JANE DUDLEY. WIR00023. (d 1823 NC) WB Bk 9, p. 434, Feb term 1823
(Person Co. Compilations) Will made Feb 1821; proved 1823, Feb term.
Jane Sneed made her will in Person Co., NC 24th day of July 1821;
it was proved Feb term 1823. She made a bequest to her granddaughters Polly Sneed and Caty Sneed. She named "my worthy friend " Thomas Sneed
(her son) executor. Witnesses were John R. Sneed and Thomas Sneed.
She appears on the 1814 tax roll, Person Co., Capt. Fowler's District. Her son Thomas also appears on the same roll.
The estate of her husband Samuel was assessed in Person Co. in 1823. The acreage was 571 1/2; 2 white polls; 7 black polls. One stud horse $4.
This was in Captain Sweaney's district. Thomas and Dudley Sneed were also in this district, Thomas having quite a bit of land plus a number of
slaves.
(K. K. Kendall, PERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA COMPILATIONS, [Baltimore: Clearfield Co., Inc., 1997 reprint of 1978 edition] p. 117)
See comments under Samuel Sneed, Jane Dudley's husband, concerning their marriage and their relationship to William Dudley, believed to be
Jane's brother.
Dudley Gatherings:
Whether this person is connected to Jane's family is unknown:
From parish records of Christ Church, Middlesex Co.: William, son of James & Jane Dudley, born May ye 27 bapt June ye 9 1728. (See note at
bottom)
(National Society Colonial Dames of America, Middlesex Co. PARISH REGISTER OF CHRIST CHURCH [Richmond: 1897]). There were many Dudleys
in the Register but no Sneeds.
Apparently the father of Jane Dudley was John Dudley and not James Dudley, but they may have been related. In a letter
dated 20 Jun 1993, from Floyd Negley, Tucson, AZ, Williams-Snead-Dudley descendant, he indicates that John Dudley, the probable father of Jane
Dudley, died 1749/50. *
Caroline County, VA Order Book 1750-1752 [p. 248?]:
"Jane and Mary Dudley orphans of Jno. Dudley made choice of Wm. Dudley to be their guardian, who with Edmd. Pendleton his security acknowledged
their bond."
p. 249 [8 March 1750/1]
"The last will and testament of John Dudley was presented in Court by Wm. and John Dudley the executors therein named and proved by Jane
Tompkins one of the witnesses who declared she saw Jno. Wily, Mary Watkins and John Dudley Jr. witness the will. Certificate is granted for
obtaining a probate, who with Edmd. Pendleton their security acknowledged bond.
"It is ordered that John Wily, John Sutton, Henry Burk and Richd. George appraise the estate of John Dudley.
"William Dudley is appointed guardian to Ann Dudley orphan of John Dudley."
(John Frederick Dorman, CAROLINE COUNTY, VIRGINIA ORDER BOOK, 1746-1754, PART THREE, 1750-1752 [Washington DC, 1970], p. 17)
The fact that the two older daughters, Jane and Mary, could choose their guardians signified that they were older than age 14. Ann, on the other
hand, probably was under age 14 as she could not choose her guardian but had one appointed.
It is estimated Jane was born before 1736, as was her sister Mary. Ann Dudley, apparently the youngest sister, was probably born after 1736.
William Clayton Torrence, writing in WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY, Series I, Vol. XXVI, 1917-1918 (Kraus reprint 1966), p 42, abstracted
the following deed of Nottoway Co., VA:
January 25, 1802. Samuel Sneed and Jane, his wife, and Mary Jeter, of Granville Co., North Carolina to Rachel Dudley,
of Nottoway Co., Virginia, 600 pds currency, 133 acres in Nottoway Co. being part of the land on which William Dudley, decd, lived (the
house tract) and is part of tract which descended to said Samuel Sneed and Jane, his wife, and Mary Jeter, and Elizabeth
Lee, wife of Andrew Lee [Lea?], by the death of the aforesaid William Dudley, according to act of Virginia Assembly directing the
course of descents. Granville Co. NC Deed Bk. Q, p. 524: "Samuel Sneed and wife, Jane Sneed, and Mary Jeter deed to
Rachael Dudley of Nottoway Co., VA for all their
interests in the land and personal estate that descended to them by the death of William Dudley, deceased. Elizabeth Lee, wife of
Andrew Lee,
was another heir. Jan 25, 1801."
