Sandra,
I'm on my way out to vacation and research on Wed. but thought I'd drop a
quick note. According to Fairfax Harrisons, Virginia Carys, an Essay in
Genealogy by Fairfax Harrison, 1919, Thomas Nelson Cary is the son of Thomas
Nelson Jr and Sally (sarah) Cary.
Thomas Cary Nelson b. 1779 Ceelys, Elizabeth City co VA.
I don't have further info on him, but would like rest of his line if you have
it.
His parents are:
Thomas Nelson JR of Yorktown and SAlly Cary b. 1762 Richneck d. 1779 Ceelys,
Elizabeth City va. She died in childbirth at age 17. they were married in
1778.
From same book "Mentined in will of her grandfather Wilson Cary
for two
legacies, one of books when she was 1- years of age. Esteemed a beauty,
she
married at 16 and died in childbirth at Ceelys a year later. Son, Thomas Cary
Nelson survived from him descend a numberous issue including Nelsons, Pages,
and Newtons"
Also "He was son of the Secretary there survives a friendly letter from
General Washington (who knew the charmgof ary women permitting him to resign
from the army in order to marry. For the Nelson family, see Page, Genealogy
of the Page Family 1893"
Sally was d/o of Wilson Miles Cary b. 1724 Richneck Warwick Co Va d. 1817
Carysbrook, Fluvanna Co VA. m. 1759 to Sarah Blair b. 1738 d. 1799 Richneck,
Warwick Co Va.
Wilson Miles m. 2. Rebecca Dawson, d/o of Rev.Thomas Dawson of Williamsburg b.
1755 Williamsburg d. 1823 Williamsburg.
Otes of Wilson MIles:
Born at Richneck, wherehe lived he lived from his marriage 1759 until the
Revolution; his mother occupied Ceelys until her death 1783.
W&M college 1752-55 (W&M Quar xxxvii 133) J.P. for Warwick and later for
Elizabeth City where he was long Presiding Magistrate. ON bench at the
hearing of the Parson's Cause in Elizabeth city in 1765 (W&M Quart xiii65)
Served all grades of Eliz. city militia from Lt 1762-Col and Co. Lt. Burgess
na Delegate for Elizabeth city, Warwick and Fluvanna at intervals 1765-1796.
signer of the Association of 1774; his name is on the monument to those who
met at Raleigh Tavern for that purpose, whch stands on the site of the old
Captial at Williamsburg (W&M Quar xiiii 65) Committee of Safety for Elizabeth
City 1775 (W&M v 253). convention of 1776. thirty-one years later at the
clebration in 1807 of the second centenary of Jamestown, he was chaired as one
of the three suvivors of this convention (Tyler, Crade of the Republic 92)
Naval Officer and Reciever of Va duties for Lower James River 760-1776, when
he resigned to espouse the patroit cause. He was in consequence a mark for
plunder fy the British during the War; thus 24 fo his slaves were carried
from Richenck and Ceelys on one occasion and Carysbrook was raided on another.
See picturesque story of his throuroughbred stallion captured by Tarleton at
Carysbrook and subsequently recovered at Yorktown. Visitor of William and
Mary College 1800, etc. Delegate to conventions of the Episcopal Church from
its incorporation in 1795 until 1797. Inherited a large fortune and broad
acres. During the Revolution he acquired an estate in Hanover known as
Scotchtown, and there resided in a pleasant colony of refugee kinsmen,
Amblers, Nichlases, and Nelsons. After Yorktown, he established himself at
Ceelys, but abandoning that residence after his first wife's death in1799,
lived for some years in Willliamsburg and finally removed to Carysbrook in
Fluvanna, where he had first been in the Commission of the Peace on the
orgainzation of the county in1777. There he died and was buried, leaving in
his will an abiding mirror of his character. See his obiturary in Richmond
Enquirer newspaper of Dec 4, 1817 for evidence of that respect and esteem in
which he was held in the new world into which he had lived. there is a
portrait of him in his old age= a venerable figure. r115
Parents of Wilson MIles Cary are Wilson Cary b. 1702 Richneck, Hampton Roads
VA and d. 1772 RIchneck. m. about 1728 to Sarah Pate b. abt 1710 Gloucester
d. 1783 Ceelys Hampton Va.
