William Chick
of Hanover County, VA

William Chick possibly a grandson of John Cheek, Jr., of Essex and King & Queen Co., VA (but this is not proven), was probably born around the 1750-1760, and died after 1810 in Hanover Co., VA. He married Jane RAGLAND, daughter of Pettus RAGLAND and Elizabeth DAVIS of Hanover Co., VA, about 1775. She was probably born bet. 1750-1760 and aft. 1810 in Hanover Co., VA.

Children of William Chick & Jane Ragland:

1. John R. Chick, b. 1770-1780; d. 1840-1850, Louisa Co., VA; m. Ann WINGFIELD, daughter of Thomas WINGFIELD & Ann DAVIS (b. 1788; d. aft. 1850). He was probably named after his maternal great-grandfather John RAGLAND; middle initial "R" could stand for Ragland. Children: Littleton W. Chick (c.1800-1810, m. Ann Davis WINGFIELD); Elizabeth Chick (c.1810, m. Samuel PLEASANTS); Ann Selden Chick (c.1827, m. John S. RAGLAND); John R. Chick, Jr. (c.1828, m. Martha S. COCKE); Rebecca Ellen B. Chick (c.1829, m. Benjamin F. TURNER).
2. Dr. Burwell (Burrell) Chick, b. Jan. 15, 1776; d. Jan. 25, 1847, Greenville Dist., SC; m. Massey, last name unk. (b. June 29, 1781; d. May 9, 1845); bur. Old Village Cemetery, Newberry, SC (see George L. Summer, Newberry County, South Carolina: Historical & Genealogical Annals (Clearfield Co., 2002), p.410). His birth and baptism are recorded in a register kept by the Rev. William Douglas (see The Douglas Register (Gen. Pub. Co., 1928).)  Burwell moved to Newberry Dist., SC, before 1800. He eventually owned a large amount of property in Newberry, Greenville, Pickens, & Union Districts. His will, dated Feb. 9, 1846, is recorded in Greenville Will Book C, p.234-240, and was also the subject of a legal case, Caroline T. Hodges vs. Reuben S. Chick, S.C. Court of Appeals of Equity, 31 S.C.Eq. 178 (May term 1858). Children: Pettus W. Chick (c.1806, m. Sarah E.T. HENDERSON), Reuben S. Chick (c.1813, m. Elizabeth D. MOORMAN), Louisa Virginia Jane Chick (c.1821, m. William R.B. FARR), Maria H. Chick (m. Theodore B. THOMPSON), Sarah Caroline Turpin Chick (c. 1822, m. Maj. John W. HODGES), Wilhelmina B. Chick (c.1824, m. George M. CHAPLIN). (See also Brent Holcomb, Marriage and Death Notices from the Up-Country of South Carolina as taken from Greenville Newspapers, 1826-1863.)
3. Patsy Selden Chick, b. abt. 1785; d. 1854, Hanover Co., VA; m. Samuel B. JONES, Aug. 10, 1807, Goochland Co., VA (b. abt. 1780; d. ?) Children: Jane Ambler JONES (c.1815), Sarah Maria JONES (c.1830), Nancy L. JONES (c.1832).
4. Pettus Wales Chick, b. abt. 1787, Hanover Co., VA; d. Mar.-Apr. 1854, Hanover Co., VA; m. (1) Elizabeth TURNER, Sept. 8, 1806, Goochland Co., VA; (2) Mary Ann BAGBY, daughter of James M. BAGBY & Mary JONES, Mar. 25, 1845, Louisa Co., VA. He was probably named after his maternal grandfather, Pettus RAGLAND. No children. His will, dated Mar. 11, 1854, identifies a number of siblings, nieces and nephews; see below. (Hanover Co., VA, Chancery File No. 33, pp.185-187.)
