Creighton (Crayton) Connection

The above was written by Ida L. Reed, and for awhile, based on this I had thought that her grandfather William Reed's mother was named Sarah Creighton, however, I recently questioned this as it appears that William's mother was probably a Diana Rumsey. I believe, now, that what Ida meant was that Sarah was Lucinda's mother. I have seen from census records that a Sarah Crayton lived in Rockingham Co., VA in the early 1800s, where are Reed family was living. It is certain to me that Sarah is Lucinda's mother, especially since a Sarah Crayton is giving permission for Lucinda to marry in the following marriage record from Orange County Marriages, 1747-1850 by John Vogt and T. William Kethley, Jr.:

Lucinda Crayton & William Read married 15 May 1826; witnesses - P.S. Fry and Ezekiah Richards, bondsman - Ezekiah Richards, permission to marry - Sarah Craton

(Ezekiah Richards was likely related to a Richard Richards and Richard Richards, Jr. of Orange Co. This is based on the fact that all three, together, took inventory of Johnathan Lancaster's estate in 1852.)

According to a 16 Sep 1875 Harrison Co., WV marriage certificate of William Reed and "Seney" Adams, William was listed as a widower who was born to a William and Diana Reed in Orange Co., VA. Seney was listed as having been born to an Eva? Adams in Harrison Co., WV (father was unknown). Our William Reed's wife Lucinda died on 22 Feb 1873, which would allow for our William to be a widower in 1875. Additionally, William and Seney lived next door to James Harrison Reed's sister Sarah in the Elk district of Barbour Co. for awhile. This is enough for me to believe that this was our William. Based on the marriage certificate, I also believe that Benjamin Read was the brother to William, and that Diana (Dysa, Dicy) was the mother to William. I offer up the following marriage records from the same Orange Co. book as further evidence (note that Benjamin was married 5 days before William):

Benjamin Read & Sarah Payne married 10 May 1826; witnesses Francis Badger, Benjamin Hume, P.S. Fry, bondsman - Daniel Young, son of Dyannah Teal

William Read & Dysa Rumsey married 22 Oct 1802; bondsman -Henry Teel

Dicy Reed & Henry Teel married 26 Apr 1813; widow, witness - Richard Chapman, bondsman - George Herndon, performed by minister J. Goss - 5 May 1813

Based on these records I would say that Diana (Dicy) married her bondsman Henry Teel after the death of her husband William Read.

The following record, given the witness name, may be a sister or cousin to William and Benjamin Read:

Nancy Reed & William Dunaway married 17 Dec 1827; witness - P.S. Fry, bondsman - John Read. (From other records: Nancy A. Reed, born 1808 in Virginia, USA; died 09 Mar 1856 in Shelby, IL)

The witness P.S. Fry may have been a Philip S. Fry from Loudoun, Co., Va, and chief executive of Orange Co. from 1844-1859. It appears P.S. Fry witnessed many marriages in Orange Co., so it is likely that he was somehow associated with the court.