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Joseph Hatfield (abt. 1740 - 1832)

Joseph Hatfield
Born about in Colony of Virginiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 1763 in Russell County, Colony of Virginiamap
Husband of — married 28 Oct 1779 in Washington, Virginia, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 92 in Campbell County, Tennessee, USAmap
Profile last modified | Created 22 Sep 2010
This page has been accessed 20,217 times.
US Southern Colonies.
Joseph Hatfield resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776.
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Discuss: southern_colonies

Contents

Biography

1776 Project
Private Joseph Hatfield served with Virginia Line during the American Revolution.
Daughters of the American Revolution
Joseph Hatfield is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A052955.

Joseph was born about 1735 in Virginia and was the son of Martha (Thoms=Toms) and George Goff Hatfield, Sr.

Joseph Hatfield was first married about 1763 in Russell County, Virginia to Elizabeth Vance (1742-1778).[1][citation needed]

In 1777 part of Fincastle County went into the creation of Washington County, Virginia.

He was an American Revolutionary War patriot from Virginia who served at various times between 1778 and 1782 as a Private, scout and spy for the Virginia militia on the western frontier. [2]

A warrant for the arrest of Joseph Hatfield was issued on 11 June 1779 in Fincastle County, Virginia (now found at Botetourt County courthouse) ...

"George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. ... To the sheriff of Fincastle County, greetings:
We command you that you take Joseph Hatfield if he be found within your bailiwick and him safely keep, so that you have his body before the Justices of our said county court, at the courthouse of the said county on the first Tuesday in next month to answer Israel Christian of debt damage ... twenty three pounds, five shilling, two pence, forty shilling damage; and have there then this writ.
Witness: John Byrd, Clerk of our said Court, at the Courthouse aforesaid,
the 11 day of June in the 14 year of our Reign. John Byrd".

After the war he resided in Greene County, Tennessee, for an unspecified time period.

Joseph Hatfield married secondly on 28 October 1779 in Washington County, Virginia, USA to Rachel Smith [3] [4] (c1754–c1858).

He settled on the Clinch River in Fincastle (now Russell) County, Virginia.

On 17 April 1782 he finally purchased the 50 acres of land in then Washington County, Virginia.

In December 1782 he owned property on Thompson Creek branch of the Clinch River in Washington County, Virginia. [5]

On 13 December 1783 he was granted 50 acres on Thompson Creek. [6] [7]

In July 1785 he was surveyed as owning land at New Garden on the Clinch River, on the head waters of Lewis Creek [5] (at the current boundary of Russell and Buchanan Counties off of Virginia #624, about 2 miles due north of Drill Community, or 8 miles north of Honaker, Virginia).

Joseph Hatfield was among those who signed a petition dated 09 December 1785 to form Russell County, Virginia and reorganize the militia districts to improve access from the citizens’ homes to the assembly points. [8] [9] [10] Signatories included 2 Joseph Hatfields, 2 George Hatfields (one probably Joseph's father), John Hatfield, James Hatfield, Ephraim Hatfield, Eurious Smith, Elijah Smith and Ericus Smith, Jr.,

In 1786 part of Washington County, Virginia went into the creation of Russell County, Virginia where he resided. [11] From various tax lists, a Joseph Hatfield, owning 30 acres of land, consistently appeared on the tax lists of Lower District, Russell County, Virginia. [12]

He and his wife were involved in a land deal [13] with her brothers, Ericus, Andrew, Ale Smith (misspelled as Ely) and Ephraim Hatfield husband of Rachel’s sister, Mary Smith Hatfield...

"This indenture made the first day of August One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety between Ericus Smith and Rosanna, his wife, Andrew Smith and Rachel, his wife, Joseph Hatfield and Rachael, his wife, his son Ephraim and Mary, his wife, of Russell County, Commonwealth of Virginia, of the one part and Ely Smith of said county of the other part ... in consideration of One Hundred Pounds current money to them in hand paid by the said Ely ... sell unto the said Ely Smith a certain tract or parcel of land containing ninety-four acres being part of a tract of two hundred acres and being in the New Garden in the said Russell County."

By 1790 Joseph Hatfield had left Virginia.

In 1795 his name appeared on the tax list for Lee County, Virginia, so perhaps he retained title to land there. [14]

Following his death of his father-in-law, Ericus Smith, he was mentioned in the land disposal. [15] This would seem to confirm Rev. Musick (p37) statement that Ephraim Hatfield's first wife was Mary Goff who died about 1790; and in a footnote (p41) also stated ... "Some folks believe Ephraim Hatfield's first wife was Mary Smith." Joseph and Ephraim Hatfield later sold 106 acres (adjoining the earlier 94 acre tract), to Ericus Smith, Jr. All the parties mentioned must have been heirs of Ericus Smith, Sr.

By 1802 he resided in Wayne County, Kentucky, USA.

In 1806 parts of Claiborne and Anderson County, Tennessee went into the creation of Campbell County, Tennessee, USA.

