The Womack family in America circa 1850 was fairly large - about 2400 to 2800 individuals, not counting slaves held by Womacks. A couple years ago, I abstracted all the Womack US federal census records up to and including 1850. At the time, I had no idea how many of them were related. I still do not know how many are related, but I have made some headway. This has led me to classifying the Womacks into several divisions.
Scientists are always classifying things, such as species of living things, minerals, stars, languages, etc. They make their groupings based upon similarities between things.
I have two types of groupings for the Womack family, which I call branches and divisions. A branch is group of people with one common Womack ancestor - the head of that branch. A division is a group of people who are possibly not related, but grouped together by similar characteristics. Some of these may form divisions may eventually become branches with more research.
I believe the vast majority of white Womacks in America in 1850 were the descendants of the Womacks of the late 1600s in Henrico County, Virginia. This includes all spellings, including Warmack. For each branch or division, I have a description that includes a name and a place. The place is usually where the person was known to have lived last.
Note that I do not trace the descendants of Womack females. Sorry, this project is large enough just with Womacks.
Some branches come from other branches. I do this to make the branches smaller, and thus easier to understand.
Before asking me questions about these branches, remember it for Womack individuals in America before 1850. So please, no comments/questions about other families, Womacks in other areas of the world, or Womacks after 1850.
A) The Core Womack Family from Henrico Co, VA - the first 4 generations, starting with William Womack, sometimes called "the Immigrant". Researchers have made many mistakes in this part of the family, leading to an enormos amount of confusion. However, a great deal of this part of the family is understood.
B) The 17 Womack great-grandsons of the Immigrant
B.1) William Womack of Cumberland Co, VA - son of William, son of Abraham
B.2) Abraham Womack of Lincoln Co, NC - son of Thomas, son of Abraham - see branches D.1 and D.2 below.
B.3) William Womack of Charlotte Co, VA - son of Thomas, son of Abraham - married Jane LNU; they had no children, but William's estate records hold many clues to the families of his siblings.
B.4) Thomas Womack of Nottoway Co, VA - son of Thomas, son of Abraham
B.5) Isham Womack of Halifax Co, VA - son of Thomas, son of Abraham
B.6) Francis Womack of Chesterfield Co, VA - son of Thomas, son of Abraham
B.7) Abraham Womack of Halifax Co, VA - son of Abraham, son of Abraham
B.8) William Womack of Chesterfield Co, VA - son of Abraham, son of Abraham
B.9) Thomas Womack of Rowan Co, NC - son of Abraham, son of Abraham
B.10) Richard Womack of Goochland Co, VA - son of Abraham, son of Abraham - father of William Warmack of Davidson Co, TN and Matthew Warmack of Wayne Co, MO.
B.11) Richard Womack of Burke Co, GA - son of Richard, son of Richard
B.12) Alexander Womack of Campbell Co, VA - son of Richard, son of Richard
B.13) Thomas Womack of Chesterfield Co, VA - probably son of Richard, son of Richard
B.14) Matthew Womack of Amelia Co, VA - probably son of Richard, son of Richard
B.15) Henry Womack of Goochland Co, VA - son of William, son of Richard
B.16) William Womack of Halifax Co, NC - son of William, son of John
B.17) John Womack of Johnston Co, NC - probably son of William, son of John
C) Womack Family of Prince George Co, VA - this is a division rather than a branch. These Womacks appear to be the descendants of John's three sons John, Richard, and Abraham. Despite the records loss in Prince George, we know Richard was there as late as 1742, and Abraham at least until 1759.
D) Branches off of (or probably off of) the "B" branches
D.1) Thomas Womack of Burke Co, NC - married Louvisa Rice - the son of Abraham (B.2). See also E.6.
D.2) William Womack of Gallatin Co, IL - married Rebecca LNU - the son of Abraham Womack (who married Elizabeth Stubblefield), son of Abraham (B.2). This was NOT the William who married Lucy Womack, dau of Thomas/Louvisa (C.1). Nor was it the William Womack, son of Thomas of Rowan Co, NC (B.9).
D.3) Thomas Womack of Jasper Co, GA - married Lavina Dennis - probably the son of Richard (B.10)
D.4) Allen Womack of Buchanan Co, MO - probably the son of Richard (B.10)
D.5) Abraham Womack of Monroe Co, GA - married Judith Minter - probably the son of Abraham (B.7)
D.6) Benjamin Womack of Gadsden Co, FL - probably the grandson of Frederick, son of William (B.16)
E) Other Womack Branches and Divisions that almost certainly descend from the Henrico Co, VA Womack Family.
E.1) Richard Womack of Smith Co, TN - wife Catherine (supposedly Steetman). From VA, supposedly Halifax Co, although a search of tax records for every year from 1782 to 1810 failed to find him. Descandants spell the name "Wommack".
E.2) Terry Womacks of Brown Co, OH - from VA, supposedly the son of Henry Womack (see B.15), but I would need more documentation or DNA testing to believe this.
E.3) Peter, Lewis, and David Womack of Lincoln Co, TN - all born in NC, probably brothers from their proximity, occupations, and similar names of their children.
