Archibald Dunlap Research Log

I’d like to find and document Archibald Dunlap’s parents and children. I’ll begin with what I know. Then gather what facts or information is available to me from internet resources. Hopefully, I will be able to add to the Dunlap family history. As with any research project, I’m uncertain what twists and turns I’ll encounter along my way.

3^rd Great Grandmother Margaret Dunlap married Grandfather Jacob Spitler June 14, 1824, in Augusta County, Virginia. I learned more of my Dunlap ancestry when Mrs. Katherine Bushman, a professional researcher, sent me a pedigree chart noting Archibald Dunlap was Margaret’s father.

  

Great Grandmother Margaret (Dunlap) Spitler’s death was registered in “The Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912” database online at Familysearch.org documenting her parents­­--Archibald and Betsey Dunlap.

Name: Margaret Spitler

Gender: Female

Death Date: 29 Oct 1858

Death Place: Augusta, Virginia

Age: 38

Birth Date: 1820

Birthplace: Augusta Co., Va.

Race: White

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Jacob Spitler

Father's Name: Archibald Dunlap

Mother's Name: Betsy Dunlap

Citing this Record

"Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5RK-BJX : accessed 29 February 2016), Margaret Spitler, 29 Oct 1858; citing Augusta, Virginia, reference LN 1529; FHL microfilm 30,416.

A problem cropped up when I noticed Margaret’s age and birth date (38 years and birth date 1820). Her first child was born in 1825 entirely ruling out an 1820 birth. The 1850 federal census noted Gram’s age to be ’45 years’ dating her birth to 1805. Depending on who talked with the census enumerator, it’s hard to say if she was really 45 years old at that date.

A tombstone photograph dedicated to Grandmother states she was 59 years old when she passed in 1858 indicating an 1799/1800 birth date. I’m betting the gravestone is the most reliable.

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 February 2019), memorial page for Margaret Dunlap Spitler (1799–28 Oct 1858), Find A Grave Memorial no. 38713360, citing Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery, Swoope, Augusta County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by BKL (contributor 47026697) . Photo contributed by Marlin Diehl.

I turned to the “Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912” to find Great Grandmother Margaret’s siblings:

Nancy Dunlap born 1795 in Augusta County, VA and passed Oct. 29, 1879.

Name: Nancy Dunlap

Gender: Female

Burial Date:

Burial Place:         

Death Date:  29 Oct 1879

Death Place: Augusta Co., Virginia

Age: 84

Birth Date: 1795

Birthplace: Augusta Co.

Occupation: Housekeeper

Race: White

Marital Status: Single

Spouse's Name:   

Father's Name: Arch. Dunlap

Father's Birthplace:        

Mother's Name: Elizth. Dunlap

Mother's Birthplace:       

Citing this Record:

"Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5T5-4Y3 : 12 December 2014), Arch. Dunlap in entry for Nancy Dunlap, 29 Oct 1879; citing Augusta Co., Virginia, reference it 1 ln 17; FHL microfilm 2,056,974.

Robert Dunlap, born 1798 died at Valley Mills in Augusta County April 13, 1882.

Name: Robert Dunlap

Gender: Male

Burial Date:

Burial Place:         

Death Date:  13 Apr 1882

Death Place: Valley Mills, Augusta, Virginia

Age: 84

Birth Date: 1798

Birthplace:  

Occupation:

Race: White

Marital Status: Unknown

Spouse's Name:   

Father's Name: Arch. Dunlap

Father's Birthplace:        

Mother's Name: Elizbth. Dunlap

Mother's Birthplace:       

Citing this Record:

"Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5T5-8D7 : 12 December 2014), Arch. Dunlap in entry for Robert Dunlap, 13 Apr 1882; citing Valley Mills, Augusta, Virginia, reference it 1 ln 23; FHL microfilm 2,056,974.

James M. Dunlap, born in Augusta Co. 1801 and died July 4, 1879.

