Descendants of Jacob Voils
Any additions or corrections, please contact Jeannie Noe Carlisle.
This document contains oral history from numerous sources. Accuracy is unknown.
© 2005,
Generation No. 1
1. JACOB1
VOILS was born Abt. 1720 in
Notes for JACOB VOILS:
Per Ervin D. Voyles,
Jacob was very poor and went in debt for their passage to
Amerca, so he hired William age 14 out as a deckhand for four years to pay off
this debt. It is not known where the
ship sailed the four years but it is believe that it made several trips from
It is believed that Jacob lived with his son John near
Children of JACOB VOILS are:
2. i. William2
Voils, b. 1745,
ii. James
Voils, b. 1755,
Notes for James Voils:
A twin to John.
Went up the
iii. John
Voils, b. 1755,
Notes for John Voils:
A twin to James.
Remained in
iv. Thomas
Voils, b. 1760,
Notes for Thomas Voils:
Went to
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM2
VOILS (JACOB1) was born 1745 in Wales, and died
January 1798 in Cabarrus County, North
Notes for WILLIAM VOILS:
William had to pay for the passage to
William was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, enlisted
in May, 1776. He had a long and
interesting service. Mary Kay and James
Kay of
Their log house was constructed so they could shoot from
above. The Indians drove off their
cattle and William and the older boys went in search of them. They were found in 2 or 3 days. The ones left at home were in constant
terror, especially at night. Indians
surrounded the house one time and they had to board up the windows.
After William died the younger children remained on the
farm with their mother. They worked very hard raising cattle and loading them
on flatboats to ship down the
Information from Ervin D. Voyles,
Jacob was very poor and went in debt for their passage to
William enlisted
in the 1st Battalion of the North
During his
enlistment he entered on
________ and joined
Big Coldwater Creek on the East side and his other tract on the West side. Later he entered a grant for 15 acres between
Big and Little Coldwater Creek. The
large tract of land was joined on the North side by Nicholas Corzine and John
Shaver, the West side Joshua Hadley or Headley and Walter Smiley and on the
South by John Chamberlain another member of the Militia and William's trusted
friend. He and Hannah were early members
of the Coldwater Baptist Church. It is
known that some or perhaps all the above land owners were members too. William's brother James had a land grant just
across Big Coldwater Creek, also James McGran the father of William who sold
the land to the Church.
On this land on Big
Coldwater Creek, William, Hannah and their family raised cotton and shipped it
on flat boat down the creeks and rivers to Charleston, South
William was
appointed by the Cabarrus County Court to help lay out a road from the
Courthouse to Weddington Ford on the Rocky River, this is believed to be on or
near the present Route 601, that is thought to run near his land.
The Court records
show that in January 18, 1798, the last will and testament of William Voils was
proven by Nicholas Corzine and John Weylie and letter of testament to his
brother Thomas and his friend John Chamberlain.
This showed he died in January 1798.
The records show his estate was fully settled January, 1800. Hannah's death occurred in 1805, supposedly
she died of a wasp sting. Her estate was
settled by her son Rolin, April, 1807.
Both William and Hannah were buried on their land on Big Coldwater
Creek, there has been a search but unable to find their graves, probably they
have been destroyed over the period of time, this is why the monument has been
placed in their memory.
Their children
raised cotton for a while after Hannah's death, then some of the young children
were not satisfied and petitioned the court to divide the land among them. The Cabarrus County records show that this
was done January 24, 1811 and guardians were appointed for the minor
heirs. It has been said after the
division of this land, it became difficult to make a living raising cotton and
in desperation they started leaving North
More About WILLIAM VOILS:
Military service: Revolutionary War - spelled VOWELLS
More About WILLIAM VOILS and HANNAH BUNDI:
Marriage: 1772
Children of WILLIAM VOILS and HANNAH BUNDI are:
i. Joseph3
Voyles, b. 01 February 1773, NC; d. 1792, NC.
ii. Rachel
Voyles, b. 28 July 1775, NC; d. Abt. 1842; m. Joseph Fulk, 16 December 1824,
IN; d. Unknown.
