Descendants of Elizabeth Harwood Semple

1. ELIZABETH HARWOOD 6 SEMPLE (JAMES5, JOHN4, JAMES3, ROBERT2, ROBERT1)1,2 was born 1795 in Virginia2,3, and died September 27, 1870 in Orange County, Virginia4. She married (1) WILLIAM B. POWER5. He was born Bet. 1775 - 17946, and died Bet. 1820 - 1827 6,7. She married (2) REV. MADISON PETTIS 8 1827 9, son of JOHN PETTIS and MARTHA. He was born Abt. 1793 in Virginia 10,11.

Notes for ELIZABETH HARWOOD SEMPLE:
According to Elizabeth Hawes Ryland's manuscript, "History of the Semple Family of Scotland and America," "Eliza was reared by Judge James Semple of New Kent County, who left her a fortune."

York County, Virginia Guardian Accounts, 1780-1823, p. 237:
Eliza became the ward of James Semple on March 3, 1806. He drew funding from the estate of her father to ensure her care and education. He charged approximately $100 to $150 per year for her bed, board and washing. She was educated by Mrs. Royall at a cost of $8 in 1806. She was taught by Mrs. Pagand in 1807 for $10 which included tuition and books. In 1808 Eliza was a student of Geo: Blackburne at the cost of $40 per year. Her wardrobe included bonnets, gowns from Donaghreys and from Richmond, many sundries at Blocks, bolts of blue and white silk, flannel, gingham, linen, holland and muslin, ribbons, buttons, needles with which to sew, high heels and other shoes, $3.00 was paid for the setting of her father's hair (I would assume in a piece of jewelry which was customary at the time) and cotton stockings. Eliza also travelled while living with Mr. Semple, at least to King and Queen and King William Counties, some of this travel by stage. Also, while she was living with him Eliza's inheritance from her father's estate grew through the hiring of his slaves and the rent and sale of his properties. James wrote to the Court on on occasion, "the woman Milly is raising a fine family of children + they will begin shortly to hire." He seems to have taken an active role in protecting her inheritance and making it prosper until settling the account in 1811, I would assume when she married William Power.

Eliza inherited slaves by the name of Massey, Tom and Susan from the estate of her deceased grandfather, John Semple. Her father was also deceased with Eliza as his own child. She therefore inherited the property as his rightful heir. The problem is that her husband treated the slaves as his own and involved them in a deed of trust [see William B. Power's notes]. When he died, the slaves were considered part of his estate and not Eliza's. She should have been entitled to the money since it came from her family. However, when she got remarried her children with Mr. Power wanted the money since it was their father's legally."

On July 28, 1845 Eliza Pettis made a desperate plea to the chancery court deciding her fate in the case Pettis vs. Power [see notes for William B. Power]. Eliza claimed that she owned about $1,000 worth of property in her own right, including a slave named Nancy, that she had with William Power when she married Madison Pettis. However, Pettis "has squandered and ungenerously appropriated them to his individual purposes and has for some years forsaken and abandoned her now with five helpless children the offspring of their marriage and all of which are destitute of any aid...from the said Pettis in the means he possessed himself of in the right of his said wife..." Basically she pleaded with the court to give her some money from the slave sales of William Power's estate to support her and her helpless children because Madison ran off with all that she had. However, the court was unsympathetic because her children with Mr. Pettis were not entitled to anything. She was given one-sixteenth of the sale but that was equivalent to $52.19.

Letter dated "Williamsburg June 27 1851" and held at the Library of Virginia, part of accession no. 24193:

"My dear cousin Susan - Sallie's school is now over and she will go to Richmond on the first of July but cousin William must suit his own conveniences in sending for her as it will be no matter about her staying a week or two with her brothers - she never was so far from home before and of course will need the guidance of a friend therefore my cousin let me beg of you to act by her as you would by your own, for I know she is very thoughtless yet a word will be sufficient as she has always been ruled by affection - I almost enjoy her the pleasure she will have you know not how glad I would be if I could but go and spend one week with your beloved family - if I can I shall try and go to Richmond in September to bring Sallie home but it is always so difficult for me to leave home that I should not be surprised if I did not - I hope you have in timely recovered your health and that you are now enjoying all the happinesses that a devoted mother and wife feels in the assurance of having done her duty and that your last days may be crowned with the blessings that David speaks of in having many children - I want to see you and cousin William with them all around you, once more - and to feel as I have felt that I was with friends in deed - Eliza's health is greatly improved she writes word, when she left me thought it was likely I never should see her again but it has pleased God to raise her up and I feel truly thankful she says she is vary happy and that every thing that affection can dictate is done for her in the house of his parents who are indeed such to her - tell Mary she owe's me a letter I thought she promised to write oftener, but think she must have forgotten us remember me to Catherine tell her I should be delighted to go to see her, but she must love Sallie for my sake as she says she hopes to stay some with her during her long visit - my dear Aunts health is very feeble, she has moved so far up the county that I scarcely ever see her so that I feel like one left almost without relatives Willie sends his love to you all he wants very much to go with Sallie - but I tell him he must be a clever fellow and when he is a man he can go - he will spend his vacation in Norfolk with Judson, so that I shall be quite alone Sister Jones was to see me last week she is well and desired to be remembered to you, I like her very much indeed she appears to be an excellent lady - Henry's wife has a sweet baby they call it Lucy Frances you never saw a greater pet than it is with us all - Sallie joins me in love to all and bids me say that she is anxiously looking forward to the time when she will be with you - I cannot tell you cousin Susan how much I feel about her, now that I have gone so far in educating her for a teacher I do not know how I shall ever give her up to go from me, for her love is the greatest earthly blessing I have and I can but hope that God will open a way for her to do without - She will have to go another year to school although it will be a hard scuffle for me to keep them both at school yet I shall try although Willie is very anxious to go to some business do write to me after Sallie is with you and let me know how she behaves - but I feel she will be in good hands not only with you but I can entrust her to one who has promised to be a father to the fatherless remember me to any who may ask after me not forgetting dear sister Fox good bye my dear cousin I remain your truly E Pettis"

Religious Herald, October 27, 1870:
"Departed this life, on the 27th September, 1870, at the residence of W. F. Brooking, Esq., in Orange county, Va., MRS. ELIZA PETTIS, of Williamsburg, Va., in the 75th year of her age. She was spending a part of the summer with her daughter, Mrs. Brooking, as was her custom yearly, and had been unwell from some days before her death, but was considered much better, and expected in a short time to return to her home. The night on which she died she retired as usual, and was found dead the next morning, with her little grandson (who accompanied her on her visit) sleeping by her side. So quietly did this saint of God pass away to her rest, that others sleeping in the same room with her were not aware of it until morning. She lived a holy life - her end was peace. Sister Pettis leaves seven children to mourn the loss of a mother, such as few have been blest with. They are all settled in life, heads of families, all pious, and one of her sons a minister of the gospel. She was baptized in York river by her uncle, Rev. Robert Semple, in the summer of 1822, which makes her 48 years a member of the Baptist church. She loved the church to which she belonged, and was devoted to its interests. She was beloved by, and enjoyed the confidence of, all her brethren as well as the community generally. We feel that she is a loss to us, but her holy life assures us that our loss is her gain. May her children, her brethren and friends be prepared to meet her in heaven, is the prayer of her PASTOR."

