GONE, But Not Forgotten: TAPP/TAPTICO, the JETTs and the BOURNEs

WILLIAM TAPTICO I & ELINDE

1655/58–Nov. 1695 1674-1719

Northumberland, VA
8th great-grandparents

William Taptico I was born in the mid-1650s, about 1655 to 1658, in Northumberland County, Virginia, a member of the Wicocomico Indian Nation of the Powhatan Empire. Situated between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers, Northumberland county is known as the “mother country of the Northern Neck.”

William Taptico I was known as the Great Man, a term referring to a Council Member or Elder. He could also have been a Weroance, the term in Virginia and Maryland for an Indian chief. The Chicocoan and Wicocomico tribes were merged in 1655-1656, and because he was considered “so ancient and known a friend to our English nation,” the Northumberland County Court appointed Machywap chief of the combined group. The appointment was protested by the Wicocomico, prompting the Court to order “that six able men be forthwith: pressed to guard & preserve the person of ye said Machiawap.” Some believe Machywap, the chief of the Chicacoan in 1655, may have been William Taptico I’s father.

William Taptico I married an Elinor or Elinder, but her surname is unknown.

From 1678 to 1693, William Taptico can be found in a number of Maryland records. An act passed by the Virginia Assembly, 28 Oct. 1678, provided payment to persons living in Dorchester “who had served in the campaign or aided the troops sent against the Nanticoke Indians.” William Taptico’s name was among those listed; he received 300

pounds of tobacco for the Province of Maryland’s expedition against the Nanticoke Indians.

William Taptico owned land and was farming in Dorchester County, Maryland in the late 1670s and early 1680s is confirmed by land records.

During this time period, it was the custom for the Indians to make an annual payment of tribute to the colonial governor, a ritual that showed submission to the English Crown. A man named Smith paid the tribe’s annual tribute for William Taptico I and the Wicocomico in 1683. William and Elinder migrated to Northumberland Co., VA about 1693, the year the Taptico name appears in a petition brought by the Wicocomico Indians concerning a complaint about their lands. The tribe frequently challenged colonists in court over land disputes.

The Wicocomico Indians filed a complaint specifically about Capt. John Smith with the James City Council (Vol. 1, pg. 284, Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia). The Taptico name appears in the complaint. The mention of Taptico in this record of complaint about John Smith is also the first reference to Taptico as a member of the Wicocomico Nation. This would infer that William was Indian or part Indian.

In 1695, two years after the above complaint was filed, William and Elinder Taptico sold their Dorchester County, Maryland Land.

William Taptico I died sometime after 1696 and before 1710. 1696 was the year he sold the remaining Wicocomico lands to an Englishman, though he retained rights of use for an indefinite time.

1710 was the year William Taptico II, Kind of the Wicocomico Indians came before the Northumberland County Council regarding his tribe’s claim to perpetuity of their Indian lands. Because William Taptico is referred to as “King of the Wicocomico Indians” and “He and his Nation,” we can confidently say this William was , in fact, William II, and that his father, William I, had died. William I was referred to as the Great Man, not as King of the Wicocomico.

In December 1718, William Taptico II gave up his family’s right to occupy the land in Northumberland County. His mother died a few months later. Elinder Taptico is said to have died 16 Sept. 1719, likely in Northumberland County, Virginia.

WILLIAM TAPTICO II & ELIZABETH BARRICK

1690-1719 1690-1724

of Northumberland,Virginia

7th great-grandparents

William Taptico II, or King William Taptico, was the last tribal chief of the Wicocomico Indians. According to history books and Virginia records, his official title would have been Werowance, which in the language of the Algonquian-speaking tribes of Virginia meant he was a leader of great wealth.

Born about 1690, William Taptico II was married to Elizabeth, some say Barrick, but her surname is unverified. The couple had three known children: William III (our 6^th g-grandfather), Charity and Vincent. Some say Elizabeth as being English, but there is no proof for this. English law prohibited marriage between Indians and whites, making it doubtful she was English.

December 1718, William Taptico II gave up his family’s right to the land outlined in the 1695 land agreement between his father and a man named John Smith. The original document can be found at the courthouse in Northumberland County, VA (Northumberland County Record Book, 1718-1726, pages 95-96).

Upon William’s passing about 1719, a Wicocomico successor to William was not named, either through appointment by the English or hereditary heir. With no new tribal leader, the English simply took the land. This left the Wicocomico landless, living as tenants on what was now English land. Based on English law, when a tribe vacated its land or no longer existed, the English could patent the land. Eventually the tribe did disappear from the historical record and was considered extinct.

William Taptico II’s wife, Elizabeth Taptico, qualified as one of his executors in June 1719 and settled his substantial estate. The estate inventory, compiled and appraised by three Englishmen, including Capt. Maurice Jones, “shows that he was a tribal leader who was both prosperous and able to function in an English-ruled world.” He lived in a well-appointed house (by English standards) and was owed money by Indians and Englishmen alike.