Name: Jas. M. Dunlap

Gender: Male

Burial Date:

Burial Place:         

Death Date:  04 Jul 1879

Death Place: Augusta Co., Virginia

Age: 78

Birth Date: 1801

Birthplace: Augusta Co.

Occupation: Farmer

Race: White

Marital Status: Single

Spouse's Name:   

Father's Name: Arch. Dunlap

Father's Birthplace:        

Mother's Name: Elizth. Dunlap

Mother's Birthplace:       

Citing this Record:

"Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5T5-4YW : 12 December 2014), Arch. Dunlap in entry for Jas. M. Dunlap, 04 Jul 1879; citing Augusta Co., Virginia, reference it 1 ln 18; FHL microfilm 2,056,974.

Archibald and Betsey’s daughter, Elizabeth (Dunlap) Palmer died March 8, 1856, with a birth date of 1806.

Name: Elizabeth Polmer

Gender: Female

Burial Date:

Burial Place:         

Death Date:  08 Mar 1856

Death Place: Valley Mills, Augusta, Virginia

Age: 50

Birth Date: 1806

Birthplace: Augusta Co.

Occupation:

Race: White

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Philip O. Polmer

Father's Name: Archibald Dunlap

Father's Birthplace:        

Mother's Name: Betsy Dunlap

Mother's Birthplace:       

Citing this Record:

"Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5RK-52N : 12 December 2014), Archibald Dunlap in entry for Elizabeth Polmer, 08 Mar 1856; citing Valley Mills, Augusta, Virginia, reference ln 1090; FHL microfilm 30,416.

FindAGrave.com has information for an Archibald Dunlap, Jr. The FAG contributor states Archibald Jr. was a child of Archibald and Elizabeth “Betsy” Baird Dunlap born in 1800 and died before 1850. Archibald Jr. married Margaret Minick August 31, 1830, and this marriage was confirmed in Familysearch’s Virginia Marriages database. 

Name: Archibald Dunlap

Birth Date:  

Birthplace:  

Age:  

Spouse's Name: Margaret Minick

Spouse's Birth Date:      

Spouse's Birthplace:      

Spouse's Age:      

Event Date:  31 Aug 1830

Event Place: Augusta, Virginia

Father's Name:     

Mother's Name:    

Spouse's Father's Name:

Spouse's Mother's Name:         

Race:

Marital Status:      

Previous Wife's Name:   

Spouse's Race:    

Spouse's Marital Status:

Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:

Citing this Record:

"Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR7Q-NZW : 5 December 2014), Archibald Dunlap and Margaret Minick, 31 Aug 1830; citing Augusta, Virginia, reference; FHL microfilm 30,415.

An ancestry.com search provided another sibling, William Dunlap born about 1815 and died May 1862.

          Name: Wm Dunlap

          Birth Date: abt 1815

          Birth Place: Augusta County

          Death Date: May 1862

          Death Place: Near Buffalo Gap, Augusta, Virginia

          Death Age: 47

          Race: White

          Marital Status: Married

          Gender: Male

          Father Name: Archabald Dunlap

          Mother Name: Elizabeth Dunlap

          Spouse Name: Julia Dunlap

          FHL Film

          Number: 30416

Citing this Record:

Ancestry.com. Virginia, Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: "Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853–1912." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

Although Ancestry obtained the death from the Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912 index entries from FamilySearch, I couldn’t find William Dunlap’s information online. However, Margaret C. Reese, author of ‘Abstract of Augusta County, Virginia Death Registers 1853-1896’ confirms he died in May 1862, age 47.

I’m making progress with the family. Archibald and Elizabeth Dunlap are parents to six documented children. Nancy, the oldest child, was born 1795 and the youngest William about 1815. Perhaps Archibald and Elizabeth married in the early 1790’s before raising their family in Virginia. The younger Archibald Dunlap Jr. mentioned on FindAGrave could very well belong with the family, but further proof needs to be found.