Georgian Period Huguenot Spitalfields made silk shoes

JEAN DUPRE & ELIZABETH MANE – THEORETICAL PARENTS
OF JEAN, THOMAS & LOUIS DUPREE OV VIRGINIA (1701)

I suppose the line of inquiry  will unsettle some who think it is settled fact that Josias and Mynetta Dupre are the parents of Thomas, Jean and Loys Dupre of Henrico and Brunswick Counties, Virginia. I am still–somewhat in the dark–trying to piece together the origin of this story. It is a not a claim made in the dupre trail. The “myth” of Josias seems to link with Josias Dupree b 1640 d 1712 in Berkeley County, South Carolina (see – http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10608522). This Josias is certainly of the right age to be a father of the three Dupre boys. And then there are claims that the Dupre Bible names the parents of the boys.

The devout French Huguenot family of dupree were honest and ??? in their religion, giving each Sunday to their churches.

At the REVOCATION OF THE EDICT OF NANTES, this church-going and worship had to be done in privacy or be persecuted. JOSEPH (JOSIAS) DUPRE and his wife MARY took refuge in or near LONDON. Life was hard. They had opportunity to send their sons JEAN (John), THOMAS, and LOYS (Lewis) to Virginia with one of the ministers on the ship ‘Mary Ann’ to Manakintown where other Huguenots were located and they could worship.

Jean and Thomas went to Henrico, then Thomas to Goochland. Loys who carried the Huguenot bible went to James and Elizabeth City and the Isle of Wight. Loys married Larence Ellerbee in Elizabeth City, Va; then moved to Henrico County in 1730s where his brother Jean left him land and a slave. He moved to Brunswick Co. Va where he an Larance reared quite a family of at least 5 sons–Thomas, John, Lewis, James, and Haley–and possibly daughters.

Son Lewis bought from his father the 90 acres of Thomas Ellerby Land. It is surmised that Lewis inherited the great Huguenot Bible at this time in 1748, Brunswick County, VA….

But there is precious little to recommend the story of Josias and Mary/Mynetta:

1. There is a Josias (b 1640 d 1712) in Berkeley County, South Carolina.  But there is little to connect him to the Henrico Dupre’s
2. There is a family in Geneva (a stopping point for refugees at the time) but there is no evidence that he went on to Virginia.
3. None of the boys name a child Josias – seems unlikely they would not honor their father.

I won’t even touch on the pedigrees that have been shared, as I have found little evidence of them one way or the other.

This particular theoretical voyage began by considering the tithing list of Henrico of 1713.  Placement of names may be important, so here are how the top three fall out:

• Jean Dupre
• Moise Leurau
• Thomas Dupre

Moses Leurau is important.  He goes on to marry the widow Janne Forqueran who will herself later marry the widower Jean Dupre.  All told the families seem tight from beginning to end.  Now one record appears for Mosses Leurau… It is for Mosses Lura born 1659 in Spitalfields, London, England.  Spitalfields, itself is one of the centers of lower class French protestants and of English silk clothing production as these French silk weavers brought their trade with them.  On closer inspection, Spitalfields is even more important.  While Andre Aubry (listed in the tithe) can not be found there, a family of Aubry’s can be found and Judicq Aubrey married Jacques Dupre there in the 1690s.  Other names from the tithes, Dupuys and Abraham Soblet also show up Spitalfields

Taking this as a starting point and wading through the Spitalfields (and Threadneedle Street) registers… I believe the trail takes us five generations back to the town of Sedan, Ardennes, France.  And this town (by the way), is known for its silk weaving.  I realize this is the barest of sketches.  But I welcome comments!

The family origin, I find in early baptismal records for Sedan, and then some in a movement to Valenciennes.

Whether the Du Pre family of Valenciennes is, in fact, the same as that in Sedan is hard to tell. However in 1572:

“Tensions were further raised when in May 1572 the news reached Paris that a French Huguenot army under Louis of Nassau had crossed from France to the Netherlandish province of Hainault and captured the Catholic strongholds of Mons and VALENCIENNES (now in Belgium and France, respectively). Louis governed the Principality of Orange around Avignon in southern France for his brother William the Silent, who was leading the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish. This intervention threatened to involve France in that war; many Catholics believed that Coligny had again persuaded the king to intervene on the side of the Dutch, as he had managed to do the previous October, before Catherine had got the decision reversed.”

So Valenciennes was for some time a bastion of Protestantism, but:

“…in 1580, Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma took Valenciennes and Protestantism was eradicated there. Hereafter, Valenciennes remained under Spanish protection, no longer directly involved in later fighting of the ‘Eighty Years’ War. With its manufacturers of wool and fine linens, the city was able to become economically independent.”

Some year before 1633, the family of a Jean  Dupre baptized his 1st child at the Threadneedle Street church. This region of London is known for the Huguenot, bringing with them their silk weaving and tailoring traditions. Jean was a weaver in fact. He also, I think, is the grandfather of the three Dupree brothers who settle in Henrico, Virginia after 1701. It seems likely they spoke English already and had the opportunity to board these ships. In addition, many, but not all, of their Huguenot neighbors can also be traced to this same region as discussed above.

