Halifax County, VA Genealogy and History - presented by Genealogy Trails

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Halifax County

AVERETT, Thomas Hamlet , (1800 - 1855) a Representative from Virginia; born near Halifax, Halifax County, Va., July 10, 1800; attended the common schools; served as a drummer boy in the War of 1812; studied medicine; was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., and practiced in Halifax and the adjacent counties; served in the State senate in 1848 and 1849; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1846 to the Thirtieth Congress; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1853); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1852; resumed the practice of medicine in Halifax County; died near Halifax Court House, Va., June 30, 1855; interment in the family burial ground near Halifax Court House, Va.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the US Congress 1774-Present)

Avary, Mrs. Myrta Lockett, journalist, author, poet, was born in Halifax, Va. She married Dr. James Corbin Avary, now of Atlanta, Ga. In 1897-1903 she was on the editorial staff of the Christian Herald of New York City; and is a writer of sociological articles and stories of tenement life. She is the author of A Virginia Girl in the Civil War; and Dixie After the War.
[Herringshaw’s National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States, by William Herringshaw, 1909 – Transcribed by Therman Kellar]

John Byrnes and his wife were natives of Halifax county, Va. Their children were—William, John, Richard, Rhoda, Martha, and Sarah. William married Catharine H. Thagmorton, and settled in Audrain county in 1830. They had— William H., John R., Sarah F., James T., Mary, Millie C., and Lucinda. Richard Byrnes married Patsey Barnes, of Virginia, and settled in Audrain county in 1832. His children were—John, Richard, Jr., William, George, Fielding, Sarah, Jane, and Ann. Rhoda Byrnes married George Bonar, and they had—Alexander, Catharine, Sarah, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Georgiana. Martha Byrnes married Matthew Scott, who died, leaving her a widow with one child.
(Source: A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri: with numerous sketches, by William Smith Bryan, publ. 1876. Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack)

CLAY, Matthew (1754-1815), a Representative from Virginia; born in Halifax County, near Danville, Va., March 25, 1754; during the Revolutionary War entered the Ninth Virginia Regiment October 1, 1776, transferred to the First Virginia Regiment in 1778 and to the Fifth Virginia Regiment in 1781, being successively promoted to first lieutenant, captain, and quartermaster; mustered out 1783; member of the State house of delegates 1790-1794; elected as a Republican to the Fifth and to the seven succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1797-March 3, 1813); chairman, Committee on Militia (Tenth Congress); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1813 to the Thirteenth Congress; elected to the Fourteenth Congress and served from March 4, 1815, until his death at Halifax Court House, Va., May 27, 1815; interment in the old family burying ground in Pittsylvania County, Va.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the US Congress 1774-Present)

