LINKS:
BACK TO BOOK INTRODUCTION
BACK TO CHAPTER 1 JAMES FINNEY: FATHER 1711-1753
TO CHAPTER 3 THE EARLY YEARS 1754-1777
For the next 16 years (1711 to
1727), Benjamin and Margaret Edmondson lived and thrived in Essex County,
Virginia.[i] They raised Margaret’s three children from
her first marriage with John Finney[ii]
and had four children of their own: Thomas, Mary, Benjamin, and Upton. The children of the deceased John Finney by
his first wife apparently were raised in Middlesex County with their uncle and
likely had little contact with their half siblings.[iii] The Edmondson family was living on the Dragon
Swamp, on or adjoining the 189-acre parcel of land John Finney bought in 1706.[iv]
1715 Benjamin and Margaret Edmonson
and their family lived on a farm in Essex County that consisted of 175 acres of
land,[v]
not a bad start for a young man still in his 20s. On the 17 April 1716, Benjamin paid rent to
the English King for the aforementioned 175 acres of patented land in Essex
County, Virginia. Those colonists that
were required to pay this “quit rent” consisted only of Essex County land
owners. Of the 311 land owners in 1715
Essex County, 43 owned less than 100 acres, 105 between 100 and 199 acres, 63
between 200 and 299 acres, 47 between 300 and 499 acres, 35 between 500 and 999
acres, and 18 over 1000 acres. Benjamin
Edmondson’s widowed step-mother Mary Edmondson owned 600 acres of land. James Edmondson, Benjamin’s older half-brother,
was in Essex County living on 350 acres.
1721 The location of the Edmondson land, as well
as John Finney land, can be more specifically located by a deed made this year
between Benjamin Edmondson and his brother Thomas. Benjamin bought 138 acres from his brother in
Essex County that was located “on the north side of the great branch of
Piankatank Swamp, to John Finney line, then back to Piankatank Swamp.” The great branch of the Piankatank was the
Dragon Swamp and the Dragon Swamp was often known as the Piankatank Swamp.
This land was further described
as being part of the John Pigg original land patent for 280 acres dated 10 June
1675. The land John Finney bought in
1706 was also described as a part (95 acres) of the John Pigg land patent for
280 acres dated 10 June 1675.[vi] Therefore, the Benjamin Edmondson family
lived on or beside the John Finney land of 1706.
1722 During the time the
Edmondson’s were raising their children in Essex County, the Treaty of Albany
was signed between Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Five Iroquoian
Nations. These northern Indian tribes
agreed not to cross the Potomac River or the Blue Ridge Mountains without a
pass. American Colonists were excited
about the land to the west even though Indian troubles were common away from
the coast. The treaty was surprisingly
popular to both natives and colonists, and the western land just east of the
Blue Ridge Mountains was now being considered very desirable for young families,
especially those recently arriving from Europe.
Virginian colonists, specifically, would find this treaty
comforting. Available and obtainable
land drew many young men’s interest. The
young Finney boys, as with many other young men who would not inherit their
father’s lands, would eventually be forced to look west for land. The possibility of inheritance or gifts of
land from family was not possible since John Finney had long since been
deceased and William and James Finney were only the step-sons of Benjamin
Edmondson (though it is possible that James Finney was the oldest surviving son
of John Finney).
21 March 1727 The will of
Benjamin Edmondson was proven in Essex County probate court records.[vii] Benjamin had been sick when he wrote his will
back in November 1726[viii]
and probably died around the beginning of 1727 at the age of about 41 years. His inventory later showed an estate valued
at 143.3.2 pounds, which included five “negroes” (slaves) and 4,788 pounds of
tobacco.[ix] Still a young woman in her early- to mid-
forties, Margaret Upton-Finney-Edmondson had lost her second husband and now
had at least four children under the age of 16.
There is no record of what
happened to Margaret Upton-Finney-Edmondson after the death of her husband.[x] She signed a bond from Benjamin Edmondson’s
estate that was presented to the Essex County court on 21 November 1727. She also was paid a note from an account in
1727 by the administrators of the John Dyke estate. In July 1728, a deed named Margaret Edmondson
as the owner of land adjoining Robert Akers, Thomas Williamson, and John
Williamson.[xi] Another deed in February 1734 names Margaret
as the owner of land bordering Robert Akers and John Williamson and that her
land was formerly in the possession of George Brooks.[xii]
Benjamin Edmondson’s will was
witnessed by three men. Two of these
witnesses were known to have land adjoining land of John Finney, deceased,
which he purchased in 1706: Thomas Williamson[xiii]
and Evan Davis. The third man was James
Finney, Margaret Upton-Finney-Edmondson’s son from her prior marriage to John
Finney. James Finney signed his name
“L”, indicating that he was apparently illiterate at the time.[xiv] James would have been about 18 years old. According to English law governing the
colonies in the eighteenth century, boys 14 years and older could witness
documents, testify in court, sign contracts, and even act as an executor.
