Margaret Gallahue Peyton - Possible DAR Patriot

I have found two extant records which prove that Mrs. Margaret Gallahue PEYTON provided Patriotic Service in Prince William County, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. 

 #1: Margaret PEYTON was enumerated on the 1783 Personal Property Tax List of Prince William County, Virginia, which verifies payment of a tax which provided funding for the war. 

 #2: Mrs. Margaret PEYTON entered a Public Service Claim in Prince William County during the American Revolution (Commissioner’s book: IV, page 204, Court Booklet: page 12.)

Margaret GALLAHUE was the second wife of Colonel Henry PEYTON who appears on pages 55 thru 61 of my genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia.

Colonel Henry PEYTON was an important patriot of the American Revolution. In "Writings of Washington" by Ford is "Colonel PEYTON's valuable aid was recognized by General WASHINGTON." 

His third and last son old enough for military duty, Valentine PEYTON, was killed by a cannon ball from the British fleet during the siege of Charleston, South Carolina. He fell into the arms of General Porterfield of Augusta who communicated the sad news to the soldier's father. Colonel PEYTON, when he heard of it, was struck dumb with grief, but in a moment recovering his equilibrium and self-control, exclaimed, "Would to God I had another to put in his place." Just one year after the loss of his two sons at Charleston, Colonel Henry himself was dead. 

Henry PEYTON is DAR Ancestor #089984, having performed Patriotic service in Prince William County, Virginia during the American Revolution. Now we know that his wife Margaret also qualifies for DAR Patriot status.

Timothy PEYTON of Bourbon County, Kentucky

Today at a wonderful website was published the Will and Marriages of Timothy PEYTON who appears on pages 57, 106, 107 of my genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia, including a will transcript and many images of the will and the marriages of his children in Bourbon County, Kentucky.

I have also verified the name of Timothy's wife as Sarah "Sary" MATSON, a sister of James MATSON, who appears on pages 59, 60 where he married a sister of Timothy PEYTON. Apparently Timothy took his entire family to Kentucky, as it is there in Bourbon County that we find the marriages of his children, along with Timothy's will.

This transcript of the Will of Timothy Peyton (Bourbon County, Kentucky Will Book A, Pages 16-20) is from PHYLLIS BROWN of Kentucky Kindred Genealogical Research, 8 August 2020:

In the name of God, amen.  I, Timothy Peyton, of Prince William County do constitute and appoint this to be my last will and testament.  First it is my will and desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses be first be paid.  I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Sarah, all my estate both real and personal and when my Children Sitha Ann, Ann Thornton, Frances Elizabeth, Valentine Smallwood, and the child my wife is now pregnant with arrive at the age of eighteen years or marries, then it is my desire my personal estate shall be equally divided between my beloved wife and children.  I give unto my wife my preemption in Lafayette County during her natural life, after her decease to be equally divided among my children.  I leave to my son Valentine Smallwood four thousand acres of land which I hold as heir to my brother, Valentine Peyton.  All my lands not yet mentioned I leave to be equally divided between my several children already named.  Should any of my aforesaid children die before they come of full age, and without heirs lawfully begotten their proportion of any estate shall be equally divided among the survivors.  Should all my children die without heirs lawfully begotten of their body, I leave my whole estate real and personal to my beloved wife during her natural life, after her decease I leave my said estate, both real and personal, to be equally divided between my brother-in-law James Matson’s children.  I constitute and appoint my beloved wife, James Matson and John McMillion, executors to this my last will and testament.

Timo. Peyton, September 5th 1782

Signed in presence of Jesse Davis, John Davis, George Jackson, Thomas Calvert

Commission for examination of John Davis, George Jackson and Thomas Calvert.

The Commonwealth of Virginia to Jesse Ewell, James Ewell and Bernard Ewell, of Prince William County, gentlemen, know ye that we are trusting to your fidelity and provident circumspection in diligently examining John Davis, George Jackson and Thomas Calvert, witnesses in and upon certain interrogation respecting the last will and testament of Timothy Peyton, deceased, in Bourbon County.  We therefore command you or any two of you that a certain day which you shall appoint you call and cause to come by you, the said witnesses, and then diligently examine, being first duly sworn as the law directs, touching the premises and there in you abide until have completed the same and their examination into the county court of Bourbon, distinctly and openly, without delay, you send and certify enclosed returning also to us this writ.  Witness John Edwards, Clerk of said Court of Bourbon County at the courthouse the sixteenth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight.

