1. THOMAS1 DICKENS died 1727 in Surry Co, NC. He married ELIZABETH BINFORD. She died Unknown.
Notes for THOMAS DICKENS:
Raleigh County's First Settlers, 1820-1830
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The following list was compiled by Judge Winton A. White and presented to
the Beckley Post-Herald newspaper in 1950. The list was published in the
1850 Centennial Edition of the Beckley Post-Herald on 26 Aug. 1950. It
is now available in either the "Smith-Riffe" microfilm collection at the
Raleigh County Public Library in Beckley, or from the Beckley
Register-Herald Archives also located in Beckley, WV.
Judge Riffe was an excellent historian, however, there are known errors in
this work, so please check all information against primary sources.
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1820-1830
ACORD, John and Robert - Brothers who were from Monroe County, John and
Robert moved to Breckinridge Creek near Bolt about 1825. Jack Acord, as
he was familiarly known, was a famous hunter, wit, and story teller. Many
stories about him and many of his quaint expressions have been handed down
to the present generation. Totally illiterate, he was, however, a man of
great native ability and a born leader of men. He was an ardent Confederate
and although 65 years of age at the beginning of the war, he enlisted for
service, but was honorably discharged after about a year. Two of his sons,
Robert and Floyd, were Confederate soldiers. He was the guide companion of
Governor John Floyd on his hunting trips in this county. Robert Acord was
the father of Squire William C. Acord, who served many years on the County
Court of Raleigh County and was a prominent citizen.
BAILEY, John - Bailey came to Paint Creek from Franklin County about 1827,
later moving to the Shumate Dairy farm. His sons were Sparriel, Booker,
George, and Leftwich. Sparriel's son, John W., was a Confederate soldier
and never returned. His fate was never known. Sparriel's [should be
Booker's -MBD] widowed daughter was Mrs. Jane Fleshman, who married Robert
C. Christian in Mercer County in December 1865. Robert was a noted
Confederate hero and lived in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood for several years.
Harvey Cook and I. C. Prince well remember seeing the terrible bayonet scars
on his body from the wounds inflicted by five Federal soldiers at Frayser's
Farm in June 1862. Of the five, he killed four and his brother, Eli, coming
to his rescue killed the fifth. This was one of the outstanding exploits
by a private of the entire war. His exploits are mentioned in Douglas
Southall Freeman's "Lee's Lieutenants." He was only 19 years old at the
time.
BRADLEY, Joshua - Bradley came to lower Marsh Fork near Montcoal from
Bedford County, Va., and his first land grant was dated 1829. All Bradleys
of Raleigh and Boone County are descendants of Joshua.
BRAGG, Thomas - Thomas settled on New River. His sons were Lewis, Hazzard,
Thomas, Abraham, Adam, William, and Jackson.
COOK, Pemberton - A native of Wyoming County, Pemberton was the oldest son
of William Cook, son of John Cook, the Wyoming settler. He married Ruth,
the daughter of Daniel Shumate, and settled at the Richard Snuffer place
near Glen Daniel about 1829, but after a few years went back to Wyoming to
live. He lived there a short time and then moved to Cove Creek in Raleigh
County. Two sons, Andrew and Daniel, were Union soldiers in the Eighth
Virginia Infantry. Both died of disease while in service. Pemberton was
a noted hunter in the early days.
DICKENS, Thomas - A native of Carroll County, Va., he settled at Peach Tree.
His first land grant was dated 1829.
ELLISON, Matthew - Matthew was a native of Monroe County, a son of the Rev.
James Ellison. He settled at the falls of Breckenridge near the old mill
site about 1829, moving to Sand Lick about 1836, where he was a large land-
holder. In February 1850 he moved to Beckley opposite the courthouse on
Main Street, where he operated a store and hotel. He was a distinguished
Baptist preacher and was pastor of the Coal Marsh Baptist Church at Trap
Hill for 45 years. Immediately on coming to Beckley, he organized the
Baptist Church here. Three of his sons, Judson, William L., and Matthew A.,
were Confederate soldiers. Judson was a lieutenant in Company A, 17th
Virginia Cavalry (Mercer County company). William L. was in Adams' Company,
30th Virginia Battalion. Matthew A. was in Company C, 36th Virginia
Regiment. The latter, Dr. Matthew A. Ellison, practiced denistry in Beckley
from shortly after the Civil War until his death in 1905. Dr. E. L. Ellison
and J. S. Ellison were his sons.
