From NCreed1@aol.com Sat Jan 3 08:33:54 1998
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 00:36:14 EST
From: NCreed1 <NCreed1@aol.com>
To: NCreed1@aol.com
Subject: Comp #317 - Burnett-Turner-Ross-Via-Etc/Etc
2 Dec 1998
Steve: We'll miss you. I understand the importance of an index. Maybe
someone will take that on as a project. I'll be sending you comp #317 since
it represents your submission. Then, I'll remove your name from the mailing
list. Thank you for sharing information on your ROSS family. Nyla
[ Part 2: "Included Message" ]
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 14:04:55 EST
From: StevePipit <StevePipit@aol.com>
To: NCreed1@aol.com
Subject: Re: Comp 316 - Burnett-Turner-Ross-Via-Etc/Etc
Well, Nyla, I think it's time for me to abandon your group. With the limited
amount of time I give to genealogy, I'm finding that I spend too much time
searching through your unindexed postings. It's like going to a genealogy
library and reading random books with no indexes, hoping to find one with my
family in it.
As I say goodbye, however, I'll leave a trail, with the type of time-saving
index and time-frame hints that I wish others would use.
I'm searching for ancestors and other descendants of the following family:
Two generations of descendants of William ROSS of VA (1731?-1825)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Note: The following names are mentioned as principals:
CALFEE
Henry
John
Randall
CROCKETT
Susanna
DEELWOOD
Maryan
DUDLEY
Charles
FUGATE
Amanda M
Charity wife of Randolph
Eliza Jane
Rachel
Randolph
Reuben Montgomery
GRAHAM
Rachel Ross
Thomas
GRUBB
George
HAINES
William
LAWRENCE
Catherine "Kitty"
Thomas
MILLER
Eliza "Betsy" Christian(a)
John
Nancy
Sarah wife of John
RODGERS
Elizabeth
ROSS
Ann
Anna Elizabeth
Catherine L.
Charity
Clarissa
Elizabeth "Betsy"
H. Clay
Jackson
Jane Barron
John Wythe
Joseph Randolph
Kissia
Mary (Polly)
Rachel
Randolph
Reuben
Senah
Uphemia or Euphemia
William
William
William George
SAYERS
John Thompson
Robert
SLOAN
Samuel
SWENEY
Jane or Jennie
YANCEY
Robert J.
FIRST GENERATION
1. Captain William ROSS was born about 1731, in Scotland or VA. He died on
30 Aug 1825 in Wythe Co, VA.
In F.B. Kegley's VIRGINIA FRONTIER (pub 1938) (LDS microfilm 1421567), the
following ROSS references appear, some of which may refer to William Ross's
relatives:
1772 - p. 475: The way from Little's Mill to the courthouse was to be
viewed by William Ross, James Snodgrass and Joseph Cloyd.
1776 - p. 475: William Ross succeeded Bryant McDonald as road surveyor. Is
Bryant related to Susanna Mcdonald whose daughter may have married William's
brother, John Ross?
1777 - p. 671: William Ross, having spent 14 days helping to protect
inhabitants of frontiers of Fincastle County with Capt. Thomas Rowland's
Company, asked pay of 17s/6d.
1778 - p. 475: John Ross appointed surveyor from Halfway Tree to James
Alderson's. (Was this a brother of William Ross Sr.?)
1779 - p. 474: 15 Sep 1779, John Ross bought 400 acres on a South Branch of
the Catawba.
1779 - p. 474: 10 Dec 1779, John Ross and William Ross sold 142 acres in
Botetourt Co. to Nichols Haynes. (Were Wm. and John brothers?).
1783 - p. 477: In Catawba Valley Company of Militia 1783, Capt. May's
Company:
Name Horses Cattle
James Evans 4 2
Abraham Miller 3 11
Edward Ross 6 6
John Ross Sr. 4 5
John Ross Jr. 7 12
William Ross 5 12
....And also in 1783, in Capt. Pryor's Company:
Abraham Miller 3 11
Edward Ross 6 6
John Ross Sr. 4 5
John Ross Jr. 7 12
William Ross 5 12
1784 - p. 500: On 8 Jun 1784, Edward McDonald was appointed Surveyor of the
Road, succeeding William Ross from Dr. Neely's place to James Allison's (sic).
