The Genealogy of John Counts of Glade Hollow
Born about 1725 and died about 1803 in Russell County, Virginia
Born about 1725 and died about 1803 in Russell County, Virginia
An in-depth look at the early pioneer of the Shenandoah Valley and Russell County, Virginia
Original farm of John Counts at Hawksbill Creek, Page County, Virginia taken in 2019 by Marie Rasnick Fetzer
This website is dedicated to furthering the research and documentation of our pioneer ancestors John Counts of Glade Hollow and his wife Mary Magdeline. This is a site descendants can visit frequently and learn more about the lives of their ancestors. Much has been written about John Counts of Glade Hollow by famed local southwest Virginia historian Elihu J. Sutherland in the early 20th century. The goal is to use his research and ultimately discover the early history of John and his wife which eluded Sutherland.
In the early part of the 20th century, Elihu J. Sutherland set out on a lifelong journey of documenting the many descendants of the pioneer John Counts of Glade Hollow. His research culminated in a 400-page book published posthumously by his wife entitled "Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow 1722 - 1977." Mr. Sutherland was able to painstakingly document thousands of the descendants of John Counts but admittedly was unable to ascertain the parents or early history of John. This was remarkable work of genealogy done prior to the tools genealogists have today. Sutherland was able to track John Counts back to 1764 to a piece of land at the mouth of Hawksbill Creek in present-day Page County, Virginia.
With the genealogical tools of the 21st century including DNA analysis, a group of genealogists and direct descendants of John Counts came together to uncover the early history of John Counts. We have discovered records of John Counts of Glade Hollow that place him on his Hawksbill farm as early as 1749. Although the parents of John Counts have yet to be identified or the maiden name of his wife, much research and clues to his early history have emerged and will be shared on this website.
Born - about 1725 place unknown
Parents - unknown
Ethnic Background - Likely his parents were part of the large emigration of Deutsch-speaking people from the Palatine region into Pennsylvania during the early 1700s. Later generations of his descendants referred to John as "Black Dutch". This was a slang term used by many in the Appalachian region referring to people who spoke the Deutsch (now German) language.
Marriage - probably about 1749 to Mary Magdalena unknown maiden name
Death - spring 1803 in Russell County, Virginia
Earliest known residence - In 1749, John Baumgardner Sr. applied and received a land grant for 270 acres at the mouth of Hawksbill Creek. On the last page of this deed there is a note that had been scratched out that the grant be made in the name of John Counts. It appears this didn't occur but John Counts remained on the land. John Baumgardner Sr. passed away in 1757 and his son John Baumgardner Jr. became owner of this land. John Baumgardner Jr. received a deed for the land in 1761. Then in 1765, John Counts Sr. officially purchased the 270 acres of land that he had been living on for a very small amount of money from John Baumgarder Jr. At this point we do not know the exact relationship between Counts and John Baumgardner Sr. but most likely it was a familial one between either John or his wife Mary Magdalena to Baumgardner.
Religious affiliations - In early records, John was affiliated with the Baumgardner's, Rhode's, Strickler's and other known Mennonite families in the area. It is likely John was Mennonite like many of his neighbors on the Hawksbill. This area that John lived on during this time was the northern most end of the Massanutten tract. Massanutten contained 5,000 acres and was owned by Swiss land agent Jacob Stover. Stover sold parcels of land to many Swiss and German immigrants that arrived in Pennsylvania during the 1720s and 1730s. By the late 1740's several Mennonite families lived on Hawksbill Creek. During the 1750s, many of these families faced hardships from Indian raids and being far removed from civilization. During the 1760s, nearly all of these Mennonite families converted to Baptism and likely John did at this point also.
Removal to Russell County, Virginia - John Counts sold his farm on the Hawksbill in October 1789. He is next found on the 1790 personal property tax list for Russell County. A few of his children and many of his neighbors had removed to Russell County a few years prior. At least one of his sons, Phillip, remained on the original Hawksbill land.
Mary Magdeline shows up in very few records during her lifetime. She was the only wife of John Counts and she mothered all of his children.
At this point in the research, the maiden name of Mary is completely unknown. Research leads us us to believe she was likely also a member of the early Mennonite community that settled on the Shenandoah River beginning in the 1730's.
It is possible she was a Baumgarnder due to the face her husband John Counts was literally given the 270 acre Hawksbill farm by John Baumgardner Sr in 1749 although this cannot be proven at this point.
In 1773, Mary Magdeline is named in the baptismal record of her daughter Christina. This is the first record with her name and Elihu Sutherland discovered this during his research in the early 20th century.
She is also named in court records in Russell County, VA in 1802 involving the land they once owned on the Hawksbill. She is named in the Will of her husband John in 1802.
Her birth year of 1728 and death date of June 25th, 1814 were discovered by researcher Elihu Sutherland when he first visited the old Counts graveyard at the Glade Hollow farm in 1931. The stone was quite worn at that point and now all evidence on the stone is worn away.
Why is he named John Counts "of Glade Hollow"
Famed local historian and researcher, Elihu J. Sutherland, penned the name in the early 20th century for John Counts of Glade Hollow to distinguish him from his son who was also named John Counts. When John Counts Sr. relocated to Russell County in 1789, he purchased land in Glade Hollow just outside of present-day Lebanon, Virginia hence the name.
His son, John Counts Jr., lived on the banks of the Clinch River in present-day Cleveland, Virginia therefore he was named John Counts of Cleveland. When you see John Counts of Glade Hollow, this refers to the father or Senior. John Counts of Cleveland refers to the son or Junior.
The annual reunion of the descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow is the longest continually running family reunion in Southwest Virginia. The reunion has been held every year since 1936 besides a few years during World War II. The first reunion was held on September 20, 1936 at Cleveland, Virginia. The reunion started in the school's auditorium due to rain and was overflowing with people. The crowd then gathered outside after the rain had passed and it was estimated upwards of 1,500 attended this initial reunion. Descendants from at least seven different states were present at this monumental occasion organized by Elihu J. Sutherland.
The reunion now is held the first Saturday in August and due to declining numbers has combined with the William Sutherland family reunion. CLICK HERE for Counts Family Reunion Website
http://kayser-counts.org/index.html - A very detailed and comprehensive website created by Sharon Lemkuil and Marie Rasnick Fetzer exploring the lives of Carl Kayser and John Counts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/352393688482794 - John Counts of Glade Hollow Facebook Group
http://www.countsfamilyreunion.org/index.html - Counts Family Reunion website for the reunion started by Elihu J. Sutherland in 1936
http://sutherlandbooks.com/ - Elihu J. Sutherland books for sale
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36880528/john-counts - Findagrave memorial for John Counts of Glade Hollow
Researching any ancestor in 18th century America can be quite the challenge but when the ancestor lived mainly on the western most stretches of civilization makes it even more difficult with frequent boundary changes and changes in the county names over time. The earliest records for John can be found in Augusta and Frederick County, then Dunmore County, then Shenandoah County. The area where John lived first is now known as Page County. Also the fact that the name Counts was spelled in a myriad of ways, i.e Countz, Koontz, Kuntz, Kaun, etc adds another level of complexity. Interestingly, the earliest records of our John had his surname spelled Counts as we spell it now.
There were at least two other men named John Counts/Koontz/Koons in the general vicinity and time frame as our John Counts of Glade Hollow making this project extra hard. Past researchers have confused our John Counts of Glade Hollow with Elder John Koontz, a well known Baptist preacher in the Shenandoah Valley, on several occasions. Elder Koontz was younger than our John but they lived close to one another. It is possible our John attended the church where Elder John Koontz preached.
Location of the original John Counts farm in present-day Page County, VA near the mouth of Hawksbill Creek
Location of the original John Counts farm and cemetery at Glade Hollow, Russell County, Virginia