1.  ELIZABETH CHRISTY C. 1758 - C. 1829   MD. WILLIAM GLASS

2.  MILDRED CHRISTY 1725 - 1829                MD. BELFIELD CAVE

3.  AGATHA CHRISTY C. 1760 - 1810             MD. FRANCIS R. KIRTLEY

4.  ANN CHRISTY 1762 - 1844                         MD. JOHN V. LINDSEY

5.  FRANCES CHRISTY C. 1764 - 1848            MD. WILLIAM CAVE

6.  JAMES CHRISTY 1766 - post 1847              MD. ELIZABETH ARMSTRONG

7.  GEORGE CHRISTY 1767 - 1804                  MD. MARY CAVE

8.   AMBROSE CHRISTY 1768 - 1839               MD. MARY BUSH

9.   JOHN CHRISTY 1769 - 1848                       MD. HANNAH WHALEY

10.  SARAH CHRISTY C. 1770 - unk.               MD. ELIJAH DAVIS

11.  SAMUEL CHRISTY   1783 - 1854               MD. MARY DAY

THE EARLY YEARS

We are dependent on two letters for knowledge of Julius Christy's Childhood.  The letters were written by sons of Julius in December of 1844.  They were reminiscing as they wrote to a nephew, (the nephew was James C. Christy, a son of Ambrose Christy) of their father's early days.  Their father was no longer living so the tales relied on their memories.

First the letter of James Christy:

                                   Poplar Plains, Kentucky
                                   Dec. 7th. 1844

My Dear Nephew:

     In compliance with your request to ascertain through me the facts relating to the history of the Christy family, I take my seat after so long a time to do so.  I should have done it before the present, but I have been delayed in the hope that by conversing with relations etc. to collect more general and more accurate information than I had in my possession when your letter came to hand.
     I shall reply to your questions in the form which you made them.
     I am not positive whether the first Christy came from England or Scotland.  I am of the opinion that he came from the latter.
     His name I think was Samuel.  I am unable to state at what time he landed, but it must have been prior to 1730, as my father, your grandfather Julius, was born after his arrival in Essex County, Virginia, and lived to be 79 years of age and subsequently migrated to Clark County, Kentucky and died there somewhere about 1810.
     My grandfather was married when he came to America and died in Virginia.
     Julius Christy, my father, was the first that married and he married in Culpeper County, Virginia.  He married Agatha Barnett of the same county at about his 22nd. Or 23rd year.  I have no knowledge of my grandfather's occupation whatever.  He had but five children, three sons and two daughters, two of whom were twins, to wit: your grandfather and eldest daughter Juda, who were the first born, Milly the next, and Samuel next to her.
     The other son whose name I do not remember was the last.  The occupation of Julius was that of a house carpenter and farmer.
     Juda married a man by the name of John Gibbs and resided in Culpeper county until her death.  Her husband was a farmer; she died about thirty five years of age.
     Milly married a man by the name of Medley, also a farmer and of the same county where she also died before Juda.
     Samuel about the time of Braddock's defeat migrated toward the Red Stone country on the Ohio above Wheeling and no intelligence has ever been received from him since by me; his occupation I never knew.  The last one died early in life and I have no recollection of his occupation more than that he was the youngest brother of my father.
     My mother Aga Barnett I am positive came from Scottish descent.  Her father being a Scotchman and migrated at an early period in the last century to the Colonies.
     I have but little knowledge of the History of my uncles and grandfathers, but this I have often been told, that they were soldiers, or the most of them were, in the Revolutionary War.  Julius, my father, entered the War at its commencement and continued mostly on until its close.  No stain rests upon the name from them; they sustained an honorable and respectable character so  far as I have been able to learn, and enjoyed that position in society which all honest and upright men sustain.
     I am happy to learn through you and others since, that you and the rest of your bros. Are doing so well.  It is truly a great satisfaction for me to contemplate the members of all the family pursuing that safe and honorable course in life, which leads both to happiness and fortune.
     As for myself and children we are all doing very well.  I am now a widower, on the first day of last August was one year I lost my wife.  But I possess a vigorous health, both of body and mind, notwithstanding I am 78 years of age, which deserves for me another, almost another wife.  Few men of my age can perform half the toil and labor that I can.  Still I am far from the prime of manhood, and according to the course of nature not far from the grave.  And in conclusion accept the affection of your dear uncle.

James Christy, Sr.

