- b. d. Ancestry Record /(~~.:r P,;--G- - ;c/i.f. 2- ~~ ~-~!~~ (t.,,c.~/ See File No. (Over)
Elder James and Sarah Shepherd Vannoy James Vannoy (27 Jun 1792-19 Feb 1857) was born in Wilkes County, the son of Andrew and Susannah Shepherd Vannoy. Andrew was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. On 5 Dec 1813 James married his cousin, Sarah Shepherd ( 21 Nov 1795-27 Nov 1880), daughter of John Shepherd, Jr. and his wife, Pheba. He joined Reddies River Baptist Church on the 2nd Friday in October 1812 by experience. Not long thereafter, he became a Primitive Baptist preacher. The 1830 Census shows that he owned six slaves. James and most of his children had large farms in the Reddies River section of Wilkes County. They made their homes, lived, died and are buried there. Elder Vannoy preached his last sermon on Saturday before he died. He and Sarah are buried in a family cemetery on land they owned on the middle fork of Reddies River. They had eleven children: 1. James W. (19 Sep 1814-1 Apr 1855). On 28 Mar 1835 he married Catherine 'Catie' Gambill (20 Sep 1814-3 Feb 1915), whose death certificate confirms that she was 100 years 4 months and 14 days old. She was the daughter of William 'Billie' and Cloie Johnson Gambill. They lived on the north prong of Reddies River and are buried in a family cemetery with only fieldstones as markers. 2. Phoebe (27 Jul 1816-30 Nov 1892). On 29 Oct 1831 she married Wade Hampton Colvard (9 Jul 1805-29 Jun 1880), son of William and Rachel Berry Colvard. Wade was a farmer and shoe maker. They raised a family of thirteen children. Eight sons served in the Civil War during which two, Jesse and James, were killed in battle. Phoebe and Wade Hampton are both buried in the Old Reddies River Baptist Church Cemetery. 3. Mary (17 Mar 1818 -?). 4. Jesse ( 10 Nov 1820-30 Aug 1882 ), On 7 Mar 1846 he married Nancy Eller (1828-1847), daughter of Simeon and Fannie McNiel Eller. They had no children. His second wife was Caroline Walters, daughter of Lewis and Cloe Faw Walters, who he married on 3 Aug 1849. They had three daughters: A) Ellen married Richard LeRoy Vannoy; B) Miriah became the third wife of Allen A. Whittington and C) Elvira married William Alexander McGlamery. Miriah, Elvira and William Alexander are buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Asheville, Buncombe County. Jesse's third wife was Ann Gilreath Whittington, widow of William H. Whittington. He lived most of his life in the Reddies River section and is buried in the James Vannoy Family Cemetery. Ann is buried in the Old Reddies River Baptist Church Cemetery, where in 1988 the remains of his first husband were moved and laid to rest beside her
grave. 5. Enoch ( 21 Jan 1822-28 Jun 1894). He married on 20 Dec 1845 Nancy Walters (21 Mar 1818-20 Aug 1894). (More about this family appears later in this article.) 6. Susannah ( 15 Oct 1824-13 Nov 1882). On 21 Jul 1842 she married Alexander Greenberry Whittington (26 Mar 1811-23 May 1890), son of Leonard and Sarah Kilby Whittington. (See article titled Leonard and Sarah Whittington.) 7. James Harvey (9 Mar 1826-24 Feb 1898). On 21 Dec 1855 he married Mariah Elizabeth Whittington (9 Apr 1831-10 Jan 1922), daughter of Allen A. and Elizabeth Lenderman Whittington. They did not have any children. Both are buried in the Old Reddies River Baptist Church Cemetery. 8. Sarah (31 Jan 1828-2 May 1894). Unmarried. She is buried in the family cemetery. 9. Catherine ( 17 Oct 1833-8 Sep 1844 ). She is also buried in the family cemetery. 10. Neil C. ( 17 Dec 1838-2 Dec 1862 ). On 9 Mar 1859 he married Emily Whittington (4 Oct 1841-14 Jun 1910), daughter of Allen A. and Mary Eller Whittington. Neil died from typhoid fever at Powell Valley, VA during the Civil War. Emily was married in 1865 to Alexander J. Faw (21 Jan 1843-10 May 1878), son of Absolum and Caroline Whittington Faw. Alexander served the Confederacy from 31 May 1861 when he enlisted in Co. B. 1st NC Infantry Regiment until he was discharged in December 1864. He was wounded at Ellerson's Mill, Malvern Hill, VA on 26 Jun 1862. 11. Lewis W. (22 Nov 1840-1 Jan 1927 ). On 2 Jan 1860 he married Louisa Burkett (20 Jun 1841-25 Jun 1884), daughter of Jonas and Mary Faw Burkett. She is buried in the James Vannoy Family Cemetery. His second wife, who he married on 15 Mar 1885, was Mary Whittington Vannoy (7 Feb 1861-14 Sep 1931), widow of his nephew, James Lewis Vannoy, and daughter of Thomas C. B. and Elizabeth Faw Whittington. Lewis was very active in the Reddies River Baptist Church, and was elected Church Clerk on the fourth Saturday in April 1883. Both he and Mary are buried in the Old Reddies River Baptist Church Cemetery. Enoch Vannoy and his wife, Nancy Walters Vannoy, who was the daughter of Lewis and Cloe Faw Walters, lived near his father on the middle fork of Reddies River. He was active in Reddies River Baptist Church most of his adult life. Enoch and Nancy are buried in a family cemetery located on their property. They had five children: A) Henrietta (9 Feb 1847-15 May 1882), married John Lynn Whittington (8 Jul 1847-29 May 1932), son of William H. and Ann Gilreath Whittington. John Lynn's second
