Radford Surname

Bruen Radford was born at an unknown date, probably in England. He died in 1687-1688 in Old Rappahannock Co., Virginia.

It is not known if he is the father of the next generation, only speculation. He lived in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia. There, his will was proven in 1687/8.

They had at least one child:

1	George Radford

George Radford was born circa 1665, probably in Virginia or in England. He died before April 15, 1746 in Essex Co., Virginia.

Father: Bruen Radford
Mother: Unknown

Apparently, George lived in both Essex and Henrico Counties, Virginia. He was married in about 1694 to Ann Massey (surname unproven). They had at least five children: Ann, William, John (see next generation), Mary, and Elizabeth. George wrote his will on February 4, 1739. He died at Southfarnham Parish in Essex County, Virginia, before April 15, 1746 when his will was probated.

They had the following children:

1	Ann Radford was born circa 1696.
2	William Radford was born circa 1698.
3	John Radford
4	Mary Radford was born circa 1700.
5	Elizabeth Radford was born circa 1702.

Father: George Radford
mother: Ann

(One source indicates he was born on December 9, 1694). John was married on November 1, 1719 to Elizabeth or Agnes Maxey, apparently at the house of Thomas Chamberlain in Henrico County, Virginia. They had at least nine children together: William, Agnes, Susannah, Elizabeth, George, Nancy, Mary, John (see next generation), and Richard.

John settled at Cumberland County, Virginia in Southam Parish, where he wrote his will on July 29, 1772. The will was proven on June 28, 1773.

John married Elizabeth Maxey on November 1, 1719 in Henrico Co., Virginia. She was born circa 1702 in Henrico Co., Virginia. She probably died after 1772 in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia.

Prior to her marriage to John Radford, Elizabeth was apparently married to William Barnes. Elizabeth was described in her mother's will dated May 31, 1743 as "Elizibith Radford". In John Radford's will of July 1772, he described a wife but did not name her. Unless Elizabeth died and he had remarried, it is assumed she was still living at that time.

1	Susannah "Susan" Radford was born circa 1720 in Goochland Co., Virginia. She married Richard Epperson circa 1740-1743 in Goochland Co., Virginia.
2	William Radford was born circa 1722.
3	Elizabeth Radford was born circa 1726 in Henrico Co., Virginia. She married William Blackburn.
4	George Radford was born circa 1727 in Virginia. He died before December 21, 1820 in Powhatan Co., Virginia. He married Jane Forlines on or after January 13, 1808 in Powhatan Co., Virginia. She died sometime between 1811 and 1818 in Powhatan Co., Virginia. He had no children. George lived in Powhatan County, Virginia.
5	Richard Radford was born circa 1734 in Virginia.
6	Mary Magdalen Radford was born circa 1734 in Virginia.
7	John Radford
8	Ann "Nancy" Radford was born circa 1738 in Virginia.

John Radford Jr. was born at an unknown date, in Goochland (now Powhatan) Co. Virginia. He died sometime between May 1828 and April 1829 in Buckingham Co., Virginia.

Father: John Radford
Mother: Elizabeth Maxey

John was born and raised in what is now Powhatan County, Virginia. It is not known when he was born, although sometime in the 1730s is a good educated guess. Depending on when he was born, he could have been born in what was then Henrico County or in Goochland County (which was formed in 1728 out of Henrico). Later, in 1749, the location became part of newly formed Cumberland County and then in 1777 became a part of Powhatan County. It was there, in the mid or late 1750s, that John married and began raising his family.

In August 1772, he sold his land there and moved to Buckingham County, Virginia; where he remained for the duration of his life. John lived on Big Philips Creek, and at the time of his death owned 1,170 acres. He died sometime between May 1828 (when he appeared in the tax list of that year) and April 1829 (when he was described as deceased in a deed from his son James).

In 1832 or 1833, John's real estate was distributed between his widow Nancy Radford, daughter Elizabeth Radford, daughter Ann Rakes, and heirs of his deceased daughter Jane Saunders. This suggests to me that John wrote a will that distributed his estate in this manner (although his will, if it existed, would have been lost in the county's fire of 1869). A portion of his estate was purchased by and distributed to some of his great-grandchildren (children of his granddaughter Jane Whitlock Spencer). The remainder of his estate was sold during the 1850s.

