Fauquier County Tapscotts - Joseph Baker Tapscott

     Continuing our investigation of the Holder branch of the Fauquier Tapscotts.........

According to his brother Beverly, Joseph Baker Tapscott, Robert and Lucy’s oldest child, was born 5 Jan 1844. His middle name probably came from the name of the minister Joseph Baker, who had conducted his parents’ marriage.

Joseph was raised in a slave-owning environment. His grandmother, Elizabeth, had owned slaves, eight in 1840. His presumed grandfather, Taliaferro, who of course Joseph did not know, owned seven slaves in 1850. His grandfather Alexander Wood had owned three slaves when he died in 1830. And Joseph saw slavery in his own home, for his father, Robert, owned three slaves in 1850, when Joseph was a child. Thus we may understand why on 25 Sep 1862 at Bunker Hill, VA (today WV), Joseph enlisted in Company I, 2 Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Confederate Army for the duration of the Civil War.

Military records report that on 24 Jul 1863, Joseph deserted from the Confederate Army, but that was not true. He had actually been captured by Union forces, on 1 Aug 1863 according to Union records, at Brandy Station, VA. He was confined at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington DC between 1 Aug and 15 Aug 1863. He was then transferred to Point Lookout, MD, followed by imprisonment at Elmira, NY. On Aug 7 1865 at Elmira he signed an oath of allegiance to the United States.

By 1870, Joseph Baker Tapscott was back home, working on the family farm in Clarke County. In that county, on 28 Jan 1875, Joseph married Amanda R. Alexander. Amanda Rose (also “Rosalie,” “Rosa,” “Rose Lee”) had been born 8 Nov 1852 in Loudoun Co, VA, to James Franklin Alexander and Lydia Jane Boggess. Amanda fit well into Joseph's family. Her father, like Joseph, had served in the Confederate Army and records showed that he had deserted. But in James’s case, the records appear to be correct. He really did desert.

Joseph Baker Tapscott, c1926 ( Source: Laura Chasty.)

Born c1835 in Loudoun County, Lydia Jane died there on 14 Dec 1878, just a little over three years after her daughter Amanda and Joseph were married. Following his wife’s death, James took off to Marshall Co, KS with his youngest four children. James had little choice about leaving the house in which he and Lydia had lived, though why he chose Kansas is unknown. He had to move because his wife had inherited a right of occupancy  of their house, from Jemima Reed Trussell (apparently a friend). Upon Lydia Jane’s death the property was to go to all her children. To divide the property it was sold, leaving James homeless. Born 1 Feb 1829 in Virginia, James died near Axtell, Marshall Co, KS, on 3 Sep 1907.

Joseph and Amanda lived out their lives in Clarke Co, VA, where they had eleven known children, six of whom died young. Two of the latter were unnamed male stillborn infants delivered on 10 Feb 1887 and 10 Feb 1888. Yes, brothers stillborn on the same date one year apart does sound suspicious, but the records appear to be correct. Louisa V., born Dec 1880, died 24 Aug 1889 at age eight of cancer of the eye. And three children who appear in Clarke County birth records for the 1870s and 1880s are not found in the 1900 census, nor in any record after that, indicating deaths prior to June 1900: Robert A. (b 2 Nov 1875), Daisy (b Aug 1882), and Thomas (b 4 Oct 1884). Only five children are known to have reached adulthood: Beverly Wood Tapscott (17 Apr 1877–15 Jul 1948), Flora (also “Florenda”) Martin Tapscott (26 Oct 1885–9 Dec 1967), Gertrude Virginia Tapscott (18 Feb 1889–18 May 1975), James Clifton Tapscott (26 Jan 1891–31 Oct 1966), and Charles William Tapscott Sr. (24 Dec 1892–23 Jul 1962).

Amanda died 27 Jun 1915 in Battletown Distr, Clarke Co. Joseph Baker lived several years longer, dying, it is claimed, on 10 Mar 1932.

Disagreements? Suggestions? Complaints? Corrections? Please let me know.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Robert Francis Tapscott

 

DNA test results have now revealed, at least to a limited extent, Robert Francis Tapscott’s origins. Two living male descendants (names are kept private here) of Robert Francis have yDNA matches showing conclusively that Robert Francis was not a descendant of Henry Tapscott, the Immigrant, at least by an all-male line. The name “Tapscott” may have come from Robert Francis’s mother, but not his father. In fact, the DNA results provide extremely strong evidence that Robert’s father was named “Holder.” The two descendants show strikingly close matches to a number of males with the surname “Holder,” with genetic distances as close as an exact match for 111 markers. Because yDNA follows only all-male lines, the same line that passes the family name, all yDNA matches are expected to have the same family name. Of course, owing to adoptions and births outside of marriage, that seldom happens.

