The Stinson Book

A Stinson Merry Christmas

2009-11-25T12:48:00.001-05:00

If you are planning to give "So Obscure A Person” as family Christmas gifts this year, the casewrap handcover version is available for $29.95 plus shipping only at Lulu.com. It is the best value of the various Stinson book cover editions, but you must order early for Christmas arrival. Here are the Christmas shipping deadlines: http://www.lulu.com/en/help/shipping_faq

I was pleased today, 25 November 2009, to see "So Obscure a Person" in paperback was ranked #50 amongst all Virginia genealogy books at Amazon.com.

The image, Stinson Book at Amazon, was originally uploaded by Edna Barney. It is posted here from her account.

George Presley Stinson

2009-10-14T23:29:00.003-04:00

The following obituary is for George Presley STINSON of Buckingham County, Virginia, who was a son of George W. STINSON. Their lineage back to Alexander STINSON is documented in "So Obscure A Person” on pages 127, 128.

BUCKINGHAM - George Presley Stinson, 92, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, at the Medical Care Center. Born Oct. 4, 1912, he was a son of the late George William Stinson and Sarah Elizabeth Via Stinson. He was a member of Appomattox Pentecostal Holiness Church and a retired timber cutter. He is survived by one sister, Lorine S. Bryant of Wingina, numerous nieces and nephews; and devoted friends who cared for him, Oscar and Ida Bryant. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Mamie Florence Stinson, Ester Mae Stinson, Gertrude Stinson and Thelma S. Ford. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at Robinson Funeral Home, by Buck Bryant, Buddy Bryant and the Rev. Oscar Bryant. Burial will follow in the Bryant Family Cemetery. (Newspaper Obituary - Lynchburg, Virginia)

Ebook Version of "So Obscure A Person"

2009-08-19T09:16:00.002-04:00

The genealogy of Alexander STINSON's descendants, "So Obscure A Person," is now available as an Electronic Document, an EBOOK.

So Obscure A Person

Correction to David STINSON, pages 64, 68

2009-08-17T12:36:00.015-04:00

I have examined an electronic photograph of a 1796 handwritten court document from Cumberland County, Virginia, which was not available to me when I gathered STINSON materials in the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, viewing microfilm, I made an assumption for the name of the wife of my ancestor David STINSON from my interpretation of the film. I confused a handwritten ampersand next to the letter "C" as the letter "M." A modern and more detailed photograph shows the phrase to be actually written as "&Cary," not "Mary" as I had read. Therefore, instead of referring to the wife of David STINSON, it was referring to David's brother, Cary STINSON. In books purchased before this date, on pages 64 and 68, of "So Obscure A Person," the wife of David STINSON should be described as "Unknown," not "Mary."

The Hoopers of Frome, Somersetshire

2009-06-03T08:40:00.000-04:00

Church of Saint John the Baptist

The HOOPER ancestors and cousins of the STINSONs of Buckingham and Cumberland Counties, Virginia, were recorded at the Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist in old England. They appear on pages 176 through 194, of "So Obscure A Person,” under "The Hooper Excursus." This image of the HOOPER's English church is from the 1895 publication of "The Cabells and Their Kin" by Alexander Brown. The CABELLS were cousins of the HOOPERS, the CARRINGTONS and the STINSONS.

The ancient parish church of the HOOPERS is located on Bath Street, in Frome and continues to be used for Anglican worship. It was founded in 685 AD by Saint Aldhelm and the present building was constructed in the middle ages on a Saxon site. Although it was restored in the mid-19th Century and a choir vestry added, there have been no substantial additions to it since the 15th Century. The architecture is a mixture of Norman, medieval and Gothic.

If you are curious as to how to pronounce the name of your ancestral home, here it is: Frome - the Audio.

Gertrude Paulin Stinson (1919-2004)

2009-05-24T21:52:00.011-04:00

The parents of Gertrude Paulin STINSON, George W. and Sarah Elizabeth STINSON, appear on page 127 of "So Obscure A Person,” where her father's lineage to Alexander STINSON is documented. "Girty" and her husband were first cousins and they grew up living next door to their STINSON grandfather. Charlie's father, Thomas M. STINSON appears with him on page 127.

The following obituary is from The Farmville Herald.

GLADSTONE, May 11 -Gertrude Paulin Stinson, 85, of Gladstone, died Friday, May 7, 2004.

She was born February 16, 1919 in Buckingham County, a daughter of the late George W. Stinson and Sarah Elizabeth Via Stinson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie T. Stinson, whom she was married to for 66 years.

