My direct descendants are in bold type. This is a work in progress. Much of my direct line is documented, but some may not be. If there is a question, I usually include words like "seems likely" or "possibly" in hopes that it may help someone else or eventually get me closer to documentation. Also, I do make errors when transferring info to my files or to the site. If you find errors that you can correct, please e-mail me and I'll gladly make the changes or if you have more information on anyone mentioned here and can share it, I would be really appreciative.

Francis Marbury
My 9th Great-grandfather, 1676-1733

U.S. Stamp commemorating the voyage of The Ark and The Dove, released in 1934.

Francis Marbury was born in Cheshire, England. His father was also Francis and his grandfather was Euscbius. They were descendants of Alfred the Great as well as several of the kings and queens of England and Scotland. You can check out more of their lineage in this blog entry.

Francis immigrated to Maryland from England around 1680 and by 1690 had settled in Prince George’s County near Piscataway.

According to “The Invincible a Magazine of History,” Piscataway was the headquarters or capital of the Piscataway Indians and the colonial people living in the area gave the chief the title of “Emperor of Piscataway.” At some point, while Lord Baltimore was the royal governor, a committee was formed to determine if Francis Marbury was encroaching on the Indian emperor’s land. Although he was, nothing was done to force him to leave.

Before 1698 Francis had married Mary Greene. She was born 1675 in Port Tobacco, Charles, Maryland and was the daughter of Leonard Green and Ann Clarke. Mary’s paternal grandfather was Thomas Greene who was an early settler of the Maryland colony and second Provincial Governor from 1647 to 1648. He had come over from England on the Ark and Dove expedition in 1634. During his lifetime he was a successful planter and held over 14,000 acres of land in St. Mary’s County. He was a descendant of the illegitimate child of Sir John Norton of Northwood, Sir Thomas Norton who took on the alias Greene; hence the descendants surname of Greene.
Thomas’ godfather was Leonard Calvart, the first Governor of Maryland.

When the first government of Prince George’s County was organized in 1696, Francis Marbury was appointed constable of the Piscataway Hundred (one of the six divisions of the original County).

Then, a few years later, when the first justices of the county court were appointed, he was named to this highly respected position and served there for more than 25 years.

Mary died on Sept 11, 1713 after giving birth to her daughter, also named Mary.

A little over a year later, on Sept 14, 1714, he married Frances Heard at St. John’s Episcopal Church which was established in 1692 as one of the first Churches in Maryland. George Washington attended services at the church.

Francis Marbury died Jan 11, 1734 in Marbury’s Chance, Prince George’s County, Maryland. He and both wives are likely buried at St. John’s.

By the end of his life he had been a tobacco inspector for the Piscataway district, a land commissioner for Prince George’s County and a judge in Charles County. He left many thousands of acres of land to his children.

Among the items left to his children by Francis Marbury were:

  • To Leonard, Negro Tom; 4 yds of Broad Cloth; land in Akakeck
  • To Susannah, Negro Kate
  • To Barbarah (m. Joseph Frazer), nine barrels of Indian corn
  • To Mary, Land called “School House,” etc.
  • To Ann, Land called “Mistake”
  • To Elizabeth (m. Davidson), Dwelling and 99 acres of “Appledore”
  • To Luke, A copper kettle, etc.
  • To Lucy, (m. Joseph Hatton), 20 shillings for a ring
  • To Tabitha (m. James Hoye), “Tewksbury” and 65 acres of “Applehill”
  • To his sons, Eusebius, Leonard, Eli, Luke, and William, the residue of “Applehill,” also the remainder of his negroes.
  • “Also my will is what money I shall or now may have in England the same to be applied to my Quit Rents and to no other purpose.”Executors named were his sons, Leonard and Luke. Source

 

Wyoming is a frame historic house located in Clinton in Prince George’s County, Maryland, United States.

By 1734, Frances’ son Colonel Luke Marbury owned the plantation originally called Appledore. Colonel Marbury is the presumed builder of the “southern Maryland tidewater” mansion that still sits on the property today. The name was changed to Wyoming in the early 1800s by Colonel Marbury’s granddaughter, Cora. Her brother Fendall, a lawyer from Alexandria inherited Wyoming and, in 1857, made it his home with his wife Katherine Taylor who was the great-niece of Chief Justice John Marshall. It passed from one Marbury to the next until 1973 when it was purchased by a man who planned to restore the home. Wyoming was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Source

The children of Francis and Mary Greene Marbury were:

Note: There is a lot of information on this family in books, online and other places and some of it is conflicting. Consider the dates here to be what seems logical at this time.

Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury Elizabeth “Eliza” 1690s Prince George’s CO., MD by 1746   John Davidson
b. 1689
m. 5 Feb 1732
d. by 5 Jul 1746
John Davidson was a schoolmaster. Frances left part of the plantation Appledore to Elizabeth.
Marbury Barbara Late 1690s Prince George’s CO., MD After 1734 Prince George’s Co., MD Daniel Fras(z)er
b. before 1655d. 2 May 1745
Marbury Lucy abt. 1694 Prince George’s CO., MD Aug 1750 Prince George’s Co., MD Joseph Hatton
b. 1691
m. aby. 1741
4 Jan 1764
Marbury Eleazer “Eli” abt 1703 Prince George’s CO., MD      
Marbury Eusebius abt 1705 Prince George’s CO., MD 1754   Catheine
Marbury Leonard Sr. 31 Jan 1708 Prince George’s CO., MD 29 Apr 1794
age: 86
Columbia Co., Kiokee, GA Penelope ?
b. abt 1711
d. after 1739
Marbury Luke Sr. 10 Mar 1710 Prince George’s CO., MD Oct 1758 Prince George’s CO., MD Mary Beanes
b. 1721
d. 1733
The children of Luke and Elizabeth Beanes Marbury were Elizabeth, Luke, Williams, and Henrietta. 

