Van Bibber Pioneers Electronic Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 12 · October 1997
Van Bibber Pioneers Electronic Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 12 · October 1997
Greetings from the editor:
The Van Bibber Pioneers electronic newsletter is one year old with the publication of this edition. I am amazed how we have grown and more amazed at the growth of the web site. We have had more than twelve hundred visitors to the site since the sixth of August this year and we now have seventy-nine links to various sites, mainly sites with Van Bibber or Van Bebber connections. If you haven't visited the site lately, you will be in for a treat at some of the links.
We now have one hundred and seventeen subscribers.
The editor reserves the right to edit any contribution.
CONTENTS:
New Members
Ancestors Of The Van Bibber And Op Den Graff Family
Van Bibber Reunion
Death Certificate of Harding Van Bibber
Boone Reunion
Bounds Family
George Yoakum
Correction To The Draper Manuscripts Article In Issue 11
Draper Manuscript S09
Van Bibber And Chew Family
Records of Pastoral Acts of the Muddy Creek Church, East Cocalico Twp., Lancaster Co., PA
Advertisement By Hendrick Van Bebber
Queries
NEW MEMBERS
Ava Gunn - [email protected]
Gay & Tim Wall - [email protected]
Matthew Lee Kincaid - [email protected]
Ann Hill - [email protected]
Evelyn Pfingston Dismore - [email protected]
Jakie and Teresa Vanbebber - [email protected]
Lori Hogan - [email protected]
Daniel E. Carr - [email protected]
Carolyn Wickens - [email protected]
Betty Valance - [email protected]
Tom Edmondson - [email protected]
David Wayne Van Bibber - [email protected]
RENWAL
Richard Flanery - [email protected]
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Carolyn Switzer - [email protected]
Chuck Schafer - [email protected]
ANCESTORS OF THE VAN BIBBER AND OP DEN GRAFF FAMILY
By Anna Lutz - [email protected]
Hi all VanBebber Cousins,
Today I received my Krefeld Immigrants & Their Descendants, published by Links Genealogy Publications, Iris C. Jones, Editor. If you receive this publication, look on page 56 & 57. Chart C. OPDENGRAFF, TAFEL 38. The Elder, Hermen Op de Graff Van De Aldekirk (1585-1642), and his wife Greitgen Pletges de Kempen, and their children.
Chart D. p 57, OPDEGRAFF-VANBEBBER, Tafel 122, The Scheuten Manuscript
with INCOMPLETE DATA. Child #8. Hester OPDENGRAFF (1609-1643)
Daughter of Hermen & Greitges OPDENGRAFF married Isaac VANBEBBER.
Both the Krefeld Copy and the Weirhof Copy of Tafel 122, OMITTED
the Name Isaac VANBEBBER, so the name of the father appears to
be Isaac OPDENGRAFF (1616-1679), who is really the maternal uncle
of the VANBEBBER Children.
#9. Jacob Isaacs VANBEBBER born (c1630), son of Hester
OPDEGRAFF (1609-1643, above). In Tafel 122, he is father of two
(named) children Matthias & Hester.
Anna Lutz
VAN BIBBER REUNION
By Bruce Logan - [email protected]
On the sixteenth of September of this year, a mini- reunion of the descendants of James Van Bibber, of Greenup Co., KY and Kalkaska, MI was held at the home of Dorothy (Colley) Brown in South Shore, Greenup County, KY. For the first time in sixty-two years, cousins who had lost contact with each other because of distance and time shared memories of days gone by.
The catalyst for this reunion was this newsletter and your editor was privileged to attend the get together and meet these fine people. I was the most distant cousin in attendance and by the end of the evening second and third cousins made their appearance to meet the visitors from the Detroit area.
Attending the mini-reunion from Detroit were Donald James and Albert Eugene Van Bibber, sons of Albert James Van Bibber and grandsons of James and Margaret (Webb) Van Bibber. Attending from Greenup Co., KY were Dorothy (Colley) Brown, daughter of Edward and Mary (Van Bibber) Colley, and granddaughter of James and Margaret (Webb) Van Bibber, Hazel (Van Bibber) Trimble, daughter of Morton and Avis (English) Van Bibber, and great granddaughter of James and Sarah (Bradburn) Van Bibber and her husband, Neville Trimble Sr., Irene (Colley) Taulbee, sister of Dorothy Brown, and her daughter, Penny Ruggles of Franklin Furnace, OH , Jean Murphy, daughter of Carl Van Bibber, and great granddaughter of James and Sarah (Bradburn) Van Bibber, and Bruce E. Logan Jr., great grandson of Rebecca (Van Bibber) Smith.
Bruce Logan
DEATH CERTIFICATE OF HARDING VAN BIBBER
By Darrell L. Smith - [email protected]
State of Ohio - Bureau of Vital Statistics - Certificate of Death
Certificate Number: 61162
Volume Number: 1780
Registration District Number: 644
Primary Registration District Number: 8268
Registered Number: 84
01. Place of Death:
County of Jackson
City of Wellston
No. 1420 South Ohio Ave - 4 Ward
02. Full Name: Harding Vanbibber
03. Sex: Male
04. Color or Race: White
05. Marriage Status: Widowed
06. Date of Birth: 22 Apr 1842
07. Age: 73 yrs, 6 mo, 19 days
08. Occupation: Miner
09. Birthplace: KY
10. Name of Father: Ezekial Vanbibber
11. Birthplace Father: KY
12. Maiden Name of Mother: Evaline Rice
13. Birthplace Mother: KY
14. Informant: Geo Vanbibber of Wellston
15. Filed: 15 Nov 1915
by L?.W?. Rader, Registrar
16. Date of Death: 11 Nov 1915 - 6 AM
Doctors Comments
17. Cause of Death: Cancer of Stomach - Duration 2 years
Contributory: -
18. Length of Residence: -
19. Place of Burial: Ridgewood
Date of Burial: 14 Nov 1915
Undertaker: A.D. Goddard? of Wellston, OH
Darrell L. Smith
BOONE REUNION
By Pete Holste - [email protected] (Non-member)
Boone Family Reunion: June 1998. Related families and non-cousin friends are invited!
The dates for the second biennial Boone Family Reunion have been set: June 17-20, 1998. A large gathering of descendants of the Boone and related families, genealogists and historians, is expected for the event. It will convene at the lovely Campbell House Inn just five minutes south of downtown Lexington, Ky. near the University of Kentucky campus. Lexington, as you know, is virtually synonymous with the Boone family. We will tour historic Boone locations and Society members and other professionals will lead roundtable discussions during the reunion.
The Boone Society is an association of descendants, genealogists and historians -- it is open to all -- who enjoy studying the lives and times of this remarkable family. Work is underway to constitute the Society as a non-profit organization. The Boone Society was formed as a reference service for researchers, a conduit for genealogists, clearing-house for bibliographical works, and to host the biennial reunion.
One of the principal goals of the Society is to identify Boone-related documents and artifacts, and preserve them, where possible. With so much of America's history being covered over by amusement parks and fast-food restaurants, this is not an easy task, but one well worth pursuing.
There is a substantial wealth of information available about the colonial and revolutionary periods in which the Boones made their mark. The Society enables researchers to identify relevant reference material, or establish family links, as the case may be, while sifting fact from fancy. Our growing bibliography of genealogical documentation is helpful to those seeking lineage information.
Two years ago we held our first "Boone Family Reunion" in St. Louis, where Daniel Boone spent the final 20 years of his life. It was a huge success. Attendees approved formalizing the Society and making the reunion made a permanent event.
All members may take part in the general election of Boone Society officers and directors for the 1998-2000 term. Ballots will be mailed around March, and the election will conclude at the June reunion.
If you haven't yet requested membership information from The Boone
Society, and would like to receive the member discount for reunion
registration, please send a SASE to:
The Boone Society
23 Nord Circle Road
North Oaks, MN 55127
Or, you may simply send a dues check made out to the society, and the member acknowledgement will be sent back promptly.
Membership categories and dues: Individual $12, Family (children to age 21) $18, Explorer (a sustaining category) $36, and Life $150.
Advertisers and sponsors are encouraged to contact the Society. Proceeds from advertising in our newsletter and reunion publications will go toward supporting our educational and preservation objectives, and toward underwriting a portion of the reunion expenses. We encourage innovative, cooperative ideas from advertisers.
The Campbell House Inn has its own 18-hole golf course for the enjoyment of Boone reunion attendees and their families. With sponsorship, we will conduct a Boone Cup tourney (what would Daniel Boone have thought of that?)
Best regards from The Boone Society. - * - * -
Pete Holste, Co-chairman
BOUNDS FAMILY
By Myron Bound - [email protected] - and the Bounds List
Here is a direct descendant chart of the Bounds to Hooper connection.
In 1614 a John Bownd, age 20, sailed from London aboard the ship Hopewell bound for the Barbadoes. Around 1660-65 land records in Northumberland County VA reflect a John Bounds Jr. About 1670-72, a John Bounds, wife Ann Hiam(Hyam) and son William left Northumberland County VA and went to Wicomico County Md. This is where the Bounds history in America begins although I have references to other Boundses living in Delaware, Virginia, and or elsewhere in Maryland at about the same time. The records of the births, deaths, & marriages of the Bounds family may be found in the Green Hill Church, officially St. Bartholomew's, which still stands on the bank of the Nanticoke River.
