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 13th 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 29th 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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