What became of the Finney
children from both John Finney, deceased, marriages after they reached
adulthood? The eldest son John Finney
appeared in Middlesex County Court and listed John Gibbs as his guardian in
1714 at age 17 but no trace of him was able to be found in or near Middlesex
County after this time.[xv] The next eldest son Richard Finney died on 20
March 1720 in Middlesex County at about age 21.[xvi] Daughter Anne Finney signed her Uncle John
Gibb’s will in 1725 at age 24 in Middlesex County[xvii]
and appears to have married an Elias Burt there in 1726.[xviii] She died within a few years after her
marriage. John Finney’s three children
by his second wife grew up in Essex County.
Their oldest child William Finney was never found in Essex County
records. A William Finney was in Middlesex
County in 1735 and 1736 but then disappeared from record books there.[xix] The youngest child, of unknown name and sex,[xx]
was also not able to be traced and no other Finney appeared in Essex County or
nearby that matches the age.[xxi] (See Appendix 10 for the James Finney family)
James Finney, the second of John
Finney’s children from his second marriage, remained in Essex County. His path could be traced more easily, though
his years as a young adult are a mystery.
After signing his step-father’s will in 1726, he failed to make an
appearance in Essex County Court records for nearly eight years, between the
age of 18 and 26. In 1734, James Finney
was found in Essex County court records having paid a debt owed to John
Edmondson’s estate.[xxii] John Edmondson was his deceased step-father’s
brother. Had James Finney been in Essex
County after his stepfather’s death or had he gone elsewhere in the
colony? Wherever he was, after 1734, James
Finney could be found in Essex County and remained active in county business
(e.g., court, deeds, witness) for nearly 20 years.
May 1735 Lord Fairfax
arrived in the Virginia Colony from England to stop the colonists from issuing
land patents in his proprietary, the Northern Neck of Virginia, also known as
the lands between the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on
the South. Fairfax had been given
decrees from King George of England and hired men to survey his land. This Northern Neck bordered Essex County to
the north and west and included most of the Rappahannock River and bordering
land all the way into present day West Virginia. Colonists had been receiving Northern Neck
grants since 1722 after the Treaty of Albany.
The far western lands of the Virginia Colony were known
as Orange County (above); where James Finney and John
Zachary claimed 400 acres (below, James Finney’s half portion)
20 May 1735 During the sale
of lands in the Northern Neck, James Finney and Thomas Zachary purchased and
received a deed for 400 acres in Orange County on “the forks of the Robinson
River” (Appendix 11). The land could be
more specifically described by its location on Beautiful Run, a
small branch that runs into the Rapidan which in turn flows into the Robinson
River. The Robinson River eventually
empties into the Rappahannock River.[xxiii]
Orange County, nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was once an
extreme western portion of Essex County.
It had been recently formed in 1734[xxiv]
and existed at this time as one of the westernmost counties in Virginia. Land sales were booming in this sector of the
Northern Neck proprietary. One must
wonder if James Finney, Thomas Zachary, or both men had been to this area to
inspect potential land availability.
Who was Thomas Zachary?
Thomas Zachary and James Finney had been neighbors since
childhood. Zachary was born about 1710
in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia and later lived in Essex
County. It appears that Thomas Zachary
would live on the Finney-Zachary Orange County land but James Finney would not. Orange County tax lists show that Thomas
Zachary was taxed from 1735 to 1739 but no tax records exist during any year
for James Finney .[xxv] By 1743, Thomas sold his half of the
Zachary-Finney land in Orange County[xxvi]
and moved to Granville County, North Carolina.[xxvii] John Zachary, Thomas’ older brother, lived in
Orange County in close proximity to the Finney tract and would spend the rest
of his life in the same area.
August 1736 The first issue
of the Virginia Gazette was published in Williamsburg, Virginia. This four-page weekly newspaper covered important
news from Virginia and items from other colonies, Scotland, and England which
may have been of interest to patrons. Now, Virginians could read stories, news,
gossip, advertisements, and obituaries, while also posting their own notices
for lost or found slaves, horses, or livestock.
