Any opinions?
Cynthia Curtis, A183502, US7875087
From https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.gwaltney/124.4/mb.ashx Posted: 08 Jan 2017 03:42AM
I feel the conclusion that the immigrant Edward Boykin's wife was Ann Gwaltney is almost certainly incorrect. Most records show Edward Boykin born about 1650 and William Gwaltney born about 1655. This would mean he was five years junior to the his son-in-law, so any daughter of his would be at least 25 years younger than Edward Boykin (not unheard of, but perhaps not as likely in that era). Some records show Anne being born about 1652, but since her supposed father died about 1732, this would mean he would have been almost 100 years old when he died.
In addition, there is an item in Surry County (Virginia) Records by Eliza Timberlake Davis, page 281: 4 Oct 1666 wherein Thoms Pitman gives bond to the "widdowe Gualtney after marriage with him ... her youngest son, Wm. Gwaltney, may have two years' schooling." It is likely that this is the same William Gwaltney, which would make him a minor in need of schooling, which would confirm a date of birth of about 1655.
William Gwaltney names his grandson Edward Boykin in his will, but doesn't name any daughter named Ann (or any other name) Boykin, so it is almost certain that she died prior to her father. Edward Boykin names a wife Anne in his will, and many researchers seem to have leapt to the conclusion that because William Gwaltney's grandson is named Edward, then the father of that boy must have been named Edward.
Is it not much more likely that "daughter" Gwaltney married one of Edward's Boykin sons, and that son named the child after his father Edward? Since William Gwaltney died in approximately the same era as the senior Edward's sons, it could even be possible that one of his daughters married one of their sons, and that Mr. Gwaltney's grandson was quite young when his grandfather died.
Unfortunately, Edward Boykin's will shows only one son by name (John), but does split part of his estate amongst his other children, so we know he did have others. Most researches believe his other sons were Thomas, Edward, and William, and that both Thomas and Edward moved to Northampton County, North Carolina. The names of any daughters is not known
Follow Us
Like Us