In addition, four descendants of Robert Francis have autosomal DNA matches to eight different descendants of Elizabeth Percifull. And one descendant of Robert Frances Tapscott shows autosomal matches to the Percifull family of Lancaster Co, Va. Thus, DNA provides strong indication that Robert Francis Tapscott of Clarke Co was the son of Elizabeth Percifull and a Holder. And what about “paper-trail” data? It turns out that reliable records are consistent with the DNA results.

Robert Frances's 1843 Clarke County wedding license gives his residence as Fauquier County, a location verified by property tax records in which Robert Tapscott appears in 1839 (when he had just turned 22) and in 1840. In 1834 a Robert Tapscott, “child of Betty Tapscott” was indentured to Robert Gordon in Fauquier County to learn the trade of blacksmith. Robert Frances Tapscott was a blacksmith, among other things, when he was living as a married man in Clarke County. “Betty” is, of course, a name often used by those with the name “Elizabeth.” One concern about the contract is that in the database of indentures maintained by the AAHA, Robert Tapscott is listed as a “Free Negro,” which Robert Francis was not. But this was likely a transcription or clerical error.

An 1842 Chancery Court case shows “Bob Tapscott” running the blacksmith shop of James McLearen in Warrenton, Fauquier Co, Va. Court records reveal a most interesting story:

In 1840 James McLearen paid William Chichester $37.50 to hire a slave named Beverly with the understanding that Beverly would be taught the art of blacksmithing. Chichester claimed that he did not get what he contracted for. In McLearen's deposition he said

This respondent having in the year 1840 a Blacksmith shop in Operation in the Town of Warrenton was repeatedly applied to by the sd Complainant to take his boy Beverly in the sd shop as a stacker for Bob Tapscott with whom he wished him to work a year to require a better knowledge of the trade; sd Tapscott having bargained to carry on my shop for a year & whom I at length consented to take tho reluctantly sd Tapscot also seeming very desirous that i should take him & executed the Sd penal Bill for the price which was agreed on

The slave’s name, “Beverly,” an unusual male name, is particularly interesting since that name was used by Robert Francis for one of his sons. Might there be a connection?

Thus, historical records and DNA results provide strong evidence that Robert Francis Tapscott was born in Fauquier Co to Elizabeth and a white male by the name of “Holder.” and later moved to Clarke County, where he raised a family and worked as a blacksmith. Among the ten or so male Holders living in Fauquier County at the time of Robert Francis's birth, only one stands out as having an appropriate age and location. Taliaferro Holder Sr., who would have been around 25 (date of birth c1792) when Robert was born and in later years was living in Turner's District, where many of Elizabeth's descendants were living. Taliaferro was married twice, both times in Fauquier County, to Sarah Hunton on 29 Dec 1816 and to Jane Ball on 1 Dec 1828. He had at least eight children, including Taliaferro Jr., from the second marriage. Taliaferro died around 30 May 1872, the date his will was probated.

In Clarke County, where they lived out their married lives, Robert and Lucy raised seven children, while Robert worked as a blacksmith, a wagon maker, and a farmer. Even with several sources of income, the family may have found difficulty in making ends meet. In 1871 Robert claimed homestead exemptions, which reduced property taxes and protected against creditors.

Robert died of “paralysis” in Clarke Co on 24 Jun 1874. (His cemetery marker gives a death date of 25 Jun.) Lucy is last seen in the 1880 census living with her son Henry in Battletown Twp, Clarke Co, Va  (i.e., near Berryville).

Robert and Lucy's P&P (Parentage and Progeny).

The next few weeks, we'll be looking at Robert and Lucy's kids.

Questions? Complaints? Suggestions? Contact me.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Lucy Wood Tapscott

Here is a transcription of Robert Tapscott’s marker in Old Chapel Cemetery:

ROBERT F. TAPSCOTT

Born

Mar 8th, 1817

Died

June 25, 1874

No known contemporary record gives a middle name for Robert; however, his descendants claim that it was “Francis.” That name will be used here, since some of those descendants had relatively close connections to Robert.

On 4 Apr 1843 in Clarke County an oath was made by Lucy F. Wood’s brother James in preparation for her marriage to Robert:

James T. Wood made Oath before me Clerk of the Court of the County aforesaid that Lucy F. Wood who is about to intermarry with Robert Tapscott of the County of Fauquier is over twenty One years of age and an inhabitant of this county.

