Colonel Francis Gracey Childers contributed by Samra Childers
Colonel Francis Gracey Childers contributed by Samra Childers
Note: A letter found among
the letters of Col. Gracey Childers, which appears of interest, therefore
copied here.
Auburn,
KY
6/8/1891
Mr. Gracey Childers,
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 4
th
Instant duly received, I am
almost pleased to make the acquaintance of my relatives and take pleasure in
giving you such limited information as I possess of our family. The Childress
family is an old English family and
our great grandfather settled in
Virginia, Bedford County, at an early date and adhered to the old English
custom of law of allusion the oldest son inherit all or the principal of the
Estate.
Our grandfather John Royal Childress
remained in Virginia until
my
father who was next to the oldest son
was married and then moved to Adair
County, KY, and then settled near Columbia.
My grandfather Wm. Childress
settled near Russellville, KY, and married a Miss Miller, one of the leading
families of southern KY, and there died. The balance of their history likely
you can learn from your mother as she lived near there.
We had two uncles, Benjamine and Washington
who
moved to Missouri and I have only heard since the War that Uncle W. raised a
Co. and joined the Southern Army. Our aunts of whom there was several all
settled in Adair County, except two;
one Aunt Mary
married a Baptist
Preacher and she died about two years ago in Franklin, KY, she left
one son
who is a Baptist Preacher,
Rev. J.W. Self, and lives near Bowling Green,
KY, who has two daughters who live in or near Franklin, KY. We had one
great
uncle by the name of Thomas Childress
who left Virginia when quite young
being greatly incensed at what he thought an unfair division of the Estate. He
settled somewhere in upper Kentucky, and I have met several of his descendants
I think.
If you have been a student of English History and
especially noticed the name of {sic me} [?]mbers of Parliament for the last
five years you would observe that our name and doubtless our relatives on all
represented in that body.
Our relatives occupied prominent positions in Danville,
VA, tobacco market and I have spoke of being at his house, you might possibly
learn much more from Rev. J.W. Self, who I refer to and lives near Bowling
Green, KY. I hope I may have the pleasure of meeting you soon.
Respect,
D.
Childress
Note: The following is a
copy of a letter signed J.W. Self, and appears to have been written from
Bowling Green, KY, 12 July 1891, to Colonel Childers. I find the
original letter among Col. Childers’ papers, and quote for whatever interest it
may have in this record.
Bowling
Green, KY
July 12,
1891
Mr. Gracey Childress:
Dear Sir:
I beg pardon for not answering sooner, on account of
being so busy. I was glad to hear from you, and hope in your future letters you
will give me the particulars of
Cousin Will and family. I will give you
briefly the history you request. Mr.
Royal Childress, was born and
reared in Albermarle County, Virginia; he was an extensive land and slave owner
and of English descent, and
married Elizabeth Coward, of Culpepper
County. He immigrated to Adair County, Kentucky, in 1816 and there died about
1859, aged eighty-six years. Your
grandpa William Childers
was born and
reared in Adair County, KY, and died in Todd County, KY.
Uncle Gideon
Childress
died in Auborn, KY, left a family there.
Uncle Washington and
Benjamine Childress
moved to Missouri in 1841.
Mother
died in
Franklin, KY, in 1885, left three living children. She was eighty-seven years
old. I have three sons and one daughter and wife living with me. In conclusion
I will say I would be glad for you and any of your family to visit me and I
will give you further information. I live on my farm six miles from Bowling
Green, KY. Let me know what has become of
Cousin Will, your father.
Hoping to hear from you soon,
Yours
with great respect,
J.W.
Self
P.S. Aunt Jane and
Caroline your Grandfather’s youngest sisters died in St. Joseph, Missouri,
and left families there, and I hear they are doing well.
Note: The following letter
found among the collection of Col. Gracey Childers is most interesting
and I copy here for the value it may chance to be the readers of this history.
Goochland
C.H. VA
Aug. 8
th
,
1891
Col. Gracey Childers
,
Clarksville, TN
Dear Sir:
I mail to your address today to be registered package,
papers exhibiting result of my search in Richmond and Henrico. You will observe
copies of two Land Grants, at the foot of one of them is the name
Philemon
Childers
- - - Now, in examining the books in the office of the Register of
Land in the Capitol at Richmond, I discovered that a certain quantity of land
was granted by the Governor of the colony in the early days of its existence,
to every master of a vessel & c. who brought over settlers or immigrants to
Virginia and whilst the name of the patentee would appear on the index the
names of the persons so brought over and for which he received a land grant or
patent, were not indered at all, but only written at the foot of the patent. As
in the case with the one with
Philemon Childers
name subscribed - - - he
(Philemon) was one of the persons transported to the colony by
John Maire.
