Talbot Family

The Talbot family [1] has been well researched over the years and the author has spent considerable time discovering this information but there is so much information available that there is simply not enough time for the author to present it here.  Therefore, the author will only "hit the high spots" here along with references for those interested in further research.  What is put forth below is by no means complete and thorough.  It should, however, provide the reader with a starting point for further research.

It is obvious to the author that the Talbot family has had significant impact in England and America throughout the years.


TALBOTS OF ENGLAND

Our Talbot family has been traced to England and it includes quite a bit of English aristocracy.  According to the book "Royal Ancestors of Magna Carta Barons", our Talbot ancestry can be traced back to the 12th century in England and Geoffrey Talbot who married Agnes de Lacy.  Again, according to Collins, this line includes Sir John Talbot who was a General of the English fleet who was captured by Joan of Arc at Putay in 1429.  William Shakespeare made mention of him as "the greatest Achilles of the field" in his "Henry VI".  Sir John was killed in battle at Castillon, France.  Collins states that our Talbot line includes all 14 of the Magna Charta Sureties.  [2] 

Per Collins, the progenitor of the American Talbots is likely Matthew Talbot, who was the son of Thomas Talbot and Anne Tate, both of whom likely came to Maryland from England.  Thomas Talbot was the son of John Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury.  One of John's wives was said to have been Frances Arundel (Possibly the sister of Anne Arundel (Calvert) for whom the county in Maryland is named).  Interestingly, Talbot County, Maryland is said to be named for Lady Grace Calvert Talbot, the wife of Sir Robert Talbot.  The author has not researched Sir Robert Talbot to determine if any relationship exists between him and John Talbot (Earl of Shrewsbury) but it seems likely that they were related but that relationship might be generations earlier.


VIRGINIA & MARYLAND TALBOTS

There are early records in Virginia for Matthew Talbot.  This likely was Matthew the son of Thomas Talbot and Anne Tate.  Matthew Talbot (1699-1758) married Mary Anne Williston  [3] .  They were married about 1721 and likely lived in Maryland, possibly Talbot County.  From Maryland they then moved to Amelia County, VA and then on to Bedford County, VA. Mary Anne Williston is said to have been the daughter of James Williston, Esq. and Anne Belgrave - James was a large landowner in Maryland and they supposedly immigrated to America in the late 1600s.  Matthew and Mary had five sons before she died in 1736.  After Mary died, Matthew then married a Jane Clayton with whom he had two children (Isham and Martha).


According to several sources, the formation of Bedford County occurred in the home of Matthew Talbot on May 27, 1754 and it appears that county business was done at his home for several months thereafter where he acted as a Justice and handled much of the early business of the county.  In addition to his political responsibilities, he was a Vestryman of Cumberland Parish and also a Colonel of the Bedford County Militia.  He died in 1758.



The Invincible Magazine, Vol.1, No.3, 1913
(Google books)



This marriage between Matthew and Mary Anne Williston produced several noteworthy children. One of their children (Lt. James) married into the Smith family, descendants of Captain John Smith and Mary Warner of President George Washington fame.

  1. Charles Moile Talbot - married Druscilla Gwinn/Gwynn.  He died or was killed in the Revolutionary War about 1799. 

    Children of Charles and Druscilla:
    1. Williston
    2. Charles
    3. Moile
    4. Providence
    5. George
    6. Yaskey
    7. David
    8. Christianna
    9. Mary

  2. Captain Matthew Talbott II - married Mary Hale Day.  Mary is said to have been the daughter of Nicholas Hale/Haile and Anne Long.  Mathew and four of his sons served in the Revolutionary War.  (This is the author's line - For more on Matthew, see below.)

  3. Lt. James Talbot - married Elizabeth Smith.  Served in the French and Indian Wars as well as the Revolutionary War where he died.  His wife was a descendant of Captain John Smith.  See more below on the family tree of Elizabeth.

