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Early Pioneers 3rd Edition 2nd edition Biography of the Bush family-My Ancestors. The main reason for the new edition is to eliminate the association of John (Neptune) Bush of 1618 with Abraham Bush of 1657, documentation and logic has determined they are not father and son. Other minor changes have been made, however as any biography that spans over 300 years there are some speculation rather than fact. If you do not totally agree with my chronology, keep in mind that there is usually more than one conclusion that can be drawn from the same set of facts, and until specific data is found to substantiate one viewpoint vs. another, both can be valid. Clifton W. Bush August 2000 3rd edition Biography of the Bush family-My Ancestors. This edition has been made to update and
redefine the relationship of James Bush and his parentage.
Clifton W. Bush
December 2013
Bush Ancestors in America
Early Pioneers
The Virginia Company of London was chartered April 10, 1606 to found
the first permanent English settlement in America. On May 13, 1607 ships from England arrived,
along the shore of the James River, the first settlement in America began. This was 13 years before the Pilgrims made
their landing at Plymouth in New England.
The purpose was many things not the least of them being gold, silver,
land, and personal advancement. The
first task of building a fort was completed around mid June in 1607. It was triangular in shape and enclosed
about one acre. The first years in
Virginia were hard years and by 1609/10 the population dropped from 500 to
60, due to disease, sickness, malnutrition, and Indians. The colonies were re-supplied several
times, but the Virginia Company was yet to get the returns expected from
their investments. This changed by 1617/18 when
tobacco became a major export item.
Land was the great source of wealth.
In the year 1618/19 the division of land became effective with each
individual coming to America at his own charge received 50 acres, and for each person transportation was paid for an additional 50
acres was granted. By 1624 there were four settlements,
Jamestown, Kecoughtan (Elizabeth City), Henrico,
and Bermuds (Charles City). John Bush of England is the first
Bush we have on record to come to America in 1618 on the ship “Neptune” at
his own charge, and settled in a place called Kecoughtan
(Indian name, later called Elizabeth City). Originally records Adventures of
Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1625 first edition, compiled and edited by
Martha Woodroof Hiden
1956, shows this John Bush to be father of Abraham Bush b 1622. It has since been determined this is not
the case based on several facts, one reprint 2nd & 3rd edition
of Adventures of Purse and Person states “ Abraham Bush (Writers direct
descendant) of Lancaster County, who is first mentioned in extant records the
last of Sept. 1657 when a certificate was issued to Thomas Powell for the
“transportation of Abraham Bush, George Spencer, Peter Elinor
and Sarah Bannister. Since the
importation certificate suggests that Abraham Bush was a recent immigrant,
further evidence to establish his parentage and a connection with the family
of John Bush is needed. Second Abraham
Bush and Peter Elmore were granted 300a of land for transporting 6 people in 1664, this same land was later granted to Abraham’s three
sons John, George and Abraham. Third,
no records of any kind have ever been located for Abraham Bush prior to 1657. It is now accepted by most Bush
Genealogist John Bush of 1618 is not the father of Abraham Bush of 1657.
Abraham Bush migrated to Lancaster County where he purchased several
acres of land, and by 1663 was well settled with a wife Martha (maiden name
unknown) and five children, George, Abraham, Thomas, Mary, and the youngest
Daniel.
On 25 July 1663 Richard Merryman conveyed a
life interest in 200 acres of land to Abraham Bush with the provision for
inheritance by Abraham’s son Daniel.
On May 2 1666 Susannah Merryman’s consent to
the deed was recorded. Who was the Merryman’s? Why did they make provisions for Abraham’s
youngest son Daniel and none of the other four children in the Bush family? In a later year 1677 Richard Merryman was granted 500 acres of land for transporting
10 people to Virginia with Abraham’s son Abraham Jr. as his partner. This brings us back to the question. How was the Merryman’s related to
the Bush Family? Could it be the Merrymans
were Martha’s parents? Grandparents to the Bush children? Could Daniel have been born with some
deformity? Which would explain why he was being taken care of through an
early inheritance from his grandparents, through his father Abraham, and
could this deformity have been the reason for his early death at the age of
five? Enough speculation, young
Daniel’s death was acknowledged by the fact in 1668 Martha Bush, wife of
Abraham Bush gave power-of-attorney to her friend Mark Greiner, to
acknowledge her consent to the sale of the 200 acres deeded to her husband.
With provisions for her son’s inheritance, indicates that young Daniel had
died. By Martha handling the land sale
related to Daniel and not Abraham would indicate she had the power of
attorney, and she and Abraham had already separated at this time. Abraham remarried to Ann Alexander in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Around1668/9. Ann was previously married to an Alexander, therefore her maiden name is not known. With Alexander she had three children, William, Mary, and Patience. With Abraham she had five children, John, Jacob, Charity, Elizabeth, and Isaac. Abraham died around 1686 in Lancaster County Virginia. Abraham’s will made provisions for his wife Ann and children by both wives’s. (See Abraham’s will in Genealogy Report) Some conclusions could be drawn from his
will. 1) Martha (Abraham's previous
wife) is still living at this time (abt. 1686/7) since in the will Abraham
requires some of Martha’s children, to live and work for her, for a period of
time. (Up to 3 years). 2) Thomas must be of age since he
was not required to live and work with his mother and therefore probably the
oldest child, George must have been 2nd oldest since he was only required to
stay and work for two years and Abraham 3rd as his requirement was 3 years. 3) Daniel Bush was not mentioned
in the will, which would confirm his previous death in 1668. Ann’s will reads
as following. In the name of God Ame, I Ann Bush of the County of Lancaster being very
weak of body but of perect sence
thanks be to the Almighty God for it, doe make this my last Will and
Testament. Imprs, I bequeath my Soule to him that
give it mee and my body to the Earth from whence it
came to bee inter'd with a Christian burriall when God shall see his time;
Secondly, I doe will and
bequeath unto my Sone, William Alexander, all the
rest of my Children as by names hereafter are expressed to dwell and abide
with him untill they shall come of age; which is my
Daughter, Mary Alexander, my Daughter Patience Alexander, my Daughter Charity
Bush, My Daughter Elizabeth Bush, my Sone Isaac
Bush & y Sone Jacob Bush and Katherine Taylor untill she shall come to the yeare
of sixteene; Thirtly, I do
give and bequeath unto each of my Daughters when they shall come to age or
day of marriage, one cow and calfe; Fourthly and Lastly, I doe make my Sone, William
Alexander, Executor of this my last will revoakeing
all other Wills, In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this
seventh day of August 1689. Signed sealed and delievred in the presence of Henry Pullen, Thomas Carpenter, Maragaret Younge Teste
John Stretchley, CLCur Note: Inventory of the Estate of
Ann Bush (Lancaster Co. Va. Wills 1690-1709 p13) shows one Orphan Child which
we could assume is the Katherine Taylor mentioned in her will. Of these children my direct descendant
is John Bush son of Abraham and Ann.
