The first known Vautorte was Joel, born about 1000. Before dying in 1054, he fathered Hugh, Ralph, Roger, Goesfried, Joel II, and Reginald (born in 1032 near Torteval in Normandy). The Vautortes held lands in northern French provinces of Normandy and Mayenne including the towns of Torteval and Vautorte. When William, Duke of Normandy invaded England in 1066; Reginald, Hugh, Goesfried, Ralph and Roger accompanied him and were at the Battle of Hastings.

William, now King of England, granted Reginald land in Devon and Cornwall and the barony of Harberton. Reginald built Trematon Castle in the village of Saltash in Cornwall upon the ruins of an earlier Roman fort.

For over nine centuries Trematon Castle has overlooked Plymouth harbor. The walls of the keep are 27 feet high and 15 feet thick at the base. The internal diameter is about 70 feet. The rectangular gatehouse, built in 1270, has two stories and a portcullis. Both are still in good condition today, one could live in gatehouse. When Sir Francis Drake returned from his round the world voyage in 1580, the treasures he "collected" from Spanish treasure galleons were stored in Trematon Castle.

The last Vautorte owner of Trematon was Roger de Vautorte, who sold the castle to Richard, Earl of Cornwall in 1270. After Roger died in 1275, the land and titles were split up, and the family ceased to play an important role in Devon and Cornwall. There were, however, no shortage of Vautortes in the area; as younger siblings had struck out to become squires, knights and farmers in their own right.

From 1066, civil and Church records spelled the name various ways: Vautorte, Valletort, Valtorta, Vautordus, Vautord and eventually Vauter and Vawter. By the 15th century, there were Vawters spread all over Devonshire.

Grace Vawter Bicknell's book, The Vawter Family in America credits a John Vawter (born in 1665 near Plymouth England) as the "father" of American Vawters, coming here in 1685. But almost everyone now disputes this, and many even question his existence.

Larry Wilcox's book, De Valletort Norman Knights, places a John Vawter in America in 1656. Martin Baker of New Kent County, Virginia paid for the transportation of 35 individuals from Plymouth, England. John Vawter was one of these 35. Captain John Opie II, brought these indentured servants on his ship, the "Richard and James" to work on the Baker Plantation near present day Richmond, Virginia. Voyage took 35 days.

Probably born between 1645 and 1660, possibly near Plymouth, England, but could well be a son of the John Vawter of Baker's Plantation. He appears in Virginia by 1665 and settled in Old Rappahannock County. He, too, may have been indentured to a Mr. Thomas Opie and may have had a brother named John.

In any event, we know Bartholomew married Winifred Hodgson about 1691-93. By the time of his death in 1717, he owned a large plantation. Bartholomew and Winifred had six children: Edward, Richard, Benjamin, John, Augustine, Margaret, all born in Essex County, VA.

Born in Virginia in 1691, died in 1752. He married Margaret Noel (daughter of Daniel Noel), and they had seven children: Bartholomew, Angus, Richard, Beverly (male), Margaret, Winifred, and David.

Born about 1725-33, he may have died about 1779, married Mary Offill (daughter of Mary Rucker and granddaughter of Peter Rucker). They had six children: Jesse (b. 1755), Philemon, William, Winifred, Margaret, Mary and, perhaps, another son named David.

Born in 1755, died in 1838. He married Elizabeth Watts (daughter of John and Sarah Watts). During the Revolutionary War, Jesse served in Capt John Camp's Company, First Virginia Regulars under Col. George Gibson. Jesse and Elizabeth had nine children: John, William, James (b. 1783), Frances, Mary, Sarah, Julia, Achilles, and Ann. Link to photograph of Jesse's grave.

Born in 1783, died in 1872. He married Sarah Watts (b. 1796) and had at least one son, James S. Vawter (b. 1831).

May 9, 1831 to Aug. 5, 1881

Married Pheba Almeida Rawlings (Rollins) in 1864 and had two daughters, Effie (b. 1872) and Ada. James lived most of his life in Jefferson and Johnson Counties, Indiana. He was a grocer and postmaster. Pheba died 7-13-1887.

Aug. 10, 1872 to Feb. 26, 1921

Born in North Madison, IN, died in Billings, MT. Married George Scott Kerr and had three children, Stanley Ingomar Lycurgus Kerr, Arleigh Robert Kerr, and Reese Vawter Kerr.

Vawter Genealogy Details

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