle and became known as the first

80

Texan casualty of the revolution. The musketball shattered his right shoulder, left him an

invalid for nearly a year, and crippled him for life. Incapacitated by his wound,

McCulloch remained at Goliad for three weeks after the battle and was then carried by

John Polan to Victoria, where he stayed a short while. He was subsequently transported

to his home in Jackson County, where he remained until April 1836, when he and other

settlers in the area fled in an attempt to get ahead of the retreating Texan army. On July 8,

1836, after the battle of San Jacinto a surgeon in the Texan army, possibly Dr. Nicholas

D. Labadie, removed the musketball from McCulloch's shoulder.

McCulloch's rights to residence and property in Texas were threatened by the passage of

the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in September 1836. This charter contained a

provision that barred "Africans [and] the descendants of Africans and Indians" from

citizenship, and another that required all free blacks to apply to the Congress for

permanent residence in the Republic of Texas. McCulloch petitioned the Texas Congress

in 1837 for citizenship for himself and his children and the right to receive grants of land.

The petition outlined his service in the Texas army, stated that he had been the first

Texan wounded in the revolution, and supported his request for land with the

announcement that he had recently become the head of a family. The resolution of his

petition was complicated by an act of the Congress, signed into law by President Sam

Houstonqv on June 5, 1837, that gave permanent residence rights to all free blacks

residing in Texas at the time of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The law granted

McCulloch the right to residence and induced the committee on claims and accounts,

before which his petition appeared, to put it aside as inexpedient. The committee's action

effectively rejected McCulloch's request for citizenship and headright land.

On August 11, 1837, McCulloch married Mary Lorena Vess, the white daughter of

Jonathan Vess, who moved to Austin's colony sometime between 1821 and 1824. The

McCullochs were never prosecuted for breaking the law against interracial marriage,

which had passed two months before as a part of the Act of June 5, 1837. They remained

married until Mary's death about November 8, 1847, and had four children. At least one

of their sons, Lewis Clark McCulloch, served in the Confederate Army. On February 5,

1840, the Texas Congress passed an act that required all free blacks to leave the republic

within two years or be sold into slavery (see ASHWORTH ACT). McCulloch submitted

a petition, introduced by Patrick Usher, asking that he, his three sisters, and a relative

named Uldy be exempted from the law. On November 10, 1840, a relief bill for the

McCullochs passed. Samuel McCulloch fought against Comanche Indians at the battle of

Plum Creek on August 11 and 12, 1840. When Mexican general Adrián Woll invaded

San Antonio in 1842, McCulloch served as a spy under the command of Col. Clark L.

Owen.qv In 1841 he and his family had moved from Lavaca County to Wallace Prairie in

Grimes County, but in 1845 they resettled in Jackson County.

McCulloch became eligible for bounty land by an act of the Texas Congress approved

December 18, 1837, which entitled persons permanently disabled in the service of Texas

to one-league grants. On December 7, 1850, he located two thirds of his league on Frio

Road and the south bank of the Medina River, fourteen miles to the southwest of San

Antonio. McCulloch sold a third of his bounty land to John Twohig on October 22, 1851.

82

On November 5, 1840, three days after the opening of the Fifth Legislature, Joseph

Grigsby of Jefferson County presented the three petitions to the Texas Congress. The

petitions were referred to a special committee, of which Grigsby was named chairman.

The committee reported favorably on them, and a bill for the relief of the Ashworths

passed its first reading without recorded contest.

Many congressmen had received one or more petitions from their constituents. House

member Timothy Pillsbury of Brazoria, in an effort to conserve the time necessary to

consider each of the petitions separately, offered a resolution, adopted by the House,

instructing the Committee on the State of the Republic to consider legislation allowing

the continued residence of free blacks who were in the country when the constitution was

adopted. Such legislation had precedence in the joint resolution of June 5, 1837. If

passed, it would dispense favorably with most of the petitions for free blacks. Pillsbury

had a personal interest in such a bill, for he carried unpresented petitions supporting

Samuel H. Hardin and James Richardson.

When the Committee on the State of the Republic ignored Pillsbury's resolution, he

presented the Hardin and Richardson petitions to the House. James Richardson was a

vendor of oysters in Brazoria County who had served in the garrison at Velasco in the

revolution, although he was sixty years of age. Samuel H. Hardin's petition requested

relief for him and his wife, reporting their long residence, industriousness, and good

conduct. Sixty-five citizens signed the Hardin petition, including William T. Austin,

Henry Austin, and Henry Smith. On November 9, 1840, the Hardin and Richardson

petitions were referred to the Committee on the State of the Republic. A bill exempting

Samuel McCulloch, Jr., and some of his relatives passed its first reading the same day.

On November 10, 1840, the Ashworth bill passed the House, and the McCulloch bill was

read a second time. At this reading attempts were made to amend the bill by adding the

names of William Goyens, who was supported by Thomas J. Rusk, and two other parties.

The amendments lost, but the original bill passed.

The Ashworth bill came up in the Senate on November 20, 1840. A successful

amendment inserted the words "and all free persons of color together with their families,

who were residing in Texas the day of the Declaration of Independence" after the names

of the original beneficiaries. The bill thereby addressed the case of all free blacks who

had immigrated to Texas before the Declaration of Independence and conferred residency

on David and Abner Ashworth, who had immigrated afterward. The House accepted the

Senate's amendment, and on December 12, 1840, President Mirabeau B. Lamar signed

the bill. David and Abner Ashworth became the only free blacks to immigrate subsequent

to the Declaration of Independence who were given congressional sanction to remain in

Texas.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hans Peter Nielsen Gammel, comp., Laws of Texas, 1822-1897 (10

vols., Austin: Gammel, 1898). Harold Schoen, "The Free Negro in the Republic of

Texas," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 39-41 (April 1936-July 1937). Texas House of

83

Representatives, Biographical Directory of the Texan Conventions and Congresses,

1832-1845 (Austin: Book Exchange, 1941).

