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Greathouse or associated ancestor records found in the county:

Records for McCown have been included for their historical significance in events of the lives of Samuel Tanner and John Greathouse, who were both early settlers of Kanawha, Mason and on Spring Creek, in what became Roane County in 1856.

Samuel Tanner witnessed the murder of Cornstalk at Fort Randolph, in Point Pleasant, Kanawha County, VA. This area of Kanawha became Mason County, VA, in 1804.

Malcolm McCown, father of Matthew McCown, was tried in court for the murder of Cornstalk when he returned to Rockbridge County, VA, where Samuel Tanner also returned before his move to Harrison County, VA and then on to Warth's Bottom, Kanawha County, VA , by 1797.

Matthew McCown, son of Malcomb McCown, became a tax commissioner, Justice of the Peace and after his return from Fort Norfolk, VA, where he served as a Captain, commanding a company of the 80th Regiment, Kanawha County, Virginia Militia, which was attached under the 4th Virginia Militia, commanded by Colonels Boyd and Huston, during the War of 1812, from Apr 1814 through 30 Aug 1814... McCown became the Sheriff of Kanawha County, VA, a capacity he served in, through his death, which was noted in the court minutes of Kanawha County, VA.

John Greathouse of Mason County, VA, enlisted in the Company of Matthew McCown in May 1814. He served for three months, from May 1814 through 30 Aug 1814. After about a 30 day march from Kanawha County, with encampment at Preston County, McCown's Company arrived at Richmond, VA, in Jun 1814, when the unit was stationed at the Peach Orchard in the rear [eastern picket line] of Fort Norfolk.

The above mentioned events will be further documented in the timeline of the county, at the time of each event.

1796, May - Early Settlers of Union District, of present day Jackson County, but of Kanawha County from 1789 - 1804

In the month of May, 1796, William Hannamon, Benjamin Cox and James McDade, built cabins within the present limits of Union district, and thus were the first to plant civilization in what is now Jackson county. The first two became actual settlers. McDade selected the site for his future home, but pursued his chosen work—that of an Indian scout. For years he traversed the banks of the Ohio between the Little and Great Kanawha rivers, rifle in hand, a faithful dog his only companion. Many long, dark nights he spent in the dreary wilderness, content if he might be able to save the inmates of some lonely cabin from becoming the victims of the murderous savage foe.

1797 - Excerpt: Virgil A. Lewis, History of West Virginia, Early Settlers of Warth's Bottom

Captain Wm. Parsons and Samuel Tanner were the first settlers in Warth's Bottom, they settled there in 1797.

John Parsons, son of Wm. Parsons, was born in a hollow sycamore tree the same year that his father came to Warth's Bottom. [He was not the John Parsons who married Mary Greathouse.]

Captain Wm. Parsons was the first settler at Ripley and his first wife was the first person buried in the old cemetery at Ripley.

1800 - Excerpt: Virgil A. Lewis, History of West Virginia, Early Settlers of Union District of what became Jackson County, VA in 1831

Joseph Parsons settled in Union District in 1800

Analysis:

Joseph Parsons married Matilda Mott, and was the father of Adam Parsons, who married Susan Greathouse in Harrison County, VA in 1803.

1801 - Return of Fleming Cobbs, Comm.

McCown, Matthew; white males age 16 or over: 1.
McDaid, James; white males age 16 or over: 1; horses: 1.
McDaid, James [duplicate or Jr.?]; white males age 16 or over: 1; horses: 1.
Parsons, George; white males age 16 or over: 1; horses: 1.
Parsons, Joseph; white males age 16 or over: 2; horses: 4.
Parsons, William; white males age 16 or over: 1; horses: 2.
Tanner, Samuel; white males age 16 or over: 1; horses: 1.
McCown, Malcolm; white males age 21 or over: 2; horses: 3.

1802 - Return of Fleming Cobbs, Comm.

McCown, Matthew; white males age 21 or over: 1; horses: 1.
McCown, Malcomb; white males age 21 or over: 2; horses: 3.
McDade: none.
Parsons, Joseph; white males age 21 or over: 2; horses: 3.
Parsons, William; white males age 21 or over: 1; horses: 2.
Parsons, Adam; white males age 21 or over: 1.
Parsons, [illegible]; white males age 21 or over: 1; horses: 1.

1806 - Return of [?], Comm.

McCown, James; white males age 21 or over: 1; horses: 3.
McCown, Matthew; white males age 21 or over: 1; horses: 3.
McCown, Malcomb; white males age 21 or over: 2; horses: 4.

