Person Page - 23

     Jesse Strong is the daughter of James Franklin "Frank" Strong and Lanora "Nora" Katherine Arledge.

     Cpl. Joel J. Talton was born a 1794. He was the son of Joseph ? Talton. Cpl. Joel J. Talton married Julia M. Dukes, daughter of Elias Duke and Emily "Milly" Francis Elkins, on 17 Feb 1833 at Clarke Co, Alabama. Cpl. Joel J. Talton died b Mar 1846 at Alabama.

      Joel J. Talton's daughter Matilda Jane reported her father was born in North Carolina in the 1880 census; Taltons were in Anson and Johnston counties in NC. Anson Co is on the NC - SC border and Johnston Co, NC in the center of the state was where many Taltons lived. There were also Taltons in early Georgia records.

On 20 Jul 1812 a Joel Talton/Tarlton, presumed to be our ancestor by that name, was enlisted by Lieut. O. Dyer for 18 months; the enlistment location was not noted. Joel served as a corporal in the 8th US Infantry under the company commander, Capt Crawford. Joel was mustered 30 Jun 1813 at Camp Pinkney [sic] and was present for duty 3 Aug, 31 Aug, 31 Oct and 31 Dec in 1813; the 31 Aug date is reported as 1814, but that was after his discharge. The record showed he was "reduced on the 4th and reinstated on 14 Dec 1813;" this meaning is unclear but was not likely a furlough because he term was up about a month later when he was discharged on 19 Jan 1814. Camp Pinckney was located three miles from Folkston, GA near where the north-south road from Georgia to St. Augustine, FL crossed the St Marys River at the Georgia - Florida border.

Joel J. Talton and Julia Dukes were married by justice of the peace Henry Brown in Clarke Co, AL; of note the name Joseph Talton was scratched out and Joel Talton written in on the certificate. No other Taltons were known to reside in Clarke Co and there were no other Talton marriages, wills or land records in that county, although there were Tarltons and Tarletons.

Land records show Eaton R. Johnston in his own right and as an assignee of Joel Tarlton purchased 158 acres public lands throught the St. Stephens, AL land office on 10 Mar 1843, but apparently only Johnston took title.

No record has been found of Joel and Julia with their children in the 1840 AL state census. Having looked all over the southeast US, with a concentration on Clarke and Tallapoosa counties in Alabama, for Joel Talton and his family in 1840, this researcher concluded Joel must have been living in someone else's household in 1840; if that was typical of his living situation, that would help explain the erratic pattern of where his children were reportedly born. By 1860 there were Taltons and Winsletts living in proximity to each other in Tallapoosa Co, AL. A Shelby Co, AL cemetery on the Coosa River backwaters in the woods above the water has a lot of Taltons buried there.

Other Talton research may connect to Joel's line some day. In 1840 and 1850 a younger unknown Joel Talton was living in Anson Co, NC -- where our Taltons may also have originated. In 1840 a Joel Talton age 26 [born circa 1814] and his wife between 20 and 29 years old were on the Anson Co, NC census with two sons and daughter under age 5. In 1850 this Joel Talton a farmer age 34 [born 1816] was living in Wadesboro, Anson Co with his wife Mary age 30 and James, 14, Leonard J. 12, Sicilie E. 10, Joel 8 [born 1842], George H. and Roxey J (female) both 4, Mary F. 3 and Margaret E. 2. Online family trees indicate this Joel was the son of Abner Tarlton and Sallie Teal. Joel Talton's estate (widow Jane; Thomas J. Heardison administrator) went through probate 1 Nov 1875 in Anson Co, NC. This is likely the Joel Tatton age 34 in the 1850 Anson Co, NC census with wife Mary and on this census children ranging from age 14 down. In Johnston Co, NC, an Asa Talton born 5 Aug 1809 has children listed on his 15 Aug 1871 death notice including Nancy M. Edith Ann, John Wesley, Louisa Jane and Gillie F. A William H. Talton born circa 1811 and died 6 Apr 1895 in Bonaire, GA left a wife, three sons and a daughter according to the newspaper account.


Detailed sources:
--Joel Talton / Joel Tarlton, Register of Enlistments 1798-1914, p. 321.

     Turner Southall was born in 1780 at Charles City Co, Virginia. He was the son of CPT Furnea Southall. Turner Southall married Mary 'Polly' Christian, daughter of Charles Christian I and Mary Vaughan, a 1805. Turner Southall died on 8 Jun 1827 at Richmond, Virginia. He was buried at Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

      Turner Southall of Charles City Co, VA worked as a carpenter and a farmer. Given that Turner Southall was a slave owner and men farming a lot of land often had or used slaves, Turner did not appear on the 1800 Charles City Co Tax List so he must have still been living with his father in 1800.

The 1810 census has Turner age 26 to 44 living with one female age 26 to 44 (his wife Mary), one male and one female between 16 and 25, two females under 10, and six slaves. The male and female age 16 to 25 could be relatives or work help. Two females under age 10 indicates one may not have survived long because she was not included in family documents or court cases. The same 1810 census included other Southalls: Sarah [living very close to the Turner Southalls]; Turner's brothers Henry H., Furnea and John; and Phillip Southall. John and Phillip had numerous slaves. There were also numerous Christians including 2 Edmunds, 2 Johns, 2 Josephs, 2 Henrys, Thomas, David, Issac, William A., E?cteno and an illegible name similar to C????y; a Richard Vaughan; and our ancestor in another family line, Stephen Shell. Note that in historical records the names of the brothers Turner and Furnea Southall are written almost identically.

Turner had a debt of 20 pounds Francis Dixon owed him secured to him with 30 acres land on 15 Feb 1810. Edmund Christian was authorized to sell the land to pay the debt if Dixon defaulted on the debt payments. (Charles City Co, VA Deed Book 5, p. 270.