John ended up in Spotsylvania County, which eventually became Orange
County in 1734. John married Margaret
Bruce in 1693, we assume in Lancaster County.
They had three children, Elizabeth, Martha, and Philip. In the year of 1726 June 30th he
was granted 800 acres of new land near Bear Swamp, in Spotsylvania County,
adjacent to land of Thomas Chew and extending. Margaret Bush apparently was deceased by
1730, at which time John Bush conveyed land to his son Philip and to Robert
Andrews, husband of his daughter Elizabeth, and to David Bruce, husband of
his daughter Martha, these conveyances without a wife’s signature. The following year 1731, at which time John
Bush apparently was near 60 years of age, he petitioned the Spotsylvania
County Court, asking, “to be set levy-free, he being very aged and unable to
work.” However, he survived the
granting of his petition by 15 years, during which time he married Bridget
Braxton around 1732. With her he had
an additional four children, Mary, John, Thomas and Daniel. His will, dated
September 7th 1745, Orange County Virginia, indicated that he is a
“planter of St. Thomas Parish,” and names wife Bridget and children by both
marriages. (See will in genealogy report). It appears at first glance; John
only willed his son’s Thomas and Daniel land, with the balance of his
children getting five shillings each. But we must remember he gave Philip,
Martha, and Elizabeth land, prior to his marriage to Bridget. The only one we cannot find record of
getting land from his father is John jr., I’m sure
he wasn’t left out, we just haven’t found the records as of yet. The one who seems to have been left out is
his wife Bridget, with only one bed and furniture? If that is in fact all she
got. The next branch of my tree is Philip,
which was born in Lancaster Virginia around the year 1700, and was the
youngest child of John and Margaret (Bruce) Bush. Philip married Mary Bryan
around 1732; she was the daughter of William Bryan, who migrated from Brinbridge County Down, Ireland. Mary’s first cousin once removed, Rebecca
Bryan ended up marring Daniel Boon, in 1756.
The Orange County records show on March 6, 1745, William Bryan of St.
Thomas Parish, Orange County, (Philip’s
father-in-law). Sold to Philip Bush, in consideration of five Shillings and
the rent of one ear of Indian corn yearly, at the Feast Of St. Michael, The
Archangel when lawfully demanded, it goes on to state the amount of land and
so forth, but what is interesting is that the deed was witnessed by Zachary
Taylor, the great grandfather of the President of that time and the other
witness was James Madison who became President in 1808. Also, James Madison was a witness for
Philip Bush’s Will in 1771. (See will in Genealogy Records). Philip served as
Ensign of Orange County Militia. Philip and Mary had thirteen children.
Which will be listed by age oldest first. Josiah, Sarah, Philip, Mary, James,
Elizabeth, Joseph, Joshua, John, Fanny, William, Ambrose, and Francis. How James fit in Philip Bush Family
has been in question. There are the Gordon Aronhime
Papers, located in the Virginia State Library, which show James bush s/o
Philip Bush with document source as the will of Philip Bush dtd. 1771, the copy of the will we have does not show
this. We now have court records which suggest Mary Bush mother of James Bush
was Philllip Bush’s sister and not his wife. Originally the interoperation of
subject court records assumed the Mary Bush in question was the wife of
Philip Bush but the court would not have known Mary had a bastard child since
she was married unless the child showed signs being of mixed race. The brief
court order didn’t describe the child as mixed race. Therefore the Mary Bush must have been
someone other than Phillip’s wife. Philip had a sister Mary Bush born around
1716 she was co-administrator of their fathers (John Bush) will. No records
have been located relating to this Mary Bush since the will. She would have
been around 23 at the time of James Bush birth and lived in Orange County,
and no record of ever being married has been found, In fact we can conclude
based on John’s Bush’s will naming Martha Bruce, Elizabeth Sanders, and Mary
Bush as daughters Mary was not married in 1745 at the time of the will, six
years after James birth. Since Phillip was named as her
Security it would be logical to assume he Phillip had a personal interest in
Mary Bush and if not his wife his sister surely would qualify. There are no other Mary Bush’s in
the family listed in any records we have at the appropriate age to have birthed James Bush, To clear the records so
to speak against Mary Bryant Bush, my records will be changed listing Mary
Bush (Philips Bush’s sibling) as the mother of James Bush. William Bush, known as Captain Billy
Bush the youngest of Philip’s children.
(He was not actually a Captain in a Military sense, but was given the
title of Captain by those who knew him, and addressed him as a leader.) He
(Billy) seemed to be always on an adventure.