Notes for Rachel Voyles:
Cora Voyles Burks states her birthday was July 28, 1775.
More About Joseph Fulk and Rachel Voyles:
Marriage: 16 December 1824, IN
iii. Rolin
Voyles, b. 14 July 1778, NC; d. 12 August 1833; m. (1) Mary; d. Unknown; m. (2)
Elizabeth, Washington Co., IN; d. Unknown.
Notes for Rolin Voyles:
Married twice.
Rolin, Rachel and David came to KY after their mother died
in 1812 and after selling the farm. It
took 2 months to make the trip in a conestoga wagon. They traveled the Daniel Boone trail which
was part of the Wilderness Road. They
would cut down trees and fasten onto the wagon to keep from turning it over
while coming down the mountains.
The family hel memberhsip in the Primitive Baptist
Church. Several were members of the Mill
creek congregation. Voils were known as
"hardshell Baptists".
Came to Indiana 1813.
More About Rolin Voyles and Elizabeth:
Marriage: Washington Co., IN
iv. Andrew
Voyles, b. 09 April 1780, NC; d. 1780, NC.
Notes for Andrew Voyles:
Cora Voyles Burks states Andrew born April 9, 1780.
3. v. Thomas
Voyles, b. 25 September 1782, North
4. vi. Abel
Voyles, b. 28 June 1785; d. 02 February 1865, Washington Co., IN.
5. vii. David
Voyles, b. 31 January 1787, North
6. viii. Moses
Voyles, b. 22 June 1790, North
ix. Daniel
Voyles, b. 08 November 1792, North
Notes for Daniel Voyles:
Married twice.
Lived in Howard Township, Washington County, IN.
Cora Voyles Burks states Daniel died 1868.
x. Hannah
Voyles, b. 14 April 1795, North
Notes for Hannah Voyles:
Came to IN 1813.
More About Silas Townsend and Hannah Voyles:
Marriage: Morgan
Co., IN
Generation No. 3
3. THOMAS3
VOYLES (WILLIAM2 VOILS, JACOB1) was
born 25 September 1782 in North
Notes for THOMAS VOYLES:
Came to Indiana.
More About THOMAS VOYLES and ESTHER HADLEY:
Marriage: 05 March 1806, IN (Source: Louie D. Voyles
information.)
Children of THOMAS VOYLES and ESTHER HADLEY are:
i. Matilda4
Voyles, b. 03 January 1807 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d. Unknown;
m. Simeon Lofton; d. Unknown.
ii. Samuel
Ervin Voyles, b. 15 September 1808 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d.
Unknown.
Notes for Samuel Ervin Voyles:
Moved to Morgan County, IN and once owned all the original
site of Martinsville, IN.
iii. Joseph
Voyles, b. 28 February 1811 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d. Unknown;
m.
More About Joseph Voyles and
Marriage: 12 September 1839
iv. Mary
"Polly" Voyles, b. 29 March 1813 (Source: Louie D. Voyles
information.); d. 13 March 1877, Big Spring Cemetery, Washington Co., IN; m.
Gabriel Huff, 21 November 1833; d. Unknown.
More About Gabriel Huff and Mary Voyles:
Marriage: 21 November 1833
v. Daniel
Voyles, b. 25 April 1816 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d. 26 August
1877, Big Spring Cemetery, Washington Co., IN; m. Emsley Markland, 18 January
1844; d. Unknown.
More About Daniel Voyles and Emsley Markland:
Marriage: 18 January 1844
vi. John
Voyles, b. 16 October 1818 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d. 18
September 1855, Big Spring Cemetery, Washington Co., IN (Source: Louie D.
Voyles information.); m.
Notes for John Voyles:
Killed by his brother-in-law, Simeon Lofton in a fight at
Fredericksburg, IN. Age 36 years, 11
months and 2 days.
