Addenda to Worsham and Washam Family History

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This page last edited on 11 Dec 2006

This page links visitors to interesting and some historic events in the Worsham and Washam Family History.  There are many in the Worsham and Washam Family History, and we have highlighted a few.  We will add to this in the near future.  Please let us know of your interests.

Elizabeth Worsham b abt 1651 Henrico Co., VA. md Richard Kennon about 1673 in Henrico Co., VA.  Their daughter, Mary Kennon, b abt 1677 Conjuror's Neck, Henrico, VA. md John Bolling 29 Dec 1697 St. John’s Church, Henrico Co., VA.  John Bolling was a member of the House of Burgesses and son of Robert Bolling (1646 - 1709) & Jane Rolfe (d. 1676).   Jane Rolfe was a granddaughter of John Rolfe & Pocahontas.  Pocahontas was an Indian princess and daughter of Powhatan, the powerful chief of the Algonquian Indians of Virginia. She was born abt. 1595 Tidewater, James City Co., Virginia to one of Powhatan's many wives. They named her Matoaka, though she is better known as Pocahontas, which means "Little Wanton," playful, frolicsome little girl.  Pocahontas probably saw white men for the first time in May 1607 when Englishmen landed at Jamestown.  On Her Conversion To Christianity in 1613, Pocahontas Winsinocock received in Baptism the name Rebecca and on 5 Apr 1614 became the wife of John Rolfe a settler in Virginia.  She visited England with her husband in 1616. She died at Gravesend, England, while preparing to revisit Virginia, and was buried in St. George's Church on 21 Mar 1617.  See page 7 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

John Stith Pemberton (M.D., Ph. G) was the son of Martha L. Worsham, b 8 Jul 1831 Crawford Co., GA.  In 1886, as a pharmacist in Atlanta, GA, he originated Coca-Cola.  His story is on Addenda page 299 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

Lew Worsham winner of  the U.S. Open in 1947.  It was a triumph over Sam His story is on Addenda page 283 of the Worsham and Washam.  Below are a Lew Worsham commerative medal, a photo of Lew in 1947 at the St. Louis Country Club where he won the US Open, Lew Worsham autograph from the Ryder Cup, photo of Bobe Hope, Bing Crosby and Lew Worsham,

Elizabeth Worsham  b abt 1651 Henrico Co., VA. md Richard Kennon.  US President George Bush and President George Walker Bush are descendants of Richard Kennon & Elizabeth Worsham.  See page 5 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

Tessie Mobley, daughter of Tennie Worsham, was known as Lushanya, a famous Chickasaw Indian Opera star and dramatist.  She was an unusual woman of Chickasaw heritage and was the first America Indian to perform at La Scale in Milan, Italy.   An opera was written about her, “The Robin Woman” by Charles Wakefield Cadman which was performed in the Hollywood Bowl.  She joined the Chicago Opera Company.  When performing in Europe, she was presented to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and sang at the King’s coronation.  Lushanya performed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and many other places.  In 1936, she sang at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia.  See page 328 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

John Henry Worsham, an “Old F.”, in Richmond, VA, wrote the Civil War book One Of Jackson’s Foot Cavalry, His Experience and What He Saw During The War 1861-1865. “In writing my experience and what I saw during the war as one of Jackson's "foot cavalry," it is not my intention to make a comparison of commands, but simply to state what was seen and experienced by me. When other commands are mentioned, it is done to give their position so that the reader may the better understand the situation; and when I have a word of praise for them, it is because they came under my eye. It is needless to make comparisons between different commands of the Army of Northern Virginia. The world never saw such courage, devotion, and patriotism as was displayed by the men of that army, and every man in it who did his duty was a hero."  See page 445 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

Martha Branch Worsham b 11 Feb 1775 Amelia Co., VA. md Abraham P. Maury. "She removed with her husband and two small children to a plantation in Williamson Co., Tenn.  Her husband, Major Abraham Maury, soon took an active part in the affairs of his adopted county and state.  He laid out the county seat and gave the land for the Square and Court House.  He first called the town "Marthasville" for his wife.  But the modest Martha objected and he gave it the name of Franklin.  Major Maury served in the State Legislature for many years.  Maury Co., TN was named for him."  See page 532 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

Richard Wingfield Worsham b abt 1786. After the recent 2000 Presidential campaign between George W. Bush and Al Gore, we find an interesting article titled "Wilkes patriotism at high point in 1824." The information was obtained from an old newspaper clipping owned by Tommy Thorton, Jr. describing an 1824 heated Presidential argument outside the courthouse. The citizens were proud of their court house with a bell from Connecticut that was used to summon people to market, political rallies, fires, and toll curfew. "Feeling had run high during the first months of the Presidential race of 1824. Washington-Wilkes people favored their own William H. Crawford. When a stroke of paralysis rendered Crawford unfit to continue the race for President, our citizens turned to Andrew Jackson and loudly opposed the dour John Quincy Adams." "But there was one Adams man in the town named David Mayo. Going around the streets he proclaimed that if Adams should be elected by the House of Representatives, he would personally ring the court house bell to celebrate this happy event. The supporters of Jackson swore that he wouldn't. When news finally came down that Adams had, indeed, been declared President, Mayo ran shouting to ring the town bell. The Jackson men had cut the bell rope and stood taunting Mayo." "But I will ring that bell for Adams!" Mayo declared and set out to climb the cupola. ... Mayo exultantly hit the bell a mighty blow with his hammer and rang it. He also cracked it a bit and the people became very angry." "Now Mayo announced to the crowd below that he would plant a flag on the weather vane in honor of President John Quincy Adams. The crowd watched while he inched his way up the cupola and set the flag atop. He scarcely moved away when Dick Worsham raised his rifle and shot the flag down. Angrily, David Mayo said that he would go up again and put the flag back up." "If you do, "Dick Worsham said, "I will try my rifle on you instead of the flagpole and you know I never miss." The flag was not flown in Washington for President Adams."  See Addenda page 456 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