Aside from the above, the first appearance we have discovered so far of
William Ross Sr's name is in 1782 on the militia list of Capt. Stephen Sanders
in Wythe Co. VA.
Per MONTGOMERY CO VA CIRCA 1790 by Netti Schreiner-Yantis, pub 1972: Wm
Herbert survey 190 acres on Poplar Camp Creek, branch of New River, adjacent
to Wm. Ross 1 Mar 1787. Tax list B, 2 Mar 1790: Person charged = Wm Ross;
white males over 21 = Wm Ross; under 21 = 0; slaves = 0; horses = 3.
The following is from National Archives pension file R-9024, excerpted in the
book (pp 262-263) of "Virginia-West Virginia Genealogical Data from
Revolutionary War Pensions and Bounty Land Warrant Records", Vol. 4, copy at
Selby Libe 975.503 WAR:
William [Ross], entered service from Guilford Co NC c 1777/79, in NC unit;
died 8/30/1825 Wythe Co VA; marr 4/17/1780 to Rachel Fugate, Montgomery Co VA
by Reverend William Marshall; ch: Kissia, Reuben, Randolph, Mary, Charity,
William, Rachel, Clarissa, Elizabeth, Ann, Uphemia, Cenia, and Catherine, who
were all 16 or over when Wm. died [and 10 of whom were still living on 13 Nov
1843 when Randolph gave sworn statement]. Widow applied for pension at age 80+
in 1843 at Monroe Co IN; son Randolph's affidavit there then said he was born
11/8/1784. Samuel Sloane's affidavit there then said that he was age 53 (b
1790) and husband of Wm's daughter Clarissa; Christian May's affidavit there
then said that he knew Wm Ross and his wife in Wythe Co VA. The widow's
pension application was rejected. F-R9024 R2088.
Per Mary Kegley's "Western Waters", Volume III parts one and two: William
[and John] Ross were in Stephen Sander's Company of Montgomery Co. VA Militia
when they marched to Guilford Co. NC under Col. Preston in Feb 1781. [Note
that William married Rachel in Montgomery Co. VA in April 1780, and their
first child was born in 1781, prob also in Montgomery Co. VA.
Ross acquired land in the Poplar Camp area in 1782 (200 acres on treasury
warrant) and 1783, when he was about 31 or 32. In 1787 he was appointed
overseer on the road from Herbert's Ferry to James Cocks. In 1789, he
purchased 130 acres from William Herbert. According to a book about the Poplar
Camp iron furnace by ---- Whitman, William Ross began industrial activity in
the area about 1790, and owned a grist mill there. More than 700 acres in the
area and in Mack Creek were surveyed for Ross in the 1790s. He sold, in 1797,
the tracts connected with the Poplar Camp furnace, and apparently moved to
Persimmon Bottom near Macks Run on the New River (presently Pulaski Co.),
where he purchased tracts totalling 280 acres from John and Mary Hurst (Wythe
Co. Deed Book 2, p 14, 165). He added 200 acres by survey in 1798, designating
the tract as military land (Warrant #528).
In Wythe County records, Book 13, page 575, year 1837: Land sale by Robert
Sayers and Senah (Ross) Sayers to Hiram Allison - all interest in tracts owned
by William Ross dec'd on New River, known by name of Persimmon Bottom, adj.
Andrew Boyd, Joseph H. Howe, et als, being 10/12 of all lands owned by Wm.
Ross at his death with the dower right of his widow Rachel.
His log house on the New River still stands, and may have been a country inn
with rooms for rent, apparently called the County Inn, in Draper, Pulaski Co.
VA, at Mile 91 on U.S. Interstate 81.
In the 1810 and 1820 censuses for Wythe County:
(columns 1-5 males, 6-10 females, 11 free blacks 12 slaves)
10- 16- 26- 45 10- 16- 26- 45
<10 16 26 45+ <10 16 26 45+
1810: William Ross 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 2 0 1
0 5
1820: William Ross 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 1
NA NA
Records at Wythe County Courthouse show that when William Ross Sr. died in
late 1825 (probably at Draper, VA, then in Wythe Co. but now in Pulaski Co.),
William Ross Jr. was appointed Administrator of his estate, on 13 Dec 1825.
