Varney's wife's name may have been Amy Gee or possibly Lucy Green or possibly Amy Thweatt.
Amey Gee's son Jones Andrews was probably named after Amey's brother and Jones Andrews' uncle, Jones Gee.
Varney Andrews, a Revoluntionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va. She named one of her sons Allen Thweatt Andrews.
At the close of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, VA, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
James Ray Andrews:
It is a tradition in the family in Virginia that (2) Varney Andrews married a member of the highly respected Thweatt family of Dinwiddie County, Virginia. This may never be established firmly for the reason that most of the official county records of Dinwiddie County were destroyed prior to 1900 by a fire. In February 1960, (6) Mrs. Ruby S. Montgomery, a direct descendent of (2) Varney Andrews, now living in South Hill, Virginia, in Mecklenburg County, wrote:
"We have no verification that a Varney Andrews, Sr., married a Thweatt from Dinwiddie County, however, older cousins from the Gilberta A. Warren family recall hearing that all their lives. Also, the name Thweatt has been carried down through the Andrews family to the third and fourth generation. Unfortunately no one that I contacted can locate a family bible or pictures."
Documentation for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804.
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
ANDREWS BIBLE
Name of publisher and date are missing. Bible now in possession of Mrs. Myrtie (Andrews) Williams, Tompkinsville, (Monroe Co), KY. Copied 1965 by Eva C. Peden, Glasgow, KY. Published in Kentucky Ancestors, Vol. 2, No.3, Jan.1967.
Given on another page in the Bible:
Varney Andrews was born July 25th 1760
Amey the wife of Varney Andrews was born December 8th 1765
Elizabeth was born June 24th, 1783
William was born October 23, 1783
Anderson was born July 20th 1787 (?)
Nancy was born June 13th 1787 (?)
Patsy was born October 27th 1789
Jones was born November 9th 1791
Varney was born 1795
Nevil G. was born February 1 1795
Dolly L. was born December 5, 1797
John was born July 20th 1801
Benjamin was born March 21st 1803
Allen & Lucas was born January 19th 1806
Katerine was born February 15th 1809
APPARENTLY NOT FROM BIBLE:
Varney Andrews: Marriage 1 Amy THWEATT b: 8 DEC 1765 in Dinwiddie, Virginia -
Children
Allen Thweatt (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806 in Plantation Home, Mecklenburg, VA
Lucas (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806
Marriage 2 Lucy GREEN b: 8 DEC 1765
Children
Elizabeth ANDREWS b: 24 SEP 1782
William "Willie" ANDREWS b: 23 OCT 1784
Anderson ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1785
Nancy ANDREWS b: 13 JUN 1787
Patsy "Martha" ANDREWS b: 27 OCT 1789
Jones ANDREWS b: 9 NOV 1791
Varney ANDREWS b: 7 OCT 1794 in Mecklenburg , Va
Nevil G. ANDREWS b: 2 1 1793-1795
Dolley L. ANDREWS b: 5 DEC 1797
John ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1801
Benjamin ANDREWS b: 21 MAR 1803
Katherine G. ANDREWS b: FEB 1809
Frances Clark [of South Hill, Mecklenburg County, Virginia]:
I’ve never proven that Varney married anybody but a Thweatte and this is proven through the DAR and the Colonial Dames. We have looked for years for her first name. I’ve never found that he was married to a Green. You’ve got to remember that there was more than one Varney and you’ve got to watch your dates real carefully. Back in those days you named your first son after the father’s father and the second son after the wife’s father.
Janice McAlpine:
I believe Varney Andrews was married to Amey Gee, the daughter of Neavil (Nevil/Nevill) Gee. Amey Andrews was mentioned in Neavil's will.
Neavil Gee had a son Jones. Both Nevil and Jones are names in the children of Amey and Varney Andrews.
Although many on-line posts/genealogies say that Amey Gee married Drury Andrews, Drury was actually married to Amey's sister Elizabeth, who died in December of 1788. As far as I can tell, they had one child, Elizabeth, who was mentioned in Neavil's will.
NEAVIL GEE's PARENTS
Charles Gee (Birth 1696 Sussex, Sussex, Virginia; Death 4 JAN 1768 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Bridget Neville (Birth 1692 Isle of Wight, Virginia; Death 10 SEP 1748 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Neavil (Birth 1729 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia; Death 30 JUNE 1804 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia) in 1755 in Lunenburg County, married Catherine Lucas (Birth 1745 Lunenburg Co., Virginia; Death MARCH 1782 Lunenburg County, Virginia)
NEAVIL GEE
WILL
19 JUNE 1804
COUNTY OF LUNENBURG, VIRGINIA
Will Book 6 pp. 87A-89
I, Neavil Gee of the County of Lunenburg, and State of Virginia, do make my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following viz.
1st. I lend to my daughter Nanny Bowers Two Negroes Fan and Med, and their increase and the other property, she has in her possession that belongs to me, during her life, and at the death of my daughter Nanny Bowers the above Negroes Fan and Med, with their increase and the other property as above, I lend to my daughter Nannys daughter Patsey Jefferson during the said Patsey Jeffersons life, and at the death of the said Patsey Jefferson my desire is that the whole of the above property, with their increase be equally divided between the heirs of Patsey Jeffersons body.
2nd. I Give and bequeath to my son Jesse Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession or has had since he lived in Kentucky, and one hundred dollars to him and his heirs forever.
3rd. I give and bequeath unto my son JONES Gee, all the property of mine he has in his possession, and one hundred acres of land that I purchased of David Vandyck, lying on Bookers road, to him and his heirs forever.
4th. I lend to my daughter AMEY ANDREWS all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided between the heirs of her body.
5th. I lend to my daughter in law Catharine Gee the Negroes of mine she has in her possession and other personal Estate, to her during her life or widowhood, and the land she now lives on, I lend to her during her life or widowhood also, and at the death or marriage of the said Catharine Gee, my Will and desire is that the above Negroes and other personal property with their increase, be equally divided between Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth and Dolly & Nancy, and also my will and desire is at the death or marriage of Catharine Gee the above mentioned land to be for the use of Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley and Nancy while they live single, and continue on it, if either of the four daughters should marry, shall have no claim in the said land, and at the death marriage or removal of the four daughters Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley & Nancy, my desire is that the said Land should go to my son George Gee, his heirs and assigns forever.
6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Lucas Gee the tract of land he now lives on and all the other property he has in his possession and two tracts of land, one I bought of Curtis Hardy (lying on Bookers road) and the other of John Bailey, its the land that lies on Haggards path, where Benjamin Winn once lived, and one Negroe named Ned, to him and his heirs forever.
7th. I give and bequeath unto my son George Gee two negroes named George and Velate, which he has in his possession, to him and his heirs forever.
8th. I give and bequeath to my son NEAVIL Gee the tract of Land whereon he now lives, and three Negroes named, Silvy, Old Farn, and Maria, to him and his heirs forever. Also the plantation utensils, of every kind, that he has in his possession.
9th. I Give and bequeath to my son James Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession, or has had, since he lived in Kentucky, to him & his heirs forever.
10th. I Give and bequeath to my son Reuben Gee the tract of Land I now live on, three negroes named Toby (an old man) Cows and Hogs, ten head of sheep, out of the home stock, two Beds, and their furniture coopers tools, all the kitchen furniture, one half of the Fodder & Corn, and all the plantation utensils of every kind, to him and his heirs forever, provided my son Reuben or any other person should raise any account against my estate or me on the account of the Negroes, that my son Reuben has had in his possession; working on my plantation, my desire is that the amount of the be taken out of his Legacy.
11th. I Lend to my Grand daughter ELIZABETH Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews, one negroe named Barbary, one Bed & furniture and one Side Saddle to her during her life and at her death to go (with the increase of said Negroe to the heirs of her body if she has any that's lawfully begotten, and if none my desire that the Negroe, Barberry with her increase Bed and furniture, and Saddle, be equally divided between five of my children, Jones, Amey, Lucas, Neavil and Reuben.
12th. My will and desire is after my just debts be paid, the rest of my property that I have not Willed away be equally divided, divided among my six children, Jones, Amey, George, Lucas, Neavil & Reuben. And Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint, my sons Jones Gee and Lucas Gee, to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament, and my desire is there be no appraisement, nor Inventory of my Estate.
In Witness Whereof I Neavil Gee, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th days of June, one Thousand Eight hundred & four, Signed Sealed, acknowledged & delivered by the said Neavil Gee as his last Will & Testament in presence of
his
Neavil X Gee (Seal)
mark
James Hazlewood
Alexander Andrews
C. Smith
At a Court held for Lunenburg County the 12th day of June 1804
The within written last Will and Testament of Neavil Gee dec'd. was exhibited in Court by Lucas Gee, one of the Executors, therein named and the same was proved, by the
oaths of three of the Witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be Recorded. And on the motion of the said Lucas
Gee, who having made oath according law, Certificate is granted him for obtaining probate of the said Will in due
form. Whereupon he gave Bond with approved Security according to law. Reserving liberty to the other Executors
named in the said Will to Join in Probate thereof when he
shall think fit.
