Tag: virginia

The Beauty: Mabel Agassiz Wescott

Isn’t she beautiful? This is my great-grandaunt, Mabel Agassiz Wescott Martin. As the youngest child of John Thomas Wescott, she defied the odds, living to be 99 years old, just two months shy of her 100th birthday. Born into a family where her oldest sibling was 20 and my great-grandfather just 17, she might have felt like an only child, but her spirit shone brightly.

Captured in this picture around 1924, Mabel was a student at Trinity College, now Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina. It was at Lake Junaluska, where she met George, that their love story began. In just six weeks, he swept her away to Kentucky, a testament to the power of love and destiny.

Together, they raised four children and celebrated over 50 years of marriage until George’s passing in 1977. Today, her 83-year-old daughter continues to share their legacy, sending me this cherished picture and illuminating their family history. Her father had the vision to own the Surf Ranch Motel in Daytona Beach, and with my great-grandfather, they became partners at the Del-Aire Motel and Sea Winx Motels, creating a lasting impact.

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From Apprentice to Wheelwright: A Glimpse into 19th Century Virginia

Interior of J Plater’s Cart, Van and Carriage Works, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, 1903. The interior of the workshop with the craftsmen grouped together with their equipment. Two of the apprentices are young boys. (Photo by English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Robert Emmett Cofer, my third great-grandfather, was born over 187 years ago in the heart of Surry County, Virginia. Though much about his life remains shrouded in mystery, a few key details paint a vivid picture of his existence.

As the fifth child in a family of ten, Robert experienced the challenges and dynamics of a large household, especially after his father remarried and added four more children to the family. Growing up during a tumultuous time in American history, he was raised in a household that included enslaved individuals, an experience that would shape his perspectives and values.

At the tender age of 16, Robert embarked on a journey of apprenticeship, learning the intricate craft of carriage making alongside two of his brothers. By 1860, he had established himself as a “mechanic,” but his skills would eventually earn him the title of “wheelwright” in future census records. This profession required a remarkable blend of woodworking and metalworking expertise, and skilled tradesmen like Robert were invaluable to the Confederate army, assisting in the war effort much like soldiers wielding muskets.

Robert lived through the Civil War, a time marked by significant events such as President Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, as well as the fierce and pivotal Battle of Chancellorsville. After 43 devoted years of marriage to his beloved wife, Martha, Robert faced a tragic end at the age of 67. He spent the last three years of his life battling dysentery, which ultimately claimed him.

Martha, resilient in her own right, lived to the age of 78, passing away from heart disease. Both are lovingly interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Norfolk City, Virginia, where their legacies continue to rest.

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The Untold Stories of 17th Century Child Vagrants: My Tenth Great-Grandfather

Thomas Rowlandson, The Passroom at Bridewell, from The Microcosm of London (1808). © London Lives.

A Reflection on Their Struggles and Resilience

Exploring family ancestry can provide fascinating insights into history and migration patterns. One weekend, while delving into my family tree, I discovered my 10th great-grandfather, Nicholas Granger. His journey is particularly noteworthy, as he was approximately 9 years old when he was sent to America. This highlights an important aspect of immigration history: many immigrants were children, and not all arrived with their families.

I exist today because of this brave boy. 

(All wording is how it was spelled in colonial records.)

In 1618, the Virginia Company petitioned the London Common Council with a request for assistance in bringing over one hundred poor and vagrant children. This reflects the early colonial efforts to populate Virginia, as well as the social challenges faced by many in England during that time. They asked that one hundred poor and vagrant children, who lie in the streets… having no place of abode nor friends to relieve them, be shipped to the fledgling colony of Jamestown, at the city’s expense.1

Seventy-five boys and twenty-five girls were accordingly transported for running wild in the streets, for being vagrant, on 27 February 1618; though it should be said that none of those apprehended and sent over were formally convicted in the London court system.2

“The Prospect of Bridewell” from John Strype’s An Accurate Edition of Stow’s
“A Survey of London” (1720)

Only a few of these children survived in the harsh realities of early Virginian life, including two “Bridewell Boys” called Nathaniel Tatum and Nicholas Granger, who appear to have found some success in their new world. “Bridewell Boys” referred to young boys sent from England to the colonies as indentured servants, most often as a form of punishment for minor crimes. 3

Nicholas married Elizabeth circa 1627. His wife was probably the Elizabeth Gringer, aged 33, who made a deposition in Mar 1634/5 in Northampton County.4

On 13 Aug 1638, Alice Robins was reported as saying that if Nicholas Granger had not come to Virginia, he would have been hanged; but 9-year-olds were not hanged, even in 1619.4

Side note: According to my research, Alice Robins was in the courts frequently. It seems she and her husband liked to cause trouble.

