Clayton Allen Tapscott

Clayton Allen Tapscott marker, Evergreen Cemetery Yreka, CA.

Clayton Allen Tapscott, a California attorney, was a GGG grandson of James Tapscott, one of Henry the Immigrant’s three sons. Although he did little formal research, Clayton had an interest in his Tapscott ancestors, and, in 1949, wrote a letter to June (Tapscott) Leathers concerning his recollections of genealogical information obtained from his relatives. Clayton died childless in 1973. Before June passed away in 2003 she gave me a copy of the letter. Although there are many errors (the paragraph about early origins contains a lot of fiction), much of the information provided, particularly about Clayton’s closer relatives, appears to be correct. I am posting a transcript of the letter anticipating that it may be of interest. I have removed a few personal items and have made a few italicized comments in brackets. Warning! Be very, very careful of the contents, which are best used as leads.

Yreka, California

April 14, 1949

Dear June

Your letter was received and it is a pleasure to hear from you and I was interested in all you told me and am sure we could enjoy a chat about our family ancestors if we could ever get together.

Some of the older members of our family I knew when I was small and others I have heard more or less about from hearing the others talk of them. Am glad you are interested in working up a family tree, and you may be sure I will be glad to help our with any information that I may be able to give.

There have been stories that I have heard regarding our ancestors that would almost fill a book, but I mention a few names that may be of interest.

Will use typewriter as that will make it more convenient for you to read and refer to. How interesting it would be now if the history and experiences of our ancestors had been written up by them and preserved for us to read! They were probably kept busy just to live.

As I understand it, the family lived in England, and a son (also perhaps two other sons) came to America. This son settled in Virginia. I think his name was George, and that he had married in England and brought his bride with him, to land which had been granted to him by the King of England. They had four sons and three daughters, and it is possible that there were more than three daughters. Their sons were; James, William, George and Raleigh. Daughters were Sallie and Nancy, but I do not know other names. James was the oldest. He had a large family of sons and daughters. One of his sons was John Hill Tapscott, born, born August 17, 1799, died December 1, 1869. On May 26 1836 he married Julia Adaline Turner born Apr. 8 1815 and died April 5 1900. They had ten children but some died young. Six of their sons grew up. Their oldest was James Fleming Tapscott, born May 2 1837, died September 1920. On June 1 1858 he married Isabella Jane Lilley, born January 17 1839, died May 30 1928. They had four children; Mary Campbell, James Robert, Julia Ella and Clayton Allen. James Robert Tapscott was born at Buffalo Hill, Virginia, September 9 1865, and died June 13 1938. He married Catherine Ada Merrill October 16, 1889. They had three children; Robert Merrill, Katherine Isabel, and James Frederick.

My mother's name, as mentioned above, was Isabella Jane Lilley. She was daughter of Col. James M. Lilley, and sister of General Robert D. Lilley and Col. John D. Lilley. Isabel was named for her. Your grandfather was named James for his father and Robert for our uncle Robert D. Lilley. My sister Julia was named for our grandmother Julia A. Turner and my mother's sister Ella. My father's middle name of "Fleming" was for his mother's father who was Fleming Turner.

The foregoing gives you some information but of course it is not very extensive, though it may be what you desire at the present time. I once visited a distant cousin in Virginia who took me into a sort of "Den" in his home where he had a number of enlarged and framed pictures of the Tapscott men who had died years before. They all had so much whiskers that they were the most conspicuous thing in the pictures. I guess all men wore full whiskers in their time. He also showed me an original grant from Governor of Virginia to George Tapscott for 510 acres of land, dated August 3, 1784, the consideration named being Two Pounds fifteen shillings sterling.

Sincerely,

Clayton Tapscott

Genealogy

John H. Tapscott born Aug. 17, 1799, Died Dec 1, 1869

Julia A. Turner born April 8, 1815 Died Apr. 5, 1900

They were married May 26, 1836. Their children were:

James F. Tapscott born May 2, 1837, died Sept. 1920

Edwin H. Tapscott born Aug. 10, 1840

Vincent Allen Tapscott born March 20, 1843 died Sept. 1920

Wyatt L. Tapscott born May 21, 1844

Octavia Tapscott born Aug 31, 1846 died June 19, 1849

Henry Lemuel born Nov. 3, 1849 died Dec. 2, 1932

Mary Octavia born Apr. 15, 1851 died May 12, 1871

John Franklin P. born March 15, 1853 died April 21, 1861

Charles Rush born Oct. 20, 1854 died Sept. 20, 1855

Portney Panel born July 18, 1859 died May 15, 1935.