15 Dec 1738 James Finney’s
first public service to the Essex County Court was rendered at the December
court meeting. During this meeting in
Tappahannock, Finney met with James Turner and John
Page to appraise the inventory of the estate of Ann Davis, deceased.[xxviii] Finney appeared just a month later on January
16 and was ordered to assist in the inventory and appraisement of the estate of
William Matthews, deceased. [xxix] As court continued the next day, Finney
brought in the inventory and appraisement of Ann Davis’ estate which was
ordered to be recorded.[xxx] It is interesting to note that he signed both
of these court records, and many other future records, as “James Finey.”[xxxi]
This is interesting because, for one, he
now appeared to be a literate man, though to what extent is unknown. Twelve years before, James Finney could not
sign his full name. The signature is
also interesting because the spelling he used as his surname may reveal that he
went by “Finey” instead of “Finney.”
Since he appeared to be illiterate when his father died in 1710, he may
have only guessed at the spelling of his own name.
The Essex County Court House built in 1729 (above) and
the Henley House erected in 1718 (below) were sights
James Finney saw during his visits to Tappahannock
James Finney’s appearance in
Essex County court as an appraiser would have been the result of his elevation
in the social structure of the county. A
prerequisite to an elevation of status was ownership of land. For certainty, James Finney now owned 200
acres in Orange County, Virginia and possibly more in Essex County.[xxxii] Public service, for most, came as a result of
a man’s improved status.
31 January 1739 James Finney
was a land owner in Essex County. He
lived upon or very close to his father’s land on Dragon Swamp, though a deed to
prove this to be fact has not been found.[xxxiii]
That he owned land in some capacity is a
certainty because he was mentioned repeatedly in the Southfarnham Parish Vestry
Book as the owner of land that served as a boundary in one of 20 Southfarnham
Parish precincts. The first time the
vestry book refers to James Finney’s land was on this date in 31 January 1739.[xxxiv] Men were assigned by the church to report on
boundaries of districts. With this
responsibility, each of these men was instructed to process every person’s land
within the district they supervised.
While the lists don’t exist, the orders to the list makers about the
boundaries of each district remain. Within
one district, James Finney’s land marked a part of the boundary. The district mentioning James Finney’s land
was described as beginning at:
“…Elliotts
old field from thence to ye head of ye Dragon (Swamp) and down ye Dragon (Swamp)
to a branch below James Finneys, from thence up ye said branch to Harpers
Ordinary (later Webbs Ordinary) and so along ye road to Matthews Bridge…”[xxxv]
The
James Finney appears to have owned land on the north
side of the Dragon Swamp
Here it must be noted that at
some date, land on the Dragon Swamp was sold to Threesivelluse Minor. Minor reported that he purchased from John
Finney 255 acres adjoining Thomas Edmondson, John Williamson, James Webb, and
William Covington on the Dragon Swamp.[xxxvi] John Finney originally purchased 189 acres of
land on Dragon Swamp adjoining most of these men. No other evidence has been found to show that
the Dragon Swamp land ever changed hands from the Finney-Edmondson association. However shortly after the Minor deed, Thomas
Edmondson noted that he held land on Dragon Swamp adjoining John Finney, Robert
Akers, and James Webb.[xxxvii] These deeds lead to a hypothesis that Minor
may have purchased a small amount of land from a Finney but the family still
owned land on the Dragon Swamp for an extended number of years.
Within Finney’s district and
possibly in the districts surrounding him, he had ties with family, friends,
and business acquaintances. The men he
shared these ties with, normally through court-assigned public service, must
have lived nearby. Difficult and often
nonexistent travel routes necessitated working relationships to exist between
men who lived in close proximity to one another. Some of the men with whom James Finney was
associated included (in order of closest found acquaintance); the Edmondson
families (his relatives), the Williamson families (his neighbors), the
Covington families (owned the Old Mill), James Webb (shoemaker, Webb’s Ordinary
owner, and James Finney’s half-sister’s husband[xxxviii])
and John Webb, the Dunn families (owned a mill), Richard Brown, George and
James Turner (James Finney’s future father-in-law), John and Edward Hayes,
William and Benjamin Matthews (Matthews Bridge?), John Page, William and
Richard Cooper, James and Benjamin Fisher, James and Joshua Boughan, William
Langham, Richard Gatewood, John and Peter Dickerson, John Davis, and others.
4 Jan 1740 James Finney
was called upon, pursuant to an order of Vestry, by Southfarnham Parish to
witness the processing of land in his district, including that of William
Covington and James Webb.[xxxix] William Covington was an Essex County sheriff
and owner of a Mill near James Finney, and James Webb was Finney’s
half-sister’s husband, a shoemaker, and ran a tavern (Webb’ Ordinary or
formerly Harper’s Ordinary) beside Covington’s Mill. These two locations were on a main road as
evident from the order. A Covington’s
Bridge, on current maps, crosses Dragon Run about three miles below the head
(see map). It is interesting to note
that in current times, Webb’s Ordinary is most notably remembered as the site
of an evening dinner for George Washington.[xl]
May 1741 Amelia County,
Virginia court recorded a deed for the sale of land, 604 acres, from John
Mitchell to James Finney for 25 pounds (Appendix 12). The deed called for the release of the dower
right of Ann Mitchell, John Mitchell’s wife.[xli] Amelia County was southwest of Essex County
and was formed in 1734 from parts of Prince George County and Brunswick
County. This 604-acre tract of land is
located in present day Nottoway County.
