William & Judith (Archer) Traylor

EDWARD Traylor died 1746

compiled by Linda Sparks Starr January 2008

1699 estimated birth year Edward Traylor (son of William & Judith) IF Edward was 25 when he married. He might be a year or two older if I am correct he is the second son.

1724 estimated marriage year Edward Traylor and Elizabeth (surname not documented) since first child was born in 1725. Elizabeth is "said to be a daughter of Seth Perkinson", but George Traylor's wife is an "Elizabeth" too. All we have is Seth's will (dated 1731) naming his daughter "Elizabeth Traylor."

1725 September 2 birth Phebe, daughter Edmond (sic) & Elisabeth Trayler; baptized October 18th [Chamberlayne p. 99]

1732 September 17 birth Blanch, daughter Edmond (sic) Eliz'a Traylor; baptized December 31 [Chamberlayne p. 101]

1738 January 2 Edward Traylor patent for 392 acres in Henrico Co. on both sides Middle Creek adjacent Samuel Good. [Patent Bk 17 p. 447; C&P vol. 4 p. 149]

1737-1740 birth William Traylor, son of Edward & Elizabeth based on guardian account records.

1740 or later birth Mary Traylor, daughter of Edward & Elizabeth. She was alive when her father wrote his will, but does not appear in guardian account records.

1745 April 13 date will Edward Traylor of Dale Parish, Henrico County. To daughter Pheby Ellis, all land east side Middle Creek and negro; to daughter Blanch, all remainder of tract on Middle Creek and a negro and items; to son William all land belonging to my dwelling place, containing 317 acres, a negro and items; to wife Elizabeth and daughter Mary, all rest of estate for life and then divided among all my children. Thomas Ellis sole executor. wit: Peter Worsham, James Watkins, William Watkins. [Weisiger p. 23; Henrico Co. Deeds & Wills Bk 1744-1748 p. 136]

1745 May 14 William Traylor of Henrico Co., planter, to Edward Traylor of same, for £30, 317 acres bounded by first branch of Wintopock, Peter Worsham and said William Traylor. wit: George Archer, Joseph Traylor, Peter Worsham /s/ William (+) Traylor. [Weisiger p. 17; Henrico Co. Wills & Deeds 1744-1748 p. 71]

1746 before May death in Henrico County Edward Traylor, son of William & Judith for the will was recorded this day. Accounts of the estate of Edward Trayler were presented by Robert Cozen & recorded August 1748. [Weisiger p. 38; Henrico Wills & Deeds 1748-1750 p. 27] LSS note: no reason found so far why there was a change in administrators, IF indeed, Thomas Ellis was granted Letters of Administration in the first place.

 LSS note: Nothing more is specifically known about Edward's wife Elizabeth or his daughter Mary. The wording of his will is rather strange, almost as if he doesn't expect either of them to live very long. He specifically doesn't leave Mary a legacy to receive on the day of her marriage. Blanche is probably one of those wives named "Blanche" whose surname is unknown. One "Blanche Traylor" married a Traylor cousin; but the consensus is that couple are children of two other brothers of Edward. We know more about daughter Phebe's husband, Thomas Ellis.

1728 October 11 will date John Ellis Sr. To son John ... to son Thomas 140 acres next to Capt. Richard Randolph. To son James 140 acres joining son Thomas. To son Henry .... to son William ... to son Charles ... to son Joseph ... to daughter Mary. All of estate left with sons William & Thomas and my three little sons Henry, Charles and Joseph to live with them until 21. wit: Nicholas Cox, William Spear. Presented in court by Thomas and William Ellis and proved December 1728. [Weisiger p. 122; Henrico Co. Wills & Deeds 1725-1737 p. 220]

1744 estimated marriage year Thomas Ellis and Phebe Traylor for married when her father wrote his will. It appears at least two children were born before 1750.

174_ June 29 will date Godfrey Fowler of Henrico Co. ....To Thomas Ellis the plantation and 200 acres where he lately dwelt, being land he bought of my son Joseph and not yet conveyed. ... [Weisiger p. 27-8; Henrico Wills & Deeds 1744-1748 p. 259]

1748 July 15 Joseph Whiteman of Henrico Co. to Thomas Ellis of same for £20, 200 acres granted by patent to Edward Hatcher, bounded by said Ellis. wit: Wm Street, John Ellis, Wm Harding. [Weisiger p. 56; Henrico Deed Bk 1748-1750 p. 20]

1749 February 3 John Ellis of Henrico, for love, peace and unity between me and my brother Thomas Ellis, deed him 140 acres which my father John Ellis of Henrico Co. dec'd gave said Thomas by will. My father also by will gave to my brother James Ellis 140 acres and said James dec'd, by will, gave to Thomas 50 acres of same. I assign all my right to Thomas. wit: Wm Street, Henry Ellis, Charles Ellis /s/ John Ellis [Weisiger p. 79; Henrico Deed Bk 1748-1750 p. 79]

