Gaulding in Campbell County, Virginia listings in the Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy does not mean they were Quakers
- Catherine Gauldin
- Apr 9, 2025
- 7 min read
Samuel Gaulding was the son of John of New Kent Gaulding. Some of his children have listings in the Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy, but this does not mean they were Quakers. Laura Gaulden stated in her manuscript that the first Gaulding in this country were Quakers who first settled in Chester, Pennsylvania before moving to Virginia.
A person’s appearance in Hinshaw’s Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy cannot be taken as evidence of Quaker affiliation. The Encyclopedia is a compiled secondary index that aggregates a wide range of materials—Quaker and non‑Quaker alike—and therefore does not constitute a membership list. Hinshaw’s editorial method involved the systematic extraction of names from Monthly Meeting minutes, but also from civil records, marriage bonds, probate files, county tax lists, and other documents created outside the Society of Friends. Individuals were included whenever their names appeared in proximity to Quaker families or in records relevant to Quaker genealogical research, regardless of their own religious identity.
Moreover, the Encyclopedia indexes numerous individuals who were explicitly not members of the Society of Friends. These include non‑Quaker spouses involved in marriages “contrary to discipline,” persons named in disownment proceedings, and individuals listed on certificates of removal who were traveling with Quaker family members but were not themselves Friends. Hinshaw’s indexing practice was intentionally inclusive: his objective was to create a comprehensive surname‑based research tool, not a verified roster of Quaker adherents.
Consequently, the mere presence of a name in the Encyclopedia cannot be interpreted as evidence of Quaker membership. Establishing actual affiliation requires consultation of primary Monthly Meeting records, including membership lists, minutes of admission or disownment, birth entries for children of members, marriage proceedings conducted “under the care of the meeting,” and certificates of removal issued to or from a specific meeting. Only such primary documentation can substantiate an individual’s status within the Society of Friends.
SAMUEL GAULDING, the son of John "of New Kent" Gaulding and Mary Anne Stewart was born about 1732 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA (3) Samuel was orphaned at a young age. His mother died in 1735 in New Kent, Virginia and his father died before 1742, probably in Goochland, Virginia. In 1742 he was apprenticed to Thomas Edwards to learn the trade of Carpentry. "Goochland Oct. 1742 Court Case: 'Ordered that Churchwardens of St. James Parish do bind Saml. Gauling, and Orphan boy, to Thos. Edwards, a carpenter.” This took place in St. James Northam Parish, Goochland, Virginia. He died in 1785 in Campbell County, Virginia (2) and his will was probated on 6 October 1785 in Campbell County, Virginia. (Gaulding Origins, C Gauldin)
On December 28, 1764 he married Elizabeth Turner. "Galden, Samuel & Elizabeth Turner 28 Dec. 1764". "28 Dec 1764; Galden, Samuel, & Elizabeth Turner 28 Dec. 1764" There is still the question whether Elizabeth Turner m. Samuel Gaulding and Elizabeth Turner m. Joseph Walker of Bacon Hall are the same person. They are probably not the same person, therefore Elizabeth Turner's parentage has still not been determined. She was not related to the Brasshier Family, therefore. (Gaulding Origins, C Gauldin)
The children of Samuel Gaulding and Elizabeth Turner were:
WILLIAM TURNER GAULDING*++^ 1752-1841 – Direct Line.
Archibald Gaulding* 1754-1785
Anne Elizabeth Gauldin 1764-1855
Elizabeth Gaulding*^ 1764-1850 – She has a listing.
Martha "Patty" Gaulding*^ 1765-1850 - She married Benoni Carter Talley. They have a listing in the Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy
Kesiah Gaulding*^ 1766-1786
Lucy Gaulding*^ 1768-1800 - She married George Webb. They have a listing in the Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy.
Records from the Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy, Volume VI, Campbell County Marriage Bonds: (Virginia) Campbell County Marriage Bonds, p 857
These two entries appear on the same page:
1795, 11, 16. STUART, John and Anne Gaulden. William Bosher, Surety
Samuel Gaulding, the son of John "of New Kent" Gaulding and Anne Stewart.
The following members of the Sublett family are listed.