Notes of Wilson Cary from Fairfax Harrison
Educated at W&M College 1719. Trinity college, Cambrigde 1721-23 where the
record of his matiruclation reads "Admissus Wilson Cary, pens, June 30, 1721,
an nat 18 filius Miles Cary de Virginia in INdia occidentalie, 3 Collegir
Gulielui et Marie in eadem terra' On his return from college in England, he
lived at Richneck and there founded the collection of books since known as the
Ceelys Library, as shown by his first book plate. Naval Officer and collector
of VA duties for Lower James River 1726-1760. J.P. for Warick after 1726 for
Elizabeth City (W&M Quar xx 169) when on his appointment as Naval Officer, he
acquired a house in Hampton where he lived much of his time, until, after
inheriting Ceelys from his bachelor brother in1756,he removed thither. Col
and County Lt for Eliz. City 1751. There is an amusing glimpse of him in his
old age in a letter of George Mason. (Rowland "George Mason 296). He is
buried at Richneck. See obit. in Va Gazette Dec 3 1772 and Rind's gazette no
344, Dec 10 1772 and Wilson Cary of Ceelys and his Famly (Va mag ix 104) His
portrait was destroyed in the fire which consumed the house at Carysbrook in
1826
Notes on Sarah Pate from Fairfax Harrison.
(Probably Jr. 3 of Potash Creek) was executor ofJohn Pate under a will, now
lost with the Gloucester rocrds; while John Pate appears on the Va Quit Rent
Rolls of 1704, as the owner of lands on Poropotank in Gloucester and King and
queen. these fact long persuaded Capt. Wm M Cary that the wife of Col Wilson
Cary was d/o to John Pate, but he could not prove it. See his notes in 1802
in VA Mag x 107) In 1891, while workng among the MS sources of Va history in
Richmond, he came upon confirmatory evidence,upon which he triumphantly
annouced to the present Editor as to others that he had establised the last
unnproved fact in his own pedigree-that Sarah Cary was Sarah Pate of
Gloucester. After Capt.Cary's death I (Fairfax Harrison) searched his papers
for the evidence oth this proof, but, by a perversity of fate,have not yet
been able to turn up the note.
Parents of Wilson Cary were
Miles Cary b. 1655 Warwick Co Va d. 1709 Richneck, Warwick Co Va m. 1702
Warwick Co Va to mary Wilson b. 1675 Ceelys, Hampton Roads, warwick Co VA d.
1741 Ceelys, Warwick co Va.
Notes from Fairfax Harrison
Educated in England where he was at school when his father made his will.
Only one if immigrant's sons who had this advantage, which is evident
throughout his career. Began life as surveyor and prospered aggresively in
various business ventures carried forward contemporaneously with his public
serice. He was J.P. for Warwick early as 1680. Capt 1683, Lt. Col and
Comander n Chief in Warwick 1699. Col. and County Lt. for Warwick 1705, clerk
of General Court 1691, Register of the Vice Admiralty court 1697-99. IN 1693
he was in NY as commissioner on behalf of Va to treat concerning the quota
which the English Government sought in vain to have contributed by each of the
colonies for the war with Frontenac and the French in Canada., Burgess
1683-1706, Chairman of committeee on Privees and Elections, Public Claims etc.
Senior Burgess of committee to revise laws 1699-1706. MIles paymaster while
brother Henry was overseer of work on the first captiol. The journal of this
Committee has recently been printed in McIIwaine Legistaive Journals of the
coundcil iii, Appendix 11919). Surveyor General 1699-17-09, Naval Officer and
Reciever of VA duties for York River 1699-1709. He died intestate in 1699. He
had been a candidate to be Speaker when Robert Carter was elected over him
after two days dabating during which the Assembly steadily divided 20-20. A
staunch supporter of Gov. Nicholson in his quarrel with Commissary Blair and
so involved in the bitter partisan politics of the time the Blair faction
succeded also in keep in him out of the seat in the Council for which both
Andors and Nicolson recommended him. There is in existence and inteesting
portrait of him. r115
To his 3rd son, the surveyor, the immigrant Miles assigned the eastern half
of Warwick Lands he had pruchased from Zachary Cripps. adjoining the Forneck
and became known as Richneck (see research notes) The next 3 generations
increased lands and inherited lands from the Wilson's known as Ceely's, where
they built a handsome home, on the shores of Hampton Roads. At the beginnnig
of th 19th century these Carys migrated definetly to their upcounty
