Charles Callaway (1749-1827) served in
the Continental Army in the American Revolution.
This biography was published in 2002
in The Callaway Journal* and is reprinted here
with the consent of the author.
CAPT. CHARLES CALLAWAY
By Patricia Vining Schnurr
Capt. Charles Callaway, Revolutionary soldier, and sixth child of Col. William Callaway (Joseph line) was born 18 June 1749 in what was then Lunenburg County, Virginia. He was not one of the "traveling Callaways" and lived his entire life in the same vicinity. That portion of Lunenburg where his father, William Callaway, lived eventually became Bedford County in 1754. Halifax County had also been created from Lunenburg in 1752, and in 1767 Pittsylvania County was created from Halifax.
Charles was married on 14 December 1768 to Judith Early Pate, a young widow who had one son, John Pate, by a previous marriage. Bedford County deeds show that William Callaway was generous to Charles. In 1770 he conveyed 195 acres on both sides of Buffalo Creek to Charles, and in 1772 a second grant of 723 acres on Elk Creek. Charles prospered and in 1781 he and his brothers John and James Callaway granted to Thomas Jefferson, Governor, a bond of 30,000 £ to insure that James Callaway would perform the duties of Sheriff.
Charles became a member of the Bedford Militia and was commissioned Lieutenant in 1779 and Captain in 1781. The militia was summoned into service in 1781 and took part in the battle of Guilford Courthouse and the siege of Yorktown.
At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, Charles returned home and turned his attention to his business and farming interests. He became quite wealthy. He appears on the 1810 census records with sons John, Francis, Henry and Charles, Jr.
Between 1769 and 1792, Charles and Judith became the parents of eleven children. All of these sons and daughters are listed in the "Descendants of Joseph Callaway Chart." Family records from a family bible listing the children of Capt. Charles are filed in the Jones Library, Lynchburg, Virginia.
The two oldest sons, Joel and Achilles, are heads of household in the 1810 census, Bedford County, Virginia. Capt. Charles gave Joel 118 acres on the south side of Elk Creek and Achilles 110 acres nearly. Achilles sold his land to his uncle, Col. William Callaway, Sr. (William, Joseph) in 1817 and moved to Christian County, Kentucky where he appears through the 1840 census. Achilles had at least eight children. Joel moved to Giles County, Tennessee and was living there in 1830. Joel had possibly six children. Records in Giles County are almost non-existent and it has been difficult to learn anything about this family.
Daughter, Sarah, married her cousin John Anderson and her line has been well documented. Mary (Polly) has remained a mystery. She died before her parents and her will, probated in Pittsylvania County in 1817 lists a daughter, Martha Ann. This daughter is also listed in Capt. Charles' will. Judith married William Shands and records show one son, William Shands. James moved to Missouri while John moved down to Halifax County, and Francis' land ended up being in Campbell County, Virginia.
Charles Callaway, Jr. received 300 acres from his father but sold it and moved to New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. He soon returned to Bedford County, bringing back with him his bride and a large dowry including seven slaves awarded him for the "future comfort of his wife." The certificates issued to him for transporting them from North Carolina into Virginia are duly recorded, giving their names and ages as required by law. Charles, Jr. is shown as a Methodist minister. Indentures dated in 1832 and again in 1839 in Pittsylvania County lists his nine children. Charles, Jr. and his family later moved to Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina where he died in 1855.
Judith Callaway, wife of Capt. Charles, died 22 February 1814, and Charles died 30 June 1827 in his 78th year. His will was probated in Pittsylvania County as of 26 July 1827. He was buried in the family cemetery and a large stone facing west with the initials "C.C." was placed at the head of his grave. This was the customary mark of an early pioneer. In an effort to locate this grave a search was made along Old Woman's Creek near Gretna in northern Pittsylvania County. When the Leesville Lake was dammed in the mid-twentieth century a great deal of Old Woman's Creek at the confluence of the Staunton River was inundated. The Appalachian Power Company made an attempt to remove and re-inter all known graves in the area, but Capt. Charles and his family do not appear on the records of those removed.
An appraisal and inventory of the estate of Capt. Charles was ordered in the court and presented on 20th September 1830. The inventory consisted of five legal sized pages listing household furnishings and plantation tools, indicating a considerable wealth. One of his descendants is said to have taken with him to Missouri a pair of diamond studs and a portrait of Capt. Charles painted in 1815.
This man lived a quiet life during a turbulent time of our country's history. Southside Virginia was still a rough and rugged territory. He worked hard for his family and quietly served his country. A record showing that he had been paid a bounty for bringing in wolf heads is potent testimony to the condition of this wilderness area in the 1770s. He was typical of the men who settled in Southside Virginia and was instrumental in bringing civilization and peace to the area.
Documentation:
References for Charles Callaway Sr.
