Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: User Home Page Book: Norfleet, Campbell, Mayfield and Mortier Ancestors of Philip C. Norfleet: NGS Quarterly Report of John Campbell

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Descendants of John Campbell

Generation No. 1

1. John⁶ Campbell (Duncan⁵, Andrew⁴, Hugh³, Patrick², Duncan¹) was born 16 November, 1674 in Ulster Province, Ireland, and died 1741 in Beverley Manor VA. He married Grace (Grissell) Hay 1695, daughter of Patrick Hay and Name Unknown.

Notes for John Campbell:

THE ANCESTORS OF JOHN CAMPBELL

I have no documentary evidence which substantiates the existance of any of the early generations of Campbells prior to John Campbell (d. 1741), husband of Grace Hay. Hence, mention of these early Campbells should be carefully qualified. The early generations of Campbells shown in this genealogical report are those cited by Governor David Campbell in a note I found among his papers (see below).

NOTE OF GOVERNOR DAVID CAMPBELL OF VA

Governor David Campbell (1779-1859) of VA was a meticululous researcher and it is mainly due to his work that the story of John Campbell and Grace Hay (parents of White David) and their descendants has survived. Governor Campbell's papers and other documents are part of the Campbell Papers Collection (about 8,000 documents) located at Duke University, Durham NC. A microfilm copy of the Campbell Papers is located at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville. In 1996, while reviewing this microfilm copy, I found the following note, in Governor David Campbell's handwriting, on microfilm reel number 1 (my comments are in brackets):

"Genealogy - The Campbell Family

"The farthest back the Campbell family can be traced is to Duncan Campbell of Inverary, Scotland, the place where the old Duke of Argyle and most of the Scotch [sic] Campbells lived. It was in the latter part of Queen Elizabeth's reign that Duncan Campbell moved from Inverary to Ireland. Not long afterwards, in the reign of James First, when he had come to the throne, forfeitures were declared at Ulster in 1612, and Duncan Campbell bought a lease of the forfeited land from one of the English officers. One of his sons, Patrick, bought out the lease and estate in remainder, whereby he acquired the [land in] fee simple. How many other sons Duncan may have had is not known.

"Patrick had a son Hugh, and he a son Andrew. The generations from Andrew to our great-grandfather John [husband of Grace Hay] are not stated. It should be to Duncan, father of John Campbell, [who] emigrated to America with his family in the year 1726 and settled in the Sweet Ara river where Lancaster now stands in Pennsylvania. He [meaning John Campbell, husband of Grace Hay] had six sons, Patrick, John, William, James, Robert and David. Three - to wit - John, William and James were never married. John died in in England having gone there with Lord Boyne and became [his] steward."

LETTER OF GOVERNOR DAVID CAMPBELL TO LYMAN DRAPER

Governor David Campbell (1779-1859), in a letter to Lyman Draper, dated 12 Dec 1840, had this to say concerning the origin of his branch (White David's) of the Campbell Clan in America (my comments are in brackets):

" ... The Campbell family from which I am descended were originally from Inverary in the Highlands of Scotland - came to Ireland in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth & thence to America. John Campbell [husband of Grace Hay] my great grandfather and the great grandfather of Gen'l William Campbell of the Revolution came from Ireland with a family of ten or twelve children, leaving behind him only one son, and settled near Lancaster in Pennsylvania in the year 1726. His eldest son Patrick was the grandfather of Gen'l William Campbell. His youngest son David [White David] was the father of Col Arthur Campbell and my grandfather. So that Gen'l Campbell and myself were second cousins. The family remained in Pennsylvania but a few years and then removed to the frontiers of Virginia, in that part which afterwards formed the county of Augusta. Here they lived many years. John Campbell (my father) the eldest son of David and Col Arthur Campbell the second son were born, raised and educated in this county. Gen'l William Campbell was also born, raised and educated here. ..." [see Draper Manuscripts, Kings Mountain Papers, 10DD6, pages 1 and 2.]

From my own research, I can place these Campbells in Beverley Manor by 1738 - in that year Patrick Campbell acquired 1546 acres of land in the Manor. John Campbell (husband of Grace Hay) died in about 1741 as his estate was appraised/inventoried in that year. In summary, based on my own research among the records of Orange and Augusta Counties VA, Governor David Campbell's story of the origins of his family in America appear to be entirely reasonable.