It does not appear that James actually lived there and instead remained
in Essex County.[xlii] There were other Finneys living in Amelia
but no relation is known to exist.
Amelia
County is southwest of Essex County (left)
Who was William Finney of Amelia County?
Not much is known about William Finney who lived in Amelia County. He arrived there in the 1740’s and would die
there in 1747[xliii],
having had at least two children but probably more. He was married to Mary, whose last name was
Page or Punich. The date of birth for
William is questionable, most researchers guessing about 1715. It is most widely regarded that he was the
son of Reverend William Finney and wife Mary Cocke of Henrico County, Virginia
though there is no real evidence. The
Reverend William Finney was born around 1690 in Scotland and died in 1727 in
Henrico County. Could William Finney of
Amelia County be James Finney’s brother William who disappeared from Essex
County records?
15 Feb 1742 James Finney
was again called upon to serve the Essex County Court in Tappahannock when he
was to assist in making an inventory of the estate of Thomas Allen, deceased. He, along with John Dunn, was assisting John
St. John, the administrator of the Thomas Allen estate.[xliv] The monthly court proceedings were a big
production in these times and most men gathered to watch and socialize, as well
as participate when needed. Duties that
needed to be completed were given to men present who lived in the vicinity of
the related parties for documents such as wills, inventories, and deeds. Presiding over these court proceedings were
the Gentlemen Justices of the Peace.
Important men, often rich plantation owners, sat in court and made
rulings. Essex County Justices in the
1740’s included men such as Thomas and Francis Waring, Robert Brooke, Francis
Smith, William Daingerfield, Richard Tyler, and Joshua Fry.
March 1743 James Finney was
still living in Essex County[xlv]
when he sold the land he had bought in Amelia County just two years
earlier. He sold 200 acres, the south
side of the original 604-acre tract, to John Bridgeforth.[xlvi] The land description states that this 200
acres bordered Hurricane Branch, Hurricane Swamp, and Beaver Pond. The remaining 404 acres was sold to James’
half-brother Upton Edmondson.[xlvii] The description of this land includes
reference to the north side of Hurricane Branch, Hurricane Swamp, and a point
of rocks. James Finney received five
shillings for each tract of land.
Tappahannock
was just 9 or 10 miles north of the Dragon
Swamp where James
Finney is presumed to have lived (above)
and the Tappahannock port (below)
19 Feb 1744 John
Williamson, one of the older members of the Williamson family, had recently
died and James Finney was assigned by the court to work with John’s sons
Leonard, the executor, and Thomas to create the inventory of his assets.[xlviii] John Williamson and his family lived very
close to James Finney near the headwaters of Dragon Swamp. Working with the sons of the deceased shows
either a friendship or possible relationship of some sort.[xlix]
Who was James Finney of Augusta County?
Another James Finney was in Virginia in the early 1700’s. This James Finney was thought to have been
born in Ireland about 1680 before coming to the American Colonies with his wife
and children, settling in Augusta County.
Irish immigrants bought grants in western Virginia where land was easily
available and created a large Irish population.
In late 1742, this James Finney was killed with Captain John McDowell
and six others in a skirmish with Delaware Indians at Balcony Falls (present
day Rockbridge County). His son Michael
was appointed administrator of his estate papers which were recorded in Orange
County because the Augusta County courts would not officially begin until
1745. This Finney has no apparent
relation with Essex or Middlesex County Finneys.
19 Mar 1744 James Finney
was once again in Tappahannock attending the Essex County Court proceedings.[l] Two months earlier, on 11 December 1743, he
had witnessed a deed between the sons of William Covington (William, Richard,
and Edmund) and James Webb.[li] Webb was buying a ¾ acre on Covington’s Mill
Dam, also called the Old Mill Dam, which would likely become Webb’s
Ordinary. On 19 March, James Finney
appeared in court to witness William Covington Jr. sign, seal, and deliver the
indenture of sale into court records.
