First Settlers and other families (part 1) A - H

   The following is a short list, and description, of some of the first frontier families of what later became Summers County.  Although some of these families factor indirectly, or not at all, in the story of Streeter, they are worth mentioning.  After all, I'll bet that you might be related to them (at least one or more) somewhere in your family tree.  Now, I've mentioned the Ellisons, Packs, Farleys, and Meadows( -ors)  numerous times in other posts, so I am not including them here.  I mean no disrespect if I forget to mention your family's name.

 Arbuckle


  Captain Matthew Arbuckle was born in 1741 in what is now Botetourt County and was one of the first settlers to explore the Greenbriar valley (according to some accounts).  He was a trapper and hunter.  His father, James, was born in Scotland.

    He joined the Virginia militia in 1758.  He commanded a militia company and served as chief scout and guide.  In fact, he guided General Lewis and the rest of their army to Point Pleasant in Dunmore's War against Chief Cornstalk.

   Arbuckle was one of the first men to move to present day Lewisburg, WV.  His plot of land was on the corner of Jefferson and Randolph streets.

    He married twice.  First to Jane Lockhart.  This marriage produced sons: Charles and John.  His second marriage was to Francis Hunter (she too was married before to a James Lawrence, Jr.).  Their marriage produced:  Matthew Arbuckle (who became a famous general), Thomas, Samuel, and James II.

    For an interesting read, checkout Arbuckle and Col. James Stewart's involvment in the affair of Chief Cornstalk's death.


Ballard


     One of the first of the Ballard family mentioned is William Ballard.  He was a Private then later a Corporal in the Revolutionary War.  He enlisted in 1779 and was in the battle at Yorktown.  He married Elizabeth Steppe.  He settled in Greenbrier County.

     Elijah Ballard of Hans Creek was also a Revolutionary War veteran.  He was granted 970 acres on Hans  Creek.

Clark


  Alexander Clark, son of James ad Elizabeth Summers Clark was born in 1736.  He lived near Indian Creek in Summers County.  He married Sarah Lafferty.  He was involved in a number of skirmishes with Indians in the y. Children: James 1764, Rebecca 1766, William 1771, Ralph 1773, Alexander 1775, John, 1778, Martha 1780, Samuel 1782.

  His son Alexander II was born 1775 and married Mary Hawkins (daughter of Samuel Hawkins and Mary Erwin).  He was a soldier in the War of 1812.  They had twelve children:  James 1797, Sarah 1798, Hannah 1800, Elizabeth 1802, William 1803, Nancy 1805, Samuel 1807, Salina 1808, Alexander C. 1810, Rufus 1812, Lucinda 1815, and Mary H. 1817.

 Their son Samuel married Elizabeth Halstead, a daughter of Benjamin Halstead of Indian Creek.  Their daughter Salina married Alexander Halstead, a son of Benjamin Halstead.






Comer
  
     Augustus Comer was born in Frederick County in 1757.  He married Catherine Rush.  He later enlisted in Shenandoah County in 1776.  He was in the 12th VA Regiment under Capt. Langdon and Col. Neville.  He and his wife Catherine later settled in Lindside, Monroe County.  He is buried at the "Cummings Cemetery" (check out findagrave.com).

    Children:  Elizabeth, Frederick, Jacob, Catherine, Micheal, Barbara, Augustus, Sarah (Sally), and John Henry.


Halstead


     James Halstead was the first Halstead who settled in southern WV.  There is, or was, a lot of controversy over his origins.  Some say he was born in England in 1740 and others reject this idea claiming there is no definitive evidence where he was born. It is believed he served in the 12th VA Regiment during the Revolutionary War.

    What we know for sure: he settled in Indian Creek in the 1780s.  His sons were Benjamin, Amos, and John.  Benjamin married Patience Roles.  Amos married Nancy Ellis (a daughter of Owen and Christina Van Doren - Ellis of Wolf Creek).  John Married Elizabeth Mann.  James Halstead also had a daughter Elizabeth who married into the Meeks family.

    Future generations of Halsteads migrated into Raleigh, Fayette, and Nicholas counties.  My grandfather Edgar Stanley Halstead descends from James.   My grandfather married Lillie Jennings Basham.

Families I have little or no information about at this time:




Booten, and Byrnsides.


 

Slang and Colloquialisms of Streeter

For the linguists out there, I decided to write this post on slang. Slang and colloquialisms (and there is a difference between the two) are used in everyday speech. "What's up?", "cool", "awesome", "hatin' it", "off the chain", etc. - there are lots of these phrases and words that make up modern American English that may change or disappear.

