William Abraham SANDIFER

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Some of this genealogy was contributed by
Nancy Jankowski, Bev Sandefur and genealogy compiled by Ina Mae Sandefur and Glenn Sandefur and others.
Thanks, to all

   Mr. Fred Eggleston has generously offered a critque of the following genealogy.  I believe his comments are worth noting and I have presented them here in blue type.

Descendants of John Sandefur

Wills and Charles Parish Records are important to this genealogy and can be viewed on this website.
There is a great deal of Sandefur info. on this site that is not present in this report.

Generation No. 1

1. JOHN1 SANDEFUR was born 1666-1685 in York County, VA, and died 1747-1748 in Charles Parish, York Co, Virginia.

Notes for JOHN SANDEFUR:

Parents and wife of this line are unknown. It is possible that Matthew Sandever was the father of this John but there is no proof.

John was probably born in York County, VA.

This line is clearly established by Wills. All of John's sons are tied together as brothers by the Will's of Robert in 1769 and Peter in 1774. Also important is the Will of Merit Bland dated March 2, 1773 of Elizabeth City County, VA. These Wills can be viewed in the Virginia Will Section of this website.

*Deed of Gift 1742-1742, Elizabeth City, Virginia; Deed of Gift February 156 1743, Elizabeth City County, VA: John Sandefur to sons Robert, William and Peter who must have been over age 21 since it was a deed. He was the father of James, Sr., Joseph and Abraham also.

Click here to view the Deed of Gift

*There is no indication this John was born or died in York County. Instead, besides Elizabeth City County, he had a connection with Warwick County, where there were early Sandefurs. [For example, Margaret Sandifor received 2 cows and a calf as a goddaughter under the will of Margaret Crew of Warwick County, widow of John Stephens and Beheathland Crew, dated 1687 and proved in 1688/9. Warwick County, Va., Record Bk., 1687-1688 (fragment). A William Sandefur was a juror in Warwick in 1705 and appraised an estate there in 1713/4. Warwick County, Va., Court Ordres, 21 June - 21 July 1705 (fragment), p. 463; 1713-1717, p. 42. This William may or may not have been the one who had a daughter by wife Elizabeth baptized in Charles Parish in 1709.] Whether or not born in Warwick, John of Elizabeth City moved to Warwick late in life and died there. In Elizabeth City he was a tavern keeper, with ordinary licenses in 1742-1744. Elizabeth City County, Va., Court Orders, 1731-1747, pp. 317, 346, 348, 371. His wife at that time was probably the Barbara Sandefur who, along with John Sandefur, was paid a witness fee for testimony in court in 1744. Ibid., p. 398. Soon after, they moved to Warwick County, where John Sandefer was prosecuted for not attending church on 3 May 1750, the charges being dismissed on 5 July. Warwick County, Va., Court Minute Bk., 1748/9-1762, pp. 85, 94. On 3 July 1755, the appraisal of the estate of John Sandifur, deceased, was ordered recorded in Warwick court. Ibid., p. 326.

Children of JOHN SANDEFUR are:

i. JONATHAN J. SANDEFUR, b. 1705-1709, York or Elizabeth City County, VA; d. abt 1757.

ii. SARAH SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1710, York or Elizabeth City County, VA; d. aft. 1773, Mecklenburg County, VA.

iii. ROBERT SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1711, York Co, VA - Charles Parish; d. 1772, Elizabeth City County, VA.

iv. ELIZABETH SANDEFUR, b. 12 Aug 1712.

v. WILLIAM S. SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1716, Elizabeth City County, VA; d. 1782, Elizabeth City County, VA.

vi. PETER SANDEFUR, b. Bef. 1718; d. 7 Mar 1774, ELIZABETH CITY, WARRRICK CO., VA..

vii. JOSEPH SANDEFUR, b. 11 Apr 1721, York Co, VA - Charles Parish; d. 9 Feb 1813, Sampson Co. N.C.-will dated Aug 10, 1812.

viii. JAMES SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1722, York or Elizabeth City County, VA; d. abt. 1807, Henderson County, Ky.

ix. ABRAHAM SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1725, Goochland, Cumberland, VA; d. 7 Jul 1784, Cumberland Co., VA-will dated Jul 7, 1784-bk 2 Pg 346.

Generation No. 2

2. JONATHAN J.2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born 1705-1709 in York or Elizabeth City County, VA, and died abt. 1757 in abt 1757. He married CONSTANCE.

Notes for JONATHAN J. SANDEFUR:

Click her to view Will.

