JULY - DECEMBER 1994 VOL 10 NO 3 & 4

Governor Harvey did not give up easily. He returned to England and made an appeal to King Charles, who reinstated him as Governor. Harvey returned to Virginia in 1637, but his victory was short-lived, for his second governership lasted only 18 months.

During his brief second term, Harvey resumed his activities in expansionism. Additionally he initiated improvements to the town of Jamestown. He began making plans for erection of a brick church and a brick statehouse, which were to be the most impressive buildings on the America continent. But Harvey and his cohorts continued their autocratic ways and their quarrels with the colonials.

Your editors, being of the line of Oney S. Hervey of Bolivar, TN were delighted to find the family cemetery where Oney is buried. The story of the search and find was reported in the HFoA Bulletin in Vol. 9, No. 3-4.

Don, Joyce and Lois Hervey returned to the site in 1994 with the idea of buying the land and having the graveyard restored. The owners of the land, Granville Howell and his son, were cordial but not interested in selling a small plot of land with no access from a road. However, they did suggest that they would be willing to allow restoration of the graveyard, including fencing an area not to exceed one acre. The son's wife even suggested a local representative and friend of her father-in-law who could manage the restoration, a real estate agent, Don Henry.

The site of the graves was completely shaded by hardwoods and grown up with vines to the point that it took both luck and perseverance to find it initially. It still took some perseverance even when its location was known from a prior visit. Only two graves were discernible when the graveyard was found in 1993 and the same two graves were all that were found initially in 1994.

Four graves had been recorded in the Bolivar Library records. Hopes were that the other two graves could be found and identified during restoration of the graveyard. These hopes were exceeded. The four recorded graves were found:

In addition another grave was found:

Furthermore, judging from the sunken area beside the presumed grave of Temperance, there may be another unmarked grave.

One thing seems peculiar. The grave of Willoughby D. Simmons is somewhat removed from the other graves which are clustered together. Perhaps there are other, undetected, unmarked graves or perhaps it was just that he was purposefully buried away from the immediate vicinity of the Hervey graves.

The cost for this restoration (in progress at this writing) will exceed $3000. It is being funded by HFoA. If any would care to contribute to the restoration, contributions can be made to HFoA.

An order permitting to trade for corn with those in the Bay of Chesapeake was dated 22 Nov. 1626, to the governor, for Thomas Harvey, et. al.

A Thomas Harvey, taylor, of James City, leased 50 acres near the "Swan Howse creeke neare unto Chickahominy, April 12, 1633. [VA. Mag. Hist. & Biogr., V. II, p. 311 (136), year ending June 1895.]

Thomas Harvey arrived in Virginia accompanying Ambrose Cobbs, "who on July 25, 1639, patented 250 acres upon the Appomattox River for the importation of himself, Anne his wife, Margaret his daughter, Robert his son, Richard Barker, Hugh Barker, Thomas Harvey. From the records of York County he appears to have had two other sons: Ambrose, Thomas, which last died in 1702 without issue." [William & Mary College Quarterly Hist. Mag., Vol. XIX, No. 1, July 1910, p. 51.]

A patent was issued to a Thomas Harvey on July 3, 1640 for 950 acres in James City, known as "Harvey's Neck." [VA. Mag. Hist. & Biogr., V. XIV, p. 194.]

An Act of the Virginia General Assembly of Jan. 6, 1639 stated: "Due to the excess of tobacco in storage it was decided to limit production for two years. Those chosen to be men of experience and integrity for the careful viewing of each man's crop of toba., the viewers for this year being nominated and appointed." Those appointed for James City County were: "For Thos. Harvies, Pasby Haies, the Main and James City, Mr. Robt. Hutchinson, Edward Olliver, Christopher Lawson." Thomas Harvey must have grown considerable tobacco. [William & Mary College Quarterly Hist. Mag., 2nd Series V. 4, 1924, pages 16, 21-22.] This same event was recorded more clearly in VA. Mag. Hist. & Biogr., V. V, No. 4, Apr. 1898, p. 119-120: "Viewers of Tobacco Crop., 1639, ... there be yearly chosen and appointed Men of Experience and in dignity for the Carefull viewing of each Man's crop of tobacco. The Viewers of this year being Nominated and appointed by the Assembly are as follows (viz):" ... "James City County. For Thos. Harvie's, Pasty Haico, the Maine, and James City. (Capt. Pierce to administer the oath): Mr. Robert Huchinson, Edward Olliver, Christopher Lawson."

