Amiss Family (Rappahannock County, Virginia)

Elijah Amiss (1792-1852) was a citizen of Rappahannock County, Virginia, and owned large mills. He married three times: first, on 19 Feb. 1815 he married Sarah Wyatt Royston (1789-1822); second, in 1822, to Elizabeth Royston (1792-1831); and third, in 1833, to Anne Elizabeth Leavell (1806-1852). (Morris ) Two of his sons attended the University of Virginia: William Henry Amiss (12 Nov. 1829-8 Aug. 1903), whose mother was Elizabeth Royston Amiss, and John Burwell Amiss (20 Sep. 1834-4 Jan. 1903), whose mother was Ann Elizabeth Leavell Amiss.

William attended the University in session 28 (1851-1852), and later graduated with a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1853. In the Civil War, W. H. Amiss served as assistant surgeon in the 19th Mississippi Regiment. After the Peninsula campaign, he was promoted to surgeon and transferred to the 60th Georgia Regiment, Lawton’s Brigade, where he remained for the rest of the war. His entire civilian medical career was in Springfield, Virginia. (Confederate Veteran)

Dr. William Henry Amiss married Sarah “Sallie” Wade Bragg (1834-1909) in 1854. Their children were: William H., Susie E., Lucy (d. young), and Amanda. He and Sallie are buried in St. Paul’s Episcopal Churchyard, Woodville, VA.

John attended William and Mary College, then attended and graduated from the University of Virginia in session 33 (1856-1857). The next year he attended and graduated from the University of the City of New York (1858). In the Civil War, John B. served in the Ninety-seventh Virginia Militia (Col. Mann Spitler’s Militia).

He first set up his medical practice in Page County, VA, but soon moved to Harrisonburg, VA, where he spent the rest of his life. In addition to his normal practice, Dr. J. B. Amiss was a member of the National Association of Railroad Surgeons, and was local surgeon of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He died suddenly of heart disease in 1903, and is buried in Woodbine Cemetery, in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Dr. Amiss first married Amanda Virginia Throop (1835-22 Mar. 1885). (Fridley) Their children were Carl Victor, Francis Caydel, Charles B., Cora S., Clyde, Thomas C., Eliza C., Emil P., Claire L., and Courteney. His second wife was Harriet B. (b. Oct. 1845), whom he married between 1885 and 1900.

[Note: W. H. and J. B. Amiss birth dates from U.Va. Matriculation Books. J. B. Amiss death date from the Virginia Medical Semi-monthly. — JLC]

References:

• Amiss tombstones, Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, VA; St. Paul’s Episcopal Churchyard, Woodville, VA; and the Amiss and Alsop Graveyard, Rappahannock Co., VA. Findagrave.com (accessed 6/15/2011).
• Ancestry.com. 1850-1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Ancestry.com. Virginia, Marriages, 1740-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.
• Fridley, Beth. Rockingham County, Virginia Deaths, 1878-85 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
•  “Last Roll, Dr. William H. Amiss,” Confederate Veteran, v. 12, no. 1 (Jan. 1904), p. 34-35.
•  Morris, Christopher. “Christopher A. Morris.” [database online] http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/26575916/person/1873729728?ssrc=
•  “Obituary Record. Dr. John B. Amiss, Harrisonburg, Va.,” Virginia Medical Semi-monthly, v.7 (Jan. 23, 1903), p. 480.
•  Ray, Laura Collison. The Amiss Family of Amissville Rappahannock and Culpeper County, Virginia [website]. 2002. http://nickbriz.home.mindspring.com/Brisbois/gen_Amiss_Family_by_Ray.html (Accessed 5/12/2011)
•  University of Virginia Matriculation Books, 1825-1904, Accession #RG-14/4/2.041, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
•  “Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1917,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XT45-52S : accessed 29 Sep 2012), John B Amiss in entry for Carl Victor Amiss, 28 Nov 1859.
•  “Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1917,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XT4R-6GH : accessed 29 Sep 2012), Jno B Amiss in entry for Carrie L Amiss, 22 Nov 1878.
•  “Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1917,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XT4R-CBT : accessed 29 Sep 2012), A Virginia Amis in entry for Francis Caydel Amis, 12 Jul 1868.
•  “Virginia, Births and Christenings, 1853-1917,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X5D6-N8G : accessed 29 Sep 2012), Amanda Amiss, 01 Aug 1860.
•  “Virginia, Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XR9K-B6K : accessed 29 Sep 2012), W. H. Amiss in entry for Lucy Amiss, 1857.
•  “Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X51Z-R16 : accessed 29 Sep 2012), Wm. H. Amiss and Sarah W. Bragg, 27 Jun 1854; citing reference Item 3 P 141 L 15, FHL microfilm 2048472.