On 02 June 1807 he gave consent for the marriage of his daughter, Ann "Nancy" Hatfield to Aaron Whitecotton in Wayne County, Kentucky, USA.

By 1808, he had moved to east Tennessee, USA.

In 1830 he resided in Campbell County, Tennessee, USA. [16]

He passed away on 26 August 1832 in Campbell County, Tennessee, USA and was buried at Walker Cemetery (now south of Oneida, Scott County, Tennessee, USA). [17] He is not listed on the cemetery roster for either of the two Walker Cemeteries.

Joseph was the great-great grandfather of the infamous Capt. William Anderson Hatfield, known as "Devil Anse" Hatfield (1837-1927), of the Hatfield-McCoy feud. [citation needed]

Court Minutes

Russell County, Virginia Court Minutes recorded Joseph and other Hatfields numerous times ...

book#1 p61 - 8 September 1787 Joseph Hatfield & George Hatfield (& others) ordered to court 3rd Tues. of October to show cause why they should not be fined and double taxed for failing to give Wm. Webb, Commissioner, a list of taxable property.

p74 - Upon petition of Richard Poston against Ephraim Churchwell & Joseph Hatfield for a debt of 3 pounds due by note.

p78 - Commonwealth against Joseph Hatfield, George Hatfield, William Mullet (on information of Wm. Webb), continued 17 October 1787.

p223 - February 1791 Joseph Hatfield allowed 12/6 for the killing of one wolf.

p250 - 25 November 1791 Joseph Hatfield, 12/6 for 2 young wolves.

book#2 p3 - 27 May 1792 George Hatfield, 12/6 for killing 1 grown wolf.

p91 - Joseph Hatfield, 25/1 for 2 old wolves, Valentine Hatfield, 12/6 for 2 old wolves.

Tax Lists

Joseph Hatfield is present on surviving tax lists for Wayne County, Kentucky, including:

1802 Hatfield, Joseph @21+ with 1 mare
1806 Hatfield, Joseph @21+ with no horses
1807 Hatfield, Joseph @21+ with 2 horses
1818 Hatfield Joseph (1) Free Poll (p225 returns made by Thomas Moad, Esq.)
1822 Hatfield, Joseph @21+ with 2 horses
1823 Hatfield, Joseph @21+ with 2 horses

Military

During the American Revolutionary War, Joseph Hatfield enlisted in Russell County, Virginia as a Volunteer into the Virginia Militia, His service included ...

- service in Col. Chrisman's Regiment;
- served as an Indian spy under Capt. Thompson at New Gardain;
- served as a Private under Capt. Dickenson in March on Backmoads Fort;
- served under Capt. Sevier in the Battle of Kings Mountain;
- served under Capt. Scott and various officers as a scout.

In 1849 part of Morgan County, Tennessee became Anderson County, Tennessee, USA where his widow, Rachel, resided when she applied for a widow's pension based on her husband's Revolutionary War service,

On 10 October 1843 Jane Smith @78 (wife of Eli Smith - Rachel's brother), a resident of Campbell County, Tennessee, declared she was present "when Joseph Hatfield and Rachel Smith were joined in wedlock".

On 16 October 1843 Andrew Smith @74 (Rachel's brother) declared he was at the wedding of Joseph Hatfield and Rachel Smith in the fall of 1779 and knew that Joseph was in the Revolutionary War.

Mrs. Margart Hansard @91, declared Joseph served as Indian spy on the frontier of Virginia between 1778 and 1782.

His widow, Rachel Hatfield, gave a deposition to obtain a widow's Revolutionary War pension ...

State of Tennessee, Campbell County ...
On the 21st day of October 1843 personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the peace for said County and State aforesaid, Mrs Rachael Hatfield, a resident of said County, aged eighty years, who first being sworn according to law, on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress - July 4, 1836 and the joint resolution of July 7th 1838.
That she is the widow of Joseph Hatfield who was a Private and Indian Spy in the Virginia Militia in the War of the Revolution.
That her husband, the aforesaid Joseph Hatfield entered the service in the county of Russell in the State of Virginia under Col. Chrisman and served two campaigns of six months each. The names of his Captains she has forgotten.
This service took place before her marriage. She was married to her husband, the said Joseph Hatfield, on the 28th day of October 1779 by L. Woley, Esgr. After her marriage her husband was called out to defend the frontier and was marshalled into service under Captain Thompson at a place called the New Gordain in Russell County, Virginia and was in the service from March until November with but little intermission. The next Campaign was under Capitan Dickison and was mounted to Blackmorus Fort was in the capasity a part of his time at the fort as an Indian spy.
The length of time her husband was in the service, she is unable to say. He was called under Captain Scott at different times and was considered one of the best woodsman in the western frontier.
She further declares that taking into count the year her husband, Joseph Hatfield, served before the marriage and the time after the marriage, it would be three years and at least one half of the time an Indian spy.
She further declares that she has not kept a family record of the births of her children owing to her husband being no scribe and she is a widow at this time and that her husband the aforesaid Joseph Hatfield departed this life August 29th 1832."
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year before written.
Rachael Hatfield (her X mark)
signed: Allen C. McDonald. Justice of the Peace

On 04 November 1843 Richard Crabtree @78 (a Revolutionary War pensioner) declared that Joseph served under Capts. Thomas, Scott, and Campbell for a period of over 3 years, before and after marriage. He also states that Joseph was "one of the best spys and Woodsmen in the whole western country".