Here is my reconstruction of the family:

1  Dupre ^[1] – Family of Sedan, Ardennes, France

• 
  • 2  JEAN Despres/Dupre ^[1.1]   b. About 1563 – Family of Sedan, Ardennes, France
    •  CATHERINE Micquet
      • 3  Daniel Despres/Dupre ^[1.1.1]   chr. 20 Mar 1583
      • 3  Marie Despres/Dupre ^[1.1.2]   chr. 17 Apr 1586
      • 3  JEAN Despres ^[1.1.3]   chr. 24 Aug 1589 – Family of Sedan, Ardennes, France
        •  CATHERINE Didier
          • 4  Jean Despres ^[1.1.3.1]   chr. 31 Jan 1606
        •  Elizabeth Lenfent
          • 4  Abraham Despres ^[1.1.3.2]   chr. 12 Jun 1614
          • 4  Jean Despres/Dupre ^[1.1.3.3]   chr. 19 Jun 1614 – Family of Threadneedle, London, England
            •  MARY/ELIZABETH
              • 5  CATELAINE Despres/Dupre ^[1.1.3.3.1]   chr. 15 Mar 1636
              • 5  JACQUES Dupre/Prie ^[1.1.3.3.2]   chr. 20 Oct 1644
                •  Marie Lepers
                  • 6  Jean Dupre/Prie ^{[1.1.3.3.2.1]}   chr. 2 Feb 1672
                  • 6  Jean Dupre/Prie ^{[1.1.3.3.2.2]}   chr. 2 Feb 1673
                  • 6  Marie Dupre/Prie ^{[1.1.3.3.2.3]}   chr. 16 Feb 1690
                •  JUDICQ Aubry
                  • 6  Judicq Dupre/Prie ^{[1.1.3.3.2.4]}   chr. 12 Jun 1692
              • 5  Ann Dupre/Prie ^[1.1.3.3.3]   chr. 2 Oct 1645
            •  Suzanne
              • 5  Jean Dupre/Prie ^[1.1.3.3.4]   chr. 23 May 1652
                •  PHILLIPE Le Pers
                  • 6  Gedeon Le Pers ^{[1.1.3.3.4.1]}   chr. 21 Apr 1679
            •  Elizabeth
              • 5  JEAN Dupre ^[1.1.3.3.5]   chr. 20 Mar 1659 – Family of Spitalfields, London, England
                •  MARIE Dubois
                  • 6  Nicholas Dupre ^{[1.1.3.3.5.1]}   chr. 25 Jul 1677
                  • 6  Jean Dupre ^{[1.1.3.3.5.2]}   chr. 25 Jan 1679
                  • 6  Jean Dupre ^{[1.1.3.3.5.3]}   chr. 17 May 1685
                •  ELIZABETH Mane  chr. 19 Oct 1645
                  • 6  Jean Dupre ^{[1.1.3.3.5.4]}   chr. 23 Jul 1684
                  • 6  JEAN DuPré ^{[1.1.3.3.5.5]}   b. 1674/1687 d. About 1734 [ =>] – Jean Dupre of Henrico
                  • 6  Pierre Dupre/Pree ^{[1.1.3.3.5.6]}   chr. 27 Sep 1685 d. After 1705 [ =>]
                  • 6  Elizabeth Dupre ^{[1.1.3.3.5.7]}   chr. 22 Apr 1688
                  • 6  LOYS/LOUIS DuPré ^{[1.1.3.3.5.8]}   b. About 1689 d. About 1748 [ =>] – Louis Dupre of Brunwick
                  • 6  [MICHEL] THOMAS DuPré ^{[1.1.3.3.5.9]}   b. About 1690 d. About 1725 [ =>] Thomas Dupre of Henrico?
                    
                  • 6  Jacque Dupre ^{[1.1.3.3.5.10]}   chr. 1 Mar 1690 [ =>]
              • 5  Sara Dupre/Prie ^[1.1.3.3.6]   chr. 8 Sep 1660
              • 5  Ann Dupre/Prie ^[1.1.3.3.7]   chr. 24 Feb 1666
          • 4  JANNE Despres ^[1.1.3.4]   chr. 14 Jan 1627
          • 4  Elizabeth Despres ^[1.1.3.5]   chr. 26 Jul 1618
      • 3  Gabriel Despres/Dupre ^[1.1.4]   chr. 16 May 1593
      • 3  ANNE Despres/Dupre ^[1.1.5]   b. About 1599
        •  Pierre le Gro
          • 4  Marie le Gro ^[1.1.5.1]   chr. 26 Sep 1619
      • 3  FRANCOIS/FRANCIS Despres ^[1.1.6]   b. About 1603
        •  Idelette de Maire
          • 4  SAMUEL Duprie ^[1.1.6.1]   b. About 1620
          • 4  Judith Despres ^[1.1.6.2]   chr. 30 Oct 1622
          • 4  Jean Dupre/Prie ^[1.1.6.3]   chr. 12 Oct 1623
          • 4  Pierre Despres ^[1.1.6.4]   chr. 23 Nov 1626
          • 4  Isaac Despres ^[1.1.6.5]   chr. 1 Feb 1629
  • 2  GUILLAUME Dupre ^[1.2]   b. About 1566
    •  Sara Le Grand
      • 3  Marie Dupre ^[1.2.1]   chr. 27 Dec 1589
      • 3  Pierre Despres/Dupre ^[1.2.2]   chr. 27 Dec 1601
  • 2  THOMAS Dupre ^[1.3]   b. About 1568
    • +  Catherine
  • 2  LAMBERT Dupre ^[1.4]   b. About 1569
    •  Elizabeth Galehaut
      • 3  Marie Dupre ^[1.4.1]   chr. 13 Jul 1589
      • 3  Rachel Dupre ^[1.4.2]   chr. 24 Jan 1591
  • 2  THIRION Dupre/Despres ^[1.5]   b. About 1571
    •  Marguerite Mangin
      • 3  Jacques Despres ^[1.5.1]   chr. 24 Jan 1591
        •  Elizabeth
          • 4  Esay Despres ^[1.5.1.1]   chr. 23 Apr 1620

