Turberville Family of VA

1. John Turberville d. 1728, Lancaster Co., VA, m. Elizabeth Lee b. 1654, d. 1714/15, Lancaster Co., VA, (daughter of Col. Richard and Ann (Constable) Lee). John was described by Miss Lucy Brown Beale, a prominent Northern Neck historian, in 1929, as follows:, “As unto the bow the cord is ‘so unto a Turberville was a Lee.’ John was in Northumberland County by 18 Mar 1685, when he proved the will of Thomas Brewer [Order Bk 4:255]. On 20 May 1685, we find him appointed deputy sheriff to Capt. William Lee. He became an extensive land owner in Northumberland and Lancaster Counties and after the death of William Lee he became sheriff. On 15 Jun 1692, he took the oath as Justice of the Peace [4:592]. On 15 Apr 1696, he was sworn as high sheriff [4:723]. He was still a justice in 1699 and a member of the House of Burgesses in 1702-1704. He also served Lancaster County as Clerk. He was a man of education and culture, his manuscript copy of the “Acts of the Assembly” still exists, when the law read: - “Whereas many Babling and Slanderous Women Slander and scandalize their Neighbors, for which the poor Husbands are often involved....be it enacted that Babling and Slanderous Women be punished by Ducking” - then again we find in this primitive volume: “Whereas the dispatch of Business in this Country is made obstructed for want of Bridle Wayes to the several houses and Plantations; it is enacted that every Person having a Plantation make a passage for Man and Horse to his house.” John Turberville loved his God and the laws of his country and these virtues he passed on to his only son.” The long and close association of John’s family with the Lee family, beginning with his marriage to Elizabeth (Lee) Howson, suggests a possible common origin with that family in the counties of Gloucester and Worcester, England. (“The Parents of Colonel Richard Lee of Virginia”, by William Thorndale, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Dec 1988, Vol. 76, No.4, pp. 253-260). The arms used by John Turberville, (Ermine, a lion rampant gules, ducally crowned or), corresponds with those used by those Turbervilles of Bere Regis, Dorset, and thus, the Virginia Turbervilles are said to be descended from the English family of Bere Regis, Dorset. ( On the "Battle-Abbey Roll" appears the name of a Sir Payne Turberville, who was a companion of the conqueror, and is supposed to have been the progenitor of this family in England. The manor of Bere Regis was sold to Robert Turberville in 38 Henry VIII, and was for years the seat and sepulcher of generations of this family). The earliest recorded use of the arms of Dorset line in Virginia was on the 1720 gravestone of Frances Ashton, first wife of John’s son, George, at Booth Plantation. (Lee of Virginia, by Edmund Jenings Lee, MD, 1895; p.65). The inventory of the Lancaster County estate of John Turberville can be found in Will Book 12: 85-98. This is included in the Appendix of this book as well as a copy of the 1725/26 deed from John Turberville of Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County, to George Turberville, of Cople Parish, Westmoreland County. (Deed Bk 11: 285-286). John was taxed in Lancaster County from 8 Oct 1697 (Orders 4, 1696-1702: 33) to 12 Jan 1720 (Orders 7:336). In 1697 he paid two tithes; in 1720, six (Lancaster County, Virginia, Individual Tithables, manuscript, NBWM & L).