Jane was last described in any record in 1772, when she and her husband sold their land in Cumberland (now Powhatan) County and moved to Buckingham County, Virginia. She could have lived for many decades after this, but there are no known records that document her existence after that date. She definitely died before John, as he was married to someone else at the time of his death.

2	Elizabeth Radford was circa 1759, probably in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia. She died before March 10, 1848 in Green Co., Kentucky. Elizabeth never married. My guess is that she lived with her father in Buckingham County, Virginia until his death in 1828 or 1829. Then at some point in her adulthood, she moved out west to Green County, Kentucky, where her sister Rebecca was living. She was probably the woman in her age range in her sister Rebecca's household in 1830 and 1840. In February 1847, she was described in the will of Rebecca's husband Thomas Whitlock as his "ancient friend and connection". In October 1842, Elizabeth deeded a slave to her nephew James Whitlock. Elizabeth wrote her will on October 13, 1842, in which she described her brother-in-law Thomas Whitlock. Her will was proven on March 10, 1848. Elizabeth inherited a 544-acre tract of land in Buckingham County from her father's estate. Her name was described as the owner of that property between 1833 and 1844. By 1845, it had been sold to William Spencer (widower of her niece Jane Whitlock).
1	John Radford was born circa 1761, probably in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia. He died before December 7, 1818 in Christian Co., Kentucky. He married Nancy Christian and/or Ann Hunt. They apparently did not have any children. Between 1786 and 1816, John was documented in Powhatan County, Virginia. There, he lived next to and was closely associated with his uncle George Radford. (It's a guess that because George Radford had no children, perhaps he unofficially adopted John as his son.) In July 1788, John was issued a bond to marry Nancy Christian, daughter of Anthony and Mary Christian. Then in November 1812, his wife was described as both "Nancy Radford" and "Ann H. Radford" in the same deed. And in November 1816, his wife was described as "Ann Hunt Radford". In November 1816, he sold his land in Powhatan County and moved away. John moved to Christian County, Kentucky (where his siblings William and Benjamin were living). He wrote his will there on September 18, 1818, in which he described his wife (who he did not name) and Mary Davis and Elizabeth Davis (relationship not described); as well as the children of his brother James Radford. His will was proven on December 7, 1818.
3	James Radford was born in 1762 in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia 4. He died in March 1836 in Cumberland Co., Kentucky 4. He married first Sarah Whitlock circa 1786 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. They had the following children: James Whitlock Radford (c. 1786-c. 1850) md. Martha Petty John Radford (c. 1788-aft. 1830) Thomas Radford (c. 1789-1862) md. Anna Maxey Riley Radford (c. 1795-aft. 1850) md. Catharine William Layton Radford (1798-1875) md. Jane R. Hicks Raymond Radford (c. 1800-1862) Millender G. Radford (c. 1801-c. 1870) md. Permelia Freelove "Lovey" Parker Luford Radford (c. 1809-1868) at least three others He married second Hannah Wilbourn in 1830. They had no children. According to his 1833 Revolutionary War pension application, James was born in 1762 in Powhatan County, Virginia (at the time, it was part of Cumberland County). Sometime in his youth, he moved with his family to Buckingham County, Virginia; where he lived until adulthood. While living there, he served as a private in the Revolutionary War. During the 1780s, he married Sarah "Sallie" Whitlock and began to raise a family. In 1810, they moved out west to Cumberland County, Kentucky; where they first purchased land in 1819.
4	William Radford
5	Jane Radford was born circa 1764, probably in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia. She died circa 1795-1797 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. She married Zachariah Sa(u)nders in about 1784 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He was born circa 1759 in Virginia and died on September 10, 1842 in Wayne Co., Kentucky. They had the following children: James S. Saunders (c. 1784-aft. 1870) md. Mary "Polly" Ann Hardwick Nancy Saunders (c. 1785-c. 1843) md. John Rakes Martha Saunders (1787-1849) md. John Bagby Rhoda Saunders (c. 1790-1871) Elizabeth Saunders (c. 1793-1867) md. General Phelps Lucy Shackleford Saunders (c. 1795-1852) md. John Wood John Radford Saunders (1795-1888) md. Sarah "Sallie" Fitzgerald Jane died sometime before December 19, 1797, when her husband was issued a bond to remarry to Sarah Kitchens in Buckingham County, Virginia. Years later, Zachariah and Sarah declared that they moved west to Kentucky in 1798. The inference is that Jane's children did not move west with their father to Kentucky in 1798, and instead stayed behind in Virginia, where they probably lived with different Radford relatives. Later, several of them moved west to Christian County, Kentucky with their relatives.