The first to be documented was being a part of the group of
frontiersmen, Daniel Boone gathered to blaze the trail from Cumberland Gap
Virginia, to what is now known as Kentucky.
This occurred on March 10th, 1775, “Daniel Boone, left Long
Island with a party of thirty riflemen to seek out and mark the proposed
Trace. To complete this task he had
recruited about 20 of the most experienced and capable frontiersmen to be
found on the western border. They
included such men as Square Boone, Michael Stoner, and William (Billy) Bush,
Benjamin Cutberth and many others destined to
become famous in the settlement of Kentucky. About the same time (August 1776)
William’s brother James Bush had moved from Amherst County Virginia to
Washington county, and was in the process of helping to build Hamblin’s Fort,
in Castles Woods, which is a part of Washington County. William and James was the only two Bush’s
in the area at the time, (based on diary of Samuel H. Laughlin, as told to
him by his grandfather John Dunkin.)
“On one occasion while he lived on Clinch, a predatory band of Indians
came into the settlement and murdered a man named Bush and his wife, and took
their children, three daughters and a son prisoner. The son was nearly grown. Captain Dunkin with a few men, followed the
trail, and by hard marching, overtook them, killed three of the Indians, and
rescued the prisoners without losing a man.”
The only records of the day now available show that only James Bush
and William Bush, were living at Castleswood,
and both can be accounted for after the Bush family killing. Perhaps there was another Bush family who
lived in Castlewood on whom the records are silent. James Bush Purchased 100 acres in
Washington County in April 1782 on the south side of the Clinch River, known
as Russians Place. After William Bush had returned from
Kentucky, he painted such a grand picture of the luxuriate
rich lands, that he had persuaded forty families of Orange and Culpepper
counties to form a colony, and in the summer of 1780 they started for
Kentucky. Several of which was William
Bush’s family, namely his brothers Josiah, Philip Jr., Ambrose, Francis, and
sister Mary, all children of Philip and Mary (Bryan) Bush. Many of the
colonies were Baptists, and they organized themselves into a church body and
started for Boonesborough, near which they intended
to settle. They reached the frontier
fort at the Holston River in December 1780.
Here they were met by a runner from Captain Billy Bush, who had
preceded them. And was then in the fort at Boonesborough,
advising them to remain at Holston for the time being as the Indians were
giving so much trouble in Kentucky at that time that is was not wise for them
to proceed further. They remained at
Holston for three years, during which time many other families coming to
Kentucky joined them. Among those that
joined was Reverend Robert Elkin, a Baptist preacher and they chose him as
their pastor. He remained their pastor
for forty-two years. During their stay
at Holston, one brother Josiah Bush died, in 1781, his wife Sarah elected to
go on to Kentucky with her children. Philip Bush was administrator of
Josiah’s will. Appraisement of the
Estate of Josiah Bush, among the items listed were; a pair of shoemakers
pinchers, Bible, old hymn book, and old sword, old Testament and some old
books, pipe and tobacco box, Negro man John, Negro man Solomon. On September 1, 1783, the colony again
started on their journey. The long
line of travelers, some riding horseback, some
walking with their fateful slaves, their bedding and baggage on pack horses,
moved cautiously along the narrow Wilderness Road. Over mountains, across valleys, ever on the
alert for Indians or other foes that so thickly abounded along their
way. Bears, buffalo, wolves, elk and
sometimes herds of deer were often seen.
They were compelled to encamp for days at a time to rest and
forage. Every Sunday they encamped for
the purpose of engaging in worship.
When these stops were made, pickets were put out both day and night to
watch most vigilantly. The distance
that now can be traveled in a few days, over the Boone Highway, was then a
journey of many weeks. The colony
reached Craigs station, near what is now Lancaster,
Lincoln County, where they again tarried until the fall of 1784. Here they separated, part of them going to
Barrens in the southwestern part of Kentucky.
The majority of them however moved to the north side of the Kentucky
River and occupied the lands located for them by William Bush. The men were farmers and traders. They were all celebrated Indian
fighters. Several of them served in
the Revolutionary War. Now we must go back in time, back to
Virginia, Washington County August 1776, with James Bush. Who is in the process of helping to build
Hamblin’s Fort at Castle’s Woods. This was one of the first Forts in the area. Those involved in this construction was
Henry Hambling of course, Henry Dickinson, Charles Bickley, William Robertson, William Russell, Patrick
Porter, Henry Neece, William Wharton, Humphrey
Dickinson, Frederick Frley, James Bush, Archelas Dickinson, Samuel Ritchie, Jerry Harrold, Richard and William Long and William Bowlin. All a part
of the first settlers in that section. Of the seventeen people involved in
building Hambling Fort, five became related to the
writer, which shows the close inner circle the Pioneers lived. James had married Mary (last name
unknown) previously around 1757 in Amhurst County
where they had purchased land, and started their family. Prior to selling their Amhurst
land and moving to Washington County they had four children, Drury born 1758,
Austin born 1759, Ann born 1763, and Mary the youngest born in 1765. Shortly after James moved his
family to Washington County (Fall, 1776) his oldest son Drury (18 years of
age), entered the service of the United States under Captain William Russell,
Lient William Russell and Ensign William Poagues on Clinch River as a regular soldier for one
year. After this term he volunteered
(1779) to serve another year under Capt. John Williams, lient.
Marncy and Ensign Harrison, to go on the exploration
to Illinois. In 1780, the same year James brothers
and sister started for Kentucky, when the Indians were on a warpath so to
speak, James two girls Ann and Mary was captured by the Indians. James Farley told the story. “ In April, the date has escaped me, 1780 I enlisted for
one year in the county of Washington and state of Virginia, as an Indian Spy,
under Colonel Campbell, Captain Snoody and
Lieutenant Cowan, to spy in the same section.
