Thomas Lee SHORT

Other Events:

• _UID: 2FB85704EFAB4F73A97B751A74383FE6221D

Notes:

Died from a bullet wound inflicted by Bliss Altizer during a card game. Joan Banner, a daughter of Celia, said that Tom drew on Bliss, but the bullet hit the holster so Bliss then fired at Tom, mortally wounding him. Tom as taken by the other participants into a field of cut corn, propped him up against cornshucks, unconscious and bleeding. The nex morning he was found dead. He is buried in the Whitaker Cemetery on Whitaker Ridge.

16 Dec 1921 Clinch Valley News
Tom SHORT, a well known citizen of the Whitaker Ridge Community, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon last about 2 o'clock, on "Grassy Spur" by Bliss ALTIZER, who is also well known in that community. The shooting, according to information reaching this office, was the result of a poker game, in which the men had been engaged prior to the shooting. At the conclusion of the game the men separated, going in opposite directions, when without warning, SHORT shot ALTIZER with a pistol, the bullet penetrating his body. ALTIZER immediately turned and emptied a load load of bird shot into SHORT'S body, inflicting a wound from which he died a short time afterwards. ALTIZER was given a preliminary hearing, Magistrate HEAVERS, presiding, and released on a $1,000 bond for appearance here in court. From the information we have received it appears the shooting of SHORT was justifiable. SHORT is survived by a wife and one child, and was about 25 years old. He served five years in the US Army.

23 Dec 1921 Clinch Valley News
Bandy, Va. December 17. Editor the News: Please correct the mistake of the poker game and killing of Tom SHORT, as it was done on the Altizer Ridge, a distance of three or four miles from Whitaker Ridge. Give the Whitaker Ridge justice. M.S. WHITAKER.


CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Thos Short
Age: 5
Birth Date: Sep 1894
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Great Grand Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 67
Nancy Ward 70
Sallie Ward 47
Victoria Ward 27
Thos Short 5

1910 Census
Name: Thomas Short
Age in 1910: 15
Birth Year: abt 1895
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Grandson
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Sallie Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Zach Ward 77
Nancy Ward 83
Sallie Chambers 52
Thomas Short 15

Thomas married Cecilia (Celia) Day WHITAKER 16 Jul 1920, Richlands, Tazewell Co. VA. Cecilia (daughter of Thomas W. WHITAKER and Mary L. ALTIZER) was born 22 Sep 1901, Tazewell Co. VA; died 14 May 1929, Canebreak, McDowell Co. WV; was buried , Vallscreek, McDowell Co. WV. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
Name: Thos. N. Short
Birth Date: 1894
Birthplace:
Age: 26
Spouse's Name: Celia Whitaker
Spouse's Birth Date: 1901
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age: 19
Event Date: 16 Jul 1920
Event Place: Richlands, Tazewell, Virginia
Father's Name: Everett Short
Mother's Name: Allie [Alafair Chambers]
Spouse's Father's Name: T. W. Whitaker
Spouse's Mother's Name: Nancy [Mary Altizer]
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01695-5
System Origin: Virginia-EASy
GS Film number: 34214
Reference ID: P265 L126

1. Pansy Marie SHORT was born 4 Jul 1920; died 08 Jun 2010, Wytheville, VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Cedar Bluff, VA.
2. Robert L. SHORT was born 1922; died 1990, Bluefield, Tazewell Co..

Other Events:

• _UID: 5AD97590176049C38343748E8F1EAF603FB5

Everett married Alafair CHAMBERS. Alafair (daughter of Thomas Douglas (Red Tom) CHAMBERS and Sarah (Sallie) WARD) was born ca 1875, Virginia; died Aft Sep 1894, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: E08A7A93A5D64720A66393F1D6A8352BC4FE

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1880 Census
Name: Alafim Chambers
Age: 5
Birth Year: abt 1875
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter (Child)
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Thomas Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Sallie Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Chambers 23
Sallie Chambers 27
Alafim Chambers 5
Thomas C. Chambers 1

Other Events:

• _UID: FE44085490FA44E09BCF7BB890F0AE52694F

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Census
Name: Thomas D Elswick
Age in 1870: 14
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Name Age
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buanavesta Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

Note: He and his brother, Elbert Wade, are using his stepfather's last name, but Thomas and Elbert Wade return to their mother's maiden name for the rest of their lives.

