William and Mary Pierce of Culpeper (and Orange) Co., VA are identical to William and Mary Pierce of Wythe Co., VA
William Pierce was born in Orange Co., and lived with his wife Mary in Culpeper Co., VA. That they subsequently moved to the area of Wythe Co., VA must be shown indirectly (i.e., there is no deed in Wythe Co. describing him as being of Culpeper Co.): records of William Pierce and Mary start in the Wythe Co. area at the same time that records of them in Culpeper Co. discontinue:
Orange Co., VA Deed Book 12 pp. 220-222. 8 April 1754
Thomas Wood, Sr. of Orange/ Bennet Beasly of same for 40 Pounds..grants 200 acres..part of a greater tract granted to Colo. Chew for 767 acres 22 Sept 1739..at the Great Mountains and on both sides of Swift Run adj. The land sold by Thos. Chew to James Beazley..to include Bennet Beazley's Plantation, which said Beazley has new purchased.
Thomas Wood
Witnesses: Honourias Powell, William Lucas, William Pearce Senr., Thomas Morris, James Beazley, Willm. Riddel ; Recorded 25 April 1754 [witness by William Pierce Sr. suggests that he had a son also named William, but not absolutely since it may have been just an older William Pierce, but likely]
Culpeper Co. Va Deeds, Volume 2 1755-1762 Pages 528-30. 19 April 1757. Thomas Stanton and Lettice his wife of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County to Richard Stanton of same. Deed of gift: for yearly rent of one pepper corn. 279 acres in Brumfield Parish on the Stanton river, being part of a tract granted to Leonard and Thomas Stanton by patent for 1000 acres bearing date 1728... on the south side of the Stanton River corner to Jeremiah Early [this is Jeremiah Early b. 1705 whose sister Judith Early is the grandmother of Henry Buford, who married Elizabeth Pierce, daughter of Jeremiah Pierce, this William Pierce's brother] ...on Cabbin Branch...old pattent line...on the piney mountain...
Thomas Stanton, Lettice Stanton
Wit: John Duncan, Charles Duncan.
21 April 1757. Acknowledged.
Culpeper Co, VA Deeds 2 1755-1762 Pages 532-33. 19 April 1757. Thomas Stanton and Lettice his wife of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County to William Peirce (Pierce). Deed of gift: for yearly rent of one pepper corn. 171 acres in Brumfield Parish...corner to Joseph Ham in John Simpson's line...William Eddin's line...on the side of a mountain...Joseph Ham's corner in George Hume line...part of a tract granted to Thomas Stanton, deceased, by pattent for 400 acres 10 June 1737.
Thomas Stanton Lettice Stanton
Wit: John Duncan, Charles Duncan.
21 April 1757. Acknowledged.
[these two deed of gifts indicates that William Pierce had married a daughter of Thomas Stanton and Lettice, namely Mary; the first deed of gift (to Richard Stanton) is also copied to show that Wm Pierce had gotten the same consideration from Thomas Stanton Jr and Lettice as they gave their brother, ergo he is their brother-in-law. The guess is that they had recently married, and therefore their marriage date is listed as Abt 1755.
From Dictionary of Business, Oxford University Press, © Market House Books Ltd 1996: "Peppercorn rent is a nominal rent. In theory, one peppercorn (or some other nominal sum) is payable as a rent to indicate that a property is leasehold and not freehold, the peppercorn representing the consideration. In practice it amounts to a rent-free lease." ]
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds 2 Pages 255-57. 19 Feb. 1760. Thomas Stanton Sr. of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County to Thomas Stanton, Jr. of same. For 5 pounds current money. 300 acres being part of a tract granted to Thomas Stanton, deceased, for 400 acres by patent 10 June, 1737, being part of a tract granted to Leonard and Thomas Stanton for 1000 acres by patent 1728...on the north side of Stanton river in a line granted by patent to Leonard and Thomas Stanton...William Kirtley's corner on Rock Hall... [note that the Thomas Stanton Sr. in this deed is the son of Thomas Stanton, decd]
Thomas Stanton
Wit: Joseph Ham, Seth Ham, William Pierce, Mary Pierce. [Mary and Seth are sisters of Thomas Stanton Sr. (son of Thomas Stanton, decd)]
21 Feb. 1760. Proved by William Pierce, Joseph Ham and Seth Ham
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds 2 Pages 258-260. 18 Feb. 1760. William Pierce and Mary his wife of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County, to Thomas Sampson of same. For 16 pounds current money. 171 acres, being part of a tract of land granted to Thomas Stanton, deceased, for 400 acres by patent 10 June 1737...
