For many years there has been great debate about the parentage of Agatha CHILES Terrell. The William & Mary Quarterly Vol XVIII, No. 2 pg 105-108; and The Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol 7 by Firkus state John was her father and Tidewater Virginia Families (pub. 1989) by Davis states "Agatha Chiles is believed to have been the daughter of Henry and Mary Chiles". Originally citing Ms. Dickon's book Terrell Genealogy, I researched further to become even more confused.

However, after obtaining copies of the research of Ms. Mildred Eubank donated to Western Kentucky University, it was learned that Ms. Eubank obtained membership to the Jamestown Society through her ancestor Agatha CHILES Terrell. Jamestown Society accepted Ms. Eubank's documentation that Agatha was the daughter of Henry and Mary Chiles. Also, the book Tidewater Families by Davis cites Miss Eubank's research. Agatha is a descendant of Walter Chiles, Jr. findagrave # 162905405.

Information from Emma Dickon's book, Terrell Genealogy, cites Micajah Chiles's will as proof of her parentage. I have read neither Micajah's will nor the documents submitted with Ms. Eubank's application to the Jamestown Society. However, if Ms. Eubank's research was good enough for the Jamestowne, it is good enough for me. Any cited information on Agatha's parentage would be appreciated. I will update this page as information comes to light.

From Terrell Genealogy by Emma Dickon

David Terrell and his wife Agatha Chiles were married abt 1727. They joined the Society of Friends or Quakers. The first Quaker Meeting in that part of Virginia is said to have been "set up" in Hanover County and known as Cedar Creek and at the organization of this meeting 12 March 1739, David Terrell was appointed as one of the overseers. He and his brother Henry at different times served as overseers and both contributed to the expense of erecting a meeting house.

Later another meeting was established in Caroline County. Part of the children and grandchildren of David and Henry Terrell belonged to the Friends Society, but most of the grandchildren joined churches of another faith. Some were disowned for violations of their strict rules and some for marriages to persons who were not Quakers. As many of the Quaker records have been preserved and many of them published, they have proved to be a valuable source of information.

One of the most valuable of these books is Our Quaker Friends by Bell. We also secured some information from the original records in the Valentine Museum at Richmond.

Children of David Terrell I and his wife Agatha Chiles:

(1) David Terrell II, b. 1728 or 1729, d. 1805, m. three times.

(2) Henry, b. about 1720, d. abt. 1806. His land passed into the possession of his youngest brother, Jonathan Terrell.

(3) Micajah, b. abt 1732, d. 1805, m. 1st Sarah Lunch, 2nd Mrs. Deborah (Coffin) Gardner.

(4) Pleasant, d. 1803, m. Caty or Catherine Farish.

(5) Mary m. Robert Cobb of Bedford Co. in 1755.

(6) Millicent b. 7 June 1741 m. Christopher Clark.

(7) Ann, not traced, living in 1759.

(8) Chiles m. Mrs. Margaret (Douglas) Meriwether.

(9) Christopher, b. about 1747, m. Martha Wilson.

(10) Rachel, b. 1749, d. 1781, m. 1768 John Burress d. 1780. (See O.B. 1777-1780, pp. 276, 280.)

(11) Susannah, b. 30 May 1752, d. 8 Dec. 1828, m. William Burress 15 Oct. 1770, brother of John Burress who m. Rachel Terrell.

(12) Jonathan Terrell, b. 1755, m. first Margaret Hunnicutt.

Agatha died 12 Apr 1759. It is believed that David and she are buried where they made their home in Caroline County at Golansville, about forty miles north of Richmond. There are no tombstones to mark their graves.