Family talk:William Gambrill and Ann Milstead (1)

Names of People in this Family [8 February 2014]

In a letter Dated Dec 18, 1885 Harriet Gambrel Jackson wrote this: " My Fathers Father (my Grandfather) James Gambrel was a Scotchman by birth, emigrated from Scotland to Louden County Virginia (the year I do not know). He there married Miss (Macy or Mary?) Milstead, she formally came from Maryland and was of dutch decent as near as I can remember what was told to me, they had 10 children 4 girls and 6 boys (My father being their fourth or fifth child.) My Father, John Gambel was born in Louden Co Virginia in 1789 or thereabout, perhaps a few years earlier or a few years later, I do not know the exact date, but as near as I can recall was about 1789. He emigrated from Louden Co Vir in the year of 1811 to Cincinnati Ohio when there were but eleven good brick houses there."

Based on analysis of available records, there may be some inconsistencies in the names she gives. Analyzing Census and Court records from Hamilton County Ohio reveals these Names with variant spellings of Gambrel - Edward, John, Hugh, William, Traessa, Francis, Ann, Stitching the Hamilton County records with records from Union County Indiana, it can be deduced that Edward, John, Hugh, William, and Travis are quite likely of the same generation. The above Names "Traessa" and "Francis" are likely mis-spellings of Travis, either in Transcription, or from verbal interpretation. Ann appears to be a generation older than the others. In the 1810 Census of Wood County Virginia (now West Virginia), Edward Gambriel, and Ann Gambrill are listed as heads of Household. The pattern for others in Ann's household fit what can be determined from ages listed in the appropriate 1850 Census records for John, Hugh, and Travis. The Tax Records for Prince William County Virginia between 1787 and 1806 show these names; William, Edward, John, and Ann.

Based on these clues, it appears that Harriet may have been wrong about several things.

    1.  Her grandfather appears to be William Gambrel not, James.
    2.  Her grandmother appears to be Ann Milstead not Mary Milstead (although it is plausible that her legal name might have been Ann, but she was called Mary).
    3.  Her father immigrated from Wood County Virginia, not Louden County, to Hamilton County Ohio  (Edward Gambrel is in Loudoun County in 1791 - 1793).
    4.  Milstead research (discussed in other pages) reveals that the Milstead family in Maryland descends from Edward Milstead of Kent, England.--PhilGambrel 15:21, 8 February 2014 (UTC)