5. Col. William Miles Chick, b. 1794, Hanover Co., VA; d. Apr. 7, 1847, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO; m. Ann Eliza SMITH, daughter of Joseph SMITH of Alexandria, VA; bur. Union Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. Served in the War of 1812 in Col. John AMBLER's 19th Virginia Regiment. William Miles CHICK was one of the founders of Kansas City, MO. Children: Mary Jane Chick, William S Chick. (c.1820), Washington Henry Chick (1826), Joseph S. Chick (1828), Pettus Chick, Virginia Christiana Chick (m. John C. MCCOY), Sarah A. Chick (m. John W. POLK), Martha Mathilda Chick (m. Rev. Nathan SCARRITT). (See Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, Vol. I (Haldeman, Conard, & Co., 1901), pp.580-581.)
6. Ambler Chick, b. July 19, 1794, Hanover Co., VA; d. July 31, 1866, Butler Co., KY; m. Mary "Polly" RAGLAND, Oct. 30, 1811, Goochland Co., VA (b. Dec. 1, 1792; d. Sept. 6, 1862). He was probably named after a prominent local citizen and Revolutionary War hero, John AMBLER, who owned plantations in Hanover and Louisa Counties. Ambler CHICK's father William CHICK worked as an overseer for John AMBLER in James City County from 1784-1787, according to tax lists. According to Biographical Cyclopedia of Kentucky by John M. Greshan (1896), p.158, Ambler CHICK was b. in VA in 1795, son of William CHICK & Mary [sic] RAGLAND. "He removed to Tennessee as early as 1820 and was largely engaged in the cultivation of cotton… In 1852 he removed to Logan County, Kentucky, and raised large crops of tobacco and wheat. He married Mary RAGLAND … who was born and educated in Virginia. Their children were Burril, Judeth, John, Pettis, Davis, William, Virginia and Perlina." Children: Judith Chick (b. 1813, m. William TURNER), Burrell Chick (c.1815, m. Eleanor or Ellen SANDERS), Ann Chick (c.1817, m. M. Alex. SANDERS), Caroline America Chick (1824, m. Joseph GUYON or GUIN), Ambler Chick, Jr. (c.1826, m. Martha R. HADEN), Milton Chick (c.1829), Virginia Chick (c.1832), Paulina Chick (c.1834), William Chick (c.1838).
7. Davis S. Chick, b. 1790-1800, Hanover Co., VA; d. aft. 1854; m. Polly COCKE, Sept. 11, 1820, Goochland Co., VA. He was probably named after his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth DAVIS.
8. Nancy Bluford Chick, b. abt. 1793, Hanover Co., VA; d. aft. 1850, Forsyth Co., GA; m. William PHILLIPS, Feb. 19, 1812, Goochland Co., VA (b. abt. 1795; d. aft. 1850). She may have been named after her maternal great-grandmother, Ann BEAUFORT or BURFORT (wife of John RAGLAND).

