Richard Sykes

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: of Yorkshire, England

Notes:

He inherited the lordship of the manor of Shelley from his father, who had purchased it. To his fourth son Bernard he willed "lands in South Kirkby, &c." He is mostly remembered, though, as rector of Kirkheaton, from which office he was removed by Parliament for refusing to sign the Solemn League and Covenant.

A detailed account of the various fines to which he was subjected by Parliament can be read in Volume 1 of the Yorkshire Royalist Composition Papers, or the Proceedings of the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents During the Commonwealth ed. John William Clay, Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series Volume 15, 1893, pp. 177-80.

From the House of Commons Journal for 20 Dec 1647:

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Thirteen hundred and Fifty Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of Richard Sykes, of Kirk Heaton in the County of York, Clerk: His Offence, That he left his Habitation, and resided in the Enemies Quarters: He rendered in November 1645: His Estate, in Fee, per Annum, Two hundred Seventy Pounds; personal Estate, Forty Pounds: For which, his Fine, at a Third, is Thirteen hundred and Fifty Pounds: But in regard it doth appear that he lost a good Church Living of Three hundred Pounds per Annum, and a great personal Estate, and hath a great Charge of Children, This Committee doth recommend it to the House, to take One thousand Pounds, if they think good, for his Fine: And further, that he was an Opposer of Bishops, and a very moderate Man.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto Richard Sykes, of Kirk Heaton in the County of York, Clerk, for his Delinquency, and for taking off the Sequestration of his Estate; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Richard married Grace Stock on 20 Oct 1627 in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England. Grace (daughter of Alexander Stock) died on 2 Mar 1646 in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England; was buried in Mar 1646 in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptised: 13 Apr 1638, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England
• Alternate death: Abt 1682, Charles City, Virginia

Notes:

Described in his 1662 marriage license as a merchant, of St. Stephen's, Coleman Street, London.

Notwithstanding the multiple records of his marriage to Elizabeth Rawlett having taken place after 4 April 1662, the handwritten record in the parish register clearly says the wedding took place on 8 April.

Paul Sykes (citation details below) notes that although the London administration of Bernard Sykes's estate is listed as May 1682 (in English Estates of American Colonists 1610-1699, and evidently in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury transcription on findmypast.co.uk), in fact the original document in Latin states that the administration took place on 3 May 1683.

Also according to Paul Sykes, on page 392 of volume II of Nell Marion Nugent's compilation of early Virginia records, Cavaliers and Pioneers, which we have not seen, Bernard Sykes and his family were imported to Virginia by Maj. Arthur Allen.

Bernard Sykes is described in Lyon Gardiner Taylor's 1915 Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography as "an active friend of Nathaniel Bacon, Jr.; resided in Charles City county and was a member of the assembly called by General Ingram after Bacon's death in October, 1676."

It seems evident that Bernard Sykes was fortunate to avoid being executed in the immediate wake of the failure of Bacon's Rebellion and the return to power of Governor William Berkeley. Following the report of an investigative committee commissioned by Charles II, Berkeley was relieved of his governship and sent back to England, and the remaining landowners who had supported Bacon, including Sykes, were left unharmed.

Bernard Sykes is also mentioned in this legal record.

From Dr. Banks R. Cates of Charlotte, North Carolina:

May 1677. Charles City County - "We the Subscribers haveing been desired and requested there unto by the Inhabitants of this County (this day convened at Westover in the sd county for that purpose) doe present this their Humble Remonstrance and addresse to his Ma'tys Hon'ble Commissioners for Virg'a affayers this 10 day of May, 1677. Signed: BERN'D SYKES, James Minge, Tho. Blayton, N. Wyatt, Wm. Duke, Tho. Grendon, James Bisse." (Virginia Magazine of History & Biography)

9 Jun 1677 - Charles City County Court: Upon motion and testamony of Dan. Clarke Sherr and Jas. Mings that it was order of the Rt. Hon. Herb. Jeffreys, Esq: Governor etc: that BARNARD SYKES & Mr. Thos. Grendon be sworn as Justices they being present but the court considered that Mr. SYKES had not been an inhabitant of the colony the necessary time, decided to suspend the oath until further instructions from the Governor. Mr. Grendon refused the oath until the whole matter was cleared. (Charles City County VA Order Book, 1676-1679, Pg. 4, by Margaret McNeill Ayres, 1968, private printing.)

