Archive | June 2009

On This Day in 1884

125 Years Ago Today
June 12, 1884

John Henry Jessee married Louvisa Powers. John Henry was one of five children born to Stanford Lea and Sallie (Fuller) Jessee.

  1. George Cowan Jessee
  2. Nancy C. “Nannie” Jessee (my great grandmother)
  3. Thomas Jefferson “Big Jeff” Jessee
  4. Noah D. Kernan Jessee
  5. John Henry Jessee (my great grand uncle)

Louvisa was one of twelve children born to John “Johnny” and Sarah (Leece) Powers.

  1. Nancy Jane Powers
  2. Elizabeth Powers
  3. Calvin Morgan Powers
  4. Francis Marion Powers
  5. James Harvey Powers
  6. William Patton Powers
  7. Charles Carter Powers
  8. Margaret “Peg” Powers
  9. Thomas Jefferson Powers
  10. Mary Powers
  11. Henry Powers
  12. Louvisa Powers (2nd cousin, 4x removed and great grand aunt)

Louvisa and John Henry were parents to nine children.

  1. Catherine Florence Powers Jessee
  2. Conley Trigg Jessee
  3. William Ellis Jessee
  4. Sarah Margaret “Mag” Jessee
  5. Laura Della Jessee
  6. John Stanford Jessee
  7. Mary Alice Jessee
  8. Kent Jessee
  9. Taulbee Balford Jessee

On a recent trip to Russell County, I happened across this sign near Spring City. In Memory of Taulbee and Russell Jessee.

———————–

101 Years Ago Today
June 12, 1908 – 1984

John Walter Campbell, my 1st cousin, 1x removed, was one of nine children born to John Harrison and Sarah Ellen (Davis) Campbell.

  1. Flora Lola Campbell
  2. Ethlyn C. Campbell
  3. Barclay Campbell
  4. John Walter Campbell
  5. Mary Gertrude Campbell
  6. Baird Kermit Campbell
  7. Virginia Madge Campbell
  8. Charles Dudley Campbell
  9. Zolene Nell Campbell

——————————————–

124 Years Ago Today
June 12, 1885

Roy Selfe, my 6th cousin, 2x removed, was one of eleven children born to Wilson Vermillion and Elizabeth (Kiser) Selfe.

  1. Hettie Selfe
  2. Greely Selfe
  3. Ida Selfe
  4. Francis Wayland Selfe
  5. Walter Selfe
  6. Nevada Selfe
  7. Dora Selfe
  8. Mattie Selfe
  9. Roy “Ray” Selfe
  10. Carter Selfe
  11. Arthur Selfr

Dougherty or Daugherty

210 Years Ago Today
June 11, 1799
My immigrant ancestor, John Dougherty, was born in Strabane County, Tyrone Ireland in 1776 and married Hannah Letcher in Rockbridge County, VA, June 11, 1799. She was born 11-5-1771 in St James, Goochland County, VA. They were the parents of nine children.
  1. James Thompson Dougherty
  2. John L. Daugherty (my 3rd great grandfather)
  3. Clarinda Julia Dougherty
  4. Julia Ann Dougherty
  5. Giles Dougherty
  6. Mary Esther Dougherty
  7. Sallie Houston Dougherty
  8. Mary Hannah Dougherty
  9. William Houston Dougherty

from shared FTM data online we find that John Dougherty moved from Tazewell County, Virginia in about 1820 to McMinn County, Tennessee near present day Riceville, in either the Old Salem or Double Springs community.

Earlier John Dougherty Research notes:
John Dougherty, brother to

  1. James
  2. William
  3. Nancy Dougherty

The William C. Dougherty Book of 1930 indicated he came to America with the other three siblings. Several clues follow family traditions and folklore. One story relates John migrated into Pennsylvania while other evidence indicates he either settled in Virginia as did his siblings and later migrated West or died without issue. John Dougherty married a Hannah Letcher, daughter to John Letcher and Mary Houston. John Letcher was from Fluvanna County, Virginia and Mary Houston was from Rockbridge County, Virginia. Mary’s father, Robert Houston was born in Ireland ca. 1720 and came to America prior to Mary’s birth. Other than what was recorded of Hannah, it is known they lived in the late 1800’s in Tazwell Co.,Virginia and Hannah died in Tennessee. (Ref. WFT Vol. 12, #1881)
=======================================================
Last Will of John Dougherty – McMinn County, Tennessee
———————————————————————————————
I, John Dougherty do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament. First I direct that my funeral expenses and all my debts be paid as soon after my death as possible out of any monys that I may disposed or may be first come into the hands of my Executor. Secondly I give and bequeath into my daughter Mary B Daugherty one half of the Spring lot, the East end including the spring also running with the lane west with Allen Haleys line to the corner, thence continuing a straight line to John Jenkins line so as to include fifty acres together with the buildings and orchard on said fifty acres of land also all my personal property that may remain after my death. Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Bradford the remainder of my lands which will be about eighty acers by paying to my daughter Clarinda Mitchell one hundred dollars, and to my daughter Juliann Parkinson the sum of ten dollars. Lastly I do nominate and appoint David Bradford my Executor. In witness thereof I do this my Will set my hand and Seal this 13th day of June 1849.
John Dougherty
Signed and Sealed in the presence of us to which we subscribe our names in the presence of the
Testator this 18th day of June 1849.
Attest John Jenkins
Allen Haley
Year: 1840 State: Tennessee County: McMinn Sheet No: 125
Reel No: M704-527 Enumerated by: John S. Bridges
Transcribed by Sherry Yancey Babb for USGenWeb,