James Christy' brother John writes a different version of the family history as he remembers it being told:

December 25th . 1844
Dear Nephew:

     Your letter for the first time came duly to hand requesting me to give you a statement of your Fathers and my ancestors on both sides of our family, for you and my son, Simeon P. Christy, to mediate upon when you meet together in the city of Philadelphia.
     In the first place I have no record that is far back to relate from, only as my Father and Mother related verbally and that I can rely on, as truth not to be denied.
     My father descended from the English.  Your Uncle James Christy is entirely mistaken about our ancestors, and also your father.  There is no Scotch or Irish blood in my Fathers side of the family, nor Dutch either.
     As to the time of the first Christy emigrated to America, I have no genealogy that states it.  My father Julius Christy and his twin sister by the name of Juda, was the youngest of his father's family and there were but four children of his family, two sons and two daughters, the oldest son was named Samuel, and the oldest daughter perhaps was Mildred, I don't so well recall her first name however; she married a man by the name of Blackburn, by which she had four children; two sons and two daughters, and then Blackburn died and the widow being Father's oldest sister requested him as he was a good carpenter, already grown up and married to my mother, to take her two sons and raise them and educate them, and learn them the carpenters trade, and he did so and from them sprang all the Blackburns in Woodford County Kentucky.  George and Julius were their names.  After Father took her two sons she lived a widow about a year, and married a man by the name of Medley, a very respectable man, and raised two daughters and they married well, for I know the two men myself, well.
     Take notice, my father, long before that time had a Brother by the name of Samuel, the oldest of the four children, and as old Virginia as she is now, was at that time very much out of her senses by electing an ignoramus instead of one of the wisest men of the world, had it in her code of laws in that day, that if any man died without a will, the oldest son should inherit all the his estate.  His brother Samuel being the oldest child of the four became Heir at Law, and having all the Negroes and land, having a family himself and my father being at that time an apprentice bound to one James Booker to learn the carpenters trade, was still working from home, and as God would have it, the smallpox fell in Sam Christy's family, caught in the natural way and killed him and Black and white every one, except one negro man and he barely escaped being badly marked, as I often noted, for he fell to my father by the same unjust law, and Father missed catching the disease by working from home, his Father and Mother being dead some time before, that is the natural way.
     His sister, a twin to him, while he was an apprentice, I expect was mostly raised by her oldest sister, they being some distance from where the smallpox raged.  They did not catch it.  His youngest sister b the name of Juda, after Father grew up married my Mother's cousin by the name of John Gibbs and became in fine circumstances.
     My Father after he learned his trade, took his negro man and moved up the country to Culpeper and Orange County of Virginia, where he followed his trade until he got married to my Mother Agatha Barnett.
     My Father was born and raised low down in Virginia, something near to a town called Norfolk in a county called Gloster and King and Queen and one by the name of Essex along near the mouth of the York River.  If his father died before he was born I do not know it; but I don't think he did, though he was very small at least.  He was much attached to Captain John Gibbs that married his Sister though he injured him in the long run very much.  There was a little of the Scotch blood mixed in our part of our Ancestors, though it came from my Grandfather Barnett.  All the other side of Grandmothers was of the English.
     Grandfather Barnett died when he was only 45 years of age and his wife never would marry anymore.  He left her with two plantations and about thirty negroes and a fever fell amongst them and killed nine before it stopped.  She carried her plantations on very well, kept an overseer, made great crops until she died.
     My Father bought land on the pretty little river called the Rappidan in Culpeper and Orange County both, and built him a mill which ran for 18 or 20 years, and then came a great freshet and moved her away, and he built and sold out in time of the old Revolution and moved to Green Brier County, high up in Virginia, staid there nine years and moved to Kentucky where he died on my place where I now live, and I had him decently buried, and Mother died at your Father's about fifteen years afterward and your father sent her up to me, and I buried her by his side decently.
     If that John Christy that lives in St. Louis is any kin to me, which William Christy of New Orleans says he is, he must be a son of my Grandfather's Brother, and he is the one that migrated to Pittsburgh as my Brother James Christy represented; it is possible that my brother James Christy might have heard my father relate in his time something of his Ancestors that I do not know.
     If it ever proves convenient for you to give me a call as you pass through Kentucky, I will give you satisfactory information of all our relations that is in my power to do.
     Now I must conclude by subscribing myself your affectionate Uncle, til death.

                                                                   John Christy.

Points of agreement in letters:

     Julius born in area bounded by York river, i.e. Essex, Middlesex, Gloucester or King and Queen County.
     Juda was a twin to Julius.  Juda married Capt. John Gibbs.  John Gibbs was a cousin of Agatha Barnett Christy.
     A sister was named Milly or Mildred and she married a man named Medley.

Points of disagreement:

     Birth order and number of siblings of Julius.

     John states that Mildred married 1st a man named Blackburn and 2nd, a man named Medley.  James does not refer to the 1st marriage.