1880 Census
Name: Thomas Chambers
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sallie Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Chambers 23
Sallie Chambers 27
Alafim Chambers 5 [Alafair]
Thomas C. Chambers 1

1900 Census
Name: Thomas D Chambers
Age: 47
Birth Date: Feb 1853
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1910 Census
Name: Thomas W Chambers
Age in 1910: 54
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas W Chambers 54
Eady Chambers 44
Grace Chambers 17

1920 Census
Name: T D Chambers
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Ridge Between Levisa River And Grassy Creek
House Number: Farm
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Farm Labor
Industry: Home Farm
Employment Field: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
T D Chambers 64
Eady Chambers 54

1930 Census
Name: Thomas D Chamber [Chambers]
Birth Year: abt 1856
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Father-In-Law (Father)
Home in 1930: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 20
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Nathan W Wade 52
Mallie E Wade 45
Carl Wade 18
Vennie Wade 12
Gladis Wade 7
Rufus Wade 4 years 10 months
Clarie Orsborn 19
Thomas D Chambers 74

PARENTS

Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family. John McClintock, Jr. told me what the family stories were, but there was no confirmation until Thomas D. Chamber's death certificate.

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10737998&ref=acom

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia

Name: Thomas Douglas Chambers
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 75 years 2 months and 16 days
Birth Date: 2 Feb 1876 [Note: It looks like the registrar wrote in his birth year as 1876, when in should be 1856 according to his age]
Death Date: 19 Apr 1931
Death Place: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 20 Apr 1931
Father: Gillespie Thomas [Thomas Gillespie]
Mother: Emmyline Chambers
Certificate Number: 1931009027
Informant: N. W. Wade, his son-in-law.
[Note: Thomas was living with Mollie and Nathan in the 1930 census]

Thomas married Sarah (Sallie) WARD 03 Dec 1874, Tazewell Co. VA. Sarah (daughter of Zachariah Ward and Nancy Billings) was born 04 Apr 1856, Grayson Co. VA; died 04 Mar 1920, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: D61FEF635F9E47E18083E07726BFE038C32C

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1860 Census
Name: Sarah Ward
Age: 7
Birth Year: abt 1853
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Virginia
Home in 1860: Grayson, Virginia
Post Office: Bridle Creek
Family Number: 937
Household Members:
Name Age
Zackariah Ward 28
Nancy Ward 32
Mary A Ward 9
Richard P Darrall 1
Sarah Ward 7
Benjamin Ward 5
Alford Ward 3
Samantha Ward 2
Tabitha Ward 1

1870 Census
Name: Sarah Ward
Age in 1870: 17
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Wilson Creek, Grayson, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Mouth of Wilson
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 36
Nancy Ward 39
Mary Ward 18
Sarah Ward 17
Benjamin Ward 15
Alfred Ward 13
Samantha Ward 11
Tobitha Ward 9
Zachariah Ward 7
Thos J S Ward 3
John W Ward 11/12

1880 Census
Name: Sallie Chambers
Age: 27
Birth Year: abt 1853
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Thomas Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Keeps House
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Chambers 23
Sallie Chambers 27
Alafim Chambers 5 [Alafair]
Thomas C. Chambers 1

1900 Census
Name: Sallie Ward
Age: 47
Birth Date: Apr 1853
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Divorced
Father's name: Zachariah Ward
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Nancy Ward
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother: number of living children: 1
Mother: How many children: 2
Household Members:
Zachariah Ward 67
Nancy Ward 70
Sallie Ward 47
Victoria Ward 27 [niece]
Thos Short 5 [grandson]

1910 Census
Name: Sallie Chambers
Age in 1910: 52
Birth Year: abt 1858
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's name: Zack Ward
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Nancy Ward
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Household Members:
Zach Ward 77
Nancy Ward 83
Sallie Chambers 52
Thomas Short 15 [grandson]

1920 Census
Name: Sallie Ward
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Street: Bearwallow Ridge Road
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Mother
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Chapman Chambers 45
Ida Chambers 38
Lilly Chambers 20
Elizabeth Chambers 13
Minnie Chambers 8
Vista Chambers 5
Zachariah Ward 87 [88] [father]
Sallie Ward 63

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Sarah Ward
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital Status: divorced
Age at Death: 64
Birth Date: 4 Apr 1856
Birthplace: Grayson County, Virginia
Death Date: 4 Mar 1920
Death Place: Jewell Ridge, Tazewell, Virginia
Cause of Death: cancer of the stomach
Registration Date: 12 Mar 1920
Father: Zachariah Ward
Mother: Nancy Billings

Notes:

Married:
Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
Name: Thos D Chambers
Birth Date: 1856
Birthplace: Tazewell County, Va
Age: 18
Spouse's Name: Sarah Ward
Spouse's Birth Date: 1855
Spouse's Birthplace: Grayson County, Va
Spouse's Age: 19
Event Date: 03 Dec 1874
Event Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Mother's Name: E. Chambers [Emeline]
Spouse's Father's Name: Z. Ward
Spouse's Mother's Name: N
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01695-4
System Origin: Virginia-EASy
GS Film number: 34214
Reference ID: Page 41 Line 103

Other Events:

• _UID: 39FEB522E5614E62BB57485DB3DA159CF951

Notes:

Several sources have come forward with information that the Emeline's first three children was a Gillespie from Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie" between Pounding Mill (about two miles to the west) and Cliffield in Tazewell Co. Va.

It seems that Emeline was living in Liberty and the gap or short cut over the mountain leads over to Laurel Gap from the Pounding Mill area and then to Liberty. This would have been been less than three miles by horseback.

A granddaughter of Emeline remarked to her grandson as they were traveling through Pounding Mill that Emeline's first children was fathered by a Gillespie, but did not know his first name. Emeline and this man reportedly traveled to see each other.

Why didn't she marry the father of these 3 children? He possibly was married, unwilling to marry her, or he died before they could marry.

Further research is needed, and the key will be maps of the census districts for Tazwell Co. to see exactly which male Gillespies on the 1850 Tazewell Co. Maiden Spring District were living near Laurel Gap in Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie.

Thomas married Emeline S. CHAMBERS. Emeline (daughter of Thomas CHAMBERS and Nancy CHRISTIAN) was born 18 Jan 1830, Russell Co. VA; died 2 Mar 1898, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: FFF7D11A2F354377B35F20FA34DF4D6CF7B7

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1840 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had two males under 5 [John and Hugh], one male 5-10 [Reese], one female under 5 [Joanna], one female 5-10 [Emeline], and one female 10-15 [Lydia].

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Chambers
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 54, Russell, Virginia
Gender: Female
able to read and write, is living in household number 1250 with her mother Nancy Chambers, along with Emeline's daughter, Allifair, age 6 months.

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Emiline J Chamber [Emiline J Chambers]
Age in 1860: 28
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female
Post Office: Cedar Bluff
Household Members:
Emiline J Chambers 28
Euphemia Chambers 11
Elbert W Chambers 7
James B Chambers 1
Chapman Elsick 23 [farm laborer]

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Elswick
Age in 1870: 38
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buenavista Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Emaline Elswick
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Chapman Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 43
Emaline Elswick 48
Bunevista Elswick 18
Nancy L. Elswick 13
Lafayette Elswick 10
Mary Elswick 6

MARRIAGE RECORD

"Tazewell County (VA) Marriages", Register #3, Year 1863, transcribed by Pauline Haga.

Chapman S. Elswick, age 26 yr, 7 mon, 19 days, born in Tazewell Co, VA, son of William and Lucinda Elswick, married on 10 Sep 1863 Emeline S. Chambers, age 21, born in Russell Co, VA, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Chambers. Married by Patton J. Lockhart.

STORIES

It was said she was a "red-headed,full-blooded Irish woman," according to contemporary accounts. While her husband, Chapman Elswick, was fighting in the Shenandoah Valley, his family was facing uncertainty and hardships.

Emeline and another lady by the name of Polly Griffiths, wife of Martin Griffiths (29th VA Infantry CSA) dug coal to fill ox carts, and during the summer months, leaving their children behind, drove the carts pulled by oxen and they came down from the ridge [Pleasant Hill, Reynolds Ridge] between Big Creek and Middle Creek from Stinson Ridge to Cedar Bluff, then up to Frog Level, then across the mountain and down the valley to Saltville, Va. (which would have been 40-50 mile), where they traded the coal for salt.

On the way back they would stop and trade the salt for staples and supplies they needed on the farm. They would trade salt for food and vegetables with neighbors who would be able to tend their farms.

It was a long, arduous trip and demonstrated the fortitude and perseverance of women and what they had to do to survive.

Notes:

John McClintock, Jr., a descendant of Emeline and Chapman Elswick, told me the family stories were a Thomas Gillespie was the father of Emeline's children. Thomas would travel over the mountain to visit "Red headed Emmie" at Liberty.

Until the death certificate of Thomas D. Chambers there was no proof of this. Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family.