Upon Francis’ death, Luke Sr. inherited his father’s property on Piscataway Creek and built the plantation called Wyoming. Upon his death, it was given to his son, Luke II also known as Colonel Luke Marbury. Colonel Marbury’s wife, also his first cousin, was Elizabeth Beanes, a sister of Dr. William Beanes, and one of his best friends.

Colonel Luke Marbury commanded the “lower battalion of Prince George’s County Militia” at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. According to the book, “The Patriotic Marylander,” his granddaughter, the late Mrs. Dr. Hanson Penn, whose maiden name was Jane Contee Marbury, many years later remembered that Dr. Beanes and Col. Marbury were devoted friends. They both engaged with the Maryland troops at the battle of Long Island and were among the few Maryland men who escaped after that disastrous day. They escaped by “swimming across Long Island.” You can read about Dr. Beanes and the part he played in the creation of “The Star-spangled Banner” in this blog entry.

Colonel Luke Marbury was captured in the Battle of Germantown and imprisoned until 1781. He returned to his home in Prince George’s County where tradition says he was carried through the streets on the shoulders of the crowd.

In the census of 1790 he is listed as head of a family of eight with 25 slaves.

He was a member of the first constitutional convention of Maryland and served as a member of the State Legislature until his death.

Marbury Mary 8 Feb 1713 Prince George’s CO., MD 1760 Charles CO., MD Matthew Smallwood
b. 1706
m. abt. 1741
d. 4 Jan 1764
The children of Mary and Matthew Smallwood were Beane, Philip, Priscilla, Francis Green, Martha, Benjamin and James.

Francis Marbury’s children with his second wife Francis Heard included Martha Ann, Tabitha, Henry, Susanah and Anne.

Leonard Marbury
My 8th Great-grandfather, 1708-1794

Leonard was born in the early 1700s and was likely named after his mother’s father, Leonard Greene. He married Penelope around 1730 but her last name is unknown.

Leonard owned “Marbury’s Chance,” 200 acres that had originally been patented to his father.

On September 16, 1763, there was a court case involving damage of three thousand pounds of crop tobacco against Leonard Marbury. There was a warrant to have Leonard at the county court house to answer the charges but he had left the county.

In 1764 in Loudoun County, Virginia, Leonard Marbury was “not found” by the sheriff. It appears that his father Francis Marbury put up the security.

On September 9, 1766, Leonard Marbury served 20 days in prison in Loudoun County.

Leonard Marbury Sr. died on April 29, 1794 at the home of his son, Captain Horatio Marbury.

Obituary of Leonard Marbury
Died, on the 29th April, at Capt. Horatio Marbury’s home, on the Kiokas, Mr. Lenard Marbury, the elder. aged ninety-three years – He left three sons, three daughters and ninety-six grand, great grand and great great-grandchildren. Augusta Chronicle, May 3, 1794, p. 2.

The children of Leonard and Penelope Marbury were:

Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury Francis 1730 Prince George’s CO., MD abt. 1800 Rowan Co., NC Tabitha
b. abt. 1735
m. 1757
d. after 1810
Marbury Colonel Leonard 1734 Prince George’s CO., MD 1796 New Orleans, LA Ann Sommerville
m. 1757
Leonard served in the Revolutionary War for seven years as a colonel. He fought in the Georgia Militia at the Siege of Savannah in September and October 1779. 

He was present at the Battle of Brier Creek on March 3, 1779 and is mentioned on the Georgia Historic marker at the battlefield.

“On February 28, 1779, General Bryant, left in charge of the American forces, moved the camp up the creek, for security, to near this spot…He ordered Col. Leonard Marbury to take a position at Paris` Mill, 14 miles up the creek… Col. Prevost led the main force of the British army, about 1,500 men, up the west side of Brier Creek…he soon encountered Col. Marbury`s Dragoons, cutting them off from Ashe`s forces. He captured some, while others succeeded in getting safely across Burton`s Ferry.”

The special collections library at Duke University contains papers of Samuel Elbert, which include a letter from Leonard Marbury “discussing the British defeat at Bryan Creek Bridge, Ga.”
March 28 – May 12, 1780, Leonard Marbury led the Georgia Regiment of Horse Rangers as part of the Siege of Charleston.

In a collection in the library of Virginia called “The Mason Family Papers, 1756 – 1891, there are some receipts belonging to Leonard Marbury: “Marbury, Leonard, 1762. Box: 13 Folder: 32 Reel: Miscellaneous Reel 1242 Receipts.”

Marbury Thomas 1762 Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA 1823 Edgefield, SC Charity
Thomas served in the Revolutionary War as a private under Col. James McNeil. He and Charity had a daughter named Margaret.
Marbury Horatio 1740   1820 Jefferson Co., GA  
Horatio moved to Georgia in the early 1770s, was active in the Revolutionary War, and became a successful planter after the war. Marbury’s public career began in 1796 working in the secretary of state’s office. In 1799, the legislature elected Marbury as Georgia’s second secretary of state — a post he would hold for twelve years under six different governors. As secretary of state he and William H. Crawford were primarily responsible for producing Georgia’s first official digest of laws. 

Upon retirement, Marbury returned to his plantation in Jefferson County, where he died in 1820.
Source

Francis Marbury
My 7th Great-grandfather, 1734-1795

Francis was the first born son of his parents Leonard and Penelope. He was born in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and was named after his paternal grandfather. About 1750, when he was 20, he married Tabitha. He last name or parentage is unknown.

