He was a soldier in the Continental Line, in Capt. Thomas Posey's companyof Col. Daniel Morgan's rifle regiment, seeing action at the battles of Alamance, Edgehill, and Guildford. He was resident in Davidson County,Tennessee in 1792, working as a chain carrier on his younger brothe rRobert's survey crew. He established his homestead in Montgomery Co.,where he lived for the remainder of his life.
Original Handwritten Act placed before the Tennessee StateLegislature October 21, 1823
Transcription of the Document
Section 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of the State ofTennessee, that a new county to be called and known, by the name of Weakley County, shall be and is hereby established west of Henry County. Beginning at the northwest corner of Henry County, running west with thestate line to a point four miles west of the northwest corner of Range 3,fractional section 10, in the 13th District, thence south to the fourth sectional line in said District, running parallel with the Range line,thence east with the fourth sectional line to the second Range line in the Twelfth Surveyor's District, thence north with said Range line to the beginning.
Section 2. Be it enacted, that for the administration of justice, the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Circuit Courts of said county,until otherwise provided for by law, shall be holden at the House of John Tyrrell under the same regulations and restrictions, and shall have and exercise the same powers and jurisdiction as are or shall hereafter be prescribed for the several counties of this State.
Section 3. Be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of said County, to hold an election at the place of holding courts in said county, on the first Thursday and Friday in February next for the purpose of electing Field Officers for said County, which shall be conducted under the same rules and regulations as are prescribed by law in simila rcases, and the militia of said County shall compose the ------ Regiment and be attached to the ------ Brigade.
Section 4. Be it enacted, that the election of company officers for said County, shall be held at such places as the commandant of the militia of said County may think proper to appoint, which said election shall beheld on the ------ Monday in ------ next under the same rules,regulations, and restrictions, as are prescribed in like cases.
Section 5. Be it enacted, that the Sheriff of said County on the days prescribed by law, shall hold an election at the place of holding court,for the purpose of electing a Governor, members of the State Legislature, members of Congress and electors, to elect a President and Vice Presidentof the United States, under the same rules and regulations as are prescribed by law.
(Signed) James Fentress Speaker of the House of Representatives
(Signed) T. Weakley Speaker of the SenatePassed October 21st 1823.
Kate Thompson Hesse's records.
Believed to have died young and unmarried.
She was living on Oct. 27, 1838 in Christian Co Ky. with her husband. She was not in the 1850 Census.
There were many Whitledge families in the census records of Cape Girardeau Co. Mo., some born in Ohio, Ky and one in Germany. Also in Henderson Co. Ky. In the Cape Girardeau Mo. census record of 1860 there was a Weekly, age 30, born in Hanover, Germany.
Robert Weakley Sr. will of June 27, 1798 in Halifax Co. Va. "--- I lend to my son Thomas the negro, Abraham, until his son Thomas is 16 years of age at which time I give and bequeath the above mentioned negro to his son Thomas ---".
Montg. Co. Tenn. Will D p320. "Thomas Weakley of Montg. Co. did sell and convey to Robert Weakley of Davidson Co. a certain negro named Abraham --- said negro was given by my father, Robert Weakley, now deceaded and of Halifax Co. Va., to my son Thomas Weakley, and I as his natural guardian did sell the above negro as above stated, in lieu of said Abraham by and with the consent of my son, Thomas Weakley made unto my son Thomas --- my negro Ben".
Signed Thomas Weakley
Dec. 12, 1818
Witnesses: Larkin and Marmaduke Pinson.[copy of bible pages -- probably now in Nashville]
"These are reproductions from the original 8" x 9" loose bible pages which were in a bible woned by Mrs. Nellie Blake (Felix) Williamson, of Cadiz, Ky. Mrs. Williamson gave the originals to the author."
Officer Roster, Co. E, 100th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
Recruited in Lawrence County(From Samuel P. Bates "Pennsylvania Volunteers" Roster published in 1870)
Name Rank Date of Muster intoServiceTerm- Years Remarks
James C. Weakley
...do..
Aug.31, '61
3
Promoted to Corporal, May 1,1865-mustered out with company, July 24, 1865-Vet.He was living in Fulton Co. Ky. on 10-10-1871, when he was relieved from paying pole tax.
(Montg. T p 603 and Cheatham A p 48)
Robert Weakley of Davidson Co. Tenn sold to James Weakley of Montg. Co. on Nov. 26, 1844 a 300 Acre tract of land on North side of Cumberland River for $300. Robt. Locke Weakley Sr. and Jr. were the witnesses. As James named a daughter Narcissa and a son Robert Locke it appears that James held a fondness for his uncle Robert and in consequence named two of his children for two of Robert's children (see aerial photo in Section C-5 on page 143 showing this land. James Weakley sold the land on Feb. 21, 1855 to Wm. Edwards for $1000. (The river frontage of the land, 109A, was bought Mch. 18, 1868 by John Fambrough (cheatham B p 538
Died near New Bern, Dyer Co, Tenn.
He had dark hair and complection.
They settled and lived near Carmel Church in Montg. Co.
Samuel was one of the infantry soldiers at Fort Donelson who swam through the ice covered back water clinging to a horse of Gen. [Nathan Bedford] Forest's cavalry, as he led his men from the Fort, rather than to surrender.
Samuel Weakley went to Missouri and later to Illinois, where it is said he was married. But he returned to Erin in Houston Co. Tenn. where he died at the home of his half sister, Susan [Weakley] Page (B 2.8.2).
Did not marry.
He had dark hair and complection.
They settled and lived near Carmel Church in Montg. Co.
Died Young
Susan E. in her father's will (Cheatham will A p 97)
Two grandchildren remember her as Susan Ann.
Did not marry.
Captured at Gettysburg, PA. and died in Federal Prison at Fort Delaware, Md.
In his lifetime he both sold and purchased more that 1800 acres of land in Virginia.
