LUNENBURG COUNTY, VIRGINIA - BRITISH CLAIMS AGAINST CITIZENS Before the Revolutionary War, the British operated stores in Virginia to supply goods for the local citizens. With the start of war, British property was confiscated and Virginians refused to pay existing debts to the various companies or stores. After the war, a 1783 treaty laid in place the opportunity to settle those debts. It took many years to arrange special agents to file suits for recovery in the courts of Virginia. Around 1800, those special agents began to determine the status of individual debts. Reports of the special agents have been archived in London public offices. Reviewing the reports, one can find clues to migration, family information, and financial status of the defendants. REPORTS OF GEORGE CRAGHEAD, LUNENBURG COUNTY, VIRGINIA SPECIAL AGENT Debts due Alexander Spiers, John Bowman & Company Store, Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County: John ELLIOT – Died about five years past. Administration on h is estate was granted to his eldest son, Martin Elliot of Mecklenburg. In 1798, he discharged the open account, 7.16.7-1/4 to Newman Dortch. Pines INGRAM – About the commencement of the war, he gave an order to John Patterson, factor for the company, for 24.19.5-1/2 on Col. Anthony Street. Richard INGRAM – 2.7.2 by account. Matthew Turner married his widow. He died possessed of personal estate to the amount of several hundred pounds. Nathaniel NEWBELL – 35.6.3-1/4 by signed settlement, Feb. 11, 1774. Upon trial in Lunenburg County Court he produced witnesses to prove actual payment. Anthony STREET – 14.8.9-1/3 and 9.7.6 by bond. He was formerly sheriff of Lunenburg County and while acting in that capacity had tickets due several Clerks of Courts and Sheriffs sufficient to satisfy the account. The collector refuses to settle the same. The debt by bond has been paid in full. Elizabth. STOKES – 25.7.1-1/2 by open account. She died some years past. Henry Stokes, one of her sons and executor, never denied the justness of the debt and there is a sufficiency of property to discharge all debts due. Joseph WYNN – 7.10.4-3/4, open account. Suit has been depending for some time. His estate is sufficient. He died March 1800. Maj. Thos. TABB – He removed from Lunenburg County VA in 1780 to Mush Island in North Carolina where he lived many years, and died 12 years past in affluent circumstances. His sons, James and Thos. Tabb, are his executors. William EVANS, Jr. – 79.16.5 by bond. He was insolvent in 1783. Rev. James CRAIG – 319.9.2. His executor, George Tarry of Mecklenburg County, produced a receipt for 363.17.9 in full of the account. -----According to an account by Bishop Meade, Rev. Craig died in 1795. He also practiced medicine. He owned a mill, on Flat Rock Creek, a short distance from the future Bagley’s Mill, and a short distance from the present town of Kenbridge. During the war, Rev. Meade’s mill was a storehouse for public provisions. Col. Tarleton, “knowing this, and that Mr. Craig was a true American and zealous in the cause of the Revolution, took the mill in his route, and, after he and his men had feasted on Mr. Craig’s good mutton and fed their horses on his corn, caused barrels of flour to be rolled into the mill-pond and the whole establishment to be burned down.” - Bell: The Old Free State Vol. I, p. 362 Rev. Meade was regarded as a man of the highest integrity, morality and character. Col. Tarleton was an officer in the British Army. Edward TARRY – 25.0.4 by account. He has a receipt given to Col. Geo. Tarry for $100 Jan. 13, 1797 in full of the account. John WARD – 0.12.11 by note. He is still living in Lunenburg County and willing to pay all just debts. This note was discharged about the end of 1774 or beginning of 1775. Marston GREEN - 60.2.2. He now lives in Nottoway County and has a receipt in full. Everard DOWSING - 23.15.2. He died in 1782 possessed of a considerable estate. His son, Wm. Dowsing in Georgia, qualified