Betty Ann Burkes Stinson of 1781

The image above is a snippet from Cumberland County, Virginia Order Book 1779-1784, page 55, dated 23 April 1781. You may see an image of the entire page HERE. I cited a transcription of this record on page 44 of "So Obscure A Person.” At that time I did not have access to this original, which shows the final statement to read: "and proved as to the other parties thereto subscribed by the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded."

Who was the person mentioned in this indenture, Betty Ann Burkes Stinson, of Buckingham County, Virginia, 1781? She is obviously related to Alexander Stinson, Senior and his children, when they all seemingly made an indenture to her in 1781.

Was she a daughter of Alexander Stinson, Senior, who did not share in the inheritance that he and his children had already obtained? Is this why she was named in this Indenture? Was she from a different mother than the rest of his children? If so, who was Alexander Stinson Senior's second wife?

Betty Ann Burkes Stinson seems to be named for Elizabeth Burk, wife of Doctor William Cabell, who are cited on page 197 of "So Obscure A Person.” In my book, I show how Doctor Cabell was related to the wife of Alexander Stinson. How was Betty Ann Burkes Stinson related to Elizabeth Burk Cabell?

The image, Stinson Indenture 1781, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Flickr. Thanks to Ginger Adams for sending this image to me.

A STINSON of the War Between the States

I heard an interesting bit of family history on #74, JAMES STINSON (James Bryant STINSON), page 100 of "So Obscure A Person.” Descendant RUSSELL REEDER, mentioned that JAMES was a soldier during the War Between the States. Once when home on a visit, his uniform was in such tatters that the women in the household stayed up all night spinning and sewing to get him properly clothed again. Things were indeed hard for the boys who fought on the losing side of that battle.

I had noted that when the STINSON family was counted on the 1870 Census in Abbeville, Alabama (illustrated on page 99), the family was living next door to two black STINSON families also born in Virginia: ALEX and SARAH STINSON, and SAM and MARIAH STINSON. Mr. REEDER told me that when the STINSON family travelled from Virginia to Georgia in the early 1800s, they took a number of slaves with them, and the surnames of those slaves were STINSON. He said that one slave was the same age as GEORGE STINSON who was born about 1796.

Joseph C. STINSON of Buckingham

The family of Joseph C. and Mary Jane STINSON of Buckingham County, Virginia are on pages 139-141 of "So Obscure A Person.” "Memoirs of Buckingham County and Along the James" by Emily Maxey Jenkins, 1985, lists some additional children for this family: John STINSON who never married, and Lee STINSON who retired as an Army officer. In addition, one daughter who never married was known as "Aunt Puss," smoked a corn cob pipe and was an old maid. That is news you can use.

Joseph S. Stinson of Buckingham

Joseph S. STINSON and his wife of Buckingham County, Virginia are on page 164 of "So Obscure A Person.” I listed only one child for them. On the 1880 Census at James River District, I see additional children for them: Lillian STINSON, born about 1875; Clide STINSON, born about 1877; and a baby girl born 1879.

This same family appears on page 245 of "Memoirs of Buckingham County and Along the James" by Emily Maxey Jenkins, 1985, with children Parrish STINSON and Clyde Milton STINSON.

Ms. Jenkins' book has Clyde STINSON married to Edna Clive PAYNE of Buckingham County with daughters Mary and Christine STINSON. Clyde was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and died during the 1918 influenza epidemic. She includes a portrait of Clyde's wife and daughters.

UPDATE March 2009, Clyde Johnson wrote me at Facebook:

"I was adopted by Mary Stinson Johnson in 1952. I remember her sister Christine. Edna lived with us and passed away at our house in 1967. I have a portrait of Clyde.

"I only know as far back as Clyde and Edna Stinson and they were from Buckingham. These were my grandparents. I do know Clyde died in 1918 from the flu epidemic. Edna remarried Gordon Gentry I believe. My mother Mary Stinson Johnson lived in Richmond VA. Her sister Christine Stinson Rynerson lived in Washington DC. They had one child Charlotte."

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.