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My 4th great grandfather was Nimrod Nicholas Thacker of Vinton County, Ohio. He was born in Louisa County, Virginia according to his compiled military record.
Sally Lemay Thacker, David Thacker’s wife, was in Nimrod’s home when she was baptised by the Priest of St. Mary’s Church in Minerton, Ohio in 1867, (This is from records transcribed and published in the Barquilla de la Santa Maria in 1985.)
At one time I thought Holman and Nicholas were brothers, but a change in Ohio Marriage law that took effect in 1870, stated that individuals closer than the second cousins could not marry. Two of Nimrod’s children married two of Holman’s children, therefore, Nimrod and Holman could not be closer than first cousins.
Nimrod and his family are listed as Mulatto in the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census. Other researchers have told me that stories handed down in their family, indicated that they had Indian blood, but there are also stories of African American blood in the family tree. I suspect that both stories are true.
I was fortunate to have a chance to speak with Madeline Jones Norris who wrote the book that spilledi 🙂 refers to earlier in the thread.
Ms. Norris has not done any further research on the Thacker part of her family tree (she descends from Mildred Jane Thacker who married Weatherfoot Napper), but she had also heard the stories of Indian blood in this branch of the Thacker tree.
I have been trying to figure out the relationships of the Thackers of Vinton/Jackson Counties with each other. I have identified five individuals that I call first generation (David, Robert, Thomas, Catherine and Mahala) and another 18 whom I call the second generation whose relationships need to be resolved.
I’ve made a little progress. I know, for example, that Sally Lemay Thacker is the biological aunt of the Napper children. I know that Malachi Dorton is the biological uncle of both Robert and David Thacker’s children. And I know that Catherine Thacker is the biological aunt of Thomas Thacker’s children.
After that I am stumped. Any suggestions or collaboration would be welcomed.
This is not the easiest group of people to research. There was a gentleman, Dr. G.W. Waldrep, who was conducting research on Gibson’s Mill. I wrote to him a couple of times. This was long before I found my Napper connection and the ties to Giibson’s Mill. He hasn’t posted anything in ages and I don’t know what happend to him. You can find his posts at trevilians.com on the query pages. I know he was putting together information for a book. I intend to try and contact him again. Speaking of tevilains.com, did you search any of the wills and deeds located there? They pointed me in the right direction on several of my ancestors from the Louisa area. I know of a lady who has some LeMay, Gibson, and Branham ancestors from the Gibson’s Mill area. She is not currently conducting research, but her notes are public. Search for Dee Dovey and you’ll find her pages. I found a few cousins when I posted my information on the various genealogy surname pages, but that took years. I hope some of these ideas help. I understand the difficulty and frustration of trying to find family in this area. Good luck!
Davida
I am also doing research on Col William H Crawford who was killed by Native Americans very near Bucyrus Ohio. This was a very well recorded event with a lot of different players from Pittsburgh. What is interesting is that Col William Crawford had strong connections to the Gist family Christopher Gist and to Queen Alliquippa and her Indian Agent George Croghan. George Croghan was in business with the Cooper family of James Fenimore Cooper.
Some say the Queen was Delaware and others say Seneca because of the Cooper connection in Albany. I get the sense she was really Powhatan. If you read records on Chief Powhatan, it was said that his mother or grandmother was Aztec. It also says his tribe was related to the Crow and Nez Pierce with a little Comanche thus setting up the Lewis and Clark Expedition starting out at Pittsburgh in 1803.
I have very good records that Sacajawea had Comanche relatives and if her brother was really Chief of the Crow, she would also have Crow relatives. If indeed Susan Perry was a good friend of Sacauawea, a Pawhatan connection might also exist. The Perry family are well known to be related to Pocahontas as well as the Randolph’s of Thomas Jefferson
Your names that you list sure sound like they were from Virginia.
As best as I can determine, my paternal and maternal ancestors came from VA. The known counties are Hanover, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Appomattox.
