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  My 5x-grandfather, William Goldsmith (1760-1834) married Elizabeth Rountree (1767-1847). Elizabeth was the daughter of Richardson (1736-1819) and Matilda (Anderson) Rountree. They descend from Moses and Melvina (York) Rountree of Yorkshire & Northumberland, England, in the late 1500s-early 1600s.
  William Goldsmith's mother was also a Rountree -- Isabella (Rountree) Goldsmith (1726-). Isabella's brother was Richardson, whose daughter was Elizabeth. Therefore, Elizabeth and her husband William were first cousins.
  Please contact me if you have any questions, comments, etc. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you.
 

Descendants of Moses Rountree

 

Generation No. 1

1. MOSES1 ROUNTREE1 was born Bet. 1549 - 1550 in Leyburn, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, England1, and died 1621 in Northumberland, England1. He married MELVINA YORK1 1572 in Yorkshire, England1. She was born 1556 in Tanton, Yorkshire, England1, and died 1624 in Northumberland, England1.

Notes for MOSES ROUNTREE:

http://ncroots.com/Gates/

There have been many stories as to where the name Rowntree (Rountree) came from exactly.

According to one source, the first child to have this name was a child who was found

under a tree called "Rowan Tree"., a mountain ash growing in Yorkshire, England. The

child, a boy was dressed in fine cloths. He was found on the grounds of an estate owned

by a nobleman, who took pity and compassion on the child and raised him as his own son,

naming him "Rowantree" after the tree under which he was found. Who the child was or

where he came from , he never found out. This boy's descendant now run in the thousands,

and they live in all parts of the world..There is no record of when this boy was found,

we can only guess that it was around the time that Columbus discovered the new world since

the name of the first record was in 1521 when John Rowntree had a son-in-law and daughter

bring a lawsuit against his relative to land and houses. Some say this John Rowntree was

the child found under the tree or perhaps a son.

 

The Rowan tree was held scared by the Norsemen or Vikings from Scandinavia. So its possible

that this child found under such a tree came from Norway or Denmark as the Vikings settled

and colonized Yorkshire, England in the fifteenth or sixteenth century. Many of the towns

there are called by Scandinavian names such as Whitby, Newby, Rudby, Kriby and Ingleby.

 

Another story handed down among the Rowntree(Rountrees) is that when the Noresemen warriors

took over England, one of the valient warriors was rewarded by being given a large estate

and on this estate there were a large nurmber of Rowan Trees, and he took the name from

them, thus Rowantree.

 

The earliest recorded Rowntree is that of the will of Lawrence Rowntree of Newby, dated 1557. Between 1600-1700 there are eight more lawsuits, all of which connect the Rowntree name with north Yorkshire. These lawsuits show that the Rowntrees were yeomen or farmers.

 

As early as 1605, Will Rowntree and Margaret Rowntree of Seamer are recorded as Recusants,

and the same is true for James Rowntree in 1614, a yeaoman. The Stokesley Parish Register

has the following...August 29, 1615, Agnes Rountree of Tartan was buried at nigt in the

semer Churchyard, a Recusant.

 

More About MOSES ROUNTREE and MELVINA YORK:

Marriage: 1572, Yorkshire, England1

Children of MOSES ROUNTREE and MELVINA YORK are:

i. RALPH2 ROUNTREE1.

2. ii. WILLIAM ROUNTREE, b. 1573, Yorkshire, England; d. 1627, Stokesley, Northumberland, England.

 

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM2 ROUNTREE (MOSES1)1 was born 1573 in Yorkshire, England1, and died 1627 in Stokesley, Northumberland, England1. He married RACHEL SIMPSON1 1595 in Leake, Yorkshire, England1. She was born 1574 in Yorkshire, England2, and died 1636 in Northumberland, England2.

More About WILLIAM ROUNTREE and RACHEL SIMPSON:

Marriage: 1595, Leake, Yorkshire, England3

Child of WILLIAM ROUNTREE and RACHEL SIMPSON is:

3. i. JOSEPH3 ROUNTREE, b. 1598, Yorkshire, England; d. 1660, Northumberland, England.

 

Generation No. 3

3. JOSEPH3 ROUNTREE (WILLIAM2, MOSES1)3 was born 1598 in Yorkshire, England3, and died 1660 in Northumberland, England3. He married REBECCA THOMMS3 1620 in Yorkshire, England3. She was born 1601 in Northumberland, England3,4, and died 1656 in Northumberland, England5,6.

More About JOSEPH ROUNTREE and REBECCA THOMMS:

Marriage: 1620, Yorkshire, England7

Child of JOSEPH ROUNTREE and REBECCA THOMMS is:

4. i. JOHN4 ROUNTREE, b. 1622, London, England; d. 1680, London, England.

 

Generation No. 4

4. JOHN4 ROUNTREE (JOSEPH3, WILLIAM2, MOSES1)7 was born 1622 in London, England7, and died 1680 in London, England7. He married JANE HARDY7 16467. She was born 16357, and died 16847.

More About JOHN ROUNTREE and JANE HARDY:

Marriage: 16467

Child of JOHN ROUNTREE and JANE HARDY is:

5. i. FRANCIS5 ROUNTREE, b. 1649, Londonderry, Northern Ireland; d. August 31, 1723, Nansemond County, Virginia.

 

Generation No. 5

5. FRANCIS5 ROUNTREE (JOHN4, JOSEPH3, WILLIAM2, MOSES1)7 was born 1649 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland7,8, and died August 31, 1723 in Nansemond County, Virginia9. He married SARAH COLEMAN9 16709. She was born 1655 in Northern Ireland9, and died 1723 in Nansemond County, Virginia9.

