PERSON ____________________________________________________________ This information graciously contributed by Joe George: jgeorge@northcoast.com You can return to the main table of contents for this Person family document by going to the books section of the Ark. USGW archives. You can also get a full copy of the document by contacting Joe. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. ____________________________________________________________ This work on the Person family is a genealogy based solely on the branch of descendents of John Person (circa 1630-1707) who came from England to the Virginia colony as early as 1648. A relative who did research on the Person family in England states that an adequate study of this family would require an entire volume, but it may be mentioned that its members flourished in Somerset and later removed to the adjoining County of Gloucester. During the Colonial Period, the status or profession of an individual was designated immediately following his name in a legal document. The only profession found for John Person was 'gentleman' and 'planter.' The word 'gentleman' in document of that period was not a term of politeness but indicated instead that the individual belonged to an Armorial family. The Person coat-of-arms was granted by Queen Elizabeth shortly after the defeat of the Spanish Armada and is that of the Gloucestershire family. It is recorded at the College of Arms and is described as follows: Arms: Argent two Chevrons sable on a canton of the second an eagle displayed of the first Crest: Out of a ducal Coronet or an Ostrich's head and neck sable between two feathers Argent. John Person of England settled in the Isle of Wight County, Virginia, about 1648 and in the year of 1658 married Francis Cooke b 1640. John Person, Jr. was born in 1660 which was the beginning of the family in the New Country. The Person family is one of long standing and usefulness in the development of North Carolina as well as her sister state, Virginia. Probably no other family can boast of a more royal service to their state and country. They have willingly given their all in the betterment of their country on down through the ages as their records, names and deed lie carved in the annals of history. The career of General Thomas Person (circa 1733-1800) of North Carolina was one of such prominence, variety and length that only the briefest summary will be mentioned. The Colonial and State Records of Sorth Carolina alone, for example, contain more than 1,300 references to him and almost any history of North Carolina containing much detail about the eighteenth century tells something of General Thomas Person. He donated $50,000 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at which Person Hall, an art department, was named for him and also Person County was formed in 1791. Two streets bear his name. One is in Raleigh, North Carolina and one is in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Person County Memorial Hospital is in Roxboro, North Carolina. Near Capron in Southampton County in Virginia there is a small church building (Methodist) and a cemetery named for the Person family. The book called Person's Lineage by George Fuller Walker contains 3700 different names and all are descendents of John and Francis Cooke Person. Numbers of other Person descendants are not mentioned in the book The following article was taken from a newspaper account of a Person family reunion held in Garysburg, North Carolina in 1936: "An interesting event of late was the birthday party and joint reunion of the Person family held in the home of Mrs. Mollie Person Moore at Garysburg, North Carolina last Friday. Mrs. Moore celebrated her ninety-first birthday by keeping open house and receiving her friends and relatives. Despite her advanced age, she is still alert and has a keen sense of humor as well as a bright mind and cheerful spirit. She presided with her usual grace and charm of manner and everyone calling could readily feel descended