(Z. H. Gwynn's KINFOLKS of Granville County, NC, p. 47)
Negley further thinks William Dudley's first wife may have died, and that his marriage to Rachel Knight in 1784 was his second marriage.
Negley writes, "At his death in 1799, Virginia law said if no descendants, estate would go to wife and siblings. Therefore girls sold their
portions to Rachel."
Relationship to the Lea Family
It seems two of Jane's relatives, Elizabeth Dudley and Thomas Dudley, married into the Lea family, although we have no proof these are her
siblings. They were cousins, or perhaps aunt-niece-nephew.
Kathleen Booth Williams, MARRIAGES OF AMELIA CO., VA 1735-1815 (1961) indicates Jane Sneed was a witness to a Lea-Dudley marriage in 1769:
"23 November 1769. LEA, Andrew and Elizabeth Dudley, dau. of Thomas Dudley, who consents. Wit. to consent, William Dudley and Jane Sneed. Sur.
Thomas Dudley, Jr. p. L-1."
Andrew Lea is later found in Caswell Co. NC deed books, which county was formed 1777 and still later in Person Co. NC records.
Note Elizabeth Dudley, the bride, is said to be daughter of Thomas. However, John Dudley, according to the probate and guardianship papers, is
father of Jane (Dudley) Sneed, of Mary (Dudley) Jeter, and of Ann.
Letter from Floyd Negley July 1996 indicates that Thomas Dudley may have been the adopted or stepfather of Elizabeth Dudley, John Dudley,
deceased, having been the probable father. William Dudley is believed to be the brother.
Confusing these conclusions about relationships, however, is the same excerpt quoted above from Nottoway Co., VA deed book, entry dated
January 25, 1802. Additionally, there is this entry from Granville County:
(Zae Hargett Gwynn, ABSTRACTS OF GRANVILLE CO., NC WILLS AND ESTATES .....)
Granville Court Order Bk. 5-46-48, 28 Jan 1800: Stephen Sneed of Granville Co., NC, son of Samuel Sneed of Person Co., NC, appointed attorney
for his father Samuel Sneed to collect that due him from estate of William Dudley in Nottoway Co., VA, or any other county of Virginia. William
Dudley, my relation, now deceased. Wts: Sterling Yancey, Wm. Moore.
If this is Jane Dudley Snead of Granville, Caswell Co. and later of Person Co., NC, then Jane probably had these siblings: William Dudley,
Thomas Dudley, Jr. (?), Mary Jeter, and Ann, whom Floyd Negley says, married a Ragland. The relationship of Elizabeth Dudley is problematical.
See Samuel Snead's biography for some land transactions involving the Dudley heirs.
Elizabeth Dudley, as specified in the Amelia marriage record is a daughter of Thomas Dudley "who consents," indicating he was alive. Is he the
same as "Thomas Dudley, Jr."?
A slightly earlier wedding of a Dudley groom had taken place in Amelia Co.:
"23 Feb 1767. DUDLEY, Thomas and Milly Lea, of Nottoway Parish, dau. of William Lea, who consents. Wit. to consent Andrew Lea and Lucey Lea.
Sur. Andrew Lea. p. D-1." (1)
(Grata Jeter Clark in THE JETER MOSAIC states Dudley's wife was Elizabeth Lea, but we believe this is in error as indicated in the previous
excerpts. Perhaps Milly was a second wife of Thomas Dudley.)
We assume this is the younger Thomas Dudley, but the record is unclear. Was Milly Lea sister of Andrew and Lucey Lea?
According to J. Daniel Mahar, San Francisco, a descendant of Samuel Snead and his wife Jane/Jain Dudley, Andrew Lea and his sister Milly are
both identified in their father's will. (1)
From these varied documents, we reconstruct a tentative family group of the John Dudley's children:
William Dudley, ca. ..... of Caroline Co., VA; he married Rachel Knight (2nd marr?) 1784.
Thomas Dudley, Jr. (?) ... of Amelia Co., VA
Mary (b. bef. 1738, prob. Caroline Co., VA; m. Samuel Jeter, later of Granville Co., NC
Jane (b. bef. 1746, prob. Caroline Co., VA-d. ca. 1821 Person Co., NC); m. ca. 1759-60 to Samuel Snead, later of Granville Co., Caswell Co., and
Person Cos., NC.
Ann b. after 1736/38; she is believed to have married John Ragland (?).
Possibly Elizabeth who married Andrew Lea.