On 04 April 1854 William Hansard @90, resident of Morgan County, Tennessee, testified he was not in the service, but knows of Joseph's service as he was a "close neighbor to said Joseph Hatfield in Russell County, Virginia", Hansard declared Joseph served as a spy for 2 tours of 3 months each in the company of Capt. Thompson; 1 tour of 3 months under Capt. Scott, 1 tour of 3 mos under Capt. Sevier, 3 tours of 3 months each under Capt. William Campbell (at King's Mountain), 2 tours of 3 months each and several tours of 4-6 weeks under Capt. Lyles. In all of these he performed as an "Indian spy" between the years of 1778 and 1782, and futher declared the "Joseph Hatfield was such an excellent Indian Spy, he was always chosen by the Officers in all their espeditions against the Indians".

On 17 January 1855 Rachel Hatfield, resident of Scott County, Tennessee, declared she and Joseph were married 28 October 1779 by L. Wolez, Esq. She also stated she had no record of the birth of her children "owing to her husband being no scribe". She declared her husband died on 29 Aug 1832.

His widow, Rachel finally received a widow's pension of $40 per annum to begin on 04 March 1843 [18] [19] [20] which was increased to $80 per annum on 01 June 1854. [21] Later, that same area of Anderson County where she lived finally became the present Scott County, Tennessee, USA. [22]

On 17 March 1861 Sampson Reed, administrator for the estate of Rachel Hatfield, wrote to Comm. of Pensions from Huntsville, Tennessee, and stated that Rachel died and left a small amount due on pension "from Mar. 4, until May 19, 1858."

His service records, as well as the validity of 12 of his 13 children, have been accepted by both the DAR and SAR. [23]

On 4 July 1976, the Scott County Bicentennial Commission erected a plaque in front of the Scott County, Tennessee courthouse, honoring veterans of the Revolutionary War, including Joseph Hatfield.

Research Notes

m1 Children

  1. Mary Margery E. Hatfield, b: c1763; d: 1835 (FG#146155686); m: James Patrick
  2. Ephraim "Eaf of All" Hatfield, Sr., b: c1765; d: 13 Oct 1847 (FG#14124532); m1: Penny Mary Goff; m2: 1785 Mary Smith; m3: 29 Nov 1830 Anna McKinney
  3. Valentine Hatfield, b: c1767; d: c1840 (FG#92637120); m: Sarah Skaggs
  4. George Hatfield, b: 04 Mar 1771 (FG#92637405); m: 11 Jan 1793 Susan Ellis
  5. Andrew Warren Hatfield, b: 02 Mar 1776; d: 13 Jul 1854 (FG#92637545); m: 1798 Priscilla Turner.

m2 Children

  1. Ale Hatfield, b: 29 Oct 1778; d: 10 Nov 1841 IN (FG# 6983719); m1: c1798 Mary "Milly" Gibson; m2: 07 Apr 1836 Elizabeth Young
  2. Jeremiah "Jerry" Hatfield, b: c1780; d: 21 Jan 1840 (FG#84959256); m: c1801 Elizabeth Mary Alley
  3. James #1 Hatfield, b: c1782; d: c1838 (FG#84959319)
  4. Stanley Hatfield, b: c1782; d: c1835 (FG#55181654); m: 16 Aug 1808 Anna Comstock
  5. Jonathan "John" Hatfield, b: c1785; d: c1865; m: Mary Craig
  6. Nancy Ann Hatfield, b: 25 Oct 1786; d: 18 Jan 1870 (FG#10533073); m: 02 Jul 1807 KY to Aaron Whitecotton
  7. Reuben Hatfield, b: 25 Oct 1786; d: 12 Jul 1860 (FG#6579086); m: c27 Mar 1806 Mary Comstalk
  8. Joseph Hatfield, Jr., b: c1787
  9. James #2 Wiley Hatfield, b: c1790; d: c1860 (FG#84959739); m: c1821 Sarah Esther Stanley
  10. Leander Laura Hatfield, b: c1795; d: c1860 (FG#134625196); m: c20 Oct 1814 Moses Sexton
  11. William "Bill" Hatfield, b: c1795; d: aft.1870 (FG#124196918); m1: c1818 Nancy Oakley; m2: 26 May 1849 Malinda Helms (a widow with children, her 1st husband was John Russell
  12. Rachel Phariba "Phoebe" Hatfield, b: c1795; d: 24 May 1865 (FG#84959838); m: 1811 Isaac Morris Reed
  13. Davis Hatfield b: c1799
  14. Sarah Hatfield, b: c1800 (FG#91948020).

