The Sisson Family
Robert Sisson was born about 1635 in an unknown location. His father may have been Thomas Sisson, a haberdasher who emigrated from London to Virginia before 1622. One online family tree indicates that the father of Thomas Sisson was Richard Syson. Robert married Amy (unknown) Sisson on 26 Dec 1659 in Richmond, Virginia. They were the parents of Margaret and William Sisson. Robert Sisson was one of the witnesses to the will of Thomas Wright, dated Oct 23, 1661, and probated Mar 10, 1666 in Rappahannock Co., Virginia. He was also a witness to the will of Roger Williams, dated Feb 26, 1675, probated Jan 6, 1677. Robert Sisson served as a clerk of county court, or at least sometime clerk, for Rappahannock County. Robert died about 1692 at about age 57 in Richmond County, Virginia.
William Sisson was born about 1671 in Rappahannock (now Richmond) Co. He married Martha Hodgson in 1695. They were the parents of Bryan Byron, William and Henry Sisson. William died 6 May 1719 at about age 48 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co., Virginia.
Bryan Byron Sisson was born on 20 Feb 1696 in Richmond, Colony of Virginia. He married Anne Gower about 1725 in the Colony of Virginia. They were the parents of William and Caleb Sisson. He married Rachel Webb about 1765 in Orange County, Colony of Virginia. Bryan died on 22 Aug 1771 at age 75 in Orange, Colony of Virginia.
Ensign Caleb Sisson was born about 1735 in Orange County, Colony of Virginia. He married Nellie Millie Branham on 20 Jul 1771 in Orange County, Virginia. They were the parents of Stanley Sisson. Caleb secondly married Sarah Roach after May 1777 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia. They were the parents of Abner, James Simeon, John Wesley, Jesse, Armistead and Polly Sisson. Caleb died on 17 Sep 1807 at about age 72 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
James S. Sisson (1784-1837) – Founding Father of Sissonville
James Simeon Sisson was born 22 Apr 1784 in Back Creek, Botetourt, Virginia, the son and eldest child of Caleb Sisson and Sarah Roach. His siblings were Stanley Sisson [half], Abner Sisson, John Wesley Sisson, Jesse Sisson, Armistead Sisson and Polly Sisson. The Sisson family had originally emigrated from London, England, in 1640, settling in Rappahannock County, Colony of Virginia.
James served as an Ensign in the Rockbridge Militia under Thomas Ochletree in Virginia. He married Mary “Polly” Cartmill (Bef. 1790), the daughter of Henry C. and Sarah Anderson Cartmill, on 5 Feb 1807 in Botetourt County, Virginia. Their 10 children were Elizabeth “Eliza” Ann Sisson (B. 11 Apr 1808; D. 18 Aug 1891), Sarah Ann Sisson (B. 27 May 1809), Allen Gregory Sisson (B. 1810), Henry Cartmill Sisson (1815-1865), John (B. 1816), Caroline Sisson (Bef. 1820), James C. Sisson (B. 25 Dec 1820; D. 14 Jan 1880), Ann Sisson (B. 1825), Nancy Sisson and Mary Catherine Sisson. All the children were born in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. Five of the children, Eliza, Ann, Allen, John, James C. and Mary C. moved to Missouri. Allen died in Kanawha County while on a visit to West Virginia.
James and Polly moved from Botetourt County, Virginia, prior to April 1808, traveling from near the James River, over the Alleghany Mountains through Cartmill Gap to the headwaters of the Greenbriar River, following it to its junction with the New River, continuing downstream from Hinton, and West (most likely following the Midland Trail) to the Kanawha Valley, where, after traveling more than 220 miles (by today’s standards) of rugged terrain, they made a permanent settlement in the Poca District, northeast of Charleston. James purchased 280 acres of land where present-day Sissonville is located. He purchased additional land in the surrounding area before the town was named in his honor.
