Conflicting Clues

        A few years ago, I wanted to do a write-up of one of my patriot ancestors – Thomas Pinson.  However, I hit a roadblock due to conflicting information.  So, I gave up.  Guess it’s time to pick it up again.

       Thomas Pinson was born circa 1745 in Grayson County, Virginia to Aaron Pinson and Delilah Stovall.  He was the oldest of twelve children.  In 1765, Thomas married Mary Denny in Virginia.  He passed away around 1815 in Floyd County (now Pike), Kentucky (KY).

       You’re wondering about the conflicting information.  Well, for Thomas Pinson to become a Patriot Ancestor for the Daughters of the American Revolution, he provided supplies to the troops during the war.  The Virginia Revolutionary Publick Claims stated that he had provided 350 pounds of beef on the 13^th of May 1782 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.   So, I started looking at various land records between Thomas and his father, Aaron.  That’s where it gets messy.  There are way too many Thomas’ and Aarons’.  And I couldn’t find where my Thomas had land in Mecklenburg but he had an uncle who did.

       So, let’s back up (literally and genealogically).  The first Aaron Pinson was born circa 1700 in Grayson County, Virginia. (other sources say he was born in 1688 in Lunenburg Co, VA to a Thomas Pinson and Elizabeth White).  He married an Elizabeth Rambo circa 1720 in Virginia.  He died around 1 January 1758 in Lunenburg County, Virginia.  (His will was proven in probate in the Spring of 1758).  It is believed they had 5 children.  Two of those children were Aaron (born 1731 in Spotsylvania Co, Virginia) and Thomas, who were the executors of his will.

·      Aaron (Jr) – conflicts on his date of birth, some information has it as 1731 and others have it as 1721 in Lunenburg.  Married circa 1751 in Goochland, Henrico Co, Virginia to Delilah Stovall.  Died 5 April 1801 in Granville Co, North Carolina (NC).  This is my direct line mentioned above with 12 children including a Thomas and an Aaron.

o  Thomas – born c1745 in Grayson Co, VA. (this is my direct ancestor).  Thomas & Mary had 9 children.

§  Aaron – born circa 1775 in Raleigh, Wake Co, North Carolina (NC).  Married Sarah Lycans in Surry Co, NC.  He died in April 1838.  They had 13 children including a Thomas and an Aaron.

·      Thomas – born circa 1810 in Floyd Co, KY.  Married Mary Ward in Vigo, Indiana.  He died in Fayette Township, Vigo, Indiana.  They had 7 children.  No Aaron or Thomas.

·      Aaron – I have no information on him.

§  Thomas – born circa 1792 in Virginia.  Married Rachel Leslie on 29^th Sept 1814 in Floyd Co, KY.  They had at least 3 children.  By 1830, they were living in Edgar, Illinois.  In 1860, they were living in Deepwater, Henry, Missouri with their son, Cornelius.

§  Allen – b 24 Nov 1785 in Grayson, Virginia.  Married Margaret Belcher on 24 Mar 1808 in Floyd Co, KY.  He died 18 Nov 1858 at Bent Branch, Pike Co, KY.  They had 8 children, including an Aaron (b 1809) and a Thomas (born 1828).  I descend from Allen through his daughter, Mary “Polly” Pinson.

o  Aaron – born c 1750. Note:  Will need to do further research on this branch.

·      Thomas – I don’t have a birth date.  He also died in 1801 in Mecklenburg, VA.   He married a Boyd (date unknown).  It appears he had 8 children.  One of them was named Thomas.  Note:  Will need to do further research on this branch.

I indicated I had looked into land records.  Aaron Sr. obtained patents for land in Spotsylvania County in 1727.  He sold it in 1731.  In 1733, he and his family moved to Brunswick County on the Tea-Wahemini Creek (now Aaron’s Creek) just south of the Roanoke River.  Then in August 1751, he received a land grant on the south side of the Roanoke River (this was Lunenburg County in 1746).  This was the land that was distributed between his three sons in 1758.

In 1760, Aaron (probably Jr) received another patent next to the existing acreage.

       I also looked into the timeline of the various counties.

·      Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from Essex, King & Queen, and King William County

o  Orange County was created from Spotsylvania in 1734.

o  Augusta was officially organized in 1745 but was created in 1738 from part of Orange County (bordering Brunswick Co).

o  Botetourt County was created from part of Augusta County in 1770

o  Fincastle was created from Botetourt County in 1772. 

o  Montgomery County was established from Fincastle in Dec 1776. 

o  Wythe County was formed from Montgomery County in 1790.

o  Grayson County was founded in Dec 1794 from part of Wythe County.

·      Brunswick County was established at the same time as Spotsylvania and was from Prince George County.

o  Lunenburg County was established in 1746 from Brunswick County.

o  Mecklenburg County was established in May 1764 from Lunenburg County.  Became effective March 1765.

·      Henrico County was an original county in 1634 and an original incorporation in 1617.

o  Goochland County was formed from Henrico in 1728.

Creating a timeline of county formations and land patents as well as family residences help solve some of the conflicts.  However, I only did my direct ancestors family and not the collateral lines.

Looks like my next steps are to flush out some of the family branches and double-check them against the county formations to see if they actually moved or just changed counties.  I’m really thinking that there was a mix-up between an uncle and a nephew as to who actually provided supplies during the Revolutionary War.