Welcome
Welcome to the Blog for all things about Louisa County history. We are actively engaged in preserving and sharing our 250 year plus history. If you aren’t actually here to explore our rich history in person, then join our online community by visiting our blog often and posting some pieces of your own research.
If you’re hunting for more information, we invite you to visit us online at www.louisahistory.org . There you’ll find information about what’s in our two museums, links to our genealogy and African-American Schools websites, and some of our YouTube videos. Better still, we invite you to come visit Louisa County and enjoy exploring our history for yourself.
Oh, and if you’re close enough to join our many activities at the Sargeant Museum in the Town of Louisa, send us your email at louisahistory@verizon.net and we’ll be sure you receive timely notices of upcoming events.
It seems most of our postss are related to family history or homeplaces. You might also leave a question at our Rootsweb site . Several of our local family history researchers monitor the site and will contact you if they can provode you with more information.
Looking for any info on the Bollinger family in cuckoo or Hunter Hill farm on Indian Creek rd (rt.699)
Thanks,
Thomas
Looking for any information on James Cole Dickinson, his wife Mary Sandridge and their daughter Jane Robertson Dickinson-Riordan-Gillespie. These are my great grandparents. Jane is My line though her son, Lafayette Washington Riordan. Jane was married to my Great (several greats) Francis D. Riordan from Ireland, after his death she married David Shelton Gillespie, who would be my step-grandfather. He also died and I can not find any information about Jane after 1860. Jane’s daughter Francis married into the Moss family and her other daughter (Mary or Elizabeth) married into the chewing family.
Also How are Mary sandridge and the overton family connected, I think they are cousins.
The James Cole Dickinson family plantation was called Belle Isle. I understand the home is no longer standing, but the grave yard still contains the graves of several of the Dickinson family members. And would like to know how I would be able to gain permission to visit the graveyard when my husband and I visit Louisa in the fall of 2012?
Thank you for any information or help you might be able to give me.
Diane Marie Hacker
Hello, I’m seeking information about my 5th Great Grandfather, Cleavers Chrisholm Duke. He resided in Louisa, County, Virginia; born in 1717 and died in 1785. Actually, information regarding his entire family, during this period would be much appreciated. I’m anticipating a trip to this area, in the near future.
cleavers chisholm duke was my sixth great grandfather. he was known as the king of little river. his home is still on diggstown road, here in louisa county. have been working on my duke line for most of the last year. would be glad to extend to you what i have. what line do you come from in his children?
as i have it documented, cleavers had four daughters; amediah amy, jane, dorothy, and my fifth great grandmother elizabeth cosby. which line do you descend from? your fourth great grandmother would be my fifth great aunt. you may actually help me with my line.
R.C. Heath, Thank-you for your reply. My line comes down from Cleavers Chrisholm Duke’s son, Cosby Duke. I especially would like pictures of any of our ancestors and their documents and especially the extent of our family still residing in the Louisa area. My efforts, to date, have extended over a number of years. I will help in any way I can. How far up the line have you ventured — it gets very interesting.
Hello, sorry to butt in on the correspondence. But I am a descendant of Amediah Duke and Thomas Swift. I live in the Richmond area and would love to be included in an exchange of information. I have been researching at the Library of Va and through the internet for about 8 years. Don’t have much on the Dukes but would love to learn more.
Rita, Please consider yourself included and welcome. Glenn
glenn, can you email some time? (rheath@louisa.org) i will be happy to forward what i have. it was only after literally hundreds of dukes in my tree, that i uncovered that apparently, i believe it was written, that the duke line is the largest line in the world. i have so many that i have actually taken a break at the beginning of the w’s. is it possible that you can access my tree on ancestry.com ?
rich
rita, amediah was my aunt. that would make both you and glenn cousins. as with mr. shrader, i will send you what i have. it is not unlikely that you both will be able to help me.
