Amaziah Vardeman

Notes:

In a letter to Melinda Strong dated 31 March 2000, J.H. Vardaman, the Vardaman Family Historian, wrote "according to my records, there is no doubt that Amaziah Vardeman who married Unity Carter was a son of William and Ann (maiden name unknown but possibly Ayers) Vardeman. You asked if I had proof and the answer to that question is no. However, all information that I have states that they were father and son and there is no evidence whatsoever that would lead us to any other conclusion." It appears that Amaziah, and his brother Jeremiah, lived near each other in Pike County, Mississippi at the time of the 1820 census.

The Pike County, MS 1820 census, page 6, shows an "Am. Vardemon." (Ronald Vern Jackson's Index to this census incorrectly lists him as Am Vardemore). His household compositon is as follows: 1 male 16-26 and 1 male 26 to 45 1 female under 10, 1 female 26 to 45

IF this is the home of Amaziah and Una Vardeman, the 16 to 26 year old male could not be a son of theirs, as they were only married 5 years previously. Perhaps a brother or nephew? The female under 10 could be a daughter, name unknown, who was born before Polly. It might even be Polly, although her birthdate is supposed to have been in September, 1820.

Several lines down, Jeremiah Vardeman is also listed on the 1820 Pike County census. The composition of his household is: 1 male age 16-26, 1 male age 26 to 45 4 females under age 10, 1 female age 26 to 45

Leatha Betts (777 West 1000 South Woods Cross, UT 84087 (jlabetts@burgoyne.com)) emailed me that on the BLM land patents page "she found Amaziah Vardeman buying land 10 June 1826, at the Washington land office, 80 acres on Lawrence Co. Miss. Block 29 township 5N Range 10 E. Uney Massey is listed as purchasing land 10 Nov 1840, Block 20, Township 5N Range 10E.."

Jeremiah is again listed in the 1830 Mississippi Index, but neither Amaziah or Una could be found. The only Vardeman's listed in the 1830 Census Index (Irene & Norman Gillis) were as follows: Vardaman, Jno. Adams 00110-23110 Vardeman, Elijah Copiah 10100-10100 Vardiman, JeremiahMadison21010-13100 Vardiman, Sarah Franklin13100-01210

Leatha Betts informs me that the 1830 Pike County, Census was destroyed. This would explain why they are not listed in the index.

At the time of the 1840 Mississippi census, Una appears to be remarried to a Mr. Massey. It appears that Amaziah MAY have died sometime after 1826, when he bought land in Lawrence County, but before 1840, when Una was remarried. There is, however, an A. Vardeman in Adams County, Mississippi in 1840, on page 31. This microfilm should be examined as well. It may be a different person entirely. However, it is possible that Amaziah and Una divorced, and that he moved to Adams County without her.

Kathy Casagranda's "Sabine Parish The 1850 Census With Added Family Information" has Amaziah Vardeman's date of death as circa 3 April 1849. She informed me that this was based on a succession petition filed in Sabine Parish on this date. Leatha Betts emailed me this transcription of the petition. It is from a typewritten copy that was originally given to Lily Carter Thurman by Marie Greer in May 1966.

Succession of A. Vardeman, Eunice Carter, pet. for administration, filed 3 Apr 1849. to the Honorable James Taylor, Judge of 16th Judicial Dist. of the State of La. and Parish of Sabine: Petition of Eunice Carter, of parish aforesaid, respecti. represents that as widow of her deceased husband, Amaziah Vardeman and tutrix of her children, she prays to be appointed adm. of such property of her deceased husaband as beforesaid-etc. C. Chaplin, atty. for petitioner. Appraiser: James Campbell and Wm. I. Herring (?) Oath by Eunice Carter signed by Uney Masse, as adminstratrix. Bond Eunice Carter as principle and Redmund Carter and W. L. White as security on the 14th Apr 1849, witnessed by James Campbell and Amon T. Morris. Property sold at house of Viney or Uney Vardeman, witt. by R.W. Campbell and John Davis on Oct 7 1849, Auctioneer Nathan H. Bray. Receipt: in Succession of Amazirah Vardeman, Uney massey, Adm. to Ann I. White Receipt: Succession of Amazrah Vardeman, Uney Massey to Henry S. White

Could it be that it simply took more that 10 years to probate the Estate of Amaziah? Note he is listed as "deceased of the State of Mississipppi" and not as a resident of Louisiana. Kathy noted that "sometime folks died and their estate or property wasn't dealt with until the widow remarried or was going to remarry or the children became of age and wanted a partition of the property that belonged in part to them."

