I came across a great source of information for the Varnedoe / Varnado family.
This Link from the
University of Texas covers the family journey and beginning life in America.
My largest source has been material from the Bible of Moses Varnedoe that
was copied by Harold Varnado, June 14, 1951. At that time the Bible was in
possession of Odom McDaniel. On one page it says that it was spelled Vernadeaux,
'in the tradition of John Eli Varnado's family'
The site above goes into the various name changes, mentioning that the family
name has apparently died out in the home land of France. It states that All
variations of the name today originally came from Leonard. In fact, even his
first name is shown as Leonhard (Varnedoe) in L.D.S. church records.
However it's spelled, the the family left a great legacy in the forming and
settlement of America.
There are stories of river travel carrying hides and rum. The rum incident
caused such a stir as to cause "an angry exchange" between the states of South
Carolina and Georgia. Leonard was also a professional soldier, and eventually
turned to farming.
Several sons of Leonard fought in the Revolutionary War, in some cases on
opposing sides. One, Henry, even fought on both sides.
After the death of Leonard, many of his descendants began a westward migration,
settling in what was to become Mississippi.
When I began researching the name, I was somewhat surprised at the
density of the Varnado surname in Mississippi and Louisiana.
The issue of slavery is covered in the above
Link,
mentioning that by the standards of the day, the Varnedoe's were "slave-poor".
It is my assumption that as slaves were freed, many took the name of their former
owners.
There is mention of a book written in 1986 by Louis G Varnado. It does not give
the title and I have not found it yet. However, it
is supposed to cover details of the family's westward migration.
Here is link for another site www.varnedoe.com
that has some great info, including reunions, coat of arms, and more history
The following is taken from, (and using their spelling):
Passports Issued By Governors Of Georgia,
1785 to 1809
and 1810 to 1820
(Page 28)
STATE OF GEORGIA
JONES COUNTY
THE BEARERS HEREOF LEONARD AND MOSES VARNADO BEING ABOUT TO EMIGRATE FROM
THIS STATE TO THE NATCHEZ TERRITORY..........THE SAID PERSONS CAME TO THIS
COUNTY THE LATTER PART OF LAST WINTER AND SINCE BIN RESIDING HAVE CONDUCTED
THEMSELVES AS GOOD CITIZENS AND ARE WORTHY OF THE RESPECT OF THE PUBLIC IN
GENERAL WHERE THEY MAY HERE AFTER SETTLE.
CERTIFIED BY ME THE 25TH DAY OF
OCT 1809.
JOHN COOK J.I.C.
(On Reverse)
RECOMMENDATION IN FAVOR OF LENORD AND MOSES VARNADO OF THE COUNTY OF JONES.
ORDER TAKEN 1ST NOV. 1809 L&M VARNADO RECOMMENDED.
WE THAT HAVE HEREUNTO SUBSCRIBED OUR NAMES DO CERTIFY THAT WE HAVE BEEN
ACQUAINTED WITH MR. JNO SHILLING ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS &FAR AS MUCH AS WE KNOW
OR BELIEVE WE THINK HIM AN HONEST PEACEABLE WELL DESPOS'D KIND OF MAN-
GIVEN
UNDER OUR HANDS THIS 2ND OCT.1809.
(Page 57)
WEDNESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 1809
ON APPLICATION
ORDERED THAT PASSPORTS BE PREPARED FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONS TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE
CREEK NATION OF INDIANS
-TO WIT-
ONE FOR WILLIAM BOILE,
ONE FOR JOHN SHILLING
AND ONE FOR LEONARD AND MOSES VARNADE OF JONES COUNTY-
WHICH WERE PRESENTED AND SIGHNED
(Page 62)
PASSPORT FOR GEORGE VARNEDO OF ORANGEBURGH DISTRICT S.C.
MARCH 2 1810
(Page 81)
MONDAY 18TH MARCH 1811
ON SEVERAL APPLICATIONS
ORDERED THAT PASSPORTS BE ORDERED FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONS TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE
CREEK NATION OF INDIANS.
ONE FOR MESSRS. SAMUEL VERNANDO AND JAMES HUGHES.
THE
FORMER WITH HIS WIFE SEVEN CHILDREN AND TO NEGROS AND THE LATTER HIS WIFE
NINE CHILDREN AND TWO NEGROS AND ONE FOR MR. JOHN O. MACKER WITH HIS WIFE AND
THREE CHILDREN, MRS SARAH MACKER AND NINE NEGROS ALL FROM ORANGEBURGH
DISTRICT S.C.