“The deposition of R…this deponent aged…that he goeinge to…Nicholas Granger…the said p…Robins…her one…Robins…wise…Upon…Allice…the wife…whore…also at one…and Crabbing…therefore ordered that said woman for her misdemenoes shal be towed over the Creeke tomorrow at ten of the clock”5

Goodwiffe Robbins’ wife was brought into court for slandering Richard’s wife Mary.  Goodwife Robins’ wife Alice received twenty lashes for this offense. It appears that Alice Robbins was a disagreeable person evidenced by the fact that she was quite often in court. For her slanderous offense she was “…lashed to the end of a canoe and towed over the creek”.

In another deposition, she is quoted as saying that Mary Hudson “was as badd as anie salte Bitch.”

Nicholas Granger is documented in the colonial records from the early 17th century. In his will, dated April 1, 1639, Nicholas Harwood acknowledged Goodman Granger for his care and generosity by leaving funds to buy a “calf for Nicholas Granger, my godson.”6

Such bequests were common in wills of the time, underscoring the importance of community and familial support within colonial society. On August 3, 1640, Nicholas Granger was granted a certificate for 200 acres of land, with his wife, Elizabeth, named as one of the headrights—this system allowed landowners to claim land based on the number of people they transported to the colonies.

On October 1, 1647, in Northampton County, Nicholas Granger transferred a heifer to his daughter, Christian Granger, and this transaction was witnessed by Henry Armitradinge, who was involved in similar transactions on the same day, likely in preparation for marriage. Christian married Henry Armitradinge later that year, indicating that land ownership and livestock, like a heifer, played a significant role in family wealth and social standing.

Nicholas Granger patented land on September 20, 1647, in Northampton County, Virginia. He initially received a patent for 350 acres near the head of Nassawattocks Creek, adjacent to Stephen Horsey’s property; however, this land was later found to be already part of a patent held by Colonel Francis Yeardley and was subsequently lost. He also had another patent for 350 acres along Pungoteague River and Pocomeck Creek, which he assigned to Nicholas Waddilow, as recorded in Waddilow’s patent on April 2, 1655.

On March 25, 1651, Nicholas Granger took the oath of allegiance, promising loyalty to the Commonwealth of England as it was established without a king or House of Lords. This reflects the political shifts of the time and the complexities of allegiance during a period of significant change in England’s governance. At that time, he was officially recorded as Nicholas Granger, linking his personal story to the broader tapestry of early American history.

Nicholas died after 25 March 1651 in Northampton County, Virginia.

My line stems from Nicholas’ son, Nicholas (abt. 1627).

Through exploring the life of Nicholas Granger, we gain a better understanding of the struggles and triumphs of early immigrants to America, as well as the importance of family legacy and community in shaping our histories.

Citations

  1. Theodore K. Rabb, “Sandys, Sir Edwin (1561–1629. ↩︎
  2. Records of Individuals ordered to be sent to Virginia, ca. 1618-37 from Bridewell Royal Hospital ↩︎
  3. Accession 26237, Library of Virginia: “Records of Individuals ordered to be sent to Virginia, ca. 1618-37 ↩︎
  4. John Frederick Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5, p. 68 and p. 119 (Granger Family). ↩︎
  5. Virginia Colonial Abstracts Transcript pg. 154 (Original Mutilated. Pg. 204. ↩︎
  6. James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 4 (will of Nicholas Harwood). ↩︎

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The Cofer Family’s Antebellum Roots Revealed

Minnie Baylor Cofer’s roots trace back to her parents, Robert Emmett Cofer and Martha Ann Davis—my third great-grandparents. While much of their story comes from scattered records and family notes, they were both born in Virginia and married at 23 in Norfolk.