Teste: William Taylor, CLC
Recorded: Will Book 6, pages 87A-89
A Copy Teste:
(Signed) W. R. Moore, Clerk
Circuit Court of Lunenburg County, Virginia
(Signed) by Grace T. Marshall, Deputy Clerk
(Imprint of notary seal)
__________________
Amey Gee (probably Gee and less likely Thweatt) b. 12-8-1765 of Dinwiddie Co d/o Neavil Gee as per Neavil Gee's will in Lunenburg Co VA(7-12-1804)
Varney Andrews' wife has been recorded on some webpages as Amy Thweatt. No records that prove Amy's surname have been found although the given name Amy can be proven from Bible records. In fact, records do not indicate that the Thweatt and Andrews families were close neighbors, nor did they seem to have many dealings together. However, the Gee and Andrews families owned adjoining land in Lunenburg Co, appeared in each other's records, and are known to have intermarried. We believe the name Thweatt is probably an incorrect assumption based only on the fact that the name Thweatt was used in the name of one of their sons. Drury Andrews' wife is listed on many webpages and family groupsheets as Amy Gee, daughter of Neavil Gee, based on Neavil Gee's will that named a daughter Amy Andrews and a granddaughter Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews. Drury Andrews did have a daughter named Elizabeth Andrews. But nowhere in the will did it say that Amy (Gee) Andrews was the wife of Drury Andrews or the mother of Drury's daughter Elizabeth Andrews. Associating Amy (Gee) Andrews as the wife of Drury Andrews was an easy conclusion to draw - but it seems to have been incorrect.
We believe it's very likely that Amy Gee was in fact the wife of Varney Andrews, not Drury Andrews. Although Drury Andrews had certainly married a daughter of Neavil Gee, we don't think that daughter was Amy but another unknown daughter who probably died before Neavil Gee wrote his will. The [bible] records are from two different transcripts of Bible records which included the family of Varney Andrews and wife Amy. We do not have a copy of the original records, so we don't know which is correct. But for these purposes, we're not too concerned with the accuracy of the dates. It's the names which are of more interest.
REGINALD L VASSAR:
Sun, 9 Jan 2000
Varney Andrews, a Revolutionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va.
She named one of her son Allen Thweatt Andrews, so that indicates her maiden name might be Thweatt. She lived in Mecklenburg Co., VA.
I have the will of Daniel Thweatt dated May 1773, probate March 1775 in Lunenburg Co., VA , Will Book 2, pg 413 in which he names a sister ANNY? (the name is not clear). This Daniel Thweatt is the son of Edward Thwaett who left a will dated April 1777, probated March 1782 in Lunenburg Co., VA (Will Book 3, pg 155).
I wonder if Daniel Thweatt's sister ANNY might not be Varney Andrews' wife. The dates and location such that it is possible.
Branches of the Thweatt Family
Most of the Thweatt families left the parent state of Virginia. Several Thweatts are now living in Virginia and some within a few miles of the original landing of James Thweat in the 17th century.
It is remarkable that, within a 125 year period, the original group had spread over the counties of Charles City, Halifax, Chesterfield, Greenville, Dinwiddie, Henrico, Isle of Wight, Brunswick, Sussex, Prince George, Amelia, Lunenberg and Southhampton.
It is from these counties that the migration to other states started. The question arises, what caused so many Thweatt families to leave Virginia and seek greener fields? First, it was worn out land. Second, large families and small inheritances. The third reason was, some of those who left did well; they wrote 'kin folks' who left and also wrote others, and so the exodus was on. The question is, when did the exodus begin and what were some of the conditions encountered and hardships suffered'?
At the dose of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, Vt, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
"From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for 'Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
" From "Virginia Gazette." Emil L. Jordon, in his book "Americans," has the following to say: "On carts and wagons, on horseback and on foot thousands and thousands of men and women moved on steadily, incessantly. They had left the exhausted soil of Maryland and Virginia to find new homes and fertile grounds on the alluvial lands of the Gulf states," The approach to the Cumberland settlement was through the wilderness of Kentucky. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacted a law providing for a force of 300 men to protect these settlements; their duties also included cutting roads.
In the book, "These Names of Ours" by A. W. Dellquest, reference is made to the meaning of the names Thwaite, Thwaites, Thwaytes: "The old English word Thwaite meant a forest clearing, an area cleared of wood. Thwaite is derived from the old English Thweaton (to cut). The Norsemen called their forest clearings twaites and, after clearing a thwaite, they built a thorpe (settlement)."
THE THWEATT CONNECTION
By Claihorne T. Smith, Jr.
from The Southside Virginian, Vol. IX:3 P.103
The Prince George County Virginia Deed and Will Book, 1710-1713, that was recently returned to the county gives the will of Mary Thweatt, 1712. She mentiones sons: James, Henry and John; daughters, Elisabeth Archer, Mary and Judith; and grandsons, James Thweatt, James Sturidvant, Edward Thweatt, Miles Thweatt, William (no surname), James Parram (Parham) and Mathew Parram. There were small legacies in the will to James Hall, son of Isaac Hall, Instant Hall and John Spain, Jr. These relationships to the testator are unknown to this writer, but John Spam, Jr. was appointed sole executor of Mary Thweatt's will.
The Mary Thweatt in guestion is the widow of James Thweatt (I) and the new information provided by her will requires a correction of certain assumptions made in the Thweart article by this writer published in The Southside Virginian in Volume 7 Number I, pp 19-34, (see especially p 27). James was obviously onlv married once and died between 1707, when he made a deposition at age 64 (see pp 19, 2(1), and the death of his widow, Mary It was his son, James (II) (as many Thweatt researchers have always maintained), who married in 1701, Judirh Soane, as a second marriage. The Thweatt grandsons in the will are likely all sons of James (II) who was born prior to 1666. His brothers Henry and John did not have families by 1713. The name of a daughter Archer would seem to strengthen the argument in the Thweatt article (Vol 7 No 1) that there was a special relationship, between Geeorge Archer (II) and James Thweatt, both father and son. James Sturdivant, mentioned as a grandson in Mary's will, was the son of Daniel Sturdivant (see SSV Vol 5 No 3 pp 129).
Will of Mary Thweatt, 1712
Transcribed by Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis
This will has been transcribed from the original in the manner ir was originally written.
In The name of God Amen I Mary Thweatt of Prince George County doe make & Declare This My last well & Testament in Manner 6t forme following, That is to Say: first I bequeath My Soul into The Hands of Almighty God believing remission of sinns & everlasting life by The meritts Death & Passion of Jesus Christ my lord & Only Savior.
Item: I give Unto My GrandSon James Thweatt a Young Cow Bigg with Calfe hee giveing The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings I alsoe give to my Grandson James Thweatt one Young ewe bigg with Lamb
Item: I give to my Grandson James Sturdivant one Heiffer bigg with Calfe. I alsoe give The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings to James Hall Son to Isaac Hall
Item: I give to my Grandson Edwd Thweet one Red Cow Calfe
Item: I give to My Son James one four foot Chest & all ye Mony & Money worth hee is Indebted to mee hee paying James Williams what I am Indebted I alsoe give mv Son James one Sandy Sow & one Grisled Sow & one black barrow
Item: I give to my Sonns James & Henry what mony I have due to mee in England Equally to bee Devided Between Them
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one black Cow bigg with Calfe, I alsoe give The first Calfe That Cow brings to mv Grandson William I also give to Mv Daughter Elisabeth one Iron pott that will hold About one Galldn, one feather bedd & all ye furniture Thereunto belonging
Item: I give to My Daughter Archer my new Virg Cloath Gound & Coate
Item: 1 give to my GrandSon James Parram one Bear coulerd Sow
Item: I give to my Grandson Miles Thweet one Sow of ye same couler
Item: I give to my Son James Thweet all The meat 1 have killed in The House
Item: I give to my Son Henry one Sow That uses with his Hoggs, & all ye rest of My Hoggs to be divided Between my sons John & Henry
Item: I give my Son Henry one Iron pott conty abt four Gallons, Three Iron Hooks, one pr Tongs one sive. One Case Bottles, Sixty Gallons Cider, & The Cask hee paying The Cooper for ye Cask one pr pott Hookes, one powder Barrele full of Cotten
Item: I give to my Son John a pr. Shillyards Ninety Gallons Cyder and all The Money hee is Indebted, hee paying John Kemp five Shillings in Money, I alsoe give him my part of ye great Brass Kettlee.
Item: I give to my Daughter Judith one Still, I alsoe give to My Daughter Judith, Such parr of My wareing Lineing as My Daughter Elisabeth Sheall Think fitt
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one Case with The viols belonging to it & all The rest of My Bottles, one Bell, Mettled Morter gr Pestlee one warming pann Two Pewter Basons one pewter Dish, one Doz spoones & two Plates
Item: I give to My Grandson Mathew Parram one Gold ring with Stone in it
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth Two Deal boxes full of Cotton one Small box of Cotton Pickt
Item: I give to My Son Henry one Couch
Item: I give to My Daughter Mary one Pewter Dish Two Flares, one Smoothing Iron & one Deal box with lock & key
Item: I give all The remaining part of My Corne to James Thweatt hee paying Two barrells to John Thweatt & two barrells to Henry Thweatt. gr Two Barrells to John Spaine Junr & one bush Wheat to Inst Hall
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth all The remaining part of mv Estate. I alsoe order & Ordaine Jno Spain Junr Executor of This mv last Will gr Testament
In Witness Whereof I...hereto sett my hand & Seale this 4th day of Jany 1712
Signed Seald & Deliverd
in Presence & Sight of her
Jno Kemp
her
Mary M.Thweet(S)
mark
Tho X Sands
her
Elisa S Sands
marke
________
Sue Gill wrote:
I thought that Varney's wife's name was Amey Gee. I had this in my notes:
Documention for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
Is this some other Amey Andrews? Varney and Amey did name a son Nevel G. Andrews. Do you have documentation for her maiden name being Thweat? If I have this incorrect, I would appreicate getting it right. Thanks.
Sue
Amey Gee's son Jones Andrews was probably named after Amey's brother and Jones Andrews' uncle, Jones Gee.
Varney Andrews, a Revoluntionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va. She named one of her sons Allen Thweatt Andrews.