Test. John Edwards, CL. B.C.

Prince William County

By virtue of the within commission to us directed, we have examined George Jackson, Thomas Calvert and John Davis concerning the premises within mentioned who being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, depose that they saw Timothy Peyton sign and publish the writing hereunto annexed as his last will and testament and that they believed him to be in his proper senses at the time.  Also given under our hands and seals this seventeenth of October one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight.

Jesse Ewell, James Ewell

Commission for Examination of Jesse Davis

The Commonwealth of Virginia to Charles Polk and Joshua Ferguson, Gentlemen, of Nelson County, know ye that trusting to your fidelity and provident circumspection in diligently examining Jesse Davis, gentleman, a subscribing witness to the last will of Timothy Peyton, deceased, upon certain interrogations respecting the same we therefore command you or any two of you that at a certain day which you shall appoint you call and cause to come before you the said witness and him, diligently examined being first duly sworn and there in the execution of the premises you abide until you have completed the same and his examination into the county court of Bourbon distinctly and openly without delay you send and certify enclosed returning also to us this writ, witness John Edwards, Clerk of our said Court at the courthouse the twenty-ninth day of November one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven.

John Edwards

December the 7th 1787

This day came before us the subscribed Justices of Peace for the said county Jesse Davis, of the said county, and being duly sworn confesseth that the said Timothy Peyton, deceased, was in perfect health and senses, acknowledged a certain will dated September the fifth, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two to be his last will and testament and that the said witness knows of no other will.  Given under our hands the day above written.

Joshua Ferguson, Charles Polk

Bourbon County, December Court 1788

The last will and testament of Timothy Peyton, deceased, was proved by the oaths of Jesse Davis, Thomas Calvert, George Jackson and John Davis.

Who were examined by deputies issued from this court and ordered to be and upon the petition of Sarah Peyton and James Matron, named executors in said will who acknowledged bond with Edward Waller and John ?, Gentlemen, their securities in the penalty of two thousand pounds and made oath as the law directs, a certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form.

Test. John Edwards, CL

===========================

The images of the will and the marriage records of the PEYTON children can be seen at the above linked website. Timothy PEYTON's father was an important patriot of the American Revolution, which I covered in my book PEYTONs Along the Aquia on pages 55, 56, 57, however, he was not the one who gave his life at Charleston, South Carolina on May 12th, 1780. That was one of his other sons.

Elizabeth, Wife of Henry Lindsey Peyton

On page 141, of my genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia there is a conflict with the maiden name of the wife of Henry Lindsey PEYTON. We cannot be sure whether she was Elizabeth PAIN or Elizabeth BURDEN. In William Montgomery Sweeny's Marriage Bonds and Other Marriage Records of Amherst County, Virginia 1763-1800, 1937,  page 59, her name was given as PAIN: "Peyton, Henry, and Elizabeth Pain, married by the Rev. Benjamin Coleman." However, I recently encountered a death record for her in West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853-1973, where she was recorded as the daughter of A. and L. BURDEN of Amherst County, Virginia. Perhaps the original marriage record in Amherst County, Virginia may shed some light on her true family name.

William DOWNING(s) of mid-1600 Virginia

I continue to receive inquiries about the PHILIP PEYTON in my book on pages 22, 23, a descendant of the PEYTONs Along the Aquia who lived in Westmoreland and Stafford Counties, Virginia. People are confusing him with another PHILIP PEYTON, a documented indentured servant from Bristol, England, who lived in Northumberland County, Virginia. I have already written about Philip Peyton of Northumberland.

NOTE: Northumberland and Westmoreland Counties separated in 1653, and Stafford County was formed from Westmoreland in 1664. 