Early in June the Indians made their appearance on our quarter of
Washington County. They first stole
many horses. In July they killed one Dorton and stole two girls, Ann and Mary Bush, and made
off for Canada, (most likely Ohio).
They succeeded in getting down on the water of Sandy with them as far
as Jenny’s Creek. Our Company came up
to the Indians when they were in the act of skinning a buffalo they had just
killed. Our men fired on the Indians
and they retreated to the camp about 200 yards distant, and as they ran by,
they tomahawked Ann Bush. Mary jumped
down the bank and escaped any violence.”
Ann not only survived to marry and start a family, but was scalped
again in 1783. Ann Bush married Henry Neece, the same Henry Neece who
help build Hamblins Fort, some
time between her first capture by the Indians and the second capture,
and scalping, which occurred early in 1783, (based on a the book History of
Southwest Virginia by Lewis Preston Summers.)
“Early in the year 1783, about twelve years after the first settlement
at Castle’s Woods, a party of northward Indians invaded the settlement and
attacked the fort at Hamblin’s Mill.
The home of Henry Hamblin had, previously to this time, been twice
invaded by the Indians, and in the spring of the year 1682, his entire
family, with the exception of a little boy, who was carried into captivity,
were killed and scalped, and now this fort was again assailed by a company of
Indians numbering seventeen. The
Indians first appeared in the community at the house of Joseph Ray, whom they
killed and scalped along with several of his family and a neighbor by the
name of Samuel Hughes, who happened to be at Ray’s house at the time; beside killing these persons they made several others
prisoners before they reached the fort.
As they approached the fort they met a young woman by the name of Ann Neece, whom they tomahawked and scalped and left for
dead. They then approached the fort
and were discovered by Simon Oscher, Henry
Dickenson and Charles Bickley, who happened to be
working at a mill near by. The Indians observing them about the same
time and the white men being unarmed, their situation was a fearful one. It was now to be a struggle which party
should get to the fort first. Charles Bickley remarked, “Boys, follow me,” and they all started
for the fort at full speed, the Indians halting to fire upon them. They got safely into the fort through a
shower of balls, without receiving a scratch, thus literally running the
gauntlet. There were but two guns in
the fort, and with these Ocsher and Dickenson, each,
killed an Indian. The balance of the
savages knowing nothing of the strength of the fort, and their guns being
empty, hastily picked up their fallen companions and fled into the woods. Meeting with a colored man who was hunting
sheep, and who belonged to Henry Dickenson, they captured him and he was
never heard of afterwards. Some hours after their departure, and while there were still apprehensions of their return by the few persons in the fort, Ann Neece was seen slowly approaching, as bloody as if she had been dipped in a pool of gore, with streams of blood jetting from her head apparently as numerous as had been the hairs of her head before she was scalped, each jet about the size of a hair. She recovered, to raise her family. The next documentation we have on James Bush was his efforts along with numerous others living in Washington County, to petition for a division of the county, to make a safer place for their families. The document was dated December 1785. Petition to Form Russell County. “The petition of sundry inhabitants of Clinch River, Moccasin Creek, Powells Valley, and others, citizens of Washington County humbly represent that your petitioners are situated from the line of Montgomery as it crosses near the source of the Clinch River, down the same eight miles; thence to the extreme settlements of Powells Valley forty more. The greatest portion of your petitioners have to travel from twenty five miles and some eighty or a hundred; moreover are generally interrupted by Clinch Mountain and the north branch of the Holstein River; the former affording very difficult passes; the latter much danger and difficulty in crossing it in spring and after considerable rains; continuous to its southern bank, a chain of hills almost as difficult as Clinch Mountain; so that great difficulty arises to your Petitioners not only in attending Courts, but Court Martial. And from the extent of schism between our small settlements make it exceedingly difficult to arrange campaigns without subjecting some to travel 15 and 20 miles to private muster. There are two difficulties in the militia law that principally affect your Petitioners. There are evils small indeed to the feelings we constantly undergo when obliged to leave our helpless families exposed at so very great distances to obey the laws of our country. And however evident the danger may appear to us will not certainly on our failure of duty plead our excuse. Circumstance alone is sufficient to claim the human respect of the Legislature to remove the grievance. We therefore pray your Honorable House will take our case into consideration and divide the county. We further pray a line may be fixed along Clinch Mountain to the Carolina line; or with the line at present dividing the county into two regiments to the aforesaid Carolina line; then with the said line to Cumberland Mountain including that existing county between Cumberland Mountain and Montgomery line and Clinch Mountain, or the aforesaid regimental line for the new county and southeast of the said Clinch Mountain remain Washington County, and we your petitioners as in the duty bound will ever pray.” Other surnames who signed the above
petition and are grandparents of writer are, Alley, Long, Porter, and Elam,
along with Bush. The petition was granted and Russell County was formed. We
assume 1785 the same year the petition was issued.
By this time (1794) James son Drury, now 36, after serving various
tours with the military, was back in Russell County and married to a Nancy
Couch. At some point Drury's home
burned, he and his wife moved to Kentucky.