On 15 Mar 1811 Turner purchased 117-acre and 78-acre tracts from Isaac and Margaret Ratcliff for $650 (Charles City Co, VA Deed Book 5, p. 343.) The witnesses were Will A. Christian and Henry Vaughan, possibly Turner's wife's cousin because senior or junior were not specified for Henry. On 19 Mar 1811 Turner and "Polly/Mary" Southall mortgaged 110 acres they were living on to Robert Ladd to secure debts for $400 plus interest to Ann and Martha Ladd due by 1 April 1814. This land was some of the same land they purchased on 15 Mar 1811 and was northwest of the land tract belonging to Mary's father's neighbor, John Bowry. (Charles City Co, VA Deed Book 5, p. 366)

On 19 Mar 1811 Turner and his wife "Polley/Mary" of Charles City Co also sold for one hundred pounds to Hamlin Wilcox 112 acres she inherited in Charles City Co, VA in the division of the large estate of her father Charles Christian by court order. Her land was located on the southeast corner of the Christian estate. All Charles Christian's living children inherited land; for example Mary and her sister Elizabeth inherited adjacent 112 acre tracts. The Charles City Co court orders for 1762 to 1860 and the minute records for 1789 to 1823 were burned by Union forces during the Civil War, and the tax map records were destroyed in the 1970s when the jail where the records were stored was bulldozed, so the court order and taxing documentation were not available; instead deeds and on site research and interviews were used to construct a geographical picture of the inherited lands.

On 21 Mar 1811 Turner, acting as a court appointed commissioner for the Gregory-Maynard land sale to settle a dispute not involving himself, deeded lands in Charles City Co. (Charles City Co Deed Book 5, p. 342)

On 20 Feb 1812 Turner, his brother Furnea Southall, John Bowry and Joseph Vaiden posted a $1,500 bond for Furnea Southall to be appointed constable in the Charles City Co lower district. The bond was set up so that each person was both jointly and individually responsible for payment should Furnea not truely and faithfully perform his duties. According to Turner's descendants, Turner lost property by giving security for a brother and went into ruin.

Three men named Turner Southall served in the War of 1812 in the Virginia Militia: as a corporal in the 1st Regiment under Trueheart; as a private in the 4th Regiment under LTC Huston and LTC Wooding; and as a sergeant in the 52nd Regiment under Christian. (US War of 1812 Service Records, LDS film 004869556, p. 1793-1795) Whether any of these are our Turner Southall is not yet known. For the War of 1812 Martha Southall, the widow of Col Turner Southall who served in Capt Long's Company, Virginia Militia received a pension and a bounty land certificate.

The settlement of his father-in-law Charles Christian's estate shows Turner lived in Charles City Co through 1813, made numerous purchases from the estate, was able to afford upper income purchases, farmed and kept livestock. On 10 Nov 1815 Turner and his wife Mary, still living in Charles City Co, sold their inherited 117 acres to Robert Crew for $590. (Charles City Co, VA Deed Book 5, p. 588)

Turner acted as administrator of the estate of James Christian from at least Jan 1814 until settlement of the account in Nov 1817. (Charles City Co, VA Will Book)

Turner and his wife were living in Richmond, VA by 1820. In the 1820 Richmond, VA census, Turner was listed as age 26 to 44 and had living with him 2 males under 10 who would be sons William and James, 1 male 16 to 18, 2 females under 10 who would be daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca, 1 female age 10 to 15 who would be daughter Mary, two females 26 to 44 which would include his wife Mary, and 2 slaves. The young children under age 15 equate to his known children; the 16 to 18 year old male is unknown and could possibly be an unknown son, other relative or an apprentice.

On 3 Apr 1823 John Richard and Peter Joseph Chevallie, executors of Joseph Gallego, deceased, of the City of Richmond, sold Turner Southall of the City of Richmond lot 630 on Fourth Street in Richmond for $555 as the highest bidder. (Richmond Deed Book 21, p. 259) Turner and Mary received a deed of trust from Daniel Call and Richard Anderson to secure the loan. (Richmond Deed Book 21, p. 262)

Turner Southall owned range 5, section 7 of Shockoe Cemetery where according to cemetery records he is buried with Margaret B. Southall, George Southall, James T. Southall, Lillian V. Hutton, Elizabeth Hutton, Howard T. Hutton, T. J. Hutton, Walter Ellett and Rebecca Christian. Their graves are unmarked.

On 30 Oct 1827 on the motion of Byrd George [are names reversed?] the estate of Turner Southall, deceased, late of this city, is committed to the Sergeant of administration according to law. (Hustings Court Minutes, City of Richmond)

In addition to our ancestor Turner living in Richmond, there were at least four other Turner Southalls who were contemporaries of his in Virginia:
--Col Turner Southall (1736-1791) who married Martha Vaudewall in 1756.
--Turner Southall who married Patsy Brown in 1811 in Cumberland, VA where he was on the census in 1820 and moved from Cumberland Co to Bedford Co to Franklin CO, VA by 1852.
--Turner Southall who married Eliza A. Todd on 17 Jan 1822 at Isle of Wight, VA.
--Turner H. Southall's estate was probated by his widow Alice Ann Southall (born ~1810) in Isle of Wight Co, VA in 1846; he also had a namesake son.

After Turner's death, Samuel Ellis became the guardian of his children and later married his daughter Mary. In Aug 1839 in the case of Samuel and Mary Ellis vs Mary's siblings James, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and William, all under the age of 21, the land of Turner Southall, deceased, was sold. On 10 Feb 1840 on the motion of Samuel Ellis, guardian of Rebecca, Elizabeth, Sarah and William Southall, the court appointed William G. Sands to settle and adjust the accounts and report to the court. (Hustings Court Minutes, Book for 1837-1840, City of Richmond.)

     Mary 'Polly' Christian was born c 1784. She was the daughter of Charles Christian I and Mary Vaughan. Mary 'Polly' Christian married Turner Southall, son of CPT Furnea Southall, a 1805. Mary 'Polly' Christian died b 1837. She was buried at Charles City Co, Virginia.