Hon. Walter T. Colquitt was born in Halifax County, Virginia, on the 27th of December, 1799, a scion of one of the representative colonial families of that historic old commonwealth, and within a short time after his birth his parents came to Georgia and became pioneer settlers in the vicinity of Mount Zion, Carroll County, where he passed the period of his childhood and early youth and where he acquired his preliminary education. Later he was sent to the College of New Jersey, now familiarly known as Princeton University, but before he had completed the prescribed course leading to graduation he was called to his home, owing to the illness of his father. Later he prosecuted the study of law under the preceptorship of Col. Samuel Rockwell, of Milledgeville, Baldwin County, and in 1820 he was admitted to the bar of the State of Georgia, and his novitiate in the work of his profession was served at Sparta, Hancock County, whence he later removed to the now extinct Village of Cowpens, in Walton County. In the meanwhile he not only made advancement in professional prestige and success but was also elected by the Legislature to the office of brigadier general of the state militia when he was but twenty-one years of age.
Alert and ambitious, with a fine mind and with well fortified convictions concerning matters of public import, he early became influential in political affairs, and in 1826 he was a candidate for Congress, on the Troup ticket, as it was familiarly known. In a district which had a majority that tallied for the opposition a majority of fully 2,000 votes in a normal way, he was defeated by only 32 votes, his opponent having been Hon. Wilson Lumpkin. At the age of twenty-seven years he was elected judge of the Chattahoochee Superior Court. In 1836-7 Judge Colquitt represented Muscogee County in the State Senate, and in 1838 he was accorded further official distinction, in that he was elected to Congress, as candidate on the whig ticket and as a supporter of the policy of individual state rights. He resigned his seat in the national Legislature at the time of the nomination of Gen. William Henry Harrison for the Presidency and in the ensuing campaign he ardently supported Martin Van Buren, the democratic candidate. His course met with the unequivocal commendation of his constituency, and he resumed his seat in Congress, in the lower house of which he continued to serve until March, 1843, when he became a member of the United States Senate. He gave stanch support to the Polk administration and to the government policies concerning the Oregon question and the issue of the Mexican war, and he conscientiously and insistently opposed the historic Wilmot Proviso.
Apropos of the professional ability of Judge Colquitt the following consistent estimate has been given: "As an advocate he stood alone in Georgia and perhaps in the whole South. No man could equal him in vigor and brilliancy where the passions of the jury had to be led."
Senator Colquitt's entire life was guided and governed by a fine sense of personal stewardship and by deep Christian faith, both he and his wife having been earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Though of splendid physical constitution, this distinguished Georgian was notably improvident in fortifying his health, and he died in the prime of his strong and useful manhood, at the age of fifty-six years.
Senator Colquitt was thrice married. On the 23d of February, 1823, he wedded Miss Nancy H. Lane, daughter of Joseph Lane, of Newton County, and they became the parents of six children. In 1841, a number of years after the death of the wife of his early manhood, he married Mrs. Alpha B. Fauntleroy, whose family name was Tood, but she survived her marriage only a few months. In 1842 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Harriet W. Ross, daughter of Luke Ross, of Macon, this state, and she survived him by a number of years, no children having been born of this union.
(Source: A standard history of Georgia and Georgians, Volume 5 By Lucian Lamar Knight. Submitted by Barb Z.)

Easley Family
John Chaffin Easley. Member of a Virginia family of honorable record, John Chaffin Easley, vice-president and secretary of R. B. Chaffin & Company, Incorporated, of Richmond, Virginia, descends in a line connected with numerous other distinguished Virginia names. John S. Easley, grandfather of John Chaffin Easley, a native of Halifax county, Virginia, was a soldier in the American army in the second war with Great Britain, and died in West Virginia, aged seventy-eight years. John S. Easley married Agnes Clark White, born in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, and had seven children, two of whom are living at the present time. Isaac Howson. of West Virginia, and Edwin Hamilton, of Brooklyn, New York.

(II) Dr. William D. Easley, son of John S. and Agnes Clark (White) Easley, was born in Giles county, Virginia, December 19, 1831, died in West Virginia. He was educated for the medical profession and was engaged in practice throughout his active years, his death occurring while conducting such pursuits in West Virginia. He was a gentleman of loyal and patriotic nature, and the realization of war between the states found him enlisted for service in the Amelia County Volunteers. Dr. William D. Easley married Ann Elizabeth, born in Amelia county, Virginia, October 17, 1841, died May 29, 1907, daughter of John Booker and Susan Adeline (Willson) Chaffin. Her parents were natives of Amelia county, and there John Booker Chaffin was an extensive planter, owning more than one hundred slaves. John Booker and Susan Adeline Chaffin had three children who grew to maturity: Ann Elizabeth, of previous mention, married Dr. William D. Easley, Richard B., and Martha Giles. Of the eight children of Dr. William D. Easley, three died in infancy, and a fourth, Richard Booker, died June 24, 1904. The others are: John Chaffin. of whom further; Edwin Hamilton, of Blue Field. West Virginia; Agnes E., married Matthew Louden West, deceased, of Richmond, Virginia; Susie E., married Joseph Cary Eggleston, of Amelia Court House, Virginia.

