Welcome to The Daniel Family of America of the Southern States, the web page version of Under the Unicorn the Daniel Family. That publication (@1996-1998) while out of print is now brought up to date here within the resources that are available on this site.
Illustration From Dave's Mythical Creatures
Under the Unicorn
Introduction
THE DANIEL FAMILY: Under the Unicorn is taken from the Daniel Coat-of-Arms. This Coat-of-Arms is described as follows in Burkes Encyclopedia of Heraldry:
Arms: "Argent, a pale fussily sable"
Crest: "An Unicorns head, couped argent, armed or."
Colors: "Gold, gray, and black."
As I enter my eleventh year of Daniel research I read back over my old files and marvel that I arrived at this point without quitting in desperation. So, here are some of the puzzlers that still face my work and that of others; I will share a few comments. As always, I will appreciate any constructive participation from my peers.
It has been presumed, and I emphasize the word presumed, that James Daniel of Essex Co., Virginia, was the son of Hugh and Mary Billington Daniel of Old Rappahannock Co., Virginia. Rappahannock County was formed in the year 1656 from Lancaster Co., Va. , and became extinct in 1692 when it became two counties named Essex and Richmond Co., Va. If James was born about 1661 he would, or could be, a possible son of Hugh and have a Rappahannock tie? We call him James Daniel of Essex because he died in Essex in 1742. To my knowledge the only son attributable to Hugh and Mary would have been William who was born about 1660 and is mentioned in the records of Rappahannock County (April 18, 1661). There is no evidence that this William was the William Daniel of Caroline, Virginia, or that he produced any offspring.
To further cloud the issue, John Daniel of York County, probably the first John of record, is presumed to be the father of James of Essex, a William, a John, and a Richard. Mr. Heinemann, who first supported Hugh Daniel as the chief progenitor of the Daniels of Rappahannock and Essex Counties, changed his position when Worth S. Ray suggested that a John Daniel was the father of the aforementioned sons. Hugh Daniel would be a convenient place to put James because of dates and locality but this would be a “best guess” assignment.
Mrs. Christine S. Gee and Dr. James Daniel of Laurens Co., South Carolina, after hands on research in the area of Essex/Caroline/Lancaster Counties, Virginia, arrived at the conclusion that James Daniel of Essex was a stand alone guy and was not the son of Hugh or a John of York. While some researchers claim that Gee's work is flawed, I support some of her positions. This would place James (James the First of Essex) as the father of James Jr., John, and William Daniel of Henry Co. William Daniel of Caroline would not be a son of James Sr., of Essex, and there is no record of a Richard in this picture. Or, the presumption that John of York was the father of James of Essex, William, John or a Richard. I would love to know more about this Richard?
It is also presumed that Roger Daniell of Warwick County, Virginia, located 40 miles or so from Rappahannock , was the father of Hugh Daniel and of John Daniell of York. Do we have factual documentation for these assignments or do we accept past researchers work as gospel? Probably not, but they are our only guideline to the past and we must consider that Heinemann did have a list of sources even though he did not connect all the dots for us. Mr. Ray also left us enough material to jump start the research process, but his dots do not always factually connect. Factor in the loss of records from the area of Essex and Caroline Counties, Virginia, and we are left to make the best of what we have, until DNA helps to solve these issues. The DNA Program has entered the picture and a new era in making positive assignments can be expected.
In regard to the Prince George/Brunswick County Daniels I have worked on these folks for three years and it still remains a challenge to produce a respectable "Descendant" Family Group. This work can be used as a basis for your personal study and I would suggest that the work of John W. Pritchett be used as well. John's research can be obtained in PDF format at: http://virginians.com
Garland Payne Daniel - 1998, revised in 2003.
