PARTHENIA BAYLESS BAGWELL Contributed by Sherry Gritzbaugh ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Parthenia Bayless was the child of George L. Bayless. See Ala. Records, Vol. 37 Jefferson Co. Ala. compiled by Pauline Jones Gandrud. Also see: George L. Bayless dec'd Page 626 19 Dec. 1863 Decree in final account reads in part on page 627: "And it appearing to the Court after paying the expenses of This settlement all all cost and charges of the officer of Court, There will remain the balance of the money aforesaid The said sum of Three Thousand fIve hundred dollars and fifty four & 29/100 Dollars to be divided among Those entitled. And it further appearing that they are NINE HEIRS of Legatees who under the will of Said decedent take equal Shares in Said estate, to wit, Lucas Bayless Elbert Bayless Washington Bayless PARTHENIA BAGWELL Elizabeth Taylor Mary Cobb William Montgomery Jane Bass Nancy Lassiter Susan Childers Margaret Turner Allethea Danniel Bethania Childress All entitled to share the estate of the deceased into thirteen equal parts or shares. See also: State of Ala. Jefferson Co. Ala. petition for final settlement, page 163: reads in part "The heirs and legatees of Said Estate of George Bayless being: The heirs of Lucas Bayless deceased who resides in Choctaw Miss. Post ofv. Blackville. PARTHENA BAGWELL wife of FERNEY BAGWELL who resides in Louisiana, Union Parish. Mary Cobb name & residence unknown William Montgomery of Choctaw, MS Jane Bass of Jefferson Co. Ala. The children of Nancy Lasseter names and residences are unknown. The children of Susan Childress who reside in Mississippi and Texas names and ages are unknown. Margaret Turner wife of Josiah resides in TX. Adelhis Daniel wife of Joseph Daniel of TX. Bethama Childress of Winston Co. MS. Union Parish, La. census of 1880 shows Parthenia Bayles was 49 years old, born in Tennessee. Marriage to Furney Bagwell 18 Oct. 1818 in Jefferson Co. Ala. George L. Bayless was the child of Rueben Bayless. February session Washington Co. Tn. reads in part: "This indenture made the 7th. day of Feb. in the thirtieth year of American Independence and in the year of our Lord 1806 between Reuben Baylesss of the State of Tenn. & County of Washington of the one part and GEORGE BAYLESS of the State and County aforesaid SON OF said REUBEN BAYLES As well for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he hath & beareth unto the said GEORGE BAYLES his son for the better maintenance & preferment of the said George Bayless all (or) the third part of a tract esteemed to be 120 acres given by said Reuben Bayless to: George, Daniel L. and John Bayles his three sons, etc. State of Louisiana Union Parish, La. File number 400-J Grantee: Bagwell, Bayless Grantors: Jan. 1, 1861 Bk. J, pg. 434 G. W. Bagwell et al Andrew J. Bagwell et al Susan Bagwell et al Cyntha Bagwell et al Lucas Bagwell et al Mary E. Bagwell et al Re: Winn Parish, La. the book "Looking Back" by Eugene and Dhale Love. There is a portion of a letter written by another sibling: Leroy T. Bagwell which was addressed to his mother, Parthina Bagwell. Leroy was a Civil war soldier stationed at Camp Pineville located at or near Pineville, Louisiana. Leroy mentions his sisters in the letter. More information might be available at the Winn Parish Library. In 1780/81 some settlers started the long trek to Washington County, Tn., then NC. This territory became part of TN in 1796. Deed records at Jonesboro, TN. reveal that Daniel Bayles and three of his sons, Samuel, Reuben and Hezekiah, were granted lands in Washington County as early as 1784. It is interesting that Daniel Bayless was pastor of the Cherokee Baptist Church which was organized in 1783 and was the very first Baptist Church in the Tennessee Territory. He served until his death in 1800. The inscriptions on the earlier markers are hard to read and some are illegible but they are there. Reuban was the fifth son of Daniel and Johanna Lake Bayless. Information regarding the family of Reuban Bayless is hard to find, however his land holdings are well documented. Both he and Margaret are buried in the cemetery of the Cherokee Baptist Church. Daniel's great grandfather arrived