Samuel Denty Family

Born about 1809 in Fairfax County, Samuel was the third child and second son of Jonathan and Sibel Compton Denty. Like his brothers and sister, nothing has come to light of Samuel's early life except his marriage to the much older Nancy Bayliss[1] on 6 Nov 1830 at Trinity Methodist Church in Alexandria. The next mention did not occur for another decade, when husband and wife were listed in the 1840 Census with three young children and one unknown female age 15-20, residing next to brother James Compton Denty. In the 1850 Census "laborer" Samuel claimed real property valued at $300, probably the ten acres he'd purchased from Alexander and Eliza Harrover in 1847 upon which brother James C. Denty was said to reside.[2] Just several months later, however, Samuel purchased 234 acres on the south side of Accotinck Run from William McCarty for $3,750.50, making a substantial down payment of $1,200 in cash and taking out a trust deed for the remaining $2,550. On 1 Jan 1852, he purchased more acreage from McCarty, this time for $3,000, apparently in association with his brother James. Samuel was obviously - and increasingly - not without resources. Nor was he through. In 1856 he bought an additional 300 acres, also on Accotinck Run, for $6,000, once again mortgaged. By the 1860 Census, he was describing himself as a farmer with real and personal property worth a very comfortable $12,000 and $1,600. One history of Fort Belvoir claimed the size of his holdings totaled 700 acres, upon which he raised livestock and grew wheat and corn. He had come a long way from the laborer of 1850 who owned real estate worth only $300. But how?

This researcher is inclined to believe that, however much acreage both acquired after 1847 and on however many occasions they might have identified themselves as farmers, both Samuel and older brother James Compton Denty were heavily involved in harvesting and transporting timber to an ever-growing Alexandria and the District of Columbia. Not only was there reference to timber exploitation in James Compton Denty's will, along with his ownership of a long boat; but "boatman" Henry Gasden was enumerated in Samuel's household in the 1860 Census. In addition, Samuel's son Thomas Denty may have continued the transport of lumber to Alexandria in a longboat named the Mary E. Denty and son Silas owned a schooner, the William C. Clark, that was also known to carry wood. See Addenda. Of course, this is only conjecture, based upon fragmented clues, but it would conveniently explain both James and Samuel's ability to earn enough in their youth to purchase fairly extensive acreage in their middle age.

Samuel reportedly died before 1863, and he had certainly passed away by 3 Feb 1864, when son Elisha signed over all interest in the Samuel Denty estate to his brothers Thomas and Silas Denty.[3] This was followed by daughter Martha Denty Grimsley and her husband Elias signing over their rights on 1 Aug 1865.[4] These deeds would seemingly have settled the matter, but there may have been some continuing difficulties concerning his estate, for the final "division of the real estate of Samuel Denty, deceased" wasn't recorded until 1873.[5]

The location of Samuel's grave has not been discovered. If he was buried in Pohick Cemetery, as one would assume, the grave is unmarked and unrecorded. The widowed Nancy Bayliss Denty lived until 1881, residing in the household of her son Thomas. Depending on that disputed birth year, she could have been any age from eighty-one to ninety-one at death. She was buried at Pohick Church.

Martha A. Denty was Samuel and Nancy's only daughter. Born about 1836, she married Elias Grimsley in Washington, DC on 18 Aug 1857. As described, she and Elias relinquished all rights and interests in the estate of Samuel Denty, land upon which they were residing, in the deed dated 1 Aug 1866.[6] The terms of the deed required that they vacate the property by 1 Jan 1866, but they remained in the vicinity. In the 1870 Census Elias was still shown as a farmer residing in Lee Township near the Fairfax Courthouse Post Office, with real and personal property worth $300 and $100. In 1880 they resided in Mt. Vernon District, Elias being employed by a sawmill that year. And some of their children appear in the records of Pohick Church well into the twentieth century. Those children were Kittie, Rebecca C, (b. 25 Nov 1859, d. 7 Dec 1952), Albert, James, Mary E. (called "May"), Rosetta (b. 26 Mar 1869, d. 30 Jul 1961), Cathy, and James Mathew Grimsley (b. 11 Dec 1884, d. 7 Apr 1952).[7] Elias died on 12 Aug 1885; Martha's date of death remains undetermined.