      Mary Christian attended elegant parties in Westover Parish. A Henry Vaughan served as witness in 1811 when Mary sold land she had inherited from her father, and when Mary and her husband Turner Southall sold property on which they lived.

One account said Mary was born after 1783; she would have to be born by 1784 to be age 26 in the 1810 census.

     Laura Virginia Weisiger was born on 1 Mar 1846 at Richmond, Virginia. She was the daughter of Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger I and Sarah Ann Southall. Laura Virginia Weisiger died in 1912.

     Nora Weisiger was born on 24 Aug 1855 at Richmond, Virginia. She was the daughter of Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger I and Sarah Ann Southall. Nora Weisiger died in 1909.

     Arthur Carter Weisiger was born on 1 Nov 1857 at Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger I and Sarah Ann Southall.

     Charles Weisiger was born on 20 Jun 1860 at Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger I and Sarah Ann Southall. Charles Weisiger died on 28 Jul 1915 at Richmond, Virginia, at age 55.

     Herbert Ellis Weisiger was born on 21 Sep 1850 at Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger I and Sarah Ann Southall. Herbert Ellis Weisiger died on 25 Aug 1916 at Richmond, Virginia, at age 65.

     Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger II was born on 19 Jan 1848 at Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger I and Sarah Ann Southall. Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger II married Isabel (Unknown) a 1865.

     William Henry Weisiger was born on 8 Oct 1840 at Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Oscar Fitzallen Weisiger I and Sarah Ann Southall. William Henry Weisiger died on 5 Mar 1896 at Richmond, Virginia, at age 55.

     Elizabeth 'Lizzie' D. Southall was born c 1825. She was the daughter of Turner Southall and Mary 'Polly' Christian. Elizabeth 'Lizzie' D. Southall married Thomas J. Hutton, son of John Hutton and Sarah Mason, on 14 May 1851 at Richmond, Virginia.

      Elizabeth D. Southall is presumed to be the Elizabeth D. age 25 living with her sister Mary in the Samuel Ellis household in Richmond, VA in 1850.

Elizabeth was listed with her siblings and then crossed out as a plaintiff in the Nov 1846 Furnea Southall estate settlement case; she was noted as being under 21 and was represented in the case by "her next friend" Edmund T. Christian, who appears to have been a Charles City Co commissioner.

     Thomas J. Hutton was born a 1822. He was the son of John Hutton and Sarah Mason. Thomas J. Hutton married Elizabeth 'Lizzie' D. Southall, daughter of Turner Southall and Mary 'Polly' Christian, on 14 May 1851 at Richmond, Virginia.

      Thomas J. Hutton applied for a Richmond, Va marriage bond on 14 May 1851.

     Lillian Virginia Hutton was born a 1852. She was the daughter of Thomas J. Hutton and Elizabeth 'Lizzie' D. Southall. Lillian Virginia Hutton was buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

     James Barrett Southall was born a 1810. He was the son of Turner Southall and Mary 'Polly' Christian. James Barrett Southall died a 1846.

      James Barrett Southall was noted as being born before 1810. Family records clearly refer to James Barrett Southall, as being "grandma's [Rebecca Hunt Southall] brother." His name was further clarified by this court suit: Harbert A. Claibourne and James T. Southall of first part and Samuel Ellis of second part, all of City of Richmond. By decree of Superior Court of Law and Chancery 2 Dec 1836, in the case of Samuel Ellis and Mary his wife, who was Mary Southall, plaintiffs, versus James Southall, Rebecca Southall, Elizabeth Southall and William Southall, all the last of whom were infants under 21. H. A. Claibourne was appointed to sell the land which Turner Southall, deceased, was seized of, on 4th Street. This suit clarifies the James T. Southall living in Richmond -- who ever he was -- was an adult bringing a suit in court against the Southall children's guardian and was not Rebecca's brother James who was listed in the suit as "an infant under 21" in 1836. Thus the James T. Southall who applied for a marriage bond on 11 Oct 1821 to marry Mary Bryan, daughter of Wilson Bryan, and whose tombstone is in Richmond, VA is not the brother of Rebecca Hunt Southall.

     Mary C. Southall was born c 1808 at Charles City Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Turner Southall and Mary 'Polly' Christian. Mary C. Southall married Samuel Ellis on 20 Mar 1828 at Richmond, Virginia. Mary C. Southall died on 30 Jun 1865 at Richmond, Virginia. She was buried at Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.

     William Southall was born on 4 Jan 1759. He was the son of COL Turner Southall (of Henrico) and Martha Vanderwall. William Southall died on 13 Oct 1759.

     Eric Jon Bina is the son of Richard Albert Bina and Marolyn Jeanette Hauer. Eric Jon Bina and Marianne Southall Winslett were engaged on 5 Dec 1992 at Champaign, Illinois.

     Oliver Kelly Wallace married Mary Frances Winslett, daughter of George Harper Winslett and Ethel Lenna Horn, on 30 Dec 1950 at Montgomery, Alabama.

     Thomas Christian I was born in 1636 at England. He immigrated c 1655. He married Elinor Kewley, daughter of John Kewley I and Margt Lewn, c 1663. Thomas Christian I married Unknown Corbin c 1675. Thomas Christian I died a 1704 at Saint Paul's Parish, Goochland Co, Virginia.

      Thomas Christian came to America about 1655 -- possibly from Sledgby, Onchan Douglas, Isle of Man -- and settled in Virginia where he patented land in the 1660s-1680s. He was a Royalist and the family were Episcopalians and attended the Westover Parish Church, Charles City Co, VA.

Thomas had the following land acquisitions: 100 acres in James City Co, VA on the north side of the James River and the east side of the Chickahominy River on 15 Jan 1657, acquired from providing transportation to Virginia for himself and John Wilkerson; another patent on 18 Mar 1662 in James City Co on the north side of the James River and the east side of the Chickahominy River near Thomas Young and on the Island Creek; 1,080 acres on 21 Oct 1687 in Charles City Co in Weyanoke Parish on the south side of Store's (Stoney) Run, crossing Black Gutt to the Chickahominy River -- called "Cherry Bottom" this is where the family built a home and had the family cemetery; and in 1694 193 acres south of Chickahominy Swamp in Charles City Co, VA.