Robert and Lucy were wed that same day. As found for Robert, no dependable record gives Lucy’s middle name, but descendants, deemed reliable, claim it to be “Frances,” and we will use that name. Lucy Frances Wood is believed to be the daughter of Alexander Wood Sr. and Elizabeth Kirk. And there is evidence for this. Following his marriage to Elizabeth around 1799 (based on age of oldest child), Alexander and his bride settled down in Frederick Co, Va. In the 1830 census, Alexander was replaced by Elizabeth as the household head. Alexander apparently died that year as a bond was issued on 2 Aug 1830 for administration of his estate. No cemetery marker is found for Alexander, who is said to be buried in Tilthammer Mill Cemetery a little south of Old Chapel Cemetery. A marker is, however, found for his wife. She was interred at Old Chapel, where her presumed daughter Lucy is said to have been buried, though no stone is found, and where her presumed son-in-law Robert was laid to rest. Elizabeth’s stone reads

Our Mother

ELIZABETH

Wife of

Alexander Wood Sr.

Died

April 3, 1853

in the 76th year of

her age

Lucy’s parentage is further evidenced by the 1850 census for Clarke County, which shows 73-year-old Elizabeth Wood, living with Robert and Lucy. Residing next door is James T. Wood, Lucy’s brother. Elizabeth would die three years later. All in all, it appears that Lucy was a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Wood. But what about Robert Francis? Who were his parents?

That’s the subject of our next blog.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - The Holders

Clarke Co, which borders Fauquier Co to the north, is the site of an historic Church of England, later Episcopalian, chapel, dating back to about 1747, though the structure has been rebuilt several times. In the adjacent cemetery stands a grave marker for Robert F. Tapscott, progenitor of an extensive line of Tapscotts centered in Clarke Co, mostly near the county seat, Berryville, initially designated “Battletown.” And who was Robert? That is a fascinating question, one which required years of research to answer.

We have already blogged about Robert and Robert Revisited. Now we need to add some new material and consolidate everything for the book Elizabeth's Children being written. And that is what we will be doing over the next few blogs.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - John Tnomas and Reburta

My previous blog showed how Reburta Tapscott and John Thomas Tapscott were first cousins once removed. But a Fauquier County cousin emailed me and said tne chart was confusing. Perhaps it was the representation of a vertical tree using a horizontal chart. I have redone it and added a lot. It may be more confusing now. I also added a 1700s British flag to Henry to show that he is the only England-born person in this chart. This was done because my cousin pointed out that many trees show Elizabeth Perciful as born in England. She was not. 

Years ago, Roberta Estes, a well-known genetic genealogist said  “Proof is not, not, 1000 times not someone else’s tree.” And over the years, I have found that to be correct. The multiplication of errors by “family historians” copying each other without hint of reliable sources is appalling. Elizabeth was born in Virginia, not in England. We have absolute proof of that. Numerous reliable records (not trees) show that Elijah was living in Virginia both before and after Elizabeth’s birth. Tax records and deed transfers show that her father, Elijah, was living in Lancaster Co Virginia in the years before she was born. Surely, he did not go to England so that his daughter could be born there and then immediately come back. And Elijah’s will names his daughter as “Betsey who into married with Tapscott” (Elizabeth was often called “Betsey”). So we know that he was her father. Moreover the 1850 census show that Elizabeth was born in Virginia, not England. A Gallaudet article stating the Tapscotts were from England is more or less correct since the first Virginian Tapscott was from England. Henry Tapscott arrived from England in January 1700, and his descendants through his great great grandughter Harriet formed many of the Fauquier Co Tapscotts. The Fauquier Co Tapscotts, at least those descended from Harriet, were indeed from England because that is where their ancestors had lived. But none of the Fauquier Co Tapscotts were born there.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - John Thomas Tapscott Sr.

John Thomas Tapscott Sr. was Cordelia’s final child, at least as far as we know. John was likely born 25 Dec 1871, a date derived from the year corresponding to his age in the 1880 census and from the day and month on his grave marker. Like many, John knocked some years off his age as he grew older, and a corresponding, but erroneous, birth year appears on his grave marker.

On 18 Aug 1896 John married Reburta Tapscott in Fauquier Co. She is named as “Roberta” in the Marriage Record; however, her name is given as “Reburta” in a number of other records, including newspaper articles and her grave marker. Reburta and John were first cousins once removed. Reburta was born to Edmond A. Tapscott, probably in April 1876, though her grave marker gives a year of 1877. But, as we noted before, grave markers and other death records often have inaccurate birth dates. Edmond, about whom we will hear more later, was a son of Elizabeth Percifull. 

