Historical and Genealogical Notes; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol 5, No. 2

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Historical and Genealogical Notes

   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 2.
   (Oct., 1896), pp. 139-143.

                 HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL NOTES.

   BIMETALISM.--In the will of Charles Lewis, of Ablemarle, dated April 27,
1782, proved July 12, 1782, is the following item:  "I give to my daughter,
Mildred, my negroe girl Amy, daughter of Mulattoe Lucy, and my negroe girl
Hanah, daughter of Tomat, as also 750 ounces of silver of the alloy of a
Spanish milled dollar at an Equivalent in gold, at the rate of one ounce 
of gold of the alloy of our English guinea, in lieu of fifteen ounces of
silver, to be procured by my executor".

   VIRGINIA MEN IN MASSACHUSETTS TROOPS.-- Harl Hilton, fifer, Jernas 
(James?_ Brizill, Thos. Horrick Cole, Thos. Carry, Thos. Hogans, Ashel
More, Amsbrey Shorley, Wm. Woddel.  Jona Young, of Marland (Qy., Md). 
Above in Capt. John Low's company, Col. John Mansfield's regiment, October
6, 1775.  Mass. V. 56, Fo. 102 - EBEN PUTNAM, Salem, Mass.

   DANDRIDGE, see p. 30 - Alexander Brown writes:  "I am always pleased
with your magazine, because it always affords me both interest and in-
formation.  Mr. Cary makes it clear that John Dandridge was not a son of
William and his wife Unity West, as has been generally thought.  The
article has caused me to look over my West-Dandridge papers as I have not
done before, being occupied with other things(1), and I find that the late
Rev. Wm. Spotswood Fontaine wrote me about twenty-five years ago as 
follows:
   "Nathaniel, the third son of Col. John West, was living October 30,
1723, and died soon after.  He married late in 1699 a lady in
______________________________________________________________________

   (1) Nathaniel West married Martha ----- (?) who married 1st Gideon
Macon; 3dly Mr. Bigger.  Issue of marriage, Unity West, who married Wil-
liam Dandridge, and had Nathaniel West Dandridge, who married Dorothea

Spotswood (born 1733, died September 25, 1773), and had Nathaniel West
Dandridge (born October 26, 1762, died, 1810), who married Sallie Watson,
daughter of John Watson and Mary Bigger (daughter of Mr. Bigger, before
mentioned?)  Issue:  Martha Hale Dandridge, who married Wm. Winston Fon-
taine (died 1816) and had Rev. Wm. Spotswood Fontaine, who married July 5,
1832, Sarah Shelton Aylett (born June 24, 1811, died March 5, 1876).  She
was a kinswoman of her husband.  Thus, William Dandridge and Unity West
had issue, Martha (born 1721, died April 25, 1747), who married Philip
Aylett.  Issue:  William Aylett, who married Mary Macon (daughter of Col.
James Macon and Elizabeth, daughter of Augustine Moore).  Issue:  Philip
Aylett (born 1767, died 1831), who married Elizabeth Henry (born April 23,
1769, died October 24, 1842).  Issue:  Sarah Shelton Aylett.  Elizabeth
Henry was daughter of Patrick Henry and Sarah Shelton.

Page 140.

her sixteenth year, he being many years older.  In the winter of 1724-'25,
his widow married a Mr. Macon, who soon died, and she married (thirdly)
in 1727, a Mr. Bigger, a Scotchman.
   "Nathaniel West's only child, Unity, married prior to March 17, 1719
[O.S?], William Dandridge, an uncle of Mrs. Gen. Washington." - [p. 36.]
Martha Parke Custis married Thomas Peter {not Peters} of Georgetown, D.C.,

and their son, John Parke Custis Peter, married Elizabeth Jane Henderson,
daughter to Rev. James Henderson, some time of William and Mary College.
(See The Cabells and their Kin, pp. 426, 435.)
   I should have added that the Rev.  Wm. S. Fontaine gives the following
as the children of Nathaniel and Unity Dandridge (not in order of birth):
Nathaniel West Dandridge married Miss Spotswood; William Dandridge married
Miss West; Martha Dandridge married Philip Aylett; Elizabeth(1) Dandridge
married Philip Whitehead Claiborne(2); Anna(1) Dandridge married Mr.
Dancey; Mary Dandridge married John Spotswood.