Notes

illiam Chick arrived in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1786, when he purchased 342 acres on Terapin Road from James & Elizabeth SIMS. The deed describes him as "William Chick of James City County."  According to tax lists, William Chick was indeed living in James City County from 1784 to 1787 where he worked as an overseer for the wealthy landowner John AMBLER.

In 1787, William Chick purchased another 206 acres of land on Terapin Swamp in Hanover County, and in 1799 he obtained 354 acres on Locust Creek in neighboring Louisa County. Terrapin Swamp is a small branch of the South Anna River in southwestern Hanover County near the Louisa County line. Locust Creek is located a few miles to the north, crossing from Louisa County into Hanover County where it joins the Little River.

Although William's parents have not been identified, it's possible that he was a grandson of John Cheek, Jr., of Essex and King & Queen County, VA. Unfortunately, there are no surviving wills, deeds, or other records that could establish a connection. However, DNA tests conducted in 2007 through the Cheek/Chick DNA Project provides strong evidence that William Chick and John Cheek, Jr., were closely related. DNA taken from a descendant of William Chick was compared to DNA from several individuals with the Cheek surname who are believed to be descendants of John Cheek, Jr. The DNA was virtually a perfect match.

Many of the counties in Virginia's Tidewater region, including Caroline and King & Queen, suffered tremendous loss of records during the Civil War. As a result, trying to identify William Chick's parents is a frustrating and possibly fruitless task. It almost seems like he appeared out of nowhere. He wasn't wealthy, but he married into one of the most prominent families in Hanover County. He worked for John Ambler, one of the richest men in Virginia. Where on earth did William Chick come from?  Some of the possibilities:

1. Was he a son of John CHICK of Hanover Co., VA?  There is a record of a John CHICK "of Hanover County" who purchased 100 acres in Spotsylvania Co., VA, from James & Agnes WARE on May 7, 1770. Unfortunately there are no further records of this individual in either Spotsylvania or Hanover Counties. He might have been the son of John Cheek, Jr., of Essex and King & Queen Co., VA.
2. Was he a son of James CHICK of Caroline Co., VA?  James Chick of Caroline County was born about 1734 and died before 1780 when his son John Chick claimed bounty land for his military service. James probably had other children, but none have been identified. In fact, there may have been several Chick families in Caroline County whose names were burned up with the county records. The surviving court order books of Caroline County contain numerous references to a William Chick who was involved in lawsuits from 1759 through 1773. The earliest of these records probably relate to William Chick of Pittsylvania Co., VA, who left Caroline Co. in 1763 (see below). But there is also a later court record of a William Chick (probably a different William Chick) who was suing a man named William DAVIS in April 1780. The court order books also contain references to Richard Chick, possibly Richard Chick of King & Queen Co., VA, but maybe a different individual.
3. Was he a son of William CHICK of Pittsylvania Co., VA?  William Chick arrived in Pittyslvania Co., VA, in 1763 from Caroline Co., VA, and settled on Straightstone Creek. He had a son, William, who is named in his 1790 will. There is little record of William Jr. in Pittsylvania County; he may have died or left the area.
4. Was he related to William Chick of Halifax Co., VA?  A man named William Chick owned land on Childrey Creek in Halifax Co., VA, which he inherited from his grandfather John DYER in 1771. John Dyer came to Halifax County in 1755, reportedly from Caroline County. According to some sources, John Dyer's daughter Agnes Dyer married a man named James Chick (perhaps a son of James CHICK of Caroline Co., VA, but this is not proven). There are records of William Chick on Childrey Creek in Halifax in the 1780's and 1790's. There is also a record of a Richard Chick on Spider Creek in 1795, which was an upper branch of Childrey Creek. Interestingly, a man named Evan RAGLAND lived in Halifax County on the Banister River, a few miles above the Dan River and maybe 20 miles from the Chicks on Childrey Creek. Evan Ragland was the brother of Pettus Ragland whose daughter, Jane, married William Chick of Hanover County. There was also a Matthew SIMS in Halifax County who may be related to the Sims who sold land to William Chick in Hanover County in 1785 and 1786.

Whatever his mysterious origin, William Chick must have been living in the vicinity of Hanover County, VA, when married Jane RAGLAND in the 1770's. The Raglands were an old and prominent Hanover County family. John Ragland, Pettus Ragland's father, settled on Mechumps Creek near the mouth of the Chickahominy River in 1723 and eventually acquired more than 15,000 acres of land. (See B.F. Johnson, Makers of America Vol. 1 (1915), p.576.)  Pettus Ragland's 1806 will mentions a daughter, "Jane wife of Mr. Chick."  (See William Cocke, Hanover County Chancery Wills & Notes, p.117.)  Unfortunately, there is no record of William Chick in Hanover County prior to his first purchase of land there in 1786. There was a John Chick "of Hanover County" who purchased 100 acres in Spotsylvania Co., VA, from James & Agnes WARE on May 7, 1770 (Spots. Co., VA, Deed Book G, 1766-1771), but his relationship to William Chick is unknown.

The birth of Burwell CHEEK, son of William CHEEK and "Jeanie RAGLIN," on Jan. 15, 1776, was recorded by the Rev. William Douglas, the minister of St. James Northam Parish in neighboring Goochland County. (See The Douglas Register: Being a Detailed Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Together with Other Interesting Notes, As Kept by the Rev. William Douglas, from 1750 to 1797 (Gen. Pub. Co., 1928).)  Although the Rev. Douglas' church was in Goochland County, he moved to Louisa County in 1777 and he baptised and married many people from surrounding counties as well.