John had to return to Fauquier Co to marry, for he had started working for the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind in Washington, DC in 1890. Chartered in 1857, the institute became known as Gallaudet College in 1894 and was renamed Gallaudet University in 1986. John, who started work as a janitor and ended up as the chief engineer, worked fifty-three years for Gallaudet, and was the first of at least nine Fauquier Co Tapscotts who worked at the college. And two of Reburta’s nephews went there as students.

To recognize the Tapscotts' contributions to the development of the College, a dinner was held in their honor 6 Feb 1981 on campus. Friends and members of the Tapscott family, as well as Gallaudet administrators, deans, and community relations personnel attended. The dinner was hosted by President and Mrs. Edward C. Merrill. To recognize the Tapscotts, a proclamation signed by President Merrill announced that the campus road in front of historic College Hall would be named “Tapscott Street.”

Certificate naming “Tapscott Street.” (Source: Angela Doores Robinson.) Later there would also be a “Tapscott Plaza Gateway.”

                  Tapscott Street                                      Tapscott Plaza Gateway

Members of the Tapscott family at the honorary dinner. Left to Right, Back Row: John Benjamin (“Jack”) Boyd Jr, Cheryl Tapscott Robertson, Norma Tapscott Boyd, Carolyn Tapscott Peoples, Theresa Tapscott Alston, Sandra Marie Tapscott Dupree, Karen Tapscott Vinson, Richard J. Alston Sr. Middle Row: Edmond A. Tapscott, Phyllis Jane Holland Tapscott, Elnora Maria Belcher Tapscott, Natalie Tapscott Wood, Tamara Tapscott, Raymond James (“Bo”) Tapscott, Elmer George Tapscott Sr. Front Row: Cynthia Anita Tapscott, Mary Elizabeth (“Momma Epie”) Colvin Tapscott, Dorothy (“Dot”) Logan Colvin Tapscott. (Gallaudet Today, Spring 1981),

In 1979 and 1981, the university magazine, Gallaudet Today, published three articles about the Tapscotts and their contributions.

John and Reburta lived out their lives in DC, where they raised five kids—Viola Adelia (31 Oct 1897–19 Jul 1956), John Thomas Jr. (16 Sep 1901-27 Dec 1961), Raymond James Sr., Isaiah Eugene (10 Apr 1908–6 May 1962), and Eugene Adolph (16 Feb 1910–13 Apr 1973).

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Elizabeth Tapscott

The previous biography for a child of Cordelia, William D. Tapscott, was short. This is even shorter. Elizabeth Tapscott, Cordelia's fourth child, is easily biographed since we have already done so. She married John Robert Martin, a child of Maria Ann Tapscott. John was Elizabeth’s first cousin and the subject of an earlier blog. 

Fauquier County Tapscotts - William D. Tapscott (Son of Cordelia)

 We are going through Cordelia’s children, as we did those of her sister Maria Ann, but you may have noticed that I skipped someone when I went directly from James Tasco Tapscott to Murray Selby Tapscott. Cordelia’s second child, William D. Tapscott is easily skipped since we know so little about him and he left no known descendants.

William grew up near Cedar Run.
(Ctizens for Fauquier County)

William, born c1860 to Cordelia and (it is said) Mark Russell, led a life difficult to unravel. A major problem is that the Fauquier County Tapscotts include another William D. Tapscott with a similar birth year, a child of Edmond A. Tapscott. (More on him later.) With careful investigation, however, records for the two William D.s can be separated. Doing so, one concludes that Cordelia’s son William appears in only two records that are contemporary with him—the 1870 and 1880 censuses for Cedar Run Distr, where he is found living in a household with his mother. William then disappears, apparently having died before the 1900 census and apparently without descendants.

Do you know anything about William, son of Cordelia? If so, contact me or leave a comment.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Murray Selby Tapscott

Murray Tapscott, Cordelia's third child and claimed to have Mark Russell as his father, has a middle name, “Selby,” that has been found in no record contemporary with him. But that name is claimed factual by many of his descendants. His death certificate gives a Fauquier Co date of birth of 5 May 1874, but this is obviously incorrect. He would have been eleven years old when he was married. Other records, in particular the 1900 census, indicate that his date of birth was actually 5 May 1865. It is said that he started his adult life as “an itinerant evangelist, but eventually became pastor of Little Zion Baptist Church.” Tapscotts have connections to this Nokesville, VA, church. Murray’s daughter Geneva is buried there. But reliable records or sources (e.g., close relatives) have not yet been found showing his roles as evangelist and pastor.

