DOUGLASS GENEALOGY

www.doddridgecountyroots.com

10/6/2008

Generation One

1. Levi¹ Douglass, b. ca 1750 in Virginia,^[1] [or the eastern shore of Maryland in present-day Wicomico County], d. 1787 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.^[2],[3]

Levi Douglass was born possibly in Virginia, but more likely on the eastern shore of Maryland in present-day Wicomico County. His date of birth is generally accepted as being around 1750, but may have been as late as about 1760. In about 1777, just prior to his 1778 marriage to Nancy Anne Merrick in Monongalia County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Levi Douglass signed a petition for the formation of Harrison County, which came about in 1784. In May 1785, a survey for Levi Douglass was recorded for 400 acres in Harrison County on the Brushy Fork of Elk Creek, adjoing the land of Benjamin Coplin.¹

Excerpts from "History of Harrison County West Virginia," by Henry Haymond, 1910:

"On the 31st December, 1771 a party of explorers consisting of John Merrick, Samuel Cottrill, Andrew Cottrill, Levi Douglass and Sotha Hickman, encamped on Ann Moores run near the present town of Grasselli in Clark District.

They were engaged in hunting and looking out for lands upon which to make permanent settlements. On New Year's day 1772 they turned out to hunt, and passing south through the low gap where Lemuel D. Holden afterwards lived for so many years, and near there killed a bear and several turkeys.

On the little bottom where Brushy Fork empties into Elk Creek their dogs discovered a herd of buffalo and in a short time the hunters had killed seven of them. One of the largest of the herd being fatally wounded in attempting to escape down Elk Creek fell dead into the bed of the little stream that puts into Elk below the mouth of Brushy Fork, and lay in such a position that they could not pull him out, and he was left to lie there with regrets that they could not get his robe.

The party remained in this camp all winter and were visited by a friendly Indian who hunted with them for some time.

They discovered the abandoned camp on the "West Fork River of Robert Lindsay a trapper, and also where he had made one or more canoes to transport his furs down to Fort Pitt.

In the Spring of 1772 they selected lands on which to establish permanent homes. Andrew Cottrill located his claim and built his cabin at the site of their camp, on Ann Moore's run, where Grasselli is now located. Samuel Cottrill just east of where Clarksburg now stands, near the Jackson grave yard. Sotha Hickman on the opposite side of Elk Creek near where the Elk View Cemetery now is, and Levi Douglas preempted four hundred acres on the Brushy Fork of Elk. John Merrick did not permanently locate in this country but probably went further West.

There are still residing in Harrison County many descendants of the two Cottrills, Hickman and Douglass, and they have the satisfaction of knowing that their ancestors were among the very first permanent settlers in the present limits of Harrison County." [p. 21]

"It appears that at the June Court 1787 appraisers were appointed for the estate of Levi Douglass and that at the September Court of the same year Mrs. Ann Burrowes was appointed guardian for Thomas Cottrill orphan of Andrew Cottrill, deceased. This indicates that both of these men died in that year, which is a

matter of interest as they were both among the original pioneer settlers of Harrison County, as is related elsewhere, and had borne the hardships of frontier life for sixteen years." [p. 208]

"Levi Douglass. In company with Sotha Hickman he was captured by Indians, an account of which is given elsewhere. He was a man of sterling worth and for that day accumulated considerable property.

The census of Monongalia County taken in 1782 before Harrison County was formed, shows that at that date his family consisted of four members.

The inventory of his estate was dated August 4, 1787, the exact date of his death being unknown.

His descendants still reside in the County." [p. 382]

"Sotha Hickman. ... While trapping on the Liitle Kanawha River in Company with Levi Douglass they were captured by a party of Indians and taken to their towns on the Sciota River in Ohio.

One night while the Indians were holding a grand dance and festival the prisoners were left in charge of an old man who fell off into a sleep. They each then quietly seized a gun and equipments and struck out for home and liberty.