2. George Turberville, Maj. B. ca. 1694, Hickory Hill, Westmoreland Co., VA, d. 1742, Hickory Hill, Westmoreland Co., VA, m. (3) Martha Lee b. 1716, London, England, d. 12 Nov 1751, Hickory Hill, Westmoreland Co., VA, (daughter of Richard and Martha (Silk) Lee). George was a Justice in 1720, Sheriff in 1722-23, Clerk in 25 Oct 1726-42. He was one of the one hundred wealthiest landowners in the Virginia Colony, possessing estates in Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lancaster, King George and Stafford Counties. One piece of prime Virginia property was granted by Lord Thomas Fairfax, Proprietor of the Northern Neck, was 3,402 acres on the Potomac River in 1724. It was then in Stafford County, later called Prince William, and now, Fairfax County when it was formed out of Prince William County in 1742. George named his tract, Woodberry Hill, and is described thusly, “ situate lying and being in the County of Stafford on and Between the Branches of Pimit’s run and Scots Run”. (Northern Neck Grants, Book A, 1722-1726, No.66, p.131). Before his death in 1742, George left Woodberry Hill and Hickory Hill in Westmoreland County to his son, Maj. John Turberville.(Historical Society of Fairfax Co., VA vol.11-1971, by John Gott). (W&MQ Ser.1,Vo.7, No.2,p.115-119). (Lee of Virginia, by Edmund Jenings Lee, MD, 1895; p.82,93). (CFSS,p.221). Lettice: Her tombstone says that she "died great with child" but mentions no children. The tomb bears the arms of the Turberville: Ermine a lion rampant gules, ducally crowned or. The Corbin arms are impaling the Turberville arms, the former being, “Ermine on a chief or three ravens sable.” The arms used by the Virginia branch corresponds with those of the Turbervilles of Bere Regis, Dorset. (Virginia Heraldica, p.22). Lettice bore the name of her grandmother, Lettice Corbin, as her mother was the only daughter of the scholarly Richard Lee, II and his wife Lettice Corbin of old Matholic. Lettice was evidently the model of her sex and time, her tomb, the first to be placed in the burial plot at Hickory Hill, still remains in fragments. Her short life’s history written, “ From a Child she knew the Scriptures which made her Wise unto Salvation; From her infancy she Learned to Walk in the Paths of Virtue. She was beautiful But not Vain, Witty But not Talkative: Her religion was Pure Fervent Cheerful and of the Church of England. Her Virtue Steadfast Easy Natural: Her mind had that mixture of Nobleness and Gentleness As Made Her Lovely in the Eyes of all People. She Marryed to Capt. George Turberville, May the 16th, 1727. The best of Wives Made him the Happiest of Husbands. She died the 10th of February, 1732, in the 25th Year of Her Age..” . We find recorded in an old record book, which was brought with his own hand, other trials and perplexities such as: Tom, a negro slave, belonging to George, who in the night broke into a store house, adjacent to the dwelling house, and stealing sundry goods; such as bolts of stuff, one quart bottle full of gun powder, small bags of Shott, one Gun, etc. Some of his stolen wares he sold to Nat, a slave belonging to Col. Thomas Lee, Nat paying him a paile, then turning evidence against him and poor unfortunate Tom suffered death in consequence. In another account, Charles Philips, a convict servant to Robert Carter, came over to Capt. George Turberville’s Aug 1730, stealing cider and getting drunk, becoming abusive and dangerous; sulking off and hiding himself in an unfinished building and being accidentally found by a terrified family member.(Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia, Inc., Vol. 11-1971, p.50). Prior to the death of Col. Henry Ashton, Capt. Turberville obtained a deed to Hickory Hill, giving in payment 1,000 acres of land in Stafford County. George married thirdly, Martha Lee, who inherited much fortune from her mother Martha Silk and the wealthy widow of Thomas Moore of Suffolk, England. From a piece of George’s will, “It is my will and desire that my Dear Loving Wife, Martha Turberville, have Dwelling House and plantation During the time she remains my widow, and no longer after she marrys, I then desire she may have no more Estate than her Dower and third, this I think Reasonable because my said Dear Wife hath a Right to a considerable in Suffolk in Great Brittian by the will of her mother Mrs. Martha Lee...I hope My Dear wife will be satisfied with this my will and think when I am gone that I have done her justice. She has been a kind and good wife to me...I doubt not but she will Continue to be such a mother to my dear children after my decease and as my dear wife hath great merrit and will have no Despicable fortune, I doubt not but that she will have admirers Enough, I therefore, I pray God, to advise her in a good choice of a husband and no matter how soon She marry after my Decease (having regard for decency) as the best of women are but helpless alone...”. Martha did marry again to William Fitzhugh, the son of a Lee, and we find him 28 Aug 1744 the husband of Martha and his home was in Cople Parish, Westmoreland, afterwards he was of Calvert County, Maryland.
