TALIAFERRO TIMES
Volume I, April 8, 1998
Issue 41
Good Morning, All. Having said that, I realize you won’t receive this till afternoon. So, good Afternoon. Which takes me to this message that I need to relate.
Wednesday is a difficult day for me to compile, edit, and distribute TT. It will be much easier if it’s delivered later in the week, so I’ve chosen Friday as the new delivery date of future issues. This may also mean that you’ll receive it earlier in the day. Hope this change in schedule is not inconvenient for anyone.
My special thanks this week to LOUELLA HUGUENARD (MOMANDBEE@aol.com)
who
has greatly enlarged our store of Taliaferro information.
We also have lots of new folks this week. Please give them a hearty welcome, and help them with their questions. All of them are Toliver Taliaferros. We’ve really discovered a big family of them, haven’t we? It must be the water in those hills of North Carolina! Or maybe it’s just because it’s such a wonderful place to live and raise a family, more folks needed the opportunity of growing up amid these hills. About now, the lush golden haze of Spring’s new birth is cascading down their gentle slopes. All you Tolivers help get these folks get their families sorted out, please.
. . . . . Taking votes . . . . since we’ve found that there are so many Taliaferros who spell their name Toliver (which is how both spellings are pronounced), maybe we should change our name to TALIAFERRO/TOLIVER TIMES. Let me know if you have strong objections. Otherwise, this too shall change.
NEW MEMBERS
THOMAS C. BREWER (tcbrewer@worldnet.att.net)
*****Thank you for welcoming me to the the Taliaferro/Toliver Newsletter. I know very little about this line of my family.
I am descended from Russel Brewer who was born Jan. 28, 1785 in North Carolina, possibly Rowan County. He died Sept. 1, 1858 in Warren County, Tennessee. Russel married Nancy B. Toliver about 1805. She was born Feb. 9,1785 in Wilkes County, North Carolina and died Feb. 27, 1869 probably in Coffee County, Tennessee. They are both buried in the Jacksboro/ Trousdale Cemetery at Jacksboro, (Warren) Tennessee. Russel (have seen him sign with one l) and Nancy were some of the earliest settlers of Warren County, Tn. about 1810. Russel was on the 1812 Tax List in Warren County, Tn. and was a corporal in the 1812 from Warren County. They had 13 children: William J., Henry, Catherine, Jane, David, Sarah Martha, John (my 2nd great-grandfather), Elizabeth, Andrew Jackson, Charlotte, Calvin C., Thomas Jefferson, and Russell B.
I have Nancy B. (Toliver) Brewer parents as John Taliaferro and Tabitha Howell.
Hope this isn't too long. Thank you and will be looking forward
to the newsletter and learning more about this line.
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(MadDawg236@aol.com) My apologies. I know I saw a real name attached to a message from MadDawg - which, incidentally, was quite calm and ‘unmad’ as I recall. But it escaped me. Please send it to me again and I’ll issue a correction next issue.
***Thanks for responding, always good to hear from a relative. My oldest
ancestor on the Tolliver side would be James Tolliver/ wife Polly?. Most
of my info comes from the census of 1850 in Ashe County, NC. So the
birth dates are about all estimated from their age at the time of the census.
Children of James are: Enoch-abt 1824/Finley-1829/Tobitha-1831/Wiley-1836/John-1838/Drury-1841-died
Dec 26, 1926 in Johnson Co, Ky/Evaline-1843/Jestin (my great grandma/married
John M. Caldwell)/Emaly J-1846/Haas-1848. I don't know a lot about the
Tollivers. Let me know if any of these folks fit into you tree.
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DENNIS SMITH (Nipride@SkyBest.Com) actually lives down there where
the hills roll gentle and long. This is a lucky man. Folks,
if you’ve never visited the North Carolina mountains, try to work it into
your agenda some day. Compared to other mountains, they are like
the glow of the patina of a 200 year old chest as compared to the the sharp
patina of a 50 year old chest.