More About FRANCIS ROUNTREE and SARAH COLEMAN:

Marriage: 16709

Children of FRANCIS ROUNTREE and SARAH COLEMAN are:

i. JOHN6 ROUNTREE9.

ii. MOSES ROUNTREE9.

iii. ROBERT ROUNTREE9.

iv. THOMAS ROUNTREE9.

v. WILLIAM ROUNTREE9.

6. vi. FRANCIS ROUNTREE, b. 1678; d. 1748, North Carolina.

vii. CHARLES ROUNTREE9, b. 1680, London, England9; d. 1759, Northern Ireland9; m. LYDIE MCMAN9, 17129; b. 16829; d. 17479.

More About CHARLES ROUNTREE and LYDIE MCMAN:

Marriage: 17129

 

Generation No. 6

6. FRANCIS6 ROUNTREE (FRANCIS5, JOHN4, JOSEPH3, WILLIAM2, MOSES1)9 was born 16789, and died 1748 in North Carolina9. He married SUSAN AMES9.

Children of FRANCIS ROUNTREE and SUSAN AMES are:

i. FRANCES7 ROUNTREE9.

ii. KADOR ROUNTREE9.

iii. MOSES ROUNTREE9.

7. iv. WILLIAM ROUNTREE, b. Abt. 1699, Virginia; d. 1766, St. James Northam Parish, Goochland County, Virginia.

 

Generation No. 7

7. WILLIAM7 ROUNTREE (FRANCIS6, FRANCIS5, JOHN4, JOSEPH3, WILLIAM2, MOSES1)9 was born Abt. 1699 in Virginia10, and died 1766 in St. James Northam Parish, Goochland County, Virginia10. He married DORCAS DUDLEY, daughter of AMBROSE DUDLEY and JUDITH SCOTT. She was born in New Kent County, Virginia11.

Children of WILLIAM ROUNTREE and DORCAS DUDLEY are:

i. RANDALL8 ROUNTREE12, b. Abt. 172512; d. Abt. 1788, Goochland County, Virginia12.

8. ii. ISABELLA ROUNTREE, b. 1726, Virginia.

iii. DUDLEY ROUNTREE13, b. January 4, 1728/2913,14; d. 181215; m. SUSANNAH ROBERTS16, Abt. 175516; b. January 28, 1738/3916.

More About DUDLEY ROUNTREE and SUSANNAH ROBERTS:

Marriage: Abt. 175516

iv. WILLIAM ROUNTREE, JR.17, b. Abt. 173017; d. Bet. August - September 177517.

9. v. RICHARDSON ROUNTREE, b. Abt. 1736, St. James Northam Parish, Goochland County, Virginia; d. April 1819, Edgefield District, South Carolina.

vi. ELIZABETH ROUNTREE18, b. Abt. 173818; m. WILLIAM BAILEY18, June 4, 176118.

More About WILLIAM BAILEY and ELIZABETH ROUNTREE:

Marriage: June 4, 176118

vii. DORCUS ROUNTREE18, b. Abt. 1739, Virginia18; d. Aft. 180018; m. DRURY MURRELL18, September 29, 1763, Goochland County, Virginia18.

More About DRURY MURRELL and DORCUS ROUNTREE:

Marriage: September 29, 1763, Goochland County, Virginia18

viii. MARY ROUNTREE18, b. Abt. 174518; d. July 5, 181318; m. WILLIAM WHITLOCK18, December 22, 176718.

More About WILLIAM WHITLOCK and MARY ROUNTREE:

Marriage: December 22, 176718

ix. TURNER ROUNTREE19, b. Abt. 174520; d. 179721; m. SARAH WOODSON21, August 26, 176621.

More About TURNER ROUNTREE and SARAH WOODSON:

Marriage: August 26, 176621

x. THOMAS ROUNTREE21, b. 174821; d. 185521.

xi. DRUSILLA ROUNTREE21, b. 174922; m. ANTHONY HADEN23, July 4, 176523.

More About ANTHONY HADEN and DRUSILLA ROUNTREE:

Marriage: July 4, 176523

 

Generation No. 8

8. ISABELLA8 ROUNTREE (WILLIAM7, FRANCIS6, FRANCIS5, JOHN4, JOSEPH3, WILLIAM2, MOSES1)24 was born 1726 in Virginia24. She married WILLIAM GOLDSMITH25 1760 in Virginia26, son of WILLIAM GOLDSMITH and MARY LEWIS. He was born Abt. 1728 in St. James Northam Parish, Goochland County, Virginia27, and died Aft. 1763 in Virginia28.

Notes for WILLIAM GOLDSMITH:

5. Isabella Rountree (c1736 - ?) was probably the wife of William Goldsmith. William Rountree's will names "my daughter Isebell and her children" to receive the income from the hire of a slave, and left 15 shillings each to be made into rings and delivered to each of them when they reach the age of 15 to his named Goldsmith granddaughters. We assume the Goldsmith grandchildren were Isabellas. It is clear that William Goldsmith was their father, as he claimed the legacy for his children. We therefore assume Isabella was the wife of William Goldsmith. (I have seen it widely reported in DAR records that her husband was Richard Goldsmith, but this is clearly not the case. It is not known how this William Goldsmith may be related to the William Goldsmith who married her niece, but they were probably not father and son.)

LOUISA CO., VA GENWEB SEARCH: GOLDSMITH (2)

Tisdale, John Sr. Book: 3, Page: 91, Type: Will, Date: 6/13/1785

Written? Recorded 13 Jun 1785 Louisa County, Brawley Parrish; Sons John, Shirley, Daughter Elizabeth Moss, Mary Wheeler, Susannah Alegree, Sally Morris - decd, and grandchildren of Sally Morris: John, Elizabeth, Josephine [?], and Sally Morris. "my desire that old Negro Winch Phillis not be sold"; Negro Dick to son John, Negro Daniel to daughter Susannah. Executors are son John Tisdale, son-in-law Daniel Alegree. Witnesses William Goldsmith and Susendy [?] Goldsmith.