E.4) Warmack Family from Franklin and Habersham Cos, GA - descend from an unknown male Womack or Warmack, who married Sarah LNU. After his death, she married Jesse Putman. Son John born in SC. Dau Susannah married Littleton Meeks. Not descended from Ian Warmack (no such person, see Fictional Womacks below). Ian supposedly settled in GA, which makes little sense, given that John Warmack was born in SC, possibly Union Co, SC where Jesse Putman was from.
E.5) Archibald Womack of Lincoln Co, NC - married Sarah Hager - confused with Archibald, son of Thomas (B.9). Possibly the Archer Womack, son of Thomas, son of Thomas (B.13).
E.6) William Womack of Marion Co, TN - married Lucy Womack, dau of Thomas/Louvisa (D.1). NOT the son of Abraham Womack (wife Elizabeth Stubblefield), son of Abraham (B.2). Possibly the son of Isham (B.5).
E.7) William Womack of Campbell Co, VA - married Catherine (possibly Blankenship). NOT the son of Francis (B.6). William son of Francis married Elizabeth Perkinson, and he wrote a will in Chesterfield Co, VA in 1830 naming his wife Elizabeth. Also, DNA evidence strongly suggests that William in Campbell Co, VA could not have descended from Francis, since DNA of his descendant matches that of descendants of Richard (B.11) and Alexander (B.12).
E.8) Womack Family of Northern Virginia - there was supposedly a William Womack in Frederick Co, VA in 1779 and 1782 tax lists. More research needed here, but my gut feeling is that this was actually a Hammack family that was mis-transcribed. The Womacks in northern VA counties after 1800 were probably the descendants of Peter Womack, son of Thomas, son of Thomas (B.9).
E.10) Womack/Warmack family of Montgomery Co, GA - a division that is very little understood. John and William Womack/Warmack appear in early records in Montgomery Co, GA, and then in Twiggs and Pulaski Co, GA. John Warmack moved to MS, and people from this group were in Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, and Yazoo Cos, MS among others. A Timothy Womack was probably John's brother, and John had sons John and William Warmack, and possibly other children, such as Patience Warmack, Benjamin Womack, and Joel Sherrard Warmack. Note that some descendants spelled the name Womack, but most were Warmack.
E.11) Josiah Womack of Hancock Co, GA - married Nancy Holliman
E.12) David Womack of Union Co, KY - married Esther Tanner - possibly a son of Thomas/Louvisa (D.1).
E.13) Abraham Womack of Obion Co, TN (later in Arkansas Co, AR)
F) Other unclassified single Womack families before 1850 that probably decsend from Henrico Co, VA - This includes Womack families that were not extended families in 1850, and the head of household was born after 1800. This includes families such as Newton Womack in Fayette Co, TN in 1850. Note that there are very few Womacks in this category.
G) Womacks NOT descended from the Henrico Co, VA Womack Family
G.1) Recent Womack Immigrants - mostly or all in New York in 1850, all from England
G.2) African-American - a handful of free black Womacks in 1850; the vast majoity were slaves.
G.3) Native American - there were NO Native American Womacks. The Womack name comes from England. There were Womacks with Indian blood from their mother's side of the family.
H) Womacks who were not really Womacks - mistakes
H.1) Mistakes made in the past - mistakes made in censuses, newspapers, by county clerks, etc where people were called Womack who really were not. Example: Elizabeth Womack in the 1850 Census of Madison Co, TN was actually Elizabeth (Fly) Warmath, widow of Henry Warmath.
H.2) Mistakes made in record tanscriptions - Womack is difficult to tell from several other names in some old handwriting, and in documents that are faded or otherwise hard to read. An example is the supposed Womacks in Stewart Co, TN, all of whom were Warnicks.
I) Non-existent Womacks
I.1) Legendary or Fictional Womacks - often handed down in family oral traditions. Example: Ian Warmack of Georgia. Real research either finds no proof of these people, or finds other (and real) ancestors. These fictional Womacks do proove that someone was a great story teller.
I.2) Fraudulent Womacks - the Womacks in this category were created by unscrupulous "professional genealogists" to separate people from their money. Example: Henry Womack of Accomack Co, VA.
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Whew, that was a lot of typing - I count 46 branches and divisions. I think that covers all the Womacks in America prior to 1850.
Hopefully, this will get some discusion going. Obviously, I left a lot of details out. Let me know if I missed a grouping, or any other comments/questions.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Abraham Womack of Goochland Co, VA, continued
In an earlier post (http://rebgen.blogspot.com/2007/09/abraham-womack-bollings-quarter-branch.html), I wrote how I found this deed record online:
I saw the microfilm of the actual deed today and it very clearly says Abraham Womack, NOT Alexander. It also says the land was on Womack's line.
Thus, Abraham Womack, son of the original Abraham (born circa 1644), owned 800 acres in Goochland - 400 bought from Ahford Hughes, and 400 in an adjacent parcel in a land patent dated 25 Aug 1731.
I also abstracted a 1747 deed of Abraham Womack to William Womack:
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/BAKER_BOLIN/2000-09/0968899679
Goochland County, DEED BOOK 4, Page 239
Aug 15 , 1743 from Ashford Hughes of the Parish of St. James and Goochland, to Alexaander Wamack [incorrect!!!] of same, for 55 (Pounds), all that tract of land in Goochland on the south side of the James River and bounded by Bollings Quarter Branch, the branches of Muddy Creek, Womack, about 400 acres. Signed -Ashford Hughes. Wit- Charles Raley, Fras Amoss, Thomas Dillon. Recorded Sep 20, 1743..
