Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post 3

Recently I blogged about “The Kerr and Dunlap Families” published in Jed Hotchkiss and Joseph A. Waddell’s Historical Atlas of Augusta County, Virginia. The author didn’t indicate how he obtained the information leaving me to wonder about its accuracy. Documenting the article became my next research job.

I’ve limited myself to the Dunlap family and refer you to blog post “Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post 2” for a partial transcription of the sketch.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

John Dunlap and his wife Nancy whose maiden name was Colvin, resided in Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters, . . . Two of the sons settled in Tennessee and Kentucky. Three of them, John, Archibald and Robert settled on the head waters of Middle River, in Riverheads township, Augusta County, Virginia.

My Findings:

There was an Archibald, Robert and John born to John Dunlap and Isabel Colvin in Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland. The government web site Scotlands People provided documentation for eight Dunlop children.

Old Parish Records Births, Campbeltown:

1756    

John Dunlop & Isobell Colvin had a Ch. bapt. Margaret January 25^th

1758

John Dunlop & Isobell Colvin had a Ch. bapt. John June 25^th

1760

John Dunlop and Isobell Colvill had a son born 18^th and baptized 20^th Aug^t named James

1762

John Dunlop and Isobel Colvin had Daughter born 17 Dec Baptised 18 name Jenat

1765

John Dunlop & Isabel Colvin had a son born the 3^rd & baptised the 7^th of March called Robert

1767

John Dunlop and Isobell Colvill had Daughter born ye 6^th & bapt ye 8^th Feb^ry named Elizabeth

1769

John Dunlop & Isobel Colvin had a daughter born the 13^th & baptised the 14^th March called Agnes

1771

John Dunlop and Isobell Colvill had a son born 12^th and baptized 16^th May named Archibald

I noted two minor discrepancies from the published article. According to the National Records of Scotland, four sons and four daughters were born in Scotland. The number of children and sons and daughters is different and a question about Great Grandmother’s given name--Nancy or Isabell. Augusta County’s Atlas wasn’t published until 1885 many years after the actual events. It’s easy to understand how memories of events fade.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

John lived with Robert, and died unmarried, aged eighty.

My Findings:

This could be true. John Dunlap’s last will and testament written April 1835 bequeathed his real and personal estate to his brother Robert’s son, William Dunlap. This included a plantation located between his brother’s and Mathew Willson’s lands. It’s difficult to say John lived in his brother’s home but at least nearby. James Trimble, John Kerr and Samuel Kerr served as subscribing witnesses. In June 1839, James Trimble and John Kerr presented the will to the Augusta County Court to be recorded in the County books.

Excerpt from

John Dunlap’s Will

Augusta Co., VA Will Book 22, page 386

Using Scotland’s People’s baptism date 1758 and an approximate death date of 1839 in Augusta County, John Dunlap was about 81 years old when he died. Not exactly as written in the history but close enough.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

. . . Robert Dunlap, who was born 1765 in Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland

My Findings:

Robert’s birth and baptism in March 1765 confirmed as stated above.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

The children of Robert and Margaret were: Elizabeth who married Levi L. Stevenson, of Staunton, Virginia; Isabella, who married Robert Sterrett, of Rockbridge County, Virginia; John, who married Isabella North, of Staunton, Virginia and Isabella Blain, of eastern Virginia; he removed to Atchison County, Missouri; Nancy, who married James A. G. Youell, of Rockbridge County, Virginia; Bailey, born in 1800, who married Sallie Baylor, daughter of George Baylor; settled at Mount Pleasant, near Spring Hill, on Middle river, on a farm once owned by Moffatt; Jane, married David Kerr, of Summerdean, Virginia, grandson of Robert and Elizabeth Kerr; Robert died at the age of twenty-three, unmarried; Madison married Martha McKee, of Rockbridge County, and settled on Kerr’s creek in said county; William, the youngest, married Mary J. Crawford, daughter of Robert Crawford; his second wife was Mrs. Amanda Blair, daughter of Dr. John McChensney.

My Findings:

The Kerr and Dunlap Families sketch reveals an amazingly thorough list of Robert and Margaret Kerr’s children. Robert Dunlap’s probate proceedings beginning April 1847 verify most of his children named above.

Conclusion:

Although I haven’t been able to prove every statement, investigating “The Kerr and Dunlap Families” was beneficial helping to build a backdrop of the extended family. Next time I’ll focus on my ancestor Archibald Dunlap.