The latest query on PHILIP PEYTON indentured servant from Bristol, involves this record that I found in Northumberland County, 1667:

"Records of Indentured Servants and of Certificates for Land Northumberland County Virginia 1650-1795," W. Preston Haynie, 1996, pages 87, 88: "421, 20 Oct. 1667 -- Wheras by ye Complynt of Philip Peyton & ye Testamony of some of ye neighbors. It appeares ye Phil: Peyton & Nath: Garner, servts to Rich: Nelmes, have grivous sores on his legges & are very much neglected by their sd Master who taketh nor care to see ye sd sores Cured, It is ordered yt ye sd Nelmes forth endeavour to get ye sd Servts Cured & if ye next Vestry held for this parish Mr Wm Wildey & Mr Wm Downing (who are by ye Court desired to inquire into ye sd business) shall then give their report yt ye sd Nelmes hath been remiss in ye effectual performance of what here ordered yt then ye Court to be further ... therein. OB 1666-78, 12." 

Because the Northumberland Vestry of 1667, charged a "MR WM DOWNING" to give a report on the health conditions of "PHIL: PEYTON & NATH: GARNER, servts" a reader of this blog gives as proof that PHILIP PEYTON of Northumberland County is the same PHILIP PEYTON of Westmoreland and Stafford Counties who had a  number of intimate land dealings from 1700 to 1714, with a "CAPTAIN WILLIAM DOWNING" who owned land next to PHILIP PEYTON in Stafford County.

I judge the two WILLIAM DOWNINGS to be separate people, considering the time span of 33 plus years between 1667 and 1700, 1714, the different counties of residence, and their different titles. WILLIAM DOWNING of Northumberland was referred to by the title of "Mr." WILLIAM DOWNING of Westmoreland and Stafford was referred to as CAPTAIN WILLIAM DOWNING. I find no evidence of a wife for the MR. WILLIAM DOWNING, however, the wife of CAPTAIN WILLIAM DOWNING appears in land records as Diana.

In addition, during the same time span I find in the Parish Records of Christ Church, that there were two WILLIAM DOWNINGS in Middlesex County, Virginia. WILLIAM DOWNING and his wife ELIZABETH had a son named WILLIAM DOWNING, born there in 1665.

Angelina Eberly was Angelina Belle Peyton

She became the heroine of Austin, Texas for preserving the city as the permanent Capitol of Texas.

Angelina Eberley fires off the cannon at the agents attempting to move the archives from her hometown of Austin. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/fascinating-story-texas-archives-war-1842-180970470/#XW74437yDqeQbkVv.99

Angelina Belle PEYTON (1798-1860) married her first cousin, Jonathan PEYTON. Their fathers were twin brothers. After Jonathan’s death, and the burning of San Felipe during the Texas Revolution, she moved to Columbia. There, in 1836, she married Colonel Jacob EBERLY, a widower.

I came upon this interesting article featuring Angelina Eberly and her historical connections to Texas while reading the October 2018 Smithsonian Magazine. 

You may catch up on Angelina's connections to the Peytons of Virginia in my genealogy book PEYTONs Along the Aquia. On pages 136, 262 and 163 you will find Angelina Belle PEYTON along with her parents, her first husband Jonathan PEYTON and their documented descent from the original Peytons of Aquia Creek, Virginia back to England.

Updates to Major Daniel PEYTON

On page 94, of my genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia, Major Daniel PEYTON died "5-5-1826 JACKSON CO ALABAMA" according to updated DAR records.

Anne McGUFFEY / Ann GUFFEY (c1723 - 1785)

On page 97, of my genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia, I have updated the vital statistics of ANNE MCGUFFEY. Latest research reveals that she was born about 1723, and died about 1785, in Amherst County, Virginia. She married ROBERT PEYTON in 1754.

She also appears on page 498, of Reverend Hayden's "PEYTON, of England and Virginia" where she is named as ANN GUFFEY.

Valentine Harrison Peyton

VALENTINE HARRISON PEYTON (a1740 - 1796) appears on page 40 of PEYTONs Along the Aquia Genealogy, along with his two daughters, Anna Maria PEYTON and Susannah PEYTON, and their "negro slave, Jenny." The lineage of these PEYTONs is documented back to the original immigrant to Virginia and his English ancestors. He is the same "VALENTINE PEYTON" documented in Reverend Horace Edwin Hayden's 1891 genealogy, "PEYTON, of England and Virginia", on page 563, where his will is included. He was named "HARRISON" to honor his grandmother who appears on page 38. The William PEYTON who was a witness to his will, seems to be his nephew, who relocated to Jefferson County, Kentucky. See page 71 for William's lineage. The wife of Valentine Harrison PEYTON is unknown; she was not mentioned in his will. She was not the Sarah HALE, suggested as a possibility by Reverend Hayden. That "Sally" HALE appears on page 71, married to another nephew, namesake Valentine PEYTON.

