The Genealogy Database of Byron P. Johnson |
I post the following information hoping that fellow genealogists will find pieces to their family puzzle and at the same time maybe add a branch or two to my tree. Much of this information comes from secondary sources and if primary sources are not referenced, the facts should be verified. My primary research consists mainly of census, marriage, death records, and family documents. Most lines are fairly well documented back into the late 1700s. Prior histories are mostly compilations of the work of others. The documentation of this compiled history is sketchy, but sources are cited when available. I will welcome any information with regard to this database, but especially hope to eliminate errors and develop additional source documentation. |
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UPDATED 10 JUL 2000
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Copyright © 2000 by
Spook and Decker, INC.
FAMILY HISTORY OVERVIEW A few years ago, after I retired from a career as an archaeologist, I began wondering about my own “cultural history”. Most of my professional effort had been focused on the past of others, which for some reason always seemed more interesting than my own. I’m not sure what prompted my interest in the family history; maybe it was just having some free time to consider it or maybe we reach a point in life when our past becomes more important. Whatever the reason, genealogy has consumed a lot of my time over the last five years. My early ancestors lived in England, France, Holland, Ireland, Wales, and probably other European countries that I have yet to identify. Most of them arrived in this country before the Revolutionary War. They came to ports along the East Coast and then followed the major migration routes; either the King’s Highway along the Atlantic Coast or the Great Road on the eastern edge of the Appalachians. Along these roads they moved south into Virginia and North Carolina. They would remain in one locality for a generation or two, but there was always something drawing or pushing them toward the frontier. Since most supported large families by farming and hunting, it is easy to see how increasing population and availability of land could be major factors in their continued movement. When older children started new families, the choice was to divide the existing land into smaller parcels or to move the entire extended family to where land was plentiful. During the 1790s and early 1800s, the families began to move west along the Wilderness Road, through the Cumberland Gap, into Tennessee and Kentucky. By 1830 some were in Missouri, and by the 1840s others were located in Illinois. My mother’s parents came to Colorado from Iowa in 1922 and my father’s from Missouri in 1917. By the time I was born, farming and large families were beginning to fade from the American experience. Both my parents and grandparents remained in Colorado, but I have inherited the “frontier gene". I have lived in Colorado, California, New Mexico, and now Nevada; but my frontier may only be a mirage – shimmering in the distance. I do know that Las Vegas, from where I write this and for all its appeal to some, it's not my idea of the frontier. |
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OVERVIEW BILLIOU / BILYEU The early Billiou/Bilyeu family history included in this database is based primarily on the "Workman Family History" by Thelma C. Anderson published in 1962 by Publisher's Press, Salt Lake City, Utah. A number of people have called into question various connections and dates used in this work. A major point of contention is the connection between Thomas Billiou and Pierre Billiou. A family link may exist, but it is highly unlikely that Pierre is the son of Thomas. However, you will find them linked in my database as a matter of convenience. Many minor points concerning later descendants of Pierre are also questioned, but difficult to resolve due to a lack of documentation in the book. Anderson does not give sources for specific events in the text, but instead posts a short general list of sources at the end of the Bilyeu Chapter and credits the research to a Mrs. Lydia W. Billings. There is no way to tie an event to a source without essentially redoing the research. Even then, some of the source descriptions are so vague (for example, New Jersey Genealogical and Biographical Records) I doubt that you would be able to find them. So, why am I using this work? The volume obviously contains errors and documentation is almost nonexistent, but it exists in hardcopy and can provide a common starting point for researchers. In computer lingo you could call it a "beta test version". During the beta phase we can discover errors, make corrections, and eventually create a much improved history of the Bilyeu line.