as executor in Lunenburg Court and about 1783 divided his estate agreeable to the will between Matthew Green of Mecklenburg and the said Wm. Dowsing. The executor still resides in Georgia. -----Everard Dowsing served as Justice 1774-1777. David ABERNATHY – 5.17.6. He has a receipt in full. John ATKINSON – He removed from Lunenburg County in 1783 to Georgia or South Carolina and was then solvent. Leroy BUFORD – Removed to North Carolina about the same time, then deemed solvent. Warren BUFORD - Removed to South Carolina about 1802, solvent. Richard CLAIBORNE – Died about 1776. Wm. Warwick of Brunswick County is the executor. The estate was sufficient. Susanna CHRISTOPHER – Married Frederick Nance (m. Sept. 27, 1775 in Lunenburg County) and both died about 1795 or 1796. Thee is no property remaining of Susana Christopher. Cumberland Parish – 6.6.0 by account. Suit ought to have been brought against the Vestry or Church wardens. Lunenburg Sheriff – 4.9.4-1/2 by account. Whether it was the old sheriff or the new one is uncertain. Daniel EPPERSON – He denies the execution of the note. In March 1798, the plaintiffs neglecting to prosecute the suit, the same was ordered to be dismissed. Henry VANDYKE - 20.0.4-1/2. He died some years past. The debt was included in a deed of trust given to William Bettie (a British merchant) and the land contained in the deed of trust was lately sold for more moeny than was sufficient to discharge the several claims mentioned in the deed of trust. Wm. LOWRIE - 33.14.6-1/2. and 4.12.10-1/2. He died in 1786 and Mary Lowrie, his widow, who now lives near York Town, VA, qualified as his administratrix. He was reputed solvent at his death. James HAMBLETT Senr. - He produced a receipt Feb. 10, 1777 to Isaac Hamblett for 3.16.11, 3/4 current money in full. Mary SMELT - 6.6.11-1/2. She died in 1783 leaving as executors, John Glenn and William Glenn. They moved to GA around 1792. She left estate more than sufficient to pay all her debts and part of her personal estate is still in the hands of her legatees. Mary SMELT and others - 62.16.9-1/2. by bond. The claimants have a suit pending in Brunswick District Court against Nathaniel Newbill, one of the obligors, who now resides in Lunenburg County. Abm. COCKE - 78.11.1-1/2, and 22.10.1 by bond. He was taken prisoner by Col. Tarleton, and died in 1781. His widow, Agnes Cocke, qualified as executrix in Lunenburg County Court. She married Thomas Hayes and moved to Kentucky about 1790. Thomas COCKE - 18.9.10-1/2 by account and 24.4.6-1/2 by bond. He is able to pay all his just debts. He removed to some distant part in the Western Country about 1795 where he still resides. Lazarus WILLIAMS - 7.0.1 by account. John Ragsdale of Lunenburg County administered on his estate. There are assets sufficient to discharge all his debts. Drury MOORE - 36.9.10 3/4 by bond. The inventory of his estate returned to Lunenburg Court proved there were assets. Josiah SHIP - 40.17.2-1/2. A deed of trust for two Negroes was recorded but no legal step was since taken to enforce the same. Gideon MOON - 35.4.4 by account. Abner Moon is his administrator. The estate is able to discharge all just debts. The inventory returned to Lunenburg Court will prove the sufficiency of assets. Jno. BARRY - 5.18.8-1/2 by account. He moved from Virginia to Kentucky in 1795 in good circumstances. The Estate of Henry EMBRA - 36.13.1-1/4. Henry Embray the Elder died about 30 years ago. Henry Embry the younger, son of the decedent, moved to Kentucky in 1796. Michl. McKIE - 105.16.10. He moved to South Carolina in 1785. Col. Wm. STEPHENSON - 7.14.4-1/2 by account. He died in York Town VA, where he resided, in or about 1782, able to pay his debts. Joseph TOWNSEND - 56.11.11-3/4 by account. A man of this name, who lived near the store in Lunenburg, died about 10 or 12 years ago. He was insolvent, as to that sum of money, in 1783. James AMOS - Removed many years past to the south. Mrk. ANDREWS - Moved in 1798 to