TALIAFERRO/TOLIVER TIMES Volume I, January 4,
1999 Issue 50 SALUTATIONS TALIAFERRO/TOLIVER TIMES Volume I, January 4,
1999 Issue 50 SALUTATIONS
Greetings of the New Year. This will be the last issue of TALIAFERRO/TOLIVER TIMES.
Issues Nos. 49 and 50 - you're bound to say - sure were a long time a coming'. I don't know where the time went. Do you remember the old newsreels - "Time Marches On" - gosh, that was in the 40s!!!! Well that's about how I've been feeling. No sooner do I get one project behind me than another marches up and bellows for attention. Thank you so much, Taliaferros - you have been the most patient and understanding people in my life for about three months now.
Maybe part of the reason the last TT was so long a coming' is because, even though it's time to let go, it is so hard to do. I let go of MOORE NEWS last summer; but that was so that I could compile that gigantic Virginia surname into one bound volume. Even with that objective in mind, it was really tough to lose those wonderful correspondents. With TT, I have no similar future objective, so it's even harder to "let go." I'm going to miss every single one of you. And my mail will lose it's zest because I'm shifting now to about a year of solitary confinement in order to put together the Moore book. As soon as they words are out of my mouth, I realize there really is a future objection for TT . . . . .
THE TALIAFERRO TOUR of THE year TWO THOUSAND
By the time that rolls around, I hope for each and every one of you victory in learning your family history. I guess our search is never done, though, because as soon as we find the next ancestor in the line, he or she has a spouse; and we start from square one again on a new family.
But isn't it an exciting time for us - aren't we fortunate - especially when we pause in our searches to consider that we are the very first generation ever who really has at fingertip the resources to go back in time to discover our heritage. Add to that that the fact we will be the first generation in 1,000 years to observe the change of the millennium. That's pretty impressive, isn't it.
Good News! DEANNA SPINGOLA (deanna@spingola.com) continues to progress in building our web site. If you haven't checked it out yet, you'll find it at the address below. If you lose the address, it should pop up when you enter "Taliaferro" in the Query line.
Deanna and I both bogged down for a while, but we're back at work again and the site
should be complete by the end of the month. In the meantime, about 34 issues are
already posted - or nearly. I'll try really hard to get the last issues to
Deanna this week. She prods me with eager gentleness which I appreciate.
Deanna reported as follows several weeks ago: ***I only have one more issue to upload -
Issue 16. I am anxious to get the rest so that I can get all fifty issues up and
available. Thanks. You can see the Taliaferro Times index at - - -
http://www.spingola.com/TaliaferroTimes/TT.htm
The Editor will be in touch with all of you again six or eight months concerning the April TALIAFERRO TOUR of THE Year TWO THOUSAND. How's that for maxing out the use of "T?"
There's lots of enthusiasm among our group for this event, so please keep our TALIAFERRO TOUR in mind as you plan your calendar for Spring 2000. It's too early now to get those who do this sort of thing in Virginia to focus on the year 2000. They're too involved with preparations for Garden Week 1999 at this time. As soon as things begin to meld a little, I'll let you know of the prospects of success in getting some of these old Taliaferro sites open to us.
Regarding our plans, we have heard from one of our own who sends an unusual and informative response concerning our hopes for a tour of the Taliaferro site on Taliaferro's Mount, home of Robert and Catherine Taliaferro in the late 1600s.
WILMA T. MANGIONE (watm1@juno.com)
*****Joyce, in response to your information about the possibility of visiting Taliaferro's
Mount, I was a student at Mary Washington College in 1984 (my second time as a college
student) studying Historic Preservation. I did an architectural report on the house
which was then (and I assume is now) on Taliaferro's Mount. I took two of my
professors there and hopefully that visit led to the archeological investigation you spoke
of as well as other investigative work on the house. The house I'm speaking of is
indeed a Taliaferro house and is on the property of the original Taliaferro's Mount house
which no longer exists. The original was reported to be larger than Governor
Spottswood's "Enchanted Castle" which was built on Route 3 at
Germanna. The present brick structure on the site, I was told, sits on only a small
part of the old foundation. If you have not found the current owner by now, please
let me know or you certainly could find out from the office of the Department of Historic
Preservation at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg.
