Re: Thomas and Sarah Dance
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In reply to:
Re: Thomas and Sarah Dance
Lloyd Nelson 5/24/05
I have some info about the family of which you have information on a will.I knew Sarah ended up in Lincoln Co., Tennessee but didn't know her maiden name Hinton.
Thank you for that in your post.If you could share anything I would appreciate it.
Here you go:
In the beginning--as far as America is concerned:
The Patriarch of the Virginia Dance Family is Thomas Dance:
Birth: about 1675 in England
Death: after 1765 in Virginia
STORIES: The founder of the Dance Family in Virginia was born in the Drury Lane section of London, England about 1675. His early education must have included working with his relatives in the Architectural- Building crafts in the London area during the late 1600's. Sometime around 1698, Thomas Dance moved from London, England to the Jamestown, Virginia area in James City County, Virginia.
STORIES: Thomas spent about 20 years working as an architect-builder in the Jamestown area before moving to the Shenandoah Valley.(Note:The tour of the Maryland State Capitol Building taken by Bettie Sue Dance, mother of Greg Dance, in the late 1990's--the tour guide stated that architect Thomas Dance (a descendant) fell to his death from the dome area!--so two of the new quarter coins for Virginia and Maryland are Dance Family history coins. We continued the tradition by remodeling three of our homes and luckily husband Gregory Mark Dance is still alive -- Terri Dance)
STORIES: (There is further excellent history mixed in with Thomas Dance's life in William Kirkwood Dance's book--I spoke to him on the phone--he had a big resonant bass voice-- in the mid 1990's and he was in his 70's then--Terri Dance). Most of it is omitted here do to time constraints to be added later if possible. Key historical items are included.)
STORIES: In 1720 Thomas Dance bought from Thomas Waller of Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry County, Virgina, 200 acres of land, a part of a patent of 974 acres granted to Thomas Binns on May 20, 1679. Surry County was just south of the Jamestown area on the south side of the James River.
STORIES: On August 20, 1728 Thomas Dance, then of Southwark Parish, Surry County, Virginia, sold to Edward Slate, of James City County, Virginia, a part of the patent for 974 acres. On August 27, 1728 Thomas Dance bought 400 acres of land in Henrico County, Virginia.
STORIES: This land in Henrico County (along the James River west of Richmond and west of Oregon Hill) is where his descendants would later live out a big portion of their lives before, during and after the civil war.
STORIES: Thomas Dance acquired land in Chesterfield County, Virginia on Jan. 19, 1749. Thomas Dance of Dale Parish, Chesterfield County gave his sons certain farm lands lying between the Petersburge-Richmond Road on the east and a small town called Winterpock (Winterpark? pronounced in "Southern drawl"?) on the west and on a line about 3 miles south of Chesterfield, the county seat. Much of this land would remain in the Dance family for four generations and is now a part of Pocahontas State Park in Central Chesterfield County.
STORIES: According to Chesterfield County Records, Thomas Dance was still living on his farm in Chesterfield County as late as 1765. A profile about one of his great-grandsons Matthew Mayes Dance, done by the Methodist Church shows him living for an even longer period of time.
STORIES: The name of Thomas Dance I's wife or wives is not shown in any of the counties he lived during his migration to Chesterfield County. William Kirkwood Dance speculates that his wife may have died prior to 1749 since she is not mentioned on the papers transfering the land to Thomas' sons, though often women weren't included on documents such as this.
STORIES: There is good reason to believe that he is buried in one of the unnamed graves marked by a field stone near his Chesterfield County, Virginia farm where he last lived. This would be the Dance-Gill Cemetery at Pocahontas State Park.
The Second Generation of Virginia Dances:
The three sons of Thomas Dance (may have been children who died very young--these are the only ones known as adults) are Henry, Thomas and Stephen.
Details on Henry Dance:
Birth: About 1724 in Chesterfield Co., Virginia
Death: About 1805
Henry Dance was married to a "Mary."
Property transaction in the language of that blighted business:19 Jan 1748/49--Henry's father Thomas the elder, conveyed one negro man to his son Henry.Chesterfield Co. records, Deed Book
WILL: Henry's Will names 6 children. One would assume these to be the children living near the end of his life. Others most certainly could have been born.
DEATH: The records of Chesterfield County, Henrico County, Dinwiddie County and Richmond City do not show his death date. Census records would put it at around 1805. Land tax records also support that date.
BURIAL: Believed to be buried in one of the old graves marked by a field stone in the Dance-Gill Cemetery in Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
BIOGRAPHY: Thomas Dance, his father, conveyed land in the Dale Parish area of Chesterfield County, Virginia to Henry Dance. On February 4, 1733 Timothy Harris of Prince George County, Virginia sold Henry land in Henrico County, Virginia which wasnear to Henry's fathers land.
