• Thomas Gualmay (Gwaltney) Sr. ( b. 1590)
• Thomas Gualmay later Gwaltney, Jr. (b.1613-) 1635 – Thomas Gualmay aka later Gwaltney (b.1613) emigrated to Barbados at age 22 and was the first of the Gwaltney, Gaultney, and Galtney families in America. c.1645 – Thomas of b.1613 marries Mary Atkinson; the marriage record indicates that Gualmay is now Gwaltney. His children were

1. Ann,
2. James,
3. John,
4. Katherine,
5. Mary,
6. Susannah,
7. Ruth,
8. Thomas, and
9. William Gwaltney

1659/1662 – In Thomas’ 1659 Will, filed in Isle of Wight County, Virginia he is again listed as Gwaltney. When the Will is proven in 1662 his name remains Gwaltney. // Note: Reference is made within his Will to a land patent called “White Marsh”. This land would later pass into my mother’s family, the Norfleets and Riddicks, almost 100 years later.

• William Gwaltney (1675–1728
• John Gwaltney (1703–1752).

William Gwaltney (1675–1728), son of Thomas Gwaltney (b.1613), had a son: John Gwaltney (1703–1752).

John Gwaltney (b.1703) had 10 children — (whose descendants are named Gwaltney, Gaultney, or Galtney).

John Gwaltney (b.1703) is married to a Mary (surname unknown) and they have 10 children —

1. Benjamin,
2. Elender Eli (Golden),
3. Elizabeth,
4. James,
5. John,
6. Joseph,
7. Martha,
8. Robert,
9. Steven, and
10. William Gwaltney.

For whatever reason Elender Eli is given or later chooses the name Golden.

Elender Eli Golden goes on to marry an unknown bride of supposed Cherokee birth (Possibly went by the name of "Ann" and has two sons: Mark Golden 1762-1844 and John Golden 1775-?. All of his siblings remained Gwaltney, and their children are Gwaltney. So that is how some Goldens came to have Welsh bloodlines and how it came to be that their ancestors are named Gualmay and Gwaltney, and not Golden.

Some G2a Goldens from Wales? -- Bill Golden, Norfolk1956@gmail.com

Some Golden family histories with Elender Eli Golden as their ancestor, indicate that these Goldens may be descended from the Gualmay/Gwaltney family of Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The name Gualmay is Welsh in origin and means “Field Hawk” or “Hawk of May”. Gualmayis a derivative of the Welsh Gwalchmai, which is a place name (in Anglesey, Wales) and is traced back to the Knight Gawain (King Arthur Legend).

Today the Gualmay name has largely passed into history and the descendants of the Gualmay family often go by Gwaltney, Gaultney, Galtney … and a few may go by Golden.

A Brief History Thomas Gualmay (Gwaltney), Sr., (b.1590) had a son, Thomas Jr., born at Llanycefn, Dungleddy, Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1613. (Some family histories claim that Thomas was born in Ireland. I have never seen any documentation of the Irish connection and the Gualmay family appears to be found only in the Pembrokeshire, Wales area.)

1630/1631 – Some family histories claim that Thomas married Martha Mary Liburne (also known as Leyborn, a Swedish name) at Surrey, Virginia. No sources are provided for this marriage — AND Thomas had not even left Wales yet so …

1635 – Thomas Gualmay aka later Gwaltney (b.1613) emigrated to Barbados at age 22 and was the first of the Gwaltney, Gaultney, and Galtney families in America.

Gwaltney becomes Golden, or does it?

William Gwaltney (1675–1728), son of Thomas Gwaltney (b.1613), had a son: John Gwaltney (1703–1752). William’s wife was Alice Flake (1680-1733).

Some Golden family histories acknowledge Alice Flake (1680-1733) as William’s wife, but say that William’s name was Golden. What documentation exists says that William was a Gwaltney.

Some Gwaltney genealogies, but not all, do not include Elender Eli as a Gwaltney son. Yet some do!

Six Gwaltney family genealogies include Elender Eli (b1729) as a son, although none list his name as Golden.

It may be that Elender Eli is dropped from some genealogies for the same reason that some Golden family histories change William Gwaltney’s name to Golden: an inability to accept that there is a surname change.

