Notes – Southerland / Sutherlin, et al

Table of Contents

A Probable History of the Golden Family
of Newberry, South Carolina Since 1761
Updated 2025.06.08

There are strong DNA match connections with the Southerland aka Sutherlin family that originated in Virginia before 1660. How I and other Goldens relate to this family is unknown. For consistency, am going to refer to this family as Southerland when making general references below.

These Golden family DNA connections lead to George Sutherland (Normant)^[1]Was George named George Goodchild Sutherland? Probably not. There is no record of that nor any known genealogical reason as to why this should be so; example: having a mother or grandmother named … Continue reading, 1660–1699, believed born at New Kent or Charles City County and passing in June 1699 at King and Queen, Virginia. ^[2]Many online genealogies refer to George Goodchild Sutherland‘s birthplace as Prince George County. This county was formed in 1703 from portions of Charles City County. Early documented history of the Southernland family in Virginia exists. The family appears in many pre- and post-1700 legal records. A fairly comprehensive genealogy of the early family years with references to formal documention was made in 1927 as a dedicated chapter titled Southerland Family of King William County Virginia in a massive (539 pages) book documenting early Virginia families. ^[3]The Southerland Family of King William County Virginia chapter begins on page 389 of the edition published in 1927 by Clayton Torrence in his book Winston of Virginia and allied families. Richmond, … Continue reading

Where did the Southerlands originate from before Virginia in the mid-1600s? Unknown. Sutherland and variant spellings indicate a strong association with Scots and some English families that came to the USA during the 1700s.^[4]Many post-1700 Southerlands are listed in The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783, by David Dobson; Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1989.  Book available on Ancestry.

The individuals below may appear in your DNA matches. 

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TIMELINE

1797: Married a Golden? Clayton Sutherlin / Sutherland, 1797–1887. Born 1797 at Halifax County, Virginia, and died 29 Oct 1887 at Graves County, Kentucky. Is known to have married Mary (Polly) Edwards, 1798–1864, in 1829. Clayton had a later spouse, although it is very unclear as to when he may have married her or even what her name was. Mary seems to have divorced Clayton at some time before 1852 as she is again divorcing a husband after a very brief marriage, Thomas R. Van Meter^[5]Mary is in the 1850 census at White County, Arkansas as being Mary Sutherlin, born in Tennessee about 1804. Her 1852 Divorce recorded at White County, Arkansas: James Logan Morgan, Genealogical … Continue reading and there is a definite break in the birth years of his children, one group of births ending in the 1840s and then another group being born in the 1860s. Some online genealogies suggest that this second wife could be a Nicia Golden or Nancy Jane (Nicia) Golden, born c1807 in Virginia per 1880 census.^[6]In 1880 census, Clayton’s father Clayton and mother Nicey are both living in his household and both listed as Virginia-born. Nicey appears as Nica in the 1870 census. Cannot find an 1860 … Continue reading

1800: Hannah Polly Southerland, 1800–1850^[7]Hannah Polly Southerland may have been born c1800 in South Carolina and passed after 1850 with death by 1860 at Pike City, Pike, Arkansas was supposedly born in South Carolina. Some online genealogies claim she was born in Georgia. There are no known records indicating place of birth, not even a census record. Online genealogies claim three other siblings born in South Carolina: Adam^[8]Adam Southerland appears in the 1850 census for Tippah, Mississippi, and is reported as having been born in South Carolina, c1800. Died before 1860 census., James ^[9]James Southerland born in South Carolina per 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 census. Was living in Pickens, SC from 1840 census until after 1860 when he moved to Walker, Alabama (1880 census). and Levi Southerland^[10]Levi Southerland was born in South Carolina per 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census, living these census years in Choctaw, Mississippi, USA.— with census records indicating South Carolina as place of birth.

Parents: Adam Southerland, 1771–1830, and mother is unknown.^[11]Some genealogies claim Hannah Polly Southerland‘s mother was Isobel Wood, born c1771, a supposed Scottish immigrant. This appears to have been a blended genealogy record of an actual 1799 … Continue reading Married to Preston C “Mark” McBee, 1827–1871.^[12]AXG Father Adam Southerland was probably born in central North Carolina, his father being from Rowan County, NC.

1810: Philip Sutherlin I, 1743–1810, born 1743 at Franklin, Virginia, passes away 1810 at Greenville, Spartanburg, South Carolina, married to Sarah Rule, born c1749 NFI. Son of Samuel George Southerland, 1725–1804, and Frances Diana Phillips  1729–1815, of Goochland, Virginia.^[13]AXG

2025.06.07: I will revisit and include a variety of findings at some future point. Since I cannot find any point at which our families intermarry with the Southerlands then am refocusing on other quests temporarily. I have included the full line of all my Southerland DNA matches online at Ancestry within my research tree: Golden Gouldman Keeling Norfleet Research Tree.

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©2025 William Golden, Norfolk1956@gmail.com // Material may be shared without requesting permission and with appropriate attribution: A Probable History of the Golden Family of Newberry, South Carolina Since 1761, by William Golden