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TYREE-CD.DOC – Other People’s Tyrees
THE TYREE FILE: written by Tyrees for Tyrees. Corrections & additions would be appreciated by future Tyrees; contact Elinor Tyree, 6323 Pemwoods, San Antonio, TX 78240 ().
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TYREE FAMILY LISTS begin to coalesce, beginning in the earliest settlements of Virginia. The lists are put together from many brief records. Originally such record keeping was through the Settlement Company, then through distant Mother England or its outposts. This last probably paved the way for Virginia’s Independent City records -- there have been some 35 of these over the years. As the task of parceling out the infinity of western territory loomed, Virginia established the English County system in 1634, adding to the already functioning Elizabeth City and Northampton County, 6 new Counties; each County Court House site was to have a recording court house, a jail and sometimes a Church (as is Charles City County Court House even today; though most of these became nucleuses of future towns). The population burgeoned; the new Counties divided, making more Counties.
Vital statistics were first assigned to the State Church Parishes; these included not only births and deaths but also tax recordings and public expenditures. After the Toleration Act of 1699 recognized Presbyterians (who kept their own records), and later Baptists (who were poor record keepers), the State Church became lax. In 1763 the Burgesses reduced its ministers’ stipends; and they became even less active record keepers. After the Revolutionary War and the loss of the State Church (it was officially closed in 1786), personal taxes became the responsibility of the State; and attempts were made at censuses. In the 1783 Confederation of the States a Federal Census was mandated -- the first being for 1790. The Virginia Census of 1790 was destroyed when the British burned Washington in the War of 1812; the Virginia Census of 1800 was also lost. It took several other catastrophic losses before the U.S. instituted the system of Regional Archives; 11 sites in the U.S. were established where national records are now stored in duplication.
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THE EASTERN SEABOARD COUNTIES (Virginia’s first 8 counties)
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JAMES CITY COUNTY -- formed 1634 an original shire (or county) where most early Tyree immigrants landed.
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1704 English accounting of Va. Rent Rolls: William Tyery of James City County had 1590 acres. This is an unusually large piece of property; more research should prove interesting.
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Sept. 10, 1755 deed filings: Richard Tyree bought 509A James City County; 225A of this formerly granted to Thomas Rolfe and 284A a new grant. After County line adjustment, might have been in Blissland Parish, New Kent Co.
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Blissland Parish Records:
William Tyree of Blissland Parish m. Mary of James City County; he d. 1787.
Edward Tyree 1773-1794.
Thomas Tyree
John Tyree d. 1795.
James Tyree d. 1804.
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1787 Tax Roll for James City Co.
William Tyree was charged with self tax, 1 blk. over 16, 1 horse, 5 cattle.
Thomas Tyree was charged with self tax and 9 cattle.
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Birth Records:
Lillian Tyree
John Tyree b. 1774 James City County.
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U.S. Census 1830 showed a John Tyree #005
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Family lists accumulated from numerous sources:
Travis and Susan Tyree
David A. Tyree b. 1833, m. 1859 Joannah Cumber.
John Tyree b. 1843, m. Tabitha Hix.
James and Rachel Tyler Tyree
George Tyree b. 1852 James City, m. Catherine Jones.
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1850 US Census for James City County:
house # 256
William S. Tyree 49, farmer, $200
Clara Tyree 30
John Tyree 5
Wm. Tyree 4
Thomas Tyree 2
Edward Tyree 1
house #256
the Samuel Whillow family
Mary Tyree 11
house #253
Nancy Hazelwood 65, head of family
David Tyree 17
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YORK COUNTY -- formed 1634 an original shire (or county). This was first known as Charles River County; but the name was changed to avoid confusion with Charles City County. The 1634 boundaries of Charles River County were limitless to the west and ran north from the Chickhominy River to the Potomac River.
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1659 the Court of York Co., ordered Dickerson to make payment of 50 pounds of tobacco to Edward Wade and Alexander Tyree for viewing “ye fence” in a difference between her and William Musgrove and for attending two days court.
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Dr. James Tyree was serving York County in 1755; several patient charge agreements are recorded in the Upper Parish Register then covering Nansemond Co. Oct. 2, 1758 Dr. James Tyrie made claim on a servant, William Hawkins, who enlisted on that date in the Royal American Regiment (?for the French and Indian War); the Doctor was awarded 4.10.1 on Oct. 4, 1758 for the loss of his servant (probably time due on an indenture contract).
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May 5, 1768 James Tyree m. Matilda Ballard in York Co.; but they lived in New Kent Co. later.