Thomas was in Charles City Co, VA court several times in 1678, including for a lawsuit about a horse he sold. That year he had his young servant's age established in court for the purpose of establishing the length of servitude. In 1692 Thomas and his sons Thomas junior and Charles were each separately charged in court because of a complaint they had trespassed and hunted on James Callam's property; only the father was found guilty. That year Thomas senior and his son Charles each turned in a wolf's head to the court for bounty and were paid 200 pounds tobacco each.

The Christian family first lived in Charles City Co and New Kent Co, VA. Many Charles City Co and New Kent Co records from before 1866 were destroyed making it very difficult to unravel the family lines. Many New Kent County records were also destroyed during the 1787 Clerk's Office burning. Examination of remaining Charles City Co court orders from 1672 through 1695 showed the few Christian family court actions detailed above, but the 1737 through 1757 court records are dominated with many Christian family court actions which, because of the redundancy of some family names are impossible to analyze without additional information.

Family tradition among descendants of Thomas and various 20th century researchers was that he came from the Isle of Man, England and he descended from McCrestens, however there is no supporting evidence for the descent claim and unfortunately with repetition the tradition took on a life of its own. The best and extensive unmasking of the Christian descendancy myth is in "Elusive Connections: The Immigrant Ancestors" and updated in "The Christian Family with Britt," by noted author Agnes Branch Pearlman (died 2010), 12 Nov 2006, http://www.angelfire.com/la/ancestors/Christian.html. Due to the destruction of the Tidewater, VA records, it will require British documentation to span the gap from our immigrant ancestor to England some day. In case a proven connection can be made to the McChristians of the Ile of Man, more information was stored in this database.

     Charles Christian I was born c 1752 at Charles City Co, Virginia. He was the son of John Christian I and Sarah (Unknown). Charles Christian I married Rebecca Terrell, daughter of William Terrell I and Mary Rivers, on 7 Jun 1772 at Charles City Co, Virginia. Charles Christian I married Mary Vaughan, daughter of William Vaughan ? and Elizabeth (Unknown), on 13 Oct 1778 at Charles City Co, Virginia.^13,10 Charles Christian I died in 1808 at Charles City Co, Virginia.

      Finding the specific Charles Christian who was the father of our ancestor Mary Christian took arduous searching because the family lived in Charles City Co where many land and probate records were destroyel by Union forces in the Civil War. Ultimately knowing the Christian family was from Westover Parish in Charles City Co and the clue of a land inheritance provided to this researcher by author and genealogist Benjamin Weisiger of Richmond, VA helped unravel the mystery of this family line a piece at a time.

This researcher had the pleasure of meeting Charles City Co, VA historian Richard Bowman (1928-2014), who after an interview took her to the small building housing the County Clerk's Office, pointed to a small dusty box on the top shelf and said the box had the Christian-Southall marriage certificate which would prove my research theory was correct and other researchers had erred in their assumption Charles Christian did not have a second wife. This researcher almost gave up before coming to that small folded piece of fragile paper in the back of the box. Furthermore, Richard Bowman took this researcher to the Charles Christian lands on the Chickahominy, thus providing an actual visual on the "map" this analyst had constructed from land sales and discussions with geologists about former names of creeks. That "map" unfolded the descent of Charles Christian's line.

Charles Christian lived in Charles City Co, VA where he witnessed a James and Francis Timberlake deed in 1766 along with another of our 5th great-grandfathers Furnea Southall; Charles's daughter Mary later married Furnea's son. In 1769 Charles witnessed the Joel Christian and William Gregory deed in the same county.

Charles leased 200 acres of land for 21 years at six pounds per year from William Cole in 1768; this land was part of a 9,000 acre tract between Oldmans Creek and Herrin Creek (off the James River) in Charles City Co that Cole and his merchant partners William Gregory and Thomas Holt were continually leasing portions thereof. In the year 1771, for example, the tract had seven tenants living on 450 acres. Cellar Run was on the eastern edge of this 9,000 acre tract of land by Benjamin Crew and William Cole's land; William Cole owned land adjacent to Charles Christian's lands Charles owned at his death in 1808. In 1771 Charles Christian was an appraiser of the William West estate; he purchased part of his land from William West.

Charles and Rebecca Terrell are reported in a 1915 transcription of Charles City Co marriage bonds as having had the consent of William Christian in order to marry in 1772. At that time Charles' father was deceased, so William Christian is likely Charles' eldest brother and his guardian. Under 1748 law establishing marriage requirements, those under the age of 21 needed a parent or guardian's consent to marry, thus Charles was less than 21 years old at the time of his marriage to Rebecca.

Charles Christian and his brother John petitioned in 1774 for forfeiture of the 3,926 acres their father John had purchased in partnership with James Christian and William Brown in Albemarle Co, VA as two of the original patentees were dead; William Brown's interests were bartered to 1,000 acres. Charles and John then began selling portions of the land to relatives and friends. Charles sold his interests to a Charles Christian of Amherst Co, VA by 1785 according to research by Louis Koenig.

Charles appears in the 1787 Charles City Co census with seventeen slaves and in the 1790 census with fifteen slaves; a Charles Christian who may be his son also appears in the latter census in a separate household.

The elder Charles Christian and his wife Mary of Westover Parish, Charles City Co divided 189 acres jointly purchased from the Lennards, Barnetts and Thompsons -- the heirs of Geoffrey Thompson -- with John Bowry under two deeds drawn 22 July 1796.

Charles was enumerated on the 1800 real estate and personal tax lists for Charles City Co showing 640 acres, five horses and the following males: one white above age 16 [this would be Charles], six blacks above age 16 and two blacks above age 12.