In the Index to Prince William County, Virginia Wills there is "1801 Peyton, Valentine dec'd, Book H, page 429, Sales" which probably refers to this Valentine Peyton who died in 1796, leaving orphans in Virginia.

Thomas Green Peyton 1833-1900

"THOMAS GREEN PEYTON 1833-1900 - LT. COL. C.S.A. 15TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY - SON OF GENERAL BERNARD PEYTON - AND JULIA AMANDA GREEN PEYTON - OF FARMINGTON, ALBEMARLE COUNTY"

Thomas Green Peyton is buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond City, Virginia (Find A Grave Memorial# 8623978).

Thomas Green PEYTON appears on page 124 of the genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia along with his parents and his documented descent from the original Peytons of Aquia Creek.

This photograph was found at Ancestry.com where it was originally uploaded by eforster1313 on 10 February 2015, with the caption "Richmond, Virginia."

Peytons at Silver Creek Baptist Church, Indiana

SILVER CREEK CEMETERIAL --
Annual Meeting of the Silver Creek Cemeterial Association:
Interesting Historical Paper by the Secretary
(written by William H. McCoy)
Minutes of the 11th annual meeting of the
Silver Creek Cemetery Association in 1886,
published in the National Democrat newspaper
in Jeffersonville, Indiana on May 21, 1886.
Transcribed by James D. VanDerMark, April 1995
Proofread against the original by Jennifer Abbott, October1998
Republished in the Bicentennial History of Silver Creek Baptist Church (now known as Stony Point Christian Church), published November 22, 1998.

THE PIONEER FAMILIES OF CLARK COUNTY

     The families and individuals of whom we shall give a brief history in this the second chapter of our paper, are the Littells, Bowells, Nugents, Nathan Kelly, Thomas Broadstreet, Jeremiah Payne, Whites, Sellers, Peytons, Worrall, Harrods, Perrys, Bottorffs, Capt. John Norris, McCormicks, Listers, McCoys, Jonah Harris, Dr. Kellogg, and Kahl.

John Peyton, Charlotte Peyton, Daniel Peyton, Terry Peyton and Micajah Peyton are names found on the roll of the old church. This family came from Virginia to Kentucky and from Kentucky to this Territory in about 1806. John and Daniel settled on land on Sinking Fork near the White farm.

     Micajah Peyton settled on land on the Muddy Fork, near the village of Bridgeport.

     John and Charlotte Peyton were the parents of Daniel and Micajah Peyton. John and Charlotte Peyton joined Silver Creek church June 1806.

     John Peyton, Jr., who died in 1882 was a son of Daniel Peyton.

     John Peyton, Sr., his wife, Daniel Peyton, his wife and John Peyton, Jr., are all buried in Silver Creek Cemetery.

Editor's Note: The above was originally published on the Internet about 1999, at RootsWeb as Silver Creek Cemetery website. The page seems to have disappeared about 2008.

I judge this John PEYTON of Silver Creek, Clarke County, Indiana to be a presumptive son of Philip and Winifred PEYTON who appear on pages 92, 93 of the genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia. See post at this blog for more explanation: PEYTONs of Indiana

Lewis & Winnefred PEYTON of Indiana

VIRGINIA MARRIAGE BOND -- Lewis PEYTON and Charles ANDERSON were bound unto the Governor of Virginia, 8 November 1786: "whereas there is a Marriage shortly intended to be Solemized between the above bound Lewis PEYTON & Winnefred FOLWELL - for which a license has been issued." The above image is from Ancestry.com, submitted by PAllen7783, believed to have come from Lincoln County, Kentucky (Virginia District).

