Saturday, January 17, 2009

Graham family of Virginia & West Virginia

James Graham (1745-1782) married Sarah Farley (1745-1825), daughter of John Farley (1730-1766) and Sarah Cocke (1728-1792) on 12 Feb. 1763 in Botetourt, VA. Together James & Sarah Graham had 10 children (one set of twins):
I. Jesse Graham (1767-1807) m Margaret Wray in 1790
II. Priscilla Graham (1769-?)
III. Robert Graham (1770-1834) m Rachel Delaney on 2 March 1790
IV. Molly Graham (1771-?)
V. Sarah Graham (1773-?)
VI. Sally Graham (1773-?) m Daniel Hicks/Hixon
VII. Elizabeth Graham (1775-1870) m Thomas Jewell in 1796
VIII. Jonathan Graham (1778-1831)
IX. William Graham (1778-1830) m Mary Elkins in 1796
X. Deborah Graham (1780-1850) m Charles Furrow in 1796

Robert and Rachel Graham had 9 children:
I. Thompson Graham (1790-?)
II. Sarah Sally Graham (1794-1850) m George Reed in 1811
III. Nancy Graham (1796-1879)
IV. Samuel Graham (1798-1835) m Judith Christian Daniel
V. James Graham (1798-1880) m Mary Polly Holliday in 1821
VI. John R Graham (1804-1889) m Mary Cock in 1826 and Martha A Owens in 1860
VII. Mariah Graham (1806-1879) m John Howerton (1804-1879) 1 March 1825. They had 6 children. One, Sophia Howerton (1838-1918) married William Anderson McKinney (1836-1925) on 6 March 1856. They had 9 children, one of whom, Martha Texas McKinney (1871-1950) married Robert Thomas Graham (1870-1908) 9 March 1885. They had 7 children together, of which one is Hazel Graham (1896-1918), mother to my Grandmother Sylvia Hammack.
VIII. Elizabeth Graham (1810-1880) m Emery Akers in 1821
IX. Luke Graham (1812-1869) m Mary Duncan (1813-1866) on 25 March 1833 in Wyoming County, VA (now WV).

Luke and Mary Graham settled in Wyoming County, VA (WV) where they raised 7 children:
I. Lewis Graham (1833-1917) m Arminta J ? in 1861
II. James Lee Graham (1836-1880) m Sarah Akers in 1856
III. Hiley Graham (1838-?)
IV. Thomas Graham (1840-?)
V. Robert Graham (1842-?)
VI. Anderson Graham (1844-1903) m Marinda Adeline Shrewsbury (1843-?) on 17 Oct. 1864
VII. Luke Graham Jr. (1849-?)

Anderson and “Rindy” Graham had 12 children (one set of twins):
I. William A Graham (1865-1930)
II. Nancy J Graham (1867-?)
III. Polly E Graham (1868-?)
IV. Robert Thomas Graham (1866-1908) m Martha Texas McKinney (1871-1950) on 9 March 1885
V. Mary Elizabeth (Polly) Graham (1866-?) m Samuel Paris McKinney (brother of Martha T McKinney)
VI. Jno. E Graham (1872-?)
VII. Sarah M Graham (1873-?)
VIII. Luke Graham (1876-1952) m Valeria Susan Kinzer in 1898
IX. Martha E Graham (1877-?) m James Granville Hendrick in 1895
X. Sam Graham (1883-?)
XI. Wyley Graham (1884-?) m Nannie Lester
XII. Hyley Graham (1884-?)

Robert Thomas & Martha Texas Graham had 7 children (one set of twins):
I. Clara Frances Graham (1886-1886)
II. Cora Mae Graham (1886-1975)
III. Mary L Graham (1888-1889)
IV. Birthy Graham (1889-1890)
V. Cosettia Graham (1891-?) m Alfred Cecil in 1908
VI. Charles Frederick Graham (1893-1916)
VII. Hazel Graham (1896-1918) m Ray Martin Hammack (1893-1968) in 1916

Graham family comes to the American Colonies pt 1

The Graham family descends from the ancient Clan Graemme. As is true of many other families during the time of King James, the Grahams living on the border of England fled from Scotland to Ireland, and then on to the American Colonies. The Grahams, like many of the early settlers of the Valley of Virginia, were of Scotch-Irish descent and came from the counties of Donegal and Londonderry, in the northern part of Ireland. The term Scotch-Irish, does not necessarily mean a blending of blood between the Scotch and Irish nations, but implies the Scotch who emigrated from Scotland and settled in Ireland. During the years beginning shortly after the middle of the Seventeenth Century, there was a large emigration from Scotland and Ireland, having been brought about on account of religious persecution of the Scotch received at home. The Grahams were Presbyterians.

Christopher Graham was born around 1670 in either Scotland or Ireland and migrated to the American Colonies before 1700. He was a knight to Malcolm III, Canmore, King of Scotland. Custom states he was direct descendent of Earl of Montrose, who was beheaded.
It is believed that Christopher Graham settled first in Paxton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where some of his children were born. The name of his wife has not been established beyond question, but some records show that her name was Margaret F. Risk (some say Florence). "A history of Highland County, Va. states that Christopher Graham and some of his sons settled in Highland County before1740." However, according to Carol McGinnis in Virginia Genealogy: Sources and Resources, Highland County was not formed until 1 May 1847; and white settlement did not start until 1745. Part of it was formed from Bath County, which, in turn was formed from Augusta County. (p. 183 and p. 163.)

