Halcomb Heckart Branch of the West Family

Submitted by Cindy Halcomb Wyant.

A side note per Ben West’s early comments on the West/Milliken family. I discovered this just recently: Isabella West was the first wife of Hiram Halcomb, after she died he married a Frances Rice. Frances also died, and Hiram married for a third time a Mrs. Mahala Wade Vaughn. Mahala had an existing daughter, Senora T. Vaughn, who would marry George Harbison Milliken. George was the son of James Milliken and Elsie West Milliken. Just one of the many Halcomb/West/Milliken connections! I speak “Milliken” entanglement fairly well … if anyone has questions I am glad to share what I have learned. Those connections are also documented on my Ancestry site “Halcomb Heckart Family Tree,” owner cindywyant68.

There is another related topic I would like to address on the parentage of Isabella West Halcomb. There is a large amount of data out there showing that she is the daughter of “William West”. With the Will of Amos West (previously posted on the blog by Ben West) and the document (my last post) EC 5-60 - Scott vs Herndon, Filed 17 Nov 1815  - I think we can safely say that her father was Amos West. I believe that “William” was Amos’s oldest brother and that he may, or may not, have had a daughter named Isabella that is being confused with her first cousin - the wife of Hiram Halcomb. Would be interested in any comments on this.

I quit too soon on the paragraph on the West/Milliken family > Elsie/Elcie West Milliken was the daughter of William and Angeline Clendennen West – oldest brother of Amos – both sons of Richard West and Susannah “Isabel” Fike West.


Note: I have three Richard Wests related to Amos West. His father - Richard West (Sr.) 1739-1820; his brother – Richard West (Jr.) 1764-1820; and his son – Richard West (III) 1806-1841.

Thought you might be interested in these pictures of two of Amos West's
grandsons.  The second one is my great-great grandfather.  It's not often
that we are able to photographically document ancestors that are removed by that many generations.

Capt Amos West (1834-1913) taken about 1912.  Son of Richard West, and grandson of Amos West.  Enlisted in Company D, Kentucky 2nd Infantry Regiment, CSA on 13 Jul 1861.  Photo courtesy of Ben West for Find A Grave Memorial #67490937.

Amos Halcomb (1816-1896) taken about 1893.  Son of Isabella West Halcomb, grandson of Amos West.  Private, Co., A, Capt Alexander Robinson's Cass Co., Bn, District of the Border USA - Cass Co., Missouri 1864.  Photo courtesy of Cindy Halcomb Wyant

My great-great grandfather, Amos Halcomb, was the brother of Joseph Sively Halcomb – Isabel Stebbins descended from Joseph.  This picture of Amos Halcomb comes from a group sitting of four generations of Halcombs – Amos; his oldest son Joseph Sively;  grandson Lysander Berdette; and his great granddaughter Hazel Verne Boone Halcomb Hunsaker.  The baby looks to be about 6 months old – she was born 10 Jul 1892.  So I date the picture early 1893.  Lysander had two daughters – the second one was Theodora H. Halcomb Stebbins, the mother of Isabel Stebbins Giulvezan.  Isabel Stebbins Giulvezan was born in 1918 and died in 2000, she was the wife of George Steven Giulvezan Sr.  We owe her a great debt for all that she did in preserving our family history!  She was also the founding regent of the John Sappington Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution - Affton, Missouri.   – Cindy Halcomb Wyant

NOTE: My great grandfather, James William Halcomb’s, oldest brother, Joseph Sivley Halcomb, married Amanda Boone Scholl.  Amanda could trace her Boone lineage through her mother Harriett Rite Boone who was the daughter of Thomas Boone, son of Squire Boone, son of Samuel Boone who was the older brother of “Daniel Boone”.  Samuel and Daniel  were the sons of Squire Boone.  Many years later I would visit the Historic Boone home near Defiance, Missouri and find Isabel Stebbins Giulvezan listed on the wall as a member of their early preservation efforts.  Somehow I was not surprised at all to find her name there! :o)

 

Rest in Peace Isabel - your work continues!  Your words have not only stepped into the “computer age”, they now serve as testimony for an amazing phenomena called DNA which proves who we think we are.

I try to add as much “minutia” to my Ancestry sites as I can. I feel that is the most public way that I can share what I have learned.  My Halcomb Heckart Family Tree lists 14,760 people with 4,460 stories and pictures.

In my case I didn’t have the surroundings of family when I was growing up.  My father was a Government surveyor and we moved 27 times before I was 10 years old.  My mother’s family lived in North Dakota and we spent several assignments near them … so I knew who they were.  But the Halcomb side in Missouri was more of a mystery which was compounded by the fact that my grandfather Halcomb died before I was born.  I knew two of his sisters, and his mother was still living until I was age 4 – but I have only one vague memory of her.