Like his father and grandfather before him, he held public office and in 1759, Francis Marbury served as constable in Loudoun County, Virginia.

On September 23, 1765, the records show Francis Marbury had to pay John Glassford the sum of five pounds, five shillings and eleven pence half penny current money to settle a debt because it appears this is when he moved to North Carolina. It could possibly have been to settle of debt of Leonard Marbury’s.

In 1775 he shows up listed on a work crew in Anson County, North Carolina.

While his brothers Leonard, Thomas and Horatio all served in the Revolutionary War, the records do not reflect any military service for Francis.

Many years after the war, Francis’ son Leonard testified that he was living with his father in Georgia in 1777 when Leonard participated in several battles so it is known that, at some point, Francis returned to North Carolina.

According to the book “Georgia Land Surveying History and Law” by Faris Cadle, in the early 1780s approximately twelve former officers of the American Revolution forged vouchers to twenty or more made up men, whom they alleged had served in the war and were entitled to bounty grants of land. Accompanying the vouchers were petitions – all in the same handwriting – alleging that these same men had sold their vouchers to the officers. Among the worst culprits who obtained thousands of acres of land illegally were Frances’ brothers Horatio and Leonard Marbury. It appears not to have hurt their careers as Horatio would go on to become secretary of state and assist in producing Georgia’s first official digest of laws and Leonard was a well-respected “war hero.”

Frances Marbury and his wife Tabitha sold lands in Richmond County, Georgia in 1786 witnessed by his aunt and uncle, Leonard and Ann Marbury. 

In the 1790 federal census in Rowan County, North Carolina, a Francis Marbury has a household of 15 which consists of 3 white males under 16, 2 white males 16 and over, 2 free white females and 6 slaves. 

Frances died in 1800 in Rowan County.

In 1800, Tabitha was head of household age 45 and over and had 1 male 16 – 26 living in the house with her.

In 1810 she was age 45 & over with 5 slaves. No more records exist on Tabitha so she likely died that decade.

The Likely Children of Francis and Tabitha Marbury were:

Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury Leonard 4 Apr 1759 Prince George’s CO., MD 24 Jan 1839
age: 80
Sevier Co., AR Mary Rounseval
b. 8 Mar 1760
m. 5 Dec 1780
d. 26 Oct 1843
age: 83
Marbury Eleanor 4 Apr 1759 Prince George’s CO., MD 9 Dec 1851
age: 88
Bedford, TN
burried: Moriah Cemetery
John Moore
b. 5 Sep 1761
m. 5 Oct 1786
Eleanor participated in the Revolutionary War patriot by carrying ammunition for soldiers. John and Elenor named their son Green.
Marbury Tabitha 1765   aft 1840 Stanley Co., NC Thomas Biles
m. 1786
Marbury Luke 5 Oct 1767   28 Dec 1793 Bedford, TN Elizabeth Bullen
m. 28 Dec 1793
The children of Luke and Elizabeth were Nancy, John, Isaac, Elizabeth, Frances, Jefferson, Sarah, Mary, Leonard, Martha Jane and Lucas.
Luke testified on behalf of his brother Leonard to support Leonard’s claim to a Revolutionary War pension.
After his wife died, Luke traveled with his children to Bedford Co., TN which is 186 miles from Haywood Co., TN, south of Nashville.
Marbury John 1769   bfr 1800   Saphira Nelson
b. abt 1784
m. 1790-1800
d. bfr 1817Tabitha Forrest
d. abt 1836Ann E. Green
b. abt 1784
m. Jun 1838
d. aft 1860
Marbury Isaac 1774   aft 1820   Rebecca Biles
d. bfr 24 Oct 1797Priscilla Moore
m. 24 Oct 1897
d. 1830 – 40
Marbury Frances Jr. 7 My 1781 NC bef 1813   Nancy
Marbury Jacob 1775   1846 Henry Co., TN Nancy Forrest

Leonard Marbury
My 6th Great-grandfather, 1759-1839

Leonard Marbury was born on December 17, 1763 and was the oldest son of Frances and Tabitha Marbury.

He married Mary Rounseval on December 5, 1780 when he was 17 and she was 20. Mary was likely the daughter of Josiah and Sarah Conger Rounsaval. Josiah, who was a sheriff and tax collector, served in the Revolutionary War and was captured on June 21, 1780 at Camden, South Carolina. He died later that year in captivity.

According to his pension application and the testimony of his brother Luke and sister Eleanor, Leonard was living with his father in Georgia in 1777 when he enlisted for an 18-month term in the Revolutionary War under his uncle, Colonel Leonard Marbury. One battle Leonard fought in was at The Savannah River at Middleton Ferry when the British came to destroy the property of the Whigs. Leonard’s father, along with many others had fled across the river. Leonard was nearly captured by several of the British buy was rescued by his uncle who showed up with his troop of soldiers on horses. This was witnessed by Leonard’s brother Luke who was about 12 at the time and his sister Eleanor who was 16. She remembered carrying ammunition to the colonial soldiers during the battle.

Deposition in Haywood Co., TN from Luke Marbury
“…a considerable Troop of the British & Tory’s came through the country up to Savannah River destroying the property of the Whigs as they came on where his father (Leonard’s) had fled across the river with many others for safety. It is at this place I next saw my brother Leonard engaged in fight with the British & Tory’s & shooting across the river at them. There he saw his brother Leonard shoot at what he supposed to be a British officer & saw after the gun fired several of the British run to him (the officer) & take him off of his horse. It was afterwards said the officers they was broken. At this place Col. Marbury comes up with his Troop of horse & took prisoners…”

Deposition in Haywood Co., TN from Eleanor G. Marbury
“…says she does well recollect seeing Leonard Marbury engaged in fighting the British & Tory’s at Savannah River & distinctly recollects carrying ammunition to Leonard Marbury where they were engaged in shooting across the Savannah River at the British & Tory’s. Whilst the bulets was flying & whising plentifully among the Americans across the river from the enemy – at this place she said Col. L. Marbury took the British & Tory’s prisoners…that she knows he (Leonard) was considered a faithful soldier who was applauded for such after his return at the end of the war & well received by the Whigs of that county and also recollects his return home from the war to North Carolina with military clothing on so as to impress her with the belief he had bore some office.”

