Grave Matters Montpelier Home of President James Madison and his wife Dolley.

It's been a long time since my last post and I hope that I can once again regularly blog to you about family matters and history.
I have recently returned to Virginia and I am certainly glad to be back.  Tennessee was nice, but Virginia is home.
Last Sunday my husband and I visited the home of President James Madison.  We visited over ten years ago and they had just started the renovations.  There was just a couple of rooms that they were in the process of renovating and some duplicates of Dolley Madison's dress.  Imagine my surprise with the newly renovated rooms, visitor center and Dupont Gallery.  It is becoming quite a place to visit and I hardily encourage anyone that has not been to go and if you have been, go again.  According to other visitors, every visit brings something new.  Everyone knows that President Madison was one of the main architects of our glorious Constitution.
"For the rest of his life he would be explaining and expounding the new Constitution-in congress, as President of the United States, and years later at Montpelier, answering letters from all over the country."
Catherine Drinker Bowen   Miracle at Philadelphia

I was thrilled to walk through the room that once housed his library, the dining room where so many personages visited, discussed and decided the nation's policies, and his bedroom- the place where a man for the ages drew his last breathe.

The Cemetery where James Madison is  buried is located where his father's first home once stood.   It is just a short walk from Montpelier.  Below are some pictures of the graves.

Fannie W Madison  wife of Jas A Madison born April 12, 1842 died October 28, 1899

In Memory of James A Madison born July 14, 1828  Died June 28, 1901

Our Mother Lucy M Madison  Born January 24, 1830  Died July 27, 1886

Ambrose G son of Dr. James A and Lucy Hiden Madison  Died February 28, 1928 age 81 years

Ambrose Madison born March 12, 1796 Died December 23, 1855

In Memory of Mary F Marye  born April 12, 1822  Died November 13, 1856

Alfred Madison  Born August 10, 1861  Died May 12, 1880

James Madison  Born November 26, 1855  Died  February 16, 1916

Susan Daniel  Daughter of Dr. James A Madison and Lucy Maria Hiden   1854-1938

J Madison Macon  born July 3, 1791  Died February 3, 1877
Lucetta T Newman his wife born January 9, 1799 Died  January 1, 1878

 Sarah C Macon  wife of Thomas Macon  daughter of James Madison Sr.  I couldn't read the birthdate.  Died October 17, 1843

 Thomas Macon  Born June 11  1765  Died  February 26, 1838

 Lucy H. Macon  Wife of Reuben Conway  Born February 21, 1794 Died May 13, 1871

 Reuben Conway  Born March 11, 1788 Died Regretted by all January 3, 1838
Did anybody notice that Lucy Macon's father Thomas died just one month later.

 D. John Willis Born at White Hall in Gloucester  on October 24, 1774 Died at Woodbury in Orange April 1, 1811

My wife Mary W Lee born September 8, 1805 married March 2, 1826 died March 29, 1836  Also her two sons Ambrose Madison  born February ?, 1822 died March 26, 1826 and John Willis  born March 21, 1836.  I could not read the death date.  I'm a little curious as to what happened here.


There are a few more pictures.  I will post them soon.

The Other Jefferson Family

Image via Wikipedia

In talking to many genealogist or family researchers, they seem to be always looking for that famous link.  I have always thought that the ordinary farmer from 200 years ago was pretty famous just to have survived.  I don't know if I would have been able to survive, if I had been born then.  When I was a child I had measles, mumps, scarlet fever, anemia, chicken pox.  You name it and I had it.  But I also had the medicine.  Big Difference.  But this one time I thought I would stray from the ordinary and try to find my famous roots or more famous roots.

From time to time, I have been told that I am a descendant of Thomas Jefferson's grandfather. I have never pursued that side of my family so I thought I would give it a try.   Of course, I will have to start all over again with my birth certificates and marriage searches because this is from my father's side of the family.  I have mainly been searching on my mother's side of the family.  I have also been asked many times where the name Gray comes from in our family. I will also be pursuing that avenue.  Many of my family members have that as a middle name. In addressing this side of the family I will also be addressing the differences in Thomas Jefferson family and why the other members became just regular farmers, not statesmen.