She is survived by her children, Melvin Stinson, Dale Stinson, David Stinson and his wife, Jeanne all of Gladstone and Peggy Stinson dark of Schuyler; grandchildren, Carrie Stinson, Bud Stinson, Brenda dark Roberts and Theresa dark Harris; great-grandchildren. Jenny Roberts, Richie Roberts, Whitney Harris, Chad Harris and Spence Harris; a sister, Lorene Stinson Bryant of Wingina and a brother, George P. Stinson of Appomattox. She was preceded in death by a son, Charles Stinson.

Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Monday at the Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn, with interment in the Bryant Family Cemetery.

Jordan B. LeSUEUR

2009-05-19T09:51:00.006-04:00

Two LeSUEUR brothers, James and Jordan B. LeSUEUR, married into the STINSON family of Buckingham County, Virginia. The STINSON wife of JORDAN B. LeSUEUR, was his first cousin. The mother of the LeSUEUR brothers, Martha LeSUEUR, is cited on pages 60 and 62 of "So Obscure A Person.” Martha's sons, James and Jordan B., are on pages 59 and 63.

STINSONs with Indian Ancestry

2009-05-04T00:31:00.004-04:00

The STINSONS of Georgia and Alabama who claim Indian ancestry are descendants of George STINSON on page 99, of "So Obscure A Person,” who married Matilda McINTOSH, of the Coweta Creek nation or tribe. This information was provided by a descendant who purchased my book.

See the post "George and Matilda STINSON."

Thomas Cary STINSON

2009-05-02T18:14:00.002-04:00

For those descendants who are asking about Thomas Cary STINSON and his wife Mary Alice, they are documented amongst the STINSONs of Buckingham County on pages 123, 124, of “So Obscure A Person.”

Buckingham County Stinson Patriots

2009-04-06T16:17:00.015-04:00

On page 11 of my book, "So Obscure A Person,” I transcribed a petition that was signed in 1785, during the era of the American Revolution, by the STINSONs of Buckingham County. I mentioned another similar petition, pictured above, from Buckingham County, Virginia, on pages 77, 78 of "So Obscure A Person.” Copies of both original petitions are available on-line at the Collection of the Library of Congress. There is much more information as to the relationship between these Virginia petitions and the quest for freedom that birthed a new nation, the United States of America, at the Library of Congress site. I have written more about this petition and the people who signed it at "Patriots of Buckingham County."

Following is a transcript of the 1780 document that was made by Ginger Adams and Edna Barney:

To the Hon’ble the General Assembly of Virginia

The Memorial of the inhabitants of the County of Buckingham Representeth. That they conceived it to be a Fundamental principle of Government that, protection and Allegiance are reciprocal and that however policy and Humanity may induce a Legislator, to yield the protection of the Laws to men who refuse to give some proof of their allegiance to the State, yet Your Memorialists conceive it to be unwise to suffer them to injoy the same Privileges with those Citizens who have given every proof of their attachment which has been required of them. The Exercise of any of the learned pro- fessions gives their Professors an influence which improperly apply’d may prove dangerous to the State. It has been urged in defense of the Indulgences Granted to Nonjurors within their State; that the Test Oath is no proof of Attachment. It is true that the Test Oath may have been taken by artful men as a Cloak for the most infamous designs; but a true Whig can never refuse to take it as it only binds him to do that which his own principles would Naturally lead him to do. Your Memorialists with pain see men professed Enemies to the State, permitted to exercise the holy Function of Preachers of the Gospel; as they apprehend that the influence which that sacred Character gives to its possessor will prove dangerous to the Liberty of the Commonwealth. Your Memorialists actuated by the foregoing Considerations Pray, that proper Laws may pass to Silence all Nonjuring Preachers of every Denomination be deprived of their benefices such as have them; to prohibit such men who refuse to give proof of their attachment to the present Government from the Exercise of either the professions of Law or Physic, and to Levy double taxes upon all Nonjurors, as your Memorialists conceive it to be just, that those who are exempted from rendering personal service as Soldiers: should yield a Larger proportion of their Wealth; their property enjoying the protection of the Laws, Equally with that of the Rest of the Citizens.

(FIRST COLUMN)
E__. ___ Stinson
James Asley
John Wilson
Matthias Ayers
John Tayler
Thomas Word
George Carter
George Stinson
Boaz Ford
Wm. Wadmore
David Stinson
John Moseley
Saml Allen
William Walker
Jesse Johns
(SECOND COLUMN)
William Low
Cheatham Puck
Cary Stinson
Archibald _____
George _____
John Welsh
Anthony Deboll
Michael Jones
Joseph Bondurant Sen
Thed. _____
Wilson Brown
(THIRD COLUMN)
Wm. Perkins Junr
_____ Jeffress
_____ _____
_____ Agee
Thomas Kitchen
Wm Curd
John Drew

The image, Petition of 7 December 1780, is subject to copyright by barneykin. It is posted here with permission via the Flickr API by barneykin.

