Another book announcement! Sorry, fans of my novels, my latest publication is about genealogy; however, the sequel to my “Enchanted Journal” novel is nearly finished.

My great, great, great grandfather, William Calmes Buck I (1790–1872), was perhaps the most illustrious of my ancestors. Although much has been written about him, especially his ministry, I felt that his story deserved to be told in more detail. Fortunately, Wm C Buck (as he usually signed his name) wrote an autobiography. I have a transcribed copy of his autobiography and retyped it. This book includes some letters and excerpts from his daughter Emma’s diaries.

Wm C Buck was an American Baptist minister, author, editor, and publisher. Born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, he was primarily self-educated. Still, he became a professor of religion at Waco University in Texas. Dr. Buck was the author of five books, a newspaper, and many religious tracts. He founded and pastored several Baptist churches, especially in Kentucky and Alabama.

Check it out at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFWV2DX9.

Other Bucks to Virginia

 

In addition to Thomas Buck I, generally assumed to be the ancestor of the Buck family of Virginia,  there were other Bucks leaving England for the New World.  In particular, land was granted in Virginia for transportation of these Bucks:

• Peter BUCK, by John Jackson, 1635
• Peter BUCK, by John Jackson, 1637, Charles River Co.
• Thos. BUCK, by William Canhooe, 1639, Charles River Co
•  Thomas BUCK, by Thomas Harvey, 1640, James City Co.
•  John BUCK, by John Bayles, 1642
•  Old BUCK, by Sr. Tho. Luntsford, Kt., and Baronett, 1650

None of these exactly matches with my ancestor Thomas Buck and 1635 although several are so close as to warrant further investigation – if only more information were available!

John Jackson was granted land for transporting two Peter Buck’s and at about the same time; these may have been the same person.  Likewise, there were two Thomas Buck’s transported about the same time.  In fact, all these may have been the same person since false claims are not unheard of.  In any case, I’ve not been able to find additional information.

The Thos. Buck transported to Charles River County, Virginia in 1639 by William Canhooe is sometimes called the “Other Thomas Buck”.  He died in 1648 in York county which was split from Charles River county.  His sister, Mary, living in England, wife of Richard Thorpe, was his sole heir.  Therefore, this “Other Thomas Buck” had no children and could not be the ancestor of the Buck family of Virginia.

It is very interesting that, at one time, there may have been these six Bucks, Thomas Buck I, and the children of the Reverend Richard Buck all living in the same general area of Virginia.

Book: My Buck Family of Virginia

The print version of my genealogy book “My Buck Family of Virginia” is finally available and I’ve received the first copy for checking. Amazon said that my first proof copy (ordered in late January) was lost in transit. As far as I can tell, my book is ready to be sold. It can be found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0842MZMSG .

My Buck Family of Virginia Book

I’ve published a genealogy book about my Buck family.  Much of the information in the book is also available on this blog.  My book is available now as an ebook on Amazon and will soon be available as a printed book.  See https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0847R7WG8/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

My branch of the Buck family is usually referred to as the “Buck Family of Virginia”.  The first member of the Buck family to come to the New World was the Reverend Richard Bucke who sailed from England on June 2, 1609 for Jamestown on the Seaventure. He was the second minister of the Virginia colony and is probably best known for performing the marriage ceremony of John Rolfe and Pocahontas in 1614.

The progenitor of my Buck family of Virginia was Thomas Buck (1618 - 1659) who left Gravesend, England for Virginia on August 21, 1635 onboard the ship George when he was seventeen years old. There is no known relationship between Thomas Buck and the Rev. Richard Bucke but there are several interesting, if perhaps circumstantial, similarities. They were from the same general area in England and settled into the same area in Virginia. It seems highly likely that Thomas would have known the children of Richard Bucke.

In Virginia, Thomas Buck settled into York County, Virginia and appeared to have been prosperous; however, he died at the age of 41.  His will includes an inventory of his household goods which includes, among other things, a Bible and 8000 nails.  There is little information on his children and grandchildren except for his great grandson Charles.