Owned slaves
There is another reference to William in Lancaster County, PA, in the area that would later become Cumberland County. There were a number of inhabitants of the area who signed a petition to the Penns asking for a road to be built from John Harris' ferry on the Susquehanna, which would later become the site of Harrisburg, through Cumberland County to an area not distinguished. Quite a number of early settlers signed it, including James and William, here spelled Wekely as well as Robert Weakley's grandfather, Robert Rutherford. (Not sure if he is also grandfather of James & William). The petition was dated May 21, 1735.On this same list of petitioners is James Woods, whose son Robert Woods appears in the 1749 tithables of Lunenburg County, VA. This same Robert Woods patented 5,000 acres of land in 1765 in what would become Franklin County, VA.
Source: The Pennsylvania Archives, series 6,vol. 14, pg. 273
Robert Weakley was in Lunenburg Co, VA before the first tithable list in 1748. Around 1763, he sold his property there and he began to buy property in the Runaway Creek section of Halifax Co. June 20, 1764.
Was Stewart related?
The fact that carelessness continued in making reports concerning illnessled to the issuance of the following sharp order from headquarters:February 27, 1778. "Colonel Stewart has been much surprised to find so little attention paid to the orders issued by Gen. Weedon, respecting the sick of the brigade. The colonel now positively orders the captain whose duty it is to visit the sick of the brigade to deliver in his report by 9 o'clock the foloowing morning to which he was appointed to the above duty, otherwise they may depend upon being called to a severe account as it is a duty the utmost importance in the army." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, pp. 243; 268; 299]
Did not marry
This is the Wm. Weakley to whom his uncle, Wm. Weakley of Cub. Cr. was making a gift on Sept. 23, 1752.
There are very few records in Halifax Co Va about these persons. Thomas was probably dead at the time of the 1785 Census, because Martha Parker with 4 in the family, was shown next to Jane Fambrough and Thomas Weakley and wife and Robert Weakley (with 5 in his family). The three children were probably living with their father Robert Weakley.
There are few references to Robert Weakley Jr. in the Halifax Co Va records prior to the time when he went to Rowan Co. N.C. on April 18, 1782 to study surveying with his kinsman Griffith Rutherford. In the year 1781 he was in the army and fought in the battles of Alamance and Guilford Court House. There is no official record to show his services; papers herein bear directly on the subject. References to his military service in the Revolutionary Army have appeared often in private papers and in news accounts, before and at the time of his death. (The Battle of Guilford Court House was on March 15, 1781)...
While in Rowan Co. N.C. Robert Weakley registered 150 Acres of land on Bryant's Mill Creek, on Oct 4, 1783.
During the winter of 1783-84 Robert Weakley came to the Cumberland settlement, by way of Cumberland Gap and the old Wilderness Road, through Kentucky. This was no easy journey for a few years earlier, in 1775, these comments were made in the journal of Wm. Calk: "Crossed Cumberland Gap, get to cumberland River and mde camp. Monday, rained; crossed river and traveled 10 miles through turrabel cain brakes; came to Richland Cr., then to Loral (by SAW: Laurel) River and was surprised by a wolf, traveled through place called Brush and crossed Rockcass (by SAW: Rockcastle) River, get to waters of Caintuck" (by SAW: Kentucky). This is from the files of the Filson Club, Louisville, Ky. One route continued north to Harrodsburg, the other, which was followed by Weakley went West across Green River past Pruitts Knob. (in Barren Co. 2 miles S.W. of Cave City Ky) thence through the Barrens, crossing Big Barren River near Bowling Green and up the valley of Drake's Creek to its headwaters, thence across the divide and in to (present) Tennesse and to the French Lick; Nashborough.
After Robert Weakley came to the Cumb. country he continued to visit Halifax Co. Va. as shown by records there and especially to Nor. Car. where he had to go in connection with the registering of his surveying work, on land grants.
The first surveying work done by Robert Weakley, after he came to the Cumberland, is shown on next page. It was done in Feb. 1784. Just think, he was only a boy, 19 years of age. You will see as you read about him, that he was a most remarkable person, through-out his life. [Map shows a grant of David Wilson, in Bedford Co TN near the Duck River.]Weakley Co., TN named after him.
Robert Weakley was born in Halifax County, Virginia on July, 1764; At the age of sixteen and he joined the Revolutionary army and served until the close of the Revolutionary war. He was a soldier in the Continental Line ,in Capt. Thomas Posey's company of Col. Daniel Morgan's rifle regiment,seeing action at the battles of Alamance, Edgehill, and Guildford. He moved in 1785 to that part of North Carolina which later became the State of Tennessee and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He became a member ofthe North Carolina convention that ratified the Constitution of the United States in 1789.
"Soon after his marriage in 1791, he started with his new bride (Jane Locke) for Tennessee, making the entire journey on horseback, the anima lwhich brought him and his wife to their new home, being with one dollarand a quarter in money, his sole capital.
Locating in Davidson County, he worked with untiring energy and patience until he had saved a sufficient sum to warrant him buying land, his first purchase having been a small tract of heavily timbered woodland. Very well educated for his time, he not only tilled the land, but as a civi lengineer surveyed much of the country round about, becoming a large landowner, and a leading agriculturist of the county. He likewise attained great prominence in public life, serving ably in the StateLegislature, and representing his district in the United States Congress.He was a Democrat in politics, firmly supporting the principals of that party from the time of casting his first presidential vote until his death, at the venerable age of 85 years.
He was a staunch Methodist in religion, and his wife was an equally faithful member of the Presbyterian church, to which he used to carry her on Sunday mornings when on his way to his own place of worship. On one Sunday morning, it is related, he said as he drove away from the Presbyterian church after leaving his wife, "That is the fiddle and dance church." The remark having been brought forth by the fact that it was then the only church in Nashville that had instrumental music at its services."
