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.