In 1692, John Bound was among the ones appointed to "laying out and dividing ye county into parishes". John Bound was chosen as vestryman for Stepney Parish and the Stepney Parish Church was built in 1698 and was replaced in 1735 by the Green Hill Church.
1- John Bounds born (England??) died 1700, at his Tipiqueen plantation, in what was then part of Somerset County and now part of Wicomico County.
m Ann Hiam (Hyam) b?? died 07 Aug 1677, at Tipiqueen plantation.
Children:
1. William Bounds b before 1672 in VA died intestate 18 Sep 1713 at his estate Pembridge, Somerset (now Wicomico)MD
2. JOHN BOUNDS Jr. born 1672/7 in Maryland died by 14 Mar 1721 at his estate Bounds Square, Dorchester Co MD
3. James Bounds born 1675 in Maryland died 1720/21 at his estate, Fairfield or Yearsland, Somerset County MD
4. Ann Bounds, born ?? married a Lawrence Young, died by 1723 in Somerset County MD
2- John Bounds Jr. was a planter and lived in Dorchester Co Md. he
married a Rebecca_____. She remarried to a Charles Hopkins following the
death of John Jr.
Children:1. JAMES BOUNDS born c 1696 John Bounds born c 1701 was a planter in Dorcester Co MD and married Susan Records and died by 1755; one son Levin
2. George Bounds born c1708 planter in Dorchester Co Md. Married Mary Claywell of Accomac Co VA. they had three daughters, Sinah, Ellinor(Nelly) & Sarah
Sarah Bounds born bet 1701 & 1707 in Somerset Co MD married first George Dakes(Dykes, Deaks),second John Gunby and died in 1788. there was one son by George Dakes and ten children by John Gunby.
3- James Bounds born by 1696 married Ann Dicks (Dykes) by 1721 and emigrated from MD to the Shenandoah valley of VA and in 1754 was Constable of Bedford County, VA thence they moved to Anson County , North Carolina, He died by 1775 and was buried on his own plantation there.
Children:
1. John Bownds born 1730-1740 in MD married Mary_____ died between 1800-1805 in Rockingham, Richmond Co NC. Five Children James, Martha, Nancy, Jane, Hannah.
2. James Bounds Jr. born about 1720 in MD First married Rebecca Rousom, second Elizabeth Phillips. He died after 1810 near Rockingham, Richmond Co NC. Thirteen children: Stephen, Jesse, William, George, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Rebecca, Nicey, Jennie, Elizabeth, Nancy & Mary
3. Jesse Bounds born circa 1730/35 in MD
4. Mager Bounds (Major, Marguery?) born 1740 in MD married Peter Van Beber died in 1844 at age 104 in Green County, MO. Ten children
5. Jane Bounds born 10 Oct 1738 in Maryland married John Cole 22 Sept. 1753 died before 1802
6. Elenor Bownds (Nelly) born ?? married Captain Stephen Cole (cousin of the John Cole above) died ?? Four children
4- Jesse Bownds- born c 1730-1735 in MD. married Nancy Ann_____. Migrated from VA to Anson Co NC back to VA to Washington & Greene counties of NC which were part of the "Lost State of Franklin" and which eventually became part of Tennessee. He died in Knoxville, Knox Co TN in 1804
Children:
1. Thomas Bounds born c1765/70. Married Margaret Armstrong on 3 Aug 1787. The lived near Knoxville in White County He was a Justice and County Treasurer
for many years. He died bet 24 Jul 1833 and16 Sep 1833. Nine Children. John Bird, Jesse Armstrong, William C, Mary (Polly),Nancy, Margaret, Martha, Amanda, & Elizabeth.
2. John Bounds born c1756 in VA. A Captain of Militia in Washington Co NC (later TN) He was paid for Rev War service along with brothers James & Joseph. Married Misinia Wilson. died after 1840. Five children: John Jr., William, James, Isaac, & Jesse.
3. JOSEPH BOUNDS born c 1758 in NC Jesse Bounds Jr. born 1767-69 in NC married Cassandra _____, died 1847 in Scott County VA formerly part of Washington, Co NC and the "Lost State of Franklin". Seven Children: Obediah, John W., Isaac, Polly, Cynthia, Elizabeth, & Hannah
4. Francis Bird Bounds born 1775 in VA. married Amy White and died Nov 1860. He was a farmer. Six children: Francis H, John W, Washington William, Elizabeth, Louisa, & Ellin.
5. Obediah Bounds born c1865-69. married Agnes (called Nancy)and died after 1812 in Wayne Co Ms. Two children. Addison & John Eleanor Bounds born ?? married Aaron Treadaway by 1797.
6. Nancy Ann born after 1770 married Isaac Clark 6 Aug 1794, Knox Co TN
7. Elizabeth Bounds born?? married John Terry by 1797 who died in White Co TN in 1834.
5- Joseph Bounds- born c 1758 in NC. served with his brothers James & John in Rev War action by the Washington County Militia (NC). married Mary Bird of VA by 1784. He died after 1830 in Wayne County MS. Seven children:
1. Jesse Bounds born 1785 in NC. Married Letitia Skinner 10 June 1810. died 1868 in Fayette Co., TN. Eleven Children: Sterling, Clares dau.)Eleanor, Elizabeth, Uale Joe ,Sarah Ann, Andrew Jackson, Joseph Dee, Mary Ann, & Lessia Letitia??)
2. Joseph Bounds Jr. born 1789 in TN. married Margaret Peggy)Mabry 29 July 1810 in Christian Co KY. Died in Trigg County KY after 1850. Eight Children: Jesse, Thomas M, Elizabeth, Joel, Starling, Martha, Francis & Elender (dau.)
3. Sterling Bounds born 1792 in NC he married Martha (Patsy) Whitney on 12 Apr 1813 in Christian Co. Ky. Died after 1850 in Marshall Co MS. Three children: Obadiah, Jesse, & George W.
4. Obediah Bounds born 1793 in NC. Rosamond Bounds (dau of William Bounds (see son of James 3d gen.). Probably died in Itawaba Co. MS around 1835-36. Two children: Hannah & George5. Francis Bird Bounds born 20 Feb 1797.
6. Thomas Bounds born 4 Nov 1801 Christian Co KY married first Sarah Allen. Two children. Married second Margaret Price Floyd, widow of Samuel Floyd. Seven children. Francis G., Thomas J. - Mary, Thaddeus S, Albina S. Matamoras (Ann), Marquis Lafayette(Marcus), Milton Fairchild, Ludovico Downer (LD), John Price7. Elizabeth Bounds born 1798. married Robert Coleman, 13 Dec. 1822 in Marengo Co AL.
6- Francis Bird Bounds born 20 Feb 1797 in NC. Married Mary(Polly) Whitney 1 Aug 1817. They emigrated to Panola County TX about 1844-46. Some of the children settled about 20-25 miles south in Shelby County TX. He was a farmer. He died 25 Jan 1865. Ten children: 1. Altasarah Bounds born 24 May 1818 in TN. married John Jefferson Hooper and emigrated to Shelby Co TX.
2. Julia Bounds born 10 July 1820 in TN. Married William Poor, died 30 Dec 1849. One child: Mary F.
2. Laura Ann Bounds born 15 Apr 1822 in TN married Benjamin Franklin Hooper (brother of John Jefferson Hooper above) emigrated to Shelby County, c 1844-46.
3. Mary Bounds born 26 Jun 1824 in TN married Charles W Rich 04 Dec 1844. died 22 Feb 1849.
Francis Bird Bounds Jr. (AKA Franklin B. Bounds)born 1829 in TN. In Shelby County TX married 10 Oct. 1849 Sarah Elizabeth (Emma) Beard b c1828, AL and died in childbirth in 1855. He died in 1858 of unknown cause. Four Children. Merrell , Kaufman Caufman) Marion, Julia Mary, Francis Bird (3rd)
4. Thomas R. Bounds born 21 April 1829 married Mary Carroll of MS in Shreveport LA. died 28 Jan1865 in, Shelby Co TX. Seven children, Lafayette Bibb, Susan, Jane, F. H(dau), Martha Lou, Tom & Alice.
5. Stacy Bounds born 26 April 1831 married William Grisham.
6. John Jefferson Bounds born 17 Oct 1835, Harriet Audrey (Hardna, Hardenia, etc) born 1 Mar. 1840, married first Marshall McMillan. Children: Second married William Grisham widower of sister Stacy (above) no children
7. Pascal Lafayette Bounds born 21 March 1833 Married Mary Beard
of GA, died ?? Five Children: Nuton (Newton), Levy, Thomas, George,
James (listed as Tobe in census.
Myron Bounds and the Bounds List
GEORGE YOAKUM
By Steve Smith - [email protected]
YOAKUM, George, I. Of Powell Valley - Identification
VAN BEBBER, Martha "Patty/Patsy" - Wife of George YOAKUM,
I.