    Children of James and Elizabeth:
    1. Isham
    2. James
    3. John
    4. Williston
    5. Nancy
    6. Martha
    7. Sarah

  4. John Williston Talbot - married Phoebe Mosely.  He was a noted politician.  He was one of nine men to sign the first Declaration of Independence and one of the men who ratified the state constitution of Virginia.  They moved to Wilkes County, GA about 1783 - see Georgia Talbots below.  For more on John, see below.

    As a member of the House of Burgesses in the mid 1770s, John W. Talbot was heavily involved with the American Revolution and our country's Declaration of Independence.  His name can be found on the marker that stands on the grounds of the old capital building in Williamsburg, VA.

    Old Capital building, Williamsburg, VA
    (Author photo, 2017)



    Old Capital building marker, Williamsburg, VA
    (Author photo, 2017)


    Old Capital building marker, Williamsburg, VA
    John Talbot's name is shown
    (Author photo, 2017)


    Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg, VA
    Historic location of the meetings of the House of Burgesses
    (Photo: Historic Williamsburg)


    Copy of the historic meeting of the former members of the House of Burgesses
    (Author photo, 2017)



    Copy of the historic meeting of the former members of the House of Burgesses
    John Talbot's name is shown
    (Author photo, 2017)


GEORGIA TALBOTS

Most Georgia descendants of Talbots are from Captain Matthew Talbot or John Williston Talbot who both arrived in Wilkes County, Georgia in the late 1700s. 


John Williston Talbot 1734-1794

John married Phoebe Mosely.  John was likely the first Talbot of Virginia to move to Georgia.  At one time, he owned tens of thousands of acres of land in Wilkes County.  John (and likely Phoebe as well) is buried in the small cemetery of Smyrna Methodist Church in Washington, Georgia.  The land for this church was donated by John and the cemetery contains the graves of many notable early settlers of the area.



Smyrna Churchyard historic marker
Final resting place of John Williston Talbot
(Author photo, 2017)

Among John's numerous accomplishments:

  • One of nine men that drew up the first Declaration of Independence at the old Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg, VA on June 4, 1774
  • One of nine men who ratified the constitution for VA.
  • Member of the House of Burgesses
  • Served in the VA legislature for 25 years
  • Moved to Wilkes County GA and was elected to serve on the GA legislature
  • His son (Matthew) was the Governor of Georgia, GA State Senator and namesake of Talbot County, GA
  • His great-grandson was Confederate Major General William Henry Talbot Walker who died at the Battle of Atlanta in 1864.
  • His 1700s era home is still standing in Wilkes County, Georgia and it has the distinction of being the site where Eli Whitney's cotton gin workshop was located.  See more below.

There are only a few documents from John's estate and a few more for the estate settlement of his wife Phoebe in 1807 .  Some notable names found in these documents include John Combs, Samuel Going, Moses Going, Robert Hammock, Jane Patton, John Wingfield, Sterling Combs, John Eidson, Elisha Smallwood, Greenberry Pinkston, Thomas Eidson, James Combs, Charles Talbot, Thomas Talbot, Mathew Talbot, Philip Combs, Jr., William Triplett and Rev. Francis Cumming.  Her estate included 28 slaves.

Children of John Williston Talbot and Phoeby Moseley

  1. Thomas Talbot (about 1761-1853)- married Elizabeth Cresswell, daughter of Rev. James Cresswell and Mary Elizabeth Garlington  [4]  and sister of Colonel David Cresswell (see Phoebe Talbot below).  Mary Elizabeth was a descendant of the famous Conway family of the Northern Neck of Virginia and was related to President George Washington.  During the Revolutionary War, Thomas commanded a unit at the Battle of Kettle Creek in Wilkes County, GA. 