I seem to remember that Germanna is most likely the site where John, the Ranger, and the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe stopped to have their horses shod for the rough terrain ahead in their trek to the Shenandoah Valley. (Don't quote me on that. It has been a long time since I did this research. However, I will try to verify it if you wish.) I recall that many of the horses that had come from the Tidewater region did not customarily wear shoes.
I am excited about the Garden Tour of Taliaferro houses and the reunion. Maybe we should form a Taliaferro Society such as the Lee Society. I have friends who go to their annual (?) meetings and find it most enjoyable. Thanks for your continued work!
[JB Comment: Wilma, we will be very grateful to you if you can "introduce" me to a contact within your Mary Washington department. I live only about an hour away from the campus and can drive down to meet with anyone you recommend.
[I agree with the idea of forming a Taliaferro Society (or whatever name might later be deemed appropriate). There is a clear movement in this country, due to the richness of the internet, to reconstitute historical families. Maybe we can formalize this while on our "TALIAFERRO TOUR FOR THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND" is underway - you can tell, can't you, that I'm really taken with the catchiness of using "T" so THOROUGHLY for THIS THEME.]
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Our lovely young Italian college student, Julia to us, but actually GIULIA AUBRY (a.deramo@flashnet.it) wrote some weeks ago to repeat her appreciation for our contributions of stories about Taliaferro women. Her professor became ill, a circumstance that caused an interruption in her work. Hopefully, she is again able to move forward on this project, which is very dear to the heart of TALIAFERRO/TOLIVER TIMES subscribers. You have a big family here in the US that's pulling for you, Julia.
When finished, if your project is online, I'll be happy to serve you and others by telling everyone how to access it. I guess their problem will be the need to translate, but if they're really interested, they can do that. If you discover more about our Tagliaferro family in Italy, I'll also be happy to see that it is distributed to our nearly 300 subscribers - who, I'm certain will be ecstatically happy to receive the information. Or, better still, perhaps we can use your findings as a feature on our web page. Below is another message about ferreting out the family in Italy.
Best of luck to you, Julia, from all of your American friends. We all think you're great and admire your undertaking such a difficult course of study. We are so pleased that you contacted us and hope that you were able to extract some useful information. We're all pulling for your great success.
Below, readers will find a story sent to Julia by Louella concerning a Taliaferro woman. If any of our TT readers have additional information about Taliaferro women, or discover some at a future date, please remember to send it to Julia; or transmit it to me if you've misplaced her address, and I'll forward it along to Julia.
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KEITH JOHN TAGLIAFERRO (KJ@tagliaferro.freeserve.co.uk) speaks to us from
the UK. He uses, we believe, the original spelling of our surname. This is a very
interesting turn of events as we American Taliaferros and Tolivers believe that our
immigrant ancestor, Robert Taliaferro, was the only surviving male of our line in England.
K.J., it would be interesting to know more about your family. It has long been rumored that our Italian ancestor, Bartholomew Taliaferro who was a merchant in London under sponsorship of the Duke of Venice and became a citizen of London about 1585, had a first wife and a son named Francis Tagliaferro or Taliaferro, who remained in Venice. The particulars are very dim and vague. Could it be that after his English Taliaferro family died out, the son Francis came to England? It is notable that Bartholomew had another son named Francis Taliaferro who was born in England, but there are no records that I know of in which he spelled this Francis spelled his name Tagliaferro.
K.J. - - - if you will be so kind as to summarize the ancient history of this family for us, or let me know the cost of copying the history your father compiled so that you can mail it to me to summarize, I would be most grateful - we would all be grateful. I'll be very pleased to see that it becomes part of our new web site, giving credit to you and including a dedication to your father. Please contact me at your convenience << JOYCE BROWNING (JBROWN7169@aol.com) >> to see if we can work something out.
***** Greetings. Your web pages are very interesting re Taliaferro Family History. I own many books that my Father took years to put together re the Tagliaferro history. It follows from Italy to Malta and the 1066 invasion of England. The family Tagliaferro or Taliaferro as you spell it in America have a very exciting and interesting history.
Bye for now.
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Here's a message of interest from DAN JOHNSON (DGUYJOHN@aol.com). If you ever wondered why there are so many Taliaferro/Tolivers still around, read this
****Hi Folks, Gees, always find it interesting to read about the Tollivers. Just a short note. I visited my 2 brothers in law in Florida a few weeks ago and they mentioned that there are quite a few Tollivers in that area. My wife was a Tolliver.
