Friday, November 30, 2007

South Carolina Revolutionary War Documents

Major Warley to Gen. Marion
[Horry MS.]

Camp Congaree, August 11, 1782.

Dear General:

I take the liberty of enclosing you the names of near 500 soldiers, belonging to the 3d regiment, most of whom were absent at the time Charlestown surrendered to the enemy. Many of them are entitled to their discharges; but the greater part are deserters, and I hope will be apprehended and made to serve their times over, at least. A few have already been taken up and tried by a court martial in camp, and sentenced to serve in the South Carolina line two days for every absent one. Whether this kind of punishment is right or not, I am at a loss to know; however, the men seem satisfied with it. I heartily wish this list may enable you to strengthen our line, which is still very weak, as you will see by the annexed return of the detachment under my command. I propose making out a few copies now, in order to send to Gens. Henderson and Pickens, and to some of the militia Colonels. Corporal Gambell unfortunately, a few days ago, killed one of the recruits from Georgetown, by the name of Charles Smith. He was soon after committed to Orangeburgh jail by a magistrate of this district. I have not heard what success the officers recruiting have had lately. Lieuts. Martin and Langford wrote Gen. Huger, about a fortnight ago, that they then had enlisted eight men for the South Carolina line, four of whom are in camp, the rest on furlough. Capts. T. Warley and Levercher have, also, sent from Georgetown nine recruits, and two other soldiers.I am, with the greatest respect, dear General,

Your most obedient humble servant,

FELIX WARLEY, Captain

(From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 2, p. 206)

Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 2, p. 206
Date: 8/11/1782

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Benjamin Lankford of Pittsylvania County Virginia

Dated 22 September 1767
Pittsylvania County, VA, Deed Book 1, pages 54-55

This Indenture made the Twenty Second day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven Between Benjamin Lankford and Winifred his Wife of the County of Pittsylvania of the one part and James Clements of the County aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Benjamin Lankford and Winifred his Wife for and in Consideration of the sum of Thirty pounds Current Money of Virginia to them in hand Paid by the said James Clements the Receipt whereof they the said Benjamin Lankford and Winifred his Wife do hereby acknowledge and themselves therewith fully Satisfied Contented and paid have Given granted Bargained and sold and by these Presents do ive grant bargain Sell deliver and Confirm to him the said James Clement and to his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns forever One Certain Tract or parcell of Land Containing One hundred and thirty six acres lying on Potters Creek in Pittsylvania County and Bounded as Followeth to Witt, Beginning at Pointers in Braidings line thence along his line south Seventy six degrees East thirty six poles to a white Oak North Twelve degrees East Forty eight poles crossing the creek to a red Oak thence new lines North Eighty degrees East nine poles to a white Oak thence North Twenty five and a half degrees East one hundred and eight Poles to a white Oak thence South Sixty seven degrees East two hundred poles Crossing the Creek to a White Oak North Thirty two degrees West forty eight poles to a pine thence North thirteen degrees East thirty Six Poles crossing two Branches to the Beginning Together with all houses out houses orchards Gardens Woods and Underwoods Water and Watercourses and all other appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any way appertaining To have and to hold the said Land and Appurtenances unto the said James Clements and unto his heirs and Assigns forever and the said Benjamin Lankford and Winifred his Wife doth further -?- James Clement and agree to and with the said James Clements his heirs that they the said Benjamin Lankford and Winifred his Wife and their heirs do Covenant and agree to and with the said James Clements and his heirs that the aforementioned Land and Premises against all Persons Whatsoever shall and will Warrant and forever by these Presents Defend In Witness whereof the said Benjamin Lankford & Winifred his Wife hath hereunto set their hands and Seals the day and year above Written Signed Sealed and Delivered in Presents of Ben Lankford S S
Benjamin Clement Benjamin Clement Jun. Winifred Lankford, his wife Thomas T Roberson