More About ELIZABETH HARWOOD SEMPLE:
Baptism: 1822, York County, Virginia 12
Cause of Death: died in her sleep 12

Notes for WILLIAM B. POWER:
William and his family lived in York County at the time of the 1820 census. He was the owner of five female slaves.

In 1822, William Power entered into a deed of trust with John F. Bryan and Frederick B. Power involving several slaves that his wife inherited from the estate of her grandfather, John Semple. Upon Williams death, the slaves were to be sold for the support of his children. However, William died but the slaves were never sold as ordered. His oldest sons, James and John borrowed against their inheritance from their uncle, Frederick B. Power. In 1841 the slaves were finally sold and the money divided. William's wife Eliza, who had since remarried to Madison Pettis, argued that she was entitled to part of the money seeing as though they were he grandfather's slaves. She and Madison wanted her to receive the one-third due her by right of dower. I feel that Madison pressured Eliza to make the suit and that she was less interested in doing so. However, Madison left Eliza during the proceedings so the one-sixteenth that she was eventually awarded went into a trust in her name via John F. Bryan.

Notes for REV. MADISON PETTIS:
In 1830 Madison and his family were living in James City County, Virginia, at which time he owned eight slaves. He seems to have been a Baptist minister in York County during the years 1833 and 1834, conducting at least two weddings in that county.

Madison apparently abandoned his family sometime in the early 1840s. In a letter to her cousin Susan in June of 1851, Eliza Pettis wrote about her daughter Sallie spending the summer in Richmond with family. She acknowledged her thankfulness that in cousin William she could "...entrust her to one who has promised to be a father to the fatherless." Madison may have gone to Orange County, Virginia and began living with a woman named Sarah Highlander. Madison was listed as the head of her household in 1850. She had four children named Samuel age 8, Thomas age 7, Josephine age 3 and Pamelia L. Highlander who was one month old. In 1860 they were all listed as Pettuses including Madison age 56, Sarah age 45, Samuel age 18, Thomas age 16, Pamelia L. age 10 and Rebicah Pettus age 1.

There was a land purchase between a Madison Pettis and a John Dodd there in 1843. This land purchase corresponds with the time our Madison Pettis left his wife and children so I believe it is the same person. However, by 1844 this Madison had run up debts and had to use the land in a deed of trust to pay them off.

More About MADISON PETTIS and ELIZABETH SEMPLE:
Marriage: 1827 13
Separation: Bet. 1841 - 1845 13

Children of ELIZABETH SEMPLE and WILLIAM POWER are:
i. JAMES F. 7 POWER 13, b. Bet. 1810 - 1820 14; d. Aft. 1845 15.
ii. JOHN W. POWER 15, b. Bet. 1810 - 1820 16; d. Aft. 1845 17.

Notes for JOHN W. POWER:
According to a property agreement written by John on October 29, 1838, he would be attending school in Richmond. He had borrowed against the estate of his deceased father from his uncle Frederick B. Powers. This document signed over his inheritance to pay off two previous loans and "any monies he may send me this winter to aid in my education in Richmond."

iii. HENRY S. B. POWER 17, b. Abt. 1823, York County, Virginia 18; d. Aft. June 1850 18; m. SUSAN A. C. TAYLOR 19, Abt. November 30, 1848, York County, Virginia 19; b. Abt. 1826, York County, Virginia 20; d. Aft. June 1850 20.

Notes for HENRY S. B. POWER:
Samuel Sheild was Henry's legal guardian after his father's death. In 1850, Henry was working as a farmer and owned $1,200 worth of real estate. It seems that perhaps his mother-in-law and possibly his wife's brother was living with he and Susan at that time.

More About HENRY POWER and SUSAN TAYLOR:
Bondsman: John H. Morrison 21
Marriage: Abt. November 30, 1848, York County, Virginia 21
Marriage bond: November 30, 1848, York County, Virginia 21

iv. ROBERT B. S. POWER 22, b. Bef. 1827 22; d. Bef. 1841 22.

Notes for ROBERT B. S. POWER:
His name was likely Robert Baylor Semple Power - this is only a guess but it would make sense. Robert Baylor Semple was the child's great uncle, a prominent Baptist minister. This child died in infancy.

Children of ELIZABETH SEMPLE and MADISON PETTIS are:
v. ROBERT BAYLOR 7 PETTIS 23, b. July 1829, York County, Virginia 24,25,26; d. July 06, 1908, Richmond, Virginia 27; m. (1) MARY JANE HANKINS 28, Abt. December 05, 1850, Richmond, Virginia 28; b. Bet. 1830 - 1831, King William County, Virginia 29,30; d. August 02, 1864, Richmond, Virginia 31; m. (2) MARIA LOUISA BRANCH 32,33, October 16, 1867, Richmond, Virginia 34; b. November 1836, Chesterfield County, Virginia 35,36; d. September 17, 1915, Richmond, Virginia 37.

Notes for ROBERT BAYLOR PETTIS:
Robert was well-educated and entered the carpentry trade as a young man. He moved from Williamsburg to Richmond, Virginia around 1850 and started his family. Robert served as an officer for the local defense troops during the Civil War, rising to the rank of first lieutenant. After the war, he served Richmond in various capacities, having been for nine years deputy inspector of customs, serving under Presidents Cleveland, McKinley and Roosevelt. He owned a lovely home at 623 Holly Street, now demolished, and has a large tombstone and family plot in Riverview Cemetery.

More About ROBERT BAYLOR PETTIS:
Burial: July 07, 1908, Riverview Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia 38
Cause of Death: complication of diseases 39

Notes for MARY JANE HANKINS:
Mary may have been the daughter or sister of Oliver P. Hankins. She is buried in an unmarked grave in Shockoe Cemetery.

More About MARY JANE HANKINS:
Burial: August 03, 1864, Shockoe Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia 40,41
Cause of Death: typhoid fever 41

More About ROBERT PETTIS and MARY HANKINS:
Marriage: Abt. December 05, 1850, Richmond, Virginia 42

Notes for MARIA LOUISA BRANCH:
Maria was a Drake widow.

Maria was able to read and write. She was married to a Drake before Robert Pettis. According to the 1900 census, Maria was the mother of four children, two of which were deceased at that time. I believe that Maria suffered with nephritis for some time before her death.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 19, 1915:
"MRS. LOUISA B. PETTIS - Mrs. Louisa Branch Pettis, widow of Captain Robert B. Pettis, died at her home, 623 Holby [sic.] Street, Friday morning at 8 o'clock, aged seventy-eight years. She is survived by the following children: J. P. and G. W. Pettis, of Richmond; W. B. Pettis, of Cairo, Ill.; Mrs. N. W. Glasgow, and Mrs. M. A. Clark, of Richmond; and Mrs. L. T. Royall, of Washington, D. C."

"PETTIS - The funeral of MRS. LOUISA BRANCH PETTIS, widow of Captain Robert B. Pettis, will take place SUNDAY AFTERNOON at 4 o'clock from her residence, 623 Holly Street. Interment in Riverview."

More About MARIA LOUISA BRANCH:
Burial: September 19, 1916, Riverview Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia 43
Cause of Death: chronic interstitial nephritis 43
Medical Information: acute dilation of the throat 43

More About ROBERT PETTIS and MARIA BRANCH:
Marriage: October 16, 1867, Richmond, Virginia 44

vi. JUDSON R. PETTIS45, b. Bet. 1828 - 1832, Williamsburg, Virginia 45,46; d. Aft. June 1870 47; m. (1) JANE 48, Bef. June 1850 48; b. Abt. 1830, Virginia; d. Bef. June 1860 49; m. (2) ANNA DECORDY 50, April 26, 1861, Norfolk, Virginia 50; b. Bet. 1839 - 1842, New York, New York 50,51; d. Aft. June 1870 51.