James and his family first appear in the Kanawha County Census, enumeration date of 7 Aug 1820, and the record contains the following information: Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 (3); Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 (1); Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 (3); Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 (2); Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over (1);Slaves - Males - Under 14 (2); Slaves - Females - Under 14 (1); Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25 (1); Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture (2); Free White Persons - Under 16 (8); Free White Persons - Over 25 (2); Total Free White Persons (10); Total Slaves (4).
James’ last will and testament may be found on pages 184-185 in Sissonville: A Time to Remember (1988). James died 10 Jul 1837 at the age of 53 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia, and is buried in what is now the Albert E. Humphreys Memorial Cemetery, Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Children of James Simeon and Mary Polly Sisson
1.Elizabeth Ann (Eliza) was born on 11 Apr 1808 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. She married Andrew Koontz in 1825 in Sissonville. She moved to Pettis County, Missouri, after her husband’s death, to live with her daughter Anna Koontz Calvert. She passed away at the age of 83 on 8 Aug 1891, and was buried at Richland Cemetery, Richards, Vernon County, Missouri.
2.Sarah Sisson was born 27 May 1809 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. She married Benjamin Rush Milam (date and location unknown. They were the parents of Anna (Castro), Louisa J. (Deuley), Mary Elizabeth (Fisher) and Leftwich Milam. Sarah died Feb 1880 at age 70 in Kanawha County, West Virginia
3.Allen Gregory Sisson was born about 1810 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Polly Marie Atkinson on 22 May 1833 in Botetourt County, Virginia. They were the parents of Erastus Sisson. Allen died about 1850 at about age 40 in Missouri City, Fort Bend, Texas.
4.Henry C. Sisson was born on 22 Mar 1814 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. He married Rebecca Samuels on 28 Jan 1838 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. They were the parents of James Morris Sisson, Greenbury Sisson, Julia Ann (Williams), Henry Clayton, Mary Catherine (Newhouse), John Wood, Sarah Elizabeth, Benjamin N., Thomas Floyd and Willie. Henry died on 18 Jul 1865 at age 51 in Sissonville, Kanawha, West Virginia. He is buried in the Albert E. Humphreys Memorial Cemetery in Sissonville.
5.Caroline Sisson was born on 15 Dec 1815 in Sissonville, Kanawha, West Virginia. She married Robert Wilson on 7 Jun 1838. They were the parents of Lewis Maddison Wilson. Caroline died on 18 Jun 1848 at age 32 in Laclede, Linn, Missouri.
6.Nancy S. Sisson was born about 1816 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia Now W. Va. No other information available.
7.Mary Catherine Sisson was born on June 17, 1817, in Sissonville, Kanawha City, West Virginia. Her father, James, was 33, and her mother, Mary, was 34. She married John Miles Street on November 18, 1841. They had ten children in 19 years. She died on February 19, 1891, in Missouri at the age of 73, and was buried in Warrensburg, Missouri.
8.James C. Sisson was born on 25 Dec 1820 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Esther Aultz in Oct 1843. He died about 1880 at about age 59 in Johnson, Missouri.
9.H. John Sisson was born about 1823 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. He died in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha Co, Virginia. No further information about his life is currently known.
10.Ann Sisson was born 1826 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. No further information about her life is known.
Children of Henry C. Sisson and Rebecca Samuels
1.James Morris Sisson was born on 7 Dec 1839 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. He married Clarissa M. Atkinson on 6 Jan 1858 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. The were the parents of Rebecca, Josephine, Mary E. (Tribble), Charles H. and Minnie Lee (Greer). James died on 22 Jun 1874 at age 34 in Sissonville, Kanawha, West Virginia.
2.Greenbury Sisson was born in 1842 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. Greenberry enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War and returned home and died of Typhoid Fever in July, 1866 at the age of 24 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
3.Julia Ann Sisson was born in 1844 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha, Virginia. She married William Columbus Williams in 1863 in Jackson County, West Virginia. She died on 7 Aug 1865 at 20 years and 5 months in Kanawha, West Virginia, United States.
