| Notes |
- The Anthony story is as exciting and intriguing as any novel or movie script ever written. By the late 19th century, more than 100 of the descendants by surname were residents of Clayton County, Georgia. We begin, however, with Mark Anthony, the progenitor of this Anthony family in America. Our source of information is from the files in the Georgia Department of Archives and History, copies of which are located in Auburn University Library, Auburn, Alabama.
Prior to Mark Anthony's arrival in Virginia by October 3, 1690, the accounts are basically family legends. All variations of the legends are in general agreement as to basic facts. Because of the close parallel of statements that are strongly supported by geographical and historical fact, we should have some respect for strong circumstantial evidence.
Anthony Roots and Branches by Nancy Vashti Anthony Jacobs, published in 1971, contained several previously published accounts (handed down by various branches of the Anthony family) of Mark Anthony's ancestry and his voyage to Virginia. That publication and other references are in basic agreement. Probably the most scholarly effort concerning the ancestry of Mark Anthony was done by Dr. Bernard Schwoof in the monograph (Mark Anthony). This was written after years of research.
Mark was born Marco Antonio (Marcus Antonius) before 1675 in Genoa, the Republic of Italy. He was the son of Marco Antonio (Marcus Antonius). The elder Anthony was a wealthy merchant and banker; but at a time when trade in the Italian ports was declining, commerce in America and the New World was strengthening. It was for this reason Marco, the father, moved with his family to the thriving port of Amsterdam, United Netherlands.
There was a tolerant atmosphere in this port, and many Catholics were already there. It is reasonable to believe that Marco was a Catholic.
Mark Anthony, the son, was sent back to Genoa to complete his education when he was about 17 years old. The ship on which he was a passenger was captured by Algerian pirates; and Mark, a Christian infidel, was sold by the Algerians into slavery. Driven to desperation by cruelty and a merciless taskmaster, he and a fellow slave escaped by killing his guard with an axe, concealing themselves in a forest until night and made their way in the cover of darkness to the beach where they found a boat and rowed to a British vessel lying in anchor in the bay.
The captain concealed them in a large cask till out at sea. This vessel was sailing for Virginia. They landed in a port in Virginia and the captain sold him to a farmer (thought to be Charles Fleming) to pay for passage. After serving three years with the new master to pay for passage, Mark settled on the upper James River near the present city of Lynchburg and established a mill and trading post. It is believed that Mark adopted the religion of Charles Fleming (the man to whom he was bound for passage) after coming to America.
Mark's marriage to Isabella Hart produced 12 sons and 1 daughter (those known are listed on their family page). It is believed that Mark died in Hanover County, Virginia after 1731. The Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish records him there as late as 1721.
John Anthony settled in what became Campbell County, Virginia.
SOURCE: History of Clayton County, Georgia, 1821-1983
Anthony Roots and Branches, Jacobs
Ancestors and Descendants of Cader Atkins Parker 1810-1886
by Judge Rogert S. Roddenbery, Jr.
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Abt 1678 - 1739 (61 years)
