Chapter 4

Son ~ John

James and Agnes had been married one year when they had their first baby; both parents were 22 years old at the time. The year, 1736, had been an eventful one. On a good note, Benjamin Franklin had established the first fire department in Philadelphia, but, on the negative side, there was a smallpox epidemic raging in Pennsylvania. Illness would continue to take the lives of many in the colonies during the 1700s, but on that particular December 12^th, the Ware family had every reason to celebrate. Their healthy baby boy was named John, a name carried down through the Ware line many times.

We know John “migrated with his parents, James and Agnes (Todd) Ware to King and Queen County; a part which later became Caroline Co.” because when “James, gave permission for his son’s marriage to Ann Harrison, born in 1740, the bond stated, ‘John of Caroline Co.’” (Ref. 2480)

(See documentation below)

Copies of actual documents provided by James Richmond, Clerk, Goochland Co, VA Circuit Court and found by Vicki Ware Cheesman

1. According to the Douglas Register, by Rev. William Douglas, being a detailed record of Births, Marriages and Deaths together with interesting notes from 1750 to 1797, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1985.

2. “Ware, John, in Caroline, and Ann Harrison on the Byrd in the County 1756, May 27^th.”

3. May 25, 1756. John Ware to Ann Harrison, daughter of Andrew

Harrison; sec. Will Pryor; witn. Val. Wood. James Ware's letter of

consent to son's marriage.

4. (Ref. 2386)

John was 20 years old at the time of his marriage, but special “permission” was needed because Ann was only 16. John, himself, signed the usual marriage bond. (See below)

Permission signed by James Ware for his son to marry Ann Harrison

Marriage bond signed by John Ware (Ref. 2417) Marriage bond signed by John Ware

Copies of actual documents provided by James Richmond, Clerk, Goochland Co, VA Circuit Court and found by Vicki Cheesman

As fellow family researcher Tamie Dehler explained in a piece she wrote in 2007:

“Think of a marriage bond as an intention to marry – a reflection of an official ‘engagement’. A man who had proposed to a woman went to the courthouse with a bondsman (often the father or brother of the prospective bride), and posted a bond indicating his intention to marry the woman. The bond was an amount of money that the prospective groom would have to pay as a penalty if an impediment to the marriage was found. No money literally changed hands at the time of posting the bond. But if the groom was discovered, for instance, already to have a wife whom he had abandoned, the marriage could not go through and the man would have to pay . . . as high as $1,000.
Here are several facts about marriage bonds.

(1) The date on the bond is not the date of the actual marriage. Most marriages took place within a few days of posting the bond, but theoretically it could have been weeks or months before the actual marriage took place. (2) The existence of a marriage bond for two people does not conclusively mean that the marriage took place. A high percentage of marriages occurred after the bond was posted, but in a small percentage of cases the marriage was not carried out. Reasons not to go forward with the marriage could be the sudden death of one of the parties, or both parties mutually deciding to cancel their marriage plans. In these instances, the bond penalty would not have to be paid by the prospective groom. (3) Marriage bonds were most often posted in the county of the prospective bride’s residence or the county in which the wedding was to take place, if different from the bride’s residence. . . . When researching marriage bonds, be sure to pay attention to who signed as the bondsman because this was often a relative of the bride. If the bond wasn't signed by the prospective bride’s father, it may be an indication that her father was dead. A brother of the bride may then have been the bondsman. Also, check to see if the bond was accompanied by a consent note. This would be written by a parent of the bride or groom and was often required if either was under the legal age for marriage.”

