Re: A Byrd Family History by RE Byrd
-
In reply to:
Re: A Byrd Family History by RE Byrd
Deborah Byrd 4/29/07
Deborah, finding absolute information on John Byrd d. 1716 parents is elusive.With respect to a possible Valentine Byrd connnection there is nothing in the records of any variety I have heard of, seen, etc., that shows any connection.Only speculation that John 1716's father may have been a brother/relative of Valentine (speculation only on the part of a few people).Sometimes it is what is not said that speaks the loudest.With respect to descendents of John 1716 one of the loudest statements is that no one uses the given name Valentine.You will find Valentine in a number of genealogies of the Virginia line of Byrds but not John 1716.Another issue is Valentine's stature in the community.In Catherine Albertson's "In Ancient Albermarle" North Carolina Society of the DAR published 1914, Chapter III "Enfield Farm - Where the Culpeper Rebellion Began"; page 22: "so Timothy Biggs, of the Little River Settlement, was appointed surveyor of customs, and Valentine Byrd, of Pasquotank, collector of customs, with orders to enforce the navigation acts and other trade laws, so long disregarded."..."Valentine Byrd, himself, one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Albermarle, was by no means rigid or exacting in collecting the tobacco tax; and for several years longer, though the laws were ostensibly observed, numerous ways were found to evade them."...page 25"Durant...spent the day pleasantly enough talking to his brother planters, Valentine Byrd..and others."...page 26"The planters, among whom were Valentine Byrd, Captain Crawford, Captain Jenkins and John Culpeper, hearing of the disturbance, anxious for the safety of their friends, and fearing lest Gilliam should sail away before they had concluded their purchases, came hurrying in hot haste to the rescue."This shows a very galant and reasonably wealthy individual, someone that family members would be only too glad to include in family histories, stories, etc., and surely to name an offspring after.None of these issues ever appear in the annals of John 1716 descendents that I am aware of.In addition, with respect to Valentine's will, from Tera Byrd Averett's "Byrd History" page XXVII Dr. Charles R. Holloman's research report "An order to appraise his [Valentine's] decendent estate was issued by a Court of Grand Council (Chancery) on march 29, 1680, and there is some indication that he had orphans, though this is not proved certain.Valentine Bird [Byrd] had died intestate apparently, since nothing has been found to indicate that he had a will."There is no record of property being conveyed between Valentine and John 1716 or other Byrd then in the Albermarle district. Nor is there any record of John 1716 making a claim on Valentine's estate. While these issues are circumstantial they do indicate that there was no familial relationship between Valentine and John 1716.
I hope this is helpful.Please let me know if you have any further information or if I may be of any assistance.
Dave Montgomery