I spoke to Vernon Pack about the slang he heard growing up in Streeter. Here's a list of a few he remembered:

the dismals: instead of saying "I have the blues" (he heard his father use this phrase).

not worth the salt that went into his/her bread: when speaking negatively of someone.

hope them do it

You need not too much cedgeation: instead of saying, "you don't need that much education"

It's clabbering up to rain: this originated from churning butter. Once the cream soured in the butter making process, it began to curdle or clabber and looked cloudy.

The clouds are building

Not worth the powder and lead to blow them to Hell

Beat the tar out of you

A fin = $5

Sawbuck = $10

Pep talk about family history research

In the course of writing the blog and conducting family research, I spend hours perusing vital records and archived material. Actually, I am up right now at 3 am! Vernon Pack (a distant cousin) and I often compare notes and share stories. He's helped my research immensely, and that brings me to a source of persistent concern: family members who don't share information.

I won't bore you with a long whining session, but this issue is brought up among legitimate family researchers time and again. In fact, the other day in a history class I teach the students expressed their own interest in family research. Many would love to know their family history, but they don't know where to begin. I blame their families. Yes, there is online material, but that will take them only so far (or sometimes nowhere).

Family photos, memorabilia, etc. are great to have, but salting them away and not sharing will, in the end, leave your descendants lacking a connection with history. It also sets a bad example for your family - teaching them to be selfish. In the end, and probably long after you've left this world, they'll end up fighting amongst themselves over this or that material object, merely following your lead.

If you don't have the time for research but would like to keep originals, go and make some copies on a copy machine (it costs very little these days). If you're concerned someone is going to publish the next New York Times bestseller using your information, then let me put your fears to rest. Photos of Aunt Bessie aren't going to fetch much, or any, money. The only people who care are the people who are related to you! People want to know what their ancestors looked like. Now, then, I've heard the sob stories about this or that person not giving something back or stealing this or that. We're not all thieves. Learn to judge people on a case by case basis in your family.

I'm sure if our ancestors could speak they would urge you to honor their memories. What better way is there to serve your ancestors than to share information with your cousins? I am not naive, I know I can't exactly root out conspicuous selfishness on a blog. Instead, let us ALL create the habit of conspicuous sharing.

Samuel Pack Article

The following article was published in the Sept. 6, 2011 edition of The Hinton News, article by Pauline Haga, "Samuel Pack Indian Fighter".

Note: In the article, Haga states that there is no record of Pack's military achievement during the Revolutionary War and that he was made an honorary Patriot by the DAR. There is a record that he provided equipment and/or supplies for American Soldiers (this via the VA Archive).

Sorry for the poor quality of the scan. It's a long article. Click on the image to enlarge.

Herbert Pack (Part 2 of Conversation With Vernon Pack)

Vernon and I spoke at length about his father, Herbert Pack, over the phone.

Me: What was your dad like?

Vernon: He had a sense humor - he had a way of getting people laughing.... He had a bad leg. He was a barber in the community.... He charged 10 cents sometimes.

This man would always go to sleep while dad would speak. Dad told me 'go bring my shaver and soap. I'll fix him good.' He shaved him bald!

'Herb, you cut me bald head!' said the man.

'It been a good haircut if I hadn't run out of hair,' his father replied.

Another story:

Lewis Harvey came in. He let everyone know he was 50 years old.

His dad: ' Lewis, congratulations, but you say you're 50. How does that compare to a half century?'

'Bout 20 years difference,' said Lewis.

Graves Packe

My comments in bold.

image: will of Graves Packe, 1731, via Library of Virginia Online

The following is taken from The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 4, by the Virginia Historical Society, 1897:

"Graves Packe, was a justice of York [York Co, VA] from 1719 and high sheriff 1726 and 1727. From the William and Mary Quaterly, Vol. II (quoting the Maryland Gazette), it appears that in May, 1765, a schooner going from York river up the bay, was lost, and that among the passengers who perished was, "Mr. Graves, son of Mrs. Sarah Packe of Williamsburg, a very hopeful youth, of about 18 years of age." Mary, daughter of Stephens Thompson, Attorney-General of Virginia, and sister of Mrs. Ann (Thompson) Mason, married first, Robert Booth, and secondly, Captain Graves Packe. She had one child by her second husband, who died in infancy. Captain Packe married secondly, Sarah -. Under date, Feb. 16, 1740, is referred to a legacy to Edward Randolph, of London, merchant ("now residing in Virginia"), under the will of Graves Pack, late of London, mariner, [pound sign] 25 virginia money. Doubtless Captain Packe, like many masters of ships, had an estate in Virginia, and

occassionally lived here."