Travelling only at night they were four days without food and after reaching the Virginia side of the Ohio River they were fortunate enough to kill a bear and ate so much of it that they both became very sick and were relieved by drinking what was called rock oil, which was found floating on the surface of Hughes River." [p. 383]

"To show the household articles in use, and the personal property belonging to a well to do pioneer, the following is taken from the appraisement of the estate of Levi Douglass, who died in 1787 :

2 horses, 1 colt, 2 steers, 2 heifers, 1 cow, 1 calf, 17 shoats, 1 plow, 1 negro boy, 1 rifle gun, shot pouch and powder horn, 1 woman's saddle, 2 bridles, 1 man's saddle, drawing knife, stillyards, pot and hooks, hackle-bell, pans, spinning wheel, wooden ware, knives and forks, pewter ware, beds and bedding, flax seed, wheat, hemp seed, beehives and hominy block." [p. 427]^[4]

He married 1778 in Monongalia Co, (W)VA,^[5] Nancy Anne Merrick, also known as Anne Merrick,^[6] b. 1758 in West Augusta Co, VA,¹ d. 1838 in Jackson Co, (W)VA.¹

Children:

2. i. Nancy Ann² Douglass^[7] b. 1779.

ii. Mary Douglass, b. 1782.¹ She married Oct-14-1800 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,¹ Edward Atmer, b. 1782.¹

iii. Elizabeth Douglass, b. 1782.¹ She married Oct- 7-1805 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,¹ Joseph Miller, b. 1782.¹

3. iv. Levi Douglass, Jr. b. Sep-11-1783.

4. v. John S. Douglass b. 1786.

Generation Two

2. Nancy Ann² Douglass, also known as Anna Douglass,^[8],7,[9] also known as Annie,^[10] (1.Levi¹) b. 1779 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^1,[11] d. aft 1840 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.¹ She married^[12] Nov-19-1794 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[13] William Willis, b. 1769 in Ireland,^1,[14] d. 1823 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,¹ resided in Harrison Co, (W)VA.¹¹

Children:

5. i. Malinda³ Willis b. ca 1798.

6. ii. George Willis b. ca 1798.

7. iii. Elizabeth Willis b. Dec-30-1798.

iv. William Willis, resided in Doddridge Co, WV.^[15] He married¹⁵ Elizabeth Bumgardner.

v. Reuben Willis, d. Ohio River, drowned,¹⁵ never married^15.

vi. Robert Willis,^[16] b. ca Oct 1800 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[17],[18] d. Feb-29-1888 in Doddridge Co, WV,^[19],[20] [Minnie Kendall Lowther erroneously reports death as 1886, and birth date as 1799. (HRC, 596)], buried in Doddridge Co, WV,¹⁵ resided in Oxford, Doddridge Co, WV.¹⁶ Although Minnie Kendall Lowther lists three marriages for Robert Willis, it appears likely that the first two were one and the same, to Mary Vanhorn in 1852. A previous marriage to a Mary Venort is considered to be incorrect. Doddridge County Marriage Records contain two entries for the same marriage to Mary Vanhorn, which may have led to the confusion. He married (1) Aug-24-1852 in Doddridge Co, WV,^[21] Mary Vanhorn, b. ca 1814.¹⁷ He married¹¹ (2) Oct- 3-1879 in Doddridge Co, WV,^[22],[23] Matilda "Tillie" Gaston, b. ca 1818 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[24],[25] (daughter of Andrew Gaston and Sarah Romine) d. 1904 in Doddridge Co, WV,^[26] buried in West Union, Doddridge Co, WV.^[27]

8. vii. Nancy Ann Willis¹¹ b. ca 1803.

9. viii. Jane Willis.

10. ix. Ruhama Willis b. Jul-27-1808.

x. John Willis, b. ca 1811,^[28] d. ca 1891,¹⁵ [1850 Census puts his birth at about 1811, and Minnie Kendall Lowther's "History of Ritchie County," p. 596, states that he died at age 80.], resided in Harrison Co, WV,¹⁵ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA, never married^15.

11. xi. Margaret Willis b. Nov- 4-1815.

3. Levi² Douglass, Jr., (1.Levi¹) b. Sep-11-1783 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^1,[29] d. May- 3-1871 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,¹ [The Harrison Countydeath record for Levi Douglass of May 3 1871 is either in error or pertains to a different Levi Douglass. The deceased is identified as Levi Douglass, widowed, age 75, born in 1796, parents "not known," occupation farmer, died May 3 1871 in Elk Twp, Harrison Co WV, cause of death "old age." Informant: J. H. Taylor, Recorder.], buried at Raccoon Run, Bristol, Harrison Co, WV,¹ census 1870 in Barbour Co, WV, census 1860 in Harrison Co, (W)VA. He married Apr-25-1806 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[30],1 Nancy Hailey, b. Nov- 1-1791,^1,29 (daughter of Anthony Hailey and Mary Dennison) d. Nov-27-1864 in Harrison Co, WV,¹ buried at Raccoon Run, Bristol, Harrison Co, WV,¹ census 1860 in Harrison Co, (W)VA. 1860 Census, Harrison County, (W)VA:

Levi Douglas, 76, farmer, b. Virginia; Nancy Douglas, 69.