When Emeline married Chapman Elswick, she put her marital status as divorced. More than likely, Thomas Gillespie was a married man and was not free to marry Emeline.

Which Thomas Gillespie could be the father? One researcher has William Thomas Gillespie who was in his 60's during the time Emeline's children were conceived. I think a younger man is more likely since he was traveling over the mountain to Liberty on horseback. Here are the candidates from the Tazewell 1850 Census for Thomas or Thos:

Thomas Harrison Gillespie Nov. 19, 1812-Oct. 14, 1891, husband of Mary Ann Radar. In 1850 Thomas was 38 years old.

Thomas Simpson Gillespie 13 Dec 1807-1857,1862 or 1866, husband of Mariah Peery. In 1850 he was 43 years old. Thomas moved to Genry Co. MO in 1854, but later returned and died in Tazewell Co. This Thomas is a possibility based on the ages of Emeline's children. Alifair and Elbert Wade are three years apart, but there is about a 3 year difference between Elbert Wade born in 1853 and Thomas Douglas born about 1856. So it's possible Thomas Douglas was conceived when Thomas Gillespie returned from Missouri. Why did he return to Tazewell leaving his wife and children in Missouri?

Until DNA tests are done, this is all speculation as to which Thomas Gillespie is the father of Emeline's first three children.

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 Census
Name: Zachariah Ward
Age: 17
Birth Year: abt 1833
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 19, Grayson, Virginia
Gender: Male
Family Number: 695
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 58
Riley Ward 30
Silas Ward 20
Zachariah Ward 17
Sally Richardson 40

1860 Census
Name: Zachariah Ward
Age: 27
Birth Year: abt 1833
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Virginia
Home in 1860: Grayson, Virginia
Post Office: Bridle Creek
Family Number: 1003
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 27
Nancy Ward 30
Mary Ward 8
Sarah Ward 6
Benjamin Ward 5
Alford Ward 4
Sumantha Ward 3
Bobetha Ward 1

1870 Census
Name: Zachariah Ward
Age in 1870: 36
Birth Year: abt 1834
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Wilson Creek, Grayson, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Mouth of Wilson
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 36
Nancy Ward 39
Mary Ward 18
Sarah Ward 17
Benjamin Ward 15
Alfred Ward 13
Samantha Ward 11
Tobitha Ward 9
Zachariah Ward 7
Thos J S Ward 3
John W Ward 11 months

1880 Census
Name: Zachariah Ward
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Nancy Ward
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 48
Nancy Ward 49
Mary A. Ward 28
Sarah Ward 26
Benjamin Ward 25
Alford Ward 23
Samantha Ward 21
Zachariah Ward 18
Thomas J. Ward 13
John Ward 11
Laura Ward 7

1900 Census
Name: Zachariah Ward
Age: 67
Birth Date: Jan 1833
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Nancy Ward
Marriage Year: 1851
Years Married: 49
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 67
Nancy Ward 70
Sallie Ward 47 [daughter]
Victoria Ward 27 [granddaughter]
Thos Short 5 [great grandson, Sallie's grandson]

1910 Census
Name: Jack Ward [Zach Ward]
Age in 1910: 77
Birth Year: abt 1833
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Nancy Ward
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Jack Ward 77
Nancy Ward 83
Sallie Chambers 52
Thomas Short 15

1920 Census
Name: Zachariah Ward
Age: 87
Birth Year: abt 1833
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Street: Bearwallow Ridge Road
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Grandfather
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Chapman Chambers 45 [grandson]
Ida Chambers 38
Lilly Chambers 20
Elizabeth Chambers 13
Minnie Chambers 8
Vista Chambers 5
Zachariah Ward 87
Sallie Ward 63 [daughter]

MILITARY RECORDS

National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online
Name: Zach Ward
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Virginia
Regiment: 30th Battalion, Virginia Sharpshooters (Clarke's)
Company: E
Rank In: Private
Rank Out: Musician [drummer]
Film Number: M382 roll 58

This battalion fought at the following battles while Zach was enlisted:

16 Feb 1862 at Fort Donelson, TN.
15 Aug 1862 at Roane County, WV.
31 Aug 1862 at Lewisburg, TN.
10 Sep 1862 at Fayetteville, WV.
15 Nov 1862 at Elk River, TN.
24 Apr 1863 at Raleigh, WV.
16 Sep 1863 at Atheneum Prison, Wheeling, WV.
18 Sep 1863 at Montgomery Hospl, VA.
1 Oct 1863 at Knoxville, TN.
12 Oct 1863 at Scott County, VA.
15 Oct 1863 at Washington Co, VA.
17 Dec 1863 at Craig County, VA.
19 Dec 1863 at Roanoke County, VA.
9 May 1864 at Cloyd's Mountain, VA.
He was discharged May 11,1864 after the battle at Cloyd's Mountain.