What I can't understand is if this is the Graves Packe purportedly the father of Samuel Pack, Sr.

1. The dates I run across are that Graves was born in 1680 and died in 1723. Either these people are wrong about the dates or this isn't the same man.

2. The will states that he leaves 50 pounds to his godson Graves, son of Richard Packe

So, is this Graves the father of Samuel Pack, Sr. or is this Graves great uncle to Samuel Pack, Sr. ?

Conversation With Vernon Pack

I had a great conversation the other day with Vernon Pack, age 82 of Indiana. He grew up in Streeter. For a time he lived at the A.B. Pack (sometimes referred to as "Bum" Pack) cabin that my grandfather later bought from Jim Pack.

Vernon is the son of Herbert Pack (son of George Washington Pack and grandson to Rhoda Anne Cooper Pack and Samuel Pack) and Ethel Cooper Pack.

I asked him what it was like growing up in Streeter. "I have a lot of wonderful memories," replied Vernon, "times were very tough... but people shared."

I asked him about John Wesley Alexander Basham (son of Alexander Basham and Mary Jane Pack). "He was very well known and respected in the entire county," said Vernon. "He was a shop owner, farmer, educator, post master."

He added a story involving his father Herbert and J.W. Basham:

"My father and John Wesley were good friends. John Wesley was also his uncle. He spoke in a very proper voice (Wesley). One day he came by and said, 'I want to catch a mink that's eating my chickens,' said Vernon, in an enunciated, proper tone.

'How you plan to do that, Uncle Wesley,' replied his Father.

'By setting a deadfall,' replied J.W. (a deadfall trap is usually set using sticks, and a weight such as a rock).

Herbert went with J.W. to set the trap. ' That's not gonna work,' mused Herbert, watching the way J.W. set the trap.

'I know what I am doing. Now, let it down.' Once he let the trap down the heavy rock fell on J.W.'s Hand.

"He didn't bother to take off his gloves," said Vernon. "He just licked the wound."

Pack Family History, Part 2

Part 1 was posted 1/12/2011

My comments in the following post are in bold:

Sources:

1. Dictionary Of The Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland, Sir Bernard Burke. London. 14th edition, 1863.

2. The History, Architecture And Antiquities Of The Cathedral Of Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny, by Rev. James Graves, A.B. and John G. Augustus Prim. Hodges, Smith & Co. Dublin, 1857.

3. City of London.gov (list of Mayors of London, 1189 - present)

4. Wikipedia, List of Mayors of London

5. British History Online, created and maintained by the Institute of Historical Research and History of Parliament Trust.

"One of the Lord Mayor's family is stated to have gone to Ireland, a major in Cromwell's Army, and to have been the ancestor of the Very Rev. Thomas Pack, dean of Ossory, and of the Packs of Kilkenny" (Burke).

The Lord Mayor Burke refers to is Christopher Pack. He served as Lord Mayor in 1654 (see List of Lord Mayors of London, Wikipedia).

"The Pack family was originally seated in Leicestershire. Simon, son of Christopher Pack, settled in London at the end of the sixteeth century, and became Lord Mayor of that city..." (The writers are incorrect. Christopher Pack was Lord Mayor in 1654. There are numerous sources, including the City of London's own history sites that show this information is incorrect. Simon was never a Lord Mayor. "The Irish branch of the family claims to be derived from a younger son of this gentleman, who, having been engaged in the Wars of the Commonwealth, came over and settled in the Queen's County, and his descendant, Thomas Pack, of Ballinakill, married a Miss Kiley, and had three sons, of whom the eldest was the Very Rev. Thomas Pack, Dean of Ossory; the second was the Rev. Richard Pack, Pincipal of Kilkenny College; and the third, Samuel Pack, Esquire, of Dublin, emigrated to America. This is the family tradition." (Graves and Prim). Graves and Prim further state that they can not verify that Sir Christopher was in fact the forefather to the Packs of Kilkenny (Ireland).

Josiah Francis Meadows 1735-1798?

For in-depth research into your own branch of the Meadows/Meadors I suggest the following user's information on 'lively roots'. I found it the most accurate and reliable source:

http://www.livelyroots.com/demedewe/d14.htm#g14

Along with the Lillys, Packs, Ellisons, Walkers, Coopers, etc., the Meadows/Meador family make up a large group of descendants with a common ancestor in the southern part of West Virginia.

I am going to exclusively cover two forefathers of the Meadows/Meador family: the brothers Joel (1725-abt. 1788) and Josiah Francis (1736-1798).

Both Joel and Josiah Francis were sons of Jonas Meador (Meadows) Sr. and Frances Hudgens born in Essex, VA and Franklin Co. respectively.