1812 - Settlement: Early Settlers of Spencer, of present day Roane County, but of Kanawha County from 1812 - 1830

Spencer, the county seat, is situated in the Spring Creek valley, within a survey of 6000 acres, patented by Albert Gallatin, in 1787. The land afterward became the property of J. P. R. Bureau, once a prominent business man of Gallipolis, Ohio, and one of the French colonists who settled that place in 1791. The town is distant fifty miles from Charleston and sixtyseven and one-half from Weston.

The first settlers upon the spot came in 1812. They were Samuel Tanner, his wife, one child, and a man named Wolf, who lived in Tanner's family. Their first residence was beneath a shelving rock, within a few yards of the present residence of Hon. J. G. Schilling. The Tanner family thought it, no doubt, a comfortable lodging in a trackless wilderness. The birth of the first white child born here occurred in this cave; it grew to an adult age and yet survives.

1813 - Mr. Tanner erected his cabin near the spot on which the residence of M. W. Kidd, ex-Clerk of the Circuit Court, was afterward built. 'In 1814, other pioneers came and settled on Spring creek, two miles below Spencer.

1814 - Tax List: Return of William C. Wilson, Comm., Upper District

Tanner, Samuel; white males age 16 or over: 3; horses: 6.

Certified on 31 May 1814, William C. Wilson, Comm.

1814, May 25 - Military: Provision Return, Captain Matthew McCown, 4th Virginia Militia

Provision Return for Capt. Matthew McCowns company of VA Militia marching from Kanhawa County to Norfolk now at Norfolk [crossed out] Richmond. -- Commencing the 4th & Ending the 25th May 1814 _______ Melusion [? looks like Melusion]

64 men non com'd officers & privates
22 days march to Richmond
__
1408 Complete Rations

The aD?uGene will pay for the above rations which was furnished by me on the march. --

M. McCown, Capt.
detailed from the 80th Reg. VA.

1816 - Tanner's Cross Road: Name bestowed upon area which became, present day, Spencer, WV

The name of Tanner's Cross roads was bestowed upon the place, suggested by the fact that two paths bisected each other here. Tanner's X Roads was situated on Spring Creek at the mouth of Tanners Run on what was later known as the Glenville and Ripley Pike and was on the division line between Kanawha and Harrison Counties. From 1848 to 1856 it was on the division line between Jackson and Wirt Counties running on an East and West line by the old pike, later the main street of the village.

1817 - The spot was visited by a Baptist minister, who preached the first sermon in the cabin of a Mr. Greathouse [John Greathouse] , and the same year a Methodist minister established an appointment at the house of Mr. Tanner.

Analysis: John Greathouse was taxed as a resident of Mason County, VA from 1807 through 1817, so he appears to have moved from the area of Cottageville, Mason County, VA to Spring Creek, Kanawha County, VA by the end of 1817. He was not named on tax lists of Kanawha County, VA until 1826.

1826 - Tax List: Return of William Wilson, Comm.

May 19 - Gandy, Uriah; horses: 5.
May 20 - Greathouse, John; horses: 3.
May 19 - Tanner, Samuel; horses: 4.
May 19 - Tanner, James; horses: 1.
May 19 - Tanner, William; horses: 1.
May 19 - Tanner, Jesse; horses: 2.

Certified on 19 Jul 1826, William C. Wilson, Mag.

1827 - Tax List: Return of William C. Wilson, Comm.

Feb 18 - Gandy, Jesse; black males age over 12: 1.
May 20 - Gandy, Uriah; black males age over 12: 3; horses: 6.
May 20 - Greathouse, John; horses: 4.
Apr 22 - Tanner, James; horses: 4.
Apr 22 - Tanner, Samuel; horses: 4.
Mar 12 - Tanner, Wm; horses: 1.
Mar 12 - Tanner, Jesse; horses: 3.

Certified on 17 Jul 1827, Alexander Quarrier, Clk.

1828 - Tax List: Return of William C. Wilson, Comm.

Apr 12 - Gandy, Uriah; horses: 6.
Apr 12 - Greathouse, John; horses: 5.
Apr 4 - Tanner, James; horses: 1.
Apr 4 - Tanner, Jesse; horses: 3.
Apr 4 - Tanner, Saml; horses: 5.

Certified on 7 Jun 1828, Alexander Quarrier, Clk.

1829 - Tax List: Return of William C. Wilson, Comm.

May 28 - Gandy, Uriah; horses: 6.
May 28 - Greathouse, John; horses: 6.
May 28 - Greathouse, Wm.; horses: 1.
May 30 - Tanner, Saml; horses: 6.
May 30 - Tanner, James; horses: 2.
May 30 - Tanner, Jesse; horses: 3.

Certified on 17 Jun 1829, Alexander W. Quarrier, Clk.

1830 - Tax List: Return of William C. Wilson, Comm.