Rachel, his widow, was to have her dower laid off (court order book 1822-26, p
565) but she transferred this to Robert Sayers, her son-in-law, (assigned on
12 Sep 1831, transferred 26 Sep 1835). At the time of his death he was
evidentally known as "captain".
Per records of "Sale Bill" at Wythe County Courthouse (Will Book 3, page 254),
an estate sale was held in January 1827, at which purchasers included: G. (?)
R. Fugate Randolph Fugate -- husband of Wm Sr's dau Charity Ross Fugate James
Miller -- possibly a brother of the wives of Randolph and Reuben Ross Andrew
Boyd -- next-door neighbor at Persimmon Bottom Samuel Sloan -- husband of Wm
Sr's dau Clarissa Ross Sloan Thomas Graham -- husband of Wm Sr's dau Euphemia
Ross Graham Rachel Ross -- wife of deceased William Ross -- son of deceased
and executor.
In 1837, most of the land formerly owned by William Ross was sold by Robert
and Senah (Ross) Sayers. Per Wythe County Land Records Bk 13 - 575 - 1837 -
Robert Sayers and Senah to Hiram Allison all interest in tracts owned by
William Ross dec'd on New River know by name of Persimmon Bottom adj. Andrew
Boyd, Joseph H. Howe, et als. being 10/12 of all lands owned by Wm. Ross at
his death with the dower right of his widow Rachel.
Two of William's sons married sisters in Lexington, Rockbridge Co. VA. In
addition, a Rebecca Ross married a James Gore in 1790 in Rockbridge Co. Was
Rebecca a sister to William Sr., were John and Edward brothers, and was John
Ross Sr. William's father?
Mrs. Elizabeth (Eaton) Irving, writing in 1982 to the editor of the Fugate
Family Newsletter, supplied several details included here. Mrs. Irving
apparently received her information from Eliza Osborn Dille, a daughter of
Nathan Osborn(e?) and Rachel Ross (Graham) Osborne. Rachel Ross Graham was a
daughter of Thos. Graham and Euphemia (Ross) Graham, RIN # 1146, eleventh
child of William and Rachel (Fugate) Ross.
He was married to Rachel FUGATE (daughter of Randolph FUGATE and Maryan
DEELWOOD) on 17 Apr 1780 in , Montgomery Co, VA. Rachel FUGATE was born in
Mar 1763 in , Frederick Co, Virginia. She died about 1845 in probably, Monroe
Co, IN. Dates and other details on Rachel and her forebears come mainly from
THE FUGATE FAMILY NEWSLETTER, edited by Mary D. Fugate, CGRS, at 1081 W. Wild
Dune Lane, Tucson AZ 85737-6912, Internet address TMHA51A@prodigy.com. Ms.
Fugate, the editor, notes that the order of birth of Rachel's children is
probably correct (and we agree), given a note from Eliza (Osborne) Dille, who
furnished some family lore to the Fugate Family Association via Elizabeth
(Eaton) Irving:
"When grandmother Euphemia was a little child, her sister, Charity, used to
name over [all of?] her sisters and brothers for entertainment, and Euphemia
would become impatient and give her a hit and say 'Not me yet?'.... The above
information was given me by Rachel Osborn, my mother, and by my grandmother
Euphemia Ross Graham."
Rachels' death date is prior to 14 Feb 1853, when daughter Ann Ross Dudley, in
a sworn statement, made in Monroe Co. IN, states that her mother is "deceased
widow of William Ross deceased" -- and Rachel's death is after 13 Nov 1843,
when, at age 80 as of Mar 1843 (b Mar 1763) she, a "resident of Monroe
County", IN made a sworn statement there. Judging from her age, she probably
died about 1845.
William ROSS Captain and Rachel FUGATE had the following children:
+2 i. Kissia ROSS.
+3 ii. Reuben ROSS.
4 iii. Mary (Polly) ROSS was born about 1783, probably in Montgomery Co., VA.
She died as an infant.
+5 iv. Randolph ROSS.
