chitwood family

216 Pages·2002·0.75 MB·English

by  System Administrator

Early Family History and Background

Chitwood Family

(and related lines)

Jean (Cragun) Tombaugh

TOMBAUGH HOUSE
700 Pontiac Street
Rochester, Indiana 46975
Early Family History and Background

Copyright © 1965
Jean (Cragun) Tombaugh

First Printing
(by mimeograph)
1965
Wendell C. Tombaugh

Second Printing
(by offset press)
1976
Tombaugh Publishing House

Third Printing
(by copier)
1981
Tombaugh Publishing House

Fourth Printing
(by IBM computer)
1989
TOMBAUGH HOUSE

Fifth Printing
(by Macintosh computer)
1992
TOMBAUGH HOUSE

Passages from Shakespeare of London by Marchette Chute,
copyright, 1949, by E. P. Dutton & co., Inc., reprinted by
permission of the publishers. Also see Acknowledgments.
Early Family History and Background
PREFACE

The purpose of this book is to preserve family history
and to perpetuate pride in the accomplishments of our
pioneer ancestors.

It is understandable that the contents of Chapter One
may be tiresome reading to some. However, it was included
for the benefit of those who might want to go more
thoroughly into the background of the family.

The old and original spellings - and misspellings - have
been used.

This book is not intended to be a final story of the
Chitwood family of Virginia, but, rather, a first chapter of
the story, which we hope will never be ended.

It may appear strange that a native of Illinois, born of
parents from Kansas, living in Indiana, writes a book about
people in Virginia. True, much information is available, if at
all, only in Virginia. But, the Indiana State Library, the Fort
Wayne (Ind.) Public Library and the National Archives have
vast amounts of pertinent information on their shelves, on
microfilm and on microcards; and the courteous assistance of
their personnel must be remembered.

That which is not available through those sources has
been eagerly furnished by many relatives. Particular tribute
must be given to Mrs. Walter P. Holland and Robert Gray
Chitwood, of Roanoke, Va.; Mrs. C. B. Nolen of Ferrum,
Va.; Mrs. L. L. Steffey of Bristol, Tenn.; Mrs. Willis
Cheatham and Mrs. Fay B. Chitwood of Rocky Mount, Va.;
Miss Sally Lumsden of Glade Hill, Va.; Mrs. J. Y. Jamieson
of Falls Church, Va.; Mrs. A. H. Neel of Dayton, Ohio; and
to Mrs. George Lee Chitwood, Mrs. Bethel Dickson and
Fred Chitwood, all of Conway Springs, Kansas. The joy of
writing this book was to have been reward in itself. But I
have been repaid many fold in addition by having had the
opportunity to know and to work with these hitherto
unknown cousins.
Early Family History and Background

Especially do I thank my husband, who, during the
research for and writing of this book, has learned to index
names, run an antiquated mimeograph and wear each shirt a
day longer.

My specifically mentioning these wonderful people is
not intended to discredit the invaluable assistance of
numerous other people, whose names if included would
make costs exceed our printing budget. But the recognition
of those who have contributed would be incomplete without
mentioning that those about whom this book is written made
possible not only this book but our very existence.

This, my first attempt at writing, has been quite an
experience. As I sit here contemplating the months and
months of research, the almost unbelievable amount of
correspondence, the cataloguing and filing of literally reams
of papers, the stacks of mimeograph stencils (and their many
corrections), and awaiting the verdict of the reader, I am
reminded of those famous last words of Sidney Carton which
he uttered as he was about to be executed:

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever
done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever
known."1

J.C.T.

1
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.
Early Family History and Background

DEDICATION

To my Grandmother

VIRGINIA FRANKLIN (CHITWOOD)
MAYFIELD

who, although crippled in body for many years
with joints swollen and hardened by arthritis,
retained the sweetness of her disposition and the
charm of her Virginia origin, was a joy to all,

and

To my Aunt and Uncle

ANTHA BEATRICE (MAYFIELD) PEARSON
and
WILLIAM E. PEARSON

whose selfless dedication made her last years
bearable.
Early Family History and Background
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication 5
Preface 3

EARLY FAMILY HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
1. Chetwode, Chetwood, Chitwood 8