4.Henry Clayton Sisson was born in Aug 1846 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Mary Jo McClanahan on 3 Jun 1872 in Kanawha County, West Virginia. They were the parents of William H. Sisson and Boyd A. Sisson. Henry died on 27 Jul 1905 at age 58 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
5.Mary Catherine Sisson was born on 9 Mar 1850 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. She married John Griffith Newhouse on 28 Feb 1867 in West Virginia. They were the parents of Edmond Denver, Mary Evelyn, Mattie, Sarah Elizabeth, Rebecca Erna, Thomas Henry, John Sevetus, Oscar Virgil and Bert Newhouse. Mary Catherine died on 23 Feb 1943 at age 92 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
6.John Wood Sisson was born in Sep 1853 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Louisa Ann Jones [date and location unknown]. They were the parents of Edward, John Herman, Molly Florence (Humphreys), Clemmie C. (Gibson}, Effie Blanche (Humphreys) and Greenberry Sisson. John died in 1901 at about age 47 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
7.Sarah Elizabeth Sisson was born in 1855 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. No other information is currently known.
8.Benjamin N. Sisson was born in June 1858 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Clifton Johnson [date unknown]. They were the parents of Stanley, Mattie Ethel (Gibson), Erma (Melton), Flossie Rebecca (Beane), Myrtle, Ruth, Harry, and Samuel Preston Sisson. Benjamin died on 14 Nov 1931 at age 73 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia. [Benjamin wrote his Will on 28 Feb 1931. Probate 30 Nov 1931 • Kanawha Co., West Virginia, USA]
9.Thomas Floyd Sisson was born on 1 Jun 1861 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. He married Hester Spencer on 17 Mar 1889 in Kanawha County, West Virginia. No further information is currently available.
10.Willie Sisson was born in 1864 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, West Virginia. No other information is currently available.
Robert Sisson was born about 1635 in an unknown location. His father may have been Thomas Sisson, a haberdasher who emigrated from London to Virginia before 1622. One online family tree indicates that the father of Thomas Sisson was Richard Syson. Robert married Amy (unknown) Sisson on 26 Dec 1659 in Richmond, Virginia. They were the parents of Margaret and William Sisson. Robert Sisson was one of the witnesses to the will of Thomas Wright, dated Oct 23, 1661, and probated Mar 10, 1666 in Rappahannock Co., Virginia. He was also a witness to the will of Roger Williams, dated Feb 26, 1675, probated Jan 6, 1677. Robert Sisson served as a clerk of county court, or at least sometime clerk, for Rappahannock County. Robert died about 1692 at about age 57 in Richmond County, Virginia.
William Sisson was born about 1671 in Rappahannock (now Richmond) Co. He married Martha Hodgson in 1695. They were the parents of Bryan Byron, William and Henry Sisson. William died 6 May 1719 at about age 48 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co., Virginia.
Bryan Byron Sisson was born on 20 Feb 1696 in Richmond, Colony of Virginia. He married Anne Gower about 1725 in the Colony of Virginia. They were the parents of William and Caleb Sisson. He married Rachel Webb about 1765 in Orange County, Colony of Virginia. Bryan died on 22 Aug 1771 at age 75 in Orange, Colony of Virginia.
Ensign Caleb Sisson was born about 1735 in Orange County, Colony of Virginia. He married Nellie Millie Branham on 20 Jul 1771 in Orange County, Virginia. They were the parents of Stanley Sisson. Caleb secondly married Sarah Roach after May 1777 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia. They were the parents of Abner, James Simeon, John Wesley, Jesse, Armistead and Polly Sisson. Caleb died on 17 Sep 1807 at about age 72 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
James S. Sisson (1784-1837) – Founding Father of Sissonville
James Simeon Sisson was born 22 Apr 1784 in Back Creek, Botetourt, Virginia, the son and eldest child of Caleb Sisson and Sarah Roach. His siblings were Stanley Sisson [half], Abner Sisson, John Wesley Sisson, Jesse Sisson, Armistead Sisson and Polly Sisson. The Sisson family had originally emigrated from London, England, in 1640, settling in Rappahannock County, Colony of Virginia.