Elender Eli Golden goes on to marry an unknown bride of supposed Cherokee birth and has two sons: Mark Golden 1762-1844 and John Golden 1775-?. All of his siblings remained Gwaltney, and their children are Gwaltney.

Was Elender Eli Golden an Orphan?

Was Elender Eli born a Golden, orphaned and taken in by the Gwaltney family?

Historical documents exist for this time period but have not found any confirming references that explain this unique relationship. (2018.04.18 – Added note speculating that Elender Eli could have been an orphan, taken in by the Gwaltney family. Social norms would indicate that he was considered a Gwaltney and NOT an adopted orphan.)

That said, the traditional practice is that an orphan would not be considered a child of the family. Elender Eli has somehow managed to come down through multiple Gwaltney family histories as being a son, with no connotation as ‘not a Gwaltney’.

Relationship Confirmation

In an age of Y-DNA testing that can confirm relationships, it would be nice to know of any Y-DNA testing by male members of the Gwaltney family.

The descendants of Mark Golden test as haplogroup ‘G2a’.

If you have any information I would appreciate getting it. Send to Norfolk1956@gmail.com

Descendents of Mark and Richard Golden have taken Y-DNA tests with the result of being DNA haplogroup G-M201 / G2a. Golden males from both lines match one another (2018).

Testing Kits:

FamilyTreeDNA testing kits showing kinship among these Golden males: 80596, 80674, 112874, 132521, 137336, 249807, 284940, 312329 and N20439. CHANGES

2018.04.18 – Added note speculating that Elender Eli could have been an orphan, taken in by the Gwaltney family. Social norms would indicate that he was considered a Gwaltney and

NOT an adopted orphan. 2013.07.25 – Added a note asking for Y-DNA information from any Gwaltney.

BTW – I look forward to sharing your stories, photos, and in-search-of quests. Contact me at the email address above.

You are welcome to add to or to correct this story by contacting: Bill Golden, Norfolk1956@gmail.com

Son William Gwaltney b abt 1655 and son in law (step son) James Atkinson were listed in his will. His widow was Mary, widow Atkinson, who married Thomas Pitman 3rd.

From http://gwaltney.faithweb.com/beginnings.html

But by July, 1666, Thomas was dead at only about 53 years of age. He left behind a wife, a young son William who was only around 11 or so years old, and the Atkinson step-son. Thomas' will was probated in September of 1666, and his widow, Martha [SIC: Mary] wasted no time--for in 1667 she found another Thomas to marry (she must have liked Thomases)--this time a Captain Thomas Pittman, who already had two sons about the age of young William Gwaltney. Of course, Martha herself died within several years, for by 1672, Thomas Pittman had remarried another widow, Lidia Judkins.

And young William Gwaltney was apparently the sole Gwaltney in the colonies with his 200 acre inheritance.

On 29 July 1650 Wm. Yarrett & Francis Whittington received a land grant for 580 acres on the N. side of the Rappa. Riv. next above land of Robert Bird. The grant was for transporting 12 persons to the colonies, including Tho. Gwalpmey. (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 1, pages 191-192.)

On 14 May 1666, Thomas Gwaltney received a land grant for 200 acres of land in Surry Co, VA for the transportation of four persons to the Colonies. The property was along the east side of the main Blackwater swamp and bounded on the north by Major Sheppard's land.

From "Historical Southern Families" Vol 2. 1958 by John Bennett Boddie

P. 115 GWALTNEY OF SURRY AND ISLE OF WIGHT

The first one of this family in Surry was Thomas Gwaltney who patented 200 acres in Surry, May 14, 1666 "Bounded upon Major Sheppard's land North, beginning on East side at Main Blackwater Swamp, for transportatinon of 4 persons." (C.P. 562) He may have been the Thomas Gwaltney who was a headright of William Yarrett of Isle of Wight in 1650. Yarrett also brough over the wife of Ambrose Proctor of Isle of Wight at the same. (C.P. 192) There was a Thomas Gwaltney, aged 22, who came over on the Faulcon out of London for the Barbadoes in April, 1635. (Hotten 64).

