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My Winfrey FamilyIsaac Winfrey (c1735-1817) and Sarah --- of NC (Surry and Wilkes County) Introduction - A History of my research on this family My Winfrey Family - Data on my Winfrey ancestors IntroductionThe Winfrey family was the one of the first families I ever researched. In the summer of 1980, while visiting my Great Grandmother (see My Wright family for more on that trip), I found out about my Winfrey ancestors. I was told about "Jimmy Wright" and his wife who was "a Winfrey". Unfortunately, no one knew anything about the Winfrey family, so I didn't follow up on them right away. After awhile, I started checking census records for Cherokee Co, NC and found my ancestors James S. Wright (1813-1902) and his wife Caroline C. Winfrey Wright (1822-1916) listed on the Cherokee Co, NC census records going back to 1850. I noticed that on the 1850 census, there was only one Winfrey family in Cherokee Co, NC, that of Caleb Winfrey and wife Arabella. They were only three houses from the Wright family, so it seemed likely that Caleb and Arabella were Caroline's parents. I just needed some proof, other than them being nearby. The 1860 census for Cherokee Co, NC showed the county of birth for each person, instead of just the state, and I noted that Caleb Winfrey was born in Surry Co, NC and his other children were born in Surry. I already knew the Wright family had come from Surry, and both James S. Wright and his wife Caroline Winfrey were born in Surry. This was more circumstantial evidence that Caleb could be Caroline's father. Death certificates for at least two of Caleb and Arabella's children show Arabella's maiden name to be "Moody", and in the 1880 census, a widowed Arabella Winfrey had a "single" Eliza Moody living with her, listed as her "sister". My Great Uncle Boyd Nichols (uncle by marriage to my grandmother Luella's sister Rachel George) was a Winfrey descendant. He was a great grandson of Emily Winfrey Cruise, daughter of Caleb Winfrey. Boyd knew his family and the Wright family were related. I found Surry Co, NC Deeds where James S. Wright was there, and where he witnessed at least one land transaction of Caleb Winfrey's there. This proved they were associated back there in Surry, in the 1830's. Caleb Winfrey's early census entries (1830) showed an apparent daughter Caroline's age, who was otherwise unclaimed. In addition, for the 1840 census, James S. Wright is not listed, though he married Caroline ca 1838. Caleb Winfrey had extra people with him in 1830, that are a perfect fit for James, Caroline and their oldest daughter Arabella Wright. Presumably named for Caleb's wife Arabella. None of the above is direct evidence that Caroline is a daughter of Caleb, but it seems beyond doubt to me. Caleb Winfrey himself was named as a son of an older Caleb Winfrey in an 1809 deed, where the elder Caleb was giving land to his children by his first wife, who had apparently just died. He was about to remarry, and this was probably to insure their inheritance. This elder Caleb Winfrey was almost certainly a son of Isaac Winfrey (c1735-1817) who's estate Caleb Winfrey administered of in the 1815-1817 timeframe. Those same estate records showed Isaac Winfrey's wife to be named "Sarah". I found a marriage record in Cumberland Co, VA for an Isaac Winfrey to a Sarah Brown (daughter of Samuel Brown) dated 1756, and I was just sure this was my Isaac. Later I found out there was another Isaac Winfrey and wife Sarah who wound up in Bedford Co, VA who may in fact be the two from the 1756 marriage record. Around this time I was contacted by James E. "Jim" Cockerham of (then) Jonesville, NC who had a great deal of Winfrey data to share. We corresponded alot and talked on the phone, and together figured out most of the remaining Winfrey mysteries (at least the Surry and Wilkes County mysteries). Jim got me in touch with other Winfrey researchers including Stanley Wilde, Richard Hobgood and others. We all shared data, and I owe a great deal of thanks to them all, especially Jim Cockerham, for alot of wonderful Winfrey (and Moody) family information. So, mainly, I can thank Jim Cockerham and several other cousins have shared bits of information here and there that helped alot. My Winfrey ancestorsIsaac Winfrey was born ca 1735 in VA (assumption). He married Sarah --- ca 1755, presumably in VA. They moved to Montgomery Co, VA (now Grayson County, VA) before the Revolutionary War. Before 1782 they moved to Surry and Wilkes Co, NC, finally remaining in Surry Co, NC along the Mitchells River. Isaac died in Surry ca 1817, and Sarah about the same time. Caleb Winfrey, son of Isaac, was born ca 1755/60, presumably in VA. He married Nancy Bowles (daughter of Thomas Bowles and Sarah Burch) in Surry or Wilkes Co, NC ca 1788. She died ca 1808/09 in Surry. He died in Surry in 1837. Caleb Winfrey (Jr) was born ca 1799/1800 in Surry Co, NC. He married Arabella Moody ca 1821 in Surry Co, NC. They lived in Surry until ca 1840-41 when they moved to Cherokee Co, NC and remained there along the Valley River near the communities of Topton and Rhodo. Caleb died there in the 1860's, and Arabella sometime between 1880 and 1900. Caroline C. Winfrey, daughter of Caleb Winfrey, was born 1822 in Surry Co, NC. She married James S. Wright there ca 1838, and they moved to Cherokee Co, NC ca 1840-41. He died there in 1902, she in 1916. For information on other Winfrey families within my area of interest (Western North Carolina only) but who are not known to be related to my Winfrey family, go to my Winfrey Families page My Winfrey Family:Isaac Winfrey (c1735-1817) and Sarah ---
Last Updated January 16, 2006 Winfrey Page (Main) | Winfrey Families | What's New? Home | Surnames | Christian Pages | Search this Site | Contact Me
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