William Stimpson of 1703

2009-04-03T09:17:00.008-04:00

In Stafford County, Virginia Liber Book Z 1699-1709, pages 222, 223, is a gift deed of livestock dated 19 March 1703: "MARY STIMPSON do by this present do give to WILLIAM STIMPSON son in law to me the aforesaid MARY STIMPSON ..." I found this at Stafford County Courthouse where the book is still extant.

A WILLIAM STINSON of Stafford County, is cited 1699/1700, on page 3, of "So Obscure A Person.”

Betty Ann Burkes Stinson of 1781

2009-03-22T13:59:00.016-04:00

The image above is a snippet from Cumberland County, Virginia Order Book 1779-1784, page 55, dated 23 April 1781. You may see an image of the entire page HERE. I cited a transcription of this record on page 44 of "So Obscure A Person.” At that time I did not have access to this original, which shows the final statement to read: "and proved as to the other parties thereto subscribed by the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded."

Who was the person mentioned in this indenture, Betty Ann Burkes Stinson, of Buckingham County, Virginia, 1781? She is obviously related to Alexander Stinson, Senior and his children, when they all seemingly made an indenture to her in 1781.

Was she a daughter of Alexander Stinson, Senior, who did not share in the inheritance that he and his children had already obtained? Is this why she was named in this Indenture? Was she from a different mother than the rest of his children? If so, who was Alexander Stinson Senior's second wife?

Betty Ann Burkes Stinson seems to be named for Elizabeth Burk, wife of Doctor William Cabell, who are cited on page 197 of "So Obscure A Person.” In my book, I show how Doctor Cabell was related to the wife of Alexander Stinson. How was Betty Ann Burkes Stinson related to Elizabeth Burk Cabell?

The image, Stinson Indenture 1781, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Flickr. Thanks to Ginger Adams for sending this image to me.

A STINSON of the War Between the States

2009-03-15T18:12:00.004-04:00

I heard an interesting bit of family history on #74, JAMES STINSON (James Bryant STINSON), page 100 of "So Obscure A Person.” Descendant RUSSELL REEDER, mentioned that JAMES was a soldier during the War Between the States. Once when home on a visit, his uniform was in such tatters that the women in the household stayed up all night spinning and sewing to get him properly clothed again. Things were indeed hard for the boys who fought on the losing side of that battle.

I had noted that when the STINSON family was counted on the 1870 Census in Abbeville, Alabama (illustrated on page 99), the family was living next door to two black STINSON families also born in Virginia: ALEX and SARAH STINSON, and SAM and MARIAH STINSON. Mr. REEDER told me that when the STINSON family travelled from Virginia to Georgia in the early 1800s, they took a number of slaves with them, and the surnames of those slaves were STINSON. He said that one slave was the same age as GEORGE STINSON who was born about 1796.

Joseph C. STINSON of Buckingham

2009-02-23T19:16:00.005-05:00

The family of Joseph C. and Mary Jane STINSON of Buckingham County, Virginia are on pages 139-141 of "So Obscure A Person.” "Memoirs of Buckingham County and Along the James" by Emily Maxey Jenkins, 1985, lists some additional children for this family: John STINSON who never married, and Lee STINSON who retired as an Army officer. In addition, one daughter who never married was known as "Aunt Puss," smoked a corn cob pipe and was an old maid. That is news you can use.

Joseph S. Stinson of Buckingham

2009-02-23T18:55:00.009-05:00

Joseph S. STINSON and his wife of Buckingham County, Virginia are on page 164 of "So Obscure A Person.” I listed only one child for them. On the 1880 Census at James River District, I see additional children for them: Lillian STINSON, born about 1875; Clide STINSON, born about 1877; and a baby girl born 1879.

This same family appears on page 245 of "Memoirs of Buckingham County and Along the James" by Emily Maxey Jenkins, 1985, with children Parrish STINSON and Clyde Milton STINSON.

Ms. Jenkins' book has Clyde STINSON married to Edna Clive PAYNE of Buckingham County with daughters Mary and Christine STINSON. Clyde was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and died during the 1918 influenza epidemic. She includes a portrait of Clyde's wife and daughters.

UPDATE March 2009, Clyde Johnson wrote me at Facebook:

"I was adopted by Mary Stinson Johnson in 1952. I remember her sister Christine. Edna lived with us and passed away at our house in 1967. I have a portrait of Clyde.