From Rockbridge County Records:
To the Clerk of Rockingham County, This is to certify that I have given My Consent that John
Dougherty may obtain license to marry My Daughter Hannah Letcher given under My hand this tenth day of June 1799 Mary Letcher David Dougherty James Letcher Sworn to by both witnesses this 10 June 1799 A Reid CC. Know all men these presents that we John Dougherty & David Dougherty are held and firmly bound to James Wood governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the for the time being and to his successors in the Sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars to which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors & jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Witness our hands and seals this 10th day of June 1799. The condition of the above obligationis made that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be solomized between the above bound John Dougherty & Hannah Letcher of Rockbridge. If therefore there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the same then this obligation to be void or else remain in full force
Teste John Dougherty [[SEAL]]
David Dougherty [[SEAL]]
A Reid CC
More About Hannah Letcher:
Buried in: McMinn County, Tennessee3
Christening: 05 Nov 1771, St. James, Northam, Goochland Co., VA
Residence: Tazewell Co., VA; Tennessee3

To the Clerk of Rockbridge County, This is to certify that I have given My Consent that John Dougherty may obtain license to marry My Daughter Hannah Letcher given under My hand this tenth day of June 1799 Mary Letcher David Dougherty James Letcher Sworn to by both witnesses this 10 June 1799 A Reid CC
Know all men these presents that we John Dougherty & David Dougherty
are held and firmly bound to James Wood governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the for the time being and to his successors in the Sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars to which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors & jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Witness our hands and seals this 10th day of June 1799.
The condition of the above obligationis made that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be solomized between the above bound John Dougherty & Hannah Letcher of Rockbridge. If therefore there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the same then this obligation to be void or else remain in full
force
Teste John Dougherty [[SEAL]]
David Dougherty [[SEAL]]
A Reid CC

On This Day in 1883

126 Years Ago Today
June 11, 1883 – September 13, 1964

Frank Fitzhugh Kiser was one of ten children, my 5th cousins, 3x removed, born to William L. and Elizabeth (Sutherland) Kiser. Frank married Minda Charm Owens.

  1. Walter Vermillion Kiser
  2. Wm Kinder “Jackie” Kiser
  3. Frank Fitzhugh Kiser
  4. John Trig Kiser
  5. Elijah Otas Kiser
  6. Marcus Henry Kiser
  7. Douglas Daniel Kiser
  8. Martha E. Dicie Kiser
  9. Arnold Gaines Kiser
  10. Ora Jackson Kiser

Happy Anniversary

June 11, 1988
Enjoy your day and just for fun…..

did you know that you share this anniversary with your 4th great grandparents, John and Hannah (Letcher) Dougherty (Daugherty)?

210 Years Ago Today
June 11, 1799
Our immigrant ancestor, John Dougherty, was born in Strabane County, Tyrone Ireland in 1776 and married Hannah in Rockbridge County, VA. She was born 11-5-1771 in St James, Goochland County, VA. They were the parents of nine children.
  1. James Thompson Dougherty
  2. John L. Daugherty (our 3rd great grandfather)
  3. Clarinda Julia Dougherty
  4. Julia Ann Dougherty
  5. Giles Dougherty
  6. Mary Esther Dougherty
  7. Sallie Houston Dougherty
  8. Mary Hannah Dougherty
  9. William Houston Dougherty

from shared FTM data online we find that John Dougherty moved from Tazewell County, Virginia in about 1820 to McMinn County, Tennessee near present day Riceville, in either the Old Salem or Double Springs community.