That on the day and year within Mentioned full Peaceable and Quiet Possession and Livery of Seizen of the within Mentioned Land was by the within Named Benjamin Lankford ; Winifred his Wife given and delivered unto the Within named James Clements and his heirs according to the present true Intent and Meaning of these within written Indenture
Ben Lankford Winifred Lankford Rec.d Sept 22 1767 of James Clements Thirty Pounds Current Money it being the Consideration Money within Mentioned to be paid to me.
Benj.a Clement, Benjamin Clement Ben Lankford At a Court held for Pittsylvania County on the 25th Day of September 1767
This Indenture together with the Memorandum; Livery and Seizen and Reciept herein Indorsed was acknowledged by Benjamin Lankford Party thereto and ordered to be Recorded By the Court

Teste Will Tunstall Cl.P. Court

Friday, November 23, 2007

HISTORY AND REFERENCE BOOK LIST

HISTORY BOOKS

Dobson, David, Scottish Emigration to Colonial America, 1607-1785 (Athens, Georgia, University of Georgia Press, 1994, 2004) endnotes, bibliography, index. Overview of Scottish migrations to Canada, America, and West Indies. Good jumping off place for further Scottish research.

Langguth, A. J., Union 1812: the Americans who fought the Second War of Independence, (New York, Simon & Schuster, 2006) endnotes, bibliography, index and maps and photos. This book proves that study of history can be enjoyable. Now if only the students in schools across the nation could have an opportunity to study history in a manner such as presented by Mr. Langguth. Besides the usual dates, places and names, Mr Langguth has managed to fill the pages with quotes and bons mots and other thoughtful statements by the players in American history. The political in-fighting and social climate are a teasers and will lead the reader to further materials.


Ramsey, Robert w., Carolina Cradle: Settlement of the Northwest Carolina Frontier 1747-1762 (Chapel Hill, North Carolina, University of North Carolina Press, 1964) ISBN 0-8078-0934-9 and ISBN 0-8078-4189-7 (paperback)
Every index (but be watchful for those missed in the generous Footnotes), Maps, Appendices, Tables, Bibliography
Comment: Absolutely a Must Read for those whose families are of Scot/Irish or German ancestry. My copy is highlighted and used to identify families who resided in Pennsylvania and migrated to Virginia frontier and thence to North Carolina where they sunk deep roots. If your family migrated south or west, you will want to read this book. Mr. Ramsey includes information on families such as occupations, marriages and identifies the land on which they settled or the church they attended. Much more, plus historical events.
I cannot praise this book enough. It is a 5-star work. My ancestors are not included in this work so this is an objective commentary.


Brands, H.W., Andrew Jackson, His Life and Times (New York, Doubleday, 2005)
ISBN 0-385-50738-9
Source Notes, Annotated Bibliography, Indexed
Comment: Very readable. Good outline of the events between the end of the American Revolutionary War through the acquisition of Texas. War of 1812, Indian Removal, Seminole Indian War, Life on frontier and settlement of the southwest. Profiles the politicians and other players in the state and federal government and fight to save the Union from British interest in regaining the United States and/or territories west of the Mississippi River. Slave issues, industry vs. agriculture interests, Bank of America and its effect on farmers and the national economy.


Horn, James, Adapting to a New World: English Society in the Seventeenth-Century Chesapeake: Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 1994)
Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia. This work covers a 100-year period from 1609 to 1710 in the Chesapeake and background history in 16th Century England. Contains many tables, charts, maps, index of names, subjects and places, and citations to documents in Virginia and England.
Comments: The book's footnote bibliography is cumbersome and if republished needs a separate bibliography. One needs to use highlighter and post-its to get back to book titles of interest for further reading. A must-read for genealogists wanting to understand the first settlers and their daily lives in Virginia and Maryland.

Rappleye, Charles, Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, The Slave Trade and The American Revolution, (New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 2006) ISBN-13:978-0-7432-6687-1

One family's rise to prominence in Rhode Island, brothers divided by ideology: slave trade vs antislavery movement. Quaker, Moses Brown 1738-1836 and trader, John Brown 1736-1803.
A bird's eyeview of the period prior to, during and after the American Revolutionary War.

Labunski, Richard, James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights, (New York, NY: Oxford University Press,2006) ISBN-13-978-0-19-518105-0
David Hackett Fischer, Series Editor Pivotal Moments in American History.