I saw the microfilm of the actual deed today and it very clearly says Abraham Womack, NOT Alexander. It also says the land was on Womack's line.
Thus, Abraham Womack, son of the original Abraham (born circa 1644), owned 800 acres in Goochland - 400 bought from Ahford Hughes, and 400 in an adjacent parcel in a land patent dated 25 Aug 1731.
I also abstracted a 1747 deed of Abraham Womack to William Womack:
Goochland Co, VA Deed Book 5, p.352. 17 Nov 1747 - Abraham Womack Junior of Goochland Co to brother William Womack for "natural affection" 100 acres on Bollings Quarter Branch, "part of the survey that my father lived on". Wit: Richard Ligon, James Ligon, Sarah Ligon. Acknowledged by Abraham Womack in Goochland Court 17 Nov 1747.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Iverson Womack/Wammack
Iverson Womack or Wommack or Wammack was intersting - born in Gorgia, moved to Florida with this mother as a boy, fought in the Seminole Indian Wars and for the Confederacy in the Civil War, then moved to western Pennsylvania where he worked the oil wells, then finally to California, where he died in 1914.
Note that the 1880 Census incorrectly gives his birthplace as North Carolina, when he was in fact born in GA. The census taker wrote the states of birth on the wrong lines for people - the person before Iverson was listed as born in GA, Iverson as born in NC, and his wife as born in PA. In fact, Iverson was born in GA and his wife in NC.
Here are some notes I gathered several months ago on this family:
Info I found tracing Nora Belle Wammack, dau of Iverson.
Marion Co, FL marriages
WILLIAM F. JONES, MARIAH ANN WAMOCK, 6 Aug 1849
IVERSON H. WAMMACK, MARY R. HOWELL, 19 MAY 1861
MARTHA A. WAMMOCK, WILLIAM F. JONES, 08 NOV 1863
Iverson was in the Seminole Indian Wars - see
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/fl/statewide/military/iw-t-z.txt
Iverson H Wammack - Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Ocala, Marion, Florida; Roll: M432_59; Page: 118; Image: 231.
Iverson Wammick - Image Source: Year: 1860; Census Place: Not Stated, Marion, Florida; Roll: M653_108; Page: 257; Image: 258.
Iverson Wammock - Image Source: Year: 1870; Census Place: Allegheny, Venango, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1459; Page: 15; Image: 32.
I H Wammock - Image Source: Year: 1880; Census Place: Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania; Roll: T9_1109; Family History Film: 1255109; Page: 210.3000; Enumeration District: 40; Image: 0069.
Iverson Wammock - Source Citation: Year: 1890; Census Place: Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania; oll: 89; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 15. This was the census for Civil War Veterans, it says Iverson was a "Reble".
Ive Wommack - Image source: Year: 1900; Census Place: Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania; Roll: 623 1387; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 72.
Nora B Jones - Image source: Year: 1900; Census Place: South Fayette, Allegheny, ennsylvania; Roll: T623 1371; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 501.
Nora B Jones - Image Source: Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Twp, Los Angeles, alifornia; Series: T624; Roll: 80; Page: 101A; Enumeration District: 234; Part: 3; Line: 3.
California Death Records - Iverson H Wammock age 79, Los Angeles County, 22 Feb 1914, 1422
I think Iverson's parents were James Wommack and Eliza P Smith.
James Womack, Eliza Smith, 13 Jul 1828, Jones Co, Georgia
See http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/jones/deeds/dd111wommacka.txt
Smith marriages in Jones Co, GA: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/jones/vitals/marriages/smith.txt - note that there as an Iverson Smith, so perhaps a name that ran in the family.
I think James Womack was the son Carter Womack and Catharine LNU of Halifax Co, NC, a ell-known line. In the censuses, James Womack and later Eliza lived near several Alsobrook families n Jones Co, GA. These Alsobrook families were from Halifax Co, NC. James Wammack from lsobrook's district of Jones Co, GA won land in both the 1832 GA Cherokee Land Lottery, and the 1832 GA Gold Land Lottery.
I also took a look at tax records of Jones Co, GA at the GA state archives during the late 1830s. ames Wommack is near several Alsobrook families. In a couple of years, Wilson C Alsobrook paid the poll tax for Thomas Wommack, James' brother. In Jones Co, GA deed records James ammack bought land from Wilson Alsobrook; sold land to William Barron & Isaac Harris.
See
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ml_clarkwilliams&id=I149
halifax County, NC. Grantor deed Vol. 32, p. 168 - Abstract of Deed 8 Oct 1844, James ommack of Jones County, GA. appts. Joseph (?) B. Rose, of Jasper County, GA. his atty. to receive from Joseph Powell Atty. & ?? administrate of estate of Martha Wommack, all my money, atc. due me from said estate.Halifax County, NC.