Margaret
Upton-Finnie-Edmondson’s children were
all adults in 1744
27 Dec 1747 Though there
are no records of James Finney having attended the Essex County court during
the last three and a half years, there is no reason to believe he had not in
attended at times. Starting on this
date, James Finney was definitely in court for the next five monthly court
meetings in Tappahannock. During this
December session, James Finney signed as a witness to a deed of 150 acres sold
by Thomas Covington, son, to William Covington, father, both of Essex County.[lii] The land was described as south of the north
branch of the Dragon Swamp and down the Great Swamp, bordering James Newbell,
Samuel Coats, and William Covington.
17 Jan 1748 A 150-acre deed
was recorded in court at Tappahannock on this date between Thomas Edmondson and
William Covington.[liii] James Finney, ever handy to sign documents
pertaining to his neighbors, was in court and signed as a witness with two Edmondsons
(Thomas and James). He was also assigned
to participate in the inventory and appraisement of the goods of Edward
Williamson, deceased, along with Thomas Edmondson and William Gordon.[liv]
28 Jan 1748 William Carter
wrote his will on this date and appointed “James Finey” to be the executor of
his will.[lv] There is no known connection between William
Carter and James Finney but obviously some connection existed, whether through
business, friendship, or kinship.[lvi] The heirs of William Carter, as provided for
in his will, included his children John Carter, Anne Carter, and Elizabeth
Cooper. Like in most other documents
that James Finney was a part of, a Williamson (Leonard) and an Edmondson
(James) signed as witnesses, ensuring the likelihood that William Carter was a
neighbor. Less than a month later,
William Carter was dead and James Finney was in Tappahannock presenting the
last will and testament to court. He was
then assigned to make the inventory, as was normal, and he wasted no time in
doing so.[lvii] The inventory and appraisement was signed by
James Finney and witnessed by an Edmondson (John), a Covington (William), and a
Dunn (William) on February 28, then recorded back in court on April 18.[lviii] Along with returning the William Carter
inventory and appraisement, James Finney returned the inventory and
appraisement of the Edward Williamson estate, pursuant to a court order from
January 17.[lix]
About 1748 At about the age of 40, James Finney was married to the
daughter of James Turner in Essex County. Elizabeth Turner lived near James Finney on
the Dragon Swamp and was likely significantly younger, perhaps less than 25
years of age. [lx] Her father James Turner was a planter in
Southfarnham Parish, Essex County, Virginia and lived on the Dragon Swamp near
James Finney, William and Richard Cooper, his brother George Turner, William
Matthews, Thomas Dunn, and William Covington, among others. Elizabeth Turner was the granddaughter of
George Turner, who had been in this same area since before 1691.
Why did James Finney started his
family so late in life? This may seem
strange but there are many possible reasons for Finney’s decision to begin a
family in this way. For one, James could
have been married before and could not or did not have children. Or, he could have had a wife and children and
lost them to some disaster, such as an Indian attack or disease. A more likely scenario was that he may have
had a job that kept him from settling down.
Ultimately, James Finney decided to settle down at a slightly advanced
age, like many of his descendants did after him. His new family would grow and live through
exciting times as detailed in the chapters that follow.
February 1749 James Finney
conducted a sale of William Carter’s goods at an outcry. William Carter had died a year before and
James Finney had been the executor, conducting previously the inventory and
appraisement. At the outcry, or public
sale, James Finney actually purchased goods from the William Carter estate. Later, on 19 September, James Finney returned
an account against the William Carter estate, which was the norm, describing
the sale of goods from February.[lxi]
About 1750 Elizabeth Finney gave birth to a child, likely her
first, at the James Finney home in Essex County, Virginia. A first son, according to English naming
pattern tradition, was named after the father’s father. Therefore, James and Elizabeth Finney named
their child after James’ father John who had died over 40 years before.
20 Nov 1751 James Finney
witnessed a deed between his neighbors Edward Hayes and James Webb – Hayes sold
100 acres to Webb for 50 pounds. The
description of this lot helps show evidence that James Finney was living on or
near his father John Finney’s Dragon Swamp land. Edward Hayes originally purchased the 100
acre tract from Abraham St. John and the land was described as bordering John
Dickenson, James Webb, William Covington, John Williamson, and John Finney (who
had died over 40 years before). James
Finney signed this deed with other men (including John Edmondson) the next
month in Essex County court on December 17.[lxii]
The
13 American colonies in 1750
Essex County men voted for citizens
in their county to become members of the Virginia House of Burgesses, which
convened in Williamsburg to make laws for the colony and set the direction of
future growth. Originally all men voted
but Virginia changed the law and voting at this time was done by men that owned
at least 50 acres of land. No Finney
voted during the Essex County elections of 1741, 1748, and 1752, as seen from
the lists still extant in Essex County records.[lxiii] Why was James Finney not a voter for the
House of Burgesses? As stated earlier,
no Essex County deed has been found to prove he actually owned land though the
Southfarnham Parish Vestry Book listed James Finney’s land as a precinct
boundary which was probably his father’s Dragon Swamp land.
