Hi Sandy, We have corresponded before regarding the HILL family. Found a piece of info for you in the book, "Thomas Watts of Stafford County, Virginia and His Descendents," by Edward C. Watts. There is a chapter on the WATTS family in Amherst Co. and shows a marriage of William WATTS and Mary HILL (Polly being a nickname for Mary). Do you have any info on a Tabitha SANDIDGE married to a WHITE? I am interested in any info you may have on the WHITE family in and around Amherst Co., VA. Thanks, Kelley >Sandidge: Dudley Sandidge (1786-1860>Valentine Sandidge (1833-1914)>William >Lee Sandidge (1863-1927). > >Hill: Thomas Hill (d. @1789) married to Elizabeth Fulcher > Samuel Hill >(@1789-1818) married to Polly Moore, daugter of William Moore (d. 1823) and >Betsey Bridgewater, > Jane Catherine Hill (1811-1881)

My maternal grandmother's entire family was from Amherst, with the last members leaving in the early 1900's for Lynchburg. I am very interested in sharing information about the Amherst County families noted below: Sandidge: Dudley Sandidge (1786-1860>Valentine Sandidge (1833-1914)>William Lee Sandidge (1863-1927). Lee: Thomas Lee (1792-1864) married to Sally Clements (1797-1880) > Mary Elizabeth Lee (d. 1863) married Valentine Sandidge (1833-1914) Hill: Thomas Hill (d. @1789) married to Elizabeth Fulcher > Samuel Hill (@1789-1818) married to Polly Moore, daugter of William Moore (d. 1823) and Betsey Bridgewater, > Jane Catherine Hill (1811-1881) McCaul: William McCaul (1880-1856) married to Lucinda Moore (b. @1805) > Martha R. McCaul (b. @1835) married to Samuel Preston Cox ((1834-1884). Cox: Thomas M. Cox (b. 1809) married Jane Catherine Hill > Samuel Preston Cox (1834-1884) married Martha R. McCaul > Lula Jane Cox (1869-1942). Smith: John Smith (d. 1821) married to Sarah Ware (b. @1765) > Belinda Smith (1796-1883) married Dudley Sandidge (1786-1860) Sandy Rowe (aka, William Lee Sandidge Rowe) WLSRowe@AOL.com

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/552 Surname: Lanham, Saunders ------------------------- We're looking for the parents of Lewis F. Lanham, b. abt 1794 in Amherst County. He married Agnes Saunders on Oct. 9, 1815 in Nelson County. They had 8 children: Mary Ann, Sarah, William H., Charlotte, James M., Richard, Joseph F., and Nancy M. Mary Ann and possibly Sarah was born in Nelson, the rest of the children were born in Kanawha County, VA (WV). Lewis died Feb. 10, 1870. His wife's parents were John and Sarah Saunders.

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/551 Surname: McCloud ------------------------- Have a new E Mail ADDRESS WHICH IS pwsmith@wt.net

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/549 Surname: Eades, Stewart, Snodgrass ------------------------- Looking for information on Carrel Eades and Barbary unknown they were in Amherst 1789. Does anyone have any information on them?

If you have GARRETTs from Amherst Co please contact me. Am looking for GARRETTs who married into the BIBB and GRANT families in the early 1800s. Thanks. Molly

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/548 Surname: Mann ------------------------- >From family tradition, Thomas Mann, b. around 1750 or before, living in Amherst County in 1769, moved to Surry County, North Carolina before 1771. His son, Thomas Mann Jr., was a Methodist Circuit Rider in and around Chatham County, NC until 1830. He was not married. Other sons were Roland, my great-great-great grandfather, and William. There were three daughters. I can't find anything back from here; help!