Joseph’s Year of Birth and First Family

There are no records of any kind that gives his year of birth. What few Virginia records there are do give us clues as to his possible year of birth.

The above 1779 arrest warrant in Fincastle County, Virginia is important, as it provides a geographic tie to George Hatfield, Sr. and his 2 older sons, Jeremiah and George, Jr. This group were Joseph Hatfield's closest Hatfield associates in his later life in Washington and Russell County, Virginia, and therefore most likely his family.

Taking this further, if Joseph were to be a son to George, Sr., who was the only Hatfield in southwest Virginia, old enough to have mature sons by the 1770s, then he was not yet old enough to be on the 1771 tax list, so born no earlier than 1751. However it’s been pointed out (see the link in Source #4 of father George Goff Hatfield’s profile) that the law in 1771 stated that all males ages 16 and up must be on the list. The law changing the tax lists to list all males 21 and up wasn’t approved until 1779. If true then Joseph was born no earlier than 1756. These 2 considerations limit Joseph's birth about 1751-1758.

With a year range of “1751-1758” and no marriage record of any kind between Joseph and Elizabeth Vance that has been found it seems unlikely that Joseph married Elizabeth or fathered her child as listed under “m1 Children” above. Joseph would have had to been have been between ages 5 and 12 when he allegedly married Elizabeth Vance.

Additional Notes

There is some debate as to whether brothers Reuben & Stanley belong to Joseph or to his brother Jeremiah.

Ale Hatfield was born prior to Joseph & Rachel’s wedding and was named after Rachel’s brother Ale Smith. (Ale is not short for Alexander, but an old Swedish name. The Smith family were of Swedish/German/Finnish heritage. They resided in New Sweden (Delaware) for multiple generations prior to Ericus & Brigita Smith and family moving to Virginia.

Joseph and Rachel lived in the backwoods or what was then the “frontier” of Southwest Virginia. It was very common for couples to live together as husband and wife while waiting for a Circuit Preacher or Circuit Judge to make an appearance to marry them. Hence the term “shacking up” which is still used today.

The Hatfield surname is an English name that became very famous in the United States after the 1880s when members of the family became involved in a feud with members of the McCoy family.

The Hatfields are also famous for other reasons for the family has produced State Governors, Senators, industrialists, doctors, lawyers, clergymen and many other respected titles.

In the book, "The HATFIELDs and the McCOYs" by Virgil Carrington Jones, there is an error on page 169 which would definitely point to Joseph Hatfield being the father of Abe William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield who is quoted in the "Intelligencer" newspaper of 22 November 1889, as saying ...

"My grandfather, Valentine Hatfield, was born in Russell County, Virginia. My grandmother, Elizabeth Vance, was a native of the same county. Eight boys and three girls were born to them ...".

But Valentine Hatfield was married to Martha "Mattie" Weddington and not Elizabeth Vance.

Elizabeth Vance was first married to a Smith and was next married as the first wife of Joseph Hatfield. If she had not been known to Devil Anse Hatfield in his family as a grandmother, how else could he have named her as such in this quote. Instead of saying that she was his great-great-grandmother, he mistakenly said she was his grandmother. This indicates that she was a grandmother, but four generations back instead of two.

There is no source material proving that Elizabeth Vance married a Mr. Smith. There is an entry in an LDS database, which is based on submissions by researchers, that a marriage between Joseph Hatfield and Elizabeth Vance took place. However there is no actual Virginia Marriage Record that actually states that such a marriage took a place.

There is no source material that proves that Joseph Hatfield fathered any of the children that has Elizabeth Vance as the mother. There’s no circumstantial evidence that indicates that Joseph Hatfield married Elizabeth Vance or fathered children with her. If Joseph was born between 1751 and 1758 (see above) then he would have been between ages 7 and 14 when Elizabeth’s eldest child, Ephraim, was born.

Most of the generation that included "Devil Anse" Hatfield and previous generations were illiterate. The only way they had of recording family history was by word of mouth. It would seem logical that the knowledge of Elizabeth Vance as a grandmother is positive proof that she and Joseph are direct ancestors and they could be confused as to what generation she was connected.

Joseph's second wife, Rachael Smith was the widow who received a pension for his war service.

There have been many who have joined the DAR and SAR as descendents of Joseph Hatfield by showing that he was the father of Ephraim and Abe Hatfield.

In the book "The James Corbin and Abe Hatfield Lineage" by Kenneth Emanuel Corbin (1978), there is a great amount of information on the of the history and genealogy of the descendants of James Corbin (1793-1875) and Abe Hatfield (1778-1841). However, on page 114, he quotes a grandson of Abfe Hatfield [24] ...