1870 Census, Barbour Co, WV (Elk Twp), enumerated on Nov 17 1870:

John Douglass, 63, farmer; Eliza, 54; Emily, 23; Melvill D., 20; Silas, 17; Calvin, 15; Mary Ann, 12; Levi Douglass Sr., 85, farmer.

Children:

12. i. John B.³ Douglass b. 1808.

13. ii. Levi D. Douglass b. ca 1809.

14. iii. William Douglass b. Dec- 3-1810.

15. iv. Rebecca Douglass b. ca 1813.

16. v. Earl Douglass b. ca 1820.

17. vi. Nancy Douglass b. Jun- 2-1823.

18. vii. Andrew Dunkin Douglass b. Jan-27-1825.

viii. Eldred Douglass, b. 1829.¹ He married¹ Delia ___.

ix. Louisa (Annie) Atmer Douglass, b. 1833.¹ She married¹ ___ Mcalister.

4. John S.² Douglass, (1.Levi¹) b. 1786,¹ d. Jun-26-1847 in Jackson Co, (W)VA.¹ It has been reported by some researchers that John S. Douglass married Elizabeth Richards (b. 1794, d. Jun 21 1847) on Nov 15 1810, that she was the mother of his nine children, and that he also married Rachel Thomas. But Harrison County marriage records show that it was Rachel Thomas who John Douglass married in Nov 1810. It is unclear if he had another marriage. He married¹ marriage bond Nov-14-1810 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[31] Nov-15-1810 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[32] Rachel Thomas, b. 1786,¹ (daughter of John Thomas).

Children:

19. i. Levi³ Douglass b. Oct-29-1815.

20. ii. Ruben H. Douglass b. ca 1819.

21. iii. Calvin Douglass b. ca 1819.

iv. John Douglass, b. ca 1824 in Jackson Co, (W)VA,^[33],1 census 1860 in Jackson Co, (W)VA.

22. v. Maranda Douglass b. ca 1826.

23. vi. Alfred Douglass b. ca 1828.

vii. Nancy Douglass, b. 1830 in Jackson Co, (W)VA.¹ She married¹ Oct-28-1848 in Jackson Co, (W)VA,^[34] John Rand.

24. viii. Elizabeth Douglass b. ca 1831.

25. ix. Hiram Douglass b. Jul-24-1836.

Generation Three

5. Malinda³ Willis, (2.Nancy², 1.Levi¹) b. ca 1798,^12,[35] d. 1861,^12,35 census 1850, 1860 in Doddridge Co, (W)VA.^[36],[37] She married Jan-20-1814 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,¹² Andrew Nutter, b. ca 1794 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,¹² [Don Norman gives birth as ca 1791 in Harrison Co, but Hardesty states that Andrew Nutter died in 1855 at the age of 61. This would make the birth year ca 1794.], (son of John Nutter and Elizabeth Cottrell) d. 1855,^12,35 resided in Oxford, Doddridge Co, WV,^16,36 occupation farmer.³⁶ Andrew: Resident of Harrison Co, WV, and later Ritchie & Doddridge Co, WV. Served in the War of 1812 in Captain Davis's company, attached to the First Regiment, First Battalion, and First Brigade of the Virginia Militia, participated in the engagement of Fort Defiance on the Maumee River, and was discharged at Delaware, Ohio on April 4, 1813.

The 1850 Census of Doddridge County reported the following persons in his household: Andrew Nutter, age 59, born in Virginia, occupation farmer; Malinda Nutter, 59, b. Virginia; Sarah Nutter, 17, b. Virginia; Elizabeth Nutter, 13, b. Virginia; Julia Warren, 25, b. Virginia; Willis N. Warren, 3, b. Ohio; and Elizabeth Warren, 93, b. South Carolina.^12,11,36

Children:

i. Andrew⁴ Nutter, Jr., b. Dec- -1814,¹² d. in infancy.¹²

26. ii. Willis Nutter b. Sep-15-1815.

27. iii. Nancy Nutter b. Feb-22-1818.

28. iv. Andrew Nutter, Jr. b. 1821.

29. v. Julia Nutter b. Oct- -1823.

30. vi. John B. Nutter b. ca 1825.

31. vii. Melinda Ann Nutter b. Apr- 9-1828.

viii. F. A. Nutter, b. 1829.¹²

32. ix. Sarah Nutter b. 1833.

33. x. Elizabeth Nutter b. Jul-11-1835.

