Notes – Southerland / Sutherlin, et al

Table of Contents

A Probable History of the Golden Family
of Newberry, South Carolina Since 1761
Updated 2025.06.16

 

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.

NOTE: Our Golden DNA matches closely align with Sutherlin matches that overwhelmingly lead to George Sutherlin / Southerland born about 1660 in Virginia. We have many Southerland matches as well — but they appear to come from a diversity of Southerland families that are unrelated, although some do lead to George Sutherlin / Southerland of 1660.

The individuals below may appear in your DNA matches. 

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TIMELINE

1660: George Sutherland, 1660–1699, supposedly born at Prince George, Virginia, and passing in June 1699 at what is today King and Queen County, Virginia, formerly part of New Kent County until being formed in 1691. Married to Mary Elizabeth Normant, 1660–1705, with three recorded sons in Virginia legal records: George, Joseph, and George Southerland. Except for some reference prior to 1701 due to record loss, from September 1701 onward, the history of this family in its first several generations is well documented in Virginia records.^[5]Early Southerland history: See this document for extensive early history and genealogy of Southerland family … Continue reading.

Often listed in online genealogies as George Goodchild Sutherland. There is no known record of any of the early Southerlands having middle names. There was however a George Goodchild Sutherland that was born, bred, wed, and dead that lived in England. Baptised 27 Apr 1856 at Westminster, England,  George Goodchild Sutherland was the son of Alexander and Margaret Sutherland.^[6]Parish Record for Holy Trinity, Marylebone Road: Marylebone Road, Westminster, Westminster, England, available from Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1924  

1785: Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Sutherlin, a free African-American (Free Colored Person), born at Gloucester County, Virginia, identifies as ‘white’ in the 1850 census, although is a Free Colored Person in the 1830 census. Subsequent census reports for his children and grandchildren identify all as black or negro. Research into the Southerland family is still early, but at least one member of our Golden family is a DNA match with this family.^[7]AXG DNA

1797:  Clayton Sutherlin / Sutherland, 1797–1887, married a Golden? 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 1826.^[8]Claton Sotherland married 31 Mar 1826 at Rutherford, Tennessee to Polly T Edwards, per Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002, Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, TN, USA. 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^[9]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 Kentucky per census.^[10]In 1880 census, Clayton’s father Clayton and mother Nicey are both living in his household and both listed as Virginia-born.Review for Corrections on Clayton.  1880 census is his son, Eli Jordan Sutherlin. Clayton’s children born 1820s – 1830s. Second family 1836 and 1840.  {[(|fnote_end|)]} Nicey appears as Nica in the 1870 census. Cannot find an 1860 census, other than Slave Schedule for taxes in Halifax County, Virginia.{[(|fnote_end|)]}

1797-1800: Ann Elizabeth Sutherland (Winchester), c1797-bef.1870, born about 1797-1800 in South Carolina^[11]Ann Elizabeth Sutherland‘s birthplace was 1797 in South Carolina per 1850 census for Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and born 1800 per 1860 United States Federal Census for Angelina, Texas, and passed away before 1870 in Angelina, Texas.^[12]It is an assumption that Ann Elizabeth Sutherland (Winchester) died before 1870 at Angelina, Texas, her last known reference. Cannot find her in the 1870 census. DNA matches exist with our Goldens.^[13]SGS Married 20 Jan 1822 at St. Clair, Alabama to James Winchester.^[14]Marriage recorded in Alabama, U.S., Compiled Marriages from Selected Counties, 1809-1920, available on Ancestry. Online genealogies often list her birthdate as 4 Apr 1805; this is a misattributed date from a New York Southerland family who did have a daughter named Elizabeth Southerland, born in New York^[15]Elizabeth Southerland was born 4 Apr 1805 and baptized 26 Apr 1805 at Rochester (Accord), Ulster, New York, listing as father David Southerland and as mother Mary Duning per U.S., Dutch Reformed … Continue reading Oddly enough, there is an Elizabeth Sutherland born about 1805 in South Carolina per 1870 census living as head-of-household with her probable daughter (listed as the land owner) Martharsa Roper and her three young children.^[16]An Elizabeth Sutherland lies at Dwelling Number 58, in 1870 census for Pumpkintown, Pickens, South Carolina. An assumption would be that Sutherland was her husband’s name. IDK as I have not … Continue reading The 1805 Elizabeth Southerland living at Pickens, SC, in 1870 census would appear to be born in 1803 as the daughter of James Sutherland, 1764 VA–1845 Pickens SC, and Margaret Paschal, c1760 VA–1840 SC.^[17]James Sutherland (Paschal) is registered as DAR Patriot, Record A214837. This Elizabeth needs much more research as to parents and potential for having an aunt named Nelly Sutherland born about 1745 … Continue reading

1800: Hannah (Polly) Southerland, 1800–1850^[18]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.^[19]DNA matches with AXG SGS 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^[20]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 ^[21]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^[22]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.^[23]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.^[24]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.^[25]AXG

1816: David Sutherland, 1816–1896, born 1816 in South Carolina, passed 19 Jun 1896.^[26]WDG DNA20250523 Father may be William Miles Sutherland, appears in online genealogies without any sources or personal info.

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2025.06.07: I will revisit and include a variety of findings in the future. I cannot find any point at which our families intermarry — however our families coexisted in the Goochland, Virginia area and in the Ninety Six District of South Carolina at the same time during the 1700s. 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. My progress working through Southerland DNA matches:

AXG / Samuel Golden b1770 descendant: Sutherlin Southerland

SGS / Isaac Golden b1784 descendant: Sutherlin Southerland

TXY / TBD Golden b1770-179 descendant:^[27]DNA shared matches suggest strong association with Samuel Golden, but so do my own (am WDG) : Sutherlin Southerland

WDG / Nathaniel Green b1783 descendant: ✅ Sutherlin Southerland

There are another 5-7 Golden descendant tests that could be explored if needed. They are generally duplicative of the four above.

✅ Indicates that all DNA matches for this name have been reviewed on Ancestry.

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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