THE ROY FAMILY
Updated 27 Feb 2002
ROY FAMILY PAGE
ROY DESCENDANT BOOK
Click here for a book of Roy
descendants. This is the information
I’ve gathered as of February 2002. It
is not totally complete or accurate and research is continuing. Please contact me with any additions or
corrections you may discover. After
all, this is a family project! Email
– thompsons@adelphia.net
Descendants of
Joseph Roy (1) and Joley (COMING
SOON)
ROY PHOTOS AND DOCUMENTS
NOTE: These are some of the items I’ve collected
in my family tree research. As I add
things eventually all these links will work.
After you click on a link, remember to click the BACK BUTTON on
your browser to return to this page!
I’ll be updating this page with new links and information, so check back
to see what’s new! As always, any
corrections or additions are welcome!
1774 - Joseph Roy may have
been in Lord Dunmore’s War and at the Battle of Point Pleasant in October
1774. I’ve made some notes about it
here.
Dunmore's War
1774 (COMING SOON)
1784-1798 - Joseph Roy land
records, 1784-1798. This is a list of
early land records I found online at the Library of Virginia Digital Library
web site.
Joseph Roy
land records 1784-1798 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1798 - Joseph Roy’s will
dated 1798. I’ve typed a copy of the
Will of Joseph Roy, written in August 1798.
I used a handwritten copy that my Uncle Bill sent me, which was done by
someone who visited the Pendleton Co. courthouse. When I find out who that wonderful person was I’ll let you all
know too. You’ll see that Joseph
mentions his wife, Joley, and 9 children.
I’ve highlighted some names and formatted it for easier reading.
Joseph
Roy Will 1798 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1860’s – Roy articles by “Porte Crayon”, Harpers New Monthly
magazine. These articles mention
Washington Roy and his family, and mention an overnight visit to Joseph Roy’s cabin. You can read more about them and link to
them here. (Joseph Roy (2), father of
Washington Roy and Jacob Roy).
Note this is a series of
articles (10) total. They make for very
interesting reading about the WV of the mid-1800’s.
Each article is about 15
pages, so browse them when you have time.
Harper's
magazine articles by "Porte Crayon" pub. 1870's (AVAILABLE NOW)
1880’s – Isaac Roy &
Laura V. Hanger Roy bible. These bible
pages were copied by Russell Roy and submitted to the Allegheny Regional Family
History Society (ARFHS). They were
published in the Journal of the Allegheny Regional Ancestors, Volume 3. As noted, page 1 indicates the original
owners were Sarah E. Roy and Isaac Roy (brother and sister). Most of the entries in the bible are by Mrs.
Laura Hanger Roy, Isaac’s wife.
Roy family
bible 1880's (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1880’s – Martin L. Roy &
Sarah (Shirk) Roy. Martin L. Roy is a
son of Jacob Roy & Amanda Roy and is Isaac Roy’s brother.
Martin L.
& Sarah Roy 1880's (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1880’s – Stella Roy. Stella Roy is a daughter of Jacob & Amanda
Roy and is Isaac Roy’s sister.
Stella Roy
1880's (AVAILABLE NOW)
1886 – Isaac Roy & Laura
(Hanger) Roy, circa 1886, Dry Fork, WV.
This is a scan from a tintype photo, probably a wedding photo, judging
by their clothes and pose.
Isaac
& Laura Roy 1886 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1902 – Sarah Elizabeth (Roy)
Snyder. This is a photo of the Snyder
family – Lorenzo Dow Snyder and Sarah Elizabeth (Roy) Snyder, with children
Octavia, Amos James, Lottie Jane, Benjamin Harrison, Bertha, Annie Elizabeth
and Addie. Sarah Elizabeth Roy is a
daughter of Jacob & Amanda Roy and is Isaac Roy’s sister. I’d like to apologize for the quality of
this scan - it was made from a terrible copy.
Hopefully we’ll be able to get the original to make a better scan. I thought it was okay to put this one here
temporarily.
The
Snyder Family - 1902 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1907 – Jacob Roy letter,
dated 1907, Lanesville, WV - A letter from Jacob Roy to his daughter-in-law,
Laura Hanger Roy (widow of Jacob’s son Isaac).