1787 William Sublett and Sally Akin
1791 George A Sublett and Isabella Akin
1797 Benjamin Sublett and Mary Akin
U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943 for Carter Tally; Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. VI, p 857. The record reads "TALLY 1788, 12, 17. Carter & Patty Gauldin
There are also entries in this same book for BEDFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA. In the Index are listed:
1. Galding, p 818 - GALDING, 1810, 7, 30. Jacob and Rachel Martin, dt Thomas. James Martin, Surety.
2. Gauldin, p 819 - GAULDIN, 1833, 2,2. Thomas & Juriah Brooks. Powhatan Brooks, Surety.
Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Vol. VI: (Virginia); Campbell County Marriage Bonds, Marriage Bonds of Campbell County, Virginia, p 863
The entry reads "WEBB, 1789, 11, 2. George & Lucy Gaulding, dt (of) Elizabth. Benoni Carter Tally, Surety."
Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy - 1805 Henry Stewart and Polly Armstrong, dt Benjamin. Benjamin Armstrong, Surety
1 JOHN "of New Kent" GAULDING*++ b: abt 1665 in Warwickshire, England; d: abt 1742 in SVirginia, USA. He married + MARY ANNE STEWART* ** b: Abt. 1670 in England, m: Abt. 1700 in New Kent, Virginia, USA, d: 27 Oct 1735 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA
...1 Anne Gaulding b: Abt. 1707 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA
...2 Matthew "John II" Gaulding*## b: 02 Feb 1709 in Christchurch, Middlesex, Virginia, USA, d: Oct 1773 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA + Sarah Elizabeth Geers*^ b: Abt. 1720 in James City, Rappahannock, Virginia, USA, m: Bef. 1735 in Virginia, USA, d: Oct 1773 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA
......3 John "Patriot" Gaulden** b: 1735 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: 20 Jan 1782 in Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina, USA + Susannah Brumfield* b: 1740 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, m: 1759 in Briery Creek, Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: 1810 in York, South Carolina, USA
......3 Judith Gaulding* b: Abt. 1741 + Henry ROBERTS* Sr. b: Abt. 1740, m: Unknown, d: Unknown
......3 Jacob Gaulding* b: Abt. 1742 in Virginia, USA, d: Abt. 1804 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA + Susannah ATKINSON* b: 30 Jun 1786 in Virginia, USA, d: 1832 in Georgia, USA
......3 Alexander Gaulding* b: 1745 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA, d: 1819 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA + Elizabeth Willard* b: 1785 in Virginia, USA, m: 12 Feb 1816 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: Unknown + Lucy Barnett* b: Abt. 1745 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: 1805 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA
......3 Elizabeth "Nancy" Gaulding* b: 1747 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: 1789 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA + Francis Spaulding* b: 1743 in Stafford, Stafford, Virginia, USA, m: 1766 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: Aug 1772 in Cumberland, Cumberland, Virginia, USA
......3 William S. Gaulding* b: 1748 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: Aft. 1780 in Buckingham, Virginia, USA + Mary Geers* b: Abt. 1745 in Virginia, USA, m: Abt. 1766, d: Abt. 1778 in Buckingham, Virginia, USA
......3 Jesse Gaulding* b: Abt. 1750 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: 30 Mar 1822 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA + Elizabeth "Betty" Barnett* b: 1767 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, m: 1780 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: 1815 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA
......3 Josiah Gaulding^^ b: 21 Feb 1770 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, d: 11 Jul 1833 in Cumberland, Virginia, USA + Serviah "Sophia" Seay* b: 05 Jan 1776 in Buckingham, Virginia, USA, m: 22 Dec 1791, d: Abt. 1820 in Cumberland, Virginia, USA
...2 Martha Gaulding*^ b: Abt. 1711 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA, d: Sep 1721 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA. She died young and was not a Quaker.
