Our Toncray Ancestors
By Roberta Richardson
Dorcas Toncray and James Tully were married on March 20, 1818 in Abingdon, Washington County, VA (D.E. Brown: The Marriages of Wasington Co. VA, 1993). When my great-great-grandmother, Sarah Tully Wallace, was born in 1835, Dorcas would have been 34 years old, celebrating the 17th anniversary of her marriage to James.
James Tully was identified as father on Sarah Tully Wallace’s El Dorado Co., CA, death certificate, filed in 1926. The death certificate also confirms Sarah’s birthplace as Abingdon, VA, but the listing for mother was marked “unknown.” No birth records were recorded in Virginia in the early years of the 19th century. However, because there are no other marriages recorded for James Tully while he lived in Abingdon and no death records to indicate that Dorcas died before Sarah was born, it can be assumed that Dorcas Toncray was Sarah Tully Wallace’s mother.
Dorcas Toncray was born May 23, 1801, in Abingdon, the daughter of John Toncray and Mary Knott. She was married to James Tully in Abingdon’s Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church by Stephen Bovell, who served as pastor from 1796-1802, and again from 1806-1827, continuing to perform marriages through 1835. Bovell and his family left Abingdon and moved to Missouri in 1836, about the same time James Tully left Abingdon with his family.
Dorcas and James Tully lived in a house in Abingdon that was built sometime before 1820 by Jacob Loehr. Capt. Benjamin P. Morrison purchased the property in 1862, and, in 1895, built the house that presently stands on the property. (Places in Time Vol. II by Nanci C. King, 1994, page 54, article 80) The 1820 Washington Co. census record lists James Tully’s occupation as manufacturing.
There were at least seven Tully children -- Washington Co. census records indicate five children were born between 1820 and 1830. Great-great-grandmother Sarah was born in 1835, and sister Leonidas in 1838. (According to El Dorado Co. cemetery records, Leonidas Tully died in 1868 at age 30). Sarah’s death certificate confirms the Tullys were living in Abingdon when Sarah was born, but apparently left before the 1840 census. In addition to Sarah and Leonidas, cemetery records indicate Tully sisters Maria Louisa and Laura also traveled to El Dorado Co., CA during the Gold Rush of 1849. A James Tuly (or, on another record, James Tooly) was listed among members of a wagon train from Michigan that departed St. Joseph, MO, on April 24, 1849. El Dorado Co. records indicate Sarah Tully Wallace was the first school teacher in Spanish Flat, a mining town established in about 1850. Family oral history suggest James Tully was a schoolmaster in El Dorado Co.
Dorcas Toncray Tully was a great-grandfather of Anthony Toncray Sr. (Americanized from Antoine Toncre). Anthony was the first Toncray in this country -- all Toncrays in the U.S. descend from him. He was probably a French Huguenot. The Huguenots were French Protestants, followers of John Calvin, whose teachings led to the formation of the Reformed and Presbyterian churches. The French monarchy persecuted non-Catholics from the 1500s to 1700s. Thousands of Huguenots lost their lives, and a half million or more migrated to England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and, later, North America. (Places in Time, Vol. II, by Nanci C. King, 1994, p. 9, article 12)
Anthony Toncray settled in Dutchess Co., NY, about 1725, where he held title to 5,400 acres in the Northeast Precinct of the county until about 1775. He was living when the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the American Revolution. (U.S. Military Records 1783) He is known to have had three sons and a daughter. All of Anthony’s sons fought in the Revolutionary War.
Anthony Jr. m. Susanah?; both died in Wythe Co. VA
Daniel m. Huldah Tracy in 1772; moved to Williamsport, Washington Co. MD in 1772; Daniel d.1805; Huldah and two younger children moved to Shelby Co. KY near older children.
Nicholas m. ?; lived and died in Northeast
Susan m. Joseph Heston
Nicholas was Dorcas’ grandfather. His son, Dorcas’ father John Toncray, was born in 1770, most probably in New York. John married Mary Knott in Washington County on September 28, 1797. Charles Cummings, another Presbyterian pastor in Abingdon, performed the ceremony. John Toncray is listed in the 1810 Washington Co. census record as having a wife and six children: four boys and two girls. They lived in a log house in Abingdon, described in Places in Time Vol. II (Nanci C. King, 1994, page 9, article 12):
“John Toncray/Martin Hagy House Site - John Toncray lived on this lot in 1813 in a 2-story, 24-foot-square log house, with a log kitchen and a frame shop building. Listed as a wheelwright in 1801, Toncray had a quantity of ‘waggon maker’s tools’ in 1828 that would indicate he probably had additional workers in his shop. Sometime after 1828, he left Abingdon for the Iowa Territory and conveyed the property to his son, Jackson Toncray, a carpenter who moved to Carter County, TN in the mid-1840’s.