upon them the old charm and courtliness of an anti-bellum lady emphasizing the gracious hospitality of a once proud southern house as only a woman of her cloth could portray. In her room on a flower-banked table was a huge birthday cake bearing her initials and bedecked with ninety one candles. The Person from which Mrs. Moore is descended is one of long standing and usefulness in the development of North Carolina as well as her sister state. Virginia. She was born on July 31, 1845 on the old Person plantation in Northhampton County, North Carolina the daughter of the late Dr. Benjamin and Mrs. Sarah P. Person. She later moved to Garysburg, North Carolina where her father was a practicing physician. She attended the old Female Seminary in Murfreesboro, North Carolina and later, the Davis School of Music and Culture in Petersburg, Virginia. She married on October 12, l864 the Hon, James W. Blount, a member of an old and prominent Virginia family. He died at Petersburg just before the close of the War between the States, bravely defending his country and its cause, his young bride awaited his untimely return. She married secondly Captain W. W. Moore on January 17, 1884. He died many years ago and since that time she has resided in Garysburg, North Carolina at the old home of her uncle's, the late General Thomas J. Person, prominent Attorney and State Senator. This old home was once one of the show places of Northampton County, North Carolina boasting of one of the most beautiful gardens in the state. It is interesting to hear Mrs. Moore relate her stories of how carriages would drive down from Raleigh, Richmond, and even Washington city to see the beautiful gardens and carry back with them baskets of rare black and green roses. Much entertaining was done here before the War between the States and during the war, breastworks were thrown up around the house for its protection. It was here that General Matt. W. Ranson, noted warrior of Confederate fame, and at his death the largest landowner in the state of North Carolina, lavishly entertained celebrities while Ambassador to Mexico. Now, like everything else of the past there looms instead of a once well kept mansion house, just an old home bravely trying to defend itself against the ravages of time and fortune. Mrs. Moore is the granddaughter of the Hen. John Randolph and Rebecca Peebles Person, great granddaughter of General William and Martha Eaton Person of Granville, North Carolina, great great granddaughter of General William Person who served in the French and Indian War and great great great great granddaughter of Hen. John Person who settled in the Isle of Wight County, Virginia in 1639. Hon. John Person who settled on the Meherrin river in Southampton County, Virginia was a brother of General William Person of the French and Indian War fame. She is the great great niece of Mary Ann Person who married Major Little. The town of Littleton, North Carolina was named in honor of their son, William Person Little, who was the favorite and principal heir of his uncle General Thomas Person of Goshen who served in the Revolutionary War and for whom the Person County of North Carolina was named. The county was formed in 1791. She is also a cousin of the late Judge Willie Person Mangum of Orange, North Carolina who ran against Martin Van Buren in 1836 for President of the United States and was defeated. Probably no other family in North Carolina can boast of a more royal service to their state and country than the Person Family. They have willingly given their all in the betterment of their country on down through the ages as their records, names and deed lie carved in the annals of history." Judge Willie Person Mangum who ran for President in 1836 was a States righter because the eleven electoral votes he got all came from South Carolina. At that time South Carolina was threatening to secede from the Union because of the imposition of high tariffs. The American Pagent, A History of the Republic by Thomas A. Bailey (1961) shows Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, winning with 762,678 popular votes and 170 electoral votes while William H. Harrison, a Whig, had only 73 electoral votes. Hugh L.White, a Whig, had only 26 electorial votes. Daniel Webster, a Whig, had only 14 votes and Willie P. Mangum, a Whig, had only 11 electorial votes. All of Whig candidates added together in popular votes amouted to 736,656 against Van Buren's 762,678. TRUMAN STRECKFUS PERSON ( Truman Capote) Truman Streckfus Person was born September 30, 1924 in New Orleans. He was the son of Agustus and Lillie Faulk Person. His parents separated after eight years of marriage. Lillie married Joseph Garcia Capote of New York and Truman was adopted by his stepfather and assumed the name Truman Capote. He is the author of several novels, one in particular is "In Cold Blood." In 1948 he won the 0. Henry Memorial Award for the best short story of the year. PERSON'S LINEAGE I JOHN PERSON (circa 1630-1707) sailed from England to Virginia and settled in the Isle of Wight County by 1648. He bought land near the Blackwater river. He must have been a neighbor of William and Mary (Miles) Cooke because in 1658 he married their daughter, Francis Cooke (b 1640 d 1721). John and Francis (Cooke) Person were the parents of one child, John Person, Jr. b 1660. II JOHN PERSON, JR. (circa 1660-1738) lived in the Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He was the son of John and Francis (Cooke) Person. His grandparents Cooke gave him a tract of land on Blackwater river. He also owned land near the Meherrin river. English records show his ancestors were members of the Church of England, yet the Quaker records give the following record of his marriage in 1692 to Mary Partridge (b 1670 d 1721) of Surry County. His second wife was Sarah. He had issue: 1 John Person III 1693 2 Thomas Person 1695 3 Francis Person 1697 4 Joseph Person 5 William Person 1700 6 Benjamin Person 1702 7 Samuel Person 1704 8 Jacob Person 9 Mary Person 10 Elizabeth Person III JOHN PERSONS III (circa 1693-1752) was the son of John and Mary Partridge Person. He owned land in Isle of Wight County near the Meherrin river. He owned numerous plantations in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In 1741 he was Sheriff of Isle of Wight County. In 1749 he was one of the first justices of Southampton County. His wife was Anne. They had issue: 1 John Person, IV 2 Priscilla Person 3 Henry Person 4 William Person 5 Hannah Person 6 Sarah Person 7 Mary Person 8 Rebecca Person 9 Elizabeth Person 10 Thomas Person IV WILLIAM PERSON (circa 1721-1768) was the son of John III and Anne Person. He married Mary Day Ridley. He owned land in Southampton County, Virginia and North Carolina. They had issue: 1 John Person 2 Anthony Person 3 William Person V ANTHONY PERSON (circa 1748-1798) was the son of William, and Mary Day Ridley Person. Married Elizabeth Brown. He died in 1798 just before his son, John Anthony, was born. His will mentions an unborn child. VI JOHN ANTHONY PERSON (circa 1798-1863) was the son of Anthony and Elizabeth Brown Person. In 1799 John Person died, willing his plantation to his nephew John Anthony Person, a minor, The plantation was near Emporia, Virginia (Greensville County). He married 5 times: 1 married Mary Peoples (2 children, one was James Henry Person b 1819 d 1867) 2 married Harris (1 child died) 3 married Newsoms ( Junius Randolph Person is a descendent) 4 married Mary Matthews (4 children, Laura Person b 1847, Walter Person b 1849, Sarah Person and Peter Person). 5 married Dortha Matthew (no children) VII JAMES HENRY PERSON (b l8l9 d 1867) (The family history appears on another page of this book) VIII JUNIUS RANDOLPH PERSON married Anne Eliza Francis They had issue A10 John Ashby Person m Sally (2 children) A11 Sally Person m Hodge (4 children) A12 Annie Person (single) A13 Eva Person m Rawls (5 children) m Roe Ellis (3 children) A14 Edward Jackson Person m Mary Elizabeth Murfee (7 children) A15 William Thomas Person b 1878 d 1953 m Annie Laura Bracey (7 children) A16 Walter C. Person m Elsie Ellis (4 children) IX PETER PERSON married Ada Pete They had issue A17 Arline Person (1 child) A18 John Peter Person (Tom Pete) A19 Emma Person A20 Ximena Person (5 children) A21 May Person m Moore (1 child) A14 Edward J. Person m Mary Elizabeth Murfee They had issue B34 Myrtle Person b 1905 m Gibson Sykes (3 children) B35 John Randolph Person m ? (2 children) B36 Mary Elizabeth Person B37 Lily Augusta Person m F. B. Lifsey (4 children) B38 James Edward Person m ? (2 children) B39 George Jackson Person m ? (3 children) B40 William Walter Person m ? (2 children) A15 William Thomas Person (b l878 d 1953) m Annie Laura Bracey They had issue B41 Laura Francis Person b 1907 m Judge John Picot B42 Mildred Person b 1909 m Charles Mosley (3 children) B43 Daphne Person b 1911 m Plummer Pitts (2 children) B44 Vivian Person b 1913 m Herbert Foster (5 children) B45 Junius W. Person b 1915 m Mabel Macomber (3 children) B46 Anne Randolph Person b 1919 m Douglas Allison (2 children) B47 Virginia Person b 1925 d 1935 B34 Myrtle Person b 1905 m Gibson Sykes They had issue C Wartha Sykes C Masstta Sykes C Daughter B45 Junius W. Person b 1915 m Mabel Macomber They had issue C Loretta Jean Person b 1945 C Constance Person b 1947 C Walter Francis Person b 1955 X Walter "Bud" Person (son of John Anthony Person) m Bettie Norma Claud They had issue A22 Fannie Person A23 Gertie Person A24 Joe Person A25 Carrie Person A26 Lillian Person A27 John Person A28 Lizzie Person A16 Walter C. Person (son of Junius R. Person) m Elsie Ellis They had issue B48 Edna Person m Fenton Lowe B49 Walter G. Person killed in World War 11 B50 Laura Person m Henry Ferrer B51 Maurice Person A VIRGINIA LAND DESCRIPTION The plantation willed by John Person to his nephew, John Anthony Person, is located just east of the Meherrin river about halfway between Branchville and Emporia, Virginia. It was probably a part of the third land grant to John Person II by King George for "resettling" the Saponi Indians at Christiana and was part of the land where the Saponi had lived. The land is rich sandy loam, the best land for growing peanuts. Cotton and corn are grown there also. The old house was about 1/4 mile back from the road with a lane leading to it. It had a large fenced area around it where horses and sheep grazed, a creek ran between the house and the stables and hen house, and the apple orchard was in back of the stables. The house was two-story, facing south, with a one-story ell to the rear which was the dining room and kitchen and a large porch where they ate in the summer. There was a large center hall which served as a sitting room. It had a fireplace and a ghost. The members of the family told of a fire suddenly appearing and disappearing in the fireplace and balls of light dancing Around the room unexpectedly. To the east of the kitchen was a fine well of water and to the west was a fenced area where the hogs came up from the low ground at feeding time. Through the orchard and across a ten-acre field was the low ground and river where they hunted squirrels and fished for catfish and eels. Chinkapins also grew in the low ground. The description of this plantation was given to me by Junius W. Person, a great grandson of John Anthony Person. James Henry Person b March 7, l819 d April 20, 1867 m August 25, 1842 Ann Elizabeth Darden b July 4, l825 d December 20, 1867. They had issue A1 Minott Alfred Person b 1943 A2 Bertha Ann Person b 1845 d 1934 A3 John Carr Person. b 1847 d 1906 A4 Emma Blanche Person b 1850 d 1555 A5 James Richard Person b 1852 d 1853 A6 Edward Randolph Person b 1855 d 1946 A7 Mary Lucy Person b 1857 A8 Adelaide Darden Person b 1860 d 1940 (lived in Branchville) A9 James Herbert Person b l862 A1 Minott Alfred Person b September 10, 1843 died as an infant. A2 Bertha Ann Person b December 17, 1845 d February 17, 1934 m in 1877 J. S. Gilliam b February 17, 1843 d April 23, 1915 They had issue B1 Rose Ann Gilliam