YOAKUM, Valentine "Felty" - Father of George YOAKUM
YOAKUM, Matthias - Grandfather of George YOAKUM
Lineage:
Matthias YOAKUM ( - ca 1783), wife Eleanor SEE/SEA
Valentine "Felty" YOAKUM ( - July 15, 1763)
Elizabeth YOAKUM ( ca 1752 - ) & John SHOEMAKER
George YOAKUM, I. (1755-1800) & Martha VAN BEBBER
1. Isaac YOAKUM and Mary DAVIS
2. Peter YOAKUM and Sarah STINNETT
3. John YOAKUM and Rachel WEAVER
4. George YOAKUM, II, and Mary Ann MADDY
5. Valentine "Felty" YOAKUM, and Charlotte REYNOLDS
6. Jesse YOAKUM and Anna BERRY
7. Margaret YOAKUM and ________ CONDRA/CONDREY
8. Nancy YOAKUM and (?David BATTERTON?)
9. Robert YOAKUM and Parkey BERRY
10. William YOAKUM and 1.Sarah SIMMONS, 2. Letitia RICE/HENDERSON
11. James YOAKUM and Julia OWENS
12. Matthias YOAKUM and Elizabeth McHENRY.
Sarah YOAKUM (ca 1760- ) & Peter VAN BIBBER, III
----------
Peter VAN BIBBER, I. (1695- ) and Ann
Isaac VAN BIBBER, I., and Sarah DAVIS
Martha VAN BEBBER and George YOAKUM, I.
Peter VAN BIBBER, II., and Margery BOUNDS
Peter VAN BIBBER, III., and Sarah YOAKUM
----------
The YOAKUM Family of Powell Valley
By Steve Smith, 213 Reagan Street, Cumberland Gap, TN 37724
This account is written in attempt to record and clarify the names of the parents, spouse and children of George YOAKUM, I., of Powell Valley, Tennessee and Virginia. Being obsessively interested in the history of this family and noting the mistakes of earlier researchers, I have spent much time in documenting all the following arguments concerning this early Powell Valley Settler.
I took interest in this family during an effort to establish the descendants of Isaac VAN BEBBER and Sarah DAVIS, so actually this began as a VAN BEBBER Family research project, and that research would not be complete without strong mention of the YOAKUM family.
One of the oldest files I acquired on the YOAKUM family is taken from the Franklin YOAKUM Bible and Henderson King YOAKUM Bible. Because of the widespread distribution of these records and the fact that they have been published in genealogy books, and quoted by many other researchers, these records have been most fully accepted by all researchers of the YOAKUM family.
These records have always been valued possessions in my files and, although I suspected some mistakes, I considered them to be minor for many years. It was not until I went from a collector of YOAKUM records to a researcher of YOAKUM records that I began finding unmistakable errors. The investigation of these records has led to many other important facts on this interesting early pioneer family of CLAIBORNE County, Tennessee. Many thanks given to all those who exchanged information and helped in finding research for this family; especially Earl W. QUINTRELL of Winchester, TN.
The Franklin YOAKUM Bible record gives a brief history of the name YOAKUM and the origin of the name in the United States. Some statements I can neither accept nor deny, as they have been beyond the scope of the research. The last part of the record states: "The given names of the YOAKUM's in the City of New York are not known, but Valentine, a son of one of them, moved to South Potomac on Potomac on Peach Creek.
After he married, Valentine YAKUM (1721), youngest of seven sons, moved to Muddy Creek, Greenbrier County, Virginia, and settled YOAKUM Station (1771). He was there tomahawked by the Shawnee Indians. With him were his wife and children - all killed but young George, who was swift of foot and of great strength, killing three Indians with a frying pan handle, which he jerked from one as he passed through. He was afterwards in the Battle of Point Pleasant. At 25 years of age he married the daughter of Isaac VAN BIBBER, who fell in that battle. George YOAKUM, I., continued to live at Muddy Creek, Virginia, until he became father of three sons, the youngest of whom was George II, when they moved to Powell's Valley. (This was written by Franklin YOAKUM (born 1819), son of George YOAKUM and Mary Ann MADDY, and given to him to him by his father, George YOAKUM I - now the property of Chas. H. YOAKUM of Los Angeles, California.)"
This is the extent of the published record of Franklin YOAKUM's Bible. If the Bible contained more information on other members of the family, it is not make known in the source of this information. The year of this writing is unknown to this researcher.
The record of Henderson YOAKUM's Bible Record begins as follows:
"George YOAKUM, II, born July 30, 1783, in County of Greenbrier,
Virginia, died March 31, 1841, at
Madisonville, Tennessee; married Mary Ann MADDY, May 27, 1809,
at YOAKUM's Station, CLAIBORNE County, Tennessee; she was born
November 25, 1792, died April 27, 1848. My Grandfather, George
YOAKUM I, with the VAN BEBBER's, his brothers-in-law, established
that
station about 1790. George YOAKUM I, was killed in a bear hunt
in the Cumberland Mountains. He was buried near the station.
My father and Mother (George YOAKUM II and Mary Ann MADDY) are buried in Madisonville, Tennessee, MONROE County, in Churchyard of Methodist Church.
Martha Aurelia YOAKUM born October 9, 1827, in Madisonville, Tenn.; married James Askew WRIGHT, May 25, 1848. Martha died Aug 19, 1852, in Sweetwater, Tenn., and is buried beside her parents, George II. and Mary Ann YOAKUM.
George YOAKUM of YOAKUM's Station in Powell's Valley, Tenn., built
a fort fourteen miles of Cumberland Gap and named it YOAKUM's
Fort. He married Margaret VAN BIBBER and had seven children:
Isaac YOAKUM; married ____________ DAVIS.
Peter YOAKUM; married Sally STINNIT, of Powell's Valley
Feltz (Felty) YOAKUM; married Sally REYNOLDS, of West Illinois.
Robert YOAKUM; married _____________ BERRY, of Tennessee.
Margaret YOAKUM (called Peggy); married ____________ CONDRA, of
Powell's Valley.
Nancy YOAKUM; married ____________.
George II, born July 30, 1783; married Mary Ann MADDY in 1807.
. . ."
The Remainder of the Bible record goes on to give good chronological
date information on the children of George YOAKUM II and Mary
Ann MADDY. It is evident by dates given in the Bible entries
that someone other than Henderson YOAKUM, who died in 1856 in
Texas, wrote some of the information given in this record. In
fact, in the listing of the children of George YOAUM, II, the
death date given for Franklin YOAKUM was 1891, which means that
probably
all the information given on these children was entered by someone
many years after the death of Henderson YOAKUM, who is referred
to by some as the Texas Historian, and, I'm sure, appreciated
accuracy in his notes. .Some information was probably written
over one hundred years after the Muddy Creek Massacre. This researcher
strongly believes that if Henderson YOAKUM had been the penman
of the above list of children of George YOAKUM, there would have
been a more complete listing of spouses than that given.
In the Felix ROGERS Cemetery in Speedwell, CLAIBORNE County, Tennessee,
we
find the tombstones of George YOAKUM and Margaret YOAKUM. This
researcher has visited this cemetery and has photos of the stones.
George YOAKUM has two stones, the old original stone and the newer
D.A.R. monument. The oldest stone reads: In memory of Georg Yoakum
who departed this life the 28th of October 1800 aged
45 years & 8 mo. The newer DAR marker for George reads:
GEORGE YOCAAM Virginia PVT Capt. Ray's Co. Lincoln Mil. Revolutionary
War Jan 15, 1758 Oct 28, 1800
Beside George's new DAR marker is another DAR marker for one Margaret
VAN BEBBER YOAKUM. This person is identified as of Aug 25, 1997
by this researcher. Many researchers and descendants of George
YOAKUM have been led to believe that she was the wife of George
YOAKUM, I. Research has proven this to be incorrect. The DAR
marker for Margaret reads: MARGRET VAN BEBBER YOAKUM 1754 - 1794.
In review of the Bible record above, one would naturally be led
to believe that Margaret VAN BEBBER YOAKUM was the wife of George
YOAKUM. Not only have I found this to be incorrect information,
but also the Bible records contain many other mistakes. The two
rocks for George contain conflicting
dates of birth. The older rock, which I personally prefer to use,
gives his date of birth, by mathematical deduction, as about February,
1755. Where did the information from the DAR rock come from. This
researcher has never been able to determine the source of the
information, but we shall discuss this in further detail later
on in this account.
Now let me back up a bit to some VAN BEBBER information. It is
well documented
by this researcher that Isaac VAN BIBBER, I., the son of Peter
VAN BIBBER, I., and Ann _____, was mortally wounded in the Battle
of Point Pleasant on Oct.10, 1774 at Point Pleasant, Virginia
(now MASON County, WV).