25 October 1752 The James Finney family would now include two
sons. On 25 October, a new son was born
to Elizabeth Finney at her home in Essex County, Virginia. Once again following English tradition, James
Finney named his second son James after Elizabeth Turner-Finney’s father, James
Turner.
20 Nov 1753 Opportunity for
James Finney apparently looked more promising to the west. The land he purchased 18 years before in 1735
was now a part of the newly created Culpeper County, formed from the northern
regions of Orange County in 1749.
Culpeper County would provide opportunity for James Finney to increase
his land holdings and improve the future of his young family. On this date James Finney gave Power of
Attorney to James Turner with a statement recorded at Court in Tappahannock. The deed states:
“…I James Finey of
Southfarnham Parish in Essex County being now a-going to remove out of the said
parish and county for divers good, causes me hereto … place my
trusty friend James Turner my true and lawful attorney for me … to ask, demand,
sue for, and recover all such sum and sums of money, debts, dues, and demands
whatsoever that is now and hereafter shall be due and owing unto me…”
The document was signed by James
Finney and witnessed by William Covington and Richard Brown.[lxiv] James Turner was not only his legal
representative but also his father-in-law.[lxv]
The route from Essex County to Culpeper County follows the
Rappahannock River northwest to Fredericksburg and then
near Germanna continues west along the Rapidan River
By the time of their move,
James and Elizabeth Finney had been blessed with two children, three-year-old
John Finney and one-year-old James Finney.[lxvi]
There may have been others but for sure
these two young Finney boys accompanied their parents on the move west to
Culpeper County.
During the Finneys journey to Culpeper County, they may have
passed the Fox Tavern (above) in Port Royal, built about 1753,
and the Thompson House (below) west of Germanna, built about 1742
For a timeline of records related
to James Finney, see Appendix 13.
[i] Assorted
Essex Co Deeds and documents in the name of Benjamin Edmondson of Essex County
Virginia such as in 1720 (Essex Co VA Order Book 1716-1723 part 3 p 466) and
1721 (Essex Co VA Deed Book 17 p 28-32)
[ii] This is
a guess as it was standard for the mother to keep her natural children after
their father’s death but not her husband’s children from a previous
marriage. Both parents of the oldest
Finney children were deceased.
[iii] A
discussion later in the chapter will briefly explore the futures of the Finney
children. John Finney had no known
relatives in Virginia and his first three
children could be found in Middlesex
County
[iv]
Benjamin Edmondson, of Southfarnham Parish, Essex
County , bought 138 acres from Thomas
Williamson on the north side of Piankatank
Swamp
[v] Was this
land part of his recently deceased father’s land or was this land that John
Finney had passed to Margaret. It was
likely this since none of his children were of legal age to take the land.
[vi]
Original grant description – John Brooks land grant
[vii] (Essex
Co VA Wills 1722-1730 p 240-241)
[viii]
(Essex Co VA Wills 1722-1730 p 240-241)
[ix] ??cant
find it
[x] She
presumably remarried. A look at the
future records of her Edmondson children may reveal whether or not she
remarried after the death of Benjamin Edmondson
[xi] Deed
Abstracts of Essex County Virginia page 100 (352-352a) 15/16 July 1728
[xii] Deed
Abstracts of Essex County Virginia page 30 (212-214) 17 February 1734
[xiii] There
was a Thomas Williamson in Essex
County
[xiv] (Essex
Co VA Wills 1722-1730 p 240-241)
[xv] (Middlesex
Co VA Order Book 1710-1715 p 176), The name John Finney (and other spellings)
was easily found in several other locales in Virginia .
No conclusive match has been positively identified.
[xvi]
(Christ Church Parish Register VA Deaths 1653 - 1812) Another bio said 20 Dec
1719. Church Register said that he died
on 20 March 1720 and then was buried 23 March 1720
[xvii]
Middlesex Co VA Wills (John Gibbs will 14 Jun 1725 and probate 5 Apr 1726)
[xviii]
Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex
County , VA
[xix]
Middlesex Co VA records ???
[xx]
Margaret Upton-Finney was pregnant when John Finney made his will in December
1709. This may have been Jane Finney who
married Stephen Arnold in 1754 Augusta County, Virginia (western lands). Descendants of that family estimate her birth
as 1712 to 1715.
[xxi] Some
speculate that this may have been Jean Finney, who married Stephen Arnold and
lived later in rural western Virginia.
Her ancestors claim her birth date to be about 1712.
