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Initial Correspondence from Susan M. Jurban

June 11, 2001

Barbara,

I first want to tell you that I’m very impressed with the amount of work that you have done on your "Families of Floyd County, Virginia". I’ve been doing genealogical research for about 25 years and know how much effort has gone into the work that you have done. I had not worked on my Reed family for about 10 years, and decided recently to do further research to see if I could sort out all the early Reeds in an effort to see if I could prove who were my Reed ancestors. My ancestor is George Reed m. 1821 to Nancy Skaggs, d/o Joseph & Martha Skaggs. For years, many researchers have suggested that George was the s/o George & Nancy McGeorge Reed as my George listed himself as George, Jr. in his marriage record. This just didn’t seem possible as the sons in George, Jr.’s household in 1810 & 1820 were not the ages that could have been for my George who was b. ca. 1799. Therefore, I decided I needed to search land & tax records to see what I could find. I’ve copied all the Reed deeds from the Montgomery County, VA DB F-L (1815-1835), Floyd County, VA DB A-C (1831-1844) and Montgomery County, VA Land Tax records from 1792-1830. What I’ve found does help to sort out a lot of the early Reeds and most important to me, provides me with the proof that I was looking for that gives me the name of my George’s father. This record is found in:

Montgomery County, VA DB K, page 475:

17 July 1830, between the legatees of William Reed, dec'd. of County of Montgomery and State of Virginia of the one part and George Reed, legatee of sd. Wm. R. of the other part, $10 each, 145 acres in Montgomery County on the gap fork of Beaver Creek, a branch of Little River . . . to corner of Andrew Reed's fence joining to E. Alltizer's land. witnesses: James T. Dickerson, Emery Altizer, Hiram Reed signed: Spencer Reed, John Duncan, John Chafin, Burwell Wilson, Joseph Hurt, Solomon Slusher, James Palmer

The legatees that signed were all son-in-laws and the only son of William appears to have been George who purchased the property. William Reed was listed in the 1810 Montgomery County, VA Census with 1 m. 10-16, 1 m. 26-45, 3 f. 0-10, 2 f. 10-16, 1 f. 26-45 and 1 f. 45+ He was not listed in the 1820 Census; however his widow Sarah Reed was listed with 1 m. 16-26, 1 f. 0-10, 2 f. 10-16, 3 f. 16-26 and 1 f. 45+

The m. age 10-16 in 1810 and 16-26 in 1820 would have been the right age for my George. Sarah was still living in 1850 and was in the household of her daughter and son-in-law, Joseph & Elizabeth Hurt, she was listed as age 73. This William was most likely the William who m. 23 February 1790 Franklin County, VA to Sarah Dulaney, d/o Samuel & Mary Dulaney. Their children appear to have been:

Margaret Reed m. 1 February 1825 to Spencer Reed

Anna Reed m. 3 September 1822 to John Duncan

Sally Reed m. 7 March 1826 to John Chafin

Susannah Reed m. Burwell Wilson, moved to IL

Elizabeth Reed m. Joseph Hurt

Permelia "Milly" Reed m. 2 June 1816 to Solomon Slusher

Mary Reed m. 26 February 1826 to James Palmer

George Reed m. 6 November 1821 Nancy Skaggs

This is the same property that was listed for George Reed W. son in the 1831 Floyd County, VA Land tax list. When George moved to Pike County, KY, he sold this property and the sale is listed in: Floyd County, VA DB A, pg. 417:

9 May 1836 between George Reed and Nancy his wife of Floyd County, VA and Champain Lester of Patrick County, VA for $350 land containing 145 acres on the gap fork of Bever Creek, a branch of Little River bounded . . . on Andrew E. Reeds line. In presents of: And. E. Reed, Amos T. Lester, Jacob Lester signed: George Reed, Nancy Reed recorded: June Court 1836

The Montgomery County, VA Land tax lists indicate that William Reed and Humphrey Reed were both listed with 145 acres on Beaver Dam. They started paying tax on this land in 1811 and it was noted "by will of Geo. Reed, Sr." This would have been the property they received from their father, George Reed, Sr. in his will of 1807 in which he described his property as containing 293 acres on the waters of Little River and on a branch of Bever Creek, adjoining Carter Cox's, Charles Simmons' and Andrew Reed's land. The land tax lists show: William Reed - 145 acres Beaver dam, adj. Carter Cox Humphrey Reed - 145 acres Beaver dam, adj. A. Reed This property was originally granted to George Reed, Sr. on 14 April 1788 Botetourt County, VA - 293 acres on the Gap Fork of Beaver Creek, a branch of Little River (VA Land grant 16, page 575)

There are 3 land deeds in Montgomery County, VA recorded 16 June 1830 for the sale of property of Humphrey Reed, decd. by his legatees.