The birth order becomes important if John's story is factual.

John also states that Julius was bound to a man named James Booker.

Bits of each brother's "family history" are proved by primary records.

The first primary records for Julius Christy are found in Orange and Culpeper Counties Virginia.

CULPEPER COUNTY DEED BOOK "B", PAGE 169: 1754, 15th.  August, Charles Walker of Culpeper County sold to Julius Christy of same 100 acres for 36 pounds.

Julius Christy's marriage to Agatha Barnett is proved by ORANGE COUNTY WILL BOOK 2, PAGE 255, re estate of JOHN BARNETT: 1757, 28th. July.  Inventory of articles delivered by Mrs. Marin Barnett to Julius Christy who marryed Agatha Barnett daughter of said Marin and John, 30th. October 1756, valued at 34 pounds, 5 shillings.  Signed Thos. Chew, Rowd. Thomas, Richd. Thomas

CULPEPER COUNTY DEED BOOK "C", PAGE 214: 1759, 10th. Septemeber, Benjamin Head sold to Julius Christy, 200 acres on River Thames for 40 pounds.

ORANGE COUNTY DEED BOOK 13, PAGE 72: 1760, 28th. February, 1 acre bought by Julius Christie from Harry Beverly for 20 shillings for erecting a water mill.

CULPEPER COUNTY DEED BOOK  "C", PAGE 539: 1760, 16th. July, Thomas Chew of Orange County sold to Julius Christy of Culpeper County 250 acres adjacent to land of Julius christy for 15 pounds.

CULPEPER COUNTY DEED BOOK "C", PAGE 687, 1762, 17th. November, Julius Christy and His wife Agatha.  Of Brumfield Parish, sold to John Gibbs 350 acres for 70 pounds.

ORANGE COUNTY DEED BOOK 15, PAGE 366, 1771 August, Julius Christy bought from William Beverly 129 acres for 32 pounds.

 ORANGE COUNTY DEED BOOK 16, PAGE 237, 1774 4th. May, Julius Christy of Orange County sold to John Gibbs of Culpeper County, 129 acres in Orange County.

CULPEPER COUNTY DEED BOOK "G", PAGE 10, 1775 21st. June, Julius christy and Agatha, his wife, of Culpeper County sold to Benjamin Pollard of Henrico County 210 acres for 95 pounds, land Christy purchased from Benjamin Head on Rapidan River.

ORANGE COUNTY DEED BOOK 17, PAGE 14, 1778, 17th.  January, Julius Christy and Agatha, his wife, of Boteourt County and John Gibbs of Culpeper County sold to Anthony Foster of Orange County 129 acres for 140 pounds.

GREENBRIER COUNTY (NOW WEST VIRGINIA) RECORDS:

Julius Christy entitled to 400 acres of land by reason of settlement in Greenbrier County before 1st. January 1778

1787 Julius Christy listed on census of Virginia, Greenbrier County: JULIUS CHRISTY: 1-2-1-5- 8.: charged with tax for self and 1 white male over 16 years and under 21 years (Ambrose is 19 years old and John is 18 years old, for some unknown reason one of them is not counted., George and James are listed in own households) 2 blacks over 16 years, 1 black under 16 years, 5 colts and/or mules and 8 cattle.

"GREENBRIER COURT ORDERS 1780-1850" Helen S. Stinson.

Julius Christy and Agatha Christy are mentioned in the Greenbrier Court Orders several times.  March 29th 1787 plaintiff, vs. George Blackburn, defendant.  This is of particular interest because John Lindsey was a son-in-law of Julius christy and supposedly George Blackburn was a nephew of Julius Christy (son of his sister Mildred).

31 March 1789 and 24th.  November 1789 Julius Christie and wife are plaintiffs v. Hezekiah Lewis, defendant.  By consent of the parties all matters and differences between them in this suit are referred to the final determination of John Williams and Christopher Vauchub and their award to be made the judgment of the Court.

GREENBRIER DEED RECORDS do not include any evidence of Julius Christy selling the 400 acres he obtained by settlement prior to 1778.

1789 Julius Christy on tax list for Fayette County Kentucky.

1789, 6th. November, Woodford County, Kentucky, Julius Christy was among the signers of a petition pleading for the division of the county stating "that the settled and more fertile part of their county is near 40 miles in length and only about one third that distance in width.  This and the county's extending across two main forks of the Elkhorn make it impossible to fix any place for holding court which will not be extremely inconvenient to many of the inhabitants."  KENTUCKY GENEALOGIST, VOLUME 11.