Christopher Graham died in 1745 in Augusta County, Virginia. His son, Robert Graham, was appointed as administrator of his father's estate on February19, 1746. (Abstracts from the Records of Augusta County, Virginia, by Lyman Chalkley, pages 6 and 10, Vol. III).

The children of Christopher & Margaret Graham were:
i. John Graham(1700-1771) m. Elizabeth Elliott (1700-1779) in1722
ii. Robert Graham (1712-1763) m. Jean Hicklin in 1734
iii. William Graham (?-1748) m. Jane May in 1748
iv. Archibald Graham (?-1748) m. Margaret Shed in 1751
v. Jane Graham (?-?) m. Thomas Feamster, Jr

It is believed that the first of these children were born in Pennsylvania and perhaps married there. Jean Hicklin who in 1734 married Robert Graham, was the daughter of Thomas Hicklin, one of the pioneers and early settlers of the Calf Pasture River, VA section, then part of Augusta County, now in Highland County.

From the histories of Highland County, it appears that around 1740 or before John and Robert Graham with others of their family migrated from Pennsylvania to Virginia, settling in Calf Pasture section where they became large land owners. Their father, Christopher Graham, later settled in and later died in Calf Pasture.

Robert Graham (1712-1763)became Road Overseer and Surveyor in Augusta County, VA. He was the first Constable of Calf Pasture Valley in 1745. He fought in the French and Indian War under Capt. Preston from 1757-58.
John and Elizabeth Graham reared a family of five sons and five daughters on the banks of Calf Pasture and died there about the year 1771.
The children were of John & Elizabeth Graham were:
I. Lancelot or Lanty Graham (1724-1780) m Elizabeth ?
II. Robert Graham (1725-1774) m Elizabeth Lockridge (1740-1832), daughter of James Lockridge and Isabella Kincaid on 24 June 1763.
III. John Graham(1726-1815) m Martha Patton (note: one of their daughters married into the Bratton family in the Hammack-Givens line of my family)
IV. James Graham (?)
V. Elizabeth Graham(1741-?) m Robert Armstrong
VI. Jane Graham (1742-?) m Andrew Lockridge (brother to Elizabeth) in 1761
VII. Anne Graham (?) m John Kincaid
VIII. Rebecca Graham (?) m John Bell in 1787
IX. Florence Graham (1744-?) m James Graham in 1748 (son of Uncle William & Jane Graham)
X. William Graham (?-1751) M Jane Walkup

Robert & Elizabeth remained in Augusta County, Virginia the rest of their married lives. I have only been able uncover 2 sons born to this couple: Jacob Graham (1741-1812) and James Graham (1745-1782).
To be continued...

Graham Family Crest

Going back to Hazel Graham (my great-grandmother, Sylvia Hammack's mother), let's begin with the family crest (or Coat of Arms)...

Surname: Graham Although now widely associated with Scotland and Ireland, this distinguished surname is of Anglo-Saxon origins. It was a locational name originally from the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, and as such recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as both Graham and Grandham. The translation is either the homestead (ham) on the gravel from the Olde English pre 7th century grand, meaning gravel, or perhaps the personal name "Granta" and hence Granta's homestead. Locational surnames usually developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The surname Graham was taken to Scotland at the beginning of the 12th Century by the Norman baron William de Graham, holder of the manor in Lincolnshire, from whom many if not all modern bearers are probably descended. James Graham, first marquis and fifth Earl of Montrose (1612 - 1650), fought on behalf of Charles 1st and became lieutenant- general to Charles 11 in 1648. This most notable surname has no less that forty-five entries in the "Dictionary of National Biography", and over forty coats of arms granted to families of the name. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Graham, which was dated 1127, in the Foundation Charter of Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, during the reign of King David 1st of Scotland, 1124 - 1153.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Hammack-Martin-Chiles Connection

Chiles Family

Walter Chiles I (1608-1671) and his wife, Elizabeth (1610-1653) and two sons, William and Walter II (1630-1671) came to Virginia in 1637 from England in his own ship. On March 1, 1638 he was given 400 acres for “his own adventure” (trip to the Americas) and that of his family and four other people. He was the representative from James City County in a branch of the colonial legislature of Virginia called the House of Burgesses in 1645, 1646, 1649 and 1652. He was a member of the Council of Virginia in 1651. He was elected Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1652, but he declined. He died in 1653.

Walter Chiles owned a vessel that was seized in the Chesapeake Bay. Most records indicate that this was the Walter I, but some report it was Walter II. It was at the time of the seizure that Walter Chiles was elected as speaker of the Assembly, and declined the offer, because of his involvement with the seized ship. Walter’s ship, “The Fame of Virginia”, was pursued and captured by Captain Robert Henfield. Three hours later on the eastern shore, the ship, “Hopeful Adventure”, captained by Richard Husband, seized the ship and claimed that Walter Chiles had no license. The Court of Northampton ordered the release of the ship. But Captain Husband took his prize and sailed away.