6	Benjamin Radford was born on February 26, 1767, probably in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia. He died on December 16, 1846 in Christian Co., Kentucky. He married Anne "Nancy" Agee on March 24, 1790 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. She was born on September 12, 1772 in Buckingham Co., Virginia and died on July 19, 1866 in Christian Co., Kentucky. They had the following children: Mary Radford (1791-1830) md. Abraham McElroy Reuben Radford (1793-1869) md. Sarah F. Lawrence Rebecca Radford (1794-1880) md. John Blakey Radford (her first cousin) Jane Johnson Radford (1795-1878) md. Isaac Garrott Joseph Agee Radford (1800-1863) md. Mary B. Seargent Anna B. Radford (1801-1839) md. Thomas Malcolm Bacon Martha Jane Radford (c. 1803-1876) md. Pleasant Bonaparte Garrott Sicily Hall Radford (1807-1891) md. 1st Fielding Bacon md. 2nd John Robert Whitlock (her first cousin) Benjamin and his wife first lived in Buckingham County, Virginia, where all of their children were born. In 1812 or 1813, they moved west to Kentucky. They first lived in Washington County, Kentucky; where they were documented in 1813 and 1814. They apparently lived briefly in Trigg County, Kentucky between 1814 and 1815. Then in July 1815, they purchased land in Christian County, Kentucky; where they remained. Benjamin was a captain in the War of 1812.
7	Reuben Radford was born circa 1769, probably in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia. He died before November 27, 1815 in Green Co., Kentucky. He married Phebe Gibson circa 1795 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. She died sometime between 1818 and 1821 in Green Co., Kentucky. They had the following children: Edith Radford (c. 1799-aft. 1860) md. Joseph Burton Sublett Johnson Radford (1800-1849) md. Nancy L. Whitlock Phebe Radford (c. 1804-1880s) md. 1st Phenton Gupton md. 2nd Ephraim M. Boring Thomas Radford (1806-1862) md. 1st Sophia Whitlock md. 2nd Lucinda Caroline Williams Miles Gibson Radford (1808-1894) md. 1st Elizabeth Poole md. 2nd Emily B. Cheatham md 3rd Ann G. Alexander Josiah Gibson Radford (1811-1859) md. Eliza Major Benjamin Gibson Radford (1811-1875) md. 1st Adaline Virginia Whitlock md. 2nd Martha M. Quisenberry Charles W. Radford (1813-1888) md. Amelia Graves Tandy John "Jack" N. Radford (1815-1898) md. Martha J. Blackmore Reuben and his wife began raising a family in Buckingham County, Virginia. In 1810 or 1811, they moved west to Green County, Kentucky; where they remained. They first purchased land there in August 1812. Reuben died sometime before November 27, 1815, when his brother-in-law Thomas Whitlock and his widow Phebe Radford were appointed as administrators of his estate. Reuben is usually listed as one of the oldest children in the family, yet the inference is that he was actually the youngest son. In the 1790 personal property tax list, John Radford began to be listed with two white males over 21 (which suggests that youngest son Reuben had recently turned 21). Reuben began to be listed in his own household in the 1795 personal property list, which might suggest that he had recently married.
8	Rebecca Radford
9	Ann Radford was born circa 1773, probably in Cumberland (now Powhatan) or in Buckingham Co., Virginia. She died before October 7, 1833, probably in Christian Co., Kentucky. She married William Rakes. He died before 1830. It is not known if they had any children. There is not much known about Ann Radford Rakes. Between 1830 and 1832, she was described in court records about the estate of her uncle George Radford. The records make no indication of where she was living, but do describe her as the daughter of John Radford and widow of William Rakes. One uncited record suggests that her husband was named "Buck Rakes" and indicated that they settled in Cumberland Co., Kentucky (where her brother James Radford lived); although there is no evidence that anyone with the last name Rakes ever lived there, and also no known record of a "Buck Rakes" in any location. Then on October 7, 1833, her brother William Radford was appointed the administrator of her estate in Christian Co., Kentucky. Although this suggests she had lived in Christian County, Kentucky; there is no known record (deed or tax record) of her living there. In August 1838, her deceased brother James' estate records in Cumberland County described receiving money from her estate from their brother William Radford. In Buckingham County, Virginia, there were two William Rakes documented during her lifetime: William Rakes Sr. and William Rakes Jr. William Rakes Junior died in 1816 or 1817, as his 1817 tax list entry described his land as "William Rakes Jr. est." - suggesting that he had died. Based on these clues and surviving records, my guesses are as follows: She was married to William Rakes Jr. (born circa 1777 - he possibly used the nickname "Buck") of Buckingham County, Virginia; probably before 1810. William died there in 1816 or 1817. After this, Ann probably continued living with her father in Buckingham County, Virginia (possibly one of the adult women in his household in the 1820 census). After he died in 1828 or 1829, she moved west to Cumberland County, Kentucky to live with her brother James (possibly the 40-50 year old woman in his household in the 1830 census). Then after James ran into financial and legal issues in the early 1830s (especially in 1832), she probably moved to Christian County, Kentucky, to live with her brother William - and died there soon after. According to the 1833 land tax list for Buckingham County, Ann inherited an 80-acre tract of her father's land. Her name was listed on the annual tax lists for this property until 1858, when it reverted to "the commonwealth" (i.e. Virginia). My guess is that because Ann died in Kentucky at about the same time that she inherited this property in Virginia, perhaps nobody ever knew that she inherited it and didn't claim or sell it.