***I have a double interest in the Toliver Family. My 4th great grandfather, George Reeves Jr. was said to have been killed by his brother-in-law William Toliver, who was married to Susan Reeves. This is said to have taken place in Ashe Co. NC, in 1811. The trial was said to have been held in Wilkes Co.NC. William Toliver was acquitted of the 1811 killing. After this he sold his lands in Ashe Co. NC and left. I would like to know where he ended up and what happened to his wife Susan or Susanah Reeves and there children. The land I farm is about 10 miles from where all of this is said to have taken place.
The second interest I have in the Toliver Family is the fact that my 2nd great grandfather Hardin Reeves married Frances (Frankey) Toliver on March 14, 1844 in Ashe Co. NC. Frances Toliver was the daughter of Solomon and Margaret Toliver.
I am looking forward to being a part of the Taliaferro Times.
[Note: Dr. John Taliaferro, of Orange Co VA, Surry Co NC, and Wilkes Co., GA seems to be either “the” or “one of two first progenitors” of the Ashe County and Wilkes Co NC Tolivers. His wife was Mary Hardin. I understand that her father (or grandfather) was Mark Hardin, reported to be a French Huguenot. He is found in Prince William County VA before moving south. Can anyone give us more information about this famiy? A little information appears below in a contribution from Louella.]
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JOHN CHAPEL ( chapelj@email.msn.com) lives just a few miles from me
in Reston VA. Hope we can get together soon. It’s great to
find a cousin who lives nearby. What a treat!
***My name is John Chapel. I live in Reston, VA. I was born and raised near Bel Air, MD but have been on the move since then. I first got interested in genealogy about 15 years ago. I then set out on a project to trace all of my great-great grandparents. The project has gone well but there are lots of holes to fill. About two years ago I got my brother interested and since then he has been helping me. I got him a computer and Family Tree and we have been making progress.
My first recording of a Taliaferro is a Charles Taliaferro, Sr. He married Susanna Moxley on Jan 31, 1812 in Northumberland Co., VA. I believe they both died in Caroline Co, VA. I am descended from the Moxley's. The first Moxley came to the Northern Neck area of Virginia about 1650 from England. I would like to know more about Charles Taliaferro.
My next recording of a Taliaferro is Jessie Toliver (Taliaferro). He was born about 1756 and married a Martha Stamper Oct 8, 1782 in Fauquier Co., Va. From there they went to Alleghany Co., VA (Ashe at that time) and had a daughter Martha Toliver who married in to one of my other family lines. I would like to know more about him and especially is he related to Charles Taliaferro, Sr.
Most of my families are from the Alleghany Co., NC and Grayson Co., VA area. The family names I am interested in are Chapel, Moxley, Killon, Gentry, Todd, Murphy, Andrews, Caudill, Edwards, Wagoner, Poole, Simcock, Crouse (Krause), Fender, and of course, Toliver (Taliaferro).
QUERIES
I guess all of the above are Queries. Especially, many of us would benefit from learning more about Mary Hardin and her family. After all, she was the other half of a lot of Taliaferros and Tolivers. She was also the mother of Richard Taliaferro, a genuine hero of the Revolution, and related as well to Jesse Franklin, also a genuine hero of the Revolution and the first elected Governor of North Carolina. Hardin is used as a given name in both of these families. This is an important family to the Taliaferros of North Carolina and Georgia.
RESPONSES
SUZANNE BROWN (SBrownBTY@aol.com) raises an interesting question and discussion. Hope we can carry it farther. She is responding to two items that appeared in earlier issues. Her original mail to me was lost during AOL’s most recent gaffs, which incidentally are still not completel straightened out. This is a great way to straighten out questions and misunderstandings. Both Suzanne and Wayne agreed to have this discussion public so that we all have an opportunity to reach some determination of what is and isn’t true.