The inhabitants of the county protested their liberty in restitution, as their levy of tobacco for taxes would be appreciably increased. The incident of the seizure of the ship was presented to the General Assembly as a revolt and a commission was appointed to go to the eastern shore and investigate the matter. The General Assembly convened on July 5, 1653, and, immediately, received a note from Governor Bennett stating that he did not feel that it was proper for the House of Burgesses to elect as its speaker, Left. Colonel Chiles, in light of the agitation caused in the Assembly concerning the ship in which Chiles held an interest. But his advice was not heeded.

Colonel Chiles felt honor-bound to decline to serve. The General Assembly , at the same session, granted Walter Chiles the ship “Leopokias”, with all of its equipment and guns, for the sum of 400 pounds. The ship had been confiscated for violation of the Navigation Laws. Walter II requested permission to make the exploratory trip to the west. He, along with Rice Hoe, Joseph Johnson, and Walter Austin, asked for leave to undertake the discovery of a new river, or unknown land, bearing west, southerly from the Appomattox River. The Assembly confirmed “they and whoever they might admit to go with them shall enjoy and possess to them, their heirs…all profit whatsoever they in their particular adventure can make unto themselves by such discover for fourteen years after the date of January 1641. ”This encouragement came with the provision that they pay the crown one-fifth of the gain. This confirmation from the Assembly put Walter in the unique position of being able to trade with the Indians, and increases the goods, with which he could supply to the English market.
Col. Walter Chiles II was born in 1669 in Bristol, England, the son of Lt. Col. Walter and Elizabeth Chiles I. He was baptized in Redcliff Parish, on March 20, 1608. He married Mary Page (1648-1671). Mary was the daughter of Col. John and Alice Luken. Alice was the daughter of Sir Edwin Luken, a member of the Virginia Company.

Col. John Page came to the colony of James City, Virginia in 1650. He was one of his Majesty’s Council in Virginia. In his will, dated May 5, 1686-87, and recorded Feb 24, 1691, he mentioned his grandson, John Chiles and his granddaughter, Elizabeth Tyler. Col. John Page was 65 years old when he died on Jan 23, 1691 in Virginia. His tomb is in Bruton Parish churchyard in Williamsburg, VA. He gave the ground for the church building. (William and Mary Quarterly, page 78 and “Letters of the Tylers,” page 49.) When John Page died in 1691 and Alice died in 1698, Williamsburg was known as Middle Plantation. Mary died before her parents and did not live to see her children grown.

Walter II apparently worked as a cloth worker, before he came to the colony of Virginia. His father had been an apprentice to a textile dealer, Frances Knight, mercer (a dealer in textiles), when he was a young man. Walter II learned from his father and became a successful planter himself.

Walter II served in the House of Burgesses from 1658-1660, and again in 1663. In 1660-1661 he was appointed act during recess of the Assembly. He served as a justice of James City County during 1664.

He was a warden for Jamestown Parish, Virginia. Walter Chiles served as a churchwarden of James City Parish; a more influential position than its counterpart in the Episcopal Church today. The established, or official church, of the colony was the Church of England. In the absence of a resident bishop, the local parishes and their vestries were the dominant influence in early Virginia’s religious affairs, more that was the case in England.

In November 1655, following the death of Walter Chiles I, Lieutenant Colonel Chiles of James City sold, for a valuable sum of tobacco, the 813 acres in Charles City County along the Appomattox River that his father first patented.

He lived in Kent House, which he inherited from his father. This was convenient to his public responsibilities. While they lived at Kemp House they added onto the house, increasing the size by thirty-seven feet. Walter purchased a brick house from Edward Hill, of Charles City County. The houses have been identified in the archeological excavations at Jamestown. (National Park Services) The artifacts retrieved show that the house was a structure of considerable importance.

In 1690, Walter Chiles II obtained the land patent for 70 acres in James City Island originally granted to his father, known as “Black Poynt.”

Walter Chiles II and Mary Page had two children:
I. John Chiles (1669-1700) who married twice in his lifetime. His first wife was Mary Boucher (?) and second wife was Eleanor Webber (1675-1738).
II. Elizabeth Chiles who married Henry Tyler.

It is not know exactly when Mary Page Chiles died. Among the descendants of Walter & Mary Chiles is President John Tyler, tenth President of the United States. (Through the Terrell family, which his grandchildren who married Terrell children, see below.)

Walter married Susannah and had a son, Henry Chiles by her by April 4, 1671. Walter and Susannah were only married for a few years before he died in 1723. She married a second time after his death. She married Reverend James Wadding the minister of the Jamestown Church, around August 1672. It was evident from the property she sold shortly afterwards that James had chosen a woman of social position and considerable wealth. James and Susannah sold Kemp House in November of 1673 to John Page as stipulated in her late husband’s will.

Walter II and Mary Page’s only son, John Chiles was born in 1669 in Virginia. John inherited a third of his father’s estate, and thus was able to become well-established as a planter and land owner. He was a mace bearer and a messenger to the House of Burgesses in 1702. In 1714, he was appointed a justice in King William County. John’s business interests included part ownership of “The Westover”, in 1700-1702. It was a sloop of forty tons, built in Virginia in 1693.