James' aunt Martha never married and left everything to nieces & nephews: Halifax Will Book 4, page 197 - Will of Martha Wammock dated 15 July 1836; probated Feb. 1841. One-eleventh art to each of the following: Jordan Wammack's children; William Wammack's children; James ammack; Thomas Wammack; David Wammack; Kinchen Wammack; Asa Wammack; Kinchen arris & children; Carter Harris & two children; James & Tempy Alsobrook's children; Drew King's children
Not sure why Eliza Wommack was listed as head of household in the 1840 Census if James was till alive in 1844.
WORD OF CAUTION: Early Georgia was like a blender for Womack families. What I mean by hat is that several Womack families from very different lines might live in the same county, ever make the assumption they are closely related. I think the 8 land lotteries held in Georgia had a ot to do with this.
Womacks or their relatives won land all over the state and moved to new counties, often near omacks from different lines. Jones Co, GA had at least 4 lines of Womacks prior to 1850.
Note that the 1880 Census incorrectly gives his birthplace as North Carolina, when he was in fact born in GA. The census taker wrote the states of birth on the wrong lines for people - the person before Iverson was listed as born in GA, Iverson as born in NC, and his wife as born in PA. In fact, Iverson was born in GA and his wife in NC.
Here are some notes I gathered several months ago on this family:
Info I found tracing Nora Belle Wammack, dau of Iverson.
Marion Co, FL marriages
WILLIAM F. JONES, MARIAH ANN WAMOCK, 6 Aug 1849
IVERSON H. WAMMACK, MARY R. HOWELL, 19 MAY 1861
MARTHA A. WAMMOCK, WILLIAM F. JONES, 08 NOV 1863
Iverson was in the Seminole Indian Wars - see
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/fl/statewide/military/iw-t-z.txt
Iverson H Wammack - Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Ocala, Marion, Florida; Roll: M432_59; Page: 118; Image: 231.
Iverson Wammick - Image Source: Year: 1860; Census Place: Not Stated, Marion, Florida; Roll: M653_108; Page: 257; Image: 258.
Iverson Wammock - Image Source: Year: 1870; Census Place: Allegheny, Venango, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1459; Page: 15; Image: 32.
I H Wammock - Image Source: Year: 1880; Census Place: Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania; Roll: T9_1109; Family History Film: 1255109; Page: 210.3000; Enumeration District: 40; Image: 0069.
Iverson Wammock - Source Citation: Year: 1890; Census Place: Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania; oll: 89; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 15. This was the census for Civil War Veterans, it says Iverson was a "Reble".
Ive Wommack - Image source: Year: 1900; Census Place: Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania; Roll: 623 1387; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 72.
Nora B Jones - Image source: Year: 1900; Census Place: South Fayette, Allegheny, ennsylvania; Roll: T623 1371; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 501.
Nora B Jones - Image Source: Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Twp, Los Angeles, alifornia; Series: T624; Roll: 80; Page: 101A; Enumeration District: 234; Part: 3; Line: 3.
California Death Records - Iverson H Wammock age 79, Los Angeles County, 22 Feb 1914, 1422
I think Iverson's parents were James Wommack and Eliza P Smith.
James Womack, Eliza Smith, 13 Jul 1828, Jones Co, Georgia
See http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/jones/deeds/dd111wommacka.txt
Smith marriages in Jones Co, GA: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/jones/vitals/marriages/smith.txt - note that there as an Iverson Smith, so perhaps a name that ran in the family.
I think James Womack was the son Carter Womack and Catharine LNU of Halifax Co, NC, a ell-known line. In the censuses, James Womack and later Eliza lived near several Alsobrook families n Jones Co, GA. These Alsobrook families were from Halifax Co, NC. James Wammack from lsobrook's district of Jones Co, GA won land in both the 1832 GA Cherokee Land Lottery, and the 1832 GA Gold Land Lottery.
I also took a look at tax records of Jones Co, GA at the GA state archives during the late 1830s. ames Wommack is near several Alsobrook families. In a couple of years, Wilson C Alsobrook paid the poll tax for Thomas Wommack, James' brother. In Jones Co, GA deed records James ammack bought land from Wilson Alsobrook; sold land to William Barron & Isaac Harris.
See
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ml_clarkwilliams&id=I149
halifax County, NC. Grantor deed Vol. 32, p. 168 - Abstract of Deed 8 Oct 1844, James ommack of Jones County, GA. appts. Joseph (?) B. Rose, of Jasper County, GA. his atty. to receive from Joseph Powell Atty. & ?? administrate of estate of Martha Wommack, all my money, atc. due me from said estate.Halifax County, NC.
James' aunt Martha never married and left everything to nieces & nephews: Halifax Will Book 4, page 197 - Will of Martha Wammock dated 15 July 1836; probated Feb. 1841. One-eleventh art to each of the following: Jordan Wammack's children; William Wammack's children; James ammack; Thomas Wammack; David Wammack; Kinchen Wammack; Asa Wammack; Kinchen arris & children; Carter Harris & two children; James & Tempy Alsobrook's children; Drew King's children
Not sure why Eliza Wommack was listed as head of household in the 1840 Census if James was till alive in 1844.
WORD OF CAUTION: Early Georgia was like a blender for Womack families. What I mean by hat is that several Womack families from very different lines might live in the same county, ever make the assumption they are closely related. I think the 8 land lotteries held in Georgia had a ot to do with this.