Maire’s name is on the index but Philemon’s is not. So it was necessary in
order to find out possibly when any of the Childers family came over to the
Colony to read carefully over the names subscribed to each and every patent or
grant from the beginning (1628) to the year 1700 and as the writing of that
period as well as the spelling was detestable on account of the quaint
formation of letters and spelling, the writing itself being much faded, it was
quite burdensome to decipher a given name among such treroglyphics. During the
period last mentioned there are seven books of patents & c. comprising
about 1000 pages each, and the names of the colonists affixed to each patent
range from one to five hundred in number - - - so you will readily understand
the difficulty in the search for our men. I only examined two books, for want
of time, and found the two names as indicated on the respected patents sent you
demonstrating that
Philemon Childers came to Virginia in 1673. I am
persuaded that we can find the names of the others of the family on those old
patents, by careful research, which I will make, should you direct. Also, I
send list of patents granted to the Childers - - - the date of the first being
between the years 1679-1689. The exact date if not given because the list is
taken from the index which simply gives the years comprised in the book, and I
did not refer to the patent itself for the exact date, deeming approximation
sufficient, unless you wish copies made.
I send copies of a great many documents from the Henrico
office, thinking that you would like to have them as links in the chain of
evidence. Many of them were unrecorded papers, or in some instances the book in
which record was made had been destroyed, so that the original papers itself
had to be unearthed from choos-htably the will of
Abraham C. dated 1718,
recorded 1720. This was found after a prolonged search, so much moth eaten, and
faded by lapse of years, as t be scarcely decipherable. The copy of the Act
concerning “ye fiftye Tythables” (or rather the exact) is taken from Henning’s
Virginia
Statutes, I only give enough
of it to show the object of the old Amt. Order of 1679 embrassing the names of
Abra.
& Philemon Childers, as the act in its entirety is quite lengthy. All
of the papers will doubtless prove interesting.
The pity of it that no evidence of marriages, births, and
deaths during the Colonial period (in Henrico) can be found. I have made
diligent, but unsuccessful search for this valuable information (Registry of
marriages) have passed into the hands of private persons, historians, & c.
and in most cases is lost or destroyed.
I have continued an unabated correspondence with the
clerks of the Courts all over the State concerning marriages and bonds, wills
& c. but out of more than thirty letters in response to my inquiries no
definite information could be gleaned, although each one addressed had
evidently taken the trouble to investigate. Within the last few days I
addressed a letter to a gentleman residing in the City of Norfolk who it is
claimed, is the best posted man in the state on genealogy of the families on
the Eastern Shore of Virginia. A response will doubtless reach me in a few
days. We have now gotten all the evidence that can be obtained from the Deed
and Will books filed in Henrico. It only remains for me to go over the earliest
court order books there, which certain matters of legal procedure & c. and
have not yet been examined carefully by me. Write me should you desire this
done. And also if you wish copies of them to be made concerning which I have
sent you memoranda, and I will procure them through the clerk of Henrico or
Register of Land Office as they do not allow me to make official copies. Those
enclosed from Henrico I got a young man employed in the Henrico Clerks Office
to make for me and are official, save that they are not attested, which should
have been done, but he overlooked it I suppose. At least they are sufficient
for your purpose no doubt.
I am on “waiting orders” and will carry out any
suggestion made in reply to this.
Very truly,
P.G. Miller
_______________________________________________________________________
Included in an email from
Jim Farmer 27 July 2006 is this letter with similar subjects:
Notes for Thomas
H. Childress:
Letters:
Esmont Va
Nov. 2, 1891
Gracey Childers,
Esq.
Clarksville,
Tenn
Dear Sir -
Yr's of the 22d
duly received. My delay was on account of trying to get the following
information together. The following information I might better explain, but I
failed to learn any more than I knew. My great Grandfather Benjamin Childress
& one brother Philip came over from England about 1740.
Philip settled
in Henrico Co. Va near Richmond. His descendants I know nothing of. Benjamin
settled in what is now Nelson Co. My Grandfather his oldest son married a Miss
Joplin [sic] & settled in Albe. his brother Thomas went to Cable Co. now
West Va. Rial [sic] settled somewhere in Kentucky. If this will be any
information to you, I have been told that Mrs. James K. Polk was a decendant of
his. My father died Dec. 29, 1890 in his 80 year and only one member of his
family living and that is an Aunt in her 91 year....