corner to Joseph Ham in John Simpson's line... by a large rock in William Eddin's line... [this is the one peppercorn land above from Thomas Stanton, showing that the one peppercorn structure is not really rent, but actually a sale, else how could they sell it later]
William Pierce Mary Pierce
Wit: Thomas Stanton, Sr., Richard Stanton, Thomas Stanton Jr., John Benojeman.
21 Feb. 1760. Acknowledged by the parties.
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds 2 Pages 574-77. 22 May 1761. Angus Vawter of St. Ann's Parish, Essex, to William Pierce of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County. For 25 pounds current money. 250 acres in Brumfield Parish in the fork of the Stanton and Conway Rivers, part of a patent granted to John Vawter for 700 acres 20 July 1736...bounded on the lines of Francis Conway, Charles Neale, William Kirtley and John Ray...Ann Vawter wife of Angus Vawter doth surrender right of dower.
Angus Vawter
Wit: Ephraim Rucker, David Vawter, John Offill, Richard Vawter.
Proved by Ephraim Rucker and Richard Vawter.
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds 2 Pages 720-22. 14 Aug. 1765. Wm Pearce of Bromfield Parish, Culpeper County, to Stephen Souther of same. For 21 pounds current money. 150 acres in the fork of the Stanton and Conway Rivers..on a small branch...corner in Wm. Kirtley's line...Thomas Conway's line...a bend of a branch below the fork...
William Pearce Mary Pearce
Wit: Richard Vawter, Wm Vawter, Jeremiah Pearce, and James Rucker.
15 Aug. 1765. Acknowledged by Wm. Mary was first privily examined.
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds E 1765-1769 pp. 411-412: 17 Sep 1767 William Pirce and Mary his wife of Culpeper County to Hugh Roberts of same. For £ 25 current money. 197 acres in the fork of the Conway and Rapidann Rivers. Corner in Stephen Souder's line on a branch. Corner in Francis Conway's line.
William Pirce
Mary Pirce
17 Sep 1767. Acknowledged by the parties. Mary was first privily examined.
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds F 1769-1772 pp. 67-68: 17 May 1770. John Conner of Culpeper County and Mary his wife to John Conner Jr. of same. For natural love and affection unto their son John Conner Jr. 400 acres on the branches of Muddy Run corner to Lewis Davis Yancy upon William Beverley's line .. line of Yancey's on a hillside in Beverley's line .
Wit: William Allen, William Peirce
17 May 1770. Acknowledged by parties. Mary was first privily examined.
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds F 1769-1772 pp. 69-70: 17 May 1770. John Conner of Culpeper County and Mary his wife to Philemon Conner of Orange Co. For natural love and affection unto their brother Philemon Conner. 200 acres on the branches of Muddy Run corner to Lewis Davis Yancy upon William Beverley's line .. line of Yancey's in a valley of a branch of Muddy Run on a hillside in Beverley's line houses, gardens, buildings, orchards, fences.
Wit: William Allen, William Peirce
17 May 1770. Acknowledged by parties. Mary was first privily examined.
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds F 1769-1772 pp. 73-75: 17 May 1770. Richard Vaughan (Boughan) and Ann his wife of Culpeper County to Mordecai Boughan of same. For £ 20 current money. 119 acres in Brumfield Parish in the great fork of the Rappahannock River on the brances of Poley Run corner of John Gent corner of Vincent Boughan Glebe land
Richard (X) Boughan
Ann (X) Boughan
Wit: William Allen, William Peirce, James Bramham.
17 May 1770. Acknowledged by the parties. Ann was first privily examined.
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds F 1769-1772 pp. 75-77: 17 May 1770. Richard Vaughan (Boughan) and Ann his wife of Culpeper County to Vincent Boughan of same. For £ 20 current money. 117 acres in Brumfield Parish in the great fork of the Rappahannock River on the brances of Poley Run corner of William Myrtle's in a valley on a hill side near the main road corner made for William Myrtle houses, buildings, inclosures
Richard (X) Boughan
Ann (X) Boughan
Wit: William Allen, William Peirce, James Bramham.