(Excerpt from "A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans")Colonel Weakley became a member of the first State house of representatives in 1796. He was elected as a Republican to the Eleventh United States Congress representing the Nero District and served from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1811. He rode horseback with a body servant to Washington D.C. Following his term in Congress he was appointed UnitedStates commissioner to assist in the development of a treaty with the Chickasaw Indians in 1819. From 1823 to 1824, Weakley served as a member of the Tennessee State Senate and presided as President of the Senate in 1823. In his later years, he served as a member of the State constitutional convention of 1834. Colonel Robert Weakley died near Nashville on February 4, 1845. He is interred in the family vault at"Lockeland," on his former estate in the suburbs of Nashville.
During his time in Washington D.C. he ordered the beautiful set of china from Paris for his wife. Pieces of which are still in the possession of his great-great-grandson Judge Litton Hickman.
A man of fiery temperament, he had his tender moments. At great expense he had his wife's cherished square piano brought over the mountains from North Carolina. For this sentimentality the board of the local Methodist Church, of which he was a member, rose up in righteous indignation saying that the piano was a "contraption of the devil". Either he would put the evil thing out of his house or get out of the church himself. In an eloquent speech he informed his critics that he had been in the Methodist Church longer than they and that both he and his wife's piano would stay where they were.
ABOUT WEAKLEY COUNTY:
Sponsored by the Weakley County State Bicentennial Committee
Weakley County is located on the Plateau Slope of West Tennessee. It is bounded on the north by the State of Kentucky, on the east by Henry County, on the south by Carroll and Gibson Counties, and on the west by Obion County. The county is 26 miles from north to south, and 24 miles east to west. Presently, it covers an area of 576 square miles. There are four chartered cities in Weakley County. They are: Dresden, the county seat; Martin, the largest city in the county; Greenfield and Gleason.There are also several small towns and communities in the county. Theyare: Sharon, Latham, Dukedom, Mount Pelia, Ore Springs, Gardner, Palmersville, and Ralston.
The cultural and social history of Weakley County began around ten to fifteen thousand years ago (Paleo-Indian Period) when nomadic hunters gradually ventured into this area while following herds of migrating animals. From the year 5,000 to 1,500 B.C. (Archaic Period) these nomadic hunters began to permanently reside in the county as they evolved into more agricultural based society. The Woodland Period from 1500 to 500B.C. brought forth many advances in crop cultivation and the domestication of animals. The unique phenomenon of burial mounds began during this era and is evident in counties surrounding Weakley County.The early ancestors of the Chickasaw
Indians temporally resided in the county between 500 A.D. and 1700 A.D.and built temple mounds for ceremonies and worship. A few such mounds can be found within the boundaries of the county.European exploration of the Americas led to land claims by Spain, France and England respectively. By 1663, most of West Tennessee fell under the jurisdiction of the English government, specifically the westernmost precinct of Albemarle County in the province of Carolina. Between 1693 and 1712 Carolina gradually split into North and South and West Tennessee came under the legal authority of North Carolina. In 1776 the North Carolina Constitution created the Washington District which encompassed what presently is the State of Tennessee. Following the American Revolution the Washington District was divided and West Tennessee became Green County, North
Carolina. On April 2, 1790 the Second Session Act ceded the lands "south of the River Ohio" to the United States government. Six years later, on June 1, 1796, the State of Tennessee was officially established.The Chickasaw still held claims to the lands west of the Tennessee Rive runtil 1818, when General Andrew Jackson and Isaac Shelby purchased the land for $300,000. The relinquishment of the Chickasaw claims to WesternTennessee and Kentucky later became known as the Jackson Purchase. The following year the purchase area of Tennessee was divided into surveyo rdistricts. Weakley County made up parts of the 12th and 13th districts.In 1821, the State Legislature passed an act to form and establish new counties west of the Tennessee River.
On October 21, 1823, the 15th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee officially established Weakley County (State Act creating WeakleyCounty). It was named in honor of Colonel Robert Weakley, who was then the Speaker of the Tennessee State Senate.
When the county was first organized in 1823 it was rectangular in shape and contained an area of over 700 square miles. The southern boundary was altered in 1837 in a land exchange with Gibson County. This was done so that settlers living on the land adjacent to the south fork of the Obion River could get to a county seat without having to cross the unbridged stream. The western boundary was changed in 1870 when the Obion County seat was transferred from Troy to Union City. At that time the state law required the county seats to be near the center of the county, thus the north-eastward relocation of the Obion County seat called for the northwestern boundary of Weakley County to be changed. The last change in Weakley County was in 1889 when J. W. Boyd and Company arranged for his business to be situated in Obion County instead of Weakley. With the political support of S. H. Hall and C. C. Adams in the State Legislature the final boundary change was approved. (1836 Map of Weakley County)
Prior to the organization of the county daring settlers migrated intothis unchartered land. The first recorded settlers were Ruben Edmonston and John Bradshaw who both arrived in Weakley County in the fall of 1819. They originally settled about six miles west of Dresden and around three miles south of Martin. Bradshaw would be the first settler to raise corn in the county. Other settlers would soon follow. One of the more famous settlers was David Crockett who arrived a year before the county was officially organized in 1822. He would build a log cabin in the southwestern part of the county along the South Fork of the Obion River.He and his family resided in this cabin until
his ill fated trip to Texas in 1835. In 1837, the property once owned by the Crockett's was ceded during the restructuring of the county and now lies in Gibson County near Rutherford, Tennessee.In the Antebellum era, Weakley County economically prospered and gradually progressed into the industrial age. Mills to grind the harvested corn and wheat were the county's first localized industries.Small community businesses and industries, such as blacksmiths,
wheelwrights, tanners, tailors, shoemakers, etc., soon followed the growing number of settlers. By the 1850's, tobacco warehouses, cotton gins and other agriculturally based industries evolved and thrived. By the early 1850's, the citizens of the county sought a railroad connection to nearby Hickman and Obion Railroad which ran north to south through Union City toward Hickman, Kentucky. After some financial and politica lsetbacks the railroad was eventually completed in early 1861. Later that same year, with the United States at the brink of war, Weakley Countians voted against the secession of Tennessee from the Union. Their Unionist convictions were in vain as
Tennessee followed other southern states in seeking independence.The Civil War had a devastating effect upon the population of Weakley County. The severing of the county into two armed factions not only ripped apart individual communities but also embittered families fo rgenerations to come. The majority of Weakley Countians seemed to have supported the rebellion as about 1100 men volunteered for service in the Confederate military while around 400 men chose to fight for the Union .One of those Confederate soldiers was Martin Van Buren Oldham who fought with the 9th Tennessee Infantry from 1862 to 1864.
