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Susannah Rochet Cunningham

Female 1784 - 1853  (68 years)


Personal Information    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Susannah Rochet Cunningham 
    Born 17 Sep 1784  Prince Edward Co., Colonial Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 1853 
    Person ID I17476  My Reynolds Line
    Last Modified 24 Jan 2017 

    Father Major William Cunningham,   b. 10 Apr 1741, Goochland Co., Virginia Colony Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1805, Smith Co., Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Anne 'Betsey Anne' Watkins,   b. 31 Jul 1738, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 May 1834, Smith Co., Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years) 
    Married 4 Dec 1793  Caswell Co., North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Family ID F5837  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family George Booker,   b. Est 1760, Prince Edward County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Children 
     1. Susannah Rochet Michaux Booker,   b. 26 Mar 1797, Prince Edward County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 May 1838, Prince Edward County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 41 years)
    Last Modified 24 Jan 2017 
    Family ID F6270  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S46] Marriage Record/Certificate, https://books.google.com/books?id=K1g11k0MKCwC&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=Philip+Carter+%2B+Sarah+Gunn+%2B+Caswell&source=bl&ots=SQuj79jAX4&sig=j_RFP9TveSCUj3VRHIzCNRSUYBQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbwYeju9_OAhWGKB4KHfjRBugQ6AEIHjAA#v=onepage&q=Philip%20Carter%20%2B%20Sarah%20Gunn%20%2B%20Caswell&f=false.
      Jesse Carter as Bondsman

    2. [S100] Internet Source, http://www.fpehs.org/worshamwilliamdescendants.html.
      Branch Jones Worsham b 8 Dec 1788 Prince Edward Co., VA md Susannah Rochet Michaux Booker 8 Mar 1815 Prince Edward Co., VA, with Samuel Anderson Surety & George Booker, father. [The Virginia Genealogist V 2 #1, Jan 1859, p. 177-8 & prince Edward Co., VA Marriage Bonds 1754-1850] Susannah b abt 1795 d/o George Booker and Susanna Cunningham & bur Worsham Cem, Prince Edward Co. Clover Hill was the home of Branch Jones Worsham, third clerk of Prince Edward County for 52 years. As a boy he lived at Prince Edward Court House, a place long known as the Berkley home, now the home of Mrs. Charles Venable.

      In The First 100 Years by Edward W. Kenny & Frederick Johnston, we learn more about the personal life of Branch Jones Worsham:
      "We have here one of the most illustrious of Prince Edward's sons. He did not excite the huzza of the multitude or dazzle the world with rhetorical brilliancy, but in the quiet walks of everyday life he impressed himself as decidedly upon the day in which he lived as did any man it has been our privilege to know. As far back as 1802 he commenced to write in the Clerk's Office of Prince Edward Co. & was engaged in preparing blank forms for the office. In April 1803 he recorded his first deed in the said office and in Dec 1805 he entered for the first time the county court orders. In April 1806, he recorded the orders of the district court. During the month of April 1809, he was sworn in as deputy clerk of the circuit court.
      Branch spent his entire livelihood just a stone's throw from where this article is being written, which is, the old lawyers office situated between the site of the old courthouse and the present day clerk's office building where Branch toiled day after day. In Sept. 1816 he qualified as District Court Clerk. By 1825 he was qualified as clerk of the county court. He was regularly returned to office by his fellow citizens. As some were to say later he was a personal friend and could always be counted on to assist you in difficult matters. His acknowledged efficiency as clerk removed him from political turmoil, party politics, passions, and prejudice.
      Mr. Worsham was also a member of the convention of 1850 which met in the city of Richmond on the 14th of Oct and adopted a new constitution for Virginia on the first of August 1851. It was ratified by the people on the fourth Thursday. The civil war removed him from office in 1869. He never wanted to be anything but county clerk. As far back as anyone could remember his dignified bearing, his classic intelligent clean shaven face, always a well dressed person, and quiet yet impressive manner of Mr. Worsham are most vividly recalled by those who knew him. His habit was to ride to his office every morning and give to it, not eight hours, but a full day's work. He brought his dinner with him and ate it cold. His office was a model of neatness and of correctness. Mr. Worsham loved it as he did few other things in this world, and guarded its every paper with unwearying care. His methods were rigorously exacting and his habits of life were governed by laws written from the blood of many patriots who made the supreme sacrifice. "Yes sir, those old clerks were high-toned gentlemen."
      More was written about Branch by Linus P. Hayes in the Virginia Genealogist:
      "On 31 Jan 1816 soon after Branch's marriage to Susannah Rochet M. Booker, his parents deeded him 103 acres of land and his motehr signed the indenture as Peggy Worsham.
      George Norbury Mackenzie's Colonial Families of the United States, V 2, p. 504 states that Sarah Mayo married twice, first to Dr. Joseph Scott 8 Dec 1734 and second to Robert Jones on 16 Jun 1750 Amelia Co., VA. Margaret was a daughter of Robert Jones." [The Virginia Genealogist-Worsham, Jones, Mayo & Scott Families by Linus P. Hayes, Washington, D.C., Vol 2, p. 176]
      Branch is in the 1820 Prince Edward Co. Census, p 162 with Males: 1 under 10, 1 16-26, 1 26-45; Females: 2 under 10, 1 16-26. John W. Worsham & William Worsham are also on the 1820 Census. He is in the 1830 Prince Edward Co. Census with males: 110-15, 1 25-20, 1 40-50; females: 2 under 5, 2 10-15, 1 30-40. Thomas Worsham & William Worsham are also listed on the 1830 Census.
      His wife is mentioned as niece in the will of Jacob Cunningham dated 13 Oct 1833 and Recorded 18 Aug 1834. Branch J. Worsham is mentioned as a devisee and is Executor of the will along with James D. Wood. [Prince Edward Co., VA Wills 1828-1837, Bk 7, p. 376, FHL Film 33219] Branch is in the 1840 Prince Edward Co. Census with Males: 1 5-10, 1 20-30, 1 50-60; Females 1 20-15, 2 15-20, 1 20-30 & 32 slaves.
      Branch is age 61 in the 1850 Prince Edward Co. Census, p 18 as clerk of court, $9000. Real Estate b Pr Ed wife Susan 34 b Pr Ed. Cornelia 24 b Pr Ed, Branch 17 b Pr Ed.
      He is on the 1860 Prince Edward Co., VA Census, P. O. Prospect Depot, p. 955.

