Handwritten FitzSimons–Stoney–Gaillard family notes with portrait of the Reverend Nathaniel Bowen

A heavily inscribed page. A printed clergyman’s portrait sits at the upper left; the center holds vital records in ink; the lower middle carries a long cursive narrative in pencil; the right side holds a Stoney–Gaillard genealogical chart and notes in pencil and ink. A typewritten paragraph is paperclipped at the lower right.

Upper-left portrait (clipping with printed caption)

THE REVEREND NATHANIEL BOWEN

[small italic caption beneath, partly illegible]: … “THE REVEREND NATHANIEL BOWEN” was done during [Morse’s?] [period?] of painting prosperity in Charleston, S.C. between 1818 and 182[?]. … [The canvas] is now hanging in New York’s Grace Church, of which Dr. Bowen was the first rector.

[Pencilled annotation beneath the clipping, in the compiler’s hand]: Christopher FitzSimons who married Elizabeth Stoney also lost heavily in [illegible] doing notes for a relation [illegible] … his after [illegible]. [Annotation in the compiler’s hand.]

Upper center (vital records in ink)

Christopher Fitz Simons (2nd) — B. Jan 10th 1802 — D. 1826 [later overwritten to 1831?] [the ink shows visible revision between “Dec 29th 1831” and the earlier “27th December 1826”; see inscription below]

M. Jan 15th 1824

Elizabeth Porcher Stoney — B. Aug 30th 1806 — D. 1873

[arrow:] Buried in Prince George Winyah Church yard – Georgetown – S.C.

They were married by the Rev. Bishop Bowen in Charleston, S.C.

This inscription is on the stone over the grave of Christopher Fitz Simons Jr. in the grave yard near Augusta, Ga. (at “The Cottage”):

Christopher Fitz Simons, Jr.

Departed this Life at Lexington, S.C.

29th December 1831 [earlier in the page the date “27th December 1826” appears for the same event; the compiler’s ink shows visible revision — both readings preserved]

Aged 30 years – 11 months – 19 days

Leaving an affectionate wife and four small children to mourn their early bereavement.

“O God! Thy ways are inscrutable, not just, / For blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord.”

Christopher Fitz Simons and his wife Elizabeth Porcher Stoney had [crossed-out: four] six children —

① Christopher (3rd) B. Jan 29th 1826 – D. [illegible] [marginal: “May 21st 18[??]”] – M. April 26th 1855 Susan William Barker B. June 28th 1827 – D. Dec 19th 1900

② Peter Gaillard Fitz Simons – M. – Julia White [branching:] Elizabeth – M. – William Raoul; Anna – M. – [illegible] Gaillard

③ Catherine Anne Fitz Simons – M. – Mr. Robert W. Vaux of Georgetown, April 18[?]5

④ Paul Fitz Simons – M. – [no spouse named on this line]

⑤ Martha Selina Ford 1857 Elizabeth – B. Feb. 16th 1825 – [d.] [illegible]

⑥ John Stoney B. Oct 29th 1828

Peter Gaillard – M. – Elizabeth Porcher – their daughter Elizabeth Gaillard – M. – John Stoney – their daughter Elizabeth (Porcher) Stoney – M. – Christopher Fitz Simons —

Lower-center / lower-left narrative (in pencil, on Peter Gaillard)

[Heading at top of narrative, partially legible:] Peter Gaillard son of [Theodore?] Gaillard born at Pineville, St. James Parish 1757. He was educated in England. His [warmer/native?] sympathies were with the British, through his influence; on his return to Carolina he joined the British army but his heart was with the Americans. He was in only one engagement — on the British side — and that was at Black Mingo, where he commanded a force against some of Marion’s men. As soon as he came of age he joined Marion’s army.