First, what's up with the different spellings of the last name? There are different theories.

There is a story that Josiah Francis was guilty of an act of treason and absconded to the Blue Ridge mountains around 1760 (hence the change from 'Meadows' to 'Meador'). There is also a story that one of the meadows/meadors had a disagreement with a family member and decided to change the spelling of the last name. I can not substantiate these claims with primary source material, so these remain just stories. My own theory is that, not unlike other names, the name may have changed because of pronunciation-spelling issues. After all, old documents sometimes spell the name Farley as 'Farlor', Basham as 'Bassham', and Halstead as "Holsted". These were the days before ID cards and digital records.

I do know that Josiah Meadows spelled his name "meadows" at least in records that I came across. One record was a 1844 declined war bounty for the Revolutionary War. I'll try to include the record here (it's pretty long).

Anyway, Josiah married twice. First to Lavina Moody, then to Mary Kesiah Bell. Mary and Josiah had a daughter named Edith (1775-1860)* who married Edmund Lilly (1772-1832)**. And one of their sons was John "Snakebite" Lilly - grandfather to Ida Jane Lilly (and this is one way my branch connects to the Meadows).

My family connects also to Joel Meadow/Meador (brother to Josiah). Joel married Susannah Clark in 1748. Margaret Meador (born Oct 11, 1794) married Andrew Lewis Lilly (born 1817) and I believe she is a grand daughter to Joel and Susannah. I am not sure though and I am still working to verify that.

Another connection: Jesse (son of Joel and Susannah) had two daughters (maybe three IF Margaret was a daughter): Ama and Frances. Both married Bashams: Ama to William Lloyd Basham (born abt 1797) and Frances to John Basham. My family descends from Ama and William Lloyd Basham (parents of Meador Basham, grandparents of Alexander Basham, and great grandparents of John Wesley Alexander Basham).

When researching your connection to the Meadows family I advise several things. One, be careful about not getting confused over names. There were many Francis/Frances and Josiahs...sometimes in the same generation. Also, the last name spellings can throw you off. Another frustrating factor is that people would sometimes use their nicknames/middle names as their first name... Francis instead of Josiah.

*Edith Meador Lilly is buried at the "Dr. Bills" Cemetery on Mount View Road (photo)

**Edmund Lilly is buried at the Lilly-Crews Cemetery at Nimitz.

Basham Family Stories

Acknowledgement: Thank you to my cousin, John Basham, for the following stories. These are special memories that deserve to be shared and help us connect with the family's past.

Youngsters Run Amok

Life was hard during the Great Depression, but as boys Uncle Jim (Halstead), Elden Estridge, and John Basham made the best of it.

"We would run around naked all summer long, even if it rained," John recounted. "When company came we would put on clothes." He added that they never had tan lines.

Great Grandpa Basham's House At Streeter

It's hard to picture it now, but Streeter was a busy little town years ago. According to John, J. W. Basham's building was located on the right side of the road after you crossed the bridge (in the corner). It was his store, post office, and where he lived part of the time.

"The house went almost the same angle as the bridge - from the road almost to the creek," said John. In behind the store/house was an added on bedroom called "The Parlor" where boys and girls would go to court each other.

Alec Pack (related to Vernon Pack) had a house next to Basham's store and then came the old mill.

Lucy Basham Story

Lucy Basham (our great grandfather's second wife) was rocking a little girl to sleep who was very sick.

"Around sundown the little girl said 'mommy, do you hear them?' 'Here what?' asked Lucy. 'the angels,' responded the little girl. 'they're singing very pretty'. The little girl died shortly afterwards.

Great Uncle Ray - Sharpshooter

U.S.-Dominican relations between 1916 and 1924 were complicated. After I did a close reading on Wikipedia, I decided to just skip the history backdrop for this story. Otherwise, if the reader is interested, it is worth reading about the events that led up to the American occupation.

Ray Basham was a marine during this time. According to John, his father Ray (and this blogger's great uncle) was stationed in the Dominican Republic and was considered an excellent sharp shooter.

"There was a sniper's nest about 700 yards away [from him and the other marines]," said John. "He cleaned the sniper nest out. But, when they went down there they [discovered] it was boys 10 and 12 years old."

John said that for many years after his service Uncle Ray could not bother to hunt any animal.

Update on James Ellison, Samuel Pack, et al for Dunmore's War!

I found 1775 Veteran's Compensation Lists that include Samuel Pack and James Ellison for Dunmore's War (please see my earlier Post for the full story on the Pack, Farley, Swope, Ellison involvment in the war).

