Finding Tidbits
A search for Jonathan Marney at the General Land Office, Bureau of Land Management website glorecords.blm.gov, shows that Jonathan made cash purchases in Missouri beginning in 1833 and as late as 1850 in Iowa. In 1851 he received a warrant for land because of his service with the Virginia Volunteers during the War of 1812.
Searches at Ancestry and Fold 3 for military files gave me Jonathan's service records from March to October, 1813 and his marriage to Ann P. Oliver in Montgomery County, Tennessee June, 1817.. Jonathan died in Missouri, 1854 and his widow, Ann is active in land and pension files as late as 1878. In one of the last documents in the pension file is a statement explaining why she had not signed with a clear signature as she had done previously. She explained that she is old and her hands are palsied. She could no longer sign her name.
Virginia birthplace?
Since Jonathan served with the Virginia Volunteers, it would probably be safe to assume that he was from Virginia but census searches for him were not successful. He was probably too young to be on his own in 1810 and we know from his pension file that he was in Tennessee when he married Ann in 1817.
Census searches for just the surname showed Marney families in two separate counties in Virginia. In Fauquier County there was a James Marney with a young male in the household that could be Jonathan. There are also Marney families in other Virginia counties. But researching along FAN Club lines helped confirm Fauquier County.
Capt. Nimrod Ashby
The pension files noted Jonathan's service under Capt. Nimrod Ashby. Isn't that a name that just begs for further investigation? Nimrod (1778-1830) was among several military heroes in the Ashby family. He recruited his unit of militia from Fauquier County, Virginia. This helps confirm Jonathan Marney's residence.
Battle of Hampton, Virginia
Search at Fold 3 shows that Nimrod served under Stapleton Crutchfield's Detachment of Virginia Militia. Major Crutchfield had the task of defending Hampton, Virginia, with about 500 militia. While they fought valiantly, the militia were forced to retreat by a much larger British force.
Hampton was of little value to the British; they only occupied it for three days but there were tales of "wanton destruction, rape and murder" after they left. The British commander admitted to destruction but denied that they had performed rape and murder. The defeat at Hampton helped clear the way for the British invasion of Washington DC a few months later.
Jonathan was there!
Looking at just the records of my ancestor Jonathan Marney I learned of his service during the War of 1812 but by looking at records for Nimrod Ashby and Stapleton Crutchfield I learned and confirmed so much more. I learned more about the Battle for Hampton, Virginia, and that my ancestor was there.
What tidbits have you found? What tidbits are still hidden from view, waiting for you to discover them?
Submit your stories by sending them to m.strickland@skcgs.org
MaryLynn Strickland
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