19 Feb 2015. As the aforementioned Luke Wiles (Wildes) is my fifth great-grandfather, I thought that I would add to the conversation. At most genealogical website, we normally see Luke associated with Margaret Stovall. I must add that the discussion as to what Margaret’s surname is has been debated for some time. I have come to believe that her surname is Stovall. There is a well written, expertly documented, genealogy of the Stovall family. It is on the net and can be found by searching: “The Family of Bartholomew Stovall [Eight generations of Stovalls in England and America]”. I feel that the author makes a very compelling argument that Margaret was a Stovall.

Luke was presumed to be born on 22 Oct 1699. This is actually the day of his baptism. I am not clear rather the baptism occurred on his birth date or sometime later. He signed his will ( Lunenburg Will Book #1, Page 493-493) on 31 May 1749. His will was introduce in court on 2 Jan 1750. Between those two dates, Luke passes from this life. Again it is presumed, as I have never seen a marriage certificate, that Luke and Margaret were married on 27 Oct 1726.

J. Wyles [on Rootsweb 19 Feb 2015]

Thanks! Yes, the Stovall work is key. I think the theory may still be worth considering.

The Stovall work adds her as a child of Bartholomew because of the brother-in-law mention in 1726 (Luke Wiles and George Stovall are brothers in law). However, George Stovall can also be the brother in law through his wife’s relationship to a potential sister Elizabeth (poss) Lankford. In other words, another explanation is that they were married to sisters.

The work states that her inclusion is drawn from this record. There is no other record of Bartholomew Stovall having a daughter Margaret (that I know of).

But both Tandy Walker and Thomas Dupree were securities to the will of Luke Wiles. Isn’t the simplest explanation that they were his brothers in law? That can make Judith, Susanna and Margaret sisters.

“At the Court held for Lunenburg County the 2nd day of January, 1749* The within written last Will and Testament of Luke Wilds deceased was Exhibited in Court by Margaret Wilds Widow and Executrix therein named who made Oath thereto according to Law and the same was proved by the oaths of two of the Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded and on the Motion of the said Executrix who having first together with Tandy Walker and Thomas Dupree her securities entered into Bond and Acknowledged the same Certificate was granted her for obtaining a Probate of the said Will in due form. Teste: Clem. Read, CLC “

Clearly anyone can be a security, so this proves nothing, but I suspect that they would be trusted family members at the least. And the family would have chosen a Stovall family member instead if one were available. I still think that the easiest solution is that Margaret was a Lankford not a Stovall, connected because her sister Elizabeth married a Stovall.

The Dupre Trail is the seminal compilation of records related to this family and it has guided all researchers for decades now. I believe it can be supplemented as a basis for some revisions and additions to the story of the Thomas Dupree family. These suggestions follow with the innuendo, inference or more solid evidence that makes them possible. I think it could significantly add to the legacy of this family and, at the same time, challenge some sacred cow linkages that are prevalent in existing research.

The family of Thomas Dupre of Henrico, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg.

First off, I think Thomas’ wife was Susannah LANKFORD, not Stovall or Marsh. The logic for this is contained in the first post in this thread. Susannah may have been first married to James Wood. The Vestry Book of St Paul’s Parish mentions support for the son of Susannah Wood (1732) and later support for James Wood (1735) by name who is cared for by Abel and Eleanor Turner. Please note that outside of date and place, I have no evidence that this Susannah is the same one who married Thomas Dupree. There are earlier records for a James Wood in the Vestry book so it seems possible that Susannah was first married to JAMES WOOD and had a son named JAMES WOOD by him. John, David, Martha and Stephen Wood (Stephen might be a Mood) are mentioned on a 1778 Lunenburg Deed to Lewis Dupree the son of Thomas and Susannah.

So, I would start by considering that the family of Thomas might have looked like this:

Thomas married Susannah Lankford Wood (widow of James with son James)
Their children are Lewis, Elizabeth Whitlock, Joseph, Margaret Stokes and Mary Brizendine (as shown in Thomas will). An analysis of names suggests that Lewis is named for his uncle, Lewis Dupre; Margaret is named for her grandmother, Margaret Easley Dupree; Joseph might be named for his great grandfather Joseph/Josias Dupre; the origins of the names Elizabeth and Mary are not clear. Importantly missing are a son named Thomas, who would have been named for either of his grandfathers and a daughter named Martha, who would have been named for her Lankford grandmother. Since all three of these namesake candidates are dead before 1730, it might explain their absence or there could have been a Thomas and a Martha who died young.

I will not follow the daughters of the family here, except to say that Mary Brisendine had a son named Lankford Brizendine, who could very well have been named after mother’s family. I continue with the families of Joseph and Lewis, starting with Joseph because I have less to say.