[xxii] The
notes for the estate were filed 15 June 1739 but he had paid his debt in cash
back in 1734. John Edmondson had died in
1733 (Essex Co VA Will Book 1735-1743 p 184-193)
[xxiii]
(Orange Co VA Grant Records Deed Book 15 No 494 LDS film 0029310)
[xxiv] Western Essex
County had actually become Spotsylvania County Orange
County was created from Spotsylvania County
[xxv]
(Orange Co VA tax records)
[xxvi] Orange County
[xxvii]
Assorted Zachary family histories found online
[xxviii]
(Essex Co VA Will Book 1735-1743 p 152-153)
[xxix]
(Essex Co VA Will Book 1735-1743 p 151-152))
[xxx] (Essex
Co VA Will Book 1735-1743 p 152-153)
[xxxi] Be it
known that no original records have been seen.
This comes strictly from transcriptions of those records. The missing “n” could have been a left out because
of a transcribers misinterpretation of the signature.
[xxxii] No
records have been found of his owning land but the question remains, “what
happened to his father’s land,” “what happened to his mother and her land,” and
his appearance in the next year as the woner of land that helped define a
precinct border in Essex County.
[xxxiii] If
this was his father’s land, how was this land obtained as it was supposed to go
to the oldest brother John or mother Margaret and then even any older brothers
before him. Did his mother play a part
in James hold on the land? Were all of
his older brothers dead? Did he buy it from an older brother (no deed)
[xxxiv]
(Vestry Book of South Farnham Parish Essex Co VA 1739-1779)
[xxxv]
(Vestry Book of South Farnham Parish Essex Co VA 1739-1779)
[xxxvi]
Essex County VA Land Records 1752-1761 by Brewer, abstracts page 30, 25 May
1753 (page 226)
[xxxvii]
Essex County VA Land Records 1752-1761 by Brewer, abstracts page 83, 16
February 1756 (page 189)
[xxxviii]
They were married 5 February 1731 in Essex Co VA
[xxxix]
(Vestry Book of South Farnham Parish Essex Co VA 1739-1779)
[xl] From Washington ’s diary
[xli] Amelia
Co VA Deeds 1735-1743 and Bonds 1735-1741 Book 1 p 301)
[xlii] All
land transactions in Amelia County state that James Finney was living in Essex County
[xliii]
Another source was found that he died in Amelia County
VA Fredericksburg ,
VA.
[xliv]
(Essex Co VA Will Book 1735-1743 p 419-420)
[xlv] The
deed states that James Finney was living in Essex County
[xlvi] The
deed of lease on 8 March (Amelia Co VA Deeds 1742047 Deed Book 2 p 70) and the
deed of release a day later on 9 March (Amelia Co VA Deeds 1742047 Deed Book 2
p 72)
[xlvii] The
deed of lease on 8 March (Amelia Co VA Deeds 1742047 Deed Book 2 p 73) and the
deed of release a day later on 9 March (Amelia Co VA Deeds 1742047 Deed Book 2
p 75)
[xlviii]
(Essex Co VA Will Book 1743-1747 p 250-253)
[xlix] It
could be possible that James Finney’s mother remarried a Williamson
[l] (Essex
Co VA Deeds 1742-1745 p 233-235)
[li] (Essex
Co VA Deeds 1742-1745 p 233-235)
[lii] (Essex
Co VA Deeds 1745-1749 p 306-308)
[liii]
(Essex Co VA Deeds 1745-1749 p 158-160)
[liv] (Essex
Co VA Wills 1748-1750 p 227-228)
[lv] (Essex
Co VA Wills 1748-1750 p 158-160)
[lvi] It
could also be possible that James Finney’s mother remarried a Carter
[lvii]
(Essex Co VA Wills 1748-1750 p 158-160)
[lviii]
(Essex Co VA Wills 1748-1750 p 227)
[lix] (Essex
Co VA Wills 1748-1750 p 227-228)
[lx]
Elizabeth Turner’s brother Henry, identified later in the James Finney will of
1764 in Culpeper County, was known from bible records to have been born in
1821. This leads to a guess that
Elizabeth was likely born somewhere around 1820 to 1825.