At the close of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, VA, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
James Ray Andrews:
It is a tradition in the family in Virginia that (2) Varney Andrews married a member of the highly respected Thweatt family of Dinwiddie County, Virginia. This may never be established firmly for the reason that most of the official county records of Dinwiddie County were destroyed prior to 1900 by a fire. In February 1960, (6) Mrs. Ruby S. Montgomery, a direct descendent of (2) Varney Andrews, now living in South Hill, Virginia, in Mecklenburg County, wrote:
"We have no verification that a Varney Andrews, Sr., married a Thweatt from Dinwiddie County, however, older cousins from the Gilberta A. Warren family recall hearing that all their lives. Also, the name Thweatt has been carried down through the Andrews family to the third and fourth generation. Unfortunately no one that I contacted can locate a family bible or pictures."
Documentation for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804.
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
ANDREWS BIBLE
Name of publisher and date are missing. Bible now in possession of Mrs. Myrtie (Andrews) Williams, Tompkinsville, (Monroe Co), KY. Copied 1965 by Eva C. Peden, Glasgow, KY. Published in Kentucky Ancestors, Vol. 2, No.3, Jan.1967.
Given on another page in the Bible:
Varney Andrews was born July 25th 1760
Amey the wife of Varney Andrews was born December 8th 1765
Elizabeth was born June 24th, 1783
William was born October 23, 1783
Anderson was born July 20th 1787 (?)
Nancy was born June 13th 1787 (?)
Patsy was born October 27th 1789
Jones was born November 9th 1791
Varney was born 1795
Nevil G. was born February 1 1795
Dolly L. was born December 5, 1797
John was born July 20th 1801
Benjamin was born March 21st 1803
Allen & Lucas was born January 19th 1806
Katerine was born February 15th 1809
APPARENTLY NOT FROM BIBLE:
Varney Andrews: Marriage 1 Amy THWEATT b: 8 DEC 1765 in Dinwiddie, Virginia -
Children
Allen Thweatt (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806 in Plantation Home, Mecklenburg, VA
Lucas (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806
Marriage 2 Lucy GREEN b: 8 DEC 1765
Children
Elizabeth ANDREWS b: 24 SEP 1782
William "Willie" ANDREWS b: 23 OCT 1784
Anderson ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1785
Nancy ANDREWS b: 13 JUN 1787
Patsy "Martha" ANDREWS b: 27 OCT 1789
Jones ANDREWS b: 9 NOV 1791
Varney ANDREWS b: 7 OCT 1794 in Mecklenburg , Va
Nevil G. ANDREWS b: 2 1 1793-1795
Dolley L. ANDREWS b: 5 DEC 1797
John ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1801
Benjamin ANDREWS b: 21 MAR 1803
Katherine G. ANDREWS b: FEB 1809
Frances Clark [of South Hill, Mecklenburg County, Virginia]:
I’ve never proven that Varney married anybody but a Thweatte and this is proven through the DAR and the Colonial Dames. We have looked for years for her first name. I’ve never found that he was married to a Green. You’ve got to remember that there was more than one Varney and you’ve got to watch your dates real carefully. Back in those days you named your first son after the father’s father and the second son after the wife’s father.
Janice McAlpine:
I believe Varney Andrews was married to Amey Gee, the daughter of Neavil (Nevil/Nevill) Gee. Amey Andrews was mentioned in Neavil's will.
Neavil Gee had a son Jones. Both Nevil and Jones are names in the children of Amey and Varney Andrews.
Although many on-line posts/genealogies say that Amey Gee married Drury Andrews, Drury was actually married to Amey's sister Elizabeth, who died in December of 1788. As far as I can tell, they had one child, Elizabeth, who was mentioned in Neavil's will.
NEAVIL GEE's PARENTS
Charles Gee (Birth 1696 Sussex, Sussex, Virginia; Death 4 JAN 1768 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Bridget Neville (Birth 1692 Isle of Wight, Virginia; Death 10 SEP 1748 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Neavil (Birth 1729 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia; Death 30 JUNE 1804 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia) in 1755 in Lunenburg County, married Catherine Lucas (Birth 1745 Lunenburg Co., Virginia; Death MARCH 1782 Lunenburg County, Virginia)
NEAVIL GEE
WILL
19 JUNE 1804
COUNTY OF LUNENBURG, VIRGINIA
Will Book 6 pp. 87A-89
I, Neavil Gee of the County of Lunenburg, and State of Virginia, do make my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following viz.
1st. I lend to my daughter Nanny Bowers Two Negroes Fan and Med, and their increase and the other property, she has in her possession that belongs to me, during her life, and at the death of my daughter Nanny Bowers the above Negroes Fan and Med, with their increase and the other property as above, I lend to my daughter Nannys daughter Patsey Jefferson during the said Patsey Jeffersons life, and at the death of the said Patsey Jefferson my desire is that the whole of the above property, with their increase be equally divided between the heirs of Patsey Jeffersons body.
2nd. I Give and bequeath to my son Jesse Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession or has had since he lived in Kentucky, and one hundred dollars to him and his heirs forever.
3rd. I give and bequeath unto my son JONES Gee, all the property of mine he has in his possession, and one hundred acres of land that I purchased of David Vandyck, lying on Bookers road, to him and his heirs forever.
4th. I lend to my daughter AMEY ANDREWS all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided between the heirs of her body.
5th. I lend to my daughter in law Catharine Gee the Negroes of mine she has in her possession and other personal Estate, to her during her life or widowhood, and the land she now lives on, I lend to her during her life or widowhood also, and at the death or marriage of the said Catharine Gee, my Will and desire is that the above Negroes and other personal property with their increase, be equally divided between Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth and Dolly & Nancy, and also my will and desire is at the death or marriage of Catharine Gee the above mentioned land to be for the use of Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley and Nancy while they live single, and continue on it, if either of the four daughters should marry, shall have no claim in the said land, and at the death marriage or removal of the four daughters Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley & Nancy, my desire is that the said Land should go to my son George Gee, his heirs and assigns forever.
6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Lucas Gee the tract of land he now lives on and all the other property he has in his possession and two tracts of land, one I bought of Curtis Hardy (lying on Bookers road) and the other of John Bailey, its the land that lies on Haggards path, where Benjamin Winn once lived, and one Negroe named Ned, to him and his heirs forever.
7th. I give and bequeath unto my son George Gee two negroes named George and Velate, which he has in his possession, to him and his heirs forever.
8th. I give and bequeath to my son NEAVIL Gee the tract of Land whereon he now lives, and three Negroes named, Silvy, Old Farn, and Maria, to him and his heirs forever. Also the plantation utensils, of every kind, that he has in his possession.
9th. I Give and bequeath to my son James Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession, or has had, since he lived in Kentucky, to him & his heirs forever.
10th. I Give and bequeath to my son Reuben Gee the tract of Land I now live on, three negroes named Toby (an old man) Cows and Hogs, ten head of sheep, out of the home stock, two Beds, and their furniture coopers tools, all the kitchen furniture, one half of the Fodder & Corn, and all the plantation utensils of every kind, to him and his heirs forever, provided my son Reuben or any other person should raise any account against my estate or me on the account of the Negroes, that my son Reuben has had in his possession; working on my plantation, my desire is that the amount of the be taken out of his Legacy.
11th. I Lend to my Grand daughter ELIZABETH Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews, one negroe named Barbary, one Bed & furniture and one Side Saddle to her during her life and at her death to go (with the increase of said Negroe to the heirs of her body if she has any that's lawfully begotten, and if none my desire that the Negroe, Barberry with her increase Bed and furniture, and Saddle, be equally divided between five of my children, Jones, Amey, Lucas, Neavil and Reuben.
12th. My will and desire is after my just debts be paid, the rest of my property that I have not Willed away be equally divided, divided among my six children, Jones, Amey, George, Lucas, Neavil & Reuben. And Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint, my sons Jones Gee and Lucas Gee, to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament, and my desire is there be no appraisement, nor Inventory of my Estate.
In Witness Whereof I Neavil Gee, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th days of June, one Thousand Eight hundred & four, Signed Sealed, acknowledged & delivered by the said Neavil Gee as his last Will & Testament in presence of
his
Neavil X Gee (Seal)
mark
James Hazlewood
Alexander Andrews
C. Smith
At a Court held for Lunenburg County the 12th day of June 1804
The within written last Will and Testament of Neavil Gee dec'd. was exhibited in Court by Lucas Gee, one of the Executors, therein named and the same was proved, by the
oaths of three of the Witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be Recorded. And on the motion of the said Lucas
Gee, who having made oath according law, Certificate is granted him for obtaining probate of the said Will in due
form. Whereupon he gave Bond with approved Security according to law. Reserving liberty to the other Executors
named in the said Will to Join in Probate thereof when he
shall think fit.
Teste: William Taylor, CLC
Recorded: Will Book 6, pages 87A-89
A Copy Teste:
(Signed) W. R. Moore, Clerk
Circuit Court of Lunenburg County, Virginia
(Signed) by Grace T. Marshall, Deputy Clerk
(Imprint of notary seal)
__________________
Amey Gee (probably Gee and less likely Thweatt) b. 12-8-1765 of Dinwiddie Co d/o Neavil Gee as per Neavil Gee's will in Lunenburg Co VA(7-12-1804)
Varney Andrews' wife has been recorded on some webpages as Amy Thweatt. No records that prove Amy's surname have been found although the given name Amy can be proven from Bible records. In fact, records do not indicate that the Thweatt and Andrews families were close neighbors, nor did they seem to have many dealings together. However, the Gee and Andrews families owned adjoining land in Lunenburg Co, appeared in each other's records, and are known to have intermarried. We believe the name Thweatt is probably an incorrect assumption based only on the fact that the name Thweatt was used in the name of one of their sons. Drury Andrews' wife is listed on many webpages and family groupsheets as Amy Gee, daughter of Neavil Gee, based on Neavil Gee's will that named a daughter Amy Andrews and a granddaughter Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews. Drury Andrews did have a daughter named Elizabeth Andrews. But nowhere in the will did it say that Amy (Gee) Andrews was the wife of Drury Andrews or the mother of Drury's daughter Elizabeth Andrews. Associating Amy (Gee) Andrews as the wife of Drury Andrews was an easy conclusion to draw - but it seems to have been incorrect.