Details on Thomas Dance the second known son of Thomas Dance from Drury Lane, London:
Birth:About 1726
Death: 1783 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Inherited land from father Thomas Dance (first known to come to Virginia) in eastern section of Dale Parish Chesterfield County, Virginia. This land is located approximately ten miles north of Petersburg, Virginia just west of the Petersburg-Richmond Road (U.S. Route 1) Chesterfield County records show Thopmas Dance II lived on and farmed this land between 1750 and 1800. Thomas Dance II died around 1800 according to Chesterfield County tax records.
Believed to be buried in the Dance-Gill Cememtery. Dead buried here after about 1850 have headstones. The rest have field stones.
Wife's name was Mary and she may have been a daughter of Peter Gill.
There may be another wife whose name was Mary Wells.Mary was such a common name we cannot be certain if there were two wives but the children are associated with the Mary Wells as far as other researchers knew.
Mary Wells was born about 1730 in Brunswick County, Virginia and died about 1785 in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Details on Stephen Dance, the third known son of Thomas Dance from Drury Lane, London:
Birth:In Chesterfield County, Virginia
Death:2 May 1784 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Birth in Chesterfield Co. Virginia
Death 2 May 1784 in Dinwiddie Co., Virginia.
Most likely buried in the Dance-Gill Cemetery.
Inherited 150 acres from father Thomas. The land bordered Joseph Gill's land. Where the two meet there is a rise in the land and the cemetery is on this point.
Stephen later married the widow of Daniel Gill.
Had at least one wife named Susannah. No known children for her from marriage with Stephen or Daniel Gill.
The Third Generation of Virginia Dances:
The six known children of Henry Dance/wife unknown are Edward, Henry, Ethelred--American Revolutionary soldier, Drury, Ezekiel--American Revolutionary soldier, and Rhonda.
Details on Edward Dance, 1st known son of Henry and grandson of Thomas Dance from London:
Sadly our database info on birth and death dates and some of our biographical notes have disappeared from view in the computer.Someday we hope to have time to check all old archives or research this again--Terri Dance, wife of Gregory Mark Dance--descendant of Thomas Dance.
BIOGRAPHY: Edward and his descendants William and Thomas Dance migrated through western Virginia and into Kentucky in the late 1700's. This migration occured after the Revolutionary War. In 1810 William and Thomas Dance are shown to be living in Pendleton County, Kentucky about fifty miles south of Cincinnati. This Licking River Valley area between Lexington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio is some of the most fertile farm country in the United States. Some of the Dances still live in this area of Kentucky.
Details on Henry Dance, 2nd known son of Henry and grandson of Thomas Dance from London:
Same date andplace database problem:
BIOGRAPHY:Marriage to"Mary" before 1810.
Purchased farmland in Dinwiddie County, Virginia south of Petersburg, Virginia. He and his wife Mary lived and worked on this farm until his death in 1810. Dinwiddie County records are incomplete because of fire.
The 1810 census for Didwiddie County does not show any descendants for Henry Dance II.
Details on Ethelred Dance, 3rd known son of Henry and grandson of Thomas Dance from London:
Birth: lost database problem
Death: 4 Feb 1828
BIOGRAPHY: Was an Ensign in the North Carolina Regiment during the Revolutionary War. He had moved to North Carolina early in his life and stayed there after the war.
BIOGRAPHY: No data is available concerning his offspring in Virginia records.Have to research other areas.
Details on Drury Dance, 4th known son of Henry and grandson of Thomas Dance of London:
Database date and place lostBIOGRAPHY: Lived in Dinwiddie County Virginia and in Chesterfield County, Virginia.Spouse unknown, one living son known named Russell.
Details on Ezekiel Dance 5th known son of Henry andgrandson of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth: lost database info
Death: 5 Nov 1819
He lived in Chesterfield County, Virginia. He served in the Revolutionary War.Spouse was Aseneth or Asenath Hatcher.
See Virginia Militia page 187. His descendants John Willis Dance and William Spencer Dance moved to Powhatan County and they and their descendants became County Clerks, lawyers, doctors and businessmen. Some of their descendants later moved to Richmond, VA, Halifax County, Virginia and Atlanta, GA.
Details on Rhonda Dance 6th known child and only known daughter of Henry and granddaughter of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth:About 1760 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Biography:Rhonda Dance married Ezekiel Jackson on 22 December 1789.