Delbert C. Worsham "Del" b. 11 Feb 1970  Los Angeles Co, CA.  Dellis a descendant of Tecumseh Sherman Worsham.  He is shown with his father, Charles Everett Worsham "Chuck" and his mother, Elaine Jennings, known as "Grandma".   Del's passion was race cars, and Funny Cars in particular.  He became a car owner by 1978, with his legendary "Screamer" Funny Car.   In 1998 this Worsham Family was named winners of the Blaine Johnson Award, annually presented to the racer or family who show the most dedication, perseverance, and family values. " The roaring standing ovation from the NHRA crowd said it all, as Del, his father and best friend Chuck, and Elaine "Grandma" Worsham accepted their award."  See Addenda page 592 of the Worsham and Washam Family History.

This old letter is from "Washam Easley, Muddy Creek, Loudon Co., Tenn."  Manuscript postmark dated February 4, (18)74. This is a rare cover since Muddy Creek was a fairly short-lived post office in Loudon County, Tennessee according to a Tennessee Post Offices book.

In 1884, 4 West 55th Street was purchased by John D. Rockefeller, Sr., from Arabella Worsham.  Arabella, who took John Archer Worsham's name, md. 2nd) Collis Potter Huntington, the famous railroad baron and shipping magnate, 12 Jul 1884.   Arabella Duval Yarrington's story is featured in the book "The Grandes Dames" by Stephen Birmingham, 1982, pub. Simon and Schuster: "The Moorish salon in Arabelia's first "important" house, at 4 West 54th Street in New York City. Huntington paid for it in cash, and she, though self-educated, decorated it so successfully that her rooms are currently on display at the Museum of the City of New York and the Brooklyn Museum."  " Henry Huntington nephew of the late C. P., built Rancho San Marino (below) in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles to lure his beloved Arabella to the West Coast. When they eventually married, they assembled at San Marino one of the most important private collections of rare books and art in the world. Its contents, including Gainsborough's Blue Boy, were to become the Huntington Art Museum. They lived in the house only a month or so every year. Where Arabella led, her adoring Henry followed." (The Grandes Dames)  "The Grandes Dames" includes Eva Roberts Stotesbury, Isabella Gardner, Edith Rosenwald Stern, Edith Rockefeller McCormick, Arabella Worsham Huntington, Eleanor Belmont, Ima Hogg, Mary Hopkins Emery.  See this interesting story under the John Archer Worsham section.

In 1991, the renowned Charleston wildlife artist, Anne Worsham Richardson, was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.  Her watercolor paintings have sold for as much as $30,000.  Anne is in Addenda to the Peter Seth Worsham section (page 753) of the Worsham and Washam Family History as Annie

Worsham Field is where Virginia Tech plays football. On 5 Sep 1992, Worsham Field was officially dedicated in honor of Wes and Janet Worsham, longtime Hokie supporters from Kilmarnock, VA. The stadium is named for the late Edward H. Lane, a graduate of the university and a former member of the Board of Visitors.  This photo was taken of Worsham Field in 2003 at the Virginia Tech vs. Miami football game.

Virginia Tech Magazine Vol. 14, Num 2 Winter 1992, p23:

The Lane Stadium field will be known as Worsham Field when Virginia Tech opens its 1992 football season, thanks to a $1-million Second Century Campaign pledge from Kilmarnock, Va., Hokie booster Wes Worsham and his wife, Janet. The Worsham gift will be used to fund capital projects and is the second $1-million pledge in the Second Century Campaign for intercollegiate athletics. It pushes the total raised to more than $13 million, just $4 million short of the December 1992 goal of $17 million. Wes Worsham serves on the board of directors of the Virginia Tech Foundation, the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, and on the steering committee of the Second Century Campaign. All four of his children and stepchildren--son Wayne, '78; daughter Angela Quick, '81; and stepdaughters Melanie Bonner, '89; and Stephanie Stahl, '89--graduated from Virginia Tech. Bonner is pursuing a doctorate in psychology at Virginia Tech now. The field is being named for the whole family, while the stadium will remain Lane Stadium. "Virginia Tech has been very good to members of my family, and this gift is one way we can return some of the favors that have been extended to us," Worsham said in explaining why he made the pledge. Worsham, a Powhatan native, established Worsham Sprinklers, sold that in 1971, and then founded Wesway Sprinkler Inc. in 1978. He is semiretired from the business. He donated $300,000 worth of land to Virginia Tech in 1986, and the football office complex was named "The Worsham Suite" at that time. "The entire university is honored and inspired by the commitments expressed by Wes Worsham and his family," said Virginia Tech president James McComas. "Their name will now stand for an athletic field of excellence; their contributions and dedication will challenge us to excellence in many fields. All of us connected with the Tech program appreciate the loyalty and generosity of the entire Worsham family."

More information is at: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/lanestadium.html There is also information at http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium-pictures/north_america/united_states/virginia/bla

This site is an addenda to "Worsham and Washam Family History"

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