[lxi] (Essex
Co VA Wills 1748-1750 p 270-271, 275)
[lxii] This
deed does not necessarily state that the John Finney land was now in the hands
of his son James Finney but it does show that he was likely living there or
nearby. All of these men witnessing the
deed were living in the Dragon Swamp neighborhood and his signature with these
mean, and in every deed he witnessed or was a part of, could show that he was
living there as well.(Essex Co VA Deeds 1749-1752 p 291-293)
[lxiii]
Review of the voting in Essex
County
[lxiv]
(Essex Co VA Deeds 1753-1754 Wills 1750 p 376)
[lxv] It is
known that James Finney was married to Elizabeth Turner from the identification
of Henry Turner in his will of 1764 (Culpeper Co VA Will Book A 1749-1770 p
380-384) as his brother-in-law. A bible
passed down along the Henry Turner family also stated that Henry Turner had a
sister that married a James Finney. The
Turner families of Essex County and surrounding counties were researched and
analyzed to find possible parents for Elizabeth and Henry Turner. It appears that there was a James Turner,
Thomas Turner, and George Turner. George
Turner’s children are known and they were all born before 1707 and did not
include a Henry. The Thomas Turner died
in 1758 in King George County
Virginia Elizabeth ’s
parentage. Their first son was named
John, who would normally be named after the father’s father (correct) and the
second son was named James, who would normally be named after the mother’s
father (correct).
[lxvi] The
age of John and James has been a topic of debate for some time. There are those that believe they were born
closer to the 1730s, more in line with the time a man would normally have
children if born in 1708. There are also
those researchers who believe James was born later, approximately 1754 or
1755. A recent find in a book owned by
John Finnie, dated 1790, establishes the James Finnie’s date of birth as 25
October 1752. Previously the following
issues dealing with the birth dates were scrutinized. They have been left here for posterity.:
1. A
James Finney listed his age in a 1781 Revolutionary War enlistment document for
the 9th Virginia infantry as 26 years old. Hence, James Finney was
born in 1754 or 1755. This author
believed that document to have positively identified James’ birth for some time
until searches in revolutionary war pension applications revealed James Finney
had been a lieutenant in the Culpeper militia in the summer of 1781. There has always been some speculation as to
identity of the James Finney in this 1781 Revolutionary War document. This document also revealed an earlier duty
in a cavalry unit that may have actually been James Finnell, sometimes known as
James Finney. Ultimately, it is hard to
determine whether our James Finnie was this man, since it is unknown if there
was actually service associated with the enlistment.
2. James
Finnie’s last child was born in late 1818.
A birth date before 1750 would make him 70 and older when he had his
last child; not impossible but improbable.
This fact would seem to imply a birth date after 1750, maybe even closer
to 1755.
3. After
the death of James’ father in 1764, there is no mention, other than land
descriptions in other deeds, of James or John Finney in any document or deed
until 1774. This may imply these men did
not reach a legal age until that year, hence James must have been born before
1756.
4. James’
fathers will of 1764 states “...at which time as any of my children that are
above named become of age...” which meant all of his children mentioned in the
will are below the age of 18. Implication…all children born after 1746.
5. The
following phrase from the 1764 will also reveal that his children were all
under age: “...before my above said children should be in capacity of getting
their livings...” Again…all children
born after 1746.
6. James
Finney willed, in 1764, land to a friend, John Buford, and brother-in-law Henry
Turner while the rest went to his wife.
Male children above the age of 18 would normally have received
land. John and James received none,
because they were under the age of 18 and therefore born after 1746.
7. James
Finney named only his wife Elizabeth his Executrix. Usually a man would also name his oldest son
or sons executors if they were above the age of 18.
8. James
Finney desired that after his death, according to his will of 1764, his ”...son
William shall be and remain with my son James Finney...“ for care. While it is clear that all the Finney
children were under age, this statement may imply that his son James Finney was
clearly an adolescent. Since he was
likely the second child, James could have been born 1749 (15 years old) to 1752
(12 years old).
9. Since
James Finney willed in 1764 that his son James Finney would take care of his
younger son William, who was mentally incapacitated in some way, older son John
would appear to be have been away from home.
Since he is clearly not 18 from the statements in the will, John must
have been living with a relative somewhere else and possibly learning a trade
as an apprentice. He could have been as
old as 17 (born 1747) or as young as 14 (born 1750).
10. James
Finney was a sergeant in the Culpeper County militia in 1774 when he fought in
the Battle at Point Pleasant. At the least, James would have been 18 and
therefore born no later than 1756 but likely before as it seems unlikely that
an 18 year old would be elected to such a position.
11. James
Finney was involved in the sale of a parcel of his father’s land in 1775. Not only was he of legal age but he was also
married as evident by the mention of his wife Elizabeth’s release of her dower
rights. This seems to imply James was born before 1754 or 1755.
12. Let
me add that in 1769, Elizabeth Finney was mentioned as the land owner of the
James Finney (deceased) land in a land sale between Michael and Samuel Rice and
John Tindsley for land originally owned by Nicholas Ware. This may tell us that neither James nor John
Finney had reached the age of 21 yet and so they would have been born later
than 1748.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)