1757 August 9 will date Thomas Ellis. To son John plantation where I live, 300 acres. To wife Phebe tract that lies below me, 200 acres and rest of estate for life and then divided among my children: John, Elizabeth, Thomas, Edward and William. wife Executrix. wit: Anthony Irby, Josiah Tatum, Alex Brown. [Weisiger p. 28; Chesterfield Co. Will Bk 1 p. 260]

1757 November 25 inventory Thomas Ellis (no valued given) returned by Phebe Ellis, Exec [Weisiger p. 29; Chesterfield Will Bk 1 p. 172]

1758 March 3 inventory Thomas Ellis returned. [Weisiger p. 121; Chesterfield Order Bk 2 p. 382] LSS note: the inventory presumably was returned by Phebe "Traylor" which is the last time her name is found in the records.

1761 February 6 Churchwardens to bind as apprentices .... Thomas Ellis [Weisiger p. 129; Chesterfield Co. Order Bk 3 p. 111]

1764 April 6 Elizabeth Ellis chooses Jordan Anderson her guardian [Weisiger p. 138; Chesterfield Order Bk 3 p. 505] (Same day) On complaint of John Ellis on behalf of Thomas, William and Elizabeth Ellis, orphans of Thomas Ellis, against Josiah Tatum, their guardian, it is ordered that he be removed as guardian and Jordan Anderson be appointed in his place. [ibid; Orders Bk p. 507] (Same day) Churchwardens of Dale Parish to bind Thomas Ellis as apprentice. [ibid; Orders Bk p. 511]

LSS note: Elizabeth is at least 14 for chose her guardian [thus born before 1750] and John has reached the age when he can speak in court for his siblings. Thomas and William are likely under 14 [born after 1750] since John is making the change of guardian request for them. Edward Ellis either died between 1757 and 1764 or had reached his majority by 1764. The question becomes: Where is their mother? Phebe might have died. My original assumption she had married Josiah Tatum changed when I discovered his wife was "Sarah" in records dating around this same time. Other researchers have Phebe marrying as her second husband William Pentecost of Dinwiddie County. Those researchers also show them with children born in 1755 and much later, making me think his wife might be another Phebe Traylor.

1767 August 7 Accounts of estates of Thomas, William and Elizabeth Elliss, orphans in the hands of Jordan Anderson their guardian ... returned. [Weisiger p. 148; Chesterfield Order Bk 4 p. 81]

 

That brings us to son WILLIAM, who also comes with a long list of "unknowns." As strange as it may seem, two "Edward Traylors" lived in Bristol Parish at the same time and both named sons "William." William, son of Edward and MARY Traylor was born in 1733. Guardian account records, dated 1754 through 1758 for the son of Edward (died 1746), prove he was born "after October 1737, but before October 1740."

1754 October 4 William Traylor, orphan of Edward Traylor chooses Robert Cousins his guardian. [Weisiger p. 110; Chesterfield Court Order Bk #2 1754-1759 p. 1] LSS note: Since William chose his own guardian, he was 14 or older by this date, thus was born no later than October 1740.

1755 August 1 Accounts estate William Traylor, orphan, in hands Robert Cousins returned. [Weisiger p. 112; Chesterfield Orders Bk #2 p. 113]

1756 August 6 Robert Cousins, guardian William Traylor orphan returns account. [Weisiger p. 115; Chesterfield Court Orders Bk #2 p. 210]

1757 September 2 Accounts of William Traylor in hands of Robert Cousins ... returned [Weisiger p. 119; Chesterfield Court Orders Bk 2 p. 345]

1758 October 6 Accounts of orphans ... William Traylor in hands of their guardians returned. [Weisiger p. 123; Chesterfield Court Orders Bk #2 p. 462] LSS note: William was still underage in 1758, thus was born no earlier than 1737 -- thus is positively NOT the William born 1733, son of Edward and Mary Traylor.

 By process of elimination, I THINK the next three references belong to William, son of Edward (died 1746) and Elizabeth. My reasoning is simple, but admittedly weak: There is no other KNOWN William in Chesterfield and Amelia counties in this time frame old enough to marry.

1761 February 3 John Traler of Chesterfield Co. to Amos Lipford of Amealey Co. (Amelia) ... witnessed by Nicholas Thompson, Archebel (x) Trayler, William Trayler [Weisiger p. 19; Chesterfield Deed Bk 5 p. 219] LSS note: John is William's uncle and Archer his cousin. Other records show the tract lay on Wintopock Creek as does William's legacy for his father.