Family of Joseph Dupree

Joseph is said to have married Madam Nannie Sullivan. I have not located the origin or proof for this marriage but would suggest that whether or not he married such a person (or indeed that such a person existed), he did marry a woman possibly named Ann Wiles, daughter of Luke Wiles. Luke left a much analyzed will in 1748, discussed above, on which Thomas Dupree and Tandy Walker were securities (I think they were his brothers in law). In this will he mentions two daughters. I think these were unwed daughters because no mention is made is of sons in law. Fast forward to their son Stephen Wiles will in 1761. Thomas Wiles and Joseph Dupree are his executors. Joseph could just be a cousin but, since Thomas Wiles was Stephen’s brother, it seems more likely to me that this was his brother and brother in law. The Dupre trail suggests that Stephen’s daughter could have married Joseph Dupree, but the time frame doesn’t fit as well, and so it seems more apt that Stephen’s sister married Joseph Dupree. Also mentioned in this will is Lewis Dupree, important for the next part. There is also an indenture in 1765 that further reinforces this theory. See the end of this post.

Why would Joseph’ wife be ANN Wiles? There is no record to draw from but the two known children of Joseph Dupree and his wife are William and Nancy. Nancy can be a nickname for Ann. So can Nannie and this might account for the traditional naming of the first wife of Joseph.

Family of Lewis Dupree

It is here (disclosure my direct line) where I find the most suggested revision necessary.

We start with a first wife for Lewis Dupree. The Dupre trail suggests, based on the projected birth dates of his children that Lewis probably had three wives, not two (Amy Willingham and Median Cruse Atkinson). I believe that his first wife might have been a woman named MARTHA WILES, the second unnamed daughter of Luke and Margaret Lankford Wiles. First off, let me suggest four children of Lewis and Martha.

1) Thomas Deupree, Thomas was born about 1757, a good five years before Lewis married Amy Willingham, his second wife. What little I know is that he may have had children Mary, Susannah and Bannister. As he would have been very young when his birth mother died, he may not have named a daughter after his mother, but after his grandmother who he knew well. Nathaniel Dacus is given care of his children when he dies…

2) Martha Deupree, born about 1752. This Martha married Nathaniel Dacus. A 1768 marriage is cited by some. I have not seen this record and a DAR record calls her the WIDOW Dupree, which could point another direction. The Dacus family is closely linked to the Deuprees. Nathaniel Dacus was the administrator of Thomas Deupree’s estate in 1782. He also was the guardian of Thomas’s (purported brother of Martha above) orphans. A simple explanation is that he was their uncle.

3) Susanna Deupree born about 1755. Susannah married John Dacus, brother of Nathaniel above. Unlike with Martha, I have found no suggestions that Susannah was a Deupree (or any suggested maiden name). But there are some reasons to infer it. A 1775 indenture for Lewis Dupree is witnessed by John Dacus and in 1785 in Lunenburg, John, Susannah and William Dacus witness a deed of Lewis Dupree to Edward Robinson. Since Lewis’ mother was named Susannah it seems likely that he would have named a daughter after her.

4) Mary/Polly Deupree born about 1760. Polly married William T Dacus, brother of Nathaniel and John above. She died in 1788. She is mentioned in the 1782 Lunenburg inventory of Thomas Dupree (suggested as her grandfather). William remarries in 1788 to a Nancy. He dies in 1839 in Greenville, South Carolina, where Lewis Deupree moved.

In summary, Lewis Dupree and his first wife may have had Thomas, Martha, Susannah and Mary.

As mentioned above both Joseph and Lewis Dupree feature in the will of Stephen Wiles (their possible brother in law). Stephen Wiles mentions a patent he made in his name and Lewis Dupree’s. In a 1765 indenture of property of Stephen Wiles acknowledged by Thomas Wiles (his brother) and Lewis Dupree, the wife of Lewis is given as “at which time Amy, the wife of said Dupree came in and relinquished Dower.” This suggests both an earlier wife and the possibility that this wife was the relation to Stephen Wiles (I am suggesting, his sister).

I have no record to show the name of this earlier wife. However, it seems possible, if Margaret Wiles is the daughter of Martha West Lankford, that she would name one of her daughters Martha. One of the children of Lewis and his wife is named Martha, potentially after her mother. The absence of a known MARGARET Deupree in the assembled family is problematic. But it seems like the evidence can infer that Lewis’ first wife might have been one of the two daughters of Luke and Margaret Wiles. It should be noted that this path would have Lewis and Joseph marrying first cousins, on their Lankford side.

The second wife of Lewis Dupree was Amy Willingham (as is well proven).

I would suggest the addition of one daughter for Lewis and Amy, JANE DUPREE, born about 1769 who married Alexander Dacus, younger brother of Nathaniel, William and John mentioned above. Some of this is culled from this excellent timeline on the Dacus family – http://psolter.com/GENEALOGY/Timeline/TimeLine.html. But it is also interesting to note that Jane names a son Lewis (after her father?) but has no known daughter named Amy after her mother.

In summary, here is an outline of how I think it might have been (I only elaborate on the suggested revisions/additions):

Susannah Lankford (d of Thomas & Martha West Lankford) m1 James Wood
* Child:
* B c1730 James Wood
m2 Thomas Dupree
* Children:
* (daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Margaret)
* B c 1732 Lewis Deupree m1 Martha(?) Wiles (d of Luke and Margaret Lankford Wiles)
** Children:
** B c1752 Martha Dupree m Nathaniel Dacus
** B c1755 Susanna Dupree m John Dacus
** B c1757 Thomas Dupree m Mary
** B c1760 Mary/Polly Dupree m William T Dacus
* m2 Amy Willingham
** Children:
** B c1769 Jane Dupree m Alexander Dacus
** (Also Ann, Lewis Jarell, Drury, Daniel and Sarah)
* B c1734 Joseph Deupree m Ann Wiles (d of Luke and Margaret Lankford Wiles)
** (Children William and Nancy)

Comments, contradictions and elaborations welcome!