"I only know as far back as Clyde and Edna Stinson and they were from Buckingham. These were my grandparents. I do know Clyde died in 1918 from the flu epidemic. Edna remarried Gordon Gentry I believe. My mother Mary Stinson Johnson lived in Richmond VA. Her sister Christine Stinson Rynerson lived in Washington DC. They had one child Charlotte."

Colonel John Mayo II

2008-10-25T15:40:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, while touring the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, I spotted a portrait of JOHN MAYO. Photography was not permitted inside and I was too tired to take any notes, so I have only my "Vanishing Memories" to remind me of what I saw.

I found online a listing of "Artists and Artisans Represented in the Julian Wood Glass Jr. Gallery," which lists the portrait I saw as "Colonel John Mayo II (1760-1818)" and the artist as "Charles B. J. F. de Saint-Mémin (1770–1852)."

This Colonel JOHN MAYO II seems to be a descendant of the JOSEPH MAYO and ELIZABETH HOOPER on page 182 of "So Obscure A Person.” ELIZABETH's HOOPER family were the ancestors of the HOOPER wife of ALEXANDER STINSON, who appears on pages 40, 41, 194, 206 and 207 of my book.

David Washington STINSON

2008-10-25T14:38:00.008-04:00

This post is in answer to the email following, received today. On pages 73 through 76, of my STINSON genealogy book, "So Obscure A Person,” I explain that when I encountered the will of David STINSON, brother of my ancestor Archibald STINSON, at Buckingham County courthouse, I was able to understand many relationships of my STINSON family. The will itself mentioned family members, but there were other documents in the extensive and complicated Estate Settlement, which helped in piecing together cousins, spouses, and others. These additional documents may have been loose papers, however, they were not hidden anywhere, as I was easily able to find them by using the courthouse index to the old records.

If these documents are no longer in the courthouse, I find that troubling, but not surprising. My experience in searching for documents in courthouses in Virginia is that many have disappeared. In the case of Buckingham County courthouse, there is the hope that these documents may have been "misplaced" during recent renovations, and will eventually be found. Unfortunately many documents are pilfered out of Virginia courthouses by "so-called" genealogists who feel they have a right to their ancestors' papers. "True" genealogists realize how harmful such pilfering is to the heritage of one's own ancestral family.

Hello, Edna,

I’m writing to ask for some research guidance, but first want to tell you how much I enjoy reading and using "So Obscure a Person.” It’s my #1 reference tool as I continue my Stinson research. I also want to thank you for including me in your citations. I’m very flattered!

On page 144 you write that on 24 April 1884 D. W. (David Washington) Stinson signed a receipt for the money he received from his Uncle David’s estate, and you quote the receipt’s text. You also state that the receipt is on file at the Buckingham C.H. Unfortunately, that may no longer be true. Three weeks ago I spent the day a the courthouse pressing the Clerk, Malcolm Booker, and his staff to please locate D.W.’s receipt. The problem seems to be that when the staff moved back into the renovated Courthouse from their temporary quarters in 2002 (I think) they did not refiled many of the older documents. I was told that many old documents are simply piled up in the basement. I had to return to Virginia Beach that day but offered to compensate anyone on the staff who could find the receipt for me. When I called several days later I was told that Mr. Booker had “spent days” searching for the receipt but had failed to find it. They concluded that it’s not there.

Of course, I believe the receipt IS there, just as you say on page 144. Brenda Kitchens offered to try again if I could provide her with more clues about its possible location. Edna, can you offer any advice about where they could look to find D.W.’s receipt?

Gratefully, Kathy Stinson Hessmer

Virginia Beach

Mary STINSON, 1662

2008-10-18T18:25:00.004-04:00

"JNO. LEWIS & THOMAS MICHELL, 1680 acs. New Kent Co., 15 Jan. 1662, p. 84 (565). Beg. At Mr. Michells land, N.N.E. by Westover path, thence to Coll. Gooch’s cor. tree &c. Trans. of : Wm. Thornton, Rich. Boyne, Thos. Shugge, Law. Baker, Tho. Walder, Ellen Harwood, Mary Stinson, Jane Mayson, Rich. Saucer, Jno. Tillett, Geo. Catleton, Bryan Hazlewod, Ann Lulow (?), Eliz. Palmer, Joane Madd, Hugh Davis, Jno. Gunne, Wm. Colvert, Eliz. Gittins, James Ridly, Mary Taylor, Eliz. Smith, Ann Norton, Bridg. Black, Nich. Hart, Nich. Flower, Wm. Pearce, Rich Overton, Ann Shilooe (?), Tho. Hanson, Sarah Russell." ("Cavaliers And Pioneers Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1666," Volume One, Abstracted and Indexed by Nell Marion Nugent, Virginia Land Office, Richmond, Virginia)

I cannot place this Mary STINSON of New Kent County, Virginia with anyone connected with Alexander STINSON of "So Obscure A Person” who was born about 1710.