   PURYEAR FAMILY. - "My children's grandmother was a Miss Puryear, of
Goochland, and married a Mr. Gideon Massie, brother to Gen. Nathaniel
Massie, one of the pioneers of Kentucky, and founder of the city of
Chillicothe, Ohio.  I have understood that the Puryear family were
originally Huguenots, but have never been able to obtain any information
concerning them.  Can you help me to do so?" - Charlotte Cazerove
Berryman, 78 Charlotte Street, St. John, New Bruswick.

   IRBY. - "My uncle, William Blunt Irby, of Nottoway, Va., died February
25, 1896.  He was born August 24, 1799, and was therefore ninety-six years,
six months old.  He was probably the oldest William and Mary student living
just prior to his death.  I think he was at college in 1817.  He was there
with James Lyons, Willoughby Newton, Peter F. Boisseau, and Wm. O. Goode,
the room-mate of the latter, I think.  Unlike these associates, he had no
taste for public life, and though solicited from time to time to stand for
election, he never would consent to do so.  Though highly qualified for
offices of honor and trust, he uniformly refused to accept any.  But this
was not because he was indifferent to the public interests of his country.
He was an ardent and well in-
______________________________________________________________________

   (1) I note that Mr. Cary does not give these two.  Has Mr. Fontaine 
erred in giving them? - A. Brown.

   (2) For proof of marriage of Elizabeth Dandridge to Philip Whitehead
Claiborne, see Hening, Vol. VII., 296, 486. - Editor.

Page 141.

formed politician, even to his latter years, and voted the full Democratic
ticket as often, probably, as any man ever did in Virginia.  He was a man
of strong mind, and well read in politics and polite literature.  Married
at the early age of nineteen to Sarah Washington Smith, of Brunswick
county, and left with ample means, he lived the life of a Virginia farmer,
with a house open always to friends, who were entertained in old Virginia
style.  It might truthfully be said, that during his married life, fifty-
eight years, he and his estimable wife entertained as many people as any
couple ever did in South-side Virginia.  This coupled lived to see ten
children attain to manhood and womanhood, and to see children's children
grow up to men and women.  The devoted wife of nearly three-score years
left him in 1877, sadly reduced in worldly means by the results of the war.
Though well cared for by his children, yet the light of his life had gone,
and feebleness and age told on his bodily powers, but did not seem for 
years afterwards to affect his mind and memory, until the last few years
of his life, when hearing and eye-sight failed him, and mind had nothing
from without to feed on, and then sympathizing with the body, all seemed
to gradually fall asleep.  The deceased was probably a descendant of the
real English yeomanry.  From 1727, when his great grandfather was born in
Surry county, to this day, not one has failed to be a farmer, though some
have likewise been professional men, and two are professors of agriculture
in State colleges." - Richard Irby, Randolph Macon College, Ashland, Va.

   THORNTON. - "On page sixty of WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY it is said
that Lucy Frances Thornton, who married Capt. John Posey, was doubtless
mother of Col. Thornton A. Posey, U.S.A.  This is a mistake.  She was his
half-sister, and her husband was his half-brother.  General Thomas Posey,
of the Revolution, married (1),------ Matthews, daughter of Samson Matthews,
of Augusta county, and they had one child, John, whose mother died during
the Revolution.  After the Revolution he married Mary Alexander, widow of
Major Geo. Thornong, ' zealous partisan officer'.  As her mother was
Lucy Thornton, she was akin to her first husband.  General Posey's son by
his first wife married Mrs. Thornton's daughter by her first husband after
the General and Mrs. Thornton married.  Col. Thornton Alexander Posey, U.S.
A., was son of General Thos. Posey and his second wife, Mary A. Thornton".
- George Wilson, Lexington, Missouri.

Page 142.

   THORNTON. - "I note on page sixty of the WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE
QUARTERLY for July, 1896, in an article on "The Thornton Family", by W.
G. Stanard, third from last line, "120 Martha married Tho. Fitzhugh, of

Fauquier county."  It should read that Martha Stuart Thornton, born -----,
married Dr. William Deadnam Fitzhugh, of Fauquier county, for his second
wife.  Issue:  three sons and one daughter.  121 Maria married Dr. Charles
Stuart, of Prince William county, her first cousin.  He was the son of
John Stuart.  Martha Stuart Thornton was my grandmother, with whom I lived
some years.  She died December 19, 1861.  Dr. William D. Fitzhugh was a
very dexterous surgeon in his day.  Dr. Charles Stuart practiced medicine
for many years in Prince William county, and died about 1863." - F.,
Amesbury, Mass.