We believe it's very likely that Amy Gee was in fact the wife of Varney Andrews, not Drury Andrews. Although Drury Andrews had certainly married a daughter of Neavil Gee, we don't think that daughter was Amy but another unknown daughter who probably died before Neavil Gee wrote his will. The [bible] records are from two different transcripts of Bible records which included the family of Varney Andrews and wife Amy. We do not have a copy of the original records, so we don't know which is correct. But for these purposes, we're not too concerned with the accuracy of the dates. It's the names which are of more interest.
REGINALD L VASSAR:
Sun, 9 Jan 2000
Varney Andrews, a Revolutionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va.
She named one of her son Allen Thweatt Andrews, so that indicates her maiden name might be Thweatt. She lived in Mecklenburg Co., VA.
I have the will of Daniel Thweatt dated May 1773, probate March 1775 in Lunenburg Co., VA , Will Book 2, pg 413 in which he names a sister ANNY? (the name is not clear). This Daniel Thweatt is the son of Edward Thwaett who left a will dated April 1777, probated March 1782 in Lunenburg Co., VA (Will Book 3, pg 155).
I wonder if Daniel Thweatt's sister ANNY might not be Varney Andrews' wife. The dates and location such that it is possible.
Branches of the Thweatt Family
Most of the Thweatt families left the parent state of Virginia. Several Thweatts are now living in Virginia and some within a few miles of the original landing of James Thweat in the 17th century.
It is remarkable that, within a 125 year period, the original group had spread over the counties of Charles City, Halifax, Chesterfield, Greenville, Dinwiddie, Henrico, Isle of Wight, Brunswick, Sussex, Prince George, Amelia, Lunenberg and Southhampton.
It is from these counties that the migration to other states started. The question arises, what caused so many Thweatt families to leave Virginia and seek greener fields? First, it was worn out land. Second, large families and small inheritances. The third reason was, some of those who left did well; they wrote 'kin folks' who left and also wrote others, and so the exodus was on. The question is, when did the exodus begin and what were some of the conditions encountered and hardships suffered'?
At the dose of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, Vt, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
"From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for 'Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
" From "Virginia Gazette." Emil L. Jordon, in his book "Americans," has the following to say: "On carts and wagons, on horseback and on foot thousands and thousands of men and women moved on steadily, incessantly. They had left the exhausted soil of Maryland and Virginia to find new homes and fertile grounds on the alluvial lands of the Gulf states," The approach to the Cumberland settlement was through the wilderness of Kentucky. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacted a law providing for a force of 300 men to protect these settlements; their duties also included cutting roads.
In the book, "These Names of Ours" by A. W. Dellquest, reference is made to the meaning of the names Thwaite, Thwaites, Thwaytes: "The old English word Thwaite meant a forest clearing, an area cleared of wood. Thwaite is derived from the old English Thweaton (to cut). The Norsemen called their forest clearings twaites and, after clearing a thwaite, they built a thorpe (settlement)."
THE THWEATT CONNECTION
By Claihorne T. Smith, Jr.
from The Southside Virginian, Vol. IX:3 P.103
The Prince George County Virginia Deed and Will Book, 1710-1713, that was recently returned to the county gives the will of Mary Thweatt, 1712. She mentiones sons: James, Henry and John; daughters, Elisabeth Archer, Mary and Judith; and grandsons, James Thweatt, James Sturidvant, Edward Thweatt, Miles Thweatt, William (no surname), James Parram (Parham) and Mathew Parram. There were small legacies in the will to James Hall, son of Isaac Hall, Instant Hall and John Spain, Jr. These relationships to the testator are unknown to this writer, but John Spam, Jr. was appointed sole executor of Mary Thweatt's will.
The Mary Thweatt in guestion is the widow of James Thweatt (I) and the new information provided by her will requires a correction of certain assumptions made in the Thweart article by this writer published in The Southside Virginian in Volume 7 Number I, pp 19-34, (see especially p 27). James was obviously onlv married once and died between 1707, when he made a deposition at age 64 (see pp 19, 2(1), and the death of his widow, Mary It was his son, James (II) (as many Thweatt researchers have always maintained), who married in 1701, Judirh Soane, as a second marriage. The Thweatt grandsons in the will are likely all sons of James (II) who was born prior to 1666. His brothers Henry and John did not have families by 1713. The name of a daughter Archer would seem to strengthen the argument in the Thweatt article (Vol 7 No 1) that there was a special relationship, between Geeorge Archer (II) and James Thweatt, both father and son. James Sturdivant, mentioned as a grandson in Mary's will, was the son of Daniel Sturdivant (see SSV Vol 5 No 3 pp 129).
Will of Mary Thweatt, 1712
Transcribed by Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis
This will has been transcribed from the original in the manner ir was originally written.
In The name of God Amen I Mary Thweatt of Prince George County doe make & Declare This My last well & Testament in Manner 6t forme following, That is to Say: first I bequeath My Soul into The Hands of Almighty God believing remission of sinns & everlasting life by The meritts Death & Passion of Jesus Christ my lord & Only Savior.
Item: I give Unto My GrandSon James Thweatt a Young Cow Bigg with Calfe hee giveing The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings I alsoe give to my Grandson James Thweatt one Young ewe bigg with Lamb
Item: I give to my Grandson James Sturdivant one Heiffer bigg with Calfe. I alsoe give The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings to James Hall Son to Isaac Hall
Item: I give to my Grandson Edwd Thweet one Red Cow Calfe
Item: I give to My Son James one four foot Chest & all ye Mony & Money worth hee is Indebted to mee hee paying James Williams what I am Indebted I alsoe give mv Son James one Sandy Sow & one Grisled Sow & one black barrow
Item: I give to my Sonns James & Henry what mony I have due to mee in England Equally to bee Devided Between Them
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one black Cow bigg with Calfe, I alsoe give The first Calfe That Cow brings to mv Grandson William I also give to Mv Daughter Elisabeth one Iron pott that will hold About one Galldn, one feather bedd & all ye furniture Thereunto belonging
Item: I give to My Daughter Archer my new Virg Cloath Gound & Coate
Item: 1 give to my GrandSon James Parram one Bear coulerd Sow
Item: I give to my Grandson Miles Thweet one Sow of ye same couler
Item: I give to my Son James Thweet all The meat 1 have killed in The House
Item: I give to my Son Henry one Sow That uses with his Hoggs, & all ye rest of My Hoggs to be divided Between my sons John & Henry
Item: I give my Son Henry one Iron pott conty abt four Gallons, Three Iron Hooks, one pr Tongs one sive. One Case Bottles, Sixty Gallons Cider, & The Cask hee paying The Cooper for ye Cask one pr pott Hookes, one powder Barrele full of Cotten
Item: I give to my Son John a pr. Shillyards Ninety Gallons Cyder and all The Money hee is Indebted, hee paying John Kemp five Shillings in Money, I alsoe give him my part of ye great Brass Kettlee.
Item: I give to my Daughter Judith one Still, I alsoe give to My Daughter Judith, Such parr of My wareing Lineing as My Daughter Elisabeth Sheall Think fitt
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one Case with The viols belonging to it & all The rest of My Bottles, one Bell, Mettled Morter gr Pestlee one warming pann Two Pewter Basons one pewter Dish, one Doz spoones & two Plates
Item: I give to My Grandson Mathew Parram one Gold ring with Stone in it
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth Two Deal boxes full of Cotton one Small box of Cotton Pickt
Item: I give to My Son Henry one Couch
Item: I give to My Daughter Mary one Pewter Dish Two Flares, one Smoothing Iron & one Deal box with lock & key
Item: I give all The remaining part of My Corne to James Thweatt hee paying Two barrells to John Thweatt & two barrells to Henry Thweatt. gr Two Barrells to John Spaine Junr & one bush Wheat to Inst Hall
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth all The remaining part of mv Estate. I alsoe order & Ordaine Jno Spain Junr Executor of This mv last Will gr Testament
In Witness Whereof I...hereto sett my hand & Seale this 4th day of Jany 1712
Signed Seald & Deliverd
in Presence & Sight of her
Jno Kemp
her
Mary M.Thweet(S)
mark
Tho X Sands
her
Elisa S Sands
marke
________
Sue Gill wrote:
I thought that Varney's wife's name was Amey Gee. I had this in my notes:
Documention for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
Is this some other Amey Andrews? Varney and Amey did name a son Nevel G. Andrews. Do you have documentation for her maiden name being Thweat? If I have this incorrect, I would appreicate getting it right. Thanks.
Sue
Varney's wife's name may have been Amy Gee or possibly Lucy Green or possibly Amy Thweatt.
Amey Gee's son Jones Andrews was probably named after Amey's brother and Jones Andrews' uncle, Jones Gee.
Varney Andrews, a Revoluntionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va. She named one of her sons Allen Thweatt Andrews.
At the close of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, VA, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
James Ray Andrews:
It is a tradition in the family in Virginia that (2) Varney Andrews married a member of the highly respected Thweatt family of Dinwiddie County, Virginia. This may never be established firmly for the reason that most of the official county records of Dinwiddie County were destroyed prior to 1900 by a fire. In February 1960, (6) Mrs. Ruby S. Montgomery, a direct descendent of (2) Varney Andrews, now living in South Hill, Virginia, in Mecklenburg County, wrote:
"We have no verification that a Varney Andrews, Sr., married a Thweatt from Dinwiddie County, however, older cousins from the Gilberta A. Warren family recall hearing that all their lives. Also, the name Thweatt has been carried down through the Andrews family to the third and fourth generation. Unfortunately no one that I contacted can locate a family bible or pictures."