More About John Voyles and
Marriage: 26 October 1843 (Source: Louie D. Voyles
information.)
vii. Hannah
Voyles, b. 12 November 1820 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d. Unknown;
m. Leander Tow; d. Unknown.
viii. Linzy
D Voyles, b. 16 January 1822 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d. 24
September 1914, Big Spring Cemetery, Washington Co., IN (Source: Louie D.
Voyles information.); m. Clarissa Bishop, 25 November 1849 (Source: Louie D.
Voyles information.); d. Unknown.
Marriage Notes for Linzy Voyles and Clarissa Bishop:
From 1913 Salem, Washington Co., IN newspaper: Married Sixty-Four Years, Mr. and Mrs. Linzy
Voyles.
Nations rise and
fall generations come and go. Mr. and
Mrs. Linzy Voyles whose likeness appears above, have traveled together
sixty-four years. On the banks of BIg
Blue River, ten miles south of Salem, in Howard township. Mr. Voyles was born, January 16, 1822 and
Mrs. Voyles, who was Clarressie Bishop, was born eight years later, February 2,
1830. They were united in marriage
November 25, 1849 by Squire John Mitchell.
An interesting
story of their marriage is told by them.
it seems that the time selected by them was an unusually good night for
matrimony. Mr. Voyles had neglected to
engage anyone to perform the ceremony, thinking that would be an easy matter. But he found it far from that. The first one he called on was Quire Mitchell
and he was informed that he was engaged to officiate at the marriage of Peter
Colglazier. He next went to see a
minister by the name of Tommy Green and he too was engaged to marry a
couple. He went for the third party and
he was engaged. Mr. Voyles was
determined not to be outdone, so at a late hour he called on Squire Mitchell
and found he had retired for his night's repose. He explained the cirumstances to Mr. Mitchell
and that all arrangements were made and he wanted the ceremony pronounced that
night. Mr. Mitchell seemed pleased with
the young man's remarks and told him if he could find his horse be would go. The horse was soon found and near midnight
they arrived at the bride's home and in the dim light of an oil lamp, they were
pronounced man and wife.
They still have
the lamp that furnished the light on that memorable occasion. It is three inches square and two inches deep
with a lid that opens and closes like a teakettle. There is also a spout similar to a
teackettle. A hook was attached to the
lamp so it could be hung to a wooden peg in the wall. Lard oil and tallow was used, kerosene being
unheard of at that time. This sort of
lamp was the only kind used by them for many years after their marriage. Mrs. Voyles remarked that she "had spun,
wove, knit and sewed by this light while Mr. Voyles had hammered away making
and mending shoed during the winter months.
They have reared
to manhood and womanhood a family of fourteen children. For many years Mrs. Voyles spun and wove the
cloth, cut and made the suits and garments for the entire family. She even made the thread that she sewed the
garments with from flax.
It was the fifth
of April the following spring when they went to housekeeping where they now
live. At that time it was a log house
with a stick chimney and puncheon floor.
The house was built by Mr. Voyles, probably 70 years ago and
__________ the New Albany and Vincennes Turnpike was
constructed. Mrs. Voyles said when they
went to housekeeping the following furniture was all they had: three chairs, one pot, one frying pan and an
oven. They had no table or bed, so a bed
was made by boring holes in the wall and putting in sticks, then a post was placed
under the outer end and poles layed on them, over which the bed clothes were
spread and a very comfortable bed was the result. Spoons and forks were made of wood and old
North
Mr. and Mrs.
Voyles have lived in the neighborhood where they now live all their lives. Mr. Voyles was Mrs. Voyles' first beaux and
they have been sweethearts ever since.
They have nine living children, forty grandchildren and forty-two great
grandchildren.
Mr. Voyles
informed the writer that he wore a tow grown until he was twelve years old and
not being much on fashions still clings to old style clothes and as you will
notice in the picture is still wearing "barn-door" pants. He was never more than three miles from home
until he was over fifteen years of age.
At the age of sixteen he made his first trip to Salem and on a very
unpleasant mission. He came with his
father and had two teeth extracted, Dr. Newland, then one of the leading
physicians of this place doing the work for him.
Mrs. Voyles wore
home spun dresses nearly all her life.
The first calico dress she had was purchased of Charley Green who
conducted a store at Halo. It cost 18
cents a yard and she paid for it by exchanging tow cloth she had made. Samuel Green now lives where the store was.
Great changes have
taken place since Mr. Voyles was a young man.
Then wheat was cut with a sickle and threshed out with a flail and by
the way Mr. Voyles has one of the old flails he used years ago. The ground hog thresher finally came into use
and Mr. Voyles run one for four years.
He also run a distillery for the same length of time.
His ancestors on
one side were Dutch and Irish and on the other Welch and Italian. The original Voyles came to this country from
Wales and his father immigrated to Indiana from North
The first school
house of his remembrance was built on the Levi Elliott farm and was a log
building 16x16 feet with a fire place in one side. On one side of the room a log was cut out and
the space covered with greased paper to furnish light. A poplar log was split into and was supported
by pegs driven in the wall, this was the writing desk. Seats were made from split timbers. One of the games played at school those days
was "long tail cat." The
present generation will no doubt wonder how the game was played.
The place called
Halo was named from the manner in which Mr. Voyles would call when he would
ride up to a house. It is customary to
say hello, but he would yell, "Halo!"
Hence the name of a former postoffice of this county.
Mrs. Voyles has
used tobacco since she was fourteen years of age. Whe the writer and Earl Colglazier visited
them a few days ago, she was using "long green" and Earl gave her
some "honest twist," but she preferred the old kind. Mr. Voyles was out on the farm where his
grandson was sowing oats.
During Mr. Voyles'
sojourn of ninety-two years here he has rode on a train twice; once during the civil war, when he went to
Louisville, and the second time when A. P. Willard was governor of Indiana, he
was called to Indianpolis on a trial.
Mrs. Voyles has never seen inside of a train.
We stated once
before that Mr. V. made his first trip to Salem when he was 16 years of
age. He come on horseback. At the age of 91 he came in the same manner,
it being 75 years from the ____ _____ the first trip. He is preparing for another ride and is
overhauling his saddle and putting on a new sheepskin seat.
As we view the
lives of this aged couple, a volume could be written that would be interesting
to the present and future generations.
We end this sketch.
More About Linzy Voyles and Clarissa Bishop:
Marriage: 25 November 1849 (Source: Louie D. Voyles
information.)
ix. Thomas
J Voyles, b. 26 November 1823 (Source: Louie D. Voyles information.); d. 07
February; m. Anna Williams, January 1852; b. 25 September 1823; d. 09 November
1872.
Notes for Thomas J Voyles:
Death year incomplete but in 1910's.
Under picture of Thomas J. Voyles: Thomas J. Voyles, one of the oldest and most
highly respected residents of Washington county, passed away at his home on
Blue river in Howard Township last Sunday evening, after an illness due to the
infirmities of age. He was born November
26, 1823. The funeral service was held
at Big Spring church Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock. Burial in cemetery nearby.
More About Thomas Voyles and Anna Williams:
Marriage: January 1852
4. ABEL3
VOYLES (WILLIAM2 VOILS, JACOB1) was
born 28 June 1785, and died 02 February 1865 in Washington Co., IN. He married (1) JANE KELLY 15 October
1815. She died Unknown. He married (2) CATHERINE SHUFF 07 August
1821. She died Unknown.
Notes for ABEL VOYLES:
Married twice.
Came to Indiana 1813.
Burial: Old Organ
Spring Cemetery on the Old Shird Bishop place.