James daughters Ann and Mary were already married. Ann to Henry Neece and Mary to Ira Turner. His son Austin age 35 remained at home,
helping to maintain the farm. In June 1796 James purchased an additional 80 acres in Castles Woods on both sides of Mill Creek, adjoining Charles Beckley land. The land was purchased from Henry Hamblin for 80 pounds Virginia money; here James built his home and a Grits Mill. It is interesting to note, at some point James purchased Charles Beckley land, which adjoined his, which, contained Fort Preston, named by Captain William Russell. Also called Cowan-Russell Fort and Bush Fort, this is the location James daughter Ann was scalped in 1783. Charles Bickley’s grave located in the family cemetery at Castle Wood is marked as following “To the Memory of Charles Bickley, Sr. Born in Amhurst County Virginia, July 27, 1753. Died at Bickley’s mills, Russell County Virginia June 1, 1839. He was captain of Militia and one of the three men who defended Bush’s Fort, against 17 Indians.” In 1798 Austin married a girl by the name of Nancy Cash. Austin was 39 at the time of his marriage, Nancy was only 13. Records show Nancy as being born in South Carolina. It is not known if Nancy Cash was her true name or not, as she was supposedly Cherokee Indian. At that time Indians who decided to stay with the whites, would take an English name, usually someone they respected. However this has not been confirmed. There is also doubt that Cash was her maiden name. If Nancy was Cherokee Indian as suspected, her maiden name has no value since it would have been a name of choice, not pedigree. Austin and Nancy had fourteen children. They were (by age, oldest first), James M., Susannah, Valentine, William, Austin Jr., Dawes, Elizabeth, Thomas M., Francis, Mary, Rebecca, Nancy, Josiah D., and Peggy. Austin had several acres of his own land; by the time he married Nancy, in 1798. Which records have been found and possibly more? In 1791 he purchased 100 acres for 30 pounds from Jacob and Mary Neese, (which was a part of Neese’s patent land, corner of Ed Stapleton’s line.) Jacob Neese, the son of Austin’s sister Ann (Bush) Neece. In 1792, 125 acres was purchased for 60 pounds from James and Mary Osborne, located on the north side of Clinch River. In 1794 Austin sold 120 acres of the previously purchased land on the north side of the Clinch to John Philips for 60 pounds. On 18th November 1808, after
a long-term illness of about seven years, Austin’s father, James died at the
age of 69. His will favored his son
Austin. We assume since Austin stayed
with his father and help build what assets they had. Drury, who left home around the age of 18,
was left only one dollar. James will
dated 20th June 1801 reads in part. In the name of God, Amen, I James Bush being very sick and weak but of perfect
memory and sound judgment do make this my last will and testament. First, I recommend my soul to the mercy of
Almighty God, my body I decree to by decently buried, and do dispose of the
worldly goods in the manner following. After my just debts being paid, I do
give my wife, Mary Bush, my possessions where I now live to support her
during her life and to be managed by my son, Austin Bush.
Item: I give to my son Drury Bush, one Dollar.
Item: I give to my son Austin Bush the land whereon William Noble
lives; being part of the tract Austin Bush lives on. I leave the land whereon Thomas McDaniel
lives to him, the said McDaniel, for six years from the time of his first
setting the same rent free, then said land to return to my estate.
Item: I give all my lands save that given to my son Austin to be
equally divided between my three children or theirs, namely Ann Neece dec.’d, Austin Bush and
Mary Turner, also all my stock of every kind and household furniture and plantation
utensils with all my estate of every kind to be equally divided among my
above children or their legal Representatives, to be divided at the death of
my above named wife. Lastly, I appoint my son, Austin,
Executor of this my last will and testament. Signed, sealed and published in
the presence of John Marshall, Charles Bickley, James Bush. It appears, based on James will, he
allowed a Thomas McDaniel and a William Noble to live and farm on his land,
which would indicate he had more land than he and his son Austin could
handle. The inventory and appraisement of
James estate totaled $281.79 excluding land, structures, and
furnishings. It is interesting to note
the value of items, the most valuable of all, the plough, valued at $150.00,
next most valuable is a man’s horses i.e., Sorrel Mare $51.25, Bay Mare
$37.00, Black horse $35.00, Bay filly
$30.00 and Black Yearling horse $20.00.
Third place was a man’s gun valued at $12.00. James wife Mary lived another 41 years,
died around 1849, this would have made Mary over 100 years old, although it
was common for someone to live over 100 years, I have doubts as to the
accuracy of the dates we have for Mary. James son, Austin had a fairly quiet
life, or at least we cannot find many records, outside his family life, we do
know he served as a spy with James Fraley in 1782 (spy was a term used for
scout). Other than being a part of the Militia in that area, any other
outside activity is not known. Austin was 43 at the birth of his first child,
and 70 at the birth of his last. His
wife Nancy was age 13 for the first child and 44 for the last. Based on the 1850 census their 13th
child Josiah D. was listed as a Mulatto, their 14th and last child
Peggy was listed as idiotic. With
Austin’s age of 68 at the time of having a Mulatto child, makes me think
Austin was an extremely sexually active man for his age. Or his wife, Nancy age 42 was, should we say lonely.
I would tend to believe Josiah belonged to Austin, since he was shown
in the 1850 census as his child. Any
other circumstance would not have allowed a Mulatto child to be treated as an
equal, in the family. Austin died late 1854 or early 1855, at
the age of 95. Based on what we can see,
he did not leave a will, or at least his will was not legal or clear, as a
complaint was filed on May 7th 1855. The complaint reads, “The objective of
this suit is to obtain a decree appointing commissioners to assign a dower to
Nancy Bush, widow of Austin Bush, deceased, and make partition of said land
amongst the several parties according to their several rights.” The court settled the dispute on
Austin’s land and made disposition as following. In obedience to and order of a court held
for Russell County on October 10, 1855.