Earlier John Dougherty Research notes:
John Dougherty, brother to

  1. James
  2. William
  3. Nancy Dougherty

The William C. Dougherty Book of 1930 indicated he came to America with the other three siblings. Several clues follow family traditions and folklore. One story relates John migrated into Pennsylvania while other evidence indicates he either settled in Virginia as did his siblings and later migrated West or died without issue. John Dougherty married a Hannah Letcher, daughter to John Letcher and Mary Houston. John Letcher was from Fluvanna County, Virginia and Mary Houston was from Rockbridge County, Virginia. Mary’s father, Robert Houston was born in Ireland ca. 1720 and came to America prior to Mary’s birth. Other than what was recorded of Hannah, it is known they lived in the late 1800’s in Tazwell Co.,Virginia and Hannah died in Tennessee. (Ref. WFT Vol. 12, #1881)
=======================================================
Last Will of John Dougherty – McMinn County, Tennessee
———————————————————————————————
I, John Dougherty do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament. First I direct that my funeral expenses and all my debts be paid as soon after my death as possible out of any monys that I may disposed or may be first come into the hands of my Executor. Secondly I give and bequeath into my daughter Mary B Daugherty one half of the Spring lot, the East end including the spring also running with the lane west with Allen Haleys line to the corner, thence continuing a straight line to John Jenkins line so as to include fifty acres together with the buildings and orchard on said fifty acres of land also all my personal property that may remain after my death. Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Bradford the remainder of my lands which will be about eighty acers by paying to my daughter Clarinda Mitchell one hundred dollars, and to my daughter Juliann Parkinson the sum of ten dollars. Lastly I do nominate and appoint David Bradford my Executor. In witness thereof I do this my Will set my hand and Seal this 13th day of June 1849.
John Dougherty
Signed and Sealed in the presence of us to which we subscribe our names in the presence of the
Testator this 18th day of June 1849.
Attest John Jenkins
Allen Haley
Year: 1840 State: Tennessee County: McMinn Sheet No: 125
Reel No: M704-527 Enumerated by: John S. Bridges
Transcribed by Sherry Yancey Babb for USGenWeb,

From Rockbridge County Records:
To the Clerk of Rockingham County, This is to certify that I have given My Consent that John
Dougherty may obtain license to marry My Daughter Hannah Letcher given under My hand this tenth day of June 1799 Mary Letcher David Dougherty James Letcher Sworn to by both witnesses this 10 June 1799 A Reid CC. Know all men these presents that we John Dougherty & David Dougherty are held and firmly bound to James Wood governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the for the time being and to his successors in the Sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars to which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors & jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Witness our hands and seals this 10th day of June 1799. The condition of the above obligationis made that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be solomized between the above bound John Dougherty & Hannah Letcher of Rockbridge. If therefore there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the same then this obligation to be void or else remain in full force
Teste John Dougherty [[SEAL]]
David Dougherty [[SEAL]]
A Reid CC
More About Hannah Letcher:
Buried in: McMinn County, Tennessee3
Christening: 05 Nov 1771, St. James, Northam, Goochland Co., VA
Residence: Tazewell Co., VA; Tennessee3

To the Clerk of Rockbridge County, This is to certify that I have given My Consent that John Dougherty may obtain license to marry My Daughter Hannah Letcher given under My hand this tenth day of June 1799 Mary Letcher David Dougherty James Letcher Sworn to by both witnesses this 10 June 1799 A Reid CC
Know all men these presents that we John Dougherty & David Dougherty
are held and firmly bound to James Wood governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the for the time being and to his successors in the Sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars to which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors & jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Witness our hands and seals this 10th day of June 1799.
The condition of the above obligationis made that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be solomized between the above bound John Dougherty & Hannah Letcher of Rockbridge. If therefore there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the same then this obligation to be void or else remain in full
force
Teste John Dougherty [[SEAL]]
David Dougherty [[SEAL]]
A Reid CC

On This Day in 1782

227 Years Ago Today
June 10, 1782 – May 28, 1843

My 3rd great grandfather, John Keatts Gregory(William, John, Thomas III, Thomas II, Thomas) was one of nine children born to William and Martha (Tucker) Gregory. John married Elizabeth Holland (Corder) in 1818; they had fifteen children, moved to Clear Fork, VA and are interred at the Daniel Gregory Cemetery, Tazewell County, VA.

  1. John Keatts Gregory
  2. Maryan Polly Gregory
  3. William Gregory, Jr.
  4. Lowry Gregory
  5. Elizabeth Gregory
  6. Richard Dennis Gregory
  7. Nancy Gregory
  8. Martha Patsy Gregory
  9. Robert T. Gregory

I believe this is a relative of John Keatts, but I do not have the exact relation yet; he was probably an uncle or great uncle.

