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The Bybee Family
Submitted by James G. Faulconer
The Bybees originated in England, and the spelling varies from Biby,
Bibby, Bybe, Bibbie to Bybee. Some Bybees made their appearance on this
continent in the early 1600s in Virginia. William Bibbie was listed in
the muster of 1620 or 1621, an early form of census. He was age 22, and
had arrived in the ship, the Swan. By 1623 he was living in Accomack
County, the eastern shore of Virginia. In the same county in 1624 a
Bibby, no first name shown, being very sick, made his will, “whereupon
Bibby told Lewis Bayly that all which he have given to him ???” This was
not William. On July 31, 1624, Thomas Parke “made answer that he would
make no will for that he had given all he had to his mate William Bybee.”
It was ordered that William Bybby shall keep the corn now in his hands
and at phetplace close shall send the tobacco to Park’s mother in
England.(Minutes of Counsel, Accomack Co.) William Bibby, age 33, had
his age proved before the court officials of Accomack-Northampton County
in October 1633. (N 1: 7, 28-29) He appeared in court again in February
1635, and his age was proved as 35. (N 1:28, 45; 29, 46)
On June 24, 1636, a land patent for 400 acres on King’s Creek was
granted to William Bibby. His wife’s name was given as Mary, and title
to this land later passed to their son, Edmund. As was the custom,
William and Mary were granted 50 acres each for their journey, and they
were granted 50 acres for each passenger they sponsored: John Leech,
Christopher Colvert, William Stephen, Archebald Richard, and John Fitz
Garrall.
William died a short time later. On September 25, 1637, a court record
spoke of William Bibby as recently dead. Mary died shortly thereafter. A
later court record indicates that she died in November 1637. The
following action was taken in the court of February 12, 1638:
Whereas Mary Bibby Widdow lately deceased lefte behind her a small
estate in goodes and chattells and whereas her husband a yeare since
deceased upon his death bed made Capt. William Roper and George
Traveller his overseers, Nowe Foreasmuch as hee Being dead and leavinge
her said estate dispersed and undisposed of the said overseers formerly
appoynted out of charity to her children tooke upon them to be Guardyans
of the said estate and procured the same to bee sould by the advise of
some of the most judicially neighbours adjacent and neere inhabitinge
for the best behoofe of the said children And the said Overseers
performinge the same this Courte douth approve thereof and allsoe
conceave them to bee the Fittest administrators of the said estate and
the same to be a just and legall proceedinge All which is hereby humbly
certified etc.
Whereas there is a just and due debt amountinge to twenty five thousand
poundes of tobacco by specifiallty and accompt appearinge to be due from
Mr. John Neale unto Richard Buckam Morrice Thompson and Thomas Deacon
and the rest of the Companie of Merchantes belonginge to the good Shipp
Rebecca. Itt is therefore ordered that the said Neale shall make
satisfaction of the said (debt) unto George Barrett lawfull Attorney of
the Merchantes afforesaid. (144)
Robert West appeared in court on June 9, 1638, and gave this deposition
about the widow Mary:
The deposition of Robert West had and taken in open Courte. This
deponent saith that talking with Mary Bibby about her debts and whether
she did not owe Mr. Melling a great deale or not she made answer noe,
then this deponent asked her whether she did not owe him for Corne or
somethinge els, her answer was noe, and that that was paid for long
since, and that she oweth him nothing, further this deponent asked her
concerning a rich suyte of clothes, she said she wold not have it nor
meddle with it, this was aboute three weeks before (she) dyed. And more
she saith not. (134)
On August 13, 1638, the Court acted: “It is thought Fitts and soe
ordered that Edmond Scarborough shall have one hundred and fifty poundes
of tobacco out of the estate of Mary Bibbey deceased for surveying of
Foure hundred acres of land, by the administrators of the said Mares
estate.” (146)
The Court recorded this note on January 7, 1639: “Memorandum that Capt.
William Roper doth promisse in Cort to pay to Mr. Roger Wingate nintye
eight pounds of tobacco out of the estate of Marry Bibby before it goes
out of his handes.” (166)
We have no proof of the children of William and Mary Bibee, other than
Edmund. However, these are probable children:
1. Edmund Bibee was in the Northampton court records of September 1644.
“Cattle belonging to Edmond Bibbe five cowes two calves for this years
increase one of the last yeares one old cowe dyed in calving last May
all which I can make proofe by many oathes. Per William Roper.” On
September 20, Peter Walker was ordered to return a “cowe and bull cafe”
to William Roper, “Guardian of said Edmund Bibee: Edmund later married
Frances Hunt, daughter of Lieut. Thomas and Jane Drake Hunt. Thomas Hunt
left 200 acres to his daughter, Frances Bibbe and more to her daughter,
Elizabeth Bibby, in 1656. After Edmund’s death, Frances married
Nathaniel Wilkins about 1661. She died on March 30, 1692. Another Edmund
Bebee sold 100 acres in Accomack County in 1677, and another 300 acres
the next year, to John Michael. This was probably a son of Edmund II,
and 1688 he was an importer of slaves.
2. Elizabeth Bibee. On September 20, 1644, a deposition was taken from
Nicholas Scott in open court. “This deponent saith that hee being
servaunt unto George Travellor did carry a calfe belonging unto
Elizabeth Bibby to weaning and mark’t the said calfe with a crop on both
eares and a slitt in one of the eares. But which eare the slitt was in
this deponent knoweth not. And further saith not.” Another deposition
was taken from Edward Gill, attesting to the same episode.
3. John Bibee. In 1678 in Accomack County there is a reference to
“Edward Bibbee, who left his son, John, who left to Elizabeth Benhall...”
We wonder if this was Edmund I, who left land to his son, John. John was
in James City County on June 7, 1650. He was in Lancaster County in
1652. On February 10, 1695, John Bibbey attested to the will of John Cox
in Essex County.
* * *
Thomas Bybee was possibly the son of John Bibee, mentioned above. He
named his first son, so it appears, John. Thomas was born on November
17, 1689, in York County, Virginia. He settled in Goochland County and
married Elizabeth ? . Little is known of Thomas. He received a court
order in 1728 exempting him from paying levys. Thomas wrote his will on
November 4, 1729. It is faded now, and here is what is legible: (Will
Book 1, p. 161)
In the Name of God Amen. This fourth day of November Anno Domn. 1729 I
Thomas Bybe of St. James Parish in Goochland County being sick in Body
of good & perfect memory thanks be to the almighty God, and calling to
Remembrance the uncertain Estate of this transitory life and that all
flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call do make and
declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following,
first being penitent & sorry for all my sins most humbly desiring
forgiveness for the same commend my Soul to almighty God my Savior and
Redeemer in whom and by whose merits I trust and whose...to be served
and to whom...and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit the...and
body reunite to the earth to be decently buried & the direction of my
executors hereafter named and for the...my temporal estate
and...goods...and... God to bestow upon me...I order give and dispose
the same in manner and form following. Imprimis. I give and bequeath
unto my son John Bybe one shilling sterling...I give unto my son Thos.
Bybe... and a young...and all my...I give unto my daughter Eliza. Bybe
one young heifer two...dishes & two...plates all the rest and residue of
my...(...and personal estate whatsoever) give and bequeath unto my
beloved wife Elizth. Bybe whom I make one of my...make and appoint my
loving sons...of my...of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking
disannulling and making void all previous Wills and Bequests...declaring
this only to be my last Will and Testament...hereof I have...above
written.
Signed Seal’d and Delivered
in the presence of Thomas Bybe
Edwd. White
? (X) ?
At a Court held for Goochland County ffebry the 17th day 1729. This will
was proved by the oaths of the witnesses hereto and was thereupon
admitted to the record. Henry Wood Cl.C.
Thomas died at age 40, and the children were not yet adults at the time
of his death. Also, since the will was written in November of 1729, it
must have been proved in the court of February 17, 1730, instead of
1729. Here, then, are the known children of Thomas and Elizabeth Bybee:
1. John Bybee, Sr., was born about 1712 in Goochland Cunty. More in the
next section.
2. Thomas Bibe, Jr. was born about 1714. In a Goochland County Deed,
dated June 16, 1750, he and his wife, Darkus, sold 100 acres of land to
John Asken. There were other land transactions, but this one established
his wife’s name. We wonder if they settled with their children in what
became Amherst County. The names of their children are unknown, but
several names appear. We wonder if the Thomas Bybee, Revolutionary War
Soldier from Amherst County, who settled in Cocke County, Tennessee was
a son. He was born in 1734. Samuel Bybee was possibly another. In 1781
he was a soldier at Albemarle House age 17, a planter by trade,
residence Amherst, born in Amherst. He married Ann Cartwright on
November 2, 1789. Edward Bibey was in the militia from Amherst County,
and on June 15, 1778, was listed as “dissarted.” Peter Bybee was listed
in the Amherst County census of 1790.
3. Elizabeth Bybe was born about 1716.
4. Judith Bybe was born about 1718. She married John Webb.
* * *
John Bybee, Sr., was born about 1712. By May 17, 1743, Jean Giles was
his wife, as her first name appears on a deed of that date. We know John
and Jean had a son, Thomas, in 1760. (Douglas Register) More about this
later.
On April 19, 1736, John Bibey bought 400 acres in St. James Parish, of
Goochland County, from William and Susannah Arrington. He paid 22
pounds. (Deed Book 19, p. 206) On March 20, 1738, John Bibee was
appointed surveyor of the road between the two roads to the courthouse,
and Robert Roger’s titheables was added to his crew.
On May 16, 1741, John Biby bought 300 acres, with all houses, from
William Walker. It was land bounded by John Curd, Nicholas Parkins,
William Harris and Meadow Creek. (Deed Book 3, p. 69) On May 17, 1743,
John and Jane Biby sold 400 acres on the west side of “Rackoon Cr.” to
George Hilton. This was land surveyed and granted by patent to John Biby
on March 12, 1739. In September 1743, John Bibby bought another 200
acres from William Walker of Northhampton Province of North Carolina.
This was land on the North Side of the James River. In 1744 Albemarle
County was form from a part of Goochland County, and this is where John
Bibee owned land. In 1746 a court record gave John Bybee permission to
open a road to Bybee’s Mill. On March 25, 1749, James Manley issued a
bond to John Curd and John Bibe that they would pay if the suit against
them lost. On November 13, John Martin sold John Bybee 100 acres on
Ballengers Creek for L13. On May 11, 1751, John Bybee and his wife,
Jane, sold 407 acres on Ballinger Creek to Daniel King of Hanover
County. On September 13, 1754, John Bibee signed a promissary note to
Joseph Cable for 3 pounds, 2 shillings. On March 3, 1758, John Bybee,
Sr., sold to George Robinson, merchant, 900 acres on both sides of
Ballinger Creek “where John Bibee lives.” Also named were the slaves,
stock, furniture, and about 50 pounds worth of pewter. John owned about
1500 acres in 1758. This record is found in a Deed of Trust in book 2,
page 46, in Albemarle County. On March 24, 1760, a son, Thomas, was born
to John Bybie and Jean Giles in Goochland County. He was baptized on
Septmember 8, 1761. (Douglas Regisiter) In 1761 Amherst County was
formed from a part of Albemarle County. On September 10, 1763, Edward
Johnson got an Albemarle court judgement against Edward Burgess, John
Bybee, John Barnett, Daniel King, Charles McRae and John Clark. It was
for five pounds. On March 7, 1764, John Bybie and his wife, Jean, sold
353 acres on both sides of Ballingers Creek, in Albemarle County, to
Christopher McRae, for one hundred pounds. On February 10, 1770, the
Albemarle court ordered the arrest of John Bibee regarding a lawsuit of
James George for debt.
Fluvanna County was formed in 1777 from the part of Albemarle nearest
Goochland County. Near Ballengers Creek in Fluvanna County is a highway
known as Bybee Road. On the highway is a post office known as Bybee,
Virginia. About one half mile east on this highway is the Bybee Road
Baptist Church; and nearby is a cemetery with only one readable stone,
that of Pleasant Bybee, who died in 1835.
John Bybee died about 1782.
The children of John Bybee, Sr., are not known for sure. Different
researchers arrive at different names. And, if John was married more
than once, he could have had children over a long period of time. Also,
how do we separate out the children of John and his brother, Thomas? Our
assumption here is that those that stayed around the Ballenger Creek
area are a part of John’s family. Those who eventually moved on to
Amherst County are a part of Thomas’s family. Here, then, is our best
guess:
1. David Bybee was born about 1736, we believe. More later.
2. John Bybee, Jr., was born about 1839. In 1763 he married Elizabeth
McCann, daughter of Neely McCann, who later migrated to Fayette County,
Kentucky. John entered the Revolutionary War on June 1, 1777, and can be
found on the muster and payrolls of Camp Morristown. He served in the
15th Virginia Regiment under Captain William Grimes. He last appeared on
the payroll in December 1779, so was probably discharged at that time.
On September 1, 1780, John Bybee, Jr., received a land grant signed by
Thomas Jefferson. It conveyed 82 acres of land on Daniels Mill Creek of
Blackwater River in Henry County, later to become Franklin County. John
died in 1821.
3. William Bybee owned land on Ballenger Creek next to David.
4. Pleasant Bybee was born in 1758. He wrote his will, and died in 1835.
It was proved in Palmyra, Fluvanna County, Virginia. He named his
children: Elizabeth Bybee, John Bybee, William Bybee, Sarah Bybee and
Sherrod Bybee. While there is no proof that Pleasant was the son of John
and Sarah Jean Giles Bybee, the names of these children are similar, and
lend support to this hypothesis. Pleasant married Mildred Priddy on
September 3, 1789, in Fluvanna County. William and Jane Priddy posted
the security bond. Pleasant had served in the Revolutionary War, and on
May 27, 1818, applied for his pension. (W 28687). After his death, his
widow married Neally (Cornelius) Bybee in Monroe County, Missouri.
5. Joseph Bybee and his wife, Susannah, received a share of the estate
of William Banks in Fluvanna County in 1779. (Will book 1, p. 15)
Susanna was probably nee Susannah Banks. Joseph served in the
Revolutionary War as a Lieutenant. He was mentioned in the pension
application of Ambrose Thacker of Albemarle County. Joseph was listed in
the 1787 Fluvanna County tax list, and in the 1800 census for Campbell
County. On February 20, 1804, his daughter, Milly, married Thomas Priddy
in Fluvanna county. Ralph Banks posted the surety, and Joseph Bibee,
father, consented.
6. Thomas Bybee was born on March 24, 1760, to John and Jean Giles Bybee.
Thomas was baptized on September 8, 1761. (Douglas Register)
7. Jean Bybee, “of age,” married James Norton in Fluvanna County on
October 22, 1788. George Thompson posted bond.
* * *
David Bybee was born about 1736. While we do not have proof of his
parentage, the circumstantial evidence links him with John and Jean
Giles Bybee. David lived on Ballengers Creek, as did his parents and
siblings. Gary Lloyd, who wrote the book on the Bybees concurs in his
letter of December 3, 1992.
Our earliest reference to David thus far is on December 15, 1759, in
Albemarle County, where he witnessed the sale of some slaves and stock
for L147.5 from Joseph Thompson to George Robinson. (B 2, p. 251). On
September 1, 1782, Governor Benjamin Harrison granted David Bibee 218
acres in Albemarle County, on the north side of the Rivanna River and on
each side of Ballengers Creek. The landed was bounded by that of William
Bibee. (Va. Grants G, 1782-1783, p. 128) David was also granted on the
same date another 400 acres on the north side of the Rivanna River and
on the branch of Ballenger’s Creek in Fluvanna County. (Grants G,
1782-1783, p. 128) Fluvanna had split off Albemarle Cunty in 1777, and
apparently David was acquiring land near the boundary. David was listed
in the 1787 tax list of Fluvanna County. On October 4 of that year David
Bybee and his wife Ann sold 518 acres of land to George Thompson. The
price was seventy pounds “cash in hand paid.” The land where “David
Bybee now lives” was bounded on the one side by land owned by William
Bybee, and on the other side James Bybee.
David Bybee of Fluvanna County was listed twice in the 1790 census, p.
19: 11 white, no blacks; and 5 white and no blacks.
Family records suggest that David came to Kentucky from Culpeper County,
but thus far no verification of that has been found in the court records
there. On September 5, 1792, David, his son, James, and his son-in-law,
Josiah Allen, signed an indenture for 150 acres of land on Four Mile
Creek, in that part of Fayette County which would soon become Clark
County, Kentucky. Nathaniel Majors was the seller. Kentucky County,
Virginia, became a state in 1792.
Family records, found in the family file in the Clark County Library,
note that David’s wife was Nancy, rather than Ann. It was not uncommon
to shorten Nancy to Nan to Ann, and probably this was the case here.
David Bybee died in 1816. The children of David and Ann Bybee are
identified in a law suit filed on March 20, 1830, in Clark County:
“Bybee &c. vs. David Bybee’s Heirs.” (File box 466) Here, then, is what
we know of the children:
1. Cornelius “Neily” Bybee was born in 1763. He served in the
Revolutionary War, and was at the surrender of Cornwallis. He also
received a medal of bravery. He married Mary Lee Norman of Culpeper
County, Virginia, and came to Kentucky at or about the time his father
also moved. He and David and James are named on the tax lists of Clark
County beginning in 1793. Mary Lee, Neily’s wife, died in Clark County
before 1833, at which time Neily migrated to Monroe County, Missouri,
with some of his children. There he married Mildred Bybee, widow of
Pleasant Bybee, on August 21, 1837. He applied for a Revolutionary War
Pension, a copy of which is in the National Archives. He died in 1841.
2. James Bybee. More later.
3. Nancy Bybee married Josiah Allen. She had died by 1830 when the law
suit was filed. Their known children are Polly, Lydia, Josiah and
Robert.
4. Lucy Bybee married William Lilly on October 2, 1786, in Fluvanna
County. Neily Bybee posted the security. Consenting witnesses were
Arminger Lilly, father, and David Bybee, father, and Cornellus Bybee.
5. Elizabeth Bybee married John Crow. She had died by 1830 when the law
suit was filed. She left these children: Ann, Jesse, Job and John.
6. Sally Bybee married William Humphreys, and he became the complainant
in the suit of 1830. Sally had died by this time. No children are named.
7. Judith Bybee married Jeremiah Webb on July 23, 1796, in Clark County.
8. Patsy Bybee, “daughter of David Bybee,” married John Crow on February
22, 1796, in Clark County. Gyney (Jane) Bybee was witness, and David
Hagan posted the surety bond.
9. Jane Bybee married David Hagan on May 22, 1798, in Clark County.
Jesey Wilcockson was witness, and Greenberry Kelly posted the surety.
David died on August 1, 1854, according to the Death Records. He was 89
years old, born in North Carolina.
10. Susan “Suky” Bybee married Joseph Thomas on March 25, 1800. David
Bybee posted the surety. Susan had died by 1830 at the time the suit was
filed, and left an only daughter, Nancy.
11. Milly Bybee married (1) Levi Dunaway on January 23, 1800. David
Bybee, father, signed the surety. On November 5, 1807, Milly married (2)
William Lenland.
* * *
James Bybee, son of David and Nancy Ann Bybee, was born about 1766 in
Fluvanna County, Virginia. Family records mention that he married
Margery Emerson, but we doubt this. The marriage records of Amherst
County, Virginia, indicate that James Bybee, bachelor, married Margery
Baber, spinster, on September 30, 1786. Richard Burnett provided the
surety, and David Witt stated that Margery Baber was his wife’s sister.
James Bybee was listed in the 1787 tax list for Fluvanna County. He
indicated that he was of the age 16-21. He and Margaret moved to
Kentucky in 1792, when the rest of the family moved, and continued to
live and farm there until their deaths. On November 9, 1831, he bought a
tract of land from Alexander McKinney for $77.50. On September 27, 1832,
James bought more land from Travis Adams. James died on December 28,
1837. Here are the children:
1. Henrietta Bybee, “daughter of James Bybee,” married John Brown on
November 17, 1803, in Clark County. Joseph Thomas signed the surety.
According to the law suit, she died before her father and left two
children: David and Sally Brown.
2. Elizabeth Bybee, “daughter of James Bybee,” married John Witt on
March 24, 1806. John Brown posted the surety. Pat Sengstock, a
descendant, believes that Elizabeth had two daughters: Polly,
“granddaughter of James Bybee” married David Hagan on September 30,
1822. Nancy married Sidney Adams on June 14, 1826. Elizabeth probably
died between the 1810 census and February 1813. The two daughters had
died before their grandfather, James Bybee, died in 1837. John married
Lucinda Muir on February 8, 1813, in Clark County. They moved to
Franklin County by 1820, and presumably live and died there. They had
one daughter, Lucretia.
3. Nancy A. Bybee was born in 1792. “Daughter of James Bybee,” she
married John Ballard on August 21, 1810. Elisha Witt was witness, and
John Witt posted the surety. Nancy died on February 20, 1858, according
to the death records, aged 66. The record notes that she was born in
Clark County, and her parents were James and Margert Bybee.
4. Thomas T. Bybee married Rachel Hagan on April 2, 1818. David Hagan
posted the surety. They moved to Fulton County, Illinois, in the winter
of 1830-1831. According to the history there, “Thomas was described as a
‘wild lad.’ On the occasion of his marriage to Rachel Hagan he found
himself short of the necessary means to get the license. His father
refused to loan him the five dollars saying he had little confidence in
his son. But upon his death on April 8, 1872, Thomas left property
estimated at $300,000.”
5. John Sag (or South) Bybee was born in 1796. He married Polly Adams on
June 10, 1817. John Adams posted the surety. By this marriage they had
six children. John married five more times, finally settling in Howard
County, Missouri. John Bybee died in 1859.
6. James Bybee, Jr., was born on June 7, 1801. He married (1) Jane
“Jinny” Adams, daughter of John Adams, Sr. The marriage bond was signed
on December 29, 1821. She was born on November3, 1806, and died on
January 10, 1876. Later James married (2) Sally Haggard on June 16,
1878. The marriage record notes that he was 77 years old, and this was
his second marriage. Sally was 58, and this was her third marriage.
James died on July 10, 1884, and is buried in the Bybee cemetery on
Bybee Road, along with his first wife.
7. Lewis Bybee married Hannah Lampton, daughter of Obed Lampton, the
bond being posted on January 8, 1822. James Baber signed the surety.
Lewis died before his father, and left one child, Lewis Bybee, Jr.
8. Milly Bybee was born about 1806. She married (1) Joseph Mourning
Oliver on November 19, 1828. Thomas Bybee signed the surety. After the
death of Joseph in 1833, Milly married (2) Jesse McChristy, the bond
being posted on February 2, 1837. Milly and Joseph are ancestors of this
writer.
9. Polly Bybee died before her father, who died in 1837.
10. Alfred Bybee was born in 1810. He married Orah Railsback on July 6,
1837. Edward Railsback signed the surety. Alfred served in the Black
Hawk War, and for that received a grant of land in Cass County,
Missouri. This is where they eventually settled.
* * *
This is to thank Don Bybee of Denver, Colorado; Mrs. Lloyd Brown of
Hallsville, Missouri; Pat Sengstock of Wheaton, Illinois; Norbert Bybee
of Land of Lakes, Wisconsin; and others for sharing their research of
the Bybee family. Much useful information is in The Bibee Family, by
Gary Lloyd of Staten Island, N.Y.
Compiled by James G. Faulconer, 5200 Oakbrooke Drive, Kettering, OH
45440. (JFaulconer@aol.com) March 4, 2000.
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