John was a Burgess for King William City and was a messenger for the Virginia Council to Maryland and New York; a member of the Virginia Assembly in 1723. He inherited Kemp House from his father. He received a grant of 345 acres in New Kent County on October 3, 1690 and again in 1691, he received a grant of 900 acres in the same county, which was apart of Hanover at the time. He settled in Carolina City, in 1722 where he entered 300 acres in King William County. According to this grant he was churchwarden of St. Margaret’s Perish. The Compendium of American Genealogy, Volume VII, page 194, notes him as a Messenger of the Virginia Council in 1693.

He married twice. His first wife was (1) Mary Boucher (1672-1699), daughter of John Boucher who he married by Sept. 1693. Eleanor Webber, daughter of Henry and Jane Webber, was John Chiles’ second wife.

Children of John Chiles & Mary Boucher are:
I. John
II. Elizabeth

Children of John Chiles and Eleanor Webber:
I. Henry married (1) Mary Carr (?-1756) & (2) Susannah Dicken Graves in 1756.
II. John never married
III. Jane married John Wright
IV. Susannah (1701-1754) married Joseph Martin (1710-1760) in 1736, in Albemarle, VA.

On a deed executed by Henry and his wife Jane Webber to the two sons of John Chiles, Henry and John, (Spotsylvania County, Virginia Deed Book A, 1722-1729 88-91) not only does Henry Webber not identify the two Chiles sons, as his grandsons, but he states explicitly that the deed is in consideration of 100 pounds of current money already paid him by John Chiles, deceased. This Henry Webber was fulfilling a contract that included the lease of the land to Eleanor Chiles until her death, made with John Chiles before his death. (Arden H Brame, Jr, II, “Thomas Jefferson Reveals Three more Children of John Chiles,” Omnibus 14(a.d.): 71-72.) When Eleanor Chiles petitioned the Council (May 6, 1723) to stop the land patent to Henry Chiles or any of John Chiles’ children, only that she was his widow.

Joseph Martin, who married Susannah Chiles came to Virginia when a young man, married in King William and later settled in Albemarle. His wife survived him. Gen. Joseph Martin, their third son, was a patriot and prisoner, and Martinsville, Virginia, was named for him. (see earlier post)

Note regarding: John Hammack-Mary Polly Martin

Here’s a brief reminder of the Hammack line from my grandmother:
Sylvia (1916-1985)—Ray Martin (1893-1968) & Hazel (Graham) (1896-1918) Hammack—Benjamin Van (1872-1949) & Georgia Samantha (Baughman) 1873-1940) Hammack—Martin A. (1841-1890) & Anna Elizabeth (Givens) (1841-1890)Hammack –Andrew Jackson (1817-1855) & Mary Susan (Green) (1828-1867) Hammack-Martin (1760-1836) & Susanna (Ellison) (1769-1838) Hammack-John (1722-1770) & Mary Polly (Martin) (1746-1788) Hammack...

This is where I want to begin today. Mary Polly Martin Hammack’s family:

Joseph Martin Sr. was thought to be the youngest child of William & Mary Martin of Bristol, England. He was planning to marry a lady of which his father did not approve. In order to prevent this marriage, sometime in the first part of the 1700s, William sent young Joseph on a ship named “Brice” to Virginia in charge of a load of goods for a trading expedition. While in America he met and married Susannah Chiles, the daughter of John Chiles, a wealthy planter and never returned to live in England. He settled in an area comprising the counties King William, Louisa, and Albemarle, VA.
Joseph and Susannah (Chiles) Martin had five sons and six daughters. He named his first son Brice and this name was used extensively for several generations. The name, Brice, was given to sons of almost every family and generation of this Martin line and almost certainly identifies a Martin family with descendents of Joseph Martin, Sr. I do not have birth and death info for each of the 11 children but they are all listed below in Joseph’s Will.

Here is the transcript of Joseph Martin's Will:

In name of God Amen I Joseph Martin of the parish of Fredrickville in the county of Louisa first being in good health of body and sound and disposing mind memory and understanding praised be God. therefore confisering with myself the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time there of and being desirous as to settle and dispose of such personal and worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased almighty God to bless me with as that no variance or controversy may arise touching or concerning the same after my decease do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it hoping through the merits of my blessed savior to have a free pardon of all my sins and inherit eternal life and my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Esecutors in trust herein after named and as to my personal estate I dispose there of as followeth to Impremiss.

I give to my present wife Ann Martin one negro man named Ben and one negro woman named Sue and one negro girl named Temp during her natural life and no longer the said negro girl Temp to be at her disposing for ever.

Item I give and bequeath all the tract of land I now live on to my wife Ann during her natural and no longer and after my wife’s decease I give and bequeath to my son Brice Martin he and his heirs forever part of the said tract of land to be divided beginning at the mouth of the Stony Branch and keeping up the stony Branch to the back line my son Brice to have the manner plantation from the mouth of the Stoney to the back line and so to the River.

Item the remainder of the said tract of land all on the north side of the Stony Branch I give and bequeath to my son William Martin he and his heirs for Ever.