Just today I came across a typed transcription of Michael Woods' letter to Colonel William Preston (via a book titled "Dunmore's War" Library of Wisconsin Historical Society). The Farleys are spelled "Farlor". My hunch is that either Woods spelled their names the way they were spoken to him (in an accent), or the transcriber spelled the names wrong. Either way, presently, I can't track down the original letter. As I mentioned in the earlier post, Michael Woods lived on the New River and was responsible for mustering men in present day Southern West Virginia for the war.

Taken from the book "Dunmore's War" by the Wisconsin Historical Society (a part of the "Draper Manuscripts"):

"Also there is a few men that lives in a String on the other side of the River that ever will be unconvenient to any other place to Muster at for they would not have above 7 or 8 Miles to a Muster here; and if they must go Elsewhere they Most of them Must Go 15 or 20 Miles to Muster and the names of these is

Charles Cavanough

Charles hays

Philimon Cavanough

Tho. Farlor

James Odear

Francis Farlor

Wm. Cavanough Sen'.

John Farlor

Samuel pack

Mitchle Clay

George pack

and some others that I do not know their names. Also I must acquaint you that the most of these men is bad off for arms and ammunition and I believe Cannot get them. All from yr. Servant at Command"

I could not find any Swope on the list (the veteran's compensation list), but I will continue to look.

Note: The Packs were in Robertson's Company, Ellison was in Henderson's Company.

Click on the images to enlarge

The Two Andrew Lewis Lillies

This is a photo of Andrew Lewis Lilly and his family around 1900 that I just came across. This is the Andrew Lewis Lilly who was son of Wilson Lilly, and grandson to Snakebite Lilly.

I had to make a correction on my ancestry.com page, and of course, I needed to announce here the same correction. About a year ago I found a photo online that showed just Andrew (the same one). But then I came across the full photo. This is not my great great grandfather Andrew Lewis Lilly (born 1817), father of Ida Jane (sometimes referred to as 'Violet') Lilly. As you can see, the children, Robert E. Lee Lilly, Ida Jane, etc., are not in the photo. It's a different set of children.

The two Andrews WERE related - uncle and nephew to each other - Wilson Lilly and Andrew Lewis Lilly (born 1817) were sons of Snakebite Lilly. Wilson had a son Andrew Lewis (born 1840) and this is his family photo.

Andrew Lewis Lilly (born 1817) married Sarah Mooney. They had 15 children: Hansford, John Simpson, Zelpha Arminta, Henry L, Sarah Anne Melissa, Joshua Wilson, Elizabeth A. M., Lewis William Dayton, Violet J.A. (my grandmother referred to her mother as Ida Jane Albatine), Roberta A (Bertie), Floyd Mennie, Rufus P, Robert C. (Lee), Joseph A. and Daniel E.

Andrew Lewis Lilly (born 1840) married Elizabeth Holstein. They had 12 children:

Wilton Wert, Laura C, Ezra Couch, Jeanette Lurenie, David H., Estel K., Gaston Carper, Celia D., Terry D, Cora Electra, Ocia A., Daniel Everett

(In the photo above. Left to Right starting at the top: Terry, Wilton Wert, Estel?, Gaston Carper, David H., Ezra Couch. Middle: Celia, Andrew Lewis, wife Elizabeth, Jeanette Lurenie,

bottom: Daniel Everett, and Ocia. Two of the children, Laura and Cora, had died before this photo was taken).

Great site for looking up cemeteries...

Findagrave.com is an excellent resource for finding cemeteries in and around Summers County. Some members have added photos of their ancestors on this site (thank God for the internet).

Not all graves are on here, of course, including my branch of the Bashams. You have to sign up first before you can add a record. Which I intend to do soon.

Ginseng Season...Food for thought

Ginseng Season began a few weeks ago. Ginseng is of course highly sought after and rare. Keep in mind two things when picking. One, plant the berries back in the soil near where you find the plant. Two, do not trespass on private property without the consent of the owners.

Ginseng is becoming increasing rare because of over hunting. Be a good steward of our lands and obey the laws. If you wish to continuously make a profit from Ginseng, learn how to cultivate the plant.

Library of Virginia Online...great for research

Here's a link to the Library of Virginia's West Virginia section.  Unfortunately, the tax information is on microfilm (hopefully someday they'll scan it and make it digital).

The good news is that land grant information is digital and available for download (click on the Land Office Patents and Grants Database)

There's plenty on the Lillys, Packs, Coopers.  I couldn't find much under Moye, Ballard, or Pettry.
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/wv/index.htm

Photo of Streeter Post Office

Streeter Post Office located on land owned by the Pack Family (NE of Pack/Vest cemetery on Streeter Road).

The post office closed in the 1980's.