Use the "find in page" function of your browser to locate a person on the page.
MARKS is a name admitting of few variations, and those probably due
to the peculiarities of that period of our history when every man spelled
according to his own inclination. However, we find the name written as Marks,
Marx, Marche, Markes, March, etc. In England it is a name common in many
localities, especially in Suffolk shire, and is one of the old English names
which strangely enough is at present more prolific and illustrious in this
country than in England.
The Marks in early days were noted for their wealth,and have been landed proprietors since early times. The family is noted for its
intelligence and influence, their chief characteristics are well balanced minds
and sound judgment: they are big hearted, public spirited citizens, upright,
and even unto the present generation they are honest, not only in business, but
in all their dealings with their fellowman. It is seldom you find one that is
not bent to an honest purpose, most of them are of deep convictions, and
determined in maintaining their opinions.
Without interesting traditions, family histories would be prosaic
reading. How many valuable records would be unearthed, if we could only follow
the persistent traditions that crop up in every family to their source. the
Hastings-Marks line fairly teems with them dating from the days in old England to the settlement of the family in the Colony of Virginia, and romance abounds.
It is said also that John Marx was a Jew , and eloped with Lady
Hastings against the wishes of her family, the opposition being so great that
he brought his wife to America. settling in Virginia, at Charlottesville, in
Albemarle County. They changed their name from Marx to Marks, gave their
children Christian names, and reared them in the Christian faith. The latter
form of spelling has been handed down in this branch of the family.
The tradition of the Jew exists only in some branches of the family, some do not
accept it in any version, and others have never even heard of it. Some are of
the opinion, or rather a tradition has been handed down to them that John Marx
was a barrister, or counselor at law, and was not considered the social or
political mate for the high born daughter of the house of Hastings, which
besides being royalty itself, boasted of many distinguished members; at any rate
this couple left their native land and all their people, and sought a home in this more democratic nation.
The pros and cons of the Jewish theory are about evenly divided and as it
seems inpossible to verify either version we will waste no time in trying to
force an acceptance of one or the other. There is much that could probably be
learned about the Marks and Hastings alliance, but so far no proof of this
connection has been forthcoming. Research has not been of very much avail, it
ramains for some member of the family to make personal investigation of the
families in England.
The Hastings' family recored should reveal the mariage of Elizabeth, of Anne Hastings, into the Marx (Marks) family. The other part of
the tradition says that she was disinherited by her people for her misalliance,
and that her name was expunged fromtheir records. If that is true, they cleared
the records so thoroughly that it has been inpossible to make a satisfactory
research along either line. So we will begin our record with John Marks and his
wife Elizabeth Hastings, of England.
Child or grandchild or possibly great grandchild:
p. 3. footnote: John Marks, Planter-St. Marks Parish, Spotsylvania Co.,
VA on S. side of Rapidan, 23 Oct 1734; John Marks, and Mary- his wife and Mary,
the daughter of said John...VA County Records. V.1. Crozier.
p. 3-4; John Marx (Marks) of Suffolk County, England, married Elizabeth
Hastings, also of England, about 1680-1685; this date is tentative, and may not
be correct, but is given here as a working basis. It is said they came to
America to cast their lot, and settled near Charlottesville, Virginia. It is
supposed to have been at this time that the name was changed from Marx to
Marks, which latter form has been handed down through the generations.
Wood's HISTORY OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, gives a list of their
children. But we find that this list is incorrect. There is a difference of
almost a century betwen their marriage and the marriage of Sarah, in 1782, who
is listed as their daughter, in Wood's History, p 263.
p. 36; Orange Co. VA Tithe Lists - Wm and Mary Quarterly, Jul 1918, p. 19.
Said County bounded South by Hanover, north by Fairfax Grant. Tithe List for
1734 - John Marks and Richard Sims, and several others.
[E-Mail me] [Nita Muņoz: nrmmunoz@peoplescom.net] [ Back to the Top][ To Home Page] Page last Updated: 13 Sep 1999 You are the visitor since 23 May 1997
Boddie
Campbell
Dickson
Gildersleeve
Gonzalez
Hicks
Lanier
Maddux
Marks
Morgan
Moseley
Munoz
Powell
Pedigree
Raines
Williams
Links
About Us
JOHN MARKS and ELIZABETH HASTINGS, In Pettigrew, Marian Dewoody & Brightwell, Newton Edward, MARKS-BARNETT
FAMILIES AND THEIR KIN, p. 1-5, Mrs. Pettigrew, writing in 1939, offers the following observations:
First Generation
First Grneration
They brought with them nothing that would bind them to the past, not even records. The tradition of Jewish origin has not only
been understood in the compiler's branch of the family, but has been accepted
as a fact. Mrs. Foster who has given the subject much time and thought writes,
"We have the foregoing Jewish tradition that was accepted by my grandmother in
Georgia, who got it from her uncles after they came West, thence to New
Orleans, she in turn beccame the sole authority for us of the younger
generation."
Notes
Bibliography