Source: This information came from Aletha Summerhill Rogers on an AOL page that is now deleted. Thankfully, it can still be accessed here.

Leonard also claimed to have volunteered in Rowan County, North Carolina under General Rutherford to fight against Tories at Ramseur’s Mill. However, by the time they arrived, the Tories had already been defeated.

Another term of service was marching as a guard to take captured British prisoners taken in Camden, South Carolina to a prison.

It seems their father, Francis, grew tired of the fighting in Georgia and moved his wife and younger children back to North Carolina in 1779.

Eventually, Leonard joined his family in North Carolina, first in Rowan County then in Montgomery County and finally in Buncome County. After about 20 years he moved his family to Warren County, Tennessee then, in 1829, to Haywood County, Tennessee. About seven years later, Leonard and Mary moved to Sevier County, Arkansas along with their son Benjamin and many others.

On December 13, 1832 when Leonard Marbury was 73, he went to a Haywood County, Tennessee courtroom to apply for a pension for his Revolutionary War service. He had credible witnesses in his brother and sister but was denied pension for failure to furnish the proof of service that was required by pension laws.

Leonard died Jan. 24, 1839 at age 80. It is thought his wife returned to Tennessee where she died soon after.

The likely children of Leonard and Mary Rounsavall Marbury were:

Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury John 1783   aft 1850   Sarah Greene
b. 1790
d. aft 1850
Marbury Nancy 1784 NC     David Clingan
Marbury Benjamin 24 Dec 1784 Rowan Co., NC 30 Sept 1838 Sevier, AR Mary “Polly” Hoodenphyl
According to the Richardson Family Tree, Benjamin’s son Phillip Marbury served with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 and became a close, personal friend of the future president. Benjamin died of smallpox. He and Mary had 14 children.
Marbury Leonard W. 1792   1863 TN Sarah Sheppard 

Mary “Polly” Kidd

Marbury Josiah 1804   1850 TN Jane Nichols

 

John Marbury
My 5th Great-grandfather, 1783-unknown

In the early 1800s, John and Sarah moved first to Middle Tennessee and in the 1810s to Haywood County where their family was part of the original settlers of the county.

In July of 1833, John Marbury deeded 300 acres on Lick Creek and on Clifty Creek to James L. Green.

In 1835, Benjamin Marbury purchased 81 acres from Heil S. Allen. Also in 1835, John Marbury gave Benjamin Marbury 234 acres. James L. Green and Robert Marbury were witnesses.

The names Benjamin Marberry and Marbury along with John Marbury and Marberry and Andrew Jackson Marberry continue to show up in legal documents for land transactions through the 1830s in Haywood County.

John Marbery is referred to as Andrew J. Marbery’s lawful attorney in one document dated October 17, 1837 so it is possible that John Marberry was a lawyer in Haywood County.

On August 30 1837, A.J. (Andrew Jackson) Marbury authorized John Marbury to “dispose, vend or make sale of any of my lands with anything appertaining thee unto.” It was witnessed by Leonard Marbury. Leonard was John’s brother.

The children of John and Sarah Green Marbury were:

Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury Robert Green 2 Dec 1809 Haywood Co., TN May23 (27) 1904 Haywood Co., TN Katherine Stewart
b. 27 Sept 1877
m. 14 Aug 1833
d. 24 Feb 1856
.Harriet D. Sullivan
b. 14 Nov 1826
m. 5 Feb 1857
d.9 Oct 1907
Marbury Andrew Jackson Sr. 12 Nov 1814 Haywood Co., TN 1 May 1879 Lonoke, Arkansas  
Marbury Sarah Lily 12 Nov 1818 Haywood Co., TN 18 Nov 1875 Wayne, MO  
Marbury Louisa Jane 17 Mar 1823 Haywood Co., TN Nov 1862 Wayne, MO  
Marbury Benjamin 1825 Haywood Co., TN 1854 MO  
Marbury William C. 1833 Haywood Co., TN      

 

The people in these tintype photos, from the collection of Janet Marbury Lewis, are unidentified but are thought to have been passed down from Robert Green Marbury to his son Rush Marbury to his son Andrew Frances Marbury to his daughter Alice Marbury Cobb. Tintypes were produced beginning in the mid 1850s and becoming popular through the early 1900s. Could one of these be Robert Marbury himself? Perhaps one is Benjamin Franklin Marbury. Are the older ladies Robert’s sisters? The young man in the fifth photo looks very similar to a photo of Andrew Francis Marbury but could be his father, Rush, just a few years earlier. While we’ll never know for sure who these people are, we do know the Marburys in Haywood County, Tennessee around this time were highly-educated and influential within their community and likely dressed like those in these photos.

Robert Green Marbury
My 4th Great-grandfather, 1809-1904

Headstone of Robert G. Marbury located in the “Marbury Family Cemetery” in Haywood Co. off Poplar Corner Rd. on the farm of Edward Earl Marbury (Squirrel) and Janet Marbury Lewis.

Robert Green Marbury was born in North Carolina, Dec. 2, 1809. As an infant, his family moved first to Middle Tennessee and in the 1810s to Haywood County where they were some of the original settlers of the area.