Thomas BRYANT of Cumberland County

2008-09-30T19:18:00.005-04:00

The Thomas BRYANT on page 43 of "So Obscure A Person,” was married before 1783, according to source #75 on page 60, which references the will of his father James BRYANT.

According to the 1783 will of James BRYANT, Thomas BRYANT had daughters Elizabeth BRYANT and Fanny BRYANT, both born before 1783.

**UPDATE: Please read the comments as to whether Elizabeth and Fanny were one person or two.

George and Matilda STINSON

2008-09-28T17:21:00.012-04:00

Chief William McINTOSH was a Coweta Creek Indian whose sister married into the STINSON family of Georgia and Alabama. The father of McINTOSH was Scottish. This image of a hand-colored lithograph is from the McKenney-Hall History of the Indian tribes of North America (1858), after the 1825 painting by Charles Bird King.

The George STINSON on page 99 of "So Obscure A Person”, was married to the sister of Chief William McINTOSH, before 1824. According to "The Politics of Indian Removal," Michael D. Green, 1985, pages 61, 62, 68, George STINSON was heavily involved in Indian trading and affairs with his brother-in-law Chief William McINTOSH. STINSON was arrested, his goods confiscated, and he was indicted at U.S. District County, Savannah, in August 1824. At the trial it was stated that George STINSON was married to a Creek woman and therefore an "adoped ... citizen of the Creek Nation." His defense rested upon his not being subject to trade restrictions of United States law, as he was an adopted Indian. Amazingly, STINSON was aquitted by the jury. William McINTOSH had a half brother from Savannah named John McINTOSH. From the 1850 Census, we see that the wife of STINSON was named Matilda.

Russell REEDER, a descendant of George and Matilda STINSON said that his mother knew the granddaughters of Matilda and they related that she was always proud of her native American ancestry.

On 26 December 1833, there is a land grant of 40 acres to George STINSON, 19th district, Section 2 lot #677, in Cherokee County, Georgia (George STINSON Papers, Georgia College and State University Library).

James Bryant STINSON

2008-09-28T15:19:00.009-04:00

This is basically some additional information for #74, James STINSON on page 100 of "So Obscure A Person.”

According to descendant RUSSELL REEDER, the full name of JAMES was "JAMES BRYANT STINSON." This seems to continue the inferred BRYANT name from his grandmother Anne, the wife of Cary STINSON. This discovery also lends further credence to the inferred father of Anne on page 62 of my book. I had found him as "James R. STINSON" in the following "transcribed" marriage record. That was probably a misreading of the letter "B" by the transcriber.

The information for his marriages came from “Marriage Records 1838-1859 Barbour county, Alabama,” by Helen S. Foley, 1990: "James STINSON and Martha SENN, 14 apr 1859, by J.G. McLendon, JP" (page 100) and "James R. STINSON and Emily Talbot, 5 Octr 1859, at Wm. King’s by Jack Hardman, J.P." (page 102).

Descendant RUSSEL REEDER told me that James and his brother Alexander W. STINSON married sisters, who would have been the TALBOT wives who appear on page 100 of my book.

Page 126 - Typo

2008-07-02T09:00:00.003-04:00

On page 126 of "So Obscure A Person” (Hardcover), the last sentence should begin: "He is believed ...," not "evHE" as printed.

George HOOPER of Buckingham County

2008-05-30T13:23:00.008-04:00

I have found that the George HOOPER on pages 204 through 206 of "So Obscure A Person,” signed a Virginia Religious Petition in Buckingham County to silence non-juring preachers. This petition was dated 7 December 1780, and the signature of Joseph HOOPER appears also, along with his STINSON first cousins, David, George and Cary STINSON.

On pages 66 and 67, of the above book is an image of David STINSON's signature on the petition and more information about the 1780 petition.

The original scan of this petition, including all of the signatures may be viewed at the Library of Congress web site: Early Virginia Religious Petitions.

Page 193 - Typo

2008-05-20T13:07:00.002-04:00

On page 193 of "So Obscure A Person” (Hardcover), the phrase in the first paragraph "the following month, January 1751" should read "the following year, January 1751."

Page 191 - Typo

2008-05-12T18:35:00.002-04:00

On page 191 of "So Obscure A Person” (Hardcover), there is a typographical error. In the third paragraph the word "once" should have been written as "one."