Notes for JUDSON R. PETTIS:
Judson worked as a house carpenter, more specifically a sash and blind maker. He was also a soldier in 1861.

More About JUDSON PETTIS and JANE:
Marriage: Bef. June 1850 52

More About JUDSON PETTIS and ANNA DECORDY:
Exact location: a residence 53
Marriage: April 26, 1861, Norfolk, Virginia 53
Marriage license: April 26, 1861, Norfolk, Virginia 53
Married By: A. J. Coffman 53

vii. ELIZA S. PETTIS 54,55, b. Abt. 1830, York County, Virginia 56; d. Aft. September 1870 57; m. WILLIAM FLEMING BROOKING 58, January 22, 1851, Liberty Mills, Orange County, Virginia 59; b. November 03, 1823 60; d. Abt. November 1892 60.

Notes for ELIZA S. PETTIS:
Eliza apparently became very ill shortly after her marriage. Her mother wrote to cousin Susan of Richmond in June of 1851 to say that "Eliza's health is greatly improved she writes word, when she left me thought it was likely I never should see her again but it has pleased God to raise her up and I feel truly thankful she says she is vary happy and that every thing that affection can dictate is done for her in the house of his parents who are indeed such to her."

Marriage Notes for ELIZA PETTIS and WILLIAM BROOKING:
Richmond Whig and Public Advertiser, January 31, 1851:
"Married - At Liberty Mills, Orange County on Jan. 22, by Rev. Joseph Earnest, William F. Brooking, to Miss Eliza S. Pettis, formerly of Williamsburg."

More About WILLIAM BROOKING and ELIZA PETTIS:
Marriage: January 22, 1851, Liberty Mills, Orange County, Virginia 61
Married By: Rev. Joseph Earnest 61

viii. SARAH PETTIS 62, b. Abt. 1834, York County, Virginia 62; d. Aft. June 1851 63.

Notes for SARAH PETTIS:
Sallie spent the summer of 1851 in Richmond, staying with various family members. Her mother was putting her through school to be a teacher but worried that Sallie might not make it through her final year. In a letter to her cousin Susan, Eliza Pettis wrote "...now that I have gone so far in educating her for a teacher I do not know how I shall ever give her up to go from me, for her love is the greatest earthly blessing I have and I can but hope that God will open a way for her to do without." I would take this to mean that Eliza did not want Sallie to get married before finishing her schooling. From the same letter we also see that Sallie was a young woman with a wild streak in her. Her mother told cousin Susan that Sallie "...will need the guidance of a friend therefore my cousin let me beg of you to act by her as you would by your own, for I know she is very thoughtless yet a word will be sufficient as she has always been ruled by affection." Eliza closed the letter by requesting that cousin Susan "...let me know how she behaves."

ix. WILLIE PETTIS 63, b. Abt. 1837, York County, Virginia 64; d. Aft. June 1851 65.

Notes for WILLIE PETTIS:
Willie attended school as a child but was restless. His mother wrote to a cousin Susan of Richmond in 1851 stating that "...it will be a hard scuffle for me to keep them both at school yet I shall try although Willie is very anxious to go to some business..." He spent that summer with his brother Judson in Norfolk.

Endnotes

1. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
2. Frederick A. Virkus, The Abridged Compendium of American Genealog, Volume III, (Baltimore, 1968), 161.
3. Robert B. Pettis household, 1900 census, Richmond, Virginia, ED 65, p. 19, ln. 51.
4. Mrs. Eliza Pettis obituary, Religious Herald, October 27, 1870.
5. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
6. Wm. Power household, 1830 census, York County, Virginia, p. 156.
7. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
8. Pettis-Drake marriage register entry, Richmond, Virginia, 1867, p. 92, ln. 17.
9. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
10. Frederick A. Virkus, The Abridged Compendium of American Genealog, Volume III, (Baltimore, 1968).
11. Robt. B. Pettis household, 1880 census, Richmond, Virginia, ED 79, p. 31A, ln. 5.
12. Mrs. Eliza Pettis obituary, Religious Herald, October 27, 1870.
13. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
14. Wm. Power household, 1830 census, York County, Virginia, p. 156.
15. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
16. Wm. Power household, 1830 census, York County, Virginia, p. 156.
17. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
18. Henry Power household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 359.
19. Michael Pollock, York County Virginia Marriages Volume 1 Bonds & Ministers' Returns 1769-1853, (Athens, Georgia, 1994).
20. Henry Power household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 359.
21. Michael Pollock, York County Virginia Marriages Volume 1 Bonds & Ministers' Returns 1769-1853, (Athens, Georgia, 1994).
22. Pettis vs. Powers, etal, Chancery causes, York County, Virginia, index no. 1846-001.
23. Robert Baylor Pettis obituary, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, July 7, 1908.
24. Robert B. Pettis household, 1900 census, Richmond, Virginia, ED 65, p. 19, ln. 51.
25. Robert Baylor and Louisa Branch Pettis tombstone, Riverview Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, c. 1998.
26. Pettis-Drake marriage register entry, Richmond, Virginia, 1867, p. 92, ln. 17.
27. Robert Baylor Pettis obituary, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, July 7, 1908.
28. Pettis-Hankins marriage consent, Richmond, Virginia, 1850.
29. Ro. Pettis household, 1860 census, Henrico County, Virginia, p. 618, ln. 34.
30. George Warren Pettis death certificate no. 1520-17470, Commonwealth of Virginia, 1936.
31. Mrs. Mary J. Pettis obituary, Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, August 3, 1864.
32. Mrs. Maria L. Pettis death certificate no. 205-21161, Commonwealth of Virginia, 1915.
33. Mrs. Louisa Branch Pettis obituary, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, September 19, 1915.
34. Pettis-Drake marriage register entry, Richmond, Virginia, 1867, p. 92, ln. 17.
35. Robert B. Pettis household, 1900 census, Richmond, Virginia, ED 65, p. 19, ln. 51.
36. Pettis-Drake marriage register entry, Richmond, Virginia, 1867, p. 92, ln. 17.
37. Mrs. Maria L. Pettis death certificate no. 205-21161, Commonwealth of Virginia, 1915.
38. Robert Baylor Pettis obituary, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, July 7, 1908.
39. Robert B. Pettis obituary, The News Leader, Richmond, Virginia, July 7, 1908, p. 6.
40. Mrs. Mary J. Pettis obituary, Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, August 3, 1864.
41. Miss Mary J. Pettis interment card, Shockoe Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, 1864.
42. Pettis-Hankins marriage consent, Richmond, Virginia, 1850.
43. Mrs. Maria L. Pettis death certificate no. 205-21161, Commonwealth of Virginia, 1915.
44. Pettis-Drake marriage register entry, Richmond, Virginia, 1867, p. 92, ln. 17.
45. Pettis-DeCordy marriage license, Norfolk, Virginia, 1861.
46. Judson R. Pettis household, 1850 census, Norfolk, Virginia, p. 89.
47. Judson Pettis household, 1870 census, Norfolk, Virginia, p. 156.
48. Judson R. Pettis household, 1850 census, Norfolk, Virginia, p. 89.
49. S. Higginbotham household, 1860 census, Norfolk, Virginia, p. 474.
50. Pettis-DeCordy marriage license, Norfolk, Virginia, 1861.
51. Judson Pettis household, 1870 census, Norfolk, Virginia, p. 156.
52. Judson R. Pettis household, 1850 census, Norfolk, Virginia, p. 89.
53. Pettis-DeCordy marriage license, Norfolk, Virginia, 1861.
54. Eliza Pettis household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 368.
55. Brooking family Bible record, Library of Virginia, Richmond.
56. Eliza Pettis household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 368.
57. Mrs. Eliza Pettis obituary, Religious Herald, October 27, 1870.
58. Brooking family Bible record, Library of Virginia, Richmond.
59. Brooking-Pettis marriage announcement, Richmond Whig & Public Advertiser, January 31, 1851.
60. Brooking family Bible record, Library of Virginia, Richmond.
61. Brooking-Pettis marriage announcement, Richmond Whig & Public Advertiser, January 31, 1851.
62. Eliza Pettis household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 368.
63. Letter from E. Pettus to cousin Susan, June 27, 1851, Library of Virginia accession no. 24193.
64. Eliza Pettis household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 368.
65. Letter from E. Pettus to cousin Susan, June 27, 1851, Library of Virginia accession no. 24193.