The war hit home in early May of 1862, when a detachment of Union cavalry was surprised by two regiments of Confederate cavalry at Lockridge's Mil ljust north of Dresden. The Union forces were easily routed and driven northward into Kentucky. The county fell into a state of anarchy between 1863 until the conclusion of the war. Guerrilla bands and outlaws roamed the county pillaging communities and destroying homes and farms. Like most communities in West Tennessee it would take decades to reconstruct the damage inflicted from the war.
At present, Weakley County has a population of 31,972 (1990) and continues to have an agricultural based economy with few industrial businesses. Around 40% of the county's population lives in rural areas.The prevailing climate is temperate, with pronounced seasonal variations in both temperature and precipitation. Snowfall is variable from year to year. Most winters have little or no snow, but there are seasons when snowfall can accumulate up to 15 or 20 inches. The average annual temperature is 62 degrees and the annual precipitation is around 50 inches. The people of Weakley County, much like the climate, are warm and hospitable. We encourage all to visit our
historic communities and parks.© 1996.
Created, compiled, and thrown together by Dieter C. Ullrich. Specia lthanks go to Dr. Glenn S. Everett and the Faculty Multimedia Center forthe use of their expertise and
equipment.Original Handwritten Act placed before the Tennessee State LegislatureOctober 21, 1823
Transcription of the Document
Section 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, that a new county to be called and known, by the name of Weakley County, shall be and is hereby established west of Henry County .Beginning at the northwest corner of Henry County, running west with the state line to a point four miles west of the northwest corner of Range 3, fractional section 10, in the 13th District, thence south to the fourth sectional line in said District, running parallel with the Range line, thence east with the fourth sectional line to the second Range line inthe Twelfth Surveyor's District, thence north with said Range line to the beginning.
Section 2. Be it enacted, that for the administration of justice, the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Circuit Courts of said county, until otherwise provided for by law, shall be holden at the House of John Tyrrell under the same regulations and restrictions, and shall have and exercise the same powers and jurisdiction as are or shall hereafter be prescribed for the several counties of this State.
Section 3. Be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of the Sheriff o fsaid County, to hold an election at the place of holding courts in said county, on the first Thursday and Friday in February next for the purpose of electing Field Officers for said County, which shall be conducted under the same rules and regulations as are prescribed by law in similar cases, and the militia of said County shall compose the ------ Regiment and be attached to the ------ Brigade.
Section 4. Be it enacted, that the election of company officers for said County, shall be held at such places as the commandant of the militia of said County may think proper to appoint, which said election shall be held on the ------ Monday in ------ next under the same rules,regulations, and restrictions, as are prescribed in like cases.
Section 5. Be it enacted, that the Sheriff of said County on the days prescribed by law, shall hold an election at the place of holding court,for the purpose of electing a Governor, members of the State Legislature, members of Congress and electors, to elect a President and Vice Presidentof the United States, under the same rules and regulations as are prescribed by law.
(Signed) James Fentress Speaker of the House of Representatives
(Signed) T.(Thomas) Weakley Speaker of the SenatePassed October 21st 1823.
From "Geneological Abstracts from Tennessee Newspapers 1803-1812", Sharidak Eddleman, Heritage Books, 1989, page 192: Sept. 24, 1811, Vol.III, No.CXC The imported stud horse Dragon will be sold on the third ofOctober at the Nashville Turf. R. Weakley.
The earliest record found in Halifax Co. Va. of Samuel Weakley was when he was a witness to a deed on Sept. 28, 1784, when his brother Thomas sold a 56A tract of land on Brush. Cr. He was then only a boy of 16 years of age, but probably his signature at that age was OK, since this was almost a family affair, for the other two witnesses were Robert and William Weakley. He appears again as a witness on July 18, 1787.
Samuel came to the Cumberland settlement in 1787 and he was on a Davidson Co. jury on April 9, 1788 and again in 1789 and at subsequent times.... There is no doubt of the fact that Samuel made many trips back to Halifax Co. Va. for we find his name in the records of both Dav. County and Halifax Co. Va. during the period of 1790-1793....
Samuel bought his first land on Oct. 7, 1791, when he purchased a 213 Acre tract on the East Fork of Stone's River, near the site of the present Woodbury, Cannon Co. Tenn, and on May 25, 1795 when he purchased a 213 Acre tract adjoining the above tract.
State of Tennessee}
Davidson County }
On this 15 day of May 1845 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace of the County of Davidson and State aforesaid -- Mr. Isaac Weakley aged Seventy five years doth certify that he knew Miss Prudence Chapell now Mrs. Prudence Weakley who has subscribed her name to a declaration for a pension under the act of Congress July 7th 1838 and Thomas Weakley deceased her husband ever since he had any recollection at least Sixty three years since that he knew them before they was married and after they was married in Halifax County State of Virginia and since their residence in Davidson and Montgomery County Tennessee that the Said Isaac Weakly lived in the same neighborhood before and after they was married and has no hesitation in saying that they was Lawfully married and that the marriage of Thomas Weakley and now his widow Prudence Weakley never has been disputed and he further declares that he was in the neighborhood and not farther than four miles distant from them when they was married and the Said Isaac Weakly still further declares that he was knowing to the above mentioned Thomas Weakley serving in the Revolutionary war as much as five years under Col. Morgan and was at the Battle of Brandywine Whitesides Mills, Yeates defeat, the Battle at the Cowpens and at Guilford Court DHouse besides other Battles not at present recollected.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year both within written.