The undersigned commissioners appointed for the purpose of dividing
the lands. Belonging to the estate of
Austin Bush deceased, having went upon said lands and assigned Nancy Bush his
widow, one full third in value of the said lands including the mansion house
of which a copy of the survey is hencewith
filed. This equated to 105 acres for
Nancy. The balance of land (approximately 177 acres) was divided among the heirs, which amounted to1/14th for each share. Valentine Bush, third child of Austin and Nancy, was one of the three individuals who registered the original complaint against the division of Austin’s land, and was granted one share or 1/14th of the land. Not that Valentine needed the land as he had married Nancy Gose, whose family was a wealthy family. Valentine eventually owned three mills in Nicklesville, which is in present day Scott County. The entire family operated all the mills with the sons doing most of the hard labor. The mills were all located within ½ mile of each other on Amos’s Branch just outside the town of Nicklesville. There was a carding mill, sawmill and located between the two was a gristmill. The gristmill is the only remaining of the three and has been restored by the Nicklesville Ruitan Club. On October 5, 1996 the mill was dedicated as a National Historical Landmark as it was 100 years old. Valentine built his home just west of Nicklesville towards Gate City. The house was located on an unknown number of acres just above the still standing Kilgore Fort. Austin’s son Thomas M. Bush born1816 is my direct descendant. He was married twice, first to Mary Polly Ramey in 1837, daughter of Jessee and Mary Ramey. Mary was 23 years of age and Thomas was 25 at the time of their marriage. The amount of farmland Thomas owned is not known. He was homesteading land on the south side of the Clinch River (approx. 75 to 80 acres) based on the claim he filed in 1871 on the homestead act of 1870. He had received approximately 35 acres from his father’s estate. He was farming 1/3 of Jessee Ramey’s land, which his wife Mary inherited from her father. Although this only totaled 105 acres, Thomas Sr. sold to his children over 300 acres, which indicated he had purchased much more land than what we have records for at this time. Thomas and Mary had 10 children their names (oldest first) was James D., William H., Austin, Hensley, Jessie H., Sary F., Nancy V., Margaret E., Thomas M. Jr., and Mary. The year 1871 was a busy time for Thomas Sr. and land transactions, as during the year he sold to his daughters, Sary and Margret 68 acres, to son Jessie he sold 50 acres. We assume, Mary died sometime prior to 1885, which is when Thomas remarried. The 1880 census shows a Kato Hellman age 23 as a servant, at this time, Mary would have been 66 years old, and we can assume in ill health since a servant was being used in the household. The year 1885 was related to some big changes in Thomas’s life, first his marriage to Sarah V. Porter, second he sold his land to his son Thomas Jr. for $1200.00 (with some stipulations), which consisted of (1). Thomas Sr. was to keep in possession the boundary of land until his death. (2). Then Thomas Jr. was to take possession for ten years after his father’s death, (3). Then after 10 years he was to pay his brothers and sisters sixty-two dollars and fifty cents each, at which time the land was then his forever free from all claims. We can only assume what was happening in Thomas Senior’s life to warrant these big moves. I would guess at his age 69 at the time, lonely and too old to continue farming, was enough reason. Thomas Sr. new wife Sarah V. Porter
(widow) daughter of Forest and Mary Porter was 58 at the time of her marriage
to Thomas Sr. he was 69. Whether Sarah
Porter was related to Mary Victoria Porter, wife of Thomas Bush Jr. is not
known, but if they were it was a distance kinship. We do not know the date of Thomas Bush
Sr.’s death, nor do we know the date of his 2nd wife Sara Porter’s
death. Thomas Bush Jr. married Mary Victoria
Porter in 1876; he at the age of 21 and Mary was 16. Mary was the daughter of Samuel and Nancy
(Lawson) Porter. Mary’s 2nd
great-grandfather Patrick Porter built Porters Fort, in Russell County, which
is a historical site today. In 1888
Thomas and Mary leased 50 acres of their land to Linchfield
Coal Company for 99 years. This was
for coal and iron ore; the work was to commence within five years. They were
to be paid on a monthly basis, the coal and ore was to be weighed by the
Railroad Company, who was to be hauling the product. The lease stipulated if
the work did not commence within the next five years or
should work be abandoned for two years at any one time the lease was null and
void. How much coal or ore was taken,
if any, from the Bush land is not known? Thomas and Mary had 10 children, George,
James Jim, Mae, Fannie, Charles Harrison, Henry, Thomas M. III, Roy, and Delmer. Thomas Jr.
died in 1895, in Scott County Virginia.
Mary remarried the same year Thomas died, to Henry Morris. Henry was 23 years old; Mary was 34 at the
time of the marriage. Mary had
additional eight children with Henry, for a total of 18 between her two
husbands. The children she had with
Henry were, Lakie, Flora, Emory, Ambrose, William
Minnie, Nannie, and Everson. This is the point, where this Bush clan
lost all claim of any wealth accumulated by their Bush ancestors, as all was
claimed by the Morris family. Charles Harrison Bush 5th
child of Thomas Jr. and Mary Bush was my grandfather. Charles born in 1886,
in Scott County Virginia, first married an Eva Richardson, at the age of 24,
Eva was 19. Eva’s father was a
Minister and performed the ceremony on March 2, 1910. The marriage did not last long. Four years later in 1914, in Gate City
Virginia; Charles married Nannie Isaacs, daughter
of George Grant and Minnie L. (Elam) Isaacs.
At this point we have some uncertain facts, their first child Retha was to have been born on June 9, 1914, Charles and Nannie’s marriage license show May 18th 1914,
a picture we have, which suppose to be on their wedding day, does not show Nannie pregnant.