Womacks or their relatives won land all over the state and moved to new counties, often near omacks from different lines. Jones Co, GA had at least 4 lines of Womacks prior to 1850.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Womacks at Virgina DOT
I found some great old Womack records at an unusual site, the Virginia Department of Transportation. These were done for the VA DOT by a historian, Nathaniel Mason Pawlett.
They are PDF files, and 4 of them mention Womacks.
Goochland County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/75-r71.pdf
Lunenburg County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/93-r17.pdf
Amelia County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/02-r14.pdf
Albemarle County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/75-r72.pdf
The ones for Lunenburg Co, VA show that Richard Womack "III" was there from 1746 to 1759.
The ones for Amelia Co, VA mention the "the Race Paths at Abraham Wawmocks". This was Abraham, son of Thomas, son of the first Abraham Womack. This shows that the first Abraham's descendants shared his love for racing horses.
Here is the most interesting one from Amelia:
Here we have 3 sons of Thomas and Mary (maybe Farley) Womack - Abraham Sr, Thomas, and William. In addition, we have Abraham Sr's son Abraham Jr, and two son-in-laws, Charles Cauthon and John Spradling, married respectively to Elizabeth and Mary Womack.
They are PDF files, and 4 of them mention Womacks.
Goochland County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/75-r71.pdf
Lunenburg County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/93-r17.pdf
Amelia County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/02-r14.pdf
Albemarle County
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/75-r72.pdf
The ones for Lunenburg Co, VA show that Richard Womack "III" was there from 1746 to 1759.
The ones for Amelia Co, VA mention the "the Race Paths at Abraham Wawmocks". This was Abraham, son of Thomas, son of the first Abraham Womack. This shows that the first Abraham's descendants shared his love for racing horses.
Here is the most interesting one from Amelia:
22 August 1751 O. S., Page 351
Thomas Haskins is Appointed Surveyor of the Road that leads from Sailors Creek Bridge to the fork of the Road a little above Sandy River Bridge and that his Tythes AbrahamWawmock's John Gentry, Charles Causton, John Spradling, Benjamin Ruffin's Tythes, Thomas Wawmock Abraham Wawmock jur and John Nash's Tythes on Sailor's Creek, this Gang and William Wawmock's Gang are to meet and repair Sailors Creek Bridge, And then from the Fork above Sandy River Bridge to Bush River Bridge and from thence to Buffelow Road Mr. Nash's Hands is to Clear the Same and William King is appointed Surveyor of the Said Road
Here we have 3 sons of Thomas and Mary (maybe Farley) Womack - Abraham Sr, Thomas, and William. In addition, we have Abraham Sr's son Abraham Jr, and two son-in-laws, Charles Cauthon and John Spradling, married respectively to Elizabeth and Mary Womack.
Goochland Co, VA Deed and Will Indexes
While at my local LDS Family History Center tonight, I made the discovery that part of their "permanent collection" of miscrofilm includes early records of Virginia counties such as Henrico, Amelia, Prince Edward, and Goochland. They were closing in 30 minutes, so I only got a glance of it all.
They had an index to Goochland Co, VA deeds and wills, which were recorded in the same books, years 1728-1839. I copied all the Womack stuff.
Some of the actual deeds and wills were there as well, and I had just a little time to peek at a few.
The Henry "Walmack" will does not mention a wife, mentions daughters Athary Russell and Lucy Lawrence and son Henry Walmack who gets all real estate. In a deed, right before the will, Henry Womack and wife Ann sold land to Whitehead Ryan. This was Henry Jr selling the land his father willed him.
I did not look yet at the 1743 deed from Ashford Hughes to Abraham Womack. At least two poeople have transcribed this deed as saying Alexander Womack, not Abraham, so I need to see the original.
I did look at the 1747 deed from Abraham Womack to William Womack. It actually says Abraham Womack Jr to his brother William, part of the land their father lived on, on Bollings Quarter branch. I will get a photocopy next week when the FHC is open again.
I also found these records on the web:
They had an index to Goochland Co, VA deeds and wills, which were recorded in the same books, years 1728-1839. I copied all the Womack stuff.
4 Jan 1731, William Kent to William Womack deed, 1-314
24 Jan 1731, William Womack to James Holman deed, 1-317
18 Sep 1735, William Womack to William Womack, Jr deed, 2-145
17 Mar 1739, John Williams to William Womack deed, 3-329
9 Jan 1740, William Womack and John Williams to Ralph Graves deed, 3-400(?)
15 Aug 1743, Ashford Hughes to Abraham Womack deed 4-239(?)
17 Nov 1747, Abraham Womack to William Womack deed, 5-232
16 Mar 1762, William Womack will, 8-235
17 Jul 1762, William Womack inventory, 8-255(?)
25 Sep 1762(?), William Womack (what type of record?), 8-295(?)
19 Aug 1771, Collam Bailey to Henry Womack deed, 10-148
20 Jan 1790, Henry Walmack will, 15-377
21 May 1790 Henry Womack and wife to Whitehead Ryan deed, 15-375
Some of the actual deeds and wills were there as well, and I had just a little time to peek at a few.