3. George Turberville b. ca. 1742, Hickory Hill, Westmoreland Co., VA, d. 20 Oct 1792, Peckatone, Westmoreland Co., VA, m. 1 Jun 1769, Martha “Patty” Corbin b. ca. 1748, Peckatone, Westmoreland Co., VA, d. 20 Nov 1809, Hickory Hill, Westmoreland Co., VA, (daughter of Gawin and Hannah Ludwell (Lee) Corbin). Martha was the only daughter and heir of Gawin and Hannah Corbin. Hannah was a daughter of Col. Thomas and Hannah (Ludwell) Lee of Stratford. An account of the brains and independence of Hannah Lee Corbin is evidenced in a letter which she wrote to her brother, Richard Henry Lee, in which she declares that she will not pay taxes when she had no vote - a pioneer in woman’ suffrage. Then again there is in her own handwriting, a book of sermons - when we find in Court Records where she was fined for not attending her parish Church. Her daughter, Martha (Corbin) Turberville, fell heir to Peckatone , named for an Indian Chief and at whose gate was the famous banqueting hall that can be read about in the “good old days” of Westmoreland. Paul Wilstach in his Potomac Landings , (Doubleday, 1921) page 115, gives a very interesting paragraph or two on the Turbervilles of Peckatone. “Many are the quaint traditions of the dwellers in Old Peckatone. The compiler of Lee of Virginia quotes a writer on Westmoreland as saying: “Many wild stories were told, in my youth, of how a lady owner (Mrs. George Turberville) played the part of a petty tyrant among her overseers and negroes, confining the former in her dungeons beneath the house, and the latter sometimes whipped to death! How she traveled at night in her coach and dour, armed with pistols and guns. How, in the last of her days of recklessness, she, her coach and coachmen were borne aloft in a terrible hurricane, and lost to site. From that day the house remained unoccupied for years. Then, in popular opinion, it was haunted; lights were seen passing from room to room, and awful groans and shrieks at night would assail the ears of the luckless traveler who happened to be in the vicinity.” Martha not only carried pistols and guns, but carried axes when she went abroad her coach to “remove all obstructions.” Fifthian notes of George Turberville, “Mr. Carter dined at Squire Lees some few weeks ago; at the same place, that day, dined also Mr. George Turberville and his wife. As Mr. Carter rode by he observed Mr. Turberville’s Coach-man sitting on the Chariot Box, the Horses off- After he had made his compliments in the House, he had occasion soon after to go to the door, when he saw the Coachman still sitting and on examination found that he was there fast chained! The fellow is inclined to run away, and this is the method which This Tyrant makes use of to keep him when abroad.” George died 20 Oct 1792, Peckatone, Westmoreland Co., VA His will is dated 20 Jun 1790 and probated 29 Jan 1793. (Historical Society of Fairfax Co., VA, Inc. Vol.11-1971, pp49-62; "A Genealogy of the Turberville Family", by John Gott). (Lee of Virginia, by Edmund Jenings Lee, MD, 1895; p.87). (CFSSA,p.175). Martha: The will of George Turberville, of Peckatone, Westmoreland, was dated 20 Jun 1790 and proved 29 Jan 1793. He stated that his wife, Martha, had a life of interest in all the lands which came to her from her father, Gawin Corbin, except lands in Caroline, Culpeper and Fauquier. He gave her one third of his other lands, stocks, furniture, etc.
4. George Richard Lee Turberville, I b. ca. 1772, Peckatone, Westmoreland Co., VA, d. Sep 1799, Chantilly, Fairfax Co., VA, m. 14 Dec 1794, Henrietta Lee b. 10 Dec 1773, Chantilly, Westmoreland Co., VA, d. Apr 1805, Salona, McClean, Fairfax Co., VA, (daughter of Richard Henry and Anne (Gaskins) Lee). (Historical Society of Fairfax Co., VA, Inc. Vol.11-1971,pp49-62). George built Leeton estate, in Chantilly, VA (Lee of Virginia, by Edmund Jenings Lee, MD, 1895; p.87,207). (Virginia Homes of The Lees, by Eleanor Lee Templeman, 1985).