(Ill) John Chaffin Easley, son of Dr. William D. and Ann Elizabeth (Chaffin) Easley, was born in Amelia county, Virginia, October 15, 1862, and when he was a lad of eleven years accompanied his parents to Brooklyn, New York. In this place his education, begun in Virginia, was continued, and soon after his return to his native state, Richmond becoming the family home, he became associated with the firm in which he now holds high official position, R. B. Chaffin & Company. Remaining with the company through its period of continuous growth and expansion to its present vast dimensions, better preparation for the responsible duties that are his could not have been obtained. R. B. Chaffin & Company, Incorporated, bearing the name of Mr. Easley's one maternal uncle, advertise as brokers and dealers in real estate, and in its line is one of the largest concerns in the state. The office of the company is at Main and Twelfth streets. Richmond, and here Mr. Easley can usually be found busily engaged in the direction of some of the details of the large business, upon which no one's grasp is more sure and comprehensive. As vice-president and.secretary he plays an important part in the formation of the policy and methods of the company, and gives of the best of his labors toward its successful continuance. Mr. Easley's able counsel has been frequently of value to the First National Bank of Richmond, which he serves as a director, and he holds the same position in connection with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. His fraternal order is the Masonic, and in this society he is a member of lodge, chapter, commandery and shrine. A life-long Democrat, he is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church. His club is the Westmoreland.

Mr. Easley married, at Fincastle, Virginia. February 3, 1892, Lucy Gilmer, born at Grove Hill, Botetourt county, Virginia. December 20. 1868, daughter of Colonel Cary and Virginia (Calwell) Breckenridge. Her mother was a native of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, formerly owned by the Calwell family, an old Southern line, and Colonel Cary Breckenridge was born at the family homestead. Grove Hill, in Botetourt county, Virginia, as were his father and grandfather. Colonel Breckenridge, now living, aged seventy-five years, was a colonel of cavalry in the Confederate army, serving through all four years of the war. Children of John Chaffin and Lucy Gilmer (Breckenridge) Easley: Cary Breckenridge, born June 13, 1893, a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, class of 1914, now a student in engineering at Boston Technical Institute; Richard Booker, born June 2, 1895, for two years attended Virginia Military Institute, now studying for the medical profession.

[Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, under the editorial supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler, 1915 - Transcribed by Therman Kellar]

EDMUNDS, Paul Carrington (1836-1899), a Representative from Virginia; born at “Springwood,” the country estate, near Halifax Court House, Halifax County, Va., November 1, 1836; studied under a private teacher; was graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1855, and from the law department of the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va., in 1857; was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Jefferson City, Mo.; returned to Virginia in 1859 and engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm in Halifax County; served as first lieutenant, Company A, Montague’s battalion, in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; member of the Virginia State senate 1881-1888; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1884; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third Congresses (March 4, 1889-March 3, 1895); chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Agriculture (Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses); declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1894; died in Houston, Halifax County, Va., March 12, 1899; interment in St. John’s Churchyard, Halifax, Va.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the US Congress 1774-Present)

JUDGE H. W. FLOURNOY
Judge Flournoy was born in Halifax County, Virginia, in 1846. He is a son of Thomas S. Flournoy, born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, December 14, 1811, died in Halifax County, March, 1883, and a grandson of John James Flournoy, born in Prince Edward county in 1780. At Clarksville, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, June 8, 1871, he married Rosa Buena, daughter of Henry Wood, Esq., of that county. They have an only son, H. W. Flournoy, Jr. Mrs. Flournoy's father, born in Amelia County, Virginia, in 1812, practiced law many years in Mecklenburg and adjoining counties, and died in Clarksville in 1882.
Judge Flournoy attended school at the Samuel Davis Institute, Halifax county; T.T. Bouldin's, Charlotte county; John H. Powell's, Halifax county, and the Pike Towers school at Mt. Laurel, Halifax county. In January, 1862, not then sixteen years of age, he entered the Confederate States army. He served as a private in Company G, 6th Virginia Cavalry, until wounded at Tom's Brook, Virginia, October 8, 1864. In November following he was enrolled in the Third Company, Richmond Howitzers, with which he remained until the surrender at Appomattox. In September, 1867, Judge Flournoy began the practice of law, in Danville, Virginia. He was elected Judge of the Corporation Court of Danville in June, 1870, and re-elected in 1876. Resigning this office on January 1, 1878, he resumed practice in Halifax County. In 1881 he settled in Washington County; in 1883 was elected to the office he is now ably filling, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, reelected in 1885, and again in 1887.
[History of Virginia From Settlement of Jamestown to Close of The Civil War by Robert Alonzo Brock and Virgil Anson Lewis, 1888 – Transcribed by AFOFG]