Gaines, James R., For Liberty and Glory: Washington, LaFayette, and Their Revolutions. (New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007) ISBN-978-0-393-06138-4
I suggest a reading of Rappleye's Sons of Providence noted above for beginning American Revolutionary War students before reading Mr. Gaines' work in that references to problems facing Washington are made without documentation and leaves new readers questioning his statements. His treatment of Washington portrays a man fraught with problems, tasks and duties which would have crushed most men. This book does reveal the harshness of war and creating a nation with self-serving parties under-cutting the work through greed and lust for power.

O'Kelley, Patrick, Nothing But Blood and Slaughter, 4 volumes on Revolutionary War in Carolinas (Blue House Tavern Press, 2004) ISBN 1-59113-458-7 Booklocker.com,Inc.
My comments: Has excellent Notes with source materials; use of battle formations will assist researchers studying a particular battle and the units involved.

McCullough, David, 1776, (Simon & Schuster, 2005) ISBN-13:978-0-7432-2671-4; indexed with source notes and bibliography. Font is easy on elder-eyes.
My comments: Reads like a fast-paced thriller and hard to put down. Covers one year, 1776, and Washington's army in battles of Boston, Brooklyn, New York and Trenton. Maps and portraits of main characters included. Much of the material is from letters of men who served as soldiers which makes this book all the more insightful of the conditions of 1776 and that of the soldiers who suffered mightily.
At was not a Very Good Year.


REFERENCE MATERIAL

Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997) ISBN 0-8063-1543-1
A Must-Have for all genealogists and family researchers and writers.

Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Evidence Explained, Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2007)
ISBN 13:978-0-8063-1781-6

Mills, Elizabeth Shown, Professional Genealogy, A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers and Librarians (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2001) ISBN 0-8063-1648-9

Doran, Michael F., Atlas of County Boundary Changes in Virginia, 1634-1895 (Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Company, 1987) ISBN 0-935931-30-9; phone 1-706-546-6470 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-706-546-6470 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-706-546-6470 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-706-546-6470 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-706-546-6470 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, New Papyrus Company, Athens GA (2003 9th printing)
This atlas is sure to be used frequently by southern researchers following their ancestors from county to county as new lines were drawn.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Halifax County Virginia Documents

Halifax County Order Book 2, Part 1
June, 1757 Court
On the motion of Hugh Moore,Gent. Halifax Sheriff, Benjamin Lankford and Theophilus Lacy took the usual oaths of an Under Sheriff.


November 18, 1757 Court
To Ben Lankford for46 Insolvents.... 2726 Lbs. Tobacco.


Halifax County, Virginia Deeds

17 Oct 1758 Halifax Co. VA, DB 1, p. 528: Luke Smith of Provence of North Carolina to James Farris of Halifax Co., Antrim Parish, for L4, 100 acres bordering Anderson, branch of Allens Creek, end of Rocky Hill, Luke Smith. Signed: Luke Smith, Judah X Smith. Wit: B. Lankford, John Hearness, Joseph X Farris. Rec. 17 Oct. 1758. *

18 Oct 1758 Halifax Co. VA, DB 2, p. 34: Luke Smith of Provence of North Carolina to Joseph Farris of Halifax Co., VA, Antrim Parish, for L50, 632 acres, bordering east branch of Allens Creek to foot of Mountain. Signed: Luke Smith, Judah X Smith. Wit: Benjamin Lankford, John Hearness, James X Farris. Rec. 17 May 1759. *







Halifax County Deed Book 17
William Lankford from William Whitehead Sr. for 20 pounds, 40 acres on north side of Reedy Branch. 16 August 1794.

Halifax County Orders 1764-1766
June Court 1765
George Deatheridge,Plt. vs Peter Bowman, Deft. In Case. Benjamin Lankford of Halifax become special bail for Deft.

Halifax County Orders 1764-1766
August Court, 1765
Philip & George Deatheridge, Plts. vs. Peter Bowman, Deft. In [Case]. Benjamin Lankford of Halifax become special bail for the Deft. And thereupon the said Benjamin Lankford immediately delivered the said Deft.up, in discharge of his recognizance, and the Plt., by his attorney, rays him committed, etc.