A letter from the Governor and Council of Virginia concerning Captain Mathews, dated 3 March 1638/9, naming Thomas Harvey is quoted in VA. Mag. Hist. & Biogr., V. XI, No. 2, Oct. 1903: "Right Honorable: Wee have received your Honors' Letters of the 25th of July last on the behalfe of Captaine Samuell Mathews ... It may therefore appear ... with what fallacye and cunning the sayd Captaine Mathewes has framed his complaint ... exhibiting the greate injury done him by the Governor, in seazing his Estate and making havock thereof upon unjust pretences by converting part of it to his own use, and disposing of the rest to others; when no conversion had then bene made or at any tyme since of the smallest valeiu to mee, the Governor, or disposition thereof except, as is before rehersed to the sayd Thomas Harvey, which was ordered back, and to Woodall by warrant as aforesaid."

Decisions of the General Court of 1640 included: "Wheras it appeareth to the court that Morris Harvey (sic) standeth indebted unto John White, by specialty in the quality of 773 pounds of tobacco, the court hath therefore ordered that the said Thos Harvey shall forthwith satisfy unto the said White, or his assigns, two-thirds of the said debt according to the late act in that case provided, otherwise Ex'n." [VA. Mag. Hist. & Biogr., V. V No. 4, p. 361, 362, Apr. 1893].

Northumberland County Court Orders [Duvall, Item 22] showed a Tho. Harvey placing his mark as a witness (along with Rowland Lawson) to a Power of Attorney given to Wm. Underwood by Simon Overzee of Linhaven merchant to collect debts in Rappahannock. Power of Attorney was dated 16 Feb. 1655/6 and recorded 12 June 1656.

A Thomas Harvey, age 40 years in 1659 was named in an abstract of Depositions found in Books A, B, C. and D (1637-1665) of Norfolk County Clerk's Office. [William & Mary College Quarterly Hist. Mag.,V. XXV, p. 36, 1917.]

A William Harvey of Whitehall, Isle of Wight was an Overseer, and he also witnessed a Will for William Filleter of Southampton on 15 Dec. 1657, which was proved 23 Feb. 1658/9. [VA. Mag. Hist. & Biogr., V. XVII, No. 1 , Jan. 1909.]

At a meeting of the Surry County Justices of the Peace, on Xber 19, 1687, in accord with an order that "the Collonells & Justices" of every county report "the ablest Freeholders and Inhabitants" who maintained "a Man & Horse" or per ffoot, a Wm Harvey was reported along with 261 others as "For Foot." [William & Mary College Quarterly Hist. Mag., XI, p. 81, 1903].

Marriage licenses granted in Elizabeth City County from a record book dated 1689-1699 showed "Lycense granted to Thomas Harvie & ye wido Hendrick acct given ye Sherr, returned to October Genll Court xber ye 2nd 96" [William & Mary College Quarterly Hist. Mag., V. II No. 3, Jan. 1894].

Marlene Wolverton is a resident of Houston, Texas, and is a fellow member of the Houston Genealogical Forum. In preparing the following article on her Harvey ancestor, Marlene wrote us the following letter:

RICHARD RILEY ARTHUR McFARLAND HARVEY

Richard Riley Arthur McFarland Harvey was born March 1843 in Scotland. He had a twin sister, whose name is uncertain -- could be "Liza", "Ellen", or "Ellender".

According to Melvin, their Uncle John Liston raised the twins until they were about 10 when they went back to their parents. The story goes that some time later Richard was scuffling with his sister and knocked her down. As punishment, he was sent to school. While at school, he ran into his Uncle John and told him about the punishment, whereupon Uncle John took him away from school and onto his ship (he was a ship's captain) and kept him for a year before taking him back to his parents.

Richard went to sea [with his uncle?]. Upon arriving at a port on the East Coast of the United States, he decided to jump ship rather than go on (he didn't like where the ship was headed). He immediately joined the United States Navy (July 1, 1862) under the name of "James Dix" (presumably to keep from being sent back to his ship).

He served on the Gunboat Genessee, part of the time in the Alabama area. He was discharged in Philadelphia 9 August 1865.

Richard married Nancy Ann Roland Ballance 16 July 1874 in Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas. They had four children, William Puckett who died as a baby, John Hodges Liston, born 19 July 1879 [this birth date, 19 July 1879, is the one shown on John's marriage license and in the family Bible. However, the pension application filed by Richard showed that he had a son, John, born 19 July 1877. It is believed that 1879 is the correct date.], Arky Margret, born 29 November 1880, and Allie Luella, born 19 August 1882. All four children were born in Cabin Creek, Johnson County, Arkansas.

The story goes that about the time of the birth of the first child, William Puckett, Richard was in a fight. He hit a man over the head and knocked him down. Thinking that he had killed the man, Richard ran off to the Indian Territory to escape the law. It isn't known how long he was gone, but when he came back the baby, William Puckett, was dead.