in New England as a passenger on the Truelove in 1635. In the 1640's he was one of the English colonists who settled on Long Island with the permission of the Dutch Gov. of New Amsterdam. His great grandson, Daniel was born 15 Dec. 1716. He was reputed to be the first to use the spelling Bayless. He maried Johannah Lake on or about 13 Jan. 1736. He was also a surveyor he tended to move frequently, locating on the frontier where land was being opened for settlement. At each step in his migration he left powers of attorney telling where he was going. This Daniel was a son of Sarah Ludlum and Daniel Bayless. The Bayles Family in Ala. by John W. Bayless stated that Daniel had several sons who were Revolutionary War veterans. These sons were Daniel, John, Elias, Samuel, Reuben and Hezikiah. The records which prove that Reuben was a Revoltionary veteran are available from Wake County, North Carolina. Washington had no record. In 1806, the area now known as Madison Co. Ala. was ceded by the Cherokee and Chicksaw Indian Tribes. This land was opened for settlement with the initial land office being located in Nashville, Tennessee. Of those who purchased land there, only three are believed to have moved to the new territory. One was George L. Bayless, the father of Parthenia Bayless Bagwell. My line is : Sherry Gresham wife of James M. Gritzbaugh Ressie Bagwell widow of Ben Gresham Lotress Cleva Bagwell husband of Mattie Lou Anderson Robert Jefferson Bagwell husband of Callie Clarissa Thomas Bayless Bagwell husband of Catherine Feazel Parthenia Bayless spouse of Flurney O. Bagwell George Lucas Bayless and his first wife Rueben Bayless husband of Margaret Lucas Daniel Bayless husband of Johannah Lake John Bayles husband of Ruth Russo John Bayles husband of Rebecca (Maybe Stillwell) # # # Bayless Bagwell off Union & Lincoln Parish was a son of Parthenia Bayless Bagwell who lived in Union Parish during the 1850 and 1860 census. Parthenia was the daughter of George Bayless, son of Reuben Bayless, a son of Daniel Bayless and Johanna Lake Baless. Johanna was a daughter of Martinah & John Lake III Johanna was a grandchild of Nellyte "Nellie" Claessen and John Lake II who was born 1650 in Kings Co. N.Y. and died in 1729. John Lake Il was the son of Ann Spicer and John Lake I. The first John Lake died in 1696, He was born in Gravesend, King and Queen County, N.Y. the son of RICHARD LAKE. Richard Lake was born ca 1600 in England. THE LAKE FAMILY IN ENGLAND Several members of the Lake family arose to distinction. The one that we are most interested in is that of Sir Edward Lake. He was born about 1600, the eldest son of RICHARD LAKE of Irby, Lincolnshire. Two of his brothers, namely Thomas and JOHN LAKE came to America and lived in Boston. The will of Sir Edward Lake is dated 8 Apr. 1665 with codicils in 1670, 1671 and 1674. This will is an interesting document as it gives us much info. in regard to the antecedents and connections of Sir Edward. He leaves a bequest to the church at Normanton near Pontefact in Yorkshire, because IT WAS THE HOME OF HIS PATERNAL ANCESTORS. He mentions his kinsman and servant Christopher Lake, HIS BROTHER, JOHN LAKE, and cousin Francis Lake, his cousin Francis Lake, the eldest son of his brother, Luke Lake, & Stephen, eldest son of his brother, Thomas Lake. He named his brother, Thomas Lake executor, and directs that the heirs male forever may for their Christian names have the name Bilby, or Seaman, his wife's mother's surname, or CALY in honor of HIS MOTHER, a daughter of EDWARD WARDELL. Thomas Lake died before Sir Edward, and in a codicil he named Thomas's son Stephen executor in his place. Stephen dies and Thomas, Stephen's brother is named. For more information on this family please refer to A Genealogy of the Lake Family by Adams and Risley privately printed in 1915. ------------------------ Parthenia's Stilwell Ancestry It has been established that Parthenia Bayless Bagwell who lived in Union Parish, La. before the 1850 census and after the 1860 census of Union Parish, La. descended from the Stilwell/Stillwell. We have established that Parthenia descends from John Bayles who married Rebecca Stilwell a probable daughter of