***Response to WAYNE ROGERS (hcfr@mindspring.com) relative to Richard Henry Taliaferro.
In a message dated 98-01-30 07:13:41 EST, you write:
“. . . can add a little to your Richard Henry Taliaferro (c1775-1830) of Orange County VA. He is listed among the children of Robert Taliaferro (died 1789) and Jane Bankhead (1737-1832) of Blenheim in Caroline County, in the settlement of Jane Bankhead Taliaferro's estate in 1832. The list is in the Virginia State Library under Loose Papers of Caroline County.
“His wife, Frances Walker Gilmer, was related, being a descendant of Richard Taliaferro and Rose Berryman through their daughter Sarah who married Daniel Harvie. Their daughter Mary Harvie you already have as the wife of Presley R. Gilmer.”
Now I am really confused. Some things I've read in Taliaferro Times refer to Richard Henry Taliaferro as the son of RICHARD Taliaferro (1747-1789), while others refer to him as the son of ROBERT "of Blenheim" Taliaferro (d 1791), though all refer to him as the son of Jane Bankhead (1737-1832/34). Who was Jane Bankhead's husband?
Also
Response to ANNE HAMLIN (AHamlin777@aol.com)
In a message dated 98-01-31 12:15:13 EST, you write:
“From the names I feel pretty sure that Peachy Ridgeway Taliaferro
is a descendant through his mother, of Dr. Thomas Walker - or one of his
siblings... His mother's name was Susan Peachy... I have
incomplete information on the family, but included in my notes below
is the name & e-mail address of the person, who gave me the information
and is a descendant. Maybe she can help you sort out a connection.”
Thank you for the information and Nancy Forsythe's address. Maybe
now I will be able to get back to genealogy and the Taliaferro - Gilmer
- Ridgeway - Walker chain.
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BETTY ANN SMIDDY (103107.3363@compuserve.com) is responding to Lee
Gallivan’s question about the Buckner marriages.
****Thomas Buckner's parents were William Buckner and Judith Aylett,
not Richard Buckner and Elizabeth Cooke as printed in Crozier's book on
the Buckner family. This was a typo in his book which has perpetuated itself.
Thomas Buckner married as his second wife, Elizabeth Taliaferro on 11 Nov.
1757. Elizabeth was the daughter of Lawrence Taliaferro and Sarah
Thornton. Elizabeth's will was probated in 1787. Thomas's first wife was
Judith Presley Thornton. Thomas died 23 Feb. 1795. His son, Thomas Buckner,
Jr. married Elizabeth Hawes (1759-1836). Thomas Buckner, Jr's. brother
Robert married 28 March 1782 Mary Hawes.
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LOUELLA HUGUENARD (MOMANDBEE@aol.com) is responding to the Editor’s questions in March 11 newsletter. I really appreciate this contribution to my personal lineage. I did a lot of original research on the early Taliaferros, but life and circumstances prevented me from carrying it forward in mine and my husband’s lines. This is a wonderful gift for me, and I am truly grateful. Hope someone else can use this information as well.
***Parents and lineage of Benjamin Taliaferro born June 9, 1770
Charles Taliaferro (son of Captain Richard and Rose (Berryman) Taliaferro)
and Isabel (McCulloch) Taliaferro:
1. Richard Taliaferro, born in AMHERST, May 23, 1759; died in 1806,
served in the Revolution as Captain in the Continental line; removed to
South Carolina, and was clerk of Chester County, and afterwards lived in
York District, South Carolina, married: _______.
2. Charles Talifaferro of AMHERST, born March 29, 1761; served several
campaigns in the revolution; and was at the siege of Yorktown; appointed
Justice of Amherst 1798; several years a member of the House of Delegates
and State Senate; married Lucy Loving.
3. Peter Taliaferro, born March 4, 1763; died unmarried, July 4, 1785.
4. John Taliaferro, born May 4, 1765; died Nov. 24, 1809; married Elizabeth
Loving.
5. Zachariah Taliaferro, born Sept. 3, 1767; died Sept. 12, 1823 in
Louisiana, married ++++ and had one son.
6. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TALIAFERRO, born June 9, 1770; married Mildred
Franklin, daughter of Major Franklin of AMHERST
[Editor’s Note: The Franklins of Orange County were close friends
of John Taliaferro were part of the same travel party that carried Dr.
John Taliaferro to Surry Co NC. It, therefore, seems reasonable that
“Major” Franklin is also part of the Orange County VA Franklin family.
There were two brothers living there, Edward and Lawrence. Bernard
Franklin, son of Lawrence went to NC with John Taliaferro in the
early 1760s. This Taliaferro/Franklin marriage makes my husband and
I much closer in Taliaferro cousinship that I thought we were because he
was descended from Benjamin and Mildred (Franklin) Taliaferro, while I
am descended from Dr. John and Mary (Hardin) Taliaferro. Don’t know
if I have the sense to unravel this.]
7. William Taliaferro, born March 17, 1772, died 1805.
8. Sarah Taliaferro, born August 16, 1774; married ____Loving, and
died in Logan County, KY in 1844.
9. Roderick Taliaferro, of LYNCHBURG born May 16, 1777; married ___
Price.
10. James Talifaferro, born April 12, 1779; moved to Tennessee.
11. Rose Taliaferro, born Jan. 2, 1783; married ____Loving, and
moved to Tennessee.
****
Also have Dr. John's - will send another day when I have access to computer - mine blew it's hard drive, and I use library or son's, or wherever I can land near one.
Appreciate your prompt thank yous - I don't mind sharing what information I have garnered from our library - but find you don't always get a thank you for sending material, and will start being a little more careful about responding to queries. I guess some people just figure it's a gift - never mind all the time taken in copying, reading, hours at library, etc. So, again, from one who has gotten burned - thank you for the thank yous.
Guess I had better note the source for Benjamin material, which is doubly important since someone else did all the work: “Taliaferro Family History 1625 - 1899 by Charles Taliaferro in San Diego, CA”
Hope this proves useful to you!
-- And another day did come, and Louella did produce. Again, my profound thanks to you, Louella.
****Dr. John Taliaferro born 7 Apr 1733 in Caroline Co., VA (Baptist Faith); died 7 Apr 1821 at age 88 in Wilkinson Co., GA
FATHER: Capt. Richard Taliaferro of Caroline Co., VA, MOTHER: Rose Berryman
(Dr. John (4) Richard (3) John (2) Robert the Immigrant (1) Capt in Rev. War from VA; receiving land grant in Surry Co., N. C. (later Stokes Co.) in late 1770's moved from VA to Surry Co., NC, settled on Stewart's Creek (Source: Early Families of the Counties of Rockingham & Stokes in Rev. Service)
Dr. John married Mary Hardin first - secondly Lydia Howard Mary Hardin was the daughter of Henry Hardin (son of French Emigrant Mark Hardin B1660 Rouen France, Died 1734 in Lynchburg, VA.) Mark Hardin's wife was Mary Hogue. Mary Hardin's mother was: Judith Lynch.
[Editor’s Note - again: Oh, gee, I didn’t know about the Lynch connection. That may give my husband and me another common line. If I keep going, I’ll discover that my children are their own grandfather??]
Children:
1. Richard born 1756/1758 in VA - killed by saber thrust (he
was a Member of Tarleton's Dragon's) at Battle of Guilford Court House
on Mar 15, 1781 at his age 25 (Source: DAR Patriot Index, Surry Co.,
NC Deed Roster & Soldiers Tennessee Society, NSDAR Soldiers and Patriots,
Battle Guilford Court House, Vol. 3, Page 102 by Rachel Caldwell NSDAR
CHAPTER) Richard married Dorcas Perkins of Buckingham Co.