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James Tyree dec'd 1772 left his infant orphan (any age less than 21), James, who made a choice of Wm. Mitchell for his guardian and entered acknowledged bond with Stephen Mitchell for security (James Jr. (?) too old to be son of 1768 marriage of above James Tyree and Matilda).
James Tyree (Wm. Mitchell his guardian Aug. 17, 1772) put himself apprentice to Edmund
Dickenson in Williamsburg as cabinet maker (5 year service); 1785 Francis Hern a free
mulatto put himself apprentice to James Tyree cabinet maker. James died with will 1786; widow
was Diana; in 1786 tax Diana had 2 blacks over 16, 3 blacks under 16, 2 horses, 1 cattle. Dec. 7, 1787 the widow Diana Tyree m. John Harris with John Moss security.
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1803 tax on Henry Tyree, son of Dickie Tyree and Fannie Hillard of New Kent.
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CHARLES CITY COUNTY -- formed 1634 an original shire (or county). The 1634 boundaries of this County ran from James Cittie County to a limitless south-western horizon.
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The following family was in close to the immigrant center on the shore of the James River, holding land on the Chickahominy River, progenitors of OUR W. V. Tyrees(a very complete listing, carried separately rather than having it mixed through the regions into which the family members moved).
Beginning of OUR W. V. TYREES --
Oct. 5, 1726 William Tyree (grandfather to OUR immigrant William Tyree) took 550A from Isaac Williams for 100 pounds in Westover Parish, Charles City, Co.,Va., bounded by western branch of Ware Cut, Halie's Corner, Philip's Line, Hawks' Nest Cut, Mayser's Creek, with all houses; among witnesses Edward Cooke.
Feb. 1, 1727 he took 150A with all houses from Thomas Spraggins, where John Grice now dwells, on west side of Chickahominy River for 44 pounds; among witnesses Francis Tyree.
Nov. 19, 1728 Francis Tyree took 2A mill site Charles City, Co., Va. from Bates for 30 pounds (Francis was the "friend" who finally handled William's estate after he died 1740).
Sept. 17, 1729 recorded in Charles City County, undated deed in which William Tyree takes 225A (escheated from William Armiger, dec'd) known as "The Brick House Tract", beg. on the Chickahominy River in the mouth of the shipyard bottom; to Pease Hill Road, to main watercourse of Pease Hill S.W.; to Col. David Bray's line near below the Brick House path; near a cove next above the Bay Spring. The Brick House was described as having two rooms up and two rooms down. This type of brick cover "to be established on high land from marsh to marsh" had been requested since 1680 for tobacco warehouses; the most noted one was on the York River opposite West Point.
William Tyree died; his will was presented by Francis Tyree "friend" 1740: it was proved by John Dancy; Francis Tyree was the executor. Francis then took on the care of desc'd William's estate. Francis m. Mary, the widow of Edward Cooke, Sr. who had died 1736; Francis and Mary had at least 3 children: Francis Tyree, Jr., Mary Tyree and Susannah Tyree. Francis Tyree d., his will, probated April 3, 1754 left all his property to the charge of his wife, Mary Cooke Tyree (as a Cooke she had lived among the big Charles County land owners, was probably very capable, and wisely used her son Francis Tyree, Jr. in negotiations on the William Tyree estate).
THEN, apparently, someone in the line of legal inheritance appeared in Charles City County. On
June 2, 1756 William Tyree sued Mary Tyree, widow of Edward Cooke, Sr. and Francis Tyree, Sr. for use of his land; and the Court of Charles City County ordered that she pay 22 pounds 12 shillings and 8 pence current money for 14 years rent of 300A of land left to him. This was to be paid out of the estate of Francis Tyree desc'd; with costs.
A William Tyree worked in a clerical capacity at the Charles City Court House before 1760 (?). Some William Tyree (obviously too old to be OUR immigrant of 1760) was appointed constable July 2, 1755 in the room of Thomas Ballard; June 4, 1760 William resigned the office as constable and was ordered to appear in court 1761 for debt. Oct. 17, 1761 a promisory note of Charles City County in which William Tyree promises to pay Nathaniel Maynard 7 pounds on or before Nov. 1 next, signed Will Tyree; then Nov. 19, 1763 the sheriff is commanded to take and safely keep William Tyree to answer Nathaniel Maynard, from Dec. Court loose papers. June 9, 1763 William Armistead was William Tyree's bail for debt against Thurmond Southall (from Loose papers, box 11-82). June 13, 1764 Johnson and Wyatt against William Tyree (from Loose Papers).
