Macon Family History & Genealogy

ideon (or Gedeon) Macon (c. 1648–1702) was an early American settler.[1] Gideon Macon's parents were from Loire, France, but Gideon had to have either been born in England or have become an English citizen to have been permitted to come to Virginia since only English citizens could live in the colony at the time. Since his family was believed to have been Hugenot or of Hugenot descent,[2] they may have lived for a time in England. Many Hugenots fled France during the French Wars of Religion. Gideon Macon came to Virginia sometime before 1672.[1] SECRETARY TO GOVERNOR WILLIAM BERKELEY Macon served as Secretary to Sir William Berkeley[1] who was appointed Governor of Virginia by King Charles I for two nonconsecutive terms. Berkeley's first term was from 1642-1652. In 1652 Berkeley was forced from office by a fleet of British warships sent by Oliver Cromwell, but he remained in the colony. Gideon was Secretary during the Governor's Second Administration (1660–1677). ADDITIONAL ROLES From 1671 to 1681, Gideon was also an attorney in York County, Virginia.[1] He was a sub-sheriff of York County in 1672,[1] under Daniel Wild, who was by some accounts his brother-in-law.[1] He had land patents in the counties of New Kent for 545 acres (2.21 km2), Henrico for 148 acres (0.60 km2), and two grants in King and Queen county for 172 and 425 acres (1.72 km2).[1] He also served as a vestryman of Bruton Parish in 1678.[1] MOVE TO NEW KENT COUNTY NEW RESIDENCE AT MOUNT PROSPECT New Kent County (established in 1654 from York County) was where Gideon Macon built his home in 1680 on Macon's Island. He named his estate Prospect Hill or "Mount Prospect". Shortly thereafter, he married Martha Woodward, daughter of William Woodward,[3] interpreter to the Pamunkey tribe. Martha's father, William Woodward, owned a large tract of land along the Pamunkey River above Johns Creek which his two daughters inherited.[3] CHURCHWARDEN In 1684, Gideon Macon was named Churchwarden in St. Peter's Parish and was actively involved in managing affairs in that post until the time of his death.[1] He was also commander-in-chief of the military in New Kent County. The vestry would have the duties of appointing the clergymen, investigating cases of suspected moral delinquency, and to set and collect the parish levy to cover expenses.[1] The members of the vestry would rotate in the position of the churchwarden. The two churchwardens would be the representatives of the vestry. They would ensure that the church was properly maintained, collect and may the ministers dues, and keep all of the church accounts. It was also their responsibility to ensure that illegitimate children were provided for, that indigent orphans were indentured, and that the sick and elderly were lodged and boarded at the parish's expense.[1] HOUSE OF BURGESSES Gideon Macon quickly became prominent in the affairs of New Kent County, and he was elected to the General Assembly and served as a Burgess in the House of Burgesses in 1693 and 1696 to 1702. DEATH There are conflicting reports regarding Gideon Macon's burial. One report states that Gideon Macon is buried at the foot of the chancel in Bruton Parish Church. Another report states that he was buried in the family plot on Macon's Island, and that the gravestone was destroyed by the Federal Army in 1862 during the American Civil War 160 years after his death. Macon was an early Vestryman at Bruton Parish Church, and a brass tablet marks a pew in his name. OTHER NOTABLE FACTS Gideon Macon was the father of Martha Macon, who was the mother of Frances Jones. Frances was, in turn, the mother of Martha Dandridge (wife of George Washington). He was also the great-grandfather of Nathaniel Macon, who was both the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1801–1808 and Senator from North Carolina from 1815-1828. Upon Gideon Macon's death in 1702, his widow, Martha Woodward Macon, married Captain Nathaniel West who was also a representative in the House of Burgesses. Captain Nathaniel West and Martha Woodward had two children, and their daughter, Unity West, married Frances Jones's brother-in-law, William Dandridge. FAMILY Gideon Macon married Martha Woodward in 1680. They had eight children: Elizabeth Macon Gideon Macon (1682–1704)[2] Ann Macon Massie (1684–1728)[4][5](married Charles Massie) Martha Macon Jones (1687–1716),[1] mother of Frances Jones[2] and grandmother of Martha Dandridge[1][2](wife of George Washington). Martha Macon Jones's tomb is on Prospect Hill.[2] William Macon (1690–1693)[2] William Macon (1693–1773)[1][2] John Macon (1695–1752)[1][2] (married Ann Hunt and was grandfather of Nathaniel Macon) James Macon (1701–1768)[1][2]

