WILLIAM NORMAN - Wife #2 - Euphemia HARRISON

William Norman was the son of Joseph Norman and probably his second wife, Sarah Everett. He was born about 1750 in what is now Culpeper County, Virginia. William grew up in the northern neck of Virginia, near the Rappahannock River and probably crossed Norman's Ford many times. This was a crossing named for Isaac Norman which was used by the early settlers in that area. George Washington recorded in his journal "that he traveled the Carolina Road, missed his junction and crossed Norman's Ford. Soldiers used the crossing during the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson referred to Norman's Ford in a letter written to John Milledge of Georgia in 1793. William crossed into the adjoining county of Fauquier and was living there when he made his decision to leave for Georgia.

No record of William's marriages have been found, however the reference to "his wife, Uphanny" in the land transaction of 1814 and the court order to prove his estate is proof that William did marry Euphemia Harrison. The surnames Harrison and Harris were used interchangeably during that period. Also, Euphany was spelled several different ways. For ease of identification, we have chosen to use Euphany Harrison as her name. The family tradition of his marriage to Mary Sheppard, sister of Col. Sheppard of North Carolina has been disproved.

We are certain that George Norman is the son of Mary Ross based on the will of his grandfather, William Ross, and writings of William Sheppard Norman as presented by Dr. Norman. Dr. Norman had determined that the Miss Sheppard could be an error of memory because the DAR records have Miss Sheppard as George Norman's mother. George Norman's wife, Sally Groce's  grandmother was Sarah Sheppard. This is thought to be where the legend of Sheppard was originated.

The fact that William's son was named William Harrison Norman seems to indicate that Euphany Harrison was his mother. Also, two of William's older daughters, Susannah and Elizabeth, named their daughters Euphany Harris. This is another clue that their mother was Euphany Harrison. Since the documents absolutely confirm that Euphany was William's wife, she had to be the wife who came with William to Georgia since Susannah Norman was born in Virginia in 1780 and William Harrison Norman was born in Virginia in 1784, years before the trek to Georgia in 1793. Susannah's birth year and the birth of Euphany Harris Glaze is documented in the Glaze family bible. Also, there is the fact that William never lived in North Carolina. The conclusion is that William first married Mary Ross, had George, then he married Euphany Harrison second, and had the rest of the children.

William enlisted in the Virginia Continental Line on February 1, 1776 and served for a period of two years in the Revolutionary War. He was a private in Captain George Stubblefield's company, Fifth Virginia Regiment, which was commanded by Lt. Col. Josiah Parker. In June 1776 he was transferred to Cpt. Phillip Richard Francis Lee's Company, Third Regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Marshall and in Brigadier General George Weeden's celebrated Virginia Brigade.

On September 11, 1777, William Norman was dangerously wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. He was shot through both knees and was crippled for life as a result. General LaFayette was wounded in the same battle. William said that he was standing near the General when he received the wound and that the Marquis had dismounted and was endeavoring to rally the troops at the time, although the history of the battle stated that he was wounded on horseback.

General LaFayette intervened in the amputation of William's legs in a military hospital when he was attracted "by the patient's stubborn resistance to the surgeons." The British bullet and a piece of bone from William's knee were kept as souvenirs in the Norman family for some 150 years. William C. Norman recalls seeing them in his grandfather's home in Hamburg, Arkansas. According to William's daughter, Sarah, William Norman always observed the anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine and celebrated it.

William Norman's name appears on the muster rolls of the Virginia troops in the office of the War Department in Washinton, D.C. His name last appears on the payroll on February 16, 1778. From September 1777 to January 1778, he was reported as absent and wounded. The military records do not show the date of his separation from service. After the close of the war, he moved from Fauquier County, Virginia to Georgia and settled in that part of Wilkes County that in 1796 became Lincoln County.  A brother, possibly John, was said to have gone to Georgia also and may have settled in Liberty County.

William enlisted in the Virginia Continental Line, on February 1, 1776, and served for a period of two years in the Revolutionary War. He was a private in Captain George Stubblefield's company, Fifty Virginia Regiment, which was commanded by Lt. Colonel Josiah Parker. In June 1776, he was transferred to Captain Philip Richard Francis Lee's company, Third Virginia Regiment, Commanded by Col. Thomas Marshall and in Brigadier General George Weeden's celebrated Virginia Brigade.

On September 11, 1777, William was dangerously wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. He was shot through both knees and was crippled for life as a result of these injuries. General LaFayette was wounded in the same battle. William Norman said that he was standing near the General when he received the wound, and that the Marquis had dismounted and was endeavoring to rally the troops at the time, although the history of the battle stated that he was wounded on horseback.

By the intervention of General LaFayette in the military hospital, William Norman's legs were not amputated; the General's attention having been attracted "by the patient's stubborn resistance to the surgeons". The British bullet and a piece of bone from William's knee were kept as souvenirs in the Norman family for some 150 years. William C. Norman recalls seeing them in his grandfather's home in Hamburg, Arkansas. According to his daughter Sarah, William Norman always observed the anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine and celebrated it.

William Norman's name appears on the muster rolls of the Virginia troops in the office of the War Department in Washington, D.C. His name last appears on the payroll of February 16, 1778. From This information is mostly taken from "The Normans of Normandy Hall" written by Lois L. Norman in 1976.

September 1777 to January 1778, he was reported as absent and wounded. The military records do not show the date of his separation from service. Having campaigned down to Augusta, Georgia, William Norman was so impressed by the beauty of the country that after the close of the war, he moved from Fauquier County, VA to Georgia. He settled in that part of Wilkes County that in 1796, became Lincoln County.

The exact time of his migration to Georgia is fixed at 1793 based on an affadavit given by Thomas Dallis. According to this affadavit, Thomas Dallis was an orphan and partly raised by William, Thomas travelled to Georgia with the Norman family. According to George Norman's grandson, William Sheppard Norman, the move was soon after the Revolutionary War when George was a youth about 18 years of age. He also stated that William and George were surveyors by profession. There is a record of a William Norman receiving a headright warrant of 150 acres of land on August 6, 1787 (Re: Superior Court Land Warrants 1784-1787, Washington County, GA.) Evidently this was a grant made for his Revolutionary War service and was the determining factor in his selection of a location to live. He is listed on the tax rolls of Wilkes County in 1792-95. There are several land transactions in the Lincoln County records for William Norman. He owned land on Mill Creek in Lincoln County. The Tax Digest of 1802 lists him as having 400 acres of land, 8 slaves and 1 poll. William is listed in the Georgia land lottery of 1805, but did not receive any land. In 1820, William paid a tax of $4.93 1/2 on 373 acres on Mill Creek and 13 slaves.