Since Retha confirms her birthday, the
marriage license is registered, we must assume the
picture was not taken on their wedding day, but either, several months before
the marriage or sometime after May 18th. All of Charle’s
children were born in Virginia, except for Helen, the youngest girl who was
born in West Virginia. Charles and Nannie had a total of nine children which were Retha, Lora Mae, Blaine Henry, Geneva June, (Geneva died
at age 22 months), Charles H. Jr., Nathan W., Oscar E., (Oscar and Nathan
were twins), Helen L., and Harold C. (Harold was killed in Korean war in
1951, at a location called Pork Chop Hill, at the age of 20.) Since all the Bush land was lost to
the Morris family, the trade of being a farmer stopped. Charles became a miner, which was a booming
business at the time. Moving from
place to place for work, starting in Scott County, Miller yard area. In 1917 he moved to Wilder Virginia, where
he worked as a mine assistance foreman. His next move was to West Virginia
around 1927. He then moved to Jewell
Ridge Virginia (out side of Richlands
Virginia) in 1934/35. In 1937 the coal
miners were in the process of forming unions, Charles lost his job, he was in
favor for, and participated in the union activity. He then moved to Pound Virginia for a short
time in 1937, moving back to Dungannon the same
year. In Dungannon
Chalres died at the age of 60 in September 1946,
from all the coal dust he had breathed over the years took his ability to
breathe away. I wonder what the actual age of Charles was, the birth year his
family uses 1888, the birth year he would have had (1887), based on the age
he gave on his marriage licenses for Nannie, or the
birth year of 1886 which is what it would be based on the age he gave when he
married Eva Richardson. After Charles
death Nannie was alone, although she had children
in the area (Dungannon), she lived alone. In 1954 she moved to Oklahoma to live with
her late husband’s brother Thomas M. Bush III, to help maintain a household,
as Thomas was up in age and needed help, he promised Nannie a home
and all living expenses paid. Thomas
III was a Police Detective in Oklahoma City.
He got his job based on his military record and experience; Tom first
entered the U.S. Army in January 1908, and served until January 21,
1911. Tom claimed he was a water boy
in the Spanish American war, which occurred in 1886, he was 10 years old at
the time, and could have very well been involved, as 10 years old was just
about grown up in those days. Other
information we have, taken from the Social Security Death Index, puts Tom’s
birth in 1883, this would make him 15 during the Spanish American War, and
old enough to be involved, without a doubt.
In any case whatever his age, it doesn’t change history, His next
hitch in the U.S. Army was June 30th, 1917, and landed in Europe
in August 1917, he was involved in three Battles (1) Second Battle of the Marne Offensive,
(2) Saint-Mihiel Offensive (3) Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He was discharged on May14, 1919. I was told by my father (Blaine Bush),
Thomas ended up in Oklahoma because of a killing that occurred back in Virginia
along the Clinch River. A man (name
unknown) assaulted Charles (my grandfather) and Thomas. Charles killed the man with a rock. Since Charles had a family, Thomas
took the blame for the murder. Thomas fled the state and ended up in Oklahoma
City. After many years of dedicated
service on the police force, Thomas died in 1972; Nannie
stayed in Oklahoma until her death in 1977. Nannie was
brought back to Dungannon (Scott County), and
buried next to her husband, in the Bush Morris cemetery. Blaine Henry Bush, Charles and Nannie Bush’s third child, and my father. Born in Wilder Virginia (Russell County),
on March 27, 1918. By the time his
father moved to Jewell Ridge Virginia (out skirt of Richlands). Blaine was around 16 years of age
(1934). Blaine only had a 6th
grade education, but was good with numbers, and had a lot of common
sense. By lying about his age he
(Blaine) got a job in the mines, working in the same place as his father, and
unknowingly at the time his father-in-law.
By early 1936 he had met Etta Faye Joyce, who was the daughter of one
of the mine Forman where he worked, by the name of Cliff Joyce. In September of 1936 Blaine married Etta
Faye Joyce, he was 18 and she was 14 years old, by July 4th 1937
they had their first child Thurman Andrew Bush. Like Blaine’s father, keeping a job in the
mines was not to be. They moved
several times having two more children in the process, Henretta
born in 1939, and Clifton Wade, born in 1941. In late 1943 they moved to Dungannon Virginia (Scott County). In earlier years Dungannon
was known as Osborn Ford. There,
Blaine tried his hand at leasing his own coalmine, then chicken farming,
neither panned out. In July 1944 their
4th child, Jackie Lee was born.
By late 1944 (November) near the end of WW II Blaine joined the United
States Army, he served 1 year 3 month, and 11 days, he was 26 years old. Details of this tour of service are not
known. Faye and children moved back to Richlands Virginia, during the period Blaine served in the Army. Faye always seemed to be drawn back to Richlands, in that it was her place of birth, and all of her remaining family lived in the area. This would be an appropriate time to touch on her family, her father William Clifton Joyce, and mother Lillie May (Collins) Joyce. First, Lillie May Collins was born in
Letcher County, Kentucky in 1899. She
was the 3rd child of four by William Henderson, and Mary Ann
(Lucas) Collins. Lillie May’s father William Henderson
Collins was described as short, very small, with hands and feet to match,
gray eyes, brown curly hair, and a fair complexion and though he chewed
tobacco, he had beautiful white teeth.
He was quiet spoken, little and had a violent temper that matched his
cold piercing eyes. He was a cruel
man, who seemed to lack compassion or any outward display of love and
affection. Although never drunk, he
drank regularly. He had problems
handling responsibility and thus became a peddler and drifter by trade. He never was a family man and certainly had
few, if any friends. It was told by
his son, that his mother Errie and a man she lived
with, killed William and buried him under the house, this was never
confirmed, and how or when he actually died in not known. Mary Ann, Lillie May’s mother was
described as a Christian lady who was kind, loving, and joyful. Short and plump, she had blue eyes, And on her head carried thick
black hair. She was an only
child. She had tuberculoses that left
her weak, and weighed only ninety pounds when she died giving birth, around
1907. Sadly the child died with her. Lillie May, who gave an account of her
parents, to her daughter Etta Faye Joyce, was plump, short and small
boned. She had reddish brown
hair. She always seemed sad and,
filled with bitterness from a life that was hard. It left her unable to love or express
affection. She lost trust for life,
and the people around her including her children. As for Faye’s father William
Clifton Joyce, he is of Irish descent, with his grandfather John Rufus Joyce
Migrating from Stokes County, North Carolina.