Apr 12 - Gandy, Uriah; white male age 16 or over: 2; horses: 4.
Apr 28 - Greathouse, John; white male age 16 or over: 1; horses: 3.
Apr 28 - Greathouse, Wm.; white male age 16 or over: 1; horses: 1.
May 15 - Tanner, Sam; white male age 16 or over: 1; horses: 4.
May 15 - Tanner, James; white male age 16 or over: 1; horses: 1.
May 15 - Tanner, Jese; white male age 16 or over: 1; horses: 1.
May 15 - Tanner, Elijah; white male age 16 or over: 1.

Certified on 14 Aug 1830, John P. Turner, Mag.

1830, Jun 1 - Census

John Greathouse household.
1) John Greathouse, male, white, age 40-50 [born 1780-1790].
2) female, white, age 30-40 [born 1790-1800].
3) male, white, age 20-30 [born 1800-1810, Edward].
4) male, white, age 15-20 [born 1810-1815, John B. Jr.].
5) male, white, age 15-20 [born 1810-1815, Samuel].
6) male, white, age 10-15 [born 1815-1820, James].
7) male, white, age 5-10 [born 1820-1825, ?].
8) male, white, age 5-10 [born 1820-1825, ?].
9) male, white, age 5-10 [born 1820-1825, ?].
10) female, white, age under 10 [born 1820-1830].

Analysis:

1) The eldest female in the household should have been Sarah McDade, age 40-50 [born between 1780-1790].

2) The male age 20-30 could have been either Edward or William. It would be reasonable to think that this one (1) would have been Edward, considering that William Greathouse was taxed in his own household in the same year as census, where he would have been visited by tax collector just prior to the census takers visit.

3) There were also three unknown males, born between 1820 and 1825 enumerated in the household of John Greathouse.

1837, Jul 11 - Marriage Return: James Greathouse to Nancy Ashley

I B. Cook a minister of the Gospel duly authorized to the solemnise Marriages in the commonwealth of Virginia do hereby certify that I have solemnised the marriages of the following persons and on the days herein specified:

James Gratehouse To Nancy Ashley, July the 11, 1837.

Analysis:

1) If James Greathouse was, conservatively age 18-21, at the time of his marriage on 11 Jul 1837, then he would have been born between 1816 and 1819.

1840, Feb 19 - Marriage Return: Nathaniel Greathouse to Nancy Runals [Reynolds]

I B. Cook a minister of the Gospel duly authorised to Solmise marriages in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that I have Salmised the marriages of the folowing persons and names herein Specified:

Nathaniel Gratehouse to Nancy Runals, February the 19th 1840.

B. Cook

Marriage Return [duplicate]: Nathaniel Greathouse to Nancy Runch [Reynolds]

I B. Cook a Minister of the gospel duly authorised to Solmese marges in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that I have Solmised the following persons and names herein Specified:

Nathaniel Gratehouse to Nancy Runch, February the 19th 1840.

Analysis:

1) If Nathaniel Gratehouse was, conservatively age 18-21, at the time of his marriage on 19 Feb 1840, then he would have been born between 1819 and 1822.

2) A search of the 1840 census of Kanawha County finds no Runals/Runch as a resident of the county. Based on the 1840 census and marriage records for other Reynolds, there were Reynolds residing in the county, in that year.

3) If Nancy Reynolds was, conservatively age 18-21, at the time of her marriage on 19 Feb 1840, then she would have been born between 1819 and 1822.

4) A search of the 1830 census of Kanawha finds a Reuben Runnalds [Reynolds] as a resident of the county, in that year.

Sources:

Virgil A. Lewis, History of West Virginia, Hubbard Brothers, Publishers, Philadelphia, 1889. Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=EEIofzQFC44C

Kanawha County, VA. Personal Property Tax Lists: Kanawha County, VA 1792-1832. Charleston, WV: WV Archives. Microfilm.

Somerville, Harold David. "The Memories and Writings of Harold David Somerville, Volume III", Published by Lola Mae Smith and Pauline Somerville Smith, Ravenswood, WV, 2001.

1830 U.S. Census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Kanawha, Virginia, Page 192; NARA Roll M19-191. John Greathouse household.

B. Cook, Kanawha County Marriage Return, WV Archives and History Vital Records: Marriages, 1838. Marriage of John Gratehouse to Nancy Ashley, 11 Jul 1837. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/247396197

B. Cook, Kanawha County Marriage Return, WV Archives and History Vital Records: Marriages, 1838. Marriage of Nathaniel Gratehouse to Nancy Runals, 19 Feb 1840. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/249644940

B. Cook, Kanawha County Marriage Return, WV Archives and History Vital Records: Marriages, 1838. Marriage of Nathaniel Gratehouse to Nancy Runch, 19 Feb 1840. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/249644941