The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

HUMPHREYS FAMILY OF MISSISSIPPI.
BELONGING TO THE VIRGINIA BRANCH.
Gov. Benjamin G. Humphreys thus writes concerning the Mississippi branch of Humphreys:
"They never agree, either in religion or poUtics, down here—some whigs, some democrats, some
secessionists, some Union men; some Churchmen, some Presbyterians, some Baptists, some Method-
ists, some Campbellites. All friendly, but every man after his own opinions. All in Mississippi
became wealthy, and though they differed as to the policy or necessity of secession, yet they all
joined in the war, and lost all. They are a race of /we men, self-reliant, energetic and daring in
the pursuit of business or pleasure. My father's immediate family have all been agriculturists, and
decidedly successful." * * * "They differ in opinions, but unite in friendship. Each is
devoted to his own home, and always ready to protect his home interests."
FAMILY 1.
I. Colonel Ralph' Humphreys, (son of Ralph* and (Walker) Humphrevs, of
Virginia) a native of \'irginia, married, in 1768, Agnes (dau. of, probably, George) Wilson, f of
Virginia, and niece of James Wilson, a member of the Convention of 1787, which adopted the
Constitution of the United States, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. They
settled in Hampshire County, West Virginia, on the Potomac, near Romney.J
Mr. Humphreys was a colonel in the Revolutionary War, and commanded in that capacity
in the United States service at, probably, Detroit, Michigan, until 17S8. While there commanding,
his family removed to Mississippi, threading the Monongahela, Ohio and IMississippi in a "broad
horn" flat-boat, and landed at Natchez (then Spanish territory) 10 Sept., 1787. They settled at Grindstone
Ford, of the Bayou Pierre, now in Claiborne County. In the fall o( 1788, Colonel Humphreys
rejoined his family. Having resigned his position in the army, he was granted, by Congress, for his
military service, land script which his son, George Wilson Humphreys, sold for three magnificent eight
day clocks—one for each of his sons. He died in 1789, and was buried on the banks of Bayou Pierre.
• Ralph Humphreys, or his fiitlier, was a native of North Carolina or Virginia, according to Gov. Benjamin G. Hutnphreys.
t " Agnes Wilson had two brothers—George and Joseph—and three sisters—Ehsabeth, and two others, whose names are not known.
George settled in Kentucky, and raised a large family of boys and girls; res. Wilson's Bottom, on the Ohio River. Joseph died in Virginia,
leaving a large family. Elizabeth married Joseph Darlington, moved to Ohio, and raised a large family. One of the other daughters
married Hawkins, of Pennsylvania: the other McDowell, 1 think Governor of Virginia.*'
t In an obituary notice of David George Humphreys, grand-son of Col. Ralph, it is stated that "from the Virginia branch descended
David Humphreys, of Kentucky; Perry W., of Tennessee; James, cf South Carolina; Absalom, of Georgia; John, of Virginia; and Ralph,
of Mississippi." The ancestor of this family is said to have been Ralph Humphries, a cavalier, of Wales, who, during the days of Oliver
Cromwell, having allied hlmsell to the party ol Charles I, was driven to Ireland, and his descendants to America, by the injustice of the
British Ministry. One branch ol the family settled in Connecticut, one in Pennsylvania, and another in Virginia." [See note, p.
D. Humphreys, of Decatur, Alabama, writes that his grand-father came to Pennsylvania from W^1les, nearly one htindred years
ago; that his father removed to Ohio, and he was born in Delaware. Oliio. The Humphreys ancestor of Judge D. C. Humphreys, of
Huntsville, Alabama, is also said to have come from Wales. See account of the descendants of Charles Humphries, of Virginia (p. 1003^;
also the account of the Wales family of Humphreys, copied from Burke's Landed Gentry.
John Humphreys, included in the following warrant ( Cafcwa'nr-