16 Jun 1677 - Charles City County Court: Jno. Coggan plt. agst. BERNARD SYKES attorney of Roland Place Esq. deft. referred to next court. (Ibid., pg. 6)

14 Sep 1677 - Charles City County Court: Gilbert Plat plt. agst. MR. BERNHARD SYKES dft., referred to next court. (Ibid., pg. 14)

19 Nov 1677 - Charles City County Court: Jame Mason & his wife summoned as witnesses in the suit of Gilbert Plat, plt. & BERNARD SYKES, deft., not appearing are fined. The difference between Mr.Gilbert Platt plt. & Mr. BERNARD SYKES deft. concerning a servant man is by joint consent referred to the arbitration of Coll. Edward Hill & Mr. Tho. Grendon, and in case of difference, to chose an umpire. (Ibid., pg. 27)

4 Feb 1678 - Charles City County Court: The difference between Gilbert Platt plt. & Mr. BERNARD SYKES deft. was referred to the arbitration of Coll. Edw. Hill & Mr. Thos Grendon. They award Mr. Gilbert Plattplt. 1200 lbs to b. (Ibid., pg. 38)

15 Apr 1678 - Charles City County Court: Admin. granted Mr. Jno. Stith on the estate of Rich. Hanson. MR. BERNARD SYKES security: Mr. Rich. Moseby & Jno. Turner to appraise it. (Ibid., pg. 49)

16 Apr 1678 - Charles City County Court: On an order of the Hon. Herb Jeffreys Esq. gov. etc., MR. BERNARD SYKES was sworn a Justice of the Peace. (Ibid., pg. 49)

16 Apr 1678 - Charles City County Court: Mr. BERNARD SYKES petitions the court for confirmation of a license for an ordinary at Westover granted to him by the Hon. Herb. Jeffreys, Gov. etc...The court confirms same but stipulates that it shall not injure Coll. Edw. Hill who has a bargain and agreement with the Justices. (Ibid., pg. 51)

16 Apr 1678 - Charles City County court: Judgm't granted MR. BERNARD SYKES plt. vs. Maj. Jno Stath adm. for Sam'l Phillips' estate for 1402 lbs. tob. it being for goods delivered acording to the account. (Ibid., pg. 53)

26 Jun 1678 - Charles City County Court; MR. BERNARD SIKES, sworn in the case of Hix & Hamlin deposes cattle were made to him for security, known of Maj. Stith. MR. SIKES then asked to let the poor man have them but deft. wanted pay in tobacco. SIKES then asked Hix why he marked them and plt. said they were his own. (Ibid., pg. 62)

6 Dec 1668 - Charles City County Court: Westover - present same justices. To MR. SYKES for 5 days as juryman---240. (Ibid., pg. 83)

18 Feb 1679 - Charles City County Court; Westover, Pres: Lt. Coll. Clarke, Lt. Coll. Grendon, Mr. BAR. SYKES, Maj. Pythress, Maj. Stith, Mr. Blayton and Mr. Hen. Batt. (Ibid., pg. 100)

4 Aug 1679 - Charles city County Court: MR. BERN. SIKES, plt. VS Thos. Blanks as marrying the relict of Jeffrey Mumford being a matter of dispute is referred to next court. The papers examined & audited by Col. Thos. Grendon and Maj. Jno. Stith to audit and balance papers to determine dispute. (Ibid., pg. 108)

4 Aug 1679 - Charles City County Court: MR. BERN. SIKES proved claims agst. Jas. Mason's est. for 642 lvs. tob. (Ibid, Pg. 109)

