1766 Christopher in Rockbridge County, Virginia

A History of Rockbridge County Virginia by Oren F Morton

Staunton Virginia

1920

published by The McClure Co., Inc.

Found online at Ancestry.com filmstrip #66

 

History of Christopher Vineyard by Jewell B Krauss

 The following information was taken from a small booklet: Krauss, Jewell Bell, Adams-Bell Genealogies and Allied Families: Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 83-60029; January 1983. Stevens Publishing Company, Astoria, Illinois.
 

CHRISTOPHER VINEYARD

And

DESCENDANTS

 
The family name of Vineyard seems to have had a variety of spellings; such as Winegart, Winegard, Vingard, etc. Christopher Vineyard showed up in the Natural Bridge area in Virginia  in 1754 where he bought 300 acres and received a land grant of 60 acres from King George. He could have been the Christopher Wingar who bought several items at the sale of property of John Vineyard who died in 1758 just north of Natural Bridge at Staunton. (Truett L. Vineyard’s records – direct descendant, grandson of George Washington Vineyard Jr., brother to my Edna Campbell Vineyard) (Possibly the Bell family was also living in this area at this time).
 
The inventory of Christopher Vineyard’s estate, Rockbridge County, Virginia (Archives, Virginia State Library, Richmond) shows a total inventory of $942.71 which was dated 11 December 1807 and signed by Wm. Houston, Jo Gilmore, Joseph Paxton, Peter Sally. It consisted of three legal size pages of evaluated items which included 4 horses, total value $190; 6 cows and heifers and 1 bull, $56.50; corn, wheat, rye, oats, flax, and hay, $102; bonds on the following: John Blair and John Miller $60, John Miller $166.64, Richard Guthry $83.34, George Vineyard $66.68, and James Brawford $12.37.
                        Recorded January Court 1808, Rockbridge County                Teste A. Reid cc
 
From Rockbridge County Clerk, Lexington, Virginia: “Rockbridge Oct. term 1809 directing us to settle with George Vineyard and John Croddy administrators of CHRISTIAN Vineyard deceased, we have received the following acct.: Appraisement Bill of personal estate $942.71. “We note that $942.71 is the exact gross inventory of CHRISTOPHER Vineyard’s estate. Obviously, some clerk inadvertently wrote “Christian” instead of Christopher. The DAR Registrar General has accepted this.
 
Debts paid totaled $62.84 (Included was the burial expense of 3 Lbs, 6-0, apparently about $10.00) leaving net estate of $879.87 to be divided – one-third to the widow & one-fourth of remaining balance to each of the following: Peggy Croddy, John Miller, George Vineyard, Mary Kelly. These represent the children of Christopher Vineyard.
                        Signed             Jo Gilmore                   Jo Paxton
 
I.                 Christopher Vineyard b. 1741 in Germany (DAR rec.), m. Elizabeth ? (estate papers), d. before Dec. 1807 Rockbridge County, Virginia. Several had joined DAR on Christopher Vineyard’s Revolutionary War service but Jewell Bell Krauss was the first to establish Christopher’s son, George (my line) as a patriot.  Their children were:
1.     Ann Vineyard b. ca 1760 m. John Miller d. before Oct. 1809 (her share of her father’s estate when to her husband.)
2.     George Vineyard b. 21 June 1759 in Virginia, m. Mary Campbell
3.     Mary Vineyard m. George Kelly
4.     Peggy Vineyard m. John Croddy
 
 ******
2. George Vineyard b. 21 July 1759 in Virginia.
In his pension papers he stated he did not know where in Virginia, moved to Rockbridge County at age 5, and remained there until after the War of the Revolution. Then he moved to Montgomery County, Virginia and in his later years resided in Scott County, Virginia.
 
During the War, he served as a volunteer in the militia in 3 encounters – all from Rockbridge County. He wound up under the direction of General Washington and was sent to Yorktown. He became ill there and was sent to a hospital about 12 miles away, causing him to miss the capture of Cornwallis. He was then dismissed from service but never received discharge papers. Because of rheumatoid arthritis, he circulated very little which was perhaps the reason he did not learn until 1844 of the pension bill of 1831 making available a pension to all who served in the Revolutionary War.
 
The census of 1810 shows George Vineyard living in Montgomery County, Virginia with his family. He sold his holdings in Mongomery County to his sister, Mary “Polly” Vineyard Kelly, deeded some of his land to the Methodist Church, and moved to Gate City, Scott County, Virginia where he is buried. The 1850 census of Scott County shows George Vineyard, age 90, living in the household of Campbell Vineyard, his son. (George Vineyard information from his pension papers #S7794 and Truett L. Vineyard’s records). NOTE: Truett was a great-grandson to George 1759, Truett was a grandson to George Washington Vineyard Jr 1838 who married Margaret Elizabeth Agee. Truett supplied much of this information.
 