They had no children.

Nancy's name does not appear on any records until 1829, after her husband John had died. Her name consistently appeared on Buckingham County tax lists and census records between 1829 and 1847. These records indicate she was living on the same land where John Radford had lived until his death. And the 1833 land tax list in particular includes the note next to her name "her dower in est. of Jno. Radford" - which proves that she was his wife. She died sometime between the 1847 tax list and the 1848 tax list (when "est" was listed next to her name and ownership of her dower land was changed to "John Radford Heirs").

William Radford was born circa 1763, probably in Cumberland (now Powhatan) Co., Virginia. He died before October 29, 1838 in Christian Co., Kentucky.

Father: John Radford
Mother: Jane Johnson

He was raised in Buckingham County, where he married Lucy Blakey in about 1796. In 1813 or 1814, William moved with his family out west to Christian County, Kentucky. He first purchased land there in July 1815, and resided there until his death. He wrote his will on April 23, 1838 and it was proven on October 29, 1838.

Many family histories describe him with the middle name Layton or the middle initial B., yet there is no evidence in any contemporary record that he ever used a middle name or initial. It seems that earlier researchers were likely confusing him with different William Radfords in the family that did use those names/initials (including his grandson William Buckner Radford and his nephew William Layton Radford).

William's year of birth is unknown. He is often listed with the approximate birth year of 1763, which probably derives from one later source which says that he died in 1837 at the age of 75 ⁵. This also agrees with the 1810 census (which suggests he was born before 1765) and the 1830 census (which suggests he was born between 1760 and 1770). However, he first appears on personal property tax lists in 1788, which suggests that he had turned 21 in 1787 or 1788 (calculating to approximately 1767).