6 v. Elizabeth "Betsy" ROSS was born about 1786, probably in Montgomery Co.,
VA. She died as a child.
+7 vi. William ROSS (Colonel).
+8 vii. Charity ROSS.
+9 viii. Rachel ROSS.
+10 ix. Clarissa ROSS.
+11 x. Ann ROSS.
+12 xi. Uphemia or Euphemia ROSS.
+13 xii. Senah ROSS.
+14 xiii. Catherine L. ROSS.
SECOND GENERATION
2. Kissia ROSS was born about 1781 in Montgomery Co, VA. She died after
1830, possibly in Monroe Co., IN. Kissia had two husbands. She was married
first to John CALFEE (bc 1775, d 1 Nov 1816 in Wythe Co., VA; he was son of
Henry CALFEE and Elizabeth RODGERS) about 1800. John was buried with his
father John at Front Royal; his estate was recorded in Wythe Co. VA on 15 Jan
1817, Wythe Co. Will Book 2 page 175. Kissia ROSS and John CALFEE had the
following children:
15 i. Randall CALFEE.
Info on Kissia's marriage (second) to George Grubb, in about 1817, is per
paper from Eliza (Osborne) Dille, via Elizabeth (Eaton) Irving. She was
married to George GRUBB about 1815. According to Mary Spainhour's notes,
Kissia and her family moved to Monroe Co. IN, at time unknown. Apparently she
is in the 1830 Monroe Co.IN census, page 162. Also see George Grubb, FIKE 043
Logan Twp IN in 1850 census. Her mother (Rachel Fugate Ross) was living there
when she applied for a pension in 1843.
3. Reuben ROSS was born about 1782, probably in Montgomery Co., VA. Reuben
Ross is almost certainly the brother of our Col. William Ross. His name
appears in court papers of Fairfield IA following William's death there in
1844.
Reuben Ross and Randolph Ross of Montgomery Co. VA sold to Thomas McHenry a
tract of land in Montgomery Co to satisfy a claim of Isreal Lorton bearing the
date of March 8, 1799. Rcvd Nov 19 1808 -- teste: Hy Edmondson. Recorded Jun
1809. (Mont. Co. Will Bk 1, 396). Reuben Ross as creditor is secured Aug
1808 (Mont. Co Will Bk 1, p 375). Reuben F. Ross witnessed Bill of Sale Mar
1809 (Mont Co Will Bk 1, p 375). Is the "F." to distinguish two different
Reubens?
Per CD-ROM at Selby Libe, in list of VA Marriages, a Reuben marr a Nancy
Miller in 1817 in Rockbridge Co. This is prob. a brother of Wm, or so we
assume for records here. Note that Reuben's brother, Randolph, also marr an
assumed sister, Betsy Miller, in the same church, town (Lexington), and county
(Rockbridge), by the same Presbyterian minister (George Baxter), in 1810.
According to the U.S. Census Index for VA for 1820, there was:
Reuben ROSS page 276 Rockbridge Co. VA, Lexington Twp.
Reuben ROSS page 294 Rockbridge Co. VA, no twp listed
Who were these two Reubens?
Per A HISTORY OF ROCKBRIDGE CO. (copy at Selby Libe), p. 213, a Reuben Ross
was one of the founders of the Central School of Lexington in 1819. Per
Rockbridge Co. Deeds, (Deed bk M, page 469), 1821 May 22 (or 23?), Rofs,
Reuben & wife to Donald McKenzie. Reuben "Rofs" also bought property in
Rockbridge Co. 1819 Sep 30, deed bk L pg 577, from Charles Cockran and wife,
and from Daniel Hoffman (Reuben as trustee of a deed trust), 1819 Oct 12, deed
Bk L p 618.
Mary Spainhour notes that "Reuben moved from Pulaski Co. VA to White Co. TN,
probably after the death of his father" (1825). We were not able to locate
Reuben Ross in White Co TN in the 1850 census. We will try the 1830 and 1840
censuses. (Not in 1820). In 1850 there is an RR in NCEL page 266 Wayne Twp.