Nolan Thompson

Samuel McCulloch Jr. Petition 1857

Pasted from <http://www.press.uillinois.edu/epub/books/schweninger/s8.html>

Samuel McCulloch Jr., Jackson County, to Congress of Texas, 1857

To the Honourable Congress of Texas

The Petition of Samuel McCulloch Jr. of Jackson County, respectfully represents, that

he emigrated from the United States to Texas, in the family of his Father, Samuel

McCulloch the elder, also of Jackson County, in the spring of the year 1835—being then

a single man—That when the Revolution commenced he entered the military service of

Texas, as a private in the Matagorda Volunteer Company, commanded by Captain James

Collinsworth, and under his command he participated in the storming of the Fort at

Goliad, on the 9th of Octo. 1835. In that action he received a severe wound in the right

shoulder, which laid him up, a helpless invalid, for nearly a year, and has made left him a

cripple for life.—He was the only one of the Texan Troops wounded in that action, and

the first whose blood was shed in the War of Independence.

Your petitioner, while Texas was a part of the Republic of Mexico, was, by the

Constitution and Laws, a citizen of the state, and as such entitled to lands as a settler;—

but he never made application for any lands, nor does he hold has he ever received any

from in the Country. And now, having by marriage become the head of a family, he is

desirous of settling in life, and of performing the duties of a citizen;—but he unhappily

finds that by the Laws of the Country, for the Independence of which he has fought and

bled, and still suffers, he is deprived of the privileges of citizenship by reason of an

unfortunate admixture of African blood, which he is said, without any fault of his, to

inherit from a remote maternal ancestor;—nor can he, without the beneficent action of

Congress, receive the lands to which he was entitled under the Mexican Government.—

Your petitioner refers for the truth of the foregoing statement to the accompanying copy

of his military discharge and the evidence of John P. Barden Esq—and the Honl. Mr.

Patton and the Honl. Mr. Southerland, of the House of Representatives To those

Gentlemen and all others who may know him, he would also respectfully refer for

testimonials of his general good demeanour.

Your Petitioner prays your Honourable body to take his case into consideration; and

that he may be allowed to receive from the Government the quantum of land that is

allowed to other persons who were citizens of the Country before the declaration of

Independence;—and, as he wishes to make Texas the home of himself & his posterity, he

further prays your Honl. body that he and his children may be allowed to enjoy the

privileges of Citizenship in this Republic.

And your petitioner, as in duty bound will ever pray &c.

[signed] Saml. McCulloch, Jr.

Matagorda Sept —14th 1857

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I do hereby certify, that I knew Samuel McCulloch in the year 1835 at the time he joined

Capt—Geo—M Collinsworth's company as a volunteer on the 6th or 7th of October of

that year on the Lavacca River & that he was engaged in the attack made by said

Company on the Fort at Goliad on the night of the 9th of said month, to the best of my

recolection, & in the said attack was wounded by the enemy by a gun-shot in the right

shoulder which wound permanently disabled him rendering his right arm useless—I have

known him & seen him occasionally since 1835 up to the present time & beleive that his

wound received at Goliad rendered him forever unfit for active duties—I further certify

that he was the first man who entered the Fort—

[signed] John Duncan

The State of Texas

County of Jackson

}

}

Before me Henry D. Starr

Clerk of the County Court

in & for said County, duly bonded & Commissioned personally came and appeared,

Benjamin J. White, a citizen of said County & State, to me well known and a credible

Witness, who being duly & solemnly sworn deposed & said—Towit:

"I Benjamin J. White being solemnly sworn depose & say, that I am well acquainted

with Samuel McCulloch—And that I knew him when he joined the Company of George

M Collingsworth [sic] in the Service of the Republic of Texas on the 6th or 7th day of

October A.D. 1835 as a volunteer, and I know; that he was engaged in the attack made by

said Company on the Fort at Goliad, on the 9th of October at about 12 oclock at night and

to my Knowledge, he was wounded in said attack by the enemy, by a gun shot in the right

shoulder, which disabled him and rendered his right arm useless, and I was by his side

when he was wounded—and that he is the person he represents himself to be. I also

know, for I have known him personally ever since

[signed] Benj. J. White"

And the said affidavit was signed & sworn to by the witness before me

Witness my hand & the seal of the County Court

this Sept 16th AD 1857

[signed] Henry D. Starr Clerk CCCJ

SOURCE: Petition of Samuel McCulloch Jr. to the Congress of Texas, 23 November

1857, Records of the Legislature, Memorials and Petitions, RG 100, TSL-AD;

Certificate, John Duncan, 14 September 1857, ibid.; Deposition, Benjamin J. White, 16

September 1857, ibid. No act was passed. 1 PAR #11585702.

1. The Committee on Judiciary recommended postponement "on the ground of

inexpediency & unconstitutionality." Earlier, in 1840, Samuel McColloch Jr.; his sisters

Jane, Harriet, and Mahaly; and one other family member obtained an exemption from the

law requiring immigrant free blacks to be sold as slaves. Laws of the Republic of Texas,

Passed at the Session of the Fourth Congress (Houston: Telegraph Power, 1840), 151-53;

Laws of the Republic of Texas, Passed at the Session of the Fifth Congress (Houston:

Telegraph Power, 1841), 4, 5. [Return to intro]

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