Lewis PEYTON and his wife Winnefred are on pages 132, 133 of the genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia, with two of their children. NSDAR documents her name as "Winifred FOLWELL" and verifies two additional children: Nelson PEYTON who married Mary JOHNSON and Frances PEYTON who married John TUELL. Revolutionary War Pension Records of Lewis PAYTON, (S. 17003) contain a letter written in 1929 which states that Elizabeth FOLWELL was the mother of Winfred FOLWELL.

Government Island, Aquia Creek

"The picks and mauls are silent now at Government Island. Gone are the muscled laborers who quarried the rock. Gone, too, are the masted ships that carried it north. Government Island is quiet now Overgrown with oaks and maples and sticker bushes. Only the silent stones say that This was once the nation’s most famous quarry." – Jim Hall, Journalist, July 6, 1992; The Free Lance-Star

Government Island in Stafford County, Virginia, now a 17-acre historic site, was an early American quarry named Brent’s Island or Wiggington’s Island. Since 1694, stone was quarried from this site for use as architectural trim in Colonial America. The quarry’s fine-grained sandstone was called Aquia Stone, due to its location along the Aquia Creek, or Freestone, for its ability to be freely carved without splitting. It was a desirable building material for its composition as well as its fine grain and brilliant white color. In 1791, George Washington sent Major Pierre Charles L’Enfant to find the best supply of sandstone to build the new federal city. L'Enfant purchased the island on December 2, 1791, which afterwards became known as Government Island. Extensive quantities of Aquia Stone (sandstone) were extracted from this site from L'Enfant's date of purchase through the 1820s, loaded onto sailing ships and carried up the Potomac River to the Federal City.

Library of Congress Blog

Brent family members were cousins of the Peytons in Westmoreland County, and along Aquia Creek. In fact the real properties of the two families seem to border each other's on the Aquia. The Peytons had early real estate dealings with the Wiggingtons. The genealogy book PEYTONs Along the Aquia, covers these families on pages 9, 26, 46.

PEYTON of Gloucester County

Arms: Sable a cross engrailed or. 

Crest: A griffin sejant or.

Motto: Patior potior. 

Major Robert Peyton of Rongham, Norfolk, and of Isleham, Gloucester county, Virginia, was born in 1640 and died 1694. He was a son of Thomas Peyton and Elizabeth Yelverton, a daughter of Sir William Yelverton, Bart., of Rougham, Norfolk. He married in 1668 and was in Virginia before 1679. He was Major of the Gloucester County Militia. 

The Peytons of Westmoreland county are of kin to those of Gloucester county and use the same arms, with the addition of "a mullet argent, in the second quarter, and a bordure ermine" for a difference. Henry Peyton of Lincoln Inn died in London in 1656 and was a cadet of the Peytons of Isleham. He had issue, Robert born 1624; Valentine, Henry, Laurence, Catherine, Margaret, Henry, John, Charles and Mary. Of these, Valentine, Lawrence, Henry and John came to Virginia. Valentine died in Westmoreland county in 1665 at his estate of Nominy. Henry, his brother, died in 1659, and from these two brothers came a numerous progeny whose descendants are found through Virginia and the South.

"VIRGINIA HERALDICA - A Registry of Virginia Gentry Entitled to Coat Armor WITH GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF THE FAMILIES," edited by WILLIAM ARMSTRONG CROZIER, 1908, from the "Virginia County Record Series" Volume V, page 92.

The genealogy book PEYTONs Along the Aquia, covers the PEYTON family of Westmoreland County, Virginia.

The Genealogy of the PEYTON family of Gloucester County, Virginia is covered in Reverend Horace Edwin Hayden's 1891 genealogy, "PEYTON, of England and Virginia," on pages 468 through 479.

JEMIMA PEYTON of Culpepper, Virginia

Updated research reveals that the JEMIMA PEYTON on pages 91 and 253 of PEYTONs Along the Aquia did not marry Benjamin WASH who went to Anderson County, Kentucky. I don't know what happened to JEMIMA after the mention in her grandfather's will. BENJAMIN WASH is a proven Revolutionary War soldier and in previous DAR records his wife was named as JEMIMA PEYTON. Recently, DAR has changed her name to "JEMIMA." From my recent research in Amherst County, Virginia records it appears that the "JEMIMA PAYTON" living there in 1784, was the widow of an unknown PAYTON. It is believed that she is the JEMIMA PAYTON who married secondly to BENJAMIN WASH and went with him to Kentucky.