Back in the 70’s I was on a search in Kentucky to find “who I really was” spurred mostly by whether I was a Halcomb or a Holcomb.  I came on the manuscript “Notes on Hiram Halcomb …” by Isabel Stebbins Giulvezan in the Kentucky State Historical Society Library.  I photocopied it in its entirety!  Her wonderful research got me started on the complexities of our family.  Returning home after my trip, I corresponded with Isabel and she graciously allowed me to use her research.  It was just recently that I discovered she had also written another manuscript “Notes on Amos West …” which I am sure you are aware of.  If not, it is in ebook form on Ancestry.  She did an amazing job of itemizing legal documents for the last 30 years of his life.

West Family Connections to Herndon, Halcomb and Milligan

Thought you might be interested in this 1815 (1801) legal document on the Herndon family. Amos West’s wife was Frances Herndon West. She was the daughter of James Herndon. I descend from her daughter “Isabell West Halkum”. The correct spelling should be Isabella West Halcomb, wife of Hiram Halcomb. Let me know if I can answer any questions regarding my West/Halcomb line.  – Cindy Halcomb Wyant

 

"Logan County, Kentucky Abstract of Equity Cases, Vol 1" by Montgomery Vanderpool, PO Box 151, Russellville, KY 42276, 1986, pp. 39 & 40.

EC 5-60 - Scott vs Herndon, Filed 17 Nov 1815. Thomas B. Scott complains that on 17 Aug 1801 for a valuable consideration he paid James Herndon they entered into an agreement. James Herndon to convey to Scott "one tract of land holden by headright and obtained by him this day as per certificate containing 200 acres, when he may make a conveyance thereof, that Scott is to pay the necessary and legal fee to the government its officers authorized to collect against the time required by law." Scott states he paid the state price for the land and all charges and fees, etc. and caused the land to be granted to Herndon by Patent from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, bearing date 23 Jan 1813. That since Scott caused the land to be patented to James Herndon he has departed this life intestate at least as to the land and that George Herndon, Cornelus Herndon, Elisha Herndon, James Herndon, John Herndon, Joseph Herndon, Polly Wilkins, Leonard West, Isabell West now Isabell Halkum wife of Hiram Halkum, Agnes West, James West, Richard West, Polly West now Polly Milligan wife of William Milligan are the legal heirs and representatives of James Herndon. The heirs are inhabitants of Logan Co. except for Cornelius who is an inhabitant of Tennessee. That Leonard, Agnes, James and Richard are infants under the age of 21. The West children were children of Frances West, late Frances Herndon (West), Deceased wife of Amos West. Includes agreement between Scott and Herndon dated 17 Aug 1801. The agreement says Thomas B. Scott is of Jessamine Co., KY.




My family data is posted to my Ancestry site “Halcomb Heckart Family Tree”, owner cindywyant68. Amos & Frances Herndon West were my 4th great grandparents. Hiram and Isabella West Halcomb were my 3rd great grandparents. These were followed by Amos Halcomb(Isabella Catherine Sivley) / James William Halcomb(Margaret May Plain) / Everett Thurman Halcomb Sr.(Lelia Helen Heckart) / Everett Thurman Halcomb Jr.(Fern Natalie Hanson) / and myself. – Cindy Halcomb Wyant

Who is Thomas West, Sr. (abt. 1718-1808) of North Carolina?

Looking for the family of Thomas West, Sr. who:
died in Chatham Co., NC in 1808

Yesterday I posted a blog "The 1876 Journal of James W. Crewdson" that I made an additional comment about us searching the surrounding counties of NC that the Thomas West, Sr. (b. bef. 1718 - d. 1808 Chatham Co., NC) family lived to attempt to identify all of the West families in hopes to put together a better, clearer profile of questions we have of this branch of the family DNA group #5.  What follows is some background and some of the counties surrounding Thomas in both NC & Virginia [thanks, Joy for pointing out that Virginia bordered many of the NC counties listed -JGW]

We are looking for any documentation of any and all West families in NC & those of the border counties of VA during the period of about 1735 thru 1770.  We have discovered quite a few men named West in the same county as Thomas lived, but most have not been sorted out as to who they are.  Anyone interested in working on this research project is more than welcome.  Any findings sent to us will be posted here and on our web site.

The West family history begins with Thomas West, Sr. born about 1718 or earlier, place of birth is unknown. The first record of this Thomas West is [since then I have found 2 deeds listed with the deeds I submitted with this category for 4 Mar 1754 and 5 Mar 1754] the muster roll of a regiment of militia under the command of Colonel William Eaton on 8 Oct 1754. Under Capt. Benjamin Simm's Company is listed Thomas West. Under Captain Andrew Hampton's Company is listed Francis West (relation to Thomas is unknown). This latter two muster rolls were endorsed by Col. Wm. Eaton on 6 Dec. 1754 Granville Co., NC (Source: "Colonial Granville County and Its People" by Worth S. Ray, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1979, p.294. As shown in the North Carolina State Records, Vol. 22, Pp.370-380.). He was a land owner by 1755, as evidenced by the listing of "Thomas West and son, Richard," both taxable on the 1755 tax list of Granville Co., NC. [The land that was being taxed included (there could be other unknown lands) the 350 acres bought on 5 Mar 1754 from Lodowick Alford in Granville Co. formerly in Edgecombe Co., NC on the east side of Bear Swamp.]