Drury Myers, of Ireland, settled in Halifax Co., Va. His children were—Drury, William, Gardner, and Beverly. Drury married Nancy Douglass, who had seven brothers in the American army during the revolutionary war. They settled first in Tennessee, and removed from there to Kentucky, where Mr. Myers died in 1828. He had six children, and his widow and five of the children settled in Boone Co., Mo., in 1832. The names of the children were—Sally, Drury D., Nancy, Beverly S., and William M. Sally married Marion Pate, who settled in Audrain county in 1835. Drury D. married Mary A. Barnes, and settled in Audrain county in 1833. Nancy married Hiram G. Miller, who also settled in Audrain county. Beverly S. was married first to Martha Ridgeway, and settled in Audrain county in 1833. He was married the second time to Emelia E. Bladus. William M. married Elizabeth H. Barnes, and settled in Audrain county in 1834.
(Source: A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri: with numerous sketches, by William Smith Bryan, publ. 1876. Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack)

THOMAS O'CONNER, 1877.*
Born at Halifax Court House, Virginia, February 29, 1836. Came to Knoxville about 1855. Merchant. Major of Artillery in Confederate Army. Several years member from Tennessee of Democratic National Executive Committee. Appointed Trustee of East Tennessee University, 1877. First President of Mechanics National Bank of Knoxville, 1882. Died at Knoxville, October 19, 1882.
[University of Tennessee record, Volume 1 By University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1898- Transcribed by AFOFG]

*Explanatory Note. The date set opposite the name of each Trustee indicates the year of his first connection with the University as Trustee; either by election by the Board of Trustees pending confirmation by the Legislature, or by direct Legislative appointment without previous election by the Board.

Palmer, Edward A., jurist and state senator, was born in Buckingham (now Appomattox) county, Va.. July 1, 1825, son of Dr. Reuben Darjarnett and Martha P. (Christian) Palmer. His father was an eminent physician and planter, who served as surgeon and first lieutenant in the war of 1812; surgeon in 7th Gray's regiment of Virginia militia, and first lieutenant in Capt, John B. Royall's troop of cavalry, of Halifax county, Va., in 1st Holcomb's Virginia regiment. He was the son of Elias and Hannah (Le Grand) Palmer; and his mother was daughter of John Le Grand, and granddaughter of Pierre Le Grand and his wife, Jane Micheaux, Huguenots, who fled from Bohain, France, in 1686, and settled in Virginia about 1700. Elias Palmer was the son of Thomas Palmer of Halifax county, Va., who was a descendant of Thomas Palmer, member of house of burgesses in 1629, and justice in 1631-32 for tipper parts of Charles City county and Henrico county, Va. Judge Edward A. Palmer's mother was a daughter of Henry and Martha (Patteson) Christian of Amherst and Buckingham county, Va. Martha Patteson was daughter of Jonathan, son of David Patteson of New Kent county, Va. Henry Christian was a captain in the revolutionary war. He enlisted, Nov. 22, 1776, as a private in the 10th Virginia regiment, commanded by Col. Edward Stevens ; lie was captain under Col. Daniel Gaines of Amherst county, Va., who marched and joined the army under La Fayette. Henry Christian's father was William Christian of Virginia, who was on the committee of safety for Charles City county, Va., in 1774. He is descended from Thomas Christian, the first American ancestor of the family, who came to Virginia in 1630. He was descended from the Christians in the Isle of Man, where they were, in 1422, the hereditary judges (deemsters) in the island for a century. The name was originally McChristain, and in 1630 was first written Christian; their genealogy is traced to 900 A.D. Judge Edward A. Palmer, the subject of this sketch, was graduated at the Hampden-Sidney College in 1845, at the head of his class. On account of delicate health he removed to Houston, Tex., in 1846, and began the practice of law. He became one of the most distinguished lawyers in the state. He was in the Texas legislature (1852-54); was in the state senate (1855), and declined re-election. His service in the senate was distinguished by his diligent efforts in perfecting the school fund and internal improvement system, and advocacy of doctrine of state rights, which were marked benefit to the stale. In 1860 he was elected judge of the district, serving for three terms. He was married, in Lynchburg, Va., Dec. 3, 1846, to Martha Winifred, daughter of Samuel and Winifred Jones (Guerrant) Branch. (For Mrs. Palmer's genealogy, see Branch, Anthony Martin.) They had three children: William Henry Palmer, H. Elizabeth Palmer (married, first, Edward Milby; after his death, married Hon. Joseph C. Hutcheson) and Rosalie Heath Palmer (married Sinclair Taliaferro). Judge Edward A. Palmer died in Houston, Tex., Jan. 15, 1862, being at that time judge of the district.