IN. Also in TN in 1850: 2 Reuben Rosses: HEND 196 11th Dist, and MONT 256 1st
& 4T. Also there are 3 Nancy Rosses: FAYE 339 12th civ; RUTH 194 Wilkinson;
STEW 427 no twp listed.
He was married to Nancy MILLER (daughter of John MILLER and Sarah wife of John
MILLER) on 26 Mar 1817 in , Lexington, Rockbridge Co, VA. Nancy MILLER was
born about 1795 in , probably, VA. Per Mary Kegley book, Nancy's father, John
Miller was probably son of John Miller Sr. Also, the younger John wrote his
will 16 Nov 1835; probated 11 Mar 1839 in Wythe Co. Mentioned are wife Sarah,
daus Nancy, Sally Eliza, son William R. Miller.
He was married to Catherine "Kitty" LAWRENCE (daughter of Thomas LAWRENCE) on
1 Apr 1806 in Montgomery Co, VA. Catherine "Kitty" LAWRENCE died before 1817.
Info on marriage to Catherine Lawrence is per paper from Eliza (Osborne)
Dille, via Elizabeth (Eaton) Irving.
5. Randolph ROSS was born on 8 Nov 1784, probably in Montgomery Co., VA. He
died after 1843. This or another Randolph Ross's name appears, as does that
of his brother Reuben, in court papers of Fairfield IA following brother
William's death there in 1844.
Reuben Ross and Randolph Ross of Montgomery Co. VA sold to Thomas McHenry a
tract of land in Montgomery Co to satisfy a claim of Isreal Lorton bearing the
date of March 8, 1799. Rcvd Nov 19 1808 -- teste: Hy Edmondson. Recorded Jun
1809. (Mont. Co. Will Bk 1, 396).
Per CD-ROM at Selby Libe, in list of VA Marriages, a Randolph marr a Eliza
"Betsy" [Christian(a)] Miller in 1810 in Rockbridge Co (confirmed in another
source quoted below). Note that a brother, Reuben, also marr a sister, Nancy
Miller, in the same county in 1817. George Baxter, Presbyterian minister,
officiated at both weddings. A wedding report noted that Randolph was from
Montgomery City, 120 mi SW of Rockbridge Co.
His name appears in the 1810 census for Montgomery Co. VA. as follows:
Randolf Ross: 3 males 16-26, 1 26-45 (Randolph), 1 female 16-26, 3 slaves. A
book at Bradenton Libe, HISTORY HENRICO PARISH, ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, page 499,
records a headstone at the church as follows (in part):
Sacred to the memory of Eliza C. Ross, who departed this life in the city of
Richmond 24th December, 1817. She was the daughter of John and Priscilla
Miller, & born 12th April, 1790. Married to Randolph Ross in Lexington,
Virginia (in Rockbridge County), 17th July, 1810. Issue, five children (three
surviving). Her sufferings for nearly 14 months previous.... (the article goes
on to describe the stone, etc.).
According to Mary Spainhour's notes, Randolph moved from Pulaski Co. VA to
White Co., TN sometime before 1829. Per Randolph's sworn statement dated 13
Nov 1843, he is a resident of Monroe Co. IN, and was born 8 Nov 1784. Check
census for 1820, 30, 40, 50 for Randolph ROSS in White Co. TN as well as
Monroe Co. IN. There is a Randolph Ross in TN: FRAN 121, 14th Dist in 1850.
Also, in 1820 there is an RR in WAR 293 along with a John Ross, WAR 298.
7. William ROSS Colonel was born about 1789, probably at Poplar Camp, Wythe
Co., VA. He died on 11 Oct 1844 in his residence, Fairfield, Jefferson Co.,
IA, and was buried in Oct 1844 in Old Fairfield Cemetery.
He possibly went east to study, perhaps law, in Richmond or Williamsburg (his
first child was born at Hampton (formerly Elizabeth City Co.). The idea that
he may have studied law is encouraged by the fact that he was later made later
"Register" of the Federal Land Office at Burlington Co, Iowa Territory. This
was a U.S. Presidential appointment by John Tyler, who was from the
Williamsburg area and retired there after leaving the presidency. On the other
hand, he possibly went to eastern VA simply to join relatives who lived there,
or to apprentice in a trade. (His son John was a tanner, as well as a law
clerk, in his early life -- maybe John's father was too?). We believe he was
living in New Kent Co by 1815, around the time of his marriage to Jane (early
nickname Jennie?... She used "Jane" later in life) Sweney.