The Henry "Walmack" will does not mention a wife, mentions daughters Athary Russell and Lucy Lawrence and son Henry Walmack who gets all real estate. In a deed, right before the will, Henry Womack and wife Ann sold land to Whitehead Ryan. This was Henry Jr selling the land his father willed him.
I did not look yet at the 1743 deed from Ashford Hughes to Abraham Womack. At least two poeople have transcribed this deed as saying Alexander Womack, not Abraham, so I need to see the original.
I did look at the 1747 deed from Abraham Womack to William Womack. It actually says Abraham Womack Jr to his brother William, part of the land their father lived on, on Bollings Quarter branch. I will get a photocopy next week when the FHC is open again.
I also found these records on the web:
http://www.rumblefische.com/ancestors/sources_S798.html
Goochland County, Virginia Deeds Book 4, 1741-1745
Page 346.
December 17, 1743 from Richard Parsons, and Lydia, his wife, of the Parish of St. James and Goochland, to John Alexander of same, for 70 lbs, a certain tract of land of 200 acres in Goochland on the south side James River on the west side Muddy Cr, being half of 400 acres of land granted to George Briggs by patent dated Jun 20, 1733, which the said George Briggs, by his Goochland will, gave to his sister, Lydia Briggs alias Parsons. The tract is bounded by Bowler Cocke, new lines run by Robert Walton on the division of the said 400 acres. Signed Richard Parsons, Lidia (L her mark) Parsons. Wit - Francis Amoss, Isac Hughes, Abram Womack, Miles Gathwrit, Joell Chandler, Recorded May 15, 1744.
Page 510
February 25, 1744 from Francis Amoss of Goochland and Parish of Southam, to Richard Ligon of same, for 45 lbs, all that tract of land in Goochland on both sides of the upper branch of Muddy Creek alias Little Muddy Creek, and bounded by Richard Parsons, Major Bowler Cocke, James Terrel, containing 400 acres. Signed Francis Amoss. Wit - John Alexander, Abrm Womack, Abrm Womack Jr. Recorded March 19, 1744. Judith, the wife of Francis Amoss, relinquished her right of dower to the conveyed lands.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Thomas Womack and Mary Farley
One of the most accepted "facts" in modern Womack genealogy is that Thomas Womack of Henrico Co, VA, son of Abraham Womack, Sr (who was born circa 1644) married Mary Farley, daughter of John Farley, Jr.
I really question that.
How do we know that Mary Farley married Thomas Womack, son of Abraham Sr? Thomas Womack certainly had a wife named Mary. Also, John Farley (Jr) named a daughter Mary Womack in his 1754 will, so we have a Mary Farley who was married to a Womack. How do we know Mary Farley was married to a Thomas Womack, and how do we know it was the particular Thomas Womack, son of Abraham Sr?
Farley researchers put Mary's birth around 1707, while many Womack researchers put it around 1690 or earlier. I think the Farley researchers are right.
Thomas Womack, son of Abraham Sr, had a son Thomas Jr who also had a wife Mary. Thomas Jr was NOT the one who left a will in Chesterfield Co, VA in 1782; he WAS the Thomas Womack who left a will in 1803 in Nottoway Co, VA (naming his wife Mary); there is irrefutable proof of this in the probate records of his brother William Womack. So, maybe it was Thomas Jr that married Mary Farley?? This jibes better with what Farley researchers believe about when Mary was born.
Mary, widow of Thomas (son of Abraham Sr), died before Oct 1755, when her will was presented in Chestefield Co, VA court. John Farley made his will 6 Apr 1754, and an inventory of his estate was made 3 Jan 1756. So Mary Womack and John Farley died around the same time.
If Mary was 65 (born circa 1690), and John Farley (Jr) was her father, he would have died at around 85 or older, pretty unlikely, though not impossible - Abraham Womack Sr lived into his late 80s.
If there is some documentation that Mary Farley was married to a Thomas Womack, and not just some unknown Womack male, I would like to see it.
I really question that.
How do we know that Mary Farley married Thomas Womack, son of Abraham Sr? Thomas Womack certainly had a wife named Mary. Also, John Farley (Jr) named a daughter Mary Womack in his 1754 will, so we have a Mary Farley who was married to a Womack. How do we know Mary Farley was married to a Thomas Womack, and how do we know it was the particular Thomas Womack, son of Abraham Sr?
Farley researchers put Mary's birth around 1707, while many Womack researchers put it around 1690 or earlier. I think the Farley researchers are right.
Thomas Womack, son of Abraham Sr, had a son Thomas Jr who also had a wife Mary. Thomas Jr was NOT the one who left a will in Chesterfield Co, VA in 1782; he WAS the Thomas Womack who left a will in 1803 in Nottoway Co, VA (naming his wife Mary); there is irrefutable proof of this in the probate records of his brother William Womack. So, maybe it was Thomas Jr that married Mary Farley?? This jibes better with what Farley researchers believe about when Mary was born.
Mary, widow of Thomas (son of Abraham Sr), died before Oct 1755, when her will was presented in Chestefield Co, VA court. John Farley made his will 6 Apr 1754, and an inventory of his estate was made 3 Jan 1756. So Mary Womack and John Farley died around the same time.
