Virginia focused genealogy and history
Category: Surry County Connections
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
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
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
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
On the 24th of February 1823, Richard Rowell and Francis Holt bound themselves to the James Pleasants, Governor of Virginia in the amount of $150. This was for a marriage bond that reads in part “whereas a marriage is shortly intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound Richard Rowell and Rebecca Holt, … Continue reading Richard IV & Rebecca (Holt) Rowell of Surry County, Virginia – my 3x great grandparents – and their seven sons
My 9x great grandfather Thomas Gwaltney died in late July 1666 in Surry County, Virginia. On 4 September 1666, two people provided testimony at Surry Court about his nuncupative will [spoken in the presence of witnesses]. John Clarke testified that he was at Thomas Gwaltney’s house in late July two days before he died and … Continue reading Thomas Gwaltney of Surry County, Virginia
I don’t remember a time when I was not interested in history. Growing up in Yorktown, Virginia, a part of the Historical Triangle along with Jamestown and Williamsburg, it literally surrounded us. An early colonial Virginia port, Yorktown is principally famous for the October 1781 surrender of Lord Cornwallis to American and French troops that … Continue reading How I became interested in genealogy and family history: Edwards family of Surry County, Virginia
Well, it's getting to look a lot like Christmas around our house. We decided to have an additional tree this year - a Virginia history book tree! The idea came from a friend (thanks Annette) who is a fellow book lover and a regular A Son of Virginia reader who recently posted about a book … Continue reading Happy Holidays from A Son of Virginia
Over an 18-month span from 1746-1747, Surry County, Virginia Court records refer to my 6x great grandfather James Price as a “common profane swearer” and “a wicked dissolute person.” He was also indicted by a grand jury for “living in adultery with Ann Williams.” On 18 November 1747, the Surry County Court found James Price … Continue reading James Price (c.1716 – 1772) of Surry County, Virginia (my 6x great grandfather)
If you missed the earlier posts in this series, you can check them out here: Part 1 - Bacon's Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia Part 2 - meeting the ancestors - Samuel Judkins and Edward Pettway Part 3 - meeting the ancestors - Samuel Plaw Part 4 - meeting the ancestors - Arthur Long In … Continue reading Bacon’s Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia – Part 5 – The Aftermath
My 8x great-grandfather Lewis Williams first appears in Surry County, Virginia in 1673 as a tithable on a list taken by Robert Caufield for Lawnes Creek Parish.[1] Tithing on just himself, Lewis Williams was a free man. He was also listed on the 1674 and 1675 tithable lists tithing on only himself meaning he had … Continue reading Lewis Williams (c.1650-c.1679) of Surry County, Virginia
On 21 September 1626 at Jamestown, my 10x great-grandmother Rebecca Gray, testified in the witchcraft trial of Joan Wright. She testified that “Goodwife Wright told her she should bury her husband.” This meant Wright predicted the death of Rebecca Gray’s husband Thomas Gray, which fortunately for me did not come true! Rebecca Gray further testified about … Continue reading A Witchcraft Trial at Jamestown: My 10x great-grandparents Thomas and Rebecca (———-) Gray of Jamestown and Surry County, Virginia
Last Sunday I got the chance to wonder through the woods in Surry County, Virginia and visit Old Castle Cemetery, which is the family cemetery of my 3x great grandparents William Holt Berryman[1] (1800-1857) and Sarah Honeycutt (Judkins) Berryman (1815-1901). They are among the 12 people interred there with gravestones. There are other folks interred … Continue reading A Second Field Trip To Surry County – Visiting Old Castle Cemetery
Elizabeth Ann "Eliza" (Crocker) Edwards is my 3x great-grandmother. She is one of my "brick wall" ancestors.
Today's post is Part 4 - Bacon's Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia (meeting the ancestors continued) - Arthur Long (c.1642-1677). Read on to learn more about my rebellious 9x great grandfather.
Today's post is about my 7x great grandfather Samuel Plaw of Surry County, VA who joined Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. In addition to getting to know Samuel Plaw, learn how relying on an abstract of a record rather than the original can lead to genealogical errors.
At a Court held for Surry County on July 4th, 1677[1], my 9x great-grandfather Arthur Long appeared in open court on his knees with a rope around his neck and made the following submission: I Arthur Long, that all bystanders may take notice of my this my sincere Repentance of my Rebellion, to here most … Continue reading Bacon’s Rebellion in Surry County, VA – Part 1
Today's post is about my ancestors Randall Holt and Mary Bayly who were both in Jamestown by 1620. It's also how I am own 9th cousin - once removed. Read on to learn more.
Today's post is about my great aunt Helen Wilson Rowell and how I used her birth and death certificates to learn about family history as well as genealogy. I hope you enjoy it.
On 26 August 1782, my 5x great-grandfather Richard Rowell II went to Surry County Court and "being fully persuaded that Freedom is the Natural Right of All Mankind" freed sixteen enslaved men, women and children. Check out my latest blog post and find out what happened. Hope you enjoy it!
A Son of Virginia 