2. Roda/Rose born va married Joseph Porter
3. Elizabeth born Va married Levi Pruitt on 22 Oct. 1778
4. Anne 1763/1768 VA died 1864 married Jonathan McCrary
5. Charles 1766 VA died 1838, married 1) Sarah (Sally) Burroughs,
2) Decie Tucker (Material came from Chris Levill)
6. Benjamin VA married Ada Snow 4 Jun 1791 in Surry Co., NC
7. Judith 1763 VA married Shadrock Franklin
8. Mary VA married a Mr. Mercer, Beheathland VA
9. Lucy (Ludy) (father's favorite child) born 29 May 1780 in
Surry Co., NC
- died 28 Feb. 1842 married in 1797 John Lawrence Jones. Mr.Jones
was born 8 Dec. 1776 and died 1 Mar 1830
10. James born 1776 VA
11. Sarah (Sally) married a Mr. Priest
_______
As promised - got a chance to grab a computer - hope some of this helps
you and others. This information was furnished by my cousin in California
on a neatly done on family group sheet - some of the material I picked
up from Carl Hauk's material (computer firm in Indianapolis, IN)
I will supply her name and e-mail address next time send something, in
case you wish to drop her a note and thank her. She is so careful
about her material - will accept only material that has two backup sources.
COLONIAL TALIAFERROS
LOUELLA HUGUENARD (MOMANDBEE@aol.com) continues her font of information
for
the use and benefit of us all. What a treasure she has given
us. Many thanks, Louella. Hope all you others will let her
know how much you appreciate these great contributions.
****The Ancestry of Rose Berryman
Rose Berryman was born in the historic county of Westmoreland, Virginia,
probably in the year 1708. She came of distinguished ancestry, her
father, Major Benjamin Berryman, being a man of prominence in the Colony.
Her material grandfather, John Newton was a son of the celebrated Thomas
Newton, esq. of Charleston Manor and Kingston-on-Hull, Gentlemen, of England,
and came to America in 1660. John Newton held large estates at Carleton
as well as a large tract of land in Virginia.
Rose Berryman was one among a family of seventeen children, and she spent her girlhood days on the Berryman estate in Westmoreland County. On June 10, 1726, she was united in marriage to Captain RIchard Taliaferro of Caroline Co. Their home was blessed with thirteen children, one of whom died in infancy. This family resided in Caroline County and probably belonged to St. Thomas Parish, the records of which have been destroyed. Captain Richard Taliaferro was a large landholder and patented 10,000 acres in the present counties of Amherst and Nelson. He passed away on Sept. 27, 1748. The cause of his death is unknown; although tradition accounts in the family of his granddaughter, Anna Taliaferro McCrary, state that he was killed while crossing the Potomac on a flatboat, and only a few of his men escaped death.
The sad loss of her husband left Rose Berryman Taliaferro with entire responsibility of her home and the rearing of twelve children. She reared and educated them according to the standards of the old Virginia Colony; breathing into their lives love in its truest form; love for their fellow man; love for their country; and love for their God. Several of her sons and grandsons served with honor and distinction in t he Revolution; one son, Dr. John Taliaferro, being not only a soldier, but a prominent physician, and a Baptist Minister. In her declining years she could have pointed to these boys with pride and said "These are my Jewels". Her parents could not have chosen a more fitting name for her than ROSE. In the garden of life she lived and grew and bloomed, not only for herself, but for the pleasure of others. Her memory reflected the beauty of the name she bore; her love the sweetness; her life the purity of the rose. Though she sleeps today in an unmarked grave, she is not forgotten. She was the mother of Dr. John Taliaferro, she cared for him through the tender years of childhood and moulded his character into a life of usefullness and good deeds. It was at her knee that he prayed his first prayer, and it was doubtless through her Christian influence and training that he became the great physician solider and minister that he was. How precious are the memories that around her dead name play! And a love, like incense rises for his mother. She found a way to pass all barriers; her love could bridge the distance that years and space had made; her prayers have opened Heaven's door for those for whom she pled; she knew their weaknesses and strength, and their deepest needs.
The following is the ancestry of Rose Berryman; it will be remembered that she was Berryman on one side and Newton on the other.
