Marty and Karla Grant

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William Sams (c1752-c1828) and Martha Edwards of Henry Co., VA, Washington Co., TN, Burke and Buncombe Co., NC, Hickman and Ballard Co., KY and Union Co., IL

[Sams Home] - [Table of Contents] - William Sams (c1752)

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William and Martha Edwards Sams are my 6 times Great Grandparents, assuming they are in fact the parents of my ancestor Lavina Sams Carter.

Reference the books Sams Family of Virginia, Dr. Crawford F. Sams, Conway C. Sams and Col. Robert C. Hackett, 1981, and The Sons and Daughters of Sams, Volume I, Beck Sams, 2007. Both are great resources for the Sams family, and also the reasons I didn’t do much first hand Sams research until recently. I’ve not attempted to verify everything in the books, but I have done my best to verify my direct lineage.

William Sams was born before 1755 per his age on the 1800 census of 45 and upwards. Unfortunately, that is the only census I have him on, so I can’t narrow his birth date down any better using census records. Others list his birth as being in 1755, which may be correct, or may be an estimate based on his 1800 census entry and the approximate birth dates of his siblings. However, considering he entered land and had it surveyed in 1768 and 1769, I suspect he had to be at least 16 at that time, thus born ca 1752 or earlier. This works with his 1800 census entry.

The area where he was likely born was part of Halifax Co., VA in 1755. However, prior to 1752 it has been Lunenburg County, Lunenburg having been formed from Brunswick in 1746. So, depending on his exact birth date, he could have been born in Brunswick, Lunenburg or Halifax. Pittsylvania County was created from the western portion of Halifax in 1767. The Sams appear to have been in that section. Henry County was formed in 1776 from the western part of Pittsylvania, the Sams once again found themselves in a new county.

William Sams is probably a son of William Sams and Mary (—). Their relationship isn’t proven, but William (Sr) is really the only choice, and they did live in the same area at the same time.

The 1767 tax list for Pittsylvania Co., VA for Robert Chandler’s district includes James Sams with one tithable, and William Sams with two. Neither had land. John Sams was on the 1767 tax list in Peter Perkins’ district, with one tithable and no land. Our William Sams, if born in 1755, would have been about 12 at the time of this list, and wouldn’t be listed by name or counted as a tithable, therefore this is probably the older William, his likely father.

On 18 Apr 1768, 88 acres on Smiths River was surveyed for John Kelly. The land was entered by William Sams Jr, who transferred it to Kelly. It was granted 1 Mar 1781. (Virginia Land Patents Book C, 1780-1781, pp. 407-409.)

William Samms Junr had a land survey dated – Feb 1769 for 164 acres in Pittsylvania Co., VA on a branch of —uths River. (Smith’s River?) (Pittsylvania Co., VA Old Surveys No. 1, p. 189.)

William Samms Junr is listed in the Pittsylvania land entry book on 23 Apr 1769 with 400 acres beginning his corner. (Pittsylvania Co., VA Record Book 1737-1770, p. 449.)

There is an entry in the deed books listing surveys in 1769, including:

John Samms, 360 acres on waters of Tae? and Cut? Creek

William Samms Senr, 105 (or 185) acres on Smiths River

William Samms Junr, 164 acres on draughts of Turkey Cock Creek. (Pittsylvania Co., VA Deed Book 1, p. 533.)

Turkey Cock Creek rises southeast of Martinsville and flows easterly into the Smith River. This is in the southern part of Henry County just a few miles from the North Carolina line. As noted earlier, that area was part of Brunswick until 1746 when it became Lunenburg, and there until 1752 when it became Halifax, and there until 1767 when it became Pittsylvania, then finally the area became Henry in 1776.

There is a William Sams listed on the 1770 tax list in Pittsylvania Co., VA with one poll (tithable). I’m not sure if this William Sr or Jr. William Jr would have been approximately 18 if born ca 1752, so it depends on whether the tithes had to be 16 and up or 21 and up.

William Sams married Martha Edwards before ca 1778 in Henry Co., VA. Martha Edwards was born ca 1763 per an apparent tombstone since lost. This does work with her age on the 1800 census of 26-44, or born ca 1755/1774. She is a proven child of Thomas Edwards and wife Lucy as named in Thomas’s 1790 Will.