I’ve typed it from a handwritten copy my cousin, Russell Roy, made from
the original. The letter mentions lots
of relatives, so I’ve added notes at the end to try to explain who everyone
is. This letter was written just a few
months before Jacob’s death, he is not in the best of health, but it sounds like
he is still getting around to visit family.
Jacob was a farmer and you will note we have not corrected his
spelling. Thanks again to Russell for
copying it!
Jacob
Roy letter 1907 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1912 – Arthur Roy at work
taken about 1912? This is a photo of
Arthur Roy at work, with several other people.
We believe it may have been taken when he worked for Coal & Coke RR
in Elkins, WV about 1912. He was a
telegraph operator. He is sitting on
the driver’s seat of the wagon, with 7 other men standing in the bed of the
wagon. (My granddad)
Arthur
Roy at work - 1912 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1915 – Arthur Roy, taken
about 1915? (Just guessing at this date
– my granddad)
Arthur Roy
1915 (AVAILABLE NOW)
1916 – Calvert Roy in France
in WWI, probably about 1916?
1918 – Calvert Roy and his
Harley Davidson about 1918. There’s
also a copy of Calvert’s motorcycle license issued in WV in 1918.
Calvert
Roy about 1916 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
Calvert Roy
on Harley 1918 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
Calvert
Roy's license 1918 (COMING
SOON)
1929-1930? – The Fansler
boys – sons of Amanda Ann (Roy) Fansler & Jesse Harper Fansler. Amanda Ann is a daughter of Jacob Roy and is
Isaac Roy’s sister. She and her husband
and children moved from Randolph Co., WV to Tennessee and then to Nez Perce
Co., Idaho about 1892. This photo shows
4 sons – Manning Fansler, Camden Baird Fansler, Roy Fansler and Jackson William
Fansler. Taken about 1929-1930? This photo was provided by Mary (Miles)
Johnson (Thanks Mary!)
Fansler
Boys about 1930 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1927 – Arthur Roy &
Janyce (Irvine) Roy in 1927 (my grandparents)
Arthur
& Jan Roy 1927 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1932 – The Roy family,
Arthur & Jan, with children Bill & Sally (note Don wasn’t born until
1940)
The Roy
Family 1932 (AVAILABLE NOW)
1936 – Roy children’s
party. Elkins Intermountain newspaper,
August 1936. “Children feted – Aug.
11”. This article was written about a
double birthday celebration for Bill and Sally Roy, children of Arthur &
Jan Roy of Elkins, WV. It lists many
friends and relatives who attended the party.
(Note – Sally Roy is my mom)
Roy Party -
1936 - newspaper article (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1942 – Catherine “Sally”
Roy, 1942-1943, school photo, about age 11, Elkins, WV. (My mom)
1948 – Catherine “Sally”
Roy, about 1948, studio photo, about age 18, Elkins, WV. (My mom)
Sally Roy 1942 (AVAILABLE NOW)
Sally Roy 1948 (AVAILABLE NOW)
1951 – Arthur Roy &
Janyce (Irvine) Roy, about 1951, with me.
Taken at home on Taylor Avenue in Elkins, WV. (My grandparents)
1971 – Arthur Roy &
Janyce (Irvine) Roy, about 1971, with me.
Taken during a visit to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s surprising that Mimi and Papa look
pretty much the same in this photo as the one taken 20 years earlier!
Mimi,
Papa, Apple 1951 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
Mimi,
Papa, Apple 1971 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
1967 – My family – Ron &
Sally (Roy) Wingfield, Cathy, Jan, Debbie, Holly, Lanette and Rod.
1997 – My family – Ron, Sally,
Cathy, Jan, Debbie & Lorne, Holly & Ray, Lanette & Lee, Rod, Tracy,
Jeff, Nicole, Dawn, Joel, Jesse, Natalie.
My family 1967 (AVAILABLE NOW)
My family 1997 (AVAILABLE NOW)
1960-2000 – Don Roy, my
uncle, who just LOVES racing and driving.
