| 2. | James* Withers was born on 6 Jun 1681 in Potomac Creek, Stafford Co, Virginia (son of William* Withers, Jr); died on 3 Jun 1746 in Overwharton, Potomac Creek, Stafford Co, Virginia. Other Events and Attributes:
- Will: 8 Jul 1746, Stafford Co, Virginia
Notes:
(The Wigfield and Nelson Families)
James Withers was born at his father's home on Potomac Creek in Stafford Co, Va.
In 1681, the year of his birth, Louis XIV of France was at the zenith of his power, and in England William Penn, an English Quaker, received a charter from King Charles II for lands that become the State of Pennsylvania.
James was one of at least two sons of William Withers who had emigrated from England, and together with his brother, Capt John Withers, had settled on Potomac Creek. There are several references to John Withers in "The Cultural History of Marorough, Virginia" published by the Smithsonian Institution as it's Bulletin 253 (1968). One such reference states, "John Withers, one of the first feoffees and a justice of the peace, was a lot owner also." John Withers was an uncle of James Withers.
Upon the death of his father, William Withers, in 1698, James Withers, not yet 18 years of age, and his brother William, not yet 21, went to live with a neighbor, Capt Edward Mountjoy.
About 1706 he married Elizabeth, the only child of matthew Keene and Bridget, his wife. In "Withers Family of County Lancaster, England and of Stafford County, VA," by Robert Edwin Withers, The Dietz Printing Co, Richmond, VA (1947) it is std "Matthew Keene was one of the nearest neighbors to the Withers family on Potomac Creek, he was wealthy and well connected socially...as the years went on James Withers bought much land and acquired much personal wealth."
Not only did he buy large parcels of land along Potomac Creek and Potomac Run in Stafford Co, but he bought three large tracts which now lie in Fauquier Co, one such tract being on Licking Run,
**(Second Stage in the Settlement of Fauquier Co (Period of the Manors) 1723-1724 -- entry:
WITHERS, James 1723 Head branches of Licking Run)**
another on Tin Pot Run, and still another, it being a one-half interest in the original tact of 2900 acres known as the North Wales Tract. He owned two mills, one of which was on potomac Run, as shown on an old map of Stafford Co. An examination of this map reveals that it likely is the same mill which until about 1925 was operated by Henry Wiggington. It was located about two miles west of Mountain View.
Quoting futher from the book above referencd:
"Even though so many records have perished, a fairly clear picture of the life of James Withers can be drawn. Born and raised near the old county courthouse, which was located at Marlboro, knowing and mingling with friends and neighbors ofs father and of his uncle John, enjoying all the sports and entertainments which the prominent families of his neighbors afforded for the young people, settling down with his young wife near his old home place close to her parents, and continuing in the same locality. His large family of boys and girls growing up and in their turn marrying among the daughters of his close friends. These children he set up on lands of their own and let them develop such resources as he, out of his increasing wealth, could give them to their better advancement in living."
As recorded in the "Register of Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co, VA, 1723-1758" George H.S. King (1961), James Withers died 3 June 1748 "in the 66th year, of his age." He lived and died on the land patented by his father William Withers ans uncle, Capt. John Withers.
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From: wmadavis@kih.net (William A. Davis)
Sender: va-roots@vsla.edu
I understand there have been some recent posts about Rice Hooe and his Taliaferro connections. Would the person who posted the original query respond to me, and forward to me any responses he received? I also have additional information for you.
Thanks,
Bill Davis
Will:
Although the will of James Withers is lengthy and somewhat tedious to read, it is thought that it contains sufficient genealogical data to warrant repeating it in full:
"In the name of God, Amen, I, James Withers of Stafford County, Planter, being sick of body but of sound sense and perfect memory, thanks to Almighty God, and calling to remembrance how frail all flesh is, have thought fit to make this my laill and testament in manner and form as follows. I give and bequeath my soul to the hands of Almighty God who gave it, hoping for forgiveness of all my sins through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, my Savior and redeemer. My body I desire may be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named after my lawful debts are paid.