DB K, page 447-448 - 5 December 1829 betw. the legatees of Humphrey Reed’s, all of the county of Montgomery, of the one part and Emery Alltizer for $70 part of Humphrey Reed’s land decd containing 80 acres on the Gap fork a branch of Little river and bounded as follows towit Beginning at the mouth of a branch thence to the head of the branch . . . by the wagon road near Andrew Reed’s fence Witnesses: Ja. T. Dickerson, George A. Reed, George Reed signed: Andrew E. Reed, Peter E. Reed, Griffith Reed, Hiram Reed, William Reed, Humphrey Reed, Michael (his x mark) Reed, John (his x mark) Mikesell, Archibald Thompson, Humphrey Reed, Richard (his x mark) Dulaney, William Scaggs recorded: 16 June 1830

DB K, page 448 - 5 December 1829 betw. the legatees of Humphrey Reeds’ of the county of Montgomery of the one part and Andrew E. Reed for $140 part of Humphrey Reed’s land containing 131 acres . . . near Willis ridge bounded by . . . on a wagon rode . . . Witnesses: J. Dickerson, George A. Reed, George Reed signed: Peter E. Reed, Griffith Reed, Emery Alltizer, Hiram Reed, William Reed, Humphrey Reed, Michael Reed, John Mikesell, Humphrey Reed, Richard Dulaney, Archibald Thompson, William Scaggs recorded: 16 June 1830

DB K, page 449 - 5 December 1829 betw. the legatees of Humphrey Reed’s all of the county of Montgomery of the one part and Humphrey E. Reed for $130 one part of Humphrey Reed’s Senior’s land by allotment 86 acres on the Gap Fork a branch of Little River near and bounded as follows tract beginning on a chestnut oak by the wagon road . . . Witnesses: Ja. T. Dickerson, George A. Reed, George Reed signed: Michael Reed, John Mikesell, Humphrey Reed, Archibald Thompson, Richard Dulaney, William Scaggs, Andrew E. Reed, Peter E. Reed, Griffith Reed, Emery Alltizer, Hiram Reed, William Reed recorded: 16 June 1830

Those signing were sons and son-in-laws:

1) Andrew E. Reed b. ca. 1790, appears to have never married. Listed in deeds & land tax records, possibly was living with brother, William in the 1830 & 1840 Census.

2) Peter E. Reed m. 30 April 1827 Montgomery Co. to Nancy Duncan (the marriage records state he was the s/o Spencer Reed, Spencer was prob. surety) Only one Peter in the 1830 & 1840 Census.

3) Griffith Reed b. ca. 1795; m. 2 June 1829 Montgomery Co. to Olive Reed, d/o George

4) Hiram Reed b. ca. 1807; m. 20 February 1827 Montgomery Co., VA to Lucy Reed, d/o Humphrey A Reed (Hiram & Humphrey moved to Pike Co., KY with my George Reed)

5) William Reed b. ca. 1800; m. 6 November 1821 Montgomery Co. to Sarah Dulaney

6) Humphrey Reed b. ca. 1797; m. 25 November 1825 Montgomery Co. to Nancy Reed, d/o George Reed

7) Michael Reed b. ca. 1801, s/o Andrew m. 27 January 1825 Montgomery Co. to Delila Reed

8) John Mikesell m. 3 August 1813 Montgomery Co. to Anna Reed b. ca. 1795

9) Archibald Thompson m. 16 May 1825 Montgomery Co. to Rachel Reed b. ca. 1807, moved to TN

10) Humphrey Reed b. ca. 1792, s/o Peter; m. 18 January 1815 Montgomery Co. to Sarah "Sally" Reed b.ca. 1792

11) Richard Dulaney b. ca. 1806; m. 29 October 1829 Montgomery Co. to Miriam Reed b. 1807

12) William Scaggs b. ca. 1800; m. 4 February 1825 Montgomery Co. to Miram Reed b. ca. 1804(brother of Nancy Skaggs m. 1821 George Reed, my ancestors) (seems strange that there were two daughters named Miriam, perhaps one was a different name, ?Permelia)

13) Emery Altizer b. ca. 1780; m. 1) Mary Reed; 2) Margaret Griffith Reed

Humphrey had at least one other son, George who probably d. after 1810. He was probably the George Reed who m. 10 February 1806 Franklin County, VA to Margaret "Peggy" Griffith, she m. 2) Emery Altizer who had m. 1) Mary Reed, d/o Humphrey, Sr. The 1806 personal tax list and the 1810 Montgomery County, VA Census listed George as H. son. Another child was probably Martha Reed b. February 1810 Montgomery County, VA; d. 16 March 1855; m. 22 September 1833 Floyd County, VA to Samuel Dulaney (28 June 1810 Montgomery County, VA; 3 August 1875 Floyd County, VA), s/o William & Mary Davis Dulaney. She was listed on her marriage record as sister to William Reed.