The book entitled “A Contribution to the History of the Huguenots of S.C.” compiled of pamphlets by Samuel DuBose and Prof. Frederick A. Porcher of Charleston, S.C., gives information of Capt. Peter Gaillard’s services in the Revolution-ary war. The book was arranged by Mr. [T.] Gaillard Thomas of N.Y. and published by the Knickerbocker Press, N.Y. — 1887. Mr. DuBose said Peter Gaillard told [Prof.] Porcher he would like to join Marion’s army. When the General heard it he [expressed] great satisfaction and [Peter] [illegible] …

[Continuation, pencil, lower left:] … many warm encomiums on Peter Gaillard’s conduct at Black Mingo. He and his staff went out of the camp and met Peter Gaillard who [solicited?] and received posts of peril and honor. When [Col.] Coates [British] forced Biggin Church, Capt. Gaillard was [given?] command to check his way to [illegible]. This he gallantly performed at Brayhead, the plantation of Bishop Smith. He [was?] in [every?] engagement south of [illegible], served under Gen. Moultrie and Col. John Laurens. He continued [until?] the [end?] of the war [illegible] …

Right column (Stoney–Gaillard genealogical chart)

John Stoney – M. – Elizabeth Porcher Gaillard

[Children line:] • Elizabeth Porcher Stoney – m. – Christopher FitzSimons • Catherine FitzSimons [sic — appears to read “Catherine FitzSimons” but the genealogical logic of the chart may favor “Catherine Stoney”; letterforms are very close. Preserved here as written; treated as a single person, Catherine FitzSimons, pending further evidence.] – m. – Mr. Robert Wilkins Vaux • Edgar George Stoney – m. – Anne O’Bryan • Eliza C. Stoney – m. – Robert Vaux

[Next generation, branching from Eliza C. / Robert Vaux:] Robert – m. – Eliza C. Stoney [reciprocal annotation] Rabbie Eddie – m. – Lucy Hugen Cleland Minnie – m. – Reid Whitford Mary Whitford – m. – Harold Brecht

[Block below, in pencil:] Anne FitzSimons, daughter of C.S.F. + Catherine [illegible], – m. – Col. Wade Hampton – B. April 21st 1791 – D. Feb. 10th 1858. He was the son of Col. Wade Hampton, B. 1752 – D. 1835, who was the builder of Mill-wood, Columbia, S.C. He married 3 times.

Paperclipped typescript fragment (lower right)

… Captain Peter Gaillard’s wife, Elizabeth Porcher, who was born … 1760 and died 1804, was daughter of Peter Porcher of Peru, and his wife, [illegible — likely “Elizabeth”] Cordes. Peter Porcher of Peru was the son of Peter Porcher, [who married] Marianne Charlotte Gendron, and grandson of Isaac Porcher and … [his wife — Claude Catherine Cordes?] — Isaac Porcher having emigrated from St. Severe, Berry, [France] … about 1686. Elizabeth Cordes, wife of Peter Porcher of Peru, was [the daughter] of Thomas Cordes and Henriette Catherine Gendron, (sister of Marianne), … the granddaughter of Dr. Anthony Cordes, who emigrated from Bazamet, [France], about the same time as the other Huguenot immigrants in [16]86.

Right-side miscellaneous (pencil, smaller items)

[Faint lines, pencil — these appear to be cross-references and may be partial:]

Peter Gaillard – M. – Elizabeth Porcher. Their daughter Elizabeth Gaillard – M. – John Stoney. Their daughter Elizabeth Porcher Stoney – M. – Christopher Fitz Simons.

Bishop [Bowen?] was [illegible] —

Caveats

• The page contains visible ink corrections to dates (1826 vs 1831 for Christopher’s death; 1872 vs 1873 for Elizabeth Stoney’s death). Both readings are preserved rather than chosen. Hunter may want to cross-check against the actual Augusta cemetery inscription.
• The crossed-line annotations in the children list (especially the Peter Gaillard FitzSimons / Julia White / Elizabeth / Anna sub-tree) are spatially compressed and may have been added by a later hand; the numbered structure (1)–(6) is the spine.
• The Bishop Smith / Brayhead identification of the Revolutionary action site is uncertain — “Brayhead” reading is plausible but not confirmed.
• “Catherine FitzSimons” in the Stoney chart may actually read “Catherine Stoney” — letterforms are very close and the genealogical logic favors Stoney. Preserved as a single canonical entry pending confirmation.
• The very-lower-left edge of the narrative trails off into faint pencil that has not been reconstructed.
• The compiler’s pencilled annotation beneath the Bowen portrait clearly says “Christopher FitzSimons who married Elizabeth Stoney also lost heavily” but the rest fades; this likely begins a digression on the family financial losses (the theme of the 1827 panic narrative continued from page 026).