Berryman: Devonshire Pedigrees state that arms were granted to the Berryman family in 1575. John Berryman of Berri, and his wife, Eleanor Dare of Upcott, had a son John de Berrie (John Berryman) who married in 1605 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Fulford de Fulford, who traced his lineage to Robert Challons.
John Berryman grandson of John and Elizabeth, was the first of the family to come to America from England, settling in Westmoreland Co., VA in 1654. He married Miss Tucker of Va. and had an only child, Benjamin Berryman.
Benjamin Berryman held many offices in the Colony, being Gentlemen Justice; Attorney in Stafford and King Geoge Counties; Sheriff of Westmoreland, Capt. and Major. He married Elizabeth Newton, only daughter of John Newton and his second wife, *Rose Tucker Garrard, of Westmoreland Co., VA Benjamin Berryman's will dated Aug. 4, 1729; probated Aug. 27, 1729; Elizabeth Berryman's will dated June 14, 1762; probated Feb. 22, 1762.
*(Hello, I saw this page, and would like to point out, perhaps so some
editorial comment could be made for the sake of accuracy. Rose (widow of
Tucker and Gerrard (not Garrard) was not John Newton's 2nd wife. She was,
in fact, his 4th wife. Thanks, and Cheers, Gregg) "Bonner, Gregg" <gbonner@smhrimsx.mhri.med.umich.edu>
___________________________________
Someone was questioning who Jane Taliaferro's parents might be (who
married Francis Whitaker Taliaferro:
The Ancestry and Posterity of Dr. John Taliaferro by Willie Catherine Ivey states:
There were several "Hay Taliaferros" in the immediate neighborhood. Hay of Piedmont called BLEINHEIM HAY to distinguish him from Hay of Cheerful Hall, whose brother Francis Whitaker Taliaferro, had married Jane Taliaferro of BLENHEIM the sister of the first named Hay, Elizabeth, the stepmother of Nicholas Taliaferro, was the sister of Hay of Cheerful Hall, of Francis Whitaker (who inherited Epson) and of Col. Lawrence Taliaferro of Rose Hill.
*****but mentions that the parents of the BLENHEIM strain would either
be a Charles or a John.
_______
Second source for Benjamin: “Taliaferro Family History” by Charles
Taliaferro of San Diego
Charles Taliaferro (son of Captain Richard and Rose Berryman Taliaferro and Isabel McCulloch Taliaferro had issue:
1. Richard Taliaferro born in AMHERST May 23, 1759; died in 1806;
served in the Revolution as Captain in t he Continental Line; removed to
South Carolina, and was clerk of Chester County and afterwards lived in
York District, South Carolina; married ____.
2. Charles Taliaferro of AMHERST, born March 29, 1761; served several
campaigns in the Revolution, and was at the siege of Yorktown; appointed
Justice of Amherst 1798; several years a member of the House of Delegates
and State Senate; married Lucy Loving.
3. Peter Taliaferrro born March 4, 1763; died unmarried July 4, 1785.
4. John Taliaferro born May 4, 1765; died Nov. 24, 1809; married Elizabeth
Loving.
5.Zachariah Taliaferro, born Sept. 3, 1767; died Sept. 12, 1823 in
Louisiana, married ___ and had one son,.
6. Benjamin Franklin Taliaferro, born June 9, 1770; married Mildred
Franklin, daughter of Major Franklin of AMHERST.
7. William Taliaferro born March 17, 1772; died 1805
8. Sarah Taliaferro born August 16, 1774, married ___ Loving and died
in Logan Co., KY in 1844.
9. Roderick Taliaferro of LYNCHBURG born May 16, 1777; married ___
Price.
10. James Taliaferro born April 12, 1779; moved to TENNESSEE
11. Rose Taliaferro born Jan. 2, 1783; married ____ Loving and
moved to TENNESSEE.
Now have typewriter/computer neck cramps - ho ho - typed this real fast - please change any typos. Think I got the dates right - if not you can computer yell at me!