Kentucky. Was at the time solvent. Isaac BRIZENDINE - Moved several years past to Charlotte County were he died. His son, Wm. Brizendine, is the executor and now lives in Charlotte County. Valentine BROWN - Moved about ten years ago to South Carolina. John BROWN Senr. - Moved abaout ten years ago to South Carolina. Lyddal BACON Junr. - Moved about 1792 to South Carolina. Lockley BROWN - Removed to South Carolina about 15 years past. William BRITTLE - Possessed no property in 1783 except a small tract of land and was generally reputed about 1775 as a person in bad circumstances. John BOOKER Senr. - Removed many years past. Joseph BILLUPS - Removed to Nottoway County some years ago. He conveyed by deed all his property to his sons, John Billups and Richard Billups, upon their agreeing to pay his debts. James BUFORD Senr. - Removed to Caswell Co., NC about 1798. Barlett CRENSHAW - Removed to Halifax County, VA about 15 years past and possessed very inconsiderable property. Charles COOK - Removed to the southward many years past. Robert CRENSHAW - Removed to the southward many eyars past. William DOZIER - Removed to the southward many years past. Jno. DACIES - Removed to the southward many years past. Robt. ESTES Senr. Dead. His executor, Elisha Estes removed to the Western Country. Col. David GARLAND - Died in 1781 possessed of a considerable estate which he devised away and the legatees are not in possession of great part thereof. Mary Garland and Samuel Garland were his executrix and executor. Capt. Wm. GORDON - Removed to the southward about 1788 possessed of property. John GLENN - Removed to South Carolina about 1792, where he died. Capt. Saml. GARLAND - Became insolvent before 1794 and since died. Wm. GLENN - Removed to Georgia about 1792; carried away property with him. Moses HEWIT Junr. - Removed in 1775 when the debt must have been contracted. There was only a piece of land taxed to him. He was not entitled to the credit given him. Nichs. HOBSON - Removed ot Georgia about 1792. Willm. HERRING - Removed to Pennsylvania County (Pittsylvania??) several years past, where he died. Richard JONES Senr. - Died many years ago. Richard JONES Junr. - Removed to Kentucky. James JOHNSON - There were several persons of that name in Lunenburg who are either dead or removed away. Col. John LEWIS (BIRD). Never resided in Lunenburg. A person of that name formerly lived in Halifax Co., VA, near Dan River. Joseph LEA - removed to South Carolina about 1785. John LOVE - REmoved many years past to Georgia. Jerard McCONNICO - Lately removed to South Carolina. He possessed no property of his own. At no period since 1783 could the debt have been recovered. Joseph MINOR - Died about 1784 or 1785. His widow, Edith Minor, administered on the estate in Lunenburg Court, since which time she removed to Kentucky. Before her removal about 1797, Spiers Bowman & Company commenced a suit against her as administratrix on the bond for a large sum of money. The plea was payment. Early in 1776, her husband settled with the agent and discharged his debts in tobacco and money. The receipt with all other papers and books of Joseph Minor were consumed at the time his dwelling house was laid in ashes a few years past. In aug. 1776, the plea of payment was supported to the satisfaction of the jury and Court by witnesses. The claim of the Company for 147.10.2 is unjust; Lunenburg County, August Court 1779, Speirs Bowman & Company against Edith Minor, administratrix of Joseph Minor, in debt - verdict for the defendant. John MILLS - Removed to South Carolina about 1784. Cyrus MINOR - Removed to Kentucky about 1795. Sillm. MUNFORD - Insolvent in 1783. John PACE - Removed to North Carolina about 1793. John PAMPLIN - Dead. Was supposed to be insolvent in 1783. William STOKES - Removed to South Carolina aboaut 1786. Thomas STONE - Dead. William SAMMONS - Insolvent in 1783 and since. Saml. SNEAD - Dead. Generally deemed insolvent in 1783 and since. Peter THOMPSON - Insolvent. Thomas