    There is an estate document from 1853 that shows a large distribution of slaves (over $400,000 today) from his estate - there are five beneficiaries listed but it is not clear that all of these persons are his children:

      1. Henry or Hendy Jones - possibly the husband of one of his daughters.  One researcher posted that Elizabeth Conway Talbot (see below) married a Col. William Jones - are these men related? Col. Jones was an officer in the War of 1812. 
      2. Elizabeth Conway Talbot - married Captain Lloyd Carlton Belt, M.D. who was a Confederate doctor during the Civil War where he was mortally wounded in 1862.  Her son, Carleton Talbot Belt, is said to have enlisted in the Confederate Army at age 15.  
      3. Rev. James Cresswell Talbot - died in 1840.  
      4. Elihu Talbot - married Sarah Willis and they moved to Alabama where he died in 1879
      5. Mathew Talbot - no info


  2. Governor Matthew Talbot (1767-1827).  Among his numerous accomplishments, Mathew was a long  time GA State Senator and President of the state Senate (1811-1822) and he was briefly the Governor of Georgia.  He was a member of the Constitutional convention (Oglethorpe County) in 1795 and the Georgia county of Talbot and city of Talbotton are named for him.  Interestingly, there is a section of Talbotton, Georgia name the "LeVert District" - the daughter of Matthew's niece (Sarah Minge Walker) married a LeVert (see below).  The name of Mathew's wife remains uncertain. Some say he married a Mounger while others say he married a Twinning.  He had only one known child - Sarah Ann Talbot but a Euphenia West Talbot is mentioned in Phoebe Talbot's Will.  Upon his death, his estate was handled by his brother Thomas.  This large estate file can be found online.



    Talbot County, Georgia named for Matthew Talbot
    (From the book "A Rockaway in Talbot" by William H. Davidson)

  3. Phoebe Talbot (1768-1806) - married Colonel David Cresswell, Revolutionary War soldier.  David Cresswell was the brother of  Elizabeth who married Thomas Talbot (above).  
    1. Mary Garlington Cresswell - married Freeman Walker Jr. (brother of George and Valentine).  On the 1820 census, Freemen is shown to own 46 slaves. He was a Georgia State Legislator and the first elected Mayor of Augusta (1817).  Walker County Georgia is named for him. 
      1. Mary and Freeman are the parents of Confederate Major General William Henry Talbot Walker.  Interestingly, General Talbot married a New Yorker with distinguished family history to the state of New York - his brother-in-law was Union General Frederick Townsend.  Another brother-in-law was the Mayor of Albany, NY.
    2. Zemula/Zulenia Cresswell - married Valentine Walker (brother of Freeman - see above).  On the 1830 census, Valentine is shown to own 87 slaves.
    3. John Talbot Cresswell - no info
    4. Samuel Cresswell - no info
    5. Elizabeth Cresswell - may not have married.  Living with her sister Mary on the 1850 census.
    6. Phoebe Cresswell - no info

  4. Mary Anne Williston Talbot (1771-?)- married Colonel William Triplett (died 1830), who was a Revolutionary War soldier.  This may be the same William Triplett that was tax collector and Sheriff of Wilkes County.  Some researchers claim this William Triplett was a soldier under General Nathaniel Greene but the author found no information to confirm nor deny this.  Interestingly, there was a Triplett family in Fairfax VA that was very close to President George Washington. The newspaper clipping below might support the theory of this William Triplett being close to the Washington family but clearly more research is needed.



    Col. William Triplett agent for General William Washington, 1797
    (Georgia Historic Newspapers; Augusta Chronicle, April 15, 1797)


  5. Elizabeth Talbot (1776-1842) - married George Walker (son of Freeman Walker and Sarah Minge; brother of Freeman Jr. and Valentine)  [5] .  Their daughter, Sarah Minge Walker, married George Walton the son of George Walton Sr. who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  The socialite Octavia Celeste Walton LeVert was their daughter (of George and Sarah). 



    Belle Vue/Bellevue, site of Freeman Walker's plantation
    (Photo by Mike Stroud, 2010, HMdb.org)




The Invincible Magazine, Vol.1, No.3, 1913
(Google books)


Note that things were not always rosy for the Talbot family - the names of David Cresswell, George Walker, Matthew Talbot and William Triplett are all shown on the schedule to receive thousands of acres of land in the 1795 Georgia Yazoo Land Fraud - whether they were material participants has not been researched by the author.  Many prominent citizens were involved including Generals Elijah Clark and Thomas Glasscock and GA Governor Stephen Heard.


