Buckingham Mystery: The Norvell House, Part II
Norvell Family Photo, c. 1897, Courtesy Carole Jensen
This wonderful photo was given to Carole Jensen by Stanley Baber Andrews, daughter of Lily Norvell. It captures not only the beauty of the Norvell home, but also the era and family relations. The photograph may have been taken upon the death of Thomas B. Norvell (d. 22 January 1897), which was his wife’s birthday. When the photograph was made, this house was the home of Thomas B. and Mary “Molly” Evelina Miller Norvell, located on today’s Spreading Oak Road, post office, Well Water or Tucker, Buckingham County, Virginia.
In front of fence, left to right:
Bernard Miller Norvell, 5, 1892-1981, m. Bessie Bransford, Grace V. Moore
John Harold Norvell, 7, 1890-1958, m. Eva Booth Baber
Gracie Norvell, 12, 1884-1965, m. Robert E. Lee Stinson
Lily Leigh Norvell, 10, 1886-1972, m. Clinton Timothy Baber
Mary Elizabeth Tapscott, 6, 1890-1976, m. James Benson Tindall
Behind fence, left to right:
Unknown man
Frances M. Norvell, 18, 1878-1936, m. Fletcher Tindall
Mary Gertrude Norvell, 24, 1874-1956, m. William Reginald Walker
Hay Booth Norvell, 17, 1880-1952, m. Emma Blackwell
Alice Walker Norvell, 24, 1872-1937, m. Nelson Tindall
Mary Evelina Miller, 51, 1846-1919, widow of Thomas B. Norvell
Kate Elizabeth Norvell, 26, 1870-1928, m. George Allen Tapscott
Unknown man
On porch:
Catharine Neighbours, 76, 1821-1900, m. William T. Miller, mother of Mary Evelina Miller Norvell
In front of brick chimney:
Unknown servants
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If anyone can help identify the unknown individuals in the photo, please comment.
A Buckingham mystery no longer, click here for more about the Norvell House.
slate river ramblings . . . . 
HI there, I am researching the Norvell family (my father is Dr. Douglass Norvell, b 1938. I’m trying to see which of these I may be related to. In the meantime, I would like to visit some of the cemetaries — do you know where the Norvells are buried in Buckingham County?
Many thanks for your comment. I have not researched Norvell burials, however, there are many listed at Find A Grave.
Best of luck in your research,
Joanne
Follow this link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/search?firstname=&middlename=&lastname=Norvell&birthyear=&birthyearfilter=&deathyear=&deathyearfilter=&location=Buckingham+County%2C+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&locationId=county_2817&memorialid=&mcid=&linkedToName=&datefilter=&orderby=r&plot=&page=1#sr-127597137
Carole,
Many thanks for adding this new information about the Norvell family, especially your discovery at Bruton Parish Church. I plan to include some of it in an upcoming post in the 2020 series about the Norvell House so more Slate River Ramblings followers will see it.
Joanne
Bernard Miller Norvell, age 5, in the photo was my paternal grandfather. He dies at his son’s house in Milford, Connecticut in 1981. Son (my father) was Bernard Miller Norvell, Jr. Also, I met my Mary Gertrude Norvell when she lived in Richmond in the early 1950s. Family called her “Park” instead of her given names. Mr. Walker, her husband, had already died by then.
Bernard,
Many thanks for the comment. Readers always appreciate more information.
Joanne
In 1972, my husband and I visited Historic Williamsburg. A plaque in Bruton Parish Church included vestryman, Capt. Hugh Norvell (1669-1719). It sparked my interest in family history as my grandmother, Lily, was a Norvell. I discovered that Hugh is my 7th great-grandfather. In the 1880 and 1900 Census record for Buckingham County, Hay Booth Norvell is listed as Robert H. Norvell. In the 1900 Census Bernard M. Norvell is listed as Vincent B. Norvell. The 1910 Census indicates that Mary Miller Norvell had 12 children. It also includes Hay B. Norvell and Bernard M. Norvell. So it confirms that a woman has the right to change her mind.
Catherine Neighbors (on the porch) is my third great grandmother (descended through another daughter, Sarah “Sallie” Ann Elizabeth Miller, who married William T Payne)
Elizabeth, it is completely coincidental that my Payne’s Pond post was followed by the photo of Catherine Neighbors, proving the amazing interconnections in Buckingham County!
Wonderful photo!
Isn’t it !
I spoke at length to my Aunt Stanley this morning before I saw this. She asked about our visit to this home two weeks ago. The owner was not at home but has kindly offered to show us the inside on our next visit. His family has owned the property for 50 years. We believe it was built around 1830.
Carole
Carole, Thank you for the update and the approximate date of the house.