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Author: andyross53
Surnames: Calmes, Catlett, Helm, Neville, Combs and Buck
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.calmes/56.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
Hi, Dee Ann,
My name is Andrea Rosser. I am a descendant of the Buck family of VA by my mother. I
have been doing family history for a number of years, and ran across your request quite by
accident this evening.
I have information regarding two Sowers women:
1. Etta Double Sowers of "Farnley", Clarke Co., VA b. 9/15/1863, d. 1/5/1945 in
Washington, DC... she married Charles Edward McKay 10/30/1884 in Warren Co., VA
2. Sarah E. Sowers, b abt. 1835 in VA, d. 5/14/1895 in Warren Co., VA. She married Thomas
Buck McKay 12/7/1876 in Fauquire Co., VA
Don't have any info on Jacob Sowers at all...sorry.
As to the Calmes family, I have the following information:
Marquis or Guillame de Calmes II, b. 1705 in Stafford Co., VA. He was educated in France,
returned to Virginia about 1723, and lived for a while in Williamsburg. He married
Winnifred Waller in 1725 and in 1734 they left Stafford County for land west of the Blue
Ridge. They eventually settled in the Shenandoah Valley, in the part of Frederick County
that eventually became Clarke County. In 1747, Marquis Calmes secured one of the Minor
Grants for Land West of the Great Mountains, which Lord Fairfax confirmed by a deed when
he took up his abode at Greenway Court. That tract was Calmes Neck.
Marquis II was a leading citizen, holding office in the county government as well as in
his parish. When Frederick County was organized in 1743, Marquis II was appointed one of
the original twelve justices, and served until 1753. He was a church warden of Frederick
Parish in 1746 and several succeeding years. He was commissioned a Captain in the militia
against the Indians and attained the rank of Major in the Virginia Militia during the
French and Indian War.
Marquis II and Winnifred lived on the Vineyard Plantation (the main house of which is on
Route 621, across the river south from the Calmes Neck recreation area, now owned by
Charles Burwell). The 1747 deed shows a Calmes house across the river west of Calmes Neck,
on land more recently owned by Richard Plater. Plater claimed to have found the foundation
of such a building. There is no record of Calmes leasing or owning any part of Vineyard
Plantation, which was then owned by Robert Carter. Marquis II is thought to have caused
the planting of the vineyard on the Plantation, which was the first vineyard planted west
of the Blue Ridge.
Marquis II had considerable land holdings in addition to Calmes Neck. In 1741 he purchased
108 acres in Stafford County. He and others were granted 60,000 acres on the Monongahela
River in what is now West Virginia. In addition, Marquis II owned a lot in Winchester when
it was laid out in 1753, as did George Washington. On at least one occasion, Marquis II
employed Washington to conduct a survey.
Marquis Calmes II died in 1755 and was buried on the Vineyard Plantation next to his wife.
A century later, Winnifred's tombstone was moved to Old Chapel Cemetery, but that of
Marquis was beyond repair and was not moved.
[
http://home.earthlink.net/~calmesneck/calmes_family_history.htm]
Their children were:
1. Marquis (Marcus) Calmes III, b. 1726, d. 1/4/1794 - M. Elizabeth "Betty"
Combs, 1725
2. William Waller Calmes, Sr., b. 1/18/1727, d. 9/19/1773 - M. Lucy Neville 5/17/1754
(This is where my Buck connection comes in)
3. Isabella Calmes, b. 1729, d. 6/10/1796, M. William Richardson 8/10/1746
4. Elizabeth Calmes, b. 1/1/1732, d. aft. 1760, m. (1) Robert Catlett date unknown. m. (2)
Leonard Helm, Jr., date unknown.
5. Ann Calmes, b. 1/1/1737, d. 1/22/1809, m. (1) Peter Catlett abt. 1758, m. (2) Capt.
William T. Helm, Sr. 11/17/1791.
If there is anything else I can help with, let me know. I am not a member of
Ancestry.com, so I don't know if you will get this or not, but it was worth a try!
Andrea
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