Dee Wheaton's "James Halstead: Pioneer of Indian Creek"

      Of the many books I came across related to my ancestors, I think one of the best researched books was Dee Wheaton's James Halstead: Pioneer of Indian Creek. Anyone who isn't related to James Halstead should at least take a look at the comments she makes pertaining to the history of West Virginia. Although she centers the research around James, she includes other important figures. Given the limited scope of the internet related to family history at the time she wrote the book (1999), I think it's an excellent attempt at tackling an enormous amount of printed information. 

      She covers a great deal of ground related to early frontiersmen, including James Ellison, Josiah Meadows, Francis Meadows, Jacob Mann, Jacob Miller, Francis Farley, Matthew Farley, and Drewry Farley (just to name a few). It may be difficult to find a copy of the book. Apparently, it was self-published. The last time I checked, Summers County library had a copy (that was 12 or more years ago). I have a copy given to me by a distant cousin. I presume Wheaton made a limited number of copies and sold them locally. 

    Anyway, there are some important descriptions that she makes in the book. Although the facts can be found in other books, she sometimes combines the information in a way that I found (and still find) extremely helpful as a family history researcher. For instance:

Related to James Ellison:

   "James Ellison of Crump's Bottom lived opposite the mouth of Indian Creek presently in Summers County. He served as a spy with a companion ranger from 1776 to 1781, usually for seven months a year except 1779, when a longer tour prevented him from raising his corn crop for the support of his family. His pay was five shillings a day. In his application for pension- 1834, he describes  the 1778 tour of exploring the country between Indian Creek, New River and Sewell Mountain. The Indians took him prisoner on one occasion about fifteen miles beyond the top of Bluestone Mountain, and after dark he stopped, pretending to tie his moccasin, permitting those ahead to get some distance. He then ran down a steep hill, and after being pursued for about half a mile he escaped and returned to the fort. James Ellison Sr., was born in Sussex County, New Jersey 1735, migrated to New River and Hans Creek in 1771.

    "The Ellison's were noted spinners and one house held only looms, spinning wheels, cards and spindles. One loom had twenty treadles necessary for double-weave coverlets. (Golden Seal). There are other stories about Ellison's and Farley's and their trouble with Indians written in other books."                My note: [Golden Seal was a popular clothing pattern in the 1800s]

For my cousins: we are related to James Ellison through our Pack line. Alexander Basham's wife Mary Jane Pack's mother was Elizabeth Dell Harvey whose mother was Sarah Ann Swope and her mother was Mary Eleanor Ellison (daughter of James Ellison). 6th Great Grandfather.

Related to Josiah Meadows:

      "Josiah Meadows came from Bedford County and served two or more times on the frontier against the Indians and was in the American Revolution. He enlisted in the spring of 1778 under Captain Renfroe and marched with the company to Jarret's Fort on Wolf Creek where the company was divided and he being sent to Keeney's Fort where he was stationed at the time of the attack on Donnelly's Fort  [my note: this was an attack of Wyandot and Mingo Indians on Donnally's Fort (in Rader's Valley, Greenbrier County). Keeney's Fort was situated below Keeney Knob near Glenray, WV. in Summers County. It is also called Arbuckle's Fort.]  After the expiration of terms he again enlisted in Captain Taylor's Company and a Regiment commanded by Col. John Montgomery, then marched through the Holston country, fighting back the Indians from the frontier, which was along the Blueridge and Cumberland mountains to Indian town of Chicamaugua which they destroyed. He was with a portion of the army that had charge of British prisoners captured at Yorktown and helped convey prisoners to Fredericksburg. Josiah took part in George Rogers Clark's expedition. In his later years Josiah was a Baptist Minister and organized the church at Bluestone which was a double log cabin with a dirt floor, the church is there today. Josiah married Judy Lilly and lived at Bluestone."

    To my cousins: We are related to the Meadows in various ways. First, through Andrew Lewis Lilly's parents. Andrew Lewis Lilly's (married to Sarah Mooney) father John Lilly's mother was Edith Meadows (she was a sister to the above Josiah Meadows). Second, Andrew Lewis Lilly's mother was Margaret Meador. Her father was Jesse Meador, who was a brother of Josiah. Also, John Wesley Alexander Basham's father Alexander's father Meador Basham's mother Amanda Meador was daughter to Jesse Meador. Mawmaw Halstead's mom and dad, Ida Jane Albatine Lilly and John Wesley Alexander Basham, were distant cousins. 