The house was used at the time for the publishing office of the Jacksonian newspaper. Jackson Toncray sold the property in 1873 to Martin Hagy, who built a 2-story frame house. This house stood until the 1950s and was owned through the years by John Henry Martin and S. N. Honaker, W.L. and James A. Keller and J. V. Lyon. The lot is currently owned and used for the parking by Campbell Funeral Home.”
In 1792, John, Anthony and Elisha Toncray were among the many petitioners of Wythe County who requested the establishment of an academy at Wythe Court House [now Wytheville]. (several misc refs to this fact)
A document from Unfiled Court Records of Washington County, VA, was signed by John Toncray, who was literate and had good handwriting:
“Recd. in full of a judgment for four pounds, two shillings and three pence on the account of Henry Minnich, Jr. Recd from Henry Minnich. Taken by me.
Signed: William Martin
John Toncray
March 5th 1810”
Sometime before 1840 or early in 1840, John and Mary Toncray were in Lee County, Iowa. Another Washington Co. document confirms the sale of a house in 1840 by a John Toncray, apparently a son, grandson or other relative of John:
“July 9, 1840, John Toncray and wife Polly, formerly of Washington County, VA to Robert Baily, James Herritz, Lodeivids C. Pria - $200 - the house and lot in Abingdon which were excepted by Jackson Toncray, son of John and Molly, acknowledged. Territory of Iowa. 9 July 1840.
SS: Jas. A Drake J.P.
Edwin Guthrie J.P.”
Interesting Toncray relatives:
James Toncray - James, who may have been a brother or cousin to John, was one of the major builders in southwestern Virginia before the Civil War, building many of the county courthouses in the area. (see notes, Jim Toncray, re: James Toncray)
Kate Toncray - Kate was a silent film star who appeared in more than 50 movies in the early 1900s. She worked with many top actors of her day, including Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Lionel Barrymore and Lillian and Dorothy Gish. Kate was the daughter of Alexander C. Toncray, born in Rushville, IL on May 23, 1837, to John G. Toncray and Sally Campbell. Alexander, a sign painter, had four other children. He died in Los Angeles, CA on November 6, 1933, at the age of 96. (See notes - Jim Toncray re: Kate Toncray)
Addison Ovando Toncray - Addison (known as Capt. Tonk), and his half brother, Alexander C. Toncray, went to school with Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) in Hannibal, MO. Addison had an inordinate love for alcohol and a dislike for work. Some believe he was the inspiration for Huckleberry Finn, though others say Twain denied it. Addison died in Murray, ID in 1906. His father, John Toncray, ran the Virginia Hotel in Hannibal and the bar there. John’s first wife, Sally Campbell of Rushville, IL, is buried with her baby boy in the Campbell family plot in Rushville, IL. John remarried about 18 months later to Mary D. Fish and had an additional six children; of which Addison was the oldest. (Jim Toncray)
Anthony Toncray - Anthony, John Toncray’s brother and Dorcas’ uncle, first appeared in what is now Wythe County, VA about 1789 when he was granted a license to operate an ordinary (an inn) at a house at McCaul’s near the rock quarry east of the present town of Wytheville on Reed Creek. In the early 1790s, Anthony Toncray entered three tracts of land on Reed Creek and one tract of 300 acres was surveyed (Wythe County Entry Book 1, pp. 19, 90, 117; Wythe County Survey Book 1, p. 41). According to the 1810 federal census report, Anthony Toncray was living alone in Wythe Co., VA, and was over 45 years of age. There is no record of his death and no will or appraisal of his estate was recorded in Wythe County. However, he apparently died in 1811, as his heirs are named on June 14, 1811, in regard to the sale of his land. Those listed were James, John, Lewis, and Lydia, wife of Peter Pinkley, as those who were to be summoned. Notices were to be placed in the papers in regard to others who were not residents of Virginia. They were named as Ezra, Elizabeth, Margaret (wife of Joseph Norman), and the heirs of Elizjah Toncray. In February 1812, Robert Adams, as commissioner, was ordered to sell at auction the 300 acres on Reed Creek belonging to Anthony Toncray deceased, and James Russell Toncray, his son, became the purchaser. Anthony’s family were in Wythe and Washington counties until the mid-1800s. Anthony, his wife and daughter, both named Susannah, were buried in stone crypts with stone lids in a meadow on the property that Anthony owned near the Reed Creek bridge (U.S. 11) near Kent’s Mills. (Jim Toncray; Wythe County Order Book, 1808-1812, June 14 and Sept 12, 1811,k pp 216; 251; Federal Census, Wythe County, 1810; Wythe County Deed Book 5, p. 428; WPA records; Toncray family records).
