The Scotch Andersons of Hanover and Louisa Counties

-

From as early as 1744, there has been reference to a group of Andersons in Hanover County, Virginia known as "Scotch" which has been interpreted to mean that they were of Scottish heritage. The "Scotch" reference was apparently used to differentiate themselves from the Andersons of Hanover County who were not of Scottish heritage. But because both Anderson families used some of the same forenames including Robert, Charles, and David, it has been difficult to differentiate between the two families. In addition, both families also had Louisa County connections! Overtime, these two Anderson families became a big bowl of Anderson rigatoni and rotini pasta - all mixed together! I know, not very Scottish. But you get the picture!


But thanks to YDNA testing and good ole fashion document research, the Anderson rigatoni and rotini are slowly being separated into two genetically different Anderson families. An Anderson YDNA tester from Aberdeen, Scotland has even helped to narrow down where the Scotch Andersons hailed from!

So far, two lines of the Scotch Anderson family of early Hanover and Louisa Counties have been pulled from the bowl of pasta with YDNA testing and documented paper trails. Very briefly, they are:

1. David Anderson, husband of Judith Maddox, first shows up in the Louisa County records in 1752. The record states that he was of St. Martin's Parish, Hanover County when he purchased 100 acres of land from Robert Anderson (also of St. Martin's Parish, Hanover County) on Lickinghole Creek. Robert Anderson had received the 100 acres as part of a 284 acre land patent in 1740.  Interestingly, Robert Anderson had sold the remaining 184 acres of the 1740 land patent on Lickinghole Creek to Charles Barrett the previous year. Almost 10 years later, David and Judith purchased 380 acres from John Williamson of Hanover County which was near Providence Presbyterian Church, adjacent to the lands of Richard Farrell (Farrar?) and Joseph Shelton. David died in 1781 per his will and Judith followed David almost 35 years later. In 1817, after Judith's passing, the Anderson property was divided into five lots which were issued to Major Thomas Gardner, Captain Stephen Farrar, Sarah Anderson Lawrence, Mary Anderson, and Charles Anderson, as shown in the below survey. 

Louisa County VA Survey Book 1805 to 1870

2. Rev. Nathan Anderson, a Methodist minister, was born in 1745 England, according to the Louisa County Historical Society publication, Old Home Place of Louisa County Revisited . Nathan and his wife Martha Periere (Puryear) appear to have lived their lives out in Louisa County with their many children and grandchildren. The below image shows that in 1807, Nathan posted bond with John and Henry Trower so that he could perform marriages in Virginia.  

Louisa County VA DB K page 341

 Nathan died sometime before October 14, 1822, the date his Louisa County will was proven in court. 

Hopefully, someday, the bowl of Anderson rigatoni and rotini will be completely separated! 


copyright@2025 Deborah Thurman Parks 


Location: Hanover County, VA, USA

Popular posts from this blog

The Anderson Goldmine Creek Property

-
Image
The Anderson Land Patent for Goldmine The Andersons are one of those prolific families of which you'll find connections to in just about every other family in early Hanover County. They also owned land all over Hanover County, within both St. Paul's and St. Martin's Parishes. One particular location in which they lived, and are probably most known for, is the Anderson plantation located at Goldmine Creek. In fact, back in 1913 Edward Lowell Anderson published a book entitled The Andersons of Gold Mine, Hanover County, Virginia. Interestingly, Edward Lowell Anderson stated in his book that he was unable to find the origin of the land. But an expanded inspection of one particular Anderson land patent gives the location away. The land for the Goldmine plantation appears to have been issued in a 1723 land patent of 400 acres granted to Robert Anderson of Hanover County and Charles Anderson of King William County for the sum of 40 shillings, The patent can be viewed on the  Li...
Read more

The Stone Family's Connections to David and Mary White

-
Image
Although the Stone family had a surprising connection to the Barrett White estate , another piece of Stone/White wonder was uncovered with a little more record digging. While searching for deeds involving the Stone family in Henrico County, the below record surfaced.  In 1771, Thomas Stone (brother to William Stone) purchased 65 acres in Henrico County from John Robinson of Orange County, North Carolina.  According to the below deed, John Robinson was the son of Thomas Robinson, and the description of the land included mention of a creek and branches, but unfortunately, the name of the creek and branches were not provided.  However, previously, we learned that part of Thomas Stone's land included 100 acres on Gilleys Creek .  So, it is very possible that the 65 acres mentioned in the below deed were also in the same area.  The Robinson to Stone deed begins halfway down the page. Henrico County VA Deed Book 1767-1774 pages 387-388 Look who witn...
Read more

John Barnet or John Burnet?

-
Image
FamilySearch.com never ceases to amaze me! Today, from the comfort of my own home, I came across the original pages that were transcribed by C. G. Chamberlayne for his publication  Vestry Book of  St. Paul's Parish Hanover County Virginia 1706-1786 ! Thank you FamilySearch.com! In a previous entry, I noted how many Burnett researchers have ignored Chamberlayne's transcription of Precinct 27 in 1708. In his transcription, Chamberlayne listed a John BARNET and an Edwd BURNET within the same precinct. Unfortunately, Chamberlayne's meticulous transcription effort has been ignored for this precinct and some Burnett researchers decided that a transcription mistake was made and that the transcription for "John BARNET" should have read, "John BURNET". So, let's take a look at the full original page! And here's a cropped version. Without a doubt, the original entry is "John BARNET" who was listed as an interested landowner in the 1708 entry and ...
Read more