Misc.: Recorded Nansemond Co. Deeds and Wills, 1693-1733 Submitted by Gwen Hurst **************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. http://www.usgwarchives.net **************************************************************** [August 1734] CHAP. XXIII. An Act for the relief of such persons as have suffered, or may suffer, by the loss of the Records of Nansemond County, lately consumed by Fire. I. Whereas in the month of April last past, the house of Christopher Jackson, clerk of the county of Nansemond, wherein the records of the said county were kept, was, together with the greater part of the said records, by accident of fire, burnt and consumed; and this assembly being willing to afford all possible relief to the persons concerned in the said misfortune, whose estates, titles, and interests, may be affected thereby: Be it enacted.....[see remainder of Act at end of text]. Anno 1693. Daniel Horton, purchased of William Hood, two hundred acres of land, on the north side of Nuckle’s swamp, in the upper parish of Nansemond county; and the said Daniel Horton dying intestate, possessed of the said land, Joseph Horton, his son and heir at law entered, and is now in possession thereof. 1695 Benjamin Clark, was in quiet possession, and continued until the time of his death, of a parcel of land, in the parish of Suffolk, in the county of Nansemond,joyning on the head of Bennet’s creek, near Jordan’s mill; and Edward Clark, his son and heir at law entered, and is now in possession thereof. 1696 James Doughtie, father of Edward Doughtie, purchased of Thomas Jornigan, son of Thomas Jornigan, the plantation whereon the said Edward now lives, lying on Evan’s creek, in Nansemond county, being part of a patent for seven hundred acres of land, formerly granted to one Mulford. 1704 John Webb, purchased of Epaphraditus Benton, a parcel of land whereon he now lives, on the middle branch of the Cross Swamp, in the upper parish of Nansemond county. 1707 Aaron Blanchard, purchased of Lewis Williams, eighty acres of land, on Crany creek, in the upper parish of Nansemond county; and since conveied [sic] the same to John Parker, who is now in possession thereof. 1719 William Ragdale, by his last will and testament, devised to Margaret Sullivan (now the wife of Jethro Sumner), a parcel of land, in Tucker’s Neck, in the upper parish of Nansemond county, to her, and her heirs, for ever. 1719 The last will and testament of John Peters, deceased, bearing date the twelfth day of April, 1719, was proved in the court of Nansemond county, and admitted to record; and a true copy thereof proved. 1721 Thomas Martin, purchased of John Odam, son and heir of John Odam, the elder, a parcel of land, lying in the place called Summerton, in the old field where Summerton chapel now stands, in the county of Nansemond. 1724 The last will and testament of John Brinckley, deceased, bearing date the ninth day of April, 1724, was proved in the court of Nansemond county; and admitted to record. 1725 William Shivers, by deed of gift, recorded in Nansemond county court, gave to his son Thomas Shivers, a parcel of land, lying at a place commonly called South Key, in the county of Nasemond aforesaid; being the land whereon the said Shivers now lives. 1728 Henry Jenkins, purchased of James Murray, and Elizabeth his wife, fifty acres of land, in the parish of Suffolk, in Nansemond county, adjoining to Solomon Shepherd’s land. 1729 Henry Jenkins, purchased of Charles McDuel, fifty acres of land, (being a tract of land the said McDuel purchased of James Murray, and Elizabeth his wife,) lying in the parish of Suffolk, in Nansemond county, adjoining to Solomon Shepherd’s land, and the land the said Jenkins purchased of the said Murray, and his wife. 1729 Nathan Mires purchased of James Murray, and Elizabeth his wife, fifty acres of land, in the parish of Suffolk, in Nansemond county, adjoining to Shepherd’s land. 1729 or 1739 Edward Moore purchased of William Moore, a parcel of land, being the land whereon the said Edward lives, in the county of Nansemond. 1731 Joshua Jordan purchased of Charles Jordon, a parcel of land, in the parish of Suffolk, in the county of Nansemond, on Chuckatuck creek, adjoining Thomas Jordon’s, Benjamin Jordon’s, and William Jordon’s lands. 1732 Theophilus Pugh purchased of William Hickman a parcel of land, in the county of Nansemond, on a branch of the Beaver Dam Swamp. 1733 Jonathan Roberts purchased of James Babb, a parcel of land, being the land whereon the said Roberts lives, in the county of Nansemond. 1733 John Pinner purchased of Henry Gray, and Mary his wife, and Godfrey Lee, and Sarah his wife, a parcel of land, being the land whereon the said Pinner now lives, in the county of Nansemond. 