Tag: Jetersville

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) →

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 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 →

My Blanton Family Roots – Thomas Blanton (c.1650-1697/8)

My great grandmother Annie May (Blanton) Morris (1884-1977) is my gateway to the Blanton family. According to my grandmother she knew a lot about family history. She died when I was 13 years old, but her memory left her before I was old enough to connect with her in that way. We called her “Big … Continue reading My Blanton Family Roots – Thomas Blanton (c.1650-1697/8) →

Happy Holidays from A Son of 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 →

The Truly family of Amelia County, Virginia

My 6x great grandparents Hector and Sarah (Holt) Truly’s arrived in Amelia County in 1743.[1] Truly was then – and is now – an unusual surname. The American Dictionary of American Family Names states that the surname is “probably English, perhaps a variant of Truelove.”[2] The given name Hector is also unique in my family … Continue reading The Truly family of Amelia County, Virginia →

History of Jeter’s Mill – Amelia County, Virginia

I have an old copy of A. R. Hudgins History of Amelia County published in 1965, which includes the following information about Robert Vaughan I [my 6x great grandfather] and Jeter’s Mill: “In 1740 Robert Vaughan [my 6x great-grandfather] was granted 800 acres of land on the lower side of Flatt Creek. (When a … Continue reading History of Jeter’s Mill – Amelia County, Virginia →

Thomas Atkinson of Essex County and Amelia County, Virginia – my 6x great grandfather

My first known Atkinson ancestor was my 8x great grandfather Charles1 Atkinson of Essex County, Virginia (c.1665-c.1702) who was covered in an earlier blog post you can check out here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2022/08/24/charles-atkinson-c-1665-c-1702-of-old-rappahannock-and-essex-county-virginia/. Charles1 and Ann (Copeland) Atkinson left four children including Charles2 (c.1695-1761), Nicholas2 (c.1697-1773), John2 (c.1699-1478) and Mary2 (c. 1701- ). My 6x great grandfather … Continue reading Thomas Atkinson of Essex County and Amelia County, Virginia – my 6x great grandfather →

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) →

“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 →

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 →

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) →

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.

John Rives Morris (1840-1904) – Part 2

I introduced my 2x great grandfather John Rives Morris in an earlier post concerning his unusual death in Amelia County, Virginia, a murder in California, and rumors of his mental illness. Need to catch up? Click here! This post focuses his early life and offers some insight into his later difficulties. Born into a … Continue reading John Rives Morris (1840-1904) – Part 2 →

Uncle Gus’s Watermelon

A friend asked me recently if I ran into funny articles when searching old newspapers. Well, I run into all sorts of articles – some funny, some interesting and some really tragic. I will share some of each as I am moved to do, but today I’ll share one I find amusing. While articles I … Continue reading Uncle Gus’s Watermelon →

A May-December Romance (and a June wedding) in Jetersville, VA

On June 20, 1901, my great-grandparents were married at Jetersville in Amelia County, Virginia. Their marriage record lists them as J. Stewart Morris (called Stewart) age 29 born 1872 and Anna May Blanton (called Annie May) age 17 born 1884. Interestingly, both of them fibbed about their ages. Stewart Morris was born on 25 October … Continue reading A May-December Romance (and a June wedding) in Jetersville, VA →