Thomas Cary Stinson, Civil War Soldier

THOMAS CARY STINSON appears in "So Obscure A Person” on pages 123, 124 where his lineage can be traced back to Alexander Stinson of Buckingham County. This image, documenting his Civil War service is from "United States Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1949" found at FamilySearch.org. In addition, since the publication of the book, we have found a marriage record to Mary Alice Fortune on 25 November 1873. Additional sources were found that document Mary Alice's birth as 14 February 1858, Newbern, Pulaski County, Virginia and her death on 27 January 1939, at Roanoke, Virginia.

Thomas B. Stinson

On pages 100, 101 of "So Obscure A Person” the wife of Thomas B. STINSON should be recorded as Susan PRICE, as that is the name that was entered on the death record of their daughter Louisa STINSON. The informant for the death record was Louisa's older brother, so this citation carries more weight than the name "Elizabeth" found in a Buckingham County book of cemetery records, previously used for documentation.

Death Record of Louisa Stinson

Kidnapped

On pages 5 through 7, of my family history of the STINSONS, So Obscure A Person, I discussed the STINSON family legend of a kidnapping regarding our immigrant ancestor Alexander STINSON. The legend first surfaced in the following clipping from "Southern Kith and Kin" by Jewel Davis Scarborough, page 366, published 1958. Recently, I was excited to learn of another family history written in the 1940s which corroborates the Georgia family's "Kidnapped" story. It is from a family of STINSONS of Tennessee and Texas that had originated in Buckingham County, Virginia. Incidentally, the Mary Jane STINSON and her husband, Isaac TATOM mentioned in the clipping below, appear on pages 58, 59, of my genealogy book.

Stinsons in 1809 Buckingham County

On the 1809 Buckingham County Personal Property Tax List we find: "STINSON Phoebe" (0 tithe 1 slave 11 March); "STINSON Archer" (1 tithe 0 slave); "STINSON Cary" (1 tithe 4 slaves); STINSON Stephen (1 tithe 0 slave); STINSON David (1 tithe 3 slaves); STINSON Jno (1 tithe 0 slave); STINSON Alexander (1 tithe 0 slaves); STINSON Asa E (1 tithe 0 slaves); STINSON James SC (1 tithe 1 slave).

For more details about these Stinsons of Buckingham County, Virginia, see "So Obscure A Person” by Edna Barney.

Mattie (STINSON) HYDE of Easton, Pennsylvania

I came upon the death certificate of "Mattie HYDE" who was a daughter of David STINSON who appears on page 143 of "So Obscure A Person,” where their ancestry is traced back to Alexander STINSON of eighteenth century Virginia. Two-year-old Martha S. STINSON appeared on the 1880 Census of Buckingham County, Virginia with her parents. Her death certificate records her birthdate as 13 February 1879 in Buckingham County, Virginia and her death as 23 January 1955 at Wilson, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Saint John's Cemetery in Bangor, Northampton County. At death, as the Widow HYDE, she was living at 2665 Liberty Street, Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Roling P. Carter 1810-1847

Roling P. CARTER was the husband of Elizabeth A. STINSON. A bible record of his family is at the Library of Virginia Archives, entitled "Carter Family Bible Record, 1836-1899."

William CARTER Sen and Mildred CARTER above are assumed to be Roling's parents. Others on the page are assumed to be his siblings. "William H. CARTER Died Feby 8th 1890" was Roling P. and Elizabeth's son.

Roling P. CARTER appears with his STINSON wife on page 137, of "So Obscure A Person", along with his children, descended from Alexander STINSON of Buckingham County, Virginia. Roling's son, William H. CARTER appears on page 138, of "So Obscure A Person.” The Carter Bible record image is from Ancestry.com. 

Susanna Allen's Will of 1719

Indentured Servitude in Virginia

"IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Susanna Allen of the City of Wmsburgh & County of York in the Colony of Virga Spinster... make this my last Will & Testamt in manner following ... ITEM my will is that Within a Convenient time after my decease my houses & Lotts in Wmsburgh be sold in the best Manner by my Execrs for ready Money or Otherwise at their Obscretion & the produce thereof to be Equally divided between David & Jane Cunningham1 Orphans of David Cunningham decd ITEM I Give to the sd two Orphans One feather bed & furniture with two prs Sheets I Also Give unto each of the Orphans one Pottle & one Quart Tankard of Silver the same being in the hands of Mr Archibald Blair I Also do give the sd David one large Bible & to the sd Jane two Small Bibles ITEM I WILL that my Negroe Man named Cooper be imployed on the Plantation of the sd Orphan David... Untill... Comes of Age & then I Give the sd Negro unto the sd David & his heirs for ever ITEM I WILL that my servt boy Named Alexander Stinson be kept on the plantation for the Uses Aforesd or sold by Out Cry at the Discretion of my Execrs ITEM THAT all the Rest of my personal Estate of what Nature soever be sold by publick Auction in such Maner as my Execrs Shall Think proper & the produce (all my Just Debts being duely paid) to be divided Equally between the two Orphans above named LASTLY I Do Constitute & Appoint my Good friends Thos Jones & Wm Robertson Gents to be Execrs of this my Last Will & Testamt hereby Makeing Void all former wills by me heretofore made & declaring this Only to be my last will & Testamt IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this 2d day of March in the Year of our Lord Christ 1719. Susanna Allen (Seal) [Witnesses] Saml Cobbs Jas Menzies Andr Laprade Jas Spence"2 [Recorded York County court, May 16, 1720.]" 

Alexander Craig House Historical Report, 

Block 17 Building 5 Lot 55

Originally entitled: "Alexander Craig House"

Mary A. Stephenson 1956

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1341
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia

"So Obscure A Person”