William Sams is listed on the 1782 Personal Property Tax List in Henry Co., VA with 1 tithe, no slaves, 3 horses and 6 head of cattle. He was the only Sams listed.

William Sams is listed on the 1783 Personal Property Tax List in Henry Co., VA with 1 tithe, 1 tithe over 21, no slaves, 2 horses and 5 head of cattle. Again, he was the only Sams listed. There is no date on this listing. He wasn’t listed in 1784 or afterwards in this county. That’s because he moved to Washington Co., NC (now TN) in 1783.

In Washington Co., NC (now TN) court for 5 Feb 1783, Edmond Sams, William Sams and others were called to mark off a road. (Washington Co., NC Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Volume 1, 1778-1779, p. 197.)

William Sams (Samms) was one of the purchasers at the 22 Apr 1786 estate sale of Jacob Brown, deceased, in Washington Co., TN. John Samms was a purchasers at a later sale (5 Aug 1786) for the same estate.

William Samms was impaneled as a Juror in August 1787 Washington Co., TN court, which is interesting, because on 7 Aug 1787, he was a chain bearer (with David McPeters) for a survey in Burke Co., NC for Charles McDowell. It should be noted that Burke Co., NC and Washington Co., NC (now TN) bordered at that time, so he might not have gone very far to be in both counties at once, so to speak. The section of Burke in question was the part that became Buncombe County.

There is a land warrant (entry) in Burke Co., NC for William Sams. It was originally entered by James Ainsworth for 150 acres on Bald Mountain Fork of Ivy River “including a place whereon Abram Rice now liveth.” This was apparently transferred by Ainsworth to William Sams on or around 4 Oct 1789. The survey was dated 16 Nov 1790. Samuel Randolph and Mery? Webb? were chain bearers. The final survey was 144 acres. This was granted to William on 27 Nov 1792.

Martha’s father Thomas Edwards made his Will in Pittsylvania Co., VA on 8 Nov 1790 naming, among others, “my daughter Martha Sams,” whom he left “one Negro girl named Jane, now in her possession.” (Pittsylvania Co., VA Deeds & Wills 11, pp. 202-203.)

In 1790, North Carolina ceded it’s claim to the land over the mountains, now known as Tennessee, to the Federal Government. Thus, that area wasn’t included in the 1790 census for North Carolina, and any enumerations taken didn’t survive. However, if they had, we’d likely find William Sams listed on that census in Washington County.

William Sams moved across the mountains into North Carolina ca 1790-1791, into what was then Burke Co., NC.

On 22 Jun 1791, William Sams and Joseph Dobson jointly entered a tract of 100 acres in Burke Co., NC on a large branch on the south side of Bald Mountain Fork joining the line of James Ainsworth and Edmond Sams. There is a notation that William Sams transferred his part of this entry to Joseph Dobson before it was granted, so it never became his land.

The section of Burke County where William Sams resided became Buncombe County in 1792.

William Sams, along with his brother James Sams and others, were ordered by the court in July 1792 to lay off a road from Ivy River to Caney River in Buncombe Co., NC. (Buncombe Co., NC Court Minutes.)

William Sams was among the jurors for the Apr 1794 Buncombe County court, and also in July 1794.

On 13 Nov 1795, William Sams and John Welch witnessed a deed from James Ainsworth of Burke Co., NC to Thomas Love of Buncombe, for land on Bald Mountain Fork. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 3, pp. 292-293.)

In January court, 1799, John Deweese gave William Sams power of attorney to make a deed to David Blackwell for 100 acres of land on the rear fork of Big Laurel. The same session had William Sams, as attorney for John Deweese, acknowledge the aforementioned deed. (Buncombe Co., NC Court Minutes 1798-1804, p. 68.)

On 3 May 1799, John Strother of Beaufort Co., NC made a deed to William Sams of Buncombe Co., NC. For $3, land joining where he now lives and Thomas Love’s land, being 22 ½ acres. Strother signed. Hance McWharter witnessed. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 3, pp. 359-360.)