The following is from our family records: The Christian family owned large estates and many slaves in Virginia. "Proud" Charles Christian had race horses, packs of fox hounds, silver for the table, linen shirts called Holland with thread cambric ruffles and books for his library; the title "Proud" may have denoted social status. There were parties at "Westover" and a gay life with balls and fox hunting. Florence George Shell remembered hearing her mother, Rebecca Hunt Southall, say Rebecca's grandfather, Charles Christian, gave one son sixty-five slaves to take with him when he went from Virginia to Kentucky to live.

When Charles died in 1808 without a will his lands (about 800 acres off route 602 in Charles City Co) were divided by court order among at least the following Christian sons and daughters: Charles, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Terrell, and Mary with her husband Turner Southall. These legatees, each inheriting 70 to 112 acres, sold their lands between May 1810 and Sep 1812. In Dec 1810 a James Christian sold forty acres on Cellar Run in an area adjacent to the Christian children's land to John Bowry, but his deed did not state he inherited the land from Charles. James was unlikely to be another of Charles' sons who inherited under the same division of land because this James Christian also had an infant brother Claudius who owned adjacent land.

The extensive estate of Charles Christian of Charles City Co was inventoried and appraised on 31 Oct 1808 for $5,014 dollars. In the appraisal were sixteen slaves; extensive fowl and livestock; eight beds and three chests; seventeen chairs; five mahogany, cherry and walnut tables; two mirrors; three spinning wheels; and extensive farm, household, and kitchen implements and furnishings. That John Christian was one of the appraisers of the estate is a strong indicator he was not a son; John owned land adjacent to that of the deceased Charles Christian.

The 1 Nov 1808 sale of part of the Charles Christian estate for $1,277 included the following Christians as purchasers: John H., Edmund, Charles, John and Rebecca. At this estate sale Charles' son-in-law, our ancestorTurner Southall bought two cows, a black walnut table, a set of books, a pair of candlesticks, three ploughs, small iron pot, two piggins (small wooden pail with an extended stave for a handle), churn, set of dishes, fodder, pair of andirons, hogshead, twenty-five barrels of corn; also that month Turner bought eight bushels of wheat from the estate.

The 19 Dec 1808 sale of another portion of the estate netted $19 and 144 pounds; it was recorded simultaneously with the first. Turner Southall bought a pair of iron wedges, pair of [yarn] cards, small iron pot with hooks, pot rack, powdering tub (in which meat was salted or pickled), runlet (perhaps rundlet -- a small barrel), 7 plates, pan, bucket, meat spit, loom with gear and warping boxes, Dutch oven, frying pan, scythe and cradle, 2 chests and 7 bushels of peas. Edmund and Charles Christian also participated in this sale. Henry Vaughan senior and Henry Vaughan (no designator) were also purchasers at these two estate sales. The estate accounting was filed 21 Oct 1813 which included a purchase of 10 barrels of corn by Turner Southall.

The accounts for the estate of Charles Christian filed by Edmund Christian, the appointed administrator, show that on 17 Nov 1808 $42 was paid to Turner Christian for principal and interest due him on a note and another $8 was paid Turner Christian as the executor of the William B. Christian (estate) accounts. On 1 Jul 1809 the estate administrator paid Furnea Southall, the samesake son of our ancestor, $8 balance on a note. In 1809 a surveyor was paid $20 and John and Henry B. Christian were paid "for mourning for Eliza Christian;" Charles' daughter Elizabeth was still living so it is unknown who this Elizabeth is. In 1812 John Southall was paid $31 for principal and interest on a bond. In 1813 monies were paid the executor of William B. Christian [assumed to be Turner Christian still.] This accounting was filed with the court on 27 Aug 1813.

That there were four other Charles Christians living during that period did not make it easier. The other Charles Christians were:
--Charles Christian, circa 1718-1784; of Goochland Co, VA; married Judith Woodson and Mary Leake.
--Charles Christian of Albemarle Co, VA, born circa 1722, whose estate was inventoried in 1767; he was the son of Susannah and James Christian, who was the son of Rebecca (New) and Thomas Christian.
--Charles Mask Christian, circa 1741-1813, son of the Charles of Goochland (above) and Mary; of Goochland and Amherst Counties, VA; married Sarah Duke.
--Charles Christian, died before 1836; married Catherine Barlow and had issue who resided in Richmond.

Because of the dirth of records and the confusion among descendants about the multiple use of names across generations, one cannot rely on data in online family trees for both the Christian and Southall lines. Westover Parish records would likely provide information about our family, but as of 1994 the minister indicates the records prior to 1833 -- when the church reopened after being closed for thirty years -- are missing.

Another item of interest in the Charles Christian estate account because of the Radcliffe surname involved which appears other times in the family is the Nov 1808 amount of sales due "cash of Isaac Radcliff $3.27" and the 8 Sep 1809 "Pierce order in favor of Ratcliff for $2.25." Subsequently, on 15 Mar 1811 Turner Southall, Charles' son-in-law, purchased 117-acre and 78-acre tracts from Isaac and Margaret Ratcliff for $650. Isaac Radclff and his descendants may have some relationship with the Christian and Southall or possibly the Shell descendants. Turner Southall's great-granddaughter Florence George Shell (1856-1945), born about 50 years after Charles Christian's death, annotated the New Kent Co, VA censuses. Florence Shell owned and annotated "Records of New Kent County Virginia: US Census for 1810 and US Census for 1850...." which she inscribed with her full name and the date in 1938 when she was was age 82. Florence, who grew up in Richmond, VA likely had direct knowledge of her family history. Her annotations could reflect direct knowledge of her parents' families; alternatively she could have been exploring possible family, friend or commecial ties to her ancestors' lines or marking names which she heard mentioned when she was growing up. Her data is included below with research questions and possible theories in hopes the data might assist in further uncovering our ancestry in the future.