Martha Ann Davis: A Life of Privilege and Transition

Martha was the third of eleven children, coming of age during the tumultuous Civil War era. By 1863, President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and battles like Chancellorsville raged nearby. Martha’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Cofer Reed, recalled stories of her grandmother’s privileged upbringing: a private finishing school education, her own carriage with two horses, and never dressing herself until adulthood. Despite this sheltered life, Martha later worked as a professional nurse, as listed in the 1900 census at age 59—quite an accomplishment for a woman of her time.

Martha lived until 78, passing away from heart disease, and was laid to rest beside her husband in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Norfolk City, Virginia.

In my estimate, this is about 1918.
The MyHeritage tool estimated this picture to be take circa 1920.

Robert Emmett Cofer: A Skilled Tradesman

Robert was one of ten children, later gaining four half-siblings after his father remarried. Growing up in Surry County, Virginia, Robert learned the craft of carriage making as a teenager, later becoming a wheelwright—a trade that was invaluable to the Confederate Army.1 After 43 years of marriage, Robert succumbed to dysentery at 67.

The Cofer Family’s Antebellum Roots

Robert’s father, Isaac Cofer, owned a plantation in Surry County with a fluctuating number of enslaved individuals, peaking at fifteen by 1860. Following the Civil War, Isaac filed a claim for the loss of his enslaved worker, John, highlighting the entanglement of family history with America’s dark past.

Page 3 – Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1861-65 01 Jul 1864 https://www.fold3.com/image/30646096?xid=1945

Isaac’s wealth diminished significantly by 1870, and he passed away a few years later. His second marriage to Sarah Jones (possibly related to his first wife, Mary C. Jones) adds another layer to the family tree puzzle.

Isaac’s father, Reverend Joseph Cofer, was a Baptist minister and a patriarch of thirteen children. His first wife, Jerusha Lancaster, died young, leaving behind ten children, while his second wife, Martha Wrenn, added three more. Joseph’s plantation was substantial, with 25 enslaved individuals and connections to significant events like the crafting of samplers commemorating family deaths.

Innovations and Legacy

Isaac’s half-brother, Thomas Wrenn Cofer, stands out for his inventive spirit. During the Civil War, Thomas patented the Cofer revolver, a weapon used by the Confederate Army. 2Today, these rare firearms fetch thousands of dollars and are a testament to the family’s historical imprint.

Tracing Back to England

The Cofer line extends to John Coker, who arrived in America in 1635 aboard the Plain Joan.3 He earned his land through the headright system and eventually settled in Surry County, Virginia.4 Records tie the family to influential figures, including Richard Bennett Jr., and suggest English origins in Dorsetshire.

The video below shows an old grist mill owned by the Wrenn family, which stood on Route 677, north of Smithfield.  The video is made from scans of a roll of medium format film taken in the late 1960s with a Yashica Model “D” camera. The mill was demolished in 1989 after a pickup went off the road and crashed into it.5

The below article was something I found in my research while writing this blog.  A person from my Isle of Wight Facebook page owns the book and supplied the missing page 90 in order for me to complete my notes. 

The book title is In the Neatest Manner: The Making of the Virginia Sampler Tradition
By Kimberly Smith Ivey

Southampton, Surry, and Isle of Wight Counties
Unity A. Delk and Elizabeth M. Cofer worked almost identical samplers to honor the deaths of their respective parents, Wiley Jones Delk and Jerusha Lancaster Cofer (figs. 123 and 124). An earlier sampler, which was worked by Unity’s older sister, Martha, is not shown here, commemorating their father’s death. In 1824, four years after the death of Wiley Delk, his widow, Martha Wren Delk, of Southampton County, married Joseph Cofer, a Baptist minister from the Isle of Wight and Surry Counties. One year earlier, Joseph’s first wife,

Regarding Jerusha's Youngest
Samplers Delk and Cofer
Figure 123 – Sampler by Unity A. Delk, dated Sept. 5, 1834;
attributed to Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
Figure 124 – Sampler by Elisabeth M. Cofer, age sixteen, dated 1834,
attributed to Isle of Wight County, Virginia.

I discovered this information on the Colonial Williamsburg website about a sampler created by Elizabeth M. Cofer, which includes the exact date of Jerusha’s death.6 It would be wonderful to have this, and I am thrilled to have found it! The sampler was passed down in the family to Mary Wrenn Cofer Ballard and was donated to Colonial Williamsburg by her husband, Mr. L. W. Ballard.