Early in his life he joined the Primitive Baptist Church.

In January of 1833 “R. G.” was the witness when John H. Brown deeded to R. G.’s father, John Marbury, one tract of land of 111 acres, one of 123 acres and another for 300 acres that were part of the “Big Hatchie Annexation.”

On April 17, 1833, R. G. Marbury deeded land to W. B. Brantley. He was possibly preparing to move.

R. G. married Katherine Stewart on August 14, 1833 when she was 15 and he was 24. She was the daughter of J. W. Stewart. Soon after their marriage, Katherine was granted a 20-year-old slave named Violet by her father.

Robert and Katherine moved to Missouri, likely near the Wayne County area which is in the Ozark Foothills Region of Southeast, Missouri and about 200 miles from Haywood County. Later, they moved to Arkansas and Robert was employed by the government as an agent for the Creek Indians.

Their first child William died at 16 months old and their second child, a daughter named Mary Jane, died at the age of 3.

In the census of 1850, Robert was 40, Katherine was 35 and living with them in their home in district five of Haywood County was James (age 12), John (age 10), Pleasant (age 6), Robert (age 5), Ben (age 2), and J. H. White who was 35 and a carpenter who was born in North Carolina. R. G. owned 1,000 acres of land.

Katherine died on Feb. 24, 1856 at age 38. Her youngest child, Rush, was three while her oldest, John, was 15.

A little over a year later in 1857, R. G. married Katherine Stewart.

In a court document from November 5, 1860, R. G. Marbury, who was 51, became the sole guardian of John L. (19) Robert (15), Ben F. (11), Joseph (9) and Rush W. Marbury (6).

For some reason, Thomas J. Castellaw became the guardian of Pleasant H. Marbury (17) who was the brother of the other children.

Also in 1860 there was a petition to sell slaves with a heading “Thomas J. Castellaw vs. John L. Marbury “In this cause it appearing to the court upon affidavit find that said John L. Marbury is a non resident of the state. It is therefore ordered by the court that publication be made in the “Independent American” paper published in Brownsville for four weeks notifying the said John L. Marbury to appear before the court at its next term, and then and there, answer, please or demur to said petition, or for confessed against him and set for hearing exparte as to him.”

In the 1870 census, R.G. “Marberry” is listed as being age 60 (born in NC) and living with Harriett Marberry (born in Virginia), age 43, Joseph Marberry, age 19 and R.W., age 16 (both born in Tennessee).

 

Letter to Robert Green from his brother, William C. Marbury in 1889. From collection of Janet Marbury Lewis

Letters to Robert Green Marbury from his son, James W., in 1887 and from his brother, William in 1889 offer a glimpse at life for them during this time.

Mississippi Co MO
June 30th 1887

Dear father and mother,

It is with much pleasure that I set myself to drop you a few lines to tell you that I am well at this time truly hoping when this reaches you it may find you and the rest of the family enjoying the same great blessings. No news of much importance only crops are looking fine at present. I have 10 acres of as fine corn as ever grew out of the earth and 7 of cotton which looks as fine as I ever see in my life and one acre of late potatoes that are looking fine and are sure to make a big yield. We have been very dry here for three weeks which has injured very early corn. With these few remarks I will close by saying remember my love to all and secure a large portion yourself and tell all the boys to write to me so no more at present only I remain your affectionate son until death.

Jas W Marbury

Letter to Robert Green from his brother, William C. Marbury in 1889 from collection of Janet Marbury Lewis:

Mr. R. G. Marbury
Brownsville
Haywood County, TN
South Chicago
APR 14th 1889

My Ever Dear and only brother I now write in reply to your kind letter of some months since. This leaves us tolerably well. I truly hope this letter will find you and yours in good health and doing well. Have no news of much interest to write. I want to see you and yours worse and more than I can express but see no chance to come. Money is so scarce and times are so close that I can hardly venture to make the trip down there. I would gladly come to see you if I could. I do hope and constantly pray God that I may yet live to see you but if never we do meet on this earth let us work and pray God that we may meet in heaven where parting will be no more forever and where we shall sing praise to God for ever and forever more.

I see Rush is married again. Well I hope he and his dear companion will live a long and peaceful and happy life and he be prosperous and kind to each other.

I was very glad to know you are keeping in pretty good health and spirit and I hope and pray God you will continue so. Yes, I was truly sad over Cleveland’s defeat. Cleveland got more popular votes than Harrison by nearly 100,000. The Republicans bought up the bosses of big companies such as foundries, big machine shops, mills factories and these bosses and head men after getting immense pay turned their men over to the Republican Ring to vote the republican ticket there never was as much money spent by the republican party before. They paid from 1 to 500 dollars a piece for votes and that is the way they swung NY in to their line.

The winter has been lighter and milder here than has been known in a great many years. I hope Rush will stay with you to help and take care of you dear brother. Take good care of your self and remember me in your prayers as I do you in my prayers every night. Please write soon all ___ _____. I will try and write you once a month from this out. You please do the same with out fail.

W.C. Marbury

Robert Green Marbury died on May 27, 1904 and was buried in the family cemetery.