Gloucester County PEYTONs

This is from "SELDON and Kindred of Virginia" by Edna Mae Seldon, 1941, page 133: "Dr. Valentine PEYTON ... daughter, Elizabeth Washington PEYTON ..." when PEYTON researchers believed that the PEYTON family of Northern Virginia was descended from the Gloucester County, Virginia PEYTONs. Later genealogical research has discounted that theory.

The Genealogy of the PEYTON family of Gloucester County, Virginia is included in Reverend Horace Edwin Hayden's 1891 genealogy, "PEYTON, of England and Virginia," on pages 468 through 479.

Dr. Valentine PEYTON and his family appear on page 45 of PEYTONs Along the Aquia. According to recent genealogies, the father-in-law of Elizabeth Washington PEYTON was Governor Patrick HENRY. Elizabeth's second husband was Reverend George PATTERSON.

Mary Howe PEYTON, her father John PEYTON, and their PEYTON family appear on page 60, of PEYTONs Along the Aquia.

Jeremiah Peyton

I received the following information from a reader of both of my PEYTON family books. She discovered that we are related through my fifth great grandmother Nancy PEYTON born 1751, who was the sister of her third great grandfather Jeremiah PEYTON born 1753. She descends through Jeremiah's grandson, Henry "Harvey" PEYTON, born about 1834.

"Jeremiah had Jeremiah, Jr. in 1791, Jeremiah, Jr. had Henry (sometimes referred to as Harvey) in 1832, Henry/Harvey had Adolphus in 1874, Adolphus had Edgar Carl Peyton, my father, in 1914. My father was one of 18 children, obviously all Peytons!! ... In addition to John W. and Adolphus, my records show there was a brother named James Henry born in 1861, a brother Amos born in 1864, a brother Howard Franklin born in 1866, a brother Walter Robert born in 1884 and a sister Luemma S. born in 1876."

Her research accounts for the following children to Henry "Harvey" PEYTON who appears on page 159 of  PEYTONs Along the Aquia.

• James Henry PEYTON born in 1861.


• John W. PEYTON born about 1863 in Virginia.


• Amos PEYTON born in 1864.


• Howard Franklin PEYTON born in 1866.


• Adolphus PEYTON born 1874, had 18 PEYTON children, including her father Edgar Carl PEYTON.


• Luemma S. PEYTON born in 1876.


• Walter Robert PEYTON born in 1884.

Overwharton Parish Register

The Register of Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia

In 1961, noted Virginian genealogist George Harrison Sanford King made a transcription of Stafford County, Virginia's Overwharton Parish Register, pages 92, 93, containing PEYTON - PAYTON names. All of the names appearing on this snipped view are documented in the genealogy book, PEYTONs Along the Aquia where their lineage is traced back to 16th century England and before.

• RACHEL PAYTON - see pages 91 of  PEYTONs Along the Aquia.
• CHARLES PAYTON - see - pages 91, 126.
• ANNE PEYTON - see pages 42, 64, 66, 76, 79, 81, 108.
• ELEANOR PEYTON - see pages 43, 207.
• ELIZABETH PEYTON - see page 43.
• PHILIP PEYTON - see pages 92 - 95.
• VALENTINE PEYTON - see pages 93, 130 - 132.
• JEREMIAH PEYTON - see pages 91, 127, 128.
• NANCY PAYTON - see pages 91, 129, 130.
• JOHN PEYTON - see pages 28, 41 - 45.

Note: Nancy PAYTON and John and Ureth PAYTON are my ancestors. Image snipped from Ancestry.com.

John Rowzee Peyton of Montgomery County

HISTORY OF BECKLEY AND RALEIGH COUNTY - Early Settlers of Raleigh County, West Virginia: The following by Judge W. A. Riffe appeared in the Beckley Post-Herald Centennial Edition on August 26, 1950.

PEYTON, John Rowzee - A native of Montgomery County, Va., he settled in the Marshes in 1845. He was related to the Madison, Preston, Breckinridge, and Floyd families. A large man weighing over 300 pounds, he was well educated and an original and entertaining conversationalist of humorous temperament. He owned fine farms in Trap Hill District and engaged in farming, stock raising and trading. He entered the Confederate service in 1861 and was attached to a regiment of the Stonewall Brigade. He participated in the Battle of First Manassas and later was detailed for recruiting service in Southwest Virginia. Peyton was murdered from ambush in 1862 by some Confederate deserters on Bent Mountain in Roanoke County, Va. while on his way to Floyd County.

