Hello, A Son of Virginia readers, Today's post is Part 1 of a story about an 1851 elopement and the family feud that followed. Trying a new format: much shorter than my normal posts and breaking into multiple parts. I hope that you enjoy it.
Author: Steve Craig
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied, Part 2: The Notorious George Jones
Hello, A Son of Virginia readers, here is part 2 of our Justice Delayed series - The Notorious George Jones. Have we uncovered an Underground Railroad conductor working out of Richmond? What do you think?
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied, Part 1: Essex and Sall . . . and Their Increase
In March 1851, a jury in Cumberland County ruled that three men—Sam, John, and George—were entitled to freedom as stipulated in Osborne Jones' 1820 will, which had been ignored for over two decades. Awarded one cent each for their unlawful bondage, their story reflects systemic legal neglect and local hostility towards emancipation.
Exploring the Life of Henry Eisenbeis (1826-1902): From Bavaria to Kentucky (my 3x great grandfather)
My wife and I were in Louisville, Kentucky recently with friends. While we were there, we had the opportunity to visit Cave Hill Cemetery to pay our respects to several of my ancestors who are interred there. Regular A Son of Virginia readers will recall that I have some Kentucky roots as my mother, maternal … Continue reading Exploring the Life of Henry Eisenbeis (1826-1902): From Bavaria to Kentucky (my 3x great grandfather)
My Blanton Family Roots Part 4: Sorting out Richard Blantons
If you missed my earlier posts about My Blanton Family Roots check them out here: My 7x great grandfather Thomas Blanton I of Old Rappahannock County and Essex County, Virginia: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/01/22/my-blanton-family-roots/ Thomas Blanton II and John Blanton see My Blanton Family Roots - Part 2 – The Second Generation here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2025/04/07/my-blanton-family-root-part-2-the-second-generation/. Richard Blanton I of … Continue reading My Blanton Family Roots Part 4: Sorting out Richard Blantons
An Aunt with a Conscience Leads to a New Branch on My Family Tree: Richard Gray of Surry County
Virginia Chancery Court records are an invaluable resource for genealogists. But once in a while, they do more than confirm dates — they unlock secrets. That’s exactly what happened when I stumbled upon an 1805 court case involving the family of my 7x great-grandfather Richard Gray of Lawnes Creek Parish in Surry County, Virginia. A … Continue reading An Aunt with a Conscience Leads to a New Branch on My Family Tree: Richard Gray of Surry County
An Antebellum Education in Surry County, Virginia: Nathanial Randolph Berryman (1805-1878) and Eliza Ridley Williams (1822-1899) – my 3x great grandparents
Nathaniel Randolph Berryman was born about 1805 in Surry County, Virginia, a son of Joseph Berryman (1774-1819) and Keziah (Holt) Berryman (1776-1830). Eliza Ridley Williams was born in Surry County on 10 May 1822, a daughter of John M Wiliams (c.1785-1850) and Mary Thomas.(c.1787-c.1842). Despite a 17 year age gap, John M Williams gave his … Continue reading An Antebellum Education in Surry County, Virginia: Nathanial Randolph Berryman (1805-1878) and Eliza Ridley Williams (1822-1899) – my 3x great grandparents
The Life of my 7x great grandfather John Hatchett: An Indentured Servant in Virginia
On 1 April 1685, my 7x great grandfather John Hatchett entered the Virginia record when he appeared before a Henrico County Court: “John Hatchett a servant boy belonging to Jno Farley being by him brought before the Wor[shipful] Court is adjudged ten years of age.”[1] Henrico County court record dated 1 April 1685 where John … Continue reading The Life of my 7x great grandfather John Hatchett: An Indentured Servant in Virginia
My Blanton Family Roots – Part 3 – The Second Generation (2nd installment): Richard Blanton I of Spotsylvania County, Virginia (c.1688-c.1734) – my 6x great grandfather
If you missed my earlier post My Blanton Family Roots, which is about my 7x great grandfather Thomas Blanton I of Old Rappahannock County and Essex County, Virginia, you can check it out here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/01/22/my-blanton-family-roots/ For sons Thomas Blanton II and John Blanton see My Blanton Family Roots - Part 2 – The Second Generation … Continue reading My Blanton Family Roots – Part 3 – The Second Generation (2nd installment): Richard Blanton I of Spotsylvania County, Virginia (c.1688-c.1734) – my 6x great grandfather
My Blanton Family Roots – Part 2 – The Second Generation
If you missed my earlier post My Blanton Family Roots, which is about my 7x great grandfather Thomas Blanton of Old Rappahannock County and Essex County, Virginia, you can check it out here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/01/22/my-blanton-family-roots/ Thomas1 Blanton left a widow and six children when he died in 1697/8, none of whom had reached adulthood thus all … Continue reading My Blanton Family Roots – Part 2 – The Second Generation
Bad Behavior In Surry County: Margaret (——–) Cooper Hodge Hunnicutt (c.1655-1718) of Surry County, Virginia – my 8x great grandmother
Researching one’s early Colonial Virginia ancestors tends to focus on the men who dominate the records kept not for us researchers, but for them to conduct the business of the day. Sometimes we get lucky and learn more about a female ancestor. Such is the case with my 8x great grandmother Margaret (------------) Cooper Hodge … Continue reading Bad Behavior In Surry County: Margaret (——–) Cooper Hodge Hunnicutt (c.1655-1718) of Surry County, Virginia – my 8x great grandmother
