This is the genealogical history of those ancestors which came from Europe, the vast majority of whom settled along the East Coast of North America, from Nova Scotia, Canada to northeastern North Carolina, in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Predominantly English and French, these ancestors include famous and infamous individuals, and those of various professions, some descending from nobles and knights, and some of whom can be traced back beyond the time of the Conquest.
 MILES, John, son of John Miles and Martha, emigrated from Norwich, Norfolk, England to "the Falls", now Milton, in Queens County, Nova Scotia, and was one of the first settlers of this region. There is no record of his arrival on any surviving ship manifest, but he first appears on record in June of 1786. He married into a branch of the Freeman family which had removed from Barnstable, Massachusetts to Nova Scotia in 1760/61. The next two generations married into the Crouse and Keddy families of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Many additional New England lines were introduced in the last-covered generation of this line, through Ida Tew SCOTT
, many of whom were among the earliest settlers of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These include Tew, Keith, Chapman, Franklin, Fobes, Lothrop, Prence, Brewster, Coggeshall, Throckmorton, Dodge, Cooke, Potter, Rathbone, Graves, Remington, and Allis.
[Photo: Ida Tew Scott and George Outhitt Miles, ca 1915]
 BLANCHARD, Unknown, likely came from England, with ultimate origins in France, in the mid-1600s, settling first in Nansemond, Virginia before moving just over the border into Chowan/Gates, North Carolina. Unfortunately there are few surviving records from those early years in Nansemond, and the name of the original Blanchard immigrant will likely never be known. But we do know that there were three contemporary Blanchards, Aaron, Benjamin, and Ephraim, believed by most researchers to have been brothers, all three of whom fortunately purchased land in neighboring Chowan County, North Carolina, where the only surviving records, duplicates of their wills, were filed. Exactly how Richard Blanchard connects to one of these earliest three individuals has yet to be discovered. Based upon a tip by another researcher, the author believes that Richard Blanchard was likely the son of one James Hofler, and that his mother was a Blanchard, but further research and proof is required. This would certainly explain why no birth record for Richard, as a child born to a Blanchard male, has ever been found. Only two lines which connect to the Blanchard family have yet been traced, Spivey and Hobbs, the latter early settlers of northeastern North Carolina, for which the town of Hobbsville, in Gates County, is named. Through the maternal side of Fanny Sue BURROUGHS, many early colonial-era families have been traced, including Shotwell, Osborne, Dalton, Ewell, Tate, Jones, Kenner, Gallahue, Hurt, Hubbard, Hoskins, Critz, Worsham, Hunter, Overton, and Stone, among others.
[Photo: Fanny Sue Burroughs and Willard Slade Blanchard, ca 1955]
It is hoped that the information presented here will benefit those who are beginning
their family search, as well as add new connections and insight for avenues of research for seasoned genealogy enthusiasts. The records and genealogical information belong to all of us and is offered freely here. But please note that the design and graphics are the sole property of this author, a graphics specialist by profession. Comments, suggestions, questions, as well as opinions and (documented) corrections to the genealogical information, are welcomed.
Fortunately, this author possesses some family information, namely a diary and genealogical notes left by a great-aunt, two privately-published books given to family members of research conducted over approximately 15 years by another relative, as well as a copy of some 60 pages of research by a great-uncle (see Sources). Additional invaluable input has come from several long-time researchers, and distant relatives, who have generously shared their research and source materials.
Changes and corrections, as well additions, will be made as new information is discovered.
To view a non-linked list of all surnames, click Here. To access surnames, go to the Index.
To see a listing of pre-1700s Colonial Immigrants, click Here.
Most Wanted...
This is a list of individuals for whom the author is seeking information. These ancestors have defied all attempts to discover their origins and, in some cases, other than one record which proves their connection, no further information has been found. Each is linked to the family page on which they appear.
Of primary interest and under current research are:
John Miles and Martha of Norwich, Norfolk, England, and
John Burroughs and Mary of Fauquier, VA.
There are other similarly contemporary individuals on other family pages for which no further information has yet been found. Should you have information or leads to share, your input would be greatly appreciated. |
Mary Brereton, b ca 1700, dau of William Brereton, md Samuel Hoskins of King & Queen Co., VA.
Wilmoth Bryan(t), b ca 1720, md Joshua Stone, 1738, Richmond Co., VA.
John Burroughs, b 1709, prob Maryland or Virginia, d 1782, Fauquier, VA, md Mary.
Thomas Horswell, b ca 1750-1760, prob Newport Co., RI, md Amey Lake; their dau, Mary Horswell, md Benjamin Tew.
Rebecca Kaighn, b 1766, d 16 Jan 1818, Newport, RI; md Brenton Chapman of Newport, Newport, RI.
John Miles, of Norwich, Norfolk, England, b ca. 1725-30, md Martha (poss. Reeve) bef 1750.
William Owen, father of Lucy Owen, who married John Powell, ca. 1780-85. William Owen's will was dated 11 Aug 1806, Halifax, VA.
Martha Powell, married Thomas Osborne 11 Jun 1829, Halifax, VA; believed to be daughter of John Powell and Lucy Owen.
Dr. Aaron Willey, of New Shoreham, Newport, RI, md Lydia Dodge aft 1806.
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Some Notes on the Content and Organization of this Site
Purely factual, as well as biographical information, is included among these pages. In some cases, where there is more extensive narrative, which may include wills, land records, etc., a clickable icon (compass) link will be found at the top right of the genealogy page. In other cases, where the information is basically factual data, said information is accessed via a footnote link following each applicable individiual.
Sources are noted at the bottom of each family page, and where there are questions, or suspect information, remarks are included as such.
Anyone with roots in Virginia is aware of the loss of records, and the less than organized state of those records which do exist. Unfortunately, Virginia genealogy has not been blessed with the bountiful attention of professional genealogists on such a grand scale as New England. Thus, while several Virginia lines would seem promising in their connections back to England, very few appear to have been followed with the determined attention necessary to complete the link. Often, those of us with Virginia ancestors have little more to go on than "family tradition". Very few of these Virginia families have been treated in their entirety in any reliable published source, and, in some cases, the information is only complete thanks to the assistance of several extremely industrious and determined researchers, who did the real leg-work in finding those first-hand records in court houses, unpublished family bibles, local parish registers, and cemetery grave markers. The author is indebted to several individuals which deserve mention: Maynard Osborne (Halifax County resident Osborne expert), William Deyo (for his professional research on the Harris and Overton lines), Mary Ann Shotwell (for her thorough research on the Shotwell family of Virginia), Joyce Browning (for her research and wonderful narrative history on the Ewell and Gallahue families), and Nelle Gavalas (for her Stone family research).
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DISCLAIMER
This is a "work in progress". While every conceivable attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, errors and oversights are inevitable. Few of us can afford the travel and time to substantiate all information first-hand, but where the latter is lacking, only the most credible second-hand sources available to this author have been used. This is an ongoing long-term project and thus subject to change. |
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