Brown-Mannin-Fugate Line
By Don Taylor
After learning from FamilySearch that Pocahontas might be my 12th great-grandmother[i], I thought I’d take another step along the path to confirm she is my ancestor.
The supposed connection is on my mother’s father’s line.
- 00003– My mother – Correct.[ii]
- 00006 – Clifford (aka Richard Earl) Brown (1903-1990) – Correct
- 00013 – Mary Elizabeth Manning (1878-1983) – Correct.
- 00026 – John William Manning (1846-1888) – Agree.[iii]
- 00052 – Enoch Mannin (1823-1907) – Agree.
- 00105 – Rachel Fugate (1803-1870) – Agree.
- 00210 – Reuben Fugate (c. 1783-1833) – Agree.[iv]
- 00420 – Josiah Fugate (1740-1830) – Tentative.
- 00840 – Randolph Fugate (1724-1778) – Probable.
I feel confident that Josiah is the father of Reuben Fugate. So, next, I want to confirm his parents. While I was doing that, I decided to examine Josiah’s life in some detail. I’ll start with what sources Family Search can suggest about Josiah Fugate – LJGD-VBR – and my comments about those facts & sources.
Summary
My 6th great-grandfather, Josiah Fugate, was very much a pioneer in colonial America. He was born in Orange County, Virginia (about 30 miles west of Fredericksburg). He married Elizabeth Smithers in 1760 and moved west to Montgomery County, Virginia, sometime before 1781. He moved west again to Montgomery County, Kentucky, by 1797. Finally, in 1810, he moved west again to Missouri Territory and died in Ralls County, Missouri, before 1824.
Findings
1740 – Find-a-Graveº suggests that Cpt. Josiah Fugate (1740-1824) had 15 children. Three were born in 1762, two in 1763, and four in 1780. It also suggests that two children were named John, one born in 1762 and one born in 1764, but both died in 1837. I immediately thought there were several errors in the children’s birthdates and that the two Johns were the same child. I consider Find-a-Grave as a source for hints or lines of inquiry as I judge family trees and genealogies. There were 53 “facts” I gleaned from it. I wonder how many of them I will still consider factual when I finish this exercise.
1760 – Josiah married Elizabeth Smithers about 1760 in Frederick (probably Virginia).
1774 – The Georgia Genealogist: Georgia Military Records 1774-1863º page 4 indicates that Josiah Fewgate was an inhabitant of Wrightsborough (35 miles west of Augusta), Georgia, in 1774. I’ve seen no evidence of Josiah Fugate being in Georgia, and the spelling is different. I decided to dismiss this source for the time being.
1781 – Randal & Josiah Fugate were seated for a Grand Jury of Inquest for Montgomery County, Virginia. (Film # 007897248 – Image 357 of 549.
1782 – James, Josiah, & Randolph Fugate are all listed in the 1782 records for Montgomery County (Film # 007856149).[ii] The three brothers appear next to each other, and each has one tithe (showing they were over 21).
1784 – It appears that James & Josiah moved west (or south) as they appear in the property tax records for Washington County (Film # 007856314, Image 75).
1785 – James & Josiah appear in the property tax records for Washington County (Film # 007856314, Image 85). The number of cattle owned by Josiah is not legible. Josiah Fugate 1 – 2 – 0 – 5 – ?
1786 – Russell County was established from a section of Washington County.[1]
1786 – Josiah Fugate is identified as a Captain of the Militia, Russell County, Virginia.[iii]
1787 – James, Josiah, & Randolph appear in the Russell County Tax Records (Film # 007856297, Image 15 of 910). Josiah seems to be prospering. His number of horses increased to 7, and his cattle to 13. His son Randolph also appears in the tax records in Russell County.
1792 – Kentucky became a state. However, Russell County, Virginia, remained in Virginia.[iv]
1797 – It appears that Josiah & Randolph had moved west again. They appear in the Montgomery County, Kentucky, Tax Records (Film # 007834491 – Image 20 of 1,005)[v].
- Fugate, Josiah owns 1,300 acres. He continues to prosper as he now has 10 horses. There is a second male between 16 and 21 in the household. My records suggest that Josiah’s son Josiah (Jr.?) would be that child, a young male, 18.
1799 – Josiah continues to prosper as he now has 12 horses.
1800 – Josiah continues to prosper; he now has 1,350 acres. His son, Josiah appears as a white male over 21. Also in the household are two white males, 16 to 21. They must be sons, Reuben & William, suggesting they were both under 16 in 1797.
1801 – Josiah continues to pay his taxes, but there are still two males under 21. Randal and Josiah Jr. appear on the following page.
1800 – Floyd County was created from parts of Fleming, Montgomery, and Mason County, Kentucky.[vi] This will affect Josiah’s property in Sandy.
