From: [email protected] Hello: I believe that the lore about a Via being a gardner for the Maupins came from the information generated from Harold H. Via (deceased) in Florida. Though I've never seen his work, he was supposed to have been a pretty good Via historian--or at least very active in his research. This information I found "somewhere" and do not know if it's true. The Via Family of Virginia, From the Notes of Dr. Socrates Maupin: The following was found by a Via family researcher in Albemarle County. The note was found in the Library of Virginia in Richmond. It was probably written in the late 1800s and gives some interesting thoughts from an early researcher about the first immigrant and his daughter's marriage to the son of Gabriel Maupin who was a wealthy landowner in Williamsburg, Virginia: The Vias did not come to Virginia at the same time as the Maupins, and they probably preceded them. Charles Smith Maupin thought that the Immigrant Via was named William; Dr. Socrates Maupin (University of Virginia) does not give his name in most places, but calls him William, once, but places a ? after the William. The Via Family are said to have settled in a part of Virginia that later became Hanover County. In light of this fact, the following data from the Register of St. Peter's Parish is important: " Judith, Daughter of Amer. Via baptized 11 April 1699" "Margaret, Daughter of Amer Via baptized 27 Feby 1701" "Mary Via, Daughter of Amer Via baptized 27 Feby. 1704/4" In as much as Margaret Via, wife of Daniel Maupin was born in 1701, it seems that she and the above Margaret might be one and the same. I have been told on supposedly good authority, that the word "Forester" on the Estate of Gabriel Maupin who died in 1720, was an honorable title, and did not show that "William Via, Forester" was a menial at all. Some try to say that Gabriel Maupin disapproved of any marriage of his son Daniel to Margaret Via " daughter of his Forester" & disinherited him. Gabriel Maupin's will does not disinherit his son Daniel husband of Margaret Via. Folklore Concerning Amer Via found in a Letter by Long-time Researcher Harold H. Via - Internet Source There is no evidence that I know of to verify this, but it is an interesting piece of information. Amor Via "had first gone to Williamsburg and had a blacksmith shop at the rear of his property. Somehow he got embroiled with his neighbor. Who had a side entrance for their carriages but had to 'swing wide' across Amor's back yard to gain alignment to enter their side entrance. We don't find just why Amor made the decision but assume that he just got tired of having an entire section of his yard being used for his neighbor's purpose and one day he erected a metal pole just at the edge of his property and thus disallowing turning into the side entrance. Not being of the 'official' (Episcopalinas) religion of England, he was 'called up' and was sentenced to seven days in the stockade. It was at this time we assume that Amar talked to William Rea and arrangements were made to be transported. After being released, Amar loaded all his wagons and possessions and 'headed out', first traveling up the James River towards Richmond but then taking a 'due north course' and arrived on t! he Mechamps River. He first took land on a hillside (about ten feet elevation) but later on donated this property to the church and moved almost to Mechanicsville which was right in the middle of the Swamp." Vince Brant