Nancy Ann Hartless, born: ca.1815; Amherst County, VA; died: between: 1880 - 1900; Further research is needed to prove that this Nancy is the daughter of the earlier Nancy Hartless that she is connected to in this record.

Nancy, & (unknown), Nancy had four known children prior to her association with Elias Martin. It is unknown who the father was and they were listed under their mother's surname. She and her children listed below (including those with Elias Martin) are listed as 'Mulatto' on the U.S. 1850 Eastern District, Amherst County, VA census. She was listed as age 35.

These are the webmaster's ancestors.

With the listing of this family as 'Mulatto' on the census records, they have given the strongest indication so far of a possible Indigenous origin.

Issue:

• William James (or Jesse) {Hartless}, born: 3 Jan 1832; VA; died: 25 Mar 1917; Rockbridge Co. VA; buried: Mar 1917; Kerrs Creek Cemetery, Rockbridge Co. VA; He was not listed in the 1850 census but is listed as a child of Nancy in other records. He may have been apprenticed out during this time. This is the webmaster's line.
• Betsy {Hartless}, born: ca.1834; Listed as age 16 in the 1850 census.
• James Eli {Hartless}, born: 1839; Campbell Co. VA;
• Ellen F. {Hartless}, born: ca.1840; Amherst Co. VA; Listed as age 10 in the 1850 census.

Nancy, married: 13 Feb 1860; Amherst Co. VA; Samuel Elias Martin, born: ca. Aug 1824; died: af. 1900; Nancy and Elias were officially married sometime after the birth of their last child. Unknown as to why this was the case but it could possibly be due to the remote location of where they lived it was extremely difficult to get a pastor to perform the necessary ceremony so people just took up residence and lived as husband and wife with the intent to formalise the marriage at a later time.

Issue: Martin

• Mary Hartless, born: ca.1845; Listed as age 5 in the 1850 census.
• Lucy B. Hartless, born: 13 Apr 1847; Amherst Co. VA; died: 1 Sep 1930; Rockbridge Co. VA; Listed as age 3 in the 1850 census.
• William Ellis Hartless, born: 15 Oct 1848; Amherst Co. VA; died: 14 Jun 1930; Lexington, Rockbridge Co. VA; Listed as age 2 in the 1850 census.
• Malinda, born: ca.1850; Amherst Co. VA; Listed as age 6 mo. in the 1850 census.
• Arvilla Hartless, born: Sep 1853; Amherst Co. VA;
• Virginia Hartless, born: ca.1856; Amherst Co. VA;

Source info: Gloria Schell's notes; U.S. 1850 Census, Eastern District, Amherst County, VA; Free African Americans by Paul Heinegg (Hammond-Hawley);