In the 1810 census Florence marked the woman presumed to be her grandmother based on other family notes, Fanny Shell, and wrote "Frances" next to the entry; she annotated that Frances had an old prayer book. In the 1850 census Florence marked two Radcliffe and Crump families which may have had connections to Fanny, her father's Shell family or to her mother's Southall or Christian family. Radcliffe and Crump were both old New Kent Co families running taverns in the county. Florence did not mark other Radcliff(e) or Crump or Marston families, the latter possibly related to her Shells and also shown living in the tavern, in the 1850 census and did not mark any of the two families in the 1810 census although some of the same names, such as Beverly Crump, were in both censuses. Because Florence marked the only two taverns identified in the New Kent Co 1850 census perhaps the information she had from her parents involved a tavern and she was trying to find a family connection in regard to her grandmother Fanny; hopefully some day that connection will become clearer. Based on her notations, Florence read the entire book of records, so she specifically targeted this Ratcliffe and this Crump family as opposed to others with the same surname.

In the 1850 census Florence annotated each of the following people in this household all born in Virginia: Household 117 Tavern: Harriet P. Ratcliffe, age 42, value of real estate 1,500; Wm. F. Terrell, 21, teacher; Eliz. B. Marston, 64; Cornelia Ratcliffe, 17; Geo. T. Ratcliffe, 15; Olivia E. Ratcliffe, 13; Benj. H. Ratcliffe, 11; and John Ratcliffe, 9. Nevertheless, this family is of particular interest because it encompasses the names Marston and George. Although all family members names are marked, particularly interesting is that there is a Marston in this household because George's mother Frances evidently married Marston Shell because historical analysis showed Marston Shell was likely George Shell's father. Given that Eliz. Marston was born ~1786 and therefore was contemporary to Frances Shell born ~1784 whose maiden name is unknown, perhaps Frances and this Eliz Marston were sisters or cousins. For more information on Florence's annotations in the census see the biography of George D. Shell.


Detailed sources:

--"Records of New Kent County Virginia: US Census for 1810; US Census for 1850; and Abstracts of the Application Papers of Revolutionary Pensioners of New Kent Co, VA," Volume One, Collected and Published by the Martha Washington Chapter DAR, Washington DC, 1938; inscribed on the cover "Florence George Shell Auguste, 1938.
--Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, indexer. Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc., 1984.

     Thomas Christian II was born in 1664 at Charles City Co, Virginia. He was the son of Thomas Christian I and Elinor Kewley. Thomas Christian II married Rebecca New, daughter of Edmond New and Mary (Unknown), a 1686 at Goochland Co, Virginia. His estate was probated on 17 Mar 1738/39 at Goochland Co, Virginia.

      Thomas Christian II patented 75 acres of land in 1705 in Charles City, VA, and in 1712 and 1727 patented land on Beaver Dam Creek in the part of Henrico Co called Goochland Co, VA.

     Elizabeth (Unknown) was born a 1733. She married William Vaughan ? a 1753. Elizabeth (Unknown) died on 14 Apr 1774 at New Kent Co, Virginia.

      One family tree depicts Elizabeth, the mother of Mary Vaughan as Elizabeth Ingram, the daughter of John Ingram and his wife Hannah, but this may be a different Elizabeth Vaughan from our ancestor (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/26213673/person/5012353553/facts.) John Ingram wrote his will in Meherrin Parish, Brunswick Co [VA-NC border county], VA in 1763 and noted wife Hannah, sons Samuel, George (land in Meherrin Parish), John (deceased), James (land in Meherrin Parish), Jesse (land in Granville Co, NC), Joshua (land in Lunenburg Co, VA), Richard (land in Lunenburg Co, VA), Benjamin (land in Lunenburg Co, VA), Joseph (land in Meherrin Parish) and two daughters Tabitah Gee and Elizabeth Vaughn [same married name as our ancestor.] John Ingram gave his sons land in Granville Co, NC; Lundenburg Co, VA and Brunswick Co, VA, all close to the VA-NC border and south of New Kent Co, VA and Charles City Co, VA where our ancestor Elizabeth lived. (http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/wills/ingram2.txt). James, son of John Ingram wrote his will in Bruswick Co, VA in 1770 and noted his wife Elizabeth; his five brothers George, Joshua, Richard, Benjamin and Joseph, and his sister Tabitha Gee; evidently his sister Elizabeth Vaughn was deceased by 1770 (http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/wills/ingram1.txt) If Elizabeth was the wife of William Vaughan noted in the St. Peter's Vestry records with a daughter Mary, that Elizabeth did not die until 1774 -- the same year as her husband, thus there may be two Elizabeth Vaughans.

Most online trees focus on a different William Vaughan family also noted in St. Peter's Parish, but a family who did not have a daughter Mary. According to the St. Peter's Vestry Book and Register, William Shields Vaughn, son of William and Elizabeth was born 30 Jan 1729/30. He became a Quaker and married Hannah Crew in Charles City Co, VA on 4 Sep 1750. Their children were James (born 1751), Shields (1753), Elizabeth (1755), Frances Ann (1757), William (1759), Molly (1761), Benjamin (1763), Sarah (1765), Hannah (1767), Shadrack (1770), James (1773) and Ann (1775). Molly married Jesse Crew; Ann married Charles Norman; Francis Ann was dismissed for a marriage out of unity; Elizabeth refused to follow through with her declaration to marry John Morgan and was reported to be married out of unity, and both Sarah and Hannah died unmarried. The Mary who was listed in the St. Peter's Vestry Book and register, born 1754, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth was unlikely to have been a sister of William Shields Vaughn because of the big difference in their years of birth.

Elizabeth's given name was established from oral information passed to and written down by Ella Virginia Auguste Perry from her grandmother Rebecca Hunt Southall, the great-granddaughter of Elizabeth. Ella annotated Elizabeth's name with "Holman?" indicating that either Rebecca thought her last name could be Holman or Ella's subsequent research led Ella to believe her surname was Holman. One red flag was two different Southall men married women named Elizabeth Holman and Ms. Holman, and because Rebecca Hunt Southall descended from the Southalls she might have been discussing a Southall marriage, not a Christian marriage, and her granddaughter Ella did not understand. Nevertheless an exhaustive review of Holman records in Charles City Co did not present any likely connections but are recounted here to help establish this family line in the future. A John Holman was in Charles City Co court for debt in 1673. A William Holman served as administrator of the Bathurst Skelton estate in Charles City Co from 1771 through 1773. Robert Holman was listed as a headright for a 1638 land grant to Elizabeth Grayne. (http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.virginia.counties.charlescity/301/mb.ashx)

On 7 Oct 1771 Wm Holman, Thomas Poor and James Austin appraised the estate of Bathurst Shelton in Charles City Co.