William Sams was listed on the 1800 census in Buncombe Co., NC. Unfortunately it was an alphabetical list so we can’t determine who his neighbors were. However, his brother Edmund Sams was also listed, as was brother James Sams and two John Sams (one was his brother, the other his nephew, son of James). Their brother Rice Sams was in Rockingham Co., NC in 1800. Brothers Littleberry and Elijah Sams were not listed, probably in Tennessee or elsewhere that the 1800 census was lost.

1800 Census, Buncombe Co., NC, p. 189, William Sams, 12201-01010-0-0

On 21 Jan 1805, William Sams Senr of Buncombe Co., NC made a deed Thomas Love of the same place. For $150, he sold him 80 acres on the Bald Mountain Fork of the Little Ivy. It mentions Edmond Sams’ corner. William Sams signed with a mark. Witnesses were R(obert) Anderson and Gabriel Elkin. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 9, pp. 111-112.)

On 15 Feb 1805, William Sams of Buncombe made a deed to Jonathan Hunt of the same place. For $13, he sold him 22 ½ acres. William Sams signed with a mark (a “W”). Witnesses were Rice Sams (his son) and William Rogers. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 9, pp. 103-104.)

On 17 Jul 1805, Samuel H. Williams, Sheriff of Buncombe, made a deed to Rice Sams of Buncombe, he sold him lands of William Sams to satisfy court judgment by Larkin Hensley, being 65 acres. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 9, pp. 284-286.)

I think the above deed represents the last of the land William Sams had in Buncombe County, and the approximate time he left the county for I didn’t find anymore records of him in Buncombe after 1805.

William’s daughter Lavina Sams, my ancestor, married Jesse Carter in Buncombe on 2 May 1805, probably just a few months before her family moved west. She, however, remained in North Carolina. I think she’s the only one who didn’t migrate. The Carters remained in Buncombe until the 1820s when they went to Rabun Co., GA where they lived until their deaths. I can’t help but wonder if they kept in touch with the Sams family “out west.”

William and Martha, and most of their children headed west, to southern Illinois, which was then part of Indiana Territory. That section was then part of Randolph County, Indiana. In 1809, Illinois was formed, taking most of Randolph County into it.

While the 1810 census for Randolph Co., IL survives, there are no Sams listed on it. It is possible William and Martha weren’t in Illinois yet by 1810. Their daughter Elizabeth and husband John Deweese had an older man and woman with them in 1810 Butler Co., KY, both over 45 (born before 1765) which could certainly be William and Martha. Then again it could be John’s parents or other persons entirely.

In 1812, Randolph was divided, the southernmost part became Johnson County, while the eastern half became Gallatin. In 1816, Pope County was formed from southern Gallatin and eastern Johnson, taking some of the Sams into Pope, leaving others in Johnson. William found himself in Pope. One more change happened in 1818 when Union County was formed from western Johnson county taking many of the Sams into it. William, however, remained in Pope.

William Sams is listed on the 1818 state census of Illinois in Pope County. His household has three white males 21 and up, and three other white inhabitants, no gender or age distinctions given. His sons Thomas and David were in Union Co., IL on that census a few houses from each other, Thomas with one white male over 21 and 8 other whites, David with 1 white male over 21 and 3 others. Rice Sams was on the same census but not too near his brothers, with 1 white male over 21 and 6 other whites.

Who were the extra two adult males in William’s 1818 household? His son Wiley (c1797) would have just turned 21 that year, so he is probably one of them. William’s son William (III) was in Kentucky at that time, I think. Perhaps it is son Valonel Sams of whom not much is known. One of the three other whites would be William’s wife Martha Edwards Sams. I don’t know who the remaining two could be. Perhaps grandchildren?

There is a very hard to read entry on the 1820 census for Pope Co., IL which might be William Sams (indexed as W. Damer, though it looks to me like it sams W. Sames). He has many of the same neighbors as the 1818 entry. However, his enumerations aren’t quite in line with what our William’s household should be. Perhaps it isn’t him in 1820, and if not, perhaps the 1818 entry isn’t him either. The main problem with the 1820 entry is there is no one William Sams’s age in the household. That could be an oversight, or evidence this isn’t our William Sams. If not ours, it could be his son William Sams (1780), meaning our William is not listed on the 1820 census anywhere as far as I can find.