Isaac and John Toncray - Isaac Toncray, a son of Daniel Toncray, was acquitted of the charge of murder in Washington County, MD, in the early 1800s. John David Toncray did kill a man and had three trials before he was acquitted in Lewis County, KY in the 1930s. (Jim Toncray)
Notes:
Jim Toncray, re: Kate Toncray
I have been working on the Toncray family genealogy for some time now. One of the Toncray family members I have been trying to obtain more information about is Kate V. Toncray. Kate is the daughter of Alexander C. Toncray. Alexander was born in Rushville, IL 23 May 1837 to John G. Toncray and Sally Campbell. Alexander was a sign painter and died in Los Angeles 6 November 1933. I I think Alexander had a good long life since he was 96 at the time of his death.
Of his five children, Kate is the most interesting in that she was a silent screen movie star. I have been collecting the titles of her movies (she made more than 50 of them) and thought it might be interesting to the rest of the Toncray family to know about her and her movies. Of the movies she has made, I know of only one that is available as a video; "Going Straight."
Kate Toncray's movies, as compiled in 2000:
Double Trouble (1915) American B&W : Five reels. Directed by William Christy Cabanne. Cast: Douglas Fairbanks, Richard Cummings, Olga Grey, Margery Wilson, Gladys Brockwell, Monroe Salisbury, W.E. Lowery (William Lowery), Tom Kennedy, Kate Toncray, Lillian Langdon
The Lamb (1915) American B&W : Five reels. Directed by W. Christy Cabanne. Cast: Douglas Fairbanks, Seena Owen, William E. Lowery (William Lowery), Lillian Langdon, Monroe Salisbury, Kate Toncray, Alfred Paget, Eagle Eye [?] (Charles Eagle Eye?)
Hands Up. 1917. Triangle Fine Arts. Wilfred Lucas. Sc by Wilfred Lucas, story by Al Jennings. 4-29. 5R. Wilfred Lucas, Colleen Moore, Bert Woodruff, Monte Blue, Beatrice Van, Rhea Haines, Kate Toncray, Sam De Grasse.
Casey at the Bat (1916) Fine Arts Film Co., B&W, 5 reels. Dir.: Lloyd Ingraham. Cast: DeWolf Hopper, Kate Toncray.
The Hope Chest (Paramount/New Art Film, 1918) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, George Fawcett, Richard Barthelmess, Sam De Grasse, Kate Toncray, Carol Dempster and Bertram Grassby. Directed by Elmer Clifton. Photographed by John Leezer and Lee Garmes.
Tomboy Bessie / with Mabel Normand, Mack Sennett, Kate Toncray, William J. Butler (1912)
The Feud (Reliance, 1915). Directed by F I Butler. Starring: Marguerite Marsh, William Hinckley, Raymond Wells, Porter Strong, Kate Toncray.
Home Folks (Biograph, 1911) - Cast: Mary Pickford, Robert Harron, Kate Bruce, Charles H. Mailes, Henry B. Walthall, Lionel Barrymore, Mae Marsh, Wilfred Lucas, Frank Evans, Alfred Paget, W. Christy Cabanne, Charles Gorman, William Carroll, Charles H. West, W.C. Robinson, Charles Avery and Kate Toncray. Directed by D.W. Griffith. 1 Reel.