     Mary Vaughan was born on 4 May 1754 at New Kent Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of William Vaughan ? and Elizabeth (Unknown). Mary Vaughan married (Unknown) Mitchell a 1775. Mary Vaughan married Charles Christian I, son of John Christian I and Sarah (Unknown), on 13 Oct 1778 at Charles City Co, Virginia.^7,4 Mary Vaughan died b 1808.

      Our ancestor Mary Vaughan, who married a Mitchell and a Christian, is presumed to be the daughter of William and Elizabeth Vaughan through the process of eliminating other options for whose daughter she could be. Her close relationship with Henry Vaughan who signed her marriage bond is still not understood. Because Charles City Co, VA records were burned in the Civil War it has been difficult to establish her ancestry, although estate records for William and Elizabeth Vaughan would likely be very helpful.

Inherited family data held few clues to help solve the ancestry of Mary Vaughan, and in hindsight some clues may have instead been conjecture. My great-grandmother Ella Virginia August Perry left notes stating Charles Christian married Mary Vaughan, daughter of Elizabeth (Holman?). This researcher interpreted that information that Mary Vaughan's mother was likely named Elizabeth Holman, either before marriage or after an unknown first marriage. However subsequent study of the line of Mary Vaughan's son-in-law, the Southall line in Charles City Co, showed that two unrelated Southall men married women named Elizabeth Holman and Ms. Holman respectively. Thus, in retrospect this researcher now considers my great-grandmother possibly added the last name Holman to the mother of Mary Vaughan because she had heard or read that surname in her own genealogical research. Thus, Mary Vaughan's mother is most likely named Elizabeth but may possibly be not be Elizabeth Holman.

Singularly important was Henry Vaughan and Charles Christian were the bond holders for Charles' 1778 marriage to Mary. Thus there was possibly some relationship -- such as parent, brother or cousin -- between Mary Vaughan and Henry Vaughan.

Further hinting at a possible relationship was the use of the name Rebecca in both the families of our Mary Vaughan and of a Henry Vaughan. A Henry and Elizabeth Vaughan had a daughter Sarah born 29 Nov 1774 and christened 1 Jan 1775 noted in the St. Peter's Vestry Book and Register, placing Henry as a contemporary to Mary Vaughan. In 1776 a Henry and Elizabeth Rebecca Vaughan had a son born 5 July 1776 and christened 11 Aug 1776. Mary Vaughan's daughter and granddaughter were named Rebecca. The issue remains as to who were Henry's parents because Henry's birth was not listed in the Vestry Book.

Additionally Henry Vaughan was included in a number of Christian and Southall records also pointing to a relationship among the families. On 18 May 1804 Henry Vaughan, a justice of the peace, took depositions from Mary's husband Charles Christian and his brother John Christian in the long-running Amhurst Co land lawsuit of Charles and John Christian of New Kent Co vs Reuben Norvell. On 31 Oct 1808 Henry Vaughan senior purchased six black walnut chairs, a tea board and crockery ware from Charles Christian's estate. At the second Charles Christian estate sale two [yarn] cards were sold to a Henry Vaughan with no further designator as a senior or junior and Shields Vaughan purchased 10 barrels of corn on 10 Dec 1808. On 15 Mar 1811 Henry Vaughan and Will A. Christian, gentlemen justices of Charles City Co, witnessed a land sale from Isaac and Margaret Radcliff to Turner Southall. On 19 Mar 1811 Henry Vaughan and Will A. Christian, noted again as justices, and John Hill witnessed a land sale for Mary "Polly" Southall, daughter of Charles Christian and Mary Vaughan, and her husband Turner Southall to Robert Ladd to cover their debts to Ladd family members. Henry Vaughan met with Polly separately to ensure she agreed with the sale.

A Henry Vaughn [sic] who served in the Charles City Co milita during the Revolutionary War was listed on a pension list. Three Henry Vaughans are listed by unit for serving for Virginia. (http://www.vaughan-vaughn.org/cwvirginia.htm) A 21 Nov 1776 list of militia for Charles City Co under Capt. Benjamin Harrison included Sgt. Henry Vaughan, Sgt. Turner Southall; the company saw 19 days service and were paid 16 pence per day. (Virginia Military Records from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly)

The 1820 Charles City Co census included both Henry Vaughn and Henry Vaughan (not marked senior and junior) as well as Mary, Bardy, James, Matthew Vaughan.

The Shields Vaughan at Charles Christian's estate sale was likely the son of William Shields Vaughan. According to the St. Peter's Vestry Book and Register, William Shields Vaughn, son of William and Elizabeth was born 30 Jan 1729/30. He became a Quaker and married Hannah Crew in Charles City Co on 4 Sep 1750. Their children were James (1751), Sheilds (1753), Elizabeth (1755), Frances Ann (1757), William (1759), Molly (1761), Benjamin (1763), Sarah (1765), Hannah (1767), Shadrack (1770), James (1773) and Ann (1775). Molly married Jesse Crew; Ann married Charles Norman; Francis Ann was dismissed for a marriage out of unity and Elizabeth refused to follow through with her declaration to marry John Morgan and was reported to be married out of unity. Both Sarah and Hannah died unmarried. This researcher concluded the William Shields Vaughan family is unlikely directe connected to our Mary Vaughan.