17 May 1770. Acknowledged by the parties. Ann was first privily examined.
William Pierce of Mary and William was paid for hemp 1773-1777 in Montgomery Co
Military service: September 22, 1777, Montgomery County Oath of Allegiance to the American cause.
Between selling out of Culpepper Co., VA in 1767 and receiving hemp money in 1773, William Pierce and Mary moved from Culpepper Co. to the part of Montgomery Co., VA that would eventually become Wythe Co., on Reed Creek [DeLorme VA Topo Map p. 24 A2]. Father-in-law Thomas Stanton in the 1750's lived at Poplar Camp, Wythe Co. [DeLorme VA Topo Map p.24 B2], probably about 6-10 miles away.
Montgomery Co., VA Court (Annals of SW VA) 3 Nov 1778: McFareland vs. Keegley; jury = John McFareland, William Montgomery, Andrew Crockett, James Simpson, Samuel Shannon, John Adams, James Macannan, William Pierce, William Rutherford, John Craig, William Ward [this is the same William Ward to whom Barabus Pierce orphan, brother of Hugh was bound in 1779; Hugh was bound to one of the judges Wm Doak], and Thomas Foster.
Montgomery Co., VA Court 5 May 1779: William Pierce on another jury.
Montgomery Co., VA Court 22 Feb 1785: William Pierce on another jury.
Library of Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants: Grants O, p. 458 (25 Apr 1785): William Pierce 266 ac on Reed Cr., a branch of New River Montgomery Co. adj, Henry Long
Library of Virginia Archives Land Office Patents and Grants: Grants 29, p. 479 71ac Montgomery Co., 17 Aug 1793, on the south side of Reed Cr. (downloaded)
June 13, 1797, Hannah Ramsey and Freeman Ramsey bound to William Pierce: Family is prob. Joel Ramsey b. Abt 1764 NC married Abigail Freeman b. Abt 1764 NC; children: Joel b. Abt 1789 NC, Eunice, Hanna b. Abt 1789, and Freeman b. 6 Feb 1790 and possibly 5 others. But Joel Ramsey was a Rev War pensioner up to 1840, so why are two children bound to William Pierce?
1800 Wythe Co., VA Tax List:
Pearce, David (no relation); Pearce, Ephraim, Pearce, Jesse; Pearce, Joel; Pearce, Stanton (Thomas Stanton); Pearce, Reuben; Pearce, William (the elder, since younger William was in Madison Co., KY at the time)
Library of Virginia Archives Land Office Patents and Grants: Grants 49, p. 50 100ac Wythe Co., 16 Apr 1801, on the south side of Reed Cr. (downloaded)
Probate: October 17, 1804, William Pierce, appraisal of estate, Wythe Co., VA
As can be seen above, the last record of William Pierce and Mary in Culpeper Co. is 1770 (there are records of a William Pierce and his wife Ann (Tunstall) in Culpeper, which can be distinguished from the associated surnames). The first record in Montgomery (would become Wythe) is 1773. Also, his father-in-law, Thomas Stanton Jr. followed the same migration path to southwestern Virginia.
The Identity of Mary, wife of William Pierce:
The given name Stanton occurs quite commonly in the descendents of William Pierce and his wife Mary of Wythe Co., VA. In fact, it occurs in at least 12 instances: sons Reuben Stanton (William) and Thomas Stanton (William), grandsons Jeremiah Stanton (William, William), and Reuben Stanton (Jesse, William), great-grandsons Stanton F. (Jeremiah Stanton, William, William), Reuben Stanton (William, Reuben Stanton, William), Stanton (William B., James Ephraim, William), and Reuben Stanton (Reuben Stanton, Jesse, William), 3rd great grandson John Stanton (Reuben Stanton, Reuben Stanton, Jesse, William), 4th great grandsons John Stanton (Jacob Ayhart, Stanton F., Jeremiah Stanton, William, William), James Stanton (George Washington, Stanton F., Jeremiah Stanton, William, William), and John Stanton (John Stanton, Reuben Stanton, Reuben Stanton, Jesse, William), and 5th great grandsons Norval Stanton (George Collin, James Perry, Stanton F., Jeremiah Stanton, William, William), and Norval Stanton (Willis Champion, James Perry, Stanton F., Jeremiah Stanton, William, William).