1733 A decree in chancery, passed at the suit of Theophilus Pugh, against Peter Plackiter, in the court of Nansemond county, to foreclose the said Peter’s equity of redemption in certain lands, lying in Nansemond county, mortgaged by the said Peter Plackiter, to the said Theophilus Pugh, (except the said Peter’s wife’s right of dower in the said land,) as also to all the goods and chattels of the said Peter. 1733 A copy of the last will and testament of Nathan Newbry, deceased, bearing date the sixth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and thirty three, was proved in the court of Nansemond county, and admitted to record. ----------------------- August 1736] CHAP. XVII. An Act for relief of certain persons, who were sufferers in the loss of the Records of the county of Nansemond. Whereas, by one clause of an act of the general assembly, made at the last session, for the relief of such persons as have suffered, or may suffer, by the loss of the records of Nansemond county, lately consumed by fire, for perpetuating the testimony of witnesses, in relation to any deed, will, inventory, or other writing, recorded in the said county court, where the original is lost, and no attested copy thereof can be produced, it was enacted That it should and might be lawful for the governor, lieutenant-governor, or commander in chief of this colony, for the time being, to issue one commission, or more, under the great seal of the colony, to twelve able and discreet persons directed, giving them, or any four or more of them, full power and authority, to meet at some convenient time and place by them to be appointed, and to adjourn from time to time, as they should think fit; and to summon, hear, and examine all witnesses, at the instance of any person whatsoever, touching the premises, and to take their depositions in writing; and to return the same with such commission, to the secretary’s office: And such deposition shall be laid before the general assembly, at the next session; to the end, that they might be enabled to give such effectual relief to the sufferers, by the loss of the said records, as to them should seem most just and reasonable. And whereas, a commission hath issued under the great seal of the colony, bearing date the nineteenth day of April, in the eighth year of the reign of his present majesty, to William Wright, and eleven others directed, pursuant to the said act, who have made a return of their proceedings in the premises; whereby it doth appear, that they have examined divers witnesses to sundry deeds, wills, and other matters; and that the several deeds, wills, and other matters, mentioned in a schedule to this act annexed, have been well and sufficiently proved: Therefore, for making the same effectual, II. Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, that from henceforth, the proofs of the several possessions, purchases, deeds, and wills; and the decree in chancery in the said schedule mentioned, shall and may be given in evidence in any court of law or equity, and shall avail for the benefit and advantage of all persons claiming under them, as much as the same can or ought to be avail: And it shall and may be lawful for the clerk of the said county court of Nansemond, to record the several copies of wills in the said schedule mentioned, which have been proved to have been true copies, tho’ not attested by any sworn clerk. III. And to the end, that other persons, who have not yet been able to produce witnesses before the said commissioners, in relation to their deeds, and other evidences, which may have been lost among the records of the said county, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That one other, or more commissioners, shall and may be issued and continued, by the governor, or commander in chief of this colony, for the time being, for examining other witnesses, and perpetuating the testimony thereof, in relation to all deeds, wills, inventories, or other writings, recorded in said county court, where the original has been lost, pursuant to the said act of assembly; to be executed and returned, as in the said act is directed. A schedule, containing the proofs of several deeds, wills, and other things, made before certain commissioners, by virtue of a commission, under the seal of the colony of Virginia, bearing date the nineteenth day of April, in the eighth year of his present majesty’s reign, to them directed, pursuant to an act of assembly, in that case made and provided. ---------------------- Hening, William Waller 1820 The Statues at Large; Being A Collection Of All The Laws Of Virginia, From The First Session Of The Legislature, In the Year 1619. Franklin Press, Richmond, Virginia, pages 448, 526-530).