A Living History

The Cofer legacy is a tapestry of privilege, hardship, and resilience. From Martha’s cherished stories to the craftsmanship of Robert and Thomas, every thread connects to the broader narrative of Virginia’s history. Artifacts like Elizabeth M. Cofer’s 1834 sampler—now at Colonial Williamsburg—offer tangible links to these ancestors, reminding us of the enduring impact of their lives.

  1. “Historic Trade: Cooper & Wheelwright” http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/locations/wheelwright/. ↩︎
  2. Black, Daryl. “10 Facts: Confederate Manufacturing” American Battlefield Trust, http://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-confederate-manufacturing. Accessed 2024. ↩︎
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8) ↩︎
  4. “Southside Virginia Families” Google Books, http://www.google.com/books/edition/Southside_Virginia_Families/a7tx6lhj-CkC?q=Nancy+Abraham+Jones,+Isle+of+Wight+Virginia&gbpv=1&bsq=headright. A ↩︎
  5. YouTube, youtu.be/fUixvmtnfXs?si=h-7cFxlt93oSqfDj. ↩︎
  6. “Sampler by Elizabeth M. Cofer” emuseum.history.org/objects/49200/sampler-by-elizabeth-m-cofer;jsessionid=AA0F539A77F4C2FD5579DE424B4775AA. ↩︎

While the majority of the writing is my own, I used ChatGPT to help with some minor formatting and edits.

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The Resilience of Minnie Cofer: A Virginia Family Tale

Every family has its matriarchs—women whose lives may feel like distant whispers of the past but whose legacies are woven into the fabric of who we are today. Even though I did not know her, it feels like one of those women is Miriam Baylor Cofer, or “Minnie,” as she was lovingly called. Minnie was my great-great-grandmother, the mother of Ruby Chapman Wescott, my great-grandmother. While her life ended far too soon, it was filled with resilience, music, and family—a story that spans generations and paints a vivid picture of life in Virginia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A Childhood Full of Family and Loss

Born in 1867, Minnie grew up in a bustling household. She was the second of eight children in the Cofer family, though tragedy struck early when her older brother passed away at the tender age of seven. Despite this loss, the Cofer family thrived in Virginia, becoming one of the most prolific families in the region.

When Minnie was just three years old, she lived at home in Norfolk, Virginia. Imagine this: a home filled to the brim with sixteen people—her parents, four siblings, grandmother, and six aunts and uncles. The house, valued at $5,400 at the time (the equivalent of nearly $95,000 today), must have been lively and chaotic, filled with the sounds of family life. By the time Minnie turned 11, the Cofer family had moved out of the Davis home and into 61 Queen Street in Norfolk (now Portsmouth) where Minnie grew up alongside her four surviving siblings. That address no longer exists, but I believe it was near where the Court Street Baptist Church is now. (See map below.)

Love, Marriage, and Music

Three days before for twentieth birthday, Minnie married Isaac Burns Chapman in 1887, beginning a new chapter in her life. Together, they had seven children, including my great-grandmother Ruby. Their home was filled with the warmth of music and family. Ruby fondly recalled that both her parents had beautiful alto voices. Isaac, a talented string player in a band during his youth, would accompany Minnie, who played the organ at Court Street Baptist Church in Portsmouth. Singing became part of their family’s nightly tradition—a legacy of harmony passed down through the generations.

A Life Cut Short

Minnie’s life, though vibrant, was tragically brief. She passed away in 1916 at the age of 49 from cancer of the uterus. She is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia, a place where so many family stories converge.

Remembering Minnie: A Look Through Photos

The photos we have of Minnie give us a glimpse into her personality and presence. One, dated around 1887, shows Minnie at about 19 years old (though, to me, she appears older than that). In another photo, taken in 1916—the year of her death—Minnie is seen in a black dress standing beside a woman identified as “Mrs. Halyburton,” another prominent Virginia name. I often noticed that name in many of Ruby’s photos. I believe Mrs. Halyburton became a mother figure in Ruby’s life, as she appears in many pictures even after Ruby was married.

These photos offer more than just a visual record; they’re windows into her world, one that was rooted in Virginia’s history and her family’s enduring bonds.

The Legacy of the Cofer Family

Minnie’s story reminds us of the power of family, music, and resilience. From her crowded childhood home in Norfolk to her years as a wife, mother, and organist, she left behind a legacy of love and creativity. The Cofer name, deeply rooted in Virginia, represents a lineage of strength that continues to echo in the lives of her descendants.