Because the use of the given name Stanton began with William Pierce of Wythe Co. and wife Mary, it has been assumed that Mary's maiden name was Stanton. There is a close spatial relationship between Pierce and Stanton in Culpeper Co., VA (and earlier in Orange Co., VA), e.g., deeds that show Pierce land adjoining Stanton land. A William Pierce and wife Mary lived in Culpeper Co prior to the Revolutionary War (but not after), while William Pierce and wife Mary lived in Montgomery (later Wythe) Co., VA after the Revolutionary War, but not before. From the children of William Pierce and Mary of Wythe Co., VA, their birth dates may be estimated at approximately 1740 or before. Since the first occurrence of William Pierce in Culpeper Co. records is 1757, the ages of the William of Wythe and the William of Culpeper are about the same. William of Culpeper is also closely associated with a Jeremiah Pierce. Jeremiah Pierce witnessed two William Pierce deeds. In 1770, Jeremiah was appointed constable for the New River Precinct (Montgomery Co., later to become Wythe Co.). Thus, that William Pierce is associated with Stanton in Culpeper Co., and also associated with Jeremiah, who later came to the Wythe area, and finally the lack of overlap of William Pierce and Mary records between Culpeper Co. and Montgomery or Wythe Co.s, the conclusion is that the William Pierce and Mary of Wythe Co. are the same as the William Pierce and Mary of Culpeper Co.
There is a documented Mary Stanton who was the daughter of Thomas Stanton (Sr.) of Orange Co., VA. She is mentioned (unmarried) in his will of 1741:
Orange Co., VA Will Book I, 1735-1743 p. 177: Will of Thomas Stanton being now sick and weak, , dated 2 Oct. 1741
My trusty friends George Whitley and Henry Field executors
To my son Thos. Stanton my still and materials thereto belonging after my decease as also the large Bible
To my son Wm. Stanton the grist mill with the plantation I now live on and all the land thereto belonging
To my daughter Frances Delany the half of four hundred acres on the south side of Stanton's River
To my daughter Sarah Stanton the other half of the said four hundred acres
To my daughter Mary Stanton two hundred acres part of four hundred acres joining Francis Kirtley, William Eddins, &c.
To my daughter Jean Stanton two hundred acres of land it being the upper part whereon George Simmons now lives including the said Simmons' plantation
To my daughter Elizabeth Stanton two hundred acres of land lying on the south side of Stanton's River commonly known by the name of Guy Meeks
To my son Wm. Stanton the remainder part lying on the north side being two hundred acres
To my son Wm. Stanton the following Negros, vizt. Adam, Judy, Sam and Winnie, Ned and Will
To my daughter Frances Delany molatto Harry as also my seal skin trunk.
wit: George Hume, Abraham Pierce, Thos. Stanton, Jr.
Page 178 Bond of Henry Field, Robert Slaughter and Goodrich Lightfoot, Gent. unto Thos. Chew, justice. For 1000 pounds. 22 Oct 1741. Henry Field is executor of Thomas Stanton. Wit: Jonath. Gibson
She is unmarried in 1741, as well as two of her other three sisters. This generally means that the children are fairly young, and that Thomas Stanton died at a fairly young age. Since Thomas Stanton is considered to have married Sarah Robinson about 1713, it is consistent with the children being young.
The problem with this Mary Stanton is that she did not marry William Pierce, but rather married Joseph Eddings, another neighbor to the Stantons. The marriage is shown by the deed:
1753 Nov 14 Pages 25-27 Joseph Eddins and Mary his wife of Culpeper Co to Thomas Stanton of same. For L 15 current money.200 acres, part of a patent granted to Thomas Stanton for 400 acre 10 June 1737 and left by will to Mary Stanton, daughter of Thomas Stanton It being that part of the tract adjoining on William Kirtley and John Simpson (Culpeper Co Deeds 1749-1755)
This 200 acres is the very same that was left to Mary in her father's will. Joseph Eddings did not die young: he occurred on the VA quit rent roll in 1764, after William Pierce and Mary appear in deeds (e.g., Culpeper Co., VA Deeds 2 Pages 258-260. 18 Feb. 1760). Therefore, it is an impossibility that this Mary Stanton daughter of Thomas Stanton Sr. married William Pierce.