The Battle (Biograph, 1911) - Cast: Robert Harron, Blanche Sweet, Charles H. West, Donald Crisp, Spotiswoode Aitken, W. Chrystie Miller, Lionel Barrymore, Harry Hyde, Guy Hedlund, W.C. Robinson, Dell Henderson, J. Jiquel Lanoe, Edwin August, William J. Butler, Kate Toncray, Edna Foster, Alfred Paget and Kate Bruce. Directed by D.W. Griffith. 1135'.
The Miser's Heart (Biograph, 1911) - Cast: Eddie Dillon, Wilfred Lucas, Charles H. Mailes, Blanche Sweet, Lionel Barrymore, Adele De Garde, Kate Toncray, Robert Harron, Donald Crisp, William J. Butler, Linda Arvidson (a.k.a. Mrs. D.W. Griffith), Adolph Lestina, Edith Haldeman, J. Waltham, W.C. Robinson, Frank Evans and Alfred Paget. Directed by D.W. Griffith. Story by George Hennessy. 1066'.
Love in an Apartment Hotel (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Henry B. Walthall, Blanche Sweet, Mae Marsh, Eddie Dillon, Walter Miller, Jack T. Dillon, Robert Harron, Harry Carey, Joseph Graybill, Kate Toncray, Lionel Barrymore, Gertrude Bambrick, Harry Hyde, Jack Pickford, Kathleen Butler, Joseph McDermott, Clara T. Bracey and J. Jiquel Lanoe. Directed by D.W. Griffith. Story by William M. Marston. 1 Reel.
The Lady and the Mouse (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Henry B. Walthall, Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Harron, Kate Toncray, Harry Hyde, Adolph Lestina Viola Barry, J. Jiquel Lanoe, W.C. Robinson, Frank Opperman and Joseph McDermott. Directed by D.W. Griffith. Screenplay by Anita Loos Story by D.W. Griffith. 999'.
The Wanderer (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Henry B. Walthall, Mae Marsh, Claire McDowell, Walter Miller, Charles H. Mailes, John T. Dillon, W. Christy Cabanne, Harry Carey, Kate Bruce, Kate Toncray, Frank Opperman, Adolph Lestina and Charles H. West. Directed by D.W. Griffith. Story by D.W. Griffith. 1003'. (Reissued 03-15-1915.)
The Hicksville Epicure (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Robert Harron, Blanche Sweet, Lionel Barrymore, Clarence L. Barr, Gus Pixley, Kate Toncray and Gertrude Bambrick. Directed by Dell Henderson. Story by Anita Loos. 1 Reel.
Red Hicks Defies the World (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Charles Murray, Eddie Dillon, Dorothy Gish, Lionel Barrymore, Kate Toncray, Bud Duncan, William J. Butler, Adolph Lestina, William Beaudine, John T. Dillon, Harry Carey, Charles H. West, Frank Evans, J. Jiquel Lanoe, Walter Miller, Frank Opperman, Henry B. Walthall, Joseph McDermott, Charles Gorman, Gertrude Bambrick, Charles H. Mailes and Alfred Paget. Directed by Dell Henderson. Story by William E. Wing. 500'.
Almost a Wild Man (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Gus Pixley, Dorothy Gish, Charlie Murray, Eddie Dillon, Lionel Barrymore, Gertrude Bambrick, Nan Christy, Clarence L. Barr, Bud Duncan, Charles Gorman, William J. Butler, John T. Dillon, Harry Hyde, Viola Barry, Charles H. Mailes, Jennie Lee, Adelaide Bronti, George Beranger, J. Jiquel Lanoe, Alfred Paget, W. Christy Cabanne, William Carroll, Adolph Lestina, W.C. Robinson and Kate Toncray. Directed by Dell Henderson. Screenplay by William Beaudine. 576'.
Under the Shadow of the Law (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Harry Carey, Charles H. West, Lionel Barrymore, Claire McDowell, Walter Miller, Kate Toncray and John T. Dillon. Directed by Tony O'Sullivan. Story by Harry Carey. 999'.
The Suffragette Minstrels (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Lionel Barrymore, Owen Moore, William J. Butler, Charles Murray, William Beaudine, Dave Morris, Gus Pixley, Sylvia Ashton, Frank Egans, William Courtwright, Elmo Lincoln, Eddie Dillon, William Elmer, Dell Henderson and Kate Toncray. Directed by W. Christy Cabanne. Story by Dorothy Gish. 466'.