Thomas Billiou, the earliest known ancestor in the line, came from La Bassee or Wicres France about 1600. The Billiou family were French Huguenots, a group who had suffered persecution because of their religious beliefs since the middle 1500s. By the 1620s, probably driven by the intolerance in France, Thomas and his family moved to Leyden, Holland. In 1661 Pierre Billiou, son of Thomas, sailed from Amsterdam with his wife and five children. When their ship of passage, the St. Jean Baptist landed in New Amsterdam, a sixth child was on board. Isaac Billiou had been born during the crossing. Pierre Billiou settled on Staten Island when New York was still under Dutch control and lived there until his death in 1708. Many of the Bilyeu descendants (by the second generation in America the Billiou spelling was no longer used) moved into Somerset, New Jersey and by 1780 to Allegany, Maryland. Peter Bilyeu, the 2nd great-grandson of Pierre Billiou, left Maryland and was in Hardin, Kentucky by 1799. He was also found in Green, Kentucky and Overton, Tennessee before moving to Christian, Illinois where he died in 1863. While the Bilyeus in my line moved into Christian County, Illinois, many others who followed the same route into Kentucky and Tennessee did not. Some remained in those states, but a large number went to Missouri and eventually to Linn, Oregon. It should be noted that there are many other spellings of Bilyeu and anyone researching the Bilyeu lines would be well advised to contact: Rose Caudle Terry, 5628 60th Dr. NE, Marysville, WA. Rose publishes booklets on the Bilyeu and Workman lines. The history of those two lines constitutes a genealogical "bucket of worms", compounded in every new generation, as they moved across the country together.
BRICKEY/BRICQUET Jean Bricquet was born in 1640 in Artois, France. He emigrated from France about 1680. His port of arrival is not known, but he died in Westmoreland, Virginia about 1715. Jean Bricquet seems to have become John Brickey upon his arrival in America. It is said that all of the Brickeys in America are descendants of this John Brickey. Between 1760 and 1790, the Brickys began to appear in Botetourt, Virginia and by the middle 1890s were found in Tennessee. Peter Brickey, a 2nd great grandson of the aforementioned John Brickey, was born in Cocke, Tennessee in 1794 and other Brickeys were in Blount, Tennessee about that same time. About 1820 Peter Brickey, his father Jarret, and several other Brickys moved to Washington, Missouri and by 1840 Crawford, Missouri. The Crawford, Missouri Brickeys are my line, but many others remained in Tennessee or went to other states. A primary source for Brickey genealogy is "Brickey Heritage" by Raymond Luther Brickey: Commonwealth Press, Radford, VA 24141.
CLARKSON The Clarkson name is found in some of the earliest Virginia land records. The first known ancestor in this line is John Clarkson, who died in Goochland Co. in 1759. Little is known about him other than his having a wife (Mary) and a son (David). David Clarkson is mentioned in the "History of Albemarle County in Virginia" by Rev. Edger Woods. James Clarkson, the son of David, was born in 1734 in Virginia and married Elizabeth Abray. They made their home in Albemarle County near the forks of the Hardware River at the mouth of Eppes Creek, where they lived until James died in 1829. Their daughter Sarah Clarkson married Benjamin F. Johnson 1 JUN 1794.
COX The earliest known member of my Cox line is Javan Cox born 17 Dec 1761 in Currituck, North Carolina. Javan lived in Currituck until about 1817 when he moved to Simpson Co, Kentucky. After six years in Kentucky, he moved again to Monroe Co, MS for three years and finally in 1828 he went to Purdy, McNairy, Tennessee where he lived until he died in 1850. Javan’s grandson, William Bennett Cox, married Mary Catherine Deaton on 2 JAN 1860 in Hardeman, Tennessee. Shortly afterward, William and Mary followed her father (Branson Deaton) to Fayette, Illinois.
DEATON Thomas Deaton was born about 1679 in England and came to Virginia 1701. His wife, Mary Corrington arrived two years later. Thomas died in Bristol Parish, Henrico, Virginia in 1761.
By 1755 some of his descendants were in Amelia, Virginia and in the 1790s were found in Montgomery, North Carolina. Branson Deaton, the 2nd great grandson of Thomas, was born in Montgomery, North Carolina in 1817. When he was about 16 years old, his family moved to McNairy, Tennessee. Around 1839 Branson’s family again moved west, this time to Hopkins, Texas. Branson, having recently married, remained in Tennessee. Branson moved to near Bolivar, Hardeman, Tennessee by 1860 and then to Fayette, Illinois by 1870.
HAMBY William Hamby, was born in Wilkes County in about 1781 and married Celia Lunsford on 21 FEB 1810. William and Celia moved their family to Crawford County, MO about 1835. Their daughter, Frances Eveline Hamby married Ira T. Brickey 12 JAN 1843 in Crawford County.