Elisha Denty was Samuel and Nancy's youngest child, born about 1838. Like his older sister, in 1864 he signed away any interest in or claim to his father's estate to his two older brothers; and also like the Grimsleys, he'd been residing on the parcel. Where he might have moved after vacating the property isn't known. In fact, other than his illiteracy[8] and the fact that he'd married a woman named Josephine by 1864, little has been learned of Elisha or his fate. There was a death notice for Josephine Denty in the Alexandria Gazette on 17 Oct 1881, but whether that Josephine was in fact Elisha's wife has not been established. It's possible that Elisha and Josephine were the parents of the mysterious orphans Emma J. and Samuel L. Denty, who are examined in Chapter 26; but no evidence exists establishing such a connection, only geographic proximity, opportunity, and the name "Samuel".

According to Bernice Rison, Nancy Bayliss was born 1796, although tombstone in Pohick Cemetery is inscribed 1790. On the 1850 Census Nancy gave her age as 52, on the 1860 Census as 60, and on the 1870 Census as 74. Records of Pohick Church give her birth year as 1792. [Liddle, Families of Pohick Church, Truro Parish, Fairfax County, Virginia, p. 116]

Marriage: 6 Nov 1830. Bride: "Nancy Bailess". Ceremony performed by Isaac Robbins at Trinity Methodist. [Bernice Rison, 3x5 "Marriages in Alexandria, VA between 1801-1852"]

1840 CENSUS, Fairfax Co, VA: "Samuel Dainty" = 1 male under 5, 1 5-10, 1 30-40; 1 female under 5, 1 15-20, 1 40-50; 0 slaves. (Enumerated next to family of "James Dainty".) [Pg 166]

In 1843 Samuel was Admns for the Mildred Bayliss estate. [Bernice Rison/Orig: Court Record #22, Denty vs Beach]

1 Sep 1847: Purchased 10 acres, "part of the tract of land whereon James Denty now resides (formerly Joseph Simpson)" from Alexander and Eliza Harrover for $135. The parcel adjoined Ravensworth, John Devers, and Samuel's own property. (He may have sold it to James Grimsley on 28 Jul 1851.) [Book M3, p. 187]

1850 CENSUS, Fairfax Co, VA: Laborer Samuel Denty with real estate worth $300; wife Nancy; sons Thomas and Silas, both listed as laborers; son Elisha; daughter Martha. Nancy listed as "unable to read or write". [Pg 154]

26 Dec 1850: Samuel purchased parcel on Accotinck Run adjoining Mill Dam Tract and McCarty from William and Mary B. McCarty for $3,750.55. It consisted of 234 acres plus 30 ft wide strip on the south side of Accotinck Run to be used as outlet to the ford across Accotinck Run on the Accotinck-Colchester Road. He and wife Nancy apparently paid $1,200 cash, then secured a trust deed on loan for remaining $2,550 from James B. McCarty and George Mason. Payment in 3 installments: $850 payable 1 Jan 1852 with interest; 2) $850 payable 1 Jan 1853 with interest; 3) $850 due 1 Jan 1854 with interest. Trust deed was to George Mason and James B. McCarty for 234 acres plus 40/100 acre strip for outlet to creek. Wits: Thomas Nevitt, Thomas Denty, William R. Selleman. [Book Q3, p. 94; Book P3, p. 418] (Samuel's actual signature appears in the left margin, Book Q3, p. 94.)

28 Jul 1851: Samuel and Nancy sold 10 acres adjoining the Ravensworth corner to James Grimsley for $200. (Microfilm faint; acreage doubtful.) [Book R3, p. 174]

1 Jan 1852: Bought land adjoining "Samuel Denty's first purchase", bordering the road from Colchester to the Accotinck Mills, Samuel Garwood, Jonathan Roberts, and Accotinck Run, and the corner of Samuel's first purchase, from William M. and Mary McCarty for $3,000. Samuel and Nancy then apparently deeded both parcels bought from McCarty in trust to William H. and James B. McCarty to cover a debt of Samuel and James C. Denty to William M. McCarty in the amount of $3,000. The first parcel was described as lying on both sides of Accotinck Run below the Mill Dam and adjoining the Mill Dam Tract. Although James C. Denty was mentioned as one of the two debtors and was included in all obligations, only Samuel and wife Nancy signed deed, Nancy with her mark. Four payments of $750 due I Jan in 1853, 1854, 1855, and 1856. Wits: Hiram H. Foust, Benjamin Shivers, Alex Hamilton. [Book R3, p. 42, 44]

15 Nov 1854: Along with Nancy, James and Sophia, Wilson Denty, and John and Rebecca Williamson, Samuel sold 51 ¼ acres to William H. Williamson for $150. According to Court Minutes, this deed was dated 15 Nov 1855; recorded 17 Mar 1856. Land described as adjoining Pohick Road, William Hall, and Mercer’s patent. (Deed says 31 ¼ acres but should read 51 ¼ acres.) [Book X3, p. 195; Minute Book 1855-1858, p. 115]