From the Earl of Granville, by his agent Thomas Child, "Thomas West, planter of Granville Co." received a land grant of 386 acres, dated 29 Jul 1761. This grant was in Granville Co. on "Cyprus Swamp," adjoining Brinkley and Simmons (DB A, p. 316). Bute County was formed in 1764 from Granville Co. and included this land. "Thomas West of Orange Co." sold this land on 1 Dec 1766 to Samuel Eley of Bute Co., "386 acres in Bute Co. on the Cypress Swamp, a Lord Granville Grant of 29 Jul 1761" (DB B-1, p. 347). These deeds show that Thomas West moved from land that was formerly in Edgecombe Co., NC on Bear Swamp to land that was on Cypress Swamp (formerly in Granville, then Bute, and today in Warren Co., NC) and then into Orange Co. by 1766 (a distance of perhaps 70 miles from Cypress Swamp).  Later Thomas West, Sr. and family moved to the adjoining county of Chatham by 1774.  JGW

The following is a list of counties that were formed (organized) around the counties Thomas West, Sr. lived during that time:

Virginia Counties -
1720  Brunswick
1746  Lunenburg from Brunswick
1752  Halifax from Lunenburg
1764  Mecklenburg from Lunenburg
1766  Pittsylvania from Halifax
1776  Henry from Pittsylvania

North Carolina Counties -
1741  Edgecombe from Bertie + North Hampton from Bertie
1746  Granville from Edgecombe
1752  Orange from Bladen, Granville & Johnston
1758  Halifax from Edgecombe
1764  Bute from Granville
1770  Chatham from Orange + Guilford from Rowan & Orange
1779  Bute (discontinued) divided into Warren & Franklin

At one time I had strongly thought that Thomas West, Sr. was a part of the West family that lived in Edgecombe & Bertie Counties of NC back to 1724.  But Ben West and others have led me to believe that he comes from the area around Stafford & Louisa Counties of Virginia.  But we have not been able to prove the VA connection.

The 1876 Journal of Rev. James W. Crewdson

Ben West submitted a photocopy of a page in the 1876 journal of Rev. Crewdson stating that Agness West was the daughter of Amos West. The page was posted on Nov. 18, 2002 by Ben in the MyFamily.com "West, Fike & Affiliate Families."  Three years later, Ben started an interesting discussion that is posted in this blog.  The discussion is very interesting to read!  JGW

Amos West: The Merchant in New York

This page was copied from the 1876 journal of the Rev. James W. Crewdson, a descendant of Agness (West) Milliken (1762-1848). In this journal, Rev. Crewdson records that the father of Agness West was named Amos West. I myself have located no evidence in public records to confirm that the name of Agness West's father was Amos sadly. To expound, Agness West's brother Leonard stated that he was born in Granville County, North Carolina in 1760, and I have never located evidence of an Amos West who resided in that county or in neighboring counties in that year.

Comments

Ben West Dec 28, 05

Dear researchers,

We have all talked very little about this finding, the excerpt from the journal of the Rev. James W. Crewdson, the grandson of Agness (West) Milliken. Sometime before 1876, when he wrote this excerpt of West family history for his journal, James Crewdson received information from his brother William N. Crewdson regarding William's findings from old family records. The story mentioned in this journal entry presumably came from these records. James Crewdson also spent time with his grandmother Agness (West) Milliken (1762-1848) when he was a boy, from whom he may have learned some family information.

I have transcribed several pages from this journal, which I hope to post sometime in the near future. They contain many family stories about the Millikens who are descended from Agness (West) Milliken and Amos West (Ca. 1766-1819). The journal entry scanned above is remarkably similar to the story submitted by James Crewdson's brother for inclusion in Gideon T. Ridlon's Milliken family history book. However, William Crewdson's story states that the grandmother of Agness (West) Milliken was in New York, not her mother. How can two brothers tell such a remarkably different story? Which one of them is right?

In the scanned journal entry above, James Crewdson writes: "(Mother's Father) married Agnes West. This Agnes West. My Mother's Mother, was a daughter of Amos West, who when a young man was a merchant, and bought his goods in New York."