Charles Buck I was born about 1710 in York County and died in 1771 in the Shenandoah Valley. The three sons of Charles Buck I married three daughters of William Richardson and Isabella Calmes in 1774. These three families had thirty-two children. I am a descendant of Charles Buck II through his son William Calmes Buck.

Although the Buck family is not often mentioned in history books, they were a prominent and well-to-do plantation family in early Virginia. They were active in the local economy, politics and religion of the Shenandoah Valley during the 1700's and 1800's.  In the 1800s, many family members moved westward, especially into Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

The Buck family of Virginia also has connections to the Calmes, Ashby, Blakemore, Field, Helm, Neville, Payne, Pierce, Thomas, Bayly, Catlett, Sorrell and Mauzy families of Virginia and Maryland.  Later, a strong connection to the Harrison family was developed in Texas.

All of this information and more is contained in the book.  

Organization of Buck Family of Virginia Blog

The organization of this blog may sometimes appear to be random and that is often true.  After all, this is a blog.  On the other hand, the organization is somewhat chronological.  Also, particularly the past year or so of posts have been about my direct line in the Buck family.  I’ve presented that direct line to the extent that I feel comfortable; however, there is a lot of Buck family information still at hand.  Furthermore, I happen across additional bits of information frequently.  So, how to present new information?

I’ve decided that new blog posts will be simply whatever I’m working on or stumble upon at the time.  In other words, nearly random.

At the same time, I am working on a book:  “My Buck Family of Virginia -- The Family Tree of Gordon Sandlin Buck”.  A number of people have asked or suggested that I write a book about the Buck family but I’ve always noted that it would take a lot of work.  I would then refer people to my blog or Ancestry.com.  One day it dawned on me that I essentially had the book written – I just needed to piece it together.  As of now, my “book” consists of many, many cut-and-paste jobs taken from this blog and other things that I’ve written.  I’m sure this book won’t be a best seller but I will try to have it published and made available somehow.  Stay tuned.

William Calmes Buck's Children: Silas Calmes Buck (1847-1908)

Silas Calmes Buck and his twin brother, Paul, were sons of William Calmes Buck and Isabella Miriam Field.  They were born on November 1, 1847 in Louisville, Kentucky. Paul was born at "20 min. after 5 and Silas at half past 7" according to the notes of their father. 

Paul died on July 5, 1848 of “cholera infantum” - an acute noncontagious intestinal disturbance of infants, now relatively rare.

Silas’s sister, Emma, wrote in her diary of February 14, 1862 that Silas and his brother Field were in school at Carrolton (probably Alabama).

While only fourteen years old, Silas accompanied and assisted his father who served as a missionary to the soldiers of the Civil War. Before he was sixteen, he joined the 16th Confederate Cavalry as Color Bearer.  This group was still fighting a week after Lee's surrender. When word of the surrender reached his unit, Silas removed the flag from the staff and hid it under some leaves.  Later, Silas retrieved the flag and gave it to his commanding officer Colonel Philip B. Spence.  Many years later, Col. Spence brought it to Texas to an old soldier's reunion in Dallas.  A photograph was taken of Silas with the flag and he was allowed to keep it for a year.

Silas also served in Company D, 12th Mississippi Calvary having enlisted on October 15, 1864 at Pickensville as a private.  He was surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865 and paroled at Cainesville, Alabama on May 14, 1865.  Philip B. Spence was lieutenant colonel of the 12^th Mississippi Cavalry which was also known as the 16^th Regiment of the Confederate Cavalry.

After the war, Silas studied law at Waco University (now Baylor).  He moved to Stephenville, Texas about 1875 where he continued the practice of law and was soon elected District Attorney.  He helped to bring law and order to those fourteen counties.  One of the most notorious criminals that he prosecuted was John Wesley Hardin whom Silas Buck sent to the penitentiary.  Overwork in his office resulted in ill health for much of the later years of his life.  With his poor health came financial hard times.

His daughter, Emma Virginia Buck, wrote that some thought him severe but he was actually was not.  He was "just in his disciple and a most loving and self-sacrificing father, and a devoted husband.  He was a humble sincere Christian, taught his children the Bible, tried to train them in its precepts and to instill in them a vital faith in God."