16 Oct 1679 - Charles City County Court: MR. BERN. SYKES assignee of Mr. Jno. Drayton plt. VS Joshua Mecham dft. the plt. has judgmt. agst. the dft. for 1698 lbs. tob. due by judgmt. to Mr. Jno. Drayton 16 Aug 1678 for 1489 lbs. tob. & for 259 lbs tob. fees & levys. judgmt. awarded for 1200 lbs. tob. plus cost and expenses. Jdgmt. awarded MR.SYKES vs. the estate of Alex fflowler in the hands of Mr. Rich. Moseby for 681 lbs. tob. for funeral of Ann ffowler. (Ibid., pg. 117)

3 May 1682, The Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury, London: Letters of Administration from BERNARD SYKES, late of City of London but in Virginia, to Geo. Gay the Admr. (during absence of ELIZ. SYKES, widow now in parts overseas). (English Estates of American Colonists, by Peter W. Coldham, Gen. Pub. Co. 1980 Baltimore.)

May 1682 - Will of BERNARD SYKES of London, who died in Virginia. Administration by decree to George Gay during absence of relict ELIZABETH SYKES. (Immigrants to America appearing in English records, by Frank Smith, Everton Pub. 1976.)

Bernard married Elizabeth Rawlett on 8 Apr 1662 in Trinity, Minories, Middlesex, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Rawlett) was born about 1640 in England; died after May 1683 in Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He appears on "The Rent Roll of the Land in James City County 1704," an appendix to The Planters of Colonial Virginia by Thomas J. Wertenbaker (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1922), owning 1,012 acres.

According to Peter Wilson Coldham's The Complete Book of Emigrants (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1990), a Bernard Sykes, presumably from chronology this one, arrived in Virginia in 1682.

He died without a will. From the research of Dr. Cates, below, we can see that one of his sons was named Richard, also the given name of his paternal grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather.

From Dr. Banks R. Cates, Charlotte, NC:

Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: BERNARD SYKES, son of Bernard Sykes, dec'd made oath that his father died without a will and was appt. adm. with Richard Cureton his security. William Harrison, James Harrison, Gilbert Hay and James Jones to appr. his est. (Prince George County, VA, Miscellany, 1711-1814, Pg. 23, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

9 Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: Richard Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard Sykes, dec'd chose Thomas Simmons, Jr., as his gdn. John Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard, chose Richard Cureton as his gdn. (Ibid., pg. 23)

5 Aug 1718 - Prince George County Court: Inventory and Appraisal of Bernard Sykes' estate Aug. 5, 1718. Value £39/10/4 presented by BERNARD SYKES, adm'r. Recorded 12 Aug 1718. (Prince George County, VA Wills & Deeds, Pg. 31, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

9 Dec 1718 - Prince George County Court: Appraisal of the remainder of Bernard Sykes' estate £2/10/0 by Gib. Hay, James Harrison, William Harrison. Presented in court by BERNARD SYKES, Adm'r. (Ibid., pg. 34)

13 Jan 1718/19 - Prince George County Court; Accounts of Bernard Sykes' estate for 1718. Mentions Richard Cureton, Joseph Clarke. (Ibid., pg. 35)

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His wife is sometimes said to have been a Frances Wyatt. There are certainly Sykes family connections with Wyatts in 17th- and 18th-century Virginia. This Bernard Sykes's daughter Rebecca's father-in-law Robert Cate was a witness to the will of Nicholas Wyatt of Prince George County in 1720. A Frances Wyatt, daughter of John Wyatt (d. <1721) (Anthony³, Nicholas², Anthony¹), married a John Sykes.