WINN - Son of David. INsolvent in 1783 Peter GARLAND - There remain in his possession several slaves which were devised by Col. David Garland to the wife of Peter during her life, which slaves might be seized and sold during the joint lives of Peter and his wife. John KNIGHT Junr. - Removed to Kentucky about four months past. Saml. SNEAD - Bond for 24.16.8. Insolvent ever since peace of 1783. Jno. ATKINSON - Two bonds 38.2.11-1/2. Removed to the southward about the fall of 1783. Valentine BROWN - Removed to South Carolina or Georgia about 1788 or 1789. Edwd. BROWN - Removed to South Carolina or George about 1788 or 1789. Thomas BALL - Removed to the Northern Neck about 1788. Thomas ELLIS - Removed to Georgia about 1790. Michael JOHNSON - Removed to Georgia about 1788. Rachell LEA - Not known. Jos. LEE - Removed about 1785 to South Carolina. Francis AMOS - Bond 19.6.10. He is dead and was generally reputed insolvent for that sum of money since 1783. John C. BROWN - Deed trust for 54.0.0 3/4. No information where the deed was recorded or what property was specified. The law of this state required that the same be recorded in the General Court or Court of the county where the parties or one of them resides within eight months from the date thereof. Brown removed near twelve years past to South Carolina or Georgia and had been for a long time before generally reputed insolvent. John BLACKENSHIP - Removed about fifteen years past to the southern states. Saml. CONNOR - 15.13.1-1/4. Deemed insolvent from the peace of 1783. Thomas GAFFORD - Removed from Virginia twelve or fifteen years since. William PETTIPOOL - Deed trust 30.13.8, April 22, 1777. No mention of the property contained in the deed or where recorded. He moved to Georgia about 1786. If the deed bears date April 22, 1777, as set forth, it is liable to be sealed at 2-1.2 for one, agreeable to the laws of this state. Col. Edwd. STOKES - 48.19.5-1/3, account. He is dead. Peter Stokes of Lunenburg County, his executor, was possessed of a considerable estate. Saml. SMITH - Died about 1790. Was possessed of sufficient property in Nottoway County. His children shortly after his decease removed to South Carolina and Kentucky. Wm. HARRIS - Removed to Halifax upwards of fifteen years ago. Mary EVANS - Married George Moore in 1783 and removed to Prince Edward County. George Moore since dead. She is still possessed of property sufficient to discharge all her debts. Lewellin WILLIAMSON - Account, 14.4.1-1/2. He has repeatedly since 1783 experienced a variety of fortune, being a noted gamester. At present, it would be difficult to recover that amount by law. He resides in Halifax County. Cornelius CRENSHAW and Bartlett CRENSHAW - Bond for 6.14.0. Cornelius is able. Jno. CUNNINGHAM - Bond for 19.16.10-1/2. It cannot abe discovered taht such a person resided in this county. John Cureton - Account for 1.19./10-3/4. Removed to the southern states about 12 or 15 years past. Bartlett ESTES - Note for 4.7.2-3/4. He formerly resided in Lunenburg County and removed to Halifax County about 1790 and there died. BUCHANAN HASTIE & COMPANY: Edward HAMILTON - Account. Manheim Store, 3.3.2-3/4. He was ever since the peace insolvent and was placed on account of his poverty on the Parish of Cumberland and supported at public expense until his death several years past. David JOHNSON - Account, 8, 15.1-3/4. Removed to Carolina about 1787. Joseph JOHNSTON - Account, 4.13.3-1/4. Removed several years past and is now dead. Isaac JOHNSTON - Account, 4.1.4-1/4. Died many years past; estate divided. Jno. JOURNEY. Account, 2, 16.8-1/2. Died many years past. His widow and children live in Prince Edward County. Thos. CLARK - Account, 2.8.5-1/2. Removed about 1795. Bryan LESTER Junr. - Account, 4.10.7-1/4. Removed about 1795. Abram MURRAY - Account, 1.8.1-1/2. Died in Jan. 1784, insolvent for many years. He owed several hundreds of pounds to British merchants and died possessed of very little property and that was