From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Norvell Robertson Winniford was descended from a Scotch-Irish immigrant, David Winniford, who according to family tradition came from the lowlands of Scotland to America in the early 1700’s and settled on a land patent granted in 1735 on both sides of Indian Camp Branch of Deep Creek of the south side of the James River in Goochland County, Virginia. The grandson of the immigrant David was also named David and served in the Revolutionary War as a Sergeant in the Continental Line, being present at the surrender of Cornwallis and fighting in the Battle of’ Brandywine and at Valley Forge.
Norvell Robertson Winniford, grandson of the Revolutionary soldier, was the fifth of twelve known children born to Norvell and Susan Frances Johnson Winniford, on December 23, 1823 in Casey County, Kentucky. His name, Norvell Robertson, comes from the female side of the family as his grandmother was Judith Robertson, daughter of Jeffrey Robertson and Sarah Norvell. (The spelling of Norvell was changed to Norval in some records circa 1852-1863.) His father, Norvell, served as a Private in Captain Rowland Burk’s Company of Kentucky Mounted Militia in the War of 1812.
The Winniford family is listed on the 1810 Census of Adair County, Kentucky, on the 1820 Census of Warren County, Kentucky, on the 1830 Census in Casey County, Kentucky where they lived for some time along the Greene River, moving in the late 1830’s to Sangamon County, Illinois, living at a small place called Colefactious near Springfield. From there they moved to East St. Louis, Illinois, then across the river to St. Louis, Missouri where the elder Norvell was a shoemaker and later held some elective office. By shortly after 1840, both of Norvell’s parents and his older brother, John, had died leaving him as the eldest son.
By 1845, Norvell had moved to Texas to seek his fortune as so many young men did during this time period. It is unclear as to the exact date this move was made but research indi cates that Norvell’s older sister, Elizabeth Jane, and her husband, Godfrey G. Smith, first settled in Hunt County in East Texas in 1844 near Black Jack Grove, which later became Cumby. Possibly Norvell instigated the movement of the remainder of the “Winniford Clan” from St. Louis to join his elder sister’s family, as three of the younger Winniford children, Susan, George Dawson and Frances, made their home with the Smith family when Norvell moved on to Ellis County with the rest of the younger off spring, David, Martha and William Johnson. They made their home with another elder sister and her husband, Nancy and John Mullican, just south of the town of Lancaster and across the Ellis County line. Another sister and her husband, Sarah Ann and John “Sink” Pence, also settled nearby.
Norvell, sometimes called Norve, married his first wife, Malinda, daughter of John Goar, on June 21, 1849 in Dallas County. Eighteen forty-nine – that was the year in our nation’s history when the glitter of GOLD in Cali fornia becl<oned to men, and Norvell was only one of many to catch the fever and decide to answer the siren song. Accompanying Norvell and his young wife, Malinda, in their search for gold were his two brothers, David and William Johnson Winniford, and Archibald Lavender and Will Morgan of the Lancaster area. A diary or log of the trip was written by William Johnson Winniford and later published in The Lancaster Herald in 1909. On March 12, 1850, the small group left for San Antonio, Texas where they would join a group of forty wagons headed for the gold fields. After a seven-month journey they arrived in Ocean Beach (old San Diego), California on October 11, 1850. On January 15, 1851, both Malinda and her newborn infant died and were buried there. Norvell panned for gold, got lucky, found some and opened a dry goods store to sell to the prospectors. The town of Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County, California was originally called Norvell for Norvell Winniford who conducted the first store circa 1851. He remained in California until late summer of 1853, when he returned to Ellis County, Texas to his sister Nancy Mullican’s home. Upon his arrival, he filed for and received 320 acres of land in Dallas County and Ellis County, granted to him by virtue of his emigration to and settlement in the Colony granted to Peters and others as a colonist. In 1855, he was granted another 320 acres of land in Ellis County as heir and representative of David Winniford, his brother who died in California. He also purchased more land in both Dallas and Ellis Counties with his gold field money.
Rebecca, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Goodloe Douglas, became Norvell’s second wife on September 18, 1853 in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas. Six children were born to them as follows: 1) Mary Frances “Molly” born July 14, 1854. 2) Irvin L. born November 18, 1855. 3) Elbert Lee born April 4, 1857. 4) Alice Elizabeth born January 9, 1859. 5) Lucy Isabelle born March 5, 1861. 6) Henry Douglas born September 23, 1863. The family is listed on the 1860 Dallas County census, entry 189.
