Surname Saturday - Walling

Various spellings of the Walling surname include Wallen, Walden and Wallin. The English surname is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name "Weal" which means foreigner.

My first documented Walling ancestor is Thomas Walling who was born circa 1627.  He first married Mary Abbott in 1651 and later married Margaret White Colwell circa 1669.  Thomas Walling died on July 19, 1674 in Providence, Rhode Island.  My lineage is through his first marriage to Mary Abbott.

The marriage of Thomas and Mary's son, Thomas2, is also listed

While I have no documentation of Thomas' parentage, it is believed by many family historians that his parents were Ralph and Joyce Wallen who arrived at Plymouth Colony in 1623 on the ship "Anne" which sailed from England.

In 'Elisha Wallen:  The Longhunter', author Carolyn D. Wallen notes the following with regards to Thomas Walling's will:

Thomas Walling died in November of 1676 in Providence.  His will was written in 7-19-1674 and proven in court on 11-22-1674.  In the will he mentioned his wife Margaret, sons Thomas (II), John, William, James, Cornelius, Gershom and daughter Abigail.  

"To sons Thomas, John and William, farm which I now dwell upon, equally, as each arrives at age, the dwelling house to be for son William, and his share of land to be adjoining house with orchard included.  The farm not to be sold except among brethren, that is to say Thomas, John, James, William and Cornelius.  To son James, land at age.  To son Cornelius, land on west side of Seven Mile Line, and if James and Cornelius died without issue, their part to brothers.  If there be more divisions than one of land west of Seven Mile Line, then my right in second division to son Gershom, and to him 10 shilling.  To daughter Abigail Walling, 5 shilling.  To wife Margaret, all movable goods and cattle and benefit of all the land to bring up children.  To her also the disposing of the dwelling house, till William comes of age at which time he to take half the land and housing, and other half to be for wife Margaret till her marriage or death, and then to William."

Thomas Walling2 was born on February 8, 1669 in Providence, Rhode Island. He married Sarah Elwell in 1695.  Thomas died in Cohansey, New Jersey on October 22, 1724 and Sarah died circa 1724.

Elisha Walling, Sr.,son of Thomas2 and Sarah, was born circa 1708 in Cohansey, New Jersey.  He married Mary Blevins circa 1730.  Elisha, Sr. and Mary's children were Joseph, Thomas, Elisha, Jr., James and John.  *Note:  It is Elisha Walling, Jr. who was the Longhunter in the above mentioned book.

My Walling lineage continues through Elisha Walling's son James who married Mary White Pugh.  Their children were Elizabeth*, James, Jr., Joseph, John, Sr., Thomas and Manning.

John Walling, Sr. was born circa 1775 in Virginia.  He married Anna Chisum circa 1793.  Anna was born circa 1777 to the marriage of John Chisum3 and Margaret Chisum.  John and Anna's children were Jesse, James, John, Thomas Jefferson, Sentha/Cynthia Ann and Alfred Gaines.

Mary Polly 

James Walling, son of John and Anna, was born in Virginia then later moved to Mississippi where he met and married Martha Hamlin in 1820.  By 1840, they had moved to Texas with their children; Mary Polly, Lucinda, Vance, Ann, Elizabeth, Martha, James, Jr., and Sarah.

Mary Polly Walling married Isham Russell Chisum, Sr. on May 21, 1840 in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Isham Russell Chisum, Sr. was the son of Elijah Kaufman Chisum (1773-1860) and Elizabeth Walling (1768-1841)* who was the daughter of James and Mary Pugh Walling mentioned above.

Lucinda

Mary Polly and Isham Russell Chisum's children were James Madison "Jim", Martha, Mary Emily, Lucinda, Frances "Fannie", Amanda Laura, Isham Russell, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, Rhoda, John and William.

Mary Polly Walling and Isham Russell Chisum are my paternal 3great grandparents through their daughter, Lucinda Chisum Steele.

Through the marriage of Mary Polly Walling and Isham Russell Chisum, I have double kinship in the Walling lineage.

Mary Polly Walling's grandfather, John Walling, Sr. (1775-1841) was a brother to Elizabeth Walling (1768-1841) who was also Isham Russell Chisum's mother.

John Walling, Sr. (1775-1841) is my 5great grandfather through Mary Polly Walling.  He is also my 4great grand uncle through Isham Russell Chisum.

My Walling lineage through my 3great grandmother Mary Polly:

Thomas Walling1 (m. Mary Abbott)
+Thomas Walling2, 1669-1724 (m. Sarah Elwell, 1676-1724)
++Elisha Walling, 1708-1785 (m. Mary Blevins, 1710-1783)
+++James Walling, 1746-1786 (m. Mary White Pugh, ca.1748-?)
++++John Walling, Sr., 1775-1841 (Anna Chisum, ca. 1777-1842)
+++++James Walling, Sr., 1795-1867 (Martha Hamlin, ca. 1796-1852)
++++++Mary Polly Walling, 1820-1891 (m. Isham Russell Chisum, 1812-1861)
+++++++Lucinda Chisum, 1846-1897 (m. Francis Marion Steele, 1847-1883)
++++++++Isham A. Steele, 1870-1934 (m. Mary V. Blackman, 1876-1945)
+++++++++Mary Allye Steele, 1900-1969 (m. Bruce Edmonds, 1904-1974)
++++++++++Bruce A. Edmonds, 1927-2002 (m. Mildred Bynum, 1926-2012)