Captain Matthew Talbot II (1729-1812) married Mary Hale Day

Matthew married Mary Hale Day (1730-1785) who was the widow of Thomas Day.  Matthew is said to have moved to Tennessee and then Morgan County Georgia where he died.  No information is known about where he might be buried.  It has been said that he was an early settler of Carter County Tennessee (near Elizabethton, eastern Tennessee).  Fort Watauga was the site of his home.  Fort Watauga and Sycamore Shoals was the location where the "Overmountain Men" met before their journey to the historic Battles of Kings Mountain and Cowpens.


Re-creation of Matthew Talbot's cabin at Fort Watauga and Sycamore Shoals near Elizabethton, TN
(public domain)


The following family history is taken from the book "The Talbots, Centuries of Service" by Virgil Talbot  [6] :





Research confirms the following children of Mathew and Mary:

  1. Matthew Talbot III (1756-abt 1804) - married Lucy Bailey (1760-abt 1804)

    1. Joseph Hale Talbot (1778-1858) married Bethany Callaway  [7]  (1780-1871)

      1. John R. Talbot (1806-1884) married Lucy Jane Jackson.  Lucy was probably the daughter of Joshua Jackson and Eleanor Wise (see Jackson & Wise research HERE and HERE). 

        We have an interesting document from 1834 whereby Enoch Callaway, the executor of his father's Will, is paying Joseph Talbot money from John Callaway's estate.  Enoch is the brother-in-law of Enoch so presumably this distribution is for Joseph's wife Bethany. 


        Joseph Talbot receiving money from the estate of John Callaway for his wife's share.
        (GA Archives)


        Known children of John and Lucy:
        1. Saunders W. Talbot - died of measles in 1862 while serving in the Confederate Army
        2. Luke Turner Talbot -  Confederate veteran.  One of his grandsons was Florida Senator & Congressman Claude Denson Pepper

      2. Nancy Talbot (1812-1873) married Spain Colley and their known children were:
        1. Francis G. Colley
        2. John Colley
        3. Sarah Elizabeth Colley
        4. Mary Colley
        5. Dr. Thomas Colley
        6. Caroline Colley
        7. Gabriel Colley
        8. Henry Colley
        9. Nancy Colley
        10. Martha Colley
        11. Eliza Colley

  2. William Talbot (1761-?) - married Mary Bailey.  
    1. Son Greenberry/Green Berry Talbot had son Confederate Captain James Anthony Talbot, 37th Alabama that was captured by the Union Army in April 1865 while serving with the 4th Alabama Reserves.
    2. Daughter Elizabeth Talbot married John B. Harvey and they moved to Texas.  Elizabeth Ann and their son were killed and their daughter (Elizabeth Ann) kidnapped in the famous Indian attack known as the "Harvey Massacre".



      Elizabeth Ann Harvey, daughter of John Harvey and Elizabeth Talbot
      She was abducted by Indians in 1836 and released four years later.  The incident is known as the "Harvey Massacre" and was possibly the basis for the book and movie named "The Searchers".




      The       Harvey Massacre that occurred in the 1836 on the Texas frontier, settlers John B. Harvey and his wife Elizabeth Talbot were attacked by Indians at their log cabin home.  Elizabeth and their son were killed and their daughter were kidnapped by the Indians.  The daughter was sold and four years later ransomed back to her family. 

      This incident is said to have been the basis for Alan Le May's 1954 book       "The Searchers" which later became a major movie starring John Wayne and Natalie Wood.  Natalie Wood played the kidnapped daughter.  Alternate theories abound however for John Le May's real life basis for the movie.