1790 Julius Christy on tax list for Woodford County Kentucky.

1791 Julius Christy found a mare in Woodford County near Elijah Craig's mill.

1800 Julius Christy on Scott County Kentucky tax list.

Woodford County was formed from Fayette County in 1789 and Scott County was formed from Woodford in 1792.

1803, 28th. February, FLEMING COUNTY KENTUCKY, DEED BOOK "B2", PAGE 324: Bill of Sale, Personal Property.  Know all men by these presents that I Julius Christy of the County of Scott and State of Kentucky has this day bargained and sold and do by these presents forever sell and deliver unto James Christy of the County of Fleming and State aforesaid a certain negro by name "Lemmon" agreeably to the above mentioned Bill of Sale and the said Julius Christy do warrant and defend the said negro unto James Christy, his heirs, executors or assigns or administrators forever unto him his heirs so forth given under my hand and seal this 28th. Day of February, on thousand eighthundred and three.

signed, Julius christy
            Aga Christy, her mark.

A Teste: Julius Watt
              John Rawlings
        Ambrose Bush

1803, 28th. Day of February, FLEMING COUNTY DEED BOOK "B2", PAGE 325: Know all men by these presents that I Julius Christy of the County of Scott and State of Kentucky hath this day bargained and sold and do by these presents forever sell and deliver unto Samuel Christy of this said county and state aforesaid a certain negro woman named "Lillis", also one black mare, one dun mare, and one dun colt, also thirteen head of hogs and eleven heads of sheep also seven head of cattle and all the farming utensils, I julius Christy do bind myself, my heirs and assigns to make a above mentioned property to Samuel Christy his heirs or assigns forever from any person claiming it them, given under my hand this 28th day of February 1803.

     Signed: Julius Christy
       Aggy Christy, her mark.

attest:
Julius Watts
John Rawlings
Ambrosee Bush

1805 5th. December, CLARK COUNTY KENTUCKY WILL BOOK 1, PAGE 357 The copy of Julius Christy's Will gives the date of writing as 5th December 1805.  This could be an error in transcribing from the original document.  It is possible that the date should be 1803 since he names George Christy and George died in January of 1804.

CLARK COUNTY KENTUCKY WILL BOOK 2, PAGE 357 [Ruth Helvy's note: on the bottom of the previous page it said book one.  Now it says book two.  I'm uncertain as to which is right, but I'm sure it couldn't be both books on the exact same page number.]

WILL OF JULIUS CHRISTY

This is my Last Will and Testament made in my proper senses this 5th. Day of December in the Year of our Lord 1805 I bequeth and give unto my sons John Christy and Ambrose Christy a certain negro woman named Rachel and all her increase at the death of my wife Agatha Christy and I also give unto my daughter Elizabeth Glass five shillings.

And I also give unto my daughter Ann Lindsey five shillings.

And I also give unto my daughter Frances Cave five shillings.

And I also give unto my daughter Sarah Davis five shillings.

And I also give unto my daughter Agatha Kirtley five shillings.

And I also give unto my son George Christy five shillings.

And I also give unto my son James Christy -----------------5/

And I also give unto my son Samuel Chrsity----------------5/

The above will given under my hand and seal the day and date above written and in my proper senses and free council and I give the above in the hands of my son Ambrose Christy before these three witnesses present as executor to my will.

                 Julius Christy

N. Murphy
Mary X(her mark) Murphy
Sarah Day

At a Court held for Clark County on the 25th. day of July 1808

This Last Will and Testament of Julius Christy, Deceased was proven by the oaths of Neel Murphy and Mary Murphy witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Ambrose Christy the executor therein named who made oath thereto as the Law directs Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security whereupon he together with Leonard Bell entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of $2000 conditioned according to Laws for the due and faithful administration of the said Decedants estate and performance of his will.
 

       Teste

        D. Bullock C. C. C.
1808, 27th. August; an inventory of Julius Christy, Deceased met this day and after being duly sworn agreeable to the within order we appraised a negro girl, Rachel to three hundred and ten dollars.

John Gibbs
Julius Watts
Thos. Eubree

At a Court held for Clark County on this 27th. Day of August 1808 the inventory and appraisement of the estate of Julius Christy, deceased, was produced, approved and ordered to be recorded.

Teste:

James Bullock, Clerk

Searches in relevant Parish and County records in Virginia did not provide any information on a Samuel Christy.  It should be noted that Gloucester records before 1863 were destroyed.  A James Booker, carpenter, was found in Essex County records.  A deed recorded 15th. March 1747 in Book 24, page 207 states: "James Booker formerly of Gloucester now of Essex.......".

Primary records to establish the names and histories of the sister of Julius Christy follow in the pages pertaining to them.

Thursday, 06-Apr-2000 15:27:10 MDT