George (Capell) Groups

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Capell. Elizabeth was born on 4 Jun 1633 in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, England; died on 30 Jul 1678 in Wing, Buckinghamshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married William Terry, Jr on 14 May 1668 in Frensham, Surrey, England. William was born in 1649 in Pytchley, Northampton, England; died in 1700 in , Lunenburg, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1702, , King William, Virginia, USA; Justice of the Peace for King William County in 1702

Thomas married Sarah Ashburn in 1690 in Chester, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA. Sarah was born in 1675 in , , , England; died on 4 May 1763 in Chester, Chester, South Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Quit Rent Rolls of 1704 in King Williams Co.,Va
Thomas Terry-300 acres
James Terry-400 acres
Stephen Terry-330 acres

James and Thomas Terry received land for transporting "persons" to the Colony. At the time anyone paying the 6 Pounds Sterling for the trip to the colony of Virginia would receive 50 acres of land. For those who could not pay there alternative of selling their services for a period of 4 to 7 years and the one who paid for the transportation would receive the land. The Terrys transported a good number of indentured servants to the Colonies and therefore had to be men of wealth.

Early Virginia Planters:
Terry, James; King William County
Terry, Stephen; King William County
Terry, Thomas; King William County

James Terry: NPFX:Captain; Sex M; Birth abt. 1665 in Lunenburg Co., VA; Death 1744 in Carolina Co., VA; Note: The Will of Captain James Terry was presented for probate July 13, 1744 in Caroline Co., VA Court.

James Terry was an early settler and patented large bodies of land in the section. (King William Co., VA) In 1757 he moved to Orange County, North Carolina. In 1764 he sold to Nathaniel Terry, Hugh Innes, Robert Woodang, Thomas Dilliard, Sr., Thomas Dilliard, Jr., Ed. Booker, John Bates, James Dillard, Archibald Gordon, George Watkins, John Donelson, Thomas Tunstall, vestryman of Antrim Parish, for 350 pounds, 794 acres on Sandy Creek, where the said Terry formerly lived, for a Glebe for Antrim Parish. (Halifax Deed Book)

In 1752 Halifax County was created out of Lunenburg and included what is today Pittsylvania. The justices of the peace were William Byrd, William Wynne, Peter Fontaine,Jr., William Irby, James Terry, Nathaniel Terry, Robert Hampton, Andrew Wade and Sherwood Walton.

Old Church Ministers and Families of Virginia. Article XLVI.

Virgina Land Grants and Patents:
20 April 1701
King and Queen County [later became King William Co. in 1701]
Description: 418 acres in Pamunkey Neck ............
Patent #9; 1697-1706; pg. 356
Terry, James. grantee
Carr, Thomas

20 Oct. 1704
New Kent County
Description: 1000 acres on south side of Pumunkey River.......
Patent #9; 1697-1706 pg. 631
John Munroe and James Terry. grantees

16 June 1714
King William County
Description: 400acres a little below the falls and on the north side of Pamonkey River.
Patent #10; 1710-1719; pg. 143
Terry, James. grantee

17 Aug 1720
King William County
200 acres on the back of John Hollodays land in St. Johns Parish
Patent #11; 1719-1724; pg 25
Fleming, William. grantee
Terry, James

31 Oct 1726
King William County
Description: 400 acres on the north side of the Northanna and on the North Creek and on the branches of Beaverdam Creek in St. John's Parish, beginning and corner of land of John Holloday and his own land.
Patent #13; 1725-1730 pg. 28
Terry, James, Capt. grantee
Holloday, John

The Myth of James Terry and Diana Royall

The Terry Family Bible was purchased by Nathaniel Terry Jr. at the 1806 estate sale and was taken to Logan/Todd County, Kentucky. It was presented in Robertson Courthouse TN., as late as 1855. It is unknown where it is today, but a transcription from a grandson Robert Y. Lewis, is available at the TN State Archives. In the early part of the 1900’s a descendent out of one of the sons of Nathaniel Sr., who was from Virginia, mistakenly joined the SAR on the service of Nathaniel Terry Jr, who he did not descend from, he named a Miss Smith as Nathaniel Sr’s wife when Nancy Hopkins Smith was the wife of Nathaniel’s son Robert , and continued on back to Benjamin Terry who died in 1771, naming apparent siblings of his great grandfather, James A. Terry and Diana Royall Terry as the parents of Benjamin. This has never been proven by any document and was done from family lore, but is often repeated.
Source: Margie Brown Mgbrown105@aol.com

Note by Robert "Mike" Terry: At last count there were 37 user submitted trees on Ancestry.com for James Terry and Mary Diane Royal as the parents of Benjamin Terry d. 1771 and the list keeps growing. If you ask where this information comes from you will probably not get an answer. If they even bother to cite a source it is based on the erroneous information from the SAR record of Thaddeus McGee Terry. This same information was provided to me and appears in several publications in the 1980's. -- So like other beginning genealogists I just passed it along in old issues of the Terry Family Historian and it becomes carved in stone. PLEASE Correct your information on this family.