The Biographical Cyclopedia of Kentucky by John M. Greshan (orig. pub. 1896), p.158, in an article on Seyon Ambler BASS of Butler Co., KY, provides the following information about William Chick and his son Ambler:

"Ambler CHICK (maternal grandfather [of Seyon Ambler BASS]) was born in Virginia in 1795. He removed to Tennessee as early as 1820, where he owned a plantation … In 1852 he removed to Logan County, Kentucky … He married Mary RAGLAND (also the name of the wife of the grandfather, Seyon BASS, but probably not related), who was born and educated in Virginia. … William CHICK (maternal great-grandfather) and Mary RAGLAND (still another of the same name) were natives of of Wales, who emigrated to America and settled in Virginia, but the date of their coming as not been recorded."

The above biographical note is not completely accurate. Actually, there is no evidence that William Chick or his wife Jane Ragland were natives of Wales. However, the Raglands of Virginia were descendants of a Welsh immigrant. This could explain why Ambler Chick's grandchildren believed they had Welsh ancestry, although they mixed up the details. It also explains the name of William Chick's son, Pettus Wales Chick. Click here for an article about the Ragland family

William Chick seems to have been part of an elite social circle in Hanover County that included the prominent Ragland and Bagby families. William's son Pettus Chick married Mary Ann Bagby, a granddaughter of John Bagby who came to Louisa/Hanover Counties from King & Queen County. Pettus Chick, in his 1854 will, refers to his wife's brother Wiliam J. Bagby as both his brother-in-law and his cousin. This suggests that Pettus Chick was related to the Bagby family by marriage and by blood. Although there is no specific evidence, it's possible that William Chick's mother was a Bagby, perhaps a sister of John Bagby, which would mean that Pettus Chick was a first cousin of his wife Mary Ann Bagby and of her brother William J. Bagby.

From 1784-1787, according to tax lists, William Chick worked as the overseer on a plantation in James City owned by John AMBLER, one of the richest men in Virginia. John Ambler (1762-1836) owned numerous estates and other properties, including plantations in James City County, Surry, Henrico, Louisa, Amherst, and Hanover County, where he had a plantation known "the Cottages."  (See Louise Pecquet du Beller, Some Prominent Virginia Families (orig. pub. 1907, reprint by the Clearfield Co., 1994), pp.35-42.)  He was undoubtedly the namesake of William Chick's son Ambler Chick.

Records

Jan. 15, 1776. Will. CHEEK & Jeanie RAGLIN a son named Burwell born Jan. 15, 1776, baptised Feb. 4, 1776. (Source: The Douglas Register: Being a Detailed Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Together with Other Interesting Notes, As Kept by the Rev. William Douglas, from 1750 to 1797 (Gen. Pub. Co., 1928).)

1782. William CHEEK appears on a tax list in Louisa Co., VA. It's likely this was the William CHICK later found in neighboring Hanover Co., VA.

1784-1787. William CHICK appears on tax lists in James City Co., VA, living in the household of John AMBLER. According to the tax lists, William Chick was John Ambler's overseer.

Mar. 20 [or 26?], 1786. Hanover Co., VA. James SIMS & wife Elizabeth of Union Dist., SC, to William CHICK of State of VA, James City Co., 342 acres in Louisa & Hanover Counties on Terapin Swamp adj. Pouncey ANDERSON, David JOHNSON, Nathan SIMS, Matthew SIMS & John GLEN, for £205 & 5 shillings. Signed: James SIMS. Wits: Pettus RAGLAND, John BULLOCK, Nathan SIMS, Nathl. HENDERSON. Proved Sept. 9, 1786. (Hanover Deeds 1783-1792, pp.174-175; see also "Records of Hanover County," Virginia Land Records (Gen. Pub. Co., 1982), p.144, orig. pub. in William & Mary College Qtrly, 1st Series, Vols. 21, 22, 23.)

Note: The above deed confirms that William Chick of Hanover Co., VA, was the William Chick who was in James City County in 1786, according to tax lists.

