Name: Samuel
STEELE
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Birth: 1730 PA
Death: bef 16 Feb 1796 Augusta, VA
Father: David STEELE
Mother: Janet
David STEELE & Janet
Samuel STEELE (1730 - Apr 1803) &
Margaret CAMPBELL (1735 - aft 1777)
Elizabeth
Jannett STEELE (1762 - 1846) & Peter ALEXANDER (1758 - 14 Feb 1842)
Sarah
ALEXANDER (26 Jul 1791 - 2 Oct 1862) & Robert McMAINS (16 Jul 1786 - 9 Sep
1868)
Jane
S. McMAINS (15 Dec 1811 - 6 Aug 1872) & Marmaduke N. BARNES (abt 1815 - abt
1850)
Linia Ann BARNES (6 Mar 1840 - 5 Apr 1880) & Jacob Sylvester ARNEY
(1839 - 1927)
Mary Ellen ARNEY (24 Apr 1861 - 9 Sep 1935) & Joshua Newton MACHLAN
(1859 - 1936)
Linnie Ellen MACHLAN* (30 Sep
1884 - 7 May 1974) & Everett Elmer WALKER (1882 - 1948)
Elsie Maureen
WALKER (20 Nov 1903 - 12 Mar 1983) & Leo Newton COFFEY (1901 - 1998)
FAMILY LOCATION AND FAMILY
CONNECTIONS:
The following
map is extracted from the following source, for the Southwest Section of the
“Beverly Patent”:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaaugust/augusta2.html#maps
_files/image002.png)
Outlined in
red, it shows 590 acres of land acquired by Samuel Steele in 1749. And it shows
adjacent tracts acquired by his brothers, Nathaniel and Robert Steele. Outlined
in green, it shows 214 acres of land granted to Robert Alexander in 1747. And
of course both of these names are important to our ancestry; On 27 Mar 1787
Robert’s son Peter Alexander married Samuel’s daughter Elizabeth Jannett
“Jenney” Steele, and our line descends from there.
How can you
find this on a modern map? It’s really quite easy – just tell Google Maps
you want to find the community of “Steeles Tavern” on a modern map (or if you
prefer, enter lat/long of 37.925 -79.204). If you compare this location with
landmarks found on the above and other 18th century maps, it is
clear that Steeles Tavern is somewhere within the above Samuel Steele tract.
CONNECTED FAMILIES:
The stories
herein are best understood as part of a series of stories about a group of
connected families that all settled (or originated) in Augusta County,
Virginia, in the 1700’s. The following sketch shows how they are connected.
There are separate story files for each of the men marked in red (wives are
discussed jointly with their spouses).
_files/image004.png)
SOURCE: “CHALKLEY”
There are
many references herein to The Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement
in Virginia: 1745 to 1800 by Lyman Chalkley. This is a large work, with
three volumes of about 600 pages each, containing most of the abstracts of
court records in Augusta County. This work is now in the public domain, and
readily available online. It is a good starting place, but contains many errors
of omission and transcription. To be used with caution.
PRESENCE IN 1744:
See notes
with father-in-law James Campbell. There is a “Samuel Steel” listed on the
Tinkling Springs monument along with James Campbell, indicating payment of a
fee on 12 Nov 1744. Given their known later relationship this seems clearly to
be the same Samuel Steele. Further, there is a creek in the neighborhood of the
Campbells called “Steele Run”. Suspect that Samuel married Margaret Campbell
circa 1744-47, then acquired land per above map.
1747/1749: LAND ACQUISITION:
The above
map indicates that Samuel Steele acquired 590 acres of land in 1749. However
“Chalkley” says it was 690 acres in 1747, as follows. However Chalkley is noted
for transcription errors! Of interest is that the records below indicate how
closely connected the various parties were:
Chalkley,
Vol 3:
Deed Book 1,
Page 383.--17th October, 1747. Wm. Beverley to Samuel Steel, £17.14.0; 690 acres in Beverley Manor; corner
to James Huston; David Steel's
land; corner to Robert Alexander;
corner to Patrick Hayes. Teste: Robert
Alexander, Robert Ramsey, John Fulton. Proved by two Roberts, 18th
November, 1747. Proved by John, 22d August, 1766.
