THE ANDERSON FAMILY


   Mary was only fourteen years old when she married Capt. John Morton, and although
she bore him fifteen children, no mention of her ancestry is found in our records.
Mrs. Spillman said that her father was "Thomas, a prosperous merchant of Farmville"
but Farmville was not incorporated as a town until 1798.  Since John Morton was in
Cumberland at the time of his marriage in 1750, we can believe that this young girl
lived there, too.  A Mary Anderson, daughter of Charles Anderson, married Quin
Morton and the two Marys are sometimes confused.

   I had some correspondence with Mr. Bradshaw about this family and he suggested
that since Charles Anderson was the son of Thomas of Albemarle, perhaps he had a
brother, Thomas, who was Mary's father.  The will of Thomas of Albemarle refers to
his son Thomas.  I am convinced that Thomas, Jr., was Mary's father, and that
Thomas of Albemarle was her grandfather, in spite of the notes that we have given
her grandfather as Rev. Charles Anderson who was buried at Westover Parish in 1716.

   The Anderson family is a prominent one, beginning with Richard Sr. who came to
Virginia from England on July 31, 1637, in YE MERCHANTS HOPE.  Richard, Jr., pre-
ceded him, coming July 4, 1637.  Robert Anderson, his son, married Cecelia Massie,
a woman renowned for her beauty.  He died in 1712, about seventy-two years of age.
                                                                                     
   I have read a book on the Andersons and innumerable references to them, but the
emphasis is always on the Gold Mine Andersons of Hanover County.  (The property was
named for a creek which ran through the place.)  I am convinced that both of our
Anderson lines originate with this family.  Many of the same given names were used
and there are several other coincidences, but I shall not use this family in my
chart, as I have no definite proof.
                                                                                    
I.  THOMAS ANDERSON
      His will dated Oct. 25, 1757, was proved Mar. 9, 1758.  (From Clerk's office,
Albermarle Co.)  The references are to:  Charles to have 400 acres of land, Gideon
300 acres, Thomas one shilling.  Other children that are mentioned:  William, David,
Frances Hughes, James, Susannah Williams, Elizabeth Woodson, Agnes Leak.  Legal
Executors were son Charles and Roger Williams.

II.  THOMAS ANDERSON

III. MARY ELIZABETH ANDERSON, b. Nov. 18, 1736, m. Capt. John Morton in 1750.
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