Julia A. Tapscott was daughter of Flemming and Jane M. Turner. Isabella Jane Lilley was born January 17, 1839 died 5/30 1928 was daughter of James Lilley and Mary Doak Lilley. Married James Flemming Tapscott June 1, 1858. They had four children, as follows:-

Mary Campbell Tapscott born Jan 11, 1860 died Oct. 14, 1959

James Robert Tapscott born Sept. 9, 1865 died June 13, 1938

Julia Ella Tapscott born Dec. 12, 1869 died June 24, 1960

Clayton Allen Tapscott Sept. 8, 1883 died Sept 23, 1973 Charlottesville, Va. [latter added by another hand]

James Tapscott married Martha Burgess

         Adison Tapscott, went to Mo.

         George Tapscott married Sally Hill, had one child Henrietta married Snead.

         William Tapscott married Cobb. May have lived Carolina.

         Nicholas Tapscott died young

         Elizabeth died at 13 years of age.

         Ann. Married Staples

                  Henry Lee

                  John C.

                  Frank

                  Juneva [?, unclear] C.

                  Manning

                  Annie

         Jane, married George Woodson April 18, 1827

                  James P. Woodson, 1st son, born June 7, 1828

                  John Stephen Woodson 2nd son, born April 15, 1830

         John Hill Tapscott married Julia Turner May 26, 1836

                  James Fleming Tapscott married Isabella June Lilley, June 4, 1858

                           Mary Campbell, married Alex W. Paxton

                                    Lilley Tapscott Paxton, married Walter Miller Walsh, no children

                                    James Campbell Paxton, m Mary Frances Davis, b Apr 4, 1934

                           James Robert Tapscott, married Kate Ada Merrill

                                    Robert Merrill Tapscott married  Clara Churchill

                                                Janice Tapscott, born 1918

                                                June Tapscott, born Apr 17, 1920

                                                Milburn Tapscott 1921

                                                Marilyn Tapscott born Oct 4, 1923

                                                Nancy Carolyn Tapscott born Jul 20, 1933

                                    Katherine Isabel Tapscott married Allyn Goodwin Smith

                                    James Frederick Tapscott married Melba Anita Patterson June 4, 1929

                                                Beverly Lynn Tapscott born Aug 21, 1933

                           Julia Ella Tapscott married Mallory Chandler

                           Clayton Allen Tapscott

                  Edwin H. Tapscott

                  Vincent Allen Tapscott

                  Wyatt L. Tapscott, married Norvell

                           Ernest Norvell Tapscott, married Lena May Mandlesolm, no children

                  Henry L. Tapscott

                  Mollie Tapscott

                  Charles Rush Tapscott

                  Portney P. Tapscott

         Dolly married Coleman

         Gus Tapscott married

         James M. Tapscott married Turner.

                  John Nicholas Tapscott married Sally Haynes

                           Sally Tapscott

                  Clara Tapscott

                  Garland Hanes Tapscott

                  Hubbard Clark Tapscott

                           Virginia Tapscott married John Buttleman

                                    John Herbert Buttleman, born Feb 1, 1932

                  Sadie Spicer

                           William Edward Spicer, married Kate Chrystal Mathews August 27, 1927

                                    William born Dec 192?

                           Sarah Frances Spicer, married Edward Norman Goodson Jul 1, 1922

                                    Edward Norman Goodson born Apr. 30, 1923

                                    Frances Aidan Goodson, born May 25, 1929

                           Herbert Spicer

         Napoleon Bonepart Tapscott, born August 6, 1814, married Ellen Turner

         Susan Tapscott married Robert Turner

William Tapscott, married Liza Childress

         Tapscott married Baber

                  General Baber

         Ben Tapscott, married Charlotte Wallace

                  William Tapscott

                           Marvin Tapscott

                           Ben Tapscott

                           Tucker Tapscott

                  Gussie Senff McVay (McVeigh)

                           Charles Senff McVay (McVeigh)

George Tapscott married Cobbs Killed at Fallsburg

         Thomas C. Tapscott, never married, very tall

         George Nicholas Tapscott, married Schrugs [Scruggs]

                  George A. Tapscott

                           Mary Tapscott married James B. Tindall

                                    Elizabeth Tindall

                                    Katherine Tindall

                  Henry Nicholas Tapscott

                           Josey Tapscott married Linsay Baber

                           Audrey Tapscott

                           Wilton H. Tapscott married Cora Baber

                                    Mary Emma Tapscott

                                    Cecil Tapscott

         William Henry Tapscott, went to California in 1849, never heard of since [Clayton is wrong here. William Henry married a Mary and had several children including Josey and Wilton shown by him as children of Henry Nicholas Tapscott.]

Raleigh Tapscott, may have married Staton and moved to North Carolina

Sallie married Isasc Baber

         Baber, married Nancy W. Bowman

                  Robert Baber, born Jul 10, 1826

Nancy, married Robert ? Evans

-----?, married Couch