LEVI EDWARDS AND CHARITY BOBBIT

LEVI EDWARDS (abt1817) and CHARITY BOBBITT (1830) Levi Edwards was born about 1817 in Virginia, the son of James and Sarah (Johnson)Edwards.
On May 29, 1847 in Carroll County Rev. Amos Shockley married LeviEdwards and Charity Bobbitt. Charity's father Greenberry Bobbitt was surety for thismarriage.
Charity was born about 1830, the daughter of Greenberry George McKensieBobbitt and Lydia Jennings. Levi and Charity were the parents of 12 children and raisedthem on Lovells Creek near Elk Spur. After Charity's death, when Levi was near 80 yearsold, he married 25 year old Virginia Tate (Ginny). Levi and Ginny had four children--JohnWalter Edwards, Leevalia Edwards and two died young.
The following was written by Grace Lillian Smith Birkhead, great grand daughter ofLevi Edwards. My first home was where my grandparents called the "Jack Place". There wereapproximately 54 acres just below Elk Spur Road, on or near the headwaters of LovellsCreek. This farm adjoined the farm of my great grandfather, Levi, and was probably partof his farm at one time. A copy of the deed is attached that my parents signed when thesold the farm to my grandfather, William Junius Smith, and moved to the top of themountain at Fancy Gap. W.R. Morris in one of his booklets wrote that the elks crossed the mountain almost in aNorth and South line passing a few feet East of old Elk Spur church, and about where thepresent church now stands, following in a Southern direction along the highest part of theridge to the spur of the mountain. It may never be known who was the first white man tocross the mountain over this path. William (Billy) Strickland, Jefferson Ayres, Levi,Thomas and James Edwards, Callaway Browder, and Abraham Paul were some of thefirst to settle near this path. Elk Spur Primitive Baptist Church was constituted inDecember 1873 with eleven members. Elder John and Hugh Jones, John Vass, F.M.McCraw, Henry Hawks and Levi Edwards assisted in the organization of this church.
When Levi and Charity were married in 1847 someone tried to give them two slaves.Levi refused this offering saying "If a nigger ever ___ on my place, it would have to be inpassing through."
1Grandma Smith (Nancy Lucena Edwards) liked to talk and she did as long as she hadsomeone to listen. She was a daughter of Levi and Charity. I spent a lot of time listeningto her when I was there in the 1930's. I wish I had jotted down some of the stories shetold me of how they lived when she was a girl and after she was married. She wouldn'tallow card playing in her house, other than the games of Authors, Rook or 500. I askedher "Why"? She said her father loved to play cards and gamble. He became angry over agame and almost shot a man. He stopped playing cards and wouldn't allow anyone in hishouse to play. When families were burned out, Levi would take in the family. They slept inthe barn until they could find another place to live. She said there always seemed to beorphans living in the barn who worked for their keep until they moved on. With 12children in Levi's family I can understand why they had to sleep in the barn. My cousin, Pearl, said she remembered Grandma Smith (Nancy Lucena Edwards) sayingthat her mother, Charity, was a big woman and "tops" as far as Grandma was concerned.Relatives say Levi made whiskey for the Government. Grandma said the pigs would eatthe mash and run up the hill squealing drunk. Whenever we visited in Virginia, we always went to see Grandma's brother, Great UncleWash Edwards. His daughter Victoria was a pretty girl. While she was going to college,she worked for her board and room on a farm. She came down with Tuberculosis. Shewas sick for a long time before she died. I was very fond of her. Uncle Wash and auntJane lived in a log cabin on Elk Spur Road overlooking the beautiful valley where I oncelived. There was a summer kitchen behind the main house which burned down. The familycemetery was just a short ways from the house. We visited in Virginia when I was about 14. My father, mom, sisters, brother, myself andGrandma Smith (Nancy Lucena Edwards) went to Winston-Salem to visit Holiday andRene (Lowe) Johnson. Holiday was the son of Grandma's sister, Ann Matilda (Edwards)Johnson. I don't remember how or where all of us slept, but we stayed for the night. Therewas about a dozen people there for breakfast the next morning. I had two helpings of thebest scrambled eggs I had ever eaten. Rene asked me if I wanted more "brains and eggs".That did it. No more eggs for me that morning. The following article appeared in the Carroll County newspaper in 1955 about another ofGrandma Smith (Nancy Lucena Edwards)'s sisters--Irene Clementine Edwards Smith. Herhusband was no relation to Grandpa William Junius Smith, the man Grandma Smith(Nancy Lucena Edwards) married. I have typed the article since the original was so yellowthat the reproduced copy was hard to read. Mrs Irene Clementine Edwards Smith, known to all her many friends as 'granny',2celebrated her ninety-first birthday Wednesday, March 31 by greeting friends at her homeon Bryant road, Feildale. "Born in Carroll County, Virginia in 1864, she was one of a family of twelve childrenborn to Levi and Charity Edwards. She was married January 4, 1883 to Jesse Ewell Smithand became the mother of seven children, three of whom are living today. They are MrsSusie Bolen of Fancy Gap, Miss Ruby Smith and John Smith of the home. "Mr. Smith passed away October 5, 1931, and later that year Mrs Smith moved toFieldale, where she lived with her son and daughter. "The wonderful and useful life of Granny has endeared her to all who have beenprivileged to know her. She has spent her time for the past twenty-five years crochetingand embroidering a total of fifty bedspreads and many lovely accessories that now adornher home. Her masterpieces are curtains that are at the windows of her living room anddining room. She has braided at least one thousand rugs of all sizes from 9X12 to thsmaller ones 2X4, and her work has gone to almost every state in the United States. Dueto her failing strength, however, she only makes smaller ones now and limits herself to twoa week. "Granny is a early riser, getting up at 6 AM and retiring around 9 PM. She enjoyswatching TV and says her favorite programs are on Thursday nights. She also was anexcellent cook in her younger days and chicken and dumplings was her specialty. She stilleats a regular diet, but hot biscuits, butter and coffee are her favorite foods. "At an early age Granny joined the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Carroll;;County, taking part in the work of the church, but she devoted her time other than that toher family and home. In her school days she attented a one room log school house andremembers the old blue back spelling book as her basic study. "The furniture in Granny's bedroom is of solid walnut and was made by her father andgiven to her as a wedding present. "When her visitors noticed she was wearing lovely earrings, she was asked when her earswere pierced. She said that is a story in itself. 'I did it myself.' She was only five years oldand had a sister 18 who had pierced ears. 'Naturally I wanted to be like her, but motherthought I was too young, so I just got a needle, went to the grindstone back of the house,sharpened it, and stuck it through my ears. Next morning my whole face was swollen andmy secret was out. Mammy settled with me but I guess I deserved to be punished.' "When asked why her face was so free from wrinkles, her reply was 'keep busy and thinkgood thoughts, that keeps you from thinking about your ills.' She said that in 1922 she hadtyphoid fever twice and later influenza and pneumonia and each time the doctor said shecould not recover, but I fooled them.' said Granny. 'Yes, and another thing, I had plenty ofbeaus too.' "She had a pet dog named Jake. She loves flowers and numbers her friends by thehundred. She has a very alert mind and is a wonderful conversationalist.' "Granny was the recipient of many lovely birthday cards and gifts and the one thing sherequested was that we would say she lived in the greatest community and she paid specialemphasis to greatest."
Grandma Nancy Smith had pierced ears. She was 18 when Clem was five years old.Grandma gave me the following information on her brothers and sisters. I have been ableto fill in a date and other information here and there.
1. Lydia Jane Edwards married Phillip Vass, a farmer. She was born April 8, 1848 anddied January 31, 1914. She is buried in the Gardener Cemetary. a. John Vass was born July 6, 1872 and died 17 December 1917. Her died from gangrenefrom a gunshot wound. Married Margie Jones. b. Levi Vass born July 6, 1872 was a twin to John. MARRIED lUIZIE mARTIN. c. Charity Matilda Vass died young. d. Fielding Vass married Ella Hawks. He had a store near where Sandy Combs lived. e. George Vass marries Selma Horton. f. Charlie Vass married Inez Williams. g. Mack Vass was a bachelor. h. Mandy Lucena Vass married Lev Hill. i. Indie Vass never married. j. Julie Vass married a Lewis
2. Nancy Lucena Edwards was born June 8, 1851 and died May 22, 1938. She marriedWilliam Junius Smith (June). "June" was born November 20, 1853 to John BenjaminSmith and Christina Walk. Nancy and June are my Grandparents. There is a separatesection on them and their descendants in this family history.