From my research the Thomas Gwaltney the came to Surry County, Virginia via England- Barbados is the Thomas Gwaltney who states our family.

Thomas Gwaltney died in July 1666, soon after the land grant was recorded. In testimony in the County Court, "John Clarke, sworn on September 4, 1666, age 30 years of thereabouts, sayeth that about the latter part of July, being at the home of Thomas Gwaltney, two days before his death, and desiring said Gwaltney to make a will set all things in order, the said Gwaltney answered 'Ye deponent, I give to my son William Gwaltney, the horse, foal, and bed I now lie upon, and my land I know nobody can take it from him, all ye rest of my goods I give to my wife and leave at her disposal'." Patrick Bartley, aged about 40 years, was sworn and said that being at the house of Thomas Gwaltney the Saturday before his decease, Deponent said to him, "Now that Captain Corker is here it is good for you to set things right and relieve your wife of a great deal of trouble"; and Gwaltney answered, "I leave all to my wife's disposal, for her and for her children, for I know she will be careful of hers as well as mine." (Bk. 1, p. 277)

• ************************************************************************* ************ From a pamplet by Henry Clifton Burnham called "The Gaultney Family 1613-1992" -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Gwaltney, the forefather of most of the Gwaltney's and Gaultney's in the United States was born about 1613 in England or Wales. At the age of 22 he was transported to Barbadoes on the Faulcon de London from England in April of 1635. The name Gwaltney is of Welsh origin and it is likely that earlier Gwaltney's left Wales and settled in England prior to the 1600's. In August of 1665, Thomas bequeathed to his "son-in-law" (step-son) James Athinson, "a sorrell mare filly with a star in its forehead about 5 months old." The next month he sold to Marcom Markina "one black cow about six years called by the name of Coole Crapp with a hole in it right ear."
  • ************************************************************************ ************* !surrey County records: Ancestral File Name: Thomas GWALTNEY Sex: M Birth: 1613 in Carnarvon,Wales Death: 1666 in Surry County,Virginia Immigration: Wales 1 Change Date: 30 JUN 2004 at 17:27:27

Marriage 1 Mary Martha ATKINSON b: 1618 Children Has Children William GWALTNEY b: 1655 in Isle Of Wight County,VA

Sources: Title: ancestry.com Publication: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=kymarr%2c&gsfn=oscar&... Abbrev: ancestry.com Text: Name: OSCAR HEABERLIN Spouse: BRIDIE MOWERY Marriage Date: 22 Dec 1898 County: Greenup State: KY Note: Thomas Gwaltney was born in Wales in 1613. He emigrated to the new world in 1635 aboard the ship Faulcon de London. The ship's manifest has him listed as Thomas Gualmay. He went first to Barbados and from there to Virginia. Thomas Irish was the ship's Master. (Julia G. Griggs ggriggs@triad.rr.com). Raymond Gwaltney says he has information about the Gwaltney immigrating from France to Wales before coming to America.

Carolyn Laws in her Family Tree Maker web site states that he was listed as a headwright with William Yarrett in 1650. He was patented 200 acres of land in Surry County, Virginia on May 14, 1666, bounded upon Major Sheppard's land North, beginning on east side at main Blackwater Swamp. She states that the name is pronounced "Gortney" acccording to Welsh pronunciation. Ships records indicated he came to America after taking an Oath of Allegience (to the British Crown). Men who came to America were 'servants to the American Plantations'. The servants were actually earning free ownership of some supplies and property for themselves. In exchange, they agreed to work for the plantations for a specific and reasonably short period of years to help clear and settle the land. After doing what was required, they had freedom, supplies, and land.