LINE OF DESCENT
2. From John de Chetwode 16

FIRST GENERATION IN AMERICA
3. Matthias Chetwood (Cheatwood) of
Goochland Co., Virginia 22
4. Mary Key, of Northumberland Co., Virginia 23
5. Children of Matthias and Mary Chetwood 23

SECOND GENERATION IN AMERICA
6. John Chetwood, Sr., of Franklin Co., Va. 28
7. Elizabeth Tillotson of Chesterfield Co., Virginia 31
8. Children of John and Elizabeth Chetwood 34

THIRD GENERATION IN AMERICA
9. John Chitwood, Jr., of Franklin Co., Virginia 50
10. Rhoda ----, wife of John Chitwood, Jr. 54
11. Children of John and Rhoda Chitwood 55

FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA
12. William Chitwood, of Franklin Co., Virginia 77
13. Lockey Thurman, wife of William Chitwood 80

FIFTH GENERATION IN AMERICA
14. Thomas Jefferson Chitwood, of Franklin Co.,
Virginia 89
15. Lucy Catherine Lumsden, wife of Thomas
Jefferson Chitwood 93
Early Family History and Background
16. Children of Jefferson and Lucy Catherine
Chitwood 125

SIXTH GENERATION IN AMERICA
17. George Washington Chitwood, of Franklin
County, Virginia 134
18. Matilda Octave Metts, wife of George
Washington Chitwood 139
19. Children of George W. and Matilda O. Chitwood 153
20. Chitwood Bible records 169

SEVENTH GENERATION IN AMERICA
21. Virginia Franklin Chitwood, of Franklin
County, Virginia 176
22. Isaac Morton Mayfield, husband of Virginia
Franklin Chitwood 178
23. Children of Isaac M. and Virginia F. Mayfield 185

EIGHTH GENERATION IN AMERICA
24. Iva Mayfield, of Conway Springs, Kansas 195
25. J. Beach Cragun, husband of Iva Mayfield 198
26. Children of J. Beach and Iva Cragun 204

NINTH GENERATION IN AMERICA
27. Jean Cragun, of Chicago, Illinois 208
28. Wendell C. Tombaugh, husband of Jean Cragun 209

TENTH GENERATION IN AMERICA
29. John Beach Tombaugh, of Rochester, Indiana 214

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 215
Early Family History and Background

EARLY FAMILY HISTORY and BACKGROUND

1: Chetwode, Chetwood, Chitwood

The more thorough the research into the background of the early Chitwood
family, the more interesting the search becomes.

One source for information in the early lines of the Chitwood family is the
William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. 18, second series, 1839, pp 507-509, by (Dr.)
Blanche M. Haines, of Three Rivers, Michigan. I have divided this article into
more paragraphs than the original shows in order that it may be more easily read.
Other than that change, it is quoted here verbatim from this source:

"Chetwood. - The Chetwode, Chetwood family of England is an old Saxon
one going back to the time of William the Conqueror, to one John de Chetwode.
That Thomas Chetwode, an early immigrant colonist to Virginia was of this family
is certain.
"The earliest mention of Thomas Chetwood in Virginia was in 1653, when
he was witness to the nuncupative will of Mr. Thomas Crowder.2 May 8, 1655,
Thomas Chettwood of London, merchant, gave power of attorney to Mr. Peter
Knight.3 Alexander Porteus gave power of attorney to Mr. Thomas Chetwood in
1658.4 Repeatedly, in the records, he appears with the prefix Mr. In 1660,
Governor William Berkeley appointed him Surveyor.5 This with other records
show that he was in the favor of Governor Berkeley.

"From 1653 to 1678, the year of his death, he appeared in Lancaster County
records many times. He brought in many colonists and had many head-rights on

2
Lancaster Co Record Book 2
3
Ibid
4
Lancaster Deed Book 2
5
Ibid
Early Family History and Background
them. The largest of the land grants from these headrights was 5275 acres to Thos.
Chetwood and John Prosser in 1667 for transporting 106 persons. In 1667 Major
William Ball and Mr. Thomas Chetwood brought in thirty-two persons and were
granted 1600 acres. Most of this was on the north side of the Rappahannock River.
Grants totaling more than 15000 acres for transporting people appear with his
name. Dividing the joint grants by two, he had in Lancaster County alone more
than 5000 acres and there were other grants in Northumberland and Old
Rappahannock counties. There were close to 300 headrights in which he had an
interest.

