The Descendants of Robert Bagby | Generation Two

WILLIAM BAGBY 2, (ROBERT 1) was born May 15, 1750 in Louisa County, Virginia, and died June 23, 1806 in Cumberland County, Virginia. He married (1) DRUSILLA SIMMS August 01, 1770 in Hanover County, Virginia, daughter of WILLIAM SIMMS and JEMIMA GLENN. She was born Unknown in St. James Parish, Goochland County, Virginia, and died March 01, 1786. He married (2) ELIZABETH MURRAY after 1783. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

Notes for WILLIAM BAGBY:


Will of William Bagby, Cumberland County, Virginia, proved 1806.

Sons, Robert, Reuben, William, Matthew, John, James and Bennett; daughters, Jenny Murray, Betsy, Patsy, Judy, Polly and Nancy. "Whereas Matthew Semmes, father of my former wife, Druscilla, now deceased, departed this life after the death of my former wife by his last will and testament, bequeathed a legacy of money to be divided between the three sons of Druscilla, William, Reuben, and Matthew, above named..."

William Bagby, son of Robert Bagby, son of John Bagby, son of Robert Bagby, son of William Bagby, son of James Bagby, b. May 5, 1750, d. 1806.

Will dated, August 17, 1803 is probated June 23, 1806, married Drusilla Simms (sometimes referred to as Semmes], daughter of William and Jemimah Simms, who was born April ______ [balance of date torn out of Bible]. This family Bible is now in possession of the Duffy family at Dixon Springs, Tennessee. She died March 1, 1786. The following is a record of William Bagby published in the Magazine of American Genealogy, No. 13, p. 283, and records of Virginia Militia. "Revolutionary Ens., Louisa County, Virginia Militia 1780". The following land deal is recorded in his name. "John Terrell conveys on August 17, 1770 to William Bagby, son of Robert Bagby, Sr., 200 acres of land on Solomon's Creek in Cumberland County, Virginia". This tract of land was in possession of William Bagby until his death in 1806, and formed part of the estate divided among his heirs, of which William Simms Bagby received 80 acres. [Cumberland County, Virginia Records, Deed Book 4, page 418].

The Will above referred to is recorded in Cumberland County, Virginia. His land was divided amongst his sons, Reuben, William [Simms], Matthew, John, Robert, James and Bennett, and his negroes he gave to his daughters Jenny Murray, Betsy, Patsy, Judy, Tolly and Nancy. The will further says, "Whereas Matthew Simms, father of my former wife, Drusilla, now deceased, departed this life after the death of my former wife, by his last will and testament bequethed a legacy in money, to be divided between the three sons of Druscilla, Reuben, William and Matthew, above named, etc., etc.

Executors of the will were John Murray [presumably the husband of Jenny], Reuben Bagby, William Bagby and Lewis Isbell. Witnesses. Jacob Johnson, Obadiah Johnson and Isaac Johnson. The above records were copied from the originals by C.L. DeWitt of Lynchburg, Virginia. According to the will of William Bagby were as follows. The first five of this list were the children of Drucilla [Simms] Bagby and their births are recorded in the Bible now in possession of the Duffy family. There is no available record of the descendents of any of his thirteen children, except William Simms Bagby and Matthew.

I. Jenny Bagby [b. February 3, 1774, married John Murray]
II. Reuben Bagby [b. February 5, 1777]
III. Robert Bagby [b. April 5, 1779]
IV. William Simms Bagby [b. January 27, 1781]
V. Matthew Bagby [b. November 18, 1783]
VI. James Bagby
VII. John Bagby
VIII. Bennett Bagby
XI. Betsy Bagby
X. Patsy Bagby
XI. Judy Bagby
XII. Polly Bagby
XIII. Nancy Bagby

It is quite evident that William Bagby was married twice, since his first child was born when he was twenty-four years old [the date of Drusilla's birth is torn out of the Bible], and his wife Drusilla died March 1, 1786 a little over two years after the birth of Matthew, her last child who was born November 18, 1783, so that the other children mentioned in his Will were obviously the children from his second marriage. The Bible contains only the record of his marriage to Drusilla, and the births of her five children. It is probably that both wives were dead at the time of the writing of this Will, since he refers to Drusilla as his former wife, but makes no provision for a living wife.