Capt married Mary Diana Royall in 1698 in , , Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of Joseph Royall and Mary Eppes) was born in 1680 in , Lunenburg, Virginia, USA; died in 1745 in , Caroline, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Indenture of James Terry to Thomas Foster of Southham Parish
Posted 11 Apr 2023 by John Moore
Deed Book 2, p. 45: Indenture 29 Jan 1753 - James Terry of Antrim Parish, Halifax County to Thomas Foster of Southham - 630 acres in Southham adjoining John William, Robert Peak, James Allen and witnessed by William Womack Jr., John Woodson, and Daniel Coleman.

***Note: Dr. Thomas Foster is connected to the Tinsley and Golding families in Essex, VA. His daughter Ann Foster marries William Davenport; son of Thomas Davenport who was married to Grace Terry - a cousin to James Terry above. Grace Terry's father was Thomas Terry; a judge in King William, VA in 1702. Thomas Terry was a brother to Captain James Terry (father of James Terry b. abt 1702) who married Mary Diane Royall. Dr. Foster was in Prince Edward County, VA by 1761 (8 yrs later) where he then married Caroline Rogers after his first wife Elizabeth Meador Foster died abt. 1755 likely in Southham Parish, Cumberland, VA. Shortly after 1761, Dr. Thomas Foster moves to South Carolina where he dies in 1769. Dr. Foster's connection to the Tinsley and Golding families through the marriages of his brother John and Sister Elizabeth to Goldings in Essex, VA further cements the connection of the Tinsleys and Goldings to the Davenport and Terry families and to Joseph Irby who may have been the brother to Elizabeth Irby who married Olive Terry, son of James Terry who deeds 630 acres in Southham, VA to Dr. Thomas Foster. We now know that James Tinsley b. abt 1726 in Essex, VA was connected to James and Zachariah Terry (see James Terry's will of 1775) and James Tinsley's nephew James Tinsley b. abt 1759 who escaped the Hayes Massacre. We can also find that James Tinsley b. abt 1759 fought at the Guilford County Courthouse where Olive Terry (married to Elizabeth Irby) also fought. We also see a connection through deeds in Southham Parish, Cumberland, VA with Zachariah Terry (James Terry's son), and witnesses on these deeds or land adjoining were amongst others such as William Womack Jr., John Williams (son or husband of Mary Womack - daughter to William Womack and sister to William Womack Jr.) and James Terry. The Davenports can be seen on many of these deeds as well. *See Davenport information attached.

Joseph Irby b. 1728 and Peter/Elizabeth Cook Irby (their daughter Rebecca Anne Irby Grant)