Tate, James Book: 2, Page: 239, Type: will, Date: 11/11/1776

Louisa county, to grandson John Tate, son of Uriah Tate, all the land I bought of my brother Nathan also the land I bought of WALTER GOLDSMITH; if John dies then sell land and divide between his two sisters Anne and Agness; to my grandson James, son of James, all the land I bought of Francis Hester? If James dies with no heirs then equally divided between Zimry Tate's three sons to wit (Miafrdo/Mafdo?), Thomas and Zimmy; son-in-law Enos Tate all the land given me by my father, if no heirs, then to my brother Enos Tate's son Robert Tate; wife Abagail, sons Uriah, James, dau's: Cicely Gardner, Elizabeth Tate, Abagail Tate, Margaret Tate; divided among all my grandchildren and Ciceley Gardner, Charles Hester excepted . Equally divided between my brother John Tate's daughters; administrator friends William Gardner, Enos Tate; written 17 Oct.1776; recorded 11 Nov.1776; witness Zimry Tate, Peter Schooler, Charles Daniel Jr., John Gardner

 

More About WILLIAM GOLDSMITH and ISABELLA ROUNTREE:

Marriage: 1760, Virginia29

Children of ISABELLA ROUNTREE and WILLIAM GOLDSMITH are:

i. MASSIE9 GOLDSMITH29, b. Abt. 175030.

ii. MARTHA GOLDSMITH31, b. Abt. 1755, Goochland County, Virginia32.

iii. ELIZABETH GOLDSMITH33, b. Abt. 175734; m. ARMIGER LILLY34, November 8, 1790, Louisa County, Virginia34; b. Abt. 1760, Fluvanna County, Virginia, possibly France34.

More About ARMIGER LILLY and ELIZABETH GOLDSMITH:

Marriage: November 8, 1790, Louisa County, Virginia34

iv. MILLY GOLDSMITH35, b. Abt. 175936.

v. WILLIAM GOLDSMITH, b. Abt. 1760, Virginia; d. Abt. 1834, Simpsonville, Greenville County, South Carolina37; m. ELIZABETH ROUNTREE38, Abt. 1783, Richardson Rountree's Home in Fairforest, Union District, South Carolina; b. Abt. 1766, Goochland County, Virginia39; d. 1847, Simpsonville, Greenville County, South Carolina40.

Notes for WILLIAM GOLDSMITH:

WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH ROUNTREE GOLDSMITH AND FAMILY

On September 5, 1789, John McCooll and Jane his wife sold to William Goldsmith, both of Union County, for 13 guineas, two lots of one-half acre each, "now in his actual possession," adjoining land "Whereon the Court House and Gaol now stand." Witnesses: John and Henry Birdsong, and John Murrell (Deed Bk. B, pp. 236-237).

John Murrell is thought to have been a son of Drury Murrell and a first cousin of Elizabeth, wife of William Goldsmith.

Elizabeth was one of the older daughters of Richardson Rountree's first marriage. Born about 1766, probably in Goochland County, Virginia, before her parents moved to South Carolina, she reportedly married "her cousin," William Goldsmith. This marriage probably occurred about 1783, and is said to have taken place at her father's home in the Fairforest area. Elizabeth reportedly died at about the age of 80, and William at age 79. In the 1790s they moved from Union to Greenville District and lived there the remainder of their lives.

Shortly after 1900, William Thomas Goldsmith of Fulton County, Georgia, a grandson of the couple--in response to a published inquiry--wrote a very interesting record concerning William and Elizabeth and some of their children. Goldsmith descendants will find this report of particular interest. William's father is said to have been the Rev. Richard Goldsmith, a Presbyterian minister living at Richmond, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War.

At the age of seventeen William is reported to have enlisted in the army, and his company and regiment assigned to the command of Gen. Horatio Gates. This regiment was one of the units which unfortunately experienced military defeat, by the forces of Lord Cornwallis, at Camden, South Carolina on August 16, 1780. William, at that time, was simultaneously a victim of malarial fever, but this may have helped to save his life. His grandson, writing many years later, gives a graphic account of his grandfather's hazardous escape from the battle area around Camden, and his slow but eventual recovery from his illness.

While in the Union County area (then in Ninety-Six District), William reportedly visited his Rountree cousins in the vicinity of Fairforest, and to have returned, still later, from Richmond, Virginia, and married Elizabeth Rountree.

This couple was listed in the 1790 Union County census, and apparently had two sons and two daughters at that time. Judging from the purchase of lots late in 1789, from Capt. John McCooll, they must have lived in Union Village.

At the time of the 1800 Greenville County census they apparently had four sons and three daughters. By 1810, there appear to be nine children, four sons and five daughters. The family evidently lived in vicinity of Durbins Creek, on the Enoree River.

The estate of William Goldsmith, Senr., was entered for administration in Greenville District about March, 1834 (Apt. 3, File 198, Probate Judge's Office). The heirs are shown to have been his widow, Elizabeth; Sons Thomas, William, Jr., and Turner. Grandchildren Elizabeth, Milley, Massey, Turner, and Mariah, children of son John, deceased. William's daughters Lucy, wife of William Daugherty, Sally, wife of William B. Willingham, Milley, wife of Josiah Greer; and the children of daughter Polly Howard, deceased: Lemuel, James, Lewis, Nancy, Polly, Elijah, Fatima, and Benjamin F. Howard.

Son John, who predeceased his father, is said to have moved to the State of North Carolina and raised a family. Judging from the Greenville District census listings, this must have been after 1820.