...2 Honour Gaulding*^ b: 04 Jun 1714 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA, d: Unknown
...2 Alexander Gaulding*^ Sr. b: 08 Nov 1717 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA, d: 12 Jan 1753 in Williamsburg, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA + Susannah b: Bet. 1710–1720, m: Unknown
......3 Susannah Gaulding* b: 1740 in Virginia, USA, d: Unknown + Freeman Gaulding Sr. b: 1750 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA, m: Bef. 1772, d: Jul 1803 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA
......3 Jacob "son of Alexander" Gaulding* b: Abt. 1740 in Virginia, USA, d: Aft. 1772 + Elizabeth Unknown b: Abt. 1740
...2 Elizabeth Gaulding^ b: 07 Jun 1720 in Christchurch, Middlesex, Virginia, USA, d: 1729 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA
...2 Samuel Gaulding* **^ b: Abt. 1732 in St Peters, New Kent, Virginia, USA, d: 1785 in Campbell, Virginia, USA + Elizabeth Turner* ** b: Abt. 1732 in Virginia, USA; This is an estimate. Her birthdate is not known., m: 28 Dec 1764 ; Galden, Samuel, & Elizabeth Turner 28 Dec. 1764, d: 1792 in Amelia, Virginia, USA
......3 WILLIAM TURNER GAULDING*++^ b: 1752 in King William, Virginia, USA, d: 09 Sep 1841 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA + Margaret "Peggy" LANE* ** b: 1760 in King William, Virginia, USA, m: Abt. 1779 in Virginia, USA, d: 1835 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA + Melissa "Dicey" Burnett*^ b: 1807 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA, m: 15 Jun 1835 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA, d: 1870 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA
......3 Archibald Gaulding* b: 1754 in Virginia, USA, d: Aft. 1785
......3 Elizabeth Gaulding*^ b: 26 Dec 1764 in Goochland, Virginia, USA, d: 1850 in Cocke, Tennessee, USA + Robert SMITH* b: 21 Nov 1751 in Chesterfield, Virginia, USA, m: 1782 in Goochland, Virginia, USA, d: 1789 in Greene, Tennessee, USA. Were Elizabeth Gaulding and Anne Elizabeth Gauldin the same person, or were they twins? Birthdate is the same.
Named in the Quaker Encyclopedia
......3 Anne Elizabeth Gauldin, the daughter of Samuel Gauldin and Elizabeth Turner and the granddaughter of John “New Kent” Gaulding b: 26 Dec 1764 in Spotsylvania, Spotsylvania, Virginia, USA, d: 07 Jun 1855 in Charlotte, Virginia, USA + John Stewart* b: 1765 in King and Queen, Virginia, USA, m: 16 Nov 1795 in Campbell, Virginia, USA, d: 1851 in Charlotte, Virginia, USA
......3 Martha "Patty" Gaulding*^ b: 1765 in King William, Virginia, USA, d: 1850 in Jefferson, Cocke, Tennessee, USA + Benoni Carter TALLEY* b: Oct 1770 in Hanover, Virginia, USA, m: 17 Dec 1788 in Campbell, Virginia, USA, d: Oct 1848 in Cocke, Tennessee, USA
......3 Kesiah Gaulding*^ b: 13 Dec 1766 in Campbell, Virginia, USA, d: Aft. 1786 + Thomas McCown b: Abt. 1766, m: 20 Dec 1786 in Campbell, Virginia, USA, d: Aft. 1786
......3 Lucy Gaulding*^ b: 1768 in Campbell, Virginia, USA, d: Aft. 1800 in Tennessee, USA + George WEBB* Sr. b: 1760 in Halifax, Halifax, Virginia, USA, m: 02 Nov 1789 in Campbell, Virginia, USA, d: 03 Feb 1834 in Statesville, Wilson, Tennessee, USA
Conclusion
In summary, an individual’s appearance in Hinshaw’s Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy cannot be construed as evidence of Quaker membership. Because the Encyclopedia is a broad, surname‑based secondary index that incorporates civil documents, mixed‑faith marriages, disciplinary cases, and certificates listing non‑member family members, its entries reflect documentary proximity to Quaker records rather than verified affiliation with the Society of Friends. Only primary Monthly Meeting sources—membership lists, minutes of admission or disownment, marriage proceedings under the care of the meeting, and removal certificates issued to or from a specific meeting—can establish actual Quaker identity.
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