Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/154

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Early family. According to Philip Mc- Dermott, M. D., in his "Families in Ireland from the Eleventh to the Sixteenth Cen- tury" the name Early is derived from the Celtic Maolmocheirghe, translated meaning "Early Rising," Alaol signifying a king or chief of the Early Rising. O'Hart in "Irish Pedigrees" says: "In Ireland and Scotland each family had its ow^n chief under Tanist law ; these chiefs constituted the ancient nobility in sister counties down to the reign of King James I." He also says: "O'Maol- mocheirghe, Early is considered a sufficient full translation. This translation was due to the legislation of the English invaders of Ireland, who compelled the Irish to adopt English surnames together with the Eng- lish language." The coat-of-arms of the Early family : Gules a chevron between three birds, argent. Crest : A dexter arm erect perpendicular, the arm holding a gem ring or, stone gules. Motto : P'igilans ct lenex.

The founder of the Early family who set- tled in tidewater section of Virginia was a descendant of ancestry in Ulster province. John Early is recorded in York county, Virginia, in 1661. John Early, of Mulgrave, October 4-8, 1676, received a commission as an officer in one of the five companies of foot soldiers in his majesty's regiment of guards employed in the expedition to Vir- ginia, Captain Herbert Jeffreys, commander- in-chief.

Jeremiah Early, son of Thomas and Eliza- beth Early (presumably grandson of John Early, of York county) was born in Middle- sex county, Virginia, December 9, 1705, died in 1787. Tradition says that his father, Thomas Early, was lost at sea, and that he became the ward of Thomas Buford, of Lancaster county, Virginia, whose daugh- ter, Elizabeth, he married in October, 1728. The two families of Buford and Early moved toward the mountains through Spott- sylvania county, and settled in Orange county. Here, in 1735, Jeremiah Early pur- chased land from Robert Luney, and in the same year purchased land on the north side of the Staunton river, and is registered as Jeremiah Early, planter of St. Mark's par- ish. In 1740 a road was ordered run through his plantation with the least pre- judice to it. In 1 741 he was serving as grand juryman in Orange county, but in 1748 when the county of Culpeper was cut

from Orange his plantation lay in the new county. Between 1753 ^^^ 1758 he served in the French and Indian war. His will, written in 1786 and probated in 1787, men- tions eight children by name, but divides his personal property in nine proportions.

Children of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Bu- ford) Early: i. John, born 1729, died 1773; married Theodosia White. 2. Jeremiah, see forward. 3. Sarah, married William Kirt- ley, and removed to Boone county, Ken- tucky. 4. Joshua, born 1738; married Mary Leftwich, and was the father of the famous Methodist bishop, John Early, and of Cap- tain Joshua Early Jr., killed in the war of 1812. 5. Joseph, served as first lieutenant in the revolutionary war, 1776; elected a member of the Virginia legislature in 1783;

married Jane. 6. Jacob, married

Elizabeth Robertson ; moved to Clarke county, Georgia. 7. Ann, married Joseph Rogers; moved to Bryant's Station in 1782. 8. Hannah, married Captain John Scott ; moved to Fayette county, Kentucky. 9. Joel, married Lucy Smith, of Culpeper county, Virginia ; moved to Wilkes county, Georgia.

Colonel Jeremiah (2) Early, son of Jere- miah and Elizabeth (Buford) Early, was born in 1730, died in 1779. He served in the French and Indian war as lieutenant, was captain of the Bedford militia in 1758, colonel of militia in 1778, held the commis- sion of high sheriff ; and w'as a justice of the peace of Bedford county from 1759 to 1779. He married (first) Sarah Anderson, (sec- ond) ]\Iary Stith. He had a large family among which were : Jacobus, the eldest, a captain of militia in 1781 ; John, a delegate to the Virginia convention in 1778 for ratify- ing the constitution ; Jubal, see forward.

Jubal Early, son of Colonel Jeremiah (2) Early, married Mary Cheatham, and died leaving her with two young sons, Joab, see forward, and Henry, who were placed under the guardianship of Colonel Samuel Hair- ston.

Colonel Joab Early, son of Jubal and ]\Iary (Cheatham) Early, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1791. He was a man of considerable prominence in his community, and at different times in his life held all the important offices in his county, serving as sheriff of Franklin county, mem- ber of the Virginia legislature, and colonel of militia. In 1845 he removed to Putnam