Some original records

1760 – Lunenburg County
Sep 10, 1760 Bk. 34 (1756-1762), p. 703. LEWIS DEAPRESS and STEPHEN WILES – 382 A. in Lunenburg Co., on lower side of Buffalo Creek, down Roanoke River, adj. Luke Wiles. 10 Sept. 1760.

1762 – Lunenburg County, VA
Will Bk 2, p. 10 Will of STEPHEN WILES, dated 5 May 1762; proved 1 June 1762. Wife: Mary Wiles – Bed and furniture; also 1 Bay mare I bought of LEWIS DUPREE; the land where I now live containing 200 a. and my Entire on the Great Branch of Sions’ (?) Creek, with the rest of my Estate (other than that elsewhere bequeathed) to be sold and my debts paid, etc. I will that tract of land at the Mouth of Great B____ Creek … came by Patent to me in my own name and LEWIS DUPREE’s … that my executors…etc. should make them deeds to ROBERT WILES one for the upper Half and JOSEPH DUPREE for the other. To THOMAS WILES all my Right and Title of that Track of land my father left me of the south side of the Roanoke River opposite the Mouth of Bl___ton’s Creek.
I will that THOMAS WILES and JOSEPH DUPREE should be my Executors. Witnesses: Neavill Buchannan ROBERT MILES STEPHEN x WILES (LS) LUKE WILES, ARON x PINSON.

1765
Deed Bk. 1, p. 169 – 14 Oct. 1765, Indenture. THOMAS WILES, Executor to the Estate of STEPHEN WILES, Dec’d and LEWIS DUPREE, Lunenburg Co., to JOSEPH DUPREE of same. Thomas Wiles in behalf of STEPHEN WILES’ Estate, his heirs, etc., and LEWIS DUPREE for himself and his heirs, etc., in consideration of the sum of twenty pounds to be paid by JOSEPH DUPREE, sell, release, etc., the lower end of a certain Tract of Land (the whole containing 382 A.) granted by Patent in 1760 to said LEWIS DUPREE and STEPHEN WILES, said land lying in Mechlenburgh Co., and bound on the South by the bank of Buffalo Creek near the mouth of same, down the Roanoke River to Luke Wiles Corner, said tract containing 191 acres. Witnesses: WILLIAM WILLIS, Wm Fowler Thomas Wiles (Seal) John Roberts LEWIS DUPREE (Seal)
Proved 14 Oct. 1765, being acknowledged by THOMAS WILES and LEWIS DUPREE, at which time AMY, the wife of said Dupree came in and relinquished Dower.

1769 Halifax County
Aug. 15, 1769. LEWIS DEUPREE of Lunenburg County, to ROBERT WILES, 214 acres in Halifax Co. near Hico Creek on Buck Shoal Branch, adj. Wm. Byrd’s old line, then south.
Test: LUKE WILES LEWIS DEUPREE (LS) Drusilla Griffin MARY WILES Prov. 17 Aug. 1769.
[Robert and Luke are brothers, Mary could be the widow of Stephen]

1778
DEEDS, Bk. 13-184. 8 Oct. 1778. LEWIS DUPREE to JOHN WOOD, both of Lunenburg Co., 55 A. for 32 Lbs. 1Os., land in Lunenburg Co., on north side of Middle fork of Snake (?) river — John Colwell–(?) – William’s Branch. Witnesses: James Armstd Stephen Fuqua LEWIS DUPREE (Seal) Temperance Fuqua THOMAS DUPREE David Wood Martha Wood Stephen Mood

DACUS LINKS

1768
Martha Dupree b.abt.1752 d. bef. 1785 married NATHANIEL DACUS in 1768 (ROOTSWEB)

1775
26 Dec. 1775:. Indenture. Thomas Norris of Charlotte Co. to LEWIS DEUPREE of same, 230 acres for 100 Lbs. – in Charlotte Co. on south Fork of Meherrin River, it being patented to Thomas Norris 27 Aug. 1770. Witnesses: James x Owen William Burn Thomas Norris (LS) Richard Amold JOHN x DACUS, Margaret x Owen. Prov. 1 Apr. 1776.

1785
10 Jan. 1785;. Lewis Deupree/to Edward Robinson of Cumberland Co., 527 acres for 263
Lbs. Land in Lunenburg Co. on branches of Meherrin River, adj. Daniel Weatherford, Deupree’s Patent line, John Robinson, Peter Ward (or Wood), and Evans. Witnesses: JOHN DACUS Lewis Deupree (Seal) WM DACUS SUSANNAH DACUS Proved June 10, 1785.

1788
DEEDS, BOOK 15-161. 10 Feb. 1788. DANIEL DUPREE of Lunenburg Co., purchases 130 A. of land for 25 Lbs., from NATHANIEL DACUS of same county, land in Lunenburg Co. on Branch of Juniper Creek and Farmer’s line.

1789 (Dacus/Dupree marriage)
ALEXANDER DACUS, of Lunenburg Co. & JANE DUPREY, 17 Nov. 1789. Drury Duprey sec.