From Dr. Banks R. Cates, Charlotte, NC:

Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: BERNARD SYKES, son of Bernard Sykes, dec'd made oath that his father died without a will and was appt. adm. with Richard Cureton his security. William Harrison, James Harrison, Gilbert Hay and James Jones to appr. his est. (Prince George County, VA, Miscellany, 1711-1814, Pg. 23, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

[The above passage can also be found in Weisiger, citation details below. --PNH]

9 Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: Richard Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard Sykes, dec'd chose Thomas Simmons, Jr., as his gdn. John Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard, chose Richard Cureton as his gdn. (Ibid., pg. 23)

5 Aug 1718 - Prince George County Court: Inventory and Appraisal of Bernard Sykes' estate Aug. 5, 1718. Value £39/10/4 presented by BERNARD SYKES, adm'r. Recorded 12 Aug 1718. (Prince George County, VA Wills & Deeds, Pg. 31, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

9 Dec 1718 - Prince George County Court: Appraisal of the remainder of Bernard Sykes' estate £2/10/0 by Gib. Hay, James Harrison, William Harrison. Presented in court by BERNARD SYKES, Adm'r. (Ibid., pg. 34)

13 Jan 1719 - Prince George County Court; Accounts of Bernard Sykes' estate for 1718. Mentions Richard Cureton, Joseph Clarke. (Ibid., pg.35)

8 Apr 1723 - William Hardyman of Martins Brandon Parish, Prince George Co. deeded to William Cureton of same, for L15, 372 acres on north side of Blackwater Swamp, in same county and parish bounded on east by Benjamin Foster, north by William Epes, west by said William Cureton. Sd. land was conveyed by John Hardyman to said William Hardyman by Deed Nov. 13 last past. Witnesses: Thomas Simmons, Thomas Semple and BERNARD SYKES. (Ibid., pg.77)

8 Jul 1723 - John Hardyman of Prince George County and Henrietta Maria his wife to John Sykes of same, 271 acres on north side of Blackwater Swamp in Prince George County in Martins Brandon Parish, part of a tract granted to Robert Lucy, dec'd by patent Nov. 3, 1673, bounded by Cattail Swamp and the Blackwater. Wit: BERNARD SYKES, John Bonner, John Cheves. (Ibid., pg. 78)

14 Jun 1725 - John Sykes and Frances his wife of Prince George County, to BERNARD SYKES of same, 100 acres on north side of Blackwater Swamp in Martins Brandon Parish, part of a tract granted to Robert Lucy by patent Nov. 3, 1673, bounded by Cattail Swamp, William Harris and John Sykes. Wit: Geo. Hamilton, Jr., Richard Sykes, Eliza. Simmons. (Ibid., pg. 108)

4 Apr 1728 Abraham Odium deeded to BERNARD SYKES of Prince George Co.for L21, 100 acres in Martins Brandon Parish on west side of old Town Run, bounded on north by land of Phillip Jane, decd, east by land of Edward Hill, decd., and south by the main woods and land of Richard Pace. Wit: William Binford, Timothy Rives & Richard Flewelling. (Ibid., pg. 146)

Members of the Pace family lived near BARNARD SYKES (see above entries), William Gary witnessed the deed of John Sykes to Nathaniel Harrison in 1722, and William Gary and BARNARD SYKES were involved with the inventory of Thos. Gary in 1759. John Hardyman sold land to John Sykes in 1723. Old Town Run was the site of BARNARD SYKES's land adjacent Richard Pace in 1728. And Thomas Simmons and Richard Cureton had their own close relationships to the Sykes family as noted above. Edward Goodrich's land was sold to Abraham Odium in 1721 and by Odium to BARNARD SYKES in 1728. (Dr. Banks Cates)

So, if Richard Bird did not move after 1717 and if BARNARD SYKES did not move after 1728, then they lived smack-dab next to each other in 1741. By this time John Sykes had moved from Prince George County to Edgecomb County, NC; and Richard Sykes was living on his 371 acres at Jones Hole Swamp in Prince George County. (Dr. Banks Cates)