E-MAIL MESSAGE OF DIARMID CAMPBELL RE ANCESTORS OF JOHN CAMPBELL

Date: 01 January 1998

" ... although a number of people have attempted research in Ireland absolutely no further information has appeared about the ancestry of Duncan Campbell who married Mary McCoy.

"Pilcher states quite clearly at one point in her book that her information on those earlier (likely fictitious generations going back to Inverary) were taken by her from an elderly relation who thought she remembered that information. Pilcher had not intended to publish her book and it might have been better had she not, since the misinformation has misled so many and God knows how many family histories have now been published giving her bogus material as their source. Her later material appears to be more sound, although since she often gives no sources or references (as to where material was found), it means that anyone of the descents of those whom she outlines has to re-do the research.

"I have also thought that there might be some connection between the Drumaboden and the 18th century Virginia Campbells. But none has as yet appeared. Two professional research efforts in Ireland have so far been conducted, one just completed and the other in the '80s. These were conducted by getting a group of descendants to put up some funds each and were co-ordinated through the Genealogists of the Clan Campbell Society of the time. While both were helpful in clarifying where no information could be found (so making easier any future research efforts), neither produced any clarification on the ancestry of either family going back from Ireland to Scotland.

"If you want the results of the second research effort you could write to the Society Genealogist, Dr.Ruby G. Campbell PhD, 3310 Fairway Drive, Baton Rouge LA 70809 USA, and ask her to let you know what to send her for the photocopying and mailing costs. But the information is not, I seem to remember, directly concerned with Drumaboden. ...

" ... There are in fact three sets of Northern Irish Campbells who may or may not be connected: Drumaboden, Duncan and his cousin Dugald Campbell, and the 18th century Virginia Campbells descended from one John Campbell who came over to Pennsylvania at a fairly advanced age in the 1720s or 30s."

Notes for Grace (Grissell) Hay:

Margaret Campbell Pilcher, in her book entitled "Historical Sketches of the Campbell, Pilcher and Kindred Families" (published 1911), at page 11 says the following:

" ... John Campbell, son of Duncan Campbell and Mary McCoy, his wife, married Grissell (or Grace) Hay, daughter of Patrick Hay, in the year 1695. She lived to be ninety-three years of age. ... John Campbell and his wife, Grissell Hay, with their children, moved from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania about 1730, to Fincastle County, Virginia. ... "

The last statement of the above quotation is in error. While Lancaster County PA was formed in 1729, Fincastle County VA was not formed until 1772. The land records of Orange County VA indicate that John Campbell, and at least three of his sons (Patrick, Robert and David), had removed to Beverley Manor by 1738 or perhaps a year or two earlier. Upon the full activation of the Augusta County VA Courthouse in December 1745, the subsequent records pertaining to these Campbell inhabitants of Beverley Manor are found in Augusta County.]

The name "Grace" comes from the Latin and means "graceful" or "lovely." In French the name is rendered as "Grazielle." In Scotland the name is frequently rendered as "Grissell," a variation on the French pronounciation and spelling.

In my research among the 18th century records of Orange and Augusta County VA, I have never seen the name "Grace (or Grissell) Campbell" or "Grace Hay" appear. Accordingly, I am unable to provide any documentary verification as to Grace Hay's existence as the wife of John Campbell (d. 1741).

Children of John Campbell and Grace Hay are:

+	2	i.	David (White David)⁷ Campbell, born 08 March, 1705/06 in Londonderry County, Ulster Province, Ireland; died 19 October, 1790 in Washington County VA.
+	3	ii.	Patrick Campbell, born Abt. 1696; died 1767.
	4	iii.	Robert Campbell, born Abt. 1695; died 1768 in Augusta County VA. He married Never Married.
	5	iv.	John Campbell, died in England.
	6	v.	William Campbell, died in PA Colony. He married Never Married.
	7	vi.	James Campbell, died in Ireland. He married Never Married.
	8	vii.	Catherine Campbell.
	9	viii.	Mary Campbell.

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