one John Stilwell. Three brothers were driven from England by persecution, first find refuge in Holland, assume the name of Still-well. The brothers, Nicolas, Jasper and John Stillwell were among the Pilgrims who, in the early part of the seventeenth century, sought refuge from religions persecution. According to The Life and Times of Nicholas Stilwell, His Brothers John and Jasper by Benj. Marshall Stilwell in 1878, page 27 reads "Tradition gives the original surname of these brothers as COOKE; but this is not universally received in the family, the Stateen Island branch, known as the "Royal Family," claiming that it was STUART, and that these brothers were of royalblood. But that their mother was of the family of STILL." It would not be improbable that the three brothers assumed that of their mother's family, Still . The name of their residence would naturally atttach as Still of Wells, into Stillwell. It is believed that in the early part of the 17th. century, these three brothers, under the name of Stillwell, first found refuge from religious persecutions, in Holland. They subsequently emigrated to America. Jasper settled in Guilford, Connecticut. John and Nicholas removed to Manhattan Island, then under the dominion of the Dutch. John selected for his future home a beautiful spot upon the eastern shore of Staten Island, immediately below the Narrows, to which he gave the name of Dover. This tract of land, was for many years the most important and populous settlement upon Staten Island. Nicolas, the first of the name and common ancestor of the family, born in England, Married first Abigail, daughter of Robert Hopton of Wytham, Somersetshire by whom he had two sons: Richard born 1634 and Nicholas born 1636. Nicholas Stillwell, was the common ancestor of the numerous families bearing the surname, now widely scattered through the world. Re: The Life and Times of Nicholas Stilwell by Benj. Marshall Stilwell in 1878. The History of Captain Richard Stillwell son of Lt. Nicholas Stillwell by John Stillwell, M.D. in 1930. Nicolas Stillwell, the ancestor of The Stillwell Family in America by Wm. H. Stillwell in 1883. The Stillwel Family Group Sheets --------------------------------------- THE ANCESTRY OF PARTHENIA BAYLESS BAGWELL It has been proven to my satisfaction that Rebecca Stilwell who married John Bayless is probably the ancestor of Parthenia Bayless Bagwell who moved to Union Parish, La. before the 1850 census. We have found the three Stilwell brothers who came to America. After carefully studying the Memoirs of the Stilwell Family which was written in 1878 by a descendant of Nicholas Stilwell. The histories of Manhattan Island and its vicinity have documented the Nicholas. This is what I was able to learn about the Stilwell family. Jasper Stilwell, a member of the Congregation of the Rev. Whitfield, was one of the little flock which that pastor led forth into the wilderness, in the winter of 1639-40. He died in November 1656 leaving two daughters. Jasper had adhered to the teachings of the Rev. Henry whitfield and settled at Menunketuck, a location which the company purchased from the Indians, and named Guilford, in commemoration of the place in Surry in England, from which many of the settlers had migrated. He left only the record of his name as one of the founders of the church, and first settlers of the town. 1. Rebecca married James Graves of Hartford at the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam on 23 March, 1644. 2. Elizabeth married John Graves, a son of George Graves on the 26th. day of November, 1657. George Graves was one of the original settlers and proprietors of Hartford. Jasper left no male heirs. Nicholas Stilwell married first to Abigail Horton and was the father of: 1. Richard born 1634 2. Nicholas born 1636 After Abigail died he married Abb Van Dyke and had six children. 