 

 

The above Will was submitted by Commander William Boyle Bagbey. A personal note accompanied the documents:

"Sherri...I am sorry but I can't say for sure who compiled this or who sent it to me. I had almost given up on the Bagby line when I made connection with your Home Page. I had already started working the chapter of my family book dealing with the Bagbeys and related families and would have had much more material in it about the Bests and Rudds than about the Bagbys."

Sherri Schäefer Bagby Note:

The following Will contradicts the lineage of William Bagby according to other sources. This Will has him attached to a different set of parents however, his wife and children are the same. This is just another example of how discrepancies are many times unavoidable until a source that is "carved in stone" is provided. As a researcher I have long since learned to live with "temporary" discrepancies. It is my philosophy that all material should be published in order for other researchers to compare their research so that discrepancies will remain "temporary" in the hope of eventually obtaining a published report that is "carved in stone".

The report begins as such, and is a direct copy of the research of "Creasy".

William Bagby, son of Robert Bagby, son of John Bagby, son of Robert Bagby, son of William Bagby, son of James Bagby, b. May 5, 1750, d. 1806.

 

More About WILLIAM BAGBY:
Fact 1: List of children from his Will, not necessarily in correct order.
Fact 2: Order of children is taken from his Bible as are the dates of their birth.
Fact 3: Marriage Record taken from William Bagby's Bible - Another source says May 1, 1770.
Fact 4: Birth, death dates and locations source: Washington D.C. Library of D.A.R.
Research submitted by: Clarence Burton Bagby.
Military service: Revolutionary War - Ensign in the Virginia Continental Navy. He also provided patriotic services including providing guns and other supplies - Washington, D.C. Library of D.A.R.
Research submitted by: Clarence Burton Bagby.

More About DRUSILLA SIMMS:
Fact 1: According to her husband's Bible entry, she was born in the month of April, but the rest of the page is torn
Fact 2: Birth, death dates and locations source: Washington D.C. Library of D.A.R.
Research submitted by: Clarence Burton Bagby.


Children of WILLIAM BAGBY and DRUSILLA SIMMS are:

1. JENNY BAGBY, b. February 27, 1774; d. Unknown; m. JOHN MURRAY.
2. REUBEN B. BAGBY, b. February 05, 1777, Cumberland County, Virginia; d. April 28, 1853, Campbell County, Virginia.
3. ROBERT BAGBY, b. April 05, 1779, Virginia; d. about 1827, Quincy, Kentucky, Lewis County.
4. WILLIAM SIMMS BAGBY, b. January 27, 1781; d. September 19, 1839.
5. MATTHEW SIMMS BAGBY, b. November 18, 1783; d. Unknown.


Children of WILLIAM BAGBY and ELIZABETH MURRAY are:

1. BENNETT M. BAGBY, b. Unknown, Powhatan County, Virginia; d. November 30, 1884, Powhatan County, Virginia.
2. MARY "POLLY" BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown; m. JOSIAH COSBY, September 25, 1817, Powhatan County, Virginia; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
3. JAMES BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
4. JOHN BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown; m. (1) HANNAH REYNOLDS, November 18, 1839, Campbell County, Virginia; m. (2) ELIZABETH DAVIDSON, February 12, 1844, Campbell County, Virginia; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
More About ELIZABETH DAVIDSON:
Per research of Anne Bagby: Father's name and notes, also it is believed that Elizabeth Davidson had at least five brothers, several of whom also became Baptist ministers as her father, Samuel Davidson.
5. PATTY BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
6. JUDY BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
7. BETSY BAGBY, b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
8. NANCY BAGBY, b. about 1796; d. August 15, 1856, Campbell County, Virginia; m. WILLIAM SAUNDERS; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.