|
John Major and Rebecca Chandler (Published 2006
CAROLINA HERALD) by Herbert D.
Hendricks (contributed to Newberry County, SC Genealogy Trails with
his permission) VA - Major, VA -
Smith and SC - Hendricks descendant. The above two persons are my
ancestors from Virginia that migrated with the Chandler and Eddins
Families in VA (1770s-1780s), to NC (1780s-1790s) and then into Newberry
County, SC in the mid-1790s. For the past 30 years, having lived in VA for
42 years, I have searched out all the Major families of Virginia, mainly
at the VA Archives, Library of the College of William and Mary and the
Charles Taylor Library, Hampton, VA and have them well documented (219
pages) up through at least 1800 ( VA Archives file 24384). In addition I have done a
thorough search of the Major families of NC at the NC State Archives. In
addition I have ferreted out more Major family records from the SC
Archives than have ever been reported before. If you are from South Carolina
and are kin to this Major family as well as the Hendricks and Smith
families that intermarried you will be interested to note that these
results are not consistent with those reported by Leonardo Andres and Nora
Fields of South Carolina. This collection of records is most certainly
divergent from a number of modern day publishers that continue to publish
family histories without checking their fact and records. [Also note
Nimmons, Teague, Holland and Marshall family connections (late 1700s and
early 1800s) in SC to this Major family.] During the
1930-1950s time frames numerous studies on this set of Major, Hendricks
and Smith families were made in South Carolina. The James Hendricks m Jane
family records have been found to be consistent with original family
history records back 9 generations and substantiated by DNA records (http://www.familytreedna.com/public/hendrickson/). The John
Smith m Margaret Harrington of Old Augusta Co., VA family history goes
back even further to 4 generations before 1700 in England (see Col. John
Smith Society Records). The records of the John Major
family found 1790-1810s in Newberry County and old Pendleton District SC
by Leonardo Andrea for Mary Lee Robbins (a Hendricks Family descendant) of
Longview, Texas (see Mary Lee Robbins Room Hendricks data files in
Longview, Texas Public Library) shows wide disagreement with the official
State and County records of the Virginia Counties of Charles City,
Cumberland, Pittsylvania and Henry. Also the records of old Surry, Wilkes
and Stokes Co., NC also show the proof of the records in the listed
counties of Virginia. Records in Newberry County SC regarding the Major,
Chandler and Eddins families of VA and NC also substantiate the NC and VA
records. These records validate the one mistake that James Branch Cabell
made in his book THE MAJORS AND THEIR MARRIAGES published in 1915.
The mistake was that Cabell did not know who Bernard Major Sr. was, much
less who his descendants were. He confused Bernard Major Sr’s family with
his Bernard Major Sr’s brother James Major. As Charles City is a partially
burned County this was a logical mistake to be made in 1915. In 1955 C.T.
Major of Charles City Co., VA rectified this when he brought a copy of
Bernard Major’s 4 February 1777 will to the Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia for copying and recording for genealogist. Bernard Major Sr’s
will clearly shows his family and is further proved by records in Charles
City Co., VA that have been abstracted by Benjamin Weisinger in numerous
books about Charles City Co., VA records as well as the Charles City Co.,
VA County records. Nora Fields wrote a book on the
“Bowens, Nimmons and Fields” Families in which she documented who
she thought our John Major was. She even threatened a law suit with Patti
Major Bostick over her conclusions which did not fit with what Patti Major
Bostick had summarized. Out of all the groups in SC who studied this Major
family it seems only one person, Samuel Gamewell Major, really had any
idea that Rebecca Chandler was John Major’s wife (see Tolbert Family file