According to Reverend Horace Edwin Hayden's 1891 genealogy, "PEYTON, of England and Virginia," on pages 552, 553, John Rowzee PEYTON was born 6 December 1806, in Montgomery County, Virginia. John Rowzee PEYTON appears with his parents on page 122, of "Peytons Along the Aquia", where his descent from the PEYTONs of early Colonial Virginia and England is documented. Reverend Hayden described his war service and his death and reported that, although married, he left no descendants.

Charles Peyton of Culpeper

The marriage record of Ephraim PEYTON to Mary F. BREEDEN is of record in 1889, Madison County, Virginia, and census records record their children as Cora L. PEYTON (born 1891), Bessie L. PEYTON (born 1893), Andrew B. PEYTON (born 1895) and Ephraim PEYTON (born 1899). Ephraim's parents were documented as James and Mahaly PEYTON. James PEYTON born about 1825, his wife "Haley" lived in Green County, Virginia, where their children were born. The 1830, 1840 and 1850 Census records of Orange and Greene Counties, Virginia, indicate that James was the child of Ephraim and Elizabeth PEYTON and I assume it is he who is one of the two teenaged males ages 10 to 19, in the household of Elizabeth PEYTON, age 40-49, in the 1840 Census of Greene County, Virginia. Ephraim PEYTON was not found, so I assume that he had died between 1830 and 1840.

Who were the parents of Ephraim PEYTON born between 1800-1810, with connections to Orange County, Virginia? I have found no proof connecting him with a family, but location evidence suggests he would have been a grandson of George PEYTON on pages 107 - 111 of "Peytons Along the Aquia." The one son of George PEYTON of whom we know almost nothing is #192 - Charles PEYTON on page 110 of said genealogy book. I no longer believe that Charles had moved on to Missouri, and Indiana (that was another Charles Peyton). I suspect that Charles PEYTON, son of George PEYTON, is possibly the father of Ephraim PEYTON who died before 1840 in Greene County, Virginia.

Descendants of this line should do further research to confirm this connection. On the 1840 Census of Culpeper County, Virginia, Sarah PEYTON, age 80-90, (born 1750-1760) had living with her a couple aged 40-50 (born 1790-1800). On 6 August 1841, in Fredericksburg, Virginia newspaper, "Political Arena", page 3, column 3. Sarah, Benjamin and John PEYTON advertised property for sale. Identifying the people named in these records may further elucidate this PEYTON lineage of Greene and Orange Counties.

The Northern Neck of Virginia

Ancestral Home of the Peyton Family

Photograph of Popes Creek, Virginia

"Across the ocean, meanwhile, developments were taking place that would have a tremendous impact on the Northern Neck. In 1649 Charles I was executed, and Cromwell ascended to power. At the time, Charles II was in exile. In 1649 he made a grant of the Northern Neck territory to certain of his loyal subjects (much as the monarchy had earlier granted Pennsylvania to William Penn and Maryland to Lord Baltimore). Three years later, 100 men signed the Northumberland Oath—ninety-nine of them gathered at Chickacoan to do it—pledging support of an England "without Kings or House of Lordes," although privately, no doubt, many felt otherwise. When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, his land grant took effect, shakily at first, but clouding ownership of the newly settled territory nevertheless. During the next century, this Northern Neck Proprietary became a source of power, and huge land holdings were achieved by those who served as its agents, overseeing and collecting quitrents on the Proprietary-patented land."  History of the Northern Neck

See pages 17 through 22 of PEYTONs Along the Aquia Genealogy, where the arrival on Virginia's Northern Neck of the Colonial PEYTONs of Aquia is documented along with their connection to Charles I and Charles II. In addition, "Peyton, of Stafford and Westmoreland County, Va." begins on page 480, of Reverend Horace Edwin Hayden's 1891 genealogy: PEYTON, of England and Virginia.

For more genealogical research on the Northern Neck of Virginia see Northumberland County, Virginia at FamilySearch.