"Dr. Thomas J. Hatfield, a leading dentist and prominent citizen of York, Nebraska, was born in Owensburg, Greene County, Indiana, October 14, 1851, and is the son of Armstead and Mary (Richison) Hatfield. The grandfather, Ale Hatfield, was a native of England, and decended from the Roundheads. During his boyhood he came to the new world with his parents and settled in Virginia, where he grew to manhood and subsequently married Miss Nancy Young. During early life they removed to East Tennessee and located in the midst of the Cumberland mountains on the East Fork of the Cumberland River, where the inhabitants were very few indeed."

Purported Marriage to Elizabeth Smith

See the discussion of a purported marriage in 1771 in Virginia to Elizabeth (Smith) Hatfield (abt.1740-1858), a person of uncertain existence.

Profile manager update ...

"Elizabeth Smith-318456" does not exist and came about as some researchers previously mistakenly combined the names for the 2 wives of Joseph Hatfield, which were Elizabeth Vance (1742-1778) and Rachel Smith (c1754-1858).
Further confirmation of this is the fact that "Elizabeth Smith-318456" supposedly died at the impossible age of 118 years. In fact the one who died on 19 May 1858 was Rachel (Smith) Hatfield, the second wife of Joseph Hatfield.
Further, the military pension file for Joseph Hatfield mentioned "Rachel Smith" as his second wife.
Wikitree should not carry forward, the previous mistake of "Elizabeth Smith-318456".

See my Sep 06, 2023 comment. Spratlin-29 14:06, 6 September 2023 (UTC)

Sources

  1. International Genealogical Index compiled by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  2. Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 16 Aug 2015 & 21 Dec 2015), "Record of Joseph Hatfield", Ancestor # A052955., some problems have been discovered with previously verified applications to the Daughters of the American Revolution
  3. Widow's Military Pension with Affidavit filed by wife, Rachel (Smith) Hatfield, m: 28 October 1779 in Washington County, Virginia for Rachel & Joseph Hatfield with Wedding Officiator, L. Wolez, Esq.
  4. U.S. and International Marriage Records 1560-1900 compiled by Yates Publishing on ancestry.com; for Joseph Hatfield, b: 1740; m: 1779 Rachel Smith b: 1753
  5. 5.0 5.1 Land Survey Book, Washington County, Virginia; survey by Robert Preston
  6. Washington County, Virginia - Minutes of the County Court,
  7. Annals of Southwest Virginia 1769-1800 p1220
  8. Washington and Russell County, Virginia - Petition to Virginia House of Delegates by sundry inhabitants of Clinch River, Mocason Creek, Powel's Valley and others requesting that the militia districts be redrawn such that these citizens will more easily perform militia duty without long travel away from their defenseless families.
  9. “Petition to Form Russell County, Virginia December 1785” by Vickie Stevens & Historical Sketches by the Historical Society of Southwest Virginia
  10. “Russell County Petition Joseph Signed” posted 31 Jan 2015 by Clarence Hand on ancestry.com message board
  11. Russell County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List, res: 1787 for Joseph Hatfield with slaves=0, horses=3 and cattle=8
  12. Tax Lists for Lee Co, VA, posted on ancestry.com message board on 25 Aug 2011 by rdeirth
  13. Russell County, Virginia Deed book#2 p336; for 01 Aug 1790
  14. Lee County, Virginia Tax lists for 1795 included a George Hatfield and a Joseph Hatfield @16+ with 1 horse.
  15. Russell County, Virginia Deed book#2 p336; recorded: August 1797 Court which mentioned ...
    Ericus Smith and his wife Joanna;
    Andrew Smith and his wife Rachel;
    Joseph Hatfield and his wife Rachel;
    Ephraim Hatfield and his wife Mary;
    parties of the first part and all of Russell County, Virginia, sold to Ely Smith for 100 pounds some 94 acres of land in New Garden Township, Russell County, Virginia
  16. 1830 USA Census of Campbell County, Tennessee; on FamilySearch,org citing FHL#24,536; NARA#M19; roll#178; #236; for Joseph Hatfield @80-90 with wife @79-80yrs
  17. Find A Grave: Memorial #11340366 for Joseph Hatfield, b: 1740 Essex County, New Jersey, USA; d: 26 Aug 1832 Campbell County, Tennessee, USA; buried: Walker Cemetery, Scott County, Tennessee, USA; parents: Margaret (Winans) & Abraham Hatfield (1695-1745)
  18. Virginia Service Record Card #W-5, B-1, Wt# 26358, 160-55; for Rachel and Joseph Hatfield
  19. Pension papers (#5.979 & #9.267)
  20. Pension Certificate for Rachel H., issued: 26 Aug 1852; recorded: book-A v2 p192 Knoxville, TN
  21. Pension Certificate for Rachel H., issued: 01 Jun 1854. Recorded on Roll of Pensions under the Act of 02 Feb 1848; v3 p371
  22. Adkins/Spence/Perry/Smith Connections, Rootsweb family tree; for Joseph Hatfield, b: c1739 Virginia; d: 26 Aug 1832 in Campbell County, Tennessee; buried: 29 Aug 1832 Walker Cemetery (south of Oneida), Tennessee, USA; with notes
  23. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications 1889-1970 citing SAR membership#76318; application: 16 Jan 1954; role: ancestor; for Joseph Hatfield, b: 1740 VA; d: 29 Aug 1832 Campbell Conuty, Tennessee; child: Ephriam Hatfield
  24. "Memorial and Biographical Record" of Prominent Settlers of Butler, Polk, Seward, York and Fillmore counties of Nebraska; by George A. Ogle & Co. 1899; p650
  • "Additional Hatfield Information" by Charles Hughes Hamlin in Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly v4 #2 (1966?)
  • "George Hatfield Family History" by Jerry Hatfield
  • Descendants of Thomas Hatfield by Family Tree Maker on genealogy.com