Deed Book 1,
Page 432.--19th November, 1747. £27 current money Virginia. George Brackenridge
to Thomas Beard, 309-1/2
acres in Beverley Manor; corner to James Lynn and John Tate; corner to David Steel. Teste: James
Fulton, Samuel Wilson, Samuel Steel.
Acknowledged by George, 18th November, 1747, and Ann releases dower.
1753: NAMED IN WILL OF JAMES
CAMPBELL
Sanuel
Steele is named as executor in the will of his father-in-law James Campbell, as
is Samuel’s son James. See notes with James Campbell.
LAND PROCESSIONING 1748:
"Processioning"
is a common practice in colonial English speaking areas that was employed
periodically to confirm property boundaries. During this process processioners
visited property owners and "walked" their property boundaries, with
adjacent owners confirming their mutual boundaries. This procedure was often in
the hands of the Church Vestry.
In 1748 Samuel Steel and Robert Alexander are being “Processioned” in
same area. Samuel Steele, brothers Nathaniel & Robert, and Robert Alexander
are found together in same area for 1755, 1756 and 1767.
FEBRUARY 1754: ROAD MAINTENANCE
CHALKLEY: Inhabitants
of head of South River petition that they have to keep their roads only 1/2
mile apart for space of four miles and ask that the three be reduced to one.
William Smith, Samuel Steel, Robert
Alexander, Robert Steel, Nathaniel Steel, George Breckenridge, Chas.
Campbell, Patrick Campbell, John
Broundlee, Alexander Broundlee, Hugh Fulton, Patrick Campbell, Jr., John
Fulton, John Ward, Samuel Doack, John Campbell, Seth Wilson.
1760 GUARDIAN?
CHALKLEY: Page
232.--18th November, 1760. Samuel Steel's bond (with Thomas Paxton, Pat.
Campbell), as guardian (chosen) to David Steel, orphan to Thomas Steel.
1764 APPRAISEMENT:
CHALKLEY: Page
353.--5th April, 1764. Archd. Clendenning's appraisement (Ann Clendenning,
administratrix), by Jno. Fulton, Samuel Steel, Nathaniel Steel, Robert
Alexander, 1 tomhawk, pipe, and pistole. Walker & Cabell's receipt
(Comment:
Samuel Steele participated in many appraisements. This one is of some interest
because he is working with Nathaniel Steel and Robert Alexander.)
1764 DEATH OF BROTHER ANDREW:
Chalkley,
Volume 1, from Will Book 3:
Page
355.--23d March, 1764. Andrew Steel's will--To son, Robert; to "my sun
Saml. and Alexand (er) Moore, John Foulton and James Wardlaw, &c."; to
daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth. Executors, Alex. Moore and Jas. Wardlaw. Teste:
Hugh Wardlaw, Andrew Kennedy, Joseph Wardlaw, Wm. Wardlaw. Proved, 21st August,
1764, by Hugh and William Wardlaw and Kennedy.
Page
371.--1st November, 1764. Andrew Steel's estate appraised, by Wm. McCutchen,
Saml. Steel, John Fulton.
MARCH 1786
Chalkley - Anthony
Mustoe vs. Samuel Steel and Margaret, his wife.--Writ, 8th February,
1785. Margaret said Anthony was a convict.
1793 MARRIAGE OF SON:
1793--December 31, William Steele and John
McDowell, surety. William Steele and Mary McChesney, daughter of James
McChesney (consent). Teste: Adam McChesney. Wm. is son of Saml. Steele
MARCH 24, 1787: MARRIAGE OF DAUGHTER
Chalkley Vol
1: 1787--March 24, Peter Alexander and
Samuel Steele, surety. Peter Alexander and Jinny Steele, daughter of Saml.