*Jonathan. The middle initial seems a mistake. Some researchers get confused by the "marks" which some individuals used to sign their names on their wills. These were often just their first or last initials. Few Virginians at this time had a middle name, and those who did generally used them in full all the time. I doubt he was born in York; more likely, Elizabeth City County

Children of JONATHAN SANDEFUR and CONSTANCE are:

                                 i.   GERARD SANDEFUR, d. Will dated 1764.

ii. ELIZABETH SANDEFUR, m. Unknown MORRIS.
     Son: John Morris

iii. ANNE SANDEFUR, b. Nov 1741.

iv. ANTHONY SANDEFUR, b. 18 Mar 1743/44; d. 28 Mar 1748, Charles Parish, York VA.

3. SARAH2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born abt. 1710 in York or Elizabeth City County, VA, and died Aft. 1773 in Mecklenburg County, VA. She married MERIT (MARRIOTT) BLAND.

Notes for MERIT (MARRIOTT) BLAND:

Click here to view Will.

Children of SARAH SANDEFUR and MERIT BLAND are:

i. MARTHA BLAND.

ii. SAMUEL BLAND.

iii. JOHN BLAND.

iv. ELIZABETH BLAND.

4. ROBERT2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born abt. 1711 in York Co, VA - Charles Parish, and died 1772 in Elizabeth City County, VA. He met ANN RUSSELL abt. 1746 in Virginia.

Notes for ROBERT SANDEFUR:

Click here to view Will.

*Robert. Again, probably born in Elizabeth City County. There is no indication that he ever formally married Ann Russell, or that the Anne who was mother of daughter Anne in 1748 was the same as Ann Russell. More likely, he took up with Ann Russell after his wife Anne died.

Children of ROBERT SANDEFUR and ANN RUSSELL are:

i. ANNE SANDEFUR, b. 3 Nov 1748, Charles Parish, York County, VA; m. JOHN READE.

ii. ELIZABETH SANDEFUR, b. 26 Nov 1750; d. Bef. 1770.

Notes for ELIZABETH SANDEFUR:

Elizabeth is not mentioned in father's Will.

iii. ROBERT RUSSELL SANDEFUR, b. 25 May 1768.

Notes for ROBERT RUSSELL SANDEFUR:

* Robert Sandefur Russell, not Robert Russell Sandefur. Robert Sandefur Russell left a will in Elizabeth City County dated 5 November 1798 and rpoved 26 July 1799, naming relatives Pennell Russell, Peter Garrow, and Francis Garrow, along with Richard Morris (relationship not specified). Joan Charles, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, Deed Abstracts, 1787-1800 (Bowie, Md., 1994), p. 105.

5. WILLIAM S.2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born abt. 1716 in Elizabeth City County, VA, and died 1784 in Elizabeth City County, VA. He married ELIZABETH NORVELL abt. 1759 in Virginia, daughter of HUGH NORVELL and MARY.

Notes for WILLIAM S. SANDEFUR:

Click here to view Will.

*William.  No middle intial.

Children of WILLIAM SANDEFUR and ELIZABETH NORVELL are:

i. ROBERT SANDEFUR, d. 1808, Frankin Co, IN.

ii. WILLIAM SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1748, Elizabeth City County, VA; d. 1832, Mercer County, KY; m. NANCY LOTT.

iii. JAMES NIXSON SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1761, Lunenburg County, VA; d. 1816, Green County, KY; m. ELIZABETH DURHAM, 1790, Warren County, NC.

Notes for JAMES NIXSON SANDEFUR:

Will proved 28 Oct 1816 Bk 2 Pg 6
Click here to view Will.

iv. SARAH (SALLY) SANDEFUR, b. 23 Mar 1771, Charles Parish ,York County, VA; m. FRANCIS PETTY, 5 Nov 1797, Mercer County, KY.

v. RICHARD SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1774, Mecklenburg County, VA; d. 1853, Henderson County, KY

vi. MOLLEA SANDEFUR, b. 11 Jun 1775, Charles Parish, York County, VA.

vii. ELIZABETH (BETSY) SANDEFUR, b. 31 Mar 1777, Elizabeth City County, VA.

viii. PATSY SANDEFUR, b. 26 Aug 1781, Charles Parish, York County, VA.

6. PETER2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born Bef. 1718, and died 7 Mar 1774 in ELIZABETH CITY, WARRRICK CO., VA. He married (1) FRANCES.

Notes for PETER SANDEFUR:

Click here to view Will.