So Runs the Way (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Owen Moore, Lillian Gish, Lionel Barrymore, Reggie Morris, W.C. Robinson and Kate Toncray. Directed by W. Christy Cabanne. Story by W. Christy Cabanne. 998'.
Judith of Bethulia (Biograph, 1914) - Cast: Henry B. Walthall, Blanche Sweet, Lillian Gish, Alfred Paget, Harry Carey, Dorothy Gish, Robert Harron, Mae Marsh, William J. Butler, Gertrude Bambrick, Eddie Dillon, Thomas Jefferson, Antonio Moreno, Marshall Neilan, J. Jiquel Lanoe, Kate Toncray, Frank Opperman, Adolph Lestina, W. Chrystie Miller, Jennie Lee, Kathleen Butler, William J. Butler, Harry Hyde, Clara T. Bracey, Frank Evans, Charles H. Mailes, Gertrude Bambrick, Lionel Barrymore and William Carroll. Directed by D.W. Griffith. Screenplay by Frank Woods and based on the Apocryphal Book of Judith and the play by Thomas Bailey Aldrich. 4 Reels.
Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm (Artcraft, 1917). Starring Mary Pickford, Eugene O'Brien, Helen Jerome Eddy, Charles Ogle, Marjorie Daw, Mayme Kelso, Jane Wolff, Josephine Cowell, Jack McDonald, Violet Wilky, Frank Turner, Kate Toncray, Emma Gerdes and ZaSu Pitts. Directed by Marshall Neilan. Screenplay by Frances Marion. B&W. The tape runs approximately 77 minutes and has an appropriate musical score. Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm is available on video.
Those Little Flowers (Biograph, 1913) - Cast: Gertrude Bambrick, Dorothy Gish, Gus Pixley, and Kate Toncray. Directed by James Kirkwood and/or Paul Powell.
Liberty Belles (Klaw & Erlanger for Biograph, 1914; reissued 1916) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Gertrude Bambrick, Jack Pickford, Reggie Morris, David Morris, and Spottiswoode Aitken. Also with Charles Hill Mailes, Marion Sunshine, and Kate Toncray. Directed by Dell Henderson.
Old Heidelberg (Fine Arts, 1915) - Cast: Wallace Reid, Dorothy Gish, Karl Formes Jr, Erich von Stroheim, Raymond Wells, J. W. McDermott, James Gibson, Franklin Arbuckle, Madge Hunt, Erik von Ritzau, and Kate Toncray. Also with Francis Carpenter and Harold Goodwin. Directed by John Emerson.
Little Meena's Romance (Fine Arts, 1916) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Owen Moore, Fred J. Butler, Robert Lawler, Alberta Lee, Mazie Radford, George Pierce, Fred A. Turner, Kate Toncray, Margaret Marsh, James O'Shea, and William H. Brown. Directed by Paul Powell
The Little Yank (Fine Arts, 1917) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Frank Bennet, A. D. Sears, Robert Burns, Fred A. Turner, Kate Toncray, Alberta Lee, and Hal Wilson. Directed by
Stage Struck (Fine Arts, 1917) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Frank Bennett, Kate Toncray, Jennie Lee, Spottiswoode Aitken, Fred Warren, and Mazie Radford. Directed by Edward Morrisey.
The Hope Chest (New Art Film for Paramount, 1918) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, George Fawcett, Richard Barthelmess, Sam De Grasse, Kate Toncray, Carol Dempster, and Bertram Grassby. Directed by Elmer Clifton.
Boots (New Art Film for Paramount, 1919) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Richard Barthelmess, Fontaine LaRue, Edward Peil, Kate V. Toncray, and Raymond Cannon. Directed by Elmer Clifton.
Peppy Polly (New Art Film for Paramount, 1919) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Richard Barthelmess, Edward Peil, Emily Chichester, Kate V. Toncray, and Josephine Crowell. Directed by Elmer Clifton.
Nobody Home (New Art Film for Paramount, 1919; a.k.a. Out of Luck) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Ralph Graves, Raymond Cannon, Vera McGinnis, George Fawcett, Emily Chichester, Rudolph Valentino, Norman McNeil, Kate V, Toncray, Porter Strong, and Vivian Montrose. Directed by Elmer Clifton.