This suggests that Thomas Cate, Senior of Orange County, who was married to Rebecca Sykes and was father of Barnard Cate (who married Jane Sykes), had married a daughter of BARNARD SYKES, and that Sarah Sykes at the Bird christening was daughter of BARNARD. It also suggests the the John Sykes-4 of Orange County father of Allen-5 and John-5, was also son of BARNARD SYKES, because of John's sons' close relationship with Preacher Thomas Cate, son of Thomas Cate, Senior. (Dr. Banks Cates)

No other records of Thomas Cate can be found in the scant Prince George records that exist. (Dr. Cates)

18 Apr 1733 - Thomas Simmons of Lyons (Lawns) Creek Parish in the County of Surry, in good health, signed his will. He left to son Thomas Simmons the upper part of the land lying on Powells Creek, adjacent Thos. Booth. He left to son Edward Simmons the lower part. He left to son Edward Simmons one feather bed and furniture, etc. All else was to be divided equally between wife Sarah and daughter Elizabeth Simmons. Executor: son Joseph. Wit: BERNARD SYKES, Edward Prince, and Edward Prince Junr. 15 Feb 1726. Probated 18 Apr 1733 by BERNARD SYKES and Edward Prince.

It is presumed that Sarah Simmons, wife of Thomas Simmons, was a sister of Barnard Sykes2, and that Elizabeth Simmons was a first cousin of BARNARD, John & Richard SYKES. (Dr. Banks Cates.)

1739 Prince George County Court: Will of John Simmons, exhibited by Lucy Simmons, relict and exectrx, and by Joseph Simmons and BERNARD SYKES. (Prince George Co. VA Miscellany 1711-1814, pg. 61, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr. 1985)

10 Jul 1759 - Joseph Halsey deeded to John Gramer land adjoining John Bonner's line. Line that was made by Thomas Eldridge, John Lovesay and Francis Pace to John Bonner's line. Wit: Richard (X) Cate, BERNARD SYKES & Catherine Short. (Abstracts of Prince George Co. Record book 1759-1760, Pg. 406, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

1759 - Inventory of the Estate of Thos. Gary, deceased. "To Dr. Abraham By water's bond." Wm. Gary, executor. WIT: BERNARD SYKES, Richard Kirkland & David good game. (Ibid., pg. 407)

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rebecca married Thomas Cate about 1730 in Orange County, North Carolina. Thomas (son of Robert Cate and Ann) was born about 1702 in Prince George County, Virginia; died about 1770 in Orange County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sylvia married John Workman about 1775 in Orange County, North Carolina. John was born in 1755; died on 5 Jun 1847 in Orange County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 6 May 1845, Weakley County, Tennessee

Richard married Cathrine Ann Williams in 1796 in North Carolina. Cathrine was born in 1784 in Bertie County, North Carolina; died in 1868 in Weakley County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: James Moses Carroll. James was born on 13 Nov 1789 in Orange County, North Carolina; died on 28 Jan 1874 in Carroll County, Georgia; was buried in Temperance Cemetery, Carroll County, Georgia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sylvia married Charles Austin on 21 Jan 1812 in Orange County, North Carolina. Charles was born about 1786 in North Carolina; died after 1860 in Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Lenora Ann Dedman. Lenora was born on 18 Dec 1822 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia; died after Dec 1865 in Graves County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Elizabeth Tapp in 1814. Elizabeth was born on 6 Nov 1792 in North Carolina; died on 10 May 1864 in Weakley County, Tennessee; was buried in Workman Cemetery, Weakley County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Berry married Fanny Workman on 30 Jan 1835 in Orange County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Tennessee
• Alternate birth: Abt 1805, North Carolina
• Alternate birth: Abt 1810, North Carolina

John married Dorothy Alan Cates in 1835. Dorothy was born in 1800 in North Carolina; died before 1859. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Matilda S. Baldwin on 8 Jan 1859 in Henry, Henry, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

US Civil War, Confederate. Enlisted 29 Nov 1861 at Paris, Tennesse. Company E, 46th Tennessee Infantry. Captured at Island No. 10 on 8 Apr 1862, sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois. He took the oath to the U.S. while in prison, and was discharged 30 August 1862.

