Hi Bud,
��� I can readily understand your confusion regarding Stephen Caudle. I have been
searching him for almost 10 years, and it is getting a little tiring to not find
something about his wife's (name of Mary - per some deeds) maiden name. If
someone tells you her maiden name simply ask for documentation of it. If you do
get this info, please advise me. As for his children, the only known child was a
girl, who married� into the Draper family, Joshua Draper. I do not have a name
for her but Stephen Caudle gave him 50 acres of land in Brunswick Co. Va as a
deed of Gift, all else he sold. Her name does not appear on any deeds that Joshua
signed, not even an X. Why else would he give 50 acres of land to Joshua Draper.
���� The only tie, to my knowledge, is a Poll (Lunenburg Co. Va.) listing, of
1752 showing a Stephen Caudle and directly below, indicating a possible
relationship (could be a brother or a cousin in stead of son) was the name James
Caudle. In 1748 in Brunswick Co. Va. there was a poll and the only Caudle's
listed were a Sampson (possible Brother) and Stephen Caudle. Some people stat
that they were brothers, others say Stephen was Sampson's father. Whatever,
Sampson is first found in Charles City Co., according to Court records, with his
wife Sarah Gregory in 1737 contesting Sarah's father's will. Thus Sampson could
have been born (where?) at any time prior to at least 17 yers before the court
case, and no record of place of birth. They were not listed as either being
neighbors or related, and did not appear on the poll list one name following the
other. This indicates that the James Caudle listed in the 1752 poll was either
out of town the day the poll in Brunswick was taken, or he was under age. Thus we
have no definitive birthdate for this James.
��� To my knowledge there is no documented proof of where Stephen came from
(England, Ireland, Scotland or possibly Hong Kong) nor his date of birth, just
conjecture. If there is proof somewhere I would appreciate learning of it.
��� Stephen first appears in Surry Co. Va. in 1731 as receiving (for 20
shillings) 195 acres of land (you can consider it a grant or a purchase, which
ever you wish) located on or near Harry's Swamp. He next appears in 1739 in
Brunswick
Co. Va. as receiving 446 acres of land from a James Gilliam in the Brunswick
Court Orders. He sold the Surry land to a Lawrence Gibbons in 1741, recorded
1743. In 1759 he received 400 acres of land on or near Great Creek, which flows
from Lunenburg through Brunsick to the Meherrin River. On that same date Matthew
and Nathaniel Laffoon received 400 acres adjacent to Stephen's land. This is
interesting because a William and Grace Laffoon, who owned land in Henrico Co.,
gave approx. 200 acres (1751 and 1752) to a Richard and Mary Caudle, and a John
and Ann Caudle. It is so noted in the records that John owned land in nearby
Brunswick Co. Also a Nathaniel Laffoon is a witness to a deed 1753 in
Brunswick,for land adjacent to Stephen Caudles land. There has to be a tie-up
here somewhere.
��� Now I interject another Stephen Caudle into the mystery who was dec'd,
according to the 1758 July Court Order in Brunswick Co., and his wife, Elizabeth,
and heir-at-law James were to come to court re this. Here is another Stephen and
James Caudle - and this might be where some people get the idea that the Stephen
noted in Lunenburg had a wife named Elizabeth.
��� There could be a third Stephen Caudle acording to Cumberland Parish book,
wherein it is noted that a Stephen Caudle was to receive some tobacco for his
taking care of his daughter in 1764. Regardless, he still does appear in the
Vestry minutes, after a Stephen Caudle sold off all the land he owned in
Lunenburg. Further, the Stephen Caudle, as referred by a number of people of
being the father of James and Stephen Caudill (of Wilkes Co NC records) again has
not, to my knowledge, been proven. Possibly a minor technicality, but still
unproven.
��� There is also a third possible James Caudle who was in Brunswick Co. Va. in
1734, according to Brunswick Road Orders. As it was so stated that James Caudle
and his Tithables work on the road under Laniers supervision. This seems to
indicate that James either owned land (or was an overseer) in Brunswick in 1734.
Wonder where he came from and where he went.
��� Regarding the marriage of a James Caudle to a Mary Yarborough in 1749, this
has never been proven either. A possibility is that some researcher used the
marriage between a James Caudle and a Mary Yarborough in 1849 and miss read the
details.
��� There is more but I think this will hold you for the time being. If, at any
time, you find other information proving the above is wrong, please contact me.
There are Caudles located in Gloucester Co, K & Q Co., Loudon Co., Spotsylvania
Co., Prince George Co., Amelia Co., and more, all in and around the same time
period as Stephen Caudle is found.
Hope to hear from you,
Dick
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BnLFAMILY(a)aol.com wrote:
Bill:
I enjoyed reading your information on the background of CADDELL.� I have
recently begun to think that is probably the background of my CAUDLE.� Have
you come across this spelling in researching your name, and do you think it
is probably the same family?
Supposedly my immigrant ancestor was Stephen CAUDLE, born about 1680.� I'm
not sure even if that was the spelling of the name at that time.� Most
researchers say he was born in Scotland, others say he was born in Ireland,
and some say he was born in Gloucestershire, England.� I realize that even in
those days and earlier many families moved back and forth in those three
countries and others.� So anyplace in the UK would be possible.
I've also been told that Stephen came to America in 1692.� That of course
says he was only 12 years old.� No one has said that he came with parents.
If he did not, and the dates are correct, I feel he must have possibly been
(what did they call it?) transported(?) after being arrested for some crime.
Or, perhaps his father or parents were already here and they had him brought
to them later?
Some say that Stephen was already married and had at least two or three sons
before coming to America.� That would have been probably about 1720 or so.
Stephen married Mary Elizabeth Fields and they settled for some time in
Lunenberg County, Virginia and later in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
Bill, can you, or someone else, give me a clue here?� I'd really appreciate
any ideas.
Bud Caudle
Guthrie, Oklahoma
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