His widow, Sarah DAVIS/VAN BEBBER, stated in GREENBRIER County
Court that
she was the widow of Isaac and that she had seven children. In
a letter written by Isaac VAN BIBBER, III., the son of Isaac VAN
BIBBER, II., and grandson of Isaac VAN BIBBER, I., we can identify
six of these children: Nancy, Patty, and Peter, the oldest children;
and John, James, and Isaac; being the youngest children. These
names all have been well documented by this
researcher. In fact, of the six listed here, all lived together
throughout most of their lives except young Isaac, II., who went
to Missouri with members of the BOONE family. Isaac VAN BIBBER,
III., further goes on to state in his letter that one of these
daughters married a man by the surname of HOWARD and that he died
in Powell Valley. Later deduction has proven this
daughter to be Nancy and her husband by process of elimination
most definitely has to be Robert HOWARD. This letter written by
Isaac VAN BIBBER, III., to Lyman DRAPER and found in the DRAPER
MSS clearly shows six of the seven children of Isaac and Sarah.
Who was the seventh child?
In the records of GREENBRIER County for the County Court held
in March 1786,
we find where Peter VAN BEBBER is appointed guardian to Matthew,
John, Nancy, James, and Isaac VAN BEBBER. This researcher is of
strong opinion that the above lists concerns Peter VAN BEBBER,
the son of Isaac VAN BEBBER and Sarah DAVIS; and that he was the
older brother of the other listed children shown. Patty VAN BEBBER
is not shown on the list. We will show later that she is not on
the list because in 1786 she was already married and probably
was not a minor at this date. Now, was Matthew VAN BEBBER the
seventh child of Isaac and Sarah? This document seems to be strong
enough evidence to suggest it to this researcher. What happened
to Matthew VAN BEBBER later? Only further research will show the
answer to this, maybe?
The above guardianship seems to be in preparation for the move
of these children to WASHINGTON County, Virginia. RUSSELL County
was formed in 1786 and the first court held in May, 1786. On the
second day of the first court held, John VAN BEBBER was made Lieutenant
of the County Militia of RUSSELL County. This means they must
have left GREENBRIER County for WASHINGTON County between March
and May of 1786. They settled on the Powell River in Powell Valley
near present day DRYDEN. Records suggest that both the YOAKUM
family and the VAN BEBBER family held land there; yet only deeds
of
the sales of the YOAKUM land can be found today.
The Powell River begins its journey in WISE County, near the town of Norton and has cut its way through the Big Stone Gap and then entering the Powell Valley here winds its way slowly through LEE County toward the state of Tennessee.
Entering Tennessee it is separated from the main floor of Powell Valley by the dividing ridge as it flows through CLAIBORNE and CAMPBELL County and merges with the Clinch River near Norris, Tennessee. Yoakum Station Voting district in LEE County pays tribute to the fort that was built there in the 1780's by George YOAKUM and the VAN BEBBER brothers.
Marriage records of the Reverend John ALDERSON show that Peter
VAN BEBBER
(called Peter VAN BEBBER, Sr.), the son of Isaac VAN BIBBER,
I., and Sarah DAVIS, married his first cousin, Eleanor VAN BIBBER,
the daughter of Peter VAN BIBBER, II., and Margery BOUNDS. Peter
VAN BIBBER, II., was a younger brother of Isaac VAN BIBBER, I.,
both being children of Peter VAN BIBBER, I., and his wife, Ann.
Of the seven children that we have named; viz: Peter, Patty, Nancy, Matthew, John, James, and Isaac; it can be documented that at least five of them came to Powell Valley in 1786. It is not known if Isaac and Matthew came or stayed behind with their mother, Sarah, who had remarried at this time to a man by the name of William GRIFFEY. Court records of CLAIBORNE County suggest that at a later date William GRIFFEY also came to CLAIBORNE County.
Of these seven children, it appears that two were married in 1786 at the time of their move; viz: Peter md. Eleanor VAN BIBBER, and Martha or Patty md. George YOAKUM, I.
After John VAN BEBBER is found in Court records of RUSSELL County
in May 1786,
the families of VAN BEBBER, YOAKUM, and HOWARD can be found continuously
after that date in the County of RUSSELL until LEE County was
formed. These families are found on the petition to form LEE County.
Their reason given for forming LEE, among other reasons, was its
distance to the RUSSELL County Courthouse. They can be found on
various records in RUSSELL and LEE County until 1796. Therefore;
there presence of being in LEE County did
not mean that they had moved, but rather that a new County had
been formed and they fell into the borders of that new county
of LEE. Tradition states that YOAKUM Station was a site of Court
meetings in the early formation period of LEE County.
Exactly what year did these families move from LEE County, Virginia to the state of Tennessee? It seems obvious from the records of LEE County that they did not build the YOAKUM Station fort in Tennessee in 1790. According to tax records of RUSSELL and LEE County, Virginia, the VAN BEBBER's, YOAKUM's, and HOWARD's paid taxes in Virginia until 1796. John VAN BEBBER did not pay taxes there that year. Could he have moved to Tennessee that year?
The records needed to show this may have been destroyed in HAWKINS County, TN, during the Civil War period.
At any rate, we know that they were here in Powell Valley, CLAIBORNE
County, TN
by statehood as it seems apparent with the records we have in
GRAINGER County, Tennessee, which was formed with statehood. Tennessee
became the 16th state on June 1, 1796 and GAINGER County held
its first court on June 13, 1796. At the second Court session
held, on September 12, 1796, the GRAINGER County Court ordered
a review of a road to be built from HOLSTON River to YOKHAM's
Station in Powell Valley. The HOLSTON River cuts through the
HOLSTON Valley and runs close by Rutledge, where the county seat
of GRAINGER is located. George YOAKUM and John VAN BEBBER were
later appointed members of the committee to review this road survey
and report back to the court. From this date and until their deaths,
these two men may be documented as citizens of Powell Valley in
that part that later became Speedwell, CLAIBORNE County, TN.
In LEE County, VA, there are four deeds remaining there concerning
land sold
by George YOAKUM and his wife, Patty. It is documented that
Patty is a nickname for Martha.
June 13, 1796: George YOKUM and Patty, his wife, of LEE County,
Virginia, sell to Joseph SPENCER of LEE County, 300 acres of land
on the south side of Powell River, a part of a larger tract granted
to Thomas CAMPBELL bearing date March 20th, 1785. The land
lies between WALLEN's Ridge and the POWELL River and contained
a "Mill built by G.Y."
Sep 11, 1798: George YOKUM and Patsy, his wife, of HAWKINS County, Tennessee sell to Enos SOUTHERLAND of LEE County, Virginia, 52 acres of land on the South side of POWELL River containing the Rocky Spring and adjacent to land owned by VAN BEBBER.
Sep 11, 1798: George YOCKUM and Paty, his wife of HAWKINS County, Tennessee to Carr BAILEY of LEE County Virginia 131 acres of land on both sides of the Powell River containing "YOCUM's Old Station".
Sep 11, 1798: George YOCUM and Paty, his wife of HAWKINS County, Tennessee sell to James HOOF (HUFF) of LEE County, Virginia, 100 acres on the South Side of the Powell River, and adjoining the river.
It seems possible that the first sale of land was in preparation of their moving to Tennessee. The other three sales, all conducted on the same day over two years later, were made after the YOAKUM family moved to Tennessee and although the deeds state they were citizens of HAWKINS County, it is very apparent they were actually in GRAINGER County in that part that was formed from HAWKINS County in 1796.
These deeds unquestionably state that the George YOAKUM that lived in LEE County and owned the "Old" YOAKUM Station was married to someone named Patty or Patsy, and not Margaret. Patty and Patsy are nicknames for Martha. Peggy is the nickname for Margaret. It is important to note the word "old" in relation to YOAKUM's Station as they were identifying and separating it from the newer YOAKUM Station that had been built in GRAINGER County.
Research has shown that there was only one George YOAKUM in this
time period. Now,
the Patty YOAKUM mentioned in Isaac VAN BIBBER, Is letter was
the Patty shown on these four deeds, she being the daughter of
Isaac VAN BIBBER, I., that married George YOAKUM. Isaac VAN BIBBER,
I, did not have a daughter named Margaret. Now who is the Margaret
YOAKUM shown to be buried beside George YOAKUM in the Felix ROGERS
Cemetery in Speedwell, Tennessee?
George YOAKUM died on Oct 28, 1800 intestate in GRAINGER County,
Tennessee. Not having a will the court must appoint someone to
administer his estate. The widow in such cases usually was given
the option to administer estates of deceased husbands, if she
was able to do so. On May 18, 1801, the GRAINGER County Court
"Ordered that Martha YOKUM & Isaac YOKUM have the right
of Administration on the Estate of George YOKUM Deceased who --
Gave John VAN BEBBER & Robert HOWARD their Securities accordingly."
In trying to
identify this Martha, later researchers suggested that this was
the wife of Isaac, the oldest son of George and Margaret. The
YOAKUM Bible did not identify the name of Isaac's wife; only that
she was a DAVIS. She was then named as being Martha DAVIS. Research
has shown that the wife of Isaac was not Martha DAVIS, but Mary
DAVIS, the daughter of Aaron and Rachel DAVIS, of Powell Valley.