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Joseph by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Joseph:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments: 64

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Elizabeth Smith (Smith-318456) "exists" in genealogy databases and family trees, and is even listed with a different marriage date than Joseph's marriage to Elizabeth Vance and Rachel Smith. This "person" may have even corrupted the profile of Rachel Smith (Smith-3214) on 23 October 2016 when the middle name Elizabeth was added without source. Rachel's Find a Grave memorial currently lists the unsourced middle name Elizabeth.

It is therefore appropriate to correct the record with profile Smith-318456. It currently has Uncertain Existence status. The next step is to begin the one week notice before giving her Disproven Existence status.

Ken Spratlin, Managed Profiles Coordinator, US Southern Colonies Project

posted by Ken Spratlin
I should have also mentioned that a profile for Elizabeth Smith existed (Smith-312059) as recently as 4 Sep 2023. So it is appropriate to correct the record with a Disproven Existence profile.
posted by Ken Spratlin
Typically Wikitree does not accept as proof of life which is based on the presence of a name in a family tree.
posted by N Gauthier
Are the FindaGrave memorials listed in the biography all providing reliable sources for whatever information is being sourced here? The memorial for George Hatfield for example lacks a gravestone image, and has no biography.

FindaGrave is not a source. What are the underlying reliable sources?

posted by Ken Spratlin
I think you are concerned about the findagrave link for THIS profile, but instead for those of his children.

You can check for yourself and see that some of his kids memorials are sourced and some are not.

However I have added the memorial numbers as leads for interested researchers because these type of links are subject to updating.

For instance, the wife of THIS profile Rachel previously did not have a findagrave link citing a cemetery, but now it does.

I am trying to help any interested researchers have easy access to find these links and make their own decisions about how valuable or not, the findagrave links are for the children of this profile.

I am not claiming them as sources, I am just sharing info ...

I did NOT add the FG#s as inline citations here.
I did NOT add the FG#s in sources section here.
I did NOT edit the actual profiles for the Hatfield kids by trying to call all those FG links as sources.
posted by N Gauthier
edited by N Gauthier
Leads more properly belong in Research Notes.
posted by Ken Spratlin
Hatfield-6897 and Hatfield-69 appear to represent the same person because: Clear duplicate
Which wife should be retained in the merge, Rachel Smith or Elizabeth Smith?
posted by Ken Spratlin
BOTH should be retained so that further work can be accomplished.
posted by N Gauthier
Joseph Hatfield was not James M. Vance (Vance-1705) father, John Ferrell was James father. His mother was Elizabeth Susanna Vance. James was born out of wedlock and took his mothers surname Vance. Please remove Joseph Hatfield as his father in order to add John Ferrell as his correct father.
posted by Steve Ballard
Hi Steve, are there any sources that show who the father of James M. Vance is? From what I can see so far, there isn't anything that positively identifies any father other than an unsourced connection on FamilySearch. Without any sources, the best that we can do is just to remove any father and it leave it unconnected.
posted by Eric Weddington
DNA research on the part of various Vance descendants, FamilyTree DNA Group 18 - R-L21/FGC5494 - Desc. of Elizabeth Vance and John Ferrell, coupled with local knowledge passed down through the families, has shown conclusively that some, perhaps all, of Elizabeth Vance’s children were fathered by John Ferrell. John Ferrell was an early settler in the Tug Valley (his family was closely connected with the Hatfield family). He owned a mill near the current town of Matewan, West Virginia, and it was he, not her father Abner, who apparently bought (or helped buy) land for Elizabeth and their children on the Kentucky side of the river (we’ve seen copies of the deeds). So it was John Ferrell who brought Elizabeth and her children to the Tug Valley, who set them up on land just up the river from his own home, and who continued to take care of her, as far as we can tell, until his death. Elizabeth was living with son James and family and is listed with them in the 1850 Logan Co., census at age 70. Currently, there is no documentation that has been found that shows John and Elizabeth being legally married.
posted by Steve Ballard
edited by Steve Ballard
Steve - Perhaps you could create a free space page laying out the evidence which you believe supports this claim about James Vance's father and citing your sources in a way that will allow other interested members to review them and weigh in on it. As it stands, I agree with Eric's comment above that there does not appear to be any reliable source cited in any of the profiles identifying the father of James Vance one way or the other. DNA evidence might shed light on the issue but we need to understand what that evidence is, i.e., what matches it relies upon and how well-documented the underlying family trees for those matches actually are. According to FTDNA, the R-FGC5494 haplogroup emerged in ~2450 BCE, so identifying the haplogroup alone doesn't tell us much. It would be helpful to understand specifically what DNA matches within that haplogroup you are relying upon for this claim and how you believe they support it.
posted by Scott McClain
Scott, Eric, Thank you for you attention to this. I understand that the Haplogroup RFGC5494 originates at that point. In the Vance surname project on FTDNa the individual lists William Ferrell, 1740-1778 Virginia, USA as the ancestor. Apparently, this is a Y67 test. Currently the individual of that kit has opted out of sharing due to privacy concerns and I do not have access to that information. I understand the need for accurate source material however, as I'm sure your aware there are many trees that are far from accurate and supply reliable sources. In many cases documentation does not exist and have been lost to us.