HARRISON The family was in Tennessee in the 1820s and Green, Missouri in the 1840s. Mary Harrison married John Sutton Brickey on 13 MAR 1845 in Green, Missouri.
HENDRICKS The family was in Kentucky circa 1800-1850. Margaret Hendricks married Fountain N. Welch (date and location unknown).
HUNTER The earliest known ancestor in this line is claimed to be Robert Hunter in Ireland. The information comes from the LDS Ancestral File and has not been verified. Samuel Hunter was born 1737 in the Colony of Pennsylvania and married Susannah Alexander 1765 in Augusta County, Virginia. Their son Andrew Hunter was born in Augusta County, VA on 26 NOV 1770. Andrew and his wife Jean (Jane) Thompson had moved the family to Washington County, MO by 1825. Their daughter Susannah (Susan) Hunter had married James C. Johnson about 1817 in Augusta, VA and the couple also moved to Washington County, probably with her parents.
JOHNSON The earliest known ancestor in this line is Benjamin Johnson who was born 1765 in Goochland, Virginia. After he was married, Benjamin spent the remainder of his life in Albemarle, Virginia. His son, James Clarkson Johnson moved to Augusta, Virginia about 1817 and then was living in Washington, Missouri by 1830. In the late 1800s and early 1900s his descendants were living in both Washington and Crawford Counties. James Harrison Johnson, the son of James Clarkson Johnson, left Missouri and moved his family to Rocky Ford, Otero, Colorado in 1917.
MCINTYER/MCINTYRE The family was in Tennessee in the 1820s and in St. Francois, Missouri in the 1840s. Syntha Ann McIntyer married James Madison Snyder 29 OCT 1846 in St. Francois, Missouri.
MOORE The Moore ancestors were in North Carolina before 1800 and had moved to Warren, Tennessee where James Moore was born in 1831/32. James married Martha C. Walker in Warren County, TN about 1851 and by 1859 they were living in Missouri. They remained in Missouri until at least 1864 and then moved to Fayette, Illinois by 1868. William Clarence Moore, a grandson of James Moore, moved to Linn, Iowa in 1917. He only stayed three years, before moving his family again in 1922 to Colorado Springs, Colorado and finally to Pueblo, Colorado a few years later.
PORTER The earliest ancestor of this line may be Nicholas Porter born 1636 in Spotslvania, Virginia. The grandson of Nicholas is Benjamin Porter born 1675 also in Spotslvania. However, at this point a problem arises and there is considerable discussion as to the validity of linking Benjamin to the William Porter shown below (click on Benjamin for a summary). William Porter Sr., possibly a son of Benjamin, was in Rockbridge County, Virginia by 1740 and lived there until his death in 1782. His son William Porter Jr. was born in Virginia and died in Rockbridge, Virginia in 1804. After the death of William Porter Jr., his wife Mary Bowen Porter and several of their sons, including David Porter, migrated to Lincoln County, Tennessee. David moved his family to Pike, Illinois in the late 1830s. On 16 JUL 1849 David Porter died on the Oregon Trail between Soda Springs and Fort Hall in what is now Idaho. Most of his family, including his wife Nancy Culton Porter and son Joseph Woods Porter, remained in Illinois. By 1870 Joseph Woods Porter was in Pulaski, Missouri with two of his sons, while another son (James David Porter) was farming in nearby Miller, Missouri. Many of my ancestors spent a great deal of effort moving back and forth between Illinois and Missouri, and the Porters were no exception. In about 1894 Arthur W. Porter, the son of James David Porter, went to Christian, Illinois where he married Julia Ann Bilyeu. Just prior to this Arthur had participated in the "Oklahoma Land Rush" of 1882, but lost the land he had claimed because he was not living on and improving it. This may have been because he was off in search of a wife.
SNYDER James Madison Snyder was born in 1812 in Kentucky. He is later found in Lawrence County, Illinois around 1838. He married Syntha Ann McIntyer 29 OCT 1846 in St. Francois County, Missouri. Syntha was probably his second wife. Their daughter, Angeline Morehouse Snyder was born 3 MAR 1949 in Missouri and married Henry White Johnson 5 DEC 1867 in Iron, Missouri.