Son William, Jr., who married Lucy ? , is said to have moved to Dekalb County, Georgia, and to have died there in 1854. He presumably was the William Goldsmith, Jr. listed as heading households in Greenville District in 1820 (p. 97) --- then evidently not long married --- and again in 1830 (p. 300).

Grandson William Thomas Goldsmith provides a good record for the family of his parents, Turner and Maria Louisa Stokes Goldsmith. He says that his father "died in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1892, aged eighty-nine years." His account does not, however, indicate that the family lived for a time in Edgefield District, S.C., which appears to have been the case. In the 1840 Edgefield census, the family of Turner Goldsmith, aged 30-40, is listed twice (pp. 54, 80), with identical family data recorded. In one listing they are shown as residents in the Town of Harrisburg.

About twenty years earlier -- in May and August, 1820 -- Turner's father had received, in Edgefield District, the legacy due his wife, Elizabeth, from the Rountree estate. And a year before that -- on May 18-19, 1819 -- Turner's older brother, Thomas, had purchased "1 bed & furniture" at the Edgefield sales of his late grandfather, Richardson Rountree's estate. Thomas, who married Sally Cook, was a long-time resident of Greenville County. He died there on April 28, 1868, at the age of 80 (Greenville, S.C., cemetery records, and Deed Bk. CC, p. 62).

William Goldsmith, Sr., evidently did not file for pension on the basis of his revolutionary service. His name does appear on the Ancestral Roll, South Carolina Chapter, D.A.R. (compiled 1938, by Mrs. E.T. Crawford, State Registrar).

 

---Arthur M. Reagan

Union County Heritage Bk., p. 114

More About WILLIAM GOLDSMITH:

Burial: Old Goldsmith Family Cemetery, Simpsonville, South Carolina

Military service: Fought as a private in the Revolutionary War.

Notes for ELIZABETH ROUNTREE:

Appraisement of the Estate of Elizabeth Goldsmith

One chest $1.00

One clock $4.00

One bed & furniture $10.00

One Lot bed clothes $12.00

6 chairs $1.50

One Table Book & Trunk $2.00

One wheel $0.50

3 sides Bacon $3.25

One sifter & tray $3.70

2 (bales?) & oats $1.12

One ----- Tub $0.75

One cutting knife

2 barrels $3.00

Corn $1.00

Fodder $0.75

One Lot Hogs $10.00

One mare $25.00

One colt $15.00

One bucket $0.50

One Wagon $10.00

Gear & plows $1.00

One Negro Man $625.00

One rocking chair $1.25

Wheat (sowed?) $5.00

Lot bottles oil Tea of- $0.75

We the undersigned persons qualified appraisers do hereby certify that the forgiving statement is a true & correct ------ of the value of all the property (indebted?) to us by Tho. P. Brockton an administrator of the estate of Elizabeth dec. (?) April 26th 1844.

Miles Garrett

Nathan Davis

Samuel Howard

More About ELIZABETH ROUNTREE:

Burial: Old Goldsmith Family Cemetery, Simpsonville, South Carolina

More About WILLIAM GOLDSMITH and ELIZABETH ROUNTREE:

Marriage: Abt. 1783, Richardson Rountree's Home in Fairforest, Union District, South Carolina

vi. LEWSENDER GOLDSMITH41, b. Abt. 1761, Goochland County, Virginia42; m. JOHN BAILEY42, January 15, 1786, Louisa County, Virginia42; b. Abt. 1760, Goochland County, Virginia42.

More About JOHN BAILEY and LEWSENDER GOLDSMITH:

Marriage: January 15, 1786, Louisa County, Virginia42

vii. LEWSY GOLDSMITH43, b. Abt. 1763, Goochland County, Virginia44; m. RANDOLPH WATSON44, August 4, 1788, Louisa County, Virginia44; b. Abt. 1760, Goochland County, Virginia44.

More About RANDOLPH WATSON and LEWSY GOLDSMITH:

Marriage: August 4, 1788, Louisa County, Virginia44

 

9. RICHARDSON8 ROUNTREE (WILLIAM7, FRANCIS6, FRANCIS5, JOHN4, JOSEPH3, WILLIAM2, MOSES1) was born Abt. 1736 in St. James Northam Parish, Goochland County, Virginia45, and died April 1819 in Edgefield District, South Carolina45. He married (1) MATILDA ANDERSON46. She was born 173546, and died Bet. 1773 - 1775 in Edgefield County, South Carolina46. He married (2) MILDRED47. She was born 174648,49, and died 181550.

Notes for RICHARDSON ROUNTREE:

From "Memoirs of Georgia," p. 377, "My great-great Grandfather" by A. J. Roundtree of Quitman:

"He is of S. C. stock, his grandfather and father having lived in Edgefield district.

Richard Roundtree (my great-great grandfather) his grandfather was living there during the Revolutionary war and was a very wealthy planter. He joined the Patriot Army, serving as a Captain and on one occasion while at home an incident occured which showed his great nerve and courage. He was known as a man of wealth and belived to be possessed of not small amount of money. This was a tempting bait for the Tories, who learning of his presence at home, surprised and captured him and attempted to force him to divulge its hiding place. With determined courage he held out against them although they went to the desperate extreme of tying and leaving him in the swamp. After the Tories left, a faithful negro released him after he had been in the swamp two days and saved his life and he lived to rear a large family.

