TALBERT CREST

Spelling variations of the surname Talbert include: Talbot, Talbott, Talbut, Talbart, Talbert, Tallbutt and many more.

Our earliest Talbert ancestors settled in Saltville, Washington County area  in the late 1700s.  Basil Talbert (1739-1804) was born in Prince Georges Co, Maryland. Wife was Sara Athey.  Children included Basil Jr, Mary, Thomas, Charles, Elizabeth, and Nicholas.   He acquired his wealth through land grants. Upon his death, son Charles and wife Elizabeth McReynolds inherited the home place and 300 acres of land.  Much of the farm he owned now lies under the “muck dam” at Saltville. Below is a picture of the original home place.

                                                  TALBERT FOLK LORE

An interesting Talbert story........

There is an interesting story surrounding the marriage of Basil Talbert (1806-1882) to Elizabeth Pratt.  William Campbell Preston, in his book of memoirs, described the Basil-Elizabeth marriage.  Also, in a high school project, a student at Patrick Henry High School researched her family tree to learn about her ancestors.  She was fascinated by the story told by her grandmother, which they passed down from previous generations.  The stories go something like this....Andrew Shannon approached Basil Talbert of Saltville to marry a young woman who was staying in his house.  The young woman had borne three of Shannon's children.  According to the story, Andrew's wife, the former Mary Davis,  became suspicious when the young woman became pregnant the first time; but when she became pregnant the third time, she gave him an ultimatum: either get the woman married or move her out of the house.  It is alleged that  Andrew Shannon offered Basil Talbert forty acres of land and a cow for each child if he would marry the young woman.  Basil agreed, and the marriage took place, but, no record exists to show that he actually gave him the land.  Young Basil took his bride and her three children to a farm in White Rock Cove, just north of McCready's Gap.  The land in White Rock Cove was rich farm land, much better than the land in the valley.  Exactly when they moved into the cove is unknown, but it was sometime after they were married.

Smyth County Census, 1860 lists the Basil Talbot family living in resident number 338, family number 338.  They appeared to be neighbors of Thomas Taylor and Andrew J. Taylor.    Basil Talbot was listed as age 53.  Wife Elizabeth, age 46.  Children were:  Oliver, 20; Nancy C., 18; James, 16; Thomas 13; Sara 10; Charles T. 7.  Also living in the household was Elizabeth, age 78.  This must be the mother of Basil, Elizabeth McReynolds, widow of Charles Talbert.

There are several Basil Talberts in our family tree.  Basil (1739-1804) born in Maryland, and married Sarah Athey, moved to Washington County sometime after 1790.  Basil Jr. (1759-1818), born in Maryland, married Mary Logan and Basil (1806-1882), son of Charles, born in Washington County and married Elizabeth C. Pratt.