Dec. 3 [or 8?], 1787. Hanover Co., VA. Nathan SIMS & wife Mary of Hanover Co. to William CHICK of same, 206 acres on branches of Tarepine [Terapin] Swamp adj. David HENDERSON, William HENDERSON, William CHICK, & Chas. SIMS, for £206. Signed: Nathan SIMS, Mary SIMS. Wits: Chap. AUSTIN, Pettus RAGLAND, Zachariah PULLIAM, Robert ANDERSON, Benjamin B. HOPE. Proved Apr. 4, 1788. (Hanover Deeds 1783-1792, pp.288-299; see also "Records of Hanover County," Virginia Land Records (Gen. Pub. Co., 1982), p.144, orig. pub. in William & Mary College Qtrly, 1st Series, Vols. 21, 22, 23.)

1787 Tax List. Hanover Co., VA (personal property). William CHICK: 1 white tithe, 2 slaves, 3 horses and 10 cattle.

1789 Tax List. Hanover Co., VA (personal property). William CHICK: 1 white tithe, 5 slaves and 6 horses.

1789 Tax List. Hanover Co., VA (land). William CHICK: 342 acres. In addition, Nathan SIMS appears on the same tax list with the notation that 206 acres of his land had been "conveyed to Wm. CHICK." This is consistent with the deeds referenced above.

Sept. 3, 1788. Hanover Co., VA. William CHICK witnessed a deed from Christopher JOHNSON & Owen DABNEY to William RAGLAND, 140 acres adj. John HOPE, John MAYO's mill up Taylors Creek, Dudley DIGGES, & David HENDERSON. Other wits: John HOPE, Benjamin B. HOPE. (Hanover Deeds 1783-1792, p.295.)

Nov. 20, 1790, and Nov. 8, 1791. Hanover CO., VA. Wm. CHICK and others sign petitions asking the Virginia Legislature to divide Hanover County into two counties as many of them live a great distance from the courthouse. (VA Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Feb. 1, 1994).)

Feb. 18, 1799. Louisa Co., VA. William CHICK of Hanover Co., VA, purchased 354 acres in Louisa Co., VA, from Samuel DABNEY & Jane his wife, for £443.2.6 currency. Land located on Lucust (Locust) Creek adj. lands of TERRELL, SWIFT, SIMS, [?], Lewis PULLIAM, & HAYES. (Louisa Co., VA, DB I, p.619.)

1799 Tax List. Hanover Co., VA (personal property). William Chick: 1 white tithe, 9 slaves, and 7 horses.

1799 Tax List. Hanover Co., VA (land). William CHICK is listed twice with 342 ½ acres and 215 acres.

Oct. 14, 1805. Louisa Co., VA. William CHICK, Thomas ANDERSON, and Thomas HARDIN made oaths to prove the will of Berryman JOHNSON, dec'd. (Louisa Co., VA, Will Book 5, p.208.)

1806. Hanover Co., VA. The will of Pettus RAGLAND of Hanover Co., VA, dated Dec. 1, 1806, proved Jan. 28, 1807, names wife Elizabeth, sons John, William, Evan, Petus, & Fendall, daughters Jane wife of Mr. CHICK, Martha, Sarah wife of Mr. RICE, Elizabeth dec'd wife of Mr. WRIGHT, & Ann wife of Joseph STARKE. Wits: Nathaniel TINSLEY, Nathaniel HANES, A. RAGLAND, John NOWELL. Estate was appraised 1807 by Shelton RAGLAND, Sterling LANKFORD, & James LANKFORD, value £712.12.0. (See William Cocke, Hanover Co. Chancery Wills & Notes, p.117.)

Apr. 24, 1809. Hanover Co., VA. William CHICK failed to appear for grand jury duty and was fined $8. He appeared on Apr. 25, 1809, and his fine was remitted. (Hanover Superior Court Records 1809-1826, pp. 1, 6-7.)

1810 Census, Hanover Co., VA, p.53: WILLIAM CHICK

2 w/m 10-15	1 w/f 10-15
1 w/m over 45	1 w/f over 45

Sept. 29, 1811. Hanover Co., VA. The will of John GLENN was witnessed by Ambler CHICK, William CHICK, and Walter CHISHOLM. (Hanover Co., VA, Chancery Wills & Notes, p.65.)