Last chance to a computer for awhile with unlimited time. Make hay while I can, huh! More hopefully, later.
RESEARCH
MARGARET S. STUBBLEFIELD (mscotstub@juno.com) is a subscriber to MOORE NEWS and collected the information below which she sent to us. Many thanks, Margaret for this contribution to TT. It’s always interesting to me when these two families connect - but then, there were so many Moores (more percentage wise earlier than later) that they probably connect to everybody.
****Since you edit the Taliaferro Newsletter perhaps you would be interested in this. My Rice Moore, probably son of James, who was born 1730 or before, married Elizabeth Madison in Halifax VA. She was the daughter of Roger Madison, b before 1714, and Elizabeth Taliaferro who were probably married in Caroline Co. Elizabeth T., b about 1710, was the dau of Robert Taliaferro III and Margaret French, dau of Hugh French & Margaret ( ) Prosser Miller. Robert T. III was the son of Robert Taliaferro II and Sarah Catlett dau of Col. John & Elizabeth Underwood. Robert Taliaferro II was the son of Robert I and Catherine Debnam dau of Wm. This info is not my personal research but rather taken from recent articles in THE VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST.
Roger Madison left a will, where we learn that he had one dau named
Margaret French Madison, who never married. He also had 3 grandsons
with the first name of Taliaferro, 2 mentioned in the will. He left
a slave to each of his daughters & household goods to Margaret and
the rest to his only son Ambrose. Roger was apparently the youngest son
of John Madison & Isabella Minor Todd, who were g grandparents of the
President.. I did call the Roger Madison will to the attention
of one of the major T. researchers and I also have a draft of a book on
Hugh French.
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BARBARA BILLINGSLEY (barbara@surfsouth.com) brings up an issue which
is like old soldiers - they never die. This is the erroneous
information that Robert Taliaferro, the immigrant, married Sarah Grymes.
I think TT subscribers now understand and agree that she was Katherine
Debnam whose step-father was Charles Grymes. But the misidentify
remains out there in published versions of the Taliaferro history, so it
is good that we have this new opportunity to squash the bad and illuminate
the good information. Barbara, in raising her questions presents
both the good and the bad. Thanks a lot, Barbara. This is a good
reminder of where we’ve been and the misconceptions we’ve been able
to clarify.
****I would like to understand the confusion about Sarah Grymes and Katherine Dedman. I am sending you a portion of an article that was published in THE VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY, Volume 56 contents for the year ending December 31, 1948 published by the Virginia Historical Society, page 208.
Every now and then a reference in the body of a deed reveals a startling fact that throws unexpected light on a tradition, or claim, that has long been accepted as fact. Such a discovery has been my recent lot and it would seem to definitely settle the question of the identity of the wife of Robert Taliaferro, I, the Immigrant. She has long been placed as Sarah, daughter of the Rev. Charles Grymes (1612/3-1662/3), who was born in Igtham, Kent, England, and who died in Virginia, matriculated at Cambridge at the age of 18 in 1631. In Tyler's Quarterly, vol. XXI, pp 83-84, it is shown by me that the wife of the first Robert Taliaferro was not Sarah, but Katherine (Sarah being the wife of the second Robert; and nee Catlett). On November 20, 1672, "Mrs. Katherine Taliaferro" was granted 600 acres of land for the transportation of 8 negroes and 4 English servants "which rights I doe hereby assigne over to my son Robert Taliaferro." (Rappahannock County records D.B. 5, p. 99.) Since Katherine Taliaferro received this patent it would seem that she was a widow and therefore Robert Taliaferro, I, had died before this date. The Rev. Charles Grymes died 1662/3 and left a will which was offered for probate by his widow, Katherine Grymes, who on August 26, 1678, as