Isaac Weakley
Wilson Crocket
A Justice of the Peace for Davidson County
I do certify that I have long acquainted with Isaac Weakley and no man I have a greater confidence in and that he is a man of high Standing and a good mind.
Wilson Crocket
A Justice of the Peace for Davidson CountyNo record of Isaac Weakley was found in Halifax County, Va. where he lived, or in any other nearby county. The first record of Isaac Weakley in Davidson County was on Oct. 15, 1793, when he was on the jury....
Isaac first appeared in the records of Robertson Co.; when he purchased a 300 Acre tract of land on Jan 19, 1795...
Robert H. Weakley was the only one of Isaac's children who lived to be included in the 1880 Census, which showed the place of birth of the parents. It showed Isaac and wife, Sarah, both born in Virginia.
The first records of Robert Weakley of Prince Edward Co. Va. in Tennessee were in Jan. and April 1796 when he was acting as juror in Davidson Co. court. In 1799 he was shown in the Montgomery County tax list....
Halifax Co Va. deed 19 p 322. I, Robert Weakley of Robertson Co. Tenn. husband of Jane Weakley, a legatee of Robert Weakley, deceased, late of Halifax Co. Va.; do relinquish all of my right, title, interest etc. of a certain tract ofl and containing 7 Acres, lying in Halifax Co. Va adjoining the lands of Thos. Bush, Fleming Hodges, Wm. Tucker. Said trat was left by the last will and testament of the above Robert Weakley unto my wife during her life and that to descend to the heirs of her body. The same I relinquish unto Robert Fambrough. I lay no claim etc., Sept 20, 1801. Signed Robert Weakley. Fleming DHodges, James Priddy and Elijah Tucker, witnesses.
Dickson County minutes 1 p 2, Tuesday morning, March 20, 1804; Court met according to adjournment from the previouls day, when it had met in the home of Robert Nesbitt....The court being thus constituted, they proceeded to make choice --- Robert Weakley, elected the first sheriff with bond set at $5000. Signed by Benjamin Weakley and Richard C. Napier.
The Fambrough name was one that had never been found in any of the old Weakley redcords. On the first trip to Halifax County Va. Jane was found to be in Robert Weakley's will of June 27, 1798. there was also a marriage of Robt. Weakley to Jane Fambrough on Mch 25, 1793 with Sam'l Weakley and Thos. Parker as witnesses....
Thus we see that John Fambrough (correct spelling) served in the Continental Forces during the period of Sept. 1777 to Feb. 1778... From records quoted below it is believed that John Fambrough died at the Valley Forge encampment.
Halifax Co Pleas Bk 10 p 156, June court 1780; Ordered that it be certified to the treasurer and the auditor of Public accounts that Jean Fambrough of this county is the widow and relict of John Fambrough, a poor soldier, who died in the Continental Service.Halifax Co deed 21 p 270, Oct. 7, 1806 reads: "Jane Weakley, Stewart Fambrough, Wm. Steel and wife Polly of Davidson Co Tenn, sell to Robert Fambrough of Halifax Co. Va. a tract of 77 Acres for $100. This land was given to Jane by the last will of her father Robert Weakley Sr...
The children of John and Jane Fambrough were: Robert, Mary and Stewart Fambrough.
He did not marry.
Robert Jr. gets REFN C1.1 from his father; B4a.4 from his mother. He was his father's first child and his mother's fourth. This was his mother's second marriage. She and Robert Sr. were first cousins, their fathers being brothers.
Physicians, Surgeons and Mates with Washington at Valley
ForgeHospitalization was a serious problem during the American RevolutionaryWar. Plans were made quite early to care for the wounded and sick, but at the best they were meager and inadequate. However on April 11, 1777 Dr.William Shippen Jr., of Philadelphia was chosen Director General of all the military hospitals for the army. Consequently the reorganization o fhospital conditions took place.
Four hospital districts were created: Easter, Northern, Southern and Middle. The wage scale was as follows: Director General's pay $6.00 a day and 9 rations; District Deputy Director $5.00 a day and 6 rations; SeniorSurgeon $4.00 a day and 6 rations; Junior Surgeon $2.00 and 4 rations; Surgeon mate $1.00 and 2 rations.
After the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, hospitals were established at Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton and Ephrata.
After the battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777, emergency hospitals were organized at Evansburg, Trappe, Falkner Swamp and
Skippack. Hospitals at Litiz and Reading were also continued. By December1777, new hospitals were opened at Rheimstown,
Warwick and Shaeferstown. Yellow Springs (now Chester Springs) an important hospital was organized under the direction of Dr. Samue lKennedy. At Lionville, Uwchlan Quaker Meeting House was also made a hospital for a time. Apothecary General Craigie's shop, Carlisle, was the source of hospital drugs.The camp at Valley Forge was established in December 1777. Perhaps the earliest reliable record of the sick is found in the report under the date December 23, when 2,898 men were reported sick or unfit for duty largely due to the lack of clothing. A return made February 1, 1778 showsthe number of incapacitated increased to 3,989, again traced to the need of clothing.
In order to understand the difficulties which faced the doctors and surgeons at Valley Forge it is necessary to follow sequentially the conditions in the cantonment as they were unfolded day by day. A carefu lstudy of Washington's orders and statements give valuable information concerning health conditions involved.
Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book is the primary source of health conditions within the camp. The first entry is under date December 26, 1777. "Complaints having been made by the Surgeons of Hospitals that the sick are often sent to him without a list
required by Gen. Orders issued the 12th November, to them orders all officers are ref'd for directions in this point and of the directions in this point and of the disposition of the arms of the sick. It appears also that many men who go into the Hospitals well clad are in a manner naked when they get well and cannot return to their regiment till new cloathed, to prevent a continuance of this evil that those guilty may beknown and punished. Hence forward every article of their cloathing, thei rlists signed by the captain or officer commanding compys." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, p. 169]Health Reports Neglected
It seems there was carelessness in making necessary health reports,consequently Washington ordered on January 2, 1778: "Every Monday morning regimental surgeons are to make returns to the Surgeon Gen'l. or in his absence to one of the senior surgeions, present in camp or otherwise under the immediate care of the regimental surgeons specifying the mens names Comps. Regts. and diseases." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book,p. 175]
Small pox and the itch caused much trouble in the army so that orders were issued under the following dates: January 6, 1778, "The regimental surgeons are immediately to make returns to Doctor Cochran Surgeon Gen'l. of all the men in their regiments who have not had the small pox, they will also call on Doctor Cochran for what sulphur they need for the use of their regiments."3 January 8, 1778. "Being informed many men are rendered unfit for duty by the itch, the Commander -in-Chief orders and directs the regimental surgeons to look attentively into this matter and as soon as the men who are affected with this disorder are properly dispersed in huts to have them anointed for it." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, pp. 183-186]
Since sickness was so prevalent in the early days of the camp plans were made to take care of the ill directly on the camp grounds. Washington issued the following orders: January 9, 1778. "The Majr. Genl. and Brigaiders or officers commanding the brigades of each division are to fix on some suitable place near their respective brigades where hosptials may be erected one for the sick in each brigade as soon as the men can possibly be spared from hutting they are to erect those hospitals, the officers who shall be app'd. to superintend the work will receive directions therefore at the Adjudt. Genls. office." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, p. 188]
Designs of Camp Hospitals
January 13, 1778. "The Flying Hospitals are to be 15 feet wide and 25 feet long in the clear and the story at least 9 feet high to be covered with boards or shingles only without any dirt, windows made on each side and a chimney at one end. Two such hospitals are to be made for each brigade at or near the center and if the ground permits of it not morethan 100 yards distance from the brigade." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, p. 191]
The Commander-in-Chief always solicitous about the comfort of his soldiers issued the following order January 15, 1778: "The Qr. Mr. Genl. is positively ordered to provide straw for the use of the troops and the surgeons to see that the sick when they are removed to huts assigned for the hospital are plentifully supplied with this article." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, pp. 192-199-204-216]
Stressing the need of accuracy concerning the sick Washington required,January 20, 1778: "The regimental surgeions every Wednesdayand Saturday are to make returns to the brigadier of all the sick in their respective regts. They or their mates are duly to attend the hut sof their men and see that the sick are provided for as well as possible.The surgeons are also to keep a book in which they will enter a copy ofevery return they give in." January 21, 1778. "The Director Genl. of the Hospitals is as soon as possible to furnish the R'mental surgeons with medicine chests supplied with such medicine as are necessary for the sick in camp." January 29, 1778. "The commanding officer of each brigade is to appoint a Capt'n daily to visit the sick of his brigade in or near camp to examine whether they have proper attention paid to them and are furnished with everything their situation requires as far as circumstances will allow."
In order to prevent small pox Washington ordered: February 18, 1778. "A return of those men who have not had the small pox in the brigade to be made immediately to the Brigade Major." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, p. 237] The fact that carelessness
continued in making reports concerning illness led to the issuance of thefollowing sharp order from headquarters: February 27, 1778. "Colonel Stewart has been much surprised to find so little attention paid to the orders issued by Gen. Weedon, respecting the sick of the brigade. The colonel now positively orders the captain whose duty it is to visit the sick of the brigade to deliver in his report by 9 o'clock the folowing morning to which he was appointed to the above duty, otherwise they may depend upon being called to a severe account as it is a duty the utmost importance in the army." [Weedon's Valley Forge Orderly Book, pp. 243;268; 299]Small Pox Innoculation
There was satisfaction expressed by the Commander-in-Chief concerning innoculation against small pox but a warning was issued: March 18, 1778."Innoculation for the small pox having been haply performed in all thesubjects in camp it is necessary to guard the fatal effects of that disorder taken in the natural way."
To secure milk was always a problem, and now Washington planned as follows: April 29, 1778. "Many inconveniences having attended the orderof the 17th inst. by confining the purchasing of milk and other necessaries for the use of the sick to the regimental Q. Masters. Instead of that mode a discreet serjiant and few men according to the number sick in the regiment, are to be sent out daily to purchase such articles." May3, 1778. "The medicine chests from Lord Stirling's division, to be sent to the Yellow Springs, immediately to be filled by the Apothecary Genl."
The following excerpts from the diary kept at Valley Forge by Albigence Waldo, Surgeon, from Connecticut is enlightening: "December25th--Christmas. We are still in tents, when ought to be in huts--the poor sick, suffer much in tents this cold weather. But we now treat them differently from what they used to be at home, under the inspection of old women and Doct. Bolus Linctus. We give them mutton and grogg--and a captial medicine once in a while--to start the disease from its foundation at once. We avoid piddling pills, powders, Babus's Linctus's cordials--and all such insignificant matters whose powers are only rendered important by causing the patient to vomit up his money instead of his disease. But very few of the sick men die."
Forbid Furlough for Doctor
"Valley Forge, Dec. 31st, 1777: 'Doct. Walso Surgeon of Col. Prentices Regt. is recommended for a Furlow.' J. Huntington, B. General.
"Applied with the above for a furlow, to Doct. Cochran who repl'd--"I am willing to oblige every gentleman of the Faculty, but some of the Boston Surgeons have by taking an underhand method of getting furlows ,occation'd a complaint to be lodg'd with his Excellency (Washington), who has positively forbid my giving any furlows at present."
The following entries were subsequently written in Waldo's diary: Dec.21, 1777. "A general cry goes through the camp this evening
among the soldiers, "No meat, no meat." "What have we for dinner, boy?""Nothing but cake and water, sir."Dec. 24, 1777. "Huts go up slowly. Cold and smoke make us fret."[Thomas-American Revolutionary Diaries, Vol. III, pp. 133-170]
As a result of careful examination of state records we found thefollowing Physicians, Surgeons and surgeon's mates who served in the Valley Forge encampment.