6. George³ Willis, (2.Nancy², 1.Levi¹) b. ca 1798,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA, resided in Harrison Co, (W)VA,¹¹ occupation farmer.²⁸ He married¹⁵ Nov- -1826,³¹ marriage bond Nov-18-1826 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[38] Sarah Elder, b. ca 1809,²⁸ (daughter of William Elder) census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

Children:

i. Jane⁴ Willis, b. ca 1828,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

ii. William Willis, b. ca 1830,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

iii. Malinda Willis, b. ca 1832,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

iv. John Willis, b. ca 1835,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.²⁸

v. Jesse Willis, b. ca 1837,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

vi. Martha Willis, b. ca 1839,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

vii. Henry Willis, b. ca 1841,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

viii. George Willis, b. ca 1845,²⁸ census 1850 in Harrison Co, (W)VA.

7. Elizabeth³ Willis, (2.Nancy², 1.Levi¹) b. Dec-30-1798 near Clarksburg, Harrison Co, (W)VA,^7,14 d. Dec- 9-1869,^14,[39],9 buried in White Oak ME Church Cem, near Pullman, Ritchie Co, WV,^9,14,39 resided in White Oak (near Pullman), Ritchie Co, WV.¹⁶ She married Feb-15-1821,^14,7 Peter Pritchard, b. Oct- 1-1798 in Preston Co, (W)VA,^14,7 [Birthplace given as Maryland in death record of son John.], (son of Thomas Pritchard, Jr. and Nancy Tichenell) d. Sep-29-1883,^14,39 buried in White Oak ME Church Cem, near Pullman, Ritchie Co, WV,^9,14,39 resided after 1837 in White Oak (near Pullman), Ritchie Co, WV,¹⁴ resided 1821-1837 in Barbour Co, (W)VA,¹⁴ occupation Justice of the Peace.¹⁴

Children:

34. i. George⁴ Pritchard b. May-19-1822.

ii. Nancy Pritchard, b. ca 1824,¹⁷ ["Ritchie County in History and Romance," p. 287-A, states birth date as Aug 4 1822, conflicting with birth date of older sibling. Age 35 in 1860 Census would put birth date in about 1825, while age 48 at 1872 marriage puts it at about 1824.], d. Nov-26-1903,³⁹ resided in Fairmont, Marion Co, WV,¹⁴ resided 1872 in Ritchie Co, WV,¹⁷ census 1870 in Ritchie Co, WV.^[40] She married^14,39 Aug- 1-1872 in Doddridge Co, WV,^[41] no children from this marriage³⁹ Alpheus E. Hoult,¹⁷ also known as A. E. Holt,^14,39 b. ca 1832 in Monongalia Co, (W)VA,¹⁷ (son of Joseph Hoult and Delila ___) resided 1872 in Doddridge Co, WV.¹⁷

35. iii. Thomas Willis Pritchard b. Oct-15-1825.

36. iv. Anna Pritchard b. Feb-26-1828.

37. v. William T. Pritchard b. Apr-21-1830.

38. vi. John Pritchard b. Oct-22-1832.

vii. Cora Casandra "Cassie" Pritchard, b. 1836 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[42],9 d. 1911,⁹ buried in Bethany UM Church Cem (Rt 28 btwn Goffs & Prunty), Ritchie Co WV,⁹ resided in Harrisville, Ritchie Co, WV,¹⁴ resided 1856 in Ritchie Co, (W)VA.⁴² She married¹⁴ Mar- 6-1856 in Ritchie Co, (W)VA,^[43] Harrison Wass, b. Feb- 6-1834 in Pennsylvania,^42,[44] [Marriage record gives birthplace as Allegheny Co, PA, but death record has it as Somerset Co, PA.], (son of John Wass and Barbara Aletha Bowyer) d. Apr- 5-1923 in Ritchie Co, WV,^42,[45] buried in Bethany UM Church Cem (Rt 28 btwn Goffs & Prunty), Ritchie Co WV,^[46],9 resided 1856 in Ritchie Co, (W)VA,⁴² occupation farmer,⁴⁶ military Co E, 6th WV Inf - Civil War.^[47]