We can learn a great deal about John Ware and his wife from a wonderful biography of him written by Vicki Ware Cheesman. She states, “Ann’s parents were Andrew and Jane (Dillard) Harrison.  (Jane was Andrew’s second wife; his first wife was Jane’s sister, Mary.)  The Harrisons lived on Byrd Creek and Ann was known as Ann of the Byrd.” (Ref. 2480) Her brother, William Harrison, married Anna Payne and was the uncle of Dolley Payne Todd who became the wife of President James Madison. (Ref. 822, 823)

John and Ann were married at St. James Northam in Goochland County, Virginia. Shortly before their marriage, in 1744, St. James Parish was “divided into three - St. Anne's Parish covered Albemarle, St. James Southam Parish covered the south side of the James River (now Powhatan County), and St. James Northam Parish covered the rest of Goochland.” (Ref. Wikipedia)

Seating arrangement for the interior of Stratton Major Parish Church in 1768 (Ref. 2421)

Map showing Goochland County

Vicki further relates that “John and Ann made their home near Rock Castle . . . very close to where the boundaries of Goochland, Fluvanna and Cumberland counties meet. His plantation was located in all three counties as described by inventories attached to his will; the primary part being in Goochland Co.” (Ref. 1040) Vicki went on to add, “Rock Castle was probably named for a large outcropping on nearby James River that resembles a rock castle.  Important Indian settlements were located nearby, centuries before the colonies existed.” (Ref. 1040)

Goochland County in red

It was not long before James and Agnes celebrated the birth of their first grandchild. Ann delivered a baby boy just two days after Christmas in 1756. They named him James Ware, in all likelihood after his grandfather. There would eventually be nine children born to John and Ann:

(1) JAMES, (2) ANDREW, (3) WILLIAM, (4) JOHN, (5) ELIZABETH, (6) MILDRED, (7) JANE, (8) ANNE, and (9) MARY

(1) James was baptized on April 8, 1757, and before he married he served in the Revolutionary War alongside his father. He was “appointed Ensign in Capt. John Ware’s Company, Aug. 18, 1777.” (Ref. 1040, 2388) John Ware would have been 41 years of age and James 21 at the time.

Ref. 826, 894, 2495) (Ref. 2490)

James probably started out in the Virginia Militia since service was compulsory for all free males in Virginia. These military units were organized during the early settlement of the colonies for the protection from Indian attacks. The militia men were the backbone of the Continental Army and, according to historian and Truman scholar, Michael Troy: “For enlisted men, ranks included private, corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, quartermaster sergeant and sergeant major.  For officers - lieutenant, captain, major, lt. colonel, colonel, brigadier general, and major general. George Washington held a title above major general, that of "General and Commander in Chief". . . also included [were] a few ranks that do not exist in the modern army: coronet (cavalry) and ensign (infantry). These are roughly the equivalent of a modern second lieutenant.” Troy went on to add: “General officers were appointed by Congress.  Initially, junior officers were often elected by the soldiers.  Later, they were appointed by Gen. Washington . . . this structure was generally taken from the British Army, which had a similar command structure.  One major difference was that British officers had to purchase their commissions.”

Military records credit James with the rank of ensign, the most junior officer in a company of infantry. According to the Glossary of Eighteenth-Century Military Terms, “traditionally the ensign carried the colors in battle,” but both the rank of ensign and cornet were abolished in the United States Army in 1800. As other records show, James was obviously promoted to second lieutenant, but either rank signifies his status as an officer in the Continental Army.

(Ware Family History by American Genealogical Research Institute, Washington D.C. Heritage Press, 1978)

After his military service, on September 22, 1786, JAMES wed Elizabeth Miller, daughter of John Miller of Prince Edward County. According to fellow researcher Vicki Cheesman, they “had 11 children: Clara, Elizabeth, James, John, Martha, Mary, Nancy, Nicholas, Richard, Robert and Susan.” (Ref. 818, 1040) The following information gives a little insight into the family of James and Elizabeth; all being grandchildren of John and Ann and great grandchildren of James and Agnes Ware. James died in 1818 at the age of 62.

1. James Miller Ware is thought to have been born around 1787, which would follow the pattern of the firstborn child usually being named after the father. There is little information on him at this time, however, and it is possible he died young.

2. Ann Harrison Ware, known as Nancy, was probably named for Grandma Ann’s side of the family. Born on July 8, 1788, she wed Jacob Fowler on February 15, 1805.