1802, 1804, 1805, & 1807 – Josiah continues to pay his taxes in Montgomery County.
1807 – Josiah moved west again and lived in the District of St. Louis, Upper Louisiana. Josiah and Betty indentured 273 acres to Daniel Denly. The the sale wasn’t proved until 1812, after Bath County was created, consequently the property is identified as being in Bath County. However, because of the 1809 and 1810 tax records, I don’t believe he moved to the District of St. Louis until 1810.
1808 – Received deed for 550 acres on Bald Eagle from James & Kezia French on 21 June 1808. He paid his 1808 property tax.
1809 – Sold 100 acres to William Grimes and 56 acres to Enoch Burnes. He gifted his son Reubin 100 acres. He paid his taxes on 250 acres.
1810 – Signed a Memorial regarding property claims being rejected. Proves that Josiah and James had moved to the Louisiana Territory. He is taxed on 250 acres in Montgomery County but isn’t identified as a resident, confirming his move to Missouri Territory by 1810.
1811 – Bath County was created from Montgomery County, Kentucky.[vii] This affected the record of Josiah’s property sale deed from 1807.
1812 – Missouri Territory was created from Louisiana Territory.[viii]
1815 – Josiah sold 134 acres in Bath County to James Rogers.
1821 – Josiah created a will that listed his 11( living) children: Randel, John, Elizabeth, Maryan, Sally, Rachel, Josiah Jr., Reuben, Wm. C, Susannah, and James.
1821-1824 – Different researchers identify several dates for Josiah’s death. All put his location as Ralls County, Missouri.
Conclusion
However, it appears that the tentative relationship to Pocahontas is no longer appearing in Family Search. As such, I’ll be abandoning this project and will continue my research into the Fugate ancestors as part of my regular research.
However, WikiTree suggests I am related to Metacom Wampanoag (also known as King Philip) through my Roberts ancestors. It is challenging to be a historian in Maine without knowing a bit about King Philip’s War. So, I’ve created a new project to investigate that possible connection. WikiTree also suggests I have 36 degrees of separation from Charlemagne through my Roberts line. Again, this is another future project. (I have heard that most people of European descent have Charlemagne as an ancestor, but it can be hard to prove.) Anyway, there are many more ancestors for me to investigate. I am forever amazed by people who say they have their entire tree done.
Areas for Further Research:
Birth
Analyze Josiah’s birth records and determine his birth year and location.
Marriage
Some sources suggest Josiah and Elizabeth were married in Frederick County, Virginia, others suggest Frederick County. Maryland. Determine which is correct.
Children
Confirm if there was a daughter June Fugate. If so, she must have died young.
Daughter Mary Elizabeth probably died before Josiah created his will – Confirm.
Daughter Susannah and Susan are probably the same child person – Confirm.
(I’ve already deleted the second John from my list of children.)
Military
I didn’t accepted that Josiah Fugate was an inhabitant of the town of Wrightsborough (Georgia) (Near Augusta) because I’ve seen no evidence Josiah ever lived in Georgia. Ref: https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/622528/?offset=5#page=7&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=fewgate. Review more closely and look for other evidence of Josiah being in Georgia.
Ralls
The 1809 Power of Attorney to his son Reuben was done with the assistance of his friend Nathaniel W Ralls. In 1810, Josiah moved to Louisiana Territory and later lived in what would be Ralls County. Ralls County was named after Daniel Ralls when it was created in 1820. Could Josiah’s friend Nathaniel Ralls be closely related to Daniel Ralls. If so, what would be the relationship?
Death
Some sources suggest Josiah died in 1821, others in 1823, and others in 1824. Determine the correct date.
Endnotes
[i] See: https://dontaylorgenealogy.com/2023/03/famous-ancestor-pocahontas/
[ii] “Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1857”★★★★ is a treasure trove of information. It is microfilm of original records at the Virginia State Library and Archives in Richmond, Virginia. I particularly thank DDeLisle for their work in identifying the tax records for Josiah in his Family Search Profile. What a great job!
[iii] Lewis Preston Summers, History of southwest Virginia, -1786, Washington County, 1777 to 1870. (1903), Pages 388 & 389 – Josiah Fugate – Captains of Militia. J. L. Hill printing company, Richmond, Va.,1903. Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/item/28000530/).
[iv] Wikipedia – Russell County, Virginia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_County,_Virginia
[v] “Tax Books, 1797-1875”★★★★ is microfilm of original records filmed at Frankfort, Kentucky.
[vi] Wikipedia – Floyd County, Kentucky –https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_County%2C_Kentucky
[vii] Wikipedia – Floyd County, Kentucky –https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_County%2C_Kentucky
[viii] Missouri Life Magazine (Rocheport, MO 65279, ), Missourilife.com, Missouri History Today – Missouri Territory is Established: June 4, 1812. https://missourilife.com/june-4-1812-2/
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