Fauquier County Tapscotts - Robert, the Coachman's First-Born Grandchild

Robert, Telem and Margaret’s (“Peggy’s) eldest, is the most informative and probably the most interesting of the Coachman’s eleven grandchildren.

He was born in Virginia, probably Fauquier Co, in Dec 1832 according to the 1900 Fauquier Co census; however, other records give approximate birthyears ranging from 1832 to 1835. Robert appears to have lived all his life farming in what is today the Cedar Run Distr of Fauquier Co, never marrying, or having any offspring. But, as the oldest, Robert took a leading role in looking after his siblings. He was one of the two children who helped obtain Reimbursement from the Southern Claims Commission for losses suffered by his father’s estate due to the war. And following the death of his parents, Robert headed a household containing four of his orphaned siblings, Ann Virginia, Elizabeth, William, and Maggie. Finally, on 26 Apr 1905, Robert wrote a will, something few early Fauquier Co Tapscotts did, leaving bequests to selected relatives, though the reasons behind those selections are uncertain.

I Robert Tapscott being of sound mind this 26 day of April 1905 & knowing the uncertainty of life do make this my last will and testament to wit - To my nephew Lee Chichester I give two (2) acres of land, my nephew Hamilton [sic] Chichester two (2) acres of land My niece Jennie Lewis Two (2) acres - Francis Russell my sister three & three quarters acres - and my sister Elizabeth Tapscott two (2) acres adjoining her land, all [unclear] land adjoins R W Darnell & Elizabeth Tapscott  To my nephew Robert Tapcott [sic] I give him all the land purchased of Turner Meeks. My niece Rose Tapscott I give the house in which I live and two (2) acres of land & all the fowles [?] & my sister Annie Tapscott & her daughter Mary Eliza to have a home with Rose as long as they live. To my niece Alice Tapscott I leave my large feather bed, bed pillow and bed clothes. Her son Robert I leave my gun & grey horse George. Archie Adderson [sic] to keep & take care of the ten horses now in his possession until the crop is saved the then turn them over to my Executor. I desire after all my just debts are paid the residue to be equally divided between my heirs. Witness my hand & seal this day & year above mention

Robert {his mark} Tapscott

Witness

Wm B. Tompkins

R. W. Daniell

Hampton's death record with his father listed as "Drdge."

Identification of some heirs is easy, others are challenging, particularly since two are given the name “Chichester” not “Tapscott.” Based on DNA evidence and a death record for Hampton Chichester son of “Drdge” (likely a scribble for “Doddridge”) and Nancy “Tabcot,” Nancy’s children were probably fathered by William Doddridge Chichester, a white farmer, who lived near Nancy, possibly next door, throughout her life. The children first took the name “Tapscott,” and later, “Chichester.”

One other individual named in the will was Archie “Adderson.” Archie Addison was a son-in-law of Annie Tapscott, one of the heirs.

On 8 Jan 1906, at the Clerks Office of the Fauquier Circuit Court, the following was recorded:

A paper writing dated the 26’day of April 1905 and purporting to be the last will and testament of Robert Tapscott deceased was produced before the Clerk of the Circuit Court for probate and R. W. Daniell one of the subscribing witnesses thereto was sworn and testified that the said testator Robert Tapscott signed and acknowledged said paper writing is ordered to be recorded as and for the time last will and testament of the said Robert Tapscott dec’d.

Sometime between the writing of the will on 26 Apr 1905, and the probate on 8 Jan 1906 (probably much closer to the latter date), Robert had died. The record goes on to state

And on motion of Robert Tapscott Jr - who made oath as the law requires and together with R W Daniell his security who justified as to his sufficiency entered into and acknowledged bond before said Clerk in the penalty of five hundred dollars payable and conditioned according to law

Robert Tapscott Jr. had made bond to be executor for the estate. But who was Robert Tapscott Jr.? Did Robert, Telem Plato’s oldest child, have a child after all? The answer is “No.” In the past, the terms “Sr.” and “Jr.” were used to differentiate between an elder and a younger man with the same name. Unlike today, the terms implied nothing about parentage. Robert Tapscott Jr. was undoubtedly the elder Robert’s nephew.