He may be related to the Ross families who were in New Kent, Elizabeth City,
and York Counties before 1700. See separate research on pedigrees of these
Rosses.
We have not yet found marriage records for New Kent County for the period
around 1815; since New Kent is a "burned county", perhaps such records do not
exist.
A Dagger family living in Rockbridge Co. VA in the late 1700s may be the
ancestors of one Madison Dagger, surveyor, b abt 1809, who was later, for at
least the years 1850 to 1860, in the household of John Wythe Ross. (Note:
Spelling perhaps could be "Doggett".)
William's daughter Jane Baron ROSS was born at Hampton (1817), near New Kent,
York, and Elizabeth City Counties, where the Sweney, Mallory, and Wythe clans
lived in the 1700s (along with a Ross family going back to the 1600s). We are
currently trying to find the link (per family tradition) tieing William Ross
to George Ross and George Wythe, two signers of the Dec of Independence. (See
note on Wm's spouse re this). This, however, may turn out to be nothing more
than imagination overtaking hopeful family pride.
If this William Ross is the son of William Ross and Rachel Fugate as seems
likely, he probably was the William Ross Jr. in Wythe Co. VA in 1825, when a
person by that name was appointed administrator of his father's estate there.
(Per Wythe County Order Book 1822-1826, p. 565, he was appointed on 13 Dec
1825.)
In 1836 William's dau Jane Barron Ross was marr to Thomas Evans in Lynchburg
VA (an independent city), and the newspaper announcement of this wedding said
William Ross was "of this city". See notes under Thomas Evans.
On 15 Dec 1838 a marriage bond for William's daughter Anna Eliza Ross and
Henry D. Warwick was signed by William Ross "of Campbell County" and the groom
(or his father?) Henry D. Warwick. The marriage was performed by minister
William J. Halcombe (per papers on file at Rustburg Courthouse, Campbell
County VA). Note that some records (including the IGI and transcriptions of
court records) spell the bride's name "Rosser", but the original marriage bond
says "Ross".
By 1840-42 William and his family were spread between Ottumwa, Wapello County
and Fairfield, Jefferson County Iowa. Col. William Ross died in Fairfield in
1844, at around 65 years of age (i.e. born abt 1789).
Death info on Wm. is per several sources. First is an obit in "The Gate City",
a Keokuk IA newspaper, 2 Dec 1890, for General Arthur Bridgman, Wm. Ross's
son-in-law. This long obit states that Arthur Bridgman moved with his family
in 1844 to Fairfield. "His father-in-law, Col. Ross, Register of the United
States land office at that place died in the autumn of that year and General
Bridgman was appointed by President Tyler to the vacant office."
Second is item from "Jefferson County Records" by Prill, LDS rolls #966229/230
sent to us by Verda Baird of Fairfield IA. Vol. 4 p 81 states that William
Ross died intestate on or abt 15 Oct 1844; Arthur Bridgeman, John W. "Rofs",
Thomas D. Evans, Security. (Actually the date was 11 Oct 1844. See below).
Third is an article on page two of an Iowa Territory weekly newspaper, the
Burlington HAWK-EYE of Thursday, 17 Oct 1844. It reads: "Col. W.R.Ross [the
only place we have seen the middle initial "R."], Register of the Land Office
at Fairfield in this Territory, died at his residence on Friday last [Oct
11th]. Before he was fairly cold, efforts were made by hungry expectants to
obtain his place [i.e. his job as Land Office Register]. The news was brought
here by his son-in-law on Sunday in whose behalf and in behalf of others
petitions were immmediately circulated for signatures as recommendations for
office. Arthur Bridgman and Bernhart Henn are the primary applicants from
this place. Mr. B. left for Washington on Monday. There will be applicants
from other parts; as it will be a very lucrative office, it will hardly be
given to a citizen of the Territory." As mentioned elsewhere in this report,
Arthur Bridgman, Ross's son-in-law, got the job.