1791
p. 106. 8 Sept. 1791. Nathaniel Dacus, Guardian of the Children of THOMAS DUPREE, dec’d – Account “Same as Last”.

1800
ed Bk. F-533 19 March 1800 – DRURY DEUPREE, Mary Adkinson, and JOHN DACUS, Executors of Henry Adkinson Dec’d of Laurens Co. and State of South Carolina, planters, to Joseph Cox, of same – 103 acres for “Three hundred Dollars and nine Sterling” – land originally granted to David Craddock Deed and conveyed to James McDowel, thence by McDowel to said Henry Adkison Deed. Witnesses: Joseph Cox Mary x Adkinson (LS) Thomas Cox DURY x DEUPREE (LS) Jesse Cox JOHN DACUS (LS)

1802
2 April 1802. Indenture WILLIAM DACUS, by virtue of a Power of Attorney given him by BANISTER DEUPREE Sells 60 acres of land for Banister Deupree for 30 Lbs. to Benjamin Lewis – land in Charlotte Co. on head waters of South Meherrin River, adj Edward Dacus, Edmund Ryon deed & by Weatherford, with all houses, orchards, woods, water courses, etc. Witnesses: Wm Thackston Margaret Thackston William Thackston jr, WILLIAM DACUS (LS) Prov. 7 June 1802, & acknowledged by WM DACUS, Atty in Fact for BANISTER DUPREE

I would love help on sorting out this rather complex proposed Lankford family – linking the Stovall, Wiles, Dupree and Walker families. I’ll start by outlining the major conclusions and then trying to fill in the justifications:

Thomas Lankford & Martha West m 1700, New Kent, Virginia (quakers)
Proposed children:
b c1700 Elizabeth m George Stovall
b c1706 Margaret m Luke Wiles
b c1713 James
b c1714 Susanna m Thomas Dupree
b c1716 Judith m Tandy Walker
[This Lankford family developed here – https://adupree.com/wp/g/getperson.php?personID=I7083&tree=adupree

This emerges from the perennial quest for the origins of Susanna, wife of Thomas Deupree. So, I suppose it is good to start from there.

SUSANNAH (LANKFORD?) DUPREE

In 1752 Thomas Dupree is directed by Juday Walker to care for some of her children, “Joel, Lankford and Elizabeth to THOMAS DEPREE,” after the passage of her husband in Lunenburg, Virginia. Lankford Walker is a witness for Thomas Dupree on a 1770 deed in Lunenburg. Susannah’s daughter Mary also names a son Lankford Brizendine.

Given this, it seems fair to say that Susannah and Juday are likely sisters and that the name Lankford is important in some way.

JAMES (LANKFORD) “SANFORD”

A James “Sanford” is a witness on the 1784/1786 will of Thomas Dupree. Sanford could easily be a misreading of Lanford, in turn a variation on Lankford.

As a witness to a will, there is no reason this James need be related to the family or, specifically, be a brother-in-law, but let’s continue and take it into consideration with other facts.

JUDITH (LANKFORD?) WALKER

Judith is often thought to be a Stovall because Tandy Walker, her husband, was granted letters of administration on Hannah Stovall in 1749. This could be Hannah Stovall, daughter of George Stovall and Elizabeth (possibly Lankford).

William Stovall, brother of George Stovall, who died in 1736 was married to a Judith. She has often been identified as Judith “Twitty” with the addition of a tentative question mark. I have not been able to locate the origin of this. However, if this Judith, the sister of Susannah, were also the wife of William Stovall who died in 1736, later married Tandy Walker, that would explain how Tandy came to handle the letters of administration on Judith’s niece, Hannah Stovall. Judith also names a son Lankford, which many have used to posit that this could have been her maiden name.

My conclusion so far is that Judith and Susannah are likely Lankford sisters.

ELIZABETH (LANKFORD) STOVALL AND MARGARET (STOVALL) WILES

George Stovall, the brother of William above, is married to an Elizabeth. Some people give her the maiden name “Cooper.” However, a 1726 deed transfer clearly names Luke Wiley (Luke Wiles) as the brother-in-law of George Stovall. One way of sorting this out is that George Stovall and Margaret, wife of Luke Wiles, are siblings (as has been long asserted). But another, that I pursue here is that George and Luke’s wives are sisters, that is Elizabeth and Margaret. This would explain why Thomas Dupree and Tandy Walker (the husbands of Susanna and Judith) are securities for Luke’s will — if Elizabeth Stovall and Margaret Wiles are sisters, that means that Margaret is the sister of Susanna and Judith, making their husbands her brothers in law.

George Stovall lives on Deep Creek as does Warham Easley (related to Thomas Dupree, husband of Susannah). There are also deeds and a will that connect Thomas Dupree to John Stovall, brother of George, husband of Dorcas.

Luke Wiles, the husband of Margaret, mentions his land on Deep Creek in his 1749 will. As I mentioned, the securities for this will are Thomas Deupree (husband of Susannah) and Tandy Walker (husband of Judith). The Wiles family continues to live near and be associated with the Walker and Deupree families in Lunenburg.

My conclusion is that Elizabeth is a possible sister of Judith and Susannah and so, following this logic would be another Lankford. Lankford is their inferred family (based on Lankford Walker, Lankford Brizendine and James Sanford, I realize this is still speculative but it is not baseless.)