rich
Rich, Thank-you for your continuing replies. My E-Mail address is gshraco@comcast.net. I would very much appreciate your information. As you note the Duke line has many connections and I have found Ancestry.com quite useful in my research. Glenn
Searching for our ancestors John Thacker and Mary Ailstock (Allstott), or John Thacker and Betsey Lewis, Louisa, Louisa County, born around 1788. Lived in the area through 1862. Parents of Robert Anderson Thacker, and Susan and Anna. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
I am still trying to find information about my GG Grandfather, Matthew Walton Lacy, his father was Matthew Charles Lacy, his siblings were: Martina Hamilton Lacy, Marrion Elizabeth Lacy, Willie Fleming Lacy, Mary E. Lacy and Justina Harriet Lacy. I have searched in vain for information but because he was deaf maybe census takers, etc., have not recorded the correct information….if anyone knows or has any information on any of these people I would love to hear from you…
Thanks
Matthew Walton Lacy was my great great grandfather. His sister, Martina Hamilton Lacy was my great grandmother. Just e-mail me and I will try to answer any questions. Betty
bwild13@verizon.net
I am looking for information on my great grandparent who lived in Louisa, Cuckoo area. James E and Barbara J Whitlock, James’ parent were Jesse and Sally Whitlock and Barbara’s parents are Wash and Mary Johnson. Also any information on paternal great grandfather Rev Edward Harris and Pearl Daisy Atkinson of Louisa too. Thank you Jean
My name is Eugene Maury McGehee and I live in Brandenburg, Kentucky My great, great, great, grandfather was William L. McGehee and he was born May 1768 and was the son of James McGehee and Lydia Hansford Cole Mullun. He was married to Mary Burrus who was born about 1779. He moved to Kentucky in 1804 from Louisa County Virginia and fought in the War of 1812. When he arrived in Kentucky he purchased 1,000 acres of land along the Ohio River 30 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky 2 miles east of the Solomon Brandenburg Trading Post in an area now Meade County Kentucky.
On February 28,1825, he and four others were appointed trustees for a new town to be laid off on lands of Solomon Brandenburg, and the town would be called Brandenburg. In 1829 he was a charter member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist church of Brandenburg(now First Baptist Church). He had at least six chirdren. He died on July 4, 1851 at the age of 83 years and is buried in the McGehee grave yard in Meade County.
One of his sons John H. McGehee was born May 6, 1805 and died on June 4, 1856.
John lived on the McGehee farm until she death on 1856.
I need any information you have on my McGehee ancestors in Louisa County Va. please E-Mail me at gmcgehee_klc@yhoo.com
Looking for descendants of Pettits and Omohundro. My grandmother was Tarah Pettit and her mother was Amanda Washington Omohundro.
I just discovered this blog; my family began in Louisa Co. with a man named William Darwin (1707-1786). He appears in Louisa Co. court records from 1743. His son was Jesse Darwin, whose name later changed to ‘Durvin’ around 1799. His son, William D. Durvin, and all later family members used the Durvin surname. Either William Darwin or his grandson William D. Durvin built a house in the Eastern part of the Louisa Co. that still stands today and is known locally as the ‘Strong house’ (it was owned by the Strong family from 1844 to 1972). One of William D. Durvin’s sons was John Washington Durvin (1820-1893), who served in the Hanover Artillery (and the Amherst Artillery) during the Civil War. John W. Durvin was born in Bumpass and in 1841 married Mary Catherine Gunnell from Buckner. In some records the surname is misspelled ‘Dervin’. The 1902 Confederate widow’s pension for Mary C. Dervin (this is actually the wife of John W. Durvin) says that her husband died in June 1893 in Hinton, Summers Co., West VA, however I cannot find any record of his death in W. VA. I believe he may have been buried in a ‘family cemetery’ in Louisa Co. Perhaps near the property where the Strong house stands? I have the death certificate for one of his sons, James Alexander Durvin, who was born in Bumpass, Louisa Co. around 1851 and died in Beaver Dam, Hanover Co. on 18 Nov. 1926. He was buried on 19 Nov. 1926 in Bumpass. The undertaker is listed as Powell & Flynn of Beaver Dam, VA. I have not been able to locate the grave of James A. Durvin either. I would appreciate any information on the Durvin family, especially the location of the graves of John W. and James A. Durvin.
Looking for the stories behind the Cosby families of Cub Creek. I plan to visit the end of June 2011. The first names are Dabney, Zachius and Mary. Also looking for stories about Susan Dabney. I have the vital dates if you are interested.
Thanks in advance,
Michael Helmantoler gggGrandson
I am American-American and searching for long lost family members. My grand father was Matthew Yancy, Sr. and his second wife was Lillian Brooks. They had 6 children Matthew Jr., Clarence, Frederick, Henderson, Charles and Ruth.I believe my grand father was born in or around Louisa County. My father Fredrick was born in 1925. At some point around 1925 my grand father and family moved to Ed Wyte, West Virginia to work in the coal mines. My grand father had a brother named Charles Yancy, who stayed in Virginia. Charles Yancy had two sons Chat and Levi Yancy who lived in Louisa County. My grand father also had a brother named Thornton Yancy and sisters named Anna, Nannie, Fannie, Rick and Prea. My father Fredrick Yancy married Mary Elizabeth Morton. My maternal grand parents were Frank and Maude Morton. I would appreciate any assistance in locating my extended family members. Thank you
I am trying to locate photos for Judge Alexander Tazewell Gordon and his wife, Mary McDonald Gordon. Any assistance will be appreciate.
