Sarah (Unknown) Napier (abt. 1695 - bef. 1773)

Born about 1695 in King William, Virginia, British Colonial America

Wife of Booth Napier — married 1720 in Goochland, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 10 Feb 1773 before about age 78 in Goochland, Virginia, British Colonial America

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Biography

Sarah (Unknown) Napier was a Virginia colonist.

Sarah was born in 1695. She passed away before 1773.

From the book Dr. Patrick Napier of Virginia, by Vava Knepp Booth married, about 1720, SARAH (maiden surname unknown). The marriage probably took place in Henrico County, but records are very scant in that period. She was born about 1700 and was dead before 10 February 1773 in Goochland County, the date Booth signed his will. She was known to be alive 20 January 1767 cosigning a deed with her husband (9:67 Wills and Deeds op. cit.) when she was about 67.

Before proceeding with the history of Booth Napier, we must first make some observations about the supposed, family of is wife, Sarah. A number of authors have repeated the claim that she was a Laforce, daughter of Capt. Rene Laforce of Henrico, later Goochland County, whose will was signed 16 August 1728 (W & D Book Goochland 1:37). This is because she had a child named Rene Napier.

First, these writers ignore the fact that Booth had a younger brother Rene Napier born about the time the family moved into Henrico County. They also seem to be unaware that Capt. Rene Laforce clearly states in his will that all his children, Rene, Sarah and Rachel, are under age. To finally lay this theory to rest, we must also point out that Capt. Laforce’s widow Sarah, in her will of 10 December 1756 (7:143) names her daughter “Sarah Hardain” (probably Harding, one William Harding witnessed it).

The facts are clear: Captains Robert Napier and Rene Laforce were militia officers: both had lived on nearly adjoining lands in Henrico and Goochland Counties, and were probably good friends. Laforce had a grant of 1000 acres joining Thomas Wadkins’s land in Henrico 20 February 1723 (11:307 op. cit.). Napier probably named his youngest son in Laforce’s honor and had him stand as godfather at the christening. Other families in the area also had children named Rene.

Others say that Sarah Napier was a Garland, because her nephew Rene Napier, son of Rene and Winifred (Champion) Napier, named a child “Sarah Garland Napier.” We have found no additional evidence of this theory (Douglas Register: 259).

The source used by many researchers shows Sarah's last name as LaForce in Historical Southern Families. Volume XVII, Napier of Virginia and other Southern States, but it is questionable even by the book's author. It is shown as (LaForce?).^[1]

Note

Please do not add personal family trees from Family Search or Ancestry as a source.

Sources

1. ↑ Historical Southern Families. Volume XVII; https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/48287/images/SouthernFamiliesXVII-007129-208?ssrc=pt&treeid=40157231&personid=110162062702&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=278809

• Dr. Patrick Napier of Virginia, by Vava Knepp This book is in my home library, Tucker-5631.