Information concerning
the origin of various Yancys of early Texas

as well as information
on Archelaus & Stephen Yancey of Louisa Co., VA

In the book "Yancy, Caddell and Allied Families" By Ila M. Conner published in 1959 reference is made to various Yancy (spelled without the "e") families of Texas who descend from one John Yancy (1815-1868) and his wife Elizabeth McAnulty. They were married in 1837 in Texas. Much of the book seems to be based on Family documents and histories - some use of public / court records may have been used in gathering information for the book - but for the most part especially concerning the origin of the family - family documents & traditions seem to have been the main source of information. The book records the parents of this John as being "Archie & Mary Yancy" or Virginia - but gives NO information about them or any supportive citations or sources for this info. "Archie" in the Yancy/Yancey family in earlier days has usually been a shortening of either "Archelaus" or "Archibald". In fact there is record of one Archelaus Yancey (bn abt 1815) marrying a Maria Teresa Crawford in Rusk Co., TX in 1849. Some researchers believe that this may have been a brother of John (bn 1815). There is also record of one James Yancey (bn abt 1820) who married one Mary Wilson in 1843 in Rusk Co., TX. Another possible sibling is one Jane Yancey (bn abt 1816) who married a Mr. Darling Washington in 1846 in Rusk Co., TX.

It would seem most probable that the "Archie" referred to in the Yancy/Caddell book was an Archelaus Yancey - possible ancestor of John, James, Archelaus & Jane of Texas. Interestingly the name of Archelaus Yancey (although uncommon in the Yancey family) - can be found among the very earliest Yanceys in America. Charles Yancey (often recorded with wife Mary Bartlett) of Hanover County Virginia had a son named Archelaus who lived in Louisa County dying there in 1764 and leaving a will - his wife's name was Mary Yancey. Very little has been published about this branch of the family but a few select researchers have done some pretty extensive research on this line. This Archelaus Yancey did not record the names of his children in his will - but among them is thought to be an Archelaus Yancey Jr. (died 1795) who also married a lady by the name of Mary. The use of the name Archelaus Yancey is rather uncommon - and I have yet to find an Archelaus Yancey - that IS NOT a descendant of this Archelaus Yancey who died in Louisa County in 1764. (although there are a few cases of Archibald Yanceys in a few other branches of the family).

I would like to make a few suggestions as to possible theories as to the relationships and origins of these Yanceys of Rusk Co., TX.

• It is my guess that John Yancy who married Elizabeth McAnulty in 6 Dec 1837 was a brother to: an Archelaus Yancey who was born about 1815 in VA and married in 1849 Maria Theresa Crawford in Rusk Co., TX; as well as to one James Yancey (bn abt 1820 in VA) who married a Mary Wilson 1 Jan 1843 in Rusk Co., TX.; also one Jane Yancey (bn abt 1816) who married a Darling Washington 5 Mar 1846.
• Although the Yancy/Caddell book records the parents of John Yancy who md Elizabeth McAnulty as one Archie & Mary Yancey - I tend to think that there are a few generations missing - and that this Archie Yancey - could be the Archelaus Yancey who died in 1764 or it could be his son Archelaus Yancey Jr. But John Yancey was born about 1815 - and I have NO record of an Archelaus Yancey living about that time or later. In Virginia I have no census/deed/Tax records of ANY Archelaus Yancey between 1800 -1850. And I have yet to find any information proving that Archelaus Yancey Jr. had any children.
• Also associated with the Yancys of Rusk Co., TX is one John Yancy who married one Rebecca Colwell 4 Sep 1849 in Rusk Co., TX. I really have to wonder if this is a "Missing Generation" and that this John was the father of John, James, Archelaus, & Jane above mentioned. The 1850 census of Rusk Co., TX gives his age as 66 (bn abt 1784 in Virginia). The marriage with Rebecca would have been at about age 65 and it would seem logical to believe this was a second marriage and that he had been married before (possibly having children). I believe that whether or not this is true - that all of these Yancys are most probably related and descend from the Archelaus Yancey of Louisa Co., VA.
• Now - believing that they descend from the Archelaus Yancey of Louisa Co., VA - are there any clues as to possible connections? In reviewing the family - I did find the following clue. I have always found it strange that the John Yancy who married Rebecca Colwell was born as early as 1784 - and yet we have not connected him into the main branches of the family. I did a search of John Yanceys being born about 1784 and came up with an interesting result - A Yancey who seems to have "dropped off" the side of the earth and disappeared. The "Douglas Register" a record containing various baptismal/marriage records etc of early Goochland/Louisa County Virginia makes reference to a John Yancey born 29 May 1784 and baptised 10 Sep 1784. He was a son of Stephen Yancey of Louisa County VA and his wife Jane BOND. This Stephen Yancey was the SON of Archelaus Yancey who died in 1764. It would seem that this is the same JOHN Yancey who married Sarah Edwards 1 Dec 1802 in Louisa Co., VA. And that is pretty much all that I have on them. I have never been able to tell where they moved to, if they had kids, how long they lived - NOTHING. I have to really wonder if the two are not the same person - after years of analyzing early yancey records there are very few Yanceys at this early of a date that I have not been able to connect to the main branches of the family - and by process of elimination - I see very few OTHER possibilities as to the parentage of this John Yancey of Rusk Co., TX (possible father of John, James, Jane, Archelaus). They were (according to this theory) descendants of Archie & Mary Yancey - as the Caddell book states (Archelaus & Mary Yancey of Louisa Co., VA) - but there were a couple generations missing.
• Now Curtis Yancy yancy1@powerplusinc.com brings up some related information: A quote from an email of his referring to a lady who had supplied him with info:
  • "She had the parents of Archie/Mary as Charles/Mary Coons.Son of Stephen/Elizabeth Bond(The one who Allegedly Hung),son of Archaelus/Mary. She had This same Stephen as Marring second(2) Jane Bond Both having the same Father.. The Name of the Lady was. She gave the children of Charles/Mary Coons as:Wesly, Elizabeth, Bettie, Ezekiel, Archelaus, Levi, Elisha and Jane. I have from memory of conversations with My mother who Personally knew and lived with one of (My Line) Stephen James/Mary Hollbrook that we had that gave some of the same information as."

• The Levi, Wesley, Ezekiel., & Elisha Yancey - (it would seem) are the same Yanceys who lived in early Georgia. - possible sons of one Charles Yancey who died there about 1816/17.

• I do have evidance that Stephen Yancey of Louisa County was married twice - and that he may have been born as early as 1735 or so - but the only real evidance I have of children from a first marriage is that of his son Augustus - who married in 1787 (Stephen married Jane in 1779) - Augustus must have been from a previous marriage. - I have no real evidance for a "Charles" from this previous marriage - I'm not sure what to think - but this definitely needs further research.