You might ask, why am I posting this story in Joseph Irby's gallery? Because I now have another very interesting family connection involving who I believe was Joseph Irby's half brother; Peter Irby b. abt 1713 in Prince George, VA to Dr. Joseph Irby and Elizabeth Ludson. Peter Irby married Elizabeth Cook. Their youngest daughter Rebecca Ann Irby (b. abt 1769 in Pittsylvania, VA) first married John Grant who was b. abt 1768 in Stafford or Loudoun, VA. They married in Pittsylvania. Their son James Grant b. abt 1787 in Pittsylvania married Mary Ann Swepson or Swepston b. abt 1794. Mary Ann Swepson Grant was a daughter to John Swepson b. 1759 and Dolly Ashford - they, too, married in Pittsylvania, VA. John Swepson's father was Richard Swepson b. abt 1720 in Gloucester, VA and Jane Jeffries b. abt 1724; Richmond, VA. John Swepson b. 1759 was the younger brother of Lucy Swepson b. abt 1740 in Lunenburg, VA. Lucy Swepson's second husband was William Peasley. They were married about 1764 in Halifax, VA. They had one son and two daughters; Mary Peasley who married Edward Shackelford b. 1768 to Roger Shackelford and Nancy Carter. I mentioned the Shackelford's and their connection to the Carter family in another attachment. (See attachment). The sister to Mary Peasley was Lucy Peasley who married Abner Hiatt. They were my 4th gr grandparents. If you go back now to John Grant who married Rebecca Anne Irby, you can see that John Grant's older sister Rachel L. Grant (my 6th gr grandmother) married a Samuel Dennis also born abt. 1750 to a John Dennis of Henrico, VA. Not a lot is know about him. It is possible that he died in South Carolina. His son Samuel Dennis b. abt 1770 in Orange, NC married unknown Hannah. Their daughter Rachel L. Dennis b. abt 1791 married my 4th gr grandfather Gardner Dennis; son of Henry Mullins and Mary Polly Terry; daughter of Olive Terry and Elizabeth Irby, both born abt 1727 in VA. I believe that Elizabeth Irby was sister to Joseph Irby b. 1728 and half sister to Peter Irby b. abt 1713 in Prince George, VA. So...we now have two family connections from the Grant family to Irby, Shackelford, Carter, Swepson, Peasley, Hiatt, Dennis, etc. Also, John Grant, before he married Rebecca Ann Irby, was married to Mary Mosby. They had a son before she died; William Mosby Grant. William Mosby Grant married Mary Polly Spillar Graves b. 1790. They married in Fayette, KY. Mary Polly Spillar Graves was the daughter of Bartlett Graves b. abt 1766 in Louisa, VA and Francis Lane b. abt 1767. Bartlett Graves was the son of Thomas Graves b. 1721 and Isabella Bartlett b. 1739. Thomas Graves was the son of Thomas Graves b. 1691 and Sarah Davenport. Sarah Davenport was the sister of Thomas Davenport who married Grace Terry - cousin of James Terry - grandfather to Mary Polly Terry who married Henry Mullins; parents of Gardner Mullins mentioned above. I will add more information as time permits. Feel free to follow the links as well. *Note as well that Nathaniel Parrott and Penelope Irby (sister of Peter Irby above), b. abt 1707 in Henrico, Va had a son named John Parrott b. abt 1730 who was married to Ruth Treadwell. Their daughter Elizabeth Judith Mourning Parrott b. abt 1766 married Easom Graves. Easom Graves was the son of John Adams Graves and Frances Coleman. In turn, John Graves was son to John Graves b. abt 1714 and married Lucy Adams. John Graves B. 1714 was the brother to Thomas Graves mentioned above b. 1721 who married Isabella Bartlett. So, you can see just how closely intertwined these families were. Not to leave out that it is likely that a daughter to Thomas and Isabella Graves; Ann Graves - married Charles Warren. They lived in Pulaski, KY. There are lots of family ties to this couple that connect to Henry and Mary Polly Terry Mullins in Rockcastle Co., KY (Langfords, Randolph, Blankenship, Farley, Sutton, Haggard, Gentry, Overton, Harris, and so on.

Charles Robert Warren and Anne Warren; connection to the Mullins/Terry/Davenport/Irby and other allied families in VA, NC and KY.

Charles Robert Warren was due to family associations and connections, likely first married to Ann Graves; daughter of Thomas Graves b. 1721 and Isabella Susan Bartlett. *Of course, as a genealogist, sometimes associations are all you have if marriage documents no longer exist.* This is especially true for the wife, as she is often left out of records. Ann Graves Warren's grandmother was Sarah Ann Davenport who married Thomas Graves Sr. b. 1691 in King and Queen, VA. Sarah Ann Davenport Graves had two brothers who married into the Terry family; Thomas and Richard Davenport. Grace and Elizabeth Terry were cousins of James Terry who married Rebecca Dudgeon. James Terry b. abt 1702 in King William, VA and Rebecca Dudgeon Terry b. abt 1705 in Donegal, Ireland, were the great grandparents of Mary Polly Terry who married Henry Mullins. James Terry's father was James Terry Sr. who died 1744 in Caroline Co., VA or Prince George, VA. He was married to Mary Dianne Royall. Cousin of James Terry was Grace Terry who m. Thomas Davenport. Grace was daughter of Thomas Terry and Sarah Ashburn.