Gideon Macon and Martha Woodward are the grandparents of Martha Dandridge, who married George Washington. Martha Woodward was born sometime between 1657 and 1665. She is the first of Martha Dandridge’s female ancestors that we can identify with certainty. About 1680, this Martha married Gideon Macon, a Hugenot planter who had immigrated in 1672. The Macons built a house called Mount Pleasant on Macon’s Island in the Pamunkey River. Their plantation incorporated the land that Martha inherited from her parents. They had six children between 1681 and 1701. Their eldest was another Martha. In early 1702, Gideon died. Within a year, the widowed Martha Woodward Macon, now in her late thirties or early forties, married a wealthy bachelor Captain Nathniel West of West Point, a neighbor. Their only child was a daughter named Unity, born about 1703. Widowed, remarried to a Sottish merchant and widowed again, Martha Woodward Macon West Biggers moved back to Mount Pleasant where she resided until her death in 1723 [1] Birth Martha was born 1662 in New Kent, Virginia. Her parents are William Woodward and Martha West. [2] Although there is much dispute over the parents of Martha, and if her last name was indeed West. Other sources have birth date as 1660 in New Kent, VA and 1683, in King William, Virginia. Parents of Martha Woodward: Father: William Woodward Wife: Ukn Henley Or West (Martha West) Child: Martha Woodward Marriage: Event Event: Common ancestor of both William and John Dandridge branches. Marriage She first married Gideon Macon in 1682 and secondly married Nathanial West in 1699. [3] Husband (1): Gideon Macon Wife: Martha Woodward Marriage Date: ABT 1681/2 Children: Martha Macon Jones (1687 - 1716)[4] William Macon (1693 - 1773)[4] John Macon (1695 - 1752) [4] Husband (2): Nathanial West Wife: Martha Woodward Marriage Date: 14 MAY 1702 Children: Unity West Dandridge (1700 - 1753) Husband (3): Biggers Wife: Martha Woodward Death Death Date: BET EST 1726 AND 1757 Death Place: Mount Prospect Burial: Unknown[4] Sources ↑ Martha Washington: An American Life by Patricia Brady. Penguin, May 30, 2006 ↑ Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. ↑ Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 FindAGrave: Memorial ID: 44338535 Martha Woodward See also: Brady, Patricia. Martha Washington: An American Life. Penguin, May 30, 2006. Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. [Family Tree online] FindAGrave: Memorial ID: 44338535 Martha Woodward

John T. Macon Sr. was born on December 17, 1695 at St. Peters Perish in New Kent County, United States County, VA to Gideon Macon Sr. and Martha Woodward Macon. He was in a relationship with Ann Hunt Macon, and had a child John Macon, Jr.. John Macon died at age 56 years old in 1752 at New Kent County, Virginia, United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John Macon, Sr..

Anne (Hunt) Macon was born ca. 1698, Charles City Co., VA and died Feb. 08, 1724/25, Charles City Co., VA. Daughter of William (III) and Tabitha (Underwood) Hunt Wife of John Macon, Sr. ~ married ca. 1716, Charles City Co., VA Their children were ... 1. John Macon, Jr. 2. Gideon Hunt Macon, Sr. (m. Priscilla Jones) 3. Frances Macon (m. Daniel Pegram, Jr.)

John Jr. Macon Jr. was born in 1718 in Virginia US, and died at age 67 years old circa 1785 in NC. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John Macon, Jr..

John Macon III was born in 1756 at North Carolina, USA to John Macon, Jr.. He was in a relationship with Elizabeth Bowdoin Macon, and had a child William Bowdoin Macon. John Macon died at age 51 years old on April 28, 1808 at Randolph County North Carolina, USA. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John Macon, III.

Elizabeth (Bowdoin) Macon was born in 1764 in North Carolina US, and died at age 40 years old in 1804 in . Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Elizabeth Bowdoin Macon.

Martha Randolph Jennings Macon was born on September 11, 1785 at North Carolina, USA, and died at age 73 years old on January 17, 1859 at Hardeman County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Martha Randolph Jennings Macon.

William Bowdoin Macon was born on November 20, 1786 at Randolph County North Carolina, USA, and died at age 70 years old on March 31, 1857 at Hardeman County Tennessee, USA. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember William Bowdoin Macon.

This is a photograph of the original charcoal drawing of Pleasant Hill Macon. It was in my husbands possession for many years. It was given to my husband Jesse Magee Macon, Jr by his father Jesse Magee Macon. The original is now in the possession of Kathleen Macon-Thompson, my husbands sister.

Susan Macon of Sacramento, Sacramento County, California was born on August 2, 1867, and died at age 100 years old in February 1968.

George Macon of Baldwyn, Lee County, MS was born on March 15, 1872, and died at age 94 years old on July 15, 1966.