Per "Jeff Co. Records -- corrections/additions p 23": "A granite memorial was
erected 1919-1920 by the Jefferson Co. Historical Society to William Ross,
first Register at the Land Office, and his wife, who came to Fairfield in
1842, is in Evergreen Cemetery, probably over [otherwise unmarked] the graves
of Jane Ross Evans and her husband, Thomas D. Evans."
He was married to Jane or Jennie SWENEY about 1815 in , VA. Jane or Jennie
SWENEY was born in 1791/92 in , VA. She died on 30 Jun 1865 in 303 E
Washington, Fairfield, Jefferson Co., Iowa. She was buried in Jul 1865 in Old
Fairfield Ce, Fairfield, Jefferson Co., IA.
In record of Mary Spainhour received 20 Sep 1995, William Ross, son of Capt.
William Ross and Rachel Fugate Ross, was married to "Jennie Swinney". This
may be the long sought-after connection between our Ross family and George
Wythe, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. (George Wythe Swinney,
son of Charles Swinney, grandson of Charles Swinney and Anne (Wythe) Swinney,
and grand-nephew George Wythe and, unfortunately, his probable murderer, could
be the connection.
Jane's death date is per obit in "Jefferson Co. Records" by Prill, Vol 4 p 81:
Fairfield Ledger of Thurs July 13, 1865, page 3, col 2. DIED--At the residence
of her son-in-law, Thomas D. Evans, in Fairfield Iowa, on the 30th day of June
1865, after a lingering illness, Mrs. Jane Ross, wife of the late Col. William
Ross, in the 74th year of her age." That would place her DOB as 1790 or 1791,
though the 1850 census shows her as 55 (i.e. DOB 1794-95), and the 1856 Iowa
special census (see Thomas Evans notes for details) shows her as 63 (i.e. DOB
1792-93).
The original source of Jane/Jennie's last name is per a paper from Eliza
(Osborne) Dille, via Elizabeth (Eaton) Irving. Colonel William ROSS and Jane
or Jennie SWENEY had the following children:
16 i. Jane Barron ROSS.
17 ii. William George ROSS.
18 iii. Anna Elizabeth ROSS.
19 iv. John Wythe ROSS Colonel.
20 v. Joseph Randolph ROSS (?).
21 vi. H. Clay ROSS (?).
Whether or not Jackson Ross and H.(for Henry?) Clay Ross were sons of William
Ross is speculative. The only evidence discovered so far is that their names
appear in court papers (namely a tailor's bill) in Fairfield IA following
William's death. They may be the names of slaves who grew up with the Ross
family.
8. Charity ROSS was born about 1790, probably in Pulaski or Wythe Co, VA.
She was married to Randolph FUGATE [Jr.] (son of Randolph and Charity FUGATE)
in Dec 1813. Randolph Jr. was born in 1784 in Wythe Co, VA. He died after
1850, probably in Smith Co, TX. Charity ROSS and Randolph FUGATE [Jr.] had
the following children:
23 i. Reuben Montgomery FUGATE was born in 1812 in Wythe Co, VA.
24 ii. Amanda M FUGATE.
25 iii. Eliza Jane FUGATE.
9. Rachel ROSS was born about 1792, probably in Wythe Co, VA. According to
Mary Kegley's "Western Waters" and the Fugate Family Association, Rachel
married ----- or William Haines.
10. Clarissa ROSS was born about 1798, probably in Wythe Co, VA. She was
married to Samuel SLOAN on 16 Oct 1821 in Wythe Co., VA. Minister performing
marriage was Samuel H. McNutt. Samuel SLOAN was born in 1789/90, probably in
VA. Samuel was a resident of Monroe Co. IN on 13 November 1843, when he made
a sworn statement in connection with his father-in-law's pension, that he was
53 years of age and had married Clarissa Ross.
11. Ann ROSS was born about 1800, probably in Wythe Co, VA. According to
Mary Kegley's "Western Waters", Ann married Charles DUDLEY in 1827. The
marriage is confirmed in the Pension File mentioned in PAF notes to William
Ross, Ann's father. Ann Dudley was living in Monroe Co. IN on 14 Feb 1853 when
she made a sworn statement re her father's pension.