I would like to know where “Gibson’s Mill” was located in Louisa County. Several documents mention “Lickinghole Creek”, and “South Anna River”. There is a creek and river by these names northwest of Louisa, and also a “Mill Creek”. Can someone be a little more specific.
Does anyone know where Duckinghole Plantation is? What road is it on? It was owned by Rev. William Douglass in the 1700s.
I am looking for a family from Louisa County area. Their names are David LeMay and Sarah Napper. The children took the mothers surname, and moved to southeastern Ohio around 1835.
I am trying to find when Shelton;s Mill on the South Anna River near Holly Grove was established.
Marie,
Would you please e-mail me? I’m descended from a Shelton man and Ann Winston, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Winston ,of Louisa County, Ann and Mr. Shelton had a son, Richard in 1779 in Louisa. A DNA test done by a cousin shows we are related to David Shelton , of Louisa and Caswell Co.,NC. I would like to share what I have documented in the hope you might help me. rreedy@mics.net. Thanks, Marie Reedy
I am searching for the parents and siblings of David W Humphrey, born abt 1739 in Louisa Co. His first child was Merrit (Nerry) born about 1759 in Louisa Co. I would like to have some kind of push in the right direction if you can help.
William Humphrey
I just ran across your blog on David W. Humphrey who is an ancestor of mine. I have been looking for info on the family for last two years. Isaiah Humphrey 1775-1814 is brother of Merritt Humphrey.
Joann,
What info do you have on the family?
Having the “Curse of the Smith Surname”, I have desperately sought the parentage of my ggg grandfather, Ezekiel Smith.. Ezekiel (b.1790)was married to Mildred Grinstead (b.1796) in her father David’s house in 1811.. Witnesses were her brothers, Thomas and Bartholomew.. Ezekiel served under Capt. Nicholas Poindexter in the War of 1812, and subsequently moved to KY about 1816-1820..
HELP!!
I am trying to find out more about Agnes Goings/Gowen who was according to Paul Heinegg’s work was “born say 1725, was living in Louisa County on 10 October 1743″. Are there any more record about her and her children?
I am in contact with Agnes Goings relatives, are you related? Email me for contact info.
I have been researching this family for about ten years. My fellow Goins researchers and I believe we are descendants of this family based on an 1828 order book in Albemarle County where four Goins’ swore they were who they said they were before a public official.
How do I send you my email address?
I am trying to find information about my Great Grandfather, Matthew Walton Lacy. Born 4/20/1859, in Louisa VA. Father was Matthew Charles Lacy. Mother was Mary Elizabeth Walton. He married Cora Alice Fultz. Both were deaf.
He worked in a shoe factory in Fredericksburg Va.
He disappeared after he and Cora had their 5th child and no one knows anything after that.
Have not been on the Louisa County site in a while and surprised at the new format! Congrats on such a great site. I have been searching the county for quit a few years for any Walker/Isbell/Tenham/Jennings/Duval connections
I am just getting around to reading my Spring Magazine and find the Auction of Joseph Isbell which I have not seen before. It mentions 1500 acres on Taylor’s Creek that he left to his children one of them my Gggrandmother Mary B. Isbell Walker – Does anyone know about where this plantation was or if anything is left of it! Mary left the county in 1830 leaving her 5 children her portion of the estate. Thank you for any info you can provide. Marie
Marie
I may be able to help with the Duval connection. My grandmother, Electra Duval Sims, had a brother, Clifton W Duval, who lived in Mineral. I have additional info on their family in Goochland and Louisa
I am looking for information on an old cemetery on my brother’s property on Old Apple Grove Road at Cub Creek. There are two headstones that are legible. One reads ‘Sarah Shelton, March 15, 1879-April 25th, 1905′. The other is ‘Jabez F. Duke, CO-C 5VA. CAV. CSA’. There is one other that is illegible. Just curious as to who these people were.
Thank you. Any information or point in the right direction is appreciated.
Cassie Bohannon
jabez duke is listed in my tree as a cousin. i have little on him as i work through duke line; probably a 1000 names at this point. having online problems with current carrier and should have new connection by end of day. will advise you on what i find on him. i’d be sure he is direct of my 7th great grandfather cleavers chisholm duke of little river, louisa, virginia(often referred to as the “king of little river”) will be in touch. thanks for tip on cemetery location
I am seeking information about Shelton’s Mill located on the South Anna River in Louisa County near Holly Grove. Specifically, information about the Brooks family who may have lived nearby. My great grandfather was Thomas Edwin Brooks, son of John Brooks and Emma Perkins. We have a painting of that belonged to Tom Brooks a family house at Shelton’s Mill. Tom’s grandparents were Bettie Adams and Thomas Bias Brooks.