South Carolinana Library, Columbia, SC). This was not a figment of the
imagination named Martha Elizabeth Epps who Nora Fields stated was John
Major’s wife and did not prove that Martha Elizabeth Epps was the wife of
John Major. If you join the FRANCIS EPPS ASSOCIATION in Virginia it
provides you a massive documentation of all the Epps connections. Not only
did Richard Epps not have a daughter named Martha Elizabeth Epps who
married a John Major, the Francis Epps Association will tell you so. In
fact the only marriage of an Epps woman to a Major family member was to
Edward Glarster Major of Charles City Co., VA in the 1830s (see Charles
City Co., VA records). What is even more concerning is
that people in these modern times (1999) keep proliferating this
unsubstantiated information. Instead of doing any research, they copy old
and antiquated Family Genealogies and publish them as fact. Needless to say the Bernard
Major Sr. will of 4 February 1777 shows the John Major of Leonardo Andrea
reports and Nora Fields Family Histories is really John Major son of
Bernard Major Sr. who dies in 1810 in Charles City Co., VA. The final
probate of James Major’s estate in 1793 and other supporting evidence of
Charles City Co., VA in particular those abstracted by Benjamin Weisinger,
prove beyond a shadow of doubt that he had sons named John Major and James
Major as well as other children. The documented search (VA Archives file
24384) of the Major families of Virginia document where a James Major and
John Major are living in the 1770s and 1780s in Pittsylvania and Henry
Co., Virginia. All other John and James Major men of Virginia of this age
are accounted for in afore cited document. Furthermore, independently of
the above referenced study, the CHANDLER FAMILY ASSOCIATION had documented
the marriage of John Major to Rebecca Chandler in the 1769/1771 time frame
and further carried the records forward with their migration into Wilkes
Co., NC (1780s-1790s) and into Newberry Co., SC. in the mid-1790s to 1810.
All the immediate above data was all brought to light by the diligent
research of Anne Major Doggett of Highland, NC. The Chandler Family
Association had well documented the history of their Chandler Family in
Virginia along with Rebecca Chandler marrying John Major. The following is a brief
outline of the Ancestors and the immediate children of John Major m
Rebecca Chandler. I don’t provide in this document exacting references to
the myriad of 25+ years of research documents supporting the information I
have discussed and provided. However for a meager $1.63 (postage of $0.83
and cost to make CD of $0.80) I will send you a copy of all the
documentation including my 219 page document on the CD (VA Archives file
24384) of the Major family records in the VA Archives, numerous images of
wills and probates of Charles City Co., VA, documentation of Cabell’s
mistake in Majors and Their Marriages and the analysis data base
showing exactly who John Major and Rebecca Chandler’s children were as
well as a written in depth analysis of the data. From Virginia records, it is
indeterminate as to which John Major, the son of Bernard Major Sr. or the
son of James Major is the one listed in the 1776 Militia unit of Charles
City Co., VA. However both John Major men qualify as patriots for their
contributions to the Revolutionary War otherwise (see VA Publik Claims
records). It is noteworthy to say that the John Major m Rebecca Chandler
was reimbursed in Henry County Court Records “Publik Claims” in 1783 for a
Rifle Gun provided to a Captain Martin for use in the militia of Henry
Co., VA during the Revolutionary War. This gives you at least some fruit
for thought that this may have been the John Major of Charles City Co., VA
Militia. Also noteworthy are the records (400+ pages) of the John Major
son of Bernard Major Sr. deposited at the College of William and Mary
Foundation, Williamsburg, VA which provide no claim as to being the John
Major of 1776 Militia of Charles City Co., VA. Other researchers have
concluded this but their records show their lack of understanding that two