Henry and Mary Polly Terry Mullins lived for about 20 years in Wilkes, NC before moving to KY abt 1804. Mary Polly Terry's parents were Olive and Elizabeth Irby Terry. Olive and Elizabeth Irby Terry lived in Caswell, NC; moved there (first Orange, NC) in 1757 with James and Rebecca Dudgeon Terry. James Terry was JP of Halifax, VA in the 1750's. Before this, he lived in Goochland. Ann Graves Warren had an Uncle; Rice Graves; younger brother to her father Thomas - who married Jane Young. Rice and Jane Young Graves had two daughters who married the same man - William Abney. They were Amelia Graves who died 1810 and then Julia Graves. William and Julia Graves Abney had a son named Elijah Abney who first married Lucinda America Mullins - daughter of Gardner Mullins and Rachel L. Dennis Mullins. Gardner was the son of Henry and Mary Polly Terry Mullins. Then Elijah Abney married Emily Owens - granddaughter of Spencer and Mary King Mullins. Spencer was also a son of Henry and Mary Polly Terry Mullins.

Ann Graves Warren also had a brother named William Graves who married Ann Pettus. I think this may be the Ann Graves mentioned with regards to her dower. I believe William and Ann Pettus Graves lived in Fayette, KY with Thomas Graves - William and Ann Graves' father. Thomas Graves b. 1721 also was in Caswell, NC for a time before moving to Fayette, KY. So there is definitely a strong Caswell, NC connection. I can see this as well with Charles Warren's brother Burris Warren who had a son named Charles W. Warren who married Mary Haggard; sister to Eleanor Haggard who m. Micajah Sutton. Both Mary and Eleanor Haggard were daughters of Rev. Henry Hazelrigg Haggard and Dorothea Randolph Haggard. It is also believed that Henry and Dorothea Randolph Haggard were in Caswell before moving to Tennessee. Dorothea Randolph's brother William Randolph fought in the same Caswell Lamb's Artillery in NC as Olive Terry; father to Mary Polly Terry (Mullins). It appears now that Dorothea Randolph's father died in Caswell, NC. Rebecca Sutton- daughter of Micajah Sutton and Eleanor Haggard Sutton married Jackson Mullins - son of Gardner Mullins who was son of Henry and Mary Polly Terry Mullins.

Yet another Uncle to Ann Graves was John Graves b. 1714 in Spotsylvania, VA and married Lucy Adams. They had a son named John Adams Graves b. 1737 who married Frances Coleman. They moved to Boone, KY. Their son Easom Graves married Elizabeth Mourning Parrott; daughter of John Parrott and Ruth Treadwell. John Parrot was son of Nathaniel Parrott and Penelope Irby. I believe Penelope was likely now the half sister to Elizabeth Irby who married Olive Terry. Elizabeth Irby Terry was the mother of Mary Polly Terry mentioned above.

**Also, Charles and Ann Graves Warren had a younger daughter Mary Warren who married Walker Langford; brother to Stephen Langford. As we know, Henry and Mary Polly Terry Mullins also had a younger daughter named Lois Mullins (close in age to Mary Warren), who married Stephen Langford in 1807; a few years after the Mullins' family moved to KY from Wilkes, NC. It is possible that Stephen Langford assisted the family in their travels through the Cumberland Gap. They could have stayed at Langford's Station at first. So, my guess is that Mary Polly Terry Mullins was acquainted with the Warren family through Ann Graves who married Charles Warren.

Grace married Thomas Davenport in 1710 in , King William, Virginia, USA. Thomas (son of William Davis Davenport and Sarah Ann Woodruff) was born in 1688 in Pamunkey Neck, King William, Virginia, USA; died on 27 Mar 1775 in , Cumberland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Richard Davenport about 1716 in , King William, Virginia, USA. Richard (son of William Davis Davenport and Sarah Ann Woodruff) was born in 1694 in Pamunkey Neck, King William, Virginia, USA; died in 1776 in , Caroline, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Champness married Christian Bibb in Mar 1728 in , Louisa, Virginia, USA. Christian (daughter of Benjamin Bibb and Temperence Walker) was born in 1700 in , Louisa, Virginia, USA; died on 25 Mar 1758 in , Louisa, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1777, , Caswell, North Carolina, USA
• Probate: 1779, , Caswell, North Carolina, USA

James married Rebecka Dudgeon in 1724 in , King William, Virginia, USA. Rebecka (daughter of John Dudgeon and Catherine Caldwell) was born in 1705 in Ballybogan, Donegal, Ireland; died in 1789 in , Caswell, North Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Benjamin Terry Will

In the name of God Amen I, Benjamin Terry Senr. of Pittsylvania County and Parish of Camden being in my perfect sinces and memory thanks to God for the same but considering the frailty of this Life and the uncertainty of Death, I do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament. Disannuling all other wills by one made either by word or Wrighting and this only is to be taken for my Last Will and Testment. In manner and form following,Vis First being Penatent and sorry for my sins past most humbly desire forgiveness for the same. I give and commend my soul unto almighty God my savour, in hoom and by the marits of Jesus Christ to trust and hope to be saved and have full remition of sins, and that for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods, chatils and debts as it hath pleased god for above my deserts to bestow me I do order give and dispose the same In manner and form following, that is to say first, of all it is my desire that all my Debts that I owe to any person or persons be truly and honestly payed by my Executors hereafters named.