SUTTON The Sutton family was in Cocke, Tennessee in the 1790s. Nancy Sutton married Peter Brickey in 1814 in Tennessee.
WALKER Alexander Walker was born 26 NOV 1775 in South Carolina and married about 1800. His wife's name is given as Gilley. Their son, William H. Walker was born 24 NOV 1803 in South Carolina and married Taletha Martin before 1825. William and Talitha were living in Warren County, Tennessee by 1828. Martha C. Walker was born about 1833 and married James Moore, who was living next to the Walkers in the 1850 Warren County Census. They were probably married in 1850 and by 1851 were in Illinois.
WELCH The earliest Welch ancestor is Robert Welch who was born about 1700 in Ireland. He died in Baltimore, Maryland. Samuel Welch, a grandson of Robert Welch, was born in Bedford, Virginia in the 1760s and was married to Chloe Hendricks on 21 SEP 1783 in Campbell, Virginia. By about 1808 Samuel had relocated to Union, Kentucky where his son Fountain N. Welch was born. Fountain Welch was an early settler of Henderson, Kentucky in the 1820s and moved to Crawford, Missouri in 1846. He later located to Gladden Valley, Dent, Missouri. Richard Henry Welch, son of Fountain Welch, married Mary E. Brickey on 7 AUG 1858 in Dent, Missouri.
WILLSON/WILSON The first known Wilson ancestor is David Wilson who brought his wife, Nancy Elder, and son James from Ireland in 1808. The "History of Pike County Illinois" claims the family lived briefly in the South, before moving to Lincoln County, MO and later to Pike County, IL. Their second son , David Wilson , married Isaphena Collard and they were living in Pike County, IL in the 1830s and 40s. A daughter of David and Isaphena, Nancy Emma Wilson, was born in Pike County, Illinois on 18 MAR 1858 and married James David Porter about 1839 probably in Pike County.
WORKMAN/WOERTMAN The early Workman family history included in this database is based primarily on the "Workman Family History" by Thelma C. Anderson published in 1962 by Publisher's Press, Salt Lake City, Utah. Anderson does not give sources for specific events in the text, but instead posts a short and very vague list of sources at the end of certain chapters. There is no way to tie an event to a source without re-doing the research. I'm using the volume because it exists in hardcopy and can provide a common starting point for researchers. With the input of web genealogists, perhaps we can correct some errors and eventually create an improved Workman History. The earliest of the Workman line may have been Nicolas Workman born in England in 1543. He married Julyann Gyllian probably in Holland. Note: The connection between Nicholas and the John William, shown in this database as the next generation, is unlikely at best. Nicholas did have a son named John, but the later John William would more likely be a grandson or great-grandson to Nicholas. I have chosen to leave them linked in the database, for the time being, as a reminder of the possible connection.
Little is known of John William Workman (the Dutch form of his name being Jans William Woertman ) except that he was married and had a family. It is believed that he was an emigrant from England, coming to Holland as a result of religious persecution during the time of the Puritan upheavals. Derick Jansen Woertman, son of John William, came to New York in about 1660 when it was still under Dutch control. The Workman descendants moved into Somerset, New Jersey by the early 1700s and Allegany, Maryland by the late 1700s. It’s probably during this time that the Workman and Bilyeu families got to know each other and started an intermingling that spanned the Continent and the next 200 years. Jacob Workman, a great-grandson of Derick Jansen Woertman, left Maryland about 1800 and moved to Bourbon, Kentucky where he died in 1821. Jacob’s son, David Workman, married Lydia Bilyeu about 1823 in Kentucky and after the marriage they moved to Overton, Tennessee. In 1828/29 they moved again to Sangamon, Illinois and settled on Lick Creek. David and Lydia were only part of the extended family that moved into Sangamon, and Christian County, Illinois. There are many instances of Bilyeu to Workman marriages in the Illinois contingent, much to the dismay of my genealogy software. As with the Bilyeu families, not all of them moved into Sangamon and Christian Counties. Many stayed in Tennessee while some moved into other states and at least one family group led by John Workman (a brother of the David mentioned above) and two of his sons (Jacob Lindsey Workman, Andrew Jackson Workman) joined the Mormons in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois and eventually went to Utah.
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