James Priestley, Sr., Biographical Notes - Rockbridge Co. VA Compiled by M. L. Green (Jan. 3, 2000) JAMES PRIESTLEY, SR.: b. 1760, in Augusta Co., VA, the son of WILLIAM SR. and MARY (----) PRIESTLEY; d. Feb. 6, 1821, Nashville, TN; Buried in old cemetery in Hendersonville, TN, on north side of Gallatin Pike; m. 19 Apr 1788, in Mercer Co., KY, to SARAH MCBRIDE - 6 children. James Priestley, Sr., was born in 1760, in Augusta County, Virginia (later became Rockbridge County), the son of William Sr. and Mary Priestley. James went to live with Rev. William Graham, ca. 1774-1776, when he was still a young man, in order to receive a better education. He went on to become a famous scholar. James Priestley, Sr. became a member of the first graduating class of Liberty Hall Academy, which later became Washington and Lee. As a boy of about 14, his intelligence was noticed in a class by Rev. William Graham, who took James into his household sometime after that, so that he could receive a good education. William Priestley, Sr., James' father, was apparently a poor Augusta County farmer ca. 1774-1776, when James was taken in by Rev. Graham. It was the pre-Revolutionary times, and William and wife Mary had six children born ca. 1758-1772: Eleanor; Nancy; James; William, Jr.; Mary; and Elizabeth, "Betsy." William Priestley, Sr., did not have any deeds for land until five years after James went to live with Rev. Graham. On April 12, 1779, William purchased 115 acres at Todd Springs Run, on Buffalo Creek, from the estate of William Hall. The "James Presley" in the 1783 Rockbridge Co., VA Tax List was taxed for one free white male over 21 and one horse. This is probably the same James, since James Priestley, the scholar, left Rockbridge County the following year, in 1784, for Kentucky. In "ROCKBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROCEEDINGS," Vol. IX, pp. 49-50, article, "The First Graduating Class of Liberty Hall Academy," by Charles N. Watson, Jr.: "The last of the graduates of 1785 to be discussed was also a Rockbridge County man, James Priestley. He came from an indigent family, but his intelligence so impressed Reverend William Graham that he took the young man into his own home to insure the boy a proper education. Priestley became a distinguished scholar, devoting his life to the promotion of classical literarture. Greek literature was his favorite subject, and he knew the orations of Demosthenes by heart. He was briefly employed as a tutor at Liberty Hall." (Washington and Lee Historical Papers, 2:136). In "PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROCKBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY," Vol. 5: 1954 -1960, p. 88, in the July 29, 1959 Address: "Dr. Archibald Alexander, Preacher, Teacher, and Person," by Dr. Goodridge Wilson: "Dr. Wilson stressed the importance of young Archibald's training under the teachers, William Graham and James Priestley. When he was 17 years old, Archibald was made tutor for the family of General Posey of Spotsylvania County where he decided to become a minister. The Presbyterian Church leaders for Virginia soon selected him intinerant minister for the state." >From Alfred Leland Crabb's NASHVILLE - PERSONALITY OF A CITY (Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs- Merrill, 1960), pp. 77-78 & 173-75, and THE NATIONAL CYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY, 8:130: "In 1784, Priestley went to Kentucky where he became principal of Salem Academy at Bardstown. Under his guidance the school enjoyed a high reputation. In 1792, he moved to Baltimore and taught briefly at Cokesbury College. Returning to Kentucky, he taught at an academy in Danville. Finally, in 1809, he accepted the presidency of Cumberland College in Nashville." "Throughout his career as an educator, Priestley devoted himself to those with the best and most classically turned minds. For others he had little concern. He had a somewhat irascible and imperious temper, and students and the community held him in great reverence and awe. On one occasion the students began to riot over some minor grievance. Dr. Priestley, arrayed in academic cap and gown, went out into the yard and confronted the rioters, his face rigid and grim, his eyes blazing. The boys looked at him for a moment, then fully sobered, they scampered for their rooms and their Latin books." "In 1816, when Cumberland College closed temporarily, Priestley opened a school for young