This remarkable man had a family of eighteen children. Three daughters remained in S. C. One of these married Wiley Barry; another Samuel Stanaher; and a third Thomas Goldsmith [sic (should be William Goldsmith)]

<b>Richardson Rountree<b/>

(c1735 March 1819)

Richardson was probably born in the late 1730s in New Kent County, Virginia. He seems to have married first about 1760, but the name of that wife is unknown. Whoever she was, she was likely the mother of almost half his alleged eighteen children. He clearly had at least two wives, but the name of the first never appears in the records. The name of the last wife was "Mildred", though whether she was the mother of any of the children is unknown. She was long ago thought to be "Mildred Hart", but that has since been disproven. Richardson is thought to have moved from Goochland County, Virginia to Fairforest sometime in the late 1760s along with this wife and the beginnings of his large family.

He was residing in South Carolina by 25 September 1768, when he sold to his brother Randall 200 acres in Goochland County which was "part of the tract on which William Rountree, deceased, lived and devised by his last will and testament to the said Richardson Rountree,"[1]. The clerk recorded this as a "deed of mortgage", meaning probably that it was subject to a future payment. On 27 November 1770 Richardson, still "of the Province of South Carolina", made a completed sale to his brother Randall to facilitate Randalls sale of the land[2].

His brother Turner Rountree apparently moved to South Carolina with him. He and his brother Turner served on several juries in the old Ninety-six District, "Spartan" Division[3].

He is an accepted DAR patriot, based on a records that he engaged in "Militia duty in Brandons Regt., before & since the fall of Charlestown."[4] He was a Captain in that regiment. A grandson, Andrew Jackson Rountree (born in 1818, the son of Richardsons youngest child, Daniel Rountree), gave an account in the 1890s of this service[5]:

"Richard(sic) Rountree, his grandfather was living [in Edgefield district] during the revolutionary war, and was a very wealthy planter. He joined the patriot army, serving as a captain, and on one occasion while at home an incident occurred which showed his great nerve and courage. He was known as a man of wealth, and believed to be possessed of no small amount of money. This was a tempting bait to the tories, who, learning of his presence at home, surprised and captured him, and attempted to force him to divulge its hiding place. With determined courage he held out against them, although they went to the desperate extreme of tying and leaving him in the swamp. After the tories left, a faithful negro released him after he had been in the swamp two days and saved his life, and he lived to raise a large family. This remarkable man had a family of eighteen children. Three daughters remained in South Carolina. One of these married Wiley Barry; another Samuel Stalnaker, and a third Thomas Goldsmith. Five of the daughters settled in Jasper County, Ga., one marrying Jefferson Smith, another Cary Cox, another Asa Cox, another Stevens and the fifth Wilborn. James Rountree made York District, S.C., his home. Thomas went to reside near Huntsville, Ala., and William somewhere in Tennessee. The subject of this sketch is unable to mention the residence of the remaining six children."[6]

We also have a lengthier account of the same story from a great-grandson, William T. Goldsmith, writing about 1900[7]. This document named his great-grandfather "Daniel" rather than Richardson, (and Ive corrected that error in the following) but the story is essentially similar:

"Richardson Rountree was the father of Elizabeth, wife of William Goldsmith, our grandfather. Richardson Rountree was a captain in the American ArmyDuring the war and while on a furlough home, Richardson Rountrees premises were raided by a roving band of ToriesCaptain Rountree refused to tell them where his valuables were hidden, whereupon they tied him and threatened to hang him in the presence of his family. My grandmother was a witness to this and related it to my father. Finding they could not gain their object, they tied his hands behind his back, and disregarding the entreaties of his wife and daughters, they marched him away from his home asserting that they would kill any member of his family who dared to follow. Some distance from his home, in a deep forest, he was made to embrace a small tree (you see he was a round tree then), while his hands were made fast with hickory withes, and he was left to perish. After a painful struggle of many hours he at last succeeded in liberating himself by biting away the withes with his teeth. He returned to his command at Charleston, S. C., and was in the service until mustered out at the close of the war."

On 3 April 1786 Richardson was granted 316 acres on Buffalo Creek, a branch of the Fairforest. He had probably entered the claim several years before and was already living on the land. He sold part of this grant on 21 December 1790 to Ephraim Wilborn with Richard Powell and his son James Rowntree as witnesses[8].

Richardson was in the 1790 census of Union County, in Col. Thomas Brandons Regiment, with two males under sixteen, seven females, and six slaves. James Roundtree (sic) was listed separately in Union County, and his presumed son William was likely the "William Roventree" listed in Laurens County. William Goldsmith, husband of Elizabeth Rountree, was also listed in Union County. This accounts for all the known children, and suggests one additional younger son.

On 1 January 1794 "Richardson Rountree, planter, and Mildred his wife" of Union County, sold the remaining 100 acres of the 1786 grant[9]. A bit earlier, on 15 March 1793, Richardson and Mildred sold 125 acres to Thomas Wilborn[10]; how this land was acquired is unknown. This is the first known record of Richardsons wife.

It appears that following this sale, Richardson and Mildred, along with several minor children, moved into the northern part of Edgefield District. Several grown and married children were left behind in the Union County area. Richardson is enumerated in both the 1800 and 1810 censuses of Edgefield County. Both censuses suggest that there might have been additional children who predeceased their father. Mildred was still living on 3 February 1814 when she and Richardson made a deed of gift to their son Daniel Rountree, but she predeceased her husband.

Richardson died intestate in Edgefield District, evidently in March 1819. On 26 March 1819 his sons James and Daniel applied for letters of administration. They were made co-administrators on 20 April 1819. James and Daniel were evidently the only surviving sons left in South Carolina. Daniel, the younger son by about 30 years, carried the bulk of the administrator duties, apparently because James was living in Union County. These records make it clear Mildred had died before Richardson. Thomas and William, who had long since left the state, were each paid $725 in 1821 Thomas living in Tennessee and William in Alabama.