1766 September 22 William Neal of Amelia Co to Francis Moore Neal for 4 shillings, 50 acres; being tract devised by Thomas Neal dec'd to said Francis. Wit: William Traylor, Willia, (+) Pertinson. [Weisiger p. 56; Chesterfield Deed Bk 5 p. 500]

1768 May 7 William Perkinson of Chesterfield Co. of the one part and William Traylor and Nanny his wife of the other part ... for and in consideration £50 ... "during the term only of the natural lives of said William and Nanny" ... 348 acres whereon the families aforesaid now live /s/ Wm (x) Perkinson. wit: Richard Wilkinson, John Archer, Seth Perkinson. [Chesterfield Co. Deed Bk 6 p. 82, transcription by Peggy Thompson.]

 Why only for their natural lives? Usually such deeds include a clause "after their deaths to (one of their sons.)" Is this an older couple past their child bearing years instead of the younger couple I picture them? "The internet" says Nanny is the daughter of William Perkinson, but there's nothing within this transcription of the original deed that mentions a relationship or even Nanny's surname. Having the property return to the grantor after their deaths suggests she isn't Perkinson's daughter. Either that, or she isn't likely to have children -- my opinion.

Two William Traylors (Sr. and Jr.) joined the 5th Virginia Regiment and were at Valley Forge the winter of 1776-1777. The younger one enlisted February 1776, but the date of enlistment for the older one doesn't appear on the muster and pay rolls in my possession. There were at least four Williams living in Virginia who could be those soldiers: William (1733-1791 GA); his son William (abt 1763 - 1827 GA); William died 1835-1845 in MO ("reportedly" son of William d.1761 Lunenburg Co.); and this William born 1737-1740, son of Edward and Elizabeth. Of those, only William 1733 - 1791 (son of Edward and Mary) was older than this son of Edward and Elizabeth. The link takes you to an image of one muster roll; here is the specific information from all the muster rolls for William Traylor Sr.

1776 September 28 to October 28: Wm Traylor Sen. Pvt, Capt. Ralph Falkner's Co., 5th Virginia Regiment, paid 6 2/3 Dols -- £2 10 sh [William Traylor Sen'r #1576 Muster Rolls as copied at the National Archives, Washington D.C. and shared by Cal Traylor.]

1776 October 28 to November 28: Wm Traylor Sr, Pvt Capt. Ralph Falkner's Co., 5th VA Rgmt "Pay per month" 6 2/3 Dols - £2 10 sh [Ibid]

1776 November 28 to December 28: William Trayler Sr. Pvt Capt Ralph Falkner's Co. 5th VA Rgmt "Pay per month" 6 2/3 Dollars [Ibid]

1777 December 28, 1776 to January 28: Wm Tralor Sr., Pvt Capt. Ralph Falkner's Co. 5th VA Rgmt commanded by Col. Charles Scott "pay per month" 6 2/3 Dollars [Ibid]

1777 February 28 to April 1: Wm Trayler Sr. Pvt Capt. Ralph Falkner's Co. of 5th VA Rgmt commanded by Col. Charles Scott. "Amount" 7 1/3 "Remarks" dead. [Ibid]

1777 June 9: William Traylor Sen'r, Pvt Capt. Ralph Falkner's Co. 5th VA Rgmt commanded by Lt. Col. Josiah Parker, Company Muster Roll August 28, 1776 to May 31, 1777: "Remarks" dead [Ibid]

One group of excellent researchers thinks William Traylor Sr. didn't die, but merely left quietly one night to return home to do the spring planting. I disagree, but was the deceased this William? In my opinion, the only way to determine just what happened to this William is to follow the land he inherited from his father: 317 acres bounded by first branch of Wintopock, Peter Worsham and said William Traylor (this William's grandfather).

 

KEY to citations:

Colonial Wills of Henrico Co. VA Part Two, 1737-1781 by Benj. Weisiger, 1994.

Henrico Co. VA Deeds 1737-1750 abstracted by Benj. Weisiger, 1995, Iberian Press, Athens, GA

Colonial Wills of Henrico Co. VA Part One 1677-1737 by Benjamin Weisiger III, 1976

Chesterfield County Virginia Deeds 1749-1756 by Benjamin Weisiger III, 1991 reprint

Chesterfield County Virginia Wills 1749 - 1774 by Benjamin Weisiger, 1988

Chesterfield County, Virginia Deeds 1756-1764 by Benjamin Weisiger III, 1989

Chesterfield County Virginia Deed Book 5 1764-1768 by Benjamin Weisiger, 1995 Iberian Pr, Athens,

Chesterfield County Virginia Wills 1774-1802 by Benjamin B. Weisiger III 1992, Iberian Publ Athens,

Births from the Bristol Parish Register of Henrico, Prince George, and Dinwiddie Counties, Virginia 1720-1798 transcribed by Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne, Clearfield Co., Md 1990

Cavaliers & Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants ed. by Denis Hudgins, VA Gen. Soc 1994 vol. 4