Item, I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth Irby four negros namely Abraham Melender and her Child Beler and Sener, six cows and calves with all my hoggs, one feather bead, and furniture one Frying pane, Two Iron potts and hooks with all the plantation Touls one black mair known by name of Lasard and her colt, sober John and the sorril Plow mair all During her natural life and at her Decease to be Disposed of as in this my last Will as further Directed, I give to my son Nathaniel Terry one Survey of Land being the uper Survey on Sandy Creek also one negro man named Tach and one negro man named Gregory to him and to his heirs forever.

Item, I give to my son Benjamin Terry the Tract of land I now live on that is to say the old and first Tract Containing three hundred acres more or less and one negro man named Tach and one negro man named Gregory to him and to his heirs forever.
Item, I give to my son Peter Terry the survey of land on the mine branch and one negro boy named Dave and one negro girl named Isabell and one Riffle gun to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give------to my son Joseph Terry one negro man named Tommey and one negro girl named Jenney and one rifle gun.

Item, I give to my son Robert Terry one survey of land joining Peter Terry's also one negro Boy name Usoerry and one negro boy named Jessey and one rifle gun which is not payd for but to be paid for out of what I have to be sold.

Item, I lend to my daughter Rozia Murphy two negros namly Harry and Tillie, during her natural life and after her Desease to be equally divided between her children. She the said Rozia, had by her former husband James Scott and all her other children that she has or should have by her present husband Richard Murphy but if the said Richard Murphy should not pay his wifes just children she had by a James Scott their Legesses, that is or will be due them out of their fathers James Scotts estate which I am security for, that it shall be paid them out of the two said negros Harry and Tillis. I lend to my daughter Levinia King two negros namly Abbey and Inez during her natural life and then to be equally devided they and their increase between her daughter Grace Terry and all her children that she has got or may have to her husband Elijah King. I give to my daughter Sarah Terry , three negros namely; Malinda and Bailer together with their futer increase from this time but not to be possessed by them until after my wifes death.
I give to my daughter Mary Terry two negros namely Cyner and Qushener one side saddle feather bed and furniture and it is my desire that all the rest of my estate be sold to pay my debts and if there should be money left that it be devided between all my children and I do appoint my wife Eliz Terry, my son Nath Terry, and my son Benj Terry Exectors
B. M. Terry

Signed scald published and declared before us this 28th day of Decr. 1760 interlined before signed.
Theops Lay
John King
William King At a Court held for Pittsylvania County the 26th day of September 1771.



Excerpt from "Pittsylvania's Eighteenth Century Grist Mills" by Herman Melton

page 102-105

JEREMIAH WHITE: PATRIARCH MILLER ON SWEETING'S FORK

Three Sweeting brothers entered grants of land along the Banister River in 1748. It was from these early settlers that Sweden's Fork, as the waterway is now called, got its name. Jeremiah White called it "Sweeting Fork, a branch of Sandy Creek," when he wrote his will in April of 1788. This branch heads up on the south slope of White Oak Mountain near Chestnut Level. It is the mniddle branch of the creek and is joined by John's Run at a point a few hundred yards from its confluence with Sandy Creek of the Banister. This location is approximately three miles southeast of the village of Spring Garden.

Some distinguished patriots of the Revolution lived along the banks of Sweeting Fork. Among them were Nathaniel Terry, who was a member of the Pittsylvania County Militia during the Revolution. His father, Benjamin, lived on Sweeting's Fork, and Nathaniel may have been born there. Colonel Robert Williams had holdings on that branch also. In the Colonel's property was a grist mill and over five thousand acres of land. Williams was one of the most prominent Pittsylvania County patriots during the Revolution. Since he was a lawyer before the founding of the county, and a planter with enormous wealth, milling was not his chief pursuit. Nevertheless, Patsy, one of his daughters, married into a milling family when she married John Henry, one of the owners of Henry's Mill on the Sandy Creek of the Banister.