Item I give to my son Joseph Martin three hundred acres of land lying and being on Rocky Creek near Buck Mountain to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give and bequeath to my son John Martin three hundred acres of same lying and being on Piney Run near Buck Mountain to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give to my son Joseph Martin my right and title of all my land lying on Goose Creek a branch of Potomac that I being in partnership with Col. Francis Warin living in Essex Co. to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give to my daughter Susannah Martin Five hundred acres of land lying and being on R/Bocey Creek her choice out of the whole tract in case she should died without heirs I give the two hundred acres to Susannah Chiles Hammock daughter of John Hammock to her and her heirs lawfully begotten forever. I give to my daughter Susannah Martin one Negro woman named Dianah to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give to my daughter Mary Hammock a negro girl named Pearthenia she and her increase to her and her heirs forever. I also give to my daughter Mary Hammock the second choice of my best ?. (not sure what that was)

Item I give to my daughter Sarah Burros a negro man named Nepton to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha Martin one negro boy named Brister to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give to my daughter Olive Martin a Negro fellow named Ben and on Negro Wench named Sue after my wife’s decease to her and her heirs forever. And after my decease and my wife’s all the rest of my personal estate goods and chattels to be equally divided among my six daughters Sarah Burros, Mary Hammock, Susannah Martin, Martha Martin, Ann Martin, Olive Martin.

Item I give and bequeath to my son George Martin eight pounds current money of Virginia to be paid out of my estate to him and his heirs forever.

I do hereby ordain and appoint Isaac Davis and Thomas Burros whole and sole executors of this my last Will and testament and do revoke and make said all other wills by me at any time heretofore and as publish and declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and affirmed my seal this third day of December one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Joseph Martin. Twst John Henssee, John Jones. County of Albemarle in Virginia 14 Jan 1762 came John Heslee & John Jones to prove the will of Joseph Martin Deceased.
_______________________________________________________________
It seems that Martinsville, VA was named after Mary Polly Martin’s brother, Brigadier General Joseph L. Martin, Jr. (1740-1808). Joseph, Jr. was an early Fur Trader and Planter. In 1777, he was appointed as the Virginia Commissioner to the Cherokee. On 11 Dec.1793, he became Brigadier General in the Virginia Militia.
He was a hero of the Raid at Martin's Station who secured the Cumberland Gap from the Cherokee, allowing for safe passage. He kept the Cherokee from fighting for the British. I have found several reports that Joseph Martin Jr. married an Indian woman Betsy Ward, which is likely since his first wife, Sarah Lucas, born 1740 died in 1782.
Inscription on gravestone: DIED ON THE 18 OF DECEMBER 1808 BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH MARTIN IN THE 69 YEAR OF HIS AGE.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Hammack-Givens-Bratton family

Robert Patrick Bratton, and his brothers, James, Samuel and William and a 5th brother all left Ireland in l733. Robert, James, and William all settled in Va. Samuel settled in Pennsylvania initially. The 5th brother died at Sea on the voyage over.

Robert P. Bratton (1712-1785) later settled in Orange County, Virginia, now Augusta. In 1745 Robert became owner of the Lewis-Patton plots on Big Calf Pasture, a large estate willed to son Adam Bratton in his will May 10, 1873. He was said to have owned 2,284 acres.

Also in 1745 Robert (1712-1785) married Anne McFarland Dunlap (1727-1785), the daughter of Robert McFarland of Scotland (1710-1798) & Ester Houston of Ireland (1698-?) and the widow of Captain Alexander Dunlap, the first settler on the Calf Pasture.

Robert & Anne Bratton had 6 children:
I. James Bratton (17461828)
II. John Bratton (1746-1823) married Sarah Anderson and settled in Pennsylvania.
III. Nancy “Agnes” Bratton (1747-1827) married William Givens in 1764
IV. Mary Bratton (1748-unknown) died single.
V. Adam Bratton (1750-1800)
VI. George Bratton (1754-1819)

Robert Bratton qualified for his Commission as Captain of the militia at age 43. Six days later General Edward Braddock`s 44th and 49th Foot Regiments landed at Alexandria as the French and Indian War opened the Virginia front. He was given orders to fill up his company with recruits for the Snow Campaign from York County, South Carolina. He was the Captain of the militia in the French and Indian War 1756-1758.

Robert`s first service was on the Council of War, held at Staunton, Virginia to prepare for the defense of the Virginia frontier in 1756. He still served as Captain of the militia in 1783 even though he was 70 years old.

Robert’s parents were Andrew & Audrea Bratton. Andrew was born in 1685 in Donegal, Northern Ireland and died in Augusta County, Virginia. He married Audrea (unknown) before 1712 in Ireland. Audrea was born in 1690 and died about 1783 in Augusta County, Virginia about age 93. Since they both died in the USA, I assume they migrated to America with or after their sons in 1733.

Children of Andrew & Audrea Bratton were:
I. Capt. Robert Patrick Bratton was born on 22 May 1712 in Donegal, Northern Ireland and died on 18 Oct 1785 in Augusta County, Virginia.
II. James D. Bratton was born on 1 May 1714 in Donegal, Northern Ireland and died on 21 May 1778 in Augusta County, Virginia.
III. Samuel Andrew Bratton was born about 1716 in Donegal, Northern Ireland and died in Pennsylvania.
IV. William Bratton Sr. was born in 1718 in Donegal, Northern Ireland and died about 1780 in Augusta County, Virginia or York County, SC.
V. Unknown son (?-1733)
VI. Jean Bratton (daughter) was born in1728 in Donegal, Northern Ireland and died in 1798 in York, South Carolina. She was married to Samuel Gay.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Givens Family Continued

William Givens/Given was born 21 May 1746 in Augusta, Hampshire, VA and died 29 Sept. 1793 in Jackson River, Bath, VA. He is buried in the Old Given Cemetery in Jackson River, VA.

