Vachel Dillingham, Jr.

Vachel married Mary "Polly" Smith about 1798. Mary was born about 1782; died in 1827 in Claiborne Co, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Alfred David Dillingham was born in Dec 1799; died in Jun 1833 in Mississippi.
2. Margaret Esther Dillingham was born about 1802; died after 1833.

Vachel married Hester Renfro about 1760 in Virginia. Hester (daughter of James* Rentfroe, Sr and Esther* Van Bibber) was born in 1739 in Halifax Co, or Pittsylvania Co, Virginia; died about 1803 in of, Christian Co, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Willey Family Tree 16 Jan 2005.FTW]

March 1983: James and Esther?s daughter Hester m. Vachel Dillingham ca. 1765 in Halifax or Pittsylvania Co., Va. They are said to have moved to N.C. with relations of Hester.

In Washington Co. and Sullivan Co. N.C. I find land grants to Vachel and next to his land Stephen and William Rentfro. In the same general area I find grants to James, Joseph, Peter, Isaac and Moses. This area later became a part of Tennessee. Vachel and Hesters son went back to that area and settled.

In 1765 James Rentfro deeded land in Halifax Co. to Vachel Dillingham who was later recorded in Pittsylvania Co. then even later in Franklin Co. They did not move it was only the counties which changed. They were just east of the Blue Ridge, south of the Roanoke River.

{There is mention of Vachel Dillingham and wife Hester's moving from North Caroliona to Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky with some of her relatives}

William married Ellinor Vachel about 1734 in Maryland. Ellinor was born in 1720 in Maryland; died after 1775 in of, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1734, Orange Co, Virginia; tithe list
• Census: 1740, Lunenburg Co, Virginia
• Possessions: 1773, Pittsylvania Co, Virginia; sold land
• Possessions: 1778, Pigg River, Virginia

Notes:

James Rentfro & Joseph operated a mill on the Blackwater
Census: 1740 Moved from Augusta Co to Lunenburg Co.
Census: 1734 Orange Co Tithe List: "James Rentfro hath no estate -- Over Shenandore"

Updated: Wed Oct 29 23:45:48 2003 Contact: Delores Willey (felinesmama@msn.com)
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GED&db=:2619333&id=I539511753

1747James & Esther sold land in Augusta Co.
From "DILLINGHAM MSS" ... James Rentfro sold land to Joshua, Moses, John and Isaac Rentfro in 1778, said land located on Pigg River. There was no dower release. These may have been sons although no mention is made of this in the MSS. Rev. Moses, son of William and Elizabeth Cheney Renfro, lived on Pigg River during the 1780's. James may have just been selling off his lands before leaving the area. {There is mention of Vachel Dillingham and wife Hester's moving from North Carolina to Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky with some of her relatives.

from Jean Morford (Van Bibber archives)
By Jean Morford <
Re: The query I sent you recently on Peter/James Renfro:
James and Esther (Van Bibber?) Renfro did not die in Barren Co., KY as I stated. I mixed him up with John Renfro who also had a wife Esther.
James and Esther Renfro sold land in Pittsylvania Co., VA in 1773. That is the last record of them in VA.
Jean Morford


Census:
Tithe List: "James Rentfro hath no estate -- Over Shenandore"

Possessions:
From "DILLINGHAM MSS" ... James Rentfro sold land to Joshua, Moses, John and Isaac Rentfro in 1778, said land located on Pigg River. There was no dower release. These may have been sons although no mention is made of this in the MSS. Rev. Moses, son of William and Elizabeth Cheney Renfro, lived on Pigg River during the 1780's. James may have just been selling off his lands before leaving the area. {There is mention of Vachel Dillingham and wife Hester's moving from North Caroliona to Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky with some of her relatives.

James* married Esther* Van Bibber in 1719 in Bedford Co, Virginia. Esther* (daughter of Peter* Van Bibber and Ann* Henriette Gooding) was born in 1695 in Orange Co, Virginia; died after 1740. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ancestral File NO: 1SXW-4V7
inda-L-Schlarb/GENE3-0031.html" \l "ENDNOTE94">

(inquiry on Van Bibber site)
I am still seeking confirmation of a marriage between a James Renfro and Esther Van Bibber. They were in various counties in VA in the mid to late 1700's and both died in Barren Co. KY. I have very little information on this couple.