plantation, Carysbrook in Fluvanna. A portion of this propery cut off as the
inheritance of a junior branch was subsequently called Oakhill. r115
TOMBSTONE OF MILES CARY, 3rd son of immigrant
HERE LYETH YE BODY OF MARY THE WIFE OF MLES CARY AND DAUGHTER OF THOMAS MILNER
AND MARY HIS WIFE LATE OF NAZEMOND CO DEC'D. SHE WAS BORN THE 6TH OF AUG 1667
AND DIED THE 27 OF OCT 1700 IN THE 34TH YEAR OF HER AGE IFSUELEFS
ALSO THE BODY OF COL. MILES CARY , HUSBAND OF THE SAID MARY, WHO DIED FEB'RY
17TH 1708 & LEFT 2 SONS, WILSON & MiLES, AND 2 DAUGHTERS MARY & ANN BY MARY
,YE DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM WILSON OF HAMPTON
Note inscription was copied in 1868 by Capt Wilson MIles Cary and again by
Dr.Lynn g. Tyler. The inscibed irontone slab surmounted a brick altar tomb,
like that at Windmill POint. ON either side of it were later constructed
arched brick vaults in which were interred the two succeeding generations of
the Richneck and Ceelys famiy, When in 1855 Bishop Meade visited Richmond the
graveyard was already a neglected ruin as it still is in 1919, lying unfenced
in an open field, but forutnately covered by a decent mantle of jonquils. The
two brick vaults have now collapsed and the tombstone of Mary Milner and Miles
Cary2 is in fragments but these can still be pieced together so as to make out
most of the inscription. r115
Mary Wilson Notes:
Mary the only daughter surviving (but see W&M Quart ix 125 was evidently a
charmer. By her coqutery in 1702, when she was first a widow and was about to
marry Col Cary, she provoked a fire-eating Scot, Capt James Moodie, commanding
HMS Southampton then stationed in VA to theatened her father's life and to
challenge Cary to a duel. The record of the proceeding preserved in the York
Court Order Book for 1702 is a curious chapter in the history of the code of
honor in Va and would have astonished the "Sir Lucius O'Triggers" of later
generations. Mary Wilson had 3 husbands. William Roscow, of Blunt Point,
Miles Cary, and Archibald Blair. There might be parpahrased for her the
inscription on the portriat of the second wife of Sir Henry Cary of
Cockington, also thrice Wed; Three Happy Mary, Blair, Roscow Cary. Survivng
them all, she elected to be buried with her first husband at Blundt Point ..
See her MI in W&M Quar xiv 163
Interesting that husband had ongoing problems with Blairs, given their
association -KW!
Notes of Col William Wilson, father of Mary.
Original of this Wilson family in England has not yet (1919) been etablished.
They were possibly from Bristol (W&M Waur vii 225) or they may have been
derived from the Rev. John Wilson, incumbent in 16?3 of Elizabeth River
parish, Norfolk Co, The curious and unidentified arms they form on Col.
Wilson's seal attached to a surviving paper and in his MI reproduced, which
was long legible in the churchyard at ST. John's Hampton but is now gone,
indicate a pious ancestor. For what is known of some of them in VA. see W&M
Quar. xx 188, and Richomnd Critic June 15 1890. Col William Wilson was a
succesful merchant at Hampton and accumulated a large estate. He was Burgess
Jp and Co. Lt.for Elizabeth City and Naval Officer for Lower James River
district fro 1699 to 1710; all the post subsequently held by his Cary
Descendents.
Miles had also married 1. Mary Milner about 1683. Mary b. 6 Aug 1667 d. 27
Oct 1700 Warwick Co VA. (From Fairfax Harrison)The evidence for the marriage
is the statement of it in the Herald's college pedigree of 1699, in which
Thomas, alone of the immigrants sons is named. By reason of the destruction
of the Nansemond records,not much is known of the Milner Family. It is
possible that they were from Bristol, it may be noted that there had already
been a Cary-Milner marriage in Bristol, that the pedirgree of 1699 goes out of
its way to record Milner as a name apparently known in Bristol, while the
earliest selttlement of Southside Virginina, including Isle of Wight and
Nansemond, where the Milners were established was largley recruited from
Bristol. The Milners used, however, eg. on Mary MIiner's home at Richneck,
the arms which are attributed by Burke to Milner. Francis Milner was Sheriff
of Nansemond in 1699 (va Mag iv 168.) J.P. as late as 1702 (va Mag i 269) and
in 1704 appears on the Quit rolls for Nansemond under the title Captian. He
was a brother to Lt. Col. Thomas Milner whose daughter married Miles Cary 2
(W&M Quar xiv 139) r115
Col Thomas Milner was a conspicuous figure in Va at the end of the 17 century.