Yrs very truly,
Thomas H.
Childress
Esmont, Albe.
Co. Va
===============================================================
Goochland
C.H. VA
January
21
st
1892
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please find the result of my labors in the
search for record of evidence concerning Childers alias Childress. The only
mention made of
John Childers
is contained in the extract from the Court
Orders at the January term 1734. Albemarle County was formed from Goochland in
1744. Amherst from Albemarle in 1761. Buckingham from Albemarle in 1761,
and
Fl__anna from Albemarle in 1777. So
there is a possibility that John Childers may have died in one of the
subdivisions of Albemarle County. But I think in as much as he is mentioned only
once on the original Goochland records, the evidence is rather in favor of his
residence in the adjoining county, Henrico, which was one of the original
Shires. Tuckahoe creek, mentioned in one of the enclosed Deeds is (and was) the
boundary line between Goochland and Henrico Counties.
I have made a very thorough and painstaking search of all
the old records in my office from 1727 to 1775, including Court Order Books,
deeds, wills, fee books, marriage returns and c. and the memoranda enclosed
include everything bearing in the matter.
I did not send you this information sooner because my
time had been too busily occupied to enable me to give the matter such care as
it required.
If the work proves valuable to you my fee will be $5.00,
otherwise I am already remunerated by your former remittance. The name of the
clerk in Henrico County is
Samuel P. Waddill, an obliging and clever
gentleman.
Very truly yours,
P.G. Miller
Gracey Childers
Esq.,
Clarksville, Tenn.Note:
this helps prove 1st wife of Abraham Childers --- Whitley.
This indenture made the first day of Aprill in the Year
of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty two between
William Cannon
of the County of Goochland of the one part and
Abraham Childers and his Sun
Abraham Childers
of the same County of the other part witnesseth that the
said
William Cannon
for divers good causes him thereunto moving but more
especially for and in consideration of teen pounds currant money to him in hand
paid by the said
Abraham Childers
the receipt whereof he doth hereby
acknowledge and thereof doth acquit and discharge the said
Abraham Childers
his heirs, executors and administrators and hat granted bargained sold aliened,
enfeoffed and confirmed and by these presents doth give, grant bargain sell
alien enfeoff and confirm unto the said
Abraham Childers
during his life
without impeachment of weeth and to his
Sun Abraham Childers
and his
heirs and assogns forever a Sartain parcell of land being part of a bigger
tract formerly granted him by patin lying on the South side of the James River
in the County of Goochland beginning at the mouth of Taylors Creek where the
said Creek runs into the River thence up the said River according to its
meanders to a Corner Red Oak of
Issac Batesesthen
leveing the River by a
South Corse by a line of marked trees to the said
William Csannons
and
Issac
Oats
thence and East Corse on the said
William Cannons
back line
till the lines crosses Taylors Creek thence down that said Creek according as
it meanders to the peace begun at containing by estamation three hundred acres,
be the same more or less.
- - - - - - -
- -
An extract,
Teste:
P.G. Miller
Deputy
Clerk
===============================================================
Norwood,
P.O.
Nelson
Co. Va.
Jan’y
26, 1893
P.G. Miller, Esq
.,
My dear Sir:
In reply to your favor of the 24
th
inst. I am
sorry to say that the reference to the
Childers or Childres
family given
by yourself is the earliest that I can now “lay my hands on” but if I should at
any time find an earlier one I will try to remember to send it to you. I find
several of the name in this section. Old Albermarle, Buckingham, Nelson, etc.,
prior to the Revolution - - -
Abram
located lands in this region as
early as 1745 prior to 1751 he owned lands on the south side of Slate River on
Hunts Creek - - - on the branches of Rockfish River adjoining Drury Tucker and
on branches of the Carey Creek adjoining
Misses Cooke. - - -
Abram
Childers
possibly a son of the above, was a soldier of the Revolution from
old Amherst (i.e. present Nelson and Amherst) county and
Ben Childers
also.
Henry (brother of Joseph)
located land on Dutch Creek in this
county in 1747 and on Mollineaux Creek in 1752. A
Henry Childers
was
also a soldier of the Revolution from old Amherst.
John Childers Sr.,
located land in this region prior to 1745
. John Jr.,
has located lands on
Mollineaux Creek of Rockfish River prior to 1750 and a
John Childers
was
a soldier of the Revolution from old Amherst Counter.
Joseph (with John and
Henry above said)
had entered for lands on Mollineaux Creek of Rockfish
River prior to 1752.
Lucretia Childers
was married in 1748 to
Matthew
Tucker
by the
Rev. Robert Rose.