Jean Morford

Children: James Renfro, Jr was born in 1730 in Orange Co, Virginia; died after 1731. Patience Renfro was born about 1732; died after 1782. Mary* Rentfroe was born in 1736 in Crooked Run, on the Shenandoah, Orange Co, Virginia; died in 1810 in Coles Creek Settlement, Natchez District, Jefferson Co, Mississippi. 3. Hester Renfro was born in 1739 in Halifax Co, or Pittsylvania Co, Virginia; died about 1803 in of, Christian Co, Kentucky.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1734, Cecil Co, Maryland (later Virginia)
• Property: 14 Mar 1742, Edgecombe Co, North Carolina
• Will: 1748, Edgecombe Co, North Carolina

Notes:

Updated: Wed Oct 29 23:45:48 2003 Contact: Delores Willey (felinesmama@msn.com)
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GED&db=:2619333&id=I539511753

John was a Quaker in New Garden Township, Chester Co., PA. John was perhaps part of a westward movement from Chester Co., PA to Frederick Co, Virginia., a distance of at least 200 miles south and west of Chester Co. Many emigrants to Virginia moved across the river into Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania then returned to Virginia. Several Renfros are found on the records of these early counties on the edges of the mountains on both the western slopes and the eastern. One of the first emigrants was a John Rontfro of record in Delaware. He appears on pages 18 and 19 of records of the Welsh Tract Baptist Meeting, Pecander Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware, 1701 to 1728.
Citing: (1) Signers of the Confession of Faith, 1725
(2)John Rontfro Margaret Rontfro and The names of Such as has been removed from us by death
..John Rontfro

Although John was a member of this Welsh community church, it is believed he just roamed into the area and settled with these people, not that he had Welsh ties. All research points to his French/Scot background.
John Rentfro's house is mentioned in a coroner record at Court, 26 June 1707, Chester Co., PA , History of Chester Co., PA., G. Cope and J.S. Futhey. John Rentfro was a witness to the will of Thomas Rowland on Mar. 3, 1708 in Chester Co., Pa.
(Gilb ert Cope, Gen. & Pesn. Memoires of Chester & Deleward Cos., PA. II:435. Newberry Library E4854085)

In 1712 and 1718 John Rentfro witnessed to Quaker marriages in Chester Co., Pa. And appears on tax list in 1718-1719 in New Garden Township, Chester Co., Pa; 1724 Birmingham Township, Chester Co., Pa and 17 26 in Nottingham Township, Chester Co., Pa.
(NOTE: Although John was a witness to a Quaker marriage, there is no record he was a Quaker. He is on the Welsh Tract Baptist Church records. It was not necessary to be a Quaker to witness for them.)
At a Monthly meeting in East Nottingham, Cecil Co., Maryland (later Virginia) in 1734, John Renfro was witness to the wedding of Geo. Hollingsworth. Also present was Elizabeth Renfro (Maryland Arch. Annapolis, Film M564)

The will of Samuel Robinet, April 30, 1745, Chester Co., PA mentions Son-in-law, John Rentfro and grandson, George Rentfro (first mention of the given name, George), at Nottingham. (Book F (A 1) p 555, dated May 23, 1745. This will not only proves the Margaret Robinet, John Rentfro marriage but also proves that he was alive as late as 1745. Margaret was John's first wife.

Orange Co, Virginia. was formed from Spottsylvania in 1734.

North Carolina
Sometime after the death of Margaret, John moved to Edgecombe Co., N.C. and married Tomasin Simmons. Sometime in-between, John was in Frederick Co, Virginia where he witnessed a Quaker marriage. It should be pointed out that others than Quers did witness these marriages on occasion. John was on the Welsh Tract Baptist roll earlier. So many of his descendants were Baptist ministers in later generations. One Franklin County resident points out that some may have been Anglican, as Anglican services were held in some of the Rentfro homes prior to the Revolution.