Her family roots start in Soldier, Kentucky, on to Portsmouth, Ohio and then to Bay City, Michigan. My wife's parents have passed on, but she has 8 brothers and 1 sister. Some of these folks live in Perry, Florida, West Palm Beach, Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Boise, Idaho. Most live in Michigan, Portsmouth, Ohio, and Soldier Kentucky. My father in law was George Tolliver and his father was Bert Tolliver. I think its a great idea to get all these Tollivers together. Have a great day.
COLONIAL TALIAFERROS
LOUELLA (MOMANDBEEAaol.com) shares with all of us a Taliaferro woman's history that she sent to Julia. Thanks so much, Louella. Our female ancestors are so difficult to discover and we tend to identify with them only through their fathers and husbands. But let's try not to forget, that half of our genetic character came from the women of our family. We all appreciate this information about Sarah Taliaferro.
*****To Julia: Thought the following may be interesting toward your research - if you are still working on Taliaferro ladies. Sarah Taliaferro's will lists all her children, and she obviously was used to the nicer things in life; however when you look at the inventory of her husband, Richard, it would appear that most of his material possessions were not worth much. A case of Richard marrying well???? I thought the inventory was sad - but enjoyed the will very much. There are a few words that are not exactly as written - the language was very difficult to read. I did the best I could to decipher.
Richmond County, VA Will of Sarah Taliaferro (who is apparently the wife of Richard, son or grandson of Robert the immigrant).
In the name of God, amen, I Sarah Taliaferro of County of Richmond and Parish. of
Hanover do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as
followeth: -- I commend and commit my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth to
be buried at the discretion of my executor, hereafter named and as for my wordly goods, I
bestow as followeth:
-- I bequeath unto my son, Richard, one hundred pounds, 10 sh. in money now in the hands
of Maj. Pozzin (Porrin) (Porzin) Trott in BURMODAS (?)
-- I give unto my son Richard my Negroes Taylor and Governor and Jack and Bojo to him and
his heirs forever.
-- I give unto my son Richard and daughter Catherine, my quarter part of my mother's real
estate in Negroes with their increases to be equally divided between them and their heirs
forever.
-- I give unto my son, Richard, one silver tankard in BURMODAS and four silver spoons here
in Virginia.
-- I give unto my daughter Catherine two silver lorringes (?). [earrings?]
-- I give to my daughter Sarah one half a pint ?) lorringes ? and six silver spoons 10 sh.
are in BURMODAS.
-- I give unto my daughter Sarah one Negro boy called Tom and an Indian girl called Rose
with their increases to her and her heirs forever.
-- I give unto my daughters Catherine and Sarah each of them fivety (fifty) pounds in gold
and silver to be paid them by my executor at the day of marriage or the age of one and
twenty years (w ch) shall happen first.
-- I give unto my son Richard one set of gold buttons.
-- I give to my daughter Sarah one pair of gold shoe buckels (buckles).
-- I give to my son Richard two plain rings.
-- I give to my daughter Sarah one large plain ring and one stone ring.
-- I give to my daughter Catherine one gold ring and one silver bodkin ?
-- I give to my two daughters Catherine and Sarah all my wearing cloaths
(clothes) both here and in BURMODAS to be divided between them.
-- I give to my daughter Catherine and Sarah each of them one feather bed and furniture
and comforpain (comfortors) and three pair of fine sheets. Tho my will is low now
living I have my house be preserved for the use and maintenance of my children. Then
I give to my son Richard one silver headed camo (cameo/cane). Then give to my
daughter Catherine one horse called CALE. Then I give to my daughter Catherine and Sarah
each of them two dishes and dozen of plates H ____tablecloths and dozen of napkins.
The rest of my estate real and personal I give to my son Richard to him and his heirs forever either in Virginia, West Indies or New England or OBSOIPIOZO (OLSIPPIOZE???.
I nominate and appoint my son Richard executor to this my last will and testament. I request my loving and trusty friend Capt. Nick Smith my trustee to take care of my estate not (distributed) till my children come to age. Then I give to my daughter Martha one twelve ? penny pieces of silver.
In witness to this my last will I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th of Feburary (February) 1717
Signed, seald (sealed and declared to be my last will in the Prence of
Fra.
Slaughter
Henry Long
At the Court House for Richmond County the sixth day of August 1718 this will was
proven in open court by the oath of Francis Slaughter one of the witnesses thereof and
admitted to record.
