"Let me see generation times, will we hear children singing rhymes? Sweet memories gone by..."

24 September 2022

James Black

[Revolutionary War Patriot Series, Part 9 of 12]

 

Born:  ante 1738
Died:  ante 14 October 1806 in Wythe County, Virginia

Service:  Patriotic Service

  • Signed patriotic petition, 1776
  • Paid supply tax, 1783

Wife:  Mary

Children:

  • Ann, wife of Robert Porter
  • Eleanor
  • John
  • Isabel, wife of Andrew Thompson
  • Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Smith
  • Martha, wife of James Louther
  • Jane, wife of Mr. Siblott & James Rogers
  • Mary


Timeline:

14 February 1758
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James Black was charged with assault and battery.  The charged was dismissed, at James’ cost.


 

12 October 1763
Prince Edward County, Virginia
A deed from James Davis Sr. to James Davis Jr. mentions that the 200 acres transferred were “part of a tract of land patterned in the name of Patrick Shallds bearing date the nineteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight adjoining the lines of Adrew Porter and James Black.”  Andrew Porter’s son Robert would later marry James Black’s daughter Ann.  The original 400-acre grant to Patrick Shallds was located on the south fork of Sawney’s Creek.


 

24 September 1776
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James Black signed a petition for religious liberty to the Virginia legislature which declared, “we heartily approve and chearfully submit ourselves to the form of government adopted at your last session:  hoping that our United American States will long continue free and independent. … the whole amount of what we desire, is that our honourable legislature would blot out every vestige of British tyranny and bondage”. 


 

March 1779
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James Black purchased 292 acres of land on both sides of the south fork of Sawney’s Creek from John Morrow of Buckingham County for £20.

 

1783
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James Black appeared on the 1783 tax list, with one tithable, two horses, and five cattle.


 

10 March 1791
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James Black gave consent for his daughter Ann to marry Robert Porter.


 

September 1792
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James Black gave consent for his daughter Isabel to marry Andrew Thompson.


 

19 December 1793
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James Black gave consent for his daughter Elizabeth to marry Joseph Smith.


 

29 June 1797
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James & Mary Black sold 22 acres of land on the waters of Sawneys Creek to Ann Carr for £22.


 

1799-1800
Prince Edward County & Wythe County, Virginia
James Black last appeared on tax lists in Prince Edward County in 1799, when he was shown with only one horse, but was exempted from paying taxes.  The following year, he appeared on the tax list in Wythe County, again with a single horse.


 

19 March 1800
Prince Edward County, Virginia
James & Mary Black sold 250 acres of land on Andrew Porter’s line to James Ming for £200.

 

9 March 1802
Wythe County, Virginia
James Black purchased 200 acres of land on the west side of New River from James & Francis Louther for £170

 

1806
Wythe County, Virginia
James Black last appeared on tax lists in 1806, when he was listed as exempt by infirmity.  He owned two horses.


 

14 October 1806
Wythe County, Virginia
James Black wrote his will on 25 Feb 1805.  He died sometime prior to 14 October 1806, when his will was proved in court.

In the name of God Amen I James Black of the county of Wythe and commonwealth of Virginia being old and infirm but sound in mind and memory do think proper to make this my last will and testament in manner and form following,

 

First I recommend my soul to God who gave it in all humble hopes of salvation through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer and as to such worldly estate as God hath blest me with I have it in the manner and form following viz:

 

First I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid out of my personal estate

 

Item I leave unto my two daughters Mary and Nelly who now live with me the plantation I now live on the head of swan branch waters of new river containing one hundred acres to be equally divided betwixt them by men indifferently chosen

 

Item I leave unto my two daughters Jane wife of James Rodgers and Martha wife of James Louther Junr one hundred acres adjoining the place I live on to be equally divided betwixt them by men indifferently chosen and Jane is to have her choice.

 

Item I leave unto my son John Black one dollar to be paid to be paid by my executors

 

Item I leave unto my daughter Ann wife of Robert Porter one dollar to be paid by my executors

 

Item I leave unto my daughter Betsy one dollar to be paid by my executors

 

Item I leave unto Andrew Thompson one dollar to be paid by my exects hereafter to be named all of which to be paid out of my personal estate

 

Item I leave unto my grandson Samuel Siblott son of my daughter Jane now wife of James Rodgers twenty pounds to be paid him when he comes to lawful age in the following manner viz five pounds to be him by each of my daughters that gets fifty acres of my land to witt Jane Martha Mary Nelly five pounds each

 

Item I leave unto my said two daughters Mary and Nelly Blacks all the personal estate I die possessed of off horses cows sheep or hogs and all my household furniture & ec the same to be equally divided betwixt them by men indifferently chosen in consideration of them takeing care of me in my old age

 

And lastly I constitute and appoint my said two daughters Mary and Nelly executors of this my last will and testament hopeing they will take upon them the burthen of the same

 

I do hereby disannul all former will by me made and acknowledge this only as my last will and testaments in witness whereof I have here unto affixed my hand and seal at pine runn Wythe county this 25 day of February one thousand eight hundred and five and the 28 year of the commonwealth

 


A map of modern Appomattox County, Virginia, which shows Suanee Creek.


Note:  After James Black's death, his daughters Nelly & Mary appeared together on the 1807 tax list.  Nelly appeared on the tax lists in 1809 & 1810.  At the county court in November 1808, Christian May was "charged with being the father of a bastard child of Elenor Black";  the charge was quashed.  In the 1810 census, Eleanor Black had a boy under the age of 10 in her household.

 

Sources:

 

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