Turning the Tables (New Art Film for Paramount, 1919) - Cast: Dorothy Gish, Raymond Cannon, George Fawcett, Eugenie Besserer, Kate Toncray, Fred Warren, Rhea Haines, Porter Strong, and Norman McNeil. Directed by Elmer Clifton
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Jim Toncray, re: James Toncray
I work at the Bayside branch of the Virginia Beach Library as a volunteer. Last night, when I was pulling the Pick List ( list of books wanted by patrons at other branches), I found a book "Virginia's Historic Courthouses" by John O. and Margaret T. Peters; Univeristy Press of Virginia, Charlottesvile, VA.
James Toncray is listed as one of the major builders of southwestern Virginia. Following are excerpts from the book for your information.
Page 63, para. 3: By 1827 Scott County, located in the southwestern corner of Virginia near its border with Tennessee, was in need of a new courthouse "for the public accomodation." Later that year there was a levy of fifty cents on each tithable to build the new structure at Eastville, renamed Gate City in the 1880s. John Dickinson was hired to make 125,000 bricks on the public square, and James Toncray of Wythe County was awarded the construction contract. (note 62). A decade earlier Toncray had built the three-story Wythe county courthouse, a handsome building that exhibited both late Georgian and Federal characteristics. The Scott courthouse was accepted on December 29, 1829 (fig. 48). Toncray, the most active builder of courthouses in southwest Virginia before the Civil War, went on to build or prepare plans for courthouses in Montgomery County (1833) Floyd County1834, and for Grayson County at the Old Town location (1834). A picture of the Scott County courthouse is on page 64.
Pages 106-107: Antebellum courthouses in southwest Virginia were generally built in the Federal style, which had flourished from 1780 to 1820 only to be supplanted by the Classical Revival in most places well before 1830. Like the tidewater courthouses, classicism never had much impact on their design. James Toncray was probably the most important reason why these southwestern buildings looked the way they do. Toncray built the courthouse in Wythe County (1818, demolished) Scott County (1829; see Fig. 48), Montgomery County (ca. 1833, demolished; see Fig. 87) Floyd County (1834, demolished) and the Grayson County courthouse at the Old Town location. The first meeting of the Grayson County court took place in a barn on May 21, 1793. The first courthouse was a log structure built at Greenville, later called Old Town, in 1794. Martin Dickenson, the clerk, built a clerks office in 1810 on his own property; he later sold the building, which survives, to the county. Once the justices made the decision to build a new courthouse, they traded land with Dickenson in order to obtain the land across the road from the 1794 structure. There is nothing complicated about Toncray's Grayson/Old Town courthouse accepted on May 27, 1834 (fig. 86). It has a two-story central block with flanking two-story wings. Simple and functional, the wings became the emblem of a Toncray courthouse and others built in the southwest during the period. At Grayson/Old Town the pitch of the roof on the central block is different from the pitch of the wings. The symmetrical facade is laid in Flemish bond with brick jack arches over the windows. It probably had a one-story porch over the main entrance as originally constructed.
Page 108-109: Although Thomas Mercer, not James Toncray, built the courthouse for Giles County in 1836, the Toncray influence is obvious. In 1834 Mercer's firm had secured the contract for the Smyth County courthouse (now demolished), which was to be "similar to the Courthouse of the County of Scott" after Toncray had submitted a proposal for the building. As it turned out, both the Smyth and the Giles buildings looked very much like Toncray's Montgomery County courthouse (ca/ 1833) (figs. 87-88). lt had Toncray's signature wings, a high hipped roof on the central block. and an octogonal domed cupola almost identical to the one Toncray built and placed atop the Wythe corthouse in 1818. There are traces of a large arched window behind the Giles courthouse's Corinthian portico, a 1900 addition. A similar window was on the second story of the Montgomery courthouse above the main entry. (note 70). In short, Mercer may have been the builder but the Giles building is typical of the designs that Toncray pioneered.
Page 175: On January 26, 1900, the Wythe County Board of supervisors decided against making repairs to the old courthouse built by James Toncray. In August the county obtained a parcel of land on Fourth Street on which to place its new courthouse and Frank Milburn as the architect. The old brick courthouse at the corner of Tazwell and Main streets was sold for $2,000 and subsequently demolished.