Thomas Stanton Sr., father of the above Mary, is usually given a birth date of 1689, probably based on land deed activity (or lack of it before 1710). Apparently his first appearance is in 1715 in Richmond Co. Thomas was granted 236 acres, on the eastward or lower side of Deep Run issuing out of the North side of the Rappahannock River, about 12 miles above the falls 1715 Northern Neck Grants No 5 1713-1719 Page 111. By 1717 he is referred to as "of Stafford Co." But there is good reason to believe that the birth date of Thomas1 is earlier than 1689, because of land deed activity of his sons. A Leonard Stanton occurs on the tithables list of 1724 (Vol 1 of Stafford Co., VA Tithable (1723-1790)). Leonard and Thomas Stanton Jr. were granted 1000 acres in Spotsylvania Co. on the north side of North River of the Rappidan River near the mountains in 1728, adjacent to 100 acers patented by Thomas1. It is apparent that Leonard and Thomas Jr. are the sons of Thomas1. Leonard was of age in 1724, so he must have been born at least by 1703, and Thomas2 would have been born by 1707. These, then, are not children from a marriage in 1713, nor were they particularly young when Thomas1 died. And why would we assume that Sarah Robinson was Thomas1's first wife? People in early Virginia married often, since so many died young.
A good example of multiple marriages close at hand - Sarah (Robinson), the wife of Thomas1. The will of Sarah Stanton was offered for probate 3 May 1745 by William Scott, executor. (King George Co., VA Deed Book2, p 440).
In the name of God Amen I Sarah Stanton of the place aforesaid being sick and weak in body but of perfect sound memory thanks be to God for the same, Do make my Last Will and testament Disannulling and rejecting all other Wills heretofore by me made and making this my last will and testament and no longer other and what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon me. I give and bequeath as follows:
To my lawful son William Scott my two Negro men Harry and Ned,(These Negro men were willed to her by Thomas Stanton "2 Negro men named Ned and Harry, Her Right of Dower to Manner Plantation and Mill?) mare, saddle, Tartan Gown and petticoat, all my cattle, hogs, corn, Tobacco, chest pewter, kettle, pot and six pounds current money due to me from Henry Fields. to him and his heirs or assigns forever.
I give to my granddaughter Sarah Scott daughter of the above-mentioned William Scott my feather bed and furniture.
I give to my granddaughter Keziah Simmons daughter to my son Geo Simmons my wearing cloths, which I commonly wear
I give to my granddaughter Sarah Simmons daughter to my son Joseph Simmons my gold ring.
I give to my four children George, Joseph, Charles and Sarah Cooke each one-shilling sterling.
I give to my daughter Ann Mathews my cloak and stroped holland gown.
I desire and bequeath to my above son William Scott shall be my whole and sole executor to settle the above-mentioned goods and chattels according to law.
Dated 22 December 1744
Sarah's will shows that Thomas was her fourth husband; she had a married a Scott, a Simmons and a Cooke prior to marrying Thomas1. So it is not hard to imagine that Thomas1 had been previously married, and a few of the older children, including Leonard and Thomas2, had been born c. 1700-1710, rather than 1720. This raises the possibility of a Mary Stanton born in the 1730's being a daughter of one of those older children of Thomas1.
When looking closely at the references in the records to William and Mary Pierce of Culpeper Co., it is evident that their association is always with Thomas2, never Thomas1:
Culpeper Co. Va Deeds, Volume 2 1755-1762 Pages 528-30. 19 April 1757. Thomas Stanton and Lettice his wife of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County to Richard Stanton of same. Deed of gift: for yearly rent of one pepper corn. 279 acres in Brumfield Parish on the Stanton river, being part of a tract granted to Leonard and Thomas Stanton by patent for 1000 acres bearing date 1728... on the south side of the Stanton River corner to Jeremiah Early [this is Jeremiah Early b. 1705 whose sister Judith Early is the grandmother of Henry Buford, who married Elizabeth Pierce, daughter of Jeremiah Pierce, this William Pierce's brother] ...on Cabbin Branch...old pattent line...on the piney mountain...