Claiborne County Deed Book K, Pages 458-459 reads: "This
indenture made the 26th day of August in the year of our Lord
Eighteen hundred and thirty-four between, Isaac YOAKUM and his
wife Mary YOAKUM and Thomas DAVIS, heirs of Aaron DAVIS Deceased
of the one part and Harmon DAVIS one of the heirs of the said
Deceased
of the other part all of the county of CLAIBORNE and state of
Tennessee, Witnesseth that the said Isaac YOAKUM and his wife
Mary YOAKUM and Thomas DAVIS for and in Consideration of sixty
dollars to them paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged
hath and by these presents doth grand bargain sell convey &
confirm unto the heirs of the said Harmon DAVIS and his heirs
and assigns forever a Certain tract of land situate on Lot D of
Henderson & Cos. grant in Powels Valley being part of the
tract which Aaron DAVIS Deceased lived and died on . . ."
Now, let's back up a minute. We have established there was only one George YOAKUM, and that he married Martha "Patty" VAN BEBBER, the daughter of Isaac VAN BIBBER, I, and Sarah DAVIS. But who were the parents of George, and who was Margaret? The Franklin YOAKUM Bible tells us George was the son of Valentine YOAKUM, killed at the massacre of Muddy Creek in 1771. Was there documentation in Virginia concerning this massacre? A search of the records for that time period revealed nothing. However, Order Book 8, for AUGUSTA County records, March 21, 1764 shows that Charles LYNCH qualified as administrator of Valentine YOAKUM and Frederick SEA. Was the Franklin YOAKUM Bible in error on the date of the massacre? Was this the same Valentine YOAKUM? My research has given me a Yes to both these questions. Further research of the Muddy Creek area shows positively there was a massacre in the area in July, 1763. Of the families involved, and it seems there were many, it seems that three influential men of the community were scalped: Archibald CLENDENIN, Frederick SEA, and "Felty" YOAKUM. These names are given in historical accounts from several reliable sources taken shortly after the incident. In searching AUGUSTA County records CLENDENIN and SEA estate settlements are found. Where was Felty's estate settlement? Who was this Valentine YOAKUM that is always found in the records with Frederick SEA?
The answer came in a study of the name Valentine. My theory to
prove was that
Valentine and Felty were one and the same person. Documentation
of the name Valentine by studying countless examples has shown
that Valentine is the formal name for the informal "Felty".
There are no books that I have found to suggest this, but overwhelming
evidence found in the records of the time period, with Valentine
being a common name then, and apparently a foreign
language translation or some sort, yields the nickname Felty.
Therefore, we now have historical account both in writings of
the period and court records showing that the Muddy Creek massacre
took place in 1763, rather than 1771.
Felty being the nickname of Valentine shed new light to other
questions we had on the family. Since former researchers were
treating Valentine and Felty as two distinct individuals, and
now knowing they were the same man, helped identify the father
of Valentine. It was common knowledge that Matthias YOAKUM was
the father of Felty. His will in LINCOLN County,
Kentucky in 1783 proved this. Matthias wife is identified in
this will as Eleanor. She is, by tradition, supposed to have been
the sister of Frederick SEA, killed in the massacre. Whether she
was the mother of Valentine is not clear at this time by this
researcher. Matthias' last will and
testament, written Jan 29, 1780 in BOTETOURT County, Virginia,
names his son, Felty, and suggests he is deceased. In the will
he states: "and to my son Felty YOAKUM's oldest son, George,
his heir, I give and bequeath one dollar." Matthias' will
only names his wife, Eleanor; his sons, Felty and young George;
and Felty's oldest son, George. It is apparent that he had a much
larger family and many went to Kentucky with him about 1780.
It is interesting to note that in Matthias' will, George is named
as Felty's oldest son, suggesting there were other sons unknown
at this time. What records are there supporting other children
of Valentine. It has been stated by other researchers that George
had two sisters; Elizabeth and Sarah. Whether there has been found
any record that openly states this has
yet to be seen by me. However, there is good circumstantial evidence
now found in the Indian prisoners list made by Colonel Henry BOUQUET
when he made arrangement with the Shawnee and Delaware Indians
to set free roughly some 200 prisoners in late 1764 and early
1765. In treaty with the Indians at Fort PITT, BOUQUET demanded
the safe and speedy release of the prisoners that been held hostage
since several Indian raids of the area.
It is very interesting to note those taken from the Green Bryer
Company communities in 1763. There were several different lists
and release dates of these prisoners. In one list, called List
D and dated November 30, 1764, we find the names of 13 males and
33 females. It is common knowledge that during the Indian massacres
most men were killed, while women and children
were taken prisoner unless there is some reason given to kill
them. Most of the males on this list were young minors. This list
contains the name Geo.YOKEHAM and Margar't YOKEHAM. Who is the
Margaret YOAKUM? No age is given for her. Could she be the wife
of the deceased Valentine? Could she be the person buried beside
George YOAKUM in the Felix ROGERS Cemetery?
It is an interesting theory and one which could be very possible. Researchers of the SEA family suggest she is Margaret SEA/YOAKUM, the widow of "Felty" YOAKUM, and sister of Frederick SEA, but they give no source for this information. Margaret YOKEHAM can also be found on LIST E of these lists of prisoners, as several prisoners can be seen named twice in these lists of prisoners.
List F, dated March 4, 1765, gives us the name of Elizabeth YOAKIM,
12 years old, and taken prisoner July 1763 from Green Bryar in
AUGUSTA County. List G, dated May 12, 1765, gives us the name
of Sally YOKIM, 5 years old, taken prisoner from Green Bryar Virginia
and held captive for two years. This researcher strongly believes
that these two females are the children of Valentine "Felty"
YOAKUM. Elizabeth YOAKUM was married to John SHOEMAKER by Rev.
John ALDERSON, Jr., on August 13, 1782 in GREENBRIER County. Sally,
or Sarah, YOAUM was married to Peter VAN BIBBER, III, son of Peter
VAN BIBBER, II., and Margery BOUNDS, by Rev. John ALDERSON, Jr.,
on July 22, 1785 in GREENBRIER County. Peter VAN BIBBER, III.,
was a first cousin of Martha "Patty" VAN BEBBER. Peter
VAN BIBBER, III, was at the Battle of Point Pleasant and enlisted
on as a Revolutionary War Soldier. He was living in Ripley County,
Indiana when he applied for his Pension for services
in this war.
Other names on these lists that are associated with the YOAKUM family history are: Michael SEE, George SEE, Mary SEE, Catherine SEE, John SEA, Peggy SEA, Sarah SEA, and Jean CLENDINNON. Testimony given by Jean CLENDENIN later shows that she was the only surviving child of Archibald CLENDENIN. The widow was taken prisoner and escaped during the journey back to the Indian villages.
Since we find George YOAKUM on the list of Indian captives, we know that he could not have made the brilliant escape described in the Franklin YOAKUM Bible. If the tombstone dates are correct, George would have been born in 1755, making him about age 8 when he was captured in 1763. Therefore, he would have been too young to escape from the Indians in the manner described.
Apparently the family of Matthias YOAKUM, Sr., was not attacked or he was not living in the Muddy Creek area at this time. Conrad YOAKUM, a younger brother of Valentine, was at the CLENDENIN home when they were massacred and was the only one to get away during all the excitement of the massacre. He was able to ride ahead and warn many of the other settlers before the Indians reached their homes.
Matthias YOAKUM, Sr., had many children. One son, Matthias YOAKUM,
Jr., had a
daughter named Amelia "Milly" YOAKUM. She married General
James RAY about 1781
in Kentucky. In those days there had to be county militias, made
up of the young men of the county, for Indian defense. The county
militias were also important during the Revolutionary War time
period. In trying to explain the D.A.R. marker placed at George
YOAKUM's grave I have a
theory.
I suspect that one of the grandsons of Matthias YOAKUM, Sr., by the name of George "YOCAAM", living in LINCOLN County, Kentucky, may have served under General RAY during this time period. Matthias YOAKUM had several grandsons by this name. It is possible that this same General James RAY was a Captain of the LINCOLN County Militia while he lived there in this time frame.
I suspect that someone has confused the County Militia record
for this George YOCAAM" to be the record of the Powell Valley
George YOAKUM. This my explain the statement of him serving as
a Private in Captain RAY's Company; LINCOLN Mil. LINCOLN Mil may
have been shortened for LINCOLN County Militia? This is the only
theory I have at this time concerning this matter. In studying
the life of George YOAKUM, I., of Powell Valley, this researcher
has not found any record of him fighting as a Revolutionary War
Soldier under Captain James RAY. His military experience seems
to be his involvement at Point Pleasant in 1774, his acting as
an Indian Scout in the GREENBRIER County Militia, and his involvement
in County
Militias at RUSSELL County, VA., LEE County, VA., and GRAINGER
County, Tennessee. I
do not show him ever living in LINCOLN County, Kentucky.
We have now identified the wife and parents of George YOAKUM.
We also know the
grandfather of George. Now let's look at the list of children
we have listed as children of George and Martha. The Henderson
YOAKUM Bible lists seven children, Viz:
1. Isaac YOAKUM, md. __________ DAVIS.
2. Peter YOAKUM md. Sarah STINIT, of Powell's
3. George YOAKUM (Jul 30, 1783-Mar 31, 1841) md. Mary Ann MADDY on May 27, 1809 at YOAKUM's Station, Powell's Valley, Tennessee.