George Vineyard b. 1759 m. Mary Campbell, dau. of Geroge Campbell, on 11 Feb 1790, Rockbridge County, VA., d. 1852 Scott County, VA age 92. Their children were:
 
A.     George Washington Vineyard (1793-1860) m. 1823/5 Hannah Hart, (1802-1882)
 
B.     John Vineyard m. Malinda Whitt. Moved near Booneville, Mo. (Tipton). John T. Vineyard was appointed curator of the estate of Malinda Vineyard 13 June 1859, Moniteau county, Mo. Security, William Vineyard and George Vineyard. John T. Vineyard died Jan. 1861. George C. Vineyard then became Adm. de binis non 1 Mar 1861. Security, William Vineyard, J.W. Renshaw, and James Barger.
 
C.     Cambell Vineyard b. 1812 Montgomery County, VA. M. Nancy Pate. Moved to Gate City, Scott County, VA.
 
D.     Elizabeth Vineyard
 
E.     Margaret vineyard
 
F.      Sarah Vineyard b. 1803 VA m. Robert Bell Jr., son of Robert Bell Sr., Montgomery County, VA Oct. 1820. The family moved to Missouri in the mid 1830’s. some of their children are listed under the Robert Bell Jr. lineage.
 
G.    Nancy Vineyard b. 1797 VA m. William Bell, Son of Robert Bell Sr., Montgomery Co. VA 18 Oct. 1820. This family also went to Missouri in the mid 1830’s, preceding the Robert Bell family. D. 5 June 1860, Cole County, MO.
 
H.    Mary Ann “Polly” Vineyard m. John Bell, son of Robert Bell Sr. 17 Oct 1818 Montgomery Co VA. He died 1839 at age 50. She was mentioned in deeds through the early 1850’s. They had 10 children.
 
I.       Hannah Vineyard
 

******
A.     George Washington Vineyard (1793-1860) m. Hannah Hart (1802-1882), dau of Elijah and Mary Atkins Hart, 1823/5 Scott County, VA. Their children were:
 
ii. George Washington Vineyard, Jr. (1883-1892) m. Margaret Elizabeth Agee (1840-1900) Note: Truett L. Vineyard, Richardson, Texas who supplied much of this information was this couple’s grandson.
 
iii. Elijah Vineyard, no marriage. In the Mexican War.
 
iv. Elisha Vineyard m. Polly Agner
 
v. John A. Vineyard m. Elizabeth France
 
vi. William Isaac Vineyard m. Sarah Agee, sister to Margaret.
 
vii. Polly Ann Vineyard m. William E. Coley
 
viii. Edna Campbell Vineyard m. (1) Ira Quillin (2) Wilson Barker
 
ix. Malinda Vineyard m. Austen Brown

Losing a Great Friend/Neighbor/then COUSIN

LINDA KAY COX

 1944-2023

I never knew when we moved in at the lake how many connections I would have with this sweet lady. 

Derek realized that Skip was his trainer at Baylor so we already had that connection. But over time, we grew to become deep friends. When Skip passed in 2020, we were not able to attend the funeral, but we went to the lake to see Kay and the family from a distance. 

Then in 2021, we were there for Kay as she closed on her beloved lake place. It was an honor to know her and to love both her and Skip. I am so thankful that I was able to see Kay the Friday before she passed. I was able to hold her hand and tell her how much I love her.

oh...and I took her a box of chocolates with the following letter.

Within in the last two years, I realized through DNA that we are connected a distant cousins on my Hulsey line. It is mentioned in the letter below. I loved her SO MUCH!

Nov. 1, 2023

 “Life is like a box of chocolates…. you never know what you will get.”

 It’s kind of like that … with you and me. We became neighbors when we purchased our lake property, and who would have ever guessed that Derek and Skip already knew one another. Then we grew into a relationship that was more than just a neighbor. You became a friend to me, and eventually, it became a deep friendship of sharing, caring, love and laughter and just embracing one another through thick and thin. I looked forward to being at the lake because you were there. We were ‘back-door’ neighbors on our little dusty road. You always understood my heart, and we shared our shoulders on which to rest our weary heads sometimes. I have countless GOOD memories of our times together. Then once again, the variety of chocolate changed because I found family connections on Ancestry to the Gailey and Brock names. With Judy’s help, I learned that our connection was always within our DNA. Distant as it may be, it is real. It is… a neighbor…a friendship …a cousin that was meant to be!

 I love you!

                                                                                Nancy

When Skip passed away, I wrote the letter below because I knew that she could no longer live at the lake.

May 11, 2020

 My Dear Sweet Kay,

 I have opted to write you a letter, as there is no way that I could express the following by talking. I would be an ugly mess, but it is important for you to know what you and Skip mean to us.  I have also opted to type as I’m afraid my hand would be a bit too shaky as I write from the heart and through tears.

 Though we all know that death is as much a part of life as living, it doesn’t make it any easier to lose someone. But we have faith that gives us hope because we know that Skip is in a better place than we could even imagine.  That is a comfort to me, and it is a comfort to know that he no longer suffers. Nor is he trying to stay here on earth as the protector and provider of his family.  That was always his first and most important job. He was a servant of mankind, and he used that talent well to mold many lives into better human beings.

