VIA-L Archives

From: Jay Ingram <>
Subject: Patrick County, VA, VIA's
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 12:01:18 +0500

I have seen recently the postings of a few researchers, namely B
Crews and R Presnell, who have the same concern as me - what is the origin
of the Via's in the Patrick/Franklin Co., VA, area, and how do they relate
to the Albemarle Co. group?

A document that looks interesting to start to answer this question
is the will of Fanny Ann Via (Patrick Co., Va, Will Book 2 p. 301). The
will was apparently recorded 30 Nov. 1795, but not proven until 1844. Fanny
Ann Via lists brother James Ingram and sons William Via and James Via as her
executors. Daughters Ann Via and Sarah Amer Via also get mentioned,
apparently unmarried in 1795. James Ingram's wife Martha is a witness.

George Via's book says William, James, Sallie, and Nancy Via came
to"Patrick Co., from Amherst County, but evidently raised in Henrico County,
near Richmond, Virginia". I think these siblings are the same as William,
James, Sarah Amer, and Ann Via in Fanny Ann Via's will. Sarah was often
shortened to "Sallie"; William Via married Sallie Ingram, in R. Presnell's
posted lineage - I have seen it written that her full name was Sarah
Elizabeth Ingram. The names in Fanny Ann Via's will are of particular
interest because of the 'Amer' in Daughter Sarah's middle name.
The questions are, who is Fanny Ann Via, who was her husband, where
was she from? I believe Fanny Ann Via to be the daughter of Alexander
Ingram. Alexander Ingram lived near the present city of Roanoke, Va. (at
the 'Bent Mountain'). His residence was in Augusta Co. until Botetourt Co
was formed in 1770 (from Augusta), and now would be in Roanoke Co.
Alexander's will (Botetourt Co., Va, Will Book A, p. 178) notes sons John,
William, James, Alexander, and daughters Ann and Mary, both apparently
unmarried when the will was recorded in December 1780. Ann Ingram is
probably Fanny Ann Via.
John and James Ingram migrated to Henry County, Va, near the Patrick
Co. line. It's possible that Ann went with them while unmarried and met her
Via husband in that area. Or maybe she married near Roanoke and moved to
Patrick later. Apparently she was widowed relatively early in her marriage
(but not before having 4 kids). Unfortunately Fanny Ann's male children's
names, William and James, are the same as 2 of her brothers, so that gives
no insight into who the Via personage she married might have been.
So a lot of this is necessarily based on speculation, and doesn't
answer the question of how did the Via's end up in Patrick. But George Via
says they (Wm., James, Sallie, Nancy Via) came from Amherst Co by way of
Henrico Co, and I would have to doubt that. I'd be interested to hear
others' ideas, or comments on what I've submitted here. Or better yet, hear
from someone who knows how (and which) Vias got to Patrick. Hope this has
helped somebody and wasn't too long.

JWI

Note: I'm also descended from William and Sallie Via Ingram, through their
son Fleming Via as well as through their son Alexander Via. Martha Adaline
Via , daughter of Fleming, married William Alexander Via, and one of their
children was Luna Via, who married Posey M. Ingram. That is my line - what
I'm interested in is folklore, location of landholdings/cemeteries/etc,
pictures, military service records - in general the type of thing that gives
an idea of who the people were. I'm happy to share any info I have (which
also includes the Ingrams, of course), and even happier to receive info.
Thanks-

This thread:

• Patrick County, VA, VIA's by Jay Ingram <>