In sealing the estate of her husband, Elizabeth began by signing the documents as Elizabeth Taptico, but completed the process by signing as Elizabeth Tapp. It is said it was at this point the name for this family line changed from Taptico to Tapp.

Elizabeth Tapp moved to Spotsylvania County, Virginia by 1722 where she purchased 450 acres of land on 24 August 1722 (Deed Book A, 1722-1729).
In 1724, while living in St. George’s Parish, Elizabeth Tapp deeded this land and sold her personal property to her children.

Elizabeth Barrick Tapp died sometime after Oct. 1724, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

WILLIAM TAPP III & CHRISTIAN BOURNE

1707-1791 1708-1791

from Richmond Co. VA to Culpeper Co., VA

6th great-grandparents

William Tapp III married Christian Bourne. His brother Vincent Tapp is said to have married Elizabeth Bourne, the sister of Christian Bourne. William and Christian married about 1724/25. They settled in Culpeper County, VA where William became a prominent landowner. He and Christian had eight verified children, named in his will. Two years after receiving “the plantation (Spotsylvania County) whereon I now live” from his mother Elizabeth Tapp, William received a land patent for 716 acres on Gravilly run. The land office records show William received a number of land patents during the 1730s. 1000 acres on Indian Run, 1000 acres in the Little Fork, 656 acres in the Great Fork Rappahannock River area. It was the 1000 acre land patent in the Little Fork of the Rappahannock River that William Tapp III lived out his life.

William Tapp III wrote his will 27 June 1780 in Culpeper, Virginia. A codicil (amendment) was added to the will in 1789. It was probated 1 Jan. 1791 and recorded 17 January 1791 (Culpeper County, VA, Will Book C, 1783-1791, page 406-407).

Williams’ son Vincent (our 5^th great-grandfather) died around the same time, since his will was probated on the same day as that of his father.

In William’s will, he leaves to Vincent Tapp (our 5^th great-grandfather), I give unto my son Vincent Tapp & his Heirs after my said wife’s deceased that land & manor Plantation whereon I now live. . . . containing one hundred & ninety-five acres more or less.

Christian Tapp died sometime after June 1780, when William’s will was written, as she is mentioned in the will. . . .”I lend unto my loving wife Christian. . . . .”

VINCENT TAPP, Sr & MARY "MOLLIE" JET

1727-1791 1722-1823

Culpeper, Virginia

5th great-grandparents

About 1753, Vincent married Mary “Mollie” Jett, the daughter of our 6^th great-grandfather, John Jett II. John Jett’s will, dated 1763, identified his daughter Mary as married to Tapp. Vincent’s sister Sarah, married Mary Mollie’s brother, John Jett, III.

Vincent names his wife Mary Mollie in his will as well as eleven children.
Their youngest daughter, Mary “Mollie” Tapp is our 4^th great-grandmother.

There are at least three Vincent Tapps, as well as other Tapps, who served in some capacity during the Revolutionary War. The frequency with which the names of Vincent, William, and John appear in Tapp families makes it difficult to trace the record of the various individuals.

During the Revolution for America’s Independence, petitioning became a customary method for citizens to register political opinion on important questions of public policy and religion. Perhaps the most notable was the TEN THOUSAND NAME PETITION, presented 16 October 1776. Consisting of 125 pages, the document asked for the disestablishment of the church of England, as as for religious equality. Signed by an unprecedented ten thousand Virginia citizens, it initiated the debate over the relationship of church and state in Virginia. Among those ten thousand names were the signatures of Vincent Tapp and his son John Tapp.

Vincent Tapp, Sr. is a Patriot for the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). DAR Ancestor #A112782, for Patriotic Service and signing the 10,000 Name Petition on 16, Oct. 1776. Vincent Tapp and his wife Mary Mollie Jett Tapp had three sons who served during the Revolutionary War: Vincent Tapp, Jr., William Tapp and John Tapp.

Vincent Tapp, Sr. died about the same time as his father, William Tapp III. His will is dated 22 Nov. 1790 and recorded the same day as his father, 17 Jan. Jan. 1791, in Culpeper County, VA. His will is found, (Culpeper County, Virginia Will Book C, 1783-1791, pages 408-409).

His youngest daughter, our 4^th great-grandmother, had not married yet. She received “two pounds current money” and after her mother Mollie Jett Tapp is deceased, “the estate would be sold and the money equally divided between my children.”

Vincent’s widow, Mary “Mollie” Jett Tapp, moved to Spartanburg County, SC, where she lived 1802-1820 with her son Moses and his wife, then passed in 1823.