IMPRIMIS I give to my son James Withers and his heirs forever, a dividend or part of that land which I bought of Rice Hooe lying in Prince William County containing four hundred acres and bound as follows:
Beginning at the beginning tree of the said Patent and running East S. E. 320 poles, thence N.E. 185 poles, thence No. 64 degrees, W. 396 poles to the West line of the said Patent and from thence along the line of the said Patent to the first beginning, and also my negro Robin now in his possession, a man called Breechy and a feather bed and furniture.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Henry Mauzy and his wife, Ann, and their heirs forever, another part of the said land bought of Rice Hooe, containing 200 acres to beging where the second course of the said James' ends, to run ue main line of the patent so far as the line across the same may include that quatity, and also a negro man named George, a feather bed and furniture and four cows and calves and the half the hogs he raised where he now lives.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Joseph Hudnall and his heirs forever, two hundred acres of land whereon he now lives lying in the upper part of that land which I bought of Rice Hooe bounded on the north side by the line which dis John Hooe's land and mine on the South side by a parallel line quite across the said Patent, and a negro boy named Frank in his possession.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Withers and his heirs forever a dividend or part of my land on Licking Run in Prince William County, to be laid off according to the survey made by John Allen and at the time marked from Racoon h to the back line of the main Patent and also the following negroes Sam, Denbon, Flory and her last child Will and Sall and their increase.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son Keene Withers and his heirs forever, a dividend or part of my land on Licking Run in the Southwest part of the said Patent bounded as follows, beginning at the beginning White Oak of the said patent and ng North along the line of his brother Thomas, 138 poles, thence North 47 degrees west till it intersects the out lines of the main Patent thence along the line of the Patent reversing them to the first beginning including the old Manor Plantation and also the following negroes, Sam, Samsine, Nan, Phillis, Esther and their increase and a set of Blacksmith's tools and a feather bed and furniture and it is my will and desire that my son John take into his care my son Keene till he arrives to the age of twenty-one years.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son William Withers and his heirs forever, the remaining part of my Licking Run land not yet bequeathed, with the provision that if Henry Mauzy is obliged to remove from where he now lives he shall have the lty of living upon the Mill Plantation on the said land till he has time to clear a plantation on the land already bequeathed to him, as also the following negroes, Peter, James, Sarah, Mowl and jack and their increase, and a feather bed and furniture.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son John Withers and his heirs forever, 250 acres of land whereon he now lives bought of Henry Field as also 200 acres of land bought of William Waugh lying on the South side of Rocky Run and 50 acres which ght of Snodal Horton, as also the following negroes, to wit: Matt, Harry, and a negro boy named Caesar.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my loving wife Elizabeth during the time of her natural life only, all the household goods and furniture which she brought from her father's of what kind soever and cattle with the mill on Potomac Run, and ae tract of land on which I now live, likewise, the following negroes, Tom, Dick, Peg, Dinah, Roger, Bess, Jugg, Hannah, Winnie, Priss, and Daniel, and after her decease the said negroes and their future increase to be equally divided among my five sons, such of them as shall be living.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my said son James a negro Woman Jenny and her child, in full satifaction of his part of the negroes which are to be divided at his mother's death.
ITEM. I give to my loving wife Elizabeth a negro man named Ben during her natural life and after her decease to be equally divided among my four sons, John, Thomas, William and Keene.
ITEM. I give to my son Keene Withers, a negro girl named Sue to him and to his heirs forever.
ITEM. I give to my daughter Ursula, the wife of John Allen, the two following negroes, Lydia and Nan now in her possession.
ITEM. I give to my daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Abraham Field, twenty shillings to buy a ring.
ITEM. All the rest of my estate movable and immovable, I give to be equally divided among my five sons immediately after my decease.
ITEM. Whereas there is an action depending in the General Court between Edward Herndon and me about a negro, my intention is that if I am cast in the said suit, my wife shall pay the money debt and I desire that my said five sons shall ey pay the tobacco (the medium of exchange) that shall be due for the costs and charges attending it and that if any of them shall fail to pay their equal part thereof they shall forfeit their legacies already bequeathed to them, to the others willing to perform it.
ITEM. The remaining part of the land I bought of Rice Hooe not yet bequeathed, I give to my sons William and Keene to be equally divided between them.
ITEM. I give to each of my five sons twenty pounds current money and the remainder part of my cash, I give to my wife to pay of my cash debts, the money to Herndon, if he recovers any against me.
ITEM. I give to my said wife during her natural life one hundred acres of land lying on the south side of Potomac Run, bought of Joseph Waugh, where my quarters now stand and after her decease to my son John and his heirs forever.
ITEM. I do appoint my loving wife Elizabeth, and my sons, John, Thomas and William, executrix and executors of this my last will and testament revoking all former wills by me heretofore made declaring this only to be my last will and testa. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of June 1746.
James Withers (Seal)
Signed, sealed and published in presence of
Andrew Rosse
Charles (X) Hinson
Joyce (X) Hinson
James (X) O'Neil
H. Tyler.
The will was admitted to probate in the Stafford Co, VA Court 8 July 1746 and is recorded in Will Book M at page 468.
It will be noted that the will disposes of the testator's 39 slaves, all being kept in the family, some to his wife, and the remainder to his sons and daughters. It seems likely that the slave Bess, mentioned in the foregoing will (left ts wife) is the "Old Bess" (valued at one shilling) named in the will of Thomas Withers, one of the sons of James Withers.
James* married Elizabeth* Keene about 1706 in Stafford Co, Virginia. Elizabeth* (daughter of Matthew* Keene and Bridget* (..) Keene) was born about 1682 in Stafford, Stafford Co, Virginia; died on 26 Jul 1769 in Potomac Creek, Stafford Co, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1726 - 1804 (77 years)