Robert signed his will with a mark.

It is amazing that Robert Tapscott, an illiterate man with no wife and no descendants, has provided us with records crucial in unraveling the descendants of Telem Plato.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - The Coachman's Descendants

We’ve discussed the Cundiff Line of Elizabeth's descendants and have introduced the Plato Line. It appears that Plato the Coachman had a single child with Elizabeth—Telem Tapscott/Plato. Actually, Telem appears with the surname "Plato" in only a single record, a Southern Claim Commissions Claim filed after his death.

Telem and his wife, Peggy Pinn, had a big family, eleven kids, the Coachman's grandchildren. The eleven children are all listed in the 1860 Fauquier Co census for the Telem and Peggy “Pearson” household. Even with the presumably incorrect surname, this record is particularly useful since it is likely that the children are listed in birth order, despite what might be found for their ages in other sources. The birth years for the children are remarkably varied in the various available records, probably because most were illiterate, as were their parents. The children order in the chart here is based on the 1860 census. The names and birth and death dates are compiled from multiple records and are subject to change as new records are found.

 

We are going to take a look at each of these eleven offspring in future blogs.

If you are a descendant of one of these eleven kids, we would love to hear from you. We are particularly interested in what you've heard about your ancestry. Even when not factual, as is often the case, family stories can provide valuable clues. 

And contact me if you disagree with anything or have suggestions, comments, or questions. Living well away from Fauquier Co, and from a rather distant Tapscott line, I need all the help I can get.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Robert the Mounted Policeman

Robert Tapscott, was born 18 Feb 1863 in Fauquier Co, according to his death certificate, which shows him to be a child of Virginia “Tappscott.” Strange about this is that he appears in neither the 1870 nor 1880 census. But, of course, Ann Virginia Tapscott, Robert’s apparent mother and daughter of Telem Plato, is also missing from the 1880 census.

By 1889 Robert was living in Washington, DC, working as a waiter, and there, on 28 Jun 1894, he married Mary A. West, District of Columbia born and bred. Then, the following year, he joined the DC police force,

Robert started out as a member of the respected Eighth Precinct, as noted for its showmanship as for its crime prevention. In 1898 Robert was a member of the Eighth Precinct drill team that won the right to carry the Wight Trophy flag down Pennsylvania Avenue in a parade of policemen and firemen, which passed in front of President McKinley.

Washington Times, 8 Nov 1898. (Red oval added.)

Then in 1903, Robert, now in the Ninth Precinct (where, for the most part he would remain), won second prize and an award of $25 in the Mounted Policemen’s Contest at the DC Horse Show. Robert and his black gelding “Frank” were members of the Mounted Squad, a position he would hold through the rest of his career.

Washington Times, 8 Nov 1903.  Pvt. Robert Tapscott was one of the mounted officers in this photo.

Robert was a highly respected officer. In 1906 he was moved from the Ninth to the Tenth Precinct, a move that was met with opposition from Ninth Precinct Citizens. According to the 4 May 1906 edition of the Evening Star,

Tapscott is said to be an excellent officer, has the good will of the white residents of the ninth precinct and is thoroughly familiar with affairs which concern the police in that section of the city. It was decided by unanimous vote to ask Major Sylvester to send him back to the precinct.

And in an Evening Star article published 24 Dec 1907

Capt. Charles E. Schrom . . . highly commended Policeman Robert Tapscott for his action in stopping a runaway horse December 16 at the risk of his life. According to the fire department captain the horse was attached to a delivery wagon and was running down Maryland avenue northeast at breakneck speed when Policeman Tapscott, who was mounted, gave chase. Tapscott, it is stated, leaned from his horse after catching up with the runaway and turned the frightened animal into 15th street northeast, brining it to a standstill. According to Capt. Schrom the corner of 54th street and Benning road was crowded at the time with pedestrians and teams and a serious accident would have doubtless been the result if the runaway animal had not been stopped.

Robert and Frank. (AAHA, Fauquier Co.)