Tax Roll, 1810, Pittsylvania Co., VA; 1820 census, Pittsylvania Co., VA
Marriage Bonds, Bedford Co., VA - 1768 (Judith Early Pate)
SAR Lineage Book, p. 158 - Capt. Charles Callaway, enlisted December 2, 1777, Hoge's Regt. Continental Troops
Bible Records, Jones Library, Lynchburg, VA
Will - Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Appraisal and Inventory of estate of Charles Callaway, 1831, Pittsylvania County, VA
Graves of Revolutionary Soldiers - listed in family graveyard
DAR Supplemental - Patricia V. Schnurr, National Number 458550 (Capt. Charles)
Bedford County, VA Court Records - Lieutenant, Bedford County Militia, Captain 1781
Death Notices, Richmond Newspapers - Capt. Charles Callaway, 78 years old; brother of James, John, William and Francis
References for Charles Callaway Jr. (1781-1855):
CFA [Callaway Family Association] census records 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850
Marriage Bond, 12 December 1813, Craven County, NC Book A.P. 378
Pittsylvania Co., VA Deed Book 19, page 92 (1814-1816) (certificate registering slaves brought from NC to VA)
Pittsylvania Co., VA Deed Book 19, page 158 (certificate for bringing in additional slaves)
Pittsylvania Co., V A Deed Book 33, page 370, Indenture, 1832, Frances R. Green to daughter, Eliza G. Callaway & children, household goods and furnishings
Pittsylvania Co., VA Deed Book 43, pp. 13-15, Indenture, 1839, from Frances R. Green to Eliza Green Callaway.
History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Clement Maude Carter, 1929, pp. 21-31, 58, 248. References to Charles, Jr. and Eliza Green Callaway, Matilda Callaway and James Poindexter, Eliza Poindexter and H. Lanier Carter
"Raleigh Register," (NC), 4/13/1855, obit. of Charles Callaway, Jr.
"Daily Virginian," Lynchburg, Charles Callaway Jr. - deceased 1 February 1855
"Daily Virginian," Lynchburg, November 8, 1853 edition - announcement of marriage of Dr. Matthew Troy Locke and Julia Hawks Callaway, daughter of Charles Callaway, Jr. October 26, 1853.
Marriages of Pittsylvania Colunty, Virginia, Williams, Kathleen Booth; p. 28, married 21 September 1829, Abram Clements and Martha Ann Callaway; surety Henry C. Ward; by Rev. Charles Callaway (daughter of Charles, Jr.)
Marriage Notices from Richmond, Virginia Newspapers, 1821-1840; published by Virginia Genealogical Society, Special Publication #10 - at Pittsylvania C.H. on 2nd inst. by Rev. Griffith Dickinson, James L. Poindexter, Esq. and Matilda Callaway, 2nd daughter of Charles Callaway, RW, 21 February 1837
Marriage Bonds of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, p. 140 - Prudence Rebecca Callaway to Dr. William Hairston, 27 July 1847 (daughter of Charles Callaway, Jr.)
Index to Marriage Notices in Southern Churchman, 1835-1941, prepared by Historical Record Survey of Virginia (WPA) in 2 volumes, p. 79; married, Rev. Charles Callaway to Martha M. Haltzman, 18 Jul 1850; also, Ann Beckwith, daughter of Rev. Callaway, and Col. Aylesworth, 26 July 1882
History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia, Laidley, W. S.; published by Richard W. Arnold Publishing Company, St. John's Episcopal Church, Charleston - 1869-1876, Rector, Rev. C. M. Callaway
References for Julia Hawks Callaway, 1830-1884 (daughter of Charles Callaway, Jr.):
Locke Bible Records (Matthew T. Locke & Julia Hawks Callaway); births, deaths and marriages
Census 1830, 1840, Lynchburg, VA; 1850, Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co., NC
Marriage bonds, Wilkes Co., NC - James Postelwaite Stamey and Catherine Reed Callaway (sister of Julia C. Locke); bondsman, Rd. Matthew T. Locke
1860 census, Caldwell Co., NC; 1880 census, Burke Co., NC (Morganton)
History of Johnson County, Tennessee: list of Physicians: Dr. Matthew Troy Locke
Tennessee Adventurers - D. Locke elected to Secession Convention as delegate from Johnson County, Tennessee
Military Record: Matthew T. Locke, Surgeon, US Troops, Army of Cumberland, Co. E, 4th Tenn. U.S. Vols, 1861-1864
Bible Records of: George William Hale and Myrtie Eliza Locke (births, marriages, deaths) in possession of Patricia Vining Schnurr as of 2001. Includes births, marriages, deaths of families of: Julia Agnes Hale & Frederick Eastman Vining; Patricia Kathryn Vining and Russell Schnurr; James Russell Schnurr and Karen Dean Seitzer (Vanessa R.); Nancy Lynn Schnurr and David Crow (David J. and Phillip M.)
*The Callaway Journal (Callaway Family Association), vol. 27, p. 46 (2002).