Walking in Minnie’s footsteps—through stories, addresses, and photographs—gives me a sense of connection to the past. Her life, though distant in time, feels alive in the values and traditions she passed down. Whether it’s through the music of her home, the bonds of her family, or the resilience she demonstrated, Minnie remains an inspiring figure in my family tree.

 The three pictures below are the same. See the description for each.

Based on the dress style, high collar, and the sepia photograph’s format, this picture likely dates between 1880 and 1895. The visible brooch or floral embellishment, along with earrings, adds a personal, decorative touch, indicating she was dressed for a special occasion. The chain or ribbon with a small crucifix may have symbolic significance or simply reflect the style of the period. (analysis of photo by ChatGPT.) Since this was taken about 1887, I think it was a professional photograph taken before she was married in July of 1887 at the age of 19.

Miriam Cofer age 18 according to photo
Miriam Baylor Cofer -circa 1887 (the year she was married) according to the back of the photo. Original scanned photo.
Same photo with enhancement made by MyHeritage Photo Restorer- 24 Nov 2024.
Same photo with Enhanced Color Restored feature by MyHeritage- 24 Nov 2024
Court Street Baptist Church abt. 1762-
Courtesy of the Portsmouth Public Library
1908
Norfolk & Portsmouth, Virginia 1873-Drie, C. N. Norfolk & Portsmouth, Virginia. [N.P, 1873] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/75696645/. In the 1880 census they lived on Queen, the next street the census taker visited was Bute.

Minnie is the woman in the dark black dress in both photos below.  The photos say about 1916, which is the year she died.  The other woman is “Mrs. Halyburton,” another big name in Virginia.  Unfortunately, the photos do not say where these were taken.  They lived in Bond Avenue and Granville Avenue, the Brambleton area of Virginia today.  From what I can find through Google, they lived where the railroad tracks are now in the area.

Miriam and Mrs. Halyburton in 1916
Miriam Cofer and Mrs. Halyburton in 1916

Final Thoughts

As I look back on the life of Minnie Baylor Cofer, I feel a profound sense of gratitude for the stories that have been preserved and the family ties that continue to connect us. Her life may have ended over a century ago, but her legacy still sings in the voices of her descendants. To me, she will always be more than a name in a family tree—she’s a symbol of strength and love.

While the majority of the writing is my own, I used ChatGPT to help with some minor rewrites and edits.

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The Story of Mathias J. Chapman: A Civil War Soldier and ‘Rebel Deserter’

Browsing the homepage of my Ancestry database reveals upcoming birthdays and anniversaries, including both marriages and deaths. August 3rd was the anniversary of my 3rd great-grandfather, Mathias J. Chapman, passing away on my mother’s side. As I reviewed his details, I realized I had very little information and couldn’t recall the last time I had researched about him.

As I reviewed my information to verify its accuracy, something caught my attention. First, he had served in the Civil War, and second, he had been incarcerated as a “rebel deserter.” His imprisonment took place at Fort Mifflin in Pennsylvania. 1 I knew I had to dig into this further!

Peggy Seymour possesses a family bible that indicates Mathias was born approximately in 1841 in Spotsylvania, Virginia, to Herman and Ann Chapman. (Peggy and Barbara are the daughters of Ellen Seymour, who is my great-grandmother’s first cousin on her father’s side.) Mathias married Sarah J. Crutchfield in Goochland, Virginia, on January 4, 1861, at the age of 19. The bible also notes that Mathias and Sarah had a child in 1862, but unfortunately, the baby passed away the same year.2

Mathias joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War on August 29, 1861. Historical records indicate that he had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and sandy hair. He stood 5 feet 9 inches tall. According to NARA records, he completed his service in October 1862 and transferred to the Virginia King William Light Artillery Battery. He mustered out again on December 15, 1862, and once more on January 15, 1863. On June 20, 1863, he was categorized as a “rebel deserter” and was imprisoned at Fort Mifflin until his release on November 17, 1863.

The NARA has “Descriptive Book of Arrested Deserters” ledgers, but the one he would be in is not online. I am waiting for the NARA to get back to me with their information on him. These books usually have descriptive information, so I hope they tell me more.