Steele (consent). Teste: Saml. Steele, Ro. Steele.
DEATH? WILL?
“Chalkley”
has three references to the will of Samuel Steele, and I do not understand the
dates, the name differences and the various contexts in which these might have
been found. A diligent investigator might visit the county, and ask to see the
originals? Until I understand the full picture, I have listed all three
references below. I have used the “Will Book VIII” proving date as most closely
related to his actual death, until proved otherwise:
Chalkley Vol
3, from Will Book VII:
Page
202.--16th August, 1789. Samuel Steel's well--Executors, James and Andrew
Steel; to son, Samuel; to four daughters, Margaret, Sarah, Martha, and Mary; to
sons, James. Andrew, and Samuel. Teste: Samuel Finley, Andrew Ramsey, Jane
Fienley. Proved, 16th February, 1790, by Samuel and Jane Finley. Executors
qualify.
Will Book
VIII:
Page
215.--25th September, 179. Samuel Steele's will--To wife, Margaret; to
daughter, Mary; to grandson, Samuel Steele Cunningham, infant; to daughters,
Jenny, Kitty, Nancy; to grandson, Samuel Steele Rankin, infant; to son,
William, home plantation. Executors, wife Margaret, son William. Teste: John
Cungham, David Cuningham, Robt. Hanna. Proved, 16th February, 1796, by the
Cunninghams. William Steele qualified.
Will Book XI
Page
36.--12th October, 1795. Samuel Steele's will--To son, Samuel; son, Robert;
son, James; daughter, Mary; daughter, Catherine; daughter, Jenny; daughter,
Sally. Executors, sons Samuel, Robert, James. Teste: John Steele, James and
John Steele, John Shultz. Proved, 28th October, 1799. by James Steele, and 23d
December, 1799 by John Shoultz.
STEELE’S TAVERN:
Following
believed to be taken from “The Steel's of Steele's Tavern Virginia”, by Mildred
Searson Goeller, published in 1974:
Samuel
Steele, is mentioned as the son of David and Janet Steele, born about 1724, and
died 1796, he married a Margaret (believed to be Campbell, dau of James Campbell).
According to her book Samuel and Margaret had two daughters Margaret and
Jannet, or Janny (Jane). She writes that it was daughter Mary who married Richard
Rankin and moved to Tennessee. They moved with son Samuel Steele Rankin.
Another
report says “Samuel was not the original owner of Steeles Tavern, but a second
buyer.”
Note that
Samuel Steele’s land was originally all in Augusta County, VA. However in 1777
Rockbridge County was formed, with part of it coming from Augusta County. On a
modern map, the boundary between Augusta and Rockbridge pretty much runs right
through the community of “Steeles Tavern”.
Spouse: Margaret
CAMPBELL
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Birth: 1735
Death: aft 1777
Father: James CAMPBELL (1682-1753)
Mother: Margaret BEARD
(~1683-<1780)
Children
Samuel
STEELE (1730 (or 1724?) - bef 16 Feb 1796) & Margaret CAMPBELL (1735 - aft
1777)
Mary Ellen STEELE (abt 1747 - ) & David
CUNNINGHAM Jr.
David STEELE
James STEELE
Katherine STEELE
Samuel STEELE
Nancy STEELE
Sally STEELE
John STEELE (1753 - )
William STEELE (1755 - )
Elizabeth Jannett STEELE (1762 - 1846)
& Peter ALEXANDER (1758 - 14 Feb 1842)
Jane STEELE (4 Apr 1764 - 17 Jan 1845)
& Richard RANKIN
Margaret Jane STEELE (28 Mar 1765 - 11 Nov
1851) & David BUCHANAN
Robert STEELE (14 Dec 1766 - )
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Please
report corrections or additions to...FredCoffey@AOL.COM