Contents |
Documenting his children in his will:
Burial
Philip was born in 1727. He was the son of Matthew Yokum and Eleanor Zeh. He passed away in 1807.
History: Note: Ellie Burch believes that Phillip Powell Y. was born about 1728, son of Matthias M. Y. and Eleanor See or Zeh. She also believes that there was not a Phillip P. Y. WFT CD ROM gives death date as 2 Dec 1808 in Hardy Co., VA. A Phillip Yoekim listed as head of household in Northumberland Co., PA in 1790, with one male under 16, 2 females and no slaves. Another listed as Phillip or Felty in Bristol Township, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania.
Ola Nicholson sent a pedigree that indicated Phillip Yoakum and Elizabeth Harness had a son named John, who had a son William, who had a son Valentine b. about 1780 in Claiborne Co. TN whose wife was Charlotte Reynolds. Valentine and Charlotte had a daughter Ruth b. 10 Jan 1803 or 08 in Claiborne Co TN, married John Owens, had 8 children, died 6 Sep 1878 at Cedar Mills, Washington Co., OR. T. She got the information from Larry Ence, 1304 Florence Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80906. She says last correspondence to him returned. A phone search reveals 2 Larry Ence in the USA. One at 1650 St. N, Ogden UT 84401 and one at 765 W500N, Provo, UT 84601. They were not contacted to verify it. This is first Valentine reported in this family line. I suspect it is in error because Valentine is shown born about 1780 and William would be too young to be his father.
Elli Burch says Phillip's land in Randolph Co., West Virginia is now a part of a state park at Blackwater Falls.
Quoting from his will, by Connie Y. Tierney: "I, Phillip Powle Yokem...being striking to an old age in years but of sound mind and perfect memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament...I will my property as follows: To my beloved son John the lands or plantation whereon he lives now according to the lines made for him by Jacob Fisher. To my son Jacob Yokum I give the silvay on the halfe in Canaan as it is already for him in his posession forever. To my son George Yoakum the other halfe of the said silvay above mentioned in Canaan joined to his brother Jacob. To my beloved son Phillip Yokem the residence or plantation where I now live according to the deed as I bought it from General George Marshall free of any demands and all other legacies annured forever. I give and bequeat to my yoingest son, Michael Yokem, no share in the land above mentioned for several good reasons and causes not here to be mentioned, but he is to have an equal part of the money if any left. To my beloved daughter Elizabeth, wife formerly of James Renick, deceased, also one equal share in all property movable or money if any an above. I give and bequeath to the children of my daughter Catherine Bursly, deceased, her share of the movables or money equally to be devided. I give my beloved daughter Barbara Starr an equal share of the movables as above...And lastly, I nominate my two sons John Yokem and Jacob Yokem my executors, Signed Phillip Powle Yokem, Witnesses: Anthony Baker, Sr., Anthony Baker, Jr., Adam Harness and William Heath." This establishes, without a doubt, his children.
Robbin Harrison reports his will was dated 26 Oct 1805 and probated 9 Dec 1807 in Hardy Co., VA. This indicates he died between those dates. His children are named in his will. The index for his will lists him as Philippe Powle Yokem.
His will probated 9 Dec 1807 in Hardy Co., re: Lin Anderson. Connie also says that Phillip Powell Y., II's land was about 3 miles north of Hopeville, WV, which is a small town on Hwy. 28. The land was at the foot of Allegheny Mountains, bordering Monongahela National Forest. The land he called his plantation is located on Hwy. 220 south of Petersburg, about 2/3s way to Pendleton Co. line and slightly north of Landes. 1782-1785 census gives Phillip I with one in household. Neither he nor wife could read or write. There are two Phillip Paul Ys. on the 1790 census, assumed to be Phillip I and II since one had one in household and the other had 6. Phillip III did not have children at that time.
Connie found these tombstones that could be read in the little cemetery near Pansy, WV: Hiram J. Yokum; Peter Ours born 8 Feb 1852; ??? born 15 Nov 1864, died 29 Oct 1881; P. T. Y. (Phillip II) died 28 Mar 1804. Eileen Dove says he was born in Berks Co., Pennsylvania.
Harold M. Yoakum, in his book, page 9, states that Phillip Powell was a son of Mathias Yoakum and Millie Felty. He cites Mathias' will dated 29 Jan 1780 recorded in Will Book A, page 148, Lincoln Co., KY. The will had been written in Botecourt Co., which Harold M. Yoakum says was then a part of VA before it became a part of the later formed state of WV. I have not verified this. I do note Botetourt was mis-spelled. Greenbriar Co. VA was formed 1778 from Montgomery Co. VA. Montgomery Co. was formed from Fincastle, Boutetourt and Pulaski Counties in 1776. Thus, Phillip was probably in what is currently Greenbriar Co., WV but was in Boutetourt Co., VA at that time, without ever moving.