Using William Ferrell is probably a good starting point in this case and after identifying the William Ferrell here on WikiTree, I noted that the profile had 3 John Ferrell's attatched to William. None of which had reliable sources attached. This is another matter though.

I made the comment here originally to state that Joseph Hatfield is not the father of James M. Vance Sr.. The request was to remove him as such. Joseph would have been 93 years old when James Vance was born, in addition, the Elizabeth listed here would have been to old to have given birth to James as well as being a different Elizabeth. Joseph died 1832, the same year James Vance was born. There are no sources on this profile that proves Joseph is James Vance's father. The WikiTree system also points this fact out as well as other individuals here. Eric and the PPP would indeed be correct to remove him as his father, I hope you consider doing so and would be much appreciated by myself and others.

posted by Steve Ballard
From a distant cousin, Terry, he has stated that Jim Vance's father is John Ferrell. He has the DNA to prove this.
what is your source for this info ?

Also can you cite any DNA tests that back this info up ? Thanks

posted by N Gauthier
FamilyTree DNA Group 18 - R-L21/FGC5494 - Desc. of Elizabeth Vance and John Ferrell
posted by Steve Ballard
My grandfather was a Gastineau, whose grandmother was a Hatfield, and I've been working on the Gastineau & Hatfield families since the early '60s. (I also spent 35 years as the History Specialist on the staff of a large urban library system, so I've had access to a great deal of material, and I don't think there's much I've missed.) But this is the only place, published or otherwise, where I have ever seen the claim that Joseph's middle name was "Andrew." I have no idea who added that, but would SOMEONE please provide a source for that claim?

Yes, there are several "Andrew Hatfields" in the family -- but I really don't believe Joseph is one of them. In fact, the likelihood is that he had no middle name at all. Middle names were not common in the early 18th century except among the upper social ranks, those with estates and often titles. But not among the dirt farmers, which Joseph definitely was. Please, people -- don't post unsourced family traditions or random guesses as if they were fact.

posted by Michael Smith
Thank you for your comment Michael. If anyone is aware of a reliable source for this disputed middle name, please weigh in. Otherwise, it will be removed from the profile.
posted by Scott McClain
I do not understand what just happened. This profile was just merged with a profile that I managed and yet my name has been removed as a profile manager. My understanding of wikitree policy is that merged profiles contain the name of BOTH profiles. Can you please explain under what authority my name has been removed as Profile Manager ? I would like to learn about any such new wikitree policy. Thank you
posted by N Gauthier
It is not a new policy - if a newer profile is merged into a Project-protected profile, the manager of the new profile is kept on the trusted list but is not made a manager of the protected profile. I believe this was designed to prevent the practice of creating intentional duplicates and then proposing a merge as a way of becoming a profile manager of a protected profile. In any case, I have restored you as a profile manager of the protected profile - thank you for all of your work on this family.
posted by Scott McClain
I have been PM on PPP profiles before and have never seen it happen before.

But I thank you for your explanation and I make note of that possibility.

posted by N Gauthier
Since this profile is under PPP protection, perhaps you would like to evaluate the most recent suggestion & sources to change the father from Hatfield to Ferrell ?
posted by N Gauthier
Hatfield-5886 and Hatfield-69 appear to represent the same person because: dups with same 2 wives
posted by N Gauthier
Is there any reliable source for the claim that Joseph Hatfield and Rachel Smith were the parents of Reuben Hatfield? I see that unsourced claim on various websites, but no original source for it, and it has been disputed - see this G2G post.
posted by Scott McClain
edited by Scott McClain
Info I have is that BOTH Reuben and Stanley, while brothers, are NOT the sons of Joseph. They are the sons of Joseph’s brother Jeremiah Hatfield & Jeremiah’s wife Fanny Holland.
posted by Michael Hatfield
Is there any source for the first marriage other than the LDS data file & the .S. and International Marriage Records 1560-1900 database? Neither of these are considered reliable sources for US Southern Colonies Project profiles, so we need to add a better source if there is one. The comments suggest that this marriage is disputed.
posted by Scott McClain
I don’t think there is a record. I have discovered that some of the bad info has come from books on the feud. The authors spend the 1st chapter on the genealogy of both families without producing sources. Currently George Hatfield Sr, aka George Goff Hatfield, is on his 3rd possible wife. He’s gone from Margaret Winans to Margaret Logan to Martha (Marthy) Thoms.