John Major men were in and around Charles City Co., VA during this period
of the Revolutionary War. John Major m
Rebecca Chandler Family History Chart John Major b ca
1740-50 Charles City Co., VA d aft 1810 Newberry District, SC m 1769/1771
in Pittsylvania Co., VA Rebecca Chandler b either New Kent, Henrico,
Goochland or Cumberland Co., VA d Newberry District, SC Most probable
Children of John Major m Rebecca Chandler Epps Major b VA
1772 m Susanna Teague, Sarah Major b VA
1773 m David Hendricks Sr., John Perry Major b
VA 1775 m Mary Marshall, Kitura Major b VA
1776 m Joseph Nimmons, Nancy Major b VA
1778 m Henry Hendricks Sr. Mary Chandler
Major b NC 1788 m Wayman Holland, TBD (The less than 10
year old girl in the John Major Sr. family in the 1810 Census of Newberry
District., SC) and Barnet Major and
Joseph Major, two sons who died early, taken from family tradition as no
other connections could be documented. These entries complete the most
probable children based on census and county records from VA, NC and SC
for John Major m Rebecca Chandler. HDH Note: The above family
profile is consistent with 1790 Wilkes Co., NC census records, 1800 and
1810 Census records of Newberry District, SC. This is also consistent when
taken forward with SC Census records from 1810 through 1870 of the
children of the family and their age profiles and groupings. See Cited CD
for further evidence. The following
are erroneously concluded to be children of John Major and Rebecca
Chandler. **Rebecca Major m
John P. (or Thomas) Neighbors (no formal records to document this
connection), ** James Major b 1782 SC - 1850
SC Census; d 1852 Anderson District. SC m Margaret Breazeale. Note: John
Major would have been in Henry Co., Virginia during his birth year if he
was a son. This James Major not a son of John Major and Rebecca
Chandler. **Susannah Major from SC Census
records 1850 says b 1763 MD m David Sloan 1784 in Wilkes Co., NC. From
Wilkes Co., NC Records she the daughter of John Majors m Rebecca Pollard
of MD. ** not children of John Major
and Rebecca Chandler. William Major is cited by some
in SC as the husband of Mary Chandler who produced the daughter Mary
Chandler Major who married Weyman Holland. Try as you might you can’t find
such a person who is not accounted for in VA, NC and SC records and
elsewhere. See referenced CD. In fact the only two William Major men found
in SC is William Major of the Poor Irish Immigrants 1767 who disappears
off the face of the earth and William Major ca 1830/40 Anderson District,
SC who is also identified in the cited CD. Mary Chandler Major’s records
conform to being a child of John Major and Rebecca Chandler. Ancestry Chart
for John Major married Rebecca Chandler John Major m Rebecca Chandler’s
most probable ancestors and kin. (HDH Note: Data from 1 to 4 below taken
from other people research in particular James Branch Cabell.) 1.* Edward
Major b England bef. 1615 arrives VA 1630s m Martha Butler; Lt. Col. in
Virginia Militia, Charles City Co., VA; Member of House of
Burgesses 2. Edward
Major b ca 1636 2. Martha
Major b ca 1637 2. Robert
Major b ca 1640 2.* William
Major b bef. 1639 d 4 Oct 1716 m Elizabeth Mason 3. Lemuel
Major b ca 1670 3.* William
Major (HDH note: To me this seems inconsistent) (HDH Note:
Data below this point is well documented in the files provided in the CD
cited.) 4.* John
Major b ca 1677 of York Co., VA d bef. 1737 Charles City Co., VA m 1705
Anne Ballard b ca 1690 d aft 1743 Charles City Co. 5. John
Major b 1705 d 1768 Westover Parish, Charles City Co., VA 5. Edward
Major b 1707 York Co., VA m Sarah 5. Miss
Major b ca 1722 5. Bernard
Major b ca 1710 Charles City Co d aft 1777 m Sarah Sorsby (see Bernard
Major’s will written 4 Feb 1777) 6. John
Major b 21 Sept 1740 d 1810 Charles City Co., VA m Martha Marable b 3
August 1759 {This is the John Major confused by many in SC to be John
Major of Newberry and Abbeville District., SC also see below John Major m
Rebecca Chandler.}. 6. Many
others found in Bernard Major’s will of 4 Feb 1777 Charles City Co., VA.