From the sale of inherited land by Jeremiah's son William, the historian learns that Matthew Clay, who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and in the United States Congress, was a neighboring landowner. Although Clay was a distinguished public servant, who was at least partly responsible for the founding of the Town of Danville at Wynne's Falls, his career was overshadowed by that of Henry Clay of Kentucky who descended from the same family.

Jeremiah White moved to the Sweeting's Fork area from Dinwiddie County in 1778. He filed a petition to erect a grist mill on the waterway in August of 1782 -- "he being the owner of the land on both sides." The move was made during the Revolution, and that would have been the most difficult of times. Jeremiah was in declining years by this time, but county records show that a Jeremiah White served as a member of the County Militia during the Revolution. He was to die ten years later, but managed to accumulate 2108 acres of land on six tracts in the county, most of which was presumably on Sweeting's Fork. He left the use of his land to his wife and named sons William and Jeremiah as Executors.

County records show Jeremiah White to be a very prominent citizen. He was commissioned First Lieutenant of the Militia in the County and took the Oath of Allegiance in October of 1780. White was a charter member of Pittsylvania Lodge No. 24, of the Order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons when it was constituted on September 15, 1788. He was named Justice of Peace in 1780, and qualified as Coroner on March 15, 1787. It was common practice in the early days for prominent men in the communities to qualify as Deputy Sheriff. Jeremiah White did likewise on May 16, 1786.

His son, Jeremiah Jr., rose to the rank of Captain in the Militia in 1794 before being elected to the office of Commisioner of Revenue in 1798.

Old Jeremiah was one of the landed people who owned slaves and was sometime granted exemption from paying property taxes on them. From County Court records, it appears that slaveowners were often exempted thusly when they furnished "tithables" (laborers in this case) for the buildling and repairing of roads, bridges, public buildings, etc.

A Jeremiah White diary would make interesting reading. However, as is the case with the histories of most of the early pioneers, there is a paucity of records. Even so, there is at least one trait which characterizes Jeremiah White. He wa a loyal family man who loved his children and went to any extreme to be fair. This assessment is based on the wording in his will. One can see the effort he went to in trying to divide his estate equally among his heirs.

There were eight children in Jeremiah and Jane White's family. One was a daughter who married a prominent county leader, politician, planter, businessman and miller known as Col. Clark. William Clark. He lived some seven miles east of Competition in the elegant high columned home he called "Pineville", near the Banister River. His wife was the daughter of a miller, married a miller, and gave birth to a daughter who married a miller. The daughter, Lettice, married Col. Leonard Claiborne who applied to build two mills in the county during the late 1820s and early 1830s. One was on "Sawyer's Mill Creek" and one was on Burch Creek. It is known that he operated one of them for awhile, since the name "Claiborne's Mill" appears on a batteaux manifest of the Roanoke Navigation Company during the 1830s. It was not unusual to find three generations of millers in one family in Pittsylvania County during the 19th cCentury.

Jeremiah White's will was written on April 28, 1788. The will included the following dispositions of his property:

A. He left the use of his "Manner" (manor) house to his wife, Jane, for her natural life "to enable her to educate my younger children." He left seven slaves to her and the use of all land and slaves bequeathed to younger children until they "become of age".

B. One half interest in a tract of land was mentioned. It was a parcel he acquired in an agreeement in which he was to share ownership with the "Conway orphans." This was a strange arrangement which defies understanding.

C. The share of any living child who preceded him in death was to be divided equally among all living children upon his (Jeremiah's) death.

D. He defined the boundaries of the land each child was to receive. This provision gives historians the identity of his neighbors which included the aforementioned families of Terry, Clay and Williams.

E. There was a division of some four hundred acres in Charlotte County.

The disposition of the grist mill became the most interesting and poignant provision in the will. He driected that interest in it should be divided equally between "my two sons, William and Jeremiah, to them and their heirs forever, subject to the following encumbrances, to Wit: As my children have laboured hard with me in assisting to build said mill, I am desirous to give them some privilege therein, but hope this privilege may never become a bone of contention between them, but as a recompence for their labour and dutiful behaviour. It is my will and desire that all my children be entitled for their own families to grind their grain to be free and they bare an equal share of all expenses in keeping the said mill in repair." He also directed that ten acres of land be set aside for the mill.

This will, one of the most carefully crafted wills in early Pittsylvania County history, was proven on May 19, 1788 -- a mere fortnight before the Virginia Constitution Ratification Convention in Richmond. Col. Robert Williams, one of his closest neighbors, was duly elected, in the March past, to be one of Ptittyslvania's two delegates to the convention.