Davida
Thanks, Davida. I was aware of GC Waldrep’s work. Like you, I came too late to the party. I have been in touch with two individuals who did communicate with Dr. Waldrep. One said he had been ill, and the other shared two of his emails. I’ve tried to communicate with Dr. Waldrep on a number of occasions without success. I hope he is recovered and busy working on the book.
I was able to find a deed from the Louisa County Genweb page, which abstracted the information that told me that David and Robert Thacker were brothers of Malachi Dorton. It has only confused me more, but it was another piece of information.
Paul Heinegg has recently placed a tax list on his free African Americans website for the various counties of Virginia from as early as 1782 to as late as 1820 (http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/virginiatax.htm). There are no Thacker’s listed. I’m not sure what that means, but it’s interesting to look at the list. (Gibsons, Lemays, and Branhams are featured on the Lousia County list. Again, I’m not sure how to interpret this.)
Thank you for your ideas, they are much appreciated!
When I started my search, I was looking for Waltons. Dr. Waldrep put me in contact with a family member and we shared info. I later learned the Waltons were the Bramhams. Still later, I learned of the Napper connection. There were various spellings (Napper, Napier, Knapper, and Knopher). All relatives changed from Bramham to Napper around the 1860 time frame. The reason for this is unknown. Many kept this surname, but my direct ancestors took their father’s name, Walton. My Bramhams appeared out of thin air and then, for the most part, disappeared. The original racial designation was mulatto. This was noted with the names Napper and Bramham. The racial designation was changed to white when they started using the name Walton. This designation remained until I found my great grandfather’s death certificate. The type written designation of white was crossed out and colored written in by someone. In the whatever that means category, none of my Bramham/Nappers were included in the register of free persons of color for Louisa County. My other ancestors who I know have African American ancestry are listed. The rumor has always been that the Bramhams were Native American, but no one really knows. I will keep a look out for your Thackers as I slowly, slowly work on my Louisa ancestors.
Davida
Tahwey, have you had time to check out that book? I found your folks starting on page 187. It mentions Elizabeth Dorton’s Uncle Levi Napper, and her Aunt Peachie Napper married to Moses Feedman. They said Levi was “full blooded Cherokee Indian”. Looks like Levi and Moses were brother in laws. Which one was your ancestor (sorry, I couldn’t follow the genealogy you posted)?
Holman Thacker is on page 188, listed in the 1840 Vinton Co Ohio census as white.
Davida, I’ve also found Dr Waldrep’s postings. I should contact him as well. Perhaps all of us contacting him may give him encouragement to continue his research, if he is able. Where is Gibson’s Mill on a modern day map? I have researched all the Thacker’s on the Trevillions site, but am interested in any other Thacker info from Louisa or neighboring counties you may have (especially Hanover).
It looks like this mixed race Indian community in Louisa was sizable at one point. Surnames in this community also ended up in Tennessee (Gibson and Collins), forming the core of some Mulengeon communities, and Branham is also a core surname of the modern day Monacan tribe. So is Evans, which some Virginia Thackers have married into. I’m also related to another family associated with the communty, the Tyree family, which may have Catawba connections.
Its good to encounter others researching this family. For years, I thought I was alone in the wilderness.
You are so not alone! I took a break and am not fully back into research and won’t be until August. I moved, took a new job, and am finishing up graduate school. I will have to ask about Gibson’s Mill. My ancestors owned a mill in Louisa and I tried to find it a few years back. I found some references to roads and such searching through the LVA records. I couldn’t find it. I think most areas are housing areas now. It might be worth a post on the Trevilians site to see if anyone knows.
I really feel like something went wrong for my ancestors. I was told orginally that they were Cherokee. The Bramham surname made me think differently. I ran across the names Johns and Redcross during my search and wondered if some of the Monacan made their way to Louisa. One family member married into the Farrer family. I contacted someone I felt might be related only to learn that he passed away. His widow was very sorry I hadn’t made contact before his passing. She said if anyone would have known, it would have been him.