AND, who are these Tyrees? July 6, 1762 petition against Thomas Tyree and B. Williams by David Jackson is dismissed. Nov. Court of 1762 Catherine Tyree is presented for having a bastard child.
FINALLY, heir to desc'd William, a "grandson" (OUR ancestor), appeared in Charles City County in the April Court of 1760. He was identified as William Tyree "feoffment" (word then used to identify owners of property who had not yet taken possession); and was indentured at that time (possibly as an innkeeper) to Francis Dancy, neighbor to old William Tyree's holdings.
In the following years, the charge of the "William Tyree estate" seems to have passed wholly to Francis Tyree, Jr., but Francis, Jr.'s will was dated Nov. 1, 1767 and in it he left everything to his mother.
Oct 4, 1769 William Tyree charges the administrators of Mary Tyree's will, her Tyree daughters and their husbands: Benjamin Goodrich and Mary Tyree his wife (they were m. 1763 with Wm. Dancy and Francis Tyree as witnesses), and Edward Finch and Susannah Tyree his wife, to show cause why the will of Francis Tyree, Jr. should not be recorded. Obviously Mary Tyree too had died.
1770 (our?) William sold 155A to Abram Brown for 96 pounds (probably allotted him on the death of Francis Tyree who had been controlling William’s property) with the financial participation of John Wayles and with William's wife, Sarah, waiving her dower, June 6, 1770.
By 1773 the bulk of William's inheritance had made a long journey, passing from the hands of Francis Tyree, Sr. to Francis Tyree, Jr.; then on Francis, Jr.'s death to his mother Mary Tyree (who, as the widow of Edward Cooke before she married Tyree, had Cooke children and was assisted by them). When Mary died, soon thereafter the acting son, Littlebury Cooke, died; and the property rested briefly with Littlebury's widow named Rebecca Hubbard (m. before 1750 to Henry Soane; as widow m. before 1754 to Col. Littlebury Cocke) Soane Cooke. Rebecca was then desirous of marrying again to a man named James Bray Johnson. According to the law at that time, all property that a wife brought to a marriage passed to her husband; so Rebecca Hubbard Cooke filed a listing of William Tyree's due inheritance of the 217A "Westbury", naming his 16 slaves; she also made a public statement that none of this was to become the property of James Bray Johnson. Shortly after that, the property seems to have finally passed into William Tyree's control. (Strangely, Rebecca's own will of 1792/3 leaves her grand daughter, Elizabeth Bray Tyler a 340A property in Charles City County named "Westbury".)
Dec. 1, 1773 William Tyree sells a slave "Will" to Amos and Alan Ladd for 50 pounds.
1782 tax list of Charles City County, William Tyree is charged with 219A, 16 slaves, 14 cows and 5 horses, also he is charged with one tithable beside himself (a boy over 16, named William).
July 25, 1783 William Tyree, Jr. promissory note: I promise to pay or cause to be paid unto John Marston, Jr. 24 pounds officers' or soldiers' certificates, such as was granted to him for their pay money due them from the State of Virginia, on demand. Signed, William Tyree, Jr. Testator, Wyatt Walker. (Chas, City Co., Loose Papers)
1783 tax list of Charles City County charges Amos Ladd with the 219A "lately charged to William Tyree".
1785 William Tyree was on the tax rolls of New Kent County showing 9 slaves, 5 of them with names of those listed by Rebecca Hubbard Cooke in 1773; he also showed a wife and 3 younger sons (because of the time between William Tyree, Jr. and these last 3 boys, it could have been a 2nd wife); and he is charged with a billiard license, usually issued to a tavern or inn.
The above legal records have been used to create the following family list. The Chapter on Our Tyrees is a continuation from these records.
William Tyree (#1, first known American in OUR Tyree branch), will c. 1740.
Unknown son
William Tyree, (?immigrant) heir of his grandfather William Tyree.
William Tyree, Jr. appears in James City County as an independent tither with l slave,
1 horse and 5 cows on the 1787 tax. Later he seems to have moved to New Kent
County, b.c. 1766.
Francis Tyree's name appeared on his father's tithe list 1790; b. c. 1774.
Richard F. Tyree's name appeared on his father's tithe list 1791; b. c. 1775; this is OUR
Ancestor who went to West Virginia (his descendants are kept in the OUR W. V. TYREES file) Richard F. Tyree was on a list of young boys for whom Northampton County took responsiblity c. 1781 -- were they evacuated as Lafayette's army swept down the peninsula?
John Tyree's name appeared on his father's tithe list 1793; b. c. 1777.
(Since the immigrating heir William sold his Charles City County property to the Ladd family, it might be useful to have this brief list on the Ladds: