Thomas Monteith,
Merchant of Glasgow



(Retyped 19 April 1996 from information
furnished by Maryellen Leachman)
COLONIAL GENEALOGIST, Volume VII, Number 2 827





William L. Deyo*


Little has been published concerning the Monteith family of Virginia. This family descends from one Thomas Monteith of Glasgow, Scotland, who came to Virginia between 1714 and 1720 and settled in Richmond County.

The records of Richmond County reveal that on 30 July 1714, Thomas Monteith, Merchant of Glasgow, gave power of attorney to Thomas White of Hanover Parish, of the said county, authorizing him to recover certain debts due to him and to take care of certain other business matters.

In the Virginia records Thomas Monteith is often referred to as a "Gentleman." He was born in Scotland about 1694, as is indicated by his deposition on 9 May 1746 in which he was said to have been "aged about 52 years." By 1737 he had married Phillis Gallop, one of the four daughters of Robert Gallop, who died in Richmond County, Virginia in 1720, and his wife Elinor.

Thomas Monteith had large land holding in the counties of King George, Fairfax, and Prince William. He died in 1746 in King George County, Virginia, leaving a will which is in the now lost Will Book #1 of that county. The remaining records show that he left four infant children. His wife, Phillis (Gallop) Monteith, married secondly by 1755, Benjamin Elkins.

Thomas Monteith (ca 1694-1746) m.Phillis Gallop:

1. Magdalene Monteith married (1) Anderson Doniphan, Gentleman, of Brunswick Parish, King George Co., Virginia, a son Mott Doniphan and Rosanna Anderson. Magdalen's daughter, Elizabeth Doniphan, was the great great grandmother of the late President Harry S. Truman (see Tyler's Quarterly, vol. 28, p. 238). Magdalene married (2) Jonathon Finnall of Stafford Co, VA, and has issue by him also.

2. Elizabeth Monteith.

3. James Monteith, born ca. 1740, died 1804, Stafford Co, Va, married 23 August 1763, in St. Pauls Parish, Stafford Co, Leah Owens, daughter of Samuel Owens, who died testate in King George Co, VA, in 1766, and his wife Margaret.

4. John Monteith, moved to North Carolina according to tradition.

James Monteith, son of Thomas, left a will in Stafford County, Virginia, but it is now in the lost Will Book Y. A later reference to his will in 1812 in Book AA, page 307, mentions his wife, Leah, and his four daughters: Keziah Owens, Aroye Finnell, Fenton Barbee, and Leah Owens, wife of Thomas Owens. The estate account of Mrs. Leah Monteith recorded 11 April 1831 shows the division among four surviving children: the wife of Charnock Cox, Aroy Finnall, Samuel Monteith, and Enos Monteith. James Monteith and his family lived in Loudon County, Virginia, before moving to Stafford about 1790. He and his sons, Enos Monteith and Samuel O. Monteith, were involved in many land transactions in Loudon County. Most of this land was the original tracts purchased by Thomas Monteith when Loudon County was part of Fairfax County.

Enos Monteith son of James and Leah, was born about 1780. According to the older family members, Enos' wife, Eleanor, was half Powhatan Indian from Goose Creek in Loudon County. Enos Monteith's death record has not been discovered. His wife, Eleanor, died on 22 December 1870, aged 92, according to the Stafford Death Register.

Enos and Eleanor Monteith had no sons but had three daughters. The singing star, Wayne Newton, is descended from him in several ways.

Enos Monteith (born ca 1780) m Eleanor (1778-1870)

1. Michal Monteith, born 1806 (per 1850 census), died 16 April 1873 (Family Bible), married 5 January 1824, William Alexander Otto Bowie (1801-25 September 1889) of King George Co., VA., son of Captain Theophilus Bowie and Catherine Simmons. The Bowies were also of Scottish descent.

2. Parthenia Monteith, died before 1850, married in Stafford Co., VA., on 15 September 1835 (Fredericksburg Virginia Herald) to Fielding Hudson, son of Samuel and Susanna Hudson, of Stafford Co. Their son, Seymour M. Hudson, married his cousin, Mary Helen Jones, daughter of Basic Gordon Jones and Alice Ann Monteith Bowie, daughter of Michal (Monteith) Bowie above. Seymore and Mary (Jones) Hudson are great great grandparents of the contributor.

3. Ellen Monteith, died post 1870, married Gustavus "Gusty" Newton of Stafford Co., VA.

Samuel O. Monteith, son of James and Leah, saved the Monteith line of Virginia from extinction. He was born in 1785 (1850 census) and died in 1862 in Stafford Co, VA. His wife's name was Mildren. Samuel O. Monteith named the following children in his will: James Monteith, Thomas Monteith, William Monteith, John S. Monteith, Nathaniel Monteith, Elizabeth Dobson, Mary Ann Monteith, and Leah Monteith. These children have well established the Monteith family in Virginia.

WILL OF THOMAS MONTEITH

In the Name of God Amen. I Thomas Monteith of King George County being very sick and weak of body but of perfect sence mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for it do ordain this my last Will and Testament, Revoking disannulling all former wills made by me heretofore. Item: I give to my daughter Magdalaner Monteith the land I bought of Joshua Davis to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give to my daugher Elizabeth Monteith the land I bought of James Grant to her and her heirs forever. It is my will that all my Negroes be kept together for the support and bringing up my children. Item: I give all the rest of my lands to my two sons James Monteith and John Monteith to be equally divided between them to them and their heirs forever. It is further my desire that all my Negroes be equally divided among my children when they shall come of age. I likewise appoint my beloved wife Phillis Monteith whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. As Witness my hand and seal this 1st day of December Anno 1746.
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Thomas Monteith * Seale *
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Testis
Richd. Bryan
Wm. Rwley


Her Elizabeth [A] Corbin Mark At a court held for King George County on Friday the 6th day of Marcy 1746 [1746/7]. The last Will and Testament of Thomas Monteith, Deceased, was presented into Court and proved by the oaths of Richard Bryan, Gent.

MONTEITH, THOMAS (d.t., 1746/7). COB#2, p. 508: 6 March 1746/7. The last will and Testament of Thomas Monteith was proved by Richard Bryan and William Rowley. Phillis Monteith, widow and sole executrix of Thomas Monteith, deceased, declared her descent to stand by the said will and administration with the will annexed was granted to her by the court., On the same day she gave bond in the sum of L800 Current Money as administratrix of Thomas Monteith, deceased, with Richard Bryan and William Rowley, Junr, her securities [BB#3, p. 55]. The inventory of his estate was recorded 3 April 1747 in I#2, pages 18-19, 28.

MARRIAGES OF RICHMOND COUNTY

MONTEITH, THOMAS [GENTLEMAN] (circa 1694- 1746/7) married by 1737 Phillis Gallop, daugher of Robert Gallop who died testate in Richmond County 1720. On 30 July 1714 Thomas Monteith, Merchant of Glasgow, gave power attorney to Thomas White of Hanover Parish, Richmond County, authorized to recover certain debts due to him and transact other business. Thomas Monteith, Gentleman, appears frequently on the King George County records 1721 until the time of his death in 1746/7. He died testate but his will in now lost King George County WB#! (1721-1752), however, the surviving records show he left four infant children at the time of his death, viz: (a) Magdaline Monteith who m(1) Anderson Doniphan [they were ancestors of President Harry Shipp Truman] and m(2) Jonathan Finnall of Stafford County; (b) Elizabeth Monteith; (c) James Monteith and (d) John Monteith. Phillis (Gallop) Monteith, widow, married (2) Benjamin Elkins by 1755. WB#4,p.161, p.84; also King George County COB#2,p.508; COB#3,p.535,555,560; DB#3, p.55 [deposition 9 may 1746 of Thomas Monteith, aged about 52 years [other records indicate he was older]; DB#2,p.1, 138-139; 26T283-285; 28T238.





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