[Source: The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Volume 8; By James Terry White;

Publ. 1898; Transcribed by Andrea Stawski Pack]

Charles Rodgers and his wife, Elizabeth Harris, of Halifax county, Va., had one son, Charles B., who was a Lieutenant in the war of 1812. He settled in Callaway county, Mo., in 1829, and at the commencement of the war with Mexico he raised a company in Callaway and Audrain counties, and served as Captain of his company during the war. His wife was Aletha Overfelt, of Bedford county, Va., and their children were—Richmond 11.. Charles A., Andrew J., James C., John L., Elizabeth J., Sarah H., Virginia C., Thomas R., Isaac C., William G., and Aletha J. Charles A. was a private in his father's company during the Mexican war.
(Source: A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri: with numerous sketches, by William Smith Bryan, publ. 1876. Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack)

George P. Watkins
Son of William and Mary (Wharton) Watkins, and grandson of Thomas Watkins, was born in Halifax County, Virginia, March 10th, 1852. His father was born in Virginia, where the family bas been long seated, and his mother was born in the State of Maine. His wife is Jimmie Lelia, daughter of Col. James W. and Mary Elizabeth (Jones) Watts, whose family record appears in this volume. She was born in Bedford County, Virginia, and they were married by Dr. W. E. Edwards, at the Court Street M. E. Church, Lynchburg December 22, 1880. Their children are Florence, Lucile, Lelia. Robert W. Watkins, brother of George P. served in the late war. His mother died in 1857, when he was five years old, and his father died in 1864, when he was twelve years old. After that he attended boarding school for two years, than entered on a business life in 1868 as clerk in a retail store in Halifax County, Virginia. In 1871 he went to Richmond as traveling salesman for the wholesale notion house of Yancey & Franklin; in 1875 went to Baltimore, traveling for a wholesale house. On July 1, 1878, became a partner in the wholesale boot and shoe firm of Witt & Watkins, in which he still continues at 808 Main street (see record of Geo. D. Witt). Mr. Watkins is also a director in the National Exchange Bank of Lynchburg, and has been since its organization.
[Source: Virginia and Virginians: History of Volume 2; by Robert Alonzo Brock, Virgil Anson Lewis; publ. 1888; transcribed by Andrea Pack pgs. 556 to 595]

W. Lafayette Watkins

The families from which Mr. Watkins is descended were Huguenots and in 1700 settled atManakin Town, Virginia. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, on January 10,1824, the son of Stephen D. Watkins, who was born in Halifax County, Virginia, January 27, 1778, and who died on July 13, 1862. Thomas Watkins, father of Stephen D., was born on November 15, 1748, and died July 28, 1816. He married Magdaline Dupuy, daughter of John Bartholomew Dupuy (Huguenot). The mother of W. Lafayette, was Sarah H., daughter of Peter Dupuy. She was born January 20, 1800, and died on August 14, 1864. Her father was born July 1, 1760, and died August 29. 1826. Her mother was Margaret Martin, born November 6, 1768, died July 18, 1852.