Buried:
Grave location, biography, and photo of house:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83834033&ref=acom

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Zackariah Ward
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 93
Birth Date: 20 Jan 1833
Birth Place: Grayson Co. VA
Death Date: 28 Aug 1926
Death Place: Jewell Ridge, Tazewell, Virginia
Registration Date: 30 Aug 1926
Father: Zachariah Ward [born Maryland]
Mother: Tabitha Hash [born Maryland]
Spouse: Nancy Billings
Informant: C. S. Chambers Chapman S. Chambers [grandson] Sarah Ward m. Thomas D. Chambers

Zachariah married Nancy Billings 19 Oct 1850, Ashe Co. NC. Nancy (daughter of Richard Billings and Mary Moxley) was born 1830, Ashe Co. NC; died 1912, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Silas Ward Family Cemetery, Bridle Creek, Grayson Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 Census
Name: Nancy Billings
Age: 22
Birth Year: abt 1828
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 19, Grayson, Virginia
Gender: Female
Family Number: 968
Household Members:
Name Age
Richard Billings 50
Mary Billings 50
Amanda Billings 20
Alfred Billings 16
Aley Billings 14
John Billings 11
William Billings 9
Mahala Billings 4
Nancy Billings 22

1860 Census
Name: Nancy Ward
Age: 30
Birth Year: abt 1830
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Virginia
Home in 1860: Grayson, Virginia
Post Office: Bridle Creek
Family Number: 1003
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 27
Nancy Ward 30
Mary Ward 8
Sarah Ward 6
Benjamin Ward 5
Alford Ward 4
Sumantha Ward 3
Bobetha Ward 1

1870 Census
Name: Nancy Ward
Age in 1870: 39
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Wilson Creek, Grayson, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Mouth of Wilson
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 36
Nancy Ward 39
Mary Ward 18
Sarah Ward 17
Benjamin Ward 15
Alfred Ward 13
Samantha Ward 11
Tobitha Ward 9
Zachariah Ward 7
Thos J S Ward 3
John W Ward 11 months

1880 Census
Name: Nancy Ward
Age: 49
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Zachariah Ward
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Occupation: Keeping House
Household Members:
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 48
Nancy Ward 49
Mary A. Ward 28
Sarah Ward 26
Benjamin Ward 25
Alford Ward 23
Samantha Ward 21
Zachariah Ward 18
Thomas J. Ward 13
John Ward 11
Laura Ward 7

1900 Census
Name Nancy Ward
Age 70
Birth Date Jan 1830
Birthplace Virginia
Home in 1900 Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race White
Gender Female
Relation to Head of House Wife
Marital Status Married
Spouse's Name Zachariah Ward
Marriage Year 1851
Years Married 49
Father's Birthplace Virginia
Mother's Birthplace Virginia
Mother: number of living children 5
Mother: How many children 11
Household Members
Name Age
Zachariah Ward 67
Nancy Ward 70
Sallie Ward 47 [daughter]
Victoria Ward 27 [granddaughter]
Thos Short 5 [great grandson, Sallie's grandson]

1910 Census
Name Nancy Ward
Age in 1910 83
Birth Year abt 1827
Birthplace North Carolina
Home in 1910 Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race White
Gender Female
Relation to Head of House Wife
Marital Status Married
Spouse's Name Jack Ward
Father's Birthplace North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace North Carolina
Household Members
Name Age
Jack Ward 77 [Zach]
Nancy Ward 83
Sallie Chambers 52 [daughter]
Thomas Short 15 [great grandson]



Birth:
Her brother's death record shows the family was originally from Ashe Co.

Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853?1912 Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010.
Name: Alfred Billings
Birth Date: abt 1834
Birth Place: Ash, North Carolina
Death Date: 30 Jul 1857
Death Place: Grayson, Carroll, Virginia
Death Age: 23
Race: White
Gender: Male
Father Name: Richard Billings
Mother Name: Mary
FHL Film Number: 2056981

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=145603524

Notes:

Married:
North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.

Name: Nancy Billings
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 19 Oct 1850
Marriage Place: Ashe, North Carolina
Spouse: Zachariah Ward
Spouse Gender: Male
Event Type: Marriage