4. Felty YOAKUM, md. Sally REYNOLDS, of West Illinois
5. Robert YOAKUM, md. __________BERRY, of Tennessee
6. Margaret "Peggy" YOAKUM, md. _________CONDRA, of Powell's Valley.
7. Nancy YOAKUM, married ____________________.
In researching the families of CLAIBORNE County, other YOAKUM
names began
to appear in the county records. The question then arose as to
what their relation was to George YOAKUM, I. Common in early court
records not named in the above list were John YOAKUM, Valentine
YOAKUM, and Jesse YOAKUM. At this time I did not know that Valentine
and Felty were the same person.
Research on Valentine YOAKUM of Powell Valley has shown that his
wife was
Charlotte REYNOLDS, and not Sarah REYNOLDS as suggested by the
Bible. Charlotte was in CLAIBORNE County before she married Valentine
and if she was from Western Illinois, it is not known. Given the
dates involved, it is not believed she was from Illinois, however
it is possible they may have lived there temporarily before they
moved to ROANE County, Tennessee during the 1820's, where it is
documented that Valentine died before the 1830 census, leaving
his widow Charlotte with a large family in the 1830 ROANE County
census. She is shown to be living next door to Peter YOAKUM, a
brother of Valentine, in this census. With the new information
we have concerning the name Valentine, we now know that he was
the Felty YOAKUM mentioned in Henderson YOAKUM's record, and not
to be confused as a second person.
In a letter written by George M. YOAKUM in 1907 to P. G. FULKERSON, an attorney, in Tazewell, TN., the identity of Jesse YOAKUM is given as another son of George, I. Although the author of this letter does not remember the names of George and Martha, he does remember the names of five of their sons. The letter reads:
"I am the son of Aaron YOAKUM and the grandson of Isaac YOAKUM. I am now 60 years of age. I do not remember the name of my great grandfather. The names of my grandfather and his brothers were: Isaac, George, Jesse, Robert, and Felt. George left Powell's Valley and went to Tazewell. Jesse sold out and went to Missouri. Felt to some point in Middle Tennessee and I do not know what afterward became of him. The YOAKUM's here are descendants of Robert and Isaac, those of Texas of George and those of Missouri of Jesse. The home of Jesse can still be seen in Missouri. My brother was there and went to the old home. It is my impression that the descendants of Felt also went West. I have never met or herd of them in Tennessee. My grandfather and his brothers owned jointly several thousand acres of land in Powell's Valley around YOAKUM's Station. The old block house was located 14 miles southwest of Cumberland Gap on the farm now owned by the RUSSELL Brothers, signs of which can yet be seen. Near it is an old graveyard. My grandfather Isaac died about 55 years ago. I know that he was over 80 at the time of his death. The land they owned was part of the old HENDERSON Co. grant."
Considering the time frame of George YOAKUM's writing this letter
and the time
these events happened, this is a fair source to document the
names of these brothers and what happened to them. Since he was
born in about 1847, he would have been ten years old when his
grandfather, Isaac YOAKUM, Sr., died in 1857. The downside is
that in 1847 when he was born most of the YOAKUM brothers had
scattered their different directions and so therefore most
of what he would have known would have been from family members
telling him of his uncles and their places of residence. Also,
he did not mention anything about his great grandparents; George
YOAKUM, I., and Martha VAN BEBBER, as he did not remember and/or
no one had told him about their lives.
On the other side of the argument, this letter confirms again
the list of names in the Henderson YOAKUM Bible and also gives
us the name of Jesse YOAKUM as a son. Jesse can be seen in the
early court records of CLAIBORNE County and was believed to be
a son of George and Martha, and this letter confirms those beliefs.
Also, the fact that Felty went to live at some
point in Middle Tennessee can be confirmed with the records of
ROANE County in the late 1820's and the 1830 census, where both
Valentine and Peter can be found.
The Claiborne County Court records confirm the fact that George YOAKUM, Jr., went to Tazewell to live and we also know that he later went to MONROE County and living near by where Valentine and Peter were living in ROANE County. Descendants of Jesse YOAKUM can be found in Missouri today and anyone studying the YOAKUM's in CLAIBORNE County today will know that they do descend from Isaac YOAKUM and younger brother Robert YOAKUM.
Now, let's back up a long minute again to study Martha VAN BEBBER/YOAKUM,
and the Margaret YOAKUM found in the Felix ROGERS' Cemetery. There
is no information in any of the records of the Powell Valley period
that show the name Margaret YOAKUM. The only records found showing
the name Martha YOAKUM after the death of George YOAKUM in 1800
are the ones in Grainger County previously mentioned naming her
and her son, Isaac YOAKUM, as administrators of George YOAKUM,
deceased; and then one other record found in the Claiborne County
Court Minutes for the June 1803 court involving Martha and Isaac
YOAKUM in a legal suit against Arthur MARKUM and George HOVER
(HOOVER). This suit, no doubt, had something to do with the estate
of George YOAKUM, deceased.
With what I had to go on in the record books it seemed that Martha
disappeared after this June 1803 record. I had guessed her to
be deceased shortly after this. The first break in her whereabouts
came from researcher Anna LUTZ of Dunbar, WV when she found the
record of a "Power of Attorney" given by George YOAKUM,
II. (Jr.), of CLAIBORNE County, to James JARRETT, of GREENBRIER
County, VA., and recorded in GREENBRIER County Court Records on
Oct. 25, 1808. In this record, George YOAKUM gave Power of Attorney
to James
JARRET for authority to proceed in recovering or inquiring into
the dower rights of Martha YOAKUM concerning a tract of land on
Muddy Creek, GREENBRIER County, VA. This tract contained 500 acres.
George claimed his right to Power of Attorney was given to him
by Martha YOAKUM on Oct 15, 1808 to receive or to act in her behalf
in inquiring about her dower to this
land. For Martha to have a dower claim this meant that her husband,
George, must have owned or inherited the land. Martha, according
to law, could receive one third of the land George YOAKUM owned
upon his death. Whether Martha actually did receive this dower
is not clear in the records of GREENBRIER County at this time,
but the fact that she was alive in 1808 gave
me hope of finding more information out about her.
More information concerning Martha came to me next from my good
friend Earl
QUINTRELL. In a biography book, "HISTORY of the EARLY SETTLERS
of SANGAMON
COUNTY, ILLINOIS", by John Carroll POWER, Springfield, Illinois,
1876, Earl found three biographical sketches on telling about
William, James, and Matthias YOAKUM. The book explains that these
three brothers went to Illinois with their mother in 1810 from
CLAIBORNE County, Tennessee. Their father had died after moving
to CLAIBORNE County from Virginia. Although the book did not call
Martha by name, we can be sure from other documentation that this
book identifies three more children of George and Martha YOAKUM,
and also tell us that Martha YOAKUM did not die in Tennessee,
but rather in the SANGAMON County area of Illinois, sometime after
1819. After finding this information a renewed sense of hope arouse
in me that there was more information concerning this family yet
to be found. The following information was taken from this book:
"William YOAKUM was born in 1791 in Virginia, and when he
was an infant his parents moved to CLAIBORNE County, Tennessee,
where his father died. His mother moved her family, about 1810,
to MADISON County, near Edwardsville, Illinois. They moved next
to MONTGOMERY County, and then to SANGAMON County, arriving June
10, 1819, at the north side of Richland Creek, in what is now
Salisbury Township. William YOAKUM was married in 1821 to Sarah
SIMMONS. They had eight children . . . . Mrs. Sarah YOAKUM died
in 1863, and William YOAKUM was married January, 1868, to Mrs.
Letitia HENDERSON, whose
maiden name was RICE, and lives near Salisbury, Illinois. The
mother of William, James and Matthias YOAKUM died in Salisbury
Township. Matthias YOAKUM, brother to William and James YOAKUM,
was born either in Virginia or CLAIBORNE County, Tennessee, came
to SANGAMON County, Illinois in 1819. He married Elizabeth McHENRY,
and had eight children . . . Matthias YOAKUM died August 27,
1857, and his widow lives in MENARD County, Illinois . . 1874.
James YOAKUM, brother to William and Matthias, was born in
Virginia or CLAIBORNE County, Tennessee, and came with his mother
to SANGAMON County. He married Julia OWENS, land had eleven children
in MENARD County, Illinois. . . . James YOAKUM died in MENARD
County, Illinois."
Now the thing that I needed to prove at this time was that the parents of William, James, and Matthias was George YOAKUM, I., and Martha "Patty/Patsy" VAN BEBBER. In a requisition to the Illinois Archives for help, I received the following census information for the year 1818, in BOND County, Illinois:
House 174
James YOKEM, 2 males 21 yrs or older, 5 other white inhabitants.
House 175
Martha YOKEM, 1 male 21 yrs or older, 6 other white inhabitants.
House 176
John YOKEM, 1 male 21 yrs or older, 8 other white inhabitants.
For MADISON County, Illinois I found the following:
House 430
Peter YOAKUM, 1 male 21 yrs or older, 3 other white inhabitants.
These families in BOND County are shown to be living close or
beside each other
in the census order. An investigation shows that this area of
BOND County was later in MONTGOMERY County, Illinois. John YOAKUM
is shown in other records to have settled in MONTGOMERY County.