It appears that Eunice Carter Vardeman and Una Massa are the same person. When did she remarry, however, and when did Amaziah die?

Amaziah married Una (Eunice) Carter on 12 Dec 1815 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Una (daughter of William Carter and Mary (Molly\Polly) Cotton Strickland) was born on 24 Sep 1793 in Louisiana; died on 6 Jun 1870 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary Etta "Polly" Vardeman was born on 22 Sep 1820 in Mississippi; died on 9 Nov 1898 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
2. Ann Vardeman was born about 1824 in Mississippi; died after 1852.
3. Jemimah Amazia Vardeman was born on 1 Sep 1825 in Mississippi; died on 20 Sep 1875 in Sabine County, Texas.

Notes:

A William Vardeman is listed as being a resident of Natchez, Mississippi in 1789. (Feldman, ANGLO AMERICANS IN SPANISH ARCHIVES. p 199) It further indicates (p 216) that he was born in Kentucky.

According to Leatha Betts, William and brother (or son) John Vardeman took oath of Allegence 1 Dec. 1798 in Mississippi Territory, Southern Dist. William Vardeman and John Vardeman appear on 1810 Census Adams Co. Mississippi and William Vardiman appears on 1816 tax records, in Franklin Co. Mississippi

This appears to be the same William Vardimam (sic) listed in Franklin County, Mississippi (page 37) on the 1820 census index.

Household composition: 2 males under 10, one male 26-45 1 female under 10, 2 females 10-16, one female 26-45 no slaves

William married Ann ???. Ann was born after 1751; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her maiden name is possibly Ayers. (Per J.H. Vardeman)

Notes:

John Verdeman is listed on Bedford Co. Virginia Order book 1-A, 19 Mar 1757, (book 975.5675 P28b p. 141, as having brought in 4 young Wolves heads (bounty on Wolves) and payment, as did William Verdeman.

John moved from Bedford County through the New River and Clinch River areas to the west and on into Kentucky. J.H. Spencer's HISTORY OF KENTUCKY BAPTISTS 1775-1885 includes a biography of Jeremiah Vardeman, the youngest son of John and Elizabeth Vardeman. This book DOES NOT HAVE A LIST of the children however. The only specifics are that (1) Jeremiah is the youngest of 12 children and (2) he had brothers named Amaziah and Morgan. J.H. Vardeman of Alpharetta, Georgia suggests that the reason they are cited is that they were also active in the Church at Crab Orchard. Most of the circulated lists name 12 children, including Peter and Thomas Vardeman, but this is in error. Peter is a brother of John's, and Thomas is his son. Some also list a son name Alexander, of whom there are absolutely no records, and "a child who died young." Alexander may be the child who died young.

On 14 July 2001, Leatha Betts emailed me that "The only Vardemans that was in Kentucky earlier than 1789, was John Vardeman and Elizabeth Morgan of Lincoln Co. Kentucky who came out of Bedford Co. Virginia. He arrived in Fayette Co. then to Lincoln Co. Kentucky 20 Jun 1787, where he received land for his Rev. War service. Lincoln Co. Kentucky Deeds Vol. 1 p. 18, 35, 36. book 976.9625 R28m

It looks like he had sons named Peter, Amaziah, Jeremiah, John Jr., Morgan and William Vardiman...(Vardeman/Vardaman/Verdeman/Vardiman are varient spellings found in various land deeds and tax records.) Book "Early Lincoln Co. Kentucky Householders", 1787-1811, 976.9625 R4s. Most of these Vardemans but one stayed in Lincoln Co. Kentucky, however, William Vardeman migrated to Mississippi....possibly with his brother John Vardeman Jr. They took the Oath of Alligence (film 1704224, 6401, p. 192, 1 Dec. 1798, in Miss. Territory Southern Dist. John Vardiman and William Vardaman.