THOMAS AND MARTHA WEST

Connecting these siblings to Thomas Lankford and Martha West, is a matter of proximity and finding a family that could have been big enough for all these children but also have a good reason to be absent from wills and deeds. Thomas and Martha seem good candidates. Married as Quakers in 1700 in Henrico County, Thomas died in 1719 leaving children who were later known as the Lankford Orphans. West, John, Thomas, William James, and Edward are also asserted as children by various folks, although I have not found any other assertions of Susannah, Elizabeth, Margaret and Judith. Of these daughters Martha Wiles is apparently identified as a quaker in the will of Henry Atkinson.

So in summary, it looks to me like the Wiles, Dupree, Stovall and Walker families all married into these four possible Lankford sisters. As the use of a surname as a given name in the proceeding generation is an interesting custom here, I find:
* Dupree – grandson of Susannah (Lankford) Dupree is Lankford Brizendine
* Walker – son of Juday (Lankford) Walker is Lankford Walker
* Wiles – a (poss) great grandson of Margaret (Lankford) Wiles is Lankford Wiles
* Stovall – none found

I am aware that the complex strands of this web can easily be torn asunder and would love to get comments.

Here are the records referenced above. They are scavenged from many sources and I have not seen the original of any of them.

1700
Here followeth a Copy of Thomas Lankford marriage certificate.

Whereas THOMAS LANKFORD of New Kent County and MARTHA WEST daughter of GILES WEST of the same county have proposed their intentions of marriage before two severall meetings of the people ——– called Quakers who after due inquiry of their clearness . It appearing to them that the relation of the said Martha West were consenting to this marriage did give their give their consent that the sd parties should accomplish their sd intentions. Wee therefore whose names are underwritten do certifie all ————– that the sd Thomas Lankford and Martha West did at a meeting —————————————– aforesaid county the 25th day of 2nd mo 1700 ——–.And there take each other he the sd Thos Lankford taking her the sd Martha West by the hand declaring that in the presence of God and this congregation I take Martha West to be my lawfull wife – till death shalle part us and she the sd Martha West then and there declaring that in the presence of God and this congregation I take Thomas Lankford to be my lawfull husband till my death and for confirmation the sd Thomas and Martha did set to their friends and — which names are underwritten are witnesses.
THOMAS LANKFORD
MARTHA LANKFORD
GILES WEST [father in law]
Charles Fleming [brother in law?]
G. R. Elyson
Robt. Hughes
Ricc Hughes
Peter Massey
Wm Beales
Thos Standley
Michal Jonsen
Christifr Clark
Francis Amos
Richd Melten
Edwd Clark
John Madox
Ann Call
Sarah Hughes
Eliz Clark
Silfania Fleming
Sarah Ellyson
Sarah Jonson
Margaret Madox
Mary Amos
Elizabeth Watkins
[The Record Book Belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Friends Henrico County beginning from the year 1699 to the year 1757 Inclusive. From FHL #0031762.]

1710 – New Kent County
Processioner’s report mentions THOMAS LANGFORD and John Turner among others.

1716 – New Kent
THOMAS LANKFORD in possession of Thomas Graham’s land. JA:[James] TURNER’S ORPHANS, grandchildren of James Blackwell.

1718 – New Kent
Will of SAMUEL JORDAN of New Kent ment: CHARLES FLEMING, his will is for JOHN FLEMING to have the plantation of THOMAS LANKFORD, DEC “& the management of his estate and the bringing up his son THOMAS LANGFORD as wholely to himself”
[Samuel Jordan is possibly the brother in law of Charles Fleming and may thus be a brother in law of his brother in law?]

1726
27 Oct 1726 George Stovall of the Parish of St. James sold to “Luke Wiley my brother-in-law and Margaret his wife” a tract on the south side of James River.
(“The American Genealogist, Vol 38, 1962).

1727 – New Kent
LANGFORD’S ORPHANS in (precinct number not listed & most of 1727 is missing.) In land with Capt. Cha Hudson, Alex Cock, John Hudson, Cornelius Dabney, John Wingfield, David Lewis, Wm Harris, Philip Joiner, John Joiner, William Hill, Cornelius Tinsley, LANGFORD’S ORPHANS. Return
of 7 Feb 1727/8 – nobody appeared for LANGFORD’S ORPHANS.

1727 – Will of Thomas Atkinson
6 Feb Wife: Sarah. Witnesses: John Quin, John Atkinson, Stephen Hughes and MARGARET WILES (Quaker). Henrico Co., VA.

1731 – New Kent
precinct #6 – Capt. Cha Hudson, Alex Cock, John Hudson, Cornelius Dabney, John Wingfield, David Lewis, Wm Harris, Philip Joiner, John
Joiner, William Hill, Cornelius Tinsley, LANGFORD’S ORPHANS. Report for 26 Feb 1731/2 – the line between Wm Bird esq. & Alex Cock cannot be found, Edward Hundley present for Wm Bird, present Henry Hix for Mr. Sam’l Welden, Daniel Patrick, William Harris, Jr.. William Ford hath got ye LANDS OF LANGFORDS ORPHANS.