Old Jeremiah tried painfully hard to divide land, slaves, personal effects and household goods equaillly among his heirs. The provisions covering the ownership and operation of the grist mill after his passing are unique in that all were to share in its upkeep and all were to share in its output.

The inference from the reading of the will is that it was a closely knit family which was kept that way by a stern but caring and considerate patriarchal father. The provisions in the deed indicate that he was an impeccably honest man also.

The mill property was buried in tax records as ordiinary acreage with assessed value and all of White's property stayed in his name until after the probation of his estate. Its final disposition is obscured by settlement of the estate and by missing, or non-existant. There is no reason to believe that it was as successful a mill operation as was that of his son-in-law William Clark on the Banister. Perhaps it was largely a plantation mill since there were many slaves in the White fields and a large personal family in the manor house to feed. It is believed that it stayed in the White family for an extended period, since no record of the sale of it was found in county archives.

The records concerning the fate of the remaining White property are confusing. Some heirs begin selling property as soon as their mother departed this life. However, one cannot judge their successes or failures on land transactions and tax records alone. Furthermore, the new nation was to endure at least two of its worst financial panics during the next half century. Failures were not always the fault of the property owner, but were frequently the direct results of distant events and forces beyond the control of local citizens.

Present day Jeremiah White descendants believe they know the location of the mill site because of some stone formations, etc.

The story of Jeremiah White's Mill affords the best example of a family run mill wherein everybody worked and everybody shared in the output. This arrangement worked during Jeremiah White's lifetime because he appeared to have been every inch the "Patriarch of Sweetings Fork". All unanswered questions aside, he deserves having this title applied to him in 1988 -- the bicentenial of his passing.

Benjamin married Elizabeth Irby Dickerson in 1724 in , , Virginia, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Dr Joshua Irby and Elizabeth Jane Ludson) was born in 1708 in , New Kent, Virginia, USA; died in 1760 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1782, , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Joseph Terry and Judith his wife acknowledge their deed indebted to Daniel Singleton. If Joseph was only 20 years old at this time he would have been born 1716. That he was born earlier is borne out by the fact that his son David would have to be born at this time period for him to have fathered his son John, born 1760. That David was not the oldest child is proven in Amherst County, Will Book 1, page 6, when the grandfather David Crawford states that Lucy is the oldest child of his daughter Judith. Assumption based on Pittsylvania County settlement Bk 1, p. 163, South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine Vol 7 p. 106, Nintey-Six Dist. SC Wills Bk B, p. 373, Annals of Georgia, Liberty County records, p. 95, The Journals of the House of Burgesses, Vol. 1770-1772, pp 21-29. Caroline County, VA Order Book 1732-1740.
Birth: ABT 1705 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Death: 19 DEC 1785 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Father: James Terry b: ABT 1675 in Lunenburg County, Virginia
Mother: Mary Diana Royall b: ABT 1680 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Marriage 1 Judith Crawford b: 9 JUL 1705 in Hanover County, Virginia
Married: ABT 1738
Children
Lucy Terry b: ABT 1737 in Virginia
David Terry b: ABT 1740 in Halifax County, Virginia
Joseph Terry b: ABT 1750 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Thomas Terry b: 15 JAN 1754
Anne Terry
Elizabeth Terry
Champness Terry b: ABT 1740 in Virginia