Obituary of Robert Green Marbury

The Brownsville States Graphic, 3 June 1904

Elder R.G. Marbury died at his residence in this county on Saturday last, and the remains were interred in the family burying ground the following day. He was born in North Carolina, Dec. 2, 1809, and during infancy his family removed first to Middle Tennessee and in a few years to this county, being contemporary with the Taylors, Nixons, Connors, Jacocks, Bradford, and other pioneers. In the early 30’s he went to Missouri, thence to Arkansas and was for some years in the employ of the government as an agent for the Creek Indians. Returning to this county he made it his home and lived here ever after, leading as useful and upright life as human nature allows to man. He resided here almost 30 years. He, early in life entered the ranks of the Primitive Baptists, became a ____ and at Brown’s Creek church in 1875 was ordained an elder, filling that office to the day of his death. He was possibly the most widely known and loved member of this church in the state, and had great influence in it’s counsels. Since 1875, he had united in matrimony between 325 – 335 couples, few of his church for near a generation being married by any other man. He was twice married and is survived by his second wife and four sons of the first marriage. Personally, Mr. Marbury was one of the most genial of men, and industrious farmer, and a first rate sportsman, fond of the hunt, a fisherman, fond of animals and birds and in love with all nature, and all the beautiful works of his Maker. Godly, sincere, loyal and honest, a host of friends, will long cherish his memory.

The likely children of Robert and Sarah Green Marbury were:

Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury William W. 23 July 1835 Haywood Co., TN 26 Nov 1836
age: 1
Haywood Co., TN  
Marbury Mary Jane 28 March 1837 Haywood Co., TN 26 Nov 1840
age:3
Haywood Co., TN  
Marbury James W. 7 Feb 1839 Haywood Co., TN     Sarah
b. 1848
d. 1880
James and Sarah migrated to New Madrid, Missouri and had one son, James Marbury. By the 1880 census, James was a 40-year-old widower who worked as a farm laborer. In the 1910 census, James and Sarah’s son James was a 40-year-old boarder living in Little River, Missouri and working as a laborer in a box factory.  
Marbury John L. 30 April 1841 Haywood Co., TN 30 Dec 1868
age: 27
Wayne, MO  
Marbury Pleasant H. 7 July 1843 Haywood Co., TN 15 Oct 1914 Bolivar, Hardeman Co., Tennessee Martha B. Gregory
b. Feb. 1849
m. 20 Sept 1868
d. 1910
Children of Pleasant H. and Martha appear to have been Joe W., Mirtle, John W. and Herbert Lee (1889-1951). 

Pleasant was a resident of Western State Mental Hospital when he died in Oct. 1914 and was buried there in the hospital’s cemetery. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was “exhaustion from continued mental disease.”

Marbury Robert Green Jr. 9 Dec 1845 Haywood Co., TN     Sarah C. White
b. 1845
m. 28 Feb 1866
d. 1880.Martha M. White
b.20 Sep 1835
m. 6 Dec 1886
d. 24 March 1917
Children of Robert Green Jr. and Sarah White Marbury were Minnie Mae (1872-1896) and Herbert Lee (1877-1973).
Robert’s second wife, Martha, was the daughter of John Bemberry White and his wife Penelope. According to her obituary she “believed in taking the Bible as her guide. She was a constant reader of the Bible and was ever ready to exchange ideas with anybody.” Toward the end of her life she was blind.
Marbury Benjamin Frankin 16 Jun 1849 Haywood Co., TN 1884
age: 34
Haywood Co., TN
burried: Zion Cemetery
Maggie “Mary” Yelverton
b. 1853
m. 20 Sept 1868
d. 1884 age: 31
.. 

Mary Wilkins
b. 1847
m. 1884
d.1918

Marbury Joseph 29 March 1831 Haywood Co., TN     Eddie V.
Marbury Rush W. 15 Dec 1853 Haywood Co., TN 15 Nov 1935
age: 82
Haywood Co., TN Alice Gunter
b. 1864
d. before 1888.Delilah J. Mann
m. 7 Oct 1888.Emily “Emma” l. Smith
b.1883
m. 2 Dec 1900
d. 1955 age: 82
Find out more about Rush Marbury and his first wife, Alice Gunter, on my blog

From the collection of Margaret Stokely

Letter from Rush Marbury written in 1924 in which he corresponds with a distant cousin who asked a question about their family. He writes, “I am the youngest of nine children – 8 boys and one girl and I am in my seventy first year and my father was in his 95th year when he died.”

Rush and Alice’s son was Andrew Frances Marbury (b. 5 May 1883, d. 5 July 1955) who married Frances Adian Cain (b. 16 Feb 1884, d. May 1972) in 1901.

 

Benjamin Franklin Marbury
My 3rd Great-grandfather, 1868-1884

 

By the time of his marriage in 1868 to 15-year-old Maggie, Ben was 19.

While it would seem Ben was too young to fight in the Civil War which had just ended four years before his marriage, there was a B.F. Marbury who fought in the 11th regiment and a Benjamin Marbury who fought in the 16th regiment and both were from Tennessee so it’s certain possible Ben was in the war at a very young age.

Ben and Maggie’s first baby died just a week or so after birth.

After that, their family grew quickly and they added a new child almost every year. Wylie was born in 1871, Hardy (who would be the father of my great grandmother, Allie Marbury Brantley) in 1872, Rush in 1874, Robert in 1876, John in 1877, and Robert in 1879.

The family finally added a girl with the birth of Frances Catherine “Rosa” Marbury in 1884.

Unfortunately, that same year, whether of complications from childbirth or from a disease of some kind, Maggie died. She was only 31 and had given birth to eight children.

Ben married Mary Wilkins on March 4, 1884. She was a 34-year-old woman who lived with her parents and a house full of brothers and sisters in Haywood County, TN.

The marriage would be short-lived however as Ben himself died at some point in 1884. According to family stories, he was killed by a train while walking down tracks between Jones Station and Allen’s Station in Haywood Co., TN after having too much to drink.