It seems fairly clear that he had at least two wives the children were born over a 32-year period. The identity of his presumed first wife is entirely unknown. Mildred was his wife at least by 1793, but when they married is uncertain, and therefore its not clear if she was the mother of any of the children. It is widely reported that her maiden name was "Hart", but I have never seen any evidence of this.

Analysis of Richardsons estate records[11] and some further research identify twelve children. Several of the eighteen children attributed to him by the above legend must have died well before 1819. The first few children below (and the order is uncertain) are probably children of the first marriage.

1. James Rountree (c1761- 8 November 1848) James was a revolutionary soldier, also in Brandons regiment. He married by 1783, as his son William H. Rountree was born 13 February 1784, but the name of his wife is unknown. James lived in Union County, SC, having purchased land there in 1781. He died on 8 November 1848 in Union County. Children: William H., Richardson, Mary "Polly" (Vaughn), John H., Turner, Matilda, and Jesse H. Rountree. Interestingly enough, several of his descendants ended up in Titus County, Texas.

2. William Rountree (c1765 1836) There is considerable persuasive circumstantial evidence, but no incontrovertible proof, that the William Rountree of the next chapter is the same person. (See below.)

3. Elizabeth Rountree (c1766 aft 1834) married William Goldsmith about 1783. According to the above record he is thought to be the son of Rev. Richard Goldsmith, but that is in doubt. They lived in Union County, then Greenville. William died in Greenville County, SC in 1834 leaving Elizabeth and sons Thomas, William Jr., and Turner (son John predeceased him) and daughters Lucy (Daugherty) Sally (Willingham), Milly (Greer), and a deceased daughter Polly (Howard).

4. Rebecca Rountree (c1770 - c1858), who married Samuel Stalnaker apparently in Edgefield District in 1800 He seems to have died there in 1826. She evidently did not remarry. Her own will was recorded in Edgefield County in 1858.

5. Mary Rountree (1772 1851), who married Elijah Wilborn about 1791. He died in 1819 in Union County. Mary died in Panola County, Mississippi in 1851. They had at least three children Mary, Jane, and William Rountree Wilbourn.

6. Maria Rountree (1775 - 1856) married Asa Cox, brother of Cary Cox, Jr. They moved to Jones County, Georgia and Maria died in Harris County, Georgia. [As an interesting coincidence, one of their children purchased the "Ararat" plantation of Samuel Cook, father of Asa B. Cook.]

7. Thomas H(art?) Rountree (27 March 1778 15 June 1828). He moved from Greenville County to Lincoln County, Tennessee by 1813 and died there in 1828. He married Mary Gilbreath and later Sarah Price. He was one of the founders of Lynchburg, Tennessee. His will was dated 8 April 1828 and probated three months later in Lincoln County. His will names as children: James L. Rountree, William G. Rountree, Ann Rountree, Mary Rountree, Katherine Shaw, Elizabeth Landess, and Nancy Smith.

8. Martha Rountree (6 October 1783 30 June 1868). She married Cary Cox, Jr., brother of Asa Cox, in 1799 and had sixteen children. They also moved to Jones County, Georgia but were in Putnam County, Georgia by the settlement of Richardsons estate, and Martha died there.

9. Sarah Clara Rountree (1784 1877) married James Smith. They evidently moved to Georgia.

10. Isabel(la) Rountree (c1785 - ?) married William Stevens and also moved to Putnam County, Georgia.

11. Mildred Rountree (c1787 aft 1838) married Wiley H. Berry and seems to have remained in Edgefield County. Berry died intestate in 1838, leaving Milly and a single child, Jefferson A. Berry.

12. Daniel Rountree (c1793 aft 1850) The deed of gift from his father in 1814 must have occurred near his 21st birthday. He married Fannie Nelson, then Elizabeth Dorothy. According to A. J. Rountree, there were eight children by the first marriage and one by the second. Daniel died in Edgefield County sometime after 1850.

[http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreerichardson.html]

 

 

 

 

 

Children of RICHARDSON ROUNTREE and MATILDA ANDERSON are:

i. JAMES9 ROUNTREE51, b. Abt. 1761, St. James Northam Parish, Goochland County, Virginia52; m. NANCY STEVENS53.

ii. WILLIAM ROUNTREE54, b. Abt. 176554; d. 183654.

iii. ELIZABETH ROUNTREE55, b. Abt. 1766, Goochland County, Virginia56; d. 1847, Simpsonville, Greenville County, South Carolina57; m. WILLIAM GOLDSMITH, Abt. 1783, Richardson Rountree's Home in Fairforest, Union District, South Carolina; b. Abt. 1760, Virginia; d. Abt. 1834, Simpsonville, Greenville County, South Carolina58.

Notes for ELIZABETH ROUNTREE:

Appraisement of the Estate of Elizabeth Goldsmith

One chest $1.00

One clock $4.00

One bed & furniture $10.00

One Lot bed clothes $12.00

6 chairs $1.50

One Table Book & Trunk $2.00

One wheel $0.50

3 sides Bacon $3.25

One sifter & tray $3.70

2 (bales?) & oats $1.12

One ----- Tub $0.75

One cutting knife

2 barrels $3.00

Corn $1.00

Fodder $0.75

One Lot Hogs $10.00

One mare $25.00

One colt $15.00

One bucket $0.50

One Wagon $10.00

Gear & plows $1.00

One Negro Man $625.00

One rocking chair $1.25

Wheat (sowed?) $5.00

Lot bottles oil Tea of- $0.75

We the undersigned persons qualified appraisers do hereby certify that the forgiving statement is a true & correct ------ of the value of all the property (indebted?) to us by Tho. P. Brockton an administrator of the estate of Elizabeth dec. (?) April 26th 1844.