(Ref. 2386)

According to a family chart provided by Jim Fowler of Oklahoma, “Nancy and Jacob had four children; James, Elizabeth, William, and John.” Jacob Fowler died around 1820, and Ann remarried in 1835 to Peyton Powell. She died on June 29, 1860, and was buried in Spring Creek Cemetery, Hardeman County, Tennessee. (See below)

Ann H. Powell July 8, 1788 to June 29, 1860 Spring Creek Cemetery

3. Robert Ware is thought to have been born around 1790. He married Jane G. Miller on May 18, 1818.

4.John Miller Ware, born around 1791, married Mary (Polly) Miller in Goochland County in September 1811. If, indeed, his birthday was in 1791, it would explain why his marriage record (see below) lists him as a ‘minor’ – he would have been 20 years old at the time and the legal age for marriage was still 21 in a lot of places. John and Mary “had 6 children and he died in 1850 in Virginia.”(Ancestry)

(Ref. 2386)

John WARE, minor, m Polly MILLER. Sur: w. Miller, Jr. Wit: George W. Watkins: Goochland CO, VA

5. Elizabeth Povel Ware was born in 1793. According to records found on the web, “Father - James B. Ware (1756 - 1818) (Age at the birth of the child: 37 years old) and Mother – Elizabeth Miller (1766 - 1835) (Age at the birth of the child: 27 years old).”

Elizabeth Povell Ware, at age 24, married Benjamin Harris on September 29, 1817.

6. Martha Ware - There is a gap of four years between the birth of Elizabeth in 1793 and the next birth in 1797. It seems safe to assume that Martha may have been born during this time, but there are no records to substantiate this.

7. Nicholas Miller Ware was born in 1797 and married Sarah E. Thompson on July 5, 1821. One of his descendants, Helen Wilson, relates: “I descend from Martha and Thomas' daughter Winifred Jones Eldridge Thompson == Sarah E. Thompson who married Nicholas Miller Ware had a daughter Winifred E S Ware who is my 2 great grandmother.” She goes on to share that she “heard in family tales that James Heath Miller Ware, born about 1815, and his wife Winifred E S Ware, (born about 1824) were first cousins.  The second was quickly agreed upon by fellow Ware researchers.  John B Ware (born 27 Dec 1756 in Caroline Virginia) had twelve children - six sons and six daughters.  Two of his sons were John Miller Ware (born about 1788 in Virginia) and Nicholas Miller Ware (born in May 1797).  James Heath Miller was the son of John Miller and Mary Miller Ware and Winifred was the daughter of Nicholas Miller and Sarah E Thompson Ware.”

Nicholas and Sarah named the last of their many children, Pocahontas Ware, in honor of a family link to Jamestown. John Rolfe married the famous daughter of Chief Powhatan on April 5, 1615, in the Jamestown colony. The couple had a son named Thomas who married and had a daughter named Jane Rolfe. Jane wed Robert Bolling in 1672. They had a son named John Fairfax Bolling who married Mary Kennon.

John F. Bolling Mary Kennon

The known children of John Bolling and Mary Kennon are:

1. Maj. John Bolling; b. 20 Jan 1700; m. Elizabeth Lewis

2. Jane Bolling; b. 1703; m. Col. Richard Randolph

3. Elizabeth Bolling; b. 1709; m. Dr. William Gay.

4. Mary Bolling; b. 1711; m. Col. John Fleming.

5. Martha Bolling; b. 1713; m. Thomas Eldridge 1727

The link that tied Nicholas Ware and his wife to Pocahontas was through the marriage of Martha Bolling to Thomas Eldridge. Martha and Thomas named a son Thomas (born circa 1730), and he married Winifred Jones Miller. Their daughter, Winifred Jones Eldridge (born 1776), married David Thompson in 1797 in Goochland County and their daughter, Sarah E. Thompson, wed Nicholas Ware in 1821. As Helen documents, “Thomas Eldridge II’s (born 4 Dec 1735) first wife was Martha Bolling (born 1713 and died 23 Oct 1749).   He and Martha had at least seven children (ages 2 or 3 to age 19) at the time of her death. His second wife was Elizabeth Jones who he married very soon after Martha’s death.  Thomas himself died about 1754.” It was only natural that the Wares would want to honor such a distinguished relative as the heroine of Jamestown. Pocahontas Ware, born in 1851, married John L. Boyd. She died in 1905.