William married Nancy “Agnes” Bratton on 21 March 1764 in Augusta, VA. Agnes was born 17 April 1747and died 22 July 1827 in Bath, VA. Parents of Agnes Bratton were Robert Bratton (1712- ) and Ann McFarland (1723-?) . I will share information about them next time.
William & Agnes had 15 children, all born in Bath, VA:.

  1. Robert Givens (1765-?) married Margaret Elliot In 1785
  2. Sarah Givens (1766-?) married Isaac Gregory in 1790.
  3. Jenett (or Janet) Givens (1770-?) married John Berry in 1790.
  4. Mary Givens (1771-?) married William Dinwiddie in 1798.
  5. William Givens (1773-?) married Nancy Jane Frame in 1792.
  6. Isabella Givens (1775-?) married Isaac Duffield in 1795.
  7. Samuel Givens (1776-1851) married Elizabeth Gwin in 1801.
  8. Adam Givens (1778 -1856) married Nancy McGuffin (sister of Margaret McGuffin) in 1797.
  9. James Givens (1781-?) married Elizabeth Graham in 1806.
  10. John Givens (1783-?) married Rachel Pickens.
  11. George Bratton Givens (1784-abt. 1858) married Margaret McGuffin on 12 Jan. 1809.
  12. Henry Givens (1786-?)
  13. Anne Givens (1788-?)
  14. Margaret Givens (1792-?) married John Gibson in 1813.
  15. Agnes Givens (1793-?) married George McGuffin.
  16. William served as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Militia.

William and Agnes (Bratton) Givens of Jackson's River, Augusta Co (Bath Co after 1791) were guardians of Sarah Mounts (1774-?) and Polly Mounts. It was Agnes Givens that granted permission for Sarah to marry James Wilson in 1795. I could not gather any other information on this other than a similarity between a John B. Mountz (1742-?) from in Berks County PA whose parents were Hans (John) Jacob Mountz and Catharina Lauck (Laux).This John B. could be the father of Sarah because John Mountz (s) married a Cherokee woman and had one daughter, Sarah, who married a Mr. Wilson. I am not sure what happened to either of them.

William and Agnes Givens’ children had interesting stories in their lineage, for instance their oldest child, Robert (1765-?) represented Bath in the Legislature of Virginia for seven sessions between 1805 and 1816. Robert’s son, Col. Samuel Givens (1776-1851) married Mary Gibson, whose son in law, James E. A. Gibbs was eminent as a sewing machine inventor. Robert’s daughter Mary (born 1771) had a son who served and died in the War of 1812 the day before notification of peace. She had grandchildren who fought in the Civil War under Stonewall Jackson, served in the Virginia and West Virginia Legislatures. One grand son married Eleanor Gates of New York, a niece of Henry M. Flagler, who was a partner of John D. Rockefeller in establishing the Standard Oil Company.


Parents of William Givens were John Givens (1719-1790) of Antrim, Ireland and Mary “Margaret” Sittlington (1729- 1797) of Augusta, VA.

Capt. John Givens commanded a company of militia from Augusta County, Virginia militia from 16 Oct 177 7 to 15 Mar 1782 (during the Revolutionary War.) They fought in battles at Jamestown and Yorktown. In the list of militia men in Capt. John Givens' company were: John Givens, Robert Givens, Samuel Givens, Sr., James Givens and William Givens. ("Gleanings of Virginia History" by Wm. Fletcher Boogher)

All the children of John Givens & Margaret Sittlington were born in Augusta County, Virginia. They are:

1. William Givens (1746-1793) married “Agnes” Bratton in 1764
2. Agnes Givens (1748- 1793) married Adam Bratton in 1788
3. James Givens (1750-1775)
4. Sarah Givens (1752-?)
5. Anne Givens (1754-1787)
6. John Givens (1756-1818)
7. Robert Givens (1759-1833)
8. George Givens (1761-?)
9. Margaret Givens (1763-?)
10. Samuel Givens (1765-?)
11. Thomas Givens (1767-?)
12. Elizabeth Givens (1770-?)
13. Mary Givens (1775-?)

John Givens was the son of Samuel Givens (1693-1740) and Sarah Cathey (1697-1769), was born in Ireland. Although there is some uncertainty regarding John's wives, it appears that he first married Margaret Crawford about 1739 and later Margaret Sittlington about 1745. He died 19 Nov 1790 and is buried in Stone Church, Augusta, Virginia.

On a list of importations to Orange County, Virginia in Feb 1739 from Ireland is Samuel Givens with wife, Sarah, and children: John, Samuel, James, Martha, Elizabeth, William, Margaret, Sarah, and Jane.

