William Dabney

Family/Spouse: Philadelphia Gwathmey. Philadelphia (daughter of Richard Gwathmey and Diana Moore) was born on 10 Dec 1722 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA; died on 15 Mar 1812 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Isaac Dabney was born on 15 Aug 1749 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA; died on 24 Feb 1834 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA.
2. Cornelius Dabney was born on 7 Jul 1744 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA; died on 21 Oct 1825 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA.
3. William Dabney was born on 24 Sep 1747 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA; died on 13 Mar 1832 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA.
4. Richard Dabney was born on 18 Feb 1745 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA; died on 7 Jun 1836 in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA.
5. Lucy Dabney
6. Owen Dabney
7. Gwathmey Dabney
8. Lewis Dabney
9. Sarah Dabney
10. Philadelphia Dabney

Cornelius married Lucy Winston about 1710 in Hanover, VA. Lucy (daughter of Isaac Winston and Mary Ann Dabney) was born about 1707 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA; died in 1784. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Ann Sherwood. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: Abt 1681, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Birth: 1682, Hanover, VA
• Death: Abt Feb 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA; Age: 80
• Will: 6 Feb 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Probate: 6 Mar 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA

Isaac married Mary Ann Dabney about 1706 in Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of John Dabney) was born on 1 Feb 1680 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA; died on 6 Mar 1760 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Dabney
• Birth: 1685, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Death: 6 Mar 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Cornelious Dabney
• Birth: 11 Dec 1631, Bucknall, Lincolnshire, England
• Birth: 11 Dec 1631, Bucknall, Lincolnshire, England
• Birth: 1640, Pons, Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine, France
• Death: 19 Oct 1694, St Peter Parish, New Kent, Virginia, USA

Notes:

The origin of Cornelius Dabney, ancestor of the Dabneys of Colonial Virginia, never has been proven to my satisfaction. However, keeping in mind the variant spellings of the name, I would accept the preponderence of evidence that he was the "Cornelius Daubeny christened 11 Dec. 1631, the son of Theodor Daubney, town parish of Bucknall," Lincolnshire, England (Bishops Transcripts of Bucknall). "Theodor Dawbney was christened 6 June 1606, the son of John Daubney, town parish of Scotter,"Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire IGI, p. 6215). According to the Lincolnshire archivist (e-mailed to me on March 6. 1997), "it is highly likely" that Theodor was the son of "John Dawbney, born Scotter 1570, an alumnus of Cambridge University (St. John's College 1588), Vicar of Calverton, Nottinghamshire, and Rector of Scotter, Lincolnshire 1605-1610" (J. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigiensis, Part 1. From the Earliest Times to 1751, Vol. II (Fabbs-Juxton), 1922, p. 18). Theodor Dawbney married Dorothy Batts (Batte?) on 30 April 1630 (Bishops Transcripts of Bucknall). It is significant that Cornelius Dabney, the first in Virginia, named two daughters "Dorothy," presumably for his mother (see below). Unfortunately, no wills are extant for John, Theodor, and Cornelius Dawbney (Dabney).

Cornelius Debany (Dabony) was granted 200 acres in New Kent County, Virginia on 27 Sept. 1664 beg, at the mouth of Totopotomoys Cr. Upon the S. side of Yorke Riv., etc. (Patent Book #5, p. 406); 640 acres upon the lower side of Tottopotomoys Cr. etc. on 7 June 1666 (Patent Book # 5, p.625), and 100 acres on south side Yorke Riv. Above Totopotomoyes Cr. beg. at the mouth of same on 16 Mar. 1667/8 (Patent Book #6, p.114; Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell Nugent, Vol. 1, pp. 515 and 559, and Vol. 2, p. 31).This land is now in Hanover County. In 1679 the Pamunkey Indians leased for 99 years "six or seven hundred acres" to Cornelius Dabney (English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, compiled by Louis des Cognets, Jr., p. 58). In Sainsbury's Abstracts of Colonial State Papers, in the Public Records Office in London, there are two letters from Cornelius Dabney, the "Interpreter to the Queen of Pamunkey." The first is a state letter from the Queen of the Pamunkeys translated by Cornelius Dabney in his official capacity and transmitted to Colonel Francis Moryson of the Royal Commission of Virginia. The second is a personal letter to Colonel Moryson, dated Virginia, Jun ye 29th, 1678, in which Cornelius Dabney concluded: "...Sr. my wife Eedeth has her humble service p'sented unto y' Hono'. (she) would gladly send y' one of her Boyes a yeare or two hence.My humble service to y' Hono'. I am: Sr: y' Hono's most humble servant in all obedience. Cornelius Dabney." (Charles William Dabney, "The Origin of the Dabney Family of Virginia," Va. Mag. of History and Biography, April 1937, Vol. 45, No. 2, p. 134).