I am going to start with my grandfather.  His name was Eros Gray Bailey.  I know. Why, oh, why did they name him Eros?  I don't know if he was a God of Love and I certainly wouldn't have thought to ask my father that question when I was a little girl.  I may be straying from the story here. But it  doesn't seem right and not only that, no one  called him Eros.  They called him Bill. He passed away in 1974 so I remember him well.  He was a good kind man.   He was married to Kizzie Mae Crawley.  She was  older than him, but her family was from southside Virginia too.  He attended Gretna Christian Church and he was a long time employee of Lane Company Furniture.  They made cedar chests in Altavista, Virginia.  I remember that he smoked cigars, but he stopped later on in his life.  I was told that sometime during his marriage and the depression years that he took his family to Detroit to look for jobs.  It was also recounted to me that he tried running a Restaurant in Chatham, Virginia, but he was too much of a soft touch.  More people ate there for nothing and he couldn't pay his bills.

During his marriage to Kizzie Crawley he had two children, Harold Gray and Clarence Milton.  Clarence Milton Bailey was killed in the Korean War in 1953.  My mother said that they were all sitting at the dinner table eating rice pudding when they came with the news.  To that day no one ever ate rice pudding in the house again.  Years later they wrote an article in the  Pittsylvania paper about the Korean War Soldiers that had lost their life and Uncle Clarence's name was not included.  We called and they corrected the article.  Later my brother and I visited the Korean War Memorial in Washington DC and found that they had his date of death wrong and the information was that he had been wounded and later he died.  That was all incorrect.  My mother worked tirelessly with other Marine Veterans to correct this information.

I have the marriage license of Eros Gray Bailey and Kizzie Mae Crawley from Henry County, Virginia.  The license was issued to E. G. Bailey and Mae Crawley on September 17, 1927.  They were married on September 17, 1927.  The license said that he was 20 and she was 28.  Husband's place of birth was Pittsylvania County, Virginia and his present mailing address was Bassett, Virginia.  Wife's place of birth was Pittsylvania county and mailing address was Bassett, Virginia.   Eros Gray Bailey's father and mother were Bob Bailey and Henrietta Bailey.  Mae Crawley's father and mother were William Crawley and Margaret Crawley.  E. G. Bailey was employed by a Furniture Factory.  The minister was J.P. McCabe and they were married in Martinsville, Virginia which is in Henry County.  I also found his obituary in the Danville Bee of March 6, 1974.  His father's name was Robert Bailey.
J. P. McCabe was the minister of the lst Baptist Church in Martinsville, Virginia.  Since Granddaddy was living in Bassett, I am sure that he was working at the furniture Company.

Below I have entered some sites that may help.  As far as I know the Lane Company factory in Altavista, Virginia no longer exists unless there is a small division there.  I am not sure.

If you are searching for the bailey family in Henry County, the Virginia project genweb might help. A little bit of knowledge about Henry County wouldn't hurt.  Henry County was formed from Pittsylvania County in 1777. At that time it was called Patrick Henry County for the governor of Virginia.  Later in 1785 the northern portion of Patrick Henry County and a part of Bedford County was cut off to form Franklin County. Then in 1790 Patrick Henry County was split to form two counties Patrick County and Henry County.
The town of Bassett, Virginia is formed near what was once a fort built in 1756 because of the hostilities between the Indians and Settlers.  The Fort was called Fort Trail.    The Fort stood near the Smith River.  Bassett took it's name from the Furniture Company which is still located there.

http://www.bassettfurniture.com/company/index.asp

http://www.lanefurniture.com/aboutus/CompanyHistory.aspx

The Henry County Circuit Court Deed Room has marriage licenses on record from 1853 to the present.  They charge 2.50 for a certified copy and fifty cents for just a copy.  They have marriage bonds on record from 1777, but you will have to go to the courthouse or pay a researcher to retrieve those documents.  They also have Deed Books from 1777, Will Books and other records.
Their address is 3160 King's Mountain Road  Suite B  Martinsville, Virginia  24112
phone number  276-634-4880

A History of Henry County, Virginia with Biographical Sketches of its most Prominent Citizens and Genealogical Histories of Half a Hundred of its Oldest Families

I am presently reading the book "They Fought Alone A True Story of a Modern American Hero" by John Keats.  It is the story of Colonel Wendell Fertig in Phillippines.  Colonel Fertig along with other Americans and Phillippines refused to surrender and fought guerrilla warfare until MacArthur returned.  I have just started the book and I am already engrossed and horrified by the details of their struggle.  But they never gave up.  Much like the American people of today.

