CAMPBELL COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches Family Sketches - Early ----¤¤¤---- CAMPBELL CHRONICLES and FAMILY SKETCHES Embracing the History of CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1782-1926 By R. H. EARLY With Illustrations J. P. BELL COMPANY LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 1927 Early The family of Early moved to Bedford about the time it was established as a county. Jeremiah, Jr., of Culpeper county, first of the name to appear, was followed by his younger brothers, Joshua and Jacob, the latter of whom married into the Robertson family but moved to Georgia during the last quarter of the century. Joshua settled in the locality which remained within Bedford boundary; Jeremiah's property was embraced in the portion which became Campbell, though, as he died in 1779, he did not participate in the division, and his public activities were all in interest of the development and government of the older county, therefore he is not found recorded as resident in the new one. Jeremiah, born 173O, son of Jeremiah, Sr., and Elizabeth Buford-Early, of Culpeper county, served as a lieutenant from the Augusta Military District during the French and Indian wars. He moved to Bedford with his relatives, James, William and Henry Buford, and in 1755 purchased from John Gibson 20O acres in Russell parish; in 1756 he was a member of a jury formed of the most capable freeholders; in 1756 received an order of court for laying "the court-house floors, sealing the house and making a barr," for which he was allowed 3,743 lbs. of tobacco; in 1758 purchased 20O acres lying upon Elk creek, and obtained a parcel of land, on the north side of the road to Warwick, from the county trustees upon which he agreed to build a house in one year; was appointed overseer of the road and commissioned justice of the peace, an office he held as long as he lived. He had remained in the militia and was promoted captain of his company. In 1759 he was commissioned to procure weights and measures for county use, together with Benjamin Howard he was paid 8,OOO lbs. of tobacco for building the prison. This year he bought, from Richard Randolph's executors, 304 acres, part of 1OOO acre patent on both sides of Erwin's creek, a fork of Otter; appointed to list tithes in 1760, a year later bought 102 acres on Elk creek of Edward Watts and 241 acres of George Walton; during 1762-63 was appointed to view a new road, lay prison bounds, build stocks and pillory, repair the court house and clerk's office, to have three pairs of handcuffs made for county use and to list tithes from Hairston's precinct up all the waters of James river. At this time he bought 3OO acres on Elk's creek and 26O acres around Callaway's and Walton's corner. In 1764 he was appointed to view two new roads from New London; received 5,169 lbs. of tobacco for supplying the county standards; acquired 49O acres on Staunton river and 558 acres on Burton's creek. In 1769 received grants of 275 acres, and 27O acres on Goose creek, erected a mill at the mouth of the creek, and added 1OO additional acres there. In 1772 was appointed High Sheriff of the county. He had been promoted major and lieutenant-colonel of militia, and in 1778 was commissioned colonel; was one of the trustees of Russell parish. Died 1779, and his son, Joseph and son-in-law, Colonel James Callaway, were appointed executors of his estate, giving bond in £20O,OOO. His first wife was Sarah, the daughter of George Anderson. Children: —Jacobus, m. Sarah, dau. of Colonel Charles F. Wall; moved at the close of the century to southwest Virginia, descendants moved to Kentucky. —Judith, m., 1st, John Pate; m., 2nd, Captain Charles Callaway, of Campbell. —Jeremiah 3rd, moved to North Carolina, m. Rebecca Freeman. —Joseph, unmarried, moved to Henry county; died young. —John, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Dr. Henry Cheatham; was a member of the Convention of 1778. -Elizabeth, m. (2nd wife), Colonel James Callaway; —Jenny. ——Jeffrey moved, 1784, to Georgia, where he left descendants; sold 937 acres on Staunton river. —Jubal, m. Mary, dau. of Dr. Henry Cheatham; lived in Franklin county; these were the grandparents of General Jubal A. Early and Captain Sam'l Hy Early of Lynchburg. -Sarah m. William, son of Jacob Anderson and lived near the present Leesville. —Abner, m. Docia, sister of William Anderson. The first wife of Colonel Early died about 1770 and he married, 2nd, Mary, sister of Richard Stith in 1773, died a few years later and was buried within his home grounds. At the division of Bedford, three years afterwards, this property near Evington, cut off into the new county, was inherited by his youngest son, Abner, the only one of seven sons who remained in the county. The Church of England naturally fell under the bann after the Revolution, and churches of other sects then started. Rev. Abner Early, a follower of Wesley, called "itinerant preacher," travelled around the country in a two-wheeled vehicle like a phaeton but then named "gig." In 1819 he and his wife deeded to his sons and others as trustees, a certain lot on the east side of Flat creek, 1 1-16 acres for the use of the Methodist church. He built at his expense a meeting house which he named Reheboth, and with his own hands made the holy table and communion rail. This old church is on Flat creek near Early's mill; when the latter structure was sold the purchaser had to search Lunenburg court to get the record: fire destroyed the mill some years afterwards. Abner Early did not approve of slave-holding and freed 1OO of his negroes, who took the name of Freeman. Among early court orders was one appointing surveyors to view a way for alteration of the Richmond road leading through Early's land. In 18O4 he was made overseer of the poor. A cousin, Buford Early, his partner in mercantile business, was murdered in 18O6, and Abner administered on the estate: Buford was a brother of Bishop John Early. Children of Abner: —Jacob, m. in 1818, Elizabeth Fitz Patrick, dau. of James Austin; bought 20O acres on Quarry branch known as the Cross Road tract, afterwards called Yellow Branch, moved in 1835, to La Porte, Indiana, where his son, John P., became a prominent politician. —Henry T., m., in 1821, Peggy D. Haden; their son, Abner, m. Mary A. Kabler; in 1874 Abner and Mary K. Early made a deed of transfer to the Presbyterian church of a tract of land on the west side of the road leading to Leesville in consideration of her interest in the cause of religion, and of his desire to promote the moral welfare of the community. —Sallie, m., in 1827, Claiborne Porter. -Elizabeth, m., in 1822, Abner Anthony. —William, m., in 1833, Mary C. Jennings; moved to Wellington C. H., on the Mississippi. —John W., m. Miss Lauderdale; family moved to California. -Matilda, m. A. Pannill. —Col. Edmund J., m. Ann, dau. of Samuel C. and Jane H. Tardy; inherited his grand-father's old manor place, but grief at the loss there of several children caused him to dispose of that property and build a home, Oakwood, a short distance from the old one; Edmund Early was a colonel of militia during War of 1861-65. Children: —Leverette S. (V. M. I. cadet and Confederate veteran), m. Jean B., dau. of Littlebearry Moon, near Leesville: 2 daughters, and son, Dr. L. S. Early, of Petersburg), moved from the county. -Dr. Maurice B. moved to New York, where he died. —Laura J. m. Goggin Moorman, died 1924. -Peachy H. moved to Washington. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________ File size: 7.7 Kb