1820 Census, Pope Co., IL, Monroe Township, p. 83, W. Sames, 320100-01001-0-0

As noted, I’m not entirely sure the man on the 1818 and 1820 census in Pope Co., IL is our William Sams. It’s possible he never lived in Pope County.

According to the first Sams book, Martha Edwards Sams died on 19 Jul 1824 as noted on her tombstone which listed her as 61, or born ca 1763. She is buried (according to the book) in the Sams Cemetery in Union Co., IL. I haven’t been able to find this cemetery online at Findagrave.com or elsewhere. It may have been destroyed or overgrown and lost.

There is a reference to a “Sams (Willard) Cemetery” on the genealogytrails.com web page for Union Co., IL that gives its location as Twp 12S, Range 1W, NE Quarter, Section 31. Perhaps someone can go to that area and see if it still exists.

The original Sams book also states that William Sams died in 1825 and is buried at the same cemetery. However, if he died in 1825, to whom was his son William referring in his 1828 Will when he left 25 shillings to “my aged father?”

On 14 Apr 1828, William Sams of Hickman Co., KY made his Will, naming, as noted, “my aged father” whose name he did not list. He also named his brothers Rice Sams, Thomas Sams, Wiley Sams and David Sams, and his sisters Elizabeth Deweese and Lavina Carter. He named his wife Sarah and his stepson Joseph D. Montgomery. He was dead by June 1828 when the Will was proven in court. (Hickman Co., KY Will Book 1822-1836, pp. 85-86.)

Unless William (Jr) was unaware of his father’s death in 1825, then William (Sr) was still alive as late as April 1828. He died sometime after that. I didn’t find a Will or probate for the elder William. Perhaps he owned no property that needed dividing.

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Children

Seven of the children of William Sams and Martha Edwards are proven by the 1828 Will of William Sams Jr wherein he named his siblings as his heirs, apparently having no children of his own. The only problem with this as proof is that there is nothing in that Will that proves these were children of William Sams (Sr). William (Jr) did leave money to his aged father, but didn’t list his name. Perhaps there is other evidence that William (Sr) is the father of these children, but I don’t know what it is. There is circumstantial evidence in that Rice Sams witnessed an 1805 deed of William Sams Sr in Buncombe Co., NC. William had a brother named Rice also, but he never lived in Buncombe. However, it would make sense for William to name one of his sons after his brother. The name “Thomas” Sams makes sense if named after Martha’s father Thomas Edwards.

The first Sams book includes a son named Valonel Sams, but I’ve seen no actual record of him. What’s the proof he was part of this family? Or that he existed?

 

1.         Elizabeth Sams was born ca 1777/78 in Virginia, both per her 1850 census entry. She was named in her brother William Sams’s 1828 Will as his sister Elizabeth Deweese. She was named ahead of Lavina who we know was born in 1786, so I imagine that makes Elizabeth older. If we look at the 1800 census for William Sams (Sr) we see only one apparent daughter at home, which is likely Lavina as she wasn’t yet married. This probably means Elizabeth was married by 1800.

 

I suspect her husband was John Deweese who, in 1799, granted power of attorney to William Sams to sell some land in Buncombe Co., NC. It didn’t state his place of residence, nor did the deed where the land was sold. I found a John Deweese in Logan Co., KY records, though I don’t know if the same man or not. I found one in Butler Co., KY with a wife Elizabeth in 1810, 1820 and 1823 (marriage bond for son William). I can’t say with any certainty that this is our Elizabeth Sams Deweese, but it’s worth looking into. They are in Hickman Co., KY in 1830 just a few houses from David and Wiley Sams, so that’s a strong clue. I did find an entry on Findagrave.com for John Deweese (1769-1843) and wife Elizabeth Sams which indicates the one I was tracking is the same one, or at least whoever made their entry thought so. That entry has John dying in Ballard Co., KY in 1843, and Elizabeth dying there in 1850. I believe their information to be accurate more or less as best as I can tell if only for them having the right names, ages and being in the right places (her brother William Sams died in what became Ballard County). Further, they show John and Elizabeth had a daughter named Lavina Deweese, which is an unusual name, but easily explained as a namesake of Lavina Sams Carter, my ancestor. Widow Elizabeth Deweese age 72 was on the 1850 census in Ballard Co., KY. She wasn’t found in 1860, so died some point in between.

 

2.         William Sams (Jr) was born ca 1780, likely in Henry Co., VA. He went with his parents, first to Tennessee, then to North Carolina. He went west, either with his parents or perhaps before them. I didn’t find him on the 1810 census. He wound up in Christian Co., KY where he married Margaret Tucker in 1814. I didn’t find him on the 1820 census in Kentucky or elsewhere unless he’s the William Sames in 1820 Pope Co., IL. Margaret died at some point and he married a widow Sarah (—) Montgomery, possibly in Hickman Co.,KY. That is where he made his Will on 14 Apr 1828. Having no children of his own, he left everything to his wife, his stepson Joseph D. Montgomery and his brothers and sisters and his “aged father.” He was dead by June 1828 when the Will was proven in court. The section of Hickman he lived in became Ballard County in 1842, and again was changed in 1886 when Carlisle County was formed from that same section. A copy of his 1828 Will was filed in Carlisle Co., KY Will Book 1886-1927 pp 113-114.

 

3.         Rice Sams was born ca 1780/1790 either in Henry Co., VA or Washington Co., NC (now TN), depending on his actual birth date. He was almost certainly named for his uncle Rice Sams. Rice (the younger) married Elizabeth Biggerstaff on 6 Nov 1808 in Muhlenberg Co., KY. They were probably already in Illinois by 1810 for they are not found elsewhere on the 1810 census (lost for Illinois). Rice is listed on the 1818 state census in Union Co., IL and also there in 1820 and 1830. Rice Sams apparently died in the 1830s in Union Co., IL. His widow Elizabeth is listed there on the 1840 and 1850 censuses. Rice Sams is a proven brother of William Sams (Jr) as named in his 1828 Will.

 

4.         Lavina Sams was born 15 Dec 1786 in Washington Co., NC (now TN). She married Jesse Carter in 1805 in Buncombe Co., NC. They remained in Buncombe until the 1820s when they moved to Rabun Co., GA where they lived out the rest of their lives. These are my ancestors. Lavina Sams Carter is a proven sister of William Sams (Jr) as named in his 1828 Will. See their own page for more information.

 

5.         Thomas Sams was born ca 1780/1790 either in Henry Co., VA or Washington Co., NC (now TN). He was probably named for his grandfather Thomas Edwards. He married Sarah “Sally” Boren on 1 Oct 1807 in Muhlenberg Co., KY. They are found on the censuses in Union Co., IL in 1818, 1820, 1830 and 1840. Thomas died there in the 1840s. Widow Sarah is there on the 1850 census. Thomas Sams is a proven brother of William Sams (Jr) as named in his 1828 Will.

 

6.         David Sams was born ca 1788/89 per his age on the 1850 census. The same record shows his birth place as North Carolina. If accurate, he would have been born in Burke Co., NC, which later became Buncombe (in 1792), and depending on where the family lived precisely, later became Yancey (1832) and finally Madison County (1851). David Sams married Nancy Smith 7 Sep 1814 in Butler Co., KY. They are listed on the 1818 and 1820 censuses in Union Co., IL, then to Hickman Co., KY for 1830 and 1840 censuses, then Ballard Co., KY for the 1850 census. He died there in 1852 of consumption. David Sams is a proven brother of William Sams (Jr) as named in his 1828 Will.

 

7.         Wiley Sams was born ca 1796/97 per his age on the 1850 census. He was born in Buncombe Co., NC. He is listed on the 1830 and 1840 census in Hickman Co., KY and on the 1850 census in Ballard Co., KY. Wiley Sams is a proven brother of William Sams (Jr) as named in his 1828 Will.

 

8.         Valonel Sams was is listed as a son of William and Martha in both Sams books, but I don’t know where his name comes from. I’ve seen no primary evidence for him so far. Some might exist, but I haven’t seen it. Perhaps he died young. It’s a very unusual name. He was not named in his brother William’s 1828 Will, so likely dead by then.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for William Sams and Martha Edwards.

Revised: February 17, 2025

Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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