He raced this car at Cloverleaf Speedway in Cleveland, Ohio in the
mid-1960’s. The name of the car is
“Rebel Rouser”. Don’s number has always
been “97”. (Remember the song?) Next is a clipping is from the newspaper in
January 1969 when Don was attending the Academy for the Ohio State Highway
Patrol. Later he switched to being a
truck driver. Well, Don’s still driving
and racing, but now it’s a 2 Cycle Unlimited Go Kart. He says, “this is the picture of the old goat who has to race
something”. Like I said before, he
LOVES to drive.
Don Roy and his
stock car - 1967 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
Don Roy news
photo - 1969 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
Don Roy and his
Go Kart - 2000 (AVAILABLE NOW)
1985 – William A. “Bill” Roy
& Wanda (Rosier) Roy, taken about 1985 maybe, Elkins, WV. Bill and Wanda are
celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on February 29, 2002,
well, actually celebrating on March 2, as there’s no February 29th this
year! (My uncle Bill)
Bill &
Wanda Roy - 1985 (AVAILABLE
NOW)
ROY FAMILY HISTORY
Joseph
Roy (1) and his wife Joley settled in the area near Seneca Rocks in
Hampshire Co./Pendleton Co./Randolph Co., Virginia (now West Virginia) sometime
in the 1780’s. He was married to Joley
and they had 9 children – Elizabeth, William, Mary “Molly”, Pamelia “Millie”,
Joseph (2), John, Dianah, Ceora, Sarah.
Joseph Roy was a farmer. He died
in 1798 in Pendleton Co./Randolph Co., WV.
Here are some of my notes about Joseph Roy (1).
1774
- Joseph Roy may have been at the Battle of Point Pleasant in October of
1774. There is a Joseph Roy listed on
the payroll list for Capt. Wm. Nalle’s Company of Augusta Volunteers. This battle was part of the Indian
Wars. In 1908 U.S. Congress officially
labeled it as the first battle of the American Revolution.
1782
- In the State of Virginia Enumerations, dated 1782 we find 3 Roy families,
Abram, James and Thomas in Hampshire Co., VA
1784
- In the State of Virginia Enumerations, dated 1784 we find 3 Roy families,
Abram, Joseph and Thomas in Hampshire Co., VA
We
note that this Joseph Roy lists 10 in his household. We’re not sure if this is Joseph, his wife and children, or
perhaps there are other relatives living there.
1787
to 1798 - The earliest land records we’ve found so far are dated in from 1787
to 1798 and total about 750 acres. Land
surveyed from 1786 to 1795. The records
mention the mouth of Senneca, the west side of Rich Mountain, the north fork of
the south branch of the Potomac, Harper’s Gap, Leading Ridge. The counties at the time of the records were
Hampshire, Pendleton and Randolph Co., VA.
In
1798 Joseph’s daughter, Pamelia, married Isaac Washburn, the son of Charles
Washburn and Rebecca Lowther. Rebecca’s
brother was William Lowther, a Capt. from Harrison Co. at the Battle of Point
Pleasant. William Lowther became the
guardian of Isaac Washburn in 1785 after Charles Washburn, Isaac’s father, died
in 1782.
Joseph
Roy (2) was born about 1782 in
VA. He married Sarah Summerfield in
1811 in Randolph Co., VA-WV. They had
11 children – Isaac, Phebe, Jesse L., Sarah “Sallie”, Solomon, Joseph (3),
Washington, Martin, Simeon K., Elizabeth “Eliza”, and Jacob. Joseph died in the 1860’s in Randolph Co.,
WV. Here are some of my notes about
Joseph Roy (2).
The
Roy family is mentioned in a series of articles written by “Porte Crayon”,
published in Harper’s New Monthly magazine in the late 1800’s. The series of articles is called “The
Mountains”. This series includes
articles that mention Washington Roy, a son of Joseph Roy and a brother to
Jacob Roy. One article mentions a visit
to the Roy cabin (presumably Joseph Roy 2).
