Hello Cousins, and if you are bothering to read this obscure material you are most probably a cousin of all of the other readers. As I have mentioned in a number of notes, I have spent several years trying to determine the origins of the Steeles of the Borden/Beverly Patents in Augusta/Rockbridge Co.'s Va. However, recently Robert Steele posted information based on a book by Carl Steele which could be a major break through. This is the theory that the line comes directly from Scotland through an immigrant, Reuben Steele. Most of us have assumed the immigrant was the senior Samuel Steele born in 1709. However Carl has identified Reuben as an immigrant with a birthdate around 1720, and Chakley does have one reference to a Rueben Steele in Augusta in 1768. We could worry that there were two separate unrelated lines in Augusta, but it seems to me that for two unrelated lines of Steele to come together in a very small area of Augusta Co. at about the same time would be too much of a coincidence. Especially since the same first names for both males and females seemed to be passed on through several generations and the Steeles had farms close together in the Patents. The first names cited by Robert from Carl's book tie very well to the first names of several generations of Steels in Augusta. However, we have several mysteries here. The Steeles are referenced in the court records several hundred times, wills, taxes, marriages. miilitary, etc. They were well known people - the founders of the village of "Steele's Tavern" If Reuben was an original immigrant and the "pater familias" of many of our Steeles why was there only one obscure reference to him in the court records? Robert, I didn't understand your note "died at sea". Also referenced is a grandson of the immigrant Reuben also named Reuben, but he was born after 1768 so could not be the one referenced in Chalkley. We do know one thing -- a great number of the families in Augusta were Border Scots - whether through Ireland or direct. I now believe there were at least two related immigrants, Samuel and Reuben or a son of Reuben and they were closely related. Carl -- many of your cousins would be grateful to hear your comments. Regards, Ernest Thompson -----Original Message----- From: Robert Steele <samstee@tds.net> To: ernest B Thompson <ebt@coastside.net> Cc: Carl Edmond Steele <csteele@getotec.net> Date: Saturday, February 17, 2001 7:35 AM Subject: Re: Samuel's father? - The following is creditable theory It is very interesting. Perhaps there's the connection I've been searching for for years. As to Carl's book, unfortunately all copies haave been purchased, and it is out of print. However, Carl sent me a floppy disk some years ago with all the text on it. If Carl permits, I could send you a CD_R or a floppy with that information on it. Is it ok Carl? Bob Steele ----- Original Message ----- From: ernest B Thompson To: samstee@tds.net Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2001 2:06 AM Subject: Re: Samuel's father? - The following is creditable theory Hi Robert, Have you any thoughts on my note below to JoAnn? How can I get a copy of the Carl Steele book? Regards, Ernest Thompson -----Original Message----- From: ernest B Thompson <ebt@coastside.net> To: JARFL@aol.com <JARFL@aol.com> Cc: samstee@tds.net <samstee@tds.net> Date: Friday, February 16, 2001 11:48 PM Subject: Re: Samuel's father? - The following is creditable theory Hi JoAnn, Below is part of the message I sent on 2/10, and it seems creditable to me. The Borden Patent fits and the dates fit and one of the Andrew Steeles named a son Alexander. While I have no proof, it is the best theory I have seen. However, the thing that puzzels me is the statement that the Steeles left no trace. since they were in many many court records and and some stayed in Rockbridge/Augusta for many years. However, interesting news. Tonight your note below caused me to look in Chalkley for a Reuben Steele. I found one reference, which I looked at several years ago but forgot about, since it contained no information on relationships. However, Thomas and Sam. Steele are mentioned in the same paragraph as Reuben. It tells me nothing other than Reuben was in Augusta in 1768. Which seems to futher validate the theory below except that it is amost certainly wrong in saying the Steeles left VA very quickly. Regards, Ernest "I would like to find more information about Reuben Steele, and his >descendants. > >The genealogy of one of his sons, Robert Steele, has been published by Carl >Steele of Tulsa, OK in his book "Gathering of the Clan" but what happened to >the rest of Reuben's fourteen children has not been established. > >This what Carl Steele wrote about Reuben's family in his book: > >"Reuben Steele was probably born about 1720 in Argyll County, Scotland. >Legend purports him to be a son of Alexander Steele and his English wife, >Hanna. Alexander, born about 1680, lived in Glen Strae, Glen Orchy and Glen >Locky, Scotland. He was a famous leader of the McGregor clan, being >declared chief of the clan Gregor in July 1714. The wife of Reuben was a >Crockett. She appears to have descended from Gabriel Gustave de >Crocketagne' through his son, Antoine Desasur Pernonette de Crocketagne a >Huguenot and the father of three sons, one of whom likely was the father of >Reuben's wife. > >Whether they came directly from Scotland or via Ireland is unknown. They >landed in Philadelphia and went soon, perhaps at once, to the Shenandoah >Valley. There, in the present county of Rockbridge, Benjamin Borden was >granted a large tract of land by Virginia's Colonial Government in 1739. >Many settlers, and perhaps our Steele's, bought their land from the "Borden >Grant." > >When Borden died in 1743. There was considerable confusion in the >settlement of his estate, and many settlers were unable to obtain final >title to their land. They left their tracts and pushed on to new >settlements, leaving no trace in the public record of their stay in the >valley." -----Original Message----- From: JARFL@aol.com <JARFL@aol.com> To: ebt@coastside.net <ebt@coastside.net> Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001 6:11 PM Subject: Samuel's father? Hi Ernest, Since receiving your note (abt Feb 10/11) that the "original Sam.Steele (born 1709) in Augusta, VA was not the son of the Irish Sir Richard Steele", I have been trying to untangle my "Steele lineage"!!! Thanks to your note, I see my error! With it as I had it, I had Sarah Hunter, dau of Martha Steele, dau of RICHARD STEELE (1671 Ire), marrying Samuel Steele, son of Samuel (1709), son of RICHARD STEELE. But wouldn't that just have been 1st cousins? Anyway, have been searching around for the father of Samuel, b 1709 Ireland and cannot locate one. Have dug out my files, searching for notes of yours for a clue, but I give up. I'll have to come begging,---Do you have Samuel's ancestor if it is not RICHARD, of 1671 Dublin? I enjoy the banter between you and the other Steele cuzzins. Thanks for keeping it on the "list" for the rest of us. JoAnn