According to his Navy medical record, Richard was subject to "febris intermittens" [intermittent fever], chills and catarrhs. Sometime between 1882 and 1888 he decided to move his family out of the lowlands around Cabin Creek up into the mountains of Newton County, first to Boxley and then to Ryker.

Richard became a Justice of the Peace and according to the book Newton County, Arkansas Marriages, 1887-1983, Books C & D, he married couples in the Boxley area.

Richard's father was a stone mason, and apparently developed health problems due to his trade. The father, mother, and their daughter traveled "for his health" and came to Arkansas to visit Richard and his family. While in Arkansas, the father died and, according to family stories, is buried at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. The mother and sister returned to Scotland. As far as is known, the sister never married.

Richard died on 8 September 1901. His widow, Nancy, lived at Ryker with her brother, Richard Ballance, until she died 3 September 1924. From the time she became a widow until her death, she wore nothing but black.

Cathy Hervey Thomson of Pueblo, Colorado, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 1994. She was 38. She was a member of New Life Bible Church and worked in the medical profession for 18 years.

Survivors include her mother, Margaret Wilder; her father, Robert Hervey, and his wife, Charlotte; one daughter, Ashlee; one sister, Teri Hemphill, and her husband, Gary; one niece, Amy Rudder; her grandmother, Edna Ray of Firestone; and numerous step-sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Service of Remembrance was held. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Roselawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ashlee Thomson Trust Fund in care of Colorado National Bank in Pueblo. T. G. McCarthy Funeral Home Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

  The State of Tennessee is an important one in the history of the Hervey/Harvey family's westward migration. Prior to 1800 there was not much settlement by Anglo Americans in Tennessee, largely because of the several hostile Indian tribes which inhabited the territory, but also because of the difficulty of getting there. The Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the border between western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, was a natural impediment to settlers who wanted to move westward from the Carolinas, so the early families to enter Tennessee came from the north through Virginia and occupied the northern and eastern part of the state. It is, therefore, no surprise to us that the earliest records of our Hervey/Harvey family appeared in those parts of the state.

The earliest settlers moving into what is now Tennessee actually considered themselves to be in the state of Virginia, since the state of Tennessee did not become part of the United States until 1796.

Some of the key counties to which the Hervey/Harveys went in the early 1800's were Knox, Roane, and Montgomery. Later, by the 1820's, the counties of Dickson, Hardeman, and Fayette contained members of clan.

For a number of years, Don and I have collected extensive files of data on the Hervey family. In doing so, we have copied Harvey records as well, even if we were unable to identify a connection between the Harveys and our Hervey family. Then a short while ago we discovered a whole branch of the family, many still located in Tennessee, who still use the Harvey spelling of the name. Since then, we have treated the two names, Hervey and Harvey, as essentially the same name in our research.

To begin organization of our extensive files, we have established a computer data base index of many of the vital records, census records, tax, court, probate, and deed records that we have collected. We began this process with the State of Tennessee, since that is a key state in searching for descendants of our Halifax, North Carolina ancestors. Most of the descendants of the old Halifax progenitor, Col. Thomas Hervey and his cousin, William Hervey, at some point in time, passed through Tennessee.

In establishing the data base, we decided to use a standard spelling of the name for all surnames. Since the name Harvey is much more frequently encountered than Hervey, we chose to use the Harvey spelling of the name. However, so as not to lose accuracy, all records that we encountered which were spelled differently (and there were many) such as Harvy, Hervey, Herver, Henvey, Henry, Harvel, were entered into the data base in parenthesis following the standard spelling of Harvey. By handling the data base in this fashion, alphabetizing became much simpler. Quite often, the same individual may be found during the same time frame in the same county with his/her name spelled three or four different ways.

Although the data base contains extensive data from only those six counties listed previously, some of the records we included in the data base are state-wide, such as census indexes (1810-1880).

The data base contains over 2000 entries, and has been divided into the following subject areas:

GRAND JUNCTION - Services for Ossie Bell Harvey, 99, will be at 1 p.m. today at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Harvey, a homemaker, died Tuesday afternoon at Bolivar Community Hospital [Note: Bolivar is in Hardeman County, near where the Hervey/Harvey reunion will be held in Jun 1995.].

She was married to the late Greek Harvey. They had 10 children, Louise Mosley of Grand Junction, Ervin Harvey of Memphis, Ozell Pope of Chicago, Ruth Bell Ingram of Moss Point, Miss., and six deceased, whose names were unavailable. She also had a stepson, Sam Harvey Jr. of Grand Junction.

She had a sister, Mary Woody Anderson of Grand Junction.