b 1878 B2 Richard Thomas Gilliam b 1850 d 1905 B3 Charlotte Turner Gilliam b 1882 B4 Caroline Bertha Gilliam b 1855 d 1939 B1 Rose Ann Gilliam b February 27, 1878 m November 21, 1900 Dr. Fenton D. Drewry b ?d October 18, 1916 (no issue) B2 Richard Thomas Gilliam b September 16, 1880 d May 16, 1905 (no issue) B3 Charlotte Turner Gilliam b September 27, 1882 m 1912 Dr. Charles L. DeVany b ? d August 23, 1939 They had issue C1 Margaret DeVany b 1914 C2 Charlotte Ann DeVany b 1917 d 1943 B4 Caroline Bertha Gilliam b October 13, 1885 d April 20, 1959 m John Vaughn b ? died 1950 They had issue C3 Richard Thomas Vaughn C4 Fenton Drewry Vaughn C1 Margaret DeVany b May 2, 1914 m July 16, 1938 Samuel Byrd Winstead of Roxsboro, North Carolina d June 1, 1965 They had issue D1 Charlotte Winstead m Prof. Dunlap D2 Charles Leigh Winstead D3 Byrd Winstead D4 Fenton Devany Winstead C2 Charlotte Ann DeVany b June 5, 1917 d August 29, 1943 (single) C3 Richard Thomas Vaughn m He had issue D5 Daughter D6 Daughter D7 Daughter C4 Fenton Drewry Vaughn m he had issue D8 Fenton Vaughn, Jr. b 1945 d 1965 D9 Son Vaughn b 1950 A3 John Carr Person b April 29, 1847 d 1906 m North Carolina resident (no issue) A4 Emma Blanche Person b March 1, 1830 d December 9, 1855 (no issue) A5 James Richard Person b June 23, 1852 d December 10, 1853 (no issue) A6 Edward Randolph Person b January 15, 1855 d February 26, 1946 m Jan, 28, 1832. Jennie Bell Smith b January 17, 1864 d April 12, 1933 They had issue B5 Anna Mae Person b 1832 d 1883 B6 Rueben Edward Person b 1884 d 1959 B7 Maude Bell Person b 1885 d 1887 B8 John Andrew Person b 1887 d 1962 B9 Hattie Henrietta Person b 1889 d l898 B10 Adelaide Darden Person b 1891 d 1966 B11 Eathel Virginia Person b 1892 d 1922 B12 James J. Person b 1894 d 1897 B13 Herbert A. Person b 1896 d 1968 B14 Joseph Simmons Person b 1898 B5 Anna Mae Person b December 31, 1882 d April 10, 1883 (no issue) B6 Rueben Edward Person b April 14, 1884 d July 10, 1959 m November 23, 1918 Mattie Richards b 1890 d 1983 He later married on April 20, 1929 Ruby Rainey Gilley b 1901 (no issue) B7 Maude Bell Person b December 29, 1885 d May 25, 1887 (no issue) B8 John Andrew Person b September 30, 1887 d February 2, 1962 m September 1, 1907 Bertha Mae Armour b February 17, 1891 d May 18, 1959 They had issue C5 James Edward Person b 1908 C6 Lola Virginia Person b 1911 C7 Orra Adelaide Person b 1914 C8 Clarence Herbert Person b 1916 C9 John Raymond Person b 1917 C10 Esmond Lucille Person b 1922 C11 Johnie Mae Person b 1927 B9 Hattie Henrietta Person b May 24, 1889 d October 31, 1898 (no issue) B10 Adelaide Darden Person b January 19, 1891 d January 20, 1965 m November 19, l913 Virgil Duke b 1891 d 1940. Adelaide later married on July 30, 1917 Morris S. Hignight b 1884 d 1956 They had issue: C12 Dixie Lee Hignight b 1919 d 1919 C13 Mary Jo Hignight b 1928 d 1928 B11 Eathel Virginia Person b December 13, 1892 d June 14, 1922 m July 31, 1921 James Walter McPherson b 1893 d July 12, 1951 (no issue) B12 James J. Person b September 18, 1894 d April 5, 1897 B13 Herbert A. Person b October 24, 1896 d September 10, 1966 m January 6, 1917 Ethel Eudora Armstead b January 29, 1894 They had issue C14 Herbert Weal Person b 1921 C15 Edith Louise Person b 1923 C18 Hazel Glee Person b 1926 B14 Joseph S. Person b May 8, 1838 m January 6, 1917 Almedia Victoria Beavers b December 8, 1893 They had issue C17 Joseph Pate Person, Jr b 1918 C5 James Edward Person b July 26. 