In my opinion, formed only from a cursory glance at other information on the Crewdson family that has been uncovered, the Crewdson journal contains some inaccurate and exaggerated information. From where did James Crewdson receive his information that Agness (West's) father was named Amos West? From his brother, the one who submitted a different story for Ridlon's book? From some other source? Strangely enough, James Crewdson states that his family came from LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA on another page. Could the West ties to Louisa County, Virginia be a distortion inserted from Crewdson family history?

I still believe that Richard West is the most probable father of Agness (West) Milliken. However, if I had to pick a second theory, I might suggest something like the following. A young merchant named Amos West of North Carolina, either a much younger brother or an older son of Thomas West, Sr. of Granville County, North Carolina, traveled to New York on business, met a woman there and had three children:  Leonard, Agness, and Amos West, who may have been born in North Carolina. The older Amos West and his wife died, and a Miss Lucy Fike or a Mrs. Lucy (West) Fike presumably related somehow to the Thomas West, Sr. family adopted these three children to rear.

I feel like my Richard West theory is much more probable. The only reason I that I posted this seldom mentioned second theory comes in light of a question that I have been meaning to ask John and others for years but that I just keep forgetting to ask. Were there other men roaming around the Granville County, North Carolina area that you believe are related to Thomas West, Sr. who were not enumerated on tax lists? Do you think that there were several men who were lost to history whose names simply did not appear in public records, and if so, could this older Amos West have existed? I have long been bothered by the very marked differences in the names of Leonard, Agness, and Amos West as compared to the other proven and probable descendants of Thomas West, Sr. Other names are repeated, even Ignatius, but the only time that the name Leonard appears among the more probable descendants of Richard West (and also probable descendants of Thomas) is in the name of James Leonard West, youngest son of James (1772-1844) and Mourning (Howard) West. Of course, Leonard, Agness, and Amos could have been named for family members of a possible first wife of Richard West, and this could account for the naming difference.

Best regards,

Ben

John West Dec 29, 05 

Ben, the "mother/grandmother" differences in the stories could have happened by typo omission by the typist for Ridlon's Milliken History. Mistakes like this happen often and is why family tradition can not be a reliable source - only possible clues!

Your last paragraph, you wonder if other West men related to Thomas West, Sr. were in the Granville County area. The answer to that is: yes! There are records for them in neighboring counties, as well as, in Granville, Orange, & Chatham County. I do not think there has been any real research done on locating the records of these men.

Joy Ikelman Dec 29, 05

Ben wrote:
--------------------­------
However, William Crewdson's story states that the grandmother of Agness (West) Milliken was in New York, not her mother. How can two brothers tell such a remarkably different story? Which one of them is right?
--------------------­------

I vote for grandmother. And possibly New York might be a mistake for York, Virginia (really close to Williamsburg). The Ridlon version doesn't mention "New York" does it?

I also vote for Louisa County (still, after all these years). And that both parents died. But of course you know that I hold on to that belief. So, apparantly, I digress.

And finally, I think we may be in error to try to trace all these good ancestral folk directly and specifically to Thomas West, Sr in the geographic region of NC. I'll betcha he had a bunch o' brothers AND other relations. Thomas West (the elder, Sr.) may even be a second-generation American.

I believe we are taking this male line back to arrival in the mid to late 1600s. It could be brothers, uncles, etc. coming to America where they could get a new start. And maybe in the 1700s the various West uncles/brothers/sons scattered to various parts of VA, then NC.

DNA! We need more DNA!

The names Amos and Leonard are definitely suspect in their oddity, and in Farley's they have bracketed dates where the other children of Richard West do not. Including Angus (aka Agness). Why?

I surmise that "Leonard" and "Amos" (names) may be coming from a maternal line.

I look forward to reading other parts of the journal. I believe that we have all learned that such written or oral history has exaggerations or misplaced names. Things get confused or altered over the years. But the stories are still so interesting and often contain a bit of truth.

John West Dec 29, 05 

Joy, although I do not have any type of proof or even tradition to go by, I have always felt that Thomas West, Sr. was born in America and I felt like he was at least a second generation American if not a third or fourth. I suspect that this line of West came in the 1600's to America. This is mere speculation, guessing or better - just a feeling that it may be true. I agree that Thomas West, Sr. is not the common progenitor of all of these West families. I think if we can get back one, two or even three generations and follow that back down - we will be able to put most of these VA/NC West families together. That is why I keep digging & prodding others on to find the next generation and more!

Ben West Dec 30, 05

John,

Thanks for your response, but I asked my question in a different sense. I wanted to know if there were other West men in the Granville County area around 1760 whose names were not documented in public records, like tax lists. I know that there were other West men whose names also appear in public records like John West and his sons Isaac and James West on the Granville County tax lists. I just wanted your insight as to whether there could have been an older Amos West or other men like him whose names simply did not make it into the historical record.

Here is another question: Where would or could a traveling merchant like this supposed Amos West be taxed? I know very little about colonial history, but I assume, as a merchant, that he might have had some sort of a mercantile "home base." I know very little about the details of colonial history as it pertains to public records.