Miles Garrett

Nathan Davis

Samuel Howard

More About ELIZABETH ROUNTREE:

Burial: Old Goldsmith Family Cemetery, Simpsonville, South Carolina

Notes for WILLIAM GOLDSMITH:

WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH ROUNTREE GOLDSMITH AND FAMILY

On September 5, 1789, John McCooll and Jane his wife sold to William Goldsmith, both of Union County, for 13 guineas, two lots of one-half acre each, "now in his actual possession," adjoining land "Whereon the Court House and Gaol now stand." Witnesses: John and Henry Birdsong, and John Murrell (Deed Bk. B, pp. 236-237).

John Murrell is thought to have been a son of Drury Murrell and a first cousin of Elizabeth, wife of William Goldsmith.

Elizabeth was one of the older daughters of Richardson Rountree's first marriage. Born about 1766, probably in Goochland County, Virginia, before her parents moved to South Carolina, she reportedly married "her cousin," William Goldsmith. This marriage probably occurred about 1783, and is said to have taken place at her father's home in the Fairforest area. Elizabeth reportedly died at about the age of 80, and William at age 79. In the 1790s they moved from Union to Greenville District and lived there the remainder of their lives.

Shortly after 1900, William Thomas Goldsmith of Fulton County, Georgia, a grandson of the couple--in response to a published inquiry--wrote a very interesting record concerning William and Elizabeth and some of their children. Goldsmith descendants will find this report of particular interest. William's father is said to have been the Rev. Richard Goldsmith, a Presbyterian minister living at Richmond, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War.

At the age of seventeen William is reported to have enlisted in the army, and his company and regiment assigned to the command of Gen. Horatio Gates. This regiment was one of the units which unfortunately experienced military defeat, by the forces of Lord Cornwallis, at Camden, South Carolina on August 16, 1780. William, at that time, was simultaneously a victim of malarial fever, but this may have helped to save his life. His grandson, writing many years later, gives a graphic account of his grandfather's hazardous escape from the battle area around Camden, and his slow but eventual recovery from his illness.

While in the Union County area (then in Ninety-Six District), William reportedly visited his Rountree cousins in the vicinity of Fairforest, and to have returned, still later, from Richmond, Virginia, and married Elizabeth Rountree.

This couple was listed in the 1790 Union County census, and apparently had two sons and two daughters at that time. Judging from the purchase of lots late in 1789, from Capt. John McCooll, they must have lived in Union Village.

At the time of the 1800 Greenville County census they apparently had four sons and three daughters. By 1810, there appear to be nine children, four sons and five daughters. The family evidently lived in vicinity of Durbins Creek, on the Enoree River.

The estate of William Goldsmith, Senr., was entered for administration in Greenville District about March, 1834 (Apt. 3, File 198, Probate Judge's Office). The heirs are shown to have been his widow, Elizabeth; Sons Thomas, William, Jr., and Turner. Grandchildren Elizabeth, Milley, Massey, Turner, and Mariah, children of son John, deceased. William's daughters Lucy, wife of William Daugherty, Sally, wife of William B. Willingham, Milley, wife of Josiah Greer; and the children of daughter Polly Howard, deceased: Lemuel, James, Lewis, Nancy, Polly, Elijah, Fatima, and Benjamin F. Howard.

Son John, who predeceased his father, is said to have moved to the State of North Carolina and raised a family. Judging from the Greenville District census listings, this must have been after 1820.

Son William, Jr., who married Lucy ? , is said to have moved to Dekalb County, Georgia, and to have died there in 1854. He presumably was the William Goldsmith, Jr. listed as heading households in Greenville District in 1820 (p. 97) --- then evidently not long married --- and again in 1830 (p. 300).

Grandson William Thomas Goldsmith provides a good record for the family of his parents, Turner and Maria Louisa Stokes Goldsmith. He says that his father "died in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1892, aged eighty-nine years." His account does not, however, indicate that the family lived for a time in Edgefield District, S.C., which appears to have been the case. In the 1840 Edgefield census, the family of Turner Goldsmith, aged 30-40, is listed twice (pp. 54, 80), with identical family data recorded. In one listing they are shown as residents in the Town of Harrisburg.

About twenty years earlier -- in May and August, 1820 -- Turner's father had received, in Edgefield District, the legacy due his wife, Elizabeth, from the Rountree estate. And a year before that -- on May 18-19, 1819 -- Turner's older brother, Thomas, had purchased "1 bed & furniture" at the Edgefield sales of his late grandfather, Richardson Rountree's estate. Thomas, who married Sally Cook, was a long-time resident of Greenville County. He died there on April 28, 1868, at the age of 80 (Greenville, S.C., cemetery records, and Deed Bk. CC, p. 62).

William Goldsmith, Sr., evidently did not file for pension on the basis of his revolutionary service. His name does appear on the Ancestral Roll, South Carolina Chapter, D.A.R. (compiled 1938, by Mrs. E.T. Crawford, State Registrar).

 

---Arthur M. Reagan

Union County Heritage Bk., p. 114

More About WILLIAM GOLDSMITH:

Burial: Old Goldsmith Family Cemetery, Simpsonville, South Carolina

Military service: Fought as a private in the Revolutionary War.

More About WILLIAM GOLDSMITH and ELIZABETH ROUNTREE:

Marriage: Abt. 1783, Richardson Rountree's Home in Fairforest, Union District, South Carolina

iv. REBECCA ROUNTREE59, b. Abt. 1770, South Carolina60; d. Abt. 1858, Edgefield County, South Carolina60; m. SAMUEL STALNAKER60.

v. MARY ROUNTREE61,62, b. 177263,64; d. 1851, Panola County, Mississippi64; m. (1) ELIJAH WILBOURN65; d. 180765; m. (2) ELIJAH WILBORN66.

