Email From Gary Aden to Gary Aden
Email Dated 8/15/2001  

            Driving from Washington, D.C. to Virginia, I see the turnoff north
for Baltimore and am reminded that I have not surveyed the Port of Entry
for my Burleson progenitor, Aaron I. Burleson is a Welsh surname derived
from "Burleyson" and originally meant mountaineer or thick, heavy set
man. The first Burlesons in America were brothers: Edward, who settled in
Connecticut, and Aaron, who landed at Baltimore in 1726 and settled in North
Carolina. I will not be visiting any landmarks associated with the Burlesons until I
reach Texas as none can be identified as of now with my Burlesons in
Baltimore or North Carolina. Edward's descendants appear to have
remained mostly in the North. Aaron began a large family that spread
throughout the southern states moving progressively westward having
large families with male offspring with similar names, e.g., Aaron,
Edward, James, John, Jonathan, and Joseph. All seven of Aaron's sons
fought against the British in the American Revolution. Aaron II, one of
only three sons to survive the conflict, set out for Kentucky about
1784, but was killed by Indians in Tennessee. Several of his offspring
settled for a time in North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama and
comprised the Burleson clan that eventually moved to Texas in the 1830's
to join Edward Burleson. The Revolutionary War exacted a heavy toll on
the Allen patriarch, William Allen, and the Allen twigs, notably the
Burlesons and  the Ragsdales. In Texas, Burleson sites dominate the
whole Texas landscape. 

      Several Allen twig surnames enter the family tree in Virginia, but
details of Ports of Entry, demographics and/or progenitor remain
undiscovered or incomplete, e.g., HENDRICKS, OLLIVER, RAGSDALE, HOWE,
BARRON,  BIDDLECOMBE, BRASSIEUR, EWENS, SHERWOOD, MARSHALL, STARLING,
CLEMENT, CHARLTON, FARMER, JONES, COOKNEY, HEATHCOTE, WISE,   MOSLEY,
and HARWOOD. Thus, as information is gathered on these twigs, one might
expect that those who take this journey in the future will encounter
more sites to visit in the future in Virginia than those discussed
below. However, the pages may contain some data pertinent to the twigs
above. 

      As I stroll Governor's Square at Colonial Williamsburg, I am
struck by the great commercial location that James Tarpley's Store
occupied on the square. No doubt, it was and is choice real estate.
Today, it sells cuios and souvenirs, but I'm sure it functioned more
like a general store in its time. There is a Register for descendants of
James Tarpley II to sign. I think I will sign up for the second time in
a lifetime. 

      Across the street is Bruton Parish Church where one can take a
guided tour. John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington were
members of the congregation. James Tarpley presented the Bell to the
Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1761, according to
"Records of the Bruton Parish Church" by Dr. William Archer Rutherford.
A tablet placed in the tower of the church has the following
inscriptions:  "The gift of James Tarpley to Bruton Parish 1761"
engraved on the bell in the tower. "In 1766, it celebrated the repeal of
the Stamp Act. On May 15, 1776, it celebrated the passing of a
resolution by the House of Burgesses to establish a State Constitution
and Declaration of Rights, and to instruct the Virginia Delegates in
Congress to offer a resolution to declare the United Colonies free and
independent states. In 1783, it celebrated the ratification of the
Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain."

      James Tarpley II and Mary OLDHAM Tarpley were the parents of Mary
"Minnie" Tarpley, who was the wife of John Camp. I would be curious to
learn of the fallout from the scandal resulting from the accusation of
treason and finding of guilt leveled against their son-in-law.

      The next stop is James City, Virginia. Here is where it all began!
Lawrence Camp(not of my pedigree line) was a member of the Great Charter
of the Virginia Company granted by King James I, 23 May 1609, and was of
the Company of honorable Drapers and Weavers. Lawrence Camp made many
donations to this infant Colony of Jamestown and also took 4 shares in
the company and then later took 3 other shares and each share allowed
him to take 100 acres of land per share which he took Gloucester County,
Virginia. He also took shares in the New England Company. He was never
married. 

      My Camp progenitor was Thomas CAMPE, JR, ( 11/20/1665 Nasing
Parish of Mashbury, Chignal, Saint James, Essex County, England- 1711
King & Queen County, Virginia; burial site unknown), son of Thomas
Campe(1633 Essex County, England- England ?) and Sarah WILLIAMSON (1643
England- ? England). He came to James City at the age of 18 in 1683 and
six years later in 1689 married Catherine BARRON( 1672 James City,
Virginia- 1715 King & Queen County Virginia; burial site unknown),
daughter of Andrew Barron( 1617 Port of London, England-  ?  ? ; burial
site unknown) and Mary EWENS Barron( ? James City County, Virginia- ?
James City County, Virginia). Andrew Barron came to Virginia from
England on the ship David with his father, Robert Barron, in 1635. They
had two children, Thomas II(1691 Nagry Parish, King and Queen County,
Virginia) and Mary who died in 1758 having been born in 1708. Thomas
Camp III(1717 King and Queen County, Virginia) and John Camp( 1743
Culpepper County, Virginia) complete the line of Camps in my pedigree
line born in Virginia. It should be realized that originally King and
Queen County was called New Kent. Later the name was changed to
Culpepper County. The next Camp in my line is Abner who was born 1775 in
Rutherford County, North Carolina. It is there, just off the present US
221, just a few miles north of the South Carolina line where a cemetery
plot on the lands formerly owned by Thomas Camp III can be located. It
is on the Broad River(not the nearby French Broad River) at the junction
of Big Horse Creek. Thomas Camp III(1717-1798) is buried alongside his
wife, Margaret CARNEY Camp(1741-1828). 

      Mention should be made of the perils of my RAGSDALE progenitor.
Godfrey Ragsdale I( / 1615, East Bridgeport, Nottingham, England-
4/18/1644 Henrico County, Virginia), the first Ragsdale in America, who
evidently came with intent to inhabit the land, for there is no record
of grant. However, there is a record of purchase of 300 acres by deed
from John Butler February 25, 1642 on the north side of the Appomatax
River in Henrico County, Virginia. This acreage adjoined 150 acres owned
by John Cookney at "Old Town" to whom it had been granted  May 18,1638.
Land records show that his neighbors were John Cookney, Sarah Woodson
and Seth Ward when the second sweeping Indian Massacre staged by
Opechanancough, half-brother and successor to King Powhatan resulted in
the deaths of all members of Godfrey Ragsdale's family and his
neighbors, except an infant son, Godfrey II. From Cookney's will, it is
construed that the wife and mother of Godfrey's children was John's
daughter, Mary. Thus, my progenitors endured not only war, but marauding
Indians!

I will proceed to the Carolinas!

      Gary Carl Aden 8/10/2001