1908 m January 27, 1930 Eathel Chism b 1909 They had issue D10 James Edward Person, Jr. b October 24, 1930 James Sr. later married June 25, 1934 Floy Marie Furr b July 2, 1911 (no issue) C6 Lola Virginia Person b April 30, 1911 m April 12, 1938 Walter Cooper b December 3, 1881 (no issue) C7 Orra Adelaide Person b July 12, 1914 m July 2, 1936 Hollis Jackson Ragsdale b January 1, 1914 They had issue D11 Diane Lynn Ragsdale b January 11, 1945 D12 Larry Person Ragsdale b November 30, 1946 C8 Clarence Herbert Person b January 15, 1916 m July 7, 1934 Ola Marie Grimes b October 5, 1917 They had issue D13 Phoeba Ann Person b July 28, 1935 Clarence later married on October 29, 1949 Marjorie Knuckles C9 John Raymond Person b December 27, 1917 m September 25, 1937 Nina Elaine Bullard b December 9, 1913 They had issue D14 Carol Jean Person b October 24, 1938 Raymond later married in 1949 Lois Freeman They had issue D15 Peggy Sue Person b April 19, 1950 He later married in 1965 Helen Curtis Black C10 Esmond Lucille Person b March 20, 1922 m March 1, 1941 Opie Reid Tucker b December 26, 1913 They had issue D15 Jenny Belle Tucker b August 15, 1942 D17 Wallace Reid Tucker b October 7, 1945 C11 Johnie Mae Person b October 20, 1927 m October 22, 1953 Faye Wendell Ferris b February 24, 1924 They had issue D18 John David Ferris b September 15, 1958 D19 Patricia Ann Ferris b March 15, 1961 C12 Dixie Lee Hignight b August 15, 1919 d August 18, 1919 C13 Mary Jo Hignight b May 6, 1928 d May 8, 1928 C14 Herbert Neal Person b February 18, 1921 m March 8, 1941 Louise Lynch b May 20, 1923 They had issue D20 Carolyn Annette Person b December 25, 1942 D21 Mary Adelaide Person b August 6, 1947 D22 Sandra Louise Person b March 3, 1949 D23 Herbert Edward Person b May 15, 1952 D24 Vicky Eudora Person b March 2, 1956 D25 Jerald Neal Person b November 8, 1960 D26 Talma Kay Person b December 9, 1961 C15 Edith Louise Person b October 29, 1923 m Mary 26, 1943 Miles Buel Turner b January 17, 1907 C16 Hazel Glee Person b August 24, 1926 m March 7, 1946 R. G. Russell They had issue D27 Dixie Lee Russell b May 3, 1947 D28 Rita Mae Russell b February 2, 1949 D29 Kathy Janise Russell b March 12, 1960 D30 Lois Eudora Russell b March 22, 1962 C17 Joseph Pate Person, Jr. b January 16, 1918 m January 10, 1944 Elsie Butler b August 9, 1924 They had issue D31 Jo Ann Person b January 24, 1945 Had Malissa and Melany D32 Joan Bonita Person b July 12, 1947 D33 Garry Gene Person b December 14, 1948 D11 Diane Lynn Ragsdale b January 11, 1945 m March 9, 1963 Eugene Weatherall, Jr. b August 12, 1943 They had issue El Cindy Diane Weatherall b December 15, 1963 D13 Phoeba Ann Person b July 28, 1938 m June 25, 1960 Salvatora De Benedito They had issue E2 Child E3 Child D14 Carol Jean Person b October 21, 1938 m October 24, 1959 Raymond Rentfro b June 10, 1933 They had issue E4 James Scott Rentfro b February 1, 1964 D16 Jenny Belle Tucker b August 15, 1942 m July 27, 1962 William Todish b February 10, 1938 They had issue E5 Stillbirth December 26, 1966 D20 Carolyn Annette Person b December 25, 1942 m August 29, 1962 Jerry Miley They had issue E6 Jerry Ann Miley b July 28, 1965 E7 Carmella Lynn Miley b June 26, 1968 A7 Mary Lucy Person born November 24, 1857 d 19 ? m 1876 Joseph James Claud They had issue B15 Tom Payne Claud B16 Joe Claud B17 Robert Claud B18 Anna Claud m Boykin B19 John Claud B20 Charlie Claud B2l Percy Claud B22 Leslie Claud B23 Peter Claud B24 Clyde Claud B25 Lois Claud m White No information on Claud children other than Lois Claud White was the only one living in 1967. Some of them left children. C18 Clarence Boykin C19 John T. Claud C20 Bob Claud C21 Charles Claud C22 Corbell Claud C23 Cedric Claud C24 Manfred Claud There are 29 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren at the time of Mrs. Mary Lucy Claud's death. A8 Adelaide Darden Person b March 11, 1860 d October 6, 1940 m 1883 James Emmett Drewry b ? d 1936 They had issue B26 David Drewry died at 15 years of age B27 Irving Drewry b 1887 d July 17, 1909 B28 Gladys Drervry d 1963 B29 Sallie Drewry (oldest) B30 Esmond Drewry B31 Hope Drewry B32 Mary Drewry Esmond lives in Surry, Virginia in 1968. Hope lives there also. Mary teaches school in Richmond, Virginia and Sallie is in a home in Blackstone, Virginia. A9 James Herbert Person b 1862 d after 1934 but before 1940 m Lottie Wood from North Carolina They had issue B33 J. H. Person, Jr. who died at the age of five James Herbert spent his last days in a home at Petersburg, Virginia. He was buried in Blank Ford cemetery in Petersburg.