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/546 Surname: Padget, Padgett, Paget, Pagett ------------------------- My sister and I are looking for the family of Spotswood Padgett who married Elizabeth (Betsy) Bridge on November 24, 1824 in Amherst County, Virginia. His children were: Reuben Beverly Padgett, James Spotswood (W.) Padgett, Martha W. Padgett Coyner (Coiner), Polly/Mary Padgett Wagner, Alice (Elizabeth?) Padgett Fox, and Fannie Padgett and Catherine (Kate) Padgett Farnsworth). We believe his family lived in Amherst county. We will be happy to exchange information. :-) Laura Hutchison

thanks so much for sending this in to the List. I loved reading about your grandparents! Deane Mills York County, VA > > >My maternal grandparents were Charles Ambrose Haydon and Minnie Lester Shomo. My grandfather died before I was born so I never knew him personally. My grandmother died when I was very young and I don't remember much about her. I enjoy learning more about them through research. > > >Charles Ambrose Haydon was born on April 11, 1879 in Wolf Creek, West Virginia to Alexander Wurts Haydon and Margret "Maggie" Eudora (Bowling) Haydon. He had 3 brothers: John William, William "Will" Jackson, and Thomas Agee and 3 sisters: Ada Lucy, Laura Ellen, and Mary Elizabeth. > >Charles' father died just before his 6th birthday and he was forced to go to work to help support the family. He drove mules in the iron mines in the Iron Gate/Clifton Forge area of Alleghany county, Virginia. At the age of 21 he was working to support his mother, 2 of his younger brothers, his older sister (who was widowed) and her 3 children, and his mother's unmarried sister. He learned to shoulder a lot of responsibility at a very early age. > >Minnie Lester Shomo was born April 22, 1888 in Yancey, Rockingham County, Virginia to John William Shomo and Lucy Mildred (Sellers) Shomo. She had 2 brothers: John Harry and William Luther and 2 sisters: Bessie Frances and Maude Ruth. I do not know if she had any other siblings who died when young. > >When Minnie was about 5 years old, her father moved the family from the Shenandoah Valley to Clifton Forge, Alleghany County, Virginia. They lived near Charles Haydon and family - that is how Minnie met Charles. > >Charles and Minnie were married on July 4, 1913 in Madison Heights, Amherst county, Virginia. They had 6 girls: Ruth, Maude Elizabeth, Lelia (twin), Lillian (twin), Mary, and Beulah and 5 boys: Charles Ambrose, John, Luther Thomas, Robert, and Osborne Kenneth. Maude Elizabeth, Lelia, Mary, Beulah, and Luther Thomas are still living. > >Charles and Minnie moved to Sprague in Raleigh county, West Virginia shortly after their marriage. His mother and aunt Ida Bowling (sister of his mother) lived with them. Charles was a coal miner. He died on September 7, 1932 of "miner's asthma" (black lung). Lelia (my mother) recalls her father going out on the back porch to sit and "catch his breath" while her mother cleaned up the supper mess. When her mother finished and went out to join him she found him sitting in his chair - dead. Charles was buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Beckley, Raleigh county, West Virginia next to his mother (who had been buried in Minnie's plot in 1925). > >After the death of her husband, Minnie's brother, William Luther Shomo (a young widower with no children of his own) moved in to help her out. He was dearly loved by her children and considered to be a "second father". He died on March 10, 1969 and was buried in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Beckley, Raleigh county, West Virginia. > >Minnie was a diabetic and took insulin shots. Her sugar got out of control and she was sent to the hospital. Her regular doctor was out of town and the doctor filling in for him gave her some pills instead of her shot. She went into diabetic shock and died in the hospital on August 27, 1970. She was buried in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia near her brother. > >Minnie like to embroidery and make quilts. Unfortunately, most of her work is "lost". > >-- Submitted by Debbie Ullom, granddaughter of Charles and Minnie (Shomo) Haydon >on September 11, 2000. > > > >==== VAAMHERS Mailing List ==== >New folks are joining the list everyday. Have you posted your surnames and/or queries recently? > >

