THE CAPSHAW FAMILY HISTORY
SOURCES: Too numerous to list here but are included in text.
RESEARCH BY:
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Charles County Maryland has no birth, death or marriage records between 1659 and 1687.
1674 NovEMBER COURT TERM: From the Maryland Archives, Family Genealogy Sources, Charles County, MD., court records, page 590.
On 10 November 1674, Alexander Smith presents two men servants to be adjudged of their ages. One was named Robert Harrison, adjudged to be thirteen years old . The other, Francis Essex Capshaw, adjudged to be fifteen years old.
1683 St. Mary's County, MD, DEEDS:
John Caps, wife Frances and son John had received 150 acres land for transporting themselves to Maryland. Apparently, on this date they set over (deeded) their land to Francis Capshaw. This land was called Gideon's Morton (possibly Gideon's Wharton, the name being very difficult to read). Maryland, at that time, named most tracts of land.
1720 Charles County, MD.
Records show that James Thompson surveyed the land called Thompson's Hope.
1733 Charles County, MD.
Records show that John Anderson was on the rent rolls for the land called Foxes Race.
1734 Charles County, MD.
Upon the death of James Thompson, the land called Thompson's Hope went to his wife Jane Thompson. Dr. Preston Capshaw states in "CAPSHAW HISTORY" that Francis was her superintendent and that he later married her. No proof of that marriage exists, to our knowledge, but records of the time indicate that, at least, the marriage was possible.
1740 Charles County, MD.
The land known as Thompson's Hope was surveyed for John Tarleton, this land which was lately owned by Peter Thompson was willed at his death to his wife and McPherson men. The will is dated 14 August 1734.
1750 Charles County, MD.
Deed Book Z#2 shows John Anderson deeded to his daughter, Elizabeth Capshaw, part of the land called Foxes Race. This was witnessed by Thomas and Robert Stone.
1756 Charles County, MD.
Deed Book G#3, pages 14 and 15 shows Francis Capshaw and his wife Elizabeth purchased from Peter Gates, 139 acres called Thompson's Hope. This was witnessed by Walter Hanson and James Novisson.
1757 Charles County, MD.
Deeds show Francis E. Capshaw and his wife Elizabeth, giving as a deed of gift to their children, Francis, Essex, James and William, their lands in Charles County, MD. Witnessed by Thomas Brouthers and John Anderson (brother of Elizabeth Anderson Capshaw).
1762 St. Mary's County, MD.
Francis Capshaw sold Gideon's Morton (or Wharton), which had been set over to him by John Caps.
If Caps was written as it is here, and adding a slash under the superscripted "s", then there is a strong possibility that John Caps was Francis Essex Capshaw's father. Mrs. Ruby Blue (Ruby Lee Annis Capshaw, daughter of Daniel Watkins Capshaw) who did research on the Capshaw Family, stated in an old letter that she had seen the name on a document written as Caps. Mrs. Eloise Talley states that she has not been able to find the name written in this manner. This manner of writing a name was a form of "shorthand" and COULD HAVE been the British style of shortening the name Capshaw or possibly Capshire/Copshire, as some believe the name originally was. They believe that Capshire/Copshire could have become Capshaw due to the Southern speech mannerisms or possibly it is just the "Americanization" of the name Capshire/Copshire. This is, of course, pure speculation.Caps and Caps shows up on numerous occasions in James Hooten's book, "The Original List Of Persons Of Quality Who Went From Great Britain To The American Colonies 1600-1700". As I was browsing through this book looking for the Capshaw name, I saw both Caps and Caps, but at that time I was not aware of the above theories and paid no attention to it. This book is very popular among genealogical researchers and I haven't been able to find it in the library since.
Deeds from old Tyron, Lincoln and Rutherford Counties, NC. are in book form. Eloise Talley located one such book, and obtained the following information:
1769 Tyron County, NC. July Court 1769 John Sandford deeds to Essex Capshaw, for forty franks (sic), on the Main Broad River, South Side, adjacent to Mr. Beattie's line, 400 acres land originally granted October 1767 to Hugh Quinn and his wife Margaret. Witnesses: David Dickey and William Parker. . 1769 Tyron County, NC. Pages 86-87 (no deed book # provided) John Sanford deeds to Essex Capshaw of the same county, he being the son of Francis Capshaw, now deceased, and his now relict (widow) Elizabeth. John Sanford deeds, for love and natural affection for his half-brother, Essex Capshaw, half a tract of land on North Side of the Main Broad River, and witnessed by Peter Quinn and William Logan. Recorded October Term, 1769.
Research of the numerous counties of North Carolina have failed to show any record of Francis Capshaw ever having been in North Carolina. It is believed that he died in Charles County, MD. and his wife went to North Carolina with her sons. She is shown on the one deed with her son in old Tyron County, NC. Other records and deeds of Tyron and Rutherford Counties indicate that she most likely re-married to John Sandford (possibly Stanford) and they had a son whom was also named John. It is not known when Elizabeth died. An attempt needs to be made to located a will, or an estate for Elizabeth Sandford (Stanford) in either Tyron or Rutherford Counties. Another source of information could be a will by John Sandford (Standford), with his son being listed as heir and/or beneficiary.
Why did John Sandford (Standford) give his half-brother so much land? Is it possibly that the land was, in fact, the property of Elizabeth Capshaw Sandford (Standford) and therefore, Essex was entitled to the land in some such manner? There is no indication that any of the other children were given or sold any land. Perhaps there were other arrangements made for them? Lots of questions and very few answers