Update 6 Sep 2024: From the NARA via email:

The National Archives does not have Confederate pension files in our custody. Pensions based on military service in the Confederate States of America were authorized by some Southern states, but not by the federal government. To see if a former Confederate or his widow received a pension, contact the state archives of the former Confederate state where the veteran or his widow lived after the Civil War.

Confederate records that are in the custody of the National Archives are located in Record Group 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records. These records are incomplete, due to the hazards of war and the destruction of records at the end of the Civil War. RG 109 consists of records that were captured by, or surrendered to, Union forces during and at the end of the Civil War, as well as records that were later donated to, or purchased by, the U.S. War Department.

Fort Mifflin held three kinds of prisoners: Confederate prisoners of war, Union soldiers, and civilians. The prisoners were held in the Fort’s three largest casemates or bombproof shelters.

The same gentleman who emailed me also sent me his Oath of Allegiance.

The oath of allegiance probably refers to a list of prisoners in Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, who signed a document indicating that they had taken the oath of allegiance.  This document is located in RG 109 Entry 199 Records of Confederates in Union Prisons, under Pennsylvania.  Although the National Archives is not appropriated to provide free copies of records in our holdings, because the number of pages involved is small and because the series is not available on microfilm or in digital form, we have made a one-time exception.  A complimentary scan of the endorsement page and of the page where Chapman signed his name is attached.

In July 1863, Fort Mifflin started to accommodate Confederate prisoners of war taken during the Battle of Gettysburg, which occurred from July 1 to July 3. At its highest occupancy, the fort held up to 216 Confederate POWs in its largest casemate. Their time at Fort Mifflin was short-lived, as many were eventually moved to larger facilities like Fort Delaware, or they were released after pledging allegiance to the United States. 3

By: Seth Eastman – http://www.history.army.mil/html/artphoto/pripos/eastman.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125473364

According to the records, Mathias’s desertion coincided with the birth of their child. The family Bible also notes that his wife, Sarah passed away in 1863.

While Mathias was stationed at Fort Mifflin, a significant skirmish took place in Hagerstown, Maryland. Already an important center for trade and transportation, Hagerstown would later be instrumental during the Civil War. In July 1863, while Mathias was still imprisoned, Hagerstown played a key role in the Confederate army’s retreat from Gettysburg. Following the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee and his troops aimed to cross the Potomac River into Virginia. Union cavalry, led by General H. Judson Kilpatrick, attempted to intercept the Confederate forces and engaged them in Hagerstown. Lee had established a garrison in the area to protect their rear. The subsequent Battle of Hagerstown lasted seven hours, involved around 2,000 soldiers, and resulted in close to 200 casualties.4 Interestingly, being labeled a ‘rebel deserter’ and becoming a POW may have ultimately saved Mathias’s life. 

My great-grandmother’s notes indicate that he served as a drummer boy during the Civil War, but there are no documents to support this claim. They only show that he was part of Light Artillery units, although it’s possible he served in both roles.

One year after his release from Fort Mifflin, he married my third great-grandmother, Mary Isadore Burns, in Hagerstown, Maryland, just over the border from Pennsylvania. Their wedding took place at Saint Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church (now John Wesley United Methodist Church) and was officiated by Rev. George W. Heyde. 5 Mathias worked as a brick mason, and they welcomed three sons while living in Pennsylvania. In 1872, the family moved to Virginia, where they had three more sons and one daughter.

By 1896, Mathias was serving as the superintendent of Cedar Grove, Elmwood, and West Point cemeteries, and he was later elected as the “Keeper of the Cemeteries.”

In 1894, he was elected to his present office, and he has fulfilled his duties in an able manner that leaves no room for criticism. Under his supervision, great changes have taken place. Under his care, great attention has been given to the cemetery grounds, and they have been kept neat and beautiful, a fact that is appreciated by all those who have loved ones there entombed. Mr. Chapman is well in touch with his fellowmen and is a member of K of P Lodge No. 56. Vandalia Lodge No. 57. I. O. O. F. No. 79, Orinoco Tribe, I. O. Red Men; Palestine Tent No. 40, Rechabites, and Friendship Council No. 4. Chosen Friends. He has intelligent plans for the further improvement of the cemeteries, and his past efforts for the public good should entitle him to a continuance in the office. All of the property in his care is well kept, and a special improvement is noted in the West Point Cemetery. When he went into office, he found that place overgrown with weeds and the branches choked with underbrush. The weeds have been removed, the underbrush cut away, and the cemetery is now a neat, well-kept, and slightly place, that is a credit to Norfolk.6—