The 1810 Montgomery County, VA Census lists Humphrey Reed with a large family - 3 m. 10-16; 2 m. 16-26; 1 m. 45+; 4 f. 0-10; 1 f. 10-16; 2 f. 16-26 & 2 f. 45+ He apparently died before 1820 as he was not in the 1820 Census; however his w. Emely Reed was listed as head of the household. I think Mary Reed was already married when the 1810 Census was taken. Emeriah Altizer, Jr. was listed with 1 m. 0-10; 1 m. 26-45; 1 f. 0-10 & 1 f. 16-26 (b. ca. 1784-1794) - this was probably Mary. The 1810 Census shows 7 daughters for Humphrey, but with Mary that would make 8 - so there is one daughter unaccounted for in the Census and apparently not listed in the deeds - maybe Martha. Humphrey’s sons all appear to have used the middle initial E. at sometime. Also, Peter’s sons used the middle initial P. and Andrew’s used the initial A, which does help to sort them out.

In the Montgomery County, VA DB F-L (1815-1835), there are about 30 deeds and include the deeds for William Reed's heirs and Humphrey Reed, Sr.'s heirs, who both apparently died prior to disposing of their property. Peter Reed, Sr. & Andrew Reed, Sr. both appear to have sold all their property to their sons prior to their deaths. George Reed, Jr. (m. Nancy McGeorge) probably died after 1830 and only one son was named in one deed - William (George, Sr. only had two sons, but had 6-7 daughters per Census records). There was another deed for a William & Susannah Reed, so George, Sr.'s son was probably the William who m. 26 August 1818 to Susannah Dickerson. He is in the 1820 Census, but not later.

The VA Land Grants (per the VA State Library) list three land grants to George Reed & John Wiggington in 1818 & 1819 (not ca. 1770 as Dr. Wood has suggested in his Reed sketch), for a total of 1,535 acres in Montgomery County, VA. This land was listed beginning in the 1820 Montgomery County tax list as new grants. I believe these grants were for George Reed, Jr. m. Nancy McGeorge and his brother-in-law, John Wiggington who m. Martha McGeorge. John was the administrator for the estate of John McGeorge in 1794 Bedford County, VA, who was probably the father of Nancy & Martha. John Wiggington seems to have remained in Bedford County, VA and is listed in the Census & tax records there. George, Jr. & John were probably the brothers-in-law that Dr. Wood referred to in his Reed sketch, and this leads me to suspect that George Reed, Sr.'s wife, Anna was probably not a Wiggington as unfortunately many researchers have claimed. The only source that there is that she was a Wiggington comes from Dr. Wood's Reed sketch, and I believe he was confused on some of the facts.

In the Floyd County, VA DB B, page 451-452, is a survey division of the property that George Reed and John Wigginton were granted in 1818 (400 acres) and 1819 (940 acres), made in 1841. Half of the other grant of 197 acres was some how transferred to Peter E. Reed and he started paying taxes on the land in 1823 and sold part of it in 1836. In the division of the Reed-Wigginton property, it stated George Reed was decd. I have the index to the Floyd County, VA deeds for Reeds and there are references that I think might be for the sale of this property, but they are in the next microfilm which I’ve ordered. Of interest in the Floyd County deeds are several deeds between Griffith & Olive Reed, Nancy Reed, Permelia Reed, Philip & Celia (Priscilla) Reed Doss, Moses & Mary Reed Weddle. I think they may have been heirs of George Reed, Jr. (m. Nancy McGeorge). Griffith Reed started paying tax on half of the Reed-Wigginton grants in 1823, probably because he was the son-in-law of George Reed. Also in Floyd County, VA DB C, page 267 is a reference to Orman Delong who was in jail and the fact that he was desirous to be released in 1843. He apparently was a heir of George Reed (his w. being Sarah Reed), and had sued the heirs of George Reed, Sr. for his claim of this property. This property was sold to George A. Reed for $1106 1/4, the suit was pending in the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery on September 1842, so must have been resolved sometime prior to 10 June 1843 when the indenture was made between A. J. Kirby, deputy Sheriff and George A. Reed. I think these court records would be very helpful in determining the heirs of this George Reed and plan to try to obtain a copy of them.

I hesitate to offer you corrections on the material you have in your "Families of Floyd County, Virginia", but based on the above information, feel you will realize the facts are there, they just need to be searched and found. The following are some of the corrections that I feel need to be offered:

Griffith Reed b. ca. 1795, was the s/o Humphrey, Sr. & Permelia Reed, as proved by the land grants of 1829, he was listed as an heir. Since he was listed as a s/o Peter in Worrell’s marriages, this was more likely his brother Peter who was acting as surety since Humphrey would have been d. when Griffith m. 1818 to Olive Reed, prob. d/o George & Nancy McGeorge Reed. Griffith was also listed as H. son in the Montgomery County, VA tax records from 1824-1830. In 1823, he started paying tax on the property that was granted in 1818 & 1819 to George Reed, Jr. & John Wigginton, this was probably because he was acting as Representative for his father-in-law.