Behind Japanese Lines: An American Guerrilla in the Philippines
They Fought Alone (Classics of World War II: Secret War Series)

Robert Adams 1680 to 1740 November 11, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography  Volume 35 page 409

At the Council held at the Capitol the 6th Day of May 1730
Present:  The Governor, Robert Carter, James Blair, Mann Page, John Carter and John Grymes Esqrs.
Petition For New Lands Granted:
To Robert Adams 2000 acres on Buck Island Creek on the South side of the North ffork of James River beginning at a white oak Marked R.A. on the side of the said Creek to compleat the Quantity.

Albemarle County, Virginia Road Orders, 1725-1816 Virginia Genealogical Society page 10

On 19, June 1733, O.S. there issued an order for a road to be cleared from "the Mountains down the ridge between the North River (Rivanna) and Pamunkey River (the South Anna is the southern fork of the Pamunkey) the most convenient way....." The "Mountains" referred to were the Southwest Mountain, Little Mountain or Chestnut Mountain as it was sometimes called.  In the fall, on November 20, Henry Runnals replaced the original surveyor Robert Adams, though the road is misdescribed as "The Road from the Mountains down the country on the North side of the Northanna to meet Saunders's Road."

Goochland County Order Books 1728-1731  Ann K. Blomquist

November Court, 1728  page 31
Robert Adams is sworn in as a member of the Grand Jury.

Page 36
Adams deed to Sorrell.  Robert Adams acknowledges a deed with the livery of Seizin endorsed from himself to John Sorrell to be his Act and deed and it is thereupon submitted to record.  Mourning wife of the said Robert being first privately examined relinquishes her Dower in the land by the said Deed conveyed which is also ordered to be recorded.

Goochland County Virginia Wills and Deeds 1728 - 1736 Benjamin B. Weisiger III page 5

P.40 Deed November 16, 1728  Robert Adams to John Sorrell. for 10 pounds, 100 acres, bounded by upper fork of Broad Branch on Tuckahoe Creek with all houses, etc.
Witness:  George Payne, Joseph Ashlin
Recorded November 19, 1728
Mourning, wife of Robert Adams, relinquished her dower rights.
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Goochland County Order Books 1728-1731  Ann K. Blomquist  page 36
November Court, 1728

Adams deed to Johnson.  Robert Adams and Mourning his wife She being first privately examined acknowledge a deed from themselves to Charles Johnson to be their act and deed and the same with the Livery of Seizin endorsed which they also acknowledge is admitted to record.

Goochland County Virginia Wills and Deeds 1728 - 1736 Benjamin B. Weisiger III page 5

Page 41  Deed 7 Aug. 1728, Robert Adams of St. James Parish, Goochland Co. to Charles Johnson of same, for L13/10, 160 acres in Goochland Co. on north side of James River bounded by Broad Br.
Witness: Geo. Payne, Joseph Ashlin
Recorded November 19, 1728
Mourning Adams, wife of Robert, acknowledged deed.

page 6

p. 58 February 25, 1728  Deed between Nowel Burton and John Sutton Farrar for L. 120, 325 acres in St. James Parish bounded by Josiah Paine, Robert Burton, Robert Adams, John Bellamy, Col. Harrison and John Woodson.
Witness John Woods, Wm. Womack, Francis James, Henry Wood
Roecord March 18, 1728

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Goochland County Order Books 1728-1731  Ann K. Blomquist  page 41

November Court, 1728

Mcdaniels Admn. grant'd   Thomas Randolph comes into Court and makes oath that Henry Macdaniel died without any will as far as he knows or believes and upon his giving Security for his just and faithfull Administration of the said Deceadents estate Certiicate is granted him for obtaining Letters of Administration in due form.  John Fleming and John Woodson Securities.  Ordered that Robert Adams, George Paine, Robert Burton, and Robert Woodson or any three of them being first Sworn by some Justice of the Peace do appraise the Estate of Henry Macdaniel.