On 9 Sep 1885 Murray obtained a license in DC to marry Katherine Bell Colvin. Katherine, who nearly always went by “Kate” or “Katie,” had been born 2 Feb 1869 to James Colvin and Aletha “Pehn.” Aletha, who sometimes went by her mother’s name “Penn,” was Aletha Ann Preston, and she and James were also the parents of James Tasco Tapscott’s first wife, Mary E. Colvin.

Murray and Kate lived out their lives in Fauquier Co, where they had thirteen children: Bertha Mae (9 Apr 1886-16 Apr 1957), Douglas Robert (7 May 1889-31 Oct 1960), Mary Elinor (14 Jul 1891-30 Jul 1963), James Murray (19 Mar 1893-10 Jul 1982), Pearl Katie (2 Apr 1895-11 Oct 1944) Ida McKinley (11 Nov 1896-25 Apr 1985) George Gilbert (28 Jun 1898-4 Jun 1960), Alethia Elizabeth (23 Jul 1899-15 Jul 1964), Nannie B. (c1903-17 Jun 1960), Geneva Alyce (1 Feb 1906-8 Nov 1977), John Harnsburger (18 Jan 1908-17 Aug 1967), Selby Samuel (23 Jul 1909-25 May 1981), Pauline Adelia (10 Jul 1913- 2 Mar 1987). In several cases, birth years do not agree with years on death records or grave markers; however, such records are not reliable for birth dates and other records give a more reliable or more realistic birth year.

Please let me know of mistakes, suggestions, comments, and additional information. And have you seen a reliable source (not someone's family tree) for Murray Tapscott's middle name? Do you know of a record showing that Murray was once a pastor of Little Zion Church or that he was an evangelist?

Fauquier County Tapscotts - James Tasco Tapscott, again

SS Stuttgart.

James Tasco Tapscott’s first wife, Mary Colvin, apparently died c1894, following the birth of their daughter Ruth, for on 8 Aug 1895, in DC, James was married again, to Catherine Durr. James's bride was born “Katharina Dürr” on 8 Jun 1872, probably in Wenden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, where she was baptized the following day. She had immigrated to the United States, apparently by herself, arriving in Baltimore 19 Aug 1891 on the SS Stuttgart.

Katharina, whose name was Anglicized to “Katharine,” “Catharine,” “Catherine,” etc., and James had four children: George Washington, Catherine M., William Thomas, and Nellie Virginia.

Born 22 Feb 1896 in DC, their first child, George, who never married, died 23 Jan 1970 in Berea, VA. George, who was first a farmer and then a truck driver, served in WWI in Co D, 56th Pioneer-Infantry, which took part in the bloodiest battle ever fought by the U.S. Army–the Meuse Argonne, fought 26 Sep 1918 to 11 Nov 1918.

Catherine, who was born 16 Apr 1897 in DC and married Eli Dzidich, a Yugoslavian immigrant, died 29 Feb 1988 in Vienna, VA. Eli was born 15 Jul 1896, but we know nothing about his death. Catherine and Eli had no known children.

William Thomas, often called “Willie,” was born 24 Jul 1898 in Virginia (his death certificate erroneously gives DC as his birthplace) and died 26 Nov 1971 in Fredericksburg, VA. He was married twice, first to Alma Shelton on 13 Dec 1926 in Rockville, MD, in a childless marriage that was annulled 19 May 1944 in Alexandria, VA. Apparently, Alma’s divorce from an earlier husband was not finalized when she married William. William’s second marriage was to Grace Garner Bryant on 16 May 1946 in DC. Grace’s birth name was “Lunsford,” but she had married Linwood E. Bryant earlier on 17 Feb 1930. That marriage, which had resulted in two children, had ended in divorce 3 Dec 1943. William’s marriage with Grace also resulted in two children.

Nellie Virginia, James Tasco Tapscott’s final child, was born 10 Jun 1912, when James was well into middle age. Nellie is first seen in the 1920 census for Prince William Co, VA, in the household of Jacob Hook, without her father (found in a separate record) but with her mother, who was working as a housekeeper for Hook. Then in 1930 Nellie appears in the same household, still with her mother, but with the name “Nellie Hook.” She is said to be Jacob Hook’s “adopted daughter.” James had died the preceding year. Nellie reverted to the name “Tapscott,” in October 1941, when she obtained a license in Rockville, Maryland, to marry Alfred Russell Crumbaugh. Nellie Virginia Crumbaugh passed away on 9 Jun 1999 in Fairfax Co, VA. There is no evidence that she had any children. 