Documentation for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804.
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
ANDREWS BIBLE
Name of publisher and date are missing. Bible now in possession of Mrs. Myrtie (Andrews) Williams, Tompkinsville, (Monroe Co), KY. Copied 1965 by Eva C. Peden, Glasgow, KY. Published in Kentucky Ancestors, Vol. 2, No.3, Jan.1967.
Given on another page in the Bible:
Varney Andrews was born July 25th 1760
Amey the wife of Varney Andrews was born December 8th 1765
Elizabeth was born June 24th, 1783
William was born October 23, 1783
Anderson was born July 20th 1787 (?)
Nancy was born June 13th 1787 (?)
Patsy was born October 27th 1789
Jones was born November 9th 1791
Varney was born 1795
Nevil G. was born February 1 1795
Dolly L. was born December 5, 1797
John was born July 20th 1801
Benjamin was born March 21st 1803
Allen & Lucas was born January 19th 1806
Katerine was born February 15th 1809
APPARENTLY NOT FROM BIBLE:
Varney Andrews: Marriage 1 Amy THWEATT b: 8 DEC 1765 in Dinwiddie, Virginia -
Children
Allen Thweatt (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806 in Plantation Home, Mecklenburg, VA
Lucas (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806
Marriage 2 Lucy GREEN b: 8 DEC 1765
Children
Elizabeth ANDREWS b: 24 SEP 1782
William "Willie" ANDREWS b: 23 OCT 1784
Anderson ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1785
Nancy ANDREWS b: 13 JUN 1787
Patsy "Martha" ANDREWS b: 27 OCT 1789
Jones ANDREWS b: 9 NOV 1791
Varney ANDREWS b: 7 OCT 1794 in Mecklenburg , Va
Nevil G. ANDREWS b: 2 1 1793-1795
Dolley L. ANDREWS b: 5 DEC 1797
John ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1801
Benjamin ANDREWS b: 21 MAR 1803
Katherine G. ANDREWS b: FEB 1809
Frances Clark [of South Hill, Mecklenburg County, Virginia]:
I’ve never proven that Varney married anybody but a Thweatte and this is proven through the DAR and the Colonial Dames. We have looked for years for her first name. I’ve never found that he was married to a Green. You’ve got to remember that there was more than one Varney and you’ve got to watch your dates real carefully. Back in those days you named your first son after the father’s father and the second son after the wife’s father.
Janice McAlpine:
I believe Varney Andrews was married to Amey Gee, the daughter of Neavil (Nevil/Nevill) Gee. Amey Andrews was mentioned in Neavil's will.
Neavil Gee had a son Jones. Both Nevil and Jones are names in the children of Amey and Varney Andrews.
Although many on-line posts/genealogies say that Amey Gee married Drury Andrews, Drury was actually married to Amey's sister Elizabeth, who died in December of 1788. As far as I can tell, they had one child, Elizabeth, who was mentioned in Neavil's will.
NEAVIL GEE's PARENTS
Charles Gee (Birth 1696 Sussex, Sussex, Virginia; Death 4 JAN 1768 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Bridget Neville (Birth 1692 Isle of Wight, Virginia; Death 10 SEP 1748 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Neavil (Birth 1729 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia; Death 30 JUNE 1804 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia) in 1755 in Lunenburg County, married Catherine Lucas (Birth 1745 Lunenburg Co., Virginia; Death MARCH 1782 Lunenburg County, Virginia)
NEAVIL GEE
WILL
19 JUNE 1804
COUNTY OF LUNENBURG, VIRGINIA
Will Book 6 pp. 87A-89
I, Neavil Gee of the County of Lunenburg, and State of Virginia, do make my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following viz.
1st. I lend to my daughter Nanny Bowers Two Negroes Fan and Med, and their increase and the other property, she has in her possession that belongs to me, during her life, and at the death of my daughter Nanny Bowers the above Negroes Fan and Med, with their increase and the other property as above, I lend to my daughter Nannys daughter Patsey Jefferson during the said Patsey Jeffersons life, and at the death of the said Patsey Jefferson my desire is that the whole of the above property, with their increase be equally divided between the heirs of Patsey Jeffersons body.
2nd. I Give and bequeath to my son Jesse Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession or has had since he lived in Kentucky, and one hundred dollars to him and his heirs forever.
3rd. I give and bequeath unto my son JONES Gee, all the property of mine he has in his possession, and one hundred acres of land that I purchased of David Vandyck, lying on Bookers road, to him and his heirs forever.
4th. I lend to my daughter AMEY ANDREWS all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided between the heirs of her body.
5th. I lend to my daughter in law Catharine Gee the Negroes of mine she has in her possession and other personal Estate, to her during her life or widowhood, and the land she now lives on, I lend to her during her life or widowhood also, and at the death or marriage of the said Catharine Gee, my Will and desire is that the above Negroes and other personal property with their increase, be equally divided between Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth and Dolly & Nancy, and also my will and desire is at the death or marriage of Catharine Gee the above mentioned land to be for the use of Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley and Nancy while they live single, and continue on it, if either of the four daughters should marry, shall have no claim in the said land, and at the death marriage or removal of the four daughters Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley & Nancy, my desire is that the said Land should go to my son George Gee, his heirs and assigns forever.
6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Lucas Gee the tract of land he now lives on and all the other property he has in his possession and two tracts of land, one I bought of Curtis Hardy (lying on Bookers road) and the other of John Bailey, its the land that lies on Haggards path, where Benjamin Winn once lived, and one Negroe named Ned, to him and his heirs forever.
7th. I give and bequeath unto my son George Gee two negroes named George and Velate, which he has in his possession, to him and his heirs forever.
8th. I give and bequeath to my son NEAVIL Gee the tract of Land whereon he now lives, and three Negroes named, Silvy, Old Farn, and Maria, to him and his heirs forever. Also the plantation utensils, of every kind, that he has in his possession.
9th. I Give and bequeath to my son James Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession, or has had, since he lived in Kentucky, to him & his heirs forever.
10th. I Give and bequeath to my son Reuben Gee the tract of Land I now live on, three negroes named Toby (an old man) Cows and Hogs, ten head of sheep, out of the home stock, two Beds, and their furniture coopers tools, all the kitchen furniture, one half of the Fodder & Corn, and all the plantation utensils of every kind, to him and his heirs forever, provided my son Reuben or any other person should raise any account against my estate or me on the account of the Negroes, that my son Reuben has had in his possession; working on my plantation, my desire is that the amount of the be taken out of his Legacy.
11th. I Lend to my Grand daughter ELIZABETH Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews, one negroe named Barbary, one Bed & furniture and one Side Saddle to her during her life and at her death to go (with the increase of said Negroe to the heirs of her body if she has any that's lawfully begotten, and if none my desire that the Negroe, Barberry with her increase Bed and furniture, and Saddle, be equally divided between five of my children, Jones, Amey, Lucas, Neavil and Reuben.
12th. My will and desire is after my just debts be paid, the rest of my property that I have not Willed away be equally divided, divided among my six children, Jones, Amey, George, Lucas, Neavil & Reuben. And Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint, my sons Jones Gee and Lucas Gee, to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament, and my desire is there be no appraisement, nor Inventory of my Estate.
In Witness Whereof I Neavil Gee, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th days of June, one Thousand Eight hundred & four, Signed Sealed, acknowledged & delivered by the said Neavil Gee as his last Will & Testament in presence of
his
Neavil X Gee (Seal)
mark
James Hazlewood
Alexander Andrews
C. Smith
At a Court held for Lunenburg County the 12th day of June 1804
The within written last Will and Testament of Neavil Gee dec'd. was exhibited in Court by Lucas Gee, one of the Executors, therein named and the same was proved, by the
oaths of three of the Witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be Recorded. And on the motion of the said Lucas
Gee, who having made oath according law, Certificate is granted him for obtaining probate of the said Will in due
form. Whereupon he gave Bond with approved Security according to law. Reserving liberty to the other Executors
named in the said Will to Join in Probate thereof when he
shall think fit.
Teste: William Taylor, CLC
Recorded: Will Book 6, pages 87A-89
A Copy Teste:
(Signed) W. R. Moore, Clerk
Circuit Court of Lunenburg County, Virginia
(Signed) by Grace T. Marshall, Deputy Clerk
(Imprint of notary seal)
__________________
Amey Gee (probably Gee and less likely Thweatt) b. 12-8-1765 of Dinwiddie Co d/o Neavil Gee as per Neavil Gee's will in Lunenburg Co VA(7-12-1804)
Varney Andrews' wife has been recorded on some webpages as Amy Thweatt. No records that prove Amy's surname have been found although the given name Amy can be proven from Bible records. In fact, records do not indicate that the Thweatt and Andrews families were close neighbors, nor did they seem to have many dealings together. However, the Gee and Andrews families owned adjoining land in Lunenburg Co, appeared in each other's records, and are known to have intermarried. We believe the name Thweatt is probably an incorrect assumption based only on the fact that the name Thweatt was used in the name of one of their sons. Drury Andrews' wife is listed on many webpages and family groupsheets as Amy Gee, daughter of Neavil Gee, based on Neavil Gee's will that named a daughter Amy Andrews and a granddaughter Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews. Drury Andrews did have a daughter named Elizabeth Andrews. But nowhere in the will did it say that Amy (Gee) Andrews was the wife of Drury Andrews or the mother of Drury's daughter Elizabeth Andrews. Associating Amy (Gee) Andrews as the wife of Drury Andrews was an easy conclusion to draw - but it seems to have been incorrect.