     By the way, and on the subject of Josiah Meadows, be very careful when doing research on him and his relations. Many researchers fall into the trap of confusing dates, names, marriages, etc. Not least of which, there is the -- what we West Virginians would call -- country pronunciation of Meadows to Meador. This phonetic spelling of the family name Meadows occurred shortly after the Meader or Meadows families arrived in Virginia. Many people back then couldn't read or write, and clerks and officials wrote names as they sounded. It further complicates things when doing research and can lead to confusion. This happened to me! 

     Wheaton gives an excellent list of sources that are worth using for anyone's research. When I can, I will make some more posts related to the book. 

  

Vandalia and Streeter

Vandalia is a word related to, not only West Virginia history, but also the history of Streeter. I made several posts in the past about the history of Streeter's name and name change, but, in brief, no one I spoke to years ago, including Vernon or Jack Pack, seemed to know the origin of the name Streeter. I was told that it was "someone's friend's name who lived in Streeter".  No one by the name of Streeter lived in the area (not in census records). There was a presidential candidate in the late 1800s by the name, but there didn't appear to be a connection (see my posts). 

Before 1889, Streeter was called Vandalia, and that name has a complicated and long history. The name Vandalia is connected with an early proposed colony in what is now West Virginia and parts of Kentucky in the 1770s (before the Revolution). Land speculators -- including Benjamin Franklin -- wanted to call the colony Vandalia. The choice of the name was meant to gain favor with King George III. His wife, Queen Charlotte, was believed to be a descendant of ancient Germanic Vandal tribes. The title "King of the Vandals" was a title that many European monarchs used over the centuries. The proposal for the colony was abandoned as tensions between Great Britain and the American colonies escalated before the Revolutionary War.  Also, the plan was opposed by the colony of Virginia, which had its own claims to the land and was afraid of losing political influence over what might become a new colony. 

The name Vandalia became an important symbol of the distinct culture of people in this region that set them apart from the culture of the more coastal colony of Virginia. In the 1860s, it was even considered as a name for our state, however, "West Virginia" won out. 

It's no wonder that Streeter was once named Vandalia. By the way, there is a Vandalia in Lewis County, West Virginia. There is also the annual Vandalia Gathering in Charleston. 

Pack Family History

Also see my post dated 10/12/2011 for an update

Sources: Notes and Queries: Literary Men, Artists, Aniqueries, Etc. Vol VII, 1853, by

George Bell of Fleet Street, London; The Last Years of the Protectorate by Charles Harding, Firth, 1909; Wikipedia: "Sir Christopher Packe", Lilly Family History.

First, let me address the information provided by the Lilly Family History Book (as well as the Silas Hatcher writings) about the Pack family. According to this, and other sources, the Packs descend from "Alderman Pack" who was a member of the "Long Parliament during Cromwell's time". Also, there is a story that Jennie Pack, a daughter of Samuel Pack and Mary Farley, was married to President Hayes. I will address the Alderman Pack connection, but first let's address the connection to Pres. Hayes.

First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes was the daughter of Maria Cook Webb and Dr. Webb of Ohio, and her mother was from Connecticut. So, this story can not be true (and Pres. Hayes married only once).

There is, or might be, a connection with a man by the name of Sir Christopher Packe ,or Pack, 1593?-1682. Sir Christopher was not a member of the Long Parliament (1640-1648); however, he was a member of Oliver Cromwell's "2nd Protectorate Parliament".

Sir Christopher was the son of Thomas Packe of Northhamptonshire. He was a wealthy man who over time procured the position of "Alderman and Lord Mayor" of London (in 1654, wikipedia). He was an ardent supporter of Oliver Cromwell (Cromwell and his supporters dethroned King Charles I, and had him beheaded).

Cromwell knighted Pack and in 1655 Pack became a Member of Parliament and a member of the "New House of Lords". Pack later introduced a proposal to make Cromwell a King; however, the proposal failed.