   GERRARD. - "It is recorded in the Land Office at Annapolis that Dr.
Thomas Gerrard (Garrard) left three sons:  Justinian, Thomas and John.
The two first died without any issue, and John left a son and daughter
who died without issue.  A commission was held to decide upon the claim
and right of Gerrard Slye, of St. Mary's, Md., the eldest grandson of Dr.
Gerrard, to be his heir at law.  This seems to prove that Dr. Thomas
Gerrard left to descendants of the Gerrard name."  [The Gerrards of America
must be descendants of William Gerrard, of Westmoreland county, who, on
January 31, 1716-'17, obtained a grant for 125 acres in said county. - 
Editor.]

   VIRGINIA, THE FIFTH KINGDOM. - In the Ludwell Papers, preserved in the
Virginia Historical Society, are the minutes of a council meeting be-
ginning thus:  "Octr, 1685, 1o Jac 2d Ld Howd Govr the stile is I 2d of
Engld, Scotld, France, Ireld and Virginia, and this is the first time
Virga is added agreeable to the motto of the seal, En dat Virginia Quintum,
and since the Union it is altd to Quartam, G. Britain, France, Ireld and
Virga, 4 kikngdoms."

   BOOTH. - Robert Booth, clerk of York county, died about 1651.  (York
County Records).  In the records of the general court is this entry:  "11
Novr, 1672, Ordered that Robert Booth, son and heir of Robert Booth, 
pattent in his own name 1000 acres in New Kent formerly granted and seated
by said Robert Booth deceased."

   EPES. - The land books s how that, 1. Francis(1) Epes (Captain, Lt. 
Col.) brought with him to Virginia, three sons, 2. John(2) (Lt.

Page 143.

Col.), 3. Francis(2) (Lt. Col.), and 4. Thomas(2).  3, Lt. Col. Francis2
Epes had 5. Lt. Col. Littleberry2 Epes, of Charles City County, justice
in 1699, burgess 1710, 1714, etc.  The last died in 1746, and 6. Leellin4
Epes, and 7. Edmund4 Epes were his executors.  6. Lewellin Epes4 was
clerk of Charles City county, and had 8. Peter5 Epes, whose will was
proved July 7, 1773, and mentions sons 9. Peter6 and 10, John Temple7 Epes,
daus. Elizabeth and Agnelica Epes, father Lewellyn and father-in-law,
John Hardyman.  Major Edmund4 Epes had issue, Mary, who married Grief
Randolph before 1757; and in 1755 his widow, Henrietta Maria Epes, was
guardian of his infant orphans: Henrietta Maria, Frances, James and Anne.

   ANDREWS. - Rev. Robert Andrews, of York county, and Betsy Ballard, of
Princess Anne, were married in 1775.  (Virginia Gazette).  Robert Ballard
was clerk of Princess Anne.  (See QUARTERLY II., 75; III., 208).  Robert
Andrews married 2dly, Mary, dau. of Judge John Blair.  She was born in
1758, and died without issue, January 19, 1820.  Mrs. Andrews left her
property to Thomas Griffin Peachy ad John Blair Peachy.  (Newspapers.)
The issue of Robert Andrews and Elizabeth Ballard were Anne, who married
William Randolph of Wilton; Elizabeth, alive in 1833, unmarried; Catharine,
who married J. B. Wilkinson; Robert, who died without issue; John.  (Papers
in State Land Office, 1833.)  See QUARTERLY, III., 277; IV., 136.

   NETHERLAND. - Information wanted as to John Netherland, of Goochland,
by Flournoy Rivers, Pulaski, Tenn.  [John Netherland was originally a
resident of New Kent.  There are the following entries in the parish
register:  Martha, daughter of John Netherland, died 7ber, 26, 1725.  
John, son of John Netherland, born Oct. 24, 1726; Benjamin, son of John
and Sarah Netherland, born 7ber 11th, bapt. 7ber 28th, 1730. - EDITOR.]

   POINDEXTER. - Information wanted regardikng Poindexter family by 
Flournoy Rivers, Pulaski, Tenn.  [Some account of the Poindexter family
will be found in QUARTERLY, Vol. II., p. 206. - EDITOR.]


   MASSENBERG? - [Nicholas Massenberg was collector of the college rents
in Sussex county in 1762.  He was son of John Massenberg, of Elizabeth
City county. - EDITOR.]