Connecticut: Doctors
D. Adams
Ebenezer CrosbyDelaware: Doctors
John Latimer
T. Tillotson
James TiltonMassachusetts: Doctors
Samuel Adams
William Annin
Daniel Bartlett
Thomas Benny
Barnabas Binney
Ezekiel Brown
James E. Burr
John Crane
Jacob Elrenzeller
William Eustis
George Fairbanks
Samuel Finley
Joseph Fish
Jonathan Fuller
Joseph Gardner
Jacob Hall, Jr.
John Hart
Walter Hastings
John Homasn
Estes Howe
John Jones
Jonathan King
James Mann
James Packer
Abijah Richardson
Daniel Shute
Elisha Skinner
Isaac Spofford
James Thatcher
John Thomas
Robert Walker
Peletiah Warren
Robert Warren
Samuel Whitwell
John WingateMassachusetts: Surgeon's Mates
Henry Adams
Jeduthan Baldwin
Ebenezer Ballentine
Francis Beviere
Joshua Chase
John Eaton
Samuel Gilbert
Francis L. Goodwin
Mordecai Hall
Silas Holbrook
William Laughton
Nathaniel Leavenworth
William Little
Ebenezer Makepiece
Benjamin Morgan
John Noyes
Kendall Osgood
Benjamin Porter
Eleazor Porter
Calvin Scott
Kendall Scott
Timothy Smith
Thaddeus Thompson
Benjmain Upham
Aaron Warren
Josiah Waterhouse
James Weems
Samuel WoodwardNew Hampshire: Doctors
Caleb G. Adams
William ParkerNew Jersey: Doctors
Otto Bodo, Jr.
Robert Henry
J.B. NikerNew York: Doctors
W.P. Smith
Charles McKnight
George CampbellNorth Carolina: Doctors
James Huston
W. McClurePennsylvania: Doctors
William Adams
Robert Blackwell
John Cochran
John Duffield
Samuel Kennedy
A. Morgan
Bodo Otto, Sr.
Jonathan Potts
Benjamin RushWilliam Shippen, Jr.
Francis Smith (DeAerts)
William Smith
James TateRhode Island: Doctors
Samuel Tenney
Peter TurnerVirginia: Doctors
A. Alexander
James Craik
William Brown
George DraherIt should be noted that several of the Pennsylvania doctors rendered service as follows:
Dr. William Shippen, Jr. of Philadelphia, Director-General of army hospitals 1777-1781.
Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia, Physician General of hospitals designated as Middle Department 1777-1778.
Robert Blackwell was also a Chaplain.
John Cochran, born in Chester County 1730, was appointed Physician-General in Middle Dept. and in 1781 became
Director-General of hospitals in the United States. He died in 1807.Jonathan Potts was born in 1747 and in 1777 was elected Deputy Director-General of Hospital Department as related to the
Continental Army. He was closely associated withValley Forge.Bodo Otto, Sr. was Hospital-Physician and Surgeon at Valley Forge. He was born at Hanover, Germany, 1711. He received part o fhis medical training at University of Gottengin and came to Philadelphia in 1755, where he practiced for a time. He then moved to Reading. He entered the Continental Service at 65 and continued in the field with the army. He was with the army at Valley Forge the fall of 1777. He was interested in the Lutheran Church at Trappe. He also served at the military hospital, Yellow Springs. He resigned from the Continental service in 1782.
Samuel Kennedy, had close contact with Washington at Valley Forge, who greatly appreciated the service he rendered. The
following obituary record is from the Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Charlestown, Chester County, Pennsylvania:"In memory of Doctor Samuel Kennedy,
Physician of the General Hospital who departed this life on the
17th day of June 1778--48 years.
In him the patient friend
Harmonious here till death his life did end,
The Church's pupil and the State his care,
A Physician skilful and a Whig sincere,
Beneath this tomb sleeps his precious dust
Till the last trump reanimates the just."And, from Virginia, James Craik was a native of Scotland. He came to America with General Braddock and later settled at
Winchester, Virginia. After Washington assumed command of the American Continental forces, he appointed him to the medical
service. Later as an Assistant Director he served at Valley Forge. He was physician in attendance at Washington's death in 1799. He died at Fairfax, Virginia in 1814.Future research will reveal more names of doctors who served at Valley Forge. The above results came from long pain-staking
effort. The services of Physicians and Surgeons atValley Forge may never be completely recorded but the work they performed was of the utmost importance in helping to establish the foundations of our country.
Bibliography:
Weedon2 CONC , published by The Valley Forge Historical SocietyCopyright ©1998-99Independence Hall Association
The Fambrough name was one that had never been found in any of the old Weakley redcords. On the first trip to Halifax County Va. Jane was found to be in Robert Weakley's will of June 27, 1798. there was also a marriage of Robt. Weakley to Jane Fambrough on Mch 25, 1793 with Sam'l Weakley and Thos. Parker as witnesses....
Thus we see that John Fambrough (correct spelling) served in the Continental Forces during the period of Sept. 1777 to Feb. 1778... From records quoted below it is believed that John Fambrough died at the Valley Forge encampment.
Halifax Co Pleas Bk 10 p 156, June court 1780; Ordered that it be certified to the treasurer and the auditor of Public accounts that Jean Fambrough of this county is the widow and relict of John Fambrough, a poor soldier, who died in the Continental Service.Halifax Co deed 21 p 270, Oct. 7, 1806 reads: "Jane Weakley, Stewart Fambrough, Wm. Steel and wife Polly of Davidson Co Tenn, sell to Robert Fambrough of Halifax Co. Va. a tract of 77 Acres for $100. This land was given to Jane by the last will of her father Robert Weakley Sr...
The children of John and Jane Fambrough were: Robert, Mary and Stewart Fambrough.