Jefferson married Delaney Adams on 6 May 1858 in Benton, Polk, Tennessee. Delaney died before Mar 1864. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jefferson married Narcissa Jeffers Hammonds on 27 Mar 1864 in Gibson County, Tennessee. Narcissa (daughter of Jesse Hammonds and Martha Mourning Adams) was born on 21 Aug 1845 in Milan, Gibson, Tennessee; died on 24 Nov 1922 in Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaiah married Ellen Norwood on 20 Nov 1865 in Maury County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married John Samuel Elliott in 1869. John was born on 15 Dec 1849 in Fulton County, Kentucky; died on 9 Mar 1927 in Hickman County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Theodocia married William Marshall Cruce in 1882. William was born on 12 Jan 1851 in Fulton County, Kentucky; died on 11 May 1914 in Fulton County, Kentucky; was buried in Asbell Cemetery, Cayce, Fulton, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Lola Montez DeMyer. Lola was born on 28 Oct 1881 in Fulton County, Kentucky; died on 15 Oct 1965 in Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky; was buried in Palestine Methodist Church Cemetery, Fulton County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Aug 1874

Notes:

Owensboro Messenger, 23 Jun 1906, page 1:

MARRIAGE CEREMONY PERFORMED IN CARRIAGES.

Fulton, Ky., June 22. -- Miss Ellen Workman, daughter of Jeff Workman, a distinguished Confederate veteran, was married here to Jesse Johnson, a prominent young tobacco man. The couple was married in a closed carriage, which had been driven furiously to escape from a pursuing party of friends. The Rev. Hamp McLeskey of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church said the ceremony.

Ellen married Jesse Johnson on 22 Jun 1906 in Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 7 Oct 1875
• Alternate birth: 18 Sep 1876
• Alternate birth: 2 Oct 1876, Fulton County, Kentucky
• Alternate birth: 4 Oct 1876, Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky
• Alternate birth: 1877
• Alternate birth: 1878

Notes:

Sometimes recorded as "William Richard Workman", but the only document we've seen that was filled out in his own hand, his 1918 World War I draft registration card, gives his middle name as "Richmond."

Dates for William Richmond Workman:

Kentucky Birth Records, 1852-1910, on ancestry.com, gives his birth date as 7 October 1875.

Kentucky Birth Records, 1847-1911, on ancestry.com, gives his birth date as 18 Sep 1876. But the handwritten record of 1876 Fulton County births is peculiar. The births are in neither name nor date order, which suggests that this ledger was made well after 1876 by copying a stack of individual records. And while most of the records show the name and birth state of both parents, Wm. Workman's shows only that his father was J. P. Workman.

The 1900 Fulton County, KY census gives his birthdate as "Sept. 1876" and his age as 23.

The 1910 census gives his birth date as "about 1877"; the 1920 census says "abt 1878".

The Hammonds family tree page gives his birthdate as 4 October 1877.

This page, which is primarily about the brief military career of his father, gives his dates as 4 Oct 1877 - 1 Jul 1945. It also calls him "Willie R. Workman."

His Arkansas death certificate gives his birth as 4 Oct 1876 in Fulton, Kentucky.

All of the above notwithstanding, we believe he was born on 4 Oct 1875. First, because that's the date recorded in notes taken by Jeannette Hayden in conversation with his daughter Neville Workman. Second, because that's the date he recorded on his 1918 draft registration document. And third, because the closest census to his birth, the 1880 US census of Fulton County, Kentucky, gives his age in 1880 as 5.

We long assumed that Detroit was his place of death because Patrick's mother recalled, based on conversations with his father's family members, that in later years he came up north and had a small store -- "a little candy store, which could have been a sort of convenience store, in Detroit." Evidently William R.'s wife Kate and his daughter Mildred wouldn't see him, but his daughter Neville would visit him and called him "Papa." A Wm R Workman is listed in the 1928 Detroit city directory, wife given as (Kath), factory worker, home address 6416 Helen Ave apt. B8. This might be him.