INVENTORY OF RICHARD TALIAFERRO:
Pursuant to an order of Court bearing date of fourth day of Jan. 1715, wo / subscrib(ed)
being first sworn and before - Will Thornton, Justice have appraised all
singular(the estate) of Richard Taliaferro deceased, as produced before us by Mr. Thos.
Turner Administrator whereof here followeth an inventory --
A negro man named Taylor 32 pounds 0 0
a negro man named Govornour 25 pounds 0 0
an old indian woman 15 pounds 0 0
an old pewtor salt 0 0 4
3 tableclothes, 2 towels, & 2 napkins, all old 0 5 0
a frying pan 0 1 6
2 pr. of pott hookes 0 2 0
1 iron ladle 0 1 3
1 pr. of flash forkes 2 pewtor cajons ? and dish
2 cold plates 0 6 3
an old drawing knife and tin funnel 0 0 8
3 iron wedges 0 6 0
2 old siftors, a wood postle & mortar 0 0 4
1 brass, 1 iron candlestick 0 1 6
a stone lugg & 3 3/4 pail 0 3 0
an old cagg (keg?) , a pair of iron spanjolls ? 0 6 0
a sow and 2 piggs 0 10 0
a silver headed camo 0 15 0
a warming pan 0 8 0
2 cows and two year old yearling 4 3 0
an old sorrell hore 3 0 0
an old dark gray horse 6 10 0
a grind stone 0 5 0
a young hores not broke 50 s
an old white hore 40 s 4 10 0
3 old small tables 10 s
10 s of old part wheels
an old wood tubbs with covers
an old broken truck chest
and four old broken chris 0 3 6
an old featherbed coulftor (comfortor) 3 pillos 2 ruggs 2 50
1 pr. old blankets
2 pr pillowcovrs
a pair of curtains and battings 0 12 0
3 bedboards and 3 ells of garlicks 0 15 0
creditt paid by Wm. Jonath Gibson cash 0 2 6
a mare bridle and sash 3
2 old grubbing 40 ? 3 2 0
total 400 13 11
Jonath: Gibson
William Strother
Robt. Harrison
Recorded among the records of Richmond County, the Seventh day of March 1715
[JB Comment: Actually, a personal estate valued at over 400 pounds was not a small one in Virginia of the early 1700s. Most estates were valuable because of land, and later because of land and slaves.]
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In a whole bevy of good and loyal subscribers, none have been as long lasting nor as
supportive as ELREETA WEATHERS (ecw@htcomp.net) and her husband, Ray. We have all
benefited greatly from their support. It is fitting that Elreeta should continue to
play a major role in our effort right up to the end. From all of us, Elreeta, thank you
for your perserverance and intelligent participation.
***Recently, America observed the 136th Anniversary of the Second Battle of Manassas
during the Civil War. The Battle occurred on land originally owned by Thomas
Stribling, I, and his wife Elizabeth Taliaferro Stribling, Sr.
You may visit the Manassas battleground at http://www.nps.gov/mana/events.htm
Elizabeth Taliaferro Stribling, Sr. was a daughter of Francis Taliaferro I, of the Mount,
and Elizabeth Catlett. Francis Taliaferro I was born 1654, VA, and died by 1710,
Essex Co., VA. Elizabeth Catlett was b. 1663, VA, and d. 1710-1717, VA.
Elizabeth was a granddaughter of the Immigrant, Robert Taliaferro, I, and Catherine
Debnam. Robert, the Immigrant, was born 11-11-1625, Bethnal Green, Stepney,
Middlesex, England, and d. before 11-25-1671, Gloucester Co., VA.
Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Stribling and their three oldest sons, Francis, William, and
Taliaferro, were named in the will of Elizabeth's brother, Robert Taliaferro who died
5-9-1726 and whose will was proved in Essex Co., VA, on 6-21-1726.
Thomas Stribling was in VA at least by 1710 where on 4 September,1710, he purchased
clothes in Richmond Co., VA (Commercial Accounts Book, Vol. R-17, p. 65--from George
Taliaferro Stribling). These clothes COULD have been his wedding clothes--so it is
possible that Thomas and Elizabeth were married as early as 1710 in which case Elizabeth
Taliaferro may have been born about 1795 since 15 was considered to be the ideal marrying
age at that time.