Silas Calmes Buck and Georgia Rebecca Titus were married on July 25, 1877 in Texas.  Georgia Rebecca Titus, daughter of Peter Wright Titus and Susan Torrence Hines, was born on June 9, 1854 in Texas. Her daughter, Emma Virginia Buck wrote that "No woman ever lived in Stephenville who was more beloved than my mother."  More than twenty nieces, nephews and grandchildren were taken into her home to attend the Stephenville schools.

Silas Calmes Buck and Georgia Rebecca Titus had the following children:

•         Mary Susan Buck (1879-1966); married Harrison D. Buck, 1918.  Harrison D. Buck was the son of Giddings Judson Buck and Mary Cottingham Halbert.
•         Emma Virginia Buck (1880-1975); married Rube Hendrix.  She lived in Stephenville all her life. Emma Virginia Buck was the author of a well-used and appreciated Buck family history.  In a letter to Gordon S. Buck, Sr., Emma wrote:  "... Cousin Charlie told me that his brother, Will, was the very best man he knew."  (This would be Charles Willis Buck, Jr. speaking of William Calmes Buck, II, grandfather of Gordon S. Buck, Sr.)
•        Silas Calmes Buck Jr. (1883-1963); married Ada Williams.
•         Mattie Buck (1887-1887)
•         William E. Buck (1887-1887)
•         Georgia Buck (1893-1977); married Thomas Jewell Arnold.  Thomas Jewell Arnold applied for a Confederate Pension for Georgia Rebecca Titus Buck in 1928.  The pension was approved October 1, 1928.  Her application and the approval process included information and even some letters from Silas.

Silas Calmes Buck signed his will on March 27, 1904 in Erath County, Texas.  His wife, Georgie Titus Buck, was the sole executrix of his will which was witnessed by Susie Buck (probably their daughter) and L. N. Frank.

Georgia Rebecca Titus Buck died on August 15, 1939 at the age of 85.  She was buried in West End Cemetery, Erath, Texas.  Silas Calmes Buck died in 1908 at the age of 61 in Erath County, Texas.

Wm. C. Buck: Marriage to Maria Lewright

(continuing the series of posts about William Calmes Buck)

William Calmes Buck married Maria Lewright on December 1, 1815 in Jefferson County, Virginia.  Maria Lewright, daughter of Robert Lewright and Elizabeth Price, was born 1795 in Virginia.

Wm. C. Buck wrote of Maria LeWright "She was a lady of fine appearance, an excellent mind and unusual amiability."

William Calmes Buck and Maria Lewright had the following children:

• Robert Luther Buck (1816-1866); born in Virginia on August 4, 1816; married Elizabeth Stewart; died on January 15, 1866 in Jackson, Mississippi; buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi.  A doctor.
• Maria Louisa Buck (1818-1822); born in Virginia on April 13, 1818; died in Union County, Kentucky on December 13, 1822; buried in Old Highland Cemetery, Union County, Kentucky. 
• Mary Elizabeth Buck (1819-1901); born in Virginia on September 11, 1819; married Rezin Davidge (a merchant), 1839; died September 19, 1901 in Washington, D.C.; buried in Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.  Lived in New York and was very supportive of her father and siblings during and after the Civil War.  By 1900, Rezin had retired and they moved to Washington D.C. living with their nephew Charles Davidge.
• (unnamed infant) was born and died on January 8, 1822 along with her mother.

Maria Lewright Buck died in childbirth on January 8, 1822 at the age of 27 in Union County, Kentucky.  Her husband wrote, "She deceased from consumption, having previously given birth to a daughter, which lived only three hours and a half and died of her mother's disease".  She was buried in Old Highland Cemetery, Union County, Kentucky. 

(more to follow...)

William Calmes Buck (1790-1872)

Following a brief introductory post, this is the first more detailed post in a series about William Calmes Buck, my 3G Grandfather.