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/545 Surname: Berry ------------------------- In the Craven County NC Deed Abstracts, Vol. 1, 1707-1775, Book 1, "23 March 1765, John BERRY, Amhurst Co. VA appoints friend Jacob Blount in Craven Co. his attorney to prosecute a suite...for the recovery of the following negroes...I claim in right of Jemima my wife who was the sister of Joseph MAN (?) (MARR ?) of Craven Co. Wit. Richard Caswell; Test., Chris'r. Neal, Clerk of Court." It appears that John Berry was in Craven County NC with wife Jemima - does anyone in Amhurst Co. range know anything about this John Berry, his wife, his children? The Berrys are my genealogical Brick Wall, and this is the first real clue to who I think may just be a grandfather! The timeframe is correct; Craven County is definitely "in the ballpark." Can you, will you - please - if you know anything, touch base with me? Florence Fulford Moore

IN HONOR OF GRANDPARENT'S DAY: My maternal grandparents were Charles Ambrose Haydon and Minnie Lester Shomo. My grandfather died before I was born so I never knew him personally. My grandmother died when I was very young and I don't remember much about her. I enjoy learning more about them through research. Charles Ambrose Haydon was born on April 11, 1879 in Wolf Creek, West Virginia to Alexander Wurts Haydon and Margret "Maggie" Eudora (Bowling) Haydon. He had 3 brothers: John William, William "Will" Jackson, and Thomas Agee and 3 sisters: Ada Lucy, Laura Ellen, and Mary Elizabeth. Charles' father died just before his 6th birthday and he was forced to go to work to help support the family. He drove mules in the iron mines in the Iron Gate/Clifton Forge area of Alleghany county, Virginia. At the age of 21 he was working to support his mother, 2 of his younger brothers, his older sister (who was widowed) and her 3 children, and his mother's unmarried sister. He learned to shoulder a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Minnie Lester Shomo was born April 22, 1888 in Yancey, Rockingham County, Virginia to John William Shomo and Lucy Mildred (Sellers) Shomo. She had 2 brothers: John Harry and William Luther and 2 sisters: Bessie Frances and Maude Ruth. I do not know if she had any other siblings who died when young. When Minnie was about 5 years old, her father moved the family from the Shenandoah Valley to Clifton Forge, Alleghany County, Virginia. They lived near Charles Haydon and family - that is how Minnie met Charles. Charles and Minnie were married on July 4, 1913 in Madison Heights, Amherst county, Virginia. They had 6 girls: Ruth, Maude Elizabeth, Lelia (twin), Lillian (twin), Mary, and Beulah and 5 boys: Charles Ambrose, John, Luther Thomas, Robert, and Osborne Kenneth. Maude Elizabeth, Lelia, Mary, Beulah, and Luther Thomas are still living. Charles and Minnie moved to Sprague in Raleigh county, West Virginia shortly after their marriage. His mother and aunt Ida Bowling (sister of his mother) lived with them. Charles was a coal miner. He died on September 7, 1932 of "miner's asthma" (black lung). Lelia (my mother) recalls her father going out on the back porch to sit and "catch his breath" while her mother cleaned up the supper mess. When her mother finished and went out to join him she found him sitting in his chair - dead. Charles was buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Beckley, Raleigh county, West Virginia next to his mother (who had been buried in Minnie's plot in 1925). After the death of her husband, Minnie's brother, William Luther Shomo (a young widower with no children of his own) moved in to help her out. He was dearly loved by her children and considered to be a "second father". He died on March 10, 1969 and was buried in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Beckley, Raleigh county, West Virginia. Minnie was a diabetic and took insulin shots. Her sugar got out of control and she was sent to the hospital. Her regular doctor was out of town and the doctor filling in for him gave her some pills instead of her shot. She went into diabetic shock and died in the hospital on August 27, 1970. She was buried in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia near her brother. Minnie like to embroidery and make quilts. Unfortunately, most of her work is "lost". -- Submitted by Debbie Ullom, granddaughter of Charles and Minnie (Shomo) Haydon on September 11, 2000.

There was a Moses SWEENEY who was a soldier at Logan's Fort in KY in the 1770s.

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/544 Surname: Sweeney ------------------------- Thank you for your response. I have quite a bit on Moses from several good resources. We are all grateful to find lines in our families that so many are interested in researching.