Civil War Museum at the Exchange Hotel of Gordonsville

It has been ten days since I last posted anything. You probably thought that I was dead since I have been really good about posting daily as of late. I am still alive but I have been in New York on business and the Holiday Inn that I stayed in did not have Wi-Fi! I think it was supposed to have it but the darn thing was not working during the entire time. It was a pain in some ways but a nice vacation in others.

Tonight we went to the Civil War Museum at the Exchange Hotel in Gordonsville of Orange County. The hotel was built in 1860 and served both the Virginia Central Railroad and the Alexandria Railroad. The main purpose of the hotel was short-lived as it became the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital during the Civil War, caring for nearly 70,000 soldiers by the end of the war. Amazingly only about one percent of these soldiers died at the hospital, around 700 in all. They were originally buried on the grounds but later moved - Confederate soldiers were moved to Maplewood Cemetery and Union soldiers to the national cemetery in Culpeper.

After the war, the Exchange became a Freedman's Bureau Hospital and later returned to use as a hotel. It has now been restored as a museum and historical society of sorts. I did not get to spend much time looking at their collections but the museum seems to have a large reading room with old maps, newspapers and hospital records pertaining to the hospital, hotel, town and county. I imagine if you visited during normal hours, you would be able to view their holdings. They also had a large collection of Civil War-related books and a gift shop.

The reason we went to the Exchange tonight was for a ghost tour, in honor of Halloween. This was their eighth annual tour, taking place on October 24th and 25th. It cost $12 for myself, my wife and our two young children. They gave us free cider and coco plus cookies for the kids. The tour took us through the top two floors of the building, with reenactors in each room. They tried to reenact the death scenes of people who died in the hotel and supposedly now haunt the grounds.

Overall it was okay. I mean, they only do this two nights per year so you cannot set the bar too high. It is probably a major fundraiser for the museum so I can definitely support that. If you are looking for a haunted house or a true ghost tour, this would not have been for you. I mean, if the place was haunted you would never know it with all of the reenactors stomping around. Again, not that anything was wrong, it just was not a ghost tour as much as a history lesson about hospital life and death during the Civil War.

In looking at the museum's website, I did notice that they have a list of the dead. I do not know how complete it is but you can view it by clicking here.

And, just in case you were wondering, I did not see any ghosts. I even got to spend a little quite time in one of the rooms...alone. I was in there for about ten minutes and even tried to provoke any spirits that might have been there. I watch Ghost Hunters on SciFi...I know the deal. I asked them to please make their presence known, to give me some small sign. Once that did not work, I tried to be a little more aggressive and tick off anything that might be there (but again to no avail). If there are any ghosts at the Exchange Hotel, they must have taken the night off.

Book Review: "Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1747-1850" with Last Name Index M-Z

The following is a summary of the last name index, M-Z, of John Vogt and T. William Kethley, Jr.'s "Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1747-1850." Entries show both bride and groom's names, marriage bond or license date and sometimes witnesses, consents and other items of interest. This is a soft cover reprint by New Papyrus Co. of Athens, Georgia of a 1986 original, contains 414 pages plus figures, appendices & fold-out map. Augusta County was formed from Orange County in 1738 and originally encompassed all western lands of Virginia beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains and south of Frederick County. This book contains a total of 5,244 marriage records including bonds, licenses and/or minister's returns.

If you would like to purchase a copy, you can click here to get it at Amazon:

Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1748 1850 (Virginia historic marriage register)

FYI, the book you would get contains all letters A-Z but I broke them up here into two posts so they would not look so long.

Here are two sample entries from the book:

• "Hawkins, Alexander & Jane Guinn 30 Aug 1832; min - William Calhoon"
• "Hays, Richard & Rachel Risk 27 Dec 1792; d. Elizabeth Stuart, who consents wit - Charles Stuart (Stewart) & John Risk b - John Risk min - John Brown - 24 Jan 1793"

The following is a list of names made from the surname frequency index at the front of the book:

Mackaby Madison Mahan Mahon Mahoney Mahony Malcolm Malcom Mandele Mansfield Manuell Mardis Mares Marks Markwood Marshall Martin Marton Masincup Mason Masoncup Massey Massie Masters Mateer Matheny Mathews Maupin Maury May Mayes Mayfield Mayo Mays Maze McAdams McAfee McAlary McAlear McAlery McBride McClure McCaaley McCabe McCadden McCaferty McCaleb McCames McCamey McCampbell McCan McCann McCannon McCarty McCaslin McCauley McCausland McCawley McChesney McClanahan McClaughlin McCleland McClelland McClenachan McClentock McClintic McClintick McClune McClung McClure McColley McCollins McColmick McComb McCommis McCorgar McCorkell McCorkle McCormack McCormick McCoskey McCown McCoy McCray McCreery McCrery McCroskey McCue McCulloch McCullock McCullough McCune McCurdy McCutchan McCutchen McCutcheon McDade McDaniel McDead McDonald McDowell McElroy McElvanny McElwee McElwrath McFadden McFaddin McFall McFarland McFarlane McFeeters McGaffock McGarry McGee McGill McGilvray McGlaflin McGlamery McGlammery McGlaughlin McGraw McGuffin McIlree McIlvain McIntire McIntosh McKamy McKee McKemy McKenny McKensey McKenzie McKesson McKinney McKinny McKitrick McKnight McKoskry McLaughlin McLeas McLeer McMahon McMillen McMinn McMullan McMullen McMullin McMullins McMurtry McNabb McNair McNeil McNight McNutt McPheeters McQuain McQueen McTear McWhorter McWilliams Mede Means Meck Meddings Meek Meeks Mefford Mell Mellen Melrose Melton Menker Menzies Merit Meritt Merit Merritt Mesner Messersmith Messmaker Meyers Michael Michel Michie Middleton Miely Miller Milliken Mills Milsap Milton Mims Mines Minga Mingo Minick Minnick Minnis Miser Mitchel Mitchell Mizener Mizer Moeler Moffet Moffett Moffette Mohler Mohr Moirs Molds Moneymaker Monroe Montgomerie Montgomery Mood Moon Mooney Moony Moor Moore Moorman Moredock Morel Morgan Morrell Morris Morrison Morriss Morrow Morton Mosby Moses Moss Mount Mowbray Mowrer Mowrey Mowry Moyer Moyers Muchmore Muck Mulholland Mulinx Mulnix Mummer Muncy Murphy Murray Murry Meyrs Mynes Myres Nabours Naher Nair Nales Neal Near Nebergall Neere Neighborrgall Neighbourgall Neill Neislon Neizer Nelson Nesbet Nesbit Ness Nest Nevins New Newcomb Newell Newham Newlan Newlen Newman Newton Nichol Nicholas Nichols Nicholson Nickel Nickenson Nickey Nickle Nickoles Nigle Nimerick Nimmo Nixon Noffinger Noland Nolin Noll Nonyer North Norton Nutty Nyman O’Kane Oakley Ocheltree Odell Oder Oehler Offlinder Offlighter Offord Ohrbough Oldham Olinger Oliver Olves Ong Orbison Orbough Orebaugh Orebough Orner Orr Orrele Osborne Ott Ougheltree Overshiner Owens Owie Padget Page Paine Painter Palmer Pannel Pannell Panzle Papper Parent Paris Parks Parmer Parr Parratt Parrent Parris Parry Parson Parsons Pary Pateson Patrick Patterson Patton Pauf Pauff Paul Pauley Paulus Pauss Paxton Payne Peaco Pearce Pearey Pearsen Pearson Peatt Peck Pecker Pecot Peebles Peer Peerie Peery Pelter Pence Pendell Pendleton Pennell Penrose Peples Pepperley Percy Perkey Perkins Perry Peters Peterson Petty Peyatt Peyton Pfifer Phagan Phifer Philips Phillips Pickering Pickle Pickral Pifer Pillson Pilson Pine Pinkerton Piper Pirkey Pitman Pitzer Platt Plecker Plumb Plunket Plunkett Poage Pockrott Poe Poindexter Pointer Points Pollard Pollock Pool Porter Porterfield Posey Potter Potts Poulas Powell Powers Powlas Prewer Price Printz Prior Probst Props Propst Pryor Ptomey Ptomy Puckett Pue Puff Puffenbarger Puffenberry Puffinbarger Pugh Puls Pumphrey Pursell Quick Raab Rabb Rabern Rader Radner Rady Rafferty Ragan Ragen Ragland Raidner Raines Ralston Ramsay Ramsbottom Ramsey Ramsy Randal Randolph Ranicks Ranken Rankin Ransbarger Ransberger Ranson Rapp Rauch Rauly Rawley Ray Rayburn Reaburn Ready Reah Reburne Red Redder Redifer Rediford Redman Redmond Redner Rednour Reece Reed Reese Reeser Reeves Reglor Regon Reid Reidenour Reif Reiff Reignheart Reimensnyder Reiser Reitenour Rennick Repetoe Resley Resors Reubush Revercomb Reyburn Reynolds Rezer Rhea Rhinehart Rhoades Rhodes Rhyan Rice Richards Richardson Richeson Richey Rickett Riddle Rife Rigby Riley Rimel Rine Rinehart Riner Ringuson Rippetoe Ript Risk Ritchey Rittenhouse Ritter Roach Roadcap Roades Roads Roberts Robertson Robinson Robison Rodchers Rode Rodenheizer Rodes Rodgers Rogers Roland Roler Roles Rolestone Roller Rolston Roop Roople Root Roots Rosenbarger Ross Roudabush Roudenbush Rough Row Rowe Rowh Rowland Rowler Royer Rozen Rubush Ruddle Ruff Ruhle Rumbough Runkel Runkle Runnels Runnolds Rupe Rupert Ruple Rush Rusht Rusk Rusmisel Rusmisle Rusmissel Russel Russell Russmassell Rust Rutherford Rutledge Rutlidge Rutt Ryan Ryanhart Ryder Safley Salvage Sampson Samuels Sanders Sandy Sansebough Saufley Saunders Savage Sawyers Saxon Sayers Scantland Schenbly Scholl Schooler Schoue Scott Screle Scribner Scrogden Scull Scylor Seal Searaight Searight Sears Seawright Seftle Seig Seldomredg Seldomridge Sellers Selling Sensabaugh Sensebaugh Sensebough Sensibaugh Seiver Sewall Sewell Seylor Shackelford Shafer Shaffer Shalley Shally Shaner Shank Shankland Shanklin Shannon Sharp Sharret Shaver Shaw Sheaffer Shearley Shedden Sheets Sheetz Sheffer Sheigis Shell Shelley Shelly Shelman Sheltman Shelton Shempe Shepard Shephard Shepherd Sherley Sherly Sherman Sherrets Sherror Shettman Shetz Shewe Shewy Shibley Shickel Shields Shiflet Shiflett Shindler Ship Shiplet Shipman Shipton Shirer Shirey Shirfey Shirley Shoemaker Shoemate Shonk Shore Shoritz Short Shott Shotts Shotwell Shoue Shoults Shoultz Shover Showalter Shown Shreckhise Shreve Shriver Shroader Shropshire Shuby Shue Shuey Shull Shultz Shumate Shura Shutler Shyrigh Siddons Sieg Silings Silknatre Silknitter Silling Sillings Silor Silvers Simbro Simmerman Simmon Simmons Simpson Sims Sink Siron Sisler Sites Sitlington Sively Skelton Skillern Skiner Skyles Slagel Slagle Slanker Slaten Slaughter Slaven Sligh Sloane Slone Sluser Slusher Sly Slye Small Smallshoffer Smiley Smiltzer Smily Smith Snapp Snedgar Sneders Snedicor Sneed Snell Snideman Snider Snodgrass Snyder Solleday Somer Sorrells Sorrels Sours Soughard Southwood Sowers Spangler Spatts Spear Spearing Spears Speck Speers Spence Spencer Sperry Spicer Spindle Spinkle Spitler Sponter Spotts Sprigs Spring Springer Sprinkle Sproul Sprouse Sprowl StClair StJohn Staggs Standforth Stanton Staples Stark Starks Start Staubus Stauffer Staunly Staunton Steel Steele Steigle Stephen Stephens Stephenson Sterlinger Sterret Sterrett Sterrit Sterritt Stevens Stevenson Steward Stewart Sticer Stickleman Stickley Stiegle Stiff Stiles Stockdale Stogall Stofer Stoffer Stokes Stombock Stone Stoner Story Stoudamire Stoutamire Stoutamoyer Stover Strain Strane Street Stribling Strickland Strickler Strine Stoader Strong Stuart Stull Stulzer Stunkard Sturm Suddarth Sullivan Summer Summers Supple Surber Surface Swab Swang Swank Swartsley Swartz Swartzel Swartzley Swats Swatsley Swatzel Swatzley Swearingen Sweed Sweetz Swick Swink Swisher Switzer Swoope Swope Swords Syford Syfort Syler Sylor Symmerman Syple Syrcle Tacket Tackett Talbert Taliaferor Taliaferro Talley Tallman Tally Taner Tankersley Tankesley Tanner Tapp Tarbert Tascott Tate Taylor Teabo Teaford Teagle Teany Tebo Teebo Teeford Tees Teese Teford Teitrick Telfair Telford Temereman Templeton Teney Tennant Tenton Terrell Terrill Terry Teter Tetrick Tevenbaugh Tevenbough Thacker Tharp Thomas Thomason Thompson Thomson Thorp Throp Thurman Tiefenback Tiffany Tinkle Tisdale Todd Toeme Tole Tolmink Tomblinson Tomlinson Toms Toole Torbet Torbett Towberman Towel Towell Towerman Townsend Trainer Trainum Travis Trayer Tremper Trencher Trent Trible Trimble Trobaugh Trobough Trorabaugh Trorebach Trorebaugh Trotter Troughrobaugh Trout Troxal Troxall Troxel Troxell Trump Tucker Tuening Tumbleston Tumblin Tummins Turk Turner Turnins Turnipseed Tuttle Tutwiler Tweedy Tyerie Ulery Ulrick Underwood Usher Ustler Utsler Utz Vachub Valentine Vance Vancent Vanfosen Vanfossen Vanlear Vanosdal Vanosdale Vanpelt Vansical Vanstaven Vantrump Varley Varner Varnum Vauchob Vaughn Venable Vernon Vernum Via Vians Vickers Vigar Vines Waddell Waddle Waddy Wade Wadsworth Wagey Waggener Waggoner Waggy Wagner Wagoner Waid Waide Wakely Wakle Walace Walch Walker Walkup Wall Wallace Walls Walsh Walters Walton Waltz Wandless Wanlis Ward Wardlaw Ware Warley Warner Warren Warrenburgh Warrick Warris Wartsook Warwick Waseman Waserman Washington Wason Waterman Walters Watkins Watson Watts Way Wayland Wayt Wead Weade Weast Weathers Weaver Web Webb Weckle Weed Weeks Weer Wehn Weickel Weiford Weigant Weigle Weikle Weir Weirly Weitzel Weitzell Welch Weles Weller Welsh Wenger Wenner Weri Werley Wesit West Western Weston Wetzel Wheelbarger Wheeler Wheeling Wherley Whetesel Whisler Whisman Whist Whitaker White Whitemore Whitesell Whiteside Whitesides Whitlock Whitmore Whitsal Whitsel Whitsell Whitzel Wickle Wicle Wiekle Wiferd Wikel Wilds Wilen Wiles Wiley Wilfong Wilhelms Wilkerson Will Willfong Williams Williamson Willis Wills Willson Wilson Wily Wimer Wims Windle Windsor Wine Winefield Winegar Winegardner Wineinger Wines Wingfield Winters Wise Wisehart Wiseman Wishart Witherow Withrow Whitsal Witsel Witts Woland Wolf Wolfe Woltz Wolwine Wombledorf Wonderlake Wonderlick Wood Woodall Wooddell Woodell Woodram Woods Woodson Woodward Woolard Woolf Woolwine Worh Woventuery Wright Wyan Wyand Wyatt Wykle Wyms Xaupi Yager Yancey Yancy Yarberry Yates Yeagly Yeaky Yearour Yearouse Yearout Yonas Yorkshire Yost Youel Youell Young Younger Younkard Yount Youstler Youtzler Zahns Zee Zeller Zimbro Zimmerman Zink Zumbro Zwitchel