Clerk of the Assembly during its contest with Lord Howard of Effingham, and
their agent to present grievances to the King in1685. For this the Governor
turned him out of all his profitable and honorary employments, but under
Nicholson and Andros he was reinstated in the Commison of the Peace, was
elected a buress and in 1691-93 was Speaker at the time his son in law was
beginnning his legislative careerl. Like his in law he was a surveyor and
one of the funders of W&M College see VA Mag iv 168 r115
Parents for Miles Cary are Col. Miles Cary b. 1622/23 England and Anne Taylor
b. probably Bristol England. Miles d. 1667 and Ann after 1682, both at
Windmill Point, Warwick Co VA. Miles died of wounds from Dutch Raid on
Hampton Roads. These are my 9Ggrandparents. married before 1646.
Notes from Fairfax Harrison on Miles (immigrant)
Baptized at All Saints Church Bristol, Jan 30 1622 OS, Emigrated to Va in
1645, whre the first record of him is on the bench of the Warwick County Court
1652. Major 1654, Lt. col 1657, Col and county Lt. 1660. Collector of the
Tobaco Duties for James River, Escheator General for the Colony, Burgess
16660-65, being member of Publique Committee of the Assembly (Heming ii, 31)
advanced to the Council 1665. He maintained water mill and mercantile
business, both of which are mentioned in his will. Died, probably from
wounds, during Dutch Raid on Hampton Roads June 1667. Had acquired father in
law's lands at Windmill Pont and Magpie Swamp and others, aggregating more
than 2600 acres in Warwick, including the plantations afterwards known as the
Forest, Richneck and Skiffs Creek (Mulberry Island). r146
Tombstone of Miles Cary the immigrant at Windmill Point Warwick Co. Va
Arms of Cary of Devon
Here Lyeth the Body of Miles Cary esq. Only son of John Cary and Alice , his
wife, Daughter of Henry Hobson of the city of Bristoll, Alderman' He was born
in ye said city and departed this life the 10th day of June 1667 about the
47th year of his age, leaving four sons and three daughters viz;
Thomas, Anne, Henry, Bridgett, Elizabeth, Miles & william
The monument was a brick altar tomb surmounted by a heavy iron stone slab,
evidently carved in England It is now in fragments. (NOte two errors. Miles
Cary was NOT only son, though at the time he may have been only surviving son.
2. MIles Cary was at the time of his death in his forty fifth year, as appears
from entry in parish register of All Saints Church, Bristol. Grave is on the
high bluff over the mouth of Potash Creek looking down the
Warwick River amidst the ancient grove.
Notes on Alice Taylor:
The surviving evidence for the marriage is the reference in Miles Cary's will
to 'my father in law, Thomas Tayor, deceased". In his patents of 1657 Miles
Cary recites that he had acquired Thomas Taylor's property be devise and he
returns Anne TAylor by her maiden name as a headright. She is described in
the 1682 patent of Miles 2 as his mother Mrs. Anne Cary and so was living
fifteen years afer her husband's death. She was undoubedly buired, as was
also proabalby her father in the graveyard at Windmill Point. No evidence has
yet appeared to identify this Taylor family definitely. Thomas Taylor was one
of the original patentees in Elizabeth City in 1626 (Hotten, 273) and in 1643
took up 600 acres in Warwick. IN 1646, he sat as Burgess for Warwick and as
late as 1652 was in the commission of the peace. In the patent of 1643 he is
styled "mariner" He was probably a Bristol sea captain long engaged in the VA
trade, who retired from the sea in Warwick. His relation to Miles Cary
suggests that he may have been of the famly of John Taylor, alderman of
Bristol, who is mentioned in relation to the Bristol Carys in the 1652 will of
the Bristol Clergyman, Robert Pery (PCC Bowyer 243). See Va. Mag xi, 364).
We hae seen that there had already been a Taylor Cary marriage in Bristol.)
r146
You come from a very nice line if you descend from Thomas Cary Nelson,
incuding Washington's Sec. Thomas Nelson Sr. I'd like more info on him if you
find it, but would like line of THomas Cary Nelson. I have Dabney's who marry
Moon's in Albemarle/Fluvanna Co as well.
KarenWood(a)aol.com in DE.