Again to answer your question there is no documentary evidence proving such a marriage.

As for Marthy Thoms that comes from oral family history of the descendants of a couple named George Hatfield & Marthy Thoms who lived in Pasquotank County North Carolina about 400-450 miles from Russell County Virginia where the George Goff Hatfield family lived. Also several parts of the oral history don’t square with Virginia State History or the History of Lord Dunsmore’s War. I saw a recent book on the feud about 10 years ago. Like previous books by previous authors over the last 100 years it spends the 1st chapter on genealogy. This recent book lists Marthy Thoms as the wife. Again, no source material.

posted by Michael Hatfield
edited by Michael Hatfield
This profile has 2 sons named Joseph Hatfield, Jr. I have been trying to get them merged but one profile manager says they are different people, although he has not provided any sources to prove that. He also says that the first Vance wife has been debunked, but no idea where that proof is.

If they are different people then that means one of them has different parents and should be detached. Any help getting some sources would be appreciated.

posted by N Gauthier
edited by N Gauthier
Something is wrong with the dates for this family as
the father is getting married after he is 80 years old
and his son is born when the father is 99 years old.
father: Joseph (Vance) Hatfield (abt. 1733)
mother: Elizabeth S (Vance) Hatfield (1794 - 1850)
son: James Vance (1832 - 1888)
posted on Vance-1706 (merged) by N Gauthier
edited by N Gauthier
can you please change his LAST NAME AT BIRTH from Vance to Hatfield ? Thanks
posted on Vance-1706 (merged) by N Gauthier
Hi! I added US Southern Colonies Project as a manager to support PPP.
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Hatfield-4820 and Hatfield-69 appear to represent the same person because: dups with same father and same spouse and same children Stanley & George
posted by N Gauthier
Hatfield-5067 and Hatfield-69 appear to represent the same person because: from Find a Grave source, these are intended to be the same person
posted by Robin Lee
Why does the name say George when the biography is about Joseph? Is this just a merge that hasn't been updated? I'm trying to figure out how my family is related and I'm really confused.
posted by Amy (Rollins) Hewitt
Sorry. But I have no answer.

TC

posted by Tom Coley
Hatfield-69 is not the father of Ephraim "Eaf of All" Hatfield. They were born 1 year apart. Ephraim's father is Joseph Ephraim Hatfield born 140 - 8/29/1832 and married to Elizabeth "Betty"Vance.
posted by Peg (Hough) Wienke
check birth date for Elizabeth - cannot be before date of marriage
posted on Vance-1706 (merged) by Elizabeth Coltrane
Hatfield-645 and Hatfield-69 appear to represent the same person because: Same vitals
posted by Jillaine Smith
He's attached to wrong father (New Jersey man). Should be son of Virginian George Hatfield-1215 (and then merged with Hatfield-69)
posted by Jillaine Smith
Mother should be https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Toms-274 not Margaret Winans. See father George's profile for details.
posted by Jillaine Smith
Hatfield-3437 and Hatfield-69 appear to represent the same person because: Same given and surnames, same birth and death dates and locations. Spouse and sons in "from" record can be found in destination record. "From" record is sparse and sourceless, so recommend keeping no data from that record, including middle name. Should also merge spouse and sons.
posted by Kelley Glenn
Source Citation for Millennium File

Name Joseph Hatfield Gender Male Birth Date 1740 Birth Place Virginia, USA Death Date 29 Aug 1832 Death Place Tennessee, USA Children Ale Hatfield Household Members Name Age Joseph Hatfield

posted by Martha Garrett
The latest merge for this profile was completed by someone who did not initiate the merge. One of the conflicting mothers was simply removed. You may want to check whether the mother is as it should be on this profile. Thanks! Emma
Hatfield-2611 and Hatfield-69 appear to represent the same person because: This is a clear and exact duplicate, but the different mothers need to be resolved for the merge. Thanks!
Still trying to become familiar with how the process in the program works.
posted by S Hatfield
Joseph Sr is my 5th G.Grandfather. All information has not been entered by myself. Information I have came from my Grandfather who passed away in 2001. I believe my Uncle traced our Heritage to Joseph Sr. To find out our exact relationship to William Anderson Hatfield (Devil Anse). His family knew they were related. Joseph Sr is my Grandfather's GGG Grandfather. That is a known family fact. I have not had a DNA test.
posted by S Hatfield
Hatfield-2860 and Hatfield-2744 appear to represent the same person because: Exact date of death and same child