Page 232, note 62: Scott County Minute Book 3: March 13, May 8, June 12, 1827; Raus McDill, Virginia Place Names, Derivations, Historical Uses (Verona, Va., 1969) Robert M. Addington, History of Scott County, Virginia (Kingsport, Tenn., 1932) 137.
Toncray was a resident of Wythe County, according to the United States census for Virginia in 1810, 1820, 1830, and 1840; for information on Toncray's work on the 1818 Wythe County courthouse, see Bucklen and Bucklen, County Courthouses of Virginia, 104-5
A note on James Toncray, he died penniless. He was obviously a talented designer and builder but a lousy manager of funds. He had at least three slaves in the 1810 Federal census and may have had others after that period. Jim Toncray, Virginia Beach, VA
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Meredith Gibson, re: Silas Tracy Toncray
Silas was born in 1795 in MD. He was son of Daniel and Huldah (Tracy ) Toncray. His grandfather Antoine (became Anthony) Toncray came from France, and settled in upper Dutchess co in what was known as the Oblong area. He had 3 sons: Anthony Jr, Daniel and Nicholas and daughter named Sarah. All three sons served in the American Revolution.
Daniel (b-1750 & d-Jan 1807 MD) married Huldah Tracy 27 Dec 1772 in Congregrational Church in Litchfield co CT. They had six sons and 4 daughters. Silas was last born. After the death of Daniel Sr in 1807 most of siblings had moved to Shelby Co Ky.
On 15th of Mar 1821 Silas was married to Orpha Hansbrough. He was ordained Baptist minister and silversmith (a trade was necessary - ministers received little income). In 1824 his sister Maria Toncray Watkins begged him to come to Little Rock, Arkansas where, as she said, there is no religion. He & Orpha arrived in early 1824 and in July, along with his bro-in-law (Isaac Watkins) they organized the the First Baptist Church. In 1829 he received word of his brother Daniel's death in Memphis,TN He moved his family and later built a church on Main street where he preached to good-sized congregation
(mostly black) and carried on his trade of silversmith. Silas was an inventor & as hobby built ships in bottles. He was what was spoken of as a hard-shell Baptist and inclined to punish with a strap. He and Orpha had 4 children: Daniel Enoch b-1824 & d-1834; dau b- ca 1825/6 (further record nk); Isaac Anthony b-21 May 1829 & d-18 Feb l830 and Huldah Tracy b- 20 Feb 1834.
Silas died 11 Feb 1847 and Orpha died a year later on 11 Mar 1848. They were buried in Memphis, but no location of graves is known. Huldah was sent to live with her aunt Maria Toncray Watkins Stevenson. Huldah married my great-grandfather James Allen Martin, son of Jared Carswell & Mary (Douglass) Martin. Jared was son of John Martin Jr who died in MO in 1808. John Martin Jr fought in American Rev. from Georgia. He and parents came to America, from Antriam Co Ireland in 1753.
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Jim Toncray, re: John Toncray
Data taken from "Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, The New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days, 1745-1805, Mary B. Kegley; Pages 798-801. Also from Chris Toncray family tree filed in Chris T. folder.
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Jim Toncray, re: Daniel Toncray
After the Revolutionary War, Daniel moved to Williamsport, Washington County, MD, where he died in 1807.
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Places in Time Vol. II by Nanci C. King, 1994, page 14, article 17: “Greenway House & Store Site - John McCormick, a merchant and tavern keeper, purchased this lot in 1792. He lost 2 buildings in the 1812 fire and shortly thereafter moved to Knoxville, TN. Lewis Toncray and S. H. Wills were later occupants of the lot. Edward M. and John C. Greenway in 1834 built a large 3 1/2-story brick house with attached store.”
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Washington Co. Va. Marriages, Minister's Returns, abstracted by: Marty Hiatt & Craig Roberts Scott:
Toneray, John & Mary Knott 28 Sep. 1797; min-Charles Cummings
Toneray, Lewis & Polley Smith 8 Oct. 1801, min-Charles Cummings
From 1850 census of Washington Co. Va. Annotated Town of Abingdon
2027-A: Jackson Toncray 46, Waggon Maker, [$1532], 2 slaves; Louisa C. 43; Harriet 17; Charles 13; William 9; Alexander 8; Lucy C. 7; Rebecca 3; Ellen W. 1
Jackson C. Toncray m. Louisa Fitzsimmons, d/o William & Lucy G. Fitzsimmons; moved to Carter Co. Tenn. Louisa Toncray, 28 Feb. 1833-20 Dec. 1838.