In 1913 Maj. Richard Sylvester, Superintendent of Police, commended several policemen for meritorious service. One those was Robert Tapscott.

Being a mounted policeman was not without its dangers, though most were from riding through city streets rather than from crime. Robert was involved in several spills, one of which was being bumped from his horse by an automobile in 1919. Robert, who was bruised on his face and head, ended up suing the driver.

In 1921 Robert was once again in the news for being a winner in the Police Contest at the horse show. Sometime after 1926 Robert retired with a pension that was $100 a month in 1930 (about $20,700 a year in 2023 currency.)

Robert, and his wife, Mary (often called “Mamie), had no children of their own, though they are shown with a 6-year-old “stepdaughter,” Roberta Tapscott, living with them in Washington, DC, in 1910. Neither Roberta’s origin nor her denouement are known. Over the years Mary and Robert had several family members or family connections intermittently staying with them.

Robert returned to the Fauquier Co Cedar Run district, where his mother, siblings, and grandparents Telem and Peggie had lived. That is where he died, 8 Sep 1946, and where he was buried, in the Poplar Forks Church Cemetery. Mary, who lived another thirteen years, dying on 15 Nov 1959, is buried alongside him.

Mamie (Mary) and Robert, with Robert’s second cousin Fannie Mae Tapscott and her husband William Colvin, c1922, DC. The kids are presumably Fannie and Bill’s two first born, William and Tomasha. (AAHA, Fauquier Co.)

Our tale does not close here. You may have noted that Robert became a policeman just a year after marrying Mary. As we will see in our next blog, there is a probable reason for this. And that blog will introduce us to another, and possibly even more interesting DC policeman, William Henry West Sr.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Telem's Estate

When Telem Plato died in 1863, he left a considerable estate—considerable considering the time and circumstances. He was, after all, the son of an enslaved coachman and Virginia was on the verge of rebellion, with plans to put Yankees and black people in their place.

The personal property inventory (household goods and furniture, farm implements, livestock) ran to four pages and its sale brought $974.12. According to the record of the 17 Mar 1866 estate sale, purchasers included Robt Plato, Ann V. Plato, Telem Plato, Mack Plato, Elisabeth Plato, and Nancy Plato. The Coachman’s grandchildren had taken, or been given, the surname “Plato,” at least for a while, though they would soon go back to “Tapscott.”

Combined with cash on hand of $11.00, the sale proceeds showed a value of $985.12 ($18,109 in 2022 dollars) for Telem Plato’s estate, excluding real estate. And Telem did have real estate, valued at $200 in 1860, which was presumably passed down to his children.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Plato, the Coachman

And now we come to Elizabeth Percifull’s second line of descendants,

A Fauquier Tapscott family story relates that before her marriage to James Tapscott, Elizabeth Percifull had a child in Lancaster Co, Virginia with her father’s enslaved coachman “Plato.” In 1781, Elijah had but two slaves, Molly and Grace, no Plato. His 1814 will, mentions just three slaves, Judith, Daniel, Leroy. Again no name resembling that of the fabled coachman.

One might ignore this story of a coachman’s child,  but Elijah is known to have owned eleven unnamed slaves in 1810, and Plato could have been among them.  More important is that on 27 Feb 1832, a “Tellham Platoe” was registered in Fauquier County, a requirement for free Blacks. His age was given as twenty-one, corresponding to a birth year of 1810 or 1811, exactly what one might expect for a child of Elizabeth prior to her marriage. And he was said to be “born free.” 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. Perhaps most significant is that his descendants show DNA matches with Elizabeth’s known descendants. As a son of Elizabeth, “Tellham” would have lived with James and Elizabeth Tapscott as a child, taking James’s last name (on occasion).

Tellham used or was given numerous names during his life in Fauquier Co. Contemporary records show him with first names “Telem,” “Telum,” and “Tilum,” in addition to “Tellham.” And last names “Tapscott,” "Topscott," “Tapsco,” “Tapscon,” “Pearson,” and “Plato,”  in addition to “Platoe.” And we are omitting the obvious errors “Teland”  and “Caleb,” found in two documents.

