Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
I have for some time speculated that Robert Trayle,who resided in present day Sussex County,Del. from 1676 untill his death there in 1685, very possibly could have fathered children there with an indian woman. More specifically this would have been a Nanticoke indian woman for it was this tribe that dwelled in that area and far outnumbered the few European settlers that dwelled there while Robert Trayle was there. With the help of other well informed researchers it is a concensus among us that Robert was an undocumented son of James Trail and Mary Hamilton of County Down in Northern Ireland and would make his birthdate abt. 1650. Robert first appeared in Accomack County,Va. in 1674 and then of course died in Sussex County in 1685. As a young man it would be understood of his desire for female companionship during these years. Unfortunately there were next to none(European women that is) in Sussex while he was there because he was one of the first settlers there. To my point it was with this in mind that I went over Robert's will of 1685 and the people he split his estate amongst. I came up with a couple of interesting finds. One was John Manlove whom Robert left a substantial amount and had land dealings with. John Manlove also helped settle Robert's relatives,Rev.William Trail and his wife Elanore, when they arrived at Somerset County,Md. in 1683. I thought it interesting that John Manlove and his wife Elisabeth Lee, who moved from Somerset County to Sussex County,Del. in the 1670's as Robert did, named a child of theirs that was born there,Nanticoke. I found it even more interesting the information surrounding David Coursey whom Robert left 12 shillings and was the only person Robert left cash. It turns out the Courseys of Sussex County were renowned as Nanticoke Indian chiefs throughout the 17th and 18th century. The first reference I have of David Coursey at Sussex County is in 1676 the same year Robert Trayle appears there. As late as 1745 in Sussex County there are listed in historical documents 8 different Nanticoke Indian villages. The provincial govt. found it difficult to negotiate with so many different chiefs so they asked that the 8 different villages select one grand chief and it was then Miles Coursey who they selected at that time but he was apparently one of a long line who David must have been related.
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
Karen Keeling 8/14/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
George 8/19/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
Glenn Longest Bray 8/24/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
George 8/27/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
Glenn Longest Bray 8/27/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
George 5/07/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
Elsie Ritchie 5/08/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
George 5/08/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
Elsie Ritchie 5/08/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
5/10/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
George 5/10/00
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation
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Re: Robert Trail of Del. 1600's speculation