Susan Cary Tapscott

In a still-unsuccessful attempt to definitively connect Robert Francis Tapscott with the family of Henry Tapscott (the Immigrant), I have continued researching the sons of James and Susan Howard (Baker) Tapscott—Baker, Newton, and Chichester since one of them appears to be the most likely connection (if there is one). The latter two brothers each had a single known child, a daughter. Susan Cary Tapscott (Newton) and Anna Chichester Tapscott (Chichester). Susan Cary Tapscott’s death is the subject of a most interesting tale, one that unfortunately sheds no light on Robert Francis.

Following Newton’s death, his daughter, Susan Cary, whose middle name comes from her grandmother, Elizabeth Blair (Cary) Fairfax, was made a ward of her uncle Baker Tapscott. She is shown living with her aunt and uncle Susanna Carolyn (Tapscott) and Lucas P. Thompson in the 1850 Augusta County, Virginia, census, where her age is given as 23 (birth year 1826 or 1827). Consumption, took her life, as it did her mother’s. She went to Savannah, Georgia, for her health, and passed away there in 1852.

Four years after her death, one of the Virginia delegates to the 1856 Southern Commercial Convention in Savannah, Georgia “brought to memory Miss Tapscott of Staunton, who died of consumption, in Savannah.” From a newspaper article, “Gayety in Savannah,” The Daily Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, Monday, 15 Dec 1856, p. 1, col. 3:

The disease had fastened upon her, and in a very short time she fell a victim to the destroyer. Towards the close of her life, when pale wasted and emaciated, she was frequently placed in an open carriage and driven along a beautiful road, that gently winds along the banks of the lovely Savannah river, at this point. Conscious of her approaching dissolution, and feeling that the beautiful savannas of the South would soon be forever shut from her eye, and that the gentle and balmy breezes which are so peculiar to the climate would soon cease to fan her cheeks, she ordered the carriage to be stopped on one occasion, and pointed out a spot near the banks of the river, beneath a little grove of trees, where she desired her remains to be buried. in a short time after, her spirit winged its way to realms above, and in accordance with her request, the ashes of that fair girl now repose at the very spot designated by her in life. her name was Sue Cary Tapscott, a one that will doubtless be remembered by many in Virginia. There is no stone of any description to mark the spot, or tell the passer by who reposes under the shade of that beautiful little grove where her body now lies. Mr. Hunter, the speaker, stated that there was now a larger body of Virginians present in Savannah than would ever again be collected on Georgia soil, and he hoped they would contributed something to the erection of an appropriate monument in memory of Sue Cary Tapscott. the appeal, which consisted mainly of a tribute to the virtues and accomplishments of the deceased and was truly pathetic and affecting, was liberally responded to, and over $200 collected for the purpose. The funds will be placed in the hands of Mr. Charles Preston, at whose residence Miss Tapscott died, and that gentleman will superintend the erection of the monument.

In Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery (made famous by John Berendt’s 1994 novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) stands a stone engraved “Susan Tapscott of Staunton Va. Died 1852.” Enclosed by an ornate wrought iron fence, her monument predates the formation of the public burial ground from the Mullryne Plantation on the Wilmington River joining the Savannah River, where her carriage apparently passed

Faulquier County Tapscotts - Robert Francis Tapscott

Today, I noticed a Find-a-Grave entry for Robert Francis Tapscott, which gives his parents as "James Tapscott and Susannah Howard Tapscott (nee: Baker)" of Botetourt County. This would be laughable were it not likely to lead to a mass of misinformation and a multitude of erroneous family trees to be passed down from person to person without thought or consideration. The reason that it would otherwise be laughable is that James Tapscott, the husband of Susannah Howard Tapscott died over a decade before Robert Francis was born. Besides, James Tapscott's will, which names all his children and step children, makes no mention of Robert Frances. I would very much like to see a male descendant of Robert Francis Tapscott by an all-male line, take a yDNA test and join the Tapscott Project, but so far I have had no volunteers. Come on. We need you! In the meantime, below is what I have written about Robert Francis Tapscott in the 2nd edition of my book Henry the Immigrant (still a draft). Please forgive some missing endnotes, which do not always come through in these blogs. Note that there is a chance, albeit slim, that Robert was the son of a James Tapscott, but not the James of Botetourt County, rather James E. of Fauquier County. I am still looking into this as well as the possible Baker or Newton Tapscott connection.

The origin of Robert Francis Tapscott, who married Lucy Frances Wood (daughter of Alexander Wood and Elizabeth Kirtley) and whose family and descendants appear in Clarke County, Virginia, censuses beginning in 1850, remains a mystery. Robert is first named in a 4 April 1843 Clarke County record: “James T. [Thomas] 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.” That Robert was from Fauquier County could indicate that he was a child of James and Elizabeth (Percifull) Tapscott, or possibly an illegitimate child of Elizabeth. Robert was born 8 March 1817, the last year that James could have still been living. That a marriage record for Joseph Baker Tapscott, Robert’s oldest son, stated that he and his bride were “colored” might indicate a mixed-race offspring of Elizabeth, who is known to have had such descendants. The 1840 Fauquier County census shows Elizabeth’s household with no white, but several free black males. Note, however, no document other than Joseph Baker Tapscott’s marriage record indicates the possibility of a mixed-race origin.

Clarke County is located near Hampshire and Jefferson Counties, now in West Virginia, where the three sons of James and Susanna (Baker) Tapscott resided. Furthermore, Robert Francis married a Wood, and Susanna Baker’s mother was a Wood, as was her first husband, John. And the middle name of Robert and Lucy’s oldest child was “Baker.” In view of these facts, particularly the middle name “Baker,” Robert Francis Tapscott would appear to be a possible grandson of James Sr. and Susanna—a son of Newton, Baker, or Chichester. (He cannot have been a son of James Sr., who was deceased by 27 February 1807, ten years before Robert Francis was born. But no relationship between Lucy Wood and Judith Howard Wood is known. Moreover, Robert and Lucy were married by Rev. Joseph Baker, for whom their first-born may well have been named. The 1820 Romney, Virginia census shows the Newton Tapscott household with one male child, who has never been identified. Likewise, the 1830 census for Shepherdstown, Virginia, shows the Baker Tapscott family with four male children, but only three sons are known. But the obituary of Newton Tapscott’s widow, Louisa, specifically states that she left only an infant daughter, and the only known marriages of Baker and Chichester occurred years after the birth of Robert Francis Tapscott.

Robert Francis died 24 June 1874 and is buried in Old Chapel Cemetery, Clarke County, Virginia. His wife is said to be buried there also, but no grave is now found.