But in fact he died in Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas, on 1 July 1945, the date stated on that aforementioned page about his Confederate-soldier father Jefferson Porter Workman. The subject of the Arkansas death certificate is absolutely our guy. "Will R. Workman", born 4 Oct 1876 in Fulton, Kentucky, son of Jeff Workman, occupation: retail grocer (!). The death certificate even specifies that he was buried 3 Jul 1945 in Fulton, Kentucky, which matches up to the Find a Grave page for "William Richard "Willie" Workman" buried in Fairview Cemetery, Fulton, Kentucky, under a group headstone which reads WORKMAN - GRACE HORACE WILLIE JEFF SIS. Our William Workman had siblings named Grace and Horace; his father was named Jefferson; and his mother Narcissa was generally addressed as "Sis."

The death certificate also states that he'd been living in Hot Springs for six years, i.e., since about 1939.

The only false note in the death certificate is that he's described as "widowed" when in fact his wife Kate Jacobs outlived him by nineteen years. But this could easily reflect an imperfect understanding on the part of the death-certificate's informant, one W. C. Boyd. Perhaps William R. outlived a subsequent wife, such as the "Kath" who lived in Detroit with a Wm R Workman in 1928.

William married Katherine "Kate" Jacobs on 12 Nov 1903 in Gibson County, Tennessee. Katherine (daughter of Monroe Marshall Jacobs and Mary Frances "Fannie" Butler) was born on 11 Mar 1887 in Milan, Gibson, Tennessee; died on 4 Jul 1964 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan; was buried on 7 Jul 1964 in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also called Mary Workman.

Family/Spouse: William Albritton Boyd. William was born on 30 Jun 1879 in Mayfield, Graves, Kentucky; died on 9 Jan 1950 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; was buried in Greenlea Cemetery, Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sometimes spelled Grace Ammie.

Grace married Ervin Jay Joyner in 1920. Ervin was born on 12 Oct 1881 in Henry County, Tennessee; died on 13 Dec 1964 in Fulton County, Kentucky; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She never married. Born slightly cross-eyed, she spent her life (mistakenly) convinced she was unattractive. She worked for the Post Office and was kind.

From Jas Hayden:

"6416 Helen was the apartment where my Grandmother Workman and Aunt Neville ('Sissy', 'Pea-Pa') lived in Detroit....where I spent many happy urban neighborhood hours away from Muddy Shoulders, [but] was in the path of the Edsel Ford Expressway so the entire area remains only in my dreams."

Mildred married James Delbert Hayden on 31 Jan 1935 in St. Gregory, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. James (son of Clarence Eugene "E. C." Hayden and Sarah Frances "Fannie" Newton) was born on 23 Sep 1901 in Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky; died on 30 Nov 1962 in Warren, Macomb, Michigan; was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Oakland, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Jeannette Mary White on 7 Sep 1957 in St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing, Ingham, Michigan. Jeannette (daughter of Everett Luke White and Gwendolyn Lottie Gyles) was born on 28 Sep 1935 in Flint, Genesee, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Domenico Papagni. Domenico was born on 11 Jun 1939 in Vieste, Foggia, Puglia, Italy; died on 23 May 2013 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On marrying the former Teresa Barbara Nielsen, he changed his surname from Hayden to Nielsen Hayden.

Patrick married Teresa Barbara Nielsen on 23 Mar 1979 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Teresa (daughter of Victor Louis Nielsen, Jr. and Barbara Jean Crandall) was born on 21 Mar 1956 in Chamberlain, Brule, South Dakota; was christened on 30 Apr 2000 in St. Augustine, Brooklyn, Kings, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Laura Marie Wightman on 6 Sep 1985 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. Laura (daughter of Robert Alan Wightman and Joyce Ann Marie Dixon) was born on 30 Jun 1962 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: (Private). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: (Private). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: (Private). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: (Private). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]