I tried contacting Dr. Waldrep about a year ago and had no response. His contact info on trevilians.com is very old and probably not accurate. Now that I know there was so much name changing going on, I wonder about the connection to Gibson’s Mill.
Most of my notes and books are still boxed in storage. My way of forcing myself to focus on school! If you send names and dates, I will record them and look as I find my things. Have you searched the LVA site? I found several death records for my ancestors and subsequently, names of family members.
Well, I three assignments due. Off to work!
Davida
I haven’t done any research in this family for a couple of years, partly because of brick walls, and partly because I’ve been focusing on oral history from grandparents and other aged relatives.
I have postings on my family spread all over several forums, you can find them by searching for Thacker. But heres the basics. I need to find Mary’s and John siblings.
1. William Thacker married to “Cherokee” Indian.
2. Their daughter, Mary Thacker (born 1739, died after 1839 in Hanover county VA) married before 1763 to John Butler (died 1826 Hanover county VA). They lived in Hanover, Louisa, and Caroline counties.
Mary had a similar aged friend or relative by the name of Susannah Thacker. She also had a grandchild named Polly B. Thacker
3.Their son, William Butler (born 1775, died 1854 in Louisa County VA) married about 1800 to Fanny.
4. Their son, Clayton Cooke Butler (born 1807 Hanover Co VA, lived in both Hanover and Louisa.
Claytons daughter, Oteria Agnes Butler, is who stated that her family was part Indian, but another branch of the family can trace that story back 2 or 3 more generations.
Because my family moved back and forth between Louisa and Hanover counties a few times, (Hanover being a genealogical black hole before the civil war), a lot of lines aren’t known. My Thacker family appears to be the only direct ancestor of mine that relates to the Louisa group. But my family associates with other surnames from Louisa.
There is a Butler graveyard in Louisa county that some of my Thackers are buried in, but I don’t know where it is.
I don’t know which Branhams showed up first, in Louisa county or the Monacans. Maybe some of the Louisa county Branhams ended up moving to Monacan territory. I read many of their ancestors moved to Amherst county from Fort Christanna. I’ll be in the Salt Lake City area next week and will have a couple days at the family history library there. Maybe I’ll look into the Branham name. If there’s something specific you want me to look for regarding our family in general, let me know. No guarantees, but I’ll try.
I’m not familiar with the LVA site. You have an address?
The Library of Virginia is a wonderful site. I can’t even begin to describe the variety of information and databases that you can find there!
They’ve changed the format, and I am still stumbling around to find where things have been moved.
Here is the “front page” link:
Here is a link to their collections page which is the master list for what is available:
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/using_collections.asp#_guides-CountyandCityResearchincludingVirginiaWestVirginiaandKentucky
Here is a link to the digital collections. These are actual images of documents, such as Northern Neck Land Grants. Some of the Chancery Records have been scanned into the system. Hanover County, for example, has these records dated 1831 to 1913. There are also Civil War Widow’s Pension Records – well a whole wealth of information. The link to the A – Z collection page is
http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/collections_a_to_z.
They keep adding to their collections. They recently closed the Louisa County Chancery Records. Apparently it takes several years for them to microfilm or scan the records, but you can still search the Index to see what is available. You will find a link in the A – Z digital collections pages. Enjoy!
The Library of Virginia has a death record indexing project. I have two links. One indicates the counties available and the states covered. The other link is the one to get started. I would recommend looking over the first link and using the provided times. Links are as follows:
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/whatwehave/vital/dripabout.htm
http://ajax.lva.lib.va.us/F/?func=file&file_name=find-b-clas29&local_base=clas29
As for my Branhams, heaven only knows. My great great grandmother was Sarah A. Branham. She was born around 1805 and lived with William W. Walton, my great great grandfather. Her son and my great grandfather was Joseph Addison Walton. I don’t know what happened to Sarah and William. My mother was told that William moved to Kentucky. The last written and known of Sarah is contained in a deed. She had a brother, William, and sister named Dicey. Dicey and Sarah conveyed ownership as last living heirs of William to his common-law wife, Judith. At times, these members were using the name Napper in various spellings. I thank you for your kind offer, but I think a lot of name changing occurred and to date no one has been able to find them. I did find descendants of Joseph’s brother. They were told they were Cherokee. My family knows nothing. With the Branham surname, I felt there might be a connection to the Monacan, then again, maybe not. They could have come from Gibson’s Mill.