Humphrey Reed b. ca. 1791, s/o Peter & Lucy Spencer Reed, not Andrew Reed. Andrew’s son Humphrey was b. ca. 1779 & was the Humphrey A. Reed in the 1830 Census who was age 50-60 - he moved to Pike County, KY ca. 1836 (with my George Reed). Humphrey P. Reed, was the s/o Peter & was age 30-40 in the 1830 Census which would match the b. ca. 1791 in the 1850 Census.

Humphrey E. Reed b. ca. 1797; m. 1825 Nancy Reed was the s/o Humphrey Sr. & Permelia Reed, not George & Lucy. He was listed as an heir in the 1829 land deeds and was Humphrey Reed, Jr. age 30-40 in the 1830 Census. Most of Humphrey, Sr.’s sons used the middle initial E. His wife, Nancy Reed was listed as d/o George Reed in their marriage record, possibly the d/o George A. Reed m. Elizabeth Altizer. I think their son, Anamas in the 1850 Census may have been the Amos Reed b. ca. 1831 m. Permelia Chafin.

Michael Reed b. ca. 1801, s/o Andrew & Mary "Polly" Reed m. 1825 Delilah Reed, she was the d/o Humphrey, Sr. & Permelia Reed per the land grants of 1829 as Michael was listed as an heir.

Reed, Sarah b. ca. 1777, in the 1850 Census with Joseph Hewitt & family - this is Joseph Hurt who m. Elizabeth Reed, per the 1830 land deed between the heirs of William Reed & George Reed. Sarah was the w/o William and was in the 1820 Census as head of the household. This would have been Sarah Dulaney who m. 1790 to William Reed, s/o George Reed, Sr. d. 1807.

Spencer Reed b. 1786 m. Margaret Reed was the s/o Peter & Lucy Spencer Reed - not Griffith Reed as was listed in the marriage record (Griffith would not have been old enough!), Griffith was probably surety for his cousin’s marriage since Spencer’s father Peter was prob. d. by 1825. Peter deeded property to his 3 sons, George P., Humphrey P. & Spencer and son-in-law, Blanch Duncan prior to his death. Peter owned property on Indian Creek. Margaret Reed, was the d/o William & Sarah Dulaney Reed per the 1830 land deed in which Spencer is listed as an heir.

William E. Reed b. ca. 1798-1800 m. 1821 Sarah Dulaney, was the s/o Humphrey, Sr. & Permelia Reed per the 1829 land grants in which he was listed as an heir.

Nancy Duncan b. 1778 in the household of Squire Duncan, w/o Blanch Duncan, Sr. was not the d/o George W. & Anna McGeorge Reed who did not m. until 1786 (she was b. 1778), more likely she was the d/o Peter & Lucy Spencer Reed, since Peter deeded property to Blanch Duncan and Nancy named sons, Peter & Spencer.

Anna Reed b. 1797 m. 1822 John R. Duncan, she was the d/o William & Sarah Dulaney Reed, not Peter & Lucy Reed, per the 1830 land deed as John Duncan was listed as an heir. Probably her uncle Peter or cousin, Peter was surety when she m. since her father, William had died between 1816-1820.

Sarah Cox b. 1775 m. 1790 Ambrose N. Cox, Sr. was d/o George, Sr. & Anna Reed - no proof that George’s wife was called Nancy or that her surname was Wiggington. Her marriage record is the only record I’m aware of that gives a first name her George, Sr.’s wife and Sarah is listed as d/o George & Anna Reed. - same information for Carter Cox’s wife, Anna "Nancy" Reed.

Sarah Reed b. ca. 1805 m. 1826 John Chafin, was the d/o William & Sarah Dulaney Reed per the 1830 land deed in which John Chafin was listed as an heir.

Mary Reed b. ca. 1810 m. 1826 James Palmer was the d/o William & Sarah Dulaney Reed, not George Reed as listed in her marriage record, her brother George Reed, Jr. was surety (he used the Jr. when he m. probably as he was named for his grandfather, George, Sr.), James Palmer was listed as an heir in the 1830 land deed for William Reed, dec.d.

Permelia "Milly" Reed b. 1794 m. 1816 to Solomon Slusher, was the d/o William & Sarah Dulaney Reed, per the 1830 land deed, Solomon Slusher was listed as an heir.

Hope this information was of interest and will help you with your continuing work on the "Families of Floyd County, Virginia". If you have any questions or comments regarding any of this material, please feel free to contact me. I would be glad to hear from you.

Susan M. Jurban   Sterling Heights, MI

e-mail: sjurban21@comcast.net