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Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1748 1850 (Virginia historic marriage register)

Book Review: "Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1747-1850" with Last Name Index A-L

The following is a summary of the last name index, A-L, of John Vogt and T. William Kethley, Jr.'s "Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1747-1850." Entries show both bride and groom's names, marriage bond or license date and sometimes witnesses, consents and other items of interest. This is a soft cover reprint by New Papyrus Co. of Athens, Georgia of a 1986 original, contains 414 pages plus figures, appendices & fold-out map. Augusta County was formed from Orange County in 1738 and originally encompassed all western lands of Virginia beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains and south of Frederick County. This book contains a total of 5,244 marriage records including bonds, licenses and/or minister's returns.

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Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1748 1850 (Virginia historic marriage register)

FYI, the book you would get contains all letters A-Z but I broke them up here into two posts so they would not look so long.

Here are two sample entries from the book:

• "Hawkins, Alexander & Jane Guinn 30 Aug 1832; min - William Calhoon"
• "Hays, Richard & Rachel Risk 27 Dec 1792; d. Elizabeth Stuart, who consents wit - Charles Stuart (Stewart) & John Risk b - John Risk min - John Brown - 24 Jan 1793"

The following is a list of names made from the surname frequency index at the front of the book:

Abernathy Abney Acker Acord Adair Adams Adkins Aerion Agnue Ailer Ailor Ailshire Alistrop Aistrop Akerly Alderman Aldoffer Alexander Alfrod Alfort Alfred Alinger Alison Allason Allbright Allen Allinger Allison Almarode Almenrode Almerode Almonroade Almorode Alor Althaffer Amen Amend Amon Ancell Anderson Andrew Andrews Any Apley Apple Appleby Arbast Arbocast Arbogast Arbuckle Archdaton Archdeacon Arehart Arganbright Argebright Argenbright Arginbright Arion Arisman Armantrout Armentrout Armintrout Armontrout Armstrong Arnall Arnold Ashby Asherd Askins Astal Asten Aston Attershall Aughe Aukes Austin Aylor Bachelor Back Backenstoe Backley Badger Bagby Bailey Bailor Baily Bain Bains Baird Baker Balard Balbzell Baldwin Ball Ballar Ballard Ballew Balman Balmer Balsley Baltzer Balzley Bander Banes Barbour Barclay Bare Barger Barker Barkley Barley Barnes Barnet Barnett Barnhart Barns Barrett Barrigar Barry Bartley Baskin Baskins Batcheller Bateman Bates Baties Batis Battow Baumgartner Bawcutt Baxter Baylor Baynes Bazzle Beal Bealy Beam Bean Bear Beard Beasley Beaten Beaty Beck Beery Beeton Behler Beith Bekane Bell Bengas Benner Bennett Benson Berkeley Berlin Berrier Berry Berryhill Bertrum Besse Best Betty Bibb Bibe Bibee Bible Biby Bickerstoff Bickerton Bickle Bigger Bilheimer Billheimer Billhymer Bing Bingham Bird Bishop Bittle Bitzell Black Blackamore Blackburn Blackeley Blacker Blackmore Blackwell Blackwood Blain Blair Blake Blakely Blakemore Blakly Blane Bleaker Bleakley Bleakly Blear Blewitt Bogas Bohannon Boils Bollar Bolls Bolsley Bolton Bookhamer Boon Boone Booz Borden Boreland Borland Borrigar Bosang Bosserman Boswell Botkin Botkins Botram Bott Bouler Bourland Bowen Bower Bowers Bowls Bowman Bowyer Boyd Boyer Boyers Boyles Boys Braden Bradshaw Brady Brafford Braford Bragg Branaman Brand Braneman Branen Branham Bratten Bratton Brawford Brawley Bray Breckenridge Breckinridge Breden Bredin Breesland Breeze Breezeley Breverd Brew Brewer Brian Brians Brice Bridge Bridger Bridget Bridgett Brien Bright Brightwell Brilhart Brisco Brison Brittain Britten Britton Brobeck Brocius Brockman Brodhurst Brooback Brook Brooke Brooking Brooks Broom Brosius Brothers Brower Browers Brown Brownfield Browning Brownlee Bruback Brubeck Bruce Bruffey Brukmann Brunk Bruntain Bryan Bryans Baryant Buchanan Buckley Buckman Buckner Buks Bulcher Bull Bumgardner Bumgarner Bunch Burch Burdett Burgentine Burges Burgess Burk Burkart Burke Burkentine Burket Burkett Burkhart Burkholder Burner Burnes Burnett Burns Burnsides Burrus Burton Burwell Bush Bushong Buster Butt Byer Byerly Byers Bywaters Cali Cain Calahan Calbraith Calbreath Caldbreath Caldwell Cale Caler Cales Calhoon Call Callaghan Calleson Callison Calvert Cambden Campbell Cameron Campbell Camper Cannady Canole Canote Cantley Caphart Carcofe Carden Carell Carey Cargo Carhart Carico Caricofe Carlile Carlos Carlyle Carnal Carothers Carpenter Carr Carrethers Carrico Carricof Carricofe Carrington Carrol Carroll Carson Carter Cartmill Caruthers Carwell Cary Casaday Cash Cashaw Casidy Caslen Cason Casper Cassady Castleman Catling Caufman Caul Caulk Cave Cawley Cawly Cawthron Cease Cesterson Chambers Chandler Chaplain Chaplin Chapman Cheatham Chestnut Chestnutt Childers Chrisman Christian Christopher Churchman Clark Clarke Clarkson Clayton Claytor Clemans Clemants Clemens Clements Clemer Clemmens Clemmons Clemons Click Clide Cliff Clifton Cline Clinebill Clinedinst Clinetinch Clinginpeel Clinon Cloverfield Cloyd Clyne Clynes Coalter Coatney Cochran Cocke Cockran Cockrell Coffey Coffman Cofney Coger Coiner Colbreath Colbreth Coldbreath Cole Coleman Coley Collins Coltrider Coly Comerford Commens Compton Conal Conell Conklin Connally Connaway Connell Connelly Connely Conner Connor Connoway Conova Conrod Conway Cook Cooke Cooper Coorsy Copehaver Copeland Corby Cord Corry Coruthers Cosley Coughenour Coulter Coursey Cowan Cowdon Cowger Cowman Cox Coyner Craig Craine Cramer Crane Crathers Craun Cravens Crawford Crawn Creek Creiner Cress Cribbins Crick Crickenbarger Crigler Crips Criser Crist Criswell Croan Crobarger Croft Crombaker Crombick Cromer Cromwell Crone Crookshanks Croom Croome Crosby Crosen Cross Crossin Crouch Crouse Croushorn Crow Crowbarger Crown Crum Crumbacker Crumbaker Crump Crumpacker Crumpecker Cullen Cullon Culp Culpt Culton Cumins Cummins Cundiff Cunningham Cup Cupp Cupps Cups Curby Curren Curry Cury Cushing Cushingberry Cusin Dachen Dack Dacke Daft Daggey Daggy Dale Dalhouse Dalton Dameron Dane Daniels Dannell Danner Danser Darow Darst Daugherty David Davidson Davies Davis Davison Dawson Day Deal Deam Dean Deane Deary Decker Decrisen Dedamore Deeds Deemster Deitz Dellon Delly Delman Delter Delzell Demasters Denison Denizen Denney Dennis Dennison Denny Depriest Dequeza Derrough Despar Desper Detamore Detrick Dettemore Devenbough Devericks Deverix Devine Dice Dick Dickenson Dickerson Dickey Dickinson Dickson Dicky Diddle Didell Dietrick Dill Dillan Diller Dillon Dinkle Dinnison Dinsmore Dinwiddie Dixon Doack Doage Doak Doake Dobage Dobbs Dodson Dohine Dohm Doke Dold Dolino Dollen Dollhouse Dolton Donaghe Donehe Donaho Donahugh Donaldson Donally Donalson Donaphan Donavan Donavin Donefin Donnaly Donnell Donnelly Donoho Donovan Doom Dooms Doren Dorman Dougherty Douglas