THE SCHOOLERS
Contributed by Jim Faulconer (JFaulconer@aol.com)
The earliest Schooler immigrant to this country was Thomas Schooler, who came to Essex County, Virginia, by June 1701. There, in the index to court orders, DW 10, page 91, dated 10 June 1701, the record indicates that John Talliaferro was granted land for the importation of thirteen persons into “this colony.” Among these persons was Thomas Schooler. According to the “headright” system, the person who paid for the passage of another person coming to this country would receive fifty acres per head. Also, the person brought over would receive 50 acres too. Some say that Thomas Schooler came from London, England, but this researcher has not found proof of that.
When Peter Bourne of Essex County died, Charles Taliaferro was executor of the estate. He and Thomas Schooler and William Smith presented the last will and testament to the court on October 18, 1720, and made the necessary oath regarding its authenticity. (Court Order Book 1716-1723, p. 517) The will was proved on November 15, and Thomas Schooler was an heir. He received “four shay and 1 two year old Hiefor.” (Will Book 2, 1717-1721, pp. 218-219) Peter also mentioned his brothers John and Robert, and his half brother Richard Johnson.
What was the relationship of Thomas Schooler? Several researchers, including this writer, have assumed that Thomas Schooler married a Bourne. However, further research does not support this conclusion. Andrew Bourne, the father of Peter, John and Robert, died by 1700 in Richmond County, leaving his wife Christian. She remarried, this time to Henry Johnson, who already had a family of his own. When Christian died, she left a will naming her sons: John, Robert and Peter. (Essex County Deeds & Wills, 1711-1714, p. 152) There was no mention of Thomas Schooler or a daughter who could have married him. Henry Johnson had died in 1703, and his will named his four children: Richard, Sarah, Katherine and Anne, “and my wife.” (DB 11, p. 27) Again, no mention of Thomas Schooler. Therefore, we are left to wonder why Thomas was mentioned in the will of Peter Bourne. Perhaps they were just good friends.
On October 14, 1726, Thomas Schooler purchased 128 acres of land from Charles Taliaferro, Jr., of St. Marys Parish in Essex County for ten pounds sterling. (DB 18, pp. 225 and 227) More land was granted him by patent from George II in Spotsylvania County on September 28, 1728. (DB 1, p. 9, patent #14)
Thomas Schooler later settled in Caroline County, Virginia, and died in 1748. His will was presented in court by William and Kesiah Schooler, administrators, on February 10, 1748. (Order Book I, 1746-1754, pp. 128-129) John Schooler, heir-at-law of Thomas Schooler, declared he had no objection. Richard Young, Jr., witnessed. The will was annexed to the Court Order, but unfortunately is now lost.
It has been assumed that Thomas Schooler’s wife was Kesiah, and that William was a son. However, we do not know for sure.
Other Schooler records are of interest. On November 7, 1734, the estate of a William Schooler was appraised in Hanover County. James Goodall, Peter King and James Nichols signed. (Records 1734-1735) Then, the will of a Thomas Schooler was proved in King George County on February 3, 1755. This will mentioned his brother, John and William, and three children: Thomas, Mary and Esly Schoolar. (WB I, pp. 44-45)
From the above, we might surmise that Thomas Schooler, immigrant, died leaving a wife Kezia and three sons:
1. Thomas Schooler, Jr., of St. Mary’s Parish was deeded 599 acres of land in St. George Parish in Spotsylvania County. This land was on Maple Run in the first fork of the Rappidan River, and the date was 28 September 1728. (DB 1, 1728-1734, p. 91) Thomas died, as seen above, in 1755, and mentioned his children: Thomas, Mary and Esly.
2. John Schooler. More below.
3. William Schooler. Perhaps it was his estate that was appraised in Hanover County.
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John Schooler, son of Thomas the immigrant, was in Caroline County in 1736 where John Martin took an action of debt against him. (Order Book 1732-1740, part 2, p. 368) He probably moved to Spotsylvania County soon after, for on September 4, 1739, he appeared in court: “On motion of John Schooler to have James William an orphan bound to him is granted, and ordered that the church wardens of this parish bind the sd. child to the sd. Schooler till he come of lawful age, the sd. Schooler to learn him to read and write and to learn the trade of a cooper. (COB 1738-1740, p. 58) We assume from this that John Schooler was a cooper also.
On November 3, 1741, John Schooler was ordered to serve as an overseer of a road, to keep it clear and in good repair. (COB 1740-1742, p. 147)
John purchased land in Culpeper County in 1749. (Northern Neck Grants G) He acquired more land in Spotsylvania County in 1754. (DB E)
John, we believe, married Martha Wharton, daughter of Samuel and Anne Wharton of King George County. John and Martha named a son Wharton Schooler, and some of Samuel Wharton’s estate went to Wharton Schooler. (See below) John Schooler did not leave a will, and the time and place of his death is unknown.
These are believed to be the children of John and Martha Wharton Schooler:
1. Wharton Schooler. “September 1, 1766, John Schooler of Spts. Co., and Martha, his wife, to their son, Wharton Schooler. 100 a. in Spts. Co. Edwd. Herndon, John Tuitt, James Lewis.” (Crozier’s abstracts, Book G, 1766-1771) On January 13, 1770, Joseph Wharton of Orange County, son of Samuel Wharton deceased of King George County, gave to Wharton Schooler of Spotsylvania County 10 pounds currency, title, interest and right in the estate of his deceased father, Samuel Wharton. Witnesses were Reuben Young, John Schooler, and Samuel Schooler. This was recorded in Deed Book G, 1766-1771, on May 7, 1770.
2. Benjamin Schooler. More later.
3. John Schooler, Jr., was born on September 17, 1742, according to a family Bible. He witnessed a deed in Spotsylvania County in 1773. (Crozier, pp. 294-295) He is named on the 1783 and 1787 tax list for the same county. He married Nancy Hawkins, daughter of Nathan and Catherine Ann Haydon Hawkins. (Madison County, Kentucky, Will Book A, pp. 68-70) The marriage probably took place in Spotsylvania County. Then, along with her parents, they moved to Madison County, Kentucky, where they are listed on the 1800 tax list, and in the 1810 and 1820 census records. Nancy apparently died in the meantime, and John Schooler moved to Garrard County to live with his son, Benjamin Schooler. There he died on May 24, 1832. His estate papers in File Drawer 518 mention his children: Joseph Hawkins Schooler, John Schooler, Mary Schooler, Nathan Schooler, Benjamin Schooler, Martha Schooler, Samuel Schooler, Nicholas H. Schooler, Nancy Schooler and Catherine Schooler. (Catherine not proved)
4. Martha “Patsy Schooler married William Lampton in the Page area of Shenandoah in 1763.” (History of Shenandoah County, Virginia, by J.W. Wayland, p. 614) While there is little proof that she was a daughter of John and Martha, she is a likely candidate. She died on January 26, 1811, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. They are ancestors of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.
5. Samuel Schooler may have been another son of John. On May 21, 1778, Alexander Spotswood, Esqr. leased 112 in St. George Parish, Spotsylvania County to “Jno. Wharton, Jno. Schooler, and Samuel Schooler.” (DB J, 1774-1782)
6. Peter Schooler? Records in the National Archives show that a Peter Schooler was killed in the Revolutionary War in 1777. It is quite possible that he was of this line of the family.
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Benjamin Schooler, son of John and Martha, was born in 1725, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, according to a family Bible, printed in London 1791. He allegedly married a Miss Divine of Spotsylvania County. We know nothing more of her. In 1789 they settled in Bourbon County, Kentucky, on 150 acres of land. Both died in 1795, and are buried in the James Jones Cemetery, near Clintonville. Here are their children:
1. Benjamin Schooler II was born in May 1759 in Spotsylvania County. He was listed as a delinquent taxpayer in 1787, and it was noted in the record that he had “removed to Kentucky.” He was listed in the Fayette County Census of 1790 and 1800. Benjamin later settled near Clintonville in Bourbon County, and married Patsy Foster. He died on October 22, 1822, and is buried near his father in the Jones family cemetery. Their children were John S., Benjamin III, John, Elizabeth, Patty, Nancy, Henry and Samuel.
2. William Schooler was born in 1760. He married Juriah ? . In 1797 William and his wife, Juriah, sold land in Caroline County. He was on the 1800 tax list there, but they apparently left about 1808, according to the tax list removals. They emigrated to Clark County, Kentucky, and on August 27, 1818, William and Juriah sold 60 acres on Hancock Creek, “where Schooler now resides.” The next year he sold 8 more acres. On October 22, 1830, in Fayette County, he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension, claim #47344. It states that he was a Sergeant in the 3rd Virginia Line in 1779 or 1780. He served in Capt. Minor’s Company, and Col. John Taylor’s Regiment. He was presently living in Clark County, aged 70. The pension was granted, $120 per annum. The last payment was made on March 25, 1833, the year he died. William wrote his will in 1829, and Juriah was still his wife. The will was proved in 1833.
We should note that there was another William Schooler, relationship unknown. “The Kentucky Gazatte” of September 8, 1787, noted that “Mr. Schooler of Harrison’s Station on Licking Creek was fired on by Indians on the 5th of September. George Mason and Mr. Glascock were fired on by the Indians while cutting wood on Licking Creek on 7 September. Mason was fatally wounded.” This William Schooler lived on the Licking River, in what was to become Harrison County, Kentucky. He was listed in the 1800 census there, and was married to Elizabeth Harrison.
3. Salathial Schooler was born on November 28, 1760, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. She married James Jones in St. George’s Church in Fredricksburg on August 17, 1782. They settled in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and W.H. Perrin mentioned them in his History of Scott, Harrison, Bourbon and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, page 474. “James Jones, who was born about the year 1758, in Spottsylania County, Va., son of Thomas Jones a Virginian... was a Revolutionary soldier...he emigrated to Kentucky, locating in Fayette county, in 1789; his wife was Sallie Schooler, also a native of the Old Dominion; she had three brothers, who served in the Continental Army, viz; Horton, Benjamin and William.” She died on April 8, 1850.
4. Wharton Schooler also served in the Revolutionary War. He married Margaret Gatewood, daughter of Henry and Ann Gatewood of Spotsylvania County. When Henry died, his heirs were listed in Deed Book P on December 3, 1799, and Wharton and Margaret Schooler were mentioned. On October 2, 1787, Wharton and Margaret, his wife, sold 365 1/4 acres in Berkeley Parish of Spotsylvania to Thomas Ball of Amelia County. (DB L 1785-1788) That same year, 1787, Wharton was listed as a delinquent taxpayer, and the reason given was that he had “removed to Kentucky.” Wharton and his family settled in Fayette County, where he was listed in the census of that year. His will was proved in the May Court of 1824 in Fayette County. The Clark County Death Record notes that Beulah Ellis, daughter of Wharton and Peggy Schooler, died on February 10, 1854, aged 73.
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Note: This is one of the more difficult families I have researched. The records are scanty, and it is easy to draw faulty inferences. I wish is to acknowledge that some of the above material is drawn from “The Schooler Family” by Genalee Schooler, and found in the Kentucky Historical Society. Thanks also to Marilyn Craig and the late L.V. Hagan, Jr.
Compiled by James G. Faulconer, 5200 Oakbrooke Drive, Kettering, OH 45440. March 14, 2001. (JFaulconer@aol.com)