Carolyn Laws states that Thomas Gwaltney (or Gaultney) was deceased soon after the land grant was recorded for he died July 1666 as shown by the following testimony in the County Court. "John Clarke, sworn on September 4, 1666, aged 30 years or thereabouts, sayeth that about the latter part of July, being at the house of Thomas Gwaltney, two days before his death, and desiring Gwaltney to make a will to set all things in order, the said Gwaltney answered, "Ye deponent, I give to my son William Gwaltney, the horse, foal, and bed I now lie upon, and my land I know nobody can take it from him, all ye rest of my goods I give to my wife and leave at her disposal." Patrick Bartley, aged about 40 years, was sworn and said that being at the house of thomas Gwaltney the Saturday before his decease, Deponent said to him, "Now that Captain Corder is here it is good for you to set things right and relieve your wife of a great deal of trouble" and Gwaltney answered, "I leave all to my wife's disposal for her and for her children, for I know she will be careful of hers as well as mine [Bk. 1, p 277]. (Information from "Historical Southern Families" Vol 2 by John Bennet Boddie, 1958. Text: Thomas Gwaltney was born in Wales in 1613. He emigrated to the new world in 1635 aboard the ship Faulcon de London. The ship's manifest has him listed as Thomas Gualmay. He went first to Barbados and from there to Virginia. Thomas Irish was the ship's Master. (Julia G. Griggs ggriggs@triad.rr.com). Raymond Gwaltney says he has information about the Gwaltney immigrating from France to Wales before coming to America.

Personal family record received from Mary Epps Spiron of North Carolina clearly lists Thomas Gwaltney's wife as Mary Atkinson and as mother of William Gwaltney. Wife added to the record.

Thomas I gwaltney (gualmay, age 22 on the manifest) departed London on the ship "Falcon" bound for Barbados, VI april 3, 1635; therefore, would have been born about 1613. in 1650, he was listed as a headright of William Yarrett in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Thomas married Mary ?, widow of Thomas Atkinson. After Thomas Gwaltneeys death, Mary married Capt. Thomas Pitman. Thomas Gwaltney and Mary had a son William. Thomas died in July, 1666j. In his will, dated 1666, he listed "William as a minor" and a son-in-law (apparently Mary had a daughter possibly by Atkinson)

References

• Surry County Records, Surry County, Virginia, 1652-1684 By Eliza Timberlake Davis. Page 61. GoogleBooks

  ---

  
  

Gualmay becomes Gwaltney and then becomes Golden

• Thomas Gualmay (Gwaltney) Sr. ( b. 1590)
• Thomas Gualmay later Gwaltney, Jr. (b.1613-)
• William Gwaltney (1675–1728
• John Gwaltney (1703–1752).

William Gwaltney (1675–1728), son of Thomas Gwaltney (b.1613), had a son: John Gwaltney (1703–1752).

John Gwaltney (b.1703) had 10 children — but only 9 are named Gwaltney (whose descendants are named Gwaltney, Gaultney, or Galtney).

The children of John Gwaltney:

1. Benjamin,
2. Elender Eli,
3. Elizabeth,
4. James,
5. John,
6. Joseph,
7. Martha,
8. Robert,
9. Steven, and
10. William.

For whatever reason Elender Eli is given or later chooses the name Golden.

Elender Eli Golden goes on to marry an unknown bride of supposed Cherokee birth (Possibly went by the name of "Ann" and has two sons: Mark Golden 1762-1844 and John Golden 1775-?. All of his siblings remained Gwaltney, and their children are Gwaltney. So that is how some Goldens came to have Welsh bloodlines and how it came to be that their ancestors are named Gualmay and Gwaltney, and not Golden.

Some G2a Goldens from Wales? -- Bill Golden, Norfolk1956@gmail.com

Some Golden family histories with Elender Eli Golden as their ancestor, indicate that these Goldens may be descended from the Gualmay/Gwaltney family of Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The name Gualmay is Welsh in origin and means “Field Hawk” or “Hawk of May”. Gualmayis a derivative of the Welsh Gwalchmai, which is a place name (in Anglesey, Wales) and is traced back to the Knight Gawain (King Arthur Legend).

Today the Gualmay name has largely passed into history and the descendants of the Gualmay family often go by Gwaltney, Gaultney, Galtney … and a few may go by Golden.

A Brief History Thomas Gualmay (Gwaltney), Sr., (b.1590) had a son, Thomas Jr., born at Llanycefn, Dungleddy, Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1613. (Some family histories claim that Thomas was born in Ireland. I have never seen any documentation of the Irish connection and the Gualmay family appears to be found only in the Pembrokeshire, Wales area.)