Children of James Tasco Tapscott, c 1900: Ruth, George, Catherine (“Kate”), and William (“Willie”). Nellie had not yet been born. (AAHA Photo Collection.)

James Tasco Tapscott departed this life 8 May 1929 in Coles Distr, Prince William Co, VA, where he had a farm. His widow, Catharine, lived considerably longer, dying 5 May 1958 in Falls Church, Virginia, where she had been living with her daughter Nellie and Nellie’s husband, Alfred.

Errors? Disagreements? Additions? Questions? Please post them on this page as a comment, or email me. I welcome input.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - James Tasco Tapscott

 James Tasco Tapscott, Cordelia's first-born child, was born in Fauquier County 4 Sep 1856, While the name “Tasco” is extremely rare, it is not unknown, though it is more often seen as a surname, rather than as a given name. And the name is found among inhabitants of Fauquier County. James’s name is also seen as “Tascon” and “Tascow” in census records, probably owing to enumerator error. Many family historians have assigned him the name “Tasker,” even though James is seen in no contemporary record with that name.

On 27 Apr 1892 in Fauquier County, “Jas T. Tapscott” married Mary E. Colvin, daughter of James and “Aleatha.” Performing the ceremony was Mark Russell, who had married Cordelia’s cousin, Mary Frances Tapscott, and who, it is claimed, fathered several of Cordelia’s children.

“Aleatha,” born c1830 with the last name “Preston,” is given the name “Aletha,” “Lette,” “Letha,” “Alethea,” “Alertha,” “Lethia,” “Leitha,” and “Lizzie” in various records. “Aletha,” with a middle name “Ann,”is most likely correct, the other names being nicknames or mistakes. Mary Colvin had been born April 1865 in Fauquier County to James and Aletha, who were most likely never married. That James was white and Aletha was colored made marriage illegal at the time in racist Virginia.

James Tasco Tapscott and Mary Colvin had but one known child, Ruth Winford Tapscott. Born 23 May 1893 in Fauquier Co, Ruth married Harvey Ellsworth Redmon on 6 Nov 1915 in the District of Columbia. Harvey, whose ancestors were probably named “Redmon,” but whose six known children were given the name “Redman,” died in Manassas, VA, on 18 Nov 1946. Ruth lived to age 90, passing away in Woodbridge, VA, on 5 May 1984.

Our next blog will look at James Tasco’s second marriage.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Cordelia

We have spent several weeks reviewing the history of Harriet’s firstborn daughter, Maria Ann Tapscott. Now it’s time to do the same for Harriet’s only other known child, Cordelia Tapscott.

Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier Co.

All records indicate that Cordelia (also called “Delia” and “Adelia,” though the latter may be due to error) was born well before 1850 (the most reliable year is 1835 from her grave marker and the 1860 census), but she does not appear in the 1850 Fauquier County census with her mother, Harriet. Or does she? For in Harriet's household in that census is a ten-year-old girl named Susan Adams. Could Susan be Cordelia, with her surname that of her otherwise unknown father? It does not seem unlikely, particularly since names among the Fauquier Tapscotts were often changed.

In 1860 Cordelia was living in Fauquier with her mother, Harriet, and Cordelia’s first-born known child, Tasco. Also in the household is 30-year John Tapscott. John and Cordelia appear with Harriet in the 1860 census with ages that correspond to a birth year c1830 for John (listed as a laborer) and c1835 for Cordelia (listed as a weaver). Some people assume John to be a son of Harriet, but it is far more likely that he was Cordelia’s paramour. Strong evidence of this is in Tasco’s death certificate, which gives his parents as John and Adelia. John may well have been one of Elizabeth’s slaves, now in Harriet’s household. If so, “Tapscott” was probably an assumed surname. We do not see John again.

Cordelia had five known children, all born out of wedlock, all given the surname “Tapscott,” and all raised in the Cedar Run District of Fauquier County—James Tasco, William, Murray, Elizabeth, and John, Descendants claim that the father of the middle three was Marcus A. (“Mark”) Russell, the Baptist minister who married Cordelia’s cousin, Mary Frances Tapscott. There are no contemporary records showing this to be true; however, in this case I am going to take the word of relatives, something I very seldom do. There is evidence that the final child, John, had a father named “Thomas,” likely another one of Elizabeth's slaves.