Children of RICHARDSON ROUNTREE and MILDRED are:

vi. THOMAS HART9 ROUNTREE67, b. March 27, 1778, Fairforest, South Carolina68; d. June 15, 1828, Moore County, Tennessee68; m. MARY GILBREATH68; d. 181568.

vii. MARIAH ROUNTREE68, b. March 8, 1780, Union County, South Carolina68; d. December 8, 1854, Harris County, Georgia68; m. ASA COX68; b. 1773, Halifax County, North Carolina68.

viii. MILDRED ROUNTREE69, b. Bet. 1780 - 179070; d. Aft. 183870; m. WILEY H. BERRY70, Bef. 181070.

More About WILEY BERRY and MILDRED ROUNTREE:

Marriage: Bef. 181070

ix. MARTHA ROUNTREE71, b. October 6, 178372,73; d. June 30, 186374,75; m. CARY COX, JR.76, January 10, 179977; b. 177878; d. 187178.

More About CARY COX and MARTHA ROUNTREE:

Marriage: January 10, 179979

x. SARAH CLARA ROUNTREE80, b. 178480; d. 187780; m. JAMES JEFFERSON SMITH80; b. 178580; d. 185880.

xi. ISABELLA ROUNTREE81, b. Abt. 178582,83; m. WILLIAM STEVENS84.

xii. DANIEL ROUNTREE85, b. 179286; m. FANNIE NELSON87.

xiii. WILLIAM ROUNTREE88, b. Aft. 178588; d. 1872, Travis County, Texas88; m. NANCY TURNER88, Lincoln County, Tennessee88; b. Lynchburg, Tennessee.

More About WILLIAM ROUNTREE and NANCY TURNER:

Marriage: Lincoln County, Tennessee88

 

 

Endnotes

1. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

2. Rountree Family from P. M. Prince in Texas.

3. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

4. Rountree Family from P. M. Prince in Texas.

5. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

6. Rountree Family from P. M. Prince in Texas.

7. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

8. Rountree Family from P. M. Prince in Texas.

9. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

10. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

11. Goldsmith - Woodside - Charles Family Record, compiled by Inez Goldsmith.

12. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

13. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

14. Vestry Book of Saint Peter's Parish.

15. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

16. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

17. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

18. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

19. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

20. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

21. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

22. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

23. "Descendants of Moses Rountree," Ron Gurtler.

24. GenForum: Rountree.

25. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

26. GenForum: Rountree.

27. http://www.familysearch.org/.

28. Richard Goldsmith would have died after 1763, because his last daughter, Lewsy (Lucy) Goldsmith Watson was born in 1763.

29. GenForum: Rountree.

30. http://www.familysearch.org/.

31. GenForum: Rountree.

32. http://www.familysearch.org/.

33. GenForum: Rountree.

34. http://www.familysearch.org/.

35. GenForum: Rountree.

36. http://www.familysearch.org/.

37. Estate of William Goldsmith.

38. "Goldsmith-Woodside-Charles Family Record," gathered by Inez Goldsmith.

39. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

40. Estate of Elizabeth Goldsmith.

41. GenForum: Rountree.

42. http://www.familysearch.org/.

43. GenForum: Rountree.

44. http://www.familysearch.org/.

45. Ancestry.com.

46. GenForum: Rountree.

47. Edgefield County, SC Deeds.

48. GenForum: Rountree.

49. DAR #572,084 (DAR Application of Mrs. Charlotte Josephine Moseley, a descendant of Richardson's & Mildred's daughter Sara Clare Rountree).

50. GenForum: Rountree.

51. "Goldsmith-Woodside-Charles Family Record," gathered by Inez Goldsmith.

52. GenForum: Rountree.

53. "Goldsmith-Woodside-Charles Family Record," gathered by Inez Goldsmith.

54. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

55. "Goldsmith-Woodside-Charles Family Record," gathered by Inez Goldsmith.

56. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

57. Estate of Elizabeth Goldsmith.

58. Estate of William Goldsmith.

59. "Goldsmith-Woodside-Charles Family Record," gathered by Inez Goldsmith.

60. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

61. DAR #105874, Mrs. Susie Pruet Martin, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Molly (Rountree) Wilbourn.

62. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

63. DAR #105874, Mrs. Susie Pruet Martin, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Molly (Rountree) Wilbourn.

64. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

65. DAR #105874, Mrs. Susie Pruet Martin, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Molly (Rountree) Wilbourn.

66. http://home.nc.rr.com/rwbaird/rountree/rountreewilliam1.html.

67. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall, p. 167.

68. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

69. GenForum: Rountree.

70. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

71. GenForum: Rountree.

72. DAR #107352, Mrs. Clara Robinson Harrison, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Martha (Rountree) Cox.

73. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

74. DAR #107352, Mrs. Clara Robinson Harrison, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Martha (Rountree) Cox.

75. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

76. DAR #107352, Mrs. Clara Robinson Harrison, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Martha (Rountree) Cox.

77. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

78. DAR #107352, Mrs. Clara Robinson Harrison, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Martha (Rountree) Cox.

79. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

80. DAR #101692, Mrs. Charleigh L. Mclemore Baugh, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Sarah Clara (Rountree) Smith.

81. GenForum: Rountree.

82. DAR #157043, Mrs. Lillian Stevens Lake, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Isabella (Rountree) Stevens.

83. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

84. DAR #157043, Mrs. Lillian Stevens Lake, descendant of Richardson Rountree through his daughter, Isabella (Rountree) Stevens.

85. GenForum: Rountree.

86. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

87. http://www.familysearch.org/.

88. "The Hall Family of Kentucky and Texas," Revised. Compiled by Roy Marland Hall.

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