*Peter. For most of his career Peter was a bricklayer living in Warwick County, where he was often in court litigation and many times appointed to appraise estates. Warwick County, Va., Court Minute Bk., 1748/9-1762, pp. 10, 19, 53, 72, 77, 157, 162, 168, 200, 305, 379, 521, 562, 571, 607, 615, 619; York County, Va., Deed Bk. 1741-1754, p. 551

Children of PETER SANDEFUR and FRANCES are:

PETER SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1755.
FRANKY SANDEFUR, m. SAMUEL ARMISTEAD.
PETER SANDEFUR, b. 13 Jul 1765
JOHN SANDEFUR, d. died as an infant.


7. JOSEPH2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born 11 Apr 1721 in York Co, VA - Charles Parish, and died 9 Feb 1813 in Sampson Co. N.C.-will dated aug 10, 1812. He married JUDITH WALKER JONES abt. 1743 in Virginia.

Notes for JOSEPH SANDEFUR:

Joseph purchased 210 acres of land in NC on December 21, 1756. In 1759 he was living in Dobbs County, NC.

*Joseph. This placement of Joseph is as good as any, but the statement made back under the first John that "This line is clearly established by Wills" is too strong. For example, the reference in Peter's will to James and his son John and his brothers Joseph and Abraham could be taken to mean either that Joseph and Abraham were brothers of James or that they were brothers of John.

Children of JOSEPH SANDEFUR and JUDITH JONES are:

i. DOLLY SANDEFUR, m. WILLIAM WESTBROOK.

ii. ELIZABETH SANDEFUR, m. JOHN LIVINGSTON.

iii. MARY "POLLY" SANDEFUR.

iv. ANN SANDEFUR, m. NATHANIEL KENNARD.

8. JAMES2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born abt. 1722 in York or Elizabeth City County, VA, and died abt. 1807 in Henderson County, KY. He married (1) ELLENER MNU abt. 1743 in VA.He married (2) ANN HAMMOCK 13 Jan 1796 in Warren Co, N.C

*Census records available on this site.

Notes for ANN HAMMOCK:

Ann was a widow of Charles Hammond and her maiden name might have been Young.

Children of JAMES SANDEFUR and ELLENER are:

i. MARY YOUNG SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1744; d. will dated Oct 1821- Mecklenburg Co. Va.; m. JESSE BUGG, abt. 1791, Mecklenburg Co, VA.

ii. JAMES SANDEFUR, JR, b. abt. 1750, Mecklenburg Co, VA; d. 22 Jun 1824, Perryville, Mercer Co. KY.

iii. WM. SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1755, Mecklenburg Co, VA; m. CATHERINE.

iv. HENRY SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1760, Lunenburg Co, VA; d. abt. 1833, Mercer Co. Va.

v. BENNETT SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1765, St James Parish Mecklenburg, VA; d. Oct 1840, Henderson, KY.

vi. ELLENDER SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1770, Mecklenburg Co, VA; m. ABEL GREGORY, 9 Oct 1793, Mercer Co. Ky.

vii. SARAH N. SANDEFUR, b. abt. 1776, MECKLENBURG, VA.; d. OHIO CO. KY.; m. RICHARD PETTY, 1798, MERCER CO., KY

9. ABRAHAM2 SANDEFUR (JOHN1) was born abt. 1725 in Goochland, Cumberland, VA, and died 7 Jul 1784 in Cumberland Co., VA. He married JOANNAH BRANCH 1750 in St James Northam Parish, Chesterfield County, VA, daughter of JOHN BRANCH and JOANNAH HANCOCK.

Notes for ABRAHAM SANDEFUR:

This information from Ina Mae Sandefur of Kokomo, IN, published in the Claiborne County Historical Society conflicts with the parentage of this Abraham. She states that he was the son of James Sandifer and believes his first name to be William Abraham Sandifer but no proof is presented.

Abraham Sandifer was born in 1738 in Goochland Co. VA and died July 7, 1784 in Cumberland Co., VA. Will dated Jul 7, 1784-bk 2 Pg 346

   Click here to view Abraham's Will

He had as many as 24 slaves and would have been considered quite wealthy.

*Abraham. There is no direct proof that this Abraham was the same one mentioned in Peter's will, although it seems likely. There was another Abraham who was probably living at the time of Peter's will, namely the Abraham Sandifer who witnessed a deed in Fairfield District, S.C. in 1800 (Fairfield District, S.C., Deed Bk. N, p. 78), and who died intestate in Chester District in 1810, with Frances and Burrell Sandifer qualifying as his administrators in March (Chester District, S.C., Index to Probates, referring to Will Bk. E, p. 3).