They had the following children:

1	John Blakey Radford was born circa 1798 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He died before March 29, 1843 in Lafayette Co., Missouri. He married Rebecca Radford on March 22, 1816 in Christian Co., Kentucky. She was born on April 4, 1794 in Buckingham Co., Virginia and died before May 31, 1880 in Lafayette Co., Missouri. They had the following children: Amanda Malvina Radford (1817-1894) md. Isham B. Manion John M. Radford (c. 1819-1872) Angelina R. (or P.) Radford (c. 1821-bef. 1871) md. Daniel L. Howell Albert G. Radford (c. 1824-bef. 1871) Lucy Ann Radford (1824-1885) md. Jonathan Herring Sicily Jane Radford (c. 1827-1859) md. Andrew John Allison Oscar A. Radford (1829-1873) md. Elizabeth B. Reed William E. Radford (c. 1832-1871) md. America Virginia Roberts, widow of Robert T. Swink John married his first cousin Rebecca Radford (daughter of Benjamin and Nancy Radford). They settled in Christian County, Kentucky; where all of their children were born. In April 1841, they sold their land in Kentucky and moved out west to Missouri. They settled in Lafayette County, Missouri; where John and Rebecca both remained until their deaths.
2	William Radford was born on August 14, 1798 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He died on February 4, 1875 in Christian Co., Kentucky. He married Mary Killebrew on May 13, 1819 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. They had the following children: Sarah Elizabeth Radford (1820-1897) md. Thomas Theodore McGuire Mary Louisa Radford (1822-1824) William Buckner Radford (1824-1900) md. Sicily Ann Rebecca McElroy (his second cousin) Eliza Jane Radford(1827-1913) md. 1st John G. Wynne md. 2nd David Owen Steger James M. Radford (1831-1862) md. Martha Pleasant Killebrew (his first cousin)
3	Elizabeth Radford
4	Evalina P. Radford was born on April 8, 1808 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. She died on March 3, 1837 in Christian Co., Kentucky. She married Drury Amelius West on November 9, 1827 in Christian Co., Kentucky. They had the following children: Zerilda Matilda West (1829-1864) md. James Strother Parrish Leander Hardin West (1831-1894) Patterson Holeman West (1832-1908)
5	Benjamin P. Radford was born circa 1810, probably in Buckingham Co., Virginia. He died sometime between 1844 and 1848, in Kentucky. He married first Leanna Elizabeth Woodson on December 19, 1835 in Christian Co., Kentucky. (She was born on January 29, 1818 in Christian Co., Kentucky and died on February 2, 1837 in Christian Co., Kentucky. They had no known children. He married second Elizabeth R. Lawrence on or soon after December 2, 1841 in Christian Co., Kentucky. (She was born circa 1823 in Tennessee and died after 1880 in McCracken Co., Kentucky.) They had one child: Reuben Lawrence Radford (c. 1843-1870s) md. Georgiana Waller Benjamin was last located in April 1844, when he and his wife sold their land in Christian Co., Kentucky. In May 1848, his widow remarried in McCracken Co., Kentucky.
6	Paulina H. Radford was born circa 1812 in Buckingham Co., Virginia. She died sometime between 1830 and 1833 in Christian Co., Kentucky. She married Clairborne D. West on October 10, 1829 in Christian Co., Kentucky. They had no children.

Elizabeth Radford was born on November 3, 1800 in Buckingham County, Virginia ^1,2. She died on February 21, 1841 in Christian Co., Kentucky ^1,2. She is buried in the Whitlock Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky.

Father: William Radford
Mother: Lucy Blakey

Elizabeth was born and raised in Buckingham County, Virginia. In 1813 or 1814, she moved with her family to Christian County, Kentucky. There, Elizabeth was married to John Whitlock (her first cousin) on January 20, 1817, at the age of 16. John and Elizabeth were Baptists and lived on a large estate in southern Christian County, Kentucky. They had seven children: Adaline, William, John, Elmira, James, Lucy, and Rufus. Sadly, Elizabeth died at her home on February 21, 1841, at the age of 40. She was afterwards buried on the family farm (Whitlock Cemetery) in Christian County, Kentucky.

Most family histories indicate that Elizabeth's middle name was Blakey. However there is no known contemporary record that describes her with any middle name or initial (including in records where other family members are listed with middle names/initials).

For information on their children, see his page.

1. Cemetery index, Whitlock Cemetery, Christian Co., Kentucky
2. The Whitlocks of Virginia (Henrico Co.), U.S.A. #2. Whitlock Family Association. http://home.mweb.co.za/dw/dw000002/whitass/index.htm
3. Kentucky Marriages to 1850, Ancestry.com
4. Revolutionary War Pension Application of James Radford
5. Perrin, William H. County of Christian, Kentucky: Historical and Biographical. 1884.