If Mary was 65 (born circa 1690), and John Farley (Jr) was her father, he would have died at around 85 or older, pretty unlikely, though not impossible - Abraham Womack Sr lived into his late 80s.
If there is some documentation that Mary Farley was married to a Thomas Womack, and not just some unknown Womack male, I would like to see it.
The Fictional Abraham Womack
Over the years, researchers have invented Womack ancestors out of thin air to fill percieved gaps in their family history. The most egregious of these is an Abraham Womack supposedly born about 1666, son of the "original" Abraham Womack (born circa 1644). This Abraham, born circa 1666, was also supposedly the one who died in 1733 in Henrico Co, VA, rather than the Abraham born c1644. The reasoning for this is weak, as I will show below.
Note that I take the later end of when Abraham Womack could have been born. He gave his age in several Henrico court depositions:
1643/4 - Abraham Womecke aged 35 years, deposition - June 2, 1679
1643/4 - Abraham Womocke aged aboute 35 years, Deposeth - June 2, 1679
1643/4 - Abrah Womecke aged 35 years or therabouts - 1679
1644/5 - Abraham Womeck aged abt. 42 - Augt. 1, 1687
1645/6 - Abraham Womeck , aged aboute 32 years - June 20, 1678
1644/5 - Abra. Womeck aged 33 years or thereabouts, Deposeth. - June, 1678
1641/2 - Abraham Womeck aged 49 years, makes a deposition. Augt. 1, 1691
The concensus seems to be he was born in 1644.
First, I would like to talk about a few other fictional Womacks, the supposed children of William Womack, brother of Abrham c1644.
Anyone interested in this era should read Ann McDonald's proposal.
http://womackhunter.homestead.com/proposal.html
Ann is absolutely correct. In 1674, when Abraham got two-thirds of his brother William's estate, and William's widow (who is not named, but was by then the wife of William Clarke) got one-third, it absolutely means that William had no children. There was no estate left for any children. Thus, the 1677 reference to a William Womack, deceased, with heir Mary and Thomas, was a different William Womack, the so-called "mythical William Womack the Immigrant", father of Abraham, William, Richard, John, and Thomas Womack. I do not think he was all that mythical. He just lived and died in an era for which there are very few surving records for Henrico, Co VA.
This is what the Virgina Archives says about Henrico:
Thomas son of William left a will in which he did not name wife or kids, but lots of other relatives. Of the five sons of William "the Immigrant", only three had children. The sons of each of these were William, Thomas, and Abraham (sons of Abraham); Richard and William (sons of Richard); and William, Richard, John, and Abraham (sons of John). From these 9 Womack grandsons of William "the immigrant" there were approximately 2,500 Womacks of various spellings in the US in 1850.
When I show lineages, I do so like this:
Alexander > Richard > Richard > *William*
This is for my ancestor, Alexander Womack, who died 1784 in Campbell Co, VA. He was the son of Richard, son of Richard, son of William the immigrant, who I write like this: *William*
Thus:
Thomas > William > *William* is FICTIONAL.
The 1677 record was referring to:
Thomas > *William*
Back to the fictional Abraham Womack. There are three arguments for him.
1) Given that Abraham was born circa 1644, there is no way he lived to 1733, given average life spans at the time.
2) A 1708 deed in Henrico in which an Abraham Womack, Jr gives land to son Thomas for "love and affection".
3) Abraham's son Thomas supposedly married Mary Farley, but Farley researchers have her born later (circa 1707) than most Womack researchers (circa 1690), so to make Mary Farley born later, she must have been married to Thomas, son of Abraham (c1666), son of Abraham (c1644).
I will address these three concerns one by one.
1) About Abraham's age - Some people did live to be that old. Infant mortality was high, but if you survived childhood, you had a good chance of living into your 60s or 70s. Living to 89 was unusual, but not unheard of.
2) The 1708 deed saying Abraham Jr gave land to Thomas - I have not seen the original to see if it was transcribed correctly. I do know that I often have difficulty telling Junior and Senior (or their abbreviations) apart. If it does really say Abraham Jr, chalk it up to a mistake by the clerk recording the deed, a rather easy mistake to make. Such mistakes happened all the time, you see them in census records where Womacks were recorded as Wormoths or vice-versa, or even in old newspapers - one old Georgia newpaper referred to Eli Womack and his wife Monica; it took me a while to figure they were talking about Eli Warnock and his wife Monica Gray. Another thing that does not make sense about this deed if it does say Abraham Jr, is that he gave land to son Thomas for "love and affection" when this fictional Abraham Jr was only about 42, assuming he was born circa 1666. I have seen plenty of "love and affection" deeds, and they almost always happened when the grantor was pretty old, not in his 40s. If Abraham Jr was in his 40s, and Thomas in his 20s, Thomas would have been working that land with his dad, not getting it handed to him on a silver plate.
3) About the Thomas Womack and Mary Farley timeline - see my blog entry on Mary Farley - http://rebgen.blogspot.com/2007/09/thomas-womack-and-mary-farley.html
Womack genealogy, like most genealogy, is chock full of theories that are presented as hard facts. Documentation is awful. One of the points of this blog is to try to rectify that. Theories are not bad, they can actually be very good, but there should be notes with the GEDCOM file that explain that "this is a theory" and then lay the theory out.