Defending a Daughter’s Honor: Rodophil Jeter of Amelia County, Virginia – my 5x great grandfather (with a surprise ending for Jeter, Ligon and Ford researchers)
On 1 October 1803, the Virginia Argus newspaper ran the following communication sent by my 5x great grandfather Rodophil Jeter of Amelia County which began, “An attempt having been made by Nancy Ford to injure the reputation of my daughter Elizabeth, by a false and slanderous report, it became my duty to have recourse of … Continue reading Defending a Daughter’s Honor: Rodophil Jeter of Amelia County, Virginia – my 5x great grandfather (with a surprise ending for Jeter, Ligon and Ford researchers)
Jones Family of Slate River, Buckingham County, Virginia – Part 3 (the Falling River Joneses)
If you missed parts 1 & 2 you can check them out here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/11/20/the-jones-family-of-slate-river-buckingham-county-virginia-part-1/ https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/12/11/jones-family-of-slate-river-buckingham-county-virginia-part-2/ In parts 1 & 2, we built the Slate River Joneses family tree above, which begins with my 7x great grandfather Thomas Jones (c.1690-c.1768) by using land grants, deeds, property tax records and a lawsuit. We also established Thomas Jones … Continue reading Jones Family of Slate River, Buckingham County, Virginia – Part 3 (the Falling River Joneses)
Jones Family of Slate River, Buckingham County, Virginia – Part 2
If you missed part 1 you can check it out here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/11/20/the-jones-family-of-slate-river-buckingham-county-virginia-part-1/ In Part 1 , we examined an 1803 Buckingham County deed and a 1793-1799 Prince Edward County District Court case file that provided proof of kinship and a significant amount of family history for the Joneses of Slate River in Buckingham County, Virginia. … Continue reading Jones Family of Slate River, Buckingham County, Virginia – Part 2
The Jones Family of Slate River, Buckingham County, Virginia – Part 1
My connection to the Joneses is through my 5x great grandmother Martha (Jones) Walker Holland (c.1755-c.1821). She married (1) Capt. Henry Walker who was killed in 1779 at the Battle of Stono Ferry in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War and (2) Capt. Richard “Dick” Holland (c.1750-c.1803). By her first husband she had two children … Continue reading The Jones Family of Slate River, Buckingham County, Virginia – Part 1
Brothers Robert Vaughan and Abraham Vaughan – French and Indian War Interpreters and Guides
In 1757, my 6x great-grandfather Robert Vaughan I (c.1710-c.1779) and his brother Abraham Vaughan (1721-c.1795) served as interpreters and guides during the French & Indian War (1754-1763). Both men were sons of Nicholas and Ann (----------) Vaughan of Prince George County, Virginia. In 1757, Robert Vaughan was living in Amelia County having settled there by … Continue reading Brothers Robert Vaughan and Abraham Vaughan – French and Indian War Interpreters and Guides
Robert III (c. 1770 – c. 1819) and Sarah (Truly) Craddock Vaughan (c.1770-1839) of Amelia County, Virginia
Robert Vaughan III (c.1770-c.1819) was born in Nottoway Parish, Amelia County, Virginia [1] to Robert II and Elsie (Motley) Vaughan. You can read about Robert Vaughan II here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/08/11/robert-vaughan-ii-c-1736-c-1805-of-amelia-and-nottoway-counties-virginia/ In 1800, Robert Vaughan II bequeathed Robert Vaughan III a 484 acre tract in Henrico County, which Robert III sold in 1802 never having lived there.[2] … Continue reading Robert III (c. 1770 – c. 1819) and Sarah (Truly) Craddock Vaughan (c.1770-1839) of Amelia County, Virginia
![Robert Vaughan II [c.1736-c.1805] of Amelia and Nottoway Counties, Virginia](https://asonofvirginia.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/june1780.jpg?w=624&h=172&crop=1)
Robert Vaughan II [c.1736-c.1805] of Amelia and Nottoway Counties, Virginia
On 22 April 1756, Robert & Martha (----------) Vaughan gifted their son Robert Vaughan, Jr., 200 acres of land on the lower side of Flat Creek for the “natural love and affection they bear unto thee the said son.” The deed mentions that the tract crossed Vaughan’s Creek [formerly Frank’s Creek] below Robert Vaughan’s plantation … Continue reading Robert Vaughan II [c.1736-c.1805] of Amelia and Nottoway Counties, Virginia
Robert Vaughan I (c. 1710-c.1779) of Amelia County, Virginia – my 6x great grandfather
On 24 March 1740, for £4 of “good and lawful money” my 6x great grandfather Robert Vaughan I received a grant for 800 acres described as “lying and being in the County of Amelia on the lower side of Flatt Creek.” The bounds are given as “Beginning at his lower corner Poplar on said Creek … Continue reading Robert Vaughan I (c. 1710-c.1779) of Amelia County, Virginia – my 6x great grandfather
A Call to Arms – the Rowell Brothers of Surry County, Virginia
This c. 1900 photograph was given to me by my paternal grandmother Marian Berryman (Rowell) Craig (1914-1979). Of the many family photographs I have been fortunate to acquire, this is one of my favorites. The seated couple are my 2x great grandparents Patrick Henry “Pat” Rowell (1834-1916) and Sarah Judkins “Sallie” (Berryman) Seward Rowell (1844-1933). … Continue reading A Call to Arms – the Rowell Brothers of Surry County, Virginia
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