From the above referenced material for the year 1728 and 1730, I have found the following:
Robert Adams was married to Mourning.
He was a member of the Grand Jury at Goochland County.
He was a surveryor.
He owned land in Goochland and a part of which would later be Albemarle County.  He was referenced as being in St. James Parish, Goochland County.
A portion of his land bounded with the land of Josiah Paine, Robert Burton, John Bellamy, Col. Harrison and John Woodson making them neighbors and acquaintances.
In at least more than one occasion Robert Adams interacted with the Woodson on matters at court.  I am making my case for Mourning being a Woodson.
There seems to be more than a passing relationship with George Paine and John Ashlin.
It's amazing what you can learn from just a few references, but the genealogist has to remember that these were not large cities with hundreds of thousands of people.  They all knew each other or about each other.
Tomorrow I will continue with 1729.


FACETS OF GOOCHLAND [VIRGINIA] COUNTY'S HISTORY

Robert Adams 1680 to 1740 November 10, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

Robert Adams 1680/90 Henrico Shire/Goochland County/Albemarle County Virginia

Over the past few weeks we have been exploring Robert Adams, his wife, and fellow settlers in Jamestown, Virginia.  We have ascertained that he was married at least once, arrived in the Bon Nova at around 1619, lived in James City and Martins Hundred.  He was literate and a member of the Burgesses.  Mr. Adams was not adverse to hard work and that his father was probably Captain Robert Adams of the Blessing, The Elizabeth and The Hercules.  His father’s relationship with the leaders and settlers of Jamestown possibly led to his son’s adventure in Jamestown.  That Robert Adams the son was living in Jamestown at the end or during the starving time and the first massacre of 1622.  He survived both and lived for just a few more years until 1628 or late 1627. 

According to genealogist or family researchers, they say he had a son by the name of William who is the father of our Robert of 1680 or 1690, but that remains to be proved. 

It is important to remember that Goochland County was not formed until 1727.  Before that it was Henrico Shire. 

Robert was born around 1680/1690 Death: On or around 1740  He married Mourning (Mary?) Lewis? around 1710/1711. Mourning was possibly of Lewis/Woodson descent, but that is another story.   They had the following children.  This is my preliminary list.  I have taken this information from Robert Adams’s Will of Goochland County (Deed Book 3 page 306) June 17, 1740 and his wife’s deed of gift (Deed Book 4 page 126) of Albemarle County, August 8, 1765

James Adams    b. 1724

Robert Adams   b. 1725-1733

Anna Adams Sanders

Anna Adams Douglas

Judith Adams Clark     b.   1716

Mary Adams Moreman b. 1736

Elizabeth Adams Moreman b.  1720

Aggy Adams Ferguson b. 1728

Susannah Adams Graves b. 1731

Lucy Adams   Sometime in the 1730s

Sally Adams   Sometime in the 1730s

In Robert Adams’s Will he refers to his daughter as Ann the younger.  It was custom at times to name another child the same name as a deceased child, but I don’t think this is the case.  In Mourning Adams deed of gift she mentions two daughters Anna Douglas and Anna Sanders.  Also in her Deed gives money to all of her daughters except  Susanna Graves.  She gives money to Susannah’s daughters.  So we must assume that Susannah has died.  She also gives us Lucy’s name.  She is now a Graves.  And Sally Adams married a Harris.

We will later explore these documents more closely, but as for now I just wanted to ascertain the names of the children of Mourning and Robert Adams.  Now as for the birth dates, I will hope to get a clearer picture in later research documents.  So these dates are not carved in stone.  However, some genealogist have Lucy and Sally as being born in 1740,1741, but that is not possible.  They were mentioned in their father’s will which was written on February 2, 1738.

Adams Family Genealogy by Thomas Tunstall Adams

www.co.goochland.va.us