Descendants of Leonard Varnedoe
1 Leonard Varnedoe 1717 - 1800
...+Sarah Hutto Abt. 1720 - Abt. 1800
.2 John Eli Varnedoe 1747 -
.2 Leonard Varnedoe 1750 - Aft. 1811
.2 Sarah Varnedoe 1752 -
.2 Samuel Varnedoe 1754 - 1837
....+Sarah Newsom Abt. 1754 -
..3 Leonard Varnedoe Abt. 1777 - 1867
..3 Moses Varnedoe 1781 - 1855
.....+unknown wife (Varnadoe)
......4 Harriett Varnado 1806 -
......4 Lark W Varnado 1807 -
......4 Mitchel J Varnado 1809 -
......4 Wade Hampton Varnado 1812 -
......4 Alzada Varnado 1814 -
......4 Lucinda Varnado 1815 -
....*2nd Wife of Moses Varnedoe:
.....+Nancy Ward (Thompson) 1785 -
......4 Nathaniel M Varnado 1818 - 1893
.........+Azada McDaniel
......4 Clemenza O Varnado 1819 -
......4 Amanda Miller Varnado 1820 -
......4 Samuel Warren Varnado 1821 - 1887
.........+Narcissa Ann Hogan Abt. 1825 - 1873
..........5 George Riley Varnado 1842 -
..........5 Nancy Narcissa Ann Varnado 1846 -
..........5 Moses Jasper Varnado 1848 - 1929
.............+Samantha Adolphine 'Dolly' Lea 1850 - 1931
..............6 Rose Samantha Varnado
..............6 Mary Francis Varnado 1870 -
..............6 Benjamin Bolivar Varnado 1872 - 1960
..............6 Cora Ann Varnado 1876 - 1919
..............6 Moses Penn Varnado 1877 - 1962
.................+Mabel Ivy Breeden 1879 - 1944
..................7 Moses Varnado 1896 - 1896
..................7 Lale Herman Varnado 1898 - 1972
.....................+unknown (Varnado)
......................8 Helen Jo Varnado Abt. 1919 -
.........................+Oscar B. Copeland
....................*2nd Wife of Lale Herman Varnado:
.....................+Minnie Denson Barksdale 1899 - 1963
......................8 Katherine Virginia Varnado 1926 - 1981
.........................+John D Stout 1916 - 1994
......................8 Frederick Lale Varnado 1927 -
.........................+Patsy Jean Williams 1928 -
..........................9 Debra Susan Varnado 1951 - 1981
............................+William A. Nelson
...........................*2nd Husband of Debra Susan Varnado:
............................+John Randall (Carlson) Farmacka 1951 -
.............................10 Sandra Gail Farmacka 1976 -
.................................+Marco Antonio Leal 1974 -
..................................11 Alana Nicole Leal 1998 -
..........................9 Ashlea Dianne Varnado 1954 -
.............................+Michael Athan Holloway 1954 -
..............................10 Ashlea Michelle Holloway 1975 -
..............................10 Michael Athan Holloway 1979 -
..............................10 Jeffrey Lale Holloway 1983 -
..........................9 Kimberly Anne Varnado 1959 -
.............................+James Anthony Mitchell 1960 -
..............................10 Frederick Anthony Mitchell 1988 -
..............................10 Sean Allen Mitchell 1990 -
......................8 Margaret Ann Varnado 1930 -
.........................+Earl Johnston
..................7 Herbert Layton 'Late' Varnado 1901 - 1976
..................7 Lathan A 'Speck' Varnado 1904 - 1963
..................7 Livilla Varnado 1906 - 1982
..................7 Helen Leiva Varnado 1908 -
..................7 Loyce Maurice 'Red' Varnado 1910 - 1998
..................7 Lester Lee 'Fatty' Varnado 1912 - 1949
..................7 Lola Beryl Varnado 1915 -
..................7 Lula Eileen Varnado 1916 -
..................7 Lila Darlyn Varnado 1916 -
..................7 Lila Marie Varnado 1918 -
..................7 Olivet Varnado 1920 - 1925
..................7 Luther Glesner Varnado Abt. 1923 - Abt. 1984
..............6 Samuel Simeon Varnado 1880 - 1955
..............6 Ellis Moore Varnado 1882 - 1964
..............6 Iley Weston Varnado 1885 - 1904
..............6 Thomas Latham Varnado 1887 - 1902
..............6 Daisy Adolphine Varnado 1890 - 1916
..............6 Marcus Lee Varnado 1893 - 1975
..........5 William Samuel Varnado 1854 -
..........5 Frances Pauline Varnado 1856 -
..........5 Cinderella Corine Varnado 1858 - 1947
.............+Benjamin Franklin Westmoreland
..........5 Jefferson Davis Varnado 1861 -
........*2nd Wife of Samuel Warren Varnado:
.........+Mary Subrina Lea
..........5 Fleet Benjamin Varnado 1876 - 1954
..........5 Guy Pickney Varnado Abt. 1880 - 1965
.............+Elizabeth P 'Lizzie' (Varnado) 1886 - 1966
..............6 Lathan Claud Varnado 1924 - 1931
......4 Clarinda N Varnado 1824 -
......4 Moses R Varnado 1825 -
......4 Delilah Lafayette Varnado 1830 -
..3 Elizabeth Varnedoe 1783 -
..3 Arcadia Varnedoe 1784 -
..3 Mary Carmode Varnedoe
..3 Sarah Varnedoe 1786 -
..3 Nathaniel Varnedoe 1790 - 1856
..3 George Varnedoe Abt. 1791 -
..3 Samuel Varnedoe, Jr 1793 - 1873
..3 Isham Varnedoe 1795 -
...*2nd Wife of Samuel Varnedoe:
....+Nancy Herlong Bef. 1779 -
..3 Clarissa Varnedoe 1814 - 1868
..3 William Pearl Varnedoe 1811 -
..3 Rachel Varnedoe 1812 -
.2 Thomas Varnedoe 1756 -
.2 Anna Varnedoe 1758 -
.2 Henry Varnedoe 1759 - 1840
.2 Isaac Varnedoe
.2 Matthew Varnedoe