"The Giveans family, including nine children, came to America from Antrim, Ireland, in 1735 along with the John Lewis Family and other Protestants from Northern Ireland, first to Pennsylvania. Then they made their way on foot to what became Augusta Co., VA, prior to 1738 . . . " (Craig, Jane Tyler. The Samuel Givens Family)

Children of Samuel Givens & Sarah Cathey are (note: I have not searched for family information on any of John’s siblings at this point):

  1. John Givens (1719-1790) married Margaret Sittlington in 1745.
  2. Samuel Givens (1721- 1795)
  3. James Givens (1723-?)
  4. Martha Givens (1725 -1795)
  5. Elizabeth Givens (1727-?) married Andrew Lewis in 1749
  6. William Givens (1729-1781)
  7. Margaret Givens (1731-?)
  8. Sarah Givens (1733-1798)
  9. George Givens (1740-1825)

Here is an interesting note about one of John’s sister: Elizabeth, married General Andrew Lewis of Botetourt County, Virginia who was the commander at the "Battle of Point Pleasant" in which many of the citizens of Bath County, Virginia, participated. At the Battle of Point Pleasant, Lord Dunmore's War 1773-1774, Lt. George Givens, son of Samuel Givens, took command after the death of General Andrew Lewis. General Lewis and Lt. George Givens were brothers-in-law.
After the death of Samuel Givens, his widow, Sarah, married Robert Allen of Frederick County, Virginia (in 1744).

The parents of Samuel Givens are Caleb Givens (1673-1770) and Mary Donan (1671-1770), both lived their lives in Antrim, Ireland. As far as the information I have they had 5 sons. Two of which migrated to the United Sates, Samuel settled in Virginia and I assume since he died in Mecklenburg County, NC, that James migrated south. At this time I do not have access to International Records so can not confirm any other information I have found past this generation.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Givens family

Martin A Hammack (1841-1890) married Anna Eliza Givens (or Given) from Kanawha County, VA (now WV) around 1863. Anna was born April 1841 and died in 1916 in Lagrange, Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. They had 10 children (listed in the last posting).According to the 1880 US Census report they lived in Glade, Webster County, WV.


Anna's parents were Adam Givens (1815-1902) and Mary Ellen Schoonover (1819-1902). According to one report they both died before 1880, so the death dates I have on the chart above may not be accurate. Their marriage date also seems to be in question as I merge files of records I have obtained. Several reports list 15 March 1835, others list 01 May 1838. All the records lead me to believe that they lived in Kanawha & Braxton Counties during their lifetime.
They had 11 children.

i. William Madison Given (1836-1893)

ii. Benjamin V.B. Given (1836-1900), married Eliza F. (unknown surname)

iii. Anna Eliza Given (1841-1916) married Martin A. Hammack (see last post for more information about him)

iv. Nancy Given(1842-1843)

v. Rachel Given (1844-1870), married George W. Gandee on 21 Dec 1864.

vi. Margaret Given (1846-1846)

vii. Henry Given (1848-??), married Balinda Mckown on 27 Dec. 1866.

viii. Mathura Jane Given (1849-1931), married John Alexamder Groves on 07 May 1871.

ix. Elisha V.W. Given (1852-??)

x. Sarah Elspie Given (1854-??)

xi. Alcindia Given (1857-??), m Seville W. Moore date unknown



According to the 1850 Census reports Adam & Mary lived in District 29, Kanawha County, VA (now WV) where Adam was a farmer. By 1860 they had moved the family of 13 and a "land agent," John Fall, to Flat Fork, Roane County, VA (now WV). They were still in Roane County during the 1870 US Census. The 1880 US Census reports that the family had moved to Glade, Webster County, WV where 64 year old Adam still worked as a farmer. In 1900, Adam and Mary were living with their daughter Alcinda, son-in-law, Seville Moore and their 14 year old son Charles in Braxton County, WV.


I have found very little information on Mary Ellen Schoonover's family other than her parents are Adam Schoonover (1795-??) and Lucinda Currence, from Ireland (1796-??), married around 1814. From what I have learned they had at least 3 children.

i. Daniel F Schoonover (1815-est 1900)

ii. Mary Ellen Schoonover (1819-1902), married Adam Given(s) see above.

iii. Rachel Schoonover (??)

However it is just the opposite for the Givens family. I have found a few more generations back.

The parents of Adam Given are George Bratton Given and Margaret Mcguffin. George was born November 11, 1784 in Augusta County, Virginia, and died Abt. 1858 in Kanawha County, Virginia (now WV). He married Margaret Mcguffin on 12 Jan, 1809 in Bath County, Virginia. She was born September 15, 1785 in Bath County, Virginia, and died Aft. 1860 in Kanawha County, Virginia (now WV). Margaret is the daughter of Robert Mcguffin and Elizabeth King.

George & Margaret Given had 9 children:

i. Robert Mcguffin Given, (1809-1822)

ii. John B. Given, (1811-1837)

iii. Elizabeth Given (1815-?)

iv. Adam Given (1816-est 1902), married Mary Ellen Schoonover see above

v. William K. Given (1819-?)

vi. Nancy Given (1822-?)

vii. Mary H. Given (1823 -1893)

viii. Margaret Given (1826-1908)

ix. Glory Given (??)



The parents of George Bratton Given are William Given & Nancy "Agnes" Bratton about whom I will share next time.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Hammack family, continued

As mentioned before, Ray Martin Hammack's parents were Benjamin Van Hammack (1872-1949) and Georgia "Samantha" Baughman (1873-1940). They were married in 1889 as best I can decipher. They lived on their own farm in Otter, Braxton County, West Virginia. Benjamin was a farmer according to the 1900, 1920 & 1930 US Census Reports. He was also unable to read or write and never attended school.

