El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-13

as the Chalkley manuscripts, so called
because they are copies made by judge
Lyman Chalkley Of StsuntOn. Virginia
of the old court records of Augusta
county at a period when the territory
OF several states was included IN IhaI
county. The publication of these rec
ords which viii probably be concluded
within the current year Is regarded
BY many as one Of the most import
ant genealogical achievements OF the
world. There is no single genealogical
publication in existence In either Eu-
rope OF America which contains IL
formation valuable to people IN so
many localities.
A genealogist known in Europe and
America for his published works, dt-
vides the settlement of the original
American states into three major d.
visions; the settlement Of Jamestown
Virginia, by English ROyalists; the
settlement of New England by the
Puritans. and the settlement of Au-
guSta county by the ScOtch-Ir1sh Pres
/ byterians the first party Of which
came to America in 1871 Most or
these people came from Ulster IN
north Ireland, where they had been
encouraged to migrate by James / OF
Scotland after that portion Of Ireland
had been devastated and almost de-
populated by its long series OF wars
Because Of the numerous difficulties
arising over land titles in Ireland,
these people after a residence of a
century or more in Ireland, began to
emigrate to America in large num-
bers- Despite their residence in Ire
land they had preserved their SCOT
tish characteristics, as well as their
religious principles, and their many
sterling qualities made them a most
Important factor in the settlement of
this country.
Almost without exception they had
large families and from the first had
scant utilization with the English peO-
pie who had settled eastern Virginia
and who were supporters Of the estab-
lished church. These Scotch-Irtsh set
tiers pushed farther and farther west
as they were able to drive the Indians
before them and make FOR themselves
homes where they could worship God
as they chose.
Founding Of Augusta County.
Besides these ScOtch-Irish who came
in thousands between 1880 and 1850.
Augusta countys early settlers fnclud-
ed a considerable number Of the Ger
mans and Swiss who had first settled
in Pennsylvania but who moved
southwest after Ii was decided that
no more grants of Pennsylvania land
should be made until the youngest son
of the Penn family should attain his
majority The act establishing Au
gusta county was passed in 1888 and
the county was organized In lf45 as
part OF Virginia Its population was
made up almost exclusively Of the
ScOtch-Irish settlers, with a few Penn
sylvania Germans who became more
numerous a number OF years later. At
this time the territory extended to
Fort Pitt. by the Virginians then called
Fort DunmOre, in Pennsylvania where
P1ttSburg now stands 1t included
most of Ohio. Indiana. Illinois part
of Michigan and all of Kentucky be-
sides West virginia which did not
become separate state until 1858.
because OF the varying statements
regarding the value Of these old dOcu-
ments 10 genealogy, a brief statement
OF their contents has been given out.
They include every appointment TO
any kind OF public office during this
period, with every name that appears
upon any paper. miscellaneous or 9TH
erWise- There are abstracts giving the
essential points of every deed every
VIII and every land gr-nt, with the
reports OF all commissions, tax lists.
delinquent lists, marriages and mar
rage PONDS lists or french and IN
dian war and of Revolutionary sold
1ers. pension declarations and many
other subjects.
was scattered for years in a number
Of places more or less difficult of ac-
cess, FOR there were number OF
towns where courts were held in this
large territory. The rich historical
value OF the Augusta county records
is attested by the fact that the Car
negie museum Of historical research
has published excerpts from them in
number Of bulletins. including among
them the records OF deeds entered at
Fort Dunmore, Pittsburg, in 1775 and
1875
Represents Many Years Of work.
Judge Chalkley had the ADVANTAGE
OF access to these old documents,
which were so III arranged that no
one had any knowledge of their con-
tents, and he spent years in making
copy OF them or a brief OF the con-
tents of those which were too vol
luminous to be given in full. Frequent
~ he would find a long searched for
viii in bundle of land grants or
ne would run across long forgotten
viii folded with the deed OF a property.
Ihe fact that so many OF these old
documents could not be located by
genealOg1sts has caused many to doubt
their existence Many old records.
which have been believed to have been
destroyed, have been Identified and
copied Their publication this year
viii make 1t possible for thousands
Of individuals TO connect the missing
links Of their family history more ac-
curately than a professional EenealO-
gist could do It without them
The existence Of some Augusta coun-
~ records is known to people in every
state of the union. although their full
extent has been a matter OF cOniect-
ure- Genealog1sts In the vicinity OF
Washington have made thousands of
dollars In the last p wears by going
to the old courthouse at Stanton. Vir-
GINA and making what connections
they could from the records at their
command There are thousands OF
connections, however, that could not be
established because the right dOcu-
ment could not be located and great
majority OF those difficulties will be
overcome by the publication OF these
old records.
Genealogists in England, Scotland
and Germany frequently send for iufor-
nation from the Augusta county rec
ords. There are several prominent
Scottish families. branches of which
were included among the immigrants
who helped to settle this territory,
whose descendants make frequent ap-
plicaUOns to settle some disputed
point Large fees have been charged
by the genealoEists for the time spent
IN quest Of this Information and the
publication OF the records viii cut off
the revenues of a few by throwing
open to the world the fun use Of the
records themselves.
Supplies West With Statesmen.
While the immigration from New
England helped to populate the north
ern part of the states of the middle
west, the great bulk Of the western
population of this country has been
proved to have derived from the orig
inal confines Of old Augusta county
According to a recent Investigation, I
more than so per cent Of the congress-
men and senators now IN office are
descendants from the early settlers OF
BILE and pays her rent promptly, and
/ do need * in many ways
7 am sorry your mother thought II