Intermarriage of Sneed Siblings with Williams Family of Granville County, North Carolina
Two of Jane (Dudley) Snead's children married children of William Williams (d. 1775) and his wife
Phillis (Beckham?) Williams:
Stephen Sneed was married in 1779 to Mary Williams, the sister of Samuel Farrar Williams.
In Granville Co., NC, in 1782, Hannah Sneed married Samuel Farrar Williams, brother of Mary (Williams) Sneed. It is unknown** whether Hannah
accompanied her husband, Samuel Farrar Williams to Henderson Co., KY. Her name does not appear on any documents, such as deeds and court
records, which have been examined in late 1995. Samuel Farrar Williams remarried in 1814 in Henderson Co., KY to a widow, Elizabeth (--)
Stephens and became the stepfather of her eight children, most of whom were girls.
(Source of marriages: Brent H. Holcomb, MARRIAGES OF GRANVILLE CO., NC. [Baltimore: 1981])
The Sam Jeters (Mary Dudley) resided for a time in Granville Co. One of their sons was named Dudley.
Other Dudleys in Virginia
There was a Robert Dudley in St. George's Parish (Spotsylvania Co., VA) who died 27 Dec 1766. (William Armstrong Crozier, VIRGINIA COUNTY
RECORDS, "Spotsylvania Co., 1721-1800). There were also Sneads/Sneeds in that county: Alexander, Charles, J., William. However, we find no link
to Samuel Snead.
No marriages for Snead/Sneed in Amelia Co. have been located. Perhaps they lived in an adjoining county.
From LUNENBURG COUNTY VIRGINIA MARRIAGE 1745-1810 (Researchers Publ.): Dudley, William - Rachel Knight, 12 Aug 1784."
The name "Dudley" as a forename occurs repeatedly in generations of Sneeds and of Williamses and their descendants:
Dudley Sneed, son of Samuel Snead of Person Co., NC
Dudley Williams, son of Samuel Farrar Williams, Henderson Co., KY (1822 tax list, Henderson Co.; also circuit court records [loose papers]).
Philip Dudley Negley, grandson of Samuel Farrar Williams, Henderson Co., KY and son of George Negley. (Negley's first wife is Nancy Williams,
daughter of Samuel Farrar Williams. Several of her children bore names linking them to the Williams-Snead family.)
Dudley Williams, son of Jesse H. Williams, res. in Ballard Co., KY ca 1860. (Jesse H. Williams is conjectured to have been the older son of
Samuel S. Williams of Hickman Co., KY and thus a grandson of Samuel Farrar Williams of Henderson Co., KY. He, Jesse H., was born ca. 1817 or
1818, according to 1850 and 1860 censuses.)
COMMENT:
Mistakenly, Jane's parents are said to have been John Dudley, Jr. and Ursala Beverly. The information comes from THE JETER MOSAIC, a family
history of the Jeter family, but this is undocumented. Jane's sister Mary Dudley married Samuel Jeter, resident of Granville Co., NC. However,
this Samuel Jeter is not to confused with another Samuel Jeter of Amelia Co.
Jane's maternal grandparents are said in THE JETER MOSAIC to be Robert Beverly and Ursala Byrd. Her paternal grandparents are said to be John
Dudley, Sr. and Beverly Hill. According to J. Daniel Mahar, who has long studied the Sneed-Dudley family of Granville Co., in a letter to this
writer dated 23 Jun 1993, he refutes this information and gives his reasons, based on his own research.
The Dudley-Hill and Beverly-Byrd genealogy is put forth in Grata Jeter Clark in "Samuel Jeter," in THE JETER MOSAIC (Ft. Worth, 1987). Few dates
are given, and no firm documentation of the sources. A letter dated 8 Jun 1993 from Mrs. Clark states she obtained a number of years ago the
information for Samuel Jeter from Frances Jeter Michaelcheck, 1181 Lake Road, Dyersburg, TN 38024. In other words, it was not based on her own
research.
Whether the following William Dudley is connected to Jane's family is unknown; the fact that his mother was named Jane Dudley is of interest:
From parish records of Christ Church, Middlesex Co.: William, son of James & Jane Dudley, born May ye 27 bapt June ye 9 1728.
(National Society Colonial Dames of America, Middlesex Co. PARISH REGISTER OF CHRIST CHURCH [Richmond: 1897]).