Connie Yeokum Tierney gives birth of Elizabeth as 1727, Hardy Co., WV and death as 28 Mar 1804 at Pansy, Grant Co., WV. Ellie Burch gives death date 25 Mar 1806, Hardy Co., VA.
Fannin County TXGen Web Fannin County Folks & Facts Pages 391-392
Philip P. Yoakum To fully appreciate the pioneer spirit which brought the Yoakum brothers to Fannin County, one would have to understand their background and the "stock" from which they came. Their grandfather was Phillip Powell Yoakum, who is credited as being one of the first men to ever bring a wagon across the Shenandoah Mountains into the South Branch Valley of the Potomac River in what is now Hardy and Grant Counties, West Virginia. This was about 1745 when the whole western portion of the state of Virginia was still a wilderness. Their grandmother was Elizabeth Harness who is recognized by historians as the first white woman to ever set foot in the present state of West Virginia, having run ahead of her parents, Michael Harness and Elizabeth Westfall, as they crossed the mountains from Virginia.
Philip Powel and Elizabeth Harness Yoakum had eight children, five of whom served in the American Revolution. The youngest son Michael Harness Yoakum married Elizabeth Stump and they too, had eight children, five of whom were boys. All these boys left home at an early age to seek their fortunes. One went to California for the gold rush and four went to Missouri. One of the later, Alfred Yoakum soon returned to West Virginia to care for his aging father. Another son Riley stayed in Dade County, Missouri. One son Adam Stump Yoakum and his wife Martha came to Fannin County about 1845 with his in-laws, the Ventioners. He was one of the first settlers of Vineyard Grove, Allen's Chapel area, and was one of the founders of the Vineyard Grove Baptist Church. He was later joined by his sister Helen Yoakum and her husband E. E. Black. Then came the other brother Christopher Columbus Yoakum and his wife Mary Matilda Newhouse.
Adam S. Yoakum was born on March 18, 1814 and died on March 9, 1889. On January 13, 1839 he married Margaret Ventioner, daughter of James and Nancy Ventioner of Indiana. After her death he married a widow Elizabeth Gilbert Witcher but they had no issue. His children were; Isaac Mortimer Yoakum February 10, 1842-January 9, 1863 was killed in the Civil War; Nancy Yoakum February 16, 1844-January, 1848; James Columbus Yoakum February 12, 1847-april 17, 1883 married Mahala "Annie" Bright; Mary "Mollie" Yoakum born about 1851 married J. H. McDaniel; George William Yoakum born December 26, 1849 married Mary Alice Turner; America Ann Yoakum born November 6, 1852 married Thomas Alfred Anderson.
Christopher Columbus Yoakum was born on February 8, 1817 and died on December 23, 1909. On May 26, 1849 he married Mary Matilda Newhouse, daughter of James A. Newhouse Sr. and Jemima Yoakum, her husband's aunt. Their children were Anna Elizabeth "Betty" Yoakum born December 1849 married Franklin B. Gober; Edward E. Yoakum 1854-1937 married S. Lee Nicholson; Mary Virginia Yoakum 1859-1946 married Preston Brooks Johnson; Frances Helen Yoakum 1858-1859; Mortimer C. Yoakum November 11, 1861-May 8, 1936 married Laura Irwin
By Mrs. Dean Newhouse[1]
They may have first resided along the South Branch on lot #47 West before settling near Petersburg, Grant Co., WV. Phillip was granted 265 acres on 3-Aug-1773 of which he sold 93 acres to his son, John on 9-Apr 1800. Phillip also received a grant of 575 acres located along the Blackwater Creek and Yoakum Run, in present day Tucker (then Randolph) Co., WV. On 29-Mar-1802, Phillip sold this tract to his sons, Jacob and George. He was sheriff of Hardy Co., WV in 1787.
Traditional sources place 6 sons of Philip Powell Yoakum as soldiers in the Revolutionary War. This family also supposedly consisted of 13 children - 8 sons and 5 daughters. The only Revolutionary War soldiers listed above are John and Jacob. Jacob drew a pension, but his widow was denied such after his death. John has no extant records as a soldier in the War and never applied for a pension. The old tradition that several sons were killed in battle may hold true, but must be accepted at this time as tradition only (YOKUM).
Possible alternate spelling: Jochim
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Phillip is 25 degrees from Herbert Adair, 22 degrees from Richard Adams, 16 degrees from Mel Blanc, 24 degrees from Dick Bruna, 19 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 31 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 16 degrees from Sam Edwards, 15 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 17 degrees from Marty Krofft, 11 degrees from Junius Matthews, 13 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 16 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.