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/543 Surname: Sweeney, Johnson, Waters, Thomas, Harmon ------------------------- I have some info on Moses Sweeney and his 14 children and can direct you to someone who has much more. I unfortunately do not have any info on a brother. Moses Sweeney b. abt 1734 Belfast Ireland and d.1813 in Lincoln Co, KY. He was In Amherst Co by 1778 and in Lincoln Co, KY by 1787. email me at nancy_stern@hotmail.com

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/542 Surname: WATTS, WARE, SAUNDERS, TURPIN, GILL, CAMPBELL, BOWLES, HUDSON, BRYANT ------------------------- Replying to WATTS message. My line is Thomas-Caleb-Samuel C-Samuel-Mattie. Would like to exchange information.

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/541 Surname: watts ------------------------- Debra: I apoligize for the tardiness of this response but if you are still of a mind to give your 3rd cousins E-mail address in Amherst cty va I would appreciate receiving it. cWarner Fletcher

I am hoping someone might be researching this family and be able to tell me if William D. and Susan Cooksey Mason either died or moved to another county following their marriage March 10, 1810 in Amherst Co. VA. It is my understanding that Susan Cooksey was the daughter of Miles Cooksey and Susanna Lanier of Amherst County. I have been unable to locate William D. and Susan Cooksey Mason in any of the counties of VA and am hoping someone can help me. I have found that our Thomas Mason's parents died when he was a small child. I do know that he named his first son William D. Mason and we also have the name Susan in our lines. I would be happy to share the information that I have. Thanks, Carolyn Anderson

Does anyone know the legal age to witness a will ca 1780 in VA? Thank you.

RUCKER/Lathrop/Dexter/ Hewett/ Hewitt/Baldwin/ RESEARCHERS DID YOU KNOW THE FOLLOWING STORY.?? A letter from the Sheriff of Idaho County, Idaho to my grandmother, Henrietta Rucker, relating the circumstances of her brother's, Claude Rucker's, death at the hands of his mining partner Submitted by Michael Pearcy Office of Sheriff of Idaho County, Idaho Grangeville, Idaho, June 10th, 1912 Miss Henrietta Rucker Southern Bell Tel. & Tel. Co., Huntington, W. Va. Dear Miss Rucker:-Your letter of May 25th, last, reached this office in due time and has not been answered before on account of the writers absence from the City until now. I Hardly know how to begin to tell you of this sad affair, but will in my own way, give you what information I have at my command. The body of your Brother was found about May 1st, by three men, R. S. Danforth, E. S. Lougee, and J. M. Haynie, all of Dixie, Idaho, being in the water on the East side of the Salmon River about a mile below what is know as the Sam Myers Ranch. This place is about 18 miles from Dixie, Idaho, and about 75 miles downthe river from where it was put in. This part of Idaho County is a very rough and mountainous country and very inaccessable at any time of the year, and almost impossible to get into during the winter months. The body was buried near where it was taken from the water by C. H. Prescott and T. H. Thomas, also of Dixie, Idaho. I am informed that the body when taken from the water was fairly well preserved, but when taken out of the water decomposition soon set in, and it was impossible to keep the body but a few hours or perhaps a day at the most. At the time the body was found it would have been almost impossible to get it out to the railroad and even now I doubt if it would be practical to bring out the casket as it would have to be carried on pack horse for some 18 miles to Dixie and then 25miles to Elk City, and then by stage some 65 miles to the nearest railroad point. Sam Pruitt, the man who took your Brothers life, came down the Salmon River in a boat to Riggins, Idaho, and from there to this place to tell his story of the awful affair, and surrendered himself to us long before the story of the killing could have reached us had he not taken that method of coming out. Pruitt was immediately confined in the County Jail, and I immediately sent three men into where the killing had occured to make an investigation, and if possible to locate the body, and spent several hundred dollars in investigating the matter. We held Pruitt here in Jail for over a month, and finally, in the absence of sufficient evidence to bind him over to the District Court, and upon the direction of the Prosecuting Attorney released him. Pruitt has kept this office posted as to his whereabouts ever since and I could locate him by wire in a few hours at this time. The Prosecuting Attorney and this office have carefully considered every word and act of Pruitt and have found everything, even to the gunshot wound in the body and the rope with which he tied the rock to the body with which it was sunk into the water, substantially as he stated. So far we have not a single thing in the way of evidence that would justify any Court or Judge in binding him to the Trial Court. The worst feature in the statement of Pruitt, and this is the one on which the Prosecutor and I worked, was the fact that after the killing Pruitt sank the body into the river. This statement naturally would lead one to think that there had been foul play, and both the Prosecutor and I acted on this presumption until we had made an exhaustive investigation. In writing this letter I have not gone into detail for it would take hours to write you everything concerning the case, and even then you would never believe anything but that your brother had been foully murdered, but I have attempted to tell you what had been done in a general way. You have unjustly criticized me when you say that I have been "trying to shield the slayer rather than justify the slain" and when you know more of the case you will regret having written them. On the contrary we did everything within our power, regardless of expense, to secure the facts and so far have failed to find sufficient evidence to hold Pruitt for trail. There is no need of my going into the question of your brothers sanity for I realize as well as anyone that it is next to impossible to convince anyone as near and dear as a Brother or Sister that such would be possible. I do not know, and perhaps no living person knows positively. However I have letters to this effect, and while I do not know who your Spokane, Wn. Informant is, have little doubt but that it was from one who wrote me in substance that Mr. Rucker was of a morbid disposition. In conclusion Miss Rucker will say that I have done all that I could see possible in regard to this sad affair, and feel that the Prosecuting Attorney would not have authorized his release had there been any possible chance of holding him to the District Court. I will be glad to give you any further information concerning your Brother if you make it possible for me to do so. Very respectfully, J. I. Overman Sheriff Back to the Lawrence Register Please send comments to: genblc@oplin.lib.oh.us Copyright © 1997,1998, 1999 Martha J. Kounse and Briggs Lawrence County Public Library. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced, re published, or re transmitted without the expressed written consent of Martha and/or the Director of Briggs Library.