 

Photos: Janet Marbury Lewis / Benjamin Frankin Marbury’s nephew and his wife, Andrew Frances Marbury and Frances Adian Cain pictured when young and then with their entire family later in their lives in 1954. Pictured left to right: Alice Marbury Cobb, Jesse T. Cobb, May Anne Marbury, Owen Marbury, David Marbury, Juanita Marbury, Frances Janet Marbury, Mabel Ruth Holladay Marbury, May Ethel Marbury, Andrew Earl Marbury, Clarice Marbury Overton, Marcia Overton, Charles Horace Overton Jr., Andrew Frances Marbury, Frances Adien Cain Marbury, and Charles Phillip Overton

 

Photo: Betsy S. Waddell / Thought to be a photo of Mary Wilkins Marbury.

 

Photo: Betsy S. Waddell / The children of Ben and Mary Marbury. l to r, top row: John W., Rosa. Robert, bottom row: Hardy Joyner Marbury and Wiley.

 

Headstone of B.F. and Mary Wilkins Marbury in Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Haywood County, Tennessee.

The children of Benjamin Franklin and Maggie “Mary” Yelverton Marbury were:

Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury Infant son 1869 Haywood Co., TN 1869 Haywood Co., TN  
Marbury Wiley 25 May 1872 Haywood Co., TN   Haywood Co., TN Sally Ann Studdard
b. Oct 1869
m. 1888
Children of Wiley and Sally Ann were Ethel Lee, Cora M, Clay H, and Marietta.
Marbury Hardy Joyner 25 May 1872 Haywood Co., TN 2 March 1932 age: 60 Haywood Co., TN burried: Holly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Sarah Evelena “Lena” Booth
b. 20 Jun 1869
m. 2 Mar 1803
d.7 Oct 1949
burried: Holly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
Marbury Robert Woodson 30 Jan 1876 Haywood Co., TN 10 July 1950 age: 74 Haywood Co., TN burried: Holly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Eddie Lou Carter
b. 29 Jan 1886
m. 15 May 1904
d. 16 Jun 1858
Children of Robert and Eddie Lou were Flora Edna, Laura May, George Zeland, Margaret Hattie, Andrew Frances, Wylie Thomas, Mary Evelena.
Marbury John M.. 30 Jan 1876 Haywood Co., TN 7 Sept 1943 age: 67 Haywood Co., TN burried: Holly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Frankie Timberlake
Children of John and Frankie were Roberta, Lake, Ben and John M. who was a PFC in World War I. 

Marbury Frances Catherine “Rosa” 27 Dec 1884 Haywood Co., TN 22 May 1856 age: 71 Haywood Co., TN /td> Marion Luthur Thomas
b. 16 Apr 1878
m. 27 Dec 1905
2 Mar 1953 age: 74
Children of Rosa and Luthur were Mary E., Harry F., Dorothy Jean 

Photo: Betsy S. Wadell / Luthur and Rosa Marbury Thomas
 
Dennis, Allie, Mabel and Price Marbury at Holly Grove School in 1907.
 

Hardy Joyner Marbury 
My 2nd Great-grandfather, 1872-1832

Hardy Marbury was born on May 25, 1872 in Haywood County, TN. On August 26, 1893, he married Sarah Evelena “Lena” BoothLena was the daughter of William G. “Billy” Booth and Elishia White and she was born in North Carolina. 

In 1895, at the age of 23, Hardy joined Holly Grove Baptist Church. 

You can find a mention of Hardy in Sim Cobb’s diary from the book “Nicholas Cobb Descendants by Joe H. Cobb. March 21, 1890 Rained last night and through the day; rolled logs; Willie and J.E. Lott, Albert Cobb, W.T. Cobb, J.F. White, Hardy Marbury, Ed Mitchell, Will Raddle, and Mr. Hunter was the help. From Sim Cobb’s Diary, Nicholas Cobb Descendants 
In the census of 1900, Hardy is 28 and Sarah E. is 31. Living in the home with them are their three children, Dennis who was 7, Maggie who was 4 and Allie who was 2. The family owns both their farm and their home and both Hardy and Sarah could read and write.

10 years later, in 1910, Sarah was going by the name of Lena and, shortly after the last census, they had added a daughter to the family. Mabel was age 9 in 1910. The family also had a 16-year-old boarder named John H. Mann.

Their son Dennis Love died in 1927 at the age of 34 of rectal cancer, leaving a wife, Mary Lorena Overton and two childen, Ruth Lee and Sybil Hortense.

In the 1930 census, Hardy is 57 and Lena is 60. Lena was called “Grandmammy” by her grandchildren.

 
Photo: Betsy Sullivan Waddell / Allie and Mabel Marbury

 

Photo: Betsy Sullivan Waddell
Louise and Hardy B. Marbury, the children of Herbert L. and Maggie Price Marbury.

Hardy died in 1932 at the age of 60 of a stroke and was buried at Holly Grove Baptist Church cemetery.

Hardy Marbury

Hardy Marbury Obituary
Brownsville States Graphic
March 1932
Mr. Hardy Marbury was born May 25th, 1872 and departed from this life March 2nd, 1932. He was married to Miss Lena Booth, August 26th, 1893.
He professed faith in Christ and united with Holly Grove Baptist church in 1905, later moving his membership to Allen’s Baptist church, living a committed Christian life.
He is survived by his wife and three children, Mrs. Herbert Lee Marbury, Mrs. Willie Brantley of Brownsville, Mrs. Erban Jackson of Jackson. One sister, two brothers and ten grandchildren.
He was a faithful, devoted husband and father. A man of pleasing, attractive personality and was loved and admired for his honest traits and character and his friendly disposition which attracted to him a legion of friends.
Though the inevitable hour has come to him and his soul has winged its flight from the threshold of his earthly home to that Celestial one where he will be forever blessed.
Yet we can always remember him for the life he lived and the sunshine he scattered and the love he possessed within his soul for others.

