Nathaniel "Nathan" Chittum

Rocky Hollow Cem. is located on Rt. 654 on Haven Nicely's farm, formerly the old John A. Nicely farm, at the foot pf North Mt. on Hayslett Creek, Collierstown, Va.

In 1838 Nathan, wife and 1st 6 children went west in an open spring wagon. They lived in Jefferson Co.Tn., Cole Co. Mi., Fayette Co. Ky. before returning to Kerr's Creek in 1841 and then to Botetourt Co., Va. in 1842.

NATHANIEL CHITTUM

Nathaniel (Nathan) Chittum, the youngest child of John and Nancy Sly Chittum, was bornin Goochland County, Virginia on 11 July 1798.He moved with his parents in 1817 to a farm onSouth Buffalo Creek, Rockbridge County, Virginia. On 15 June 1826, Nathan married Elizabeth "Betsy" Deacon (1809-1845), daughter of William and Nancy Peel Deacon of Rockbridge County. The family farm had been bequested to Nathan in his father's will (1834) for him to care for his mother. His mother relinquished her dower for $50 so he could sell the 109 acre family farm. In 1838, Nathan with his wife and six children: Mary Ann (b. 1827), John Pleasant (b. 1828), Eliza Jane (b. 1829), William Wesley (b. 1831), Amanda Frances (b. 1832), and Charles Fletcher (b. 1834) in an open spring wagon went west. They lived in Jefferson County, Tennessee; Cole County, Missouri and Fayette County, Kentucky before returning to Kerrs Creek in 1841 and then moved to Botetourt County in 1842. Nathaniel Anderson,born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, 19 January, 1840; Henry Jefferson, born 6 April 1843 in Botetourt County and George Washingtonbom in Rockbridge, 10 July 1845. His mother,Betsy Deacon Chittum, died the same day. She was buried in an unmarked grave in Deacon Cemetery.

Nathaniel remarried on 26 August 1851 in Botetourt County to Margaret "Peggy" St. Clair Kessler (1817-1878), daughter of William St.Clair and widow of Nathaniel Kessler (b. 1808 - d. before 1850). She had one daughter, Delilah Ann Kessler (1839-1897). Peggy raised her daughter, Delilah, Nathan's three youngest sons, Nathaniel Anderson, Henry Jefferson, and George Washington, and their two children,Sarah Elizabeth (1852-1924) and Lemuel Preston (1854-1941) on their farm in Bedford County, near Vinton, Virginia. Peggy was buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery, Vinton, Virginia

Five of Nathan's sons were in the Confederate Army:

John Pleasant, Pvt. Co. B 27th Infantry, Creek, served 3 years, wounded, Port Republic, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.

William Wesley, Pvt. Co. B 27th Infantry, killed at Port Republic.

Nathaniel Anderson, Pvt. Co. D 29th Infantry wounded four times and taken as POW at Sayler's Creek, 6 April 1865, released from Point Lookout, Maryland, 24, June 1865.

Henry Jefferson, Cpl. Co. B 58th Infantry,

George Washington, Pvt. Co. B 58th Infantry, wounded and captured at Spotsylvania, 12 May 1864, sent to Fort Delaware and exchanged, 31 October 1864.

After Peggy's death, Nathan returned to Rockbridge County to live with his daughter, Eliza Jane, who had married John A. Nicely. His daughter, Sarah E. came with him to Rockbridge to care for him. He was in his 96th year when he died on 21 March 1894. He was buried on the Nicely farm, Rocky Hollow Cemetery, at the foot of North Mountain on Hayslett Creek, Collierstown, Virginia.

Sarah E. Chittum lived with several different relatives in Rockbridge. She died 23 May 1924 and is buried at Union View Adventist Church Cemetery, Collierstown, Virginia, Submitted by: Dorothy Chitturn Delmar

Sources:

* Rockbridge County News 27 March 1894, Pg. 3

* Nancy and John, A Chitturn Genealogy by John W. Chitturn, Mae Chittum and Dorothy C. Delmar, Pg. 3, 218- 344.

* Rockbridge Co. Cemeteries, Vol I Kerrs Creek District by Angle Ruley Pg. 12. 14.

* 28th Va. Infantry by Frank E. Fields, Jr. Pg. 53;

* 58th Va. Infantry by Robert J. Driver. Jr. Pg. 97;

* 27th Va. Infantry by Lowell Reidenbaugh, Pg. 135.