Note 1: Floyd Negley of Tucson, AZ. is now deceased. He and I connected some years ago when my aunt sent me a *found* letter [transcribed by her]
which was mutilated but had some names worth searching--place and date missing at the top and also signature at the bottom. I had been searching
Henderson Co. KY for a family named Weller, including 1850 census, not knowing that there was a family connection, except to know an early letter
from Aunt D. Stephens mentioned the Wellers, no details. One of the connections in the letter is that George Negley is dead, and your aunt Nancy
Negley has long been dead. (I think I found Negley's name on the internet, as he was an early user of the internet, using it with his civilian
job with the U.S. Army in southern Arizona, and also he was an avid genealogist, as well as being President of the Arizona Genealogical Society.)
This mutilated letter seemed to have been written by a man named Weller, probably by Frederick Weller. The letter mentions his sons, one of
whom has recently died on a voyage on the Mississippi River near Hickman Co. KY. The letter-writer named those sons: John David, Felix
Grundy,...... This specific letter mentioned that many of David F. Williams' associate (deduced from 1850 census and land records of Henderson
Co. KY, as well as naming patterns and deeds) were now deceased. However, the grieving father, deduced to be Frederick Weller, formerly of
Mississippi Co., AR, seemed to be a widower. Marriage records of Henderson Co., KY indicated that Frederick Weller had married ..... Stephens.
An Arkansas mortality schedule (ca 1850?) indicated a female named Weller had died. The corresponding regular census (1850?) indicated there was
an infant in the household of David Weller, but it is believed Frederick MAY have been the father of the babe.
Note 2: A Googlebooks search for Middlesex Co. VA indicated parts of a Vestry Book (Christ Church, as I remember) naming a good many Dudleys.
More sources to research 3/2013
**Note by DW: Hannah Sneed-Williams likely was deceased by 1800, the 1800 Granville Co. Census for Samuel F. Williams
did not include any females over the age of 15. |
|
WILLIAM DUDLEY. WIR00801. (ca 1740-d. ca 1798 or so) His date of death is deduced from Granville Co ct min Jan 1800, Sneed claim agst
estate. His date of birth is estimated as he was of age to be guardian of three sisters, Jane, Mary, Ann.
Lunenburg Co. Va Marriage Record
There is some evidence of a William Dudley-Rachel Knight marriage in the IGI, but a more reliable date is as follows.
The correct date is found in Lunenburg Co. bond: 19 Aug 1784. He was married on the same date by Thomas Crymes.
Reference: Will Book 3 page 185. (Daniel Mahar ltr 23 Jun 1993)
Death In or Near Nottoway Co.
Granville Court Order Bk. 5-46-48, 28 Jan 1800: Stephen Sneed of Granville Co., NC, son of Samuel Sneed of Person Co., NC,
appointed attorney for his father Samuel Sneed to collect that due him from estate of William Dudley in Nottoway Co., VA, or any other
county of Virginia. William Dudley, my relation, now deceased. Wts: Sterling Yancey, Wm. Moore.
(Zae Hargett Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County, North Carolina 1746-1808 (Rocky Mount, NC: Joseph W.
Watson, 1973)
Probable Siblings of William Dudley
Refer to the biography of Jane Dudley, believed to be sister of William Dudley.
Caroline County, VA Order Book 1750-1752 [p. 248?]:
"Jane and Mary Dudley orphans of Jno. Dudley made choice of Wm. Dudley to be their guardian, who with Edmd. Pendleton his
security acknowledged their bond."
p. 249 [8 March 1750/1]
"The last will and testament of John Dudley was presented in Court by Wm. and John Dudley the executors therein named and proved
by Jane Tompkins one of the witnesses who declared she saw Jno. Wily, Mary Watkins and John Dudley Jr. witness the will. Certificate is granted
for obtaining a probate, who with Edmd. Pendleton their security acknowledged bond.
"It is ordered that John Wily, John Sutton, Henry Burk and Richd. George appraise the estate of John Dudley.
"William Dudley is appointed guardian to Ann Dudley orphan of John Dudley."
(Source: John Frederick Dorman, CAROLINE COUNTY, VIRGINIA ORDER BOOK, 1746-1754, PART THREE, 1750-1752 [Washington DC, 1970], p. 17)
Floyd Negley, Tucson, AZ, a Sneed descendant thinks William Dudley's first wife may have died, and that his marriage to Rachel Knight in 1784
was his second marriage. Negley writes, "At his death in 1799, Virginia law said if no descendants, estate would go to wife and siblings.