More About ABEL VOYLES and JANE KELLY:
Marriage: 15 October 1815
More About ABEL VOYLES and CATHERINE SHUFF:
Marriage: 07 August 1821
Children of ABEL VOYLES and JANE KELLY are:
i. Hannah
Mariah4 Voyles, b. Bet. 1815 - 1820 (Source:
More About William Lewis and Hannah Voyles:
Marriage: 06 March 1844
7. ii. David
Voyles, b. Abt. 1817; d. Bet. 1853 - 1860.
5. DAVID3
VOYLES (WILLIAM2 VOILS, JACOB1) was
born 31 January 1787 in North
Notes for DAVID VOYLES:
Farmer.
David was the first to come to IN in the Voyles family,
1813.
Jasper Voyles, age 87 in 1967 owned David's Farm.
November 2, 1814 the family began the trip to IN
Territory, arriving on Blue River December 10, 1814. The following Sunday he and a number of other
settlers went through the woods hunting a spring and found one where David
settled and lived until he died. This
was in Section 36. On Monday he began
preparing logs for a house (14 feet by 16 feet). The end of that day he had about 1/2 of the
logs he would need. He decided the
hardships were too much and started to go back but was persuaded not too by one
of his father's old mess maids from the war which he was spending the night
with. Next day he finished the logs and
with help from neighbors he built his house.
He moved his family in with no roof or door.
A granddaughter of David's is a Mrs. Hillgrass. I do not know who this lady is.
More About DAVID VOYLES and BARBARY UDY:
Marriage: 19 September 1811, Cabarrus County, North
Children of DAVID VOYLES and BARBARY UDY are:
8. i. Hannah
Malinda4 Voyles, b. 11 January 1813, NC; d. 17 March 1904, Old
Cemetery, Cecil Bishop Farm, Pierce Twp, Washington Co., IN.
9. ii. Mary
Lavina Voyles, b. 01 November 1816; d. 04 December 1911, David Voyles Cemetery,
Washington Co., IN.
10. iii. Thomas
D Voyles, b. 31 December 1817, IN; d. 15 December 1876, Big Spring Cemetery,
Washington County, IN.
11. iv. Margaret
Lucinda Voyles, b. 29 March 1820, IN; d. 20 January 1888, David Voyles
Cemetery, Washington Co., IN.
v. Rhoda
Voyles, b. 07 April 1822, IN; d. 21 June 1899, Big Spring Cemetery, Washington
County, IN; m. Henry Spigler, 03 September 1861, Washington County, Indiana; b.
1812; d. 09 February 1884, Big Spring Cemetery, Washington Co., IN.
Marriage Notes for Rhoda Voyles and Henry Spigler:
No children.
More About Henry Spigler and Rhoda Voyles:
Marriage: 03 September 1861, Washington County, Indiana
12. vi. David
Voyles, Jr, b. 25 October 1824, IN; d. 08 March 1900, Big Spring Cemetery,
Washington County, IN.
13. vii.
14. viii. Elizabeth
Matilda Voyles, b. 17 April 1829; d. 21 April 1900, David Voyles Cemetery,
Washington Co., IN.
6. MOSES3
VOYLES (WILLIAM2 VOILS, JACOB1) was
born 22 June 1790 in North
Notes for MOSES VOYLES:
Came to Howard Township, Washington Co., IN in 1813 (per
Ervin Voyles) and settled on Section 35.
Sometime after this Moses came to Morgan Co., IN. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Children of MOSES VOYLES and RUTH TOWNSEND are:
i. Sampson
C.4 Voyles, d. Unknown; m. Mary; d. 12 August 1854.
15. ii. Evan
Voyles, b. 08 June 1814; d. 07 December 1880.
Generation No. 4
7. DAVID4
VOYLES (ABEL3, WILLIAM2 VOILS, JACOB1)
(Source:
More About DAVID VOYLES:
Burial: Unknown, Big Springs Cemetery, Washington Co., IN
More About SERENA ANN SMITH:
Burial: Unknown, Big Springs Cemetery, Washington Co., IN
Children of DAVID VOYLES and SERENA SMITH are:
16. i. Sarah
ii. John O Voyles, b. Abt. 1842 (Source: