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THE SCHOOLERS
Submitted by James G. Faulconer
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.
* * *
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.
* * *
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.
* * *
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)
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