July 13, 1812. Louisa Co., VA. The will of Zachariah PULLIAM was witnessed by William CHICK, Ambler CHICK, Robert J. PULLIAM, Alexd. CHISHOLM. Rec. July 13, 1812. (Louisa Co., VA, Will Book 5, p.389.)

1820 census. William CHICK is not listed in the 1820 census, and had probably died by that time. He did not leave a will.

Wife And Children Of William Chick

As discussed above, William Chick of Hanover Co., VA, probably married Jane RAGLAND, daughter of Pettus RAGLAND and Elizabeth DAVIS of Hanover County. This is based on the will of Pettus Ragland (dated Dec. 1, 1806, proved Jan. 28, 1807, in Hanover Co., VA), which refers to a daughter Jane, "wife of Mr. Chick."

The names of William Chick's children also reflect his close relationship to Pettus Ragland. Pettus W. Chick and Davis S. Chick may be named after their maternal grandparents, Pettus RAGLAND and Elizabeth DAVIS. In addition, John R. Chick and Nancy Bluford Chick could be named after their great-grandparents (Pettus Ragland's parents), John RAGLAND and Ann BEAUFORT (or Burfort, perhaps altered to Bluford). "Nancy" is an old nickname for "Ann."

Finally, Elizabeth DAVIS' mother was a SHELTON, which might explain the name Patsy "Selden" Chick. The Shelton name seems to have been preserved in the Ragland family: Pettus Ragland had a grandson named Shelton Ragland. Another possibility, however, is that both Patsy Selden Chick and her brother, William Miles Chick, were named after a famous Revolutionary War figure, Rev. Miles Selden of Henrico County, known as the "Patriot Parson."  It's also possible that Davis S. Chick's middle name was Shelton.

William Chick's children are identified in the will of Pettus W. Chick of Hanover Co., VA, dated Mar. 11, 1854. Pettus had no children so he divided up his property among his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. The will names his wife Mary Ann CHICK; brothers Davis S. CHICK, Burwell CHICK, William CHICK, Ambler CHICK, and John CHICK; sisters Patsy Selden JONES and Nancy Bluford PHILLIPS; brothers-in-law Nathaniel H. TURNER, William COCKE, and James TURNER; cousin William BAGBY (who was also his brother-in-law); nephews John R. CHICK, William J. CHICK (son of Davis S. CHICK), Robert JONES, Burwell P. JONES, and William J. CHEWNING; nieces Nancy L. JONES, Rebecca Ellen TURNER, and Ann Selden RAGLAND; and William Chick BAGBY (son of William BAGBY). Numerous slaves are identified by name. The will also describes land on Locust Creek adjoining John SMITH and John B. JONES. Executor: brother-in-law William BAGBY. Signed: Pettus W. CHICK. Wits: Frederick H. THOMPSON, Richd M. BAGBY, Edwin R. SHARP. Proved Apr. 25, 1854. (Hanover Co., VA, Chancery File No. 33, pp.185-187.)  Digital image.

William Chick BAGBY (born abt. 1849) was a son of Rev. William J. BAGBY (1810-1882) of Louisa Co., VA, the executor of Pettus Chick's will. Pettus Chick refers to William J. Bagby as both his cousin and his brother-in-law. According to William R. Cocke, Hanover County Chancery Wills and Notes (1940), William J. Bagby's wife Mary was a sister of Pettus Chick, i.e., a daughter of William Chick and Jane Ragland. However, this may be an error. Pettus Chick does not mention a sister named Mary in his will, even though William J. Bagby's wife Mary was alive in 1854. Moreover, William J. Bagby's wife Mary was born abt. 1821, according to census records. This means she would have been born when William and Jane Chick were in their 60's, which is unlikely. Finally, Pettus Chick lists several nieces and nephews in his will, but he describes William Chick Bagby as the "son of cousin William Bagby"—he does not actually refer to him as a nephew. Later researchers have concluded that Pettus Chick was married to a sister of William J. Bagby, not the other way around.