3. Sara Ann Matilda Edwards was born about 1849. She married McCalvin Johnson on14 February 1867. McCalvin was born 3 March 1839 to Newell Johnson and LucindaGolden. McCalvin died 26 November 1899. a. John Johnson married a Paine. b. Levi Johnson married a Hull. c. Curkling Johnson married twice, the second wife was a Whiticar. d. Greenbury Johnson married a Browder. e. Frank Johnson never married. f. Holiday Johnson married Rene Lowe. They first lived at the top of the mountain atFancy Gap, then moved to Winston-Salem, NC. g. Charity Johnson married Walter Goad of Bunea Vista, VA. h. Marinda Johnson marrired Charlie Bolt
4.Mary Elizabeth Edwards died at 5 years of age
5.Charity Susanna Edwards married J.W. Boyd, a farmer of Orchard Gap, VA. Charitydied in 1938.
6.George Washington Edwards (Wash) was born 2 July 1858 and died 19 November1939. He married Jane Thomas. Jane was born 29 May 1862 and died 9 March 1957.Uncle Wash was a farmer and lived near the Elk Spur Baptist Church. a. Walter Edwards married Ella Easter. They lived in Cana, VA. b. Raleigh Edwards married Maude Cruise. c. George (Bud) Edwards married Aliene Foster. They lived in Hillsville, VA. Georgewas sheriff of Carroll County in 1940. d. J. Morgan Edwards was born 9 February 1897 and died 14 June 1926. He marriedLizzie Weddle. Morgan was shot in a field by a Towe or a McCraw. e. Susan Ellen Edwards was born 29 July 1887 and died 25 November 1961. f. Emiline Edwards married Oscar McMellin. g. Victoria I. Edwards was born 19 August 1903 and died 21 April 1938 of TB. Shenever married. h. Thomas Edwards married Hassie Guynn. i. Oscar Edwards married a Thomas (this is not correct) Oscar Edwards married Blanche George3
7. Caleb John Edwards died in infancy.
8. Greenberry George McKenzie Edwards married Ardenia Bell Gardner. Ardenia wasthe daughter of Alfred Gardener and Sallie Morris. The lived at Fancy Gap, VA. a. Sarah (Sally) Edwards married Albert Davis. Children were-- Ray, Gladys, Rubi andJenkie and Glady b. Levi Edwards married Lizzie Edwards. c. Malcomb Edwards married Walter Worrell's half sister. She was a Dalton. d. George Edwards never married. e. Mertie (Myrtle) Edwards married Andrew Horton. f. Bessie Edwards never married.
9. Irene Clementine Edwards (Arenie) married Jessie Euell Smith on January 4, 1883.Aunt Clem was born 31 March 1864. Jessie died 5 October 1931 in Fries, VA. Six of herseven children are listed. a. Massie Green Smith married Hays Smith. b. Columbus Smith never married. c. Willie Smith did marry. d. John Smith never married. e. Susan Smith (Susie) married E. Coon Bolen of Fancy Gap. f. Ruby Smith never married.
10. Caroline Josephine Edwards was born 5 April 1866 and died 17 March 1930. Shemarried Albert Monroe Towe. They lived in Cana, VA. Albert was the son of William H.Towe (born in 1835) and Elizabeth Jones (1843-1876) a. Homer Milton Towe (1885-1907) married Molly Jones b. Jessie Fulton Towe (1887-1965) married Lena Westmoreland c. Roscoe Towe (1895-1980) married Francis Monday. In 1987 their son was operatinga vegetable market and swap meet on Route 52 North of Mt Airy at Cana, VA. He calledhimself "The Mountain Man". d. Victoria Towe (1889-1980) married Walter McCraw. They lived on Route 52 atCana, VA. Whenever we visited VA when I was a child, my father always stopped to visitwith Victoria e. Inez Towe was born November 8, 1892 in Carroll Co. VA. She died August 31, 1972in Surry County, NC. She married Roy S. Blackburn on Nov 5, 1911.