Posted on: Amherst County Queries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Amherst/540 Surname: Chenault, Shinalt, Shinall, Thacker, Coffey, Jenkins ------------------------- Am interested in sharing information on the above noted names, particularly Chenault and variants Shinalt and Shinall. My 3x gr.grandfather Thomas Shinall was married to Polly Jenkins in 1797 in Amherst. His name appears with a Caleb Shinall in the 1800 Amherst tax list. In the 1810 U.S. census, the name William Shinalt (b. before 1765) is noted. I suspect that the Shinaults and Shinauts of Wythe county, Va. also relate to this core family. My research leads me to believe that Thomas Shinall is likely a son of the above mentioned William Shinalt, who in turn is the eldest son of Benjamin Chinall -- listed in the 1767 Bedford county court records as leaving behind "6 poor children", Wm., Jno., Eliz., Benj., Reubin and Stephen (the last two are twins). Benjamin Chinall is probably a son of Stephen Chenault II of Essex county, who in turn is the son of the original Huguenot Estienne Cheneau who arrived on the ship Nassau of Poole in 1701 in Yorktown. Thomas Shinall's wife, Polly Jenkins, is the daughter of Jonathon and Jemima Jenkins of Amherst. Jemima's father was Pettis Thacker. His line goes back (the link not yet confirmed) to Henry Thacker and Eltonhead Conway of Essex county in the 1600's. Regarding Jonathon Jenkins, I have no information beyond just his name. If anyone out there is researching the Jenkins family in Amherst and Bedford counties, I would appreciated hearing from you. Have any of you run across these names in your individual research -- particularly in the counties of Amherst, Bedford, Goochland, Albemarle, Wythe and Buckingham? I continue to try and gather corroborative evidence to solidify the histories of these families. Any information would be appreciated, and I would share my data as well. Chris Shinall