We believe it's very likely that Amy Gee was in fact the wife of Varney Andrews, not Drury Andrews. Although Drury Andrews had certainly married a daughter of Neavil Gee, we don't think that daughter was Amy but another unknown daughter who probably died before Neavil Gee wrote his will. The [bible] records are from two different transcripts of Bible records which included the family of Varney Andrews and wife Amy. We do not have a copy of the original records, so we don't know which is correct. But for these purposes, we're not too concerned with the accuracy of the dates. It's the names which are of more interest.
REGINALD L VASSAR:
Sun, 9 Jan 2000
Varney Andrews, a Revolutionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va.
She named one of her son Allen Thweatt Andrews, so that indicates her maiden name might be Thweatt. She lived in Mecklenburg Co., VA.
I have the will of Daniel Thweatt dated May 1773, probate March 1775 in Lunenburg Co., VA , Will Book 2, pg 413 in which he names a sister ANNY? (the name is not clear). This Daniel Thweatt is the son of Edward Thwaett who left a will dated April 1777, probated March 1782 in Lunenburg Co., VA (Will Book 3, pg 155).
I wonder if Daniel Thweatt's sister ANNY might not be Varney Andrews' wife. The dates and location such that it is possible.
Branches of the Thweatt Family
Most of the Thweatt families left the parent state of Virginia. Several Thweatts are now living in Virginia and some within a few miles of the original landing of James Thweat in the 17th century.
It is remarkable that, within a 125 year period, the original group had spread over the counties of Charles City, Halifax, Chesterfield, Greenville, Dinwiddie, Henrico, Isle of Wight, Brunswick, Sussex, Prince George, Amelia, Lunenberg and Southhampton.
It is from these counties that the migration to other states started. The question arises, what caused so many Thweatt families to leave Virginia and seek greener fields? First, it was worn out land. Second, large families and small inheritances. The third reason was, some of those who left did well; they wrote 'kin folks' who left and also wrote others, and so the exodus was on. The question is, when did the exodus begin and what were some of the conditions encountered and hardships suffered'?
At the dose of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, Vt, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
"From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for 'Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
" From "Virginia Gazette." Emil L. Jordon, in his book "Americans," has the following to say: "On carts and wagons, on horseback and on foot thousands and thousands of men and women moved on steadily, incessantly. They had left the exhausted soil of Maryland and Virginia to find new homes and fertile grounds on the alluvial lands of the Gulf states," The approach to the Cumberland settlement was through the wilderness of Kentucky. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacted a law providing for a force of 300 men to protect these settlements; their duties also included cutting roads.
In the book, "These Names of Ours" by A. W. Dellquest, reference is made to the meaning of the names Thwaite, Thwaites, Thwaytes: "The old English word Thwaite meant a forest clearing, an area cleared of wood. Thwaite is derived from the old English Thweaton (to cut). The Norsemen called their forest clearings twaites and, after clearing a thwaite, they built a thorpe (settlement)."
THE THWEATT CONNECTION
By Claihorne T. Smith, Jr.
from The Southside Virginian, Vol. IX:3 P.103
The Prince George County Virginia Deed and Will Book, 1710-1713, that was recently returned to the county gives the will of Mary Thweatt, 1712. She mentiones sons: James, Henry and John; daughters, Elisabeth Archer, Mary and Judith; and grandsons, James Thweatt, James Sturidvant, Edward Thweatt, Miles Thweatt, William (no surname), James Parram (Parham) and Mathew Parram. There were small legacies in the will to James Hall, son of Isaac Hall, Instant Hall and John Spain, Jr. These relationships to the testator are unknown to this writer, but John Spam, Jr. was appointed sole executor of Mary Thweatt's will.
The Mary Thweatt in guestion is the widow of James Thweatt (I) and the new information provided by her will requires a correction of certain assumptions made in the Thweart article by this writer published in The Southside Virginian in Volume 7 Number I, pp 19-34, (see especially p 27). James was obviously onlv married once and died between 1707, when he made a deposition at age 64 (see pp 19, 2(1), and the death of his widow, Mary It was his son, James (II) (as many Thweatt researchers have always maintained), who married in 1701, Judirh Soane, as a second marriage. The Thweatt grandsons in the will are likely all sons of James (II) who was born prior to 1666. His brothers Henry and John did not have families by 1713. The name of a daughter Archer would seem to strengthen the argument in the Thweatt article (Vol 7 No 1) that there was a special relationship, between Geeorge Archer (II) and James Thweatt, both father and son. James Sturdivant, mentioned as a grandson in Mary's will, was the son of Daniel Sturdivant (see SSV Vol 5 No 3 pp 129).
Will of Mary Thweatt, 1712
Transcribed by Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis
This will has been transcribed from the original in the manner ir was originally written.
In The name of God Amen I Mary Thweatt of Prince George County doe make & Declare This My last well & Testament in Manner 6t forme following, That is to Say: first I bequeath My Soul into The Hands of Almighty God believing remission of sinns & everlasting life by The meritts Death & Passion of Jesus Christ my lord & Only Savior.
Item: I give Unto My GrandSon James Thweatt a Young Cow Bigg with Calfe hee giveing The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings I alsoe give to my Grandson James Thweatt one Young ewe bigg with Lamb
Item: I give to my Grandson James Sturdivant one Heiffer bigg with Calfe. I alsoe give The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings to James Hall Son to Isaac Hall
Item: I give to my Grandson Edwd Thweet one Red Cow Calfe
Item: I give to My Son James one four foot Chest & all ye Mony & Money worth hee is Indebted to mee hee paying James Williams what I am Indebted I alsoe give mv Son James one Sandy Sow & one Grisled Sow & one black barrow
Item: I give to my Sonns James & Henry what mony I have due to mee in England Equally to bee Devided Between Them
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one black Cow bigg with Calfe, I alsoe give The first Calfe That Cow brings to mv Grandson William I also give to Mv Daughter Elisabeth one Iron pott that will hold About one Galldn, one feather bedd & all ye furniture Thereunto belonging
Item: I give to My Daughter Archer my new Virg Cloath Gound & Coate
Item: 1 give to my GrandSon James Parram one Bear coulerd Sow
Item: I give to my Grandson Miles Thweet one Sow of ye same couler
Item: I give to my Son James Thweet all The meat 1 have killed in The House
Item: I give to my Son Henry one Sow That uses with his Hoggs, & all ye rest of My Hoggs to be divided Between my sons John & Henry
Item: I give my Son Henry one Iron pott conty abt four Gallons, Three Iron Hooks, one pr Tongs one sive. One Case Bottles, Sixty Gallons Cider, & The Cask hee paying The Cooper for ye Cask one pr pott Hookes, one powder Barrele full of Cotten
Item: I give to my Son John a pr. Shillyards Ninety Gallons Cyder and all The Money hee is Indebted, hee paying John Kemp five Shillings in Money, I alsoe give him my part of ye great Brass Kettlee.
Item: I give to my Daughter Judith one Still, I alsoe give to My Daughter Judith, Such parr of My wareing Lineing as My Daughter Elisabeth Sheall Think fitt
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one Case with The viols belonging to it & all The rest of My Bottles, one Bell, Mettled Morter gr Pestlee one warming pann Two Pewter Basons one pewter Dish, one Doz spoones & two Plates
Item: I give to My Grandson Mathew Parram one Gold ring with Stone in it
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth Two Deal boxes full of Cotton one Small box of Cotton Pickt
Item: I give to My Son Henry one Couch
Item: I give to My Daughter Mary one Pewter Dish Two Flares, one Smoothing Iron & one Deal box with lock & key
Item: I give all The remaining part of My Corne to James Thweatt hee paying Two barrells to John Thweatt & two barrells to Henry Thweatt. gr Two Barrells to John Spaine Junr & one bush Wheat to Inst Hall
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth all The remaining part of mv Estate. I alsoe order & Ordaine Jno Spain Junr Executor of This mv last Will gr Testament
In Witness Whereof I...hereto sett my hand & Seale this 4th day of Jany 1712
Signed Seald & Deliverd
in Presence & Sight of her
Jno Kemp
her
Mary M.Thweet(S)
mark
Tho X Sands
her
Elisa S Sands
marke
________
Sue Gill wrote:
I thought that Varney's wife's name was Amey Gee. I had this in my notes:
Documention for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
Is this some other Amey Andrews? Varney and Amey did name a son Nevel G. Andrews. Do you have documentation for her maiden name being Thweat? If I have this incorrect, I would appreicate getting it right. Thanks.
Sue
Amey Gee's son Jones Andrews was probably named after Amey's brother and Jones Andrews' uncle, Jones Gee.
Varney Andrews, a Revoluntionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va. She named one of her sons Allen Thweatt Andrews.
At the close of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, VA, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
James Ray Andrews:
It is a tradition in the family in Virginia that (2) Varney Andrews married a member of the highly respected Thweatt family of Dinwiddie County, Virginia. This may never be established firmly for the reason that most of the official county records of Dinwiddie County were destroyed prior to 1900 by a fire. In February 1960, (6) Mrs. Ruby S. Montgomery, a direct descendent of (2) Varney Andrews, now living in South Hill, Virginia, in Mecklenburg County, wrote:
"We have no verification that a Varney Andrews, Sr., married a Thweatt from Dinwiddie County, however, older cousins from the Gilberta A. Warren family recall hearing that all their lives. Also, the name Thweatt has been carried down through the Andrews family to the third and fourth generation. Unfortunately no one that I contacted can locate a family bible or pictures."
Documentation for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804.
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
ANDREWS BIBLE
Name of publisher and date are missing. Bible now in possession of Mrs. Myrtie (Andrews) Williams, Tompkinsville, (Monroe Co), KY. Copied 1965 by Eva C. Peden, Glasgow, KY. Published in Kentucky Ancestors, Vol. 2, No.3, Jan.1967.