Thank you for your kind offer, but I understand perfectly if you can’t find anything or don’t have the time.
Regards,
Davida
Spilleddi, Those are my people. Holman Thacker and Roxie Ann Napper, Moses Freeman and Peachy Ann Napper, and Levi Napper and Patsey Ann Thacker are all my great-great-great-grandparents. I was able to find the book in the Vinton County Library, but the section with these folks info was missing. I havent given up on it yet, as I think other libraries in the area also have a copy.
I’ll see what I can find on these names next week. Thanks for the LVA info, I’ll check that after I get back.
Tahwey, they ripped the pages out of a library book? Enah! When I’m at the family history library next week I’ll copy those pages and mail them to you, unless someone got to those first.
Tahwey,
Roxie’s mother is related to my great great grandmother. Elizabeth was listed in the census with Dicey Branham. Dicey Branham is my great great grandmother’s sister. I don’t have access to ancestry.com for now so I cannot check. Elizabeth is either Dicey’s sister or daughter. If you have access, I believe you can find them on the 1850s census. Trevilians probably has the record,
Davida
Hi Davida.
I have Roxie’s mother and father as Sarah Napper and David LeMay. Sarahs parents are William Gibson and Mary Adams Napper. Davids parents are John Lemay and Annis Branham. Elizabeth and Dicey must be related to Annis Branham, but I dont have that info. David Lemay and Sarah Napper are the parents of Levi, Roxie Ann, Wetherfoot, Polly Ann, Patricia, Richard, Peachy Ann, Nancy, Lucinda, Virginia, and Peter. Peter married Emma Jane Dorton, daughter of Malachi Dorton and Mahala Thacker. Virginia married James Dorton, sister to Emma Jane. Peachy Ann married Moses Freeman, Patricia married Ivory Thacker, Polly Ann married Edwill Thacker, Wetherfoot married Milred Jane Thacker, Roxie Ann married Holman Thacker, and Levi married Patsey Ann Thacker. As you can see, our surname index is relatively small 🙂
Annis Branham’s parents are Benjamin Branham Sr. and Francis Gibson. Francis Gibson’s father is George Gibson, and Georges father is Gilbert Gibson of Louisa County VA. who owned a mill on Gibby’s Creek. I think that Annis Branham had a sister named Mary who married John Dorton and were the parents of the above mentioned Malachi Dorton. Some folks think that Mary Dorton(Dalton) was also the mother of David Thacker. I havent been able to make this connection yet. Benjamin Branham is as far as I have that line. Sorry for the long post, I sometimes get carried away.
Spilleddi, the copy of the book was pages in a three ring binder and everything from page 297 back was gone. I tried finding a copy online with no luck.
I found this in the Louisa County deedbook.
“Book: U, Page: 223, Grantor: David Dalton, Malichi Dalton, James Dalton, Willia, Grantee: Richard Kennon, Date: 03-Dec-1833
David Dalton, Malichi Dalton, James Dalton, William Dalton, Lucy Dalton, Polly Shepherd, Robert Thacker and David Thacker to Richard Kennon $10 for tract on Gibby’s Creek Louisa county containing 13 1/2 acres adjoining Oliver Cross, Kennon, David Thacker, land which descended to them by their mother Mary Dalton, dec’d. Wit. Oliver Cross, Mathew W. M. Michie, George Cross, C. Seargeant as to Malachi Dalton. Rec. 13 Jan 1834.
Louisa County Va. Deedbooks”
It seems to confirm what I said above about a Dalton Thacker connection.
Tahwey
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