(Children, in-laws and grandchildren) 5.* James
Major b ca 1720 died at his home in Charles City Co., VA ca
1780 from RW wounds as a soldier; m Mary Ballard [see Charles City Co.,
final probate of James Major estate in 1793 and Ballard Major’s petitions
to Virginia Assembly.] 6. Ballard
Major m Ann Hillard disappears from Charles City Co., VA 1799. See Ballard
Major’s petitions to VA. State Assembly for James Major’s service in
Revolutionary War. 6. Sarah
Major 6. James
Major found in 1778-1793 in Henry Co., VA 6. John
Major m 1769-1771 Rebecca Chandler [Found in Henry Co., VA 1778-1783 with
Jesse and Robert Chandler brothers of Rebecca]. Court and
land documents confirm. Relationship confirmed with Joell Chandler’s will
of 1755 in Cumberland Co., VA. John Major and Rebecca are found in 1787 in
Wilkes Co., NC (Estate papers of Joell Chandler - Wilkes Co., NC Estate
File) suing Robert Chandler for Rebecca Chandler’s inheritance from her
father. The results of the suit are found in the Civil Action papers of
Wilkes Co., NC. John and Rebecca Major in Oct 1790 were awarded L32+ from
Robert Chandler. Jesse Chandler, a brother of Rebecca’s, stayed in Henry
Co., VA until 1793 where he removed to Laurens Co., SC. Bailey Chandler,
son of Robert Chandler, leaves Wilkes Co., NC 1787 and is found in the
1800 census of Newberry Co., SC. Robert and his son Josiah leave Wilkes
Co., NC 1793 for SC. No Chandler or Major family is found in Wilkes Co.,
NC after 1793, (see Wilkes Co., NC tax lists.) *Direct
Ancestors of John Major m Rebecca Chandler. John Major
is found in Newberry County/District, SC ~1796-1810 as his son in law
David Hendricks Sr. m Sarah Major, John Major’s daughter. See Newberry
Co., SC land deeds in particular the land transactions 1798 with John and
Thomas Hendricks and Elisha Rhodes, John Major witness and Sarah wife of
David Hendricks. John Major
is listed as on the property that Henry Hendricks Sr. m Nancy Major
in Newberry Co., SC bought in 1801 from John Speak. John Major is found in
Newberry Co., SC in Newberry District, SC 1800 census and again in 1810
Newberry District, SC census as John Major Sr. and next door to John Perry
Major, his son b in VA 1775 per 1850 census of Anderson Co., SC, m Mary
Marshall. John
Major’s daughter Sarah Major married David Hendricks approximately 1796/7.
Their first child Rebecca Hendricks was born in Newberry Co., SC in Feb.
1798. One logically concludes that John Major and Rebecca Chandler Major
and family came into SC between 1793/4 and no later than 1795/6 from
Wilkes Co., NC. An in depth analysis of the
John Major m Rebecca Chandler family members from 1790-1870 census data,
official records and other Major family records well document and support
the above conclusions as to the make up of the family (Ref. above CD).
Herbert D. Hendricks 12/01/2005
If
you know or are one of the above Major Families, the Major DNA Project
will fund you to a free 37 marker Y-DNA test provided you can show a well
documented lineage of your Major/s Family and are a living male descendant
or have a known Family member. Note also if you are a descendant from the Baltimore Co, MD Majors
Family that migrated into Surry Co., NC in the late 1760s and can do the
same as above we will also support you to a free 37 marker Y-DNA
test. Note we limit the 37 marker Y-DNA test to only one member of each
Major Family. However if you can show a separation in the Major/s Family
via different brothers we will consider supporting a second 37 marker
Y-DNA test. You
have to have a living male Major/s from the Major families listed above
because the DNA information is passed only from father to son to grandson,
etc. forever. Therefore only a living male would be suitable for the test
we are interested in performing. In
addition we have now in hand a number of Major Family Y-DNA test results
and are interesting in qualifying them and the above by the DNA testing
described. Herbert D. Hendricks Group Administrator Major/s DNA Project Contact me: Herb Hendricks
If you, a living
male descendant of the above Major/s Families, have a reasonable lineage
showing your connection to any of the above Major/s Families, Herb
Hendricks will sponsor you to a free 37 marker Y-DNA test at Family Tree
DNA. If interested in discussing this; e-mail Herb at Herb_316@Bellsouth.net or call 864 261-6636 and leave message. Herb Hendricks
|
|
|
|
This is a FREE website.
If you were
directed here through a link for which you paid $ for, you can access much more
FREE data via our Newberry County index page at
http://genealogytrails.com/scar/newberry/index.htm
Also make
sure to visit our main Genealogy Trails History Group website at
http://genealogytrails.com
for much more
nationwide historical/genealogical data and access to our other state/county
websites.