The Mystery of Czechs in 18th Century Southern Virginia
Once upon a time, a lady of Czech background married a Virginian in the 18th century. How did this unlikely pairing come about? Why and how did she find herself on another continent, particularly in an area that is not known for having Czech settlements? There was a Czech population that arrived in the late 19th century, but Monica Mawrlein arrived more than a century prior to that. Did her Czech father arrive with her, as some believe? Did they have a similar impact on their environment, like the Moravian Bohemians who settled other parts of the East Coast? Were they even Moravian? And how did she meet her husband, John Humphreys II? While we don't know the story between John and Monica, there is a bit more information about one of their children who later settled in North Carolina.
One of their children, Martha Louiza Humphreys, married a magistrate named Thomas Halliburton, Esq. The marriage took place on September 30, 1783 in Person County, North Carolina. If records about Monica's death are correct, then she did not get to attend her daughter's wedding, but perhaps she would have been pleased with Martha Louiza's choice. "Squire Burton," as Thomas was called based on a shortened version of his last name, was a Revolutionary War veteran known for his "wisdom, strong sense of justice, and unimpeachable honesty" based on a 1909 letter written by Martha Winifred Haliburton, the granddaughter of an orphan who lived with Thomas and Martha. She recounted the story of a gentleman who heard her last name called out during a train ride, and he asked to sit with her and tell her stories about Thomas. Apparently, there was a saying in the area that something was "As good as Burton's Bond" in reference to his "uprightness of character." All of this can be found in the 'Genealogy History of the Halliburton Family.'
The letter further describes John and Monica's daughter, Martha Louiza. It was said that Martha Louiza had a beautiful face despite weighing over 300 pounds! Well, at least she was well-fed. Also, she was well-known for her knowledge in the art of housekeeping, which is why the letter-writer's grandmother was sent to live with the family, in order to learn these skills. Little did she know that she would gain a husband along the way! The orphan ended up marrying Thomas and Martha's son, John Camp Halliburton.
Did Martha Louiza learn such household arts from her mother, Monica? Although one must always be cautious of stereotypes, it has been documented that Bohemians, whether from modern-day Germany or Czechia, were noted for their excellent housekeeping skills. This seems to be the case across the various Protestant denominations that landed in the colonies, whether Moravian, Lutheran or any of the others. Meanwhile, the border between Virginia and North Carolina was known for having, let's just say, laid-back households, as noted by the likes of William Byrd II. Again, we don't want to assume everyone had the same circumstances, and there are exceptions to every rule, but we can't rule out any potential clues as to Monica's origins.
If anyone out there has any ideas related to the Czech origins of Monica Mawrlein, then please contact me. Together, perhaps we can solve a centuries-old mystery!