5. George Richard Lee Turberville, II b. 2 Jun 1799, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 5 Mar 1849, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, m. 2 Jun 1843, Margaret Virginia DeBell b. 19 Jul 1820, Sunny Side, Centreville, VA, d. 22 Dec 1893, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, (daughter of William and Margaret (Violett) DeBell). My uncle, George Turberville McWhorter, Jr., tells me the story told to him by Anne Shirley Turberville, of how George II became deaf. George had a twin brother, and a very young age, they came down with typhoid fever. They were both presumed dead by the family one day, and their bodies placed on ice, until the rest of the family could get there by buggy for the wake. Someone happened to see the chest rise and fall on one of the infants, and placed a mirror under his nostrils. To everyone’s glee, breath was noted on the glass, and the child was removed from the ice, and warmed by blankets near the fireplace. The other child was not so lucky, and was buried shortly after the entire family came to view his lifeless body. George suffered damage from either the ice or the fever, which left him deaf for the rest of his life. George's tombstone reads a birth date of 1797. The Turberville's owned Leeton property from 1727-1952. The names of those Turberville's: George Turberville of Hickory Hill, Westmoreland Co.; George Turberville of Peckatone, Westmoreland Co.; George R.L. Turberville, builder of Leeton; George R.L. Turberville, born at Leeton; and George Richard Lee Turberville, last owner of Leeton, and his wife, Anne Shirley.(HSFC,Vol.11,1971,pp49-62). Margaret: Retained her life interest in her house and 80 acres of the Leeton tract, but in 1881 gave her son half of the land, and her daughter the Golden Grove tract. Hattie was to pay her mother $50 annually in return for receiving half rather than a third of her father's land. (Turberville v Turberville CFF 94H (1870). Sister of John DeBell and widow of George Turberville. His 789 acre estate had not been settled since his death on 5 mar 1849. Filed claim for wartime damages. It was rejected d/t doubts of her loyalty, but resubmitted.
6. George Richard Lee Turberville, III b. 22 Sep 1845, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 6 Feb 1921, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, m. 19 Feb 1879, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville, VA, Adeline Stuart Thornton b. 7 May 1857, Loudoun Co., VA, d. 11 Oct 1893, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, (daughter of William Henry and Mary Adeline (Carter) Thornton). “At about the time of his 18th birthday he joined the newly formed 43rd Battalion, Va. Cav., CSA, commanded by a then obscure Col. Named John Singleton Mosby. Small in stature, (5’8”), but a determined fighter, Turberville was soon dubbed the “Bantam Rooster.” In late May, 1863, soon after forming his battalion, the colonel requested and received a small howitzer. Mosby’s bemused men immediately joked about their diminutive artillery piece: “too large to put in a holster, but not big enough to be called a cannon.” Maneuverable and so small that it was pulled by a two-horse team, the gun was assigned to the care of Turberville, who was now perched atop its small caisson as the driver. After some brief drilling by the gun-crew commander, George accompanied Mosby on one of his first raids, 30 May 1863. Choosing a good position for an ambush along the tracks of the O & A Railroad near Catlett’s Station, Mosby had his men loosen a rail and then waited for the next train. It soon came into view but managed to screech to a halt just before reaching the loosened rail. On Mosby’s signal his cannoneers put a shell squarely through the train’s boiler. Seizing what they could use and carry off, Mosby’s men promptly torched the 14-car supply train and galloped away. Sensing that he was being pursued, Mosby stopped a few miles later at Greenwich and formed a rear-guard defense around his single cannon. When a galloping Union cavalry turned a bend in the road and suddenly came into range, the howitzer opened up. The Northern lieutenant said to his men, “I think we can get that gun before they fire again,” and his men shouted their approval. Forced by the narrow, well-fenced road to advance in a column of fours, the charging blue-coats were just ten yards away when the cannon spewed grape shot into their ranks, cutting down nine men. Turberville and his comrades pulled out their pistols and poured more fire into the stunned troopers, and the enemy beat a hasty retreat. Reforming at a safe distance and receiving substantial reinforcements, the Yankee cavalry charged again. The cannoneers once more waited until the last minute and more attacking troopers fell from their saddles. This time the tide of blue cavalry was overwhelming; there was a desperate hand-to-hand battle around the gun. As the Rebels’ position became hopeless, the ultimate rule of war prevailed: every man for himself. Mosby escaped with only slight injuries, minus his hat; Turberville jumped atop