his executrix, was sued by Thomas Godlington of London. (See Tyler's Quarterly, vol V, p. 260.) Although the record of the proving of the will of the Rev. Charles Grymes does not appear, his widow Katherine must have finally succeeded in proving its validity, for on August 9, 2822, in Essex County Court, Robert Taliaferro, III (grandson of Robert Taliaferro, I, and Katherine, his wife) sold to Augustine Smith 200 acres of land "part of 600 acres formerly granted to Mr. Charles Grymes September 4, 1654 and by his last will and testament bequeathed to Katherine Dedman, grandmother of the said Robert Taliaferro." (Essex County records D.B. 12, p. 426). On August 9, 1692, John Smith, of Ware Parish, Gloucester County, made a deed to John Taliaferro, of St. Mary's Parish, Gloucester County, made a deed to John Taliaferro, of St. Mary's Parish, Essex County, for 200 acres of land, "the one half moiety of the land taken up by Charles Grymes, dec'd, November 22, 1661, and bequeathed by him to Mary Dedman. (Essex County records, Book I, p. 40.) On June 20, 1726, Samuel Hoyle deeded to Samuel Skinker, both of King George Co., 300 acres of land, "part of a patent of 600 acres taken up by Charles Grymes on September 4, 1654, who by his last Will & Testament Gave and Bequeathed one Moiety or half of the said patent to his Daughter in Law Ann Dedman which said Ann intermarried with a certain Edward Hoyle by whom she had issue the above named Samuel Hoyle, party of these presents." (King George County records, D.B. I, p. 361.) From this we see that Katherine, wife of Robert Taliaferro, Ann, wife of Edward Hoyle, and Mary Dedman were sisters and daughters of Katherine, wife of the Rev. Charles Grymes, by a previous marriage and hence step-daughters ("daughters-in-law" in the 17th and 18th century use of the word) of the Rev. Charles Grymes. Katherine Grymes was evidently the widow of Henry Dedman (or Deadman, the name is spelled both ways) who was granted 350 acres of land in Rappahannock River June 27,1650. (Cavaliers and Pioneers, p. 191.) On November 18, 1653, Henry Dedman was granted 400 acres in Lancaster County bounded with the land of Mr. James Bagnall and with another tract now in the possession of the said Deadman; 150 acres by right of a patent granted him for 350 acres June 27, 1650, which is relinquished to make this good, and 250 acres for the transportation of 5 persons. (Ibid., p. 245.) On March 17, 1663, Capt. George Bryer and Richard Lawrence were granted 300 acres in Rappahannock County, "extending along the creek side to the head of Parson Grymes" (sic). (Ibid., p. 467.) On March 16, 1663/4 Bryer and Lawrence were granted 3,000 acres in the same county "extending along the creek side to the land of Charles Grimes, dec'd." (Ibid., p. 527.) This latter grant is probably a regrant of the patent of the preceding year, and, if the Rev. Charles Grymes was not dead at the time of the first patent, he was certainly deceased when the second grant was made. On June 4, 1652, Henry Dedman made bond for 8,337 lbs. of tobacco to Richard Bennett. On February 19, 1652/3, he gave a heifer to his son; October 24, 1653, he had 3 tithables; February 6, 1654/5, he was taxed with 2 tithables; and June 6, 1655, he was deceased and Richard Perrott was his administrator. (See Fleet's Lancaster County Court Orders 1652-1655.) In the absence of more direct reference it is certainly permissible to place Katherine, wife of the Rev. Charles Grymes, as the widow of this Henry Dedman and as the mother of Katherine Deadman (who married Robert Taliaferro, I). Ann Deadman (who married Edward Hoyle) and Mary Deadman. This was written by John Bailey Calvert Nicklin, P.O. Box 148, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
>From this article it is clear to me that Katherine Dedman was the widow
of Henry Dedman and married Rev. Charles Grymes. Katherine and Henry
had a daughter, Katherine, who married Robert Taliaferro, I, the Immigrant.
I know other records show Robert being married to Sarah Grymes. I
can understand how the Grymes name came into the picture but what about
the Sarah? Please clear this up for me.