I have not searched for other related West men in any North Carolina counties surrounding Granville, Chatham, and Orange Counties. However, I did make note in my North Carolina research of most every West that I encountered in Granville, Orange, and Chatham Counties. Here are some names found in records that I did not document (several John Wests, and Alexander West, a Solomon West, and maybe and Issac West? of Orange County, North Carolina and a Jesse West and a few other younger Wests whom I assumed to be related to Thomas West, Jr. of Chatham County, North Carolina). Perhaps for my research to be comprehensive in the fullest sense, I should have made note of these men. I, however, assumed from various GenForum postings that these Orange County men were part of a different family of Wests and that the Jesse West was related to Thomas West, Jr. based upon your family history web site. Definitely other counties like Bute and Warren should be checked for other West men who are possibly related to ours. There are, if I recall a few William Wests in nearby Edgecombe County, and there is also one in nearby Franklin County.

Ben

Joy Ikelman Dec 30, 05

Ben wrote:
--------------------
Here is another question: Where would or could a traveling merchant like this supposed Amos West be taxed? I know very little about colonial history, but I assume, as a merchant, that he might have had some sort of a mercantile "home base."
--------------------­-------

I believe the story refers to the grandparents of Agness. Thus the date would be perhaps in the early 1700s or maybe even a little earlier, into the late 1600s.

If it is a person buying goods in southeastern Virginia or northeastern NC in colonial times, it would likely be Williamsburg or maybe Norfolk, VA. That's why I think if there is a York involved, it is York, VA. Even though it was historically a fairly small town, I'm sure it had at least one tavern, perhaps with boarding! (i.e. the hotel)

To the north, a merchant might go to the port of Baltimore; further north, Boston and maybe New York. But this would be a long way to travel for goods.

I doubt the "New York" reference. As for the timing, the Dutch ceded New York to the English in 1667, and I think that's when New Amsterdam was renamed New York, after James, Duke of York. It became a royal colony in 1685. So, with regard to generations and dating the event of a merchant going to New York, it could be possible, if said merchant lived in close proximity to New York.

There were Wests who settled in Pennsylvania who might conceivably had roots in New York or New Amsterdam, and might actually travel to New York for goods, but they aren't in our DNA Group, as far as I know.

Hal Beumer Dec 31, 05

Joy

There was extensive trade up and down the coast from Halifax down to the Carolinas in the late 1600's early 1700's. I have lateral family members (Northey) who sailed from Salem MA down to Pasquotank, NC on a regular basis back in the early 1700's and eventually settled there before 1716. There are a number of New England families who have disappearing relatives who settled in the South. A merchant from New York could easily have been from New England. Please note the the Wests "Matthew, William et. al" were in the Tobacco Trading business so there might be a connection here. There was major trade in Tobacco with Europe. In 1760, Pierre Lorillard establishes a "manufactory" in New York City for processing pipe tobacco, cigars, and snuff. P. Lorillard is the oldest tobacco company in the US. There was in fact an Amos West from Rehoboth, MA b abt 1748 son and grandson of Henry Jr and Henry Sr who was born abt 1680 in Rehoboth. There were another 2 Amos Wests in MA descended from Francis West (W20 in the West DNA and no match to us). With regard to York being York, VA - there is a Yorktown, VA in York County - consider also York County PA which is where a number of Wests came from before settling in VA or NC. The city of York, PA itself wasn't established until about 1761, however,.

Joy Ikelman Jan 2, 06

Hal this is super information. Thanks for sharing it. I was not thinking so much about the tobacco trade and the whole economic set up. I was considering "merchant" in much smaller terms, such as "general merchandise" needed by settlers or towns. You are correct, much of the West business was the tobacco trade. I am now motivated to know more about the tobacco business in colonial times.

I have discoverd the "William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine" online, and printed out a whole bunch of stuff to read at my leisure (whatever that means). One article I found last week was Vol 14, No., July 1905, "Yorktown." York, and Yorktown, was quite the place at one time. The article says in part, "On October 8, 1630, the Council of Virginia determined to plant a settlement in the Indian district called Chiskiack, on the south side of York river. The leaders of the settlers were two councillors, Captain John Utie and Captain John West, brother of Lord Delaware, who were allowed 600 acres a piece on York river, at opposite sides of the mouth of King's creek...." The article says that the court for all the settlers in the region was was held in York. The town of Yorktown was created in 1698 about three miles above York. The article continues:

"Yorktown continued to develop until the incident occurred which at once proved its glory and destruction. It became the scene of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781, but by the war it was reduced to a mass of ruins, and has never since regained the trade which it once had."