Given on another page in the Bible:
Varney Andrews was born July 25th 1760
Amey the wife of Varney Andrews was born December 8th 1765
Elizabeth was born June 24th, 1783
William was born October 23, 1783
Anderson was born July 20th 1787 (?)
Nancy was born June 13th 1787 (?)
Patsy was born October 27th 1789
Jones was born November 9th 1791
Varney was born 1795
Nevil G. was born February 1 1795
Dolly L. was born December 5, 1797
John was born July 20th 1801
Benjamin was born March 21st 1803
Allen & Lucas was born January 19th 1806
Katerine was born February 15th 1809
APPARENTLY NOT FROM BIBLE:
Varney Andrews: Marriage 1 Amy THWEATT b: 8 DEC 1765 in Dinwiddie, Virginia -
Children
Allen Thweatt (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806 in Plantation Home, Mecklenburg, VA
Lucas (twin) ANDREWS b: 19 JAN 1806
Marriage 2 Lucy GREEN b: 8 DEC 1765
Children
Elizabeth ANDREWS b: 24 SEP 1782
William "Willie" ANDREWS b: 23 OCT 1784
Anderson ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1785
Nancy ANDREWS b: 13 JUN 1787
Patsy "Martha" ANDREWS b: 27 OCT 1789
Jones ANDREWS b: 9 NOV 1791
Varney ANDREWS b: 7 OCT 1794 in Mecklenburg , Va
Nevil G. ANDREWS b: 2 1 1793-1795
Dolley L. ANDREWS b: 5 DEC 1797
John ANDREWS b: 20 JUL 1801
Benjamin ANDREWS b: 21 MAR 1803
Katherine G. ANDREWS b: FEB 1809
Frances Clark [of South Hill, Mecklenburg County, Virginia]:
I’ve never proven that Varney married anybody but a Thweatte and this is proven through the DAR and the Colonial Dames. We have looked for years for her first name. I’ve never found that he was married to a Green. You’ve got to remember that there was more than one Varney and you’ve got to watch your dates real carefully. Back in those days you named your first son after the father’s father and the second son after the wife’s father.
Janice McAlpine:
I believe Varney Andrews was married to Amey Gee, the daughter of Neavil (Nevil/Nevill) Gee. Amey Andrews was mentioned in Neavil's will.
Neavil Gee had a son Jones. Both Nevil and Jones are names in the children of Amey and Varney Andrews.
Although many on-line posts/genealogies say that Amey Gee married Drury Andrews, Drury was actually married to Amey's sister Elizabeth, who died in December of 1788. As far as I can tell, they had one child, Elizabeth, who was mentioned in Neavil's will.
NEAVIL GEE's PARENTS
Charles Gee (Birth 1696 Sussex, Sussex, Virginia; Death 4 JAN 1768 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Bridget Neville (Birth 1692 Isle of Wight, Virginia; Death 10 SEP 1748 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia)
Neavil (Birth 1729 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia; Death 30 JUNE 1804 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia) in 1755 in Lunenburg County, married Catherine Lucas (Birth 1745 Lunenburg Co., Virginia; Death MARCH 1782 Lunenburg County, Virginia)
NEAVIL GEE
WILL
19 JUNE 1804
COUNTY OF LUNENBURG, VIRGINIA
Will Book 6 pp. 87A-89
I, Neavil Gee of the County of Lunenburg, and State of Virginia, do make my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following viz.
1st. I lend to my daughter Nanny Bowers Two Negroes Fan and Med, and their increase and the other property, she has in her possession that belongs to me, during her life, and at the death of my daughter Nanny Bowers the above Negroes Fan and Med, with their increase and the other property as above, I lend to my daughter Nannys daughter Patsey Jefferson during the said Patsey Jeffersons life, and at the death of the said Patsey Jefferson my desire is that the whole of the above property, with their increase be equally divided between the heirs of Patsey Jeffersons body.
2nd. I Give and bequeath to my son Jesse Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession or has had since he lived in Kentucky, and one hundred dollars to him and his heirs forever.
3rd. I give and bequeath unto my son JONES Gee, all the property of mine he has in his possession, and one hundred acres of land that I purchased of David Vandyck, lying on Bookers road, to him and his heirs forever.
4th. I lend to my daughter AMEY ANDREWS all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided between the heirs of her body.
5th. I lend to my daughter in law Catharine Gee the Negroes of mine she has in her possession and other personal Estate, to her during her life or widowhood, and the land she now lives on, I lend to her during her life or widowhood also, and at the death or marriage of the said Catharine Gee, my Will and desire is that the above Negroes and other personal property with their increase, be equally divided between Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth and Dolly & Nancy, and also my will and desire is at the death or marriage of Catharine Gee the above mentioned land to be for the use of Catharine Gees four daughters, Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley and Nancy while they live single, and continue on it, if either of the four daughters should marry, shall have no claim in the said land, and at the death marriage or removal of the four daughters Letty, Elizabeth, Dolley & Nancy, my desire is that the said Land should go to my son George Gee, his heirs and assigns forever.
6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Lucas Gee the tract of land he now lives on and all the other property he has in his possession and two tracts of land, one I bought of Curtis Hardy (lying on Bookers road) and the other of John Bailey, its the land that lies on Haggards path, where Benjamin Winn once lived, and one Negroe named Ned, to him and his heirs forever.
7th. I give and bequeath unto my son George Gee two negroes named George and Velate, which he has in his possession, to him and his heirs forever.
8th. I give and bequeath to my son NEAVIL Gee the tract of Land whereon he now lives, and three Negroes named, Silvy, Old Farn, and Maria, to him and his heirs forever. Also the plantation utensils, of every kind, that he has in his possession.
9th. I Give and bequeath to my son James Gee all the property of mine he has in his possession, or has had, since he lived in Kentucky, to him & his heirs forever.
10th. I Give and bequeath to my son Reuben Gee the tract of Land I now live on, three negroes named Toby (an old man) Cows and Hogs, ten head of sheep, out of the home stock, two Beds, and their furniture coopers tools, all the kitchen furniture, one half of the Fodder & Corn, and all the plantation utensils of every kind, to him and his heirs forever, provided my son Reuben or any other person should raise any account against my estate or me on the account of the Negroes, that my son Reuben has had in his possession; working on my plantation, my desire is that the amount of the be taken out of his Legacy.
11th. I Lend to my Grand daughter ELIZABETH Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews, one negroe named Barbary, one Bed & furniture and one Side Saddle to her during her life and at her death to go (with the increase of said Negroe to the heirs of her body if she has any that's lawfully begotten, and if none my desire that the Negroe, Barberry with her increase Bed and furniture, and Saddle, be equally divided between five of my children, Jones, Amey, Lucas, Neavil and Reuben.
12th. My will and desire is after my just debts be paid, the rest of my property that I have not Willed away be equally divided, divided among my six children, Jones, Amey, George, Lucas, Neavil & Reuben. And Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint, my sons Jones Gee and Lucas Gee, to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament, and my desire is there be no appraisement, nor Inventory of my Estate.
In Witness Whereof I Neavil Gee, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th days of June, one Thousand Eight hundred & four, Signed Sealed, acknowledged & delivered by the said Neavil Gee as his last Will & Testament in presence of
his
Neavil X Gee (Seal)
mark
James Hazlewood
Alexander Andrews
C. Smith
At a Court held for Lunenburg County the 12th day of June 1804
The within written last Will and Testament of Neavil Gee dec'd. was exhibited in Court by Lucas Gee, one of the Executors, therein named and the same was proved, by the
oaths of three of the Witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be Recorded. And on the motion of the said Lucas
Gee, who having made oath according law, Certificate is granted him for obtaining probate of the said Will in due
form. Whereupon he gave Bond with approved Security according to law. Reserving liberty to the other Executors
named in the said Will to Join in Probate thereof when he
shall think fit.
Teste: William Taylor, CLC
Recorded: Will Book 6, pages 87A-89
A Copy Teste:
(Signed) W. R. Moore, Clerk
Circuit Court of Lunenburg County, Virginia
(Signed) by Grace T. Marshall, Deputy Clerk
(Imprint of notary seal)
__________________
Amey Gee (probably Gee and less likely Thweatt) b. 12-8-1765 of Dinwiddie Co d/o Neavil Gee as per Neavil Gee's will in Lunenburg Co VA(7-12-1804)
Varney Andrews' wife has been recorded on some webpages as Amy Thweatt. No records that prove Amy's surname have been found although the given name Amy can be proven from Bible records. In fact, records do not indicate that the Thweatt and Andrews families were close neighbors, nor did they seem to have many dealings together. However, the Gee and Andrews families owned adjoining land in Lunenburg Co, appeared in each other's records, and are known to have intermarried. We believe the name Thweatt is probably an incorrect assumption based only on the fact that the name Thweatt was used in the name of one of their sons. Drury Andrews' wife is listed on many webpages and family groupsheets as Amy Gee, daughter of Neavil Gee, based on Neavil Gee's will that named a daughter Amy Andrews and a granddaughter Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Drury Andrews. Drury Andrews did have a daughter named Elizabeth Andrews. But nowhere in the will did it say that Amy (Gee) Andrews was the wife of Drury Andrews or the mother of Drury's daughter Elizabeth Andrews. Associating Amy (Gee) Andrews as the wife of Drury Andrews was an easy conclusion to draw - but it seems to have been incorrect.
We believe it's very likely that Amy Gee was in fact the wife of Varney Andrews, not Drury Andrews. Although Drury Andrews had certainly married a daughter of Neavil Gee, we don't think that daughter was Amy but another unknown daughter who probably died before Neavil Gee wrote his will. The [bible] records are from two different transcripts of Bible records which included the family of Varney Andrews and wife Amy. We do not have a copy of the original records, so we don't know which is correct. But for these purposes, we're not too concerned with the accuracy of the dates. It's the names which are of more interest.