viii. E. P. "Jane" Pritchard, b. 1838 in Ritchie Co, (W)VA,^42,[48] [Birthplace given as Lewis County in her marriage record with Lewis Maxwell in Ritchie County, but as Ritchie County in her marriage record with John O. Byrne in Doddridge County. The latter is considered more likely.], d. 1921,⁴⁸ buried in IOOF Cemetery, Harrisville, Ritchie Co, WV,⁹ resided in Fairmont, Marion Co, WV,¹⁴ resided formerly in Doddridge Co, WV,¹⁴ resided originally at White Oak (near Pullman), Ritchie Co, WV.¹⁴ She married¹⁴ (1) Jan-29-1857 in Ritchie Co, (W)VA,^[49] Lewis Maxwell, b. 1790 in Pennsylvania,^[50],37 (son of Thomas Maxwell and Jane Lewis) d. Feb-13-1862,⁵⁰ [Minnie Kendall Lowther (HRC, p. 603) reports his death as 1865 near Weston in Lewis County, but more official sources state Feb 13 1862 in West Union, Doddridge County.], resided in Doddridge Co, WV,¹⁴ occupation lawyer.³⁷ Lewis: Lewis Maxwell was a member of Congress from 1827 to 1833. A wealthy man for his time, he was a surveyor who entered large tracts of land all over his region of the state. Childless, he left no heirs, so much of his fortune fell to his nephew, Franklin Maxwell. Specifically, his will "gave his widow her dower, and divided the residue of the estate equally between the sons of his nephew Franklin one-half, and the other one-half equally among the sons of his brothers and half-brothers; Franklin Maxwell, under the Will, received $2,000 for settling the estate, and Judge Edwin Maxwell and the Judge's brother Rufus Maxwell received his Library."^50,[51]

"MAXWELL, Lewis, (1790 - 1862) MAXWELL, Lewis, a Representative from Virginia; born in Chester County, Pa., April 17, 1790; moved with his mother to Virginia about 1800; completed a preparatory course; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Weston, Va. (now West Virginia); member of the State house of delegates 1821-1824; elected to the Twentieth Congress; reelected to the Twenty-first Congress and reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-second Congress (March 4, 1827-March 3, 1833); chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of War (Twenty-first Congress), Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Twenty-second Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1832; resumed the practice of law and was also engaged as a surveyor and land patentee; died in West Union, Doddridge County, Va. (now West Virginia), February 13, 1862; interment in Odd Fellows Cemetery." [Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000269]

Background Information: Lewis Maxwell was born either in Colrain Township, Lancaster County or in Chester County, Pennsylvania on April 17, 1790, and was the son of Thomas Maxwell and Jane Lewis . As a child, he moved with his mother to Lewis County, Virginia. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and became a member of the State House of Delegates 1821-1824. He was served in Congress from 1827 to 1833, after which he resumed the practice of law, was a surveyor and land speculator. He married Sophronia Wilson in 1844, and later, in 1859, Jane Pritchard, who survived him. He was one of the largest landholders in the region, a founder of Weston, (West) Virginia and the founder of Jane Lew, a town named after his mother. He died in West Union, Doddridge County, (West) Virginia on February 13, 1862 and was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Childless, his fortune ultimately descended to his nephew Franklin Maxwell, son of his older brother Abner.

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1860 Census, Doddridge Co, (W)VA: Lewis Maxwell, 68, born in Pennsylvania, lawyer; Jane, 21, born in Virginia. No other household members.³⁷ She married (2) Sep- 1-1862 in Doddridge Co, (W)VA,^[52] John O. Byrne, b. ca 1829 in Ireland,¹⁷ resided 1862 in Ohio Co, WV.¹⁷ She married¹⁴ (3) W. H. Wiley, b. 1829,⁴⁸ d. 1911,⁴⁸ buried in IOOF Cemetery, Harrisville, Ritchie Co, WV,⁹ occupation minister.^14,47

8. Nancy Ann³ Willis, (2.Nancy², 1.Levi¹) b. ca 1803,^[53] d. Sep-11-1869,^53,47 buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Jarvisville, Harrison Co, WV,^53,47 resided in Harrison Co, WV.¹⁵ She married May-22-1823,^[54] Julius E. Davisson, b. May-15-1802 in Brushy Fork, Harrison Co, (W)VA,^[55] [Headstone has May 1 1802.], (son of Josiah Davisson and Martha Stout) d. Apr- 1-1884 in Morgansville, Doddridge Co, WV,⁵⁵ buried in Archbold Cemetery, Smithburg, Doddridge Co, WV,⁵³ occupation farmer.

Children:

39. i. Granville E.⁴ Davisson b. 1825.

40. ii. Theodore Davisson b. Feb-20-1827.

41. iii. Edgar Davisson b. Sep- 4-1831.

iv. Nancy A. Davisson, b. ca 1834.³⁰ She married Dec-10-1856 in Harrison Co, (W)VA,³⁰ John J. Coffindaffer, b. ca 1835,³⁰ (son of Abraham Coffindaffer and C. ___