Kevin West Jan 3, 06

Joy, I agree that we need more DNA testing. The gentleman who "apparently" descends from the Sussex Co. DE Wests submitted his samples for DNA analysis last Wednesday. I know that it's somewhat premature to be speculating but, should his DNA match ours in Group #5, it may open some interesting lines of research. In your reply to Ben you stated that, "The names Amos and Leonard are definitely suspect in their oddity. . ." Well, Ancestry contains a will for an Elijah West, which was probated 1791 in Sussex Co. DE, that lists a son named Amos. I know this document's Amos would be more of a contemporary with your Leonard, Agness, and Amos. But, the use of this "more unusual" first name in this will establishes another possible link between the Sussex Co. DE Wests and yours.

Ben West Jan 3, 06

Hal and Joy,

Thanks for your responses about where merchants would have been. Hal, you are right, it is interesting to note that Matthew West was in the trading business.

Ben

Joy Ikelman Jan 3, 06

An intriguing thought. It will be very interesting, indeed. I just now checked the West DNA site: http://web.utk.edu/~­corn/westdna/ -- Looks like five tests are at the lab right now.

Beauchamp-Herndon Cemetery - Logan County, Kentucky

The photos and information were originally posted in My Family.com "West, Fike & Affiliate Families" by Ben West (Feb. 6, 2000) _ all material in this post is copyrighted by Ben West...

The Beauchamp-Herndon Cemetery from a distance - Logan County, Kentucky

This cemetery, located either on or near the former Captain James Herndon farm, has within its borders many tombstones labeled Beauchamp and Herndon,
markers for many distinguished family members. Two sons of Captain James Herndon, Sr. (1731-1815), Elisha Herndon and Joseph Herndon, lie interred there, and it is there that several descendants of the renowned Dr. R. N. Beauchamp are buried.

Closer View of the Beauchamp-Herndon Cemetery Thicket

This photograph displays a view inside the Beauchamp-Herndon Cemetery thicket. The Beauchamp-Herndon Cemetery is in an extremely poor state of repair. Tombstones stand weathered by moss, the elements, and lichens, and weeds and underbrush nearly choke the tombstones from view. Currently, the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 710 of Bowling Green, Kentucky, are planning to mount a restoration project for the scouts, a project that I conceived three weeks ago and shared with individuals who could more actively see to its commencement.

Tombstone of Elizabeth Aingell Herndon (1772-1847?)

This is the tombstone of Elizabeth Herndon, the wife of Elisha Herndon (1768-1826) of Logan County, Kentucky.

Links to Connections to Families with Ties to the Family of Thomas West, Sr.

NC Secretary of State Land Grant Office

[This information was previously posted on the MyFamily.com web site "West, Fike & Affiliate Families" on Dec 9, 2000 by John G. West.]

Land grants are excellent records of where a family owned land.  The neighbors (adjoining lands) are generally listed to describe the land borders.  The chainmen listed were trusted neighbors, friends or family... since they provided the measurements.  The person given the grant wanted his full measurement and would ensure that the chainmen were trust worthy and well-known to him.

The following records were transcribed from the NC Secretary of State Land Grant Office in Raliegh, NC as compiled by John G. West on 4 Aug 1981. Taken within one hour of the office closing for the day - hopefully there are no errors - there were other West family land grants not copied due to the time constraint!

West, Thomas #1216 Chatham Co. 100 Acres
Grant # 1121 Issued 7 Jul 1794
Entry # 1 Entered 16 Feb 1791
Book # 82 Page # 345
Chainmen: Ignatius West & Richard West
Beginning at a black jack... Lutterloh's corner & James Simmon's line... Baker's corner...

West, Phillip #1792 Chatham Co. 2 3/16 acres
Grant # 1698 Issued 7 Dec 1803
Entry # 639 Entered 10 Feb 1801
Book # 117 Page # 242
Chainmen: John Hackney, Sr. & John Hackney, Jr.
Waters of Dry Creek, along Thomas West's line & Lutterloh's line from his own corner...
(Comptroller's Office 15 Dec 1802 states "10 Acres Entry # 639" ???)

West, Jeptha #1693 Chatham Co. 74 Acres
Grant # 1620 Issued 14 Nov 1801
Entry # 569 Entered 19 Feb 1800
Book # 111 Page # 162
Chainmen: Hezekiah Henderson & Quintin Millekin
On the Waters of Robertson's Creek...

West, George #66 Chatham Co. 300 acres
Grant # 65 Issued 1 Jul 1779
Entry # 147 Entered 19 Oct 1778
Book # 30 Page # 65
Chainmen: Jeremiah Melton & John Harrison
On the head of the Wattery Branch the Watters of Indian Cr. and Deep River. Beginning near the Quaker Road (including the Millstone Glade)...

(The following Ignatius West records were copied by me as "Ig" to save time. The records had various spellings for this name - "Egnasus," "Ignasus," "Ignatious," plus a few others. Time was of essence, since the clerk called out that they would be closing in 20 minutes!)