REGINALD L VASSAR:
Sun, 9 Jan 2000
Varney Andrews, a Revolutionary War Soldier, married Amey Thweatt. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., Va. A page from an Andrews family Bible has the birth date of Amey Thweatt the wife of Varney Andrews as 8 Dec 1765. It looks as if she was born in Dinwiddie Co., Va.
She named one of her son Allen Thweatt Andrews, so that indicates her maiden name might be Thweatt. She lived in Mecklenburg Co., VA.
I have the will of Daniel Thweatt dated May 1773, probate March 1775 in Lunenburg Co., VA , Will Book 2, pg 413 in which he names a sister ANNY? (the name is not clear). This Daniel Thweatt is the son of Edward Thwaett who left a will dated April 1777, probated March 1782 in Lunenburg Co., VA (Will Book 3, pg 155).
I wonder if Daniel Thweatt's sister ANNY might not be Varney Andrews' wife. The dates and location such that it is possible.
Branches of the Thweatt Family
Most of the Thweatt families left the parent state of Virginia. Several Thweatts are now living in Virginia and some within a few miles of the original landing of James Thweat in the 17th century.
It is remarkable that, within a 125 year period, the original group had spread over the counties of Charles City, Halifax, Chesterfield, Greenville, Dinwiddie, Henrico, Isle of Wight, Brunswick, Sussex, Prince George, Amelia, Lunenberg and Southhampton.
It is from these counties that the migration to other states started. The question arises, what caused so many Thweatt families to leave Virginia and seek greener fields? First, it was worn out land. Second, large families and small inheritances. The third reason was, some of those who left did well; they wrote 'kin folks' who left and also wrote others, and so the exodus was on. The question is, when did the exodus begin and what were some of the conditions encountered and hardships suffered'?
At the dose of the Revolution in 1782, there were, in Dinwiddie County, Vt, 14 Thweatts who were paying personal property; 1814, only two; 1815, the two had left for Tennessee. In round numbers, we can say the main Exodus was during the twenty year period following the Revolution.
"From Virginia to Tennessee settlers bound for 'Middle Tennessee took the old route through Cumberland Gap and Kentucky, or waited at Southwest Point (Kingston) for a guard to accompany them over the wagon road across the Cumberland plateau to Nashville.
" From "Virginia Gazette." Emil L. Jordon, in his book "Americans," has the following to say: "On carts and wagons, on horseback and on foot thousands and thousands of men and women moved on steadily, incessantly. They had left the exhausted soil of Maryland and Virginia to find new homes and fertile grounds on the alluvial lands of the Gulf states," The approach to the Cumberland settlement was through the wilderness of Kentucky. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacted a law providing for a force of 300 men to protect these settlements; their duties also included cutting roads.
In the book, "These Names of Ours" by A. W. Dellquest, reference is made to the meaning of the names Thwaite, Thwaites, Thwaytes: "The old English word Thwaite meant a forest clearing, an area cleared of wood. Thwaite is derived from the old English Thweaton (to cut). The Norsemen called their forest clearings twaites and, after clearing a thwaite, they built a thorpe (settlement)."
THE THWEATT CONNECTION
By Claihorne T. Smith, Jr.
from The Southside Virginian, Vol. IX:3 P.103
The Prince George County Virginia Deed and Will Book, 1710-1713, that was recently returned to the county gives the will of Mary Thweatt, 1712. She mentiones sons: James, Henry and John; daughters, Elisabeth Archer, Mary and Judith; and grandsons, James Thweatt, James Sturidvant, Edward Thweatt, Miles Thweatt, William (no surname), James Parram (Parham) and Mathew Parram. There were small legacies in the will to James Hall, son of Isaac Hall, Instant Hall and John Spain, Jr. These relationships to the testator are unknown to this writer, but John Spam, Jr. was appointed sole executor of Mary Thweatt's will.
The Mary Thweatt in guestion is the widow of James Thweatt (I) and the new information provided by her will requires a correction of certain assumptions made in the Thweart article by this writer published in The Southside Virginian in Volume 7 Number I, pp 19-34, (see especially p 27). James was obviously onlv married once and died between 1707, when he made a deposition at age 64 (see pp 19, 2(1), and the death of his widow, Mary It was his son, James (II) (as many Thweatt researchers have always maintained), who married in 1701, Judirh Soane, as a second marriage. The Thweatt grandsons in the will are likely all sons of James (II) who was born prior to 1666. His brothers Henry and John did not have families by 1713. The name of a daughter Archer would seem to strengthen the argument in the Thweatt article (Vol 7 No 1) that there was a special relationship, between Geeorge Archer (II) and James Thweatt, both father and son. James Sturdivant, mentioned as a grandson in Mary's will, was the son of Daniel Sturdivant (see SSV Vol 5 No 3 pp 129).
Will of Mary Thweatt, 1712
Transcribed by Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis
This will has been transcribed from the original in the manner ir was originally written.
In The name of God Amen I Mary Thweatt of Prince George County doe make & Declare This My last well & Testament in Manner 6t forme following, That is to Say: first I bequeath My Soul into The Hands of Almighty God believing remission of sinns & everlasting life by The meritts Death & Passion of Jesus Christ my lord & Only Savior.
Item: I give Unto My GrandSon James Thweatt a Young Cow Bigg with Calfe hee giveing The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings I alsoe give to my Grandson James Thweatt one Young ewe bigg with Lamb
Item: I give to my Grandson James Sturdivant one Heiffer bigg with Calfe. I alsoe give The first Cow Calfe That Cow brings to James Hall Son to Isaac Hall
Item: I give to my Grandson Edwd Thweet one Red Cow Calfe
Item: I give to My Son James one four foot Chest & all ye Mony & Money worth hee is Indebted to mee hee paying James Williams what I am Indebted I alsoe give mv Son James one Sandy Sow & one Grisled Sow & one black barrow
Item: I give to my Sonns James & Henry what mony I have due to mee in England Equally to bee Devided Between Them
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one black Cow bigg with Calfe, I alsoe give The first Calfe That Cow brings to mv Grandson William I also give to Mv Daughter Elisabeth one Iron pott that will hold About one Galldn, one feather bedd & all ye furniture Thereunto belonging
Item: I give to My Daughter Archer my new Virg Cloath Gound & Coate
Item: 1 give to my GrandSon James Parram one Bear coulerd Sow
Item: I give to my Grandson Miles Thweet one Sow of ye same couler
Item: I give to my Son James Thweet all The meat 1 have killed in The House
Item: I give to my Son Henry one Sow That uses with his Hoggs, & all ye rest of My Hoggs to be divided Between my sons John & Henry
Item: I give my Son Henry one Iron pott conty abt four Gallons, Three Iron Hooks, one pr Tongs one sive. One Case Bottles, Sixty Gallons Cider, & The Cask hee paying The Cooper for ye Cask one pr pott Hookes, one powder Barrele full of Cotten
Item: I give to my Son John a pr. Shillyards Ninety Gallons Cyder and all The Money hee is Indebted, hee paying John Kemp five Shillings in Money, I alsoe give him my part of ye great Brass Kettlee.
Item: I give to my Daughter Judith one Still, I alsoe give to My Daughter Judith, Such parr of My wareing Lineing as My Daughter Elisabeth Sheall Think fitt
Item: I give to my Daughter Elisabeth one Case with The viols belonging to it & all The rest of My Bottles, one Bell, Mettled Morter gr Pestlee one warming pann Two Pewter Basons one pewter Dish, one Doz spoones & two Plates
Item: I give to My Grandson Mathew Parram one Gold ring with Stone in it
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth Two Deal boxes full of Cotton one Small box of Cotton Pickt
Item: I give to My Son Henry one Couch
Item: I give to My Daughter Mary one Pewter Dish Two Flares, one Smoothing Iron & one Deal box with lock & key
Item: I give all The remaining part of My Corne to James Thweatt hee paying Two barrells to John Thweatt & two barrells to Henry Thweatt. gr Two Barrells to John Spaine Junr & one bush Wheat to Inst Hall
Item: I give to My Daughter Elisabeth all The remaining part of mv Estate. I alsoe order & Ordaine Jno Spain Junr Executor of This mv last Will gr Testament
In Witness Whereof I...hereto sett my hand & Seale this 4th day of Jany 1712
Signed Seald & Deliverd
in Presence & Sight of her
Jno Kemp
her
Mary M.Thweet(S)
mark
Tho X Sands
her
Elisa S Sands
marke
________
Sue Gill wrote:
I thought that Varney's wife's name was Amey Gee. I had this in my notes:
Documention for Amey's maiden name comes from the will of Neavil Gee. Lunenburg Co., VA. Will Book 6, pp. 87A-89. June 19, 1804
4th. I lend to my daughter Amey Andrews all the property of mine she has in her possession during her life, and at her death to be equally divided, between the heirs of her body.
Is this some other Amey Andrews? Varney and Amey did name a son Nevel G. Andrews. Do you have documentation for her maiden name being Thweat? If I have this incorrect, I would appreicate getting it right. Thanks.
Sue
Family Members
Children
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William Alexander "Willie" Andrews
1773–1861
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Elizabeth "Betsy or Patsy" Andrews Gee
1782–1870
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Anderson Andrews
1785–1821
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Nancy Andrews Tanner
1787–1857
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Martha "Patsy" Andrews Bugg
1789–1870
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William G. Andrews
1790–1829
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Jones Andrews
1791–1843
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Nevil G. Andrews
1793–1829
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Varney M. Andrews Jr
1794–1879
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Dorothy Lucas "Dolly" Andrews Hailey
1797–1863
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John Andrews
1801–1839
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Benjamin George Andrews
1803–1840
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Allen Thweatt Andrews
1806–1868
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Lucas Andrews
1806 – unknown
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Katherine G. Andrews
1809 – unknown