 Though our paths were very near during our time at Baylor, it is really the intimate relationship that we formed with you guys here at the lake that matters. As we grew to know and love you both, we gained so much from that relationship. Skip was a walking source of knowledge, forever knowing the answers to questions about anything that we wanted to know. He was always here to help us out or to offer suggestions for problems that needed to be solved. We always felt that we had our own personal doctor at the lake. There were 3 huge events that required a doctor’s attention, and he was here, johnny on the spot. (And the dogs also benefited from his knowledge.)  It has always been a comfort knowing that you guys are here.  I had to work hard to not overuse him, as I was often wanting to “run to Skip”.

 And you, my friend, are a ray of sunshine to many.  I admire your ability to connect with others, your empathy for others, your ability to take people in and embrace them. Your creative talents are enviable. That you can take an old wine bottle or an old bench, or ‘whatever’ and bring life to it just amazes me. Your way with words shows your ability to be vulnerable and see life for what it is.  Both you and Skip have inspired me to be better, to do better, and to be kinder to all. Thank you for being ‘that’ person in my life. I love your sense of humor, as I take things far too seriously. You seem to make lemonade out of lemons all the time. I have enjoyed our heart-to-heart talks, and it seems that there are many things ‘under the surface’ that we understand about each other.

 Now for the hard part. It’s really the selfish part on my behalf. Reality tells me that ‘life at the lake’ will never be the same. This grieves me beyond belief. So many things have changed in all of our lives and on our end of the cove, and I’m not looking forward to the coming changes, because you see, over the last 5-6 years, you and Skip have become part of our experience of coming to the lake, each and every time. We have enjoyed your company and knowing that we would get to spend time with you and share our many stories and open our hearts to each other. I can’t even imagine how sad it will be for me, when I look over and you are not there and there is no Dolly to greet us at the gate when we arrive.

 But life does go on, and you will find your way forward with the strength that you and Skip have used to overcome many obstacles. Through the darkness, you will find light and your children will be the rock that you stand on.  I’m wishing for you many happy trails ahead and may a few of them still be down a dusty old road.

                                                                         All my love, 

Nancy

Christopher Vineyard DAR

 Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 3 October 2017), "Record of Christopher Vineyard", Ancestor # A118925.

Taking My Sister to Camp Fire Camp 1961

 Mother placed her children in special organizations to enhance their personal growth. Bryan was in Cub Scouts. Paula and I were in Camp Fire Girls. In the summer of 1961, our family trip was to take Paula to Camp Fire Camp at Camp Latoli in Saint Jo, Texas, close to Fort Worth. Camp Latoli was built in 1950. Several of the pictures are when we dropped her off. I don't think she was very fond of the idea of being left, and if my memory serves me correctly, she grew homesick and mailed letters home begging for Mother and Daddy to come get her. But she persevered and made it through the week. On our return to pick her up, we did a side trip to a local Air Force Base and a Garden. Of course, we enjoyed the motel and swimming the most.

Me and my sister

Paula and her camp counselor

Their totem. Paula's group was the white patch on the pole near her head.

A walk down to the camp's new pool. About this time, I was glad it wasn't me staying at the camp. The reality was also setting in on Paula.

Hike downhill to Pool

And back up again. 

Pool time!

We had the pool to ourselves. I was a bit afraid of the water. Bryan is in the pool and Mother is coaxing me closer.

Train ride at the park, minus Daddy who took all the pictures. He was the only one with a steady hand.

And a brother who couldn't resist irritating his little sister. 

Daddy's Family 1961

This post features Daddy's family in 1961.

Pictured above: Oscar Hart, Merphia's 2nd husband, Merphia Ewing Quillin Hart (my grandmother), Billye Merle Quillin Carver, Bobby Carver, Truman (my daddy), Carolita Jones Quillin (my mother), Leonard Emmons, Francelle Quillin Emmons, and unknown older gentleman...may be Leonard's dad.

Above: Daddy and his sisters, Billye and Francelle.

                                        

Above: Granny Hart (Merphia Ewing Quillin) and her daughters, Francelle and Billye. Of course, my brother, Bryan and cousin David are peeking out from the tree. and I stand in wait to be part of a picture.

Above: The children: front row, Paula Quillin, Nancy Quillin, David Carver

back row: Beverly Carver, Patricia Emmons, Bryan Quillin.

The Artist - Merphia Ewing Quillin Hart

 There have been different spellings of her name. We called her Granny, but in my research, I always use the spelling that she placed on her artwork. She was talented with oils on canvas. These two pieces are still in my possession. Granny gave them to my mother, Carolita Quillin. 

Granny signed her artwork as MERPHIA HART. 

She enjoyed painting still-life and landscape. 

The landscape painting (below) was painted by Merphia from a photo that was taken by my mother after a vacation trip to Colorado. This was Mother's favorite spot in the mountains. It forever hung in our home.