Thomas Stanton, Lettice Stanton
Wit: John Duncan, Charles Duncan.
21 April 1757. Acknowledged.
Culpeper Co. Va Deeds, Volume 2 1755-1762 Pages 528-30. 19 April 1757. Thomas Stanton and Lettice his wife of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County to Richard Stanton of same. Deed of gift: for yearly rent of one pepper corn. 279 acres in Brumfield Parish on the Stanton river, being part of a tract granted to Leonard and Thomas Stanton by patent for 1000 acres bearing date 1728... on the south side of the Stanton River corner to Jeremiah Early [this is Jeremiah Early b. 1705 whose sister Judith Early is the grandmother of Henry Buford, who married Elizabeth Pierce, daughter of Jeremiah Pierce, this William Pierce's brother] ...on Cabbin Branch...old pattent line...on the piney mountain...
Thomas Stanton, Lettice Stanton
Wit: John Duncan, Charles Duncan.
21 April 1757. Acknowledged.
Culpeper Co, VA Deeds 2 1755-1762 Pages 532-33. 19 April 1757. Thomas Stanton and Lettice his wife of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County to William Peirce (Pierce). Deed of gift: for yearly rent of one pepper corn. 171 acres in Brumfield Parish...corner to Joseph Ham in John Simpson's line...William Eddin's line...on the side of a mountain...Joseph Ham's corner in George Hume line...part of a tract granted to Thomas Stanton, deceased, by pattent for 400 acres 10 June 1737.
Thomas Stanton Lettice Stanton
Wit: John Duncan, Charles Duncan.
21 April 1757. Acknowledged.
These two deeds of gift indicates that William Pierce had married a daughter of Thomas Stanton, namely Mary; the first deed of gift (to Richard Stanton) is also copied to show that Wm Pierce had gotten the same consideration from Thomas Stanton Jr and Lettice as they gave their brother, ergo he is their brother-in-law. The guess is that they had recently married, and therefore their marriage date is listed as Abt 1755.
From Dictionary of Business, Oxford University Press, © Market House Books Ltd 1996: "Peppercorn rent is a nominal rent. In theory, one peppercorn (or some other nominal sum) is payable as a rent to indicate that a property is leasehold and not freehold, the peppercorn representing the consideration. In practice it amounts to a rent-free lease." ]
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds 2 Pages 255-57. 19 Feb. 1760. Thomas Stanton Sr. of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County to Thomas Stanton, Jr. of same. For 5 pounds current money. 300 acres being part of a tract granted to Thomas Stanton, deceased, for 400 acres by patent 10 June, 1737, being part of a tract granted to Leonard and Thomas Stanton for 1000 acres by patent 1728...on the north side of Stanton river in a line granted by patent to Leonard and Thomas Stanton...William Kirtley's corner on Rock Hall... [note that the Thomas Stanton Sr. in this deed is the son of Thomas Stanton, decd]
Thomas Stanton
Wit: Joseph Ham, Seth Ham, William Pierce, Mary Pierce. [Mary and Seth are sisters of Thomas Stanton Sr. (son of Thomas Stanton, decd)]
21 Feb. 1760. Proved by William Pierce, Joseph Ham and Seth Ham
Culpeper Co., VA Deeds 2 Pages 258-260. 18 Feb. 1760. William Pierce and Mary his wife of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County, to Thomas Sampson of same. For 16 pounds current money. 171 acres, being part of a tract of land granted to Thomas Stanton, deceased, for 400 acres by patent 10 June 1737...
corner to Joseph Ham in John Simpson's line... by a large rock in William Eddin's line... [this is the one peppercorn land above from Thomas Stanton]
William Pierce Mary Pierce
Wit: Thomas Stanton, Sr., Richard Stanton, Thomas Stanton Jr., John Benojeman.
21 Feb. 1760. Acknowledged by the parties.
Particularly impressive is that the 21 April 1757 deeds to Richard Stanton and William Pierce for one peppercorn. Richard is Thomas2's son, and William is given the same consideration, which can only mean that he had married Thomas2's daughter Mary. Seth or Setha Ham is also a daughter of Thomas2.