Mr. Watkins received a collegiate education at William and Mary College, whence he was graduated on July 4, 1843. He studied law under Judge Thomas S. Gholson, of Petersburg, and received license to practice in 1846. Since that time he has followed the profession of law continuously, practicing in Dinwiddie and adjoining counties and Court of Appeals. He has been two terms city attorney for Petersburg, and six years a member of the city council. His first wife was Maria S. Hall, born at Fredericksburg, Virginia, June 4, 1833, and died September 21, 1864, aged thirty-one years. Their children were seven, of whom there are living two sons: Thomas G. and John D., and one daughter, Sally H., now the wife of Dr. M. L. Wood, of Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Watkins married secondly, at Petersburg, October 9, 1866, Eliza Stringfellow, daughter of Rev. Horace Stringfellow ; she was born at Washington, D. C., on September 19,1845.
[Source: Virginia and Virginians: History of Volume 2; by Robert Alonzo Brock, Virgil Anson Lewis; publ. 1888; Pages 634 to 659; transcribed by Andrea Stawski Pack 2011~]

Samuel Watts, of Halifax Co., Va., was born in England. He married Sally Burchett, and they had—Rebecca, Daniel, Lizzie, Gillum, John, Roland, Joseph, Berry, Brackett, and Sally. Roland married Polly Lane, and settled in Audrain county in 1833. Joseph was married first to Dorothea Conner, of Virginia, and second to the widow of Henry Burnes, whose maiden name was Arsissa Johnson, daughter of Richard Johnson and Ann Withens, who came from Bourbon Co., Ky., to Callaway Co., Mo., in 1824.
(Source: A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri: with numerous sketches, by William Smith Bryan, publ. 1876. Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack)

J. B. C. WINSTON; Was born in Halifax county, Virginia, April 18, 1829. He is of Welsh descent, the Winston family settling in Bristol, Connecticut, where his grandfather died. His father, Roma Winston, was born in Connecticut, in 1800, removed to Virginia, and died in 1834. His mother, whose maiden name was Saloma Heckman, died in 1875. On October 16, 1855, Rev. Wm. H. Kinckle officiating, ?.C. Winston married Martha J., daughter of A. Winston, and sister of the wife of Senator E. J. Folkes. She was born in Lynchburg, February 29, 1832. They have nine children, all living in Lynchburg, Edgar R., Sallie F., John A., Eunice D., William F., Irene M., Joseph H., Paulina C., Kate E. and have buried three children: E., born July 4, 1856, died October 23, 1859; Annie T., born in 1860, died in 1862; Mamie, born in 1878, died in 1884. Mr. Winston entered the Confederate States Army in March, 1862, Company D 19th Battery. Virginia Heavy Artillery, rank of Second Lieutenant, and was promoted First Lieutenant in July, 1862. He was in service till close of war, and took part in a number of skirmishes but no regular battles, the battery attached to Custis Lee's division at close of war. Mr. Winston came to Lynchburg in 1812, and was in the employ of A. Winston, furniture business until 1858, when he went into the same business with J. L. Winston. From 1859 until he went into the army was in business for himself and in 1865 resumed the business. In 1868 removed to Snowville, Pulaski County, Virginia. In 1872 returned to Lynchburg, and again took up the furniture business, which he has continued to date. The firm, manufacturers and dealers in furniture at 620 and 622 Main street, is now J. H. C. Winston, Son & McGehee, the second son, John A., having entered into partnership in 1884, and Mr. McGehee in 1887.

Source: Virginia and Virginians: History of Volume 2; by Robert Alonzo Brock, Virgil Anson Lewis; publ. 1888; transcribed by Andrea Pack pgs. 556 to 595