Colonel John Mayo II

Yesterday, while touring the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, I spotted a portrait of JOHN MAYO. Photography was not permitted inside and I was too tired to take any notes, so I have only my "Vanishing Memories" to remind me of what I saw.

I found online a listing of "Artists and Artisans Represented in the Julian Wood Glass Jr. Gallery," which lists the portrait I saw as "Colonel John Mayo II (1760-1818)" and the artist as "Charles B. J. F. de Saint-Mémin (1770–1852)."

This Colonel JOHN MAYO II seems to be a descendant of the JOSEPH MAYO and ELIZABETH HOOPER on page 182 of "So Obscure A Person.” ELIZABETH's HOOPER family were the ancestors of the HOOPER wife of ALEXANDER STINSON, who appears on pages 40, 41, 194, 206 and 207 of my book.

David Washington STINSON

This post is in answer to the email following, received today. On pages 73 through 76, of my STINSON genealogy book, "So Obscure A Person,” I explain that when I encountered the will of David STINSON, brother of my ancestor Archibald STINSON, at Buckingham County courthouse, I was able to understand many relationships of my STINSON family. The will itself mentioned family members, but there were other documents in the extensive and complicated Estate Settlement, which helped in piecing together cousins, spouses, and others. These additional documents may have been loose papers, however, they were not hidden anywhere, as I was easily able to find them by using the courthouse index to the old records.

If these documents are no longer in the courthouse, I find that troubling, but not surprising. My experience in searching for documents in courthouses in Virginia is that many have disappeared. In the case of Buckingham County courthouse, there is the hope that these documents may have been "misplaced" during recent renovations, and will eventually be found. Unfortunately many documents are pilfered out of Virginia courthouses by "so-called" genealogists who feel they have a right to their ancestors' papers. "True" genealogists realize how harmful such pilfering is to the heritage of one's own ancestral family.

Hello, Edna,

I’m writing to ask for some research guidance, but first want to tell you how much I enjoy reading and using "So Obscure a Person.” It’s my #1 reference tool as I continue my Stinson research. I also want to thank you for including me in your citations. I’m very flattered!

On page 144 you write that on 24 April 1884 D. W. (David Washington) Stinson signed a receipt for the money he received from his Uncle David’s estate, and you quote the receipt’s text. You also state that the receipt is on file at the Buckingham C.H. Unfortunately, that may no longer be true. Three weeks ago I spent the day a the courthouse pressing the Clerk, Malcolm Booker, and his staff to please locate D.W.’s receipt. The problem seems to be that when the staff moved back into the renovated Courthouse from their temporary quarters in 2002 (I think) they did not refiled many of the older documents. I was told that many old documents are simply piled up in the basement. I had to return to Virginia Beach that day but offered to compensate anyone on the staff who could find the receipt for me. When I called several days later I was told that Mr. Booker had “spent days” searching for the receipt but had failed to find it. They concluded that it’s not there.

Of course, I believe the receipt IS there, just as you say on page 144. Brenda Kitchens offered to try again if I could provide her with more clues about its possible location. Edna, can you offer any advice about where they could look to find D.W.’s receipt?

Gratefully, Kathy Stinson Hessmer

Virginia Beach

Mary STINSON, 1662

"JNO. LEWIS & THOMAS MICHELL, 1680 acs. New Kent Co., 15 Jan. 1662, p. 84 (565). Beg. At Mr. Michells land, N.N.E. by Westover path, thence to Coll. Gooch’s cor. tree &c. Trans. of : Wm. Thornton, Rich. Boyne, Thos. Shugge, Law. Baker, Tho. Walder, Ellen Harwood, Mary Stinson, Jane Mayson, Rich. Saucer, Jno. Tillett, Geo. Catleton, Bryan Hazlewod, Ann Lulow (?), Eliz. Palmer, Joane Madd, Hugh Davis, Jno. Gunne, Wm. Colvert, Eliz. Gittins, James Ridly, Mary Taylor, Eliz. Smith, Ann Norton, Bridg. Black, Nich. Hart, Nich. Flower, Wm. Pearce, Rich Overton, Ann Shilooe (?), Tho. Hanson, Sarah Russell." ("Cavaliers And Pioneers Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1666," Volume One, Abstracted and Indexed by Nell Marion Nugent, Virginia Land Office, Richmond, Virginia)

I cannot place this Mary STINSON of New Kent County, Virginia with anyone connected with Alexander STINSON of "So Obscure A Person” who was born about 1710.