Mathias passed away from a stroke at 11:00 a.m. on August 3, 1898, at the age of 56, in Norfolk, Virginia.7

  1. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2696478:1555?ssrc=pt&tid=168091207&pid=112184450318 ↩︎
  2. Information in my great-grandmother’s notes that were passed down to me. ↩︎
  3. https://www.fortmifflin.us/the-history/ ↩︎
  4. https://washcohistory.org/hagerstown-a-history/ ↩︎
  5. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/168091207/person/112184450318/media/1f702ada-ec76-4a61-8929-b0e68f55d52d ↩︎
  6. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118488471/matthias-j-chapman
    Daily Pilot (Norfolk, VA) – Wednesday, April 15, 1896. ↩︎
  7. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-virginian-pilot-obituary-for-necrolo/61742796/ ↩︎

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A Video Through Time: Ruby Louise Chapman Wescott

My MeMa, my great-grandmother, Ruby Louise Chapman Wescott through the years.

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Martha “Mattie” Lee Chapman

Martha “Mattie” Lee Chapman was born on this day in 1888. She was my great-grandmother’s sister, so my great-grandaunt.

She married Charles Hobdy Forbes at the age of 21 in Norfolk, VA. Her last year of schooling was when she was a freshman in high school. She was a housewife, a mother of two, and a member of First Baptist Church in Norfolk. Her husband was a barber and owned his own shop by 1930.

She had a fractured hip, which the coroner put as the main reason for her death, but generalized arteriosclerosis “contributed” to her death three weeks later. Her daughter died a year before her death.

There were many references to Mattie from my great-grandmother, so I presumed them to be very close.

Stay tuned for more blogs regarding the Chapman family coming soon.

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Gone Too Soon: Jeanne Wescott

Gone too soon. This is a video of my grandaunt, my grandfather’s sister, Jeanne Wescott, 1923-1965.

There are so few pictures matching such a short life. (I’ve done my best to date the baby pictures as some were not labeled. Some of the baby ones may be of her brother. They were both born in the same place. Their eyes and cheeks were different, so I used that area to differentiate.)

She was born in Norfolk, VA. She married and divorced. She did not have children.

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Continue reading “Gone Too Soon: Jeanne Wescott”

Tracing the Wescott Family Origins in Virginia

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My Eighth Great-Grandfather: Once Again, We Find the Wescott’s on the Shoreline

Many researchers have studied the Wescott name, but the exact origins of our lineage remain uncertain. Most findings are based on deductions rather than definitive records.

The earliest known record of our lineage traces back to John Wescott, who lived in Accomack County (now Northampton), Virginia. Much of the information about him comes from “The Miles Files,” a valuable research collection compiled by M.K. Miles. These files, generously donated to the Virginia Eastern Shore Public Library, contain over 83,000 names from the Eastern Shore counties of Accomack and Northampton, Virginia; Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico in Maryland; and Sussex County, Delaware. This collection documents the Westcott family along with “hundreds of families from the Eastern Shore, from Charlemagne to the early 1900s.”

It is believed that John Wescott I was born in Accomack County, Virginia, in 1659. Although unproven, his father may have been William Wescott, one of three brothers from England and a nephew of Stukely Wescott.

John’s age was recorded in November 1684 in Northampton County, Virginia, as “Jno Wescott, 25.”

John married Elizabeth Clarke, daughter of George Clarke II and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), before June 28, 1690, in Northampton County, Virginia.

The Elizabeths in this lineage can be confusing. In an email, M.K. Miles suggested that “George Clarke II’s first wife, Elizabeth, likely died after their children were born, and he then married a second wife named Elizabeth, who was young enough to be the mother of John Wescott’s children.”

John and Elizabeth frequently appeared in court records. One notable mention is a court order from June 28, 1690, in Northampton County, Virginia. On that date, “upon the petition of Wm. Sterlinge against John Wescott as marrying Elizabeth, the widow of George Clarke deceased, the court ordered Wescott to provide an account of Clarke’s estate at the next court session.” Sterlinge was Elizabeth’s first husband.