      Photographer: James Hulse, January 8, 2021
      Historical Marker Database




  3. Rev. Edmund Talbot (1771-1858) - married Mary Harvey.  In 1849, Edmund wrote a brief family history that was submitted by his son Judge Mathew Talbot of Texas to the William & Mary Quarterly which later published it in 1901.  [8]  Interestingly, this history includes a biography printed by the Georgia Baptist newspaper that states that Edmund was married by Baptist preacher named Sanders Walker.  This was likely the same Sanders Walker whose name can be found in numerous Wilkes County records - including Revolutionary War records. Note that this record may contain errors; One in particular is that the county was likely not Washington but Wilkes.

  4. Thomas Talbot (1760-1831) - married Ruth Greer.  Thomas was probably a Revolutionary War soldier and it has been said that he was wounded at the Battle of Kings Mountain. [9]  Before moving to Nashville, he was the Sheriff of Washington County, TN.  He was one of the early settlers of Nashville, Tennessee.  He owned land and established a tavern that was located on the public square in downtown Nashville. [10]

    In addition to his downtown tavern and land, he owned land northeast of town that is now fittingly called Talbot's Corner.  The family cemetery is located at the intersection of Interstate I-24 and state highway 431 - today this is a very busy area.




    Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2020
    Historical Marker Database



    Filed for intro on 01/17/2002

    SENATE BILL 2169

    By Harper

    AN ACT providing for the erection of directional signs for Talbot's Corner on Interstate Highway 65 in Davidson County.

    WHEREAS, Thomas Talbot, a Revolutionary War veteran wounded at the Battle of King’s Mountain, South Carolina, served ably as sheriff of Washington County before moving to Nashville in 1789; and

    WHEREAS, in Nashville he acquired 290 acres to build a home and develop an apple orchard; and

    WHEREAS, Thomas Talbot built a riverfront tavern, Talbot Tavern, located near Nashville’s Public Square; and

    WHEREAS, Talbot’s entrepreneurial efforts included a gristmill, distillery and over 1,000 apple trees which enabled him to supply his tavern and other hotels with apple brandy; and WHEREAS, in 1806, Vice-President Aaron Burr visited Talbot Tavern; and

    WHEREAS, The Talbot family cemetery is located on the east side of Interstate 65/24 along Trinity Lane; and

    WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize an important and integral figure in Nashville’s early history; now, therefore,

    BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

    SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the department of transportation shall erect and maintain directional signs for Talbot's Corner on Interstate Highway 65 in Davidson County at Exit 87, (Trinity Lane) both northbound and southbound.

    SECTION 2. The erection of such directional signs shall be within the guidelines prescribed by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 

    SECTION 3. This act shall become operative only if the federal highway administrator advises the commissioner of transportation in writing that the provisions of this act shall not render Tennessee in violation of federal laws and regulations and subject to penalties prescribed therein.

    SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
    Senate Bill, State of Tennessee, Thomas Talbot, Talbot's Tavern and Talbot Corner

_______________________


Home of John Williston Talbot and Phoebe Mosely in Wilkes County, Georgia




1700s home of John Williston Talbot near Washington, Georgia
Photo was probably taken in the 1900s
(Photo from the book: Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends)



John Williston Talbot house circa 2017
As of 2017 when the author visited the home, it was owed by descendants of the Burdett family who have owned the house and much of the land around it since the 1850s. In 2017, it was still being used as a main residence for the Burdett family and in remarkably good condition.  See the book "Agrarian Arcadia" for more information on the home's history.
(Author photo)



Birthplace of the cotton gin?
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in the 1940s, this building was where the first cotton gin was built by Eli Whitney.  Today, this structure sits just to the north of the main John Williston Talbot homesite and was being used as an apartment/rental home in 2017 when the author visited the main residence.  Many historians claim that had there been no cotton gin, the escalation of slavery in the southern states would have never happened and thus likely no Civil War.  Ironically, Eli Whitney was from Massachusetts and his invention was ostensibly produced to reduce slave labor.
(Photo - Georgia Archives)



The Georgia Historical Quarterly, 1917
(Volume 1, No. 1, p. 64)