A book called Lexington 1779, Pioneer Kentucky 976.947 H2m, p. 94, has the compiled notes of a Rev.. Shane who was interviewing older people in Kentucky for their memories of the making of Lexington Kentucky History, and he intereviewd a man named Josiah Collins, who had a memory, of traveling with General Clark from Kentucky to Ohio, chasing the Shawnee Indians, "The second night after we left Lexington, a gun went off accidently wounded one of our company. The third day, my captain (William McConnell) solicited me and Hugh Thompson to ride out and try to kill some meat. That night we lay out. The next morning we pursued on and came to the camp ground from behind. As we passed in, we came to a fresh grave at the camp. We were told that when they had stopped in the evening, several hunters had run out to kill game. One man had killed a deer, and was stooping down and gutting it when JOHN VARDEMAN took him for an indian and shot and killed him. They brought him in and buried him. So that there was one killed and one wounded before we got to the mouth of Licking. We there waited a day or so till the regulars and some militia came up in boats from the falls. While we were at now Cincinnati, we threw up a little sort of breast work and put up a sort of little cabin for Capt. Adams to stay in and take care of the invalids and wounded. Cabin right opposite the mouth of Licking. (I think he said left with him five soldiers to guard.) McCracken (Capt. William McCracken dead from what was thought to have been a poisoned arrow) was buried with the honors of war right by the cabin and a log heap burnt over it to conceal the place. McCracken had been out with us in the 1779 expedition. Maj. (George) Walls and his company of horse killed two when we came to the towns. Across the river for a small distance was a level bottom where the Indians attneded their corn. The prairie then extended considerably up the hill. The camp was drawn up in the form of a hollow square right on the bank of the river. The mess on the lower side (down the river) next to the river was right where (in) the yard of an Indian cabin had been. The first night, the Indians carried the opposite bank of the river in the night and fired on that mess and wounded a man. They then fell back and talked from off the top of that hill. John Sovereign that had formerly been a prisoner of the Shawnees and understood their language well talked for Clark (General George Rogers Clark)." (Courtesy of Leatha Betts)

John married Elizabeth Morgan. Elizabeth was born after 1727 in South Carolina; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William Vardeman of Goochland Co. Virginia, who received 200 acres, on the South side of the Rivanna River near the Mountains, adjacent to Charles Lewis, rec. 27 Sep 1734, for one pound (stirling) p. 296, Patent Book 15, from the book Cavaliers and Pioneers 1732-1741, 975.5 R 2n, p. 52. (Courtesy of Leatha Betts)

Called "Old William." He relocated to an area of "up-country" South Carolina which became part of the old 96th District and, in 1782, Newberry County. It had only been open to settlement for about 30 years and was the frontier with the Cherokee Indians at the time of this arrival. He left a will dated in 1783--probated in 1789--in which he named his current wife and his four sons in order: John, William Jr, Peter and James. Unfortunately, he did not name any of his daughters. (Letter from J.H. Vardeman, Alpharetta, GA dated March 31, 2000)

William married Magdalene Peter(S)Son on 21 Apr 1720 in Fort Christina, New Castle County, Delaware. Magdalene was born before 1700; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They were married at Holy Trinity (Old Swede's) Church in what is now Wilmington, Delaware. Additional church records place them in this area of Delaware through 1724.

Ft. Christina, the oldest European settlement in the Delaware River valley, was founded by the Swedes under Peter Minuit in 1638. It was captured by the Dutch under Peter Stuyvesant in 1655 and renamed Altena. The British captured it from the Dutch in 1664, and it was eventually renamed Wilmington by Quaker settlers.

After leaving Delaware, William and Magdalene made their way into the Blue Ridge Mountain area of Virginia.