Douglass Douthat Dove Dowell Dowling Downey Doyle Driskell Driver Drum Drumgold Drummond Dryden Dudleston Dudley Duffield Duke Dull Dun Dunahugh Dunbar Dunlap Dunlop Dunn Dunwiddie Duval Dyer Eagal Eagan Eagle Eagon Eakard Eakel Eakerman Eakin Eakle Earhart Earley Early East Eastham Eaton Eccard Eccord Echard Echord Eckard Edde Edgar Edgecomb Edmiston Edmonds Edmondson Edmonson Edmunds Edmundson Edson Edwards Eeast Effinger Egnew Eidsell Eidson Eikord Ekerson Elinger Ellery Ellet Ellinger Elliot Elliott Ellis Elmore Elsey Elstock Emmery Emmett Emmitt Engard Engleman Engleton English Eppard Epply Ergebright Erinaund Ervin Ervine Erwin Erwine Eskrige Estill Estis Etter Eubank Eurick Euritt Evan Evans Eve Evelsizer Everhart Eversole Evilsiser Evy Ewell Ewin Ewing Ewings Faber Fackler Fadely Faegely Fagus Faidley Fairbairn Fairberman Fairburn Fall Falls Fallwider Farish Farmer Farr Farrow Fauber Faucet Faulber Faundree Fauver Fawber Fawcet Fawner Faynsight Feamster Fellers Fellows Felps Fennel Fenton Fertig Fetzer Fielding Fife Fifer Fimster Finely Finla Finley Finly Firebaugh Firebough Fishburn Fishburne Fisher Fitch Fitz Fitzgerald Fitzpatrick Fix Fizar Flack Fleiger Fleisher Fleming Flemming Flesher Fletcher Flinn Flory Flowers Fogel Foglesang Foley Forber Forbes Forbish Forbush Foreman Forer Forrest Forsythe Fort Fortune Foster Fouber Fourber Foutz Fowler Fowtick Fox Fraim Frainer Frame France Frances Francis Francisco Frankam Frankum Franzman Fraser Fravel Frazer Frazier Fream Freed Freeland Freeman Frely French Frenger Fretwell Frey Fridley Friel Frogg Fronsman Fry Fuchs Fudge Fuler Fulks Fuller Fulton Fultz Fulewider Fulwider Funk Funkhoser Funkhouser Funston Fur Furr Gabart Gabbert Gabert Gabhart Gaines Galbraith Galen Galespy Gall Gambell Gamble Gamwell Gerber Gardiner Gardner Garhenour Garmen Garmon Garnes Garnett Garretson Garrison Garton Garvey Garvin Gates Gatewood Gaugh Gay Gayhart Geating Geeding Geeting Gelston Gentry George Geralds Gerhart Gette Gibbons Gibson Gilbert Gilbraith Giles Gilkerson Gilkeson Gillaspie Gillaspy Gilleat Gillespie Gillespy Gilliam Gilliat Gillis Gillum Gilmore Gipson Given Givens Givins Gladden Gladwell Glass Glassburn Glendy Glenn Glover Glutz Goah Gochenauer Gochenour Goff Goin Going Goings Goins Gold Golladay Golloday Gongwer Gonwer Gooch Good Goodlink Goodnight Goodrich Goodwin Gordan Gorden Gordon Gorrell Gowing Gragg Graham Grandie Grant Grass Gratton Graves Gray Greaver Green Greenwood Greer Greever Gregery Gregory Greiner Greiver Greogry Gresham Grever Grice Griever Griffeth Griffey Griffin Griffith Griggs Grigsby Grill Grim Grimm Griner Grinstead Grips Groah Groff Groom Grooms Grose Grove Groves Grow Grub Guffy Guiller Guin Guinn Gully Gum Gunnell Gunning Gutherie Guthrey Guthrie Gutshall Guy Gwin Gwinn Haffner Hafner Hagar Hagarty Hager Hagerty Hain Haines Hains Halbert Haldeman Halderman Hale Hall Ham Hamaker Hambleton Hamd Hamer Hamilton Hamm Hammaker Hamp Hampton Hamrick Hanah Hance Handly Hanger Hanke Hankie Hanlen Hanna Hannah Hansbarger Hansel Hansell Hanzele Hapener Hapner Harbarger Harberger Harbison Hardbarger Harden Harding Hardshell Hardwick Hardy Hare Haring Harland Harlow Harman Harmon Harner Harness Harnest Harnsbarger Harnsberger Haroff Harouf Harouff Harper Harrigan Harris Harrison Harrow Harry Harsbarger Harshall Harshaw Harshman Hart Hartigan Hartman Hartshooke Hartsook Hartzo Harvey Harvie Harzog Hashaw Haskins Haslet Haslett Hassafluck Hasterson Hatfield Hatten Hatton Haup Haupe Hawk Hawkins Hawp Hawpe Hay Haybarger Hayes Hays Hazelip Head Headly Headrick Hearn Hearse Heatherley Heaton Hedebough Hedrick Hedwick Heiden Heise Heiser Heisey Heiskell Heitzer Heizer Helm Helmick Helms Hemp Hempenstall Henderson Hendren Henkel Henkle Henn Henry Hensley Hepler Heppard Herdman Hering Herndon Hernsberger Heron Herpine Herren Herrin Herring Herron Heslet Hess Hesterson Heyden Hibbert Hickell Hicklin Hickok Hicks Hide Hides Hiestand Higgason Higginbotham Higs Hilberd Hildebrand Hill Hillary Hillis Hiltebrand Hincey Hind Hinds Hine Hiner Hines Hiney Hinkle Hinton Hipard Hipes Hippard Hippart Hiser Hite Hively Hizer Hobock Hodge Hodges Hofe Hofert Hoff Hoffert Hog Hogan Hogg Hogsett Hogshead Holderman Holladay Hollaway Hollis Holmes Holt Holton Holtz Homes Hood Hoof Hook Hooke Hooks Hoopman Hoover Hope Hopewell Hopkins Hopper Hopping Horn Horne Hortshough Hottle Houchins Houdashell Houdishell Houf Houff Houghobout Houser Houseright Houston Howard Howdasher Howdeshell Howell Hoye Hubard Hubbard Hudlaw Hudlow Hudson Hueston Huff Huffer Huffert Huffman Hufford Hufman Hugart Hugghart Hughart Hughes Hulet Hulett Huling Hull Hulvey Humbert Hume Humes Humphrey Humphreys Hunley Hunter Hupman Hurst Hushour Husk Huston Hutchens Hutchenson Hutcheson Hutchins Hutchison Hyatt Hycarser Hyde Hyden Hyland Hynes Imboden Ingleman Ingles Ingleton Ingram Insle Irvine Irwin Isaacs Iseman Isenhousher Jackson James Jameson Jamison Jarvis Jenkins Jennings Jewell Joh John Johns Johnson Johnston Jollett Jonas Jones Jordan Joseph Jourdan Journal Judd Jurtz Kaiger Kale Kanely Karahoof Karichoff Karichoof Karicofe Karikoff Karracofe Karricofe Karricoff Kasterson Kaufelt Kayser Kearns Kee Keen Keenan Keener Keenon Keeran Keeth Keiser Keith Keizer Kellar Keller Kellor Kelly Kelsey Kelso Kenady Kendall Kendle Keneday Kenedy Kennaday Kennady Kennedy Kennerley Kennerly Kenney Kenny Kent Keran Kerr Kershe Kershner Kersner Kesseker Kesterson Keys Keyser Kiblinger Kice Kidd Kiger Kilkenny Killian Kilpatrick Kincaid Kinder Kindig Kindred King Kinkade Kinkaid Kinkead Kinnear Kinney Kinny Kinsolving Kiplinger Kiracofe Kirby Kirchkoff Kirchoff Kirk Kirkland Kirkpatrick Kirtley Kise Kiser Kisner Kister Kitch Kite Kline Klingenpeel Klinginpeal Klingingpeel Klutz Knave Knowles Knowls Kohler Koiner Koogler Koontz Kootz Kraun Krawn Krickenbarger Krizer Kroll Krone Krown Kuhns Kule Kunkel Kurtz Kyger Kyle Larue Lafland Lahman Lainey Lair Laird Lamay Lamb Lambard Lambert Lamey Lamms Lanack Lancaster Lance Lanckton Landes Landess Landis Landiss Lange Langford Lankford Lansaw Lantern Lantin Laporte Larew Larner Larrick Lashbaugh Lauks Lavel Lavell Lavender Laverty Law Lawell Lawrence Lawson Laymore Layton Laywell Lea Leaguet Lear Leas Leckie Leddick Ledegay Lee Leedy Leeper Leeser Leffley Lefler Lehman Lemmon Lemmy Lemon Leonard Leopard Lerew Lesley Lessley Lessly Letcher Letshew Levick Levinston Lewis Licks Life Liggett Lightner Likes Lilley Linch Linck Lincoln Lindel Ling Lingsweiler Link Linn Linsey Liptrap Litten Litteral Littlepage Lively Livick Livingston Lobban Lockbridge Lockhart Lockridge Loeffler Loetz Loffties Loftus Logan Lohr Long Lookelbough Looney Loop Loots Lootz Lortz Lott Lotts Lottz Lotz Loucks Loudermilk Louks Louney Loushback Love Lovegrove Lovel Lovell Lovingood Lowdermilk Lowe Lowery Lowman Lowrets Lowrey Lowry Lowtermilk Loyd Lucas Luck Luffler Lukeden Lunsford Lushbough Lusk Lutz Lyle Lynch Lynn Lyon Lyons