.. wife was Mary Jane Vannoy, daughter of Lewis and Louisa Burkett Vannoy. B) Rudy Faw (17Oct1851-10Jan1919) married Clarissa Carrie Yates (11Oct1857-22 May 1899), daughter of Hugh Yates, Jr. and Lucinda Bradley Yates. Rudy's second wife was Ida Norris (24 Jul 1883-16 Feb 1950), daughter of Smith and Cornelia McNiel Norris. Ida later married J. C. Brookshire. C) James Lewis (13 Jun 1859-9 Oct 1883 ). On 8 Jan 1880 he married Mary Whittington (7 Feb 1861-14 Sep 1931), daughter of Thomas C. B. and Elizabeth Faw Whittington. James had worked in the field on a hot day, then drank cold spring water. He died later that day. On 15 Mar 1885, Mary married James Lewis's uncle, Lewis W. Vannoy. (See No. 11 above.) D) Enoch Noah (1 Aug 1868-21 Nov 1928). On 6 Feb 1877 he married Ida Etta Whittington (30 Oct 1865-12 Mar 1941), daughter of Thomas C. B. and Elizabeth Faw Whittington. E) Mary Ann (1 Oct 1870-25 Aug 1920). On 13 Dec 1891 she married Wiley T. Whittington (21 Apr 1869-1 Jun 1895), son of Thomas C. B. and Elizabeth Faw Whittington. He died during the fever epidemic which almost wiped out his family, and is buried in the Old Reddies River Baptist Church Cemetery. Her second marriage was to Alexander Miller, son of Jesse and Polly Sheets Miller on 31 Mar 1897. Sources: Public Records, Tombstones, Church Minutes, Family Members. Joyce D. McNeil Route 3, Box 27 Wilkesboro, NC 28697
U. S. CENSUS, 1850, Wilkes County ---------page 260 AGE JAMES VANNOY 57 SARAH VANNOY 55 JAMES VANNOY 23 SARAH VANNOY 20 ANDREW VANNOY 12 LEWIS VANNOY 10
Elder JAMES VANNOY was born June 27th, 1792; joined the Baptist Church at Reddies River on the 2nd Friday in October, 1812. WHEREAS, It has pleased God in his Alwise providence to remove from our midst our worthy and esteemed brother, Elder James Vannoy; in him we mourn the loss of one of the most pious and amiable ministers of God in the Baptist denomination. toiled for many years; spent with untiring ability, a great portion of his time, in the service of his master; laboring in his vineyard; encouraging christians, and warning sinners agains an awful judgment that would appear in the day of final accounts. He preached his last sermon, at his own Church, Reddies River, Wilkes county, N. C., on Saturday before he died on the Wednesday following, February 19th, 1857.---His text 13:24,25, of Matthew. RESOLVED, That in his death we deeply deplore our loss, and sympathize with our sister Church, at Reddies River, to which he so long had been pastor and counselor; and the surrounding Churches with which his labors have been so abundantly blessed. RESOLVED, That while we bow in humble submission to the decree that laid our brother in the grave, yet we feel that our loss is his eternal gain. RESOLVED, That we do sincerely condole with his bereaved family, in whose hearts an aching void has been left, which can never be filled; nevertheless, we tender this, our sympathizing assurance that he was a good man, a king husband, an affectionate He father; beloved by all who knew him; an humble follower, and an able minister of Christ. He bore his cross meekly, and is now at rest! RESOLVED, That while the great Master is calling on every hand some of his most efficient servants to their blessed rest, may those spared for a short time, faithfully and humbly discharge the duties devolving on them, looking for the mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life. Far from afflictions, toil and care, The happy soul is fled: The breathless clay shall slumber here, Among the silent dead! The gospel was his joy and song, Unto his latest breath. The truth he had proclaimed so long, Was his support in death. (continued next page)
... Now he resides where Jesus is, Above this dusky sphere; His soul was ripened for the bliss; While yet he sojourned here. The Churches' loss, we all deplore: And shed the falling tear; Since we shall see his face no more, "Till Jesus shall appear! But we are hast'ning to the tomb-- 0 may we ready stand; Then dearest Lord, receive us home, To dwell at thy right hand. His last words were, "Farewell vain world, I'm going home!" LEWIS FORK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1857 Page: 4-5.