A letter from Robert Weakley Brahan (1811-1885), great-great-grandson of Robert Weakley the Patriarch, in a letter dated May 6, 1879, wrote, "I have heard our Gran Father say that his Gran Father, Robert came from Wales England with other Stewart refugees driven by the Cromwell Round heads." The Round Heads came to power on the death of Charles I in 1649, and were in total control from 1653 until May 1659. This would seem to indicate that the Weakleys were Catholic Royalists, and became Protestants sometime after coming to America. The timeframe would also suggest that Robert the Patriarch was at most a child when this immigration occurred. The Patriarch's second child, Robert, was born about 1720, some 61 years after the Round Heads went out of power. Or it may be that The Patriarch heard these stories as a child and then repeated them to his children and grandchildren in later years as if they had been personal experiences that he remembered. Charles II, son of Charles I, came to the throne in 1660 and reigned until 1685, restoring some stability to the government and incorporating the tolerances for which the Civil War was fought.
Welcome to My Weakley Genealogy Page
An Outline of My Descent in theWeakley Family by Ken Powers
Introduction
The primary source for the material in this chart is The Southern Virginia Weakley Families and Their Descendants by Samuel Anderson Weakley, published privately, and on file at The State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee and other locations. I am also privileged to have a copy. I am happy to share information from the book. Just email your questions, and I will answer as soon as possible.
SAW outlined his understanding of the different lines of the Weakley-Weekley family group, writing, "Without doubt, the Weekley families of Charleston (SC) were the first of the name in America. They came from the English Barbados Island." He discusses at length the confusion between the Cumberland County, PA family descended from James Weakley and Jane Wilson, and the family descended from Robert Weakley that is the subject of this book. By 1790, there were Weekly, Wakely, and families of similar name spelling in Maryland and the Northeast U.S.
There were many Weakley families in Northern Virginia, in the counties west of Washington, D.C. and further west as early as 1764. SAW writes, "Several of the Weakley families were visited by the author, in Rappahannock, Madison, Warren, and Page Counties with the hope that someone would have an old bible (sic) or other record which would show the origin of the family, but my time and labor availed me nothing. Descendants of the Weakley families who lived in northern Virginia are to be found in many mid and far western states."
With respect to the Weakley families of Southern Virginia, SAW writes, "Many and varying statements have been advanced as to the originof the family; some fantastic. Robert Weakley Brahan (1811-85) and Robert Weakley Brown (1826-84), grandsons of Col. Robert Weakley [B7]have left what is believed reliable information, which was received firsthand from their grandfather." Brahan wrote to Brown on May 6, 1879, "I have heard our Gran Father say that his Gran Father, Robert, came from Wales England with other Stewart refugees driven by the Cromwell Roundheads." That would place their exodus about 1650 or so.
This presents a bit of a problem in dating, for Robert, son of our progenitor, was born about 1720. If his father had come out of Wales under Cromwell's persecution, he would have been a small child at best. Perhaps what was remembered was from the progenitor's parents talking about these events as he grew up in the home. In other testimony gathered by SAW, there is remembrance of many years living in Ireland. At any rate, I claim for us a Celtic heritage from Wales and Ireland.
Here, then, is my line of descent from Robert Weakley, immigrant to America from Wales through Ireland in the early to mid-years of the 1700s.
Believed to have been single.
There is another reference to William in Lancaster County, PA, in the area that would later become Cumberland County. There were a number of inhabitants of the area who signed a petition to the Penns asking for a road to be built from John Harris' ferry on the Susquehanna, which would later become tthe site of Harrisburg, through Cumberland County to an area not distinguished. Quite a number of early settlers signed it,including James and William, here spelled Wekely as well as Robert Weakley's grandfather, Robert Rutherford. (Not sure if he is also grandfather of James & William). The petition was dated May 21, 1735.On this same list of petitioners is James Woods, whose son Robert Woods appears in the 1749 tithables of Lunenburg County, VA. This same Robert Woods patented 5,000 acres of land in 1765 in what would become Franklin County, VA.
Source: The Pennsylvania Archives, series 6,vol. 14, pg. 273
William, Robert and James Weakley, and a kinsman, Griffith Rutherford, were listed in the first available tithable list (1748) of Lunenburg Co, VA. Their names also appear in the 1749 list and the Weakleys in the 1750 list. These lists were taken by Wm. Caldwell, from Little Roanoke and up the fork.
It is the opinion of the author, from the digest of much data, that William, Robert, and James were brothers and the sons of an older Robert ... and that they followed the same route, as did the Caldwells, when they came to Virginia; namely, by way of Lancaster Co. Pa. (formed in 1729)....
William Weakley purchased a tract of land of 389 Acres on Mch. 30, 1751 (Lunenburg deed 2 p 183( from Francis Crymes (Grymes) for 20L. This land lay on the waters of Cubb (Cub) Creek and Rough or Williams Creek in what is now Charlotte Co. VA. The land is 10 miles northwest of the county seat, Charlotte Courthouse, Va.
Thomas Jefferson (Pappy) Basford
I think he had a brother George Washington Basford, born in 1837. While both mother and father and T.J. were born in Tennessee G.W. was born in Illinois.
He was born in that part of Montgomery Co. which became part of Cheatham Co. when Cheatham was formed in 1856.Residence: 1910 - city, Cheatham, Tennessee
Source: Census - 1910 United States Federal Census
1880 Census
Residence: Cheatham, Tennessee
Household:Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
T. J. BASFORD Self M Male W 25 TN Farmer TN TN
F. BASFORD Wife M Female W 20 TN Keeps House TN TN
Tom BASFORD Son S Male W 2 TN TN TN
I. BASFORD Dau S Female W 8M TN TN TN
Martha WEAKLEY Aunt S Female W 30 TN House Keeper VA NC
Died of measles and pneumonia four days before his wife died of the same.
Died of measles and pneumonia four days after her husband died of the same.