John Rufus was described as being a red-faced man, with a violent
temper. A head full of reddish brown
hair. He was known to be best timber
cutter, as well as a farmer and a family man.
He used a double blade ax, and could fall a large tree in less time
than any man in that part of the country.
It was said on one occasion his ax hit a knot glanced off and split
his knee through to the bone. He sent
someone to his house to fetch him a sewing needle and thread, sat on a stump,
sewed up his knee himself, wrapped his knee in a burlap sack soaked in gum
oil, finished his days work, never saw a doctor, (did not believe in them). He walked with a limp and carried a big
stick; he had a large farm on Smith Ridge, where he built two cabins on
either end of the land for his two Wives, Nancy Jane Smith and Mary Jane Houchins, (Nickname Molly). He fathered children by both women. He was only married to the one Molly Houchins, James William Joyce 1st
child of John Rufus and Molly (Houchins) Joyce,
born in 1872, is the father of Daniel Clifton Joyce. James was medium height, very slim, white
hair. A rude selfish demanding
man. Treated his wife Sarah, like a
slave, when he spoke you jumped, his word was law. A KKK Clan member
(so was his wife). James always wore a
suit, and was involved in Politics (Republican Party). This brings us to Daniel Clifton Joyce,
Faye’s father. He was the 2nd of eight children born in 1895. He had black curly dark hair, when he
smiled you could see two gold crowns on his eyeteeth. Every one was
afraid of him, always carried a pistol, and a flask of whiskey. Killed at least two men in his time one
being the sheriff of that area, Chap Osborne. The cause of Cliff’s death has been
explained by various stories, but the one that has repeated most often is as
following. Cliff was making moonshine,
who ever was helping him had left to get more
grain; a seed had gotten stuck in the still’s coil and blew up. Cliff was burnt, putting out the fire, but
not to the degree of being fatal, except he was a diabetic, and his wounds
would not heel, he died a few days later, in 1944. After Blaine completed his tour of
service he spent most of his time looking for work and in April of 1951 he re-inlisted in the U.S. Army
to serve in the Korean Conflict? This
hitch he served an additional 1 year 9 month, and 4 days, he was 33 at this
time. During his service, in Korea he
was awarded the Korean Service Medal with a Bronze Star and the United Nation
Service medal. While serving this tour
of duty, in 1952, he and Faye divorced.
After his release from service he moved to Ohio, where he met Virginia
Saul, they married in 1956. He then
started his own business in floor and wall covering, which was successful; at
the same time he started investing in real-estate (rental Property), his home
at this time was Hamilton Ohio. After his mother moved to Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, Blaine sold all of his property in Ohio and moved to Oklahoma
to be close to his mother, as she too was getting up in age. Blaine died in December 1997, in Oklahoma
at the age of 79. At the time of his
death he had acquired over 50 homes that he either rented or sold on
contract. This was his source of
income in his late, or retirement years, although he never really retired, as
he continued to deal in real estate, up to the last year of his life. His wife Virginia and her children took all
of Blaine’s assets, whether there was a will was never pursued, by any of his
children. This brings us to the writer who put
this documentation together. My name
is Clifton Wade Bush, 3rd child of Blaine and Faye (Joyce)
Bush. My life has been a good one, but
quite for the most part. I lived my
youth in Richlands Virginia (Tazwell
County), until I was 17 years old, at which time I joined the U.S. Army, 24th
Infantry Division, Signal Corp., in 1958, the same year I graduated from Richlands High School.
After a 3-year tour with the military, 2 ½ years in Europe (Germany)
and the balance in the States, Around August of 1961, I moved to Hamilton
Ohio, to find work, staying with my father Blaine. By June 1962, at the age of 21, I met, and
Married Judith (Maggard) Hayes, (Nick name
Judy). She had two children by a
previous marriage with Raymond Hayes, Mary Margaret and Wencella
Ray Hayes. In February of 1963, we had
our first child Jackie Faye. My
profession at this time was a door-to-door bread-salesman, with Omar
Bakery. This job was short lived as
they went on strike, forcing me to move to find work, which I ended up in
Ottawa Illinois, as a manager of One Hour Martinizing
Cleaners. In 1963 I changed
professions again by taking a job at a glass factory in Streator
Illinois. (Owens Illinois). In 1967 my second and last child was born
Clifton Wade II. There were some major changes in my
life, in the years to follow. 1) Around 1971 Judy and I Divorced. 2) October 1973, I became a salary employee
for Owens Illinois. 3) May 1981 I
married Jean Henriksen. 4) August 1988, my daughter Jackie
committed suicide (related to marital problems). 5) 1986 to 1992 my son Cliff served 6 years
in the U. S. Army, including the tour in Saudi Arabia (Desert Storm). 6) 1993
I retired from Owens Illinois.
Cliff II married Stephanie Crawford in 1993; they have one child
Alyssa Rene. Cliff and Stephanie lives
in Streator Illinois. Cliff works for
Streator Brick, and is involved in real estate. I am proud of every Bush in my family
line, especially the early pioneers, who helped make our country what is
today, through blazing trails, homesteading, fighting through the Revolution,
and setting the standards my family has today. It never ceases to amaze me, when driving
through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and other areas my family came from, how
anyone could have traveled through the rough terrain I see today, no less the
terrain of 200, 300, years ago.
I really don’t know how to end this, I guess it’s because there will
never be an end, or at least until God is ready to make
The End.
Clifton Wade Bush |
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