Another article mentions a trip to Blackwater Falls with Washington
Roy. “Porte Crayon” is the pen name for
David Strothers, a writer and artist of the mid-1800’s. You can read more about “Porte Crayon” at
the link above and you can also link to the articles online at Cornell
University.
Jacob
Roy was born in 1835 in Dry Fork,
Randolph Co., WV. He married Amanda
“Bonner” Flanagan in 1854 in Randolph Co., WV.
They had 11 children – Joseph H., Phebe C., Victoria Palmyra, Martin
Luther, Isaac William, Amanda Ann, Sarah Elizabeth, Semore M., Albert G., Mary
Jane and Stella. Jacob’s wife, Amanda,
died and Jacob then married Margaret “Martha” Simmons in 1892 in Randolph Co.,
WV. Interestingly, Margaret was the
widow of Jacob’s nephew, Joseph Roy, son of Washington Roy. Jacob died in 1907 in Laneville, Tucker Co.,
WV. Jacob Roy served in the Civil War
on the Union side. Here are some of my
notes about Jacob Roy.
Jacob
Roy made an application for a Civil War pension. In his application he claimed he was wounded and was in the
company of Capt. Nathaniel Lambert. An
appointment was made for him to see a doctor, but for some reason he never
went. Subsequently his application was
denied and in the wording of the denial it indicated that they had no records
for a Capt. Lambert’s company and that Jacob had not shown up for his
appointment. During the time of the
Civil War, Nathaniel Lambert was the leader of a group of men from Pendleton Co. At the same time Capt. Sampson Snyder was a
leader of a group of men from Randolph Co.
These two companies were combined at some point under Capt. Snyder. Perhaps that is the reason the government
was not aware of Capt. Lambert’s company.
In any case, it appears that Jacob did not follow through with pursuing
the matter.
Jacob
Roy wrote a letter dated Feb. 1907 from Laneville, WV addressed to Laura Roy
(his daughter-in-law). This letter was
written just a few months before Jacob’s death. In the letter he speaks of several family members and their
health, etc. There is a link to this
letter above.
Family
photos collected so far include several of Jacob & Amanda’s children and
they are linked above - Isaac William Roy, Martin L. Roy, Albert Roy, Sarah
Elizabeth Roy, Amanda Ann Roy.
Isaac William
Roy was born in 1862 at Dry Fork,
Randolph Co., WV. He married Laura
Virginia Hanger in 1886 in Randolph Co.
They had 5 children – Calvert, Cecil, Leslie “Lec”, Arthur and Gladys. Isaac died of TB in 1897, shortly before his
35th birthday. In Laura
(Hanger) Roy’s bible there is note:
“Died Feb 4th 1897, my beloved husband, Isaac W. Roy”.
Isaac
William Roy was the 5th child of 11 children born to Jacob &
Amanda Roy. He grew up in the area of
Dry Fork, Randolph Co., WV. He died 4
Feb 1897, shortly before his 35th birthday (TB). His baby daughter, Gladys, died a short time
later (TB). His widow, Laura and the
children moved to the Huttonsville area, near Elkins, and lived on a property
owned by her relatives. They lived in a
cabin that was hastily built and snow blew in between the boards of the
walls. In the early 1900’s they moved
into the town of Elkins to a small house on Taylor Avenue. They then built a house across the street at
1415 Taylor Avenue. Isaac’s widow,
Laura, lived there until she died in 1956.
Children:
Cecil
Roy (1886-1905). Cecil died in 1905, at
the age of 19 (TB). Cecil never
married. In Laura (Hanger) Roy’s bible
there is a note: “Cecil C. Roy my darling child died Dec 5, 1905”.
Calvert
“WJC” Roy (1888-1922). Calvert served
in WWI in France and Germany as a motorcycle messenger. He died in 1922, shortly before his 34th
birthday (kidney failure). Calvert
never married.
Arthur
Roy (1891-1977). Arthur married Janyce
Irvine in 1927. Arthur is my grandfather
and there is more written about him below.
Leslie
“Lec” Roy (1894-1956). Lec married
Bertha Reynolds. Lec was crippled and
used crutches, but they never slowed him down at all. He had no children. Lec and
his brother, Arthur, were very close and Lec spent quite a bit of time visiting
with Arthur & his family over the years.