In 1748, the Council of Virginia granted James and Joseph Terry 20,000 acres on Turkey Cock Creek in what was then Halifax County. He was appointed by the Court of Pittsylvania in 1777 as surveyor of the road from the Halifax line to the Old Town (Peytonsburg). Joseph Terry's will was dated Dec 4, 1785 and proved Dec 19, 1785 in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia. Will of Joseph Terry "In the name of God, Amen, I, Joseph Terry of Pittsylvania. Co., Va." First: To my son, David Terry, one Negro woman named "Kate" and her increase, which he has been possessed with for some time. (note 1764) and one Negro woman named "Sarah" and her issues hereafter, to him and his heirs. Second: I lend to my son, Thomas Terry, one Negro "Peter" and one Negro "Lucy" and her issue, also, one mulatto boy "Harry" during his life and his wife's natural life and after their deaths to be equally divided among their children and their heirs. Third: I lend to my son, Joseph Terry, one Negro named "?" which has been in his possession, likewise on Negro boy named "Jack" and a Negro girl named "Grace" and her increases during his life and his wife's natural life and then to be equally divided between their children and their heirs forever. Forth: I give to my daughter, Anna Barksdale, one Negro woman named "Ziller" and one mulatto girl named "Anna" to her and her heirs forever, and also one mulatto woman "Sarah Martin" for the term 6 yrs. and then she is to go free, but if she should have children, they shall remain and belong to the said Anna Barksdale and her heirs forever. Fifth: I lend to my daughter, Lucy Williams, one Negro boy named "Abram" during her natural life and then after her death to her younger son, Dr. Crawford Williams and his heirs forever. Sixth: I give to my daughter, Elizabeth Oliver, 20 Shillings. Seventh: I give to my son, Champness Terry, dec'd heirs, 20 Shillings. Eighth: I give to my grandson, Thomas Terry, son of David Terry, one Negro girl named "Phillis" to him and to his heirs forever. I give 230 acres on branches of Jeremiah's Fork and one Negro boy named "George" to be sold; and the rest of my worldly goods after my just debts be paid, to be equally divided among my three sons: David Terry, Thomas Terry, Joseph Terry, and my two daughters Lucy Wiliams, Anna Barksdale. Executer: Beverly Barksdale, Thomas Terry, David Terry. Signed: Joseph Terry Sr. Witnesses: Charles Terry, Samuel Sloan, John Terry

WILL OF JOSEPH TERRY dated 1785 [Lucy Terry Williams’ father]
Source: Deed and Will Book II, Page 148 - Pittsylvania County , Virginia

In the name of God, Amen, I Joseph Terry Sen of the County of Pittsylvania being at present of a sound and disposing memory and in health of body, but calling to memo the uncertainty of this mortal life and the necessary of setting my House in Order before my death, do hereby make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.First, I do humbly recommend my Soul into the hands of God, my maker hoping for pardon of all my Sins thru the manifold Mercies of God, my maker, through the merit of Christ my Redeemer and my Body I resign to the Dust to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors.And as touching what Worldly Estate I have been blessed with, I give and dispose thereof as followth.
Item, I give to my Son David Terry, one Negro woman named Kate and her issue which he has been possessed with some time and one named Sarah and her ___ hereafter to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I give to my Son Thomas Terry, one Negro named Peter and one named Lucy and her issue, also one Mulater boy named Harry during his and his wife's natural life and after their death to be equally divided among their children and their heirs forever.
Item, I lend to my son Joseph Terry one Negro man which he has in possession likewise one Negro boy named Jackson and Girl named Grace and her increase during his and his wife's natural lifethen to be equally divided among their children and thir heirs for ever.
Item, I give to my daughter Anna Barksdale one Negro Woman named Zilpha and one Mulatter Girl named Anna to her and her heirs for ever.
Item, I also give to my daughter Anna Barksdale one Mulatter woman Named Sarah Martain for the term of six years and then she is to go free but if she should have any children, they shall remain and belong to the said Anna Barksdale and her heirs forever.
Item I lend to my daughter Lucy Williams one Negro boy named Abram during her natural life and then to descend to her youngest Son, Doctor Crawford Williams and his heirs for ever.
Item, I give unto my Grandson, Thomas Terry, Son of David Terry, one Negro Girl named Fillace to him and his heirs for ever.
Item, I give my daughter Elizabeth Oliver twenty shillings.
Item, I give to my Son Champness Terry's heirs twenty shillings.
Item, I leave two hundred and thirty acres of Land lying on the branch of Jeramins fork and one Negro boy named George to be sold. As for the rest of my worldly Goods, after burying and debts is paid to be equally divided among my three sons, David Terry, Thomas Terry and Joseph Terry and two daughters Lucy Williams and Anna Barksdale. I do hereby constitute and appoint Beverley Barksdale, Thomas Terry and David Terry to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament and do revoke all other Wills and therefore do declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 4th day of December one thousand and seven hundred and eighty five.
Joseph Terry S. S.
Test
Charles Terry, Samual Sloan, John Terry

At a Court held for Pittsylvania County the 19th day of December 1785 The within last Will and Testament of Joseph Terry Sen deceased was exhibited into Court by Beverley Barksdale, one of the Executors therein named, and proved by the oaths of two of the witnesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of the said Executor who made Oath according to Law, Certificate is granted him for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form of Law on giving Security.Whereupon he together with William Ryburn and Isham Farmer his securities entered into Bond as the Law directs and acknowledges the same.And leave in reserve the other Executors therein named to join in the probate when they shall think proper.
Teste
Will Tunstall CS