She was married to Charles DUDLEY on 3 Aug 1827 in , Wythe Co., VA. The exact
date of her marriage is given in the Calfee Family File at the Wythe Co.
Community College in the Kegley Library room. It mentions that the bondsman
was Robert Sayers (who had earlier married Ann's sister Senah). The origin of
this information is in the marriage records of the County Clerk, which lists
(on page 90) the marriage BOND of Dudley and Anne (with an "e") as 3 Aug 1827.
In the 1850 IN census index there is a Charles Dudley in Monroe Co IN (p 344
Indian C) which we will examine.
However, according to the Fugate Family Association, Ann married Dudley
SHOEMAKER, date not specified. We will continue to investigate.
12. Uphemia or Euphemia ROSS was born on 2 Aug 1802, probably in Wythe Co,
VA. She died , possibly in Porter Co or LaPorte Co, IN. This is grandmother
of Eliza (Osborne) Dille, who furnished a paper to the Fugate Family
Association via Elizabeth (Eaton) Irving.
Eliza Dille's note says her grandfather, Thomas Graham, was Scotch (sic), was
born 2 Aug 1802 in Wythe Co. VA, and died in Porter Co. IN in 1850. A note in
the Fugate Newsletter file says his granddaughter was born in Porter Co. IL,
but there is no Porter Co. in IL, so Porter Co, IN is probably where the
Grahams stayed for 3 generations. However, Dille's note also says that
Euphemia Ross Graham (the "Uphemia or Euphemia" here) died in La Porte Co.
(presumably IN also), time, not stated.
She was married to Thomas GRAHAM on 20 Sep 1821 in Wythe Co., VA. Marriage
was performed by minister Samuel H. McNutt. Thomas GRAHAM was born in 1794 in
Wythe Co, VA. He died in 1850 in Porter Co, IN. Uphemia or Euphemia ROSS
and Thomas GRAHAM had the following children:
26 i. Rachel Ross GRAHAM.
13. Senah ROSS was born about 1805, probably in Wythe Co, VA.
According to Mary Spainhour's notes, at the death of Cenia's father in 1825,
several of the heirs conveyed their interest in the land to Robert Sayers, her
husband (Wythe Co. Deed Book 10, p 599; Book 11, p 313, 494, 502; Book 12, p
168, 169; Book 13, p 230-233.)
Wedding date is per IGI, typewritten "certifications to clerk of Wythe County"
at the Wythe County Courthouse, and also per Eliza Dille, who furnished a
paper to the Fugate Family Association via Elizabeth (Eaton) Irving.
Senah and Robert were married by Samuel H. McNutt.
She was married to Robert SAYERS (son of John Thompson SAYERS and Susanna
CROCKETT) on 31 Aug 1824 in Wythe Co., VA. Robert SAYERS was born on 7 Aug
1796 in Wythe Co., VA. He died on 20 Nov 1876 in Wythe Co., VA.
14. Catherine L. ROSS was born between 1807 and 1809, probably in Wythe Co,
VA. According to Mary Spainhour's notes, Catherine Ross had Thomas Graham,
her brother in law (husband of sister Euphemia), named her guardian after the
death of her father in 1825. Thus in 1825 she was probably under 18, or born
after 1807, which dates fit with her marriage in 1829. (Exact date of marriage
is per marriage records, "Virginia Historic Marriage Register - Wythe Co.
1790-1850" at Lynchburg, Jones Library. So is middle initial for spouse.) Bond
date was 17 Oct 1829; minister return was 11 Jan 1830. She was also "over 16"
according to mother's pension application (see mother's notes). Here
birthdate is therefore 1807/1809.
The pair were married by Rev. L.S. Marshall (per the Lynchberg Virginian for
Monday, Nov 2, 1829, page 3, col 5): "Robert J. Yancey, of Botetourt, to
Catherine L. Ross of Wythe." Bond on 17 Oct 1829; minister's return on 11 Jan
1830. Note: The same record at the County Clerk's office says the marriage was
performed by L.L. Marshall.
There is a Robert YANCY in TN census of 1850 under "Faye 297 8th Cir", which
we will examine.
END