Therefore girls sold their portions to Rachel."
Relationship to the Lea Family
It seems two of Jane Dudley's relatives, Elizabeth Dudley and Thomas Dudley, married into the Lea family,
Kathleen Booth Williams, MARRIAGES OF AMELIA CO., VA 1735-1815 (1961) indicates William Dudley and Jane Sneed were
witnesses to a Lea-Dudley marriage in 1769:
"23 November 1769. LEA, Andrew and Elizabeth Dudley, dau. of Thomas Dudley, who consents. Wit. to consent, William
Dudley and Jane Sneed. Sur. Thomas Dudley, Jr. p. L-1."
Note that Elizabeth Dudley, the bride of Amelia Co., is stated to be daughter of Thomas. However, John Dudley, according to
the probate and guardianship papers, is father of Jane (Dudley) Sneed, of Mary (Dudley) Jeter, and of Ann.
Letter from Floyd Negley July 1996 indicates that Thomas Dudley may have been the adoptive or stepfather of Elizabeth Dudley, John Dudley,
deceased, having been the probable father. William Dudley is believed to be the brother.
Confusing the relationship of Thomas Dudley to these females, however, is this excerpt from Nottoway Co., VA deed book:
"January 25, 1802. Samuel Sneed and Jane, his wife, and Mary Jeter, of Granville Co., North Carolina to Rachel Dudley, of
Nottoway Co., Virginia 600 pds. currency. 133 acres in Nottoway Co. being part of the land on which William Dudley, decd., lived (the
house tract) and is part of tract which descended to said Samuel Sneed and Jane, his wife, and Mary Jeter, and Elizabeth Lee, wife of Andrew
Lee, by the death of the aforesaid William Dudley, according to act of Virginia Assembly directing the course of descents."
(William Clayton Torrence, "Nottoway County, Virginia: Some Notes from the Remaining Records," WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY, Series 1, Vol.
XXVI, 1917-1918 [Kraus Reprint, 1966], p. 44)
Granville Court Order Bk. 5-46-48, 28 Jan 1800: Stephen Sneed of Granville Co., NC, son of Samuel Sneed of Person Co., NC, appointed attorney
for his father Samuel Sneed to collect that due him from estate of William Dudley in Nottoway Co., VA, or any other county of Virginia. William
Dudley, my relation, now deceased. Wts: Sterling Yancey, Wm. Moore.
(Gwynn, WILLS AND ESTATES)
If this is Jane Dudley Snead of Granville, Caswell Co. and later of Person Co., NC, then Jane probably had these siblings: William Dudley,
Thomas Dudley, Jr. (?), Mary Jeter, and Ann, whom Floyd Negley says, married a Ragland. See Samuel Snead's biography for some land transactions
involving the Dudley heirs.
Elizabeth Dudley, as specified in the Amelia marriage record is a daughter of Thomas Dudley "who consents," indicating he was alive. Is he the
same as "Thomas Dudley, Jr."?
A slightly earlier wedding of a Dudley groom had taken place in Amelia Co.:
"23 Feb 1767. DUDLEY, Thomas and Milly Lea, of Nottoway Parish, dau. of William Lea, who consents. Wit. to consent Andrew Lea and Lucey Lea.
Sur. Andrew Lea. p. D-1." (1)
We assume this is the younger Thomas Dudley, but the record is unclear. Was Milly Lea sister of Andrew and Lucey Lea?
According to J. Daniel Mahar, San Francisco, a descendant of Samuel Snead and his wife Jane/Jain Dudley, Andrew Lea and his sister Milly are
both identified in their father's will. This writer does not have a copy of said will. (1)
Whether the following William Dudley is connected to Jane's family is unknown; the fact that his mother was named Jane Dudley is of interest:
From parish records of Christ Church, Middlesex Co.: William, son of James & Jane Dudley, born May ye 27 bapt June ye 9 1728.
(National Society Colonial Dames of America, Middlesex Co. PARISH REGISTER OF CHRIST CHURCH [Richmond: 1897]).
There were many Dudleys in the Register but no Sneeds. Perhaps this is the same William Dudley who later became guardian of Ann
Dudley, but there is no proof. Ann, Jane and Elizabeth are said to have been daughters of John Dudley, but this William Dudley baptism states
his father is James, not John, Dudley.
|