Research on this John YOAKUM shows that he married Rachel WEAVER
before leaving Tennessee and some children were born in Tennessee
before leaving for Illinois. He is known to have lived his life
in the MONTGOMERY County, Illinois area and can be found in the
various records of that county. Although I do not have a document
spelling out word by word that this John is the son of George
and Martha YOAKUM, I have no doubt that this is the case here.
The circumstantial evidence here is so strong that little doubt
could be raised concerning his identification.
The Peter YOAKUM shown above could also very well be the son of
George and
Martha. If so, it is known that he did not live there long before
returning back to Tennessee and he can be found in the 1830 census
of ROANE County, Tennessee living beside the widow of his brother,
Valentine "Felty" YOAKUM. It is possible that Valentine
YOAKUM is also in the 1817 Census of BOND County and living with
either James YOAKUM or Martha YOAKUM. At any rate, they did move
back to Tennessee, possibly after the death of their mother.
Was this Martha YOAKUM indeed the same Martha YOAKUM that was
the widow of
George YOAKUM, I? This researcher has no doubt that she was
indeed the very one. In further documentation I received two biographies
from Mrs. Ruby VENGLARCIK, taken from the Fort Wayne, Indiana
library. They contained the record we seek in showing this. In
the book she found there, "Past and Present of SANGAMON County",
the biographical sketches of two grandchildren of George and Martha
can be found. These biographies read in part:
Page 257 and 258:
George H. YOAKUM-- George H. YOAKUM... was born in this county,
June 27, 1829, a son of William and Sarah (SIMMONS) YOAKUM. The
father was born in GREENBRIER County, Virginia, in 1789, and was
a son of George YOAKUM, who was of German parentage. The latter
removed with his family to Tennessee when William was a child
and in that state resided until his death. His wife survived
him and reared her family, caring for them as best she could and
making for them the sacrifices that only a mother can. In 1810
she removed to Illinois, locating in MADISON County. Subsequently,
however, she removed to MONTGOMERY County and in 1819 she came
to what is now Salisbury township, SANGAMON County...... William
YOAKUM accompanied his mother on her various removals and with
her came to SANGAMON County. Here he was married in 1821 to Sarah
SIMMONS, who was born and reared in Kentucky..... He passed away
in 1880 at the advanced age of ninety-one years and his wife died
on the 5th of December, 1865.... Pages 493 and 494 show the following
sketch on Thomas C. YOAKUM:
Thomas C. YOAKUM-- . . . Mr. YOAKUM of this review, was born in
MENARD County, Illinois, August 14, 1840, and now lives in Salisbury
township, SANGAMON County, his home being on section 29... he
is a son of Matthias YOAKUM, a native of Tennessee, born in 1798.
The grandfather, George YOAKUM, removed with his family from
Virginia to Tennessee, where he spent his remaining days. His
widow afterward came to Illinois with her family, arriving in
this state in 1810. She settled in SANGAMON County, but afterward
established her home in MENARD County. Matthias YOAKUM was reared
to manhood in MENARD County, and after attaining his majority
he wedded Miss Elizabeth McHENRY, a native of Virginia, who came
to Illinois with her parents, who first located in the southern
part of this state but subsequently settled in MENARD County.
At the time of his marriage Mr. YOAKUM took his bride to a farm
in that county and continued its cultivation until his death in
1855...(NOTE: SANGAMON County was not formed until 1821 from MADISON
and BOND Counties.)
In researching the area of SANGAMON County, this researcher is well aware that several years after the YOAKUM family of East Tennessee settled in Illinois, members of the YOCUM family of Kentucky also settled there. With the YOCUM's being cousins of this family, the YOAKUM researchers must be careful not to mix up these two families because of the repetition of the same family names used over and over in all the different branches of the family. The YOCUM family descends from members of the Matthias YOAKUM, Sr., family that went to Kentucky in the time period about the middle of the Revolutionary War, when Kentucky was still a part of the state of Virginia.
Matthias YOAKUM was the grandfather of George YOAKUM, I., of Powell
Valley.
This Matthias YOAKUM, Sr., also had sons named Matthias and George,
besides the
Valentine YOAKUM we previously discussed.
As far as which children went to Illinois and how long they stayed
there is still uncertain by this researcher at this time. It appears
that several could have visited there or perhaps lived there for
short periods of time, even if they did not stay permanent. Another
possible child identified in Illinois is Nancy YOAKUM. The Henderson
YOAKUM Bible stated that there was
a daughter named Nancy. One possibility of her identity in Illinois
is the Nancy YOAKUM that married David BATTERTON. Nancy's brother,
James YOAKUM, had a son named William YOAKUM that is known to
have married Pricilla YOAKUM. She is buried in the old BATTERTON
Cemetery with David BATTERTON. It is highly possible that this
is the same David BATTERTON that married Nancy YOAKUM. Nancy's
grave marker is not found, however, she most likely is buried
there. The marker for David BATTERTON reads 44y 1m 19d
- December 24, 1840; which means David was born Nov 5, 1796.
David's age would be close to the estimated age of Nancy.
In review of the children of George YOAKUM and Martha VAN BEBBER,
I feel comfortable in stating the following list as their children,
but would not say that at this time this is all their children.
Further research on these families will reveal more truth and
good information to be written in the history of this fascinating
pioneer family:
1. Isaac YOAKUM (1778-1857) md. Mary DAVIS, daughter of Aaron
DAVIS and wife, Rachel, of Powell Valley.
2. John YOAKUM (ca1781-1848) md. Rachel WEAVER, daughter of Samuel WEAVER of Powell Valley.
3. Peter YOAKUM, (ca1781- ) md. Sarah STINNET of Powell Valley.
4. George YOAKUM, II., (1783-1841)md. Mary Ann MADDY, daughter of William MADDY and Elizabeth MANN.
5. Valentine "Felty" YOAKUM (ca 1785- ) md. Charlotte "Lottie" REYNOLDS.
6. Jesse YOAKUM (ca 1787- ) md. Anna BERRY, daughter of Thomas BERRY of Powell Valley.
7. Robert YOAKUM (ca 1789-1824) md. Parkey BERRY, daughter of Thomas BERRY of Powell Valley.
8. William YOAKUM (ca 1789-1880) md.1. Sarah "Sally" SIMMONS; md.2. Mrs. Letitia RICE/HENDERSON.
9. Margaret YOAKUM (ca 1791- ) md. _______ CONDREY/CONDRA (possibly Dennis?), of Powell Valley.
10. James YOAKUM (ca 1793- ) md. Julia OWENS.
11. Nancy YOAKUM (ca 1796- ) md. ? (possibly David BATTERTON)
12. Matthias YOAKUM (ca 1800-1857) md. Elizabeth McHENRY.
This researcher will not say at this time that list is complete,
as there may be others not known at this time. Hopefully, further
research may answer more of these questions. However complete
this list of children is, I feel it is a good foundation for further
research that may be done to identity more of the descendants
of George YOAKUM, I., and Martha VAN BEBBER. It
would be interesting to know the exact identity of the spouses
for Matthias YOAKUM and Valentine YOAKUM, and to know if the Margaret
YOAKUM lying beside George YOAKUM is his mother! Every effort
has been made by this researcher to show an accurate account of
this family. I sincerely hope this may help others in their quest
to find their connection into this family.
Indeed, this has been a labor of love and I have had a most enjoyable time in finding this information.
----------------
gss - Sep 22, 1997
Please do not print without permission. Thanks.
Steve Smith
CORRECTION TO THE DRAPER MANUSCRIPS ARTICLE IN ISSUE 11
From: Dick Walker - [email protected]
I would like to correct an error I made in my article on the Draper Manuscripts. In the paragraph that begins as follows:
"First, read through Harper's Guide to locate the sections you want to access. The indexing is not great but is certainly better than nothing. Many names are not overlooked ..."
The third sentence should read: "Many names are overlooked ..." A minor error that just changed the meaning of the entire sentence. Sorry about that.
To illustrate the point, I have taken the liberty of copying from Harper's "Guide to the Draper Manuscripts" the two sections which I sent to you, S6 and S9. They are contained on pages 84-86.
Page 84-85: "6S
Notes, primarily of interviews, recorded in 1851 in Missouri. The bulk of the information was obtained in extensive interviews (pp. 18-194) in October and November with Daniel Boone's son Nathan and the latter's wife, Olive Van Bibber Boone. Although their discussion centered about the life, adventures, and personality of Daniel Boone, there is also biographical material on Simon Kenton and Lewis Wetzel; genealogical data on the Boone, Bryan, Callaway, and Van Bibber families; and numerous references to Nathan Boone's own career, particularly his military service in the War of 1812 in Missouri and the upper Mississippi Valley. A very few other papers-letters to Draper, copies of articles, and newspaper clippings--are found preceding
and following the interview notes. At the beginning of the notebook Draper prepared a detailed name index with chronological entries under each name."
