JOHN W. WINGFIELD
Was born at Woodland, Albemarle county, Virginia, on June 28, 1831,
now a resident of Saltville, engaged in business there as book-keeper. At
Lynchburg, Virginia, Rev. John L. Pritchard officiating clergyman, he
married, December 21, 1855, Custine Cary Nelson, who was born at "Glen
Cary," Campbell county, Virginia, September 24, 1830. The record of
the children of their union is: Edgar Cary, born October 4, 1856, resides
now at Birmingham, Alabama, Mary Page, born March 26, 1858,
lives at Saltville, John Lawrence, born January 10, 1861, lives now at
Staunton; Charles Waller, born December 22, 1862, died October 16,
1863, Walter, born November 7, 1864, died November 1, 1865.
The genealogy of the families of Mr. and Mrs. Wingfield show them to
be the descendants of families of renown, the names of Wingfield, Nicholas,
Cary, and Nelson eminent in the annals of Virginia. Charles
Wingfield, father of John W., was born in Hanover county, Virginia, and
died in 1864, at Woodland, Albemarle county. He was a son of Thomas
Wingfield, who was born in Hanover county, and died there, and Ann
Wingfield, nee Davis, born in Hanover county, in 1754, died in that
county in 1831. The mother of John M. was Cary Ann Nicholas, born
at "Alta Vista," Albemarle county, Virginia, died in 1835 at Woodland.
She was a daughter of Valentine Nicholas, who was born in Albemarle
county, and died at "Oakland," that county, in 1834. Her mother
was a Miss Harris, born in Albemarle county in 1756, died at "Alta
Vista," that county, in 1820.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Wingfield, Valentine Nicholas, was a
brother of Wilson Cary Nicholas, governor of Virginia, 1815-6 (see Volume
I, of this work). Valentine Nicholas was one of the wealthiest
proprietors in Albemarle county at one time, his estate valued at $1,500,000,
and his home, "Alta Vista," a palatial residence. He unfortunately
endorsed, to an unlimited extent, for a younger brother, who
was a reckless speculator in Kentucky, and the endorsements culminated
in his financial ruin, his magnificent estate and all his earthly possessions
being sold at vendue, even down to his gold snuff-box, presented
to him by an English friend. This sudden and complete ruin
wrecked the mind of his young wife, who died a maniac. Being yet in
the prime of life, of iron constitution, possessed of his integrity and a
man of ability, he rallied from this disaster, and accumulated a handsome
estate, and at his death left his children in comfortable circumstances.
The wife of John M. Wingfield is a daughter of Peter C. Nelson, born
in Hanover county, February 2, 1794, died in that county in 1852. He
was a son of Peter Nelson, who was born and died in Hanover county,
and who was an Episcopalian clergyman in early life, later a Baptist
minister. The wife of Peter Nelson was Ann Lawrence, born and died
in Hanover county. Mrs. Wingfield's mother was Sallie Cary, born in
Norfolk county, Virginia, November 6, 1806, died in Lynchburg,
November 11, 1848. Sally Cary was a daughter of Miles Cary, born in
Norfolk county, March 8, 1773, died in Lynchburg in 1850. His wife
was Elizabeth King, born in Norfolk county in 1778, died in Lynchburg
in 1855. Captain Miles Cary, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Wingfield,
was the eldest descendant of the Cary who came with two brothers to
the colony of Virginia from England. He had at his death the "Court
of Arms," of England, which is still in the possession of his descendants.
It is said there are many millions of dollars in the vaults of the Bank of
England belonging to the Cary family.
The earliest seated in Virginia of the Wingfield family was Edward M.
Wingfield, first President of the Council of Virginia (see pp. 8 and 14, of
Volume I). Of many other illustrious names connected with this family,
or of it, may be mentioned J. Richard Wingfield, cousin to John W.,
former senator to the Virginia legislature, now consul to Costa Rica,
residence at San Jose. Judge Gustavus Wingfield, of the circuit court of
Franklin county; Bishop Wingfield, of the Episcopal church, Virginia;
and Henry Clay, the orator and statesman of Kentucky. Of the same
family as the last-named was Henry Clay, of "The Slashes," Hanover
county, who was first cousin to Mr. Wingfield's father.
The so-called "Winfield" Scott, general U. S. A., was a Wingfield by
maternal descent. From some foolish freak or foolish pride he petitioned
the Legislature to permit him to drop the "g" from the name
his mother had given him, she being a Miss Wingfield, which request
was granted, he thus becoming "Winfield" Scott.