1630/1631 – Some family histories claim that Thomas married Martha Mary Liburne (also known as Leyborn, a Swedish name) at Surrey, Virginia. No sources are provided for this marriage — AND Thomas had not even left Wales yet so …

1635 – Thomas Gualmay aka later Gwaltney (b.1613) emigrated to Barbados at age 22 and was the first of the Gwaltney, Gaultney, and Galtney families in America.

c.1645 – Thomas of b.1613 marries Mary Atkinson; the marriage record indicates that Gualmay is now Gwaltney. His children were

1. Ann,
2. James,
3. John,
4. Katherine,
5. Mary,
6. Susannah,
7. Ruth,
8. Thomas, and
9. William Gwaltney

1659/1662 – In Thomas’ 1659 Will, filed in Isle of Wight County, Virginia he is again listed as Gwaltney. When the Will is proven in 1662 his name remains Gwaltney. // Note: Reference is made within his Will to a land patent called “White Marsh”. This land would later pass into my mother’s family, the Norfleets and Riddicks, almost 100 years later.

Gwaltney becomes Golden, or does it?

William Gwaltney (1675–1728), son of Thomas Gwaltney (b.1613), had a son: John Gwaltney (1703–1752). William’s wife was Alice Flake (1680-1733).

Some Golden family histories acknowledge Alice Flake (1680-1733) as William’s wife, but say that William’s name was Golden. What documentation exists says that William was a Gwaltney.

John Gwaltney (b.1703) is married to a Mary (surname unknown) and they have 10 children — but only 9 are named Gwaltney (whose descendants are named Gwaltney, Gaultney, or Galtney).

The children of John Gwaltney and Mary are::

1. Benjamin,
2. Elender Eli (Golden),
3. Elizabeth,
4. James,
5. John,
6. Joseph,
7. Martha,
8. Robert,
9. Steven, and
10. William Gwaltney.

For whatever reason Elender Eli is given or later chooses the name Golden.

Some Gwaltney genealogies, but not all, do not include Elender Eli as a Gwaltney son. Yet some do!

Six Gwaltney family genealogies include Elender Eli (b1729) as a son, although none list his name as Golden.

It may be that Elender Eli is dropped from some genealogies for the same reason that some Golden family histories change William Gwaltney’s name to Golden: an inability to accept that there is a surname change.

Elender Eli Golden goes on to marry an unknown bride of supposed Cherokee birth and has two sons: Mark Golden 1762-1844 and John Golden 1775-?. All of his siblings remained Gwaltney, and their children are Gwaltney.

Was Elender Eli Golden an Orphan?

Was Elender Eli born a Golden, orphaned and taken in by the Gwaltney family?

Historical documents exist for this time period but have not found any confirming references that explain this unique relationship.
(2018.04.18 – Added note speculating that Elender Eli could have been an orphan, taken in by the Gwaltney family. Social norms would indicate that he was considered a Gwaltney and NOT an adopted orphan.)

That said, the traditional practice is that an orphan would not be considered a child of the family. Elender Eli has somehow managed to come down through multiple Gwaltney family histories as being a son, with no connotation as ‘not a Gwaltney’.

Relationship Confirmation

In an age of Y-DNA testing that can confirm relationships, it would be nice to know of any Y-DNA testing by male members of the Gwaltney family.

The descendants of Mark Golden test as haplogroup ‘G2a’.

If you have any information I would appreciate getting it. Send to Norfolk1956@gmail.com

Descendents of Mark and Richard Golden have taken Y-DNA tests with the result of being DNA haplogroup G-M201 / G2a. Golden males from both lines match one another (2018).

Testing Kits:

FamilyTreeDNA testing kits showing kinship among these Golden males: 80596, 80674, 112874, 132521, 137336, 249807, 284940, 312329 and N20439. CHANGES

2018.04.18 – Added note speculating that Elender Eli could have been an orphan, taken in by the Gwaltney family. Social norms would indicate that he was considered a Gwaltney and

NOT

an adopted orphan.

2013.07.25 – Added a note asking for Y-DNA information from any Gwaltney.

BTW – I look forward to sharing your stories, photos, and in-search-of quests. Contact me at the email address above.

You are welcome to add to or to correct this story by contacting: Bill Golden, Norfolk1956@gmail.com