Benjamin & Samantha had a total of 5 children:

i. Martin Ray (1893-1968) married 3 times, Alice, Hazel & Lula (see yesterday's entry)

ii. William B. (1899-1923) married to Jessie M Boggs on 28 Feb. 1922

iii. Ernest L. (1901-1982) married to Ollie Estie Jones on 21 Apr. 1926

iv. Delta M. (1904-1993) married to Thurman M. Ellis on 4 Dec. 1923

v. Elsie M. (1907-1996) married to Vanburen Carr on 15 Jan. 1924

I have copies of marriage & death certificates for most of them.

Benjamin Hammack's parents were Martin A. Hammack (1841-1890) & Anna Eliza Given (1841-1916). They were married about 1863 and had 10 children:

i. Martha B (1864-?)

ii. Mary E. (1866-?)

iii. Nancy C. (1868-?)

iv. William (1870-?)

v. Benjamin Van (1872-1949)

vi. Adam H. (1874-?)

vii. George F. (1876-?) twin

viii. Susan F. (1876-1967) twin

ix. Amos Webster (1880-1976)

x. Elisha (1881-1930)

Martin A. Hammack was a Private in the 4th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry-Company H in the Civil War according to National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/>, acquired 2007.

Georgia "Samantha" Baughman's parents were Morgan David Baughman (1842-1921) and Margaret Ann Dodrill (1843-1899). They were married 15 June 1865 in Webster County. He was a farmer in Glade, Webster County, WV according to the 1880 US Census report. By 1900 (according to the US Census that year) he was widowed and living in Cowen Town, Webster County, WV with his son James and his wife Maggie and a 9 year old boarder, Elizabeth F. Jackson. In 1920 (again according to the US Census of that year), 78 year old Morgan David was living with Benjamin, Samantha Ernest, Delta & Elsie as well as my grandma, Sylvia and her brother Harry in Otter, Webster County, WV.

Morgan & Margaret had 6 children, about whom I know very little:

i. Mary (1866-1938)

ii. John L. (1868-1955)

iii. Susan J. (1870-?)

iv. Georgia Samantha (1873-1940) married to Benjamin Van Hammack est 1889

v. James E. (1876-1936) married to Maggie date unknown

vi. Margaret E. (1878-?)

More on the Baughman-Dodrill family later...
I have not found any concrete proof, but other family trees on ancestry.com and a link to family trees of Kanawha County, WV (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wvkanawh/index.html) claim that the parents of Martin A. Hammack are Andrew Jackson Hammack (1817-1855) and Mary Susan Green (1828-1867). They had 4 children as best I can tell.
The reason I question the authenticity of this is that I have no birth or death information or documents telling exactly where and when Martin A. Hammack was born, got married, or died, so I have no way to support who his parents were.
Andrew Jackson Hammack was born and died in Kanawha County, VA (now WV). His father's name was Martin Hammack (1760-1836) and his mother Susanna Ellison (1769-1838). From what I have gathered they had 13 children together.
Mary Susan Green was the daughter of John Green (1800-1860) and Nancy Scott (unknown). They were married 1 March 1830 in Kanawha County, VA (now WV) and had 6 children. I have no more information on her family. I am still working on the Green family. More to come, including a photo of John Green's father.

Coming up next the Anna Eliza Given family...

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Ray Martin Hammack line updated

I've spent the past couple of weeks working on the Hammack line of our family and have found alot of interesting facts. First I've completed the first four-generations chart for the Hammacks.






As you can see, Ray Martin was indeed married 3 times. First to Nancy "Alice" Gravely of Wyoming County, WV. They were married 13 June 1913. I am still searching for death information about her to see if she died or if they divorced, which is possible since I am not finding any children by the two of them and a barren woman was not desired in a wife in those days. But too, since they have no children she may have died. They married after the 1910 Census report and he married Hazel before the 1920 report, so there isn't any clear path to follow using the Census reports, which are often valuable tools in a heritage quest.

I still have not found on-line a marriage certificate for Ray and Hazel, but I assume since both she and Alice were from Wyoming County, that they were married there as well. Ray and Hazel had two children, Sylvia and Harry, between 1916- early 1918. She must have turned right around and gotten pregnant again after Harry because she miscarried just before her own death on 7 November 1918. She died in Sklyes Creek, Webster County, WV.

I'm not sure what happened to Ray after her death, because I cannot find him in the US Census Reports for 1920. His two children (Sylvia & Harry) lived with their grandparents, Benjamin Van and Georgia "Samantha" (Baughman) Hammack at the time of that census. (See December 6th blog posting) Just a note: Ray was apparently not away in the military at this time because the 1930 US Census report reports that he was not a veteran.

On 27 April 1921, Ray married Lula Hoover, in Braxton County.

By 1930 the Ray Hammack family (Ray, Lula, Sylvia, Harry, Van & James) had moved to Akron, Summit County, Ohio. Lula's father, Edgar Hoover lived with them too. Ray worked in a Rubber Plant/Factory.

From there I am not sure how he and all his children ended up back in West Virginia. Any one know what brought them back? Please share if you do.