Grave for Pocahontas Ware Boyd

There is another tie for the Ware family to Pocahontas that came down from Nicholas’ great uncle on his father’s side, William Ware. Colonel John Fairfax Bolling and Mary Kennon had another daughter - Mary Bolling; older sister of Martha. Mary wed John Fleming, whose sister was Ann Fleming, the wife of Josias Payne. Josias and Ann Payne had a son named Robert Payne and his daughter, Susannah, would marry William Ware, son of John and Ann Harrison Ware, in 1789.

8. Richard Ware, born in 1799, married Mary Ann Hopkins. In 1996, a descendant named Alvin L. Luttrell wrote, “My great grandfather, Richard WARE was born in Goochland Co. in December 1799 . . . Richard married Mary Ann HOPKINS circa 1834 and they subsequently moved to Middle Tennessee.”

9. Sarah Miller Ware – There is one record that states she “married Samuel W. Harris in 1816 and died in 1821 at the age of 21.” That would put her birth year as 1800.

10. Clara Ware was apparently born around 1801. She was “born in Virginia to James Ware and Elizabeth Miller. Clara married G. Perkins and had 2 children. She passed away in 1903.” (Ref. Ancestry) Two children are sometimes listed as Clara’s – James W. Perkins, born 1820, and Arche Perkins, born 1825.

11. Susan (Susannah) Miller Ware was born in 1805 and wed David Perkins on January 17, 1826. David was “born in Goochland, Virginia to Archelaus Mitchell Perkins and Patsy Ann Mitchell. David married Susan M. Ware and had 10 children. He died in 1830 in Chariton, Missouri.” (Ref. Ancestry) Susan and David had the following children: Ann, James, William, Luther, Mary, Sarah, Virginia, Maria, Robert, and Andrew.

(2) ANDREW WARE - Two years after the birth of James, Ann and John had another son. Andrew, born May 24, 1758, was baptized a month later on June 25^th. We know little about Andrew at this time, but records tell us that he took the oath to serve as ensign in the Goochland Militia on October 16, 1780. He would have been 22 years old at the time. Some sites on Ancestry.com list his death as 1808, but there are no records to substantiate this date. It is assumed he never married.

(Ref. 2388, 2494)

(3) WILLIAM WARE, born on May 13, 1760, “was probably baptized at St. James Parish Church, Northam, however his birth and that of a younger sister, Mollie (Mary), are missing from the records kept by Rev. William Douglas in his Register.  (In the years following Rev. Douglas’ death, some of the pages in the Register were lost.)  Their relationship to the family, however, was verified by John’s will and specifically Mollie’s tombstone which is inscribed “Daughter of Capt. John Ware.” (Ref. 1040, 2480)

As a young man, William did service in the military, as was expected of the son of a wealthy landowner. According to Vicki Cheesman’s biography of him, “William was appointed 2^nd Lieutenant in Captain Samuel Richardson’s Company of the Goochland Militia on July 16, 1782 and was promoted to Captain in 1783.” (Ref. 2480)

(Ref. 2388)

Two years after his promotion, William (25 years old) married for the first time. His wife, Susannah Harrison, was the daughter of his Uncle William on his mother’s side. According to family researcher, Kitty Dawson, “William Ware married 1st Susannah Harrison on 19 Jan 1785 in Pittsylvania Co., VA. The information that follows is from a collection of papers that were on file at Averett College Archives in Danville, VA, including Bible records and a write-up of Susannah Harrison's death shortly after the birth of her daughter. Susannah Harrison was born 22 Jan 1768 and died on 29 Jan 1786.” (Ref. Kitty Dawson)