James served as an Ensign in the Rockbridge Militia under Thomas Ochletree in Virginia. He married Mary “Polly” Cartmill (Bef. 1790), the daughter of Henry C. and Sarah Anderson Cartmill, on 5 Feb 1807 in Botetourt County, Virginia. Their 10 children were Elizabeth “Eliza” Ann Sisson (B. 11 Apr 1808; D. 18 Aug 1891), Sarah Ann Sisson (B. 27 May 1809), Allen Gregory Sisson (B. 1810), Henry Cartmill Sisson (1815-1865), John (B. 1816), Caroline Sisson (Bef. 1820), James C. Sisson (B. 25 Dec 1820; D. 14 Jan 1880), Ann Sisson (B. 1825), Nancy Sisson and Mary Catherine Sisson. All the children were born in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. Five of the children, Eliza, Ann, Allen, John, James C. and Mary C. moved to Missouri. Allen died in Kanawha County while on a visit to West Virginia.
James and Polly moved from Botetourt County, Virginia, prior to April 1808, traveling from near the James River, over the Alleghany Mountains through Cartmill Gap to the headwaters of the Greenbriar River, following it to its junction with the New River, continuing downstream from Hinton, and West (most likely following the Midland Trail) to the Kanawha Valley, where, after traveling more than 220 miles (by today’s standards) of rugged terrain, they made a permanent settlement in the Poca District, northeast of Charleston. James purchased 280 acres of land where present-day Sissonville is located. He purchased additional land in the surrounding area before the town was named in his honor.
James and his family first appear in the Kanawha County Census, enumeration date of 7 Aug 1820, and the record contains the following information: Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 (3); Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 (1); Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 (3); Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 (2); Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over (1);Slaves - Males - Under 14 (2); Slaves - Females - Under 14 (1); Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25 (1); Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture (2); Free White Persons - Under 16 (8); Free White Persons - Over 25 (2); Total Free White Persons (10); Total Slaves (4).
James’ last will and testament may be found on pages 184-185 in Sissonville: A Time to Remember (1988). James died 10 Jul 1837 at the age of 53 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia, and is buried in what is now the Albert E. Humphreys Memorial Cemetery, Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Children of James Simeon and Mary Polly Sisson
1.Elizabeth Ann (Eliza) was born on 11 Apr 1808 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. She married Andrew Koontz in 1825 in Sissonville. She moved to Pettis County, Missouri, after her husband’s death, to live with her daughter Anna Koontz Calvert. She passed away at the age of 83 on 8 Aug 1891, and was buried at Richland Cemetery, Richards, Vernon County, Missouri.
2.Sarah Sisson was born 27 May 1809 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. She married Benjamin Rush Milam (date and location unknown. They were the parents of Anna (Castro), Louisa J. (Deuley), Mary Elizabeth (Fisher) and Leftwich Milam. Sarah died Feb 1880 at age 70 in Kanawha County, West Virginia
3.Allen Gregory Sisson was born about 1810 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Polly Marie Atkinson on 22 May 1833 in Botetourt County, Virginia. They were the parents of Erastus Sisson. Allen died about 1850 at about age 40 in Missouri City, Fort Bend, Texas.
4.Henry C. Sisson was born on 22 Mar 1814 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. He married Rebecca Samuels on 28 Jan 1838 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. They were the parents of James Morris Sisson, Greenbury Sisson, Julia Ann (Williams), Henry Clayton, Mary Catherine (Newhouse), John Wood, Sarah Elizabeth, Benjamin N., Thomas Floyd and Willie. Henry died on 18 Jul 1865 at age 51 in Sissonville, Kanawha, West Virginia. He is buried in the Albert E. Humphreys Memorial Cemetery in Sissonville.
5.Caroline Sisson was born on 15 Dec 1815 in Sissonville, Kanawha, West Virginia. She married Robert Wilson on 7 Jun 1838. They were the parents of Lewis Maddison Wilson. Caroline died on 18 Jun 1848 at age 32 in Laclede, Linn, Missouri.
6.Nancy S. Sisson was born about 1816 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia Now W. Va. No other information available.
7.Mary Catherine Sisson was born on June 17, 1817, in Sissonville, Kanawha City, West Virginia. Her father, James, was 33, and her mother, Mary, was 34. She married John Miles Street on November 18, 1841. They had ten children in 19 years. She died on February 19, 1891, in Missouri at the age of 73, and was buried in Warrensburg, Missouri.
8.James C. Sisson was born on 25 Dec 1820 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Esther Aultz in Oct 1843. He died about 1880 at about age 59 in Johnson, Missouri.
9.H. John Sisson was born about 1823 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. He died in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha Co, Virginia. No further information about his life is currently known.
10.Ann Sisson was born 1826 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. No further information about her life is known.
Children of Henry C. Sisson and Rebecca Samuels
1.James Morris Sisson was born on 7 Dec 1839 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. He married Clarissa M. Atkinson on 6 Jan 1858 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. The were the parents of Rebecca, Josephine, Mary E. (Tribble), Charles H. and Minnie Lee (Greer). James died on 22 Jun 1874 at age 34 in Sissonville, Kanawha, West Virginia.
2.Greenbury Sisson was born in 1842 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. Greenberry enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War and returned home and died of Typhoid Fever in July, 1866 at the age of 24 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
3.Julia Ann Sisson was born in 1844 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha, Virginia. She married William Columbus Williams in 1863 in Jackson County, West Virginia. She died on 7 Aug 1865 at 20 years and 5 months in Kanawha, West Virginia, United States.
4.Henry Clayton Sisson was born in Aug 1846 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Mary Jo McClanahan on 3 Jun 1872 in Kanawha County, West Virginia. They were the parents of William H. Sisson and Boyd A. Sisson. Henry died on 27 Jul 1905 at age 58 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
5.Mary Catherine Sisson was born on 9 Mar 1850 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, Virginia. She married John Griffith Newhouse on 28 Feb 1867 in West Virginia. They were the parents of Edmond Denver, Mary Evelyn, Mattie, Sarah Elizabeth, Rebecca Erna, Thomas Henry, John Sevetus, Oscar Virgil and Bert Newhouse. Mary Catherine died on 23 Feb 1943 at age 92 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
6.John Wood Sisson was born in Sep 1853 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Louisa Ann Jones [date and location unknown]. They were the parents of Edward, John Herman, Molly Florence (Humphreys), Clemmie C. (Gibson}, Effie Blanche (Humphreys) and Greenberry Sisson. John died in 1901 at about age 47 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
7.Sarah Elizabeth Sisson was born in 1855 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. No other information is currently known.
8.Benjamin N. Sisson was born in June 1858 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Clifton Johnson [date unknown]. They were the parents of Stanley, Mattie Ethel (Gibson), Erma (Melton), Flossie Rebecca (Beane), Myrtle, Ruth, Harry, and Samuel Preston Sisson. Benjamin died on 14 Nov 1931 at age 73 in Sissonville, Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia. [Benjamin wrote his Will on 28 Feb 1931. Probate 30 Nov 1931 • Kanawha Co., West Virginia, USA]
9.Thomas Floyd Sisson was born on 1 Jun 1861 in Sissonville, Kanawha, Virginia. He married Hester Spencer on 17 Mar 1889 in Kanawha County, West Virginia. No further information is currently available.
10.Willie Sisson was born in 1864 in Sissonville, Kanawha County, West Virginia. No other information is currently available.