Ig # 210 Chatham Co. 400 acres
Grant # 341 Issued 31 Mar 1780
Entry # 139 Entered 30 Aug 1779
Book # 32 Page # 195
Chainmen: Ignatious West, Jr. & William West
On the SS of Haw River & NS of Dry Creek...

Ig # 302 Chatham Co. 381 acres
Grant # 433 Issued 31 Mar 1780
Entry # 239 Entered 15 Aug 1779
Book # 32 Page # 287
Chainmen: Ignatious West, Jr. & William West
On both sides of Dry Creek...

Ig # 1145 Chatham Co. 40 acres
Grant # 1045 Issued 16 Nov 1790
Entry # 180 Entered 6 Oct 1788
Book # 77 Page # 97
Chainmen: William Pilkinton & James Davis
An Island in Haw River...

Ig # 1246 Chatham Co. 100 acres
Grant # 1151 Issued 7 Jul 1794
Entry # 273 Entered 12 May 1789
Book # 82 Page # 354
Chainmen: John Meacham & Nat Brewer
Both sides of Terrells Creek beginning on Wm. Meacham's line...

Ig # 1115 Chatham Co. 20 acres
Grant # 1015 Issued 16 Nov 1790
Entry # 184 Entered 14 Nov 1788
Book # 77 Page # 88
Chainmen: Richard West & James Mutin
On the waters of Dry Creek... James Henderson's line...

Ig # 1135 Chatham Co. 30 acres
Grant # 1035 Issued 16 Nov 1790
Entry # 204 Entered 6 Mar 1789
Book # 77 Page # 94
Chainmen: William Pilkinton & James Davis
On Haw River (an Island known as "Big Island")...

Ig # 1039 Chatham Co. 75 acres
Grant # 963 Issued 26 Nov 1789
Entry # 77 Entered 27 Oct 1787
Book # 71 Page # 358
Chainmen: Henry Brewer & Nathaniel Brewer
On the waters of Dry Creek...

Family Branches and Lines

The West DNA Family Project was started in an attempt to help us connect the branches of the family and to attempt to move each branch further back in time.  I recently discovered that we can do the same within each branch.  I was asked to present a program about DNA at the SAR meeting in Christian County, KY.  Christian County is where my SAR Patriot Thomas West moved from Chatham Co., NC before 1809.  This Thomas West is the son of Thomas West, Sr. born before 1718 and died in Chatham County in 1808.  My father was born in Christian County, KY in 1918.    Many of Thomas West, Junior’s descendants still live in the same area he moved just over 200 years ago.

At this SAR meeting, Tommy Henderson introduced me as the speaker, but first he introduced my cousins that were members of the chapter.  Counting Tommy, there were a total of 5 cousins present with 5 more members that were not able to attend.  I have 10 cousins that are members of that SAR chapter.  Tommy pointed out that they were either fourth thru sixth cousins depending on the line we were connected.  Five cousins were descendants of Thomas West, Jr.

My point is that except from Tommy and two others, I did not know anything about the other seven.  I could develop the same project that I have developed for our DNA Family Group #5 for the descendants of Thomas West, Sr.  who have lines in Christian County, KY, Logan County, KY and Hendricks County, IN.  These three locations would account for about 5 or 6 of the 14 children of Thomas West, Sr.  We could attempt to merge the connections between branches of the family with the lines within each branch.  The computer and the Internet can make this a reasonable project that can be of help to all that are members of our West DNA Group #5.

With the FTDNA West Surname Project, we have learned that we (FG #5) are less that 10% of the West that have tested to date.  This means that 90% of people named West are not related to us.  On the other hand of that 10% that is related, we actually only know of a very small number of our living cousins.  How many are lost in their quest to find their ancestors?  How many might live within one hundred miles of where we live OR just down the road from us?  How many of these unknown cousins might be able to bridge our branches?

I keep finding people named West and wonder are they related?  Are they from my branch or one of the other branches in our FG #5?  Ever since, I was a kid, I knew of a few lines of Dad’s family living in Evansville, but none were descended from Thomas West.  The few cousins in Evansville descended from my grandmother’s side of the family.  About one year ago, I learned that the man that owned West Tax Service (William West) not far from my house is a cousin that was born in Christian County, KY.  A young man became a member of the Evansville chapter of SAR about one year ago – Bart Burke.  We soon learned that he descends from Thomas West, Jr.

Tommy Henderson has compiled many of the descendants of Thomas West, Jr. in a very well documented book of 1,000 pages.  I know that Ben West and several others have compiled info on the descendants of Richard West and that the Ignatius West family has compiled many of that line.  This is three of the 14 children of Thomas West, Jr.  We have a great start for some of Thomas West, Sr’s branch of the FG #5.  We should be able to do the same for the other branches of our West DNA Family Project – FG #5.