1735
William Stovall died 16 March 1735/6 when his widow was granted letters of administration of his estate, with George2 Stovall as surety on her bond,[42] m. Judith — , living 4 March 1736/7
[The Family of Bartholomew Stovall (Eight Generations of Stovalls in England and America]

1735. Will (?) of JOHN STOVALL witnessed by THOMAS DUPRAY. (Goochland Co., Va., Deed Book 2, p. 178, )

1749
October Court. On the ntion of TANDY WALKER, who made oath according to law, certificate is granted him obtaining letters of administration of the Estate of HANNAH STOVALL, decd., giving security whereupon he, together with SYLVANUS WALKER his security, entered into and acknowledged their bond for the due adminstration of said estate. Court Order Book 2, 1748-52:211.

1749/1750
Will of LUKE WILES – TANDY WALKER and THOMAS DUPREE provide the securities for his widow MARGARET WILES.

1752
1752 From “Early Wills 1746-1765 Lunenburg Co., VA”, compiled by Katherine B. Elliott. Pg 31 Will Book 1, Pg 61. TANDY WALKER I desire that all real and personal property be sold at Public Dandue (sic) Vendue, and money to be divided among my seven sons and daughters, namely, Silvanus Walker, Tandy Walker, William Walker, Joel Walker, LANKFORD WALKER, Ann Walker and Elizabeth Walker. My sons to be of age at 20 and receive their part, and my daugters to be of age at 18 years. They to receive their part or on day of marriage. Executors: Friends Ludwill Bacon, Sylvanus Walker and THOMAS DUPREE all of Lunenburg Co. Witnesses: Jas. Scott, Henry Hatcher, Thos. Williamson. /s/

JUDAY (x) WALKER Codicil: I earnestly request that this last desire of mine may be fulfilled, that Henry Fowlkes [Stokes?] take Tandy, Sylvanus Walker take William and Joel, THOMAS DEPREE take LANKFORD and ELIZABETH and that TYREE GLENN take Ann. Witnesses: Jas. Scott, Henry Hatcher, Thos. Williamson. /s/ Juday (x) Walker Dated: 29 February 1752 and Recoreded 7 April 1752. 1753 1753 Sept. Court. ordered that the church wardens of the parish of Cumberland in this county do bind out Silvanus Walker, Tandy Walker and William Walker, Joal Walker, Lanford Walker, Ann Walker, Elizabeth Walker, orphans of Tandy Walker dec’d according to law. IBID:370

1784
WILLS, Book 3, p. 239 (1778-1791). 10 May 1784; probated 9 Feb. 1786. Will of THOMAS DUPREE, Lunenburg County Wife: SUSANNA Dupree. Daughters: Wlisabeth Whitlock, wife of Thomas Whitlock; Margaret Stokes, wife of David Stokes, Sr; MARY BRIZENDINE wife of William Brizendine. Son: Lewis Dupree. Son: Joseph Dupree. Grandson : Bartlet Stokes, son of David and Margaret. Grandson: William Stokes , son of David and Margaret.
Executors: Wife Susanna Dupree, and son, Lewis Dupree,
Witnesses: JAMES SANFORD
William T[ucker] (?) Thomas x Dupree (seal )
Rich. Ingram

The surname “du pre” apparently originates in the bucolic French for “from the meadow.”  Variants I have seen include: dupree, deupree and depres with or without a space and a capital “P.”  The Dutch version seems to come with a final “z” instead of an “s.” See this wikipedia article for more facts on the name du pre wiki.

A Huguenot story…

The family I research were Huguenots–French protestants–who migrated in the early 1700s to the Richmond area of Virginia. This US branch has been well documented by Langley’s extensive Dupre Trail (see link at bottom of the page.).

…hardened in the business of London,

I question the suggestion that Joseph and Mynetta (Lameroux) Dupre are  the progenitors of this family.  This information is said to have originated with a Dupree family bible and was reinforced with juicy parallels to a South Carolina family of Dupres.  This line of reasoning was enough to convince for me for years but, in all that time, I never managed to locate a lick of supportive evidence. A blog post on this site covers my reasoning, supposition and some of the evidence.

Armed with skepticism, I tracked the movement of many of the early Richmond families (this is documented in a blog post) and have come to make a suggestion that the family more likely has its immediate roots in the French refugee neighborhoods of London.  Threadneedle Street and Spittalfields appear to have been robust, thriving areas where French refugees established both lives and livelihoods.  They worked cloth and traded in wine and other fine continental goods.  This was a world unto itself where French was spoken. Families bearing the name “dupre” lived here from the late 16th century.  And their churches kept excellent records that give a wonderful cultural view into their customs. I trace out at least one possible path from Jean Despres, a Huguenot silk weaver from Sedan, a silk weaving region of northern France.

woven into the culture of the American South,

Three Huguenot brothers, Thomas, Jean and Louis Dupre arrived in Manakintown, Virginia in 1701, possibly, aboard the Mary Ann, one of four ships that brought Huguenots to America from England. King George granted them land along the James River .

Thomas, the elder brother and top of my line, married Margaret Easley who was among even earlier settlers in Virginia. Over the years, the family migrated mile-by-mile into the deeper South. By the late 1700s, Lewis (Thomas, Thomas) and his children Drury and Daniel lived in South Carolina before they moved to the Northeastern corner of the state of Georgia. Within the next centuries, the family spread to Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and one Dupreem so the story goes, accompanied the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears from Georgia to Oklahoma.

Scrapbook

* The Dupre Trail (in PDF) Volume1 & Volume 2 & Addendum
* A possible dupre lineage to 880 ad
– Significant thanks and credit to Cheryl Kravetz and Bob Dupree