3. William baptized 11 May, 1648 4. Thomas baptizted July 9, 1651 5. Daniel baptized Nov. 13, 1653 6. Jeremiah baptized Jan. 13, 1661 7. Anne born in 1643 8. Abigail born in 1645 JOHN STILWELL Petition and grant - Secretary of State's Office, Albany, New York the tract of land known as the fortified town of Dover was granted to his grandson, John Stilwell, in consideration of the improvements originally made thereon by his ancestors. In 1878 descendants of John and Nicholas Stillwell were still owned portions of this tract. The changes which had taken place in England during John's absence , rendered concealment of his part no longer necessary, and upon his return, he resumed his original name of COOKE; but the disturbed conditions he retired again to the continent, where he spent several years in visiting the principal capitals of Europe. LUDLOW, in his "Memoirs, stated that John Cooke departed to Geneva and resided in the house of Gio,Deodati, the Minister of the Italian Church in that city. Upon his return to England, he was called to the Bar, soon acquired a considerable reputation as a barister. John Cooke was one of the glorious band of patriots who had stood forth as the champions of civil and religious liberty, and dared to arrain King Charles the First as a traitor. The prosecution against the King should be conducted in the name and on behalf of the people of England. John Bradshaw was chosen to preside at the trial, John Cooke was offered the perilous position of Solicitor General to conduct the prosecution. On January 30, 1649, Charles the First was given a sentence of death. John Cooke continued to act in his judicial capacity until the restoration of King Charles the Second, when he was arrested for his participation in the trial of the late King, and sent prisoner to England, to be tried with the other regicides for treason. After a confinement of four months in the Tower of London, John Cooke was brought to trial at the Old Bailey, on the 14th. day of October, 1660. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Before he died he asked the Lord Jesus to receive his soul. His words were" "And so, dear and blessed Father, I come to the bossom of thy love,, and desire to enter into thy glory, which is endless and boundless through Jesue Christ." When he finished his prayer, the executioner quartered his body - his head set upon a pike in front of Westminister Hall, and the fragments of his body upon the gates of the city of London. Time has done justice to these patriots. The descendants of John Cooke, whose tainted blood could not transmit his estates to his children. A few hours before his execution he wrote to his little daughter from Newgate prison: "My Dear, Sweet Child: "So soon as God gives thee any understanding, know that thou art the child of one whom God counted worthy to suffer for his sake, and to seal to the truth of his law and gospel with his blood; which will be a great honor to thee, in the judge- ment of all that truly love and fear God. "Know that thy dear father has gone to Heaven to thy dear brother, and be sure so to live that by God's grace thou may'st follow after. I leave thee to the Lord, who I know will take care of thee and be thy portion, so thou shalt never want. So I leave God's blessing with thee, and rest. "Thy dear and loving father, "John Cooke." The child a friendless orphan was surrounded by those who counted her an outcast - the daughter of a felon. She found refuge, and became the wife of her cousin, Richard Stilwell, one of the Justices of the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the Province of New York. When she died, her remains were placed beside those of her honored husband, in the beautiful cemetery upon Straten Island. Her descendants boast that in their veins runs the attainted blood of that martyr of liberty, John Cooke. John Cooke left no male issue, and his only daughter, having intermarried with Richard, a descendant of Nicholas, the line of John Cooke merged into that of his brother Nicholas, whose genealogy has been well documented in the Life and Times of Nicholas Stilwel, with some account of His Brothers John and Jasper by Benj. Marshall Stilwell. Printed in 1878 by the National Printing Company, 13 Chambers Street in New York. References: Ludlows' Memoirs Tramball's Connecticut Robertson's America Hutchinson's Massachusetts Winthrop's Journal Buggles' MS History of Guilford Records Dutch Church, New Amsterdam Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of New England # # #