Mabel Clair George

Notes:

An Extraordinary Homeplace ? REVISITED
Memories Longing to Resurface

This example of early Colonial Architecture in the Pittsville Community of Pittsylvania County, Virginia was the home for three generations of the George Family. The Cabin was built by Cornelius McCaney George, and after his death his son Ashford and his family lived there. Ashford lived there with his daughter, Zorada and her husband Sam Stevens and at his death the farm was left to Zorada.

This cabin is not only remarkable for its hand-hewn, square-notch log construction, but also for the rare cross-jointing that allow two rooms in one structure. Most cabins with two rooms will have an interior partition separation and not a true inter-notched wall. Because this dwelling is taller than most log structures, the ceiling joists notches an also be seen. The George homeplace, as a result, has taller ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms than most cabins of the era.

The dwelling sits on a fieldstone foundation and has a gable roof with a half-log cornice, another rare feature. A fieldstone chimney stands at each gable end and small four-pane windows on each side of the chimneys open into the upstairs rooms. The cabin has a front entrance, opening into one on the first-floor rooms, while the back of the dwelling has two entrances, one for each room. Windows, one on the back and one on either side of the front entrance, were once six-over-six pane, double sash windows. Inside is another uncommon feature. Narrow chamfered planks appear to cover the chinking which would make the cabin much warmer during the winter. The walls are whitewashed. A narrow, closed winder stair is located to the back of one of the rooms, near the back door - a feature much admired as it conveniently allowed family members to enter the back door and go to their chambers or bedrooms upstairs without tracking through the downstairs area. Mantels, with pilasters on the sides, have a heavy chamfered and slightly curved panel on the frieze compatible with the dwelling's 1819 construction.

To the left of the remarkable cabin is the family cemetery, Three generations of the George family buried there are: Cornelius McHaney George & his wife Ann Dove, Ashford George & his wife Sarah Elizabeth McClanahan, Francis Lafayette George & his wife Deleware "Della" Augusta Yeatts.

Complied & submitted by Ginger George Gentry. G-G-G grand-daughter of Cornelius & Anne George.



Article from the Chatham Star-Tribune:

A Houston, Texas, man is trying to reach relatives to help save the Old George homeplace, later called the Old Stephan's Place, on Old Pittsville Road west of Gretna.

According to Hunter George, Cornelius McHaney George built the cabin in 1817 for his new bride, Ann Dove, after returning from Detroit, Michigan. The War of 1812 was on and George was commissioned a captain and ordered to lead a troop of Virginia volunteers from that area to Detroit to help fight off the British Army attempting to burn the city. Four generations of Georges lived in the homeplace, which is now on private property. "We want to move it by the family cemetery nearby and do some restoring work," said George. George grew up in Lynchburg, but since high school has lived in Texas as a member of the U. S. Air Force. "I grew up listening to my father and grandfather tell stories about living there," he said. "I didn't know that it was still standing until just recently and realized it's historical importance. George has family in Virginia and North Carolina. George Family Homestead · This 200 year old log house needs to be moved and restored. The family is looking for $25,000 to $35,000 to have it moved. This is the beginning and we are hoping that this goal will be met very soon. There will be assorted means to raise money, in the end a Reunion to celebrate the gathering of the George Family!

Here is a partial list of people who were associated with the Old George Place having married into the Family: Ann Dove, Rosa McClannahan, Susan Roark, Amanda Blankinship, John Green, Sarah Hamrick, Sally Hatchat, Richard Turner, Alexander Duncan, William Lackey, Thomas Simpson, Willian S. Ramsey, Sherwood Yeatts, Martha Hopkins Meyers, Elizabeth S. Jefferson, Sara Willis, Sara E. McClannahan, Burwell Short, John W. Jennings, Paula E. Goad, Delaware A. (?), Nannie K. Pickeral, Samual J. Stephens, Matthew Lyles, and William H. Tuck. There are probably more that I don't know about.

Should you be related to one of the people, please contact me. You have a right to be a part of the plan to save the Historic old 220 year old Family Treasure and know more about your family history.