11. Luemma Catherine Edwards married Lee McMellan (McMillan). Luemma is buriedat Elk Spur. There were 6 children--five are listed a. Suvada Mc Mellan married Click Thomas b. Hilton McMellan c. Dorcy McMellan d. Walter McMellan e. George Mc Mellan
12. Andrew Jackson Edwards married Susan Thomas a. Wyatt Edwards b. Fred Edwards c. Edd Edwards d. Lilly Edwards e. Thelma Edwards f. Cora Edwards g. Amosetta Edwards After Charity's death, when Levi was near 80 years old, he went to a man named "Tate"who lived him and offered Mr. Tate a cow and five acres of land if he could marry his 25year old daughter, Virginia Tate (Ginny). They were married but it is said he never carriedout his end of the bargain. Levi, during his lifetime, deeded most of his land to his andCharity's children ; however at his death he left a tract of land to his wife Virginia. At herdeath this piece of land went to her and Levi's surviving children--John and Leevalia. AtLeevalia's death John inherited. John's wife Susie (Thomas) Edwards, in 1987 still ownedthis property. She said Levi and Charity are buried on this piece of property in unmarkedgraves.
Susie told one of her grand daughters that Levi made and sold liquor for theGovernment. Levi and Ginny's children were:
1. Child died young
2. Child died young
3. John Walter Edwards born November 25,1895 and died May 15, 1962. On July 4,1925 John married Susie Newes Thomas who was born January 1, 1905. In march 1987Susie was living in Mt. Airy, NC. John and Susie were the parents of eight children. a. William Cabble Edwards was born June 11, 1927. He first married Odessia Guynn onJuly 14, 1951 married Pauline Edwards. b. Elsie Norine (Gladys) Edwards was born August 13, 1929. On September 9, 1952Elsie married Roby Lee Goins Sr.. He was born May 2, 1933 and died January 1, 1983. (1) Carolyn Ann Goins was born July 28, 1954. She married Johnny Hubert Beck andwas divorced. She then married Tony Transou on July 2, 1985. There were two children--Allison and Jeffery (2) Bonnie Sue Goins was born July 28, 1954. On July 28. 1972 she married JerryGammons and was divorced. She then married Don Shelton. Don had four children by aformer marriage --Marty, Kim, Todd and Velvet Shelton (3) Roby Lee Goins Jr. was born October 1, 1956. On March 23, 1977 he marriedPamela Denise Tilley, who was born May 21, 1959. a. Roby Lee Goins III was born September 11, 1977 b. Michael Shane Goins was born July 6, 1979 c. Jonathan Derek Goins was born February 2, 1982 (4) Sandra May Goins was born December 25, 1960. She married Timothy Joel Scott.There was one child -- Jenny Lynn Scott born July 23, 1986. c Ida Mae Edwards was born May 2, 1932. On March 29, 1957 she married ElishaMonroe Edwards who was born January 13, 1930. (1) Betty Newes Edwards b. Nov. 21, 1958 (2) Donna Kay Edwards b. Nov. 23, 1959. Donna gave me (Grace) all the informationon Levi's second marriage. In 1987 Donna was living with her parents at 509N. FranklinRoad, in Mt. Airy, NC. (3) Elisha Timmy Edwards born May 4, 1961 (4) Monroe Teddy Edwards was born June 24, 1969. d. Irvin Edwards was born February 21, 1934 and died March 1, 1934. He is buried inthe Elkspur Baptist Church Cemetary in Fancy Gap. e. Roy Edwards was born January 3, 1935 and died January 24, 1935. He is buried in theElkspur Baptist Church Cemetary in Fancy Gap. f. Dorothy Cathalean Edwards was born November 15, 1935 and died April 27, 1936.She is buried in the Elkspur Baptist Church Cemetary in Fancy Gap. g. Jonah Cecil Edwards was born May 21, 1936. He married Shelby McCraw on July 2,1955. Shelby was born August 11, 1937. (1) Ricky Edwards was born November 17, 1956. He married Sandy Scott Butcher.Sandy's children by a former marriage were Kelly and Brad Butcher. Ricky and Sandy arethe parents of Amy Edwards born September 10, 1977. h. Donald Clinton Edwards was born 20 April, 1940. He was first married to Mary Bondand divorced. He then married Kay Porter. My father was named Levi Edwards Smith but he always went by the name of Ed Smithor L.E. Smith. He was named after his grandfather Levi Edwards.JAMES EDWARDS (about 1790-1820's) and SARAH JOHNSON (abt 1788-?) I think but haven't proved that James was the son of William and Sarah Edwards.