Once the monarchy was restored under Charles II, the King offered pardons to Cromwell's followers; however, a group of a dozen or more were blacklisted from this pardon (Pack was one of them). He was barred from ever holding public office, and, ostensibly, lost his knighthood. He retired to his home, Prestwold Hall, in Leicestershire (pronounced Lestershire in British English). He had two sons: Christopher and Simon; daughters: Anne, Mary, and Susanna.

A book published in 1853 (see above), notes several prominent Packs: Sir Dennis Pack, a descendent of Simon, son of Christopher, was a commander of the light division of Duke Wellington's army (during the early 1800's)

At this point, I can not find the connection between the Packs who descend from Sir Christopher and Samuel Pack (forefather to Packs of Southern WV) who was born in Augusta Co, VA in 1760. Members on Ancestry.com state that Samuel Pack descended from Graves Pack (1680-1723), the son of Dennis Pack. But, this could not be the same Dennis Pack who descended from Sir Christopher (there is a difference of about 100 years). Also, many sources offer up stuff like "Alderman Pack was the son of Sir Christopher" and was a member of Parliament, and that Sir Christopher was the son of Major Dennis Pack. Alderman is a title of office, Christopher's son was not a member of Parliament (he was), and Dennis Pack was a descendant (not his father).*

*Note: For a further look into the distant ancestors of the Packs, check out the above mentioned resources. Also, take a look at the recently published book: A Cornucopia of Packs, by Jeffrey Pack, Woodfield Publishing (I have not read this book yet).

Samuel Pack (1760-1833) I have covered this in previous posts. Samuel Pack moved to the Bluestone River area. He was involved in a number of skirmishes with Indians. He married Mary Farley (daughter of Captain Matthew Farley). He owned a large stretch of land from the mouth of the Greenbrier to Warford. Children: John, Samuel, Bartley, Lowe, William, Matthew, Anderson, Betsy, Polly, and Jennie.

His grandson John R Pack (born 1807) first married Elizabeth Harvey (daughter of Joshua and Sally Swope Harvey). They lived in Streeter. He built the historic Pack's Mill (photo in earlier post). Children: William, Sarah, Mary Jane (who I descend from), James, John, Rachel, Nancy, Samuel, and Preston. John R's 2nd marriage to Betsey Rollyson: Albert, Tom, and Haley.

Samuel Pack was born at Streeter and took over operations of Pack's Mill. He married Rhoda Anne Farmer Cooper (the church at Streeter is named in her honor) she was the daughter of Alexander and Mary Ann Farmer Cooper. Children: Lucy, George, Andrew, William Alex, Alfred Berman, Laura, Amanda, Samuel John Tilden, Jediah, Cecil, and Effie.

Samuel John Tilden married Margaret Elizabeth Henderson, daughter of William Henderson and Sarah Ann Lilly Dunbar. They lived at Streeter. Children: Clara (married Carl Hatcher), Winnie (m: Jamie Lilly), Audra (m: Opal Pack), Marie (m: Earl Lilly), Bessie (m: Wade Harvey, then Robert Wadell), Dewey (m: Alma

Greetings!

 Greetings!

It has been quite a long time since I last posted to the blog. I'm guilty of not checking it as much as I should. Life has a way of distracting and other interests intervene. Nevertheless, I did manage to find a cemetery related to Snake Bite Lilly this past summer. It is located off of Ellison Ridge Road. Mrs. Lilly told me that someone long ago vandalized the cemetery. Most of the tombstones are illegible (if not all). The writing has pretty much disappeared from the few shards of slate that might have been tombstones. 

Anyway, I wanted to give a quick update. I will do my best to keep an eye on the blog. It's my intention to keep it up for everyone's use. 

If I don't immediately respond, hopefully, someone will notice your comment and give you some good advice. 

People will sometimes comment asking for information related to their own branches of the family trees. I know a lot about my own branches of family trees. I do not know everyone's branch of their own family trees. Keep in mind that the blog was originally intended for my immediate cousins related to our grandmother's family from Streeter (Lilly Jennings Basham's side). I have cousins who live around the world and this was a way to answer their questions and share photos, etc. 

I have a blog post titled "Online Sources for Research" (2012). It could be helpful.

Happy investigating and good luck!