under mortgage. Jos. MINOR - Account, 13.9.4-1/2. Died about 1784 or 1785. His widow Edith Minor administered on his estate in Lunenburg and removed about 1797 to Kentucky. Danl. MALONE - Account, 72.3.8-1/2. Removed to Halifax County aboaut 10 years past, where he died. Wm. NANCE Senr. - Account, 3.6.11. Removed from Lunenburg about 1784. Jno. PAMPLIN Junr. - Account, 3.17.2-3/4. Removed to the south and died several years ago, insolvent. Coswell PETTIPOOL - 83.15.11-3/4. In 1788, had only one horse. He had previously possessed considerable property which he conveyed to his children to prevent the recovery of his debts. About 1787, he was sued in Lunenburg County Court for a large debt which had been contracted previous to the conveyance. The plaintiff had execution upon part of the same property and had the same condemned and sold. The property remaining in the possession of his children is still liable. Christr. ROBERTSON - Account, 7.9.2-3/4. Suit was brought in Lunenburg Court for this claim. The defendant was very wealthy. The plaintiffs dismissed the suit without trial at August Court 1798. Francis ROBERTSON - Account, 7.3.4. Died many eyars before the peace of 1783. The estate is sifficient and is divided among the legatees. The executor is also dead. The legatees were too young to be acquainted with the transaction. Thos. SMITH - Account, 3.11.9-3/4, Meherrin Store. He died before 1788 possessed of small property. Henry STOKES - Account, 12.8.11-3/4. He has a receipt in full for this debt, payment being made to P. W. Jackson, the collector for Thomas Gordon. Wm. SAMMONS Junr. - 7.16.0-1/2. He is involvent and has been so for many years. Joseph SMITH - Account, 41.4.6-1/2. He died about 1794. Estate sufficient. His executors say application was never made to them. Richd. SANSUME Junr. - Account, 7.2.1. He removed from this state about 1786 and was then account insolvent. Wm. STOKES - Account, 3.12.9-3/4. He moved to South Carolina in 1784, very wealthy. Jonas SIKES - Account, 11.6.8-3/4. Removed to Halifax about 1785. John THORNTON - account, 11.12.0. Removed to Pittsylvania County. Stephen WOOD - Account, 36.9.3. Died before the peace; estate sufficient. His executors are ignorant of the justice of the debt. No demand. Samuel WARD - Account, 8.2.10. Removed to Halifax. Jos. WILLIAMS - Account, 16.10.1-1/4. Removed to Carolina before the peace, and died. Benjm. BIRCKETT - Bond, 26.2.4.-3/4. He was not able to discharge this bond with interest at any time since the peace of 1783. Saml. GARLAND - Bond, 15. He died about 1796 or 1797 insolvent. His heairs inherit a valuable tract of land. He was about 1790 possessed of much property. Wm. JOHNSTON - Bond, 13,8,5-1/4. Removed to Halifax County about 10 years past and able still to pay this debt. A debt of upwards of 30 pounds was lately recovered against him in behalf of Jonathan Patkison. Wm. PAMPLIN Senr. - Note, 3.5.2-3/4. Removed many years past from this county. John PAMPLIN Junr. - Bond 25.15.1. He died insolvent and was unable to pay his debts, which were numerous, since the peace of 1783. Geo. CRYMES (or GRYMES) - Deed trust, 276.1.0. He died about 10 years past. A great part of the property included in that mortgate remains in Lunenburg County. Arthur HERRING - Note, 133.15.0-1/4. Dead. Suit in Brunswick District Court went in favor of the executors. Stephen Herring, one of the executors, says he will never plead the Act of Limitations because his father always supported the character of an honest man and left estate sufficient to discharge any debt. It being a very unusual thing before the last war in this part of the country to take any receipts from a British factor for the payment of money, delivery of tobacco, wheat, etc., toward the account then due in the store, few executors, administrators or even the original debtor can produce any voucher against a single claim. Not one man in twenty ever required a receipt from his merchant in this part of the country.