Three Mary Vaughans are in the county records of New Kent and Charles City, and by the process of elimination one Mary was presumed to be our ancestor. In St Peter's Parish, New Kent Co, Mary born 1754 to William and Elizabeth Vaughan would be the most likely candidate to be our ancestor both because of her birth date and because her mother was stated to be Elizabeth in our family records. William and Elizabeth also had children named Lewis and Elizabeth christened in the same church. (Note: New Kent Co deeds and wills have not yet been researched for the period of her potential birth through her parents' death for confirming records.)

Our Mary is known to have first married a Mr. Mitchell. Given that the Mary Vaughan who was born in 1754 lost both of her parents in 1774 according to the St. Peter's register, that may be when Mary entered her first marriage to Mr. Mitchell. Many Mitchell famlies lived in New Kent Co. The 13 Oct 1778 marriage bond posted by Charles Christian and Henry Vaughan for fifty pounds notes Charles was to marry Mary Mitchell, a widow.

On the other hand, the two other Mary Vaughans in the county were born too late to be our ancestor: in Charles City Co, Mary L. Vaughan who married William Taylor by the time her father Henry died in 1823 and Polly Vaughan, another woman in St Peter's Parish, New Kent Co born in 1774 to William and Nancy Vaughan. A Molly Vaughan, sister of Rabley Vaughan of King William Co just north of New Kent Co whose will of 1787 in Williamsburg provides proof, married a Christian, not a Mitchell.

     Edward Eugene Winslett was born on 24 Nov 1908 at Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama. He was the son of Rev Hiram Milton Winslett and Birsie Eubera Green. Edward Eugene Winslett died on 10 Apr 1909.

     Forest Obe Strong was born on 25 Jan 1916 at Kings Co, California. He was the son of James Franklin "Frank" Strong and Lanora "Nora" Katherine Arledge. Forest Obe Strong died on 5 Jan 1980 at San Luis Obispo, California, at age 63.

     Samuel Winslett II was born in 1787 at Wrightsboro, Georgia. He was the son of 1st Lt. Samuel Winslett I and Mary Carson. Samuel Winslett II married Disa 'Dicey' 'Dicy' McMichael on 17 Jan 1808 at Greene Co, Georgia. Samuel Winslett II died b 1850 at Alabama.

      Samuel Winslett II was the son of Samuel Winslett I (1750-1829) living next to his parents and siblings, and starting in 1780 was styled as Samuel Winslett junior. The elder Samuel was noted as Samuel Winslett senior on his 1827 lottery grant to Revolutionary veterans and his Greene Co, GA estate appraisal and taxes were noted as being those of Samuel Winslett senior, indicating a Samuel junior was living or had lived nearby.

Samuel and Disa McMichael were married by W. M. Johnson. Samuel was a farmer. Based on census records Samuel moved from the 1780s until the 1840s: starting in Greene Co, GA; to Monroe Co, GA in 1827; to Meriwether (Troup) Co, GA in 1830; to Chambers Co, AL about 1840. This track took Samuel in a generally southeastern direction from his birth place in Georgia to his last residence just across the Alabama state line.

The 1820 Greene Co, GA census notes him as Samuel Winslett junior, a farmer living with his wife both age 26-44 in Capt Kimbrough's District with 3 males under 10 and one age 10-14 and 2 females under 2; it is unknown who the male age 10-14 was. Samuel was living next door to his brother Jonathan, Mary Winslett (the widow of his brother David who died in 1820), Peggy Winslett (another widowed sister-in-law) and his father Samuel Winslett senior.

By 1830 Samuel was living with his wife, both age 40-49, in Meriwether Co, GA with one male age 10-14, one 15-19, one 20-29, 1 female under age 5, one age 10-14, three age 15-19 and two slaves under age 10.

The 1840 Chambers Co, AL census shows Samuel Winslett and his wife, both age 50-59, living with 1 male under age 5, 1 male age 20 - 29, 3 females age 15 -19 and 2 slaves both age 10 - 23. Samuel was living next door to his son John Winslett. Unsourced online data indicated Samuel died in 1843 in Chambers Co, AL.

     James Christian I was born on 29 Apr 1676 at Charles City Co, Virginia. He was the son of Thomas Christian I and Unknown Corbin. James Christian I married Ann 'Amy' Macon a 1699 at Virginia. James Christian I died in Feb 1750 at Charles City Co, Virginia, at age 73. He was buried at Charles City Co, Virginia.

      James Christian patented land in the part of Henrico Co, VA called Goochland Co in 1719, bordering Thomas Christian's land. In the absence of any other Christians mentioned in the records of Charles City Co and New Kent Co at that time and the alignment of James' land with that of Thomas, James is presumed to be a son of Thomas.

James lived in St Peter's Parish, New Kent Co, Va and also in Charles City Co, VA.

A number of Charles City Co court actions were taken in regard to a James Christian(s) between 1738 and 1748, but there is no way to tell if they are the actions of this James or his nephew by the same name. James deeded a gift to his son Joel in 1747. James' will was presented in court by his sons James, Richard and Joel Christian along with his brother Charles and Charles' son, Turner Hunt Chiristian. Highly unusual was that no one was appointed by the court to do an estate appraisal, which may explain the very high security demanded of the administrators -- 1000 pounds tobacco.

James Christian and Ann Macon have a documented line which connects to President John Tyler four generations later.

/according to another source, James may have died as early as 28 Jul 1729.

     Thelma Kathryn Strong was born on 29 Jun 1917 at California. She was the daughter of James Franklin "Frank" Strong and Lanora "Nora" Katherine Arledge. Thelma Kathryn Strong died on 12 Jul 1994 at Contra Costa, California, at age 77.

     Elizabeth Hunt was born in 1680 at Charles City Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of John Hunt and Elizabeth Turner ? Elizabeth Hunt married Charles Christian I (younger son Charles), son of Thomas Christian I and Unknown Corbin, c 1702 at Westover Parish, Charles City Co, Virginia. Elizabeth Hunt died a 1729 at Charles City Co, Virginia.

      Elizabeth Hunt is also reported in unproven sources to have been born in 1685 and died in Jan 1727.