My first teacher (about 40 years ago) was Mr. Charles
Miller, from Cumberland County, I think and I think a graduate of
Hampton-Sidney. I have often thought of him and wondered what had become of
him, once I heard that he had removed to Tennessee. Are you of the same family?
If so is he still alive?
Very respectfully,
Alexander Brown
P.S. I suppose that he
would be about 63 years old.
Nelson
County-
Virginia
March
15
th
1893
Col. Gracey Childers.
My dear Sir:
Before receiving your fav of the 3
rd
inst I
had gotten a letter, to the same purport, from
Mr. P.G. Miller
to which
I have just replied, with the request that he forward it to you. I can trace
your descent from any soldier of the Revolution – you will find no difficulty
in becoming a member of “The Sons of the Revolution.” But it is not easy to get
into the “Order of the Cincinnati” unless you can prove that one of your
ancestors was a member. They profess to admit any descendant from a
commissioned officer of the Revolution, but it is a very old order, there are
some claims involved, and as a matter of fact those who are in – I am afraid –
are rather disposed to keep those who are out – out of the prospective “pot.”
And no outsider is apt to get in unless his papers are “un-impeachable” in
everyway – or possibly – unless he has some “influence” which may be of service
to the Order.
I am a member of the District of Columbia Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution – of which Society Gen. J.C. Breckinridge of
Kentucky has been recently elected President, and some time since, I asked to have
papers sent to you which I hope that you have received.
I will be very glad to serve you in anyway that I can. If
you could give one of the names of your (1) parents, (2) grandparents, and (3)
great grandparents, with the dates of their birth, marriage, and death,
together with any items of interest regarding them, I might be able to aid in
tracing yourself back to
John or Abraham Childers.
I am with great regards-
Yours
to serve you,
Alexander
Brown
Goochland C.H. VA
August 19
th
, 1893
Col Gracey Childers
,
Clarksville, TN
Dear Sir:
Having occasion recently to make investigations in
Washington concerning War service. I also included
John Childers
in the
number, with the result herein stated in Ammr. Lochren’s Communication. Amherst
County was cut from Albermarle County in 1751. The
Jno. Childress
mentioned is evidently of your family and I take pleasure in presenting you the
information, hoping that it will interest you.
Very truly yours,
P.G. Miller
Included in an email from
Jim Farmer 27 July 2006 is this letter with similar subjects:
Esmont P.O.
Albemarle County
Virginia
February 6th
1898
P. G. Miller,
Esq.
Goochland C. H.
Va
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 3d
duly received. I will try to be as explisit [sic] as possible. In the first
place about a year ago I received a letter from one Gracy Childers, Clarksville
Tenn. making similar enquiries. He says "His Great Grandfather
John [sic] Childers married a Miss Coweard of Culpepper & moved to Ky.
His letter has gotten misplaced & I can not say what County I have it from
tradition not recorded. My Great Grandfather (I think) was named Benjamin
whether Childers or Childress I can not say but my Grandfather's name was
spelled Childress as I remember him perfectly.
My Great
Grandfather settled in what is now Nelson but was part of Albemarle. He married
Ann Joblin [sic] He had a Brother named Phil that settled in Henrico. I do not
know who he married. He had a sister that married a Williams & Settled near
Richmond. If there were any more in that family I do not know. My grandfather
Benjamin Childress was in the Revolutionary War. He married a Miss Johnston of
Spotsylvania. He died in 1852, aged 88 yrs. He had three brothers Thomas (if he
had a middle name name I do not know it.) He settled Cable Co. W. Va. when
quite a yount man.
I do not know
who he married. His brother Rial (I do not know what his middle name was
either) went to Ky when quite young. I have been told that James K. Polk's wife
was a descendent of his. She was a Miss Childress. His youngest brother Brother
Sam lived & died in this county. He left only one son, James C. Childress,
who died in 1884 leaving a family of girls.
My Father Robert
M. Childress died Dec. 1890 in his 80th year. He was the last of (& the
youngest) his family except one sister Mrs. Turner who is in her 92nd year, I
have no old record or family bible further back than my Grandfather. (My self
and one Brother is the only (male) members that bear the name of Childress in
this Co. The party you were inquiring after John or Joseph I have no knowledge
of. I fear this will be of little value to you.
But if I can
gather any other information I will let you know.
16 ii. Dolly Childress, born 1842.
17 iii. John
Childress, born 1844.
18 iv. Dabney
Childress, born 1846.
19 v. Emma
Childress, born 1848.
20 vi. Sarah Childress, born 1849.