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William DePriest and
Tabitha ToneyWilliam DePriest was born in Hanover Co., VA about 1733. William died 13 Mar 1768 in Anne Arundel Co., MD, at 34 years of age.
He married Tabitha Toney in VA, 6 Apr 1758 in Goochland Co., VA. Tabitha was born in Goochland Co., VA 3 Apr 1729. Tabitha was the daughter of Charles Toney and Elizabeth Harris. The Toneys were neighbors of the DePriests on Lickinghole Creek.
William's son William, who went to NC, stated in his Revolutionary War Pension Paper: "My father moved before the War from Goochland County to Henry County, Virginia." In 1763 William's brother Randolph purchased land on Marrowbone Creek of the Smith River in that portion of Pittslyvania County that would become Henry County. Shortly thereafter (probably 1765) there are references to "William DePrests Presses" in other deeds. The press appears to be on Randolph's land.
William was very anti-British long before the Revolution. Though a sawyer (carpenter) then printer by trade, he appears to have spent most of his life, including giving his life, for the cause of American independence from Great Britain.
In 1757 William was drafted from the Virginia Militia to serve in the King's Virginia Regiment. When he refused, a bounty of 40 shillings was offered for his capture. In listing the wanted, the September 2, 1757 Virginia Gazette described him: "William Depriest, Goochland County, height 5'7 1/2", 24 years old, Brown complexion, country Virginia, trade sawyer." This was the first evidence of his rebellious actions.
By 1767, his actions had become much more visible. The October 22, 1767 Virginia Gazette carried the following article.
Williamsburg - Col. Terry, from Halifax county, informs that some time in August last a man was taken up and committed to their goal, who upon examination confessed himself one of DePriest's gang, and that he, with others, guarded the said DePriest until he had struck 80,000 Maryland currency, the bills mostly of the Dollar denomination. And some Gentlemen now in town inform that DePriest himself is now apprehended, and committed to Frederick county goal in Maryland.
Apprehended in September 1767, William was charged with counterfeiting eight dollar Maryland Bills of Credit. News of his activities and arrest was reported in newspapers throughout the Colonies including Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts.
Shortly after his arrest, William wrote to his wife Tabitha seeking her aid. Unfortunately the letter was intercepted and delivered to Maryland's governor. It is included in the Maryland Archives.
Dear Wife
I am very sorry to inform you of this Melancholy News that I am apprehended & am now in Irons at Frederick Town in Maryland I beg that you may take it as easy as you can and come as soon as possible you can to see me and bring me as much Money as you can I beg that you may go about among my Friends and they will help you to Money, After you have done what you can upon Smiths River I beg that you may go into Amherst County and apply to Colo William Cabbel (Col. William Cabel) and to James Nivils (James Neville) and to all the heads of that County as my friends and to my Brother John and apply yourself to Capt Thomas Devenport (Capt. Thomas Davenport) in Cumberland County and he will do more for you than all the rest it is needless to mention all for you know as well as I who to apply to.
am your Loving Husband
Wm DepriestTo Tabitha Depriest
Pitsylvania County , Virginia.Initially held in the Frederick County prison, in late October Gov. Sharpe authorized he be moved to Annapolis, MD for fear he would be broken out of the Frederick goal by revolutionary leaning friends in that county. William died in the Annapolis jail while awaiting trial. According to contemporary accounts he fell into a deep sleep (coma?) on Tuesday, March 9, 1768 and died on Saturday morning, March 13, 1768. It was believed his death came from taking a large dose of laudanum -- a potent elixir of alcohol and opium.
A.B.C. DePriest always said his great great grandfather died in the hands of the British while fighting for our freedom. A family myth? Counterfeiting 80,000? That's not criminal, that has to be political. 2,000 would be criminal. The total value of all colonial exports was only 200,000 at the time.
In 1764 the British passed the Currency Act which prohibited the striking of paper currency in the colonies. This act was causing economic chaos especially in Maryland. Patrick Henry, in a speech before the House of Burgess in 1765, called upon the colony of Virginia to make paper money in defiance of the King but was voted down. He ended his speech "if this be treason, make the most of it!" William apparently did.
Tabitha continued to live in Henry County after William's death. During the Revolution, in the spring of 1781, she purchased her own farm on Jennings Creek in Henry County. She and her youngest son John appear on the Henry County Tax Census in 1782. She had 10 head of cattle and her underaged son John, living next door had one horse and three head of cattle. Tabitha sold the farm in 1786. She appears to have remained in Henry County on other property she owned since she is listed on the 1790 Henry County Tax List.