Mollie Rebecca Toncray, 16y d/o Jackson C. & Louisa C. Toncray, m. 12 Dec. 1865 Ferdinand Steele Singletary, 22y, b. & res. Carter Co. TN., Merchant, s/o John & Mary A. Singletary. Hariet Elizabeth Toncray, 9 Feb. 1833-9 June 1864; Des Moines Polk Co. IA, m. 6 July 1858 James Alexander Rhyns [Rhyno], 30y, b. Wythe Co., res. Madison Co. Iowa, s/o Thomas J. & Eveline Rhyns [Rhyno].
Lucy Toncray m. James A. Rhyno [Julia Toncray b. ca 1853]
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Zelda Marguerette House Powell re: Toncray, Kaylor, Caylor
Michael G. Caylor, the son of John and Mary Keaphart Caylor, married Jane Toncray, 17 July, 1838 in Washington Co., VA. They are on the 1840 and 1850 Washington Co., VA census. They moved to Smith Co., TX by the 1860 census. Michael and Jane were heirs to 1/6 of John Caylor's land. The 6 children with them in 1850 are Elijah 15, Margaret 12, Louisa 9, Mary 6, Silas 4 and Andrew who we believe could also be named Cooper, 1 year old. (ages are off from marriage date??) We have not been able to find the parents of Jane Toncray yet. There have been some guesses, a John or a Lewis Toncray but nothing to prove either one.
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Jim Toncray re: Isaac and John Toncray
Isaac Toncray, a son of Daniel Toncray, was acquitted of the charge of murder in Washington County, MD, in the early 1800s. John David Toncray did kill a man and had three trials before he was acquitted in Lewis County, KY in the 1930s.
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Jim Toncray re: Family name history
The following information is a from the Historical Research Center, London. England:
Toncray is an anglicized, phonetic spelling of the French family name TANCRAY, which is classified as being of personal name origin. Many family names, indeed, the largest category of nomenclature, are derived from the personal name of the father or the mother of the initial bearer. This name was applied as a distinguishing epithet which was placed after the bearer's first name. In this instance, the family name TANCRAY originated as one of several French forms of the old Germanic personal name "Tankred", which was in turn derived from the Old High Germanic elements "danc" signifying "thought" or "memory", and "rad", denoting "advisor". This personal name was introduced to France by the Normans, the Vikings who settled in the region of France to which they gave their name, Normandy, during the ninth and tenth centuries. The personal name was born by several of the Norman princes of Sicily, of whom the most prominent was Tancred of Tarento, one of the heroes of the First Crusade. Variants of the surname Tancray included Tancre, Tancrede, and Tanquerey.
One of the earliest references to this name is a record of one Marie Anne Tancray, daughter of Guillaume Tancray and Anne Le Comte, who was christened on 26 August 1677 in the town of Saint-German--en-Laye, near Paris. However, research is of course ongoing and this name may have been documented even earlier that the date indicated above. In France, the development and adoption of the hereditary family names was a gradual process. which unfolded over the course of nearly five hundred years, beginning in the twelfth century. This name had been introduced to the United States by the beginning of the nineteenth century, as indicated by an entry dated 8 October 1801, regarding the wedding of Lewis Toncray and Polly Smith in Washington County, Virginia.
BLAZON OF ARMS: Azure; an anchor or in pale, charged with the heart gules and surmounted by two stars argent.
CREST: Three ostrich plumes proper.
ORIGIN: France
Is all the above true? I don't know but it is a starting point for those of you who are researching the name. I have found the Tancre and Tancray names in France, Belgium and Germany. I can also attest to the name being in Italy. I have talked with several Tonkery family members whose ancestors came from Italy in the latter part of the 19th and early part of the 20th century. However, there are Tonkerys who live in West Virginia who come from the first Toncrays to come here in the early part of the 17th century. One of the twin sons of John Toncray changed the spelling from Toncray to Tonkery. Or, perhaps one of the census takers did it for him. Either way, Tonkery is one of the many variations on the name. I think I now have at least 30 variations on the spelling of the name. Another variant of the name is Toncrey. You will find a number of them located in the southern part of Mississippi around Biloxi.
Jim Toncray Virginia Beach, VA