It isthought that his grandfather was named John. James was born probably about 1790. On 27 January 1808 he married Sarah Johnson born about 1788. I think but also haven'tproved that Sarah was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Johnson. James raised his familyon Lovells Creek near Elk Spur. The 1840's census shows Sarah lived very near her sonLevi. James died about 1826 after the birth of his youngest child, William in 1822, and beforeMarch 1826. An administrators sale for the property of Joseph Johnson was held ionMarch 1826. The apprasial shows that the appraisers met at the home of Sarah Edwards(Grayson W.B. 1-342). If James had been alive at the time of Josephs death, the recordswould have indicated they met at the home of James Edwards and not the home of Sarah.James and Sarah were the parents of four children. 1. Levi Edwards was born about 1817 in Virginia.Bond was posted on May 17,1847and on May 29, 1847 in Carroll County Rev. Amos Shockley performed the weddingceremony for Levi Edwards and Charity Bobbitt. Charity's father Greenberry Bobbitt wassurety for this marriage. Charity was born about 1830, the daughter of GreenberryGeorge McKensie Bobbitt and Lydia Jennings. There were 12 children from this marriage. After Charity's death, when Levi was near 80 years old, he married 25 year old VirginiaTate (Ginny). Levi and Ginny had four children--John Walter Edwards, Leevalia Edwardsand two died young. 2. Jane Edwards was born about 1820, she never married. 3. Isaac Edwards was born about 1821 and was a blacksmith. I do not know who hemarried. My grandmother Nancu Lucena Edwards Smith gave me the names of Isaac'schildren. a. Susanna Edwards married a Holderfield. b. James Jesse Edwards married a Holderfield. c. Mary Elizabeth Edwards d. Sarah Jane Edwards e. Elijah Edwards 4. William Edwards was born about 1822. He was a farmer. I do not know who hemarried. My grandmother gave me the information on his children. a. William Jurden Edwards was born about 1849, died of diptheria before grown b. James Jesse Edwards died of diptheria before grown c. Levi Jasper Edwards died of diptheria before grown d. Mary Jane Edwards died of diptheria before grown e. Susannah Edwards died of diptheria before grown f. John Newton Edwards married Reath Hill The 1850 Carroll County Census shows that William and his son William were livingwith Sarah Johnson, William Sr.'s mother.

 
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MOSES JOHNSON On 15 April 1782 Moses had 400 acres surveyed on the North side of Good Spur at thehead of Pauls Creek. He received these 400 acres by Grant on 1 October 1791. In 1791William Allen acquired these 400 acres from Moses. (Grants 25-179 ; Henry Survey 1-240). The Johnsons, Webbs and Senters were all early residents on Pauls Creek. On May 1793 Joseph Johnson sold 200 acres on the South side of Pauls Creek to a branch that Moses Johnson lived on to Stephen Jones (D.B. 1-104). Originally Moses had acquired this land from Evans (See Grant Z-335). This leads me to beleive that Moses was a close relative to Joseph Johnson and the other Johnsons who lived in that area. On 10 April 1794 Moses had 50 acres on Pauls Creek surveyed (Pat. 1-46 ). This surveywas transferred to Palmer Schritchfield (Grant 39-498) and on August 3, 1797 a Grant forthese 50 acres was given to Palmer Schritchfield . Moses then moved away. JOHNSONS