60th Va. Infantry Command

Keep in mind that the command structure changed over the course of the war.  At the beginning of the Seven Days Battles of Richmond in 1862, the command was the following (in descending order of rank):

Gen. James Longstreet

Maj. General Ambrose P. Hill - his light division (which included men from the 60th Va. Infantry - among many other divisions - totaled roughly 14,000 men at the time of the Seven Days Battles).

Brig. General Charles W. Field -"Field's Brigade". During the Seven Days Battles this included roughly 1,500 men.  This included: the 60th, 55th, 47th, and 40th Va. Infantries.

Col. William E. Starke (commanding officer of the 60th Va. Infantry).

Lt. Col. B. H. Jones.

Maj. John C. Summers.

White Ryan, Cpt. of Company I,  aka "Mercer Mountain Rangers"

Alexander Basham Mystery Solved

For a number of years I've tried to track down where Alexander Basham (John Wesley Basham's father) was buried in Richmond.  As a review, Alexander Basham served in the 60th Virginia Regiment (Co.I) and died at the Seven Days Battles of Richmond in 1862.  I had two mysteries: (1) the location of his burial, and (2) the specific Battle of the Seven Days Battles he was wounded in.

I contacted historian Bob Krick in Richmond and he was able to do some detective work with some materials in Richmond.  According to Bob, Alexander Basham is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Section C.  Unfortunately, we do not know exactly where in Section C he is buried.  The graves are unmarked.  They are numbered, but the corresponding names do not exist for many soldiers because over time the ladies who once maintained Oakwood could not read progressively fading markers, and some markers were lost, broken, or stolen.  A 2nd list resurfaced about 15 years ago.  This list was maintained by the caretaker of Oakwood Cemetery, John Redford.  It's because of this list that we know for sure that Alexander Basham is buried at Oakwood Cemetery and in Section C (but not the specific plot).

As for the battle he was wounded in, Bob had the following to say (I've included the full correspondence):

  "Attached is the scan of the appropriate page from the Oakwood Cemetery superintendent's burial list.  That list only exists for 1861-62, so you are fortunate in that regard. The original list was discovered in the archives at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond a few years ago.  Basham is about two-thirds of the way down the list, correct in every particular except it identifies his regiment as 6th Virginia instead of 60th Virginia.  Those sorts of errors are typical, even routine, and it should not bother you.

I am happy to report that I finally found what I thought I remembered:  a note in my files about a 60th Virginia casualty list.  It was published in the Richmond Enquirer on July 7, 1862, page one.  Happily for you, it breaks down the regimental casualties by battle:  June 26 (Mechanicsville or Beaver Dam Creek); June 27 (Gaines's Mill); and June 30 (Frayser's Farm or Glendale).  This is on microfilm, and I do not have the ability here in my office to make a copy for you from film.

It shows Alex Basham wounded "slightly in thigh" on June 30 at Frayser's Farm.  So the inference is that he served in, and survived, the big charges at Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mill.  You can guess along with me on how a "slight" thigh wound on June 30 became a fatal wound by the second week of July.  Gangrene is one possibility, or some version of infection.  Or, he could have been weakened by the wound and contracted something else.

 

The 60th Virginia's charge at Frayser's Farm is a very famous episode.  The 60th and a sister regiment charged a battery of Union cannon and actually fought for possession of it using bayonets, fists, and clubbed muskets.  The ground where that happened is now part of our national park, only recently preserved by the Civil War Trust and turned over to us.  It is very, very different today.  It is wooded, but was open in 1862.  And it is unmarked today--no signs, no trails, etc. But in future years it slowly will become better looking, and better for visiting.  

As a bonus, see the second attachment, which is a very well known piece of combat art depicting the 60th Virginia and its sister regiment the 55th Virginia charging that battery at Frayser's Farm.  The artist served in that brigade, which makes the sketch that much better." 

Captain Matthew Farley

Captain Matthew Farley I've written about before in earlier blog entries.   See the post Samuel Pack, Francis Farley, James Ellison Sr. Battle of Point Pleasant dated August 2010.

What I find most interesting is that Vernon Pack found his grave in Indiana.

The Findagrave website has photos of his tombstone, and someone posted his last will and testament on the site.
Click the link:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gs&