Cordelia died young, around age 47, and was buried in the Tapscott Family Cemetery in Fauquier County. The marker, which gives a death date of 1882, appears to be a recent addition and may not, for that reason, be completely reliable for the death and birth dates, or, for that matter, the burial location.

Have any of you descendants of Cordelia found records or other evidence indicating that Mark Russell fathered some of Cordelia's children?

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Elizabeth without James

In a much earlier post, we discussed James and Elizabeth---James Tapscott and Elizabeth Percifull. James died young, leaving Elizabeth in Fauquier County with just her kids. She would soon have more. Immediately after that earlier post we should have posted something about Elizabeth without James. But we didn't. Let's do it now.

It is shocking to see that in Fauquier County, Elizabeth owned slaves. In the 1840 census, her household included six male slaves and two female slaves. Some of the male slaves were almost certainly Elizabeth’s paramours. In addition, the 1840 census shows both free white and free colored people in the household, primarily Elizabeth’s children and grandchildren. Under Virginia law, the slave status of a child followed that of the mother (doctrine of partus sequitur ventrem). Offspring of Elizabeth would have been born free, whether the fathers were slaves or not. The numbers and age distributions of the free occupants are almost exactly what would be predicted:

1840 Fauquier County Census, Elizabeth's Household

Only the free colored males show a discrepancy from what is expected, likely because the oldest, William, had moved out. By 1840, Elizabeth’s son Telem Plato was married and living in a separate household. And her son Robert Frances was living in Warrenton, probably in the blacksmith shop of James Mclearen. More on Robert Frances, later.

Elizabeth, who arrived in Fauquier County around 1810 apparently lived out her life there, dying sometime between 1850, when she appears in the census, and 1860, when she is missing from the census.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Carrie Martin

Carrie Martin, the only known child of Maria and her second husband, Alfred Martin, appears to have been born in 1870; however, birth dates for Carrie (and her offspring) are highly questionable. Carrie apparently knocked off years as she grew older. Around 1890, Carrie married Isaac Chichester. whose ancestry is far too complicated to discuss here but was a descendant of Richard McCarty Chichester. The union has resulted in a lot of confusion, for a few years earlier, on 30 Mar 1882, Isaac had married, Catharine Collins, who went by the name “Carrie.” And, of course, the two Carries have been confused and often merged by family historians.

The first Carrie was born in October 1869 to Amanda (“Mandy”) Morton (Oct 1830–11 Jul 1933) and Henry Collins (Jun 1840–by 1910), probably in Fauquier County, where her parents were married (on 13 Apr 1873). Catharine and Isaac had a single known child, Samuel Chichester, who was born on 5 Jul 1884 in Fauquier County and died 7 Oct 1916 in Warrenton. Isaac’s first marriage did not last. On 28 Dec 1895 in DC, Catharine married Jerry Hughes and then went on to marry Johnson Addison in Fauquier County on 3 Oct 1917. Catharine died 14 Jul 1961 in the village of Casanova in Fauquier County.

Carrie Martin and Isaac Chichester, who may have died by 1910 (he does not appear in that census or thereafter), had four known children, all boys and all having gaps in contemporary records.

William Henry Chichester was born 5 Feb 1892 in Warrenton, and married Florence Scott in DC on 18 Aug 1920, a marriage that ended in divorce on 1 Feb 1941 in Arlington Co, Virginia. William died in October 1958, probably in DC where he had been living. He left no known descendants.

James Robert Chichester Sr.
(Kim D'Addario)

James Robert Chichester Sr. was probably born 3 Dec 1897, as given in the 1900 census, with the day taken from other records. The dates of 3 Dec 1893 on his death certificate and 3 Dec 1892 in his Social Security application are obviously incorrect. Might he have made himself look older to collect social security? James may have had a criminal element. In 1920 he was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison for theft of liquor seized in raids from the Fauquier County Clerk’s office, where it was being stored. He escaped from the Warrenton jail before he could be transferred to the prison but was soon recaptured. It is strange that James escaped since it was likely that he would have been pardoned. A majority of the jurors had petitioned his pardon after the principal witness against him had recanted his testimony. James was recaptured after having been seen as a pallbearer at the funeral of a relative. (Could the relative have been his father, Isaac?) That escapade may have helped end his marriage to Virginia Kathleen Tyler, who he married on 12 Sep 1917 and divorced on 29 Mar 1932, both actions in Fauquier County. After marrying one more time, to Ethyl Penny, James died 18 Jan 1950 in Charlottesville, Virginia. He had a single known child, James Robert Jr., from his first marriage.