On 17 July, 1727, Thomas Stribling received a grant of 1,050 acres near Bull Run, Prince
William Co., VA. According to Mr. George Taliaferro Stribling, this property which is now
engulfed by the city of Manassas, lies on the northwest side of Manassas slopping
northwestward toward the Manassas National Battlefield Park. The log house in which Thomas
Stribling and his wife Elizabeth Taliaferro Stribling, Sr, lived was at the site of the
present Manassas Presbyterian Church, "Rosemont." Later, the home of the Lewis
family occupied the Stribling homesite before it was torn down to make room for the
church. The Lewis family burying ground at "Rosemont" has been preserved and
walled by the church. In addition to Lewis graves, it contains two unidentified
graves set apart from the Lewis graves. Mr. George Taliaferro Stribling is convinced
that these two graves are the graves of Thomas Stribling, Sr., and his wife, Elizabeth
Taliaferro Stribling, Sr.
QUERY
THE PHANTOM (VLTP@aol.com), illusive to the very end, poses a final riddle for us. We've all enjoyed the contributions of The Phantom - Our Phantom - which have always been intelligent and interesting. Thanks so much for your consistent and mysterious appearances, Phantom.
*****In Guns & Ammo/May 1983 there was an article about the inventor of the Thompson Submachine Gun who was Brigadier General John Taliaferro Thompson, d 21 June 1940. He was a West Point graduate and spent most of his army career with the Ordnance Dept. directly involved with the development or improvement of infantry small arms, during the early 1900's. Since my son is in the same line of work (not in the Army), he sent me this article. I have never followed up on just exactly who John Taliaferro Thompson was and how he was related to the Taliaferros.
Does anyone know? Since the gun was legend in WW2 and assuredly helped us win the war, I think this is probably another interesting story about our family.
BRUCE FRANZ (Bruce.Franz@ascfb.wpafb.af.mil) has the last word . . . . And a good one it is. Thanks so much, Bruce.
*****Good morning! I have a couple little things to share, but first I want to thank you for all the work you've done! I'm delighted to find so many Tollivers interested in the family history!
One of them is a "cousin" I found just recently. I told them about the TTT publication and they tried to contact you by e-mail. They may have used the wrong address. I sent it to them a second time and you may still hear from them. Shirley Etz is our cousin, and her husband Bill is helping with research. Their e-mail is << betz@mc.cc.md.us >> . Shirley's grandmother is Polly Ann Tolliver. Polly Ann is the daughter of Terry Tolliver, our ancestor who came to KY from TN. We're still looking for his father.
Just as an aside, my mother says she thinks her uncle Jake Tolliver was the one who started using two L's in our Tolliver family. Terry Toliver's gravestone only uses one L. I've decided it's immaterial, and I know it's all the same family.
The other thing I want to mention is a reunion from my side of the family of the Tollivers in KY, from the descendants of Terry Tolliver. It's scheduled for all day Sunday, 18 October. The best directions I have follow: from Harlan KY cross the Pine Mountain on Rt 421. Continue on 421, and about 10 miles below Helton KY is a fairly new Firehouse or Fireman's Hall, or something like that. It's a two-story structure with a kitchen upstairs where some of the food will be prepared and taken downstairs where tables are set up. I'm sorry I can't be more specific. If anyone wants to contact me I can only provide the same information. I know other people who will be there who are surely more knowledgeable about the countryside!
I have not been to this reunion, and can't see how I can schedule going this year. If I can't go now maybe I can make it next year.
I'll look forward to hearing from you again whenever the next newsletter is published!
[JB Comment: Oh, golly. I don't think I ever did get in touch with your cousin, Bruce. I do apologize, but I added their address to the list and they'll at least receive this last issue. We'll look for you to round up your Kentucky cousins when it comes time for the TALIAFERRO TOUR FOR THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND.]
MISCELLANY
"How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world."
[JB Comment: True to the forgetful, but imminently interested, researcher, I
don't know where I found this little gem. But I liked it and thought I'd share it
with you.]
TALIAFERRO TIMES is compiled from email contributions and other sources. Information
distributed by this newsletter is the sole responsibility of each contributor. Any
questions regarding items contained herein should be sent to the individual
submitter. The editor reserves the right to edit for brevity and clarity.
Distributed by Joyce Browning
cJBrown7169@AOL.com