William Calmes Buck was born on August 23, 1790 in Shenandoah County, Virginia near what is now the town of Front Royal.  In spite of having only a basic formal education, he became a prominent Baptist minister, editor, author and denominational leader serving in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.  Self-taught, he became fluent in Latin, Greek and Hebrew and was known as “Dr. Buck” at Baylor University where he was a lecturer in his later years.

Wm. C. Buck (as he typically signed his name) wrote that his father was an “extensive farmer”.  His grandparents, Charles and Letitia (Sorrel) Buck were among the early settlers of the Shenandoah Valley and had owned about 3000 acres of land.  The Bucks were Baptist and donated land for the Water Lick Baptist Church and a cemetery.  The original Water Lick Church no longer exists but the cemetery is referred to as the Buck Cemetery 

Water Lick Baptist Church was organized on April 15, 1787.  It was about seven miles from Front Royal and about a half mile from the Buck homestead.  It was a one room church made of logs and said to have comfortable seats, and a high pulpit.  Between the Buck homestead and the church was a log house in which Wm. C. Buck lived for a time after his first marriage.

Buck wrote that he was "baptized by Rev. Benjamine Daws on the North branch of the Shenandoah, on the fourth Sabbath in April, 24th day, 1808." He was ordained in Shenandoah County, Virginia.  "The day that I was licensed was the 22nd of August 1812, and the next day I was just 22 years of age.  From that time I have devoted myself to the work of the ministry."

William Calmes Buck was a 1^st Lieutenant in the Second regiment of the Virginia Milita in the War of 1812.  He preached his first sermon in uniform.  After the War of 1812, he returned to Water Lick Church as pastor.

(... more to follow)

William Calmes Buck I (1790-1872)

William Calmes Buck I is perhaps the most notable member of the Buck family.  He was born on August 23, 1790 in Shenandoah County, Virginia to Charles Buck II and Mary Richardson.   William Calmes Buck I and Maria Lewright were married on December 1, 1815 in Jefferson County, Virginia.  Maria Lewright, daughter of Robert Lewright, was born in 1795. Maria Lewright Buck died on January 8, 1822 at the age of 27 in Union County, Kentucky.   After the death of his first wife, William Calmes Buck I and Isabella Miriam Field were married on June 30, 1829 in Woodford County, Kentucky.  Isabella Miriam Field, the daughter of Willis Field and Isabella Miriam Buck, was born on August 16, 1809.  She died on March 18, 1852 at the age of 42 in Nashville, Tennessee.  She was buried in Woodford County, Kentucky.

The life of William Calmes Buck will be discussed in more detail in future posts.  In the meantime, Wikipedia includes an article on William Calmes Buck.

Charles Buck II (1750 - 1823)

.
Charles Buck II was born on October 28, 1750 in Frederick County, Virginia to Charles Buck I and Letitia Sorrel, his second wife. Charles II was the second son of Charles I. He lived all his life in Virginia.

Like his father, Charles II was an ardent sportsman but his life was greatly influenced and he was led into the Baptist faith by the Rev. James Ireland, a pioneer Baptist preacher of early Virginia. Charles II donated land near Buckton for the building of a Baptist church and a residence for Ireland. Charles Buck II and his younger brother, Thomas Buck V, were messengers from the Water Lick Church to the Ketoctin Association in 1795. Two of his sons, Thomas and William, became prominent Baptist ministers.

Family lore is that Charles Buck II was a prisoner of war during the Revolution, aboard a British ship in Charleston harbor, but no record has been found of his military service.

Charles BUCK II married Mary Richardson, daughter of William Richardson and Isabella Calmes, April 3, 1774. Mary Richardson was born on Aug 31, 1752.

Charles BUCK II and Mary RICHARDSON had eight children:

William Calmes BUCK I, born August 23, 1790
Letitia BUCK, born in 1776
Thomas BUCK, born November 15, 1777
Sarah BUCK, born in 1780
Samuel Mountjoy BUCK, born in 1783
John BUCK, born in 1785
Charles BUCK III, born in 1788
Mary Richardson BUCK, born in 1792
.