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Augusta County Virginia Marriages 1748 1850 (Virginia historic marriage register)

John Pettis of Spotsylvania County, Virginia Revolutionary War pension

Taken from Revolutionary War pension file:

John Pettis was born about 1754 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. He was married to Martha “Patsy” Reynolds by Parson Waugh in the spring of 1782, Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia. He lived variably between Spotsylvania, Caroline and Orange Counties and died in Spotsylvania on July 1, 1833.

John had a sister named Catherine Pettis, born about 1771, living in Caroline County in October 1841. John and Martha had a son, Spencer Pettis, who served as a Congressman from Missouri and was killed in a duel with Major Thomas Biddle.

Martha was born about 1757 and lived in Spotsylvania County before moving to Orange in April 1840. She apparently never remarried and died after August 1848, probably before 1854. Her father lived in Caroline County during the 1790s and taught school.

John was drafted into the Virginia Militia in 1779 under Captain Philip Johnson. He served in Williamsburg and enlisted in the First Regiment, Virginia Line in 1780, serving under Colonel Samuel Hawes, Captain Francis Cowherd and General Nathanael Greene. John marched through North Carolina, fighting at the battles of Guilford Courthouse and Eutaw Springs. He was discharged in Salisbury, North Carolina in January 1782.

John received a $24 pension during his lifetime and his wife continued to draw it for some time. In the 1830s, she applied for a widow’s pension but had difficulty proving her marriage because Caroline County’s records were lost during a fire. Martha eventually received $73.33 per year, starting shortly before she died.