Recently, we have had discussions as to whether a name was English or German. These are interesting cases and I would like, in this Note, to discuss the Redmans. Late in 1775, Peter Redman took communion at the German Lutheran Church in the Robinson River Valley (sometimes called Hebron). The next Easter, Jacob Redman was present, as was Peter again. After this point in time, and until 1810, they are hardly to be seen at the church.
The first thought might be that they were transients who were just passing through. Consulting the people listed (1781) in the "Culpeper Classes", we have the following mentions in the Class indicated:
Abraham (85),
Harmon (100),
Jacob (84),
John (39),
John (61), and
Nathaniel (50).
These six men would have been between the age of 16 and 50. From my limited knowledge of the geographical distribution, there seems to be a wide distribution over the old county of Culpeper. Notice that Peter, who was of the age to take communion in 1776, is not in this list so he should probably be added to the list of men.
Another comprehensive list in this time period is the 1787 tax list, or census, for Culpeper Co. The names listed here are:
Jacob,
James,
John,
Nathaniel,
Patrick,
Richard, and
William Redman.
Three new names have been added, those of Patrick, Richard, and William. Probably the names are concentrated in the area which became Madison and Rappahannock Counties, but there still is a good geographical distribution. In a time period of about eleven years, we may have about ten different men spread around over distances that are not easy walks.
The naming pattern at times sounds German, but the names of Patrick and Richard weaken that argument, while Harmon reinforces the German belief.
With what appears to be the wide spread distribution with about ten men (the Willheits, who came shortly after 1717, had 17 listings in the Culpeper Classes), it would suggest that the family had been living in the area for a while and had grown and dispersed mildly. But the family seems to have left very few records other than appearances in lists.
After a brief mention of the Redmans here, Sandi Yelton sent more information on the them. She was quoting from the journal of Paul Henkel, which appeared in a published form, as she noted here. Paul Henkel seems clearly to have been a German. It is said that he spent two weeks in the Hofman or Huffman Chapel in 1799, performing ministerial duties. He decided to go to North Carolina temporarily. On the way, at the Dan River in Virginia, they learned that Herman Redman lived in the neighborhood. "We learned to know him and his wife in Madison County and considered them earnest and devout souls." according to Henkel. On the next day Redman rode with Henkel to his brother-in-law, John Flynt (it is not clear whose brother-in-law he was).
It does seem that at least some of the Redmans were Germans, perhaps Reformed, and more likely to be found at the Hofman Chapel than at the Lutheran Church. If anyone can add more to the story of the Redmans, I, for one, sure would appreciate it.
(15 Jan 01)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.