The next child born to Carrie and Isaac was the mysterious Lee Ellsworth Chichester, who was born in Warrenton on 5 Jun 1900. We say “mysterious” because there are large gaps in his history. Despite being born in 1900, he is missing from the 1910 census record of his mother and his three brothers. And he cannot be found in census records after 1920. The latest we see him is in a 1942 WWII draft card, when he is shown as living in DC. No record is found of his date of death. Despite being married twice, to Virginia Arabelle Butler on 5 Jul 1922 in Fauquier County and Aleta Franklin on 5 Sep 1935 in DC, Lee left no known descendants.

Carrie and Isaac’s final child was Claude Leonard Chichester, born in Warrenton 4 Jul 1901. On 7 Jun 1922, Claude married Lillian Tomes in Fauquier County. The marriage resulted in two children, Louis Robert Jones and Carrie Virginia Chichester, but ended in divorce on 21 Jul 1937 in Baltimore, Maryland. Claude died in DC around May 1957.

And this brings us through the last of Maria Ann Tapscott's descendants, as far towards the present as we are willing to go. (I actually have 211 descendants in my database, and that count is undoubtedly far too few.) The next stop on our journey through the Fauquier County Tapscotts is Maria's sister, Cordelia, and her children.

Stupid errors? Typos? Complaints? Let me know.

 

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Louisa Martin

Louisa Martin, born c May 1860, was Maria and John Martin’s final known child. Louisa is seen with the name “Lou,” “Louise,” and even “Mary” in various records. In later years, Louisa claimed to have been born in May 1864, but she had obviously knocked some years off her age since she appears in the 1860 census. Louisa was about age 36 when, on 1 Oct 1896 in Fauquier Co, she was finally married, to John L. Preston. Born in June 1867 to John Preston and Harriet Brown, John was about seven years younger than Louisa, which may have prompted her age reductions. Mark Russell, who would father three of Louisa’s cousins, performed the ceremony. John L. Preston’s brother Hamilton had earlier married Gertrude Tapscott, Telem Plato’s granddaughter.

John and Louisa soon ended up with three children—Lillian (“Lillie”) B. Preston (b. Sep 1878), Louise A. C. Preston (b. c1900), and Lee E. Preston (b. c1901). But Lillian was born years before John and Louisa were married. When Lillian was born, John was only around age eleven, which makes him a highly unlikely father, though there are uncertainties in the birthdates of all the characters in our story. Louisa, on the other hand, would have been around age 18. Lillian may have been a child of Louisa, but not of John.

On 31 Dec 1895 in Fauquier Co, Lillian married George Chalmers Russell, who had been born 12 Mar 1866 to Mark Russell and Mary Frances Tapscott, Lillian’s first cousin twice removed. The couple had a single known child, Selena Russell, born November 1896. Selena is not seen after 1900 and presumably died. The same is true of Lillian. George married Nannie Roberta Mann in DC on 12 Sep 1921, though the two were living together well before that time and claimed to have married in 1901. This implies that Lillian had died around 1901. Like Lillian, her two siblings, Louise and Lee, had unknown fates. Neither are seen after 1910 and presumably died by the time of the 1920 census. Louisa Martin passed away 5 Jul 1912 in Warrenton, Virginia.

John L. Preston, remarried, with Lucy L. Miller in DC on 4 Nov 1919. Lucy had been born in March 1886 to Ashley (“Ash”) Miller and Lucy (Ferguson) Scott, probably in Culpeper County, where her parents had been married 11 Jun 1882. Ashley had died in Culpeper just a few years later, 7 Oct 1890. Her mother had apparently also died around the same time for Lucy is found in 1900 in Fauquier County living with a brother, Ernest, and a half-sister, Kate. Before her marriage to John, Lucy had at least six children from one or more complicated relationships.

John Preston and Lucy had five known children. Lucy is last seen in the 1920 census. John died in DC on 4 Mar 1937.

I have spent (wasted?) a lot of time investigating the life and relationships of Lucy Miller, but since she is not a Fauquier Tapscott, I have decided to not include the details in the book Elizabeth's Children. If you are interested or have a connection through Lucy's Hughes or Chandler associations, contact me. If there is sufficient interest, which I strongly doubt, I will blog what I have.

Have any photos I might use in the book? See questionable blog information or obvious errors? Have reliably sourced additional data? Contact me.