The Winniford home, which is no longer standing, was built about 1860 or before with materials hauled in ox wagons. from Jeffer son, Texas. It was located on the south side of Bear Creek Road just three miles south of Lancaster.
Although a large property and slave owner in 1862, Norvell refused to fight for the Confederacy. To remain out of the service during The War Between the States he drove ox teams hauling timbers and cotton for the South to Mexico. In 1865 Rebecca died and was buried in the Douglas Cemetery five miles northeast of Rockett, Texas.
In 1867 all Democrats who were holding offices in the state from the Governor down were removed by military order as impedi ments to Reconstruction. Norvell was an outspoken Unionist and Republican by principle, also having the reputation as not only a fearless man but equally the toughest one in Dallas County. This reputation probably had much bearing on his being appointed Sheriff of Dallas County by Major J. J. Reynolds on November 13, 1867 and serving in this office until May, 1870.
In Dallas County on September 15, 1868, Sarah Miranda Gilliland Elliott, (February 27, 1842-August 1, 1914), daughter of Robert W. and Eliza Dunson Gilliland and widow of John H. Elliott, became the third wife of Norvell. This family is listed on the 1870 Dallas County census, entry 61. They seem to have been equally matched in temperment and spirit. Three children as follows were born to this union: 1) Frank Robert born September 8, 1869. 2) Lula born February 21, 1872. 3) Alvin born January 15, 1875.
After a scandalous divorce in 1875 at which time Norvell was granted custody of the children, he married for a fourth time to Mrs. Martha J. “Mattie” Walker on July 7, 1876 in Dallas County. One child was born to them: Eula born March 15, 1880. This family is listed on the 1880 Dallas County census in Pet. 5 on Sheet #29, line #26.
Norvell continued to live on his farm south of Lancaster until his death on November 19, 1885 of cancer. He was buried in Bluff Springs Cemetery near Ferris in Ellis County. His grave has since been washed away along with his remains. He did not believe in a Supreme Being, and his last request was that everyone should know that he died strong in the faith of infidelity. Today, his picture reveals a stern looking man with dark hair and eyes, a short chin beard and a deep frown or scowl upon his face.
June Anderson Shipley is descended from Norvell Robertson and Sarah Miranda Winniford. Her grandfather was Frank Robert Winniford, their only child to survive. That line is given: Frank Robert Winniford born 1869, died 1946, buried Edgewood Cemetery,
Lancaster, Texas, married Lucy Williams Billingsley born 1872, died 1965, buried Edgewood Cemetery. Children: Freda Ileen, Drew Norvell, Frank Arlin, Jack Samuel. Freda Ileen Winniford born 1895, died 1978, buried Edgewood Cemetery, married Eugene Pembrook Anderson, Jr. born 1886, died 1966, buried Edgewood Cemetery; their children are Laura Jean and June. June Anderson born 1934 married Wayne Shipley born 1934.
References:
- Land Patents 1735 Goochland County, Virginia.
- Tithe Lists and Census Records of Virginia.
- Will of David Winniford, Cumberland County, Virginia.
- Inventory &: Appraisal of Estate of George Winneford, Estate of Wilmoth Wineford, Will of Charles Winneford – all of Cum berland County, Virginia.
- Pension Application of Judith Winniford W9021.
- Virginia Tax Rolls.
- Revolutionary War Record of David Winniford.
- Marriage Records of Washington County, Virginia; Adair County, Kentucky; Dallas County, Texas; Ellis County, Texas.
- DAR Members Application Papers.
- War of 1812 Records.
- Cemetery Records of Hopkins, Hunt, Dallas, Wood &: Ellis Counties, Texas.
- Census Records of Kentucky and Texas.
- Dallas County, Texas Divorce Records.
- Birth and Death Certificates.
- Family member’s records, old letters, and memories.
- Pictures.
- In Search of Gold, Lancaster Herald, 1909.
- Peters Colony Land Records.
- Douglas Family Letters
- Dallas County by John H. Cockran.
- History of Dallas County by J.H. Brown.
- Lone Star State, Biographical and Memorial History of Dallas County, Texas.
- Sylvana The Brushy Creek Community by Elmo Douglas Headrick.
By June Anderson Shipley, great-granddaughter, Dallas
