IDENTIFYING RUTH (—?—) CHENOWETH CUNNINGHAM’S PROBABLE PARENTS
A 1779 Berkeley County deed identifies Ruth Cunningham, wife of George, as the late widow of Absalom Chenoweth, deceased.6 Ruth and Absalom married prior to 11 December 1766 when they witnessed the Quaker wedding of Jacob Rees and Hannah Kirk.7 The Mill Creek Baptist Church register of members indicates “Ruth Chenoweth alias Cunningham died Feby 26th 1815.”8 Although no record has been found indicating a birth date or age for Ruth, her marriage prior to December 1766 and the birth of her last child in 1783 or 1784 suggest she was born in the late 1730s to mid 1740s.
Absolom Chenoweth left a will in Berkeley County in 1773 naming wife Ruth Chenoweth and Morgan Morgan as executors. His will indicates underage children but does not name them.9 An article published in 1922 identifies Absolom’s children as James (born 21 December 1767, died 12 May 1815) who married Rebecca Bruce, Absolom Chenoweth, and Ann Chenoweth who married James Boggs.10 The source identifying the elder Absolom’s children is not given.
However, other records suggest that James, Absolom and Ann were the orphans of Absolom. On 16 February 1795, George and Ruth Cunningham sold 134 acres to James Chenowith and Absolom Chenowith as tenants in common. This land was part of a larger tract that George obtained from the Northern Neck Proprietor's office.11 Ruth did not release her dower interest in the land which was common when parents conveyed land to children. Tax lists identify Absolom as the brother of James.12 Berkeley County marriage records indicate that “Anna Chenaoth” married James Boggs on 29 November 1787.13 The 1810 census for Berkeley lists Ann Boggs immediately after George Cunningham.14
Various researchers have attempted to identify Ruth’s ancestry. At least two publications list her as Ruth Morgan, probably based on Morgan Morgan serving as co-executor of Absolom Chenoweth’s estate.15 Ruth is not named as a daughter of Morgan Morgan in his will and no contemporary sources have been located that identify her as a Morgan.16 Another family history identifies her as possibly the daughter of James and Hannah Carter based on omnastic clues, but without other evidence.17
One clue to Ruth’s parents may be the middle name of her son George Geddis Cunningham. Geddis is a variation of the surname Gaddis.18 All Gaddises found in colonial Frederick County records appear to be connected to the family of William Gaddis and his wife Priscilla Bowen. William apparently settled in Frederick County prior to 13 November 1744, as he is likely the William “Gaddy” mentioned in a road order on that date.19 On 9 March 1752, William received a Northern Neck grant for 139 acres in Frederick County.20 This tract of
land lay next to a parcel owned by Absolom Chinoweth’s father John.21 On 12 June 1750, Henry Bowen of Frederick County deeded 10 acres of land for and in “consideration of the love good will & affection that I bear to my son in law William Gaddis and Priscilla his wife.”22 In 1762, William Gaddis of Frederick County received a grant for 421 acres of land which a later deed indicates was located in Hampshire County, Virginia.23 When William wrote his will on 11 October 1772, he identified himself as a resident of Hampshire County. The will,
proven 9 March 1773, names wife Priscilla Gaddis who with son John Gaddis was to serve as executor. Priscilla was to distribute William’s estate among his children “in the best manner that divine wisdom may direct her.”24 The will does not name William’s children with the exception of son John who is referred to as the heir-at-law in a later deed.25 A family record indicates his birth date as 7 October 1741.26 Priscilla later moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and is buried at the Baptist Church Graveyard located at Uniontown, Fayette County. Her tombstone inscription indicates she died 17 February 1796 at 78 years of age [born 1717–1718].27
{Additional information, records and sources listed at this source]
https://www.virginiaancestry.com/Cunningham%20Family%20Record%20and%20parentage%20of%20Ruth.pdf