      The following is quoted from a newspaper article entitled "Worsham:"
      On 7 Apr 1865, the Federal Cavalry & V Corps passed through this area. A slight skirmish took place here between members of Mackenzie's Cavalry and confederate Pickets as they approached the village. Most of the southerners were taken prisoner. Worsham (Prince Edward Court House)
      Mr. Worsham was ill at his home at the Court House (the home now occupied by Mr. George L. Walker) when General Sheridan and his troops came to the Village, a few days before General Lee surrendered. When General Sheridan stated that he wished to use Mr. Worsham's residence as his headquarters, Mr. Worsham plainly indicated that he could not get the use of the house with his consent. The General then got the residence on the adjoining lot--the residence owned by Mr. Smith. It is said that the soldiers took Mr. Worsham before General Sheridan, were quite rough with him and aggravated his illness.
      Soon after the War when the State was under military rule and the whites of the State were deprived of citizenship, the Judge who had been appointed for the County wished to have one of his appointees sworn into office and said to Mr. Worsham, "Mr. Clerk, swear this man so that he may be qualified." "Your Honor", said Mr. Worsham, "I will swear him in but all H--l can't 'qualify' him." ["Worsham" on file with Dr. Eggleston papers at Virginia Historical Society & copied by Aloa Dereta]
      Farmville was made the county seat of Prince Edward Co. in 1872. It became final 26 Mar 1872 when the court directed that the voting precinct in Hampden Township hitherto known as Prince Edward Courthouse should henceforth be known as Worsham. Well, it certainly was not put down, for Branch J. Worsham left a legacy of over 60 years of dedicated service to be proud of and looked up to. [Edward W. Kenny, Worsham The First 100 Years, p. 17]
      Branch died 26 May 1873 Prince Edward Co., VA and is buried by the side of his father, William Worsham in the Worsham family grave yard. His unflinching integrity is an example to be followed. [Births & deaths of Branch J. & Susannah Children on a page among J. D. Eggleston's papers on file at Richmmond Historical Society. 428 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA & copied by Aloa Dereta]
      His wife, Susannah R. M. Worsham is bur in the Grave Yard Plot #6 made in 1866 by Branch J. Worsham, Prince Edward Co., VA. [Joseph Eggleston papers #Mss1 Eg396b 8-63 Sec 3; Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA]

      [Tuggle & Washam, Worsham & Washam, pp. 338-340]