Augusta Herald




_________
Footnotes

[1] The spelling of the name Talbot seems to be very consistent through the years so other spellings such as Tolbert and Talbert may or may not have any relationship.
[2] William d'Albini, Hugh Bigod, Roger Bigod, Henry de Bohun, Gilbert de Clare, Richard de Clare, John Fitz Robert, John de Lacie, William de Lanvallei, William Malet, William de Mowbray, Saire de Quincey, Robert de Roos, Robert de Vere.  An internet search will turn up thousands of documents for any one of these men.
[3] The author's paternal 6th great grandparents
[4] The Cresswell family is another family that has ties to the Northern Neck of Virginia.  Rev. Cresswell moved to the Saluda River in South Carolina where he lived alongside the author's MAYSON ancestors (maternal).  Rev. Cresswells descendants then moved to Wilkes County, GA.  Colonel James Mayson was a key figure in South Carolina's Revolutionary War role.
[5] These Walkers appear to have lived in the Chase City, Virginia area before moving to Georgia - Chase City is where the author's COLLEY ancestors lived before moving to Georgia.
[6] 1983, Not copyrighted.  Obtained through FamilySearch.org
[7] Note that the Callaway and Talbot families were likely known to one another well before moving to Georgia.  There are records for Callaways and Talbots serving in the House of Burgesses at the same time from Campbell County, VA.  They may have been adjoining landowners and/or lived on the same lands in Bedford County.
[8] William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. IX.
[9] To the author's knowledge, there is no proof of Thomas' Revolutionary War service.  Bobby Gilmer Moss does not have Thomas Talbot listed as a soldier at Kings Mountain or Cowpens.  Since Thomas died in 1831 there is no pension file known to exist nor did his widow file.  However, given his age, his family's patriot ties and the region in which he lived, it is highly likely that he was a soldier of the Revolution.
[10 ]Davidson County Tennessee is named for Colonel William Davidson, the author's probable 5th great granduncle.  See more on the Davidson family here.

---------------
References

Talbot Family of England

  • "Genealogy of the Talbot-Wingfield-and Reid Families", Rosa Talbot Knight
  • "Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1625", John Frederick Dorman
  • "Royal Ancestors of Magna Carta Barons", Carr Pritchett Collins
  • "The Talbot Regime", C.O. Ermatinger, K.C.
  • "The Talbot Papers", James Henry Coyne

Talbot Family of Virginia and Maryland

  • "Genealogy of the Talbot-Wingfield-and Reid Families", Rosa Talbot Knight
  • "Genealogical Sketch of Certain of the American Descendants of Mathew Talbot, Gentleman", Robert Howe Fletcher, Jr.
  • "Genealogies of Virginia Families from the William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine", Vol. IV, 1982
  • "The Talbots, Centuries of Service", Virgil Talbot
  • "Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches ..", R.H. Early
  • "Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia, 1746-1816, Vestry Book 1746-1816", Landon C. Bell
  • "The Invincible, A Magazine of History", Vol. 1, No. 1.
  • "Some Prominent Virginia Families", Vol. IV,  Louise Pecquet Du Bellet
  • "Callaways of Western Wilkes County, Georgia", Samuel Taylor Greer
  • https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-01-02-0083
  • https://www.slaveryandremembrance.org/almanack/places/hb/hbral.cfm
  • https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/deep-dives/dissolution-of-the-house-of-burgesses/

Talbot Family of Georgia

  • "Genealogy of the Talbot-Wingfield-and Reid Families", Rosa Talbot Knight
  • "Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and persons....", Clement A. Candler,:Allen D. Evans
  • William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. IX, 1901 
  • "The Story of Washington-Wilkes", Georgia Writers' Project
  • "Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends", Lucian Lamar Knight
  • "Agrarian Arcadia, Anglo-Virginian Planters of Wilkes County..", Charles Danworth Saggus (info on the John Williston Talbot home's history)
  • "Homeplace", Eva Chandler Gagnon
  • "Callaways of Western Wilkes County, Georgia", Samuel Taylor Greer
  • https://tnstateparks.com/parks/info/sycamore-shoals
  • https://tourcartercounty.com/explore/fort-watauga/
  • Georgia Archives, Family Files Section


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