Following is the explanation from Hunter George about his painting of the ....St Nicholas Church of England is in the little town of Tillingham in Southminister, Essex, England. Humphrey Cole, was the Vicker in the early 1600's. One of the Vickers daughters, Jane, had met John George from the nearby village of Writtle and they wanted her father to marry them in the church. Soon after they were married, they made the long voyage to America and landed in Virginia in 1635. John had three children, Isaac, Rebecca and Sara. When Jane died John married Anne Gibson.
At Humphreys death in 1624 the congregation collected money and comissioned a stained glass window be installed in the church in his honor. He is buried under the pulpit floor.

Karen Wood

IS this the George home near Gretna? I was there maybe 10 years ago with my cousin, Earleen George (Craddock) now deceased. Her father Early Cripin George was born in that cabin, s/o Francis Lafayette GEorge and Della Yeatts, He was the son of Ashford George & Sarahh McClanahan, who in turn was the son of Cornelius M George and Ceily Dove. Ceily was the sister of my GGGGrandmother Jane Dove m. Booker Keesee. Thier daughter, Sarah/Sally Keesee m Thomas Colbert. Their son. Auville Thomas Colbert was my Great Grandpa m. Mollie Scruggs. Their daughter, my Aunt Bessie m. Early Crispin George. To make it more complicated I have a George 6th greatgrandmother Edna m James Pemberton DeJarnette. They lived in Halifax Co but on land that became Pittsylvania Co up in the closest to the Levels area. I've found the son's cemetery (George Dejarnette) but not the father's nor Edna's grave. Behind the George Cabin, if it is the one I think there is are George/Barbour graves.

Cornelius married Louella Clark Jefferson 1891. Louella (daughter of William Franklin Jefferson and Adaline A. Grubb) was born 4 Feb 1873, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 10 Jan 1950, Danville, Virginia; was buried , Leemont Cemetery Danville, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Written by Hunter George:
THE SONS OF CAP GEORGE
By Quentin Cline
This is a "teaser" for the short story I'm writing about the sons of Cornelius George and their experiences during the Civil War. I'm still in the process of writing the story, but hopeful this will "wet your whistle." Look for the story and a website dedicated to saving the old George Cabin. It's coming soon!
I?m using Noten George to tell the story of each of the Sons. It should be noted that what the Sons say and the day to day activities are fictionalized, however the battles, the blood and the unbelievable hell they went through were real.
?
NOTEN GEORGE-- ?I stared at that there ten dollar gold piece with a peculiar eye. Here they was, what was left of the whole Confederate government, givin? me a Yankee gold piece. Mighty peculiar... Now don?t you fret none, I took it quick and put it in my pocket. And that be where it stayed ?til I got myself back home to Pittsylvania County. That specie was like some kinda reward for all that meanness and bitter times got throwed on me. Come hell nor high water twern?t no way was I ever gonna spend it. Be like losin? my soul.?
It was June 20th, 1861 that Hugh, one of the twins, took the wagon into Rorers to join up. He was the first of us George boys. Made no sense to me. Sure he wanted to fight them Yankees that was threatenin? to come down here and put us Southerners in our place. But Hugh was a cripple. Seems he fell outta a tree when he was eight or nine and busted up his leg right smart. Never the same since. Me and Ash told him they would not want him with that bum leg and all. It was a good two inches shorter than the other. He limped like a shoe-throwed mule. I reckon he went to sign up anyway. Prob?ly did it to prove he weren?t no cripple. His wife Lizzy cried and begged him not to go. But ol? Hugh was stubborn. He left her sobbin? in the dirt of the yard. He could be a might mean sometimes.
When he gets to Rorers there was this line of boys signin? up and ol? Hugh gets right in there with the bunch of ?em. When his time comes Hugh eases up to them officers and tells him his name. They sign him in. Hugh musta been a grinnin? cause he was gonna be a soldier! But then he turns to walk away and they see him a limpin?. An officer calls him back. He gets told that unless he can run and keep up with the other men they cannot use him.
Hugh says, ?I can keep up with any man!?
So they put in a kinda race. Right then and there they make ol? Hugh run with four or five other fellas. It ain?t even close. Hugh straggles along only now he?s done gone and hurt himself and limpin? even more. They was about to take his name off of that there paper when Hugh begged them to leave it on. He says he can do it. Give him some time. That officer musta felt sad for ol? Hugh.
He nodded, said, ?All right. Soon as you can run same as any man, we?ll take another look at you. We?ll put you down as sick for now.?
So Hugh?s name stayed on them papers. And everyday for a month Hugh?d get outta bed, even ?fore breakfast, he?d go out to the road and run fast as his crippled leg would carry him. Weren?t good enough. One morn? he tossed back the covers, looked at that leg... Well, Lizzy told me later that ol? Hugh cried like a baby. He never tried to run again. But his name stayed on them papers. And I told him later I was proud of him. He joined up first. Yep, we was all proud of him