Page 85-86: "9S
Mainly interview notes recorded in 1860 in Ohio. Discussed were frontier events from about 1764 to 1794, in most of which Samuel Brady or Lewis Wetzel was involved. Among the varied topics are Dunmore's War (1774) ; the battle of Monmouth (1778) ; Indian captivities of Mrs. Glass, John Grist, Richard Tilton, Jacob and Joseph Van Bibber,. and Mrs. Lawrence Van
Buskirk; Thomas Edgington's illness from rattlesnake bite; the Beaver Block House campaign (1791) and the dress, customs, and activities of spies. In addition to genealogical data pertaining to the families of John Cuppy, Thomas Dickerson, Silas Hedges, and Henry Jolly, there are biographical references and allusions, often brief, to several dozen other scouts and pioneers associated or contemporary with Brady and Wetzel. Also found are excerpts and notes from a manuscript autobiography by Benjamin Van Cleve, data from a scrapbook kept by John W. Van Cleve, portions of songs commemorating William Crawford's campaign (1782) and an exploit by Samuel Brady. A few copies of other newspaper and manuscript articles are Interspersed among the interviews"
As can be seen, the excerpting of names is very basic. Compare
the referenced names to those in the articles published. It is
clear that many names were not included in the brief descriptions
of each section.
Dick Walker
DRAPER MANUSCRIPT S09
By Dick Walker - [email protected]
Draper Manuscripts, Vol. S9, LDS Microfilm Roll 0889195Page 92:John
Miller was commissary at Point Pleasant for several years, and
had much to do in that line - keeping hunters out killing buffalo
deer, etc. He lived at Point Pleasant when my informant was born
there in 1797, but soon moved to mouth of Wyandott, and lived
there 10 or 12 years, and then moved to Greenup Co., KY, on East
Fork of Little Sandy, about 16 miles about south of Greensborough
and there died about 1837, aged about 75 years. He was a great
hunter - he was in his younger days about 5 feet 10 inches - and
weighed about 160 - but in his old age reached 230 pounds.
Page 92 93:
Jacob Van Bibber, with his brother Tice, after a bear that had been killed, and had the bear on the horse returning home, and were way laid by three Indians - shot and wounded Tice across the forehead, and knocked him down senseless, and while chasing Jacob and captured him threw the bear off the horse, and went off - Tice meanwhile recovered from the stunning effect of
his wound, got up and got behind a tree, and could have shot and
killed one of the Indians, but refrained from doing so, lest they
should kill his captured brother. He was kept eleven months,
when he escaped, and after 7 days struck the Ohio at Belleville
- and happened to be a canoe on the river with several persons
in it, men, women, and he hailed them telling them who he was
- and though some of them knew of his captivity, at the dread
of a decoy, led the women to be timid - yet at length, they went
over, and took him to Belleville - and thence got home. He married
Sarah Miller, daughter of the preceding John Miller - and moved
several years after the War of 1812 to the region where the Boones
lived in Missouri - probably Loutre Lick. Lived several years
in Greenup Co., KY and went out from there to relief at Ft. Hays.
Page 93:
Joseph Van Bibber, a brother of Jacob, was taken prisoner - taken
to Canada, and kept 3 years, when Tice Van Bibber went and got
him. Didn't live long after his return.
Page 93 94:
Jacob Van Bibber used to relate to my informants, that the Indians soon after they took him to their towns, concluded to try his disposition and test it - and sent him with a kettle to the spring for some water, and when he returned with it filled, they would throw it out, and send him again - and that kept him going returning, only to have the water thrown away - but he seemed to care nothing about it, but kept on good nature by whistling. He became very much attached to his Indian mother, and she to him, and where the Indians would get into a drinking spree, she would hide him by covering bark over him till they would get sober, and danger was passed, He hid away food a little at a time till he got enough to venture to run away - and had often sent him after horses and he succeeded so well, and they had so much confidence in him, they sent him again after horses, when he got his small supply of provisions, and started in the direction of the mouth of the Kanawha, as the Indians informed him when he had previously
asked them.
He was of small size but very active and supple.
Dick Walker
VAN BIBBER AND CHEW FAMILY
By Ron Ulrich - [email protected] - Non-member.
http://www.erols.com/ulrich/chew-tree.html
I have listed below the information that is missing from my web page on your family. I have nothing on Sarah BOND(S) and other than what is listed on the web page for John, John, and Samuel...I have nothing on William CHEW III (??-1709) or his wife Sydney WYNN. I have listed my information on Benjamin CHEW (1700-1762) and have nothing on his wife nor any information that I have recorded on the rest of this line. I looked at my records and only found the following information. I have inserted it after the individual where it was pertinent.
Ron Ulrich
(12) John I. CHEW (14 May 1552)
( *) Martha GALES (?? ?? ????)
(11) John CHEW, I (?? ?? ????)
( *) Sarah BOND (?? ?? ????)
(10) Samuel CHEW, II (Abt. 1630)
( *) Anne AYRES (?? ?? ????)
She was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, and their
monthly meetings were long held at her house on Herring Bay. She
had 9 children. Her father was William AYRES.
( 9) William CHEW III-1462 ( -1709)
William in the last will and testament of Samuel CHEW (his father) is left "all my lott of ground within the towne of Herrington with all houses and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining to him my said son William CHEW and his heirs forever when he shall attaine unto
the full age of one and twenty years." And also, "one sufficient able negro or in liew thereof one able sufficient Englishman servant having at least three years to serve, and twenty thousand pounds of good sound merchantable tobacco in caske to be paid and delivered unto my said
sonne William CHEW when he shall attaine unto his full age of
one and twenty years by my said Executrix hereafter to be named.
( *) Sydney WYNN-1558
( 8) Benjamin CHEW IV-1561 (1700-1762)
He moved to Cecil County, Maryland before 1737; was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and took the oath of office and served from 1743 to 1762 (Md. Com. Book, pages 60-148). He was disowned by Nottingham Friends Meeting in October 1755. His will was dated June 1761 and proved 4 January 1763.
( *) Sarah BOND-1633 ( -1769)
( 7) Benjamin CHEW-1634
( *) Cassandra JOHNS-1635
( 6) Nathaniel CHEW-1638 (1750-1827)
( *) Margaret ROGERS-1656
( 5) John CHEW-1657 ( 5) Benjamin Franklin CHEW-1658
( 5) Washington Pinkney CHEW-1660 ( -1850)
( *) Mary HALL-1818 ( -1838)
( *) Mary C. BOYD-1819
( 5) Emeline R. CHEW-1661
( 5) Henrietta Mary CHEW-1662
( *) John J. BOYD (Doctor)-1821
( 5) Elizabeth Ann CHEW-1663
( 7) Sarah CHEW-1668
( 7) Phinehas CHEW-1669 ( -1768)
( 7) Mary CHEW-1670
( *) Thomas ELLIOTT-1673
( 7) Ann CHEW-1671
My records indicate that Ann married Isaac on 27 Nov 1768. He
was of Cecil County, MD.
( *) Isaac VAN BIBBER-1674
( 7) Henrietta CHEW-1672
( *) Samuel C. DAVEY-1675
( *) John JAMES-1676
Ron Ulrich
RECORDS OF PASTORAL ACTS OF THE MUDDY CREEK CHURCH, EAST COCALICO TWP., LANCASTER CO., PA
By RoseAnne Kirby (None subscriber and no email address)
Joseph Reynolds
Peter van Beber
RoseAnne Kirby, mother of Paula Uthe - [email protected]
ADVERTISEMENT BY HENDRICK VAN BEBBER
By RoseAnne Kirby (None subscriber and no email address)
From the Philadelphische Zeitung, June 1732, the first German
newspaper published in America, by Benjamin Franklin. (Translation
by Martin R. Martzal.)
It is herby made known that Hendrick van Bebber, who for many years practiced as a Dr. of Medicine with good success, has settled down here to live. From him the best and safest Gbymische medicines which he himself prepares are to be had. Among others, the excellent so called - Englische Saltz or Sal mirable which is for all a useful purgative and also a proven aid against fever and dropsy. Whoever is in need of any of his products can contact him in Laetitia Court where he is residing with Arent Hassert, a merchant in Philadelphia.
(Note: The meaning of the word Gbymische is uncertain; Englishche
Saltz or Sal mirable is epsom salt.)
RoseAnne Kirby, mother of Paula Uthe - [email protected]
QUERIES
From: Kathleen Smith O'Kelley - [email protected]
Searching for parents and siblings of Rufus A. SMITH, who married
Mary E. BOLEN FISK probably in Greene Co. Mo. about 1869 or 70?
Mary is the daughter of Letitia VANBIBBER, The only thing I know
about the early life of Rufus Smith is he is listed in the 1880c
as being born in 1846 in TN. He was apparently in Green Co., MO
in 1870, Boone County, AR in 1880 and in Crawford Co. AR before
1890, in Ok. by 1900. His 1st wife was Mary E. Bolen Fisk who
is my ggrandmother. Divorced about 1897 in Crawford Co, AR. 2nd
wife was Dicey Ann Franks, who he married in Ft. Smith, AR.
Thanks
Editor of the Van Bibber Pioneers Electronic Newsletter:
Bruce E. Logan Jr.
321 Spring St.
Wheelersburg, OH 45694
[email protected]
[email protected]
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