Life History

Notes

• Several historical sources match Rachel Manson in marriage to William Terry.  No dates are reported.  A marriage record found more recently reports they were married in 1759, but the place is in Pennsylvania.  This Terry family is associated with Lunenburg County, Virginia, which is in South Central Virginia (would have been southeastern Virginia in the pre-Civil War era, before West Virginia seceded form Virginia).  It lies one county above the North Carolina border to the south.
  
  It is noted in sources, however, that Rachel Manson was born in Botetourt County, where she and William Terry are known to have lived, and where they both died.  At least one son, Miles, was born in Botetourt County.  This county is in the center of the old colony-state of Virginia, now in the west near West Virginia.
  
  It may be that some historical sources with minimal information have linked our Rachel Manson and William Terry to a different similar couple in Philadelphia.  On the other hand, we recall that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was  center of commerce, society and politics in the colonies, and soon became the capital of the new United States a few years after their marriage.  Being prominent landholders and influential in colonial affairs, this William Terry may have been in Philadelphia regularly.
  
  Pennsylvania, Compiled Marriage Records, 1700-1821
  Rachel Manson
  Spouse William Terry
  Marriage 3 Feb 1759 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  
  This record is only a list of names and dates in a typed compilation in a publication of the transcribed record of Christ Church, Philadelphia, 1709-1806,, with no further information to identify the listed.
  
  The memorial on Find a Grave for Rachel reports that her burial spot has not been found.  This memorial maker also reports different dates for Rachel's husband, though he has the same name of William Terry.  Dates of birth and death reported are 1710 and 1792.  Notes on his Find a Grave memorial report him as born in Botetourt County, rather than Orange as commonly reported for this William Terry, and dying in perhaps Virginia, county unknown, or in Surry County, North Carolina.
  
  This Rachel Manson's husband is reported as a fur trader, who was first married to one Cheepoake Harris in North Carolina, with whom he had several children before marrying Rachel.  This is obviously a different individual from William Terry, reported born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1724.  This may also be a different Rachel Manson.  Records for two families may have been confused by early compilations.
  
  Rachel Manson Terry
  Birth 1730
  Death 1766
  Spouse William Terry (1710 - 1792)
  Son John Burris Terry (1760 - 1842)
  Burial Unknown
  Created by Aaron Collins Oct 29, 2015
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #154408911, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=154408911
  
  A Find a Grave page was put up for the William Terry the above memorial reports as the husband of that Rachel Terry.  It includes a bit of a biography, which does not fit the William Terry in this genealogy who is reported in various sources and many genealogies to be the husband of a Rachel Mansion.  This FAG memorial notes that the parents of this William Terry are unknown.
  
  --------------------------
  William Terry
  Birth 1710 Botetourt County, Virginia, USA
  Death 1792 Surry County, North Carolina, USA
  
  Parents unknown. The above dob & dod are approximate, the best information we have at present. Some sources say he died in NC, some say in VA.
  
  His surname is alternately spelled Terriy or Terry. He was a fur trader.
  
  William married Cheepoake Harris in NC. Their known children were Isabell & Esther, & possibly Jasper, Miles & William. Isabell & Esther both married men surname Burris.
  
  Some researchers claim that after Cheepoake's death, William married again. I have no information to say whether this is true or not, and no name of a possible 2nd wife, so cannot confirm or deny it.
  
  William Terry & Cheepoake Harris have many descendants who have tried to get more information about them, but we have found nothing further.
  
  Spouses:
  Cheepoake Harris (1710 - ____)
  Rachel Manson Terry (1730 - 1766)
  
  Children:
  Ester Terry Burris (1740 - 1830)
  John Burris Terry (1760 - 1842)
  
  Burial Unknown
  
  Created by Rebecca Paddon Feb 06, 2011
  --  Find a Grave Memorial #65291212, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65291212
  --------------------------
  
  However, other genealogies reprot the same dates for William Terry, the Trapper, as those we report and the place of death as Botetourt County, Virginia, as shown in most sources and genealogies.  Thie following genelaogy reports the same list of children shown in genealogies that have the dates given in the above FAG profile for Wililam Terry.  William's fathe is also reported as William Terry Sr here as in the genealogies with the dates 1710-1792, and the same motehr, Keziah Sarah (no maiden name).  Most genealoies have no name for the wife of William Terry Sr.
  
  There is on differtence her that may provide some guidance to clarifying the identities here, if two families have been confused in sources or genealogies.  The name of William Terry's second wife here is Rachel Murdock, not not Rachel Manson, as other soruces report.  This genealogy reports that Willam's death place is uncertain, as stated in the FAG above that has the other dates of birth and death.  They share information on his fur trapping, etc, but differ on his wife's name.
  
  The following genealogy also references the above FAG for William, but adds info that matcehs the family line we know and the locatoin in Botetourt County.
  
  William "Trapper" Terry, II
  Birth circa 1724 (79) Botetourt,Virginia,USA
  Death circa 1803 (71-87) Botetourt,Virginia,USA
  Parents:
  William Terry, I
  Keziah Sarah Terry
  Married to:
  Cheepoake "Cheraw-Cherokee" Harris Terry
  Rachel Mordock Terry
  Childen:
  Stephen Terry; Esther (Terry) Burris; William Terry, Jr.; Isabel (Terry) Burris; Mary Terry and 9 others
  Occupation Fur Trader
  "William "Trapper" Terry was a fur trapper, a surveyor, an Indian fighter and was given land grants. By the late 1700's, the old Terry Plantation was made up close to 1,000 acres. The property located where Roanoke, Virginia was later established. His farm was named Elmwood."
  Managed by Geoffrey David Trowbridge
  Last Updated November 28, 2016
  --  Wiliam Terry, Geni, https://www.geni.com/people/William-Trapper-Terry/6000000014630414171

Sources

• 1. Ancestry Trees
  • Bowman-Eledge, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/52490177/person/13391112862
• 2. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 3. Family Data Collection - Births
• 4. Virginia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890A
• 5. Pennsylvania, Compiled Marriage Records, 1700-1821