The theory that Abraham Womack, Sr had a son Abraham born circa 1666, and it was this son who left a will in Henrico in 1733, NOT Abraham Sr, is JUST PLAIN WRONG!
Womack genealogy is complicated enough without inventing Womacks who never existed.
Note that I take the later end of when Abraham Womack could have been born. He gave his age in several Henrico court depositions:
1643/4 - Abraham Womecke aged 35 years, deposition - June 2, 1679
1643/4 - Abraham Womocke aged aboute 35 years, Deposeth - June 2, 1679
1643/4 - Abrah Womecke aged 35 years or therabouts - 1679
1644/5 - Abraham Womeck aged abt. 42 - Augt. 1, 1687
1645/6 - Abraham Womeck , aged aboute 32 years - June 20, 1678
1644/5 - Abra. Womeck aged 33 years or thereabouts, Deposeth. - June, 1678
1641/2 - Abraham Womeck aged 49 years, makes a deposition. Augt. 1, 1691
The concensus seems to be he was born in 1644.
First, I would like to talk about a few other fictional Womacks, the supposed children of William Womack, brother of Abrham c1644.
Anyone interested in this era should read Ann McDonald's proposal.
http://womackhunter.homestead.com/proposal.html
Ann is absolutely correct. In 1674, when Abraham got two-thirds of his brother William's estate, and William's widow (who is not named, but was by then the wife of William Clarke) got one-third, it absolutely means that William had no children. There was no estate left for any children. Thus, the 1677 reference to a William Womack, deceased, with heir Mary and Thomas, was a different William Womack, the so-called "mythical William Womack the Immigrant", father of Abraham, William, Richard, John, and Thomas Womack. I do not think he was all that mythical. He just lived and died in an era for which there are very few surving records for Henrico, Co VA.
This is what the Virgina Archives says about Henrico:
Henrico: created in 1634 as an original shire, all county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing; additionally, many isolated records were destroyed during the Revolutionary War, and almost all Circuit Court records were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865.
Thomas son of William left a will in which he did not name wife or kids, but lots of other relatives. Of the five sons of William "the Immigrant", only three had children. The sons of each of these were William, Thomas, and Abraham (sons of Abraham); Richard and William (sons of Richard); and William, Richard, John, and Abraham (sons of John). From these 9 Womack grandsons of William "the immigrant" there were approximately 2,500 Womacks of various spellings in the US in 1850.
When I show lineages, I do so like this:
Alexander > Richard > Richard > *William*
This is for my ancestor, Alexander Womack, who died 1784 in Campbell Co, VA. He was the son of Richard, son of Richard, son of William the immigrant, who I write like this: *William*
Thus:
Thomas > William > *William* is FICTIONAL.
The 1677 record was referring to:
Thomas > *William*
Back to the fictional Abraham Womack. There are three arguments for him.
1) Given that Abraham was born circa 1644, there is no way he lived to 1733, given average life spans at the time.
2) A 1708 deed in Henrico in which an Abraham Womack, Jr gives land to son Thomas for "love and affection".
3) Abraham's son Thomas supposedly married Mary Farley, but Farley researchers have her born later (circa 1707) than most Womack researchers (circa 1690), so to make Mary Farley born later, she must have been married to Thomas, son of Abraham (c1666), son of Abraham (c1644).
I will address these three concerns one by one.
1) About Abraham's age - Some people did live to be that old. Infant mortality was high, but if you survived childhood, you had a good chance of living into your 60s or 70s. Living to 89 was unusual, but not unheard of.
2) The 1708 deed saying Abraham Jr gave land to Thomas - I have not seen the original to see if it was transcribed correctly. I do know that I often have difficulty telling Junior and Senior (or their abbreviations) apart. If it does really say Abraham Jr, chalk it up to a mistake by the clerk recording the deed, a rather easy mistake to make. Such mistakes happened all the time, you see them in census records where Womacks were recorded as Wormoths or vice-versa, or even in old newspapers - one old Georgia newpaper referred to Eli Womack and his wife Monica; it took me a while to figure they were talking about Eli Warnock and his wife Monica Gray. Another thing that does not make sense about this deed if it does say Abraham Jr, is that he gave land to son Thomas for "love and affection" when this fictional Abraham Jr was only about 42, assuming he was born circa 1666. I have seen plenty of "love and affection" deeds, and they almost always happened when the grantor was pretty old, not in his 40s. If Abraham Jr was in his 40s, and Thomas in his 20s, Thomas would have been working that land with his dad, not getting it handed to him on a silver plate.
3) About the Thomas Womack and Mary Farley timeline - see my blog entry on Mary Farley - http://rebgen.blogspot.com/2007/09/thomas-womack-and-mary-farley.html
Womack genealogy, like most genealogy, is chock full of theories that are presented as hard facts. Documentation is awful. One of the points of this blog is to try to rectify that. Theories are not bad, they can actually be very good, but there should be notes with the GEDCOM file that explain that "this is a theory" and then lay the theory out.
The theory that Abraham Womack, Sr had a son Abraham born circa 1666, and it was this son who left a will in Henrico in 1733, NOT Abraham Sr, is JUST PLAIN WRONG!
Womack genealogy is complicated enough without inventing Womacks who never existed.
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