William DePriest and Tabitha Tony had the following children:
i. Christopher DePriest was born in Goochland Co., VA about 1755. There is a Christopher DePriest in the 1790 Rutherford Co., NC census with 1 male 16+, 2 males -16 and 4 females. A transcription of the census by Virginia Greene DePriest notes that Vol. 26 of the Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, edited by Judge Walter Clarke gives his name as Christ'r DiPrist. In Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790, North Carolina, Government Printing Office, 1908 lists the name as Christn DiPrist. VGD verified this with the microfilm and concluded the first name was indeed Christn. This would make his given name the French Christian, not Christopher. Christopher was not mentioned as one of the children of William DePriest in March 1768 court documents making them wards of the church. If indeed he is William's child, he may have accompanied his mother to Goochland County for Annie's birth.
ii. Randolph DePriest was born December, 1758. Other possible birth dates are as late as 1767. He married Anna Barnett. There is considerable genealogical confusion between Randolph and his first cousin Randolph (son of Randolph) who married Amy Mims.
iii. William DePriest was born 1760.
iv. John DePriest was born in Goochland Co., VA 14 March 1761. After the War John remained in Henry County, VA living next door to his mother in 1782. By 1790 he had left VA. Some evidence indicates he moved to Rutherford County, NC and died in 1791. Other sources say John moved west and died in Gibson Co., IN. He married Jane in 1785.
v. Elizabeth DePriest. The only mention of Elizabeth in is March 1768 Pittsylvania County Court documents pertaining to making the children of the late William DePriest wards of the church.
vi. James DePriest was born in VA about 1764. Other sources say he was born in 1757. He married three times. He married first Elizabeth Martin. He married second to Penelope Farr in Elbert Co.,GA. He married third to Mary Wall in Wayne Co., MS. James died 1841 in Jasper County, MS.
vi. Annie DePriest was born in VA 1 March 1768. Her birth is recorded in Goochland County's Douglas Register.
Elsewhere on the Web
The Maryland Archives. Documents in the Maryland Archives relating to William DePriest's arrest for counterfeiting. Includes his letters to Tabitha and John Vulgamot, his confession and letter from Gov. Sharpe of MD to Gov. Fauquiar of VA.
New River Valley Historical Notes. A comprehensive local history site which covers Henry County, VA. Includes the 1782 Henry County Tax List.
The Leslie Brock Center for the Study of Colonial Currency. While the Brock Center site does not have an article mentioning William's counterfeiting activities, there are numerous scholarly articles on colonial currency include the counterfeiting of such.
Descendants of Robert DePriest (DePress) of New Kent County. Kathy Waggerman's comprehensive site on the DePriest family.
DePriest Family Genealogy Forum GenForum
Leonard Crosby b: 1782 in Chester Co. SC Hannah Crosby b: 1784 in Chester Co. SC John Jeter Crosby b: 1785 in Chester Co. SC Margaret Crosby b: 1786 in Chester Co. SC Mary Crosby b: 1788 in Chester Co. SC Rhoda Crosby b: 1790 in Chester Co. SC
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Occupation: Planter Event: Will dated 5 AUG 1771 Event: Will probated 11 OCT 1771 Event: Fact 24 NOV 1767 Land grant of150 acres on Broad River, Craven County, SC Event: Fact Link to William Crosby is speculated Event: Fact 1731 A DAR record says he was born in MA Event: Fact 20 FEB 1760 Land grants of 150 acres on Broad River, Craven County, SC Event: Fact 18 AUG 1763 Land grant of 300 acres of land on Thickety Creek, Berkeley County, SC Event: Fact 24 NOV 1767 Land grant of 150 acres on Beaver Creek, Craven SCFather: William Crosby b: 1696 in Berkeley Co. SC
Marriage 1 Hannah REVELS? b: ABT. 1728 in Chester Dist, SC
Married: 1748 in Chester Dist. SC
Children
Richard Crosby b: ABT. 1749 in Berkley Co., SC
Thomas CROSBY b: ABT. 1751 in Berkley Co., SC
Lydia Crosby b: ABT. 1753 in Berkeley Co.
William Crosby b: ABT. 1755 in Berkley Co., SC
John Taylor Crosby b: 1761 in Chester Co., SC
Mary "Polly" Crosby b: 1765 in Chester Co., SC
Death: BET. 20 MAY - 12 AUG 1785 in Crosbyville, Fairfield Co., SC Event: Fact 20 MAY 1785 Paid 23 Pounds, 16 Shillings, 5 Pence for forage for Continental and Militia use Event: Fact Hannah's surname could have been Taylor Event: Fact BET. 1763 - 1764 Was paid bounty as a new settler. Event: Fact 1781 Furnished forage and supplies to the Colonial Militia