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Spence Family
Entries: 5563    Updated: Sat Aug 25 19:58:08 2001    Contact: Herman Spence <hwspence@@mediaone.net>

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ID: I2945
Name: Thomas MARCUM
Sex: M
Birth: BET. 1732 - 1735 in Goochland CO., VA
Death: AFT. 1815 in Red Bird, Clay CO., KY
Note:
We find Thomas Markham (sic) listed on the manifest of the ship Assurance, sailing from Gravesend, England, 24 July 1635 for Virginia. (John C Hotten 'Licenses to go Beyond the Seas' p110-113) Dated 11 July 1636, on page 371 of Virginia Patent Book I, Part I, is listed a grant of 300 acres to Thomas Markham, located on the Curles of
the James River at its intersection with Four Mile Creek. The size of the Grant is based upon 100 acres due his wife Susan as the widow of an original planter, Robert Greenleafe; 50 acres for herself; 50 acres for Thomas Markham; and 100 acres for the transportation of two persons, John Foker and Richard Wall. Location of the tract is indicated on the map "Curles of the James" in this chapter. It is just across Four Mile Creek from "Powhatan's Tree" and several miles down the James from Varina, the home of John Rolfe and Pocahontas, which became the County seat. The main county road along the river which was cleared several years later, runs though the Markham property .(Robt. J Foley 'Cavaliers & Pioneers' V1p45 map 'Curle of the James').

Most of the very early records of a number of Virginia counties, including Henrico, have been lost due to courthouse fires, and to the depredations of two wars. The remaining sparse and fragmentary notes are hardly adequate to prove a lineage, however a most careful study of all the known immigrant Markham's together with time and geographical considerations, indicates that this Thomas was the immigrant ancestor of our line. This conclusion is concurred in by the venerable (1835) "Virginia Magazine", the organ of the prestigious Virginia Historical Society, in Volume V, page 343. Referring to the land Patent (grant) received by Thomas, the Magazine states: "It is believed that the
Markham's of Chesterfield, .Powhatan, etc. (our line) descended from this patentee". 'The Magazine goes on to refute another theory submitted to them as being erroneous in several respects. (Virginia Historical Society, 'Virginia Magazine', vV p343)

'The Virginians' Proclivity toward large plantations, and the depletion of the land by excessive tobacco production forced them to move ever west and south. Such was the case with our Markhams and the 300 acre plantation on the James River, which Thomas and Susan had obtained in 1636. Last mention of Thomas, Sr. in Henrico was in 1679. Next of record is a Thomas who was probably Thomas, Jr. on the New Kent (across the river) tax roll in 1704.(16) Next mentioned is Arthur Markham (probably the son of Thomas, Jr.) in Henrico in 1732.(17) No further Markham records were found for this original plantation at the Curles of the James River in Henrico.

The above is from the book 'The Way it Was with our Ancestors' by William H Marcum 1982.
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Thomas Marcum was born 1732-1735 in Goochland County, Virginia and died after 1815 in Red Bird, Owsley Co., KY. He was the son of Thomas Marcum and Agness. Married to Jane (it is believed that Jane's maiden name was Clay). Thomas and Jane had the following children:
1. John Marcum, born about 1761 in Chesterfield Co., VA. Married 19 Dec 1789 to Dicy Greer in
Franklin Co., VA.
2. William Marcum, born about 1763 in Chesterfield Co., VA.
3. Barnet Marcum, born about 1768 in Bedford Co., VA. Married 6 Jun 1791 to Lucy Belcher in
Franklin Co., VA.
4. Agnes Marcum, born about 1770 in Bedford Co., VA. Married 19 Dec 1784 in Franklin Co., VA to
John Banks.
5. Sarah Marcum, born about 1772. Married 2 Mar 1790 in Franklin Co., VA to Stephen Herd.
6. Thomas Mar