"He died intestate in 1678. The inventory brought in by Edward Carter, Robert
Newsum and Walter Wallace named Elizabeth Chetwood, relict of Thomas
Chetwood, defunct.6 The estate of £2000 was granted to his widow in 1678 with
Capt. William Ball, Attorney.7 No mention of lands or children, though he had
both. In March, 1669, Mr. Thomas Chetwode was granted a certificate for
transporting certain persons, including Elizabeth Chitwode.8 As early as 1664,
Elizabeth Chetwode gave power of attorney to Marquo Barret.9 The evidence is
that Thomas and Elizabeth Chetwood were married in England.
"That he made many trips across the ocean is shown by headrights granted
in 1658 by Mr. Wm. Underwood for bringing in Thomas Chettwood three times
and in 1661 to 'Thomas Chitwode for transporting himself three tymes', with
others. In his lifetime he deeded land to many of the prominent colonists in
Lancaster and adjoining counties. Among them were William Travers, Jno.
Chinley, Marquo Barret, Will Wroughton, Nicholas Wren, Thos. Hearley, Richard
Overton, Henry Stoneham, Edward Carter and Edward Dale.

"Three contemporary Thomas Chetwoods are to be found in London wills at that
time. It seems probable and almost certain that Thomas Chetwood, merchant of
London and Lancaster Co., Virginia, was the son of 'Henry Chettwood, late of St.
Dunstans in East, citizen and Haberdasher of London,' who died Oct 2, 1652.
Thomas was the second son of Henry and Parnell (Harris) Chettwood. She died
Oct. 5, 1654. The eldest son was Arthur Chetwood, gentleman, of St. Clements
Inn, who died November 2, 1657. All of these mentioned Thomas in their wills.

6
Lancaster Co. Will Book 5
7
Court Order Book 1
8
Lancaster Co. Order Book 19
9
Lancaster Co. Deed Book 2
Early Family History and Background
"Arthur left lands in 'Wourleston' and Chester, England. The very early
Chetwodes lived in Chester.10 The third son of Henry and Parnell Chetwood was
Henry, who was executor of his mother's and brother Arthur's estates. In 1662, Mr.
John Pate received a headright for bringing in Henry Chittwood. There has been
found no further mention of Henry Chittwood, although this seems a bit of
confirmatory evidence that he was of the same family as Thomas Chetwood.
Definite proof of this parentage, particularly from London records is desired, also
the maiden name of Elizabeth Chetwood, wife of Thomas Chetwood. It seems
probable that the other contemporary Thomas Chetwoods of London, if they came
to America, would have joined Grace Chetwood, wife of Rev. Peter Bulkeley in
New England where she already had arrived, as they were of her father's line,
Richard Chetwood, while Henry Chetwood of London was a descendant of
Richard's brother James.

"Although no mention is made of children or lands in the settlement of the
estate of Thomas Chetwood, we know that he had a son 'Thomas Chetwood of St.
Mary's White Chapple Parish' in Lancaster County as told by a deed in 1720 to
Charles Ewell for 2000 acres of land. That there were other children seems
probable. Old Rappahannock County records for May 19, 1686, mention Berkeley
Chitwood in a suit brought by one John Linkhorne. Information relating to
Berkeley Chetwood or other children of Thomas and Elizabeth Chetwood is
desired.

"Thomas Chetwood, second, of St. Mary's, also married Elizabeth, maiden
name unknown. He too, died intestate in 1742. He had an only son, Turner, who
obtained Letters of Administration on his estate.11 Turner Chetwood, also, had
wife Elizabeth, maiden name unknown. She appeared as his widow, July, 1760,
and named her children, Betty, George, William and Rachel. William died in 1788
leaving three children. His brother George was his executor.12 George Chitwood
of Lancaster County died in 1793, leaving wife Judy and children, William,
George, Susanna, Elizabeth, Nancy and Alcey.13 Betsy married Jos. West in 1802,
William Chitwood married Lucy Pitman in 1822, a William Chitwood married
Mary Jane Barns in 1845 and an earlier William Chetwood married Betsy Neale

10
Stephen Tucker, Chetwode Pedigree
11
Lancaster Co Court Order Book 8
12
Lancaster Will Book 22
13
Lancaster Wills