For all that the master does,
Is done for the best,
For his life has been chosen
Here from all the rest
His work here is o’er,
His battle is won,
The task he attempted here,
Has been done.
His soul has taken refuge,
To that bright shining shore;
Where he will join with
The happy throng forever more.
A FRIEND
 
Photos: Betsy Sullivan Waddell / Mabel Marbury with her new car / Vernon Booth who delivered mail around Haywood County on a bike and was a cousin of the Marbury children / Allie Marbury holding daughter Virginia Brantley Lovelace while visiting her aunt, Catherine Rosa Marbury Thomas.
 
Photo 1: Virginia Brantley Lovelace with her son, Bobby, Allie Marbury Brantley and Lena Marbury / Photo 2: Allie Marbury, Lena Marbury and Mabel Marbury
 
Hardy and Lena’s daughter Price or “Aunt Pricey” as she was called by her many nieces and nephews, died of cancer in 1933.

Obituary of Maggie “Price” Marbury

The Brownsville States Graphic, 1933
Mrs. H.L. Marbury (Maggie “Price”)

Dies at Centerville Home Tues. Afternoon

Mrs. H.L. Marbury died at the family home near Centerville Tuesday afternoon following a five weeks illness.

Mrs. Marbury was a lifelong resident of this community. She was a member of Allen’s Church and a splendid Christian woman whose passing is a source of sorrow to all who know her. She is survived by her husband to whom she was married in 1911, three sons, Hardy B., Curtis, Billie Both, two daughters, Mrs. Louise Lovelace and Mrs. Lena Florence Marbury and her mother, Mrs. H.J. Marbury.

Funeral services were held at Holly Grove Wednesday afternoon. Internment in Holly Grove Cemetery. Funeral arrangements in charge J. M. Cox & Sons.

 

Another daughter of Hardy and Lena’s, Mabel, also died of cancer in 1942.

 

Obituary of Mabel Clara Marbury Jackson

The Brownsville States Graphic, 1942

Former Holly Grove Lady Dies in Jackson Monday

Mrs. Mable Clara Jackson, 41, formerly of the Holly Grove community, this county, died at the Fitz-White Clinic in Jackson Monday following a long illness.

Prior to her illness Mrs. Jackson was for several years connected with Nathan’s ladies’ wear establishment in Jackson. In an effort to regain her health she underwent treatment in Mayo Bros. Clinic in Rochester, N.Y.

She was a native of the Holly Grove community and a member of the Baptist Church at that place. The possesser of a bright and happy disposition, throughout her illness she bore her suffering with Christian fortitude and patience. She was widely known and much beloved.

She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Willie Brantley and a number of nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock at Holly Grove conducted by Dr. Leonard A. Stephens of Brownsville. Interment was in Holly Grove Cemetery. Funeral arrangements in charge of J.M. Cox & Son.

 

Their daughter Allie and her husband Willie lived with Lena until her death in 1949 at age 81.

Obituary of Lena Marbury

Mrs. Lena Marbury

Services to be held today for Holly Grove Resident

Brownsville, Tenn., Oct 7

Services will be held Saturday morning at Holly Grove Baptist Church for Mrs. Lena Booth Marbury, who died Friday morning at her residence in the Holly Grove community. Mrs. MArbury was 81.

Burial will be in Holly Grove Cemetery, with American Funeral Home in charge.

She had spent her entire life in the Holly Grove community. She was the daughter of the late Billy and Lena White Booth. She was a member of Allen Baptist Church.

She leaves a daughter, Mrs. Willie Brantley of Holly Grove, 10 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren.

She was also buried at Holly Grove Baptist Church cemetery.

The memory book from Lena’s funeral service offers a glimpse into funerals of the rural south in the 1940s. Her funeral was at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 9, 1949 at Holly Grove Baptist Church. The Rev. R. E. Presley officiated and Mrs. Ovid Lovelace played the organ. The hymns at her funeral were “Old Rugged Cross,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Nearer my God to Thee.” Her pallbearers were Albert Booth, Bryant Booth, Doris Booth, John Marbury, Lake Marbury and Martin Thomas.

Headstones of Hardy Joyner Marbury and Lena Booth Marbury at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Bells, Haywood Co., TN
 
The children of Hardy Joyner and Lena Booth Marbury were:
 
Last First Born Location Born Died Location Died Spouse
Marbury Dennis Love 25 Jun 1892 Haywood Co., TN April 1927 age: 35 Haywood Co., TN burried: Holly Grove Bap Church Cem Mary Lorena Overton
b. July 1891
d. 8 May 1959
The children of Dennis and Mary Overton Marbury were Ruth Lee and Sybil Hortense.
Marbury Maggie Price 1895 Haywood Co., TN 1933 age: 38 Haywood Co., TN burried: Holly Grove Bap Church Cem Herbert Lee Marbury
b. 19 Mar 1889
m. 21 Jan 1911
d. 19 April 1951
The children of Price and Herbert Lee Marbury were an Infant daughter who died in 1927, Louise M, Hardy Bedford, James Curtis., Billie B. & Lena Florence.
Maggie Price and Herbert L were second cousins. Herbert’s parents were Robert G. and Sarah Marbury.
Marbury Allie Ern 16 Mar 1898 Haywood Co., TN 30 Nov 1995 age: 97 Haywood Co., TN burried: Zion Bap Church Cem William Day Brantley
b. 5 Aug 1897
m. 21 Dec 1916
d. May 1969 age: 72
Marbury Mable Clara 1901 Haywood Co., TN 1942 age: 41   Urban Jackson
Urban and Mabel Clara had no children.