William and Susannah wed in January of 1785, and exactly one year later, in January of 1786, Susannah died from childbirth complications. The baby she delivered two days before her death would be named after her. (Ref. 844)

(Ref. 2412)

(Ref. 998)

The following deathbed statement was made by Susannah shortly before her passing. It was carefully transcribed by Kathleen Neal Dawson from a typed copy obtained from Raymond Ware. Any misspellings and inconsistent dates were not corrected. It is a very poignant remembrance of a young mother who was very aware she was dying, and I am deeply grateful to Kitty for allowing me to include it in this work.

“Susanna Ware (Eldest Daughter to William & Anna Harrison) was born the 22^nd January 1768 and departed this life on Sunday the 29^th January 1786. She was delivered of a daughter on the 21^st January 1786 and desired it to be named Anna Payne, but being taken very ill, and found she shod not recover, she called her mother to her and desired it might be named Susanna Harrison after herself being her maiden name. She requested her mama would take care of it for her and desired it might be brought up in a Godly course which request she also made to her husband who she took leave of in the most tender and affectionate manner with the rest of her friends - saying that she hoped to see them in heaven where she would be looking for them and hoped they would be preparing to follow her and join in praising God in the pretty green field above the heavens forever and ever. She was asked if she was willing to die, she declared she was but hoped God would not suffer her to die til he had prepared her which she prayed for most ardently. She said this was a troublesome world, and that she had promised herself a great deal of pleasure when she got home to housekeeping but if it is God’s will to take her she was willing to go to him, desired her friends to give her up freely, and not to grieve for God took away nothing but what he gave; she told her mama she hoped to see her little sisters & brothers that was gone before her and her grandaddy and join them in praiseing and glorifying God on the throne forever and ever & that she would pray for and be looking for the appearance of her relations in heaven. The next day she desired Mr. Church to sing and pray with her and for her, which he did with many others that was in the house, and while they were singing she was all at once in raptures of joy and said she felt as light as a feather and that it seemed like she could fly up to Heaven into God’s bosom . . . her countenance changed & she seemed to have a view of Heaven by an eye of earth from her looks, words & action. After this her father interrogated her on this matter and told her she might be mistaken, but she said Daddy let me live or die I will never give up what I have now experienced. He asked if she thought God had forgiven her sins, she said yes - and held out her hand & said she knew she was safe and thanked Mr. Church and said he had been an instrument in God’s hands of doing her great good or words to that import. She called her mama to her and desired she would give her little sisters part of her clothes & keep the rest for her little girl, and give one of her rings to her husband to wear in remembrance of her and the rest to be kept for her little girl . . . she asked her daddy where he would bury her. He told her anywhere she would choose - she said one corner of the garden would do as well as any place. He told her that he intended his family shod be buried in the top of the hill. Well, she replyed, Daddy bury me there too - and desired to have a coffin for her and gave her mama some directions about the clothes that she would be buryed in - she said she knew it would do her no good but that it looked clever and decent. She desired that a funeral sermon might be preached on the occasion by some good preacher - not that it would do her any good but she hoped that every person that was at her funeral might be benefited by the sermon that might be delivered. She was asked who she would choose to preach it, she was recollecting the name, her mama said is it Mr. Ivy? She readily answered, yes, mama - Mr. Ivy – she desired her husband to endeavor to follow her and that he would mourn for her as long as he lived, there was room in Heaven for him and everybody else that would come. She desired he would take care of her little girl she should look down from Heaven with pleasure and delight to see it jumping and skipping about a little. Before she dyed she was heard to say, Oh Blessed Jesus, and breathed out her last with a smile - which she seemed to retain even when she was dead. Her corpse was most beautiful & pleasant … Susanna Ware was the spouse of Wm Ware … she was born the 22 Jany 1768 she was married Jany … she died 29 Jany 1786. She had her first & only child 27 Jany 1786.”