Noten married Matilda Hopkins Myers. Matilda was born Abt 1828, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 17 Dec 1895, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; was buried , George Family Ceme. Gretna, Pitts. Co., VA. [Group Sheet]

William married Adaline A. Grubb Bef 1855. Adaline (daughter of Jesse Grubb and Mary Grubb) was born Abt 1833, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/pittsylvania/misc/j1620000.txt
The Jefferson Family of Pittsylvania County

N. E. Clemenet

William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 23,
No. 3. (Jan., 1915), pp. 181-182.

Page 181.

THE JEFFERSON FAMILY OF PITTSYLVANIA
COUNTY.

Communicated by Mrs. N. E. Clement, Chatham, Va.

In number 3 of Vol, XXII., in an account of the Allen family,
mention is made of he marriage of Elizabeth Allen to Field Jefferson,
mother of Col. Peter Jefferson, of Albemarle. Field Jefferson's
will, dated 1762, is filed at Mecklenburg Courthouse, and in it he
names four sons, viz.: Thomas, Peter Field, George and John.

George Jefferson patented large bodies of land in Pittsylvania
County, a part of which he later sold to his brother Peter Feld.

In the first lists of tithables taken in Pittsylvania County we
find,
"List of Tithables taken by George Jefferson in Pittsylvania
County, Camden Parish, Year 1767."

In list occurs following items:

"George Jefferson (Mecklenburg)
John Davis, Overseer, and negroes (to wit), Land
Tithes Acres.
Sam, Chance, Pompey, Phillis, Pal and Sary 7 8000

In May, 1774, George Jefferson, of Lunenburg, sells to Peter
Field Jefferson, of Mecklenburg, for L120, 409 acres on Turkey
Cock Creek, Pittsylvania Co.

For L60, 321 acres on Sailor's Creek, Pittsylvania Co.
For L500, 1005 acres on Turkey Cock Creek, Pittsylvania.

Again in 1776, he sells him 140 acres in Pittsylvania. Peter
Field Jefferson must have soon after this removed to Pittsylvania
County to live, for in 1779 we find him selling 380 acres for L350
to Elisha Walker, and in the deed giving his place of residence as
Pittsylvania County. There is no will of Peter Field Jefferson
recorded in Pittsylvania, but there is one of his wife, Mrs.
Elizabeth Jefferson, dated 1828. In it she mentions

Page 182.

following children: Sons Field Jefferson, John Jefferson, Samuel A.
Jefferson, Alexander Jefferson, Archer Jefferson, dec'd, and Thomas
Jefferson, dec'd; daughters Patsy Brewer and Judith Jefferson. From
the marriage Register we find that on Feb. 27, 1806, Thomas Jefferson
married Elizabeth Ball. Feb. 20, 1808, Alexander Jefferson married
Elizabeth Smith. Alexander Jefferson's will is dated 1837 and
probated 1838.

A grandson of Alexander Jefferson, Col. David Alexander Jefferson, of Chatham, Virginia is a prominent member of his family to-day.
Piedmont Lineages, a publication of the VA-NC Piedmont Genealogical Society Volume XVI No.2 May 1994, The Jefferson Cousins of Pittsylvania County, Virginia: may be seen at Danville Public Library, 511 Patton Street, Danville, Virginia

Noten married Elizabeth 'Betsy' Carter 15 Mar 1830, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Elizabeth (daughter of Nathan W. [Nathaniel] Carter and Nancy Elizabeth "Betsy" Adkins) was born Abt 1813, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 1855, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Jesse married Mary Grubb Bef 1833. Mary was born Abt 1810; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]