On 22 May 1686, Mr. Cornelius Dabnee was listed as a vestryman of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent. He died between 23 October 1693 and 1 May 1694 (Vestry Book and Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia 1684-1786, transcribed and edited by C. G. Chamberlayne (Richmond: The Library Board, 1937, pp. 4, 40, 43)).

In 1699 his children "James Dabney, Geo. Dabney, Dorothy Dabney, and Sarah Dabney (were) devisees of Cornelius Dabney dec'd (of) 700 acres to which is added of Low Land thereto adjoining 150 acres" in Pamunkey Neck.(Louis des Cognets, Jr., English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, p.59).

"The Library of Virginia Digital Collection" (Electronic Card Index) records these Land Office Patents and Grants in King and Queen Co. in Pamunkey Neck:

Date
To Whom Granted
Number of Acres
Patent Book

25 Apr 1701
Dabney, James
204
#9, p. 346

"
Anderson, Dorothy (Dabney)
179.5
#9, p. 350

"
Dabney, George
293
#9, p. 351

"
Dabney, Sarah
179
#9. p. 352

1 Apr 1702
Dabney, James
1000
#9, p. 445

Cornelius Dabney's children were recorded further by Louis des Cognets, Jr. (English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, pp. 4, 5, 14, 25, 36)as follows:

List of Justices of the Peace Appointed:
1702 King William Co. George Dabney
1710 "
James Dabney, Gent.
1710 "
William Anderson (husband of Dorothy Dabney)
1714 "
George Dabney
1726 "
George Dabney
List of Sheriffs Appointed:
1713 King William Co. George Dabney

In the Vestry Book of St. Peter's Parish are records of:

Burials in April 1688 of "Jn: sone to Cornelius Dabenie (probably named for Cornelius' grandfather John Dawbney) and Eliz: daugh to Cornelius Dabenie" (Page 426).

Baptism on 11 Nov. 1698 of Eliz. daughter of Geo. Dabney (Page 349).

Baptism on 8 Jan. 1698/9 of Welthan daughter of James Dabney (Page 350).James Dabney had married Ann, daughter of Philip Sherwood of Rappahanock Co. (Essex Co. Book 8, p. 279, April 1690).

In Old New Kent County, Vol. 2, p. 883, Dr. Malcolm Hart Harris reported that after the death of his first wife Eedeth, Cornelius Dabney married Susanah, whose second husband was David Anderson. In her will dated 5 February 1724 (Hanover County Will Book 1, 1862-1868, Reel 1, pp. 632-634, Virginia State Library), Susanah Dabney-Anderson named her children:

Cornelius Dabney, the executor of her will. He married Sarah Jennings on 17 April 1721 (Virginia Marriage Records, by Wm. M. Clemons, Virginia State Library). His will was proved on 7 Feb. 1765 in which he named his wife Sarah and children William, John, Cornelius (deceased), Mary Elizabeth Maupin, Fanny Maupin, and Anna Thompson (Hanover County Will Book 1, 1862-1868, Reel 1, beginning page 634, Virginia State Library).An executor of his will was his second son, John Dabney, who became a Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War.

Dorothy, wife of James Trice. Therefore, Cornelius Dabney named two daughters Dorothy, presumably for his mother Dorothy (Batts) Dabney. (His first daughter by Eedeth named Dorothy married William Anderson and may have died before this second daughter Dorothy by Susanah was born).

Mary, wife of Capt. Thomas Carr. They were the grandparents of Dabney Carr, who married Martha, sister of Thomas Jefferson (Old New Kent County, by Dr. Malcolm Hart Harris, Vol. 2. pp. 956-957). David Anderson.

As a 10th generation Virginian, I have worked on the Dabneys for 25 years. My data is well documented, mainly by original records. Please advise me if you have any additions or corrections to this data.

Contributed by Dabney N. McLean, author of:

Henry Soane, Progenitor of Thomas Jefferson (1985)
Mary Horsmanden Byrd of "Westover" (1989)
The English Ancestry of Thomas Jefferson (1996)

For more information, please contact Dabney N. McLean at:
dmclean900@worldnet.att.net
or visit the Virginia Genealogy web site at VAGenWeb

Cornelius married Edith Moryson in 1653 in Hannover County, Virginia, USA. Edith (daughter of Francis Moryson) was born on 8 May 1631 in Albemarle, Virginia, USA; died about 1678 in St Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1687, Virginia, USA

William married Sarah. Sarah was born about 1650. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]