The seven known children of Thomas Dance/wife Mary Wells, second known son of Thomas Dance of London are William X., Thomas, John, Edward, Barzillia, Mary and Agnes.
Details of William X.Dance, first known son of Thomas and grandson of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth: About 1749 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Death:date lost in database issue but still have: In Chesterfield County, Virginia
Biography: William X.Dance married Elizabeth Hill about 1773.Elizabeth Hill was born about 1753 in Chesterfield County, Virginia and died in Chesterfield County, Virginia.Theyhad at least 7 known children.
Details of Thomas, 2nd known son of Thomas and grandson of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth:About 1757
Death:About 1833 in Halifax County, Virginia
Biography: Thomas Dance married Sarah Fisher on 11 December 1787 in Brunswick County, Virginia.Sarah Fisher was born about 1755 in Brunswick County, Virginia and died about 1849 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.Thomas had at least 4 children, not known if married more than once.
Details of John, 3rd known son of Thomas and grandson of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth:About 1760 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Biography: John Dance married a"Martha".They had at least 5 children.Their oldest known child, a son named John was old enough to be married by 3 Nov 1814.
Details of Edward, 4th known son of Thomas and grandson of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth:About 1763
Details of Barzillia, 5th known child, a daughter of Thomas and granddaughter of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth:About 1765 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Details of Mary, 6th known child, a daughter of Thomas and granddaughter of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth: About 1767 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Biography:May have married a man named Pride.
Details of Agnes, 7th known child, a daughter of Thomas and granddaughter of Thomas Dance of London:
Birth:About 1769 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
The Fourth Generation of Virginia Dances
The only known child of Drury Dance, the son of Henry and grandson of Thomas Dance of London is Russell Dance.
Biography: Spouse unknown.Russell had at least one son named Drury Dance.
The seven known children of William X. Dance/wife Elizabeth Hill, the son of Thomas Dance/wife Mary Wells and grandson of Thomas Dance of London are Edward, William, Thomas, Mary, Betsy (possibly from Elizabeth), Fanny and Sally.
Details of Edward Dance, 1st known son of William X.Dance:
Birth:1774
Death:In Pendleton County, Kentucky
Biography: Edward Dance married Jenny Jones on 12 May 1808.Jenny Jones was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia and died in Pendleton County, Kentucky.
Details of William Dance, 2nd known son of William X.Dance:
Birth:1775in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Death:1850 in Pendleton County, Kentucky
Biography:William Dance married Nancy Lamb.Nancy Lamb was born in 1773 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia and died on 11 March 1856 in Pendleton County, Kentucky.
Details of Thomas Dance, 3rd known son of William X.Dance:
Birth:1776 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Death:1861 in Jack's Branch, Pendleton Co., Kentucky
Biography:Thomas Dance married Nancy Elder about 1800 in Virginia.Nancy Elder was born on 19 June 1781 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia and died in 1857 in Jack's Branch, Pendleton County, Kentucky.They had at least 12 known children.
Details of Mary Dance, 4th known child, daughter of William X. Dance:
Birth:About 1778 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Details of Betsy (possibly Elizabeth) Dance, 5th known child, daughter of William X.Dance:
Birth: About 1780 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Details of Fanny Dance, 6th known child, daughter of William X.Dance:
Birth:About 1782 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Details of Sally Dance, 7th known child, daughter of William X.Dance:
Birth: About 1784 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
The Four known children of Thomas Dance/wife Sarah Fisher, son of Thomas Dance/Mary Wells and grandson of Thomas Dance of London are Edmund, Nancy Ann, Thomas and Stephen:
Details of Edmund Dance, 1st known son of Thomas Dance and Sarah Fisher:
Birth:Before 1800
Details of Nancy Ann Dance, 2nd child, a daughter of Thomas Dance and Sarah Fisher:
Marriage to "unknown" in January 1883
Details of Thomas Dance, 3rd known child of Thomas Dance and Sarah Fisher:
Marriage to "unknown" on 16 Oct 1818
Details of Stephen Dance, 4th known child of Thomas Dance and Sarah Fisher:
Marriage to "unknown" on 29 Dec 1813
Thefive known children of John Dance/wife Martha, son of Thomas Dance/wife Mary Wells, grandson of Thomas Dance of London are John, William, Mary, Elizabeth and Martha.
Details of John Dance, 1st known child of John Dance and Martha:
Marriage:John was married to Rebecca Brann on4 Nov 1814 and they had at least 5 known children.
No further details on children of John Dance and Martha family due to cursed database issue.
Will send more later
Terri Dance
More Replies:
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Re: Thomas and Sarah Dance
Terry Nelson 6/19/10