Every year between 1835 and 1850 “Telum Tapsco” (“Telum Tapscon” in 1838) paid Fauquier Co taxes, much more often than any of Elizabeth’s other children. The taxes ranged from eight cents to thirty cents, always for one male over age sixteen and often for horses and mules, up to three. Telum Tapsco was doing well for himself, as will be seen.

In the 1840 Fauquier County census, “Tilum Topscott” is shown as the head of a household comprised of a man and woman, both aged 24 to 36 (birth year 1804 to 1811), and five children under 10 years old (three boys and two girls, birth year 1830 to 1840). The family, which appears in the census only one line away from Elizabeth Tapscott’s listing, also had two slaves, a case of Blacks owning Blacks. This was not uncommon. Sometimes the ownership was “benevolent” (to avoid the higher taxes faced by freed slaves) and sometimes it was strictly “commercial.” A death record for Telem the younger gives his parents as Telem (the  first name we will use) and Peggie Tapscott.

The elder Telem and his family is missing from the 1850 census, but he and his wife, “Peggy” (“Margaret Pinn” according to the death certificate for their daughter Ann Virginia), appear with their eleven children in the Fauquier Co census of 1860 with a surname change to “Pearson.” The name change was probably due to the the census enumerator recording the name he thought he heard from a client unable to check the spelling. Though the Pearson name was not uncommon in Fauquier Co we find no connection between the Pearsons and the Tapscotts, We know that the Pearson family in the 1860 census is the family of Telem Plato Tapscott because seven of the eleven “Pearson” children (Robert, Ann, Telem (Jr.), Mack (“Mac”), Elizabeth, William, Nancy, Maggie, and George) can be readily identified bearing the surname “Tapscott” in the 1870 Fauquier County census. Only Frances and Rodolph are not immediately apparent. The age of Telem “Pearson,” sixty-seven, in the census, corresponding to a birth year of about 1793, is almost certainly incorrect. Peggy’s birth year is 1814 or 1815 according to her age of forty-five in the 1860 census.

The congressional act of 4 July 1864 recognized the Federal Government’s debt to loyal citizens for property losses suffered during the Civil War and arranged reimbursement. At first claims were allowed only by northern states, but eventually, after animosity toward the south subsided, the act was extended to those southerners demonstrating Union loyalty. Following the death of their father in 1863 and their mother in 1865, Telem and Peggy’s children asked Robert R. Tompkins (a white farmer) to administer the estate of “Telem Plato Colored” and to file a claim for losses suffered during the Civil War. By the end of his life, Telem’s surname had been changed one more time, to “Plato,” likely what it had been originally and the name I have chosen to use. Not only is "Telem Plato" more interesting than "Telem Tapscott," its use avoids confusion between the younger and elder Telems.

In depositions, Telem the younger claimed that milk cows, sheep, oats, and corn had been taken by Union troops, some of them under the command of “Genl Blenker” (General Louis Blenker, who died in October 1863 of injuries he had received much earlier when he commanded troops in Warrenton, Fauquier County). The younger Telem’s brother Robert stated that

All our family were in favor of the Union during the war. My father was a strong Union Man. We all thought it would better for all colored people to have the north [unclear] and we were always glad when they did [unclear], The rebels forced some of us to work on the fortifications at Manassas when the war first broke out., but after that we all kept clear of them. One of my brothers, Rodolph went off with the Union Army and we all done all we could for the Union officers and soldiers…

As administrator, Robert Tompkins claimed $1,646, of which $582.50 was allowed.

In his deposition Robert Tapscott made a strange statement:

My father was a colored man and my mother was a white woman; and the children all go by the name of Tapscott because that was my mother’s name.

The only white Tapscotts known to be in Fauquier County around the time of Robert’s birth were Elizabeth Tapscott and her daughter Harriet. Elizabeth is believed to have been the mother of Telem Plato and Harriet, his half sister. We know of no white Peggy Tapscott in Fauquier County. It sounds like Robert was speaking of his grandparents, rather than his parents. Could we have it all wrong? Perhaps, but probably not.

What do you think?