My Walling lineage through my 3great grandfather Isham R. Chisum:

Thomas Walling1 (m. Mary Abbott)
+Thomas Walling2 (m. Sarah Elwell)
++Elisha Walling (m. Mary Blevins)
+++James Walling (m. Mary White Pugh)
++++Elizabeth Walling (m. Elijah Kaufman Chisum)
+++++Isham Russell Chisum (m. Mary Polly Walling)
++++++Lucinda Chisum (m. Francis Marion "Frank" Steele)
+++++++Isham Alfonso Steele (m. Mary Virginia Blackman)
++++++++Mary Allye Steele (m. Bruce Edmonds)
+++++++++Bruce Alfonso Edmonds (m. Mildred Bynum)


As if the Walling double kinship wasn't confusing enough, I also have double kinship with John Walling, Sr.'s wife, Anna Chisum.  Anna was the sister of Elijah Kaufman Chisum.  (Walling siblings married Chisum siblings)

Also of note are Anna's parents, John Chisum3 (1732-1806) and Margaret Chisum (1750-1798).   John and Margaret's great-great grandfathers were brothers.

Surname Saturday - Chisum

According to author Clifford R. Caldwell in his book, 'John Simpson Chisum: Cattle King of the Pecos Revisited', the Chisum surname originated in the parish of Roberton, Roxburghshire, England.  The different spelling variations include Cheesome, Chisholm, Chissolm, Chisholme, Chism, Chisolm, Chisum and Chissum.

In tracing my Chisum lineage, I discovered that Richard Cheesome was most likely my first ancestor to arrive in America.  Richard was born circa 1613 in London and arrived in America in 1643.

Family historians believe that Richard Cheesome married Margaret Isham.  The Isham surname has been passed down through the generations, lending credence to this belief.

My connection to this line of Chisums is through Richard and Margaret's son, James Chisholm (ca. 1657-ca. 1698) and his wife, Anne Carter (ca. 1657-ca. 1684).

My lineage is as follows:

Richard Cheesome (m. Margaret Isham)
+James Chisholm (m. Anne Carter)
++John Chisum, 1681-ca. 1734 (m. Elizabeth Bradley, ca. 1683-ca. 1777)
+++John Chisum, 1704-1792 (m. Ellender Gillentine, 1716-1804)
++++John Chisum, 1732-1806 (m. Margaret Chisum, ca. 1750-1798)*
+++++Elijah Kaufman Chisum, 1773-1860 (m. Elizabeth Walling, 1768-1841)*
++++++Isham Russell Chisum, 1812-1861 (m. Mary Polly Walling, 1820-1891)*
+++++++Lucinda Chisum, 1846-1897 (m. Francis Marion Steele, 1847-1883)
++++++++Isham Alfonso Steele, 1870-1934 (m. Mary Blackman, 1876-1945)
+++++++++Mary Allye Steele, 1900-1969 (m. Bruce Edmonds, 1904-1974)
++++++++++Bruce A. Edmonds, 1927-2002 (m. Mildred Bynum, 1926-2012)

*Notes:

Margaret Chisum is believed to have been the great, great granddaughter of Richard Cheesome and Margaret Isham through their other son, William (ca. 1650-ca. 1697); grandson, Alexander (ca. 1677-?); great grandson, William (ca. 1722-ca. 1792) and his wife, Deborah Cooke (ca. 1723-ca. 1762).

Elizabeth Walling was a sister to Mary Polly Walling's grandfather, John Walling Sr.

Elizabeth Walling was my 4th great grandmother through her son Isham Russell Chisum.

John Walling, Sr. was my 5th great grandfather through his granddaughter Mary Polly Walling.

The connections within the Chisum and Walling families are many.  I will attempt to address my Walling line in a future post.


Sources:  
Historical Southern Families, Vol. XVII
John Simpson Chisum: Cattle King of the Pecos Revisited, Clifford R. Caldwell

Surname Saturday - Edmonds

The surname Edmonds is an Anglo-Saxon name, patronymic for Edmund. According to The Edmonds DNA Project website, the name Edmonds was derived from the personal name Eadmund, which was formed from the old English words ead meaning prosperity and riches and mund meaning protector.

John Edmonds, born in Wales circa 1716, is believed to be my first Edmonds ancestor to arrive in America.  It is further believed that he married and settled in Jamestown, Virginia.  He would have been the father to my fifth great grandfather, Francis Edmonds who was born circa 1736.

UPDATE:  

After further research, I cannot confirm that John Edmonds of Wales was my ancestor.  There have been no records found of a John Edmonds living in Jamestown, Virginia; an area that is well documented.  Also, there have been no records found showing a Francis Edmonds/Edmunds living in that area of Virginia.  There is a possibility that Francis Edmonds was born in Maryland and moved to Halifax County, Virginia prior to 1768 as noted by Virginia Land Office Patent 37, 1767-1768, page 261.