his caisson, lashed his horses, and made good his get-away. The gun-commander and several other Rebels were wounded and captured, and one killed. Thus far, Mosby had been to busy for much paperwork, but on 10 Jun 1863, he formally enrolled Turberville as Pvt., Co.A, for the duration of the war. Just two days later, George was captured at Middleburg by Union cavalry patrol searching for Mosby. Sent to the Old Capital Prison, George was soon paroled and rejoined Mosby’s command, only to be captured again near Aldie, VA on 6 Sep 1863. After being held at the Old Capitol Prison and later Point Lookout, MD, he was paroled 3 May 1864 and exchanged. He was with Mosby on 10 Jun 1864 during a raid to Alexandria and a failed attempt to capture W.Va. Gov. Francis Pierpoint. Turberville’s luck ran out again on 29 Oct 1864. Walter Frankland had been ordered by Mosby to ride ahead and set up an ambush for the 8th Ill. Cav., but to wait for Mosby and reinforcements before springing the trap. Turberville was among Frankland’s men, who set up their ambush at Dulany’s farm southeast of Upperville in Fauquier County. At first sight of the approaching Union cavalry, the excited Frankland announced his plans to charge the enemy. Cooler heads urged him to wait but to no avail. Throwing away the element of surprise, Frankland ordered his men to attack. Quickly dismounting and taking cover behind a stone wall, the Union troopers opened up a devastating fire with their Spencer’s carbines. Turberville was one of the first men to fall. Badly wounded in the thigh, he was left on the field and captured. Arriving to late to help and surveying what he described as a “perfect massacre”, Mosby grimly resolved that Frankland would “never command” under him again. George recovered, survived the war in captivity, and was finally paroled on 21 May 1865. He later worked for the Govt. Printing Office in Washington, DC from 1895 to 1909. “ (Excerpt from a letter to myself from a Pope researcher in Florida). George died 6 Feb 1921, Leeton, Chantilly, Fairfax Co., VA, buried: Leeton Turberville Cemetery. Stated in a claim of his mother that he was born 22 Sep 1845 and in 1861 was attending Waterford Military Academy, Prince William Co., VA. (p.5). Had enlisted SC Inf. but was prevented by his mother from joining. Age 59,Had served as private, CO A,43rd VA CAV, from May 1863 for the balance of the war. (Muster Roll). (Marriage Certificate- Fairfax Archives). Adeline was the second daughter of William H. Thornton and Mary Adeline Carter. She was also a very talented artist, although the only memoir that I have of hers is a rose that she drew at one time. She died at the age of 36, on 11 Oct 1893, and a poem of unknown origin is found on a picture of a wall plaque, (possibly St. John’s Church where she was married),: (See picture of Plaque): “We miss thee from our home dear, We miss thee from thy place, A shadow o’er our life is cast, We miss the sunshine of thy face, We miss thy kind and willing hand, Thy fond and earnest care, Our home is dark without thee- We miss thee everywhere.” Her children were raised by their spinster-beloved aunt, Harriotte Lee Turberville, the sister of George. For an account of Aunt Harriotte’s love affairs, please see the letters of Dr. James Kyle McWhorter (at the end of this chapter), to his parents, Rev. William McWhorter and Margaret McElroy (Kyle) McWhorter, during his short engagement to her in 1868. (HSFV vo.11-1971). (Virginia Genealogies, by Rev. Horace Edwin Hayden).
7. Harriotte Lee Turberville b. 4 Jul 1881, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 29 Dec 1962, Arlington, VA, m. 1 Jan 1903, SC, Pinckney Lee McWhorter b. 14 Jun 1875, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 19 Aug 1949, Fairfax, VA, (son of William David and Mary Jones (Millan) McWhorter, MD).
8. George Turberville McWhorter, Sr., b. 11 Aug 1906, Fairfax, VA, d. 28 Dec 1975, Washington, DC, m. May 1930, Rockville, MD, Mary Nell Dismukes b. 20 Mar 1908, Cumberland Furnace, TN, d. 28 Dec 1976 Inverness, FL, (daughter of Grover Cleveland and Mary Madeline (Bowers) Dismukes).
9. Mary Madeline McWhorter b. Washington, DC, m. 25 Aug 1951, Washington, DC, William Raymond Brown, Jr., b. Lignum, VA, (son of Willie Raymond and Clara Maude (Johnson) Brown).
10. Patricia Lynn Brown b.Great Lakes, Ill, m. 19 Sep 1993, Elkton, VA, Morris Carroll Petitt, II b. Alexandria, VA, (son of Morris Carroll and Ruby Regina (Corbin) Petitt, I).
Arms – Ermine, a lion rampant gules, ducally crowned or.
Crest – A castle argent, porteullis or.
Motto – Omnia relinquit servare Republica.

Below is a photo of St. John's Church, in Centreville, VA, where my g-g-grandparents, Adeline Stuart Thornton & George R. L. Turberville were married in 1879. (I was baptised here in the early 1960's).

Below are pictures of George Richard Lee Turberville, III & his wife, Adeline Stuart Thornton. Also, the Turberville Coat of Arms & the Turberville Family Home: "Leeton", in Chantilly, Fairfax Co., VA, currently owned by Arch & Irene Burgess.

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