FIPPS (Phipps), Fielding - A native of Monroe, he was a son-in-law of the
Rev. James Ellison and settled on Sand Lick in 1829, where he was a large
landholder and a leading citizen. He was a member of the Fayette County
Court at the time of his death in 1849. His son, Eli, was a Confederate
soldier.
HOPKINS, Henry S. - Hopkins came from England and was a highly educated
physician, although somewhat dissipated. His first land grant in Raleigh
County was dated 1829. He later lived for many years on Dingess, at the
W. G. Calloway place, where Al Lucas now lives. He later went to Boone
County to live. The late J. M. Hopkins of Madison, financier and sheriff,
was his grandson.
HUTCHINSON, Charles - A native of Monroe County, he married Elizabeth
Ellison, daughter of the Rev. James Ellison, settling on the headwaters of
Sand Lick on Route 3, just above the Shumate place, in 1829. About 1847
he moved to Crab Orchard and a few years before the Civil War moved to the
Lester community, where he lived until his death some years after the war.
Upon the organization of the Coal Marsh Baptist Church in 1854, he became
it's clerk, in which capacity he served for many years. His son, A. J.
Hutchinson, was a Confederate soldier and sergeant of Adams' company, and
for a long time was a prominent county school teacher, serving as county
superintendent from 1893 to 1895. John Q. Hutchinson is his son. A. J.
was an unusually fine singer and was a song leader in camp singing, as well
as in the regular religious services and camp revivals.
LAFFERTY, Ralph and Steele - they settled on Marsh Fork.
MASSEY, Robert, Henry, and William - These three brothers came from Monroe,
with Robert moving to Maple Meadow on the Vass place, Henry settling in the
Marshes at the Ash Mankin place, later moving to Fayette County, and William
moving to Rock Creek. The Masseys of Marsh Fork District are his
descendants.
MOORE, James - James, a native of Monroe, married Nancy, a daughter of
Daniel Shumate. He lived on a portion of the Stansbury farm near Glen
Daniel, on the north side of Logan Turnpike. His son, George Moore, went
to California in 1849, making the trip overland. George returned for a
visit in 1867 after an absence of 18 years. The return trip was made by
water around the horn.
PETTRY, Martin and Jacob - Father and son, the Pettrys came from Giles (now
Mercer). Martin moved to the mouth of Little Marsh at what is now
Packsville, and Jacob settled at the mouth of Hazy (Edwight). Jacob was at
one time one of the largest land owners of the county. From 1849 to 1856
he lived at the McGinnis farm on Soak Creek.
RICHMOND, William and Samuel - Father and son, they were originally from
Greenbrier County, but moved to Richmond Falls on New River around 1822.
William was a Revolutionary soldier and pensioner. Samuel owned the fine
bottom and island at Richmond Falls, was wealthy and a leading citizen. He
was of Union sentiment during the Civil War, and was murdered by a party of
Confederate bushwhackers in 1863.
SNUFFER, George - Grandson of a German immigrant who settled in Berks
County, Pa. in 1751, George was the son of George Snuffer, Sr., who moved to
Montgomery County, Va. in the 1770's. George Jr. moved to Breckenridge
Creek near Bolt in 1829. His sons were Theodoric, Owen, Cyrus, and George
Jr. Theodoric went to Missouri in the 1830's. Owen's son George was a
Confederate soldier, belonging to the Wythe County company. He was killed
at the Battle of Malvern Hill in 1862. Cyrus' son George was a Confederate
soldier in Adams' company. He died at a camp hospital in Stauton, Va.
George Snuffer Sr. had five grandsons who served as sheriffs of Raleigh
County: Henry M. Riffe, William C. Riffe, A. J. Harper, J. W. Harper, and
H. A. Snuffer. The elder George was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Submitted by Melissa Duggins
More About THOMAS DICKENS:
Will: 1727, Probated in Surry co NC mentions sons Benford and James
Children of THOMAS DICKENS and ELIZABETH BINFORD are:
