Michael Holland of Hanover and Goochland Counties, Virginia (my 7x great grandfather) – Part 2

If you missed Part 1 you can check it out here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2023/06/20/michael-holland-of-hanover-and-goochland-counties-virginia-my-7x-great-grandfather-part-1/ Despite catastrophic records loss in Hanover County, Michael Holland left a sizeable paper trail because he owned acreage in several counties. In all, I found 60 patents, petitions and deeds from 1724-1746 where Michael Holland was a grantee or grantor. I am attaching … Continue reading Michael Holland of Hanover and Goochland Counties, Virginia (my 7x great grandfather) – Part 2 →

Michael Holland of Hanover and Goochland Counties, Virginia (my 7x great grandfather) – Part 1

When my 7x great-grandfather Michael Holland wrote his will in Goochland County, Virginia on 10 October 1746, he made land bequests totaling 6,622 acres to his wife, children and one grandson. His will also names 40 enslaved men, women and children who he divided among his wife and children. There were also other enslaved people … Continue reading Michael Holland of Hanover and Goochland Counties, Virginia (my 7x great grandfather) – Part 1 →

Willie Holland Morris (1876-1897)

There is a gravestone at Jetersville Methodist Church in Amelia for Willie Holland Morris who was the youngest son of my 2x great-grandparents John Rives & Ann Octavia (Vaughan) Morris. Willie was born at Creekland farm near Jetersville where he lived the entirety of his short 20 year life. According to my grandmother Rebecca Blanton … Continue reading Willie Holland Morris (1876-1897) →

Bacon’s Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia – Part 5 – The Aftermath

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 →

“They were kin through the Gills” – my 6x great grandparents John & Elizabeth (—————) Gills of Louisa and Amelia County, Virginia

When I was first starting my family history pursuits as an eleven-year-old, I remember my maternal grandmother telling me that her parents were cousins. She said, “They were kin through the Gills.” I laughed having no idea Gills was a last name. Her parents - my great-grandparents - were second cousins connected through the Gills … Continue reading “They were kin through the Gills” – my 6x great grandparents John & Elizabeth (—————) Gills of Louisa and Amelia County, Virginia →

Lewis Williams (c.1650-c.1679) of Surry County, Virginia

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 →

A Witchcraft Trial at Jamestown: My 10x great-grandparents Thomas and Rebecca (———-) Gray of Jamestown and 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 →

Webster Family of Henrico and Amelia County, Virginia (Part 2): a story of promises made, a marriage, an affair, an out of wedlock child, a disinheritance and the court case that followed

Among the witnesses was Judith Webster who testified that the now deceased Thomas Webster II told her that he was not giving any land to his son-in-law John Gibbs due to his “villainy in debauching a sister of his said wife Mary after their intermarriage.” Thomas Dyer testified that Thomas Webster II did not … Continue reading Webster Family of Henrico and Amelia County, Virginia (Part 2): a story of promises made, a marriage, an affair, an out of wedlock child, a disinheritance and the court case that followed →

Webster Family of Henrico & Amelia County, Virginia Part 1 – Thomas and Rosamond (———-) Webster

My 8x great-grandparents were Thomas and Rosamond (----------) Webster who lived in Henrico County, Virginia. Formed in 1634, Henrico County was one of the eight original shires. According to the Library of Virginia, all Henrico County court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. They note that many records were … Continue reading Webster Family of Henrico & Amelia County, Virginia Part 1 – Thomas and Rosamond (———-) Webster →

A Second Field Trip To Surry County – Visiting Old Castle Cemetery

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 →

A Marriage Proposal on the Eve of the Civil War – And A Vaughan Family Mystery

On 14 February 1861 in Amelia County, Virginia, my 2x great-grandmother, Ann Octavia Vaughan, received a proposal of marriage. Born on 2 February 1844 in Amelia County, Virginia to Augustus and Mary Spencer (Farmer) Vaughan, Ann had just turned 17 years old. Ann’s parents both died when she was just a child – her mother … Continue reading A Marriage Proposal on the Eve of the Civil War – And A Vaughan Family Mystery →

Nicholas Vaughan (my 7x great grandfather)

If you missed my post about Nicholas Vaughan’s father William Vaughan, check it out here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2023/01/18/william-vaughan-c-1625-c-1694/ Nicholas Vaughan was born in Charles City County, Virginia probably during the early 1670s[1], the youngest of seven sons born to William (c.1625 - c.1694) and his wife Sarah (----------) Vaughan (c.1634 – aft. 1694). His father wrote his … Continue reading Nicholas Vaughan (my 7x great grandfather) →

William Vaughan (c. 1625 – c. 1694)

My 8x great-grandfather William Vaughan was the first of my line to arrive in Virginia, first appearing in the records of Charles City County, Virginia on 20 April 1658 when he was granted a nonsuit by the county court in a case against Francis Gray. No details and no outcome are provided.[1] Nothing is known … Continue reading William Vaughan (c. 1625 – c. 1694) →

Family Histories – Family Mysteries #1 – Elizabeth Ann “Eliza” Crocker (c.1817 – d. between 1880-1900)

Elizabeth Ann "Eliza" (Crocker) Edwards is my 3x great-grandmother. She is one of my "brick wall" ancestors.

A Christmas Present to Remember

Today's post is about my 2x great-grandmother's rocking chair, which is a Christmas present to remember for me. Read on and I hope you have the merriest of Christmases.

Letters to Santa Claus

Today's post is about letters to Santa Claus written in 1902 and 1903 from Jetersville, Virginia by my 1st cousin twice removed H. Preston Morris. I hope that you enjoy it and that you and yours have a Merry Christmas!

Minerva Vaughan of Amelia County, Virginia (c.1824-1918)

Today's A Son of Virginia post is about Minerva Vaughan of Amelia County, Virginia. She's been a part of my family history as long as I can remember. Want to know more? Read on and I hope you enjoy it.

Bacon’s Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia – Part 4 (meeting the ancestors – continued) – Arthur Long (c.1642-1677)

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.

Bacon’s Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia – Part 3 (meeting the ancestors – continued)

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.

Bacon’s Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia – Part 2 (meeting the ancestors)

Need to catch up? Click https://wordpress.com/post/asonofvirginia.blog/347 for Part 1! In Part 1, we learned that four of my Surry County ancestors and some of their relatives joined Bacon’s Rebellion, a 1676 uprising in the Virginia colony and that the uprising was unsuccessful. My interest is in why my ancestors were willing to risk not only … Continue reading Bacon’s Rebellion in Surry County, Virginia – Part 2 (meeting the ancestors) →