A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Margaret Reed Smith
From the Parks manuscript:
Margaret was married when quite young to Alexander Herring, and was the mother of a large and interesting family, John S., Martha D., William, Alexander, Daniel Smith, Margaret Stevenson, Rebecca, and Ann. Margaret Herring was a most excellent woman, like her mother was a favorite among her relations. Having lived in her family, I can speak of her from personal knowledge. Although a cousin, she was to me a mother, her daughters, sisterly and her sons, brotherly. But they have almost all passed away. In its first visitation to this country, cholera cut off the greater part of the family. John had previously died of malaria fever, contracted in the then marshy country west of the Tennessee, when he was engaged as commissioner of the State of Virginia in locating the lands of her continental soldiers. Rebecca had died with some disease incidental to children. Daniel entered West Point Academy in 1822, and in due time graduated. I think third in his class. He entered the army as Lieutenant, and died from disease contracted in the swamps of Florida during the Seminole War. All of the Herring family in Ohio except the two youngest, Margaret Stevenson and Annie, were cut off by cholera in 1832 or ’33. Martha married George Chrisman and remained in Virginia.
The Parks manuscript, as well as WFT 22 # 1690 and WFT 137 # 299, spell her middle name Read. However, Larry Herrin pointed me to Find A Grave, where her grave is shown and her middle name is spelled Reed. Her middle name is spelled Reed in Herring and Smith genealogies. Also, note that she might have been named for Margaret (Cunningham) Reed, who might have been a relative (see the notes for John Cunningham). Larry Herrin also mentioned that “Alexander Herring and Margaret Reed Smith moved from Virginia to Green Co., KY then to Clermont Co., OH where they died and are buried.”
One source said she was born in Rockingham County, but Rockingham County didn't exist till 1778, so presumably she was born in the part of Augusta County that became Rockingham County.
WFT 22 # 1690:
She was an excellent woman and a favorite among her relatives. A great many of her family died from cholera.
The list of children comes from WFT 22 # 1690 and from Gleanings of Virginia History. The Parks manuscript also lists all of them except Eliza. However, Parks indicates Margaret Stevenson as one person, not two (possibly this was a transcription error when the manuscript was typed). The children are also listed in the article from Hardesty's Encyclopedia that is reproduced in the notes for grandson George Chrisman. The birth years and even the birth order are different between Gleanings of Virginia History and Hardesty's Encyclopedia. The information from Hardesty seems better, giving full birth dates rather than just years, so I am going to use his birth dates.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
Page generated on 31 October 2023