Kathryn,
Thanks for contacting us. Have you browsed around on our genealogy site at http://www.trevilians.com ? There is a master list of names at the top of the left hand column. I went to the Bs and after flipping seven or eight pages came to a lengthy list of Brooks references. You might start with seeing if any of these seems like they might be your John or Thomas. There are many Brooks in the section of the county near Shelton’s Mill. If you can give us birth and death years, we may be able to find a little more for you, but I think you’ll be surprised how much you can find at the site above. Elaine Taylor at the Sargeant Museum.
I have some info on Thomas Bias Brooks. a list of his children. he was my gggrandfather. Contact me. Marie Drake at mtd19381@verizon.net .
Shelton’s Mill still stands today on the South Anna River. It is being restored presently. It is on Holly Grove Dr in Louisa VA. Cross streets West Chapel Dr. and Owens Creek Rd. I believe it is presently owned by the Dunn family. Thomas Bias Brooks is my husband’s gg grandfather on his father’s side. We live in Holly Grove. Do you have a specify question?
Thanks for your reply Crystal! I would love to know more about the Brooks family and their life in Louisa County. I’m also trying to find out more about Thomas’s father Elkannah Brooks and his family. You are welcome to contact me directly at kscross@aol.com.
For those of you interested in Genealogy, see the entries in the Genealogy category for Louisa County specific jewels.
Russ: In “Old Home Places of Louisa County”, Ben Venue is listed on Page 125. There is a half of a page of history about the house, including that it probably dates to about 1771 and was built by Dabney Minor. If you would like, I will try to scan the page (as best I can using a flat bed scanner) and send it to you. Mike
Mike,
Thank you for your reply. Yes I would like to see the page when you get a chance to scan it. Is “Old Home Places of Louisa County” a book? Thank you russ
Yes, it is a book. While it is out of print, you might search for it on Amazon or some place like that. The authors are Claudia Chisholm and Ellen Lillie. The Library of Congress Catalog Number is 79-55459. Printed in 1979. I hope to get around to scanning that page today.
Forgot to mention the street I live on is now called Palomino drive in Bienvenue its off off Daniel road. Not sure what the name of the road was back in the days of the farm. I have only been here for 5 years. Thanks Russ
I am trying to get some information of the Bienvenue plantation in Louisa. I was told the property was once a farm and the old farm house was once a field hospital in the Cival war. How can I get some info on this as well as the area? Thank you
Russ: If you send me your direct email address, I will send you a reply with the scanned page from the book that contains the writeup on Ben Venue.
Mike
I cannot figure out how to put the Pdf file up here.
Russ: Guess I forgot to give you my own email address: mbseaton@hughes.net
Hello, this is a wild stab at trying to find the source of “the other officer” mentioned in two publications. Here is a portion of the letter I received:
“Captain Archibald Govan Hill commanded Company C in the Battle of New Market. Recently I discovered a remark published on the VMI Archive site and traced it to a book written by Richard Mcmurray “VMI Alumni in the Civil War”. The statement in the book reads, when referring to Captain Hill’s service in the engineers during 1861-1862 “Thrown out May 5, 1862 noted another officer”. This has perpetuated itself into another upcoming book written by Mr. Al Conner titled “Not for Fame or Reward: VMI’s Civil War Soldiers and Sailors”.
I would like to locate the source for this comment. Does anyone know of any official report that is a source for this comment? Is it just hearsay and should be recarded?
Captain Hill is buried at Corduroy (plantation), Trevilians, Louisa County.
Any help will be appreciated.
Sarah Reveley
http://www.picturetrail.com/vminewmarket
Sarah,
I happened to run across the “Thrown out” notation on Footnote.come for A. Goven Hill. As you know, Footnote has simply put online the microfilms of the service records of now located at the National Archives. It is a simple form in his file that state, May 5, 1862 and “thown out.” Signed by what appears to be his commanding officer of the muster roll for that month. Apparantly the books are quoting from the official record. Footnote is a paid subscription, so I can’t just forward you the link. However, his record came up as I was searching udner Civil war Service Records, Confederate, Virginia. It’s one of about 8 pages in his file.
Hope this helps, Elaine Taylor at the Sargeant Museum