Francis Edmonds - 1768 Land Office Patent 37

According to the research of Francis Edmonds' descendant, Vivian Cates, the second record of Francis Edmonds is found in Halifax County Deed Book 8, page 225, dated June 20, 1771.  Deed of James Bailey, buyer, and Francis Edmunds, seller, to 150 acres on the Banister River in Halifax County, Virginia.

At some point prior to 1795, Francis Edmonds and family migrated to Georgia. The 1795 tax records for Wilkes County, Georgia list Francis Edmonds as a landowner.

The will of Francis Edmonds was signed on February 16, 1795 and probated on July 9, 1799.  This is the first documentation I have found which states the name of Francis' wife as Rachel.  Also listed are the children born to the marriage of Francis and Rachel.

Page 214--EDMUNDS, FRANCIS. To wife Rachel the land whereon I now live and half the land bought of Benj. Palmer, all personal estate for life or widowhood. To son Richard 167 1/2 acres on Newford creek. To son William the other half of the land whereon I live, and 40 acres bought of Jonas Moore. To son John at wife's death the land loaned to her. All slaves to be divided between all children, to-wit, Catherine, Richard, Mary, John, William, Dolly, and Eloi Edmunds, and Ann Dixon, Sally McClendon, and Elizabeth Bailey. Wife Rachel and son William, Excrs. Signed Feb. 16, 1795. Probated July 9, 1799. Azariah Bailey, Josiah Stovall, Hartwell Jackson, Test.

Source:  The Early Records of Georgia, Volume I, Wilkes County abstracted and compiled by Grace Gillam Davidson, published in 1933 at Macon, GA

Francis Edmonds is named in the 1808 Wilkes County, Georgia court records where a son named William sold 140 acres to Bolling Anthony.  This land was a portion of a much larger area which was originally sold to Francis Edmonds by Solomon Palmer on February 5, 1795.  Francis later willed this portion to William Edmonds and another portion to John Edmonds.





















The 1808 Wilkes County, Georgia court record is the second piece of documentation I have found which names Rachel as the wife of Francis Edmonds.  Her maiden name is still unknown.

My Edmonds line descends through John, son of Francis and Rachel Edmonds, who married Winifred Buckner.  Winifred was the daughter of Anthony Thomas Buckner and Amey Powell.  

John and Winifred's son, Anthony Edmonds (ca.1780- ca.1849) was my third great grandfather.  He and his wife, Keziah, are believed to have been married circa 1809.  They had the following children:

Reuben Buckner, 1810-1866 (m. Miriam Kennedy)
James Powell, 1812-1864 (m. Rebecca Snow)
William A., 1814-1902 (m. Mary Frances Appling)
Frances Matilda, 1817-1887 (m. Silas Weaver Gresham)
Amy Elizabeth, 1818-?
Pittman R., 1819-1864 (m. Elizabeth Malone)

James Powell Edmonds was my great-great grandfather.

Surname Saturday - The Scotland Connection

The name Clan Iver can be found in Scottish records as far back as the early 1100s.  The families of the Lewis and Skye branch emigrated from Scotland to North Carolina and settled in Chatham and Moore (now Lee) counties.

My maternal great grandfather, Evander Wilder McIver descended from Clan Iver branch of Skye.  Evander's grandfather, John "Piper John" McIver, arrived in North Carolina between 1780 and 1815. 

The first letters of the surname, "Mc" mean "son of."  From An Account of Clan-Iver, written by Rev. Peter-Colin Campbell in 1873, we learn the following about Iver:

Of Iver, the progenitor of the race which bears his name, nothing is known, nor can it be determined whether he was the grandfather of Dovenald, or whether the patronymic by which Dovenald is distinguished was derived from a more remote ancestor.  The Iver Crom, to whom the traditions of Argyllshire refer, and who is famed as the "Conqueror of Cowal," was probably the son of Dovenald.  He must have been posterior by a least three generations to the ancestor who gave his name to the Clan. The name Iver, which is very ancient and frequent in Scandinavian history, is sometimes used there interchangeably with Ingvar, of which we may consequently infer it to be an abbreviation.  The old spelling is almost invariably Ivar.

Surname Saturday - BYNUM

The Bynum name is of Welsh variation, taking the Baynham and other forms in fifteenth century England among families of Welsh origin.

The spelling, Baynham, is believed to be a variant of the Welsh name Beynon which was first used in Welsh counties that bordered England.  The derived surname, Baynham developed outside of Wales in the adjoining English border counties.

John Baynham, thought to be one of the earliest ancestors of the majority of American Bynums, was born circa 1616 in Virginia.  Researchers believe this John Baynham was illiterate and therefore the spelling of the surname was often in phonetic form.

Land records show variations which include Byneham, Bynham, Bynam, Bineham, Binam, Bynom, Bayneham, Binnom, Binham, Benham and Benom.  

By the nineteenth century, John Baynham's descendants had chosen to use the surname Bynum.   




Reference:  T. E. Morris, “Welsh Surnames in the Border Counties of Wales”, Y Cymmrodor, Volume XLIII (London, 1932), p108 and pp157-159.