John was mentioned again in a court order on February 2, 1691, in Northampton County, Virginia. The record states that “John Wescott, having married Elizabeth Clarke, administrator of George Clarke’s estate, petitioned for a valuation of certain cattle on Hogg Island belonging to the deceased’s estate and for a division of the livestock between himself and Clarke’s children.”

John also witnessed a will before October 28, 1698, in Northampton County, Virginia. On this date, he, along with William Kendall and Robert Browne, witnessed the will of William Sterlinge, whose wife was named Elizabeth.

Another intriguing court case involved Elizabeth and Ellenor Carter, a freewoman, and revolved around 17th-century cloth. The dispute ultimately resulted in John Wescott paying a fine to Ellenor’s husband, Thomas Carter.

17th-Century Cloth and Its Importance

Dowlas was one of the most common linens of the period. Another widely used imported fabric was “ozenbrig,” a tough, coarse linen woven in Osnabruck, Westphalia. This fabric was used for making breeches, entire suits, sheets, table covers, and carpetbags.

(See Habiliments And Habits)

Land Transactions and Legal Matters

In 1706, records indicate land transactions involving John Wescott. George Clarke sold several parcels on Hog Island, Northampton County, Virginia: 100 acres to William Harmanson, 200 acres to John Westcote, 100 acres to Edward Joynes, and 200 acres to Jonathan Bell.

On March 12, 1728, John was named in the settlement of his son’s estate. The court ordered John Wescott, as heir-at-law, to appear and explain why Simon Elliott should not be granted administration of the estate of Littleton Wescott, John’s deceased son.

John Wescott’s Will

John made his will on June 16, 1728, in Northampton County, Virginia. In it, he bequeathed:

  • 100 acres on the south side of his land to his son John for life, then to his grandson John Wescott.

  • The remaining 100 acres, including his house and plantation, to his grandson Littleton Jarman.

  • The remainder of his estate (except for his mill) to be divided among his three children: John Wescott, Elclanah Barker, and Francis Ellit.

  • His mill to be shared between the two plantations.

  • Executors: His son John and son-in-law Simon Elliot.

  • Witnesses: Matthew Floyd, John Satchell, and John Esdell.

John Wescott passed away before July 9, 1728, when his will was proved in court.

Children of John and Elizabeth Wescott

John and Elizabeth had five children:

  1. John Wescott II (c. 1692–before November 13, 1733) – Our ancestor

  2. Elclanah Wescott (c. 1698–unknown)

  3. Frances Wescott (c. 1700–unknown)

  4. Littleton Wescott (c. 1702–before March 12, 1728)

  5. A daughter (name unknown, c. 1704–before June 16, 1728)

Wescott Family Origins

Wescott Family Origins

Many believe that all Westcott, Wescoat, and Wescott families descend from Stukely Wescott. However, it is unclear whether our direct ancestor was Stukely, his brother, or his nephew. The exact lineage remains uncertain.

The name “Wes” is thought to derive from “Wessex,” while “Cot” may refer to a cottage or protected home.

The story of John Wescott and his descendants highlights the challenges of early American colonial life. Through court records, land transactions, and family connections, we gain a glimpse into the resilience and legacy of our ancestors. Though many details remain uncertain, the Wescott family played a vital role in shaping the communities of the Eastern Shore. As we continue our research, we honor their journey and preserve their history for future generations.

For more about Stukely Westcott, read History and Genealogy of the Ancestors and Some Descendants of Stukely Westcott and The Ancient Westcott Family in England and Part 2: Stukley Westcott in England and His Emigration to America.

Resources used by Mr. Miles

William R.M. Houston M.D. & Jean M. Mihalyka, Colonial Residents of Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Whose Ages Were Proved Before Court Officials of Accomack and Northampton Counties), p. 114.
 Albert Mack Sterling, The Sterling Genealogy, Volume One, p. 230 (William Sterling of Hungar’s Parish, Northampton County, Virginia).
 Frank V. Walcyzk, Northampton Co, VA, Bk 13, Orders & Wills, 1689-1698, Vol 1 (1689-1694), p. 154 (origin page number) (a division of the estate of George Clarke).
James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 161 (will of William Sterling, wife Elizabeth).
 Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia’s Eastern Shore (A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties), p. 369 (tract N62).
James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 264 (will of John Westcott).