Stanton married Lettice Bryant, mentioned in her father's 1748 will in King George Co., VA as Lettice Stanton. The family group for Stanton2 is therefore:
1 Thomas STANTON: Bef. 1707 in , Stafford, Virginia
+Lettice Bryant: married Abt. 1720-1730
2 Setha Stanton: Abt. 1735
+Joseph Hamb: Abt. 1728m: Abt. 1750
2 Richard Stanton: Abt. 1740d: 1783 in Mongomery, Co., VA
+Charity
2 Mary Stanton: 1735-1740,
+William Pierce: 1730-1733 in Spotsylvania Co., VA, married Abt. 1756 in Brumfield Parish, Orange Co., VA, d: Abt. 1805 in Wythe Co., VA
2 Thomas Stanton
2 William Stanton
Richard Stanton served in Dunmore's War (1774), as an Indian Scout) as did his brother-in-law William Pierce and his brother Jeremiah Pierce, although he served in a Fincastle Co. regiment and they served in the Botecourt Co. regiment.
The Native American Heritage of Mary Stanton, wife of William Pierce of Culpeper Co., VA:
Mother:
Lettice Bryant, the mother of Mary (Stanton) Pierce, was the daughter of Dr. Richard Bryant (1687-abt 18 Jan 1748/9, and named in his will in King George Co., VA) and Frances (Seth) Anderson (abt 1695-abt 1748). Both of these persons have Native American ancestry documented by William L. Deyo, the historian of the Patawomeck Tribe of Stafford Co., VA (A Brief Outline of Recorded History of the Patawomeck Tribe, William L. Deyo 2000). Her father, Richard Bryant, was the son of Dr. Richard Bryant (1651-1704) of Pasapatanzy, Stafford Co., VA and Ann Meese (b. 1660-1668), daughter of Henry Meese (1629-1682) and "Mary", daughter of Wahanganoche (Weroance (Tribal Chief) of the Patawomeke Indian Tribe, ruling from the Pasapatanzy area). Lettice may also have Indian heritage from her mother, Frances Seth Anderson, who was a relative (grand-niece) of Burr Harrison, the Indian interpreter, and who may have descended (clues only) from one of the Indian Maidens who accompanied Pocahontas and her husband, John Rolfe, to England in 1616. In this hypothesis, Seth Anderson's grandmother, wife of Thomas Harrison, is thought to be a daughter of Tottopottomoi, 1st husband of Cockacoeske, the woman who succeeded to the title of Weroansqua and signed the treaty ending Bacon's Rebellion is Queen of the Pamunkey.
Father:
Thomas Stanton Jr. is the son of Thomas Stanton Sr. and an unknown mother who were married c.1700. Starting in 1691, it was illegal for Virginia whites to marry non-whites (including American Indians). Since Thomas Jr. married Lettice Bryant of known Indian heritage, that marriage would have been illegal if Thomas Jr. did not also have Indian ancestors.
Further, Mary Stanton's brother, Richard, is listed in Draper mss 3 QQ 18, as one of four Indian scouts on the Clinch River (in southwestern Virginia, where Richard and his father Thomas had moved) sent out on 15 Apr 1774, at the end of French and Indian War (Dunmore's War). Indian scouts are generally thought to have been of Native American ancestry.
Husband:
William Pierce himself may have already had Indian heritage, again extrapolating from the illegality of whites to marry non-whites at the time of his marriage. He was not, apparently, an Indian Scout in Dunmore's War, like his brother-in-law, Richard Stanton. His father William Pierce in Orange Co., VA and his uncle Jeremiah Pierce in Essex, Caroline, Spotsylvania and Orange Co.s appear to have led rather tempestuous lifestyles, as shown by the court records in Part 6 of this website. They are repeatedly sued for trespass (which, at the time, may have the modern meaning of trespass, or, more generally, any other type of wrong) and assault ("with swords, staves and knives on him made an assault, did beat, wound and evil intreat him"). This lifestyle may be a symptom of the friction between whites and part-whites in rural Virginia in the 1700's.
Back to Main Menu