ladies. When the college reopened in December 1820, he resumed his duties as its president. Two months later he died suddenly at the age of sixty-one. Cumberland College survived and is today known as Peabody College." On Jan. 24, 1788, James Priestley was named as a "Witness to Consent" and was the Bondsman for the Rockbridge Co., VA Marriage Bond of his sister Mary to James Dorris. Consent was given by Mary's parents, "William and Mary Priestley." James Priestley married Sarah Ann McBride, on April 19, 1788, in Mercer Co., Kentucky. She was born in Kentucky, the daughter of Capt. William McBride, who died in the Battle of Blue Lick, in 1782. Her mother was a Lapsley. James and Sarah (McBride) Priestley had six children, born 1789-1800: 1) William Priestley (b. 1789, in Mercer Co., KY; d. 1820-1824); 2) John Thomas Priestley, Sr. (b. 19 Dec 1790, in Bardstown, KY; d. 5 Sept 1824, in Springfield, Sumner Co., TN; m. 24 May 1812, to Hannah Montgomery); 3) James Priestley, Jr. (b. Abt. 1794; d. Sept. 1830, in Jackson, Madison Co., TN; m. 13 Nov 1817, to Caroline Pavatt); 4) Philander McBride Priestley (b. Abt. 1795; d. Bef. Dec. 1865; m1 Tennessee Ward; m2 Matilda Summers; m3 Louisa Perkins); 5) Joseph L. Priestley (b. Abt. 1797; d. Aft. 1829); and 6) Sarah Elizabeth Priestley (b. 1800, in KY; d. 1873, in Lavern, TN; m3: Philip Hoover; Edwin Gregory; and John Burnett). ------------ JAMES PRIESTLEY'S OBITUARY - NASHVILLE, TN NEWSPAPER (Feb. 1821): "A great man has fallen in Israel." DIED -- In this (____city?___) yesterday evening, universally esteemed. DOCTOR JAMES PRIESTLEY, President of Cumberland College, the institution over which he has presided so long and so usefully, has sustained in the death of this truly learned, pious and amiable man, an irreparable loss. Society in general, will unite with his family, to deplore so afflicting a dispensation of providence. Though he had been in delicate health for some time his death was sudden and unexpected. (____) of the 7th inst. - From Bryce Stevens (1999) ------------ WILL OF WILLIAM PRIESTLEY (SR.) - Rockbridge Co., VA Will Bk. No. 2, pp. 252-254: - Feb. 6, 1793 - Written - Rockbridge Co., VA; Witnesses: John & W. McKee; appointed Executors William McKee and John Wilson; names wife, Mary, and five children: William Jr., James, Eleanor, Nancy & Betsy; and three grandchildren: William and Sam'l, sons of William Jr., and William son of James. Does not name daughter Mary (Priestley) Dorris. - April 1, 1800 - Produced in Rockbridge Co., VA Court by John Wilson, Executor (William Priestley, deceased); Court commands both witnesses, John McKee and W. McKee, to attest to will from Kentucky. - September 22, 1800 - The two witnesses, John McKee and William McKee, had moved to Kentucky and gave their sworn testimonies to two Justices of the Peace for Rockbridge Co., VA - Feb. 2, 1802 - Final disposition of the matters of William Priestley, Sr.'s will was made. The will was returned with the certificates of proof annexed and ordered to be recorded at court held for Rockbridge Co., Virginia. Portion of will relating to James Priestley, son of William Priestley: p. 252 "... and as touching which worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I dispose and bequeath the same in the following manner I allow all my just debts and funeral expences to be carefully paid also I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Pressly the house we now live in with all the household furniture I now possess with the young mare & two of the best of the cows all to be fed & supported from what is raised on the plantation during her life the foresaid property to be hers forever at her disposal as she sees cause & also a sufficient maintenance from the profits of the plantation during her natural life Likewise I give unto my son Wm. Pressly the plantation I now live on containing one hundred & fifteen acres to be his during his natural life with my bay horse and plows and all the gears thereunto belonging & all my wearing apperril The above land I bequeath to my two grand sons William & Sam'l Pressly sons of my above named son William Pressly to be equally divided between both at their fathers deceas to be theirs and their heirs forever All the rest of my movable estate that is not above bequeathed together with my money and bonds & all the debts that is due to me I allow to be equally divided between my three daughters Eliner Nancy and Betsy Pressly & my son James son William Pressly to be paid equally to the above mentioned four as soon as my Executors can dispose of my property & collect my debts and I do constitute and appoint William McKee and John Willson p. 253 Executors of this my last Will and I disanul all other will or will by me heretofore made & order this to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the year and day above written Signed sealed published pronounced and declared to be my last will & Testament in presence of John McKee his W McKee William * Priestly mark At a court held for Rockbridge County on Tuesday the first day of April one thousand eight hundred This writing purpossing the last will & Testament of William Presly deceased was produced in Court by John Wilson one of the Executors herein named for probat and is appearing to the court the subscribing witnesses now reside in the state of Kentuckey therefore on the motion of said Exor. a Commission is granted to take the attestations of said subscribing witnesses in the said state according to law Teste [signed] A. Reid The Commonwealth of Virginia to the Presiding Judge of any court of law or to any Notary Public Mayor or other chief Magistrate of any city town corporation or county of the state of Kentuckey Greetings Whereas at a court held for Rockbridge County at the court house of said County in the state aforesaid on Tuesday the first day of April in the eighteen hundreth year of the Christian aera a writing purporting the last will & Testament of William Presly late of said County Deceased was produced in Court by John Willson one of the Executors therein named for probat. And it appearing to the court that John McKee & W. McKee subscribing witnesses thereto now reside in the said state of Kentucky Therefore any one or more of you (..?) the convenience may required are hereby authorised to take the attestation of the said witnesses That the testator signed and published the writing hereto annexed as his : last will & Testament that he was of disposing mind & memory and that they subscribed their names thereto in the presence of the Testator and at his request you are hereby commanded that at such days and places as you shall appoint you cause the witnesses aforesaid to come before you and diligently examine p. 254 on the holy evangelist of Almighty God and their examination into our said County Court of Rockbridge distinctly & plainly without delay you shall send & certify as thereof under your hands & seals (in the same manner such acts are usually authenticated by you) sending there the said Will. And this with witness Andrew Reid Clerk of our said County Court at the Courthouse this third day of April. And eighteen hundredth year. And of the Independence of the United States the twenty fourth : : [signed] Andrew Reid : Mason County Commonwealth of Kentuckey : : This day came before us two of the Justices of the Peace for said County John McKee and William McKee and was sworn agreeable to Law that William Priestley acknowledged the within to be his last will and testament given under our hands this 22nd day of Sept 1800 : : [signed] Thos Young : : Jas Wilson : Mason County- : : Thereby certify that Thomas Young and James Wilson (--?) before whom the within affidavid appears to have been made are now and were at the time of subscribing the same magistrates in and for the said County duly authorised and that full faith and creded right be given to any official act done by them. In testimony whereofI have hereto set my hand and the seal of the said County the 22nd of Sept 1800 : : [signed] T. Marshall : : And at a Court held for Rockbridge County the second day of February 1802 : : This writing purporting the last will and testament of William Priesly dec'd was this day returned with certificates of proof annexed and ordered to be recorded. Teste [signed] Andrew Reid ------- M. L. Green's Notes about the Will: William's son James is mentioned but is not left anything. James was probably in a position not to need the inheritance. He would have been about 33-years-old, then. His son William is named, "All the rest of my movable estate that is not above bequeathed together with my money and bonds & all the debt that is now due me ... and my son James son William Pressly to be paid equally to the above mentioned four (William with William Sr.'s three daughters Elinor Nancy and Betsy)." Submitted by M. L. 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