25 Oct 1856: Purchased 300 acres from William T. and James B. McCarty for $6,000. Tract adjoined Accotinck Run, Garwood, the main road from Accotinck Mills to Colchester, Ousley, Mill Dam, and Samuel Denty’s own land. On 31 Oct 1856 mortgaged that tract plus 334 acres (Should that actually be 234 acres?) to D.W. Page McCarty for $6,000 to be paid in three installments of $2,000 each on 1 Jul 1858, 1 Mar 1860,, and 1 Nov 1861 with interest due semi-annually. [Book Z3, p. 139; Book Y3, p. 120; Minute Book 1858-1860, p. 192]

In 1856 land included in the "Whitemarsh Tract" was purchased by "Samuel and Mary Denty, who raised livestock, wheat, corn, and FIVE children on their 700 acre farm". "Belvoir in the Antebellum Period", Fort Belvoir Web Site]

17 Oct 1860 CENSUS, Fairfax Co, VA (SO & AR Road): Farmer Samuel Denty with real and personal property worth $12,000 and $1,600; wife Nancy; son Thomas, also listed as farmer with personal property worth $450; M. 23; R. 3; Mary 1; Henry Gasden, a boatman age 28. (Nancy listed as "unable to read or write". ) [Pg 11; No listing found in Slave Schedule]

Sam reportedly died 1863. On 3 Feb 1864 Elisha and Josephine Denty signed over all interest in 234 acres on Accotinck Run, part of the estate of Samuel Denty, to Thomas and Silas Denty for $500. Elisha signed with his mark. [Book E4, p. 67]

1 Aug 1865: Thomas and Silas Denty, purchased from Elias and Martha Grimsley all rights that they might possess in the estate of Samuel Denty for $500. Martha and Elias signed with their marks. [Book E4, p. 387]

Whereabouts of Samuel's grave is unknown. He either isn't buried with wife in Pohick Church, or grave is unmarked.

18 Aug 1870 CENSUS, Fairfax Co, VA (Mount Vernon, P.O. Fairfax Courthouse): "Mother" Nancy age 74, residing in household of farmer "Thomas Danty" age 37 with real and personal property worth $4,000 and $900; Martha age 33; Rebecca age 14; Laura age 7; Napoleon age 4; infant Nancy born Dec; farmer Silas age 36; 2 white and 2 black farmhands. [Pg 342]

Fairfax News, 23 May 1873: "Thos & Silas Denty vs Samuel Shepherd &c; the division of the real estate of Samuel Denty, deceased, ordered to be recorded".

Nancy's year of death: On tombstone in Pohick Cemetery: "Nancy Denty, 1790-1881". [Liddle, p. 116]

In letter dated 20 Jul 1885 Marie Denty Nesbit wrote Rebecca Denty Abernathy that: "I will tell you of some new kin in VA. We recently heard from them, has been several wills and pictures passed. They live 16 miles from Washing City, 10 from Alexandria & some of them on the Potomac. Pa met a commercial traveler in Memphis last fall that told him all about them & gave him the address of Mr Silas Denty. He is the son of Samuel Denty, our grandfather's half brother's son by his second wife. . . ." [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith, The Descendants of Thomas Jefferson Denty and Elizabeth Abernathy Denty]

[1] Her exact age is uncertain due to the conflicting birth years given in various records. According to her tombstone, that birth year was 1790; the Pohick Church records 1792; the 1850 Census, 1798; the 1860 Census, 1800; and the 1870 Census, 1796. Thus, at the time of their marriage Samuel was about twenty-one, the bride between thirty-two and forty.

[2] By comparison, his brother James claimed real property worth $1,800 that year.

[3] Fairfax County Deed Book E4, p. 67.

[4] Fairfax Deed Book E4, p. 387.

[5] Fairfax News, 23 May 1873, p. 3.

[6] They signed with their respective marks; and both were listed as unable to read or write in the 1870 Census.

[7] Kittie 12, Rebecca 11, Albert 9, James 8, and May 3 were all enumerated in the 1870 Census; Mary, Rosetta, James, and Albert in the 1880 Census; but only Rebecca, Rosetta, Cathy, and James Mathew were listed by descendants.

[8] He and wife Josephine signed the 1864 deed with their marks.

Chapter 22

The Samuel Denty Family