Royces, Hamp County
Hi,
My wifes Royce line in Hampshire County, VA / WV traces down from a John Royce born in VA about 1803 according to the 1850 Census, his son William H., his son William Sanford. Both Williams lived and died in Hamp County being buried with their wives at Levels Cemetery, Levels WV near Okonoko.William H. died in 1940 in Cumberland Maryland where he had moved in with his daughter Delena Royce Duncan.
This John has no wife in the 1850 census of Hampshire County only his kids Frederick W. Royce ( 1829 - ? that my desends from), Mary J. Royce (1835 -?), William H. (1837 - ?, not the William H. of the next generation), and Hannah E. Royce (1846 - ?).Odly John or the person giving Johns age is inconsistant.In 1850C he is 47, 10 years latter in 1860C he is 57, and then 10 years latter in 1870Census he is listed as 77 ??He disappears or dies after this 1870 Census and my searches of every graveyard that I can find in Hamp county reveal no readable HS for him nor his kid Frederick W. Royce.
I photocopied several Royce land deeds in Hamp County CH that go back to almost the REV War. I will be glad to try to scan these and send to anyone of interest. Acouple are not of the highest quality but when enlarged on your computer they are interesting.
Back to John on this page.On the Very oldest Deeds there is a John Royce(to old for my John).He seems to give or sell land in Hamp County to a Daniel Royse, it does not tell if this Daniel is his brother or son but has to be one or other.Daniel then dies in Hamp County in 1804, leaving the lands to his 4 surviving kids, Frederick, John (I believe my John-father of Frederick W., grandfather of William H., great grandfather of William Sanford. This John's wife Mary is mentioned in 1 or 2 deeds and she can't write as she makes her Mark on the deeds), and daughters Sarah and Hannah.One girl marries a Critton the other a Slane. I forget which is which but is on the deeds.
It appears that this oldest of the 2 Johns sells his land and moves to Ohio or Kentucky as deeds reference him living in Both.Then the Frederick also sells out and moves to one of the above 2 states. The married Royce daughters and their husbands seem to buy up the land of John and Frederick.
A Jacob is also mentioned who seems to be a child of Daniel Royce that dies in Hamp County, WV before Daniel dies in 1804.Hopes this helps some.