————————–
117 Years Ago Today
June 10, 1892 – February 1, 1970

Bessee M. Keesee was born in Pulaski, VA and died in Suffolk, VA. She married my 2nd cousin, 2x removed, George R. Gregory. He was born in Gratton, VA in 1891 and died August 8, 1969 in Bluefield, WV. Both Bessee and George are buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Gratton.

George was the great grandson of John Keatts Gregory (above).

On This Day in 1800

209 Years Ago Today
June 10, 1800

Nancy Sutherland (1780-1861) married Jonathan Yates in Botetourt County, VA. She was one of seven children born to James and Sarah (Buchanan) Sutherland. I only know of one son from Jonathan and Nancy – John Yates.

  1. Nancy Sutherland (my 3rd great grand aunt)
  2. Henry Sutherland
  3. Catherine Sutherland
  4. Daniel Sutherland (my 3rd great grandfather)
  5. Elizabeth Sutherland
  6. Sarah Sutherland
  7. Mary Polly Sutherland

Daniel Sutherland’s property and home in Russell County, VA.

Thank you Becky Chafin for all the genealogy and pictures
representing the countless hours of work you have done for
the Kisers and Sutherlands.

WARNING – Watch for Snakes

If you are at all bothered by snakes, you might want to skip this post. I mean, this is supposed to be a family tree blog to which I post ancestoral information and pictures based chronologically on birth or anniversary dates. However, some days I don’t have any relatives to post or boast about, so I feel free to stray.
Almost daily, I stroll our secluded suburban neighborhood and see beautiful things. We are surrounded by a natural setting that offers, eagles, hawks, redfox and even a coyote or two on occasion. If only I were a wonderful photographer who could capture the moment to share with you.

Lately … I have seen SNAKES, SNAKES, SNAKES – Yuk!

This morning a small, probably harmless SNAKE met me at the faucet as I turned on my garden sprinkler. A little later, I halted in my tracks when I spotted a huge shiny dark slithering SNAKE crossing the street in the direction of the pond. Just last week, I found a wonderfully colorful SNAKE, a couple of houses down; the obvious victim of direct contact with a car tire. Yes! Yes!

The red, yellow and black stripe SNAKE is actually my favorite. I mean, if I could have a favorite SNAKE. Not just because it is dead, but because it is beautiful and has a great story attached. It’s a Florida Scarlet SNAKE.

The snakes in question are the venomous Coral Snake, and my favorite copycat, the Florida Scarlet Snake. Oftentimes in nature, a species will mimic the appearance of a dangerous species, for protection. Animals know to stay away from the venomous Coral Snake, so a similar color pattern has helped other snake species survive.

There’s one little glitch, however. Though the mimic snake has a similar size and shape, and the same Red-Black-Yellow color scheme, the order of the pattern is different. For some reason, the mimic, has black bands every other color. The coral snake is the only one that has alternating yellow bands. Thus, with the Coral snake, the red band touches the yellow band, and with the mimics, the red band touches the black band.

Here is what I love – In order to help folk remember how to distinguish a venomous from a harmless SNAKE, a man named “Fat” Jack Loticus developed a rhyme in 1862.

Red and yellow, kill a fellow
Red and black, friend of Jack.

Cool, Huh? I always say that rhyme to myself, just to be sure.

Anyway, imagine our Virginia pioneer ancestors forging their way through the mountain side forests and rockbed rivers, and the encounters they must have had with SNAKES. Some SNAKES common to southwest Virginia are shown below. Would you recognize them if you happened upon one?

Black Racer

Copperhead
Cottonmouth
Timber Rattler

If you want to know more about SNAKES, visit http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/reptiles/snakes/snakes_of_virginia.htm

On This Day in 1888

121 Years Ago Today
June 7, 1888

James A. Davis married Laura E.B. Jessee in Russell County, VA. James was one of fifteen children born to Thomas Jefferson and Sarah Ann (Combs) Davis.

  1. Jesse Davis
  2. John Davis
  3. Doctor Caleb Davis (my great grandfather)
  4. Charles Henry “Charley” DAvis
  5. Elizabeth Ann Davis
  6. Hannah J. Davis
  7. Sarah “Sallie” Catherine Davis
  8. Martha E. Davis
  9. Thomas Jefferson Davis, Jr.
  10. James A. Davis (my great grand uncle)
  11. Lucy B. Davis
  12. Hugh C. Davis
  13. Margaret Davis
  14. Lydia “Liddy” Davis
  15. Virginia Jane “Jennie” Davis

James and Laura had five children that I know…

  1. Alice Davis
  2. Lou Davis
  3. John Davis
  4. Nannie Davis
  5. Dock W. Davis