JOHN CORBIN & MARY "MOLLY" TAPP
1777-1838 1777-1863
Culpeper Co. VA to Sullivan Co. Indiana
4th great-grandparents

John Corbin married Mary Tapp, daughter of Vincent Tapp, Jan. 19, 1799. John and Mary owned 372 acres of land in Culpeper County, Virginia. John Corbin hauled freight across the mountains from Virginia, through West Virginia into Kentucky, later moving into Jessamine County, Kentucky. John and Mary sold the land in Culpeper County, Virginia in 1807 and moved to Kentucky between 1807 to 1808. John is listed on the tax lists of Kentucky from 1810-1828. In 1810, John owned 310 acres on Hickman Creek, Kentucky and he was listed in 1815 as owning town lots in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

In 1829, John and family moved from Jessamine County to Anderson County while his oldest son moved to Sullivan County, Indiana. John and Molly belonged to the Providence Baptist Church of Anderson County, Kentucky where they lived.

John Corbin made his will December 3, 1836, and it was probated September 30, 1838. After John died, Mary Tapp Corbin and her two youngest daughters lived in a little cabin near their old home. Between 1844 and 1846, the heirs of John Corbin sold the farm in Anderson County, Kentucky and the widow, Mary Tapp Corbin and one of her daughter Eliza moved to Sullivan County, Indian where they made their home with her son, Vincent Corbin.

Martin Corbin (our 3^rd great-grandfather) and several of the other siblings moved from Kentucky to Indiana about 1850.

MARTIN CORBIN & AMANDA JET

1811-1880 ? -1847

Jessamine Co. Ky to Sullivan Co. Indiana

Martin Corbin was born about 1811 in Jessamine County, Kentucky and moved with his parents to Anderson County, Kentucky in 1829. Martin was a small man with piercing black eyes and straight black hair. He had pronounced Indian characteristics, and was much like his younger sister, Eliza Corbin Risinger who had Indian characteristics.

Martin married Amanda Jett, August 31, 1835 in Franklin County, Kentucky. Martin and Amanda had five known children. The youngest being Harriette “Rebecca” Corbin (our 2^nd great-grandmother). Amanda Jett Corbin died about 1847 or 1848.

Martin Corbin married again, about 1849. His second wife was Rebecca Jett, the sister of his first wife Amanda Jett. They has one son, Tapley “Tapp” Corbin, born in 1850.

Martin Corbin and family moved to Sullivan County, Indiana after 1850. In 1880, Martin went with his youngest son Tapp and his family to Crawford County, Kansas. The 1880 US Census shows Martin as married to Alecta and living next door to his son Tapp.

No information found on the death of Martin Corbin.

The above information from family documents and from Ancestry.com

JEFFERSON "JEFF" GANAWAY JACKSON & HARRIETTE "REBECCA" CORBIN

1840-1925 1845-1900

Kentucky to Sullivan Co. Indiana

2nd great-grandparents

Rebecca Corbin was born April 28, 1845 in Kentucky. She was first married August 6, 1862 in Knox County, Indiana to WP Guthrie, a soldier of the Civil War, who died in Andersonville Prison in Georgia. They had no children.

Rebecca Corbin Guthrie then married Jefferson Ganaway Jackson March 20, 1867. Jeff was born July 10, 1840. Jefferson G. Jackson served in the Civil War from August 1862 until May 1864 in Company C, 59th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in numerous battles especially in Mississippi. His regiment joined Sherman on his March

through Georgia. His last engagement was at Greensboro, North Carolina. He was taken prisoner and held in the Andersonville Prison in Georgia. He had seen so many of his fellow soldiers starve to death in southern prisons, that he had resolved that if he returned home safely after the war, he would marry the widow of one of those victims. Rebecca Corbin Guthrie turned out to be the widow of one of his war buddies.

Jeff and Rebecca had five children. Their second child, Mary Margaret “Maggie” Jackson is our great-grandmother.

Rebecca died Nov. 27, 1900 of Typhoid Fever in Jefferson Township, Sullivan County, Indiana. Jeff died at the age of 84 on Jan. 24, 1925 in Dearborn, Indiana.

The above information from family documents and from Ancestry.com

Much of the above family history and information was found in two amazing books, researched and written by JENNIFER LEE KINDLE GRANT.
copyright 2018 and 2015.

Thank you Jennifer Grant!

In finding information on the Tapps, Jetts, Triplett, Bourns
and Corbins,

Jennifer Grant does amazing research using Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and GenForum at Genealogy.com. She used George Self of Sierra, Arizona, who maintains the Wicocomico Indian Nation Website and with her interest in this tribe's connection to the Tapp family line, she found research by Alvin Byrd that is posted on his site.
The way she presents the information is fascinating. Her footnotes & sources are thorough and extensive.

SURNAMES

TAPP/TAPTICO, the JETTs and the BOURNEs