John Rentfro's will was filed in Edgecombe Co., NC in 1748. WILL lists, Sons, George, Enoch & Jacob Ranfrow; wife, Tomasin and ?her two sons, William Ranfrow and James Ranfrow. (N.C. Wills, 1663-1 789, Vol XXVI:27, State Archives, Raliegh, NC. Wife, Tomsen Ranfrow and Matthew McKinney Executors.

Edgecombe Co., NC was formed from Bertie Co. in 1741. Later became Granville Co., laying on the South West side of the Roanoke River adjoining Virginia. Evidence that John was married to Tomasin Simmons is found in the property settled on her by her mother, presumably soon after her marriage.

Mary Simmons to John Rentfroe of Edgecombe Co., tailor, 14 Mar 1742/43 for the love and affection I bear my son, (son-in-law); 100 acres of land on the north side of Buck Swamp

---

It has been reported that John Rentfrow married probably three times.

He was first married in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

He then married in Frederick County, Virginia (Winchester in NW part of state.)

Thereafter, he moved to Edgecombe County, North Carolina where he married Tomesin (Simmons) Ridgens before 1742/3.

He left a will in Edgecombe County, North Carolina in 1748.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=clucas&id=I2583


Residence:
1734 witness marriage between George Hollingsworth and Hannah McKay. Wife Elizabeth also present. Cecil Co., MD. (later VA)

Property:
Edgecombe County, NC
Deed Book 5, p161
Mary Simmon of Edgecombe County
to John Renfroe of Edgecombe County, taylor
14 Mar 1742/3 for love, good will, and affection I bear my son 100 A on the north side of Bush Swamp joining Joseph Lane, and Bakers Branch all houses, orchards, gardens, etc. part of a grant to Edward Simmons, 17 Oct 1735
Wit: Walter MacFarlan, William Holley
Reg. Edgecombe County
May Ct 1743

(Abstract of Deeds, Edgecombe Precinct, 1732-1758, Hofmann, p. 182 #161


Will:
Will of John Rentfrow

W: 30 May 1748
P: Aug Ct 1748
Edgecombe County, NC

being very sick and weak of body

Sons: Enuch (Enoch) Renfrow, George Renfrow five shillings each and they are to have no further demands on my estate.

Wife: Tomasin Renfrow all my land for her lifetime and reversion to my son Jacob Renfrow. Rest of estate to be divided between my wife and her two sons William and James Renfrow.

Exec: Matthew MacKinne
Witnesses: John Haywood, Nathaniel Holly, John Evans

(Edgecombe County, NC Will Abstracts, 1732-1792, Golden West Marketing, page 68)
(NC Wills by Grimes, page 310.)

----
John Rentfro's will was filed in Edgecombe Co., NC in 1748. WILL lists, Sons, George, Enoch & Jacob Ranfrow; wife, Tomasin and her two sons, William Ranfrow and James Ranfrow. (N.C. Wills, 1663-1 789, Vol XXVI:27, State Archives, Raliegh, NC. Wife, Tomsen Ranfrow and Matthew McKinney Executors.

John married Margaret* Robinette about 1695. Margaret* (daughter of Samuel* Robinette, (immigrant) and Mary* Taylor, (immigrant)) was born in 1697 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania; died before 1733 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He had land on the Pigg River near Stephen Cole, James Cole, John Cole, and Mark Cole.

mentioned by sister-in-law Mary FitzRandolph in execution of Jacob Van Bibber's estate.1733 as bro of her husband Jacob

Peter's sons, Peter, John, and Isaac, fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant at Point Pleasant, Mason County, Virginia against Indians under the command of Cornstalk. This battle has often been recognized as the first battle of the American Revolution. Isaac died in the battle. John was a Captain and served in Indian wars, Dunmore's War, Colonial wars, and the Revolutionary War. Peter Jr. died in Mason County and John died in Kanawha County, Virginia.

The husband of Peters daughter Brigetta was killed by Indians. Brigetta was taken prisoner.

Peter* married Ann* Henriette Gooding about 1715 in Cecil Co, Maryland. Ann* was born on 3 Feb 1696 in Pennsylvania; died after 1738 in Cecil Co, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

one source says her last name Goodin, but most have unk for her last name.