Gladys
Roy (1896-1897). Gladys was the baby
daughter of Isaac & Laura Roy. She
died at the age of 4 months (TB), just shortly after her father Isaac’s
death. In Laura (Hanger) Roy’s bible
there is a note: “Gladys Roy my little darling died May 2nd 1897”.
Arthur
Roy was born in 1891. He married Janyce Irvine in 1928. They had 3 children: William A. “Bill” Roy –
Donald H. “Don” Roy – Catherine Grace “Sally”.Roy.
Arthur
worked for the WV State Road Commission and Jan worked at Davis Memorial
Hospital in Elkins, WV. Arthur died in
1977.
Arthur
Roy was diagnosed with TB at an early age and went west to live in New Mexico
for a short time, where he worked as a telegraph operator for the
railroad. He didn’t like it out there
very much and was homesick and lonely.
He wrote in a letter to his mother that he would rather come home and
die in WV than stay out there in New Mexico.
He returned to WV, where he eventually married and raised a family. We’re happy to say he lived a very full life
until he died at the age of 86 in 1977.
Children:
William
A. “Bill” Roy. Bill married Wanda
Rosier and they had 3 children, Russell, Lisa and Ronald. Bill lives in Elkins, WV.
Catherine
Grace “Sally” Roy. Sally is my mom and
there is more written about her below.
Donald
H. Roy. Don married Ida Kathryn Atwell
and they had 3 children, Bart, Bret and Rick.
Don next married Claudette Stramel and they had 2 children, Rob and Don
Jr. Don lives in Wintersville, Ohio.
Catherine
“Sally” Roy married Edward Lee “Bill” Ferguson in 1949 in WV. They had 2 children: Cathy and Jan. They were divorced in 1955. Sally then married Ron Wingfield in 1955 in
WV and they had 4 children: Debbie, Holly, Lanette and Rod. They settled in Ohio about 1956 and have
lived in Medina, Ohio since about 1960.
Catherine
“Sally” Roy is the dau. of Arthur Roy, son of Isaac Roy, son of Jacob Roy, son
of Joseph Roy (2), son of Joseph Roy (1).
MY NOTES:
I
am Catherine (Ferguson) Thompson and I was born in 1950 in Elkins, Randolph
Co., WV. I am the daughter of Sally Roy
& Bill Ferguson, and the stepdaughter of Ron Wingfield. My family includes my dad, my mom, my
stepdad, and my brothers and sisters.
So you see I have 2 dads and I consider that a bonus in my life. Sometimes it gets confusing because I call
them both ”Dad”, so for this web page I thought I should explain.
From
the time I was born until 1956 I lived most of the time in Elkins, WV at my
grandparents’ home. During that time my
great-grandmother, Laura Hanger Roy, also lived there. She taught me how to read and write even
before I started the first grade and I loved spending time with her. I have lots of early childhood memories of
our older relatives. On Sundays after
church many relatives came for Sunday “dinner” and to visit – I remember my
great-grandmother Laura (Hanger) Roy, my great-uncle Charlie Hanger, my
great-aunt Lizzie (Hanger) Tiffany, my great-aunt Candace (Irvine) Laird, my
great-uncle Bud Irvine, my great-grandmother, Lou Elea (Hart) Irvine, my
great-uncle Lec Roy, and lots more. By
the way, my granddad nicknamed me “Apple” and that’s the only name that most of
the people in my childhood years knew me by!
I
hope you like this web page. I thought
it was a good way to share all the photos and things I’ve collected in doing my
family tree research. As always, any
corrections or additions are welcome.
CONTACT INFO:
Catherine
(Ferguson) Thompson
19084
SE Fearnley Drive
Tequesta,
FL 33469
Phone: (561) 747-0779
Email: thompsons@adelphia.net
LINKS:
This
is Our Family Tree main page. Surnames
– Ferguson – Roy – Wingfield – Puariea – Thompson
This
is my family tree at rootsweb.com. It’s
being built slowly but surely. Feel
free to browse.
Cathy's
family tree at Rootsweb