Written by John G. West

Will of Amos West (1819)

Ben West, a researcher for this family line, has theorized that his ancestor Amos West (b. 1766) is a probable son of Richard West (b. Ca. 1738) of Granville and Chatham Counties, North Carolina.  Richard West is the son of Thomas West, Sr. (b. Ca. 1718) of Granville and Chatham Counties and the ancestor of blog creator John G. West.  For more specific information about his theory, please e-mail him at westbe@gmail.com.

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THE WILL OF AMOS WEST, Logan County, Kentucky Will Book B, p. 231 and pp. 257-258, Logan County Clerk's Office, 229 West Third Street, Russellville, Kentucky 42276-0358:

p. 231

A. Wests's Will

May the 6th AD 1819.  I Amos West Being at this time in a Low State of health but in intire Strengtth of mind do feell it injoind on on me to make this my Last will and Testament (Viz) I do here will to my beloved wife Anne one negro Girl caled Charlotte during her life or Widowhood also the the third of the Land whereon I now live Including the house &c agreable to a true estimate of value also one third of the Stock and &c which is not hereafter willd--I also Will to my Daughter polly Millikin one negroe Girl called Harrott--also I will to my Daughter Isabel Holkem one negroe Girl call'd Clarisa also I will to my Daughter Agness one negroe Girl calld Nancy & one Sorrel mare which is now call'd her's one Saddle and Bridle Which is to be paid out of my estate one Cow and Calf one ewe & Lamb one feather bed & furniture  Also I do will to my Son Leonard West Ninety Seven acres of Land Where he has now Improved and agreable to the lines laid off to him also one bed and furniture--I also will to my Son James West one horse worth Sixty Dollars one Saddle and bridle one feather bed & furniture one negroe boy call'd Carry  I also will to my Son Richard all the home tract & twelve & a half acres entered in the name of Charles Vickery together with the third of the Land I alot to my wife anne at her death or Widowhood also my negroe man George I alot to work for the Support of my present wife & two Sons James & Richard During her life or Widowhood--I also intend that Richard dopay to James Myson Four hundred Dollars when they both become of age all other part or parsel of my estate after the Dec'd of my wife or Widowhood the Remains of my estate together with George Shall be equally Divided & further I desire James Herndon & William Millikin to Execute this my will day and date above Signd.  survy'd

AMOS West (*Seal*)

De?
Leonard West       }
William R. Drake }
J. Morrow               }

[The Will of Amos West--date of probate:  June 21, 1819]

pp. 257-258

West Amos

Beginning at three hickorys thence South 35 West 76 poles to a stake in a lane thence South 50 East 20 poles to a stake thence south 16 West 48 poles to a stake at the south west corner of the spring house thence S 55 West 76 poles to a honey lowcust in the out side line South 86 west 34 poles to a gum thence S 75 west 8 poles to a hickory thence North 10 East 40 poles to a blackjak thence North 55 East 40 poles to astake at the fence thence with the fuence South 50 East 40 poles to a stake thence North 36 East 36 poles to a stake thence North 50 west 8 poles to a stake thence North 3 East 20 poles to a stake in the lane thence North 64 west 56 poles to 2 black oaks in the outside line thence North 53 East 120 poles to a black oak and hickory thence south 49 East 20 poles to the Beginning  We your commissioners being sworn have proceded agreeable to order of court your worshipful court and and the will of the Decd to view and lay off the widow of Amos West Decd her dower of land by actual measurement as afore said dower giving her the rails lying around the ____ lot near the school house with all buildings on her dower lot except one corn house of two giving her first choice

18th Decm 1819

Wm Aingell
Philip Washburn
Wm Hickman

Philip Washburn for 2 days Surveying    $4
W Aingell & W Hickman 1 day eash? [each?] com'rs?    2--
      ___
      $6--

Logan county Sct I Spencer Curd clerk of the county court of said county do hereby certify that at a county court held at the court house in Russellville on the 20th December 1819 the within attachment of dower was produced in open court and ordered to be recorded In testimony that the same together with this certificate Hands truly recorded in my office I hereunto set my hand

Spencer Curd

Submitted by Ben West

Estate Records for Thomas West b. 1718

From CHATHAM COUNTY COURT MINUTES 1805-1811, North Carolina Department of Archives and History,  North Carolina State Archives, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601-2807: p. 193 [Ben West sent this to me on 19 Feb 2005]

Wednesday February Sessions 1808

The last Will and Testament of Thomas West Senr. was duly proved in open Court by the Oaths of Robert Richerson and Elizabeth Richerson witness thereto and ordered to be Record[ed].  Whereupon Administration of the Estate of the said Thomas West senr is granted to Ignatious West with the Will annexed, he having entered into Bond in the sum of One hundred and Twenty pounds with Robert Richerson and Obed Powell his Securities and was duly qualified.