*Abraham of Cumberland would not have been born in Goochland County or even in Cumberland County, neither of which was formed at the time of his birth. He was also pretty clearly the first Sandefur in the central Virginia area. If he was a son of John as supposed, then he would have been born in Elizabeth City or Warwick Counties. His marriage to Joanna Branch may well have been in Chesterfield County, but St. James Northam Parish was not in that county, and there is no record of the marriage as occurring in 1750, which looks like a reasonable guess. Researchers can easily be confused by the format of the Douglas Register, as published by W. Mac. Jones, unless the fine print is studied. This was not a record of any particular county or parish, but a personal record kept by Parson William Douglas, an itinerant preacher who performed baptisms in several counties, including Cumberland (but not Chesterfield). Moreover, the table of marriages referring to Abraham Sandefur is not a list of marriage ceremonies (with dates) performed by Rev. Douglas, but instead is a list of marriages implied by his practice of listing the mother's maiden name along with the father's name when he recorded a child's baptism. The date in this list is the year of the first baptism of a child by Rev. Douglas, not the marriage date.

Abraham Sandefur probably did not die on 7 July 1784. That is the date he wrote his will. He died shortly before 22 November 1784, when the will was proved in court. Cumberland County, Va., Will Bk. 2, pp. 346-348. Like Peter Sandefur, Abraham seems to have been trained as a bricklayer, as one John Clayton was apprenticed to Abraham to learn that trade in 1749. William L. Hopkins, Southam Parish Vestry Bk., p. 8.

Notes for JOANNAH BRANCH:

Said to be related to King Henry I of England through her grandfather, Samuel Hancock.

   From the William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 26, p. 115-116:

Will of John Branch of the Parish Dale. Weak and infirmed, signed with a mark, dated January 11, 1769, was recorded in Will Book II, p. 44To daughter Johannah Sandifer featherbed and furniture. To son Samuel one negro and furniture. To son Matthew, rest of my estate. Exec. Samuel Branch. Will proved 1772.

Children of ABRAHAM SANDEFUR and JOANNAH BRANCH are:

                                 i. FRANCES SANDEFUR, b. 29 Aug 1752, Patrick County, VA; d. 29 Jan 1831, Mercer Co., KY

                                    *Frances. She could not have been born in Patrick County, which would not be formed for                                      40 years. Likely she was born in Cumberland County.

ii. JOHN SANDEFUR, b. 1754, Patrick Co., VA.

iii. ABRAHAM J. SANDEFUR, b. 1758, Patrick County, VA; d. Davidson County, TN;        m. MARY "POLLY" PHILLIPS, 2 Jan 1809, Patrick County, VA.

*Abraham - presumably born in Cumberland. No basis for a middle initial. Marriage     bond with Polly Phillips in Henry County, not Patrick County. He was also in the           Henry County personal property tax in 1809. The Abraham taxed in Davidson County, Tenn. In 1811 may well have been the same, but I'm not aware of any proof.

iv. ELIZABETH RIDLEY SANDEFUR, b. 1760, Patrick County, VA; d. Henderson Co., KY; m. JOHN DEANE.

*Presumably born in Cumberland

v. SUSANNAH SANDEFUR, b. 5 Aug 1764, Patrick Co., VA.

*Presumably born in Cumberland

vi. DIANNA SANDEFUR, b. 30 Nov 1766, Patrick Co., VA.

Notes for DIANNA SANDEFUR:

The other date of birth is November 5, 1766.

* Dianna - presumably born in Cumberland. She married John Hogatt (20 November 1750 - 24 July 1824). William & Mary College Quarterly, v. 11 (1st ser., 1903), p. 70; Crockett A. Harrison, The Allens and the Harrisons of the Kingdom of Calloway (1981), p. 474.

vii. MATHEW SANDEFUR, b. 1770, Goochland, Cumberland, VA; d. Mar 1843, Floyd Co. VA

*Presumably born in Cumberland but not "Goochland."  More below under 18.

Generation No. 3

GERARD3 SANDEFUR (JONATHAN J.2, JOHN1) died in will dated 1764.

              Notes for GERARD SANDEFUR:

                  Click here to view Will

                * Gerard. An account of his estate's expenses stated that he died on 1 July 1773. York County, Va., Wills Bk.                  22, pp. 184-185. 1764 is just the date he wrote his w