NameTheophilus “Off” Quesenberry, 2C5R
Birth6 Mar 1830, Grayson Co., Virginia
Death31 Dec 1909, Carroll Co., Virginia
BurialRt. 762, Carroll Co., Virginia
MotherMary ("Polly") Quesenberry (~1805-1851)
Marriage1850, Carroll Co., Virginia
SpouseRachel Hurst
Birth12 May 1830, Virginia
Death22 Nov 1902, Carroll Co., Virginia
BurialRt. 762, Carroll Co., Virginia
Children
Birthabt 1851, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birth17 Mar 1854, Carroll Co., Virginia
Death11 Jan 1929, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birth1855, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birthabt 1857, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birthabt 1858, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birthlate 1860, Carroll Co., Virginia
Death8 Sep 1868, Carroll Co., Virginia
BirthOct 1861, Carroll Co., Virginia
Deathbef 1920
Birth11 Jul 1866, Carroll Co., Virginia
Death12 Jul 1886, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birth1 Apr 1868, Carroll Co., Virginia
Death5 Jun 1886, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birth15 Feb 1870, Carroll Co., Virginia
Death18 Jul 1941
SpouseTexas Goad , 2C4R
Birthabt 1873, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birthabt 1876, Carroll Co., Virginia
Birthabt 1879, Carroll Co., Virginia
Death1952
SpouseMaude Nester , 2C4R
Notes for Theophilus “Off” Quesenberry
He appears in the 1850 Census of Carroll Co. with the family of Elisha Wright (#181) as "Theopholus Quisenberry", age 20. In his annotations to this census, John P. Alderman writes that Theophilus was the son of Polly Quesenberry, and that he married Rachel Hurst in 1850. (The next household listed in this census is that of Polly and her husband Aaron Largen.)

The "Isaac Quesenberry Record" contains the following paragraph:

"Polly Quesenberry ... had a son Theophelis Quesenberry, known as "Off", whose putative father was one Bullard.... Very little information has been obtained as to "Off" or his descendents and that obtained tended to discourage further inquiry. It was as follows: "Off" had a dispute over a boundary line with Andrew Quesenberry several years before the Civil War. Andrew's contentions prevailed but "Off" held a grudge over it and determined to even the score. Other methods failing, Off finally feighed friendship and eventually persuaded Andrew to climb on a straw rick so as to be able to give his opinion concerning whether it should be reshaped. While Andrew was on top Off shoved him off and so seriously injured one of Andrew's legs that he was crippled for the rest of his life.

Off's traits were apparently inherited by some of his descendents. One of his sons, Cabel, is said to have killed a man named Jobe Alderman for no reason at all, and one of his grandsons, Thomas Quesenberry, known as "One-Eyed Tom", a son of Martin, is reputed to have killed eight men and wounded two, one of whom shot out one of Tom's eyes, thereby giving the appellation "One-Eyed Tom".

... "Off", in addition to Cabel and Martin, has other children named West, Rachel, James, Tine, Barbara, Riley, and Wilburn, who were upright splendid citizens.

The “Martin” refered to above is Theophilus’s son Stephen Martin Quesenberry. For more about One-Eyed Tom (including the sentences elided above), see the notes of Stephen Martin’s oldest son Thomas Henry Quesenberry.

I cannot find Cabel, Rachel, or Tine in the census as children of Theophilus, although Stephen Martin Quesenberry did have a daughter named Tinie. If Alderman lists them in approximately in birth order, “Tine” may be a nickname for Margaret Elizabeth.
Census Notes for Theophilus “Off” & Rachel (Family)
1860 census of Carroll Co., Virginia, Dugspur P.O., p. 60, lists as family #392/395:
Quisenbery, Theophlas, 30, farmer; Rachel, 30; John W., 8; Amanda J., 7; Missouri B., 6; Susan C., 3; Polly A., 2; Largin, Martin, 20.

1870 census of Carroll Co., Virginia, Pine Creek district, Hillsville P.O., p. 113, lists as family #120/124:
Quesenbery, Theopholus, 40; Rachel, 40; Wesley J., 19; Amanda J., 17; Susan C., 13; Stephen M., 9; James B., 4; Margaret E., 2; William R., 5/12, born Jan. All born in Va.

1880 census of Carroll Co., Virginia, Pine Creek district, p. 118, lists as family #65/69:
Quesinbery, Theophlus, 50, farming; Rhacheal, wife, 50; James Ballard, son, 14; Margret Elize., dau, 12; Wm Riley, son, 10; Barbea Ellen, dau, 7; Joseph Wilburn, son, 4; Frank Lenard, son, 1.
Last Modified 18 Nov 2010Created 21 Feb 2014 using Reunion for Macintosh